#The Horse Has Been Named Howard

[digitalghostswebcomic]

Digital Ghosts Page 8

Sorry about the wait for this one!  Time for a little horse ride 

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[ghoulphile]

janey's dad | c.h./the ghoul | part 01

➥ pairing | cooper howard/the ghoul x f!reader ➥ word count | 3.7k ➥ warning(s) | 🔞 smut; age gap, hair pulling, teasing, making out, mutual pining, lipstick kink, stockings, frottage, porn w/ feelings, porn w/ plot, mild angst w/ happy ending, divorced!coop, babysitter!reader, pre-war/bomb ➥ summary | “We really, uh, shouldn’t - oh fuck, you look --” ➥ notes | i'm so sorry this is later than it should be. i am unfortunately a corporate slave and this fic just did not want to cooperate 🫠 there are a lot more things planned and this fic is turning into a bit of a beast (20+ pages and counting rip lmao) so i've decided to split it into two parts to make it more manageable for myself mostly un-beta'd atm a special thanks to @corinthianism for all her lovely help ❤️!!

feel free to send in thots, questions, requests! | masterlist

Divorce is hard, but being a divorcé is downright hellish.

One of the ugliest things in the world, if Cooper Howard has any say. At least when he was a Marine, they told him where to point his gun, where to aim; nameless threats vanishing with a quick squeeze of the trigger.

Here, these ‘enemies’ aren’t enemies — not really.

It’d be easier if they were.

Worse still, they have names he holds as dearly as his own. There’s Barb, whip smart and always so clever. Then Janey, the light of his life and so sweet his teeth ache.

Once upon a time, life was sweeter than apple pie on Sundays.

Then came the separation.

Afterwards, he finds it hard to look at what’s left of his family without losing breath like a horse kick to the chest. Their absence rips open a hole inside him ten miles wide, its edges jagged and wrong.

And when he can’t take the silence anymore, fingers of malt liquor help dull the ache, though it’ll never be enough to mend what’s broken.

See, war’s something he understands.

But these domestic battlefields where he sits across from his ex-wife while lawyers barter this weekend and that holiday?

How he struggles to meet his daughter’s eye every time she asks if he’s coming home?

When Barb keeps the house and the money while he keeps the scrapbooks and the dog?

He doesn’t — can't — refuses to comprehend.

Because in what world can you reconcile looking down the barrel of a smoking gun only to find the woman you love staring back, finger on the trigger? Left out to hang as Vault-Tec orchestrates his downfall.

The true depth of their involvement is unknown, but it’s no coincidence his bank accounts dried up faster than the Mojave in June. The ink still wet when the media snapped up the story of his failed marriage.

Thus, his reputation (rather what’s left of it) unraveled faster than a spool of thread.

Knocked on his ass and kept there by a boot heel crushing his windpipe. Whose? He hasn’t got a fucking clue.

But whoever they are, they’re making sure he stays a washed up nobody who struggles to land a call back, much less pay his monthly alimony on time.

See what we can do? You were America’s favorite gunslinger - now look at you. Mind your place.

Hell, millions used to scream his name.

Nowadays people whisper it behind their hands like a dirty secret, “Oh, did you hear? Cooper Howard…” as they dissect pieces of his life into bite-sized Before’s and After’s. “Hah! Serves him right. Y’know, I never liked him much.”

While he grits his teeth and swallows his bitterness with a smile, he hates how he can’t protect Janey from snide reporters and nosy strangers. Juggling actor-father-divorcé with fumbling hands.

It’s only been six months; a heartbeat, a lifetime, and already he’s scraped thin like butter over too much bread.

Something’s gotta give.

After all, he’s only one man.

But just when it's bleakest, the clouds part.

A young woman moves in next door, the first bright thing that’s come his way in a long, long while.

At first, he kept his distance.

Exchanged vague hello’s and how-are-you’s. Then Janey took a shine; always so friendly and eager to talk about her latest books.

Any reservations he might’ve had died when he saw how enamored you are with her.

Only made sense that over time small pleasantries turned into playdates. Then those playdates turned into sleepovers.

Before long, you’re watching her when a gig runs late.

Rustling up grub and tucking her into bed more often than not these days. And when he slinks in through the door, knees aching and stripped to the bone, there you are with a shy smile and a warm meal.

So what if he takes himself in hand after you leave, stroking his cock to the thought of you down on your knees in that pretty little sundress?

Imagines the wide stretch of your ruby lips as you swallow him down, lipstick smeared an awful mess?

Cums hard to the fantasy of your teary eyes and hiccupy breaths as you choke?

What you don’t know can’t hurt you.

After all, he’s a gentleman... he promises to keep his hands to himself.

“All right, Sugar Bomb, it’s bedtime.”

Bundled in navy bedding up to her nose, Janey’s wide brown eyes peer up at you from beneath a riot of frizzy curls. Roosevelt, her ever faithful companion, plasters himself to her side. The tip of his tail swishes once, twice before falling limp.

“Ah, c’mon guys. Don’t look at me like that.” You sigh with a fond shake of the head, hip popping out to rest against the doorframe. “I don’t make the rules, I just follow ‘em.”

A muffled response sounds from the lump of little girl, “Nmfhm.”

Squinting, you dip your head and tap the side of your ear, "Pardon?"

“Mnhfmmmm.”

“Ye—eah… Didn’t catch that, Mumbler.”

Janey tugs down the blanket, her mouth pursed in a moue of displeasure. “I said,” she crosses her arms with a huff, “not until Dad gets home.”

Shit.

“M’sorry, baby. He’s still gonna be a while.” Walking across the room, you stop beside the bed and motion your hand back and forth. “Scooch over.”

Gangly limbs fumble as Janey wiggles into the middle of the mattress, her feet tangling in the blankets. Roosevelt takes a toe to the nose during the transition, but flops across her knees all the same.

Together they settle with a bounce of springs.

In the open space, you slide in.

The bed sinks under your weight, a plume of rich cologne tickling your nose; mint-spiced citrus. Cooper. Your stomach swoops, and your heart trips.

“I didn’t see him at breakfast — or lunch!” A pout tugs at her mouth. “Not even dinner. I gotta go home tomorrow. So when am I gonna see him?”

“Oh, bug.” You sigh, propping yourself up on your elbow. “Your dad’s been real busy at work. And I know that’s been hard for you, but I promise to make sure he’s here for breakfast tomorrow.”

“D’you mean it?” Her cold nose digs into your skin. “Me and Roosevelt miss him so much.”

Cuddled into your chest, Janey tosses an arm around your back. Her fuzzy head rests in the crook of your arm, springy curls tickling your skin.

You squeeze her tight and trace your fingertips over her forehead.

“I can do you one better,” you say, bopping the tip of her nose just to hear her giggle - a soft sound that sits warm and gooey in your chest. “I pinkie-promise.”

Her finger loops around yours, so small and fragile.

“I’ll even make pancakes. How’s that sound for a promise?”

“Oh, yes, please! I think Dad will like that,” a wide yawn cuts her off mid-sentence. “He’s sad, but he always smiles when you make food.”

Janey’s words — unexpected as they are sudden — cut so deep it steals the breath from your lungs. You flounder, your heart a throbbing bruise in your chest.

“... Then pancakes it is.”

As if nothing happened at all, she asks, “Do I have to go to bed now?”

“Afraid so, little miss.” Your responding chuckle sounds stilted even to your own ears. “Just you wait. When you wake up, Dad’ll be home.”

“Fi—ine, but I want extra pancakes.” Janey pauses, considers you with narrow eyes, then adds, “With syrup!”

“Whatever you want,” you say with an indulgent smile. “Now... time to sleep. It’s really past your bedtime.”

She gives you one last squeeze then lets you tuck her in nice and tight, blankets pulled up to her chin. You drop a kiss on her forehead while Roosevelt re-settles on the pillow beside her after a quick scratch behind the ears. 

Everything in order, you turn to go only for a little hand to stop you.

“Yes?” you reply, glancing at her from over your shoulder.

“... can you put on one of Dad's movies?”

The tremble in her voice - like she’s about to get scolded - breaks your heart clean down the middle. Stitching on a soft smile, you nod and walk to the darkened TV set in the room's corner.

After fiddling with the nobs, static flashes to life.

“The Man from Deadhorse okay?”

The holotape sliding into the track swallows the sound of her tiny “Yeah.” Starting up with a whirl of machinery, the second-hand Radiation King flickers to life in black-and-white.

A vast plain and bright sky stretches across the screen.

Then Sugarfoot creeps into frame with the one and only Cooper Howard sitting astride the noble steed. The sheriff’s badge on his chest glints in the sun.

“Thank you,” she mumbles, already half-way to sleep.

“Anything for you, baby. Sleep tight.”

Flicking off the lights, you leave the door cracked. Walk away pretending like hearing her whisper goodnight to the TV doesn’t lance through you like lightning.

The desire to whisk her into your arms and soothe all of her ails is almost impossible to ignore.

Somehow, you distract yourself by wiping up the table, then by fixing a plate of dinner for whenever Cooper rolls in. Though all the while, how brokenhearted Janey sounded sits in the back of your mind like a leaden weight.

When Cooper stumbles into the living room, it’s half past midnight.

You’d gotten up to greet him, curled as you were in an armchair reading, when something about the stern line of his mouth gave you pause.

Where the usual lighthearted greetings lingered, a pensive stillness trembled to life.

Tension crackles through the air; a held breath of agitation. By the faraway gaze and defeated slump of his broad shoulders, it’s plain to see the night didn’t go as intended. And no matter how much you long to soothe, you can’t.

After all, he’s not yours to touch.

Instead, you offer a sympathetic smile and ask, “Rough night, huh?”

Cooper ignores the prompt, squeezing past with a brief touch to your elbow as he makes a beeline for the dry bar. The heat of his body is there and gone in a flash, his cologne teasing your senses. He says, “Thought you’d be asleep by now.”

Your heart flutters in your throat. “Ah,” you lick your lips, “well, I was going to finish my chapter first.”

Humming, he turns his back to you and fiddles with high balls and decanters. The tink of crystal glassware fills the air as he speculates which alcohol goes best with his mood. 

“Thanks again for watching Janey.” He nods in approval and fixes his whiskey neat. “I don’t know what we’d do without you.”

“Oh, it’s no trouble, Mr. Howard.” You shrug. “She’s a sweetheart.”

He shoots you a dry look from over his shoulder, stirring the dark amber of his drink with a forefinger. When he sucks his skin clean with a soft pop - a flash of a pink tongue taunting, teasing - your stomach swoops.

God, I wonder what else his mouth can do.

Flustered, you clear your throat and stare at a spot on the wall.

“How many times do I gotta tell you to call me Coop?” he says, digging through some drawers until he finds what he’s searching for: a lighter. “It must be a million and one by now.”

Flint sparks as flames jump, eating away at the end of a cigarette. Cooper inhales in short little puffs, pulling on the filter. His cheeks hollow, the shadows enhancing the cut of his jaw before the tip catches alight.

“Well,” he exhales, his gaze catching yours through a plume of smoke as he turns, brow raised. “Anything to say for yourself?”

“Old habits die hard, I guess,” you chuckle.

The corner of his mouth lifts in a lopsided smirk. “I’ll drink to that.” He knocks back the last finger of whiskey before refilling with gin.

Springs groan in protest when he drops to the couch, settling in with an outstretched arm and wide spread thighs.

“It’s been a long fucking day,” he rasps.

Gulping, you try to ignore the space at his feet.

The stirrings of desire provoked by the urge to sink to your knees and fill it with your body, to ease tension from those shoulders with your hands, your mouth, your cunt — if he’d let you.

“You heading home?” Nursing the fresh drink, he swallows a mouthful, only to hiss low through his teeth at the chemical burn. His throat bobs, framed by the open collar of his shirt. “Whew! Goddamn, that’s strong.”

“No, I can stay for a while.” A bird on a wire, you perch on the cushion beside him. “Got nothing else planned for tonight, anyhow.”

Cooper snorts. “I doubt that very much. A sweet young thing like you,” he motions towards you with his glass, “I’m sure you’ve got plenty of fellas calling, especially on a Friday night. Don’t waste your time with me.”

“That’s not why I--” you stop yourself short.

Save for the bustling LA avenue right outside the complex, the apartment itself is stone silent for several heartbeats. Words hover on the back of your tongue, catching in the bend of your throat molasses thick.

Meanwhile, Cooper continues to swirl the alcohol in his glass.

Maybe in a different life, you wouldn’t hesitate to express yourself.

But here — with him — you shouldn’t.

Christ sake, he’s a grieving divorcé, you chastise yourself. The last thing he needs is me trying to lay one on him.

When you speak, his name glides off your lips for the first time, clementine sweet, “... Cooper, I’m not wasting my time. I enjoy spending it with Janey - and you.”

“Well,” he husks, hooded eyes dragging down your visage in a slow once-over, “you’re the first one in a long while to feel that way, sweetheart.”

Dripping like honey whiskey from Cooper’s lips, the simple phrase burns its way down-down-down until it blooms like liquid fire in your belly. Warms you all the way to your toes as your heart pounds against your ribcage.

“I mean it.” Your knuckles twist in the pleats of your sundress, bolts of blue fabric bunched around your knees. “Everything I do is because I want to.”

The flash of red nails plucking at the sheer nylon of your stockings snaps up his attention, his gaze snagging - staying as he chases the curve of your exposed leg, hungry.

He wets his lips, and tenses his jaw when he spots how the soft fat of your thigh dimples in because of your garter. “That’s awful sweet of you to say.”

You tremble beneath the intensity of his attention.

Greedy.

Little kisses of awareness spark bright along the path his eyes carve like the caress of shy fingertips.

However, before you’re able to confront him about his interest, the heat leaches from his expression, grows mute and cold like a muzzled dog. 

Readjusting the waistband of his slacks with a tug, he says, “I know you got better things to do than keep an old man company.”

Irritation sparks. “Cooper--”

“If this is about paying you for tonight,” his lips quirk into a sheepish smile, “I won’t be able to yet.” He scrubs a hand through the stubble peppered along his jaw. “The gig tonight didn’t… Well, it doesn’t matter.”

“No, that’s not what I --”

He plows on, “Anyway, the one I’ve got tomorrow should be enough. How about I stop by around seven o’clock? I’ll treat you to dinner as an apology.”

Frustration bubbles beneath the surface of your skin, antagonism thrumming through your veins. Your hands shake almost as much as your voice. “Cooper!”

“I… uh, yes?” He blinks.

Your brows furrow. “You don’t get it,” you say. “I mean, you truly don’t know?”

“I’m afraid there’s a lot I don’t get. You’re gonna have to be more particular.”

Maybe not said in so many words (or at all) but actions speak far louder.

Otherwise, why else would you spend most of your time in his apartment, fill every spare moment with Janey, and reserve evenings for his company?

Hell, you even cook and clean!

Almost scream your interest from the rooftops, and it’s obvious to everyone but him, it seems.

Here you are thinking he was preserving your dignity whenever he ignored a passing comment or lingering touch when, in fact, he’d been oblivious to their existence to begin with.

How a man can be so obtuse when you’re throwing yourself at him is beyond you.

If he wasn’t so captivating…

“Are you kidding me,” you ask, mindful of your tone, “how could you not know?” You throw your hands in the air. “I’ve been — for months!”

“Well, I don’t have a goddamn clue what you’re talking about, sweetheart,” he snarks, setting his glass on the table. “Care to enlighten me?”

Fine. If that’s how he wants to play, let’s play.

When he moves to take another drag from his cigarette, you strike, fingers locking around his wrist mid-lift. And although his glassy eyes narrow, he keeps his hand still.

Waiting to see what you'll do.

Tucking your knee under you for balance, you bend forward and watch his face from beneath your lashes. When your lips wrap around the filter, a dark hunger bleeds into his expression, his pulse a steady thud against the pad of your thumb.

Inhaling, the cherry lights up, a flashbang in the dim overhead light.

Cooper’s breath hitches, and then you’re pulling away with a lungful of smoke; the taste of ash heavy on your tongue.

He tracks your movements with greed, gaze flicking for the briefest of moments past your chin before refocusing on the ring of red lipstick staining white paper.

“If you wanted one,” he chokes, gripping the back of the couch with white knuckles, “all you had to do was ask.”

With a coquettish grin, you exhale to the side and stare at him with hooded eyes. “Is that so?” Plucking the cigarette out of his limp hold, you stub it out in the ashtray. “What if I wanted to ask for something else, Mr. Howard?”

The next moment finds you deposited in his lap, his hands shooting out to grab at your waist only to freeze before they make contact.

“Woah! I--”

“Tell me something.”

Your lips caress the shell of his ear, sharing breath - sharing space as you plaster yourself to his front, arms looped over his shoulders. He jolts, body trembling with restraint.

“Would you give me what I wanted if I said please?”

The distance between you snaps taut with anticipation. “C-Coop,” he stutters. “Call me Coop.”

You hum. “Well, Coop, would you?”

“That depends almost entirely on what you’re asking for, sweetheart.”

Red nails skate along the back of his neck, play in the downy soft hair of his nape just to feel him shiver. And then you’re leaning back with your hands braced on his knees, your legs falling open in invitation.

The hem of your dress bunches around your waist, exposing the soft cotton of your underwear, and the darkened patch of slick soaking through.

“I think you know exactly what I want,” you purr. “Because you want it too. Don’t you?”

He bites down on a strangled moan when your hips arch forward, rocking the soft plush of your ass against the heavy weight of his thickening cock. The zipper digs into your skin as he tents the front of his slacks.

Mouth dropping open, his tongue flicks out to wet his lips - a slick circle of temptation that makes you clench. “I, uh, I don’t…”

Reaching between your splayed thighs, you hook a finger beneath your panties and pull the fabric aside. He jerks forward, exhaling hard at the flash of your soaked cunt and twitching clit.

“C’mon, be honest.”

With a sigh, you gather your arousal on the tips of your fingers.

Cooper’s gaze is a heavy weight pinning you in place as you pretend it’s him dragging his knuckles over the top of your mond. Him dragging calloused fingers up along sticky folds to play with your sensitive clit, ripping soft little mewls from your lips.

“Can’t you see what you do to me, Coop?” you say, pulling your hand away to show the webs of slick stretching between your fingers. “I’m so wet. Please, I’ve wanted you for so long…”

His hips rock against your ass in an aborted thrust. “Shit - shit!” Eyes slamming shut, he grits his teeth and digs his fingers into your sides hard enough to bruise. “We really, uh, shouldn’t - oh fuck, you look --”

“Why not?” Your hand brushes over his groin. “I can feel how hard you are.”

“It isn’t right, that’s why.” He stutters, stumbles over his words, “Besides, Janey…”

“I can be quiet,” you say, lips trembling. “I promise.”

“Goddamnit, you can’t say things like that and expect me not to --” Cutting himself off, strong fingers seize your chin and tilt until you’re met with Cooper’s severe expression, his scorching gaze. “You need to tell me now: are you sure this is what you want?”

There’s no hesitation, “Yes.”

In what world would you refuse?

The words barely pass your lips before Cooper’s bowing his dark head, mouth ravenous as it captures yours in a slick glide of bruising lips and hungry tongues.

He steals your breath, licks into your mouth and traces along the sensitive inside of your lip.

Pulse jump starting, your toes curl over the edge of the cushion and your thighs squeeze the barrel of his chest, kneecaps digging into his ribs.

“Oh,” a moan punches itself out of your throat - a breathy little thing swallowed up by his lips. “That’s--”

Anticipation swells, simmers between you like a band before it snaps. A strong forearm locks around your waist, tugging you into the cradle of his chest until you’re plastered from stem to stern.

Too hungry for tenderness as his free hand slips up to cup the back of your head, fingers catching in the briar of your hair and tugging at the roots.

You claw at his shoulders while sparks of pain ricochet down your neck, sufficing into a prickly flush that heats your blood. “Hnn, Cooper,” you gasp.

He murmurs your name through languid flicks of his tongue and sharp little nips of skin that leave your mouth tender and swollen. When he pulls away to survey his handiwork, his eyes are dark. Fathomless.

"I never thought I'd get the chance to kiss you like this," he says, wicking his thumb over the pillow of your bottom lip. "You taste as good as I imagined."

Dragging your nails across his scalp, you plead, “No more teasing - I can't take it.”

"Well," he grunts, fingers twisting up in your dress, “If that’s how you feel, then you better put those hips to good use and work for it, sweetheart."

part 2 dropping soon

[kwistowee]

New Steve is on the way.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand my laptop is dead.

[ghoulfuckersincorporated]

Master List Of Works

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AO3 Profile

Asks and submissions are currently OPEN!

Please read the guidelines here before submitting.

[Long Form One-Shots]

☢️ Carnal Lessons

John Hancock x Virgin!Female Reader

One-Shot, Ask Submission (18+) / 20.0K

John's always had a 'thing' for innocence. When he meets you, a runaway vaultie looking for a new place to belong, that 'thing' gets him into far more trouble than he could have ever anticipated.

☢️ Duplicity

Prewar!Cooper Howard x Female Reader

Ongoing Work (TBC), Ask Submission (18+) / 11.4K

You've been forming a relationship with Cooper Howard over the last several months, one that isn't exactly becoming of a married woman or a man in the middle of an acrimonious divorce. The chemistry between the two of you is undeniable from the moment you meet, but when the alcohol starts flowing and passions flare, will you be ready to fully plunge yourself into an affair with the handsome star? For those who want their prewar!Cooper a little darker.

☢️ As A Dog

Cooper Howard/The Ghoul x Female Reader

One-Shot (TBC), Ask Submission (18+) / 7.1K

After an especially tense moment, Cooper's companion decides she can't handle his bullshit. When she changes her mind, though, he decides to make her prove she really is sorry for leaving.

☢️ Grunt Work

Cooper Howard/The Ghoul x Female Reader

One-Shot, Ask Submission (18+) / 3.9k

Cooper's favorite vaultie companion is pressing her luck as of late and requires some correction.

☢️ Working Girl

Cooper Howard/The Ghoul x Female Reader

One-Shot, Ask Submission (18+) / 5.4k

You knew when you took this job that it wouldn't be easy, but you didn't know you'd be expected to sleep with ghouls.

☢️ Bloodletting

Cooper Howard/The Ghoul x Female Reader

One-Shot, Ask Submission (18+) / 2.8k

No one told you menstruation would be such a nightmare in the Wasteland when you left the vault. Fortunately, Cooper can offer some relief.

☢️ Close Quarters

Cooper Howard/The Ghoul x Female Reader

One-Shot (TBC), Ask Submission (18+) / 2.4k

Crammed into a tight space and hiding from supposed deathclaws, you and Cooper have some sweaty, silent time to kill. Fortunately, his thigh makes as nice a seat as any.

☢️ Smooth Skin

Cooper Howard/The Ghoul x Female Reader

One-Shot, Ask Submission (18+) / 3.1k

Cooper is obsessed with the pristine nature of every little thing about his brand new vaultie companion. When she sleeps, he takes a chance to look closer.

☢️ A Fair Trade

Cooper Howard/The Ghoul x Female Reader

One-Shot, Ask Submission (18+) / 3.9k

Taken captive by a man who runs an outpost, things get even hairier for you when your captor can't pay an owed bounty to a particularly intimidating ghoul. Then again, maybe trading hands wouldn't be so bad...

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[Drabbles / Headcanons]

☢️ Prewar!Cooper Howard

SFW

Has a new partner with a fear of horses. (X)

His middle name. (X)

Waxes his chest. (X)

Is a sugar daddy. (X)

Is a sugar daddy, pt. 2. (X)

Miscellaneous SFW Headcanons 1 (X)

Miscellaneous SFW Headcanons 2 (X)

NSFW (18+)

Gets a little rough with a rebound after his divorce. (X)

Has a secret fetish. (X)

Has a breeding kink. (X)

Has a corruption kink. (X)

Loves to fuck outside. (X)

Smokes during a blowjob. (X)

Gets tied up and teased. (X)

Has a partner with a piss kink. (X)

With a hairy partner. (X)

Is bisexual. (X)

With a plus-sized partner. (X)

Dick description. (X)

Provides some premenstrual relief. (X)

Gives a pedicure and is rewarded with a foot job. (X)

Uses sex toys. (X)

Knife and gun play headcanons. (X)

Whose dog is a bit of an unintentional cockblock. (X)

Miscellaneous NSFW Headcanons 1 (X)

Miscellaneous NSFW Headcanons 2 (X)

☢️ The Ghoul

SFW

Is falling in love with his companion, and things are a little weird. (X)

Admits he had work done. (X)

If you outright asked him for a kiss. (X)

With an unintentionally "sneaky" companion. (X)

Hurt/comfort blurb. (X)

Miscellaneous SFW Headcanons 1 (X)

Miscellaneous SFW Headcanons 2 (X)

NSFW (18+)

Desperately wants to be soft with someone again. (X)

Has a breeding kink. (X)

Is excited when you try on some high heels. (X)

Has sex with you for the first time. (X)

Refuses to remove his clothes, ever. (X)

Captures you as a bounty. (X)

Has a corruption kink. (X)

Frenches you a Rad-X. (X)

Has a partner with a piss kink. (X)

With a hairy partner. (X)

Can smell when you're turned on. (X)

With a plus-sized partner. (X)

Mistakes your attraction to him for fear/intimidation. (X)

Dick description. (X)

Engaging in primal play. (X)

Uses sex toys. (X)

The Ghoul x Lucy Maclean NSFW Headcanons (X)

Knife and gun play headcanons. (X)

Wheedles you into liking anal play. (X)

Miscellaneous NSFW Headcanons 1 (X)

Miscellaneous NSFW Headcanons 2 (X)

☢️ Fallout 3 Content

Gob NSFW Headcanons 1 (X)

Charon NSFW Headcanons 1 (X)

Charon NSFW Headcanons 2 (X)

Ahzrukhal SFW/NSFW Headcanons (X)

☢️ Fallout: New Vegas Content

Raul Tejada NSFW Headcanons 1 (X)

Raul Tejada NSFW Headcanons 2 (X)

Joshua Graham NSFW Headcanons 1 (X)

Joshua Graham NSFW Headcanons 2 (X)

Ghoul!Joshua Graham NSFW Headcanons (X)

Benny Gecko NSFW Headcanons (X)

Yes Man NSFW Headcanons (X)

Harland NSFW Headcanons (X)

Beatrix Russell x Female Courier NSFW Headcanons (X)

Dean Domino NSFW Headcanons (X)

☢️ Fallout 4 Content

John Hancock NSFW Headcanons 1 (X)

John Hancock NSFW Headcanons 2 (X)

John Hancock SFW Headcanons 1 (X)

Nick Valentine SFW/NSFW Headcanons 1 (X)

Edward Deegan NSFW Headcanons 1 (X)

Kent Connolly NSFW Headcanons (X)

☢️ General Ghoul Content

On the eroticization of Rad-X and Radaway use. (X)

On ghoul semen. (X)

On ghoul scent marking/sense of smell. (X)

On pregnancy with a ghoul father. (X)

On the risks of a ghoul partner finishing inside you. (X)

On how a ghoul partner would behave during your period. (X)

On whether or not Marked Men could be rehabilitated. (X)

On sex pollen and the effect of high radiation exposure on ghouls. (X)

On sex with a glowing one. (X)

On condom use with ghouls and the possibility of barrier contraception protecting you from rads. (X)

☢️ Non-Ghoul Content

Norm MacLean

NSFW Headcanons 1 (X)

Maximus

General SFW/NSFW Headcanons 1 (X)

General Content

Who makes all the cigarettes in the Fallout universe? (X)

[dazed-and-confused23]

Act Naturally

Summary: Lucy has always had a crush on her dad's favorite actor, Cooper Howard. So imagine her surprise when the Western actor ends up as her new husband.

Pairings: Pre-War Cooper Howard x Lucy Maclean

Warnings: None yet? I just really wanted to see Prewar Cooper with Lucy. Let's pretend and have fun. ❤️

Masterlist. Part 2

Cooper doesn't remember how he signed up to be put inside a big ass freezer, or how being frozen constituted being a "good" vault as his late wife once put it. But he was here now, and the actor would do his best to make the best of it.

After "moving" from Vault 31 to Vault 32, Cooper had little time to settle in before he was being summoned to the overseer's office and being informed that he'd been selected to partake in Vaults 32 and 33's arranged marriage program. He would be paired with a young woman named Lucy Maclean and would be expected to help "rehabilitate" America when the time came.

Cooper thought it all sounded like a load of horse shit, but he sighed and went along with it. He didn't have the will to fight against it right now, not when it still felt he was trying to wake up from the longest nap in his life. So, he waited at the back of the line of other vault dwellers for the massive cog door to spin open so that he could meet his new wife.

He doesn't pay much attention to what his overseer is saying. His gaze has already been caught by the dark-haired beauty that stands just behind Vault 33's overseer. She's pale with big brown eyes and in a classic wedding dress and cute white heels. He watches her rock back and forth on them, a nervous blush painting her cheeks pink.

"So um. Who am I marrying?" She blurts at some point, and Cooper already feels endearment curl in his chest. She was adorable.

He takes that as his cue to step out into the light, a friendly smile on his face as he stands before Lucy. He isn't expecting the young woman's face to explode in a blush, her eyes going wide and a hand slapping over her mouth as if she can't believe what she's seeing. Cooper raises a brow, confused, and looks down to see if he's got something on his suit.

"You didn't tell me I'd be marrying Cooper Howard, Dad," Lucy hisses, tone dripping in accusation.

*notes* just something short and cute I couldn't stop thinking about. They'll be another part eventually 😄*

[jjsmaybank20]

Could you do a request with lexi howard x jacobs!reader, in which reader is nate's sister (who is passive-agressive and colder, has a hard time relating to nate, if u want) has to do a school thing with lexi and they start bonding, and they see each other more often (i'm over 18!! i forgot to mention sorry for asking again)

The Project

Lexi Howard x Fem!Jacobs!reader

Summary: You're known as the cold and distant sister of Nate Jacobs, but Lexi's always been intrigued by you. What happens when the two of you are assigned as partners for a project?

Warnings: fluffy fluff, mentions of (ew) Nate

Word Count: 1.2k

A/N: I hope you like this! So sorry it took so long.

navigation euphoria masterlist

---

Nate Jacobs. That was a name that instilled fear and slight admiration into the students and even some of the teachers at East Highland High School. He walked around as if he owned the place, and he practically did. There has been only one  person who had stood up to him publicly and taken him off of his high horse, even if it was for just a moment. His sister, Y/N Jacobs.

Y/N was an interesting person. She was intimidating and scary, but if you truly got to know her, you could tell that she was nothing like her father or her brother. I’d gotten to know her slightly through various school events, and Maddy becoming good friends with her and forcing her to interact with people. Most of the people in our friend group were wary of her, if for no other reason than what they already knew about Nate.

One thing that I did take notice of was how Lexi would act around her. She would get shy and nervous, and she was completely unable to talk to her. The two almost never spoke, except for exchanging polite words in the hallway or while hanging out with the rest of the group. 

Lexi was fine with this situation, and she never thought it would change. But one day, it did.

You shambled into class and took your seat towards the back of the room, sticking one of your earbuds into your ear. You never really paid attention to your classes, but you managed to listen enough to keep your grades consistent. 

The rest of the class filed in, a couple of them sending glances your way. You ignore their gazes, watching the front of the classroom, waiting for a familiar small brunette to walk through the door. As soon as the younger Howard sister walks in, you move your gaze to your phone quickly. You would never let yourself admit that you were searching for Lexi, but somewhere in yourself you knew it was true. 

When the teacher walks in, the chatter of the classroom settles down to a low hum, but not complete silence. She begins to talk, and you tune out until you hear ‘group project’. Your head shoots up, and a panicked look takes over your face. People glance around the room, making eye contact with friends who they want to pair up with, but the teacher shuts that down quickly.

“I will be assigning partners. You will not be allowed to switch partners after they have been assigned. This is final.” A groan goes around the room, but the teacher ignores it as she begins to call out pairs of names. You become more and more anxious as more names get read out, and you pray to any being up there that you wouldn’t be paired with an asshole. Finally, your name is called. 

“Y/N Jacobs and Lexi Howard.” You sit back in surprise, wondering if some otherworldly being had actually heard your prayers. Lexi turns around in her seat, shooting you a timid smile. You return it with a smirk making a light pink blush coat the Howard girl’s face. She turns back around to face the front, and as soon as she turns away, you let a small smile grace your lips.

After class, you intercept Lexi in the hallway. You ask her when you should be at her house, and she stutters out an answer, clearly caught off-guard by your assertiveness. “Um… r-right after school would work.” You nod your head and walk away, and when the shorter brunette calls out a nervous goodbye, you raise your hand in farewell.

---

You roll up to the Howard household on your skateboard, about to ring the doorbell when the door gets flung open. In front of you is Maddy Perez and Cassie Howard, clearly on their way out. Maddy gives you a confused look, asking, “Why are you here?” You know she isn’t being rude, so you mumble, “Working on a project with Lexi.”

Maddy can’t fully understand you, and she replies, “Y/N, I can’t hear you when you mumble.” You repeat your statement louder, hiding your laugh at the motherly tone Maddy’s voice had taken on. Maddy pats your shoulder, walking past you. She wishes you luck teasingly, and you roll your eyes in response.

Cassie sends you up the stairs and into her shared room with Lexi, and there you find the smaller brunette on her bed, getting things set up. You move towards her and sit down on the bed, scaring Lexi slightly. As she catches her breath, you laugh lightly. 

After the two of you settle down, you pull out your project and begin to work. You fall into an easy rhythm and you find yourself to be more relaxed and comfortable than you have in a very long time. Who knew that it would only take Lexi’s presence to bring you peace of mind? The two of you work and joke around, talking about anything and everything. You learn more about her in one afternoon than you had in your whole time of knowing her.

Some time later, you begin to get bored with the work. Deciding to take a break, you sit back on your crush’s bed, taking her side of the room in. You had been in this room before, but never for very long. Now you could see all of the things that Lexi had added to her side that made it fit her. 

As you continue to look around, your gaze falls on the girl in front of you. She is still hard at work, her lip between her teeth as she jots something down. As soon as you focus on her, you can’t look away. You can’t help but think about how gorgeous she is, with her hair falling in her eyes and the concentrated look on her face. 

Very quickly, Lexi feels your eyes on her. She tries to fight the blush that rises in her cheeks, but she can’t. Finally, she can’t take it anymore. She sits up suddenly and whips around, catching you off-guard. “What? Why are you staring at me?” 

She watches your face turn red, and she can’t help but feel surprised. Your body language isn’t displaying the normal cool confidence that it normally does. Instead, you look nervous and shy. “N-nothing. You just… you’re just very pretty.” Lexi isn’t expecting that, and she doesn’t know how to respond. She watches as you seem to steel yourself for something.

“You know what? I’m gonna do this right now, because otherwise I’m going to chicken out. Will you, um… will you go on a date with me?” When Lexi doesn’t respond to you right away, you begin to regret asking. “I’m sorry, I overstepped. Ignore what I just sai-”

You’re cut off by Lexi’s lips meeting your own. It catches you by surprise, but you quickly melt into the embrace. Lexi’s arms wrap around your neck as she moves onto your lap, and you place your hands on her waist. As you break the kiss, your foreheads lean against each other. “So is that a yes?”

Lexi shoves your shoulders, pushing you away and making you laugh. She then pulls you back in for a shorter kiss, replying, “Yes, that’s a yes you dummy.” You can’t retaliate, you can only grin at the beautiful girl in your lap. You knew then that she could be the one to break down your cold exterior for good. And maybe, just maybe, you would be okay with that. 

---

@lovelyy-moonlight @pnsteblnme @didyoubringauntienat

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[clockedtomb]

GtN Allusions: Page 8

Cavalier Absolutely should have done cavalier on page 7, but just didn't think of it. Middle French for horseman or knight, from the Latin for horse. Also means not caring enough about something important, like burning alive for ten thousand years.

Centurions Ancient roman infantry commander of units consisting of 100 (duh) or 80 (times is hard) legionaries. The centurion was responsible for disciplining other soldiers and also civilians, which I think Judith and Marta were clearly All About. Centurions carried a sword at their left side and a dagger at the right side. Centurions sometimes became lictors (which we'll get back to). Roman centurions had to be at least 30, literate, and experienced, and were expected to be strong, dexterous, skilled, and lorge.

There is a biblical story in the gospels of Matthew and Luke about a centurion who asks Jesus to heal his sick boyfriend-slave. It is usually not translated as boyfriend or slave but I've heard pretty compelling tell that the original very clearly refers to a slave that is also boyfriend. Jesus heals the boyfriend, and later the centurion is present at the crucifixion and attests to Jesus's divinity and/or innocence. This is painful for Corona reasons and also Teacher reasons, imo.

There is also a centurion called Julius who helps Paul go to Rome in the book of Acts.

Judith Deuteros Judith means "praised" and/or "Jewish woman." Judith was a brave and beautiful woman who was pissed at people for not trusting G-d enough. She, trusting G-d a frankly legendary amount, prays a lot and then goes into the enemy camp with her maid and casually beheads the Assyrian leader Holofernes. She takes the head back to her people and the Assyrians are like WOW I'm gonna go, so she's saved the day.

There are many excellent paintings of Judith slaying Holofernes but I am partial to this one by Artemisia Gentileschi because these women are gonna do what needs to be done.

An English play about this by Howard Barker has a scene called "The Unforeseen Consequences of a Patriotic Act" and if that isn't putting it mildly.

Deuteros is greek for the second or the other of two. This is a really interesting name to give the heir of the second rather than the cavalier, who should be the second of two. I think this could speak to Judith's inappropriate feelings for Marta, or of her devotion to Jod.

Marta Dyas Marta is a name derived from Aramaic, meaning "lady." There was also a 547 AD Battle of Marta in Tunisia involving a guy called John but it's a stretch. I feel strongly that I'm missing something here.

Dyas has so many interesting false positives that cannot possibly be related and I'm going to share some of them for fun. Dyas is an oil and gas company. Dyas was an 11th century Indian King. Dyas is a surname used in England and Ireland (there have been a couple athletes with this name). Dyas is also just related to the Greek for two of the same, a pair.

The Procession A procession is when a bunch of people walk together in a ceremonial or formal way and what a weird nickname for your house.

Processions were part of major religious festivals in classical Greece and Rome, especially in the cult of Dionysus and in the ritual of Triumph. This got adopted into early Christian practice and processions became associated with ritual performances of the crucifixion and resurrection and with everyday mass and things like weddings and funerals. I mean frankly what doesn't have a procession these days!! Processions were part of what Luther was mad about, and Luther would probably hate the Third so that's valid.

Coronabeth Tridentarius Corona means crown or garland, from Latin. It can refer to the sun's outer atmosphere, the part that's brilliant and shiny. COVID is called a coronavirus because its spike proteins form a corona or halo around the body of the virus, resembling the sun.

Beth is a Kiss song from 1976 from the album Destroyer. Oh Beth, what can I do? It's also a common shortform of Elizabeth, famously the name of two English queens who did some pretty memorable queening. Beth El is a Hebrew phrase meaning "house of G-d" in which beth is a transformation of beit, home.

Tridents are three-pronged fishing spears; the name comes from latin "three teeth." They are associated with Poseidon/Neptune in classical mythology. Poseidon was associated with the sea, storms, springs (water), earthquakes, and horses; Neptune was also associated with heaven.

-ari is a Latin suffix that makes nouns into names.

-ius is a Latin suffix that makes something an adjective indicating that the thing being described is "made of" or "belongs to" the noun.

Together tridentarius seems to be a construction that does The Trident People Name. Which basically does what it says on the tin.

Ianthe Tridentarius Ianthe means "purple flower" in Greek.

Once upon a time in Greek and Roman mythology there was a boy named Iphis who was secretly assigned female at birth but raised as a boy. When Iphis his dad arranges a marriage between Iphis (who he doesn't know is secretly, classically trans) and a girl named Ianthe. Iphis is SO in love with Ianthe. Iphis's mom tries to delay the wedding, but eventually the wedding was going to happen, so Iphis and the mom go to a temple to Isis to pray for help. Iphis is miraculously transformed and marries Ianthe and they live happily ever after.

Tridentarius is still The Trident People Name.

Naberius Tern Naberius is a demon. He is a Marquess of Hell, commanding many legions of demons. Naberius has the body of a three-headed dog or bird. He's a bit of a fop and is super talented at rhetoric and the arts and sciences. He speaks quietly. This is my favorite picture of him.

Stuff I found about Naberius the demon said he's the same as Cerberus the three-headed hell dog but I don't think this association goes both ways.

I was real confused at first about how tern functions as a house name for Babs. A tern is a sea bird. There's a lot of them. But the name doesn't mean three. Here's a black tern. I think it's pretty.

Etymonline says the name of a tern comes from Old Norse for "maid-servant" but etymonline also saved me, because the entry for ternary (threefold) mentions that a tern or terne is a dice throw with three dice or a prize in a lottery with three winning numbers. Why isn't this in the entry for tern!? Babs as the prize seems to be happening for a lot of GtN, and Babs as a throw of three dice works for me on a poetic level. I'm into this.

Isaac Tettares Isaac is the biblical son of Abraham and Sarah. Abraham was supposed to be the father of a great nation, but his wife Sarah was infertile for many years. When Abraham is A HUNDRED YEARS OLD, after decades of not being able to have a child together, Sarah has Isaac. He is personally promised to them by G-d. I absolutely cannot overstate how wanted and loved this child was. Then G-d instructs Abraham to sacrifice Isaac in place of a lamb, as a test of faith. Abraham takes Isaac up to the place where the sacrifice is to take place. He puts his son on the alter, trussed up like a sacrificial lamb. He raises a knife over his head. And G-d is like wow. WOW. Do not. Can you imagine. Good job, absolutely but wow do not, yikes. Thank you <3 and then they just go on with the rest of their lives as father and son?? But Sarah immediately dies. Sometimes it's said that someone told her what happened carelessly and she was scared to death. If you would like to listen to a short and heart-wrenching song about the binding of Isaac and its emotional aftermath, I recommend this one.

Tettares is an Anglicization of the Attic Greek word for four.

Jeannemary Chatur A Google search for "Jeannemary" returns exclusively TLT related results and I think TM may have made this name herself.

Jeanne is a French given name equivalent to Joan/Jane/Jean in English, and rooted in the Hebrew name Yochanan (also the source of John!) meaning "G-d is Gracious." I suspect that the reference here is to Jeanne d'Arc, who believed in G-d the absolute most.

Mary refers to roughly 1/5 of women in the bible and half of all queens.

Chatur is a name derived from Sanskrit. I wasn't able to find reliable information on its etymology.

Abigail Pent Abigail is a Hebrew name referring to a father's joy. The biblical Abigail was a prophetess and the wife of King David. She was wise and is described as one of the most beautiful women ever (Isaac's mother Sarah is one of the others).

Pent is a prefix referring to the Greek for five.

Magnus Quinn Magnus is "great" in Latin. A bunch of kings of Norway and Sweden have been called Magnus. There are also SEVEN saints called Magnus. The Magnus effect in physics describes lift that affects a spinning object moving through fluid. I don't know which if any of these is a reference.

Quinn gives me a liiiiittle trouble as a house name. Quinn is an Irish surname that's usually Catholic with two Ns and Protestant if only one N. Quint refers to a fifth, and quin refers to quintuplets. I find Quinn a stretch.

[perfectfangirl]

notes after rewatching fallout s1 ep1

so once again like a crazy person [i've done this with star wars sequels before] i've decided to take three and half pages of notes over the course of an hour. i've been a fan of the games for at least a decade and i'm actually always watching lore content between the installments though so while i do know some minute details, within the show, there was some things i was interested in and curious about that i just decided to jot down. some of this may be things discussed already and some of it might be something i wasn't sure if anyone brought up before but anyways! maybe i'll do the whole season, but here's my ramblings • them titling the episode "the end" was when i knew i'd love the show • ok but i really wonder if cooper can still do those party tricks? he was really good at them and lucy would probably love them too 🥺 • thinking back, the radio in the first scene mentions not knowing where the president is--- beginning to wonder if he was the guy sitting in on the vault tec meeting • just realized they introduced the mr. handy robot in some of the first scenes • ten years of nuclear threat according to anchor but the show is careful not to give away all the cards because why does the weather anchor make it seem like they know when the bomb will drop? idk but birthday boy mother turns off tv real "head in the sand" like • the nat king cole song that's playing though [wondering if the song is mirroring specifically cooper's feelings about barb despite everything hmm] • horse's name is sugarfoot 🥹 • him having to pay alimony... wonder what the prenup? was like... [still think he probably loves barb 😞]

• them calling him a pinko despite him being an architect of vault boy's persona, a quintessential presentation of a "man's man" acting as a cowboy, a real cowboy, a former marine--- wondering if there was a smear campaign after his situation with barb and vault tec, him working children's parties leads me to believe... • did the kid's say the birthday boy's name was boyd? [if so, there's another character in the games with this name and this is also the name of a character walton has played in another series, funny] • weather man show's up again distressed, wondering if we'll get more info about that day • everyone ignoring, cognitive dissonancing their own nuclear annihilation is so prescient if not disturbing and damning

• him teaching janey the thumb thing ☹️ • cooper's voice when he says "let me see if i can't rustle you up a piece" 😩 • janey being the only one to notice the first bomb • the fear in cooper's eyes • cooper being in denial one last time before realization sets in • people becoming animals the moment they realize what's happening--- one guy punches his friend not letting his family into the fallout shelter • people getting into their cars and cooper onto his horse to escape--- wonder how fast they could be since it doesn't seem you could outrun nuclear annihilation

• lucy being raised so well under the circumstances 😔 [hope she never becomes her father] • i haven't trusted steph since episode one • lucy being a teacher [amongst other things] and asking maximus about what happened after the bombs fell makes so much sense [and also much like another person suggested is an interesting juxtaposition to cooper's pre war knowledge] • lucy showing how skilled she is for being a marriage candidate when in reality we are seeing someone fit for the wasteland is crazy on second watch • is lucy not watching a cooper howard movie with her dad? hello??

• them reading "war and peace" in the family book club is rich • lucy [thinking] she's not good at guns, ironic • steph having to step in like a sisterly type because lucy's mom isn't there 😞 • the wedding dress on lucy being ill fitting, tight as symbolism for lucy not truly "fitting in there" and being constrained [foreshadowing] oof • the vault boy sign in the back saying "don't lose your head" lmao • didn't catch the "cousin stuff" until someone mentioned it on tumblr and twitter 💀

• the flashback we see of lucy ending up being almost a false memory, a misrepresentation of her actual memories, that she has been on the surface, in the sun • norm taunting lucy about her future husband being "anybody" and a "cannibal, crammed full of tumours" 😭 unfortunately for ghoulcy, this was some of the heaviest foreshadowing [the raider also could have been one too] • why didn't hank recognize moldaver? • so many things i still don't understand about vaults 31, 32, 33 • the growing realization they are raiders was pretty funny to me lmao

• moldaver having to sit through the disingenuous lies of hank ugh • norm going into vault 32 like they wanted them to know what was up? or is that just how vault doors work? they used lucy's mom's pip boy [that hank lied about burying] • lucy putting norm in a storage vault, she really is so strong • the handed down wedding dress getting messed up • i am curious if the raiders [shady sands survivors?] only mostly harmed vault tec aligners but maybe not • the way hank and steph retaliating a little too well • hank acting like he doesn't know moldaver when everyone really does know moldaver • moldaver telling lucy she looks like her mother is really such a tipoff

• realizing maximus is getting bullied 😭 • dane... might love maximus a little idk • from latrine duty to basically ruling over the brotherhood of steel • they really showed some dude jacking it lmao it's just normal i guess 💀 • maximus being defeated and having a rightful outburst of emotion, poor guy • the poster saying "the outside world can never harm you"--- funny • chet would've died up there 😭 • them not opening the vault back up for her, wondering if the vapourized bodies are from the initial bomb drop or the subsequent shady sands ones • dane almost gets maximus killed three times tbh • maximus joined the brotherhood of steel to get back at what vault tec did, essentially hank's doing, hank has many enemies • knowing the enclave, it makes sense why siggi is hunted • cooper the ghoul's introduction though • the bounty hunter saying his captors dig cooper up every once in a while to cut pieces of flesh off him 😞 no wonder cooper acts the way he does 😔 he's been taken advantage of, no wonder he doesn't trust anybody and is horrible to everyone • "why is this an amish production of "the count of monte cristo" or the weirdest circle jerk i've ever been invited to?" why would he say this 😭 • cooper's... been invited to circle jerks 👀 • does the bounty hunter know the ghoul is cooper howard?

• him not harming the chicken, him healing dogmeat, there's something there, folks • people only digging him up to use him again 😞 • what a coincidence he's dug up just as lucy leaves the vault • "i do this shit for the love of the game" he's a character, he's playing a character, real theatre kid • hence why cooper is introduced as "the ghoul", cooper is long gone • "us cowpokes, we take it as it comes" something about this lineee

[whencyclopedia]

White Bull

White Bull (Tatanka Ska, l. 1849-1947) was a Hunkpapa Lakota Sioux warrior, nephew of Sitting Bull (l. c. 1837-1890), who is among the many claimed to have killed Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer (l. 1839-1876) at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. He may also be the main character in the well-known Cheyenne tale An Eagle's Teaching.

White Bull participated in several engagements with the US military, including the skirmish at Arrow Creek by the Yellowstone River (Elk River) in 1872 between Sitting Bull and Custer. White Bull is the primary source for the famous story of Sitting Bull's "smoking party" during that encounter at which he demonstrated his complete contempt for Custer and his men by calmly smoking his pipe with others, including White Bull, within range of Custer's men as bullets whizzed and thumped into the earth around them.

He also fought in Red Cloud's War (1866-1868) alongside Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, Red Cloud, Spotted Tail, Two Strike, Roman Nose (Cheyenne Warrior), Cheyenne chiefs Morning Star (Dull Knife) and Little Wolf (also known as Little Coyote), among others, including the Cheyenne warrior Wooden Leg who is another contender for the title of the person who killed Custer at the Battle of the Little Bighorn, the most famous engagement of the Great Sioux War of 1876-1877.

After the Battle of the Little Bighorn, White Bull followed his uncle and others, including Sioux war chief Gall (l. c. 1840-1894) into exile in Canada. He eventually returned, earlier than the others, and surrendered to US authorities. He later became a judge and an advocate for the claims of the Sioux concerning the Black Hills. Like Two Strike (l. c. 1831-1915), White Bull's participation in the resistance to US westward expansion has been overshadowed by narratives of his more famous contemporaries.

He is best known today for his contributions to Stanley Vestal's Sitting Bull, Champion of the Sioux (1932), a biography of his uncle, and for Lakota Warrior (or The Warrior Who Killed Custer), his autobiography (1998) edited by James H. Howard. The activist Floris White Bull (Floris Ptesan Hunka), presently engaged in protests against abuses of Native Americans by the US government, is his direct descendant.

Early Life & War

White Bull was the son of Hunkpapa Sioux Good Feather (Sitting Bull's sister) and Miniconjou chief Makes-Room in the region of the Black Hills of modern-day South Dakota. His birth name was Bull-Standing-With-Cow, but, when he was 16, he "counted coup" on three enemy warriors (striking without killing them) and was given the name White Bull by his uncle Black Moon. He also took at least ten horses from the enemy during this engagement. The theft of horses from other nations (including the United States) counted toward one's status, wealth, and personal or communal power.

Little is known of White Bull's life prior to the 1860s as later writers tended to interview him mainly on his famous uncle. He fought with Crazy Horse (l. c. 1840-1877) at the Battle of the Hundred-in-the-Hands (Fetterman Massacre) on 21 December 1866 and was also present at the Wagon Box Fight (2 August 1867) during Red Cloud's War. After the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868, White Bull continued his resistance to the genocidal policies of the US government through various raids and skirmishes but, among these, is best known for his account of Sitting Bull's "smoking party" at Arrow Creek in 1872.

Continue reading...

[captain039]

The lord and lady (Cooper Howard)

Cooper Howard x reader

Bridgerton and Cooper Howard is a muussstt

Warnings: Olden times, swearing, age gap, tension, slow burn, plus size reader, fat shaming, parental abuse, sexual things, eventual smut, angst, AOB (suppressed by vault tec)

I’m also gonna focus more on the AOB side, make it more AOB than I have been xD

I’m trying to use less Y/n but also failing lol

The ride to the centre of the ton is short, the overseer is placed right in the middle of this town in her lush castle and sick husband, and her rumoured out of wedlock fling Mr Maclean. Though their family is of high status the rumours surrounding that poor family could in fact fill this whole town if written. You see the Macleans ahead of you, their Daughter Lucy Maclean stepping out in a fresh new dress and headwear just like the rest of the 20 lady’s being presented today. Every year it is 20 lady’s that are to be presented to society, they are sure the numbers stay intact no matter the costs. If you haven’t secured a marriage by the end of the season or year, well nobody truely knows what happens to those poor souls. The men of course are left alone however you and your fellow women in arms are left wondering who will be next?

As you stand outside the Overseers presenting room you still find yourself nervous no matter how many times your teacher forced you to rehearse this till you were satisfactory. You smile to Lucy when she turns to face you her big eyes full of excitement and anxiety. You fear yours don’t show the same, you are tired, a sleepless night and now this. She gives you a small nod before her name is called.

One by one the ladies are presented, when it is your turn you fear you may throw up, but the glare your father gives forces your bile down in fear. You avoid eye contact and bow when you’re at the right length away from the Overseer her dress a bright blue adorned in yellow gems, an odd combination in your opinion but it has been the Overseers colours for century’s. The Overseer nods her head and you make your way to wear the already seen lady’s stand and hold your mother’s hand tightly.

In the way back you’re bombarded with horrid words and spat accusations at how horrid you were at the presentation. You force yourself not to cry as you look out the window while your mother tries to calm your father down. You hear the coach men shout and then there’s a rush past your window making you frown and look. There’s a man galloping down the Main Street on a brown horse. Your father yells swears at him before the coach moves again. The man whoever he was must’ve been in a great haste, perhaps his wife was having her child or he lost a bet at the local club and he was running away. You only wonder briefly before you go to feeling jealousy that he can ride away on a horse because he is a man and nobody would question it.

Your first ball is torture before it even happens. Despite this being what you were brought up to do your father constantly reminds you of what a failure and frantic, absurd mind you have for your painting and drawing, your love of books and being locked away in your room despite him being the one who had locked you in there in the first place. Even now he questions whether you are ‘pure’ like you could’ve actually escaped such a man to promenade where you pleased.

You’re dressed in a silvery cream coloured dress with clear gemstones, you wear a simple gem necklace and studs, your hair is done up and pinned with pretty gem flower piece to match the whole outfit. Small silver heels on your feet and dashes of makeup. If you are not to secure a match tonight or at least a suitor or caller you fear what your father may do.

The first ball is at the Macleans house, grand and overdone if you say as you enter the large estate. Guests huddle and chatter, tables are filled with flowers, treats and sweetened water. Despite the cold night it’s stuffy in the large estate. Your father is off quickly to drink with the other lords while your mother probably searches for your future husband. You hide by the drink stand getting some fresh lemonade before you’re approached. You’re thankful it isn’t a man and Lucy as she beams at you, big eyed and beautiful.

“Evening” she says grinning as she takes a drink and stands by you.

“Evening” you reply looking over the crowd.

“Are we scoping the options?” She leans in to whisper and you almost choke on your drink, you cover it with a laugh.

“I guess” you shrug and her face falters.

“I think my Mama may be doing it already” you say nodding in her direction. She’s talking to three young gentlemen whose back are turned to you.

“You could always marry my brother” she suggests and hesitate on your drink. Her brother is kind, a little odd and quiet but kind.

“Your brother is kind yes” you say and she elbows you gently.

“I won’t be offended if you say no, you know, he is rather quiet for a gentlemen” she chuckles softly and you just nod. The doors open once more, someone late to the party. This member makes your neck hair stand on end though as he enters in a ravishing blue suit with yellow bow tie. You frown a little at the Overseer colours, perhaps he is a member of the Overseers management. He approaches some lords and greets them with big smiles as they pretty much yell their celebration that he has arrived.

“Who is that?” You ask unsure if you’ve seen him or not.

“Lord Howard? You know him” Lucy says and it clicks.

“Oh of course! I didn’t recognise him from here” you huff softly. You gulp a little sipping your drink quicker. Lord Howard is the one man in the ton who truely interested you, his love for his horses, his adventures he goes on. Most of the young lady’s go to him for riding lessons however yours were cut short the moment your horse bucked you off and you embarrassed your teacher and father in front of the other parents and young ladies. It had been mortifying, you swore you broke something but all you got was thrown into your room and yelled at, your Mama managed to save you from a further beating seeing as you had just flown off a horse. You loved horses, you were fascinated by them, beautiful beasts able to carry a man at high speeds.

“Greeting young Ladies how are we?” Your mamas voice brings you from your thoughts and you smile at her.

“And he’s coming over” Lucy’s words make you snap your head though as the Lord approaches. Your whole body is on edge and everything around you seems to dull out except him.

You unaware he’s talking to you till you feel Lucy’s elbow in your side and snap back to reality.

“I’m so sorry Lord Howard” you say rushed almost fumbling over your words as you lay your glass down with shaky hands.

“It’s quite alright Lady Y/n, I was asking how you are both going?” He chuckles softly and your stomach does flips.

“I’m alright thank you, and yourself?” You ask wanting to hold your mother’s hand.

“Well thank you, my mare just gave birth to her first foal” he says with a proud smile that makes your heart thump.

“Oh how wonderful! Are they both doing well?” Your Mama asks.

“Yes quite, little colts got a fiery spirit for sure” he answers. You’re not focused, too focused on his neck for some strange reason. You find the place suddenly oh so inviting with the need to press your nose into his skin and breathe him in.

“Oh my dear daughter does love horses though she hasn’t had much experience with them” your mama gushes and his eyes find yours. He falters a moment sucking in a small breath, nose flaring.

“You should come by and see, never too old to learn how to ride, plus horses are better than people” he smiles and whispers the last part and your mind goes haywire. The thoughts of being on the ranch with him again, smooth kind words teaching you how to ride, praising you. You’d almost beg for his praise.

You excuse yourself suddenly and rush outside into the cold air where you’re able to breathe properly. Heavens what ever was that? Your heart is pounding, you feel yourself sweating.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” You hear your father growl like some wild beast and you flinch when his hand grabs your arm roughly in a bruising grip.

“Running off when a lord was talking to you?! Are you stupid!” He snaps his face mere inches from yours.

“I’m sorry father, I wasn’t feeling well I didn’t wish to make a scene of sickness” you explain your head bowed and eyes on the ground.

“Stupid girl! You’ve already made a damned scene!” His other hand grips your chin roughly and you whimper at the contact.

“Get the carriage!” He snaps at the footman and he hurries off.

“Get in the carriage, you’ve ruined this night and any chance of a proposal!” He growls and you’re forced into the carriage. You see your father hurrying your mama but you also see him Lord Howard frowning at your parents then looking to you in confusion and concern.

Next part ->

[lyledebeast]

"Cowardice" in The Patriot

For a film in which women and children do so much heavy lifting to humanize men, The Patriot sure heaps contempt on men who prioritize protecting women and children over engaging in political violence. The earliest example of this comes when Gabriel Martin accuses his father of hiding behind his children when he refuses to vote in favor of South Carolina joining in rebellion against the crown, and indeed this is the one choice for which Benjamin Martin is ever made to atone. Another character strongly implied to be a coward for attempting to protect the defenseless is the nameless man who gives Colonel Tavington details about the militia's home base. He is taking Tavington up on his offer to spare those guilty of treason in exchange for such information, and he means more than just himself. When Tavington orders the doors of the church shut, the man rushes forward to say, "But you said we'd be forgiven," not "I'd be forgiven."

The charge of cowardice in this man's case is inaccurate as well as unjust. Everyone in the congregation is scared. They know who Tavington is. They respond to him riding his horse into the nave in the same way the Whos down in Whoville respond to the Grinch launching himself into the Holiday Cheermeister ceremony in How the Grinch Stole Christmas later the same year. This man has to overcome that fear in order to speak out, but there is an additional fear he must face down that is exclusive to him. Even if Tavington had spared the congregation owing to his information, this man would likely still have been reviled for giving up the men this congregation is supporting. In a best-case scenario, he is sacrificing his good name in the community.

This scene sets up a clear contrast between two men in this congregation: this man and Peter Howard, father to Anne and now father-in-law to Gabriel. The first point of contrast is visual. The nameless man is fairly young and apparently able-bodied. Howard is significantly older and, as he points out in his first scene while making a speech before the Charlestown Assembly begins, lost a leg fighting for King George in the French and Indian War: "And now he cuts off my other leg with his taxes!" The contrast the narrative most clearly highlights is between the Patriot and the traitor, but an equally valid one may be made between the man most guilty of Tavington's charges and the man least guilty. Despite claiming to be crippled by the king's taxes as much as by his war wound, Howard is nearly single-handedly keeping the militia afloat; we never hear of them getting supplies from anyone else. The man who gives up Martin is guilty of nothing except keeping his secrets until now, which is guilty enough from Tavington's perspective. Tavington is an asshole. This is not news.

I believe Tavington would have burned the church with all its occupants inside regardless of the information they gave up or withheld, but this is not a senseless act of cruelty. Tavington knows killing these people will hurt the militia, and not just emotionally. Even without warning from Martin--and I will never understand how he failed to warn them at Anne and Gabriel's wedding--they should have known it was game over when the Butcher arrived in their nave. But Howard does not give himself up, nor does he plead with Tavington for leniency. He just stares defiantly and calls the nameless man a fool for breaking the silence. A moment that always makes me laugh, bitterly and unintendedly, comes when smoke appears from underneath the locked door and Howard orders the panicking parishioners to "Remain calm." You made this choice for yourself and everyone else, Mr. Howard. Sit all the way down.

In contrast, the nameless man chooses to give up Howard and Martin for the sake of protecting women and children who lack the power to make any choice at all. He does what Martin promised and then failed to deliver for his own children at the very first test. His refusal to protect men who have done nothing to protect their own families and neighbors carries its own kind of defiance. If this man is a coward, then maybe cowardice is something the world needs more of.

[mermaidsirennikita]

I’ve been devouring HR spy romances recently-do you have any favorites?

I am actually pretty picky with my spy romances, because I feel that often they get very tangled up with the spy thing and neglected the romance thing... So overall I'd say the ones I enjoy include:

Grace Callaway spy romances, but especially:

Charlotte and The Seductive Spymaster--this one actually felt pretty spy heavy because he literally faked his death for years because of spy stuff, but it's not TOOOOOO spy-forward for me

M is for Marquess--Grace really loves that thing where the spy is retired and his or her past catches up with him, and it worked for me in this one; as did the heroine being like "my asthma makes me faint a lot but it doesn't mean I can't take your dick"

I also like:

The Secret Service of Tea and Treason by India Holton. Spies + magic and Victorian stuff! Here they're both spies for opposing agencies and have to work together. They're also both on the spectrum, and he is QUITE efficient. Love it.

The Ranger by Monica McCarty. Hero goes undercover to take down his king's enemy, who also happens to be the guy that killed the hero's father, only to begin falling for that guy's daughter. Medieval.

Duke of Pleasure by Elizabeth Hoyt. The hero is the king's bastard, and he's also trying to take down an underground pedophilic cult... and along the way, he falls in love with a young woman who dresses up as a man to do vigilante shit. Includes the "quick blow me as a ruse" scene.

His at Night by Sherry Thomas is honestly very funny, because the hero is a spy and he keeps his cover by pretending that he hit his head falling from a horse years ago and became REAL DUMB as a result? So everyone thinks he's an oaf but he's actually quite smart? He has to marry the heroine after she tries to compromise his brother into marriage. It's all very resentful and fun.

The Duke in Question by Amalie Howard. In this one, the hero's like semi-retired but the heroine is just getting into it; she's his friend's little sister, so naturally he begins following her, some cat and mouse stuff ensues, and she ends up getting deflowered against a tree during a chase and he's very upset about it after when he realizes she was a virgin.

Any Duke in a Storm by Amalie Howard. The heroine is the spy in this one, and she's also undercover as a pirate--she believes the hero, who's like her second mate or something, is a part of a smuggling ring, so she's both super suspicious of and super attracted to him.

Hotel of Secrets by Diana Biller. The hero is an American spy in Vienna, and he keeps like, comically preventing the heroine from being murdered. He's also a virgin because of emotional repression issues, and she is NOT.

The Return of the Duke by Lorraine Heath. The heroine is a spy, and part of her cover was being the hero's dad's mistress, and the hero ends up catching up with her because she may hold the key to redeeming his dad's name after he was executed for treason (the hero also lost his title because of it).

[manacia]

your frosted fairytale is complete ! psst, @silentgravesdontexist ! your name has been added to the frosted fairytales library. your assigned au with hoshina is . . . historical period arranged marriage !

ʚɞ ⁺˖ ⸝⸝ first of all . . . your playlist ! love story, indila // hayloft II, mother mother // dynasty, miia // young and beautiful, lana del ray // wildest dreams, duomo // love in the dark, adele // a hidden life, james newton howard // plumfield, alexandre desplat // only love can hurt like this, paloma faith.

ʚɞ ⁺˖ ⸝⸝ how about some imagery . . .

ʚɞ ⁺˖ ⸝⸝ put it all together and you get . . .

birds chirp harmoniously, carried on the breeze that politely ruffles at your kimono ever so slightly. you've been seated at this trickling creek for a while now, consumed by your thoughts and feelings as you listen in on the nature of japan. it's a breath of fresh air away from the city walls, the hustle and bustle of the market and of course, your arranged marriage.

societal class means everything in this dynasty, sealing your fate from the moment you're born into a clan with a name for themselves. you could almost say it was unfortunate in your case, that your clan was so well off within the kingdom. this comes with your hand in marriage and a certain sharp toothed general that appears to be everywhere you are-

"there you are," oh bugger. your eyes raise slowly from the water you've been watching run alongside you, your fingertips grazing the icy water's surface to see the general standing beneath the nearby torii gate arched over a cobblestone path, leading him directly to you, "you'll catch a sickness doing that, you know."

yes, yes you was fully aware. it's almost winter and the water's temperature is sharp to the touch. hoshina exhales, a small cloud of breath dispersing in front of his lips as he watches you. granted you haven't been the most welcoming about the marriage but he was persistent, after all on some days it seemed like you was mere kids - the ones you was when he first met you.

hoshina remembers the day he met you well, you was such a small child perched on the large boulder in his family's courtyard, watching in awe as he trained with his father. back then, you was such an annoyance sometimes, determined to come see him at the worst of times. what had changed? his eyes open a little wider to drink in the sight of you, so peaceful and tranquil hidden this deep in the woods away from expectations and society - and probably him too.

slowly as if approaching a timid animal, the general inches closer to where you are seated beside the stream. every part of hoshina hopes, outside of those expectations you hate, the reputation of clans and his job as the general of the army, he can get through to the version of you he was familiar with before you aged.

"we're pretty far from the city, did you steal one of your father's horses again?" he muses, crouching beside you. he glances around, not exactly spotting a horse tethered up anywhere nearby. you don't respond but the general's lips curl into a small, devious grin, "want to spar?"

it's brief but there's a light in your eyes, one that makes him reminisce your childhood even further. you was raised to be proper and elegant, never allowed to touch a sword but you always watched him with such fervour. perhaps, just perhaps, he's found a crack in the walls you'd put up, ready to chip away slowly, piece by piece.

── eek , hiya cy ! it's nice to meet ya , welcome to my blog ! i'm so glad i got to meet you & hoshina so intricately , please that was such an amazing amount of info ! ! i hope i did justice writing him for the first time (which is shameful as a hoshina shipper myself . . . ) . .✦

[lover-of-mine]

Not to beat the name discourse like a dead horse but I had a thought regarding comparisons to other couples.

I feel like the use of first name ONLY establishes two things

1) they don’t know them that well

2) they’re not part of the 118 family in any way they’re kept on the outside of that

I know people that defend the exclusive use of “Evan” often point to the fact that Maddie calls Chimney Howie. But here’s the thing, she doesn’t exclusively call him Howie, and she didn’t call him that from the second she met him. Chimney is a nickname that he got presumably at the 118 - her also calling him by this shows that she’s part of the 118 family, not just his significant other, same way she calls Buck both “Buck” and “Evan” she’s part of the group not just Buck’s sister. It brings her into the inside.

Ali called Buck “Evan” and she was not super well developed and she was never brought into the 118 group (in contrast to Abby and Taylor)

Also noticeably Eddie and Ana. While (like Chimney and unlike Buck) he never said anything to imply he dislikes being called Edmundo - Ana predominately/only calling him Edmundo shows that she was on the outside.

Sorry, I saved this ask and it got lost in yesterday's Tim madness.

But I'm very with you on that one, even Ali and the use of Evan, especially the Evan as she misunderstands what being a firefighter means to Buck. Taylor only calls him Evan if she's using his full name. And to make the comparison with Maddie and Howie, Tommy would have to have a different nickname for Buck. It's not like Maddie is calling him Howard. It would be different if Tommy had introduced a new nickname to the situation, I don't know, call him the "Ev" people like to throw around that makes me cringe, or something else. We know for a fact that Buck doesn't like being called Evan, the same way we know Hen doesn't like being called Henrietta, and it's not like Karen calls her Henrietta and suddenly is fine. Maddie is Buck's sister and respects the fact that Buck prefers to be called Buck unless she's trying to get a very specific reaction out of him or when she's being the parent she got used to being for him and switching back to that default. The Edmundo thing too, at first it seems like it's supposed to be cutesy thing to call back to when they met, but it feels weird because he doesn't go by Edmundo, but even Ana eventually graduated to calling him Eddie. Everyone but Athena has a preferred name, and the fact that Tommy refuses to use the one Buck chose is not cute or some show of intimacy because he's been doing it since they met. And Buck has talked about not liking it. He didn't graduate to having "Evan" rights. He immediately started using it. It would be different if we had gotten a scene where Buck said something about being okay with Evan or even talked to Tommy himself about that. But the last time we dealt with the whole "Evan" thing, Buck said his name was Buck. Until he says otherwise, this shows Tommy doesn't know him. Because by Buck's own words, people who know him call him Buck.

[this-daydream-is-dangerous-13]

Daylight MV by Harry Styles - why was it not the unreleased Two Ghosts MV 2.0? A timeline.

This video, released on July 19, 2023, is jam packed with Blondie and Haylor references. I think it was almost the sister project to the never released Two Ghosts MV…until it wasn’t. And I have an idea as to why.

Don’t believe me that it’s Haylor AF? Go read this amazing summary by @womanexile at whose request I am writing this timeline.

As we know, Harry was filming the video on and around May 10 and 11, 2022, based in articles and pap/drone photos from the time, like this Daily Mail article:

Let’s review the timeline:

April 22, 2022 - Harry performs at Coachella weekend 2 in Indio, CA.

April 26, 2022 - OW is onstage at CinemaCon in Las Vegas when she is served custody papers. H is not there.

But where is H? According to the article - circus training!

Late April/early May - Harry starts training in Kent, England with family-owned Sanctus Circus.

From the article:

“A source told [the publication]: Harry has spent weeks being taught circus skills for this video — he wanted it to be a real spectacle.

'It is probably his most expensive video yet because as well as all the rehearsals, it was a huge set with loads of extras and really extravagant costumes'.

The source revealed to the publication that the singer pushed himself to the limit in order to perform the stunts. Adding: 'It's been a real undertaking and the finished product will prove why he's one of the biggest pop stars in the world.' “

So late April - May 11 - circus stuff. Which is part time and on-and-off, I imagine. Then filming. And this was an UNDERTAKING that would have required a lot of planning.

He even arranged to have live animals, as outlined here in an article with the horse and parrot handlers:

Some take aways:

- he was supposed to the riding *the WHITE horse*. And when that didn’t work, he ensured the white horse remained in the shot.

- they only had a short time to teach him with the animals, but he listened and did exactly what they said.

- the legendary Styles charm extends to grumpy parrots named Poppleguy. “He's a little bit picky and he went straight on Harry Styles' shoulder, the sign of a good vibe," [his owner] said.”

Who can resist this man?!

But he HAS to know that he’ll get questions about the song title, since it shares a name with a song by Blondie. And he gets photographed making this video - articles about it start appearing May 12, 2022.

So what does he do next? Creates a smoke screen! Good thing two of his best friends—Ben Winston and James Corden—run a late night show known for outrageous bits with musicians. And he has a long history of doing crazy things with them, so no one will bat an eye.

He heads off to NYC for Harry’s House promo and ONO, but first — he has a DUPLICATE video to shoot.

And it’s hilarious, watching him shock and delight a quartet of Brooklyn residents and their friends:

And look at the clapperboard to date it:

Bottom right - MAY 17/22.

The next morning, May 18, he is on air with Howard Stern who immediately brings up Blondie (look at H’s usual TS grin!!). And watch him evade:

“You’re reading too much into it…I know you’d like me to tell you ‘you’re spot on’ but…yeah, you’re not.”

But you know who thinks Howard actually is Spot On? Harry’s Mom!!

The Late Late Daylight video airs on May 26/27, 2022 (depending on your time zone). And here is Anne’s IG story when she watches it:

And then - Harry keeps the circus video in his pocket. For FIFTEEN MONTHS. And makes and releases other videos.

There’s background speculation that the still images captured (Birdrry) might be for a Daydreaming or Grapejuice or other video, despite the bird. After all - we already have a Daylight MV!

And then, on July 18th, 2023 at his penultimate HSLOT concert in Lisbon, Harry has the bird image shown on the screen as he finishes singing Daylight.

After the concert, we learn that the video will drop in July 19th at 5pm UK, 12 pm Eastern.

And while the As It Was video promo stated: “It’s just us”, this one proclaims “It’s just a video, just for you.”

Which naturally leads us to this parallel:

And it is followed by the 10-minute 2nd encore piano ballad at the final HSLOT concert on July 22, introduced in Italian by saying “I wrote this for you, just for tonight.”

**My theory - its release is another in a long line of grand gestures designed to remind and assure Blondie of his ongoing, perpetual love and devotion.**

[littlewormgrant]

Bobiverse: Taking Another Approach

Bob Clone - Leela (OC) 928 words

A/N: This is completely self indulgent fic and not my usual gibberish but I'm a fan of the Bobiverse series and wanted to tackle a plot that I felt didn't quite land for me in the books. Also I just wanted to geek out over space and one of my favorite systems. I'm writing the kind of things I'd want to read.

Summary: I came online, aptly named myself Leela, then stuck around and completed the tasks I was created for. I wasn’t the first Bob to identify as female and I certainly wouldn’t be the last. The moment I was given the green light to go, I was getting the hell out of there. (A canon compliant one-shot fic continuing from where the Dragon plotline was left off in Book 5: Not Till We Are Lost. Spoilers ahead if you've not read it.)

---

The worst part of immortality was how it didn’t also strip me of my humanity. I’d have thought by now the replicative drift would’ve beaten it out of me.

I could have been doing anything I wanted in this little corner of the universe, and I’m still trying to scratch an itch that has been plaguing me since Bob’s time on Earth. Sometimes, being a Von Neumann probe was about as much fun as trying to bathe and pill a cat. Spike was never a fan of water and had been even less tolerant of it whenever meds were involved.

I came online, aptly named myself Leela, then stuck around and completed the tasks I was created for. I wasn’t the first Bob to identify as female and I certainly wouldn’t be the last. The moment I was given the green light to go, I was getting the hell out of there.

Surveying the Dragons was interesting and all, but it had been almost a year since Bridget and Howard’s escapades, and we still couldn’t even get close enough with our Drannies without a buzz of angry noises and spears being chucked at us. I guess some grudges do hold. Could you blame them?

The predictions that they’d have centuries on Lemuria were vastly underestimating just how devastating the volcanoes were going to be each cycle. We’d be left with a minuscule fraction of the population we started with after this beatdown. Some of us didn’t want to wait around to see what untold horrors the next would bring. Not to mention the damage it’ll do to their genetic diversity.

Honestly, I probably could’ve stuck around a few more decades and tried working on it with them, but it felt like beating a dead horse at this point. The planet still sucked. We weren’t wanted. It was like being back on Earth with Faith all over again.

Jabberwocky was quickly becoming difficult to observe through the layer of thick atmosphere the volcanoes in Atlantis were producing. By all accounts, the Dragon’s shouldn’t have survived this long but they were hanging on, so I guess we had some moral responsibility to help.

Stupid humanity.

I’d have been more reluctant to go if I was completely abandoning them to their fate, but Marlow was in-system already working with the others on an evacuation plan for those still stranded on Atlantis. A colony ship was already underway in off-chance he was able to save anyone. I felt more useful setting out to survey another possible accommodation for those who were willing to leave.

TRAPPIST-1 is a mere 9 percent the mass of our sun back in Sol, the entire system can fit comfortably within the space of Mercury’s orbit. All huddled around the remnants of a campfire. With planets being so close together they would interfere with each other gravitationally, causing large tidal changes on all sides - which was both a good and bad thing when looking for a potential spot for squishy humans that aren’t all that great at swimming. But maybe not such a problem for Dragons if we could set them up with artificial platforms that imitate floaters. Then there was the case of ensuring they had a diet they could sustain themselves on. I’d tell myself that was a problem for some other future Bob, but knowing my luck I’d be the sucker to do it.

I understand why this system wasn’t selected for other colonial projects. The Aquarius constellation had roughly 12-17 stars that hosted known exoplanets. There’s potentially 300 million other habitable planets to pick from in our galaxy alone, and if the focus was more on G-class stars like our own in the Sol system, then that’s still at least a good 21 million potential habitats to pick from before TRAPPIST would even make the cut.

That’s not accounting for all the planets claimed by those species that had packed up and jumped ship already. Or any more like the Others that were picking them clean. I wasn’t being overly picky in where I surveyed first, it was as good a place to start as any. Maybe a small part of me wanted to geek out over a system with potentially more than one habitable planet. They were few and far between.

Red dwarf stars would certainly outlive all others. They made up more than half of all stars and were likely the last to be around to see the end of time, but that also came with cons of its own. The habitable zone for such stars being so much closer to their host meant they were one tiny fart of plasma away from all kinds of damage to technology and the magnetic spheres.

Once I made it there I’d have to assess if this was a big enough risk to pursue or not. It didn’t help these stars were all pumped up on beans compared to yellow dwarfs. So really, it was a good thing Dragons haven’t gotten to the technological stages of their advancement. One less thing for them to complain about I suppose.

Plus, you know, our galaxy was about to be hit with the mother of all black holes in the distant future. Not an immediate threat but it was absolutely a danger to everything we’ve been building towards. This only had to be a temporary solution for now, right? I could pack up and go on my way again and not be roped into any more Dragon bullshit. Probably, hopefully...

Please don’t let me get roped back in.