#Taylor has not reached the limits ���that’s the simple way of saying it

[itspileofgoodthings]

tags continued from prev post.

[impossiblesuitcase]

I hope you’re okay impossiblesuitcase <3 While I don’t want to be involved in this controversy/ discussion nor give my input, I wanted to tell you that your opinions are also valid. I don’t believe simple things someone chooses to do should define who they are as a person, but at the same time I suppose everyone has their own opinion/take on matters that I will not interfere with. From what I’ve seen of your account, you don’t seem to be racist, especially since you seem to have quite the knowledge on cultural aspects of the characters, but that’s just my pov. I agree that certain actions are unacceptable and should not be supported, however I also think that pointing fingers should have its limits. My parents are people of color too and they listen to swift’s music when it comes on the radio, but they are not racist. They do not even know of the issues surrounding the artist, and I wouldn’t go as to say they are expected to educate themselves on her. I think the other user has some points about the singer that I did not previously know of, which I must say did change my image of her, and I think their view on the matter is also valid. However, I think the way they bring awareness to the issue is also problematic in some way, or could at least come off as very harsh. My socials teacher once said that one of the best ways to get to problematic people is to invite them in a way, not start flaming them because that just adds to the fire and conflict. I fear I’ve said too much, but I’m not on anyone’s side necessarily. But I hope you’re alright from the suddenness because I don’t think you had any ill intent when interacting with their account

Thanks for reaching out.

As I previously mentioned, I'm not a blind follower who believes that celebrities are infallible, and certainly not Taylor Swift. I'm not defending her actions, but I don't think that blame should be shifted onto users in the tlc fandom--a completely irrelevant fandom.

I understand that that user was hurt by Taylor's actions and the association with her that several users in the tlc fandom have. That is their right and I don't want it to seem that I am belittling or dismissing their feelings. I simply don't want to get involved, and my innocuous reblogging of their posts (without knowing they blocked me), does not merit a slander spree against me. If they say I'm racist--I know I'm not. If they say I'm a bad writer--that's fine, but it's entirely contradictory to what they said in the past. I have no ill-will against that user and I hope they have a positive experience on their side of the fandom.

edit: I just want to add that this is the last I'll be speaking on this topic. You can send me an ask non-anon and I may answer privately, but overall I don't want this to have any more attention than it's already gotten. Also, to the anon that was going to that user and telling them that I was interacting with their posts: if you were doing it innocently, that's fine, but if you were intending to stir up drama, please leave my blog. That's not what I or my other mutuals are here for.

[wkemeup]

I’ve been wanting to do something as a way to give back to the incredibly lovely people who have supported me in my writing, so I landed on hosting a new writing challenge! I haven’t been able to do as much reading on here lately, so I thought this would be a great opportunity to promote my fellow writers and share to an audience who have been so endlessly supportive! 

Rules: 

No need to ‘claim’ prompts! Let me know if you plan to participate and which prompt you’re going with if you’d like (because I’m nosy and excited)! Its not necessary though! Please reblog for signal boost ✨

This is meant to be a way to give back to my followers, so I’d ask that you’d be one of them, but I'm not requiring it. New friends are welcome! 

No limit on number of people per prompts and you can do as many as you’d like! :) 

Open to all Marvel characters and genres including fluff, angst, smut, AUs (*no non/con, dark, or underage) 

Use a ‘read more’ if over 500 words 

Tag @wkemeup and use #kas9kwc when you post your fic! Please send me a message or ask as well because I often lose notifications and may not see it! 

Include your prompt selection in the summary or a/n of your fic. 

Have fun and I can’t wait to see what you do with these prompts!  

Due May 29th 2021 if you’d like to be included in the master list! Otherwise, feel free to join and post whenever! 

Fluff Prompts 

✿ Character A initiates a prank war against Character B. Character B enlists Character C to help get revenge. 

✿ Character A accidentally ends a phone call to Character B with “I love you”  

✿ The moment Character A realizes they love Character B and it’s during the most simple, mundane moment 

✿ Character A reaches out to wipe away something at the edge of Character B’s lip and their thumb lingers longer than intended. Slowly, they lift their gaze to meet [B]’s. They suddenly realize how quiet it is.  

✿ Character A steps out of the elevator carrying paperwork piled up above their eyesight only to run directly into Character B. Papers go flying. Hands touch as they pick up the last folder. 

✿ Character A is feeling insecure about how they look. When Character B asks what’s wrong, [A] attempts to explain but [B] is genuinely confused because they can’t imagine a world in which [A] is anything but perfect. 

✿ Character A leaves an embarrassing, drunk message on Character B’s voicemail and spends the rest of the night trying to discreetly delete it from [B]’s phone.  

✿ Character A finds out Character B was stood up on a date. [A] is determined to show [B] what a real first date should look like.  

✿ Character A runs a flower shop downtown. Character B is terribly allergic to flowers. 

✿ Character A calls Character B in the middle of the night crying - something they’ve never done before. They’re several states away. [B] gets in the car without hesitation and drives to wherever they are. 

Angst (with a happy ending 🤞🏻) Prompts  

✮ Character A cleans Character B’s wounds after a rough mission. [A]’s fingers linger over scarred muscle as they finish wrapping the bandage.  

✮ Character A is the target of harassment on the street. Shamed, they pretend it doesn’t bother them. Until it happens in the presence of Character B, who reigns hell on whoever dared to upset [A] 

✮ The moment Character A realizes they love Character B and it’s during the most dangerous, inconvenient moment 

✮ Character A is being held hostage. Character B offers to trade themself in [A]'s place.  

✮ Character A is royally pissed off at Character B for being reckless on a mission. They don’t realize until after that amongst the screaming match, [A] confessed that they loved [B]. 

✮ Character A’s current boyfriend/girlfriend/partner mocks Character B for their crush on their best friend, [A]. [B], feeling humiliated, withdraws from the friendship with [A], who is completely oblivious [B] has feelings for them. 

✮ Believing they’re about to die, Character A confesses their feelings for Character B before they pass out.  

✮ Character A has a nightmare that ends up physically harming Character B. [A] refuses to sleep in the same room as [B] again in fear of it happening again.  

✮ Character A is possessed/controlled and attempts to harm Character B. [B] refuses to fight back in fear of hurting [A].  

✮ Character A is studying a fresh, nasty scar in the mirror. Character B approaches from behind, eyes drawn to the wound, an unreadable mix of anger and fear in their eyes as they say, “who did this to you?”  

Kas’ Favorite Artists Prompts

Dermot Kennedy – The Killer Was A Coward  See there's a hero in the crowd / and his heart starts beating loud / Says the killer took his friend / And decides that this is where it ends 

Pheobe Bridgers – Chinese Satellite  I've been running around in circles / Pretending to be myself / Why would somebody do this on purpose / When they could do something else? 

Taylor Swift – This Is Me Trying  I've been having a hard time adjusting / I had the shiniest wheels, now they're rusting / I didn't know if you'd care if I came back / I have a lot of regrets about that 

Hozier – Better Love  And I’ve never loved a darker blue / than the darkness I have known in you, honed in you 

The 1975 – Me & You Together Song  I've been in love with her for ages / And I can't seem to get it right / I fell in love with her in stages / My whole life 

Bleachers – Wake Me  If you're lonely lonely lonely wake me / I can't believe I captured your heart 

The Lumineers – Life in the City And if the sun don't shine on me today / And if the subways flood and bridges break / Will you just lay down and dig your grave? / Or will you rail against your dying day? 

Mumford and Sons – Delta  When it feels like nothing else matters / Will you put your arms around me? 

[river-bottom-nightmare]

Nightwing 79 Review

i said i would and i will. i did like this issue! not as striking and attention grabbing as 78, but i think this issue was meant to be a foundation one, laying out the groundwork for the future. overall, pretty good. also there wasn't enough bitewing. as promised, overly extensive metaphors and me reading too much into things under the cut

i know i've talked about this cover before, but this particular thing is oddly important to me, so i'll talk about it again

this is me, once again screaming about how artists put nightwing in traditionally feminine poses and how every time i see it i just get whiplash. i mean, true, the main reason why is because nightwing is a so often sexualized character, and putting him in these poses just increases the objectification, which is a goal that dc producers have. but there are very few popular male characters that do this. the only one i can think of off the top of my head is deadpool, but that was so obviously a critique and a way to make fun of the media industry. when they draw dick like this, they’re being serious. they’re putting him in appealing poses meant to show him off, and that’s something that’s traditionally only been done to women.

it's a very direct and very loud breaking of traditional gender roles in media, especially for a character as high-profile and historic as dick grayson. colour also plays a factor in this. the entire background is pink. i was absolutely shocked when i first saw it, when the teaser came out, because i cannot think of any comic book covers of male comic heroes this high-profile where pink is even just prevalent in the cover, let alone the majority of the cover. the pink does look beautiful: it offsets and highlights the black and blue of dick's suit gorgeously, but does it with more finesse than orange or red. but the fact that the stylistic choice was made to accent and draw this cover with aesthetic and beauty in mind, completely ignoring traditional hard-set gender rules in art, was a conscious choice and one i wholeheartedly support.

just another example of the sexualization i was talking about. i remember seeing harley quinn in this exact pose in suicide squad.

so far, taylor's been pretty dead-set on bringing alfred to the forefront of importance in this series. he wants people to know how much he loves alfred's character, and how much the butler meant to dick growing up. he was dick's father too. but what i adore is how taylor managed to stress alfred's importance in a way that didn't insult or belittle bruce.

this is one of the best bruce and dick interactions i've seen, and it's done in one simple interaction. in this, bruce is tough and harsh. he knocked dick down hard, but then he reached a hand down and helped pull dick back up. let me analyze their dialogue for a minute

on your feet: this is bruce telling dick to get up. he's trained dick, he knows what the younger boy is capable of, he knows his limits, and he knows what dick can do. this is bruce telling dick i know you're strong enough to get up, so get up and prove me right

are you just going to knock me down again?: surface-level, it looks like dick's complaining. he doesn't like bruce's rough training, and he's tired of bruce knocking him down. but look at his face in this. he's smiling up at bruce, knowledgeable and a little hopeful. he knows that bruce is doing this to help dick better himself, he's completely on board with the rough training, because they both know the rewards are incredible. also, he's teasing. he's bantering with bruce. there's an ease in that joking statement, one that belies affection and intimacy. they've only known each other for a little bit, but they're already slipping into a close familial relationship.

it depends on how fast you learn: this is bruce bantering back. this is bruce not being a stoic, unfeeling asshole. instead, he's shown with the dry humor that a good batman writer knows is a staple of the character. he's teasing dick, telling him he'll basically whoop his ass if dick doesn't learn fast enough. it's incentive for dick to train harder, while also being lighthearted enough to tell dick that believes in dick and doesn't want him to push himself too hard.

gosh i love the titans. also it looks like wally's staring at dick's ass.

this was cute. a prod at dick's silly and playful sense of humor, while not dumbing him down for the sake of a laugh. instead, he's joking about food, which is stuff everyone jokes about. this is the kind of stuff that'll actually make me laugh, instead of just making me vaguely uncomfortable.

bludhaven's almost always portrayed as a cesspool of a city. and to be honest, it really is. but this panel gives the city a meaningful history, while also giving us a reason for why dick moved there.

it talks of a time when people still thought they could beat the monsters. that if they fought hard enough, they could win the fight. it was a tentative hope that you could always overcome hardship.

dick's little "i like that it's still standing" shows how he still believes that, despite what the rest of the world thinks. despite everything that he's been through, dick is still tentatively an optimist, and believes he can fight the monsters of the world and win. it's a beautiful testament to his character, and i'm like that they added his signature element of hope back in. it used to be what he symbolized as robin, and despite his growth and character arc from robin to nightwing, this is one aspect of robin that i'm glad nightwing still has.

remember when i said "things that make me vaguely uncomfortable??" yeahhhh,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Shooketh Dick: A Sequel

(the expressions in this series are just,,,,on point)

this was an incredibly sweet and kindhearted thing for dick to do, but i found it kind of,,,,,,,,desperate? maybe that's just me, but let me explain.

dick's suddenly a billionaire, and he has entirely too much money that he knows what to do with. it's also alfred's money, what the man left to him, so dick forever links it with alfred. in addition to that, he's back and bludhaven and looking at it with "fresh" eyes. (at least, from a different point of view since he got shot in the head. then mind controlled.) he's desperate to do something with the money and he's desperate to help the people around him that so obviously needs up, so he comes up with an on-the-fly solution that's a little impractical and a little crazy, but it still helps and still does some good.

to me, dick seems a little lost. he hasn't completely found his balance yet, and he's trying to do things that will. he tries charity, because that's what bruce did and it's what he knows, even though he admitted that he always thought bruce could have done more as bruce wayne than batman.

they have a family group chat guys yall were right.

also, do i think that dick would ever actually get his wallet stolen?? no way in hell, he’d notice someone getting ready to pickpocket him a mile away. but i suppose it’s important to the Plot. 

okay this is getting interesting. first blockbuster, now maroni (+ the weird heart stealer guy). i can officially say that i am intruiged

this particular artistic quirk is shown a lot in this issue, and from this art team in general, but i feel like this panel is one of the best examples of it. it was stunning enough to take up a full page, and it’s well deserved.

the way they show dick moving is absolutely brilliant. as a reader, i like seeing these smaller versions of dick getting clearer and in more detail as they come closer to the screen. not only do they show depth in the picture beyond what a simple 3 dimensional piece of art does, it also shows the passage of time.

in addition, it showcases dick’s skill. dick spots these mobsters running after a group of petty thieves. he then, and follow me here, leaps off the roof of one building feet first, springboards backwards off the side of the adjacent building with his feet, gracefully continues his backflip, rights himself, shoots a line with perfect timing: just in time to soften his landing but not slow him down, execute said landing on top of a moving bus, keep running on the moving bus without missing a beat, shoot his grapple, use the grapple to swing, use the swing to build up momentum, then use the momentum to deliver a powerful blow to the mobsters. and he did all that fast enough to catch up with the mobsters, even though he was a ROOFTOP OVER. 

d a m n  s o n

this panel, the very first in the issue, is also another example of that art style, but a little more distinctive. i love the way they showed dick’s different costumes through the ages, along with him simply growing up. it’s a little heartbreaking, but a lot uplifting to see how far he’s come. thank god he got rid of the red. now all we need is the fingerstripes, and we’ll be golden

discowing my beloved. also i can’t clearly see discowing’s hair but it definitely looks like it’s pulled back. it looks like he put it in a ponytail. guys. guys. dick had a ponytail omg. 

he’s having a Hero Moment

are you talking about the city, dick, or are you talking about you? the kgbeast, the court, the joker. dick fell to each one of them, no matter how hard he fought. he won in the end, eventually and with his family’s help. but i think he’s feeling a little low, a little defeated right now. it’s almost like he needs a win, he needs to feel victorious, he needs to feel like he helped someone (hence the food and the hotel room), just because he needs to remember what it feels like.

these lines were supposed to resonate with you, and goddamn they did.

i looked at it from two ways. first, it’s the girl asking, begging nightwing not to hurt them. bludhaven doesn’t know dick the way gotham does, they’re still a little frightened of him. this child was brave enough to step in front of all of the other hurt and homeless kids and ask, to a strange man in a mask, if he was going to hurt them like the other men had. it’s heartbreaking, but commendable, and an echo of the city itself that dick’s decided to protect. they’re bloody and broken and terrified, but still gritty and brave enough to stare what they fear in the eye and ask it not to hurt them.

second, it’s dick seeing the question reflected in himself. recently, he got shot in the head and lost all his memories. while i think that the way ric reacted was a perfectly valid and human response to the situation, i think dick still regrets how callously and rudely he treated his family. then, he was manipulated by the court of owls, then he was brainwashed with a magic crystal by the joker. dick does have a guilt complex. it’s not a big as bruce’s, but it’s there. and right now, with this girl begging her not to hurt them, dick is probably thinking about all the times he hurt people, in control of his own actions or not, bc he “didn’t have a heart.” 

little ambitious don’t you think, dick?

also just look at the sunset colours loOK at the they could not make this any more obvious oh my godddddddddddddddddddddddd

in conclusion, i need more of her

[boldlyvoid]

Amoreena | Chapter fifteen

Chapter 15: stand-alone honeymoon smut**

Chapter Summary/Warnings: spencer's overwhelmed from the day, so is y/n but it's their honeymoon after all... going speechless from anxiety, dom reader vibes, sub spencer, oral (female receiving), dirty talk, daddy kink, breeding kink if you squint, gentle sex, then rough sex, it's a wild ride y'all

word count: 1.5k

from the beginning <3

They’re laying on a blanket as they look up at the stars, silently. His thumb gliding over her hand as he holds it, he’s had such a long and eventful day that he doesn’t know how to speak anymore. They’ve just been cuddling outside and eating homemade pizza in complete silence and a part of Spencer feels like an asshole for not talking to her, but it doesn’t look like she wants to talk to him either.

She’s perfectly content with just being close to him.

She rolls onto her side, hand still in his as she looks at him softly, “bedtime?”

“Sleep?” He raises his eyebrows and she knows what he means.

“both,” she smiles.

It’s so simple with her that he knows it's true love.

They sneak back inside quietly, it’s a little after 1 now and not a creature was stirring, not even the cats. They tiptoed down the hall towards their room, closing the door softly before flicking the light on.

She tugs her sweater over her head, tossing it to the floor before kicking her sweatpants off and sliding into the bed. Spencer copies her movements, turning off the lights before settling in beside her. It’s pitch black in the room at first, but then as their eyes adjust; the moon is at the perfect height that it shines through the window behind them, illuminating his bride.

“Are we going to talk and cry before or after we have sex?” She teases him as she turns to face him, “we cried before the first time, after the second and after the third, and I think I rather cry beforehand this time.”

He finally laughs, he’s so tired and in love, he’s no longer stressed or worried. He just loves her, she’s so incredibly perfect he doesn’t know what to say, “I don’t want to talk, I just want to love you.”

She laughs as the tears slip out of her eyes, “sorry, it’s been such a long day, I feel like it’s been 3 back to back.”

“I do too,” he agrees, both of them on their sides as they snuggle in closer and closer until their chests are pressed together and their legs are tangled.

She kisses him gently, “I had a wonderful day. I married you, we met Taylor fucking Swift, I flew in an airplane for the first time ever! The food was amazing and we brought home another little girl to love forever. What else could I ever need?”

He kisses the side of her mouth as she’s speaking, and then her chin and all the way down her neck until she’s rolling onto her back and pulling him on top for more, “making it even better I see,” she teases him, letting him stay silent if that’s what he needs.

She made him so incredibly calm, taking control of the situation, like always. She runs her fingers through his hair as he makes his way down her stomach and the kisses don’t stop. He’s showing her just how much he truly loves every inch of her.

It’s when he slips her underwear off and starts to eat her out that she’s talking to him once more, “daddy sure does like it down there, doesn’t he?”

He nods with his tongue still flat against her clit, making her gasp at the feeling, “what’s your favourite part?”

He slides his tongue right inside of her as she tightens around it with a quick gasp before regaining her composure, “hmm, I don’t think I know what you mean?” She’s egging him on, trying to get him to fuck her tonight.

One of his hands is still resting on her hip, she takes it and brings it to her mouth. Sucking on two of his fingers before returning his hand to him and he knows exactly what to do. Starting with one finger, he resumes the same movements on her clit with his tongue while he pumps in and out of her.

He knows she wants more when she starts tugging on his hair, voiceless to stay quiet as they fucked in someone else’s home… his mind travels and he’s supposed to be eating her out, he snaps back into it, adding a second finger.

It’s lazy and slow and they’re both tired anyway but he loves it like this, and so does she for that matter. It’s nicer; there’s no haste, there’s no pressure or time limit, they have forever to make love like this and so they were going to take every second they got together.

“Come back up here, cutie,” she whispers, waiting patiently as he trails the kisses back up her chest on his way to her lips. “Are you going to talk to me at all tonight, pretty boy? It’s okay if you don’t, I just miss your voice.”

He shakes his head, “I don’t know what to say. I love you so much, words just don't do it justice anymore.”

“That’s okay,” she smiles, holding his face gently before brushing his hair back, “how long are we letting this get, by the way, because it is very ticklish when you’re on top, and I’m too tired to do it.”

He kisses the palm of her hand as she holds his face, and then her wrist where a hair tie rests for when Amoreena complained about her own hair being in her eyes, and she knows what he means. She puts his hair in the cutest little ponytail and he can tell just how he must look by the way her eyes light up under the moon.

She finds him adorable even in moments like this, “that’s better.”

“Do you still want to?” He asks, not minding if she’s too tired, he could use the rest instead.

“First you have to tell me why that’s your favourite part of me,” she teases, pointing between their bodies.

“It’s not what you’d think,” he whispers his response with a tilted head, resting right in her palm as she continues to hold him. “I wouldn’t have you if it wasn’t for Amoreena, and you made her in there. It’s the most magical place in the world to me, your body did that, it’s so incredible."

Something in her comes alive then, she’s more awake than she has been all day as she’s pulling him into a heated kiss and pressing him closer to her. He reaches between them and lines up with her, but it’s her who finally guides him inside.

“I wish we got a chance to make her together,” she whispers. “How would we have made her Spencer?”

“This is how,” it’s more of a growl than a whisper, he’s not even sure where it comes from but she loves it.

It’s passionate, that’s one way to describe it. He’s thrusting into her at such a rhythm and force that she’s gasping at each new depth he reaches. Her head tossed back, arms resting on the bed as she lays in her most blissed-out trance, he takes it upon himself to rub her clit gently with his thumb, helping her orgasm bubble even more.

And like an un-watched pot, she’s writhing for release in the sheets as he’s about to finish, holding off as long as she could but so close to bubbling over. She’s so tight, and she’s so beautiful and he’s so in love with her. He’s gripping her hips then and angling her hips up more before fucking her again, the sheets flying off them as they grow more and more desperate.

“Holy fuck, right there,” she whispers, but he knows she rather be screaming as he carelessly rubs her clit with the pads of his 3 fingers, and fucks her at the same time.

She’s grabbing a pillow then, tossing it over her face to moan louder than she expected before she’s cumming with a violent quake, the tension in her body releasing while simultaneously sucking him in further.

He still inside her, pushing in as deep as possible as he finishes in long hot spurts and a grunt as he presses his lips together in an attempt to be silent before dropping to her chest.

Her arms are around his back and she’s pressing the smallest kisses to his hair as they calm down. Then she’s twirling his little ponytail in her fingers and laughing, for the first time in a long time, they’re both laughing after sex.

It's the delirium of 3 in the morning approaches, they’ve both almost been up for 24 hours. He hasn’t been this tired since his last case, Y/N probably hasn’t either since Amoreena was a baby.

He gets up to clean up for her, she’s way too tired to do anything at this point. She’s actually completely asleep when he returns with a few baby wipes to clean her up. She doesn’t budge, out cold as he makes sure she’s okay. He carefully slides her underwear back up her legs and over her modesty.

When he’s finally settling against her, he’s wide awake again. He just lays on the pillow then, staring at her sleeping face with a smile on his own, that’s his wife. His. Wife. She was stunning, kind, impeccably understanding, shy but outgoing, talented beyond belief, the softest woman in the world. The best mother that has ever walked this earth.

And she picked him for the forever and always part of her life.

tag list: @shemarmooresfedora @spencers-dria @reidsfish @manuosorioh @mochionly @samuel-de-champagne-problems @jswessie187

@k-k0129

[crimefightingspiderguy]

i remember thinking i had you

Summary: Based on the request sent in by @peter-maximoffsbitch “Hey! I saw your requests were opened and I wanted to ask if you could write a Peter x reader on a lazy Sunday morning? Ya know just some sweet domestic bliss ♡ Thank you!”. I started off doing the domestic bliss/lazy Sunday thing, then I ended up getting carried away because I couldn’t help myself. So this has that sweet domestic bliss side, but it also has a touch of angst and then back to happy bliss. 

Warnings: Spoilers for WandaVision

Pairing: Evan Peters!Peter Maximoff/Quicksilver x Reader

Word count: roughly 4,537

A/N: Was I totally listening to August by Taylor Swift while writing this first half? Yes. Yes I was. Also, your powers in this are supposed to be like Rouges, but it was sort of hard for me to describe them without saying her name as an example lol. Also this is my first time writing for Peter Maximoff/Quicksilver, so sorry if it is a little rough in some places. I hope this is what you’re looking for and a little more! Let me know what you think, feedback is always welcome!

Peter woke up laying almost exactly how he’d fallen asleep. His head resting on you, arms tucking behind your back. Only this time, instead of singing a soft melody in his ear as you brushed your fingers through his hair, you sat reading a book. Peter rolled over so he could look up at you,

“Morning.” He said through a yawn.

“Morning.” You smiled down at him, peaking past your book, only briefly. Putting your free hand back into his hair, causing him to melt into your hand and let out a content hum.

“I love it when you do that.”

“Oh, trust me, I know.” You let out a small giggle. He reacted the same way every time you went to touch his hair. A simple sigh of relaxation, a content hum, and a visible relaxation in his body.

“Whatcha reading?” He asked, eyes closed so he could fully appreciate your presence.

“A Tale of Two Cities. It’s for the literature class I’m taking.”

“Is it any good?”

“I think so. It’s pretty interesting, especially considering it’s partially based on real events.”

“Will you read it out loud?” He requests, you nod and pick-up where you left off. He lays patiently while you somewhat stumble your way through the book. It’s written with some older slang terms, making some of it hard for you to read quickly through, but Peter didn’t care. He cared about listening to the fluctuation in your voice telling him how you were reacting to a certain event, cared about your breath going in and out, cared about your steady heartbeat under his head. These were the only moments he could be completely still when awake. When you grounded him, allowing him to take things slow and appreciate every single moment of life. The sun was shining in on your skin, lighting you up in a way that seemed almost angelic. It was pure bliss.

 The warm memory of that delicate August morning helped you wake with a smile on your face. The first time you’d genuinely smiled in weeks. It has been too long since you felt the warmth Peter brought to you, too long since you woke to his snoring vibrating through your chest, too long since you got to run your hands through his hair and hear his sigh of content. It’s been about three weeks since he disappeared. No one knows where he is still and how to get in contact with him. The last time you saw him you were sitting out in the front lawn of the school with his head in your lap as he listens to his music through his headphones while you worked on homework. You’d taken a break to stare at a nearby bumble bee landing on a flower. It was calming.

“I’ll be right back” Peter said, getting up with a confused look on his face.

“Where are you going?” You started to ask but was cut off by him zooming away. You shrugged and went back to looking at the bee, he wouldn’t be gone long. You were wrong though; he was gone long. He never came back.

 You wiped away the tears forming on the brim of your eyes. You thought you had all the time in the world with Peter. You never thought he would leave you, especially not like this.

“Y/N”

You jumped, scared out of your mind. Sitting up and looking around like a madwoman. It was his voice.

“Peter?” You called out to him. “Jean? Is this some sick prank? Because I can tell you it’s not funny.”

“Y/N help me.” Peter called out to you.

“How? Where are you?” You asked quietly, realizing the voice was definitely not Jean, she could get into your head, but not like this.

“Come to me. I need your help.” Peter’s voice started to fade.

“No… Come back, tell me how to find you!” You start panicking. But just as quickly as the voice came, it was gone. You frustratingly fell back onto your pillow, almost trying to slam yourself into unconsciousness. At least there you would be with Peter. But what was that voice? You ran through the obvious thoughts, ‘I’m going crazy. It couldn’t have been him. Simply me imagining things because I was dreaming about him.’ But something about those excuses didn’t sit right with you. ‘Maybe Peter was reaching out? Maybe he found a way to contact me, like cerebro? Maybe that’s the key!’ You quickly jumped out of bed and ran to the long hallway where the device is kept. Your powers were confusing, in the way that you had no idea what the limit was. You were able to “absorb” other abilities. You wouldn’t take them from them, but you were able to use them if you touched the person and concentrated. At this point you were able to do a lot of the basics that could help you get to Peter. You had Jean’s telepathy, Kurt’s teleportation, Peter’s super speed, and your own strength and skill from training, you could get to him and save him. In your rush, you hadn’t even realized you bumped into Beast.

“Hey kid, what’s the hurry?” He asked you, startled.

“I have to find Peter.” You said, a wild look had over-come you, in your right-out-of-bed look.

He began to question you further, but you just began running. With Peter’s speed, you got there in a matter of seconds. Students weren’t really allowed in this area unless with Charles, but you could care less right now. You were getting Peter back. You broke into the room and quickly put on the helmet, homing in on his voice in your memory. You searched and searched when finally, it became clear again. He was calling out to you again.

“Come on Pete you gotta give me something to work with.” You searched his distant and fuzzy mind for anything that could give you a location. You saw that he was currently talking to a woman named Agnes. You couldn’t hear what she was saying but based on the worry pressing in on you from his mind, you figured it wasn’t too good. “Pete, I need you to look around the room for me. I have to be able to clearly visualize where I’m going.” Through Peter’s eyes you saw the room as he quickly looked away from the woman. It wasn’t much, but it might just be enough. You took cerebro off and clearly visualized Peter, that woman, and the room they were in.

 You landed with a cloud of blue hanging in the air. Right in front of you was Peter and the woman you assumed was holding Peter hostage in some way.

“Peter!” You ran to hug him, but he just stumbled backwards.

“Woah there toots. You don’t waste any time, do you?”

“Who are you?” The woman Agnes asked, grabbing your arm.

“My name is Y/N and I’m here to take my boyfriend home, even if it means I have to kill you.”

She began cackling, “Kill me? Honey I’m hundreds of years old. You couldn’t kill me in your dizziest daydreams.” She still held your arm, you began concentrating, seeping her power into your body. Allowing you to feel how powerful she was. But at least now the fight would be even.

“So, what are we gonna do with you? I can’t have you running around telling people who he is. No, I need him to play his part well.”

“What did you do to him? What do you mean play his part?”

“Well, you see honey, I need your little boy toy here to be my eyes and ears.”

“He’s under your control? So, he doesn’t remember me?” Your heart cracked a little at the thought. You didn’t even need her to confirm this, you could see into his mind and see the haze over his memories from home.

“Mhmmm, how about this. I could use you both if we go about this the right way. So, Pietro dear,” Peter’s eyes flickered away from you to her. “Stick to the plan, introduce yourself on the show tonight. And you little lady are going to be the new neighbor in town, introducing yourself tomorrow, so you can keep a watch from a distance, and if Pietro here were to fail, you could swoop in and take over.”

“What am I supposed to be watching for?” You asked.

“I need some information out of his sister Wanda, and you two are going to help me get it, or you’re never going home.”

 The next day you woke up in an unfamiliar bed. Looking around, you saw Halloween decorations everywhere, and in your closet a single costume. You were going to dress up as a cowgirl. You rolled your eyes, “how original” you muttered to yourself. While Agnes thought she had put you under the same spell as Peter, she was very wrong. You were able to block her out but played the part of brain-washed zombie well enough she let you and Peter go. You didn’t dare say anything other than a good night to Peter as he went to this Wanda’s house and you went a house over from Agnes’s. You got ready and went down to the first floor of your new home to find a snoring Peter laying sprawled out on your couch. ‘This is it’ You thought, my chance to take him and never look back. But what would stop Agnes from following you? She found Peter once. You knew if you planned on making it out of here, you had to make it through today like she planned. Then you might be able to bargain yours and Peter’s freedom or even just make a break for it. You walked around to the front of the couch and sat cross-legged in front of Peter. You missed him so much, but it seems he’s been unable to even think about you other than the subconscious plea he called to you with. You ran your hand through his hair and saw a small smile tug at the corner of his mouth. He released a soft sigh and you saw his visibly tense shoulders relax.

“You found me” He muttered.

“Peter?” You gasped; does he remember?

“Who else would it be? Jesus?” He laughed at his own joke and you let out a sob that you’d been holding in for way too long. His eyes shot open and before you knew it, he was up and pulling you into his lap on the couch, holding you close. He began drawing shapes on your back, trying to calm you. “Shhh… it’s okay. I’m here now, and I’m not leaving your side until we get out of this hell on earth.” Your shoulders shook with the force of your crying. After a couple minutes, you were able to calm yourself and wipe your eyes dry. “Better?” He asks, pushing your hair back from your face. You nod your head, “Good, because we have a big day ahead of us. Playing along with Agnes’s little game, then getting the hell out of dodge.”

 You and Peter headed over to Wanda’s house together. On the way, he caught you up on the things he was supposed to do, pretending to be Wanda’s brother and convincing her to tell him how she created this fake little world. You were holding his hand up to the point of Wanda’s front door. Peter dropped your hand and you felt he warmth slowly seeping out of you again as he turned around and said “showtime” to you.

He rang the doorbell, and it was answered by a small child, probably the age of 10. “Uncle P!”

Peter ran into the house, throwing the boy and the other one nearby over his shoulders. He ran them round and round in circles as they playfully screamed and laughed their heads off.

“Someone better be bleeding or dying.” A woman came down the stairs dressed in a red costume. She stopped when she saw you awkwardly standing in the doorway. You could feel her trying to get inside your head, so you gave her slight access. Enough to see you were new in town and Peter was helping you meet new people after he bumped into you on the street.

“And who is this?” Wanda referenced you, as if she didn’t know.

“Oh, this lovely lady here is Y/N. I met her on my way to your house this morning and she’s new, so I thought why not introduce her to some neighbors.” Peter said as he put the boys down and zoomed next to you, putting a hand on your back to slightly push you forward to greet Wanda.

You felt a blush rise to your cheeks at the ‘lovely lady’ comment, ‘good, she’ll believe our story of being strangers’ you thought in the back of your mind, somewhere you weren’t letting her gain access to. You held you hand out to her and she took it with slight hesitation, but when you showed her you meant no harm, she relaxed slightly. In that brief moment though, you were able to gain even the slightest access to her powers, and you took the oppourtunity.

“Wanda” She told you.

“It’s nice to meet you Wanda. I just live two houses down actually, so we were bound to bump into each other at some point.” You let out a small innocent giggle, “But Pietro here was just bursting with energy at the chance of bringing me to meet you.” Wanda gave a smile to Peter and quickly noticed his hand still resting on your back. You could see in her mind that she was picking up the idea that Peter thought you were cute and wanted to impress you.

“Why don’t you join us for trick-or-treating tonight? You could meet more people around town, and by the looks of it you’re already dressed for the occasion.” She waved at your cowgirl get-up.

“Yeah, I was hoping I wouldn’t be the only one dressing up all day. Love that costume by the way, so cute on you!” You complemented her.

“What are you supposed to be mom?” One of the boys asked,

“Old red riding hood?” The other one seemed to finish the thought.

Peter snickered, “I’m actually a Sakovian fortune teller.” She said forming an invisible crystal ball with her hands.

“That’s so cool!” One of the boys said at the same time that Peter seemed to say “Lame”, the boy quickly fixing his previous statement, and copying the “lame”.

“It’s worse than the costumes mom made for us the year we got typhus.” Then the strangest thing happened. It was a flashback, that all of you could see, playing in your head. Peter did mention that we were on some sort of TV show Wanda created, so maybe it was supposed to be a character flash back?

“That’s not exactly how I remember it.”

“You probably suppressed a lot of the trauma”

Just then the boys grabbed your hands and pulled you away from Peter and Wanda.

“Wanna see our new game?” They asked, even though their determined pulling you away was more like “Come see our new game, now.” But, of all the people you’ve met so far, these two boys had the purest minds. They weren’t clouded by anything or anyone, they weren’t being controlled, so you knew their question wasn’t scripted or forced, just them being kids.

They pulled you to sit down on the ground with them on either side as they showed you how to play with them. You kept an eye on Peter’s mind, and you saw that he was smiling at you and the boys. Wanda’s mind was slightly louder than the clouded Peter, and she was now looking between you and Peter curiously. You looked a little bit deeper into her mind and realized she was suspicious of Peter. He didn’t look like her actual brother, or even act like him. But she was starting to put that aside, since he had given her no real reason to not trust him yet. She was now fascinated though, with his reaction to you. She could tell he acted different when he turned his attention to you.

You quickly left Wanda’s mind, sensing that she was starting to feel someone in her head. Peter zoomed over to you, sitting on the coffee table, resting his legs on either side of your torso. He wrapped his arms around you and helped you play the game by putting his hands over yours.

“Hey! No cheating Uncle P!” The boy who introduced himself as Billy said.

“It’s not cheating, just teaching!” He put his hands up in self-defense. But quickly replaced them over yours to help you get ahead of the boys again.

Just then, you heard someone else come down the stairs. You heard his conversation with Wanda, and gathered he was her husband and the twins’ father. Wanda told him about you being new in town, and you saw in her mind her leaning closer to his ear and saying, “I think Pietro has a crush on her.” And pulling back from him with a smirk on her face. The man named Vision gave a soft “ahh” and nodded in understanding. As soon as Peter had rushed behind you, he was gone.

“Sweet costume bro-ham-in-law. Let me guess, traffic light? Half-shucked corn? A booger!”

“Yes…” Vision said, clearly over Peter, but you couldn’t help but let out a laugh.

Peter pumped his fist in the air and came back behind you and continued to help you play the game, but that was after he handed all three of you sodas and showed them how to shotgun it. “One, two, three, go!” Peter exclaimed as you all tried to down it as fast as you could. You actually finished first and turned around to smash the can into Peter’s head. You were able to do it fairly easy, and you heard the thought run through Wanda’s mind, ‘Wow, she’s pretty strong… I wonder… No. I would see it in her head’. You turned back around making sure to go at a normal speed. The last thing you needed was for her to find out you were a mutant and hiding something from her.

Later on in the day, you, Wanda, Peter, Tommy and Billy began walking through the streets, on the hunt for candy. Peter was running around with the boys, leaving you and Wanda alone to talk. It was then that you felt the presence of Agnes in your mind. You made sure to keep the conversation light, to not make Wanda suspicious, but to maybe hint towards the information you needed.

“So, what made you come to Westview?” Wanda asked.

“I started thinking about moving about a month ago, this was close to the city, but not too close, and it had some good property up for sale. So, I took a leap of faith and ended up here.” You smiled at her, “What about you? How long have you been here?”

“Oh, not long, just came here to start a family and live sort of mundane suburban lives you always hear are so great and perfect.” She laughed lightly to herself.

“How’d you meet Vision?” You could feel Agnes approving of your questions in your head, encouraging you to go on.

“Oh, ummm… We were friends before we got together, so I’ve known him for a while.” Agnes was getting frustrated at how vague Wanda’s answers were. “Pietro seems to have his eye on you.” Wanda pointed out Peter standing behind the kids as they were grabbing candy from a couple, watching you and Wanda closely.

“Quite literally” You chuckled.

“I’ve never seen him act the way he does with you. You… slow him down. Not in a bad way of course, but you can tell from the way he’s been acting around you, it’s like he’s scared to let you go. Like you’ll disappear. Are you sure you just met this morning?”

“Yeah, but he did talk a million miles an hour before he brought me over to your house, so I feel like I got his whole life story” You laughed, feeling Wanda’s suspiciousness suppressing for the time being.

 You took over walking with the boys for a bit while Peter tried taking a shot at getting some information out of Wanda.

“You’re very confusing.” Billy said to you.

“Why’s that?” You asked, looking down to the boy staring at you confused.

“You have a bunch of different voices in your head.”

You raised your eyebrows in surprise, “You can read minds like your mom?”. Great one more person you had to block your thoughts from.

Billy nodded his head in hesitation, “I think, I’m not sure. It didn’t start until just now. It’s like all of the sudden I can hear everything and it’s a lot. It kind of hurts.”

“Here, let me show you a trick” You got down to his eye level and said, “close your eyes, take a deep breath in, then out. Focus on the sound of one voice, my voice. I know you said I have a couple but pick the loudest one and stick with it. Follow it like a string. Open your eyes.” Billy did as you said, “Better?” He nodded and smiled.

“How did you know how to do that?”

“Well between you and me, I have a few tricks up my sleeve too.” You put a shushing finger over your mouth and then cut your thoughts off from him.

“I can’t hear you anymore.”

“I know, because I’m not letting you. If you want to focus on someone else you can, if it helps. Or the voice you focus on is your own. Tune the others out and just think about your own thoughts. It can be hard when you have loud thoughts around you, like your Uncle P. His thoughts are the loudest in the area. But after some practice, you’ll be a pro just like your mom.”

Billy smiled up at you as he realized just how loud Peters thoughts actually were.

 The trick-or-treating was going by pretty quick especially with Peter eventually taking over permanently and zooming around the town with the boys. You were walking with Wanda again.

“I heard you helped Billy.” Wanda said to you, “How did you know how to control the mind reading?”

“Oh, just a trick I picked up from a friend of mine.”

Wanda narrowed her eyes at you a little, “You’re lying. You’re blocking me out and hiding something. I can feel it.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Really. I have a friend who can read minds and she told me how she controls it and how she focuses.”

“Then why are you shutting me out?”

“Because I don’t like people being in my head. I’ve got too much going on as it is.”

“Who are you?” Wanda stopped you and held you still with her magic.

“My name is Y/N and I’m new in town. I can promise you, I mean you and your family no harm.”

“Then show me your mind. Completely.”

You sighed and let Wanda in your mind. She saw everything, from when you got here, to your life back with the XMen, your life with Peter. The only thing she didn’t get access to were your memories of Agnes. You assumed Agnes herself put a lock and key on them in case this exact thing happened.

“So, you’re here for Pietro or Peter as you call him. I knew there was something off about you two.”

“Please, we will leave with no fuss. Just let me take him home.” You pleaded with her.

“Fine, but I doubt your teleporting power will work to get you out of here. It’s not strong enough.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be able to get out. I also possess some of your magic. The exact type of magic that will let me and Peter through safely.”

“Leave.” Wanda gave you a threatening stare, not too happy with the idea of your magic matching hers. You used Peter’s superspeed to get to him as quick as you could.

“Hey Pietro, can I interest you in a late-night stroll through the park?” You asked him, trying to stay casual.

“Why of course m’lady.” Peter stuck his elbow out for you to grab. “Why don’t you two demons catch up with your mom.”

“Ahhh, really?” Tommy whined.

“Hey, stay cool. When a pretty lady wants to take you somewhere, you follow suit.” He winked at them.

“Dad?” Billy randomly burst out in a confused tone, “Dad!” He started to panic.

“What’s wrong Billy, what do you see?” You asked him.

“I can’t tell, he’s too far away.” By now Wanda had made her way over to her freaking out child.

“Focus. Follow the string. Follow his voice.” You told him

“He’s hurt. There are a bunch of soldiers around him.”

Wanda tensed up and her eyes started glowing red.

“Relax sis, it’s not like your dead husband could die twice.” Peter said, trying to diffuse the situation, only it did the exact opposite. Wanda whipped around and shot a red blast his way.

“I said leave!” She yelled at you. You nodded your head and zoomed over to where Peter landed. He was unconscious, but you pulled him in your arms and using the combined magic of Wanda and Agnes, and your teleportation, you thought of home and pulled the two of you out of there. You were worried at first that Agnes might try to stop you since you weren’t successful in your mission to get information out of Wanda, but she didn’t stop you. You assumed it was because Wanda knew you two were not who you said you were, so you wouldn’t be helpful anyways.

 You woke up lying in your own bed at home again. For the first time, in a long time, Peter was lying next to you. He was awake already and was watching you carefully.

“How are you feeling?” He asked as he push your hair off your forehead.

“Better now that we’re home. How did I get in bed?” You specifically remember teleporting you and Peter to Charles’ office so you could tell him what happened.

“When we got back you collapsed from the effort. Charles said your mind was awake, but tired and you used too much magic and power for what you’re used to. I was so scared you killed yourself.”

You shook your head, trying to remember anything after you left Westview, but you just couldn’t, “How long have I been out?”

“About two days. I’ve been so restless, just waiting for you to open your eyes. Poor Jean, I kept finding her to read your mind and make sure you hadn’t died. You were scary still.”

“Well, I’m awake now, and you’re home with me. That’s all that matters.” You pulled his head onto your chest and started to play with his hair. He hummed in content and relaxed into your body.

“I know I just slept for two days, but do you mind if we just stay in today?” You asked him.

“We can do whatever you want.” You could feel a smile forming on his face, against your skin.

“What I want to do first though, is pee.” You rushed to the bathroom, letting Peter’s face flop into the bed as you shut the door behind you. You heard him laughing. It was so good to hear his laugh again. To feel his warmth linger on your skin, and knowing when you returned he would still be there. That’s all you’ve wanted for the past three weeks.

Find more of my work here. 

My work is exclusively posted on Tumblr by me, on this blog. If you see my work posted elsewhere, please reach out to me.

Thank you, xx.

[quwarichi]

heard from your mother au - The Ripple Effect

this is my early birthday gift for @schmuzz1 Ever heard of the ripple effect? you probably did but let's go over it once more; the ripple effect is like if you took a rock and threw it into a lake. Where the rock would hit and sink a ripple would be created, and from there it would only grow bigger and bigger, taking over more space, until the water settles again.

HFYM is the ripple effect ficsonified. The premise is simple, for those who watched the episode Despair in the last season of Supernatural. Castiel confesses his love to Dean, gets taken by the Empty. He wakes up in 2003 in a motel room, without his memories and only a memory saying “Don’t do this, Cas” which helps him figure out his name is Cas, and that he’s a hunter. Simple.

Then he meets Dean.

Now, we’ve all read various pre-series fics, haven’t we? It’s a token when giving fans a time-gap that we don’t know much about, they’d try to fill it as best as their imagination limitations will help them. So what is so special about HFYM?

In a word; Cas.

Meet this angelic being, who without his memories fully believes his humanity, and drives around the US not looking for answers, exactly, but just trying to help out to the best of his ability. By putting Cas in a setting pre-series, and letting the readers know that this Cas is their Castiel, the story already kicks into gear with a race to see when and how Cas will affect the story.

We didn’t know about angels until season 4. We didn’t THINK there was a better way to kill demons other than the Colt until season 3. Characters and themes that we would’ve taken years to get to know in the show are being used and constantly appear throughout what HFYM would call season 0 (or is that just me? make some noise). But Cas changes all of that just by being. For this next part, I recommend you stop reading this post if you haven’t read this fic, go read it in its entirety, and come back here after you’re done and had time to adjust.

We good? Good.

Pamela Barnes, the love of my life and a five-episode cameo in the Supernatural show. In HFYM, she acts as Cas’ best friend most of the time, teaching him the highs (hehe) and lows of having what they all figure is a really developed psychic ability. Bringing Pamela in chapter 16 was not only a brilliant use of character but a ripple effect. But I get ahead of myself. To understand why Pamela is suddenly there, we need to identify the biggest ripple of them all; Dean fucking Winchester.

Dean and Cas, from the start, develop a sort of kinship. It’s reminiscent of their first meeting in Lazarus Rising, where Castiel rescues Dean but also has its own charm. Here, Cas has no idea he’s an angel, and that’s why humanity is so strange to him. Dean views Cas as a weirdo that is not to be trusted, and later as a weirdo that he can kinda trust but make sure to watch his back around him.

In a way, they’re mirrors. Cas’ effortless way of creating acquaintances highlights just how isolated Dean is from people because of John’s influence. Whenever they’re together, Dean finds himself surrounded by others too, but apart it’s clear that Cas (to much of my, and probably his, surprise) is the social one.

Quoting the fic tags: “like maybe if he [Pre-series Dean Winchester] got a boyfriend he would have calmed down” is the very abstract explanation of the ripple effect. By being isolated for so long, without even Sam to keep him company, Dean couldn’t develop properly, resulting in the Dean we get in season 1. But ripples (courtesy of Cas) reach him and that’s where it all comes together. By meeting Cas pre-series Dean is given two things; one, no more isolation, time to grow sunshine. Two, a romantic subplot.

Now I don’t know how much you know about media - but romantic subplots are usually very character forwarding if done right. The best thing about the romantic subplot in HFYM is that it’s not immediate. Fuck no. It’s built on months of friendship and a bond forged in hunting, in putting each other’s lives in the other’s hands like it’s nothing. When they finally get together (I did the math, they get together when the story is like, halfway over. 52% to be exact) it makes sense because you watched them forge the bond and thus pushing their character development further. Romantic subplots are one of the best ways to push a character to their limits (looking at you, chapter 49) and then break those limits. So the biggest ripple was basically Cas and Dean thinking “huh, lemme smooch” and then doing it instead of eye fucking for twelve years.

But that’s not what I’m talking about, exactly. The biggest ripple effect that Cas did with Dean is that when season 1 starts (did I mentioned this was a canon rewrite? We love multitasking), when Dean goes to get Sam for Jericho and everything is put into hyperdrive, Dean is different. It affects how people around him act, especially Sam. The first season is very Sam-driven, but the main character will be changed by changing the “supporting” cast. It doesn’t help that Cas ripple effect number 2932#: Save Jess has definitely quelled the grief-rage thing that Sam has going on in canon since she’s not gone, and is actually around them for a while before leaving to work with Bobby and Jo. Sam immediately notices that something’s different about Dean, but he can’t put a finger on it. Requoting tags: “he would have calmed down”. Gone is the aimless rage and loss that makes him reckless and drinking too much. Gone are the women chasing days because he’s in a committed relationship. Heck Dean has a bit of self-esteem now, having bagged that (points at frog-shirt wearing Cas) and it affects the story in the way he and Sam interact.

Sam can feel that Dean’s hiding something from him (Cas) and it makes a rift between them because he doesn’t get who’s this hunter Dean hangs out with that is definitely replacing Sam in Dean’s eyes - the same guy who used weird powers to save Jess from a demon. Dean is still hurt over Sam leaving for Stanford and anxious about him finding out about Cas and John and everything. Basically, take season 1 brother dynamics and throw a live grenade in the mix. That grenade is Cas, btw.

Ripples, man.

Cas affects the story - he gets Dean to get back in touch with Bobby because he’s looking for an explanation for why he heals from mortal wounds like it’s nothing, why he doesn’t need sleep, and why he’s never hungry. Bobby connects Cas to Pamela, thinking Cas is an odd psychic, and Pamela becomes inherently important in the way that she helps Cas control his powers and provides his first real… non-platonic experience (off-screen, dw they’re friends) that later helps him discern what Dean is to him. Through Bobby, he also meets Ellen and Jo, in the Roadhouse. He goes on hunts alone, and finds a knife that helps him save a possessed girl named Taylor who is later a part of an actual episode (Hookman) and there’s recognition, she’s not just a standby person and that connects with Jess’ storyline, that connects with Sam’s storyline that connects with Dean’s storyline. By being him, Cas creates ripples everywhere he touches because he’s not supposed to be there.

The otherwise undisturbed surface is broken because Cas is there to break it and create ripples that connect with each other, all unknowingly, and the way it’s constructed is incredible.

I could add more about Dean’s bisexuality journey or realization, or how lack of trauma makes Cas a lot more narrative-free but it could all come crashing down on him if he remembers the past, or how Sam and Jess are so interesting like yes girl flesh out the revenge reason we see in three episodes, but this is getting long and I could always make new posts about this fic that I love so much.

Happy birthday, Jenn, you’re an incredible friend and writer and I’m so lucky to have found you in this mayhem of a fandom.

Go read heard from your mother (she don’t recognize you) on ao3, you magnificent people.

[bakugoulovesme]

Bakugou x Reader

Title: Long Story Short

Characters: Bakugou Katsuki, various pro heroes (mentioned), original character (who is not the reader)

Word Count: 2,783

Warnings: mentions of toxic ex, passing out, hospital visits (dw it’s all good), gross fluff 

Summary:  You had a terrible breakup that made you stop hero work. Now, three years later, you are dating Bakugou Katsuki and you jump back in the saddle.

A/N: Pro hero au! Lmao guys be nice I haven’t written a full fic since 2018.. oof... request headcanons pleeeaaaseee <3 (OOOH OOOH also this is the first of a very tentative series of stories based on Taylor Swift’s albums Evermore and Folklore,, AND this was crossposted on ao3) 

You told yourself never again on a night much like this one, three years ago. You remember it all very distinctly. Nyx had already promised you a change of pace, somewhere as far away from him as you could get. They were standing behind you on the rooftop, a good few paces back. It was considerate, really: giving you space so that you could have your moment of dramatic catharsis. You remember bouncing on your toes once before sparring a glance over your shoulder at them. The blank motorcycle helmet that was a staple of their hero costume stared back at you, emotionless. They offered you a single nod. You turned forward again, facing the wind. You turned the ring over and over in your hand for a few more minutes, longer than you wanted to. It seemed cliché to you even then, when the wound was still so fresh, to get rid of the ring in such an over the top way. But damn, if it didn’t feel absolutely amazing. 

And tonight you are standing atop the roof of that twenty-story building again. And Nyx, lovely Nyx, is standing behind you with their expressionless motorcycle helmet boring into your soul and their harrowing silent wisdom making the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. “I’m not so sure that I’m ready,” you say after a beat. Your hero costume feels strikingly familiar and foreign all that at the same time. You play with the waistband of the jumpsuit absentmindedly. 

“I am,” they say as if it is the easiest thing in the world. Don’t they know how hard this is? Shouldn’t they of all people understand?  “And he is, too.” 

They got you. They always do. 

You heave a sigh—no turning back now. You take a deep breath and remind yourself that you can do this, that you are in fact a capable hero. Three years. You haven’t done this in three years. 

Fuck. Can you do this? What if… 

“I know what you're thinking,” Nyx says, allowing emotion to seep into their tone for the first time tonight. “And, I hate to break it to you, but… you are already doing it.” 

“This is barely a patrol,” you grumble. 

“Not a traditional one, no, but remember you’re still in your trial period. You are technically only my sidekick right now.” You don’t need to see the expression Nyx is wearing to be certain that they are smiling. 

“Ugh, don’t remind me.” 

The universe does not leave you much time to wallow in self-pity. Less than half an hour later, there’s a call. A building is collapsing. The number four hero, Edgeshot, has already taken care of the villain responsible, so it is time for clean-up duty: your specialty. All in a matter of thirty seconds, you shove your helmet onto your head (it matches the one Nyx sports; all of their sidekicks wear them) and run to grab onto Nyx as they teleport you to the scene. Gone is the gentle night air; here, everything is hot. The villain must be using some quirk-enhancing drug. (The damage they caused in their dragon form puts Ryukyu to shame.) Several voices chatter into your ears at once filling you and Nyx in. Nyx was gone the second they dropped you off, working as fast as they could to teleport people out of the upper floors of the building. 

Adrenaline pushes you forward but you are stopped quickly, debris already blocking your path into the ground level of the building. Luck must be on your side tonight because you can see the number two hero, Hawks, fly in as he uses his feathers to aid in the evacuation. You feel comfortable enough to ask Nyx through the helmet to get you inside. And they do. You could not imagine how disorienting it must be for them because, after just your second leap of the night, you are incapacitated for at least fifteen seconds. 

When the world rights itself again, you realize you have already put your shield up to protect yourself from the smoke. It does not take long to find the group of survivors to the left of you, trying—and failing—to break out of a crumbled window. You see eighteen at first glance, but as you approach, you can see a group of children, four of them all huddled together. Twenty-two, then. You drop your shield as you approach them. “Help is here,” you inform them, attempting to keep your sentences short so your helmet will translate them faster. 

“Now, everyone remain calm. Everything will be okay.” Any doubts you had earlier have been seared away. You are met with thankful sobs and incoherent clambering. You direct them to stand around you, as close as they can fit. The children are lifted into their parent’s arms as everyone scrambles forward. As soon as all twenty-two are comfortably within range, you activate your quirk again. One of the children lets out an awed gasp at the buzzing bubble of blue energy that has formed. 

You find yourself smiling. 

“What do we do now?” An older woman asks incredulously, her entire body shaking in fear. 

“We wait.” She opens her mouth to retort, but you continue. “Once the upper floors of the building and the surrounding block are completely evacuated, I will get us out of here.” 

“Are you sure you can do it, Miss Hero?” A little girl asks. “My Daddy says heroes can’t really do anything...”

Her father has the decency to look horrified, but you just laugh. You crouch down to make eye contact with her,  “I’m very sure I can do it. Do you wanna know why?”

She leans away from her father slightly, turning towards you with her eyes full of stars. It takes you a second to reply as you get the go-ahead that everything is clear. Perfect. 

“Because… you are going to help me, of course!” You exclaim, removing your helmet. This forces you to use the translator that you wear around your neck which is not as loud (or clear), but you think it’s a good trade-off. The adults (and the other children)  who were momentarily distracted hearing you speak to the little girl will need the comfort of a human face for the next part, this much you are sure. You gesture for the girl to be put down and you take her hand in one of your glowing ones. A little boy wriggles out of his mother’s grasp and grabs your other hand. You beam. 

“Now you two have a very important job: you have to keep everyone brave!”

“How we s’posed to do dat?” The boy asks. 

“Simple. You will walk with me in the front, okay? We can even sing a little song so everyone knows to keep walking,” you explain with a smile, more genuinely happy than is probably appropriate. The other children wrestle themselves out of their parent’s arms and grab their hands fiercely, ready to help drag them along. The pair holding your hands only take a minute to consider before nodding solemnly. 

The boy leads the little marching tune as you calmly begin leading everyone towards the front of the building. It’s at the moment that your shield touches the front wall that the building comes down. Hard. 

So much for raining small chunks, the full weight of the building crashes down around you. It makes you lightheaded, but you force yourself not to show any distress. You just keep walking, hunks of the building being forced out around the bubble. Suddenly though, something smacks into your shield from the inside and you lurch forward. Your eyes screw shut as you focus completely on regaining control. 

“Daddy!” The little girl yells as she pushes past the group to reach her father, still frozen in shock against the farthest side of the bubble. You didn’t even feel her drop your hand... Before you can contemplate the fate of your other small charge. The boy squeezes your hand tight. You turn to look at him and smile. One hand grips yours and the other grips a younger girl, his sister you presume, who is latched onto their mother, as well. 

You are more out of it than you realize because in no time at all, the girl is back holding your hand, dragging her father behind her. He looks sickly pale. Deep breath. “Everything’s okay. Almost over. Everyone please just keep being brave for me,” you say, squeezing the kids’ hands. 

You close your eyes again and put everything you have into walking normally. Pushing. Pushing. It feels like you let the smoke in; there doesn’t seem to be enough air for you. You can’t remember feeling this tired, at least not in a long time. Just as you reach your limit—when you are certain you are going to fail to leave all these people to get tragically smushed—there is loud cheering. Huh?

You force your eyes open. Floodlights. People. Ambulances. Reporters descending upon the lot of you, now that the danger has passed. You can finally breathe. You drop the shield and fall to your knees. 

Hmm. The ground is warm, and a lot more comfortable than you could have ever imagined. Your last thought before you blackout completely is a barely coherent image of cats rolling around on the warm concrete. 

-

All you can hear is his voice. 

For a second, the sound tricks you. You must be in your bed, at home. The heart monitor comes in second. A wave of nausea hits you as the disorientation sets in. You try to open your eyes but decide against it immediately. You don’t think your eyelids so much as fluttered, how could they when they weigh a thousand pounds each? 

His voice is what grounds you again, makes you feel more centered. You think you might even be able to tell which way is up. You can hear him but you can’t hear him. Your brain is much too full of mush at the moment to hear anything with clarity.  Everything feels sloshy; even still you attempt to move your hand towards the sound of his voice. As soon as you begin moving, his hands have met yours and his voice is softer. You still can’t hear him but you can feel him. His hands, as always, are hot and sweaty. You had always thought your hands were the hottest and the sweatiest, that is until you met Bakugou. 

“Ka-” you try to speak but your voice is much too hoarse from disuse. 

“Teddy bear,” you can finally hear him, “are you okay?”

You rumble in agreement and make a great effort to move your head in a gentle nod. He makes you regret agreeing all within a second. Now he is yelling and your eyes are all but forced open at the sound of it. 

“Katsuki,” you groan.

“What the fuck were you thinking running into a collapsing building, dumbass? You’re still just a fucking sidekick.” 

You huff feeling a little more like yourself the longer you hear him talk. “That’s just a technicality.” 

“Regardless, I…” Katsuki lets out a deep growl, “you fucking scared me, teddy bear.” 

“I’m sorry, Katsu” is all you can think to say as he cups your cheek and leans forward to rest his forehead against your own. You revel in the closeness, even the skin of his forehead is hot against you.  

“I hope you know you aren’t off the hook, idiot, but I am really proud of you,” the glare he fixes you with doesn’t match his words. 

You can’t stop yourself from beaming. 

-

“So, how much time before you get back to being that dumbass’s sidekick?” He asks as he spares a glance from the road to look at you leaned up against the window in the passenger's seat. 

“I should be good to go by Monday, believe it or not.” 

The look he gives you tells you he doesn’t. 

“I’ll call the doctor if you want,” you insist. You ignore the rush of nausea that hits you as you sit up and give him an indignant look. 

He rolls his eyes. He takes a hand off the wheel to push you gently back so you’re resting against the window again. You sigh in relief at the feeling of the cool glass on your cheek. You can see him worry his lip a bit before he bites out, “I believe you.” 

“Hmm I don’t know about that,” you start, “but, I meant it when I said me being a sidekick is just a technicality. I was a big hero before I ever came to Japan and met you.” 

He huffs. Regardless, he nods his head in agreement. He does know that you were a big hero. An annoyingly selfless one too, that’s what got you hurt in the first place. He doesn’t say anything more though, he’s happy enough to let you fall asleep with the words to some stupid song on your lips.  Even if he wasn’t driving he would be wide awake. Seeing you fall to the ground like that made him sick.                           

He shudders. He really thought he was ready for you to start hero work again, but… Seeing you like that was a lot to handle. Almost too much. He knows it’s hard for you too. You’ve had to watch him throw himself into danger countless times at this point. He hasn’t figured out how you handle the stress with such grace. He can practically see the look you would give him if he said that to you, he can practically hear your voice assuring him that the way you handle it is anything but graceful. Why is he imagining this conversation? He could be having it with you. It’s not like you’re dead or--                

“Katsu, you’re going to get wrinkles if all you do is frown all the time. You’ll look like my Grampy,” you laugh as his frown deepens, “Really, babe, what’s wrong?”

He replies immediately, “Nothing. We’re almost home.” 

“I know, but don’t think you can escape a conversation about whatever this,” you gesture at him vaguely, “Whatever this is.” 

He growls as he pulls into the parking garage for the apartment building, but he decides not to comment. Instead, he takes the opportunity to tease you and poke at your ribs as he helps you toward the door. 

Walking mixed with the impromptu tickle fight leaves you weaker than you thought you would be. You almost eat shit in the elevator when he lets go of you for just a second to punch the button to your floor. “Fuck, baby, are you okay?” He launched toward you as soon as you wobbled, catching you with his strong arms around your waist securely. 

You groan softly and bury your face in his chest as the elevator starts to move. “I am now,” you say muffled as you nuzzle your face against his pecs. 

“Perv,” he spits out, pushing your face away while still keeping an arm around you to keep you upright. He has to drag you down the hall to your shared apartment because you are so stubborn: refusing to be carried while being virtually unable to walk. He knows that’s a large part of why he loves you so his griping is lighthearted. 

He leads you to the couch and plops you down onto the cushions. “You stay here. I mean it. I’m going to make that dumb recipe your mom told me about,” he says. He turns shuffling off to find his apron. 

Your stomach turns, but this time in a much more pleasant way. He’s so fucking cute sometimes it makes you sick. Warmth settles over you as you pull the burgundy throw blanket over your shoulders and lie your head down on the scratchy decorative pillows. Everything feels a million times more comfortable now that you are comparing it to the impersonal feeling of a hospital bed. 

Well, now everything feels different. Hero work felt different. Talking to Nyx felt different. Waking up in a hospital bed too, didn’t feel as hollow as you remember. You know it’s because of the idiot you can hear maneuvering around the kitchen. He makes everything feel exciting, it’s nothing like before. The apartment is warm, and the couch is a lot more comfortable than you could have ever imagined. As you fall asleep for the first of many sorely needed naps you think of the yearly fireworks your town had as a kid and how alive you felt listening to them. In the other room, Katsuki sparks off a mini-explosion to light the stove.

[outofsstyles]

So much for summer love and saying “us”

a/n: hola! this is my very late fic for @helladirections’s Summer Feeling Challenge!! My prompts were beach + summer rain so yeah! If yall know me you know I could not have miss Taylor release a whole album and not get inspired by it (for this piece particularly it was the song August) so yup this is it. Anyway no more rambling, let me know what you think :)

Word count: 6.8k

Warnings: angsty 🤭

Also this takes part after *this blurb* you don’t have to read it to understand but I do recommend it!!

Salt air, and the warm summer breeze messes with your hair. Your fingers get caught on the knots as you run your hands through it, feeling grains of sand lost in the strands, trying your best to untangle it. Even with your attempt to restrain your locks, some still manage to dance along with the wind, whipping in your face in the process, and taking your attention out of the open book resting on your thighs.

With a huff, you pull up your sunglasses from where it rests on your nose, holding your hair back as you use it in a last attempt to repress it. Looking up, now without the darkened vision due to the lenses, you realize the weather has toned down considerably. You pick your phone from where it rests under your legs, pressing the lock button just to check the time and you realize it’s been almost eight hours since everyone first strolled down from the house and settled on the mild pale sand.

Not long ago, the sun was shining proudly in the clear blue sky. It wasn’t as hot as it had been around lunchtime, when you went up to the house to fetch the sandwiches you and Mary made for everyone, almost burning your feet on the heated cobblestone in the process. Instead, it was like a warm hug, a nice contrast to your cooled skin from when you and the rest of the group went out for a swim.

Now, however, the sky was painted in a grayer tone. The sun hiding behind the clouds, no longer shimmering on your skin, reminding you of the rapid approach of summertime.

No else seems to notice (or care) about the change in the weather, really. Maya still reading her book on her beach towel set next to yours, lying on her belly as she flicks through the pages, humming along to the distant song blasting through the speaker. The boys were playing volleyball not too far from where you two lie -- well, at least the best they could with two people on each side. You look in their direction for the first time in the last hour, letting your urges win as your eyes set on the one person you’d been avoiding for the whole day.

The whole week, actually.

It’s been just about a week since your drunk confession to Harry. When you’d said you loved him with your whole chest right as he was about to press play on Coraline. You still cringe at the memory, especially when you recall his reaction, saying it back in the most calculated voice you’d ever seen him use -- you’ve decided he only said it for your sake, as to not make the moment more embarrassing than you’d already made it. He had promised to talk in the morning, but you feel like you can’t be blamed for running away as soon as your eyes fluttered open, and the events of the night prior hit you like a brick in the face.

You feel a pang of guilt about it, of course, for completely avoiding him like you are. Not like it’s a simple task. You live together after all, but you still managed to do it for a whole week. With your term being over, you fell into a routine of meeting with the girls for breakfast in the mornings and hanging around at their flat until the sun was setting and you had to catch the subway before it got too dark. As soon as you got home you’d lock yourself in your room and fall asleep to an episode of Stranger Things.

It was the easiest way, though. Limiting your interactions to a casual ‘Good morning’ or ‘There are some leftovers in the fridge’. No discussion of feelings. No explanation of your remorseful confession. No putting him in the place of having to reject you. No straining in your friendship.

You just pushed back the pain in your heart that came with having to look at his face twice a day and tried your best to ignore him to the best of your abilities.

That is until you couldn’t anymore.

This summer trip has been planned for months now. Since one of your mutual friends explained he’d have his family’s vacation home to himself all summer at a Christmas dinner and wanted to have everyone over for a week or two. It was exciting, of course, having a two weeks getaway with your group of friends seemed like the perfect idea to start your summer break on the right foot. What you’d never expect was that by the time the trip came along the last you’d want was to be in the same house as Harry without having anywhere else to run to.

Sighing, you gaze back at your forgotten book, your eyes sweeping over the words, not able to fully concentrate on them. And just as you give up, opening your mouth to announce you’re joining Mary in the house, a ball hits the spot just below your feet, making the sand around it jump and a small squeal to leave your lips.

You reach for it, leaning forward to hold it in your hands before looking up at the presence approaching you. It’s hard not to feel the jolt in your heartbeat as you meet his jade eyes, there’s almost a hesitance to his steps as he gets closer. You force a smile to tug on your lips as you hand him the ball, ignoring the electric hush that shoots down your spine when your fingers brush just slightly -- it’s the first time you’ve touched him in a week.

“Thanks.” It comes out rushed and you almost miss it. You think he’ll turn around and join the game again but he lingers for a moment, expecting you to say something.

You simply nod, not sure what to say, and that sends him back to where the rest of the boys are waiting for him. It’s hard not to stare as he walks away, the muscles of his broad back moving with him, skin tanned and a bit reddened around the shoulders. If things were normal, you’d have made him put on sunscreen after going for a swim, knowing how easily he gets sunburnt, and you’d pester him for not listening to you once he asked you to help apply the moisturizer that soothes the pain. You’d smooth your hands on his skin and spread kisses along his neck when he flinches as you rub a sore spot. You’d be mindful not to drag your nails through it once he had you under him, panting his name as his head rests between your thighs.

Looking back down at the cover of The Shining, you shake your head at yourself. Things are not normal, and they probably never will be again.

“I don’t even recognize you two anymore.” Maya’s voice breaks you from your thoughts. She closes her book, setting it down on her towel as she looks up at you from behind her sunglasses.

“What do you mean?” You run your eyes from the stare, choosing to gaze at the ocean instead, noting the way the waves are crashing closer to where you lay than they were in the morning.

“You know what I mean.” She shifts to lie on her back, propping herself up on her elbows. “Ignoring him like this is not the solution you know.”

You sigh, fidgeting with the loose strands at the hem of your towel. “I know.”

“You’re just hurting him.” She presses further, taking her sunglasses off and letting it fall on her stomach.

You look at her, eyes silently begging for her to drop this conversation but you know now that she’s brought it up she won’t let go easily. “Maya--”

“It’s the truth, and you have to hear it.” She sits up fully, turning to face you as she crosses her legs. “How long do you plan to keep going like this? You can’t just avoid him forever.”

“I-- I don’t know.” You say honestly, adjusting your glasses on top of your head nervously as you trow a quick look to his direction, making sure he’s still occupied with the game.

“Talk to him.”

You shake your head. “It’s not that simple.”

“Well, it’s what they say, life is not simple, darling.” She argues, “You’re hurting with this just as much as he is.”

Your shoulders drop, just barely, hating how well she knows you. “But not for the same reasons.”

“Really?” Maya’s voice pitches as she tilts her head. “How so?”

“He doesn’t see me like that.”

“You don’t know that.”

Looking up, you take a deep breath, feeling your throat tightens. “But I do know that, Maya.”

“You don’t.” She says softly, leaning forward to reach for your hand. “He loves you.”

You let out a humorless laugh. “Don’t--”

“It’s true...” She squeezes your hand, shifting closer so she can rest her head on your knee, eyes searching for yours. “You’ve slept with him every single weekend, for... What? The past year?”

“That doesn’t mean anything.” You wipe away a stubborn tear that slides down your cheek. “You don’t love all the men you fuck.”

“Well I don’t live with them, thank god.” She tries to humor, her smile still tender as she rubs her thumb on your hand.  “You two don’t just fuck, you know that, babe.”

You let out an exhale, chewing at your inner cheek as you let the sounds of the waves and the whistle of the wind fill the air between you two. She’s right, even if you hate to admit it, you can’t go like this for much longer. As easy as it is to ignore your feelings, you know they’re still there, and at some point, you’ll have to face them. The longer you wait, the worse it will be. But you can’t help but feel like any chance of fixing it has slipped through your fingers already. Your relationship with Harry - whatever that was - seems so distant now it’s like an image you can see but can’t quite reach. And it’s all your fault.

Maya sighs after a beat too long of silence, squeezing your hand, “Talk to him, please.”

“I--” you start, but you’re interrupted as thin raindrops begin drizzle from the sky.

It’s gentle, a summer rain clearing the warm air that hugs you with cold drops running down your skin. You and Maya jolt up from where you sit, quickly gathering your towels and patting them against your skin to get rid of some of the sand that stuck to it. Thankfully, Mary took the rest of your belongings with her when she went back to the house, so you don’t have to bother with them as you wrap your towel over your head, hugging your book close to your body so it doesn’t get ruined by the droplets of water. You can hear the commotion behind you from the boys as they interrupt the game, but you don’t turn around, only rushing towards the few steps that lead to the house in search of a cover.

The cobblestone is slippery as you jog in the patio barefooted, and you have to mindful as not to slip down and make matters worse to you with a broken back. But you manage to make it to the covered area without any accidents, thankfully, your feet only sliding slightly against the floor. The double glass doors that lead to the living room are slid open, and you can see Mary sitting on the L shaped couch inside, scrolling through her phone.

She peeks up at you when you approach the door, Maya coming not too far behind you. “Leave your dirty towels on the chairs outside, I’ll take care of it tomorrow.”

You do as she says, hanging the towel on one of the rattan chairs arranged in a semi-circle next to you. Mary appears on the doorframe, leaning against it as she crosses her arms under her chest. She’s no longer dressed in her teal bikini set, one you’d complimented as soon as you saw her wearing it. Instead, she’s in some pink pajama shorts, hugging a cream ribbed cardigan close to her body as a rougher strand of wind rips around. Her hair is damp and pushed back behind her ears, you reckon in the short time she was alone in the house she must’ve taken a shower. Which is probably something you should do as well, you think.

Before you can walk inside, though, someone calls you out from behind you. Turning around, you see as the boys approach the house in much less of a hurry you had been in. You find the voice that screamed for you belongs to Declan as he’s leading the rest of them, a taunting smirk painting his face.

“Are you two made of sugar or what?” The words all but stumble out of his mouth and you have to suppress a giggle, he’s probably still drunk from the numerous White Claws they’d consumed throughout the day.

You shake your head. “I’m not trying to get a cold, thank you very much.”

“You’re no fun.” He stops just before entering the covered area, the rain still pouring on his body as he wiggles his hips. “C’mon loosen up a bit.”

You take a step towards him, opening your mouth to bite back but before any word can come out he’s reaching for your arm, drawing you to him. “Declan, no!” You giggle, trying to set yourself free from his grasp but he starts walking backward, pulling you with him. “Stop!”

His other hand that’s not wrapped on your arm is holding the Bluetooth speaker, waving it over his head as he presses his thumb on the volume button, turning it up. Starships starts blasting in the air, blending with the sound of raindrops hitting the ground. You can barely contain your laugh now, wondering how in hell this song even ended up on his playlist. Declan takes the opportunity to fully pull you out in the rain, hugging his arm on your waist and moving his hips along to the beat, bumping it against yours.

He points at Mary who’s still leaning against the door frame, watching the scene with an amused grin.  “I know you love this one.”

“Not a chance Dec.” She calls back from where she stands, earning a loud ‘boo’ from the boy.

His arm doesn’t leave you side as he keeps moving along to the song, his voice slurring the lyrics so loudly next to you it almost swallows the sound coming from the speaker. The drops tickle down your skin, as the rain pours down your body, soaking you as if you’d just dove into the ocean. Your hair is weighing down on your head, and you reach up to push it out of your forehead as you try to follow Declan’s moves but he starts jumping around, making it harder for you.

You watch as Maya decides to join in, skipping to her boyfriend. Looking over your shoulder, you notice the rest of the boys haven’t gone inside and are still standing in the rain, much like Declan. You’re still laughing, almost incredulously, at the scene unfolding in front of you. Seemingly, it’s a clear consequence of the alcohol still very much present in their bloodstreams. But as a sober observer, you can’t help but giggle at the sight of four shirtless men barely keeping their balance as they dance along to Nicki Minaj.

Once the last chorus comes up, Declan unwraps his arm from your waist, reaching for your hand and without much notice spins you around. You stumble on your feet at the sudden move, trying your best to keep yourself from falling down. He doesn’t give you a second to recompose, repeating the move once more, but just as you’re turning around, he lets go of your hand. Without anything to hold on to and keep you steady, your feet slide on the wet stone.

There’s a brief sense of panic that strikes on your body as you feel yourself falling back. But before you can hit the ground, a set of arms catch you, holding on to you a bit awkwardly. You don’t need to look behind you to know who they belong to, the ink hugging his skin being all too familiar to you. Harry’s chest is damp against your back, and his arm is draped around your stomach, the contact of his skin against yours almost burning as you become aware of it.

With his help, you quickly stand back on your feet, untangling yourself from him as soon as you’re on your feet again. Turning around, you don’t miss the way his face is scrunched in a frown, a crease set between his brows and lips tugging downwards. It tugs at your heartstrings, so you give him a small smile. “Thanks.”

“Sure,” he nods.  

For a moment you just look at him, lips parted, feeling as if you should say something else. It’s way too similar to the interaction you had only a few moments ago down at the beach. Or more like all the other interactions you had for the past week, really. His eyes are searching for yours, asking a thousand questions that are left unspoken. Lingering in the air between the two of you. His hand reaches to push back a damp lock of his hair stuck to his forehead, you note how his usually hazelnut strands have taken a darker shade. Much like his tattoos, standing out on his skin, glimmering as the raindrops dance freely down his body.

You know it’s been a beat too long of silence for it to start feel a bit awkward. And can’t help but set a silent prayer for something, anything, to take you out of this situation. You wonder if it would be too bad to just turn around now and pretend nothing happened, pondering if it’s the best decision to run away once again. Thankfully, as if on cue, a thunder roars in the sky, interrupting your thoughts as you squeal, jumping slightly, startled. A chorus of curses follow up from behind you, the rain starting to shower rougher from above.

“Okay that’s enough fun in the rain, everyone back inside now!” Mary screams from her spot, motioning with her hands for everyone to leave the outdoors.

“You must be really fun at parties, sweetheart!” Declan shouts back, you notice he’s managed to go all the way around the pool.

“Unless you’re feeling like getting hit by lightning from dancing next to a pool, I suggest you all come inside now.” She yells with a roll of her eyes, her voice taking a stern tone. “I’m not cleaning up anyone’s body for being stupid.”

He lets out a mischievous laugh, jumping his way around the edge. “Okay, mom.”

The towel scratches on your skin slightly, due to the grains of sand still stuck to it, as you try to dry yourself to the best of your ability. In the background, you can hear whines coming from Maya, complaining about not being able to have a bonfire tonight. You linger long enough to hear someone suggest a movie night instead. But as they begin the discussion of a film choice, you’re soon walking past the double glass door and into the house. Wanting to tuck yourself inside your room as soon as possible.

At this moment you give yourself a mental pat in the back for choosing the only room located downstairs. Regardless of it being the smallest, thus being the easiest one to claim, it was an easy choice for you. Not only you’re the furthest from the other rooms (and being on vacation with a couple, that’s a big pro) but you also have a bathroom all to yourself. Of course, it can barely fit two people inside if it came to it - not that it will - but you don’t mind the narrow space. On top of it all, you’re the closest to the ocean. Meaning that, when you’re drifting to sleep, it’s almost as if the waves are crashing at the end of your bed instead of the cool nightly sand, meters away from where you lay. So soothing you can easily ignore the creak of the wooden steps of the stairs right next to your door every time someone feels like coming down for a midnight snack.

The same creak that you hear as you pace your way on the light oak floor, careful to avoid the rugs that come on your way as to not soak their fabrics. And soon enough, you’re alone in the small space you get to call your own for the week. Away from any potential awkward interactions or silent pleas. The loudest noise filling the air being the raindrops knocking on your windows and your thoughts swallowing you whole.

You don’t rush on your shower. Letting the warm water run through your body in a smooth massage, allowing your muscles to relax as you breathe in the coconut-scented steam surrounding you. It does help to soothe you a little, but the weight in your chest still makes itself present.

Leaving the bathroom hugged in your comfiest set of pajamas, you make your way out of the room. As you enter the living area, you notice Mary sitting alone in the same spot she was on the couch, leaning back on the cushions and scrolling on her phone. Her eyes peak up once you approach her, letting the device fall to her chest when you come to a stop at the end of the couch.

“Everyone still in the shower?” You ask.

“Yup,” she nods, picking her phone back up. “Boys left a wreck for you in the kitchen, good luck with it.”

You huff, already regretting volunteering for the cleaning up duty today. Turning on your heals, you make your way towards the archway leading to the kitchen.

“We’re watching Mamma Mia later, by the way!” You hear Mary call out from behind you. “If you wanna make popcorn, I won’t be opposed.”

Throwing her a look over your shoulder, you shake your head as you look at her face, puppy eyes illuminated by the screen of her phone and lips pursed in a pleading pout. You disappear in the kitchen without giving her an answer -- even though you both know you’re also not opposed to the idea of it.

Analyzing the scene you’re met with, hands coming up to rest on your hips, you realize it’s not as bad as Mary made out to be. It’s messy, sure, but manageable. The cooler lies on top of the counter, a puddle pooling around it, and lid crooked on top as someone probably didn’t bother to close it properly. A couple of dishes from lunch still sit inside the sink, waiting to be washed, but not enough for them to pile on top of each other.

You start with them, humming along to a beat that’s been stuck in your head but you can’t quite put a finger on it as you rinse the plates until they’re shimmering clean, the white porcelain reflecting the ceiling light. It doesn’t take you long to get through all of them, lining them on the rack that sits right next to the sink. As soon as you’re finished, you turn your attention to the cooler, taking the lid off completely so you can check the inside. The ice that filled the box has completely melted, as you expected, pooling at the bottom of it. A couple of empty cans, amongst filled ones, float on top of the water.

Picking them up, you try to fit all of them in your hands as to make a single trip to the bin. When you manage to do it, you give one last check inside to see if you missed any. You look up from it at the same time that Harry steps through the archway into the kitchen space. The sudden appearance makes you stop midstep. He also seems to be taken back by your presence, stopping on his track as he looks at you like a deer caught in headlights. The pang in your heart doesn’t fail to make itself present once again.

He’s fiddling with a water bottle in his hands. Much like you, he’s probably already taken a shower, now dressed in a pair of ash grey sweats and a graphic white tee -- your favorite one, with a blue cartoonish drawing of a smiley bee in the middle and the words “Enjoy health, eat your honey” circling it. Your lips twitch in a smile as you take notice of it. It’s the shirt you love to steal from his closet in hopes of him not missing it, even though he does every time it happens, but still lets you do it cause he says it looks better on you anyway.

He realizes where your gaze has gone, peeking down at his clothes. The smile that takes over his lips, even if small, helps to soothe the knot in your stomach.

Clearing his throat, he breaks the silence this time, voice coming out a bit hesitant. “Hey.”

“Hi.” You nod.

There’s another beat of silence before both of you realize what you’d been doing before being interrupted by the other. And as if on cue, you start walking almost coordinated, crossing your paths as he makes his way to the sink and you reach the bin across the room. You can hear the tap opening and the water filling the inside of his bottle. As you turn to walk back to the counter you watch his broad back facing you, his hair curling at the base of his neck and you can tell he’s looking at the dish rack.

“Did you wash the dishes?” He says, peeking at you from over his shoulder. You meet his gaze, nodding once again as you watch him turn the tap off, turning around as he closes the cap of his bottle. “Shouldn’t have done it all by yourself, you know, could’ve helped you.”

“It was fine.” You reassure with a shrug, placing your hands on the cooler, looking for something to do as you feel him staring.

He stays quiet for a moment, but you can almost hear the wheels in his head turning above the light tapping sound of raindrops outside. You keep your eyes fixed on the cans as you begin taking them out of the cooler, even when you hear him call out your name, only offering a light hum to let him know you’re listening. “Do you, uhm--” He pauses, sighing as you keep yourself focused on the task in hand. “Do you think we can talk?”

You take a sharp inhale, coughing slightly to cover it up as you move the lid to close the container. Chewing on your lip, you keep your eyes trained on your hands as you rest them on the counter, not ready to face what you’ve been so desperately pushing back. Still, you remember what Maya said to you earlier, and you know you can’t keep running away.  “Sure.”

“Love,” his voice comes out pained, tightening a lump that’s forming on your throat. “Can you at least look at me?”

You meet his gaze, blinking away the tears that threaten to spill down your cheeks as you meet his eyes. “Harry--”

He shakes his head slightly, shoulder dropping. “‘S killing me.”

A mesh of voices interrupts your conversation before you can even process what he just told you. You can tell by the sounds of the steps along with the creak of the wooden floor that they’re coming down the stairs. Turning your head, you try to listen closely to foresee if they’re about to enter the kitchen or not. They get louder as they approach, but you can tell they stopped at the living room when Mary’s voice joins the conversation. Harry’s watching you, but the crease settled between his brows tells you he’s also paying attention to the chatter happening outside.

“Maybe we should talk after the movie.” You say after a moment of trying to figure out the loud chatter in the next room.

“Can you meet me in my room?”

“Maybe at mine?” You suggest.  “It’s just more… secluded from the rest, I guess.”

“Okay.” He nods. “After the movie, then.”

The rest of the night blends together as a bit of a blur if you’re honest. And not due to the poorly made strawberry cocktail you have in your hands -- considering you haven’t had more than a sip off of it, and, thankfully, everyone else seems to be too buzzed to notice your untouched cup. No, it’s all thanks to the anxious feeling that has been eating you from the inside out since your brief conversation with Harry. For what seems to be the hundredth time in the past hours you feel your eyes wandering back to him. He’s fiddling with his filled drink, leg bouncing nervously as he leans back on his seat. As if he can feel your eyes set on him, he glances up, meeting your gaze with a raise of his brows.

It’s a simple gesture but you understand the silent question that comes with it, wondering when you’ll be able to sneak out to your room. You had thought that throughout the movie the rest of them would slowly get knocked out, feeling the long day under the sunlight weight on their eyelids, allowing you to settle back in your room without causing any commotion. Surely, Mary was snoring quietly next to you within the first chorus of Honey Honey. But seems like you underestimated everyone else’s capacities of staying awake, for as soon as the end credits were scrolling up on the screen, Declan was up on his feet to suggest a cocktail night.

So here you are, a wink past midnight, watching your friends stumble on their feet at, yet another, Just Dance battle, barely able to understand a single word slurring drunkenly out of their mouths.

You hold Harry’s gaze for a moment, pursing your lips as you ponder how to slip out for the night. Mary’s still sitting next to you, her body relaxed so deep into the cushions it’s like she’s swallowed by it. Her head has fallen back, chest moving along lazily with her breaths, if it wasn’t for the occasional blinks, you would’ve assumed she’d fallen asleep once again. You lean forward, setting your filled glass on the mahogany center table before turning back to her.

“Tired?” You ask.

Her head falls heavy on her shoulder as she looks at you, a small smile tucking on her lips when she nods. “If they decide to take out UNO, I swear to god…”

“I don’t think they ever sleep if I’m honest.” You chuckle just as the last few chords of Sugar come to an end. The sound of the boys’ laughs takes over the brief silence that set in the room, their chatter mixing with the sounds of the wind shaking the glass on the now-closed doors that lead outside. Shifting closer to your friend, you lower your voice just enough for her to hear it, “Feel like now’s the best chance to call it a night.”

“You know,” she sighs. “That was probably the best idea I’ve heard all day.”

You smile, sparing one last look to Harry, only to find him still watching you. Giving him a small nod, as to let him know your intentions, you scoop to the edge of the couch, standing up with a big stretch.”Okay, guys think my bed’s calling me.”

“What?” Maya’s voice yelps on top of the chorus of protests. “But I was about to get my Twister mat!”

“Some of us need to sleep.” Mary’s voice speaks up as she shifts to get up from her cozy spot, her movements much more lethargic than yours. “Shocker, I know.”

You hear echoes of objections and teasing mumbles but don’t really register their words, only sparing a final wave to the group before making your way towards your room. You make a quick stop at the bottom of the staircase, binding Mary a goodnight and watching her for a moment as she ascends the steps, dragging her feet lazily on the groaning wood. Once you finally make it to your door, it takes everything in you not to glance over your shoulder. The back of the chair he’s sitting is facing you, but you wonder if your eyes will meet once again. If he’s searching for yours as desperately as your searching for his.

You don’t look, though. Closing the door behind you as fast as you open it. As if the barrier between you two will somehow help dull the aching in your chest that’s now growing stronger with the realization that you have nowhere to hide from your feelings anymore. Taking deep breaths, you back away until the back of your thighs meet the smooth fabric of the blue comforter hugging your mattress, crossing your legs as you sit back on it.

The room is dark, as you didn’t bother turning on the lights when you first walked in, the only illumination coming from outside, due to your curtains still being pushed open. Thankfully, the rain from earlier is long gone, clearing the night sky so the moon can shine proudly and fully amongst the sea of stars dotted around it. It gives the space a silver glow, giving you an odd sense of calmness as you look out the big window across the bed. The whispers of the wind are still loud against the tree branches, as well as the waves crashing angrily at the shore. Still, the sounds of nature do nothing to quiet down the laughs that come from the other side of the door, even if faint, they’re still loud, and it snaps your attention back to the reason why there’s an anxious twist set in your stomach.

It feels like hours have passed of you sitting alone, chewing at the nail on your thumb, feeling your thoughts drowning you. Every so often your eyes dart to the door, waiting for a creak of steps or a soft knock. But every time you’re met with silence, the door still closed, almost mocking your nervousness. You wonder if he’s given up, you know he hasn’t forgotten about it, there’s no way he would, but maybe he just realized there’s no reason on fighting for whatever’s left between you two. Or maybe he’s just giving you a taste of your own medicine. Letting you sink in the silence and doubt until it floods every cell of your body. Or maybe he’s just trying to find the words to reject y--

The moment you fall back to your cushions, the lump in your throat becoming suffocating at this point, a sound you’ve been waiting for breaks you out of your mind: a quick knock followed by the door opening. The lights of the hallway creep in the room along with Harry, as he pokes his head in.

“Come in.” You clear your throat when your voice comes out in a whisper. Watching as he opens the door wider, just enough to fit the rest of his body, shutting it behind him with a click. You shift a bit, motioning to the spot on the bed in front of you as you try to untie the knot that tightens in your chest.

“Sorry it took me so long,” He sits in front of you. “They really insisted on playing a round of that fucking game.”

“It’s fine.” You give him a weak chuckle. “I was just…” You trail off, shrugging as your eyes set on your lap. “I don’t know, thinking, I guess?”

He nods. “Yeah, I was thinking, too.”

“So…”

“So,” You can feel his eyes searching for yours, so you glance up. There’s a crease set between his brows, his whole body tensed as he chews on his bottom lip. “How do we even start this?”

“I don’t know.” You answer truthfully, trying to find the words to explain everything that’s been flowing in your mind for the last week. But before anything, you know you owe him an apology, so you sigh, the words slipping out of your mouth shakier than you’d intended. “I’m sorry.”

“I don’t want you to apologize.” He says in a blink, shaking his head softly. His voice is low, but tender, “I want to understand what happened.”

“I--” The crack in your voice makes you exhale in frustration, blinking rapidly as you look up at the ceiling, focusing on the pattern of shadows cast due to the moonlight slipping through the tree branches outside. You don’t want to cry.  “I don’t even know, just…” Taking a deep breath you meet his eyes again, knowing there’s no reason to beat around the bushes anymore. “That night, I was so embarrassed.”

“Why?”

“Cause I was drunk and--” You rub your hands over your face, wandering your eyes anywhere but on him. No need to beat around the bushes, you think again, you should just go straight to the point.  “And I had a stupid breakdown after kissing someone else.” “

“It wasn’t stupid, lo--” He cuts himself off, and you’re sure if it wasn’t for the loud thumping of the wind he could hear the crack of your heart from where he sits. “Your feelings aren’t stupid.” You watch as he looks down at his lap, fingers fidgeting with the string of his sweats as he shuts his eyes tight. “But you didn’t have to shut me off.”

The emotion behind his words is so clear, even with the darkness surrounding you, that you can’t help but scoop closer to him, hesitantly reaching your hand to rest on his shoulder. “I know.”

“Do you know how much it killed me to have you not even look at my face?” He looks up again, his waterline glossy, pooling with tears, only twisting the knot that’s settled in your chest. When he speaks again, it’s just above a whisper, “It’s like I lost you.”

You’re not sure why is it that as soon as the words leave his mouth you recoil from him. His declaration feeling nearly unfair to you, only serving as for increasing your frustration at the whole situation in hand. So you can’t help as to increase your voice slightly, a pinch of anger hidden behind it.  “Well I’m not--” You stop yourself as it comes out louder than you’d intended, the annoyance quickly dissolving into pure sadness as you register what you’re about to say. “I wasn’t yours for you to lose, Harry.”

The breath he takes is audible, your words hitting him like a brick. He nods, more to himself than to you, shrugging slightly as he looks dows at the wrinkles on the comforter, the empty space between the two of you. “Maybe I want you to.”

You blink at him, lips parting as it takes you a second to understand what he just said. “What?”

“You didn’t even give me a chance.”

“I’m sorry.” You can’t help but repeat yourself, unable to control the tear that trickles down your cheek. Sniffling, you rub it out, “I was just…”

“Scared?” He finishes as you trail off, now it’s his turn to shift closer to you, hand cupping your cheek as he caresses another tear that trails down your skin.

“Yeah.”

“I’m scared too, baby.” The petname slips off his tongue, sending a spark of electricity down your spine and tugging a smile on your lips. You don’t hold back anymore, wrapping your arms around his shoulders and tucking your head at the base of his neck. Breathing in, the familiar scent of his shampoo mixes with the faint whiff of his cologne, and even a hint of sunscreen. It hits you all at once, how much you missed the closeness to him, the feeling of his arms wrapped around your middle, and the softness of his lips pressed on the side of your head. His voice is muffled by your hair, “Hate that we’re like this.”

“I hate it too.” You nod against his neck, a fresh wave of tears threatening to spill down your cheeks. “I didn’t mean to, H.”

“Shh, I know.” His hand comes up to massage your hair, the action so loving your hands grab at his shirt trying to pull him even closer. “We can fix this, though, okay? Me and you?”

“Yes.”

“No running away anymore.”

“I promise.” You fall silent for a moment, simply enjoying each other’s embrace. When you feel him press another kiss at the side of your head, you pull away, just enough to lock your eyes on his. “Harry?”

“Yes, love?”

“Can you stay tonight?”

“Course.” He brushes a strand of hair out of your face. “Can stay every night you want me to.”

[bananaofswifts]

Taylor Swift’s music has always been the most interesting thing about Taylor Swift, and she’s rarely more interesting than when she’s talking about her music. You would think this would be obvious, considering she’s one of the defining singer-songwriters of her generation, but for large portions of her decade and a half career, the conversations around her have focused on just about everything else: her romances, her feuds, her aesthetics, her strategic alliances, her business calculations, her imagined politics, her actual politics, her role as a feminist icon, her role as an avatar of white fragility, her authenticity, her inauthenticity, her videography, her numerology, her cats. Last winter’s Sundance documentary “Miss Americana” allowed her to tackle most of these issues head-on, often with a frankness that we rarely saw out of the increasingly private star, but even there, Swift’s music sometimes risked getting lost in all the noise. Perhaps that’s why “Folklore,” the decidedly low-key album she recorded during quarantine and released with zero fanfare in July, felt like such a breath of fresh air. It also didn’t hurt that it was one of the best things she’s ever done. Working remotely with veteran collaborator Jack Antonoff and new producer/co-writer Aaron Dessner (best known as the guitarist for sad-dad-rock mainstays the National), Swift used “Folklore” to cast off the spectacle, the commercial calculations, and the meta-framing of her last few albums and focus instead on the fine-tuned intimacy and incisive turns of phrase that made her such a singular voice to begin with. The one thing that album was missing, however, was the immediacy of a studio setting, and so for this week’s Disney Plus release “Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions,” she’s assembled Dessner and Antonoff in person to play through each song live. Aside from some brief home videos of Swift recording the album earlier this year, the entire film takes place at the titular studio in New York’s Hudson Valley: a cozy, exposed-wood cabin situated on a picturesque piece of waterfront real estate, surrounded by chairs, string lights and fire pits where the artists can retire to sip wine and tea while discussing the day’s progress. (Frankly, the most succinct way to describe the setting would be “extremely Taylor Swift-like,” even though the studio is actually Dessner’s.) It wouldn’t be a Swift project without a few strategically teased Easter eggs — in this case, some hints about the love-triangle narrative that pops up irregularly throughout the album, and a revelation about the identity of her mysterious collaborator “William Bowery” — but the remote getaway vibe of the location mostly allows the focus to stay on the music. Directed by Swift herself, the film is handsomely mounted though never flashy, and follows a simple repeated structure: We get a drone shot of the surroundings, then a brief interlude discussing the next song, and then a performance. The discussion sections are of highly variable quality, at times offering fascinating glimpses into Swift’s creative process, and at others sounding suspiciously like the sort of rehearsed banter she might have offered from the stage of an arena tour. As the newcomer to Swift’s circle, Dessner tends to draw the most out of her in conversation, offering his own interpretations of Swift’s lyrics and opening up about his personal struggles with depression during a chat about the song “Peace.” Longtime associate Antonoff is more likely to simply “yes, and” whatever Swift is saying, which can be slightly frustrating. When she mentions that “picking a track five is sort of a pressurized decision,” you want someone to ask her to elaborate, instead of knowingly nodding. Naturally, the film’s main attractions are the performances, as the three run through each of “Folklore’s” tracks — bonus ones included — in order. None of the live renditions here are radically different from what’s heard on the record, though one can easily imagine Swiftian scholars endlessly debating the merits of each, the way Dylanologists still fight over which take of “Idiot Wind” is the canonical one. But it’s obvious that these three are enjoying the chance to once again exchange ideas in person rather than over email and Skype, and it’s impressive to watch just how thoroughly Dessner and Antonoff manage to re-create the record’s sparse yet carefully textured soundscapes with just a few guitars, a piano, some light drum machine and a solitary snare. (“Folklore’s” lone guest star, Justin Vernon, does Skype in his performance for the duet “Exile” from his own home studio, and adds enough improvised touches to keep the song from feeling overly familiar.) Perhaps the most striking element of the film is its deep focus on Swift as a singer. Back in her “Fearless” days, Swift was subject to substantial criticism for her limited vocal prowess, which was always unfair. Swift was a lyrics-first singer-songwriter long before she was a pop star, and she deserved to be considered in the company of the former rather than contrasted with the Mariah Careys of the world. Nonetheless, the control she has developed over her instrument in the years since is remarkable to behold, and Swift’s vocals sound simply lovely here. She still never allows a flourish or a tricky run to compromise the clarity of a lyric, but she knows exactly how to work wonders within her register, and she’s perfectly comfortable exploring its further reaches. On “My Tears Ricochet,” Swift gives her voice a husky edge that almost calls Chan Marshall to mind — this is probably the oldest she’s ever sounded, and it becomes her nicely. Meanwhile, she can still summon the old wide-eyed “Teardrops on My Guitar” innocence when a song calls for it, and she’s practically bouncing off her seat when “Betty” hits its big key-change at the end. Once again, it seems as though Swift envisions every album release or career move as another chapter of an elaborate, neverending bildungsroman, and “Long Pond” doesn’t give much indication of what the next one might look like. (Although she does note that “Folklore” taught her the value of songwriting that looks outward, rather than plumbing exclusively from her own experiences — for those of us left somewhat cold by her more tabloid-baiting “Reputation” period, that’s certainly a welcome note.) With this film, she just does the two things she does best: making excellent music, and giving people a new reason to talk about Taylor Swift. But at least she’s made sure that this time we’re talking about her for all the right reasons.

[dustedmagazine]

Sleaford Mods — Spare Ribs (Rough Trade)

“Nudge It” and “Mork n Mindy,” two of the tracks the Sleaford Mods initially released from their excellent new LP Spare Ribs, feature barnstorming vocal contributions from Amy Taylor and Tor Maries, respectively. Maybe the decision to promote Spare Ribs with those tracks (and the videos in which the women strut their powerful, performative stuff) was motivated by the Sleaford Mods’ generosity of heart. The Nottinghamshire band may have wanted to use its increasing rep and visibility to tune listeners in to the young women and their bands: snotty punks Amyl and the Sniffers, and the proletarian pop experiment that is Billy Nomates. One likes to believe that the Mods walk it like they talk it. Resources are increasingly scarce, and if we’re going to make it as a collectivity, we’ve got to share what we’ve got. Or maybe there are other things at work. So much of the Mods’ music concerns — or rants and fulminates about — authenticity: the distinctions between real, intentioned speech and vapid online bullshit (“Blog Maggot,” “Tweet Tweet Tweet,” “Just Like We Do,” and so on); between real economic struggle and superficially convenient appearances of class consciousness (“Fizzy,” “Rich List,” “Carlton Touts,” and so on). The band’s hot-and-cold relations with the Labour Party and the much-discussed spat with Idles have only intensified the public imaginary’s association of the Mods with a sharp-elbowed working-class sensibility, grounded in lived experience. Taylor’s and Maries’ voices complement and accentuate that sensibility, with impetuous, youthful verve.

Sleaford Mods aren’t young men. They’ve been working at their craft for quite a while now, and as Jason Williamson and Andrew Fearn have noted, on recent tracks like “OBCT” (“I just fantasize / In a house three times the size of my old one…”), the terms of the game have changed for them. The fact that they might contemplate using their music to showcase younger, lesser-known talent means that the Mods have influential reach, and the forms of capital that go along with it. It’s great that the band has enjoyed such success; this reviewer is pretty delighted that more and more people are digging the Mods’ music. But what are the stakes of the social mobility the band is experiencing? They operate in an ambiguous space, and the songs seem aware of it. “Elocution,” another track from Spare Ribs, starts with Williamson speaking in a stilted, “cultured” tone, parodying artists who “talk about the importance of independent venues” so they can attract the audience and cred to “be in a position to move away from playing independent venues.” As Williamson notes, it’s not just what you say, but how you say it: “I’m no good with elocution / To get myself into the institution.” Which one? The Royal Albert Hall? Downing Street? The Executive Director’s suite at Lloyds Banking Group? If you want to gain access to the institution, you generally need to speak its language, with the right words and tones. 

A number of songs on Spare Ribs worry over the qualities of voice and its relations to identity: “Top Room,” “Thick Ear,” “Nudge It.” The Mods’ music has frequently foregrounded and thematized Williamson’s strong, East Midlands accent (see “Out There”: “Let’s git Brexit fooked boi an ‘orse’s peeenis”), its lack of polish and the social consequences of speaking that way. Of course, Williamson’s voice is compelling (and successful) exactly because his characteristic sprechgesang delivery — the runs of obscenity and the rough-and-tumble vernacular lyricism — carries the audible signature of region and class. The key to grooving with it may be understanding that the continued presence of that signature doesn’t limit or dictate the Mods’ real, material position. They have earned, through the force of their creativity and sweat, access to new places and social spaces. But even as some of their songs explore what’s newly possible in those spaces, the Mods remain deeply interested in the places from which they came. 

Two of the best songs on Spare Ribs, “Mork n Mindy” and “Fishcakes,” situate the listener in quotidian sites: a desultory cul-de-sac of rundown houses, a cramped and steamy kitchen. On “Mork n Mindy,” the band may be flashing on the 1980s, its toys and television shows, or they may be placing us inside of housing projects that haven’t been repaired or meaningfully updated since then. In either case, the environment is decidedly unhappy: dinner plates fly as couples fight, and the song’s most consistently worked image is the stink of dirty bodies, dirty rooms and industrial pollution. Maries’ terrific contribution to the song provides a narrative of downward mobility, of “crash landing” in a squalid apartment and the psychological and linguistic displacements accompanying that bewilderingly awful experience. Additionally bewildering is the song’s seductive pulse, and Fearn’s keen sense for when to drop in some Casiotone-quality beeps and boops. The tune is a lot of fun; the song is not. 

Fearn’s beats and basslines are as compelling as ever, and this time around, he builds on the music’s effect with a good deal more analog-sourced sounds. But his work on “Fishcakes” demonstrates the appeal of keeping things simple, even spare. A drone and an anxious throb quaver under Williamson’s singing. And Williamson sings on the track — not at all a new event on a Mods record, but his vocal turn on “Fishcakes” verges on vulnerability. Like “Mork n Mindy,” the song suggests retrospection, a memory of a lost Midlands. And as ever, the theme of austerity, and its effects on real lives, invests the lyric with potent poignancy: “Second-hand, but I don’t mind / Scouring the papers at Christmastime.” The sweetness and sadness of Williamson’s singing add to the mixed feelings evoked by the smell of cheap fish frying in cheaper cooking oil, by a long walk to work. At least there’s a job — but it’s a soul-sucker. That ambivalence is summed up in the song’s chorus: “And when it mattered, and it always did / At least we lived.” Little lives matter, working-class lives matter. Of course they do. But the “at least” and the need for its inclusion are pretty devastating. “Fishcakes” is the last song on Spare Ribs, and it’s both a wistful tribute and a gut punch. The Sleaford Mods can land one like no one else. 

Jonathan Shaw

[fyexo]

200925 Key Tracks: SuperM’s ‘Super One’

The members of SuperM - Taemin, Baekhyun, Kai, Taeyong, Mark, Ten and Lucas - are amongst the most skilled and experienced dancers, rappers and vocalists in the South Korean pop industry.

Dubbed by their label upon debut as the ‘Avengers as K-Pop”, ostensibly for this formidable combination of talents, Super M went on to prove equally powerful on the charts. Their eponymous debut EP, released last October, landed at No.1 on the Billboard Hot 200 and No.19 in the UK album chart.

Out in a matter of hours, their first full-length album, ‘Super One’ (preceded by the singles ‘100’ and ‘Tiger Inside’) brings with it, says the group, a message of unity in a time of pandemic and uncertainty.

Earlier this week, SuperM partook in a global, roundtable interview live from Seoul, unpacking the elements that lie within their sound and behind their teamwork. Here’s everything we know about K-Pop’s latest supergroup, and their brand new record.

Key track 1: Infinity

Beloved by Mark and Ten’s for its “dynamic and storytelling”, ‘Infinity’ is nothing short of a space opera, fired up with choral bursts and a demanding wub-wub bass that twists beneath the harmonies. “Like a blaze of glory, going overdrive / Going to live my story, everything I do to feel alive,” they declare, more victorious than defiant.

Even a supergroup needs motivation and, no matter how long they’ve spent being pop stars, SuperM are still constantly learning and honing their craft Rapper Mark calls reaching No.1 on the US charts an “honour. To have our fans combine their strength to help us really felt great. It motivated us and we put in double the amount of effort [on this album], so we believe the quality went up that much as well.”

If there’s any pressure on them to repeat the success of their EP, then they’re not outwardly displaying it. Instead, Baekhyun, the group’s eldest at 28, looks at their growth as performers. “One of the things I learned in preparing for this album is we were able to stretch our limits even more. We’ve released ‘100’, ‘Tiger Inside’ and now, the title track ‘One’. Each of these songs has such a great concept and choreography and putting all that together was really challenging.”

Key track 2: Big Chance

“I personally like taking big chances and opportunities so this song, just the title itself, captured my attention,” says Baekhyun. “It’s a good song that showcases our individual charms.” Sung in English, this western radio-friendly cut is frothy with a falsetto hook and bouncy instrumental, triggering a yearning for simpler times, fun summer nights and the press of a warm hand into your own. One key ingredient to SuperM’s appeal is their yin and yang charms - consummate professionals on stage, the epitome of chaotic good off stage.

Though only just clear of a year as a group, their connection is infallible; during the 40-minute roundtable they cheer like sports fans after their every reply and so frequently get the giggles mid-answer that, at one point, they’re hushed by their staff and sit scolded like naughty schoolboys. Hong Kong-born Lucas, whose Korean isn’t fluent, sends his bandmates into fits of brotherly laughter as he enthusiastically attempts to summarize their “different but connected” aesthetics but there’s a telepathy between all seven and Kai and Mark patiently, warmly, elucidate for him.

Taeyong, in halting but near-perfectly inflected English, recalls Taemin’s detailed work on their choreography and calls their performances “really dope and great, and untouchable”, and Mark and the group’s second English-speaker, Ten, beam.

But SuperM’s funniest moments are unintentional, often born from juxtaposition: Kai politely discussing his love of the “energising” ‘Tiger Inside’ but there’s Mark and Taemin distractingly pose like circus tigers, or Baekhyun revealing their sonic maturation as - “We wanted to relay the message of positivity rather than just focus on the performance” - even as Taemin thoroughly amuses himself by practising the severed thumb trick.

Key track 3: Better Days

The ballad with underrated beginnings, according to Ten. “When I listened to that song, I was like, ‘does it sound kinda old, seriously, it sounds like [from the] 90s’,” he says. Although the verses are perhaps more Macklemore than Mytown, its sweet, retro chorus blooms over a simple piano line, and the message, adds Ten, “is healing. When we’re together, we can make a better day.”

From tanks to supercars, SuperM are known for their use of vehicles in their videos, but there’s more to it than being a petrolhead Their debut single, ‘Jopping’, featured a helicopter and a tank, ‘100’ gave us CGI cars and a futuristic train, and ‘Tiger Inside’ sported a garish fur print motorbike but, according to Kai, this affinity for things that go vroom-vroom isn’t merely an aesthetic. “We can’t really travel right now because of the pandemic but we really hope that, just like these modes of transportation [can] take you somewhere, that our songs and music and album can take you to a place of hope, that higher place where everyone can be happy.”

Key track 4: Together At Home

The aim of ‘Super One’, says Mark, is to bring hope and unity to a world gone dark. “For ‘Together At Home’ (Taeyong’s favourite track), we really felt, like, ‘we’re all staying together at home so what are the ways we can connect through our songs?’” It’s one of the album’s finest moments - joyous, high gloss synth-funk with a chorus that steals the show with pure panache. Making an album that not only highlights each member’s skills but also creates a definitive SuperM is not an easy task.

The members’ respective groups - SHINee, WayV, NCT and EXO - already have such defined sonic identities that creating an entirely new one for SuperM would have been wildly ambitious. Instead, SuperM is a lake into which four rivers flow, and ‘Super One’, which takes an individual leaf out of each group’s playbooks (EXO’s glorious harmonies, NCT’s bonkers bass lines, and so on) and wilfully sews them together, is that aspiration realised.

For SuperM, their album is a leap forward; Taemin points out that ‘Super One’ harmonises the member’s skills “way better than we did initially [on the ‘SuperM’ EP], with this album we’re able to experiment more and try out different genres and see how it comes together.”

Key track 5: Wish You Were Here

“This would have been a great title track,” says Taemin, who chooses it as his favourite. “It’s one that’s kind of unexpected because audiences expect performance-heavy songs and the message within this brings the whole album together.” Faintly tinged with the flavour of steel drums and 80s percussion, the longing woven into the rhythms is dream-like and hypnotic.

No matter how successful you appear, there’s always seemingly wobbly career stepping stones… and you just have to take them, one haircut at a time Between them, they possess over 40 years of experience as performers yet Taeyong admits that not everything they work on feels clear cut. “I’m sure everyone feels the same way but, when we started our careers, a lot of the moments we go through feel like we’re still trying to get there. We’re not fully there yet.

There’s a lot of moments where it might have felt like a failure but everything was a step to build up to what we have now.” Such pragmatism means that their keenest regrets are, quite fortunately, follicle related. “When I debuted,” recalls Mark, “my hair was very short so my bangs were above my eyebrows and I honestly hated it. But coming back to it now, it was cute, it was appropriate for that age, that time of my life.”

Ten agrees wholeheartedly: “Like [for] ‘7th Sense’, when I saw my hair, I was like, ‘this is not going to work out’ but now I miss it so much!” It has to be said that it’s just hair but Mark, his own faded from being magenta into a cotton-candy pink, and as a K-Pop veteran, cheerily protests such a claim. “Hair is an important factor!”

Taylor Glasby @ CLASH

[twiddlebirdlet]

Inbox Collective Part I

Anonymous said: People are saying we should be happy because Chris looks happy. Looking happy and actually being happy are two different things. Yeah, he’s smiling in those pics but IS he happy? That’s the most important question. He said once before he’s a terrible liar and while I do believe he may have tells, he’s a talented actor, which means he I’m sure he can fake it good enough when be needs to. This is the same man who hid his face while out his fam at Disney now he’s facing the camera? 💁🏾‍♀️ LOL

Anonymous said: I hope whatever Chris is getting out of this arrangement is worth it because he looks like a joke now

Anonymous said: Here’s the thing, I wouldn’t actually mind if they were real. I’d support it and think it’s cute. But everything they’re doing looks fake and staged to the max. You never know, they could be Ben/Ana or Shawn/Camila 2.0 where it seemed fake, but turned out to be real, or Tom Hiddleston/Taylor Swift where it was clearly PR. Only time will tell. However, I do think it’s ironic that Tom/Taylor happened around the time Tom was nominated for a Globe, and won. Chris’ team def wants that Emmy nod.

Anonymous said: JS said in Vulture that he is extremely a private person and here he is doing poses for the paps in the middle of a pandemic lol. I thought MK was the girl who will call paps on them I guess here is Lily lol.

Anonymous said: Niall Horan said if you dont want to be papped you will not be papped. This photo reeks PR stunt. Taylor and Tom already did this back then when he is about to be nominated in emmys 🤣 I guess this one is way worse than Minka.

Anonymous said: you saw video 🤣 !! Backgrid said it was yesterday July 7, not today 😂🤣 DailyM they you left so bad as always 🤣 and they killed your article love in the park with the video 🤣🤣😂

Anonymous said: Srsly. They shouldve brought in the professionals to handle this. Did a table read. "Block the shot (set up up their positions, actions, etc)" at the hotel. Fincher, DuVernay, Joon-hoo. Or maybe Apatow since this and his life is a "big dumb comedy." His words. 😉

Anonymous said: For his next pap walk, I would suggest him making some training and some chemistry test before. Just the looks of him and the actress can sell the stuff for the public (who will not give a second thought after seeing that) but the older stans that will follow him through the years, will see through it quickly.

Anonymous said: Never thought we would reach another low level after JS.

Anonymous said: The fucker always walks like that when he knows he’s being watched. I can’t deal hahahah SO PR 🤣😂

Anonymous said: I could've lived without the video. It was bizarre. The ice cream eating was aggressive lol😂. Idc what anyone says they aren't comfortable around each other. She actively swung out of the way to avoid touching him while walking. They should've built up reporrt before public outings. But I guess Chris' time is limited like they bought his time along with the daily mail package. I feel like this is going to be very t swift hiddleston. He won't ever live it down and when asked insist it was real.

Anonymous said: I wonder how hard they’ll try to sell this crap in the coming weeks/months when it’s obvious that they’re trying so hard right now that they’re massively failing lol

Anonymous said: I kinda got a feeling after Saturdays pap stroll things fell through and after getting dragged for not wearing masks, and that this is damage control and he’s just not that into her. Especially with the watermelon thing paired with the weird body language. Like it seems so, odd.

Anonymous said: To the other anon questioning watermelon talking: Acting is actually quite ridiculous. If you saw hot things look on set, you would not be in awe. Everything is exaggerated and fake. It all comes together in editing. Most of the big actors I’ve seen on set often look quite silly in the moment.

Anonymous said: Biiiitch can you imagine? Lily: *licks ice cream* Hey Chris, watermelon. Chris: *licks ice cream* Haha, watermelon. Anyway all this just truly gets me thinking about if he does one day end up with a girlfriend and keeps it on the down low, is he willing to continue these types of publicity stunts. He has said in interviews that he wants to settle down and have kids but I think if that was something he truly wanted he could find it. I don’t think he’s ready to give up the Hollywood game just yet

Anonymous said: to the anon who said they would find chris and lily saying random words silly- they could be talking about how stupid the fans who buy this are and how many "cute couple"s and" they're adorable together"s they're gonna get after this cringe fest. or maybe she told him how she'd staged this to get rid of the "lily james snorting powder in a park" images that come up first on google search and she's happy he agreed 😏 for whatever reason none of us knows (yet)

Anonymous said: So they not even have a real conversation? Whoa 😲 this show getting worse every minute

Anonymous said: (Diff anon, I’ll use 🔅 as my marker for when I send in) As an actress upcoming in the industry watermelon talking is probs the first thing you learn in scene work if you’re a backdrop/extra/filler. This looks extremely staged and I’ve had training for dealing with paps/how to look and act when paps are around. Also notice how they’re “faced out”. If you’re an actor you know how to face your body outwards towards “the crowd” to get a good shot. They’re sitting to get perfectly photographed.

Anonymous said: I'm pretty sure I read on here or maybe elsewhere "We're not going to find out who his future girlfriend is based on who he follows on Twitter." Well technically I guess that's true :D Also we were dismissive of any chance of him and that athlete because she lives in Canada, and yet he was willing to go to the UK.

Anonymous said: They look like two people who are trying to ACT like they don’t want to be noticed and be all nonchalant but in fact they know the whole purpose of being there is to be noticed. It’s an act, pure and simple.

Anonymous said: The way they are eating their ice cream in saying one word between two licks is so weird! One strick tongue, one word, one strick tongue, one word. First time i see people eat like that. In a normal universe you talk and time to time you eat. You make break between. And are eating them so quickly. And Chris doesn't see to be the kind of man who lay down the grass like that. They are a big joke.

hagarsays said: But also we don’t know what’s happening behind the scenes maybe there is something going on between them we don’t know but saying this whole thing is stage well maybe it is but also what happen if they are dating and they are making it official now I’m not trying to start a fight or anything this is just what o think

Anonymous said: I'm feeling second hand embarrassment from all of this. Even if it seems it's working for his mentions on twitter.

Anonymous said: Me on Monday: Chris, where is 😷; me on wedneday afternoon: Chris, what 😯🤔🙄; me on wednesday night: oh, Chris 😂🤣🙈🤦‍♀️

Anonymous said: Maybe this whole things is the "work" he traveled across the ocean for…

Anonymous said: This is hiddleswift 2.0 😂

Anonymous said: Two PROFESSIONAL actors can’t fake one date. He really think he will be nominated for Emmy? Go back to Concord Youth theatre and learn some lessons how to look like you on a real date.

Anonymous said: For me what sold this as a PR move (no matter whether they get romantically involved with each other for real or not) is not just the fact of the timely pics and vid from BackGrid but usually when celebrities are "unknowingly"/ "unexpectedly" papped almost immediately you find fan pics of their sightings all over the place. But that's not on their case.

Anonymous said: I’m imagining a Ben and Ana situation where we get pap pics of Chris and Lily in Boston and Chris’s niece and nephews are running around with a Lily James cutout 🤣

Anonymous said: celebrities as big as chris and lily have incredibly talented teams... youre telling me BOTH TEAMS were unable to properly hide them from the paparazzi??? nah, they definitely wanted to be seen.

Anonymous said: That video has my DYING😂😂😂 y’all are actors do better😂😂

Anonymous said: At first I was mad at Chris for this shit he made, but after that video I can’t wait for more. THIS IS THE BEST COMEDY SHOW. Chris please don’t stop, give us more material to lost respect for you.

Anonymous said: Something that I always found attractive on Chris is the fact that although he played the PR game, it was subtle and he never looked thirsty. For me, the paps pics used to be a happy occasion to see him. Now he looks... thirsty? Still not on the same level of other celebs but it seems he took the first steps to reach that low. I have nothing to say about Lilly. That is her thing, she is just doing more of the same. And she is definitily not alone on this.

Anonymous said: He might hate having to do this, but he's choosing to, and not even bothering to *try* to look into her. That video made it glaringly clear that it's all pr

Anonymous said: I feel like you don’t want him and lily James to date Idk why

Anonymous said: I’m so sorry but this is not a real relationship. That video and these park pics really did it for me. I can’t stop laughing at this spectacle I feel like this is more Megan for damage control

Anonymous said: that video makes it look so staged even the way they are sitting. Wonder what will be next?

Anonymous said: I think these pics were taken on Saturday the day after. It has been wet in London (good ole British summer) and they would not be sitting on wet grass. Does scream PR. Chris will have to be returning soon to US for his ASP launch unless he zooms from London. Sill can’t believe he would fly over for a hook up it has to be work related as will.

Anonymous said: What’s going to happen if they come out and say they been dating you still not going to believe them you will still think it’s PR

Anonymous said: Also if they wanted this whole thing to be PR they would have started a long time go before DJ came out I really think they are dating like we can never know what happens behind close time

Anonymous said: I don’t even know which parts of that video more funny. That awkward ice cream licking while paps shouting or that awkward walk like two strangers. And some people really think these two are real life prince and princess love story.

Anonymous said: I feel like we are all jumping to conclusions with this whole lily and Chris situation but MAYBE JUST MAYBE they are really dating

Anonymous said: I feel embarrassed for them in these photos. No offense I don’t mean to come off rude. But this is so staged. I thought maybe this was real but a video I’m sorry there was a purpose for this

Anonymous said: There nothing wrong with the video the paparazzi is being so nosey you acting like they are staring at the camera but they are not they are just talking

Anonymous said: They look more interested in their ice creams than each other 🤣. Why didn't Jenny get this treatment? At least Minka got a few pap walks.

Anonymous said: There nothing wrong with the video the paparazzi is being so nosey you acting like they are staring at the camera but they are not they are just talking

Anonymous said: Oh yeaaaah, they seem super natural and in love in that video 🙄🙄🙄🙄

Anonymous said: Is there any possibility that they are genuinely dating/having a fling but are using it for PR at the same time? Or are perhaps just fwb?

Anonymous said: I know this is a weird thought, but her clutching the hotel bag felt like her guilty conscience speaking. If she really had slept with him, she wouldn’t be so desperate to prove it. Maybe I’m wrong, though. He flew all that way, he might as well get something out of it, since he’s killing his reputation. I thought I actually heard a story about him laughing at the TS drama on the avengers set. Oh, how the tables have turned.

Anonymous said: Do you think there’s any possibility they’re just starting out dating or just friends with benefits maybe?

Anonymous said: Someone on Twitter said Lily begins filming something later this month? Hopefully this nonsense won't last for long. He's sort of flushing away his credibility and good will by pulling such stunts when so may people are going through such hardships and tragedy. It's so insensitive and out of touch. Especially if this is all for an Emmy nom. That award belongs to Mark Ruffalo anyway.

Anonymous said: I would pay all my money to see Scott’s reaction watching those pictures from the park. I think he’s second hand embarrassed for his brother. Or maybe Chris will get some lessons how yo look more natural on their next date.

Anonymous said: I agree with you. Celebs can't scream "my privacy", "leave me alone", or "ugh, LA" (as Chris said once in an interview) when they are doing this kind of thing. That are actors and actresses who never used this kind of tool or are rarely papped and manage to have a good career. But maybe those are the more talented, that get screenplays at their doors? Or the ones who truly give a sh*t about fame?

Anonymous said: So we've decided all this PR probably isn't for ASP, and maybe it's for the Emmys, even though it's a long shot he'll be nominated, and he definitely won't win. That's a hell of a lot of hassle to go through. And I still don't get why it was necessary to go to the UK for this when he could've been papped with an American actress. Is it just because it'll be easier to break up with her when the charade is over? Long-distance, conflicting schedules etc.

Anonymous said: First time of his pap walk career I see Chris watching paparazzi. Not one made unintentionally but a few! And in laughing! He never did it with Minka, he lowered his head or acted usually, same with Jenny and their airport pics, just the time to order a taco or get their bags back but now he watches the camera, exposed during maybe one hour?

Anonymous said: I heard that today it is raining in London! people who live there mentioned it !! So maybe these photos were not really from today

Anonymous said: There’s always been something I’ve disliked about Lily, I’m usually really into actresses but with her there’s just something that is off-putting, perhaps cold or clout chasing etc. Do you know what I mean? I can’t exactly put my finger on it but my guesses/feelings/thoughts about famous individuals and people in general usually turn out to be correct without fail.

Anonymous said: I’m a Trevor Noah fan! How do y’all know him and Minka are dating?👀

Anonymous said: Why I want to know is why Chris would do this with Lily of all people, she’s so not his type from what he’s said but he’s also said that that goes out the door when you meet someone. They don’t seem to have anything really in common other than acting? Do they have any shared likes, he’s known for being really politically involved and she doesn’t, he seems a big animal lover but she doesn’t. Anything else you’d like to add? 😂

Anonymous said: Someone needs to create an account like that Ana de armas update account on twitter soon if this keeps going the way it is...

Anonymous said: So I’ve got a really really good intuition/sixth sense it’s actually quite scary. I can usually guess correct on things that happen months before they actually do or pick up on people’s changes etc. I have an uneasy feeling about Chris and Lily together, something doesn’t seem natural or adding up to me.

Anonymous said: I find this whole thing just odd. I think celebrities are so used to being at the forefront of news outlets that with the virus and movements they are doing really desperate things for attention and it’s almost humorous.

Anonymous said: Is it just me or was lily distant like alway looking away , and towards the paps ?

Anonymous said: I guess it’s safe to say this sh**how is going to get worse before it gets better (and less fake?)

Anonymous said: You said : “As for ASP, I don’t think he gives a crap about that at this point.” That’s kind of sad, seeing that he put so much effort into it, maybe that’s we’re all this comes from.

hagarsays said: Wait Chris probably went to London after he did his pre-recorded stuff for variety,deadline and 92y

Anonymous said: If i was chris’ PR, i would def not want this PR stunt to be bc we’re pushing for an emmy nom. Thats just tasteless & not the mark of a “serious” actor like chris wants to be. He made a mistake ignoring the deadline interview (unretweeting) bc it is just one of the few big ways that could get ppl taking him seriously bc it was MATURE. Lowkey weird to be 39 & doing classless PR stunts w/ an actress who isnt down to settle like he seems to want

Anonymous said: US said same thing as dm. I do not confirm the relationship between them again! that leaves me a lot to think about 🤔

Anonymous said: I’m confused. You do think that yes they are a real couple or no they’re not and it’s just PR?

Anonymous said: Def agree with you about ASP. Now it seems like he didn’t even give a shit. Some would think someone who wants to be taken seriously with his political website he would stay lowkey and wouldnt pull a PR bullshit but here we are. I guess Emmy nom is more important. Also guys its not about fans its about general public. The more ppl talk about him the more getting a nod from Emmy. Cuz the award shows need audience and if the ppl they nominate has new ppl interested in them it means more watchers!

Anonymous said: What post did he like that mentioned him? Was this on Twitter? What did the post say? Very confused and speculative rn bc this seems so staged.

Anonymous said: I can't wait till the paps 'accidentally' catch them strolling around Concord 😂

Anonymous said: Is that a new necklace Chris has, the pendant looks bigger than the usual one or is it just me. Also noticed the gold watch 😳

Anonymous said: Reminds me of hiddleswift that relationship started when he was in talks to get a GG. If we get lovey dovey pics i will be on the PR train. plus she has work scheduled for the fall and he’s kind of a homebody and she insta allowed in the country. So I don’t think it will last

Anonymous said: I’m confused about why get a cab to the park. Also it’s friggin cold here ATM. And many showers. Why bother.

Anonymous said: Mood, I'm not sure if it was you that mentioned that some of his friends posted pics on SM attending parties for 4th july. Analyzing all this situation I think that Chris and at least some of his friends can be entitled and irresponsible. He was even more irresponsible.

Anonymous said: This is backfiring on Chris big time. Some of his stans might be kissing his ass, but other people are pissed. The photos made it to ONTD and people are shitting on Chris real hard. And talking about Lily snorting it up in the park the other day IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC. Those photos of Lily barely had any rotation and now people keep bringing them up. This is so stupid. Why would he do this now?

Anonymous said: Also, one last thing: I think this confirms that chris DEFINITELY has a type, and it has nothing to do with brunette hair, her own independence or a great ass. Instead, his type really does seem to be basic, emotionally needy and fame thirsty actress. Like, he's on chick #3 who seems desperately thirsty for media attention. It's a pattern ON HIS PART for sure. I don't think he really cares about privacy so much as he cares about being judged or seen in a negative way.

Anonymous said: all theses pics of Chris made me wonder why we never see any pap pics of him with his family I find a little strange cause they are very close

Anonymous said: It can't be just me that thinks that if the did indeed hook up this weekend or even before (where even is that theory coming from), then they'd at least look more comfortable around each other. Because you'd think the play would've been this park set up first and then the hotel stunt.

Anonymous said: Anyways, I wonder if Jenny is getting married soon? Because as soon as I saw the ice cream pics, my first thought was: oh, I see, so jenny's wedding must be coming up soon... like this is a kind of petty revenge on his part. He's just such a dumbass that he fucked it up by forgetting about the global pandemic. Doh! I may be crazy, but my intuition about stuff like that is very often on point.

Anonymous said: Idk why but i feel like maybe Michelle introduces them since lily and Michelle worked on downton Abby and Chris and Michelle worked on defending Jacobs maybe that’s how they meet or got introduced

Anonymous said: They went to the park so whenever you Google "Lily James Park" you get these pictures w/ Chris instead of the ones of her snorting whatever it was she was snorting the other day.

Anonymous said: Worse than that, wasn't the post actually criticizing/mocking him? So he reads. He's OBVI on board with this, so of course he's checking for or is being informed of it's reception in real-time. His "Old man yells at sky" spiel abt mod tech doesn't jibe w his deleting a couple of tone deaf tweets (months aft his mentions/comments were in shambles), getting "caught" liking/unliking at lightning speed, etc. He reads, he just responds subtly: Dodger content, blue hearts, got snippy in a kids video.

Anonymous said: It still sucks that he did this when people are literally dying due to Covid19. Surely, their meet cute could have waited till things were better? I was supposed to fly to London later this year but can't because I'm not a wealthy white men with an abundance of privilege. It's like they are rubbing their privilege in our noses. Even if this is real, it's a terrible way to begin things. Makes them both look careless and selfish.

Anonymous said: Why do you think Chris went on instagram Was it maybe to see what people thought out him and lily being together Or because he relieds he should of been wearing a mask , and wanting to see how people reacted to that

Anonymous said: What do you think is going on? I’m so confused as to whether they’re genuinely dating and whether they’ve been dating for a while or not, how they’re going to work the relationship- will she move or will he? Is it PR? She’s only been known lately for her Sky Mobile ads so publicity for her, and also the Backgrid stuff

Anonymous said: I think she called the paps at the hotel and now the morning after Chris is doing damage control with mask and ice cream. She is literally holding the hotel bag probably from the night before. To your point no way they would release his hotel

Anonymous said: Plus Lily has been papped multiple times since lockdown began. I don't she has ever been photographed in a mask. So this is a first for her. He obviously told her to wear one.

Anonymous said: I showed other people the pics, including someone NOT in the fandom, and they said it doesn’t look like a couple. It just looks like friends. None of the pics look “cozy”...he’s walking with his hands in his pockets and when his hands are out, they aren’t holding hands. They are just walking and talking like friends. And she looks directly in the camera again. She KNEW paps were there. It’s so staged it’s embarrassing 🤦‍♀️ Why would HE be okay with that? I thought he hated Minka doing that?

Anonymous said: dodger better be pissed about that shitty haircut. if chris was going to break quarantine anyway, what was it all for?

Anonymous said: The fact they went for a masked pap walk today totally shows they or their teams checked their mentions.

Anonymous said: Did they leave the park together in the taxi or just her?

Anonymous said: I guess that the mission was accomplished with the new pics. Anyone who dares to mention that there is still a pandem... STOP BEING JEALOUS!!!! CINAMOON ROLL IS JUST LIVING HIS LIFE! HE DESERVES IT!!! Wait, but he traveled from the country that has more cases... YOU ARE JEALOUS! HE NEVER DOES ANYTHING RIGHT FOR YOU BAD FANS THAT DON'T SUPPORT HIM! STOP! IT WILL HURT HIS FEELINGS!!!! LET ME CUDDLE MY CUTE 39 YEARS OLD BABY!!!!! But now on a serious note, I think I'm finally done with fandoms. Anonymous said: I’m confused about the timeline. The article says Wednesday but people who live in London say the weather is not consistent with the photos. It’s rainy and cold. Who rolls around in wet grass? But why lie about the day?

Anonymous said: Even if it’s not him checking what’s being said about him someone on his team is don’t be naive anon.

Anonymous said: She hasn’t been seen wearing one in public during the day until today...lol they knew to wear one

Anonymous said: Chris is wearing a bandana for dogs.... I was searching it up and yes it is for Dogs and it is the same pattern..... As a fan of taylor swift, this is basically the same with tom hiddlestone. A complete PR one lol. You can even clearly see it🤣🤣🤣

Anonymous said: Even if Chris wasn’t checking his mentions, his team definitely is. They are paid to do do. But he is checking 😉

Anonymous said: usa magazine said the same thing as daily M !! I do not confirm the relationship between them again! that leaves me a lot to think about?

Anonymous said: That fact that once again they are both looking into the camera has me rolling my eyes. You both are actors you are paid to NOT look into cameras🙄

Anonymous said: Times will tell if it's just a hook up or a serious relationship

Anonymous said: Wait did Megan courier that mask to him 😂

Anonymous said: i think chris needs to go home and have a serious think about his action maybe scott and mama evans can talk some sense into him

Anonymous said: it’s so strange that him and seb have this going on at the same time

Anonymous said: Damn. This all could have be done is such a cute and fairy tale way if they waited a little bit. But I guess overall people are liking and we are just a small piece of the internet. But in middle of a pandemic? Really gross for a "woke and political" bae. His privilege is showing.

Anonymous said: I’m sorry Minka dear for calling you the attention seeker who calls paps on you and Chris. I guess this one is the worse Lol.

Anonymous said: If this isn't for the Emmy nom, then I can't comprehend why he's doing this. Many people are saying "Oh, he's been seen too long without a public gf, he needed one." Okay, so why not find an actress in Boston, or NYC, or even L.A.? Do they have any managers or agents in common? This must be some kind of setup.

Anonymous said: What I really don’t get is why anyone is supposed to buy this stuff as real? Considering they live on different continents and in the long run, to paraphrase you a little, neither of them would likely to move. If anything, this doesn’t just look temporary, it looks tawdry and irresponsible. I have zero respect for either of them right now.

Anonymous said: did they leave the hotel only to have ice cream on park?

Anonymous said: There’s a picture of him holding her arm and one of her getting into the taxi. Looks like he followed her into it to me!

Anonymous said: both Chris and Scott have c*ke rumors about them and know he’s with a girl that has been rumored using drugs with a friends on a park what a great combo

Anonymous said: I always thought that fake relationships for PR are tacky, as using real relationships for PR is tacky (IMO). If this is fake, a hook up, or a real relationship in the beggining, being papped this way when he clearly knows how to avoid paps when he wants is tacky and cheap. And in the current moment that the world is, trash.

Anonymous said: The pictures are funny. The whole thing is funny

Anonymous said: This is giving me Bradley Cooper and Suki Waterhouse vibes. Down to the picnic in the park when they were reading Lolita. Also widely known as a PR setup to begin with and with similar star profiles (though Lily is more known than Suki was). At least someone on their staff picked up on the mask criticism. I agree it would be comical if we weren’t in the middle of a damn pandemic. But it very clearly had a distinct PR setup vibe.

Anonymous said: Do you guys noticed his watch? Completely different from what he normally wears. Actually, I think at his daily life, he doesn't wear watches.

Anonymous said: In other pics she’s looking directly at the camera

Anonymous said: I’m dying of cringe. People gave Ana de Armas so much shitty for being “thirsty”, bc you know, Chris is such a private person, but flashforward to July 2020 we have Evans eating ice cream and laying on the grass of a London park with Lily James during a pandemic. Hahahahaha. I honestly thought he could do better.

Anonymous said: It won’t even last lol, she is based in London. And this will end in a few months cuz of “hectic schedule and long distance” LOL.

Anonymous said: And if she was the ONE?

Anonymous said: I don’t know how he would manage a relationship where their in different counties and during a pandemic

Anonymous said: Remember the comments mentioning that there were no pics of Lilly entering the hotel and that maybe she stayed there just for being pictured? I wonder if the hotel bag was an answer for that? If the criticism about the masks were not unnoticed by them, to the point that for the first time she was pictured with a mask, I wonder if all this is answer for those comments and about her being treated as "dirty secret". Not damage control, but a way to control the narrative they want to sell.

Anonymous said: He’s not holding his chest while he laughs. So I don’t believe any of the pictures 😂

Anonymous said: Do u see this relationship lasting ?

Anonymous said: still from all these pictures they haven’t touched

Anonymous said: Is this on par behavior from Chris the last time he had a showmance with the other Lily?

Anonymous said: Something about this whole thing smells fishy. I just can’t put my figure on it. I have a deep feeling that this won’t last very long at all. Maybe even a month. For a new couple, they don’t seem affectionate at all. So weird honestly

Anonymous said: the one thing i can't wrap my head around is why now. I've heard rumors he has a website launch coming up? Maybe? Anybody? It really looks like he went abroad in the middle of a pandemic to see a girl. Sloppy management

Anonymous said: Being seen traveling just for fun during a pandemic shows not great judgement. Just a terrible idea to destroy any legitimacy or goodwill he had right before launching his already problematic and naive political website. Yikes.

Anonymous said: Maybe she watched DJ as Michelle is one of her friend and she sent message and that is the way all this mess started

Anonymous said: If they are dating good for them they make a cute couple but I think they way they have gone about it is not so great.

Anonymous said: I can’t even click the link you posted of the pictures cause that sneak pic I saw while I was scrolling... I cringed so hard 😬 I’m laughing honestly lol. idk if is the fact that he’s (they’re?) eating ice cream (and on a park? )or whatever, it looks so dumb to me lmao this is sending me 😂

Anonymous said: Do you think they’re actually dating then, Chris and Lily???

Anonymous said: Do you think it’s PR or real?

Anonymous said: lmfaooooo what a nice wholesome masked date in the park after being called out for no masks and looking tawdry

Anonymous said: surprise surprise the photos and the publisher are the same again

Anonymous said: Oh my goodness! Tell me he doesn’t pay attention to what’s being said about him. What a poseur. Ironically, the ET report started with celebrities like Tom Hanks stressing how important it is to stay home and wear masks. Chris is such an irresponsible jerk.

Anonymous said: 10+ pictures of them hanging for a while and none of them kissing??? Hmmm, sure Jan. They’re totally dating 🙄🙄

Anonymous said: Also, not to nitpick, but their body language doesn’t scream sex. They apparently slept together the first night, but it doesn’t show here. They should have reversed these pap walks.

Anonymous said: Chris never did that. it sure is PR

Anonymous said: This is looking more and more like the beginning stages of a relationship now. I can’t believe this is pr anymore. It seems to me like he flew to London to be with her and now they’re trying something new. I would hate for her to be the one he settles down with

Anonymous said: How do we know he’s trying to change his image, he seemed fine with how he was as far as it looked like from interviews. Have you read or heard something new about him out there?

______ said: What do you mean by'not friend zoned'? I don't get it.

Anonymous said: another blackgrid and DM exclusive. Why do this PR now?

Anonymous said: This is so staged lol.

Anonymous said: the mask in those new photos just proves he’s had one with him the entire time you wouldn’t get something like that in the uk

Anonymous said: this isn’t that deep. he was prolly there for something, has connections with her friend group, staged a walk, maybe hooked up. I would be surprised if they had been talking and dating for months. this was set up, him and Scott followed her at the same time. To your point zero pics of her inside and with her wandering around outside. Of course that was on purpose. she looks single and happy away from Matt and everyone is talking about Cpt. America & Cinderella. Just backfired and was too messy.

hagarsays said: So now that new pictures came out we can confirm they are dating now??

Anonymous said: anyone want to talk about his account previous username though joshpeck3030

Anonymous said: I’m not sure I buy him auditioning for her film. There’s a hierarchy in Hollywood. Bigger actors are usually offered roles first, and then the film is cast around them. He really hasn’t been the one up for a screen test in a long time. Like I said before, I work in this industry, and there’s a lot of ego. It is entirely possible, just highly unlikely.

Anonymous said: I wonder if we'll actually hear from Chris team closer to the weekend since it will have more impact for the weekend. Even if he was in on the pap walk it's nothing like Seb where both people actually look like they're together.

Anonymous said: What are carly & lisas instagrams? How do ppl know who follows who

Anonymous said: I think another thing to add is the JS said Chris likes to stay home and she would want to travel but he didn’t. He also said that he doesn’t like to travel in and interview. I don’t think that would change in the 2 years he’s been publicly single and 5 months in quarantine

Anonymous said: is it possible ce did some sort of screen test on like zoom or something for the paris trap before he came to the UK? idk about this whole thing. some people think because there are no pictures of lily in the hotel that she just came for the pictures then left after the paps left

Anonymous said: Makes me wonder if theres something wrong with hollywoods “most eligible” bachelors bc they’re single. If normal ppl can find love, they definitely can esp with how much exposure they get to love. Idk 🤒

Anonymous said: That Conversations at Home interview he did was dated 29th June. So he was definitely in the US last Monday.

Anonymous said: I know I'm going to get yelled at for this bc it's pap pics why does Chris look so angry in the last shots where Lily is on the other side of the gate/fence? He's also keeping alot of space from Lily at that point. Even in earlier pics he's not exactly walking next to her. I honestly don't think this was on Chris this time tbh.

Anonymous said: But what if the date was the work? If they’re setting up a long game PR relationship, maybe that’s why he went. If his next film is in London, he’ll be able to follow up with more daily mail stunts. Soon, he’ll have hey fever in the park with her friends.

Anonymous said: But logically if this wasn’t PR, which it is, this relationship would never work. The most i see is a causal summer hookup fling. She just got out of a 5 year relationship, l like JS and she lives across the pond. For someone the before the pandemic spent most of his time in MA I don’t see that changing. And lily is based in London and is an upcoming actress who, if she had to move to the states, would go to LA or NY. Not to mention mama Evans probably won’t like her “hay fever”

Anonymous said: some chris fans are so boring, we always talk about theories on fandom and it never hurt chris before. Sometimes this is entertainment, no one is hurting anyone, but there are some fans who pretend to be naive and love everything Chris does, but hate others like Jenny and Chris ex-girlfriends and are also the same fans who are chasing him on twitter like that episode in which they discovered the topics that chris follows

Anonymous said: Do you think he’s still in the UK or back in Boston?

Anonymous said: Also Lily doesn’t seem like his type whatsoever

_____ said: Also megan REALLY cleaned up chris’ image. She had to do the lord’s work of undoing every single time chris was papped pre marvel & i gotta commend her for that. What a gem, i hope she gets paid $3938383838293

Anonymous said: Two of the three people he followed were Bel Powley and Douglas Booth. He worked with Bel on Lobby Hero, and probably knows Douglas too as he is her boyfriend. Btw, where can you all see his location on IG? It doesn't appear for me at all.

Anonymous said: Do you think Chris is going to get the Emmy nom?

Anonymous said: Do you think there will be any more sightings of Chris and Lily together?

hagarsays said: I agree I truly think he really went there for work or some type of business cause I been his fans since 2016 and till now he only flys somewhere for family vacation or for businesses or movie or work he doesn’t seem the type of person to fly somewhere like London for a date cause that’s stupid THERE HAS TO BE A WORK REASON I can’t think of anything else besides work

Anonymous said: Who is this Gemma person that Chris follows? When was Chris with lily on Friday, I thought the club/taxi/hotel was Saturday?

Anonymous said: the last two were the girl who worked in Lobby hero and her boyfriend !! I already knew them !! And to add the location of Instagram is not so precise, I say it because I follow people and I see that their location is different on Instagram. another example, sebas is in USA but it was seen yesterday in Spain !!

Anonymous said: the last people he followed on instagram are British actors, maybe it’s a project to come

Anonymous said: Do you think Chris and Lily are dating?

Anonymous said: He follows her friends? That’s so weird to do after one date unless they’ve met before. I don’t feel like this is pr anymore

Anonymous said: it's funny, because Sebastian's account is based in the USA and he's in Spain, same with Chris Pratt! Something it’s not right

_____ said: Just going back to if chris is cheap/sleazy irl, i definitely think he used to be sleazy & the residual effect is left. On deuxmoi, ppl talk abt him going to taipei to hook up w ppl (while filming push) & he hooked up when he was in LA last month. (Not slut shaming) but just pointing to the fact that chris doesnt have the steve rogers personality most ppl think

Anonymous said: I can’t stand Lily’s friend Gemma. Don’t know why but there’s just something about her that grates on me.

hagarsays said: I will die of laughter if there a statement from either team saying they aren’t together but they where seen because they might start in a movie together that we don’t know about yet😂😂

Anonymous said: Does anyone from Chris's inner circle apart from Scott and Carly follow Lily on IG? That may be a good indication of whether this is real or PR/hookup or a relationship. Also, it's hard to believe that they started dating before lockdown like that anon claims given that they were on separate continents. Also, she wasn't even in the first batch of people he followed on IG. Wouldn't his gf be one of his first follows?

Anonymous said: I have a friend from England on Twitter and we've all been talking about this. She said the travel quarantine mandate for the US doesn't start until July 10. They have their own separate rules from the EU.

Anonymous said: Twitter is full of mentions of the new beautiful couple alert. People do romanticize everything that involves beautiful people. Even what seems tasteless PR/ booty call during a pandemic.

Anonymous said: I was looking at the pictures from Chris and Lily Collins date and at least they looked like that could be a date. I would be disappointed if Chris and Lily J announces they are dating after those embarrassing pictures trying to enter his hotel from different entrances. They clearly knew they were followed by paparazzi so they can’t denied they were busted. So tacky.

Anonymous said: What I'm trying to figure out is how they would try to play the long game. There are so far no films he would be involved in shooting in the UK. Unless he flies back and forth expeditiously, which once again bad idea, I think even publications would side eye it. The Blast, even though they seem like a fan blog, pointed out fans nonetheless found a discrepancy that this more than likely the first weekend they met. No way a physical relationship has taken place prior. I can't wait to see how they

Anonymous said: 2),because it's going to be flawed and totally dangerous to keep up. Possibly he could still be in the UK but not for long. I don't understand what they thought to accomplish. Unless there is a real relationship but there is too many plot points pointing to this either being new or fake. Like you said he can throw around as many big words as he likes it doesn't make up for the lack of common sense. I truly believe whatever happens next will be pulled out of his ass unless megan orchestrates it.

Anonymous said: I noticed how Chris keeps saying that he doesn't care about how he's perceived in recent interviews. I mean, it's obvious he does, right? He sits and checks his Twitter mentions for god's sake! Do we have any idea about whether he's back home yet?

Anonymous said: “press about skeavy side entrance hookups during a pandemic is quite an image overhaul for the two of them” Why are we still going with the side/back door story? New pics of him inside & she’s nowhere in sight. Maybe she was just standing at the side/back door while she was on the phone arranging her ride out of there or where she was going next, alone, & didn’t need to stand at the front since she wasn’t going inside?

Anonymous said: I hope lilly knows even after Chris is long gone that's all people are going to ask her about. She could win an award and one sentence would be about that the rest about how she dated/hooked up with captain america. If I wanted to be known for something I wouldn't be romantically linked to Chris lol. His captain america image follows him like herpes and attaches to anyone less famous he comes in contact with. Even Scarlett gets asked and she's just a friend.

Anonymous said: I feel like Chris is trying to go for a Clooney/Pitt/DiCaprio image. Sexy bachelor that every woman desires and is a serious actor. He has the superhero thing in common with Clooney😂

Anonymous said: Another question: did he intend his blatant disregard for human life to be showcased as well? Or was that just a fun bonus?

Anonymous said: I was actually wondering about image overhaul, but then why did he spend a year launches political site and trying to look respectable? He wants to play both sides? Also, doesn’t this make the intern hookup seem more plausible now? Poor judgment is his thing

Anonymous said: I wonder if this is his way of casting off the good guy Cap rep Marvel built him, and letting the world know he’s a real Boston douche. I actually remember that I didn’t like him pre-Cap. He used to strike me as annoying. I thought I was wrong about that, but, now….

Anonymous said: Something struck me with those new pics. I know we are making assumptions that maybe she didn't enter but if that was the case, why he was at the lobby of the hotel after entering it? It seems that he is trying to get permission for her, you know what I mean?

Anonymous said: Since as of now there isn’t anything about Chris and lily situation as of now can we move on and talks about anything until we get something new or important to talk about cause we haven’t gotten anything since yesterday😂

Anonymous said: (1/2) Idk what this is but the problem is the WORLD is in the middle of pandemic & he traveled to the UK to party into the night. The same wknd thousands of ppl flooded the streets of London because pubs reopened. If it's a PR stunt, I don't understand it at all because it makes him look privileged & out of touch. Especially w/ this club being an exclusive club for the rich 🙄. I'm just taken aback because he's been maintaining a mature image with ASP & social justice things lately. (2/2) He seemed to wear a mask at the BLM protest & then suddenly he's stunting in LDN in the middle of a pandemic? Right before his website is about to launch? What I do find interesting about the pics is they remind me of the Tom Hiddleston & Elizabeth Olsen pics in London from 2015. And idk how Chris & Lily could have had something this entire quarantine because there are pics of her w/ Matt Smith from May 15, so this would've been a very distant & fast relationship to suddenly have 🤷🏻‍♀️

Anonymous said: so they said was is single? in ET or did they just say same as the articles !!

Anonymous said: I just rewatched the Entertainment Tonight segment and it was mentioned that when Chris and Lily spotted the paps in the cab they decided that Chris would go in one entrance and Lily to a different entrance. It just said there were rumors of them being romantically involved. No mention about reaching out to their PR teams about this. So still don’t know what to think 🤔

Anonymous said: Is there a possibility that Chris knows his ASP endeavor was a waste of time and money and lost likely will be considered a failure? Therefor stepping out with a new woman as a distraction is the easiest way to make people forget (since he is one of Hollywood’s most eligible bachelors).

_____ said: Is anyone else noticing a sudden influx of articles essentially flushing the daily fail and other articles out mentioning them? I’ve seen 6 so far. 😂

Anonymous said: Someone on deuxmoi say that her friend hookup with Chris when he was in LA recently

Anonymous said: Do you think the ET coverage makes it more likely that it’s PR?

hagarsays said: You think we will every get any confirmation or statement from Chris and lily rumor romance cause every media outlets are taking about it reaching out for comment like I’m surprised they didn’t say anything YET it makes me think they want to people what they want to think

Anonymous said: Why is she walking to the front glass doors in one photo and then walks around more to the back? But the photos of him released today he was inside the glass doors and she was no where seen. Was she already at the back door and when did she take her little stroll to the front and he wasn’t there.

Anonymous said: I wanted to ask after you made that comment about in the past Chris’ team would mention he is still single or dating around if seen with a woman. So my question is since nothing was said from his team could they really be together?

Anonymous said: Just curious, why do you say Chris was never serious about his relationship with Jenny? I wasn’t around then

Anonymous said: They obviously didn’t make out in the cab. That’s really hot and heavy for a hook up. 🙄 Neither showed much emotion or smiles or anticipation. They looked quite bored actually. You’d think they’d get out and laugh about the situation. He looks panicked. This is Chris right?

Anonymous said: What was the PR issued statement with subsequent Minka days (I remember the first one being “she did a number on his head...which should have been a red flag for MK). I don’t remember the other rounds, though

Anonymous said: BBC Series ‘The Pursuit Of Love starring her is set to film late July in Bristol. No male lead has been posted on IMBD. Wondering if that’s why he was in London and getting them papped would sell that story. Wondering if Chris would do a BBC series, also Emily Mortimer is directing and that looks to be her first directing project (what I can see on IMBD)

Anonymous said: Why would a couple who was together want to pretend to not be together knowing the paparazzi was there? Do they get paid for an exclusive scoop so they make an effort to not look official? If they are together why not look happy & go in together? Why the smoke and mirrors? Is this because he’s not committed yet? If he’s dating her he was really rude. Wouldn’t a cute picture be a better win? They could go with couple or friends even work spin. This looks shady esp knowing the cameras were there.

Anonymous said: I was just reading what you said about the Entertainment Tonight segment that if Chris and Lily being together was that he was “still single” or dating around from his team but since they didn’t say anything yet could it be tru they are really together? Just curious

Anonymous said: Are you still thinking this is a stunt

Anonymous said: This whole thing is getting rehashed over&over again&if no new pics come out it'll be just like the other Lily where when they talk about their relationships she will have once been linked to Captain American star Chris Evans. Its same thing with J.S. most gossip sites can't mention her without him&it'll bring up articles with her name when you search him. The funniest thing I've heard about it is that according to ET they went in separate doors cause they spotted the paps.

Anonymous said: Do you think they'll be anymore pics released from that night or is that all of them, also has anyone picked up on the new pics of him or are they not bothering.

Anonymous said: I agree that this was most likely a PR stunt from Lily’s team, but it’s not like she’s completely unknown. She’s def more known and well regarded in the industry than Minka and Jenny. I don’t think she’s necessarily “using his fame” since they both agreed to the stunt. If anything, it maybe benefits both of them for the time being. Lily is well off without Chris’ money and status imo.

Anonymous said: I have a bad chronical hay fever and I... don't put medicine in my nose that way???? Seriously. Do I do it wrong?🤔

Anonymous said: I’m not even sure US Weekly came from Megan. When she puts together something there is sources who are friends etc. Even with Lilly Collins. US weekly seemed to be more on her info than him. What do you think

Anonymous said: So she was photographed sniffing and nothing happened? This is a white privilege, black people are murdered for walking on the streets. is this what Chris wants for him? That kind of privilege?

Anonymous said: Besides him traveling during a pandemic, no masks and whatnot is wrong on so many levels and can’t be defended. Some who follow Chris I think this is so weird as he says one thing and totally does the opposite. He wants a family life and carve pumpkins yet does Pr with Lily who is in Primrose Hill group that all kinda posh and party. It’s just confusing but entertaining 😆

Anonymous said: If it is just PR, why didn’t he pick someone local? Was his entire business in London being papped? He could have taken a page out of Ana and Ben’s book, and been papped in LA. Hell, he could have even photobombed their pap walk with his or date and gotten free coverage.

Anonymous said: I think that maybe we should stop talking about the women he dates or is linked with and start thinking of what them show about him as a person. I'm still waiting to see one that is smart and talented and has her own career, or business, for her own merits. The type of woman that a confident straight man would be proud to have at his side, you know? Maybe those one run away from him?

Anonymous said: "Why does Chris seem to have such bad taste in women?" /// maybe it's because if he was with a good woman she'll call him on his bullshit unlike the circle of yes men/ women he probably prefers and he doesn't want that per say so he retreats to women who enable him and when he gets tired drops them to the side and let's his fans eat them alive, since he almighty can do no wrong in their eyes so whatever happens it must be the women who were never "good" in the first place

Anonymous said: This is like totally random and idk if I’m the only one who thinks about stuff like this lol, but do you ever think about what Chris’ mom and other family member think about this whole lily thing?

Anonymous said: Well non of his inner circle of friends follow her yet so that's something 😂

Anonymous said: Now an anon's friend's cousin's mailman's building maintenance's 3rd grade teacher KNOWS abt this "months-long romance?" Ok. IT DOESNT MATTER if real or pr, new or old --- if they're sooo familiar with each other: 1. Why not stay in his/their luxury hotel and "make out" so to not get 'visibly' caught by anons, and 2. Why not arrange for her visit/stay at the hotel BEFORE even coming to the UK, let alone while on the cab ride after CLEARLY being pap'd, if they've been "courting" so long???? Mess.

Anonymous said: I can't imagine this English rose in Chris Boston friends circle if they actually a thing. Jenny and Minka fitted there and It looked like they were friends with his buddies wife's/girlfriends. At least at those moments they dated Chris. Lily is too posh and to immature for Chris friends. But this is just my opinion.

Anonymous said: Do you think they’ll continue or will it be swept away like Lily Collins?

Anonymous said: I know it’s impossible to say at this point, but how long do you think a PR showmance like this will last? He’s obviously done it before but I wasn’t very active in the fandom then.

Anonymous said: “classy isn’t her signature pap stroll” 🤣 i love you 😘 😂 Chris really likes cheap girls.

Anonymous said: Does Chris just not care about his image? Why would he be okay with PR/pap pics that make it look like he was having some cheap prostitute sneaking in his hotel? This could have been done so much better without it making it look like either one of them is trash. Why does he wanna look like trash?

Anonymous said: LOL Last time I checked you don’t blow your nose not with a slender piece of paper that looks like you are snorting something. Keep it classy Chris Evans. Keeping it classy.

Anonymous said: Talking of not a good look, your jealousy is coming through as hatred. I think you need to back away from the fandom

Anonymous said: Maybe this is his new image. He’s put out stories twice now about dating around. Maybe implied promiscuity wasn’t enough. He wants us to really know he sleeps around and to get used to seeing him do it, perhaps? Or he genuinely likes her and she’s allowing him to reveal his inner sleaze bag?

Anonymous said: Huuum... Minka now looks classier than her. Lol

Anonymous said: Also to note both Chris and Sebastian are signed to CAA. Stan signed with them on late may and now is going yatching to Ibiza with a foreign women that curiously has the right passport to enter the country. Chris and James looking straight at the paps. Both couples photographed by Backgrid. 👀

Anonymous said: Sebastian was seen with a fan there picture on twitter and he not wearing a mask he been see 3 times with no mask in Ibiza and Chris was only see with no mask once in London😂😂😂

Anonymous said: If they do have some kind of relationship, this might actually work, since he’s shown here he’s willing to ridiculous pap stunts. He didn’t do those for Minka and Jenny.

Anonymous said: Well since people are busting their chops. I think there is 3 options going forward. They double down on their ignorance (if they do hopefully they adhere to safety standards next time), he let's it fade away with no further mention, or the unlikely option his team releases a statement apologizing for the lack of safety/denying or confirming their relationship. Either way nobody but us is taking particular interest anymore. It was a flop.

Anonymous said: If you guys though Chris was worse look at Sebastian he was just seen taking a picture with a fan and wearing no mask and him and his GF was seen with no mask and while Chris didn’t take pictures with fans and wasn’t seen with lily at all since Saturday

Anonymous said: So is the new image supposed to make him look like a jerk? I don’t buy the new image thing. We’ve seen him where it looks genuine being polite to women. This group of pics just looks strange; he looks not very impressed and she looks like she has a chip on her shoulder.

Anonymous said: He went from 4.5 to 4.6 million followers on insta and 120 tweet per day to 1120 per hour. People are taking and this stunt worked. And like you said not money shot of her IN the hotel. My money is on that she is still with Matt but her team is going to play it like he got jealous of her male attention and came crawling back.

Anonymous said: Also-he was so in and out of London. Like what in Thursday/Friday out Sunday...if you were seeing a girl...you are flying to London for more than 72 hours.

Anonymous said: Now an anon's friend's cousin's mailman's building maintenance's 3rd grade teacher KNOWS abt this "months-long romance?" Ok. IT DOESNT MATTER if real or pr, new or old --- if they're sooo familiar with each other: 1. Why not stay in his/their luxury hotel and "make out" so to not get 'visibly' caught by anons, and 2. Why not arrange for her visit/stay at the hotel BEFORE even coming to the UK, let alone while in the cab ride after CLEARLY being pap'd, if they've been "courting" so long???? Mess.

Anonymous said: A showrunner from a TV show I follow resumes filming today in London. She has been isolating there for the last two weeks and posting discussing her quarantine. It wasn’t required since she was there to film. She did it because she has common sense and cares about people’s health. It’s really not too much to ask of people.

Anonymous said: I don't know if really his like was real? I say this because What a coincidence he like tweet of black Raven? a very critical account about him !! If there are screenshots of Chris's Twitter account on his likes, I will believe it !!

Anonymous said: The new pics make it worse for me simply because it shows him inside, close to staff, with disregard for masks. As someone else said, just because it isn’t required there doesn’t make it better. He’s a news watching American. He knows what the guidelines are. Him looking at the camera and her possibly not going in just makes this whole stunt even more stupid. It was irresponsible. Period.

Anonymous said: My head are spinning from all the theories I read about those pictures. Are they dating, are they doing this for pr, maybe Chris didn't knew about paparazzi, maybe she's already moving with him to Boston... oh boy 🤕

Anonymous said: This whole thing makes no sense. He stands inside while lilly walks around outside. The like makes no sense, but that was an accident I assume. Which makes me believe he's going through his mentions and knows people are pissed about the masks. If this is bad pr they should stop while they're ahead. If they're dating good for them keep it to themselves cause people are already doubting this crap. This thing is unbelievable and ridiculous, you're right he's not as smart as he seems so probably 2) Anonymous said: had a significant role in this. Maybe he does believe he needs the pr. Also I wouldn't believe anything an anon source says is from someone close to them. If they want this bs official they'll leak it to us weekly or some other junkie outlet they're dating. I think they're testing the waters with this pr stunt to see how much they can milk attention. I'm disappointed in Chris for even thinking this is acceptable.

Anonymous said: Yikes. He's gotta be as dumb as a box of rocks if he knew about the paps and still thought her going in the back way was a good idea. He's really not that smart (I think people play up his intelligence a lot), but with how tightly he's kept his private life shut down since Jenny, I find this to be strange, to say the least.

Anonymous said: I don't know if really his like was real? I say this because what a coincidence he like tweet of black Raven? a very critical account about him !! If there are screenshots of Chris's Twitter account on his likes, I will believe it !!

Anonymous said: The fact that he’s looking at his mentions just confirms my feelings of If being fake🤷‍♀️

Anonymous said: For me his behaviour this weekend was way worse than homewrecking a marriage, which affected few people. I didn't come back to the fandom after JS with the same energy I had before. Maybe this is what I need to leave. I never thought he was perfect or incapable of doing mistakes. But there are too many information out there right now about the virus. This left me with a taste of arrogance from his part.

Anonymous said: So we have money shots of him in the hotel but not her 🤔 but DM is the UK TMZ they are sleazy. They would have not problem waiting around for her to go in and leave his hotel. She could have never gone in or she could been in there but why not release them. There’s so many signs of this being fake but believable to people that don’t follow Chris/Lily/PR.

Anonymous said: the fact that he deleted two tweets just after post is a signal that his not that happy with this situation

Anonymous said: I also think maybe it’s why this was her team vs Megan. Even like his articles have “sources” of they are just having fun blah blah. Not even DM or any of the US ones have his team surrounding it. They are recycling DM as the source and no reps have confirmed or commented on anything. I think he wanted a sloppy night and she documented it. And also why it was posted later so Megan could get a handle on it.

Anonymous said: now we have pics of him in the lobby of the hotel but none of her so she really entered in the back door or she didn't even entered on the hotel

Anonymous said: Why would PR want ppl to see Chris as sleazy? Also why would Chris want ppl to think he’s sleazy? If he knew paps were there & was okay with the whole back door thing, looking like some hookup that was caught or something. Why would he be okay with that? Even if that’s not what really happened, why would he be okay with being looked at like that?

Anonymous said: ASP today posted and immediately deleted posts from instagram and twitter. I wonder if he's already regret this dumb trip to see a girl. I wonder what Mark K and Joe K thinking about this.

Anonymous said: “cheap, sloppy and sleazy are his hallmarks in real life” can you further explain this? I’m having one of those days, and I think I’m understanding it correctly but I just wanna make sure

Anonymous said: So why did he do this? I mean the PR game. The guy does not need this

Anonymous said: Can I ask your opinion do you think they hooked up or just a set up pap shlt as we don't see her enter the hotel

Anonymous said: Are you still saying it’s pr or have u changed your mind

Anonymous said: I'm a little bit lost here. He truly liked and disliked the tweet? It's ironic that yesterday you mentioned that there were no pics of him getting inside and today they are here. I wonder if pics of her will show up later or tomorrow. This wouldn't bother me at all in a normal situation. But the moment makes all cheap and irresponsible. Maybe cheap and dumb is what he is? Maybe that's why the asks in interviews are all the same. Not for privacy, but to avoid dumb answers.

Anonymous said: I wasn’t in the fandom yet, but from what I’ve heard about Chris in his 20s, it sounds like he had a “cheap, sloppy and sleazy” vibe back then too. And he had a cleaner image once he started doing the Marvel movies. Now that he’s done with Marvel maybe he’s showing his true colors

[xtrashmammalstefx]

Mad The Swine (Ben! Roger Taylor x Reader)

Part 10 of The Queen Repertoire

WARNINGS: Smut, language

Notes: Sorry this took a little longer than usual. It took me a while to come up with an idea for this one. hehe. Hopefully it was worth it. Enjoy! 

I was sitting under the shade of tree outside my uni one day. I'd just gotten out of class and had been chewed out by my professor for coming up with 'ridiculous designs' and that I should be 'looking up' to her for inspiration. The woman couldn't even design a sock if her life depended on it. So I was irate and just wanted to relax while burying myself in a good book beneath my favorite tree.

I was a couple pages in when I felt eyes start to burn holes in my body. “Take a photo it'll last longer,” I said annoyed. I looked up and found one of my classmates, a shy golden-skinned lad who always kept to himself, staring at me almost mesmerized.

“Oh sorry,” he said awkwardly. “I was just admiring your shawl. It's very beautiful and intricate.”

“Oh, uh, thank you,” I said feeling my cheeks grow warm. “Farrokh right?”

He flinched. “I prefer Freddie, darling.”

“Oh sorry,” I said. “I'm Y/N.”

“I know,” he said. “I've seen you in class. So where did you buy that, if you don't mind me asking?”

“I made it,” I said proudly. My mum was a seamstress and had taught me to sew at an early age. Eventually I grew bored with sewing the same old outfits my neighbor's would don and started experimenting...I never stopped. The shawl I wore then was rainbow colored and when brought together around the front showed the image of a man and woman in a...sensual embrace. Yeah I had no shame and I actually considered it to be my finest work.

Freddie looked at me stunned. “Really?” he looked back down at it. “Well then I must say your talent is absolutely wasted here, love.”

“Our professor doesn't seem to think so,” I said still irate at the witch.

“Our professor is a bitch who couldn't even design a wank sock,” he said.

I laughed. “I couldn't agree more.”

“Good, now what would you say if I could get you out of here and got you a job dressing an aspiring band who will one day take the world by the balls and never let go?” I arched an eyebrow at him.

“I'd say if you are capable of such magic then please, by all means,” I said thinking he couldn't really do such a thing. He then held his hand out to me. “What? Really?”

He smiled. “Why would I ever lie to you, my dear?”

I don't know why but I truly believed in Freddie. And so I packed up my book and place my hand in his. He helped me up and I followed him.

He took me to this lecture room at Imperial College where three lads were gathered up front, more than ready to play their instruments.

“You're late,” said the tall lanky lad who held a red guitar.

“Sorry about that darling,” Freddie said. “I was caught up hiring our new head of wardrobe.” He motioned at me.

“Um hi,” I muttered.

“Lads this is Y/N,” Freddie introduced me. “Y/N this is Deaky, Brian, and...”

The blonde haired lad darted over to me before he could finish. “Roger,” he said bringing my hand to his lips. “Roger Meddows Taylor. It's lovely to meet you―Aaand there's a couple fucking on your chest.”

He ogled my shawl.

“Yes, I know,” I said taking back my hand. “And it's nice to meet you too.”

“You'll having to forgive Roger,” Freddie said. “His poor eyesight has made his other senses strong but has done nothing for his maturity.”

“You're one to talk Fred,” Roger scoffed at him. “At least I've outgrown my bubble bath phase.”

“Darling the love of bubble baths has no age limit,” Freddie argued.

“In that we agree,” I said. “Now if I am to dress you lot there's something I'm going to need to do first.”

“What's that?” Brian asked. I dug out my measuring tape which I carried with me at all times in my bag.

“I'm going to need your measurements,” I said holding the measuring tape up. “So, who's first?”

Freddie volunteered to go first and proceeded to stand before me wearing nothing but his underwear.  I took out a notebook and pen and got to work.

I measured him, Brian, and Deaky. With each I made sure to tell them when the time came to measure their legs the same thing. “Sorry if my knuckles brush your bollocks.”

They told me it was fine, that it was all a part of the process. When Roger's turn came he stood in front of me. I measured his arms, back, chest, shoulders, and saved the legs for last.

“Sorry if my―.”

“No need to apologize,” he said. “Quite the contrary I should be the one apologizing in case I get hard accidentally.”

I looked up at him incredulously.

“I'm only joking,” he laughed.

“Roger I swear to god if I see anything rise in your knickers I will personally break it in half and shove it up your own ass,” Freddie threatened. “Y/N is a part of our family now and must be respected as such.”

I felt my face warm up. “Thanks Freddie.”

I finished up with the measurements and shoved my tools and notebook in my bag. Eventually we all decided that school would have to take a backseat to the music. We all left and the lads recorded a couple. They eventually were scheduled to play gig after gig all around the country, and the world. One show in particular was at The Rainbow and Jesus were they excited.

I immediately got to work making outfits for the shows. They were a perfect mix of simple but loud. I had just finished putting the final touches on Roger's vest when there was a knock on my door.

I answered it and found Roger. “Oh hey, um, did you need something?”

“Fred's just sent me to check on things,” he said. Funny thing is though, I'd spoken to Freddie on the phone not thirty minutes earlier, and he said nothing about sending someone to check on the costumes.

“Oh well come in,” I said standing aside.

He stepped inside but looked at me suspiciously. “You're nice...why are you being nice?”

“Is that a bad thing?”

“No it's just weird. You're never nice to me,” he said. It's true I may have been kind of bitchy towards him but can you blame me? The twat had done nothing but push my buttons since I met him. Which frustrated me to no end once I found myself feeling something more for the twat.

I even asked Freddie about it earlier.

“Why is it when I'm around you, Bri, and Deaky I'm fine but then Roger opens his gob and..”

“And you can't help but feel your heart race and you're only thoughts are of him much to your dismay?” He finished for me.

“Yes...”

“Darling, I hate to break it to you but you're kind of in love with him,” Freddie said.

“WHAT?” I choked out. “No...no...I can't be...”

“And why not?”

“Because he's an idiot!” I snapped. “Look there's got to be something you could do to help me. Separate us, get in between us when you see him getting close...”

“Darling don't worry your pretty little head,” Freddie said. “I'll take care of it.”

We hung up soon after and I can't help but think that Roger's surprise visit was somehow Freddie's doing; his way of either being my fairy god mother again or an evil genius.

“I'm just tired is all,” I said to Roger. “I've been working all day putting finishing touches to the outfits. See for yourself.” I motioned at the mannequins donning their Rainbow attire.

Roger walked over to it and started scrutinizing it. “Bloody hell, Y/N, you've really outdone yourself.”

“Thank you,” I smiled. I went ahead and started describing (babbling) the different parts of the outfits and Roger listened, smiling. Then when I reached Deaky's outfit things changed. “I went with a bit of a tighter trouser for Deaky to show off that smashing ass.”

This caused Roger to tense up and snap his head in my direction. “Y-You think his ass is smashing?”

“Well I am a woman of sound mind,” I said. “Why?”

“Oh,” he shook his head. “No reason.”

I crossed my arms and stared at him. “Roger Taylor, are you jealous?”

“What? No...I...”

“You are!” I laughed. “You're bloody jealous!”

“As I fucking should be!” he snapped at me.

“Why? Why on Earth should you be―.” He cut me off by crashing his lips to mine.

I was stunned for only a moment. Something stirred in me at the feel of his warm lips molding to mine, and I couldn't for life of me ignore it anymore. So I kissed back tangling my fingers in his dirty blonde hair.

He kissed me hungrily, enjoying every minute of it. After a while I pulled back breathless. “What the bloody hell took you so long?”

“I didn't think you thought of me as anything more than a twat,” he said.

“You are a twat,” I said before reaching up to peck him on the lips. “But you're also sweet, funny, and I can't for the life of me stop thinking about you.”

He smiled and brought his lips back to mine, and not  even a minute later he wrapped his arms around me and picked me up. He carried me to the sofa and laid me down. He hovered above me for a moment before leaning in and connecting his lips to the skin of my neck.

He kissed me there while we got each other out of our clothes. Once we were fully exposed to one another Roger took in the sight of my body. Being a little self conscious I reflexively reach up to cover my breasts. Roger catches my arms though and gently tugs them away. “You don't have to do that, love,” he muttered. “You're the most beautiful woman I've ever known, and I honestly can't wait to spend my life worshiping you and loving you.”

He then brought his mouth to my breasts. After kissing them and toying with my nipples (with his tongue) he started to kiss a trail down, stopping at my heat. He licked his lips hungrily and brought his mouth to my core. I screamed and writhed as he kissed and sucked at my clit. “FUCKING CHRIST ROGER!” He laughed but continued to eat me out. “F-Fuck I thought your mouth was only good for singing a-and kissing!”

He chuckled and peered up at me. “You underestimated my power, love.” He said almost menacingly. “Now I'm afraid I'll have to punish you and make sure you never underestimate me again.”

He continued kissing and sucking at my clit until my spine tensed up. “FUCK!” My orgasm washed over me and my body trembled as he crawled back up to kiss me on the mouth, my juices covering his lips. After he let me taste myself he reached down and placed his length at my entrance.

“I love you so much, Roger,” I said. He looked down at me and smiled.

“I love you too,” he said just before he pushed himself in. This time we were both making noise. “God―Fuck! You feel brilliant, love.”

I wrapped my arms and he kissed me as he started to move. He started slow and gentle at first, trying to me sensual and romantic about it, but when he realized it was bugging me to no end he picked up the pace. 'Course it helped that I groaned: “Jesus Roger, you're putting me to sleep, are you really going to just hump me like this? Because honestly it makes you look like an extremely boring shag!”

This set him off!

“BORING? ARE YOU JOKING?!” He pushed into me HARD! “I'LL SHOW YOU BORING!”

He moved faster and harder after that. The room was filled with the chorus of moans and slaps as he thrust into me hard. A whole new wave of pleasure began to wash over me. “R-ROGER!” My body tensed up and I clung to him as I tightened around his length.

Roger smirked. “Who's boring now?”

Suddenly while I was still coming down from my high, his brow furrowed and his thrusts became sloppy. He moaned, and thrust until...

“GOD FUCK! FUCK!” He twitched inside me and filled me up. He buried his face in the crook of my neck while he came down from his high. He pecked me on the cheek and on the lips.

“Will you still love me in the morning?” I whispered.

“Forever and ever babe,” he whispered back.

On the morning of the Rainbow we met up with the others at Brian and Roger's shared flat. Freddie, Bri, and Deaky immediately noticed the love between us. They said nothing but I could've sworn I saw Brian slip a 20 quid into Deaky's hand, annoyed. Freddie just smiled at us, and I wasted no time in confronting the cheeky frontman.

“Take care of it eh?” I smirked.

“And take care of it I did,” he said proudly. “I never said anything about keeping you too apart.”

I sighed and wrapped my arms around him. “Thank you Freddie,” I whispered pecking him on the cheek.

“Anything for you, darling,” he said hugging me back.

“Ahem,” Roger cleared his throat beside us. I pulled back slightly but kept my arms around Freddie. “Is there something I should know?”

“Fuck off!,” Freddie and I said at the same time.

“It's friendship lovey's time,” I said snuggling into Freddie.

“Besides if you want to talk technicalities I did see her first, darling,” Freddie said.

Roger just pouted.

I rolled my eyes. “Fine put on a hell of a show tonight and I will reward you later.” I winked at him. Roger perked up at that.

In the end they did put on a hell of a show, one that I believed was going to be talked about for years to come. I stood on the side of the stage and watched my fairy god mother shine.

The audience raised their hands and reached towards him in praise. It was as though for them, he was God. The savior of all. Then again that's exactly what he is.

I brought my hands to my lips and then threw them outward sending a kiss to Freddie just as he turned in my direction with his half mike. He blushed and blew a kiss back at me. I then peered over at Roger and smiled. He peered over at me, still drumming like his life depended on it.

“I love you,” I mouthed. He winked in my direction and continued to play.

Meanwhile I turned and continued to worship the man walking about the stage, shining in his glory.

So all you people gather around Hold out your hands and praise the lord Hands and praise the lord

We all praised the lord that night, as we would for the rest of our lives. To this day Roger and I thank Freddie for helping us find each other. My one and only fairy god mother.

Taglist: @okaykathryn​ @fairestkillerqueenofall​ @onceuponadetectivedemigod​ @boherahpsody​ @thebohemianpenguin​ @ihatethespacebars​ @madsthegroupie​ @freddie-bulsara-queen​ @rose-de-jaune​ @xxkellsvixen19xx​ @valeriecarolinaw​ @5sos-wdw​ @hearttshapeddboxx​ @spicyarreagaa​ @fluffffffffffff​ @pleasingiswhatweaimfor​ @hatemylifesofuckingmuch​ @jollyavacado​ @painandpleasure86​ @haileynicoleseavey17​ @queenlover1997​ @rrogerrz​ @peachyywine​ @mrsmazzello​ @hannafuckingsucks​ @zwiezraczek​ @night-writer-writer​ @theborhapboysawakenedmywhatever​ @tinywildeace​

[umccall71]

The Dinner Party

Characters: King Liam & Queen Sexy, Drake,Maxwell,Bertrand,and Hana

Rating:Mature, NSFW,profanity

Word Count: 5177

Chapter One

Disclaimer:All characters are property of Pixelberry. The use of these characters are for entertainment only and I am only borrowing them.

Summary:A simple dinner party among friends is always a welcome distraction until the friends become the distraction. Friends always share everything, hugs, support,love,honesty… Can friendship weather true honesty and the fallout from said ....honesty?

Warning: This series contains sexuality,profanity, a bit of adult content.This story is far from fluff,this is a walk amongst open relationships. Please be advised If you're reading this series you are acknowledging you are 18+.

**********************************

King Liam was head over heals and in love with his bride of a year.He is in heaven reveling in his every heart’s desire waking up next to his Queen Sexy. Liam and Sexy were an ideal down to earth couple, they worked together, lived together, loved together, played together, and tackled life on a world’s stage. So much of their life is spent under the scrutiny of the public eye, the press, their adoring people of Cordonia.Liam & Sexy relished those quiet moments when they experienced a rare period of downtime. When this rare moment occurred they spent it with the people closest to them, their friends, the friends that quickly turned to family during their courtship that was by no means conventional.

Sexy for Liam was it… the oxygen that he breathes...the blood flowing to his heart...she gave him all of herself and taught him that he is worth every ounce of love that she had to give.Liam had never imagined meeting the love of life on a spur of the moment trip to New York for a “bachelor” party.The chance meeting was an awakening for this mild mannered prince turned king, the meeting that flipped his world upside down... in a good way. Liam was all in with his marriage, their relationship was ideal goals for navigating love and life in the monarchy.Sexy was a tether for Liam in the maddening times that he fought hard for his people, his kingdom. He fought hard, he loved hard , and Sexy showed hjim that it was okay to play hard occasionally… he deserved it...they deserved it.

Life by all means was perfect, so perfect it was scary to the couple. They were now given another slice of heaven on earth...a family...expecting a baby...expecting an heir. Life was good, hell it was great for them. Liam and Sexy ran Cordonia like a well oiled machine running smoothly. When Liam’s ocean blue eyes locked with Sexy’s hazel eyes everything made sense. Every obstacle was surmountable, every decision could and would be handled.They both knew together there was nothing they couldn’t handle. It took them for a bit of a loop when Sexy was instructed to step back from her duties somewhat due her pregnancy hitting a bit of a hiccup. The doctor wanted to take extra precautions with the royal heir. She had been on limited restriction for 2 weeks and finally was about to be released to travel with her king. They were slated to leave in 2 days for a two week mini tour in North America. Sexy had not been back to the States since she and Liam became engaged. She thought back to the walk down memory lane from the bar, the beach, the pier, the boat ride to the Statue of Liberty that was accented by the love of her life dropping to her knees and flourishing a beautiful diamond ring.

Sexy rubbed her belly smiling at Liam, “you know i love our baby...i need some outside adult conversation”, she sighed exasperated and giggled.

Liam sidled up behind Sexy wrapping his arms around her waist stroking her baby bump, “I will try not to take offense love”,he smirked as he softly kissed her neck from behind. “Are you not entertained by my sparkling wit and humorous banter?”, he closed his eyes breathing in the scent of Jasmine and Vanilla.

“You know what I mean Liam, these last few weeks have been non-stop talk about the baby. A laundry list of do’s and don'ts from the doctor and from you. Trust me when I say that I will never do anything to jeopardize the health or life of our baby”,she twisted in his arms and planted a kiss on his nose after coming up on her tiptoes to reach. “I say we invite the gang over for a harmless dinner, in our home, to socialize and catch up,”she leaned into his ear lobe and pulled the soft flesh between her teeth as she whispered, “come on dad, it will be worth it.”

Liam could never say no to Sexy. He meant it when he told her that he would do everything in his power to provide each and every one of her heart’s desires.Sexy asking to spend time with their friends that had long become family was a no brainer. He had to tease her by making her think that he was not pliable to the idea.Liam knew that he had started living the night he met this firecracker in New York.Now his life began and ended with Sexy. He never wanted to imagine life without her again. Even during those months that they were separated by a pesky “engagement”.

He playfully palmed Sexy’s ass and asked, “What did I ever do to deserve you”?

She squealed from the sudden gesture, “ I guess lady luck is shining on you.”

Sexy slowly wrapped her arms around his neck tugging at the hairs on the nape of his neck. She knew that she could be starting something that she had not been in a position to finish. She felt guilty that her Liam was going without due to her pregnancy scare,but soon things would be back on track.Sexy ran her slender fingers down his chiseled chest. “Liam, what do you think about happiness? Do you ever feel that there is only so much to go around?

Liam’s blue eyes locked on his Sexy thoughtfully. “Sometimes it feels surreal how much happiness is in our lives. I have you , we have our baby on the way, the kingdom is thriving, life is good. Hell I'll even say great”,he chuckled.

“ I sometimes think that when one person’s tears stop, another starts to cry. It feels like a balancing act to keep our happiness without sacrificing the happiness of the ones closest to us.It’s like when a couple falls in love, somewhere in the universe another couple is ending in heartbreak.”

Liam considered her words as he pulled her tightly into his embrace as he stroked her belly, he smiled. “We are not in any danger of having anything but an abundance of happiness. You are making all of my dreams come true day after day.”

Sexy and Liam shared a kiss , their lips melted together drawing each other deeper into the kiss as they got lost in the moment as lips turned to tongues battling and twisting in a long shared desire. Liam missed these moments that would lead to him having his way pleasuring his queen … his name rolling off her tongue as he enjoyed the symphony of mingled moans and groans and whispers of I love yous.Sexy pulled back giddy with the feels from tasting her Liam’s lips. “If we keep up this pace we will never get anything done.”she giggled.

“I suppose you are right, Sexy. I never tire of getting lost in your touch, your kisses”, he peppered soft open mouth kisses down the supple skin of her neck. He wrapped his arms around her waist pulling her closer to him as he playfully ground his hips against her hips.

“You call to make the invites and I will arrange the dinner menu with the kitchen staff to make sure everything is to your satisfaction my love.”

“ I am looking forward to this time catching up and enjoying friends that are like family, good food, good drinks, and I am sure a night that we won't forget.”

The following evening Liam and Sexy looked forward to welcoming all of their friends. They had been so busy with duties and Sexy’s pregnancy, things had gone quiet.The knock at the door startled the couple as Sexy slipped into her flats and Liam adjusted his collared shirt. “Ready love?” Sexy smiled and nodded as they jointly went to the door to find everyone one of their friends had arrived simultaneously.

“It is wonderful to see you all tonight, it's been too long. I'm glad Sexy suggested we get together to catch up, especially before we leave on our trip.”Liam clapped his dear friend Drake on the shoulder. He pulled each Drake, Betrand and Maxwell into a quick hug. He nodded in the direction of Hana, “good evening Hana, it's good to see you too.”

Sexy smiled as she ushered the group into the great room for appetizers and drinks. “What can I get everyone to drink? Just because I cannot drink doesn't mean the rest of you can't enjoy it.” Sexy giggled as she rubbed her baby bump. She didn't miss the alcohol especially to keep her baby growing big and strong.

“Hey Taylor , it feels strange not drinking together. We shared quite a few strong whiskeys over the social season.” Drake smirked, shaking his head at the brief memory. “I'll help you with drinks...we couldn't do any heavy lifting with this little one.” Sexy and Drake retreated to the bar cart in the corner of the great room.

“It really is good seeing you all again… felt like forever . I admit I was going a little stir crazy without any outside conversation.” Sexy subconsciously rubbed circles on her belly as she looked over her shoulder to Liam with a sparkling glimmer in her hazel eyes.

“That doesn't get old at all … seeing how happy you two are. “Drake reflected on the path traveled for Sexy and Liam.

“It's something that you can have some day. Once upon a time you were a fixture around the palace, lately it has been ...crickets.”Sexy playfully swatted Drake’s arm as she approached the subject of Drake’s whereabouts as of lately.

Drake poured himself a tumbler of whiskey as he got quiet as if he contemplated if he should broach the elephant in the room. He ran his hand across his face before taking a swig.

“A penny for your thoughts… earth to Drake. Hey where’d you just disappear to a moment ago?”Sexy’s tone was low and concerned.”Something on your mind?” Drake’s chocolate orbs thoughtfully scanned the room as he considered if he should go there in his thoughts. “You seem ...different, a little distracted. What gives Walker?

Drake sighed deeply before he turned his back to the group focusing on Sexy. “What I'm about to say isn't exactly... public knowledge.”

“Well color me intrigued”, she teased. `No seriously, I'm not exactly going to release a press statement broadcasting to all of Cordonia that Drake Walker. The Drake Walker has a secret.”

“The reason I haven't exactly been a permanent fixture is because… well i've been spending some time in the Northern part of Cordonia.”Drake glanced to the floor before taking another sip. Sexy was pouring Liam a scotch, Bertrand a bourbon, Maxwell a whiskey, and Hana a glass of Red wine.

Sexy paused momentarily and quickly turned to Drake, “ Now i really wish Olivia were here.. She would know all the dirt around those parts of Cordonia.”

Drake threw back the remains of his drink and sat the tumbler down a little louder than he would have cared to place it down.

“Hey Walker, I'm just teasing. Whatever you share with me goes in the vault. Now...please share with me some juicy tidbits of what's been going on.” Sexy bumped her shoulder to Drake’s in an effort to help him feel comfortable enough to open up. “You're not about to make a pregnant woman beg , are you?” Sexy quietly laughed.

“Sexy, I've been up there spending time with..with ah .. with Liv.” He lowered his voice to keep the conversation to a minimal audience.

Sexy’s eyes stretched to the size of saucers as she processed the news. “ So wait.. You.. and OLivia? You two are dating?”

“Don't make a big deal of it Taylor. We have been enjoying each other’s company..no labels… no expectations. Just having fun.” Drake’s eyes did not convey the sentiment of his words..his empty words.

“ Why am I not believing you when you say it's just fun? I call bullshit Drake.” Sexy noticed the slight aversion from making eye contact.

Drake scoffed, “I don't see what's wrong with two people just having fun without any expectations.”

“Whose idea was it to just have fun? Yours or hers?” Sexy sensed the hesitation in his glance as he failed to respond. “Well for what it's worth, i'm happy that you're having… fun. You deserve that and so much more. I wish you both the best.”Sexy grabbed Liam’s scotch and Hana’s wine as she nodded approvingly.

Drake refilled his drink and grabbed Maxwell and Bertrand’s drinks joining them in the great room. As Sexy was about to join the group she was caught off guard when she noticed Hana staring intently,almost hypnotized in the direction of the group.She smiled and her smile faltered when her line of vision came to rest on whom it was in Hana’s sights...her king. Sexy was not one to jump to conclusions so she gave it another moment. She spied Hana’s doe-like eyes transfixed on watching Liam in silence, no rhyme or reason behind her fixation on the king...her king.

Sexy slowly approached Hana, careful not to startle her or interrupt her train of thought . She had stood behind Hana for a couple more minutes before she gently cleared her throat to make her presence known. “Hana,how are you doing over here?

Hana tried to mask her discomfort from the thoughts that were in her mind moments ago. “Oh Sexy, i'm good. You caught me a little by surprise is all.” Hana quickly composed her facial expression not to betray her thoughts moments earlier.

Hana smiled before engaging in small talk, “it's still hard to believe that Liam would have met and married a woman he had met in New York.”she feigned a laugher that was dry and humorless.

Sexy laughed along with Hana playing her part as if the intended message was lost on her. Her hazel eyes cut across taking in the sight of her husband that was sharing a good time with friends. “I don't follow, you all knew that Liam would be getting married at the end of the social season.Whats so hard to believe?”, she asked as if she didn't already know the answer.

Hana eyes darted back and forth nervously, “no we knew that he would marry, i guess we figured that he would be getting engaged to a lady of court.” She sipped her wine to cover for the faux pas that had taken place.

“He did marry a lady of court.”Sexy chimed in without revealing her annoyance at the implications.I was here in Cordonia as a member of the royal court at the request of the Beaumont brothers.” She pushed her golden lock curls behind her ear as she considered her words.

“Thats … thats not what i meant. I mean I would have thought he would have chosen a woman that had a similar background growing up in the life of ...nobility.” Hana began fidgeting with the tiniest thread on her blouse to distract her.

“Well he did choose someone from Cordonian nobility… we call it the Madeline period”,she chuckled to break the awkwardness of this conversation.

“Oh I know... we all knew that Madeline was nothing like Liam when he chose her.I would have expected a woman with a similar temperament.”Hana stumbled to clear up the confusion in what she was trying to say.

Sexy bit the inner cheek before she took a deep breath, “ nobody expected that the beautiful man would fall for and marry a waitress from New York no less.” She glanced at the tumbler in her hand, “where is my head ? I need to get Liam his drink. Let's join the group...wouldn't want them to think we were starting a party without them.”

Both of the ladies turned and sauntered back over to join the men. Hana sat in one of the two leather wingback chairs as Sexy perched on the arm of the couch closest to her king . She extended her hand holding out the drink to Liam. He looked up at her instantly smiling as they locked eyes and accepted the drink. “You take such good care of me love.” Liam leaned forward planting a gentle kiss to her baby bump.

Drake reacted excitedly,”wow i still cannot believe in several months you two are going to be parents! Who would have thought a year after marriage you two would be waiting on the birth of a little Liam & Sexy?”, he laughed and raised his glass to propose a toast. “To King Liam and Queen Sexy…”, he was interrupted by Liam.

“We are all here tonight as friends...none of the king and queen titles.”Sexy reached down and gripped his shoulder massaging sensually.Liam’s eyes traveled the length of her body hungrily biting his lower lip.He playfully pulled her into his lap, grinding ever so subtly into her ass . Liam whispered, “careful...this little shindig could be over before it starts.” Sexy swatted his hand as he held her firmly, she could feel his member hardening at the touch. She knew that they were a very physical couple. They loved each other in every way. They both got a sense of satisfaction from pleasing the other.

There was another knock at the door, Bastien announced, “sir the kitchen has delivered your dinner. The staff is ready to serve if you both are.”

Liam nipped at Sexy’s shoulder, “saved by the dinner bell.” She stood and ushered their guest to the dining room as Liam adjusted himself to hide the gift that Sexy had left him within his lap. “Great, just what i need to explain to the peanut gallery.”

After waiting a couple of minutes he joined everyone in the dining room.He took his place at the head of the table with Sexy to his left. Drake sat next to Sexy, Maxwell to Liam’s right, Hana, and Bertrand.The staff began service of Caesar salad, lasagna, garlic bread, a continuous flow of libations, and followed by a dessert of Tiramisu and coffee.

The conversation between friends flowed as easily as the alcohol.Drink after drink opened the floodgates of I remember when and I missed the time when we…

Sexy observed the inebriated state of the table. Liam was extra touchy feely under the table prying her thighs apart try to touch her sex.She eyed Maxwell stealing glances at Hana and Hana imperceptibly gazing at Liam again.Betrand seemed a little deep in thought as he nursed another bourbon.

Sexy broke the ice when a lull in the talks slowed. “Bertrand, how is life with Savannah and Bartie? I could only imagine how it must be to learn that the woman you had feelings for has given birth to your child, your son.”

Betrand stared down into his glass reflectively. He felt honored to realize that the next generation Beaumont was born of his loin. “A father to a son, that is an amazing feeling. I am thrilled to have Savannah back in my life. We are settling into life as a couple nicely...since I finally removed my foot from my mouth and allowed her in...truly. She is a wonderful woman.” He flipped his cell phone to briefly look at his lock screen photo, his family.

Sexy continued, “ finding love amongst your opposite. I'm sure you did not anticipate that happening. You love who you love Bertrand. There are people that would not have seen Liam marrying me in a thousand years. A waitress from New York, i guess i would be considered marrying down.Hell you even had the thought that your brother lost his marbles when he arrived with me to the masquerade ball.”Sexy rubbed her belly under the table as she pondered what immense changes had taken in her life since meeting and marrying Liam.

Bertrand rebuttal, “well i realized that i was wrong to come off as such an ass. I should have never doubted Maxwell or especially you Sexy.You have truly come into your own as Queen and an honorary Beaumont. You are like a sister to us Sexy, and now you are about to become a mom yourself… to the heir to the throne.”

“Understood B, I myself never expected to fall in love that night in New York, but I did and I never regret a moment of our life together.”

Hana’s eyes danced between her glass and Liam.It wasn't lost on Sexy seeing the looks again.She turned to look at Liam and noted, “ you know Liam, apparently our marriage left quite a few people pondering why you chose me. Isn't that right Hana?”

Hana fell quiet not knowing how to respond. She didn't want to make an awkward situation worse. “Sexy you two are good together and everyone sees it.”

“Answer a question for me without a diplomatic answer, just be honest. Can we all do that tonight? A night of honesty among friends?” Everyone nodded in agreement, somewhat cautious of landmines.

“Do you feel that Liam made the right choice in choosing me? You know with the sea of women that were of like minds and social status?Honesty Hana, we are all adults and can handle it. Do you think you would have been better suited to rule beside Liam?

The room went silent ,not sure anyone was truly ready...for the honest answer.Hana looked down to her wine glass again before finishing off the contents of the glass. She blew out the air from her lungs as if she were bolstering her courage to respond...honestly. “Sexy, it doesn't matter, you two are married, there is no need playing devil’s advocate now.”

Sexy’s voice raised slightly becoming irritated at the tap dancing she was attempting to do. “Thats not what i fucking asked you? I asked ``did you feel you were a better choice for Liam?”

Hana blurted out , “YES!” She clasped her hand over her mouth not believing herself that she had admitted it.

Sexy let out a loud boisterous fit of laughter, “ Finally! You finally said it, I knew that you felt that way. Now admit it, you want to fuck my husband don't you? We might well stay on a roll with this honesty. I'm a big girl, I can take it. I've seen the way you've been eye fucking him all night.”

“Sexy that's enough, we have all had a little too much to drink.”Liam reached over and grasped her hand trying to draw her in.

“No Liam, we're all good to be honest. Tomorrow we leave for the States, but tonight we are just spending time with our nearest and dearest. Now ...where were we?, thats right...Hana do you want to fuck my husband ? Have you ever thought about it? Have you considered his hands on you?”Sexy rattled off question after question waiting for Ms. Lee to get it out.

She whispered ever so slightly, “yes i have thought about it.” One by one all eyes around the table landed on Hana. She grabbed for her cloth napkin to try and excuse herself from the table, when she heard, “Don't ...there is no need to leave the table ashamed. I cant say i blame you, he is gorgeous, sexy as fuck, and willing to go to the mat to make me satisfied.” Sexy stood up and positioned herself behind her husband, “Liam, do you remember the night you proposed to me in New York, the time at the beach when we reflected on our friends and how much they've been there for us. I recall something shared that night in light of Hana’s declaration. Do you remember when you were telling me about Hana?

“What did you think about our friend Hana?”

Liam smiled at the memory“Even then I could tell we were kindred spirits.”

Sexy questioned, “ What do you mean?”

“We have a lot in common.We were both bred for a certain life...both bound by familial expectations…”

“Did you think you might pick her? The first time you met I mean?”

“She would have been an excellent match, she's brilliant at a great many things...hiding her feelings isn't one of them. Her heart simply wasn't in it. How could I choose that life for her?”

“I guess her heart was more into it than either of us would have thought. Liam, I never asked you back then , was there any attraction there...with Hana?”

“Sexy none of that matters except you and I . I have my queen...this is the life I am intended to live. I realized that a life without love and passion is no life for me. What I knew was that there were several beautiful women in contention for my hand, but only one in contention for my heart.”

Sexy returned to her seat, “Thats beautiful, but it doesn't really answer my question.”

“Yes she was ...is an attractive woman ,but that means nothing to me.” Liam finished the last of his drink. He stood and reached out to Sexy. Are you ready to call it a night?”

“Nope..we are just getting started. Maxwell, is there anything you would like to share with the class?”Sexy giggled. Maxwell kept looking to Hana, “I think Hana is a pretty great woman, i wouldn't going out with her...on a date.”There was no biting back what he felt when he so clearly stated , “ I could see possibilities with her .No pressure though.I'm happy to be her friend.”

“Drake… what about you? Any confessions you'd like to share?

We all spent a great deal of time together during the social season, the engagement tour and then when you two became engaged.I'm a man Taylor, was there a time that i thought things could go further?, yes. Would I act on it? Hell no i was not blind, you were very much in love with Liam and we needed to focus on Uncovering the conspiracy. I made my peace with being just friends , never to try anything.”

“I'm glad that you didn't. I never wanted to make it awkward between us. Of course i could tell that you were wanting more than friendship. I chose to ignore the signs because I knew I would never allow it to go any further than friendship.” Sexy smiled yet she was focused on clearing the unspoken that was plaguing her thoughts. She needed to get this out once and for all.

“Liam you know I would never want an arrangement in our marriage, but I want you to have a one night time only offer. Get it out of your system...so to speak. I love you enough to make this your day to … indulge.”Sexy’s eyes surveyed the table but honed in on her husband and Hana Lee for reactions.” We all need honesty of nothing else, so I will ask you both…. would you like to fuck Hana tonight with her … permission of course?”

Liam pinched the bridge of his nose as his blue eyes fixated on his queen. “Sexy, I would never ask something like that of you.We don’t have that type of marriage….”

Sexy interrupted, “your not asking me anything, I offered and I stand by my offer… only for you my love. Relax, I have no intention on fucking Drake… not my style… not my type. No offense Drake”, she flippantly advised.

“None taken… I’m not stupid Sexy. “ Drake tolled his eyes and took a large gulp of the whiskey sat in the dining table.

Sexy stood and walked over behind Hana, leaned forward and whispered, “admit that you want Liam to fuck you Hana, don’t you?”

Hana squeezed her chocolate eyes closed and nodded ever so softly. She never thought that she would be admitting , let alone considering feeling the king’s hands and manhood on her, in her… making her scream with pleasure. “ I need to hear your answer Hana… we wouldn’t want anyone thinking anything that transpired was nothing but consensual .”

“Yes… I want to be with him … in that way. I consent to whatever he wants to do to me”, she sounded almost desperate and hungry with a need to have him.

Sexy placed her hand on Hana shoulder, “stand and follow me.” Hana pushed her chair back and stood silently, eyes darting around the table in a nervously worried about judgement. Hana carried herself in a particular manner in polite society. Her parents would cringe at the thought of her being the king’s concubine… even for one night.

Sexy addressed the rest of her friend, “your welcome to stay and drink or you can see yourselves out for the evening.Either way we thank you all for spending the evening with us.” Sexy and Hana slowly started walking toward the hall leading to the guest rooms. She loved Liam , but would never violate the sanctity of their marital bed with her king screwing another woman.

Sexy stopped at the path leading to the bedrooms,”Are you going to us my king?”Liam stood from the table adjusting his button down shirt , grabbed the bottle of scotch , “ good evening gentlemen… I must retire for the evening with my queen .” He followed the two beautiful women down the hall to the last guest room on the right. Sexy sat in the comfy chair in the corner putting her feet up. Hana stood unsure of what exactly would happen next or where this evening would turn. Liam quietly closed the bedroom door only leaving the echo of a click .

Maxwell, Bertrand, and Drake each looked at each other in stunned amazement, “ So do you really think Sexy will allow Liam to … be with Hana?”Maxwell asked Inquisitively. “Silly man, what the king wants… the king gets”Bertrand scoffed adjusting his collar as he took another drink. All three men sat at the table carrying on as if a proposition had not been made for three of his friends to change the direction of the relationship .

@ao719 @eadanga @carabethpow @lauradowning29 @elles-choices @hopefulmoonobject @indiacater @3pawandme @blackcoffee85 @simsvetements @wughhumans @drakesensworld @romanticatheart-posts @fantasy-of-fiction @choices97 @gibbles82 @furiousherringoperatortoad @marietrinmimi @whenyourheartskipsabeat @kuladekiwi @custaroonie @syphax @smalltalk88 @jovialyouthmusic @sashatrr @jared2612 @the-soot-sprite @ownworldresident @silverofdreams @silviasutton1989 @rainbowsinthestorm @lodberg @kingliam2009

[writing-of-a-british-bitch]

The Fairy King- Chapter 8

Fandom: Queen/Borhap

Specified gender: Female

Pairing: Queen X reader/ It’s a surprise, x reader

TW: sabotage, angst, wow roger is being used.

Genre: Fantasy. (Labyrinth AU)

Series: The Fairy King

Requests: CLOSED

Masterlist

A/n: wow I'm really doing Roger DIRTY. Also, would any of you be interested if I did a Halloween fic or mini-series????

“I am not your friend. I just came to get my property back. And, um, give you…” Roger carefully pulled the peach from his pocket, nervously glancing at it before instantly hiding it as (Y/N)’s head turned to look at him.

“Give me what?” Suddenly, once again, the stones beneath their feet crumbled but unfortunately, this time they couldn’t catch their bearings, and the pair plummeted down, only narrowly missing the cliff’s edge and falling on top of a curly-haired figure. A pained groan escaped Brian’s lips as (Y/N) and Roger clambered off of him.

“Brian, I’m so sorry! Jesus!  Are you okay?” (Y/N) exclaimed, reaching down to help Brian up. The brunette placed a hand on her waist to steady himself.

“Yeah, fine, fine. I was trying to find-” He cut himself off upon seeing Roger, his normally soft face contorting into a snarl and Roger glared. “Just trying to find you.”

“Yeah, well, you didn’t need to. I found her May, so you might as well just leave,” Roger snapped, burning daggers onto Brian’s hand that lay upon (Y/N)’s waist.

“Alright, mate, calm yourself,” Brian growled as he turned back to the woman beside him “What happened to you after I fell through that hole? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, Brian, thank you. I think I might’ve started a war, though,” She stated, eyeing Roger and Brian curiously, wondering as to why they were so spiteful with one another

“Whatever do you mean?” Brian asked, his eyebrows knitting together and Roger rolled his eyes, strolling over with his arms folded over his chest.

“She stumbled across the white and black queens. They were making a peace treaty and she fell right in front of them. Perhaps they were fighting because one of them couldn’t keep their hands where they belong,” At that, Roger shoved Brian’s hand away from (Y/N) and Brian narrowed his eyes.

“The white and black queens?” (Y/N) questioned, ignoring Roger’s outburst.

“All you need to know is that when the White Queen walks, the night grows pale,” Roger huffed.

“You could at least give her a proper explanation Taylor,” Brian said sharply.

“Ladies, ladies, you’re both beautiful. In case you've forgotten, I’m on a time limit here, so can either of you show me how to get to that damned tower,” (Y/N) stated, annoyance lingering on her tongue at the bickering.

“Alright, alright. This way,” Roger began walking towards a stone bridge that was barely visible through the darkness and fog and with a slight reluctance, Brian and (Y/N) followed after him. The trio soon reached the bridge after a few stumbles, in which either Brian or Roger caught the girl, due to the uneven flooring. However, as the group attempted to cross the moss-covered bridge, a certain poofy haired guard jumped out in front of them from god knows- king knows where.

“Hold there! My name is John and I guard this bridge and I dare ask who goes there!” Deacon exclaimed, pointing his now-drawn sword and pointing it at them.

“C’mon Deaky, cut the crap, it’s just us,” Roger grumbled and Deaky’s face relaxed but his sword didn’t move an inch.

“It may only be you, but this bridge may not be crossed without my permission,” Deaky shot back instantly, his form still tense and ready to attack if they dared cross him.

“Oh for king’s sake, Deaky! You’ve let me and Rog across before!” Brian sighed, pinching his nose. (Y/N) was still taken aback by the sword pointing at her, processing the situation slowly as she stepped back to Roger’s side, and the man in question wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

“Yes, but that was with my permission! This bridge can’t be crossed without my permission!” The poofy haired soldier repeated. Brian mumbled something under his breath as he went to push Deaky out of the way, but the soldier was quicker, pushing the long-legged man backwards so his back hit a tree. “Final warning, May.”

Brian chuckled bitterly before opening his hand and aiming it at the guard, a bright green light flashing from it and knocking Deaky’s sword from his hand and into the ditch of ogre territory. Deaky scowled at the wizard as a distant clatter sounded from the pit beside them and he launched at Brian, landing a punch to his cheek. There was a fire in Brian’s eyes but (Y/N) had little time to focus on it as Roger ripped away from her and sprinted over the bridge, far away from the conflict. (Y/N) called after him in desperation as the fight continued on behind her and she felt her heartbeat speed up as she was filled with rage and shame. She trusted him again and he betrayed her again.  She cursed herself for being so trusting. He was a coward and he would always be a coward. During her bombardment of thought, she hadn’t noticed Brian pining Deaky down with his magic and the pair agreeing on a truce. She snapped back to reality by Brian gently pulling her arm.

“C’mon, (Y/N),” Brian said softly, noticing the way she watched Roger run off with a sad look hidden behind her eyes.

“Stop! Just because we called a truce doesn't mean you can pass without my permission!” Deaky remarked though he watched the pair with suspicion, seeing the way Brian kept reaching to touch her but she seemed distracted by Roger, though he was most definitely long gone.

“Well, can we have your permission?” (Y/N) questioned, raising an eyebrow, trying to distract herself from any thought of Roger.

“I- Well, I suppose so, yes,” Deaky answered, looking down as if he was confused by his own response before stepping aside “My lady.”

(Y/N) shot him a grin that made his cheeks warm and she walked past him onto the rickety bridge. As she stepped onto it, it shook and quivered, creaking under her feet and Brian stayed with Deaky, watching nervously. She dared not to look down, not wanting to see the unpleasantness that came with the sight of the ogre territory.

“Have no fear, sweet maiden, this bridge has lasted for over 1,000 years!” Deaky tapped the bridge with his hand but that simple movement seemed to basically turn the bridge to paper as it shattered underneath her. The girl let out a scream of terror and reached out, grasping onto a towering branch from a tree, though the group knew it wouldn’t last long. (Y/N) let out a desperate cry for Roger, knowing that he’d find a way to get her out of this. Brian couldn’t help but feel jealousy. Roger had left her behind countless times yet he was the one she always called for. Deaky was looking around frantically for something to save her but Brian merely rolled his eyes and brought out his hand. Slowly, large boulders rose from the blackness below and formed a line where the bridge used to be, hovering in the air and allowing (Y/N) to let go of the branch with a sigh of relief. She grinned at Brian in thanks before jumping on each boulder to reach the other side. One by one, Brian and Deaky followed after the girl and Brian frowned upon seeing Roger jogging back to them. (Y/N) shot him a glare but it was as clear as day to Brian that she was happy about his return.

“Let’s get out of here,” She ordered, grimacing as she peered over the cliff to look at the ogres, roaming around, clubbing anything that got in their way. Deaky, Brian and (Y/N) kept going, heading for whatever kind of exit they could find, but Roger lingered just behind them, examining the peach in his hand. He didn’t want to give it to her. He couldn’t give it to her. A part of him was tempted to run away again so he could get her away from the peach. Or… he could throw it into the ogre battle… Quietly, Roger bent down and dangled the peach over the edge, but a booming voice took him by surprise and halted his movements.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Freddie’s distorted voice filtered into the air and Roger glanced around to see if any of the others had noticed.

“Oh, please. I can’t give it to her,” It was the first time Freddie had heard the pixie beg and his eyebrows shot up in surprise, though a laugh escaped his lips, causing his ballroom to erupt in mocking laughter. And despite his begging, Roger knew he had no choice. Freddie had him tied to a string. Exactly where he wanted him.

“C’mon, this way, we’ll reach the castle much before your time is up!” Deaky encouraged, though he could see the fatigue on (Y/N)’s face. She’d been travelling all day, had faced countless physical and mental challenges and yet she still kept a brave face. Roger stumbled after the group, purposely dragging his feet, hoping the group would continue on and leave him to get lost. But that damned girl kept stopping to wait for him with that damn smile and kind eyes.

“I’m hungry, wish I’d stopped by that fruit tree is I saw earlier,” Brian complained, running a hand through his curls to try and distract himself from his increasing hunger. (Y/N) nodded in agreement.

“Yeah, me too, Bri. But we can’t stop now. Maybe we can find some berries or something along the way,” She pondered out loud, pausing to look around as Brian and Deaky continued on, reluctantly engaging in a conversation.

“Uh, (Y/N), here,” Roger offered the peach to her but looked away. He couldn’t bear to meet her gaze. Not after what he’d done.

“Oh, Roger! Thank you! You’re a lifesaver!” She took a bite of the fruit and Roger flinched at the noise, letting out a sigh of disappointment. Not in her, but in himself. Her eyes began growing heavy and she looked down at the peach “This tastes strange.” She then looked around, clearly growing more confused by the second, and Roger took a few steps back “Roger, what have you done?”

“Oh! Damn you, Freddie!” Roger took off in the opposite direction and (Y/N) vaguely heard him say “And damn me too,” Before she began to feel dizzy and sunk to the floor. A vision filled her mind- she saw Freddie leaning out a window, blowing four crystal balls into the air. Then it all faded to darkness.

TELL ME IF I FORGOT TO TAG ANYONE!”

TAGS: OPEN

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