#at least my boys luke and luke got through easy

[raapija]

The pain of watching darts at night and then f1 in the morning, I'm just a girl I can't do this 😭

[verycoolusername1]

My Honey Bee

Summary: In which you were a dream came true in the eyes of Luke Hughes.

Track 7 of short n' sweet - espresso

Luke Hughes x gn!reader

Genre: Fluff

Warning: mentions of underage drinking(not reader and luke), terrible flirting(I'm very single, cut me some slack)

A/N: Ehehehehehe Espresso just be stuck in my head whenever I listen to it, so enjoy this(and a massive ego boost that I did not plan for) :)

If you catch my shadow and bone reference, I love you tons.

Luke has been at the bar for two hours now, or at least Luke thinks he has. He's been glancing at you since the team got there, celebrating their win. When he saw you walk through the doors, he swore his heart stopped with his breath caught in his throat.

The team were immerse in their conversation till Dougie noticed Luke staring off into the distance.

"Looks like someone caught Lukey boy's attention." He whispered to the others.

"Hey, Lukey boy! You good?" Jack nudged his shoulder.

Luke pulled his eyes away from you and looked back at his team, who were all staring at him.

"Hm yeah yeah I'm fine." Luke muttered. "Fine."

"I don't think so." Nico pointed out.

"Yeah, you've been eyeing this stranger all night. Just go and talk to them." Jack urged.

Luke's eyes widened as he looked at his brother then the rest of their team all nodding their head.

"What? Are you insane?" Luke exclaimed. "I couldn't, no!"

"You need to have more faith in yourself. Just go to them and be yourself." Nico encouraged.

"Easy for you to say." Luke rolls his eyes.

"That's because it is easy." Jack chuckled.

Luke sighed as he looked back to where he last saw you, and when you weren't there, he swore he was dying. That was until he felt a tap on his shoulder.

Luke turned around, and his breath got stuck in his throat. It was you, you was standing right in front of him. You looked pretty, beautiful, gorgeous even. There wasn't a single word Luke could use to describe you. You were just all of them combined.

"Hi," you said warmly, Luke swore he was melting.

He sat there staring into your eyes, hearing the snickers of some of his team before he realized he needed to reply.

"H-Hi," Luke stammered, clearing his throat.

You chuckled at his awkwardness before offering your hand.

"Want a drink?" You gestured to the bar where you had been sitting prior.

"I would love to!" He replied rather quickly. "I just- uh can't drink yet."

"I figured." You slowly started to smile. "I was just gonna get us some water."

Luke's face flushed in embarrassment. "Right then uh yeah let's go."

Luke shakily took your hand, and you led the two of you to the bar where you sat next to each other.

You ordered two glasses of water before a silence was laid upon you two.

Luke spoke up. "I'm sorry."

You turned your head to him in confusion, and he noticed that and continued.

"For tonight." He clarifies. "I've been watching you all night, I just couldn't help myself. You were just so captivating- wait no that sounds creepy. I swear I'm not a stalker-"

You had started to laugh. He knew instantly he wanted to bottle up the sound and keep it with him wherever he went. One question came to mind, Why were you laughing?

"What-what's so funny? I'm apologizing for being weird and you're laughing." Luke looked at you in surprise.

"Sorry, sorry it's just-" You calmed down. "I know you have been. It was endearing."

"Wait so you aren't creeped out?" Luke asked.

"Why do you think I went to you and not any of your friends?" You sipped on your drink.

Luke stayed silent, studying your question.

"You're- You're into me?" He spoke in a low whisper.

"What would you do if I was?" You replied in the same tone.

"I would ask for your number and most definitely your name." Luke chuckled. "I'm Luke."

"Y/N." You took Luke's phone and typed your number in and sent a text.

"That's a nice name." Luke said before realizing he said that aloud. "Sorry! I thought I said that in my head. Gosh why am I so stupid-"

You kissed him on his cheek, caughting him off guard. Your lips felt soft against his face, he loved the feeling. He loved your touch. He wanted more- He craved it.

[mikkomacko]

could we get a blurb where one of the boys are sick and reader takes care of them? then maybe mob boss nico comes home to reader babying the sick boy and is so endeared by the interaction that he envisions what it would be like to raise a family with reader.

“Jack is sick today,” is all Luke said when he texted Nico this morning. The younger Hughes brother showed up for his shift of restocking the bar supply room for the day and then left for his turn patrolling the streets.

Nico assumed it meant Jack was at home, probably just sleeping and ordering soup and crackers to the loft. Maybe he’d see him in the morning.

But when he decided to call the day early and strolled into his house, he was stopped by the sight of an extra body lying on his couch.

“Easy day?” Timo asks him, emerging from the kitchen with a banana in hand. Nico looks at him, then back at the living room.

“Tired, wanted to come home.” He explains, nodding in confusion to the only thing visible: the pair of feet hanging over the arm rest. “Who’s that?”

He snorts. “Who do ya think?”

Moving closer into the living room, your figure comes into view. Perched on the edge of the couch, you’re looking down at whoever is lying before you with warm and comforting eyes, eyebrows pulled in concern.

Nico isn’t surprised when he gets to the edge of the couch and finds Jack wrapped in a thick blanket, hair sprawled out on the memory foam pillow from one of the guest rooms.

“Hey Schoa,” You’re stroking through Jack’s hair, fingers tender and slow as you greet him. “You’re home early.”

He hums, looking around at the tissue box and vapo-rub on the the coffee table, the red Gatorade on the floor where Jack can reach it, a humidifier bubbling in the corner, and Happy Gilmore on the tv.

“Playing doctor?” He teases, only half joking. You look up at him, fingers pausing and that concerned look you wore earlier softens.

“Pretty good at it, don’t ya think?”

Nico laughs quietly, but agrees. Smiling proudly, you peer back down at Jack, smoothing your thumb over the dark bags under his sleeping eyes and then placing the back of your hand to his forehead.

“How’s he doing?” Nico asks when you frown in disappointment.

You shrug. “Ok, he’s got a fever still but at least he’s not throwing up and crying anymore.”

Nico makes a face. “How’d that work out for you?”

You glance at him, an unamused look on your face as you do so. “Had to get over my fear of vomit eventually right?”

Accepting the answer, Nico watches you for a moment. The gentle way you touch Jack’s face and move his hair, how sweet your gaze is as you examine the sleeping boy as if looking for anything physically wrong with him.

Motherly, he realizes. You look so motherly and protective watching over him like that, and it makes something in Nico’s heart throb.

You had told him you don’t know if you’ll ever want kids, that it’s something you haven’t put a lot of thought into. And he’s fine with that because he hasn’t either.

But if you ever decide it’s something you want, Nico will give it to you a hundred times over. And those kids will be the luckiest little ones in the world to have a mother like you.

“Hey,” he says softly, and you look over at him. “C’mere.” You take the hand he holds out to you, moving around the edge of the couch and into his arms.

Nico lowers his head, capturing your lips in a sweet and soft kiss. Your hands find the back of his neck, holding him gently.

“What was that for?” You whisper when he pecks kisses to your cheeks and nose.

“I don’t need a reason to kiss you.” Nico replies, not knowing how to explain to you that he thinks you look so good in the role of a mother. The last thing he wants is to freak you out.

“No you don’t,” you giggle, playing with his hair.

Pleased, he nips playfully at your lips again.

“Come take a shower with me?”

You purse your lips like you’re thinking about it, outweighing the pros and cons, and he rolls his eyes in annoyance. Tugging on his hair, you grin.

“Let me wake Jack up for another dose of medicine and I’ll meet you up there, ok?”

Nico wants to complain, wants to whine that Timo can do it and just come up with him now please but he doesn’t. You seem to enjoy fawning over Jack, to be taking care of him and he knows the kid can use some of that.

He’s a far way from his own mother and from what Luke has told everyone, Jack is one hell of a mama’s boy.

So he agrees instead, letting you go so you can crouch back down by the couch and he heads for the stairs.

“Jack,” he hears you coo, and he pauses on the bottom step to listen to you. “Need you to get up for a sec, darling.”

That part in his heart throbs again, sending butterflies throughout his stomach and warmth to his cheeks. Continuing up the stairs, Nico tries to imagine what sweet pet names you’d use for your own babies on day.

[lee-laurent]

Falling Fast - Luke Hughes

Summary: Luke and Tori finally realize how much they need each other. John starts to question if he can really ever get over Tori

content: fluff, LOTS OF FLUFF, slight angst, mentions of sex but no smut, money issues, oc x ex!john marino

wc: 2.2k

notes: PART 4 of the 'done trying' series! go check out parts 1-3 if you haven't already! this one is heavily tori and luke focused. not a lot of riley in this one. also some john moments. but mostly luke and tori!! my favs!!! ENJOY!!

The front door swung open, revealing an exhausted John. Riley was sitting on Tori's lap on the couch, Scooby Doo playing on the TV, a pacifier in his mouth. Tori didn't even look up at the sound of the door, continuing to stroke her son's hair. She'd finally got him settled, after having a meltdown over his bath. Finally dressed in his pjs and calm, Tori was not about to get up and ruin that. She was slightly aware of what had happened at practice thanks to a text from Luke. She wasn't mad at Luke, just John.

"Dada?" Riley mumbled, his eyes half closed.

"Yeah, bubba. Dada's home," Tori whispered back, pressing a kiss to the back of his head.

John entered the living room, leaving a cushion of space between himself and his ex-girlfriend. She didn't even look in his direction, focusing solely on the show playing on the TV. He sighed, earning Riley's attention.

"Dada has boo-boo!"

"Dada's okay, baby. I promise," John forced a smile.

"Hurt?"

"No, no, I'm okay, Ri. Dada just fell at work."

"O-tay," the toddler nodded, cuddling back into his mom's chest. Tori would never get over how compassionate Riley was. He cared about everyone so much, especially his parents. She looked at John through the corner of her eyes, noting the black eye that their son was concerned about.

"There are frozen peas in the freezer," was all she said, returning to humming along with the theme song.

"Thanks," John huffed, moving to the kitchen.

"You ready for bed, sleepy boy?"

Riley nodded, tucking his head into Tori's neck. She stood up, carrying him down the hall to his room. She hummed a lullaby, rocking him until his eyes finally closed. With a click of a button, white noise filled the room and Tori was finally able to breathe easy. At least for a second.

"Here," she frowned, shoving a blanket and pillow into John's arms.

"What?"

"For the couch. So it's a bit more comfortable."

"Oh. Uh, thanks?"

"Yeah. Whatever. If he sleeps all night tonight, feel free to move back out. And don't make a habit of beating up my boyfriend, that's not the model you should be setting for your son."

"Boyfriend?"

"That's all you got from that?" she rolled her eyes, filling up her water bottle.

"So, he's your boyfriend now?"

"Not officially."

"But in your head he is, huh? You really think he can fill that hole in your heart?"

She could feel the anger bubbling in her chest, but took a deep breath, not wanting to argue with Riley trying to sleep.

"Grow up."

John scoffed, "My parents are coming this weekend. Can Riley stay at mine?"

"Why can't they come here and see him?"

"Because they don't..."

"They don't like me. I get it. Sure. I'll pack his bag in the morning."

"Are you gonna go see Pop and Nanny?" Tori smiled, helping Riley put on his little backpack.

"Pop 'n Nanny!"

"Yes! Pop and Nanny! Can Mama have a hug goodbye?"

"Bye, Mama! 'Uv 'oo!"

"I love you too, baby! Be good for Dada!"

"I'll have him back here Monday morning?" John offered.

"Yeah, that works. See ya."

"Bye."

With John gone, Tori could actually breathe. She started by cleaning up Riley's room and then the living room. Making herself a cup of coffee and turning on her favourite movie, "Dead Poets Society." She'd invited Luke to stay the weekend, so now she was just waiting for his arrival.

"Miss me?" a voice rang through the apartment.

She pulled herself off the sofa, throwing her arms around the taller boy.

"Yeah. A lot. Let me see your lip," she pulled his face down closer to hers, inspecting his busted lip.

"You should see the other guy."

"I did. He looks worse," she shook her head, failing to hide her smirk. "I'm so sorry, babe. He shouldn't have gone after you like that."

"It's fine, V. He's just... getting over you. Slowly."

"Trust me, I know. Come sit, I missed cuddling you."

"What else did you miss about me?" he teased.

"Nothing. Just the cuddles. Although you'll always be second to Riley on the cuddle scale. He's a pro."

"I bet he is. How're you feeling about him being with John this weekend?"

"Way to tear the Band-Aid off, Hughes!"

"Sorry, sorry."

"No, I, uh... I don't know. It's fine, I guess. I know he's safe with John, I just... things with John are really shit right now. And I know he's gonna tell his parents and then things with them will get even more shit. It's such a snowball effect."

"You've got me. I'll support you, baby."

"Thanks, Lu," she nuzzled her nose against his, giving him a quick peck.

"I've been meaning to ask you something."

"Shoot."

"Well... we've been on a few dates now... and I, uh, I was wondering if you wanted to be my girlfriend?"

Tori hesitated, pretending to think over her answer, "Of course I'll be your girlfriend, Luke."

"Phew! You scared me for a second there."

"I just... I'm not sure how kindly John will take to that."

"Doesn't matter right now, love. We've got the whole weekend to ourselves. Where should we start?"

"Movie?"

"Movie it is."

"This is sad," Luke complained, shifting Tori on his lap.

"So? You made me watch Secretariat."

"I didn't make you watch anything."

"Whatever. You know what I meant. Also shut up."

"Never. We both know you secretly love hearing me yap."

"Meh."

"Don't lie, Tori. You could listen to me talk allllll day," he teased.

"Maybe. I'd rather listen to you than Jack... don't tell him I said that."

"HA! I won't... I won't. But seriously, this movie is so sad."

"It's a masterpiece, Lu. You just don't get it like I do."

"Guess I'm not woke like you."

"Shut up. This part is good."

"Why're they standing on the desks?"

"Stop asking questions!"

"I'm just a little lost, baby."

"They're standing in solidarity with their teacher."

"So they got on top of their desks? That'd get you a detention."

Tori leaned up, kissing him swiftly, "Shut up. And you'll get more of that."

"Deal," he smirked, watching the credits roll.

"You're taking up the whole bed," Luke complained, scooching away from the edge.

"No, I'm not."

"You totally are. You're half my size and taking up double the space."

"I'm comfy."

"I'm not."

"Boo fucking hoo."

"Babe," he whined.

"Fine," she moved over, laughing as Luke quickly pulled her in to spoon.

"You smell so good," he mumbled into her hair.

"Thanks, babe."

"You're like a fucking heater. I love it."

"Lu."

"Hm?"

"Shut up and sleep."

"Make me."

She shook her head, flipping over and straddling him. He smirked, his hands planted firmly on her hips.

"Hi."

"Hi, Lu," she leaned down, connecting their lips.

"I could kiss you forever."

"Then stop talking and kiss me."

"Yes, ma'am!"

Luke hated early mornings, in fact he was known for sleeping in. As a mom, Tori couldn't say she was the same. She was up every morning at 7 like clockwork. "Sleeping in" to her was waking up at 8. So as she lay staring at the ceiling, her boyfriend snoring next to her, she felt so useless. She needed to be up doing something. Cleaning. Making breakfast. Going on a walk. Taking a shower. Anything but this. She was accomplishing nothing!

"Luke."

Nothing.

"Luke," she shook him slightly. He just groaned, pulling her closer to him. She laughed, maybe she could sleep for a little bit longer.

Two hours later, she was awake again. This time thinking of ways she could convince Luke to get out of bed. She started by flipping in his arms, tracing her finger over his bare chest. He stirred, letting out a quiet hum. She traced her fingers over his abs, feeling the ridges under her fingertips. God, he was hot. He reached out, grabbing her wrist.

"Don't start something you can't finish," he mumbled, eyes still closed.

"Who said I wanted it to end," she giggled, his grip on her loosened. His eyes opening very slightly.

"I'm listening..."

"Well, I need a shower. And I thought... I don't know, maybe you'd like to join."

"Yeah?" he smirked.

"Mhm."

"Let's go."

"Let me under the water!" Tori complained, Luke's height blocking any of the warm water from hitting her bare body.

"But it's sooooo relaxing."

"Yeah? And I'm fucking freezing! Let me in!"

"Fine," he huffed, standing behind her. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her flush against his front. She sighed contently, finally being able to embrace the warmth of the water. He slowly snuck his hand up her body, resting it to cup right under her breast.

"What're you doing, Lukey?"

"Enjoying the shower with my smoking hot girlfriend."

She giggled, a blush covering her face. She turned in his arms, kissing him passionately.

"Wanna finish what you started?" he teased.

"Gladly."

"What shampoo is it?" Luke asked, looking at all the bottles lining the wall.

"We're wasting water at this point. I don't have the money for this," Tori sighed worriedly.

"Are you... are you being sarcastic?"

"No, Luke. I'm not a loaded NHL player. Water costs money. We should just get out."

"Babe, shhh. All is well. I'll pay the extra amount on the water bill. I promise."

"You don't have to do that."

"I don't, you're right. But I want to. Now which bottle is the shampoo? I wanna give you a relaxing shampooing."

"It's the red one," she sighed, allowing Luke to run his hands through her hair. She needed this. The stress melted away as he massaged at her scalp, admiring the small hums that left her mouth.

"You're so pretty, Tori."

"Thanks, Lukey."

"Any time, baby. Now... for the body wash."

She let out a loud laugh, smacking her hand against his chest, "I can manage that part."

"Are you sure? Might be difficult."

"I've got it."

"Would you mind helping me?"

"Luke Hughes, you dog."

"What?! Can't help it when you're this fucking beautiful."

She blushed, "Thanks, Lu."

"That's what I'm here for. To make sure you know that you're the most important girl in the world."

The couple was laying on the couch, Tori running her hand through Luke's hair. He was watching some hockey thing on the TV that she didn't understand, occasionally pointing out details to her. Her phone started buzzing, a sigh leaving her mouth as she swiped to accept the call.

"Hello?"

"Victoria! How've you been, love?" her mother asked excitedly.

"Oh, um... okay. Just watching some TV."

"Where's my Riley?"

"At John's. His parents are in town. They wanted some time with him, I guess."

"Well, awfully rude of them to take him away from his mother. Especially when you were just fixing that sleep schedule of his."

"Mom, it's not-"

"Don't say it's not a big deal, Victoria! It is. They are so rude to you."

"Mom-"

"Let me finish! They never consider how you feel about things. I just... I wish they'd listen to you, dear."

"Mom, all is well. Riley loves spending time with his dad. And I get some much needed time to relax."

"That is nice, isn't it? Some much needed you time. Not you and Riley time."

"It's lovely. I'm just here with-"

"With Ally? Hi, Ally!"

"No, Mom!" Tori laughed, "Luke."

"Oh, Luke! How lovely! How is he?"

"He's good, he's good. Half asleep, but good."

"I can't believe you're finally dating again! Only took you over a year."

Tori rolled her eyes, "Yes, I know, Mom. Why'd you call?"

"Just wanted to check in. Make sure you're not too overwhelmed. See if you needed some money."

"We're actually doing alright, at the moment. I had enough to get Riley some extra snacks this week."

"Oh! Isn't that just wonderful! Remember if you ever need a few extra dollars..."

"I know, Mama. I love you."

"I love you, Vicky! Talk to you soon."

"Bye, Mom."

"Your mom seems nice," Luke commented, his voice muffled by Tori's shirt.

"Hm? Yeah, she's the best."

"I, uh, I didn't realize you were having... money problems."

"It's not something I enjoy talking about. John's child care is my saving grace most times. I just... I want Riley to have everything he needs."

"I-"

"Don't offer me any money, Hughes. I'll dump your ass right here, right now. I'm a strong, independent woman."

"Of course. I know you are, babe."

"Thanks for staying with me this weekend, Lu."

"Whenever you need it."

"How would you feel about formally spending some time with Riley?"

"Really?!" he sprung up, his eyes wide.

"Yeah. Why? Are- are you not ready for that?"

"No! No! I'm so ready! I just... are you ready?"

"I mean, I won't tell him you're my boyfriend. He won't understand that. But... I want him to meet you. Spend some time together. Cause... if you guys don't click... I don't know what I'd do."

"Well, let's set up a playdate!" Luke grinned, reassuringly rubbing her back.

"Okay, yeah. Let's do it."

God, how would John react when he found out Riley was spending time with Luke? Fingers-crossed that he won't overreact. Tori wasn't sure she could deal with anymore dramatic arguments with her ex. Guess she'd have to wait and see.

[amoreva]

FEIGNING FOR YA

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CHAPTER 2

pairing: luke castellan x fem!reader

summary: the first signs of acknowledgement from your family about your relationship and planning and…Luke is a good fake boyfriend!

warnings: not proofread! slow burn, college au, smau, fake dating to dating, cursing, clarisse x chris, aged up! pjo charcters, yn is older sister figure to percy, luke and thalia are older sibling figures to annabeth, drinking

a/n: inspired by charlie’s recent boxing photos! ik it may be a little choppy, but i wanted to put smthg out there before i go on my trip. comments and feedbacks about writing are much appreciated!

series list | next

—– ٠ ✤ ٠ —–· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • · —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —–

Ding!

A passive aggressive text shows up on your lock screen from Aunt Shelley. You were out with Silena, Clarisse and Thalia when the first signs of acknowledgment of your new relationship shows up.

The photo of your friend group covered by (now) two texts from Aunt Shelley:

Aunt Shelley

I wish you would tell us about this boy of yours before announcing it to the whole world.

3m ago

Kidding! He seems lovely.

1m ago

She was not kidding.

You sent back a short text, making up some excuse about why you haven’t said anything. Sure, you hard-launched the “relationship” intending for your family to see, but that backfired. Kind of.

Most of them didn’t care about social media yet they insisted on following you when you made an account.

Aunt Shelley

Tell him to buy brighter clothes for Easter!

now

At least they didn’t seem to recognize Luke’s mop of curls. Luke has only been to your house once in high school in freshman year. Well, Luke had matured since then and he did gain some meat on his bones. You wouldn’t blame them if they didn’t recognize him.

“Their reactions will be funnier when I introduce myself.” Luke mumbled with closed eyes. An arm wrapped around you abdomen. His thumb rubbing your side. Cheek pressed against your shoulder as he listened to you.

He insisted on taking a nap at your dorm to strengthen the image of your faux relationship, totally not because he was escaping his frat’s latest activities. It was something like a date auction or car wash.

“Do you plan on listening to my Aunt?” You asked, referring to Luke’s closet.

“Fuck, no.” Luke answered with ease.

“Will you at least be civil?” You asked and nudged your shoulder against his head.

Luke picked up his head and looked at you. “We’re supposed to be rebelling. Pissing off your parents for being judgy and shitty and what not.”

Honestly, you were hesitant on “rebelling”. Sure, it was just bringing Luke over and dating him because your parents hate him. But, you didn’t want your parents to hate you for being disrespectful nor rude.

Luke noticed your hesitation. He sighed through his nose. “Fine. I’ll play nice.” He laid his head back on your shoulder. “But you owe me take out if the food is bad over there.”

Believe it or not, Luke had become more docile. His touch more gentle and caring. His pocket always had chapstick now that he had a “girlfriend” again. Was he always like this with his other girlfriends?

You been there everytime Luke was in and out of relationships, but you never seen how he acted with his significant others.

And thankfully, being in a fake relationship with Luke was quite easy. The two of you know each other like the back of your hands. It was practically the normal platonic chemistry, just add cheek kisses, holding hands and flirting. No butterflies appeared and no hands got sweaty around him.

Perfect.

Because thinking about your best friend in romantic sense was the wrong pathway to go. It’s not like you have, just…think about all the movies and books. Usually they never ended well (you think).

“Charlie knows I called it. I knew it!” Silena exaggerated pridefully. Both of you were walking to your Art History Class. “The way you guys would look at each other and—gosh…I still can’t believe it.”

You laughed at your friend’s delusional nature. You can’t exactly pinpoint a time when Luke and you gave each other a look before this contract, but whatever helps Silena sleep at night.

The two of you sit at your usual seats and wait for the rest of the students to trickle in.

Ding!

Mom

Your father and I are very excited to meet this new boyfriend of yours!

now

You wondered if she remembered Luke. He did leave an impression on her. The first time Luke met your mother, he was a little excited and rowdy because you and him were going to stream a new movie that left theaters.

Your mother hated when the quiet in the house was broken when Luke and you were excitingly talking. “You’re like a fly, disrupting this environment.” She scoffed from the dining room and went upstairs to her room.

Safe to say, you hung out at Luke’s house from that day forward (you just gave him your Netflix password). Thankfully, Luke didn’t feel too hurt.

“Oh! I know.” Silena placed her notebook on the table. A suggestive grin on her face. “There’s this party we can go to and celebrate you lovebirds!”

“Silena, that’s not really necessary—”

“You gotta see it for yourself though!”

“See what?”

“That twinkle in their eyes.”

“What?”

The professor entered the lecture hall and began the lesson on art from the transcendentalist period. Twinkle? What twinkle? Like the stuff that romance novels describe when a character falls in love? Come on, that can’t be real.

“Like romance book twinkle?” You leaned over and whispered to Selene. She smiled knowing she had you hooked. Her pencil moved as she talked.

“Like when you get dressed for a party or a date and…and…” She tore her eyes away from you to look if she spelled a word right in her notes. “…they get that first look and their eyes light up like you’re their whole world.”

Your professor called you and Silena out for talking and the both of you quickly write down the notes. Though you both continue the conversation.

“Listen, our friend group doesn’t have to go party or go to a bar. Just suggest a date with Luke tonight and watch his eyes when you’re in your date night outfit.” Silena and you walk to the gym, scanning your ID and going through the turnstiles.

You look at your phone again.

Luke<3

boxing with beckendorf

13m ago

Silena and you walked towards the destination. The familiar black compression shirt and mop of chocolate curls appearing in your field of vision. His gray sweat matching his top.

Beckendorf was spotting Luke as he hit the punching bag in calculated movements. He shifted his weight between his two feet and with laser focus the material of the worn out glove made contact. Beckendorf grunted quietly. Luke could pack a punch.

It was kinda hot.

“Charlie!” Silena disrupted the practice to go hug her sweaty boyfriend. Luke and him must’ve have been taken turns hitting the punching bag.

Luke turned in your direction. A slow smile spread across his fast. He was quick to get his gloves off before greeting you with a forehead kiss. “Hey beautiful.” His hands resting on your waist.

If your next boyfriend wasn’t meeting the same standards as Luke was right now, you didn’t want him. Luke was practically the perfect boyfriend.

“We should go on a date tonight.” You suggested, obviously curious about this “twinkle” Silena was talking about.

Luke grabbed his gym bag and put away his boxing gloves. You grabbed him a white towel to wipe off his sweat. “Yeah? For what?” He drank some water and tossed his gym bag on his shoulder. “Your family being shitty to you again?”

Silena and Beckendorf said quick goodbyes and left the gym. You took out your body spray and spritzed Luke with it a couple of times. “No…” You made sure Silena and Beckendorf were gone. “Easter. We need to talk about Easter with my family?”

“What is there to talk about?” Luke asked and sat down on the wooden bench. You joined him. His musk covered by your body spray.

“I don’t know…like—” You paused trying to get the words out. “What we should do if like—my mother asks some stupid question. Or my aunt flirts with you or if my family ask you to prove we’re dating.”

“You’re not trying to get me to take you out and get you food are you?” Luke nudged your shoulder and teased.

“Yes.” You stated bluntly. “But more importantly, Easter.”

Luke and you decide to go out to dinner at a diner nearby. You made him shower and change first before anything. While he was at his dorm, you were struggling to pick and outfit to successful procure a twinkle.

You stood in front of your mirror, looking at your reflection. Clarisse was on her bed, reading a book for her English class. Though she got distracted by you numerous times.

After what it felt like the umpteenth time putting on different jeans and skirts and some sort of clothing combination, Clarisse pulled her headphones away from her ears. She could feel your frustration and dilemma. The hot-tempered girl was in your shoes once.

“Wear something casual, but cute.” Clarisse suggested and scanned her eyes over the clothes scattered on the floor.

“Like that with…that.” The articles of clothing made sense together, but would it give that twinkle you were curious about. It would have to do for now.

“When’s he picking you up?” Clarisse sat up. “I promise you, you’re overthinking this. It’ll be fine.”

You look at her after changing into the clothes she picked out. “I know, I just—what if this doesn’t work out?” Of course, you had in the rebelling against your parents with this relationship, but to Clarisse—you looked worried about your relationship with Luke.

“It will.” Clarisse reassured. “You’ve been best friends for how long?”

A couple of knocks rapped against your door. Clarisse gestured for you to take a deep breath before she went back to reading. You stalked over to the door and opened it.

“Go change.” You immediately stated upon seeing his shirt.

In big bright white letters, his shirt read “I <3 my girlfriend.” Forgot the twinkle, that stupid t-shirt was going to haunt you forever if you let Luke go out in that.

“What, why?” Luke whined, knowing exactly why.

“Luke! Go change or—or…” You hesitated to find a right threat.

“Helpful hint, sweetheart. If you’re going to threaten me, find a viable threat before you start it.” Luke called out and went to change.

You were going to strangle him. Maybe this relationship won’t be as easy managing as you thought. You were praying Easter will go how it’s planned or at least work in pissing off your parents.

—– ٠ ✤ ٠ —–· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • · —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —–

taglist:

@happy-mushrooms @m00ng4z3r @justanotherkpopstanlol @2hiigh2cry @celluifleur @thatbird-fromrio @yuminako @pookiebear16 @mxtokko @cxcillia @kai-islost @kidkrowk @iluvpjo

[honeysmoonn]

GET HIM BACK! — luke castellan

content: enemies w benefits, mentions of sex, really short so part 2?????, unedited

a/n: based off of this post: )

You hated Luke.

Hate wasn’t even strong enough. Loathe. Despise. Detest. Regretted ever speaking with him in the first place.

He was too cocky, too stupid, too good at swordsmanship, too nice to the younger kids, too handsome… The list goes on.

Yet you often found yourself laid underneath his toned body with tangled limbs and hot breaths.

Even after almost being caught one to many times after leaving a black lace bra on the ground behind Aphrodites cabin, or the violet patches growing along your collarbone and neck, or the lipstick smudged on Luke’s face that was only known to be worn by one girl in camp. You.

But at least the two of you were fairly well at hiding the attraction you shared for each other. It was easy to hate him. And he played the part of the whipped yet cocky boy phenomenally.

It was just a part, you thought.

He was almost too good at excusing the Ares boy who offered to partner up with you during sparring, too good and giving him a tight smile, too good and not-so-subtly shoving shoulder with the boy, and always too good and making you feel like and idiot when you were pinned under his body, faces inches apart like you had been so many times before, only this time there was an audience.

“Get off me.” You seethed, squirming to no end. Luke’s hand were expertly pinned against your own. A stupid smile on his face. He was too pretty to also be nice.

He gave a small shrug. “I could,” A cocky look you knew all too well. “Or I could watch you squirm…” He whispered just quiet enough so the younger campers trying to learn from the two best counselors couldn’t hear. 

You kicked a leg up, trying your best to keep Luke’s strong gaze under your control. But the swordsman always seemed to be one step ahead of you, one hand reaching down and grabbing the inside of your lower thigh and holding it in place. “Cmon, don’t be like that.” his voice was still soft, the memory of the night before flooded your brain like a thunderstorm.

“I’m seriously, seriously, gonna kill you, Luke.” He laughed, which only caused you to bit the air just and inch from his nose. “Just wait until-“

“Until what? Until tonight?”

“Oh, Gods-“

“Campers!” Chirons powerful voice sounded through the training arena. a few of the younger kids jumped at the noise, other took a step closer to their older siblings. “Is there a problem here?” You took the moment where Luke broke eye contact as an opportunity to push him off of you, causing him to roll over before straightening himself out for Chiron.

“No, Sir, me and my friend here were just showing everyone some new moves.” He winced as you pinched the skin in his neck, not ignoring the way a greenish bruise was showing under his bright orange shirt. Your face suddenly got red, could everyone else see them too?

Luke’s hand flew back to grab your own, expertly disguising the move as an itchy neck. He held your hand in his own for a second, giving it a tight squeeze. You winced. He immediately let go.

“Well, in that case, I hope you’re actually teaching something.” Chiron answered with a narrow eye. The kids on the sidelines giggled to each other. You silently wished Luke hadn’t been so difficult and just let the Ares boy spar with you instead of causing a huge scene.

Luke, yet again, took her hand and dragged you forward. Side by side, you two looked like the golden couple of Camp Half-Blood. “Of course, always up to learning knew things, right?” he smiled at Chiron once, then you. Leaving only a wink to keep you company.

Later that day you found yourself in the mess hall, poking and prodding at the not so appealing food that sat on your tray. Your sibling sat herself beside you, telling her side of the incident at the area just hours before. “I saw the way Luke grabbed your hand, he’s so sly. Sly little fox… Cute, too. Definitely handsome…” she rambled, only stopping when she realized you were barely listening, focused on something, or rather someone else across the mess hall. “Oh… you dirty dog!” she exclaimed.

“What? What are you talking about?” You asked as you fixed your gaze back at your sister who was smiling the same was Luke did after proving you wrong.

She shoved your shoulder. “Be serious, you think he’s cute.”

Somehow, somehow, Luke found himself staring at you while Chris blabbered in next to him. Your eyes locked and you could practically feel your heart beat out of your chest. He raised an eyebrow, only smirking when he realized just exactly why you were looking at him. You could practically hear the sound of his cocky voice saying: “Ohh…” in your ear. While glaring at him, he took the opportunity to blow an endearing yet annoying kiss in your direction.

“Oh!” Your sister smacked your arm playfully. “Oh… I could definitely see this, I can see the vision…” She pondered as Luke laughed to himself after seeing you go red.

You were going to get him back.

[supersaiyanjedi14]

STAR WARS REBELS APPRECIATION WEEK Day 1: Favorite Character

This is a toughie. If there is one thing that stands out about Rebels, it's the incredibly awesome characters. From a fun, lovable main cast with amazing dynamics and chemistry with each other, to memorable supporting characters that added some great life to the series, to an array of fun and intimidating villains, the characters of this series were a highlight, both the originals made for the show and the returning faces from previous Star Wars series. As such, picking a favorite is no easy task. But, end of the day, there are two that stand out the most to me at least.

Be it as their own characters or as a relationship, Kanan and Ezra were not only the centerpiece of the show, but easily my favorite part of it. From Kanan's end, we see someone who gradually reclaims an identity that was stolen from him by the Empire and that he initially tried to distance himself from for years, eventually coming into his own as a Jedi and refusing to sit by while the evil that scarred him continues its tyranny. For Ezra, we follow the story of a boy who lost his family to the Empire, yet was able to regain it through his relationships with the Ghost crew, slowly transitioning from an embittered street rat to someone committed to never allowing people to suffer the same fate he did. And a massive chunk of their respective development hinged from their dynamic with each other. Through their bond and adventures, Kanan and Ezra not only managed to define and hold to what it means to be a Jedi in a post-Order 66 galaxy, but also helped each other move on and recover from their respective traumas, their relationship being just as much that of a father and a son as it was a teacher and a student.

And that doesn't even scratch the surface of how fun both of them are. Both had their moments of being funny, tragic, heartwarming, and being complete badasses along the way. I loved how Kanan could be a great mix of stern leader, exasperated dad, wise mentor, and wisecracking action hero at any given time. And the fact that, for all his self-doubt and pain, he never really teetered on the edge of the dark side goes to show how one can still be good and kind even the most horrific of circumstances. Ezra was snarky, energetic, and pretty relatable as he got into his various hijinks, and I remember getting excited to see where he would go next and how he would grow form his experiences.

There's a lot of other stuff I could touch on. Kanan's sacrifice in Season 4 being one of the most heartbreaking moments of television I've ever seen. The various parallels and contrasts between Ezra and Luke that made me love him so much. Their relationships with Hera, Zeb and Sabine. I could talk about all of it If I had time to be here all day. For now, here they are. Ezra Bridger and Kanan Jarrus. Spectres 6 and 1, my favorite characters from one of my favorite Star Wars properties ever.

[todosteakettle]

Divine Misunderstanding.

Obey Me! Shall we date?

wc: 1970

a/n: this concept has been rotting my brain. I thoroughly believe that Mammon and Micheal are almost identical. also not beta or proof read 😭 dialogue in bold.

“I promise I’ll be fine Mammon.” you reassured your demon. “But what if somethin’ happens to ya’ up there? What’ll I do huh? I gotta come.” “You are not going.” Lucifer quickly rebuffed. “Mammon it’s the Celestial Realm, it’s not dangerous. Plus I will be there with Simeon and Luke! They won’t let anything happen to me.” “I know it’s just… ugh I don’t like ya leaving me!”

Truth be told you wished Mammon was going with you on this trip. As annoying as he is, you loved your greedy demon, and he made you feel safe. You felt silly for being more nervous about being in heaven than in hell. Maybe you were the only human on earth who felt this way.

You had been to the Celestial Realm once before, but this was different. This time you were going to meet Michael. You were the representative for the human realm. You were a diplomat speaking on behalf of your entire race about relations between the three worlds to the Prince of Heaven, no biggy! It’s not like Diavolo’s reputation was on the line or you could accidentally start Armageddon or anything… God you wished Mammon could come.

This was going to be easy, you told yourself. Just a chat with an Angel! You talk to Simeon all the time and he likes you. What do you talk about with Micheal though? It’s not like you're the most fond of him. He’s caused a lot of problems for your Demons. You really loved them and anyone who hurt them was not a friend of yours, but you would suck it up.

“So what’s Micheal like?” You asked the Demons sitting around the dinner table in an attempt to stop Mammon from begging more. Plus it doesn’t hurt to be extra prepared.

“Well he has a surprisingly timid personality wise. He loves humans tho so you’ve already got that going for you.”

“Ok that’s good to know. Anything else I should know?”

“He likes sweets?”

“I already knew that, I made him some, but thanks anyways. I am going to get some rest, I have to meet your “brother” tomorrow and I want to make a good impression.”

“He’s real handsome too.” Mammon said under his breath, not loud enough for you to hear already walking away.

Although Mammon was the most vocal, they were all uncomfortable with you meeting Micheal. What if you liked him more than them? I mean he is an angel after all.

You knew that no matter how incredible this guy was, he would never compare to your boys. But it didn’t stop them from worrying. In fact, that night you woke up with at least 5 demons who came to your room sometime while you were asleep, clinging to you for dear life. You didn’t mind the cuddles.

You woke up to the sound of your alarm which you quickly silenced. You slipped out of the grasp of a certain gluttonous demon and got ready, careful not to wake them. Once you were ready you texted Simeon to come meet you at HoL so you could go.

Simeon and Luke picked you up, happy to see you. You honestly looked less than happy to see them. You felt bad, you loved being around them, it was just going to the celestial realm you were dreading.

You walked your way to RAD while Luke talked your ear off about all the sweets he’s going to make for you and Micheal at “home”.

His adorable puppy-like positivity cheered you up, if even a little. He also complimented the pastries you were bringing. Once you entered the student council room at RAD Diavalo opened a portal to the Celestial Realm. You stepped through with Simeon and Luke as he and Barbatos wished you luck. You felt like you might need it.

Once you got there your worries faded pretty quickly. There is a sense of serenity there that is contagious. It’s heaven. You were greeted by guards who you assume were Micheals staff that escorted you to the castle. Giant castle doors and endless hallways astounded you. It was pretty here. Finally you arrived at a cute little garden with outdoor seating and tea. Once there, the guards explained Micheal apologizes for his tardiness but was in a meeting and would be out shortly to greet you.

Your nerves somewhat settling made you realize you had to pee. You asked one of the guards where the nearest bathroom was and he didn’t respond. Jackaas. Simeon then explained it was down the hall and to the right. Simeon and Luke let you walk there on your own, this was a safe place after all.

While you walked down the giant hallway you were greeted with a man who happened to be going the opposite direction. Wait.. Is that?

MAMMON??

You quickly grabbed him and pulled him into the closest room, the bathroom.

“Mammon what in the Devildom are you doing here?? Did Lucifer send you?”

The man went to open his mouth but you cut him off

“-Of course he didn’t. He wouldn’t risk Diavalo’s reputation or your safety. Ugh Mammon I told you that you couldn’t come! Why do you never listen.” You say, dramatically banging your head on his chest.

“God I really gotta get you out of here. I am just about to meet with Micheal. If he’s anything like the guards I’ve met so far he’s probably a real stick in the mud. Ok I’m gonna go meet with Micheal and you get out of here while he’s distracted. And you BETTER not steal anything! Seriously if you steal anything you’ll receive a punishment from me that will make even Lucifer tremble. Be careful though.” You said the last part a little more gently.

Surprisingly he smirked? Such a masochist

You cupped his cheek with a smirk on your face “By the way, this Angel costume really suits you. Even in white you’re devilishly handsome.” You said before kissing him

“I don’t know about the wig though.” You winked at him and left the bathroom, hurrying back to Simeon and Luke.

Something about that interaction just now was.. off? First of all he tasted off, sweeter maybe? Plus Mammon is a huge loudmouth and he was totally stunned into silence. It’s not like it’s the first time you two have kissed. In fact you have done a lot more…

Whatever he was probably just off because he was caught in the act. You walked back to Simeon and Luke and acted as if nothing had happened. You couldn’t tell them, even if they were willing to help it could get them in trouble.

Minutes passed while you three chatted, drank tea, and ate the little cookies that were laid out. Suddenly the sound of footsteps approaching tore you from your conversation. To your horror the person entering the room was Mammon! You told him to run, what’s he doing?

If you weren’t horrified before you, your soul just about left your body when the little blonde boy seated next to you got up and hugged him screaming “Micheal! Micheal, I missed you!”

Oh

Oh god(?) no.

You can’t think of a deity to pray to for mercy before the man approaches you timidly with his hand out, for you to shake…?

“I’m so sorry.” You say dropping to your knees.

You were sure that your shame and embarrassment was going to kill you right here right now. At Least you're in Heaven right! This is worse than anything you have ever experienced in the Devildom.

Ten minutes ago you were worried about whether you should greet him with “Hi!” or “Hello!” and you now realize you greeted him with your tongue down his throat.

Simeon and Luke share a confused look while Micheal blushes more furiously than he was before. You look up at him but he avoids your gaze.

He really is like Mammon.

You had practically assaulted the guy and here he was trying to be nice. (I mean is it that surprising though? He’s an angel.) You're probably just embarrassing him further.

You stood up, dusted off your knees, and looked him in the eyes. You mustered up everything you had to speak clearly and shake his still hanging hand.

“Hello. I am MC, the diplomat representing the Human Realm. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“I’m Michael” is all he said in response.

Simeon was confused but understood more than Luke who was totally lost.

“Uhm.. are you gonna say anything else Micheal.” Luke said, trying to break this awkward silence.

“I have Macarons!” You said.

Micheal’s interested seemed to be peaked by that.

“Well then, let’s eat.” Micheal said, sitting opposite of you at the table.

You had honestly already eaten but you would happily stuff your face if it meant you didn’t have to speak right now. After the food was all gone Simeon (being the angel he is) offered to take the plates. Luke of course insisted on helping him.

Leaving you and Micheal…

“Those Macarons, did you make them?” Micheal asked

“Uhm yeah! Barbatos and Luke taught me but I put my own spin on them. They’re raspberry ganache.”

“They were divine, I must have the recipe.” He said with a small smile

“Yeah for sure, I’ll have Luke give it to you!”

…more silence

“So about earlier I wanted to say-“

“It’s ok. Really” He said, cutting you off this time.

“Mammon and I were often mistaken for each other when he was an angel, so I understand. Plus I really did not mind the uhm… kiss” He said, clearing his throat

“Oh!” You said, literally not knowing what else to say.

“I also do hope you enjoy your time here. I wouldn’t want to ruin your trip. I hope I’m not a um.. what was it you said? “Stick in the mud.”

You assaulted and insulted him. Nice going MC.

“Oh no you’re not! I’m not just saying that either. You’re really sweet, I was just really nervous about meeting you and the guard seemed like he didn’t like me so I was even more worried. I have been seriously stressed for days about meeting you. Believe it or not I actually practiced meeting you a bunch.”

He laughed

“Sorry I know that’s kind of weird.” You said thinking you may have overshared a bit.

“No no… It’s fine it’s just humorous that you thought I wouldn’t like you. You're quite the wildcard but I find you fascinating. I've never met a human quite like you.”

“Is that good?”

“Perhaps.” He said, smiling.

The rest of the day went swimmingly. The ice between you and Michael had been

thoroughly broken. You spent the rest of the day chatting with Simeon and Luke and Micheal and baking some treats.

Right before it was time to go Micheal pulled you aside for a moment.

“You are quite captivating, I hope you come and visit again soon. I am old so this may be surprising, but I admit that was my first kiss. I hope one day we can have a second.” He whispered into your ear.

You blushed furiously “Hope to see you again!”

It’s safe to say you made quite the impression. Still though, you would take your Demon over angel anyday.

Bonus:

MC enters HoL

“MAMMONNNN”

“Ya’ sound like Lucifer! What’s the problem?”

“You didn’t think that Micheal looking exactly like you with a ponytail may have been an important detail to mention?”

“Well I told you he was handsome” He smirked.

Enter the rest of the brothers.

“Oh MC how did it go!!” Asmo beamed

“Oh it went alright! I am officially the first ever being to have FRENCHED GOD.”

collective “WHAT?!?”

“I don’t have time to answer your questions I need to pee.”

[youcouldmakealife]

LBTE: Jared (111-114)

New arc, and things get serious quick

If you want to read along, the series page is here. All previous parts under the 'liveblogging the end' tag.

111 - Change of Scenery

A new arc! One I believe I thought was the last. Spoiler alert: it was not.

And he knows that’s probably the most ungrateful attitude in the world, that every single hockey prospect in the entire province probably just felt a chill down their spine and went ‘someone isn’t appreciating the fact he’s in the fucking NHL’.

AND he’s defiled The Battle of Alberta.

“If you’re trying to make it harder to leave, it’s working,” Jared tells Bryce. Honesty is very important in a marriage.

“I don’t even want you to stay,” Bryce says, in possibly the worst acting job ever. The fact his arms tighten around Jared doesn’t help.

These two.

“Yeah,” Jared says, blows out a breath, gets one last kiss that doesn’t last long enough, then grabs his bags, Bryce hovering in the doorway when he walks down the hall like Jared’s going to trip and die on the way to the elevator, or maybe like —

“Quit looking at my ass,” Jared says without slowing.

“Training did you nice,” Bryce says in like, the sleaziest voice of all time, and Jared’s still laughing when the elevator doors close behind him.

THESE TWO.

“Okay, Halla,” Jared says, when it doesn’t abate as he heads to the front hall.

“Dinner,” Julius says when Jared opens the door.

“Hi, Julius, good to see you after months, I missed you too,” Jared says.

“Dinner,” Julius insists.

“Yeah, okay, I could eat,” Jared says, and Julius impatiently hovers while Jared puts his shoes on, grabs his wallet and his keys.

Jared's stray cat came back.

“Go be social with your team,” Jared says.

Bryce scoffs.

Still so far for Bryce to go! From this to slutty butterfly.

go b social go to bed ur so bossy, Bryce texts.

Bryce like ‘is he going to be even bossier now that we’re married? …that’s so hot’

112 - Stumbling Block

“I’ve been wondering if it’s too early to propose to my girlfriend,” Morris says.

Jared almost says ‘aren’t you a little young?’ before he realises that sounds patently ridiculous, considering Morris is at least a year older than him, and Jared’s currently wearing a wedding band.

20 years old, the AUDACITY of this boy. (Ben won’t propose for awhile, actually, but Vicki will, of course, say yes, and years down the line comes Liam’s godbaby/Luke’s fave niece Sadie)

“Just, you know, do it when it feels right?” Jared says uncomfortably. He’s not good at advice. Advice isn’t his thing. Does this ring mean he’s going to have to keep doing it? Not that he’ll take it off even if it does mean that, but it’ll suck.

Every single opportunity Jared has to mentor someone results in horrified backpedaling. Do not make this his responsibility.

“Got any pics from your wedding?” Johnson asks. He’s new to the team, picked up in free-agency, so Jared doesn’t know why he’d even care.

Jared: How dare he try to get to know me better upon meeting me, what the fuck is the matter with this guy?

“Not on my phone,” Jared says, and then Johnson, who apparently got married that summer himself, starts showing Jared picture after picture after picture of his own wedding, which is boring, but at least means he drops the subject. Jared’s pretty sure he just asked for an excuse to show all of his pictures, actually.

Trying to bond with a new teammate through a shared experience, what a fucking weirdo, right Jared?

His wife looks very pretty in her wedding gown, and Jared gets slugged hard in the arm for saying so, which he thinks is meant to be affectionate thanks? It hurts.

Jared sulkily rubbed his arm at least three times after that.

Rogers asked if he got married around Calgary, which is an easy question, and Morris asks why they haven’t ever met Jared’s spouse, which he can kind of side-step with a ‘it’s long-distance right now, they’ve got a job they love in Calgary’, and Jacobi asks him his wife’s name, which is — not one that’s easy to side-step. For a couple obvious reasons.

Jared shrugs. “It’s a secret,” he says, trying again to sound bored, probably failing.

Jared Matheson you made it a mystery. Never make it a mystery.

Jacobi waves a dismissive hand. “I’m just saying, the rookie’s fucking with y’all.”

Jared bites back an indignant ‘I’m not a rookie anymore’. It’s not worth it, and Julius will just roll his eyes again.

Jared living in fear of Julius’ disdain.

“Oh yeah?” Jacobi asks. “What’s his wife’s name?”

“It’s a secret,” Julius says without batting an eye, and Jared half wants to hug him, half wants to strangle him.

All hugs from me.

“Let the kid have some privacy if he wants it,” Rogers says, which Jared appreciates.

Whoooole lot of alarm bells ringing in Darryl’s head at this point — it ain’t his first rodeo.

He thinks Julius is smirking beside him, but he doesn’t check, because then he’d be obligated to elbow him.

TERRIFIED of Julius’ disdain. It doesn’t feel nice, does it Jared?

Jared takes back every single bad thing he’s thought or said about Darryl Rogers in his entire life. And it’s a long list, because he’s a good D-man and he’s been the enemy for like, a decade. All scratched. Good dude.

I cannot overstate how viscerally Jared has hated Rogers at points. Like, this guy’s been on the Enemy since Jared was a kid. He’s won games for the Oilers and made plays that lost the game for the Flames. And while he’s managed to let go of (most) of his Oilers angst, that one’s been around for a long time, and it’s one of the last things to go. But clean slate. Good dude. Rogers is a bro.

The Flames still apparently haven’t noticed Bryce is wearing a wedding ring. It’s hit pathetic level of obliviousness. Or maybe they have noticed, they just don’t care enough to ask Bryce about it.

Yeah it’s the second one, Jared.

Jared’s convinced Julius to actually start helping him in the kitchen, decided to tackle some of the more ambitious recipes provided by the team nutritionist, and sometimes the recipes fail and they suffer through it or order delivery, but sometimes him and Julius are sharing a silent, proud nod before shovelling greatness into their mouths.

The friend Jared deserves <3 The next generation of Mathesons will eat well.

The first indication there���s something officially rotten between Jared and Oilers management is, well — it’s not subtle.

Just a general all-round ugh for everything to do with Deslauriers.

His parents always warned him about the hazards of being a gay pro athlete, about the homophobia in the league, and it’s not that he didn’t believe them, he absolutely believed them, but he just — he doesn’t know. Figured he’d be the exception? Hoped, at least.

Again, he’d argue, but he’s an optimist at heart.

112 - Succor

Jared has to call Greg now, he guesses. His parents are probably both working, Bryce he needs to save for last, and Greg’s job is literally Jared. Among other players, obviously, but still. He should call Greg.

Greg doesn’t pick up, so Jared leaves him a message that it’s important and finishes his Gatorade, staring at the blank TV. He’s poured himself a glass of water — hydration’s important or whatever — is halfway through it when Greg calls him back.

Just including the end of this sequence, but the entire start of this part Jared’s gone so hard into repressing his anger he’s hit full on dissociation.

“Greg?” Jared asks. “You still there?”

“You know what this is, right?” Greg asks.

“Deslauriers being a fucking asshole?” Jared asks.

“Well,” Greg says. “Yes. But he’s targeting you professionally for your personal life.”

“I mean, I figured that out, yeah,” Jared says.

Greg, ten minutes into the call: WAIT, THIS IS HOMOPHOBIA. Jared: Yes please keep up.

Poor Greg, he’s so out of his depth.

“And Halla excepted, the ones who know are punishing you for it,” Greg says. “Jared, you don’t have to play for a front office that is personally targeting you. If you want — I can’t necessarily make anything happen, but if you want to request a trade, or I can contact the NHLPA and file a—”

I know this sounds like it’s stating the obvious (and it is), but Greg is just straight up having the realization now because he really didn’t think any of this would fall out the way it did, like, it’s the 21st century, who cares anymore, right?

(Dave knew.)

Greg sighs. “I know you do,” he says, like it isn’t news to him. It’s news to Jared, how much he wants to stay. “Keep me updated, okay? On anything. If he so even walks through a door you’re holding open without saying thank you, I want to know.”

This is a serious crime in Canada.

His dad calls him back within a minute. “On my way to one,” his dad says, with faint distance like he’s driving, using the hands-free. “What’s up, bud? Is Julius coming for dinner? Obviously he’s welcome, I just need to know so I know how much food to make, you guys pack it away.”

Julius is already so welcome in the Matheson household, which is going to serve him well in the future. Don accepted an Oilers player into his household before he was even dating his daughter! (Well. Two Oilers players. One was his son, so he didn't have much of a choice, even as an avid Battler of Alberta)

“Sorry,” Jared says.

“Don’t be sorry,” his dad says. “Deslauriers should be fucking sorry. If I got him in a room he’d be—”

Jared bites down a smile, what feels like his first real one of the day.

Don and Jared are so often at cross purposes in the narrative that it’s always nice when Don is 100% on Jared’s side.

“They can do whatever the fuck they want,” Jared snaps. “I’m not you, Bryce, if the Flames scratched you the entire city would be speculating about what the fuck got their star player scratched. They can do whatever they want to me, doesn’t matter if it makes sense, doesn’t matter if it’s just out of spite, and I can’t do shit, and they know it, and they’re making sure I know it. This is just—”

It’s a message. They can do whatever the fuck they want, they can make Jared sit out a game against his husband, they can make Jared sit out a game in front of his family, they can make Jared sit out a game in his hometown. They can do whatever the fuck they want, and they have.

Message received.

Jared has no interest in bullshit power games, it’s not a tongue he speaks, but he can read it fluently.

“I can’t believe you’re on his side right now,” Jared says.

“I’m on your side,” his mom says. “I’m always on your side. But I know you, Jared, as much as you like to think you’re unknowable, so I’m asking you, right now — when you’ve been meeting with Deslauriers, have you been rude?”

“Well, apparently polite’s rude now, so probably,” Jared says.

“Defensive,” she says. “Combative. Distant. Unwilling to listen.”

Not that Jared has no right to be, he obviously does, but — yeah, Susan has her finger on it. There has been a chill.

(Also 'as much as you like to think you're unknowable' is as absolutely savage as it is accurate)

“In any other industry your front office would be opening themselves up to a lawsuit with this, because this is textbook retaliatory practice. I’m furious for you. But Jared, you need to pay attention to how you come off. You’re not Bryce, you can’t antagonise your management.” Jared doesn’t know if she means that he’s not as good as Bryce, which is accurate, or that she’s implying Bryce has antagonised Flames management, which is — also accurate, but either way he’s pissed.

“Sorry,” Jared says. “I’m so terribly sorry my marriage has been mildly inconvenient for my management, of course they’re right to scratch me, because otherwise how else could I learn—”

“This is exactly what I’m talking about, Jared,” she interrupts. “You’re still young, and I don’t think you realise—”

Susan’s seen a lot of people’s attitudes sink them, and she doesn’t want it happening to Jared This… may not be the ideal time for her to state this. None of the Mathesons are good at holding their tongues when they’re upset. Susan’s typically the best of the bunch, but then, she's quite upset.

Julius has the same protest as everyone else, that he’s playing well, and Jared still appreciates it, maybe extra from Julius, who’s protesting like he’s annoyed his line is getting worse. Not that Greg, his dad, Bryce didn’t mean it about Jared’s play, not that they wouldn’t know what good play looks like either, not just in general, but good play for Jared in particular. But with Julius it’s less ‘why are they scratching you, then?’ and more ‘how dare they take my linemate away? You being scratched personally inconveniences me and I am not here for it’.

I love that Julius being upset for selfish reasons makes Jared happy.

“I could—” Julius says.

“Don’t,” Jared says, before he finishes whatever he was about to offer. Jared’s pretty sure the best thing for him, for this stupid fucking situation, is to grit his teeth and smile and bear it, that Julius protesting, or talking to Deslauriers, anything like that, would just set Deslauriers against him more.

Jared is correct.

114 - Rejection

The Oilers go to Calgary. And like, Jared’s not excluding himself in that. He’s on the flight, obviously, because scratched players travel with the team — the whole point of having more dudes on your roster than on the bench is so they’re there if someone gets hurt or sick last minute, or like, married a Flame and is subsequently getting punished for it.

All common occurrences.

It’s not a long walk to his apartment, and he feels this fundamental sense of relief as soon as he walks in the door, gives the concierge a smile and a wave as he heads for the elevator. Home.

Hi James! (Add him to the name twin pile with all the Mikes and Not-Mikes, Matthews (given and surname), and multiple unrelated Bradleys)

Jared barely hears Bryce’s key in the lock before Bryce is behind him in the kitchen, chin on his shoulder and hands curling around his hips. He must’ve like, sprinted it.

He didn't walk, I'll tell you that.

“If you want to eat you can’t distract me,” Jared says, and Bryce digs his chin in harder before he kisses Jared’s neck, making it very clear where lunch lies on his priority list.

“No lunch?” Jared asks.

There’s a hint of teeth in the next kiss.

Bryce has priorities. Lunch is not on the list.

“We are not having sex in the kitchen,” Jared mumbles against Bryce’s mouth as he fights Bryce’s shirt buttons, and Bryce makes a disagreeable noise in response, but starts steering them towards their room, so that’s good.

Jared has sacrificed his safety for shower sex, but he draws the line at health. No kitchen sex. They make food there. Okay, he makes food there.

Every time he thinks Bryce has reached the plateau of being the best at blow jobs, he figures out how to make it even better. It’s like. There’s probably a hockey metaphor in there, applying himself to his game, getting on the scoresheet, something, but Jared’s too come dumb to think of one.

I admire Bryce's dedication to be the best at all his passions: hockey, marriage, sucking dick.

Hmm,” Bryce says, and kisses Jared’s shoulder in a blatant violation of the no-touching policy. Jared will allow it.

Well that edict lasted ten seconds.

He cuts it close: less than a minute after curfew there’s a curt knock on the door. Jared exchanges a glance with Julius, a silent ‘who’s stuck getting up?’, but considering Jared’s probably the reason it’s happening — they periodically check in on at least the ELC guys to keep them honest, but Jared suspects this is not a random spot check — he gets up and goes to the door.

“Good kid,” Mulligan says, then turns on his heel and walks away.

Mulligan hates everything about this situation.

Mulligan didn’t even check if Julius was there. He could have been out partying.

lol, okay Jared.

Julius is bobbing his head to whatever Finnish death metal band he’s obsessed with at the moment — they all sound the same to Jared, and he bets they would even if they were singing — screaming? — in English — while peeling an orange with his teeth like a total weirdo.

I love him.

He shoots the nauseated face Julius’ way.

Julius looks down at his phone when it buzzes, then pushes his headphones down, scowling at Jared. “What?” he asks.

“Peel the orange with your hands,” Jared says.

He really should have expected the half-peeled orange that comes flying his way.

“Go back to your husband,” Julius mutters.

“Would if I could,” Jared says.

Brothers <3

Jared works very hard on keeping his face completely stoic when the goal goes in. It helps that Bryce just scored on Jared’s goalie, which tempers the flare of vicious satisfaction he feels, thinking of Deslauriers’ face right now. Jared doesn’t like it when people score on his goalies, and that includes his husband. It’s rude.

Poor etiquette to score on your husband's goalie.

They’re wheels up in nine hours. Less than ninety minutes until curfew, and maybe this was a bad idea, maybe he should have gone back to the hotel to stew instead of getting not enough of Bryce again, the time so short he’s just going to feel worse when he leaves, feel cheated. He would have seen even less of Bryce if he was playing, so it’s not the scratch, except it is, it’s the scratch, and the distance, and he puts his fucking ass on the line every single time he steps on the ice, worked so fucking hard to get there, and —

Jared’s so tired.

Oh Jared.

“They gave you first star, right?” Jared asks into Bryce’s chest.

“Yeah,” Bryce says.

“Good,” Jared says. “You deserved it.”

"Thanks,” Bryce says, then, “Sorry,” and Jared closes his eyes when he feels Bryce’s lips brush his hair.

Oh buds.

[avaelangel]

The idea of Gen V musical episode plagues me. But I really want it to be weird and surreal. Like there's no way to survive but to sing and dance. And everybody is bewildered, doing the routines the can't possibly know.

There is a possibility that everybody would have an original song, maybe even there going to be a TV-themed villain and everything would be broadcasted. Could you imagine?

But I do have some thoughts, mostly about Jordan. I don't know why, but Jordan and few Orville Peck songs I listen to just fused together in my mind.

Imagine a room that sort of resembles a barn with a small stage. Figure in a cowboy hat, with a guitar, is the only part of the room that's only somewhat illuminated. And the moment Marie steps closer through the faceless crowd, the stage illuminates fully, showing Jordan in the male form stuck in the broody-guitarist-cowboy pose.

But the moment Marie is close enough, Jordan can move. They switch and play the first few notes of Roses Are Falling.

The song is rather slow, but the crowd sways softly, starting to dance with their hats and Jordan, while singing, glances to the hat that lays to the side so Marie can join in.

And while the dance progreses, Jordan can move more. They stand up and go to Marie, who sways, maybe even sings along. When the song ends, those two hug, checking that they are both real. And since this is The Boys Universe we are talking about, the crowd probably should turn hostile.

Also, if we are making Derek dance, I really think it should be like almost a ballet number. With Marie or not, but very emotional.

I don't really know what song I would give to Marie herself, but I think many of Florence and The Machine songs would suit her well. Which Witch? Ship To Wreck? You've Got the Love?

I do have a song for Andre too. It's Power by Isak Danielson. I mean, Chance has a nice deep voice. We can't tell if his accent will show, but I think it could be great otherwise.

It's obviosly a song about Cate. Maybe in this number she even recruits him, compels him to go with her, where he tries to pull away and succeds or...doesn't. I think it could be both Andre giving in and saying goodbye to Cate and to Luke too, everything that was easy and seemingly safe about their friendship\love.

This number doesn't need much. Dark room\corridor, soft dance without touching. If Andre doesn't accept Cate's Godolkin rule, he leaves her in the darkness, now looking all bloody and feral, like in the finale.

I also have a song for Sam, which is Dirty Imbecile by The Happy Fits. It's a very easy choice at least because of the line:

'Cause I'm crazy in just too many ways

This basically could be about him being bored and dissapointed with his newfound fame and life. Maybe some of his emotions would come back through singing, we don't really now what else can break through Cate's influence. In case somene might think that I'm insulting Sam, the song, even though upbeat, it's from the persperctive of a scarred person who feels out of place, basically.

Anyway, I don't want to be cured from this hyper-fixation.

[brittababbles]

House of the Dragon S2e1: blow by blow reaction on second watch

Spoilers beyond this point

1. I love the tapestry opening. Very reminiscent of GoT’s maps.

1a. Matt Smith gets top billing, huh? Interesting choice.

2. Ah Winterfell, and the Wall. And a nice thick northern accent doing voiceover. Is it weird that I can smell Winterfell? I’ve missed this place.

3. :( sweet Jace seems to be having a nice time in the North. Enjoy while you can, sweet boy. Though he’s got to be freezing at the Wall.

4. What does it keep out? Don’t worry about it, Jace. It doesn’t matter right now. That’s a different series entirely.

5. Jace looks hauntingly like Jon Snow when he’s standing on the wall and I Don’t Like It

6. Rhaenys not taking Daemon’s shit makes my soul less unhappy. She’s all “hey daemon remember how you let my daughter die? This is like that.”

7. In fairness, Daemon isn’t wrong.

8. “Would that you were the king” gods be good, Rhaenys. We’d all be dead

9. I have nothing to add about Rhaenyra in the Stormlands. The entirety of it is just beautiful and sorrowful.

9. Why are we still talking about the Stepstones? That was soooo last season, Corlys.

10. Who is this burly handsome fellow chatting with Corlys? He’s delightful. Dragging bodies out of the sea! Wowweee 😍

11. Dude if you can see her from that far out, that dragon is Vhagar. Chill.

12. Aegon seems to at least like his children. And Helaena, at least on some level.

13. “The rats” oh my sweet girl.

14. So. How long have you and Cole been doing this, Alicient? More than once? Is he your whore, perhaps?

15. But also why do you have to stop? You’re a widow. You can do what you want.

16. CHEESE?!

16a. And Cheese’s dog, whom I adore.

17. Aegon is… so bad at this being king thing. Just so bad at it and it’s weirdly endearing. Also little Jaehaerys? So sweet. Poor thing.

18. I love how nobody likes Tyland Lannister. I don’t like Tyland Lannister.

19. Aemond!

19a. Does Aemond straighten his hair or is it just like that?

20. I forgot about Otto Hightower. And Larys Strong. I am happier having forgotten them and shall continue to do so.

21. Larys knows you been fucking the lord commander, Alicent. And he’s spying on you. And he’s still the creepiest guy in a series that casually accepts incest as the norm.

22. Syrax is my second, maybe third favorite of the dragons and I have missed her.

23. Rhaenyra my Queen. My gods this was tragic. Daemon is right: she shouldn’t have done this alone. I’m glad at least Syrax is with her

24. “Aegon the Magnanimous” wh wh what 😂

25. You’re so bad at this Aegon. But I guess at least you’re earnest about it. Aegon the Frat Boy is too on point, I suppose.

26. You know, I don’t like Otto, but honestly. Bless his heart for herding his grandson through King-hood is painful to watch.

27. In retrospect, the odd shots of the castle make sense. This whole episode foreshadows the end of it with these weird, creeping shots of the Red Keep, particularly in the halls and through the railways.

28. I see that nobody in Aemond’s family understands him at all. Except maybe Daemon.

29. Oh that’s not someone knocking on the door. That’s the drums of the soundtrack. Heh.

30. Baby goats!

31. Mysyria is… not my favorite. But she does have a thorough understanding of Daemon that Rhaenyra seems to sometimes lack.

32. Whoa. Damn, Daemon. Easy now. Don’t break the table.

33. Syrax is back! Hi Syrax!

34. Aw, that Targaryen forehead touch.

35. “I want Aemond Targaryen” I feel like that’s a common feeling toward him, for better or worse, Rhaenyra. Just based on fanfic results alone.

36. Daemon I know where this plan ends and I don’t like it.

37. Jace! Mama Rhaenyra! Oh Jace is trying so hard to be brave for his Queen.

38. I’ve seen a lot of people raving against this sequence in the Sept but I really liked it. Alicent did not mean for Luke to die and I do think she still cares for Rhaenyra. Her childhood friend lost a son, and to pray for peace for a dead child is not something that should be shamed. Also on a cinematography level, the candlelight vs the pyre flames was gorgeous.

39. Little Joffrey is breaking my heart.

40. I spent a solid ten seconds trying to work out why Aemond was screwing around in Blackwater Bay because I assumed he had taken over the Cloak of Crime. But no! It’s Daemon! Again!

41. Ehhhh Blood and Cheese and I just don’t like it. Cheese is just gross.

42. Interesting departure. Daemon orders Aemond’s death.

43. Speaking of whom. Aemond is… odd. He isn’t wrong, but he overestimates himself. But then he’s not entirely wrong. His mother’s fondness for Rhaenyra could be seen as a weakness. Though he certainly is playing his own hand here.

44. Ah the “cunning spider” line from Cole that is just a hilarious projection.

45. Does Aemond not have to get up when Otto walks in the room?

46. No Otto. Vhagar is the greatest single power in the realm. Aemond is but a fly on her back.

47. Cheese’s dog looks so much like my dog and I am so upset about it.

48. So… y’all are just going to waltz across the throne room and nobody will notice? That’s… fine?

49. Loyal as a hound, eh?

50. I hold with Aegon the Frat Boy as his title.

51 Uh, you go up the stairs to get upstairs, Blood. That’s how upstairs usually works.

52. DON’T KICK THE DOG!!! 😫😫😫

53. So… Daemon told them that if they can’t find Aemond they should just… improvise? Any male’s head will do? That’s not what Rhaenyra said at all.

54. Why are they just wandering around the castle unchecked? This just doesn’t make sense

55. I really wanted to see a bit more from Helaena here. Some pleading, some begging, some bargaining, maybe. I know she’s probably shutting down emotionally, and Phia’s face shows terror - and guilt - very well. But this whole scene is just so odd. But, I do think there is something genuine about this performance

56. “They killed the boy” she’s in shock. This part didn’t feel at all out of place for the Helaena we’ve seen on screen.

57. And that’s it. What a strange episode.

[bananakarenina]

For the title asks!!

but we're still sleeping like we're lovers / peterpatterlina

but we're still sleeping like we're lovers (aka 3 times peterpatterlina lay awake yearning and one time they didn't)

3. it's late, it's the garage studio, julie's fifteen and the boys are seventeen and luke's basically living in the studio loft and reggie spends the majority of the week crashed out in the house's guest room. there's one night where all four of them had been in the studio writing, and then alex went home, and julie and reggie had lingered, cuddled up on the couch the way they did sometimes, and luke had absently asked what they thought of the change he made to the bridge of light my night and got a whole bunch of silence.

they'd fallen asleep, of course. it was late, they were all tired, why wouldn't they--and luke--luke couldn't really take it, okay? he'd looked at them, cozy and curled together like cats, and something had clenched and twisted terribly inside him.

he'd be fine. he'd gone up to his mattress in the loft but he could still hear their hushed, low breaths. they were sweet together, reggie and julie; luke was too hard, too harsh, to be a part of that.

he writes one last song that night but for once in his life doesn't show anyone at all.

2. "alex, no, it's okay; i'll crash with luke and reggie. i know this tour has been hard for you to be away from willie and you deserve the alone time with him. it's fine!"

it's fine. not entirely, of course, but close enough.

or at least that's what julie tells herself as she lays awake, light filtering in through cheap hotel curtains. in the other bed she can see luke's messy hair and the outline of reggie's upturned nose, and she yearns--and the thing is, she's not entirely sure what--or who--she's yearning for.

reggie is fine. he's totally fucking fine. he's happy for them, for julie and luke; they've been dancing around each other since they were kids and they've finally figured it out. lead singer, lead guitarist; their chemistry onstage is fire, and reggie is the one burning up from the inside.

it's fine. he's fine.

he's lying in a hotel with very thin walls and he's fine.

every moan, every whine, every giggle is like fucking torture and his earbuds are dead and not charging fast enough.

this is possibly the worst night of his life. top 5, easy. the night julie and luke announced they were maybe going to try a relationship thing has competition for the top spot, for real.

because now he knows what julie sounds like when she comes, and now he knows what luke sounds like when he's putting that singular focus to good use.

and he's in the other room.

+1.

"reg. come to bed."

"luke--"

"i don't want to go another night without falling asleep next to you. and neither does julie. that's it, reg. we can talk about it in the morning. but that's what you should know tonight."

"please, reggie?"

"just tonight? or--you need to tell me if it's just tonight. so i know."

"every night. if you'll have us: every night."

and it was.

[fanficapologist]

Hi Blue! I read this earlier this morning but couldn’t type out a proper reply as I was at work :(( But anyway, things are now moving in Aemond’s POV! I was about to protest when he said he secured a marriage pact with the Baratheon girls then I remembered, “oh yeah, that didn’t go through”.

I liked that you included his conflicting emotions when Lucerys died. I think it’s natural for him to feel both satisfaction and dare I say slight vindication and guilt - the former because, really, Luke just got away with slashing his eye and while I don’t think taking out his eye is appropriate, I don’t think he was made to actually ruminate on his actions. Hence the smirking at the pig, just no accountability and doesn’t even feel the slightest guilt. But then again, for him to meet his end at Vhagar’s hands when he was actively retreating, not to mention Aemond’s obvious advantage in terms of his physicality and dragon, well it’s a bit cruel.

That said, I see it as human nature and it’s not always easy to paint it black or white. Which is what I love about people in general.

So we finally got to see him arrive at Harrenhal. I’m reading while cross-checking his explanation to Maera to see if he filtered anything during his time with Alys. And so far, his story checks out. So far. I mean, he was right when he said her head was on the chopping block but she mentioned “the Lady Maera” I also like to think that Aemond’s longing was so great that even if he wasn’t actively thinking about Maera, Alys was able to sense it, thus use it to her advantage. It also struck me as, Aemond misses Maera but refuses to reconnect, and so instead of talking with her even through letters, he does the less confrontational thing and keeps tabs on her. I mean, I would have done the same too, to be honest. I’m not one for confrontation 😬

So far, all I’m getting is Aemond’s not in hot water, yet. I suppose we’ll find out how Alys got him to lie with her. I also want to know how Aemond felt during that time, like did he think it was a necessary evil? Or is he the type to think “might as well enjoy it” because I remember Aegon taunting Aemond at the Council when he said he thought Aemond might have missed going back to Harrenhal. This implies that his uh, one-time affair with Alys was of so significant news that Aegon was under the impression Aemond took her as a mistress. We’ll see hahaha

Oh, question! Will the next chapter be Aemond’s POV? Or Maera’s?

Hope you enjoy the rest of the week!! ☺️

Hello doll! 🖤

Tell me about it 🤣 I’m having to go back and remember shit that I wrote months ago!

Yeah I wanted to mention about Lucerys. The way Ewan Mitchell portrayed his reaction was just *chefs kiss* as I know in post they were not sure to go with a remorseful shocked Aemond or a ruthless book!Aemond. Either way, Ewan nailed both! And I’ve said in a previous anon answer, that’s what a love about this series, it’s not as simple as good and evil, they’re all very complicated characters.

Alys be a shifty bitch 😏 and Aemond was so stubborn he didn’t even write to Maera 🤣 he was just like “yeah fuck you, I hate you now, you’re dead to me” but was still eager to hear updates from Helaena like boy what???? That is not hate, my guy!

So it’s about two more chapters till we see Alys and Aemond lying together and it’ll be…interesting to say the least 👀

In terms of chapter upload, it’s whatever one I finish first because I’m writing both at the same time (madness I know, but I’m currently hyperfixating so I’m rolling with it 🤣)

Thank you for your support as always 🖤

[1016anon]

Title: Tainted Love Author: 1016anon Fandom: Bridgerton Pairing: Anthony Bridgerton/Kate Sharma

A/N -- Murder, mayhem, horror, graphic descriptions of bloody stuff, supernatural weirdness. Spot the (not so subtle) reference to Hadestown!

-6-

Hyacinth made her way through the dark halls, trying to get to her rooms when she saw a figure sneaking down the hall, going towards the stairs to the kitchen.  She carefully shielded the light of her candle with her hand; she didn't want the person-- whoever it was-- to know she was following them.

She tailed the person down the stairs but hid by the entrance to the kitchen.  Peering around the corner, she saw a familiar figure open the drawer to the dull knives and gasped.  The noise alerted the person, who whirled around, but Hyacinth had stepped into the kitchen with her candle anyway.

"Gregory!?!?!" she whisper-yelled.  "What are you doing?"

"Hyacinth-- what are you-- were you following me?" he asked, caught out, nervous, fearful, and angry.

"I saw you-- I saw you put the knife back in the drawer!"

"Shh!!  Be quiet!  And it's not what it looks like."

Gregory tried to walk out of the kitchen, but Hyacinth blocked his way.

"Really?"

"Yes, really!" he hissed as he pushed past her.

She hurried to follow him and managed to grab his arm, trying to pull him back and make him face her.

"Because it looks like you had the murder weapon in your hand and you were trying to sneak it back!"

"No, it's not the murder weapon-- let go!" Gregory tried to twist away and free himself.  "That one was a different knife--"

"How do you know it's a different knife if you aren't the one who tried to kill Benedict!"

"Keep your voice down!  Everyone can hear!"

"Tell me!"

"Hyacinth, get off of me!"

"Not until you tell me--"

"I can explain everything, but let's just get out of here first!"

"Why should I believe you?" she demanded.

"I didn't do it, Hy!  I didn't do anything, I can prove it to you--"

Gregory tried to drag himself and his sister up the stairs.  Furious whispering followed, voices overlapping and increasingly urgent.

"If you have nothing to hide, you should be able to tell me anywhere in front of anyone!"

"I'm not hiding anything!"

"You're not acting like someone who's innocent, so if you don't tell me right now what you were doing with the knife, I'm going to--"

"Is that a threat?!"

"Does it have to be?"

"You've got it all wrong!  Don't talk about things you don't understand!"

They both froze.

There were voices.  Two voices getting closer to the stairs.  Gregory tried to take advantage of the distraction and make a run for it, but Hyacinth caught him in her grip like a vise.

At that moment, a crack of thunder shook the foundations of the house; four voices screamed in bloody terror as everything plunged into complete darkness.  The thunder continued--

bang!

crash!

crack!

After a moment of silence in the pitch black, the two maids heard frantic footsteps scrambling up the stairs-- they squeaked again in surprise.

But that was nothing compared to the sight which greeted them when they managed to light their candles again:

Miss Hyacinth sprawled at the foot of the stairs to the kitchen, dead.  Her neck was at an unnatural angle and her eyes wide in shock, as though she hadn't seen death coming for her.

The maids screamed and screamed and screamed.

They ran for the doors to get out of the house but--

It was locked.

Everyone was trapped inside.

--

When Angus told Luke he had an "easy job" to oversee the transfer of a kidnapped lady (i.e. make sure she doesn't escape while they made the journey from Kent to London), this was not what Luke had imagined: wearing borrowed livery, trying to navigate the enormous maze of a very creepy manor.  He'd gotten turned around at least four times now and considered it a miracle he hadn't been thrown out.

Why can't we wait until they come back to London?

Are you telling me how to do my job, boy?

No, sir, Mr. Angus, sir, but it seems like it would be simpler to wait.

It would be simpler, Angus had growled, but the damned ship to India sets sail in two days, and there ain't another one for another four months.

Why does it have to be India, sir?  Why not some other foreign parts?  The Continent?

Devil if I know, but this is the job.  And unless we deliver on the job, we won't get paid.  It's what the lady wanted, and it ain't our business to ask why.

How'm I to get to Kent, sir?

Sam sent this-- says he's reserved a spot on a coach for you.  And he'll have a carriage at the house waiting for the lady, so you don't need to worry about that.

Now here he was, sneaking about the rooms of Aubrey Hall, searching for,

A lady-- Lady Violet told him.  She's tall with dark hair and dark skin.  She's from India herself.

Yes ma'am.

You'll probably find her in the library-- that's her favorite room.

Yes ma'am.

The lady turned away, very obviously dismissing him.  Luke fidgeted.  He wasn't used to being in the presence of highborn ladies.

However, there had clearly been some sort of breakdown in communication along the way.  Luke had been told very clearly that he was only guarding the lady.  From Kent, to London.  Normally, Luke might have some objections on taking a lady from her home against her will, but this lady was the wife of the Blind Man.  Luke was fine with that.

But it was with the understanding that she would already be kidnapped.  He had not been hired to conduct the kidnapping.  He did not want to try to kidnap her.  Kidnapping was not in his skill set.  He guarded things.  He was good at guarding things.  Give him a box and a stick and he would guard the box very well with his stick.

Luke was not sure at all how to proceed.  Angus took care of this kind of thing.  He brokered the deals.  And Luke had expected to meet Sam, not a Lady.  Instead, Sam hurried him into a room where the lady sat with her needle and cloth (was this what noble ladies did all day?) and she told him the Lady Kate was tall, had black hair and dark skin.

He didn't know how to tell her that kidnapping was not part of the deal.  Or rather, he was trying to right now.  Only she was looking at him with great suspicion and Luke felt like he was five seconds away from being scolded by Granny Jenkins.

Did you need something?

No ma'am, that is, ma'am, um--

Luke fidgeted, then figured how hard could it be?  He was strong.  Kidnapping was probably no different from stealing a thing and then guarding it, right?  Right.

Where's the library?  Ma'am?

Through the hall, take a left, then a right when you get to the Green Parlor, and then straight down the hall to the end.

Well, here he was, having taken a left, then a right (he didn't know which room was the Green Parlor, but Luke figured it was the room which had the most green in it.  Difficult, since none of the rooms were green), but when he got to the hall, it was very short with no room at the end of it, only a table with a vase.  He would have liked to steal the vase-- he would have liked to steal a great many things.  Maybe he could, in the time between knocking the lady out and waiting for the promised carriage.

When he found the library, no one was there.

By then, Luke had had enough roaming about the eerily bleak halls, dodging the noise of footsteps or voices which seemed to echo from every which way.  The house was giving him the willies, enough so that he was seriously contemplating abandoning the job.  Angus would tear stripes off him, but kidnapping had never been part of the deal anyway.  Luke would just tell Angus that Sam never delivered the kidnapped dark-haired, dark-skinned lady.

He was about to leave when-- just his luck-- a lady walked through the door.  Luke scrambled back, grabbing the closest object he could find: a candlestick.

This lady, however, didn't seem to see or hear anything.  She immediately went to the shelves to find a book, talking to herself sarcastically.  Definitely didn't have dark skin.  She had dark hair, but she looked 100% English and when someone outside the library called Eloise, where are you?, the lady had rolled her eyes and hollered back, I'm in the library! in a truly unladylike fashion.  Luke began to sweat, he was so nervous.

The lady would not leave.  She simply stood there, nose buried in the book, huffing and laughing to herself until another lady, who definitely did not have dark skin or dark hair, walked through.  She was also quite small, shorter than the Eloise lady.

He had been doing his best to hold back a sneeze and was on the verge of losing the battle when the two women finally left the library.

Then, of course, all the candle lights went out even though there wasn't another soul in the room with him.

He'd had enough.  Nothing was worth coming face to face with a ghost-- Luke wasn't going to sit around imperiling his immortal soul just to say he got a glimpse of the devil.  Like any other dock worker worth his salt, Luke was superstitious, and he'd heard enough stories about the Blind Ghost.

Angus would understand.  Angus was Catholic, and they were even more superstitious than sailors.  The Ghost was welcome to her; job wasn't worth the money anyway.

Luke was making his way out of his hiding spot when he came face to face with a woman.

Before he knew what was happening, she screamed that terrifying high pitched sound and then at that moment, a crack of thunder shook the foundations of the house; two voices screamed in bloody terror as everything plunged into complete darkness.  The thunder continued--

bang!

crash!

crack!

After a moment of silence in the pitch black, certain he'd aged ten years, Luke tried to make his way to the door.

He stumbled over a body instead.

But he didn't give it any thought, just intent on getting out of the madhouse.  Then,

A shimmering grey figure appeared in front of him and next to that figure, illuminated by her husband's soft light, was a tall woman with dark hair and dark eyes.

--

He would always claim that he'd asked her to marry him seven days after they'd met, when what he'd really said that first day, fuck-drunk and smiling, was:

come home with me

who are you?

She figured she wanted to know the name of the man who'd made her come just by fucking her-- it was a rare skill and worthy of a memory.  But she had no intention of making early morning trysts with handsome strangers a habit.

the man who's going to marry you--   Anthony, the Viscount Bridgerton

She'd laughed; it was so typical of the men she'd bedded to promise her something so patently ridiculous just because she'd made them come their brains out.  Truly, she could have vanquished empires with the power of her cunt.

Lord Bridgerton.  Are you always like this?

Yes

Well, I'm not

I think you will be

Staring down at her, his kill-callused hands gentle in her hair, palms holding her like something precious because it would have been so easy to break her neck.

Kathani

your scent is like a memory

He inhaled and it was one of the most obscene sounds she'd ever heard-- even the sound of him practically slurping her up couldn't compare.

a rake, is that not what you are?  

I also speak Greek

is this an interview?

no.  come home with me

But Kate pushed him off her and went about straightening her riding habit as best as she could, letting her hair out of her braid to do it again.  Anthony had watched, hypnotized by the sight, entranced by the length, wondering how it would feel to wrap it lovingly around her neck and choke her.

When she finally said yes, they'd gotten married on an ordinary license, with the entire idiocy of the banns, balls, bouquets, banquets.

And it was only after he'd tied her to him in body, law, and soul, that he took her to watch her first fatal show. 

--

"Oh Fran," Kate sighed, bending over to check the girl's pulse.

Nothing, just as she'd suspected.  Francesca's head had a wide gash in it-- deeper than it appeared, Kate guessed.  It was difficult to tell in the low light and Francesca's hair fanned out in a pool of blood.  A pool of blood which was getting larger by the second.

"Kate," Anthony said sharply.

The man-- the bumbling incompetent his mother had hired-- had regained some of his equilibrium, such as it was.  An ordinary man would have reacted purely on panic, but given what appeared to be this man's background as hired muscle, he had no problem raising his arm, heavy candlestick in hand, to club Kate over the head.

Anthony smiled lazily, a feeling of deep, eternal satisfaction sating his basest instincts to see his wife pull the stiletto knife out of her hair to stab the man's eyes.

He'd watched her do this so many times-- simply walk up to someone and with lightning speed rob them of sight.

Like so many wonderful things in life, the first time had been an accident.

She hadn't made her own kill yet.  Anthony had held her hands as they both push a knife through a man's heart, or slit someone's throat, or suffocated them, but she had yet to kill someone without him helping her.

That night, they'd been taken by surprise.  A second and third person-- twin brothers of what was apparently the triplet corpse-- came at them, one charging Anthony and the other attacking Kate.  She fought well, but one of the brothers still managed to disarm her, her favorite knife clattering to the floor and kicked to the corner, out of her reach.  Anthony had dispatched one twin, but he was still too far away to help her.

There would be other nights, but that night was the closest he came to real terror; he'd been almost certain he was going to lose her.  Time slowed.  He saw his wife look to one side, then another, still searching for a weapon, coming up with nothing.  Anthony honestly thought his life had flashed before his eyes.

Then, miraculously, his beautiful, clever, wonderful, ingenious wife pulled one of the long pins from her hair and quick as a snake, stabbed her attacker's eyes.

Anthony watched, awed, as the twin crumpled and Kate stood over the man, panting harshly and victorious, circling like a predator around her wounded prey.  Then Anthony saw a change come over his wife.

She stopped behind the twin and grabbed the man's hair, pulled his head back until his neck was exposed.  With her other hand, she took out a second pin and stabbed it right where Anthony had shown her: the pulsepoint.

The moment hung in the air for a second before she ripped the pin out, probably slicing through the artery.

Blood sprayed forward everywhere, but Anthony could only see Kate, haloed in gold like a goddess.

That night, the sex had been more intense than ever before-- which was saying something, since they already had very intense sex.  And when Kate wore that particular set of pins, the ones she used for her first murder, it was guaranteed to make him hard.  No matter the time, place, or how many times he'd already had her.  It wasn't even a choice-- his body simply reacted and she simply took.

Kate only wore them for very special occasions, like his birthday, or to celebrate his 100th murder.  Anthony knew without question that those were the pins she would be wearing when they began trying for a child.

After that night, she always blinded her quarry.  She enjoyed it, but it was also practical:  It drastically tipped the odds in her favor.  No matter how big, strong, or capable the person might be, Kate was always able to overpower them once they were blind.

Anthony took great pleasure in commissioning special stiletto knives for her, all of them designed to hold her hair in her favorite (his favorite) coiffure and all of them deadly weapons.  There was a trick to it, to make sure she didn't stab herself in her own scalp or end up cutting off all her hair.  Anthony didn't know how to put her hair up, but he always knew how to pull it down-- watching her long, dark curls fall down in a cascade was one of the most simple and sublime pleasures in his life.

He never got tired of the sight.

So of course, since he was greedy, before they went back into Aubrey Hall, he watched her reassemble her coiffure, two stiletto knives in place.  Just so he could witness her pulling them out again.

Which brought them to: The wailing man falling to his knees and dropping his candlestick.

Most women had similar high pitched screams.  Men, however, differed.  This one in particular was more on the switching between wails of agony and moans of pain side of the spectrum.

"He'd make a better ghost than me."

Kate, however, was staring at Anthony, holding the candlestick.

"I dreamed of you," she said.

"I know.  I was there," he said fondly, putting one cold hand to cup her face.  "You were having a great deal of fun without me." 

"You said you could only hold physical objects for a short period of time."

"Did I?"

His wife narrowed her eyes.

"You lied."

"I lied," he said unrepentantly.  "Forgive me?"

The man was trying to crawl away.

Kate took her stiletto knife slammed it in the man's calf, straight through bone and into the wooden floor below.  She took the other stiletto knife out of her hair and did the same with the other leg.

"Then-- that night, you were the one who threw the glass at me."

"I was trying to get your attention, to tell you I was in Kent."

"Then why didn't you stay?" she asked, hurt but trying not to show it.

"Darling, I would have," he replied softly, sincerely.  "I would have stayed if I could, but that stunt set me back in my progress quite a bit.  I wasn't lying about how difficult it was to approach Aubrey Hall-- I think it has something to do with the proximity of my grave."

"I thought ghosts were supposed to haunt their burial grounds," she teased.

"That would be true if that was really me in that urn.  I know you switched my ashes out, darling."

"I won't apologize for doing it."

"I would never ask you to."

The moaning of the man they'd essentially forgotten had turned into begging.  Evidently he'd tried to pull the knives out of his legs and found he could not.  The effort had made him nearly pass out in pain.

"I suppose he's figured out now that he killed the wrong Bridgerton."

"I don't think he was meant to kill me at all," Kate replied, delicately tapping the end of each blade with one of Anthony's paperweights.

The faint harmonic vibration echoed in the shattered bone, like a saw with very fine teeth was cutting through the wreckage.

"Should I be suspicious that no one has heard us?  Or him?"

"Now, whyever would you suspect your loving husband of taking advantage of his supernatural powers?"

"Perhaps because my loving husband has proven himself to be a liar."

"Only out of the greatest love for you, my lovely Wife.  I told you I was coming for you."

"Is that so," she said flatly, but her eyes were glittering with amusement.

"Come here," he beckoned, even though she was already right at his side.

Anthony wrapped his arms around her.

"Do you want to see something interesting?"

"Is it cruel or gruesome?"

"Both."

"You always say that and you're always wrong."

"I tend to find most cruel things to be gruesome, and most gruesome things to be cruel," he shrugged.  "Now even moreso, as a ghost."

"All right," she sighed, but leaned into his cold body.  "What is this thing you want to show me?"

"Here," he pointed to Francesca's corpse.  "Watch."

At first, it was difficult to see-- the room was only illuminated by Anthony's light.  But it became clear that Francesca's hair was growing longer.  Pieces of hair-- some of soaked in blood, some of the not-- moved slowly but surely to the man pinned to the ground.

The man startled when he felt the hair wrap around his ankles, then screamed when the startle only exacerbated his pain.  But the hair didn't stop.  It wrapped around and around his ankles and dragged him towards the corpse; Anthony swiftly rescued Kate's knives before they were swallowed up entirely by Francesca's ever-growing hair.

Francesca's hair grew so long that it crashed over the man in a wave-- he shrieks were muffled by the sudden movement of different strands twining around his entire body, squeezing and constricting like it was testing its own strength.  Meanwhile, Francesca's corpse grew thinner and thinner, skin going grey and gaunt, nearly skeletal by the time the man was completely covered in a thousand ropes of hair, all of different thicknesses and lengths.

Kate could hear the sound of breaking bones and joints popping.  However, the screams were completely blocked by all the hair stuffed in the man's mouth, hair going up his nostrils, hair in his ears, hair poking into the hollows of his eyes.

There were sounds of choking, weak struggling, things continuing to crack and pop very softly until there was nothing but a vague person-shaped thing mummified in hair, every orifice in its face stuffed full to bursting.

Then the hair did something completely unexpected-- it moved the corpse so that it lay next to Francesca, side by side like two statues resting on top of tombs.  Francesca looked like Rapunzel had eaten her prince but decided to save the body to use as enormous hair curlers.

"You're right," Kate said.  "That is cruel and gruesome."

Anthony simply kissed her:  He loved his wife so much.

"I knew you'd agree with me."

Right on cue, the door opened.

"Hello, Mother," he smiled, a shark in bloody water. "We've been expecting you."

--

"I should tell her."

Daphne paced in small circles in one of the many parlors in Aubrey Hall.  This particular room happened to be in a more remote corner of the house-- less of a chance that one of their siblings, or their mother, might walk in.

"Yes, I'm sure that will go very well," Eloise snorted.  "Kate, you need to turn yourself in to the constable's office and confess that you attempted to murder our brother."

"Then must you agree she's guilty in all of this."

Mulish silence.

"Eloise, we did the right thing, turning Anthony in."

"I didn't turn him in-- you took what I told you in confidence and did whatever you liked because the Duchess of Hastings couldn't be associated with such a scandal."

"Then why did you follow him in the first place?"

"I didn't think I would see--"

"But you did, Eloise, you saw our brother killing those defenseless children--"

"I thought I saw him stab a person, but I told you I wasn't certain--"

"What else was I to do with that knowledge?  It's an unforgivable crime and he needed to be held to account.  Those people deserve justice."

"Justice," she sneered.  "I see.  And the fact that you had an enormous argument with him two days prior had nothing to do with it."

"I can separate my personal feelings from what's right and wrong.  And it was the right thing to do," Daphne stopped pacing and sat next to her sister.  "I'm sorry I had to distance myself from the family during the trial, but I'm here now."

"You're here because you and Simon haven't spoken to each other for months and you can't stand being alone at Clyvedon."

"You know nothing of my marriage, Eloise, and you know nothing of marriage," Daphne snapped.  "Anthony saw to that."

"Yes, and now it's Benedict who blocks me at every turn.  Don't pretend you did anything for my sake-- you merely replaced one intolerable brother with the only brother I actually liked, but who's becoming more intolerable every day."

"That's not fair to Benedict, Eloise."

"It's true!  I don't understand why he insists on defending her.  Mama was right-- Anthony changed after he married Kate."

"I suppose it's because Benedict was close to Anthony, and he feels a sense of obligation to look after her."

"What does it matter.  Liam's engaged now, to Miss Pepperman," Eloise made a face, then frowned.  "This plan of yours, why not just turn Kate in?"

"I didn't say we should turn her in, I said we should confront her."

"But if we know she tried to kill Benedict, wouldn't it be better not to warn her?  Unless," Eloise looked at her sister speculatively.  "What was that unforgivable act you committed against Simon?"

"Nothing," Daphne replied too quickly.  "Simon lied to me first, and even if it was so terrible, he forgave me."

"If he's still not speaking to you--"

"Don't try to lecture me about something you could never understand."

"The lady doth protest too much, methinks," she said in a sing-song voice, gleeful to needle her perfect sister's not-so-perfect life.

"Why should Anthony get away with literal murder!  Why should men be allowed to lie and commit crimes and carry on having affairs while women must adhere to another standard?"

Daphne and Eloise screamed when thunder suddenly ripped through their eardrums and lightning nearly blinded them as it flashed to reveal two figures but only one shadow.  A freezing wind rushed through the room and slammed the parlor doors.

"Why indeed," Kate said mildly.

Anthony stood behind her, hands possessive on her waist and grinning like Christmas come early.

"Quite, dear Sister."

And, just because he could, he pulled Kate impossibly closer to him, one hand anchoring her in place and the other gently moving his wife's face to his-- he kissed her; he devoured her; he showed her and everyone in the room exactly how much he loved her and the lengths he would go to keep her.

"That was cruel," Kate whispered to him.

Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw his sisters pale with supernatural fear.  They probably thought he and Kate were plotting something dastardly for their demise.  Or maybe it was just the expression on his face-- Kate always said he looked like murder when he was hungry for her.

"I like to take every opportunity I can get."

He kissed her again before she could say something smart.

In the background, Daphne and Eloise were pounding at the closed doors, screaming for help.

"We have a job to do, Anthony," Kate sighed into his mouth.

"I missed you," he replied.

Anthony and Kate stood in the middle of the storm, furniture flying around them, glass and vases shattering with the shards flying every which-way-- some must have sliced through Daphne and Eloise, if the shrill crying meant anything.  Cracks appeared in the walls, dripping with the ooze of burst eyeballs.

Then the screaming took on a new quality-- Anthony looked at the ceiling to see fat, slimy chains of intestines dropping out like the sausages hanging in the butcher's shop.  Bags of stomachs and necrosed livers lined with fat dangled like puppets while septic blood mixed with the slop of busted colon shit, bile and stomach acid rained down, dissolving the carpeting, eating holes in the polished wooden surfaces.

Daphne and Eloise were covered in the black tar of a smoker's lungs, hair dripping with what could only be the unraveled noodles of a human brain.  The acid left burns on their skin and he was mildly surprised, but not totally stunned, to see their eyes had been melted out of their skulls.

Kate made a noise of exasperation.

"Did you really have to do that?  I was looking forward to popping their eyes out," she made an expression Anthony dared not call a pout.  "You've spoiled the best part."

"I'm sorry darling," he said, and kissed her again.  "I'll leave the eyes for you next time."

"That wasn't a request, my Lord," she said haughtily, then turned her attention away from him.  "You were lamenting the double standards that society has for men and women, Duchess.  A favorite topic of yours also, is it not, Eloise?"

Anthony very reluctantly let her leave the circle of his arms.  He was fascinated to see that the intestines which were flopping all over the floor suddenly began wiggling-- moving like inchworms-- towards the two crawling figures who kept falling into wandering piles of eyeballs which squished and burst into jelly.

You should both know that half of Anthony's kills were mine."

"All the eyeballs were hers too," he grumbled.  "Do you know I had to start popping eyes just because she took such a liking to it?  I didn't even want the moniker 'Blind Man.'"

"You didn't have to do it," his wife said.

"As though I was going to risk letting all of London know there were two of us.  They could have at least given us a better name."

"Such as?"

Anthony thought for a moment.

When Daphne and Eloise felt the writhing intestinal worms, they slipped and screamed in hysteria.  He rather thought he'd been merciful, to be honest, that they weren't able to see the room around them.  Then again, given their states of panic, perhaps human imagination had conjured something worse.

He waited for the noise to recede (saying die down seemed in rather poor taste) to tell Kate:

"Cupid."

"Cupid," she said, unimpressed.

"Yes.  Love is blind, and all."

"But that would mean you murdered for love, which isn't true."

"I did murder for love!"

Kate raised her eyebrow.

The intestines shyly wrapped themselves around Daphne and Eloise's necks, pausing every so often as though asking Kate for permission.  Of course, this brought on more screaming, quickly cut off when the organs tied themselves into a knot.

"Some of them," he paused.  "A few of them."

His wife continued to stare.

"You can't deny that all my recent kills have been for love of you."

"You see, Daphne--"

"I don't think she can, darling."

Daphne and Eloise coughed and gasped for breath, hands scrabbling at the bloody guts choking them.

Kate glared at him.

"That joke never gets old for you, does it."

"Death has changed very little of who I am," he conceded, cheeky.

She rolled her eyes, stole a kiss, and looked down at the two women covered in viscera.  The organs loosened their grip before Daphne and Eloise passed out.  It was as delightful as it was uncanny.  For a moment, the room was silent save the sound of their wheezing.

"I pity them, in truth," Kate said suddenly, toeing one of the slithering organs.

"Oh?" Anthony tilted his head.  "Aside from the obvious fact they'll soon be dead?"

"We never took from each other."

"Mm, I think I took you a fair number of times.  Quite a lot, if I recall."

"You never tried to force a child from me, not the way your sister did from Simon."

One night-- the anniversary of his father's death, in fact-- Simon had gotten very, very drunk at Mondrich's club.  Drunk enough that he began screaming things at Anthony that his normally reserved, extremely controlled friend would never say.  Things about never having wanted to get married, wishing Anthony had shot him, never having wanted children, wishing he'd never come back to England, Daphne pressuring him for more children when he was happy with the two.

Fear that she'd get children out of him whether he wanted it or not.

Mondrich had allowed Anthony-- with great reluctance and promises of vengeance-- to take Simon back to Bridgerton House to let him sleep it off.  The next morning, Simon and Anthony spoke of the incident once, and only once-- he didn't need to tell Kate because she already knew.  She and Simon had been close.

That conversation marked the beginning of the end of Daphne's marriage.  Anthony could not say he was surprised when his sister came to him, asking for him to "talk some sense" into his best friend.  He supposed she must have thought him responsible in some way.  Though, the thought that she might hold Kate responsible made him growl-- the sound shook the house.

Kate looked at him, at once concerned and amused.

"To be fair, my darling," he smiled, dark thoughts vanished, "if you didn't respond well to the first murder, I might have been forced to kill you."

"Only if I didn't kill you first," she said primly.

Anthony shook his head and laughed.  His wife's response had been more than he'd ever imagined and far better than anything he'd ever dreamed.

"This is why she's perfect for me, Daph.  She and I want the same things-- we've always wanted the same things."

Because Kate had watched him with lidded eyes, desire a physical force between them, offering him her fingers to suck and lick and lave with his tongue while the man under his hands kicked weakly, body seizing in its death throes.  She stood by him, before him, in front of him, and then let him take her, let him taste how wet she'd gotten with her want for him-- how much she hungered for Anthony, her husband who had just choked the life out of the corpse cooling not ten feet from where he was fucking her.

That was the first night he watched her let go, so beautiful as she screamed for him, biting and clawing like the vicious creature he knew she'd kept caged inside too long.

When he'd set that monster free, there was no going back for either of them.

"You're both monsters," Eloise managed to say, voice whispery and hoarse.

The room's temperature plummeted.

"You should know, Eloise," Anthony's voice was a distant roll of thunder, "that I know you lied to Mother.  Imagine my surprise when I found it was your dear, loyal footman Sam who gave Mother the names of all those hired hands."

"I didn't know--"

"There's only so many times you can feign ignorance before people think you're stupid.  Who would have thought you held dear Mother's opinion in such high regard, that you would tell her Kate broke off your engagement to Lenny."

"Liam," Kate corrected.

"Darling, do I look like I care?  After all these years and all those political rallies, she's still a little girl, rattling around big words like responsibility but never owning the consequences of her actions."

This time, when the bloody, bulging worms tightened, they didn't stop.

"She understands what everyone else is responsible for.  Isn't that enough?" Kate smirked.

Anthony grabbed her waist and pulled her crushingly close.  He tangled one hand through her long, beautiful hair and forced her to look into his eyes.  If life were fair, his gaze should have blinded her the same way her smile had decimated his on that fateful morning.

"No it's not."

Over the roar of the shrieking wind and the shrieking screams of his sisters, Anthony only heard Kate's fluttering heartbeat.

The silhouettes revealed by flashes of lightning showed two necks pinched to a point, throats tied off and windpipes narrowed to the width of a needle.

"It's never enough," he breathed before kissing her breathless again.

Behind them, two heads toppled off bodies covered in eyeball-fat.

The blind and gaping faces rolled through the open door.

[cupidbedsy]

𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗲 ; 𝘩𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 ୨୧

➪ summary: the boys are always going to be there for their little sister, whether that's after a game, when she has a nightmare, at the end of a bad day, or when she's going through a breakup

➪ warnings: reader has a bad day, breakup

➪ word count: 4.0k

➪ file type: new fic (hinted at being in the baby bear universe)

➪ sunny's notes: i have been slaving away so hard to get this fic down and i'm so happy it finally is! i hope you guys enjoy this and feel free to start sending in asks and things about the baby bear universe!

© cupidbedsy (sunflower-lilac42) ; do not copy, repost, or translate my work and designs on any other website or here

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⟹ game day ; quinn - 13, reader - 7

Y/n had been bouncing off the walls since her parents told her that they were going to Quinn’s game. This happened every time she went to one of their games, it was her favorite thing to do. Not only did she get to watch her brother play, but she also got to watch her favorite sport, a win-win situation if you asked her. Ellen, however, was regretting her decision to tell her daughter. While she knew she would be hyper, she somehow continued to do it despite knowing it. 

Currently, Jim had taken Quinn to the rink while Ellen tried to rangle her daughter. Jack and Luke weren’t being the least bit helpful as they sat in the latter's room playing a random video game. Y/n was running down the hallway in one of Quinn’s other jerseys he had acquired through the year, not making it easy on her mother before they left themselves.

After 10 minutes, her mom was able to get her to calm down and sit at the kitchen table with a plate of apple slices. Y/n ate them quietly as thoughts raced through her head about the game. She was hoping Quinn’s team would win, she was hoping Quinn would score a goal. But no matter the outcome, she was hoping she’d gate postgame hugs from everyone on the team, it was one of her favorite perks of being a younger sister.

When the time game, she skipped happily out to the car, the rest of her family following behind her with less excited expressions on their faces. Jack sat on the other side of his sister as Luke sat in the back making comments about random things (mostly complaining about having to go to Quinn’s game). 

Y/n sang along to the music that the radio was playing, swinging her feet back and forth. And then she decided to annoy Jack and Luke, “Jack! Jack! Jack!”

“Yes, y/n?” Said boy turned towards her with a raised eyebrow.

“Are you excited for the game?”

“Sure.”

She frowned and thought to herself ‘how could he not be excited for the game?’. She quickly decided to end her pestering, knowing it would only end in her upset or Ellen angry at the three of them. She went back to looking out the window and quietly naming things she saw to pass the time in the car.

Once they got to the arena, she held Ellen’s hand as they walked in. They took their seats amongst the other families that were sitting there, most of the moms making conversation with Ellen. Not long after, Jim made his way up to them, sitting at the end next to Luke. 

Y/n thought that it would be a good time for a pregame nap, so she laid her head on Jack’s shoulder and slept until the horn sounded through the arena. She was briefly startled before she became aware of her surroundings and stood up and started cheering for everything and everyone. 

The other four Hughes’ quickly got used to her cheering and just smiled everytime they heard her voice at this point. The other families around them also adored her and her antics, thinking it was sweet that she always came to cheer on her brother and the rest of the team. 

Throughout the game, y/n screamed loudly when Quinn’s team got a goal or their goalie blocked a shot. She only got scolded twice for booing the opposing team, which was much improvement from the last game she was at. Whenever Quinn was on the ice, she would yell his name in hopes that he would hear her. Most of her efforts were in vain until the third period when she had either finally screamed loud enough that Quinn had been actively paying attention to the noise of the crowd. 

His head quickly snapped to where he thought the noise was coming from, scanning the crowd for his hyper little sister who he found jumping and waving her arms. He was able to wave his arms in her direction which unbeknownst to him caused her to smile and look at their mom excitedly, “Mommy! Mommy! Quinny waved at me!”

Ellen looked up from where she was sitting next to her and smiled, “Did he now? That’s amazing, sweetheart.”

She just nodded happily and sat back down, swinging her feet like earlier. The rest of the game went by quickly, y/n slowly growing tired from the amount of cheering and moving she had done. By the end of the game, she had practically fallen asleep against Jack’s shoulder once more. She walked through the crowd of people clinging on to her dad as they made their way to find Quinn.

They stood at the entrance to the tunnel, y/n watching as other players walked out to their families. Despite her shy nature around most people, she had no issues giving or accepting hugs from each player who walked by her. Most of them patted her head while some also thanked her for her cheering.

After what seemed like ages to the little girl, her eyes finally laid upon her older brother, and wasted no time walking over to him. She crashed into him harshly, wrapping her arms around his waist. Quinn wrapped his arms around her, dropping his stuff in order to, “Hey y/n/n.”

“Hi, Quinny.” She mumbled, keeping her head buried in the jacket he was wearing. 

Quinn gave a look to his parents before picking her up and following the rest of his family to their car. Y/n got herself situated immediately; laying her head on his shoulder, wrapping her arms around his neck, curling into him, and cringing slightly at the way he smelled, “Quinny?”

“Yes, baby bear?”

“You smell.”

He let out a soft chuckle, “I can put you down if you want?”

“No no no, it’s okay.” 

And before Quinn knew it, he heard her soft snores. He placed her down in the car, making his way to the other side of the car to sit next to her. He made sure everyone kept quiet on the way back, not wanting him or his parents to deal with his cranky little sister at this time. 

Jim went to carry her inside when they got home but Quinn shook his head and carried her inside to her room, tucking her in and placing her stuffed animal bear in her arms. He kissed her head and mumbled a quick ‘Love you’ before walking to his room to change and shower. 

ू ₒ ु ୨୧ ू ₒ ु

⟹ nightmare comfort ; jack - 10, reader - 6

It wasn’t often that she would have nightmares, but when they happened, they were awful. It was close to 3 in the morning when she woke up from one, her eyes snapping open in terror and a small whine escaping her. 

She was confused, she didn’t know what to do or what was happening, what was real and what wasn’t. The only thing she did know was that she wanted her older brother. So she climbed out of bed, dragging her teddy bear and small blanket with her as she made her way down the hallway to Jack’s room. 

She knocked hesitantly, knowing he wouldn’t be awake but still wanting to be nice. When she received no answer, she pushed the door open slightly and made her way into the room. She was careful to not get her blanket caught on anything Jack had laying on the ground, picking it up as she walked closer to the bed. 

She whispered his name a few times but she continued to get no response from the boy. She tried again and again but every try went unnoticed. She didn’t really want to disturb his sleep so she quietly went to the other side of his bed, placing both her bear and her blanket on the bed before climbing up and sitting next to him. 

It was only when she finally got comfy that Jack noticed her, turning around in his sleep, mumbling incoherently. He went to shift over but he hit something soft and unfamiliar which caused his eyes to open. His arm had hit her bear and he instantly knew what happened. He murmured her name to see if she was awake and watched as her eyes slowly opened, “Hi Jacky.”

“Hey baby bear, whatcha doin?” He wrapped his comforter around her, allowing her to scoot closer into his arms.

“Nightmare.”

He frowned and finished tucking her into his blanket, “I’m sorry, y/n/n. Why didn’t you wake me up?”

“Didn’t want to bother you.”

“You would never bother me with something like this, okay?”

She just nodded, “Do you want to talk about it?”

“No thank you.”

“Alright, y/n/n.”

The two were silent and then y/n could feel her stomach grumbling, “Jacky?”

“Yes, baby bear?”

“Me Hungry.”

He chuckled softly before nodding, “I’ll go get some goldfish for you okay? You want some water too?”

“Yes please.”

“I’ll be back then.”

She watched him get up and walk out the door. She listened for his footsteps down the stairs and the slight movements from him downstairs. She looked around his room, eyeing all the posters of hockey players and all his medals and trophies. She smiled happily at them and curled further into the bed. 

Jack came back upstairs a few minutes later with two small bowls of goldfish, and two water bottles full of water. He handed one bowl to her and her favorite colored water bottle to her, helping her sit up on the bed. 

He sat down next to her and started eating his goldfish before she interrupted him, “Jacky?”

“Yes?”

“Can we watch Max and Ruby?”

“Sure, y/n/n.” He reached down and grabbed his iPad from under his bed and turned it on to navigate to Max and Ruby.

Y/n laid against her older brother and continued to eat her goldfish and drink her water as they watched one of her favorite shows. Halfway through the episode, she fell asleep leaving her goldfish finished and her water empty. Jack laughed and closed his iPad and got himself and her comfortable again before falling back asleep as well. 

ू ₒ ु ୨୧ ू ₒ ु

⟹ bad day ; luke - 18, reader - 16

Luke had texted her and asked if she was riding home with him after school, but he never got an answer from her. He had texted her during both of their lunch periods, so he knew she was on her phone. It usually wasn’t this late in the day when he would just be finding out how his sister would get home. There were only three options, himself, their mom or dad, or one of her friends. 

By the end of the day, he still hadn’t received an answer from her, so he sat in his car for about 10 minutes after school and that’s when he saw her text that told him he could go. Initially, he hesitated, he knew there was something wrong with her, okay maybe he didn’t know but he could feel that something was wrong. But who was he to not follow what she said? 

An hour after he arrived home he could hear the front door open and a thud before it closed again. He made his way downstairs and saw y/n sitting on one of the stools in the kitchen, looking down at her phone. Her head snapped up the footsteps and she placed her phone down on the counter, watching his movements.

“Hey.”

“Hi.” Her voice was uncharacteristically soft, especially for the time of day it was. 

He furrowed his eyebrows and took a seat next to her, “What’s up?”

“Nothing.” Her response was quick, practiced. 

Luke rolled his eyes, “Uh huh. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing!”

“Bull shit.”

She hopped off her seat and went to grab the bag of goldfish from the pantry. She came back and stood against the island, continuing to watch as Luke came up with ideas for why she was acting the way she was.

In return, Luke stared at her and her actions, the quick and fake answers, her comfort food, all tell tale signs that was not okay. While his mind couldn’t come up with any good ideas on what might’ve happened to make her upset, he still wanted to make her happy. 

So doing what any of them would do, he dragged her over to the couch, handed her the remote and let her choose what she wanted to watch. At first, he thought she would’ve picked Tangled, one of her all time favorite movies, but was pleasantly surprised when she turned on Beauty and the Beast and settled into the couch.

He made his way back to the doorway, grabbing her backpack to bring it up to her room. When he came back down he threw her blanket at her before walking into the kitchen to make hot chocolate. He knew how to cheer her up, he had grown used to all of the things that made her happy. Hot chocolate, goldfish, her blanket, a Disney movie. It was unusual to see the bear out as she grew older, but it still sat in the middle of her bed. 

He came back with her favorite mug and handed it to her, acknowledging her soft ‘thank you’. He watched the movie with her, drinking his own hot chocolate and sometimes stealing some of her goldfish. That usually ended with a slap to the hand but also with a few crackers, he would always claim that it was worth it. 

When the movie ended, he saw y/n’s side eye in his direction. He raised his eyebrow and looked over at her, “What?”

“Are you going to make me talk about it?”

“No… but I am going to make you tell me if someone did something.”

She shook her head, “Just a crappy day.”

Luke could get on board with that, simply nudging her side and nodding his head in the direction of the remote, “Pick another.”

“You don’t have to stay here, I can just go watch movies in my room.”

“Nonsense, I would never leave you on a bad day to watch movies by yourself. I got all night. Go on.”

She smiled at him before scrolling to find another movie. She looked down at her mug once it started and frowned, “Lukey?”

“Yeah?”

“Would you make me more hot chocolate?”

He stared at her with a blank face before holding his hand out, “Fine.”

“Thank you.”

“Any time, baby bear.” He teased as he ruffled her hair.

“Dick.”

ू ₒ ु ୨୧ ू ₒ ु

⟹ breakup ; quinn - 23, jack - 21, luke - 19, reader - 17

She hadn’t been expecting it, or maybe she had and just didn’t want to acknowledge reality. She had thought they had been okay, everything was going well and then just out of nowhere, he sent a text. A text that no girl ever wanted to receive, “I want to break up.”

She knew there wasn’t anything she had done to make him feel differently about her, at least that’s what the logical part of her brain said. Yet, she couldn’t help but think deep in her mind that she had done something to change his mind, to make him stop loving her. 

The text was sent at 8:23 p.m., the first thing she saw when she finished her homework. It happened quickly, probably, maybe, she didn’t know if she was totally honest. She remembered her phone dropping, the instant tears that came to her eyes, the whirlwind of emotions she felt. She didn’t remember curling up in her bed, holding her bear to her chest, head digging into the pillow. 

That was how Luke found her. At first he had thought she had watched a sad movie or a sad tiktok but then he saw the bear. The bear she only brought out when she was extremely upset or one of the boys placed it in her arms. He knew something had to be seriously wrong for it to make an appearance. 

He slowly padded over to the side of her bed, squatting down so his face was mostly level with her own, “Y/n/n?”

Her eyes fluttered open at Luke’s soft voice, tears immediately visible in them. Luke winced and frowned at the sight, cringing at the whimper she let out, “Luke.”

He wasted no time standing up and sitting next to her on the bed. At first she didn’t make any signs of moving closer to him, nervous that he would tease her for crying. But then he lifted his one arm and placed it amongst her pillows and she scooted towards him, crying into his sweatshirt. 

For a few moments, he didn’t do anything, just sat there silently as she cried. Then he moved his arm to wrap around her and pulled her closer into his side, kissing the top of her head. Y/n still kept her bear close to her chest even as she laid in her brother’s grip, not wanting to let go even for a minute. Luke thought about calling Jack and Quinn, but at the same time he wasn’t sure if she wanted them to see her like this. 

So, he waited a while, mostly until she calmed down. And that’s when he asked, “Do you want me to call Quinn and Jack?”

Confusion flashed across his face when she nodded her head, but it was gone as quickly as it came. He nodded with a murmur, “I’ll be right back okay?”

He gave her another kiss on her head before untangling himself and walking out of the room. Y/n could only hear his muffled voice from where she laid, millions of thoughts running through her head. Most of them were about Daniel and why he broke up with her, but some about the conversation that was happening outside her door creeped in.

Meanwhile, Luke was struggling to get a hold of either of his two older brothers. Both of them had been out with some of their friends, Luke wanting to stay home and be lazy all day. He had originally just gone into Y/n’s room to see if she wanted to order some food with him and that’s when this happened.

Finally, Luke had gotten a hold of Quinn who answered with a heavy sigh, “Yes Luke?”

He only rolled his eyes, “We have a problem.”

“We as in the three of us or we as in you and y/n/n?”

“Technically both?”

That’s what gained Quinn’s alertness. He instantly shushed the group of guys he was around, sticking one finger in his ear to block out the rest of the noise that came from the bar. Most of them looked at him quizzically while the rest  looked at him with annoyance, “What is it?”

“I don’t know. I walked into y/n’s room and she was just crying, wouldn’t say anything. When she finally calmed down I asked her if she wanted me to call you guys and she said yes, so I called.”

“And when you mean crying…?”

“The bear was in fact there.”

“Alright we’re on our way.”

“Get food and ice cream. She hasn’t been out of her room since she’s been home.”

“Okay.” And then the line went quiet.

At the bar, Quinn grabbed his jacket and eyed Jack, “Let’s go.”

“What? What’s going on?” Despite his questions, Jack followed him, grabbing his own jacket. 

“Y/n.”

And that was all Jack needed to hear to understand the urgency of the situation. 

ﾟ +*:୨୧:*﹤

Luke made his way back to the bedroom, shoving his phone back in his pocket, “They’re on their way, baby bear.”

She nodded, sitting up in the slightest. Her back now rested against the headboard, her knees curled up into her chest. He sat next to her and she laid her head on his shoulder, playing with the fur from her stuffed animal. 

It was quiet for a while, neither of them knowing what to say. Yet, the curiosity ate away at Luke’s brain so it wasn’t too long before he asked, “You wanna tell me what happened?”

She briefly looked up, not at him just forward, before shaking her head and looking back down. He frowned again, “Are you going to wait until they get home?”

This time she nodded and he let out a soft sigh of relief. He wasn’t oblivious to her tendencies to keep her emotions bottled up, most of the time they had to be relentlessly annoying to even get her to tell them how she was feeling. So the fact that she said she would tell them lifted a weight off his shoulders. 

The minutes from when Luke’s last words were spoken to when Jack and Quinn arrived home passed both silently and quickly. The two walked into her room, bags of food from her favorite restaurant in hand and another bag of random treats and desserts in the other. They smiled at her and took their seats on her bed, Quinn on her right side and Jack in front of Luke on her left. 

She eyed them as they started to take things out left and right, handing everyone their own food. Quinn took the initiative to turn the TV on and open the Disney+ App, finding Tangled and hitting play. Her eyes watered at their actions, unable to keep the tears in ultimately.

The three froze and exchanged glances with one another before looking at her. Their faces softened and Quinn pulled her into a side hug, allowing her tears to soak the fabric on his shoulder. Jack paused the movie and Luke finished handing out the food. 

Once she calmed down again, she murmured a ‘thank you’ before reaching for her food.

“Ah ah ah, food after you tell us what’s wrong,” Jack spoke, tugging her food out of her hands. 

She pouted at him and played with her fingers before speaking, “He broke up with me.”

“Daniel?” “He what?” “Fucking hell.”

Their reactions startled her, but she still reached for her food, “I did my part.”

Jack only nodded and gave it over to her, all of them watching as she opened it slowly and started eating. The boys flanked at each other again but then decided to finally leave it alone and settle back into her bed, watching the movie play.

As the movie went on, everyone finished their food, Jack and Luke both getting up to go throw the trash away. Quinn and y/n continued to watch as Flynn died and Mother Gothel fell out of the window. As Flynn and Rapunzle exchanged what they both thought would be their last word’s to each other, y/n leaned further into Quinn and looked up at him, “Quinny?”

He looked down at her with a soft smile, “Yeah, baby bear?”

“Will I ever find my Flynn Rider?”

It seemed like a stupid question to ask, sure. But she was 17 and going through her first heartbreak (real heartbreak). All she wanted as her own prince to make her feel wanted and loved, was that too much to ask anymore?

Quinn felt his heart break at the question. He knew it was inevitable that she would experience something like this, but that didn’t mean he didn’t want to protect her from it happening. He just held her tighter and kissed her head, “You will, y/n/n. You will.”

𝗛𝗨𝗚𝗛𝗘𝗦 𝗕𝗥𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗧𝗔𝗚𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗧 ୨୧

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[pulchramsolis]

It's cold when there aren't splashes of color everywhere - from the sunny yellow walls of her kitchen, to the assortment of handmade mugs she's collected over the years. The dozens of pillows everywhere in every size. Soft fuzzy blankets that she buries herself in to escape the world. Her therapist would say that it's her poor emotional boundaries that drain her. The woman at the new age shop calls her a sensitive soul and insists she get the rose quartz necklace to help balance her vibes. Harwin just rolls his eyes and drags her over for dinner, and Luke prods and tickles her into a good mood.

He worries about her. She doesn't mean to worry him, especially when he gives her a look when she tells him she worries about him. Just text me to let me know you're safe. Look! I found this app for safe dates. Abby is very aware that she's a pretty white girl, and everyone would look for her. Luke is a pretty white boy, who happens to like men. It would not be as easy.

"Jelly has fruit in it, so it counts. Fruit vehicle." She makes a silly face at him, shoves a triangle of peanut butter and jelly in her mouth as she wriggles out of her clothes. She likes boys -- very much -- but she doesn't blink when Luke climbs in. They're not seven years old anymore, and she has a healthy appreciation for him being attractive, but regardless of their platonic intimacy, he's still Luke, and he does as much for her as Jace, or Joffrey. Which is to say: nothing.

She's a pale redhead because the sun burns her tomato red, freckles and moles breaking up the monotony along her petite frame, still fit from her days playing tennis for the school team, although now it's purely run on coffee for breakfast and walking almost everywhere she's not riding her bike. They've got their scars - she's traced the one on his back often and peppered him with kisses, relieved that he was there and whole. Her scars are numerous and mostly relegated to her back and along her sides from where her ex decided pushing her through the sliding glass door was an acceptable manner of expressing his dislike for being told she wanted to break up.

Her eyes catch Daeron's name on his phone screen and she raises her eyebrows at him and settles in to face him. Leaning against him would be nice, but she's acutely aware of how fucking sore she is. But at least this means she can poke her foot into his shoulder. "Are you gonna ask Daeron out?" she counters his question in a blatant attempt at avoiding his question. Her own phone, screen newly cracked, has settled on the little cart.

Are you gonna tell Aegon about this? She bites her lip. "I don't want to, but it's not like he's not gonna see -" She gestures to the mess of slowly darkening bruises all over. No concussion, bruised up something fierce, with a warning how sore she was going to be in the morning when those ribs started really protesting. "And he's not going to like if I wait to tell him, but he's still in the middle of his own thing. I can't expect him to come back just because I lost control of my bike." Just because she got run off the road.

pulchramsolis· ; abby.

It’s what happens when you have someone who knows you better than anyone. Luke is able to draw a genuine smile from her, where she manages to wriggle out some more details about the date (tragically hot) and how that asshole who dropped him didn’t know what he was missing.

“I still think you should get that painting that was at the art fest last month - the one with the naked greek guys throwing the disc thing or whatever it was. The sad minimalist Instagram aesthetic is so cold, Luke.” Which is the usual complaint she has, but also Luke doesn’t need any extra over-stimulation in his environment. Her lighthearted ribbing is soon cut off by kisses from the best pup in the whole world and she reaches down to scratch between Arrax’s ears as his tail moves faster.

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