#PART 2 OF 2

[dunmeshistash]

Okay I think I'm ready to write the second part of this post about Milsiril

To make it easier for me I'll just divide this into her relationship with Kabru, Mithrun and Helki (her ex-canary prisoner teammate)

First about Kabru

This is an extra from the daydream hour 5. The caption says "Something like this might as well have happened" so its probably not canon but could be. I honestly think his reaction to Milsiril visiting and being overbearing says a lot about the type of relantionship they have. This is the fakest bitch in the whole of dungeon meshi, he never says what he trully thinks unless there's an advantage to doing so, he's a people pleaser that does and says anything to make people like/trust him. And yet he immediatly converts into "Mooooooom you're embarassing meeeeee" when he sees it's Milsiril.

This translation used "Mom" but as I understand the original he uses the more formal version so I think it would be closer to "Mother" but still he acknowleges her as his Mother, and he acts like her kid in every interaction we see between them.

I really don't understand where the idea that he learned to be fake from being "forced" to be her adoptive son comes from.

(Continuing under a cut)

The other interaction we see between them is the Kabru extra from the Adventurer's Bible

Kabru comes to her with a deep fear he clearly has had even before she adopted him, he trusted her with this fear and she did not disappoint him, she comforted him and then gave him the information he needed to believe what she was saying

I'd also like to point out in no moment she discouraged him from calling his his bio-mom "Mom". He also says she taught her children everything they asked

I doubt this would only be true for him, it also mirrors something she said in the manga

"You can go ahead and learn all you want about something else." I believe it when Kabru says she made every effort to answer her children's questions. I think this is also the way she expresses the love she has for them. Plus I love the thought bubble with Kabru mirroring what he learned from her. I also love this daydream hour, she sacrifices her own comfort to do something for Kabru.

Milsiril isn't a perfect mother tho, besides the fact she is overprotective she comes from a very different culture from her children. I like to call her Kabru's white mom cause I think that would be the real world equivalent. This extra is the one I think the most about showing this context perfectly

Kabru wants to share Utaya sweets but looks at his mom looking gloomy/rejected so he talks about fruitcake instead. This very rude for Milsiril to do since she's kinda trying to overwrite his actual cultural background, but I think its done more as a "I want you to like the things I like" rather than something nefarious, and once again Kabru doesn't hide at all his distaste for it, he does the bare minimum to please his mom since she's being dramatic but he doesn't lie to her, he shows how displeased he is about fruitcake, something he refuses to do when eating the harpy omelette that is way worse, because he must make a good impression for Laios. Kabru is honest with his overbearing white mom once again.

Now a little about Rin, from Kabru's context, this is her extra in the Adventurer's Bible

(look at Helki he's such a gremlin i love him) anyway, Rin has a trauma about elves, they really mistreated her so she hates them, but when they notice she isn't thriving they go to Milsiril for help (Helki specifically I'll talk more about him next). I think this indicates she really has a better understanding of short lived kids, her kids are thriving differently from the ones the other elves try to care for. I'd also like to remember she lives secluded from other elves so while Kabru probably had lots of interactions with elves during his life, most of it was probably spent with Milsiril and her other adoptive kids. She also asks Kabru if he would do this to help Rin, he isn't being forced or anything, I also think it's good that Milsiril knows she cant take in any more kids, this to me shows she's worried about the quality of life her kids have. That is all to say, Rin is the one with elf trauma, not Kabru, because Kabru had Milsiril to shelter him from them.

Helki

This will be short and sweet since there's barely anything about Helki, he's her prisioner companion from her time in the canaries, but he was pardoned after Utaya, it says so in the Canarie's Structure page in the new adventurer's guide but I cant really find it translated again... so here's google's machine translation (I remember it saying "Retired and pardoned as a reward after Utaya", something like that)

so officially he isn't a prisoner anymore, but I think he still works as a canary, even so he and Milsiril seem quite close, he is the one to go talk to her about Rin, He is there when she's training Kabru (both laughing at Kabru and then participating). I saw people theorizing she stays close to him because he is also someone who she can feel superior to, but I don't believe it at all, he's STILL in contact with her even after they have nothing to with each other, I think they really have a friendship, and there's no point where it seems like she feels like she's better than him or that he's less than her, people seem to interpret Milsiril and her relationships in the worst possible ways every time and I don't understand why.

This segways into Mithrun

I've also seen people assuming she only got close to Mithrun because now he needs her and has no power over her, once again with the theory that Milsiril surrounds herself with people she can feel superior to. But once again, Milsiril had a change of perspective about Mithrun after seeing his Dungeon

Rather than she feeling superior to him I think rather she realized he was just like her. (And I think she's friends with Helki for a similar reason, it's probably easier to see him as an equal than other nobles)

I've also seen this part used as proof of that. "He said that you've got suspicious ulterior motives and that I shouldn't listen to you" as if that's true, but this is past Mithrun, the one that didn't trust anyone and thought ill of all his teammates, ofc he doesn't believe someone would help him without an ulterior motive. This doesn't prove much about her real motivations.

Also before she showed up, Mithrun was being cared for by servants hired by his brother, he isn't someone helpless she has power over, he is still a member of an important Noble family that has a caring brother providing for him, he can do without Milsiril, he had done without her for 20 years before Utaya happened and she quit the Canaries.

This is all to say I think Milsiril is just a white(elf) adoptive mom doing her best, I don't see much of anything nefarious about her or her motivations, she is flawed as all the dunmeshi characters are, she isn't a perfect mom, she isn't an evil mom, she's just a person.

Elves in general also see short lived species as "children" so I imagine this makes her "You'll always be my baby" attitude way worse, she really treats pre-teen/teen Kabru like he's a toddler sometimes. But she also respected him enough to go all out in training him. I think they're a family with everything that entails.

PS: I didn't get much into Interracial adoption since this is something that happens irl too and I don't know much about all the issues that entails, but in the end, in this case, it seems like a net positive for the kids she adopts considering all we see about how she raised Kabru.

[pdfbabe]

Do you still eat pussy?

STOP SAYING I EAT SHEET METAL

[dragonmasteraltais]

Godzilla revealed in the new trailer for Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire.

Bonus of Godzilla and Kong running. 🏃✨️

[thelostgirl21]

The Little Prince & The Fox

(Part 1, Part 2)

-Quotes from "The Little Prince", Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

[bl-bam-beyond]

MISEINEN: MIJUKUNA ORETACHI WA BUKIYO NI SHINKOCHU (2024, JAPAN)

Episode 4 (Part 2 of 2)

@pose4photoml @just-another-boyslove-blog

[cloveroctobers]

HOME | SERVING 2 of 2 — JJ MAYBANK [Fall Randoms] 🤎

A/N: Part one is here! + I finally let out a good cry last night before finishing this up so there's that. It's been awhile since losing a character had an effect on me and that YouTube video on the cast saying their goodbyes did NOT help. Anyways! The goal was to keep things light and envision that those that have been through so much DO get happy endings. Enjoy and thank you to those that read the first part, I appreciate you.

.𖥔 ݁ ˖ .𖥔 ݁ ˖ .𖥔 ݁ ˖ .𖥔 ݁ ˖ .𖥔 ݁ ˖ .𖥔 ݁ ˖ .𖥔 ݁ ˖ .𖥔 ݁ ˖ .𖥔 ݁ ˖ .𖥔 ݁ ˖ .𖥔

Soon everyone gets to work serving themselves, just as Pope and Cleo reveal their late arrival.

“I told Pope, y’all were gettin’ started witout us so we needed to hurry and get in line!” The Caribbean woman yells, tucking her signature blade into the small cross body bag she sported, before hugging Alma, who has her hands full so she opts for tucking her chin into her friend's shoulder in greeting.

JJ turns his eyes into slits at the brown skinned girl while making his way over to Pope to give him a bone crushing hug, “Cleo, if you broke my door—

“As much shit of mine you broke over the years?” Pope stares hard at JJ while defending his unbothered girlfriend, “Can’t even hold a candle, man.”

“Dude, why you bringin’ up old shit?” JJ squeezes Pope’s shoulders with a frown.

Rafe scoffs as he walks on by with his full plate of food already, “That’s rich coming from you, Maybank.”

“That’s strike one, Cameron!” JJ hissed at the no longer buzz haired man’s back.

“The hell is he doing here?” Pope jams a thumb at Rafe who’s strolling through the house looking around as he makes his way to the dining room.

JJ points at a sleek back bun wearing Sarah from across the room, “Ask his sister.”

“J…” Alma warns.

He raised his hands in surrender, “What? Can’t I inform my good friend here what’s going on in the house?”

“If you’re going to keep throwing jabs the entire night, we can step outside.” Sarah comments as she finishes fixing herself and Little J a plate.

JJ scoffs, “I wouldn’t want my godson mad at me, and his view of me is the most important. Which is why, when we get to the games, I’m gonna kick your butt!”

“Oh yeah?” Sarah quizzes as she spins on her heels to face him in her mustard yellow ribbed dress, “Loser owes the other $500 bucks.”

JJ sucks air between his teeth, “That’s boring Pogue princess. I’ve got a better idea! And it involves this estate at night and the basement.”

“Oh god.” Kiara mumbles, putting her last serving of greenery (which was of course the dish she brought over) on her plate and sends Alma a grimace on her way out of the kitchen.

Sarah was the first one to find that the Genrette basement was haunted. She honestly felt like it was a scene out of the conjuring and wanted no parts after spraining her ankle trying to get out of there. JJ didn’t believe her at first until he got locked down there himself and heard a voice that did not sound like Alma’s or Sarah’s. He’s never been a big fan of Halloween and he definitely didn’t want this estate to make him afraid to sleep here. Not when he began to find an actual home in a physical building rather than people.

“Bet.” Sarah holds out her ankle so they can shake on it, since her hands were indeed full.

Groaning Alma hands over a utensil to Cleo after watching the two “shake” on it.

“Aw don’t be like that mama, it’s all in good fun! After all our house is the fun house!” JJ explains, squeezing Alma’s hips while he circled around the kitchen to grab his own plate.

Cleo laughs, “If anybody ends up injured tonight, rude boy, you’re done for!”

JJ tips his imaginary hat, “Thanks for your vote of confidence, ma’am.”

“Aye, I always bet on princess.” Cleo winks while JJ sticks his tongue into his cheek, before peeking at Pope who immediately shakes his head.

“Don’t bring me into your shenanigans.”

“You used to love my shenanigans,” JJ argues, “Don’t tell me the military done officially made you a hardass, Pope!”

Pope snorts, “No. It’s brought me some sense after five years.”

Alma shares a glance with Cleo. Knowing that the only reason Pope decided to enlist was to avoid the fact that he had to kill in order to survive out in Morocco. Hey, people learn how to cope the best way they knew how and Alma was always the last to judge Pope on that. She was the one who ended Groff’s life for trying to take away the love of her life (twice) and no amount of sleep would erase her actions. Or the amount of anger she had in that moment, the stench of blood and that same blood that once decorated her face. The weight of the blade…

It needed to be done.

She couldn’t make herself regret her actions and that was the scary part.

That was something she wouldn’t talk about with JJ (she didn't want to be the one to bring him anymore pain) or even her therapist…she was very vague on that, yet she had no problem talking about it with Pope. JJ felt a way about that but Cleo tried to convince him not to take it personal.

“Sorry, what was that?” JJ cupped one of his ears, “I fell asleep over your preaching.”

“Yeah, what else is new?” Pope snapped his fingers, “Now hand me that spoon for the green beans.”

“Sir yes sir!” JJ saluted.

Finding that there was no real tension between the two, Alma and Cleo let the two be for a moment, heading into the dining room where the rest were seated, which was a good enough signal for John B to hop up and go fix his own plate.

“Sooo…” John B. said to JJ who leaned against one of the counters to bite into a turkey leg, waiting for the two to finish picking their choices for dinner.

Pope felt a small smile playing on his lips, already getting a sense of what his curly haired friend was hinting at, while he moved on to load some Mac-N-Cheese onto his plate, “Have you set a plan in motion on how you’re going to propose yet?”

JJ immediately shushed the now low-cut haired man, flicking his shoulder, “Sheesh! Can you be any louder?!”

“There’s music playing.” Pope shrugged, as he peered at his blue eyed friend.

Which sounded a whole lot like Cleo’s playlist as laughter rung out from the room down from the kitchen.

“Don’t you know by now that women have supersonic hearing?” The blond says through gritted teeth and glanced over his shoulder.

Pope turned his eyes into slits while John B nodded, “That’s not a thing—

“Pope!” Cleo suddenly called from the dining room, “The cranberry sauce is out here on the dining room table. Alma says the ladle is in one of the drawers—well stuck in the drawer. Bring it here, will ya?”

His natural deep tone radiates off the walls, “Okay, baby!”

“Tanks!” Cleo calls back, which made both JJ and John B send him a pointed look.

Pope exhales and holds one hand out in apology, “I’ll try to keep my voice down…but I am curious.”

“Thanks, Darth Vader,” JJ joked while Pope gives him a blank stare, “Anyway! Y’all know I’ve had the ring for months but there have been times when she almost found it.”

“Guess where the idiot hid it the first time?” John B chuckles as he says this.

Pope sticks his fork into the Mac-N-cheese, “Oh I know this is going to be good.”

The blond ran his teeth over his bottom lip, allowing his friends to poke their fun for a little bit.

“Underneath the bed in one of Alma’s empty shoe boxes and guess who walked around with the pouch that had the ring in their mouth?” John B continued inquiring Pope who simply shrugged.

“Don’t say Little J?”

“No! Binx.” John B laughs while JJ rolled his fingers around at the mention of the charcoal gray cat Alma adopted three years ago.

JJ wanted some big ass dog originally and it was still in the works. It only made sense that Alma was a cat girlfriend who wanted a cat. It was the best emotional support animal in Alma’s opinion but JJ actually wouldn’t have minded an iguana or even a hedgehog! The pair often checked on Kiara’s turtle when she went off to New York or D.C. when her parents couldn’t. So the couple knew how to take care of Little J, some pets, and each other but marriage? Felt like an even bigger step, which is why JJ constantly backed out. Finding every excuse in the world to not do it.

Granted they were still young but JJ couldn’t picture anyone else being his wife. It was never a question of him not wanting to do it, it was his own self-doubts of if he was even worthy to have this kind of love. It still felt like a dream most days, when he found his mind wandering off as he gazed at Alma lovingly while she carried on doing something around the home or even when she was just sitting underneath him talking about anything. Even when they got into arguments, JJ wouldn't want to go to bed angry and that said a lot since his temper often got the best of him.

The only pair that were in an official union on paper was Sarah and John B who eloped not long after Lisbon. Of course it was never a competition when it came to all of the relationships, there was nothing but admiration and respect for all, however they all believed that the ones next in line should definitely be JJ and Alma.

It was already secretly voted by the rest.

“Alright, if you two are done cackling like some damn hyenas! We have a dinner to get to.” JJ tells his friends who were in fact sharing a good ‘ol laugh.

John B holds a hand out, “Aw don’t be like that man!”

“I’m not bein’ like nothing. We just got to get this show on the road, ya know?” The blond lets out a wolf whistle with a swirl of his finger.

Pope adds, “Look…whenever you do choose to do it, just know that we always got your back.”

“And Binx. They seem to be the extra push you need to just do it already.” John B joked with a wink which made JJ send him a special middle finger as they all start to leave.

“Wait! The ladle.” JJ tells Pope, who spins back around to enter the kitchen at his instruction, “It’s the drawer on the end by the window, there’s a special trick you gotta—

Pope ends up flinging himself back with the drawer handle now in his hand. The friends look at each other in silence.

“…I’m telling Alma you broke that.”

“Are you forreal?!” Pope yells at his back while JJ nods his head and speeds walks out of the kitchen. .𖥔 ݁ ˖ .𖥔 ݁ ˖ .𖥔 ݁ ˖ .𖥔 ݁ ˖ .𖥔 ݁ ˖ .𖥔 ݁ ˖ .𖥔 ݁ ˖ .𖥔 ݁ ˖ .𖥔 ݁ ˖ .𖥔 ݁ ˖ .𖥔 The dinner is as peaceful as can be, chatting about what everyone had going on, random topics, and of course old memories. There was even a phone call in from Mr. Heyward who of course invited everyone to spend actual thanksgiving down at their house, if anybody didn’t have any plans. A FaceTime call also came in from Joey who just had to hear about JJ and Sarah’s objective to battle it out with the night games Alma and JJ had planned.

Joey of course betted on JJ.

The games ranged from: Making turkey hands with Little J = Sarah’s team (Sarah, John B, Cleo, and Rafe—who mainly wanted to keep score rather than participate) won that one of course, Dance telephone happened before the drinks = JJ’s team won that (JJ, Alma, Pope, and Kiara), a little break was taken after that until Kiara wanted to film a Cuff it challenge for TikTok, where Cleo had to switch sides for a moment to redeem her team losing but John B argued that wasn’t part of the games and JJ didn’t want to hear any of that, calling him a sore loser which ended up with the two wrestling on the floor and shit-talking, then came the creating the best beverage of the night and guessing who it belonged to, who ever got the most votes for that drink and whatever team they were on got the point.

Rafe, JJ, and Cleo all made the strongest drinks. Sarah made the weakest but sweetest drink, Kiara’s was a sneak up on you kind of drink, John B and Pope’s tasted similar since they used alike ingredients, and Alma pranked them all with her holiday fruit water that she forgot to take out of the fridge, demanding that they needed to be hydrated after indulging in JJ, Rafe, and Cleo’s drink back to back. She was automatically disqualified but she was fine dancing with Little J anyway. It unfortunately didn’t come down to what tasted the best but immediately to which one was going to give them a hangover for days…it came close but ultimately the point went to Sarah’s team.

A few more games were dived into: who could blow out the tea light candles the farthest in one breath, stacking cups the fastest with little J participating in before he was ready to go to bed, which Rafe surprisingly stepped up and said he would do, then came the game of head shoulders knees and toes cup—which is basically Simon says and whichever opponent touches the cup first wins, backstabber karaoke where you have to sing the lyrics correctly without looking at the screen, that included Alma getting a nice serenade of, “Leave The Door Open,” from JJ which funny enough unlocked a memory from their high school years, since Alma still has the biggest crush on Bruno Mars and JJ tried to persuade that he sounded better.

Once it was Alma’s turn and she shared a sip of JJ’s horrible concoction, that gave her more faith to belt a ballad as well from Celine Dion, “The Power of love,” but everyone knew they should have left the vocals to Kie anyway. It was shaky on both teams and some accusing the other of cheating just like the game prior but they gave it to Sarah’s team only because they knew the lyrics better!

The final game was: Drunk jeopardy and it was also pretty close until it was Alma’s choice to pick the last category which was: Random for 500.

Rafe reads the question with his head tilted to the side in puzzlement, after tapping out on the games, “What would you say if JJ asked to marry you?”

Kiara, Sarah, and Cleo all shared a gasp and latched into each other once they realized what was happening. John B was tipsy so he slapped his hands against his face, slowly trying to piece together what was going on right now.

Alma widened her low-lidded eyes, in search of JJ to see what was about to occur. She didn’t peak at any of the questions when this board got delivered to their house earlier this week but she never expected this type of question to be here.

A tap to her thigh, makes her look down to see JJ already down on his knee with his hand held out. Alma doesn’t hesitate placing hers in his warm and slightly sweaty one, which JJ intertwined with his own while holding onto a cream colored pouch.

“Hi, Kit.” That nickname fell softly from JJ’s lips as he addressed his woman.

Alma felt her heartbeat in her ears and she was positive that JJ could probably feel that rhythm radiating through their joined hands. “Hey, JJ babe.”

JJ sniffs as he looks down at their hands briefly, “You have no idea how much I’ve been going back and forth in my mind on when to do this.”

Cleo pauses the music from her phone, while Kiara pulls out her phone to record, and Sarah rushes over to John B to plop into his lap and hold onto him.

“Like John B said…Binx even wanted me to just do it.” JJ looks up at Alma, his eyes already appeared watery as he carries on, “So we’re here, months later, finally finding the nerve to ask you. I’m not the best with words as you know yet my mouth always gets me in trouble.”

“Absolutely.” Kiara comments just to be shushed by Pope who still nods his head in agreement and amusement.

JJ gets rid of his glare the moment he peers over at Alma, “We’ve had a lot of conversations high and not high about what the future looked like and I always struggled not knowing or having any ideas…until you became this permanent force in my life. You make me better, want to be better, and make me see that life is worth so much more than the pessimistic thoughts that like to get the best out of me.”

Alma squeezes his hand in encouragement.

“You had my heart way before you even knew it. I tried to fight it too but when you want something bad enough? You’re real sneaky at getting it.” JJ laughs, with Alma echoing, “You’ve always known what you’ve wanted and even now I’m still in disbelief that you choose me time and time again.”

“Don’t be.” Alma whispers but molds her lips into her mouth, not wanting to interrupt.

JJ continues, “We’ve been through some shit, huh?”

Everyone murmurs.

“Yet we still get to tell the story and you’re a huge piece of it. My joy, my whole entire heart. I’m thankful for you showing me what love is, it can be: tender, kind, unpredictable, to the bone, and wholesome. I like comin’ home to you, ya know? You’re always running around in my head with those damn claws of yours that shockingly haven’t poked my damn eye out. Still they know how to leave their mark, don’t they baby?” He wiggles his brows up at the dark haired woman, whose mouth drops a bit with a laugh as she reaches out to playfully swat at his shoulder.

JJ laughs, “What I’m trying to wrap this up into is…I love you so much and you told me you wouldn’t know what to do without me. You almost had that experience…”

Which makes the room appear solemn for a moment at the horrifying memory. That’s what it was and that’s where they needed to keep it.

“The truth is I barely know what to do without you when we’re only a few hours apart. That lets me know, I need you in my life for eternity and a helluva lot more after that. So…Alma belle Layton, would you make me the luckiest man of all time and be my wife?”

Everyone waited with bated breath but JJ’s stomach was in the form of biggest knots. If he didn’t get an answer soon, he might just let it all go right here…sorry you guys!

JJ managed to pull the ring out from the pouch with one hand and teeth. Alma didn’t even need to see the ring because her blank face quickly split into a wide grin that always reached her eyes.

“Duh,” she finally answers bringing her forehead to JJ’s who finally let his shoulders relax.

Claps and whistles were heard all over the living room, leaving JJ to scramble to his feet, with shaky hands he slips the ring onto Alma’s finger. She bounces on her toes, giggling as she locks her arms over JJ’s shoulders, their noses softly bumped against each other’s as they breathed each other in before connecting their lips.

This kiss felt different, like a whole new promise and the static that tingled their lips only made their smiles wider.

“I love you Jeremiah James Maybank and I won’t let you forget it.” Alma whispers against his lips.

JJ feels his whole chest fill with warmth while he nods, “I think I’m finally starting to get that, buttercup.”

Alma throws herself against him tightly, lightly scratching at his back with her nails as he holds onto the woman of his dreams.

Their hug becomes even fuller as the rest of their friends circle them with hugs of their own.

Alma pulls back to flash the ring, which she didn’t even look at, just thrilled that JJ needed her to be his wife.

“I’m a fiancée, y’all!” Alma models her ring which makes JJ send a dimpled smile her way, and all the guys roughly pull and shake JJ around in a congratulating manner.

“I actually got my Poguey for life. WOOO-HOO! YEAH!” JJ cheers with his fists thrown up in the air.

The three girls had their heads trained down on Alma’s trilliant engagement ring.

“You did nice, pretty boy.” Cleo observes, sending her friend a thumbs up.

Kiara nods as she continues to hold Alma’s hand, “JJ’s always had the most questionable taste in pretty much everything but it’s a blessing to see that he made the right choice with you.”

“What kind of compliment is that?” JJ yells out to the taller girl out of the group.

Kiara innocently shrugs her shoulders with a grin.

“We’re officially sisters, AlmBelle!” Sarah is a giggly mess with her chin buried in Alma’s shoulder, while hugging her from behind.

Alma smiles resting her cheek back against Sarah’s.

Rafe glanced at the ring on his way by with his lips pushed out, plastic cup still in hand, “Not bad for a pogue, Maybank.”

“You know what, Rafe?” JJ starts in a tone that makes everyone turn their attention to the blond’s words, “…I’m too happy right now to even want to kick your ass so…happy thanksgiving man.”

Rafe snickers as he gazes up at the turkey leg headband the younger man now had on his head, they side eye each other until Rafe raises his cup in a silent congratulatory manner.

“I’m gonna check on the kid.” Rafe informs the group of friends, stopping to look over his shoulder to see the most loyal of friends express their joy over this new found chapter in their lives.

Everyone stops to just sit with each other for a while before the cleanup starts. Alma has her eyes closed as JJ presses kisses all over her cheek, arms locked around her hips while they lounged on the couch.

They were rightfully in their bubble right now.

“I won’t really be able to keep my hands off you now, Mrs.” He says into her ear.

Alma smiles, “Don’t.”

“Promise you’ll return the favor?” JJ’s got that cute dimple peeking out on his cheek.

Alma shifts to rest her legs over JJ’s lap, “You’re not going anywhere as long as I have something to say about it.”

He runs one hand down the length of her faux leather covered thigh, “I like the sound of that.”

And this is just a page in what should have been the perfect love story.

Sarah smiles at the two from across the room on another sofa, John B was already snoring against her shoulder. It was safe to say that JJ’s team won the Friendsgiving games tonight. Her almond eyes watched as Alma held onto JJ’s jaw as he animatedly talked, probably about his path to getting the ring. There was such a softness in Alma’s eyes as she gently nodded along, listening to the blond she took the time to love.

JJ Maybank was home.

.𖥔 ݁ ˖ .𖥔 ݁ ˖ .𖥔 ݁ ˖ .𖥔 ݁ ˖ .𖥔 ݁ ˖ .𖥔 ݁ ˖ .𖥔 ݁ ˖ .𖥔 ݁ ˖ .𖥔 ݁ ˖ .𖥔 ݁ ˖ .𖥔

[ciceroprofacto]

Castling

Manhattan, February 1774 - Part 1

'Tonight's company' entailed what had to be half of the city's nobility. 

If New York had such a thing as aristocrats, this was them. Alexander recognized a handful of familiar faces from Elizabethtown as the Livingston's frequent visitors. He recognized another handful only as familiar names from the balancing sheets of Beekman and Creuger- who were also apparently in attendance.

Both hands full, he occupied himself with listening, observing, nodding along and politely shaking or kissing hands when offered.

Mulligan stayed by his side through countless introductions, gentlemen and ladies in their finest, dresses and embroidery and perfumes and powders. As a student and a tailor they were not these aristocrats' interest for the night, but they made pleasant conversation with them anyway while everyone waited for their meal to be served. All exceedingly polite, imminently important, somewhat familiar, and entirely forgettable.

Miles Cooper was indeed there, along with James Rivington and his wife Elizabeth, but so were Isaac Sears and his wife Sarah Drake, John Lamb and Catherine Jardine, George Clinton and Cornelia, Alexander McDougall and Hanna Botswick, Phillip Schuyler and Catherine van Rensselaer and his business prodigy William Duer, James Duane of the Manhattan Chancery Court with Mary Livingston, his friend James de Lancey, and Lancey’s rival Lewis Morris, Lewis’s brothers Staats, Richard, and Gouverneur who was the first familiar face Alexander had seen and the only person he knew well enough to linger near.

His smile was starting to ache, so he grabbed Mulligan’s wrist for a reprieve.

Mulligan looked at him and then up to Gouverneur who had been attending to Sarah and Sally while their fiancé and husband talked a few paces away. “I’ve been a negligent host to our young friend.” Mulligan confided to the young lawyer. “He’s without a drink,” he said, “Would you-”

“Of course! Come, Alex- we were just congratulating Sally on her recent triumph over the ton.”

Right…Alexander had heard about John Jay’s proposal just a month ago. He had very little direct contact with the Livingstons since he had decided to enroll at Kings- too Anglican for their association- but Kitty kept him involved. Barely eligible for a year and Sally was to be married to one of the brightest lawyers of their generation. He reached to take her hand. “A triumph indeed,” he said, gently brushing his lips to her lace glove.

“It is so good to see you, Alex,” she said, lowering her voice as if it was a confession.

He supposed it was. Calling him anything but ‘Mister Hamilton’ in their present company was closer to scandalous than his attention deserved and she knew it. But, her familiarity did make this stuck-up place feel more-comfortable.

Sally was a darling girl and a tender friend. Though he hadn’t been able to return the compliment, Alexander wasn’t oblivious to the favor she’d paid him while he boarded with her family. Innocent and aimless as it was. He’d felt her gaze at times, watching from the window while he recited latin speeches and poems to himself in the garden. He knew it had little to do with his private performances and far more to do with the vision of him generally- because he felt those same stares when he was simply sitting and reading. But, he would never pity a girl stationed so far above him for her feelings, and when he had disclosed his suspicions, hoping to warn her against them, she assured him that she wanted nothing more than fraternal love from him.

Which he was delighted to give.

Tonight, Sally was a vision in her bright green dress. It made her youth all the more stark, especially in their current company. It was no wonder that Kitty had been glad for Alex to be in New York, here to assist the scheming on her behalf as a brother should.

In the city, where men “could find all sorts of diversions to keep them from marriage until they’re rotting in their boots”, a preeminent bachelor of thirty was not a bad catch at all for a capable hunter like Sally.

Unfortunately, Livingston women were captives of their ton and the rules of courtship, dependent on fathers and brothers for introductions to suitors. Perhaps Alex had lacked the status to make such introductions, but he was a gallant defender. If not the Sword, at least the Shield, capable of subtly repelling the undesirables on her behalf. If the matter had been left up to Gouverneur alone, Kitty worried her sister might end up with a man four times her age.

Jay moved so slowly, there was a time that Alexander had feared she might. The older suitors were the hardest to deter.

Meanwhile, Gouverneur was so sure he’d orchestrated the grand match completely by himself, “All that I’ve seen of him at the practice, he’s kind and dedicated to the right. A true, honest man,” he was saying. ��Which are so rare to find these days.”

“True. Women must make their own more often than not,” Sarah Drake Sears agreed. "Honest men that is."

“If only we were allowed to the bar-" Sally said, smiling tauntingly, "better yet, to sit at the bench. It would take a judge to make Gouverneur honest.”

Jay had stepped in closer at his fiancé’s side, near enough to hear her jab. “My ears were itching a moment ago, but now I’m not sure I want to hear why…” he said.

He'd brought Sears along with him to supervise their wives' ribbing. The gracefully-aging sea-captain-made-merchant wasn’t looking at Alexander, and yet still, being so close to the man that practically owned the city’s fealty, Alex's lungs felt tight.

To his credit, Morris had recovered quickly. “I was telling your darling Miss Livingston just how lucky she is to make your match, but now she's got me questioning the very concept of wives."

The glint in Jay's eyes cast a small warning towards Sally not to drive the knife too deep, but Sears was openly amused.

"A tricky one, I agree. Especially with one so quick-tongued and rudely beautiful." It should have been an insult, and from anyone else it might have, but Sally was pressing down a flustered smile against the King's harmless attentions. Sears turned to Morris to say, "Women age like wine. I would advise you to find a match that's been held in reserve a little longer, though there is something to be said for a crisp bite to the pallet."

"I do prefers sweets myself..." Gouverneur said. "But, if the freshest fruit wants to bite my pallet who am I to complain?"

"Incorrigible," Jay's eyes rolled. "I fear for your future wife."

“We all do," Alex heard his own voice tumbling out before he could stop it. "But, he's so far from marrying, I'm sure his future wife hasn’t even been born yet.”

No one laughed.

The joke sunk in slowly and they all just stared.

There was a line somewhere back there and Alexander would very much like to be back on the other side of it.

Gouverneur's lips had parted, uncharacteristically speechless.

Sally's brow had pinched in a mix of confusion and concern. Alex could see the moment his cruel meaning struck her because her face flushed.

Sarah Drake was shaking her head and her husband was struggling to press down a pinched smirk at Gouverneur's expense.

Jay was entirely unamused.

This wasn't Bill Livingston's parlor. If there was one thing that Alexander had learned from his days there, it was that humor was delicate in this echelon of society. Familiarity was fleeting and grace was a thin mask, easily shed. The Livingstons tolerated his rough-hewn edges because his wit could be good fun in private, but in front of their peers...

He didn't say another word. Turned and strode away as fast as his legs would carry him without running.

Mulligan was in his escape path, carefully holding two crystal wine glasses. His eyes widened, and he spun to fall into step beside him until they reached a secluded corner.

Then immediately, "What happened?"

"This is not my scene," Alex said, facing the wall. He pinched his temple, ran his thumb and finger sidelong over his eyes, then squeezed the bridge of his nose as if that might soothe the lingering urge to flee. "I can't play this part and I need to be recast. Immediately. Look- I thought I saw Marinus Willett here," a classmate that he had spotted, talking to the most unfortunately-shaped British officer that Alex had ever seen. "Give him my notes- he can talk to Sears. Make him your pen."

Mulligan's gaze was lost, confused and worried. "Did someone say something?"

"I did! I..." Alex shook his head. He sighed, took a breath, and reached for the wine glass perched in Mulligan's fingers then emptied it in one wide gulp. "I made an ass of myself. Unwittingly cruel to Gouverneur Morris. Deserved or not, it wasn't well done."

"I see..."

"This is not like drawing rooms and dinner talk," he said. "I could explain the Tea Party there. I can dominate the conversation if it pleases a room of friends, but this is something else altogether. These people are...you should have told me what to expect, I don't..." have anything to say.

For a long moment, Mulligan was quiet, just stared at him and then handed him the second glass and took away the first.

The alcohol helped, and it had to be the most flavorful wine Alexander had ever had. He looked at his glass.

The surprise must have shown on his face because, "Lamb's," Mulligan explained. "He provided the wine for tonight. Indisputable taste in vintage. That's why the import business has made him rich."

Alex finished the glass and handed it over.

He should slow down, shouldn't get drunk here, but Mulligan just gave him a sturdy smile. "Y'know, John Lamb's father was a thief- an indentured servant because of it, shipped with his wife to America for burglary just before John was born. Everyone knows it. He'll even talk about it if you ask."

Alex turned back to the parlor to search the crowd for the man in question. Tall, and broad yet he held himself gracefully as anyone else in the room, with round cheeks and a long smiling face. Another titan in human form.

"If this were England, there'd be no accounting for a man out of that background standing in this room, with these men, providing them with his wine. Any gentleman in this room could secure his wines and trade them- could do it easier with far more-ready access to any vintage they'd like to sample. Their tastes have been refined since they were children given their first sips of the grape. But, he's here, and do you know why?"

Alex was far too used to the tailor's roundabout ways of making his point to let himself be this intrigued by the journey.

"Because he can write." Mulligan reached down and fixed some invisible defect in the way Alexander's collar was laying. "His advertisements were poetry. His descriptions alone could make your mouth water more than a draft of the strongest rum. His words made him rich and his wealth made him powerful."

Turning to face the crowd as well, Mulligan put himself beside Alexander and pointed into another group of conversing gentlemen.

"Do you know who that is?"

He shouldn't. Recognizing faces in this room would imply that Alexander had been watching the streets for his social superiors. Gossiping. The whole point of being at King’s was to finish his education quickly and catch up with his peers. But, with a host like Hercules Mulligan, one couldn’t avoid certain stories and when one knew certain stories, one knew to look for certain faces. "Alexander McDougall."

"Mmn, indeed. The Wilkes of America.”

In this house, on the end of John Street, Alexander was standing in the shadow of Golden Hill. Here, just a few years ago, the Sons of Liberty had put up such a stand that certain names were embedded into the city's collective memory, Isaac Sears, John Lamb, Alexander McDougall. They had become symbols of bravery and resistance. More legends than men.

"To the Betrayed Inhabitants' was him," Mulligan said. "So, the force that pamphlet drew out, the energy and power that it stirred, that was his too. It's words, my boy. We all have them, but if you can get yourself the chance to use them wisely, they turn themselves into power."

Alex knew that well enough. Of course he knew- he'd had a taste of it already, just enough to get him into this party, but, "My words are the problem tonight," he said. "When they come from my hands, I can control them...my mouth is another story."

That earned a sympathetic laugh, "No, I suppose that's true. Oratory is quite a different beast from writing, and we both know where your talents lie. The voice is the rudest publisher- no retractions, no edits..."

"I can just write my piece for Cooper and submit a separate one to publish," Alex said.

"You can, and you certainly will, but not without a pseudonym unless you want to lose your course at Kings," Mulligan pointed out. "The point of bringing you here was precisely this. Showing these men the origin of your thoughts so that, when they make it to print- they have no doubts who wrote them."

"I can't speak those thoughts to them if I can't get into a conversation without putting my foot in my mouth."

"Which is why we are going back." Before Alex could protest, Mulligan had a hand on his shoulder, gently steering him back into the crowd towards where Morris and Sears were now talking. "Maybe you can't take back whatever you said, but...you can always amend it. Give it more fabric until it forms a desirable shape..."

Apologize or lie. That was all he was saying, but as they came back to Gouverneur, Sears and his wife, Alexander searched for Sally as they walked- the one person he truly should apologize to. But, she and Jay had moved on to a new circle.

Still. He knew what fabric to sew and how to let it lay, an admission, a concession, sacrifice, apologies and lies. He came to a stop in front of Gouverneur, and as soon as he had his attention, said- "I'm sorry I was rude to you and vulgar." Then he looked at Isaac and Sarah. "You are my host and I was offensive in your home against my own friend. I stepped away from it because I did not know what to say to make that right."

"It's alright, Alex-"

Before Gouverneur could stop him, Alex held up a hand to let him finish.

The young lawyer stepped back and folded his hands.

"It's not alright. I need to confess, the topic of marriage has vexed me since Sally debuted. You are aware of how her family welcomed me when I came from St Croix. Without intrinsic connections, I was their boarder, but more than that, when I had none of my own, they were my family. So, Mister Morris, you must understand, the duty that you were able to fulfill to Sally as a gentleman is one that I envy."

This was not a secret he ever expected to trade, but this performance was working. His small audience was hooked, waiting to be reeled in with the story and feeling. Sarah in particular was studying him with a certain consideration that had him convinced he was transparent to her. Yet still, she was watching.

So, he laid it on thick, "I have no sisters of my own, but I once did."

They were words Alexander hadn't spoken aloud in half a decade. Yet here he was, offering up this piece of himself for the good graces of powerful strangers. It felt worse than groveling.

"She would be a few years younger than Sally now, and I just think...if she were alive, she would be eligible next year. With me as her brother, so distant and untethered in this place, her prospects would be dismal. Girls are held so helpless in this world, and when Kitty asked you to look out for Sally...I resented being helpless too."

Gouverneur obviously didn't know what to say.

So, "I know this doesn't excuse my rudeness. I just thought, if you knew it was envy, you might more easily forgive-"

"Water under the bridge." Gouverneur pulled Alex under his arm and squeezed him by the shoulders tightly, dragging him into the fold.

Alex got a final glimpse of Mulligan's smirk as he slipped off to talk to Willett and the vulture-like officer he was engrossed with.

The conversation became a whirlwind from there.

Gouveneur and Issac were already speaking of politics. They were unrestrained in his company. With the rest of their guests at a safe distance to speak candidly, it took nearly no effort for Alex to learn why it had been so important to recruit a reporter who had seen the state of Boston Harbor.

The Sons of Liberty had been awaiting a similar shipment of tea from the East India Trading Company in New York Harbor for months. Their shipment had, unfortunately, been delayed in arrival, allowing the Bostonian Sons to act first and take center stage, but Sears and McDougall were feverishly planning their own performance.

With time to prepare their case before taking action, they were looking, not just for writers, but for agents on the ground, capable of spreading information through other means besides print and collecting information from corners of the city which would become increasingly inaccessible to them- Anglican corners.

Arguments would have counterarguments, and counterarguments needed prepared defenses.

The servants had finished setting the tables for dinner, and their hosts excused themselves to oversee their meal's arrangement before the procession into the dining room.

It was a show of grandeur, the lords and ladies marching in to their places at the feast. Music and talking and tasting exotic dishes. Knowing how much control the people at this table held over the rabble outside the doors, how much of their scheming was done in quiet conversations and casual dealings, Alexander tried to hear as much as possible while seeming as unassuming as he could. With Mulligan at his side, bragging about fitting the governor for a new suit, asking about a visiting theater troupe's upcoming playbill, joking about the latest cases at the chancellory court, it was easy to fit in.

As a student in one of the most Anglican universities in America, Alexander was understanding the role Mulligan saw for him, but his time in Sears' eyes had been so short, he felt keenly insecure about it.

Throughout the meal, he smiled and strained, not knowing for sure if his place here was an ephemeral illusion. If he would return to his small room above Mulligan's foyer, shed these fancy clothes, return to his books, and be forgotten to everyone he'd met tonight.

He knew he couldn't impress them when the dancing began. But, there was one sure way to know if he had made an impression on Sears...

After the last course was served, parties began rising from their tables and milling about, resuming previous conversations and drawing one another away from the dinning room to go visit the great hall where strings were beginning to play.

As her guests departed, the lady of the house lingered behind to continue directing the servants. Sarah Drake was a thin brunette with a round face and laughter lines framing her eyes.

Alex lingered long enough for her to notice him before he approached. He'd kissed her hand when he was first introduced, but he did it again now. “I was told I shouldn’t call your husband King tonight, but am I allowed to call you Queen?”

She laughed, a delicate, melodic sound, and leaned in to confide, “I'm sure you know there's little love for monarchs here, but if this were a game of chess, I rightfully would be one.”

Alex smiled because she was indulging him and it was delightful. “I agree. I assumed he had you making his most important moves. The wives so often are."

She gave a small laugh, dodging his eyes, but it was confirmed, if not outright. “There are advantages to your sex’s tendency to underestimate mine," she said. "The Queen can always travel further in directions where the King is limited."

"Quite true, and her placement commands the other pieces just as much as his," Alex agreed. Perhaps her husband would not tell him what role he could play, but, "She determines the strength of their defenses, and the best angles for attack. Since she moves in every way, and guards just by her proximity, when you have her protection, you're free to move at will. There is something to be said for a woman's leadership in war."

That finally earned her gaze, locked onto his. "That's a word that will set people on edge if you're not careful."

"I don't think I need to be careful with you...I feel quite protected."

She held his eyes steadily for another moment before breaking away to direct a slave that was carrying a bowl of pastries towards the kitchen to take it out to the great hall instead.

Alexander waited, clasped his hands behind his back.

She returned to him, leaning lower and dropping her voice. "There's an excellent little bakery on Cherry Street. I recommend you purchase their brioche tressée on Wednesday. If you find yourself with inquiries about it... Miss Lottie knows the recipe."

Alex nodded firmly, sealing the deal more resolutely than any handshake between businessmen.

[icycoldninja]

MGS2!Raiden x Deadpool-like!Reader headcannons

Note: this is part 2 of another request for @aline1701

-Raiden thought you were insanely annoying the first time he met you.

-He even considered transferring out of that unit just so he could get away from you.

-Turns out, you are far more competent than he initially thought. Despite your goofy behavior, you get the job done.

-You have accuracy that is far better than his, which is incredible since he's been shooting a gun since he could walk.

-It's amazing how you heal immediately after every attack. One would think you were cyborgnetically enhanced, or something.

-You're incredibly agile, too, hopping around the place like gravity doesn't affect you. It's a good thing to have when you're in a fight, but otherwise, Raiden thinks you act like a toddler who ate too much sugar.

-You're immortal, meaning you can't die, meaning Raiden will have no guilt in using you as a human shield.

-Though, there is the issue with you outliving all your loved ones. Maybe someday, there will be a way for both of you to live forever.

-Depsite your flaws and awfully inappropriate jokes, Raiden still thinks you're pretty damn cool.

-What he hates the most about you is when you start running around, teasing your enemies instead of dispatching them.

[rogunetocentral]

Classic X-Men #12 Title: "A Fire in The Night" Credits: Chris Claremont -Writer. John Bolton- Penciler.

[auseyre]

Prompt 8-Favorite Scene part 2

Bits that make me scream

Vegas putting his gun in his non-dominant hand because Pete shot him to keep him from using his gun hand. He expects to die right here but Korn of course won't even let him have that.

Kinn and Pete paralleling, asking Porsche and Vegas not to pull a gun on Korn in exactly the same way.

Pete wanting to run after Vegas immediately but realizing that he has to do this properly to appease Korn and for his own sense of duty to some extent.

Pete thanking Korn for his mercy in not killing Vegas - yeah this one breaks me. Legitimately if any character in the entire series should be the next head of the mob, it's Pete.

I consider this one long, perfect scene.

[bi-the-wei]

Let 👏 Lan 👏 Wangji 👏 Be 👏 Silly 👏

[lestatisprince]

...and then I uploaded it finally and forgot it in my drafts😅.

Here is my edited audio of the end of episode 4.

I made it in my video software so I couldn't save just a audio file unfortunately but that's all it is.

[tarabyte3]

Liam + Longing (pt 2)

Andy Serkis as Liam Black, The Accused (2010)

Link to part 1

[cherrryem]

(source)

[nordsea-horizons]

the next step of flattening is the cleaning part and this is what i feel like might cause burnout since it is.. a little boring! removing path and cliffs especially(tho moving trees and flowers can be enjoyable..)

i do these next things while moving buildings and cleaning each area, with the purpose of avoiding the flattening burnout🍃

step 1 is gardening! unless you love a completely flat island its nice to have some trees and flowers saved☘️

it also helps get you started for the new builds later✨

step 2 is moodboards and new pathing! do something to inspire you and remind you of the new ideas that made you decide to flatten! i often just do a cluttered item collecting area! it still has that effect i think..

also helps me feel like im working towards something while the island is a mess lol

step 3 is accept that your island will look "bad" while you change things up..

i tend to be pretty quick to do the first build i have planned for the new theme! it makes me look forward to the creative part and accept that its gonna take a minute to get the island ready for new things🌱 patience is needed for flattening too✨ its meant to be a fun challenge not the thing that makes you leave the game after all💛

2/2

[bobbie-robron]

As you said… (Part 2)

Doctor Who | The Church on Ruby Road