#but its already 9am... what if they cancel......

[transmasc-rose]

So many baby cousins and none of them live nearby :-(

[roseyoori]

Just the Two of Us~ [peepaw Leo rottmnt x OC reader]

song: Just the Two of Us by Bill Withers

Chapter 1 Today was a busy in the NYC mutant clinic. Thursdays are building trashday and countless trucks park nearby for convenience in restock. By the time the sun peaks from the dense horizon of building rooftops it's usually 9 or so already. Unfortunately the price that comes with being different is while everyone wakes up at 9AM, your day started 14 hours earlier the night before and the appointments haven't stopped tumbling in since. The night meant minimal chances for human contact and a natural cloak of invisibility protecting your clients, doesn't mean no human activity afterhours though. Frankly in such a cramped city, you doesnt know how she still hasn't been popped for catering to the mutant above the surface. Right after handling the last blood test of the day, you checks your wristwatch.

"4 already! Wow." You puts away the blood test analysis and hollers to see if your assistant was still there. "Todd, you ready to go? Todd?" The capybara does an near perfect job, a friend of the gang with the hospitality and management skills for the position. You peaked in wondering why he wasn't responding to your calls, to find him with someone on the phone behind the counter. You managed to catch his friendly closing phrase before he hung up and turned to you.

"Sorry Doc, I just told them to come by since we weren't too busy anymore. What time is it?" "it's 4, Todd." "WHAAAAT?! 4 already??" he held his mouth. "Oh silly me. I forgot Do you think i should probably tell them to cancel?" "Well…did they say how far they were from here? I'm guessing it's not a regular huh?" The cappy checked his notes on the appointment form, "They said he had a mutant in need for a body check and they were nowhere near their regular physician and got our number from a yokai flyer." Your eyes grew slightly in surprise, "yokai flyers? the ones we printed and distributed for less than 2 weeks 5 months ago? how on earth do we still have them around?"

"They gave the name Casey." "Did they tell you where they were calling from?" Todd thought for a moment, "from a telephone booth. ya know, the one 5 blocks down?" You hummed in thought, you had to be somewhat careful about who knew and visited this location. Only a handful of humans know of the place, most of the rest came from mutants and yokai through word of mouth. But she decided to give it a go, "that should be fine, they should be here in 15 minutes. or 5 if they sneak over. I'll take from here, Todd." The elder creature raised a thick brow. "Are you sure? It's pretty dark out here and you're here alone." You chuckled lightly and gave him a pat. "I'll be fine, i'm a tough girl. besides, i have paperwork to keep me company. just tell the gang i might be a bit late to the party." It doesn't start until 6AM but you figured ending earlier could give you some time to dressup. so much for prepping.

After some remarks about overworking and not skipping meals, Todd gathered his things and skipped out the door, and it was you filling the paperwork. They say 3 in the devil's hour, when unexplainable things are most likely to happen. Your clock reads 4 now but it's all the same, you just feel a sense of tranquility when there's no one else around. 4:08. The ticking fills your ears as easing white noise, a sound of a few that embodied constance and strictness yet often leaves one anxious. It's times like these you enjoyed, like reminiscence, when you adjusted your glasses and reached for the retro-radio-speaker (of course not a real radio. its a bluetooth speaker), playing a soothing latenight 80s radio track. 4:15 the unsure clinkering of the doorbell alerted you to someone coming in.

"They told me they'll be open on the phone, but it looks pretty dead quiet." A young voice spoke, possibly a teen, this must be Casey. Followed by another deeper, gruffer, older and strangely familiar. "It's the dead of night, Case. Normal people would be asleep and I told you don't worry, kiddo."

"No way, you taught me to put my foot down. And i'm telling you we need you to get checked!" The older voice whined, "Why couldn't we wait till we get back to Donnie?" "Because you never do!" The two visitors scower around, they weren't used to the tidyness of a doctor's office, Casey especially since he's never had the pleasure having a normal experience that includes waiting with a seat and a comic book. You can tell he was sceptical and curious at the same time, weirdly peeping under and over and sideways up and down to find any indication of traps rigged. The old timer turtle on the other, was as cool as a fiddle with the whole scenario. Unlike the youngster of a different time, this Leo is still the same one who once ate pizza and played video games all day. Though he grew up with home remedies, this was not particularily unfamiliar per se. "Case, i know there's no one here but please don't embarrass me, bud." "I'd say you're the one acting strange here. Were'nt you the one who said you could never be too careful?" Casey huffed. He eyed the bell on the counter with suspicion, blown up intensely as he slowly lowering his finger on to the little button-top. He was half expecting some explosion of sorts to have been triggered, a ding rung and he shrunk back dramatically. Of course nothing happen. Leo rolled his eyes, he forgets sometimes that the sidekick had a messed up childhood, him partly to blame for his wary disposition now. "Just a sec!" Leo swore Casey almost jump up the counter. Casey almost peed his pants. Leo almost swore out loud, his old heart nearly had a heart attack. He wasn't expecting anyone to still be here, definitely not at this late hour. "Sit down for a sec, would you? I just have to pull these away." Look at them still startled, obeying this random voice from the back and plopping their butts on the cusioned seats. A minute or two later, they hear the voice approaching the counter front. "Okay~" you had the notes in your hand. "Tell me which one of you is Cas-"

Your eyes met. Those eyes can't be mistakened. That blue bandana. Those distinct red banana stripes. That sharp plastron contour.

There was no mistaking those eyes, the look of wonder and strangely…loving and familiar in you. What was this intense feeling in him? He can't remember having ever met you, then what was this lump in his throat? Your eyes had him locked.

That smile you had after might've just broken or casted a spell. "Why hello~" your voice sounded low. Cooing like a dove. Calm. Sweet. Steadying…. "Sorry but, have we met before~?" Instinctively you switched over to your flirty side, eager hand under your chin and winking, knowing full well you were still locking eyes.

to be continued~

[laurentrvls]

Philadelphia, PA Part 1

It was a chilly raining morning when I woke up on February 6th. I got dressed and booked an Uber to pick me up. All week the weather report had said a clear day but Rhode Island was now planning for a rain and snow wintery mix. I get into the Uber as the first few rain drops fell. My dad lived about 20 minutes away and I hoped to get to the train station, about 15 minutes further away from my Dad's place before the snow started.

So, if you have read my previous blog posts or even my bio you know that no trip ever goes as planned. For great examples read about that time I went to California and lost my wallet or the time I went to Greece without my suitcase. Well, this trip was no different except for the fact that I had messed up before getting into the Uber that morning.

The night before while packing for my overnight stay in Philly. I just had a feeling- Double check the hotel reservation, double check the train tickets are all there on your App, Double check the Game tickets. I look at the hotel reservation, its there, one night, February 6-7th, 2 queen size beds. Train tickets- they are there, Leaving Providence at 9am and arriving at 3:30pm and going back..... wait that cant be right.

Leaving Philly at 12:15am arriving in Providence at 5:30 am.

"no no no what the fuck!"

I had remembered that months earlier when planning this trip my dad had asked me if there was anyway he would be able to get back in time to go to work on Friday, I told him if we took the train then we would have to take a very early train. I cant imagine myself putting that train ticket selection in the cart but there it was. When I went back to my cart to make the purchase probably days later I can only imagine I thought it was for 12- noon, not midnight. Thing was with the game ending at 9:30 it was possible for us to take that train but obviously that was not the plan. Trying to save some money I went for the un-rescheduling choice as well.

So I called my dad who is already a nervous traveler under ideal conditions to come up with a plan and see what he wanted to do. Thing was, we could book a train for later in the day but if you did not know, if you book a train months in advance, this Amtrak ticket was about $30 each for coach now we are looking at north of $150 each for the same seats. I was kicking myself the whole conversation but we did decide to book new tickets.

So the Uber drops me off at my Dad's house. I double check that he has everything as he is older and has medications that he needs to take throughout the day. We lock up everything and go out to wait for the next Uber. The snow is sticking to the road, I am a little nervous that the train will be delayed or cancelled since its not the most reliable form of transportation. Luckily we were just a short ride to the train station. Once inside we found a seat and talked about how the day was going to go. The train before us was delayed 3 times before it was cancelled. While we were waiting for our train I found out that the bid I had put in for business class was excepted. My dad and I hadn't been on a trip together in over a decade so I was trying to find ways to make it a little better here and there.

Our train was delayed about an hour and then we went to the platform to board. We were in business class and over the next 3 or 4 stops we noticed a few people that had coach tickets were sitting in business class. The conductor had announced that our train was the one that picked up the passengers from the cancelled train because it was stranded so people with coach tickets could sit in Business class as long as there was availability, but as soon as someone came in that has a Business class ticket they would be booted from their seat. Luckily after Penn Station in New York most of the train cleared out and there were plenty of seats for everyone. The train ride wasn't too exciting I took a few naps and we had talked about going to the dining car but hearing about people standing in the aisles we decided to opt out of exploring the train. We did make the decision that instead of going to the hotel and out to eat afterwards that we were going to eat first.

Then the conductor gets on the intercom:

"Next stop Philadelphia."

[wherevermybiketakesme]

The Last 75 Days

Have you ever had a dream that made you feel so sad, the feeling lingered even after you woke up?

I opened my eyes and felt my heart was aching. I couldn't remember, for the life of me, what it was in the dream that's intensely devastating, but it was definitely something that slingshot me off to the surface of consciousness and left me lying on the bed, dazed and confused. I stared at the ceiling, wondering what the hell just happened down there. As if by cue, the bedroom door opened and V slipped back inside (she was up early to finish pending work), greeting me a good morning. All the residual fog of sadness from the unremembered dream lifted upon seeing her and hearing her voice. Clarity ensued and I got up. It was half past five. Another diem to be carpe'd.

The gym was crowded at 9AM on a Friday. I had two sessions of upper body workout, which was nice. Then, grilled chicken lunch at Volcano with V, Tata, and Cece.

Tell me, is 12PM too soon for beers?

Later in the afternoon, I spent a bit of solitary time to work at Biji Kopling, a small rustic coffee shop on the corner of Sangkuriang street, with trees all around that give you shade and sounds of birds that, at times, could drown out the traffic noise. I love it here.

Going home for a meeting but it's cancelled at the last minute. I immediately changed into the bibs and tech tee and went out of the house to ride north toward Tahura. My goal was to catch the sunset in Pasir Pogor but I was late and I rode slow. Plus, it's hazy and cloudy. The bright orange orb of the sun was already making its final appearance of the day by the time I reached BHD, just few kilometers and few hills away from Pasir Pogor.

I stopped for the curtain call. Then, the show's over.

I did reach Pasir Pogor, staying for a while to enjoy the last light of the day. I brought Letters to a Young Poet that I tucked in the back pocket of the bibs. I managed to read a few pages and this passage stuck with me hard.

And that's how I'd like to close off today's post. Until tomorrow.

Bandung, October 18, 2024

[bigjimbopickens]

Ok so I just had the worst flight experience ever in my 19 years of being a frequent flier and I really need to vent my frustration so hi Tumblr

Be ready for a series of unfortunate events except I’m not an orphan I am a 19 year old who was trying to go to northern BC to see my parental figure with my sibling.

December 18, 10am: We get to my home city’s airport and see that most of the flights are delayed because of the weather. It was quite snowy so we understood.

10:30am: Every flight going to Vancouver is cancelled. Shortly after every US flight is cancelled and then every flight with Air Canada is cancelled. Ours is only delayed for another hour but it was going to mean we miss our connection.

2:40-4pm: We finally fly out to Calgary and arrive just 5 minutes before our connection. However, it was at the other side of the airport and we missed it. It left without most of its passengers. If it had only stayed for just 10 more minutes this entire situation would’ve been avoided.

4:40pm: We are told to wait at the next gate as our flight was apparently rebooked. The gate was on the other side of the airport again so we all go there only to find out we apparently have to go to customer service for our new passes. Customer service is in an entire different area.

5:15-around 8:30pm: We join the long ass line for 3 and 1/2 hours only for our rebooked flight to be cancelled as soon as it was our turn. In the line we meet this woman who was trying to get to Halifax but missed the connection because she was delayed in Vancouver. She ended up buying me food because I was dying and let us go next instead of her. I’ll never forget her kindness and I hope she made it to Halifax. At around 8:30pm the massive flight board in the terminal is entirely red as every flight was cancelled. It was so eerie seeing everything be illuminated in red and everyone go silent in disbelief. I’ve also never heard anyone breakdown on an airport intercom before either. I honestly felt so bad for all the agents as that airport was severely understaffed.

9-11:40pm: We get our new passes finally and go to baggage claim and meet a friend of ours who lives in Calgary that we were able to stay overnight with. We wait for another 2 hours just to find out it was retagged and going on the next flight to northern BC.

12am, December 19: We finally leave Calgary airport. I forget how dry the air is there and also how wide the roads are. I used to live in Calgary but it’s been 2 years since I did. I go rest.

8am: I get woken by their cat. His name is Bart. Here is a picture of Bart.

9am: I call the airline to check-in so I don’t have to deal with it at the airport, since it’s what I was told to do. Turns out I didn’t need to anyways because I already had the passes and the bags were checked (this is important later).

2:30pm: We head out to try again. Once we arrive we notice how empty it was but once we were past security it was insane. So many people were stranded with nowhere to go. Made me realize how lucky I was to be stranded somewhere I’m familiar with. The flight boards were still red with cancelled flights but ours was still blue. We find out later its been delayed for an hour because it was held up at its previous spot but that’s okay.

6pm: After watching many flights get cancelled around us, we finally take off from Calgary. It was a very smooth flight, which is odd because it’s usually bumpy.

7:40pm: We disembark at our destination finally only to find out everyone who was rebooked on this flight’s bags didn’t actually get on the plane. They were put on random ones heading to the same place and hoped for the best I guess. We managed to find one of ours but the other is somewhere. I open it to check if anything had been damaged or taken and turns out it was opened to be inspected and an object had broken. It was something I made for a friend too.

11pm: The airline has the audacity to ask me how my experience was. I gave them 1 star and said “Sugma balls”. Like really, take me out to dinner first before you fuck me.

I somehow handled this well for being 19 travelling with a younger sibling who didn’t even want to go. Though I’m fucking exhausted. Normally I love flying because airplanes are my favourite thing ever but I had no time to enjoy looking at planes. I don’t blame any of the staff for this, it was entirely out of their control and they were doing their best with what info they had. They were severely understaffed at the airport and the airline had managed this whole situation so poorly. I used to want to work in the airline industry like my family does but I don’t think I could ever handle a situation like that as an attendant or agent.

Yeah uh, thanks for reading my misery. You can laugh if you want. I’m keeping the boarding passes so I can look back on this situation and hopefully laugh about it.

And to think I was actually the lucky one in this situation too. So many people remain stranded there with nowhere to go. We were only able to eventually get out because where I was going isn’t a very popular destination. It could’ve been so much worse but it also could’ve been so much better. One of my friends is flying through Calgary tomorrow so I hope he doesn’t suffer the same fate I did.

[worldserasingandcreatinginmymind]

Unfaithful | Part Five

Series Summary: After dreaming of your perfect wedding since you were a little girl the big day is almost here. But after meeting the priest you start to question your relationship.

Pairing: Hot Priest x Fem!Reader

Word Count: 2005

Warnings: angst, lots of angst, drunk priest, bad friend 

A/N: Please be warned there will be some themes of toxic/abusive relationship in this series. Also, spelling and grammar is not my strongest skill so please be kind :)

Part Four | Masterlist

- - - - -

I can’t sleep. 

Half excited for my hen party, and half nervous for the talk I know I need to have with the priest. 

I spend hours lying awake imagining how the conversation will go, all the possible outcomes. I must of drifted off some time in the early hours because I'm awakened at 9am by a text from Daniel: 

‘You looked so peaceful when I left for work I didn’t want to disturb you. But I just realised that since I’m going straight out with the boys for my stag do later, the next time we see each other I’ll be in my suit and you’ll be in your dress walking down the aisle to me. I can’t wait. Enjoy the fundraiser and have and wonderful hen party tonight. I love you Mrs Davison xxx’

The text makes me smile, until I read the last sentence. ‘Mrs Davison’ send a panic rushing through me. This suddenly all feels very real. I’m getting married tomorrow. I take a deep breath. It’s fine. I'm fine. This is just pre-wedding nerves. Completely normal. 

I take another deep breath and get out of bed. 

— — — — 

“Ah Y/N! You’re here” Pam greets me at the church doors and swiftly ushers me around the side of the building towards the church garden where the fundraiser has already started “We’ve got an emergency” 

“What do you mean?” I reply as she leads me through crowds of people till we reach a table lined with various numbered prizes. 

“Ruth was supposed to be running the raffle but she’s just called to say she can’t make it, ate something bad she thinks and now she can’t stop throwing up.” 

I grimace slightly at the story but mostly I’m just wondering what any of this has to do with me…

“So if you wouldn’t mind taking over and running it for us that would be wonderful. Tickets are a pound each. Thank you!” 

Before I can say anything she’s gone, rushing off to check the youth band are ready for their performance. I stand bewildered for a moment, looking around at the crowds until I spot the priest who is currently admiring cupcakes at the bakery stand and laughing about something. Suddenly he turns and locks eyes with me. His face drops, he stares at me like a deer in headlights. I give him a small smile, which he doesn’t return. My heart hurts. 

“Excuse me, how much is a ticket?” Someone asks, forcing me to turn my attention away

“One pound” 

“Can I get five please” 

By the time I complete the transaction and look back to the bakery stand the priest is gone. I scan the crowd again, but there’s no sign of him. 

An hour later I still don't know where he is. What I do know is I really need the loo. I ask the person on the stall next to me to watch the table while I head inside in search of the toilets, but when I enter the building I bump into someone. 

It’s him. 

“What are you doing here?” He asks

“Just trying to find the ladies room” 

“I mean here, at this stupid event”

“Pam didn’t really give me a choice” I explain and he just looks irritated “I’m sorry, I didn’t realise I wasn’t welcome”

“I just wasn’t expecting to see you here today”

“Well here I am” I say dryly and there’s an awkward silence. I take a deep breath before I speak again “I actually wanted to talk to you… about what happened-”

“Nothing happened. We agreed”

“But it did happen, Father, we need to talk about it”

“Oh, fuck you calling me Father like it doesn’t turn you on just to say it”

My mouth drops open, dumbfounded by his comment. I shake my head slightly as I try and think of something to say.

“I know what you’ve been doing” he continues

“Please, enlighten me because I have no idea what you're talking about!”

“Playing the sweet, innocent girl. Making me like you, fall for you. Making me think that you needed saving from the douchebag boyfriend��� Was any of it real? Was anything you said actually true?” 

“I never lied to you” I almost whisper as he gets really close to my face, moving my hair off my cheek to study what’s left of the burn scars.

“Did he ever really hurt you? Or did you just make that up so I’d feel sorry for you”

“Fuck you!” I say through gritted teeth as I start to walk away, tears threatening to spill from my eyes. I stop and look back at him “You’re the one who told me you loved me, remember? That was you! If you regret it, that’s fine. There’s no need to be such a dick about it” 

I turn and leave again, his final words repeating through my head as I walk away. 

As I walk home I can’t stop the tears from coming as I replay the conversation in my head over and over again. Why is he being like this? How can he be so loving to me one day and so nasty a few days later? What changed?

I get home and go straight to bed. I wrap myself up in the duvet and try to push everything out of my mind so I can get in a quick nap before I have to get ready for my hen party. The last thing I feel like doing right now is going out celebrating, but I know there’s no way I could cancel.

Thank God there’s going to be alcohol there. 

— — — — 

“Bride’s turn! Truth or Dare?”

“Truth” I say happily, finishing off my third glass of wine. 

“Okay… if you could have a free pass and choose any celebrity, who would you sleep with?”

The girls start whooping and laughing, but before I can even answer Tiffany cuts in.

“She won’t answer that, she’s far too vanilla”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask, slightly offended by her tone.

“Don't start Tiff” Eva rolls her eyes

“I’m not starting anything, I’m just telling the truth. She’s only ever had one boyfriend and she’s marrying him tomorrow. She lost her virginity to him and I bet you anything that they schedule the days in the week when they’ll go to bed and have boring missionary sex. Vanilla! She’s never even kissed another guy…”

Maybe it’s the alcohol in my system or the way she’s talking about me like I’m not here, but I can feel myself getting more and more irritated.

“Actually I have!” I speak up and she laughs.

“A kiss from your dad doesn’t count”

The room falls silent as everyone stops to watch my reaction. I can see from Tiffany’s face she instantly regrets her words. She knows how much I miss my dad, but it’s too late to take it back now.  

“Well done Tiff” I hear Eva say as I walk away from the group. I head outside and take a deep breath of the fresh air. Looking up at the stars I find myself thinking of my parents and wishing they were here. 

“I’m sorry” Tiffany’s voice makes me jump, I hadn’t realised she’d followed me outside and was now leaning against the wall next to me “that was a low blow, I shouldn’t have said that”

“It doesn’t matter” I mutter quietly 

“It does! I should have thought about what I was saying… I just forgot”

“I forget too. So often I pick up my phone to call him and realise he won’t be on the other end. I would give anything for them to be here right now”

“I know, come here” she pulls me in for a hug, squeezing me tightly before leaning away to look me in the face “I’m sorry I called you vanilla”

“Maybe I am. You were right, I’ve only ever been with Daniel. Until this week he was the only man I’d ever kissed!”

“This week?” She pulls away completely and my heart drops as I realise what I’ve just said “You kissed someone? Who?”

“No I- I didn’t mean to say that” 

“Its okay, you can tell me. We have been friends forever haven’t we?”

“I guess… but you can’t tell the others!”

“I won’t”

“Promise me Tiff!”

“I promise!”

I take a breath. 

“I kissed the priest” 

“What priest?” She replies blankly.

“THE Priest! The one who’s doing the wedding tomorrow!”

She stares at me blankly for a moment as she processes what I’ve just told her. I can almost see the cogs turning in her brain and suddenly the penny drops.

“OH MY GOD!”

“I know”

“Y/N!” 

“I know!”

“Does Daniel know?”

“Of course not”

“You have to tell him!”

“Are you insane?! He’d go mad!”

“He deserves to know that his so called fiancé has been cheating on him”

“I haven’t been cheating on him, it was just one stupid drunken kiss”

“If it was ‘just a kiss’ why haven’t you told him?”  

“Because-” I think about telling her the truth. That if I told him he’d get angry and most likely hurt me. But I don’t. “I just can’t”

“If you don’t, I will” 

“No, Tiff please you can’t”

“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t go there now and tell him” she says and stares at me as I silently stare back at her. When she begins to walk away I panic.

“Because he hurts me!” I finally admit, and she looks back at me confused “That’s why I’ve been too scared to tell him”

“No” she shakes her head “No he wouldn’t, he swore he’d never be like his dad”

“And he’s not. He’s not as bad as his father was, he just gets angry and sometimes he takes it out on me.” I explain but she’s still shaking her head in disbelief “a few days ago I had to go to the hospital because he burnt me” I pull the collar of my dress down to expose the burn scars on my neck “this is what’s left of him throwing boiling hot coffee in my face”

She looks from my neck to my face, sadness in her eyes as she processes everything. After a few moments she finally speaks. 

“I won’t tell him” 

“Thank you!” I breathe a sigh of relief 

“But I also won’t be at the wedding tomorrow” 

“Tiff, you're my maid of honour! My best friend! I need you”

“I can’t pretend to be happy for you, pretend that I agree with this marriage. I’m sorry”

“Tiff! Tiffany!” I call after her but she continues to walk away, hailing a passing taxi and disappearing into the night. 

“Y/N? What happened? Where’s Tiff?” Eva asks, poking her head out the door and looking around. 

“She’s gone” I say simply, turning to look at her “Guess I need a new maid of honour” 

— — — — 

The following morning goes by in a blur. The girls, minus Tiffany, stayed at my house over night while Daniel stayed at his mate’s house. I was awakened by the sounds of the girls running upstairs, screaming excitedly that “today is the day” as they jumped into my bed. 

Once they’d calmed down we had all gone downstairs for a light breakfast before the girls began getting ready. Maybe it’s the constant sound of laughing and chatting, or maybe its the slight hangover from the night before but I suddenly feel the need to get out. I excuse myself and head outside to get some air, taking a seat on the front step of my house. I take a few deep breaths and allow my head to drop into my hands, my elbows propped up on my knees. A few seconds later I hear footsteps up the driveway and look up to see the priest. 

“Hi” I say, unable to hide the confusion in my voice. 

“can we talk?” 

Final Chapter

[wefoundloveunderthelight]

Void of Extinction by GleefullyCaptainSwan

Chapter 2/9

Read on AO3: | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2

Or on FF

Stacy's Tortured Crew: @teamhook @kmomof4 @stahlop @lfh1226-linda @ilovemesomekillianjones @itsfabianadocarmo @mariakov81 @qualitycoffeethings @zaharadessert @jrob64 @jonesfandomfanatic @natascha-ronin @tiganasummertree @xarandomdreamx @therooksshiningknight @batana54 @superchocovian @onceratheart18 @ultraluckycatnd @snowbellewells @karlyfr13s @the-darkdragonfly @xsajx @deckerstarblanche

Chapter 2: Mother

“Good morning James, it is time to get up.”

James woke to the sunlight beaming on his face, stretching his arms to the sky as he groaned. He sat up in bed, wiping his face with the palm of his hand to wake himself from sleep. He slid his legs to the side, feeling his toes touch the light carpet beneath the bed. Shaking his head, he stood from the bed. “Status report.”

“It is currently 9am, pollution level 68%, you have no appointments today.”

“Bloody hell.” He groaned. “What happened to my 7am alarm?”

“You cancelled that alarm, James. Your alarm was set for 9am to begin work at 10am.”

“I cancelled it…” He stood in the middle of his room. “When did I cancel the bloody alarm?”

“I show you cancelled the alarm at 1:30am and set a new alarm for 9am.”

“What the bloody…” He didn’t remember doing anything at 1:30 am. As far as he knew he had been sleeping. He sat down on the chair next to him, running a hand through his hair. He closed his eyes, trying to remember anything happening during the evening that would have caused him to reset his alarm. The longer he thought about it, the more his head hurt. He didn’t need a migraine this morning, he was already late for work now.

He dressed quickly, exiting his apartment to head to the diner.

He was certain that Granny was going to fire him for being this late. When he stepped into the diner she shook her head and pointed to the kitchen.

“You need to get that alarm of yours fixed.”

“Yes Ma’am. I’m going to call a repairman straight away.”

“Get to work.”

The rest of his shift went as usual, James stayed two hours after his shift to assist Granny with the late evening rush, feeling guilty about being late once again. Once the diner had died down, he gathered his coat and was headed to the door. A man sitting in a corner booth caught his attention. It wasn’t that he recognized the man, not entirely, but he seemed familiar.

Something about him gave him a sense of Déjà vu. The headache blinded him as he tried to access the information, the man took notice of him as he grabbed ahold of the nearest bench, trying to steady himself.

“Oi, you look like you could use some help.”

“I’m fine.” He tried to brush him off, pushing the door to the diner open and stepping into the busy street. The man followed him, which annoyed James. “I said I’m fine.”

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost, Mate.”

He glanced at the man, narrowing his eyes, there was something about him. “I’m…” The headache blinded him again and he staggered to the edge of the diner, walking back toward his car, and reaching in his pocket for his inhibitor.

“I wouldn’t take that.” The man warned behind him.

“Who are you?” He asked angrily, tripping backwards against his car.

“I’m Will, we spoke the other day. I just want to talk to you about Emma.”

James fell to his knees as it felt like pins and needles were attacking his body, he pulled the inhibitor toward his arm and the man reached down and grabbed at the injector. “Get away from me, what are you doing?”

“Killian, don’t inject that.”

The name shook him, pictures flashed in his brain, the blonde-haired woman from his dreams staring at him with emerald, green eyes, the name falling from her lips like it somehow belonged to him. Killian. He was losing his mind. He pressed the injector to his arm and pushed, a loud hiss emitting as the cool liquid entered his veins. He fell back against the car, exhaling with a groan.

“Dammit mate, I’m trying to help you.”

“You stay away from me before I call the cops.”

“Bloody hell…look, the more you inject that stuff, the more you forget. They messed with your brain, made you all foggy and shite.” James stared at the man as if he had just grown two heads. “You keep getting headaches right? Things don’t add up, and when you think about them, you get a headache.”

“You’re bloody crazy.” He stood up, grabbing the door to his car and yanking it open. “Stay the hell away from me.”

“Will Scarlet.” He shouted before James shut the door.

“Will what?”

“My name, Will Scarlet. Write it down or something.” He turned and left the alley, running in the opposite direction of the diner.

James shook his head, looking at his reflection in the rear-view mirror. Write it down.

He didn’t need to write it down, did he? The man was a lunatic. But…he knew about the headaches; how did he know about them? How did he know that things were out of place?

He looked around the floor of his vintage car, trying to find anything to write with. People thought he was crazy for hanging onto a relic from the 1900’s. It cost him a fortune to repair it. And somehow he knew how to fix everything on his Chevy Chevelle, but anytime he tried to remember how he knew, the headaches came.

He found a marker lying under the mat of the passenger side, grabbing it, he tried to find something to write on. With the absence of paper, he ripped the sleeve of his shirt up and scribbled against his flesh in black ink.

Will Scarlet

~*~

“It’s not like him to be gone for this long without contacting me. Even if he were working on something, he would have mentioned it.”

“Could the resistance have removed him from the playing field?” Mayor Mills asked from her place at her desk.

“Was he working on a case that had to do with the resistance?” David questioned.

David’s new partner, Killian Jones had been missing for weeks now, no message, no contact, just gone. Killian had been quiet about his most recent case; he knew it had something to do with a contact who had reached out to him, and Killian was following a lead, but he wasn’t ready to share information yet. He hadn’t known the man long, he was aware that he was mostly a private person, but he would never just take off without talking to the Captain first.

“Officer Jones case was confidential. We need to find him but keep it quiet. Killian could have found something that could destroy the Resistance, we have to get to him before they do.” She turned to the holo screen in front of her.

David glanced at the screen in front of the Mayor. “Resistance riders made it past the walls?” He inquired nervously.

“Yes, last night we had a breach on the west side. Officer Locksley apprehended two of them. But the rest got away.”

“What were they after?”

“Trying to take down the security net near the harbor. I suspect they have a group in the foglands.”

“What are the plans to take that out?”

“No plans. We’ll let Hive do that for us.”

David exhaled, a look of shock on his face. “You want to work with the Hive?”

“Of course not.” She snorted. “But, when you have an infestation, it’s easier to let the predators take each other out. It’s the natural order of things.”

“I don’t trust the Hive any more than I trust the Resistance.”

“Officer Nolan, The Hive operate outside the walls, they remove the danger before it breaches our city. And if something were to sneak its way inside, to infest our people with lies and misinformation, we have the Gold Collective to remove it, for the good of Storybrooke.”

“That’s another group I don’t trust, how is it for the good of Storybrooke to let them make pod people!” He exclaimed.

“The Void are able to become trustful members of our society again, the Gold Collective has done a great service to our community. And as far as the Hive are concerned, as long as they continue to operate outside our walls, I welcome their removal of our shared problem.”

“So how are either of them any different than the Resistance?”

The Mayor stood. “The idea of the Resistance threatens to destroy everything we hold dear. If even a single one of them is left standing, everyone we know and love, our values, our safety, are in danger. They will bring the plague to Storybrooke, they cannot be trusted, and they must be destroyed.”

David nodded, taking his leave as he returned to the lower levels of the station. He knew that Regina was right, the Resistance stood to destroy everything they had worked so hard to build after the plague hit. He knew that locking people out, building the walls, was not something that the town initially embraced. He too felt guilty when they seemed to doom so many on the other side of the wall. But they had to protect their town.

When the Gold Collective first appeared, run by a man with no past yet unlimited money, taking people off the streets and experimenting on them, the Mayor went after them with the full force of the Storybrooke PD. Then the Hive came. They had kept the Hive from breaching the station walls, drove them back behind the walls and ended their yearlong power grab.

But then a strange thing started happening, townsfolk who had disappeared, those who had been experimented on during the war, returned, with no memory of who they were. Loved ones who no longer recognized their family or friends.

The Mayor came out publicly, condemning the Collective for their interference with her citizens, and then six months later, quietly began accepting the practice. David didn’t know what had changed, only that Regina seemed to think that whatever Gold and his collective was doing, was protecting them. The people who had disappeared were a danger to society, conspirators who agreed with the Resistance, they needed to be stopped before their reckless behavior allowed the plague to spread inside the walls of Storybrooke.

And so, they stopped searching for the agents of the collective, when someone showed up without their memories, the town simply helped to get them acclimated to their work. People turned a blind eye to the reason they went missing, accepting them as new members of their society.

At the same time, the Hive stopped advancing on the town, disappearing into the shadows on the other side of the town’s walls.

Only the Resistance fought back, the war outside the walls between the two factions was escalating. At night they could see the fires burning beyond the mountains. The smoke had become so heavy that they could no longer see the horizon over the water. The area became known as the foglands. The heavily guarded wasteland that the Resistance currently controlled.

Many nights they would send raids to the walls, trying to take down the security net that connected the walls. The resistance would not stop until it fell. And if the walls fell, the plague would take them all.

He had not heard of a single soul surviving the plague. No cure had been found. Without the walls, they would all die. The Resistance had to be stopped.

His com unit beeped, alerting him that he had reached his destination. Stepping out of the electric vehicle he walked the stairs to his home. Opening the door, he smelled the fragrant aroma of chicken baking in the back of the house. He could hear his wife’s voice in the background, the alluring melody of the song she was humming making his heart smile with joy.

When he turned the corner, Mary Margaret had her back to him, swaying back and forth to the music she was singing softly to. He crept up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and burying his face in her neck. “Mmm it smells wonderful in here.”

She melted into him, humming lightly. “You’re late, darling.”

“I’m sorry, I had a meeting with Regina.”

“And what did the Mayor want with my husband.” She sang softly.

“The usual, how to destroy the Resistance.” He chuckled and then paused. “But she’s more concerned about Officer Killian at the moment.”

She turned in his arms, a grave look on her face. “Is he still missing? Hasn’t it been weeks, David.”

“I know. Regina thinks the Resistance might have gotten to him.” He sighed. “I hope she’s wrong. I’m worried about him, it’s not like him to just go silent.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I don’t know yet. I’ve been to his apartment, the diner on 5th, the Chinese place he goes to, no one has seen him in weeks.” He sat down at the table. “Regina told me to keep digging, she thinks he’s important, whatever he was working on before he disappeared might be what we need to take down the Resistance once and for all.”

She embraced him, pulling him against her chest. “I know if anyone can find him, you will.”

He looked up and smiled at her as she bent down to press her lips to his. “I love you.”

“I love you too, my Prince Charming.” She broke the contact, turning back to her dinner. “Oh, by the way, I have to go out tonight. I forgot to buy the ham for dinner tomorrow.”

“You should have told me; I could have picked it up for you. If you want, I can call the service, I know you don’t trust the LRU’s but they provide quick service.”

She snorted, “Never, why would anyone trust something called a Life Replacement Unit? Even the name blatantly calls out that they mean to replace us. It’s no bother for me to go to the store. It’s how they did it years ago, and besides I enjoy getting out of the house.”

“Well, I have some work to catch up on so I’ll try and get it done before you get back, maybe we can spend the evening watching the holo.”

She turned back toward him and smiled. “I would love that.”

~*~

James parked his Chevelle in the assigned spot at the back of the building, watching as the platform descended into the ground, sending the car to rest beneath the apartment.

He looked up at the building, noticing the way the fog had rolled in from the harbor and hugged the side of the building. He glanced ominously toward the horizon; the smoke looked darker than it had in days. No one was talking about what was happening outside the walls, in the depths of the waters that banked against the town.

“Hey.”

He jumped and turned toward a dark-haired woman. “It’s bad form to sneak up on a man, lass.”

“Sorry about that.” She giggled. “I was wondering if you could spare a lightstick?”

Killian shook his head. “I don’t use those. Bad for your health.” He shrugged and stepped away from the woman.

“Where are you off to in such a hurry?” She chased after him.

“Look, I already told you, I don’t do the stuff. Neither should you, lass.” Before he could enter the building the woman grabbed him by the arm. He turned toward her quickly as she glared at him. “Listen you siren, while I appreciate a beautiful woman such as yourself getting all handsy with me, I’m not in the mood tonight.”

“I just want to talk.”

“I’m not in the mood for that either.” He growled. “So, if you don’t mind, I’ll be leaving now.”

With a quick move, she tightened her grip on his arm, pushing his sleeve further up his forearm, staring at the black ink on his arm. “How do you know Will Scarlet?” Every sensor in his brain went off at once.

“Who the hell are you?” He demanded. “If you know that lunatic, I want nothing to do with you. He’s crazy as a loon and so are you.” He reached for the door to his building before he felt a pain in the back of his neck and the world around him faded to black.

He heard noises around him as the ache in his neck seemed to radiate through his body. He wasn’t sure how long he had been out, but he knew he wasn’t near his apartment anymore. He could hear the sound of seagulls off in the distance and the slosh of water all around him. He opened his eyes but could only see darkness and the fabric placed over his head clung to him. Whoever had taken him didn’t want him to see where he was going or how he got there.

He tried to sit up when his leg hit something hard next to him, sending a clatter of noise off to his right as something smashed to the ground.

“I think our guest has woken up.” Someone grumbled.

“We’re almost there.” He heard another voice.

“She wants to talk to him as soon as we arrive.” He heard the woman’s voice from the apartment.

“This is a stupid idea.” The first voice whispered. “Bringing him here is going to get us all killed.”

“We don’t even know if he’s on our side.”

“Stop talking.” The woman’s voice rang out again. “I’m going to go help dock the boat.”

James sat for what felt like a lifetime as he waited for the voices to come back, instead he listened to the strange sound of the engine, the whirl of a generator somewhere deep below him. He fell forward as the boat hit against something solid.

“Land ho.” A voice boomed to his left.

Arms suddenly were grabbing him, dragging him to his feet. “Who are you, just let me go, I promise I won’t tell anyone.” He begged.

“You ain’t in no danger ‘ere.” The man squawked. “Just don’t be no trouble.”

James tripped over the stairs and the woman’s voice shrilled behind him. “Would you idiots be careful; mother will be really angry if you injure our prize.”

“Sorry Ma’am.” The voice to his right said apologetically with a loud sneeze.

“Maybe if he learned to walk, sister, we wouldn’t have no trouble.” The voice to his left grumbled angrily.

Once he stepped down again, he could tell he was standing on planks that were connected to a dock. The sway of the ground meant he was over water still. “I’ll take him from here.” He felt the woman slide up beside him, grabbing him by the arm. “She just wants to talk to you, that’s all. If you aren’t interested in what she has to say, you can go back to your miserable existence afterwards.”

“Who’s this she?” He asked nervously.

“The Mother of the Resistance, of course.” She said with a laugh and James felt his blood run cold. He was in the foglands; he had been taken by the Resistance.

He heard a metal door squeal open on rusty hinges and he stepped onto solid ground, as soon as it slammed shut, the itchy fabric was pulled from his head, and he tried to adjust his eyes to the dark glowing lights around him.

“Welcome to the foglands.” The woman announced.

“I’m positively glowing with anticipation.” He said smugly and the woman snorted beside him.

“Oh, they said you were a sarcastic one. I wasn’t sure if you retained that in your new existence.”

“Retained what? New existence?” he asked in confusion. “What are you on about?”

“I don’t think you’re ready for all of that yet.” She grinned as they stepped into a large metal room, water swirling around at their feet.

“Do you intend to drown me, leave me for dead?” He asked incredulously, staring around him at the boxed in room.

“No one is leaving anyone for dead.” A loud voice boomed and echoed through the room. At the other end of the box, a woman stepped out of the shadows, the moonlight illuminating her face through a grate in the ceiling.

“And just who the hell are you?”

“Me?” She laughed. “I’m the Mother of the Resistance.” She paused, stepping closer to him. “But you can call me Mary Margaret.”

[erixyin]

Idk where i saw this but i need to write my own

MLQC Boys React - MC wearing their shirt/tshirt as a dress in public.

Note: have been dating for a while, like 6 months?

A little NSFW but not too bad x

Victor:

You had stayed over at his for the weekend and now it was Sunday and you had run out of clean none-casual clothes. And you had forgotten to pack any with you or go shopping because you had been very distracted all weekend. By victor without a shirt on wahhhhhh

You rummaged through his closet quickly. Boi was already at work he had a 6am meeting. You dont know how he has the energy to do that. You would literally die if someone said you have to be out of bed before 6am

He looked at his long fancy shirts and you had an idea. You grabbed the one that felt the nicest and that was not the boring grey shirts he usually had. It was a purple silk shirt and it came down to about your knees. MC is so small.

Little did you know that that was literally one of the most expensive shirts he owned...

NOT IN THE CAPACITY TO KNOW FANCY BRAND NAMES OK

You sinched it in at the waist with a belt you had worn over the weekend and put on some gold earrings and necklace. You finished the look with black tights and your black doc martens, PRAYING that no one at work would mind that you looked more SMART CASUAL than SMART.

You thought u looked hella cute in the mirror so u went to work at 9am.

You had forgotten you had a meeting with Victor at 11am.

he did a double take when you walked into the room.

He squinted at your “dress” and you could tell he was going through his memory bank of where he had seen it before.

“Is that... new?” He asked eyeing you every so often before glancing back down to your weekly report

“Uh... yeah relatively. Do u like it?” You asked innocently batting your eyes.

“Where’s it from?” He passed you back your report, forgetting to give any negative comments unusually. He thought you looked hella cute but he totally wasn’t going to tell u that.

“I-I can’t remember.” You blushed hiding behind the report a little.

He stood up and leaned against the front of his desk, now towering above you casually. “I thought you had enough clothes, without needing to borrow mind”

Ok. Now you were bright red.

“D-d-do you not like it?” You stammered and then flashed him a cheeky smile, “i can take it off and give it you back”.

Victor’s hear stopped momentarily before going “Dummy” and patting you gently on the head.

You walked out of his office 2 hours later feeling on top of the world. that’s not the only thing you were on top of

Mr CEO was surprisingly in a good mood for the rest of the day and even gave Goldman a small smile. GOLDMAN IS FREAKING OUT.

Lucien:

It had been a last minute decision sleepover... totally innocent absolutely nothing happened what are you talking about.

Lucien had already left for a lecture he was giving at the university. You had promised to meet up with him once he had finished his schedule.

Now you totally COULD simply go back to your apartment and pick out something you’d worn a few times and Lucien had seen you in. OR you could actually conduct an experiment of your own and make Lucien hella blushy - even if boi went a little red it would be a triumph in himself. BOI HAS A BETTER POKER FACE THAN VICTOR HOW

Being a little bit devious you decided to raid Lucien’s closet. BOI LIKES TO BE STYLISH

He has everything coordinated by colour and by season/activity. Jumpers go in the bottom right next to the winter coats and shirts were hung up towards the left for those “casual days”.

Boi doesnt own a tshirt, he only knows smart casual and smart. Loungewear? Sweatpants?? Boi has never heard of em

Most of his clothes were black and white with a tad bit of grey and brown in there but you found at the very back of the wardrobe a white shirt with pink butterflies patterned over it. Masculinity is so fragile, let the man wear pink. He can OWN it.

You decided to go for it and match it with thigh high suede wedges to give yourself a little extra height. You sinched it in with a simple black studded belt and added nude tights. You put your hair up into a “cute messy” bun and popped a pencil in to keep it in place. You paired it with a little black satchel and “natural” makeup with maybe a red lip tint? Lucien likes a red lip and you can’t tell me otherwise

It was about 2pm and you decided to head over to the university. A little spring in your step.

You knew his schedule by now so you knew he’d be in his office round about now. You checked the times 2:30pm. Half an hour before his next and final lecture.

You entered his office, you didnt need to knock anymore. He knew it was you. Students would always giggle LOUDLY outside his office before knocking. Mainly female students and you PRETENDED not to notice.

He could totally tell you noticed and were trying to hide it

You saw him tapping away on his computer, eyes lost in data.

You plopped your bag over the sofa and walked over to his desk. Kinda annoyed he hadn’t noticed you but also kinda excited because of the build up?

He had a light smile on his face, “Hello MC, i was expecting you a little lat-“ he glanced at your outfit. Boi actually halted his sentence. You were delighted.

You saw the tips of his ears turn pink. successs

he gulped and brought a hand up to his face as his eyes looked at your outfit in detail before looking you directly in the eye, a michevious look on his face, “i haven’t seen that shirt in a very long time. Have to say, it looks better on you”. He watched as you leant over the desk resting on your elbows.

“I think the thigh highs are a nice bonus” he said making it very obvious at where he was looking.

“What time is your next lecture again Luci?” You asked sweetly, leaning over to boop his nose gently.

“Actually my last lecture had to cancel due to some strange unforeseen circumstances”, he said typing the email as he spoke.

“Isn’t that lucky?” He chuckled while glancing at the office door

You gave him a brief kiss on the cheek, “very lucky”

He didn’t make it to the 3pm lecture

Gavin:

He had left some of his clothes at yours before heading out on a mission. He’d been gone for a few days but he had called and said he would be home soon. Weekends were usually spent with you waiting for gavin. He had promised he would stop going on big missions now he had something to come home to.

You kinda got bored waiting for him, because he said he’d be home today. You had told Eli that if he came back with a new bandage you were going to kill him and make him sit in a salt bath. Eli knew you weren’t joking.

You decided to pull out one of the many tshirts he had left at yours. It was an old rock n roll band tshirt. You didn’t know them too well but Gavin had liked to listen to their music every now and then. He didn’t wear it that often anymore, it was a bit too tight on him since he had bought it in his college days.

You had washed it already because you sometimes slept in it. You had been binge watching DIY youtube videos all day when you had a great idea. You really liked the look of the cut out ladder look the girl had done in her youtube video so you decided to do the same. You grabbed a pair of scissors and got to work.

You also decided to give the thsirt a little bit of a v-neck but leaving a piece around the neck for that fake choker look. You looked at your handy work and decided you really quite liked it. The back wasn’t too exposed because of the laddered look but you could always wear something underneath like a mesh top.

It came down to just lower than your thigh. You looked at yourself in the mirror. Considering it was the only piece of clothing you had on right now besides your little running shorts, you thought you looked really cute.

You spun around happy when you saw gavin staring at you COMPLETELY RED outside the window.

“Gavin!” You squealed excitedly as you went to open the window and let him in.

The wind blew underneath your dress/tshirt a little to lift it. You quickly pulled it back down.

Bird cop has stopped working

“You look...” Gavin stood in front of you staring at you. You could see there was a new scar on his neck and arm but no bleeding on any of his clothes.

“I’m so glad you’re home!” You wrapped your arms around him, breathing in his scent

He hugged you bag but went even more red - is that even possible??? - when he felt that the back was laddered and an entrance to your bare back.

“Um you look... very cute” he was now imaging you wearing all of his clothes. Boi was beetroot red someone help him.

“I could pair this with some denim shorts and it would be a date night outfit yeah?” You said taking a step back and spinning round for him

MC why u wanna make this precious boi jealous?? XD

He pulled you in for a quick kiss, “no this is just for me. You’re mine. No one else can see you looking this...” he paused as his ears started to go red again, “good”

Safe to say you didnt kill him for discovering he had several bruises across his back. BUT MC U SAID NO BANDAGES OR BLEEDING SO TECHNICALLY ITS FINE

Kiro:

You had woken up super late - like 11am - after gaming and doing other stuff.... all night. Your body still kinda hurt and ached a little... clearly from doing all of that just dance marathon stuff. If you think kiro isn’t a just dance kinda man i will fight you

The bed was more spacious than normal and you didn’t have a cute blonde cuddling up next to you. Odd. You looked over towards the bathroom but the light was off.

God what day was it? You reached over sluggishly to the bedside table and looked at your phone. It was Wednesday but thankfully you were having a week off after finishing a big project with Kiro’s help.

You had worked the hardest with the late nights and the weekends you had sacrificed. Anna and Kiki thought it was best for you to have a little holiday.

You stretched and sat up. You looked around. Kiro’s jeans were gone and phone. Maybe he had gone to the shops?

You honestly couldnt remember if had anything in his schedule today. Even though he was taking a mini holiday himself - you both timed it perfectly - he still had to do interviews here and there to make Savin happy.

You rubbed your eyes. You didn’t remember where you’re clothes from last night were but they were in NO state to wear. Clearly because of all the sweat from just dance AND NOTHING ELSE ;)

You opened Kiro’s walk in wardrobe. You lazily looked for something to just wear so that you could walk round the house, comfortable but not just nude. Kiro’s house was big and Savin had a key

You picked up a signature yellow and white tshirt that Kiro often wore to events and fan signings. It matched his hoodie but it was perfect for the warmer weather.

Boi was only a few inches taller than you so it JUST came to below your butt. You’d have to bend from the knees and not the waist. Unless you want your butt to be on show.

You found some black unused underwear and popped them on. You debated onto weather you could be bothered putting socks on or not. Then you remembered that Kiro had central floor heating so nahhhhhh

You wandered round the house looking for Kiro. Your bare feet making a gentle thudding noise across the marble floor.

You gave up home when you couldnt find him in the games room or living room so you decided to go get yourself a snack.

You walked in and froze as you saw Kiro. In front of a camera. A LIVE camera. And Savin sat just out of frame.

You just remembered that wednesday afternoons were the weekly Kiro livestreams.

KILL ME

Boi instantly caught your eye and then looked at what you were wearing - barely anything

Whatever he was saying before he was silent. Boi was SHOOKETH. He COUGHED LOUDLY and went a bright scarlet red from his neck to his face.

The livestream chat was going mental as they couldnt see you from the camera angle positioned on Kiro’s face. They were wondering what he was getting so worked up about. It was a really good job that the camera could only see from the waist up

“H-hey guys, sorry I’m gonna have to cut the livestream short.” Savin had his head in his hands, “I’m just not..” he stole another glance at you while you were trying to reach the top of the shelf where the cookies were and his tshirt lifted up higher exposing more. “I’m just not feeling too good.” He chuckled bashfully as he rubbed the back of his neck embarrassed.

The chat soon filled up with #get better soon kiro as well as #curiouskiro was trending. Some people speculated that Kiro might have a lover. The fan theories went mental.

“I’ll see you guys next week bye!” And the livestream ended. You blushed as you saw Kiro’s gaze and you crunched on your cookies while looking at the floor.

Savin got up to go and leave and sort things out for Kiro online, to make ensure his reputation wasn’t going to fall because of this unexpected situation.

“Thats my tshirt!” He said as he came over to you still red

“Yeah... and?” You mumbled a mouth full of cookies. Thats not the only thing your mouth’s gonna be full of in a minute miss chips - I’m sorry please forgive me i had to XD

“Miss chips is not allowed to look that good” he whined, “i was doing an interview, i was gonna be back in like half an hour and you looked so peaceful-“

You pressed a finger to his lips to shush him, “well we can still go back to bed now...”

SAY. NO. MORE

Boi picked u up and carried you upstairs, bridal style.

A week later you made your relationship public. At first the fans were a little upset but then soon adored you when you revealed a little of why Kiro was so blushy the previous Wednesday. #blushyboikiro was trending for a MONTH

BONUS: Shaw:

He had to rush off to his exam in the morning after promising to meet up afterwards for breakfast/lunch

This was at 8am. [bitch you aint getting out of bed at 8am on a day off? Beauty sleep is very important]

His exam was three hours long [the pain of uni exams, i get you Shaw i get you] and you woke up at 11:39

SHIT

You scrambled for your things but the night before outfit was not really brunch appropriate so you settled for something a lil more casual [and devious]

You grabbed one of his favourite tshirts which fell down to your mid thigh, and cut a slit at the bottom and safety pinned it together [ya know for that EDGY look] [i dont know what the kids are up to these days but i saw my friend do it and she’s cool so]

You grabbed ur cropped zip hoodie, put on some thigh high stockings, put on ur black boot heels from last night and you were ready to go. [you also sprayed some perfume on ur neck, wrist and garter while u were at it. LOOK SIS YOU DEVIOUS AND U KNOW THAT SHAW LIKES IT]

You rushed out the door and thankfully the subway wasnt busy and you got there just as the doors opened and the students came plodding out. You stood there with a coffee in your hand and the other one twiddling your hair in an OH so cute way. [you know how to look cute mmkay]

Several students walked out through the doors but you didnt end up seeing him. Darn you for being so short.

So you sat down on the low wall near the university’s fountain. Your little safety pin glistening in the sun and the tshirt putting your garter on show. [we like that casual but i secretly put in loads of effort kinda vibe]

You started scrolling through Moments incase he got out early but the shitty university wifi meant that it wasn’t refreshing. Furthermore the sun was shining in ur eyes so you couldnt really see much even when your phone was on full brightness

Then a tall shadow blocked the sun and you looked up and saw Shaw stood over you with a sleepy but piercing gaze.

“What are you doing wearing my Black Sabbath Tshirt?” He looked you up and down. Boi was clearly shook but he was damned if he was going to let you know this. Even though you already knew this.

“What you don’t like it? How did your exam go?” You said getting up to give him a quick hug. You knew Shaw had expressed he wasn’t a fan of physical affection but he secretly enjoyed the odd hug/hand holding or head scratch from you. Though he would never share this

“You really think you can distract me from your lazy sense of style?” He raised his eyebrows and looked you up and down again. You could see the twinkle of mischief in his eyes.

“Your rebelliousness has rubbed off onto me” [in more ways than one] you gave him a little spin raising your arms a little so that the top of the stockings and garter would come on show.

You could see that his nose went a little red along with the tips of cheeks. He coughed and placed both hands on ur arms firmly. “Let’s go get something to eat.” He swung you around so that you were now walking back to the subway, with his arm round you.

“But this is the way home...?” You started as you turned to look at his face, still walking

“Well we’re skipping straight to dessert” you could see the glint in his eyes and you allowed yourself to be lead.

Now that thsirt was his absolute favourite, especially whenever you decided to surprise him with it after an exam x

[blissfulparker]

So your blog and your writings are so soft; may I please request a blurb of tough and serious Ceo!Tom cancelling his plans and meetings to take care of reader and her intense menstrual cramps? I have such major cramps on my lower back and tummy and all I want are kisses and food😩

The soft kiss on your cheek tom planted before he left still left its mark. He’d wake up early in the morning, get ready silently, kiss you on the forehead or cheek and then have to silently leave for his office. But today was a little bit different, Tom knew this was your time of the month, a time where you ached the most and just needed him there.

“Okay, one second.” Tom spoke through the phone as he picked up your call. It was only 9am when you called and he would drop his day if you asked him to. “Hello?” His voice softer torwards you.

“Tommy?” Your cracked voice came through.

“Darling? What’s the matter?” He asked worried. There was truly nothing wrong, you just hurt and wanted him.

“Nothing, I just wanted to hear your voice. I’m bothering you, oh god I am, I’m so sorry! I’ll call later—“ you start. He shakes his head and cuts you off. His assistant is now in the room waiting to give him news but he was going to have to cancel his day, he couldn’t sit in his office like nothing was wrong.

“No, sweetheart, I promise you you’re not bothering me. Why don’t you get some tea, get into bed and I’ll be home soon okay?” He looks at his assistant who already knows the outcomes and pulls out her phone to start canceling his day.

Few more sweet words were exchanged before you both hung up. You did as he told you and got some tea and crawled waiting for him. He canceled all his meetings and left for the day to come home to find you curled up with the heating pad.

He would take endless days off to make sure you were alright. he would stay in bed, massage your back, make sure you get a warm bath and everything else to make sure his girl was okay.

[ofheroesandvillains]

Playing To Lose (3) - Bucky Barnes

Well...it sure has been a while since I posted. Uni has been hectic but that’s no excuse! I hope you guys can forgive me, and enjoy this update! This one is for @whatimreadingrnatm - ask and you shall receive! 

Words: 2.7k Warnings: None, AU! Summary: Bucky being Bucky, reader having none of it! And meet your new best friend! 

(gif not mine!)

The office was chaotic.

This was your busiest day yet, and after 2 weeks of being in charge you knew it would only get worse from here on out. Maria was glued to the phone, taking call after call. There had been an incident on site in Moscow, a worker who had accidentally dropped $800,000 worth of glass for the windows.

It was an unfortunate accident, but there was little that could be done about it. They’d need to clean up, order more, and not let it happen again. But all of a sudden a million people were calling in to question safe working practices and the OH&S team was driving you crazy. To make matters worse, the one person you needed in this situation had decided to not show up.

James had been surprisingly helpful in the last few days, and you had to admit that while it made you awfully suspicious, it was a nice change. He’d actually arrive to work on time, get all of his work done, and even offer to help out if he noticed that you were especially busy on a particular day.

You should have known it wouldn’t last.

“Where the hell is Barnes?!”

Everyone bustling about the office seemed to come to a halt, and Maria’s eyes widened a fraction when she noted just how angry you were. It was a rare sight, it took a lot to get you this angry usually. But after raising your expectations, and showing you the he really was capable -that he wasn’t a lost cause where running the company was concerned- James crushed whatever hope you had for him. Maybe that’s why it made you so angry…you knew he could do better, so why couldn’t he just try?

“He-He hasn’t come in yet, ma’am.”

The whole room seemed to hold its breath, waiting to see how you’d respond. It was already 1pm, and Bucky was supposed to start at 9am. Despite the reading you had done, you had no real experience with the company prior to your appointment 2 weeks ago. The most suited person to help you in this situation was god only knows where, and you were not happy about that fact. How did he expect you to take him seriously if he couldn’t even come to work on time?

Had it not been for Loki, you would have torn someone’s head off hours ago. The man had a way with words and you were impressed by how easily he dealt with all the questions and concerns thrown the company’s way. Not for the first time did you inwardly delight in having hired him.

“Maria? You’re in charge, I’m heading out. I’ll be back in 20.”

“What do you mean, you can’t make it? You promised!”

You sighed, pinching the bridge of your nose as your driver pulled up at a red light. “I know, I know I did and I’m really sorry about this. You know I wouldn’t cancel if it wasn’t important.”

Wanda’s shoulders slumped in defeat, not that you could see them on the other end of the phone. The fact of the matter was, that your plans to go out for drinks for the first time since your return to New York, had been trampled the moment you stepped foot into work that morning.

“You know, my brother was looking forward to seeing you…”

You chuckled half-heartedly at her attempt to persuade you, but you knew that work took first priority. Pietro was your ex, someone you still remained friends with, despite the worldwide belief that exes couldn’t do such a thing. Was there casual sex in the deal? Well, sure…but that didn’t mean it was anything more or less than friendship between you.

“Yeah, well…he can see me next weekend instead.” You paused for a moment, your small smile dropping. “I really am sorry, Wanda. I know how long we’ve been planning this, but James didn’t bother showing up this morning so I gotta go drag his ass out of bed.”

“James? The Barnes guy?”

“The Barnes guy.” You confirmed with a nod.

Wanda snorted on the other side of the phone. “Why do you have to drag him out of bed?”

“Because he’s an asshole.” You automatically shot back, but felt a little guilty - he wasn’t that bad, you just weren’t in the mood for him today. 

“No, it’s just…he’s irresponsible. He doesn’t show up to work on time, and when things go wrong he’s nowhere to be found.” You shook your head in exasperation. “I just don’t get why someone who wants to be in charge so bad, acts like he couldn’t care less about the company.”

Wanda hummed in thought. “The kids in my class sometimes act out when they want attention, or when things aren’t going their way…”

You scoffed, but allowed an amused smile to settle on your lips. “Okay, he’s not that much of a man-child.”

“You’d be surprised at how much men and children have in common.” You both laughed at that.

“Yeah, you might be onto something.” You watched the streets go by, and knew you were nearing your destination. “I don’t know, I guess I’ll talk to him about it and figure all of this out.”

“That’s a good idea, who knows? You might even become friends.”

You rolled your eyes at her optimism. “Yeah, and maybe if I’m really lucky, we can braid each other’s hair and talk about boys!”

Wanda laughed. “You’re in a bad mood today.”

You sighed. “I know. I might leave that chat for tomorrow, or I’ll tear his head off.”

The car came to a slow halt and you knew your time was up. “Hey listen, I gotta go, but I’ll call you later.”

With a final farewell, Wanda finished up her lunch break, and you braced yourself for your journey into the unknown. You didn’t know what to expect when you entered James Barnes’ man-cave, but you knew it couldn’t be good.

Bucky woke up with a loud gasp, eyes wide as they darted around his surroundings frantically. He hadn’t even noticed his latest conquest screeching beside him when his pale gaze found the unimpressed glower of his boss. It took him a moment to realise what had happened. The empty vase you were placing on his bedside table, the cold water soaking through his sheets and all over him and the blonde beside him-Cassie? Casey? Carey?

“What the hell?!” 


Whatever her name was, she was making a racket. Bucky groaned at the shrill sound of her voice. He was certain she hadn’t sounded like that the previous night, or maybe he just hadn’t really cared enough at the time to notice.

You weren’t fazed in the slightest. You couldn’t care less that James and his latest floozie were butt-naked underneath that thin sheet, and you definitely couldn’t care less that said floozie was losing her damn mind about a little water. Why? Because you weren’t George, you weren’t going to baby the man-child that was James Buchanan Barnes like his father did, and you definitely weren’t going to let him get away with insubordination just because of his last name. Your anger came rushing back as soon as you stepped foot inside his penthouse.

He was late, no, he was beyond late. People were depending on him to get his work done, and now they were a day behind schedule already, just because he thought he could get away with doing whatever he wanted. Well, he was in for one hell of a surprise if he thought that was the case.

“You know, it’s funny. I walked into work today with high hopes for you, thinking it’d all be smooth sailing, that you’d actually live up to the expectation tied to your name…but here we are.”

The blonde’s jaw dropped open in outrage on Bucky’s behalf.

“Excuse me? Who do you think you a-”

“Y/N Stark. I’d say it’s a pleasure, but after the first three, I really couldn’t care less about meeting another name on the long list of conquests that James here has.”

Bucky’s jaw clenched in a mix of embarrassment and even pity for the woman beside him, but his head was still pounding from both his hangover and the shrill screams he had woken up to. He would have kicked her out eventually, but he wouldn’t have been that harsh about it. She had tried to defend him after all, but you were out for blood and he had no doubt that he was next on your hit list as soon as Carey (?) left.

She looked at him, checking to see if he would come to her defence as she had for him. She scoffed when he remained silent, eyes slipping shut as his head thunked back on the headboard.  

Your glare remained on James, pointedly ignoring the blonde who had angrily thrown the sheets off of herself and snatched her clothes up before storming out of the bedroom.

“You know, that was awfully rude, doll.” He spoke up for the first time, a hint of a smile playing at his lips.

You didn’t reply, but he let his eyes ease open when he heard footsteps approaching. You sat on the edge of his bed, and he cocked a curious brow. He almost smirked when he saw the gentle expression on your face, a dozen flirty comments running through his head as he thought that maybe, just maybe he would get away with it this one time.

“You’re right, I’m sorry.”

His pulse raced at the almost breathy tone your words had adopted, and he almost jumped out of his skin the moment a soft hand came to rest on his forearm. Bucky’s eyes dropped down to your lower lip -the same one you were biting gently- and was it just him, or were you getting closer?

Your fingers lightly drummed against his arm as you leaned closer to him. He was tense with anticipation, it wasn’t too obvious, but his eyes gave him away. Pupils dilated and flickering between the fingers on his forearms and the buttons of the tight shirt straining against your chest. He was lucky that your eyes were on his own and not lower, while he didn’t mind you seeing the effect you had on him in the moment, it would probably come back to bite him later.

“Sometimes I just can’t control myself…”

Fuck.

“Yeah?” He sounded out of breath, but he didn’t care what he sounded like as long as your fingers continued gliding up and down his arm. You hummed with a knowing smile, leaning closer.

“And seeing as this is the only way you’ll actually pay attention to what I’m saying, listen and listen well, sweetheart.” Your soft tone remained, but god, you weren’t wrong. He’d give you his undivided attention if it meant hearing that voice. Damn, that voice was something he would be replaying in his head over and over again, he was sure of it.

“The next time you decide that your wants are more important than your company’s needs, don’t bother coming in at all.” Your breath ghosted over is lips teasingly, and it took every ounce of restraint in his body to not take what he wanted right then and there.

“I’ll take it as an immediate resignation.” You pulled away suddenly, your previously seductive expression melting away into the usual indifference, and cold air replacing the warmth of your hand.

And just like that, the spell was broken and Bucky’s brows furrowed as he blinked rapidly out of his stupor.

“Now get your ass out of bed. You owe me five extra hours of work today so get ready for a late night, Barnes.”

Bucky watched your hips as you sashayed out of his bedroom, groaning audibly the moment he noticed his new problem. Even another vase full of water wouldn’t be enough, this time he needed a cold shower for sure.

You weren’t kidding when you had told him he’d be in for a late night. It was already 10pm and Bucky could feel his eyes drooping as they tried to focus on the computer screen in front of him. Usually he was at the bar by this time, well into his third round of drinks, but he couldn’t even think about anything but sleep after the day he’d had.

On the bright side, he’d managed to fix things up over in Moscow. He wouldn’t admit it, but Loki had done a good job of keeping OH&S happy, so it gave him time to focus on everything else.

Dragging a hand over his weary face, Bucky realised just how quiet the building was. Everyone had long since left to go home, well…everyone except for you. He had to give it to you, you really didn’t half-ass your job. You’d spent the whole day taking calls and fixing a mess that had occurred halfway across the world. But he also noticed that it had gone eerily silent in the whole building, including your office.

Bucky’s brows furrowed and he pushed himself up and out of his seat. Straightening his suit, he quietly made his way to your door. It was open enough to let him poke his head in. He opened his mouth to call out to you, but paused as soon as he saw the scene before him.

Apparently he wasn’t the only one who was dead tired. Bucky’s eyes softened when he saw your sleeping form slouched over your desk. It looked incredibly uncomfortable, and he took a moment to really look at you. The conflicting feelings he had where you were involved often made him forget that you were only human at the end of the day. But seeing you as you were now, reminded him that you were just a woman doing the best you could do. You weren’t immune to the pressure and you weren’t a machine.

Bucky slowly made his way over to your desk, gently giving your shoulder a shake. You stirred in your sleep, face scrunching up in irritation. He was wary, knowing how angry you had been with him earlier in the day. It wasn’t his intention to be so late to work, but your temper had ensured that he stayed well away for the rest of the day.

“Y/N?”

He felt a small smile settle on his face when you frowned sleepily and turned your head away from him.

“Mmm…no.”

Bucky sighed. Even when you were half asleep you were still in charge apparently.

“Y/N…come on, you need to go home and get some sleep.” He quietly pleaded.

“Nnngghh…no.” You groaned, barely hearing a word he said.

Bucky’s jaw clenched the way it always did when he was determined, not that you could see it anyway.

He was almost certain you had fallen back asleep, the lack of protest when he gently scooped you out of your office chair told him as much. Bucky swallowed dryly when your face burrowed into the crook of his neck but he tried to ignore the sensation.

Leaving the office with a woman in his arms would send the paparazzi into a frenzy - and he knew you wouldn’t appreciate all the crap they’d post in their articles if you were identified. So the couch would have to do.

After easing you onto the couch, he gently slid off your heels, smiling at the way you curled up to get comfy.

Bucky sighed.

It was moments like these that made the guilt hit him full force. She’s a good person, she doesn’t deserve…no. No, he couldn’t let a pretty face sway his resolve. You may have been a good person but you weren’t good for the company. You rejected his ideas and you were hiring people like Loki Odinson. It didn’t matter how hard you worked if all your time was invested in making the wrong decisions.

It’s for the best.

He needed to believe it. He needed to remember that you were a rival, a rival he didn’t want to have, but a rival nonetheless.

That didn’t stop him from shrugging out of his blazer and gently laying it over your sleeping form before he left. Nor did it stop the small smile spreading across his face when you clutched the expensive material tighter.

[drnucleus]

Dancing scars from long nights I've been bruised by your light Help me now, lonely lover Show me how to uncover

- Freak of Nature (Feat. Tove Lo) - Broods

Bedroom Hymns - A Reylo Fic by drnucleus

Author: drnucleus Rating: Explicit Genre: Modern AU, Romance, Mild Angst, Semi-slow burn Pairing: Ben Solo | Rey, Minor character pairings Warnings: Healthy BDSM, D/s relationship, Male submissive, FemDomme Summary: For much of his life, hotshot architect, Ben Solo, lived a life full of privilege and entitlement. Son of a Senator and Admiral, the world was his oyster. He slid easily into the alpha male persona that was expected of him. Yet, running his own architecture firm by his late twenties he’d never expected to be saddled with the control behind every single decision. And underneath that façade lay a man, yearning to lay it all down at the foot of a powerful woman. What happens when he uncovers that side of himself and that leads him right to Rey Erso; a psychologist and domme who decides to help him navigate the world of dominance and submission in the local scene. That is until they find they’re more compatible with one another than either of them previously thought.

Story Aesthetic | Story Playlist Master Post | Story Misc. Post (Paperwork)

I. Prelude | II. Awakening | III. Painted Faces on Parade | IV. Paperwork | V. Defying Expectations | VI. Connection | VII. Burning Desire | VIII. Fight or Flight | IX. Elastic Heart | X. Ache | XI. Pursuit | XII. Off to the Races | XIII. What Kind of Man | XIV. Collar Stays On

Chapter XIV now on AO3

Chapter Playlist: Mysterious Ways – U2; Running Up That Hill – Placebo; Big God – Florence + the Machine; Test Me – The XX; Freak of Nature (feat. Tove Lo) – Broods

Chapter Sneak Peek

Good morning, hope you have a lovely Monday.

Smirking to herself she opened up the message, unlocking her phone and tapping out a reply laden with self-deprecation.

I’m glad one of us is having a good morning.

Across town Ben grinned at the quick reply but soon his face lost all trace of that grin as he read her message.

Everything okay? He asked, noting that she was already replying the moment the message said Read beneath it.

Oh, just fucking dandy. Woke up at 8:45 because I stupidly left my phone on silent last night. So, no run, no coffee and pastry at Finn’s. Thank fucking God that my 9am appt. cancelled. And the cherry atop this clusterfuck sundae is that I left my laptop charger at my apartment, and I have a client in fifteen minutes. Not enough time to run home and get it until lunch. But how’s your morning going? I hope better than mine.

Ben worried his lower lip between his teeth as a plan began to hatch in his mind. On some level he knew that she’d probably balk at the idea but he couldn’t stop himself from trying. Seeing as his morning was just him sitting at his drafting table messing around with new design ideas until his lunch meeting at noon.

His thumbs hovered over the phone, hesitating before he threw caution to the wind and replied to her message.

I’ll admit my Monday is going well, but what can I do to make yours better?

Rey read over his message, her heart clenching in her chest at the sentiment behind it. He wanted to help. And that was so painfully kind of him. She was half way typing a response telling him not to worry about it when a short series of messages came from him.

I could go get your charger for you, if you’d like? I mean, I have a key to your place. And my morning is free.

She bit her lip as he quickly dashed her counter arguments but couldn’t fight off the growing grin on her face at his eagerness to help her have a better morning.

I’d hate to be a damsel in distress, here. She replied getting a response just as fast.

That’s not a no.

She snickered and kept typing, adding to her earlier statement. And I’d hate to make you go out of your way to my apartment just for my laptop charger. I can run to the Apple Store and buy a spare to keep in the office.

Still not a no. And what will you do until then? Don’t you need your laptop for case notes? He argued back reminding her that her laptop was in dire need of its charger in order for it to function again.

She cursed under her breath realizing that he was indeed correct.

Sometimes, I really hate it when you’re right.

Read More Now on AO3

[undertheniall]

I need help and I don’t know what to do. I’m really struggling today and I have no one and it’s like 9am and I’ve had two panic attacks already and I’m overwhelmed at just the thought of life today but I have so much to do and I’m a no so I have to but I just can’t and I can’t breathe can I have Niall (either really) please?

omg hun! first of all if its too much for you just cancel whatever you have planned today! nothing is as important as your mental health. second dunno if you have some any anxiety meds. if you do please take them, if not please think about going to a doc. doesnt have to be today but you really should. and third... put some music on, get into bath tube and try calming yourself. always helps me!

and heres some niall gifs for you

[sexydeathparty]

Lorraine Kelly Argues Piers Morgan Has Not Been 'Cancelled' As Pair Clash In Cancel Culture Debate

Lorraine Kelly tried to prove to Piers Morgan that he hadn’t been “cancelled” as he made an appearance on her chat show on Thursday. 

The former Good Morning Britain presenter returned to ITV for the first time since his infamous exit from the channel’s breakfast show last year to promote his new talkTV series Piers Morgan Uncensored. 

Back in March 2021, Piers departed GMB after calling into question Meghan Markle’s claims that she’d experienced suicidal thoughts during her time as a senior royal.

He later revealed ITV bosses had asked him to apologise for his comments or leave GMB, with Piers opting to stand by his words and exit the show. 

Piers has since landed a show on new station talkTV, which he says will aim to “cancel the cancel culture” that saw him forced to leave his previous job. 

As Piers sat down with Lorraine to discuss his new venture, the presenter attempted to explain that his new role was proof he had not been “cancelled”. 

“But you’re not cancelled though! That’s the thing,” she insisted. People say that you’re cancelled, but you’ve got this massive show coming up.”

Lorraine Kelly and Piers Morgan

Piers responded: “Lorraine, I do and I’m thrilled and excited about it, but I was cancelled from Good Morning Britain, because I did not want to leave and I was told, ���You’ve got to apologise or leave’ – that is what cancel culture is. 

“Sharon Osbourne was cancelled from her show simply for saying I had the right to an opinion, and I just think society has got to get a grip of this.”

He continued: “You and I have argued about so many things over the years, and yet we’ve stayed great friends, loyal friends, we help each other, we have fun together. But I’ve always respected you’re right to vehemently disagree with me about issues.

“I respect your opinion, but we should be allowed to have different opinions and this woke mob have decided that only your opinions can be tolerated, and if you deviate one iota from it, then you will have to be destroyed. They’re not liberal, they’re a new form of fascist and I’m not going to let them get away with it.”

Later in the exchange, Lorraine jokingly asked how long Piers thought it would be before he was “given the elbow” from talkTV, adding: “Because you’ve been sacked from every job.”

He replied: “My track record is about five years, it’s normally five years and then: ‘Piers, here’s a huge cheque, go and lie on a beach for a few months.’ I recommend it, honestly! I’ve had nearly two years of people paying me to do nothing, it’s fantastic!”

Piers then said he did not miss the early starts required to host GMB, but he did “have a great time” hosting the show. 

“I don’t want to create the wrong impression,” he said. “I had a lovely time at ITV, I worked here many years doing Life Stories and other shows, particularly Good Morning Britain. Loved working with Susanna [Reid]...”

Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid pictured on his final day as a presenter on GMB

Lorraine insisted Piers’ exit was “his fault” because he walked out during a fiery debate about his comments on Meghan Markle with weather presenter Alex Beresford.

“No it wasn’t. I didn’t walk out...” Piers replied. “I went back in that day. I had a little time out because I wasn’t sure how I might respond by staying there listening to that idiot giving me his twopenny’s worth. So I did walk back in and I did finish that show.”

As the pair’s good humoured interview came to an end, Lorraine told Piers he could “toddle off now”, to which he jokingly shouted: “I’m storming off,” recreating his infamous GMB walk-out. 

“He can’t help himself,” Lorraine said. 

Lorraine airs weekdays at 9am on ITV. 

READ MORE:

Piers Morgan’s New Show Already Has Its First Cancellation As Caitlyn Jenner Brands Host ‘Repulsive’ Over Trump Clip

Donald Trump Storms Off Set During Fiery Clash With Piers Morgan During Launch Of New Show

Susanna Reid Responds After Piers Morgan Claimed She'd Not Wished Him Luck Ahead Of New Show

from HuffPost UK - Athena2 - All Entries (Public) https://ift.tt/QsOUL0f via IFTTT

[falkenscreen]

Film Festival Contradictions & COVID-Responses

There’s a strange contradiction to Film Festivals endemic to their very existence.  

Intended to enliven a sense of community and appreciation of a form on as large a canvas as possible more so than any traditional cinema screening, they are also a celebration of a medium very suited and highly adaptable to home-centric, individualised experience and COVID-circumstance.  

A boon of Festivals both in attendance and their own numeracy predictably followed the wider availability of streaming services and stratification of cinema offerings between mega-budget and indie fare. Film fans typically wanted a curated experience of competent, experimental small to mid-budget fare and Festivals remain the place to get them, as well as a space more open to audible applause and sharing thoughts before, after and better yet between screenings.

At the same time, cinema remains a form not best appreciated but highly accessible outside an orpheum, making it better suited than other cultural touchstones, ala White Night, Vivid, to enjoyment amidst a pandemic.  

Some Festivals have chosen to go online, pursue hybrid models or otherwise postpone. Static Vision and the Taiwan Film Festival in light of their particular audiences and more experimental filmic fare, itself in cases a commentary on digital consumption, made the early decision to go online following the recent case rise across Australia, as the Festivals managed in 2020.  

On the other side of the equation Cinema Reborn, dedicated to showcasing minute restorations of cinema classics on some of Sydney’s largest screens, were the first Festival to postpone for a full 12 months in 2020. Australia’s Silent Film Festival has similarly postponed recent events and repeatedly so until October when screenings can intendedly take place in the State Library. The St Kilda Film Festival, in addition to postponements of weeks past, have put off this Saturday’s regional Camperdown event and the Antenna Documentary Film Festival have delayed the impending October program until February.  

In any assessment of whether to postpone, go online or pursue a mixed approach every current Festival has to balance two factors; to what extent is a cinema experience intrinsic to appreciation of the work(s) and does the existing sense of community once engendered and further anticipated by patrons necessitate either or both of an indeterminate (and at this stage it is indeterminate) future in-person event or more immediate digital offering?

These decisions aren’t just about maintaining artistic lifeblood but given these considerations’ impacts on both maximising and sustaining audience engagement they are also fairly of a related and necessarily commercial nature.

The Sydney Underground Film Festival, focused in part on commentary on digital forms, yesterday announced that the planned September 10-12 run will head online from September 9-26 with the third annual Take48 filmmaking weekend and competition to run entirely online. It will join the Irish Film Festival, likewise in its second annual digital-only run, which screens from September 1-12.

On Wednesday the Made in the West Film Festival ran an online networking event for filmmakers in Sydney’s west ahead of an in-person December 10-12 Festival. Hours before, the Adelaide Film Festival Youth (previously the Adelaide International Youth Film Festival), having postponed their in-person July 25-30 program announced that the Festival will run online and in-person from August 25 – September 8 and then September 15-16 respectively.

Cancelling an in-person pre-event scheduled for this Sunday past, Brisbane’s West End Film Festival, intended to run in-person from Wednesday through today, has instead pivoted to online for the first time and only a day later than its anticipated start; offering films online until now August 31.  

Queensland’s Capricorn Film Festival, having postponed multiple physical events in the two years past while running a one-off online event in 2020, will champion a three-day virtual Festival commencing next Friday. The day prior the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne will commence a planned in-person run from August 12-21, overlapping with a virtual, Australia-wide Festival online from August 15-30.  

The Melbourne Documentary Film Festival, previously postponing the planned Jul 21-31 in-person run set to tie in with a streaming program running the length of July, will now present a physical event from September 7-17.  

More prominent still, the Melbourne International Film Festival, originally scheduled to commence an in-person run this week to be followed by and overlap with a streaming program, has pivoted to jump-start a nation-wide streaming schedule commencing 9AM today through August 22 following the digital premiere of Coda yesterday evening.  An intended in-person run initially set to take place from August 13-22 will be subject to a flagged pending announcement from MIFF early next week in light of the lockdown implemented in Victoria commencing yesterday evening. Switching to a wholly online run in August of last year and seeing record attendance rates, MIFF in 2021, reflective of increased engagement, has too for the first time scheduled multiple events in new regional venues.  

Occurring when it did last year, Melbourne audiences even beyond traditional Film and Festival fans were primed for a major Melbourne cultural event absent the ability to travel very far or at all, and MIFF provided. Irrespective of the impact of current or future COVID-related restrictions on the in-person program MIFF have championed and effectively utilised capacity to reach audiences digitally for the duration of the intended 2021 run.  

This contrasts heavily with this week’s Sydney Film Festival announcement of the postponement of an in-person Festival until November 3-14. This follows the Festival’s physical cancellation in 2020, an online event in June of last year alongside participation in an international digital event, a brief physical run in January of 2021, the scheduling of this year’s physical Festival for August 18-29 rather than a traditional June run following a like shift in the scheduling of major international Festivals (and consequentially select titles’ availabilities) and the July postponement of a full program launch set to follow an already announced handful of titles.

Aside from the impact on SFF itself, this will directly affect the slew of Film Festivals which typically take place in early November including the Sydney Science Fiction Film Festival which is currently scheduled for November 4-13, with the previous June to August shift already impacting a number of Festivals who prioritise the August window. Notably advertising campaigns run in recent months have emphasised the Festival holding a physical event as a priority with Festival Director Nashen Moodley noting in 2020 that SFF “do not currently have plans for an online component in future years (and that) the Festival very much looks forward to seeing our audience in cinemas next year for a fully immersive and connected Sydney Film Festival.”

An assessment of this a sensible decision or not comes down to whether the near exclusive appeal of the Festival is in fact in-cinema offerings and the extent to which the SFF audience are seeking forthcoming over in-person engagement.  

The response to last year’s online SFF program demonstrated a desire amongst its audience, more of whom than any other Australian Film Festival except perhaps MIFF are composed of such significant numbers of both dedicated and casual filmgoers, for not just engagement but consistent engagement whichever the form. SFF’s decision to host an online component last year followed months later by successful physical sessions bore scope for replication in the latter half of 2021 and moreover over one or more calendar windows.  

Sydneysiders and film fans right now across the country are seeking a sense of community denied in forms by current COVID-related restrictions and SFF could have borne that same significance MIFF heralded when faced with such a similar circumstance in now successive years. MIFF, making the decision to go online last year and again in 2021 unlike SFF, continues to recognise the potential to grow its audience (as MIFF has done) and reach film fans in rural and regional areas and/or who are immunocompromised and might not have in months past or otherwise in the immediate future sought out a physical Festival. This is moreover the case in light of yesterday’s announcement impacting Victoria incidentally coinciding to the hour with the commencement of MIFF’s digital run.  

SFF could too have run in June as traditional but as delayed permitted the attainment of select titles that make up a fraction of a typical program. The appeal of this particular Festival, ala MIFF, overly relates to its general curatorial breadth and sense of community as opposed to individual showcases and the platform’s decision-making has not prioritised the aforementioned with many creatives now too directly impacted. Rather than a few films and filmmakers it is a plethora thereof of both name and emerging talents that have continuously proven themselves both artistic and commercial life-bloods of the Festival. To the extent that there was such an overly marquee focus rather than artistic emphasis on the heft of talent and fixtures of the kind that overwhelmingly typify and further both SFF’s creative and commercial bona-fides the outlet has shown many filmmakers concerned and fans too no favour.  

Yes some filmmakers prefer and demand as is their right films to premiere or otherwise screen in particular environments but the extent to which the Festival in the current environment did not account for this when negotiating titles or otherwise prioritise to a requisite degree fixtures which could screen wholly digitally in the immediate term represents an omission as it would for any Festival neglecting to fully anticipate audiences’ demand to go ahead in part or entirely online and avail itself where affordable of digital infrastructure as needed.  

Following the Festival having gone online last year with works not ideal but adaptable to the form via willing filmmakers there remains evident desire and certainly scope for the platform to replicate something similar in 2021 with the announced titles alone representing a sizeable draw. Communication on this front has been notably lacking with the Festival previously indicating on their dedicated site that SFF had been postponed and withdrawing the statement once it was reported on. This was too days before any further public clarification which came at the outset via select media’s positive reporting of the Festival’s call.

Such calls in recent months engendering the lack of momentum for the Festival and sidelining thereof represents an absence affecting appended-filmmakers as well as dedicated and casual film fans alike seeking consistent and meaningful engagement who can and should, in addition to whenever the Festival screens and in any case, seek out other outlets who have taken the opportunity.

on Festevez

[bike42]

IAT 5/20 thru 5/24/2021

So excited to be back on the trail - seems likes it’d been a long time since we’d been up north, and finally we are into full spring.

Earlier in the week, we got the sad news in that Lynn’s father passed away, so she and Kent had to cancel.  George Sanchez, BrightStar owner from Austin who is joining us in Tanzania, had already made plans to travel to Wisconsin to hike with us, so we decided to go ahead with the trip, and several of us have offered to Lynn that we’ll travel back up there in June to repeat those segments with her. Gary, Dan and Tam had met George in October of 2019 when he was in Wisconsin for the BrightStar owner’s conference, but Lynn and Kent still haven’t met him.

George flew into Madison Wednesday evening. Jeff and I picked him up, had an easy dinner at home and probably too much wine and bourbon since we had an early departure Thursday morning!

As we were approaching Antigo Thursday morning, Gary sent a text saying the meeting spot didn’t have a clear spot for parking, so he drove around and found the Town of Rolling Town Hall building with a large parking lot. The Knickmeier’s joined us there, and we shuttled to the Town of Polar to start our trek for the day.  The weather forecast called for good chance of rain the next 4 days, so we were prepared with rain gear, and had to stop to don our poncho’s after just about 3 blocks!

Much of the next 12-15 days of walking will be on CR’s (connecting routes) with just a few segments (trail) here and there. We can walk faster on the roads, and when they’re quiet county roads, its also easier to carry on a conversation – so they’re not all bad.  Once again, I was grateful for our group decision to hike the whole trail in consecutive sections – otherwise it’d be tempting to cherry pick the nice trail segments and procrastinate on completing the CR’s.

I like to walk the CR’s in my “trail runners,” and I use a fanny pack with water bottle holders.  It also has space for snacks and rain gear.  Today, I’d strapped on an umbrella, and that along with a light poncho worked great.  The rain came and went – generally, if you took your poncho off, it’d come back!

At one point, Dan and Tam and I were walking three-abreast.  I was on the left side, and to my left, I heard a deer crashing through the trees.  To our dismay, she bolted onto the slippery asphalt right in front of us.  Her hooves were slipping and she fell hard, onto her side – and then slid across the rest of the road.  When she reached the right-side shoulder, she righted herself, stood, and bolted back into the woods.  Other than gasps, we were all speechless.  We walked to where she fell as there was a white swath left on the pavement – it was hair!  Besides that, her hooves had made grooves in the asphalt.  What a shock, but we were so relieved that she was able to get up and run off into the woods – no doubt, with some severe road-rash!

The rest of the trek was uneventful – quiet roads, some farms, mostly wooded areas.  Our plan was to take a break and drive back to the Dixie Diner in downtown Antigo for lunch.  Our original plan was ten miles, but we’d covered thirteen to our new parking spot.

As the Dixie Diner, we were greeted by the young waitress that said she remembered us from last month – not sure if that’s good or bad!  It was fun seeing the menu through George’s eyes – but there we a lot of questions that we couldn’t answer.  We’re not completely sure our waitress correctly answered the questions, but she got points for enthusiasm!  She described “broasted chicken” as “like deep fried pressure cooker – like Kentucky Fried Chicken but better.”  The oddest thing was a “Hot Hamburger,” which was white bread with a cooked hamburger patty, mashed potatoes on top of that, and gravy over everything.  George also wanted cheese curds, and most of us had regular cheeseburgers or BLT’s.  Food was so so, but it was great to have a break from walking the road, and as usual, we had lots of laughs.

After lunch, we picked up the Knickmeier’s car, then dropped it at the end of our route.  We walked an additional 3 miles, of course with the rain coming just about as soon as we’d set out!  Then a quick drive to the Dells of Eau Claire county park where I’d reserved a campsite for the next three nights. We knew it was going to be a rustic site (no showers, and vault toilets), but we were surprised to hear they still had the water turned off “due to COVID.”

Dan and Tam made dinner while we set up camp. Jeff and I took our Big Agnes two-person and gave the three-person to Gary and George (although before night fall, Gary decided he was going to hotel it in Antigo, as Dan and Tam had already planned that.  It was a yummy dinner, and great together time anyway.  Jeff and I had this blue sofa-thing that we’d gotten as a reward from MS fundraising.  We had a lot of laughs watching Gary try to fill it with air.

Dan and George had started a fire, and we had a beautiful evening with no bugs.  Only issue was I’d forgotten the chocolate for the S’mores!

Before the hotellers lefts, we scrounged all the water everyone had from their bottles and gave them the empties to fill at the hotel – needed enough water to make coffee and breakfast!

Just before dark, I saw a black cat walking down the road. As he/she approached, we could hear her meowing. I went out to see if she would approach me, and she was very friendly - rubbing against my legs. She followed me back to our site, and stayed with us about 20 minutes - jumping onto our laps and also onto our picnic table - sampling the left-over cheese curds and macaroons! Then she moved on. Jeff checked with the other campers to see if she belonged to them - they said no, but she’d visited them too. She seemed well groomed and healthy, not like a feral cat, but comfortable in her surroundings!

We retired to the tents about 9:30p, it was mostly quiet, save a hot rod truck now and then zooming down the nearby highway.

Overnight there was rain, mostly light, but some heavy. We stayed dry and snuggly in our two-person tent.

I awoke just before my 6am alarm, and dressed for the day, donned my raincoat and left the tent. It was a beautiful peaceful morning, with no one else up and about from the 4-5 campsites that were occupied.

Due to our limited water supply, first priority was a French press of coffee - then we used a little water for instant oatmeal (mixed with yogurt and homemade granola). Just a little water left over to do the dishes, and Tam brought water for our bottles and camelbacks for today’s hike.

We set out in two cars; really nice that the car shuttles are easy this section of our trek! We walked a quick 4 miles of CR before entering the Plover River segment. Of course, we got about a quarter of a mile and the rain started. We quickly donned our ponchos, yet the rain remained light.

Shortly after starting the segment, most people stashed their rain gear. The canopy of the trees was thick enough, and we got a few drops, but not much to worry about, and the day was heating up.

The segment had varied terrain - hills, beautiful large granite erratics, swamps, boardwalks, areas that had been logged. I’d thought the spring wildflowers along the road were amazing, but in the forest, it was truly magical.  I found myself dropping back to just get lost in the beauty of the day:  flowers, a cacophony of birdsong, and a comfortable warm day.

We crossed the Plover River a few times, once with a rock-hop, and I know I wasn’t the only one in the group that wished it had been more challenging!!  Towards the end, we walked across really cool boardwalks, twisting around the trees. We lingered to look at the swamp a bit, but it was just starting to get buggy so we kept moving.

After the segment, we drove back to camp and ate lunch, which gave us the energy to push on to do the easy 3-mile CR and Dells of Eau Claire River segment.  Its always fun to be camping on the actual route!

The Dells of Eau Claire was beautiful, but on a gorgeous Friday late afternoon, it was overrun with people!  Few were walking on the Ice Age Trail, but there were dozens gathered along the river – some fishing, most just messing around in the water.   Many of the rock formations reminded us of Devil’s Lake – but the beauty was accompanied by the awesome sound of the water rushing over the rocks.  We lingered along the river, then a footbridge brought us to the other side, where we picked up the pace as fast as we could over rocks and roots.  That side of the river reminded us a lot of the Grandfather Falls segment along the Wisconsin river.

Back to camp for dinner – Jeff and I had made the fixings for a burrito bar, so there was time to have a beer and snacks and unwind before dinner.  After two long days, Jeff and George decided to head down to the “beach” above the dam and bathe in the Eau Claire River – they came back refreshed.  Tam took a shot at inflating the “air sofa,” and the video Gary took was hysterical as the smoke from the fire gave it a mystical effect. We had a great dinner and lots of laughs. We got a text from Lynn letting us know that she and Kent were going to join us for the next two days – great news!!

The hotel gang left, and Jeff, George and I enjoyed some time around the fire – turned into a gorgeous evening.  Friday night, and the campground filled up, but nothing too rowdy.

Saturday morning, we had a little more time since we were meeting Lynn and Kent at 9AM at the start of the Thornapple Creek Segment. We had a plan to make eggs and pan bread for breakfast, but there was an issue with the stove (gas leak in a valve?) and we were lucky just to heat a little water for oatmeal and coffee.  When the hotellers arrived, Dan and Jeff borrowed some tools from the neighbor and took the stove apart, but it’ll still need some work.   We shuttled two cars to Hatley, and drove back to meet Lynn and Kent.  Hugs all around – so great to have the gang all together.

Kent is doing well mending his shoulder, but still playing it safe skipping the segment treks – he’ll join us tomorrow on the CR. We had 0.8 mi of road and we started out fast.  When we turned to walk an easement along a farm field, I stopped to put on my low gaiters – good thing because we were soon slogging through a swamp.  The swamp had 18” high grass, and soon we were picking ticks off our legs – ugh.  We always joke that Dan is a “tick magnet,” but George gave him a run for his money today! We probably had about a mile of the ickyness, but soon we were out to logging roads and farm fields and it was better.

Being Saturday, we encountered 5 people – that’s a lot for the northern sections of the IAT.  We stopped to chat with two folks for a bit – a women from the Twin Cities and her brother from Sheboygan.  It was their first day of hiking the IAT, but they were excited to hear our tales and are going to try to do the whole thing too.  

We moved seamlessly to the Ringle Segment, and were disappointed in no segment signs on either of todays sections.  We encountered some boy scouts that were doing trail maintenance – fun to chat with them a bit and thank them for their work. The Ringle Segment was well maintained, with sections of thick woods with eskers, and also sections that went close to homes and farms.  We went past a house where a guy named Tim was on his riding lawn mower.  He stopped to entertain us for a bit with stories and jokes.

Eventually, the sound of the birds was replaced by the sound of heavy machinery.  At first, I thought we were hearing Highway 29, but it was actually the sound of equipment at a landfill.  The trail skirted the edge of it, and as we got downwind, the smell was awful.  From there, we turned onto the Mountain-Bay State Trail and walked that to Hatley.  The day was sunny and warm – well above 80, and the trail was in the sun. By the time we got to Hatley, we were parched.  We got into the cars and went in search of cold beer – which we found around the corner at the “Barrell Inn,” along with some local color.  We had a beer, and Jeff and George bought a six pack to go and we headed back to camp with a plan to meet the gang for pizza in Antigo that evening.

I joined Jeff and George for a river-bath – it was cold, but refreshing and felt good on my feet and sore muscles – three days with long miles so far!  We had a beer at our camp, then drove to meet the others at BB Jacks in Antigo (recommendation from the bar earlier).  We had fried appetizers, salads, and too much pizza.  None-the-less, we followed it with a DQ stop anyway.  Lots of laughs.  On the drive back to the campground, we checked out an auto museum as well as a yard with some really bizarre sculptures.  Both were attractions that we’d buzzed by a few times already, but this time I was driving!

Back to camp, I opened a bottle of wine and we had S’mores with dark chocolate – yum.  We stayed up around the fire for a bit, yet its no wonder that I had trouble falling asleep when I did go to the tent (beer, pizza, ice cream and s’mores!!!).

Sunday morning, we had a plan to meet the gang at 8am for a few hours of road walk.  We got up early, packed up the tent.  Jeff was getting the stove ready and I found that the French press had broken in its box into many little pieces of glass.  I grabbed my phone and found a café 10 miles away – so we woke George up, packed up quickly and headed to Trucks Place in Birnamwood where we found a friendly waitress and great food.  

Perfect timing – we all arrived at our meeting place at the same time.  Quick shuttle back to Hatley and we were trekking along County Highway Y – which will be a CR that we’ll have to complete next time, but we knocked 5 miles off today.

Dan and Tam, and Lynn and Kent were going to drive back to what we’d hiked on Thursday so catch them up a bit, we headed back towards Madison to get George to the airport.  Along the way, he actually found he could switch to an earlier flight which would get him home at a decent hour.

During these few days, I reflected on how awesome it’s been to experience the northern IAT for all 4 seasons now.  I don’t have a favorite – there are things I like and don’t like about each of them, but what I like best I guess is the variety.

It was neat to share with George and find that I do have a pretty good knowledge of many plants and the forests in general. I can recognize an old native forest, and can easily see when one has been logged and replanted.  I’m sad when I see invasive species introduced to pristine forests, but I know how easily it can happen.  I’m not so great at the geological terms that go with the glacial landscapes, but I’ve learned a few things (eskers, erratics, kettles, moraines). As we walked along the edge of quite a few farms, we saw great examples of fields with rocks – some that look like they’re being “farmed” for landscaping boulders.  Farming in northern WI is tough – not just due to the shorter growing season, but wow what a lot of rocks!

We had a great variety of IAT experiences for George over these 4 days, everything but a beaver dam crossing and hiking in the dark!  It feels like an accomplishment to be getting closer to home.  We have five days planned in June, and after that we should be able to make day trips.