#Widow Mercedes

[heckcareoxytwit]

After a battle between Captain America's group and White Wolf's werewolf army, Steve Rogers finds his adoptive son, Ian Rogers/Zola alive and well but the latter (Ian) refuses to leave as he decides to stay in Dimension Z. Ian Rogers becomes a new ruler so the first thing he does is to stop the Dimension Z Werewolves from invading the countries. Neither Steve Rogers nor Bucky Barnes believe that Ian is capable of controlling the monsters and ruling Dimension Z as a new ruler. However, Bucky and Sam Wilson convince Steve that he has to stay in Dimension Z as Ian's advisor and fatherly figure because of his leadership skills. In the end, the group went on separate ways - Sam Wilson and Misty Knight went home, Peggy Carter and Black Widow wandered off, Bucky and Ian become buddies and lastly, Steve Rogers and Sharon Carter stay in Dimension Z to keep their eyes on Ian and Bucky.

Captain America: Cold War Omega #1, 2023

- - - - -

Ummm....What the hell?

[pucksandpower]

Black Widow

Toto Wolff x black widow!Reader

Summary: Lewis Hamilton and George Russell are convinced you’re trying to kill their team principal, and, to be fair, you do have a trail of seven dead extremely wealthy husbands behind you … but it’s not what they think, you promise

The soft beep of medical equipment provides a rhythmic backdrop as you sit beside the ornate mahogany bed, your manicured fingers intertwined with those of your latest husband, Reginald Worthington III.

At 89 years old, Reggie, as you affectionately call him, is by far your oldest conquest yet. His wrinkled face, now gaunt from months of illness, still manages a weak smile as he gazes at you.

“My darling,” Reggie wheezes, his voice barely above a whisper, “I hope you know how much joy you’ve brought to these final months of mine.”

You lean in, your silky hair cascading over your shoulder as you press a gentle kiss to his forehead. “Oh, Reggie. The pleasure has been all mine.”

It’s not entirely a lie. While you don’t love Reggie — or any of your previous husbands, for that matter — you’ve grown fond of the old codger. He’s certainly been the most amusing of your elderly spouses.

Reggie’s eyes twinkle with mischief, a ghost of the rakish playboy he must have been in his youth. “Now, now, my dear. We both know this has been a mutually beneficial arrangement. But I do hope I’ve provided some entertainment along the way.”

You can’t help but chuckle. “You’ve been a delight, darling. Truly.”

As if on cue, Reggie is seized by a coughing fit. You quickly grab a glass of water from the bedside table, helping him take small sips until the spasms subside. When he catches his breath, he fixes you with a serious look.

“Y/N, there’s something I need to tell you. About the will.”

Your heart skips a beat, but you keep your face carefully neutral. “Reggie, please. We don’t need to discuss such morbid topics.”

He waves a dismissive hand. “Nonsense. We both know why you’re here, and it’s not to admire the wallpaper. Now listen, because this is important.”

You lean in closer, curiosity piqued despite yourself.

Reggie’s voice drops to a conspiratorial whisper. “In addition to the usual — the houses, the cars, the offshore accounts — I’m leaving you my stake in the Mercedes Formula 1 team.”

Your eyes widen in genuine surprise. “The racing team? Reggie, I had no idea you were involved with-”

He cuts you off with a wheezy laugh. “Oh, my dear. There’s so much you don’t know about me. Did you think I made my fortune selling denture cream?”

You can’t help but smile. “Well, I did wonder about all those trophies in your study.”

“Remnants of a misspent youth,” Reggie says with a wistful sigh. “But this, this is my crowning achievement. A 33% stake in one of the most successful F1 teams in history.”

Your mind reels at the implications. This is far beyond anything you’d anticipated when you’d set your sights on Reginald Worthington III.

“Reggie, I ... I don’t know what to say.”

He pats your hand affectionately. “You don’t have to say anything, my dear. Just promise me you’ll make the most of it. I’ve always admired your ambition. It reminds me of myself at your age.”

You lean back in your chair, studying the old man before you. In that moment, you feel a surge of genuine affection for him.

“I promise, Reggie. I’ll make you proud.”

He nods, satisfied. “Good. Now, tell me about the others. I want to know how I measure up to my predecessors.”

You laugh, shaking your head in amazement. “Are you sure? It’s quite a list.”

Reggie’s eyes sparkle with interest. “My dear, I’m on my deathbed. Regale me with tales of your conquests.”

With a theatrical sigh, you begin. “Well, if you insist. Let’s see ... first, there was Harold.”

“Ah, the virgin husband,” Reggie interrupts with a knowing nod.

You raise an eyebrow. “And how did you know that?”

He winks. “I have my sources. Go on.”

“Right. Well, Harold was a sweet man. A bit naive, perhaps, but genuinely kind. He left me his tech startup. It wasn’t worth much at the time, but I sold it for a tidy sum a year later.”

Reggie nods approvingly. “Smart move. Who was next?”

“After Harold came George. He was ... intense. A retired army general with a penchant for war stories and expensive scotch. Left me his collection of rare military memorabilia.”

“Fascinating,” Reggie murmurs. “And the others?”

You tick them off on your fingers. “Let’s see ... there was Joaquin, the passionate Spanish chef. He left me his Michelin-starred restaurants. Then came Dmitri, the Russian oligarch. That was ... an experience.”

Reggie chuckles. “I bet it was. What did he leave you?”

“A series of shell companies and a rather gaudy yacht. I sold the yacht, kept the companies.” You pause, lost in thought for a moment. “After Dmitri was William, the British lord. Lovely man, terrible teeth. Left me his crumbling estate and title.”

“So you’re technically a lady now?” Reggie asks, amused.

You nod. “Lady Y/N, at your service. Though I don’t use the title much. It tends to raise questions.”

“Understandable. And the last one before me?”

Your expression softens slightly. “Ah, that was Hiroshi. Japanese tech mogul. Brilliant mind, but so lonely. I think I was the first real companionship he’d had in years.”

Reggie studies you carefully. “You were fond of him.”

You nod, a bit surprised by the lump in your throat. “I was. He ... he understood me, I think. More than the others.”

There’s a moment of silence as Reggie processes this information. Finally, he speaks. “And what did Hiroshi leave you?”

You smile wryly. “His AI research company. It’s been ... interesting, to say the least.”

Reggie nods slowly. “Quite a collection you’ve amassed, my dear. But tell me, what drives you? Surely it’s not just the money.”

You’re taken aback by the question. No one has ever asked you that before. You take a moment to gather your thoughts.

“I suppose ... it’s the challenge of it all. The thrill of reinventing myself with each new husband, of navigating these complex worlds they inhabit. And yes, the wealth is nice, but it’s more about what I can do with it.”

Reggie leans forward, intrigued. “And what is it you want to do?”

You pause, realizing you’ve never really articulated this to anyone before. “I want to make a difference. Real, lasting change. These men, they’ve all built empires in their own ways, but they’ve been limited by their own mortality. I don’t have those limitations yet. I can take what they’ve given me and create something ... more.”

Reggie’s eyes light up with understanding. “Ah, now I see why I was drawn to you. You’re not just a pretty face or a clever mind. You’re a visionary.”

You feel a flush of pride at his words. “I try to be. Each husband has taught me something new, given me tools I never had before. Harold showed me the potential of technology. George taught me strategy. Joaquin, the importance of passion in one’s work. Dmitri, how to navigate the murky waters of international business. William gave me a glimpse into old-world power structures. And Hiroshi ... well, he opened my eyes to the future.”

Reggie nods slowly. “And what have I taught you, I wonder?”

You smile softly. “Patience, Reggie. The long game. And the value of a good sense of humor in the face of adversity.”

He chuckles weakly. “Well, I’m glad I could contribute something to your education. Now, about this F1 team ...”

You lean in, eager to hear more. “Yes?”

“It’s more than just a racing team, you know. It’s a pinnacle of engineering, a testament to human ingenuity and the constant push for improvement. I think you’ll find it fits quite well with your ambitions.”

You nod slowly, mind already racing with possibilities. “I can see that. The technology, the global platform, the prestige ...”

Reggie grins. “Exactly. And who knows? Maybe you’ll find husband number eight in the paddock.”

You laugh, shaking your head. “Oh, Reggie. Always thinking ahead, aren’t you?”

He winks. “Someone has to. Now, promise me one thing.”

“Anything,” you say, and you’re surprised to find you mean it.

“When you’re accepting that championship trophy — because I know you will — wear something fabulous. Give those stuffy old men in the paddock something to talk about.”

You can’t help but grin. “Oh, don’t worry. I intend to shake things up a bit.”

Reggie nods approvingly. “That’s my girl. Now, I think I need to rest for a bit. But don’t go far. I want to hear all about your plans for world domination when I wake up.”

As you watch Reggie drift off to sleep, you can’t help but feel a mix of emotions. Sadness at the impending loss of this charming old rogue, excitement at the unexpected opportunity he’s given you, and a renewed sense of purpose.

You glance at your reflection in the ornate mirror across the room. Lady Y/N Y/L/N, soon-to-be racing magnate. It has a nice ring to it.

As you settle back into your chair, you begin to plan your next moves. The motorsport world won’t know what hit it.

***

The sleek boardroom of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team headquarters buzzes with hushed conversation. Around the polished mahogany table, team executives and board members huddle in small groups, their voices low and urgent.

Toto catches snippets of conversation as he reviews his notes for the meeting.

“Did you hear? She’s actually coming today,” whispers Bradley, the team’s financial officer.

Sarah, head of marketing, leans in. “I can’t believe Reginald left her his stake. What was he thinking?”

“Probably wasn’t thinking with his head, if you know what I mean,” chuckles Thomas, the technical director.

Toto clears his throat, silencing the gossip. “Let’s keep things professional, shall we? We have important matters to discuss today.”

As if on cue, the boardroom door swings open. The room falls into an immediate, almost eerie silence as you stride in, turning heads with every click of your Manolo Blahnik heels against the polished floor.

Toto finds himself holding his breath, caught off guard by your presence. He’s seen photos, of course, but they didn’t do you justice. Your tailored Armani suit exudes power and confidence, while your eyes scan the room with a shrewd intelligence that sends a shiver down his spine.

You take your seat at the far end of the table, directly opposite Toto. “Good morning, everyone. I hope I’m not late.”

Your voice, smooth as silk with a hint of amusement, breaks the spell. The room erupts into a flurry of awkward greetings and nervous coughs.

Toto clears his throat again, trying to regain control of the situation. “Not at all. We were just about to begin. Welcome, Lady Worthington. We’re honored to have you join us today.”

You smile, a dazzling display that doesn’t quite reach your eyes. “Please, call me Y/N. We’re all colleagues here, after all.”

Toto nods, fighting to keep his composure. “Of course, Y/N. Shall we begin with the agenda?”

As the meeting progresses, Toto finds himself increasingly distracted. He’s used to being the most commanding presence in any room, but your arrival has shifted the dynamic entirely. Every time you speak, offering insights or asking pointed questions, the rest of the board seems to hold its breath.

“I’ve been reviewing our sustainability initiatives,” you say during a lull in the conversation. “While I applaud our efforts so far, I believe we could be doing more. Formula 1 has an unique platform to drive innovation in green technologies. We should be leading the charge, not just following along.”

Bradley shifts uncomfortably in his seat. “With all due respect, Lady- I mean, Y/N, implementing new sustainability measures could be quite costly. We need to consider the bottom line.”

You lean forward, fixing Bradley with an intense gaze. “And what about the cost of falling behind? Of being seen as out of touch with the concerns of younger fans? Sometimes, you have to spend money to make money.”

Toto finds himself nodding in agreement before he even realizes it. “Y/N raises an excellent point. Perhaps we should form a task force to explore more aggressive sustainability options.”

You flash him a grateful smile, and Toto feels his heart skip a beat. He quickly looks down at his notes, trying to regain his composure.

As the meeting continues, you consistently challenge the status quo, pushing for bolder strategies and innovative approaches. Toto watches in fascination as you deftly navigate the complex dynamics of the board, alternating between charm and steel as the situation demands.

During a discussion about driver development, you interject again. “I’ve been looking into our junior driver program, and I think we’re missing opportunities. We’re too focused on traditional racing backgrounds. What about sim racers? Or scouting karters from developing countries? We could be tapping into a whole new pool of talent.”

Sarah, the marketing head, perks up at this. “That’s ... actually a brilliant idea. It could really broaden our appeal, especially in emerging markets.”

You nod appreciatively. “Exactly. And imagine the stories we could tell. The sim racer who became an F1 champion or the kid from a small village who rose to the top of motorsport. That’s the kind of narrative that builds brand loyalty and inspires the next generation of fans.”

Toto finds himself leaning forward, completely engrossed. “I love this direction. Y/N, would you be willing to work with Sarah to develop a proposal for expanding our driver search?”

“Of course,” you reply with a smile that makes Toto’s pulse quicken. “I’d be delighted.”

As the meeting winds down, Toto realizes that the entire dynamic of the board has shifted. The initial wariness towards you has given way to a mixture of respect and curiosity. Even those who seemed most skeptical at the start are now hanging on your every word.

“Well,” Toto says, glancing at his watch, “I think that concludes our agenda for today. Unless anyone has any other matters to discuss?”

The room is silent for a moment before you speak up. “Actually, if I may, I’d like to address the elephant in the room.”

A tense hush falls over the gathering. Toto holds his breath, unsure of what’s coming next.

You stand, your posture relaxed but commanding. “I’m aware of the rumors and speculation surrounding my ... personal life. I want to assure all of you that my presence here is purely professional. I’m not here to cause drama or upheaval. I’m here because I believe in the potential of this team and this sport. I hope that over time, you’ll come to judge me based on my contributions, not on gossip or hearsay.”

The sincerity in your voice is palpable, and Toto can see the effect it has on the room. Shoulders relax, expressions soften. There’s a collective exhale, as if a weight has been lifted.

“Thank you for your honesty,” Toto says, standing as well. “I think I speak for everyone when I say we look forward to working with you and seeing what fresh perspectives you can bring to the team.”

There’s a murmur of agreement around the table. As the meeting officially adjourns, people begin to gather their things and file out of the room. Toto notices that several board members linger, clearly hoping to have a word with you. He feels an unexpected twinge of jealousy.

Before he can second-guess himself, Toto makes his way around the table to where you’re chatting with Sarah about the junior driver program idea.

“Excuse me,” he says, feeling uncharacteristically nervous. “Y/N, I was wondering if I could have a word?”

You turn to him with a smile that makes his heart race. “Of course. What can I do for you?”

He takes a deep breath, acutely aware of the curious glances from the remaining board members. “I was impressed by your insights today. I think there’s a lot we could discuss further about the future direction of the team. Would you perhaps be interested in continuing this conversation over dinner?”

A hush falls over the remaining occupants of the room. Toto can practically feel the weight of their stares, but he keeps his eyes fixed on you.

You raise an eyebrow, a mix of surprise and amusement playing across your features. “Dinner? My, my, Toto. Aren’t you afraid of me? I do have quite the reputation, you know.”

There’s a challenge in your voice, but also a hint of vulnerability that catches Toto off guard. He realizes that beneath your confident exterior, you’re testing him, gauging his true intentions.

Toto meets your gaze steadily, his voice low but firm. “I don’t put much stock in rumors. I prefer to form my own opinions based on what I see and experience. And what I’ve seen today is a brilliant, passionate individual who could be a tremendous asset to this team. That’s the person I’m interested in getting to know better.”

The room seems to hold its breath, waiting for your response. You study Toto for a long moment, your expression unreadable. Then, slowly, a genuine smile spreads across your face.

“Well, in that case, I’d be delighted to have dinner with you. Shall we say eight o’clock?”

Toto feels a rush of relief and excitement. “Eight o’clock sounds perfect. I know just the place.”

As you gather your things and prepare to leave, Toto can’t help but feel like he’s standing on the precipice of something monumental. He’s built his career on calculated risks, on seeing potential where others see danger. Looking at you, he knows that this might be the biggest gamble of his life.

But as you turn to give him one last smile before exiting the boardroom, Toto is certain of one thing: it’s a risk he’s more than willing to take.

***

The Monaco Grand Prix paddock buzzes with excitement, a hive of activity as teams prepare for the most glamorous race on the Formula 1 calendar. Lewis Hamilton and George Russell huddle in a quiet corner of the Mercedes garage, their voices low and urgent.

“I’m telling you, mate, something’s not right,” George insists, his eyes darting around to ensure they’re not overheard. “Have you seen the way Toto’s been acting lately? It’s like he’s under some kind of spell.”

Lewis nods grimly, his usual pre-race focus replaced by concern. “I know what you mean. Ever since she came into the picture, it’s like he’s a different person. Always distracted, making decisions that don’t quite add up.”

“Exactly!” George exclaims, then quickly lowers his voice again. “And have you noticed how she’s always around now? At every meeting, every strategy session. It’s like she’s trying to learn all our secrets.”

Lewis furrows his brow, deep in thought. “You don’t think ... I mean, surely she wouldn’t actually try to ...”

“Kill him?” George finishes, his voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t know, mate. But look at her track record. Seven husbands, all dead within months of marrying her. And now she’s got her claws into Toto.”

As if summoned by their conversation, you appear at the entrance of the garage, Toto at your side. The team principal’s hand rests comfortably on the small of your back as he leads you through the bustling workspace.

Lewis and George fall silent, watching intently as you make your way towards them. Your designer sundress and oversized sunglasses scream understated elegance, but to the two drivers, you might as well be wearing a black widow’s web.

“Good morning,” Toto calls out cheerfully. “Ready for qualifying?”

Lewis forces a smile, his eyes never leaving you. “Morning, Toto. Yeah, we were just discussing strategy.”

You step forward, flashing a dazzling smile. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything important. I’m still learning all the intricacies of race weekends.”

George clears his throat, trying to keep his voice steady. “Not at all. We were just finishing up.”

Toto beams, looking from you to his drivers with pride. “Isn’t it wonderful having Y/N here? She’s already brought so many fresh ideas to the team. I don’t know how we managed without her.”

You laugh, a sound that sends chills down Lewis and George’s spines. “Oh, darling, you’re exaggerating. I’m sure these boys were doing just fine before I came along.”

As you speak, your hand reaches up to smooth Toto’s collar, a gesture that seems innocent enough but makes both drivers tense.

Lewis clears his throat. “Actually, Toto, could we have a quick word? About the, uh, tire strategy?”

Toto looks surprised but nods. “Of course. Y/N, would you mind giving us a moment?”

“Not at all,” you reply smoothly. “I’ll just go chat with the mechanics. I’m fascinated by all this technology.”

As you saunter away, Lewis and George exchange a meaningful glance. This is their chance.

“Toto,” Lewis begins, choosing his words carefully. “We’re a bit concerned. About you, actually.”

Toto’s brow furrows in confusion. “Concerned? What do you mean?”

George jumps in, his words tumbling out in a rush. “It’s just that ... well, things have been different since you started seeing her. And given her history ...”

“Her history?” Toto repeats, his voice taking on an edge. “What exactly are you implying?”

Lewis takes a deep breath. “Toto, we care about you. And we can’t help but notice that Y/N’s previous partners have all met with ... unfortunate ends.”

For a moment, Toto just stares at them, his expression unreadable. Then, to their surprise, he bursts out laughing.

“Oh, boys,” he chuckles, shaking his head. “I appreciate your concern, truly. But I assure you, it’s misplaced. Y/N has been nothing but a positive influence on both me and the team.”

George persists, his voice urgent. “But Toto, you have to admit, the pattern is alarming. Seven husbands, all dead within months of marriage. And now she’s here, learning all about our team, our strategies ...”

Toto’s amusement fades, replaced by a stern look. “That’s enough. I understand you’re worried, but I won’t have you spreading baseless rumors. Y/N is here because she’s a part-owner of this team and because I invited her. End of discussion.”

As Toto walks away, Lewis and George share a look of dismay.

“He’s in too deep,” Lewis mutters. “We need to do something.”

George nods grimly. “We can’t let her hurt him. Or the team. We need a plan.”

Throughout the day, as qualifying unfolds, Lewis and George find themselves constantly distracted. Every time they catch a glimpse of you in the garage or on the pit wall, their imaginations run wild.

During a brief break between sessions, they overhear a snippet of conversation between you and one of the engineers.

“So, if something were to go wrong with the car during the race,” you’re saying, “what would be the most catastrophic point of failure?”

The engineer launches into a detailed explanation of various mechanical vulnerabilities, unaware of the horrified looks on the drivers’ faces.

“She’s gathering intel,” George whispers to Lewis. “Probably planning some sort of accident for Toto.”

Lewis nods, his jaw set with determination. “We need to warn him again. Make him see reason.”

But their attempts to get Toto alone prove futile. You seem to be constantly by his side, your hand on his arm, whispering in his ear. To an outsider, it might look like the actions of a loving girlfriend, but to Lewis and George, every gesture seems calculated and sinister.

As the day wears on, their paranoia grows. They start seeing threats everywhere. When you hand Toto a bottle of water, they’re convinced it’s poisoned. When you suggest he take a look at something in the back of the garage, they’re sure you’re luring him away to do him harm.

Finally, as the sun begins to set over the Monaco harbor, they decide they can’t wait any longer. They need to confront you directly.

They find you alone in the hospitality area, reviewing some papers. As they approach, you look up with a smile that doesn’t quite reach your eyes.

“Lewis, George,” you greet them warmly. “Excellent qualifying today. You must be pleased.”

Lewis takes a deep breath, steeling himself. “Cut the act. We know what you’re up to.”

Your expression doesn’t change, but something flickers in your eyes. “I’m not sure I understand. What exactly am I up to?”

George steps forward, his voice low and intense. “We know about your husbands. All seven of them. And we’re not going to let you add Toto to that list.”

For a moment, you just stare at them, your face unreadable. Then, to their surprise, you burst out laughing.

“Oh,” you chuckle, shaking your head. “Is that what this is all about? You think I’m here to kill Toto?”

Lewis and George exchange confused glances, thrown off by your reaction.

You lean in, your voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Let me tell you a little secret. Those men? They were all terminally ill when I married them. It was a business arrangement, pure and simple. They got to spend their last months with a young, beautiful wife, and I got their fortunes. No foul play involved.”

The drivers stare at you, speechless. You continue, your tone becoming more serious.

“As for Toto, well, that’s different. For the first time in my life, I’ve found someone I genuinely care for. Someone who sees me for who I am, not just what I can offer. I’m not here to hurt him or the team. I’m here because I want to be part of something meaningful.”

Lewis and George exchange uncertain glances, their convictions shaken.

“But ... all the questions about the car, the team strategies ...” George begins.

You roll your eyes, a hint of amusement in your voice. “I’m a part-owner of this team now, remember? Of course I’m trying to learn everything I can. How else can I contribute?”

As the truth of your words sinks in, Lewis and George begin to feel a creeping sense of embarrassment. They’ve let their imaginations and preconceptions run wild, seeing threats where there were none.

“I ... we ...” Lewis stammers, struggling to find the right words.

You hold up a hand, stopping him. “It’s alright. I understand. My reputation precedes me, and you were just looking out for Toto. I can respect that.”

George rubs the back of his neck, sheepish. “We may have gotten a bit carried away. I’m sorry.”

You smile, and this time it reaches your eyes. “Apology accepted. Now, what do you say we put this behind us and focus on winning tomorrow’s race?”

As if on cue, Toto appears, looking between the three of you with curiosity. “Everything alright here?”

You stand, moving to his side and slipping your arm through his. “Everything’s perfect, darling. In fact, I think Lewis and George were just about to share some ideas they had for the race strategy. Weren’t you, boys?”

Lewis and George nod, grateful for the out you’ve given them. As they launch into a discussion about tire management and overtaking opportunities, they can’t help but marvel at how wrong they’ve been.

Watching you interact with Toto, they see not a black widow spinning her web, but a woman genuinely in love, bringing out the best in their team principal. They realize that sometimes, people can surprise you. And sometimes, the most unexpected additions to a team can be the most valuable.

***

The soft glow of chandeliers bathes the exclusive Monégasque restaurant in warm light, casting elegant shadows across the faces of Monaco’s elite. Grigori Volkov, a grizzled veteran of the Russian underworld, sips his vodka, his weathered face a mask of careful neutrality as he surveys the room.

His eyes narrow as they land on a familiar figure across the crowded dining area. It can’t be, he thinks, leaning forward for a better look. But there’s no mistaking that face, those eyes that have haunted his dreams and nightmares for years.

You.

Grigori watches as you laugh, your hand resting lightly on the arm of a tall, distinguished-looking man. He recognizes him vaguely. But what catches Grigori off guard is the easy intimacy between you, the matching wedding bands glinting in the low light.

For a moment, Grigori considers slipping out unnoticed. But curiosity gets the better of him. He signals the waiter, ordering another round of drinks to be sent to your table.

As the waiter approaches with the drinks, Grigori sees your posture stiffen slightly, your eyes scanning the room until they lock onto his. He raises his glass in a small salute, a wry smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

You lean in, whispering something to Toto. The man looks surprised but nods, and together you make your way towards Grigori’s table.

“Grigori,” you greet him, your voice a mix of warmth and wariness. “It’s been a long time.”

Grigori stands, bowing slightly. “Indeed it has, my dear. You’re looking well. And who might this be?”

Toto extends his hand, his grip firm. “Toto Wolff. And you are?”

“An old friend of your wife’s,” Grigori replies smoothly, noting the flicker of surprise in Toto’s eyes at the word ’wife’. “Grigori Volkov. I knew Y/N back in her Russian days.”

You gesture to the empty chairs. “May we join you?”

Grigori nods, waving expansively. “Please, be my guests.”

As you settle in, Grigori can’t help but study Toto more closely. He’s younger than expected, vital and alert. Not at all what he’d imagined for your latest conquest.

“So, Toto,” Grigori begins, his accent thick with amusement, “how long have you and our dear Y/N been married?”

Toto smiles, his hand finding yours on the table. “Just over two years now. Best decision I ever made.”

Grigori’s eyebrows shoot up. “Two years? My, my. That’s quite impressive.”

You shoot him a warning look, but Toto just looks confused. “I’m not sure I follow. Why is that impressive?”

Grigori chuckles, taking a long sip of his vodka. “Oh, forgive me. I just meant that Y/N here has always been something of a ... how do you say ... free spirit? Never one to be tied down for long.”

You interject quickly, “People change, Grigori. I’ve found what I was looking for.”

Grigori nods, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “Indeed they do. And what of your ... other interests? The ones you inherited from dear Dmitri?”

Toto’s brow furrows. “Dmitri? I’m afraid I don’t know much about Y/N’s ex-husbands.”

“Ex-husbands?” Grigori repeats, feigning surprise. “Oh, but Dmitri was special, wasn’t he? After all, not every day one inherits a slice of the Bratva.”

The color drains from Toto’s face as he turns to you. “The Bratva? As in, the Russian mob?”

You sigh, shooting Grigori a glare that could freeze vodka. “It’s complicated, darling. And very much in the past.”

Grigori leans back, thoroughly enjoying the drama unfolding before him. “Oh, come now, Y/N. Surely your husband deserves to know the truth? About your colorful past, your string of deceased husbands, your unexpected rise to power in certain ... shall we say, unofficial circles?”

Toto looks between you and Grigori, his expression a mix of confusion and growing concern. “Y/N, what is he talking about?”

You take a deep breath, squeezing Toto’s hand. “Toto, there are parts of my past I haven’t told you about. Not because I wanted to keep secrets, but because I wanted to leave that life behind.”

Grigori interjects, his voice dripping with false sympathy. “Oh, but my dear, can one ever truly leave such a life behind? Especially when one has risen to such ... prominent positions?”

Toto’s eyes narrow as he looks at Grigori. “And what exactly is your role in all this?”

Grigori smiles, all teeth and no warmth. “Let’s just say I’m an old associate of Dmitri’s. And by extension, of Y/N’s. Though I must admit, I’m surprised to see you still among the living, Mr. Wolff. Our dear Y/N has quite a reputation, you know.”

You slam your hand on the table, your voice low and dangerous. “Enough, Grigori. That’s not who I am anymore.”

Grigori holds up his hands in mock surrender. “Of course, of course. I meant no offense. I’m merely ... surprised. After all, your previous husbands weren’t quite so fortunate. Or so young and vigorous.”

Toto’s jaw clenches, his eyes darting between you and Grigori. “I think it’s time we left.”

As you stand to leave, Grigori calls out, “Oh, but we’ve only just begun to catch up. There’s so much your husband doesn’t know, Y/N. About the power you wield, the empire you inherited. Don’t you think he deserves to know the truth about the woman he married?”

You turn back, your eyes flashing with a mix of anger and something deeper, more dangerous. “The truth, Grigori, is that I left that life behind. I found something real, something worth living for. And if you or anyone else tries to drag me back into that world, you’ll regret it.”

Grigori leans forward, his voice dropping to a whisper. “Is that a threat, my dear?”

You smile, cold and sharp. “Consider it a friendly warning. From one old friend to another.”

As you and Toto walk away, Grigori can’t help but feel a shiver run down his spine. He’d forgotten, in the years since you’d left Russia, just how formidable you could be.

He watches as you and Toto have an intense, whispered conversation by the exit. To his surprise, instead of storming out, Toto nods, takes your hand, and leads you back to Grigori’s table.

“Mr. Volkov,” Toto says, his voice steady and controlled, “I think it’s time we had an honest conversation. About Y/N’s past, about your ... association, and about how we move forward from here.”

Grigori raises an eyebrow, impressed despite himself. “Well, well. It seems you’ve found yourself a man with a spine, Y/N. Very well, let’s talk.”

As the three of you settle back into your seats, Grigori can’t help but feel a grudging respect for Toto. Most men would have run for the hills by now, but here he is, ready to face the truth head-on.

“So,” Grigori begins, pouring fresh vodka for all of you, “where shall we start? With Dmitri? With the Bratva? Or perhaps with the mysterious deaths of Y/N’s previous husbands?”

Toto takes a sip of vodka, his eyes never leaving Grigori’s. “Let’s start with the truth. All of it.”

You sigh, your hand finding Toto’s under the table. “Alright. Dmitri was my fifth husband. He was a high-ranking member of the Bratva, and when he died, I inherited his position and his connections.”

Grigori nods approvingly. “She’s being modest. Y/N didn’t just inherit Dmitri’s position — she expanded it. Forged new alliances, eliminated rivals. She became a force to be reckoned with in our world.”

Toto looks at you, his expression unreadable. “And the other husbands?”

You meet his gaze steadily. “They were all older men, all terminally ill. It was a business arrangement. They got to spend their last months with a young wife, and I got their fortunes. No foul play, I swear.”

Grigori chuckles. “Oh, come now. There were rumors, whispers of poison, of accidents arranged just so ...”

You whirl on him, your eyes flashing. “Rumors started by people like you. People who couldn’t believe a woman could gain power without resorting to murder.”

Toto squeezes your hand, his voice gentle. “Why didn’t you tell me any of this?”

You turn back to him, your expression softening. “Because I wanted to leave it all behind. When I met you, I saw a chance at a real life, a real relationship. I didn’t want my past to taint that.”

Grigori watches this exchange with growing fascination. He’s never seen you like this — vulnerable, open, genuinely in love. It’s... unsettling.

“And now?” He asks, unable to keep the curiosity from his voice. “What becomes of your empire, Y/N? Your power? Your connections?”

You straighten, your voice firm. “I’ve been systematically dismantling it all. Using the resources to fund legitimate businesses, charitable foundations. I’m out. For good.”

Grigori leans back, genuinely surprised. “You’re serious, aren’t you? You’re really walking away from it all.”

Toto speaks up, his voice steady. “We’re building something new together. Something honest, something we can be proud of.”

Grigori studies them both for a long moment, then throws back the last of his vodka. “Well, I’ll be damned. You’ve actually done it. You’ve found a way out.”

You nod, a small smile playing at your lips. “I have. And I’d appreciate it if you’d spread the word. Y/N Wolff is retired. Permanently.”

Grigori stands, straightening his jacket. “Consider it done, my dear. But know this — there will always be those who remember who you were, what you were capable of. Be careful.”

As he turns to leave, Toto calls out, “Mr. Volkov?”

Grigori pauses, looking back. “Yes?”

Toto’s voice is calm, but there’s steel beneath the surface. “If anyone from Y/N’s past tries to cause trouble for us, they’ll have to deal with me. And I assure you, I can be just as formidable as my wife when necessary.”

Grigori studies Toto for a moment, then breaks into a broad grin. “I believe you, Mr. Wolff. I really do. Take care of her, won’t you? She’s one of a kind.”

As Grigori walks away, he can’t help but shake his head in amazement. You, the Black Widow of the Bratva, settled down and in love. Will wonders never cease?

He glances back one last time to see you and Toto deep in conversation, your hands intertwined on the table. There’s an openness to your expression that he’s never seen before, a vulnerability that speaks volumes.

For the first time in years, Grigori feels a twinge of envy. Not for your power or your wealth, but for the genuine connection you seem to have found. As he steps out into the cool Monaco night, he wonders if perhaps it’s time for him to consider a change of his own.

After all, if the infamous Y/N can find redemption and true love, maybe there’s hope for an old dog like him yet.

[81pastrys]

Mini Bwoah

Part 1 / 10

Summary— Little Raïkkönnen is making her mark, but her dad doesn’t think she celebrates enough

Warnings— mentions of drinking

A/N— I absolutely love this series 🤭

Series List

Dividers @bernardsbendystraws

“Another podium for you how does it feel?”

“Uhm good, yeah.” I say.

“That was your 5th career podium.” The interviewer said. “In only your debut in Formula one.”

“Well my dad had 103 after 20 years so.” I say.

“Alright thank you!” They say and I walk to the next one and so on. They’re so annoying. I go to the paddock and my dad is there.

I walk up and hug him. “Good job today.” He said.

“Thank you isi.” I say. “The media is just ehh today.”

“They’re always like that, never gets old.” He said. “Give them dry answers and they’ll move on.”

“Always, that’s what you did!” I say.

He retired last year, and I entered. I didn’t get his spot, but I did get a Mercedes spot.. “Only 18 and you’re doing amazing!” Lewis said.

“Thank you!” I say.

“The media pen isn’t happy though.” He said. “Called you dry with answers.”

“Well.” I say. “What do they expect?”

“Apparently more than what you’re giving them.” Lewis laughed. “Little kimi following her dad’s footsteps.”

“Ehh.” I disagree without words.

“Following?” My dad said. “She’s passing me.”

“She’s still amazingly good.” Lewis compliments.

We do the podium and celebrate. The media calls a press with the top 5. Me, Lewis, Lando, Oscar, and Alonso surprisingly enough. They ask all the questions and I zone out for most of it.

“Raïkkönnen? Any thoughts?” One asked.

“What was the question?” I ask. The guys laugh and he repeats the question of ‘Mercedes performance gaining recognition’ “It was only a matter of time.” I respond. “I wouldn’t have joined if the performance was shit.”

Alonso nudges me and laughs. I look at him and smile. He’s one of my dad’s good friends. “Thank you.” The interviewer said. “How are you guys celebrating?”

“A nap.” I say quickly.

“Ouu I might steal that answer.” Lando said.

“Maybe a few bottles of champagne, huh little Kimi?” Alonso nudged me again. I smile at his answer and shake my head at him.

“I like Alonso’s answer.” Lewis laughed.

“Yeah me too.” Oscar agreed also.

I laugh with a hand on my forehead. They’re gonna get me in trouble. Last podium I went clubbing with the top 10, my dad wasn’t there so I drank and drank. Alonso had to cut me off.

“Partying and Naps to celebrate then.” The interviewer laughed.

After the interview and packing up, I’m back in my driver trailer for the night. My dad stays with me when he’s at races, it’s cheaper and we get more time together.

“What were they talking about at the press?” He asked.

“I was barely paying attention isi.” I say. “Something about partying.”

“Ahh, I did that a lot.” He said. “You should be partying right now.”

“Isi, no.” I scoff. “I don’t party.”

“Yes you do, Alonso told me about last time.”

“What?!” I ask.

“Yeah, he tells me everything about you.”

“Well that was one time.” I say.

“Come on, you have to party!” He encouraged. “You’re only 18 once.”

“Fine! Fine.” I say. “Find out where they are, I’ll get ready.”

“That’s my girl!” He laughed.

I go to my bags and find a clubbing outfit. I find a sparkly black tight dress with no straps, I must’ve shoved it in there and forgot about it. I put it on, doing my makeup and hair after. I go out and dad’s sitting on his phone. “Your driver has the location.” He said.

“Okay, I’ll be back later Isi.” I say walking out.

The next few get longer I promise

@widow-cevans

[fandomtrumpshate]

Unlisted Fandoms Challenge

Welcome to the LAST update on write-in fandoms for FTH 2025 (only one day left to sign up! go Do The Thing!)!! We have a LONG list of fandoms for you - TWO HUNDRED EIGHTY ONE write-in fandoms this year. So far!

And there's been some movement near the top of the list. Jeff Satur, with 10 signups, still holds the lead, but in second place we now have a TIE. Control (Remedy Game) gained *four* new signups to match Zhen Hun / Guardian's 9 signups. Cabin Pressure has also moved up the rankings, with three new signups bringing it to a total of 7 to claim third place. Whew! Just below them we have:

a four-way tie for fourth place with 6 signups includes-

6 Alien Stage 6 Carry On 6 Dimension 20 6 Dungeon Meshi / Delicious In Dungeon

two fandoms with 5 signups each, in fifth place are-

5 BBC Ghosts 5 White Collar

which brings us to an eight-way tie for sixth place with 4 signups each-

4 Detective Conan 4 Fire Emblem Awakening 4 It - Stephen King 4 Pathologic 4 Roswell New Mexico 4 Schitt's Creek 4 The X-Files 4 Transformers 4 Voltron: Legendary Defender

and with 3 signups each, an 11-way tie for seventh place-

3 Dungeons and Daddies (Podcast) 3 Fields of Mistria 3 Fire Emblem Fates 3 Inception 3 Iron Widow 3 MotoGP RPF 3 Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint 3 Rusty Lake/Cube Escape 3 Stand By Me/The Body by Stephen King 3 The Goblin Emperor Series - Katherine Addison 3 Zhen Hun / Guardian (drama) RPF

Below the cut are 56 fandoms with 2 signups each, and 195 fandoms with a single write-in.

2 Animorphs 2 Attack on Titan 2 Avatar Legend of Korra 2 Beyond Evil 2 Biggles Series — W. E. Johns 2 Binan Koukou Chikyuu Boueibu (Cute High Earth Defense Club) franchise 2 Black Sails 2 Bridgerton (TV) 2 Britpop RPF 2 Castlevania (All Media Types) 2 Challengers 2 Cherry Magic 2 Conclave (2024) 2 Dan and Phil (rpf) 2 Dangan Ronpa 2 Dead Boy Detectives RPF 2 Digimon 2 Dishonored 2 Dr. Stone 2 Due South 2 Dune (Villeneuve) 2 Five Nights at Freddy's - All Media 2 Fruits Basket 2 Grantchester (TV) 2 Gravity Falls 2 IndyCar RPF 2 Jeeves and Wooster 2 Kingdom Hearts 2 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit 2 Link Click (Shiguang Dailiren) 2 Lovecraft Mythos 2 Lucifer (tv) 2 MAS*H 2 Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury 2 Nirvana in Fire (琅琊榜) 2 Oasis 2 Princess Tutu 2 Sailor Moon 2 She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (2018) 2 Slow Horses 2 Sonic the Hedgehog (Games) 2 Team Fortress 2 2 The Blue Wolves of Mibu 2 The Empyrean - Rebecca Yarros 2 The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (TV series) 2 The Poppy War 2 The Stanley Parable 2 Tiger & Bunny 2 Tower of God 2 Universal Century Gundam 2 Valdemar Series by Mercedes Lackey 2 What We Do In The Shadows 2 When the Third Wheel Strikes Back 2 Word of Honor 2 Yu-Gi-Oh! 2 ジョジョの奇妙な冒険 / JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken / JoJo's Bizarre Adventure

1 10 Things I Hate About You (1999) 1 A Court of Thorns and Roses 1 Akatsuki No Yona 1 Among Us 1 Ancient Greece 1 Arctic Monkeys/The Last shadow Puppets 1 Arknights 1 Around the World in 80 Days (TV 2021) 1 Babylon 5 1 Back to the Future 1 Baseball RPF 1 BBC’s Musketeers 1 Bendy and the Ink Machine 1 Binan Koukou Chikyuu Bouei Bu Love/Happy Kiss 1 Black Doves 1 Black Jewels 1 Bob's Burgers 1 Books of the Raksura - Martha Wells 1 Boygenius (Band)(RPF) 1 Brilliant Minds 1 Brokeback Mountain 1 Buddy Daddies 1 Bullet train 1 Canji Baojun De Zhangxin Yu Chong (The disabled tyrant's pet palm fish) 1 Cassette Beasts 1 Castle 1 Charmed (1998) 1 Countryhumans 1 Criminal Minds 1 Cyberpunk 2077 1 Danger Force (TV) 1 Dark Deception 1 Dark Rise 1 Dead by Daylight 1 Death Note 1 Descendants 1 Destiny 2 1 Dexter 1 Dexter: Original Sin 1 Divergent (Movies) 1 Dominion of the Fallen - Aliette de Bodard 1 Downton Abbey 1 Dragon Ball Z 1 Dragonball 1 Dragonlance 1 Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey 1 Emma - Jane Austen 1 Ensemble Stars! 1 Etta Invincible 1 Fairy tale 1 Fangs of Fortune 1 Farscape 1 Fear & Hunger: Termina 1 Finder no Hyouteki / Finder Series 1 Flight Rising 1 Formula 2/3 RPF 1 Frieren 1 Game Changers Universe (Rachel Reid) 1 Gangsta (Anime & Manga) 1 Generation Loss (Web Series) 1 Gilmore Girls 1 Giselle 1 Grimm 1 Hatoful Boyfriend 1 Haven (TV) 1 Helluva Boss 1 Henry Danger (TV) 1 High School Musical (Movies) 1 Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu 1 Hikaru no Go 1 HLVRAI - Half-life VR But the AI is Self-Aware 1 Holby City 1 Homer's Epics, Ancient Greece Religion and Lore, Epic The Musical 1 House MD 1 I Am Nobody (CDrama) 1 In Other Lands 1 In Stars And Time 1 Infinity Train 1 Initial D 1 It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia 1 Jet Lag The Game RPF 1 Jurassic Park (Extended Universe) 1 Kamen Rider Gotchard 1 Kane and Feels 1 Kuroko no Basuke / Kuroko's Basketball 1 Kushiel's Legacy 1 La Casa de Papel (Money Heist) 1 Law & Order 1 Lays of the Hearth-Fire Series - Victoria Goddard 1 Lies of P 1 Life is Strange 1 Live A Live 1 Lord Seventh/Qi Ye 1 Malory Towers 1 Mass Effect 1, 2 or 3 1 Metaphor: Refantazio 1 Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries 1 Mononoke (2007 series and 2024 movie) 1 My Time at Sandrock 1 Mystic Messenger 1 Mythology 1 Nancy Drew (TV 2019) 1 NBA RPF 1 Nerdy Prudes Must Die 1 Norah Grant Bruce's Billabong books 1 October Daye series - Seanan McGuire 1 Oh No! Here Comes Trouble 1 Once Upon A Time 1 Order of the Stick 1 Outlast games 1 Over the Garden Wall 1 Pacific Rim 1 Paradise Of Thorns 1 Peaky Blinders 1 Person of Interest 1 Persuasion - Jane Austen 1 Pirates of the Caribbean 1 Power Rangers (2017 movie) 1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen 1 Prodigal Son 1 Project Sekai 1 Project Zero/Fatal Frame 1 Psych (2006) 1 Puella Magi Madoka Magica 1 Qiang Jin Jiu (Ballad of Sword and Wine) 1 Quantum Break 1 Ranma 1/2 1 Resident Alien 1 Resident Evil 1 Rise of the Guardians 1 Riyria Revelations 1 S.C.I Mystery 1 S.W.A.T. (2017 show) 1 Saint Seiya 1 Sanders Sides 1 Saw franchise 1 Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated (2010) 1 Shipwrecked Comedy 1 Skulduggery Pleasant 1 Sleeping Beauty (1959) 1 Slenderverse 1 Sonic The Hedgehog (movies) 1 South Park 1 Spinning Silver (Novik) 1 Spirited 1 Squid Game 1 Starkid Musicals (no hp) 1 Static Shock 1 Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical 1 Super Sentai 1 Tales of Arise 1 Tales of Series 1 Tatort Saarbrücken 1 That 70s Show 1 The A Team (either the 2010 movie or the 1980s series) 1 The Coffin of Andy and Leyley 1 The Devil Judge 1 The Glass Scientists 1 The Good Place 1 The Hands of the Emperor - Victoria Goddard 1 The Librarians 1 The Masquerade Series 1 The OC 1 The Pairing - Casey McQuiston 1 The Paradise of Thorns 1 The Radiant Emperor 1 The Silt Verses 1 The Umbrella Academy 1 the vampire diaries universe 1 The Venture Maidens 1 The Walking Dead 1 The West Wing 1 Thousand Autumns 1 Thunderbirds are Go 1 Tokusatsu 1 Tron 1 Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles 1 Turning 1 Under The Skin (Cdrama) 1 video games by Arkane Studios 1 Wander Over Yonder

1 Warriors / Warrior Cats 1 Watcher Entertainment/BuzzFeed Unsolved RPF 1 Weak Hero Class 1 1 Wind Breaker 1 WNBA RPF 1 Wonka 1 World Trigger 1 Xenoblade Chronicles series 1 Yellowjackets 1 Young Wizards (Diane Duane) 1 Yuwu (Remnants of Filth) 1 Zatch Bell 1 Zombieland Saga 1 บ้านหลอน ON SALE / Peaceful Property (TV)

[checkoutmybookshelf]

Ok, so normally I just...ignore creators who can't be bothered to include women, LTGBTQIA, and BIPOC authors in Fantasy Book Lists, but today I'm tired and grouchy and this goddamn video pissed me off because it's a vast majority of white dudes and their fantastical man pain. SO. I would like to just toss out some NOT white male fantasy authors because frankly I am *so tired* of white dudes retreading Tolkien and Robert Jordan forever. So let's celebrate some amazing fantasy authors who tend not to make these lists.

I'll give the author (and a book to start with).

- Mercedes Lackey (Arrows of the Queen)

- Tamora Pierce (Sandry's Book)

- Fonda Lee (Jade City)

- India Holton (The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels)

- NE Davenport (The Blood Trials)

- Naomi Novik (His Majesty's Dragon)

- Moniquill Blackgoose (To Shape A Dragon's Breath)

- CE Murphy (Urban Shaman)

- Sue Lynn Tan (Daughter of the Moon Goddess)

- Chloe Gong (These Violent Delights)

- Judy I. Lin (A Magic Steeped in Poison)

- Tasha Suri (The Jasmine Throne)

- Xiran Jay Zhao (Iron Widow)

- Jordan Ifueko (Raybearer)

- Chelsea Abdullah (The Stardust Thief)

- Tracy Deonn (Legendborn)

- Gabi Burton (Sing Me to Sleep)

- Brittany N. Williams (That Self-Same Metal)

- Juliet Marillier (Dreamer's Pool)

- Stephanie Burgis (Scales and Sensibility)

- Allison Saft (A Fragile Enchantment)

- Chloe Neill (The Bright and Breaking Sea)

- Olivia Atwater (Half a Soul)

- Heather Fawcett (Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faerie)

- MA Carrick (The Mask of Mirrors)

- Kristin Cashore (Graceling)

- Marie Brennan (A Natural History of Dragons)

- Maya Ibrahim (The Spice Road)

- HM Long (Dark Water Daughter)

- Aparna Verma (The Phoenix King)

And these are just the ones I can see on my bookshelves by turning my head without moving from my chair. There are DOZENS of others who I apologize for missing and who are absolutely worth reading. If I missed one of your favorites, add it to the list with a reblog, and let's stop defaulting to filling fantasy author lists with white dudes.

[pennink-witch]

Found a post talking about this but now it's nowhere to be seen, so I'm making my own. This is basically a long way of saying, 'I want to write a historically-accurate medieval fantasy'.

Teenage marriage and pregnancy were not normal in medieval Europe

A lot of fantasy writers depict the whole of medieval society like it was a competition to get young women knocked up. In fact, in the early modern period, the average age for marriage was around 26. This is skewed by the number of widows and widowers remarrying, but even taking that into account, the average age isn't anything we would find unusual today.

Early marriage is often (I'm looking at you, Mercedes Lackey), depicted as something peasants did as well as the gentry and nobility, but in fact peasants tended not to do this. Men would usually wait until they had some means of supporting a family before they started looking for one.

Nor were the nobles always palming their children off to older spouses. Betrothals from a young age were common, but the actual marriage was usually carried out later. There's also a difference between the marriage ceremony and the consumation (i.e. sex). If a political marriage became an incovenience, it could be annulled and one of the reasons that could be given was that it hadn't been consummated. (Side note: Another reason was degrees of familiarity. In theory, the Church prohibited marriage between people with up to seven degrees of kinship, which is waaaaay more stringent than we have now.)

The reason, I think, this myth has come about is partly because the legal age for marriage was itself quite low: 12 for boys and 13 for girls. But that's just the lowest age it was possible, it doesn't mean that everyone got married at that age.

I also suspect (and this is just supposition) that Marion Zimmer Bradley and her ilk might have something to do with it. Her most famous book, The Mists of Avalon, has been hugely popular and influential for years, but it does use the early/child marriage thing to a very weird degree. It creeped me out so much I had to top reading it and give the book away. This probably has something to do with the fact that she was also connected to a paedophile case. Possibly not the best source for medieval sexual mores.

[mzannthropy]

Edmond and Haydee in The Count of Monte Cristo limited series (Sam Claflin)

This is for Edmond x Haydee shippers and includes spoilers for the series.

So I know it looks like the series does not support this ship, Haydee making her last appearance in the penultimate episode and the final scene being Edmond and Mercedes on the beach. However, I have a different take. I maintain that the ending is ambiguous enough to allow one's own interpretation. I think the showrunners left is open-ended and up to the viewers to decide.

That last shot of Edmond and Mercedes only showed the two of them standing next to each other. They did not kiss and nothing in their dialogue indicated they will get together. The last line, from Mercedes was: "love can heal". She did say "love" but she didn't say whose love. It can be taken in any way. There is more than one kind of love, there is romantic love, but also love between friends, familial love (found-family in Edmond's case, as he doesn't have anyone), love for your pets, and most important of all, love for your own self. Edmond, a seaman at heart, also loves the sea. Another thing is, her tone did not come across as romantic, IMO. She said it more like a good friend, or a wise older person--it's something abbe Faria would say. It's came off more as a proverb, you know, how, for example, you would say to your friend or a family member who has been through a lot: time heals all wounds. If the show wanted to present an Edcedes endgame, they would have made it more conclusive. I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks that Edmond needs some healing first of all, he should sail away to some retreat and then come back when he's ready for relationship. And Mercedes too is only recently widowed (doesn't matter that she didn't love Fernand, she had a 20 (?) year marriage with him) and her whole world has been turned upside down. She might be done with men, for all we know. Not to mention that neither of them is the youthful idealistic person they were when they got engaged.

Now, about Haydee. We all know that they were never going to adapt her storyline straight from the book. I personally liked it (I don't mind content that is considered problematic or controversial, I just like good stories), but they would not get away with it in the year of our lord 2025. I didn't expect the Edmond x Haydee endgame in any case, so was not disappointed, though I hoped to see their relationship at least be familial or platonic. Karla-Simone Spence is 10 years younger than Sam Claflin, which is not that big an age gap (his previous onscreen wife, Camila Morrone, was 11 years younger). Sure it would have been good if she had got more screentime, but I'm also a quality over quantity person; I don't mind less time as long as it's good. I've not rewatched the show yet (though I saw ep5 twice) but I specifically kept an eye on her and the count's interactions. It also made me chuckle bc I thought to myself, that is some very careful writing. So, as you know, Haydee arrives at the count's house and is shown into her rooms, but she refuses to stay there and sits down on the stairs. (Someone is spreading fake news that she cries--if you've watched it, you know she doesn't.) She demands to know what the count intends to do with her and calls him "master". To which he says "we don't do that here, you are free" and then they sit down together and have a talk. All throughout, the count is very gentle with her. In fact you can say it's unlike him. He's not like that with anyone else, (except when he gets emotional with Mercedes, but that's a different thing). They may have done it that way bc they had to be very careful with their writing, but that's irrelevant, bc the end result is that the show is actually favourable to the ship. He also buys her dresses and takes her to the party at the de Morcerfs, as his plus one. Mercedes even remarks that "people will talk". I can't think of what the purpose the line served other than a wink at the shippers. (Or even if there is another purpose, it still works as a wink at the shippers.)

When Haydee leaves after giving her testimony at the parliament, as she gets to the coach, she gives Edmond a half-hug. That's more than anyone else got. She didn't need to do that at all. It might have been yet another wink at the shippers, but I'll take it. She responds to Edmond's "we got him" with "but at what cost?" The show constantly hammered it into viewers' heads what his revenge will do to him, but it can also be looked as Haydee caring about his well-being. It's the last we see of her. However. I always argue that as long as, at the end, both characters are alive, on good terms with each other, and can easily reach each other, the ship doesn't contradict the canon. I say this for Jon Snow and Sansa on Game of Thrones as well. You can't say it's canon, but. You can't say it's non canon either. Sometimes you just have to apply your imagination. (Ask Anne of Green Gables, lol.)

It would have been better to see Edmond actually sailing away (the Pierre Niney film scores higher on this), but whatever, I'm not gonna spend time sweating over it, I decided to be positive bc I had enough shit with Sam's last limited series book adaptation, and I'm not going through that again. Maybe the showrunners just liked that beach shot, it makes a nice picture, that is true enough. But who's to say that Edmond won't meet Haydee again on his travels? What if she already fell for him, but knows he needs to find inner peace before he can love again? What if Jacopo or Isabelle noticed something there and will now play matchmakers? I'd say this gives plenty of fanfic material.

This got longer than I intended, so thank you for reading if you made it this far.

[whiteraven87]

Driven by Speed: A diamond among stones - 9. Beginning of New Era

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

The Unstoppable Series - Masterlist

Part 1: A Diamond among stones

Prologue

F1 start

Loss and Pain

Calm after the storm

First victory

Unbreakable

Unexpected blow

The Secret

Beginning of New Era

The Burden of a Leader

Sad Anniversary

Unexpected feelings

Hungry Eyes

The Infernal Race

Kiss from A Rose

I shouldn't

Wicked Game

They would be Proud of You

Unstoppable

This is the Beginning

Epilogue

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

Warnings: long (very long) slow burn, age gap (23 years), woman racing in F1, boss/driver relationship, difficult and painful past, death, anxiety,

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

9. Beginning of New Era

The Storm

Bieszczady, a few days later

POV Miriell

The world exploded. There was no other way to describe it. The moment Ferrari released its official statement, everything went to hell. The media, the fans—they were like a swarm of crazed bees that had caught the scent of blood. Only it wasn’t Lewis who was bleeding—it was me.

I was furious. At Lewis. At the world. Even at Toto, though I knew he didn’t deserve my anger. I knew how much this cost him. He was barely picking himself up from grief, trying to piece his life back together. Mercedes was everything he focused on now. It was his child, his creation, his home. And Lewis had just left it behind.

You don’t leave a team overnight. Not after spending so many years in it. Not after building history. Not after becoming a legend here.

I had hidden away in the only place on earth where I could breathe—my home in Bieszczady. Snow had covered the mountains with a thick layer of silence. The forest surrounding my house seemed motionless, as if it had held its breath, waiting for something inevitable. The wind whipped against the bare branches, and the snow muffled every sound. It was too quiet. Too peaceful.

But inside me, a storm was raging.

For the past few days, I had tried to shut myself off from the world. From phone calls, from messages, from Twitter, where conspiracy theories were running wild. But even here, in my sanctuary, I couldn’t escape reality. I couldn’t escape the questions everyone was asking.

Why did Lewis leave?

What happened behind the scenes at Mercedes?

Was it because of Miriell?

New headlines appeared every day, growing more absurd, more filled with insinuations.

“Toto favored Miriell. Lewis had no future there.”

“A broken heart—the real reason behind Hamilton’s departure?”

“Did Mercedes betray its champion?”

I clenched my fists, staring into the fire in the fireplace. In its dancing flames, I saw my own turbulent emotions reflected back at me. I felt betrayed. I felt furious. I had sacrificed my victories, my dominance on track, to help Lewis win his eighth title. I did it because I believed that Mercedes was us, that we fought together.

And yet, he left. He didn’t say a word. He gave me no warning.

Just weeks ago, fans loved my relationship with Lewis. I was his younger sister, his comrade-in-arms. We understood each other. They loved to speculate that we were a couple because we got along so well.

But then Lewis announced he was leaving. And everything changed. Suddenly, I was the one who had betrayed him. The one who had broken his heart. The one Toto had pushed him aside for.

People started digging up old photos, analyzing our behavior. Comparing.

And suddenly, the world came to a ridiculous conclusion.

“Widower Wolff favored the young driver because she was his lover.”

It sounded like the cheap script of a soap opera, but people believed it. Because how else could they explain Lewis leaving?

It couldn’t be that I was simply better.

It couldn’t be that I had simply proven my talent.

I couldn’t be the future of the team, even though everyone at Mercedes knew that I was.

No, for the world, it had to be about something else.

Forbidden love. Drama. A scandal.

But the truth?

The truth was that when I joined Mercedes, I knew my role. Lewis was number one. The entire team, the strategies, the plans—everything was built around him. I was supposed to learn, to adapt. I was supposed to wait my turn. And I did.

And Toto? He was even harder on me. Stricter. He didn’t want anyone accusing him of favoritism—but they did anyway. It didn’t matter that Lewis had been treated as the leader the entire season. It didn’t matter that everything was focused on his eighth title. It didn’t matter that I had made the sacrifices.

Only one thing mattered: the narrative.

And the narrative was: Lewis left because he had a broken heart, because Wolff had a new favorite, because she had become his priority. It didn’t matter that it was all a lie. The world had already made its judgment, and there was nothing I could do to change it.

When I heard the knock on the door, I knew who it was. I didn’t even have to look.

Toto.

I opened the door and saw him standing there, wrapped in the cold air of a January day. His eyes were tired, his face marked by weeks of sleepless nights. But he was still himself—strong, composed, ready to take action.

"Can we talk?" he asked quietly.

I didn’t answer right away. I let him in and closed the door behind us, shutting out the cold and the world. We sat by the fire.

Loki, sensing the tension, rested his head on my lap. I ran my hand over his fur, seeking comfort in the familiar gesture. Toto remained silent for a moment, as if carefully choosing his words before speaking.

"This wasn’t the plan, was it?" he finally said.

I stared into the fire.

"I was supposed to have one more year."

"Yes."

The word hung between us like a shadow.

"Do you know what they’re saying?" I asked, not even looking at him.

"It’s impossible not to."

"Apparently, I’m your mistress."

Toto raised an eyebrow.

"Really?"

"Yes. And that Lewis left because I broke his heart."

Something flickered in his eyes, a mixture of irritation and sadness.

"Absurd theories are the foundation of Formula 1."

"But they’ve never been this… personal."

"Because you’ve never been here before."

His words were like a punch to the gut.

I looked at him.

"What really happened, Toto?"

He stared at me for a long time, in silence. I saw the internal battle in his eyes. The way he wanted to keep something from me, but at the same time, knew I deserved to hear it.

"I know you’re not telling me everything" I added, not breaking eye contact.

He sighed.

"I don’t want you to have to worry about this."

"But I already do."

He ran a hand down his face.

"Lewis… didn’t leave just because Ferrari was his dream."

My heart pounded faster.

"Then why?"

Toto lowered his gaze to his hands, as if weighing every word, then looked straight at me and said what I didn’t want to hear.

"Because he fell in love... with you."

The world tilted.

"What?"

"Lewis was in love with you, Miriell. And he couldn’t take it anymore."

I stared at him, my whole body tensing.

"That’s impossible…"

"It’s possible." His voice was calm but firm. "I’ve known for a long time."

"Why didn’t you tell me?"

"Because I didn’t want you to feel guilty."

A heavy weight settled on my chest, making it hard to breathe.

"But I… I never…"

"I know" he interrupted. "You never felt the same way."

I closed my eyes. That’s why he left. That’s why he avoided me. That’s why there was always something more in his gaze—something I had refused to see.

"Why didn’t he say anything?"

"Because he knew he wouldn’t get what he wanted."

"So instead, he left."

Toto nodded. I leaned back against the couch, my mind spinning with pain and frustration. It all made sense now. The one explanation I had never considered.

"Why are you telling me this now?"

Toto didn’t look away.

"Because I know you trust me."

"Yes" I admitted softly.

"And because I know you value the truth" he added.

I swallowed hard, feeling something shift inside me.

"Even if it hurts."

"Even if it hurts." Toto echoed.

For a while, we just sat in silence.

The fire crackled in the fireplace, and I tried to collect my thoughts.

I looked at Toto. He was here with me. He was the truth in a world full of lies.

And that’s why I knew one thing: With him by my side, I would be okay.

That Wasn’t the Plan

POV Toto

This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. That wasn’t the plan.

We stood on the threshold of a new season, and I felt an odd emptiness. The first season in years without Lewis at Mercedes. It was a strange feeling. We had spent over a decade together, building something that became legendary. Eight constructors’ championships, seven drivers’ titles. A level of dominance the sport had never seen before. And now? Now Lewis was at Ferrari, and we had to move on without him.

This wasn’t how it was supposed to end.

When he told me he was leaving, I didn’t try to stop him. I saw it in his eyes—his decision was final. It wasn’t about Ferrari. It wasn’t about money or chasing new challenges.

It was about her. About Miriell.

Lewis left because he couldn’t face the feelings that had overwhelmed him. He chose to run. I didn’t blame him for it, but I couldn’t fully accept it either. Still, I knew we had to move forward. We had no other choice.

And that meant one thing—Miriell had to become the leader.

Now, we had a new reality. A new lineup. Miriell and George. Two young drivers, both from our academy. George was insanely fast, but it wasn’t the same.

He didn’t have that spark—that thing that made Miriell special.

And her?

She wasn’t ready for this role. I never doubted her talent. I never doubted her strength. But I wanted to give her another year, maybe two, to ease into it, to learn this responsibility step by step. Now she had no choice.

Now she was the leader. At just twenty-six years old, she had to be the pillar of the team, stepping into the shoes of Lewis Hamilton himself.

She had nothing of a star in her. She never liked crowds, events, the flash of cameras. When she could, she avoided interviews, parties, the whole circus. Now, all of it became her daily reality.

I knew how much it drained her. That’s why, whenever I could, I was there.

When she felt the weight of all the eyes on her, all it took was one look from me, one small gesture, for her to know she wasn’t alone.

The media buzz was finally starting to die down—pre-season was beginning, and journalists were shifting their focus to cars, strategies, and rivalries. At last, we could catch a breath. There were still headlines about Lewis’ departure, still plenty of conspiracy theories, but the season was about to start, and that meant the attention was moving to what really mattered. Racing.

The competition was tighter than ever. Two years after the new technical regulations, teams finally understood their cars inside out. Every upgrade mattered. Every tenth of a second could decide victory.

Miriell was relentless. If I could, I would have had to drag her out of the factory by force. She was always there. Day and night, analyzing data, testing new solutions, talking to engineers.

"She’s probably the only driver who knows our aerodynamics better than we do," James Allison once joked.

Even Niki Lauda, who always said dedication was key, admitted to me that he had never seen anyone so obsessively devoted to their work.

"It’s like watching myself twenty years ago," he said with amusement.

But I knew it was too much. Too much analysis, too much perfectionism, too much pressure. So when I saw she was pushing herself too hard, I did what I had to do.

"We’re going for coffee."

"I don’t have time."

"That wasn’t a suggestion."

She glared at me, but deep down, I knew she appreciated my concern. Sometimes, instead of coffee, I would hand her the keys to her motorcycle.

"Go get some fresh air."

"What if I don’t want to?"

"Then I’ll ride it instead of you."

She would snort with laughter, shaking her head in mock disapproval, but she would take the keys and disappear for a few hours.

She had the same stubbornness I did. But I knew it worked both ways.

Because when I had a rough day, she noticed too. And she had her own ways.

She knew when I had a day full of endless meetings, sponsors, and the exhausting politics of F1 that drained every last bit of my energy.

And then… she would appear in my office with coffee. Not just any coffee. She would ride her motorcycle to my favorite café just to bring it to me.

She didn’t make a big deal out of it. She didn’t turn it into some grand gesture of sacrifice. She would just walk into my office, in her leather jacket, hair windswept from the ride, a cup of coffee in hand. She’d set it on my desk and say:

"You can thank me later."

"Thanks."

"Was that 'later'?"

"No."

She would smirk slightly and leave.

They were small gestures, almost invisible to others. But to me? To me, they meant everything. I never told her that. But I felt it every time I took a sip of that coffee.

In this world, where everyone had their own interests, ambitions, and goals, she cared about me.

Just like I cared about her.

I remember how competitive the grid was at the start of the season. Teams had figured out their cars, and upgrades made a real difference. The fight for the championship was shaping up to be one of the toughest in years.

Mercedes had a weapon. We had the engineers. We had the strategy. We had Miriell.

I watched her then, walking through the paddock before pre-season testing—slender, with her unmistakable style. Leather jacket, motorcycle boots, blonde hair tied in a ponytail, her signature shaved sides. The confidence she had built through years of fighting for her place in this world.

She was ready. She had no choice.

But neither did I.

I wouldn’t—and would never—let her carry this weight alone.

---

NEXT -> 10. The Burden of a Leader

---

"I put my armor on, show you how strong I am."

Read the story here:

AO3 Unstoppable Series

Wattpad Part1 I Wattpad Part 2

======

[ariel-seagull-wings]

What are your thoughts on The Count of Monte Cristo? I always felt a bit uncomfortable with the way Dumas portrays the female characters in it and how a young, virginal girl becomes the Count's 'trophy' so to say while his ex-fiance, who didn't know what had happened to him ended up a ruined widow.

So my contact with it was first trough the 2001 Jim Caviezel movie where Aidee was cut off entirely, Albert was made Dantee's bio son and Mercedes reconciled with Dantee who she always considered her greatest love (having only married Mondego because she was pregnant), and a shorter book adaptation for children, I am intrigued by someday reading the original longer edition of Dumas's text for I heard it has two lesbian side characters with a happy ending that often get cut from adaptations.

That said, I enjoy Count as a story, mainly because it restrained real characters like Napoleon to background context while the fiction of Dantee and the people surrounding him is the forefront, avoiding the usual exagerated fiction about real people the author was known for and being an interesting tale of how revenge can make a once formerly good person no better than those who wronged him because the revenge afects other people who weren't involved in the conspiracy.

Also honestly, when it comes to women being poorly treated, I was usually more bothered with adaptations of the Dartagnan books that made Queen Anne of Austria cheat on her husband and her sons born from affairs, because it was not something from the the novels and also no resource points to that happening in real life, being more likely that she was just having difficulty and taking longer to get pregnant because she was too young when she got married (at age 15) and children and teens are just not well equiped phisically or emotionally to carry a pregnancy to full term compared to an adult.

[problematic-fodlan]

Felix is the most boring blue lion:

Dedue survived a genocide, cooks amazing food, plants flowers, will turn into a monster to support the king Molinaro

Annette '🎵crepity-creep🎵' dad went out for the milk and now he's back?! Domonique

Ashe stole to survive thief with a heart of gold and a family to protect Ubert (also he's a cook and kills his own adopted father)

Ingrid widowed at 17 loyalty obsessed rage filled learns how to do eyeshadow Galatea who is obsessed with her pegasus

Sylvain TraumaTM Gautier who invented guns in fire emblem and is either sexist, depressed, or making the sacrifice play to protect an ally (its in a surprising number of supports)

Mercedes bakes better than anyone ever burns down the kitchen is related to a war criminal serial murderer secretly von Martritz

Dimitri psychotic (as in experiences psychosis, not the ableist they're a bad guy sort of way) folk hero king who has a break down after being rescued from an execution and is an unhoused wanderer slaughtering soldiers and saving commoners until he becomes king Blaiddyd

Byleth holds an eldritch power inside glows in the dark powerhouse in booty shorts wears heels on the battlefield stoic monster Eisner

Felix likes swords and is tsundere. is there a support where he is not these things and is something more interesting? I don't think so

anyway this is my petition to say that Felix is a boring tsundere. I still like him tho.

-

[randomnameless]

I forgot Saint Cichol's day :(

Fodlan AU :

Back when they were still kids living in Zanado, kid!Rhea gifted Cichol a stick figure drawing for his 1200th birthday, of them holding hands with a book for a bedtime story with some blurr that was supposed to represent Macuil in the background.

Cichol kept that drawing when he left Zanado to "explore" Enbarr, and forgot to remove it from his travel bag.

(let's say it was preserved with magic so the ink and the paper wouldn't fade over time)

After Nemesis' party, the drawing was what he thought to be the only memento he had left of his kid sister.

Returning to Garreg Mach, he put the drawing in his drawer, and once a mortified Rhea asked him what the crap he was doing with that "old stuff".

"It is just an old present."

Rhea believes he's teasing her and she doesn't like it at all, she learnt how to draw since that time! Maybe she can give him a new drawing for his next birthday?

(but then she feels like dirt : she cannot draw them together anymore, between his 1200th birthday and now, she ruined his life, made him a widow, made him lost his powers and is the reason why his daughter is convalescent! Maybe, deep inside, Cichol really hates her?)

Maybe a portrait of him and Cethleann would be better, but now that she thinks about it, she saw him talk to Manuela, maybe she can add her? But if she adds Manuela, she must add Hanneman, and Billy too, has a professor, but also, as a member of their family! And yet, she knows Catherine will be upset if she is left out of the portrait, adding Catherine also means adding Shamir, and she can visualise Flayn holding Cyril's hand while Alois would be in the background and...

Billy thus pops up after having waited 180 seconds behind the door of her office, to make their rapport, without hearing anything and spots her writing something? Or not?

Having never drawn anything before, because Jerry's picked lifestyle isn't suitable for children to draw, Billy is fascinated by the simple act of "drawing", and wants Rhea to teach them how to, before realising they didn't have anything planned for Seteth's birthday, isn't it Saint Cichol's day? Maybe he'd like a fishing rod? Or some flowers?

Rushing to meet Flayn, they ask her what he would like, only for Flayn to say that anything Billy will have picked would please him, especially if it's a handmade present. This is why she Mercedes graciously accepted to help her bake biscuits for his birthday (but she frowned when Flayn suggested to use fish stock to flavour them).

A bit lost, Billy wants to give a personalised letter to him with the flowers and fishing rod, and inspired by Rhea, they try to draw, but the result isn't satisfying. Maybe their students would know how to draw?

Supreme Leader brags about the famous "Hresvelg artistic skills" passed down since the dawn of the Empire, but Hubert makes her reconsider using her time displaying her talents to a mere mercenary turned professor.

Dimitri wishes to help, but since his days as a kid, he gave up on drawing anything on paper since he was afraid he would break any quill, but he remembers he played a lot with Felix back then, drawing their favourite knights in the snow (Felix calls him a moron and denies having wasted his time like that).

Claude pretends he doesn't know how to draw - fully aware that maybe his technique would betray his Almyran heritage - but tells Billy that Ignatz might help them... only for Billy to mention how Ignatz's current drawing reminds them of Rhea, and Ignatz being a bit embarassed because he was painting a portrait of Saint Seiros.

When Seteth receives his presents, he got a bottle of alcohol, several new quills, a pair of dices (if the bottle came from Manuela, who gifted him a pair of dices?), some sort of handrest to help him after hours of paperwork, a new lamp, edible biscuits shaped like lions (is Flayn subtly telling him she wants to spend more time with the Faerghan students?), an enormous flower bouquet with a happy birthday letter with what is supposed to be a cat (?), a new fishing rod and a portrait of his colleagues and family, save for Rhea herself.

Thanking everyone - even if he still told Manuela that no, they aren't going to finish her bottle in one night but he'll accept sharing a drink with coworkers - he makes sure to pat Rhea's head, when they're alone, to thank her personally. As expected, it annoys her and she calls him senile.

But isn't she the one who forgot to draw herself? She came a long way from her "stick figures" era, but she forgot the most important : them holding hands.

Rhea promises she'll think about it the next year, but then Flamey rings.

[camleecomics]

Outfits of the week from the podcast's first full episode.

Marnie wearing "1950s french widow who killed her husband and is at the funearl" and "1970s flight attendant", and Mercedes wearing one of her iconic red dresses.

Dogs Across the Pond - A Hollyoaks podcast

[chillin-at-partys-bar]

This is just a general guide. I’m always open for discussion, but I kind of wanted to make something that could serve as a guide. I love shipping, and will definitely be up for discussing relationships! These are not hard-and-fast rules, but they are my default. Let’s chat if you’re interested in something!

Shanks:  Age: first appearance - 27, pre-timeskip - 37, post time-skip - 39 Pansexual Main ship: Makino. I HC that the kid is his, and so he’s loyal to her.  Ship w/ others: Yes, but if it’s current timeline I put it in an AU. If it’s before Romance Dawn/before Makino then all ships are fair game.  Benn Beckman: Age: first appearance - 38, pre-timeskip - 48, post time-skip - 50 Bisexual Main ship: None Ship w/: Anyone, but he is dedicated to the crew so it’s hard to get to his heart. He’s a challenge but 10/10 worth it. All fair game. He is always down for the meaningless flirting though.

Rockstar: Age: pre-timeskip - 28, post time-skip - 30 Pansexual Main ship: None Ship w/: Anyone. He’s got a little inferiority complex because of who his captain and crew are, but he’ll flirt and be open to anything. He’s more flighty, and less interested in getting into a serious relationship than someone like Roux is. Easiest to get in bed. 

Elia Ricci: Age: pre-timeskip - 19, post time-skip - 21 Pansexual Main ship: Emmy ( @seraphiixa​‘s minor Marine) Ship w/ others: Ships are all in separate verses, naturally. Elia likes the process of falling in love and he’s a sappy, cheesy, gag-worthy romantic and has no shame about it. 

Cherise P. Belrosse: Age: pre-timeskip - 23, post time-skip - 25 Bisexual - Prefers men Main ship: Zoro (all in her head) Ship w/ others: Cherise has a history of “falling in love” and leaving her boyfriends disfigured or as corpses. She’s not malicious or black widow type, she’s 100% Taylor Swift in Blank Space. Fun to ship with, but also be careful. Maybe a woman would be safe from her destruction? Idk what would happen if she actually met Zoro. 

Mercedes “Mercy” Abbot:  Age: pre-timeskip - 25, post time-skip - 27 Bisexual - Prefers women Main ship: None Ships w/: Anyone. She’s a soft brawler. Take it as you will. She’s got no relationship history save for sleeping around in ports.  

Smoker:  Age: pre-timeskip - 24, post time-skip - 26 Bisexual - Prefers women Main ship: None (Though I like SmoAce and SmoLaw) Ships w/: Anyone. He's super cute when in love, but it takes a moment to get there.  

Jessie: Age: 26 Bisexual - Prefers Men Main ship: James Ships w/: Anyone. She's often sad, often depressed, and often full of fight and sarcasm. She can be soft though.  

[belladonna413]

Thank you for tagging me @rushinintolove!

10 Characters, 10 Fandoms

Crowley - Good Omens

Black Widow - Marvel Comics

Eleanor Robinson - Mercedes Lackey's Elemental Masters Series

Katniss Everdeen - The Hunger Games

Poison Ivy - DC Comics

Elizabeth Bennett - Pride and Prejudice

Marco - Animorphs

Donna Noble - Doctor Who

Edmund Pevensie - The Chronicles of Narnia

Sabine Wren - Star Wars

And tagging @cobragardens @shadesofecclescakes @ihavenoideahowtodream @mimi-and-the-next-20th-century @floralomens @dragon-frootie @hereticqueen2000 @greenthena @celestialcrowley

[malicemismanager]

Decided to start a Black Widow Challenge after watching a stream, but, like, with a twist because I enjoy making things harder for myself than they need to be at the slightest opportunity.

So we got my sim here, her name is Mercedes, because we love irony in this house lol

Anyway, she's got a sibling, Aurelio, whom she's raising after the tragic and totally not suspicious death of their parents

And the plan here is that instead of doing the black widowing herself, once they age up she's gonna be setting up her sibling with rich people, manipulate things so they get married, and then kill the spouse and keep their stuff, rinse and repeat 10 times as usual. Basically, Crimson Peak but without the incest (cuz they patched that out and I have too many mods as it is) and the sibling may or may not actually know what's going on, I haven't decided yet.

Y'know. Normal sims stuff. XD

[slightlyhopefulromantic]

Mnmoms AU requests!! Very exciting--hmm would love to see Lark and Mercedes interacting :] Also for a question, what's Mercedes' and Morgan's relationship like in the AU?

OOOGHH THE SILLIES OF ALL TIME. the only mother&child relationship that is positive for the entirety to this au LMAO throughout season 1 arc, at least, though theyre mostly okay post-finale too. lark is a mama's boy <3 (for some reason tumblr just... wont let me upload the full resolution of this image? so heres a screenshot instead, it shouldnt be too different since its just a sketch bdfhjg)

and ooohhh mercedes and morgan!! good question. their dynamic isnt one that ive put as much thought into yet, buuut- (rambles for four paragraphs anyways)

theyre like. besties to worsties to besties again. good friends, but at each others throats at times. they usually get along pretty well though - as well as morgan gets along with anyone, at least, shes a pretty abrasive person and while mercedes isnt exactly quick to anger, theyre both very emotional people. they rile each other up more than they calm each other down, to say the least!

obviously, they disagree a lot on parenting styles, especially at the start of the soccer trip. morgan is on top of nick at all times, and mercedes's very laidback parenting style makes morgan feel a little crazy (and also a little scorned, because even though morgan spends so much time watching after nick, hes still just as poorly behaved as the twins). mercedes is worse than henry is, even, in this au - shes very much the "fun" parent between the two, and they function must better when theyre together. mercedes has no clue how to discipline a child, but shes also not shy about telling morgan that shes definitely doing it wrong LMAO

i think mercedes would remind morgan a lot of glenn, and at first this would be very very uncomfortable for her. as the story progresses though and as they develop their friendship, this grows into something genuinely comforting to morgan. mercedes helps morgan step back and say "hey. okay. mercedes isnt constantly on high alert for anything bad that could happen, and her kids are... you know, alive, at least!", and it reassures morgan that glenn could have been (and more subconsciously, that pre-widow morgan) a good parent, regardless of his relaxed attitude.

additionally - the omega daddies are not something ive talked about much for this au because It Is Hard To Explain, but ! morgan and bill's relationship is similar in some ways to mercedes and barry's. i think they would be able to comfort each other in regards to that :]