#and then who do i kiss!! how important is it to not double up classes in this one? like could i even romance neve as a mage?

[scalpelsister]

need more da news. ive resorted to long form lore videos of old lore. girl help.

[chrisisvbun]

little intern. matt murdock x ftm!reader.

synopsis: you, a lawyer intern, found matt, your boss, in his office at night.

cw: boss/intern dynamic, dom!matt, sub!reader, piv, possessive matt, innocent reader, age gap (matt is 30, reader is nineteen), slight fingering, riding.

words: 1.3k

a ten nsfw chapter series masterlist.

You were about to open your mouth but Matt spoke first.

"I know it's you, handsome." He smiled, taking off his glasses on the chair of his office.

The warm light of the desk lamp allowed you to see his loose tie, his wrinkled shirt, and some scratches on his eyebrow and cheekbone. He sighed, evidently tired.

"You know you don't have to stay this late, sweet, you still have classes in the morning." He rubbed his temple.

"I-I don't mind staying, Mr. Murdock, and classes start pretty late for me." You said, squeezing your forms on your chest. "A-a friend of mine found some archives that might be useful for your case, I just finished checking them." You spoke as you put down the archives.

He smiled almost proudly, his eyes never really finding yours. Beautiful, dead eyes that shined from that innocent nature they kept due to the fact they never got to see how hurt their world was.

"Workin' so good for us. I like that." You noticed how that 'us' was a 'me' that he swallowed. "Come closer to me, sugar." He made a little sign that made you get closer like he was magnetic.

You stood in front of his chest, your hands fidgeting behind your back, swallowing nervously.

"How are your studies going?" He got rid of his tie, folding it on his desk.

"G-good..." You blushed.

Matt was your boss, someone older than you, almost —that almost is important— double your age, a good lawyer, someone smart, kind, strong and very, very hot.

You couldn't help it, you couldn't help but to stare at his body, a part of you taking advantage of his blindness to roam your eyes over his body again and again and again.

You shook your head when you noticed that your answer was to vague. "I've been studying a lot, my grades keep getting better, t-thanks to everything I've learnt with you... a-and Mr. Nelson."

He chuckled softly. "I'm glad about it, sweetheart." He smiled up to you —to where he could partially tell your face was—. "Come closer, I won't bite." He sat straighter in his chair.

You swallowed, nervously stepping closer to him, standing next to him as he turned his chair to you.

"L-like this?" You said blushed.

He shook his head and patted his thigh. The mother fucker patted his thigh.

"C'mon, don't keep your boss waiting." He smirked.

You shivered at his words, shyly sitting on his knees. His hands ran through his thighs, trying to fins your waist. Once he found it, he pulled you closer, you gasped at the sudden feeling of the hardness on his jeans.

"Mr. Murdock..." You shivered.

"Yes, handsome?" He ran his hands through your back.

"I-I'm not sure how okay this is." You said shyly, he chuckled.

His hands moved back to your hips, one of them moving under your shirt and caressing your tummy, making you squirm.

"Shh, don't worry about a thing. I want that pretty mind of yours to focus on studying and me." I have pressed a gentle kiss on your collarbone, making you bite the inside part of your cheek, whimpering. "Is this okay, love?"

You nodded quickly. "Yeah..." You pronounced as you swallowed hard.

Matt knew that wasn't a good thing to do, he was your boss and you were only nineteen, a shy little boy who found his boss very hot, and he was taking advantage of that, he knew it. But even being catholic, he never considered himself a good man.

His hands moved to your back, running them up and down over your skin beneath your shirt until the hem of your binder.

"Are you gonna let me feel that pretty body of yours?" He purred as he peppered kisses over your collarbone and throat.

"Y-yes. Yes, Mr. Murdock." You whined quietly.

Matt pulled away. "C'mon, take it off." He ordered.

You couldn't not obey, he was your boss.

You unbuttoned your white shirt, throwing it on the office floor.

He noticed when you stopped moving. "Everything."

He wasn't even thinking of your comfort, of how that would make you feel, and God, that turned you on even more.

You unzipped your binder, sighing when breasts stretched free.

Matt's mouth instantly went to your chest, his hands roamed your stomach and the small of your back while his mouth worshipped your breasts, taking your nipples into his mouth and sucking from them.

"You feel so good..." Matt almost moaned against your tits, rubbing his face against them.

You were a whining, red mess, your face was burning hot while your lips were parted with whiny sounds that came out of it, and all of that while your brain tried to process the fact that you had your hot boss sucking your tits in his office.

With one swift move, he sat you on the edge of his desk, kissing your knees and thighs while his hands worked on taking off his belt and pants. You did the same with yours, pulling down your pants and Matt quickly moved a broad hand to the pit of your boxers, one rough pad rubbing your already wet clit. You sank your nails on his shoulders, not expecting that sudden touch, moaning out loud.

"So wet, handsome, is this all for me?" He smiled, rubbing harder. You couldn't answer, you were a mess, unable to pronounce anything other than whiny sounds with 'Mr. Murdock' in between of them. "C'mon, don't lie to me, is this cunt all mine, pretty boy?"

"Y-yes! Yes, M-mr. Murdock!" You moaned when he pressed your sweet button.

"That's a good boy." He groaned, biting the inside part of your thigh. "Take them off and come back here." He bossed.

Of course, you obeyed. Shyly but quickly, you removed your boxers, getting completely naked for him.

"Very good." He smiled again. You wouldn't lie, his praises were making you shiver, you thought you would come if you heard even one more little praise.

He moved you again to his bare lap, his pants all pressed on his ankles, his shirt open, and his cross necklace hanging from his neck. Your hands held his shoulders, squeezing them when you felt his cock hard between your bodies.

"Feeling how you got me? Huh?" He moved your hips, making you grind against his hardness. "This is every fucking day. How am I supposed to focus on work and on teaching you when you get me so freaking hard?"

You whined, desperately. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry, Mr. Murdock."

He shook his head, one hand moving to cup your cheek. "No, handsome, sorry isn't enough." He lifted your hips, making your slowly sink on his hard cock, your wetness making that smoother. Your eyes opened wide, you could feel his broad, fat cock spreading you open, warm and deliciously.

"You are gonna be mine, you got that? That pussy belongs to me, for me to use when I want." He moved his hips in circles, his veiny dick rubbing against your velvety walls. "Understood?"

"Uh-hum..." You whined out, hugging his neck.

He smiled when he heard your little whine, his hips slowly rocking upwards against your little wet cunt, you let out little cries as you felt him all over your tight walls that clenched around him, sucking him in.

"I almost can't move here, handsome, so freaking small and tight." He almost mocked you, kissing your chest softly. "You can't ride, can you? You can't even move."

He smiled, you were squeezing his shoulders as you tried your best to accommodate his length, but it was almost impossible.

"Just for tonight, I'll be doing the work, but we are gonna need some practice here, alright? I want you to ride me everytime, pretty boy, and I'll teach you all about it, my good little intern."

[temporarywelcome]

Babysitting - Spencer Reid

Word Count: 2.1k

Summary: JJ forgot about Girls' Night and needs a babysitter, Spencer offering up himself and his girlfriend for the task.

Warnings: swearing, girls's generation (oh no!). not even a warning but autistic!reid bc every reid is autistic!reid.

A/N: this can be 100% read stand alone but is technically part of my "Smooth Criminal" series.

____________

JJ was in a predicament. 

She was seated on the jet, on her way to an important case with the rest of the BAU, when Garcia reminded her of a salsa class the two of them and Prentiss signed up for, their activity for lady’s night.

“Dammit,” she sighed, head resting on her hand tiredly, “I forgot to get a sitter for Henry,”

“JJ, girl, I love you, but you better get that sitter, those classes are expensive,” Garcia said in disapproval. 

“Who? It’s tomorrow!” she exclaimed, feeling a lot of pressure on her, “How am I supposed to get a sitter in that amount of time?”

Spencer, who was speedily reading a book, looked up, “I can watch Henry,” 

“Uh, no,” JJ shook her head, “No offense, Spence, but have you ever taken care of a child before?”

He shrugged, “No, but I can read a few parenting books before we land? He is my godson, after all.”

“That sounds good enough to me,” Prentiss said eagerly.

“That’s because you’re not Henry’s mother,” JJ deadpanned.

“Would you have picked him as Henry’s godfather if you didn’t even trust him with the job?” asked Garcia. 

“Well, no,”

“Then let me do it!” Spencer said excitedly. What harm could it be?

“He could even ask Y/N to help him,” Morgan suggested from where he sat, eavesdropping on the conversation, “Double team,”

“Absolutely not,” JJ looked appalled at the idea, “Why the hell would I let a diagnosed kleptomaniac into my home?”

Now, Y/N had won over a few members of the BAU despite her past. From the beginning, Garcia was fine with Y/N (she was the one who blew up her backstory anyway), and soon Morgan and Prentiss came to accept her as Spencer’s girlfriend. Even Hotch didn’t mind her, due to her helping on a few cases, using her criminal record to their advantage.

JJ, on the other hand, was still quite iffy on her. Rossi was a whole other level, which seemed quite hypocritical, considering his own background.

So no, JJ did not want Y/N in her house.

“I can always pat her down before we go,” Spencer stated, like it were normal, “Make sure she doesn’t have anything in her pockets or bags,”

“How comforting,” JJ grumbled.

“JJ,” Garcia huffed, “Salsa class,”

A sigh left her, feeling a headache forming, “If she steals anything…”

“She won’t. Promise,” Spencer said, grinning.

________

“What the fuck, babe?” Y/N grumbled, placing down her Chinese takeout, “Babysitting?”

Spencer fiddled with the plastic fork that came with his food, cheeks going red, “It’ll be fun,” He already knew she was upset by how she called him babe and not baby. There’s a difference.

“I don’t even like kids,”

“Henry’s different! He’s a good kid!” he huffed, poking at his noodles. 

“He’s a kid, I don’t like them,” 

He pouted, placing down his food, “I like kids…” 

She groaned. This is going to be a difficult conversation in the future. “Can’t you ask someone else to help you?”

“I don’t want anyone else to help me,” he shot back. “Please?”

Y/N didn’t even know why she was trying to argue with him. She was already wrapped around his finger, he could ask anything of her and she would surely see it through. Just one look with those puppy dog eyes and she would fold. 

And there it was. He glanced at her bottom lip jutted out, brows furrowed adorably.

“Oh, fuck you,” she grumbled, planting a hand over her eyes, “No. I won’t do it.”

Spencer smiled, placing his food on the coffee table before scooting closer to her. He rested his chin on her shoulder, “Y/N,”

“Hell no,” 

“Y/N,” he kissed her neck lightly, nipping at the skin.

“I’m leaving the state,”

He rolled his eyes, planting a few more kisses along her neck, “Dramatic. No wonder you did theatre,” 

“I’ll leave right now,” she threatened.

Spencer’s smile grew, cute dimples showing, but Y/N couldn’t see with her eyes still covered. Spencer took her hand in his own and lowered it, other hand tapping the side of her chin expectantly. With a sigh, she turned to face him. All he did was give her that little smile.

She bit her lip, trying to contain herself, but the ghost of a smile graced her lips as she pecked his nose and sighed again dramatically, “Fine,”

_________

“Hey, Harry, I’m Y/N!”

JJ frowned, grabbing her purse, “Henry,” 

Y/N’s cheeks flushed and she awkwardly cleared her throat, scratching the back of her neck, “Ah. Henry.” she corrected, giving him a fake smile, “How ya doin’?”

Henry gave her a look for about half a second, before ignoring her and running to Spencer, “Uncle Spencer!” he giggled, stumbling over on his toddler legs. 

“Hey, kiddo,” Spencer kneeled down to Henry’s height to give him a hug, “What’s the plan for today, hm?”

“DORA!!!” 

Y/N jumped, a scowl immediately forming on her face. She noticed JJ giving her a look and she dropped the cranky face. 

“He’s quite… loud.” JJ said, looking at the imaginary watch on her wrist, “Well, gotta get going. Have fun. Don’t steal my valuables. Bye bye,” she ran off out the door. 

Once she was gone, Henry turned to Y/N and Spencer again. “DORAAAAA!”

“What the fuck,” Y/N grumbled, causing Spencer to elbow her in the ribs.

“No swearing in front of children,” he scolded. 

“FUCKKKK!” Henry shouted, scampering off to the living room. 

Y/N’s jaw dropped and she refused to meet Spencer’s glare. “Oops,” 

“We just got here,” Spencer sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. 

Henry yelled some more and Y/N groaned, “Baby, how the hell are we going to do this? I give you like three hours before you get overstimulated and then I have two monsters to deal with,” Spencer wasn’t a monster at all when he was overstimulated, he typically just gets a bit freaked out and needs to be alone in silence for a few hours. No, he wasn’t a monster, Y/N was just dramatic. 

“You’re not helpful at all,” he took a seat on the couch, wincing at Henry yelled some more, tackling him. 

“Holy fuck,” Y/N muttered to herself, but Henry perked up. The little gremlin smiled, cupping Spencer’s cheeks and yelling out a beautiful “FUCK!”.

Within twenty minutes, Spencer looked ready to explode. Henry had been all over him, yelling and being an absolute terror. Y/N was quite glad the kid left her alone, keeping her own distance. However, she noticed Spencer’s trembling hands and shot up.

“Alright, come here, Gremlin,” she scooped up Henry, who shrieked, giggling innocently. “Your Uncle Spencer needs a break.” she placed him down outside of the living area, “How about you show me your room?” she suggested. 

Henry processed what she said for a moment before smiling brightly and nodding, “Room!” he grasped her hand, leading her off to his room. Y/N looked over her shoulder, giggling to herself watching Spencer fall into a laying position on the couch like a domino. Poor baby.

Walking with Henry down the hallway, Y/N noticed different pictures on the walls. Her impulses told her to grab them and stuff as many as she could in her bag, but she had left the bag in the living room. 

She joked about it a lot, but being a klepto really sucked. 

Once in Henry’s room, she gulped, seeing all the small things she could scoop up and shove in her pockets. “Wow! Look at this!” Y/N said, trying to be as enthusiastically as possible. The room was dinosaur themed, and Henry made sure she knew it.

“Dinosaur!” he shouted.

“Alright, buddy, look,” Y/N sat down on the bed, patting the spot next to him. He sat next to her. “Uncle Spencer isn’t very good with loud noises,” she explained, “Especially after a long period of time. Being touched too much makes him uncomfortable too. It’s important to respect other people’s boundaries, okay?”

Henry blinked, confused. “What…”

Y/N sighed, “Leave Uncle Spencer alone,”

Maybe she should have worded it nicer.

Henry immediately burst into tears, “WHY!?”

“Shit,” Y/N’s eyes widened, “Hey, shh, it’s okay-”

“SHIT,” Henry repeated.

“No, no, no, don’t say that!” she said in panic, “Please stop crying! It’s okay! Look!” she grabbed a dinosaur toy from the floor, “Look! Raaah! Raah!”

“SHIT,” Henry shouted again. 

Well shit. 

“Oh no! The dinosaur’s gonna get me! Oh nooooo!” she made a whole show of getting eaten by the dinosaur toy. Henry was not amused. “Please stop crying before Spencer comes in here and banishes us to the Phantom Zone or something,” 

Henry continued to cry, and in a panic, Y/N shot up, beginning to do what she did best. 

Well, stealing is what she did best. 

So she did the second thing she did best. She danced. 

Henry continued to cry as she did her rendition of “Into the New World” by Girls’ Generation. After the first few moves, he stopped crying, looking at her with complete confusion in his innocent eyes. 

She let out a breath of release. He finally shut up.

After calming down Henry, she made her way back to the living room with him. “We’re turning this off,” she said, disinterested in Dora. She went to a music channel before dropping the remote, “Ah, much better.” 

Henry went straight to doing funky little dances while Y/N sat with Spencer. She already knew something was off. 

“Alright, what’s going?” she sighed, holding out her arms. 

He didn’t move. 

“Spencer,”

He huffed in response. Ah, Cranky Spencer™. 

Y/N sighed, “Scootch” she laid next to him, arms going around his waist, his back to her chest as he refused to look at her. “Too much goin’ on?” 

“I don’t think I’ll ever be a father,” 

Oh. Fuck. 

“Look, I know I’ve shown my disdain towards, uh, young humans, but you never know in the future. I might change my view on them. You might-” she babbled.

“I don’t think I’ll be good at it.”

Oh! Fuck. 

Y/N paused, processing his words, “Why? Henry loves ya,”

Spencer sighed softly, hand slowly setting atop hers, “I can’t even handle one for an hour,” 

“Ah,” she muttered, kissing the back of his neck lightly, “I mean, that’s what I’d be for, right? We would be a team. You need a break from the little Gremlin, I calm ‘em down,” 

“You’re not always going to be there though. We’ll both have to be alone with the child periodically.” he said quietly. He didn’t know where to look, so his eyes went to the TV, watching Britney Spears. Why did it feel like Britney was judging him? 

“I work at night anyway,” she shrugged, “When I’d be gone, it would be asleep anyway. If you’re out on a case, a sitter would do just fine with a sleeping kid,” 

“You don’t even like kids… I can’t imagine putting the responsibility on you.” 

“Hm,” she mused, petting his hair, “You’re right. I really don’t like kids. But things change. Who knows?” she sighed, “I guess this is a conversation we’re going to have soon, huh?”

“We probably should have had that conversation before we made it official,”

“Yeah,” Y/N agreed. “Probably… Too late now,” she didn't want to think about that awful-sounding conversation so she sat up, “Now up and at ‘em before you fall asleep and your contacts get all dried out,” 

__________

When JJ finally stumbled in home, it was a good two a.m. 

She had expected to come in to Y/N and Spencer sharing a glass of wine quietly on the couch, Henry tucked away asleep in his room. 

Instead, she was greeted with emptiness.

“Huh?” she slurred out drunkenly, shutting the door behind her, “Spencer! Y/N! Henry…?”

The door to her and Will’s room swung open, Henry strutting out in a ridiculous outfit, Y/N in tow. 

“Mama!” he exclaimed, running towards her, “Guess what?!” he pointed at Y/N, “She’s Jessica.”

“Let me guess,” JJ deadpanned, “Jessica from Girls’ Generation?” Pretty much everyone knew Y/N’s adoration towards Jessica Jung at this point, much to Spencer's embarrassment. 

“Hell yeah,” Y/N confirmed, “Spencer! C’mere,”

The door opened again, and Spencer shuffled out of the room in an equally ridiculous outfit. “Hi,” he said dryly, eyes on the ground. 

“Say it, baby,” Y/N told him. 

He grumbled, looking back at JJ in annoyance, already cranky enough, “Gee gee gee gee baby baby,” 

“Mama, I’m a dancer now,” Henry said proudly. 

“A natural,” Y/N confirmed, “A dramatic one too. You might have a theatre kid in your hands. Best of luck,” 

JJ sighed, watching Henry trip over the makeshift robe (she thought it was a robe) and hit the ground. “Thank you for telling me, Y/N,”

__________

I don't even listen to GG but I WILL insert them into every fic now.

Also inbox is open :)

[lilacura]

Halftime kisses | Nakamura Kazuha

pairing: nakamura kazuha x reader

>wc: 500

sypnosis: just fluff :3

Kazuha dribbled the football up and down the field, practicing her shots on goal as sweat poured down her face under the hot afternoon sun. Despite putting her all into practice, her mind kept drifting to the argument she had with Y/N earlier that day.

It had started off innocently enough, with Y/N reminding Kazuha that they had a big test coming up in their shared literature class. But when Kazuha mentioned she needed to stay late for football practice to prepare for their upcoming game, things quickly escalated.

"Your team isn't the only thing in your life, Kazuha!" Y/N had shouted accusingly. "We've barely seen each other this whole semester because you're always at practice. What about your studies? You're going to fail if you don't start focusing more on school."

Kazuha tried to defend herself, but her excuses just made Y/N more angry. In the end, Y/N stormed off without letting Kazuha get a word in edgewise. Now here she was at practice, mentally and physically kicking herself for prioritizing football over her girlfriend.

Just as she took another shot at the goal, Kazuha froze at the sound of upbeat cheering coming from the sidelines. She turned to see the cheerleading squad, including Y/N, running drills of their own at the far end of the field. Kazuha's heart sunk as she realized they must have accidentally double booked the field for practice.

With new determination, Kazuha resumed her drills with vigor, hoping to catch Y/N's attention. She dribbled at top speed, fired shots with laser precision, and showed off with fancier tricks than usual. But no matter how impressive her skills, Y/N refused to even look in her direction. It was clear Kazuha had some serious apologizing and making up to do.

When practice finally ended, Kazuha hurriedly chugged her water bottle before jogging over to the cheerleaders. "Y/N, can we talk?" she asked, slightly out of breath.

Y/N pretended not to hear, busying herself with rolling up her pom poms. Kazuha gently grabbed her arm. "Please, I'm sorry. You were right - I've been neglecting my studies to focus on football. But it's not because I don't care about you or our future together."

Slowly, Y/N turned to face Kazuha with a raised eyebrow, giving her a chance to explain. Kazuha took a deep breath. "Football is important to me, but so are you. I want to make you proud as much as I want to win games. Can you forgive me for losing sight of what really matters?"

For a long moment Y/N was silent, staring into Kazuha's earnest crimson eyes. Then finally, the ghost of a smile flickered on her lips. "I suppose I can find it in me to forgive you, on one condition."

"Anything," Kazuha said instantly.

"Study with me tonight. And no more late night practices without letting me know first, okay?"

Beaming, Kazuha nodded enthusiastically. "Deal! I promise, from now on you come first before any game.” She pulled Y/N into a hug, which was sweetly returned. All was forgiven between the star athlete and her cheerleader sweetheart, who both vowed to find a better balance going forward.

a/n: this was SOOOO rushed im so sorry if it sucks ass

[houseofbrat]

Submission: Cripes, can it get any worse?

Is there ANYONE in the KP organization who doesn’t have shit for brains? We’ve just seen her make a big fucking deal out of her “treatment,” to the point that she takes an entire year off from her schedule. Okay. Whatevs. But there is no mention of cancer support for her Christmas event AND, more tellingly, no mention of her FIL’s cancer diagnosis, that they are partners in their struggle with this disease. I’m starting to edge over into Team Fraud here. Google on how to treat pre-cancerous cells. What do you do? You exorcise them. In the worse case scenario, you do surgery. I didn’t see ANYTHING about an eight-month long chemo regimen. Again, I’ve said this before. Chemo kills cells. There is a reason who hold off on chemo unless it’s absolutely necessary. The very act of undergoiing chemo may cause cancer down the line.

I’m beginning to wonder if William isn’t caught between his father and his wife, hence the massive weight loss. Catherine flexes first by making Cancer Video #1 by not naming the BRF at all and then highlights HER family as her *only* means of support. Charles hits back with that piddly ass Order of the Companion–a total diss if ever there was one, she is the Princess of Wales for heaven’s sake. She retaliates with Cancer Video #2 by frolicking through the trees and pointedly DOES NOT mention her FIL. That video was a total mistake because if she’s able to romp on the sand dunes with the kids (and play paint ball, apparently), then why isn’t she back at her desk? Charles doesn’t have the time to frolick through the trees and sanddunes. He’s off DOING HIS JOB by visiting Australia and Samoa, looking like shit but still getting out there. He’s not playing painball, suffice it to say. He’s royaling. She’s doing what every upperclass matron who is a stay-at-home mom might be doing on a lazy Friday afternoon. Except she’s not you’re everyday uppermiddle class matron, now is she?

The Wales have done an excellent job in painting themselves as your everyday family, except they wear tiaras on the odd occasion, and yet they are royals. This allows them to spin the fantasy and endear us to them because they are just like you and me! Except their are not, and it’s clear to me that their entitlement is off the charts. When I was working, I wish I had something like 20 weeks of vacation a year. They can spin at least seven different stories about serious events and people say, oh, look, she’s so brave. If I were in a job and I told my employer why I’d decided not to work for a year and yet I wanted them to pay me my full salary, and told them seven different versions of why my pre-cancerous cells needed chemo when the HR head says emphatically there’s NO doctor’s validation that I’d had chemo, I’d be fired. Maybe she has been fired. Maybe she’s sick of being a royal. Maybe that’s the REAL illness. I actually don’t have a problem with that. Quit, Catherine, no one is holding your feet to the flames. What is unacceptable is this onslaught of PR rubbish that is making you out to be either a liar or plain stupid. As the Queen said, no half in and half out. 

How long can she milk this non-cancer/cancer thing? Another year? I think there is a real problem with someone like her because she appears to me to be a perfectionist and her public persona is very important to her (hair, make-up, etc. flawless), but she appears to be quite healthy (unlike her FIL, who does look like he’s undergoing chemo!), which starts to undermine her current PR message. Also, have you noticed that there is no comment from anyone other than the ass-kissing royal rota on William’s weight loss? If the tables were turned and William had announced he was undergoing chemo, I would damn well believe it. He looks like total shit. Nothing from Catherine about how William has been so worried about her, how she’s heaping his plate at night with a double helping of potatoes. Nothing. Nada. Zip. She’s letting him twist in the wind. As is the BRF, interestingly enough.

I am at the point where I don’t believe Camilla is really ill. I think she is sick of this sideshow and is doing her own flex. Perhaps I’m wrong. The person to watch is Anne, because that woman is her father’s daughter. ‘Nuff said.

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

Yup! I was stunned last night when I saw the “theme” of her Christmas concert.

But when you think of Kate’s work history--or lack thereof--it’s not that surprising. 

Kate worked part-time at Jigsaw, a clothing store, and worked for her parents’ company, Party Pieces. Never did she work full time for someone where she wasn’t cut slack. 

She reportedly got a week off of work at Jigsaw after she and William broke up one time, allegedly due to media intrusion. Allegedly, of course. I don’t know of anyone else I’ve known who has gotten a week off because their boyfriend broke up with them. But Kate did. When she worked with her parents, she could arrange her schedule how she liked and went on vacation with her parents to Mystique, with William in tow. 

How does Kate’s pre-royal work stack up against Maxima? Or Letizia? Or Masako? Or Mary of Denmark? Or Daniel? 

It doesn’t. 

She is a rich party girl whose only dream in life was to be a stay-at-home mom with an Aga. 

Are we really surprised that she’s too dumb to have the KP head of communications fired? Based on her work history, why should we surprised that she’s made moves that will tank her reputation permanently? What in her work life demonstrates that she knows the difference between valuable employees who need to be retained versus firing those who are incompetent and dangerous to the organization? Nothing!

Apparently everyone has forgotten how she was flashing people in India at outdoor engagements when it was windy! And that was when she had been a royal for FIVE YEARS!

Everyone in the Wales fandom needs to admit that Harry & Meghan were such a low bar that they made their faves--Will & Kate--look good even when their faves have always been problematic. 

As for Camilla, she was a heavy smoker for decades and was able to give it up from much pressure & encouragement from Charles. She is legit elderly at 77, and I am never surprised when a former heavy smoker comes down with lung issues or infections when they’re elderly. 

[thestressedsimmer]

February, 1316: Olde Platz Cathedral, Windenberg

Since his lover's incident, Walter of Guisborough has taken on a bulk of the preaching duties. It kept his plate very full, but he thinks the kingdom would do well hearing reminders (at least once a week) that they are to help each other through these trying times - he wonders if perhaps there are a few would-be bandits in his congregation that he is deterring from doing such a thing.

While he knows his stubborn optimism annoys his beloved, he cannot let himself fall into despair. The Watcher only allows calamities to teach a lesson. It will be alright in the end, so long as they keep their eyes open to learn that lesson.

He noticed after church, as he was cleaning up, that Lady Olive Glasse was there, looking. . . pensive. She was staring up at one of the many statues, seemingly lost in prayer.

"Is something the matter?" He asked, softly. But no matter how gentle his voice was, the woman almost jumped out of her skin.

"Oh. . . Hello, Father." She replied, her voice had an air of sadness to it. More sadness than he would expect from a woman whose family had been relatively untouched by the famine. "I am alright. I just have a lot on my mind."

That much was clear. But there was no point in making light right now. Instead, he gingerly gripped her shoulders and gave a light squeeze. "You know what helps with that? Some time in the confessional booth."

The offer seemed to lighten Olive's mood slightly and Walter swore he saw the ghost of a smile on her face. "Alright. If you have nothing more important to do."

"My Lady, there is nothing more important than helping one of my flock clear their conscience."

The confessional booth almost felt like another world. Insulated from everything else. Walter could not even see Olive anymore, it was just him and one candle to keep it from being pitch black.

"Forgive me Father for I have sinned, it has been far too long since my last confession."

That earned a quiet chuckle from him. But he didn't interrupt. He liked to allow the confessor to lead - unless they needed prodding from him.

At first, Olive's sins were mild. Irritation, sometimes being overly harsh with her children or a servant, missing her prayers for a day or two. . . But eventually, he heard something that brought him pause.

"I had an affair."

". . . Pardon?" He paused, leaning forward.

"Father, I --"

"Do not misunderstand, I am not judging as that is not my job, but I need the full story. When did this happen? With whom?"

"It was after we had our son. His name was Ulric."

"The serf Ulric? The one who passed last year?"

The silence stretched on for far too long and for a moment, Walter wondered if he pushed too hard and he would not get a full confession from her. But Olive eventually started to speak again.

"Yes. I was at the market one day and so was he. His wife had passed so he always had his daughter with him, clinging to his leg. She was the cutest little girl I had ever seen, the same age as mine." She went quiet, taking a deep breath. "Upton was away. And every time I spoke to Ulric, it was as if our two hearts were intertwined. As if my very soul called out his name. It was confusing, it was terrifying. . . But I also wanted to help his daughter. She needed female influence in her life. So for a long time, it felt like I was leading a double life.

When Upton was out on campaign, it was always easy. I would spend days there with Camilla and she would play with the children. When my husband came home, I would only go on weekends after church. It was. . . like a safe place. Away from the bustle of courtly life and duty."

"The only time we went past kissing was while I was pregnant with Ylving. I did not want to risk making Upton an unknowing father to a bastard child, I could not do that to him. Especially not of one so low class. I do love my husband, Father, it just is not the same fire. It isn't my soul that calls out for him, it's only my heart."

Ironically, Walter understood what she meant. His soul calls out for someone it shouldn't as well. It is impossible to resist that call, so that means it must come from the Watcher. Or he has to believe that, at least.

"But now he is gone. I do not know how to keep going without him and yet I have to. I have to love my husband, raise my children, and tend to our lands without him here. I think I could learn to live with only half of a soul, but how do I just abandon those children? They are alone and scared in a world that is withering in front of their very eyes."

"The answer is simple, My Lady. You cannot abandon them."

"But --"

If only she could see him fighting back a smile. This was a chance for him to do some good in the world. For people who would be abandoned and forgotten by even the church that vows to help them.

"For your penance, Olive, you are to watch over those children for as long as you are physically able."

The sigh from Olive sounded like one of relief. It was hard to tell as she was saying the act of contrition, but he thinks she was desperately looking for any way to take care of those children.

"Deinde, ego te absolvo a peccatis tuis in nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen."

[punkflower11]

Choose Your Own Adventure: Miles Morales - Part 4

Prev | Master List

————

"So, Hobie," Jefferson addresses the teen. "How are your parents?"

Miles whisked the fingers of his fork round his bowl, half-hardheartedly scooping grains of rice from the side of the dish. Currently wedged between his parents and fake Boyfriend, Miles sat present at the doom's day dinner. So far, the two parties seemed to be cooperating, but Miles knew better than to mix water with electricity and hope for the best.

"Great Chief, cemetery’s real comfy this time 'round year."

Sensitive topic right off the bat and Hobie was already pulling no punches. As a suffocating silence followed, Miles felt himself shift uncomfortably in his seat.

"Oh." Jefferson blinks. Then, "Sorry to hear that." Help.

Wasn't this was painfully awkward. Miles fixed his gaze on his table knife and began to silently contemplate the cons of ending it all.

"'S'fine mate." and it was, until Jefferson decided that Miles still hadn't suffered enough.

"Where do you live then?" What was this, twenty questions?

"Around." Hey, it could have been worse. Thankfully Hobie didn't seem too irritated by the inquiry. He could have instead gone What are you, a cop? in which, Jefferson would have to regretfully inform Hobie that he was in fact, a cop.

Oh god. Miles hadn't even thought of that. If Hobie knew that he was having dinner with a cop he would definitely flip his shit. No amount of damage control could save Miles from the ticking time bomb.

Yeah, he's screwed.

"Around where?"

Okay, was this guy for real?

"Dad, don’t."

"Why not? It's an important question." Rio cuts in.

"It's just, how is this even relevant?"

"Nah, s'alright." Hobie shrugs. "I live in and out of my brother's flat." Well Halle-fucking-lujah. Somebody give this man a medal. Savior of the stupid and very very unfortunate (See: Miles).

"And he's okay with all..." Jefferson gestures vaguely at Hobie's attire. "This?"

"'Course mate. Why wouldn't 'e be?"

"No reason, just-"

"Just what?"

"So Hobie," Rio swoops in, saving her husband. "Where did you meet Miles?"

Yes Miles, who is smiling sweetly at Hobie. Called it.

"Alchemax, uh we-" Miles begins to cough violently.

"…during a field trip."

"You and Miles are in the same class?" Miles' sees his Mom's eyebrows jump. Hobie scoffs.

"What, never seen a tall person before?" For that he kicks Hobie underneath the table. Hard.

"No. I was, ah, interning." Jefferson nods his head in pleasant surprise.

"That’s nice," He says. "Good to see you're focused on the future." He looks to Miles, who is trying his hardest not to roll his eyes.

"Are you in a gang?" Rio asks abruptly.

"What? No he’s not! Woman who do you think he is?"

"To be fair love, if I was I then probably wouldn’t tell you." Hobie points out.

"Not helping Hobie." Surrendering, the other picks up his spoon.

"What about a band? You look like you're in a band."

"Sometimes." Hobie replies thoughtfully through a mouth full of food.

"Oh? What do you play?"

"Men."

"What?"

Midway through a drumstick, Miles chokes.

"…but usually guitar." Smooth recovery.

"Edgy. I played trombone in high school."

Satisfied, Rio then turns to Jefferson.

"How was work today?"

"Slow. There was a chase on 49th, but it ended pretty quick."

And just because the universe was a fucking jerk:

"Hold on," Oh no.

"You're a cop?" Shit.

"Yeah, didn't Miles tell you?" Double Shit.

Any hope that the two would get along had quickly been eradicated. The only thing that Hobie hated more than a corrupt government were the people running the corrupt government. No way in hell was he was letting this go.

Astonished, Hobie looked at the man in disbelief. Before he could start on the other, Miles took action.

Okay, time to diffuse this conversation.

[rozonrozark]

I was wondering

1-Does Marinette invents new powers all by herself or she alredy knew their possibilities somehow (and never mentioned that to kwamis because they seem suprised)

2-Soo about Nadja's plans, will she really sucessfully bring Misterbug and Cheshire to her show? Its been years since i seen that episode but i remember her being akumatised because it didnt go acording to plan. (i guess she showed the picture of them kissing and...?)

3-What are your plans on Lila? Will she stay in background or became someone important to story?

4-Adult Alix seems very very worried about Bread and she talks about how she will pay her back... im assuming something very very wrong happened to Bread or Alix just feels really guilty. (It also confirms she will know her identity in the future. Is it due to her job or at one time she revealed herself or got revealed? oh no)

5-Considering lack of humans in her life, would it be too much of a exaggerate to believe that Mari didnt interact with anyone who isnt a kwami for days at some point?

6-Its more like wanting some sweet karma but when the fuck will Cloe exiled to literally anywhere else? And what about rest of the class? Seeing them comotose in captured au was a balm to my soul. Also, does Mari knows she can teleport Cloe to noth pole and get away with it? Im sure as hell at least half of kwamis would cheer on her.

8-Mari isnt a cat and that probably means she is a bug but what if she is something else? I really can't come with any ideas but thats interesting as heck.

9-If bonding with your kwami in long term means you gain similar traits from them, assuming Bread keeps Plag for much longer does that means she will be much more like cat like? Will she hate showering? Will she knock of stuff from tables? Will she develop heavy preferance to meat? Will she develop claws???

1: For the most part she knew that there were other powers based on the theories of her ancestor. But the powers she came up with that surprised the kwamies were the ones that should have been impossible. Like, the Black Storm Dragon that was a fusion of two kwamies powers.

2: Nadja's plan in this AU will come about but unlike in the Cannon, where they kept pushing for higher ratings, there is no concern for the same thing to get to her.

3: She is the Starscream, that is all I will say.

4: Alix is concerned about Mari because she hates everything that happened to her BEST friend. I will not say if anything else bad will happen to Mari just that she will be getting some positive development. Now as for how she will learn the cat's identity, that is something to be found out.

5: Now what do you count as Marinette having human contact? Becuase Cheshire would have regular human contact thanks to patrols and other such. Marinette though... She does have contact with her parents through texts and phone calls. Let that just say what you want.

6: The various kwami have pointed out what they could do but Marinette has passed on them. After all the miraculous need to be used for the betterment of humanity.

7: I just double checked and you skipped this number. I don't say that to be mean I just found it funny :D

8: I have honstly been thinking about what Mari could have been. Either a Bug or a Fox. Both are creative and she would work well with either.

9: She will become more cat but as for claws and the like? Those kinda changes will only come about due to over-using Catalyst.

[maybeimamuppet]

picking teams- chapter 14: cady

hello everyone!! boo surprise sunday post!! because!! TODAY IS MY THIRD WRITING BIRTHDAY WOOOOOO!

today three years ago i posted my first ever oneshot (i think technically it was on the 4 bc it was late at night but the intention was to be today so i’m sticking with the 3). i can honestly say i was expecting NOBODY to read anything of mine and that this would be something i did for maybe a few months and then dropped like all my other hobbies.

and here we are three years later! so i’d just like to say a huge thank you to everyone who’s supported me through this little journey over the last three years. i feel like i really have a community and a little family here. i appreciate every single pair of eyeballs that has ever laid eyes on a fic of mine, whether you comment and i get to know who you are or you’re just a lurker. whether you’re new or you’ve been here the whole time. thank you from the bottom of my heart for being here for and with me <3

anyhoo! mushy stuff over for now lol please enjoy this chapter :)

tw for

broken bones

and as always if i missed something please let me know so i can add it in!

——————

Cady goes back to school that Wednesday.

Her parents let her have one more day off to recover and finish the homework she had been putting off. Cady's still not feeling 100% after her episode, as Janis put it, but she can't afford to miss any more school. Or cheer practice. She's gotten more than a few threatening texts from Regina.

She runs into Janis briefly going into homeroom, since it's in the same classroom as Janis' first period. She smiles, mostly at the ground, and Janis surreptitiously brushes her hand against Cady's and gently links their fingers together before walking off like nothing happened.

Cady blushes furiously and heads to her seat. She hunches in on herself to scribble something on a piece of notebook paper she rips off and folds up. She's so focused on making sure nobody sees what she's writing that she almost misses Ms. Norbury trying to take attendance.

"Cady. Caaaady. Heron. Hello."

"Wh- oh, uh, here," she stutters. Ms. Norbury arches an eyebrow and ticks her off on her computer. Cady trills her lips and tucks the paper into her pocket.

"Glad to have you back, Cady," she says once the bell rings.

"Thanks! Uh, see you this afternoon!" Cady says, rushing out the door. They already don't have much time to get from class to class, and she has a stop to make this time.

She tries to act like she's just leaning casually against the wall and she doesn't have to be across the building in two minutes. Once she looks around to double check nobody is watching, she carefully slips the note between the slats in Janis' locker and rushes off to her class.

Hopefully she gets it.

—-

Cady looks up from her phone in fright when she hears a murmured, "Hey, sweet thing."

Janis is peeking around the corner of the bleachers, lunch in hand and a confused look on her face. Cady spotted this during a rainy-day indoor practice last week. The bleachers are completely solid, so nobody can see in. "Did anyone follow you? See you?"

"Nobody important," Janis shrugs as she puts her food down. "Whatcha doing?"

Cady sighs in relief upon hearing confirmation that nobody will see them together. She leans in for a kiss and gets a sweet little peck. "I want to have lunch with you! It's like our own little place!"

"That it is," Janis agrees with a chuckle. "How's your day been?"

"Good! I got a hundred on my math test," Cady says happily.

"Of course you did," Janis laughs. "What'd you tell Regina?"

"About what?"

"Where you are," Janis says as she takes a bite of her... probably turkey sandwich. Cady's eyes widen. Shit.

"I... didn't tell her anything," she says quietly.

Janis quirks an eyebrow. "Better come up with something quick."

"Why?"

"She's gonna grill you like a war interrogator," Janis snorts.

Shit. She's right. "Uh... um..."

"Just tell her you skipped lunch," Janis shrugs.

"Skipped it?" Cady asks.

Janis shrugs again. "I dunno. That'd probably work."

"I'll think of something," Cady hums, pursing her lips and taking an exasperated bite out of her celery stick. Janis smiles at her like she's some cute little animal.

"So... any particular reason you're slipping notes into my locker and sneaking around with me behind the bleachers?" Janis says with a smirk as she scoots a little closer to Cady.

Cady groans as she's suddenly reminded why she had done this. "I have to go to Regina's after school. We're having a costume fitting for the holiday parade."

Janis looks at her oddly. "You're in the parade?"

Cady nods eagerly. "Mmhmm! I get to be an acro elf!"

"A what?" Janis giggles.

"I get to dress as an elf and do tumbling and acrobatic stuff next to Santa's float!"

"Oh," Janis says. "Stevie loves that one. I didn't know it was us."

"They choose the best cheer team in the region to do it. Apparently this is the first time in, like, ten years that it's been North Shore," Cady explains.

Janis snorts. "That makes more sense."

"I'm really excited. But I have to spend a lot of time with the Plastics, I won't have as much time free after school," Cady says apologetically.

Janis shrugs. "It's just a parade. Once it's done your schedule will calm down a bit and we can spend more time together again. Not like we're breaking up."

Cady giggles. "I still have my knight in shining armor to come save me from the Plastics if I beckon her."

"Damn right you do," Janis smirks, leaning in for a kiss.

Cady happily leans in too, smiling to herself as their lips touch. She's suddenly very glad she totally ate it at their last practice and spied this hideout behind the bleachers from the ground.

"Might need to save you already," Janis hums as they pull apart, looking Cady up and down with a small grimace.

Cady sheepishly looks down at her bright pink crop top she'd decided to wear today. She tugs at her collar, suddenly self-conscious. "You don't like it?"

"No, no, you look cute," Janis says. Something in her tone tells Cady it's a half-truth at best. Oh well.

“Thanks," she says. Janis takes another bite of her sandwich and sprawls on the hard floor of the gym with her head on Cady's lap.

"Oh, get this- my math class this morning," she says. Cady tunes out almost immediately, stroking some stray hairs away from Janis' forehead and just watching her mouth move. It's probably nothing important. God, she's gorgeous.

What is she going to tell Regina?

I got sick- ew, no.

I had to talk to a teacher- too easy to mess up if she comes from the wrong direction. They'd get suspicious too easily.

I- oh, fuck it, I'll think of something.

She continues munching on her lunch and half-listening to Janis speak. Janis doesn't seem to notice or care one way or the other. Cady smiles and pulls out her phone to check her messages. She thinks of something then.

"And then-"

"Have you... told anyone about us?"

Janis pauses mid-sentence. "No."

"Not even Damian?" Cady asks shyly.

Janis shakes her head. "I kinda still don't believe it myself. I wanted to keep it to myself for a while."

"You don't wanna tell people?" Cady asks with a frown.

"No! No, I do. Some people," Janis says. "I just wanted it to stay between us for a little bit. And I figured I should check with you before I told anyone. But I'd be fine telling a few people now."

"Oh," Cady says.

"Do you want to?" Janis asks, sitting up and brushing her hair out of her face. Cady thinks for a moment before she nods.

"We should probably tell Damian, at least. He'll find out sooner or later anyway."

Janis sighs. "True."

"You don't want to?"

"No, I'm just preparing myself," Janis says, looking at Cady out of the corner of her eye with a small grin. "Might as well get it over with, I guess. C'mere."

Cady frowns in confusion and scoots closer. Janis pulls out her phone, opens the camera, and leans in. Cady catches on and gently rests a hand on Janis' cheek, smiling into a sweet kiss. She can feel Janis smiling too as she hears the camera shutter snap and they break apart. Janis sneaks a quick peck to Cady's nose, making her blink in shock and giggle quietly.

Janis opens her text conversation with Damian and types out a message. Cady hugs her arm and leans in over her shoulder to read it.

snarkisian: hey babe

cupboard: whaaaaaat do you want

snarkisian: Sent a photo: things have developed

Janis' phone starts ringing almost immediately. Janis frowns at it as Damian's contact photo fills the screen and it buzzes in her hand, but she hits the green button and the speaker so they can both hear.

As soon as she does, a piercing shriek rings out from the speakers. It's loud enough that Cady practically feels her brain dislodge and start rattling around in her head. She thinks she might've heard him all the way from the cafeteria, too.

As soon as that happens, he hangs up. Janis and Cady both blink at the screen for a moment before bursting into hysterical laughter.

"I don't know what I was expecting," Janis sighs affectionately as she slips her phone back into her pocket. Cady feels her own buzz against her leg and pulls it out to see several incoming texts from Damian that mainly consist of ABSKEOWIWHWJWJABDHWOWOA.

She clocks the time, then, and jumps. "Oh, shit!"

Janis startles. "What?"

"I have to go, lunch is almost over," Cady says, frantically packing up her things. "Bye babe. See you later."

Janis blinks in surprise, but returns the quick kiss Cady gives her before Cady goes rushing off. She has to find Regina before the bell rings. Not that Regina has ever felt much urge to listen to the bell.

She tries to think of an excuse as she hurries through the halls towards the cafeteria. Nothing really comes to her. She skids to a halt next to some sort of booth when she sees Regina and Aaron standing close to it.

"Hey!" she greets brightly after smoothing down her hair and adjusting her shirt. They both look at her. Aaron quirks his head when he sees what she's wearing, but he gets a faint smile.

Regina checks her nails and says, "Hey. Where have you been?"

"Oh, um..." Cady says. Shit. She wracks her brain trying to think of something. What did Janis say? "I skipped lunch."

Regina cocks an eyebrow. "Why?"

Cady smiles as she puts the pieces together. "I'm... trying to lose weight. So I look more like you guys. I just had one of these diet bars."

"Diet bars?" Regina questions. "Let me see."

Cady happily hands over the whole box of Kälteens. Regina holds it between her hands to try to read. Aaron peeks over her shoulder to try to see too.

"It's all in Norwegian or something," Regina says, looking at Cady in confusion.

"Swedish," Cady corrects before she can stop herself. "There's... um... this ingredient in them that you can't get here yet. My mom used to use them to lose weight in Kenya."

"Hm," Regina nods. "Can I keep these?"

"Sure!" Cady says brightly. She has a feeling Regina would've kept them even if she said no. Works for me.

"Now, are you getting me my candy cane?" Regina hums. Cady frowns in confusion before she realizes she's talking to Aaron.

"What happened to losing weight, those things are pure sugar," Aaron chuckles. Regina brushes his hair off his forehead and runs her fingers through it so it stays out of his face.

"But it's such a nice thing to do for your girlfriend," she pouts. "And stop pulling your hair down, you look so hot with it pushed back. Don't you think so, Cady?"

"Huh? Oh, uh, yeah, way hotter," Cady says. Two months ago that would've made Cady want to go for the jugular. Now? She couldn't care less.

Aaron sighs and begrudgingly leaves his hair the way Regina sort of styled it. "Alright, move over, since you so desperately need this candy cane."

He leans over the booth selling them to fill out one of the paper slips that'll eventually get tied to a candy cane and passed out in class. Cady giggles into her hand when she realizes Damian is the one in the budget Santa Claus costume behind the booth.

"Cady, remember, student parking lot after school," Regina says as she laces her pink-taloned fingers through Aaron's and leads him off to... wherever they're going. Most definitely not class.

"Got it! Bye," she says. She can feel her face relax as soon as they're turned around and can't see her anymore. Cady goes to the booth and leans across it. "Hi Dame."

"Ho ho ho, happy holidays! Would you like a candy cane?" 'Santa' replies. Cady laughs again.

"Hey, does Regina ever send any of these things?" she asks.

"Nah, she only gets them," Damian replies in his normal voice. "You want any?"

"One please," Cady replies, taking a pen with a smirk on her face.

—————

Cady sighs a little to herself as she follows Regina and the others into her house. Gretchen and Karen chat with Regina's mom. Regina huffs and rolls her eyes, straight off to her bedroom. Cady says a quick and polite hello and takes a handful of the offered snacks. She nibbles on the sunflower seeds while she mulls over what to do next.

Regina took the bars. As long as nobody recognizes them, she should be in the clear there. How can she make them work faster? Kälteens do work quickly, but Cady wants results as soon as possible. For Janis.

What makes you gain weight quickly? Cholesterol, but Cady doesn't want to do anything permanent. This is just to teach Regina a lesson, then she can lose the weight again. Sugar? Yeah. Carbs.

Cady smiles to herself as she puts a plan in place.

"Alright, you girls go find Regina. You'll do great," Mrs. George says after however long. Cady jumps when she remembers where she is.

"Thank you, Mrs. George," she calls as she goes running after Gretchen and Karen up to Regina's room.

"You're welcome!" the woman calls after them.

Regina tosses a hanger at her as soon as Cady walks into the room. "Here. I know, the costumes are fugly."

"I think they're kinda cute," Cady says, holding the outfit out so she can see it all.

"The hat has fucking jingle bells on the top, Cady," Regina huffs, handing Cady hers. She shakes it a little bit, and sure enough, there's a quiet jingling. "Go make sure it fits, but we really just need to work on making sure the hat doesn't hit the ground or fall off while you tumble."

"Okay," Cady says. Gretchen and Karen just changed in front of each other, but Cady sneaks off to the en-suite and locks the door behind her. She looks at herself in the mirror and takes a deep breath.

Janis was right, I do look Plastic, she thinks. Cute, though. Her loss.

She carefully takes off her clothes and tugs on the red-and-white striped tights. She has to jump to get the super stretchy material all the way up, but she manages with only one faceplant. Then comes the green dress, with gold buttons down the bodice, short sleeves with puffed shoulders, a belt at her waist, and red and gold trim around the hem with a collar to match.

It's not a great fit. Hesitantly, she unlocks the door and steps back into Regina's room with an, "Um."

Regina looks at her and laughs. "I kinda thought that would happen, these costumes are all huge. I swear they think we're all fat cows or something. My mom will tailor it for you."

Cady looks down at the very strangely fitting dress. There's a lot of space in between her belly and the dress, and not a lot in between it and her boobs. The skirt hits about mid-thigh, which is entirely too long, if Gretchen and Karen's are anything to go by. The sleeves are both uncomfortably tight in her armpits and loose everywhere else.

Other than that, it's great. At least the tights fit.

"Go change again, she'll get your measurements before you leave."

Cady nods and slips gratefully back into the restroom. She snaps a quick picture before she changes and sends it to Janis.

She's stuck with the dress over her head when she hears her phone go off, presumably with Janis' answer. She wriggles more in a ditch attempt to free herself, which gets her nowhere even faster.

Eventually, she escapes, heaving for breath and her hair all frizzy. She peels off the tights and puts on her non-elf clothes. Regina takes the hanger as she passes her on her way into her bathroom while Cady is occupied checking her phone.

jayjay: cutie

cadygirl: You like it?

jayjay: ofc i do

jayjay: my dorky little elf

cadygirl: Hey!

jayjay: do u get ears and shit

cadygirl: Yeah

cadygirl: Regina's really mad about it

jayjay: holy shit that's amazing

jayjay: reginald in elf ears

cadygirl: I don't get it I think they're cute

jayjay: i think ur cute

"Who are you texting?" Karen asks. Cady leaps a solid foot in the air as she materializes over her shoulder. "Not enough emojis."

"Um..." Cady stutters. Her immediate instinct was to blush and press her phone to her chest so they can't see. Now Gretchen and Karen are both looking at her suspiciously. "Uh... my... g- boyfriend."

"Boyfriend?!" Gretchen squeals sharply. "You can't get a boyfriend without telling us!"

"I can't?"

"Not without your best friends' approval! You wouldn't buy a skirt without asking your friends if it looks good on you," Gretchen hums.

"I wouldn't?" Cady replies in confusion.

"Exactly!"

Cady just blinks.

"So who is it?" Karen asks eagerly.

"Oh, you don't know him," Cady says immediately. Because it's not a him. It's not technically a lie. Right?

"He's not, like, thirty, right?" Gretchen asks in concern, the furrow in her brow deepening the longer Cady goes without answering.

"No! No, ew," Cady replies with a grimace. "Uh... he... goes to another school."

"Which one?"

"Um... do you remember that school we played right before Thanksgiving break? The away game when we stayed at the hotel?"

"Roosevelt?" Gretchen asks. Sure.

"Yeah. He goes there," Cady replies. "His name is... Jasin. With... an I."

"Ooh, unique!" Gretchen coos. "Is he cute? You have to introduce us soon!"

"Well, I don't think he's... everyone's type, but I think he's cute," Cady replies sheepishly.

"Aww, you're blushing!" Karen says. Cady blushes harder.

"Shut up," she scoffs. Karen's face falls. "No, wait, I didn't mean it like that-"

"It's okay," Karen says quietly.

"I'm really sorry, Kare," Cady says. Karen gives her a look Cady can't read. Not that Karen is ever easy to read.

"Don't worry about it."

Cady gently squeezes her arm. Karen smiles faintly at her.

"Do you have pictures of him?" Gretchen asks eagerly.

"No," Cady says immediately. "Uh... he's really shy, we don't, like, send pictures of ourselves much. We just like to see each other in person and text and stuff."

"Aww," they both coo. Gretchen continues, "Well, get one soon! We gotta make sure he's hot enough for you."

"I'll try," Cady giggles. "Oh, could we like... not tell Regina right away? It's all new, still, I don't want her to freak out about our image if we break up or whatever. We've only been together for, like, two weeks."

"Our lips are sealed," Gretchen replies immediately.

"But I'm not using SuperGlue as Chapstick again," Karen adds.

"No, that's okay, K, don't do that," Cady says immediately. "Thanks guys."

"Alright sluts, put on these... eugh. I can't even call them hats," Regina says as she parades back into the room. She chucks one at each of them rather aggressively. Cady's ends up hitting her full force in the face when she's too slow to react.

Regina watches as the three of them carefully push all her very expensive furniture out of the way so they have enough room to flip without fear of crashing into anything. Cady asks why they're not just practicing outside, and Regina goes on a solid ten minute rant about being seen in those costumes more than they have to. Cady doesn't speak for the rest of the evening.

—————

"Did Regina's boobs get bigger?" Cady hears the boy behind her in chemistry class ask about two weeks later, apparently as a conversation opener with his equally-jock-douchebag lab partner.

"Dude, totally," jock-douchebag replies. "Aaron's a lucky guy."

"Isn't she still dogging Shane?" bro number one asks. Cady tries to hide a shudder at the mention of his name.

Bro the second shrugs. "Probably."

Dammit, we made her hotter, Cady huffs to herself as she slides her goggles down over her eyes and turns on the bunsen burner. She looks over and sees Janis with a similarly disgruntled look on her face.

She gestures subtly for Cady to focus. Cady snaps back into the real world, this time before she can set herself on fire. She risks one glance back and sees Janis chuckle to herself, biting her lips to stop before anyone can see and ask what she's laughing about. Cady smiles to herself and buckles down to set some Doritos on fire. Not myself, thank you very much.

—————

Cady is laser focused in calculus another two weeks later. Not on calculus, but... she's there, it's fine.

She jumps and bangs her knee against her desk when Santa Claus slams the door open with a bellowed, "HHHHHOOOOO!"

"Jesus Christ," Ms. Norbury sighs, picking up her shattered chalk bits after she dropped it in shock. "Make it quick."

"One candy cane gram for Shane Oman," Damian says, adjusting his very poor quality fake beard as he hands Shane his candy cane.

He holds it between his first and index fingers like a pair of dirty underpants and leaves Shane to snatch it. Damian wipes his hand on his red velvet Santa coat like Shane has some sort of hetero cooties he might catch.

"Four for Glenn Coco!" Damian continues. "Hohoho, you go, Glenn Coco. Two for Caddy Heron!"

Cady frowns in confusion. Two? She only bought one. She takes them with a smile as Damian wiggles his way between the rows to deliver them. "Thanks, D."

Damian winks at her and moves on to deliver the next few candy canes to the lucky recipients.

Cady checks the tags on hers. There's the fake one, the one she wrote herself. She smiles to herself as she reads the little red slip of paper on the second one.

Merry Christmas my little elf

<3, J

ps ur short lolololol

She rolls her eyes as she reads the very loving message from her girlfriend and unwraps the end of the candy cane. She sucks on it as she continues pretending to pay attention when Damian leaves and Ms. Norbury can resume her lesson.

——

"Sorry I'm late!" she pretend-puffs as she stumbles her way into the gym. Regina just glares at her from across the room, but Gretchen comes scrambling over to join her as she plops her still-open bag on the ground. "God, I was in the middle of a problem when the bell rang, I didn't even have time to get packed up-"

"You got a candy cane?" Gretchen asks softly. She picks it up and unfolds the tag to read.

"Oh, yeah, Regina sent me one! Isn't she just the best friend?"

"R-Regina?" Gretchen squeaks. "Thanks for being such a great best friend. ...Cute."

"She didn't give you one?" Cady asks with faux-sympathy. She's heard it from the mouth of the lioness herself. There's no way Gretchen got any.

Gretchen shakes her head frantically. "She never sends them."

"Oh. Weird," Cady replies. "Well, you can have that one if you want. I had another one."

"I have to go," Gretchen chokes around floods of tears. Shit. Maybe Gretchen is a little more fragile than she thought.

"Gretchen," she says pleadingly, running after her friend to the bathroom.

"Well, i-if you and Regina are best friends now... then you can be in charge of keeping all her secrets," Gretchen says as soon as the door closes behind Cady.

Cady just nods. She can tell Gretchen is about to ramble, she doesn't dare interrupt her.

"Like, for example, she bought you those shoes just to make fun of you! Be-because she knew you wouldn't be able to walk in them. And she's not really blonde!"

Cady's eyes widen. She's not? Her eyes flick to the door as she hears a shocked gasp come from the other side. Was that... Damian?

"Her natural color is dark blonde. Also she totally cheats on Aaron!"

Cady almost chokes.

"Every Thursday she says she has a cheer intensive but she totally just stays behind to hook up with Shane Oman in the lion costume!"

"She makes him wear the costume?" Cady asks in disgusted horror.

"No! They're both in the costume!" Gretchen bellows, snapping the candy cane in half and dropping the pieces to the floor. Cady's jaw drops.

"Oh my god."

"And I never told anyone because I am such a good friend! I-I'm gonna go fill up my water bottle. Cover for me?" Gretchen sniffles. Cady nods.

Gretchen ducks out of the room. Damian enters before the door even closes, and Janis slams her way out of the stall. Damian hysterically whimpers, "I wear that costume!"

"Cads, that was amazing! What did you do?!" Janis says with an adorably delighted smile on her face. She rushes up and grabs Cady by the arms, spinning her around before she leans in for a kiss.

"Just a little Christmas magic," Cady responds with a grin of her own as soon as they break apart. "I sent myself a candy cane but I signed it as being from Regina."

"Clever girl," Janis coos in a horrible accent. Cady giggles.

"Okay, I gotta go! Love you guys." Janis gets another kiss and Damian gets a quick hug before Cady runs back to the gym to start their last parade practice.

————-

Cady grumbles as she wakes up the next morning. It's barely morning, the sun hasn't even risen yet. She has to be in the city, an hour away, two hours before the parade starts at 8:00. And she has to be there with her hair and makeup already done.

She does consider herself a morning person, but four in the morning is a bit much for anyone.

She grumbles as she hauls herself out of bed and stumbles to the restroom. She turns on the light and resists the urge to wince and close her eyes. How am I meant to be a jolly elf on five hours of sleep?

Cady opens her eyes extra wide, looking a little past unhinged when she sees herself in the mirror, to let the light in and hopefully wake her up.

By the time she's done brushing her teeth, she doesn't squint in the light anymore. She still grumbles sleepily as she washes her face, though.

She brings up the photo Regina sent (accompanied by many profanities) of what her makeup should look like so she can copy it. It's honestly not very different from her usual cheer makeup. Foundation, lots of gold eyeshadow, black mascara, red lipstick. Pretty much the only difference is the bright pink blush that she leaves in neat little circles on the apples of her cheeks instead of blending it up her cheekbones to look more natural. It's a little more rag doll than elf, but maybe it'll work better with the costume on.

She does her hair in two french braids, parted as close to even as she can get down the middle of her head and twisted intricately so they won't fall out after a morning of being mostly upside-down. She gives up on each braid a bit before the end, and ties the bands around halfway down instead of at the ends. Kind of a cute look, she thinks, as she fluffs out her curls at the end of each braid.

"You ready, binti? Have a Kälteen bar," her mother says when she trudges her way downstairs. Cady grabs the bar and takes a disgruntled bite out of it. She nods.

"You're sure this Regina friend can bring you home? We have to leave right from-"

"Right from the parade, I know, Dad," Cady says. "I quadruple checked, I'll make it home fine. Have fun at the vet conference."

"Oh, we will," her mother promises. "There's a keynote speaker on upgrades in euthanasia technology."

"...Cool," Cady replies.

"Right?! Alright, go get in the car. You sure you have everything?"

"Yeah. Regina has my outfit, I'll get changed there," Cady says. She looks down and brushes some wrinkles out of her Christmas jammies that Janis bought her. She smiles at the memory. My little dork.

"Time to hit the road, then!" her dad says. Cady shrieks as he hoists her off the ground and marches out towards the car.

"Dad!"

Her dad just starts bellowing the chorus to I Love a Parade, probably really irritating their poor neighbors. Cady gets affectionately tossed in the backseat, and her dad continues singing as her parents get into their spots up front and start the drive to Chicago.

————-

"Binti, we're here," her mother says. Cady jumps and snorts, bashing her head against the window she had fallen asleep against. "Ooh, be careful."

"Shit," Cady hisses under her breath, rubbing her new sore spot.

"Language," her dad chides, only half-serious.

"Sorry daddy. Have fun in Peoria. I love you," Cady says, bending at a weird angle to hug her parents goodbye. They can only stay long enough to see the beginning of the parade, so she has to get her goodbyes in now.

"We will. Be safe, have fun. No boys," her mother says, gently patting her back.

"I know, I know. You don't have to worry about that," Cady chuckles. Really. You have no idea.

"Atta girl. Go get em, tiger," her dad says, opening the door for her and sending her out. "Love you!"

"Yeah, love you too," Cady says, briefly walking backwards to talk to them. She gives them a final wave before she turns around and starts running to her team's meeting spot. "Yeesh. I'm sixteen."

Regina, once again, chucks her costume at her as soon as she's within sight. Cady manages to catch it this time, and looks around for somewhere private to change. The only place is behind some trees, so she heads that way.

Regina's mom is a talented seamstress and tailored Cady's costume to fit her perfectly. Almost too perfectly. It's so tight against her chest and her belly that she can barely breathe, and the skirt juuuuust barely passes her bum. The candy cane-esque tights are all she has left to protect her modesty.

The shoes with pointy toes and jingle bells are a recent addition, and she jangles her way back over to her friends. "Hey."

"Hey!" Karen greets, too brightly for six in the morning.

"Are your costumes, like, really tight?" Regina huffs, shifting her arms around to try to stretch the fabric a little. "They were huge, my mom can't have fucked up the tailoring this bad."

"Mine's okay," Cady shrugs. Her hat jingles for emphasis.

"Ugh, I'm gonna go see if she has any safety pins," Regina grumbles. Cady's phone pings as she stomps off through the frost-covered grass.

jayjay: good mornin buttercup

cadygirl: >:|

jayjay: what ?

jayjay: not a good morning??

cadygirl: Sent a picture: It's 6 in the morning and I look like this

cadygirl: And I'm cold >:|

jayjay: aww

jayjay: someone's grumpy

cadygirl: Yeah >:||||

jayjay: steve and i will be there to see you

cadygirl: Yaaaaay 🥰🥰

jayjay: that easy to cheer you up huh

cadygirl: It'd be even easier if you bring me food

jayjay: little conwoman

cadygirl: Whaaaat nooooo

jayjay: i'll take you to breakfast after

jayjay: hobbit

cadygirl: Hey!!

jayjay: not because you're short

jayjay: this time

jayjay: bc they're hungry all the time

cadygirl: Oh

cadygirl: Still v rude of you

jayjay: if i take you to get a happy meal will that make up for it

cadygirl: Yes <333

jayjay: done

jayjay: see you soon peanut

cadygirl: See you soon gorgeous 😘

Cady suddenly feels much warmer as she puts her phone back into her bag. She and Gretchen glue each other's ears on and the whole team does a warmup and stretch routine together. Cady rolls out her wrists and finally smiles as she gets into her spot.

——

The parade is more fun than she was expecting. It's less intense than what she has to do at games, more walkovers and limbers than tucks and punches. She gets a little dizzy, and it's hard not to get run over by the float on the rare occasions she fumbles a landing, but it's still fun. For once, the smile on her face is genuine the whole time.

She waves dorkily when she passes her parents. They both have their phones held up to film and proud smiles beaming across their faces. They wave back just as dorkily before they duck out and are off to their seminar.

Cady doesn't get to do much in the way of the more limber skills anymore. It's fun. She kind of misses doing skills just for fun, for herself. As long as she stays in her spot she can do whatever she wants to. She does all sorts of front walkovers, back walkovers, aerials, the occasional handspring. It's refreshing.

Whenever they come to a stop is when things get interesting. Nobody wants to see a parade stuck in place, so they practiced lots of choreography for that. One of the floats ahead of them gets stuck on a corner, and Cady does a vaulted flip off of Regina's crouched form like a really, really elaborate game of leapfrog. Regina acts like she's dancing with her and whirls her back around so they're in their right spots before they get going again.

Towards the end of the parade, Cady hears a, "Hi Cady!"

She's not supposed to, but she looks over. Stevie is waving eagerly to her, her arm linked with one of her friends. Janis is behind her with a cute grin on her face as she sees Cady in all her elvish glory. Cady wiggles her fingers back in greeting, and kisses the tips of her fingers twice before blowing the kisses in their direction. Janis smiles wider and sneakily blows one back. Stevie just squeals and dances around with her friend. Cady adds a little more flair to her skills than she needs to just for them.

Things stop and start a lot more as the first floats get to the end of the parade route and have to navigate pulling off to the sides of the road or getting where they need to be. Cady and Regina do their series of tricks at least six times. They start adding little bits of flourish to it when it begins to feel boring and repetitive.

Apparently a little too much flourish. Regina does a dramatic turn before she crouches to be Cady's vault.

Cady's already running.

She has no time to stop as Regina's safety pin breaks.

And her costume comes off.

Regina screams and bends down to try to grab it. Cady slips on the fabric and goes head over heels the wrong way. Cameras are already out, pictures and videos being recorded. Apparently more people from North Shore make the trip out to see the parade than they thought.

But Cady can't hear the shutters clicking or the agitated murmuring over the pop her ankle makes as she lands, and the roaring of blood in her ears as a horrific pain radiates up her leg. No, no, no no no nononono.

One of the coaches was walking alongside the float in between them and the crowd to make sure it all went smoothly. She rushes up and helps Regina get herself situated. "You alright, Heron?"

Cady can only sob. My ankle is broken. My ankle is broken and it really hurts. My ankle is broken and I may never be able to tumble again. My ankle-

"Whoa, kid, hey," her coach says. "Can ya walk? Right flank, fall in! You're down a man!"

Cady hops and hobbles her way to the end of the route and sits down on the curb, cradling her ankle and sobbing.

"Are your folks around?"

Cady shakes her head. "Re-Regina's take-taking me home."

Her coach hums and nods. "She ran off. Hope she's okay, too. Dang, kid, that looks gnarly."

That only makes Cady cry harder. What if I just did my last flip?

"I'll uh... go keep an eye out for George," her coach says. She does have the decency to bring Cady her bag. Cady debates texting her parents to let them know, but they're probably already halfway to Peoria. And they were so excited about the keynote, she can't drag them away from that. She'll just have to suck it up.

The pain is... almost bearable. It's not, but she doesn't exactly have much choice. Her sobs slow, and before too long she's just sniffling on the side of the road and holding her sore leg.

She about jumps out of her skin when she hears a, "Caddy!"

"Jesus Christ, Janis! There's people around here!" Cady hisses. Janis' face falls a little.

"Sorry."

"What are you doing here?" Cady asks more gently.

"There's already like, seventy different people sharing videos of you and Regina falling, what the hell happened?"

"I think the Kälteen bars backfired," Cady sniffs, shutting one eye as a wave of pain radiates from her ankle.

Janis frowns. "What do you mean?"

"She's gained so much weight her costume didn't fit," Cady explains through half-grit teeth.

Janis snorts. Cady glares at her. "Sorry."

"She safety pinned it on and it broke and I slipped on the costume," Cady continues. "And I fucked up my landing and I think my ankle is broken."

"Yikes," Janis says in concern.

"She was supposed to take me home," Cady says, trying to stretch out her leg and wincing in pain. Janis winces too.

"Damian and I will take you to the hospital, don't worry about it," Janis says immediately.

"Don't- ow- don't you have Stevie with you?" Cady asks in concern.

"Nah, she wanted to go to her friend's house, I'm free of the child until tonight," Janis replies. "Can I see?"

Cady looks at her hesitantly. Janis looks back. She doesn't push. There are a lot of people around. But Cady needs the comfort of her girlfriend right now. She nods.

Janis carefully eases her stupid jingly boot off her foot, pausing whenever Cady makes a pained noise. By the end Cady has her bottom lip so firmly between her teeth she can taste blood and her eyes screwed shut. It's still not enough to stop a few pained tears slipping out and down her face.

It becomes quickly apparent that Janis has absolutely no idea what she's doing. She gives Cady's foot a gentle, inquisitive poke and pulls back like she's been burned when Cady squeaks in pain. "Sorry."

"It's okay," Cady says, looking at her through squinted eyes and trying to remember how to breathe.

"It's pretty swollen," Janis says in concern. "And bruising already."

Cady sniffs again, looking down at her stupid candy-cane patterned lap. Janis gently tips her chin up.

"It'll be okay, Cads," she murmurs.

"But what if it's not?" Cady hiccups. "What if I never walk on it again? What if I can never do another flip?"

"And what if it's totally fine? What if it turns out to just be a bad sprain and you're back on your feet in a week?" Janis retaliates.

Cady feels her lip tremble. Janis might be right.

But they both know she's not.

"They're coming, hide," Cady says when she hears the cheers coming down the road. Thank god Damian's almost here.

Janis looks at her oddly, sadly, but she obediently ducks behind the tree line to wait for the crowd of people they actually know to clear out.

"Cads! Hey, coach told me you fell, what the hell, babe?!" Damian says as soon as he sees her, sprinting full tilt over to her. "Oh, yikes."

"Is it bad?" Cady asks, feeling tears brimming behind her eyes yet again.

"It's not... great," Damian replies hesitantly. "Can you move it?"

Cady sniffles. "I don't know, I haven't tried."

"Can I?"

Cady nods. Damian carefully braces her ankle with his large, warm hand and gives her foot a gentle wiggle. Several people look in their direction at the noise Cady makes in response.

"Alright, well," Damian says in a voice a solid three octaves higher than normal.

"I'm sorry," Cady sobs.

"Babe, shh," Damian soothes. "I will donate you one of my feet if I have to. We'll go get you patched up and all that, don't worry about it."

"But how will you be a big Broadway star someday if you only have one foot?" Cady giggles wetly.

"I'll manage. Is that Janis peeping at me through the bushes over there?"

"Probably," Cady replies with another giggle. She turns around and sees a familiar pair of blue eyes poked out from behind a gnarled old tree trunk. Janis ducks back behind it when she sees she's been spotted, and Cady smiles. "Yeah. Dork."

Damian smiles too. "She really loves you. Let me text her so she doesn't get picked up for stalking or some shit."

"She does?" Cady sniffles.

"Girl, are you kidding? We haven't had a conversation where you haven't come up at least once since September," Damian says absently as he taps out a message to Janis.

Janis is close enough that they hear her phone ping and her muffled, "Shit!" Cady can't help but laugh.

"Alright, she'll meet us at the car and we'll take you to the hospital."

"Thanks, papa elf," Cady grins. Damian laughs and tosses Cady onto his back to carry her the half-mile back to the parking lot. "These bells are infuriating."

"I think they're fun," Damian replies, a hand over his heart. He wiggles his head to make his hat jingle for emphasis. Cady giggles.

"Thanks for taking me home. I dunno what happened to Regina," Cady says quietly.

"Nobody does, she disappeared after the... incident," Damian replies. Cady frowns.

"Weird."

"I took over on your side so it was still balanced, but apparently she just ran off naked through the woods. Guess you can cross that off your list," Damian says. Cady laughs.

"You make a great elf," she replies. "Your ear keeps poking me, though."

"Sorry," Damian chuckles. "Alright, madam, we have arrived at your chariot."

"'Sup nerds," Janis greets, pushing herself off Damian's mom's car with a small salute.

"Caddy gets front seat privileges, she's broken."

"Ugh!" Janis groans sarcastically. Cady giggles.

"Um, actually... can I sit in the back with you?" she mumbles shyly.

Janis smirks. "We gonna make out?"

Cady rolls her eyes. "Corndog."

"What?!" Damian giggles.

"Is that not right?" Cady replies shyly.

"Did you just call me a corndog?!" Janis cackles.

"Someone tell me what I meant to say!" Cady insists.

Damian barely manages to put her down safely before he almost collapses to the ground in laughter. "Did-did you mean horndog?"

"Yes!" Cady says. "Stop laughing, it's not funny!"

"Yes it is!" Janis chokes through her laughter.

"People are staring, shut up!" Cady hisses. "Stop laughing!"

"Okay, okay," Damian says, wiping tears from his eyes. "Get in, sluts and slurs."

As soon as the doors close, Janis and Damian burst into laughter again. Damian can barely turn the key to start the car, he's laughing so hard. "I didn't mean to say corndog, stop laughing."

"You're so cute," Janis hums, still giggling to herself. "How's the ankle doing?"

"Hurts," Cady sighs.

Janis pouts and pulls Cady into a cuddle. Cady leans into her shoulder with a wince as another burst of pain radiates up her leg. "Poor baby."

—-

After an interesting drive to the nearest urgent care, Janis scoops Cady out and carries her baby-style into the waiting room. The pain is starting to get to Cady again, and she winces and cries quietly as Janis cradles her in her lap.

Luckily, people are so focused on their own injuries or other ailments that two Christmas elves and their art freak barely catch their eye. There's a mother there with a clearly sick little boy snuffling into her shoulder, a duo of frat bros who are clearly drunk and each cradling one arm close to their chest, and an old man in the corner filling out a crossword puzzle from 2011.

"How did your hat survive that whole thing?" Janis asks as Damian plops into the seat next to them with Cady's paperwork.

"I glued it to my head," Cady sniffs. Damian drops his pen in shock.

"You what?!"

"Only in the front, I used clips in the back," Cady replies. Damian sighs and rests his hand on his chest.

"Do not scare me like that," he replies. "Cads, when's your birthday?"

"July thirtieth," Cady says softly.

"Hey, my birthday's in July too!" Damian says. "Twinsies."

Cady can't help but giggle at his desperate attempt to cheer her up. "When's yours?"

"The thirteenth," Damian says.

"Man, I'm still the baby!" Cady huffs. "Miss January over here."

"Not my fault my parents know how to celebrate Easter," Janis shrugs. Cady gasps.

"Janis Sarkisian, we are in public!"

"Whatcha gonna do about it, tiny?" Janis retaliates. "Since we are in public."

"Hmph," Cady grumbles. She cuddles closer into her girlfriend's warm neck.

"You okay?" Janis whispers against her forehead.

"Hurts," Cady whispers back. "Are they gonna see us soon?"

"Probably not," Janis sighs.

Damian goes to hand in her paperwork at the front desk. Beyond that, all they can do is wait.

-

And wait they do. But, eventually, a nurse calls Cady's name and Janis stands to carry her back. Damian follows quickly, running after them through the winding halls.

"Alright, what seems to be the problem?" the nurse says. She does a double take when she sees the elf with one shoe on sitting on the exam table. She snorts a quick laugh but bites her lip to stop herself.

"I think I broke my ankle," Cady says softly. The doctor looks down at her one exposed foot and winces.

"It looks like that might be the case, hon. What happened?" the nurse asks, taking Cady's vitals. "Cross your arm over your chest."

Cady does when she fastens a blood pressure cuff around her wrist. "Um, I was in the parade this morning and I slipped on... something. I fumbled a flip and landed on it weird."

"Did you hear a pop when you landed or was it just a feeling?"

"I heard something pop, and I can't put any weight on it," Cady says anxiously. "And it's a little numb, and kinda... tingly, I guess."

"Mm," the nurse hums. "I'm gonna try and move it a bit, you let me know if anything hurts, alright?" Cady nods and braces as the mere brush of her fingertips against her ankle sends more waves of pain flooding up her whole leg and out her toes. "That hurt?"

"Mmhmm," Cady squeaks.

"Hm," the nurse hums again. "I'm gonna get the doctor to get you an x-ray, alright?

"Thank you," Cady says. She looks down at her lap with a quiet sniffle. She shakes her other foot and humphs at the jingle she gets in response.

"You okay, Peanut?" Janis asks quietly.

"What if it is actually broken?" Cady asks desperately. "I'm the head flyer, broken bones take so long to heal! It'll be weeks before I'm back in, what are they gonna-"

"We have protocols for this kinda thing, Cads, it'll be okay," Damian says. "We get injured all the time. I broke my wrist cheering in middle school and everything was fine. You just gotta take your time to heal."

"But-"

"If it is broken and you try to do anything you could hurt yourself permanently," Janis says. "Repetitive fractures? You have to rest. And we don't know for sure that it's broken yet, it might just be a bad sprain."

Cady sighs and nods. "Thanks for coming with me."

"Anytime, babe," Damian says, gently wrapping an arm around her shoulders and resting his head against hers. Cady blinks as his elf ear almost pokes her in the eye. Janis joins in too, and gets a jingle bell up the nose.

Her little crew gets left behind as Cady hops after the doctor towards the x-ray room. She holds as still as she can on the uncomfortable table and listens to the deafening clunks of the machine as it whirls around her foot. It's so loud she's a little worried it'll explode, but the doctor eventually returns from behind the lead partition and leads her back to her room to wait for the results.

It's a very quick wait.

"Your ankle is broken," the doctor says as soon as she walks into the room.

Cady feels her face crumple, and Janis wraps her in a tight hug as Cady lets out a quiet sob. "It's okay, Peanut, shh."

"It'll heal fine, no surgery needed. We call it a nondisplaced fracture, so none of your bones have actually moved out of where they're meant to be. You just need a cast for a little bit and you should be back to normal."

"So-so I'll still-still be able to-to cheer?"

"Not for six to eight weeks, but yes," the doctor replies with a smile. Janis squeezes her tighter as Cady releases a sob of relief.

"I told you," she murmurs, kissing Cady's cheek. Cady sniffles and leans into her shoulder. She needs Janis right now.

"Technically you broke your leg, the bottom part of your fibula here, and there's a hairline fracture in part of your tibia. But they're not displaced enough for you to need surgery, just a cast and no weight bearing for a good while."

"O-okay," Cady sniffs.

"You might wanna... de-elf yourself before we get the cast on, though. Unless you want to keep those tights for a few weeks."

Cady takes the wheel of possible cast colors and the pajamas Damian hands her from her bag. "These are cute! Where'd they come from?"

"Janis got them for me," Cady says with a sniffle as the doctor leaves and Janis and Damian both turn around to give her some privacy to change.

"Oh, did she now? How very soft of her," Damian hums. Janis shoves him. Damian sticks his tongue out in her general direction, unable to tell quite where she is with his hands firmly over his eyes.

"Shut up," Janis responds.

"Stop fighting, you can turn around now," Cady says once she's back in her comfy pajamas. "Which color cast should I get?"

"What's your favorite color?" Damian asks.

"Yellow," Cady replies.

"The purple is cool too," Janis says, tapping the little swatch of it. Cady nods.

Damian leans in close to see all the options. "I like the green."

"I like green," Cady acknowledges. "The Plastics will kill me if I get anything except pink, though."

"Pfft, who cares about them? Regina did this to you," Janis scoffs.

"Because we made her gain weight," Cady retaliates. "This light pink is cute."

"Do whatever you want, Cupcake."

"Cupcake?" Damian responds immediately, accompanied with a gag.

"Look at this little faaaaace," Janis coos, leaning harder into it and squishing Cady's cheeks rather than trying to fend off her friend. Cady goes along with it too, batting her eyelashes coquettishly at him. "Isn't she just the cutest widdle thing?"

"You two are gonna ruin my life together, aren't you?"

“Mm-hmm!" Cady hums happily, her cheeks still smushed in her girlfriend's hand. Damian rolls his eyes. Janis gives Cady's squished-out lips a kiss before she lets her go and smirks at her friend.

"You're the one who was literally speechless for four hours after we told you we were dating," she responds.

"I was in shock, shut up."

"Because your matchmaking never works?"

Damian huffs. "Whatever, it does."

"Name one time."

"This!" Damian insists, gesturing frantically between the two of them. Janis rolls her eyes.

"Whatever you say, Princess," she replies. Damian smiles.

"Thank you."

The doctor returns towards the tail end of that argument and shoots Cady a confused look. Cady just shrugs a little. She hands back all the cast swatches and goes with the light pink she had liked. She does really like it, and the Plastics won't crucify her for it. Well, they might anyway for what happened at the parade, and for needing a clunky, bulky cast in the first place. But at least this'll show she has decent taste and the ability to match.

Janis and Damian each take and squeeze one of her hands as her bones are painfully squished back where they need to be and wrapped in layers upon layers of fabric. The pink shell finishes the job, and Janis asks the doctor for a Sharpie so she and Damian can be the first to sign it.

"Do it small," Cady insists. Damian shoots her a strange look, but they both sign their names in the smallest letters they can right by her toes. Janis adds a little heart by hers for good measure. "Thanks, guys."

Cady gets fit for a set of crutches. It takes a while and she ends up with kids size ones, but eventually she's clicking slowly across the parking lot and finally on her way home.

"Jan, you wanna come over?" Damian asks. Cady pouts a little. She knows he and Janis are best friends, and that they definitely hang out without her sometimes, but it's not like Damian to ask with Cady right there.

"Nah, I gotta go get Stevie," Janis replies. Damian nods. Cady is confused when they pull into Janis' driveway. She should've been dropped off first. Her house is much further out of the way. "Bye Peanut."

Cady returns the kiss she gives. "Bye, baby."

Damian gags in the front seat. "Bye, dumbass."

"Bye, slut," Janis replies, blowing him a kiss as she climbs out of the car in the most complicated way she can and runs into her house.

Damian puts the car back in gear and keeps driving. Cady is more confused when they pull into his driveway. He turns the car off and gets out, leaving Cady alone in the backseat.

"You coming?" he asks, knocking on her window upon noticing she hasn't moved. Cady jumps.

“You're not taking me home?"

"I am not leaving you alone to navigate that house with one foot. But I'll take you home if you'd rather be there," Damian responds.

Cady shakes her head. "No. No, uh... thanks."

"Of course," Damian replies. "Now come on, cripple, my mom'll make us milkshakes."

"Your mom?" Cady asks with a smile.

"Oh, shit, you haven't met her yet! Uh, be ready for like, a lot of hugs. And she might cry. She's a big empath."

"Okay," Cady giggles. "She sounds great."

"She is," Damian says with a small smile. He unlocks the door and drops their stuff in the small area for shoes and coats and bags. "Ma, I'm home! And I brought Cady!"

Stanley comes running down the hall as soon as she hears the door. Damian protectively stands in front of Cady so the excited pup doesn't knock her over, but Cady smiles and rests her crutches against the wall so she can give the sweet little thing some scritches. "Hi, Stanley! How are you, baby girl?! Oh, yes, hi! I missed you too!"

"Stanley, gentle, Caddy's broken," Damian says. Stanley actually does calm a little bit, sniffing curiously at Cady and wagging her entire rear end instead of jumping on her like she did last time.

"Hey, baby girl!" Damian's mother greets, coming down the hallway in such a blaze of glory that it's immediately apparent where Damian gets his showmanship from. Cady looks up and smiles as she wraps him in a hug.

"Hi Ma," Damian responds, hugging his mom back and handing Cady her crutches again.

"How was the parade?" his mom asks, leading the two of them down the hall. She clocks Cady hobbling after them, then. "Ah."

"Yeah, she broke her ankle," Damian responds.

"At the parade?! Oh, honey!" his mom says immediately, wrapping Cady in such a tight hug she thinks she hears a few of her ribs pop. "You poor thing! Oh, come in, come in, sit down. Damian, help her to the living room, come on now."

"Can we go to my room instead?" Damian asks. His mom rolls her eyes.

"Yes, go ahead. It's on this floor, Cady, don't worry baby."

"Thanks, Ms. Hubbard," Cady replies with a smile. She gets another tight hug and actually has to cough a little when she's released to get her breathing back in a normal rhythm.

"Of course, baby! What kind of milkshakes do y'all want?"

"Oreo?" Damian suggests. Ms. Hubbard looks to Cady, and she nods eagerly. "Please."

"Coming right up."

"Thank you," Cady says as she's off back to the kitchen.

"Don't mention it, baby!" she calls back.

"Your mom is great," Cady says. Damian nods. Cady squeaks in surprise as he hauls her onto his back and starts carrying her down the hall towards his bedroom next to the garage.

"She is."

"She's very comforting," Cady continues. Damian nods again. "I see where you get it from."

"D'aww, thanks," Damian coos. He's actually blushing a little bit, and Cady smiles as he rests her down on his cushy bed. He fusses over her like a worried mother, helping her take her makeup and ears off as Cady looks around his bedroom for the first time. She's been here before for movie nights, but only ever in the basement.

None of the actual drywall is visible; completely plastered over with posters of drag queens and black-and-white photos of old Broadway stars. Cady can barely breathe for Judy Garland and Cher and RuPaul. There's fairy lights of all colors hanging from the crown molding, illuminating and twinkling over a full wall of Playbills in protective clear plastic sleeves. The furniture is a bit plain by comparison, but it all just feels like Damian's spirit has exploded into the room. It's amazing.

"Your room is so cool," Cady says.

"Thanks!"

"You have a lot of Playbills," Cady continues. "Have you actually seen that many shows?"

"God, no," Damian chuckles. "The top row there are the only ones I've seen in person, the rest are from eBay."

"Cool," Cady replies.

"Has Janis taught you about musicals yet?"

Cady shakes her head with a smile. "She said she wouldn't be able to do it justice."

Damian snorts. "Yeah, right. She just doesn't want to sit through them."

"She doesn't like them?"

"She only watches them once a year on my birthday and if I sing a lyric that could even approach being from a musical she'll punch me in the jugular."

"Really?"

Damian nods, fiddling with the mouse to wake up the computer and typing in his pin. "You've brought a lot of her walls down. So... thanks for that."

"I'm glad," Cady replies softly. "She deserves it."

"She does," Damian agrees. He shrugs suddenly. "Anyway, what do you want to watch?"

"You pick. I don't know anything," Cady giggles. Damian nods and opens a folder full of bootlegs. He murmurs the titles under his breath until he lands on a good first musical for her.

"Ooh! Okay, here, you'll love this one. The movie is good too, but the stage production is amazing."

Cady cuddles into his arm and peeks at the file name. She squeals, "Lions?!"

"Lions is an understatement for The Lion King," Damian says. Cady wiggles excitedly as he opens it and makes it full screen. "Can you see?"

"Mmhmm. Thanks, D."

"Anytime, Little Slice."

His mom pops in with their milkshakes a few minutes in and seems completely unphased seeing her son cuddled up with a girl she's known for fifteen minutes. Apparently this is normal for him. "Thank you, Ms. Hubbard."

"You're welcome, sweet girl. Y'all just holler if you need anything, alright? Ooh, Lion King. That's a good one," she replies as she leaves again.

"Cady's from Kenya," Damian explains.

"No shit?" his mom replies, making Cady choke on her milkshake in shock.

"Um, yeah, I just moved here this summer," she says.

"Ain't that something. Alright, have fun, you two."

"Thanks, Ma," Damian says as she shuts the door behind her.

They sip at their tasty milkshakes while they watch. Cady might be in love. She's immediately bopping along to all the musical numbers and oohing and aahing over the special effects.

Damian looks at her expectantly when the curtain call is over.

"That was so cool!" she squeals. "Can we watch it again?"

Damian laughs. "I'm glad you liked it. You like musicals now?"

Cady nods eagerly. "Yeah."

"Good," Damian says with a victorious smirk. He takes a picture of them cuddled up together and sends it to Janis with a caption reading, I win Caddy likes musicals. He gets an eye roll emoji in response and clicks off his phone with a smug grin. "Let's try something else, but we'll come back if you want to after."

"Okaaaaay," Cady huffs jokingly.

They watch about four more, occasionally shifting positions to keep comfy on Damian's plush bed. The milkshakes are long gone, but neither of them care.

"Thanks for taking care of me," Cady murmurs after the last one. Damian gently bumps into her.

"Anytime. Sorry Janis was busy, I know she wanted to be the one to kidnap you."

"No, it's okay," Cady says immediately. "I love her, but she'd be so worried she'd barely let me move. Not that that's bad, she's just... a lot, sometimes."

"You love her, eh?" Damian teases. Cady blushes. "Oh, shit, do you?"

"I mean... we've only been dating for a month," Cady begins hesitantly. "But... I might... already love her, like, a lot."

"D'aaawww, my little gaybies," Damian squeals.

"Shut up," Cady scoffs.

"She loves you too," Damian says matter-of-factly.

Cady looks at him. "She does?"

"I told you earlier. This bitch will not shut up about you. I've never seen her like this. It's kind of freaky," Damian chuckles. "Always, have you seen Caddy's eyes up close? They're such a pretty green. And she's sooooo tiiiiny, she just fits in my arms like a puzzle."

"She did not say that."

"On RuPaul she did."

Cady blinks. "Did I break her?"

"Honestly? Maybe. But I like it. She's annoying sometimes, but this Janis seems... healthier."

"Good," Cady replies.

"You, on the other hand," Damian replies, looking pointedly at her left foot. Cady giggles.

"It's fixed, I'll be okay," she replies.

"You got lucky there, kid. I really thought you were gonna need surgery," Damian says.

"I did too, honestly," Cady admits.

"...And now I think about it, Regina is a little chubbier."

"Right? It totally worked!" Cady squeals. Damian laughs. "Now we just have to get people to stop treating her like the queen bee and get Aaron out of her clutches."

"Godspeed, soldier. Doing the lord's work," Damian says with a salute. Cady giggles. "Do you, like, wanna go home?"

Cady sighs. "I should."

"Bitch, is that what I asked? Do you want to or not?" Damian insists.

"I mean... it's always weird there without my parents," Cady mumbles, fidgeting with her fingers. "But I don't wanna impose."

"Hold on," Damian says. Cady jumps when he turns his head to the side and hollers, "Ma!"

"What?!" his mother yells back.

"Can Cady sleep over?!"

"Her folks okay with it?!"

"Your folks okay with it?" Damian asks Cady in a much, much softer tone. Cady nods in confusion. Damian yells back, "Yeah!"

"Then she's always welcome! Dinner's in half an hour!" his mom replies.

"Thank you!" Cady yells.

"You're welcome, baby!"

"See? Problem solved," Damian says. Cady giggles.

"You're the best, D."

"And don't you forget it."

————-

thank you for reading!!

i have a oneshot coming for y'all on wednesday that i'm very (cautiously) excited about and am working myself to the bone trying to get the next chapter of this and another oneshot done per my usual "schedule" if you can call it that lol.

i apologize for not being more prepared but i spent most of february auditioning for the tour!! so that took a lot of my focus but it's done now and i am back in as full of a swing as i can get lol.

so fingers crossed! and if i don't get it done in time you'll just get three of each with my next round of fics :)

thank you all so much again for being here. i love every little one of you muppets so dearly.

lots of love,

ezzy

[jenyifer]

Mew doesn’t deserve Boston as a friend

**Talking about Mew not Book. Book has done a wonderful job with his acting deserves big hugs I can’t imagine how difficult this role was for him. **

So last week I said Boston deserves Mew as a friend and the post was mainly about how Boston has been a good friend to Mew the reverse is not true. First let me get my own headcannon’ s out of the way no I haven’t read the book or read spoilers so don’t tell me. I believe Mew and Cheum have been friends for a longer amount of time and we found out from episode 10 Cheum met Boston their first year of university that’s why Mew and Cheum’s bond seems closer than the others.

Mew and Top were not dating when Boston and Top cheated. Mew and Top are official at the end of ep4 and Mew says infront of Boston 3 times he’s not dating Top. Yes it still shitty however not Murder Blackmail someone who is your “friend”. Also hypocrisy here with Mew kissing fucking Boeing back. So mew isn’t dating top now so it’s okay? Sure Jan.

All of the friends rely on Boston and he provides what the they ask of him. Mew tells Boston to help care for Ray. We KNOW he does. Boston wakes ray up in class. He drives him home. He stays with Ray when he asks. Cheum relies on Boston to talk to her brother when he won’t talk to any one else. Mew asks Boston to find them a designer. He does. Mew asks Boston for his opinion on Top and Boston tells him that Top dumps people after 3 months which we know from Boeing that’s true.

All of that is true but Boston is just a heartless slut for Mew to feel morally superior to when the only time I have seen Mew do something for another character was Ray’s attempt on his own life. What else? Nothing. But no Boston is the heartless one.

Mew knows how special Nick is. He’s well aware Boston doesn’t sleep with the same person regularly. That’s why Mew assumes Boston and Nick are seeing eachother at the pool. Something that I think ✨inspired✨ Mew to become official with Top then have his own pool date because Mew has to be better than Boston. Despite knowing how important Nick is Mew sure is quick to remind Nick of his place just hired help. Useful tool. Don’t get any ideas that you are more than that. Mean girl energy. Mew can’t even pretend to be civil to Boston’s person. Oh maybe it’s because they weren’t dating… Humm… double standard again….

Mew immediately manipulates Nick into telling Mew about Gap by playing on Nick’s insecurity. Nick was never important to Boston by Mew’s telling. Even though we know Mew is aware this is a fucking lie. Mew and Cheum have been gossiping about BostonNick developments for a while. Mew does this just to be fucking nasty. Boston doesn’t need a friend who can’t see the value he puts on Nick as a person. Not as a tool or sex toy.

Mew steals the vid from gaps computer doesn’t delete it from the computer. Then he tried to show Boston’s dad the video (so the vid is on the laptop too) and he shows Boston the clip on his phone. Mew has the audacity to think outing Boston and getting him sent to America would be proper punishment? Mew was going to do it. Murder his friend’s future. Seriously fantasize about Drowning his friend. Then to keep Boston in line he keeps the clip? Fucking sick and he has the audacity to call Boston filthy?

Boston after this event stays quiet he continued to help with the project mind you he’s already contributed Top who designed everything and Nick who installed security system and made the website. He is a tamed dog. And yet Mew didn’t invite him to the Halloween party. He fucking insults him though insisting that Boston and Top are still fucking. Yeah right Boston seems sooooo into that pathetic desperate sad rich boy.

Let’s get on to ep 10 my final fucking straw

But Mew has the audacity to storm into Bostons house see the wall of lock boxes where Boston keeps his photos (not digital) and has the balls to say oh of course Boston would black mail someone to sleep with him. Really? Mew is the one with blackmail on Boston. Mew is the one who manipulated Boston’s person into saying that Boston’s closest guarded secret was a guy had taken video of him having sex. Mew is the one with two copies of the video to dangle over his head so he plays the silent friend the butt of your jokes.

Boston had every right to look at Mew like he might slap him. But Boston just takes it because he did actually love his friends at one point and there is no use arguing with them. Boston believes he is the monster they claim him to be even with Nicks assurances that “Bostons friends love him for who he is”

Mew never loved Boston. Boston was just a person to make Mew look better. Mew doesn’t deserve to have someone like Boston in his life. Mew can’t appreciate anything beyond his nose and that’s always up in the air because he’s SOOOOOO much better than anyone else. Literally there is no reason Boston should ever forgive him or see him again.

Maybe Mew liked the idea of found family from his fantasy books that are in the shelves of his home. As a closeted queer child I think that’s what drew me to the genre lots of people from different walks of life and species coming together to go on an adventure. Often the found family aspect was more captivating than any romance the book had to offer. I longed to have a group of people to feel as close to me as my siblings who would accept me. Maybe that’s why Mew tried to assemble a found family of his own with a hunter, drunkard, table holder, and a dancer. But when Top came into the picture Mew let that fly out of the window. So he superficially held onto Boston hoping by blackmailing him Mew would eventually be able to play paddy cake with him again. But Mew should never be forgiven for what he’s did to Boston episode 10.

Can’t wait to see that smug smile slip from his face

[scrollsfromarebornrealm]

winter problem

"Teaching?" Estinien rumbled. He reached out, and Riven let herself be pulled in. With a sigh, she closed her eyes, relaxing against the elezen's chest.

"A condition of getting my Mastery. Every so often, the Limsan Arcanist's Guild requires that it's graduates spend some time teaching actual hands-on arcanistry to the novices." She said. "Normally this isn't a problem, I'd just request to be slotted in for the winter term." Fall had arrived, and with it the debate on where Riven and the others wanted to berth for the winter--and what they would be doing. Augustine, Reinhardt and Mathye had duties in Ishgard--Reinhardt would be going back out on dragoon patrols, and Augustine and Mathye would have their hands full with holy duties--this particular year was fairly important in the Ishgardian church calendar. Sebastian had been invited to be a visiting professor at the Scholasticate, and Riven had been planning on finishing off a research paper or two.

"Considering the blistering string of profanity unleashed when you read that letter, I'm sensing there's some sort of problem." Estinien said, wrapping his arms around Riven's waist and resting his chin atop her head. He peered down at the fine parchment paper, the aetherical-wax sealed envelope still displaying its glyphs from when Riven had opened it.

"They forgot to ask me." Heads were probably rolling in the Guild's administrative office right now, Riven thought. "And from the looks of it, double-booked other alumni for teaching duties. I don't know who did this schedule--" Estinien watched as Riven held up several papers with tables drawn on them.

"But there's no way I can get in. Or rather I could get in, but I don't want to, because I don't want to add to the stress the schedulers are already under, nor pile even more on the students. Synnove's one of the teachers, her Mathematical Problems in Standard Aether Field Theory is a fairly rigorous course, then they've got Sunlan's Applied Allagan Physics In Aether Behavior, then Zoda's Quantum Aether Theor--aah?!" Riven found herself suddenly falling back slightly, Estinien bending over to silence her with a kiss. He withdrew after several moments, Riven blinking owlishly up at him.

"What was that for?"

"To make sure you still speak Common." Estinien countered, not blinking as Riven thwapped him with the papers she still held. "Also since teaching in Limsa is out, can you fulfill this elsewhere?"

"I could, but do you understand how much of a fucking pain it is to arrange for a visiting scholar to come teach at any other location than their native school?" Riven replied archly, sitting back up. "And I'm not doing it in Sharlayan."

"Sebastian doesn't seem to have had any problems."

"Sebastian hasn't had any problems because quite frankly Ishgard's attempts at magical education outside of 'all Halone all the time' are shite."

"Then you shouldn't have any either." Estinien countered. He watched as Riven scooted around on her butt to face him, eyes narrowed.

"Wait. Are you suggesting that I teach arcanistry there?" She asked.

---

Synnove belongs to @dragons-bones , thanks to her and @chysgoda for figuring out class names!

[rainbow-string-tied-me-to-you]

Lyrics from 1989TV Vault that made me feel insane

Aquamarine, moonlit swimming pool/What if all I need is you? (The "Need" usage in 1989tv is gonna kill me, I swear)

Love thorns all over this rose/I’ll pay the price, you won't (DOUBLE STANDARDS AHHHHHHHHHHH)

And if they call me a slut/You know it might be worth it for once (STOP! STOP RIGHT NOW, TAYLOR MOTHER FREAKING SWIFT)

Everyone wants him, that was my crime (GOLD RUSH AHHHHH)

In a world of boys, he's a gentleman (YEAH, HE IS. THAT'S MY BOY. Also, Taylor can never drag Harry without saying something nice first lmao)

I've known it from the very start/We’re a shot in the darkest dark (HELLO, GETAWAY CAR???)

I’m standin' on a tightrope alone/I hold my breath a little bit longer (Not the mirrorball reference)

'Cause you kiss mе and it stops time/And I'm yours, but you're not mine (KILLED ME, I'M DEAD ON THE FLOOR)

I'm tryna see the cards that you won't show/I'm about to fold unless you (FINE LINE REFERENCE AHHH)

I said, "I love you" (I said, "I love you")/You say nothing back (HARRY FREAKING STYLES, YOU MASSIVE DONUT)

You went to a party/I heard from everybody/You part the crowd like the Red Sea (She said "Moses")

Remind myself the morе I gave, you'd want me less (STOP, I'M ALREADY DEAD AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH)

I cannot bе your friend, so I pay the price of what I lost/And what it cost, now that we don't talk (To be so lonely parallelssjnckjsdbnjsd)

What do you tell your friends we/Shared dinners, long weekends with? (REMINDED ME OF CHAMPAGNE PROBLEMS' "How evergreen our group of friends/Don't think we'll ever say that word again")

I don't have to pretend I like acid rock/Or that I'd like to be on a mega yacht/With important men who think important thoughts (YACHT GATE)

You had people who called you on unmarked numbers/In my peripheral vision/I let it slide like a hose on a slippery plastic summer (HARRY YOU SON OF A BTCH!!! Also, reminded me of that scene from blank space mv)

You were so magnetic it was almost obnoxious (GORGEOUS AND GOLD RUSH PARALLELS)

When you hold me, it holds me together/And you kiss me in a way that's gonna screw me up forever (Wtf Taylor?? 😭😭😭)

I had the fantasy that maybe our mismatched star signs/Would surprise the whole school/When I ended up back at our class reunion/Walkin' in with you (AhHhHhHhHhHhHh there's still time please 😭😭😭 Also, someday parallels with the lyrics "Someday maybe when we're old and gray/We could be in love once more/'Til then I won't give my love away/Darling, I'm forever only yours) I broke my own heart 'cause you were too polite to do it (I'm gonna off myself)

I dash to the door/You don't knock anymore and my whole life's ruined (hits different parallels "I heard your key turn in the door down the hallway/Is that your key in the door?/Is it okay? Is it you?/Or have they come to take me away?/To take me away" I see your profile and your smile on unsuspecting waiters (the 1 parallels)

You dream of my mouth before it called you a lying traitor/You search in every model's bed for somethin' greater, baby (JDK VKJD KS KJNSVDKKJDBVKJSFN HE'S DEAD AGAIN)

Whеn you lost control (Uh-huh)/Red blood, white snow (Uh-huh)/Blue dress on a boat (Uh-huh)/Your new girl is my clone (HARRY STYLES SHOT DEAD AGAIN)

Oh, Lord, I think about jumpin'/Off of very tall somethings/Just to see you come running/And say the one thing I've been wanting, but no (Oh my god she said suicide just to spite you)

If she's got blue eyes, I will surmise that you'll probably date her (Oh no) (THE FACTS AHHHHHHHH HAHAHAHAHAHHA)

[bengiyo]

Unintentional Love Story Eps 3 & 4 Stray Thoughts

Last week, we met our protagonist, who has to find a reclusive pitter in the hopes of recovering his old job. Miraculously, he found the potter by happenstance, and got a job nearby to build a relationship with him. There's also the coffee shop owner, who maybe has a thing for the son of the local diner. The potter clearly has issues related to his dad, who is also a successful artist. Everyone is very pretty.

Episode 3

His little pot turned out cute, and we got a smile from ole boy.

Ah, yes, now Wonyoung has no place to stay. It's a good thing we know the potter has a nice place.

I'm with Tae Joon. I don't want a sick person infecting my class because they want to be helpful.

Oof, he has shingles. I know that has to hurt.

This man said you better not resist Drag Baby Around!

I get that this is a TV show, but I am not okay with Wonyoung getting into the bed with his outside clothes. I don't care that it's the gay sheets.

Well, well, well. If it isn't our old friend Wound Tending. Unfortunately, shingles bumps are not pleasant to look at.

Oh ho! Some progress from Hotae! You better help your old friend.

Spies and thieves! Digging through this man's stuff when he is doing you a solid!

I like the impulse, but I would never touch an artist's work space without permission.

I do love apologies. I like the way we can use phones when we need a little space to say something important.

Yes, let's smear clay on our faces during the pottery not-date.

Episode 4

Tae Joon is correct. Won Young needs to chill out a bit.

Oh, I like the professor. I hope the show handles the grief of his loss well.

This guy looks like an ex.

Oh, it's worse. Not only is he an ex, he was paid off by Tae Joon's dad to stay away from him.

Everyone wants to drag Won Young around. I get it.

I'm actually dreading Tae Joon learning that Won Young intends to use him as well now.

No, but trying to kiss the medicine into his mouth is so ridiculous. The rituals are intricate.

Goddamn, Won Young tore this man's car up.

I was hoping for some Make It Right, Puppy Honey, Lovesick, or Gameboys 2 level car cleaning.

Why is Hotae always getting beat to shit by ex girlfriends??

I like how Hotae is low-key jealous of Wonyoung, and I also like the impromptu double date.

Oh no. Tae Joon has the phone.

Won Young is so dense about this crush.

Okay, I'm starting to get into this a bit more.

[imjulia-andilikecats]

“Kill Bill” by SZA as a toxic Mareven song from Maven’s perspective 👀 (the genders are kinda switched but whatever lol the overall message fits)

It fits for sure with Maven being a menace to any of Mare's love interests and Mare herself, but I don't think he would go for murder.

Maven is too...polish, elegant and has a superiority complex that won't allow him to filthy his hands with the blood of someone who he deems is beneath him.(Buuuttttt he might pay someone else to do it 💸)

This question is making my brain itch for....

*Headcanon in coming*

Mareven College AU

Maven is known for being smart and charismatic, from most students and professors, with the very rare cases of snide remarks from other classmates who either sees him as a privilaged rich kid or have been personally snubbed by him for varying reasons.

As well liked and respected as he might be, he only had acquaintances and no close friends.

So in most classes, he sits alone and he is fine with it. No painfully boring small talks and fake compliments, just listening to his professor and staring out the window.

Until, he sees a new girl sitting on his seat (well, not his assigned seat yet but he already had his mind set on it).

He approaches to politely ask her to get the fuck off his seat but she simply looked him with her warm brown eyes, one brow raised, asking if he needed anything.

Maven flabbergasted at her for looking at him directly and speaking to him as if she has absolutely no clue who he is. He would usually just lean down and threaten them but he was feeling merciful, he asked he could have the seat next to her, which she agrees.

The prof arrives and the class starts, and *insert sarcastically surprised voice* they have a project and they must work with the person sitting next to them.

Maven was pissed that he'll be working with a nobody, although distractingly pretty but doesn't look that smart or even interested in the subject.

So he plans to do most of the work and make her do useless tasks then drop her when he turns in the project.

But that didn't happen, his partner, who's name is Mare (weird name), was surprisingly helpful, even adding important notes in their project that he forgot to include, sending links related to their project and finishing her work with speed and accuracy. Stubbornly insisting to do more work, since she seems to have a lot of free time or just bored.

It also helped that she was very chatty and made jokes that got him to chuckle in the most quiet of places (i.e. library and small coffee shop). Making their meet ups, interesting and even enjoyable.

After getting a high grade from their project, Mare earned Maven's respect which marked the beginning of their long and possibly toxic friendship.

Whenever a project is assigned, Mare and Maven would be looking at each other from their seats, smirking, knowing who they'll be working with.

Maven started to develop feelings for Mare, slowly but surely and deeply. Most of the time, Maven was in constant denial that he harbored romantic feelings from someone who lacked manners and cares little of what others think of her.

He would often tell himself, it will pass. The blood rushing to his cheeks and ears whenever he sees her. His heart stopping when she gets too close, he could see the freckles across her cheeks and nose. How he felt a surge of electricity, everytime his fingers brush her shoulders to get her attention. Her warm brown eyes looking at him and leaning closer so she could hear him better. His eyes refusing to look anywhere but her full lips, thinking how cold they might be without his lips on them. That will pass too.

Weeks, months passed and the ache in Maven's heart only grew and his headaches doubled. His thoughts of Mare haunting him even in his sleep. Dreams of them walking though a rose garden, hand to hand. Sneaking kisses behind statues. Mare telling him she loves him then being woken up by his phone.

Even dreams of her laying next to him with only her earrings. Making him blush when he sees her in class.

One day, they both meet up in their favorite cafe to study but mostly chat. Pushing their notes away to make room for coffee, pastries and gossip.

They chatted til the cafe was nearly empty and Maven's heart kept stradily beating faster maybe it was the third cup of coffee or the delicious grin Mare gave him for his clever joke.

That.. undid him and he leaned close to kiss her. Her lips were warm, soft and infinitely better than he expected. So much so, Maven leaned for another kiss, only to be stopped by Mare's hand on his chest.

Mare was seeing someone and has feelings for them.

Maven was hurt, and angry at himself for not sensing that she liked another.

His anger only doubled when he found out who she liked. The boy was attractive but not beautiful like him.To think that his friend developed romantic feelings for that and not him was baffling and unacceptable.

So Maven looked through the guy's profile, dug deep into his life and hobbies til he found dirt that he could use to ruin his chances with Mare.

And it worked!

Mare dumped the bastard when she caught him with another and ranted to her trusted friend about her heartbreak.

This marks the begginning of the vicious cycle of Mare finding a romantic partner, Maven digging dirt and theatening her partners (+ manipulating Mare into dumping them). Mare would then run to Maven, heart broken and Maven comforting her, reassuring her that it was for the best and she deserved better.

P S. And yes, he would hire a hitman if that person is a good match for Mare.

Note Note: Sorry this took FOREVER

[hjellacott]

I find this so deeply selfish, lazy and also, irresponsible for a parent.

When you have a child, inevitably the world is going to see them as either a boy or a girl, and if they can't fit you in either, they'll likely think of you as a weirdo. And they'll treat you accordingly.

Acknowledging your baby at least within sex, acknowleding the reality your child will live in, that they'll have to live as either a boy or a girl in a men's world, and treating them accordingly, will only teach them the right tools to navigate the world knowing how people will see them. Just like acknowledging your child's race, origins, ethnicity, and treating them accordingly and teaching them tools to live being seen as any of it.

I'll use myself as an example. I'm a woman, and I've a brother. Our parents brought us up differently. I was always taught to defend myself in the street, that I didn't need to accept a hello kiss from anyone if I didn't want to (growing up in Spain, you feel me), I was taught about sexism, and that being seen as a girl was why I'd have to wear a different school uniform, and be teased by boys, and my skirt would be lifted by boys, and "boys will be boys" but I will have to be a girl. My parents knew that. They'd both grown-up in very masculine environments. And so they taught me to fight back. To stand up for myself better. They knew as a girl I'd probably be more shy, more reluctant to be argumentative, but they pushed me to get there. And additionally, my brother and I both needed to be told things like don't accept a drink from a stranger which you haven't seen being poured, but my brother didn't need to be told not to let boys walk him home alone, not to get in cars with boys, not to walk home alone at night. I did. And if my parents had treated me as "they" and blissfully pretended I wasn't a girl, all they would've done is set me up for failure. I would've already been raped, perhaps even killed.

As for my brother, part of his male-exclusive education was being taught how to treat girls. I treated boys normally from the get-go, but my parents were horrified to find my brother was at some point surrounded by male friends who were shit to girls (as "boys will be boys" tend to be). They had to double their efforts to get my brother to stay in the right side of law with a bunch of matters because while my girl-friends were studious, hard-working and kind, his boy-friends were drug-addicts, mistreated girls, missed classes and smoke pot, so we were getting entirely different influences. Me and my girls were doing what girls where we lived, at our time, normally did. My brother and the boys were doing what back then, where we lived, it was considered normal for boys their age. And by realising that our sex would put us in entirely different realities and environments, my parents were able to keep my brother from actually doing time in prison (even though he was once nearly arrested), and to keep me mostly safe through my teens.

Boys and girls aren't the same. We don't get treated the same by society and is BEYOND sexism and misogyny, it starts with the fact that boys will automatically be drawn to be friends with boys, and girls to be friends with girls, and grows from there. PRetending your children are only they/them from birth and defining their lives by attempting to deny sex, biology and be ruled by the gender cult, will only keep you from preparing your children from the challenges THEY will face that people in other sex, races, ethnicities, countries, won't have to face.

Put it this way, if you have a black child, you're not going to try and pretend they aren't black and act like colour is not important and never acknowledge their skin colour as they grow up. You won't, because you know the world will mistreat them and abuse them for being black, so you have to make sure they're ready, know how to stay safe, how to get a thicker skin, how to be comfortable in their own colour.

Closing your eyes and being in denial won't help, dude.

[arkainea1911]

So i recertly saw a fic about anakin being possitve over Obi Wan (nothing new, of course), but it got me thinking about Padma possiveness.

Like ive see people kinda play around with it, but I have not seen a lot of the truth depths someone could go with it!

I believe that she can bee and is the same level of unhinged and possive that anakin can be, but the way it shows is different.

it isn't just something that she has with the one she loves, but it's with family and friends as well. but you really see more of it with her friends because being a royal and being surrounded by kiss asses all the time when she finds someone who is genuine, she latches on to them! she keeps them very close to the point you never see her without the group somehwere near by.

yes she she has the airs and grace of a kind- hearted sentor and queen, but underneath it, she is absolutely batshit crazy. super possive and downright feral with her friend group.

the level of possivesness she has for her small group of friends is nearly unheard of for people she doesn't want carnally.

I also think that the people she keeps with her are some of the most unlikly people you would see around someone of her status. they aren't the prettiest, the cleversest or anything like that, but she keep them close, dresses them up, makes them take class to better themselves, and in sure they make her look even better. Although the latter is not as important as much.

However she does see the benefit of using how other like to judge things and she is seen as even more of an angel with unearlthy beauty when conpared to her friend group who are more of you average looking types.

No one really gets why she has what they consider the drewges around her, but that is precisely why she keeps them. There aren't fromh er world. they didn't grow up learning the double speak, false compliements, and all the other back bitting things she had.

They are pure. Untouched. Honest. they can do all those things, but they dont feel the need to never really have to rely on their wit and charm to survive. they just did. they made lives for themselves while still being their true selves, and Padme craves that. she craves to be her truself but can't and so live vicariously thru others. but its more than just that it also the fact they even in her presces they saw no need to hid who there are. titles and status didn't matter when they told her how they felt. when they layed into her about the sente. all of the properity melted away and left true, raw emotions and feelings. showed actually people who live actually lives and didn't have to glamriouize their lives to make themselves look better or worse, depending.

they are truly one of a kind, living artworks that she must possess. Must claim as her own as she can't risk anyone messing that up!

idk sorry about the ramble, but i needed to get that out.