#and my governor wants me to go back to school

[am-i-the-asshole-official]

AITA for making a joke about my sex life to a student? 😏🐓 Nsfw text obv i know the title sounds bad but please read everything

I (Transmasc, 25) work on a school, very open as being gay, pride pins and it all, not as a teacher but I take care of computers, textbooks and the library. The younger folk seem to like me, but it's in high school folks things get ugly. Most just don't care about me, which I can't judge, being a teen sucks. Some hate me for telling them to go back to class. The ones that like me (mostly queer/autistic folk) like me for real.

There's this one boy (he's either 16 or 17 so he's NOT a kid) that always makes fun of me, is always skipping classes, is mean to everyone, implied a old teacher she should be better off dead, bothers everyone, talk loudly and complains about everything on his sight.

And he is. Very bigoted. I saw him more than once hurting the girls he studies with (slapping/punching) and caling the whores and more, telling them to suck him off, ride his dick, gag on his cock, etc, saying very hurtful things on gay men/anyone he deemed gay, and principal can only call his parents so many times before the parents stop showing and taking the concerns seriously. This is an ongoing issue since 6th grade, as far as I know. He hates my guts since I've called the principal on him more than once for going off on me telling me to fuck myself for asking him to go back to class.

My main strategy with him is ignoring him and the second one is answering as I don't understand him. Perks of being autistic I guess, being able to do this with a straight face. So: he calls me a chicken, I tell him they're my favorite farm animal, how did he guess? They're so amazing and cute. He tells me the lunch is gross, I say they can buy their lunch to bring if they want to, school food isn't that good (not true, the school food is amazing. Most students eat more than one plate). The computers are too slow, I ask him to please be patient cause they're old men that don't like to work, be nice to them :(. Guy says that the classes sucks, I tell him that the complaint box is at (governor's address) but yea they suck but at least he has only one year left.

This is where I might be the asshole, because I hurt myself going up and down a chair to organize some textbooks and I already have severe hip/knee pain so this only made me hurt worse so I am already pretty grumpy. A teacher asks for a banner of a periodic table and I have to find the table and go up a chair to hang it, and in the process, I let out a moan of pain becaude my knees dream of my downfall, and the teacher asks me if I am okay, so I tell yea, my hips and knees just hurt like a bitch. And this one student tells me "why, are you beaten up from taking cock in your ass?" And I breath deeply and answer "If it was from fucking I would be damn happy, but it's only from working. Anyways teacher here you go (with the periodic table)" and the teacher looks me with a surprised expression and all the class is silent and uncomfortable so I just left. Now the student can't look in my eyes but at least they're not talking to me anymore and the teacher hasn't said anything. AITA?

What are these acronyms?

[mollywog]

If the Fates Allow

“Katniss?”

She frowns into her wine glass. She’d snuck off to linger at the edge of the party for a breather and to pounce on the next tray of hors d'oeuvres to exit the kitchen. She sighs before pivoting towards the voice, but its owner is the last person she expects.

“Katniss Everdeen? I thought that was you!”

“Peeta?”

“Hey!” He looks relieved that she remembers him. “I can’t believe you’re here; what are the odds? How are you doing?”

She and Peeta Mellark had gone to school together, back in the day, but that was eight years and 200 miles ago. They’d never really spoken, but she’d always harbored a little crush on him and seeing him now, she remembers why. She’s in a bit of a daze as she dumbly answers and asks the usual questions.

“This is wild! I was actually just thinking about you.”

“No way,” she says automatically. Sure, Twelve was small, and yeah, they were in the same class, but he’d always been in the middle of it, surrounded by friends while she’d been on the fringe, just trying to make it through. She’s sort of surprised he even remembers her, let alone thought of her unprompted.

“Way. They were just playing ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’ and I was remembering that time you sang it in the sixth grade talent show.”

She laughs, “did I?” The memory of the terror and thrill of singing on the ‘big stage’ in the high school auditorium and the gingham dress and braids she'd worn in homage to Judy Garland come rushing back. “I guess you’re right.”

“I think about it every time I hear it.”

An exaggeration, she’s sure; You couldn’t get through the holidays without hearing the song at least three dozen times, “I barely remember that. You have an incredible memory.”

“Only for the important stuff,” he says, looking bashful. He shakes his head before continuing, “anyways; what brings you here tonight? Do you work for Capital Advertising too?”

“Oh, no, not me. My roommate, Johanna… From HR? I came as her plus one.”

Peeta frowns, shaking his head.

“She promised free food and booze.” Johanna was not one for leaving work at work and Katniss had assumed she’d met half her coworkers by now, but she’d underestimated the size of this holiday client party. It was much more formal and self important than she’d expected. She was pretty sure she’d heard someone say the Governor was here.

“But I think she really invited me to make her ex jealous.” Katniss adds, scanning the room for any sign of her roommate or the terrifying woman who’d occupied their apartment before her.

She should have suspected something when Johanna picked out this clingy scooped back dress for her and insisted on the nails and lashes.

“I wouldn’t want to be them tonight.”

She snorts, “yeah me either, I wouldn’t want to be in Johanna’s crosshairs.”

He gives her an amused smile and she realizes that might not have been what he meant. She takes a sip to hide her blush, “um, but what about you?”

“Nah, I just work in the art department, I’m not here to make anyone jealous; Though you’re looking pretty covetous of my plate right now.”

She winces; caught, “Johanna oversold the food.” She couldn’t get the waitstaff’s attention and by the time she did, their trays were empty. At least the alcohol was stationary; much easier to access. That’s why she was three glasses of wine in on an empty stomach. “I’m so hungry,” she says, stealing another longing glance at his plate.

He extends it towards her, “have at it.”

The alcohol has made her bold, and she takes a stalk of celery from his plate.

“Katniss, that’s not food, that’s a garnish.”

He hands her a goat cheese and apple tartlet. She pops the whole thing in her mouth, and her knees go weak. She suppresses a moan, closing her eyes and tipping her head back in approval.

“Better?”

She covers her mouth as she finishes chewing, “who do I have to kill to get more?”

“Easy there. I think we can manage this without bloodshed.” She watches him scan the room, making a quick assessment. “Here, start with this and go sit down. I’ll be right back.”

She doesn’t argue, taking the offering to a love seat on the corner. She really hopes Peeta’s successful if only for his own sake, since she’s neglected to save him even a scrap. He returns shortly after with a substantial bounty. She could weep, “how?”

He grins, “I told them you tripped in the hall and twisted your ankle. They’ll be bending over backwards to keep you from filing a suit now.”

“You didn’t!”

“Nah, I didn’t need to.” She raises a brow in question and Peeta gestures towards a waiter who looks like he still should have a curfew. “The man has eyes, Katniss.”

She looks away, biting back a smile, “well thank you. So where should we start?”

Peeta grins. “Do you like plums?”

~~~

“There she is!”

They’d moved on from the food and gravitated towards the wall of windows to look out over the town where they’d begun exchanging stories of their adventures in the city when her roommate’s voice startles them.

Johanna snakes an arm around her waist, resting her head on Katniss’s shoulder. “Mellark! Are you moving in on my date?” She tugs her in closer.

Katniss rolls her eyes, elbowing her friend in the side.

“Jo,” Peeta says in greeting. His eyebrows shoot up, “ohh, Jo, Johanna. I lied, I do know your roommate. She’s just Jo in the company directory and for some reason,” Peeta says with a sparkle in his eye, “I thought it was short for Josie.”

Johanna cackles, throwing her head back and grasping hold of his arm for support.

Katniss frowns. Obviously there’s some kind of joke here that she’s on the outside of. She stays quiet as Peeta and Johanna converse, brushing off Peeta’s attempts to draw her into their conversation with monosyllabic responses. She was having a nice time up until Johanna’s arrival.

“I still can’t believe we ran into you here,” he says to her after announcing his intentions to head out. She suddenly feels very silly for letting Johanna’s antics get to her. “Maybe I’ll see you around?…”

“If the fates allow,” she says; their own little joke that Johanna’s on the outside of.

She's not expecting the momentarily falter in Peeta’s smile, “Well, I should get going. Good to see you both.”

She deflates as he walks away, her eyes following him as he goes.

“What the hell is wrong with you?”

She spins back towards her roommate, “What?”

“He’s into you. Or at least he was before…” she waved her hand, “whatever that was.”

Her heart does a little flip. Shit.

“Listen, you look hot tonight, but with your personality, I would not be playing hard-to-get,” Johanna continues, unaware of her friend's distress. “Let’s get out of here, I’m starving.”

[centrally-unplanned]

This article about Hamas's strategic planning in the lead up to the October assault was at least a partial mind-changer for me. So far I had been viewing Hamas as executing a "bait" attack on Israel for international & domestic political reasons. Kill enough Israelis, and in particular take some hostages, to force Israel to invade Gaza; which you want because that will re-inflame radicalism, tank Israel's growing coziness with Arab states like the Gulf Monarchies, and keep the Palestine Question front-and-center on people's agendas.

What it was not about was achieving any sense of a military victory; Hamas did not think they would be able to defeat the IDF on the field, or even truly hold them back. They thought they would do better than they have in defending Gaza, to be honest, but the goal wasn't to "win" in that way or anything. The actions of Israel, in their inflamed bloodlust, would be the fulcrum of progress for Hamas. It was the most logical interpretation of their strategy, because tbh its working, Israel's strategy void has bungled this war at every level. Of course if it is "worth it" is a completely separate question - Hamas is playing a game from deep, deep in the red, if you aren't going to fold and pack it up from that position these are the hail mary plays you make.

This article, a long (and sometimes overly windy) interview with two career members of the Palestinian governing orgs (primarily Fatah), shines a very different light on that. They outline that over the past ~decade, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar coalesced power around his own faction of highly fundamentalist adherents that convinced itself that divine favor was shining on them and they would be able to actually defeat Israel in the field. The most compelling evidence for this is a conference they held planning the post-conquest occupation of Israel:

So detailed were the plans that participants in the conference began to draw up list of all the properties in Israel and appointed representatives to deal with the assets that would be seized by Hamas. "We have a registry of the numbers of Israeli apartments and institutions, educational institutions and schools, gas stations, power stations and sewage systems, and we have no choice but to get ready to manage them," Obeid told the conference.

They even called people up to ask if they would take the job of governor of this-of-that province! This was not a bored-Friday white paper by any means. They discussed defensive plans and counter-offensives like that was on the table. Sinwar outlined conquest as the goal.

If we accept this premise, it naturally lends itself to the question "okay how did they get the rest of Hamas to go along with this?" Because Hamas is not all These Kinds of People, its a governing state that does politics on the international stage after all. One of the reasons I leaned towards my interpretation was that, for the past ~decade, Hamas has actually been doing a glam-up rebranding of the org to make it more moderate & respectable in international eyes. The 2017 Charter Revision is the biggest example, which included say disavowing the idea that this was a religious war (distinguishing between zionism & judaism), and loosely admitting to the idea that they could recognize Israel as a country if terms were met. Actions like these show actors who are pretty level-headed. Were they inauthentic? Did they change their mind?

Maybe a bit, but its more than they aren't the same people. Right alongside the build-up to the October attack was a purging & sidelining of whole swaths of Hamas leadership. Many were not even informed of the attack - though they knew something was coming. Apparently it leaked on October 2nd, and a bunch of leaders just immediately fled the Strip for safety. This one is the most amusing:

Haniyeh's eldest son took a similar course of action. Around midday on October 2, Abed Haniyeh chaired a meeting of the Palestinian sports committee, which is headed by the minister of sports, Jibril Rajoub. Suddenly he received a phone call, left the room for a few minutes and then returned, pale and confused. He immediately informed the committee – whose members were in a Zoom conference with counterparts in the West Bank – that he had to leave for the Rafah crossing straightaway, as he had just learned that his wife had to undergo fertility treatment in the United Arab Emirates. (He was lying.) He granted full power of attorney to his deputy and left the Gaza Strip hurriedly.

That is one way to duck out of a pointless meeting, take notes people!

So instead of my hail mary politics play, what you have is a story of an institutional coup by a radical faction - which for extremist resistance groups is an ever-present threat. None of this means the "bait" strategy part is wrong of course, that was definitely still the point - but this argument here claims that goal of the bait was to bring the IDF into Gaza where it could be defeated in the field with their extensive fortifications, and then presumably inspire others like Hezbollah to jump on the moment of weakness and besiege Israel proper.

So....is this true? There are two gigantic caveats on this article: the first is that the people being interviewed do not primarily work for Hamas - they are members of Fatah, the leading faction of the PLO. They hate Hamas, they are not Hamas leaders themselves, they have every incentive to paint Hamas as irredeemable. You really can't take this story simply at their word. But they aren't outsiders - they hate Hamas but they work with them constantly, that is how it works, people rotate around in the Palestine orgs. They have met personally and worked with dozens of Hamas leaders; one of them was even called to be offered one of those post-war occupation governorships! (He said no lol) So its a big red flag but not a damning one. And things like the fleeing leaders, the conference on the occupation, those all 100% happened. They released press on it, they weren't hiding it.

The second caveat is that its just really not uncommon for large organizations, particularly extremist ones, to engage in mainly performative actions at scale. The South Korean government still maintains a department that plans for the administration of North Korea for example! Not totally useless ofc, but it writes exactly the reports you think it does that get put in a bin and never touched. Sometimes its appeasing internal factions, sometimes its PR, sometimes its just institutional inertia. Its absolutely believable that Hamas would make a big plan for how they would conquer Israel because otherwise...what do you tell the commanders, exactly? Why are they fighting again? A significant percentage of the lower-level fighters need that belief, so you give it to them. While certainly there is a fundamentalist faction in Hamas, are they ones winning? Or are they just another faction being played against?

I don't see enough evidence to say, but there is enough to make me pause. I'm not sold on it in the end, that is my final conclusion. I think more brains than Sinwar were involved in this and they had more realistic aspirations. And yet the level of commitment and disorganization does suggest that at least some of what was pushing events forward was a group immune to doubts being at the wheel. Certainly interested in researching more.

[i-heart-yellowstone]

17 - Awkward Family Dinner

Part 18

Raised Fair Share of Hell

Tag list @bvbwestfall @hcwthewestwaswcn @child-of-of-the-sunshine @elenavampire21 @keep-the-wolves-close @kmc1989 @tallrock35

The evening came sooner than I expected and I figured it would be an interesting dinner considering John had freed Summer and put her on house arrest here. Leaving her and Beth to most likely get into it sometime tonight. John was at the head of the table. Kayce and I took the chairs on the end. Carter was sitting next to Faith who had Rip on her other side and Beth beside him. Summer ended up being close to the governor like his daughter. Gator entered the room sitting down multiple trays of meat noticing Summer sitting at the table. "Oh I'm sorry ma'am. If I had known I would have made you something else."

"Give her what we feed the horses, Gator." Beth scoffed glaring across the table at the girl.

Biting my lip I forked some food on each of the twins plates so they were distracted with eating rather than watching what was about to happen. "Gator she'll be here for 6 months so could you make something that she can eat in the future?" John asked the cook.

"So uh what we have prepared here is an esuremain of game. There on the left vension-"

Summer interrupts him. "Which is to say a deer you shot that was just minding its own business."

"Yes that's right...beside that we'll have roast duck-" He started again but it didn't matter.

She asked a question intertwining her hands together. "Do you realize duck's mate for life?"

"If it helps I killed them both-"

She scoffed as I covered my mouth with my hands trying to not laugh at how ridiculous she was being. "It doesn't make it better. It makes its twice as bad. And what is this little creature that can't even feed one person?"

Kayce glanced at me then shifted his gaze to Faith and Carter who were just watching like the rest of us. "Actually I serve four per person.."

"So you kill four and what is this mystery?" Summer points towards the plate in front of her.

Gator slumped his shoulders and I felt bad for him that she wasn't being a very good guest. Because she could go back to prison if she liked. "Uh that's a dove."

"Dove, the bird of peace." Summer raised a brow. “You’re serving the fucking bird of peace for dinner.”

Kayce chuckled while taking a drink. “Dove is pretty good.” I throw my head back laughing because of how painfully awkward this whole dinner conversation was.

Beth sat down on her napkin, eyeing the girl. "Summer, let's you and I take a walk. Maybe I can educate you on our different ways of life."

"Our different cultures.." She snarled back letting her lead her out of the house.

Tate reached forward alongside my husband taking some of the duck from the plate. I forked some deer on mine about to take a bite until Faith showed me her empty plate. "Can I have seconds?"

I covered my hand with my mouth trying to conceal my laughter. “You’re just like your father, Faithy Rae.”

"How about you let others get some first you two." Kayce chuckled through a bright grin.

Rip focused his attention back on his boss asking softly. "Sir, do you want me to go after them?"

"I think that's a terrible idea, Rip." John chuckled, shaking his head, getting some meat on his plate. I couldn't hold in my laughter anymore so I just start hitting my fist on the table hearing him tell Gator I'll have four.

Carter watched Faith raise her hand asking like she was in school. "Is there any cake tonight?" Everyone at the table just smiled and laughed at her innocent question.

"Yes granddaughter, Gator is making dessert." Her grandfather replied as Rip got up to go check on them outside. When he came back both girls were beaten pretty badly and you could see blood on their faces. Summer ended up just eating some mashed potatoes until John returned with a first aid kit.

After dinner I slowly sat down in the porch swing just looking up at the stars in peaceful silence until the front door gently closed. Turning my head in that direction I smiled seeing my husband who sits down beside me. "I was looking for you."

"Were you already missing me after we had dinner with your family?" I smiled up at him running my fingers through his hair since he wasn't wearing his hat at the moment.

“Just a little bit, Lissa Rae.” He sighed enjoying the feeling where he rests his head on my shoulder intertwining my freehand with his left.

Running my hand up the side of his face he leaned into my palm. “Awe poor Kayce.”

“Don’t judge me, woman.” He sent me a small glare. I crossed my fingers that tomorrow would just be about us and the family. Riding horses and doing what we loved and teaching that spirit into our children. "If Carter and Faith try to share a tent I'm gonna punch him."

"He's a kid, Kayce." I scoffed at not taking him seriously.

He lifted his head up not changing his facial expression meaning he was dead serious about this. "I ain't kidding darlin'. I'm not comfortable with the idea."

"Have you forgotten that we got into much more trouble than they ever have. I mean we got arrested, drank underage and you got me pregnant in high school. I think you’re worrying far too much about them." I replied, tucking hair out from in front of his eyes where he nodded softly yes.

We allowed the familiar silence to surround us again just watching for any shooting stars. He wrapped his arms around my waist tugging me to sit on his lap. Laying my head against his chest he put his chin on top of my head until I started giggling. "I can't believe our kids were eating like wild dogs. Tearing all that meat apart so easily."

"Yeah that was pretty fun. Summer would have probably thrown up at the sight. Don't you think Lissa Rae?" Kayce chuckled with a huge smile and my heart swooned seeing him happy again.

Lifting my head up I softly kissed him. He leans into it resting one hand to cradle my cheek in his hand. "I agree with that, cowboy. I wonder who they got that instinct from hmm?"

"Don't act like you wouldn't tear up my mother's biscuits exactly like that." He teased me while twirling some loose strands of my hair in between his fingers.

Wrapping my arms around his neck I smirked when he leaned forward kissing me deeply. I moaned into the kiss, twisting my fingers in his brown curls. But he broke the kiss before we got too heated and ended up making love tonight. "Let's get to bed darlin'. We've got a long ride on horseback tomorrow."

“Oh hang on. Someone’s calling me.” I put my phone up to my right ear hearing my sister’s voice.

“Alissa, are you free tomorrow?”

I looked at my husband confused. “Uh no. I’m going to bring down cattle for the branding. Why is something wrong at our ranch?”

“The lawyers are coming up tomorrow. Mom has to sign over the ranch to us after what happened to daddy.”

Bringing my freehand to my mouth I blinked through some heavy tears having to remember what happened when our families were attacked a year ago. “I - um - can you hold them off until I come back in a few days. This is really important for both our ranches since I’ll be helping brand our cattle too.”

“I’ll see what I can do. Just be safe out there.” My sister responded before I hung up the phone.

“Yeah, you guys two.” Kayce gently touched my arm before I flung my body against his sobbing heavily before I had even looked him in the eye. He knew what had happened during the family attack had changed me and my family for the rest of our lives.

[lizzaneia-elizalde]

Male Yandere Husband x Pregnant Female Stepford Wife Reader

(I don’t think you’ve done anything like this yet? So if not, think you can try?)

I want him to be a master manipulator, but really delusional in a loving/devoted sense. Believing that what he’s doing is for our best interest, as well as the baby’s. That includes confining us at home, always being with us 24/7 when we’re outside our home, etc. And generally getting us to be 100% dependent on him, (like we already weren’t heavily dependent on him before…)

Thank you!!! 💝

Yandere! Husband! Politician x Pregnant! Fem! Stepford! Wife! Reader

SORRY IT TOOK ME LONG TO GET THIS REQUEST DONE!

I had a hard time incorporating the yandere stuff with such a willing reader, but I tried LOL.

This one's only got two sections, since the both of you are married already, so it went straight to the yandere-ness.

But here ya go! Requests will be back on once more!

BTW, the master list is up now! It's my pinned post.

Yandere! Politician name: Maximus

Maximus.

Just like his name, he was the greatest Politician out there. Whatever that means.

He's charming, intuitive, generous, kind, and compassionate.

Every election season, if you ask people who will they vote as a mayor or whatever position Maximus ran as, they'll say

"Isn't it obvious? Of course it's Maximus!"

So it didn't faze the people that he won whenever he ran.

As young as he is, he's always been active in the political sphere. From the student council, he's always been in the highest positions out there. Secretary, Vice President, and President.

Hell, if you ask him to do treasury, then he'll gladly accept and do it much better than the current treasurer or auditor. No specks, no crumbs, a clean liquidation sheet.

And when he graduated as the University president, local parties flocked towards him to invite him in their political party.

So many choices for the great Maximus.

After many days of researching and finding out the dirt, secrets, strengths, and weaknesses of each political party, he chose a party suited for the straight laced man.

That, and that you were there.

You were the unlisted assistant of your father, who was running as vice mayor, and is finding a mayor to be with.

This was perfect.

Maximus has always liked you.

Scratch that.

He always loved you.

You were the daughter of a well known governor inside your city. Pristine, shy, quiet, and always had a smile in your face, everyone back in school liked you. You were the epitome of etiquette and manners. If parents want somebody to compare to their child to belittle them, it would be you, little miss perfect.

Both of you live in a small city, almost a town size. So everyone knew each other, and you both lived in the same district.

it's just that he didn't fly under your radar from how busy he is.

Unlike your father, you never joined politics. You just sat there, studied, did some small knitting projects or sewing. Maybe even drawing if you felt like it.

At first, Maximus didn't really pay you any attention, until he heard your conversation with your friends.

"What? Seriously?"

"I am serious." Your melodious laugh echoed through the empty halls. It was already 5pm, and only a handful of students are left.

"But... That's so traditional lol."

"I know, but really. I just want to stay at home, serve my husband, take care of our kids... You know, the gist."

"But, you said you'll do Social work, Home eco, or culinary in Uni. So what's up with that?"

You just smiled at your friends until they said "oh..." in understanding.

Those courses can help develop your home rearing skills.

"I mean, sure. If you're happy with that." One of your friends finally broke the silence, followed by "meh's..." "eh..." and grunts of approval.

"Thank you for accepting for who I am." You smiled once more at them and they gave you an understanding grin.

Then and there, Maximus became curious about you.

Maximus also had a traditional way of thinking. Not all women, but his wife should just be staying pretty in his home, while taking care of their children...

He knew that only a small percentage of people would be open to that notion, and he was fine with it.

It did made him feel lonely sometimes. He's always dreamt of a domestic life, but the woman is always a faceless grey glob. He just can't see somebody in his life who would be willing to be like that.

So when he heard your conversation, that night in his dreams, he woke up sweating and confused when the faceless glob greeted him. But rather than the glob, it was you. Smiling with two children who looked like the exact perfect mix of the both of you.

"What the fuck..." He breathed out of his mouth, shaking his head.

Now, every night, his dreams were infiltrated with you.

And that started in highschool, all throughout University, up until you both graduated.

Your paths never crossed once more, since he's in AP classes most of the time, both of you were on different blocks in senior highschool despite having the same strand, and he chose Political Science in University while you did BS in Home Economics. But he always peeled his eyes for you. Dismissal, lunch, even breaks.

His friends teased him for having such a long time crush, and he just laughed and waved his hand.

And when the both of you graduated, he's about to confess his feelings when he saw you talking with a man, with eyes so wide and filled with adoration.

He felt his heart break.

He was numb, standing there and looking at you interact with the man who was smiling down at you with a ruffle on your hair.

He felt irrationally jealous.

Wait, him? Jealous?

He never felt jealous.

Did he?

He doesn't know anymore.

All he could see is you holding a bouquet of lilies and smelling it while the man hugged you.

He wants to rip the man limb from limb, desecrate his body, and feed it to the alligators.

Why is he wrapping his arms around you like that? He never heard you getting a boyfriend?

And he has a lot of connections to know.

Then he scoffed, like a breath of fresh air rushing into his lungs.

He needed a break.

When did he act like this? When did he become so...

He doesn't even know what it's called.

He's always been a good man. One that doesn't know anger, jealousy, possessiveness...

But what's this? Feelings that stirred inside him threatened to spill out.

So he ran away before it would get worse.

Years later, seeing your name in that certain partylist, he knew he had to join it. Just for a one sided closure he needed.

"Hello! You're Y/N right? You went to the same... School as me!" Maximus said, leaning his upper body to meet your face. His face soft, gentle, and mellow.

"O-oh! Hello sir Maximus! I knew we did, but I didn't know you knew me..." You shyly answered, your thumb brushing against the back of your other hand.

Maximus gulped.

He didn't realize how much he is missing you.

His eyes scanned towards your desk and his eyes widened a bit when he saw the man once more with you in a photo, but this time, with your father and mother.

So, with his trembling lips from the sudden hope bubbling inside him, he pointed.

"Is that your family?" He whispered and you nodded with a soft smile of adoration.

"Yes. I love them a lot." You said, caressing the photo. "That's my dad, mom, and my big brother."

"Oh! That's amazing. It's rare to see a tight knit family nowadays. I mean, families falling left and right, can't people just communicate and--" Maximus rambled, not even caring if the things he's saying is insensitive. He was just so happy that he actually has a chance to woo you.

"Is that so? I mean, my family had fallouts, and sometimes communication is not enough. Actions speak louder than words, of course." You said, carrying the conversation further.

Maximus grinned before taking a seat beside you and talking about deep, familial stuff. With him sprinkling hints of him being a traditional man.

You didn't miss the hints, evident from the blush forming on your cheeks and the shyness emanating from your words faltering.

And he found it adorable.

Once you both ran out of things to debate, he held your hand gently.

"Hey, y/n, what do you think about going on a date with me?"

The rest is history.

"Darling, I'm home!" Maximus yelled once he got inside the mansion. "Today was a bit of a mess..."

Maximus heard an excited gasp and shuffling before he saw you waddling towards him, with a 7 month pregnant belly.

"Welcome home, darling." You greeted him with the smile he loves.

You took off his coat and hung it on the rack, before guiding him towards the kitchen.

"I helped cook today! The dinner for this night is lamb ch... Maximus?"

Maximus has a frown on his face, looking at you with such a disapproving look.

"Darling, why are you working in the kitchen?" He gently asked, caressing your belly. "You're pregnant, you need to rest always!"

You shrunk down a bit, sad.

"But I want to serve you again..."

Maximus' eyes softened at your words before giving you a loving kiss on your forehead.

"I know, darling. But that's what the chefs are for right? The servants too. I hired them to take care of you. Of us." He said, guiding you to the couch and gently sitting you down. "I don't want you getting tired. You're already being burdened by being pregnant and nurturing our child."

You nodded, easily swayed by his words.

"I know... Give me a kiss?" You asked, tilting your head up. He chuckled and gave you a soft peck.

"There. Now stay there, alright? We'll be eating here in the living room. You're already walking too much." Maximus said before hugging you and going to the kitchen.

Once he got to the kitchen, he grabbed a knife and threw it at the chef that was already cowering in the corner.

"Why did you let Y/N work?" He growled out, his eyes sharp, deadly, and authoritative.

Ever since you got married to Maximus, his protectiveness shot through the roof. He doesn't like it when he doesn't know where you are, he doesn't know when he doesn't know what you are doing, he doesn't like it if you talked to people he doesn't know personally.

He installed cameras, mics, and planted people around you that he knew he can scare into submission.

Especially now you're pregnant, he's making sure you always stayed beside him.

When did he become so twisted, from the nice, generous, and kind politician, to something like... Him?

"S-sir, the madam insisted on cooking for you!" The chef trembled out.

You were a rare type of woman who was so open to just being at home, and be the wife he needed to see every time he goes home.

He can't let you go.

Ever.

Maximus sneered and bit his nail, eyes sharp with thoughts.

"I need to drill in more thoughts into her pretty head..." Maximus grumbled.

You were already so willing just being inside the mansion, and so open to his manipulation that you weren't aware of.

He told you that you don't need to go out, that the world was a scary place for a wife like you. And that whenever you go out, you needed to be by his side.

He's already working so hard serving the city, and serving you is a bonus, and a privilege.

He's so occupied with taking care of the place both of you growing up, yet had the time, love, affection, and care to single you out and shower you with his attention. Why would you need to do anything other than serving him as his wife? That's blasphemy, and selfish.

He drilled that in your mind.

And you were so accepting of the fact too.

"If she insisted on helping in the kitchen once more, tell her 'what would sir think?', okay?" He spat out at the poor chef before suddenly smiling. "Don't tell anybody this, or else your family gets it."

He walked away with a triumphant smile and grabbed the food from the counter.

He walked towards you, and saw you scratching your cheek softly confused and scared, almost.

"What's wrong, darling?" Maximus asked, worry etched on his face as he sat down beside you.

"Oh, uh, I just..." You gave him your phone, which was ringing with the number of the exclusive nursery room designer he hired. "C-can you talk to him? I don't know what to do..."

Maximus shivered, seeing you so dependent on him.

Clueless on what to do, on what to say.

He smiled before taking the call for you, with his hand holding yours.

You didn't even start eating yet, waiting for his words to start.

His cute little wife can't even eat by herself.

How... perfect.

This was his perfect life.

With the perfect wife.

And he'll be damned if he didn't protect this.

If he didn't protect you.

So just be swayed with his words and put yourself in his palm.

He will make sure you are well taken care of, and that your pretty little brain will not hurt from thinking too much.

That's a promise.

[loveerran]

Utah Bathroom Ban

In an effort to protect women and children from a problem that does not exist, Utah legislators recently passed, and the governor recently signed into law, HB 257. Among other things, this bill defines criminal penalties for improper use of a binary, sex-designated (male or female) restroom in a government owned or controlled space that does not correspond to one's assigned sex:

"Going into a bathroom that is not consistent with your birth gender, or your birth sex, you are putting yourself at greater risk. I think that’s the best way for everybody to look at it and say, ‘How do I avoid risk? How do I avoid risk of arrest?'" - Senate sponsor of HB 257 Dan McCay

As a trans woman who has been out and about for 20 years, what I hear in this quote is very specifically: "We want you to be scared when you use a bathroom that doesn't align with your assigned sex at birth. You already know someone may report you just for being there and the criminal justice system is horrible for trans women, so maybe you'll think twice before trying to pee when out in public."

And it works. I am reminded I am different and should be scared of what will happen if the wrong person is having a bad day, reports me to the bathroom monitoring authorities, and some cop starts making choices that put me in a difficult or dangerous situation. Stories of abuses suffered by trans women in the system are legion.

But I don't think my situation is the real problem here. In practical terms, this bill means a trans kid can't use a school restroom that aligns with their gender identity and/or presentation. Instead, they have to develop a 'privacy plan' with the school and use separately designated facilities or a faculty restroom, etc. - reinforcing that they are 'other'. This is very dangerous and will create victims and we have actual data and studies to back up that assertion.

Let me restate: There is data demonstrating that bathroom restrictions hurt gender non-conforming kids, with a reported increase in the sexual assault rate of nearly 50% when bathroom restrictions of this type are in place.

My wife points out "I would be safer in a men's restroom than you. Most men will actually try to protect women, but that doesn't apply to trans women. Quite the opposite."

The sponsors of the bill could not name a single instance of trans kids being a problem in spaces aligned with their gender identity. Not one single incident for them to rely on. And they ignored evidence indicating there are actual harmful effects. This bill makes a small, marginalized group of people more likely to be victims of violence.

This issue was so important to the Utah legislature that they devoted a substantial portion of the 1st two weeks of the legislative session to HB 257, including significant changes after the public comment period passed.

When the bill went live on May 1, the Utah State Auditor's office began being flooded with false reporting (I love you all :)!). The Auditor's office responded by publishing what can only be described as a scathing indictment of the situation:

"the Office created the complaint form to comply with a statutory mandate – a role we did not request. Indeed, no auditor sets out to become a bathroom monitor... Like many in the public, we learned about our role under this bill shortly before the bill was rushed to final passage. I recognize that many Utahns feel trampled by an invasive and overly aggressive Legislature that too often fails to seek input from those most affected."

Thank you to everyone who continues to fight for us on this issue. There aren't enough of us to win this on our own. We need your help.

[chlobliviate]

Wolfstar Microfic - The Room of Requirement

Words: 791

@wolfstarmicrofic

🌙✨🌙✨🌙

Remus had made a point of avoiding the room. Every time he walked down the corridor and the door appeared in front of him, he kept on walking. He didn’t know what he could possibly need that a simple room could provide. It wasn’t like a room could bring back the dead, after all. It wasn’t like a room could take back the way he’d been convinced that Sirius had been to blame for James and Lily’s deaths for twelve years.

Ever since their reunion at the Shrieking Shack, he’d been in a deeper state of self-loathing than usual. This had not been helped by the pressure from the school governors to resign after Snape leaked his condition to the Daily Prophet. He still didn’t know what to do about that. For every thought that he shut down, his brain came at him with three more. An encephalic hydra.

Dumbledore had told him he’d have to make a decision by the end of the week and as Thursday drew to a close, he still had no idea. He walked along the corridor that connected his office to the rest of the school and it appeared.

What could it hurt?

He opened the door slowly and gasped.

Four four-poster beds, an open window with the curtain billowing, a signed photo of Freddie Mercury on the wall, the sound of the shower running in the adjacent bathroom… How could this be what he required?

He sat down on the bed that used to be his and looked around him. He’d thought himself the only Marauder left for so long, but for Sirius to be innocent and less addled than one would expect after so long in Azkaban, and Pete awaiting trial, he didn’t know where he stood anymore. He wondered if Sirius would want anything to do with him, once his name was cleared. He had no idea where Sirius had gone after Remus had transformed and risked everyone’s lives. Harry and Hermione had sent him off with Buckbeak, and he knew that Dumbledore had been in touch, but he’d been too much of a coward to ask any further questions.

He looked around the dorm. Everything felt smaller than he remembered. The urge to set fire to Peter’s bed was growing, so he took himself to Sirius’ bed and lay down on it. How on earth did it smell like him? How could a room do that?

He closed his eyes to try and stop the tears that were building. How the fuck was this room an answer to the question of whether he should stay at Hogwarts or resign?

The shower shut off and Remus froze. He sat up just in time to see Sirius, thirty-four-year-old Sirius, stroll out of the bathroom, towel slung low on his hips, as it always had been. He took one look at Remus, turned around and walked back into the bathroom.

Well, Remus thought, there was his answer about whether Sirius would want to have anything to do with him going forward. He stood up from the bed slowly and was about to leave when the bathroom door swung open again.

“Moony?” Sirius said cautiously. “Are you real?”

“Are you real?” Remus asked. It hadn’t occurred to him that Sirius could be anything other than a projection of the room. “I’m— yeah, I’m… me.”

“How are you here?”

“The door has been appearing for me, and I needed somewhere to think today.” He said, “Apparently that place is our old dorm.”

“Oh, no. This is my required room.” Sirius said stepping into the room, still looking like he didn’t quite believe Remus was real.

“Then why has it been showing up for me?” Remus frowned, sitting back down on Sirius’ bed.

“What did you need to think about?” Sirius asked him, uncharacteristically gently. Maybe he wasn’t real after all.

“Dumbledore wants to know whether I want to work here next year or resign.”

“Why the fuck would you resign?!” Sirius asked.

“Snape went to the Prophet and the Governors and told them what I am. The governors and a few parents have pressured me to quit.”

“That’s such bullshit. Fuck. I’m so sorry, Moons.” Sirius, still wearing only a towel, sat down next to Remus, who did his best to ignore the tattoos and scars that now covered Sirius' body.

“Have you been here the whole time?” Remus suddenly asked. “Since…”

Sirius nodded, “Waiting for the ministry to get their arses in gear and pardon me.”

“And until then you’re just… living in a replica of our old dorm?”

Sirius sighed and touched Remus’ arm gently. “I think, like you do now, that I needed to be reminded that Hogwarts will always be my home.”

[rexultimus]

Ivory

Chapter 1

Next chapter

Summmay: A strange island appeared in the journey of the straw hats. Their governors, a kind king and cruel princess, are the ones to decide the faith of the pirates.

Ironically, the scary princess catches Zoro's eye. A strong fighter which main weapon are her wings.

wc:900-ish

warnings: none, yet :)

a/n: So, this is my first fic! The first two chapters are already posted on AO3. I started writing this two years ago, when I was about to graduate high school. Now after the emotional wreckage these two years have been for me (getting consistently rejected from medschool is not for the weak), I wanted to come back to this fic.

The second chapter is on the way, I just need to polish my trauma-free past self writing. I hope you enjoy it.

Under the warm afternoon sun, the Straw Hat Pirates were dawdling around; the sea was calm, and it seemed like there was no firm land anywhere near. It was Zoro’s turn to watch out for the ship, he was starting to fall asleep; nothing could bring him more peace than a quiet boat and a gentle sea. His heavy-lidded gaze was scanning the sea. Until a white spot at the end of the horizon caught his eye.

“Hey Nami, wake up!” yelled at Nami, who was tanning on the quarterdeck

 “It better be a good thing, Moss head.” Nami snapped, biting back without looking at him.

 “Island ahead”

“Let me see.” She got up without missing a beat, grabbed her spotting scope, and pointed it right in front of them.

 “It looks like it, Zoro.” Her head lifted up and smirked. “You’re not that useless after all,” she giggled and headed towards the cabin.

It cannot be described how excited Luffy was; an island whose front gate was an opulent gate was exciting for everyone. Nami was screaming instructions left to right; the island was getting closer every second. The navigator started to get a bad feeling; it was just a fortress; no land seemed visible underneath. almost as if it emerged straight from the sea 

 As soon as the Merry got in front of the gate, a deafening siren surrounded the whole ship. A loud voice came from the top of the fortress.

 "Please, identify yourselves." the man with the megaphone said with a monotone voice.

 Luffy screamed, "We're the Straw Hat Pirates!”

 "Why are you here, Pirates?"

 "The Log Pose pointed here. We are not here to sack the island; we just wanted to visit." This time the one answering was Nami before Luffy could say something stupid.

A long moment of silence divided the crew and the vigilantes; no one knew what to say or what to do next. They could only wait for an answer.

"Open the doors!" Sounded out of the blue, the relief was visible between the straw hats. "You can enter, Pirates. But you're going to get an audience with the King and the Princess first."

 "Really? Thank you, megaphone man!" The captain yelled with a lighthearted laugh.

"Welcome to the White Island, Straw Hat Pirates."

 The name of the island was very adequate: giant and antique ivory-colored buildings welcomed the pirates, full of golden details and shiny ornaments; near the end of their sight, a castle emerged. The port was brimmed with merchants and colorful fruits; kids running around, ice cream shops, and street musicians entertaining paserbys.

 A large harbor separated them from the city; it was crowded with reefer ships.

 “Pirates! This way, please." A man with a neon green vest yelled from the left side of the harbor.

"This seems fun." Luffy yelled while he was propelling next to the green-vested man, "Where is the king, green man?

"Welcome to the White Island. My name is Ney, I'm the chief vigilante from the harbor”, the rest of the crew were joining Luffy as they disembarked. "Every visitor without an invitation has to get an audience with King Adelios and Princess Bellflower", he muttered, his voice dropping as he said her name.

“Well, that's great!" Luffy laughed. "They must be really nice, right?"

 "Our governors are the nicest people I've known. However, you have to be careful with your words, Straw Hat; even though our king has a kind heart and noble character, the princess is quite the opposite.” 

His eyes narrowed. “Her toughness and cruelty scare the visitors away; she's the one to decide whether you can stay here or pray for your life before she kills you. Her nickname is quite fitting, believe me” 

 “Which is?” Sanji questioned. 

“The Harpy Devil, Harpy for short” 

Robin's eyes widened, a quiet gasp left her mouth. Even Sanji was a bit concerned for this princess. Luffy and Zoro remained u bothered. Nami and Usopp joined the group last; they exchanged a nervous glance.

Ney began leading them towards the closest street, and everyone followed.

“Devil? Wh-who is the devil?" Usopp whispered to Nami, whose shock bathed her in a film of cold sweat. 

 “Harpy? Is it a creature terrorizing the island?” At Nami's magination, Usopp couldn't help but squeal quietly. 

 Chopper, who was near enough to hear them, turned around like a frozen mummy. His big eyes were trembling, and words were caught up in his mouth. Nami picked him up as his tiny legs were giving up.

 “Worse.” he managed to whisper, “it's the princess.” Ussop closed his eyes, praying to God for a merciful death. Nami had a dazed look, as she tried to process the information.

Ney turned around once they reached the sidewalk and looked deep in their eyes.

"We owe our lives to our princess, Bellflower; her braveness is the reason every single one of us is alive." The vigilante looked away. "You must be sincere. She knows if you're lying.

 "Luffy!" Nami ran to Luffy's side. “We have to leave. We cannot take the risk.” she murmured.

 "Since when have I not accepted a challenge, Nami?" Said with a mischievous look, "Plus, I'm a terrible liar. We have nothing to fear!"

A big carriage arrived and opened its gates from the inside; a man wearing a kitsune mask greeted them and assigned each one a seat. Sanji gave a concerned look to Zoro, who could only shrug and enter the carriage. Once everyone got in their seats, the vehicle started to advance.

Only the wheels rubbing the pavement were heard on the way to the castle. No one knew what or when to say something. 

"Pirates" the man with the mask broke the tense atmosphere, "I assume that Ney already explained to you the great danger you guys are facing by going into the audience with our princess." He met eyes with Luffy, whose face was emotionless. "I want to help you guys; just listen carefully.”

[luvly-writer]

“XOXO”

Ch. 3 Part-Time lovers, full time problem

—•—

Tim Drake x reader

Fic + social media Au

warnings:

taglist: @w31rdg1rl @mxtokko @loonymoonystuff @grandstrangerphantom

Author’s note: One thing i love about Christmas is all the free time i have to write new stuff after finals 🤭 (she said as she still has a few finals to finish 😍). HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS CHAPTER!

For those wondering about “BOCM” i am having such a hard time finishing it. When my phone got changed the notes i had on that story got deleted and so i had to improvise a little cause i forgot its ending and it’s so frustrating cause i always want to give you guys quality content. I am scratching my head trying to finish it so i’ll continue this one and update slowly so that i can finish it correctly. Love you all and thank you for your patience.

Masterlist:

“Absolutely insufferable, she is,” said Tim to himself as he ran his hand through his hair. He had been begrudgingly cleaning his apartment. He was tempted to leave it dirty just to take a piss at Yn but he was sure that wouldn’t look good for his reputation so here he was. He would have hired someone to do it for him but recalling all the things he had regarding his alter ego, he knew he would have been fucked and he really couldn’t risk someone else knowing.

Finally, he finished ensuring everything looked great and sat back on his couch with his laptop. "There must be something about her that I can find. I refuse to be outdone and unprepared for this," he said, searching for any leverage he could hold over Y/n's head to bargain for his secret to remain so. Thirty minutes later he had found absolutely nothing. Unlike her two best friends, Clara Dupont and Satine Abbott, who were known to be found in scandal after scandal every week, Y/n had a clean slate. Satine was constantly partying during some fashion week or getting caught sleeping around with some governor's son or a married businessman. Clara has been known to pay off people to do her bidding, caught buying off police, lawyers, teachers, professors, judges and so, to run the city however she pleased. Yet, Y/n had nothing against her. Every article he found was about a charity she had worked on, a program she had opened, or an award she was given; and were all of them legit. She seemed like the angel in their group, but Tim knew better than to trust the all-too-shiny act. He has some recollection of them during high school though; he was a grade above them. They were known for their tight and exclusive group of three. He remembers how girls would do anything to become one of them. If it meant they had to step on someone else to appease one of the three, they would have done so. After all, having them as a connection moved mountains. Tim quickly grew frustrated. No psycho exes, no drug addiction, no jail time, no one dead, no bribes, nothing that could have stained the Vanderbilt name.

Throwing his head back, he heard his phone ring. Y/n was here. He sets his laptop on the coffee table and walks to the door, opening it and revealing a dazzling young woman in an outfit he thought someone as flashy as she never would wear. White Converse, comfortable mom jeans, a laid-back button-up up, and a cozy long brown coat. Her hair was loose and her face fresh with little makeup. Even after spending hours looking at pictures of her during his search, she still managed to take his breath away every time he was in her presence.

"I know I'm mesmerizing, but can you please let me inside? I'm freezing here," she said with her nose a little red.

He rolls his eyes with a laugh and lets her in. "I was gonna go more for repulsive but if that helps you sleep at night."

"Says the one that looks like sewer trampled rat" she quips back.

Tim couldn't help the snort that came out of him. She was an endless supply of good comebacks. He wonders how an interaction between his brothers and her would go, maybe he finally found someone to go head-to-head with Damian. She takes her coat off and lays it on the couch, together with her Burberry bag. He takes notice that her coat is also Burberry and decides to tease her a little. "And here I thought you were actually looking a little humble, but the coat and the bag ruin the look," he says as he scrunches his nose. He feels laughter bubbling as he catches the deadpan she gives him. "Whose less humble, me for wearing it and not saying a single thing or you for identifying it rather quickly and feeling the need to point it out?" she asks as she places a hand on her hip smirking at him.

"Touche"

She nods satisfied at his response and sits on the couch in front of him. "Ok. First order of business-"

"First order of business is giving me the reason as to why you are doing this." Tim interrupts her. She sighs and looks up, "God give me strength to not strangle him" she whispers and Tim tries to hold back a smirk.

"I wAS going to get to that before you so rudely interrupted me. The first order of business is giving you the context I am sure you are dying to hear." she pauses to look at him and he gestures for her to continue. He sees her look down and seem almost embarrassed. He can tell she is hesitating so he tries his best guess, "Are you trying to make someone jealous?"

"No, it's not that, it..." She takes a deep breath and spills it out. "My parents want me to marry a man who is very much too much older than me with the idea that it will help solidify the family lineage which I think is absurd because my sisters are right there AND THEY ARE MARRIED already to someone they love. But because Aurora and Charlisse keep on fighting to become the next CEO, my parents think it is only right to marry ME off to a very wrinkly and truly disturbing man who i am sure 20 years older than me because someone should continue the line whilst the other two are focused on their careers and making something out of their lives. SO, I needed to find a boyfriend who would be suitable for their standards whilst Aurora and Charlisse sort it out so that when they do, the attention and pressure of continuing the line will go back to them and not me." Y/n finishes breathing out. Tim was taken aback. Not only the normally composed girl he was used to seeing, spoke 7 words per second, but he was blown away by the information she had just given him.

"I need...a drink? Do you want one?" he said standing up and heading to the kitchen. No wonder she said this might take a while.

"Yes please" she said with a tense smile. "do you have wine?"

Tim made a sound of confirmation as he poured some scotch. He wasn't much of a drinker, but years of being part of the business world made him earn some appreciation for the drink. Especially on times like these. He poured some wine for her in a glass and walked back with both drinks. He gave her the glass and sat down. "Isn't that a little medieval?"

"Old money has habits that are tough to kill, unfortunately" she mutters dejectedly to her glass. "So, Timothy, any questions?"

"A few actually"

"Go ahead" she sad as she leaned back and got comfortable.

"Whose the old man?"

"Mr. Morris."

"You are fucking with me!" Tim reacted horrified, making Y/n laugh. If he hadn't been so shocked he would have delighted in her laughter but atlas, the situation did not give him the flexibility to do so. "Y/n say you are lying! That man is too old"

"I know, next question."

"Why me?"

"You are a good candidate and a lucky coincidence. I was going to ask Satine and Clara to help me but, that frankly would have ended in a disaster. I believe that as long as a plan stays between the parties involved who have something to lose, it will be successful. Satine would have chosen some random man who she's probably been involved with and Clara knows everything about everyone in the city-"

"Everything?"

"Except this of course, as I was saying she probably would have created a fake identity, assigned it to someone then, bribed them into playing the part."

"Much like you did?"

"I blackmailed you, not bribed you, get it right. Continuing, it was rather easy to choose you. You are Bruce Wayne's son, and even without that, you come from high society from your biological family, so you know the social cues and the ways of the people I am constantly surrounded by. You have proven to be quite ingenious as well as a good businessman. Knowing your "other me" proves you might as well be honorable too and what hero is not dammed with a savior complex can resist a damsel in distress? It is in your nature to want to influence things to be okay. My parents are friendly with Bruce therefore making things more appealing for the situation. I had the perfect leverage, the perfect candidate, and now I just need the perfect situation. So, lucky me when you bumped into me"

"You mean when you bumped into me?" he asked and she glared at him. "Careful, pretty boy," she said, and the way she said it caused chills to go down his spine.

"Any more questions, perhaps about my clean histoy and my best friend's not so clean image?"

Tim looked at her and she gestured to his laptop.

"What do you have to hide?" ha asked leaning foward.

"Wouldn't you like to know? Next question." she smiled as she also leaned forward in her seat. "What's our story?" he asked looking down at her lips, a little bit stained by the wine she had been drinking. Tempting

"Well, that's why I'm here huh, detective?" That nickname shouldn't have had the effect it did on him, but God, he wanted to hear those words from her again. "Show me why Red Robin is the world's greatest mind, second to Batman's only," she said leaning back and taking a sip of her glass once again.

"World's greatest detective, not mind, and some would say I have surpassed Batman, get it right," he said as he repeated her words in the end. "We need cero plotholes, so much so that it has to be so good that not even my family can find them. We are after all a family of detectives"

"Amazing" she said, sitting up straight, her entire focus solely on him.

"We both went to GA, so that's a starting point, we may not even have to lie. We met at Gotham Academy a few years back, you crushed on me for some time seeing as I was a year above you, and then forgot about me when I dropped out. Years later, we bump into each other on the street, and sparks fly or whatever the fuck will make the crowd fall in love with us, and then we start from there. Depending on how desperate are our odds, we will explain our timeline, but we have to agree on it before going public. How did you react when your parents told you the news?

"It waaaass..messy. A lot of screaming and crying"

"Then you will tell your parents of how heartbroken you were when they told you because you finally get the chance to be with your one true love and"

"Wait wait wait wait! Why do I have to be the lovesick puppy in this and you the prince charming" she said narrowing her eyes at him.

"Whose the one in dire need of escaping the situation?"

"Who's identity is in danger?"

"Who will be recreating the handmaid's tale?"

"You bitch!" She gasped at his insinuation

"Exactly so, puppy love for you it is. As I was saying, you finally got the chance to be with the love of your life, and the moment you are prepared to tell them, they spring this news onto you. So how dare they. We can coordinate public appearances, photos, family dinners, and posts so that everything will flow perfectly. Finally, once, you are liberated, we coordinate and stage a breakup and you hand me all the information you have on me cause I know you made copies of everything and I will eliminate all. of. it. We will just be another famous couple that got together and broke up and moved on." Tim was satisfied with his work. Y/n looked absolutely amazed by him.

"Wow...and you came up with all of that, that fast?" she said full of wonder. Tim felt a tug in his heart due to her reaction. It had been a long time since he had managed to make someone truly amazed by him in a really long time. He had been so used to being surrounded by skilled detectives, assassins, meta-humans, and aliens, that he forgot how great it felt to simply just be and have someone admire you for it. The little praise-seeking self in the back of his mind was thriving on her admiration. "Yes."

"Fuck...I think I couldn't have ever picked a better partner for this if I tried. Your reputation does you justice, Timothy, you are brilliant." she smiled. Y/n felt relieved. She was soon going to be free from her family's pressure. Another scheme has gone perfectly. She cleared her throat and masked her face once again. "We have to make a contract, establish some ground rules."

"By all means," said Tim. "I am serious. First rule, I get all evidence of my alter ego destroyed once it's over. I am doing this only if that is assured."

"Deal. Second rule, no one, absolutely NO ONE, knows except for the two of us." she said and he nodded, "I agree"

"Third rule, Kissing only happens if the situation requires it," she said. He hadn't noticed she had opened a doc in his laptop and was writing this entire thing down. He hummed in agreeance, too busy admiring her....admiring her...WOOP WOOP! EARTH TO TIM! This is a fake relationship and you are already getting fond of her?!?!??! WAKE UP

"Fourth rule, no feelings. This is strictly professional" he snapped, making her look at him strangely. "I think that was already implied but sure, if you want it written, I'll add it" and turned to his laptop again.

He felt a pit in his stomach. This was professional and besides, he just found her attractive, he can anyone attractive and it doesn't mean anything. Plus she is kind of an asshole. She is blackmailing him into a fake relationship...to save herself from being sold like cattle and forced to marry a creepy man which if he thinks of it maybe it is the best way she saw fit. AND AND she was very rude to him and has quite the attitude..although it is so attractive how she goes head to head with him. Tim was sweating' bullets.

"And done. I added a few things such as we have to have some sort of PDA, and how we might coordinate things. You know, some silly stuff that most people think isn't important but might end up being so. Do you have a printer?" She asked to which he nodded and gestured to his office. She sent the paper to print and went to look for it. Tim took a deep sigh, he just needed to calm down. He just found her attractive and interesting like a new case that needed to be cracked.

"Perfect, I printed two contracts; one for you and one for me. I also took one of your blue pens and signed on both papers, here, sign here and here." After it was done, she had noticed that a few hours had passed. "I should get going. I promised Satine and Clara that I would have dinner with them if they kept the paparazzi off me so that I could get here unbothered and we didn't have any issues." She said as she went for her coat and her purse. "Have a nice night, Timothy"

"Tim"

"Huh?"

"My friends and family call me Tim," he said looking at her.

She smiled softly, "Okay...Timmy, have a good night and get some rest." His heart melted at the fact that she took his nickname and altered it to make it hers. She heard her driver arrive outside and walked towards the door, Tim not so far behind. He noticed she faltered her step a little and looked at him hesitating. "Be....be careful tonight" she said but it was more like a whisper.

Tim nodded, "Thank you, enjoy dinner and get home safe," he told her as she went outside and went to her car. He stayed there until she got in the car and it began moving.

As she left, Y/n unfolded the contract from her purse and read the last rule...no feelings...

"you are going to be trouble.." she said fighting off a tiny smile and thinking of the handsome boy with the sharp quips, magnificent brain, and gorgeous blue eyes.

"What was that, miss Vanderbilt?" asked Donnie, her driver.

"Oh, it's nothing, Don. We are headed to L'amico, I'm meeting the girls for dinner," she said sweetly and her driver nodded.

Author's note: What do you think of their dynamic? Liking it so far? Feel free to give me any feedback you'd like.

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

Bill Bramhall, New York Daily News

* * * * *

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

September 7, 2024

Heather Cox Richardson

Sep 08, 2024

By rights, tonight’s post should be a picture, but Trump’s behavior today merits a marker because it feels like a dramatic escalation of the themes we’ve seen for years. Please feel free to ignore—as I often say, I am trying to leave notes for a graduate student in 150 years, and you can consider this one for her if you want a break from the recent onslaught of news.

Yesterday, Trump ranted at the press, furious that the American legal system had resulted in two jury decisions that he had defamed and sexually abused writer E. Jean Carroll. He was so angry that, with his lawyers standing awkwardly behind him, he told reporters: “I’m disappointed in my legal talent, I’ll be honest with you.”

Today, Trump held a rally in Mosinee, Wisconsin, a small city in the center of the state, where he addressed about 7,000 people. A number of us who have been watching him closely have been saying for a while that when voters actually saw him in this campaign, they would be shocked at how he has deteriorated, and that seems to be true: his meandering and self-indulgent speeches have had attendees leaving early, some of them bewildered. In today’s speech, Trump slurred a number of words, referring to Elon Musk as “Leon,” for example, and forgetting the name of North Dakota governor Doug Burgum, who was on his short list for a vice presidential pick.

But today’s speech struck me as different from his past performances, distinguished for what sounded like desperation. Trump has always invented his stories from whole cloth, but there used to be some way to tie them to reality. Today that seemed to be gone. He was in a fantasy world, and his rhetoric was apocalyptic. It was also bloody in ways that raise huge red flags for scholars of fascism.

Trump told the audience that when he took office in 2017, military officers told him the U.S. had given all the military’s ammunition away to allies. Then he went on a rant against our allies, saying that they’re only our allies when they need something and that they would never come to our aid if we needed them. This echoes the talking points put out by Russian operatives and flies in the face of the fact that the one time the North Atlantic Treaty Organization invoked the mutual defense pact in that agreement was after the attacks of September 11, 2001, in support of the U.S. 

He embraced Project 2025’s promise to eliminate the Department of Education and send education back to the states so that right-wing figures like Wisconsin’s Senator Ron Johnson can run it. He reiterated the MAGA claim that mothers are executing their babies after birth—this is completely bonkers—and again echoed Russian talking points when he said these executions are happening—they are not—but “nobody talks about it.” He went on: “We did a great thing when we got Roe v. Wade out of the federal government.” 

He reiterated the complete fantasy that schools are performing gender-affirming surgery on children. “Can you imagine you're a parent and your son leaves the house and you say, Jimmy, I love you so much, go have a good day at school, and your son comes back with a brutal operation. Can you even imagine this? What the hell is wrong with our country?” Trump’s suggestion that schools are performing surgery on students is bananas. This is simply not a thing that happens. 

And then he went full-blown apocalyptic, attacking immigrants and claiming that crime, which in reality has dropped dramatically since President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris took office after a spike during his own term, has made the U.S. uninhabitable. He said that “If I don’t win Colorado, it will be taken over by migrants and the governor will be sent fleeing.” "Migrants and crime are here in our country at levels never thought possible before…. You're not safe even sitting here, to be honest with you. I'm the only one that's going to get it done. Everybody is saying that." He urged people to protest “because you’re being overrun by criminals.” 

He assured attendees that "If you think you have a nice house, have a migrant enjoy your house, because a migrant will take it over. A migrant will take it over. It will be Venezuela on steroids." He reiterated his plan to get rid of migrants. “And you know,” he said, “getting them out will be a bloody story.” 

He went on to try to rev up supporters in words very similar to those he used on January 6th, 2021, but focused on this election. “Every citizen who’s sick and tired of the parasitic political class in Washington that sucks our country of its blood and treasure, November fifth will be your liberation day. November fifth, this year, will be the most important day in the history of our country because we’re not going to have a country anymore if we don’t win.” 

He promised: “I will prevent World War III, and I am the only one that can do it. I will prevent World War III. And if I don’t win this election,... Israel is doomed…. Israel will be gone…. I’d better win.” 

"I better win or you're gonna have problems like we've never had. We may have no country left. This may be our last election. You want to know the truth? People have said that. This may be our last election…. It’ll all be over, and you gotta remember…. Trump is always right. I hate to be right. I’m always right.” 

Trump's hellscape is only in his mind: crime is sharply down in the U.S. since he left office, migrant crossings have plunged, and the economy is the strongest in the world.

Then, tonight, Trump posted on his social media site a rant asserting that he will win the 2024 election but that he expects Democrats to cheat, and “WHEN I WIN, those people that CHEATED will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the Law, which will include long term prison sentences so that this Depravity of Justice does not happen again. We cannot let our Country further devolve into a Third World Nation, AND WE WON’T! Please beware that this legal exposure extends to Lawyers, Political Operatives, Donors, Illegal Voters, & Corrupt Election Officials. Those involved in unscrupulous behavior will be sought out, caught, and prosecuted at levels, unfortunately, never seen before in our Country.” 

Is it the Justice Department indictments that showed Russia is working to get him reelected? Is it the rising popularity of Democratic nominees Kamala Harris and Tim Walz? Is it fury at the new grand jury’s indicting him for his attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election and install himself in power? Is it fear of Tuesday’s debate with Harris? Is it a declining ability to grapple with reality?

Whatever has caused it, Trump seems utterly off his pins, embracing wild conspiracy theories and, as his hopes of winning the election appear to be crumbling, threatening vengeance with a dogged fury that he used to be able to hide. 

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

[nerdyenby]

I get most of my news either online or from a newsletter I subscribe to, but I’m feeling pretty good right now about our democratic candidates so I sat down to watch Walz’s debut at the Philadelphia rally and here are the highlights (imo, of course)

“Before I was elected vice president or elected a United States senator, I was an elected attorney general, and, before that, an elected district attorney and, before that, I was a courtroom prosecutor. So in those roles, I took on perpetrators of all kinds: predators who abused women, fraudsters who scammed consumers, cheaters who broke the rules for their own gain. So hear me when I say: I know Donald Trump’s type.” -KH

KH talking about fighting for a future where every American can afford to own a home hit me so hard. Why is that such a fantasy? Why have I never even considered it possible?

I am obsessed with the confidence, this is the energy I need. We have plenty of reasons to be afraid but goddamn did I need someone to stand up and calmly declare that we will be okay, and I am so fucking glad it’s a Black woman.

A history teacher as our next VP <3

Their motif of fighting for the future is so much more potent coming from a woman of color and a man who has dedicated so much of his life to youth and to supporting them and their futures. Like damn, maybe the kids really will be okay. Fighting poverty, securing free school lunches for kids, protecting bodily autonomy, and founding his schools first GSA as a straight white man? I don’t know much about Walz but what I’ve learned so far has earned him a lot of respect in my book.

Fuck, Harris talking about Walz’s background and reputation in his school has me tearing up.

“We will win.” Okay, yeah, I’m crying now. These two make me feel so safe, it’s not fair I’ve never felt this way before.

Friendly reminder that one of our main political candidates does not value disabled lives and will openly say as much. Trump wants us dead, don’t let him win.

“Tim and I have a message for Trump and others who want to turn back the clock on our fundamental freedoms: we’re not going back.” -KH

“After Roe was overturned [TW] was the first governor in the country to sign a new law that enshrined reproductive freedom as a fundamental right.” -KH

“Ultimately in this election, we each face a question: what kind of country do we want to live in? A county of freedom, compassion, and rule of law or a country of chaos, fear, and hate?” -KH

“We love our country, and I believe it is the highest form of patriotism to fight for the ideals of our country.” -KH

“Don’t ever underestimate teachers.” -TW (preach)

“It was my students, they encouraged me to run for office. They saw in me what I was hoping to instill in them: a commitment of common good, a belief that one person can make a difference.” -TW

“Now, Donald Trump sees the world a little differently than us. First of all, he doesn’t know the first thing about service. He doesn’t have time for it because he’s too busy serving himself. Again and again and again, Trump weakens our economy to strengthen his own hand. He mocks our laws, he sows chaos and division, and that’s to say nothing of his record as president.” -TW

“Some of us in here are old enough to remember — I see you down there, I see those old white guys — some of us are old enough to remember when it was republicans who were talking about freedom. It turns out now what they meant was the government should be free to invade your doctors office. In Minnesota, we respect our neighbors and their personal choices that they make. Even if we wouldn’t make the same choice for ourselves, there’s a golden rule: mind your own damn business. ” -TW

“When Vice President and I talk about freedom, we mean the freedom to make your own healthcare decisions and for our children to be free to go to school without worrying they’ll be shot dead in their classrooms.” -TW

“Vice President Harris’s idea: freedom is a ticket, for education to be that ticket to the middle class. Not crippling debt, air that’s clean, water that’s pure, communities that are safe.” -TW

TW: “Donald Trump isn’t fighting for you or your family-” random audience member: “You are!” Walz: *allows himself a breath of a laugh before continuing on just as strong as before*

“I gotta tell you, pointing out just an observation of mine that I made, I just have to say it. You know it, you feel it [the republican candidates] are creepy and, yes, just weird as hell.” -TW

“So we got 91 days. My god, that’s easy. Well sleep when we’re dead! Over those next 91 days and every day in the White House, I’ll have Vice President Harris’s back, every single day, and we’ll have yours.” -TW

This is the broadcast I watched

[so-i-did-this-thing]

Hey! A trans minor here. I want to ask how should I proceed as a trans minor in Florida? I can’t move and my mother doesn’t take me being trans seriously. She says she supportive but I don’t think she is. I’m worried about all these bills coming into place and how they will affect me. I’m a FTgender fluid. Do you have any advice? Also, I play the flute :) it’s nice to see trans instrument players

Ayyy, trans orchestra forming!

So, I won't insult your intelligence by pretending things aren't about to get bad. But maybe I can help you understand the risks and how to keep yourself safe and sane.

An assumption: I don't know if you want to pursue physical transition and that is a convo 100% between you, your mom, and your healthcare providers, so I'm providing it as a neutral option for information purposes.

Also: The bills I mentioned have not passed yet, but they are sitting on the governor's desk. He will most likely sign them, meaning they'll take effect July 1, 2023.

Staying with your family

SB254 is the bill that affects you the most. It's the "kidnapping" bill. Yeah. :/

I don't know what your family situation is like, but if you have family members who oppose your mother's even lukewarm support, that could be enough for the state to remove you from her custody and turn you over to them. It would be up to you and your mom to figure out how to avoid/appease these family members so they don't think you are "at risk" of physical transition.

Gender-affirming care

SB254 also completely locks you out of puberty blockers, HRT, and surgery (the latter 2 in the past are sometimes pursued by older youth with parental consent) in this state. If you want to pursue any of this care, talk with your mother about getting it in another state. You will have to physically travel, because telemed for gender affirming care is also being banned due to new consent form requirements.

Once you are 18, you can pursue physical transition, if that's something you're interested in, but be aware that there are soon going to be so many obstacles to adult care, that it might as well be a transition ban for everyone. But if you're close to 18 and think HRT is for you, review the map for informed consent care. But be prepared for a long search and your insurance not covering things.

That said, if you need a therapist now, I think you may still be good here. Be very careful that you don't end up with someone who wants to use conversion therapy tactics -- these are typically going to be religious-based providers. Talking with other trans kids in your town might help you find a good provider.

Remember, if you don't like a therapist, you can stop going to them; shop around for one that makes you feel safe and makes you feel like they help you with the stress in your life.

Bathroom ban

HB 1521 does a few things:

Bans multi-stall gender neutral bathrooms (single stall is fine)

Requires schools to have bathroom policies

Empowers cis people to confront trans folks in a govt owned/leased bathroom/changing room and force them to leave, otherwise they are subject to a fine and/or jail

This is effectively a bounty bill. Examples of bathrooms where this bill will apply include schools, airports, stadiums, courthouses, etc. It isn't every public bathroom, but it is a lot.

People who are gender nonconforming or are being stalked/harassed by cis folks who know their trans status are most at risk here.

It is up to you how much you want to weigh your self-expression against your physical safety.

As a minor, you don't have a lot of rights, so I advise you choose your battles carefully and always have trusted adults to have your back. Being FTGenderfluid, a lot of how you dress might fly under the radar, but I'd avoid being too heavily masc for now.

Keeping safe & sane

Unfortunately, a lot of support you'd normally find at school is going to be unavailable from now on. But some ways to lessen your stress:

Get a job (if you are old enough). I know, I know, but money makes a lot of life easier, from buying little treats now to stockpiling for things you may want once you turn 18.

Be honest with the reality that you might have to be in the closet a lot, and brainstorm safe outlets for your gender expression. I know at your age, I dressed how I wanted at home and used roleplaying games to explore and express my gender.

Hang out with queer youth, especially in person. You might have a local organization that has events and support groups. It helps a lot to share your feelings with other kids going through the same.

Start following trans political commentators. Erin is a good follow on Substack - she makes it easy to understand all the legal stuff going on.

Consume happy queer stories, by queer authors. It will help counter all the doom scolling. I've been watching Dead End: Paranormal Park (it is a comic and a show), which features a trans masc protagonist.

Cultivate your relationship with your mom. Gently, but firmly set boundaries with her if she gives you guff for, I dunno, wearing boys jeans or whatever. But also be aware she probably has a lot of misinformation about trans people, so you will need to gently pick that apart and see how you can educate her. Trusted adults she also trusts can also help you here.

Build your network. The friends your age you make today could be roommates or coworkers tomorrow. Be social, it will also be good for your mental health.

Be kind to yourself. Things look bleak, but there are states in the US that are actually strengthening trans rights. There continue to be options, you just might need to spend time and resources achieving them.

I hope that helps, and a big hug from a trans adult who grew up in the closet. <3

[angryschnauzer]

I realised two months have gone by since i last updated you all, i'm not even sure if anyone is interested anymore. I know i haven't been on much, perhaps sporadically coming on and mindlessly reblogging Henry stuff just for a little escape, but its intermittent at best. I had hoped to be back to writing by now, but life is still a huge pile of shit.

I'm run ragged trying to pay the bills. My wedding decorations business is halfway between slow and dead; the cost of living crisis means weddings aren't really happening, and if they are most of the items i do people are making themselves. My side gig in ebay flipping is quiet too but at least its trickling by. I don't mention this much as people get a lot of abuse over 'thrift store flippers' (Charity Shop resellers here in the UK), but right now its what's keeping my family fed. I buy clothing for £1 from the stinky dregs bin in a charity shop, wash it, mend it, resell it for £4. I'm not making millions or even thousands. I'm lucky if i'm bringing in £150 a week which barely covers our weekly food shop. Its draining that when i do eventually mention this to my friends they immediately start moaning at me that i'm the one 'ruining' charity shops and why its pushing the prices up. But when i calmly tell them its that or i don't eat they go quiet. I'm not the one pushing a 2nd hand coat for £25 which was only £20 brand new which most high street charity shops are doing. Do i like doing this? No. Do i have to? Yes. Because i sure as ain't cute enough for onlyfans.

But the majority of my time over the last couple of months has been spent caring for our son. He's 8 and has type 1 diabetes, and since school started back in September one little shit in his class has spent every waking moment bullying him. This little shit has been stabbing my son with pencils, poking him in the kidneys with whatever he has to hand, laughing and sneering at him at every opportunity even when he's just walking past. Having the adrenaline and cortisol in my son's bloodstream affects how his insulin works, and he builds up an insulin resistance because of all the other hormones in his bloodstream. I've had so many meetings with the school, and have had to get the board of governors involved because when your 8 year old kid says quietly to you "It would be better if i wasn't alive as then *Little Shit* wouldn't be able to bully me" your heart breaks into pieces.

He needs my support more than anything, so every single other thing has been put by the wayside. And its tough. He acts out at home, messes around with his dinner because he feels he needs to be able to control something, but that in turn messes up insulin dosing so i'm spending half the night dealing with highs and lows for his blood sugars. I get at most 5 hours sleep a night.

I have no more energy left. I'm not eating, because i just can't stomach it. I'm 43 and hitting menopause, but my doctor doesn't want to know because "You just need to loose some weight" (don't get be started on fat bias from the NHS).

So i'm filling my time with volunteering at school so i can be 'around' for my Little Dude. He knows that if he's having an awful day, he will find me in the office sorting through paperwork for our next fundraiser. Its not what i want to be doing, but its what i need to be doing.

One day i hope to get back to my writing. I miss being creative and i hate that i have so many stories part written/published. As the months tick by i actually end up seeing stories written by others that have the same characters/plotlines. This is no-ones fault that two stories exist on the same synopsis, it would just seem that they and I have taken the same inspiration from media at some point. But it makes me scared that if i now publish a story i started 2 years ago, i'll be accused of stealing an idea. I don't know what to do. So i just leave my WIP folder abandoned.

For everyone that has stayed with me thank you. For those that have moved onto pastures new, i wish you well and hold no malice.

I do love you all

Mama Schnauz

x

[positivexcellence]

Walker Boss, Jared Padalecki on Series Finale’s Surprise Cameo, Cordell and Geri’s [Spoiler], More Season 5 Plans

Walker wrapped up its four-season run on Wednesday with the introduction of a surprising but familiar face as Cordell’s new neighbor: James Van Der Beek!

The Dawson’s Creek vet appeared in the show’s final seconds, dressed in all white, with a smile on his face and a gift of soaps for the Walkers. But don’t let his jovial demeanor fool you: Van Der Beek’s character was set to stir up drama on the Davidson property next door as… a cult leader, showrunner Anna Fricke reveals in the following Q&A.

Talking about the casting, star/executive producer Jared Padalecki tells TVLine that Van Der Beek is “a personal friend.”

“He lives here in Austin, and he and his family are friends of me and my family, and so, it was kind of a phone call. I was like, ‘Hey, dude, you want to come do this?'” Padalecki recalls. When he then mentioned Fricke’s name — the showrunner got her start on Dawson’s Creek — Van Der Beek was on board.

“He came over, and just drove from his house and brought one of his daughters, and did it,” Padalecki shares. “We were really excited to explore that storyline.”

Elsewhere in the series finale: Cordell took a leave of absence from the Rangers to spend time with Geri and his kids, and as he readied to hit the road with them, he pocketed a ring box! Despite thinking she botched her interview, Cassie beat out Trey for the lieutenant position. Meanwhile, Liam and Ben decided to move in together, then Liam got a phone call from the governor, asking for his help, after which a black SUV picked him up.

On the kid front, August graduated high school, and Geri made Sadie and Stella a business proposal. Finally, Bonham and Abeline came to an understanding about the event business — she just wants to oversee things, and he suggested they use the boat for events — then the couple took a ride on the water.

“The season was not written, but needless to say, that [James Van Der Beek] cliffhanger was going to pay off as an enormous part, probably the main driving force, of Season 5,” Padalecki says. “Cordell taking a backseat with his Ranger duties and maybe being purposefully naïve to what’s going on next door… There were so many ways we could go, and it was going to be a damn good season of television, but it’s going to have to live in our imaginations.” (Get more of Padalecki’s thoughts on the show’s end and his TV future.)

Below, showrunner Anna Fricke details Van Der Beek’s role and what else was planned for a fifth season, including Cordell and Geri’s potential engagement and Liam’s mysterious new job.

TVLINE | Looking back on the episode, is there anything that you would’ve done differently or changed? Or are you pretty satisfied with the way it ended? Well, it’s probably a two-part answer. We did not know the fate of the show when we wrote the finale. I wrote the finale with Blythe Ann Johnson. We did know, as always, things are uncertain, and so we tried to, as always, write a cliffhanger, write some twists, leave some threads for an upcoming season. We were given the chance, a little bit into either the prep or the filming of the finale, to change anything, just in case, and we did not yet know the fate of the show. So it was sort of like a gamble, and I wrestled with that decision for many days, and talked to the writers, and talked to the producers and to Jared [Padalecki] about what we should do, if anything, and basically, ultimately, we didn’t want to insert a last-minute scene that would sum everything up. It’s 42 minutes of television. We didn’t want to summarize a whole series in one scene, or a few changed lines, or anything like that. So we, ultimately, decided to leave it as it was, which was a tough decision, but I still feel like it’s a good finale. It’s satisfying in many ways. It does not tell the full tale. This show was supposed to go on for 10 years, in my brain, and so, it doesn’t sum up everything, but I didn’t want to rush it, if that makes sense.

TVLINE | You still get a sense of where these characters are going to end up, even though we don’t actually see it. One thing we did get The CW to agree to, which I’m super grateful for, [is] we do have an extended finale by a few minutes, which is a huge deal in terms of scenes, because there were scenes that we had cut that we put back in, which was huge. So we do have that closure, and everyone is in a good place. When I was discussing the finale with our producer/director, Steve Robin, who I adore, we were talking about like, “It’s a good finale, but is it the-lights-off-at-Cheers?” which is, for a certain age group, like the ultimate finale. [Laughs] And it’s not the-lights-off-at-Cheers because I wasn’t prepared for the end. Had I known I had been writing for the end, I would’ve taken the whole fifth season and really written to the end. But I don’t feel like the characters have been robbed.

TVLINE | You set up some really fun cliffhangers for a potential Season 5, especially with the reveal of James Van Der Beek as the Walkers’ new neighbor. How did that come together? That whole process was so exciting. We always wanted to leave some threads for Season 5. We were going to do the cult next door. So he was supposed to be a cult leader. Ever since James Van Der Beek moved to Austin, we’ve been like, “How do we get him into the show? What can we do?” and this just seemed like the perfect thing, and we finally got him for this part. A small-known fact is that we had actually approached him to be Clint West [in] Season 1, which Austin Nichols, ultimately played, and Austin was so excellent in that role. I would not have it any other way. But James had been on that list for a possible villain. We were sort of circling him, like, “Is this possible? Can we get James?” and Jared and James are friends, and Dawson’s Creek was, of course, my first job in this industry. So it was a very beautiful full-circle thing.

TVLINE | Of all the cliffhangers in this episode, that one was the most like, “Oh, darn, I wish I could’ve seen this play out.” I’m not going to lie, part of me wanted to leave people mad. [Laughs] Part of me wanted to have like a big, splashy ending, so then people would be like, “How could you end this?!” No, it was going to be a lot of fun, and to me, personally, I think there was something profound in James Van Der Beek with Jared on this show, sort of like a great throwback to the original WB, and the commentary on the evolution of this network, which I was maybe reading too much into, but I enjoyed it. [Laughs]

TVLINE | What would the dynamic have been like between James’ character and Cordell? Had you thought that far ahead yet? Oh, gosh. I talked to James, and it was so last-minute. He’s a saint. I think it was truly like the day before we were shooting. It was really, really insanely last-minute, so thank God he lives there. He loved the idea of the cult leader, and I think, actually, half those clothes are his own clothes. [Laughs] He was super into it and super into the dynamic he would bring, and he was really into the idea of playing a fun character, an interesting character, a bad character. He was going to be kind of quirky bad, but amusing. He was going to be a really whimsical, amusing character. We were not going to do blood cult, bad, bad, bad cult. We were going to do like kooky cult.

TVLINE | There was a moment, earlier this season, where I thought Luna might be The Jackal, but then I was like, “No, they wouldn’t do that to Cassie.” But then you killed him, which is, I think, even worse. I know, it’s so funny. So many people thought he was The Jackal, which I love. The crew gets the scripts when all the department heads get the script, so they didn’t know, and so there were crew speculations, all season long, about who The Jackal was, and Luna was up there. Some people thought it was Sadie, which was a good one, too. [Laughs] It was devastating to kill him, but it had to be done for drama. I have a joke about all of our best guest stars, like Matt Barr, Austin Nichols, Justin Cortez Johnson, we just kill them all. But it doesn’t mean anything on our show. You can come back as a ghost. It’s fine.

TVLINE | You did give Cassie a bit of a hopeful note there at the end, when she got the promotion, and it leads to this interesting dynamic of she’s now Cordell’s superior. What were you excited to explore with that, if the show had continued? I was really excited to explore exactly that, her being his superior, but it wasn’t going to be a desk job with her. She was going to still be on the streets. But I was excited to see the dynamic of her having to discipline or corral or whatever Walker and Trey, and sort of be in charge of them a bit, and make calls with Captain James. We’ve never seen him have a number two. So that would’ve been really fun. And just seeing her have that dynamic of taking control of a job that Cordell, himself, never wanted, and just seeing her take charge would’ve been really fun.

TVLINE | Geri and Cordell went through their struggles this season, but they ended the finale in a much healthier place. Is it safe to say they were definitely going to get engaged? You know, it’s funny. We had a joke in the writers’ room about the end of the series, and truly, I thought it was going to go 10 years. Walker says to Emily in a flashback, I think, in Season 1, Episode 6, I think he says, “Going to marry Geri and work at the Side Step,” if Emily ever dies. And so that was sort of the end goal, but even when I was given the chance to alter the finale in any way, I didn’t want to get there. It was too fast for a proposal. So I didn’t want to do that right away. The engagement ring box was a very last-minute add. It was truly on the day of filming that scene. We went to the props department and said, “Hey, do you have a box? Can we put it in his pocket?” We shot it as an insert so that we could cut it out if we needed to. We didn’t want to be married to it, literally. I didn’t want marriage to be the end-all, be-all for her. I wanted more for her. So I didn’t want to rush to an engagement for that reason, and it just seemed too fast. I think, ultimately, yes, they end up together. If we’d had a fifth season, we would’ve made a story point out of the engagement, as in, like, he didn’t ask, or he did and it went south, or something happened. We wouldn’t have done that off-screen, for what it’s worth.

TVLINE | When she calls out to him, he says in this meaningful way, “I’m ready,” and it’s obvious he’s talking on another subtextual level. But it sounds like Geri’s not ready, she’s not in the same place. For sure. I was always, like, “Geri’s not ready.” I was always very interested in the character of Geri, of she wants more, and she wants something else. So even if he was ready to propose, I don’t know that she was ready to say yes. That was going to be a whole other thing.

TVLINE | How might have this time away from work have changed Cordell with the leave of absence? That’s interesting. Part of me wonders, in a fifth season, if he ever goes back. Because I never thought, in my mind, that he went to the grave a ranger. I think, at a certain point, he stopped it, because to me, his struggle has always been the work/life balance between family and work, and where is he going to end up? I think that, ultimately, hopefully, he gets more invested in his kids and steps away from that, and from the get-go, he wasn’t gunning to be captain, lieutenant, anything like that. He’s not trying to climb that ladder. So what is it for him? And I don’t know. I think he would’ve gone back for a season to be partnered with Trey on the streets, just doing the daily grind as a ranger. But I don’t know if he would’ve gone too much further beyond that. I think he would’ve maybe gone on to something else.

TVLINE | What can you say about what the governor wanted Liam’s help with? The governor’s daughter was kidnapped. Liam has a very particular set of skills, and the governor wanted Liam’s help. We were going to get Liam back into the halls of the political offices and dealing with that stuff. So it was going to be fun, Liam-doing-high-stakes-government stuff.

TVLINE | One of the other things that you hinted at but was kind of left dangling was the business proposal that Geri made to Sadie and Stella. Any details you can share about that? It was going to be the Side Step expanding and just keeping it in the family, and also, just keeping Saylor [Bell] on the show, because we love Saylor, we love working with her. We could only have so many series regulars, but we really loved working with Saylor. So it was sort of dangling a carrot of if there’s another Side Step, do we open this up? Do we have another storyline with the expanded Side Step? And what that opening is like, and what pursuing Sadie’s music is like at the same time. We just wanted to keep her in the mix.

TVLINE | Have you changed your mind, at all, about Cassie and Trey? [Fricke previously told TVLine there were no romantic feelings between the characters.] [Laughs hysterically] No. I never want them to be together. [Laughs] That’s so funny, Vlada, that you would ask that. Oh, my God, I’m like crying laughing. That was an ongoing argument in the writers’ room.

TVLINE | I remember you mentioning that. So I wondered if maybe somebody had swayed you by the end of the season. No, I did not want them to be together. Here’s the thing: In my mind, if we had gone 10 seasons, in the finale, maybe they would’ve gotten together, yes. Certainly not in this timeline. Ultimately, sure, but no. If we had been on 10 years, and she had gone on to the FBI, and blah, blah, blah, and they revisited each other, sure. But not when they were working in the same office. No, no, no. In Season 5, he was going to have an old Army friend, a female friend, calling. He was getting mysterious phone calls. He was going to have an old Army friend calling him for help that was going to cause some complications for him. So that was going to happen there.

TVLINE | Were there any other Season 5 storylines that you were excited about? I’m sure we had a ton. The cult was going to be fun. August was going to fall in love with — That was our in: August is going to fall in love with the girl next door, get dragged into the cult, have to be extracted. That was going to be fun. The governor stuff, leading to a proposal at the end of Season 5 with Walker and Geri… It would’ve been great.

[dufferpuffer]

Albus CoS: Hm... I don't have many DADA teacher options this year... I can't ask the Ministry to supply someone, they suck - and I can't ask the Governors to pick someone, they're headed by Malfoy...

Well, I suppose could spin Gilderoy into a good learning experience for Harry: After his burst of fame last year I worry he might grow a big head, like I did after my first year. I can't teach him that lesson... it must be scared out of him early so it doesn't fester.

Gilderoy makes Severus look exceptionally good, which is necessary. It will teach Harry which adults he can trust, since he struggled with that so much last year... I wish he would trust me but I can't force that. I must give him space and try to foster it slowly. Besides, it's for the best if I don't start to care for the boy on a personal level. That has never ended well.

I'll keep my distance, but make sure to tell him he can share anything with me, that he is a good boy I support - and that help will always come to him if he asks for it. To talk to the teachers he trusts. To know that he is supported even if I am not here. That should do. He wishes to be a little independent... but last time I let that independence truly flourish in a boy it went quite badly. This time I will put more pressure upon relying on others.

-- He comes back to the school to find out Harry didn't seek any adult help - planned to get Minerva's help but TURNED TO GILDEROY INSTEAD, Went off on his own to face certain death WITH GILDEROY AS A PRISONER All because he had a feeling 'he was the only one who could' Then, right after this traumatic experience, still covered in blood and slime - he wants to go and do something cheeky to Lucius Malfoy - a man that outranks Albus in most ways -- Albus outwardly: "Well I'm glad it all went well in the end. Now don't take too long and forget about the feast, alright?"

Albus inwardly: Holy shit this kid is so fucking cool. How does he do it? How does he defy every expectation I have? How does he do the opposite of what I think is best and thoroughly prove me wrong? FUCK he's cool. He's like me :^) But BETTER than me. WOW. He doesn't even have that big a head about it. Astounding.

...He really needs a role model who can show him love, he isn't learning this 'please for gods sake trust adults sometimes' lesson - I gotta take the risk and go find Remus for next year...

[aesopsharpmybeloved]

A Night To Remember

The term-end ball reveals a few new facts. For one, Aesop Sharp is a delightful dancer, and for two, he's in for the long run.

I would be desperately lost without my amazing consultant and partner in crime @tea-withjamandbread who gave me several wonderful ideas to use in this work 💕

A Night To Remember (11.3k words)

tw: suggestive themes (heavily implied), teacher-student relationship (reader is an adult)

Headmaster Phineas Nigellus Black was disliked by a large number of students and staff alike for many reasons. However, his end-of-term balls weren’t one of them.

Not that the headmaster held them out of the goodness of his heart. For him, they were a way to show off in front of the Board of Governors and important people he managed to silver-tongue into attending, and therefore the rest of wizarding Britain, that Hogwarts was a place of high class and culture. Despite the mud- despite there being students from less prestigious families. 

Of course, he couldn't concern himself with such trivial matters as planning, he had his important headmaster duties! Therefore, this responsibility fell, once more, at the deputy Headmistress' feet. Matilda Weasley took it in her stride however, gathered a number of the more creative and sensible students, and went to town on the planning.

And, of course, once the esteemed guests of Headmaster Black arrived, the man himsef gladly accepted all of the praise as if it was he who decorated the entire Great Hall all by himself.

Despite their idiotic Headmaster, however, everyone involved in actually making the ball a reality was looking forward to the evening. Seventh years in particular were very emotional about it, as only a few days after the ball, they'd board the Hogwarts Express for the very last time.

Well, almost all of them. You were planning no such thing as getting aboard the train.

—

“I see you’ve been busy,” said Aesop quietly behind you as you hung another flashy garland of little golden snitches that were quietly buzzing and flying around an invisible orbit in various directions upon one of the beams of the Great Hall. You smiled when you felt his presence, resisting the urge to immediately turn around and kiss him hello - after all, you weren’t alone in the large room, some of your friends and other classmates were currently doing their best to transform it into a perfect space for a ball as well.

Truth be told, a lot of people knew by now, and those who didn’t know explicitly absolutely heard the rumours about their potions master and a seventh-year Ravenclaw keeping a secret relationship. Some even referred to it as ‘Hogwarts’ worst kept secret’. The only person whom neither of you wanted to find out was Black, as he’d surely be an arse about it, worrying about you ‘tarnishing the image of the school, and therefore HIM as well’. Luckily, Black was about as perceptive as a patch of moss, so you were quite safe, really.

One time he nearly caught the two of you. You were in Aesop’s office, playing your favourite little game of seduction, trying to see which one of you would crack first under the relentless flirting and teasing. Well, Aesop was currently leaning against the shelf behind you, so close you felt the heat radiating off his tall body as it cornered you, so close you felt his hot breath on your face as he made promises about what he was going to do to you once the door of his chambers closed behind you two when you heard the sound of the door opening. Ever the quick thinker, Aesop took hold of a jar of ingredients next to your head before swiftly moving back into an acceptable distance.

“I do not do this often, Miss (L/N), you best be ready in your next class with me. I will want the-” he quickly actually checked the contents of the jar, “those pickled shrivelfig fruits back.” He then turned around to face whoever he was going to hex into next week for disturbing him like this without showing the basic human decency of knocking before entering. Headmaster Black. Aesop momentarily entertained the fantasy of casting a jelly-leg jinx on the pretentious prick and wiping his memory afterwards but managed to hold himself back.

The Headmaster looked like he didn’t just see one of his employees and the student ‘who caused him so much trouble since the day she entered the castle’ pressed almost body to body and a second away from a ferocious kiss, buying Aesop’s ruse instantly. 

“Sharp! I need to speak to you about a few potions I need you to brew,” Black said in his pompous accent, puffing his chest out and standing with all the straightness of a man with a broomstick up his rear. Neither of you moved, but you could hear the tiniest of sighs leaving Aesop’s lips. 

“Of course, sir,” he said, his voice much more pleasant than the storm inside of his eyes. If looks could set someone’s beard on fire, the Headmaster would be in dire need of Aguamenti. There were several seconds of pregnant silence before Black spoke again: “Are you positively daft, girl? I want to speak to your professor in private, you’ve got the ingredient you were too dull to get yourself, you may be gone now. Have you not your studies to attend to?”

“Of course, professor,” you spoke, your voice completely unbothered, almost bored, as if he didn’t just attempt to insult you, and you walked to the door, head held high. Before you closed the door behind yourself, however, you caught Aesop’s eyes. Black had his back to you, so you stuck your tongue out at him and grinned. Aesop did not react outwardly, but you could see the amused little glint in his dark eyes.

“A knut for your thoughts,” said a melodic baritone behind you, automatically making your face spread into a smile. “Thinking about Black,” you admitted and watched in amusement as Aesop walked into your field of view to give you a slightly concerned expression. “Imagining him falling into a cart of dragon dung I hope, else I cannot explain you smiling.” The smile turned into a full grin: “Something like that.”

He watched you work for a bit, lending a helping hand once or twice. “Hope I have not forgotten how to dance entirely… It's been a few years,” he said casually, leaning against a wall and watching your classmates go about their tasks with mild interest. Feeling cheeky, you decided to toy with him a little.

“Oh, will you be dancing? With whom?” you asked in a cheery conversational tone. Instantly, you could very nearly hear the gears and cogs in his head begin to turn, trying to figure out just what you were playing at. Your back was turned to him, so you could grin mischievously to your heart's content. After a few moments, he finally spoke: “Whom will you be dancing with?”

You turned around and put your forefinger to your chin. With a slightly tilted head, pursed lips, and eyes turned towards the ceiling, you were the perfect exaggeration of a person lost in thought. “Hmm,” you murmured, “oh, I don’t know. No one’s asked me to be their date for the ball.” 

It dawned on Aesop then, that despite the two of you being in a romantic relationship for half a year now, spending a lot of time with one another and sharing a bed more often than not these days, he never actually asked you to accompany him to the ball. 

He did ask Dinah whether she thought a teacher could even accompany a student as a date to the ball, as he wasn’t able to gather enough nerve to actually ask Matilda who was sure to know. Well, Dinah’s ‘Who cares? She’s an adult, she’s done with exams, and besides everyone will be too busy trying to sneak in booze, or trying to sneak away with their date.’ was as good an answer as any. So Aesop let it be, automatically presuming they’d be going together. A bit of a shortcoming on his part, that he could admit.

“Oh my,” he said in a low voice filled with amusement, “rather a cad, aren’t I? Making you wait so long for an invitation. Shall I take an example out of your classmates, and serenade my invitation to you in the Transfiguration courtyard? Or perhaps leave a rhymed note and a dozen roses at your usual place at the Ravenclaw table?” Resisting an urge to chuckle, you thought some more. “Now, those are very tempting indeed, however, I think I’d prefer you to carry me off the Astronomy tower on a Hippogriff's back,” you said then, a cheeky smile on your face.

“Astronomy tower you say? Hmm… Quite an interesting suggestion, I give you that. Well, I think I’ll take a chance and ask you like a normal human being now and hope for the best. Will you accompany me to this silly little night-do?”

After a few seconds of silence, during which you appeared to be very deep in thought, complete with occasional murmuring, you decided to quit teasing him. For now. “How could I ever say no to the esteemed potions master of Hogwarts?” The look you gave him then was one of devotion. It was the essence of a kiss, of a lingering embrace, disguised as a tilt of the head, a slow blink of your eyes, and a content smile. And what do you get in return? That rare grin of his, the impish curl of his lips that your classmates got to see only a few times during their years as his students. It was so familiar to you now, and still, every time you saw it felt like the first. 

“(F/N)! A little help here please?” came Samantha Dale’s voice from somewhere near the High table. You gave your lover one last smile before turning around to go to your housemate's aid, but a large hand grabbed at your bicep gently and you stopped in your tracks.

“Come see me after dinner? We could take a bath, maybe have some fun…” asked Aesop quietly, a brilliant sparkle to his large dark eyes.

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world, Ace.”

—

The day of the ball passed in a flurry of robes and gowns. Students were nearly buzzing in anticipation since early morning, many of them not talking about anything other than the upcoming event. Some ate barely any breakfast and lunch, simply because they wanted to have space in their bellies for the fantastic food that was bound to be on the ball. Well, that, and many were simply too anxious to stomach anything. Funnily, a few individuals seemed to be in a worse state than they were before the end-of-term exams, OWLs and even NEWTs. Amit, in particular, looked paler than he looked after your little goblin mine adventure when Adelaide told him the 7th years were to lead the opening dance of the evening. Poor lad.

To be entirely honest, you weren’t completely calm yourself. While you weren’t bowing before the toilet bowl or having a mental breakdown because a pimple chose to appear on your forehead at such inopportune time, there was a fluttering in your belly whenever you imagined yourself in a few hours, holding onto your sweetheart in front of the whole school, swaying with him to the music. Goodness…

You’ve never danced with him before. Come to think of it, you haven’t danced since Professor Fig came to announce to you and your parents that you were a witch… You weren’t exactly worried about having forgotten the moves - after all, your parents made your dancing instructor make sure you’d be able to perform flawless waltz right after being woken up at three in the morning but… what if wizards danced differently?

Merlin’s beard!

You didn’t think about that at all! Stupid, stupid! What if you embarrass yourself in front of Aesop… heavens, what if you embarrass him in front of everyone? The thought filled you with dread.

It was so strange - you only ever enjoyed the dance lessons when you were younger as they allowed you to have at least some fun among the otherwise dull lessons in etiquette and mildly interesting classes taught in a way more boring than those of Professor Binns. Back then you wouldn’t give a rat’s arse about embarrassing either yourself or your parents when it finally came to your dreaded debutante ball, but this… This felt different. It was different. You weren’t getting dragged among the snobs of England’s high society to show potential suitors that you were fair game now.

No… This was an evening you were going to spend celebrating your studies, the friendships you’ve made, and the adventures you had while studying at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. And you were going to do so not being displayed as a pretty little plaything available for the highest bidder, but by the side of a man to whom you already belonged. Whom you loved. Who knew that you were a living breathing woman and not a decoration for his home or his family tree. So of course you didn’t want to embarrass him… 

However, the more you thought about it, the more the idea of Aesop resenting you for embarrassing him on the dancefloor seemed ridiculous to you. 

After all, It was Aesop Sharp.

You were observing your reflection anxiously. You made an honest effort to look your absolute best - your hair was done elegantly and fashionably, your eyebrows were neat and tidy, there was a blush to your cheeks and you put some light lip rouge on your mouth. Your features were only slightly enhanced but still looked gentle and natural. You chose a dark blue gown with dark lace and silver details. Not too huge, not too frilly, short-sleeved, and surprisingly quite comfortable. Your earrings went well with the dress and your shoes were enchanted with a cushioning charm, making them feel like plush slippers.

All in all, you thought you looked quite beautiful… You only hoped your sweetheart would be of a similar opinion.

You were to meet him at the very bottom of the Ravenclaw tower, which was to walk to the Great Hall via the Viaduct bridge, as opposed to using the Moving staircase and risking breaking your leg on one of the disappearing steps. They were quite easy to jump over when you were wearing your uniform, but your current ensemble wasn’t really made for skipping over gaps in a staircase. 

You met Amit just as he seemed to consider whether to open the door of the Ravenclaw common room or rather run to his dorm. You gently laid your hand on his shoulder, prompting him to startle and turn around to face you. “(F-F/N)!” he stuttered as his eyes took you in. “Y-you look… very beautiful.” You gave your classmate a smile: “You look quite handsome yourself.” It was the truth, the Head Boy looked very smart and charming in his dress robes, his soft features making him look like some sort of foreign prince. Though he’d look even better if he wasn’t constantly pulling at his sleeves or obsessively fixing his bowtie, making it even more askew each time. “Adelaide will think so too. I’m sure she’s very excited about the evening.”

Your two friends bonded over his fascination with goblins, and Adelaide becoming her uncle’s right hand in his metal trading business, therefore inevitably coming into contact with them. At the sound of her name, Amit froze momentarily.

“I-... I’m not sure if I should… What if I embarrass myself out there? Or, Merlin forbid, what if I embarrass her? What if I forget the moves, or step on her toes?”

And at that moment, it hit you. Everyone was worried about the same thing as you. And this knowledge, surprisingly, brought you peace. “Oh, come now, Amit,” you gave his shoulder a light pat, before stepping directly in front of him to fix his robes for him. “It’ll be alright. Really. You won’t forget the steps, because in the years I have known you, I’ve never once witnessed you forget something. And, well, if you do step on her toes, you’ll apologise and try not to do so again. You will hardly be the only person to do so… Poor Natty, her feet are going to hurt like the devil from how Sebastian will trample over them. People will only look at us for a little while, and then everyone will start dancing too, and it’ll be only Addie looking at you.”

Amit seemed to be taking in your words, not knowing that they brought you the same comfort as they did to him. He took several deep breaths. “Alright,” he said at last, “I… Thank you, (F/N). You’re right, it will be fine. After all… it is just a student ball and not a goblin mine filled with Ranrok’s loyalists, right?” His eyes twinkled in good humour as he spoke, a careful smile seeping into his expression. You grinned in reply: “Exactly! The thing you have to watch out for is neither a crossbow nor an axe, but rather Garreth attempting to spike the punch, or Everett throwing a Dungbomb to, heh, ‘lighten the atmosphere’.”

Amit chuckled: “You’re right… I should go meet Adelaide then, shouldn’t I?” 

You walked a bit behind him after wishing him good luck, but unlike Amit who took off in the direction of Hufflepuff common room upon reaching the mezzanine floor, you walked further down the stairs, the Viaduct entrance slowly coming into view.

And there he was. 

Your eyes instantly found him among the small crowd of students, a few couples, and several boys also waiting for their partners. Aesop stood to the side, looking slightly awkward, his expression unreadable as he waited. Your breath caught in your throat and your heart skipped a beat. You stopped in your tracks momentarily, swallowing heavily.

Aesop looked breathtaking. He always looked handsome, neat, and well put together with a roguish kind of aura, but this evening he was simply magnificent. His robes were obviously brand new and tailored to fit him perfectly. They hug his large, lean body perfectly, his considerable height even more obvious in the long black overcoat. His high leather boots were replaced with polished ballroom shoes and his tie with a dark green bowtie. His hair was neater and shinier, his stubble groomed to perfection.

Taking a deep breath to calm your wildly beating heart, you continued your descent down the stairs, your heels clicking against the stone steps softly. A few people noticed you, some stared for a bit, but you didn’t pay them any mind, your eyes boring into the single person there who mattered.

And then your gazes connected.

You saw his dark eyes widen and mouth open slightly as he took in a sudden breath. Feeling a flush enter your cheeks, you smiled and dropped your head for a second before looking up again. Aesop was walking towards you as if he was in a trance, his eyes not leaving you, barely even blinking. Closer now, you saw his awe in them, the astonishment, and your face got even warmer under his intense look.

You stopped three feet away from one another, neither of you speaking for a while, too busy committing this moment to your memory. “Hello,” you said finally, your voice slightly breathy, but your lips spreading into a smile. “Hello,” he repeated, his own voice low and raspy, his eyes still drinking you up thirstily. “Oh, sweetheart…” he said then, finally connecting your gaze again, “ you look… otherworldly stunning. Like a dream.” “So do you,” you whispered in reply.

“I… I’m having a lot of trouble resisting kissing you right now…” he admitted quietly, but instead of closing the distance and kissing your lips, he gently took hold of your hand and lifted it, bending himself in the waist to bring it to his lips. They felt deliciously soft and scorching against the tender skin of your knuckles. He pressed kiss after kiss onto your hand with utmost reverence, holding it with both of his now, like it was a precious fragile treasure. Finally, he straightened up again, his eyes positively shining in the viaduct entrance’s dull lighting. He then brought your hand to his right arm and began leading you to the heavy doors leading to the bridge, standing taller than you’ve ever seen him, his steps sure and his limp nowhere to be seen. It hit you then that he was feeling proud to walk with you by his side, holding onto him, and this knowledge was what made you feel weak in the knees, glad to be able to lean into him, your heart thumping loudly in your chest.

“Aesop?” you said softly as you unhurriedly made your way over the bridge. “What is it, my love?” he replied in that completely content tone you only ever heard at night as you were lying, spent and comfortable in each other’s embrace. “Do wizards… do wizards dance the same as muggles?” The professor thought for a while, the fingers of his left hand stroking along your own where they were curled around his arm. 

“Oh. I entirely forgot that this is your first time attending…” 

The ball was cancelled during your fifth year, as the school was recovering from Ranrok’s attack, not to mention grieving professor Fig. And last year, well… Last year the headmaster fell victim to a rather ill-tempered Chinese chomping cabbage on one of his rare visits to the Greenhouses. Actually, you were there to witness it, along with your classmates. You could see the majority of them balling their hands into fists and breathing deeply to keep themselves from bursting into laughter. The ever-collected Phineas Nigellus Black squealed like a little girl as the magical vegetable closed its fangs around his ankle. You were having very a hard time keeping your chuckles in as well.

Black kept trying to shake and kick it off, cursing loudly the whole time, but it was only Professor Garlick who finally managed to get the cabbage to loosen its grip on the man’s leg. There was a bit of blood, and the Headmaster had to be led to the Hospital wing, but you had no doubts the greatest injury was the one done to his pride. Black ended up with a two-week limp, and it was enough to get the ball cancelled. 

That is, the official reason was that ‘The school simply doesn't have the resources this year, new books were bought, so were new chairs and desks for this and that classroom, not to mention the cost of Golden Snitches for the Quidditch matches. Simply enough, not a knut can be spared this year, condolences’, but everyone knew Black was simply too vain to be seen by his esteemed guests in anything else than perfect condition.

This was later confirmed by Aesop himself, during one of your back-then platonic meetings over tea. The potions master seemed to be fuming when you came in, and you immediately offered to come by later, but to your surprise, he asked you to stay and tell him about your day. As you did, you saw the tension in his shoulders slowly disappearing and saw him stop clenching his teeth. “Do you want to talk about what happened, sir?” you asked back then. “It’s nothing of importance, really,” he said, “just… Headmaster Black probably never heard the word ‘tact’ in his life.” The ex-auror proceeded to tell you that he was present in the room when Black told Professor Weasley about his intention to cancel the term-end ball. ‘Can you imagine the Board of Governors, not to mention former minister McPhail, witnessing me with a limp? How utmostly disgraceful and embarrassing!’ was basically what the Headmaster said. 

“To be entirely honest, I felt a strong urge to hex our dear Headmaster. I surely hope you’ll keep this information to yourself,” Aesop finished by saying. 

“I hope you’ll do the same, sir, upon me stating that I’d like to find the cabbage that took a  bite out of him and put it into his bed.”

A little smile played on the potions master’s lips at your words.

In the end, there wasn’t a ball, but rather a little gathering of seventh years, sixth years, and a few teachers, over at The Three Broomsticks. Despite it not being the grand ball some older students kept going on and on about, it turned out to be a very pleasant and fun evening. There was no dancing, not sober ballroom one at least, but there was food, there were drinks, and there was the company of your friends. A pleasant and fun evening indeed.

Now, however, dancing was one of the key ingredients.

“Yes… It’s a shortcoming on my part, I spent all this time helping prepare for the ball that I didn’t for one second think the dancing may be different…”

“Hm… Do you know how to dance waltz?” Aesop asked after a while, just as you reached the viaduct courtyard, lit by quaint lanterns of various shapes and sizes. “Yes, of course!” you replied immediately, prompting your lover to chuckle shortly. 

“You’ll be absolutely fine then. It’s quite similar, and you are a quick learner. And besides, I may have… practised a bit beforehand, just to sort of refresh the skill, and I’m fairly confident I’ll be able to lead you.” While your heart was still pounding, your nerves slightly lessened, and you found yourself leaning into him a little closer. Soon, the two of you entered the Great Hall, and while you were there for the vast majority of its preparation, your breath was still taken away by the sight which awaited you.

You've seen some nice-looking banquets and dinner parties, but a single second in the grand room managed to put all of them to utmost shame. The Great Hall appeared even greater than ever before, there were smaller tables set by the walls instead of the large tables for the four Hogwarts houses, and one larger, but not nearly as large as the High table that usually stood in its place. All throughout the hall were banquet tables with various nibbles and drinks, and it was there many of your classmates fluttered about the most currently.

The beauty of the room was nearly overwhelming. Yes, your fellow students and you did a fair bit of work, but it seemed many of the teachers then secretly contributed as well. You recognised Professor Ronen's handiwork within the sparks of various colours above all of your heads in intricate patterns, and of course, the floral decorations upon the tables were courtesy of Professor Garlick, not a single one of them the same as another. The enchanted ceiling seemed even more full of stars, and every few seconds, a constellation formed out of nothing, glimmering brightly.

"Everything looks so beautiful," you said just loud enough for Aesop to hear, "Everybody looks so beautiful…" You truly meant it. Everyone seemed to have done their best to appear neat and put together, the girls and women were dressed in beautiful gowns of all cuts and colours, and the gents looked so very smart and elegant. But none of them could hold a candle to Aesop. And by the way he was looking at you… "And you most of all," he said.

"So, do tell, are teachers required to attend?" You asked as you took the scenic route through the room, with you eagerly eyeing and admiring everything, and Aesop merely seeming glad to be able to walk with you and hold you. "It's greatly encouraged. That is, despite me being grumpier than a hungry wolf," you giggled softly, "I don't think I ever decided not to attend. The house elves outdo themselves when it comes to food on these balls, and it's after all one of the last chances to talk with the graduating students. And, if nothing else, I just kept an eye on them, chatting with my colleagues."

"So these little… amuse-bouches are just available throughout the evening, but there's also dinner?"

"Precisely. A variety of items to choose from, cooked to perfection."

"And then?"

"Then? Dancing. Mingling… after the younger students, fifth years and younger to be precise, leave, the rest can indulge in a little alcohol. That is, once the Headmaster and his esteemed guests have left as well."

Aesop pointed towards the larger table at the far end of the hall and, sure enough, Phineas Nigellus Black was currently sitting there, caught in a discussion with an older, pompous-looking gentleman, whose face you recognised from some picture in the Daily Prophet. "That's the chief of the Department of Magical Games and Sports," clarified Aesop, "no doubt the Headmaster's feeding him stories about how every faculty member except him insisted on Quidditch being cancelled two years ago."

You scoffed, but tore your eyes away, choosing instead to focus on more joyous matters at hand: "So. Shall we sit somewhere?" Aesop looked around the room: "Well… it would seem there are no free tables. We could always sit somewhere that has only first years and hope that I'll scare them away, or…?" You followed his gaze. It fell onto a table not far to your right. Only two spaces remained, as the others were filled by Professor Hecat, Professor Ronen with a beautiful plump older lady you presumed to be his wife, Professor Onai, and rather uncomfortable-looking Natty and Sebastian.

"Outnumbered," you pointed out with a cheeky grin, but nevertheless began walking towards the table.

"Good evening," you greeted politely, giving the company a smile. Natty and Sebastian looked unsure whether you were their salvation, or if the awkwardness was just about to get worse, but you still shortly squeezed each of their hands. The teachers, however, seemed to be in rather good spirits, welcoming the two of you warmly.

Aesop gentlemanly pulled out your chair, one next to Natty, and helped push it back after you've sat down, sitting down himself afterwards. There was a moment of quiet before Sebastian blurted out: "Y-you look… good. Your dress is nice." After your exchange before this very room half a year ago, things were a little awkward for a while, and they stayed that way until you let Sebast know just why it wasn't him for whom your heart beat. Surprisingly, he took the news quite well, and your friendship healed, piece by piece.

The look Natty gave you was one that made you blush, and you were very glad when a glass of wine materialised in front of you. But then - "Wait, didn't you say that alcohol was only, well, permitted, after the younger students left?" Instead of Aesop, however, it was Dinah who answered you: "Indeed. However, seeing as we've got you outnumbered, this is considered a teachers' table. And, as teachers, we've got a few advantages… or do you think we'd patiently wait through the Headmaster's speech and the following three hours of the young ones being all over the place without a single drop?"

You had to nod your head and chuckle. Looking to your left, you saw both of your friends also took the opportunity to taste their wine and possibly make an undoubtedly unorthodox situation feel more natural. You covered your mouth to hide your smile when Sebastian struggled to not stick out his tongue in distaste once he tasted the beverage.

It got a little easier after that - the company chose their dinner and you did so as well, pheasant breast with roasted potatoes and fresh vegetables. Delicious, but not overly heavy, the wine went with the meal amazingly.

After everyone was done with their dinner, and the Great Hall was once more overtaken by its usual noise of students and faculty alike talking amongst themselves, you were happy to find the atmosphere at your table much lighter than it was an hour ago. You even engaged in several conversations with your professors, their demeanour so much more relaxed than you've ever witnessed during classes. That is, except for Professor Ronen, as he was already very laid back and jovial even in settings much more professional than this one. What's more, he and Professor Hecat both knew of your and Aesop's romance quite early on and, if at all possible, were treating you even more warmly since then.

Then, Phineas Nigellus Black's voice cut through the air. "Your attention, please," he said. The Great Hall got progressively quieter and quieter until one could hear a pin drop. "Time has come to wrap up another successful year at Hogwarts. I am very glad that after two years, we were able to once more make this little celebration of ours a reality. Dear graduates, please accept my congratulations on your successful finish of your education here at Hogwarts, and my sincere gratitude to the staff for making it possible. I raise my goblet to you all, graduates, teachers, and students alike, and I wish you all a pleasant holiday, and of course, to you, seventh years, a successful start into your new lives."

The Headmaster's speech was not bad at all, but it was not nearly enough to erase your distaste for the man. "Written by Matilda, word for word," Aesop whispered into your ear helpfully. "However," the Headmaster continued, "this is, after all, a ball. Let us not embarrass ourselves in the company of our esteemed guests. So, whenever you're ready…" 

"I think that's our cue," said Aesop, gently pulling you out of your seat.

You felt anxiety slowly creeping back into your gut as Aesop led you over to a spot on the dance floor he deemed acceptable for the two of you. Your legs suddenly felt like they were made out of lead, and you were panicking somewhat, looking around the room at your classmates. “Sweetheart, right here,” Aesop said, and though the room wasn’t quiet by any means, you heard his voice clearly over the white noise of people murmuring between themselves, the rustling of robes and gowns, the occasional squeak of shoes against the floor.

You raised your eyes to meet his, impossibly dark. “Just look me in the eyes, and let me lead you. It’ll be lovely, I promise.” You nodded and offered a little smile. “Alright. Just like a regular waltz, your left hand right … here, your right… There we go.” His right hand rested on your waist securely, the left one holding yours. You took a deep breath.

“Ehm! Well, let’s start, shall we? Music!” Headmaster Black’s shrill voice rang through the large room, and a few seconds later, dulcet tones of the orchestra began reverberating through the Great hall. You didn't even have time to ask where to step first when Aesop started moving, his hold on you so strong and steady, that you couldn't help but follow. "Two, three, four…" he counted just loud enough for you to hear, and you immediately found yourself connecting his words with the movements he was doing and making you do. "One, two, three, four, now change hands," you switched the positions of your hands, so he was now holding onto your left one. 

With a few more changes like this, you began feeling more confident - it really was like a slightly extended version of waltz. While you were more than comfortable letting him lead, feeling all kinds of warm as he effortlessly made your body do his bidding, all the while looking majestic and elegant. "Now brace yourself," and with that, he grabbed onto your waist and lifted you into the air, spinning with you. You could faintly see the other girls being spun in the air, but just barely - Aesop had all of your attention. "See, you've got it, you're doing wonderfully," he said with a smile, never once ceasing your dance. 

Before long, you span with him gladly, your feet synchronised with his flawlessly, your movements copying the rhythm of the music. Aesop swept you off your feet, and you loved it, you wanted to be swept away by him, swept, rocked, and spun. He was a mighty tidal wave and you were there to enjoy the ride. Soon, way too soon, you heard the song coming to an end, and Aesop finished your dance by elegantly returning to the starting position, settling just as the last note rang through the air.

Applause broke out around the Great Hall. "Very good, very good. Nice job seventh years … and their partners…" said Black from behind his podium, "the music will resume shortly." 

"See, I told you it's going to be lovely," your sweetheart said with a pleased grin, "wasn't it?"

"It was, Merlin, it was amazing. But now that I know how amazingly you dance, I think I'll want to do that often…" you admitted letting your hands stroke his strong shoulders subconsciously.

"Hm, we've got the entire night. And the night after that. And the following one too."

And just like that, something inside of you snapped and you couldn't stop yourself anymore. Absolutely uncaring, you stood up on your tiptoes and captured his lips in a kiss.

It wasn't a long kiss, nor one too passionate, but it was thunderous nonetheless. You couldn't care less who could be watching, or what they would think. You loved this man with all of your heart, and you were done with being quiet about it. You looked into his eyes right after you pulled back to find them wide and dark, his mouth still slightly open. "Is that alright?" You asked carefully. Your reply was his arms around your waist and his hot lips on yours once more.

"It's more than alright."

A few hours, some more nibbles, and two butterbeers later, it was time for the younger students to retire to their common rooms, and only the seventh years and adult sixth years were allowed to remain. It was when teachers turned a blind eye to the consumption of alcohol, a few of them even sharing a drink with some of their soon-to-be former students. Aesop too was one of those who were sought out for this very reason. It was not at all surprising to see Garreth Weasley offering a tumbler of golden honey-coloured liquor to the potions master, the professor sniffing at it suspiciously. 

“Come on, Professor Sharp,” Garreth laughed jovially, "I promise, it’s just good old Firewhisky, I have not done anything to it.”

“Then you won’t mind if I ask for the other glass you’re holding, will you?”

“Ever the Auror, eh? Heh, absolutely, there you go sir.”

Aesop clinked his glass against Garreth’s and took a careful sip. He rolled the liquid on his tongue for a bit, trying to catch a taste of anything other than the rich-smelling alcohol, but after he swallowed and felt no immediate consequences, he allowed himself to relax. Garreth meanwhile continued to chuckle as he threw back his own drink in a single gulp, hissing at the burn.

“Only a few more days to go, I’m not as dumb as to risk losing that E you gave me on my NEWTs essay.”

“You’re not stupid and never have been. Reckless and a thorn in my side, yes, but never stupid. You’ve got potential. Try not to blow yourself up into pieces before you can reach it, alright?”

Garreth looked like he was ready to punch the air in euphoria as the professor extended his right hand towards him, but instead, the ginger lad just gripped it tightly and shook it. “That was quite lovely,” you said with a smile once Garreth left you two alone once more, his mouth spread into a victorious grin. “Well, I do have my moments,” replied Aesop with a little smile of his own before taking a gentle hold of your own hand, “come on, let’s dance some more.”

And that was that.

You danced, you talked, you drank. You tried Firewhisky again, a different brand this time. It was sweeter than the one you tried on Christmas Eve, but still not something you could see yourself actively seeking out. Unless it was drunk off Aesop’s lips, of course. Then it was an entirely different story. 

It was around Midnight when you started becoming quite tipsy. The party was in full swing around you, your classmates’ inhibitions were loosened under the influence of alcohol, and even the normally quiet ones were frivolously hoofing it off on the dance floor, laughing and talking excitedly among themselves. Even the often sullen Ominis Gaunt was chuckling as he, a little clumsily, spun Poppy Sweeting around, the alcoholic flush combined with the warmth of the room clearly evident upon his pale cheeks. Poppy didn’t seem to mind they were entirely out of rhythm, having the time of her life having fun with her human friends, instead of just the animal ones.

Amit was caught in an amicable discussion with Sebastian, obviously having had a bit too much, if the hiccoughs interrupting his impassioned monologue about Goblins and his consequent giggling was of any proof, but Sebastian still listened with interest, his view of Goblinkind having shifted considerably since his fifth year. 

It was when you accidentally stepped on Aesop’s foot for the third time in the span of ten minutes, that you decided it was high time to take a little break and sober up a bit. You took several gulps of cold water before Aesop carefully led you away from the hustle and bustle of the Great Hall. Soon you found yourselves at the Quad courtyard. The air of the early summer night felt fresh and crisp, and a sweet flowery aroma was wafting through it gently.

The alcohol haze dissipated somewhat thanks to the water you drank and the cool air against your warmed skin, yet you remained feeling buzzed and giddy, hanging onto Aesop’s arm and happily engaging in cheeky conversation, letting him tease you and enjoying every minute of it. “Feeling better?” he asked as you once more entered the castle, taking a corridor that would slowly lead you back to the Great Hall. “Very much so,” you agreed with a smile, “although I wasn’t feeling really bad to begin with. Maybe a bit lightheaded at most, and that I blame on the dancer who spun me around again and again.

The professor’s dark chuckle was your only answer, the sound echoing off the stony walls. It felt nearly surreal how quiet the castle got at night. Hogwarts never got this quiet during the day, not even in the library, because of the omnipresence of its inhabitants, both living and not. This evening, however, it seemed like a powerful silencing charm was placed upon the large corridors, not even the sound of the ball nearby could be heard. In the still and the quiet, it felt like it was just the two of you, the sound of your hearts beating the only thing unafraid to penetrate the silence.

You startled a bit as your lover suddenly stopped walking, causing you to collide with him slightly. Raising your eyes, you observed him questioningly but found him not looking at you, but rather to your left. You turned your head.

Next to you on the wall was a full-body mirror, just large enough to capture the two of you in its reflection. Fully turned towards it now, you slowly pulled at his arm which you were still holding, motioning for it to curl around your waist, which it did. His other arm joined in, and soon you had Aesop’s strong chest pressed against your back, his chin and jaw gently brushing over the right side of your head.

To an untrained eye perhaps, the two of you could look like something of an odd couple. Despite all of Aesop’s handsomeness and rugged charm, it was very obvious he was considerably older than you. His face bore the lines of time, life lived before you were born, the scar on his cheek a testament to many adventures and dangers, during which you weren’t present, while the smooth, flushed apples of your cheeks stood in absolute contrast against it. As did your hands, which came to rest upon his own, the skin on them weathered and calloused. These hands held unimaginable strength, both physical and magical.

An odd couple? To some, perhaps. 

But you knew better. 

While Aesop was every bit as strong and tough as he looked, you knew that behind that roughened face and calloused hands was a gentle man, a kind soul, and an artistic spirit. Someone who dared to dream when he was younger, and someone who was just rediscovering his courage to do so again. And you? You weren’t pristine. You saw too much death and suffering in your young life, so much more than any person should ever see. You were put through challenges and dangers that would keep even wizards older and more experienced than yourself up at night. 

And yet, here you were, two decidedly flawed odd birds standing in a heartfelt embrace, your connection one built upon mutual trust, respect, and an overwhelming amount of love. 

You let your head fall back slightly to rest against his shoulder, revelling in his warmth. “I think we’re a rather charming couple,” you said at last. Odd? Maybe at first. But after a while, anyone would see your eyes, they would see that each other’s arms is exactly where the two of you belong. 

“You know what… I’m rather inclined to agree. Although you're the one who brings about 95% of charm into the relationship,” he whispered against your ear, prompting you to grin. “I suppose we cannot agree on everything all the time,” you sighed, “and this is one of the instances.” His chuckle made you lightly shiver as his hot breath tickled the soft skin of your ear and neck: “Be that as it may, there was actually something else I wanted to do, and this mirror is just perfect for it.”

Slowly, his right hand slipped from your hold and disappeared into his dress robes’ inner breast pocket. When it reappeared, you saw something glisten brightly in it, but before you could question what it was, his other hand also left your waist and came up to grip the other end of it. You hissed when the cold metal touched your neck. 

Aesop was delicately securing a beautiful necklace around your neck, and you felt like you forgot to breathe for a while. It was beautiful in its design, elegant, yet simple and light, adorned with a few vine-like twirls and several small opal stones. You couldn’t be certain, but you thought the material was goblin silver. It went beautifully with your earrings, and that’s when it truly hit. Aesop Sharp had this gorgeous piece of jewellery made specifically for you.

“A-Aesop!” you stammered, your cheeks burning and your eyes slowly watering, “I- I can’t possibly accept this, i-it’s way too valuable!” Your sweetheart finished fastening the necklace before leaning down to press a kiss against the nape of your neck. “Please,” he said in a voice so quiet, you almost couldn’t hear it, “I want you to have it… Do you like it?” You touched it delicately, slowly running your fingers over the cool material. “Oh, Aesop, it’s-... it’s the finest, most beautiful piece of jewellery I’ve ever seen, but you really shouldn't have spent what must’ve been quite a sum of money on me!”

His chapped lips made contact with the hot skin of your neck again, and again in a series of soft, tender kisses, his breath tickling at the peach fuzz there. “Trust me,” he spoke again, “when I say this is barely a fraction of what you deserve. You met me a half-broken man, who nearly made peace with the fact that love, health, and hope for the future is a thing of the past for him. You came into my life and shook it to its core. If anyone told me two years ago that tonight I’d be dancing with the most beautiful woman in the entire Wizarding world, completely in love, my leg cured and my dreams slowly being restored, I would’ve called them completely insane. And yet here we are. Believe me when I say you deserve this, and so much more. (F/N) (L/N), you deserve the world.”

Slowly dropping your eyes from the necklace, you turned around in his arms. A tear finally rolled over your eyelid and ran down your cheek as you looked deep into his eyes. You raised your hands to cup his cheeks, your fingers caressing the weathered, stubbled skin.

“I just want you,” you whispered, more tears falling from your eyes. 

His much bigger hands came to enclose your own again.

“You’ve got me,” Aesop finally said with the faintest hint of a smile. In the next second, your arms were thrown around his neck, and your lips moulding with his in a passionate, earth-shattering kiss, one into which you attempted to pour all of your love and devotion for this wonderful man. “Thank you,” you sighed between kisses, the moisture of your tears staining his cheeks. His strong arms wrapped around your body securely, as if unwilling to let you go, which was something you didn’t mind at all.

Once you pulled slightly apart to catch your breaths, Aesop chuckled noiselessly, his breath cool on your hot damp lips. He lifted his hand to wipe away your tears and caress your face, his thumb sliding over the apple of your cheek, your jowl, your chin, finally stroking your lips, tracing their edge. “I must say, a half-drunken snog in the corridors during a term-end ball is also something I thought was a thing of the past,” he said, his voice low and raspy.

You couldn’t resist the small fit of giggles that overcame you then as you hid your burning face into the crook of his neck, breathing in his familiar, heady scent, a mix of the sandalwood from his cologne, the faintest hint of Firewhisky, the soap he used, and underneath that the natural smell of his skin, warm and comforting with the smallest trace of sweat. 

“Doesn’t need to be the only time, though,” he added, prompting you to murmur questioningly against his skin. “Professors can bring partners with them…”

“Are you inviting me to the term-end ball all the way next year?”

“Hm, too soon?”

“No… no, it’s alright, I gladly accept. I’m just so very happy.” 

You didn’t have to say it for Aesop to understand - that you were happy he readily saw himself with you a year from now.

“Shall we head to your chambers then?” you asked after a short while, raising your head slightly to look at him. “If you’d like, of course,” he answered, his clever thumbs drawing circles onto your hips, “But I was thinking maybe one last dance? It is a special occasion, after all, it’d be a shame to waste it.” You couldn’t disagree with that.

On your way back to the Great Hall, you didn’t hold onto Aesop’s arm, as it was instead draped around your shoulders, tightly pressing you into his side as you walked. It was only when you arrived at the foreroom of the Great Hall that you began to hear the noise from inside. “Silencing charm - wouldn’t want to disturb the castle's various inhabitants, would we?” your sweetheart said, most likely noticing your curious expression. 

Entering the room, now bathed in an intimately dim light, you noticed that a number of people had already left. Quite a few sixth years seemed to have retired for the night, same as professors. There was Professor Ronen sitting at one of the tables with his wife, while Professor Howin and Madam Kogava were sort of just lingering about, watching the progression of the evening, no doubt keeping an eye on potential trouble. Your classmates seemed to be in various stages of intoxication. Natty seemed like she only had a glass or two, seeing as she most likely waited for her mother to leave before finally allowing herself to party a little, while Sebastian, who was (unsuccessfully) trying to woo her seemed about a single butterbeer from being ready to leave lest he made a fool of himself. 

Poor Amit’s fallen asleep already, but Adelaide didn’t seem to mind, her head resting on his shoulder and her eyes closing as well. Hopefully, someone from their respective houses will wake them up when the time comes to truly wrap up. You let Aesop lead you through the room and towards one of the walls to a slightly more remote spot, the song that was playing until now coming to its close. 

Just like you did throughout the whole evening, you took your stance and waited for the next song to begin. And then, when it did, you let Aesop glide the two of you across the dancefloor, your movements slow and well-measured. The whole time you were looking into each other’s eyes, having a little conversation about absolutely everything and nothing, all without uttering a single word. Each time Aesop spun you, you ended a little closer to him, inch after inch, until your bodies were flush against each other in a display quite intimate, and possibly very inappropriate in public. Luckily, nobody seemed to either notice or care.

Both of Aesop’s arms wrapped around your waist as he swayed with you slowly, his head lowering until your foreheads connected, resting against each other. You closed your eyes, just letting the reality of the moment wash over you. You felt his every move before he made it, felt the subtle way his hips swayed with yours, and the two of you sharing a single breath was getting you more drunk than alcohol ever could. And despite the two of you not being alone in the room, it did feel like you were, shrouded in your little world, clinging onto each other ardently.

And when he unabashedly kissed you once more, you lost yourself completely. Your feet stopped their movements, and you simply stood there in your passionate embrace, drinking from each other’s lips. When his lips left yours and instead travelled over your cheek and to your ear, you readily responded to his movements, your fingers combing into his hair like they always did, and your mouth unconsciously releasing little gasps and sighs. The potions master dipped his head slightly, and soon his hot tongue began circling your pulse point.

Not a second later, the sensation was gone and your head began clearing up again. It would seem Aesop suddenly realised where he was, and how many people were still around you. He leaned closer again to whisper into your ear: “I think now is the time for us to retire. As much as I find your gown beautiful, I’d much rather see you without it now.” You chuckled in reply, your close proximity to your lover allowing you to feel just how much he meant what he said: “I was thinking the exact same thing.”

You extracted yourselves from one another, and Aesop led you towards the exit, slightly behind you so as not to draw too much attention to his little problem, despite the dim light surely preventing so. Once you were out of sight, you turned to make your way to the Viaduct courtyard once again, but Aesop instead gripped your shoulders and motioned for you to take the route up the Grand Staircase. “Wait,” you protested mildly, “I avoided the Grand Staircase on purpose, you know. I don’t want to fall or break my leg, especially now that I’ve had a few drinks!” Your sweetheart chuckled, still leading you: “Don’t you worry, I’ll be behind you every step of the way and will catch or support you if need be. Besides it’s the shortest way to my rooms…” He made his point by stopping momentarily to deliver another kiss to your neck, making you almost melt under his touch. 

“Oh… oh, alright then…” you relented, “but Aesop Sharp, I swear on Merlin’s name, if I break my leg three days before graduation-” 

“Then Noreen will fix you up with a quick spell and some Skele-Gro, and both you and she will have my guts for garters.” 

“Precisely.” 

“Come on, then,” Aesop said in a teasing voice, his hand coming to lightly slap at your behind, making you giggle. You gathered your gown in your hands and carefully walked up the first flight of stairs, Aesop right behind you.

But then: “Ah, good evening you two!” You stopped in your tracks like a deer in headlights. “Dinah…” you heard Aesop say behind you, his tone one of exasperation and mild annoyance. “So, have you enjoyed this fine evening? I must say, it was quite dull without it last year.” You were blushing like mad, not meeting the DADA teacher’s eyes. However, you could see that she was quite obviously having fun grilling the two of you. “Yes, yes, very lovely and very dull,” said Aesop impatiently, his hand moving to close around your own, “was there anything particular you needed?” 

While the older woman’s face was as neutral as always, you could see her eyes positively sparkle with mischief: “Oh? Are you in a hurry?” Aesop groaned quietly next to you: “Rather yes.”

“What could be so urgent on such a fine evening?”

This time, Aesop did not answer, but his hand squeezed yours harder. After a few seconds of utter silence, Dinah broke out into a little chuckle: “I’m sorry Aesop, dear. Can’t blame an old woman for wanting to have some fun as well, and you, you are so very fun to tease.”

“You know, you could tease Abraham now and then as well?”

“About what? Abe makes fun of himself most of the time, there’s no challenge in that. But I’ll leave you to it now. Have a nice evening you two. Oh, and the staircase seems quite agreeable today, but you should still be careful.”

“Thank you, Di. Goodnight,” Aesop said then, his tone much softer now, and he once again began to lead you away. “Goodnight, professor,” you said quietly, still a little embarrassed from the encounter, but at the same time strangely amused by it.

The potions master did as he promised, his hand as if glued to your lower back supporting you as you carefully ascended the steps of the Grand Staircase. “Disappearing one over there,” he’d warn every now and then. Some time later, the two of you finally entered the Faculty tower, and you all but began a half-jog towards your lover's chambers while still trying to remain silent so as not to disturb anyone who might already be asleep in their rooms. The moment the door closed behind you, your back was pressed against it, and Aesop’s mouth latched itself onto your own in a hot messy kiss. His hands were everywhere at once, caressing and groping your body as his lips slowly slid to your neck.

The former auror pulled back somewhat, looking at the jewellery he placed around your neck earlier, before he dipped his head right back, placing tender kisses over the sensitive skin of your throat along the necklace. Your fingers went right back into his hair, nowhere near as neat as it was when you met him at the viaduct entrance hours ago. When his arms wrapped around your middle and he lifted you off the ground you attempted to curl your legs around his waist, but was soon stopped by the fabric of your gown.

“Don’t you worry, my sweet, I’ll get you out of this thing soon enough,” he said, a smug grin clear as day in his sultry voice. 

Aesop carried you over to his bedroom, however, before he could as much as sit you on the bed, you grabbed onto his shoulders, stopping him in his tracks. “Wait,” you chuckled, and he immediately set you back on your feet. He distangled himself from you and gently grabbed your face in his large calloused hands. “Are you alright? Too fast?” he asked, and you could melt right on the spot. Even after all this time, he was ready to stop at the tiniest hint of you not being alright with what he was doing. “No, no, it’s wonderful,” you reassured him, kissing his lips slowly, “it’s just… Hah, if you want to get me out of this dress, it’s better if we’re standing. Trust me.”

A quiet chuckle escaped Aesop’s lips: “Oh, alright.” He extended a hand towards you, and you immediately took it without thinking. He gently spun you, just like he spun you the entire evening across the dance floor, except this time he stopped when your back was facing him. “Dear Miss,” he spoke, his tone teasing and playful, “prepare to be disrobed.”

However, disrobing you was easier said than done, and Aesop hadn’t anticipated the intricacies the unfastening on your ball gown would pose. At first, he tried to work methodically, but it was for nothing and he was soon tangled in the many strings, getting progressively frustrated. It took a lot of your willpower not to giggle.

“How in Merlin’s medieval buttocks did you even get into this thing?!” he asked after a while, fingers furiously trying to get the gown to open up, or loosen at the very least so that he could peel it off your form. “There are laces and ties, more laces, strings, even more laces, how do I even-... hold on, I think I’ve got it,” Aesop fiddled with the fastenings for several seconds, before groaning in irritation, “Damn it!” And that was it, you began giggling softly, covering your mouth with your hand. “Oi, don’t you laugh! Did you use your magic on this? Is that why I can’t untie it?”

“I didn’t,” you said between chuckles, “though Natty may have gone slightly overboard with making sure it’s all holding up nicely.” 

“Holding up nicely, she says,” grumbled Aesop, still trying to pull at the strings and laces in vain, “I’d have better chances breaking into bloody Gringotts!

You just kept chuckling. The dress felt slightly looser, but not loose enough for you to wiggle out of it: “I say, love, we’ll both be so exhausted after you finish untying it, the only thing we’ll be doing in those sheets is sleeping!” The former Auror stopped his frustrated movements, and then his strong hands left your back entirely: “Oh, for Merlin’s saggy-”

However, before you had the chance to say anything:

“Diffindo!”

You yelped as you heard the fabric being swiftly cut in half, soon falling down from your body and pooling around your ankles.

“Oi!” you turned around to face him, a bewildered expression on your face. 

“Sorry about that,” Aesop said then, his voice anything but remorseful. “I’ll have you know I thought that dress was really beautiful,” you replied with the tiniest hint of indignation in your voice. However, your amusement at him losing his temper with the garment greatly outweighed any hard feelings towards him effectively destroying it. “So do I.” he insisted, “Mind stepping out of them, dear?” You did as he asked and stepped out from the circle of crumpled fabric. With a wave of his wand, the gown rose from the floor and floated towards his wardrobe, fixing itself seamlessly along the way. Soon, it was neatly hanged and perfect once more. 

“I think Miss Onai truly should pursue a career in Gringotts, she’d make the vaults completely impregnable…” Aesop commented dryly while you crossed your arms across your chest. “Are we going to talk about Natty and her talents for securing things, or…?”

Aesop once more turned his entire attention towards you, looking at you appreciatively. Now that your gown was finally dealt with, you remained there standing in just your chemise and petticoat. You saw the fire returning to Aesop’s gorgeous dark eyes, and a wolfish grin to his face. “I should be able to take these off without wasting any precious energy, “he murmured lowly before stepping closer. His nose glided along your cheek and your jaw as he effortlessly unfastened the petticoat and let it slide down your legs, leaving you in your beautiful, silken underwear. “So… do we still have to stand up, or shall we get a little more comfortable?” the potions master asked slyly. 

You fixed him with a mock offended look: “You have your fun undressing me and now you think I’ll settle with you just tearing your own clothes off in a frenzied flurry? That just won’t do, sir…” Due to a stupid amount of luck, you were in a perfect position to gently shove against his chest. Was this any other situation and were you anyone else, Aesop wouldn’t even flinch at the movement. However, he only grinned more and obediently let himself fall down upon the bed, conveniently right behind him, waiting patiently for you to undoubtedly climb atop him. 

And you didn’t plan to keep him waiting long.

—

The first birds began singing outside the window as the dark sky of the night outside slowly bled into shades of purple and pink, the summer sun shyly peeking from below the horizon signalling the arrival of a brand new day. For you and your lover, however, the previous day was only just ending now in a haze of heavy breaths and wildly beating hearts, bodies sated and satisfied, limbs still trembling under the weight of shared pleasures.

You were beautifully exhausted, brushing your fingers through your hair, slightly damp from perspiration. You and Aesop gave yourselves to one another completely tonight, unashamedly indulging in your hunger, your scorching passion, opening yourselves up for new things and new sensations, experimenting with new positions and ways to bring the other to the breaking point. 

Your hair became once more dry and soft within your fingers as your sweetheart used the last of his strength to cast a cleaning charm on the two of you and the bed before weakly tossing the wand onto the chair standing next to his bed. He found his resting place on top of your body, his now positively shaggy hair spreading on your skin and tickling it tenderly as he laid his head upon your chest, his ear directly over your heart. You were completely trapped underneath him, his weight evenly distributed on your body making you feel comfortable and safe, his arms bore the promise of not letting you go. The skin on his back was slightly uneven and a little bruised from your fingernails digging into it, and the potions master replied in kind on your hips and legs.

Thank goodness seventh years were not expected to turn up for breakfast today (and lunch neither in many cases), as you knew you wouldn’t be able to get up from this bed for many hours. Not that you’d want to. 

Waves of comfort and love were slowly rocking you to much-needed slumber.

However, Aesop’s voice brought you back a little. “Are you going to wear it?” he asked, voice soft and quiet, slightly raspy after your long night. His long digit stroked at your necklace delicately, occasionally moving to trace a path along your throat. “I might never take it off,” you replied honestly, looking down and seeking to connect your gazes. The potions master smiled, sincerely and genuinely, dark eyelashes fluttering softly in the dim light of coming morning and dying embers. He pulled himself up to connect your kiss-bruised lips once again, this time gently and tenderly, merely letting them brush, whispering soft ‘I love you’s in-between.

There in the early morning spent in the potions master’s comfortable bed, drinking his words of adoration, you were ready to face whatever the future may bring. As long as Aesop Sharp’s arms enfolded you in their embrace, you were ready for anything.

Hello, thank you very much for reading, I hope you enjoyed this little story. As always, you can find this work and all of my other works over on AO3. I'll be very grateful for your feedback! 💖