#and Crawley's mercy

[ineffable-endearments]

"Are you sure, angel?" "Yes. Quite sure."

EDIT: Colored versions.

[mercurygray]

Merc, what kind of Historical Military Man gets the wheels turning for you? What are the markers of 'Oh, that one, that one is now mine'?

Nat, I'm going to be honest, this question provoked something of an existential crisis. so I went back through, like, 20 years of fandom favorites to see if there's a pattern.

Spoiler: there isn't, apart from a perennial need to be different. This is kind of long .

2001 (ish) - Lord of the Rings is coming out, and you are either a Legolas or Aragorn girl. I am deep in my 'not like the other girls' phase and decide Boromir is actually the superior choice here. (This leads me to watch A LOT of period dramas that are probably not appropriate for for me at this age, including Clarissa and Lady Chatterley's Lover.) It also leads me to the Sharpe books, which are great and awesome. Richard Sharpe doesn't necessarily do anything for me as a character, but that gets me into Hornblower, which gets me into the Aubreyad, which leads me to read a lot about the Napoleonic Wars in high school. Cliff-diving into a different historical period is now something I do every single summer.

I also spend about 5 years (2008-2013) writing a 225,000 word fanfic in which Boromir doesn't die.

2010-2015

Matthew Crawley (Dan Stevens) is really only in the army a brief while but who can say no to the blue eyes and the absolute vibe he has going with Mary?

During the Downton phase I decide to raid the library for other period dramas, again, and watch The Forsyte Saga. Soames Forsyte is not a man you love, but Damian Lewis has A Face and I know he was on Band of Brothers, which the library perennially never has a copy of.

2011

I finally watch Band of Brothers in its entirety my senior year of college and am a little disappointed I appear to be missing large parts of the story. (Future rewatches will explain that this is actually a feature of the show, not a bug.) My recollections of this are hazy, but I'm fairly certain my favorite character the first time I watched this was Lewis Nixon (Ron Livingston). He's dark-haired, he's funny, he's an absolute mess with a trust fund. Dick Winters (Damian Lewis) also has one hell of a face. He's a red-head, he's in charge of everyone else, he doesn't say much, and he is tall. I know there must be fic for this show but am also very, very sure it is shippy in a direction I do not want to read, so I do not go looking for it.

TURN - 2014-2017

Ben Tallmadge (Seth Numrich) is the guy to watch on TURN: he's a lieutenant, he's tall, he struggles with rules, but the entire fandom is also crazy about him and the leading queen bee in the OC end of that fandom is a real pain about it, so I decide I will not be writing for him no matter what it costs me to hold off admitting I want to. However, in the next episode we meet his best friend, Caleb Brewster (Daniel Henshall) who is short, bearded, dark-haired and chaotic. The moment he comes onscreen I love him. Sadly, no one is reading fic for him and this project is abandoned.

In Season 3, we meet the Marquis de Lafayette. Historical Lafayette is a tall, awkward redhead in need of a father figure who makes up for war experience with boundless enthusiasm. His letters home are adorable. Show Lafayette (Ben Wiles) is tall and enthusiastic. I love him anyway and I make it everyone's problem for, like, a year.

2016-2017 - Mercy Street

Henry Hopkins (Luke Macfarlane) is a military chaplain in a hotel-turned Union hospital in Alexandria, Virginia. He's tall, he's a little tortured, and he has a knack for putting others first. Wrestling with some past choices, his romance with Emma Green, the privileged daughter of the family who owned the hotel, is sweet and full of pining. I write so much fix-it fic for them it's not even funny. (I love this show because the female characters I love come pre-installed. Please watch this.)

2016 - Dunkirk

I see this movie three times in theaters and love it more each time. Collins (Jack Lowden) is a blonde RAF flyboy with a very adorable face. (Tom Glynn Carney is also a face I like but he's on a backburner for a bit.) I write a lot of fic about it and affectionately refer to this as my first Planes Go Zoom phase.

2020

Two weeks into the pandemic I decide rewatching Band of Brothers is a good idea and buy the book and the DVD set from my local secondhand bookshop like I am doing a drug deal in a parking lot. Two weeks after that I am writing a fanfic for Dick Winters (Damian Lewis) because I am a loon who likes men in charge and painfully slow burns.

2021

Still in the middle of a pandemic I decide to watch The Pacific, because I make good decisions, apparently. Hoosier Smith (Jacob Pitts) is a taciturn, wise-cracking friend of Leckie's who is joked about as being the pretty one. He is. Andrew Haldane (Scott Gibson) is quiet, unassuming, and in charge, and played college football for Bowdoin. Very dad energy. Extremely charming. Dead in three episodes as history intended. Fix-it fic incoming.

2022 Top Gun Maverick comes out. Jake "Hangman" Seresin (played by Glen Powell, who I loved in Hidden Figures and The Guernsey Literary Potato Peel Pie Society) has a jawline you could cut something with and an attitude. My friends think I am mental. Second Planes Go Zoom phase coupled with Devotion, which comes out shortly after.

SAS Rogue Heroes comes out. I have been really looking forward to seeing Tom Glynn Carney in something else and he delivers. Mike Sadler is blond, extremely good at his job, not capable of suffering fools, and far too attractive for the desert.

2024

We do not even make it out of trailer season before I realize I still have a Thing (TM) for Callum Turner's face, which I have known since he was Theseus Scamander in Fantastic Beasts. Watching The Boys in the Boat before this all starts doesn't help - he has regrettably blond hair but thighs for days and shoulders you could hang the universe on. John "Bucky" Egan, is tall, dark-haired, incredibly generous spirited and nominally in charge. I want all of it. The rest of the fandom does too. I try to make peace with that and write anyway. Third Planes Go Zoom phase.

[townsenddecades]

1313 – Day 2

TOWNSEND FARM

Once more, there is a sudden chill in the air that hinders the Townsends’ farming. They still find plenty to occupy them, not least due to Benjamin’s efforts of learning to read and write. It is slow going – he finds it hard to make sense of the fact that the tiny characters form words he knows – but he does his best, and whatever he knows, he imparts to his brothers. They don’t have much to do, anyway, and he still hopes that this skill will aid them in their future, should they have opportunity to do something other than farming.

Malika keeps them company most of the time. She has Benjamin give her some lessons as well, but most of the time, she is just quietly doing her sewing or knitting, caring for the twins or doing work around the house. It is still strange to her, having several siblings around. Back in their own cottage, there had only been herself and her parents for the longest time, and then, after several miscarriages her mother had suffered, her baby brother Abraham. But she enjoys it.

CRAWLEY HOUSEHOLD

Over the years of her marriage, Anna has become good friends with her husband’s sister. Caroline can be a little imperious – quite like her mother, in fact – but for the most part, she is softer than Mary, and far more amiable.

Except when she is losing at chess. Which is exactly what she is doing right now.

“When have you gotten so good at this game?”, she huffs.

“Over many matches lost to your brother”, Anna jokes, and takes another of Caroline’s pieces off the board. “Blame him.”

“Oh, I do, believe me. I shall tell him exactly what I think when he comes home.”

“Pray, don’t be too hard on him. I may still have need of him later on.”

“If you say so. Whatever for, I couldn’t say. George doesn’t seem much use to anyone these days”, Caroline grumbles, probably mostly because George isn’t home much these days. He has followed his father into studies of the law and is often on business with him.

Anna decides to change the subject. “How are you getting on with your paramour?” She has been courted by a merchant’s son by the name of Tobias Sterling lately. To be precise, Tobias has merely been adopted by a merchant – a child of the widow Sterling Sr. he had married – but as he is likely to inherit his adopted father’s business, Mary and Matthew still consider him a suitable match for their daughter.

“Well, I think. Although I’d be happier if Mother didn’t keep reminding me that I might have become a sister to the Earl. As if it’s my fault that his brother has a wandering eye.”

“You know how ambitious your mother is. I’m sure once you’re married, she will adjust.”

“If you think that, you don’t know my mother. Well, the small mercy is that she won’t hound me about children too much, I hope. Not while you and my dear brother are so avid to provide them.” She looks meaningfully at Anna’s stomach. She is pregnant once more. Fertility, at least, is something she hasn’t struggled with.

All that is lacking is for one of her children to be a boy. As happy as the Crawleys have been about Annette’s birth, they still lack an heir to carry on the family name. It is only your third child, she tries to console herself. Watcher willing, there will be many more.

After her chess match is over, Anna steals herself into her bedroom, where her little darling is still in her crib. Looking at her baby girl still makes her happier than anything else in the world, and she thanks and prays to The Watcher every day for her continued good health. She had been so afraid that Annette would suffer the same fate as Matilda, but her little one grows every day, hale and healthy.

She can only pray that her third child will be strong as well.

WATCHER’S NEWS:

Finally, after years of marriage, Lady Elinor Pelham has given birth to her and her husband’s first child - Richard, the heir the family has been craving for so long. There has been much rejoicing in the Baron’s household as a result.

Prev: 1313, Day 1 <--> Next: 1313, Day 3

WATCHER’S COMMENTARY:

Am I enjoying dressing Anna up a bit too much for the fact that her family isn’t even gentry? Maybe. But I can’t help myself, she’s such a pretty sim. And it would make sense for Mary to want her family to be well-dressed. Disclaimer at this point: I know there were several new sumptuary laws put in place in England later in this century, but I’m not going to reflect those. 1) Because my cc is limited enough as it is and 2) this challenge is historically inauthentic anyway, I'd rather have fun with it than agonize over every detail.

[edosianorchids901]

Mercy

@flashfictionfridayofficial prompt - "under the night sky"

In the interests of avoiding the entire Flood situation, Crawley had stayed far away from Mesopotamia for the past week. He’d taken off shortly after the rain started in earnest, before the people could start to scream and panic and beg for mercy that would not be given.

Bitterness welled, and he turned his face up to the night sky, to the stars above. Off to the south, storm clouds still shrouded the land where he’d spent so much time. Here, he could still see the realm where he’d tried to hide in the last minutes before the Fall. Where he, too, had begged for mercy.

Mercy hadn’t been given then, either. Heaven talked a big game, espousing virtues that it completely ignored. He and Aziraphale had argued about it, frequently. Those nights of arguing were one of the great pleasures of the world. Animated conversation, slicing Aziraphale’s arguments to shreds and then watching with amusement as he built up walls of denial as high as those surrounding Uruk.

Well. The walls that had surrounded Uruk, anyway. Had the floodwaters swept those away too?

They hadn’t swept Aziraphale away. Crawley could feel his presence, off to the south, dark clouds of sorrow shrouding the familiar glow of his essence. He’d been ordered to remain, to watch. Crawley hadn’t, and he’d fled. Leaving Aziraphale alone to face the storm.

“Shit,” Crawley muttered.

He cast one more longing look up at his stars, then closed his eyes and focused. He breathed out slowly, honing his attention, and snapped his fingers.

When he opened his eyes again, there were no stars. The night sky at the north end of the Zagros Mountains, above the waters of the Flood, hung dark and grey and heavy. No light could pierce those clouds. They weren’t normal clouds.

There was one light spot to Crawley’s right, though that too was darkened. Aziraphale’s white robe and curly hair, both drenched by rain and dirtied with mud. He sat on the ground, curled up, arms wrapped around himself. He was rocking slightly, back and forth, mumbling as he gazed out over the surging waters of the Flood.

Crawley followed his gaze, squinting into the drizzle. In the chaotic waves, a single dot bounced up and down. The Ark. The single group of humans in this region who had been shown mercy, even though the others weren’t really any worse than them. They were all just people, as far as Crawley was concerned.

“Looks like your boss did a terrific job on the big big storm, eh?” Crawley said, and then regretted it as Aziraphale hunched his shoulders even more. It wasn’t Aziraphale’s fault, really. He was just in the line of fire, a convenient target for all the bitter anger welling inside Crawley.

With a long exhale, Crawley battled the anger back into submission. Sure, he could take it all out on Aziraphale, could tear into him for every shitty thing Heaven had done, and probably win every argument by a mile right now. But what good would that do? It wouldn’t be fair.

Instead, Crawley sat beside him in the mud and reached out. He pried Aziraphale’s plump fingers out of their current position, clenched hard on the white robe, and rubbed his hand. “You’re bloody freezing, angel. Why are you still out here?”

Aziraphale didn’t answer at first. Did he even know Crawley was here? Or had he just gone into shock over all this fucking destruction, over the horror that Crawley had run away from?

But then Aziraphale blinked, hazel eyes sliding to Crawley for a moment before returning to the bobbing, pitiful sight of the Ark. “I-I’m doing my job. I was tasked to watch.”

Anger rose again, this time on Aziraphale’s behalf. “They didn’t mean you had to stare at the Ark around the clock, did they? Gonna get sick if you stay in the rain for… however long it’s gonna take for this to go down.”

“Angels can’t get sick,” Aziraphale said with total confidence. Crawley had his doubts about that, especially with how bad Aziraphale was shivering. “And what are you doing here, Crawley? I thought you’d be off trying to corrupt the rest of humanity. Isn’t that what you want?”

Crawley opened his mouth, then closed it. He looked up at the night sky again, the dark looming clouds. “Nh. Enough darkness in the world right now. I wanted to see if you were okay.”

“What?” Aziraphale turned fully towards him this time, eyes wide and startled. “Why?”

Because watching out for Aziraphale had become a job of sorts for Crawley, one that he could be proud of. One that he actually wanted to do. When he was helping Aziraphale with something, be it a stained robe or a misunderstanding with the locals, he felt good about himself.

But saying anything like that would probably start a different argument about whether demons could care about anyone, and Crawley didn’t have the heart for it right now. So instead of answering, he just squeezed Aziraphale’s hand, drew out his wings, and spread one of them to shelter Aziraphale from the rain.

[introvertedlass]

Saw your thoughtful post on deaths in film, literature, etc and have a few identical ones that were on your list and thought to add a couple more of my own if that's ok?

Film/television: Matthew Crawley (Downton Abbey), lord have mercy that was the roller coaster love affair that went straight off a cliff (or close enough--thanks Netflix and Julian Fellowes); Rudy Steiner, the Hubermans (The Book Thief) tore me to pieces; Ruth (Fried Green Tomatoes), I cannot watch that scene w/o tears; finally, not quite as memorable but still got a little dusty in the room: Walter Fane (The Painted Veil).

Novels: Old Dan and Little Ann (Where the Red Fern Grows) is the first one of my childhood that I really remember getting to me, although a long string of classics like Charlotte's Web, Old Yeller, The Yearling, and The Red Pony pretty much stove in what was left of my heart before I left elementary/intermediate school. Tommy's death in Never Let Me Go was the novel that dessicated it to a shriveled arid husk.

Great idea for a blog post, thanks!

Thanks for sharing these:)

You've brought back so many memories for me.

[theballadofmortimerlepastorale]

SLW 2023, episode 30 (2023_08_26)

FIRST LIVE BROADCAST AS A TWO HOUR SHOW!

Broadcast: KTQA-LP 95.3 FM Tacoma, streaming address at KTQA.org

Voice-Over/Intro, music in the background: playlist selection #1

01. Nick Cave & Warren Ellis - The Rider Song (London, England 2005)

02. Tom Waits - Big in Japan (Los Angeles, California 1999)

03. Bauhaus - King Volcano (Northampton, England 1983)

04. Einstürzende Neubauten - The Garden (Berlin, Germany 1996)

05. Judy Collins - Dress Rehearsal Rag (Denver, Colorado 1966)

Voice-Over/First Break, music in the background: Black Light District - Cat Parkour (Kyiv, Ukraine 2022)

06. Nuxx Vomica - Perpetual Night (New York City, New York)

07. Ascenship - К​​​а​​​л​​​и​​​н​​​и​​​н​​​г​​​р​​​а​​​д (Indianapolis, Indiana 2023)

08. ben. - Holy City (Lily Of The Valley mix)(Northern Ireland 2023)

Voice-Over/Second Break, music in the background: Black Light District - New End (Kyiv, Ukraine 2022)

09. Distance H - Reason to rush (feat. Liset Alea)(Paris, France 2023)

10. Familiar Affections - Human Warmth (Buchs & Sargans, Switzerland 2023)

11. Preoccupations - Fever (Calgary, Canada 2016)

Voice-Over/Top of The Hour Break, music in the background: Black Light District - Pale Blue Dot (Kyiv, Ukraine 2022)

12. Das Noir - Made Of Flesh And Blood (Athens, Greece 2023)

13. Depeche Mode - Death's Door (Basildon, England 1991)

14. Death And Vanilla - Perpetuum Mobile (Malmö, Sweden 2023)

15. Replicas - Waiting (Tacoma, Washington 2022)

16. Stu Phillips & Glen A. Larson - Knight Rider (Hollywood, California 1982)*

Voice-Over/Forth Break, music in the background: Black Light District - Traction (Kyiv, Ukraine 2022)

17. Licorice Chamber - This Love Is Dark (Codename Lola Mix)(Tacoma, Washington 2021)

18. The Sisters Of Mercy - Valentine (Leeds, England 1983)

19. Joy Division - Dead Souls (Manchester, England 1980)

20. The Cure - Just One Kiss (Crawley, England 1983)

21. The Velvet Underground - The Murder Mystery (New York City, New York 1969)

22. Nick Cave & Warren Ellis - The Rider Song (The Proposition)(London, England 2005)

23. Other - A Summoning (Seattle, Washington 2021)

Voice-Over/Last Break, music in the background: Black Light District - House Arrest (Kyiv, Ukraine 2022)

*REQUESTED MUSIC

[silverjetsystm]

𝐅𝐋𝐀𝐖𝐒. moody | short-tempered | emotionally unstable | whiny | controlling | conceited | possessive | paranoid | liar | impatient | cowardly | bitter | selfish | power-hungry | greedy | lazy | judgmental | forgetful | impulsive | spiteful | stubborn | sadistic | petty | unlucky | absent-minded | abusive | addict | aggressive | childish | callous | clingy | delusional | cocky | competitive | corrupt | cynical | cruel | depressed | deranged | egotistical | envious | insecure | insensitive [blunt, I'd say, instead. it's usually friendly ribbing] | lustful | delinquent | over-thinker | guilt complex | reclusive | reckless | nervous | oversensitive | perfectionist | pessimistic | naive

𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐓𝐇𝐒. honest | trustworthy | thoughtful | caring | brave | patient | selfless | ambitious | tolerant | lucky | intelligent | confident | humble | generous | merciful | observant | wise | clever | charming | cheerful | optimistic | decisive | adaptive | calm | protective | proud | diligent | considerate | compassionate | good sportsmanship | friendly | empathetic | passionate | reliable | resourceful | sensible | sincere | witty | funny

𝐒𝐊𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐇𝐎𝐁𝐁𝐈𝐄𝐒. art | acting | astronomy | animals | archery | sports | hula dancing | bird watching | blacksmithing | boating | calligraphy | camping | candle making | casino gambling [horses from time to time with his buddy, Crawley, or casual poker games] | ceramics | racing | chess | music | cooking | crochet | weaving | exercise | swordplay | fishing | gardening | ghost hunting | ice skating | magic | engineering | building | inventing | leather-working | martial arts | meditation | origami | parkour | people watching | swimming | puppetry | pyrotechnics | quilting | reading manuals | collecting | shopping | socializing | storytelling | writing | travelling | exotic dancing | singing | yoga | gaming | surfing | knitting | knives

tagged by: @kylo-wrecked

//a lot of the short-temperedness comes from being a cabbie and love of his friends (the homeless, those who are overlooked, on the fringes). Outside of rush hour, Lockley's never worried a day in his life. He goes with the flow, loves his friends, and is interested in their interests. He likes staying active (walking or driving), reading mysteries, and solving puzzles.

A long bit is him and Grant's friendly roasting of each other. Grant is Mr. Wall Street with his opulent house and silk shirts. Lockley is rough around the edges.

“Soldier, Rich Man, Scoundrel,” Moon Knight (Vol. 9/2021), #14.

Writer: Jed MacKay; Penciler and Inker: Alessandro Cappuccio; Colorist: Rachelle Rosenberg; Letterer: Cory Petit

“Let’s Dance,” Moon Knight (Vol. 9/2021), #21.

Writer: Jed MacKay; Artist: Alessandro Cappuccio; Colorist: Rachelle Rosenberg; Letterer: Cory Petit

[snowblack-charcoalwhite]

4, 7, and 8 for the song ask please 🥰

Lauren, thank you for the ask🤗

4. A song you’d put on a playlist for a character you love

Oh, this is a great one! Right now I want to mention Mercy Mirror by Within Temptation for Lady Mary Crawley from Downton Abbey.

7. A song you know every word to

Putting here one of the first songs the lyrics for which I learned in full - I Will Always Love You by Dolly Parton/Whitney Houston (love both versions).

8. A song from a soundtrack

Here With Me by Dido (for Love Actually). One of my favourite songs of hers and one of my favourite movies - a perfect combo!

[legends-of-time]

The Journey of Living at Downton

Chapter 6: May 1914

Masterlist

Now Emma has had many ideas in her life, some good and some bad. And while this idea seemed like a good one before, is now beginning to not look as good.

Lady Sybil had wanted to see the Liberal candidate speak at the Ripon City Hall Courtyard and since she and Emma have been bonding over politics, she insisted that Emma comes along with her. But as it went on, Emma becomes increasingly uncomfortable and a bit upset with the crowd that surrounds them.

"Last June saw Emily Davison crushed to death beneath the hooves of the king's horse! Will the summer of 1914 prove as fatal for the hopes of women? It cannot! This historic by-election can be the first step of the journey to women's equality!" The speaker yells over the noise of the crowd.

"If you're so keen on women's rights, let a woman speak!" A woman cries. Emma tries to focus but being jostled by the crowd makes things difficult.

"But why stop there? Let's get the dogs up and listen to them bark!" A man adds. Then something is thrown at the speaker.

"Women! Women... are thrown out of jail...!" The speaker continues.

Mr Branson then appears next to Lady Sybil and Emma.

"Are you all right, Milady? Emma?" He asks.

"Isn't it exciting?" Lady Sybil asks.

"It'd be great not to get crushed as well!" Emma says to them. Mr Branson then moves to try and keep the crowd away from them a bit more.

"Only to be dragged back inside!" The Speaker says.

"You're an idiot!" A man yells.

Suddenly Mrs Crawley pushes through the crowd and reaches them.

"Sybil, I think it's time for Branson to take you and Emma home!" She speaks. Despite the lack of interaction between them, it is actually quite nice to know that she knows her name.

"Not yet." Lady Sybil responds.

"I think so. I applaud your spirit in coming, and I will applaud your discretion when you leave!" To be honest, right now Emma feels like listening to her words.

"Maybe we should My Lady," Emma calls.

"But you agree with everything he says?" Lady Sybil says to the two of them.

"I do, my dear, but I also know if anything happens to you, Branson, and possibly Emma, will lose their place."

"Better safe than sorry, Milady." Mr Branson says.

"...is an act of mercy. I disagree." The Speaker yells in the background but at this point, Mr Branson puts an arm around them and pushes a path for them through the jeering crowd.

"The car is just here." He says once they are out.

"Women must get the vote, mustn't they? Why does the prime minister resist the inevitable?" Lady Sybil utters as Mr Branson pulls them to the car.

"Politicians can't often recognise the changes that are inevitable." Mr Branson says, opening the car door for Lady Sybil and she steps in while pulling Emma in alongside her.

"You're telling me," Emma remarks. Mr Branson chuckles at her statement.

Once they are settled and, on their way, Emma turns to the two of them. "I don't think I'm supposed to sit at the back."

"You've just been to a political rally and that is what you are concerned about?" Mr Branson sarcastically asks. Emma rolls her eyes knowing he'll see it through the mirror.

"I say it's fine Emma." Lady Sybil says kindly.

——

Later, when they are further along, "I hope you will still get into politics. It's a great ambition to have."

Mr Branson sighs. "Ambition or dream? If I do, it's not all about women and the vote for me, nor even freedom for Ireland. It's the gap between the aristocracy and the poor and..."

"And what?" Lady Sybil probes but she doesn't sound upset.

"I'm sorry. I don't mean to speak against His Lordship."

"Why not? You obviously don't approve of him."

"Not as a representative of an oppressive class. But he's a good man and decent employer." He concludes.

"Spoken like a true politician," Emma remarks. Mr Branson and Lady Sybil chuckle.

Lady Sybil then begins trying to fix her appearance, which has been disrupted. "What do I look like? Could you sneak me around the back? I should hate for Papa to see me like this."

Mr Branson nods and turns the car in the direction of the back of the 'house'.

——

Lady Sybil and Emma enter through the back door. She hears Mrs Patmore yelling at Daisy, Emma knows that she is losing her sight and fears the operation but she literally can't carry on like this.

Lady Sybil runs into William as he exits a room holding a candelabra. This causes Emma to stumble into the back of her.

"Oh!" She exclaims.

"Excuse me, Milady," William says apologetically.

"It is alright William." She says "I'll be upstairs with Emma." It seems only then that William notices her.

"Very good, Milady." He speaks.

Emma follows Lady Sybil upstairs to help her change from her outing. It's ridiculous the amount of times they have to change in one day.

——

It turns out that Mr Bates had accidentally informed Lord Grantham that not only did Mr Branson and Emma had gone to the Liberal rally today and that Lady Sybil had gone with them. This led to a dressing down for his daughter and then also his wife who had given the okay for Lady Sybil to go.

"Her Ladyship's not best pleased at being told off in public. William said she was looking daggers." Anna tells the others in the Servants' Hall when she and Emma enter.

"I'm sorry I started all this." Mr Bates remarks.

"Ah, it's not your fault. Anyway, he ought to be glad he's got a daughter who cares." Mr Branson tells him. Emma and he share a smile.

"You were not to know that he wasn't aware. He's probably mostly mad that he was not in the loop." Emma adds.

Thomas enters. "Her Ladyship's ready to leave."

Mr Branson gets up from the table. "I'll bring the car around."

"Are you pleased with yourself?" Thomas says to Mr Bates. They stare at each other before Thomas follows Mr Branson out of the room.

"Silly chump," Anna says grinning at Mr Bates.

"He's nervous. He thinks I'm planning to tell Mr Carson about the wine." Mr Bates says.

"What? You saw Thomas stealing wine?" Emma asks. Though technically she already knows this, she had hoped it had all been forgotten about after the snuff box incident. This was bad, now Thomas has another reason to get rid of Mr Bates now that Mr Bates is threatening Thomas' job.

"I did," Mr Bates replies. "Now he's worried about what I'll do."

"Well, he shouldn't have stolen it then, should he?" Anna remarks.

"No. But I don't want anyone to lose their job because of me."

"Even Thomas? Even after what they tried to do to you?" Anna asks surprised.

"Even then."

"But he doesn't know that." Emma reminds them. "What if they accuse you first."

——

And they do, Thomas, Miss O'Brien and even Daisy lay accusations on Mr Bates over him stealing the wine instead. Emma can't seem to get a hold of Thomas on his own to talk to him, she knows that he worries that she might talk him out of it.

In other news, Lady Sybil had tricked her father into letting her have Mr Branson take her into Ripon on the false pretence that she's going to a meeting for her bird talk charity when really, she wants to go to the counting of the votes. Her father insisted that she take someone else with her and for some reason, he lets her take Emma even though she was there at the last incident.

Plus, in less exciting news Lady Mary is putting off Sir Anthony Strallen's attempts at wooing but Lady Edith is open to it instead, which Lady Mary won't like. So that's great.

While Mr Carson has not done anything about the accusations, Mr Bates is still down in the mouth considering that despite working at Downton for two years, Mr Carson is suspicious. Though Anna points out to him that the fact he hasn't told Lord Grantham about it shows that he is not truly believing the accusations. It is difficult as if Mr Bates accuses Thomas now as it won't sound genuine. To be honest, she mostly leaves Anna to do all the comforting.

——

Mr Branson drives the motor car around a corner, Lady Sybil and Emma in the back seat.

"Where to from here, Milady?" He asks.

"What do you mean? We've arrived."

"The meeting's in one of these buildings here?"

"This is the meeting. We're here for the counting of the votes." Emma explains. She feels bad for lying to him in the first place.

Mr Branson stops the car and looks back at them. "I don't understand. I thought that..."

Lady Sybil and Emma get out of the car. "Don't be silly, Branson. You didn't think we'd miss our very first by-election?"

The car behind him beeps.

"I don't think His Lordship would approve."

"Let me worry about him."

"Well, he does have to worry about his job Milady." Emma reminds her.

"It'll be fine." She replies. The car honks again.

"I have to park the car. Don't move. Stay where you are!" Mr Branson orders.

"Really, Branson, I thought I gave the orders." Lady Sybil quips. Emma lets out a snort as that was actually quite funny.

Lady Sybil walks into the Courtyard with Emma behind her, leaving Mr Branson to park.

——

A man reads off the vote count as the crowd clamours and jostles each other. Emma clings onto Lady Sybil's arm so she doesn't lose her and she does the same.

The announcer speaks through some sort of speaker thing, Emma doesn't know what it is, "The Honourable Joseph Gerald Antsy for the Conservative and Unionist Party: 6,363 votes..."

"Vote for women! Vote for women!" A woman cries.

"Martin James Dillon, for the Socialist Party: 2,741 votes."

Mr Branson soon gets to them in the crowd. "Can we call it a day, Milady? Emma?"

"Don't be silly. This is the moment we've come for." Lady Sybil replies.

"Trevor Andrew Morgan, the Liberal Party..." The announcer has trouble being heard over the crowd.

"This lot aren't interested in politics. They're spoiling for a fight." Emma glances around at the crowd and she begins to wonder if he is right.

"...is duly elected... is duly elected to serve as Member of Parliament... Member of Parliament..."

"Sybil!" Emma hears someone yell, she turns to see that it is Mr Crawley standing there.

"...for the Ripon constituency."

"What on earth are you doing here?" He asks.

"I couldn't miss this." Lady Sybil says.

"Couldn't you? I could."

"I don't like the look of this, Milady." Mr Branson says looking behind him.

A man comes near them and Mr Branson confronts him. "Look, look, I'm on your side. Don't cause any trouble; you have to believe me."

The man shoves Mr Branson aside and confronts Mr Crawley. "What's your problem, then, Mr La-di-da?"

"My problem is you." Mr Crawley replies. Oh yes, that's going to calm him down.

"Oh, aye?" The man tries to punch Mr Crawley, but Mr Crawley punches back and Emma then feels herself being knocked into and falling to the ground. She bumps her head on a low table and then everything goes black.

——

The next thing Emma knows is she's being carried out of the car into, what she then realises is, Crawley House.

Then Mrs Crawley is there. "Here lay her down." Emma is then placed on the sofa still barely awake.

"Is she alright?" She hears Mr Branson ask. Emma winces in pain as Mrs Crawley then starts dabbing at a wound on her head.

"She will be." Mrs Crawley replies.

"We need to get Mary." Lady Sybil says. "Hopefully she'll help soften the blow to papa."

"I'll go Milady." Mr Branson says. Emma then hears him leave. She drifts off again.

——

Mrs Crawley rings out the blood into a bowl as she treats Emma's head wound as she regains consciousness when Lady Mary enters. This going to sleep after getting a head wound is probably not one of her most brilliant ideas.

"My God." She exclaims before turning to her sister. "Oh, my darling..." They hug each other. Lady Mary then turns to Emma, "Dear god..."

"I didn't know what to do, so I had Branson bring her here." Mr Crawley says.

"Quite right. Mama would have fainted if she'd seen her like this with the thought that Sybil was there as well. As for Papa..."

"This will sting a bit, but it's stopped bleeding." Mrs Crawley dabs at Emma's head again. She's right it does sting. Mrs Crawley then turns to her son. "Did you know she was planning this?"

"Of course not."

"Well, what were you doing there?"

"I was working late. I'd forgotten it was election night or I wouldn't have stayed." He explains.

"I'm so grateful you did." Lady Sybil says to him. Emma isn't really, she can't help but feel like he made it worse.

"I could wring Branson's neck." Lady Mary says.

"What was he thinking? I'm afraid it'll cost him his job." Mr Crawley adds.

"No." Emma weakly protests.

"She's right." Lady Sybil says. "It is not his fault. I told him he was taking us to a committee meeting. When he realised what it was, he wanted to come straight back."

"You'll have to stick up for him because Papa will skin him alive." Lady Mary says.

Mr Crawley then crouches next to Emma. "Are you feeling strong enough to go home?"

"I think so if it's not too much trouble." She replies.

"Not at all." Mr Crawley smiles and offers her a hand to help her up.

"Here, wear my coat to cover the blood. You'll look more normal." Lady Mary says once Emma is standing, placing a coat over her shoulders.

"Lean on me." Emma does so and he leads her out to the car with Lady Sybil close behind.

"You should thank Branson as well." Lady Sybil says once they are in the hallway. "He carried you out. A real hero I think." Emma looks at her in surprise and blush when she sees the smirk on her face.

Once they get to the car, Mr Branson opens the car door and helps Mr Crawley get Emma in the back.

"Thank you," Emma murmurs to him as she holds his hand to get in. He smiles gently at her. In the end, he's the real hero, not Mr Crawley.

——

Mr Crawley helps Emma out of the car and leads her towards the front door.

She halts then. "Should I be going this way?"

"I think they'll let you off this time." Mr Crawley says. Suppose he's got a point as the door to the back entrance is all the way down the side. Going through the front door, then up the stairs to her room is much quicker.

The commotion of them coming in alerts the family in the Drawing room.

"My god!" Lady Grantham exclaims. "What happened?"

A thunderous look crosses Lord Grantham's face as he looks at Lady Sybil as he probably realises she may have lied about where she went.

"I think it's best that we get Emma to her room so she can rest." Mr Crawley says. He and Lady Sybil pull Emma through the servants' door and up to her room. She's glad that she won't have to be there for the argument that is surely going to follow. Hopefully, she'll still have her job tomorrow. Though maybe her being 'victim' as she got hurt, may work in Emma's favour.

——

Once Emma is settled, Lady Sybil says she'll send Gemma up to check on her as she then leaves the room, Mr Crawley had not come inside.

It is not long before Gemma bursts into the room. "Lady Sybil just told me what happened! Are you all right? Is it still hurting? Are you comfortable? Are you—"

"Gemma!" Emma yells before realising that was a mistake and she rubs her head in pain.

"Oh sorry."

"Yeah, you should be." Emma sends a smile to show that she's joking. Gemma laughs quietly in an obvious attempt to not irritate Emma further.

"Well other than the hand," Gemma says. "I've got some news on the wine incident."

"Oh?"

She nods. Gemma then goes into explaining what happened. Turns out the guilt got to Daisy and she's confessed to not being honest. She was there when Mr Carson questioned O'Brien and Thomas. It seems he's not going to do anything now but Mr Bates has confessed to not always having been moral and offered his notice, which Mr Carson refused.

"Wow, you miss a lot when you bump your head." Emma jokes though slightly relieved the worse is over with the wine. Gemma laughs.

——

Gemma offers to sneak Thomas in for a visit as he's asked but Emma says no. she doesn't really want to talk to him now with his recent behaviour. He doesn't come to her before and only comes when his tail is between his legs? She had already forgiven him the last time.

The next day Anna visits Emma to tell her that Mr Crawley had proposed to Lady Mary! But apparently, she has not said yes yet due to not wanting to lie about Pamuk or not marry him 'in a lie'. Emma doesn't fault her but she really should not make him wait too long.

——

A/N: Get your main character injured and in bed and it turns into the shortest chapter ever. Literally, I was like you let Emma be the one that hurts her head but by the time I had begun writing that, I realised she misses the fallout of the wine incident in this episode. 😅 I realised I needed to add my own scenes at the end to finish it off better. Though not going to lie there was some scenes before that I skipped over as I just didn't want to write them. 😅

Btw definition for by-election if anyone was confused (maybe not but I thought I'd put it in): A by-election, also known as a special election in the United States and the Philippines, or a bypoll in India, is an election used to fill an office that has become vacant between general elections.

Please leave comments on how you're enjoying this story and what you think.

[infernal-scales]

THE BUSH TREMBLES AND SHAKES with the demon's snickering as Aziraphale helplessly looks back at them with such a look of concern over curious but harmless creatures.

Those tickled snickers only escalate as more fawn prance over to swarm the angel in a mass of brown; SWISHY-WHITE TAILS wag excitedly behind them. The older deer return to their grazing as more and more creatures emerge from the foliage into the lively clearing. A soft feeling blooms in their chest at THE CACOPHONY OF LIFE that fills the once silent garden.

A small tan bird flutters down into the white nest of Aziraphale's hair, unperturbed by his sporadic movements in the attempt to free himself from the deerlings that continue to try to take bites of his robes like some HEAVENLY BUFFET.

Deciding to show some mercy to the poor dove, Crawley draws a snap up and a drizzle of berries rain from the sky, lightly pelting the fawns and drawing their attention away from Aziraphale and to the ground below. He was still surrounded—there was no escape from this FUZZY LITTLE PRISON he found himself in—but the assault was on pause for a sweeter snack than silk fabric.

The serpent takes their chance and slithers from the shadows into the clearing. Some of the does perk up at their presence, but none of them flee like they'd feared. Standing on the outskirts of twitching tails, Crawley offers a hand to Aziraphale.

❝ Not the attention you were hoping for, 'm guessing? ❞ Gold eyes crinkle in amusement at the few holes now marring the other's clothes. ❝ I can't tell if they liked YOU or YOUR ROBES more. ❞

AZIRAPHALE WASN'T SURE what to expect of the foal's strength, but it certainly wasn't this judging by the way his feet stumble forward in search of balance.

❝ Please, ❞ he pleads. ❝ This isn't—you won't like...❞

The rest of his argument trails off as he attempts to gently tug the fabric from the creature's teeth. His efforts, however, are in vain, and the first BATTLE OF EARTH has begun.

A family of chipmunks grows interest in the display, scurrying over to sit upon a nearby rock to watch the show. All the while, a hawk, credit its God-given vision, catches sight from the freshly created skies and lowers itself to a tree branch in curiosity.

Aziraphale's eyes show no interest in the growing number of beasts in his audience, and he looks instead to Crawley with a silent plea of HELP.

He's sure to be in trouble if God's creatures eat his robes...as will the creatures. He's uncertain if they were designed to digest celestial material.

[thismoleculeisacomedian]

Hey “Downton Abbey” and/or “Mercy Street” fan pals, have any of you seen “The Crimson Field”? Is it similar at all to the brief scenes of World War I in “Downton Abbey” or the portrayal of historical military medicine in “Mercy Street”? Is it historically and medically accurate?

[broadwaybaggins]

MM, Through the Fire

What if Mary and Matthew were cast in the roles of Emma and Henry? Let’s find out!

The smell of gunpowder and blood still seemed to hang in a cloud around them, filling Mary’s nose as if they had never left the battlefield. Mary’s ears still rang even though the last cannonball had been fired hours ago. The injured men had been sent on ahead, and she was left to return to the hospital with Matthew by her side. Brave, infuriating Matthew, who had chosen to walk out in the middle of a battlefield to save a man.

Mary clenched her hands into fists so he wouldn’t notice how much she was shaking.

“You could have been killed, you know.”

His words were such a shock that Mary stopped in her tracks. “I could have been killed?” she demanded, her voice harsh. “I wasn’t the one who walked straight into the thick of battle!”

“No, but standing up there like that–making yourself the perfect target–what were you thinking?”

“I was thinking I could get them to stop shooting at you! I was thinking I could give you a chance to get back safely! I am a lady, and they’re not barbarians. I was right, wasn’t I?” Her hands were on her hips now, her heart racing in her chest, and when Matthew turned to look at her–his sleeves rolled up to expose his arms, several buttons undone–she wasn’t entirely sure that it was just because of her anger.

“We both took risks that we shouldn’t have,” Matthew admitted reluctantly. There was soot and dirt smeared across his face, and Mary was sure that she looked no better. She instinctively took a step closer to him, and he did the same. “We both walked straight into the fire without thinking, didn’t we?”

“I suppose so,” Mary whispered, wondering why she had suddenly gotten so breathless.

“We could have both died.” Matthew’s gaze slid from hers, and suddenly he seemed very far away, staring off into space as he no doubt relived the horrific experience.

She stepped forward, gently taking his face in her hands to make him look back at her. God, his eyes were so impossibly blue, even in the moonlight. “We could have,” she agreed, her thumb gently stroking Matthew’s cheek. “But we didn’t.”

“One might even say we make a very good team.”

“One might.”

Mary moved first. Matthew’s lips tasted faintly of smoke, and he made a little noise in the back of his throat that only made her kiss him more deeply. He pulled her flush against him, his palms spread flat against her back. They kissed like no one could see them, like the sun would never come up tomorrow, like all they had was each other and this endless night.

[eddie-spielman]

have i ever told you how much i love michelle dockery as mary crawley because i've had a crush on her for, like, almost seven months aND i'm not joking.

[sagiow]

5 ships

Tagged by @ultrahotpink and @jomiddlemarch,​ thanks guys!

Not to let the latter down, here’s:

1. Mulder and Scully, The X-Files (one OTP to rule them all)

2. Jed Foster and Mary Phinney, Mercy Street

3. Jeff Winger and Annie Edison, Community

4. Lady Mary & Matthew Crawley, Downton Abbey

5. Gregory House and Lisa Cuddy, House

MVP mention to Lady Brienne of Tarth and Tormund Giantsbane because all those hearteyes are the only thing that made me laugh in season 7 (although I’m very much looking forward to an Arya & Gendry reunion in S8).

Tagging @jamesknoxpolka, @dancesontheedge, @mercurygray @harrygoodsirs, @stateofgreen and whoever else wants to play!

[aziraphales-library]

Hi do you have any fics where Crowley and aziraphale are god fathers for Adam's children (Cain and Abel)

Thank you for your hard work

Hello. Here are some Cain and Abel fics for you...

Abel by Sir_Bedevere (T)

A demon watches over the death of the second child, afraid that he will be punished for his mercy.

An angel watches over the death of the second child, afraid of his guilt.

To Eve by Lia_Is_Lying (NR)

A brief history of Eve, and her friendship with Crowley. Also, pears.

Tomayto, Tomahto by sarcasm_for_free (T)

Adam Young and Warlock Dowling were, in fact, not Aziraphale and Crowley’s first attempts at being godparents.

–or–

Before Adam, there were Cain and Abel.

Watch him by catididnt (G)

After Eden, Crawley follows the humans, meets their first baby, and sticks around.

Outside of Eden by atimefeeler (T)

Six Thousand Years of Crowley Being Soft and Taking Care of Kids.

(And Six Thousand Years of Aziraphale Taking in and Protecting Outcasts.)

Scene 1: Outside the Garden. The First Children in Existence.

Children, Crawley discovers, are superior to adults.

The Firstborn by erinacea (T)

Thousands of years before the birth of the Antichrist, Crowley and Aziraphale already acted as godfathers for the first children ever born: Cain and Abel.

You didn't think those initials were coincidence, did you?

- Mod D

[rose-edith]

(6) Your Father Robert confronting you and Tommy in Birmingham would include:

(Crawley!Reader x Tommy Shelby. Peaky Blinders x Downton Abbey: Crossover.)

• the minute you got back to Birmingham after Mary’s wedding you jumped straight back into your life. You were relieved to get back to work, relieved to finally be able to kiss and sleep with Tommy without fear of being caught.

•you’d missed your chats with Esme, Pol and Ada! As much as catching up with your sisters had been lovely, two of the three of them didn’t live in the same world as you. So with Mary and Edith it was a bit awkward. Pol was waiting in your house for you, the kettle having not long been boiled and a stew warming on the stove.

•Tommy could see the relief wash over you, and he experienced the full force of it that first night back in your shared bed…you took charge and made the Shelby man beg for your mercy and for release, and you made sure he had it time and time and time again.

•anyway, you settled back into the routine- teaching during the day, drinks at the Garrison some nights, patching Tommy up when he got all bloodied up. You didn’t necessarily approve of Tommy’s choices sometimes, but you’d never ever want him to change. You loved him just as he was. Sure, you were worried that you might lose him young, but you’d been taken in by the Shelby’s, they’d help you through it. That’s what it was to love a man of fire like Tommy, and you wouldn’t have it any other way.

•what you don’t realise though is that Robert, your Father, had hired a Private Investigator to spy on you and Tommy, even as his lawyer Murray managed to get hold of Tommy’s war records.

•so when the PI reported back to Robert that you and Tommy were living together in sin, and that Tommy appeared to be some sort of gangster he saw red!

•Robert stormed down to Birmingham and into your house without knocking. He was almost shell shocked from the things he’d seen as he took a cab from the station to your little house- hardly even a hovel in his opinion- he didn’t understand how you could want to live like this. He hadn’t listened to a single word you’d ever told him, he jumped to the assumption that Tommy was holding something over you and he was holding you captive in this situation.

•and that’s why Robert stormed into the house without knocking and found you sat on Tommy’s lap wiping blood off his face after another ‘successful’ dispatch of a rival. And that’s also why he found himself at the messy end of Pol’s gun!

•you were out of Tommy’s lap in a flash, pulling Pol back as Tommy shouted that it was your Dad! Tommy shrugged into his jacket, holding it closed to hide the blood soaked shirt beneath. Pol lowered the gun and glared at Robert.

• “I thought you lot were supposed to be civilised. Is it not polite to knock before barging in?” She hissed at Robert, entirely unimpressed. If looks could kill she’d have been struck down by the look blazing on Robert’s face.

•you didn’t get the chance to ask why he was here in your house in Birmingham, because in the next instant your Father had leapt at Tommy and was hitting him! Tommy wasn’t fighting back, not really, just trying to duck and dodge.

•no matter how much you tugged or tore at Robert’s clothes he didn’t stop. Pol ran to get Arthur, John and Finn. But you’d taken her gun from her pocket, you opened the window and shot down into the ground. Your adrenaline spiked as the loud sound echoed down the street and through the house. The men both jumped apart, checking to see that you were alright.

• “SIT DOWN NOW!” You screamed. Once they’d sat down you put the gun down on the dresser and made your way to Tommy to check he was alright. He was bleeding again and you sighed, turning angrily to your Father. You leant heavily on the table. You were breathing heavy and felt utterly, infuriatingly, blindingly angry.

•so you swore. You unleashed a verbal volley on Robert, the likes of which he’d never experience from anyone ever before! His face went ashen as you finally shot off every little bad thing you had to say. And the language…Robert never knew you could swear like that! And actually, it helped him to realise that he hadn’t been fair, he hadn’t ever gotten to know you, he’d never seriously considered what life you wanted. He’d just wanted to stamp the patterns of his life onto yours.

•but as he looked you, commanding and in control, in your own house with the man you’d chosen for yourself at his side…he could see he’d misjudged you. He could see that if he didn’t accept your life, your choices, he’d lose you. And that’s something he definitely didn’t want.

•a gentleman he may be, upper class and privileged certainly, but Robert loves all of his daughters. And he’d do anything for you all. Including accepting this bewildering life you’d chosen.

•he backed down and just watched. He watched how Tommy gazed so lovingly, so adorably at you, he saw how you ruled and owned your own home. He didn’t like it, not one bit, but it didn’t matter anymore. You’d grown up.

•feeing much better for having screamed your throat hoarse, releasing every licked you thought and feeling you’d ever had, you put the kettle on. Some things would never change- as your Granny said many times, sweet tea was just the thing for shock. So that’s what you set about making.

•it was comical when Pol and the boys tumbled through the door ready to break up a fight! So they were amazed to find you glaring at both men with your arms folded across your chest! You were certainly scary when you were angry. But you were a good hostess too- tea was soon served to everyone.

•now that things had calmed down you introduced your Father to your soon to be family…you can imagine the surprise on Arthur, John and Finn’s faces when they discover that you’re actually Lady Y/N Crawley, daughter of an Earl. Pol just grins at them, having known pretty much all along.

•it’s late by now, so Robert stays in the spare bedroom of your little home. He has to bite his tongue when he hears Tommy climb into bed with you in the other room. But you’re considerate enough to simply sleep, you know your Father would be unhappy enough with the fact you’re sharing a bed. Baby steps, you reminded yourself.

•when Robert left the following day things were awkward and raw, but he had apologised to you and Tommy, he’d also left some money with you to get Pol some flowers. Your Father was a gentleman first and foremost, and he’d behaved badly in front of a woman to whom you’d soon be related(ish), so he asked you to make amends by buying her some flowers, so you did. And surprisingly she found the gesture very sweet.