#also is criminal how good nate looks in this

[andthatscanon]

dair parallels (143/?)

Gossip Girl 1x14 // Gossip Girl 4x21 // Gossip Girl 5x07 // Gossip Girl 5x22

[thefallenangelsgang]

Fuck it, I'm throwing my hat on the ring about the Emil announcing Nate from Fallout 4 is the bystander Soldier in the Fallout 1 opener.

First and foremost, it was a stupid thing to say. As he backtracks to later, the conceit of Fallout's protags is they are supposed to be anyone (and that issue is precisely why some people hate the extensive prewar character background given to you in Fallout 4). For the lead writer to pull a JK Rowling (why would you do that? None of those went over well) is such a major marketing misstep that it wouldn't surprise me if Emil gets reprimanded for it before we even get into the implication of what he said.

Emil your voice is as good as God when it comes to the canon. You can't just say shit like that and expect it to go well. Especially considering the implications.

Speaking of the implications, I'm not mad about Nate being a war criminal. It's a coloring I actually would welcome if the games discussed concepts like Capitalism, Racism, and War in any meaningful way anymore. And if Emil also didn't say this.

Fallout's canon is rooted in reality. That is part of its whole thing. It's fun to do goofy shit like becoming the Silver Shroud and having a make believe superhero fight with the Mechanist or write a woman obsessed with Nuka Cola so much she traverses two games to basically kidnap the CEO's cryogenically preserved head so she can talk to him for all eternity, but the setting is very much rooted in reality.

You aren't dealing with fictional countries, you aren't dealing with fictional races, you aren't dealing with fictional hypotheticals. That is The Elder Scrolls job. You are dealing with actual countries, actual racism, actual history, and actual fucking politics. You have to be mindful of what you are doing and saying. You can't just do things because it's an interesting plot device without first thinking about the implications.

Fallout's world is a heightened version of our own, a path we seem to stumble towards with ever passing year unless we do something about it. It fucking sucks. I'm sure writing it feels like prophesizing the future and eats your soul a bit. It would mine. But that doesn't mean Fallout can just take a sharp left in terms of story and reality and get away with it.

To have Nate be the bystander Soldier and then meet him when he has a very good thing going for him (an expensive house during an inflation crisis, a robot butler, he gets into a vault for free for fucks sake) very much speaks to life rewarding him for his crimes. There is no hatred in his words when he looks at the flag of the country that made him kill innocents. His speech is speaks of remorse for leaving his family and the cycle of war, it does not speak of the horrors. Of watching you comrades bleed out in the Anchorage snow. Of the scream of shells overhead. Of the fear in civilians eyes as your buddy puts a bullet between them.

You all have to see how it looks like the man is fine with what he had to do during the war, right?

Not interacting with these concepts enough paints a picture of apathy and acceptance. In this day and age where being keeping the government honest and responsible for their actions is so important, that isn't going to slide without it being EXTREMELY purposeful, which it is not. It's tone deaf and lazy.

I respect a lot of what Emil has done in the past, but I am not above keeping him culpable when he has something so delicate in his hands. I hope this situation is what he needed to get his head on straight, or is the light bulb moment where he realizes he needs to pass the torch onwards. There is no shame in subject matter becoming too much as time goes on. There is shame in letting a previously critical series become the very thing it was criticizing.

He is going to keep getting dragged until he realizes that or he manages to convince the fans to be complicit in the degradation of setting. In doing so he is going to lose Bethesda most of its biggest fans who well and truly love the series and what it stands for.

But that's just my take, and I'm just a kid who studies polisci and history and can't shield myself from the inherent horror of nuclear war no matter how much I try.

War really never changes

[carisisrolledupsleeves]

79. "we're not just friends you know that" with Sonny please please

thank you anon, i hope you like.....listening to one of my favorite songs (First Love/Late Spring by Mitski) inspired this....also Peter in Mutual Friends gif because I needed something pre-SVU (also i love Nate sm, iykyk)

i got a bit carried away with this ngl

PS: to anyone else sending prompts, im gonna be super busy in the next few days so i have no idea when ill be able to write again but keep on sending them!

‘Carisi, I swear to God you stay the fuck away from me with that water gun!’ you squeal while running to the other side of the pool to escape the ice-cold water stream he’s been trying to aim at you. 

‘You’re gonna get wet eventually!’ he warns with a smirk, making it sound incredibly suggestive. 

You shake your head at him and roll your eyes but you can’t help blushing at the same time. Admittedly, you love his childish attempts at teasing you, and you know in this atmosphere and with all the alcohol flowing this weekend, the flirting will only get worse. Not that it ever leads to anything. You’re just friends, it’s innocent. So far. And you tell yourself you don’t want it to go further even though you catch yourself staring, your eyes wandering over his body as he takes off his shirt. 

It’s always been like that between you two. Ever since you met as undergrads at St. John’s a few years ago, taking the same sociology course. Sonny ended up sitting next to you, and that same evening you found each other again at a party and had started talking. He was sweet, and funny, and you could see yourself falling for him immediately if it hadn’t been for your recent heartbreak, that grueling breakup from your highschool sweetheart. You’d still had feelings for your ex although looking back now, it must have been nostalgia, and the fact that along with him, you had left girlhood behind for good. Going off to college meant becoming an adult and starting this new chapter was scary. When you met Sonny, all you needed was a friend. And he had been an amazing friend to you all these years, without ever asking for more. 

‘What’s that?’ your girlfriend asks, pointing at your chin and you avert your gaze from Sonny. 

‘What?’ you instinctively touch your face.

‘Oh, it’s nothing. Just swear I could see a bit of drool there.’ she laughs and you shove her.

‘Stop!’ 

‘Hey, I don’t blame you! He is hot. And you know he’s been checking you out in that bikini.’ she states and you swallow the lump in your throat just to let out an awkward laugh. 

‘We’re just playing around. You know how he is. It’s not that serious.’ you don’t know who you’re trying to convince, her or yourself. 

It’s true, your friendship has always been on the verge of becoming something more. The flirting wasn’t even the worst of it; it was the intimacy you shared, the fact that you had always been there for each other when times got tough. When Sonny questioned his choice of becoming a cop after finishing his degree in criminal justice, wishing he had gone to law school instead of the police academy. When your mom had that cancer scare and your dad was losing it, absolutely helpless and unable to take care of himself while she was getting her treatment. It wasn’t just fun and games. At the end of the day you had a deep and true friendship, and neither of you wanted to throw that away. 

But you can feel something shift. It is the way he looks at you as the sun goes down on that first day of your 4th of July weekend. Between laughs and giggles your eyes meet and he gets all quiet and serious, and there’s something in the air you can’t quite grasp. Or maybe it’s the way that friend of a friend asks you about him. If he’s single, and her smile in his direction when you tell her he’s not seeing anyone as far as you know. And then as you get tipsy in order to forget about it all, you realize that he’s keeping his distance for some reason, when he would normally be right by your side, having shots with you, annoying you with his lame jokes. 

Your phone vibrates and it’s a text from Sonny. A song by one of your favorite artists that you weren’t even aware he knew of. You look up to scan the crowd for him and find him sitting by the pool by himself, a bottle of beer in his hand. 

But I find that lately I’ve been crying like a tall child

You know the lyrics by heart, and there it is again, the lump in your throat. And that devastating feeling in your gut you’ve ignored so many times in the past. The longing to be close to him, to reach out and touch him, you’ve fought time and time again. His eyes meet yours and you draw in a sharp breath, wishing he would just go back to goofing around with you instead of this. Because this, you can’t come back from, you can’t undo.  

The only thing you can do is flee but he catches up with you just as you reach the top of the stairs, about to go hide in your room. Sonny’s hand grabs yours and you turn around to face him. And all of a sudden his lips are on yours.

Even if you wanted to protest, you can’t. It feels too good. After the initial shock you kiss him back, your hands are around his neck as his wrap around your waist. Maybe this isn’t right but you want it. You want him. Finally admitting it to yourself is your doom but what if it’s a blessing at the same time? Harboring this secret for so long, these fantasies you had about him and you, what if he’s had them too? Or was it all just another silly little game encouraged by the summer heat and booze?

Please, hurry, leave me, I can’t breathe

Please don’t say you love me

A spark shoots through you and starts to linger between your thighs as his tongue slips into your mouth, a needy moan on his breath. No, you can’t. You can’t give in to this if it’s simply a desire you have to satisfy, or curiosity. Your friendship means too much to you, and it would ruin everything. 

One word from you and I would jump off of this ledge I’m on, baby

Tell me “don’t” so I can crawl back in

You push him away and Sonny gives you a confused look, searching your eyes for the answer to a question that hasn’t been asked. 

‘We can’t, Sonny.’

‘Why not?’ 

‘Because…I know we would regret it. And then I would lose my best friend.’ you reply, looking down on the floor to avoid his blue eyes piercing into yours.

‘We’re not just friends, you know that.’ he whispers, his finger under your chin lifting up your head again. 

‘Don’t…’ you’re scared of what he’s going to say next but it bursts out of him.

‘I’ve been in love with you since the day I met you. But I knew you were hurting and being your friend was enough for me. I would never ask for more if I didn’t think it is what you wanted as well. And now we’ve been in denial for so long, and I keep thinking, what if it’s all in my head, y’know? So, please. Tell me it’s not all just in my head.’ he pleads and you can see his eyes filling with tears and it feels like your heart is twisting around itself in your chest. 

‘It’s not just in your head.’ you assure softly, your hand reaching out to touch his cheek where an ecstatic smile appears. 

‘So you’re in love with me too?’ Sonny asks, sounding like a little boy. 

It’s time to let go of your fears. Your own insecurities that had been holding you back although he had always brightened your day, always made your heart beat faster, ever since he asked you your name on that very first day of college. 

‘I am, Dominick. I’m in love with you.’ you confess, biting your lip shyly before kissing him again. 

A sweet, timid kiss, and yet it doesn’t take long until you pull him towards your room, shoving him against the door the second it closes. He groans, his hands traveling under your short sundress before almost tearing it off you. The rest of your clothes, and his, follow, landing all across the room. 

‘Fuck, you should always be naked. You’re so beautiful.’ Sonny breathes as you push him down on the bed, straddling him. 

‘I would get arrested.’ you grin, feeling him hard against you.

‘Good thing I’m gonna be a cop soon.’ he chuckles, his hands wandering over your body, making you tremble as one finds its way to your wet folds.

‘Dominick…’ you moan his name as he starts dragging his fingers back and forth through you, his thumb on your clit, massaging there. His touch is heavenly. 

You lift your hips again to guide his hard cock into you, letting him fill you to the hilt as you sink down on him. Fuck. In all your wildest fantasies you could have never imagined how amazing he would feel, stretching you in the most delightful way, throbbing so deep inside you. His thighs tense as he lets out the prettiest moan, taking in the sensation of your pussy around him, so wet and tight.

‘God, baby, you…-fuck!’ Sonny pants as you start moving on him, your fingers digging into his shoulders, waves of pleasure already crashing over your body. 

Finally being with him is exhilarating. The way he grips your hips, pulling you down harder onto him, showing you exactly how badly he wanted you for all this time. And you’re desperate for him too; your lips on his neck, sucking, licking, nibbling as blind passion takes over. His deep moans are music to your ears, unleashing something inside you you didn’t know was there before. You push him back on the bed in order to ride him harder, and his mouth hangs open as he watches his cock disappear into your glistening cunt. It doesn’t take long and you’re both panting hot messes, close to your orgasms. Sonny reaches down to find your clit, rubbing tight circles and you clench around him in response, feeling yourself climbing towards that peak and you steady yourself on his chest, smiling down at him. 

‘’You’re so fucking hot.’ you purr breathlessly. ‘You’re gonna m-make me c-cum. Fuck! Dominick!’ 

He thrusts up into you roughly, hitting that sweet spot just right, sending you over the edge. You come hard, scratching his skin and making him hiss as your pussy twitches around his cock. Your orgasm is earth-shattering, and if it wasn’t for the loud music downstairs, everyone would have heard your moans, the string of curse words leaving your mouth as you shake. You keep riding him, your flushed body grinding against his as you feel him tensing beneath you, and he spills into you, crying out your name. Fuck, having him come inside you makes you feel even more delirious; having him rub your clit still, making you pulsate around him again and again. 

When you finally collapse next to him you are both struggling to catch your breaths, and your thighs are still shaking as he pulls you close, kissing your hair. You remain like this for God knows how long before you decide you’re in need of a shower and you get up, dragging Sonny with you to the bathroom where you turn on the light.

‘Oh shit!’ you gasp, staring at his chest.

‘Guess I will have to keep my shirt on for the rest of the weekend.’ Sonny states, as he looks down, noticing the red scratch marks all over his upper body.

‘I’m so sorry.’ you cover your mouth with your hand, looking at him apologetically. 

‘Don’t be. I like it.’ he bites his lip, wiggling his brows at you. 

You have to laugh, and he reaches out to tickle you, to make you laugh even harder. The excitement of it all makes you dizzy. Dominick makes you dizzy. And your hands are all over him once more as you step into the shower, the feeling of his body pressed against yours making you moan again.  

request a prompt from the smut prompt list 🔥

[ragingbookdragon]

Does This Unit Have A Soul

Nick Valentine x Sole Survivor

Word Count: 1K Warnings: None

Author's Note: ...I do in fact have a desire to fuck the robot

It is, a lonely night that she finally comes to the realization that there’s something more than just friendship for the synth. The radiation storm coming has her upping the speed to find the nearest shelter and just as the first burst of sickly thunder snaps across the land, she’s pulling Nick and Dogmeat inside the small building. It’s musty, the last traces of a trader caravan evident as the layers of dust cover over one another.

She drops her gear, shucking off the leather jacket and armor before collapsing onto the ground, already pushing RadAway into her body to cleanse the burst of radiation she’d received from the storm. Dogmeat busies himself turning about three times before he plops down beside her with his head on her thigh. Nick, however, is pushing a chair up against the door and laying a landmine. It makes her laugh lowly in her throat, remembering the time she and the original Nick Valentine shared a hotel room together when they were on a case. He’d pushed one of the wooden chairs up underneath the doorknob and put a bottle behind it. You’re paranoid. She’d told him and he, being the wise-ass he was had cracked back, Yeah, and paranoid cops survive.

The chuckle is loud enough to register in his CPU because he looks over his shoulder and, “What?”

“I didn’t say anything,” she retorts, and he rolls his eyes.

“You were laughing.”

“I was not.”

“You were too.”

It slips out before she can help it. “You’re paranoid.”

Nick freezes, like he’s been struck by lightning and she sees it when he obviously remembers, because he lowers his head and replies, “Yeah, but paranoid detectives survive.”

She’s never explicitly told Nick she knew the original man, but she also knows this is still Nick Valentine, and he’s always been as sharp as a whip and able to jump to answers faster than light. She smiles softly, almost sadly as she asks, “How long have you known?”

Nick sighs, shoulders drooping as he turns and walks over and sits beside her along the wall. “Since just before helping me with Winter.”

“How come you never said anything?”

He shrugs. “You and Nick, the thing you two had back then wasn’t mine to intrude on.”

“It wasn’t like we were a thing, Nick. I was just his best criminal attorney and he my best detective.”

“But you knew.”

“Knew that he loved me?” she laughs. “Nick didn’t love me. Lust, maybe, but he never loved me. Not like Jenny.”

Nick eyes her for a moment, watches the way those words, Not like Jenny, come out of her mouth, the tone of her voice, the flash in her eye. “Green is best saved for mutants, doll.”

She startles for a moment, wide-eyed staring at him. “I beg your pardon?”

He gives her a knowing look.

“I was not jealous of Jenny. The two of us were friends. Just because Nick and I were good friends more doesn’t mean I was jealous of him having another relationship with another woman.”

“But this was before you married…Nicholas?”

“Nate,” she corrects with a scowl. “And yes, it was before I married him.”

Nick doesn’t say anything, but that annoying hum escapes him, and he lights a cigarette and looks away.

“I wasn’t jealous of her.”

“Of course not. But you were attracted to Nick.”

“Oh, for God’s sake! Anyone who knew Nick Valentine was attracted to him. He was a lady-killer! With that stupid, cocky grin and that face of his! Being a cop was a plus!” And then she realizes it all of two-hundred years later. “Oh my God, I was attracted to Nick the whole time.”

"Well I coulda told you that,” he snorts. “I’ve got loads of memories about his thoughts on you.” He’ll never tell her, but he enjoys the way she flusters at that and looks away. Though, he worries when her demeanor turns solemn. “Doll?”

“I’m sorry, Nick,” she murmurs.

“For what?”

She looks back, eyes sad, lips pulled down. “Back in May of 2077, we knew that it was getting dangerous for Jenny to continue being without witness protection. When the request came in for it, I pushed, but…I didn’t push hard enough and…and then…” her words fall short and she reaches up to wipe her eyes. “Oh, Nick, I’m so sorry. It was my fault that Jenny was killed. I should’ve pushed harder for my bosses to get her in, but I didn’t. Nate was at home with the baby and so much was happening and I just—”

Nick rests his hand on hers, the cool metal stilling her. “You didn’t kill Jenny,” he murmurs. “And Nick knew it too. He didn’t blame you.”

“You should’ve.” That’s the one thing she does, never separates the original and the synth. They’re both Nick, just different times and situations.

“I don’t,” he says and curls his hand around hers. “And Jenny wouldn’t either.”

Her lips wobble and she stares at him. “Do…do you think he and Jenny are resting now?”

Nick nods. “I do. I think their souls are finally at rest.”

She lays her head on his shoulder, cuddles close to him, knees brushing the cool of his thigh. “Do you think ours ever will, Nicky?”

She only calls him Nicky when she flirts with him; it makes his center circuits burst with something fierce. He lets out a deep breath and wraps his arm around her, letting her cuddle against his chest, ear pressed to the synthetic skin beneath his shirt. “I think…when it’s finally your time, doll, and you’re old and white haired, yours will.”

“I said ours.”

“Do you really think this old unit has a soul.”

Her head cocks up, stares him straight in his yellow lit eyes and says, “More than anything, I do, Nick Valentine.”

He smiles, softly at her, ushers her back to lay down, knowing she’s plum-tuckered out; he waits until she’s snoring against him, brushing his fingers through her hair and murmurs, “What a woman.”

Nick used to say that all the time about her. Back when he would watch her take down someone in court. Justice prevailing. What a woman.

But this time, Nick is here, she is here, it’s them against the world.

“What a woman, my girl is.”

[geekynightowl1997]

Okay, okay. You all are probably ANNOYED about my Leverage posts- and I was on the fence about posting this one because I'm only on season 3. However, I just have SO many thoughts and I need to process them. So- here it goes;

*takes a deep breath*

Leverage is home. Like, I don't- I don't know to explain it. In another post I said the show was intoxicating and that's still true. But it's also- it's also home. Maybe I'm the only one, but when I watch it- I feel like I belong. Which is ridiculous. I'm not talented at all- but Leverage is almost like a security blanket. It's- it's safe and warm... it's home.

The only thing I can think of why it's home is because of them. Because they make it feel like home. They make feel safe and like your being cared for. Like your not alone. Even if you don't think your good at something- Leverage has your back. It gives you a sense of security. Which is weird because their criminals. But- like they said; Sometimes the bad guys are the only good guys you get.

I mean- you have Nate Ford who is always two to three spaces in front of the bad guy. Who sits there and listens to victims and gives them hope. Who talks to his team and bounces ideas off of them- instead of talking down to them. He's the kinda guy that watches from the background and sees all sorts of angles. Gets into the minds of both the victim and assailant. And if the con goes wrong- he has a second one ready to cover. Whose weakness is an empty bottle in an occupied barstool.

You have Sophie. A terrible actress whose good at acting. She can play any part. Be unseen- while being seen. Whose brave, kind, and gentle- but can kick butt when needed. She's not a damsel in distress- but she'll play the part. And the thing about that part is; it's so convincing- even she believes it too. Despite that- she's honest and sincere, she'll tell you what she thinks. Her heart is gold. Her trust is thin. She's like a snake- hypnotizing. Her weakness is the love she gave to a man who thinks too much and feels too little.

You have Eliot. A man that- if you just look at him- you'll just shrug him off. He's like any other brute. Big and brawny. And that's why you shouldn't ever judge a book by it's cover. He's so much more than that. Yes. He's brawn. A real southern charmer. But he has a brain and a heart. He's that big brother and gives you hugs and you can't help but melt into the security of that feeling. That feeling of safety that you just know has an ocean of anger underneath. But your not scared, you can't be scared. Not of him. He's the kinda guy you run towards- because you know he'll keep you safe. And yeah- maybe he'll use his brawn to keep you safe, but he'll also use his brain and his heart. He'll get you out of the situation in one piece with a grumble and a growl. His weakness is his kindness and that's why doesn't let it show.

You have Alec. The brainiac. The hacker- who isn't all that much to look at (compared to Eliot,) at least not at first glance. Yet, there's something about him that screams safe. Just as much as Eliot. He's outgoing and kind. Smart and funny. And the way that he's got everyone's back- even when it doesn't seem like it. He's your go to- to find any kind of internet mistakes and he's a good shoulder to cry on. He's that brother who is dorky, awkward, and nerdy- but he's honest and sincere. His weakness is not being able to be there when it really matters.

And- and you have Parker. The thief. The master thief- that didn't belong anywhere. Nimble and lean as she flips and slinks through vents. She's the little sister the family didn't know they even wanted. Until finally they realized she was what they needed. She's bright and cheerful despite how she grew up. Her life wasn't easy foster care and street living is a rough life- but she still believes in good things; Santa clause, Nate, Sophie, and Eliot. Most importantly she believed in Hardison. She was on her own until she was found and working with a team. Then she belonged to them. Everything she had done- was so that they knew she loved them. Her weakness is having the ability to not get caught.

To end this; Leverage is an amazing shoe- because it reminds us that no matter our background. No matter how many times we've messed up and haven't belonged- we are all human. It tells us that we will find our home, our tribe, our safety. That no matter our weakness- we'll always have somebody who can take our weakness and become our strength.

I'm only on season 3. I'll more than likely have more thoughts come by season 4/ season 5. (If you agree or disagree- don't hesitate to message me!

[spopsalt]

spop fans: " I hate Scorpia so much, she invades Catra's personal space even if Catra told her many times that she doesn't like hugs or to be touched "

Me on my mind because i'm too scare to reply ( srs ) : Catra literally invade Adora's personal space and did it in a worse way, are this people okay or do they need help ?

no 'cause srs, friend, everytime i saw this i really wanna say something but i'm scare spop fans cancel me for it also idk how people can hate Scorpia for invade Catra's personal space when she did the same to Adora but worse ( maybe worse than Mother Gothel in tangled ). I mean if you are gonna hate Scorpia for doing that at least hate Catra too for it. The truth friend is that it's comfimerd that C//A shippers are blind. Also i don't hate Scorpia she's my second fav character and i hate so much that people dislike her only because she's too friendly ( like why hate the nice/friendly/sunshine character but not the toxic, abusive, gaslighte catgirl ? also i don't understand how the abuse is normalized like something goood, if the series showed that the abuse is wrong making Adora realize that Catra have 4 seasons tried to kill her and her friends, was a war criminal, have torture/gaslight/manipulated her and tries to go to therapy or change and then in s5 make glimmadora canon then it would okay ig ? because it shows to the kids to be careful with the abuse or that if a friend of their is having an abusive relationship that they help them to go out of it but NO! it shows the contrary saying that if you date your sister and abuse her for years that would save the unniverse and it's very disrespectful for the LGTB comunity and for people that have adoptive sisters, people just like it because it's a lesbian ship but shera looks like more a homophobic series when the abuse is normalize and i hate but really hate when they compare it to arcane or other series that are good because their ship for example caitvi/ bubbline/ lumity did it so much better because the creator of those series took their time to develop to make the ship healthy but Nate what he did is just rush everything in the last moment and make the ship looks forzed and bad )

Thanks for the ask! And exactly! Their is so much hypocrisy, if you want to hate Scropia for that fine, (I love scropia but I'm saying its a fair reason), but hate Catra for it too, when Catra does it its way more invaise and not done with good intentions

[liesmyth]

omfg pls pls do a TL s3 rewrite/au you could do it a million times better and actually keep the characters true to themselves rather than make them sitcom-victims

I am ITCHING to.... there are so many half baked ideas for S3 rewrites floating around in my head. I actually like so many of the elements the show introduced, I just hate where they went with it.

I yearn for those glorious moments in 3.01 & 3.02 where it looked like the show was actually going in the direction of giving Roy some self-doubt around his coaching career, how he felt like he had to step up in Nate's absence and would be lacking. How he's clearly someone who had a massively successful career out of doing the most of his innate talent and blatantly sucks at being a beginner at anything and will outright refuse to do things he can't do perfectly. Alas, for most of the season, we got Roy being a punchline :(

ZAVA oh my god. They could have done. SO many things with Zava. The team's reaction to Zava. Jamie's reaction to Zava. ROY'S reaction to Zava was criminally understated.

Keeley's whole office plotline. I actually really liked how they introduced Shandy, because she provided a very clear contrast to how Keeley's life used to be pre-series vs how she's now AND she genuinely had good insight! While being terrible at other parts of the job! It could have been a great tool to explore themes of classism, Keeley coming into her own in a supervision role, giving us a glimpse of WHAT Keeley's life is like separately from whatever ongoing relationship she's in. (I have so many thoughts about how she apparently cut down heavily on her social life once she started hanging out with Rebecca / living with Roy.) I also have so many thoughts about how Keeley's career change must have looked like FOR HER; the show in 2x12 frames it as "leaving Richmond", but there's so much involved in a decision of making such a drastic career change! Her life completely changed in a year and a half! Keeley Keeley KEELEY. (I think about her a normal amount)

Trent and Ted. Trent and Roy. Trent and Colin.

Nate's arc could have been about him struggling with the man-management side of the job. We also saw in S2 that he resented Ted getting credit for when his tactics saved the day, and Roy told him it was part of the job description — the boss takes the praise but also takes the heat when things go badly! I would've loved to see Nate dealing with that side of the job as well.

I would remove the sex tape leaks plotline altogether. If anyone has his sex tape leaked it should be a grainy VHS of Roy on holiday circa 2003. And give Keeley the chance to step up and do her JOB in a cool way in different circumstances.

... and like five other different things. S3 gives me brainworms in the way "shoddily written piece of canon with SO much potential" always gives me brainworms

[gina103]

Tiny Treasures (Nathan Drake x tiny!reader)

I know absolutely nothing about the Uncharted series other than the 2022 movie which I literally watched last night. Hopefully, this will get me out of my writer's block. Also note that the reader is female in this!

word count: 675

Nathan had no clue what he was looking at.

Nothing Sully had explained about this mission could've prepared him for this moment. Here he was, in the basement of some billionaire, trying to steal something that was incredibly valuable, and highly sought after by all kinds of rich people and criminals alike. Apparently, this something was worth billions, but Nathan had no idea that this wasn't a something, it was a someone.

You were sat in a bird cage, and you were so incredibly small. Nathan was pretty sure a New York City rat could take you out any day. You trembled in fear at the sight of him, crumpled up in the back of the cage, trying to appear even smaller than you already were. Besides your miniscule stature, you were so perfectly normal-looking, so human in your movements, in your fearful eyes, and in your shaking form. Nathan felt a surge of responsibility in his chest, he couldn't let some billionaire or criminal keep you for their own evil interests, he knew he needed to protect you at all costs.

"Hey Kid, what's the hold up? Whaddya see?" Sully's voice spoke from his earpiece.

Nathan didn't know where to begin.

"Yeah...about that, I don't think we can sell this, Sully."

"What the hell does that mean?"

"It's not a thing, it's a girl..." Nathan slowly walked closer to the cage, noticing the way you seemed to shrivel up in utter fear at his presence.

"A girl? Are you joking?"

"Yeah..." He studied the lock on your cage, locking eyes with you in the process. He could only imagine what you had been through so far.

"Hey, hey, it's ok. I'm gonna get you outta here, don't worry," Nathan uttered to you. Even though he lowered his voice, you still flinched.

"Kid? Are you gonna explain, or are you just gonna leave me hanging here?"

Nathan stepped back from the cage to look around for the key. "Listen, Sully, you're just gonna have to see for yourself, I'll see you when I get up there."

"Hey! Wai-" He turned off his earpiece before Sully could finish.

Once he found the key, Nathan bent over before your cage once again. Trying to give you a reassuring look, he put the key in.

"Hey, I know this is all really scary and stuff, but I promise you I want to help. You're gonna have to trust me, ok?"

"How do I know?" You suddenly spoke, catching Nate off guard, "How do I know you aren't just like the others? That you aren't just going to sell me for a profit?"

You stared him straight in the eyes as you spoke, so you were courageous too?

"To tell you the truth, you don't," Nathan answered bluntly, "But I can tell you right now, I will do everything in my power to never let that happen again. It's your choice whether to trust me or not."

You seemed taken aback by his honesty, he opened the cage door and held his palm up, giving you the choice to walk on or not. You had been through so much up to this point, and you knew that trusting other people at this size wasn't a good idea. But something about the sincerity in this gigantic brunette's eyes was melting your resolve.

Nathan's heart leapt when you walked closer to the cage door, he was much happier than he'd liked to admit, you had chosen to trust him.

Slowly, you stepped onto his palm, hoping to God that you wouldn't regret this.

"That's it, you're doing great, sweetheart," He said softly, "My name's Nathan by the way." The sensation of your little body in his hands was positively electric, when you were finally settled, Nathan couldn't help but feel that you fit perfectly there.

Ignoring the way your heart fluttered at the nickname, you looked up into his chocolate brown eyes. "(y/n)," you answered.

"Pleasure to meet you, (y/n)," A smile bloomed on Nathan's face, "Now, let's get outta here."

[antispopausandstuff]

a discussion ( IMPORTANT )

.

hello, everyone.

i will get to the much more important matter of this first and foremost, and then get into much smaller details after.

if you are not aware, Palestine is suffering a genocide at the hands of Israeli government and military, and Palestine's connection with the outside world has been almost completely cut off after a bombing hit the center that controls all communications.

right now, Palestine is suffering even more bombings. to give you a picture in what has happened to them in detail:

there are now very little reporters and journalists to give word on what is currently happening, and they are getting murdered.

there is no way for the people to call 911 // 101, leaving many to slowly die or not have a chance at coming back.

they have cut off their electricity, water, food, and medical aid. they have left Palestine with nothing.

they have bombed hospitals, and are currently trying to bomb the largest hospital ( with 50,000+ inside ), under the claims ( with no evidence ) that terrorists // the hamas are inside.

since the attacks, over 7000 people ( 2000+ children ) have died, and there are documents of every single one of them. it is said there are even more.

even more is happening, and there are many recordings, articles, photos, etc. of the horrors of this genocide.

children are being buried under rubble in their sleep, they are praying for safety, for help, for protection, spouses are being torn apart, homes older than most of my community are bombed down into nothing. this is not a war. this is genocide.

families are being torn apart. children are becoming orphans. spouses are becoming widows. nothing justifies this, nothing justifies the slaughter of thousands of innocents.

in order to help:

demand a ceasefire ( this will send you to a site that has multiple options on how to help ).

share everything you know about Palestine's suffering. ( a good start is sbeih.jpg )

boycott companies ( the big 3: starbucks, mcdonalds, and disney plus, but please look into more ).

make donations to Palestine. ( there are also fundraisers on all of my instagram accounts )

inform your friends, family, anyone you can of what is happening. do not fall for the propaganda.

it is vital for their survival to do as much as we can to support them, to stand and fight for them. please, do not ignore this. do not look away. do not get used to what is happening. please, please, please do not stop caring for all of Palestine.

free Palestine.

.

i have made the rebranding for this account recently, but before i was aware of this horrifying act of inhumanity. now that i am more knowledgeable of this, it has changed a lot of how i view life.

it doesn't feel appropriate now, to call my take on this show as a story of war, with what i do know. the acts of the horde are very similar, if not exact, to the acts of the government on Palestine.

with this all in mind, how nate has made the original she-ra into what it is "known for" today has me absolutely appalled and disgusted, more than ever before. spop is not a story of love, it is a story of war criminal apologists, and war criminals getting a happy ending, because they were sad. it is a story of glorified propaganda.

it is a love letter to war criminals, no matter how much people want to argue otherwise, no matter what nate's intentions were. it is a disservice to those who have suffered from war, genocide, abuse, military, starvation, abuse of power, amongst many other things.

why am i bringing this up?

to tell you all that my remake will most likely not be out for a long, long time. i do not want to disrespect the stories told by victims, to bring shame to those who do not deserve it, by making the wrong decisions.

the story will definitely not be the next avatar, it will not be the next anything. but i do not want to be careless, or under the pretenses that i "know enough". i want to be a responsible writer, and that means taking responsibility for what i give to my audience.

so, if you've read this, please do not ask me further questions on how my writing for this story is coming along. this will take time, and time is what will be given. you can ask me about various things, of course ( such as what i will do with characters, relationships, etc. ), but i will not speak on what the story will entail or what it will evolve into.

thank you for your support, and stand with Palestine.

[colorfulyetsinful]

This is a hc timeline list for a fanfic I’m writing (it’s not even about Bruce, I just like writing lore).

No capes au, meaning no power or hero or villains. It’s hard to explain, maybe I’ll go into it more once I publish the fic.

(I’m not sure if this makes sense but I hope it makes sense)

Going one for the Kent’s bc I got plans for Clarky boy >:}

Anyways enjoy!!

Warning ⚠️

-young Bruce Wayne

-and underage drug use (it’s only mentioned)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bruce is basically Damian mixed with dick’s public persona

- basically he’s stand offish and a smart ass with a charming smile

Autistic coded (where Damian gets it from

Chosen not to have friends, but when Clark and Diana became his partners for a group project, he couldn’t get ride of them

Bruce and Oliver had a rivalry going on

hey didn’t realize it at first until they shared a class in 8th grade, and after that they couldn’t stand each other

Him and Harley some how became besties (kinda like how Damian and Colin are)

He scolds her for being interested in a delinquent (joker)

She comes back at him for having a on-off relationship with Talía

Him, Harley, Harvey, Edward, Pamela, and Selina used to sneak out of school to go smoke pot

(Usually on Wednesdays and Fridays every other week)

He definitely went through a rebellious stage

Cheated on his current gf (idk you pick) with Talía

Him and Talía were that toxic couple that shouldn’t be together but are

Kinda like Maddie and Nate but Bruce would never put his hands on her (he wouldn’t and he couldn’t that bitch would beat his ass)

Him and Selina are childhood friends in the sense that they met like 4 time from the age of 8-13 and fully became friends in Highschool

Talía and Bruce are childhood sweethearts

He was a band kid,,,he definitely played the trombone

Also was in a garage band bc of Eddie

He played the drums

Thought he was going to get ride of Harley after graduation

Nah they both were in the same criminal psychology major

Didn’t know how to drive until he was well into uni (he was driven around by a butler his whole life what do you expect)

Him, Clark, and Diana are drinking buddies

Him and Harley stopped being friends after she dropped out of school and ran away with her bf

Selina, Pamela, and Harley had a reunion in jail

Bruce dropped his friendship Harvey bc they both got drunk and had a fight at a club

Finally broke it off with Talía

Well she broke it off with him…he tells ppl his version tho

Lives up to his name as “Gotham’s playboy” for the rest of college

Him and Oliver (Queen) hooked up at a college graduation party

Woke up to matching rings and a marriage certificate

They were both mortified

He took Dick in around the age of 26 (dick was around 6)

Adopted him a year later

A bit clueless, so Alfred basically raised him

He really learned what patience was with Dick

Found and adopted Jason when Dick was about to turn 7 (Jason was still 5 turning 6)

Thought he was doing good bc now Dick had a friend :D

It didn’t work

Dick was ok about Jason, just was annoyed with Bruce

He lost his parents, anger is one stage of grief

“Now you know how it feels to raise a child, Mister. Bruce”

Yes Alfred is so smugges

But Jason is Bruce’s baby

Jason was such a good boy he couldn’t see how any one could be mean or say anything bad about him

He became such a family man

Him and Selina start having a physical relationship after Jason was adopted

They aren’t really dating bc they didn’t want to “be committed to anything”

Lowkey dating

He help Clark and Lois get together

He was also the best man for their wedding

Also a groomsman for Oliver

Adopted Tim and Cass a few weeks later (the judge looked at him crazy) when dick was 10, Jason 8, cass 9, and Tim 7

Told Alfred there will be no more kids after them

Haha

He helped Kate with the legal team to adopted Harper and Cullen

Since Lucius Fox and him were working long hours, he suggested that the kids have a sleepover

He regretted it later on bc too much kids in the house

But he was happy that his kiddies were talking to other kids that wasn’t themselves or their cousins

(It still didn’t help their social skills)

He also helped Harley turn a new leaf and got her back on her feet after she finally ended things with her ex

She slowly became the family therapist

Her and Bruce also fixed their friendship and now Bruce regrets Bri going her back in his life

(This is a lie, he actually missed Harley)

Was the one that got her and Pamela the apartment together

Also help both of them finish their degree and even get their doctorate

AND helped them adopt a child together

It was a long process due to their criminal record but nothing money can’t fix

Colin was that child

He’s a little shit but the girls love him

Talia and him had a special night together

(He’s not tied down so it’s not cheating 🙄)

It was back before he even had Dick so he wasn’t with Selina

But that night brought a 9 year old Damian to his foot step when Dick was 13

(Is the math mathing??)

“No more kids, huh” 🤨

“Alfred, I didn’t even know this one existed”

He thought Dick was a hard time???

Damian truly humbled him

Selina loved him but Damian was always guarded with her

He grew to accept her as Bruce’s gf

“We’re not dating Damian”

“Then why tf is she here if your not committed”

Stephanie just added herself to the family after her and Tim started dating

Bruce couldn’t get rid of her after they broke up bc she started dating his daughter

He secretly loves her but honestly she just makes herself at home

Colin is that same way but he’s been here longer then Stephanie so🤷‍♂️

Colin and Damian are besties on accident

- They met at dojo class and was the only one not scared to take Damian 1v1

He got his ass beat, but gave damian a bloody nose so, even!!

Damian is autistic coded

Bruce adopted Duke after Damian

It was the same judge every time

The judge didn’t even hold a trial bc he just wants Bruce out of the court room

“This is the last one Alfred I SWEAR”

“You said that TGE LAST TIME”

It wasn’t but it was t by adopt

He proposed to Selina on Hanukkah/Christmas party when Damian was 12

(Hanukkah/Christmas bc Bruce and Tim are Jewish and raised dick and Jason as Jewish, but Damian, Duke, Cass, and Selina aren’t Jewish)

“I’m not dating her” “we’re not doing any commitment” my ass

It’s been 10 years BRUCE

ANYWWYS she said yes

The kids + other were the wedding party

Damian was the ring barrier

Harley was the maid of honor

Clark was the best man

Other ppl from the league was invited bc Bruce did have other friends in school, but he mostly hanged out with his little group

Selina adopted the kids as her stepchildren

(She loves her little kittens)

They honeymoon in Thailand (Selina is haft Thai)

Another year into their marriage and Selina is pregnant:D

“…”

“…at least this isn’t some kid I found on the street or was from an old fling”

“So you acknowledge that there’s a problem”

They were expecting twins

Bruce is happy to have kids with Selina but some times he wishes he would have stop at Jason

(This is another lie, this man is whipped for his family)

Honestly Bruce is happy how big his family have grown since it was just him and Alfred for so long Alfred is happy that Bruce had grown into such a family man and is happy how he far he’s gone since his rebellious younger years

[isagrimorie]

"When people are wronged, we're here to make it right. Why do we do it? To redeem ourselves from our criminal past. And to use our unique skills against the powerful and corrupt. "

I'm crying. I love this new mission statement.

It's similar to what Nate used to say, and I love the original series intro and wish we had the same intro for Redemption; now we have it here!

Also, it feels like, because this is from Sophie's point of view, how the former criminals felt about why they are doing this.

'Sometimes bad guys make the best good guys.' Feels like there's still a layer between Nate and the 'bad guys' statement because he's always struggled with being the Mastermind and a criminal. It's only in the final season that he's made peace with it.

Everyone in Leverage Redemption on the other hand used to be criminals (to a lesser extent with Breanna). They are actively seeking redemption.

Nate, was for the longest time, the angriest member of the group. And that's honestly valid of him because of how he lost his son but he's also kind of separated himself from the 'criminal' part, loudly in season 1.

And then in later seasons both Sophie and Eliot called him on how he looked down on the rest of the group.

Also, the way Sophie went on with 'we save one person and the next one, and the next one.' felt very early season Angel the Series to me. "If nothing we do matters, then all we do matters."

And it just hit me how much... kinder it is even though none of the team will hesitate and hit you with a mack truck when pushed.

I love this show universe so much.

Also, Our Mr. Wilson is back and I'm so happy!

(You know me, I'm a sucker for the One after the One stories. Thank you, The OC. - Yes, Ryan and Taylor are my OTP, what?).

[sassenashsworld]

An unexpected meeting

A pre-war 'short' story (ok maybe a little long)

Nora went looking for a job

Hell just fell on Nick

Their path crosses the space of an afternoon

Nothing more

Nora curses once again the engine of her corvega blitz which refuses to start. Nate spends so much time fix it, but maybe that’s the problem. Maybe they should have invested in a new car instead of a Mr Handy.

But no, with a poor smile, Nora shakes her head. She couldn’t be on the road right now if it wasn’t for that wonderful Codsworth. She took a few days to get used to his presence and two good weeks to trust him, but definitely, the robot is a plus for the house, Nate still being too often in his head to let her leave the place in peace.

She so much needed this little day off of her duties. She updated her CV and went down to Cambridge to go around the law offices. She decided to start with the bigger ones and finish the morning where she did her training. It will do her good to see Miss Fergus and Master Gerber again. She knows they place is too small to offer her a permanence, but who knows, maybe things have improved in a year.

After spending a short time sipping coffee and making her presentation, she arrived in the district shortly before noon. She entered the small building in the shade of Grenetech Technologies with a little chill of anticipation and was indeed warmly welcomed by the secretary of her former mentor. After some enthusiastic exchanges where are their respective lives, Miss Fergus informs her the boss left very early for Charlestown to represent an BADTFL agent in a nebulous affair. In fact, he forgot his briefcase and the secretary was supposed to bring him for the lunch. Nora offers her with pleasure, still having all afternoon off in front of her and seeing no problem doing a little sightseeing.

Who knows, she might find a law office across the highway. She doesn’t mind having to travel a bit if it’s for a good job. In hope her car doesn’t die automatically every time she stops it.

That’s how she finds herself waiting at the reception of the BADTFL, having tried to borrow a phone. One of the secretaries promised she would be released shortly, but the lines are clogged up due to a scandal about a certain notorious criminal.

Nora begins to find the time long and wonders if Master Gerber will soon leave the office where she brought the documents. Maybe he could take her to the nearest mechanical center so she can hire a tow truck. Seems like a better solution than waiting for a phone to come free.

A man falls heavily on the chair nearby, an officer having escorted him as if he couldn’t walk on his own. Nora detail him for a moment. The man has a beautiful crow wing hair only highlighted at the temples by some grey lines denouncing his age. He has his face hidden in the palm of his hands and seems to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders.

“I’ll get the mail and I’ll be back. Don’t move, detective.”

A detective? Nora often ran into detectives in the courts when she was with Master Gerger, but this one look faint. Most of the detectives she actually remembers is used to look at lawyers with hate or derision. She never gets a chance to talk to one of them in a neutral context. Her curiosity prevails, and perhaps also a certain sympathy for the poor man. No one should be left alone in such a state.

“Eh. Are you okay?”

The man does not react at first, then very slowly, his hands slide from his face and an intensely blue gaze rises on her, a haggard expression turning Nora’s heart.

“I’m sorry?”

“Are you okay?”

A light laugh without any joy. Empty and dark. The little life that seemed to have wanted to surface in this tired face immediately fades away.

“I’d like to lie to you. I’d like to tell you it’s going to be okay. I don’t know.”

He fixed the floor in front of him without adding anything, his arms having come down on the armrests and all his physiognomy falling even more. This time, Nora cannot ignore the distress of the man. She brings her chair closer, placing one hand on the forearm of her opposite. He’s not withdrawing, in fact, he’s just not responding.

“Hey, easy. I don’t think we should have left you alone.”

“What difference does it make…”

She is happy to have come closer because the voice of the man is only a whisper. Despite the very dark tone, the young woman cannot help but find the voice of the man soothing. She knows why he is instinctively sympathetic to her. He reminds her of her father. He reminds her especially of himself in the last few months, as he stretched out the last moments of lucidity he had left and the weight of his fallen existence fell on his heart. Nora’s one turns once again in her chest. She doesn’t know why, but she instantly feels responsible of this stranger. He inspires too much pity. He seems too good to endure such suffering, his voice having too much the accent of comfort to be destroyed by such pain.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

Again, two blue eyes rise on her, almost intrigued, almost as if something were shaking a pile of life in him. He opens trembling lips and then they close. He shakes his head slowly. He looks so helpless. Instinctively, Nora recovers and extends her arms around the shoulders of the man. He must be particularly desperate because he accepts the embrace, surrounding the girl’s waist with his arms.

"Lord, why her?"

Nora has already seen men in such a state of shock. One particular case comes to her mind. Her master made fun of her because she was too warm, too empathetic. He had told her that in the profession, a lawyer could not afford such behavior. But Nora did not care. She chose law to help the weak and the poor, not to make big money.

“I can’t promise you it’s going to be okay, I don’t like to lie neither, but I’m staying here. Take your time.”

She lets the man lie his head on her shoulder and she feels a huge sigh lifting his ribcage. He’s taller than her, he’s an athlete, but right now he seems so fragile she feels like she’s holding a little boy in her arms. She tightens her embrace a little to show him the gesture accompanies the word and they remain a moment in silence. Then he slowly moves away from her, a bit ashamed.

When Nick saw a white veil of snow on the corner of his gaze, that veil spread over the greenest gaze he had ever seen in his life, an angel’s face leaning in his direction and a gentle voice speaking to him tenderly, he believed for a moment the death had finally set him free. But no. She’s a woman. A young woman. He doesn’t know what she’s doing in the BADTFL offices, but honestly, he doesn’t care. He doesn’t care about anything right now. He does not care about yesterday, tomorrow, the agent who must bring him the holotape of his superior and the secretaries who play a game of chess between all the lines that keep ringing.

Nothing matters anymore.

Day, night, cold, hot, good, evil. Nothing exists anymore. Everything is grey and lifeless.

Because Jenny is gone.

Jenny was killed because of him.

Then a heat island landed on him. A small pale hand closed delicate fingers on his arm. He tries to force himself to react, an old reflex. He has always been attentive to people. He has always paid attention to his environment. But now he is unable to shake his torpor. His pain in life. Trying to come back to the surface is starting to suffer again in this way too. He suffers as much inside, but not both at the same time. To be aware of what’s going on around him is to realize that Jenny’s gone. He just doesn’t have the strength. He just wants it to stop.

But the woman keeps talking to him. What does she say? He shakes his head. No, he doesn’t want to talk about it. He doesn’t want to name anything. He doesn’t want to describe anything. He doesn’t want to feel anything. Yet he feels it. He feels the emptiness of his existence. He feels the futility of what was so important to him a few days earlier. He feels the price of his obsession for a criminal who has finally cost him the only real good thing he has ever known in his life. He feels the collapse of everything he believed in before that day.

Then he feels two arms close on his shoulders and he does not even find the strength to resist, to stand up, to make a man of himself. He accepts the comfort which is completely futile but so desired. He closes his eyes. He sees her face. He sees her smile. Her eyes so sparkling with life.

“Lord… why her?”

Why, of all the lives that had to be taken, of all the souls that could liberate the earth, did destiny have to fall on his Jenny? The confident and warm voice is heard again a few inches from his ear.

“I can’t promise you it’s going to be okay, I don’t like to lie neither, but I’m staying here. Take your time.”

For the first time since the beginning of the apocalypse, someone talks to him frankly, tells him the truth. No nonsense. None of this ‘is going to be ok’. No stupidity about time passing and healing wounds. No promise of a better tomorrow. Just the truth. Brute. But at the same time, the sweetest thing he’s heard since his phone rang in his office to announce the end of his universe. He poses the head against the friendly shoulder of a stranger who has offered herself without counting and feels for the first time in days a tiny bit of existence returning to him with some balm of kindness.

This woman, this stranger, why is she doing this? He doesn’t know. And he doesn’t want to know. For now, it’s simply an angel from heaven who seems to take some of his pain on her own shoulders for no reason. And he accepts it. He can’t do otherwise. All his despair hangs on this tiny island of appeasement. He doesn’t know how much time passes. The agent comes back and hands a holotape. The woman takes it and thanks him, keeping the detective in her arms like a mother who protects her child from something possibly threatening. The agent leaves. Nick finally shakes himself.

Nick shakes and suddenly realizes what just happened. He slowly straightens up, raising a curious gaze towards the woman who gently lowers her hand along his arm, as if she wanted to assure him she would not break the contact unless if it’s what he desires.

What a strange choice of words. Nora doesn’t understand why she told him that. But at the same time, she understands. One day, a few years ago, when she was picking up the shreds of her existence, she would have liked to have been comforted. His parents had tried, clumsily, but at the same time they were too much struck by shame. She had been left in her room, alone in the dark to cry all the tears of her body. The family’s honor had been violated and her parents had only one hope: she would rise and act as if nothing had happened.

"Lord. I beg your forgiveness."

“No, don’t do that. We all need help eventually. I don’t understand why you were left alone. It’s obvious you must not be abandoned.”

She looks around and sees the embarrassment of a few people, here and there. The same impression. People are uncomfortable. They’d like that cop to disappear with his despair rather than burden them with the misfortune of his presence. They don’t dare chase him, they’re not so monstrous. But those who aren’t too busy to notice just don’t know how to react. Like these nurses when Nora came to pick up her father in a few hallways where he had escaped. They just wished they could tie him up, but the family was against it.

Problems. Problems we don’t want in a society of pomp.

Nora turns again to the detective who always stares at her, seeming to wonder where this person who pays attention to him can come from. She smiles at him gently.

“Do you want to go for a coffee? Are you hungry?”

Nick expected her to ask him if he was better. People who tried to offer him comfort always asked him that just before leaving him, reassured by his half-answer and his coarse lie. But not her. The glance on him perfectly reflects the opposite. She knows he is not better and doesn’t try to fall into a sterile illusion that would only serve to free her from his cumbersome presence.

“A… a coffee?”

He tries to think. For a minute, all his thoughts escape him, and he doesn’t even remember what coffee is. Then the next moment, he remembers Jenny who always came to offer him a last cup before going to bed, while he continued to strip the late files he did not give up peeling until too late at night.

“A cup of coffee. I saw a little bistro down the street. I think I was completely forgotten and…”

She claps her hand.

“I think you also finished with BADTFL.”

“Yes. I’m done.”

He takes the holobande she’s handing him and weighs it for a moment, then puts it on the free bench next to him. The stranger’s hand still hasn’t left his arm, as if she was trying to breathe life into him through this contact. And it seems to work. He feels able to move. He feels able to get up. To go. Where? He doesn’t know. To the bistro for now. That’s enough.

Nora gets up and takes his arm, as she so often took her father’s, lost in a world he didn’t recognize. They progress slowly, at the rhythm of man, she doesn’t want to rush him any more than what precipitated him into the abyss. He walks with her, one step at a time. They gather on the steps in front of the regional office. They walk down the street. They enter the bistro. The young woman puts the man in one seat and then goes to the counter to order two coffees and two crispy chicken wraps.

She doesn’t know if the man will want to eat, but she’s starving. She thought she could eat after she had worn the briefcase to her former boss. Perhaps by discussing work. Now she doesn’t care. She’ll call Nate a little later to explain she’ll probably be late and he’ll have to eat alone. With Codsworth at home, she is not afraid. Her men will be well treated. In the meantime, there is a man here, in his present, who has no one but a pure stranger to support him.

Nick watches the young woman with long white hair heading to the counter. He has rarely seen a woman like that. He sometimes sees them on the paintings in the museum where Jenny liked to spend her Sunday afternoons. Real ladies, all of nobility, whose graceful smile seemed to transcend time and space to reassure visitors that people were watching. And she descended, this noble lady, from her centuries-old painting, to come and take his arm, guide him, penetrate his solitude, and reach him in his despair. She uttered no futile words, no pre-recorded stupidity for situations that escape the ordinary mortal. Because she doesn’t belong to ordinary people. She’s an angel Jenny sent for him. An angel laid there on his way to help him to resume his path. To where? He ignores it. But he knows he must follow the path she will tell him. And it feels good. He doesn’t feel so lost any more. He still feels so bad. He still feels so desperate. He knows when the foreigner leaves him to resume her own path, the immeasurable emptiness of his existence will catch up with him. But for now, for a single moment, he’s not alone.

“I didn’t know if you took it black or latte. I ask them to put a cream and a sugar on it. That’s how I take it. I figured you probably had a trip of bitterness and didn’t need it in your brew.”

He looks up, a moment dazzled. Then he remembers. The woman. She puts a cup of smoking coffee in front of him. A cream and a sugar. Like Jenny. She always said life was pretty bitter, you shouldn’t add to coffee. He also used to take his coffee like that, if only to please her. He closes his eyes by carrying the cup to his lips and during a fraction of existence, he almost feels like he’s back to just before. Right before everything collapsed.

“Do you have family? Friends?”

“No. I’m from Chicago.”

“Damn, that’s a hell of a walk! Do you have somewhere to stay?”

“Yes. I have an apartment in Boston.”

He doesn’t know how he naturally manages to speak with the young woman. She asks her questions, he answers her. He opens to her completely. Especially because she doesn’t ask any indelicate questions. He understands where she’s go. He knows because he often asked victims the same questions in his investigations. Is she a detective? It’s a pretty bad environment for women. But if she’s a detective, it must be one he wouldn’t be ashamed to share a file with. His colleagues are too often… corrupt, disillusioned for the least. Automatons that fill files with so little consideration for the people they describe. He always tried to make a human difference in the balance. People naturally trusted him.

“Which office do you work for?”

She blinks twice, surprised. Then she shakes her head slowly, again this thin amused smile clads on her lips.

“I don’t have an office yet. I was trying to find one. I took my day off from my baby to get there, but it ended in a car breakdown. My husband will probably try to accuse me of pushing it too hard.”

She has light laughter. Not at all insulting. Just natural. She has a natural inclination to laugh and smile. It seems to Nick she could go through hell with a smile on her face. Maybe she did. She has that glare, despite her youth. That look which has already seen too much and which could have been extinguished, but which decided to set fire to burn everything in its path, in order to warm the hearts of people who could feel the too great cold of existence extend its icy fingers on their hearts. He himself feels the bite melt away. His heart beats again. His lungs breathe again. Each sip of coffee is a Homeric embodiment of the warmth that the white-haired young woman tries to communicate him.

“He’s lucky, your husband. I hope he can keep you safe.”

His lip trembles despite him and his last words stumble. He hopes this husband will be a better companion than himself who let his fiancée die away from him, slaughtered by the criminal he sought to catch.

“He’s a veteran of Anchorage. He’s the very security.”

“But his wife walks the streets of Charlestown picking up complete strangers in her path. He should be must careful.”

He didn’t want to sound so bitter. If the said women did not walk the streets of Charlestown picking up the pure strangers, he would be sinking, at the bottom of his bench, or perhaps he would have managed to move and be sinking at the bottom of the Charles, an idea that has been haunting him for days. As it sinks nearby…

“He taught me how to defend myself. A foreigner should not think he is going to meet a poor damsel in distress. He would probably swallow a crooked bone.”

“So the young lady reverses the roles and picks up man in distress.”

“You’re a detective. I never thought for a moment you could harm me. What I don’t get is none of your colleagues are with you to help you through— anything you’re going through.”

He sighs deeply, resting his cup and noticing with astonishment there is a plate in front of him on the table. A chicken wraps. He loves wraps. With a good layer of mayonnaise that counteracts the acidity of the tomatoes. He slowly takes the sandwich in his hand as if it were some apparitions he still can’t understand, but part of his brain still manages to analyze what the woman says, and he replies.

“I was called to Boston for one case. A big case. A case that smelled bad from coast to coast. A case that doesn’t take just one day and doesn’t leave us overnight. I had a reputation for being good at uprooting the streets, and I was taken to the worst rat cage I’ve ever seen. The problem is I dragged my fiancée there.”

He keeps quiet, the sandwich in his hand, the look in the wave. The woman in front of him takes a bite as if she wanted to remind him how to do it, but she quickly understands he is very far from his frugal meal. However, he ended up shaking himself, giving her a sad look.

“The deal was so well done then I was the one who got wrapped up, and as an expeditious envoy they sent my fiancée ad patre.”

Nora cannot hold back her frightening exclamation. She automatically extends her hand on the table and grabs the one of the strangers.

“God, this is horrible! And you don’t get any help? You were left alone? Damn it, they’re assholes!”

Instead of sinking again into his torment, he is grasped by the spontaneously ordeal language of the one he liked to portray as some divine creature. Despite him, a snort escapes him. The asshole. Yes. He thinks no less. A nice bunch of fuckers, all as much as they are. They wiped their feet clean on him and the dead body of his beautiful Jenny and nothing and no one will ever be able to redeem what was taken from him. But despite him, this woman is so fresh she puts a balm on his heart. Very light, certainly, but when you are really thirsty, a simple drop of dew can taste the sky.

“You really are something, aren’t you?”

“I’m often told that. It cause me problem me more often than not.”

They fall back into silence, somewhere comfortable. Nora continues to eat her sandwich quietly. Nick risks his teeth. A ranch sauce. He prefers mayonnaise. But somehow, this woman seems the very statement to spice up life. He’s not surprised she’s spicing the sandwiches as well. It’s not bad. It’s actually quite nice. Like all those little details she’s punctuated his moments since his path crossed hers.

But they will have to separate. She will go back to her husband. He’ll go back to his sad, empty apartment where all the memories of Jenny will be there waiting for him, blaming him.  Kicking him down. The only bite he took won’t sink. His throat tightens and even if he finally manages to swallow, he understands his moment of grace is over. He managed to veil himself for a fraction of a second, but time and reality have just caught up with him. He rests the wrap on the plate admitting his defeat, feeling again the weight of his misfortune come down on his heart.

“That’s… very kind of you. You’re an admirable person.”

“I don’t think so, no.”

He is surprised in his stride and finds himself unbalanced. These are not so many words, even if they are surprising. But the way she said it. It’s definitely destabilized. He looks at her in surprise. But who in the world answers like that? Who in the world carefully avoids all platonic lines of politeness? It doesn’t even seem like false modesty or denigration. Just a careless throw on the pile. He takes one step; she tells him not to. He doesn’t.

“What...but if... You didn’t need to—

“You needed it. It was enough.”

Facts. She’s stating facts. She neglects any extraordinary feeling with the back of her hand and disconcerts all his attempts to offer her thanks and gratitude by breaking them with the simple establishment of what she considers a fact. His mouth left open.

«One day» she starts with an absent voice, looking towards the window, towards the sky «my universe collapsed. Another day, it collapsed again. And again. All my promises of a better life have been broken one after the other in front of me every time I have tried to move forward in life. They tried to break what I was. They broke the ones I loved. They broke my home. They broke my intimacy. They broke every single face of my identities. And nobody ever reached out to me. Nobody ever hugged me. No one ever comforted me. No miracle happened. I had to create my miracle. It was then broken, again.”

And she smiles. And she laughs. Shit! What is this woman?

“I had a dream, it was stolen from me. I had a situation; it was taken away from me. Life does that. Some are lucky, some are not. Some are born with fortune; some will never finish the month. I would have liked, only once, to find a refuge, at that time. A person who, even for a moment, even for a minute, would have offered me his shoulder. It didn’t happen.”

She finally turns her gaze to him. She turns these two iris so green that one would almost believe them unreal.

“For now, I’m happy. I built something. I found shelter. I started a family. Tomorrow, who knows. The world could fall apart again. But who cares?”

She shrugs her shoulders and tightens her fingers on the man’s hand, advancing a little on her seat as if she wanted to get as close as possible.

“But even if I manage to move forward, even if I continue to rebuild, even if I have gotten used to the idea I have always been alone in the face of horror, I don’t wish that on anyone. I just can’t leave a person in need if I can do something. Even if it’s little. Even if it’s nothing. I can’t help it. You needed someone. I can’t offer you much, but anything I can offer you, I give you.”

He stares at her for a long time in silence, stunned. Then he turns his hand in her and squeezes it back. He could say thank you. Now he knows she will say it’s nothing. He could say a thousand things. Now he knows she will sweep them all away. So, he accepts. He simply accepts. He accepts and somehow that’s the best he can do right now. He feels grateful. He feels something other than emptiness and horror. He feels supported. He feels understood. He does not need to expand, to describe his horror in every detail, to lose himself in tears and pain. She understood that. She heard him. She gave him a little bit of everything she could so he could take a step. Then another step. He doesn’t know where it will take him, but for now, that’s all he needed to rekindle the desire to continue. He does not know if he will recover, but he will seek to do so. If he can find a way forward, he will move forward. His existence no longer makes sense, but he now knows he will do everything to give it back.

“Nick! Thank God!”

Nora and Nick jump when a man rushes in their direction immediately a step made inside the bistro. The detective winks several times as if he had just come down to earth. The woman turns to the newcomer, curious. Captain Jonathan Widmark rushes to the table where they sit and stands in front of Nick.

“Shit, I knew I should have come in person. When the guys from BADTFL told me you left without even listening to the holotape. Look, Nick, I’m sorry. I’m totally sorry. I didn’t know, you must believe me.”

“That’s fine, Captain, you don’t have to get all upset.”

“I told them not to let you go. What you’ve been through… this whole thing. Winter… Jenny.”

The tornado in uniform doesn’t even seem to notice the young woman in front of the detective. She doesn’t know if she should apologize and leave, but somewhere, she’d rather not. The detective seemed to want to open up little by little, but she now sees him collapsing again as the other speaks.

“Look, I gave you instructions on the holotape. The Boston Police Department is paying you for therapy. You must go to the C.I.T. Everything is organized. For your sake and I confess for my conscience, you must do it.”

Nick turns his gaze to the young woman who accompanies him. Only then does Captain Widmark seem to notice her.

“Oh, I… Hello miss. Sorry for my cavalier ways but understand…I was worried sick. You are?”

“A friend” she graciously presents herself with a hand he shakes lightly. “The BADTFL ‘fools’ seemed to have no idea what to do with your detective, so I took him for a bite. Literally. Is it the way the police do to take their good stuff and throw it to the sharks?”

The captain seemed horrified. He took a step back, as if Nora had just slapped him physically.

“N-no. No. I… I was busy in Boston. I couldn’t make it earlier.”

“Surely there must have been man’s death to keep you away from this one.”

“I came as soon as I could” he yells “And when I was told Nick had left the office, I did everything I could to find him. I was at least reassured he walked, so I did all the shopping in the area to try to find someone who would have seen him.”

“Yup. A good cop, a bad case, a river that flows near . Are you aware you did a small marathon? I hope you won’t sleep tonight.”

Nick can’t help it. The corners of his mouth roll up as he holds back his laughter. This woman is quite a case herself. Widmark takes another step back, managing badly the full assault.

“Madam, where are your manners?”

“In the same place as your common sense. You come here all out of breath on your high horse, as if you had beaten heaven and earth in search of your good detective, but the facts are and remain sir that you abandoned my client.”

Nora stands up in her seat and rises slowly, staring coldly at the man. Inside, she has as much fun with the astonishment of the captain as the detective.

“ The B.P.D. pays for psychological care for him? That’s the least you can do. If I had my way, I’d have your damn department spit out damages to bring the city of Boston to its knees!"

“Ma-ma-Madam is a lawyer?”

“Yes. But fortunately for you, my client and I have not finished discussing this case. For the moment, you will understand he has very strong emotions and he doesn’t care about your late apologies. His life has been shattered by you. I do not intend to act as inhumane as his colleagues have dared to do. Now, if you’ll excuse us, I’m trying to put something in his stomach before the starvation does the river’s work.”

The captain seems to have to swallow another two or three tons of air before he has the ability to speak. Nick, for his part, is thrown from the clouds. A lawyer. Their case? He didn’t discuss that case. He didn’t have any discussion. How does she know all that? In the end, wasn’t it chance that put her in his way? It’s just one of those sharks looking for a juicy piece of meat, one of those sharks but in particularly amazing manners? Does he fell into a lawyer trap? He now feels another emotion rise in him. Anger. It rises slowly with realization. The captain apologizes confusingly while the white-haired woman sits down as if nothing had happened. He opens his mouth and when he speaks, his voice is so white with rage that he hardly recognizes it.

“So that was it. I must have thought altruism wouldn’t run the streets. A lawyer. Well, ma'am, I’m not your client. Thank you very much.”

He is reaching for his pocket to take his wallet. He doesn’t want to owe her a sandwich.

“Think again” she commands him with a voice that stops him in his gesture. “This angry person was rushing you into your misfortune. You’re just starting to breathe that he would have choked you. Yes, I’m a lawyer. But I don’t have an office and I’m not looking for a cause. I just felt you didn’t need... this” which she dismissively concludes by pointing at the back of the man moving away.

“You have a funny way of doing business.”

“You’re not a business. You’re a man. You’re a human being. Pity for conscience, it stinks in my face.”

He watches his captain walk away through the window, then looks again at the woman who took a neutral expression, the look lost in her own coffee cup.

“I’m sorry. Maybe I should have warned you. But there was more urgency.”

“Why did you mention…the river?”

“Because one would have to be blind not to see such evidence. I found you in despair and it would not have taken long for one plus one to do two in your head. You would have risen from your seat where you had been left to rot. You would have slowly walked down the street without seeing anything. Then at the end of the way, the Charles would have called you. The promise of deliverance. Your captain could have run, but he could not have caught the fish that would now keep you company.”

He didn’t think he was so transparent. Although on the other hand, he didn’t think of anything in particular. Except Jenny. Except his pain. Except his desire to end it. Yes, he had thought of the Charles. Yes, he had thought of getting up and going to sink his misfortunes to the bottom of the water. But a hand with perfectly manicured nails had landed on his arm. A lively look had dived into his. A woman with a charming voice had dragged him in the opposite direction to the river and had offered him a coffee, a bite.

“Is it too early to ask what you are going to do now?”

He stares at her, trying to think about it. A solution to end his infernal cycle. He was offered one on a silver platter.

“I’m going to Cambridge. I have nothing to lose anyway. At least I won’t have to go…home.”

He chokes on his last word. She again brings her hand to take his. He smiles slightly at her. No, it’s not a lawyer shark. It’s a good person who crossed his path and diverted him from a doom. He must now continue on the road that finally discovers itself in front of him. He still cannot see tomorrow, nor the future. But he sees the next step, and for now, that’s enough.

“Do you have a car?”

He’s caught off guard. No, he doesn’t have a car. He normally uses a patrol the Boston office provides. The city is well organized around public transport and his apartment is in a very lively area. He had not felt the need to buy a car, especially with his meagre salary, especially with the desire to organize a wedding worthy for Jenny. He had come to Charlestown in a taxi and was counting...in fact he had counted on nothing. He acted like an automaton who was only looking for an opportunity to stop moving forward. He was told to take all his files from Winter’s End to the BADTFL, but then he didn’t see the next step.

“No…”

“Mine is a bit capricious, but here’s what I propose. I’ll take you myself to the C.I.T. It’s on my way anyway. Just let me make a call, and then I’ll come back. You don’t move, you promise?”

Damn! This woman likes to order. But right now, Nick needs to be ordered. More than ever. He nods slowly and she continues to smiles at him so warmly, getting up by taking her purse.

“You stay here, you try to take another bite, and then we’ll see what we can do with my old car.”

She walks away but glances in his direction every moment. Even on the public phone, she talks without leaving eyes contact. He feels again a smile taking him by surprise. No, this woman is not a trap, it’s a blessing. Exactly what he needed when he needed it. Just an angel on his path.

Just the kind of person who wants to make the world exactly what he’s always wanted.

In another time, another universe, who knows, they could have made quite a team.

[filthy-reckless-rp]

♛ Spotted on the Upper East Side…

Name: Valentina Mieux Pronouns: She/Her Age: 47 years old Hometown: Upper East Side, NY Occupation: Lawyer Social Status: Insider Faceclaim: Lana Parilla

Who Is Valentina?

"They say I did something bad, then why's it feel so good?”

Spotted: Valentina Mieux, the courtroom queen with a heart of ice and nerves of steel. Word is, she's not just breaking hearts—she’s shattering careers. They say her stare could turn you to stone, but it's her cross-examinations that’ll really leave you breathless. Once a rising star, now a full-blown legal legend, Valentina’s made it her mission to crush anyone who dares stand in her way. Ambition? Check. Power? Oh, she’s got plenty of that. And remorse? Not a shred. Careful, darlings—when Valentina’s on the case, nothing is off-limits. Everyone in her orbit is fair game. Looks like no one’s safe, but then again, they never were. XOXO ---Gossip Girl

A Little Extra

'I always liked to play with fire'. Valentina Mieux is a force to be reckoned with in the world of law, known for her brilliance in the courtroom and a reputation as a ruthless adversary. A high-profile attorney, Valentina has made a name for herself by taking on—and taking down—the biggest names in corporate, criminal, and civil law. Born to a modest family, her rise to the top was anything but easy, fueled by an unstoppable drive, unmatched intellect, and a thirst for justice, or perhaps, vengeance. From the beginning, it was clear that Valentina wasn't just another lawyer. She possessed a sharp mind and an unyielding will, quickly outmaneuvering her competition. Her reputation as a legal shark grew, with whispers of her cold, calculating methods spreading through the legal world. She became infamous for her ability to dismantle even the most ironclad cases, leaving opponents in her wake wondering how they'd lost before the trial had even begun. But it wasn’t just her courtroom victories that made Valentina notorious. Her personal brand of law came with an edge—she didn’t just win cases, she destroyed anyone who dared to cross her path. Her power extended far beyond legal tactics; it was rumored she had her fingers in the political and financial pies of the city's elite. If Valentina was on a case, one thing was certain: the opposition was in for a fight they wouldn’t forget. Despite her icy demeanor and cutthroat reputation, Valentina commands respect across the board. She is a symbol of power, ambition, and unrelenting success. However, her rise to the top has come at a cost—trust and loyalty are foreign concepts in her world, where control and dominance rule the day. Valentina Mieux is a woman on a mission, and no one, not even the most formidable, is safe in her path. Her legacy? Unstoppable, unshakable, and utterly untouchable.

What Does Gossip Girl Have On Them?

She's the second in command of who? That's one secret I'll never tell. XOXO

Connections

Nate Archibald - Valentina was the Archibald family lawyer for most of Nate's life. She was absolutely horrified when she learned about what Howard had done. The hurt that it caused the family... Valentina's going to do everything she can to make sure they're okay.

Elena and Gabriela Archibald - through Howard, Val also got to know Elena and Gabriela. She's impressed with how far Gabriela has come in her career and just how dangerous she can be when she puts her mind to it.

Nick Vanderbilt - Val is very familiar with the Vanderbilt family as well. She even mentored Nick as he worked his way through law school and into a career of his own.

Atticus Bass - Val hasn't worked with Bass Industries since Howard Archibald was arrested. Before then, she'd often come into contact with Head Lawyer, Atticus. Who knows? She might even try to mend bridges with him now.

[cathygeha]

REVIEW

Broken Crown by MJ Crouch

Gilded Empire #1

Marianna Elizabette Marcosa – “Mari” – was as a mafia princess knowing she was destined to be bartered in marriage to a man that would strength the mafia family. She grew up in Seattle, learned all that her twin brother was taught by their father, but never thought the leadership of the family would fall to her. She has worked hard to maintain control and though still into some shady and criminal activities, has put in effort to clean things up a bit and make Seattle safer for the crime lords and the city in general.

Mari has a well-oiled team that have promised loyalty to her and the Marcosa family – and they know the consequences for not keeping their sworn promise. Business is good but vigilance is necessary at all times as is maintaining alliances between the city’s crime lords. The boat is rocked with the assassination of a cousin followed by the arrival of a new player who intends to take over the city.

Mari has devoted her life to the Marcosa Family Enterprise, has fought and bled for them, protects them, has lost friends and family due to the business they are in, and has few people she truly trusts and can rely on. Who does she have in her corner? A young woman who is a designer and wants out from under being a mafia princess herself. A cousin that is close as a brother. A housekeeper. Her soldiers. And three men who love her and would die for her.

- There is a man who has been at her side from childhood, is her best friend, protective, and her second in command,

- There is another man she knew as a teen who has just returned, he has memories of Mari that don’t quite hive with how she is now so some things to work through while working as the underboss

- And finally, there is a good Samaritan that shows up to help change a tire, gets pulled into a shootout, works as a bartender in Gilded – he has secrets that I want to have revealed.

This is the first book in a series. Once I picked the book up, I couldn’t put it down. There is a cliffhanger ending BUT I am hopeful things will work out well for the person in jeopardy because…there is a second book coming out soon. The main characters are people I can relate to and would like to have as friends. I’m not sure I could be Mari but do enjoy reading about her life and wonder how she will eventually handle the men who love her BUT I can’t wait to find out!

Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

BLURB

I was raised to be a mafia wife—a bargaining chip, a tool, a toy. All that was expected of me was to look beautiful and stay quiet. I never anticipated becoming queen of the Marcosa empire. But when my father and brother were killed, there was no other choice. For six years I’ve learned to become ruthless, strategic, and deadly—to keep my empire intact. That path has been stained with my enemies’ blood. And sometimes my own. Now a new enemy has appeared. He hides in the shadows determined to destroy me piece by painful piece. With everything falling apart, I am unsure of who to trust. Except for the three men at the very foundation of my survival: Greyson - My best friend, my second-in-command, my savior. We’ve been bound together since birth and will remain so until we leave this life behind. Dominic – My new underboss with molten eyes and a smile made for war. He was my first. He’s determined to be my last. He brings out a gentle side in me I don’t know if I can afford. Nate – My good Samaritan who is also a weapon, a killer—I can’t let myself forget that. He has secrets, which sometimes prove deadly in my world. But resisting him isn’t an option. Danger is coming at me from all sides. Without my three men, I won’t survive. They’ll burn the world to the ground to keep me safe. But that may not be enough. ••••• Author’s note: Broken Crown is the first book in the Gilded Empire series and ends on a cliffhanger. This is a Why Choose romance with violence, dark themes, and ruthlessly possessive—and protective—men

[l0svers]

watching that 90’s show *ੈ✩‧₊˚

episode 01

love that they kept the silly transitions ah!

also the writing is so good — it stays so true to the original

i love kitty & red so funny

THE KELSO KID AH!

screamed when michael and jackie showed up

i want a summer like this anyways

so hyped to keep watching

episode 02

not much happened lol

love that sherri is becoming friends with kitty

FEZ!

episode 03

the commercial !!

not them going to the mall to get leia her first kiss

they had no right giving jay that much rizz for that car scene with leia — also since when was he so smart

red & his massage chair lmao

episode 04

RAVEEEE

love all the references and repeated situations from the original show

why did they do leia dirty with her hair

also their rave outfits are kinda rough — love the purple skirt overalls tho

the friends reference feels outta pocket like we’re ross & rachel even together by that point of the show being on air?

episode 05

the ✨internet✨

ew creepy hot tub lady

red being scared about the computer haha

the sex phone call lmao

“the internet is just two demons yelling at each other”

i knew hot tub girl was gonna be an issue

episode 06

i LOVE gwen’s fit

SHE WAS 14?!?! WHAT

please i thought they were at least 15

“you’ve got twice the balls, act like it” — CRYING

the who 90210 but point place version is so funny

bob singing karaoke lol

THE CAR HE GAVE HER THE CAR!!

THEY KISSED!!

THE COPS!!

episode 07

criminal mastermind without the mind a kelso lol

tattoos, babies and DUI’s the unholy trinity — CRYING SHERRI IS SO RIGHT

OH NO KITTY GOT A TATTOO

it’s a cat haha

red teaching sherri to ride a bike

episode 08

red is SPEED

ski jump arms haha

NOT THE CROTCH GRAB LMAO

the moose

episode 09

not school starting soon :,(

uh oh bf vs bff time fight

“those kids are idiots”

“i like you” haha

training montage love

kitty wanting to be the school nurse so cute

her nurse nightmare woof

uh oh couple lost in the woods ft leo

love how they snuck into the country club iconic

leia giving nate water haha

not gwen being snappy — but we love the heart to heart between nate & leia

KITTY GOT THE JOB!!

awww good friendship hug thank god

kinda loving all of jay’s stupid graphic tees — like this green one with the wolves

oh no not a serious relationship talk jay, i knew it was inevitable but ahh

episode 10

OMG THE KELSO BURN IS BACK

them dancing so cute! love!

oh nate… buddy your timing so bad

uh oh the breakup talk

OH CHEEZE WIZZ IN THE PANTS

i can’t take jay seriously with all the cheese wizz on his shirt

the phone in the pot haha

not the chili’s lol

leia turning into red lol “dumbasses”

donna figuring out about the boyfriend being a kelso and about him in general

fez’s tiny pants lmao

“i have a tv in my bathroom BITCH” crying

oh fenton

THEY ALMOST KISSED :O

WHATTTT

my literal reaction was: they are not about to kiss right now right? WRONG Z

love the throwback circle

awww they’re signing the water tower!

“well i made that birch my bitch” thank you fenton for being iconic

THE AWKWARD

THEN JAY SHOWS UP

ahhhhhh

she’s gone *sobbing*

aw so glad it showed the film

other notes

i could not for the life of me tell why jay looked so familiar — then it dawned on me (no pun intended) that he was in nicky ricky dicky and dawn haha

overall i really like the show i think it’s fun and a great tribute to the original but the pacing was a little weird especially towards the beginning/middle it felt like it reached a good pace towards the end — part of this is def the episode limit but yeah

intrigued to see how next season goes

the whole nate thing is kinda random — like i understand them having the same outlook or whatever but they barely interacted throughout the season

honestly that is one of my complaints is that there were so many characters that i didn’t get attached to a whole lot of them or know much about them by the end

[yoyomarules]

Anyway. Eliot can deal with Milton’s book’s embellishments and oversimplifications—even the stuff about his hair—once they’ve run a job alongside the guy. What he can’t handle is total fabrication, especially if it makes no damn sense.

‘Did you read the epilogue?’ he demands, the moment Hardison answers the phone.

‘Oh,’ Hardison says, ‘so we’re not gonna do, like, “Hey, sweetheart, how are you, you’re looking good today, are you using a new moisturiser”?’

‘Are you using a new moisturiser?’ Parker wants to know. ‘You’re all glowy.’

On the screen, Hardison preens. ‘That’s all natural, baby. Plus, y’know, the humidity here is something else; I’ve never—’

‘Hello?’ Eliot interrupts.

Hardison grins. ‘Right. The epilogue.’

‘D’you read it?’

‘I did,’ Hardison says. ‘What about it?’

‘What about it?’ Eliot repeats. ‘How about where the hell did he get all that bullshit from?’

‘Right, we would never move to Cincinnati,’ Hardison says gravely.

‘I obviously,’ Eliot says, thunderous, ‘mean the part where our fake mastermind has me paired off outta nowhere with a cop.’

‘What’s wrong with that?’ Parker asks brightly, and Eliot knows she’s riling him up but seizes the bait with both hands.

‘For one thing, I’m dating the two of you! For another…’ He searches for the words to describe his indignation but can’t come up with anything besides, ‘What the hell?’

‘You don’t think that’s realistic?’ Hardison asks, deadpan.

‘No, it ain’t realistic, ’cause I ain’t an idiot.’

‘It’d be fine,’ Parker says, clapping him on the shoulder. ‘We’d just have to factor it in. What’s the play, what’s the hook, how do we distract Eliot’s cop girlfriend from the crimes we’re committing—’

‘Or,’ Hardison suggests, ‘you could just tell her, y’know: “Hey, sugar pie, I’m a criminal and my two colleagues I’m definitely just friends with are also criminals—”’

‘“—so if you could look the other way while we steal this rich guy’s money—”’ Parker picks up.

‘“—which I know you won’t have a problem with ’cause cops are so famously unsympathetic to rich assholes—”’

‘Neither of you are funny,’ Eliot says.

‘Uh, disagree,’ Hardison says, but the teasing light in his eyes softens. ‘Eliot, seriously. The book’s been pulled; no one’s gonna know about your—totally fictional, by the way—lapse in all judgement and common sense.’

‘I know! And you two know—’

‘Babe, I absolutely promise you Parker and I do not think you’re about to go running into the arms of a U.S. Marshal.’

‘—and apparently in Nate’s stories I came off as someone who’d bring law enforcement to your door!’ Eliot finishes, and slumps heavily into the couch, mouth pressed into a furious line.

His partners exchange a glance. Then Parker shifts to put her head on Eliot’s shoulder, looping her arm through his.

‘Of course you wouldn’t,’ she says, voice soft.

‘Milton doesn’t know you, El,’ Hardison says gently. ‘He doesn’t know any of us. Nate told him about the cons; he didn’t tell him the personal stuff. The important stuff. He was just trying to tie up his version of the story. And he ain’t that imaginative.’

Eliot shuts his eyes and tilts his head against Parker’s. ‘Yeah,’ he says. ‘Yeah, I know. Just bothered me.’

They’re quiet for a moment, Parker rubbing comfortingly at his arm.

‘If he were imaginative,’ she says at length, ‘he’d’ve had us live forever in robot bodies.’

Eliot lifts his head to peer at her and then, at her entirely serious look, laughs. ‘That’s the plan, huh?’

‘Oh, yeah,’ Hardison says. ‘Transplant our brains so we can carry on doing our thing for the rest of time. It’s all decided.’

‘We already measured your head,’ Parker adds.

‘Well,’ Eliot says, ‘I guess I can get on board with that story.’