#a father and his favourite Scotsman

[hubba1892]

[thatcheeseycandle]

T2024: Day 5, Exhibition | TC-LRAU

The New Hall would fill with the sounds of conversation and excitement faster than building it, another year, another round of visitors from all over the region, every spot in there would be filled with all sorts of steam engines.

Each batch of engines that came would represent the railway they’re currently owned by, the more well-known ones coming to the exhibition.

All kinds of steam engines there; from narrow to standard gauge, and from 19th century to new builds, a big and broad roster of engines.

But before we get to them, we’ll focus our attention on the person who’d tap their mic twice lightly, clearing their throat as they caught the attention of the spread out crowd.

“If I could have most of your attention, visitors and contributors, old and new, I’d like to thank you all for coming here to see another moment of history in motion.”

The man started, as the sounds coming from the crowd would die down as he spoke.

“I am honoured to be passed down with the role my father, Seth Harken once had. Continuing the legacy of, not just of his love for engines of all types and how much he's done for both engines and humans, but his own personal legacy. To all of us, including myself.”

His gaze softening, he'd straighten his posture as his grip on the microphone tightened. Taking a quick glance at his watch.

Tick.

Tock.

Tick.

“But, in his words, let the hour begin!”

Tock.

As a cacophony of whistles blasted in the air, echoing across the halls, the event would officially be in full motion.

——

“Why so worried, dear sister?” Came the comforting voice of the Stirling Single, N. 1, separating himself from the group consisting of Flying Scotsman and Black 5s, glancing curiously at his younger sister.

To which said younger sister would flinch at the sudden call, her train of thought breaking. Though glancing at him with a warm smile once she recognized who it was.

“Ferris, hello.”

“That doesn’t answer my question, Milly, what's the matter? Is it those Midlanders again?”

She'd chuckle softly at such a claim.

“You say that as if you weren't mingling with those Black 5s, dear brother,” she says as she glances at said Black 5s, overhearing their conversations mixed with jabs at each other and general gossip, not dying down a single bit considering the Flying Scotsman was practically the host of that session.

“Well, I wasn't exactly mingling. I was simply offering up advice.”

“Advice about mentoring the newest edition to the LBSCR? It seems your reputation as a mentor yourself is still kept up, well, you're more like a fath–”

“Oh hush, they'll hear us!” Ferris’ face would flush with red a bit in embarrassment, reversing into the buffers behind him as Emily held in a laugh, even with the decades that flew by, she still wondered why he hid things like this from those he loved.

She will admit, even if it was rare, he tends to be quite the silly engine when being straightforward about his clear affection towards all the engines hes taken under his wing, or cab, and right now is one of her favourite examples.

She’s seen how much he’s rubbed off on the Atlantic, they’re practically father and son as the humans say. It’s quite heart warming, like how some of the shunters back before the grouping era had picked up on Ferris’ mannerisms. It’s very amusing.

“I know that look of yours Milly, what’re you planning to pull on me now?”

“Oh please, if you had known said look, you would’ve known it wasn’t that.”

“Then what on Lady’s name are you plotting in that scandalous mind of yours?” He jabbed jokingly at her, though would be met with an Emily who’d gaze out in front of her thoughtfully.

“But not in a Great Western manner, it is similar to how the humans would cope with lost. If you recall how my fireman in the 80s had coped with the news of his aunt’s unfortunate passing with his religious beliefs as I recall, then it is similar to how I’m thinking now.”

‘Well,” she sighed before she started. “I suppose it’s just the faint yet vivid presence of our siblings, our colleagues.”

“Ah.”

“I see.”

In all honesty, she didn’t mean to drag down the mood this quickly, but she can’t exactly help it.

Looking back at it all. It’s most likely the toughest run to have experienced, from speeding through the glorious sight that was the River Trent to then having to take in all the neglect the rest of them had to face. Though thankfully it was willingly, since the remaining of them had agreed to it before being locked away-

“Well, I suppose I’ll place down that note for myself.”

“If it helps, Emily, I could recommend a relief crew from the Mid-Norfolk. They’ve been quite the help for myself and mostly to others, an example being that Thompson.”

“Mayflower?”

“Yes, him. He’s been in need of it for quite a while from the looks of it, I will admit.”

“Just contact my crew with yours, ask for a Mr. Onix, and they’ll come right away. Though it will depend on how far and busy they are when you do so.”

“I see-”

The sudden buzz of a radio would echo in Emily’s cab, her firebox starting to warm up again as her fireman threw coal inside it. Good gosh, why did it have to be now?

“Well, I bid you farewell for now, Ferris. I hope to see you soon after this run.”

“Same goes to you dear sister!” He replied as the both tooted both of their whistles at eachother, watching Emily leave with a wheesh of steam.

——

“Now that was a blast!”

“A blast of whistles you mean!”

The three would burst into laughter as they arrived at their designated spots within the new hall.

A little flow of people would form around them, murmurs of conversations blurring together and curious people eyeing them in either surprise or admiration, or both! Either way, the engines would simply chat among themselves as if they were the only ones in the room.

Though there would be one engine in between those atmospheres, st always taking a glance behind them, as if waiting for something. Something, someone.

Time moving slower than a tank engine trying to pull an express consisting of eight full coaches on their own.

It was painful, in simple words. It was crawling from the back of their mind to consume their thoughts. 

Not the greatest thoughts to go through your mind during a wonderful time like this.

No, no. They just need to be calm. He's received the overhaul, he's been checked out, hell you were there in some of those sessions, he'll be fine.

Just enjoy the moment, enjoy the momen-

“Nadi?”

They'd snap out their train of thought, looking to wherever the voice came from, to which they'd get a bit embarrassed at. Well shit.

“Yea- Ah, what is it?”

“You were staring at that 9F, the Black Prince, are you okay?”

“Well, Betto-”

“Do you have a crush on him?”

“The fuck? No, of course not!” Nadi’s smoke deflectors slid back as they glanced at Lyd, as she rolled beside them on the narrow-gauge tracks next to the standard-gauge tracks the three were on, quite baffled at this sudden claim. Considering how the Black Prince is more of a brother than a lover, it was odd.

Though they couldn't exactly blame Lyd, Nadi doesn't talk about other engines much often, other than the ones they usually speak of.

“Besides, why would I have a crush on him?!”

“Well, why would the Flying Scotsman have a crush on that King Arthur class? Hmm?”

“Okay fair point, but stil-”

Suddenly, a familiar whistle would blast through the atmosphere, cutting off the four's conversation. Considering their brakes would be applied by their crews, Lyd would reverse to see who it’d be.

Though as she did, her eyes widened in surprise as she took a glance at their nameplate, now recognizing who it was.

“Oh, Leslie!”

——

Oh how loud it was here, well, at least it wasn’t as chaotic as Sodor. It’s just louder than it.

He’d reverse into the coaches behind him as the shunter behind them uncoupled from the coaches and let out a little “peep!” of a whistle, to which he’d whistle back at them.

As he glanced to the sign that read-

“We’re at Redworth! No- No, I’m not fucking with you I’m serious!”

“Sounds like she’s fucking with you, old chap.”

He will admit, he did miss them. He missed how comforting they were to him, that light feeling that swirled in his firebox whenever he interacted with him. It was an odd feeling, in a good way, and it seems to run in their family as the same feeling has started to resurface in recent years since the 2000s started.

“You’re older than me!”

Gordon would hold in his laughter as he heard his crew jab at each other a bit. The two have been with him for about, nearly a decade as he recalls. Wow. Though they’ve technically been with him for nearly two, since they go back into the late 90s as his crew. Being the brother and cousin of his crew before them.

As much as he’d like to go into detail of this feeling, he just couldn’t find the right words to. It was similar to this feeling he had felt before, it was the bond between him and his siblings, though that didn’t fully match up with what this odd, swirly feeling he felt with them, with his crews.

Though unfortunately he wouldn’t be able to further his research and guesses into it as the sound of a whistle blasted through the air, his hearing being pierced like a bullet shooting through paper. As he glanced to his left, the whistle would be muffled as it fades out by the sound of pistons pumping, surprised at who it is as his eyes widened.

“Hello there, little brother.”

“Ah, ah. That’s my phrase, little brother.”

“A phrase that’s originated from me, Scotsman, or would you like me to refer to you as one of the elderly considering your memory might not be working too well?”

Scotsman would slide back his smoke deflectors, revealing his jokingly ‘offended’ look as he took a glance at Gordon.

“Oh says the one who’s beyond a century old!”

“You’ve literally just become a century old, little brother. And you do represent a century.”

“Oh fuck off," he muttered jokingly, unconsciously letting his american accent slip out as it mixed with his natural one.

After a slight pause between the two, they’d burst into light laughter as they sped down the line side by side, blasting their whistles in a duet as they wheeshed steam, doing what they love. Their purpose.

[scotianostra]

October 12th 1929 saw the birth of Magnus Magnusson, writer, broadcaster and quiznmaster in TV programme “Mastermind”.

Magnus was born in Reykjavík but grew up in Edinburgh, where his father, Sigursteinn Magnússon, was the Icelandic consul. Magnus’ Icelandic name at birth was Magnús Sigursteinsson, but in Scotland his family adopted British naming conventions and from childhood he used his father’s patronymic as a surname. Living in Joppa, he was educated at the Edinburgh Academy and was in the school’s marching brass band. So to those saying he’s not Scottish, he did live almost his entire life here.

After graduating from Jesus College, Oxford, Magnusson became a reporter with the Scottish Daily Express and The Scotsman. He went freelance in 1967, then joined the British Broadcasting Corporation, presenting programmes on history and archaeology as well as appearing in news programmes.

He retained his academic connections, however, and was Lord Rector of Edinburgh University from 1975 to 1978 from 2002 served as chancellor of Glasgow Caledonian University. The Magnus Magnusson Fellowship, an intellectual group based at the Glasgow Caledonian University, was named in his honour. Magnusson’s books included I’ve Started so I’ll Finish, a memoir of his years on Mastermind, and Scotland: The Story of a Nation.

Magnus of course is most famous for the quiz show, Mastermind, it was originally broadcast late on a Sunday night and was not expected to receive a huge audience. In 1973 it was moved to a prime-time slot as an emergency replacement for a Leslie Phillips sitcom, Casanova ‘73, which had been moved to a later time following complaints about its risqué content. The quiz subsequently became one of the most-watched shows on television. Magnusson was famous for his catchphrase “I’ve started so I’ll finish,” which was also the title of his history of the show. The original series was also noted for the variety of venues where filming took place—often including academic and ecclesiastical buildings. The last programme of the original series was filmed at St Magnus Cathedral in Orkney.

To further add to Magnus’s credentials for being a Scot he married Glasgow lass Mamie Ian Baird and they had 5 children together, including Reporting Scotland presenter Sally.

On 12th October 2006, his 77th birthday, Magnusson was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Magnusson mordantly noted that “This has to be one of my worst birthdays ever”. His condition forced him to cancel a string of public appearances. He died on 7 January 2007.The Aigas Field Centre a nature centre near Beauly has a building named in his honour.

In 2014 an auction sold off a lot of his belongings for the Scottish based Balmore Trust, a fair trade charity which sells fairly-traded goods in its shop The Coach House and supports projects in Africa, India and the west of Scotland.

Magnus Magnusson, Icelandic by birth Scottish through choice. Anyone still not convinced of his Scottish & Proud credentials, check out this quote from the man “I have got the best of both worlds; growing up in Edinburgh and now living outside Glasgow.”

Scotland is a welcoming country and have a rich culture which comes from all round the world, with his writing and knowledge Magnus brought so much to our country

Magnus Magnusson is buried in Baldernock Churchyard, East Dunbartonshire.

My favourite of the pics is the younger Magnus on Calton Hill, Edinburgh, the colour of The Hotel in the background, is how I remember it having been the window cleaner there before it had a full restoration in the late 80′s. The black and white pic is when he was installed as Rector of Edinburgh University, the pic with the ferry is on Orkney.

[hxdesofunderwxrld]

@richardxoliverxmayhew​ cont.​

Richard was sure Hermes himself would have blushed at the swiftness of how Zeus turned his back on him. It was like the rug was pulled from under his feet, and an anvil had been dropped atop of his head. It was rude enough when the God turned away and completely disregarded Richard pouring his heart out by sharing his tales of woe and of hell-on-Earth for the past bloody months, but pretending not to know who he was? ‘The hell!?,’ thought the Scotsman, his arms spread out in confusion, ‘Wha’ am I? Chopped liver?’ His pinched blue gaze trailed to Hades for some sort of assistance, before giving up and standing there with his arms folded across his chest, like a child who had been denied by his unfair father. So much for Zeus being his favourite. His Granda’ was right, never meet your heroes.

“Hecate?” he frowned. “Wait a minute, are ye’ sayin’ tha’ ye’ can’t help me? At all? It’s just-… No offense, but aren’t ye’ supposed to be The God of All? I mean… Yer’ Zeus, ma’e! Is there really nothin’ ye’ can do?”

“It’s a lot I haven’t chosen.” “You have.” “It isn’t my fault I’m that...God of All, as you call it.” Hades frowned. “You keep forgetting, brother...you tricked me into the Underworld.” “That was a long time ago. Now. Let’s feast first, shall we?” Hades couldn’t help the sigh. Really, all he wanted was to drop that immortal kid with his brothers and leave, never to be seen again. He didn’t intend to actually stay here and talk to the others or actually see anyone. His hand moved up once more, rubbing over his eyes.

“You see,” Zeus walked up to Richard and slammed his huge hand on the mortal’s shoulder, “Hecate is the Goddess of magic and witchcraft. I just suppose she is more suited to help you than me.”

[caspers-chibs-imagines]

Redemption

Summary

Riley Teller and her son move back to Charming. When Riley returns however, she is faced with the fact that she had to take on her responsibilities as a mom better than before when they are apart of The Sons. Allies are made and maybe a little something more with a certain Scotsman.

____

Chapter Twenty Three

“It’s just for one night. Why can’t they just let me stay?” I cross my arms against my chest as Tara awkwardly fiddles with her hands.

“It’s hospital regulations. You can come back tomorrow morning though-”

“To hell with regulations! I’m not leaving my son.” I interrupt her. My chest fluttered and my jaw clenched as Tara looked at me as her mouth opened and closed like a goldfish. “Either use your words or close your mouth.”

Tara closes her mouth and rubs her forehead with her right hand.

“I can… try to let you stay, but you’ve got to be quiet. No wandering around. You need anything you text me.” She explains and relief runs through my veins. My shoulders feel less strained and they sag back down from their tensed position.

“Thank you.” I mutter before she ushers me back into the hospital room.

“Close the blind, keep the noise down and I’ll be the nurse to come check up on Tommy.” Tara then leaves and closes the door behind her.

I turn back to Tommy as he slept in the hospital bed. Mom had brought me a bag of stuff from home, a few items being Tommy’s blanket and teddy bear. I had tucked him in with blanket and he cuddled his teddy with his left arm, resting his cast upon a pillow beside him. He wasn’t in any pain and after his last check up by Tara, everything will be fine. The cast will just be a constant reminder of how I didn’t protect my baby.

Fillip.

God I wish I could hear his voice right now. Feel his hand brush my hair while he whispers “tha’ everything will be fine.”

Not lay near enough comatose in a hospital bed with a hole stitched up in his head.

I didn’t know what to do. Still don’t. I had visited the room that Tara wrote down when she handed me the piece of paper earlier today. I walked up to the door, looked through the small window and froze.

There lay his shell.

It wasn’t my Fillip.

He was lifeless, hooked up to a machine that beep, beep, beeped away.

I stood for a while next to him, my knees locked and my calves and feet felt like TV static. I can’t begin to describe the feeling I held in my chest, but I can begin with that I can’t lose him. I never had closure with George, I never got to say goodbye or say one last ‘I love you’. I didn’t want to have that a second time.

But I wasn’t going to say goodbye because he was going to make it. We were going to see each other again. We’d say hello again.

***

I spent the night wide awake watching over Tommy. I concluded that the explosion had to have been Zobelle; which means that Clay is going to retaliate no matter what anyone thought. This was all the fuel Clay needed to have a full on blood bath in Charming – which could mean someone is going to either end up dead or behind bars. Watching Tommy sound asleep made me panic that that someone could be me. Was being a part of the club worth risking my baby?

The next morning the doctor came as Tara had already clocked off, it was easy to lie and say I’d only arrived moments before him. He gave Tommy a once over and deemed him fit enough to return home and rest there.

“Will everyone sign my arm mommy?” Tommy asked as I drove the truck back home. “Elliot had a cast in school and we all drew on it for him. Miss Harrison said it would make his arm better. Will it make my arm better mommy?”

“It will baby,” I assured him and smiled. “You can get all your friends to sign it at school.” With that Tommy seemed to beam the rest of the drive, happy to be able to get his cast signed by everyone.

We spent majority of the afternoon watching movies and playing with Tommy’s dinosaurs. Tommy had wanted me to sign his cast and I did so with purple heart and wrote ‘mommy’s soldier’. He beamed all afternoon about being a brave soldier, ready to fight the bad guys to protect his mommy.

The club hadn’t called or visited which most likely meant they weren’t going to consider me as a prospect in their decisions today. Which I am grateful for because I didn’t want a minute away from my son. Any chance I could grasp onto him and hold him in my arms, feel his little heartbeat in his chest, blow raspberry kisses on his cheeks, all moments that assured me that he was alive and well.

Coming up to dinner I still hadn’t heard anything from the club or even Jax. Silence is never good – with children or with men. Tommy had asked to call Half-sack at the hospital, after he had his surgery Tommy had been missing one of his favourite babysitters – I couldn’t lie and say I don’t miss him too. So whilst I prepared spaghetti and meatballs, Tommy sat on the floor against the fridge with my phone rambling on about his new cast to him.

“Mommy said I can get it signed by everybody!” Tommy falls silent for a moment, then nods his head. “I made a square for you to sign, next to Chibby!”

Filip…

I jolt as the door knocks. I wipe my hands on the kitchen towel before leaving Tommy still chatting away on the floor and go to greet my new guest.

“Got room for one more?” Mom asks as she holds up a bottle of whiskey. She has shadows under her eyes, her hair still styled to perfection but her shoulders hold onto an invisible weight as they slump.

“Meatballs almost done,” I step back and let her in. We walk back to the kitchen after I close the door. Tommy sees mom and almost drops the phone as he runs up to her to cuddle.

“Grandma is here. Okay. Bye Eddie!” Tommy beams up at mom and I take my phone back and put it on the counter.

Dinner is eaten in the living room with mom and I on the couch and Tommy sat on the floor and his plate on the coffee table. Scooby Doo and the gang run around trying to solve another mystery as I eat my meal and sip the whiskey mom brought. Tommy gasps when the monster is revealed to the previous owner of the land. Mom is silent. She greeted Tommy with warmth and a smile and she answered him anytime he spoke to her, but other than that it’s as though she’s lost in her own little world.

I don’t press her on what’s wrong; that’s a first class ticket to being berated about my own problems.

By the time Tommy is settled in bed and hugging his teddy bear, my own fatigue was creeping up on me. I walk into the kitchen just as mom opens a window, her other hand holding a pack of cigarettes and her lighter.

“Spare one?” I ask as I walk over to the counter below the window and sit on it. Mom passes me a cigarette and lights it for me. With my first inhale I realise that this has been the first one I’ve had in two days.

Mom lights up her own and we sit and stand in a comfortable silence.

“I never did get to say goodbye to your father,” Mom begins, exhaling smoke as she looks at me. A haunted shadow in her eyes fluttered by and said goodbye before I could question it.

“Only got to hear the words come from the sheriff where they found parts of his skull.” I shuddered. I took another drag and let it’s burn itch at my chest.

“I don’t remember the last thing I said to George,” I muttered. Mom shifts next to me, turning in to listen as she did when I was younger.

“I just remember we were shouting; I was trying to get him to come with me. To run back here and get help… but he didn’t want to run. I remember seeing blood and putting Tommy in the truck. But I don’t remember if I told him I loved him.” I sniff back the coarse feeling in my throat. My chest burns a deeper hole. The last thing I asked Fillip to do was take Jax’s side.

“The last thing Fillip said to me was my name. He called out to me before the van blew up. He saved my little boy. Now I don’t know if I’ll get to help him.” My head falls, I stare down at my feet. Mom wraps an arm around me and pulls me into her, her chin resting on my head.

“Does it ever stop?” I ask – beg.

“You never get over it.”

[redwryvernwrites]

GREEN WITH ENVY - Chapter 3 - Green Arrow’s Fate

The NRM Chairman, Henry Stainer asks Flying Scotsman about Green Arrow and the Sudrian Engines meet the new express engine from the mainland, Tangmere, or as she’s known to her friends, Rebecca.

Ao3 - https://archiveofourown.org/works/38074708/chapters/95218579

"Ms Olivia hasn't been working fulltime as she hasn't been well for the last couple of weeks," the NRM Chairmen, Henry Stainer, greeted the Flying Scotsman the next day after speaking with Olivia. Sir Robert accompanied the man with a guarded smile.

The Flying Scotsman was defensive. Not because the man was a Stainer but because he had grown to like Ms Olivia. That and he was worried that Cain had come back and done something to her, making her ill. She’d been alright when she’d been discharged from hospital, if a little exhausted.

She'd grown close to him and his crew, especially Oscar, and he adored her and worried for her greatly. Her being ill had made him noticeably anxious and Gordon had pestered him about it.

"Why what's wrong with her?" He asked, concerned. "Is she okay? Will she be alright?"

Stainer raised his hands to calm the Scotsman's questions.

"Ms Olivia is perfectly fine, her illness was caused by something quite wonderful but it does mean she won't be as active as Director for the next year. You'll be seeing myself in her place a lot more often," Stainer reassured him.

"Wonderful? How can something that makes someone ill be wonderful?" The Scotsman snapped. "You aren't making sense!"

Stainer didn't answer but only looked at Oscar who blushed.

"I was going to tell him in private sir," Oscar mumbled, turning bright red.

"My apologises," Stainer said and turned back to the Flying Scotsman who eyed him suspiciously. "Well then Oscar will tell you later but I actually came to you today to ask about the engine, Green Arrow."

"Oh, I see," the Scotsman suddenly became sullen and quiet.

He'd forgotten about his cousin and from what he'd last heard, no one had seen him for a year now which was deeply concerning.

"He's been locked in a shed since your return," Stainer said avoiding giving him details. He didn’t want to bring up bad memories for the famous engine. "We're not quite sure what to do with him, I wanted to ask your opinion on the matter. His actions were against you after all, it's only fair that you get a say in what happens to him."

"I don't want him to be scrapped sir," The Flying Scotsman pleaded. "He's a good engine he just got, dealt an unfortunate hand."

"He was Cain's father's favourite, he bankrupted himself to bring Green Arrow back into steam," Sir Robert said kindly. "It would be extremely saddening if his efforts were all in vain."

"But then I came along and stole his rebuild and his spotlight," The Flying Scotsman said sadly. "It's no wonder that he despises me so greatly."

"But the question is what to do with him," Stainer said. "Ms Olivia was planning to turn him into an exhibit. We don't have money to overhaul him and the longer he sits in that shed then the worse his condition will get."

The Flying Scotsman suddenly remembered what the Pannier Duck had said.

[starry-sky-stuff]

Numbers 21, 51 and 52

21:

Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas:

One of the classics of the genre, I like the gambling hell setting and Sara and Derek are really interesting heroes. Sara is a total badass and Derek is a great self-made man (the ultimate really, given he was born in a gutter and named himself). I do have problems with the villainess and her very problematic/misogynistic ending.

India/Daniel (For the Duke’s Eyes Only by Lenora Bell):

I love when pairings start off antagonistic, particularly when they have a background to suggest things weren't always so antagonistic between them. India/Daniel have a great, very complicated dynamic, and I love how they work together as spies and help each other grow.

Megs Reading (Lord of Darkness by Elizabeth Hoyt):

Total badass, who's not afraid to shoot/stab a man. I love how typical narratives are gender inverted, because she's the one who instigates the trying for a baby plot and she has the revenge plot, both of which tend to be reserved for the hero.

Ransom Vane (Romancing the Duke by Tessa Dare):

As far as misanthropic, scarred dukes go, he's my second favourite (Ash is my no. 1). I really like his journey and how he opens up and matures.

51:

Devil’s Daughter by Lisa Kleypas:

Definitely one of the better in the series, and one of the best pairings in the series. Phoebe and West both have definite growth, and I can see real compatibility between them. I just found the plot a bit lacking.

Penelope/Gabriel (The Wallflower Wager by Tessa Dare):

They have their cute moments, and I like how Gabriel supports Penelope. But they were just a bit bland compared to the pairings in the rest of the series.

Lily Lawson (Then Came You by Lisa Kleypas):

I like how she comes across as adventurous and carefree, but then you learn this is all a mask and she's secretly motivated by saving her daughter. I just question her taste in men because Alex treats her like shit for a significant portion of the book.

Matthew Swift (Scandal in Spring by Lisa Kleypas):

He's definitely unique in his background and I like how unapologetic he is about it. I just find him a bit boring, but pretty inoffensive.

52:

The Truth About Cads and Dukes by Elisa Braden:

The dynamic between Jane/Harrison has plenty of potential given how different they are. Harrison has nice growth as he learns he doesn't need to be in control all the time, but it came a little too late for me to fully believe in their happy ever after. Also, part of the book is almost a tragedy, because Harrison is trying so hard to do right by Jane but keeps inadvertently hurting her, and there are moments that call into question their communication skills.

Harriet/Lucian (A Portrait of a Scotsman by Evie Dunmore):

Great chemistry, and I love the dynamic between the romantic Harriet and cynical Lucian. Their growth is nice, but I find the pacing a bit off, especially how Harriet leaves him at the end then the book skips ahead six months and we just see their reunion.

Charlotte Lancaster (The Devil is a Marquess by Elisa Braden):

I think Charlotte is one of the few Double Badger heroines that isn't just sorted there by default and actually has substantial characterisation. I really like how, even though her father strongarms her into the marriage, she not only decides to make the best of it but negotiates to get the best deal. Also, I don't hate her choosing the hero over her prior ambitions the way I do for other heroines because at least for her it's made clear that her desire to move to America was really about finding a place to belong.

Apollo Greaves (Darling Beast by Elizabeth Hoyt):

Interesting backstory, and I love how he responds to being on the run by basically getting a job. I liked his character but I just didn't love him.

[chibsytelford]

Drunk and Sober Confessions

** GIF isn’t mine **

My good friend @rebel-without-cause-x​ requested: Heeeey me again lol can I get a Chibs x reader, reader has had a massive crush on Chibs for years and at a party she has had far two much whiskey and ends up confessing to Chibs but he brushes it off due to the whiskey, reader wakes up alone and realises she confesses and rings Chibs and basically confesses again. Something along the lines of the song stone cold sober by Brantley Gilbert.

Word Count - 1442.

A/N - lyrics are in bold. Some fluff at the end. Enjoy :)

taglist - @agirllovespasta​ @everyhowlmarksthedead​ @naytraydr​ @rebel-without-cause-x​

You met Lyla 3 years ago, when you left your home after a falling out with your parents. You were old enough, and didn’t have to stay at home and be treated like crap. You jumped in your car and headed for a town called Charming. You were drawn to the name instantly when you looked on the map, and a 5 hour drive was just what you needed to clear your head. You arrived in Charming 6 hours later due to taking a wrong turn and getting lost, but an extra hour didn’t hurt. Your first stop was a hotel where you spent the night.

The next morning you woke up early and went to buy some food. You were looking in shop windows and saw some job advertisements that caught your eye. A young blonde woman approached you and asked if you were new, and told you of a job going that pays well as a secretary at a car garage, as she noticed you looking eagerly at the jobs in the window. She introduced herself as Lyla and the rest was history.

You have been working at the car garage called Teller Morrow for 3 years now, and you loved it. You don’t know a thing about cars but that doesn’t matter. You are there to sign people’s cars in and out and that’s it. The guys are all like family now, and even Gemma, who you hated the first couple of months, has grown on you, and is now like your mother.

“Alright darling, how’s it goin?”Chibs asked.

“I’m good Chibs, just finishing up for the day, then I’m off home to do some cleaning, get some dinner and watch some TV”.  You tidied up the papers from the desk, shutting them in the drawer for Monday.

“There’s a party tonight, and am hoping am gonna see ye there Y/N”. Chibs spoke to you as you locked up the office.

“Have I ever missed a SAMCRO party in the whole 3 years I’ve been here?” you playfully nudged him.

“Aye that’s true, you’re always the life and soul of these parties, you and whisky do not go well together mind you” he chuckled as he headed back towards the clubhouse. “See ye at 7!”.

You have had a thing for Chibs the moment you saw him. You were a sucker for a pretty face and an accent, so you were drawn to him immediately. And he was such a caring person, and always asked you how you were, and always went out of his way to help you. You didn’t show your interest in him, as you knew what he did with the club. That didn’t bother you, but you didn’t want to burden him with your feelings, and then distract him from his job or whatnot. So you kept it to yourself, well apart from telling Lyla and Gemma. Recently though, you noticed he was hanging around you even more, and taking an interest in your life outside of Teller Morrow.

You headed home to your house to grab some food and get ready. You decided on a knee length black dress, with some white converse to wear. You liked having comfy trainers on your feet when you went out, as you spent most of the time dancing. You recently bought this dress in case you ever got lucky, but that hadn’t happened yet, so you decided to just wear it tonight anyway.

You were now 3 whiskeys in and feeling a bit light headed. You were currently grinding on Lyla as the 2 of you were dancing to your hearts content, enjoying the sound of country music coming through the speakers. Every so often you snuck a peak at the Scotsman, who was sitting at one of the tables with Jax and Happy.

“Are you ever gonna tell him you love him?” Lyla suddenly asked.

You peeled your eyes from Chibs and turned around to look at her.

“Maybe if I get drunk enough” you pulled Lyla towards the bar and ordered 4 shots and another 2 whiskies. Jim Beam was your favourite, the only good thing that came from your father.

The night went on and you had lost count on how many whiskeys you had drunk at this point. You saw Chibs head outside the clubhouse alone for a smoke, and took this as your chance to talk to him. Slightly stumbling, you headed out the door and stumbled over to him. He was leaning on his bike having a smoke.

“How many have ye had lass?” he grinned, finding your stumbling funny.

“I… uhh… have lost count to be honest”. You took the cigarette from his hand and took a draw. “I need to tell you something Chibs” you took a deep breath and looked at him. “I love you, I have loved you since I saw that stupid face of yours 3 years ago”. You took another draw of the cigarette waiting for the man to talk.

“You’re drunk. Let’s get ye hame Y/N” Chibs answered quietly.

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

You woke up with a banging headache, still in your dress from the party. You looked at the other side of the bed and saw it was empty. You wondered for a second how you got home safely, but  nothing was coming to you. You headed to the bathroom to splash some cold water on your face to help you wake up a bit. After some paracetamol and 2 cups of water you felt slightly more human, and that’s when you remembered how you got home. Chibs brought you here, right after you confessed that you loved him.

I woke up hungover,

But still had to call you,

Cause I just realized boy,

That maybe it was all true.

You have to admit it felt like a massive weight of your shoulders telling him. You decided that you will call him to ask him to come around to talk about last night, and now that you’re sober you will tell him again. It would be more awkward to take it back than just admit it is true.

You grabbed your phone and opened up the contact list and found Chibs’ name.

“Hello?” you heard some rustling on the end of the line.

“Chibs it’s me, can you come round my place, I think we need to talk about last night” you said.

“Aye, a suppose a can, give me 15 minutes and I’ll be there” and he hung up.

He arrived 15 minutes later and you met him outside. You handed him a cup of coffee and sat down on the steps outside your house.

Chibs took the coffee but remained quiet, so you took this as your cue to speak.

“Look, I remember what I said last night, and I just want you to know, it’s true, and I didn’t just say it because I was drunk” you put your coffee down and twiddled with your thumbs. “I don’t expect you to say anything, and I know I should have said something sooner, but I didn’t want to come between you and the club, and have you worrying about me when you’re out on runs or whatever, and I also don’t expect you to say it back”.

Chibs stayed quiet for what felt like ages. He finally cleared his throat and spoke. “Lass, I wish ye had said something sooner, the first time a laid eyes on ye I was besotted, a mean why else wid a ask if ye have a boyfriend?” he half smiled. “A didn’t say anything last night, because a figured that you were drunk and ye didny have a clue what ye were saying” he added.

“I don’t need Jim Beam to know I need you here” you said to Chibs. “So, what does this mean now?”

“Well, a think this means we are together darlin’” he took your hand in his and pulled you onto his lap for a kiss. It was slow at first, and you melted into his touch. “I’ve waited ages ti dae that lass” he whispered on your lips. “I want ti finish this, but first, a need ti go and give Jackie boy 20 dollars, we had a bet on about if ye liked me or not, and he obviously won, so I’ll be back soon Y/N, and then we can finish this off”.

With one last kiss the Scotsman drove off on his bike. You phoned Lyla immediately and told her what had happened.

“Now you can put your sexy underwear to use!” she squealed at the other end of the line.

[hubba1892]

[justherebecausemackenzieboyd]

Finish it then you can leave!

summery:Mackenzie acts like a child when he and seb make Father’s Day breakfast wonder what Robert does about that..

Some Father’s Day Senainigans for the Robron family’s feat my favourite childish uncle Mack 😂❤️

This is mostly based off ideas I got from myself, @madden-mackron and @sugdenlovesdingle so enjoy guys it’s short and crap but eh it’s all I can do 😂❤️

“Right that’s about done!” The Scotsman grinned sinisterly.

Father’s Day morning was never a thing in Mackenzie’s house. His father was either always to hungover from drinking,or out somewhere from the night before...

In other words not his favourite ‘holiday’,but to Sebastian White it was everything.so to celebrate for the little tots two fathers. They made breakfast together.

Well he ‘tried’ to anyway, and this was in no way any evil plot to get Robert back for ‘stealing’ his beloved plaid jacket pfft nope. He was not petty or childish about it at all!

What he and the Toddler has managed to throw together was some toast and coffee,But the toast was practically cremated and the coffee was so cold it could form to ice by itself. Mostly because Mackenzie had managed to get through an entire loaf of bread before they could even salvage a few pieces of toast,Because he ended up burning every slice!

Not that they where exactly edible but it might not kill anyone..

Mackenzie picked up the plate of toast and coffee mugs.

“Come on sebbie lets go wake up daddy Aaron and Robert”

The toddler squeals happily the excitement of bringing his dad’s breakfast in bed was making him happy. He waddled besides his Uncle. As they both went upstairs together to feed the two husbands.

————

“Come on uncle Mackenzie eat up” Robert said smugly across the room. Sipping freshly brewed coffee. Aaron sat smiling at his friend who had gladly betrayed him!

Mackenzie was beyond pissed how could this happen?

You see when they had gone upstairs Robert saw right through this plan, and convinced little seb that Uncle Mackenzie should eat it as well.

Unfortunately under protest Mackenzie was sat at the dinner table in the kitchen refusing to eat it. Being watched by seb until he did said task. How embarrassing!

“No up till eat!” Little seb demeaned. knowing from experience of not eating his vegetables that you can’t leave the table until you finish your food!

Mackenzie grunted picking up a piece of the toast grabbing a knife and smothering it with jam.

He stared at it hoping that it would disappear. Unfortunately it wasn’t going to.

“I’m not hungry” The Scotsman tried to insist to the little boy.

Seb just shook his head.

“Eat then up!” He repeated again.

“You heard him!” Robert laughed. Flicking through his morning tv shows.

Mackenzie was completely baffled that he was actually letting a 3 year old tell him what to do.

“You’re not leaving until it’s eaten mate” Aaron said trying not to laugh. Finding this whole situation hilarious.

“Yeah and who’s gonna stop me!” The Scotsman said childishly.

“I am” The Blonde replied trying to sound sinister. it was clearly meant to be a joke, but for some reason Mack didn’t see it that way...

He gulped looking down at the toast on his plate. Sod it he thought just wanting this whole weird situation to be over.

Mackenzie was quick to shove it in his mouth. Gagging on the charred toast and strong fruity flavour of the jam combined was just awful.

He tried not to throw up on the spot but ended up coughing from trying to keep it down. Dry heaving dramatically. Even though it’s clear he was over exaggerating.

Seb just smiled and patted him on the back.

“Good now you play!” The toddler proclaimed letting him know he could finally leave the table.

The Scotsman pouted walking over to sit on the floor ti watch the tv. Trying to ignore the outburst of laughter from Aaron in the background.

Robert grinned triumphantly at his friend who sat crossed legged pissed exspression on his face. He reached over to whisper in his ear.

“Better luck next time Boyd”

Needless to say The kick to the blondes knee Mackenzie gave was completely justified. Despite how childish it was then again nothing ever really is ti Mackenzie is it?

And that’s just how Seb, Aaron and Rob like him.

[scotianostra]

October 12th 1929 saw the birth of Magnus Magnusson, writer, broadcaster and quiznmaster in TV programme Mastermind.

Aye ah know he wasn’t born in Scotland but -I’ve started so I’ll finish!

Magnus was born in Reykjavík but grew up in Edinburgh, where his father, Sigursteinn Magnússon, was the Icelandic consul. Magnus’ Icelandic name at birth was Magnús Sigursteinsson, but in Scotland his family adopted British naming conventions and from childhood he used his father’s patronymic as a surname. Living in Joppa, he was educated at the Edinburgh Academy and was in the school’s marching brass band. So to those saying he’s not Scottish, he did live almost his entire life here.

After graduating from Jesus College, Oxford, Magnusson became a reporter with the Scottish Daily Express and The Scotsman. He went freelance in 1967, then joined the British Broadcasting Corporation, presenting programmes on history and archaeology as well as appearing in news programmes.

He retained his academic connections, however, and was  Lord Rector of Edinburgh University from 1975 to 1978 from 2002 served as chancellor of Glasgow Caledonian University.  The Magnus Magnusson Fellowship, an intellectual group based at the Glasgow Caledonian University, was named in his honour. Magnusson’s books included I’ve Started so I’ll Finish, a memoir of his years on Mastermind, and Scotland: The Story of a Nation.

Magnus of course is most famous for the quiz show, Mastermind, it was originally broadcast late on a Sunday night and was not expected to receive a huge audience. In 1973 it was moved to a prime-time slot as an emergency replacement for a Leslie Phillips sitcom, Casanova ‘73, which had been moved to a later time following complaints about its risqué content. The quiz subsequently became one of the most-watched shows on television. Magnusson was famous for his catchphrase “I’ve started so I’ll finish,” which was also the title of his history of the show. The original series was also noted for the variety of venues where filming took place—often including academic and ecclesiastical buildings. The last programme of the original series was filmed at St Magnus Cathedral in Orkney.

To further add to Magnus’s credentials for being a Scot he married Glasgow lass Mamie Ian Baird and they had 5 children together, including Reporting Scotland presenter Sally.

On 12th October 2006, his 77th birthday, Magnusson was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Magnusson mordantly noted that “This has to be one of my worst birthdays ever”. His condition forced him to cancel a string of public appearances. He died on 7 January 2007.The Aigas Field Centre a nature centre near Beauly has a building named in his honour.

In 2014 an auction sold off a lot of his belongings for the Scottish based Balmore Trust, a fair trade charity which sells fairly-traded goods in its shop The Coach House and supports projects in Africa, India and the west of Scotland.

Magnus Magnusson, Icelandic by birth Scottish through choice. Anyone still not convinced of his Scottish & Proud credentials, check out this quote from the man “I have got the best of both worlds; growing up in Edinburgh and now living outside Glasgow.”

Scotland is a welcoming country and have a rich culture which comes from all round the world, with his writing and knowledge Magnus brought so much to our country

Magnus Magnusson  is buried in Baldernock Churchyard, East Dunbartonshire.

My favourite of the pics is the younger Magnus on Calton Hill, Edinburgh, the colour of The Hotel in the background, is how I remember it having been the window cleaner there before it had a full restoration in the late 80′s. The black and white pic is when he was installed as Rector of Edinburgh University, among the other pics are Magnus in his robes as Chancellor of Glasgow Caledonian University.

[mi-does-hcs]

Random headcanon #57

It's winter the first time Joanna is allowed to visit the Enterprise and meets the crew, not only Jim and Nyota, who she already knew from the time her father was at the Academy.

She immediately likes Chekov. He is fun, smart, doesn't treat her like a total child and even offers to teach her a bit Russian.

But as they talk Jo finds out that Chekov never had hot chocolate with marshmallows. Or hot chocolate at all. Pavel acts like it's no big deal, but Jo can't believe it. So she goes and tells her dad.

Leonard is just as shocked as she was upon finding out.

They immediately make a plan to change it and drag Scotty into it as well, because if anyone can get them all ingredients they want it's the engineer.

Two days later Scotty casually invites Chekov to a round of drinking. Of course he says yes. Nobody can say no to the happy,friendly Scotsman.

However, Pavel is very surprised and confused to see Joanna there when he arrives in Scotty's room He is not surprised to see Leonard there. Everybody knew that he and Monty were "best drinking buddies".

But before he could even ask, Monty already said with a grin "I never specified what we are drinking."

"Okay." Chekov replied unsure and sat down. Leonard placed a mug in front of him.

"It's hot chocolate with marshmallows!" Jo exclaimed excited, "Daddy made it!"

Pavel glanced at the doctor, who gave him a soft, encouraging smile. So Chekov tried it.

Chekov found his new favourite drink.

[razzzmytazzz]

give me your rusty headcanons or ill riot

THERE WILL BE NO RIOTING ON THIS DAY

Rusty

1) Rusty is the son of famous British steamer The Flying Scotsman (or Nigel as I've named him) who got stranded in San Francisco for two years while on a not so very successful semd off tour. This resulted in Rusty being unfortunately abandoned and adopted by Poppa for unknown circumstances. This makes the subject of fathers a touchy subject for Rusty i'm sorry baby

2) Rusty is very philosophical and one of his favourite things to do is go stargazing with any of his close friends and just talk about what he thinks the world is and what everything means

3) tunnel vision for days. Once this boy's got his mind set on something its all he can think about, often leading to him tuning out the outside world and those around him juat to try and achieve what hes thinking of

[caspers-chibs-imagines]

Redemption

Summary 

Riley Teller and her son move back to Charming. When Riley returns however, she is faced with the fact that she had to take on her responsibilities as a mom better than before when they are apart of The Sons. Allies are made and maybe a little something more with a certain Scotsman.

____

Chapter Fourteen

I stood with Sack as Tig, Jax, Clay, Chibs and Juice all fired rounds into targets from the guns supplied by the Irish. I jokingly threaten to staple Sack's kutte to the wooden crate behind us and he shoved me away from him and I shoved him back as we laughed at one another.

Over the last three months, myself and him had gotten closer due to us both being in the same position as prospects and being made to do all kinds of random shit for the club. He was like having another kid. Tommy liked he too and would always want him to teach him how to fight - sometimes I wondered what the others would be saying to my son to make him want to learn from Sack.

Another thing that had been happening over the last few months was Chibs and I kept on whatever it was that we are. But around the club, I was simply a prospect and we wouldn't make any advances towards one another. He would come over the house a lot of the nights, sometimes Tommy would be awake and be happy that he was having a sleepover. Other times he was either with Mary and the kids or asleep and that left Chibs and me up to do whatever we wanted to one another.

As far as I was aware, mom was the only one that had caught onto me to and Chibs and she kept giving me knowing looks whenever he and I were alone in the clubhouse. But we knew better than to do anything in the clubhouse or we risked being caught by one of the other members. If anyone asked why he was spending so much time at the house, we would put it down to Tommy wanting to see his favourite member of mommy's club. Juice had taken offence to that when Chibs told him and whenever Tommy was around, Juice would be trying to win him over with sweets and allowing him to be used a personal pony.

I had also started reading the book that my father had written and seeing some of the things that he said about the club made me wonder what Jax and I were going to do about it all.

"Prospects!" Tig shouted and Sack and I stopped goofing around as we turned towards him. "New targets, let's go!" I shoved Sack one more time and moved to take down the ripped-up targets and replaced them with new ones. I finished stapling the last target while Sack struggled with his own as gun shots rushed past my head.

"Hey, hey!" I shouted as I ran out of the way to avoid being shot by Tig's sudden antics. Once I was out of the way, Chibs started to join in on winding Sack up as he shot his stapler gun back at them.

"Yeah, great job. You'll shoot off my one last nut. Great sponsor." He calls over to them as Chibs and Tig laugh. I shake my head at the pair before they all walk into the warehouse and leave me and Sack outside while they are talking to the Irish.

Before long, the deal had been made and Sack and I were helping to move the crates of guns into a black van. As I was helping Sack load one of the crates, I noticed the tension between Clay and Jax as they spoke to one another. Jax moved away from him and he nodded to me before he mounted his bike.

"What was that about?" Sack asks me as I turn back to him.

"Not a clue." I slap him on the shoulder before loading up the last of the crates.

Once they were loaded up, I walked over to my bike as Sack got onto his own.

"Wanna come and get my son with me?" I ask as I clip the strap to my helmet under my chin. When he agrees, we both reeve our engines and drive off to Tommy's school to pick him up. I told Sack to wait by the bikes as I went into the grounds to pick my son up. As I stood waiting, I noticed all the usual parents that stood on their own or with their babies - a couple of the parents stared at me with my prospect kutte on with dirty looks. I continued to wait as the children started to come out of their classrooms. But what caught my eye was the hooded man that stood by the school gates. I frowned as I look at him and tried to see who it was but with no luck due to how far he was.

"Mommy!" I turn around to see Tommy coming over to me and I open my arms for him. He hugs me and I ruffle up his hair before turning to walk back to Sack. I look over to see that the hooded man had left, and my panic didn't settle.

Once we got to the bikes, I gave Sack a look and he instantly knew it meant trouble. I got Tommy in front of me on my bike and put his helmet on and we drove very quickly - as quick as I was willing to go with my son on the bike - back to the clubhouse.

Pulling up alongside the other bikes that were parked, I looked over to the gate to see a silver car had pulled up on the other side of the road.

"Baby, go with Eddie into the clubhouse." I tell Tommy as I continue to look at this car after getting off the bike. "Sack, get Chibs for me." He nods his head before he and Tommy race each other to the clubhouse. I lean against my bike and light a cigarette as I continue to watch the car. There was two men inside, one was hooded and the other had a hat pulled over his eyes. I couldn't make out who they were, and it was beginning to really worry me.

Chibs emerged from the clubhouse and he walked over to me with a concerned frowned on his face.

"What's wrong, love?" He asks and I point to the car outside the gate.

"They've just followed me from Tommy's school." I reply and he curses under his breath as I take another drag. "If it's who I think it is, then I need to pull Tommy out of school until it sorted."

We both stood and watched as the car pulled off after a few moments and then I let the panic that was rushing through me release. I walked over near the boxing ring where the punching bag was and started letting out my frustrations on it. Hit after hit, I felt my body shaking with the adrenaline and I kept going until I was out of breath and Tommy had ran back outside to me.

***

"I haven't been able to say this yet on a club level." Clay started as everyone settled in their seats and looked up to him. Either smoking or drinking a beer - I decided to do neither for the time being. "We're all broken up about what happened to Donna. She was a great girl. I know how much you loved her. She sure loved you."

I started to tune out the conversation as my mind wondered over to the men that had followed me and my son from his school today. The men who had killed George knew where I was; they knew where to find my son when he wasn't with me.

"I want Jax and Riley." I snapped out of my thoughts to see Opie looking over to me. A pleading look in his eyes and I knew what he needed me and my brother for. Clay was pinning the murder of Donna on another man while the one who did it was sat in this room.

I nod my head to him, and a faint smile pulled his lips before it disappeared again. Clay called the meeting to an end and I went to get up and looked to Jax who gestured for me to leave. I walked out of the chapel and closed the doors behind me - leaving Jax and Clay inside.

Opie turned to me and I walked up to him before we hugged one another.

"You sure, you want me there?" I ask.

"Of course." He pats my back and then leaves to go outside. I watch him leave and then walk over to where Tommy sat with Sack at the bar. Tommy had his fists up and was blocking Sack's playfully punches. I quickly played Sack's arms behind him and he struggled against me.

"Quick Tommy, get him!" I cheered for my son and he started his little punches onto Sack. I knew he was okay because Tommy wasn't a fighter at heart, he was too gentle to be one. I let Sack go after a moment and he shoved me - earning a shove back in return.

Jax came over to me and tapped me on my elbow, giving me the signal that it was time to go. I turn back to Tommy and smile.

"Baby, mommy has to go do something." I start as I put my hands on his shoulders. "You are going to stay here with Eddie, and he will play all afternoon with you." When he hears this, Tommy nods his head and I pull him into my arms and kiss his head. I let him go and turned to Sack and pointed my finger at him.

"Do not, and I repeat not! Let him out of your sight." Sack nods his head and then I clap his shoulder and follow Jax after taking my kutte off - leaving me in my black hoodie - out to the truck and van.

***

I sat between Jax and Opie as we pulled up across the street of the man that Donna's murder was being pinned on.

"That's him." I say as I look at the photo on the report and hand it over to Jax. "Restocking his dealers."

"Elian Perez." Jax says he looks over the report. "Out of Corcoran three months ago, manslaughter. A Chinese menu of drug and assault charges." I kept a watchful eye on Opie as he glared at the man that sat on his bike. Tig and Chibs pull up next to us in the van.

"How do we do this?" Tig asks and Jax and I look around.

"Too many eyes here." Jax replies. Opie taps me and I see that the Mayan was on the move. I hit Jax and he starts to follow him. We followed around for a minute and that's when he pulled onto an empty street.

"This street is empty." Opie says. I look at the Mayan and then get an idea.

"Pull up beside him." I tell Jax and then climb out the back window and onto the bed of the truck. I look back at Tig and Chibs and wave for them to get ready. Jax does as I told him and drives up beside him. I take a deep breath before running and leaping off the truck to tackle the Mayan off his bike.

We both come crashing down onto the road as his bike falls. I roll on the road before I stop and get up with a groan. I run over to the Mayan and tackle him again before he can get his gun out and start firing. Jax and Opie come over and drag him to his feet as I get off him.

"What the hell, ese!" He shouts as Tig opens the back of the van and pulls him into it.

I take a step towards the truck and groan as I wrap my arm around midsection as a pain shoots through my ribs.

"The hell were ya thinkin', lass?!" Chibs snaps as he walks over to me.

"I was thinking of getting the bastard that killed Donna." I snap back and groan again at the pain. Jax comes over to me and stares at my arm with concern.

"You alright?" He asks and I nod my head. Chibs shoots me a look before going over to the van and I limp over to the truck.

We drive off to a more isolated spot so that Opie could do what he wanted to the man. I stood next to Jax as Chibs and Tig pulled the Mayan out of the van. They threw him to the ground and Opie went straight over to him with a gun pointed at his head.

"Tell me you did it." He growls.

"What are you talking about?" The Mayan panics as he looks up at Opie.

"Tell me you killed my wife." Opie snapped and cocked the gun.

"I swear! I don't know what you're talking about man!" The Mayan tries to reason. But there wouldn't be any reasoning here, he had to die for something he didn't do.

"Ope!" I shout and move forward to pull him away the man. Jax came to my aid and we pulled him away from the situation to let him breathe for a moment. Chibs followed us over and I stood in front of Opie as he shook with rage.

"The hell you doing man?" Jax questions him and Ope shakes his hand off his arm, along with mine.

"I'm not leaving here with any doubt." He replies and I take this time to step in.

"The longer this takes, the greater the risk." I tell him and he looks down at me. "Ope, just do the guy and let's get the hell out of here." Opie looks between Jax and I.

"You guys can go. I've got to do this my way." I shake my head at him.

"Opie listen-"

"If this guy hurt Tommy, you'd be ripping every last bone from his body." Opie snapped at me and then realised his words before taking a deep breath and then looked back at me. "I have to know."

I nod my head in response and I pat his shoulder. We hear a gunshot and instantly back over to where Tig and a now very bloody Mayan lay gurgling on his own blood.

"Broke loose and reached for my gun, had to blow him up man." Tig explains and I narrow my eyes at him. I knew he was lying; the Mayan knew he hadn't done anything but Tig didn't want him speaking anymore.

Opie looked back at Jax and I.

"No doubt, this guy killed Donna." Jax says and that was all it took before Opie shot the Mayan through the skull. He pulled out his knife and bent down to the Mayan. I looked away as he started cutting into the guys chest. I felt my stomach do flips and knew I was going to be sick if I watched.

"That's so Alvarez knows who and why." Opie says and I turn to see a giant 'A' in the corpse's chest. I shake my head and look to Jax.

"Get rid of those guns. You guys take the van, head back. I'll dump the body." He says and I instantly knew what he wanted to do.

"You're dropping him on Mayan turf. Ya can't do it on your own, Jackie boy." Chibs says and Jax tells him that he'll be fine. Tig, Chibs and Opie walk back over to the truck and van. I look at Jax as I turn to leave with them.

"We need to make sure this doesn't end up at our back door." I tell him and he nods his head. I walk back to the truck and hop in next to Opie. I grab my ribs again as they flare up in pain.

"Thank you." I look up to Opie as he drove us back to the clubhouse.

"No need to thank me, Ope." I tell him. "You would've done the same for me."

***

Tommy had wanted to stay with Kenny and Ellie again tonight and I wasn't going to stop him from going. I dropped him off and thanked Mary again for taking care of him. I returned back to the clubhouse to join the party for Bobby's return. There were loads of people drinking, smoking and laughing. I head inside to the bar and grab myself a beer from one of the croweaters working behind there tonight.

I then made my way back outside as I lit a cigarette. I sat on top of one empty benches and watched on over party.

"Ya took a risky move today." I smile as I hear the familiar Scotsman. He sits next to me and takes my cigarette to smoke.

"Just doing right by the club." I reply before taking a swig of my beer.

"Aye," Chibs sighs, exhaling the smoke from my cigarette. "But ya could've gotten yaself killed."

"But I didn't, so there's that." I reply and smirk. He knew I wouldn't let him win this argument and he just smirked back at me, throwing his arm around my shoulders.

We both looked up as a car pulled up into the lot.

"The hell?" I frown before getting up and following Clay over to the car. Four men get out and one walks right up to Clay.

"Garage is closed." He says to the man in his fancy suit.

"We're not here for, uh, car repairs. I understand you're a Camacho fan." The man speaks as he holds up a small box towards Clay, who doesn't even look at it.

"Who are you?"

"Just dropping by to give you a little friendly advice." The man in the white shirt spoke up. He looked from Clay to where I stood beside him. The look he gave slightly unsettled me, but I didn't let my face show that - keeping my jaw locked and my eyes narrowed.

"And what advice would that be?" Clay asked.

"We feel it would be best for all concerned if you stop dealing arms to the One Niners and the Mayans." At this most of the club starting chuckling and I joined them in the façade.

"We're just mechanics and Harley lovers, man. Got something against bikers?" I speak up and the guy in the suit looked down at me and smiled.

"Such a small girl like you?" He teases and I give him a sarcastic smile. I also feel Chibs step a little closer behind me as his hand touches the bottom of my back.

"That's one of Darby's guys back there." Tig tells Clay and I notice that the two men behind this prick were in fact part of the racist group among Charming.

"Mr. Darby is one of our supporters."

"Expensive car. Hell of a suit. All of your teeth. Must be the top of the Aryan food chain, huh?" Clay asked the man.

"What you do for a living is between you and your maker. I'm not here to adjust your moral compass. This is just a reality check. You're a criminal and you're done selling guns to colour." I heard Tig cock his gun then and Clay stopped him. "Are you gonna shoot me, Mr. Trager? With all these witnesses?"

"Look, uh, I don't know what Darby told you and, uh, I don't know what your angle is, but let me be real clear. Nobody threatens SAMCRO. And nobody tells us what we can and can't do. Black, brown or white. So, why don't you just climb back into your little German clown car and drive back to Nazi town? 'Cause the next time you piss all over my shoes, he will kill you. I don't give a shit how many witnesses there are." Clay threatens the man. I find my smirking at them and knew that everyone else would be too.

"My shop opens in a few weeks. Until then... enjoy." The man then puts the box down at Clay's feet before moving to get back into his car. I move with the others to circle the car and the one in the white bumps into me.

"Sorry." He says and I glare at him as he gets into the car. I turn back around to Clay and the others as Chibs picks up the box and passes it back to Clay. I walk back over to the bench that I had been sitting on and go back to drinking and Chibs joins me.

Not long after, another car pulls up into the lot, but we all know who it is and start cheering as Bobby steps out. Everyone starts hugging him and welcoming him back before Chibs helps him put his kutte back on and then I walk up to him.

"See you got some leather." He smiles and I laugh before hugging him and I welcome him home. I see Agent Stahyl and decide to go over and have some fun as Clay thanks her for bringing home Bobby.

"Why don't you stay for a while. Bet you could do some serious damage to a striper pole." I offer and she glares at the kutte that sat on my shoulders.

"Like you wouldn't know." She says before getting back into the car.

The party continues to rage on now that Bobby was back, and I kept drinking. After being around Juice, Chibs and some of the other charters, I felt like it was time to go home. I walk over to the bikes as I finish my cigarette and flick it away. I sit on my bike and grab my helmet.

"Leavin' love?" I look up to see Chibs had followed me to the bikes.

"I've welcomed the princess home." I tell him and sit still on my bike with my helmet in my hands. Chibs leans down and holds onto my bike after checking over his shoulder to make sure no one was looking our way.

"How 'bout I join ya." He offers as he leans down and presses his lips to mine. I smile into the kiss and bite my lip when he pulls away.

"Better get on that bike." I tell him and he smiles before moving to his own bike.

[belloinfernum-rp]

Greta Catchlove

Age- 22

Chosen Faceclaim- Celina Sinden

Loyalty- Neutral

Former House- Hufflepuff

Occupation- Writer 

Label- The Raconteur 

Aesthetic- Botanical gardens at night, cries when super happy, freshly dried ink, smell of parchment.

Traits- + Ambitious + Friendly + Open-Minded - Distant - Stubborn - Easily Provoked 

Key Points

Greta grew up in the centre of Edinburgh in an airy 18th century building with her parents. Her father, a muggle, worked as an important journalist for The Scotsman newspaper while her mother, a witch, used her magic in the kitchen and became a famous chef, leading one of the finer restaurants in the city. Even though Greta’s parents were fairly busy with their careers, they made sure to spend enough time with their daughter. When Greta was little, her Dad would read her a story before going to bed everyday.  Her all time favourites were the Tales of Beedle the Bard and any of the tales of the Grimm brothers. Her mother had enchanted the little sketches in the books so they would move and Greta was absolutely fascinated by them. As she grew up, her fascination with books didn’t fade and she dove deep into both muggle and wizard world classics, as well as contemporary works. Her aspiration to become a writer became clear to her quite early and she soon started to write short stories, essays and other short pieces on her own.

It came to no surprise to Greta that she would receive an education at Hogwarts. Her mother had been a Hufflepuff before her, so Greta felt quite honoured to be sorted into that house. Greta loved the school dearly. The busy buzzing of the Great Hall in the mornings, the Hufflepuff common room – all of it held a very special place in her heart. Greta had been quite popular with other kids in Edinburgh (whom she absolutely remained friends with during her stay at Hogwarts) so it wasn’t hard for her to make great friends at the new school at all. Greta formed a close bond with one particular girl – Elsie Shacklebolt. They had met in Muggle Studies and had gotten along immediately. They bonded over their knowledge of the muggle community, their love for words and languages and their determination. The two girls are nothing alike, however, but their friendships works perfectly because of it. After graduation, Greta rented a two-bedroom apartment in London and worked on establishing herself as a writer. Elsie moved on to travel Europe but the two worked it out by writing letters religiously and visiting each other frequently. As well as meeting Elsie, Greta had met Edgar Bones, her first love, at Hogwarts. The first love stays with you forever, they say, and even though after graduating the two of them grew apart and eventually broke up, Greta hasn’t quite gotten over it yet.

Upon arriving in London, Greta quickly realised the changed atmosphere in the city. She had gotten to know London as a colourful and buzzing place but it was now only a shadow of itself. The disappearances, the deaths - You could almost smell the fear in the air. Greta’s father had gotten her a job opportunity with a newspaper in Fleet Street to work at until she was able to publish her first book and she frequently documented the situation for the paper. Whenever she was about to hand in an article, she had to update the numbers of missing an/or dead people because their numbers just kept rising. Of course Greta knew the source of the disappearances. She had not turned a blind eye to what Lord Voldemort and his followers were up to. But the activities of the Order of the Phoenix had also not gone unnoticed by them. She burned to report about both of the sides or even writing a book about the uprising while remaining neutral, as her father had taught her in good journalist fashion, but Greta was cautious and had put the thought aside for now.

Connections

Elsie Shacklebolt- Close friend.

Edgar Bones- Ex-boyfriend.

Glenda Chittock- Friend.

Bellatrix Lestrange- Afraid of.

[seaoftranquiility]

you said you’d grow old with me

a self-para in which charlie devereaux might lose the only thing holding him together

word count: 1630, cw: mentions of death, companion music

charles bartholomew devereaux was many things. a dear brother, a loyal friend, music lover, and protector of animals. he was a duke, a son, and a good, honest man.  yet, there was one important thing he was not. he was not strong. he watched the way his siblings faced their nightmares head-on, with a grace and dignity he never had. 

cedric, the middle child, the brother he should have been there for. he was on a friend's yacht off the coast of monaco when he got the call from their sister. his brother had suffered an injury on the ice. decades of cedric's hard work and all his dreams, gone. destroyed. and there was nothing anyone could do to help him. there was nothing charlie could do. throwing money at this wasn't going to make it go away, and that's all he knew how to do. that's what his father had always done and that's what he had always done. and yet, despite the crushing of his dreams, cedric got back up to his feet and faced this new life head on. charlie was so proud of his brother, more than he could ever find the words for, but he knew the truth now. cedric never needed him and never would. he could handle that, he could. he still had little ella.

oh, little ella. he had failed her in such a terrible way. his poor, beautiful sister who, like cedric, had such an incredible talent he would never have. when she danced, you could see the fae blood running through her. she seemed to float and shimmer in the air, like the first day of springtime flowers blooming. she was grown now, but he would always see that little girl, toddling after him through the family gardens. he regretted not playing with her then, she grew up too fast. he could never forget the beaming pride on her face at her first movie premier, that smile. her pure happiness causing his heart to swell. the beginning of the end. now, he wasn't sure he'd ever see such a smile from her again. he should have known that producer was no good from the way he looked at her. like she was the religion he would die for. it wasn't the way james would look at her, the way charlie knew he loved her more than charlie would ever understand. to james, ella hung the moon and the stars, but as she was. this man, this producer, placed her on this pedestal she could never live up to. this time, charlie got the news from a friend. a text, making a stupid joke about how hot his sister was. that's when he heard about the photos, and the world came crumbling around him for the second time. like with cedric, she pulled herself together on her own. forced her head up high as her dreams withered on the vine with a grace that could only come from a woman like her.

neither of them needed him, it seemed as though nobody did. he would stay there, by their sides, in case he could help in any way, but he wouldn't hold his breath. instead, he chose to throw his money and time at something that did need him. animals. especially the large population of at-risk dogs in los angeles. between the homeless dogs and those at rescues with no room, he knew it was a perfect project for him. it gave him a purpose, a reason to keep going. and one day, it would even give him a dream like his siblings'. cedric's was figure skating and ella's was dance. charlie's dream came in the form of a tall, dark-haired doctor with a smile that caused the earth to shift under him. from that first smile, dr noel higgins had changed charlie's life in a way he never believed possible. he finally understood the feeling cedric got when he stepped onto the ice, or ella to the stage.

it wasn't easy for him, though. he wasn't gay, even though his gaze had lingered on his best friend for too long a time or two. charlie was well known for his love of women, even causing him to go so far as siring a child. a little red haired babe from a one-night stand. there was something about this man that made him doubt that. he reached out, looking to start a friendship, offering his help with the doctor's newest pup. anything to keep this mysterious man in his life. things felt so natural between them that before he even realized it, he was in love. the kind of love that he would see in james's eyes when the scotsman looked at his sister. the love he had longed for himself. he wasn't gay, but this...this was so easy for him. so simple. he would watch cedric's routines or ella's dances and wonder how it came with such ease, but now he knew. like all great things, it took work, of course. but his love for noel was so easy to him that he couldn't imagine how he had lived for so long without it.

charlie was not a strong man because he never had to be strong. if he had known that one day, he'd end up here, he may never have gone down this path. the white walls seemed to be closing in around him, smothering him. panic raged outside the tiny room, but the steady beeping was what filled his head. beep, beep, beep, he prayed the beeping would never stop. he didn't know the details of what happened yet, but he didn't care. he cared only about one thing, and that was the unconscious form in the bed.

charlie was nineteen when his father died. a dumb teenager, old enough to feel grief but not mature enough to know how to handle it. he wasn't a religious man, not even close, but that was the first time he ever prayed. not for his father, no, but for his siblings. for his mother. he prayed that god, any god, would give them the strength to make it through this. he would pray for them, and bottle his emotions up inside him. he could deal with it when he was dead. he held it together so his family could fall apart. that became his coping mechanism. push everything down and down. hide everything until he dies and he never has to face it. until now. now, he was facing everything head on. the grief of losing his father. the uselessness of not being able to help his brother. the guilt of not protecting his sister. his hands were shaking violently as he held the hand of his love, the weight of the past pressing down on him.

he found himself praying again. this time, it wasn't for his family. he wasn't even praying for noel. he was praying for himself. he was being selfish, he knew that, and he knew it didn't help his cause, but he had no other choice. he knew he didn't deserve this kind of happiness, but he had to try. he prayed to any god that would listen to spare this man. give noel back to him. please. please. without him, the world had no colour. no light. he prayed and he prayed. he wasn't sure how long he had been there. faces came and went, blurs in time. he stayed in that chair, silent and unmoving, afraid to breathe. he was afraid that if he moved, if he spoke to someone or did something, he'd fall apart. he would face every ounce of pain he had ever had inflicted upon him, and it all paled in comparison to this feeling. this heartbreak. the uncertainty. at some point, someone had brought him food. by the look of the contents, it was one of his siblings. likely ella, that was her thing. she had made his favourite, but the two bites of it he took tasted like ash in his mouth. everything was grey and dull. he only sat in silence, staring with blank eyes at the little felt box he twirled between his fingers. the box that should have promised him a future. the only future he's ever wanted. he couldn't bear to open it. not here, not like this.

he heard someone clear their throat and he forced his eyes in their general direction. his eyes refused to focus on anything, but the red hair and white coat told him revealed who it was. he was speaking, but charlie only heard muffled mumbling. something about surgery. nurses came in and began to take the bed away, causing charlie to stand. his legs were unsteady beneath him as he looked down at his love. he leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead, trying to remind himself to breathe. "please, come back to me." he whimpered, his voice cracking. he was begging, pleading. to whom, he had no idea. noel, maybe. or god. "come back to me." he called after them as the nurses wheeled him away. seconds later he crumpled, falling to the floor as if his bones had turned to jelly. he leaned forward into the now empty space where noel once lay, his elbows resting on his knees. for the first time since his father's death, a few tears slipped through his defenses. then a few more. he pressed a hand to his mouth to suppress a sob, his body shaking with the force of the smothered cries. he knelt, hunched over, breaking with an intensity he never believed was possible. he couldn't fight it anymore. he let it consume him, even if it meant he shattered like glass.