#chris is who i wish i was when thomas is who i actually am. i am like if thomas thorne was joe starling.

[torikengel]

Thomas Hewitt x Reader (Part 1)

a/n: thank you so much for your support <3 you make me motivated to continue, parts 2/3 and 4 are already on my profile <3

You were traveling with a group of friends across Texas. You were all from a big city, so they decided to go on a road trip. There were five of you in total, two girls, two guys, and you. At first, you refused to go and wondered why they even bothered taking you because they were two couples and you were just the fifth wheel. Well, you weren’t very familiar with one of the couples, but you knew the other one. At least you knew the girl, cause she was the one to invite you to this trip. It was known that you were well off and they desperately needed more money for gas and food on this trip. You weren’t dumb and it was very clear soon enough that the sum of money you were required to bring was much higher than the one of your so-called friends. So why you decided to go? You thought some adventure in your life wouldn’t hurt and you were yearning for some fresh air outside of the city. And it wouldn’t be bad to make some friends along the way, you thought. But soon you realized that wasn’t going to happen. The boys were eyeing you up and down and the girls weren’t happy about you. You would like to think that you were fairly pretty with an attractive face and a nice body. And since Texas is hot you were simply wearing a tank top and shorts. You were sitting in the back seat, buckled up, and looking out of the window as your companions didn’t seem keen on talking with you. “Hey, Emma, can we stop for a while, I need to go… you know,” said Chloe who was sitting next to you in the back seat with her boyfriend Matt to the driver, Emma. “Sure,” Emma responded slightly annoyed. You stopped in a remote town in the middle of nowhere. It didn’t seem that many people were still living there. Emma drove to the nearest shop and parked. The place was swarming with bikers and as soon as Chloe stepped out of the vehicle they whistled at her. “Wait babe, I am coming too,” Matt said as he spotted their sly smirks and how they hungrily looked at his girlfriend. “Y/n? Are you coming too?” Emma scoffed, “I am definitely not stopping again just because of you.” And she vanished in the shop as her boyfriend Chris followed right after her.

Someone should stay in the car and guard our stuff, you thought for yourself. But you really needed to drink something, so in the end, you grabbed your purse and walked in the store as the bikers kept catcalling you on your way. On your way there you saw Chloe and Matt whispering to each other, well if it could be considered whispering, cause you heard them. “Look at that old hag! Bet she never stepped out of this hell hole. Jeez, this town smells bad.” Chloe laughed and Matt added “Yeah, disgusting, now imagine living here babe, I bet they are all diseased.” You turned to the elderly woman behind the counter, you intuitively knew she could hear everything. You grabbed a soda and went to the counter, “I am very sorry.” You said with your head down as you didn’t dare to look her in the eyes. “Don’t worry ‘bout that darlin’, my family is used to this.” When you finally dared to look at her, you could see that her eyes were traveling up and down, scanning your body. Oh well, your clothes weren’t the most appropriate for this traditional part of Texas. “My name is y/n…” you said giving her the money for your soda. “Please keep the change.” You added as you wanted to vanish into thin air from embarrassment. The change you were talking about was like triple the price of soda. “Oh no, m’dear, I can’t accept that.” She finally smiled at your generosity and politeness. “Please, I insist… Mrs.?” You stuttered. “Luda Mae,” she helped you out. “Mrs. Luda Mae”, you repeated, smiling back at her. “Come already, we don’t have the whole day to wait… or we will leave you here!” Chloe shouted from the car and Emma honked. You jumped up and rushed to them while waving at Luda Mae, cause who knows, they might actually leave you there.

Emma was driving and chatting with her friends, not paying attention to you, even though it was she who invited you on this trip. And not only she wasn’t paying attention to you, but to the road as well, because she didn’t notice the spike strips across the road. Everyone yelped and held their breath when the van slid across the road and fell to the pit on its side… on your side. In the brief moment of despair, you regretted not being buckled up for the first few minutes of the trip. Your cheek smashed on the window that broke into shards, cutting up your skin. The worst part was that both Chloe and Matt fell on top of you as well. You squirmed under their weight but to no avail. “Shit, shit, shit, shit,” Emma screamed as she lost control of the vehicle and saw her boyfriend falling head forward on a sharp shard of glass, piercing his flesh. After a few minutes of shock, Emma got out of the car, seemingly okay, and helped Chloe and Matt. After that, they all hurried to help Chris. Nobody cared about you. You could feel the blood gushing out of your wounds on your arm and cheek. In the end, you managed to scramble the last bits of your strength and got out of the car without any help… Emma was in utter shock as she felt that her boyfriend didn’t show any signs of life. You didn’t know how to react, because you didn’t feel any pity. They didn’t help you and wouldn’t mind letting you die there on that backseat. You just shook your head and turned away, confused at what’s about to happen. “What’s wrong with you y/n! You look completely unphase by all this, explain yourself!” Emma screamed at you suddenly, letting out all of her anger on you. Before she could insult you any further you heard police sirens. “Thank god,” she calmed down a bit. Chloe was just shaking in Matt’s arms. The hope you all felt as the police car made its way towards you was slowly exchanged with fear. An older man with a sheriff’s uniform stepped out of the car with a shotgun. “So what do we have here… a bunch of lowly cowards it seems.” He spat on the ground and aimed the gun at you. “Get into the car, now!” he pointed at the police car, “The big guy in the back with two girls and this sexy babe in the passenger seat.” He aimed the shotgun at your head. “Wait, mister Hoyt, there’s my boyfriend still in the van!” Emma walked up to him trembling, apparently not grasping that this man isn’t here to help you. “My, my, do you think I care about your fucking boyfriend, bitch?” he turned down her request and took her by the wrist, “Maybe I will just take you next to me since you are so dumb, you need a lesson.” He tightened his grip on her wrist. “W-wait m-mister.” She stuttered, fear enveloping her. “T-take her instead… I swear we won’t tell anyone; you can do anything you want with her, even kill her, we will make something up, please just don’t hurt us.” She pointed her dirty finger at you and looked at Chloe and Matt, still in a tight embrace. “R-right guys? We won’t tell…” she desperately looked for a sign of approval from them. “Y-yes! We definitely won’t tell! I mean look, she’s way prettier for you sir!” Chloe added, throwing her pride behind her, Matt followed with a quick nod. “My, my what a friend you have,” Hoyt nearly died from laughter. He threw her aside on the hot ground. She slowly exhaled as she thought this was his way of saying yes. “I don’t like these types of bitches.” Without any hesitation, he shot Emma in the leg. She squealed and held her leg close to her, “You old bastard! We had a deal!” He only laughed a bit more before turning to the rest of you. “Now get in the car if you want to live. NOW!” he shouted and aimed the gun at Chloe and Matt who protectively stood in front of Chloe. “We have another hero here it seems.” Another shot followed, straight into Matt’s shoulder. He dropped to his knees in pain. “Who else?” he looked at you. After thinking for a few seconds, you dropped your eyes to the ground and went to the passenger’s seat of Hoyt’s police car. You decided to be smart about it. You didn’t dare to look back at him, all you heard were screams until everything was quiet again. Hoyt dragged your so-called friends’ bodies to the backseat. They were all breathing, just unconscious, their heads bloody. He probably hit them to make them easier to transport. He dragged Chris’s dead body out of the van as well, putting him into the trunk. After that, he sat in the driver’s seat next to you. “Come on, look at me. I don’ bite.” He licked his lips as you turned to face him. “Good girlie.” He said as he pressed some cloth over your nose and lips. You struggled for air, but then finally gave up and passed out as well.

You open your eyes to an unbearable headache which made you wish to never wake up at all. Where am I… shot through your mind as you tried to recall what led to your current situation. Right, your so-called friends tried to use you as their ticket out of this, as a bribe, as if you were a piece of meat. Your eyes were swollen and weak, so it was awfully hard to keep them open. You tried your best to inspect your situation a bit more. You couldn’t move your limbs, that’s for sure. So, you looked around again, adjusting your eyes to the dark atmosphere. It must’ve been a basement of some kind as there were no windows. You could see other metal tables except for the one you were tied to. There were various shiny metal tools around you consisting of cleavers, knives, and other stuff. Then you glanced above you to the ceiling. What you saw made you gag in disgust. Meat hooks, and on them two bodies hanging… Matt and Chloe. Then it hit you… out of confusion and tiredness, you didn’t pay attention to it before, but the whole basement smelled like death, rotting flesh, vomit, blood… everything mixed. Matt was missing half of his body and under him was a pool of blood, he was already dead. Chloe was missing one leg and one arm, seemingly still breathing, but not for long you thought for yourself. Sure, you were scared, because the same thing was going to happen to you, but you felt slight happiness in the back of your mind, no pity to be found. They abandoned you, they emotionally abused you, they used you for money, they would let you be raped and killed in exchange for their pathetic lives. They didn’t care about you. And now, despite their best efforts, you were here, alive, with all of your limbs, breathing while they were all almost dead. You couldn’t help to wonder why you were the last one to be butchered. You smiled for yourself “That’s what you get… even though I am going to be next, I still outlived you for long enough to laugh last.” And also, you didn’t know them before this trip except for Emma who wasn’t there right now. After these thoughts dispersed in your mind, you realized you could hear voices from above you. When you woke up, you were a bit groggy and didn’t pay attention to all of your senses right away. You recognized the female voice; without a doubt, it was Emma squealing in pain and disgust. “Let me go, let me go you ugly old bastard!” she screamed so loud it was piercing your ears. Instead of pitying her, it was more annoying to you, because you wanted the last minutes of your life to be as peaceful as possible. “Shut up, stupid bitch, or I will make you!” a familiar voice shouted back. Hoyt. Yeah, it must’ve been that guy, Sheriff Hoyt. Even though you assumed he wasn’t the real sheriff. You figured out what was happening upstairs. From the moment you met this Hoyt guy, you knew he was a pervert and a violent one. Even though he spared you in a way when he didn’t shoot you, well, you complied so he had no reason to. Then you realized that you checked your surroundings to the best of your ability while you didn’t even look at the state you were in. Your wrists and ankles hurt real bad. The leather cuffs were rubbing tightly against your sensitive red skin. Your cheek hurt as well as your arm. You weren’t sure if the glass shards were still in your arm or if someone took them out. You tried to position yourself in a way you could see the cut. It was deep and your skin was all bruised. Your whole body felt squished and sore, because of how Matt and Chloe fell on you during the accident. You were so tired… the screams above you got quieter and quieter each second as you fell into sleep again.

Loud footsteps in the basement woke you up and when you managed to lift your eyelids a huge man was towering over your lying body. He was wearing a bloody apron, shirt, and tie… very neat you thought for yourself. He smelled bad and there was a human-like mask on his face. He had greasy black hair that reached to his shoulders and partially hid his face. What captured your attention were his piercing blue eyes. He was scanning you, but you did the same as you stared deep into his eyes. He expected you to try to jump up, squirm, or make disgusted faces. He was used to it. All his life people called him names and bullied him, from his childhood to his teen years, and while he worked in the factory as an adult. He was always a monster, animal, disgusting freak in their eyes. Women made gagging noises when they saw him and then laughed in his face. Men picked on him, tried to fight him to get him in trouble. He suffered through it all until he finally unleashed all the pain and anger. Since then he saw people as either family or food, there was nothing in-between. You could see it in his eyes, the awaiting of your scream. But it never came, even after you noticed the cleaver in his hand. You had a neutral expression on your face while watching him. The pain was undeniable in his eyes. He wanted you to scream as it made it easier, so much easier… if you just called him a freak, if you tried to spit in his face… too easy. Finally, your lips parted, air leaving your mouth as you exhaled. He hated it, everything you did, he hated it because you made it hard. You had a beautiful face, perfect skin, attractive body, silky h/c hair, and shiny e/c eyes. You looked like one of the girls that would make fun of him and kick him again when he was already down. All the memories kept flooding into his mind as he raised the cleaver and prepared to swing. Now he expected you to squirm, shout and plead for your life, to at least cry or call him something nasty. But you peacefully smiled at him. “This is my end isn’t it?” you accepted your fate from the moment you woke up for the first time in this basement. You closed your eyes and prepared for the pain that would inevitably come with the blow. The man was confused like never in his life. Your sweet smile towards him melted his resolve. Here he was standing, all bloody with a cleaver ready to end your life and your perfect form was just lying under him in a dignified position without regrets. His eyes were full of sorrow. Nobody smiled at him before, laughed yes, mocked him too, but he never got that smile, smile without any prejudice in your then open eyes. There was no pain, just a wet feeling on your hurt cheek. For the first time, you yelped at the sudden touch and shot your eyes open again. There he was, standing over you, wiping the dry blood off your face with a wet rug. He stepped back, startled by your reaction. You could see how hurt he was… you couldn’t believe yourself. In this situation, with a murderer in a room with you, your instinct was telling you to pity him more than the couple hanging from the meat hooks. ”Sorry, I didn’t mean to do that; I just didn’t expect it… thank you.” You murmured under your breath. His eyes widened, first that innocent smile, now the honest tone in your voice as you apologized for being held captive. “My name is y/n. But I guess you don’t need to know that as you know…” your eyes pointed to the cleaver that was on the other table now. He didn’t say anything, but he shook his head. You didn’t know if that meant you would be spared or that he was content with knowing your name, you figured it was the latter though. After he calmed down, he stepped up again to clean your face and arm. You hissed a bit, but he knew it wasn’t at him, but at the pain. You didn’t know why he did all that when you are certainly going to be killed, if not by this man then by that Hoyt.

“What’s your name, if you don’t mind?” you broke the awkward silence. He shrugged, not replying. “You can’t speak?” you figure it wouldn’t hurt to ask and you wanted to know if he couldn’t or simply didn’t want to talk. You got a slight nod from him. “I see… But I can try and guess if you help me.” You came up with a solution. “I will say the alphabet and when I will get to the first letter of your name, you should touch the palm of my hand.” He seemed unsure but nodded again in the end. “A, B, C…” you continued until you got to T. He softly put a finger on your palm. “T…” you repeated, “That could be Tim, Tony, Thomas.” You wanted to continue, but he grabbed your finger when you said Thomas. “Thomas… Tommy.” You smiled at him. You didn’t know what got into you, but you were enjoying this sweet, tender moment. He was very gentle with you and didn’t kill you yet. Maybe it was because of how different your behavior was from everyone else.

He didn’t believe it. What was he doing, what were you doing, what were you doing to him? You were supposed to be another meal, just food, a piece of meat. But he couldn’t treat you like that when you were the first person outside of his family who treated him like a human being, without disgust and hate. Even Charlie and Monty sometimes treat him like a dog. He could sense that you were sincere. Some girls tried to seduce him before to save their lives and then stab him in the back. Once he fell for it, only for the first time though, he learned his lesson. But you didn’t try, you accepted that you were going to die here, and he couldn’t bring himself to end your life on his own.

“Damn what’s taking you so long down there, boy?” Hoyt opened the door to the basement and threw something on the stairs. “Don’ tell me you were able to finally man up?” Thomas seemed to be a bit lost, but you knew what he meant by that. “Anyhow, I am finished with it, it’s all yours now.” Hoyt pointed on the floor. You weren’t sure what he threw in the basement until now. It was Emma and she was still alive. Her mouth taped shut and hands tied behind her back. Hoyt descended into the basement and got rid of the tape on her lips. “You liked it bitch, didn’t ya?” he squeezed her cheeks and put a finger into her open mouth. She bit him as soon as she got the chance. A loud slap followed and he walked back up cussing her out. Hoyt was so focused on his finger, that he didn’t seem to care about why you were still alive. “Oh y/n! Help me, help me, please!” she trembled and smiled at you in disbelief. She obviously thought you were dead. Then she looked around to see her dead friends and screamed. Thomas grabbed her with his huge hands ready to hang her on the meat hook next to her friends. “You ugly fat bastard, let me go, stop it, you animal!” she kicked him wherever she could with both of her legs as they were tied together. You couldn’t hold back your laughter. However, your laughter stabbed Thomas in the back. So, you were the same after all. He thought about it and then realized it was for the better. But then you spoke “She looks like a fish out of the water, doesn’t she?” you giggled a bit more and then finally stopped. Thomas smiled under his mask before he realized what were the consequences. You indirectly stood up to him and it was funny and clever as well. “What… why would you laugh y/n? We are both going to die you dumb slut!” as the last word left her lips a shriek of pain echoed as Thomas stabbed the hook into her back. With the last strength, she spat in his face. “F-filthy animal, m-murderer, you and your damn fucking family can all burn in hell…” she mumbled. “I bet he would be a better friend than you.” Before she could come up with a comeback of any kind, he slit her skull with a cleaver. He grabbed a chainsaw and started dismembering her. You actively watched, fascinated by the situation. You weren’t a sadist, not at all, but it just all seemed like a weird nightmare to you. Maybe you passed out during the car crash and you are still dreaming. However, the smell of blood brought you back into reality. After Thomas was done, he turned back to you, freshly bloodied. He expected to see a disgusted face, tears, fear. He did it on purpose… to make you scream, to make you hate him like everyone else. “To be honest… she deserved it. Imagine, she tried to give me to Hoyt to save herself. She wouldn’t mind killing me.” You shrugged as you were very stiff from holding your head on the side. 

No, no, no, no, no… it was all wrong. Thomas’ heart raced as he looked at you in disbelief, your e/c eyes piercing his soul. You saw him kill your friend, well at the very least your companion and then you also witnessed al the gory stuff that came with it, but you looked unphased, maybe a bit satisfied with his work... you didn’t scream, didn’t curse, didn’t hate him. He grabbed the cleaver and held it above you, then swung and…

[mean-scarlet-deceiver]

Report on the Christopher Awdry Books

i am very sorry because i have asks in the inbox that at this point i could literally answer with a copy-paste and a few minutes' of editing each.

but i'm not gonna do that. because right now my fingers are ready to type about this topic instead and they won't do anything else.

sending me asks is not for the faint of heart. as you probably all know by now—

When I last read any Chris Awdry books in full, it was ten years ago—I was borrowing them out-of-order from the library—and finding only about half—and also I wasn't obsessed with TTTE yet. Since then I've been skating by on my memory and on Wiki summaries.

So it's been very interesting, now I'm immersed in The 'Verse, to read them all in order.

If anyone else wants to do the same, drop me your email in a DM or via the inbox (I won't respond publicly if you choose door #2!) and if I know you I'll send you The Drive.

But here are the juicy bits from RWS: The '80s And Beyond:

🚂 Awdry Jr.'s plots are definitely not as exciting as his dad's? (For a lot of reasons—he had some constraints that his old man didn't have to deal with.) But his character banter is gold. Gotta love it.

🚂 Everyone is so in their original character but like not in a rigid way they're so naturally them with fussy!Thomas excitable!Edward crabby!Henry etc. etc. and so on down the line it's so effortless so refreshing I'm so happy.

🚂 He also really lovvvvvvvves dropping backstory on our old faves.

🚂 Like, apparently, back in his L.N.E.R. days, Toby once got turned away from a seaside festival for being Too Goddamn Fly.

Seriously. This is now a thing that has canonically happened.

They couldn't handle teh sexy.

🚂 There really isn't a "big three" dynamic anymore. Instead, it's just Gordon off being grumpy (and kinda lonely awwww) and then Henry and James: vitriolic backstabbing ride-or-die snarky competitive best frenemies.

If you're wondering how they are at this dynamic? The answer is:

~* ~ * ~ F A N T A S T I Q U E ~ * ~ * ~

🚂 But don't worry too much about Gordon. Maybe he's just quietly getting too mature for that shit.

Oh. It's you. So, what bullshit are you on today?

Besides, he and BoCo have remained bros. 💙💚 BoCo seems to be the only one who gives a crap when Gordon is stroppy and struggling, actually...

🚂 To the extent that occasionally the big three do go all auld-lang-syne and reunite, they wish to make a PSA:

out: giving Edward crap about being old

in: giving THOMAS crap about being old

It's ssssooo hilarious when it's Thomas though??!

🚂 Speaking of Thomas, one of Awdry Junior's constraints is the publishers' pressure to produce tons of Thomas content. He handled this with admirable creativity, finding multiple ways to satisfy this demand but without making every book seem the same. He would find plausible reasons to get Thomas off his branch line.

Even better: This would give him room to write about how everyone else did on the Ffaquhar line without Thomas.

(And honestly life seems a lot more peaceful then LOL—)

🚂 Daisy is living her best life and is also... developing an interest in animals? Sweet!

🚂 Peter Sam remains a ladies' engine lmfao.

🚂 Sir Handel returns from his visit to the Tallylyn and tells the rest a very boring story... (tbh one of the narrow-gauge books is, like... direly BAD)... but the redeeming feature is Duke, low-key smiling as he listens. It's so subtle but he's also so clearly thinking "omg wow it's like he's a productive functional member of society these days! i am so proud my life is complete <3."

🚂 You know who's not boring? The Arlesdale Railway. If you only acquire one Chris Awdry book, you should probably make it Jock the New Engine. The gang expands... but remains Utterly Cute and Charming.

🚂 Ohhhh and then there's this (which honestly makes for some boring reading):

FC3: Hmm, a special anniversary is coming up? Huh, guess I’ll just have to do my best to knock together an appropriate little ceremony in my spare time. Nothing too big. Keep your expectations low. I��m a busy man.

also FC3: May I present His Royal Highness Charles Prince of Wales.

I’m not joking. He pulls this bullshit twice.

🚂 Rusty is snarky! Rusty knows how to grumble! And Rusty is snarky!

🚂 Sadly, CA appears to forget that the Little Western exists, except as “the line one runs on in order to get to—drumroll please!—the Small Railway.” Duck and the Caledonians do appear a good deal despite this, but poor Oliver just I don’t think ever even gets a line in all these books?

🚂 Not that I think this was all Awdry's fault. Apparently he drafted an entire book but the publishers nixed it because it Wasn't Thomas? (*cue me swearing like a sailor*) But it was evidently supposed to be about a new engine and mostly set on Duck's line!!!!

Well. Screw us, that's what.

🚂 It used to be that, after an accident or mishap, you had to deal with your fellow engines razzing you—and that hasn’t gone away!

But a recurring trope in the CA books seems to be for the humans to have some “good-natured fun” after each of these things, too.

Most of the time it wasn't even the engine's fault. (I've mentioned before, the CA stories are a bit more tame. Rather fewer instances of Sodor Karma Bites You In the Bunker.) But this doesn't stop the humans from cutting up and pretending they're witty.

And, since the engines don’t appear to be able to just tell their humans “shut UP, ya doink!” they seem to mostly be stuck looking chagrinned, resigned, or tired at the humans’ incredibly lame jokes.

Seriously, humans are so annoying, tho.

[chronicowboy]

001 ghosts and 002 buddie !! 💖

001: ghosts

Favorite character: ahhhh um either captain or thomas

Least Favorite character: the fucking posh neighbor who calls his dog bitches

5 Favorite ships (canon or non-canon): idk its not really a shippy show for me ?? but ig mikealison, captainhavers, robinjulian, kittymary and idk cant think of another lol

Character I find most attractive: thomas probably but thats leftover crush from horrible histories when i was a kid

Character I would marry: oof alison ??

Character I would be best friends with: the captain without a doubt we're already besties <3

a random thought: the reason the show is so good is because the actors write it themselves so they all know they're characters so well

An unpopular opinion: idk if i have any unpopular opinions ?? but i kinda think it would be cool if the show ends with mike seeing the ghosts somehow

My Canon OTP: mike and alison

My Non-canon OTP: the captain and happiness

Most Badass Character: thomas in the flashback to the moment when he died but the overdramatic one with the guns and grenade

Most Epic Villain: oh thomas' cousin?? the one who stole his gf that was like fucking evil but impressive ngl

Pairing I am not a fan of: idk if there are any?? oh fanny and the body of humphrey

Character I feel the writers screwed up (in one way or another): um i cant think of one

Favourite Friendship: oof so many but the captain and kitty

Character I most identify with: probably thomas in a weird way

Character I wish I could be: alison maybe

002: buddie

When I started shipping them: i can give you an exact date on this which is 19/01/22 but mainly because that was when i watched s2e1 id probably shipped them by like proxy because of tas for ages

My thoughts: i mean i have so many but most of them just amount to incoherent rambling about how they're a family and they keep choosing each other and they're in LOVE and they deserve to be HAPPY

What makes me happy about them: the fact that they are the least platonic best friends in the history of best friends, like touching ur homie on the shoulder is no homo but touching ur homie on the shoulder as ur thumb presses into their collarbone whilst u tell them there's nobody else in the world they trust more with their kid than you is decidedly homo

What makes me sad about them: the fact that they can't see how much they're loved by the other and that their timing is always so wrong and they don't think they deserve to be happy

Things done in fanfic that annoys me: infantlizing chris or like erasing his disability, thats the main one but i have many specific icks that I'm not gonna get into

Things I look for in fanfic: oh so much, mutual pining YES PLEASE, load me up on the unrequited not actually unrequited love trope, give me a good old amnesia au and im yours, you want a kudos gimme gimme gimme idiots in love, domestic fluff is a yes please, but ill be here for some hurt/comfort

My wishlist: um give me a genie in a lamp and my three wishes are - eddie healing, eddie sexuality crisis, love confession

Who I’d be comfortable them ending up with, if not each other: nobody. literally no one. they're soulmates, they built their lives together until they became one, there's literally no other choices for them.

My happily ever after for them: the ideal is them happily married for the rest of their lives and becoming girl dads and chris being the best big brother <3

[chidoroki]

TPN ch181

(spoilers! AAAHHhhaha..my children!)

Okay, so remember in my last review when I said I was impressed how Ray, Gilda and Phil managed to narrow down where Emma might be in the matter of a couple months? Well, I take it back because it hasnt been just a few months, it's been two damn years! Oh my god, I can't imagine how hard it must've been for everyone, especially our two boys, to search for so long without even getting on single clue about Emma's whereabouts. Some of the children still doubt whether she's alive or actually in this world with them or not.

(image limit, so imagine the panels of the Goldy Pond kids discussing the lack of clues and Thoma and Lani doubting the reward again)

Thankfully, Gilda gets the idea to search in forbidden zones which is where we see her, Ray and Phil. Speaking of which, oh my poor boy. This is the longest Ray has been without Emma by his side. I thought the one month after Goldy Pond was hard enough on him, but two whole years? Damn, I can't imagine the stress and anxiety he's been experiencing. He's still so frustrated too and gets so close to Emma without even realizing it. Then, surprisingly, his beloved family steps in to help? The people he personally couldn't save now come together to help him save the one person who originally saved his life. Like, hello?? I love this! Conny, who was another sibling he had to use in order to put his initial escape plan in motion to save Emma and Norman's lives, is now assisting him in saving Emma from being alone. Yuugo, who knows firsthand how important Emma is to Ray and how close they are. Isabella, knowing her son kept his promise as he's always set out to do whatever it takes to protect his entire family. The fact that Ray's lost family members can feel how strong his bond with Emma is and they jump in to help reconnect the two of them again.. just, wow. It may be all the rayemma week feels getting to me but that's like a damn soulmate occurrence if i ever saw one!

The two unknowingly pass each other again but thanks to Emma conveniently losing her necklace and finding it with perfect timing, they all finally encounter each other. Everyone expresses their complete shock and relief that they had finally found Emma, and while I am happy they their search ended up a success, the mood changes fairly quickly due to our girls lost memories. She hasnt the slightest idea who "Emma" is, who these people are or why they're so excited to see her. The kids wonder if they have the right girl, as they take notice of Emma's bare neck.

One look at the necklace in her hand though and Ray finally puts the pieces together. Honestly, I'm not at all surprised he's the one to figure out the true reward, as Ray has been very perceptive since the beginning. He's also always been openly honest and blunt when things get serious, so naturally he's the one who has to let everyone know this because while it's a sad truth no one wants to hear, or even believe, they all need to realize it, including Emma. Even Ray has trouble coming to terms with the sacrifice Emma made. He understands how hard it must have been for Emma to accept the heavy price of her forgetting the family she loves so deeply and he looks so broken when he realizes that. He must be feeling so guilty that he couldn't have been there with her when she made the new promise. He still puts the blame on himself and he's so upset that his failure lead Emma to live in a world alone without the family she cares for more than anything.

I wasn't too satisfied last chapter when demon god told us the real reward and Emma's response was a simple "okay," so I'm grateful we learned more about the conversation now in this chapter. She really did want to live her family. She even knew some of them might get mad at her for keeping a secret. She says it's a selfish request, for her to place such a heavy burden on herself, but what mattered to her back then upon accepting the reward is what has always mattered to her, and that's her family's happiness and safety. It wasn't just her loved one either, but for all the demons and cattle children. This girl truly has a heart of gold and demon god himself is left surprised. Of course I wish she didn't think she was being selfish since everyone did agree to follow her as their leader but aahh.. my poor girl.

Spoiling the very end now, but we dont get one last fullscore trio hug. Of course that upsets me since I thought it would've made such a perfect ending, but it makes sense now given how everyone's reunion with Emma happened. While their happiness and relief is completely understandable after searching two years and finally finding Emma, they overreact and this visibly freaks her out. Come on guys, last time I said to gently remind her of her past, not bombard her right away. Having a ton of strangers surround you and tell you such outlandish things is quite jarring. I'm glad she takes the chance to listen to everyone, but she just doesnt know these people well enough to suddenly hug them. I imagined a hug would've happened upon her recalling some of her memories somehow and feeling relived that she met the two boys she often once dreamt about, but oh well.

Norman takes this time to step in and ease some of the tension, saying how happy he is that Emma's alive and even reiterating some of the things he said to her during his shipment scene. While this chapter soon shows how well the escapees have adapted to the human world and changed, it also puts an emphasis on the boy's true personalities that they showed since the very beginning. I've already mentioned above how Ray stayed true to himself, about him being open and honest to the others with the truth and even his own feelings. With Norman, I don't know the word for him really, but his speech about their family and his feelings remind me of ch1/ep1 where we see him trying to calm Emma down after seeing what they did at the gate. He stayed by her side and remained hopeful even though he was just as scared. Right now, I get the same vibes. He's just as upset as their family upon learning Emma lost her memories, but he still wants her to be apart of their family.

Although it seems like a very rushed way of tying up loose ends, I'm happy to hear about how well the children have been adapting in the human world. They're attending school and following their passions. They all look so happy! The entire Lambda crew is healthy and Cislo even has a prosthetic leg! The medicine made from Adam's dna was successful and also helped those children from the mass production farms. Mike Ratri and the clan are actually being helpful and trustworthy. I absolutely love Norman's comment about Ayshe not killing him! It really makes me smile and I assume that means she's forgiven him.. maybe. Her dogs were indeed able to cross over to the human world too and now there's even more! Chris is finally awake! They seriously have to fill the poor boy in on so much news though.

I get it. It took the entire story for me to understand but now I get Norman's intense feelings. He's been infatuated by this girl since childhood. He told us/Ray his feelings at age 11 then "gave his life" to give her a better chance at survival. He kept living just for the slight possibly to see her again. After almost two years, they reunite, only for about a week or two before they all cross over into the human world and Emma is no where to be seen. Another two years pass and while they all find her, she's almost a completely difference person. Yet Norman's feelings remain so sincere for her that he accepts this new Emma. He lets her know that the bright future she wished for came true. (me? speaking of noremma? even im surprised)

Her head might not have the slightest idea who these people are, but her heart surely remembers! Emma's feelings for her family were so strong that they persisted throughout these entire two years, even after she stopped having those dreams about them. Deep down, and without even realizing it, she loves them so much that it makes her cry.

“Why am I... Even though I don't know them. Though I don't know anything. Though I can't remember. Why... Does it feel warm, but also so painful in my heart? I wanted to see you.”

Seeing everyone else get emotional and expressing their feelings to her right back and having all of them accept this new Emma.. yeah, that has me in tears! Demon god truly underestimated these kids and how deep their love for each other went. Emma's family was never going to give up looking for her because, thanks to her influence, they also didn't believe anything was impossible. “Screw destiny” indeed! (also we never did learn the old dude's name or Emma's new one hm? odd.)

Did Emma get her memories back? No. Did Ray pat her head again so I could die from nostalgia? No, because I'm still here. Did we get a fullscore hug like I originally hoped? No, sadly. The ending isn't picture perfect but honestly, this is still okay. Our precious girl is finally reunited with her family again. Most importantly, they're alive. The trio are teenagers about 15/16 years old now, which amazing since they once believed they wouldn't see a day past the age of 12. Yet here they are, living happy and free in the human world without fear and killing, which is exactly what Emma wished for.

I can't believe the manga is truly finished. It feels like it all went by so quick, but perhaps that's only because I haven't been in the fandom as long as others, like if you've been here since the manga started then I applaud you and can't imagine how sad this must be after four years. The anime is what caught my attention and my love for this series only grew when I jumped into the manga right after season one ended. I must have binged all available chapters at the time in like three days, all the way up to ch129. Since then I've waited patiently week after week to see how this suspenseful story would pan out for out lovable and very large cast of characters. Each new twist and cliffhanger made my brain crazy and stressed me out but it was so great to experience them with everyone.

Also, big thanks to all of you who share your comments on these reviews of mine! Even though I started writing them pretty late into the story and at the most stressful time, it was great to hear so much feedback and experience the exciting finish with everyone. The manga may have ended, but don't let that make the fandom quiet! We still have future manga volume releases to look forward to, the live-action movie that is still set for this December along with a live-action series that was also recently announced. Most importantly, season two of the anime is still scheduled for January 2021! You can bet I'll do reactions for each episode as I normally do with other anime! The series still has so much more content to give us, especially if the anime continues to recieve future seasons over the upcoming years, so of course I'll give my thoughts on all that I can.

I give all my thanks and appreciation to Shirai & Demizu for such a wonderful and suspenseful story, for all the memorable characters and the stunning artwork. The series has truly become my favorite. That's right, I said it! My favorite. TPN has taken over Black Lagoon as my favorite series. (Revy can still keep her spot as my favorite character but I'll be damned if Ray isn't a really really close second.)

[alj4890]

Six Sentence Sunday

I'm behind on so much due to life in general, LOL. But to show that I am working on things here is a sneak peek into the next parts of Delicate (which this should be the last chapter of this short series), And Then I Left You, and a few drabbles I have in my WIP folder.

tagging a few that might be interested  @jooous @krsnlove @nomadics-stuff   @twinkleallnight @motorcitymademadame @gkittylove99 @darley1101  @kingliam2019 @texaskitten30 @yourmajesty09 @mom2000aggie @ofpixelsandscribbles t @lodberg​   @my-heart-beats-for-ya​ @aworldoffandoms​ @flyawayboo​  @trappedinfanfiction​ @everythingmarvelsherlockspn​  @sophxwithers​ @esmckenzie​ 

Delicate

This might be the first ball in the history of Drake's years in Cordonia to actually cause a certain excitement. He usually put up with the pomp and traditions to simply be with those he cared about. For years it was to support Liam, then going meant he could hang out with Riley, Hana, and Maxwell.

And then there were his activities in secret for a year with Olivia.

He knew she would be arriving soon. Her absence from Cordonia had been one he felt more acutely than any other. His failure in telling her how he felt about her, his inability to have a civil conversation, even his voicemail had kept him fixated on this date.

He intended for this new year to involve a new relationship with Olivia. He simply needed to find a moment alone with her.

Which as he entered the drawing room Riley and Liam used frequently for their closest friends, he realized that was going to be more difficult than he originally thought. All their friends had come home for the ball.

"I can't believe they gave us that ridiculous moniker." Thomas shook his head.

"The press isn't always known for their intelligence." Liam said, fighting a smile.

"Thomanda." Amanda laughed just saying it. "It sounds like some weird foot fungus cream."

"The press have had five years to come up with anything better than that." Thomas wrapped his arm around his wife's shoulders. "They should have combined our last names. Brunt is more tolerable than Thomanda."

Maxwell rolled off the couch laughing. "We now have to come up with crazy couple names for all of us!"

"We were given Riam." Riley replied. "Personally I prefer Liley, but Riam stuck."

"Naxwell or Madia." Amanda said between giggles while pointing at Maxwell and Nadia. "That's your possible couple's name."

"Naxwell sounds like a snack cake or cookie." Riley added with a chuckle.

"We are sweet." Maxwell responded, cuddling Nadia close.

Hana sighed at seeing them all so happy together. "What would mine and Rashad's be?"

"Rashana?" Riley offered.

"Oh I like that so much better than what I thought." Amanda laughed. "I at first thought Hahad."

The group burst into laughter while more couple names were bandied about.

"So what do we dub Olivia and Ethan?" Liam asked.

"Ethalivia?" Hana offered.

"Olithan?" Maxwell added.

"Oooh! Olithan!" Riley exclaimed. "Sounds like a sea monster. Olivia will love it!"

**************

And Then I Left You

Thomas had worried that first day how they would handle the hotel situations he believed they were bound to encounter. He had gotten used to Olivia's secret passageways allowing him to see Amanda whenever he wanted.

He should have known that the intelligent lady he adored had already solved that problem.

Pulling onto a gravel road, she drove him toward a cottage that sat alone in a rolling meadow dotted here and there with trees. The two-story, thatched roof building sat amidst large Cordonian oak trees. Roses twined around a drain pipe while wisteria grew in wild abandon adding even more beauty to the rough stone walls.

"I know we could stay somewhere different with each place we visit," Amanda explained. "But then I thought we could stay our entire time somewhere in the middle of it all. It will mean more driving each day, but we will have nothing but privacy here."

Thomas stepped out and followed her inside. The cottage was just as charming on the inside as it was on the outside. Much of the furniture was designed strictly for comfort and a few for whimsy. The wooden floors creaked with each step as he explored the different rooms.

Upstairs, there were two bedrooms directly across from one another with a bathroom dividing them.

His lips curved at knowing he wouldn't have to find a way to sneak around and see her whenever they weren't out in public.

"What do you think?" She asked, a bit nervous from his silence.

"It's charming." He set his arms around her waist. "And perfect for our needs."

******************

This next sneak peek is a second part to the Liam angst I posted earlier 😬 So sorry how dark that went. Since many wanted to see how Liam is after losing Riley, Drake and Maxwell, here is some of how it is going for him. Let’s just say it isn’t easy and will take some special persuasion from those left behind to help him.

Liam ignored all of it. He went to his chambers and remained secluded from the world for days. He refused entry to anyone who knocked. He simply sat there staring at the few mementos he had of those he had lost.

He flipped through the photographs Maxwell had insisted on taking of the three of them through the years. He paused at the few his mother was in, wishing she was here now to tell him how to move on from something like this. She had encouraged his friendships with Maxwell and Drake, knowing he would need them to face life in the public eye.

And now he would never have them again.

Setting the old album aside, he reached for the key chain Riley had given him the night of the Coronation. Thinking of that night and their confessions of love only to be cruelly parted...his head dropped as he carefully set it back on the table. Next he picked up the pearl he had given her. The plans and hopes they had while meeting in secret. It had helped him through every moment he was kept from her side.

He then lifted the photograph Anna had taken of them for their engagement. Liam's fingers trembled as they brushed against the image of Riley. Her smile so warm. Her eyes so filled with joy.

Reaching for a decanter, he attempted to metaphorically drown his sorrows. In one night he had lost everything he had held dear. How was he to go on from this? There was no enemy to slay, no way to find those he loved and rescue them. Nothing. Nothing except funerals to attend. Nothing but giving them to the cold, unforgiving dirt.

All he had ahead of him was visits to graveyards. He knew his father didn't have much longer to live. It would be just one more loss in his already devastated heart.

Death was what his life had become. He had feared that when his mother was poisoned. Many a night he would wake up crying at the thought of being completely and utterly alone. This long forgotten fear rose up within him, showing that it hadn't been a mere nightmare. It had been a premonition.

Dropping his head in his hands, he sobbed into the void that had become his only companion.

****************

This next peek is a miniseries idea that will be called, Mixed Signals, that hit after that last Open Heart Chapter. It will focus on my MC Chris getting closer to Tobias (and gah, I am wishing now she could dump all the LI's and be with him. His humor and confidence have won me completely over). It will take place in both books 2 and 3 and focus on her frustration with Ethan and Bryce never committing or saying how they truly feel about her. Since, especially in the chapters before the Hawaii trip, they both would randomly act romantic towards her then friend zone her in the next scene, I'm letting this series show her choosing to step back and see what she wants and needs from a significant other. This begins after the attack and Chris has yet to return to work. She goes to Mass Kenmore to thank Tobias for coming to help find a cure for her and ends up opening up to him a bit.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Tobias asked softly, gently squeezing her close.

"Not really." Chris admitted. "Everyone keeps telling me to give myself time and all." She eased back. "I wish they would leave me alone."

He kept his hands on her waist while studying her. "Then tell them."

"Ha. You've met them." She snorted. "They don't take orders like that well."

"True." He replied. "You want me to do it?" His smirk brought a grin to her face. "Ethan already considers me a pain in his ass. What's one more mark against me?"

She laughed, while dabbing at her eyes and nose. "After what you did for me? No way am I letting you continue to be the bad guy."

"Aww shucks, Valentine." Tobias teased. "You're going to give me a big head."

"As if it wasn't already big enough." She teased back. Tilting her head, she pretended to study him. "How do you lift it?"

"I work out." He winked then stood up. "I'm glad you came by."

"Me too." She held her hand out.

He shook his head. "You already hugged me. I figure that could be our thing."

"Our thing?"

Tobias pulled her back into his embrace.

"Yeah." He hugged her close. "Now that you won't let me be the big bad guy, I think this means you want us to be friends."

"Whoa. I'm merely a girl coming to thank a guy for saving her life." She teased. "Don't be thinking this means more than that."

"Sorry. Thought is already there." He countered, letting her go. "You're stuck with me now Chris whether you like it or not."

"Ugh, fine." She playfully grumbled. "I already deal with so many ego maniacs. What's one more?"

He opened his office door for her. "I knew you would agree."

"Just because you won this round doesn't mean you'll win them all, Dr. Carrick." Chris warned.

"Allow me to let you in on a little secret, Dr. Valentine," he leaned down close to whisper. "I win all the rounds that are important to me." Swiping up the folder he had previously been studying, he saluted her. "See you soon."

***************

And finally another miniseries "What if" for Thomas Hunt and my OC. I've been inspired by rewriting And Then I Met You and decided to do the same with their story in Second Chances. Here's a peek of Amanda actually telling Thomas she is pregnant instead of storming out of his office. I've yet to come up with a title I like for it, LOL, so we'll just wait on that.

Amanda ignored the words Thomas was saying. She didn't want to hear that he had fallen for an actress. All she could focus on was her pain turning into fury. How could he have moved on so quickly?

She wanted to hit him. Never in her life had she ever wanted to hurt someone so much as she did Thomas.

She felt sick to her stomach thinking about him and Kara. The nausea reminded her that she couldn't give in to her desire. She had someone else to think of. Someone who deserved every sacrifice she knew she would have to make to keep Thomas in their child's life.

"...and that's why I am sending Kara flowers." Thomas stepped closer to her when he noticed how pale she was. "Amanda?"

Her eyes lifted to his. Taking a deep breath, she blurted out the reason she came to his office.

"I'm pregnant."

She watched as her words slowly registered. The shock of her announcement caused him to collapse in the chair she had been sitting in.

"Pregnant." He breathed. "Are you certain?"

"Yes." Amanda clasped her hands in front of her. "I wouldn't have come here if I had not had it confirmed by a doctor."

Thomas knew she wouldn't have darkened his door for anything. If there was one characteristic they shared, it was pride. Neither ever wanted to appear foolish.

He got up and took a step toward her, uncertain how he was supposed to react. "What do you intend to do?"

Tears sparked her eyes. "Well, I am going to keep the baby and I hoped..." She bit her lip while lowering her eyes. Seems he had no intention to get back together with her. "I hope you will want to be a part of our child's life."

Thomas reached for her hand. Just because he wasn't sure whether or not to try a romantic relationship with her again, it didn't mean that he didn't want to be there for her.

"I will." He promised.

Her head jerked up and she noticed that there was no condemnation towards her reflected in his expression. Though the surprise announcement had knocked him for a loop, he was at least trying to do the right thing.

Though she had hoped to hear that he wanted to try again, she was vastly relieved to hear his promise.

"Are you planning on staying in L.A. for a while?" He asked.

"I could stay a few days." She wiped her tears with her fingers. A nervous laugh escaped her. "I wasn't sure if you would want me to after I told you about the baby."

"I would like to discuss how we will work this out." He squeezed her hand before urging her to sit down. "I have some meetings that I don't think I'll be able to get out of, but how about dinner tonight at my home?"

"I don't want to interrupt your date." She struggled with the word. "I can--"

"I'm not dating anyone." Thomas explained. "That's why I told you the flowers were more of a professional courtesy than romantic in nature."

"So you and Kara Bennett?" Amanda felt a brief spark of hope. "You're not--"

"No. She's one of the actresses on an upcoming film I'm directing." He replied.

"I see." She mumbled.

"Does 7:30 sound good?" He asked.

"Yes, of course."

"Should I pick you up?" He remembered she was staying at a hotel.

"No, I'll call for a car." She got to her feet again and held her hand out. "I know you have work and a lot to think over." Her lips curved into a sad smile. "But thank you for meeting with me and hearing me out."

He came around his desk and pulled her into a hug. Realizing how hard it was for her to come here, touched something within his heart. She seemed so fragile that he felt the need to comfort her.

Hugging her was the safest way in his opinion.

She trembled in his arms before returning his hug. Struggling with her tears, she laughed.

"Forgive me. I haven't had control of my emotions these last few months. These pregnancy hormones have a mind of their own."

Thomas handed her some tissues. "No need to apologize."

She thanked him as she dabbed under her eyes. "If I'm not crying then I am losing my temper. Poor Maxwell. I practically jumped down his throat for drinking the last Sprite on the way here."

His eyebrows lifted. "Maxwell came with you?"

"Everyone came with me." She shook her head in exasperation. "They were worried that you--" she winced. "They came to support me."

"I see." He replied. Reaching out, he gently grasped her arm. "I hate to rush you, but--"

"Of course." She gathered her things. "I'll see you this evening."

He smiled at her. "I look forward to it."

[miguel-manbemel]

Aspects & Fanfics Ep. 51: I Just Want a Normal Date Without Sides

Well, it’s been a month of rest and it’s time to resume the main storyline of the blog. In the last episode, we had just left Thomas and Nico meeting and starting a relationship and now we start seeing him involved in Thomas’ daily life. I hope you enjoy this new episode and I leave you with the story. Until next time.

SYNOPSIS: Thomas is about to have his first date with Nico, both of them alone, but he doesn’t feel truly alone if his Sides are around him all the time, so he asks them to enter autopilot and not disturbing him until the date is over. But something’s gonna go wrong in the Mind Palace and Patton is going to put himself in danger...

WARNINGS: Some moments of implied innuendo, romantic dukeceit and logicality. A scene of intense danger where some Sides’ lives are in mortal danger.

EPISODE INDEX

[Thomas is in the living room in his classic spot]

THOMAS: What is up, everybody!? Jeez, it’s been a while since the last time I said this… but if I’m saying it right now it’s because this is the moment when I’m gonna need to gather my Sides for one important petition. So… guys, all of you, could you please come here now!?

[All the Sides rise up around Thomas]

LOGAN: How may we serve you, Thomas?

THOMAS: I’m glad that you ask me that question, Logan, because there is one thing I want to ask you, all of you. As some of you may know, Nico and I are having our first date together tonight, and…

ROMAN: Yes, I’m so excited to see it!

REMUS: [suggestive voice, wiggling his eyebrows] I’m so excited in so many ways too!

VIRGIL: Please, Remus, don’t mention that. You’re rising up my expectations and I think I’m going over the roof!

REMUS: That’s not the only thing I’m rising up, I think…

VIRGIL: Remus!

REMUS: What? It’s not like any of us is naive enough to know that is one of our goals with him, is it?

LOGAN: You’re technically correct, Remus, but don’t forget that these things take time and if you go too fast you could be ruining any chances for Thomas to get into amatory physical intercourse with Nico.

REMUS: Ugh, Teach, only you could make it sound boring with that technical babbling of yours. The word everybody uses has three letters, you know, so it’s not so complicated for you to use it too. It starts with an S, ends with an X and has an E in the middle. Others use a word with four letters starting with F, but if I use it, the series director is gonna bleep me, so f… [bleep] him, I won’t use it.

LOGAN: You just did…

REMUS: I know, I wanted to catch him off guard. Didn’t work, sadly. [looking at the camera with a threatening glance and a low pitch voice] But I’ll keep trying…

VIRGIL: Please, if you don’t stop being so meta, I’m gonna get a headache…

THOMAS: [yelling] Enough! I know it’s me who’s thinking all these thoughts but will you stop verbalizing them and start listening to me for once!? Gosh…

[intro sequence]

LOGAN: Okay, Thomas, calm down. I know these can get on your nerves, but that’s no reason to…

THOMAS: [frowning] When I said “you” I meant all of you, Logan.

LOGAN: Oh… okay, I apologize, Thomas. Please, continue.

THOMAS: [sighs] As I was saying, tonight it’s my first date with Nico, our first date for us both all alone, and I want it to be perfect, without any trouble arising, and… most importantly, without distractions of any kind. I want us both to be alone for real. Do you understand me?

ROMAN: [beat] You lost me…

THOMAS: Well, all of you guys are married, right?

IAN: [dejected voice] Thanks for noticing me…

CHRIS: [same voice] Indeed. We should found a club for singles, right uncle?

IAN: Not a bad idea…

THOMAS: Sorry. Almost all of you. When you guys want to have some alone time with your husband, what do you do?

REMUS: Well, I…

THOMAS: I mean when you’re getting ready before starting the date, Remus, not when you’re on the last act.

REMUS: Oh…

ROMAN: Well, I prepare my room with warm lights, scent of roses, home made cuisine…

THOMAS: But even before that. What’s the first thing you do, so that you make sure nobody disturbs you?

ROMAN: Well, we usually enter autopilot, of course.

THOMAS: Bingo. You guys enter autopilot and in that state I’m completely unable to bother you because you can’t hear me, even if I call you. Unfortunately I can’t do the same, but I can ask you for a favor to achieve the same result. Guys, when my date starts, I want you all to enter autopilot, all of you without exceptions. I don’t want any of you guys to hear or see whatever Nico and I are doing.

REMUS: [mischievous smile] Why? Are you planning on… getting “super romantic”? [wiggles his eyebrows]

THOMAS: [blushing] No! [to himself with a silly smile] Well… not on our first date at least, although I wouldn’t mind if… [clears his throat, then with a serious voice] Anyway, whatever we end up doing is our own business, Remus. Guys, I never ever made a complaint about you entering my life whenever you wanted… [the Sides frown at Thomas] Okay, there was that one time, but you know I was under Ira’s influence when he was still Wrath. When I’m fully myself, I enjoy your company and you know I couldn’t live without you. But some things… require privacy, you know? I want to feel like a normal person having a normal date with a normal but wonderful guy, and I don’t want the sensation of feeling observed to ruin my date. It would be like having eight chaperons and the thought alone drives me hysterical. So, please, guys. I ask you as a friend. Do me that favor. Enter autopilot while I am on my date and do not disturb me under any circumstances until it’s over. Will you do this for me, guys? Please?

ROMAN: [groans, disappointed] I wanted to assist you in your date, but if you don’t want my advice, fine, do as you want.

THOMAS: Even if you don’t know what you’re doing, you’ll still be offering your help unconsciously, Roman, and I thank you for that, and for respecting my wish. Please, don’t be mad at me, Princey.

ROMAN: I’m not mad, I’m just… disappointed that I can’t see you triumphing in your romantic life after wishing it and pushing you into it for so long. But if you think I could be a hindrance for that, I’ll step back. Anything for your happiness, Thomas.

THOMAS: Thank you so much, dear friend.

VIRGIL: You know I hate to enter autopilot. I prefer staying alert or ducking out completely. Knowing I may be doing something to you but not actually knowing what I’m doing causes me a lot of anxiety, Thomas.

THOMAS: No, Virge, I don’t want you to duck out completely, I still want my sense of alertness ready to kick in should anything go wrong.

VIRGIL: Okay, Thomas. I hate to do this, but I’ll do it for you. You owe me one, Sanders.

THOMAS: Thank you so much, Virgil. I really appreciate your effort and I’ll make it up to you, somehow, I promise.

LOGAN: No problem on my part, Thomas. The only feelings I’m interested in studying with interest are Patton’s and mine. You can have your feelings all for yourselves if you like.

THOMAS: Thank you so much, Logan.

PATTON: It’s not gonna be that simple for me, kiddo. I’m literally your feelings. No matter how much in autopilot I am, I’m gonna experience your feelings, even if I don’t know the cause of your feelings. Is that okay with you? Cause to go any further, I’d have to inhibit myself, and then it would be you who wouldn’t experience feelings at all, not to mention I’d be putting my life at risk.

THOMAS: No, Patton, don’t you dare inhibiting yourself! I was expecting something like that. It’s okay if you blind yourself to whatever is happening as much as you can. That’s everything I ask, I would never ask you to put yourself into danger, and I certainly don’t want to put your life at risk just to please me.

PATTON: Okay, kiddo, I’ll do as much as I can, then.

THOMAS: Thank you, Patton.

REMUS: Well, you’re not my boss, Thomas, and I have no intention to…

JANUS: Don’t worry, Thomas, I got this. [seductive voice] Remus, honey, have you forgotten you had promised to dedicate a day to me and only to me, my love? I’m starting to believe you don’t care about me anymore, and I wanted to spend the day… and night… with you… so… badly…

REMUS: [to Thomas] You know what? Keep your silly date for yourself, I’ve got better things to do. Come with me, my love…

[Remus sinks down. Janus does too, not before smirking at Thomas, who smirks back and rises his thumb, mouthing the word “thank you” in silence]

IAN: I guess I’ll have to autopilot myself from Janus too to give him some privacy… Of course you can count on me in giving you some space, Thomas.

THOMAS: Thank you, Ian.

CHRIS: Same for me. Uncle Ian, why don’t we go to Sandersia to visit Ira? It’s been a long time since the last time we did.

IAN: Sounds like a plan. [to the others] Would you like to come with us, guys?

ROMAN: Nah, I have work to do, things to write, and stuff. Thomas may be on a date, but his mind never stops creating in the background, you know? Send my best regards to my brother Roland, guys.

VIRGIL: I’m going with you, guys. I really need something to distract myself from the huge stress I’ll be having today.

THOMAS: If you think it’s going to be too much distress for you, Virgil, I…

VIRGIL: No, it’s okay, I can take it, otherwise the one feeling uncomfortable would be you, and I already give you too much of that on a regular basis, so don’t worry. I’m sure I’ll find something to do with my friends to lift my spirits up.

THOMAS: I really appreciate what you’re doing for me, Virge. I promise I’ll make it up to you.

VIRGIL: You don’t have to, Thomas, but thank you.

CHRIS: [to Logan and Patton] What about you, guys?

PATTON: Well, as a matter of fact, we already had a busy day. Logan asked me to help him write some vocab cards so that he can understand better the subtle emotional charges of certain words and expressions, so that he doesn’t come out as rude or offensive by accident.

THOMAS: Oh, that’s very kind of you, guys.

LOGAN: Yes, I have set myself the goal of understanding feelings better so that I don’t hurt yours by mistake. I do care about you, guys, and your well-being, and I thought the next logical step was to learn that.

THOMAS: We know you care about us, Logan, and despite not fully understanding feelings yet, that doesn’t stop you from trying to adjust to them for us. That’s one of the many things that make you so cool, Logan.

LOGAN: I appreciate hearing that, Thomas. Well, we should be going. [sinks down] Bye, guys.

PATTON: [sinks down] Bye, kiddos. May your date be full of love and joy, Thomas.

ROMAN: I’m leaving now, guys, I’ve got work to do. [sinks down] You won’t believe what I’ve got in store for you, Thomas.

THOMAS: I can’t wait to see it.

CHRIS: Well, if no one else is joining us, we should be leaving. Thank goodness they finally fixed the royal carriages and now they’re as fast as they used to be. Ready, fam?

VIRGIL: Ready, son.

IAN: Me too.

VIRGIL: [sinks down] Off to Sandersia, then.

CHRIS: [sinks down] Bye, Thomas.

IAN: [also sinks down] Bye, Thomas, good luck on your date.

THOMAS: Thanks guys, have fun in Sandersia. [sighs] Well, this went better than I thought. I hope I didn’t hurt any feelings of them, and that they understand my motivations… For once, I don’t wanna be the Light Master or the Dark Master or any Master at all. I want to feel like a human again, like plain old Thomas Sanders. And what Thomas Sanders wants now is to get to know Nico Flores better, and I hope that we discover that we’re meant to each other. I… I really like that dude. Well, Thomas, you should stop talking to yourself, the Sides are gone and in autopilot and for the first time in a long time, you’re on your own. So you better get ready, Thomothy, today it’s your day… here I am, talking to myself again… I’ll better go take a shower so that I can calm my nervousness.

[Thomas goes upstairs heading to his bedroom bathroom. Time goes by and Thomas is already well groomed. He’s been cooking something which is now in the stove. There’s a ring at the door]

THOMAS: Oh, gosh! It must be him! [clears his throat] Calm yourself, Thomas. Everything’s gonna be all right. [takes a deep breath, then sighs] Let’s go.

[Thomas goes to the door and opens. Nico’s there smiling at him and holding a bottle of wine]

NICO: Hi, Thomas.

THOMAS: Hi, Nico. Did you have any trouble to get here?

NICO: No, not really. With a GPS, nobody can get lost these days, right Thomas?

THOMAS: Tell that to the pizza delivery guy, he always gets lost… What are you bringing there?

NICO: Oh, I bought a bottle of red wine. I thought it would be appropriate.

THOMAS: Gee, thanks, Nico. [checks the bottle] Oh, it’s a young wine… a… Rioja? But that’s an imported wine from Spain! That must have cost you a lot, you shouldn’t have!

NICO: It’s okay [tender smile] when you have a date with the best, you only wanna bring the best, right?

THOMAS: [smiles back] Jeez, if you say it like that, how could I argue back?

NICO: Then don’t argue anymore.

[Nico kisses Thomas]

THOMAS: [silly smile] Well, don’t stay there, come in. Should I put this in the fridge?

NICO: Have you got a wine cooler? It would be better to keep it there so that it stays cool but not too cold.

THOMAS: Yes, it’s right here in the kitchen. I’ll fill it with ice cubes and place the bottle inside. Dinner is almost ready, by the way.

NICO: It smells good… and I think the smell looks familiar to me… What are you cooking?

THOMAS: Well, I wanted to make a homage to you, so, after watching tons of tutorials and using my friends these past few days as guinea pigs while I was practicing, I’m making you… Pa… Parrish? Porridge? No, it’s not that… Perril? What is this word? [Nico chortles, Thomas smiles bashfully] Don’t laugh at me, I don’t know Spanish! Wait a second, I’ll check the recipe title… [checks his phone] Pernil!

NICO: Oh, I thought it smelled familiar! That’s a traditional Puerto Rican dish. It reminds me of Christmas with my abuela Carmen. I miss her so bad. She passed away a few months ago…

THOMAS: Oh, shoot, I hope I didn’t trigger any sad memories.

NICO: Sad? Maybe a few, but most of the memories you triggered are happy ones and that’s how I want to remember her. Thank you, Thomas, for taking the effort of honoring my ancestors and my family.

THOMAS: I only hope I can honor them properly and that I don’t mess up with the recipe. I’m not exactly the best cook, you know?

NICO: Judging by the smell, you’re doing great, don’t worry.

THOMAS: I hope so, it’s been five hours in the stove on a moderate temperature, as the recipe said. I hope it comes out right…

NICO: Thomas, relax. Everything’s gonna be fine. Besides, I’m not here to enjoy your food, but to enjoy my boyfriend’s company… What’s wrong? Are you crying?

THOMAS: [emotional] It’s okay, hearing you calling me boyfriend made me emotional. I… I still can’t believe that, after so long, someone decided they wanted to have me as his boyfriend. I had started to think that I would spend the rest of my life alone…

NICO: Well, I’m proud that you decided to have me as your boyfriend. And I’m glad that not other guys decided to give a chance to you… that way I had time to get you and make you all mine. They don’t know what they’re missing, but it’s too late for them.

THOMAS: Gosh… where have you been all this time and why didn’t I meet you sooner, Nico? My life these last few years would have been so much happier if you had been around.

NICO: I’m sorry you had a rough time, Thomas, but now that’s in the past. Let’s just focus on the present and the future, cause I’m not moving away from your side in a long time, if you let me, of course.

THOMAS: If I let you? You better won’t move away, Nico.

[the stove dings]

THOMAS: Oh, time’s up. The roast is ready, so you better sit down while I get the serving ready.

NICO: Thank you so much, sir.

[Nico sits down in the table, which is already ready, even with a red candle decorating in the middle and a bouquet of magas that Nico immediately notices]

NICO: Magas. The national flower of Puerto Rico! You really got set on giving a homage to my heritage, didn’t you?

THOMAS: [while serving the meal on the plates] Of course I did. And it wasn’t easy to find them around here. Most shops tried to sell me hibiscus instead.

NICO: Yeah, they’re pretty similar, but are actually from completely different species of flowers. And you got real magas. You gotta tell me where you found them.

THOMAS: Sure, while we’re having dinner. We’ll have a lot of time to talk about everything. [puts both plates on the table, then opens the bottle of wine and fills both cups and sits down in front of Nico] Well, everything is ready, so enjoy your meal.

NICO: Let’s have a toast first, shall we?

THOMAS: Sure.

NICO: To us. May we have the best evening ever, and may it be the first of many evenings together for the rest of our lifetimes. ¡Salud!

THOMAS: Cheers!

[they rise their cups and drink, then they proceed to eat their dinner. Meanwhile, in Logan’s room, Patton and Logan are writing vocab cards]

PATTON: And this is why you should say this and not that. Got the difference, Logan?

LOGAN: I… I think so, Patton. Wow, feelings are so complicated to manage. And so hard to understand logically. Sometimes it’s just a matter of trial and error. I don’t know if I’ll be able to learn about them as I should.

PATTON: Of course you are, Logan. You are capable of feeling just like anyone of us, and that just makes you able to understand feelings. Sooner or later, you’ll get the grip of it, you’ll see.

LOGAN: I hope you’re right… [suddenly scared] Patton? Patton what’s the matter?

PATTON: [grimacing as if in pain] I… I don’t know. I suddenly felt an oppression in my chest as if it was getting harder for me to breath.

LOGAN: Oh, no, Patton, what can I do for you?

PATTON: I don’t know… I don’t know what’s going on with me. It’s like I’m getting such a strong feeling that it’s overwhelming to me. I can’t literally cope with its strength… Wait, it’s starting to fade… yes… I’m feeling better now… [takes a deep breath] Gosh, that was intense.

LOGAN: But what was that?

PATTON: I can’t know for sure, cause I’m in autopilot, but I suspect Thomas is having a good time with Nico. Perhaps it’s been a sudden rush of true love what I just felt, so sudden and so strong that I got overloaded for a second. Wow… Thomas had never felt such strong feelings before, not even for his ex, who was his first love. Nico truly makes Thomas feel something, right?

LOGAN: Yes, you just said it Patton. But if this is going to put you in danger, I don’t know if…

PATTON: Don’t worry about me, Logan. I’ll get used to it. I better will, because a feeling like this of true love only grows stronger over time. Wait…

LOGAN: What? Another overload?

PATTON: No… someone’s talking to me.

LOGAN: What? I can’t hear anything.

PATTON: Not with words, directly into my feelings… I think it’s the Core. It’s calling me. It wants to tell me something. I must return to the Mind Palace Center.

LOGAN: If you must go, then fine. But this time, I’m going with you.

PATTON: You can’t. We need Thomas to send anyone other than me up there. And he specifically asked us not to bother him tonight.

LOGAN: But it’s too dangerous, I can’t just let you go all alone, just because the Core has suddenly felt the need to chat.

PATTON: Don’t speak about the Core so disrespectfully, please, Logan. It’s the source of everything that Thomas is, was and will be, including us both.

LOGAN: Sorry, I’m just nervous. I can’t just leave you.

PATTON: [sighs] If only there was a way to know when his date is gonna be over without breaking the autopilot… Logan?

LOGAN: Yes, Patton?

PATTON: Could you go to the bedroom and bring me my old cardigan, please?

LOGAN: Your old cardigan? For what, Patton?

PATTON: I need it for something I gotta do. Please, would you be kind and bring it to me. I feel a little weak from the earlier rush and my legs could fail me if I try to climb the stairs.

LOGAN: Okay, as you wish, Patton.

PATTON: Thank you, Logan.

[Logan starts walking to the stairs]

PATTON: Logan?

LOGAN: Yes, Patton?

PATTON: I love you. You know that, right?

LOGAN: Yes, I do, but why do you say that now?

PATTON: Just because. That’s something you must learn about feelings, Logan. It’s never a bad moment to say I love you. And I love you so much.

LOGAN: I… love you back, Patton. I’ll go get your cardigan.

[Logan walks upstairs]

PATTON: I’m sorry, Logan. But I gotta go see the Core, it could be important. I hope you can forgive me.

[Patton stands up, then looks at the ceiling and floats upwards, disappearing in the ceiling. Logan comes back down the stairs]

LOGAN: I can’t find the cardigan, Patton. Is it in your closet or… Patton? Patton, where are you?

[Logan gets scared and starts looking for Patton all around the place and can’t find him]

LOGAN: What have you done Patton? How could you do this to me? I need help… The others are too far away or too busy, so I can only count on him… Roman! Roman, please, I need your help!

[Roman rises up]

ROMAN: What’s wrong, Logan? You must be really distressed if you decided to call me. What is it?

LOGAN: Patton is gone, and I don’t know what to do. To be honest, I don’t know if you can be of much help, but still…

ROMAN: Hang on, Teach, what’s wrong? Where did Patton go?

LOGAN: To the Core. He said the Core called him. I asked him to wait until Thomas was free, so that we could go together, but he wouldn’t wait.

ROMAN: But the Core is dangerous! He shouldn’t have gone on his own!

LOGAN: That’s what I told him. How could he do this to me? He tricked me.

ROMAN: Well, this is a desperate situation, so I’m afraid we have no choice but to call Thomas.

LOGAN: But Patton left like this so that we wouldn’t disturb him.

ROMAN: I understand and that’s brave on his part, but also temerity. It’s too dangerous. Last time he did it, he had no choice because Thomas was unable to help, but now he’s here, there’s absolutely no justification for what he’s done. I’ll call Thomas.

LOGAN: But…

ROMAN: Thomas? It’s me, Roman. Don’t speak or do any gesture, just listen. Thomas, do you hear me? Blink if you do.

[Meanwhile, Thomas is having dessert with Nico, and they’re talking lively, laughing at one of Thomas’ dad jokes. Suddenly Thomas loses his smile, then blinks]

NICO: Thomas? What’s wrong? You suddenly went so serious.

THOMAS: It’s… it’s fine… I just got a little… stomachache. Would you excuse me if I go to the bathroom for a sec? I’m so sorry.

NICO: Of course, you’re in your home. I hope you’re okay.

THOMAS: Yes, I’m… I’m fine, perhaps something is not agreeing with me, but I’ll be fine, don’t worry. I’ll be back as soon as I can.

[Thomas goes to the bathroom and locks the door]

THOMAS: [angry] I just asked you for one thing, Roman, and not that complicated.

ROMAN: [voice in his head] I know, Thomas, and I’m terribly sorry. I would have never bothered you, but this is an emergency… probably a life or death emergency.

THOMAS: [scared] What? What do you mean life or death? What is going on?

ROMAN: Can you go to Logan’s room so that we explain?

THOMAS: I can’t, Roman. Nico is out there and you know that time in the Mind Palace runs faster than in the outer world. Ten minutes there are like one hour here. Nico would get scared if I don’t give signs of life for so long.

ROMAN: Okay, I’ll tell you, then. Patton has gone to the Mind Palace Core on his own.

THOMAS: What!? Why!?

ROMAN: That, I don’t know exactly, Logan didn’t have time to explain the details, but he’s gone on his own and you know how dangerous the Core is.

THOMAS: Gosh, of all the days he could do something like that, he had to choose today?

ROMAN: If you think you can’t come with us, that’s okay, Thomas. We just ask you that you help us travel to the Mind Palace Center so that we can join Patton. Only you can do that, and you can do it from the outer world.

THOMAS: Really? How?

ROMAN: Just picture us in your mind standing in the Mind Palace Center. You know the place, right? If you imagine us there, we’ll be there.

THOMAS: That’s it? That easy? All the effort and struggle to get there the first time could have been solved with me just imagining us there?

ROMAN: You are the Mind Palace itself, Thomas. From the outer world, you can take us wherever you want just with your imagination. And about the previous struggle, the first time we went there, the Dark Master had placed a barrier in the form of a labyrinth, a barrier that no longer exists, so traveling there is not that complicated anymore, as long as you intervene, that is. Ordinary Sides can’t travel there on their own except Patton as a former Master Side.

THOMAS: Okay, then, I’ll do that and hope it works…

NICO: [on the other side of the door] Thomas, are you okay? I hope you didn’t get too sick.

THOMAS: I’m fine, Nico, I’ll be out in a minute, don’t worry.

NICO: Okay…

THOMAS: [low voice] We gotta do this fast. You guys ready?

ROMAN: Ready when you are, and thank you, Thomas.

[Thomas closes his eyes. Meanwhile, Roman and Logan are in Logan’s room]

ROMAN: Okay, Logan, hold my hand. This is gonna be quite a ride.

LOGAN: Okay…

[suddenly the room around Roman and Logan starts getting blurry until it goes completely out of focus and turns into a series of colors without any shape or form]

LOGAN: Whoa, it feels like when I don’t wear my glasses…

[after some seconds, the place around them starts getting sharper until they realize they’re in the Mind Palace Center]

ROMAN: It worked! Thanks, Thomas, you can go back to Nico now.

LOGAN: Patton!

[Roman and Logan get startled by a yell behind them]

PATTON: Guys! Help me! I’m slipping!

[Patton is holding to the rope tied to the stake Patton placed the last time, too close to the Core, so much so that it’s sucking him into it, he’s grabbing the rope with his bare hands]

LOGAN: Patton, hold on! Don’t let go!

PATTON: Watch out! Don’t get too close or you’ll be sucked into the Core too! But help me! Pull from the rope, please! I don’t know how much I’ll be able to resist!

ROMAN: Okay, hold on, padre!

[Roman and Logan start pulling from the rope]

ROMAN: The Core’s attraction is pulling hard from the other side of the rope. It’s very difficult to pull back.

PATTON: Guys, please! Help me! I don’t wanna go!

LOGAN: Hold on, please, Patton!

[Roman and Logan start pulling from the rope at the same time with all their might. The rope slowly starts giving in, but soon they notice that the rope has started deteriorating and breaking apart]

ROMAN: [struggling] Nnnggh! If we don’t pull harder, we’re not gonna make it!

LOGAN: No, I won’t give Patton up!

PATTON: Logan… I’m so sorry… If only I had listened to you…

[the rope starts breaking]

LOGAN: No, no, no! I’m not gonna let this happen!

[Logan approaches Patton carefully while Roman keeps trying to pull, then he extends his hand towards Patton]

PATTON: Don’t do that, Logan, you’ll put yourself in danger!

LOGAN: I don’t care, I gotta save you!

PATTON: But you could die!

LOGAN: [yelling with tears in his eyes] I can’t live without you anyway! Try to hold my hand, Patton!

PATTON: I’ll try…

[Patton tries to hold Patton’s hand. Then the rope snaps and Patton starts flying towards the Core]

PATTON: [screeching] Oh, no-no-no! Logan!

LOGAN: [yelling] Patton!

[suddenly, in an act of instinct, Logan stretches his arm and holds Patton’s hand. This way, he stops Patton’s flight into the Core, but then both start getting pulled towards it. Logan stretches his other arm and holds the stake where the rope was tied]

LOGAN: Nngh! With the stretchy arms I lose almost all of my resistance, I can barely hold on!

PATTON: Logan, there’s no hope for me anymore! Let me go, or you’ll be sucked into the Core too!

LOGAN: Never! We both will be saved, or we both will end into the Core together!

ROMAN: Both of you, hold on! Now that Logan is standing mostly still, I can conjure a rope tied around his waist and that could be the solution, but try not to move, Logan!

LOGAN: The Core is pulling hard but I’ll do my best.

[Roman tries to conjure a rope, but in he critical moment, a sudden force pulls from Logan and makes him shake, so the rope appears untied]

ROMAN: Dang it!

LOGAN: Sorry, the Core pulled from me.

ROMAN: [making the rope disappear] It’s okay, I can try again, but try not to move, Logan.

[Roman tries again. This time, Logan manages to stand still and the rope appears securely tied around his waist]

ROMAN: Yes! That’s more like it!

LOGAN: Well done, Roman! Now pull.

[Roman tries to pull with all his strength, but the rope doesn’t move an inch]

ROMAN: [struggling] I don’t know if I can do this all alone, guys… it’s too hard… But I won’t let you go!

LOGAN: Roman, your hands are bleeding! It’s from the chafing of the rope!

ROMAN: I don’t care! I won’t let go, even if I lose my hands in the process!

[suddenly, Thomas and all the Sides appear in the place]

THOMAS: Hold on, guys!

ROMAN: Guys! Oh, for the love of Aphrodite, I’m so happy to see you!

LOGAN: Good timing, guys!

[they all start pulling from the rope at the same time. With the combined strength of all of them, it is a much easier task, and soon, Logan and Patton are out of danger. Logan’s arms return to normal as he hugs Patton tightly]

LOGAN: Patton, goodness gracious, I thought I was losing you…

PATTON: [whining] Logan, Logan!

ROMAN: Thank you, guys… But Thomas, what happened with your date?

THOMAS: I heard Logan’s yell about Patton before you closed the mental connection. I couldn’t just stay there enjoying myself on a date. Even if that date was important to me, there are chances for many more dates, and your safety, guys, is the most important thing to me. So I told Nico that I was feeling really sick and asked him if he would have any trouble in ending the date sooner, promising him that I’d repay him as soon as I felt better, and he accepted. He’s such a wonderful guy. I hope I didn’t upset him.

PATTON: I’m so sorry, Thomas. That is exactly what I was trying to avoid…

LOGAN: [angry and yelling] You nearly killed yourself over this stupidity you have just incurred into! What were you thinking? I told you to wait and you tricked me so you could go on your own! Do you have any idea of how you made me feel? I felt like a fool, but worst of all, I felt left behind! I’m your husband, I’m supposed to be by your side in good times and bad, but you left me behind! I…

[Logan starts crying]

PATTON: I’m so sorry, Logan. I was just so worried… and the Core just kept calling and calling… I couldn’t just ignore it… but you’re right, I shouldn’t have done this. I put myself into danger and I almost dragged you with me. I have no excuse and I’m sorry. I hope you can forgive me, Logan. All of you, guys.

LOGAN: [still crying] Don’t ever do that again… I thought I’d never see you again. I love you. You’re the only one I’ve ever loved and I don’t know if I’d ever be able to learn to love again if you disappear from my life. Please, don’t do that again, Patton. I don’t wanna lose you.

PATTON: [emotional, hugging Logan] I promise, Logan, I promise. And I love you too.

THOMAS: Was all of this worth it, though? Patton, you mentioned that the Core was calling you. I presume you went to talk to him like the last time. Did you get something from it?

PATTON: Yes, before the rope I tied around my waist suddenly got untied, probably because the Core’s influence slowly deteriorated it, as it was the same rope that I left here from the last time, I got to communicate with the Core again.

THOMAS: Well, and what did he say?

PATTON: Virgil, Roman, the Core has revealed to me a way to bring your son Dillon back with us and away from the Paladin’s control.

VIRGIL: What? Really?

ROMAN: Oh, gosh, Patton, if that’s true, I’d be forever grateful to you.

PATTON: However, Thomas, this comes with a risk for you.

THOMAS: A risk? What do you mean?

PATTON: A risk for you… and for Nico.

[Thomas looks at Patton, not knowing what to say]

[ending card]

THOMAS: I don’t understand, Patton. What does Nico have to do with all of this?

PATTON: The Core spoke to me, Thomas. He told me that something has changed inside of it the moment you first put your eyes on Nico. A force, stronger than anyone, has started filling it and it is a force strong enough to overcome the Paladin’s control over Dillon. But, in order to make use of that force… we need Nico to enter the Mind Palace and stand by your side when you face the Paladin. The two of you together are completely unstoppable.

THOMAS: But I didn’t want to reveal my secret to Nico. What if I scare him? What if he refuses to help me and at the same time breaks up with me? And what is more important, I don’t want to put him into any kind of danger.

PATTON: I don’t think Nico would really be endangered, as long as he stayed with you all the time, as I told you, you two are unstoppable. And about the rest, Nico loves you, Thomas. It only has taken you two a few weeks to build a love so strong that could banish the forces of darkness inside your mind world. I doubt he would break up with you, Thomas.

THOMAS: You doubt it, so you think there’s a chance he could do it. I… I don’t know if I’m ready for such a risk.

[Roman looks at Virgil and they both share a glance of agreement]

ROMAN: We understand, Thomas. We would never put your happiness on risk. We’ll find another way.

PATTON: Sorry if I’m pushy, but there’s one more thing the Core said. Dillon is running out of time. The possession that has happened to him is in some aspects similar to when a Sprite bites someone of us. Once the Paladin has spent enough time inside of his body, the real Dillon will be no more. It is a much slower process than with Sprites, because the Paladin doesn’t have a real physical form like them, but the process is still going on and if you don’t hurry, there will be no way to undo it.

VIRGIL: That’s something that breaks my heart, dad. But still, it’s Thomas’ choice. It kills me to think of such fate for my son but… I don’t want to make Thomas miserable.

THOMAS: No, guys, I have thought about it. If I am to start a relation with Nico in the hope of making it last for a lifetime… there can be no secrets between us. Nico needs to love me as I am, with all its consequences. Besides, if I have shared my secret with a lot of my best friends, it’s only natural that I share it too with the love of my life, isn’t it? I’ll talk to Nico.

ROMAN: Are you sure, Thomas? Don’t feel forced to do so just for us.

THOMAS: Yes, I’m sure. I have to tell him. For Dillon, but also for myself. I need to tell Nico my secret. And I really hope he still loves me when he knows the truth about me.

ROMAN: Okay, Thomas. Thank you so much.

THOMAS: Don’t mention.

PATTON: And Roman, there’s one more thing the Core told me. It was a message… for you.

ROMAN: For me?

PATTON: It wants you to know that what you wrote on the last page of your diary… is true. It was him. I don’t know what that means but the Core told me you would understand.

[Roman looks at Patton, at first without any reaction, then streams of tears fall down his cheeks as he shows a bittersweet smile]

ROMAN: Thank you, Patton… You have just made me… the happiest prince in the world. Happiest and terrified at the same time, but you have given me so much hope. Gosh, I love you so much, my dear friend… no, my dear father.

[Roman hugs Patton and Patton hugs him back]

PATTON: Happy to help, my dear son-in-law. Whatever I did, I’m happy to help.

[everyone looks at them with an expression of emotion]

VIRGIL: Am I the only one who is completely lost or is it just me?

[no one seems to hear Virgil as they’re busy cleaning their own tears]

VIRGIL: [shedding] Oh, never mind, he’ll explain later, I guess. Now it’s time for panic and or crying… or even better, just plain crying…

[they all stay like that, emotional, looking at them]

[winryofresembool]

Caleo fic: It’s all about the name

Chapters 3-4(/5)

Summary: Calypso is a barista at a coffee shop and one day she gets a customer who refuses to give her his real name. At first he seems really annoying but eventually Calypso finds out not all is what it looks like on the surface. (Coffee shop AU!)

a/n: More updates! Only one more to go after these two chapters that I'm posting today. I would have loved to make this au even longer but time is a b*tch and I'm really itching to continue working on twlitf already.

Hope you enjoy and please do leave me comments because even if I have almost finished this fic, I definitely want to know what you guys think!

Words: 3,6k+

Genre: fluff, humor

Warnings: none

previous chapters / AO3 

...

The next day, the ‘Bad Boy Supreme’ showed up at the coffee shop just like he had promised. He didn’t have to ask for Calypso because she spotted him from afar, being rather easy to recognize. They didn’t have a lot of customers wearing an army jacket over an orange shirt, tools hanging from the pockets, and the bottom half being the work coveralls. At least he had left his backpack home this time, Calypso sighed with relief. She couldn’t deny, though, that in a weird way that outfit suited him. As she saw him more closely, she noticed he seemed pretty cheerful, which was probably a good sign. Or then he was just preparing to annoy her some more and was already looking forward to that. Calypso supposed she’d find out soon enough.

Either way, she stepped closer to the counter so the ‘Bad Boy Supreme’ could see her better.

“So you did come,” she greeted him and he gave her that annoying grin of his that seemed to come so naturally.

“Why, of course,” he responded. “Couldn’t possibly have missed the opportunity to see the Sunshine again.”

“Are you flirting with me? Because I swear, if you are, it’s not going to work,” Calypso told him bluntly, still having her latest relationship too fresh in her mind.

“That’s crazy talk,” the guy responded, putting his hand over his chest. “How would I even dare to flirt with you? You’re way out of my league.”

“Out of your league? Uh, I don’t know about that,” Calypso mumbled, more to herself than to him. The broken relationships had left a mark on her self esteem and she didn’t consider herself as someone to be looked up to.

“Sorry, I didn’t hear you,” the guy said, looking confused.

“Um, nothing,” Calypso tried to brush it off. “It was not relevant. But enough with that; what are you going to order? Remember, it’s on the house. Do you want the double espresso you ordered yesterday or something else?”

“I’d rather have something else,” the guy said, his gaze going back and forth between Calypso and the menu. “Truth to be told, I’m not big on coffee. I’ve noticed it makes me even more hyper than I already am. ADHD and all that good stuff, you know. Yesterday was a special occasion because I had to work overtime.”

“Alright, what will that something else be then?” Calypso asked, feeling that a lot of things about this guy already made more sense.

“Anything with no caffeine would be good. What would you rec? You’re the expert on your menu, after all,” he noted.

“Do you like sweet things?” Calypso asked.

“Sweet is fine, yeah,” the guy agreed. 

“Then how about hot chocolate? We’re pretty generous with the whipped cream we add on it,” Calypso promised. “And we can even add marshmallows if you like those.”

“I think just the cream will be fine, don’t wanna be in a complete sugar coma when I need to go back to work,” the guy noted. “To go, by the way. I can’t stay long.”

“Fine, one hot chocolate without marshmallows coming then. Will you finally tell me your name?” Calypso asked.

“Super-sized McShizzle,” the guy replied without missing a beat.

“Just when I thought that you might be an OK guy after all…” Calypso said but the tone of her voice told she wasn’t being serious.

“What’s life without some mystery, Sunshine?” He smiled at her and Calypso wondered briefly what the hell this conversation was about really.

“Yeah, what indeed?” she responded. Then she realized that the silly conversation had been going on long enough for a small queue form behind the guy. “Well, Johnny.” His mouth twitched when she said the new made up name. “Your hot chocolate will be waiting for you at the other counter in a minute. And I hope you won’t scare me so much this time that I’ll drop the drink.”

“Will try to not do that.”

The Super-sized McShizzle or Bad Boy Supreme moved to the other counter, and as Calypso was shaking the canned whipped cream, she was still playing the conversation in her head. For an outsider it probably seemed like they were being rude to each other. But Calypso thought she had learned to read this stranger a bit better already and guessed he actually enjoyed their bickering - and she had to admit that some part of her enjoyed them as well. Drawing a small heart after the made up name Johnny, she finally approached him at the counter and managed to deliver the hot chocolate without messing anything up. ‘Johnny’ took it gratefully but he gave her a funny look when he read his name on the cup.

“Aw, you even drew a heart there!” He noted. “I am starting to think you have started warming up to me.”

“No way. You? Why would I do that?” Calypso raised her eyebrow questioningly, but it probably wasn’t very effective thanks to her red cheeks.

“Because all the ladies love…” he checked his name from the cup again. “Johnny?”

“You should learn to know when to stop,” Calypso warned, rolling her eyes, but her mouth betrayed her.

“Oh c’mon, your mouth just twitched. I saw it,” the guy said. Then he took a swig from his cup and hummed approvingly. “Yup. This is the stuff. Not bad, Sunshine, I would definitely drink this again.”

“I’m glad you like it, especially since it’s supposed to be my apology to you.”

“In that case, apology accepted.” ‘Johnny’ wiped his mouth and checked the clock on the wall. “Well, I won’t bother you more this time because Jo is expecting me to be back at the garage any minute now. I was surprised she allowed me to come here in the first place but she seemed to think it’s good for me to meet new people. Apparently I spend too much time at work. But oh well, if I want to buy a car I need to save a lot of money…”

“That’s why you’re working overtime?” Calypso asked curiously.

“Yeah… I’ve been moving from place to place almost my whole life so at least owning a car would make it easier… Unless I find some reason to stay somewhere.” He shrugged, looking more serious than he had the whole time he’d been there. “I don’t know. But yeah, I should get going now. Maybe I’ll see around some time, though.” His smile returned. “This place is definitely better than I first thought.”

“Yeah, maybe I will see you around,” Calypso said, feeling a bit flustered again. It seemed that there was a lot more to this stranger’s story than she had first imagined. The small glimpses of the reality behind his jokes gave her a picture of a restless, unsure young man who was still looking for his place in the world. That piqued her interest and made her wish she really would see him again.

…

The mystery guy started visiting the coffee shop regularly during his breaks. After a couple of weeks Calypso already knew that his boss was called Jo and she was married to a woman called Emmie who handled the flower shop side of the business and they had an adoptive daughter Georgina. Even though the mystery guy hadn’t stayed in town for more than a couple of months so far, he seemed to have formed a strong bond with these people and especially adored the little Georgie whom he treated almost like a sister. Calypso also knew that the guy’s best friends were called Jason and Piper but unfortunately they were currently studying in another town so he couldn’t see them that often. He also had a pet lizard called Festus who apparently liked to nibble pretty much everyone except his fingers. Despite knowing all of that, there was still something Calypso didn’t know about him.

“Let’s play the game: guess my name,” the ‘Bad Boy Supreme’ suggested one time when he was ordering a soda.  “What do you think?”

Calypso thought about it for a moment. “Alright. Mike? Chris? Alex? Peter? Luke?”

“No, no, no, no and no,” he answered without hesitating, his mouth curled up with amusement.

“Ed? Sebastian? Jake? Thomas? Leon?” Calypso kept throwing in random names that came to her mind.

“Still no to all,” the mystery guy shook his head. “Although those were not half bad guesses. I wouldn’t mind being called Ed. A character in one of my favorite animes is called that and he’s quite a badass.”

“You watch anime?” Calypso asked curiously. “I wouldn’t have guessed that about you.”

“Well, I’m full of surprises.” He smirked before turning more serious. “Um, truth to be told, Georgina keeps ranting about her favorite animes when she’s hanging out at the garage with me and one time I just decided to binge watch some of them to be able to keep up with her. Turns out some of them are actually quite solid. Like this Fullmetal Alchemist. Ahem, but that probably isn’t interesting to you so I’ll stop now.”

“No, don’t worry about it!” Calypso reassured him. “I like hearing about your interests. I am not that familiar with anime but maybe some time you can recommend something to me to watch when I have more free time.”

“Yeah, maybe.” The guy smiled before turning a bit hesitant. “Um, I know you’re probably busy and stuff but I have a free chair at my table if you happen to be in need of a break. Just sayin’, but it’s OK if you can’t.”

Calypso was surprised that he asked so bluntly. The truth was that a bit before his appearance she had already considered taking a break so the timing was good enough and she decided to accept his offer. It was a quiet moment at the coffee shop so her coworkers were fine with it as well.

“You know now that I watch anime but what about your interests?” the ‘Bad Boy Supreme’ asked once they had settled down at an empty table. “What do you do outside this coffee shop?”

“You really want to know?” Calypso questioned.

“Of course I do!” he said immediately. “I’ve revealed quite a bit about myself so it’s your turn now.”

Calypso felt a bit hesitant about talking about personal stuff, possibly afraid her mystery customer would judge her. “I, um… I have a mini garden on my balcony… I grow some edible plants there. I also enjoy reading because it's a good distraction from some unwanted thoughts.”

“I can relate to that,” the guy confessed but didn’t elaborate. Calypso wondered briefly what he may have wanted distraction from.

“Yeah…” she said instead of asking more because she doubted he would have liked that. “When I was a kid, I used to do a lot of music related things, like sing, play the piano and stuff like that but I stopped at some point because my father seemed to think it’s a waste of time. So, yeah. I was pretty upset about that. Who knows, maybe when I have more money I’ll be able to take more classes again… Lately I’ve been trying to express myself by painting, though, because watercolors are luckily cheap and I really needed something to do after…” She stopped when she realized she was about to reveal too much.

“After what?” the guy wanted to know.

“I don’t even know your name so I have no idea why I’m telling you this… but I guess it can’t hurt. I can trust you, right?”

“Of course!” her chat mate assured.

Calypso sighed before continuing. “I recently broke up with someone with whom I had been in quite a long relationship. Yeah, looking back to it, maybe it was for the best because clearly he wasn’t as invested as I was, but it still hurt to hear that he wanted to break up with me because there was someone else in his life. So, that’s why I’ve needed more distractions lately.” When she saw his serious expression, she rushed to add: “Don’t worry about me, though, I’m fine. I’ve already accepted that this is how it is. Trust me, it’s better that way. But it explains why I was so grumpy on that day we met.”

“Oh, OK. Sorry about that guy. I think he made a big ass mistake there but unfortunately some of us can be kinda blind… Hey, what are you staring at?” he asked when he noticed her watching him weirdly. In reality, Calypso had felt a small, unexpected tug at her heart because of his niceness but she tried to cover it by shaking her head.

“Nothing. Sorry. I was just thinking about something. But I should get back to work, the coffee isn’t going to serve itself.”

“I guess it isn’t. Well, talk to you later,” the guy said but from the corner of her eye Calypso could see that he was probably wondering what had just happened there.

Chapter 4

Time passed, but some things didn’t change:

“So… when will you finally reveal your name to me? We’ve known each other for several weeks now and you’re still being so mysterious,” Calypso noted one day when the ‘Bad Boy Supreme’ showed up at the coffee shop again. Like earlier, she had asked her coworkers if she could have her break so she could talk with him and they had accepted her request but given each other funny glances behind Calypso’s back, as if saying ‘we know what you are doing here’.

“I will do that when you finally call me Bad Boy Supreme instead of Johnny or Ben or David or whatever fake name you come up with each time.” He just smirked at her and Calypso 100% expected him to keep his word.

“No. That’s the one thing I cannot do, you weirdo,” she said stubbornly.

“Alright, then no can do,” he teased.

Calypso did continue asking him about other things, though, and got some answers.

“Why did you want to become a mechanic? Is it just because cars are cool or did you have some deeper reason for that?”

“Actually, my dream is to become a mechanical engineer so I get better tools to invent - and fix - all sorts of things, not just cars, but at the moment I don’t have enough money to go to college. So, I’m working to save up for that too, not just for the car. I know, sounds like a mission impossible. I will have to work about ten thousand years to save that much. I’ve just… always enjoyed building and fixing things, ever since I watched my mum do that when I was a kid… It’s in my blood.”

“Oh… then your mum must be proud that you want to follow her footsteps!” Calypso said gently, but the guy’s expression darkened.

“Yeah… maybe she would be… if she was still alive.”

“Oh no!” Calypso covered her mouth with her hands when she realized her mistake. “I’m so sorry, I shouldn’t have assumed…”

“It’s OK,” he sighed. “I’m starting to get used to it.”

There was a moment of silence before Calypso asked: “You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to, but… when did it happen?”

The guy looked at her darkly. “I was 8 then… So over 10 years ago. Not exactly breaking news anymore. Been going from home to home since then until I got old enough to live on my own; my dear dad didn’t care about me enough to keep me.”

“Wow… I’m sorry… You just give me such a happy and outgoing picture of yourself that I couldn’t imagine… ugh, just ignore me, please. I need to stop rambling now,” Calypso said with embarrassment, blushing slightly.

The guy surprised both Calypso and himself by what he did next: he reached for her hand to reassure her.

“Hey, relax. I only told that to you because you seem like someone I can trust. Not a lot of those people in my life. But yeah, there’s no need to be embarrassed; you couldn’t have known.”

“Oh… I guess I should be honored then. Since you were honest with me, I’m gonna be too: I didn’t exactly have the best of childhoods either. My parents fought a lot before breaking up and my dad… he could be scary when he wanted to. He had to get things done his way and if he didn’t like something… he’d let us know, loudly. I guess some of my temper issues may stem from there.”

“Still thinking about that time when you yelled at me?” the guy asked. “Don’t worry about it. I’m not afraid of you.”

“That’s good to hear,” Calypso laughed nervously, tugging a strand of her hair behind her ear. “Anyway, when my parents got divorced, my father insisted I live with him instead of mum and that did not end up going well. His idea of good parenting was buying me expensive things I didn’t care about, while I could tell that in reality he couldn’t care less if I was there or not. He just wanted to humiliate my mother. I ended up moving out as early as possible, but that’s a whole other story…”

“And that’s why you’re working here now?” The Bad Boy Supreme wanted to know. “Because you desperately needed money? I mean, no offense, but I get a vibe from you that you don’t actually enjoy working here.”

Calypso glanced at her surroundings, making sure none of her coworkers and especially not the manager could hear her answer. Then she sighed. “Yeah. You’re not wrong. I did have some dreams when I was younger but… it’s like you said, it would take me about ten thousand years to be able to afford studying. The rent here isn’t free and I don’t even want to think about the college tuitions. Obviously my dad could afford them easily but I’m not going to stoop so low that I would ask him. I am not going to owe anyone, especially not him.”

The ‘Bad Boy Supreme’ gave her an approving half smile. “I see we have something in common, after all. We both have dreams that seem to be hard to achieve. And I definitely wouldn’t want to owe to my no good old man either. And families… Those can be bitches. But not something bad if not something good; thanks to my round around the country I feel like I may have finally found a place where I could maybe picture myself staying more than just a few months. The coffee here isn’t half bad and the people are decent too.” He winked at her, and she knew his words were actually quite a big compliment from him. Despite that, she pretended to be annoyed by his comment, putting her hands on her waist. 

“Not half bad? I don’t even remember you ordering coffee since that little incident – and you didn’t get your coffee back then - so how can you have an opinion on it?”

“That’s the thing, I didn’t get my coffee so that’s why it’s only ‘not half bad’ and not the ‘best coffee I’ve ever had’” he smiled at her smugly. “However, the hot chocolate was definitely worth getting yelled at.”

Calypso hated how contagious his smile was but she couldn’t help but smile back at him. “I’m glad to hear that.”

They were silent for a moment before the guy started: “Hey, listen… would you like to…”

His question was interrupted, though, because a customer nearby started causing ruckus, claiming the tea water was too cold (even though Calypso knew her coworkers always made sure it was hot enough) and the piece of cake was dry (even though someone had cut fresh pieces like half an hour ago) and she wanted her money back. Reyna was serving her and trying to politely say that she was sorry the customer felt that way and that they’d make sure to do better the next time, but the customer wouldn’t listen. Calypso could tell Reyna’s patience was running thin so she decided to finish her break then and there and go to help, but she had only managed to stand up from her chair when she noticed that she wasn’t the only one wanting to defend the honor of their coffee shop.

“Hey, you,” ‘Bad Boy Supreme’ said loudly, addressing the woman who had complained. “Don’t like, don’t buy. It’s as simple as that. There are other places where you can get your low fat cake with extra cream on the top that will surely match your interests better.”

The woman just glared at him, going slightly red from her face, before dramatically turning away and leaving the coffee house. Calypso sighed of relief, thankful that nothing worse happened.

“That wasn’t really necessary, you know,” she tried to scold her companion but the attempt was half hearted. “I’m sure Reyna would have been able to handle it.”

“Oh, yeah, I don’t have a doubt about that,” he said. “But sometimes it’s fun to let those privileged douches hear it. You guys are just too polite. Well, most of the time. I guess some customers do have a way to crawl under your skin but that requires special talent.” He grinned at her in a way that may have tried to be flirty but failing.

“Oh, yeah, a special talent indeed,” Calypso confirmed, throwing her long braid over her shoulder. “I’m the epitome of patience, as we know. Well, I should get back to work now; my coworkers are probably waiting for me already.” She looked at Reyna apologetically but she didn’t seem to mind one bit. “It was nice talking to you, though, Raymond.”

“That’s the best you can come up with? C’mon, you can do better than that,” ‘Raymond’ protested but waved her a goodbye with a big smile on his face. Calypso gave him a shy smile back.

[writeroutoftime]

march fic recommendations

hello! so I think we all know that sometimes we don’t appreciate writers as much as we should here on tumblr. they are amazing people that write some wonderful stories for us (for free) and they put a lot of time and effort into doing so. to honor that, each month, I’m going to be posting a fic rec list with a whole bunch of stories I have recently read and loved, and that I want to share with you all. and if you find some you like? let that author know their work is appreciated!! (let’s all support authors more!)

Bucky Barnes x Reader

Hold My Girl by @captain-ariel-barnes - this one HURTS let me just tell you. it is absolutely beautiful and does a wonderful job at not only portraying bucky, but also the feeling that I'm sure a lot of couples who were split up because of wwii felt. like I said this story is amazing but it left me crying and my heart hurting - in the best way possible! 

Soft by @chillingbucky - oh my goodness did this story hit home for me. for the most part, I’ve been pretty confident with my body but also have wanted to change to boost that confidence even more and then felt worse when I didn’t stick through with my new plan.this story perfectly encapsulates those feelings and it nearly brought me to tears over how incredible bucky was at comforting the reader. when I read this it was the first story I read that day and it put me in such a great mindset!!

Lifelong Love Song Series by @suz-123 - even though this is not a bucky x reader (it’s an oc), this story is beautiful and the way it portrays bucky just feels so right and so spot on. there is fluff, angst, hurt, comfort, love, everything in this story. you should definitely read this series! 

The House by @softlybarnes - ahhhh!! that is what I have to say for this story because it is so darn cute! bucky just makes me swoon (as always) and there is a great relationship between him and the reader! also, now I really want to fall in love and buy a fixer-upper house with the guy I marry. overall, if you want something fluffy that is extremely well written, this is one of those stories. 

Truth Hurts by @ussgallifreyfics - this story is so different than other fics that tackle this same topic, but it the best way possible! the beginning hurts, but slowly bucky starts to come into the story and it is so sweet. not only that, but there is a lot of power from within the reader, which is AWESOME! heck yeah we can rescue ourselves (but if Bucky wants to help as well, I won’t be mad lol)

Lemon Pie Series by @nacho-bucky - I have reread this series like three times already, and it is just perfection! not only do we get 40′s bucky, but we get a HAPPY BUCKY WHO SURVIVES THE WAR AND GETS TO START A FAMILY! Each chapter/snippet is just so beautifully written, and I get pulled into the story each and ever time. bucky just makes me want to swoon, and if I don’t find someone who treats me the way bucky treats the reader in this series, I do not what I will do. but, this and all cait’s stories are amazing so please go read this, it will make your day! 

Thomas Shelby x Reader

If Only You Knew by @im-not-looking-for-forgiveness - while this is technically a tommy x reader story, it really focuses on the friendship between the reader and lizzie stark, which I absolutely loved! it is such a healthy change to see lizzie portrayed in a nice way instead of a bitch as she often is written in stories. we love girls supporting girls, which is this story! 

My Dear Charlie by @kadwrites -again, another story that is technically tommy x reader, but focuses on a different relationship, and this time it is between the reader and charlie! what I love about this story is, it highlights the love that one can feel for a child that isn’t biologically theirs, which is just a reminder of how important it is to show our love to others and to demonstrate our appreciation to those who do love us. also, I love that this story focuses on an older charlie, which is something I haven’t really seen yet. 

Matches by @rhxegals - now this one really does focus on tommy and the reader, and I adore it! we get to see the reader confront tommy and I love when the reader is his equal in the sense that neither of them stand for being lied to or being left out of things. not only that, but we also see a more vulnerable side of tommy, and we get to understand his protective side a bit more which I am also a fan of! 

this drabble by @connerkennt - it is short and sweet but powerful! it really shows (again) how protective tommy is over those he loves and I adore protective tommy! (alfie also plays a role in this drabble, which is always a plus!)

John Shelby x Reader

Something Unexplained by @justauthoring - man do I love john shelby, and if you do too, this is the story for you. just the way that olivia describes how john loves the reader makes my heart absolutely gush! I don’t want to spoil anything, so you just have to read it! (and there are so many other wonderful stories on this blog to check out after you finish this one!)

Steve Rogers x Reader 

Beauty and the Beast AU by @kayteewritessteve - I am so so glad I found this story when I did so that I can include it on this list! au’s are some of my favorite stories to read/write, and the fact that this is beauty and the beast and mob!steve is absolutely amazing!! kaytee does such a wonderful job with drawing you into the story and really making you feel the power and emotions of the scene! only the first few chapters are up now, but they are great! 

Peter Parker x Reader 

Moving On by @midtownpetey -  my goodness, this one really hits right in the feels! I was tearing up throughout this entire story, because it is so beautifully written and really highlights the process of moving on when losing a loved one. it is not a graphic story, but the healing aspect, learning to move on when you feel like you can’t, that’s really what got me! 

Harry Potter x Reader

Under the Stars by @lvmosity - this story is just pure fluff and it’s an actually harry potter story, which I feel like is so rare here on tumblr. anyway, I love how it’s just the reader and the golden trio worried about getting dates for the yule ball! there’s no underlying threat, just teens being teens, and harry being adorably awkward!

Scott Lang x Reader

Blue Dresses and Daises by @mypassionsarenysins - I just want to take this moment to appreciate the heck out of this story because it is absolutely amazing! not only is it a scott lang story (who is severely underappreciated! which why? he’s a dork and it’s paul rudd!) but this story is just filled with so much love that it makes me so happy and smiley. definitely a good one if you’re feeling down or you just want something extra fluffy!

Bonnie Gold x Reader 

Ring Girl by @blinder-secrets - okay so I recently just got into bonnie gold stories, and man am I glad I did because this one is wonderful! bonnie is just so cute but he is also so protective over the reader, and it makes my heart swell! I love when you can feel how intense a relationship is through writing, and that’s what this is. 

Roger Taylor x Reader

Hold Me Close Before I Go by @queenrogah - sobbing, just pure sobbing! well first of all, this story is slightly inspired by the song ‘so close’ from enchanted and I LOVE that song, so I was hooked from the beginning. but this story is very angsty but also mixes together so beautiful to tell this story of lost love between roger and the reader. it combines the past and the present so well, that truly tugs at your heartstrings for an emotional roller-coaster that is so worth it!

Long Distance by @dreamer821 - alright this is super long, but I promise it is so worth reading!! from the beginning, I was hooked and I got to witness this amazing story and all the love there is between roger and the reader. there is a bit of smut in this story, but the whole story really goes to show how powerful love is even when two people aren’t always near each other. it’s one of those stories that can restore your faith in love!

Laurie Laurence x Reader

Lost Love by @lotsoffandomimagines - ever since I saw little women in theaters, I have been looking for a laurie story, and this is the first one I found. oh my goodness, it is AMAZING, and I truly hope that there is a second part. but this story just draws you in and makes you fall for laurie, then comes there with that ending! I know I’m not describing this as best as I could, but trust me, the writing is beautiful and it wonderfully emotional. go read it! (also the gif of laurie is perfect!)

What I Wished I Said by @lillie-writes - do you want an angsty laurie story? well, here you go! this story is the form of the letter, and it made me tear up by the time I reached the end. it is so simple, but so heartbreaking. you can just feel how much laurie loves the reader and how much he wants to apologize, and I just wanted to find a way to hug him and comfort him. you will not be disappointed with this story! 

Ransom Drysdale x Reader (Knives Out)

this drabble by @terry-perry- oh my goodness!! alright, first, I love knives out, and second, I love chris evans as ransom drysdale in that movie even though he is an asshole. however, this drabble does a wonderful job at showing a different side of ransom and how dedicated he and the reader are to their relationship!

Haunted by @et-lesailes = this is such a powerful story! now there is a trigger warning for this one so please be mindful of that but this story does a wonderful job at tackling such a difficult topic and how sometimes opening to another person can be exactly what you did. (and we also get to see more soft, non-asshole ransom which is always great!)

[mrslaufeyson002]

No Longer Daddy’s Girl Chapter 14. Haircuts and Doppelgängers

I sat in the living room watching Gotham Season 3, where Lee has taken the Tetch Virus that made her evil.

Tony, Loki, Steve, Wanda, and Bruce were watching it with me. Tony had of course been making such a big deal about Morena and I looking alike. "I am not the only one who has a doppelgänger. When Loki cuts his hair right, he looks like Tom Hiddleston as Sir Thomas Sharpe. Thor looks like Chris Hemsworth's Kevin in Ghost Busters. Stephen looks like Benedict Cumberbatch's Sherlock Holmes. Lastly, Wanda looks like Elizabeth Olsen's Audrey."

Peter walks in and he's with a girl. "Who's this with you, Peter?" Tony asks in a patronizing way.

"This is my friend Michelle, she's trustworthy Mr. Stark."

"Hi, I'm Galaxy. It is really nice to meet you, Michelle." I shake her hand before I hug Peter (he's like a cool younger brother). "It's nice to meet you too."

Sometime later

"Can I cut your hair?" I ask Loki as I lay my head on his lap and my knees are bent. We are currently in my room and he laughs at my question. "No way will I let you or anybody in The Nine Realms cut my hair." I give him the best puppy dog eyes look I could conjure up. "Don't look at me like that, it won't change my mind." I start pouting, but I stop once I got a great idea. "How about if I cut your hair, you can get a freebie to do something that I hate." He then starts smirking and I start to regret my bargain. "Deal."

30 minutes later

I finally finished cutting Loki's hair and he looked handsome.

Loki looks in the green hand mirror that I handed to him. He actually approved and he didn't think that it was that bad. "It's your turn, love." He says with a smirk and I get an uneasy feeling in my stomach.

"You are not cutting my hair, it took me a while to grow it out." He kept smirking at me and I so badly wanted to slap the smirk off of his face. "You got to cut my hair, so I get to cut yours." I ran out of my room and towards the exit.

___________________________

Loki's POV

I didn't want to chase her, I knew by using my magic I could stop her from leaving. I wanted her to think that she could outsmart me, but I actually had the upper hand now. I teleported myself out of Galaxy's room and outside of Erika's. I knock on the door and she opens it. "What do you want Loki?"

"Can you help me?"

"That depends...what is it?"

"Galaxy gave me a haircut after we made a bargain. She said, that if she can cut my hair...I would get a freebie to do anything I want that she hates, but she ran away and I suspect that she won't be back until about an hour or two."

"Okay, what do you want me to do?"

"I need you to corner her until she is trapped."

___________________________

2 hours later

Galaxy/Aniya's POV

I ran back to the Avengers Tower, once I got there I was very careful about my surroundings in case Loki decided to turn up out of nowhere. I got to my room and carefully shut the door. I turned around and I was surprised to see Erika in my room. "Erika, what a surprise. Is there anything I can do for you?"

"I was wondering if we could talk." She says as she gestures to the empty chair across from hers. I sit down and she offers me a cup of tea.

"What specifically do you want to to talk about?" I ask and she looks towards my way.

"I can't remember, although I told Steve about it. Do you want me to go and get him?"

"Sure, just don't tell Loki that I'm here." She nods and I go to close my eyes when I feel something metal connect my arms together behind me. I open my eyes and try to look behind me. Erika was walking out of the room and I wish I didn't fall into this trap, now she's gonna get Loki and he's gonna cut my hair.

I saw Loki walking into the room with a mischievous smirk. "Hello, Galaxy. This would have been over already if you hadn't run." He says patronizing me and I realize he started cutting my hair.

15 minutes later

Loki had finished and when I saw how much was cut off, I started to freak. It was nice and I give him credit, but he cut too much off. I want to strangle him, but I'm too tired to.

[jon-astronaut]

hi! i don’t know if you already answered this (and im so sorry if you did!) but i was just wondering what your favorite and least favorite portrayals of all the skamverse characters were and why?

oh hi anon! i haven’t actually answered this ahahha all day i only answered when people told me their faves and never counted mine. this might take a long time to answer because i have to think and reply so long so sorry for replying late in advance...

eva:

favourite is lisa. she just started the whole thing and she was so real and authentic in her portrayal like everything she did felt so fitting with eva nothing less and nothing more. i would give a special shoutout to ludovica just cause she is my fave eva and i think she added a good comedic acting and edge to her character.

least fave might be alba not because she did so bad but because i didn’t connect with her character much. idk either the acting or the writing didn’t resonate with me she felt a little too plain. but maybe i need to do a rewatch. and anyway she grew on me.

noora:

favourite is nicole. she showed us how much nora faded away and a hollow ghost of her came forward throughout her seasons. the change in nore is apparent even in her posture, her tone.

least fave benedetta. kinda ironic because skamit is one of my top 2 remakes but yeah she didn’t work on me at all in s3. i didn’t buy most of her scenes which is a shame because she was good in s1 and she had good chemistry with the edoardo actor.

isak:

favourite is tarjei, definitely. there was something about his portrayal that made me feel like watching a documentary and no remake reached that level. he was so nuanced and a lot of his emotions were in the little mimics, looks and gestures. axel and michi are a close seconds.

i can’t choose a least fave here. i mean i like all the isaks in their own way. i don’t think any of them were like bad. i wish we got to see florian too. or or if we are counting lucas rubio is a isak remake then alejandro isn’t good as the extra clips show...sorry.

sana:

favourite is tua. she had the heart eyes for mohammed, she had such easy chemistry with him. but then she played amira’s anger and her pain and her pain through her anger in the henna party and the break up with mohammed so well.

least fave ugh maybe assa? this probably has more to do with the writing then her acting but idk there was something there that didn’t communicate her relationship with sofiane or her anger to me.

jonas:

favourite anselm. i literally spent the day praising him...the thing is while michi and lilly are easing into their roles in s1 anselm already seems to portray jonas so well. like he is so relaxed and natural in his role. and then he added a ton to jonas with his softness and his funny side. kudos to the breakup with hanna + coming out scene. with ludovico as a close second because he made giovanni his own too.

least favourite nathan bouts. i swear this has less to do with writing and more with acting. i find him similar to reiky’s jonas and while reiky communicated the loveable asshole vibes to me nathan didn’t. maybe he had better material to play with in s3 it would be different.

william:

favourite is nathan. i might like alejandro's william more as a character but nathan did the best with the not much changed storyline. he literally took the william we saw in og and added so much dimension like the softness with zoe, his voice when he is defending his views, his anger towards his brother chef’s kiss. chris veres is the close second here i mean even his comedic delivery is everything.

least favourite thomas. while trying to have him be this cold, popular guy i think he didn’t actually played well mostly just stood there with no expression. and that’s just no.

even:

favourite is henrik. really shows his power how no one was able to top him yet. i think in praising tarjei we forgot him but like i talked about all day THE LOCKER ROOM SCENE and how much he communicated with his eyes yup.

least favourite maxence. like i said he started bothering me on the rewatches and i realized they relied too much to his looks and natural charm of the actor. i might be biased here about rocco’s acting because i like nicco and marti and nicco so he is not my least fav.

yousef:

favourite is hassan who plays mohammed. maybe it’s because he had more heated arguments with amira about religion and their ‘breakup’ was more painful so i liked his portrayal much more. he just put something into the character like he defended his beliefs with as much fierce as amira.

least fave is lucas nabor who plays dani because spoiler! dani is yousef in skamesp. i will give him the benefit of the doubt maybe by the end of the season i could like his acting more and he does have good heart eyes but right now i don’t vibe with his acting much.

vilde:

favourite is lula. suffered through s6 for her acting’s sake (and for flavie’s) and she is just so good. the pain is in her eyes throughout s6, her breakup with basile was so heartbreaking. but also in earlier seasons she got daphne’s energetic and naive self so well.

least fave is nona who plays amber. idk i don’t vibe with amber and since wtfock cast put a lot into the characters even when writing is bad i think it’s more of her acting issue. it feels like there isn’t anything to her character and amber feels so one dimensional.

chris berg:

(not counting irene here) ah i would say fave is coline. i think she is the chris character that got the most material to play with (maybe why she is my fave) and she did the best out of it. but her scenes in s5 especially the one where she opens up is so nice i could read her emotions on her face.

least fave is nonexistent? i mean most of the time the chris character doesn’t get stuff to act with so like i cannot really judge the actors much when i haven’t seen much from them. and i just vibe with all chris versions.

mahdi:

fave is robin. s5 of skam fr might have gone downhill but robin had a really good performance that only got better throughout the season. especially the ending of the first ep where he looks over the street with his hearing faded away just the look in his eyes wow. honorable mention arda because his little improv lines with louis is amazing. he steals the backgroudn.

least fave again nonexistent because aside from robin and maybe francesco they didn’t get stuff to play with. i mean how can i judge dilan’s actor’s ability?

magnus:

fave is paul. his comedic timing is everything!! and most of that is improv so additional kudos. the way he stole a lot of background moments in s3!!! and s5 and s6 showed how well he could do drama too. when arthur tells him about his hearing the way his face crumbles - wow.

again no least fave because they don’t get material. like i may not like aaron as a character but i cannot say the actor does a bad job when he has to play one side of a character.

i think that about covers everyone!!! naturally i didn’t do anyone from druck or skam france new gen because this was just the versions.

i am so sorry that this is too long......but i cannot just name actors and not explain myself come on. and thanks anon for asking this i enjoyed typing out this a lot!

i also discovered something my fave version of the character doesn’t equal to my fav portrayal always. like nora isn’t my fav noora but she is my favourite portrayal. but jonas augustin and giovanni are my fav jonas characters interchangeably and anselm is my fav portrayal with ludovico following behind.

anyway let me know what you think about my answers!

[thomaslightwoodenthusiast]

hello all!

as many of you know, i mentioned that i was working on a thomastair fic. well, recently i gained the confidence to finish the chapter and i finally have! i’m going to upload it here first to get some opinions, and after that it will all be going on wattpad. if you like what you read and don’t use wattpad, please let me know! without further ado, here it is;

ethereal - thomastair, ch1

Thomas Lightwood did not enjoy parties. However, he was attending this one. One of his best friends, James Herondale, was celebrating his engagement to his long term girlfriend, Cordelia Carstairs. Thomas was happy for them; of course he was. But deep down, he wanted something like what they had. A love so strong, so beautiful.

He would never comfortably get it.

"You ready then, Matthew?"

Matthew was bubbly as usual. Something about him felt slightly...off, though.

"Of course! Yes. I can't wait!"

Thomas grabbed his cousin Christopher and the three left. James was already at the Devil's Tavern with Cordelia and Anna, Thomas's other cousin. Anna had given Cordelia a dress -surprising, as Anna herself never wore them.

The celebration was to be small; The Merry Thieves, Cordelia, Anna, Tessa & Will, and Sona, Cordelia's mother. Elias Carstairs was not going to be there, as he was still 'unwell'. As for Alastair, Cordelia's permanently MIA brother, he was still not going to be there. He never was. Cordelia had been sad; she loved her brother and would have loved him to come. But there was something 'odd' about him. She'd explained it in short once before:

"I do have a brother -Alastair. I love him dearly. But none of you will ever meet him- at least it's highly unlikely. He has sworn off ever socialising with anyone other than family."

"Why?" Christopher had asked, with genuine curiosity.

"He hasn't told me exactly what it is. Until a few years ago we were close, but now he just shuts everyone out. He's always been terrified of emotions. Acting like love is a weakness. I want him to meet someone, to fall in love and be happy, but any time I ask him if he's met anyone he just replies with 'To love is to destroy'. It's like his mantra or something."

"He isn't possessed is he?" asked Matthew.

"Of course not you idiot! But he might as well be. All I know is, whatever this damn curse is I don't have it."

Thomas had become fascinated. He played around with the theory that Alastair was one of those ethereals he'd always heard about. He knew the stories, and to be honest had always wanted to meet one. None of the other Merry Thieves believed in them, so Thomas usually kept quiet.

"Guys! You're here!"

The trio of boys were immediately absorbed into hugs.

"Wouldn't want to miss it. Congrats!"

"Thank you," said Cordelia, blushing.

"Your dress is...beautiful. Where did you get it?" asked Matthew.

"Me. I gave her it," Anna responded, with a smirk. "I have them lying about my apartment. Never would wear any, but I like to keep them in case," she ended with a wink.

"ATTENTION, ATTENTION, I DEMAND YOUR ATTENTION," came a loud voice from the other end of the room. Thomas sighed and smiled when he saw who the voice belonged to.

Of course it was Magnus Bane.

"NOW THAT THE BOYS ARE HERE, I BELIEVE WE MAY BEGIN THE PARTY!" he said, ringing a bell.

"Why does he have a bell?" whispered Thomas.

"Seriously. You looked at him and the first question you asked was about a bell?" Anna replied.

She had a point. Magnus was well known for his outlandish and elaborate dress sense, and today was no exclusion. Somehow, he managed to look incredible no matter what he wore. Which in today's scenario, was a dark purple velvet jacket, some (leather?) trousers, a pair of extremely glittery boots, and a satin shirt of baby blue.

Matthew stared at him. "I can't tell whether I want to be him or be with him. I-"

"Adore him, we know. Why don't you go talk to him?" Thomas proposed.

"Absolutely not. I am not going to risk embarrassing myself, especially after the river incident with James that one time. I believe I will mingle with the ladies instead," Matthew concluded, approaching Sona. She began laughing.

"Christopher you haven't spoken a word. You okay?" asked Anna.

Christopher looked shocked someone had even spoken to him.

Even though Anna was his sister.

"I'm fine. You know I don't really like parties though. Too many people," he said, nervously laughing.

"You can stay about with me if you want?"

"No! You love partying. I don't want to be a hindrance-"

"Hindrance! Chris you're my brother! I can sacrifice one party for your sake. And besides," Anna cleared her throat, "I know all the girls here. No one interesting or single."

Christopher shrugged. He and Anna started talking to each other. Out of the corner of his eye, Thomas could see Cordelia glancing towards the opposite end of the room, and almost immediately darting towards it. Had she seen something?

Someone?

➿➿➿➿➿

Alastair Carstairs did not like hurting his sister. Unfortunately, he felt like he had. So that was why he went to the Devil's Tavern. He'd snuck inside through the back room, and was standing to the side, hoping to go unnoticed.

Alastair loved his sister. He was so fiercely protective of her -had been ever since childhood. So when that fateful night occurred four years ago, it had been hard for him to come around to.

Alastair thought about what had happened. Why his life was so different now. He was so scared and confused at the time -just fifteen years old. A man had come knocking at their family home door, asking for him. Sona was terrified -who was this randomer to come to her door and demand to see her son? But Alastair had woken up and had agreed to speak with him. He was tall, very very tall, Asian, and...beautiful. So beautiful. He didn't look too much older than Alastair himself, which was odd.

But the beauty.

It struck you in the face.

It was indescribable.

Alastair had recalled feeling unnaturally comfortable with this man, like he was a brother or some other male relative. He told Alastair that he was special; that there was something slightly different about him. He told him of the 'ethereals' -a community of people all across the world. They were a beautiful people. Not majorly different to normal people, but nowhere near the same. They had an immediate attractiveness that made them literally impossible to resist regardless of a person's feelings towards them. This, however, proved bad at times, and often ethereal relationships did not work out. They loved with their entire soul; if this love was not returned, their loved one was, well, it was awful really. Ethereals could have relationships with each other and they could even be with normal people if they wished. However, that was not recommended nor respected by other ethereals.

Alastair faintly recalled the man telling him how he felt about that rule/idea.

It was clear he did not like it.

But he assured Alastair that he was okay, and that he was there for him. One thing Alastair thought was unfortunate was that he couldn't remember his name- it was a unique one anyway.

As if thought became reality, Alastair returned from his daydream to see that the man he'd met all those years ago was here. At his sister's party? Odd. He thought he would've seen him again at least once if they were friends. He thought about talking to him, but he still wanted to stay unnoticed.

You can't always get what you want, though.

"Alastair?!? My brother?!"

Cordelia was standing right in front of him.

———————

Cordelia threw her arms around her brother, hugging him tight. "Why did you come?"

He gave her a glare, but couldn't help but smile. "I felt truly awful. I thought I would upset you, and so I snuck my way here. I still wish to remain unseen by the others, however."

Cordelia's smile faded a little. "Couldn't you meet them? Just introduce yourself? Please. Just once?"

"No. I am not quite sure they would like me anyways," he said, tailing off a little.

"Alastair. What are you afraid of?" Cordelia inquired.

For a moment he was silent.

"That man, the Asian one, he's the man who came to our house."

"Magnus Bane?"

"Yes, him. I wish I could ask him questions."

Because lord knows how many I have.

"I can bring him over if you like?" The younger girl offered.

"No," said Alastair, shaking his head. "I don't want to make anyone suspicious."

"Daisy? Where'd you go?"

"Oh, I am so sorry. That's James. I have to go. But thank you, Alastair. Thank you for coming. And hey; loosen up a little, alright?"

Alastair only smiled in response.

————————

Thomas was still standing chatting with Christopher and Anna, although he hadn't entirely been paying attention to the conversation. He was watching Cordelia. He could definitely see her talking to someone, but whoever she was talking to was extremely well hidden. Then he heard James call out for her, and she turned and dashed off, returning to him with a smile. He tried his best to see if he could make out a person, but it was virtually impossible.

"What's got you staring off into the distance? A pretty girl?" joked Anna.

Blood rushed to his face immediately. Thomas wished to tell Anna the truth; that he did not care for pretty girls. That he cared more about pretty boys. Anna was his cousin; and not only did he know she would support him she was also, for lack of a better word, the other way inclined.

But something was stopping him, and he wasn't quite sure what.

"I was joking, by the way, in case that's why you haven't replied," she said, raising an eyebrow.

"I- yes. I mean not as in yes I was looking at a pretty girl, I mean- actually I'm not quite sure. I'm too tired."

That was partially true, however Thomas wanted an excuse to investigate Cordelia's secret friend.

Christopher looked delighted. "If you're tired, we could leave together?"

"Oh my! Christopher, mine own brother dear, do not sound so excited to be out of my presence!"

Christopher panicked. "I didn't mean it like that!"

"I know you didn't kid. It's fine. You two leave, we'll see you tomorrow."

Thomas and Christopher left, waving to Anna. Once outside, Thomas turned to Christopher.

"Hey, there's one last thing I want to do before going back. Do you want to wait here for me, or do you wish to walk home alone?"

Christopher shrugged. "I can stay here and read."

"Are you sure? It's quite cold."

"I'll stay here for as long as I can, but if I begin to think you are taking too long I shall vacate the area and make my advances toward home and a warm bed."

Thomas laughed. He adored his family; and Christopher was no exception. He may seem odd to others, what with his obsession with science and lack of social skills, but Thomas didn't care. He and the Merry Thieves would stand up for him even if it meant losing their legs.

Thomas gave him a reassuring smile and snuck back inside the Tavern.  This time, he decided to sneak in via the back in case anyone saw him entering and re-engaged him in conversation.

He certainly did not expect his chest to collide with someone's head.

"Oh! I'm sorry! I didn't know that anyone- hey!"

The boy he'd collided with shoved his way past Thomas angrily. He was significantly shorter than him, but to be fair so were the majority of people. Curious, and to be honest- slightly offended, he followed him.

He called out to him, only to be met with an intense glare and for the boy to continue walking away. 

Thomas got a glimpse of his face. It wasn't much, but the glare lasted long enough for Thomas to figure out who it was. He looked incredibly similar to his sister, save that he had pitch black hair compared to her ruby red. He called out again, this time using the boy's name.

"Alastair!"

Alastair's head snapped back to face Thomas again, like a deer caught in headlights. Thomas approached him. "Hey! You're Alastair, aren't you? Cordelia's big brother?"

Alastair spoke for the first time. "I do not see why that is of any worth to you. Also, your chest collided with my head, and now it hurts."

"I'm sorry! I didn't think anyone would be there. I just wanted to-"

"I have no reason to be concerned with what you are about to say, so if you may allow me I shall be on my way. I have places to go and things to do and talking to a stranger is not one of them."

“Alright, no need to be rude. I'm only trying to be friendly-"

"With all due respect I don't care."

Thomas was getting frustrated. "Listen, Alastair. Your sister told us that you aren't a people person and I get that, but being unnecessarily rude is not the way to go. You could at least pretend to care about your sister-"

"You have no right to talk about me like that. You know nothing about me. I do care. I care a lot more than you think. Now, I will be taking my leave."

As Alastair turned to leave, Thomas still called out to him. "But aren't you curious who I am? Don't you at least want to know my name?"

"I know your name. I do actually talk to my sister, you know."

"Then why are you never here for her? Why do you never bother to make an effort to talk to her friends or to get to know any of us? I think you're-"

Alastair was seething. "Thomas Lightwood, I suggest you stop talking and leave me alone. You have no idea what you're speaking of and I intend to keep it that way."

Thomas changed the mood of the conversation, and spoke softly. "What are you afraid of? Why are you so scared to talk to people? Are you afraid of falling in love? Is that it?"

Alastair opened his mouth to make another snarky reply, but instead he bit his tongue.

"I'm cursed, okay?! I have this thing, this burden that was put on me when I was just fifteen. It makes me weird, and I hate it. I hate everything. All I wanted was a normal life and a normal life I did not get. Goodbye, Thomas. Enjoy the rest of your night."

In his mind, that was an answer to the question Thomas had been thinking about for  several years now.

“You’re not weird. You aren’t cursed either.”

“What do you mean?”

Thomas paused, and Alastair turned to walk away.

"Ethereal," he whispered. 

If Alastair was surprised Thomas had said that it did not show.

"I don't know what you think you know about me, Mr. Lightwood, but what I do know is that it's best I never see you again."

Thomas felt a small pain in his chest as Alastair finally started walking away. He was so curious about him. 

And still offended. He started walking back to Christopher.

"Oh and Thomas?"

"Yes?"

"If any single one of you even thinks about hurting my sister, you'll have a spear through your neck."

Thomas raised his eyebrows. 

Spears were an odd weapon choice, especially to have lying about the house.

[pietromelim]

"Dance with me" Lucie/Jesse and Christopher/Grace short story!

The Blackthorn siblings were on their way to the Institute. At Lucie's request,her family decided that today's ball would be a celebration for Jesse's return to life.

Jesse himself felt happy that Lucie had that idea,it probably meant he was special to her,perhaps? One could always dream. But that didn't meant he wasn't nervous.

He had been a ghost for quite some time,and he never danced with anyone during his time as a ghost. The thought of dancing with Lucie today really scared him.

Not that he would ever admit it. He was going to become a real Shadowhunter soon. A warrior trained to slain demons in the dead of night. Why would dancing with a stunning,5'4 girl with blue eyes scare him?

They were inside the carriage. Grace was there,looking at him,trying to understand his expression.

-Is something the matter Jesse? You seem awfully worried. Do you wish to return? We don't have to go if you don't feel like going.-Grace said.

Jesse smiled at his sister. Grace meant well,he knew that. But he had to go,for Lucie.

-I am perfectly fine,Grace. It is just that...It has been many years since i last danced with a lady. Actually,the last time was when mother taught us how to dance,remember that?-Jesse said.

Grace laughed.

-I do. We were horrible.-Grace said.

Jesse shook his head.

-Don't lie to make me feel good about myself. I was a true disaster,but you were always perfect in dancing. I'm afraid that i'm still a disaster.-Jesse said.

Grace blinked. Her expression changed quite softly.

-Is that the problem? Are you afraid you will embarrass Lucie in front of the Enclave?-Grace asked.

-Not really. I'm afraid i will embarrass myself in front of Lucie.-Jesse said.

-Nonsense Jesse. I am absolutely sure Lucie will be delighted to dance with you,even if you turn out to have two left feet.-Grace said.

Jesse only nodded. Grace had a weird way to encourage him. But she had a point. Perhaps he would turn out to be terrible at dancing,but at least he would be able to share a special moment with Lucie.

And that was more than enough for him.

Meanwhile

-Lucie,can you please stop staring at the door? You are beginning to vex me.-Cordelia said,a little impatient.

Lucie could not help but keep looking at the door. The ball had been happening for at least 30 minutes now,and still no sign of Jesse.

He was taking a little longer than expected. She just wanted him to be there already.

-Why has he not arrived yet!? I can't keep dancing with all these gentlemen! I need to be free to dance with Jesse when he shows up!-Lucie said.

-I know you want that Lu,but is not like you can refuse a dance. Perhaps if you keep dancing with Thomas? I'm sure he won't mind if you leave him when Jesse shows up.-Cordelia said.

Lucie saw Thomas dancing with Catherine Townsend,she was smiling,and Tom was as well. At least he was enjoying himself.

-I cannot do that. My arms won't survive dancing with Thomas all night.-Lucie said.

Cordelia laughed. But Lucie was being serious. Thomas was so much taller than her. It was hard to keep her arms in his shoulders all the time.

She was beginning to feel nervous. The whole idea for this ball was because of Jesse. He needed to be there with her.

-He will come! You don't need to fret over this. A little bit of patience would do you good.-Cordelia said.

James approached them,looking entertained.

-Daisy,shall we dance? I'm sure Lucie wishes to be alone as she longs for Jesse Blackthorn's presence.-James said,grinning.

Lucie was about to say a word that a lady should never pronounce,but her attention was at the door.

A boy and a girl had just entered. The boy was fully dressed in black,he looked around the ballroom,as if everything was new to him.

The girl beside him was just the opposite. She was dressed in white,and the ballroom was no surprise to her.

Jesse and Grace. They were finally there.

Lucie ignored James and went in their direction,she was almost running.

She stopped. Her parents were there,talking to them. So much for thinking that she could just go and talk to him right away.

-Finally. Lucie prepared this ballroom just for you,Jesse Blackthorn. I was beginning to feel you would not come.-Will said.

-Pardon our delay. Chiswick House is quite far from here,and our carriage is not as fast as it once was.-Jesse said.

-Don't scare him,Will. You are not late at all! The ball has barely begun. Have fun,it is all we ask of you.-Tessa said.

-Of course. And thank you.-Jesse said,as Grace only nodded.

She was not in the best of terms with the Herondales,but that would change eventually.

-Lucie is coming here,Jesse. I'll let you talk to her in private.-Grace said,leaving Jesse's side.

As soon as she did,one of Jesse's cousins,Christopher Lightwood,asked to dance with her,and Grace accepted,smiling.

Jesse raised his eyebrows. Did Grace actually seemed happy? It was quite unexpected for him to see that. Grace always considered balls to be simply a task that had to be done.

-By the Angel Jesse! I was nearly losing my mind! I thought you had forgotten about this!-Lucie said.

-I would never do that. I know that you prepared all of this because of me. Your father made that very clear just now.-Jesse said,smiling.

Lucie was scandalized.

-Oh goodness! Why would he!? That is so vexing! Forgive me Jesse!-Lucie said.

-You didn't do anything wrong. And i should be thanking you,as a matter of fact. No one ever did something like this for me before. You are always doing big things for me,have you realized that? First you bring me back to life,then you stand up for me against the Clave,and now this ball. Do i really deserve all of this?-Jesse asked.

Lucie could not help but smile after hearing his words.

-Of course you do! You are worth every effort i assure you!-Lucie said.

Jesse got closer to her,their hands almost touching.

-How can i make it up to you?-Jesse asked.

Lucie was really hoping he would say that.

-I thought you would never ask. Dance with me.-She said.

Jesse took her hands,and they began to dance.

Meanwhile

-Would you like to dance with me,Grace?-Christopher asked.

Grace looked at Christopher. He seemed quite nervous,his lavender eyes were studying her expression,as if he was trying to see if she was going to decline or accept.

A lady could never decline a gentleman's request for a dance. But it wasn't like Grace was planning to decline anyway.

-Of course Christopher.-Grace said. It would be good for her,and Jesse needed his moment with Lucie. Grace knew that she was the only one who could make her brother truly happy.

They began to dance,he had one hand at her waist,and the other held her hand.

-I am so glad that you came. I was afraid we wouldn't be able to talk tonight.-Christopher said.

Grace knew why he thought that. After she revealed the use of her powers on James,most of the Merry Thieves were trying to avoid her. James and Thomas still were polite to her,and Matthew was ignoring her completely,but that was no surprise to Grace.

What truly were a surprise to Grace was the fact that Christopher did not gave up of their friendship after the whole "control over James" situation. Obviously he was not pleased by her actions. But he said that he understood the reasons she had.

And that was enough for Grace to sympathize with him.

-I wouldn't miss this. It is very important to Jesse,and i had to be here with him. I also wanted to see you as well.-Grace said.

-I am flattered. And you look absolutely stunning. I am nearly breathless.-Christopher said.

Grace had a weak smile in her face. She wasn't really sure if Christopher was any good at flirting,but he seemed to have some sort of talent.

-Thank you Chris. I wasn't aware of your skill with words. Have you been reading about how to please ladies instead of science?-Grace asked.

-Not exactly. I told Matthew that there was a girl i wanted to impress today,so he gave me some advice,and dancing lessons. Stepping in your toes would be awful.-Christopher said.

-Is that so? Well how very nice of you. Have you impressed her yet? I am sure she will be delighted.-Grace said.

Christopher seemed really confused.

-Hm,i believe you misunderstood me? I was trying to impress you,Grace,not some random girl of the Enclave.-Christopher said.

Grace almost laughed.

-I knew that. Do they know about us?-Grace asked.

-Not yet. But i had plans of revealing to them today. That is,if you are impressed? I still haven't smashed your toes like potatoes.-Christopher said.

-I am impressed. But you always manage to impress me in different ways,so i am used to it.-Grace said.

-That is great! Really good,by the way,my father plans on inviting you and Jesse for dinner tomorrow. Will you accept it?-Christopher asked.

She would,but not really for the whole family thing. If she could be with Christopher,she would accept almost anything,even going out to kill demons.

-I surely will. Perhaps you can even show me something new at your lab?-Grace suggested.

Christopher smiled. Grace was always surprising him.

-I would love that.-He said.

Grace gave him a quick kiss on the cheek,and Christopher blushed immediately. He was so adorable,maybe that was the reason she liked him so much.

As they danced,far from them,Lucie was finally dancing with Jesse.

It had been a recurring dream,being in the ballroom with him. In her dreams,the ballroom was empty,and the melody was in the air. They danced together as everything fell apart,but nothing could stop them.

But that was the real thing. She could feel Jesse's hand on her hand,now his skin felt soft and warm,and not deadly cold as it once were.

She could feel Jesse's body close to hers,his breathing,his heart beating,he was alive and with her,and she could ask for nothing else.

And he was such a good dancer. She was not expecting him to be bad,but certainly was not expecting him to be that good either.

-Are you sure you never danced as a ghost? Perhaps you had an understanding with a ghost lady that i could not see,and you danced with her all the time.-Lucie said,smiling.

Jesse blushed.

-Are you trying to say that i am good? Because that was definitely going to be a lie if you had said it.-Jesse said.

-You are good! I don't have any reasons to lie about this.-Lucie said.

-Don't try to fool me. I practiced with Grace so that you could have a good partner. I suppose it didn't went as good as i had hoped.-Jesse said.

-Stop that Jesse! You are not a bad dancer! It is almost the same way i dreamed about.-Lucie said.

But she was not supposed to say that. Why would she reveal such thing to Jesse? If only there was a hole she could put her head into...

-You dreamed about dancing with me? Well i am glad to know i wasn't the only one.-Jesse said.

Lucie looked at him.

-Are you serious? You wanted this too?-She asked.

-More than you can imagine! I was so nervous that i would hurt you while we danced. I wanted this moment to be special for the both of us. After all,it is our first dance.-Jesse said.

Lucie smiled,a smile brighter then the sun. Jesse felt great joy when she smiled.

-It may be our first. But i'm sure that are many others yet to come.-Lucie said.

-As long as i am dancing with you,everything will be just perfect.-Jesse said.

He leaned in to kiss her. Their lips touched,and Lucie felt as if she could fly with so much happiness.

And they didn't care if the others were staring,that was their moment. The first of many dances,of a love that would be their first and their last.

As that very kiss was meant to happen,they were meant to be together.

And they would.

[celmation-gibson]

The First Drawing to post for this New Decade, and it's the Best of the Movies that I've seen in the Cinemas, and one I've heard of for a while. So here are some Favorite Characters of mine that were fun to Draw, along with the Reviews for the Films.

Missing Link - My First movie to see in the Cinemas of this Year, and it's another Laika Classic, and despite being a Box Office flop, It did receive some very Good Reviews from Critics, and even my Foodtown Boss' Grandchildren saw the Film on a Thursday(?) and they Loved it, so I figured I give this film a watch, and I was amazed at the Final result, An Amazing sight to see that some Folks out there don't know what their Missing. It was directed by Chris Butler, who was co-Director of Laika's other projects 'ParaNorman', and it had an Amazing cast such as Mr. Zach Galifianakis (Felix of 'Bob's Burgers' & Lego Joker of 'the Lego Batman Movie'), Zoe Saldana(Avatar, Gaurdians of the Galaxy), & Hugh Jackman (Van Helsing & Wolverine of the live-Action 'X-Men' films). And once again, the Folks of Laika really did some good Work & Commitment in Making this Film, especially when I loved the Film's settings & Landscaping, and the Action Sequences are Phenomenal, especially in those Action sequences when the Ship rotates with the People in it when it was Struck with the Storm's Big Wave, and How Suspenseful it was when the Characters are dangled into Ice blocks or big icicles, and how shocking on how the Villains' defeat of Lord Piggot-Dunceby, his neurotic right-hand man Mr. Collick, and Bounty Hunter Willard Stenk were killed in Cold Blood, cuz I knew that that Ice Bridge in the Film was gonna Break in a Sequence. Plus there were some Cute Humor in the Film as well, especially after when Mr. Link/Susan Roared at a Dog during a Bar Fight, and after a Moment of Silence, the Dog just attacked on of his Men and the Bar Fight continues (that's when most kids in the Auditorium laughed at that part), and how Susan literally thrown some Objects over the Wall. And I'm always fascinated with Cryptozoology creatures such as Bigfoot, Abominable Snowmen, & the Loch Ness Monster, even when they make me think about that 1970's film entitled 'the Mysterious Monsters'. And even if the film was Distributed by United Artists (a Subsidiary of MGM I suppose), it's kinda Weird now now that it was released on DVD and Blu-Ray from 20th Century Fox, even after Disney's Conquest, but can we still call ML a Non-Disney film, even if some MGM films are being released by FOX under a Contract?

Godzilla: King of the Monsters - Well me and my dad certainly love Giant Monster movies when we were Young, and I certainly remember renting every Godzilla movie on VHS back when Blockbuster was still around, and we certainly enjoyed that one 2014 'Godzilla' movie, unlike the 1998 Matthew Broderick one, so we decided to give this new kaiju movie 'Godzilla: King of the Monsters' a viewing pleasure, not to be confused with the 1956 Americanized 'Gojira' movie starring Raymond Burr. And i gotta say that it was an Epic Thrill-ride of our Lives, even the monsters we were familiar with were Amazing, Godzilla being all greatly Huge and Buffed-up as always in the USA, Rodan looking a-little Sinister lookin', Mothra playing out like the original 'Mothra' movie, starting off as a larva hatching from her Egg, then Evolving into a beautiful Butterfly-like Moth, then King Ghidorah was so Menacing in this one, and being like Lizzie in 'Rampage', he was such a "Pain-in-the-Ass" character, even once being Nicknamed 'Monster Zero', either that Nickname was also used in Japan, or used for one of Ghidorah's old film appearances in the US, that was double-billed with 'War of the Gargantuas'. I even like how they referenced some stuff from Warner Bros. & Legendary Films' 'Kong: Skull Island', as that films along with the 2014 Godzilla, and this Film are all in the same Universe, Monsterverse that is. And how surprising that there are other Kaijus in this Movie that I'm not even certainly familiar about, like that one Arachnid-like featured titan, or the Giant Ape Body/Mammoth Trunk beast, or another Muto(?), and I am wondering if the Demolished Boston at the end of the movie is gonna be the new 'Monster Island'. The human characters were good, I mostly like every member on the character Dr. Mark Russell's team, they seem likable, and the Cast was great, even after looking at the film's Poster befor we went inside the theater, I saw the familiar name of Thomas Middleditch, the same man who did voices in 'Captain Underpants' & 'Bob's Burgers', doing a Live-action role, and while writing this review, I've discovered some other actress who starred in this film include Sally Hawkins, who starred in the previous 2014 Godzilla movie, and also in Guillermo del Toro's 'the Shape of Water, and the woman playing the daughter in this film, also played in 'Stranger Things' as Eleven. And also I love on how the film as a Newer Version of Godzilla's approach-like film that was used in the old films, and even the end Credits have Cover version of Blue Oyester Cult's classic hit 'Godzilla'. And one of the Film's story plot is Fascinating, like how this Earth was once ruled by Giant Titans, until us small Humans have taken over while most of those Titans went Extinct and hiding in the Earth's Spirit.

The Secret Life of Pets 2 - Well, Illumination has done it again, as it Amuses me once before with 'the Grinch', 'Despicable Me 2', 'the Secret Life of Pets', & 'Sing', they have released a Sequel to my Favorite Secret Life of Pets movie that I saw in theaters back in 2016, and now have it on DVD. And when I heard that the Original voice for Max got replaced with a Guy I know of who has a Great Career in Animation, I was like "Whuuut?", but even after reading what Happened to that one Guy, i figured I'd give this Movie a Watch, since I'll like Patton even more. And I gotta say, this Sequel does have some Cute and Lovable moments in the Film, and those Subplots in the Film are Wonderful, leading up to a Story on how to save a White Tiger cub from a Wicked Ringmaster (voiced by Funny voice man, Mr. Nick Kroll(Sausage Party, Sing, Captain Underpants). And Snowball is more luvable in this one as he is in the first Film (Kevin Hart is so Wonderful!), even teaming up with a Cute/Funny character such as Daisy, a Shih Tzu voiced by Tiffany Haddish (who just did a guest voice role in 'Bob's Burgers'). Also with a Cute story on how Max & Duke's owner fall in Love with a Fun Gentleman and have a Kid together, and I love how the Dogs raised the Boy up, by helping him to Crawl & walk, and have Good Animal Instincts, which makes me think that what if my Sister & her Husband had a Pet Puppy that could be a good a Good Companion to my Little Layla niece. And some of the Parts in the Film have Good humor in it, like did I just heard a Cow say "Rat Turd" in front of an auditorium full of Young children? Plus Mr. Harrison Ford(Han Solo in 'Star Wars' & Indiana Jones) was great as a character named Rooster, who tries to Man/Brave up Max and a few characters, after Max has devoted his Life to Little Liam, which led to the Funny Collar on his head. And I'd figured there was something Familiar about that Young Lamb Cotton's voice in the Movie, as he is voiced by Mr. Sean Giambrone, the voice of Jeff in 'Clarence' & Shermy in the 'Adventure Time' series Finale.

Abominable - Well, Dreamworks has done it again, a new film from a Creative Team was made and about to be released soon, and when I saw the Previews of it for the First time, I thought I wasn't too interested in it, especially with the humorous Blueberry gag parts. But after a while, and see that if it looked cuter as Dreamworks' previous film 'Home(2015)', I thought I give it a go, and hopefully it look way better than that one Weird-Looking film in 1995 called 'to catch a Yeti' starring Meatloaf. But for the 'Abominable' film, since the Movie was getting Good Feedback from Reviewers and Viewers, I was Lucky to watch the Film for myself. The Characters were Cute and Funny, almost like the ones from 'Home', especially with Ethnic Protagonists. And the settings and Designs of Asia in the Open Fields, Forests, and Cities are really nice, wishing I could visit and/or live there. And the Great story is like an E.T. Extra Terrestrial thing, expect that the Heroes goes with the Creatures on an Adventure of a lifetime to bring back the Creature to his Beloved Family that they Tried to protect from any threats what's-so-ever. And there are some Amazing plot Twist among the Villainous Characters, like just when you thought the villain was actually an elderly Man who has been hunting Mythical creatures for rewards, but it turns out that the True Villain was actually a Nerdy Woman who thought was a seemingly-gentle Scientist just doing what's right for the World, who almost Barely looks like a geeky version of Kari McKeen of Disney/Pixar's 'the Incredibles', and when she let down her Hair, she may look like a Devious version of Merida of Disney/Pixar's 'Brave'. The Effects in the Movie is Super Nice & Super Awesome, especially in the Yeti's Humming effects, some Action Sequences, and that one moment when the Heroine's Father's Violin broke, the Yeti fixes it by using his own Hair for the String replacements, and I know from that Moment, with Yi's Musical skills and the Yeti's Powers combined, and when the Hearts are Full, and the Heavens are listening, Magic is bound to happen. And for the one other part when the Heroes are Gazing into the Stars, they say that the Stars could be our Ancestors watching over us, and that if we don't see any Stars in the Sky, there will be always there for us, almost like even if for some Folks lost their Love ones, they will always be there, even if we can't see them. But I'm glad i enjoyed the Movie, and I know that some Tween kid group enjoyed it as well, laughing at some Funny Parts in which i enjoyed, sometimes with the Woofing Snakes, "WOOF, there it is, WOOF, there it is".

the Addams Family - Well, a another Fantastic new Animated feature has been made, and it's based off of what I remember from my Childhood, cuz I do remember watching the early 1990's Live-Action movies of the Creepy Family starrring Christopher Lloyd and Christina Ricci, before I knew who some of the Actors were, and I remember the Animated Hanna-Barbera Kooky series on Cartoon Network a while back, even making a Spooky Guest appearance in 'the New Scooby-Doo Movies', but I haven't watched much of their old Ookie Live-action series, and the Family I'm talking about is 'the Addams Family'. And I've read a while back that an Animated CGI feature is gonna be released soon, and I knew back there that that would be interesting for me to see, so I've waited several months for the to be released in Cinemas, and I finally got a chance to do so. It was a Fun and Entertaining movie, and surprising it was made Directed and made by the same team who did the 2016 R-rated Animated film 'Sausage Party' starring Seth Rogan & Kristen Wiig, and the Character designs for the Film were to be based off the old design from the Original Addams Family comics in the old days, and with modern help from Mr. Craig Kellman(Hotel Transylvania, Madagascar). And the voice cast is amazing, we got Mr. Nick Kroll(Captain Underpants) voicing Uncle Fester, Chloe Grace Moretz(Kick-Ass) as Wednesday Addams, Finn Wilfhard(IT, "Beep, Beep, Richie") as Pugsley Addams, Charlize Theron(Kubo and the Two Strings) as Morticia Addams, Bette Midler(Hocus Pocus) as Grandmama, Snoop Dogg as Cousin Itt, Elsie Fisher(Despicable Me) as Parker Needler, even the film's co-director Mr. Conrad Vernon as Lurch ("YYYOOOOOOUUUUUUU RRRAAAAANNNGGGG?!", LOL!!!), a priest that presides over Gomez and Mortica's wedding, the spirit that haunted the abandoned asylum that Gomez and Morticia move into (who often threatened them to get out, much to the family's delight, which i find those Parts to be entirely Hilarious, even in the Theater's Booming Stereo), and Dr. Flambe, a Devil-like relative of the Addams family with fire-like abilities. And the Film's Story is very cute, even with the Film's Opening Scenes on the Origin story of the Addams Family and their "Creative Differences" with other Societies, and it gives me some Good comparisons with Sony's 'Hotel Transylvania' as Creepy Creatures who have lived through the Centuries and Years soon get into Modern times and how other people dealt with Beings like the Monsters of HT and the Addams Family and their Clan. And it would be nice if my Parents were watching the Film with me in the Theaters, cuz during the Film's Ending, me and the people in the Auditorium got a chance to sing-along with the Film's Theme Song, and everyone was Snapping their Fingers to the tune. So If you wanna celebrate Halloween in a Great and Wonderful way, I think that this film is for you, and for all you Goth, Emo, and Young-at-Heart Artists out their who would love a Creepy Treat, and just can't wait to get it on DVD. Klaus - To come clear, I've heard about this movie, and I've even seen some Pencil Tests of it way back then, but I've actually never seen the whole thing, or catch it in a Selected Theater, but I really did see the Film's Trailer. And I would say for a 2D, Hand-Drawn, Frame-by-Frame, Animated feature, these people tried to Improve something for the Classic Animation with their Coloring and Shading type Technique, and even though It's a wonderful Improvement, I wouldn't expect some folks to use this kind of thing more often for Future Celmated Features. As for the Voice cast, I already know who Mr. J.K. Simmons is, but I was surprised to read that the voice man for Mr. Jesper Johansson, is also the guy who played the Villianous Gideon Graves of 'Scott Pilgrim vs. the World' movie.

And sorry if I didn't catch 'IT: Chapter 2' like I did with the first one, But I'm hoping o see some more clips of it online. And I Never had interest in seeing the 2019 'Child's Play', though I still like Ms. Aubrey Plaza & Mr. Mark Hamill. And I had no interest in seeing 'the Angry Birds Movie 2' since I'm never a Big Fan of Thurop Van Orman's creativity. And lastly, I didn't felt like seeing the 'Spies in Disguise' movie ever since Disney's Horrible Conquest of the whole 20th Century Fox media.

[moodyvalentinestories]

Direction – Two | Hunt x HWU MC (Danielle)

Summary: Thomas and Danielle have a conversation. Nobody dies, surprisingly. There are tears, though.

Words: 1800+

Notes: Fair warning: I'm really embracing the Hollywood U level of insanity/ridiculousness for this fic. Because I'm living for all the over-the-top drama and stereotypical villains right about now and you'll just have to deal with it. We’re not her for logic, we’re here for entertainment, henny.

❥ Masterlist

Thomas had been surprised when the address Mr Blake had given him had turned out to be an apartment building in a not-so-glamourous part of town. Though Danielle had graduated not long ago, she wasn’t poor by any means. She’d accomplished much more than seemed possible during her time at Hollywood U; had been a part of – and even produced – multiple high-profile projects, and earned what Thomas assumed must have been a great sum of money, and yet… she lived here.

It wasn’t a terrible neighbourhood – rather close to the university and, consequently, not far from his own house – and the building looked clean and well taken care of. Still, Thomas would have expected… something flashier. Or at least something bigger.

His surprise was even bigger when Danielle let him into her apartment. It was a studio, and while not tiny, it certainly didn’t offer a lot of space. The furniture – and especially the kitchen area – looked somewhat out of place, being very clearly more expensive than someone who would normally live in such a space could ever afford.

But Thomas wasn’t here to judge her choice of home or her taste in interior decorating. So he took his eyes off the Permanent Wound poster above her desk and turned to her. “Why did you do it? Are you that desperate to work with me? Because—”

“You think I want to work with you?” she exclaimed, followed by a shrill laugh. “You’re insane. I’ve seen you work. You’re a right bastard of a director, and I’d take Phelps over you any day.”

That statement hurt his pride much more than he cared to admit. Phelps certainly was not a better director than he was! How dare she even insinuate that? “Then why aren’t you pestering him to come back to the film?”

“Because—” She took a deep breath and shook her head, seemingly changing her mind. “Would you like some tea?”

“No, I would like to know what the hell you aren’t telling me!”

She nodded. “Tea, then. Have a seat. I’ll be right back.”

Danielle walked over to the kitchen area. Thomas didn’t sit down but followed her instead. “Miss Allen, I do not have the time—”

“I lied to you, okay?” she said, sounding choked, and when she turned around Thomas could see the tears in her eyes. “I lied. There was no fight.”

“Then wh—”

“Sit. Please?”

And she looked so young then, so vulnerable, so much like the green freshman who had her first paycheck taken away by a soulless industry giant, that Thomas couldn’t help relenting. He nodded, told her, “Earl Grey, if you have any,” and made his way over to the couch. He watched her slowly compose herself as she prepared the tea, and by the time she walked over with two cups – one black and unsweetened, one with milk and sugar – she seemed to have calmed down. She set the milk-less tea on the coffee table and handed Thomas the other cup before sitting down on the chair across from him.

“Did I tell you how I take my tea?”

She shook her head. “Centaurus Lost. You’d have coffee in the early mornings, then switch to tea around noon.”

Thomas almost dropped his cup at that. Centaurus Lost. He’d nearly forgotten. “Are there pictures from the set, too?”

Danielle bit her lip, then nodded hesitantly. “Viktor doesn’t have them, though.”

“Do you have them?” he inquired.

She looked at the floor, then nodded again. “They’re safe, I promise. I never gave anything to him. Or anyone else, for that matter.”

Thomas took a sip of his tea, contemplating how to get any information out of her without making her cry again. Something was wrong, he could tell, and perhaps he had judged her prematurely. Perhaps she really wasn’t at fault. Perhaps he should withhold judgement until he heard what she had to say. If she had to say anything, that was.

“You said you lied,” he ventured.

She swallowed hard. “I did.”

“About Phelps?”

Danielle closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. “He didn’t quit. He was fired.”

“That makes no sense whatsoever. Why—”

“It will in a moment,” she sighed. “They – or I suppose I should say Viktor – never actually wanted me in the film. He just wanted me to bring people in.”

Thomas groaned as the pieces began falling into place. “Because you have pull with all the people he doesn’t.”

She nodded sadly. “I got Zoe and Chris on board. Even managed to get Holly in to write the script. The only person he wanted that I couldn’t – wouldn’t – get him was…”

“Me,” he finished. “You never even came to ask me.”

“Because I knew you would say no,” she said, rolling her eyes.

“Oh, absolutely. But I would have also told you to stay away from Montmartre.”

Danielle raised an eyebrow. “Gee, thanks. You don’t think I realised at that point that I’ve made a mistake? But I’d already signed the contract.”

“Fair enough,” Thomas conceded. It wasn’t like he could tell her she could have come to him for help. “So, at some point, Phelps comes in.”

“Yes, because we did need a director, and he’s done good enough work for Viktor in the past. Not who he had wanted, but better than no one, I suppose.”

He didn’t ask why Montmartre would have wanted him. Or Holly Chang, or Chris Winters, or Zoe Rodriguez. It was quite obvious – a show of power. Now that the hierarchy of the Silver Circle had been destroyed, he could have it all. Thomas should have known that it wouldn’t be long until a new problem would emerge.

What he didn’t quite understand, however, was how Montmartre had come to be in possession of that photograph. And, most certainly, others as well. The most logical explanation would have been that Danielle had been blackmailed first. If her time at the university was any indication, there was plenty of blackmail material to be found about her. And though Thomas didn’t want to believe she would throw him under the bus like that—

“Oh, hell no,” she said, interrupting his train of thought. “I cannot believe you would even think that I could – do you really think so little of me?”

Thomas raised an eyebrow. “What am I supposed to think? Clearly, he has something on you, and who could blame you—”

“Oh, fuck you, Thomas,” she snarled and got up from her chair, nearly knocking it over. She walked to her desk to retrieve something from her purse and returned with her wallet a few seconds later, slamming it on the coffee table. “His stupid niece found this.”

“Your wallet?” Thomas asked. Now he was really confused. What did her wallet have to do with any of this?

“Open it.”

“Why—”

“Just open it,” she snapped.

He picked up the small leather purse and unfolded it, only to see that picture from the Fairytale Kingdom Formal he’d been sent in the ID window. “So he had a picture of us dancing. He’s got to have more; he wouldn’t risk being reported over so little proof.”

She nodded. “Slide it out.”

Thomas did as she told him and nearly gasped when he saw the photo behind it. It was from the same night, only a few hours later, and it appeared that he was kissing her. “This never happened.”

“Yes, it did. You found me in the rain, after my fight with Bianca, and we danced, and—”

“I remember,” he interrupted her. Of course he did. That was not a night he would forget, though he did bury the memory all the way in the back of his mind. “But I never kissed you. I would never!”

Danielle took the wallet from his hands and looked at the photo for a while before saying, “No, but I would.”

“You didn’t. I think I would remember.”

She rolled her eyes. “And I’d think you’d remember that it was just your cheek – no matter what it looks like in the photo.”

He did remember that. He also remembered repeatedly touching his cheek on the way home and wondering why the hell he had allowed her to do that. He asked himself that same question now – but there was no use dwelling on it. “Does he have any more?”

“Some from Sundance. The one May Gordon’s published before. They’re not bad on their own, but…”

“Damn it, Danielle! You should have told me as soon as you knew he had them!”

“Told you what? That I’ve ruined your life? That I’m exactly as stupid as you always said I was? No thanks. It’s not like it would have changed anything.” She sniffed. “I’m sorry. I am. I wish I’d never kept those stupid pictures. I should have just burnt them or something.”

Thomas was not prepared for how much he disagreed with that notion. Though, logically, it would be better if those pictures didn’t exist, he didn’t want them to be gone. The Fairytale Kingdom Formal that particular year had been the only one he’d ever even remotely enjoyed. Still… “Why didn’t you? Why keep them in your wallet?”

Danielle smiled ruefully. “Because I’m sentimental. Why do you think I still live here?”

“Still? Is this…?”

She nodded. “The apartment I moved into when I decided to live off-campus. Yeah. I never could part with it. And it’s not like I need more space right now. I spend most of my time on set, anyway.”

“You’ll have to part with it someday. The building might be demolished, or even just sold.”

“Oh, it was sold. To me.”

Thomas blinked. “You bought this whole building because you wanted to keep your old apartment?”

“I told you I’m sentimental,” she shrugged. “Besides, it’s a gold mine. I mean, so close to campus? And not a complete dump? It’s perfect.”

They were quiet for a while, unsure what else there was to be said. Thomas knew he would have to comply with Viktor’s demands for the time being, and Danielle seemed incredibly reluctant to speak – likely for fear of upsetting him in any way. Eventually, he broke the silence.

“You said you had photos from the set of Centaurus Lost…”

She looked up at him wide-eyed. “I… I do. And… some others, too.”

“Can I see them?”

He wasn’t sure what drove him to ask. But, surely, it would be good to know what else could get out there… that was the only reason. He just wanted to know if there was anything else that could ever be used against him. Maybe he’d even make her destroy everything. He knew he wouldn’t, though. Because Thomas, too, had a sentimental side.

Tags: @lilyoffandoms​ @trappedinfandoms​ @flyawayboo​ @oneemofungirl​ @alleksa16​ @silversparrow02​ @i-bloody-love-drake-walker​ @alj4890​ 

[numba99]

Fatal Attraction - Part 5

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4

Summary:When a mysterious man shows up at your job, you find yourself inexplicably drawn to him - and him to you. But behind the beautiful face is the dark lifestyle of a man who has made his wealth through becoming the most powerful drug dealer in the city. Word count: 4k whew my longest work ever I think (there are probably some typos towards the end forgive me!!!)

Song: I wanna be yours // Arctic Monkeys

Warnings: blood, stitches (please ignore if its not medically accurate I tried y’all), smut

Your eyes fluttered open as warm morning sunlight entered the room. With each slow blink, details from last night came back to you. For a few moments you were certain it wasn’t all just a dream, but the bruises on your knuckles told you it was very real.

You looked down at yourself, you were in the pajamas you had packed, but you had no memory of putting them on. You peeked inside your shirt, seeing your bra was still on. Mika must have got you into your pjs because you would have never left your bra on to sleep, no matter how exhausted you were. You thought it was sweet, though, he could have been a creep and stolen a look at you while you were passed out, but he didn’t. He really was a criminal with morals.

Speaking of your favorite criminal, you rolled over, happy to find him still in bed with you. He was closer to the other edge of the bed, which in a king-sized bed felt like a mile away. His back was to you, allowing you to sneak up behind him and wrap your arms around him.

“Morning,” he mumbled softly. His eyes were still closed, but he smiled when you pressed a kiss to his cheek.

“Morning,” you whispered, cuddled against him. He was so warm and solid, curing the little chill you always seemed to feel in the morning, no matter the temperature outside. You couldn’t imagine anything that would be worth leaving this bed for.

“I wish we could stay like this forever,” Mika said, as if he could read your thoughts. He turned towards you, his eyes somehow even more beautiful with a hint of sleepiness in them.

“Who says we can’t?” you asked with a playful grin.

Mika chuckled, “Just about everyone who buys my product.” You thought it was interesting the way he spoke about what he did. It was all very professional, like he was working in a legitimate business. You didn’t mean that in a way to belittle what he did, clearly he did well for himself and you really didn’t have a problem with it. You wondered, though, if it was a show for you, like he thought you were more comfortable hearing “product” rather “drugs.” 

“Can they wait five more minutes?” you asked, not ready to leave this little slice of heaven just yet.

“Of course they can,” Mike replied, kissing your forehead.

“I have to say,” you began, absentmindedly running your finger over his arm, “I was a bit surprised about last night.”

“I’m glad I didn’t freak you out too much with Thomas. I was nervous you’d flip out on me,” Mika replied, watching how you touched him. He loved how delicately your hand moved along his toned forearm.

“No not that... well yeah I guess that surprised me too,” you laughed lightly. That was an understatement, but not what you were thinking of. “I mean the window thing. Not exactly what I would expect from a guy that wants to take things slow.”

Mika shrugged, “It was just the way you handled yourself, I don’t know, it got to me I guess. You're not very easy to resist, y/n.”

You were sure his words made your cheeks turn a bright shade of pink. “Guess it’s good you live so far up, or else some people would have gotten a good show,” you joked.

“I’d never let anyone else see you like that,” Mika said, laughing, though there was an edge of seriousness in his voice. You guess Mika was not a man that liked to share.

You laid together for a little while longer, but hunger got the best of you both eventually. You meandered out to the kitchen, thinking you would just be having some cereal or something. You should have known by now that Mika was not just a cereal type of guy.

“A chef?” you asked, not sure why you were even shocked. He was in the kitchen, churning out a little breakfast spread for the two of you. 

“I thought you’d be hungry after last night,” Mika replied. Your stomach growled as if to agree with him. You loaded your play with pancakes, eggs, and some fruit for good measure before settling down on one of the stools at the kitchen island. 

“Do you mind if Chris joins us?” Mika asked. You shook your head, your mouth was too full to reply verbally. 

At first you were sure Chris didn’t like you, but you think he was just very protective of Mika, which you appreciated. You guessed he thought you either just wanted him for his money, or got yourself into something that was way above your head. The former couldn’t be further from the truth and the latter, well, maybe there was a hint of truth to that. You didn’t know exactly what this lifestyle would entail, but you were prepared to do whatever it takes to keep up. You weren’t about to become a liability to Mika. With the look of approval you caught from Chris last night after handling Thomas, you think he was finally starting to see that too.

Chris came in form the elevator a few moments later, greeting you with a reserved smile, but a smile nonetheless. That was progress in your book. “We still on for tonight?” he asked as he filled his plate with eggs.

“Yeah, I’ve texted the guys to be ready at our normal spot at midnight,” Mika replied.

“What’s tonight?” you asked, not following the conversation.

“We’ve got a shipment coming in,” Mika explained, “Nothing big, really. It’s more of a decoy if anything. Dimitri’s trying to figure out where we import from so he can hijack the big one we having coming in soon.”

“Can I come?” The both shook their heads immediately.

“This isn’t like last night,” Mika replied slowly. You could tell he was trying to choose his words carefully. “Last night was secure. These things are... harder to plan for. Things can... go south fast. I don’t want you in the middle of that.” No matter how heavily he sugarcoated it, you knew he was saying there was chance he could get seriously hurt tonight, or worse. 

“You could die,” you heard yourself say. You didn’t want to sound scared or like you couldn’t handle this. Mika didn’t need another thing to worry about, and a small part of you was scared that if he thought this was going to freak you out too much he’d break things off.

“Please don’t worry, y/n,” Mika insisted, “I’ve done these countless times and I’m still here. Hell, this one is probably the safest one we’ve done in a while because we are anticipating Dimitri watching. We’ll be ready for him and any of the shit he pulls.”

Chris slung his arm around Mika’s shoulder and added, “I’d never let anything happen to Mika, I promise.” You gave them your bravest smile. It did make you feel better to hear that, but still you couldn’t complete ignore the nerves in your stomach.

“What am I supposed to do while you’re gone?”

“Isn't tonight your normal night to work a shift at the club?” Mika asked. You wondered if he planned it that way. He was right though, you were supposed to work tonight. You had almost completely forgotten about Rick’s shitty club; it felt like a lifetime ago.

“Ugh, yeah a do,” you groaned, “That place fucking sucks.” 

“Do you wanna quit?” Mika asked.

“I would love too.”

“So do it,” Mika replied casually, “You don’t need to work, I’ve got you covered.”

“Mika, I can’t, I don’t wanna mooch of you. It’s not fair,” you replied.

“You're not mooching, I want to do it,” Mika countered, “But if you want to work, I definitely support it. I’ll help you find a different job even. I just... I don’t really like the way other men look at you when you dance if I’m honest.” Yeah, he definitely didn’t like to share. You thought it was hot, though, how he spoke with such seriousness.

“Okay deal,” you replied, “I’ll work my final shift tonight and then look for something new. God it will be so nice to be able to tell off Rick once and for all.”

Chris let out a laugh, “Kinda wish I could see that.” You smiled, glad that he really seemed to be warming up to you.

“So I gotta ask,” you shifted the topic, “How did you to meet?” Mika and Chris exchanged a glance as if sharing a silent exchange of who wants to tell the story this time?

Apparently it was Chris’s turn. “Guess it’s not so crazy. I used to live with my family up in Massachusetts, but we didn’t get along well I guess you could say. My parents put a lot of pressure on me to excel in everything. They even wanted me to be a pro hockey player, I mean can you imagine?” Chris and Mika chucked before Chris continued, “Anyways, when I told them that isn’t what I wanted they basically kicked me out and cut me off. I moved to New York and started selling to get by. And that’s when I met Mika.”

“My dad used to have me scout guys,” Mika picked up the story, “Trying to figure out who we could recruit to work for us. I just clicked with Chris unlike I have with anyone else. He's one of the few people I trust completely.” Chris smiled bashfully at Mika’s words. You could tell they meant a lot to each other and you were happy Mika had such a great friend.

“I’m glad you have each other,” you replied. Specifically glad that Mika had Chris. It would make you nervous (well more nervous than you already are) for Mika to be out doing this without someone to have his back. Especially someone like Chris who, the more time you spent, with the more you were convinced he could wrestle a grizzly bear.

The rest of the day was pretty quiet. Mika was extremely calm for someone about to go out and break the law while being watched by some lunatic mobster. You spent much of your time laid beside him, his hand lazily tracing lines over your body as he made phone calls to the other guys finalizing the details. You wished you could get in his head and see if he actually had any fear, or if he was just being brave so you wouldn’t freak out.

Eventually, it came time for you both to go to your respective jobs. Hopefully it would only be your final time doing it. “Hey, don’t look so scared,” Mika said softly, tucking his finger under your chin and pushing it up so you had to look at him. “Everything gonna be okay, I promise. By the time you’re done with your shift at the club I’ll be home. You won't even have time to miss me.”

You couldn’t help but smile softly at the way he spoke to you. It filled you with such a sweet warmth and comfort. “I’ll be racing you back,” you teased, trying to show him you weren’t as nervous as you truly were.

“I know you will be,” Mika smirked, “So on the off chance you beat me to it, or if you need anything at all while I’m out, Lias is gonna be. We always have one person stay back in case- just for precaution. If you need anything call him.”

You nodded, wrapping your arms around him tightly. Mika gave you a peck on the lips and you returned it, which ended up in full blown making out in his living room. 

“Jesus there are plenty rooms in this apartment you guys need to find one,” a voice quipped. Lias had let himself in. You and Mika both rolled your eyes and laughed. “Chris and the guys are waiting for you in the car downstairs.”

“Thanks Lias. Make sure you keep your phone on you if we need anything,” Mika turned to you and kissed your forehead before saying, “I’ll see you soon.” You gave your bravest smile as a goodbye and watched him disappear into the elevator. You wanted to go out with him so you could spend as much time with him as possible, but Mika was concerned about being seen with you. As far as he knew, Dimitri didn't know where he lived, but he still didn’t wanna risk it if he was watching.

So after ten minutes passed, you set off to the club one last time. Despite your nerves there was a go giddy excitement coursing through your veins. There were so many times you fantasized about telling Rick off and now you were finally going to be able to do it.

That was all you thought about during your shift. Well that and Mika, but you were trying to not make yourself a nervous wreck and that was the best distraction. It definitely wasn’t your best night in terms of tips but you really couldn’t give less of a fuck. It wasn’t about the money. You were just there to fill the time. Each song brought you closer to giving Rick what he deserves. Each song brought you closer to Mika.

And finally it was time. You eagerly changed back into your street clothes, hugging the girls you worked with goodbye. They didn’t ask questions about why you were quitting. That was best part of this profession, the girls you worked with understood life could be... complicated. You were glad you didn’t have to come up with a lie.

“I’d like to talk to you, Rick,” you stated, shutting the door to his office behind you. It was less office and more closet he turned into a makeshift office to feed his sense of self importance.

Rick smiled a sleazy smile, “Finally gonna take me up on that offer to fu-”

“Oh would you shut the fuck up,” you snapped, stunning him into a brief silence.

“You can’t talk to me like that,” Rick fired back. He could be loud, but you were scared of him. He was coward and he wouldn’t lay a hand on you. Even if he did, you knew Mika would crush him in a second if he heard.

“I can do whatever the fuck I want. Because I quit,” you began, “You are never going to lay one of your disgusting fucking fingers on me again. Or any of these girls for that matter. None of them want to fuck you, they're just to scared to tell you off because you’re their gross, manipulative boss.”

“Why don’t you j-”

“I’m not fucking finished,” you cut him off, “If I hear you even so much as make one creepy comment towards any of these girls I promise you it will be the last thing you ever do. Got it?” You hadn’t realized you were getting closer to him as you spoke until you were right in his face. You never saw him look so afraid. It felt good.

“Got it,” he gulped.

“Great,” you flashed a mean-spirited smile, “Don’t even bother paying me for the shift tonight. I don’t need your money.” With that you left, feeling on top of the fucking world. You almost forgot about what Mika was out doing. Almost. 

Once the high of quitting wore off, you were practically running home. Had you not been so caught up in wanting to see Mika so badly, you may have thought more about how you were already referring to Mika’s place as “home” even though you haven’t even moved in. That didn’t matter right now, you just wanted to see his face.

You rushed into the apartment, nerves creeping in as you noted how quiet it was. You found Lias in the living room where you left him. Alone.

“They’re not back yet?” you asked, holding out hope Mika had slipped away to the bathroom.

“No, um, should be here soon,” Lias told you, though there was something off in his voice. He knew something he wasn’t telling you.

“Lias... did something happen?” Your heart was pounding your ears.

“It’s nothing really everything is-”

“Lias fucking tell me what happened,” you snapped. You couldn’t bare another moment in suspense. 

“There was a fight,” Lias relented, “Not Dimitri’s people, but they were attacked.” Before you could ask what he meant by that, the elevator doors lid open. Chris walked in with his arm around Mika, who was bleeding down his face from his forehead.

“Oh my god,” you gasped. You knew head wounds bled more than other wounds even if they weren’t that bad, but the amount of blood dripping down his face was startling. 

“It’s not as bad it looks,” Mika insisted. You rush over to him as Chris sat him down at on one of the stools in the kitchen.

“Seriously, you should see the other guy,” Chris added with a smirk, “Poor guy won’t be getting a date any time soon.” Mika and Chris had a laugh, as if Mika wasn’t still currently bleeding. You inspected the gash above his eyebrow, a little less than an inch long. You ran a finger over the skin around it and Mika winced.

“This is gonna need stitches,” you stated, getting a close a look as possible. It didn’t appear to go down to the bone, thank god.

“We can’t go to a hospital,” Mika told you, “Hospitals take names and ask questions.”

“Have you got a first aid kit?” you asked.

Chris nodded, “Should be a fully stocked one in the closet upstairs.”

“Grab it and bring it to the bathroom. Lias can you get some towels, please? Either dark ones or old ones. This will stain.” You held out your hand, which Mika took, but not without a quizzical look. You led him to the bathroom.

“Do you know how to do stitches?” Mika asked as you sat him down at the toilet. You turned on the tap, letting it run warm.

“I was studying to be a nurse before I left college,” you explained. By that time Lias had dropped off some black towels. You soaked one, gently removing the blood that had dripped down his neck.

“Is there anything you can’t do?” Mika asked, eyeing you with wonderment. You were trying to focus on wiping the blood around to wound off without pulling it open more, but his eyes on you clouded your thoughts.

“Long division,” you joked, mostly for yourself. You needed to lighten the mood. Once you got enough of the blood off, you instructed Mika to press the towel against his head to prevent anymore from coming out. Just then, Chris brought in the first aid kit.

“Need any help in here?” he asked.

“No, thank you,” you replied, your eyes scanning the interior of kit. You were relieved that it had everything you needed. Chris said something you didn’t really catch as you pulled out the disinfectant. You poured it on to the gauze and handed it to Mika. “Put this over the cut. It’s gonna sting, but it’s gotta get clean.” 

Mika followed your instruction without question, though he did wince when the gauze touched his skin. “Jesus this hurt more than the actual cut.”

“Sorry,” you replied empathically. 

“Not your fault baby,” he replied, his free hand finding the back of your thigh and rubbing it lightly. You ignored how it made your stomach flip as you tried to thread the need. It took you three tries.

“Try to hold still,” you said quietly as you positioned yourself over him. Your hands were shaking slightly, it had been awhile since you had done this. After a deep breath you were able to proceed, and you were surprised how easily it came back to you. Mika was an amazing patient, only a few little twitches of a frown as the needle went through his skin and the sutures closed up the wound.

“All done,” you said, letting out the breath you didn’t realize you're holding. You took a step back to admire your work. You were surprised at how good they looked. 

Mika stood up and checked himself in the mirror. “Wow, you’re amazing, you know that right?” he marveled at you. It made your knees weak.

“You were the bravest patient I ever had,” you told him. He didn't need to know your only other patients included little kids at summer camps.

“Hope you don’t mind how they make me look,” Mika teased, wrapping his arms around your waist.

“I think it suits you,” you replied. It was weirdly hot, in a way. “Plus, I’ve always loved a scar on a man.” You gently thumbed his forehead, just a few inches above the wound.

Mika’s eyes clouded over lightly. At first you couldn't quite place it, but when his lips found your neck you realized it was lust. “How can I repay you?” he asked in a tone that told you he already had an idea.

You slipped your hand under his jaw, making him look at you. You took a second to admire the look in his eyes, before whispering. “Like this.” Your lips were on his in an instant. You kissed each other hungrily. Your hands tangled through his hair while his found your ass. He gave you a slight squeeze and you jumped up, wrapping your legs around him. 

He was able to carry you effortlessly to his bedroom without ever losing contact with your lips. You fell into the clouds of his bed sheets gently, as Mika admired you from above. As much as his stare intoxicate you, you needed him. You reached up, pulling him on top of you.

Clothes feel off between kisses and gentle moans. Mika made it clear the other night that he was well-versed in foreplay activities, but right now you just wanted him. Nothing besides him inside you would satisfy the ache you felt between your legs.

Mika sensed this, reaching down to run his finger through you folds. He made sure you were wet enough for him and you were more than certain you were. Though when he removed the last of his clothes, there was a sliver of doubt in you. He was big, both long and thick.

“We’ll start slow,” Mika smirked, noting the look in your eye when you saw him. You didn’t have time to be embarrassed about being caught staring, he was already getting himself ready to push into you.

It didn't happen with you fistfuls of sheets and some gasps, but he managed to get himself all the way inside you. Mika was normally very composed, but you could see his willpower was crumbling as he felt your tightness around him.

Mika kept yo his word, moving slowing until you both adjusted to the feeling of the other. It didn’t take too long before he was able to move with more speed and strength. He felt unbelievably good inside you; you never felt so full in your life. His strokes were long but fast. It was the perfect mix of needy and passionate. He’d been thinking about this moment as long as you had.

Your orgasm approached surprisingly quickly. You clawed at Mika’s back, feeling the pleasure build to a near unbearable level.

“Fuck, Mika,” you gasped when you couldn’t hold on any longer. The sweet warm sensation of bliss filled you completely. You moaned into Mika’s neck as he kept going until he came along with you. The sounds he made were music to your ears.

Mika slowed up and let you both ride out the last few moments of your highs. He was panting lightly by the time he fell beside you on the bed. He had you in his arms within seconds.

“I guess neither of us understand the concept of slow,” you teased.

Mika chuckled, kissed the top of your head, “You get me. That’s why you’re my girl. Forever.”

[alj4890]

And Then I Met You

Part 24

What happens when the one you thought you were meant for turns out to be meant for someone else?

A\N Choices Fan Fiction with characters from The Royal Romance, Red Carpet Diaries, and Perfect Match

Masterlist

A/N Sorry for the delay. With the holidays and multiple bouts of sickness, time got away from me. 

@lxaah11 @alleksa16 @penguininapinktuxedo @blackcoffee85 @stopforamoment  @hopefulmoonobject  @krsnlove   @annekebbphotography   @cora-nova @bella-ca @hopelessromantic1352. @sunflowergirl05 @desiree-0816 @greywitchyshots @lilyofchoices @emceesynonymroll @dr-nancy-house @aworldoffandoms @ab1901  @lolablackwrites  @flyawayboo @i-bloody-love-drake-walker. @trappedinfandoms @kate-mckenzie​

Part 24

"What do you think?" Nadia clasped her hands together and tried to keep still as she waited on the verdict.

Amanda and Thomas stared at their wedding portrait she had created.

"How--" Thomas began

"When--"Amanda said at the same time.

"I worked on it after each social event." She explained. She grinned at Maxwell. "With the help of espresso and cookies, I was able to complete it while you were gone."

Thomas slipped his hand in Amanda's as he continued to study Nadia's view of them.

"Do I really look like that?" Amanda whispered in awe.

"Yes." He tugged her close. "And the way I am drawn looking at you is most accurate."

She smiled softly. "My expression is spot on too."

Maxwell cocked his head to the side and studied the painting. "I can't believe you wouldn't let me look at it as you worked on it."

"It's incredible!" Addison exclaimed.

"What image did you use to paint them so accurately?" Holly asked.

Nadia shook her head. "None. I wanted to paint what I had observed over time."

"It's perfect." Thomas told her.

Amanda hugged the petite artist. "I can never thank you enough. I love it and know that one day my children and grandchildren will too."

Nadia beamed proudly. "I know you eloped and that I should have gone with your house colors, but there was something about that night you two went to the awards ceremony. You both were caught on camera looking at one another as if seeing each other differently. That's why I put you both in those clothes."

"Red carpet moment for Hollywood's noble couple." Ryan teased. "Seems appropriate to me."

"I'm just happy it is ready for the guests to see during the ball tomorrow night." Amanda added. "I intend on encouraging everyone to see it and to use Nadia for all further portraits."

"I'll give the guided tours." Maxwell offered. He pressed a sweet kiss to Nadia's lips. "Everyone needs to see how talented you are."

"You're going to make me cry!" Nadia turned into Maxwell's arms. "Thank you."

"Well, they weren't the only ones busy." Olivia announced. "We worked with Hudson on the theme of your ball."

"You did?" Amanda asked in surprise. She stared at even Drake nodding. "You too?"

"I couldn't escape." He muttered. "Olivia wouldn't allow defectors."

"What is the theme?" She asked.

"Under the Stars." Holly explained. "We thought given both of your new statuses, it seemed appropriate."

"We wanted something like the Two Seasons Ball but they wouldn't go along with it." Ryan explained.

"Everyone knows that Winters and Summers are the best." Chris added with a wink. "Probably would have been even more exposure for the upcoming film."

Amanda laughed. "I will try and plan that for the next ball."

"This is why you are our favorite out of Thomas's wives." Ryan teased.

______________

Thomas waited downstairs for his wife to finish dressing. Addison had arrived earlier and demanded he leave. She had a surprise for the two of them.

His conversation with Drake and Liam broke off when he looked up. The other two men turned to see what had made him speechless.

Addison beamed at his reaction as Amanda walked downstairs in the gown she had created. The royal blue colors of her dress twinkled like stars in a night sky from the many crystals sewn throughout. The gown was different from her others in how, as Addison had deemed it, confidently daring it was with the high slit along her right leg and the low cut bodice. The capped sleeves were hanging past her shoulders as if to tease one into thinking the dress was barely held on her curves so prominently displayed. Her hair was piled in a loose bun with stray curls brushing along her neck. Her great grandmother's blue diamond necklace graced her throat while a blue diamond cuff rested on her wrist.

Thomas pushed past the two men and met her at the bottom of the stairs. 

Her lips curved softly at him. She dipped into a curtsy. "Your grace."

He took her hand and pulled her into his arms. "You look--"

"Don't you dare crush her dress!" Addison called down.

He glared up at her for interrupting the tender moment.

Amanda chuckled and leaned close to his ear. "Tell me when we are alone." She whispered then tenderly kissed his cheek

He promised he would, making her smile. She took his arm and greeted Drake and Liam.

________________

Their guests began to arrive shortly thereafter. The couple stood by the double doors to the ballroom, greeting each one.

Thomas kept his arm around her waist as some of the single noblemen ogled his wife. His crisp greetings followed by a warning glare snapped them out of finally noticing the duchess they had thus far only deemed passable.

Amanda bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing at his reaction. "I don't think they know what to make of this change Addison did." She whispered.

He finished keeping his hard gaze on a man who dashed into the ballroom. "I don't know if I should express gratitude for them not seeing you or gloat over being the one to notice how beautiful you are. Clearly they are blind imbeciles."

She wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed a kiss to his lips. "I for one am very thankful you were the one to notice."

She smiled when he grumbled about not being able to leave with her for somewhere more private. "I do love you so, Thomas."

His lips eased. "I love you too." He stole another kiss from her before being forced to interact with yet another group.

Lauren and Tariq approached next. The actress's jaw dropped when she saw Amanda.

Thomas watched with pride as Amanda held herself with grace and aplomb. She nodded to the couple and welcomed them to St Orella.

Tariq also seemed surprised at Amanda's attire. He bowed and took Lauren's arm to leave. The actress stopped him as her eyes narrowed in suspicion. "I'm surprised to see you two. I thought you must have dropped off the face of the earth."

Amanda laughed and cut her eyes coyly to Thomas. "We became a little distracted once we were alone."

He smiled and kept his eyes solely on her. “Yes we did.” Thomas moved his hand further down her hip. "A distraction that not only held me captive but one I intend on repeating very soon."

Lauren's cheeks turned red at being ignored for the duchess once again. Even her darling Tariq struggled with keeping his eyes off her. "Good thing you married for money." She snapped. "It looks like your film career is over since you seem unable to actually begin filming."

Thomas opened his mouth to set the vain actress in her place. He had a number of insults to heap upon her. Just as he was about to unleash his temper, Amanda spoke first.

"Ignore the peasants, my love. I've found that is the best way to deal with the demented ones." She took his arm and entered into the ballroom, leaving Lauren staring once again in shock.

Holly and Nadia, who had been spying behind the door, rushed to tell the others what had happened.

"She was amazing!" Nadia exclaimed with excitement. "I have never seen her insult someone. It was done in such a cold superior way."

Olivia laughed in delight. "I wish I could have seen it."

"Here, I filmed it through the crack of the door." Holly pulled it up on her phone with an evil smile. "I intend to watch it often when I need a good laugh."

The Hollywood and Cordonian groups gathered in a tight circle as they watched the video. Laughter and pride was expressed by all of them.

Amanda and Thomas stepped up on the dais where a band awaited her signal.

"Welcome everyone." She called out in a clear, steady voice. "Lord Thomas and I are honored to have you each here for our first hosted event. Please enjoy all that St Orella has to offer." She smiled at the cheers and glanced at her husband.

He cleared his throat. "We also encourage everyone to take a tour of St Orella's  gallery. Lady Nadia Beaumont's immense talent in on display. She honored us by creating our wedding portrait." He smiled softly toward Maxwell and Nadia. "I suggest you hurry to gain an appointment with her as soon as possible before I take advantage of our friendship and demand she paint only for us."

Nadia laughed while wiping the sentimental tears from her cheeks. Maxwell pulled her into his embrace. He yelled out that he would be the one leading the tours.

Amanda bowed her head toward the orchestra and took Thomas's arm as he led her off the platform. She whispered in his ear and he nodded. He elegantly bowed before Regina and led her, delighted with his asking her first, off in a waltz.

Amanda dropped into a curtsy before Constantine and Liam. The king smiled and sent Liam to dance with her, claiming he needed to save his strength if he was to make his queen remember that Lord Thomas was a married man.

She laughed and left him settling into a comfortable chair. She and Liam joined Regina and Thomas on the dance floor while everyone watched. It was clear the royal family thought highly of the duchess and new duke. Whispers abounded as Constantine smiled in approval when he saw his wife chuckling at whatever Thomas was saying. Couples joined once the two pairs made a turn about the dance floor and  the ball officially began.

______________

After a few songs, Ryan came up beside Holly. "How about you and I try this?"

She rolled her eyes. "Is that how you ask everyone to dance or am I special?"

"You're special." He said in a serious tone for once. He took her hand when she lifted an eyebrow in amazement. Before she could agree he twirled her out onto the floor.

_______________

"Go ask her!" Jessica ordered.

Matt shook his head. "She likes someone else."

"Come on, Matt." Chris urged. "You know her crush on Liam is harmless. She adores you and turns to you first every time she needs someone. Go and let her know you want more."

Matt looked over to the side of the ballroom where Addison was talking with Riley and Hana. He took a tentative step forward to only watch as a nobleman came and asked her to dance. He shook his head at his friends when the pair disappeared on the dance floor. "It's not meant to be."

Jessica, Chris, and his wife, Shannon, watched him head off in the opposite direction where a bar was set up.

________________

Thomas searched the crowd and finally spotted his wife. She had finished her rounds and was now off by herself, watching couples dance and enjoy the food and drinks being set out. His lips curved as he was reminded of all the other times he had seen her content in remaining in the background.

She smiled when he came up beside her. "What do you think?"

"I think it is going well." He lifted her hand to his lips. "You're a perfect hostess."

She shook her head. "I can't take credit for any of this." Amanda leaned back against the wall. "Even my dress was not of my doing. All this is in thanks to highly talented people." Her eyes twinkled with humor. "I am very pleased to attract such individuals for friends and a husband."

He rolled his eyes. "You know very well how talented you are." His arm slipped around her. "They might have set this all up, but you are what is making the party." He tilted her face up to look into her eyes. "I am proud of you."

She wrapped her arm around his waist. "I don't know why with how little I have done."

He caressed her cheek while a soft smile played about his lips. "You've done everything. I'm especially proud of how you handled--" His lips firmed suddenly in a frown when they were interrupted by a man who's name he couldn't recall.

"Lady Amanda, may I have this dance?"

Thomas recognized the song beginning. "No." He answered for her. "My wife and I only dance the Cordonian Waltz with each other."

Without looking at Amanda, he tugged her toward the dance floor. He was well aware he had acted high handed, yet didn't care. He knew he would be unable to see her dance this particular one with anyone else. Her dress alone was making it nearly impossible to even let her walk around without him.

Thomas finally looked into her eyes when he twirled her into his embrace. She leaned closer and pressed a tender kiss to his lips.

They continued the dance, each wishing they were alone in the ballroom. Their eyes met with each turn. His eyes would drop down to her mouth, waiting for the moment he could kiss her as he desired. When it came to an end, he led her toward the back of the room.

"Where are we--" she gasped at how swiftly he moved her out into the dim courtyard by a hidden side door. "Thomas, we shouldn't--"

He pulled her into the shadows and kissed her exactly as he had wanted to since she had first come down the stairs. "I couldn't wait another moment." He whispered. "I have thought of little else other than this kiss."

Her arms wrapped around his waist pulled him closer to her. "I must confess that I hoped you would do this."

He smiled and captured her lips in another kiss.

_____________

As the ball continued to be praised as one of the highlights of the season, there were a few who weren't impressed with any of it.

"I can't believe she said that to me!" Lauren hissed again.

"The duchess has not been brought up like the rest of us. Her uncle did a poor job of raising her." Neville remarked. "Look at those she has chosen as close companions and confidants. Birds of a feather." He said with bitterness.

She nodded and forced a smile when Tariq returned with a glass of champagne. "Thank you."

"See." Neville pointed out. "You have more genteel manners in your little finger than she ever had." He stared at the door Amanda and Thomas had disappeared behind. "What hostess deserts her own function?"

Lauren nodded in agreement. "I knew you would understand, Lord Neville."

His eyes met hers. "When is the wedding to be?"

Tariq looked up and shrugged. "Whenever my Lauren decides."

She smiled at him. "Isn't he sweet?" Her smile slowly firmed into a disappointed pout. "It's a shame he doesn't find me as attractive as an ill mannered duchess."

Tariq tried to convince her that he didn't find Amanda attractive at all as she blinked back tears.

Neville told him he would talk to her when she rushed out of the ballroom. "You'll only make it worse with all your stutters." He snapped.

Tariq shoved his hands in his pockets. "You're right. Thanks Neville."

The future earl followed along her path. He found her in a small sitting room with all the lights turned off. Her silhouette was seen over on one of the couches.

She delicately sniffed and tried to make her voice tremble. "Please, my lord. Leave me to my despair."

Neville sat down beside her and took her in his arms. "Are you truly going to waste your life on Tariq?" He turned on a lamp to see her face. "Why didn't you wait on my return?"

Her dry eyes narrowed. "You left without a word. I never heard from you again." She stuck her nose up in the air. "Is it my fault that he fell in love with me?"

Neville slowly smirked. "Not at all, but you will end this sham of an engagement."

"And why should I?" She asked in a huff. "He is willing to give me everything that you have yet to offer." She looked at Neville and cocked her head. "Tariq is much more handsome than you."

Neville slammed his mouth over hers. He wrapped his hand in her hair and held her prisoner as she responded with angry desire.

"Would you rather marry a mere viscount or a future earl with his own island estate?" He asked.

Her eyebrow lifted. "I thought your father didn't approve of an actress in the family."

"You won't have to make another film, not with the riches my family has." He tempted her with such a promise. His lips touched hers again. "Countess Lauren rolls of the tongue more so than Vicountess Lauren."

She bit her lip and ran a finger down his shirt buttons. "I don't know." Her eyes lifted to his in mock conflict. "Tariq has been so kind to me. He has promised me everything I want. You are still under your father's rule."

Neville gripped her arms. "I will be an earl, a highly eligible one at that. As soon as Liam announces his choice, I won't be making this offer again. Why should I when I will have women fighting over me? Either you settle for Tariq and his adequate estate or you choose the better, richer noble." He let her go and left her debating on what she should do.

_____________

Drake noticed Olivia off by herself and made his way over. Something about the expression on her face made him pick up his pace.

"What's wrong?" He asked, sitting down beside her.

"Nothing." She muttered. Her eyes drifted from a recently returned Thomas and Amanda, to Maxwell and Nadia slow dancing, and finally landing on Liam and Riley talking off by themselves. Even Hana had caught Rashad's attention.

"Yes there is." Drake argued. "Don't pull that stoic crap with me."

She glared at him.

He stubbornly met her glare with his own.

"I was thinking how fast things are changing and yet I am nowhere near achieving a similar goal." She spat out.

"What are you talking about?"

She motioned toward their friends. "I didn't think much about it when Maxwell married, but then Amanda found Thomas. Now Liam will be settling down soon."

"So?" Drake prodded. "What has this got to do with your goals?"

Her hesitation unnerved him. "Your goal is to get married?" He couldn't believe it.

Her jade eyes were filled with disgust. "Don't be ridiculous. My goal is--"she turned back to observing ball. "My goal has been to obtain that which I never had."

"What is it?" He persisted.

"A family." Olivia admitted.

Drake stared at her in shock. He couldn't recall a time where she had ever wanted something so normal.

"Try and control your expression." She snapped. "I didn't suddenly sprout horns." Olivia folded her arms and tried to ignore him.

"You want kids?" He asked.

She looked up for divine intervention. "Yes. Is it really so odd?"

"No." He thought of her with a baby in her arms, threatening any who even looked like they might want to hurt it. She would give the term overprotective parent a whole new meaning. What was strange was how much he liked the image in his mind.

She straigtened her posture and turned to leave. She wasn't certain what it was that bothered her about him. All she knew was she wanted some space as she came to grips with everything going on. "I'll see you around, Walker."

"You'd make a great mom, Liv." He said, making her stop in her tracks. "Any kid would be lucky to have you taking care of him or her."

"You really--thank you." She managed to say.

Drake watched her approach Amanda, bidding her goodnight, and then left the ball.

________________

After midnight...

Amanda and Thomas waved goodbye as some guests left to return to their homes or hotels they were staying at. Others went upstairs to their rooms. The servants were already cleaning up the ballroom. Everything had been a success this evening.

Lauren was one of the last to leave with Tariq. She stuck her nose in the air and refused to acknowledge the two she hated at the moment.

Thomas ignored her and said goodbye to Tariq. Amanda wished him safe travels and didn't bother to include Lauren.

The actress couldn't believe they were letting her leave without an apology. She stormed off toward the waiting car when they turned to the next set of people leaving. Lauren began to think of ways to get back at the two that also wouldn't harm her chances in marrying a noble.

After the last car left, Thomas walked back inside with Amanda. She paused to see the progress on the ballroom. She encouraged Hudson and his team of maids and footmen to leave the rest for the next day.

Her husband took her hand and tugged her upstairs when it seemed she was going to linger. Once they were back in their bedroom, he pulled her close. He took a deep breath and simply enjoyed holding her.

"I'm going to miss you." She looked up at him. "I know it is only for a couple of weeks." She bit her lip. "And I know I will be able to visit once the court moves to Ramsford."

He kissed her forehead. "I will miss you too. I will be counting down the minutes until we are together."

"As will I." She looked over where his bags were packed and tightened her hold on him. "Tomorrow afternoon you will finally be doing what you have wanted to do all these months." She turned back toward him. "I'm sorry it took so long to get to this point."

"Don't be." He rested his forehead against hers. "I wouldn't alter one moment of the past five months."

She kissed him tenderly. "Neither would I."

"Good." He released her and took his jacket and bowtie off. His shirt was soon unbuttoned when she asked for help with undoing her dress.

She watched him in the reflection of the mirror as he started on the number of tiny hooks that had held her gown in place. A frown formed the further he went.

"What's wrong?" She asked.

He looked up and met her gaze in the mirror. "I've noticed that you usually have me help you in and out of dresses."

Her lips trembled with laughter. "I suppose I do."

"Who is going to help you when I'm gone?" His deep voice was laced with warning.

"That is an excellent question." She pretended to ponder. "I can't just ask anyone to help with this."

His eyes narrowed. "No. You can't."

"I guess I will have to resort to using the previous person who handled all this." She sighed softly and lowered her eyes. "Now I have one more reason to miss you."

Thomas finished the last few hooks and slipped his hands inside her dress. He pulled her back to his chest and waited for her to continue. When she instead tried to kiss him, he shook his head.

"Who was the previous person?"

She tried not to laugh at his irritation growing. "Me." She turned around and looped her arms around his neck. "You didn't honestly think I have some man waiting around to dress and undress me?"

"These dresses you've been wearing since we married do tend to be a two person job." He argued.

She tenderly kissed his lips. "That's because my intention with these dresses is to tempt you." Her lips moved down his neck. "If you aren't here, then there is no reason for them." She took him to her closet and held up one of her older gowns. The zipper was on the side. "See?"

He relaxed and pulled her close again. "Good. I would like for that particular job to be solely mine."

"I feel the same about you." Amanda kissed along his jaw while backing him out. "Over a great many things."

"It seems once more we are in agreement." He lowered his lips to hers once more when they reached the bed.

___________________

The next morning the two joined their friends for a farewell breakfast.

Addison sniffed while nibbling on a giant cinnamon roll. "I'm going to miss you guys."

Nadia teared up and hugged her. "I don't want you to go!"

Holly rolled her eyes and avoided looking at the ones she had surprisingly become close to.

Matt cleared his throat and let them know he was leaving today too. "I start filming the day after tomorrow for Tommy Phelps."

Addison looked up in surprise. "You are?! Why didn't you tell me?"

He shrugged. "You've been busy."

Thomas interrupted before Addison could cry over this new development. "You have all been a great help to me." He gripped Amanda's hand when she placed it on his leg. "Thank you for your intervention in that problem and for stepping in whenever we had other hurdles in our path."

Addison and Nadia began to cry at his words.

"That was--" Addison started.

"--so sweet!" Nadia finished.

Maxwell clapped Thomas on the shoulder. "We'll keep an eye on things here while you're gone." He noticed Amanda narrowing her eyes. "We won't let that annoyance do anything to your favorite duchess."

"I believe I am quite capable of taking care of myself." Amanda muttered. "With how you lot think of me, it is a wonder I am able to walk upright."

"Not always." Drake teased, ignoring her glare. "You do fall down a lot."

Amanda clamped her mouth shut. Her irritation soon turned to laughter. "I can't argue that point."

"May we come visit the set when we are free from duties?" Liam asked. "I would love to see the process."

"Of course." Thomas said, ignoring Addison's cheer. "You each are welcome." He checked the time and turned toward Amanda. "We have about two hours until I leave."

She set her teacup down and excused them. Their friends watched happily as the couple left outside for a walk.

Holly leaned forward once the two were far enough away. "Don't forget to watch Lauren."

Olivia nodded. "We won't. She might fool a number of the idiots here, but we know what she is."