#darkening duck reboot

[twistedsinews]

Crazy All the Same

Saints Row (Reboot); Kevin/Default!Boss; PG-13 (AO3 Flavor)

“Are you gonna let me in, or what? Or am I really gonna have to walk home in the pouring rain?”

It was a more of a drizzle. Enough to take the heat off and soak his hair and skin, but it sizzled on the dry pavement and soaked into the dusty earth.

“And yeah, you can tell me that maybe I should have checked the weather, but c’mon who ever expects it to rain in Santa Ileso?”

She blinked.

Slow and calculating.

Then, without so much as a word, she straightened, bobbing her head sidelong towards the door before stepping back through it.

The air rushed from his lungs.

Grabbing the railing, Kevin vaulted over the stairs to the landing.

The apartment was more of a hole in the wall – a room half-salvaged out of an abandoned hotel. Small table, barely a kitchen set into one wall, tattered loveseat facing an ancient television, a bureau missing two of its drawers, serviceable bed on the floor.

It had personality, mainly as a result of the woman living in it. Clothing was strewn out of the bureau; weapons and parts thereof as well as ammunition across every surface. A worn dartboard hung on the wall, that had both darts and a throwing knife sticking out of it.

She ducked through a door, a flash of darkened movement in a cracked medicine cabinet mirror beyond that left Kevin to his own devices.

Rifling around in her cupboards turned up half a bottle of whiskey, pop-tarts, cold cereal, boxes of macaroni and cheese, the key to her rusty old project, roll of bandages and a box of band-aids, and an impressive three solid bricks of product.

The freezer held ice cubes, ice cream, and frozen pizza; the fridge, milk, lemonade, cold delivered pizza, and a handgun.

Kevin swallowed.

Something smacked him square in the back of the head, and he reached up on reflex to catch it as it started to tumble down his shoulders. A towel, he realized, as he closed the refrigerator door.

Glancing back, he found her staring at him.

She turned away, striding over the window. She slid it open, and the stifled air grew thin as a cooler draft swept in.

Kevin trailed along behind her, toweling some of the damp out of his hair.

Finally, she turned to circle him, arms crossed, one shoulder hitched higher than the other as she came to a stop and regarded him evenly.

Uncertainty itched its way up his spine, and settled cold in his chest.

“So. You might think this is crazy, but... uh... well...”

Eli had advised him to play up his strengths and downplay his weaknesses. Neenah had rolled her eyes and told him to simply be himself. Standing there, Kevin wondered where this was going to land him if being himself wasn’t good enough.

“See, it’s like this: I’m a little bit crazy, and you could say crazy’s kind of my thing. And then...” Gaze falling away from her stare, he licked his lip. “Then, there’s you. You’re kind of way far out crazy in ways I’ve never even reached. Not sure I even know how, but... you know... it’s... it has crossed my mind...”

Loading everything he had into one toss of the dice, he forced himself to meet her eyes.

“You wanna see how crazy we can get?”

Expression inscrutable, she stared a moment longer. Her gaze flicked lower, roaming over his chest and detouring over the splash of color down his arm, and back to his face.

Faster than he could react, she shoved him off his balance.

Kevin’s back hit the wall. He started to smile, but she was on him before he could, mouth crushing against his in a searing warmth to rival any heat wave.

---

“You really should get an A/C.”

“Yeah, maybe,” she ventured. “Savin’ up for something else, though.”

“...wouldn’t stealing be more your style?”

“Been busy.”

There might’ve been a hint of mirth in her voice at the prospect.

Behind him, she was propped up on one elbow, running her fingers in lazy patterns through his hair. He rolled back as far as he could without jostling her, and she lifted her hand away, a slight cant to her head as she studied his face.

Maybe it was the morning light, maybe it was the enigmatic serenity in her expression. Kevin would never have imagined, the night before, that he could fall any harder than he already had.

“I’m gonna make you breakfast.”

Her hand came down on his shoulder as he tried to sit up; firm, persistent and pushing him right back down.

“Right now, you’re good where you are.”

Kevin caught a glimpse of a smirk as she lowered herself back down behind him. Her hand slid down his arm to slip under his elbow, coming to rest against his abdomen, and she tucked her face into the crook of his shoulder.

He stared at the bright blue sky out the window, and his chest hitched, his breath catching in his throat.

He reached for her fingers. Raised her knuckles to his mouth. And pressed her hand decisively against his chest, over his heart.

[wetty-steady]

Please tell us (or me) more about Buahroot? 🥰

Hello! Of course.

Basically, he's from the show darkening duck which you can find on Disney plus and YouTube. He's one of the antagonists but isn't exactly a villain?

He made his first appearance in beauty and the beet! We also get some backstory. He was Dr. Bushroot (Reginald is his first name) and was a scientist who studied and experimented on plants! He was made fun of and actually found a way to cure world hunger. Of course his idea was turned down and his funding was cut so he went to his greenhouse to experiment on himself to prove it was a bad idea.

The experiment went wrong though and he ended up mutated into a plant duck. (Who could control and talk to plants.) In lots of episodes he's shown to be a bit, complicated? Some episodes he's really nervous and shy while others he's trying to run DW over with a tractor.

In a very very recent episode (let's get dangerous) which is a part of the ducktales reboot season 3 he makes an appearance. His color palette is very grey and browned (almost looks as if he's dead) and you cant see his blue eyes anymore. Throughout the episode though instead of talking he just growls and hisses (almost like a cat) which I think is cool.

Oh and he had a HUGE crush on Dr. Rhonda!

I hope some of this helped? Reginald is one of my favorite characters so I will absolutely geek out over him!

[shadow--writer]

Imagine me Trying too Hard to put you From my Mind

....look. Look. I am a musical theatre dork. Do not come for me. Yes the version linked here is the movie version. Do not come for me

Maeve x Lucas. Lazy mornings for lazy days 2k

TW: none!

@dela-png

Easy to sleep, hard to wake. That’s what her dad always said about her.

Today she woke up by herself. No bat chirping at her or people banging on her door. 

Only soft breath against her neck, making goosebumps erupt along her skin. 

That’s right. She spent the night. With Lucas (in his bed she was sleeping with him she was in the same bed as him). And he…

He kept his promise. 

He was here. Still here in the morning.

She leaned into him, holding his hands. He let out a lazy little murmur, nuzzling his nose against her goosebump risen skin. 

She still felt like a wrung out sponge, body weighed down from her dream.

...oh great he was definitely going to ask her about it when he woke up. 

What was she even supposed to tell him?!

“Hey so I kind of had a dream about you! Yep! My ex was there and he was basically tearing you apart from the inside out! I really hope this doesn’t change anything between us because I really really like you and don’t want to scare you away with my extra baggage!”

...mmhmm. Yeah. That would go so well. Why not tell him about the whole ordeal with the ex?! Because all of that totally won’t scare him off. 

Whatever evil god decided that now was a good time to give her nightmares could suck on a star. 

Jolie’s low purring drew her out of her musings. 

Maybe if she snuck out of bed, quickly got changed and left he wouldn’t notice? 

...because she hadn’t tried that one before. And it worked a little too well. Lucas would actually kill her if she tried something like that. 

And judging by the way he held her tight...she’d deserve it. Heavily. Again. 

Even if Lucas didn’t strangle her she knew Amani would. 

She shuddered at the thought of incurring the wrath of Amani again. 

Okay. Scrap that plan. Imagining the hurt on his face when he woke up and she was gone stung a little as well. Definitely scrap that plan.

She shifted around, trying to think of a new plan. One not involving leaving or getting murdered. 

Lucas kissed the back of her neck, letting her know he was awake. 

And probably had been for a little while. 

“Why are you...up so early,” Lucas breathed, making her squeak in surprise. 

Shit she woke him. 

“I’m s-sorry?”

He sighed, nuzzling her hair. “Why did you have to be a morning person?” He yawned, letting out another sigh. 

“I’m really not.” As evidenced by her dad having to drag her out of bed in the mornings when she was back home. 

“Then why oh why did you choose to be one today?”

She opened her mouth to reply, before closing it. She really didn’t know why she was waking up so early. The sun was just starting to come up, bathing his room in a warm glow. 

And like the rest of the house it was a mess.

There was a chair tucked into a corner with a pile of laundry that she hoped was clean. Knick knacks covered the shelves and piled up on the floor. His bedside table was a bit wobbly and had a few books along with water glasses collecting dust. 

“You doing okay?” he murmured, stretching his arms out and tangling their fingers together when he found her hands. 

“Hm? Oh! Yeah! Fine. Doing just fine. Peachy! Great!”

“...liar.”

She sighed, deflating a little. Yeah she laid it on a bit thick. He was thick headed but not stupid. “Fine. Doing better. A little...tired? I think.”

“You feeling weighed down?”

“Yeah.”

He squeezed her hands, stretching their arms out a little to lay across the blankets. 

“I’m...sorry for waking you. Again.”

“You don’t have to apologize. I’m just reeling over the fact you’re still here with me.”

“I debated leaving,” she admitted, leaning back into his chest.

He was silent for a moment. “...you wouldn’t.”

“Well…”

He let go of her hands, rolling over on top of her. She squealed, making him laugh as he buried his face in the crook of her neck. He let out a huff. “Uh huh. Now you can’t leave. Mwahaha and all that.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck, playing with the hair at the nape. “I dreamed about you,” she said softly. He stiffened. The words lifted a small weight off her chest. 

She really should talk about her issues more often. It was a bit of a relief. 

“It wasn’t a good dream. Like the ones I usually have of you. They aren’t very...very good to begin with of course, but they were better than this.”

He stayed quiet, she breathed in shakily. 

“You didn’t ask so this is dumb but I...I really don’t...want to be alone. I’m not alone but it just...ugh I’m making no sense.”

He shifted up, slowly resting on top of her, eyes meeting hers. He was heavy but it was a nice pressure to keep her breathing steady. He brushed her hair away from her face, Jolie batting with some of the curls from where she lay. 

He grabbed part of the silver streak in her hair, the two of them watching her hair slip through his fingers. He brought the little hair up to his lips and kissed it, making her blush. 

“I’m listening.”

She sighed, looking away from him. Her hair fell into her face, making him huff softly about ‘all his hard work wasted’. 

“You didn’t have the best of times,” she whispered with a tiny smile. “Like...at all. It seems dumb to think about in the morning, some of the edges faded and blurry but…”

“What did you do to dream me?” he joked, pulling her hair back to get a good look at her face. The shirt she was borrowing had fallen down her shoulders. 

She pointed to her jaw and made a stretching motion. He greened. “Oh.”

She felt herself pink. “It um...it gets worse.”

“How does it get worse?!”

“Your eyes fell out.”

“...and that’s how.”

“Also your teeth.” The look on his face made her giggle. It was a mixture of horror, shock and just plain rebooting. “Then you were puking up black sludge. Leaked out of your eyes too!”

“What.”

She snorted. She wasn’t going to mention the whole ‘he broke her fingers’ thing. That might concern him even more than anything else she talked about. 

“And your eyes went.” She mimed an explosion. 

Watching him react to her nightmare made her feel a slight bit better. Something warm settled in her stomach. 

“You are a cruel woman, you know that?”

“It’s not like I made that all happen!” No it was Nicolas. 

But something told her to not share that part with him. 

“It was in your dream!”

“I don’t control my dreams!”

He let out a dramatic sigh, rolling off of her and flopping onto the bed. She turned on her side to look at him, Jolie getting up to bat at her hair some more. 

With a dramatic eye roll, he took her hand in his gently. She flinched a little at the contact because he held her hand the same way he did in her dream. But the way he held her hand was different. He cradled it in a way. Softly and with care. Like if he breathed wrong she’d shatter. 

This was real. 

She slowly relaxed, he brushed a kiss along her knuckles. She smiled at him, lacing their fingers together. His eyes were soft, and they were kind. She brought his hand closer to her face, moving hers away enough to kiss his palm and fold his fingers over it like a physical thing she had given. 

He drew his hand back to his chest, kissing her forehead. “May I share a secret?”

She hummed happily, tilting her head to kiss him in a slow lazy way. “I could never say no to a secret.”

“My real name is Batsaikhan.”

She blinked in surprise. “Huh?”

His cheeks darkened. “You shared your dream so I...thought it was only fair to share something like that too.”

“Secret for a secret?”

“Yeah.”

“So your real name? Lucas isn’t it?”

He shook his head. “Lucas is um...a name I came up with since no one could pronounce mine right. It grew on me over time. But my real name is Batsaikhan.”

“Bat...sai...khan?” She chewed her lip, thinking about it. It rolled off the tongue nice enough. Slowly, a smile climbed onto her face. “Batsaikhan. I like it, it suits you.”

The look on his face made her wilt a little. “What?” she asked, turning away from his gaze, blue eyes seeming to see right through her. “Am I...saying it wrong?”

“No,” he breathed, excitement seeping into his tone. Her head snapped up at his voice. His smile was a slow climb across his face, quickly turning giddy and making her smile too. His eyes crinkled with the force, he wrinkled his nose as well, tilting his head back to laugh. “You’re saying it...perfectly.”

She ducked her head down, smiling and giggling. When she looked back up at him, he was still smiling but softer now. He tilted her head up to kiss her softly, making her giggle. 

“Perfectly?”

“Perfectly. Say it again?”

“Batsaikhan.”

“Again?”

“Batsaikhan.”

His grin grew more energetic each time she said it. “One more time?”

She threw her head back, laughing so hard her words were clouded. “Batsaikhan!”

He kissed her hand again, smiling so hard she could feel his teeth against her skin. 

He laced their fingers together again, pulling her closer to him. The blanket pooled around their legs. Jolie meowed, shifting into the pillow she vacated. 

She looked up at him, playing with his hair, running her hands through and giving the ends a small tug. He leaned into her touch, curling her hair around one of his fingers. 

“Is it okay if...my name stays between us?”

She smiled, rubbing the tip of her nose against his. “I don’t mind. So, a secret between us now?”

He snorted softly. “I’d like to share many secrets with you.”

“Mmm really now?”

He kissed her cheek with a small yawn. “I would.”

“You might wanna take me on a date before we start talking that way,” she said with a giggle.

“Well, would you, Ms-”

“Doctor.”

“-Doctor Maeve O’Connor, go on a date with me?” he asked, looking at her with a smile.

She kissed the tip of his nose. “I’d love to.”

The way his face lit up made the butterflies in her stomach throw a party. He kissed her lightly but sweetly. “Now let’s get out of bed, my legs are going numb. I’ll make breakfast.”

She brightened at the prospect of breakfast, her stomach growling as well. He laughed, pushing the blankets off and getting to his feet. “I can make coffee,” she offered. 

“Maybe with an extra kick?” he asked. 

“Oh? Shot of liquor?”

“I have some brandy in the cabinet below the window.”

She propped herself up on her elbow, making a face at him. “Brandy? In coffee? You are a neanderthal.”

He made a face back. “And what’s that supposed to mean?”

“The only liquor goin’ in coffee is whiskey. Thank you very much.” Her accent slipped through with her words. 

He leaned against the doorframe, hunched over a little. “I don’t know if we have it, but you can look. And are you sure whiskey is good in coffee?”

“Ma mhuirnín, we invented liquor in coffee. Whiskey in coffee to be precise.”

“And I thank you for that. But I usually have it with brandy.”

She wrinkled her nose. “And you’re wrong.”

He snorted. “We’ll see.”

Jolie meowed, getting up and stretching. Lucas called to her, promising breakfast for her as well. Jolie hopped off the bed and trotted ahead of him. 

“You coming?” he asked. 

She stretched her arms. “In a minute, Batsaikhan.”

He rapped his knuckles on the doorframe with a soft smile, leaving her be to gather her bearings. 

Maybe this...wouldn’t go as badly as she feared. 

She could only hope.

[paisleywraith]

Curses, Curses. Chapter 8

Junior year is often considered the most difficult year of high school. Kyle would agree with that on a regular day, he didn’t need some magical bullshit wriggling its fingers at him and turning him into an ass-old Bill Murray movie reboot.

Kyle woke up alone.

He didn’t want to look at his phone. He didn’t want to know if the day had restarted again, leaving him entirely by himself once again. He reached across the bed even though he knew Kenny wasn’t there, palm resting on the fluffy comforter.

Kyle closed his eyes.

He was alone.

The silence was so loud it rang in his ears.

Kyle dressed slowly, pulling his sweater over his head and sitting down on his bed to stare at his shoes rather than put them on.

Kenny’s thought that telling Kyle his secret would solve everything clearly didn’t work. Kenny…

Now Kyle was forced to think of Kenny dying, of himself and Stan standing by to watch and move around their day like nothing happened. Of Kenny, as a child, lying cold and dead in pieces or blood seeping into the ground. How many times had he tried to tell them? Kenny didn’t have anyone to believe him. How he hadn’t gone crazy over it, Kyle had no idea. How he hadn’t come to hate his friends, Kyle equally didn’t know. And wasn’t entirely sure he didn’t, in the back of his mind.

Kyle flopped back on the bed.

Kenny had been trapped for years. And apparently no matter what he said, what he tried, he was left alone to deal with the consequences. Kyle hadn’t asked many more questions, but the questions were burning into his brain. Why? Why had this happened to Kenny, why had this happened to him? Neither of them were bad people, neither of them deserved this. Kenny least of all, Kyle at least wasn’t hurt and wasn’t dying. Thankfully.

He ended up calling in sick. He curled up in bed, eyes reddened and underlined with dark circles and his parents believed him entirely that he was ill. Ike stood in the doorway and made fun of him before offering to make him lunch. Kyle gently turned food down and pulled the blankets further around himself.

The day dragged.

There was nothing he could do. Kenny lived with this for years, what if Kyle was going to be forced to live the day over forever? The thought made his eyes burn and he buried his face into his pillow. God, what if he never got to move past today?

Kyle genuinely started shedding tears then, frustrated and angry and scared as all hell. Was he ever going to die? Was he going to keep living Thursday until he finally lost his mind? Because even now he could barely take this. He wasn’t holding it together very well and it had only been…ten…days? Was it eleven? Kyle couldn’t remember, he couldn’t even remember anymore how long it had been.

Shaking, he reached for his phone and typed in the number he knew by heart. He needed answers to something.

Kyle B: Kenny, it’s Kyle.

He didn’t have to wait long for a reply.

Kenny M: wassup

Kyle B: I need to talk to you after work, okay? Come by my house. Might be best you don’t use the front door?

If he came up like Mysterion, Kyle could just lock his door and keep conversation quiet. He wasn’t about to tell his family any of this. Of course, Kenny had a field day with the instructions, much as Kyle had expected last night.

Kenny M: kyle, u smooth fucker

Kenny M: sneakin boys in ur bedroom wow

Kyle didn’t even crack a smile. Or a blush.

Kyle B: I know you can’t die, Ken.

He had radio silence for about ten minutes. Kyle didn’t message again, but held his phone in front of his face, tapping it every time it tried to turn itself off.

Kenny M: I’m on my way.

Kyle was startled by how quickly Kenny got to his house. It wasn’t even an hour before he heard Kenny scaling his house like a damn rock climber, slipping in the already-open window as Kyle stood aside.

Kenny immediately grabbed Kyle’s shoulders, fingernails cutting through his baggy tshirt.

“What the fuck.” Kenny’s voice was eerily calm, even as he stared into Kyle’s soul with wild-looking eyes. He gave Kyle a little shake. “Was with that message?”

“Ken, I’ve told you this for days, I’m reliving the same day over on a loop,” Kyle let the words tumble out. Onto the Big Thing. “Last night, you told me you can’t die. That I’ve watched you die, or- or kill yourself, and I- Stan and I, and I think everyone? We don’t remember anything.”

“And you believe me?” Kenny asked, fingers squeezing harder.

“I just said I’m reliving the same damn day over and over, Kenny. Of course I believe you, fuckwit.”

Kenny swallowed. Then he yanked Kyle in for a hug, nearly squeezing the life from him.

“Kyle, you amazing asshole.” Kenny spun around, taking Kyle with him. He kissed the top of his head with an exaggerated mwah.

Kyle squawked as he tried to break out of the snuggle. Kenny let him go, and Kyle was finally able to take a breath.

“Sorry, sorry, just-” Kenny reached for him, moving his hands away and back again until he was almost cupping his face. “Yeah. Okay. You’re stuck in a time loop. How can I help? Let me help you.”

Kyle ducked away from the hands, face hot.

“You’ve been trying,” The green-eyed boy murmured. “For over a week.”

“Right. Yeah.” Kenny took his hands back, chewing his lower lip. “You said that was why I told you. Right.” His bright blue eyes seemed to focus finally. “What’s happened so far?”

“Nothing.” Kyle sat back down on his bed, rubbing a hand through his tangled curls. “Nothing we try works. I’ve gone different places, talked to different people. I can’t remember how many days it’s been anymore. I’m starting to forget the first couple days and it’s been under two weeks, I know.”

Kenny sat as well, on the ground in front of Kyle. He was still in the same hoodie, looking up with soft mosaic eyes. Kyle pulled the fleece blanket from his bed and tossed it on Kenny. The boy snorted softly and pulled it off his head, wrapping it around him with a soft, sad sort of smile.

“Huh,” Kenny said, running his thumb over the blanket corner. “Sounds like me, leading you around in circles. Have you told anyone else?”

“Well, I was put into a mental ward for a while, once. I told Stan yesterday and you convinced him I wasn’t insane.”

“Good old Stan,” Kenny said wistfully. “Do you want to get him?”

“No,” Kyle said immediately. After last night, he had a different agenda. Kyle leaned forward off the bed, closer into Kenny’s space. “First I want to talk about what you told me.”

It was like a switch. Kenny’s smile turned plastic, stretched far too wide across his face. “Kyle,” Kenny had a laughing lilt to his voice, one that made Kyle scowl. “I think we need to focus on one problem for now.”

“Okay, let’s talk about the fact you’re fucking dying and I don’t remember any of it.” Kyle didn’t just push, he shoved.

Kenny wasn’t even smiling anymore. “Kyle…” He seemed to be struggling for the rest of his sentence. Kyle waited, eyes locked and still in Kenny’s space.

“Why’d I have to come in the window, anyhow?” Kenny asked, as if he’d just thought of it. “I get that I’m not the kind of boy you bring home to your parents, but jeez, Kyle. Way to make me feel liked.”

“Oh, fuck that,” Kyle said, leaning back again and crossing his arms. “You know I hate when you say shit like that, I’m not going to get into it. I want to talk about you.”

Kenny’s jaw was tight. His gaze flit to Jewish boy’s again, and for an instant Kyle could see Mysterion in those eyes. Fierce and unwavering and a little bit angry.

“Kenny.” He was happy Kyle knew, but he didn’t want to talk about it. The shiplash was grating on Kyle’s nerves. “I just have a few questions.”

“…I don’t want to talk about how or when.” Kenny grit out.

“Then we won’t.” Kyle’s voice was unwavering as well, and his greenish eyes didn’t shift from the boy in front of him. He watched Kenny sigh. “I want to know. Are you okay?”

Whatever question Kenny had been anticipating, it definitely wasn’t that. He reeled back, startled, then smiled again.

“Are you, Kyle?” He asked lightly, flopping backwards onto the ground and stretching. “Do you feel okay?”

“No,” Kyle couldn’t stop the snap in his voice even if he felt inclined to. “That’s why I’m asking you, dumbass. I had to deal with hearing you last night, you were almost freaking out, you sounded fucking terrified and I couldn’t even go to school today, it was so- it-”

Kenny’s demeanor shifted again, into something quiet. He wrapped the blanket around himself, curling away from Kyle it what he probably thought was a smooth enough move that the redhead wouldn’t notice he was trying to face away from him.

Kyle fucking noticed.

“Ken.”

“Kyle.”

“Don’t even start with me,” Kyle warned, throwing his pillow at him. Kenny took it and nuzzled down as if to sleep. “Goddamn it, Kenny.”

“Look,” Kenny was on his stomach now, hugging the pillow against him and looking over. “How about we go out? Grab a snack, get away from the parents? You’re getting loud, Ky.”

“I don’t care!” Kyle hissed.

“Don’t care that your parents are gonna find you snuck a boy into your room?” Kenny asked, waggling his eyebrows.

“It’s not like it’s the first time!” Kyle snapped, face red.

Kenny’s eyes widened, a look of shock covering his face for a second before grinning. “Kyle! You player-”

“I MEANT YOU!” Kyle hollered, cheeks darkening to a vivid hue. Kenny was now laughing so hard he was gasping.

“C’mon, we gotta get out of here,” Kenny managed, tears still in his eyes. “Get an excuse and meet me outside, you playboy.”

“Don’t you ever call me that again, Kenneth.”

“Or what?” Kenny was already up, sing-songing his way to the window. “Don’t threaten me, babe. You’re going to hurt my feelings.”

Kyle went to put his shoes on and tug a sweater over his head, grumbling about feet up asses and how hurt feelings would be then.

[mariequitecontrarie]

Morning Glory: Part 2

Summary: When Joseph, a former small-town priest turned soda fountain clerk, discovers his favorite customer and longtime crush Belle French spending time with a handsome, mysterious stranger, he’s convinced they’re a couple. But there’s an emotional distance between Belle and Merlin, fueling his suspicions that Merlin cares more about impressing Belle than making her happy. Will Joseph summon the courage and faith to confess his love for Belle, or will he stand aside and allow both their hearts to be broken? Word Count: Chapter: 1496/Total: 14,150 Rating: T A/N: Part 2 of my Macelle fic, Morning Glory, for @of-princes-and-savages. Written for @maydaymenagerie

AO3: Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 Tumblr: Part 1| 

Jealousy, worry, and alarm mingle in a heady cocktail, and  Joseph is still cursing himself thirty minutes later while he’s stocking the cleaning supply aisle. The bell at the soda fountain counter dings, startling his frayed nerves, and he drops a case of glass cleaner on his foot, then bites down on his wrist to keep from howling.

Belle has arrived at last. Foot throbbing, he hobbles to the soda fountain to greet her.

“Evening, Joseph,” Belle says, beaming. A halo of thick, soft hair is tumbling around her shoulders and her cheeks are flushed apple red from the cold.

“Hello, Belle.” He ducks behind the counter. Unsettled by his earlier encounter with the stranger who called him Joe, it’s an effort to smile into the eyes of his favorite customer. All he can see in his mind’s eye is Merlin’s smug happiness when he prepaid for Belle’s ice cream from now until the Lord returns. On the rare occasion that he’s flush with cash, he likes to treat Belle, but now even that simple pleasure has been stripped away. “What’ll it be today? The usual?”

The brightness in her eyes dims, and he wonders if something troubles her. She settles onto a stool and runs her index finger down the paper menu, biting down on her lush lower lip as she scans the offerings. “Since we both know I don’t have a usual, what do you recommend?”

“I’m sorry. Been a bit of a rough day.” Ashamed of his thoughtlessness, he scratches at his forehead. He wants to question her about Merlin’s visit to the store earlier this evening, but he doesn’t know where to start. That and he’s promised not to say a word. Bloody conscience.

“Joseph, you’re hurt.” Belle moves his hand away from his face to examine the bump on his head, her concerned eyes roaming over his forehead.

He shakes his head, suppressing a shiver of delight when she says his name, enjoying far too much the soft way it rolls off her tongue. “It’s just a little scratch. Nothing to be alarmed about.”

She frowns. “We should put some ice on it.”

“I’m ok,” he says again, longing to recapture their typical, easy banter. But his tongue feels twisted into knots. “What’s your pleasure today? Something with coconut? Peach parfait?” He pauses, then eyes a bunch of ripe bananas. “How about a banana split?”

“Mmmm, that sounds heavenly.” She puts her hand on his forearm and squeezes. “You always have the best ideas.”

Pleased by her praise, he chuckles, then sets to work. He carefully peels and halves a perfect yellow banana with a touch of green at the stem. He scoops mounds of homemade chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry ice cream into a serving dish, regarding Belle from beneath lowered lashes.

After topping the dish with whipped cream, he crowns the sundae with a handful of maraschino cherries. He peeks at the pharmacy counter to see if Bedelia is watching. He can hear her now, complaining about the cost per cherry. In defiance, he dumps another spoonful on top for good measure. The cherries are Belle’s favorite part of the dessert. He presents her sundae with a flourish and a smile.

“Thank you,” she says, her eyes lighting up when he sets the dish before her. “This looks delicious.”

You look delicious, he wants to say as her beautiful mouth envelopes the spoon. Her eyes close and she moans in pleasure as she swallows the first bite, and his cheeks darken at the carnal direction of his thoughts. His mind drifts back to Merlin, and jealousy turns him greener than the vat of pistachio ice cream in the case. Blessed Virgin, help me, he prays. I don’t know how to act, or what to say. Give me the right words.

“Quite welcome.” He forces a smile. “How was your day?”

“All right. I got held up at the library when the system went down and needed a reboot; that’s why I was late tonight, but I did get a new shipment of mystery romance novels in.” Her face brightens, as it always does when she speaks of books. She really is the most adorable creature God ever put on this earth.

He picks up his rag and shines the counter again. “Belle, do you have family in town this week?”

“No, why do you ask?”

“No special reason.” He can rule out Merlin as a family member then.

He tries again. “Is anything new happening?”

She furrows her brow in thought. “Other than the library…no. Oh! There is something!”

“Yes?”

“Ruby and Archie had their baby! A little girl named Julia Jane. Six pounds, eleven ounces.”

“Oh. Well. Babies are a blessing, there’s no doubt.” He pinches his nose, disappointed yet relieved that she hasn’t mentioned the mysterious Merlin. It’s because she doesn’t trust you, imbecile. She’s content to share town gossip, but she’s not about to tell you who she’s dating.

He keeps her talking between bites, directing the conversation into safer areas like the weather, her work, and the latest community happenings.

All too soon, she scrapes the bowl of ice cream clean and dabs her mouth with a paper napkin. Her lips look soft and he wishes he could do it for her.

“I can’t believe I ate the entire thing!” she exclaims.

“Ice cream isn’t really food. It just fills in all those empty little spaces.” He grins. She always eats the entire dessert, but she says that every week, and every week he offers the same reassurance.

Her cheeks turn a beguiling shade of pink.

“What’s going on over here?” Bedelia is standing behind Belle, her arms crossed over her chest. She peers into Belle’s empty bowl.

Joseph gulps. He’d been so preoccupied with flirting he’d forgotten all about keeping watch. “Miss French is enjoying some ice cream.”

“Looks to me like she’s finished eating and needs to be on her way.” Bedelia nudges Belle’s bowl in Joseph’s direction, and he whisks it away and places it in the sink at the back of the bar.

He turns around to face Bedelia once more. “Belle’s a paying customer,” he argues, “and a good one at that.”

“Joseph was just charming me with his wit,” Belle says sweetly. “In my experience, he’s the finest asset this store has to offer.”

“Mmmm, well, I didn’t ask you to fill out an online survey, did I Miss French?” Bedelia’s cold smile looks like it could freeze the ice cream. “And Joseph isn’t paid to entertain. He’s here to scoop things and stock shelves.”

Belle arches a brow. “People are an organization’s most valuable asset, Ms. Bluementhal. If I were you, I’d hold onto Joseph.”

“You’re not me, Miss French.”

“Praise Jesus,” Joseph mutters under his breath.

“What was that?” Her sharp eyes rake him over.

“I said this new praline jubilee that just came in from the creamery is quite nice,” he says over his shoulder. He gestures toward the blender. “Can I make you a milkshake, Ms. B?”

“Get back to work, Joseph,” she says, with a parting glare at Belle. “Aisle ten requires your attention. There’s a new shipment of kitty litter in.”

Joseph is blushing furiously when Bedelia stalks away, torn between embarrassment and delight at Belle’s staunch defense of him.

Her hand is clapped over her mouth in an effort not to laugh, and he gives her a wry smile.

She fishes a crisp ten dollar bill from her wallet and holds it out. “I hope I didn’t get you in trouble. Thank you for the banana split. It was delicious.”

“There’s no charge,” he says, shaking his head. “And don’t worry; I can handle that old battle axe.”

“Joseph, I’m not taking your money.” Her eyes flicker with something…is it pity?

The flavor of elation turns bitter in his mouth. She doesn’t want anything from you, imbecile.

He thrusts his shoulders back. He may not be as rich as her boyfriend, Merlin, but he can afford a bloody dish of ice cream. He removes a creased and damp bill from his pocket and puts it in the cash register, slamming the drawer with finality. “It’s on the house. I insist.”

She reddens and drops her money into her purse. “I didn’t mean…thank you.”

Perfect. Now he’s made them both feel awkward.

“See you next week?” he asks, wincing at the thread of desperation in his tone. He shouldn’t be letting Merlin get under his skin.

“Of course, yes.” She looks relieved. “Good night, Joseph.”

“Good night, Belle.”

He waits until she’s tucked her scarf around her neck and turned away, before sinking down on a low stool behind the bar. The movement sends a scrap of paper floating to the floor. He picks it up; it’s Merlin’s credit card receipt. Joseph crumples it in his fist and looks at the trash can. He hesitates, then shoves the slip of paper in his pocket.

[tuseriesdetv]

Noticias de series de la semana: FX y AMC a juicio

Demanda contra AMC por la muerte de Bernecker

Más de seis meses después de la muerte de John Bernecker, su madre ha presentado una demanda culpando a AMC por producir The Walking Dead, como en anteriores temporadas, con "mínimo coste y máximo beneficio". Dice la denuncia que, como último eslabón en la toma de decisiones de producción, son responsables de asegurar las precauciones de seguridad para proteger a sus artistas y que sabían que la grabación de la octava temporada, incluido el séptimo episodio, no estaba siendo ejecutada de forma segura de acuerdo a los estándares de la industria. La cadena comenta que se toma la seguridad de sus empleados en todos sus sets "extremadamente en serio" y que "cumplen o exceden los estándares de seguridad de la industria". La investigación de OSHA concluyó que la escena no se ensayó, que no había ambulancia en el set y que el actor Austin Amelio, que interpreta a Dwight, empujó a Bernecker pese a que se le dijo expresamente que no lo hiciera. [Fuente]

Apoyo a Murphy contra Olivia de Havilland

Olivia de Havilland demandó a Ryan Murphy y FX por su representación en Feud: Bette and Joan y estos presentaron una moción argumentando que la demanda debería ser rechazada bajo el estatuto de California que prohíbe demandas frívolas amparándose en la Primera Enmienda (en resumidas cuentas, libertad de expresión). Estas mociones suelen tener éxito pero la juez Holly Kendig, de la Corte Superior de Los Ángeles, no la consideró oportuna en este caso. Kendig acepta que FX tiene libertad de expresión, aunque se centra en el segundo punto del estatuto, que destacaría los derechos de de Havilland sobre los demandados al presumirse una mínima probabilidad de prevalencia en su testimonio. Ahora, Netflix, The Electronic Frontier Foundation y la MPAA -que incluye a Paramount, Sony, Twentieth Century Fox, Universal, Disney y Warner Bros.- apoyan a Murphy y FX en su intento de apelación. Afirman que el análisis de la Corte es una desviación sin precedentes de décadas de protección a la libertad de expresión y amenaza con condenar géneros enteros de películas basadas en hechos reales como docudramas y biopics. "Los autores, guionistas y directores no pueden contar este tipo de historias si se les requiere presentar cada momento con el cien por cien de exactitud", dice el abogado Mark Kressel en un amicus curiae (una presentación voluntaria de terceros ajenos a un juicio sobre un tema generalmente de interés público) en el que señala que películas como The Post, Molly's Game o I, Tonya, candidatas al Oscar, podrían verse afectadas por esta decisión. MPAA y Netflix aclaran en una nota al pie que no creen que una queja relacionada con un docudrama no pueda estar justificada, sino que, en este caso, de Havilland no puede probar que la representación sea ofensiva o que se haya actuado con malicia. Su principal preocupación es que la juez haya permitido que sobreviva esta demanda. Daniel Nazer, abogado de EFF completa la queja en otro escrito diciendo que "la mera intención de crear un drama realista será suficiente para cancelar su protección en la Primera Enmienda", que "todo el género necesitaría el permiso expreso de todos los sujetos, haciendo imposible completar trabajos como The Social Network o The People v. O.J. Simpson" y que "una amenaza de pleito sería suficiente para disuadir a muchos creadores de finalizar un proyecto". "Si FX hubiera decidido representar a de Havilland como una criatura mitad humano y mitad gusano, Feud estaría protegida por la Primera Enmienda. Pero si, para cumplir los requisitos que aseguran la libertad de expresión, un artista debe convertir a una persona real en un híbrido de humano y gusano, entonces la doctrina subyacente es totalmente errónea". [Fuente] SAG-AFTRA, el sindicato de actores, coincide con EFF en ciertos aspectos pero, aun sosteniendo que no es cuestión de elegir un bando en este caso concreto, opina que la Primera Enmienda no es absoluta y que los cineastas tienen la obligación de hacer un ejercicio de precaución al representar a un individuo vivo para no invadir de forma injustificada sus derechos individuales o deshonrar falsamente su reputación. [Fuente]

Renovaciones de series

CBS ha renovado la sitcom Murphy Brown (1988-1998) por una undécima temporada. Candice Bergen vuelve como protagonista. Además, la cadena ha encargado pilotos de reboots de Magnum, P.I. (1980-1988) y Cagney & Lacey (1981-1988).

Sky ha renovado Fortitude por una tercera y última temporada

BBC One ha renovado Doctor Foster por una tercera temporada

Cancelaciones de series

USA Network ha cancelado Damnation tras su primera temporada

USA Network ha cancelado American Rust antes de su estreno por problemas de casting.

Incorporaciones y fichajes de series

Meryl Streep se une como regular a la segunda temporada de Big Little Lies. Será Mary Louise Wright, la madre de Perry (Alexander Skarsgård).

Paul Bettany no interpretará finalmente al príncipe Philip en The Crown.

Cherry Jones (Transparent, Awake) será la madre de June (Elisabeth Moss) en la segunda temporada de The Handmaid's Tale.

Kip Pardue (Marvel's Runaways, Ray Donovan) será Chad, el prometido de Kelly/Zelena, en el episodio 150 de Once Upon a Time, dirigido por Lana Parrilla.

John Malkovich (Con Air, In the Line of Fire) participará en varios episodios de la tercera temporada de Billions interpretando al multimillonario ruso Grigor Andolov.

Lolita Davidovich (True Detective, Shades of Blue) se une como recurrente a la cuarta temporada de How to Get Away with Murder. Se desconocen detalles del personaje.

Kenneth Brannagh (Murder on the Orient Express, Dunkirk) se une a la tercera temporada de Upstart Crow.

Michael Shannon (Nocturnal Animals, Boardwalk Empire) protagonizará The Little Drummer Girl junto a Florence Pugh y Alexander Skarsgård. Será Kurtz, un espía israelí.

Hannah Waddingham (Game of Thrones, 12 Monkeys) será recurrente en Krypton como Jax-Ur, una de los principales científicos del planeta y líder de la organización terrorista Black Zero. El personaje ha sido tradicionalmente masculino en la mitología DC.

Joanne Whalley (Wolf Hall, The Borgias) será la hermana Maggie Murdock en la tercera temporada de Daredevil.

Evan Gamble (Hap & Leonard, The Vampire Diaries) será recurrente en la cuarta temporada de Fear The Walking Dead como Ennis, alguien que solo se preocupa por sí mismo.

David W. Thompson (Green Room, Win Win) sustituye a Charlie Tahan en el papel de Scarecrow durante la cuarta temporada de Gotham.

Ashley Zukerman (Manhattan, Designated Survivor) será recurrente en Succession como Nate, un consultor político con buenos contactos y amigo de la familia Roy.

Nadine Lewington (Holby City, Containment) será recurrente en la quinta temporada de The Originals como Greta Sienna, un vampiro que vivió en Europa en los años 20.

Monique Green será recurrente en One Day She'll Darken como Nina, prima de Fauna (India Eisley).

Chyna Layne (Shemekka) ha sido ascendida a regular de cara a la segunda temporada de She's Gotta Have It.

Pósters de series

Nuevas series

Helen Mirren (The Queen) interpretará a Catherine the Great en una miniserie de cuatro episodios para Sky y HBO escrita por Nigel Williams (Elizabeth I) y dirigida por Philip Martin (Prime Suspect).

Apple ha dado luz verde directa a un drama escrito, dirigido y producido por Damien Chazelle (La La Land, Whiplash). No se conocen más detalles.

Netflix encarga ocho episodios de Unbelievable, limited series basada en hechos reales que se centra en una adolescente que mintió sobre haber sido violada y las dos detectives que descubrieron la verdad. Escrita por Susannah Grant (Erin Brockovich).

Sky encarga ocho episodios de Curfew, drama sobre una carrera ilegal de coches armados y customizados desde Inglaterra hasta Escocia para escapar de un gobierno totalitario. Protagonizan Sean Bean (Game of Thrones, The Lord of the Rings), Adrian Lester (Riviera, Hustle) Malachi Kirby (Roots, Black Mirror), Phoebe Fox (Close to the Enemy, Black Mirror), Robert Glenister (Hustle, Spooks), Aimee-Ffion Edwards (Peaky Blinders, Detectorists), Rose Williams (Reign), Elijah Rowen (Vikings) y Guz Khan (Zapped, Borderline). Creada por Matthew Read, guionista de Hammer of the Gods y productor de Happy Valley o Doctor Foster.

Paramount Network, antigua Spike TV, ha adquirido los derechos de MaddAddam, trilogía de novelas de Margaret Atwood (The Handmaid's Tale, Alias Grace) que narra la tendencia de la humanidad a la autodestrucción. Adaptan David Kanter (Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams) y Linda Carlson (Five Came Back). Darren Aronofsky intentó adaptarla previamente para HBO.

FX ha encargado un piloto del reboot de What We Do in the Shadows, la película de 2014 escrita, dirigida y protagonizada por Jemaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords) y Taika Waititi (Thor Ragnarok, Hunt for the Wilderpeople). Clement escribirá y Waititi dirigirá el reboot producido por ambos.

Tomorrow Studios desarrolla la adaptación de The Oracle Year, la novela de Charles Soule (2018) sobre un joven de Nueva York que tiene 108 visiones del futuro y monetiza esas predicciones para convertirse en famoso.

La productora Caryn Mandabach (Peaky Blinders, Nurse Jackie) prepara When We Were Orphans, limited series adaptación de la novela de Kazuo Ishiguro (2000) sobre un detective de Londres en los años 30 que resuelve la misteriosa desaparición de sus padres en Shanghai cuando era niño.

Desarrollan una serie basada en la trilogía cinematográfica de los noventa The Mighty Ducks, sobre un abogado que se convierte en entrenador de un equipo juvenil de hockey. Steven Brill, guionista original, prepara un guion. Jordan Kerner repite como productor.

El spin-off de Grey's Anatomy, centrado en un parque de bomberos, se titulará Station 19.

Fechas de series

La segunda temporada de Jamestown se estrena en Sky1 el 9 de febrero

La segunda temporada de Sneaky Pete llega a Amazon el 9 de marzo

La segunda temporada de Timeless llega a NBC el 11 de marzo

Otras imágenes

Crossover de Scandal y How to Get Away with Murder

Tráilers de series

Seven Seconds

Sneaky Pete - Temporada 2