#but grew up solely in england

[fataliitea]

been a hot minute since I've drawn... any of my OCS but especially this one. Not sure if I've ever posted her here but this is Alma, she's in her late twenties, based in the Victorian era (sorry for the base dress), and what else.. oh yeah, she's also a sex worker and unofficially adopted the other girls that live in her tenement

[androgynealienfemme]

"I was born thirty eight years ago and raised to be a nice Chinese girl. But nice Chinese girls don't grow up to be dykes and rebels. And I turned out to be both.

I grew up on silence. Though I was part of a large extended family, we ate in silence. There was no conversation or laughter, just the sound of soup spoons and chopsticks against rice bowls. I was not encouraged to talk, express emotions, or ask questions. I grew up with a heritage of silence.

I was a girl child, the first born in a traditional Chinese family, raised to be seen but not heard, raised to excel in school but not be curious, raised to be someone's wife but not to be a person of my own. When I was growing up in England, Hong Kong, and San Francisco, I read everything I could get my hands on, but none of the books spoke of my own experience. I started writing when I was eleven years old to fill the silence and to turn the years of rejection into affirmation.

You're probably wondering what the hell any of this h as to do with sex. The answer is- plenty. What I write is shaped by my history and experience as both a Chinese woman and as a lesbian.

Chinese is my first language. But I was fluent only in the words my parents deemed it necessary for me to know. I was certainly not taught the words for breast, cunt, ass, or orgasm. There were no words for sex; therefore, sex did not exist.

I came out as a lesbian when I was twenty-one, but I didn't start writing about sex until almost a decade later. Sure, I wrote love poems, but I never wrote about sex. I was, after all, a nice Chinese girl and we didn't''t talk about things like that. --

I have always loved women passionately. I love the way a femme moves across a dance floor, knowing all eyes are focused on her. I love the hard eye-to-eye look from another butch as she sizes me up as competition- or her next conquest. I love the fluid seduction in a femmes eyes. I love the long line of her neck, her delicate earlobes and soft lips, painted some shade of red or unpainted but deeply flushed from having been kissed long and hard. Many times. I love the curve of her breast, the hardness of her nipples, the softness of her stomach, the fullness of her ass, her legs with a faint covering of hair or long and sleek in black silk stockings. I love the strength of her in her thighs, the firmness of her biceps, the feel of her forearms as she takes me. I love the smell of her heat and the place of pleasure between her legs. I love her ankles and her delicate toes and her soft instep where I run my tongue until my teeth are gripping her Achilles tendon. I love the smell of her, the taste of her, the feel of her, the sight of her. I love women passionately.

--

Some women do not attend my theater or literary events for fear of supporting my sexual politics. I have been accused of recruiting. Never mind that I have a long history of writing, community organizing, and activism. Now I am judged solely for my leather sexuality. It's never been easy being different, but I have always survived. I will continue to speak out, write truths, and make waves. My countryman Mao Zedong wrote, "Dare to struggle, dare to win." I say, dare to write. Dare to be different. And who says nice Chinese girls don't talk about sex?"

"Who Says we Don't Talk About Sex?" Kitty Tsui, The Persistent Desire, (Edited by Joan Nestle) (1992)

[autisticgingerblonde]

If Fallout 4 companions had TikTok accounts

Cait would have an account dedicated to fighting and thirst traps (aimed at women mostly). Teaches women self-defense techniques. She earns a spot in the algorithm of muscle mommies. She also raises awareness for addicts and former addicts, educating on the effects of drugs and the reasons people seek them out in the first place. Honestly, it's a very good account to follow.

Codsworth is just confused about TikTok. He's like "oh so what are the children saying these days? Aura? I'll have to add a new word to my vocabulary banks! Cheerio, mum!"

Curie makes educational videos for all ages and all subjects. She has a series of learning Japanese, a series of vaccines and the science behind them, a series about the effects of different types of parenting, you name it. She also takes suggestions from her audience on what new things to research.

Danse has unintentional thirst traps. He talks about power armor and the Brotherhood of Steel but also posts workouts. These are what get the most attention out of everything he posts. The BookTok girlies find him and all hell breaks loose in the comment sections. He responds to this with, "Thank you, civilians. I am not sure what you mean, but I am glad you are supporting the Brotherhood of Steel by being on my page. Thank you for your enthusiasm for our righteous cause. Ad victorium." People armchair diagnose him as autistic.

Deacon does "GRWM as i tell you about the time i ______" videos where each day he looks completely different and you can never tell if he's telling the truth or not. He also does head shaving videos that double as story times or opinion pieces. You can't tell if those are true or not either.

Dogmeat has a viral account followed by millions. Get's a lot of "I can't imagine liking this guy" comments with the op replying to their own comment with "anymore than I already do. Huge fan!"

Hancock does subtle cheeky thirst traps and dance challenges. This entire post was inspired by the FACT that Hancock would participate in the brat summer trend and would do the Apple dance with Fahrenheit filming it. He also tells stories, mostly of him being high. He gets a lot of requests to cosplay Deadpool.

MacCready has a lot of things he does. Some videos are sniper trick shots, some are Grognak the Barbarian yapping (he does short lore deep dives when he can), and some are about being a young single dad. He doesn't show Duncan's face because he's extremely protective. Casually drops the most insane lore about his childhood which leads to comments like "are we just ignoring that he said he grew up in a cave?"

Nick Valentine would be a very popular fashion and "a day in the life of a detective". He'd do vintage fashion looks, like loose slacks and suspenders with a trench coat to top it off. Sometimes does a deep dive into detective history. Gets a lot of thirsty comments to which he replies "that's one way to get the coolant pumping."

Old Longfellow has the appeal of the New England, stormy weather, sweater-wearing fisherman aesthetic, and he tells stories of his youth while showing people around the area he grew up. Learns mobile phone cinematography to make it look cooler. Every video has either a lesson or a skill for survival.

Piper's account is solely focused on news and truth, posting every source she uses. She uses the trend of an insane video, like someone falling badly on the ground or getting splashed with water, and stitches it to look like a seamless transition of her rolling from the fall or being splashed to start talking about her news stories. It gets traction so she continues.

Porter Gage has a side gig of running TikTok accounts for different people. Gets the money, doesn't get the backlash when they get canceled for racism or worker exploitation.

Preston has an account dedicated to charity work and social activism. He makes sure to highlight organizations he feels are doing the world a service and regularly has fundraisers. He's well-known for always sharing content from people in dire situations and raising money for them. Has a master document of Go Fund Me pages and vets every one of them.

Strong has a lot of those unintentional boomer tiktoks that are 1 second long and he's just looking at the screen in confusion.

X6 cyber bullies the rest of them because he thinks having a TikTok is cringe and stupid (he is currently writing hate comments with his TikTok account)

[hungrywriter]

The Middle Child (one-shot)

Jobe Bellingham x reader (Platonic!) Jude Bellingham x reader (Platonic)

A/n: I'm sorry if this broke your heart, because it broke mine. To all those who struggle with their family's support, remember that your worth and potential are not defined by the validation of others. Embrace the strength in you.

Y/n Bellingham, the middle child of the Bellingham family, had always been living in the shadow of her famous brothers. Jobe's rise to soccer stardom and Jude's recent signing with Real Madrid had propelled them into the limelight, leaving Y/n feeling like an afterthought in her own family.

As Y/n grew up, Mr. and Mrs. Bellingham couldn't help but notice that she had a different passion and interests compared to her brothers. While Jobe and Jude thrived in their love for football, Y/n seemed to gravitate towards a different path. Instead of kicking a ball with her feet, she found joy in catching and throwing with her hands. It was a small detail, but it spoke volumes about her individuality.

Y/n's lack of interest in her father's work further set her apart from her brothers. Her father, hoping to pass on his love for football, had dedicated much of his time and attention to Jobe and Jude's development in the sport. Y/n's divergence from their shared passion caused her father to shift his focus solely onto his sons, unintentionally neglecting the unique interests and talents that Y/n possessed.

It wasn't that Y/n lacked talent or capability; rather, her abilities simply lay in a different realm, one that wasn't immediately understood or appreciated by her family. Unlike her brothers, Y/n found love and passion in volleyball. A sport that was uncommon in the Bellingham family. Since young, Y/n had always wished to compete in the Volleyball Women’s National League. When she had finally reached 17, she had signed to one of the biggest Volleyball teams in England. Once again, her parents were too busy to care.

At the age of 19, Y/n was promoted to captain of the volleyball team. She came home giddily, excited to announce the good news. She was also a bit nervous. How would they react? She longed for her family's support and recognition, yearning for them to be present on this significant day. But as the news of Jude's signing broke, the entire household erupted in joyous celebration, forgetting Y/n's accomplishment amidst the chaos.

Heart heavy with disappointment, Y/n stood in her room, gazing at the captain's armband in her hand. The weight of her brothers' success pressed upon her, threatening to crush her spirit. She had always been proud of her brothers, cheering them on from the sidelines, but now it felt like her own achievements were inconsequential.

Days turned into weeks, and the disparity between her brothers' fame and her own accomplishments deepened. Y/n poured her heart and soul into leading the volleyball team, hoping to find solace and recognition within her own passion. Yet, each victory and milestone seemed to fade into obscurity, overshadowed by the constant spotlight on Jobe and Jude.

It was the day that Jude finally signed the papers for Real Madrid. Y/n had an important match that day that determined whether the team was allowed to participate in the championship. Before and after the match, she keeps checking her phone. No text or calls. Y/n scoffed. 

It was dinner time when Y/n reached home. She was sweaty and tired, and all she wanted to do was take a nice hot bath and have an early rest. She made a mental reminder to change the bandage on her father, as she had an injury during the tournament. When she entered the house, her family was sitting at the dinner table and there was silence when her father bellowed her name.

“Y/n! Where the hell have you been? You missed the proudest day of our lives! And what happened to your forehead?” Your father shouted in anger. Normally, Y/n would shrug it off. But hearing the phrase ‘proudest day of our lives’ finally set her off. 

“Maybe if you had paid attention to me more, you would have known what happened,” She talked back. Her family was shocked at her outburst. Her father’s face was becoming red and her mother was trying to calm him down. 

“I learned to tie my own shoes. I memorised the route home from school because no one was there to take me home. I learnt how to make my own food, because while Jude and Jobe got pasta or-or steak, I had cereal. Do you know what I was doing today, Dad? Mom? Do you know what I want to be when I grow up? Jude? Jobe? Hell, do you even know what sport I play?” She roared, and at every sentence, she stepped forward towards the dining table.

She pulled out a photo from her jacket that she had kept for 2 years and slammed it on the table. It was a photo of her signing the contract with the volleyball team. “2 years ago, I signed for the top league volleyball team in england. It was the most important day of my life. Look at the picture. Do you know what’s missing? MY OWN GODDAMN FAMILY.”

“How could you all forget me? How could you let my accomplishments fade into oblivion while you showered Jobe and Jude with all your attention? Am I not worthy of recognition? Am I not important enough to be seen as an individual?”

“Y/n, please try to understand…” Mark Bellingham said as he stood up from his seat,

“Understand? I understand perfectly! I understand that my dreams and achievements mean nothing compared to Jobe's goals and Jude's signing! I understand that I've become invisible in my own damn family!”

With a heavy heart, Y/n turned away from her family, leaving them to grapple with the reality of their actions. Deep down, she yearned for a future where her worth was recognized, where she could stand tall in her own accomplishments, and where her family truly saw her for who she was.

She left the house and walked straight towards the park. The only place that brings her comfort. She took a seat at the bench and put her head in her hands to clear her head. After a few minutes, she could feel two figures sitting beside her, one on each side. When she saw both her family, she broke down again. This time, her mother hugged her first and cooed her. The rest of the family soon joined in.

“I’m so sorry. I was stressed because of the whole captain thing,”

“Oh baby, don’t be sorry. We’re sorry. We promise we’ll do better,” Her mother whispered as she rubbed her arm down her daughter’s back. Y/n smiled back, and she finally felt seen and heard. For the first time in her life, she had a reason to hope.

With time, Y/n's own star began to rise. Her talent and dedication to volleyball brought her recognition beyond the confines of her family, and she became a respected figure in her own right. She learned that her worth wasn't defined by comparisons or the validation of others, but by her own strength, passion, and the love she held for herself.

In the end, Y/n's struggle had forged an unbreakable bond within her family. They realised that each member, regardless of their accomplishments, deserved to be seen and valued for who they were. And together, they embarked on a journey of unconditional support, celebrating the victories of each sibling, no matter how big or small.

[vide0-nasties]

Going to be rambling insanely about Ghost and probably what his feelings on the monarchy would be, coming from one deeply damaged povo to another.

Anyway, specifically around the time the parasite in chief in her idiot hat (thanks Eccleston lub u) died and passed said idiot hat on, I was seeing a lot of (fun and gentle-ribbing, mind you!) posts about Ghost getting razzed about the queen croaking and maybe him being sad about it or something - I don’t really remember bc I have shit for brains and I just latch onto what bits my adhd will allow.

SO. I really don’t think Bruv Innit gave two shits about Liz buying the farm, bc he grew up working class in a working class town to a drug addicted, drug peddling dad, and a fairly nondescript mom who likely didn’t have a way to get her and her kids out of that shit situation (per ‘09 MW lore and some presumption). I imagine dude was dragged around a shitload of council estates and his dad’s friends’ shitty crash pads, no stability whatsoever, where food insecurity was a big ass forever-looming deal, mom had no idea if her 20 year old vauxhall was going to make it another trip to her minimum wage part time job, and school was forever on the back burner bc when it came to school supplies/trips vs eating and keeping the lights on. You can guess which one won.

If we’re also going with him being about 35-40ish, he would’ve been 10-12ish or so around Diana’s divorce and then her death. So, here’s this starving, horrendously abused kid, with his starving, horrendously abused mother and little brother, drowning in a system that is pretty much just letting them sink to the bottom, nothing is being done about the evil sperm donor that ruins everything for them, and he’s obliterated constantly by TV coverage and tabloids and radio DJs talking about this goddamned family’s stupid fucking drama. Charles cheated, Diana left, her poor boys in their fancy private schools with their endless wealth and glowing skin and brand new clothes that don’t stink of consignment shops are sad.

Sorrows - sorrows, prayers. 🫶

It’s a story he’s seen countless times, the only difference is money and coverage. And, realistically, the women in the stories he knows aren’t killed in car wrecks, they’re killed by their infuriated husbands who think they’re owed something catching up. Maybe that’s why his mom doesn’t leave the cocksucker that trapped her, she could’ve ended up another council house Diana that no one gave a shit about.

He grows up, becomes a butcher’s apprentice, joins the army. Straightens his brother out, makes sure his mom is set up nice, finally beats the shit out of his dad. And all the while, there looms the most fucking pointless, parasitic family in England: living off taxes taken from the public, god knows how much land and how many castles, even owning all the fucking swans on the island.

Relics, vampires, leeches.

But, you know, twenty years down the road, he’s pushing 40, his services to the country are done in the dark, the family he tried so badly to save were brutally cut down anyway, and when he goes to Tesco, the price of a fifth of piss Smirnoff is insane, and he’s still got Soap swimming in his head mid-rant bc his mam’s fucking knee replacement appeal has been denied for the third time and she can’t even walk anymore, Gaz is moving for the second time in a year bc he just can’t afford to live close to his parents even on his salary, meanwhile there was a stretch where it looked like Philip was surviving solely by being pumped full of virgin blood and straight stem cells.

So, yeah, if anything he probably said cheers when the news broke and cracked a couple extra jokes that day.

“What d’you call one dead Windsor? A good start.”

Edit: This is picking up some traction. @50cal-fullauto-astarion is my CoD blog if you like my Call of Bullshit stuff, this is my main and I don’t really go into CoD here

[blingblong55]

Normal People- Simon ''Ghost'' Riley

You and Simon were once together when you were younger, you eventually grew apart. Years later you two by some coincidence meet once again.

A/N: listen to any of these songs, trust me!!! (This Town-Niall Horan, Photograph- Ed Sheeran, Strange-Celeste, Like Real People Do- Hozier, Sparks- Coldplay)

Based on a request:

GN!Reader, little angst, lovers to strangers(in a way) to lovers again

You and Simon have known each other since primary school. Neither of you knew you'd end up falling in love by the time secondary school came around. It was always you two against the problems of life and teenage drama. He asked you to be his boyfriend/girlfriend by year 10, ever since that day you and him were more than inseparable. His mates always teased him about it, it was rather adorable how much he would blush when they'd mention you two as a couple. He would sneak into your room after hours, whisper everything and try to contain his laugh when you'd say some terrible jokes. At times you two would sneak up to the roof and just stare at the stars all night.

One night as you two watched the stars he asked you to school formal. It was a big deal amongst friend groups and couples, so you of course said yes. That night as your friend group all drank beer by some campfire after the dance, you sat on his lap. He was all quiet, his eyes never leaving yours. "I love you, r/n'' he whispered into your ear. You looked at him with puppy eyes. You smiled and kissed him.

Ever since, any time you really meant it, he or you would say it, even if the time wasn't right, it could only be said when it was meant and no other time. As time went on, he joined the military, you stayed back and finished college, when he came back, you were working as an assistant. One night he went to visit his mum, she advised he visit you. And as he walked the streets, there you were with the same friend group. You and your friends laughing and drinking, everyone with their significant other, you sat with them, an empty stool next to you.

"Okay Simon, I understand, and don't worry darling, at every table I sit by, I'll save ya a seat, that's a promise''

''you don't have to do that, love''

Eventually one night you and him broke up. His role in the military got more serious, it demanded more of him. And you both knew it was time to just call it quits. You two had grown apart, it was an event that had to happen. You would move out to Dublin soon, a top Uni there accepted you(see what I did there,,anyways). Simon would have to leave England for months on end, it was just bound to happen. So when you called it quits, you moved to Ireland and he to somewhere in the world, wherever the military took him.

He carried a picture of you both from the night of the school formal. It was you and him sitting by the campfire, you in your attire and he in his suit, he had his arms around your waist. The way you two smiled at the camera, a true moment where he felt safe and at home.

--------

He was now 29, soon to be thirty, you'd be around the same age as well. He was now a lieutenant for the army, you a successful company executive. There were nights were he wondered where you were in Ireland, if you had met someone new, if maybe you had written him letters but just never sent them out. If you had maybe settled down, if you even remembered how at some point you were his life, the sole purpose why he always was a better man.

At drunken nights, thats when he thought of you the most. How you kissed him on rooftops, sneaked out just to talk to him, or the nights where you played the piano at some pubs. Maybe it was the sense of home, belonging that he missed, but maybe it wasn't, it was your sweet voice, how you would caress his face, rub his back, listen to his problems, kissed him under that stormy night, how by morning, you two laid on the couch at his mum's drinking tea and eating soup because you two got sick.

On cold lonely nights in the desert, thats when he missed you the most.

But as any true mystery in this world, you one warm night found each other once more. You in some jeans and a white tee, he in a black shirt and an old pair of jeans. Manchester was quite boring if you've been a local. You pushed your trolly around the store, you accidentally bumped into a tall man. ''Shit, sir I am incredibly sorry I was looking at this stupid stupid date on the-'' You looked up from the can of beans.

''R/n?''

''If it isn't Simon Riley'' you said in a happy tone.

He noticed the same old locket he gave you on your 16th birthday, it was a picture you took on a booth. You and him smiling at the camera. It gave his chest a good kind of ache. It was nice to know he was thought of.

''I thought you'd forgotten all about me, love.'' He walked up to you, his arms opening a little. You too walked to him and hugged him, ''not in a million years, Simon.'' You kissed his cheek, oh that warm fuzzy feeling of belonging.

He looked at you, his hands caresses the sides of your face. He looked at you, mesmerized you hadn't changed a bit, your smile still warm and beautiful. He smiled as his hands had a feel for your still soft skin. Your eyes welled up a little, it was a relief he was still on this Earth.

The many nights you wished you went to Sunday school and learned to pray, to believe, to hope. One night you did though, you had just arrived from Ireland, you went to a local church, you sat there and whispered, ''please, if you really are real, if he is still out there, just..keep him safe, please''

''You look rather ravishing my love.'' He smiled at you, he looked all over your face, studying it and remembering all of the small details.

''Sorry, again for hitting your bum with the trolly.'' you chuckled. He shook his head, ''s'right, love.'' he said almost in a rather happier tone. It was crazy to see you here, but he wasn't complaining, thats for sure.

''when did you get here by the way?'' he took your trolly, and tossed his basket on it, he pushed the trolly and walked towards the next aisle, you following along.

''Here in Manchester? well lets see, I came back I think 6 years ago?..yeah definitely six. And you?''

''Got back last week, you know the whole army thing.'' he said as he happily looked through his list of must buys.

''Hm I see...I suppose your partner made that list for ya?'' you asked in a curious way, looking for a 'no, my mum needs this,,,no partner..been waiting for ya' type of answer.

''No, I am making some dinner for myself, and no, no partner,,,still.'' he had given up in trying to find someone after you, and that one failed date he had about 8 years ago.

''ah I see well-''

''do you..y'know, have someone to go home to? is this to forward or-''

''no no, not all, no, its not forward..um..no I don't been too much of a selfish person since my job.''

It was silent for a few minutes as he walked down the aisle. ''so,,,I get to have a second chance? or we..we can be friends? I would be okay with just anything..or not..I don't know.'' he let out a nervous chuckle as he tossed a box of sponges into the trolly.

''well..i..um do you want us to..have a second chance or-''

''yes!,,,if you're okay with it, I want to work on us, I have more time now, maybe not the most time but..this is going to sound-''

''stupid? cheesy? weird?'' you tried guessing.

''all?'' he chuckled, ''i..always thought we would end up together, you know the whole living together, walking down the aisle to me, I don't know maybe getting a dog and taking him on walks on our days off,'' he shrugs, ''its dumb, but I always thought you'd be my...my future, my little something.''

''The one thing I can get to be selfish about.'' you said, he looked at you, blush spread across his face.

''yeah,,,the one thing I can get to be selfish about, I like that,,so?''

''lets be selfish Simon, together.'' You kiss his cheek.

'Maybe the events in our lives were set in motion a long time ago. There's an old Buddhist saying that when you meet your soulmate, remember that the act to bring you together was 500 years in the making. So always appreciate and be kind to each other.'

-Spencer Reid (Criminal Minds)

REQUESTS ARE OPEN

A/N: I just rewatched and re-read Normal People, that shit is just so..real. Anyways anon I hope you enjoyed it!

[cookies-sports]

Women's football journalism, information, misinformation, and online harassment, via England's goalkeeper situation

I've had some thoughts about the state of journalism, "big name" accounts, and the general state of information and misinformation in women's football, and how it contributes to the growing harassment and abuse towards players for a while now. The goalkeeper situation at England, and a whole bunch of things tangential to it, have done quite the job of demonstrating some of the issues.

The general points I end up making are not just applicable to the goalkeeper situation; it is causing problems for all kinds of things in women's football. It certainly is playing a role in how racism, misogyny, and other forms of bigotry are increasing within the WoSo fan spaces.

I just found this situation particularly rooted in many of the problems around misinformation spreading and how rivalry between two distinct "sides" was leading to harassment. It's a long ride, because I like to ramble and yap, and can do so about many things. So buckle up (if you want).

A word on contributing issues

While I have issues with the quality of a fair amount of women's sports journalism, especially women's football, I'm not saying any of the following applies to all journalism in the women's game. Some reporting is well researched and well-written. I also don't think the quality issues are the sole problem.

I think there are a few other things involved as well, including:

A number of popular social media accounts got big after the Euros and are not massively knowledgeable about women's football pre-Euros.

Social media algorithms and the way they push and restrict content on people's dashboards.

Search engines being a black hole of a mess that makes it increasingly difficult to find older articles and information.

The general cesspit that often is rivalry in sports, including the bigotry and abuse it brings and how it gets written off as "banter" or a "really small minority" so it's never really dealt with.

The more general issues reported in social interactions in more recent years, exacerbated by the pandemic and other factors.

You could probably write a book if you wanted to cover them all (maybe someone is! I'd like to read it). The main focus here is journalism and information from big name accounts, with some references to the other points above.

An overview of the goalkeeping situation at England

In summary, under Sarina Wiegman, Mary Earps had, up until recently, been the first choice goalkeeper. She put in strong performances at the Euros and at the World Cup. As a result, she received a lot of media attention and accolades and, already being quite popular on TikTok, her social media blew up. There was a lot of backlash alongside the fanbase that grew for her. Some of that was pure misogyny from men who hated her, women's football, and anything related to it. Some of it was from fans of women's football who felt she was overrated or didn't like her for various other reasons, some football related, some less so.

After having a strong season at Manchester United in 2022/23, a lot of problems began to appear for Earps (and at Manchester United in general). As time went on, Earps' performances for club throughout the 2023/24 season became inconsistent, and a few of her performances for the England team also wobbled. She ended the 23/24 season with a match where she conceded 6 goals to Chelsea.

At the same time Earps was on a low; Hannah Hampton was on the up. She cemented herself (mostly) as Chelsea's first string keeper by the end of the 23/24 season and had earned herself some admirable performance, stats and kudos. Made more impressive by the fact she played fewer than half the season's games for the team. Talk, of course, turned to whether she was the one who should be stepping up to take England's #1 shirt. Khiara Keating also had a strong season, having to step up unexpectedly to become Manchester City's #1 keeper, earning herself the Golden Glove for the season in the process while still a teenager.

Then, in the Euro qualifiers, Earps went off injured and Hampton subbed in, and stayed in for the remaining qualifier games. Even after Earps had recovered from her injury. The 2024/25 season started: Earps struggled in her start at PSG, and Keating was dropped back to second string keeper at City, then not called up for England at all. Leaving the #1 shirt seemingly Hampton's.

This competition between the goalkeepers has been taken up by the media and other accounts in a way that I think demonstrates many of the problems in WoSo journalism and information generally, and also probably to the detriment of all players involved.

The journalism and discussions around England's goalkeepers

Truthfully, Keating has not been the focus of much of the media attention. The Earps vs Hampton narrative has been the focal point. However, Keating has her own challenges right now following an arrest for possession of cannisters of nitrous oxide. It is entirely possible that her dropping to second keeper at City and off the England team entirely is as much to do with that as it is to do with her still being young and needing to develop her skills as a keeper in various ways. I don't want to say much more about Keating's situation because we don't know everything and there's probably stuff going on there that the public are not privvy to, so she's facing a lot is where I'll leave it.

With Hampton and Earps, however, the media have had a field day, knowing that if they push the rivalry/fighting for the same spot angle, they will drive clicks and engagement to their posts and articles. Earps' name is already used a ridiculous amount to drive engagement; to the point TikTok videos that she made for fun were being used as the basis to write whole articles.

An article came out just after the qualifiers that made a big deal about how Wiegman was "firing a warning shot by benching Earps", letting other players know that no-one was safe. It was all a very dramatised way to say 'if player's aren't in form, they might not play' (which given some of Wiegman's choices, I feel that it has only applied to the goalkeeping position so far, if we're honest). It worked because it got some of the people who didn't like Earps celebrating her downfall and some of the people who did like Earps making a big deal about it on social media. Discussions about it began to very quickly show that there was absolutely the "Earps side" and the "Hampton side" in some parts of the WoSo fanbase, and the media were going to hammer on all the sore points they could find there to get their engagement.

Earps then had a disastrous start in the domestic season at PSG when PSG were knocked out of the Champion's League by Juventus. WoSo journalists and popular accounts who had never shown an interest in the Première Ligue posted about PSG and Earps' performances, pulling clips of poor moments and posting them to the predictable engagement of their followers. (Once Earps and PSG settled down into more of a rhythm in the Première Ligue, these journalists and big accounts by and large lost interest.) If you listened to some of these journalists and accounts, PSG's failures were entirely Earps' fault. She lost them the Champion's League qualifications.

It's not true. Earps was poor in the Champion's League games, but so was everyone else on the team. PSG were a disaster; they were completely overlapped on the wings and could barely get any shots, let alone any on target. I can understand why PSG started Earps, but you have to wonder whether those games might have been slightly less disastrous (though it's not like the goalkeepers could make the forwards score) if Kiedrzynek had played given she can speak French well and was already much more familiar with the team.

Anyway, after that there was even more celebration of Earps' downfall online, with an increase in the number of negative comments on her social media, ranging from mockery to outright abuse with a hefty dose of misogyny. 3 days after the Champion's League second leg game, Earps was on the bench and Kiedrzynek started against Guingamp. Despite the fact it was quite apparent that this was rotation at play, the English media had their cue: out came the articles about Earps being benched. Then Earps was unwell for the game after that and dropped out of the squad shortly before kick off. All this is where misinformation really ramps up, but I'll come back to that.

Meanwhile, as Earps had numerous struggles in her season, Hampton had a strong start at Chelsea, with the team winning all their games in the league and Champion's League (which Hampton has not yet played in yet) so far. Hampton has also made some key saves to prevent some defensive embarrassment on Chelsea's behalf, including keeping their 1-0 lead in the season opener under a lot of pressure from Villa and keeping out multiple attempts at an equaliser in an intense second half against Arsenal at the Emirates.

Like Earps, Hampton has been rotated for one game and was unable to play one game because she was unwell.

England camp came about in the international break and the Hampton vs Earps discussion reared back up again. More articles came out about the competition between Earps and Hampton; both players were asked about it in interviews. Discussion online brought the two fanbases back into butting heads.

Hampton started against Germany in England's friendly a few days ago and... well, apparently the England team had watched PSG's disastrous chaos in their Champion's League games and decided to use it as inspiration because the game was mayhem. 7 goals, no-one looked outstanding on the pitch, lots of chaos with panic vibes. Earps was shown on-screen after some of the goals went in, watching from the bench, and one photo in particular has been all over some parts of WoSo social media. A lot of presumption is being made about the look on Earps' face, but honestly, it looks like a woman who knows damn well that camera is going to pan to her, trying to keep her face as neutral as possible while her team has just gone 3-0 down.

Now we're waiting to see what happens in the friendly on Tuesday.

Misinformation, Disinformation, and Harassment

If you go under numerous posts on social media now about Earps, you will see multiple people who completely believe that Earps is riding the bench at PSG, or that she's been dropped from the squad, or that she's not getting any minutes. Even Wiegman commented during a press conference that there was this sentiment in English media that Earps isn't PSG's first string keeper, when she is.

As of writing this, Earps has played more minutes domestically (Premiere League + Champion's League) this season than Hampton so far. 450 minutes to 360 minutes.

So where has this narrative of her not playing come from?

WoSo journalists, big name accounts, and multiple accounts on social media, mostly. That news article that came out the first time Earps was on the bench, reporting on her fall from stardom — from "Sports Personality of the Year to PSG's bench" — was the start. Then when Earps was unwell ahead of the next game and Kiedrzynek played again, this also led to commentary online. Now not only was Earps benched, she'd been dropped entirely!

Some people tried to point out that there was no way Earps was off the squad completely and it was much more likely she was sick or injured, but it was somewhat overshadowed. It didn't matter that she came back as the first keeper for the next two games, the media had already moved on by that point.

So, now we have a bunch of people who seem to genuinely believe Earps isn't playing at the moment and who have never thought to double check that assumption before posting about it.

There's also been an assumption that Earps is the individual referenced in part of a recent expose kind of article in L'Équipe. The article is about various problems at PSG and in one part, there is a mention of an unnamed "international player who complained that her lack of game time was affecting her social media engagement". Now, I couldn't say that it definitely isn't Earps: I'm not at PSG. However, it would be strange for a person who has voluntarily taken a break from social media (a break which started weeks before the article came out) and who is regularly playing to be the person to complain about lack of minutes affecting social media. In a write-up in another article, a player (not Earps) was actually named as being unhappy about her limited minutes so far, though no reference of social media was made, so it's unclear if they're the same person.

What probably made it easy for people to presume the article (not that many of them read the article, it is in French and behind a paywall; they read a tweet thread about the article) was about Earps was that they already believed, thanks to the earlier articles, that Earps wasn't playing.

Hampton has also been the subject of media scrutiny and judgments, though not so much in recent years (sadly, I think that is likely to change and she'll be subject to unwanted media attention again, too). After a departure from England camp in 2022 and some strange tensions and goings on at Aston Villa, articles began to crop up about Hampton being sent home from the England camp for "attitude problems". No-one knew anything more than that, and the original article itself was fairly light on details with a strong hearsay vibe to it. Hampton some time later posted online about being in hospital.

Aston Villa was another matter entirely where, in addition to what was reported, the coach at the time, Carla Ward, made some comments in an interview that invited more scrutiny to Hampton. Ward and the author of the original Guardian article were criticised by some, especially given Hampton's age and the scrutiny she was being placed under as a young player. It all added to the general sense of "something is going on!" that interested the media. With little information to go on, though, the story soon found itself falling out of the news cycle and Hampton returned to the England squad some time later.

However, it has arguably left some people already primed to assume Hampton has attitude problems. I've seen some suggest this underpins some of the online discourse about Hampton in recent days.

We're a few days out from England vs Germany, in which Hampton had a fairly shaky performance. Now she is in the awful position of receiving abuse online from some people who rate Earps over her, from some women's football fans who take issue with her performance, and those same men who hate all women's football but it has popped up on their page due to the social media algorithm. (Misogynistic football fans, if you interact with posts about women's football, the algorithm will feed you more of it. That's why you keep seeing more of it.)

Weirdly, Earps has also caught flack from the misogynists who just assumed she was in goal and don't actually know Earps from Hampton... Goes to show just how knee-jerk the misogyny and hatred is, I guess.

And the rival fanbases have come out to clash once again. Fans of Hampton are pointing out that more of the blame lies on the outfield players than Hampton and are posting about Earps' worst performances to point out that she also had bad games. Some are claiming that Earps "never received this criticism or hate for her poor performances", when she did, including from some of the same people making the claims. Some of those who previously posted things to the effect of 'you can't always blame the defence, if Earps was a better keeper she'd save more of them' are now claiming the goals Hampton let in were unsaveable and entirely the outfield's fault. The outfield were absolutely to blame for a fair chunk of those goals, but Hampton didn't have a particularly good performance either. No-one in that defence came away unscathed.

At the same time, fans of Earps are equally ridiculously claiming that Earps would have saved both penalties or not conceded behind the mayhem on the field. They are all over social media insulting Hampton just as Hampton fans are insulting Earps, and calling for her to be dropped. There is no way Earps would not have conceded in that disaster of a game. A like-for-like comparison on the goals is a pointless endeavour because both keepers run their back-lines differently. Additionally, while Earps has made some huge penalty saves in the past, no keeper is expected to save penalties because the odds are stacked so much against them. The likelihood of her saving one let alone both is small. It's a silly and immature argument to make.

It is, in summary, very much a case of "any under-performance from the player I like is someone else's fault, any poor performance from the player I don't like is entirely their failing" repeated over and over. That and a mix of "my well rounded and justifiable criticism" vs "your unwarranted and uninformed hate" for every discussion. So, a big chunk of football rivalry in a nutshell.

As the argument rages about each keeper's strengths and weaknesses, current form and past performances; a whole bunch of fans are being incredibly vile and unpleasant, including sending abusive comments to the players. As I said above, Earps has been off social media for the most part (she's posted what seem to be some contractual posts like partnerships/sponsors, with nothing personal) for weeks, and now Hampton has had to turn off the comments on her most recent social media post. I think it would probably serve them both well to stay well away from social media for the foreseeable future; something I think we will see more and more women footballers having to do.

The push for more rivalry (which some fans were calling for) and the media squeezing all they can out of this goalkeeper situation may have brought a lot of online engagement and discourse, but I doubt it's done anyone much good. And I suspect neither Hampton nor Earps will have any peace going forward.

We're in a situation now where we have a young goalkeeper being held up as the WSL's best keeper and England's number one at just 23 years of age; she has a huge and unfair weight of expectation on her shoulders. Whenever she fails, she will be bombarded with awful comments and harassment. If Earps gets put back in goal and she fails, those same fans of Hampton will come back just as viciously to berate her. Both of them will likely be scrutinised, compared and contrasted when they return to their clubs. Any failures there won't go unnoticed.

Certain fans of each will only ever see the best of their favourite and the worst of the other. They will use that to fuel more engagement and rivalry online, which will lead to even more clashes between the fan bases. Some criticism will be level-headed and reasonable; others will just be hateful and abusive. There will be squabbling about what falls into what and dismissal of just how much of the latter there is.

You can only imagine this has to put some strain on the two keepers. Competition is healthy and necessary; this bullshit? Is anything but helpful. Each of them has strengths where the other struggles and they could push each other to improve in those areas, but with the constant push of vicious rivalry and their every moves scrutinised by the media for engagement, I have to wonder how much that gets in their heads. It's easy to say "well, they should just be professional and get on with it", but it's not easy to shrug that stuff off.

So, the poor quality reporting from the media over the years and how information spreads in the world of WoSo fans has now contributed to a situation with two players at the centre of scrutiny and abuse. Neither can win, both will end up losing out somewhere, and I can't imagine it's going to get any more pleasant from here on out. Maybe, and hopefully, I am wrong.

Some resources for references

I've included the references because I'm talking about the media and their role in all this. Given the above discussions, a critical approach should be used while reviewing them. Some of them are downright odd in their approach, some are poorly research and others are more balanced.

TikTok clip from Steph Houghton and Ian Wright discussing Khiara Keating

The Telegraph, Hannah Hampton v Mary Earps: Battle to be Lionesses No 1 shows Sarina Wiegman will drop anyone

The Times, Mary Earps: from Spoty winner to PSG bench (with no shirts in club shop)

Goal.com, Mary Earps vs Hannah Hampton: England need long-time No.1 to thrive at PSG amid competition from Chelsea star for Lionesses starting berth at Euro 2025

Football.London, Hannah Hampton gives Sarina Wiegman more questions than answers as England reach Euro 2025

Goal.com, Is Mary Earps in danger of losing the England No.1 shirt? Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman confirms PSG goalkeeper is facing 'huge competition' from Hannah Hampton after tough start to life in France

BBC, Sarina Wiegman 'will not comment' on Hannah Hampton's absence from England squad

The Guardian, Euros winner Hannah Hampton dropped by England over attitude

Since-71, Four Different Versions of Events: Hannah Hampton In Media Disarray

Telegraph, Mary Earps still in my plans despite PSG struggles, says Sarina Wiegman

BBC, More questions than answers for England in defeat

L'Équipe, Élimination en Ligue des champions, tensions en interne, joueuses frustrées... le climat est électrique au PSG féminin

[she-is-ovarit]

Detransitioner news

I have been thinking about detransitioners lately and wanted to compile articles I have been seeing. This will be a longer post and reblogged for part II as I hope to copy and paste brief portions of the articles under each headline.

Law firm for detransitioners opens in Dallas

In all of the controversy around gender transition, there is one group that is persistently marginalized by both the right and left. They are known as detransitioners — people who decide that they want to return to their birth gender, often after receiving years of interventional care, including surgery, to treat their gender dysphoria. Now, the nation’s first law firm focused solely on representing these patients — many of whom feel abused by a medical system that encouraged their treatment — has opened its doors in Dallas. It could forever change how hospitals and doctors approach what’s known as gender-affirming care.

Archive link

Fenway Community Health Center in Boston, the largest provider of transgender medicine in New England and one of the leading institutions of its kind in the United States, was named a defendant in a lawsuit filed last month. The plaintiff, a gay man who goes by the alias Shape Shifter, argues that by approving him for hormones and surgeries, Fenway Health subjected him to “gay conversion” practices, in violation of his civil rights. Carlan v. Fenway Community Health Center is the first lawsuit in the United States to argue that “gender-affirming care” can be a form of anti-gay discrimination. The case underscores an important clinical reality: gender dysphoria has multiple developmental pathways, and many who experience it will turn out to be gay. Even the Endocrine Society concedes that many of the youth who outgrow their dysphoria by adolescence later identify as gay or bisexual. Decades of research confirm as much. Gender clinicians in the U.K. used to have a “dark joke . . . that there would be no gay people left at the rate [the Gender Identity Development Service] was going,” former BBC journalist Hannah Barnes reported. Rather than help young gay people to accept their bodies and their sexuality, what if “gender-affirming” clinicians are putting them on a pathway to irreversible harm?

Due partly to Shape’s lifelong difficulty in accepting himself as gay, his lawyers are not taking the usual approach to detransition litigation. Rather than state a straightforward claim of medical malpractice or fraud, they allege that Fenway Health has violated Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which bans discrimination “on the basis of sex” in health care. In 2020, the Supreme Court ruled in Bostock v. Clayton County that “discrimination because of . . . sex” includes discrimination based on homosexuality. Citing this and other precedents, Shape’s lawyers argue that federal law affords distinct protections to gay men and lesbians—upon which clinics that operate with a transgender bias are trampling. Shape grew up in a Muslim country in Eastern Europe that he describes in an interview as “very traditional” and “homophobic.” His parents disapproved of his effeminate demeanor and interests as a child. They wouldn’t let him play with dolls, and his mother, he says, made him do stretches so that he would grow taller and appear more masculine. At 11, Shape had his first of several sexual encounters with older men. “I was definitely groomed,” he recounts. Shape proceeded to develop a pattern of risky sexual behavior, according to his legal complaint. He told his medical team at Fenway Health about his childhood sexual experiences, calling them “consensual.” The Fenway providers never challenged him on this interpretation, he alleges. They never suggested that he might have experienced sexual trauma or, say, explored how these events might have shaped his feelings of dissociation. (The irony is that Fenway Health describes its model of care as “trauma-informed.”)

Archive link

Ontario detransitioner who had breasts and womb removed sues doctors

An Ontario detransitioning woman who had her breasts and womb removed to change her gender to male is suing medical and health practitioners for failing to consider other treatments during her mental health crisis before ushering her on an irreversible journey she regrets. Michelle Zacchigna, 34, of Orillia, Ont., north of Toronto, names eight health professionals, including doctors, psychologists, a psychotherapist and a counsellor in a lawsuit filed in Ottawa. None of the defendants, who work or worked at various clinics and institutions in southern Ontario, responded to requests for comment on the lawsuit prior to deadline. Four of the defendants have filed notices of intent to defend against the suit in Ontario Superior Court, but no statements of defense have been filed. None of the claims have been tested in court. Zacchigna said she faces an uphill battle in her lawsuit. “I’ve been under the impression that all medical malpractice suits are challenging. Doctors win the majority of cases in Canada,” she told National Post. “It’s very much a David vs. Goliath undertaking.” In her statement of claim filed in court in November, Zacchigna says she had difficulty forming relationships with classmates in elementary school and was often bullied. By the time she was 11, she engaged in self-harming behaviour, including cutting her arm with a knife. This continued into early adulthood. When she was 20, she tried to kill herself and she was referred by her family doctor for psychotherapy, where she was treated for social anxiety and clinical depression. She remained unhappy and depressed, and her mental health decline led to her dropping out of university, according to her claim. About a year into therapy, she engaged with an online community around gender nonconformity. “Michelle came to believe that her biological sex of female did not match her true gender identity of male,” her claim says. “She further came to believe that this mismatch between her biological sex and gender identity was causing her feelings of depression, self-harming behaviour and unease in her body, a mental health condition commonly known as gender dysphoria,” her claim states. This was the first time Zacchigna felt she was born in the wrong body, and she had not previously identified as male, her claim says. “However, as a result of what she read on the internet, she became convinced that she was a transgender man, and that once she embraced this new identity, her depression would subside.” Zacchigna started attending a support group in Toronto for people considering gender transition. A counsellor there told her of opportunities to proceed through a medical transition, her claim says. Zacchigna was invited to apply for medical intervention in 2010. The counsellor wrote a recommendation letter outlining a medical history that didn’t fully match her real past, the claim says. The counsellor didn’t recommend any alternatives, or seek confirmation of Zacchigna’s own diagnosis of gender dysphoria. Her regular therapist also wrote a recommendation for transition treatment, saying Zacchigna was an “ideal candidate for hormone therapy,” even though the therapist had no previous transgender clients, according to the claim.

Part II incoming.

[sweetbuckybarnes]

Paper Rings

Pairings: Colin + Penelope Bridgerton

Summary: A snippet into how Colin and Penelope’s wedding might turn out.

Masterlist | Albums | Lover Album

The wine is cold, like the shoulder that I gave you in the street. Cat and mouse for a month or two or three, now I wake up in the night and watch you breathe.

Colin’s feelings for Penelope grew softly like a burning candle - the feelings were always there (it’s why he always looked for her at every ball and social situation), it just took him far too long to feel the warmth he had become accustomed to.

He had watched her from the other side of one of the many ballrooms they found themselves him, he had always searched for her. It wasn't until after their kiss - that his feelings for her hit him square in the face.

They had just watched Francesca marry Lord John Stirling, and his little sister Fran had just become the Countess of Kilmartin. He had always cried at weddings, his little sister's was no exception. Colin knew he would cry when Penelope walked down the aisle in three days, to share their life together.

He reached over and took his fiancée's hand in his to stop her from following the congregation out of the chapel. "Hello, you," he smiled down at her.

"Hello," Penelope says quietly, she had told him last night that she was the writer behind the Lady Whistledown sheets. He had a fairly sleepless night as he came to terms with the woman he loves more than life itself - is the same vindictive woman who announced Lady Crane's pregnancy, and nearly destroyed Eloise's reputation.

But, as he looked at what had happened the previous seasons - looking from Penelope's perspective. She saved him from a loveless marriage to a woman who would have tried to tell him her twins were his, she saved Daphne from a dreadful courtship and potential marriage to Lord Berbrooke, she saved Eloise from the goddamn Queen of England!

"You, my beautiful bride-to-be, are bloody brilliant!"

Penelope looks up at Colin in surprise. Those weren't the words she expected him to say. She blinks a few times, trying to understand if she heard him correctly.

"You have had the entire ton wrapped around your little finger for three years. They wait for any kind of gossip coming from you. You have hidden your identity from them all this time!"

He takes her by her hands and spins her around in the middle of the aisle. "I can not wait the next three days until the moment when we are standing at that altar," Colin points up at the altar. "And we exchange our vows."

I like shiny things, but I'd marry you with paper rings, uh-huh, that's right, darling, you're the one I want! And I hate accidents, except when we went from friends to this, uh-huh, that's right, darling, you're the one I want! In paper rings, in picture frames, in dirty dreams. Oh! You're the one I want!

Colin felt tears coming to his eyes, as he watched Penelope walk down the aisle, on the arm of her brother-in-law, Mr. Dankworth. He had always been one to get emotional at weddings, he did at Daphne's and both of Anthony's, he nearly sobbed when his baby sister Francesca tied the knot. But, now, it was his turn.

The sunlight shining through the windows bounced off her red curls, her veil gently laying against the back of her head, a beautiful bouquet gripped tightly in her hands with a single ray of sunshine shining from the engagement ring which had once belonged to Violet Bridgerton, the sole believer that two people could go from being just friends to more.

She met him in front of the altar, smiling up at him as Mr. Dankworth stood only slightly between Colin and Penelope, waiting for the cue from the officiant to pass Penelope over to Colin (a part of her transition from Featherington to Bridgerton).

"Who gives this woman away?" He asked.

"I do," Mr. Dankworth said, leaving a familiar kiss on Penelope's knuckles, shaking hands with Colin and making his way back down the steps to the Featherington side.

Kiss you once ‘cause I know you had a long night, kiss you twice ‘cause it’s gonna be alright, three times ’cause you waited your whole life.

For once in his life, Colin didn’t care about a wedding breakfast. He wanted to go to his new home with his new wife and do unspeakable things to her. Well, unspeakable to the rest of the ton…

Even though he said he didn’t care about the wedding breakfast - that does not mean he wasn’t going to eat. That would be completely out of character for him.

But he was going to make it well known how much he adores his wife.

Eventually, Portia got sick of looking at Colin fawning over her third daughter (her two other sons-in-law hadn’t acted like this when they got married, or since in front of her) and almost demanded they be sent on their ‘honeymoon’.

Colin took this as the green light to hide his wife away from the ton for nearly a month. That was his plan anyway.

His plan after their month hidden away, was to travel to some of the countries he had already visited - but now with his wife.

I want to drive away with you, I want your complications too. I want your dreary Mondays, wrap your arms around me, baby boy.

After greeting the staff of their new home, Colin carried Penelope up the stairs to their chambers (which they had already done and had some… intimate… moments before they were wed).

Colin shut the door behind them, making sure to turn the lock so they wouldn’t be disturbed.

He turns in his spot to look at his wife. His wife . "I love you," Colin tells her. "I love you with everything I am, everything I have been and everything I hope to be."

"Colin..." Penelope trails off, looking up at her future husband with her wide eyes.

"I love you with my past, and I love you for my future. I love you for the children we will have and for the years we will have together. I love you for every one of my smiles, and even more, for every one of your smiles."

He reaches out to cup her face, and gently wipes away the tear. “Nothing could ever make me not love you. Even Whistledown.”

[nicolesainz]

Sweet Nothing (MM19)

Mason Mount x reader

Summary : Y/N is Ben Chilwell’s younger sister and they are on vacation with some of the England boys and their girlfriends. In the meantime, Y/N, will be faced with a big heartbreak, which only one man can heal

Warnings: Angst, bit swearing, and a lot bit of fluff (Author’s note : I DONT HATE MAX VERSTAPPEN. Everything is for the sake of the story)

“Okay, who wants to go clubbing?” Declan asks everyone on the group. Lauren, himself, Jack, Kai, Sophia and Ben all raise their hands.

Y/N doesn’t raise her hand, as she’s been feeling quite sick the whole day. The group is being understanding towards her.

“Y/N, should stay here and rest. If something happens, me and Lauren will come back and take care of her” Sophia says while Lauren and the boys nod in agreement

“I’m so sorry to be the buzzkill guys. I promise it’s only for tonight” she apologizes to her friends and brother for not joining their plans.

“Please don’t, we’d all do the same if we were in your position” Grealish replies giving her a sympathetic smile.

“What bout you Mase? Gonna join?” Ben asks his teammate who hadn’t replied to the vote, being too engrossed on his phone. 

Mason still didn't reply and had a blunt look on his face. 

“Earth to Mason!” Declan snapped his fingers and Mason removed his eyes from the screen, looking around to all of his friends and Y/N, who was sitting all curled up in pain. 

“What? What are we voting for?” 

“Will you come with us at the club or stay here with Y/N?” Kai asks him and his eyes immediately fall on Y/N once again. Oh his heart was aching with what he had just read and seen. 

“Not feeling like going out. I will take care of your sister, Ben. If anything happens, I will alert you” the footballer replies to all of his friends, standing up and crossing his arms.

“Sure mate? You doing alright? Seemed too worried with what you may have seen on your phone” Jack asks worryingly 

“Oh yes sorry. No, it wasn't anything. I just blacked out for a moment” he replies with a faint smile

“Alright then. Everyone go get dressed. We will meet downstairs in 45 minutes” Declan says and everyone goes back to their room. 

Before Y/N could reach her door knob, she grabs Mason by the arm firmly. She knew that something was troubling him and wanted to help however she could. 

Ever since Ben joined Chelsea, Mason had been one of the teammates that she grew really close with. They were both in a relationship by the time they met, although when Mason broke up with his girlfriend, his feelings towards Ben’s sister changed drastically. 

Whenever she would show up at the games alone, he wouldn't miss a chance of talking to her or simply be around her presence. Although when her boyfriend was with her, he solely greeted the both of them and then left. He respected that she was in a relationship and didn't want to make a move. 

“Mase, are you okay? I know you said to Jack that everything was alright, but I know you. If something is up, you can tell me. I will help you no matter what”

If he could cry at the moment, he would have. She didn't deserve what had happened to her and Mason wanted to wrap her around him and hold her forever. 

“Thank you Y/N, but I am alright. Just tired and exhausted from all the jet lag. That's all. How are you feeling? Should I bring you something?” the kind footballer replied, inching closer to her

“My stomach aches, but nothing I can't handle. I will try not to disturb you, while we are here” 

“Nonsense, you can come at me, if you need anything. Just name it and I will give it to you” he meant the last phrase both figuratively and literally. He’d do anything to make her happy. 

She gave Mason a tight hug and a soft kiss on the cheek. Sometimes she even questioned herself, why she was in a relationship with a guy that barely paid attention to her, in comparison with a guy who always makes time to check on her. 

After everyone had left, Mason was sitting in his room, reading a book, when he heard Y/N, yelling and screaming. His worst fear, had come alive.

“You’re a fucking dick Max! I gave you space and didn't attend all the races like you asked me to! Did I do anything wrong? tell me!” her eyes were full of tears and that's the first thing Mason was faced with when he burst into her room. 

Mason, a few hours ago, had seen the pictures of Max and Kelly Piquet attending the Monaco Grand Prix together and kissing in the garage. He wanted to throw up, knowing that Y/N, was in a completely different country and being cheated on by her boyfriend of 4 years. 

“It was always Red Bull first and I wasn't even a simple thought to you! I understand that work comes first, but you barely called whenever you were away!”

He didn't even want to think how long this was going on behind Y/N’s back. He knew Max had a reputation but didn't cross his mind that he'd be a cheater as well. Max had the kindest, most generous and loving girlfriend, Mason thought, and he didn't even appreciate her. 

“Go fuck around with whoever you want! I don't care anymore. Hope you enjoy your new girlfriend” she hung up and threw her phone on the bed. She turned around to look at Mason, who was speechless with what he had just witnessed. 

“What that it?” Y/N asked him still crying 

Mason couldn't reply. The words wouldn't come out of his mouth 

“That was it. What you saw on your phone. And you didn't bother to tell me anything! Wow Mase, I thought I could trust you!”

Y/N is about to leave the room when Mason slams the door close and blocks the entrance.

“Get out of the way” she says quietly

“Let me explain Y/N, please”

“Get out of the fucking way Mount” her tears keep falling but now her voice is angrier than ever

He hates seeing her like this. It pains him that he kept this secret and let her find out for herself.

“Why didn’t you tell me? I saw the way you were looking at me”

“I didn’t know if the rumors were true on not! Most of the tabloids are fake”

“Even if they were fake, which apparently they aren’t, you should have told me!”

“I know, but I didn’t want to interfere in your relationship with Max!” Mason’s voice has gone an octave higher than usual which makes her yell even more

“The problem is I want you to interfere for fucks sake!” she screams at his face

“For what possible reason?” curiosity has kicked in his brain

“Because I’m in love with you!” She blurts out loudly and once she realizes what she’s said, she shuts her mouth close with her palm

Mason stays still, frozen, trying to digest what he’s just heard. He didn’t know whether these words were real or his imagination playing with him.

The girl he’s adored over the last few years, confessed that she was in love with him.

“You love me? How? Why?” That was definitely not the answer he wanted to give her

“It’s simple Mason! I love you because you always care about me and take time to talk to me. I feel like you know me better than my own brother. There’s no how in love. I just realized that you were the person I was looking to find in Max, but failed to”

Her eyes have taken a scarlet shade which surround the green hint. Everything she said was more than true. Her heart couldn’t bare to break up with Max, but at the same time, it beat for Mason.

“The reason why I never interfered in your relationship with Max is because I loved you! I still do. I hated the idea of ruining our friendship if I confessed my feelings, while you were with another man”

Mason Mount, a beloved footballer, her brother’s teammate, and the man who she truly loved, had told her the exact words she needed to hear today.

“Whatever he couldn’t give you, I will! Whether we remain friends or become something more. Love, satisfaction, thoughtfulness, pleasure, happiness. Name it and you will have it”

Mason didn’t let her reply by pulling her body closer to his and connecting their lips into a soft kiss, which let her speechless. His warmth crawled in her heart and her consciousness finally realized that it was Mason since the very first time.

“Please don’t break my heart, Mase. I truly love you”

“I never intended on doing so darling. All I ever wanted was to fill you with happiness”

[gettingfrilly]

Where is Peach Creek?

People have been theory crafting this for decades and the canon answer is somewhere in America and that's about it. BUT if you have my flavor of autism and require accuracy and details then here's my own personal headcanon.

Here's all the canon information we have:

According to the series bible, Peach Creek is an American suburb.

Peach Creek experiences all four seasons. We've seen a hot summer, fall foliage, and a snowy winter, so it can be assumed there's a spring time as well. This combined with the broad leaf forest between the cul de sac and the trailer park places Peach Creek in a temperate deciduous forest biome.

Peach Creek has a peach orchard that was there since settlers first arrived in the area. The peaches native to North America grew solely in the southwest.

Peach Creek was founded over 300 years ago by pilgrims. We don't have an exact canon time period for when Ed Edd n' Eddy takes place, but its safe to say it's somewhere towards the end of the 20th century, which would mean Peach Creek was founded some time in the 17th century (the 1600s.) This would place Peach Creek east of the Mississippi, as the west was being colonized by Spain at this point.

In BPS, we learn that Peach Creak is a day's walk away from what APPEARS to be the ocean (more on that later.)

Between Peach Creek and the possible Ocean exists rural farmland, a desert, and a swamp. There is also a snowy capped mountain range visible from Peach Creek Junior High.

This is all a lot of conflicting information! There's no place in America that checks all these boxes. I commonly see people place the Eds somewhere on the north or central Atlantic Coast, because of the possible ocean seen in BPS and the fact that Peach Creek was founded by pilgrims in the 1600s. This checks the most important boxes for me, too, and I would agree, however...

Pop. The kids call carbonated beverages pop. NO ONE on the north or central east coast calls it pop. We call it soda. This is a minor detail for sure and considering all the conflicting information about Peach Creek's location, one that can very much be ignored. But as someone who grew up in New England, I can't ignore it (refer to beginning of post, my flavor of autism.)

"But HOW could they be so close to what looks like the ocean, live in a town founded by pilgrims, and NOT live on the east coast?" I hear you ask. Well, here's my answer: The body of water in BPS isn't the ocean. It's one of the great lakes.

Picture id: Hamburg Beach, Hamburg New York, on the shore of lake Erie.

Sure, Mondo A-Go Go is very ocean themed (the whale trailer, the shark head, the wild prawn) but it could be just that; a theme.

Another reason I like this theory is that THIS GUY:

Picture id: Danny Antonucci, creator of Ed Edd n' Eddy

Also grew up in The Great Lakes region.

And to cinch the deal:

Picture id: Color coded map displaying which U.S.A. regions predominately say pop, soda, or coke.

They say pop!

The further east the Eds are, the more their location makes sense, so I place them in western New York, near lake Erie. It's a rural area with a large city sky line nearby (Buffalo, NY) and there are also Appalachian ski resorts, which would explain the mountain range. There's some swamp land as well, which ticks off all the landmarks seen in the show other than the desert and native peach orchard (though peaches can certainly be cultivated in this biome!)

Also, when looking into travel times in the area, I came across this:

Pictue id: Google map screen shot with a town called Cherry Creek in the center.

Picture id: Incredibles meme. Top text: Coincidence? Bottom text: I think not!

SO that's my theory. The Eds grew up in rural western New York, close enough to the shore of Lake Erie that they could get there in a day's walk. Thanks for coming to my TED talk, etc. etc.

[paracosmic-murdock]

Tell me what are my words worth ; Benedict Bridgerton x Reader

Chapter 6: "Embrasse-le et épouse-la"

Pairing: Benedict Bridgerton x fem!reader

Summary: While the other ladies have grown with the mindset of marrying and having children, you, as the daughter of a man who wanted a son, grew up being both. You learnt how to embroider, play the pianoforte, fence and manage the estate. However, there were some things that not even the Duke of Burgundy could do, so after he passed and you thought there was nothing left for you, you decided to move to London for a while and go to the Royal Academy of Art.

Nothing was going to keep you from what you wanted, and you would do whatever it takes: you would lie to everyone, you would live to death, you would pretend to be a man. You had a plan and it would be a piece of cake for you. But again, when has something that she wants and should not do easy for a woman? Especially when a man like Benedict Bridgerton gets in the way in more ways than one.

Warnings/tags: idiots in love, eventual smut, love triangles (but not really), lgbtq+ themes, bisexual benedict bridgerton, feminist themes, historical inaccuracy (for the sake of the plot), inspired by mulan (1998), song: the lakes (taylor swift), other tags to be added

Chapter summary: You received the first letter addressed to you from France since you left, showing what a necessity your return was; and the night at Lawrence House, just like mostly every other you should not be at, lead to another incident. Once again, one starred by Antoine and Benedict.

Word count: 2.1K

❁ Series masterlist

❁ mila's anthology (main masterlist)

Dearest Lady Y/N,

Here in Burgundy we all hope and pray you are perfectly fine.

Your escape has been a scandal known from Corsica to Brittany, and it has awakened many more rumors than one can believe. The most resounding states that you ran away with a lover, and even His Majesty the King came to the Palace to question everything.

There are many novelties, and I am afraid that your presence is required to solve them.

Firstly, the renovation of the Palace of Versailles is finally finished, and it is important that you go and make sure everything is in order and the way you want it. It will be available for you to stay by next Thursday.

Secondly, along with the latest shipment of jewelry, your Grandfather and Cousin David unexpectedly arrived earlier today. They are considering seeing you in London, but I insisted on waiting for your reply to this letter to know if you would return to meet them or receive them there. From what I have heard, they are here to take you to the Americas with them, for it seems like they are interested in the diamond business and want you to invest. Just as your Grandfather was approaching Claude, I notified him of your father's wishes to keep you in charge of the businesses and the estate until your heir takes his rightful place and he is more than pleased with the idea. He suggested David to take the spot of the Duke as it is needed so that way you can perform ducal duties without anyone's opinion interfering, understanding that there is no one who can fit the job better than you.

Thirdly, Claude consulted me with the idea of increasing the taxes. I told him we must have everything in order first, as I am sure you do not agree with his reasoning. While I am well aware that you do not wish for him to have access to the profits of the businesses, he is realizing that it does not make much sense for you to spend so much solely covering it by the scarce money received from the people. For that, he believes you are in great debt and that there is no other choice but to do so. It is best if you resolve this matter by yourself here in Burgundy.

I simply suggest, Lady Y/N, that you return to France before it is known in England that you escaped from your home. Or even worse, before your motives get exposed.

Best wishes,

Cartier

Dear Seigneur Cartier,

I am pleased to have received your letter and grateful to you for keeping me informed.

I understand the scandal my departure must have caused in France, and I assure you that once I return, I will make sure everything gets sorted out.

After speaking to the Carringtons, they would be honored to receive my Grandfather and David, but I would rather they wait for me to get back to Burgundy. Tell them I would adore to join them in America, though I will need someone to supervise Cousin Claude on his every movement in the house after I was absent for so long.

Do not let him increase the taxes, tell him it is best to wait for the end of the year. I will have gotten married by then and he is not going to be in our home any longer after that. If I am not successful in finding a husband here in London, I believe there are enough nations in Europe and a hundred times as many gentlemen left for me to meet and, therefore, find the one to marry.

If we must keep him occupied, put him in charge of selling l'Hôtel de Bourgogne for as much as he can get from it. The money will go to the investment in the diamond mines, though he mustn't know that.

Unless there is any novelty, I will be back in France in three weeks at most. I hope to meet you and my grandfather at the Palace of Versailles for my arrival.

Before saying goodbye, I wanted to ask you to please send to London a few bottles of our finest wine.

Looking forward to your answer,

Lady Y/N of Burgundy.

[Translated from French]

"Alright, I sent the letter." you told Antoinette.

"When will we finally be back in France?" she asked anxiously.

You clicked your tongue, walking before her on your way to the carriage. "In two weeks, after the Featherington Ball."

"Do we really have to wait until then?"

"Yes," you answered. "The Carrington Ball is tomorrow, in four days we are leaving for Aubrey Hall and five days after that is the Featherington Ball. It's not too much time."

"Will you return, my Lady?"

"I don't think I will."

She nodded. "To Lawrence House?"

"Yes."

You soon arrived at Grant's home, being received with your friends' cheers and their joy to see you attend another gathering after many refusals.

"Does your sister like jewelry? We will send her a gift for letting you come," Santiago said. "I am not joking, Antoine, we are all thankful."

You laughed. "I know you cannot live without me, but you mustn't give my sister any emeralds to show that."

"Ha! My mother just received some jewelry from France, I am certain there must be something worthy of your sister." Mr. Turner commented. You were almost sure it was jewelry from your family's mines, but did not say a word.

"I can guarantee you all that she has enough jewelry to give a very thoughtful present to every woman in England," you added, knowing it was a thing a brother would say about his sister. "Save them for the ladies you are courting."

Cortez stood up. "How much for the most expensive one? My dearest Lady Y/N of Burgundy will adore it."

"Are you courting her?" Lord Connor questioned, and he nodded. "Nice! How is it going with her? I have heard she is a rare jewel!"

"Unlike any other lady I have seen," Santiago said. "In a sense that she wasn't trying to impress me, but did it still. I will marry her, gentlemen, I bet my soul on it!"

"Women like confident men, keep it up with the good work!" you yelled, taking the glass of brandy Lawrence offered you. "There is a fine line between confidence and arrogance you must be careful not to cross. Women like her would throw you away like a used napkin if you do."

"If it isn't our expert in women speaking!"

"I am quite the expert," you replied. "But I have my very own lady waiting for me in France. You all wouldn't stand a chance against me if I didn't."

"You just crossed the line." Lawrence noted.

"Not in front of a lady, I did not."

They laughed, and you all kept drinking and talking. Some friends joined later, including Benedict.

You did not interact much with him, and there were nothing but sneaky glances and spaces between you.

But you were drunk and hopelessly in love with him, regardless of how little you knew each other. Still, you were conscious enough to leave the room before he considered approaching you.

What you did not count on, was that he would follow you to Grant's studio a while after you had left the room everyone was in.

When Benedict entered the studio, he saw you: only a few candles and the moonlight helped you see around, your hair was tied up in a bun, the sleeves of the linen shirt were rolled up to your elbows, the burgundy waistcoat that reminded you of home gave color to the setting in all hues around amber. The painting developing on the canvas in front of you resembled the landscape of the outsides of the villa. The moon seemed to be the theme of the piece, and your focus that ignored his presence only made Benedict smile.

"There is something valuable in the simplest landscapes one can paint," you mentioned as soon as you noticed his reflection on the window. "I have painted ancient ruins… Roman and Greek, the Pyramids in Egypt, the coldest night sky seen from the great dunes of the Sahara desert, flawless Northern Lights from Norway, the most ravishing lakes worthy of dead poets when the sun rises in the North of the Americas, the mountains and forests found in the mystical South; as many portraits as the cities I've been to, every sort of complex technique you could think of. Still, there is something magical about the colors of the heavens when the sun sets in the vineyards, the view of it from the Château du Clos de Vougeot is priceless… Paintings from dusk until dawn of the gardens of the Palace of the Dukes. It is the sense of familiarity of it all, I assume."

"I would not know until I paint anything outside of England."

You smiled, looking around the room as you spotted dozens of portraits of people. "No offense to our fellow artists at all, but I find it delightful to portrait the beauty of nature rather than the wrinkles in those empty faces. Unless, of course, there is someone you love being the subject of one's art."

"Well, not everyone has had the fortune of traveling the world, Antoine."

"But everyone can appreciate those twilight moments outside their homes, can they not?"

Benedict nodded with a smile. "Touché."

"Take a look at the moon," you invited him, and he approached you right away. "The greatest wonders in the world are right here in plain sight, and some are blind to them, even with seeing eyes."

"Where are your paintings?"

"Some at the Palace of the Dukes," you answered. "Others in Versailles, some others were sold."

"I wish I could see them someday."

"Whenever you're in France make sure to address a letter to my sister. She organized an exhibition with our art."

"She is not like the regulars, is she?" Benedict laughed. "I assume no one says no to her."

You smiled. "A mind like hers knows no limits and her spirit cannot be stopped. Whoever says no to her will regret it, I'm sure."

"Is she that dreadful?" Benedict joked.

"Not at all," You chuckled. "She loves like no other."

"I spent only a couple afternoons with her, and I could tell how enchanting she is."

Blood rushed into your cheeks at his words, so your attention returned to the painting. "Any man that marries her will be the most fortunate one."

Benedict could have said that despite what happened between him and Antoine, yours was always the face he saw when he closed his eyes. It was your face instead of the women's he went to bed with often: no matter that they shared your skin tone, the particular length of your hair or the skilled hands yours have proved to be through your melodies. It was your voice calling out his name and your touch burning him alive rather than theirs. Instead, he said that: "A woman whose company is as delightful as hers is, is worthy of keeping."

"I'm sure."

Then there was silence, but it wasn't uncomfortable. The slowly building tension was easy to outlive unless one of you decided to act upon it, and you knew that would not happen.

You do not often admit when you are not right in something. Right now, you couldn't even hide how wrong you were because when you least expected it, Benedict was so close to you.

This time you looked at each other in the eyes for a while, and this time it was you who kissed him. And Benedict didn't pull away, he wouldn't even if his life depended on it.

Neither of you opened your eyes when the kiss ended, neither of you said a word.

"I- I think I… I think I love her."

Your heart fluttered at his confession, and while his kisses belonged to another, his affections were yours. "That is fantastic."

Benedict chuckled and kissed you again. "I do not know what to do."

"You love her? Utterly and truthfully, you do?" you questioned him.

"I've just met her twice."

You bit your lip. "So have we."

"Yes, so have we."

"Benedict, you and I, we are men, we cannot do this."

He kissed you again. "I know."

You must return to France with at least a serious suitor, engaged if you could.

You couldn't risk that the incident with your cousin happens again, and if you had to return betrothed, it was best if the man you were to marry was Benedict. Whatever that was happening between you and him and Antoine- you… You did not know what it was, you could not make sense of any of it, but you could not return to France by yourself.

Whatever it takes.

"Marry her, then."

[scotianostra]

On July 12th 1698 a small fleet of five ships set out for the Isthmus of Darien in Panama carrying Scotland's hopes of founding a new empire on board.

Some have said: 'The Darien venture was the most ambitious colonial scheme attempted in the 17th century…The Scots were the first to realise the strategic importance of the area..." Whilst others claimed: "They were plain daft to try… It was disaster. They never had a chance." T'is for you to decide!

William Paterson, a Scot who's other major claim to fame was the foundation of the Bank of England, was born in Tinwald in Dumfriesshire in 1658. He made his first fortune through international trade, travelling extensively throughout the America's and West Indies. Upon his return to his native Scotland, Paterson sought to make his second fortune with a scheme of epic proportion.

His plan was to create a link between east and west, which could command the trade of the two great oceans of the world, the Pacific and Atlantic. In 1693, he helped to set up the Company of Scotland Trading to Africa and the Indies in Edinburgh to establish an transshipment port on the Isthmus of Darien (the narrow neck of land separating North and South America now known as Panama). It was claimed that the company would prosper through foreign trade and promoted Darien as a remote spot where Scots could settle.

The original directors of the Company of Scotland were Scottish and English in equal numbers, with the risk investment capital being shared half from the English and Dutch, and the other half from the Scots. However, under pressure from the East India Company, afraid of losing their trade monopoly, the English Parliament withdrew its support for the scheme at the last minute, forcing the English and Dutch to withdraw and leaving the Scots as sole investors.

There were no shortage of takers though, as thousands of many Scots invested money in the expedition, to the tune of approximately £500,000 - about half of the national capital available. Almost every Scot who had £5 to spare invested in the Darien scheme. Thousands more volunteered to travel on board the five ships that had been chartered to carry the pioneers to their new home where Scots could settle, including famine driven Highlanders and soldiers discharged following the Glencoe Massacre.

But, who had actually been out to see this Promised Land, this remote spot where Scots could settle? Well not Paterson apparently! The pioneers had wrongly believed, on the basis of sightings by sailors and pirates, that Darien offered them a colony where entrepreneurs could establish trading links with the world and bring prestige and prosperity to their country. And so it was with much fanfare and excitement that the ships sailed from Leith harbour on 12 July 1698 with 1,200 people on board.

It was however, a depleted and less excited group of pioneers that arrived on the mosquito-infested scrap of land known as Darien on 30th October 1698. Many were already sick and others were quarrelling as power struggles arose among the elected councillors.

They struggled ashore and renamed the land Caledonia, with its capital New Edinburgh. The first task was to dig graves for the dead pioneers, which included Paterson's wife. The situation grew worse because of a lack of food and attacks from hostile Spaniards.

The natives in the area took pity on the Scots, bringing them gifts of fruit and fish. Seven months after arriving, 400 Scots were dead. The rest were emaciated and yellow with fever. They decided to abandon the scheme.

Sadly, news did not travel quickly in the 17th century. Six more ships set sail from Leith in November 1699 loaded with a further 1,300 excited pioneers, all blissfully ignorant about the fate of the earlier settlers. Whoever said that bad news travels fast was obviously not a Scot as a third fleet of five ships left Leith shortly after.

Only one ship returned out of the total of sixteen that had originally sailed. Only a handful survived the return journey. Scotland had paid a terrible price with more than two thousand lives lost. Together with the loss of the £500,000 investment the Scottish economy was all but bankrupted.

I found out about a proposed film a few years ago that was going to tell the full story of the debacle, sadly it does not seen to be any further forward, and like the Darien Scheme itself, looks doomed, the last post on their web page reflected that he/ they were having trouble coming up with a name for the film!

[imnotoverlyobsessive]

Don’t Blame My English Blood For This American Heartache

Info, author’s note, etc

AO3 info prologue one two three four five six seven eight nine ten eleven twelve

All my work is 18.

Summary: Seraphine Malfoy had been raised in California by her Squib parents with no knowledge of her family's magical heritage, though she has received lessons from a local family. When she discovers she’s the sole heir to the Malfoy family, she leaves for England to step into that role. She can handle the balls and the responsibilities and her new family members. The only thing that throws her completely off is the appearance of Death Eater turned war hero Regulus Black, who, despite being ridiculously full of himself, is far too good looking, charming—and far too persistent—for her own good.

Author’s Note:

So you may or may not be aware of this already, but I’ve been working on this for awhile. It’s not done yet, I’m just posting it in honor of Sera’s birthday, which is today. I’m currently working on chapter nine, and I suspect I’ll need at least another three. I’ll be posting every other day, I figure. Also part of the fun of writing this for me was seeing how much stuff I could put in there that would piss off JKR. So the OC is Jewish (her parents converted prior to her birth), and if anybody @s me about how I wrote it incorrectly (I don’t think I did, though) please know that I’m writing her growing up Jewish based how I grew up. You don’t need any understanding of Judaism in order to read the fic, I don’t think. Her best friend is a trans woman, too, which is fun. The trans woman in question is based on my irl best friend, who worked closely with me on “her” character.

Other things to note:

I play it fast and loose with the lore; I change what I don’t like and treat canon as fic inspo. I have indeed read the books, I’ve done tons of research, and I have a family tree made for the fic, same as I always do. I also have every outfit I describe of Sera’s as well as 3D tours of most of the houses described.

Sera was raised entirely separate from Wizarding society, British or US. She has no knowledge of it. This means she’ll use different words for things and spells (relocate instead of apparate, blue animal instead of patronus, that kind of thing). If something seems a little bit odd to you, chances are I explain it later.

Sera does not use a wand. She is not necessarily more powerful than your average witch, it’s just that she learned without one. You may be aware that canonically, Native American witches and wizards (Sera learns from one such family) didn’t use wands, and supposedly their magic was less powerful. I think that’s stupid. If a wand is a lightning rod, that doesn’t mean the lightning isn’t powerful outside of it, it’s just not as concentrated. As a result, the way Sera learned was without a wand but with more force behind each spell. She also learned in Awaswas, the native language of the Uypi tribe (historically they were a tribe living in the Santa Cruz mountains of Northern California, but unfortunately they are extinct now. However, I figure there’s no reason that magical families wouldn’t have been just fine against the colonizers), but she uses nonverbal magic almost exclusively now.

I think that’s everything. If you have any questions, please lmk.

Tag list:

@ellamaianderson @shika1200 @blackqueenstarseed1 @gatoenlaciudad @esmaada @mariaelizabeth21-blog1 @softhecreator @timolaurence @timmymyluv @oddlyenoughiamweird @leecrunchybones @s-we-e-t-t-ea @almostg @leespparker @bubblebuttwade @glizzymcguirex @starberry-cake

To be added, please ask 💗

[saintmeghanmarkle]

Is Daylesford Organic the blueprint for American Rivera Orchard? by u/Aware-Impression8527

Is Daylesford Organic the blueprint for American Rivera Orchard? Daylesford Organic is a lifestyle brand in England. It started as a farm shop -- more of a vegetable boutique really -- but diversified into homeware, recipe books, garden tools, pet products, skincare, and wellness accessories. In short, all the things we know are covered under the ARO trademarks.The brand grew slowly and (forgive the pun) organically. It's the passion project of Lady Carole Bamford. The company is solvent now but it was running at a loss for YEARS. They could absorb the losses because the Bamfords have pots and pots of money.I say all this because Daylesford is a real place in Oxfordshire. And it happens to be five miles from the farmhouse in which Meghan and Harry lived before they moved to Canada. It is where the influencers lunch on their way home from the Soho Farmhouse. Meghan almost certainly frequented it.Daylesford's brand is and always had been cohesive and meaningful and even though some things are eye-wateringly expensive, there are enough reasonable priced things for aspirational middle-class people to buy into the lifestyle.Lady Carole is new money but it's lonnnnng money. She epitomises quiet luxury and would not be seen dead traipsing through her kitchen in a ball gown. She is discerning but not pretentious and, above all, kind. Even if Daylesford is the inspiration, Meghan is going to need a lot of capital to get it ARO and an impeccable team to get it off the ground. I very much doubt that the mind behind Haribo will be up to the job... post link: https://ift.tt/aVOMiIZ author: Aware-Impression8527 submitted: May 14, 2024 at 10:32AM via SaintMeghanMarkle on Reddit disclaimer: all views + opinions expressed by the author of this post, as well as any comments and reblogs, are solely the author's own; they do not necessarily reflect the views of the administrator of this Tumblr blog. For entertainment only.

[keroanya]

sometimes | pt 1

A new servant has made his way to DIO's manor, and Y/N is glad to see someone capable of showing emotions. Y/N's vampiric experiences leave her to question her own morals, and DIO's as well.

A DIO x Reader, featuring the growing relationship between her and Noriaki Kakyoin, with some of his own experiences regarding her on his own trip.

Word count - 1.2k

Warnings - reader uses she/her pronouns, sex is mentioned (but it's not in detail), normal vampire things (blood drinking along with mentioned cannibalism. sorry.), Reader is implied to be bisexual, guilt.

With that being said, minors DNI.

There was a new person in the mansion.

In the dim candle lights surrounding the dining room, a shadow of a figure sat towards the end of the table, head held in their hands. From the darkness, a black-clad individual emerged, resting a bony hand on the figure seated. Upon closer inspection, the figure had curly cherry-red hair, and from his shadowed form fell crystalline water droplets onto the mahogany table. 

The Lord’s control isn’t as powerful on him. 

In a delayed reaction, the male raised his head, wiping the glossy table with the sleeve of his gakuran, and hiding his face in his free hand. 

“I know you were crying, it’s okay,” the black-clad figure spoke, rubbing circles on the male’s shoulder with her thumb, careful to avoid any possible tears or scratches her nails may cause. 

“I just want to go home, I don’t want to be involved in this,” the male stated, slouching back in the uncomfortable wooden chair. The new position allowed him to take in the features of the figure behind him. The figure looked young, seeming to be only in her early twenties - even her late teens - but the aura surrounding her felt older, similar to the aura he felt around the man who took him into the mansion. Her (s/c) skin, although obscured in shadows, seemed sickly pale. All the color in her face seemingly gathering around her lips and under eyes. Her eyes were lacking in color, a dull (e/c). 

She was lifeless. 

The dress she was wearing predated much of the clothing he would see back in Japan. The closest thing he had seen being a dress he saw worn by a woman outside of a church five years back on a family trip to England. 

There was something different about her than the blonde male who had dragged him here, despite their auras being similar. Whilst the blonde man filled the boy with a sense of dread, the figure behind him filled him with a warm and tingly feeling. Starting at the soles of his feet, his abdomen, and the tips of his ears; slowly making their way together, and ultimately surrounding his being in a sense of peace. 

This was the first time in three weeks he has felt calm. 

“Would you like me to sit down?” the figure spoke, looking down at the man. He simply nodded, looking at the empty seat next to him. She quietly moved to pull out the intricately designed chair, sitting down, dusting off her dress, and finally crossing her legs. 

“Lord DIO told me some things about you, but not much. He told me there was a new person staying here.”  She whispered, not wanting anyone to overhear their conversations. 

“My name is Kakyoin Noriaki, I’ve heard about some of the other people here, but DIO never mentioned anything about you.” He muttered, looking away from the figure sat next to him. Upon the mention of Lord DIO’s name without the honorific he vehemently demanded people referred to him as, her eyes grew wide 

He felt a pressure on the back of his head, and quickly turned his head around; shocked at the facial expression she had. She quickly got up, seemingly instantly the man noticed her cold breath on his ear. The color had come back to her eyes, lighting up her face. 

“Be careful not referring to him as ‘Lord’, unless you want to find yourself lifeless in a pile of other corpses.” Despite what her statements implied, the man felt little to no fear at the figure herself, as if DIO himself was speaking through her. 

She’s simply looking out for him. 

She sat back in her chair, that gloomy look back in her eyes. Her legs were no longer crossed, and her bony hands rested on the arm rests. The grip she had on them turned her knuckles a deathly white. 

The man nodded. 

Her body twitched, and she abruptly stood up, proceeding to walk away from the table, “If you need to talk, just come here. Otherwise, try to stay in your room,” she spoke, loud enough for the man to hear her, but quiet enough to not arouse the attention of the other inhabitants of the manor. 

She exited the room, and the man noticed the flames of the candles seemed brighter than before. 

—- ☾

She was situated in a corner of the dimmed room, observing the sight across from her. 

Her lord, DIO, was having his way with two women and a man. At first, the sight of her past lover with another man disturbed her, especially after the past experiences she had with him, but over the course of the three and a half years he had been active again, she got used to the sight. 

He offered the bodies remnants to her almost always. She wanted to refuse, but it was in her best interest to drink the rest of the blood from them, and on occasion consume the rest of the body’s organs. 

“(Y/n), be a dear and clean this up,” The blonde whispered from his bed. She was knocked out of her thoughts before quickly ridding herself of her own dress. She sauntered over to the king-sized bed, absentmindedly picking up the barely-breathing corpse of one of the women on the bed before sticking her own teeth into her abdomen before drinking up the last of the blood in her system. 

Dio scoffed at the thought of the other vampire drinking from a prostitute using her mouth, and not her fingers like the male did. Upon hearing the sound, she removed her own teeth from the woman, and began to make her way out of the room DIO lived in and towards the smaller room across the hall. 

That room was demanded to be only accessed by him and the other vampires living under the roof of the mansion, with an older, human servant having ventured into there one eventful night and found himself lying next to the corpse he made eye contact with as soon as he creaked open that door. 

She had dropped off the body, the blood that managed to make its way onto her having cooled off. Despite her existence being that of a vampire now, and that vampires have little to no sense of what is cold or warm, she shivered at the unbearable cold in the room surrounding her. The candles that littered every nook and cranny of the manor never managed to find their way into the room farthest away from Lord DIO’s. 

She looked down at the woman at her own feet. The blood covering her face and abdomen was an atonement to what she had done minutes prior. Not once had she drank from someone who was conscious, let alone with her mouth. 

She would’ve died anyways. 

As she walked out the door, she looked back at the woman’s eyes; pulling herself back into her guilt. 

I would’ve had to have eaten anyways. 

But she was beautiful. Her long curly hair, her tan skin, her brown eyes. 

She must have been beautiful when she was full of life. 

Part of her resented what DIO did, and another part thanks him for letting her view this woman. 

Maybe in a different life, I could’ve taken her on a date.