#Linda Bowman

[all-eyes-lead-to-the-truth]

All Eyes Lead to the Truth | Kitsunegari (5x08)

BEEEEEP

Her eyes burn while the heart monitor continues to flatline. 

She reaches down to hold her brother’s limp hand as he takes his last breath. Her heart constricts in time with her fingers squeezing his. Six months ago, she’d walked into this same hospital dressed as a nun and had simply urged him to wake up. Now, she has done the exact opposite.

“Goodbye, Bobby,” Linda whispers as a hot tear rolls down her cheek. 

She stands, unpinning the fake nurse’s ID, shakily jotting down an address to one of her vacant warehouse properties for him to find. With clenched fists, Linda Bowman walks away from her dead twin, revenge stoking the hot flame of rage burning in her chest. 

It’s time for this fox hunt to end. 

*** She knows exactly what to do while waiting in the shadows. It’s just like Bobby had said it would be between the FBI’s dynamic duo: an incredibly close yet opposing partnership, two complementary sides to a coin. The skeptic and the believer. Unfortunately for Fox Mulder, believing will be the death of him.

Linda flicks the safety off her gun and walks into the open. 

“Mulder?” Linda calls in Agent Scully’s voice. 

“Scully?” Agent Mulder starts running, but his Scully isn’t here yet.

Linda smirks. This man has essentially stolen the only family she has left. Has torn her heart apart with a single bullet and a life sentence cut short. 

Yes, Linda thinks, she will tear his heart to shreds. 

“Scully, what are you doing here?” he asks.

The words coming from her mouth are her own, yet in Agent Scully’s voice.

“…She’s making me do this. I can’t help myself.” His fear amuses her, so Linda keeps egging him on, putting on quite the show. “Mulder, make her stop!” she pleads as the little redhead.

“Linda Bowman!” Agent Mulder yells. “Show yourself!”

Linda Bowman, she almost scoffs, giving herself away. She became a Bowman out of necessity. Though her husband’s obsession with her long lost twin disgusted her, he had no idea she’d slithered her way into his life like a snake and pushed him to marry her. Marriage gave easy access to murder the man who put her brother away and presented the perfect opportunity to trap a Bureau Fox on the run. 

“Mulder…” Linda pretends to beg as vengeance spurs the gun to her faux temple.  

“NO!” Agent Mulder’s hollow scream resounds around the empty warehouse, sprinting towards the body he thinks is Agent Scully as Linda pulls the trigger. “NO!”

He falls to the floor, whimpering over the illusion of his pretty partner’s bloody head. 

An eye for an eye. A bullet for a bullet.

Heels clack along the concrete as Agent Scully, disguised as Linda herself, arrives. Right on time.

Agent Mulder angrily grabs the gun and aims it at fake Linda’s face. “I’m gonna kill you.”

They argue fruitlessly about him not forgiving himself if he kills her, his precious partner. Linda inwardly groans, wanting to shout, “Just shoot already!” 

“You killed her!” he cries pathetically to the real Dana Scully, and Fox Mulder’s devastation is nothing short of delightful. 

“Mulder…” 

“Shut up!”

“Modell warned you. Don't play her game,” Agent Scully cautions. Convincingly, too, and Linda panics. Instantly she knows her plan has gone to hell.

But Linda will finish what her brother started two years ago.

She stands, then is immediately knocked back down by an ear-piercing bang. Searing pain in her chest causes her illusions to drop. That little bitch shot her. 

Gasping, Linda watches the woman she wanted dead walk over and run a hand down a stunned Agent Mulder's arm. 

The last ounce of her fury flares at her failure. This isn’t over. 

“You think you can hold me?” she taunts. 

Linda’s vision blurs as she watches Agent Scully end the 911 call and gently run a hand down the bent back of her partner. Agent Mulder’s head hangs between his trembling legs, his hands clutching his knees. Even as her heart thumps within her ears, Linda can hear the soft sobs and sharp inhales of breath wracking his slender frame. 

“Mulder, breathe for me,” Agent Scully says, her head bowed down to his. “It’s okay. I’m okay.” Her tone is soft and tender, and Linda nearly sighs through her pain at the comfort of it. 

“No, it’s not okay,” he huffs. The rough grit of his words echo off the warehouse walls, keeping Linda from passing out as blood soaks her shirt. “I almost shot you, Scully, you… you could’ve-” 

“But you didn’t and I didn’t,” Agent Scully cups his cheek with the hand not rubbing small circles along his spine. Her touch rips his watery stare from the concrete floor beneath where Linda’s limp body lay, right where he’d thought a massive puddle of his partner’s blood had pooled. Their gazes lock. “Mulder, you wouldn’t hurt me. I trust you.”

His shuddering slows as his hand covers hers cradling his face. “Okay.” 

“Good,” Agent Scully glances back at Linda with disdain. “I’m going to monitor her until the ambulance arrives, all right?” 

“Go ahead, Scully.” Their hands slide slowly down his stubbled jaw as one while Linda can barely keep her eyes open. “I’m fine.”

“Sounds familiar,” she teases on an exhale.

Agent Mulder doesn’t smile. He stands up straight, his wild eyes raking over the petite woman from head to toe. “It’s not me I worry about.” 

“But I do,” Agent Scully says fiercely. 

Then, suddenly, warm fingers are pressed to Linda’s cold neck. She shivers.

Big blue eyes hover over Linda’s drooping ones. Cerulean blue. How ironic. It’s funny, Linda muses as the room starts to spin, what the mind focuses on as the body shuts down: this skeptic and believer see so much, but are blind to what’s right in front of them.

Sirens wail. The world darkens. And Linda’s mind shifts again, thinking of Bobby as her tear-filled eyes finally slip shut…

Read the rest of All Eyes Lead to the Truth on Ao3!

@monikafilefan

[agent-troi]

so i just rewatched kitsunegari and made a connection i hasn’t realized before: scully said in the episode that modell “simply woke up” about six months ago, and then later she tells skinner that linda bowman only found out about modell’s existence six months ago.

it always bothered me that pusher ended with everyone being absolutely convinced that modell would never regain consciousness, and then when he miraculously does, there’s no explanation. but there is an explanation; it’s just very subtle, and i think that what happened was when linda came to visit him the first time, she used her abilities to “push” him to wake up, just like she later pushes him to die.

[the-garbanzo-annex-jr]

by Jon Levine

Rep. Jamaal Bowman and his campaign were duped by the parody social-media account of the fake “Chief Rabbi of Gaza.”

The phony X account of “Rabbi Linda Goldstein” is infamous for spouting anti-Zionist vitriol to ensnare unsuspecting progressives unaware that it is satirical.

The rabbi messaged Bowman about sponsoring a fundraiser for his Democratic primary campaign.

5Bowman’s X account and the fake “Rabbi Linda Goldstein” were in talks to hold a fundraiser.

Under Hamas rule Jews were not allowed in Gaza, and the only ones there now are hostages and IDF soldiers attempting to rescue them — something Bowman evidently didn’t pick up on when he began corresponding with the account.

Bowman, a member of the far-left House “Squad,” has become one of the most vocal critics of Israel and defenders of Hamas in Congress.

He is currently locked in a fierce primary battle with Westchester County Executive George Latimer, with polls suggesting Latimer could beat him badly.

If you don't know "Rabbi Linda Goldstein," read the rest of the article. And there is more here. And follow "her" on X.

[roboreverie]

Some headshots of what I'd think the Mitchells would look like a few years into the future, with a few OCs scrambled in.

As this is for a project, these likely won't be the final designs for them, but I'm actually quite liking some of the designs.

[hitchell-mope]

Good movie. I’d probably watch it again.

[unremarkablehouse]

Kitsunegari

I randomly watched Kitsunegari again last week, and I had never really liked the ep that much before, but there’s some underrated MSR stuff in there. From the first scene Scully is like a fierce mamma bear with Mulder, walking in front of him into the briefing meeting, not wanting him to be involved in the case at all.

Mulder is surprisingly patient with Scully’s over protectiveness and lets her keep him reigned in.

Scully totally freaks out when her precious Mulder interacts with Modell and I believe this inhibits her ability to listen to what he has to say. Obviously this frustrates Mulder, but it is amazing how even though he is sure he’s right about Linda Bowman, when Scully asks him to go along with Skinner’s suspension he immediately listens. I just love that Mulder shows he trusts Scully’s judgment over his own, and this is ultimately what saves both of their lives.

In the final standoff with Linda Bowman, seeing the image of Scully dead just breaks Mulder. To see the woman he loves come so close to death with cancer, recover, only to watch her die in front of him triggers this primal trauma response in him. Once again, Scully is able to get through to him and slays the monster, but Mulder can’t unsee her death and is traumatized. The final scene with Skinner where he gives Mulder kudos on solving the case hits harder when you think that Mulder isn’t just upset because he pulled a gun on Scully, he’s still reeling from the image of watching her die. What I love about Mulder’s character arc in season 5 is you see him slowly get over the intimacy issues that led to him pushing Scully away so many times in the past and this episode was one of those turning points for him.

[baronessblixen]

Fictober Day 14: Always Stick To The Plan

Prompt: "Did you stick to the plan?"

Angst fic: The moment between Mulder, Linda Bowman, and Scully in "Kitsunegari" plays out slightly differently… Rating: T, wc: 961

Tagging @today-in-fic @xffictober24

The anger blazes hot under his skin. His finger is poised and ready to shoot. He stares at the woman, at Robert Patrick Modell’s sister, tasting bile on his tongue. The woman who just shot his partner.

How many times has he been there just in the nick of time? How many times has he heard Scully yell his name? The gun had been at her temple. Now… now. He doesn’t want to think about it. Can’t think about it. Scully on the ground, pale and lifeless. A sea of blood around her, her life drowning in it.

His finger twitches. How easy it would be. A life for a life. But nothing he’ll do will bring Scully back. Nothing he can do to ease the pain that’s threatening to bring him to his knees.

“I’m gonna kill you,” he screams. Just one more second. He will pull the trigger and end this once and for all.

“Don’t listen to her, Mulder.” The words are so familiar, but the face, and the woman saying them, are not. Don’t play her game. He won’t play her game. She’s trying to weaken him, make him believe she’s not who he thinks she is. Then she’ll pounce.

“You were right about her,” Linda Bowman continues. “It’s me. I’m Scully.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Doubt shoots into him like a dagger. What if he’s wrong about the game she’s playing? He has to get it right. He thinks of Scully. Of his Scully. The body lying there on the ground. That was Scully. He’s seen that expression on her face before. The sheer panic. The twitch of her lips. It was her. It is her. Linda Bowman is messing with his head.

“I’m Scully,” she says again. “Mulder, listen to me. She wants you to kill me because she knows you’ll never forgive yourself.”

Well, she’s right about that. In a flash, he sees his future. Calling Mrs. Scully and giving her the news. The funeral. The life after. There’s a void. Nothing more than blackness. Her brother had warned him. They have all warned him and now, he’s killed her. Linda Bowman might have pulled the trigger, but Scully’s blood is on his hands.

“You killed her,” he growls. “You did this.” His finger is still on the trigger and his aim is true.

“Mulder, you-,” she trails off, and her expression changes. Except Mulder can’t read it. He doesn’t know this woman at all. “Did you stick to the plan?” The question comes out of nowhere and hits him right in the chest.

“What?” he asks.

“Did you stick to the plan?” The voice is all wrong. The look on her face is undecipherable but these words... Last year, on their way back from seeing Eddie Van Blundth, Scully came up with it. They spent most of the drive in silence, neither of them knowing what to say. What’s there to say when you’ve almost made out but one of you wasn’t even you? But then Scully said they needed a plan. A phrase. Something that would let the other know it was them whenever evidence pointed to the opposite.

Mulder had laughed it off at first. Because he was still hurt. Hurt and confused. “What kind of plan?” he’d asked eventually, deciding it couldn’t harm. It was just in case after all. And then Scully came up with what turned out to be the perfect plan.

“Did you?” she asks again, bringing his mind back to where it’s needed. He sees himself back in that car, Scully next to him. She’d said, “Whenever one of us isn’t sure, we’ll ask ‘did you stick to the plan?’”

“But why?” Mulder had asked.

“Because. If it’s you – or me – we will know. We’ll know there’s no plan. The impostor, however, won’t know. They’ll try to make sense of it.”

And he got it. He turned to her, amazed. Scully had grinned at him and he’d known that everything would turn out right in the end.

It should have been him asking. Him asking Scully about the plan, but in his pain and anger, he hasn’t even thought about it.

“Scully?” he asks in disbelief.

“It’s me, Mulder-” Her reply is swallowed by a gunshot. Mulder winces as if he’s been shot. He’s still staring at the woman – at Linda Bowman. Except she no longer is Linda Bowman. She’s Scully.

“Scully,” he says again. She squeezes his arm in passing, kneeling on the ground to check the other woman’s pulse. This time Mulder looks. For a split second, he sees Scully there. The way he’s seen her minutes ago. He saw it. He watched her pull the trigger and crumple to the floor. Lifeless. The image disappears and now it’s Linda Bowman. He blinks a few times to make sure.

“It’s over,” Scully says and it’s her voice. It’s her. He spins around, looking her up and down. He reaches out and touches her arms, her hands. He cups her face, observing her. She lets him, doesn’t say a word.

“It’s you,” he says over and over again. “I thought I lost you. I thought I lost you for real this time.” He doesn’t think and acts on instinct. He throws his arms around her and holds her. Just holds her as tightly to himself as he can. Only when her arms go around him, too, does he break down, letting his tears flow.

“I’m here, Mulder,” she whispers, kissing his temple and every spot she can reach on his face. “I’m all right. We both are. You did stick to the plan,” she adds with a whisper and he hiccups a laugh, not letting go of her. Not ever letting go.

[kdo-three]

Pin-Up Photographs by Bunny Yeager

01 Betty Young 1950's 02 Carol Paulus (Faded) Color Transparency 1950's 03 Unknown 1950's 04 Linda Southworth Lovely 1960's 05 Sandy Bowman 1960's 06 Tee Tee Red Burlesque Performer 1950's 07 Terri Steele 1950's

[randomfoggytiger]

Scully knew Mulder was a vulnerable, breakable man despite only ever seeing him cry four times over the first seven years: when Lucy Householder died in Oubliette, when his mothered almost died in Talitha Cumi, when Linda Bowman tricked him into thinking Scully died in Kitsunegari (and it wasn't full-on tears then), and when Tena Mulder committed suicide in Sein und Zeit.

All of Mulder's tears throughout the series that we saw? She didn't. All the tears he shed through the years-- over Samantha, over herself, over father, over his mother, over other victims, over himself-- she never saw and likely never knew about (since Mulder isn't the type of man to cry-and-tell.)

But she knew him, anyway.

[deathsbestgirl]

the thing i love about evil in the x files is it's always human. i think about 2shy and scully confronting that man. he isn't simply killing as a biological imperative, for survival. he plays with his food. he destroys these women. donnie pfaster is human, despite hallucinations & imagination & religion. to scully, he's evil incarnate in the worst human way. he cuts up women, kills them, because he enjoys it. she does autopsies to tell their story, to give them a voice, to bring peace & honor them. and he desecrates them. modell is a small man, pathetic. he wanted to be big and the only way he could ever to do that was mulder. linda bowman wants revenge for her brother. luther lee bogs enjoyed killing. he started with animals as a child and graduated to humans, his family, as an adult. the syndicate abducting men & women & children, subjecting them to cruel & painful tests & experiments. justifying it with ~they're saving the human race~ and some of them really believe it. they catalogue these women, steal their ova, monitor them through their cancer until they die. create clones/hybrids who fight back against the evil that created them. forcing them to be part of an agenda that murders their mothers, mothers they don't get to know as mothers. so much justified because of science & 'the greater good' and worse, creating a new race, a new world, in their own image. playing god but they're human. and who wants to be god more than weak men with a little bit of power?

[cyberghostdraws]

This is the OC fairy 🌼🧚‍♀️ When you get this in your ask box, please tell us three facts or trivia about one of your OCs, then pass it on to someone else 🩷 Let's learn about each other's OCs! 💛💐 (no pressure to do this if you'd rather not!)

For yume please 💕

Hola Aly linda muak 💜🫂

And of course yes!

It was not a problem to implement Yume in this universe. Here are some facts about her. C:

l general she is quite kind to others but, with Adler they do not tolerate each other and even more so she cannot see him even in the painting. XD

During the brainwashing that Adler was being subjected to, she didn't want to cure him or treat him at least, not until Woods, Mason and Hudson convinced her with a bottle of sake.

During the 80's she had problems with alcohol Since he was affected by Bowman's death and what happened during his missions in the Vietnam conflict, Hudson suggested that it would be best for her to be out of missions temporarily although she was not entirely in agreement with this in the end she accepted Although he spent more time in the medical agency where he is mostly

I leave here a draw of Yume ✨

Gracias linda! 💜✨

.ೃ࿔*━━━━━━ 𓏲ֹ۪❪ ⿴ꯨ❛ 🌸 ❜˚❫ 𓏲ֹ۪━━━━━━.ೃ࿔*

[the-garbanzo-annex-jr]

by Jon Levine

A parody social media account of the fake “Chief Rabbi of Gaza” has duped another Squad member.

The re-election campaign of stridently pro-Palestinian Rep. Cori Bush (D-Missouri) was considering a possible fundraiser with “Rabbi Linda Goldstein” — a bogus X account that spews anti-Israel bile to catfish eager-to-believe progressives.

The account — which previously fooled Bush’s congressional comrade Rep. Jamaal Bowman — reached out to Team Bush on June 23 with the fundraising idea, exchanges shared with The Post reveal.

“I’ve been bouncing around different cities since my congregation was displaced from Gaza after Israel’s invasion on October 7,” Goldstein wrote in an email to Ronika Moody, Bush’s finance and engagement director.

Also – would [Bush] travel to the Gaza border for the fundraiser? The optics could be incredible!”

Moody responded on June 27, writing, “Cori is interested in hosting in Gaza and it’s something she has been trying to plan. Unfortunately, we have not been successful with that opportunity as of yet.”

“Theme is Gaza?” Moody asked.

Goldstein — who has boasted of using a menorah made of missiles and digging terror tunnels into American universities among other outlandish antics — suggested the fundraiser’s theme could be “the morality” of intifada.

[buckysgrace]

23. Roses in the Rain

Part twenty three to Every Little Thing!

Then

Gator enjoyed it when he got to spend time with his mom alone. The time with her was becoming smaller and smaller. As he grew older he noticed she was more likely to pawn him off towards his dad or one of the farmhands.

Which he didn’t mind, but he also liked feeling like he was important to her. He liked when she’d call him Bambi and squeeze at his soft face. She barely did it anymore, but he also knew things had been harder for her. He didn’t understand a lot of things, but he did know by the bruises on her face that she hadn’t been listening again. At least that’s what dad would say. 

Sometimes she’d let his hair grow longer, let it get thick and fluffy before Roy would roughly drop him into one of the dining room chairs and tug on his hair to make a point to Linda. Gator always hated how her face would fall; how she would silently agree with Roy but then mumble to Gator about how she liked it when his hair was a little unruly. 

“Why can’t I go with you?” He pouted one afternoon, desperately wanting to follow what she was doing. He already knew what the ranch hands did, but he had no idea what his mom did during the day. 

“Because you need to learn how to take care of the ranch,” She replied gently as she bent over, her face bruised and splotchy, “One day it will be yours to take care of.” He thought over her answer for a moment, knowing that his dad had told him the same thing. It had been passed down through his family for the longest time. 

“What about the house?” He questioned, “Won’t I still live here if I have to take care of the ranch?” He tilted his head as he looked up at her, trying to understand why she didn’t want him around her. Ruby never said anything about her kids lingering around her. 

“You’ll live nearby I’m sure,” She said gently, “But you’ll have your own family to take care of.” She smiled as she tapped the top of his head, like that was the end of the conversation. She glanced over his head, where Bowman was inching closer again. 

“But why can’t I-,” He began to whine, protesting at how unfair this whole thing was.

“Gator,” She interjected, snapping as she looked at him frustrated. She inhaled deeply, her eyes glazing over, “Just trust me. This is the best thing for both of us.” She told him sternly, leaving him hurt and even more confused than when they’d started the conversation. 

Now

“Okay, uh,” He paused as he stared at the shut door, struggling for a moment as the diaper bag smacked against his spine. He shifted both baby carriers before he eventually realized he’d have to set one down, “Sorry buddy. It’ll be just a second.” He apologized towards a sleeping Knox as he sat the carrier down.

He shuffled in his pockets, pulling forth the key until he was able to twist the knob and kick the door open. He winced at the loud way it slammed against the door, not wanting it to be nearly as loud as what it was.

Piper crooned, making a soft sound as she rubbed her hands over her face. He froze, feeling panicked at the way her features knitted up in discomfort before she slowly settled down. They had both passed out instantly on the car ride home. 

He breathed out in relief, hoping the next few days would be easy as he reached with his left arm to pick Knox back up. He shuffled inside the door sideways, doing his best to keep from whacking either of them into the doorway. 

“Alright,” He breathed out softly, satisfied as he sat them both down before he crossed the room and shut the door. He gulped, his nerves still simmering deep inside of him as he peered around the quiet house. He wasn’t used to coming home and not having Daphne there to greet him, “Do you want to look around?”

He slowly undid their buckles one by one, admiring the way they would wrinkle their noses and twitch their lips as they fluttered in their dreams. He wondered what they were thinking, if they were having happy dreams. 

He thought his favorite part was picking them up. He enjoyed the way they both scrunched up, their knees pulled tightly to their chest as he placed them in his hands. It was so cute that he nearly sat them back down just to do it again. 

Piper was still lighter, still fussier and squirmed about until she was finally comfortable. Knox felt more like a log; warm and heavy as he slumbered against Gator’s chest. He enjoyed holding the both of them and had grand plans of napping with them once they were old enough. 

“I’ll take that as a yes,” He spoke to himself, mumbling as he bent low enough to kiss the tops of their heads. He inhaled softly, breathing in their sweet baby scent as he slowly made his way from the living room, “Mommy decorated the kitchen, can you tell?” He asked them, referencing the dark greens that lit up the slightly dim room. He’d worry about the lights later.

They slumbered on, curled tightly against his chest as he introduced them to different parts of the house. Walking up the stairs was slightly nerve wracking but he made it up just the same. He liked holding them in his arms; wondered how many times he’d be able to hold them like this until they were too big.

He finally gave in to his tired arms as he gently laid Knox down in his bassinet. He rubbed his fingertips across Knox’s chest softly, ensuring that he was still sleeping before he moved towards where Piper would sleep.

He took the same motions, beginning to lay her down as she began to squirm and protest. She knitted up her features tightly, whining before she began to cry as he fully moved his hands away.

“Alright,” He mumbled softly, shushing Piper as he gently laid her down in her bassinet next, “No, no don’t cry. It’s okay. Go back to sleep.” He tried to urge her, desperately wanting a little while to shut his own eyes as he rubbed gently at her tummy. 

He winced as her cries grew louder, her legs pulling up to her chest as she clenched her fists together tightly. Her mouth opened wide, eyes squinted harshly as her cheeks began to turn red. He grew anxious, fearing she may wake Knox up or hurt herself as he picked her back into his arms. 

He hummed softly, bouncing her lightly as he tried to get her to calm down again. Her cries grew softer and softer as she opened her eyes, peering around for a second until she stopped to look at him. He pressed his finger against her wet cheeks, feeling a little stressed as she brought her tiny fist around his pinky. 

“You win,” He replied as he met her dark eyes, watching the way her grip around his finger grew looser as she became comfortable again, “You can sleep in my arms but just for a bit longer.” He promised her, taking the defeat as he settled into the rocking chair. He sighed deeply, but enjoyed the way she seemed compliant as she rested against him.

He traced his finger along her face, enjoying how soft her baby skin was against his own as he lightly pressed down on her chubby cheek. He moved his finger across her chin next, lightly across her lips and then traced her nose a few times. A soft grin formed on her lips and he felt himself smiling in response, wondering what she was dreaming about. 

He rocked her gently, admiring her features as he let her curl herself deeper and deeper against his chest. She was so tiny, it almost looked odd to have her in his arms. It almost didn’t feel right to hold someone as fragile as her.

There were a few moments he felt himself beginning to doze off before he quickly snapped his eyes open to look down at her again. He finally stood, recognizing defeat as he gently tried to lay her back down in her crib. She squirmed again, opening her mouth like she was going to cry before she slowly stopped. She sucked on her bottom lip, drifting back off into sleep. 

He sighed in relief, rubbing at his tired eyes as he turned the baby monitor on. He decided to take a quick shower and then he’d take a little nap. He glanced at them one last time, slowly beginning to creep out of the room before Knox began to whimper.

“Shh,” He cooed as he stood over him this time, trying to rock him back to sleep before he realized that sleep may not be the issue. He breathed out roughly, “What’s going on, huh?” He felt slightly insane as he spoke to himself, but he thought it was good that the twins heard his voice.

Knox looked up at him curiously, blinking his eyes softly in interest as Gator removed the booties from his feet. He grinned, bending down low enough to kiss at his tiny toes. He unsnapped the onesie next, shaking his head as he looked at him. 

“Bro,” He teased as he removed the onesie from Knox’s body, “Look at you. You’re already huge. I won’t be able to afford to keep you if you keep eating like this.” He grinned as he lightly brushed his fingers over Knox’s full tummy. It was soft and squishy, warm as Gator admired him again. He had a sudden urge to pick him up into his arms and squish him gently. 

He unsnapped the diaper, pausing as he was suddenly unsure about possibly touching urine. He pulled away, snapping on a pair of gloves before he turned back to where Knox was waiting. He moved the diaper back, but then quickly ducked at the stream that shot out towards him. 

“Shit,” He stared over his shirt to ensure no pee had gotten on himself before he stared up at the wall where it had landed, “Alright, I can get that later.” He said as he nodded his head, trying to make a mental reminder as he messily wrapped up the messy diaper and tossed it in the garbage with his gloves.

He had just barely finished the diaper over Knox’s squirming body before Piper began to protest again. He moved Knox back to his bassinet, leaving him in his diaper as he went ahead to change Piper next.

She was easier, although she squirmed and wiggled the whole time. He was too afraid to try and keep her still, so he continually had to adjust her diaper the more that she stopped wiggling about. 

He picked her up after, trying to soothe her as she started to whimper again. He rubbed at her back, but figured he must’ve done it a little too hard as white, baby spit fell from her mouth. He stared at her in horror, doing his best not to gag at the feeling of it soaking into his shirt. 

“Fuck,” He grumbled, staring down at the spit up that was now decorating his shirt, “S’alright. I can change that in a minute.” He brushed her off, walking over towards where Knox was. He sat her next to him, sighing deeply for a moment as he stood up from them.

He walked over to the changing table, grabbing a few wipes as he began to scrub down his shirt. He pulled it away from his skin, doing his best not to get it against his skin. He shook his head, resisting the urge to gag as he tossed it next. He sanitized his hands quickly, wondering if they had fallen back asleep. 

“Oh shit,” He stared at them for a moment, “I didn’t color coordinate. Okay, okay you’re- okay, hold on.” He knew that Knox was slightly bigger, but suddenly in this aspect they looked very similar. He grumbled as he peeked inside of the diaper, confirming his suspicions. 

“Knox,” He grinned as he looked up at his newborn son, “You’re obviously, Knox and I’m losing my mind.” He said softly as he placed the blue booties back onto his feet. He shook them gently, earning a soft squeak of approval from the little newborn. 

He picked Piper back up, determined that he’d get them both dressed again when she spit up all over his shirt again. This time it was twice as much and hit against the side of his neck, spreading down into his shirt as he really did gag this time. 

“What about a bath?” He asked, staring down at the wet spot that was spreading down the front of his shirt, “I think daddy needs a shower.” He said, wrinkling up his nose in disgust. He paused, being gentle as he picked Knox up. 

He shuffled them back into their little carriers, covering them up as he sat them outside of the bathroom so he could have a clear look at them. He didn’t want the steam to get too hot on their little skin. He turned the water on, letting it get to a warm temperature before he stripped and stepped inside the tub. 

He did his best to scrub down as quickly as he could, but kept growing paranoid as he peeked out the curtain every few seconds. He shook his head as he shut it, trying to remind himself that they couldn’t roll over yet. They were fine. 

“You don’t have to stare,” He reminded them, peeking out of the curtain again to make sure that they were still in their same spots, “It will just be a second.” He promised as he finished scrubbing the gel from his hair. He figured he could feed them next, do a diaper change and then lay them back down. Then he could sleep. 

He wrapped a towel around his waist, carefully walking as he carried their carriers to his room. He faced them away from him as he dried himself off with the towel. He quickly grabbed a pair of boxers, then some joggers and a wife beater. He thought it would be most comfortable to pass out.

“Okay,” He sighed as he picked them both out of the carriers, fearing for how long they’d been resting in them, “That’s better, right?” He smiled as he kissed their foreheads again, noticing that Knox seemed to be slightly more irritated this time around. 

He carried them back downstairs, resting them into another bassinet as he warmed up a bottle of formula. It took him a few minutes to get it measured right, then to figure out the right temperature. Even then, he wasn’t sure if he was doing it right. 

Piper didn’t take as long to feed, but she did take longer to burp. She fussed most of the time during it as well, making him feel bad as he could clearly tell she was uncomfortable. He made a mental note to Google if there was an easier way to burp babies.

“I’m right here,” He reassured her, cooing as he rested her awkwardly on his lap so she wouldn’t cry, “Your brother needs to eat too.” He reminded her as he picked up a fussy Knox and began to hold the bottle up. Knox searched for the nipple instantly, latching messily as he drank the bottle twice as fast.

Gator thought about teasing him again, but decided against it as he rocked him close to his chest. He was glad that Knox was eating well, that he was so big. He wondered what Roy would think of him. The twins were born far more into their term than Gator had been. He had only weighed about four pounds when he’d been born. 

“Did you get your fill?” He grinned as he moved Knox onto his shoulder, keeping the spit up rag in place this time as he began to pat his back. Piper had drifted off on his lap, her eyes fluttering shut as he burped Knox's back. 

He moved Piper gently onto the couch cushions, positioning her in a safe way that she wouldn’t roll off or slide into the cushions. He stood with Knox, still burping him as he stretched his legs out. He noted the way his stomach was growling. He was hungry this time. His nap would have to wait. 

“Do you know how to propose?” He asked Knox as he gently held him up in his arms, “Because I still have no idea how to do it. Any advice?” He hummed softly, watching the way Knox’s eyes fluttered over him curiously.

“Guess not. Noted,” Gator said softly, “I think pizza sounds good for, fuck,” He paused as he checked the time again, “It’s already midnight?” He shook his head, unsure of how the time had gotten away from him. He looked down at Knox again, deciding he’d get up in a moment to dig through the fridge. 

He smiled, still sure that the twins had more of Daphne’s features as he gently rocked him back and forth. He was desperate to have her back, to ensure that she really was okay. He hated being this far apart.

He shifted, wiggling up just enough to earn a small flutter of protest from Knox until he settled back down. He pulled his phone out, struggling with his left hand for a second before he typed out a message.

How’s it going?

He was sure that she would be sleeping peacefully by now, but he also hoped that she wasn’t. He wanted reassurance from her, to make sure that everything was alright. He suddenly had a strong urge to drive up to the hospital. He supposed he could call them if she didn’t answer. 

Would be better if these pain meds would kick in lol. How are you three?

He sighed in relief, feeling a little better as he read over her text again. He paused, angling his body in a way that he could get both of the twins up into the photo frame as he snapped a picture. 

Just hanging : )

He waited for a moment, smiling at the twins in the picture. He thought for a moment, realizing he hadn’t taken any since they’d gotten back. He quickly moved his phone again to snap two better pictures of them, though they were slightly blurry in the dark. He didn’t want to blind them from the flash however. 

I love you

He paused for a long moment, staring at the text as a smile formed on his lips. He answered her quickly, saying the same thing and telling her that he hoped that she felt better soon. One day. It would just be one day.

He drifted off for a little bit after that, maybe forty five minutes before Piper began to cry again. He quickly woke up, swapping her up and doing a quick diaper change on her. He placed the rag on his shoulder, feeling smarter this time as he rubbed at her back again.

He walked towards the kitchen, having a dire need to eat something as he searched through the premade meals that were in the fridge. Piper snuggled up to him, wiggling her little body closer as the cold air slightly hit her tiny body. 

“I’m not much of a cook,” He admitted as he rocked Piper in his arms this time, “If mommy isn’t here it’s probably gonna be pizza rolls, maybe the dino chicken nuggets if you’re lucky.” He teased her, enjoying the soft smile that formed on her lips. He knew they said it was just a reflex, but he liked to believe that she really was listening in on what he was saying. 

He tore the wrap off with one hand, balancing part of the aluminum pan on one hip before he was finally able to free it. He glanced down at Daphne’s neat handwriting as he set the oven to the desired time. 

He turned the TV down on low, finding some reruns of Live P.D. as he rocked Piper while waiting for the food. She stayed awake for some time, just looking around and curling against him as he waited for the food to get finished. He was starving.

“You can sleep,” He reminded her as he held her in his left arm and awkwardly balanced his thing of meatloaf on his thigh as he tried to eat, “There’s nothing wrong with sleeping.” He promised her, watching as she continued to stare at him in interest. 

At four they were up again and things seemed to take a turn for the worst. They were both fussy, inconsolable as they sobbed and sobbed. If one needed changed, the other one needed to be fed. They both desired his attention at the same time and he hated that he didn’t have some device that could hold them up so he could do both things at once.

“I have taken you both everywhere through the house, you’ve been rocked and fed and changed-,” He inhaled deeply, “Just please. Please stop crying.” He begged of them, his hair lying distraught on top of his head as he desperately tried to rock the two of them.

It didn’t work. He eventually had to set them both down in their bassinets, leaving them crying for just a moment as he stepped outside. His nerves were shot, his hands jittery and his eyes wet as he tried to calm his worries. He took a deep breath before he took multiple hits off of his vape, wondering if that had to do with why he was so shaky. 

“Hey,” He could feel his voice shaking, his throat raw as he spoke on the phone, “Do you care to swing by? The kids won’t stop crying.” He asked Roy as he peeked back into the house and shut his eyes tightly, hearing them fussing still. 

“Where’s Daphne?” Roy asked, his voice raspy and thick from how early in the morning it was. Gator brought his vape up to his lips again, inhaling deeply until he felt like his lungs may burst. 

“She’s still in the hospital,” Gator breathed out harshly, feeling like he was seconds from bursting into frustrated tears, “I just need to know how to get them to stop crying.” He said at last, feeling clueless and awful. He wanted to do better than Roy had, but he was failing worse in his opinion. He didn’t know what was wrong with his kids. He felt like a shit dad. 

“So you’re doing the woman’s work?” Roy asked, scoffing like it was something terrible. Gator nearly dropped his phone from the accusation, feeling as if he’d been slapped. 

“She’s injured,” Gator said in disbelief, “She can’t help that.” He defended himself and Daphne quickly. She had nearly died. She was sore and healing. She didn’t need to deal with this right now. She needed to get better. 

“You should’ve left them there until she was better,” Roy said bluntly, “I’ve got to go. Karen is calling.” He replied roughly, making Gator’s eyes widen in surprise. 

“Wait, can you just-.” He sighed harshly, squeezing his phone tightly to keep from throwing it, “Fuck.” He shook his head, taking another deep inhale before he walked inside.

His head was throbbing, pounding even as he tried to get the two of them to calm down. He eventually got Knox to relax enough to a point where he was no longer crying, but Gator felt awful as he rocked Piper back and forth. He felt like each time he was comforting one of them, he was neglecting the other to soothe themselves. 

He didn’t know how much time had passed before the front door was shoved open. Gator blinked, still trying to get Piper to stop crying as he stared hopefully at the door. He didn’t even care if it was Roy or not. He’d secretly been hoping that Karen would come to help him. 

“Son,” Bruce paused as he glanced towards him, “What is on your shirt?” He raised his eyebrow as he took off his hat, letting it rest on the back of the arm chair as he stared at the mess that was surrounding Gator. 

“Oh,” Gator paused, “One of them puked on me. Or both. I don’t know how many times.” He reached for the bassinet, beginning to rock it as Knox started to fuss once again. He didn’t want to be rude, but he didn’t think that Bruce would be much help in this situation. 

“Ah,” Bruce smiled knowingly, “Why don’t you go shower?” He sat next to Gator, scooting him over as he reached his arms out towards Piper. He hesitated, unsure if this was a good idea. 

“They’re pretty fussy,” Gator said quickly, nervous at the thought of leaving them alone, “I think I should get them down for a nap first.” He nodded his head urgently, deciding that having them nap would be a better idea. He didn’t know how Bruce could handle them like this. 

“This isn’t my first rodeo,” Bruce reminded him as he gently swept a crying Piper up into his arms. He turned her so her stomach was resting on his forearm, making Gator wince and reach out in fear that she’d be dropped, “See? Instant soother.” He proclaimed proudly as Piper slowly began to hush. He used his free hand to rub soft circles into her back, intriguing Gator.

“What did you do?” He asked him desperately, trying to figure out what he had done wrong. He shook his head, watching the way Piper settled into his arms. 

“Daphne was a gassy baby too,” Bruce replied gently, “Seriously, go shower. You’ll feel better. I’ll watch them for a bit.” He used his free hand to brush Gator away before he began to rub at Piper’s back again.

He hesitated for only a second longer before he decided that Bruce was right. He was in no shape to help the twins like this. The stairs felt like they took forever to climb, his legs heavy and tired as he dragged his way to the bathroom to shower once again. He hoped that things got easier. Then he prayed that they would, swore up and down to God that he’d be a better man as he let the water massage his tense body. 

“How are they?” He asked curiously once he’d returned, feeling a little panicked but then instantly relaxing when he noticed how calm the living room seemed to be. He’d changed into a better outfit, feeling more put together than he had an hour again. 

“Oh,” Bruce glanced down at the breast feeding pillow he had sandwiched onto his lap, both of the twins snuggled into it as they all seemed to slowly sink into the couch, “I was just telling them that the Packers are the superior team in comparison to the Vikings.” He shrugged his shoulders, looking quite satisfied as he glanced at the twins again. Gator reminded himself that Bruce had twins as well.

“They’re sleeping?” He looked over in surprise, noticing the relaxed features that were etched on their faces. He nearly reached down to touch them, but then feared that he’d end up waking them again. 

“Indeed,” Bruce said as he brought a glass of tea up to his lips, “You look like you could sleep too.” Gator didn’t argue, feeling too exhausted to say another word as he dragged himself over to the sofa. He couldn’t handle the thought of crawling back up the stairs, so he snuggled himself underneath one of the quilts and quickly drifted off.

//////////////////////////

Gator groaned as he rolled over on the couch, blinking the sleep from his eyes as he stretched his arms up high over his head. He blinked a few times, looking up in confusion as Bruce stared down at him.

“What?” He asked, his mouth feeling dry as he sat up at the edge of the couch. He glanced around, feeling reassured that the twins were both still sleeping as he shook his slumber off of him.

“Daphne is almost ready to go home,” Bruce responded as he patted his shoulder, “There’s a pot of coffee on, and a donut on the counter. You want me to drive you up there?” He questioned as he took a step back, giving Gator a chance to stretch out his legs again. He was still tired; felt like he had slept for only five minutes. 

“No,” Gator shook his head as he wiped at his eyes again, “I can get her. Thank you. I don’t know- I don’t know what I would’ve done.” He admitted, his voice feeling a bit raw as he spoke again. He didn’t know how to be thankful. It was odd, different. But he was grateful. 

“You would’ve figured it out,” Bruce brushed him off, “You’re doing a lot better than I did with August.” He told him seriously, looking a little amused at the way Gator’s eyes widened. He felt a little bad. He had assumed that Bruce had little to do with childcare, the same way Roy did. 

“Really?” He asked him, starting to feel a little relieved. He supposed he wasn’t doing too bad of a job. Perhaps he had been freaking out for nothing. “Truly,” Bruce nodded his head, “I don’t think I was very fair to him at all. I was really hard on him. I regret that.” He said, looking like he was speaking more to himself as he rubbed at his chin. Gator wondered if that’s why Bruce let August get away with all of his bastard children. 

“Oh.” He said softly, not really sure what to add. He glanced towards Knox suddenly, having a painful feeling that he may eventually slip into his father’s shoes. He didn’t want to be hard on him. How could he? Knox looked so small, so soft and fragile. He didn’t want to ever make him purposely cry. 

“You’re going to be a great dad, though,” Bruce said with a soft smile, “And there’s no one else that I’d trust to be with my daughter. Keep your head up, you’ll learn.” He promised him, leaving Gator with a better feeling as he nodded his head in appreciation. 

/////////////////////////////////

“Are you sure you don’t want me to come in?” Gator asked, holding one hand on the steering wheel and using the other to hold his phone up to his ear. The twins were in the back in their car seats, slumbering like nothing was wrong. He hoped it remained that way. 

“I’m already getting checked out,” Daphne mumbled, still sounding like she was sleeping, “Mom said just to meet us at the front of the building. I missed you. I missed them.” She breathed out quickly, almost sounding regretful. He would remind her soon enough that there would be a lot more time to bond with them. 

“We missed you too,” He said quickly, sure that the twins would rather have her than him, “I’m glad everything is fine. They didn’t say anything else?” He asked, ensuring that everything else was alright before they started to worry about small things. He wanted her to fully heal, to get her rest first. He was still surprised at how traumatic childbirth could be. He didn’t fully realize just how bad it could be. 

“Nothing to be concerned with,” She said softly, “My back still hurts, but they said that’s normal.” She replied, making it sound like it was nothing. He paused for a moment, trying to think about how he could help her. 

“I’ll give you a massage when we get home,” He teased her softly, “We can stop and get something to eat too.” He told her quickly, trying to think about what would make her most comfortable. He’d have a little break from work to help her with getting a schedule down for the twins. Hopefully that would help. 

“That sounds heavenly,” She giggled softly over the phone, “I’ll see you soon, baby. I can’t wait.” She sighed tiredly as she spoke and he was quick to repeat the same words back, hoping that this wouldn’t be too exhausting for her. 

He realized his mistake as soon as he pulled the truck in. Daphne wasn’t necessarily limping, but she was walking slower and cradling her hand over her stomach. A slew of curses left his mouth as he approached her, feeling bad as he stared at the truck. 

“I probably should’ve brought something else.” He mumbled, watching the way her lips turned into a tired smile before she gripped his biceps gently. She gave his muscles a soft squeeze before she stood on her tippy toes to kiss the corner of his mouth. 

“It’s okay,” Daphne shook her head, “I can climb in.” She brushed him off, her fingers dragging over his hoodie for just a second before she wrapped her arms around his waist and gave him a tight squeeze.

He breathed in the smell of her dry shampoo as he held onto her tightly, giving her a soft squeeze in return. He didn’t want to hurt her. He rocked her back and forth gently, truly grateful that she was alright. That she came back to him in one piece. 

“Let’s get you home,” He mumbled, his cheek pressed against the top of her head as he thought about how he didn’t want to let her go at all, “Thank you for taking care of her.” He cleared his throat as he pulled away, smiling at Ruby who was waiting with a smile.

“She’ll always be my little girl,” Ruby teased as she gave Daphne’s hand a squeeze, “I’ll bring over some dinner tonight. You two will have your hands busy.” Daphne nodded her head quickly, smiling brightly like she was excited with that idea.

He took her hand, guiding her towards the door so they didn’t block up traffic for too long. She was quick to stop, looking at him worried as a thoughtful expression crossed her eyes. 

“Were they okay?” Daphne spit out quickly, “Everything went smoothly, didn’t it?” She looked a little panicked as she spoke, leaning forward to try and look into the windows. He was fairly proud to hear that neither of the babies were crying. 

“Oh yeah,” Gator nodded his head quickly, “It all went according to plan. They’re little angels. Come on, let’s get you off your feet.” He mumbled as he pulled the passenger door open, slightly worried that she wouldn’t be able to climb inside.

She pushed one foot up, then held onto the seat as she did her best to wiggle herself up. Her features wrinkled up in pain as she sat herself back down, shaking her head and wincing as Gator cautiously gripped her sides. 

“Let me help,” He told her softly, feeling terrible for not considering how she’d manage to get up into the truck, “On the count of three.” He told her softly, reassuring her as he gripped her waist and prepared himself to lift her into the air. 

He held onto her, doing his best to pick her up without hurting her as he slid her into the chair that was all too high. He felt slightly dumb, feeling like he should’ve realized that his truck was too high up for her. 

“Do you need a ride?” He asked Ruby once Daphne was buckled up and comfortable. She was doing her best to turn around to examine both of them. He paused, wishing he would’ve let her see them first. 

“No, I drove,” Ruby responded as she stood on her tippy toes to kiss his cheek, “I’ll give her some time to adjust and then I’ll bring dinner over later, sound good?” She questioned, making him feel a little better as he nodded his 

“Sounds perfect,” He told her honestly, “Thank you.” He added a second later, still feeling like he owed her for staying with Daphne. He didn’t like leaving her alone. Not anymore. 

He pulled himself into the driver’s seat with ease, quietly shutting the door so he wouldn’t disturb the sleeping infants in the back. He turned towards her, feeling his lips curling into a smile as she continued to try and fuss over them. 

“There’s mommy,” Gator announced once Daphne was sitting down in the chair, “Yay!” He clapped his hands lightly, smiling brightly as she turned towards him in amusement. 

“Thanks,” She smiled tiredly as she leaned forward to kiss his lips. He sighed softly against her mouth, cupping her chin softly as she melted against him, “I missed you all. But especially you.” She added as she rested her forehead against his, smiling sweetly. He breathed in as he nodded his head, taking an extra minute to soak in the feeling of her flesh against his. He was just glad to have her back. 

“I missed you too.” He mumbled as he brushed his nose against hers, smiling at the way she brought her hands up against his shoulders. She brushed her hands across the nape of his neck for a moment, smiling softly before she pulled away from him. 

“Was it bad?” She asked as she fumbled with the hem of her jacket. She winced for a moment, making him temporarily pause before he started to drive again. He thought about her question for a moment, trying to think of the best way to reassure her. 

“It’s always bad when you’re not with me.” He teased her, feeling a little lighter at the way her features lit up. 

[agent-troi]

Fictober prompt #16: "Do you know a way out of here?"

Fandom: The X-Files

Rating: Teen and Up Audiences

Warnings: blood, references to murder/suicide pact

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

Security Questions

Chapter 10: How the Ghosts Stole Christmas

Scully slowly backed away from her inexplicably homicidal partner, aiming her gun at him out of pure instinct. “Mulder, what are you doing?”

He continued shooting, displaying spectacularly horrible aim as he advanced towards her. “There’s no getting out of here, Scully. There’s no way home.”

“Mulder…” Scully stared at him, divided between her rational mind trying to understand what in the living hell had prompted this bizarre behavior from Mulder, and her primitive lizard brain screaming at her RUN RUN RUN SAVE YOURSELF SHOOT HIM AND RUN AWAY. “Come on… Mulder, don’t come any closer. You’re scaring me.” Her voice started trembling. “Put the gun down!”

“You going to shoot me?” he taunted.

“I’m not going to shoot you!” Scully realized as soon as she said it that it wasn’t strictly true. She had shot him once before, for his own protection, and she would do it again if she believed she had no other choice.

But she didn’t have to like it. “I don’t want to shoot you!”

“It’s me or you… you or me.” Mulder grinned manically at her. “One of us has to do it.”

“Mulder, look…” Scully pleaded, while a distant part of her brain wondered if those people (she refused to believe they were really ghosts) had drugged him while they had been separated. “We don’t have to do this.”

“Oh, yes we do.”

“We can get out of here,” she insisted.

“Do you know a way out of here?” he retorted, his mania blending seamlessly into hopeless rage. “Even if we could, what’s waiting for us? More loneliness! And then three hundred sixty-five more shopping days till even more loneliness!”

“I don’t believe what you’re saying!” I don’t believe it’s you who’s saying it, either, she realized.

He was now close enough so that she could see the whites of his eyes, and he stared her down unblinkingly, righteous fury in his gaze, relentlessly determined to go down and take her with him.

But her Mulder would never do this. He would never shoot her, because he would never forgive himself. Linda Bowman had understood that, and they had almost paid for her insight with both their lives.

He called her by name this time, though. So it must be him who wasn’t who he appeared to be.

Read the full chapter on Ao3

Tagging @today-in-fic, @fictober-event, @xffictober2023

[mzannthropy]

Sam Claflin as Romantic Hero (Linda's Version)

So I thought I'd do a post (posts?) on the topic of Sam playing romantic heroes, bc this is what I disagree with the entire planet most about.

What I mean by "romantic hero" here is someone who I see would make a good partner. Let's go. (Under a cut as got long, no major spoilers.)

William (Snow White and the Huntsman)

A son of a duke and childhood friend of Snow White. When Ravenna, the Evil Queen, takes over their kingdom, the duke and his young son escape to safety. William grows up believing Snow White to be dead. When he hears she is still alive, he doesn't waste a second and goes off to rescue her, as she is being held in prison by her stepmother. His father tries to persuade him not to go, the quest is full of perils and would lead him through the dark forest, but William is determined. He feels he let her down, even though he had no control over the events, being a child himself. He joins the band of Bad Guys, led by Queen Ravenna's brother (who has an unfortunate haircut, but that's for another day) so that he can get to Snow White--this is the "do you need a bowman" scene. Oh yes, William is very skilled with a bow and arrow!

William is loyal, dependable, honourable, a skilled archer and of noble blood, and doesn't hesitate to engage his darker side when necessary--and what is more romantic hero than that?

Philip (Pirates of the Caribbean On Stranger Tides)

Philip is a missionary, a sole survivor of a ship that got captured by Blackbeard. Blackbeard's daughter Angelica persuaded her father to spare the young priest, believing she could save Blackbeard's soul. Philip believes everyone's soul can be saved, even someone as cruel and bad as Blackbeard's. Philip is not afraid to stand up to Blackbeard and even calls him a 'coward'.

The pirates are on a hunt for a tear of a mermaid, on their quest to find the Fountain of Youth. However, they soon discover mermaids are not to be messed around with. Philip manages to catch one (not realising this very same mermaid earlier saved him from falling debris by pulling him into the water). He stabs her tail with sword, but when their eyes meet and sees her, he instantly changes his mind. It's too late, though, the pirates turn up and capture her in a net. Philip regrets his action and spends the rest of the film doing his best to protect her. When she is being carried in a glass box, she starts choking bc she can't breathe, he insist they let some air in. When they don't listen, he grabs a sword from Blackbeard's quartermaster (who is a scary character), breaks the lock, pries the box open, and uses his Bible in to create an opening, so that the mermaid can have air. When the glass box breaks and she turns human on dry land (has legs instead of tail), she can't walk and Philip carries her. He takes off his shirt and wraps her in it, as she is exposed, after her scales turns to human skin. (This also means we get a shirtless Sam!) Philip and the mermaid, whom he names Syrena, talk and he finds out she saved his life, when Jack blew up a lighthouse. She could see he was different from the others, that he protects.

A clergyman might not be perhaps everyone's choice of a romantic hero, well not mine anyway (I grew up without religion), but it's incredible how brave Philip is. He is the only one who cares about Syrena's welfare and protects her. And he has unshakable faith. A man of principles--certainly a romantic hero to me!

Richard Sharp (Adrift)

Richard is based on a real life person, but for the purposes of this post, I will treat him as a fictional guy. Also I should add that Richard is a sailor and so your relationship would only be possible if you were also a sailor, or at least wanted to sail the seas. (I think those type of people drift together; lol a pun.) It's just a big part of who he is. But it is, of course, possible to imagine him in a different environment, of the same character.

Richard makes it known to Tami that he is interested in her, no fucking around, they have a date aboard his boat. He is certainly helped a lot by the gorgeous backdrop of Tahiti. When he gets an offer to sail his friends' yacht to San Diego, he immediately includes Tami in his plans. During their voyage, he proposes to her with a ring he made himself (he would buy an actual ring of precious stone once they landed). Skilled at what he does and committed to you--a good choice for a romantic hero, I'd say.

Henry Copper (Book of Love)

A point against Henry right from the start is that he is a rather unsuccessful writer. However, this is only bc the film has to be about something (so that he can team up with Maria), but it doesn't mean he is bad at writing.

Why I think he is a romantic hero is that he is most courteous to Maria, even after he finds out she changed his book while translating it. He agrees to work with her without complaining and takes her seriously. He asks what she's writing one night when they're staying at a hotel while on book tour, she tells him she wants to write her own book. She's a single mum and he does his best to bond with her son, attempting to speak Spanish. While they're out on a night walk, he has no problem admitting that he got scared when he heard a monkey scream--Maria remarks that none of the men she knows would ever admit to any such thing. When the book they're working on is ready for publishing, he makes sure her name, too, appears on the cover, so they share the credit. I also like the hot professor look Sam sports here.

There is some romcom-typical angst where he gets jealous of her ex-bf/baby daddy, but it doesn't last long. At the end, Maria publishes a book of her own, and Henry is backstage during an interview she does for a talk show, supporting her.

A man who respects you and takes you seriously and is your biggest supporter--easily spells a romantic hero to me!

[all-eyes-lead-to-the-truth]

All Eyes Lead to the Truth | Season Five Master Post

From fan-favorite monsters to big players behind the conspiracy to the people closest to Mulder and Scully, season five has been one of the most fun yet!

Check out this thread to see all the characters we got to meet this season!

Redux (5x01) | Section Chief Scott Blevins

He had no vested interest in Mulder and his quest, but he was part of the machine, the same as everyone else dressed in suits, skulking around in dark, smoke-filled rooms.

Redux II (5x02) | Dr. Zuckerman

Dr. Zuckerman recalls Dana telling him that this man, her best friend, was the first person to help her absorb cancer's painful blow. It seems fitting that he be the first to feel the relief in its aftermath alongside her.

Unusual Suspects (5x03) | Detective John Munch

“Listening to those three talk makes me feel like I need to go be strapped down to a hospital bed. Don’t get me wrong. It’s a great story, but that’s all it is.” The captain was up their asses about this case, but as far as Munch knew, watching one too many science fiction movies wasn’t a crime.

Detour (5x04) | Special Agent Stonecypher

Communicating with those two was more difficult than some interrogations she’d been a part of, but she kept trying. They didn’t call her Tough as Rocks Stonecypher for nothing.

Post-Modern Prometheus (5x05) | Izzy Berkowitz

The simple folk of this rural Indiana town are no different than the man they’d called Monster and chased with pitchforks.

Maybe they’re all monsters.

Izzy kind of likes that.

Christmas Carol (5x06) | Bill Scully Jr.

Maybe that’s what pissed him off so much. Mulder does blame himself. There’s nothing Bill could ever say to that man that he hadn’t said to himself a thousand times over.

Emily (5x07) | Detective John Kresge

He recognizes her toughness, her resilience. The very thing he’d fought against at the start is exactly the thing that makes her a good agent. But in this moment he can see her humanity, something he knows makes her a good person, too. He wishes he’d had the chance to get to know her better.

Kitsunegari (5x08) | Linda Bowman

With clenched fists, Linda Bowman walks away from her dead twin, revenge stoking the hot flame of rage burning in her chest.

It’s time for this fox hunt to end.

Schizogeny (5x09) | Lisa Baiocchi

Karin continued on, seemingly oblivious to the tree limbs knocking against the window, begging to be let in. “It’s natural for kids who have been in your situation to wish that their parent was dead.”

Chinga (5x10) | Chief Jack Bonsaint

All the talk of witches around these parts has always been just that to Jack: talk. Chatter. He doesn’t pay it much mind. He lives in the real world, not the realm of fantasy and hokum.

But if someone like Agent Scully can believe…

Kill Switch (5x11) | Esther Nairn (Invisigoth)

They’d thought they would change the face of technology, the world, even. She’d been young and in love. Not for a second did she think that would be the very thing that ruined all of it.

Bad Blood (5x12) | Sheriff Lucius Hartwell

His salvatory glands were working in overdrive between all this blood-talk and the assault of Agent Scully's intoxicating scent. It was taking his full concentration to keep his fangs from dropping into place.

Patient X (5x13) | Cassandra Spender

Some of the others fear the Light, dread it, but Cassandra welcomes it. To her it is no harbinger of doom; it’s a sign that she’ll be gone again soon, swept away from this place that has brought her nothing but pain.

The Red and the Black (5x14) | Special Agent Jeffrey Spender

Jeffrey hadn’t known anything about aliens until his mother had explained to him that they lived on planets far from their own. Jeffrey believed everything she told him, because why wouldn’t he? She was his mother, the center of his universe, and he’d never had any reason to doubt her before.

Travelers (5x15) | Special Agent Arthur Dales

Arthur plucks the bottle of Jim Beam from behind a container of his blood pressure pills. The fine layer of dust coating the bourbon’s glass reminds him how long it’s been since he’s drowned himself in sorrow. About as long as it’s been since he’s thought about the X-Files.

Mind's Eye (5x16) | Marty Glenn

People seem to think her lack of vision inhibits her; that without it, she’s unable to see.

But Marty sees plenty.

All Souls (5x17) | Emily Sim

Emily is lucky. She doesn’t have just one mommy, she has two. There’s the mommy who she’d known her whole life, the one who had taken care of her when she was sick and who is here with her now, and then there’s her other mommy who isn’t here yet.

Pine Bluff Variant (5x18) | August Bremer

Silence stretches for a long time. Nothing but the crinkle of med-grade wrappers and the burbling of water from what sounds like a fish tank drifts through the headphones. August may be on the outside listening in, but he can practically feel the tension from here.

Folie à Deux (5x19) | Nancy Aaronson

Gary always looked like he had an elephant sitting on his chest, and every time he heard the VinylRight rigmarole, the elephant shifted. For some reason, it felt like he thought she could help him relieve the weight.

The End (5x20) | Gibson Praise

They had no idea what it was like to realize that the manager at a grocery store was stealing money from the safe in the back room when you were all the way up at the cash registers. Or what it was like to pick out the kid in a stadium full of people who was mad at his mother for making him wear his least comfortable pants. No one needed to know those things, but he knew them.

Gibson heard all of it, whether he wanted to or not.

Stay tuned for more perspectives coming in Season Six!

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5