#edited because i forgot to tag like an idiot

[missdeefying]

@lurkingshan Thank you so much for your answer! Like I said, you always make me think about these shows critically and reflectively, and by looking over your response it clarified for me what I would ideally like to have seen from the show in terms of the wealth disparity themes. I feel like my ideal differs a little from yours but is similar on a fair few points - I don't think a wealth redistribution narrative was ever going to happen with this show, but given the way Home's own death-adjacent experience played out with him hearing ghosts and his history of naivety and wilful blindness and deafness, as well as the themes of found family and community, I do think there was meat to chew on in the idea of Home needing to learn to listen and to centre the people he hurt (including and especially Peach and Pang). There's already a thread there of him learning to listen to the people his family affected and to implement changes based on their needs. I just feel like there's more they could have done to make the people under his family's influence his community as well. And that is something they could still put into the final episode, but even if they do I'd have been more satisfied if the narrative had given proper space to the voices of the people he hurt (to really drive home the link to the ghosts) and not bent itself around him to remind us that Home himself is a good guy even if he has fucked up. I definitely would have liked to see Peach's feelings about Home killing him explored more. Especially since they were so conflicted, and Tay Tawan is so good with that kind of complexity. And thank you for the recommendations!! I've watched 3 Will Be Free, Laws of Attraction and My Ride and loved them, and I've been meaning to get to We Best Love for ages. I'd heard of DBK but haven't watched it yet. It will be fun to see some early TayNew and compare it to how they've developed as actors. I haven't watched much in the way of KBL at all and I'm very happy to have a shortlist to start from! Thank you again for the thought-provoking discussion and the recs.

Hi Shan

I've been watching your commentary on Peaceful Property with regard to its mishandling of its class conflict themes and I have to admit that I'm coming to agree with you on it.

I had to basically go "Welp, I can't see how they get out of the mess they've made now - I guess I just have to give them a pass on the grounds of found family?" in order to keep enjoying the show, which did let me do that but also left a bit of an icky taste in my mouth.

So I guess I wanted to ask - do you think there's a way they could have handled the wealth disparity and classism issues more gracefully within the show's narrative? And also whether there are any QLs you would recommend that do handle the topic to your satisfaction? I could use something good to watch!

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I feel like you always make me consider topics more deeply and reflectively, even when I don't agree with you.

Hi, thanks for dropping in! I feel you on this, and I want to be clear that my criticism of the show is not criticism of people who still like it despite these failures. If you have still been able to connect to the friendship and family themes without this getting in the way, that's great and I'm glad for you. Just because the show is doing one thing very poorly doesn't mean there's nothing of value in it.

That said, you're right, they've passed the point of no return on their missteps with the class disparity themes. Early on in the show, after several episodes in a row of ghost stories involving poor or working class folks harmed by Home's wealthy real estate developer family on top of the class disparity between Home and Peach/Pang, I said I was confident that the show had something to say about this issue. And that was true! Unfortunately, what it had to say was garbage.

To your first question, I actually think it would have been very easy for the show to handle the wealth disparity and classism issues more gracefully, and that's a big part of my frustration. They had all the ingredients--a family history of exploitation, a ghost busting team including working class folks to shed light on the family's sins, and an ignorant grandson uncovering wrongdoing case by case and learning that there was always a price for his privilege. All the show needed to do was allow Home to come to some natural realizations about his family's treatment of others, via both the ghost case work and his relationship with Peach and Pang, and then use the power and resources he has to take accountability in the form of restitution and reparations to the people and communities they harmed. My ideal story line based on what they set up in the first half of the show would have had Home setting out to right his family's wrongs and take real steps to restore the communities they harmed. Even if a full on wealth redistribution narrative was too much to hope for, at the very least Home should have been made to reckon with what his family did and set out to do better in the future, both by Peach and Pang and by his family's countless victims (including Kan).

But that's not what we got. Instead, the narrative tried to sell us on the idea that none of this is anyone's fault, and that any harm that came to people at this family's hands was the result of a "curse" or one bad apple's wrongdoing. Instead of saying anything meaningful about systemic inequality and the responsibility of the wealthy and powerful to avoid extractive and exploitative practices, they painted Home's Gramps and family corporation as benevolent, concluding that they destroyed a bunch of people's lives by accident and without intent or even knowledge. I'm sure I don't have to tell you how utterly absurd and insulting that is. On top of all that, despite Home being the one with the most power in this little friend family and making some very serious mistakes that caused harm to the others, the show consistently centered him and his feelings in all conflicts, including Peach's near death and the death of Kan's father and destruction of her community. It also ignored the very real stakes it set up for Peach and Pang's dire financial situation whenever the plot demanded. The second half of the show became all about the poor people Home and his family have harmed forgiving him without any accountability because they felt guilty he was sad, and then those same people spending their time and energy fighting to save this rich family's reputation and livelihood. That's not me offering an interpretation, that is what literally happened on our screens!

So yeah, it was bad! It was clear weeks ago that it was not going in the right direction, but I understand holding out hope that they'd pull a rabbit out of a hat or look into the camera and say sike. But that ship has sailed at this point, and Peaceful Property becomes another in a pattern of GMMTV shows that try to incorporate class disparity in their narratives and get it very very wrong.

Which brings me to your second question: are there any QLs I recommend that do this better? Yes! Here is a short list for other Thai shows that have genuinely done this better:

Moonlight Chicken: not a class disparity narrative, but the only GMMTV show to date that has depicted working class people with full dignity and empathy

Dark Blue Kiss: the only GMMTV bl to tell a romance story that involves class conflict and not completely bungle it (snaps to TayNew for having another show that did better on this)

My Ride: a slow burn romance between a doctor and a motorcycle taxi driver that gets the way their class disparity would shape their relationship right

Love Sea: this one isn't perfect (I think the working class character in the pair gets too little narrative attention relative to his rich counterpart) but it does take the class disparity seriously and ensures it informs the relationship the whole way through

Laws of Attraction: don't laugh at me, I'm serious! This show is mostly absurd but the core narrative is all about class conflict, and it informs the romance quite thoroughly, too

The Loyal Pin: including this one on the word of @twig-tea because I haven't watched yet, but I understand it's dealing with class very directly in its core relationship (with the disclaimer that it still has two episodes to go so something could go sideways)

I'd also throw in some shows that aren't really about class disparity but do include it as part of the narrative background to inform characterization and plot like I Told Sunset About You, Love By Chance, Khun Chai, and 3 Will Be Free

Outside of Thailand, South Korea is always a safe bet for strong class disparity narratives, and in QL you'll find the best examples in Hwang Da Seul's works (Where Your Eyes Linger, Blueming, To My Star 2, and currently Let Free the Curse of Taekwondo). Japan and Taiwan actually don't do much of this, because most of their shows are about middle class and working people as a rule. Miseinen, a Japanese BL that just started airing, looks to be tackling a class disparity narrative, though, and doing it well so far (not a coincidence that the source material is from Korea). And We Best Love is a classic Taiwanese BL with a significant class disparity informing the romance conflict. Blue Canvas of Youthful Days is a currently airing Chinese BL that is doing a class disparity romance and has been killing it so far.

So there is my incredibly long answer to your questions! Thank you again for sending me this kind note; I'm so appreciative that we can chat about this stuff and still maintain our love for these shows. I hope you find some things you like on the rec list, as well. :)

[heartorbit]

find another role, carry on the show

[hyacinthsdiamonds]

A lot of you underestimate how prevalent British bias is not only in F1 but across sports generally, and even in other industries.

Max saying he has the wrong passport in the paddock is an accurate statement. Do you think he, Seb, or Michael would've been half as vilified by the British media if they had a British passport instead? Would Fernando? Do you think Yuki would get half as much shit about his radio "conduct" if he was British? Because it's the British commentators who consistently have issues with it, and say shit like it's "unbecoming" for a driver to speak that way, ignoring that 1 it's not his first language and 2 IT WAS ENGLISH PEOPLE HE LEARNT THAT LANGUAGE FROM. Sometimes people misspeak, but Yuki has always taken accountability and apologised if he has and if he caused harm. Martin Brundle did not get nearly as much backlash from the media when he misspoke and called an Asian driver a slur while commentating. He also never apologised for it.

Alex, one of the four Brits on the grid but who drives under the Thai flag, has said that the commentators only call him British born when he does well. He was completely excluded from the Silverstone publicity about the home crowd heroes, whereas George, Lewis & Lando were heralded, not only on race weekend, but for weeks leading up to it.

Alex's statement also reminded me of this Richard Harris quote, "When I'm in trouble, I'm an Irishman. When I turn in a good performance, I'm an Englishman." Genuinely, if I took a shot every time a British organisation/person claimed a talented Irish person was actually a Brit, I'd have died from alcohol poisoning years ago.

Hell, I see George wearing the poppy pin this weekend in the lead up to remembrance Sunday. Do you know the amount of shit James McClean gets every year because he refuses to wear one? And he has very valid reasons for choosing not to wear it, yet he's torn to shreds every year by not only random people on the Internet or on the streets but by commentators and the media too.

Because of how this sport became mainstream and because no one challenged Bernie Eccleston's monopoly on broadcasting rights back in the day (people were given the opportunity to buy a share of the broadcasting rights; the idiots said no), this sport has prioritised the British voice/perspective for decades. I know the other broadcasts are just as biased for their home team/drivers, but the British one is the biggest one, as it's the main broadcast for better and more often for the worst. It's the broadcast with the most reach and influence. Their bias has to be challenged eventually if this sport ever hopes to properly expand and grow. The British bias is so difficult to miss once you start noticing it.

[theusernameiwantisntavailable]

Soft timber I did with @littlegreekhero. Tysm for being my partner in crime :D

[kinokoshoujoart]

CORRECT TAGS‼️‼️‼️‼️ @rn0na-lizard you are so so so correct….. my favorite ‘Normal Girl’ in hmds…….i almost never see anyone talk about these aspects of her let alone also love her for them as they should.

i feel like Leona/ DS lumina gets mischaracterized super often which is understandable bc out of all the DS candidates leona is the least like her ancestor (who i also love, for different reasons).

in AWL lumina was the only kid in the valley for a very long time, but many of the DS residents have lived in the valley their whole lives. while lumina had accepted her role as a proper young heiress by chapter 3 of AWL— and when DS begins Leona already at this point of her life— lumina still had a lingering sense of uncertainty and angst and loneliness and doubt, and unresolved worries about her parents. absolutely none of this is present with leona

in this world leona starts with Lumina’s 22 year old appearance, she’s just rich as hell and living her best life (as she deserves), she’s unabashedly shallow, puts herself first always, speaks so politely and affably yet she can be so casually cruel in the most genuine cute way and out of touch with reality and and i fucking love her and i’d die for her. my beloved girlboss girlkeep girlypop

more iconic Leona Moments

when muu/muffy asks for beauty advice leona’s recommendation is “this brand of mail order beauty cream is simply divine! and it was quite inexpensive too, just 100,000 G 🥰” everyone else looks uncomfortable and muu is like “you’re as frivolous as always….”

aside from the 3 who take literally half your money (Witch💖, moi, and thomas) leona and panama (romana) take the most money from you if they carry you home when you faint. just a couple of girl bosses holding on to their girlpire (btw shout out to sebastian, the only resident in the entire valley who carries you home for free)

neither panama nor leona attend the harvest festival, they send sebastian there by himself to test the food first lmao (if you poison it like the witch they’re harboring on their property requires you to do, sebastian is just like “i can’t serve this to Mistress Panama…”)

once again sebastian attacks mukumuku for her sake, this time not to make her a paintbrush but she told him to get her the best slippers and this was apparently the easiest way. sebastian gets fucking mauled btw

leona has hands down the best romance route in hmds. all her scenes are incredible but god the slow burn friends to lovers with your DVD player….

in her purple heart event she shows up at your house because she heard you have a DVD player, asks you to show her how it works, and then just leaves after she’s done playing with it

in her yellow heart event she has sebastian fetch van so she can buy a DVD player for herself but van’s like “i’m so sorry …. Pete… bought the last one….”

leona is so unable to stomach the idea of other people having things she doesn’t that she starts to cry and the only way to placate her is to tell her she can go to your house anytime she wants just so she can use your DVD player. that’s not a setup to a budding romance that’s her final heart event

it’s the most incredible romance arc in the world like girl you have infinite money you can just. buy a DVD player somewhere else?? “i want to watch DVDs at my house just like you!” leona you have three entire bedrooms

“rich girl love interest who has everything except love, win her heart by having genuine conversation with her”: done to death, tired, i don’t have time for that

“rich girl love interest who has everything except a fucking DVD player, win her heart by giving her expensive stuff and ‘relax tea’ and access to your DVD player”: audacious, intriguing, never been done before, innovative

if you deny her god-given right to access your DVD player she is like “Is that so……………Just let me be alone for a little bit.” incredible tragedy i understand. take as much time as you need to grieve darling

oh but her first heart event asks you to pick a side in an argument she’s having with panama and the correct answer is to say “sebastian is the one who’s wrong” (sebastian has said nothing wrong this whole time and yet both of them have just been yelling at him to shut up)

and her blue heart event is “help me find this heirloom necklace… boohoo…” and when you find it she’s like “perfect! now grandma won’t get mad at me. hmm, you seem pretty dependable…♡” augh she’s way too good at this…….!!! i’ll do anything for you!

when you propose she says “of course, i always dreamed of having a romance and a wedding♡” and says nothing abt how she feels about you <3

also if you marry her, once a week she goes to hang out at her ex love interest’s place for 6 hours straight and comes home saying “whew… i had so much fun that i must have lost track of time… i’ll hurry on home”

if you marry another girl she starts flirting with you like “I’m so envious of your wife, having such a fine husband… Pete.” (or whatever your name is)

i’ve become obsessed with her and romeo’s horrible trainwreck soap opera marriage since replaying cute in jp… it’s SO… i have so much to say about them that it should be its own post but i’ll just give the cliffnotes

shotgun wedding vibes. romeo is surprised by his own wedding. they’re childhood friends but he himself has never considered marrying her. her words to him at their wedding are “Make me happy♡” (command)

she understandably can’t stand his terrible table manners or his clothes or anything about him (except that she wants to watch him surf and have his child. but he instead walks in circles all day. coward) and he’s both really good at accidentally stepping on landmines and just ever so slightly majorly terrified of her after marriage (“but surely her angry outbursts are just her way of showing love hahahahaha” you’re going to die. she’s going to kill you). the only positive things they say about their marriage are extremely shallow. they can’t communicate with each other because romeo always says the Dumbest Shit obliviously and leona always responds by cutting him out of her life forever!!!!!! (for 5 seconds) while he has no idea what happened

they are both so melodramatic and they both just do nothing except make each other worse and run away from each other and push each other away but they can’t escape each other. neither of them ever has to grow or change if they marry each other because an elderly overworked man is sustaining both of their existences and neither of them can take care of themselves and i love them your honor

also romeo’s first crush as a kid was apparently her mom, and if leona falls for YOU she flirts by mentioning that sebastian says you look like the spitting image of her dead father. dear fucking god

they’re the epitome of “You're both just enabling each other's mental illnesses. You're both perfect for each other. Never change. Just never involve anybody else in what you've got going on.”

romeo really does feel like her stupid lackey. like the karen to her regina. they even had this dynamic in the games they played as kids… she was the Harvest Goddess and he was Servant A/Minion A (they might still be playing this game as adults…he calls her lady/mistress sometimes after marriage…)

btw leona’s best friend (wife) marivia is also just as… there’s an event where they just gossip about all the mineral town ppl and marivia says ann would win a gluttony contest and they both giggle

there’s also an event where marivia casually walks into Witch’s hut and just interviews her so she can write her into a novel. witch is left completely drained by this exchange. leona and marivia both are so chill about the horrible cruel villainess living in leona’s shed who wants the town poisoned and rewards you for killing animals and hurting yourself and is putting curses on everyone (and they’re right. she’s never done anything wrong in her life)

[a-sad-mage]

Champions of the West is here :D

Pronto's chapter is the only one available rn

but Trixie's is in the works, it will be finished some time this week!

Kord's chapter is straight up one sentence at this point in time, but fear not, like every writer, I know how it ends, just not all the shenanigans in between just yet lmao

and I have put way to much effort into Junjie's chapter... clearly I have a favorite child

[crafty-butch]

me: i love infidelity options in video games!!! if you romance a scumbag they should be able to cheat on you!!!!! adds realism!! and also it's hilarious!!!!!!!!!

also me, when given a romance option who's a cheating asshole and all around dickbag: ok...but... 🥺 i can fix him... 🥺🥺🥺 here's how our romance can still win 🥺

[kiame-sama]

Oops ... I'll check to see if i forgot to put in yandere

I tend to tag my stuff with a broader tag like "Azul ashengrotto x reader" just so i can find it on my blog since i don't mind yandere

See if i can edit them

Sorry you've been getting idiots spouting hate.... They need to learn how use the filter and block button...

Im so sad, cause I had to block Cypher (who reblogged a lot of my stuff) because he was specifically putting broad 'Twisted Wonderland' and 'Azul Ashengrotto' and 'Malleus draconia' instead of attaching that extra yandere piece despite me messaging him to stop. I'm just tired of people yelling at me when I didn't do it. I appreciate your willingness to work with me on this, though I know it is a pain.

[howtobeapersonwithfibro]

Let's write a story Part 1

I'm trying to get some writing inspiration back after a long, long creative drought. Let's write a story together :) Feel free to share ideas and maybe boost for added votes.

I wish there were other duration choices between 1 day and 1 week, because I feel like we will not get enough votes in a day but I want to move along with this project. Maybe I'll reserve the right to move on early with whatever is leading.

Edit: I forgot a results button for me. I'll wait as long as I can before deciding to cast a vote so I don't sway anyone.

[ahotmesswithprivilege]

Save me

edit: Ok. So I posted this before I went to bed and didn't catch that I missed the beginning paragraph of the whole thing 🤦🏻 Now that I woke up and saw it I thought about how to fix it and decided to edit the thing again, delete the old post and post it again in the hopes that I got it right this time around. What do we learn from this, ladies and gentlefolk? Never post something when you have been editing it for hours and your eyes are burning because you are exhausted. Always wait 'til the next day to look at it with fresh eyes and having someone else beta read is never a bad idea. On that note, if someone is interested in helping me post my stuff fully edited as a beta reader, my inbox is wide open and I'd love to hear from you. There is much more in my drafts where this came from including Luca, Deacon, Tan, Hondo and Chris. I am also tagging @zealousdazementality ; @widowssbite ; @ksyn-faith and @randomperson17 who already interacted with the old post so you have the chance to check out the complete thing if you so desire. I know 7k+ words is a lot, so I totally get if you don't, but just wanted to let you know ☺️ Now back to the actual content.

paring: Jim Street x fem!reader (nickname is Carnahan )

wordcount: ca. 7,7k

synopsis: When Street joined SWAT he ran into you on his first day, quite literally. After pulling you back up from the ground he gave you a blinding smile and then hurried over to where the rest of his squad was waiting for him. It was the beginning of what should turn into his favourite part of the day. Not crashing into you, but meeting you, gentle smile, kind heart and all. And he has you wrapped around his little finger before he even utters a word. You learn pretty quickly that he's a flirt and you give as good as you take. It is only a matter of time until your banter turns into something more. A one-time thing you think, considering his reputation but then it happens again and again until he demands space and you give it to him. But sadly like with most things in life, you only realize what you had once it’s gone. A lesson Street believed he already learned countless times before but this time it wasn’t someone else’s fault that he lost someone he cared for. It was his and it broke his heart to know that he had been the one to burn the bridge. Now he has to stand there and watch you from afar, not sure if he'll ever find a way back to you.

note: Yes my dudes (gn) I am still alive and breathing. I know that most people are probably on my blog because of my TGM or Tyler Owens content and I am still working on that, but a new hyperfixation kicked hard and got me out of my writer's block. So here we go. I hope you can enjoy my first attempt at writing for SWAT and if people enjoy I might share more of the roughly 100k words of plot I have for those idiots (very lovingly)

Trigger Warning(If I forgot something or you want me to add to the list, my inbox is wide open. You are responsible for your media consumption, so proceed with caution, you know the drill): non-canon (the timeline is a mess but I don't think it matters much), cursing; themes of SA and non-consensual touch, written by a non-native speaker

|| Masterlist ||

divider by @sweetmelodygraphics banner by @firefly-graphics

Reblogs, comments and constructive criticism are always welcome

!!!Minors do not interact; empty/ageless/minors will get blocked!!!

“How much longer are you planning to just stand there in the corner and watch from the sidelines?”, as well-meaning as he knows his best friend's teasing is, Lucas's words sting. Street knew that he should do something but what Luca did not know was that he had absolutely no right actually to try to ask you to dance with him or do as much as talk to you.

There was a time when you two had been closer and when things got too real for him and too close to what might be perceived as a relationship he pushed you away. Harshly so. “I don’t do relationships”, he can still see the way his words are cutting through you, pain washing over your features that you attempt to hide. 

It’s why he’s standing here on the sidelines clad in his S.W.A.T. uniform while the rest of the team is working the donors. He knows he should too. It’s for a good cause after all but from the moment he saw you move to the dance floor with the crime novelist who had spent most of the evening bewitching you with his italian charm he was way past the point of being able to pretend that he actually cared. 

Street knows that you are only doing this for the kids. You hate being the centre of attention and a woman with your curves gets a lot of that once you are clad in a dress that shows off your assets best. It's why you prefer higher necklines in your day-to-day life. To avoid the staring gazes of men who'd objectify you for your curves once they were done shaming you first. But when it came to getting rich assholes to add a zero or more to a cheque you were willing to go there and it was something he loved about you. Your compassion and kindness that got you so invested in the event in the first place and the strength you possessed to make it through the evening while others talked with your boobs more than you. Putting yourself out there like that took a lot of bravery, he just wished that he could be the one to hold you close, to reassure you that you had at least one man in this room who was covering your six.

“Who would have thought that our girl from archives cleans up so nicely”, he hears a voice from the side and there stands Rogers. A cocky new SWAT Academy recruit with too big an ego for his own good. Street never liked him much, but after this comment, all he wants to do is grab him and beat some sense into that deadhead of his, but Chris is beating him to the punch, quite literally when she rams her fist into his stomach and makes him keel over. 

“Never judge a book by its cover”, she's leaning down to whisper those words into his ear.

“That a S.W.A.T. rule?”, he gets out between gritted teeth, not getting why people made such a fuss about him making a very much harmless joke about you.

“No. It’s called basic human decency”, Deacon throws in as he stares down Rogers. He would make sure that Mumford knew that the guy was no good and he should keep an close eye on him.

Street's focus is already back on you as he sees someone else approaching you on the dancefloor. The guy was tall, looked sharp in his suit that was sure as hell bespoke and the first streaks of grey in his hair placed him in his late thirties. He waits until the song fades out before he moves in and even though Street has zero idea what he says, it looks like he dialed up the charm to eleven. He wasn't sure what it was about the guy but something was off and he didn't just feel like that because he could see how hellbent the guy was on dancing with you.

“And who the fuck let that guy in?”, Chris's voice is tense as she cannot help but stare at the guy right next to you, her words prompting the rest of the squad to look your way too.

“I thought they banned him after last time”, Luca had straightened his back and stood a little taller now.

“So did I”, Tan placed his drink down at the small table they had gathered around while they all stared at the scene unfolding in front of their very own eyes.

“Who’s the guy?”, Street hadn’t been thrilled to see you dance with a guy like that but now with the way the others talked about him, he only felt validated in his feeling that the vibes were off big time.

“Tony Parker. Hollywood big shot. His money is involved in the production of seven out of ten movies in LA”, Tan throws in. That would at least explain why he was invited in the first place.

“He got some serious wandering hands syndrome and if the grapevine is right. It’s more than just hands that wander once he got people behind closed doors”, Chris adds, a shiver running down her spine when she thinks back to the time a couple of years back when he was dancing with her. She had just made S.W.A.T. and he thought he could take advantage of her position. Just fucking gross.

Street’s eyes were glued to you. The longer he was forced to watch you the more obvious it became to him how fucking uncomfortable you were but instead of making a scene the way you absolutely 100% should have all you do is put on a brave face and stay your kind and charming self the way you have all night long. And while Street is watching you like a hawk ready to step in the second the guy oversteps, the rest of 20 squad is looking at him.

They all knew that there had been something between you and Street and even if it might have started casual, it sure as hell was not in the end. None of them were sure what went down between you two and why it ended, but whatever it was and how much distance it brought, it hadn't changed a single thing about the love that was shining in Street's eyes the second he saw you.

“I wonder how he got back in. Cortez promised she’d get him banned after the stunt he pulled last time with Carnahan”, Street's ears are perking up at the mention of your name and his eyes flitter over to Chris.

“I doubt she put him on the list”, Deacon throws in, his eyes wandering around to figure out if their boss had seen the unwanted guest yet and if so, what her stance was.

“We all know that these guys are waving around with some cash and the door magically opens”, Tan grumbles. He had seen more than enough of his fair share of people who bought their way out of trouble while he worked at VICE. It was so fucking infuriating to watch criminals walk free just because they had enough petty cash to pay whatever fine they got.

“Nah. He’s the type of guy who’s oozing so much filthy rich asshole energy that they have to let him in once he’s made sufficient enough of a scene”, Luca is flexing his fingers as he speaks. They are itching, the need to just walk over and drag that bastard away from you is growing with every moment he has to witness the way you are dancing with that asshole. He really wants to play cavalry for you and get you out of there, but he also knows that this would cause so much more trouble because of who they were talking about.

The moment that everything changes is when they see the way his hand is moving from right below your shoulder blades down to the small of your back and from there he splayed his hand right on your ass, making your entire body stiffen at the unwanted touch.

“Chris and Tan, kick that sorry excuse for a man out, Street, you are cavalry and get Carnahan out. Luca and I go talk to Cortez to make sure we have department backing if he’s inevitably acting like a bratty child”, Deacon took the lead and laid out the battle plan for them, even though Street wasn't even waiting for him to finish. He wouldn't have cared for backup at all. All he could think about was getting you out of there and fast. He makes his way through the crowd, fists clenched at his sides and the rushing of the blood in his ears loud enough to drown out the music and the chatter of the gossiping crowd. He didn't care who he had to shove to the side as he made his way through the dancefloor to where you were. All he can see is the guy's grip on you getting tighter and tighter. Fucking bastard.

Chris and Tan are following right in his footsteps, knowing that there is nothing that would stop Street right now. All they could do was make sure he didn’t get provoked by the Hollywood asshole so he could get you out of here without risking his career for beating the guy into a pulp. Not that he didn’t deserve it, but Street had enough of a target on his back as is. He didn’t need the added bonus of fucking with one of the most influential men in LA.

Dancing with David Rossi was probably one of the most pleasant things you had ever done during an event like this. The song was just fading out and Rossi had invited you over to his table when something rattled you. You knew that the man standing behind you was trouble the second you heard that deep baritone voice again. It sent you straight back to what happened two years ago. The first time that Cortez asked you to help them work the crowd during the event.

You weren't SWAT, but you had a charming presence and knew how to give people the knowledge they needed to make a choice, preferably the one you wanted them to make—writing large cheques for the children's hospital and you sure as hell could imagine worse things to do with your Friday night than doing something good. Even if the whole people part was more annoying than anything else. You had thrown yourself all in that first night, digging up old cases to build an imaginary one that people could solve with real detective methods and it was quite the hit. Something you were truly proud of, that much you knew, but it also meant you lowered your guard. You were surrounded by SWAT officers. They were your friends, your family. What was supposed to go wrong here?

And then Tony Parker happened and everything went to shit. You weren't used to hot and charming men being all over you so at first you took his flirting for innocent interest in your job and what you did at SWAT. That was until he put his hands where you sure as hell didn't want them and even though you told him no more than once, he wasn't letting go until he had you cornered in one of the interrogation rooms that were technically closed for the public. If it weren't for Chris who went looking for you, you sure as hell wouldn't have gotten away with just being touched and groped. You felt so relieved when Cortez promised that she would make sure that he wouldn't set foot in SWAT HQ unless it were custody, protective or otherwise and you believed her.

At first, you blamed the whole situation on the merry widow and the new look silhouette dress you wore that made you look like you were hotter than you actually are but once Chris sat you down in the locker room and helped you sort through all of the thoughts and feelings that were racing through your brain you saw it for what it was. 

A sick dude getting off on an unhealthy power imbalance and the perfect way to act out his fantasy was forcing himself on someone else against their will.

You knew that if you were to really make a scene you could pull Rossi back in and then the rest of SWAT would surely join. They were a protective bunch, especially with you because your skills were purely academic. But you know that it would only make things worse. All you had to do was bite your tongue, stay polite and dance with him for one song. Then you could excuse yourself and he couldn't say anything about it because you gave him at least one dance.

With your hand in his, the other resting on your spine right under your shoulder blades he starts moving to the music. The song is slow and you curse Fortuna for being such a bitch.

"I've been dreaming of this moment for two long years", he murmured into your ear, sending a shiver down your spine. You knew that there hadn't been any actions taken by the department because the intervention had been too early and the video cameras hadn't been set on recording the way they usually were. Not to mention that a man like Parker didn't just have a lawyer, he had a fucking army and they would have turned your life into a miserable shit show for the mere incineration that something hadn't been ok and you knew how these cases went. You had filed away your fair share of them and you weren't overly keen on getting right smack dab into the middle of all of this, even though you knew that this made you a part of the problem.

Maybe he wouldn't have dared to show his ugly ass visage if you had pressed charges against him, maybe all it would have taken was a little bit of bravery to not just keep on swallowing his heinous behaviour. But right here on the dancefloor, all you could hope for was that he would not overstep in public the way he had done in the private of the interrogation room. He was an influential man but even his immunity had limits and harassing you in a room filled with SWAT officers would be downright suicidal.

"You know, I am a man who likes to finish what he started", he begins, hand wandering from the appropriate place on your back down south and you are cursing yourself for not wearing your usual poofy skirts. That way at least you wouldn't be forced to feel his grubby hands on your body as much. You are closing your eyes for a moment to compose yourself before you can look back at him. You would totally have to borrow Chris's shower gel to wash that disgusting touch off of your skin before you head home tonight.

"As much as I understand a wish for completion, I doubt this place is right for what you started"

"You are so right about that. So why aren't you a good little girl and come with me? I promise I'll even write a cheque for your silly little charity afterwards"

When you see that smirk on his face you feel panic settling in your stomach. It sends you right back to that night in the interrogation room with you pressed against the wall and his hands wandering, just like they did right now. Your eyes begin to dart around the room, desperately looking for one of your friends. You knew that both 20 and 50 squad were here tonight, so at least one of them had to see what was going on, right?

You were ripped out of your thoughts when you collided with Parker's chest after he stopped in his tracks, looking to the side and there you see Street making his way through the crowd, Chris and Tan right behind him. The cavalry was here.

"If you know what's good for yourself you will take your hands off of the lady and step back, now", Street's voice is low and more growl than human. You've seen him mad before but this is a whole new level of anger and you get where he's coming from. Considering his childhood and his own volatile temperament you are surprised that he's even talking with Parker instead of just smashing in his face.

Parker's eyes are darting over Tan and they linger a little longer on Chris, probably remembering the moment when he tried similar bullshit with her 5 years ago before they settled on Street, wandering up and down as if he was assessing how much of a threat he'd be.

"I am counting to three and if you don't have your hands off the lady and a minimum of six feet between her and yourself I will make you make that space"

"And who do you think you are to tell me what to do?"

"One"

"Do you even know who I am", his fingers were digging deeper into your arm, making you grimace at the pain it sent straight from your arm up to your shoulder.

"Two"

"One phone call and you'll never get a job in this city ever again"

"Three"

Everything after that happens in a blur. You feel Parker's nails scratching over your skin while he tries to hold on to you and you wince at the pain before you feel two strong arms wrapping around you. That is followed by a loud thud of a body hitting the floor but you cannot see what is going on. You have two hands pressing you against a strong chest, the larger body protecting you with his own. People are screaming and through the commotion, you can hear Captain Cortez trying to calm people. And before you know it you feel the hands moving, picking you up bridal style to carry you away from all those staring eyes and the chaos, heavy steps taking you up the stairs towards the part of the building that was not open for the public.

Street wished that he could have done more but he had priorities. Your safety was his most important concern and no matter how much he would have loved to wipe that smug grin of that asshole's face with his fist, he had to get you as far away as possible from Parker's wandering hands and prying eyes. It was bad enough that he left you alone long enough with the bastard for him to get his hands on you. He couldn't expose you to this any more and he knew that the others would take good care of the asshole. That is the one thing Street learned in his time in SWAT. They are his family and they'll always cover his back.

When he maneuvered you away from the scene he could feel how wobbly your feet were and the heels you were wearing didn't help with the whole ordeal so he decided it was best to just pick you up and get you out of the danger zone. He made his way through the crowd and up the stairs, everyone far more focused on what was going on with Parker than what he was doing with you. He could only imagine how many people had their phones out while they were recording what would surely turn into a picture-perfect SWAT arrest.

With every step he took away from the crowd the sounds from downstairs were more muffled and the worst of it was over so he could take a deep breath and look down at you. Your face was hidden in the crook of his neck and your fingers were digging into his tactical vest to keep him close. Considering the way you were shaking in his arms he was pretty sure that you were crying and it broke his heart to think of what that bastard had done to you last time to illicit such a visceral reaction in you.

He didn't take you to the interrogation room the way Deacon had told him. He was much too concerned for that to bring back memories of that night two years ago and you were enough of a fragile state as is. So he walked into the room they usually used to talk with the families or kids if they were involved. There was a couch and he didn't have to fear to send you straight into a panic attack once you saw the room.

But first, he has to take inventory of your wounds so he sits you down at the wooden desk in the corner. You are still trembling and now in the quiet of the room, he can hear you sniffling and your hands are holding onto his tactical vest as if your life depended on it, keeping him standing right between your thighs. On any other day, Street would be ecstatic to have his dream girl this close to him again, but right now all he can see is the terror in your eyes and the way you shake like a leaf, your tears leaving a streak of mascara in their wake.

"Hey, Carnahan...", his voice is low and calm. He doesn't have to be a shrink to know that you were deeply upset and unsettled by what had just happened on the dancefloor. You didn't even react to him talking to you, acting like your mind was still downstairs with Parker's hands all over you.

"Carnahan", he tries again, reaching out his hand to place it on your cheek but your hand shoots up and grabs his wrist before his skin touches yours. It hurts to think that you wouldn't allow him to comfort you but on the other hand, he shouldn't be surprised. He had hurt you pretty bad. Why should you accept his touch after all the shit he said about you and the way he pulled back the moment things seemed to get serious.

"I need you to breathe for me", finally your panicked gaze finds his, eyes wide and struggling to focus but at least you are looking at him.

"In and out. In and out...", he instructs, counting in his head and elongating the periods slowly from four seconds to six and then later to eight. 

Your chest was rising and lowering, listening to his voice as you followed his commands. It was easier than it should be to fall back into the familiarity and safety of being around him. He was the one who wanted to end things after all, but right now when your brain was in pure panic mode, you couldn't imagine a single person you'd rather be around than Jim Street. 

As bad as it hurt when he pushed you away, you'd never felt this safe with another person before, even though you worked with a bunch of burly SWAT dudes. It takes a while until you are fully in the room with him and you feel disoriented and dizzy as you take a mental inventory of your body. You feel the burning of some scratches on your arm. Those had to be from when Parker tried to hold on to you even while he was faced with three SWAT officers who told him in no uncertain terms to very impolitely fuck off. And then you feel the heat of Jim's body seeping into yours, his thighs touching yours as he stands between your legs.

"That's good", he murmurs after moving his hand, so his index and middle finger are now resting on the pulse point on your wrist, glad when he gets to feel how much calmer your heart is beating now.

Street's awfully close to you, much closer than he has been in weeks if not months and even though the rational part of your brain knows it's wrong, there is still that feeling hiding in a corner of your heart that is happy that it's him who saved you.

"Are you ok?", it's a stupid question and he knows it. How the fuck were you supposed to be ok after something like this happened to you? But still, he needed to assess the damage to be able to help you. And that was his top priority. Helping you.

"Nothing that a little marigold balm won't fix", you give him a small smile, the kind that never fails to make his heart stumble in his chest and he gives you one of his smiles in return, dimples and all. He was relieved that they made it to you in time, that they got to stop the asshole before he could do anything that would have caused greater harm.

It's that goddamn smile that made you fall for him in the first place. That and his infectious humour and big heart.

You shake your head at the thought. Jim Street was not interested in you. At least not like that and you knew it. There was no point in pretending otherwise. Even if he saved your ass out there it didn’t mean that he magically changed his mind about you and the prospect of a relationship.

He knows that this would be overstepping big time but all he wants to do is put his hands on your cheeks and pull you into a kiss, to show you that whatever he told you didn't matter because what he felt for you was so big and real and it felt like dying every day a little more when he couldn't wake up with you sleeping in his arms. He believes that there is something shimmering in your eyes, a fondness that is more than what you'd feel for someone who's just a friend and so he is about to make his dream come true and finally get to kiss you again when the door to the room flies open and there you see the Captain and Hondo.

They are both eyeing you two and you feel like you'd been caught in the act by your teachers, leaning back a little to have more space between you and Street to at least pretend all you felt for him was purely platonic. But Street doesn't budge or step away from you, he doesn't even act like you two were caught. His gaze is colder as he eyes those two, the storm that had been brewing in his chest coming closer to the surface. Cortez was the reason why you were in this situation in the first place. She fucked up and you had to pay the price for that and there is a part of him who feels like he should make her pay tenfold for every second you spent distressed because of Parker. 

"Are you ok Carnahan?", Cortez asks, the guilt that is written over her features rather obvious to anyone who knew her at least a little. She's taking steps towards you as her eyes wander questioningly over her officer. She has heard the rumours that something happened between you two. Of course she did, it was part of her job description to know exactly what was going on with her people, especially considering how dependent they were on their performance in the field. But Hondo told her that things were over and there was nothing for her to be worried about in regards to department policy, but this looked like anything but 'being over'.

"Yes, Captain", you try to ignore the fact that Street has not moved away from you, his body heat still seeping into your skin and you feel the way he is positioning himself between you and the rest of the room. One could actually think that the people he's facing are the enemy and in some sense, that might actually be true. He wanted you for himself, wanted to guard you from the world and make sure you'd get the needed reprieve after the shitshow that went down on the dancefloor.

"You sure that you don't need any medical attention?", her eyes wander over your body, taking inventory of you not so dissimilar to the way Street had and then she's focusing back on him and her brow furrows. She does feel bad that Parker made it past the entrance even without an invite and the officer who let him in would be on armoury duty for the foreseeable future. But considering the possessive way Street acted around you, she was not quite sure if walking out the room meant leaving you in company just as bad as Parker.

"No. Those are just scratches and I doubt that there is a pill against misogynistic rape rhetoric", it is an attempt at a joke and a poor one at that but you feel like you have to diffuse the situation at least somewhat. Street was so tense that you worried he might lose it and lash out against whoever made that one step too close to you, completely irrelevant whether that might be friend or foe .

"Then you should go and see Wendy tomorrow"

"I will"

She nods, knowing that there isn't much else she can do for you right now even if she wants to.

"Parker is in custody for now but we'll need your witness statement tomorrow. Everything has to go by the book and we have to dot our i's and cross our t's to make sure that he stays where he belongs. Behind bars", Hondo adds and you nod at him, knowing that there was no way come hell or high water that you wouldn't make sure that you did whatever you could to not let that bastard walk free.

"Are Chris and Tan ok?"

"Yeah. Though I think Chris enjoyed kicking him to the ground a little too much", Hondo gives you one of his signature smiles and you smile back at him, or at least you try.

There is a pause and Hondo and Street are exchanging looks. Even if Street has started out with SWAT a few months ago he is just like family to Hondo. Buck chose him for the team and even though Hondo wasn't quite sure what his whole ordeal was, it was painfully obvious even for a blind man that he cared about you. A lot. Whether he was willing to fully admit that to himself didn't matter. And for Hondo, it looked like you felt safe in Street's company, so he pulled Cortez back to leave you two some space.

"You know where to find us if something changes", he adds before he pulls the door shut behind him and Cortez and you cannot help but breathe a sigh. Parker is in a cell and the others are ok. You hadn't even realised how much faster your heart had been beating while they gave you the update.

"Hey sweetheart", Jim's voice is low and quiet, and yet more than enough to pull your focus back to him. Your eyes meet his and you feel how your erratic heartbeat slows down and a wave of calm washes over you. That's all he needed to get you right back under his spell. Two words and a gentle touch and you felt like you did when all of this started and he kissed you for the first time.

"You should head back downstairs now. I'm sure there are a bunch of ladies out there who are only waiting to add a few zeroes to her cheques for one of those dimpled smiles of yours", your words are meant as teasing, your way to deescalate the situation after the very obvious tension that grew in the room between Street and Cortez, but when you see the way he flinches at your words it's taking you by surprise.

You know Street is a flirt. It's not something that he keeps a secret so you didn't think much of it but to him, this felt like a bullet hitting him straight in his chest. He knows why you are doing it. It's not that hard to figure out that you offer him a way out, an easy way off the hook after he did more than his dues rescuing you but the thought of letting go hurts him more than he'd ever care to admit.

His hand is flexing, fingers digging deeper into the fabric of your dress. It's the natural reaction of his body to the mere idea of leaving you alone right now or ever really.

"I cannot just leave you after what just happened down there", you are surprised by the insistence in his voice, the way his brown gaze finds yours and looks right to the bottom of your soul. Street was stubborn as fuck, that much you knew for sure, so it shouldn't have been a surprise that he'd attempt to stay even if you told him that it was ok to go.

"I meant it when I said that I was fine"

"And I meant it when I said that I will not leave you alone after what just happened", his voice was getting a little louder, forcing him to stop and take a deep breath. He didn't want to lash out but he needed you to understand one of the most simple truths he knows. That he was there for you, to guard and to protect you and he wouldn't leave you behind.

"Fine. If that's what you really want"

If that's what you really want... god you didn't even begin to imagine what he really wanted. The words alone triggered a cascade of different images in his brain. His strong hands wandering over your soft skin, his body pressed against your gentle curves and the heaven that was pulling you in for...

„What I really want right now is to kiss you“, the words are out before he really knows it and his voice is low and almost quiet enough for you to miss them.

„What did you just say?“

Street looks up at you with wide eyes, the thing he wanted to keep a secret for your sake out in the open, but what hurt more than anything was the way your brows rose and your eyes widened in surprise, maybe even shock at his confession. There had been a time when he didn’t have to ask. When placing his hands on your cheek and neck had been as natural as breathing and he could kiss you whenever his heart desired. But those days are gone and he’s the only one to blame. He was the one to burn that bridge in the first place…

Your gaze is locked with his and if he’d still have his fingers on your pulse point he’d be able to feel how much faster your heart was beating now. As much as you loved to tell Chris and yourself that you were over Jim Street and that a man who wasn’t willing to commit was not worth the time nor the tears, there had been a tiny corner of your heart where those feelings you felt for him were still hiding out. 

You loved Jim Street, even if you know you shouldn’t.

Jim knows he shouldn’t have said that and he hated himself for that kind of slip-up. Your night had been shitty enough as is. You really didn’t need another layer on top of him attempting to apologise for the way he treated you. But he knew you well enough to be aware that there was no way you’d let this go right now until he answered the question so he breathed a sigh before his hand came to rest on your cheek, thumb gently caressing your cheekbone.

“What I really want right now is to kiss you”, he repeats his words, louder this time to leave no room for interpretation his soft brown eyes finding yours, looking at you to gauge your reaction to his words.

Street expected a great many things. Anger and fury were at the top of the list, potentially pain and sadness or even just the plain and simple humiliation of you laughing at the absurdity of the idea that after all he said to you you’d still entertain the thought of considering to give him a chance. But all there is is a gentle hand on his cheek that pulls him closer and your forehead resting against his, a soft chuckle falling from your lips.

"This feels like one of those dreams where I know everything is too good to be true but it’s nice to at least indulge in the thought of it for a little while before I hear my alarm blaring and I have to face the sad reality of the fact that it was only just a dream", he can feel your breath against his skin with his eyes closed he tries to really take this in and enjoy the moment. He has no idea how long this might last and he intends to remember every tiny detail about it.

"I could say the same. Though for me it's usually Duke who's licking over my face because he cannot manage to get Luca out of bed after a night of COD", his laughter is rumbling in his chest and it makes you chuckle too. Yeah, you can very vividly imagine how that's going for the two of them.

“I like the idea of where a kiss could lead us ...”, your voice is small and he puts a hand on your neck, feeling the rushing of your blood under his palm he pulls back a little to look into your eyes. They are closed as you continue, knowing that this is probably the most vulnerable he’s ever seen you even though you had been sprawled out in his sheets, completely naked for him before, "But I’m scared to lose you. For good this time"

It hurts so much to hear you speak like this. To see how hesitant you've become around him because he acted like a complete asshole.

"You won't”, the determination in his voice makes you look up at him with those soulful eyes that always seemed to see straight to the bottom of his soul.

“I was sorry even before I finished that fucking sentence and I've been thinking about a way to apologise, to make things right with you but nothing ever felt like it was enough. I hurt you so much and all just because I was so scared when things got real between us and I didn't know what to do. It's so fucking stupid but I thought if I push you away first I could be the one hurting, not the one being hurt"

You had known of his family situation, at least a little bit and to see that Street was dealing with trust- and abandonment issues was not that terribly hard, but you never thought it would push him that far. The thought of that moment when he cuts you out of his life still brings tears to your eyes. The man you only knew as funny, brave and kind turned into something different. Cold and hard as steel and there was no way to reach him behind that wall. To think that someone hurt him so much that he thought his only way to deal with it was lashing out hit you to your core, the pain and sadness from that day mixing with a burning anger. No one deserved to be treated like that.

"It was stupid of me to think that that would fix shit and all these feelings would just stop", he shakes his head a little before his gaze finds yours again, a dry humourless chuckle falling from his lips, "For the record, they didn't. They've been there and real this whole time", he gently brushes a lock of hair behind your ear as he leans back down.

"Feelings?"

"Yeah", Street takes a step closer to you, one hand resting on your cheek and the other finding its way to your waist, pulling you to the edge of the tabletop for you to wrap your legs around his hips, "I had no idea what it was until I lost you"

"And what is it?"

"Love", the word is little more than a quiet whisper with his lips less than an inch away from yours, one of your hands resting on his chest with your fingers digging into his vest while the other moved down to his neck.

"Love? Quite the big word. Are you sure?"

"You know me. I am not someone for big speeches..."

"Yeah. You are more the kick down the door and kick some ass kinda guy", he loves the warmth in your voice while you tease him. It's not that you are really wrong about it. He does have a reputation, but to know that you two were back on a well enough territory for such gentle teasing gave him hope that maybe he hadn't destroyed the most beautiful thing he had ever had the chance to have in his life.

"Only when it's necessary", his forehead is resting against yours before he takes another breath and the playfulness morphs into something with more gravitas.

"I never had a good example of what love's supposed to look like so fuck all is what I know but when I look at you I feel like I wanna spend the rest of my life figuring it out. For you and with you", you look him in the eyes and you feel like you are practically melting at the confession.

"I don't want to make a promise I don't know how to keep but what I can promise you is that I am willing to try and do my best"

"That's all a girl can ask for"

"Does that mean I get to kiss you?", he's tilting his head, nose brushing playfully against yours before you pulled back with a chuckle and shook your head, the smirk that grew on your lips enough of a tell for him to know that this was all in good faith.

"You really want that?"

"You know how it is with addicts. Cold turkey is never a fun experience and it wasn't even like I could get a substitute drug", that sentence made a chuckle bubble up in your throat and Street cannot remember the last time he heard something as beautiful as you laughing.

"You are an idiot Jim Street, you know that?"

"Yeah but I'm your idiot"

"Fucking right you are"

And with those words you pull him in, lips crashing onto each other and your legs wrapping tighter around his waist. His hands held you closer than before, your own arm snaking around his neck to pull him even tighter in your embrace and so you could bury your fingers in the hair at the nape of his neck, nails gently scratching his skin. A small moan fell from his lips at the feeling and when your lungs were burning and you pulled back, his lips were chasing yours to steal one more kiss from yours.

"That a good first fix?"

"Yeah. But I could use another. Just for good measure"

"Hey. Someone I can crash with tonight?", Luca's voice sounded much more excited than he was supposed to be considering the question.

"You have your own house now. Why would you need to couch surf?", Tan looks at the other who just entered the locker room. The party was finally over and they all did their dues. At least there wasn't anyone else stupid enough to misbehave after that display of how SWAT worked.

"Because I believe that whatever happens in the house tonight is not meant for my eyes or ears"

He is grinning ear to ear now, blue eyes sparkling bright and then it finally clicks for Chris while the rest of the squad is still staring at one another all puzzled.

"Fuck yeah, I knew it. Today is payday, my friends", she turns around to Tan, Deacon and Hondo and reaches out her hand to them. It shouldn't be much of a surprise to anyone that of all the people who joined the pot when Street would finally get his shit together and rebuild the bridge he burned with you, she was the one who got closest to the date. They are grumbling a bit, though it's more for show than anything else. They are all glad that they don't have to keep on watching their friend stare at you longingly. Life was too short for that shit and they knew that better than most.

"You sure you didn't meddle with this? I mean you are eerily close", Tan questions but he only gets a hit over the head for it. He hadn't thought that you'd give Street a second chance, even if he would eventually man up and apologise. Tan had pegged you for the one chance only kinda gal and now he had to pay up.

"You are just mad because you are losing 100 bucks to "the girl who is better with dogs than people" tm"

And while those two are bickering the rest of the team is pulling out the wallets and Hondo cannot help the content smile that plays on his lips. He had questioned Buck's choice with Street more than once since he joined but tonight he proved to everyone what it had been that Buck saw in him.

He was courageous, kind and loyal. All qualities that he not only admired but that were paramount to being a good SWAT officer and he was glad that he had someone like that covering his six.

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Incorrect quotes

Thanks @mysticstarlightduck here!

Rules: use this [edit: forgot the link] incorrect quotes generator to generate incorrect quotes for your OCs!

Hehe I love this one

Ash: Noelle, I know you love Jedi. I mean, we all do, he's a very nice person and I respect him immensely.

Ash: But I think he might be a fucking idiot.

Jedi: You borrowed a crane?

Robbie: Not exactly.

Gwen: You stole a crane?!

Robbie: Exactly.

Robbie: Hey Rose, do you have any hobbies?

Rose: Swimming..

Robbie: Really? That’s cool. I never expected you to-

Rose: In a pool of self hatred and regret.

Noelle: The clock is ticking! We don't have time for this asinine tomfoolery!

Robbie: This unmitigated poppycock?

Akash: Extravagant hogwash!

Noelle: Okay, stop.

Rose: Stop thinking whatever you're thinking.

Robbie: Huh?

Rose: You always make that face when you're about to say something stupid just to piss me off. So cut it out-

Robbie: I love you.

Rose:

Robbie:

Robbie: Also, cereal qualifies as a soup.

Rose: I KNEW IT!!

Kelsey: Reverse tooth fairy where you leave money under your pillow and the tooth fairy comes and leaves you a bunch of teeth.

Gwen: Why?

Kelsey, shaking a bag of teeth: Just because.

Lexi: Wait a minute, how did this happen? We're smarter than this!

Kelsey: Apparently, we're not.

Gwen: Hey, can we stay in your dorm tonight?

Ash: Why?

Gwen: Lexi fiddled with an ouija board and cursed ours.

Akash: Robbie doesn't know how to banish spirits, so he just threw salt at them and yelled "DOES THIS LOOK LIKE A HOTEL TO YOU?!"

Lexi, on the phone: What’s up, Gwen?

Gwen: I’m sitting in a pool of blood.

Lexi: …Um, is it YOUR blood?

Gwen: I think so.

Lexi: Do you know where the blood’s coming from?

Gwen: Probably the stab wound.

Lexi: YOU’VE BEEN STABBED?!

Gwen: Oh, yeah, definitely.

Akash: Don’t stay up all night, Carmen. Last time you got this sleep-deprived, you tried to eat your own shirt.

Maddie: I have met some of the most insufferable people. But they also met me.

Robbie: I have seen a lot of murders in my time, and all six of them were today.

Carmen: *mixing different alcoholic beverages together*

Gwen: What are you making?

Carmen: A mistake.

Noelle: I personally don't think it's possible to come up with a crazier plan.

Maddie: We could attack them with hummus.

Noelle: I stand corrected.

Maddie: Just keeping things in perspective.

This was awesome

Tagging @leahnardo-da-veggie @mk-writes-stuff @melpomene-grey @lesleymoonwriter @winterandwords

+ ANYONE ELSE

TSP intro

TSP tag list (ask to be +/-): @thepeculiarbird @illarian-rambling @televisionjester @finchwrites

@nebula--nix @literarynecromancy @honeybewrites

[thehollowwriter]

🦀 and 💕 for your ships!!

I'm assuming you mean all of them, so this is gonna be long. This is still open (all the ask games are) so feel free to send in more asks!

Edit: I'm an idiot who forgot this was only oc x canon, so enjoy the free Silas x Morrigan food

🦀: How did they handle realizing they were in love? Embarrassed? Nervous? Mad?

Finn felt a large flurry of emotions. Nervous? Yes. Embarrassed? Certainly. But be also felt a little stupid. Is it because he thinks the trio are out of his league? Not really, since his self-esteem is faaaar from low (most of the time, anyways). It's because he thinks it's far too quick. A mere year? No way, that's not enough time. (As I've said before, it was just the 4 of them in close contact at the bootcamp, so they did a "getting to know each other" speed run lmao)

Azul was deep in denial for a while, then he was mad and annoyed. Well, at least with twins. With Finn, it was more annoyed, and kinda surpised.

Floyd was pretty chill, actually. He's a lot more in tune with his own emotions than the other 3 so he's just like "Okay, I'm gonna ask him out now". Jade is more... confused. He didn't expect this to happen. How odd.

Silas was... well, he was surprised, and a little unsure of what to do about these new feelings. Morrigan was kinda like "ohhhh shiiiiit" because he is never gonna let Silas go if he got him, and he knows his parents are going to be pissed. That aside, he was quite nervous about this new development lmao.

💕: Who confessed first and how? Did it go as planned or did shenanigans ensue?

I think the tweels and Azul had this odd phase were they (and their families tbh) knew they were dating but nobody ever actually confessed? They never said the words. Eventually, Azul did. Nothing ever goes as planned with the tweels of course, and the result was them teasing him endlessly and playfully chewing on his tentacles.

Floyd confessed to Finn first. The rest followed afterwards like a domino affect. It was a night filled with an odd mix of excitement, joy and a dash of awkwardness. And lots of photos of courting gifts to send to their parent lmao.

Well, you guys all know Morrigan confessed first by giving Silas that courting gift. It, of course, took him by surpise when Silas agreed.

Tagging: @elenauaurs @distant-velleity @krenenbaker @the-banana-0verlord @kitwasnothere @boopshoops @cyanide-latte @cynthinesia @jovieinramshackle @krenenbaker @theleechyskrunkly

[aemonds-little-belle]

FEELINGS SOLD SEPARATELY

CHAPTER FIFTEEN (THE KISS)

Modern!Aemond Targaryen x Reader

TAGS - (REPOSED FROM AO3)

Alternate Universe - Sugar DaddySugar BabySugar Baby AUAUokay this is a whole ass story that's just one long ass brain fartliterally i am just coming up with this on the spotlow key really love it thoughSugar Baby/Sugar Daddyobviouslytalks of class issuesaemonds been hurt in the pasti think there will be some sexy stuff eventuallywait fuck i didn't mention this is a modern!aumodern!AUAlternate Universe - Modern Setting<3Aemond "One-Eye" Targaryen is Bad at Feelingsstop that was recommended but so accurateI don't know how to do tagsI'm SorryI promise it's goodAnd no one diesand it's just so classically a sugar baby/ sugar daddy au it hurtsreader works at a cafe ... obviouslythis will follow a similar storyline to the show just modern and also not at allFamily Issueswait probably dom/sub vibes tooDom/subLight Dom/subclearly i don't know where this is going yetmy readers are always written fat because i am fatso keep that in mindSlow Burnit's so slowbut I think it's greatlike genuinely two idiots in lovebut they take soooo long to noticeUghI love fanfiction

(Special thank you to @throughgoeshamilton who laid their own series headcannons on me and then me expand them, and also listened to my headcannons and helped me expand them as well. Truly thankful!!! <3)

Y'all voted for something happier, so I complied, until I didn't ... Enjoy!

PLEASE DON"T FORGET TO LIKE AND REBLOG <3

+ + + + + +

“Hmm.” Aemond smiled as he finally leaned in, his lips pressed against hers so softly, too softly. The corners of his lips curling when Y/n let out a content sigh, leaning in closer, the kiss finally deepening. Aemond eventually pulled back, Y/n pouting slightly, her expression contorted in worry, Aemonds thumbs smoothing over the wrinkles that formed on her forehead as he smiled down at her. “If I kiss you again, Y/n.” He paused. “Everything will change.” 

She nodded her head, her eyes not leaving his. “I want things to change.” She whispered, maybe even pleaded, Aemond smiling as he leaned in again, this kiss almost frantic, Aemond pulling Y/n impossibly closer as her hands closed tighter around his wrists, the two of them unsure if the moment was real, their lips exploring one another’s as if there would never be another kiss, another moment to be this close. “Aemond.” Y/n breathed as she pulled away. “I can’t breathe.” He just chuckled, pecking her lips once, twice, before fully pulling away, his eyes opening to find Y/n breathing heavily, her lips pouting. “Just give me a second.” 

“Why don’t you put some pants on, hmm?” Aemond hummed, amused at the fact she hadn’t run off to do so sooner. Y/n nodded her head, her face heating up, the embarrassment she forgot about creeping up on her once more. “Since we’re already editing the rules.” Aemond said, Y/n’s smile disappearing. “Maybe no more answering the door pantless.” He teased. 

“You were banging on my door!” Y/n pointed out. “And you were yelling my name! I thought it was an emergency.” She crossed her arms, ready to defend her case. 

“I wouldn’t have knocked so hard, or called your name as loud as I did, if you answered your phone.” Aemond raised his eyebrows, daring Y/n to think of a comeback. 

Y/n just tilted her head to the side. “What am I getting dressed for?” She moved the conversation to something different, opening a dresser drawer and sifting around to find something suitable. 

“Just some errands.” Aemond answered, his head in her fridge as he looked for something she could eat before moving onto the cupboard to do the same. 

“What kind of errands?” Y/n asked puzzled, a few things in her arms as she closed her eyes, opening them back up and realizing that Aemond really was in her kitchen making her some toast, like a boyfr…

“We need to pick up your dress for tomorrow night.” He interrupted her thoughts. “some fancier shoes to match too, and Helaena ordered a necklace and earrings for you, so we’ll have to get those as well.” He said nonchalantly, speaking like picking up custom dresses, jewelry, and fancy shoes like he does the newspaper. 

“I don’t, I um, what do you wear for fancy shopping.” Y/n tried not to show her worry about shopping, the last trip eventful in all the wrong ways, and not something she wished to do again. 

Aemond looked to her, smirking at her still bare legs, though his face hardened when he saw her worried expression. “Just wear something comfortable, Y/n, and something warm, it’s cold outside.” He answered, turning back to the toaster, which took longer than he wished it would. “What would you like on your toast?” He asked, Y/n still scrambling to find something, t-shirts, sweaters, jeans, leggings, and socks suddenly piled up beneath, and around, her. 

“Uhm.” She sighed. “Just some butter, I guess.” Y/n huffed, turning around and picking a few things up, then throwing them back down. 

“Do you do this every time you get dressed?” Aemond asked intrigued, motioning to the room, now messier than it was a few minutes ago, Y/n’s shoulders shrugging. 

“No.” Y/n defensively said. “I mean, yeah, sometimes, I just, what do you wear to a fancy mall?” She raised her hands in the air defeated, her shirt riding up slightly, Aemond tensing. “I want to fit in.” Aemond opened his mouth to speak, but Y/n cut him off. “Please, just help me find something.” 

Aemond nodded his head, placing the finished toast on a random plate, then walking over, hands behind his back as he looked over the mishmashed pile of clothing. “You need a closet.” 

“Sure! Do you want me to go ask Gunner if he can build a closet for me ...” Aemond looked to her, almost wishing her to try and do as she said she would. “Pantless?” She finished, her words dying out. 

“I would much rather we keep you being pantless as an ‘us’ thing.” He smiled, leaning down slightly so he could be at eye level with her. “The only thing I want you to ask Gunner, is if he’ll let you out of your lease.” Aemond said, his tone serious, his eye locked on hers. 

“Why would I do that?” She tried to scoff, though it ended up much more breathy than intended. 

“So I can get you out of this shit …”

“Hey!” Y/n’s finger collided with his chest, Aemond putting his hands up to show his innocence as she stared at him with true anger in her eyes. “I know my apartment isn’t fancy, and it doesn’t have a closet, but it’s my home.” Y/n made sure her words were clear, and loud. “So be nice.” She pulled her finger back, Aemond smirking at her expression, her demeanor, how scary, yet, cute she looked, angry over his words, and still, somehow still pantless. ‘I lo… She’s quite cute.’ He thought. 

“Okay.” Aemond said giving up his fight and teasing, now genuinely looking over the clothing she had already pulled out. “Here, and here.” He handed her a long sleeve t-shirt, then a nice, unsurprisingly black, knit sweater to go over it, a new purchase he was happy to dress her in. “And then some jeans, where are your …” Y/n pointed to her bottom drawer, Aemond nodding his head as he crouched down to open it. “See, that was easy.” He said, handing her a pair of blue jeans, though the two of them were slightly shocked at his choice, seeing that he’s wearing all black, Y/n wondered if he owned any colourful clothing, and if not, maybe he had some fun socks. “Y/n?” 

“Hmm?” 

“Please, go put some pants on.” He chuckled, though internally he was screaming, her pantless look was at first cute, and a little funny, but at some point it turned distracting, especially when she lifted her hands up, the small peek he got at her stomach making him forget where he was for a few minutes. 

+

Y/n did a little spin as she came out of the bathroom, smiling to Aemond who stood at her window. “How do I look?” Y/n asked, though her breath hitched when Aemond’s eye looked her up and down, assessing her body in a way he hadn’t before, her face suddenly heating.

Y/n just smiled nervously before walking towards the kitchen, picking up a piece of toast before biting into it. “I prefer you pantless.” Y/n took a deep breath in, toast crumbs suddenly stuck to the side of her throat, her chest heaving slightly as she tried to breath before she began coffing. “Y/n.” Aemond shook his head, taking the few steps towards her, opening up a cupboard and pulling out a cup, filling it up with water and handing it to her, his hand on her lower back as she took desperate gulps. “Are you okay?” He chuckled after she took her first full breath. 

“I was trying to play it cool.” She pouted before laughing, placing the cup down on her counter, Y/n avoiding Aemond’s eyes at all costs. ‘That was so embarrassing, I could die on the spot, right now, he's a TARGARYEN.’

“You’re adorable.” Aemond laughed, his hand gliding up her spine and resting on the back of her head as he leaned down and kissed the top of her head. 

“I almost died choking, on toast!” She held up the culprit. “And you think I’m cute?” 

“You almost died because I complimented you, to me, that's adorable.” 

“You have concerning taste.” Y/n muffled as she tentatively went to take another bite of her toast. 

Aemond held up her coat that was sat on her dining table. “I could say the same for you.” Y/n went to say something but her mouth was still full, Aemond continuing instead of giving her time to come up with something snarky to say. “We should probably stop by Stylner’s and get you a new one.” 

Aemond held the coat open and walked towards Y/n, her turning letting him help her into it. “I like that coat.” Y/n admitted, though quietly. 

“I’m sure you do.” He smiled. “But it’s getting too cold outside to wear something that has holes in it.” He explained, smoothing over the top of her head as she turned around, clearly ready to argue. 

“It …” 

“Doesn’t have holes?” He nodded his head, his hand slipping into the left pocket, his fingers then slipping through a hole at the bottom of it, wiggling against Y/n’s stomach. 

“Hey!” 

“Hmm?” 

Y/n grabbed a hold of his wrist, pulling his hand out of her pocket, replacing it with hers. “I like the holes.” She admitted. “It makes the coat unique, one of a kind, never seen before, a really cool coat…” Y/n rambled on as she smiled up at him, knowing she was getting on his nerves.

Aemond hesitated for a second, ‘I want things to change’, before crashing his lips against hers, his hands cupping her face, Aemond’s head tilting one way as hers tilted the other. Y/n’s one hand still stuck in her pocket when Aemond caught her by surprise, pinned between the two of them, her other hand staying still at her side, unsure if he felt comfortable with her touching his face just yet. “Hmm.” Aemond hummed as he pulled away, Y/n’s eyes wide, her expression confused. “I should have kissed you a lot sooner.” He smirked. “You get all quiet afterwards. I could have enjoyed silence a little more if I had indulged sooner.” 

“Indulged?’ Y/n questioned, her shock induced silence wearing off quickly. “What am I? Ice cream?” She feigned offense. 

“Y/n.” Aemond chuckled, his forehead resting on hers. “You’re going to be the death of me.” 

“Stop being a little baby, you love me!” She pulled from his embrace, grabbing the toast once again, hoping to finally finish it. Aemond on the other hand froze, his eye seemingly stuck in place as he let her words hit him. ‘I think I, do.’. Y/n realized her slip up, not meaning to bring in such heavy words like ‘love’ into whatever it was they had, at least not this soon. “I’m sor..” 

“Why don’t we go?” Aemond cleared his throat, embarrassed by how her words affected him, literally freezing him in place. He looked to Y/n, the guilt in her eyes clear, though neither of them wanted to bring up her previous words, or have any conversation surrounding them. “We can get some coffee on the way there.” 

“Yeah, sounds great!” Y/n nervously said, taking hefty bites of the toast before rushing to grab her phone and wallet, hoping outside would be a fresh start as she turned to open her apartment door, practically running away from Aemond as she exited. 

“Oh Y/n!” Miss Falker called out, stopping Y/n in her race to freedom. ‘Great, perfect timing Miss Falker, just stunning, really.’

“Hi Miss Falker.” She tried to smile. “How, how are you?” Y/n asked, wishing to be anywhere else. 

“Oh I’m alright.” Miss Flaker admitted, Aemond practically stumbling over Y/n’s pile of clothes and into the hallway. “Oh, you two love birds!” Miss Falker’s hand fell over her heart. 

Y/n sucked a breath in, Aemond shaking his head whispering. “Gods.”

“Well it was nice to see …” Y/n began. 

“Hold on dear!” Miss Falker interrupted. “Let me grab my camera, the two of you look so cute!” She turned to enter her apartment. 

Aemond huffed out a breath of air, but fixed his coat. “As cute as she is, Aemond, we are not letting her take a photo of us.” Y/n laughed, closing her apartment door and locking it before grabbing his forearm and pulling him towards the stairs. 

Aemond shook his head before planting his feet down. “Maybe she won’t hate me as much if she has a picture.” He reasoned, pulling out his puppy dog eyes, pouting just like Y/n does non stop, giving her a taste of her own medicine. 

“Aemond.” Y/n said seriously. “She will post the picture on the bulletin board.” 

“Are you ashamed of me?” Aemond played sad, his hand suddenly slapped against his chest like her words took his breath away. 

“No, but.” ‘Do I tell him the truth?’ “I don’t, I don’t think you want people knowing A Targaryen frequents here, I mean the public would swarm this place, and then …” Y/n lied, frantically trying to come up with any excuse she could, and Aemond saw through her.

“Okay, okay.” Aemond let up, Y/n’s eyes teary out of nowhere, her chest clearly rising rapidly. “It’s okay.” He reassured her, his hand falling to the small of her back. “We don’t have to take a picture.” The two of them made their way down the stairs, Miss Falker heard walking around before giving up. Y/n felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders when she walked outside, the fresh air filling her lungs, the cold wind helping to remember that everything was okay. “Do you want to talk about it?” Aemond asked, standing now a few feet behind her, wracking his brain for reasons why she wouldn’t want a picture of herself on a small bulletin board. 

“No.” 

[edsbacktattoo]

hi lets show some love for our mutuals. tag your favorite mutuals and tell them why you love them

oooh bet u thought i forgot about u anon. i didn’t. i’ve been here. scheming and plotting. and i am soooo full of love to give. hold onto your hats

i’m putting the gushing under a cut because this post is getting too long haha whoopsie

@tisziny my darling beloved and dearly cherished friend. one of the first people to reach out to me and i am eternally grateful for their wonderful heart and friendship. my sweetest cheese! 🧀 an incredibly skilled writer and artist who i sincerely admire <3 not enough words to describe my love for them tbh

@skysofrey kaitlin my beautiful and cherished friend and wife. we were cut of the same cloth and then separated at birth but we defied to odds and joined forces anyway! so insightful and kind and sweet and hilarious and overall wonderful (and also sooooo pretty have u guys seen my wife she’s sooooo pretty wtf) 🖤💜❤️

@blackbeardskneebrace miles blackbeardskneebrace the absolute marvel that you are <3 so incredibly nice and extraordinarily talented! every time they post art it adds 100000 years to my lifespan and puts tears in my eyes. genuinely astounding

@blakbonnet despite the angst and antagonising me for Ed’s beard, i will always love Meow with my whole chest. and she can do it all!!! she writes, makes art, makes gifs! she’s even funny and smart and hot and NICE! save some for the rest of us babe come on <3

@gentlebeard ohhhh my sweet wonderful Ella (now with a new and improved url!) so incredibly kind and friendly! always willing for a hot makeout session in the bathroom and will gladly kill someone to defend your honour (i’ve seen her do it). makes edits that make you laugh and then WHABAM!! another that makes you feel like your lungs are being pulled out. love you ella <3

@snake-snack-stede we all know that olivia is the funniest mfer on this whole idiot website. it’s literally not even a contest. but did you guys know she’s also extraordinarily talented? she makes art and animates and makes edits that are gorgeous to look at. also i’m in love with her. she’s the sweetest candy apple at the fair and i’m a snot-nosed kid with an appetite.

@flightoftheconnie sex on legs. i become hot and flustered and feint when i think of her. makes me blush and giggle and kick my feet and she’s funny and smart and hot enough to be in a gallery but she’s here with us instead. give her kisses or die by my sword

@bizarrelittlemew we may not talk often but goodness gracious do i adore you 🥹 my god you’re hilarious and you make some of the most gorgeous gifs ive ever put my gay little eyes on. and yet another blessing to the world of ofmd fanfic <3

@saltpepperbeard JODI!!!!!! if jodi has a billion fans i’m one of them. if she has 100 fans i’m one of them. if Jodi has 0 fans then i’m dead. literally so sweet and kind and enthusiastic and an absolute treasure. and my GOODNESS can she write!! her work feels like a warm hug (just like her!)

@sherlockig literally too hot to be on the hellsite with us but we are so blessed to have her. an absolute TREASURE to this fandom and to anyone who knows her. the amount of lockscreens i’ve got that are just alexz screengrabs is absolutely insane. thank you for all your work i love you forever

@dickfuckk josh — a living breathing legend. any time you need a file? a link? an image? josh has got your back. one of the funniest people i’ve ever interacted with. also makes edits devastating enough to kill a man <3

@xoxoemynn Em my wonderful Cherub From Heaven!!! pure charm and grace, and one of the most enthusiastic and delightful people i’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. such an accomplished and skilled writer as well!

@vampirebutterflies my #1 date to the observatory and my partner in crime <33 so effortlessly funny and kind and has the best taste in music ever. every single song they’ve sent me has been an absolute banger and has been put in the frequent rotation (huge shoutout to Vacations)

@bunnyandthejets my dear and darling friend Bunny who is so incredibly kind and sweet. has been so vocally supportive and enthusiastic since we met and i’m so grateful to have her friendship and support. she’s also made me cackle like an insane person on enough occasions to be criminal.

@wearfinethingsalltoowell don’t let the angst fool you, Joy is actually wonderful and a ray of sunshine <3 i’m convinced she just enjoys causing us pain for fun. she’s creative and wonderful and the World’s Number One Olu Enjoyer (and therefore objectively correct)

@sassygwaine is one of those unabashedly kind souls who simply oozes love into everything they do and create. so genuine and resilient and smart!!! writes like an absolute dream too

@chocolatepot a complete sweetheart who was one of my first friends in this fandom, and who has been consistently friendly and supportive ever since. unwaveringly kind and nice. also her writing. oh my god. 😭 a huge inspiration to silly little me

@jellybeanium124 nina is so effortlessly hilarious. she’s had me giggling and twirling my hair on numerous occasions. she’s also full to the brim with good and correct takes. (also a Button’s truther and the world needs more of those.)

@awkward-fallen-angel heather is just soooo lovely!! another one of the people that’s been here since the very early days and i’m always so grateful for her insight and enthusiasm and the sheer joy she puts into everything.

@stedebonnets i mean this so sincerely and with my whole heart: Ara is one of the nicest and most loving people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. an absolute angel who drops in to consistently check on her friends and spread love and joy. we need more Ara’s in the world. also has one of the most beautiful ofmd tattoos i’ve ever seen <3

if you haven’t been included in this list, please know that i love you so so so dearly and that i genuinely am just a little bit stupid (on account of the short term memory issues lol). if you’re feeling left out, send me a message and i’ll say something sooo niceys about you 🥹 i love you all. thank you for being here. <3

[randomseacucumber]

So, because I am very excited to finally read Wind and Truth, I have decided that I will be doing reaction posts as I read. Each post will cover each 'day' in the book, plus the corresponding interludes. Obviously, this will not be spoiler-free, and spoilers for other books in the Cosmere may also appear. All reactions will be under a cut. I'll also be tagging these posts with #Ivy reads Wind and Truth, so if you don't want to see them, just filter that out.

Anyway...

Wind and Truth reactions: Day 1

Prologue

This is the only part of the book that was released as a preview that I've actually read, but that was, like, three years ago, so I don't remember much, and I'm sure edits have been made since then

Anyway, Gavilar is an idiot

I really should have re-read the rest of the series prior to this book's release, or at least watched some recap videos, but here we are anyway

One thing that stands out to me is that Sanderson's writing is a bit...immature? I've read almost all of his stuff, but for some reason, this is really the first time I've noticed this. It doesn't both me that much, though

Okay, so Axindweth worked for Gavilar. I remember being pretty curious about her in Oathbringer (?)

Navani deserves better

~It was Kelsier all along~

RIP Gavilar, you deserved it

I don't have a ton else to say about the prologue, especially since I've had a chance to process its contents before, but it's certainly interesting

Chapter 1

Kaladin!!!

I remember seeing people speculating that Syladin would become canon, based on the way Syl is being described, and I do hope that won't happen. Kaladin is a character that I've never felt the need to ship with anyone, but if I had to choose a ship for him, I'd go with Shakadolin. Of course, I do adore his dynamic with Syl, but I've always seen them more as a QPR than anything else. Obviously, no shade to anyone who does ship them, but I personally just hope that doesn't happen. Anyway, though, I'm not sure it will, based on the descriptions of Syl? I just think that she likes to play dress-up

Also, I completely forgot that Sanderson refuses to write curse words! Honestly, it's kind of charming

Shallan!!! (Gives her a hug)

Chapter 2

Oroden is adorable! I'm so happy that Kaladin has him

Okay, some interesting stuff about Urithiru

Nooo, not another poop joke!

I do quite like Kaladin's family <3

The wind is talking to Kaladin??? That's new

Okay, yeah, there is definitely emphasis on Syl looking older (sigh)

With the way everything is being framed...I'm scared for Kaladin

Chapter 3

The excerpts before each chapter are certainly interesting. I wonder who's writing them...

Maya!!!

Wit!!!

I love the Ghostbloods, but I cannot fucking take them seriously

Wait, who is Ba-Ado-Mishram again??

Oh, okay

Chapter 4

Kaladin learning to play the flute?? I love this

Hmm, interesting about the Wandersail

Okay, so we're just accepting that the Wind is talking to Kaladin, despite the Wind as a conscious entity not being something previously established?

The discussion of the Passions is really interesting. I'm not familiar enough with Mormonism to know how Sanderson might feel about the idea of salvation through works, but this discussion feels as if it's criticizing the idea. And honestly, it reflects some of how I feel about faith in general

The talk of hope makes me think of Kelsier

Wit is right! Sazed IS among the best!!!

Kaladin the therapist confirmed

The use of the word therapist does make me wonder about linguistics some, though. Is Wit using the same word he heard on another planet, or is he somehow translating it into the language of Roshar? How does that work?

Chapter 5

From page 54: "For her, it was the day when a set of parents had, for the first time, wanted her." I'm not crying, you're crying

Chapter 6

Szeth being unintentionally hilarious

Oh, the thing about the ancient snow is so neat!

I do feel like a lot of the dialogue here is somewhat unnatural. Everyone is talking like a therapist

I don't like the thing about Kaladin being in line for the throne. He's a good leader, but I really don't want to see him as a king. It just doesn't really fit for his character

Chapter 7

Adolin in the bestest boy. He better not die

Oh shit

Chapter 8

Yay, Nightblood!

Lift better get some page time

The rock in Kaladin's pocket...I wonder if Oroden put it there

Oh, good for Dabbid!

What did I just say about Adolin???

Chapter 9

The Knights of Wind and Truth excerpts are still befuddling...my best guess is that Sigzil is writing them

Okay, thank god Adolin is okay

You go, Shallan!!

Chapter 10

A pack human?? Syl, I love you

Sanderson's sense of humor can be so cringe, but in a way that's charming

Kaladin going off of this woman seems a bit out of character, but okay

Chapter 11

Hmm, Ba-Ado-Mishram seems interesting...

Adolin really is the bestest boy <3

I love the art at the end of the chapter. Of course Adolin makes friend with a spren horse

Chapter 12

Okay, yeah, I do think Sigzil must be writing these excerpts

Rlain!

Oh my god, the part with the tattoo!

Chapter 13

I'm still super curious about Sja-anat

Duel-wielding Shallan would be awesome

I am really, really scared for Kaladin

Interlude 1

Felt?? You were a Ghostblood all along??

RIP Kalak, I guess

Interlude 2

THIS is why Taravangian is one of the most fascinating villains I have ever encountered

Day 1 was definitely interesting, and I'm very much curious to see how things continue...

[madlad-sadgal]

Goldenheart AU Pt. 3

I FOUND MY NOTEBOOK!

If you couldn't tell, I have found my notes about this AU and am finally able to make more parts (I could've just made new notes but for some reason my mind stopped everytime I tried to do that, so yeah). This part is gonna be about the band members' (Bal, Nimona and Meredith) backstories.

I highly suggest you check out these first if you wanna understand this, cuz it might not make sense: [Part 1] [Part 2]

(Edit: I'm an idiot and forgot to put the links when I first posted it)

Part 1 is just the base of the AU, and part 2 explains the Director/Livia's (the name I gave her) reasons to not want Goldenheart to be a thing.

Also, feel free to put any idea you might want to add on in the comments or the tags! I tend to look at them and take them in consideration. I don't tag you (some people don't want to be tagged), but if you want to be credited, just message me and I'll tag you if I use your idea!

Anyways, Enjoy!

Ballister Boldheart

Although he didn't live on the streets, Ballister wasn't part of a very fortunate family when it came to money.

Education was something his family struggled to provide to him, and food was thoroughly enjoyed as one never knew if the next meal would be provided or not

His parents worked in a quite successful company but were paid barely enough to survive despite the amount of work they did

Ballister also worked small jobs, such as helping the park keeper clean up garbage, helping the mailman deliver his letters and packages, and so on

When he properly met Ambrosius was when he was cleaning up the park

I say properly because everyone knows Ambrosius Goldenloin, future heir to the Goldenloin company, so when he walked up to a little boy with long dirty hair and worn down clothes, it was pretty safe to say he was wary of him at first

Slowly but surely, after they met up more and more, Ballister started to warm up to him until they became great friends

Ambrosius had tried many times to give money to his family or to buy him something, but Ballister always refused because 1) He wanted to prove he could help on his own, not thanks to some charity money, and 2) He really didn't need the rest of Ambrosius' friends to start rumors about how he was using him for money (It was pretty clear they didn't like him, mainly Todd Sureblade, the Sureblade's being long friends of the Goldenloins)

At some point in time, when they were about 9-10, Ambrosius had to leave cities because of something and the two boys wouldn't be able to talk anymore, so he left with heart wrenching goodbyes

After that, everything was basically shit

With Ambrosius no longer around, some of his old friends who had stayed behind picked on him (hiding the stuff he needed to work, throwing random objects at him when he was in the park, etc.)

His father succumbed to an illness he had been suffering from for a while which sent his mother spiraling into a depression and turning to drinks. She didn't abuse him, but behind her curtain of sadness, she basically forgot about him and it was up to Ballister to provide food and take care of the both of them

It didn't take long for child protection services to take note of this and, at 16, Ballister was placed in a foster home while his mother went to therapy and rehab

It was in the foster home that Ballister met Nimona (backstory later)

Nimona was younger than him by around ten years, a little six year old kid who looked harmless until you realized just how much chaos she could cause

Still, he enjoyed Nimona's company and his foster parents could tell, so they let the two kids be. It was a struggle to stop Nimona from causing chaos everytime they went to the market, but it was worth it if it meant they'd stay up until late into the night arguing about whether freestyle jazz was good or not, if pineapple belonged on pizza or not and what animals would be the best to have if you were running away from the police

Back to that last point, music (except freestyle jazz) was something that the two enjoyed greatly. Nimona enjoyed the drums, always getting a boost out of watching others go crazy on them. Ballister preferred bass (it may or may not be because he remembered Ambrosius had mentioned it being his favourite instrument once and he was desperately holding on to his old friend)

When Nimona turned 7, their parents' rights were terminated and Vivian and William (their foster parents) adopted them, and he was also adopted not long after because his mother's rights had been terminated as well, so now they were an actual little family

Ballister recieved a bass set on his seventeenth birthday, and Nimona received a drum set about three years later on her tenth birthday. By then, Ballister had gotten a lot better with handling and playing the bass and helped Nimona a little with her drums

When they were respectively 22 and 12, money became thin in their household and, having already been through it, Ballaiter didn't want to go through it again, so he decided he was gonna find a way to help his parents, except this time he knew little jobs at the park or helping the mailman wouldn't cut it

They knew they were talented and they could put their talents to good use, and the idea to create a band was somehow thrown into conversations

Only problem is, Bal is pretty good in technology, but he can't work backstage and on the bass at the same time, they'd need at least a third member

Enter Meredith Blitzmeyer

So I'm gonna stop this here because it's already pretty long, I'm exhausted and I'm pretty sure you can tell I got tired towards the end of this, but oh well.

Nimona's backstory's next.

And again, please add on to this with your ideas if you have any, I like hearing what you guys think.