#betsy's face lmao

[buffonias]

[fantasyescapes17]

Scandal (Part 3)

The Viscount's sister with an enormous dowry, beauty and unmistakable talent- you began the London season as the most desired woman in any room. But Jeon Wonwoo (a man who would rather hide in the library than dance at a ball) is beyond your comprehension. Curiosity might have killed the cat, but it embroiled you into a scandal with a man you could never love.

Genre: Wonwoo x Female!reader. Regency!AU (It's sort of Bridgerton-esque in the sense that I give zero attention to historical accuracy and prioritize aesthetics lmao) You are Joshua's sibling so your maiden name is Hong but the reader has no other physical characteristics.

Warnings: This part has some discussion around character(s) struggling with mental health and dark thoughts including one or two which are not explicitly (but could maybe be perceived as borderline) suicidal.

Word Count: 7k+

Part 1 Part 2 Part 4

Series Masterlist [Reading Candle and Manners, the earlier installments in this series first is strongly recommended as main character dynamics are introduced there.]

The Jeons' countryside estate was vast and spacious. Mr. Jeon Wonwoo was the eldest son of a rich noble family and although his wealth could not compare to the fortune possessed by a Viscount- it was still nothing to sneer at. The Jeon manor towered over a lake and was surrounded by a pleasant little garden and blooming green fields.  

It was more remote than you had expected. The estate was followed by swathes of farmland and the nearest village was well over a mile away. 

It was late evening by the time your carriage rattled up to the front entrance. 

Mr. Jeon helped you down and you were greeted immediately by a host of servants that lined up outside the front gates upon your arrival. The head housekeeper hurried forward to greet you; she was an older woman with greying hair and a kind smile. 

"Mr. Jeon!" she welcomed him warmly.

You looked at Mr. Jeon from the corner of your eye, and were shocked to see him give her a small smile. You had never seen him smile other than a mere dispassionate curl of his lip or a smirk. 

This was a genuine, warm smile. 

"Mrs. Betsy. It is really wonderful to see you looking so well," Mr. Jeon greeted her kindly before turning to you. "This is Mrs. Betsy- she has been the head housekeeper at the estate since before I was born."

You nodded simply. "Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Betsy."

She beamed at you. You realised immediately from the warm reception and big smile on her face that she had no idea of the circumstances of your wedding. The household staff were evidently under the impression your marriage with Mr. Jeon was… normal. 

"We always knew Mr. Jeon would find a young lady that could persuade him to marry," Mrs. Betsy gushed as she took Snowball from your arms and led you up the entrance stairs. "Of course- I never imagined- is it quite true, madam, that your brother is a Viscount?"

Mr. Jeon was not far behind and he cleared his throat. 

"Mrs. Betsy…" he said in a gentle warning tone. 

The housekeeper blushed. 

"My apologies, Mrs. Jeon. We are merely curious about the young lady that could capture our master's heart. Supper is ready; you must both be very tired from the long journey. I will show you up to your rooms and the ladies' maids will help you dress."

You were guided by the ladies' maids into a large bedroom that was beautifully decorated. The pastel-colored linens were fresh and the dressing table was ornate, spotless, and filled with everything you could need. 

Two maids worked quickly to help you dress for supper. 

"We have placed you in the master suite since the elder Mr. and Mrs. Jeon are settled year-round in London and rarely come down to the country," the maid informed you as she swiftly did your hair. "Mr. Jeon Wonwoo's room is adjacent and…" she trailed off and let out a giggle. "There is a connecting door between your rooms."

You looked towards the door and sighed in relief. 

Thank goodness. You would have preferred the bedrooms to be entirely separate, but that was wishful thinking. At least the servants did not expect you to share a bedroom with your new husband. A connecting door could easily be closed and you and Mr. Jeon could each retain your privacy. 

Once you had been allowed to change into an evening dress, you were guided down to supper by the maids. To your surprise, they turned away from the enormous dining room and instead led you into the garden. Underneath a large oak tree, the household staff had set up a small, intimate table, two chairs, and a number of twinkling candles. 

You swallowed nervously as all the servants left. 

Mr. Jeon stood and pulled out a chair for you. 

"I apologise if you are uncomfortable," he said quietly as you sat down and he took the seat across from you. "Mrs. Betsy took it upon herself to arrange what she believed would be a… romantic supper for our wedding night."

"She seems very thoughtful," you mumbled. 

Mr. Jeon nodded. "I did not think you would want me to inform the servants about the particulars of our marriage. They are unaware. But if this is uncomfortable for you, and you wish for me to ask them not to overstep-"

You shook your head. "It is fine."

Mr. Jeon relaxed into his seat. The distant chirping of crickets filled the silence of the evening. It would have been a very romantic dinner if the circumstances had been different. If you had actually married this man out of love, or at the very least some mutual admiration. The serenity of the garden at night, the way the candlelight cast teasing shadows over Mr. Jeon's sharp jawline and dark eyes….

He  reached across you to seize the bottle of wine on the table, and uncorked it in one fluid movement. 

"May I?" he asked, gesturing to your empty glass. 

"That is…" inappropriate, you caught yourself about to say. But it was not. You were alone in your home having supper with your husband. A little alcohol in his presence was nothing unusual or improper. "Yes," you corrected yourself. "Yes, please."

He poured you a glass and gave it to you silently. You sipped the wine and took a deep breath. 

"Mr. Jeon-"

He interrupted you. "You are free to address me by my given name. The servants will consider it strange indeed if you continue to call me Mr. Jeon in our home."

You bit your lip. Enough boundaries had been crossed between you both for one day, in your opinion. Intimacy of that level would not come easily. 

"Perhaps… in time."

Mr. Jeon blinked in surprise but did not press the point. He poured himself a glass of wine and sipped it quietly. You looked at the delicious food and then at the silent, brooding man sitting across from you. 

It was pointless to expect him to make conversation- you knew Mr. Jeon better than that. He was perfectly comfortable with silence. 

"Did you grow up here?" you asked lightly. 

He nodded. "Yes; my sister and I spent our childhood at this estate until I left for my schooling at Oxford."

"The housekeeper seems to know you well."

"She does."

The conversation died out. There was nothing left to do but sip your wine. The glass was soon empty and Mr. Jeon watched-but made no comment- when you reached for the bottle and poured yourself a second glass. 

Once the second glass had been duly ingested in silence, you could feel the light buzzing in your head and your tongue felt looser. 

"Of all the things I imagined about my future since I was a child," you began slowly, prodding at your half-finished  plate with a fork. "I could never have imagined that my wedding night would be like this."

Mr. Jeon raised an eyebrow. 

"Did you spend a lot of time as a child imagining your wedding night?"

You gave him a sharp look. "You are a man. What would you understand about what a young girl thinks about? Marriage is the singular most important event in a woman's life. Everything she does from the moment she is old enough to speak is all leading up to the eventuality of her marriage."

Mr. Jeon was silent. 

"Learn French, Latin and Greek- practice drawing, dress impeccably, smile the right way, practise the art of engaging conversation-" you trailed off and raised an eyebrow at your husband. "I am quite sure nobody has ever asked you to practise the art of engaging conversation, Mr. Jeon."

"Perhaps not," he remarked lightly. 

"I did it all. Every bit of it. Years of lessons, and practice and training to ensure that I was the most desirable young lady in the room. You might call it vanity, Mr. Jeon. But that is what young women are taught to value. Their beauty, their talents and their virtue."

"You still possess all those things," he told you quietly. 

"Yes," you said with a dry laugh. "And now I have no need of them. They are the most useless things in the world to me. They failed to protect me. For all their worth, they could not protect me from complete societal ruin caused by a momentary lapse of judgement."

Mr. Jeon's silence continued. 

"But," you said with a sigh. Your head was beginning to ache. "Of course, this is a waste of time. I will hardly find a sympathetic ear in you, Mr Jeon- a man who considers me so vain and spoiled that he believes I intentionally make my friends cry by attempting to outshine them at the piano."

"That is not-"

"And for your information," you cut him off with a frown. "I was not trying to make Miss Brooke feel inferior by playing the most difficult piece I knew. Miss Brooke was the last thing on my mind.  I was trying to flirt with you. All my attempts that evening had fallen quite flat and I thought at least an impressive performance on the piano would make you pay attention to me."

Mr. Jeon's ears had turned pink. He pressed his lips together and gently took your empty wine glass away from you. 

"I think perhaps you have had too much wine," he said softly. 

You bristled at the suggestion. 

"You need not worry, Mr. Jeon. I am under no delusion that I might have any impact on you. You are perfectly welcome to sleep in your own bedroom and go about your own business and seek… pleasure elsewhere, if you so choose. Please do not feel any compulsion to cater to my vanity. It is quite clear to me that our happiness is not to be found in each other."

His expression was unreadable. He swiftly corked the wine bottle and stood up.

"I think we had best retire for the night."

"That sounds excellent," you replied. You stood too quickly. Your legs felt shaky, but Mr. Jeon was by your side immediately and took your arm to steady you. 

"Careful-"

"I am fine," you mumbled. Your senses were flooded with Mr. Jeon all at once- his large, warm hands grasping your bare arms and his soothing scent invading your thoughts. You looked up at him. His dark eyes were watching you with a tinge of worry. 

"You will fall, if you are not careful-" he pressed. 

"I am fine. I can walk, thank you."

He released you. You stepped away from him and went upstairs to your personal bedroom, where you ordered the surprised ladies' maids to leave you alone before locking the connecting door between your bedrooms. 

—--------------------------------------------------------------

If the lack of marital relations on your wedding night did not make it abundantly clear to the household staff that something was wrong with your marriage, then your continued distance from your husband over the next few months was more than sufficient to send the message. 

Wonwoo threw himself into handling business and matters of the estate. His reasoning (though he never said so) seemed to be that the less you saw or spoke to each other, the less chance there was for conflict or arguments. He spent long periods of time away from home handling these ‘matters of the estate’ that you were told little about. On the rare occasions that he was at the manor, he locked himself in his study for hours on end. Sometimes it felt like you lived alone with the housekeepers and maids. 

There was nothing to do.  You were simply alone for the most part with nobody but Snowball and your increasingly melancholy thoughts to keep you company. 

Mrs. Betsy tried, the kind soul. She showed you the large library and persuaded you to take walks in the garden and engaged you in light conversation. She even insisted you accompany her on her weekly trip down to the village to buy supplies; but you found little pleasure in the activity. The villagers seemed wary of you and everyone involved appeared to think that the new wife of the local nobleman had no business walking around the vegetable market. 

Endless days turned to weeks and months. 

Nothing interested you. You received letters often; from Joshua, the Viscountess, your mother, and even Ella. But gossip from London was only a dull reminder of the life you had left behind. News that would have excited the old Miss Hong had almost no impact on the new Mrs. Jeon. Your responses to them were rare and brief. What could you even write about? There was nothing to report. Every day was exactly the same. 

Being alone with your thoughts was the worst part of this. Snowball was, of course, your companion- but his inability to converse or comprehend your emotions meant that even his presence could not drag you out of the downward spiral that you found yourself falling into. You were at the mercy of your own thoughts night and day. 

Was this life? Was this how it was to be? 

What were you even living for? 

The question cropped up in your mind often and you contemplated it deeply; not out of despair but as a genuine, genuine curiosity. You could not return to London society, but at the same time, you had no purpose here. You were married to a man who did not care to speak to you. Indeed, you were nothing more than a burden to Mr. Jeon Wonwoo. You ate the food he provided and sat in his drawing room and lived in his home without providing anything in return.

His home. 

For although the months passed, it only became increasingly clear to you that no length of time would ever make this place your home. 

You sat absently at the fireplace one evening, wrapped in a warm blanket and staring into the crackling fire while lost in your grim contemplations when Mr. Jeon entered the room. 

Snowball ran to greet him; the little Pomeranian had warmed up to your husband early on in your marriage. He gave her a little pat before turning to you.

“Have you had supper?” he asked you. 

You nodded. 

“Mrs. Betsy says that you have not moved from that chair all day,” he said slowly. You looked up at him. Mr. Jeon was in his riding clothes. He had evidently just returned from a journey. You did not know where he had been. His dark hair was tousled and his jaw clenched tightly. 

You blinked. “My apologies. Was I expected elsewhere?”

He stiffened. “No, I did not mean- are you well? The village has a doctor and if he is not competent enough, then we can send for one from the next town over.” 

“I am not ill.” 

“But you do not look healthy. When was the last time you left the manor?” 

The question should have made you angry. If you had been the same person you were before marrying Mr. Jeon, you might have issued a sharp retort about how your movements (or lack thereof) were none of his concern considering that he certainly told you nothing of his coming-and-going. 

But the anger would not manifest. It was as though the part of you that pressed the trigger on your characteristically quick temper had gone completely numb. 

“Two days ago,” you answered his question simply. “I took a walk about the gardens.” 

“I have told you before that if you wish to go anywhere, the carriage is always at your disposal,” he continued. “You need only inform the butler and he will have it brought out for you.” 

“I am aware.” 

You saw a flicker in his eyes; it was a brief flash of something that you could not place. A mixture of realisation, despair or perhaps even frustration. Mr. Jeon had always been a closed book to you. Living with him for months had done nothing to make his silences or intense looks easier to comprehend. 

There was nothing you understood about this man that you had not already known on your wedding day. 

“I insist that you go down to the village with Mrs. Betsy tomorrow. The weather is supposed to be pleasant,” he said. 

“Very well.” 

Mr. Jeon stood there for a long moment, watching you in silence before he turned and left the room. 

—-----------------------------------------------------------------

Mrs. Betsy was always in good humour. You were surprised that despite your long silences and reserved demeanour towards her, she never ceased her attempts to engage you in pleasant conversation. There were entire days when her voice was the only cheerful one you heard. 

She rambled on eagerly about the seasons’ cabbage harvest as you walked around the market with her. Cabbages were not a topic that interested you; but then again, nothing seemed to pique your interest of late. You held Snowball’s leash loosely in your hand. The spoiled little pup refused to move past the butcher’s stall, so you paused to purchase a scrap of meat for him. 

“Miss! Could I pet your dog?” 

You turned and saw a young boy of barely eight or nine with a bright smile on his face eyeing Snowball. He was accompanied by an older woman who looked horrified. 

“Fred!” the woman scolded him sharply before offering you a clumsy curtsey. “My sincere apologies, Mrs. Jeon, I am afraid Fred is a little outspoken. I will ensure he does not trouble you again-” 

“Not at all,” you reassured her lightly. “It was polite of Fred to ask permission before approaching. You are welcome to pet Snowball, Fred. He is very friendly.” 

You did not say what you wanted to say- which was that this young boy was the first villager who had treated you in a friendly manner. You could not blame them for their wariness. Your husband was the local nobleman and controlled their livelihoods, so it was natural that they feared offending you. Fred, however, was delighted to kneel down in front of Snowball and scratch him behind the ears. 

“Are you his mother?” you asked the older woman who stood back and watched Fred anxiously. 

She shook her head quickly. “No, Mrs. Jeon. My name is Sister Lynn. I work with the orphanage."

“I did not know there was an orphanage in the village.” 

Mrs. Betsy spoke up brightly. "Indeed, there is. It is small but very well managed. Mr. Jeon's grandfather established it many decades ago. Even now, it survives almost entirely on donations from the Jeon family. There are about 11 children there currently and Sister Lynn runs it  single-handedly." 

Fred looked up at you with a toothy grin. "We have a dog at the orphanage as well! His name is Tucker. He would love to meet Snowball!"

Sister Lynn laughed nervously. "Fred…"

"I think it is an excellent idea for Snowball to meet Tucker," you replied simply. "Lead the way."

Sister Lynn seemed anxious as you followed Fred to the orphanage. She was certainly not prepared for an unexpected visit from the wife of the orphanage's primary benefactor. The orphanage was a quaint little house on the edge of the village and you felt a sudden warmth emanating from the place the moment you stepped through the opening in the fence. 

"Everyone! Come meet Snowball!" Fred called out eagerly as soon as he entered the drawing room. 

But Sister Lynn had had enough. 

"No. First you will all stand in a line and introduce yourselves to Mrs. Jeon," she ordered all the children who came running up. The children hesitated and organised themselves clumsily into a  line in front of you. The youngest boy was no older than four, and the eldest was a pretty young girl who looked just over fourteen. 

They went in a line to state their names and ages- and for the first time in what felt like months you allowed yourself a small smile. Their clumsy curtseys and stammered introductions were the picture of innocence. For a few brief moments, the creeping dreary thoughts that had so thoroughly invaded your mind were kept fully at bay. 

Once the introductions were complete, the younger children ran to surround Snowball. Your Pomeranian, delighted at the attention, lay down on the carpet and freely offered his belly to the children for pets and scratches. 

"The children seem quite happy and well cared for," you remarked to Sister Lynn. Her eyes widened and she seemed almost relieved at your words of approval.

"They are a wonderful bunch, Mrs. Jeon," she replied warmly. 

"What happens to them when they become of age?" you wondered. 

"The boys usually leave for work- Mr. Jeon is usually kind enough to find something for them to do to earn their keep. The ones who are good at numbers are hired to help with accounting for the estate, and the Jeons have even helped others acquire jobs in London as clerks and bookkeepers."

You nodded. "And the girls?" 

"Some of the girls get married- others go on to become seamstresses or take other simple jobs. I wish I could do more for them. Some of them are very clever and could probably go on to become governesses if they only knew a little French and had someone to teach them drawing and music."

You raised an eyebrow. "You cannot find them tutors?"

Sister Lynn flushed. "The best tutors are teaching young noblewomen such as yourself in London, Mrs. Jeon. Even if we had the money I could never persuade anyone to come out to the countryside to teach our young girls. But they do a very good job of teaching themselves with books."

You nodded. "That is admirable indeed. I should like to see what they learn."

"Marie is our brightest one," Sister Lynn told you before calling over the eldest girl. "Marie! Escort Mrs. Jeon into the study and show her your books and writing, my dear."

Marie came over and curtsied prettily for you before guiding you into the schoolroom. She was an intelligent, soft-spoken young girl and she showed you some of the poetry she had written. 

"Your handwriting is excellent," you told her kindly. "As is your English. These are the books you use?"

Marie nodded at the shelf of textbooks. You pulled one down and frowned. 

"This geography textbook is almost 15 years old. Are you still learning from this?" you asked her.

Marie blushed. "It's the only one we have, Mrs. Jeon," she admitted shyly. "Sister Lynn does her best to educate us, but there is only so much she knows, and there is no school nearby which will accept girls."

You nodded. "I see."

Marie guided you into the next room. "And here we have the playroom-"

You froze. The playroom was a fairly large room filled with toys and drawing boards and unfinished art. But the first thing that caught your eye was a large wooden piano in the corner of the room. 

"You have a pianoforte?"

Marie nodded eagerly. She hurried over and pulled out the stool in front of the instrument. "It was donated to the orphanage by the Jeons' a few years ago when they redecorated their manor. They had no room for it-  and there was nobody in the family who liked to play. I taught myself a song from an old piano book I found. May I show you?" she asked hopefully. 

You nodded. 

Marie blushed but sat down in front of the piano and played a simple tune. She was shaky- her fingers were not always in the right positions and it was evident that she had no formal training. But it was a pleasant song all the same. 

"That was very well done," you told her. "You learned that yourself from a book?"

Marie nodded. 

Mrs. Betsy, who was standing a little distance behind you, gave you a smile. "Do you play, Mrs. Jeon? I am sure a Viscount's sister would certainly have been taught to play at least in her youth."

You bit your lip. "I do play.'

Marie's eyes brightened. "Would you play something for us, Mrs. Jeon?"

Sister Lynn was about to scold her for making an inappropriate request of her benefactress but before she could get the words out, you had seated yourself in front of the instrument. The keys were old and worn but it was evidently still an excellent instrument. 

It had been months since you had touched a piano but your fingers danced over the instrument as though you had practiced the tune just yesterday. It was pure muscle memory- some of the happiest times in your life had been spent in front of the piano, and for a moment you almost forgot where you were as you allowed your fingers to dance on the keys to their heart's content. 

The children burst into applause. 

You let your fingers fall from the piano and turned to see everyone watching you. Marie was staring in awe and Mrs. Betsy had a warm twinkle in her eye. You felt a sudden rish of adrenaline. 

For the first time in months, you felt alive. 

Sister Lynn rushed over to you. "Mrs. Jeon, that was the most beautiful performance I have-"

"I am afraid I must leave now, Sister Lynn," you informed the older woman briskly. "But there are some things I will require from you."

Sister Lynn nodded. "Of course, Mrs. Jeon."

"I should like a list of any textbooks in the schoolroom that are over two years old- I will have them all replaced myself, as soon as possible. And you will need to make room in the girls' schedules for extra lessons. I think French on Wednesdays, and music on Fridays would be suitable."

Sister Lynn looked bewildered. "Extra lessons? But who will teach them?"

"I will."

—-----------------------------------------------------------------

Teaching the young girls at the orphanage was, at the least, a welcome distraction that kept the melancholy thoughts from consuming you for a few hours every week. 

Mrs. Betsy was happy to ensure that the carriage was ready and waiting to take you into town every Wednesday and Friday. She could not accompany you herself, since her duties did not permit so much leisure- and perhaps it was for the best. Mrs. Betsy's presence was not unpleasant, but you were still uncomfortably aware that her loyalties lay with your husband. 

Marie was your star pupil. You could tell that the young girl admired you greatly, and she was a very fast learner. Hardly two months into your lessons she was reciting French poetry with a near-perfect accent and was a better piano player than Miss Brooke could ever hope to be. 

You returned from your lessons one Friday evening later that winter to find that Mr. Jeon was, to your surprise, sitting in the drawing room. He seemed tense. 

"I thought we might have supper together," Mr. Jeon suggested to you lightly. The words were calm, but you saw something in his eyes that was familiar. Something that was often reflected in your own eyes.

It was a familiar kind of sadness. 

"Of course," you replied. "I will dress and join your shortly."

You noticed the stiffness in Wonwoo's shoulders as he sat across from you in the dining room. You both ate in silence; not unusual for the few meals you shared. He looked up at you about halfway through the meal.  

"I received a letter from my friend, Mr. Kim Mingyu," he informed you slowly. "The social season in London has come to an end, as you know, and Mingyu will be stopping by our estate tomorrow evening and spending a night here before resuming his journey through the countryside."

You nodded. "Alright."

"You have no objection?"

You blinked at him. "This is your home. Why should I have any objection to you hosting your friend in your own home?"

"Because-" Mr. Jeon began, but stopped himself. "Never mind. I only wanted to ensure that we would not be causing you any discomfort. You need not dine with us if you do not wish to."

You nodded. "I am sure as old friends, you would have much to discuss. I would not want to be in the way."

"That is… considerate of you."

"Of course."

Mr. Jeon took a deep breath and turned his attention back to his meal. You watched him silently for a few moments. He was ever the brick wall; as always, you had no idea what went on in your husband's mind or what he thought about. 

But this silence… it could not go on forever. 

"I have been visiting the orphanage," you told him slowly. "A few times a week."

Mr. Jeon nodded. He did not seem surprised. "I heard. Mrs. Betsy mentioned it to me. And my clerk informed me of the books you purchased for the schoolroom."

You flushed- suddenly realising that you had spent money without consulting Wonwoo. You had been so accustomed to the Viscount covering all your expenses that the thought had not occurred to you that Mr. Jeon was now responsible for your finances. 

"I should have spoken to you-"

"Not at all, " Mr. Jeon cut you off. "If I had known that the schoolroom needed new books, I would have purchased them myself. And in any case- it is equally your money to choose to spend as you see fit."

You swallowed. "Right. Thank you."

He simply nodded. The rest of the meal passed in the usual silence, and you both went upstairs to your separate bedrooms. 

—------------------------------------------------------------

You were acquainted with Kim Mingyu from past social seasons in London. You had danced with the man at a few balls, and remembered him as a very handsome, charming and easy-going gentleman who had a reputation for capturing and breaking the hearts of London's young ladies. 

The Kim Mingyu that arrived at the Jeon estate on horseback the next evening looked nothing like the man you knew. He appeared, to put it simply, to be on the receiving end of  heartbreak for the first time in his life.  

"Mrs. Jeon," Mingyu greeted you with a stiff nod as he descended his horse. There was no smile on his face and he looked tired. "I apologise for intruding upon your hospitality at such short notice. I hope I am not disturbing you."

"Not at all, Mr. Kim," you greeted him politely. "You are most welcome."

"We will not disturb you. There are matters of business we wish to discuss, so we will be dining at the inn tonight," Mr. Jeon informed you as he laced up his riding gear. The stable boy brought out another horse for your husband. 

You nodded. "I see. Very well."

The two gentlemen rode out without further ado. One of the maids standing near the foyer was pink in the face and clearly suppressing a giggle. You raised an eyebrow at her. 

"And what is so amusing, Rosie?" you asked her lightly. 

Rosie blushed. "Sorry, madam. I was only remembering the last time Mr. Kim was here at the estate. It was when he and the master were on break from their studies at Oxford. They drove out to have dinner at the inn a few towns over but the elder Mr. Jeon had a manservant follow them and discovered that they had gone… well, certainly not to the inn."

You blinked. "Sorry?" you asked, confused. "Where had they gone?"

Rosie blushed further. "Miss, I really can't say- please don't make me. Mrs. Betsy would have my backside if she found out I was telling you-"

"Is Mrs. Betsy your employer?"

Rosie hesitated. "No, madam. You are.'

"Then tell me."

She twisted her hands anxiously and then spat out "They had gone to see some… ladies of the night. Mr. Kim admitted that it was entirely his fault and the elder Mr. Jeon was furious, so he had Mr. Kim banned from the estate."

You felt nauseous.

"Ah. Yes, I see," you replied awkwardly. 

Rosie's eyes widened. "I am sure that it is not where they have gone now!" she cried. 

You gave her a sharp look. "Of course not," you told her firmly, though you felt absolutely none of the confidence that you displayed. Regardless of what your husband was or was not doing, you could not allow a servant to gossip about it. "Mr. Jeon is a married man."

Rosie nodded. "Of course! Of course, Mr. Jeon is a very honourable gentleman and I am sure that even on that night in question-"

"Thank you, Rosie. That will be all."

You quickly walked away from the maid, who looked horrified. You had not seriously considered that your husband might be using ladies of the night, as Rosie called them, to satisfy his carnal needs- after all, the two of you had not even consummated your marriage. You had even told him on your wedding night that he was welcome to seek his pleasures elsewhere. 

You tried to push the thought from your mind as you had dinner and went to bed early. But sleep would not come. 

You laid awake for what felt like hours, straining your ears in an attempt to hear the noise of your husband going to bed in the adjoining room. It was almost midnight when you finally heard the sound of Mr. Jeon’s door click- followed by complete silence. You tossed and turned restlessly before rising and putting on your dressing gown and going downstairs. Sleep would not find you tonight. You passed by the drawing room and were surprised to see that the fire was still lit and there was someone inside. 

Mr. Kim Mingyu sat in front of the fire, staring into it deeply as though it held the secrets to eternal life. 

“Mr. Kim?” 

He jumped and turned to face you in a sluggish manner. Mr. Kim’s  eyes were unfocused; and as you took a step further into the drawing room your olfactory senses were assaulted by the pungent smell of whisky. He relaxed when he saw you, and turned his face back towards the fire. 

“Mrs. Jeon- I apologise if I woke you,” Mingyu mumbled. 

You shook your head. “Not at all. Is everything all right, Mr. Kim? Is there a problem with your accommodations in the guest quarters? I can wake the household staff if you require something.” 

Mr. Kim did not turn his eyes away from the fire. “No. I don’t need anything. I don’t deserve anything,” he said as his head fell back onto the armchair. “I am a monster.” 

He was evidently very inebriated. You crossed the room and stood precariously behind a sofa to keep some distance between you both, but be in a better position to address the man to his face. He slumped back in the armchair with a groan and turned his unfocused eyes to look at you. 

“A monster?” you asked lightly. “And what have you done that is so monstrous?” 

Mingyu chuckled. “Greed, Mrs. Jeon. I was greedy. I saw something that was not mine to take but I simply could not resist. I took advantage of her innocence, I knowingly crossed the lines of friendship and played with her emotions -and now she believes herself to be in love with me.”

You raised an eyebrow. “She believes herself to be in love with you?” 

Mingyu scoffed. “She doesn't know what she speaks of. She is too innocent to comprehend how valuable she is. She is too naive to understand love.” 

“I pity her,” you replied simply. “It would be very painful indeed, to be in love with a man like you.” 

Mingyu frowned. “What?” 

“I don't blame you,” you continued. “It is how you gentlemen were raised. All your life, people have told you that you are more intelligent and logical and rational than women so you have grown to believe it. You presume to think that you are guilty of manipulating an adult woman into falling in love with you; as though she was stupider than you.”

Mingyu frowned. “I never said she was stupider than me. She is certainly much, much smarter.” 

“Then if you had an iota of respect for this young lady, you would do her the courtesy of believing her when she says that she loves you.” 

Mingyu said nothing. He turned away from you and stared back at the fire. He was silent for a long moment and then he took a deep breath. 

"Those…" he said slowly, "may be the wisest words I have heard all day."

"I assume you had not consulted any women."

"You assume correctly," he replied. Mr. Kim turned to you with a small frown. "You are a clever woman, Mrs. Jeon. Far too clever to be wasting away in a remote countryside estate in a marriage you never wanted."

"And you are too clever to be running from a woman who loves you and finding meaningless comfort in the company of a prostitute."

Mingyu let out a hacking noise that was halfway between a laugh and a cough. "A prostitute? Strange words to call your husband," he remarked. 

You flushed. "I was not referring to Mr. Jeon. I am perfectly well-informed of what dinner at the inn really means."

Mingyu let out a proper laugh. "Oh, Mrs. Jeon. I have overestimated your cleverness, then. I really hope you do not think that Wonwoo is enjoying his time at brothels. I will be extremely concerned by how little you know your husband."

You stiffened. "He is not an easy man to get to know."

"Certainly not. He will go to any lengths to avoid talking about his feelings and he builds not just walls but fortresses around his true emotions. But surely you knew that before you married Wonwoo?"

"Our marriage was not… you know the circumstances in which we married…" you mumbled. 

Mingyu nodded. "I do. I also know that Wonwoo carries with him the burden of having ruined your life and stolen your happiness from you, perhaps forever. The man is drowning under the weight of his guilt."

You stared at him in disbelief. "I never once blamed him for-"

"You did not need to. Wonwoo may appear stoic, but he is a victim to his own conscience. In any case, I can assure you that he is not touring brothels while you sit here. He is aware of how miserable you are and it only serves to enhance his own misery."

You wrapped your dressing gown around yourself more tightly. 

Could it be true? If anyone, anyone could give you answers about what Mr. Jeon hid behind that sharp, unreadable face then you would have expected it to be Kim Mingyu. But how could it be possible? Wonwoo had shown no signs of guilt. He had never once apologised for any of the circumstances leading up to your marriage. 

In fact, your husband had gone out of his way to avoid you, to leave you alone in this empty haunting manor and let you wither away in loneliness. 

But what had you done? You blamed him for being distant and difficult but what efforts had you truly made to understand the man you married? You had simply drowned in your own misery and conveniently accepted the walls he put up between the two of you as fixtures. 

You were complicit in the ruin of this marriage. 

"It is late," you said shakily. "I must-"

You were cut off by a noise- you turned around and saw Wonwoo enter the room. His eyes looked tired and he carried a candle in his right hand. A small frown appeared on his face.  

"What are you both doing awake?" he asked doubtfully. "It is past midnight."

Mingyu stood up from his armchair unsteadily. "I was a little drunk and I sat down here for a while. I must have made some noise that woke you both up. Sorry; I'll be going to bed now."

He stumbled out of the drawing room. Mr. Jeon turned to you with a worried frown. 

"Are you all right?" he asked. 

You nodded. "Yes- of course. Snowball was growing restless in my room so came downstairs to let him out and stopped to speak to Mr. Kim when I saw him sitting here."

Mr. Jeon nodded. "All right. We should return to bed."

He turned to leave. The dim light of the fire lit up the profile of his handsome but tired and worn face. How had you not seen it before? Mr. Jeon carried a sadness within him too; one that had not been there before he married you, and which was growing darker and heavier day by day. 

"Wonwoo," you whispered. 

He froze. His face was turned away from you but you could see the way his broad shoulders tightened and his entire back stiffened underneath his white cotton nightshirt. 

You had never called him by his name before. 

After a long moment, he turned and looked at you. The remnants of surprise had still not faded from his eyes.  

"Yes?" he asked gently. 

"The… the children at the orphanage are putting on a performance for the village on Saturday evening. They have been practising hard all week. I thought, perhaps… it would be encouraging for them if you attended. If we attended."

Wonwoo stared at you. You saw the brief flash of emotion cross his face before he could control it and you knew that he understood your intentions. He understood that this was not a casual suggestion. This was not about the children, or the orphanage. 

This was you taking the first step in your marriage. 

"Of course," Wonwoo said finally. "That sounds wonderful."

You released the breath that you had been holding. 

"I will let them know. They will be very excited, I am sure."

Wonwoo nodded. He opened his mouth for a moment, and then paused, almost as though he had reconsidered what he wanted to say. Then he gave you a small, careful smile. 

"Good night," he said. 

"Good night."

—----------------------------------------------------------

A/N: I'M SORRY THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO END IN PART 3 BUT BEFORE I REALISED IT I HAD WRITTEN 7K SO PLEASE DON'T KILL ME, I PROMISE I WILL END IT NEXT CHAPTER (I think)

[shmaptainwrites]

wait i lied do childhood besties to enemies to lovers PLS

betsie ngl it took me a minute to figure out a good plot for this concept that i could do justice with the length i'm going for so now that i have something i really hope you like it! also atp it isn’t a mini blurb it’s a full on ficlet cause i just kept writing LMAO

Pairings: Fitzwilliam Darcy x GN!Reader

Warnings: Wickham mention (yes that's a valid warning bc he sucks), minor height descriptions (again i'm sorry)

Lost Years

Your least favourite time of year was always the time you visited Pemberley with your siblings. It had been that way for a while now, you probably could have pinpointed the date if you tried hard enough.

But just as every year before it was unavoidable.

It used to be an occasion of good fun. Two of your closest friends lived on the estate and you would savour every chance you got to spend with them both, but as you grew older and responsibilities set in, so did the disputes. Your close friendship had become fragmented along with your heart.

The first few days you tried to make sure you were always with at least one of your siblings, or maybe even Miss Georgiana Darcy which would create a buffer for the tension between you and her older brother.

As the estate was so large, it was always possible that by mere coincidence, one may end up in a room alone with another individual.

That quickly became the case for you, as you walked in the library, perusing the selection of books curated by the late Mr. Darcy and his son.

You went to reach for a book on a shelf you could not reach and before you could even thinking of a further attempt to grab it, someone reached from behind you and brought the book.

When you turned around and saw it was the younger Mr. Darcy you couldn't help the sharp remark that slipped past your lips.

"I could have gotten it myself. There was no need for that."

"And I suppose you would have climbed the shelves to accomplish that," he snapped right back.

"I find myself in a different mood than before. You may keep the book, Mr. Darcy," you said curtly and began to walk away.

"Am I to assume that nothing that comes from my hand will be accepted?" he asked.

You turned around.

"Miss, I have delt with your contempt of me in as amiable of a manner as I thought I was capable, but this has crossed a boundary."

"I have crossed a boundary?" you blinked, pointing to yourself. "I believe maybe you should have thought of that when you refused to give Wickham his portion entitled to him of your father's estate!"

Mr. Darcy stared at you blankly for a moment before his expression hardened.

"If Wickham is where your loyalties lie then perhaps contempt on both sides is justified."

"I disagree," you shook your head. "When he told me I could not believe what I was hearing. That you of all people could be so cold and unloving towards a friend. If you could do something like that to Wickham what was stopping you from doing it to me?"

"And what exactly did he tell you?" Mr. Darcy asked and you didn't hesitate to recount Wickham's version of the events.

You could see what almost looked like shock on Mr. Darcy's face as he saw in what light he was being painted, but he allowed you to finish before saying anything.

"I don't suppose you have anything to say for youself," you crossed your arms over your chest.

"That isn't what happened," he said simply.

"T-That isn't what happened? Really Mr. Darcy is that all you can-,"

"I swear it to you," he said. "Ask Mr. Bingley, if you must, but that is not what happened after my father's death."

You loosened your stance, letting your arms fall to your side.

"If not, then what did happen?"

Mr. Darcy took a breath before beginning to explain to you the events following his father's death. He was able to say in great detail what had occured, lining up his story with the timeline of events that had occured in his own life and Wickham's. Even things you had witnessed to your friend's character. Suddenly everything came crashing back down to reality.

When he finished speaking you had to excuse yourself in order to sit down on one of the couches behind you.

"Years," you whispered. "I went on for years believing this."

"You were listening to a friend you thought you could trust," Mr. Darcy even went as far as defending your actions towards him, when all this time he had been innocent of what he was accused. "I understand that this is a lot of information to take in, but may I ask you something?"

"Yes, I suppose," you nodded your head.

"Why didn't you ever ask me about this?"

Of everything he could have asked you, it had to be that. You closed your eyes and swallowed thickly.

"Mr. Darcy I-I'm not sure it would be appropriate to say."

"I have delt with many things much more difficult than this," he assured you. "Please...answer the question."

You chuckled softly to youself,

"We were young, Fitz," you looked over to him and you could see his face soften at the childhood nickname you called him. It was so easy how one word could transport you back in time, maybe a time where things were simpler. "I-," you shook your head and held it in your hands, massaging your temples. The words had become caught in your throat. "I-I-I loved you and if I spoke to you and it was true? It was easier to believe him and spare myself the hurt of hearing it from you directly."

You couldn't sit next to him, quickly standing and moving towards a window instead.

"The thought of finding out someone for which you feel so deeply, might be capable to do something of such an unkindly nature was too much for me to bear I-I'm so sorry."

"You loved me," he whispered softly. "Past tense."

"If I didn't love you, would I care this much about your treatment of Wickham?" you looked back at him, tears glistening in your eyes.

Mr. Darcy stood from his seat and slowly made his way towards you, gingerly reaching for your hand before finally clasping it in his own and bringing it to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss to its back.

"I have lost money; I have lost trust; I have lost many things because of Wickham," he murmured, your hand still close enough to his lips your could feel them move as he spoke. He lifted his other hand to gently caress your cheek. "But I will never forgive him for making me lose the years I could have spent with you."

"Fitz, I'm so sorry," you apologized as the tears finally spilled from your eyes, "I'm sorry."

You repeated your apologies many times, but they became muffled as he pulled you into him for a tight embrace.

You wrapped your hands tightly around his neck and buried your nose in his shoulder.

When your apologies quieted, he gently moved away, just barely half an arm's length.

"There is no need to apologize, my dear," his countenance calm, at peace. "We will simply have to make up for lost time."

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

@iceman-kazansky

[decaflondonfog]

Hi! humbly requesting more of/about rosary beads pls because Renee/Betsy makes me 😵‍💫 i think i hauve Covid

HI omg sorry for being the worst. i posted wip wednesday on a thursday and i'm replying to asks on a saturday... i should just admit this is who i am as a person lmao ig words take time and whatnot

THANK U FOR THIS ASK THOUGH <3 <3 i'm soooooo excited to finish this fic i genuinely can't wait to be done with it hopefully within the week!!!!!

some more smutty renee/betsy under the cut:

To drive her own point home, Renee settles her hands on each of Bee’s knees and parts then, scooting forward on her own knees. The rug burns against her skin and she gasps. She’s so aroused even that feels good.  Renee isn’t shy. Renee isn’t shy at all, she’s done this plenty of times before. Confronted with this dream come true though, her mouth is dry and words die in her throat before she can voice them.  Unable to voice her thoughts, she starts out slowly, ignoring the instict to bury her face in Bee’s cunt. She places a kiss just inside Bee’s right knee, then moves to the left leg, and sucks a hickey right onto the middle of the thigh. When she moves up next, she’s so so close that she can’t help but moan before biting where Bee’s leg meets her hipbone. Renee loses herself to the feeling of the hot flesh under her, to the sounds of Bee’s ragged breath. Under her tongue, she traces the indentation Bee’s underwear had left against the skin of her hips. “Come on, princess,” Bee says, and her voice is completely changed now, dripping with inpatience. “Don’t tease.” 

[piperslovebot]

Kelly Shaland and Kristie Forman?

Kelly

nickname? ‘Kelly’, ‘Kel’, ‘Kel Kel’, 'Shaland', 'Bitch', 'asshole', 'girl' 'my girl'

relationship status? taken

comfort food? chowmein from panda express

favourite place in the world? The lab

biggest fear? Her path in life, whether anyone would ever love her, etc.

special skill? Science

favourite outfit? https://pin.it/14wECrb

biggest insecurity? Same as biggest fear

relationship to their siblings? She's very tight knit with Betsy and Serena, like soul sisters.

relationship to their parents? She has a good relationship with them but at the same time, they're very (rightfully) unsupportive of her and Ryland, which used to make her mad.

most embarrassing memory? Literally every time she went back to Ryland. I can see her telling Jonah (her and Jo's son in my verse) about stories from high school and be like 'why did i date that loser'

favourite animal? giraffe

bed time routine? Shower, face wash, lotion, and lip balm

hobbies? Creating science inventions and doing theories

biggest weakness? her ability to forgive too easily

favourite swear word? bullshit

achievement they are the most proud of? winning the nobel prize in 1st grade.

favourite type of sport? Running

mode of transportation? Car

favourite thing to do to relax? Experiments

eating habits like? Pretty decent. But she makes her own food mostly.

special interests? science, stem, reality tv

favourite part of their body? Her face

role model? Her friends and mom

most prized possession? Her first place trophy in the 3rd grade science fair

favourite place to travel to? Jamaica is her dream travel destination

way to earn money? Selling her inventions

thoughts about politics? She doesn't care for them much, but wants there to finally be a competent female president (just like i do)

favourite colour? green or pink

ideal partner? Jo (everything she wanted was in her the whole damn time)

party trick? Making a dress by just pouring chemicals around (like if even a droplet spills, it turns into fabric lol)

favourite song? Out Song, Part of Me, Unholy

biggest pet peeve? Having to explain scientific terminology.

favourite person? Her mom :)

biggest goal in life? World Domination

highest academic degree? Science!

safe space? Her room and her friends

guilty pleasure? Swiss chocolate dipped in applesauce

favourite choice of drink? Hot cocoa

dream job? Scientist

favourite type of music? All kinds of music but prob electro-pop/

most distinctive features? Her hair, eyes, and cheekbones

favourite aesthetic? Mad scientist, girly, glasses

fashion style?^^^

favourite movie? Mean Girls

Kristie

nickname? 'Kristie', 'Kris', 'Baby', 'Love', 'Darling', 'Honey', 'Forman', 'Flargunbargun'

relationship status? Taken

comfort food? A warm chocolate souffle, celery dipped in peanuut butter

favourite place in the world? where her loved ones are

biggest fear? Getting hurt, being left, etc.

special skill? Manipulation, pranks, threats, protecting the people she loves

favourite outfit? https://pin.it/74DWOZe

biggest insecurity? Being abandoned, getting hurt

relationship to their siblings? Her and Leia have a sweet bond and do love each other (even though she teases Leia at times). Her, Darline, and Delilah are ride or die.

relationship to their parents? She has no relationship with her dad. I was thinking of having that change but maube them getting closure would be enough. Idk yet. Her relationship with Laurie is a mix of Ginny/Georgia and Rory/Lorelai's

most embarrassing memory? Whenever someone reveals her real last name and that time Ryland tried to make it look like she was cheating on Betsy when really she was watching My Little Pony.

favourite animal? Lion

bed time routine? Shower, face wash, brushing teeth, etc.

hobbies? Writing, hanging with friends, reading

biggest weakness? Her stubbornness

favourite swear word? Fuck

achievement they are the most proud of? Idk

favourite type of sport? Making people fear her lmao jkjkjk. She’s a runner

mode of transportation? Driving

favourite thing to do to relax? Reading and writing

eating habits like? She tends to eat weird combos sometimes

special interests? Writing, reading, creative thinking, plotting

favourite part of their body? Her face

role model? Her mom

most prized possession? Rachel Forman

favourite place to travel to? Hawaii

way to earn money? Probably garage sales

thoughts about politics? She actually had a lot of insight on politics, surprising everyone.

favourite colour? Pink

ideal partner? Idk honestly. Someone ballsy, who doesn’t take any shit, and is adventurous.

party trick? Singing

favourite song? Backstabber

biggest pet peeve? Lots of sappiness, people not appreciating what they have, therapy

favourite person? Her mom and Fenton :)

biggest goal in life? To leave high school

highest academic degree? Still in high school

safe space? Her room

guilty pleasure? My Little Pony

favourite choice of drink? Marmalade

dream job? Writer

favourite type of music? All kinds

most distinctive features? Her head and eyes

favourite aesthetic? Bright

fashion style? She wears a lot of bright clothes but probably her leather jacket.

favourite movie? Scream and Sound of Music

[macchiatosdumptruck]

How do you think the relationships between Terry and Daniel and Kreese and Daniel would have changed had Daniel been a girl instead? Do you think they would have still tormented her, and allowed (Cobra Kai) to bully her, or would have they gone easy on her?

I actually feel like Kreese would have been nicer to her, considering he always has a soft spot for the girls...Terry however, I'm not sure. Weirdly enough I feel like Kreese, in canon, would maybe have a subtle thing for "Danielle" lmao.

Maybe Terry would too, considering he's always been weird about Danny.

This is actually something so interesting to think about because a lot of Daniel's character is how he subverts traditional masculinity.

Because he was seen as more feminine he was a target. But that made him an acceptable target since he was still a boy. How would Cobra Kai feel actually terrorizing a teen girl?

Terry and Kreese have been shown to be pretty equal opportunity evil, but you're right in that one of Kreese's only soft spots is for young girls.

His characterization is so interesting because he seems to do things in canon that contradict each other.

I feel like everything that went on with his mother and Betsy gave him complicated views on women. Sometimes he seems to think they're more innocent. Like with Kim.

Other times he's blatantly ogling them in restaurants and calling them "sweetheart."

And he obviously thinks Tory can take care of herself despite being protective of her. His relationship with Tory is interesting in general because he gains her trust by protecting her from bad men but then he uses her as an inside agent seemingly, to her, not caring about her own needs.

Terry's never shown treating men and women any different. Not his staff. His fellow evil sensei. Not his students.

But he's not shown interacting with women much is he? In the movie he has Margaret. But in the show his relationship with Cheyenne seemed to be very cordial. But it also wasn't a real relationship to him. Let's be honest. She was his beard and he ghosted her.

Kreese doesn't interact with ANY women in the movies but has stronger connections to them in the show. 🤔

I think Terry would find her interesting, but he wouldn't have the same deranged obsession as he has with Daniel. Because I'm my opinion part of his obsession with Daniel is clearly sexual and I just can't headcanon him as being sexually attracted to women. (Even though I've read some great stuff from Terry/oc writer's. )

We learn in S1 that there has never before been girls in Cobra Kai, before Aisha. (I miss her). So Kreese obviously never thought to invite them to join. Was that part of a misplaced sense of protection? It was it just part of the culture at the time?

I actually can't see Kreese or Terry actively calling for the torment of a young girl.

But maybe that's just another strange way Daniel is somehow want codes? Lol.

We think about that and go "That's fucking insane. No one would do that." And yet for some reason it's more feasible if it's a young man. Boys should expect violence in some way.

I'm gonna stop before I get started on how Daniel is often subject to the type of antagonism that women usually face in films rather than men.

But. The choice to cast the og Cobras as all being wasps and Daniel as a working class guy with dark hair and tan skin was on purpose. And they were specifically looking for "a wimp" to play the part.

Tldr: I don't think they would torture her but they would still be deranged about her somehow.

The reason I started my rule 63 verse was specifically because I thought the themes of the story would be fascinating to look at through the frame of a female protagonist. (But also porn.)

But that's just one take/ymmv. The idea of Terry and Kreese being oddly soft on her while also antagonizing her is interesting.

[song-tam]

i made several notes during this time, enjoy:

[when neil goes into the bathroom pukes about signing onto the team and apologizes to his dead mom] "oh. fuck me i am emotionally attached now ig"

[on description of neil's last moments w his mom] "OH. OKAY" (pikachu face at the angst)

[kevin freaks out & andrew talks him down the first time] "INCH RESTING" (what the fuck what the fuck what the fu)

[the??????? taking out contacts scene??????] "ah i am sensing a hint of romantic tension"

"me when some dude who is in his fifties calls me a fucking idiot and tells me to call people next time and stop trying to do everything alone even though it is a knee jerk instinct. also what the fuck (in tears)"

[upon neil speaking in german to andrew for the first time] "LMAO" [upon The Conversation and the "Whatever this look was, it was dark and intense enough to swallow Neil whole."] "LMAO WHAT THE FUCK"

no notes but highlighted these two lines wordlessly: "Are you stupid?" Seth asked. / "Yeah," Neil said.

[on random moment where aaron and nicky are fighting or something and then they all go dude shut the fuck up and then seth just, CALLS NICKY A FAGGOT AND LEAVES?] "i am fucjing crying"

[THE FUCKING?????????????? CLOCKING BETSY AS OCD HCJWHCJFHFJDHKFNDNDJFLSHCMWNFKBXMAJDKAJFBSKJDKSJFJ??????????????] i dont have any commentary this is what i did though i laughed so hard i knocked my yarn off my bed

"ok what the hell kind of a loser team is this why are they not playing on CRAPPY TARMAC why the fuck do they have a HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLAR COURT"

my guy slighting renee like ten times "oooh the cross necklace and smiles ooh she must be innocent and not know what gang violence is or have any otherwise tragic backstory whatsoever because she is christian and has a positive disposition" staring directly at my entire family

im gonna go through and repsond to these in order hold on

OKAY YEAH emotional attachment to neil josten is unavoidable. theres just something about him. like you cant not be obsessed w this man its impossible

REAL AND TRUE oh god theyre sooooooo complicated i love

kevin and andrew. have real tension going on ill be real. like whats happening there??? insane

romantic tension. does it ever go past that. well youll see wont you

OH MY GOD THAT SCENE!!!!!!!!! wymack is SUCH a dad and i am sososoososo obsessed with him hes their coach hes their father figure he gives a shit abt them im soo not normal

god yeah no theyre so. like whats happening there miss nora. what were you thinking. why is he a wattpad bad boy

seth and neil. theyre. interesting

SETH BEING A HOMOPHOBE WAS THE MOST IRRELEVANT SHIT EVER LIKE WHY WAS THAT EVEN NECESSARY ITS BARELY ADDRESSED i cant

BETSY !!!!!!!!!! but yeah the whole neil & betsy dynamic is an intersting one i wish i could say it gets better and it. slightly does but only slightly

did i mention i love tfc. anyway

NO LEGIT like renee is so terrifying shes like a silent killer i would not trust her at all in a game of mafia also i think the foxes should play mafia together that would be fun

ANYWAY!!!! glad youre enjoying the next two are even more of a doozy so thatll be fun <3

[succubuskai]

Couple nights ago a 18-yo worker at the mall thought I was younger than her… and earlier this year when I checked in for a flight the lady asked if I need a chaperone

[whispedcream]

decided to work on my last minute halloween costume so like wip because i’m trying to figure out what to do with my face

[deathsbestgirl]

memento mori

i’m ready to be torn to shreds

okay but !!! i’m weak every time scully has a little monologue. the way she speaks just cuts right through me. the words, the rhythm of her speech. yes thank you gillian (+ writers)

the words she’s saying for mulder. speaking to him over anyone else in her life. monumental. they know what they have even if it isn’t voiced or shown traditionally between them.

(i am SO curious — did viewers have any idea that this is what was coming? scully having cancer?)

mulder making his way through the hospital with flowers. making a joke, like he always does. her smile. she loves him so much. but his worry is palpable and he can’t wait for her to tell him so he asks. the way he looks at her !!!!

she’s so GENTLE when she tells him. at the same time though, she’s telling him there’s no hope. eventually, however much time there is, she will die. he refuses to accept that — because there can’t possibly be a life without scully. they’re too entwined, their connection consuming. and she knows this. she know what losing her will do to him…

so they already know who has gotten treatment? like the next scene they’re in skinner’s office. was this part of a past case idr?? when she met all the mufon women?

scully just has no idea what she means to skinner. they’re not close, but he’s someone they want to trust even though he’s a thorn in their sides more often than not. because that’s his job lol but he’s always there when they need him.

she doesn’t want it to be ~awkward. she doesn’t want his concern or pity, or to take leave (as he rightfully expects her to take) — she just wants the go ahead to investigate the source of her cancer. like this woman. these agents. they’re crazy and he can’t tell them no. i LOVE skinner.

and then they learn betsy hagopian is already gone. her fear.

god when they’re chasing kurt crawford and scully’s nose starts bleeding. mulder can’t hide his concern, can’t even let her finish in the bathroom before checking on her 🥺

she’s so BOTHERED when he isn’t in cuffs anymore lmao

this scene makes it so clear that scully really is afraid to believe. she can’t believe she was abducted by aliens or the government and experimented on, resulting in her cancer & probable eventual death. it goes “against” everything she believes in — in her country, her faith. and it’s a terrifying thing even without that.

mulder is so gentle when he tries to encourage her confront it, and she doesn’t seem to want to but she listens & visits penny northern. and i think it’s just so precious the way she listens to him despite how much she doesn’t want to believe & how scared she is, even though she’s trying not to be.

“…i think that we both know that right now the truth is in me and that’s where i need to pursue it…”

he want to stay on the path he’s on to help her, but scully asks for him and he doesn’t hesitate for a second 🥹🥺🥺

scully knew mulder would come & do as she asked, without question, without any doubt. this arc is so painful but it’s my favorite for the leaps & bounds their relationship takes — even if they don’t explicitly voice anything. for mulder, you see it with his gestures & his worry/concern for her. with scully, you see it in the way she’s so vulnerable with him.

maggie scully’s reaction is soul crushing. her fear, her terror is almost unbearable. she can’t lose another child. and she doesn’t want to be protected.

scully writing to mulder — her thoughts & feelings — is so intense. she’s trying so hard to allay his guilt and bring him peace. like. this is the most heart wrenching thing and so fucking heartfelt. i love when we get to see into scully’s mind because it’s always overflowing with love & so many emotions that we only get to ~see rarely.

gods her nightmare. was that a memory? and then penny northern was there for her again. even the way she shows vulnerability with penny is just. incredible. scully still can’t face it though. she doesn’t want to remember or make sense of it, and penny is so gentle with her too. the compassion is just. overflowing

OH GOD. mulder going to skinner.

“i’m pretty damn sure sure she’s never undergone treatment for fertility.” especially not at a federal facility…

he wants a meeting with csm so he can save scully — skinner won’t let him put himself in that position because csm ~deals in lies~ (I LOVE SKINNER WITH MY WHOLE HEART)

and finally FINALLY mulder brings in the gunmen. i love this little family so much.

and god. skinner knows he’ll find csm in THEIR office. how fucking dare he be there?? skinner is so willing to put himself on the line for them, knowing a lot more about what he’s setting himself up for. but he does it because he loves scully (& mulder) and he believes they’re worth it. like literally my heart could explode. i feel like this is the moment you truly know skinner is on their side. he’s done a few things in the past (not letting mulder abandon the x files, wetwired) but this is next level, so far beyond anything.

he has this whole operation going to find out what’s going on with the fertility clinic & scully is writing to him — calling it “his own path” when it’s all for scully. like my dear sweet scully, your paths are the same. they can’t be separated anymore.

and he finds more kurt crawfords. he knows exactly what they are now. (team they were made from scully because they’re so soft and i like this guy.)

the way they’re trying to cure the cancer that’s afflicted all these women. and he finds scully’s ova, they bring mulder right to them. learning scully’s barren. that the abducted women are their mothers. they want to save their mothers 😭

sincerely, the lengths these men go to for scully is so far beyond the realm of possibility and they are INCREDIBLE.

close call with that psycho shooter and mulder SPRINTS to scully’s room, he doesn’t find her but he finds the notebook she’s been writing in. the PAIN.

when byers leads him to scully, the RELIEF in his eyes. penny northern instilling hope in scully again. it’s so good. scully has the softest heart & incredible strength. mulder sat outside the room waiting for scully, giving her that time with penny. then telling her about reading what she wrote and she’s so sad he read it. because she has more to do, she’s not giving up. he has so much faith in her, that she will find the answers & save herself. scully still thinks she’s going to die, but she also believes she can live with the cancer. it’s the ~treatment that can kill a person faster.

she has too much left to do. for all those other women, for the x files, for mulder. for HERSELF. i can’t explain how happy it makes me that she puts herself on the list & that’s what’s most important. the LIGHT in mulder’s eyes when she says it.

mulder calling skinner to tell him he’s right about csm, that there’s another way — and skinner is sitting there with him and says “there’s always another way” and that fucking bastard “if you’re willing to pay the price. mulder was but scully is fighting & that’s all he needed to know. but skinner. he’ll still pay the price in case it’s necessary. again — love this man with my whole heart

[pancakeke]

1/7 news

First, because a lot of people were trying to call me out for saying Trump told his supporters to go wreck shit up at the Capitol, here is a video where he tells them to go “fight like hell”. Also before this Giuliani was on stage calling for a “trial by combat”.

Congress certified Biden’s win. Trump acknowledged it though the Twitter account of an aide (as his own account was still under a 12 hour ban).

The US broke 4,000 covid deaths in a single day.

While sheltering in the Capitol, 50 GOP senators refused to put on masks despite repeated requests.

A 7 foot tall “nonscalable” walls are being erected around the Capitol and will remain for the next 30 days (photo).

Records were stolen from the Capitol, possibly including “national security equities”.

The President of Zimbabwe criticized sanctions the US put on his country citing concerns about their democracy.

Biden admitted that if the rioters were members of Black Lives Matter they would have been treated differently by police.

Trump told the Georgia Secretary of State he will drop the lawsuits his campaign has filed against the office. He’s said it’s because he’s getting an “out of court settlement” ???

Gov. Larry Hogan said requests to send in the Maryland National Guard were rejected for 90 minutes. Two offers made by the Pentagon to send members of the National Guard and FBI to aid were also rejected by the Capitol police. The Capitol Police issued a short statement about the events of the 6th.

A Metro DC police officer said that off duty officers and members were part of the rioters and flashed their badges as they pushed into the Capitol.

House Homeland Security Committee is now asking the FBI and TSA to add perpetrators to the no-fly list.

A US Capitol Police officer involved in the riots at the Capitol has died.

Twitch disabled Trump’s account.

Shopify suspended all Trump shopfronts.

Youtube is removing all videos making false election claims and giving the creators strikes starting today.

Trump tweeted a new video acknowledging that there will be a new administration. He also claimed to be “outraged by the violence, lawlessness and mayhem” of the rioters despite yesterday telling them “We love you, you’re very special” in a now-deleted video. Trump also lied in this new video, claiming he called the National Guard immediately. Pence was the one who called in the National Guard after Trump was suspected to be blocking calls from others. Trump resisted making this new video until becoming worried he could face legal action for inciting the riot.

Trump suggested pardoning himself before leaving office. A WH top lawyer warned him he could face legal exposure for the riot given he had urged his supporters to march to the Capitol and “fight.”  DOJ says it won't rule out pursuing charges against President Trump for his possible role in the riot.

Pence opposes using the 25th amendment to remove Trump from office and has not discussed using it with anyone. Pelosi and Schumer called Pence to discuss this with him but did not hear back. Democrat members of the House Judiciary Committee as well as others also urged him to use it.

The Articles of Impeachment drafted by the House of Representatives currently has 112 cosponsors (there are 435 reps total).

Jeb! blamed Trump for the riot and told him to concede the election.

Rep Adam Kinzinger (R - IL) called for the use of the 25th amendment.

Senator Doug Mastriano (R - PA) organized his own march on the Capitol.

Senator Josh Hawley (R - MO) had his book cancelled by a publisher because he joined the rioters.

Rep Cori Bush (D - MO) has drafted a discussion to expel sedacious members from the House of Representatives.

President of the Chicago police union John Catanzara defended the rioters (article with his quotes in a non-tweet format).

Mo Brooks (R - AL) is claiming the rioters are all antifa. He also calls them “fascist antifa” ??

Tucker Carlson is distancing himself from Trump lmao

Maryland Republican Gov. Larry Hogan called for Trump to resign or be removed from office.

Resignations:

Secretary of Transportation (and wife of Mitch McConnell) Elaine Chao

Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos resigned, citing Trump’s responsibility in inciting the riots

Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund is resigning on the 16th due to his failure to secure the Capitol

Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Michael Stenger resigned after Mitch McConnell requested his resignation. Pelosi also called for his resignation after not hearing from him all day.

Tyler Goodspeed, acting chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers

Deputy national security adviser Matt Pottinger

White House social secretary Rickie Niceta

Mick Mulvaney, former chief of staff and then envoy to Northern Ireland

John Costello, Senior cybersecurity official.

Stephanie Grisham, former White House press secretary and chief of staff to Melania Trump

Sarah Matthews, deputy White House press secretary

In regards to DeVos’s resignation, the American Federation of Teachers (the second largest teachers union) issued the statement "Good Riddance."

[nochiquinn]

critical role ashley johnson one-shot:

I'm late!!

"there's a hole in the hull, so there's some things that are flying around" that'll do that, yeah

mala: Travis: I get the flamethrower Laura: Travis: for my wife

I have an instinctive reaction to liam talking about boots

I have no idea what's going on but the "Mother" voice is a good voice

extremely mini series, only one episode

[the owl house voice] no, my weak nerd arms!

"waiting for your order" "fix it"

oh no moons of madness

this is absolutely the filth

travis what are your dice

"a scalpel" stares in vlr

marisha's character makes me think of tilly from star trek discovery

mala: virgil is the final boss

travis don't split the party

SEE

"ol' betsy" is making me think of robin hood

I hate it

lmao I just watched the matrix this afternoon, too

"did you feat into psychology? ...of course you did!"

"prescribe it some downers"

"what seems to be catching its face"

are you a synth, you have to tell me if you're a synth or else it's entrapment

"oh, NO, he's a real boy! I have to care about him now!"

yk there's nothing ever stopping a hyper-realistic synthetic human from having red "blood"

cool I hate it

ashley: shoot again, let me see if there are any more fuel tanks in here

well it wasn't a fuel tank

I appreciate that it at least looks like laura is beating liam up

"you're batting 1000. the opposite of that."

that is incredibly cool

I don't know who said black and decker but they're absolutely fired

gdi robots

marisha gets a stress point for knocking over her shit

I enjoy that in addition to forgetting how chairs work being stressed makes marisha forget how long her arms are

"according to the rule we need to start fucking right now to relieve stress" liam

mala: Liam wants his android porn

how high can marisha's voice go

shit is doing shit

"both fail, things get bad"

sarge sounding kinda xenophobic

critical role is never gonna get that milton bradley sponsorship

w e l p

"the one I was hatched in"

oh she could See It, that's horrifying

does ashley have like a reverb pedal or what

why is liam so fucking corny but it still hurts every. time.

stares in ztd

ashley

"kyle, come here, your mom's gonna watch this"

this is so fucking cute

"I love these people" "they're dead"

it IS a pedal

[peach-paste]

hi I dyed my hair 💫

[bestworstcase]

rwby fairytale anon again

you're so right. and the reason i know you're so right is because the writers have literally said those exact things lol

what really is difficult about loving this book is that it is so weird to be handed a bunch of canonbiguous lore fluff and asked not to do a textual analysis of the text. instead do a "textual analysis of a rhetorical analysis of a character's rhetorical analysis of his own text of canonbiguous lore fluff"...of the text. this show makes diegesis its concubine

heavens to betsy i wanna know what you think is happening in volume nine

1. HAVE THEY? LMAO

i pay very little attention to word of god except insofar as i absorb bits and pieces via fandom osmosis but i do love being vindicated

2. honestly coming from tts, where the myths are largely what you hear is what you get and the only interesting kernel of half-truth is the vague suggestion of working partnership between manny and ziti prior to him kicking her into acid hell, something anyone with two braincells to rub together could see coming from miles away--this is my FAVORITE THING about rwby and it makes the little gremlins of adhd hyperfixation in my brain go feral

3. im being a little facetious here because there’s too many unknown quantities to make predictions about anything but the very broad strokes but: the kids are going to face god and walk backwards into hell

3a. less speculative than hopeful but given that the girl who fell through the world is a blatant allusion to alice’s adventures in wonderland and transparently about to become Important i am dying to meet whatever wonderland allusions void island has in store for us and curious to find out whether i’m right abt neo-as-the-duchess’s-baby or if i’m just grasping at straws because in eight whole volumes there hasn’t been a single wonderland allusion yet besides the tweedles who were irrelevant but listen roman holiday girl who fell through the world speak roughly to your little boy girl dont grunt that’s not a proper way of expressing yourself!!! pepper burn dust shallow sea turning humans into faunus baby turns into a pig wouldn’t it be murder to leave it behind—

—like . its so obscure that i normally wouldn’t be holding my breath but. the tweedle allusions were boastful cowards who fell to pieces the instant a real battle happened and one of them died being carried off by a flying monster (if it had been a nevermore instead of a manticore there would be zero doubt in my mind but alas) so hm!!

i don’t think neo is literally fully or partially going to turn into a pig (probably) (who knows) but the baby’s transformation as a metaphor for how shes been dehumanized and ignored and stripped of her voice all her life bc she can’t speak? oh yes. and the roman holiday backstory, parents as the cook and duchess / burn dust hoard as unspeakable quantities of pepper thing speaks for itself. there’s a lot of room to work symbolically or metaphorically with alice trying to (and then giving up on) help the baby vis a vis a neo recovery arc and it’d draw a symbolic line of connection between shallow sea + void island beach via animal transformation themes (ALSO pink brown and white are all pig colors) it just fits

[piperslovebot]

Jo Mitchell and Sarah Mitchell?

1. nickname? Sarah: Sarah-Bear, mija, mi amor (by Paula and Alexis), Angel, Darling, Sunshine, Babe, Sweetheart and My lady (by Nate), Sars (by Nikki, Leia, Gwen, Kristie, Mikayla, Sharon, Nate, and Betsy), Cool chick (by Jay), My favourite kid (by Red) and Love (by Kitty), Girl (by Nikki), sis (by Jo), Little Mitchell (by Betsy and Kristie)

Jo: Jo (by everyone), sexy minx (by Ryland), sis, Little Miss Popular (by Sarah), honey (by her parents), Queen B (by herself), mija (by Paula), Mitchell (by Betsy and Kristie) Lucifer, Satan, Medusa (by Kristie), Bitch, Frigid Bitch (by Betsy)

2. relationship status? Sarah: taken, Jo: taken

3. comfort food? Sarah and Jo: Fajitas

4. favourite place in the world? Sarah: Disneyland, Jo: alone in her room

5. biggest fear? Sarah: Her father, Jo: not being good enough

6. special skill? Sarah: Being able to cheer people up along with being well liked, Jo: manipulation and protecting the people she loves

7. favourite outfit? Sarah: https://pin.it/6aH68FR, Jo: https://pin.it/2AZsxFn

8. biggest insecurity? Sarah: Disappointing people/them not liking her, Jo: getting hurt

9. relationship to their siblings? Sarah: Her relationship with Jo is complicated but they do love each other. Jo: same thing

10. relationship to their parents? Sarah: Her relationship with her dad is horrifyingly abusive. She has a (mostly) good relationship with her mom. Jo: her dad is abusive to her too but in a different way. Her mom does love her but their relationship is pretty strained.

11. most embarrassing memory? Sarah: Her going up to guy to kiss him, only to find out he’s gay. Jo: When Ryland revealed to the whole school that she sleeps with Teletubby stuffed animals

12. favourite animal? Sarah: Giraffe. Jo: Her skull pillow

13. bed time routine? Sarah: A less intense version of Rachel Berry’s, Jo: Rachel Berry’s night routine with her intensity (probably more)

14. hobbies? Sarah: Learning about astrology, singing, dancing, watching tv (mostly Disney movies), socializing, Jo: being social, hanging out with her friends, going bowling, playing sports (mostly soccer)

15. biggest weakness? Sarah: Idk. She does tend to not exactly be the most empathetic person to Jo in the beginning (they’re both awful to each other tho, not just Sarah), Jo: her meanness, giving her insecurities the time of day, lashing out, and constantly pushing people away

16. favourite swear word? Sarah: Bullshit, Jo: Motherfucker, fucker

17. achievement they are the most proud of? Sarah: Winning first place in the pee wee dance tournament and bringing home a medal. Jo: Winning a gold medal on the pee wee soccer team

18. favourite typ of sport? Sarah: Dancing. Jo also plays soccer with her sometimes. Jo: Soccer obviously.

19. mode of transportation? Sarah: Running, going on the bus, mom/Jo dropping her off, Jo: Her friends driving her, her driving herself

20. favourite thing to do to relax? Sarah: Singing, Jo: Painting, filing her nails

21. eating habits like? Sarah: she’s lowkey a messy eater. Jo: freakishly neat eater

22. special interests? Sarah: Learning about astrology. Jo: painting and soccer

23. favourite part of their body? Sarah: Her face and hair, Jo: her everything

24. role model? Sarah: Her mom, Jo: tragically it used to be her dad. Now it’s herself.

25. most prized possession? Sarah: Her teddy bear she won at the Gladstone county fair. Jo: her Barney nightlight

26. favourite place to travel to? Sarah: Rome and London, Jo: Paris and Greece

27. way to earn money? Sarah: Works as a babysitter, Jo: Mr.Sexy’s Pizza (yes, it’ll be a real place in my verse lmao)

28. thoughts about politics? Sarah: She’s fine with politics. Jo: hates politics (mostly because of stuff with her dad)

29. favourite colour? Sarah: Yellow and blue, Jo: Purple and black

30. ideal partner? Sarah: Aladdin lol, Jo: Kelly (I know it sounds like a cliche lmao)

31. party trick? Sarah: Making balloon animals, Jo: Soccer tricks and singing.

32. favourite song? Sarah: Any song from Mariah Carey’s, Jo: T Swift

33. biggest pet peeve? Sarah: People being mean to her friends, horror movies, gore, physical fights, violence (I’ll be honest. I feel like she’d hate stranger things lol), Jo: gore, blood, spiders, champagne

34. favourite person? Sarah: Her mom, Jo: Herself lol

35. biggest goal in life? Sarah: To live a normal life, Jo: To be the best

36. highest academic degree? Sarah: She’s still in high school. Jo: also still in high schools

37. safe space? Sarah: Her room, Jo: Alisha and Jared

38. guilty pleasure? Sarah: Marshmallows cream filled chocolate cookies, Jo: chocolate chip cookies and Taylor Swift

39. favourite choice of drink? Sarah: Coke, Jo: Sprite and rum

40. dream job? Sarah: Dancer, Jo: Painter

41. favourite type of music? Sarah: Pop, Jo: also pop

42. most distinctive features? Sarah: Her freckles, nose, and eyes, Jo: Her eyes

43. favourite aesthetic? Sarah: Floral and beach, Jo: ombré, navy, darkness, patterned stuff tbh

44. fashion style? Sarah: Simple and girly, Jo: dark colors

45. favourite movie? Sarah: Mean Girls, Jo: Clueless

[siren1song]

Ain’t No Rest

Summary: Andy finally gets to have a conversation after two years of isolation. The fact that it’s with a zombie does not matter to him.

Word Count: 1,130

Notes: hey its ink, caspers remus fictive and guess what i write too lmao here’s some anxvi using a request @acanvasofabillionsuns sent to us ages ago with the song Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked virgil is a zombie and andy is not have fun

Ao3 Link

“You know, having you follow me around everywhere is seriously shit when it comes to how bad I smell,” Andy said, looking towards the zombie that was slumped against the wall, its- his? His hands tucked into the filthy pocket of his hoodie.

The zombie didn’t respond, but he did look at him, one eye uncovered by the matted hair that hung over the other half of his face.

“You sure you can’t talk? You clearly have enough brain—”

The zombie narrowed his eyes into a glare and Andy had to resist the urge to snort harshly.

“Yeah, that was on purpose, shut up. You clearly have enough brain to think for yourself.”

Silence, as usual, making Andy sighed as he continued to rummage through the old bunker he’d managed to get into after the zombie—

“Seriously, not even a name? I can’t keep calling you “zombie” it’s been like two weeks of you following me around everywhere and showing me places with food and shit,” he muttered, lifting a can to his face so he could try and see if there was any sort of tampering with it in the dark, shifting backwards to try and get some light from the hole up above.

A grunt, and then, surprise, more silence.

“You know that confirmed to me it probably wasn’t because of rotted vocal chords, right?”

Andy looked at the zombie, noting the way his mouth was pulled over his teeth in a smirk that resembled more of a grimace, in Andy’s opinion.

“Oh, you’re gonna be an asshole about this? Alright, fine. I’m naming you then.”

He rolled his eyes, and oh Andy was going to give him the dumbest name if he was going to be like that.

Okay, something that would get reaction…

Andy looked around the room, tossing the can in his hand up in the air while he thought.

“Betsy. I’m naming you Betsy.”

The zombie looked at him, his eyes narrowed again in an offended glare.

“What?” Andy asked, giving him a cheeky grin as he tossed the can a few more times before shoving it in his bag.

“A cow?”

His voice was hoarse, broken as if he hadn’t used it in years which… given he was dead that was probably accurate.

…It was hot as hell, if Andy was being honest with himself.

“No, a donkey, since you’re being an ass.”

Betsy rolled his eyes again, going silent again though now he was rubbing his throat with one hand.

“So, Betsy,” Andy started, grinning broadly when Betsy sighed and gave him an exasperated look, “how’d you lose that finger of yours?”

Pausing, Betsy pulled his hand from his throat to note the lack of a pinky, frowning slightly and his face scrunching up a bit in a mark of confusion as if he didn’t remember losing his finger.

“Don’t know,” he mumbled, wiggling his fingers a bit before shrugging and sticking it back in his pocket.

“You don’t know how you lost an entire finger?” Andy asked, feeling a little incredulous at that concept.

Betsy raised an eyebrow at him, staying silent for several moments as if waiting for something to connect in Andy’s brain.

When Andy only shook his head at him, Betsy leaned his head back against the wall.

“Can’t exactly. Feel pain. When you’re dead.”

Okay, Andy felt a little stupid now.

“You know what, fair enough.”

Betsy chuckled, and Andy refused to admit to the way he shuddered at how good that sounded with his broken, barely used voice.

He did not have the hots for a zombie and he’d pummel anyone who tried to contradict that.

“Are you really just gonna let me call you Betsy?” he asked, deciding to distract his thoughts with a bit more conversation and resuming his search for more food.

“Why not? Don’t remember. My name.”

Andy stopped, looking at the can of carrots that was in his hand now, the label faded but he could barely make out the picture.

He hadn’t considered that. What would that be like? Losing so much of your identity because you got turned?

What would having a consciousness while you’re quite literally dead be like?

Humming, Andy shoved the carrots in his bag, deciding he didn’t want to dwell on that thought right now.

“How hard is it for you to talk anyway? You make a lot of pauses between words.”

Betsy grunted, prompting Andy to pause his inspection of cans to look back at him.

“Lungs don’t. Work well. When you’re dead.”

Andy nodded, watching Betsy for a moment longer while Betsy watched him.

What would it be like to kiss a zombie? Would he get turned?

No that is not a thought he’s going to entertain right now. Probably never.

Turning back to what he was doing, Andy finally let silence fall while he gathered enough canned food that would last him at least a month if he rationed it right.

Especially since he was alone. Not everyone was lucky enough to have sentience after they turned.

“Why don’t you pick a name for yourself?” he asked, pulling the strings on his bag taut before slinging it over his shoulder and looking at Betsy with a raised eyebrow.

Betsy shrugged, shuffling over to the ladder and slowly starting to raise himself out of the bunker.

Andy followed him in silence, dusting himself off when he finally reached the top and keeping a close eye on Betsy while he watched him.

“Are you going back to not talking to me? Really?” he asked, deciding to wait in his walking back to his hideout to give Betsy a look.

“You want me. To talk that. Much?” he asked, smirking in a lopsided way that looked almost lopsided.

“Well when you’ve been on your own for two years you start craving conversation, even with the undead.”

Betsy grunted, shoving his hands in his grimy pocket again, Andy wincing on instinct when he heard the fabric rip.

“Virgil. Works. Saw it. In a book. Once.”

Andy nodded, turning in a small circle to get a better bearing on his location before setting off in a direction.

“Virgil’s a good name. Metal if you ask me, at least. Mine’s just because I hate Andrew but I can’t be bothered to come up with a new name so. Andy.”

Another grunt, and silence. Well, that’s fine, Andy could go back to talking for both of them for now.

Besides, with the reveal that Virgil could actually talk, it made for a lot more interesting friendship, in his opinion.

Plus he had to figure out how to purge the curiosity of kissing a zombie from his brain, he was not going to put his lips on a literal corpse.