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writingfromkitchenator · 4 years ago

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Haldir ~ Take It Slow

1,300 Followers Challenge!

Requested by @tophil2941btw (Good old Tumblr tags)

Words: 945

Warnings: Modern fic, car accident, panic attack, fluff

All you could remember was the sound, the hard crash of metal on metal, and for the longest moment you thought that the worst had happened, that this was going to be it, but then your mind caught up with the pain, and it fully registered what had happened.

A whimper turned into a scream, your head spinning, and before you knew what you were doing, you were scrambling from the car, fighting with your seat belt and collapsing out onto the street, your chest heaving as you fought to get air into your lungs.

The asphalt was hot beneath your hands, and you could feel stones, glass, and bits of metal digging into your hands, but none of that mattered until you could get yourself breathing again.

There was other noises around you, someone was talking, but none of it mattered, it all felt so distant compared to constricting of your chest and the shake in your hands.

A hand rested on your shoulder and you managed to look up through the hot tears, a figure swimming before you. He was talking to you, but you couldn’t focus.

He seemed to understand and took your arm, getting you to your feet and moving you further to the side of the road. Carefully he gets you seated and then crouches in front of you.

“It’s probably best to take this nice and slow.” He said. “Do you know what’s happened?”

Slowly, your breathing starting to ease, you nod.

He smiles gently. “Okay, that’s a start. Can you take a few deep breathes for me?”

It was hard, the pain starting to settle in over your body, but you fought through several deep breathes, which helped ease you further.

“Good,” He said. “Now, are you hurt?”

You licked your lips, wetting your mouth which felt dry and you knew that it was the adrenaline rush in your body. “I…I’m not sure.”

“That’s okay, do you mind if I check you over? I’m a nurse.”

There was something kind and trusting about him, long blonde hair tied back and pale blue eyes watching you filled with concern. You glanced behind him, seeing the state of your car and the one that you’d hit, seeing the road where you’d thrown yourself out in your panic. He’d led you away from that, had put you somewhere safe, sirens starting in the distance.

Slowly, you nod.

He gives a reassuring smile and begins to look you over, talking to you the entire time, keeping you calm and focused. By the time he’d cleared you of any external injuries, police and paramedics had arrived.

The paramedics came over and the man talked to them, you watching on, starting to feel guilty over the accident, the other person looking less than impressed from where he was talking to the police officers. Soon, they were checking you over too, checking your oxygen levels when you told them it was still a struggle to breathe, and also ensuring that nothing seemed broken.

It seemed that you’d been lucky this time.

You didn’t feel lucky, even as your friend got out of the car too, their face pale as they looked over at you, the paramedics helping them over to the back of the ambulance and getting them seated for a check too.

“I’m glad you’re alright,” You looked back at the man, who was giving you a gentle smile. “You had me worried when you launched yourself out of the car like that.”

You sniff and try to return the smile. “Ah…thanks. I guess…I was a little panicked.”

He nods. “I can imagine, it’s not exactly something that we’re at all used to. You will probably have some bad bruising to remember it by for a while.”

“That’s going to be just as fun I’m sure.”

“Just take it easy,” He said, smiling. “Try some pain killers and some ice on the more painful spots, it should help ease it and make it a little more bearable.”

“Thank you,” You said. “You didn’t have to help.”

He chuckles. “I wouldn’t be much of a nurse if I didn’t. You’re not really ever off duty.”

You smiled, feeling a little better now that you were calm. “Well, I’ll consider myself lucky today then. I don’t want to think about where I would’ve ended up otherwise.”

“I’m sure you would’ve been fine, you seem smart enough to have worked something out.” He said and his cheeks tinged with red and he cleared his throat, looking away for a moment. “Errr…did you need anything else? I could call someone for you.”

“I should be okay,” The small laugh made you flinch, so you just smile. “Once I know my friends alright, we’ll figure something out, see if one of our families can come pick us up.”

“That’s good,” He nods. “Well, if everything is okay, I’ll, um, get going.”

He shares a final smile and starts to walk away.

You weren’t sure why, but you didn’t really want him to go. “Uh, wait!”

“Haldir,” He said, turning back and the redness in his cheeks deepened. “Um, my name is Haldir.”

You smile again. “I’m Y/N. Thank you Haldir, I don’t mean to-to ask but…would you mind staying with me until my friend is done? I…could use some company.”

Haldir smiles and nods, returning and sitting next to you. “I can do that.”

Heat crept into your cheeks, and you shyly looked away, wondering just what you were doing, but somehow, you knew, that despite the accident and the pain you were now in, this was going to be the best thing that had ever happened to you.

#the lord of the rings #haldir #haldir x reader #short #drabbles #1300 followers challenge

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arthur-rex · 3 years ago

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TAGS for this post

#i adore this!!#the colours!!!! go green team!!!!!#i love how you formatted this: two influences on the core four that in the end they ultimately have to choose between #merlin's is interesting though because even though he becomes a slave to destiny he never forgets his mum #(although we DESERVED more s4-5 hunith content) #maybe after camlann merlin was finally able to find peace... it's unlikely but we can always hope #green team 😎💚💚

@oswinsdolma ...aww Ellie. Come here. Let me hug you.

Yes, now then. Your tags are precisely what I’m talking about with that piece. The choices we make between advice given and how WE CHOOSE to act upon it are critical.

But we must get into the habit of accepting responsibility for our actions.

Many people in this fandom (I have noticed) are choosing to hate on certain characters as if to absolve their favourite characters of blame for their actions. Errr, no. It doesn’t work like that, I’m afraid. Merlin, Arthur and co. when they fuck up THEY fuck up THEMSELVES.

It’s actually damaging to externalise that frustration and place it onto the Dragon or to Uther (he’s a messed up human being but he’s not the Devil people), or to blame anyone else for the decisions our favourite characters choose to make for themselves. It’s not the mature approach.

And c’mon, let’s be honest with ourselves. The reason why we are all attached to certain characters is because they remind us subconsciously of real people (or wanted people) in our lives. There, I’ve said. We’re all doing it. Subconsciously for some, actively for others. My people of fixation are Merlin, Gwen and Morgana for entirely different reasons. I RP as Arthur because my life most resembles his minus a crown he is the one that interacts with these three the most, and in the most meaningful ways.

Now. your points. Yes, Merlin needed more time with Hunith. He definitely did, and I think the majority of the Merlin fandom from what I can make out (self-made confident young women / maybe single mothers?) needed to and would have appreciated more Hunith time too as well.

Yes, Merlin became a slave to Destiny... but Destiny does in this case, (in my hc at least) have an answer to all of this. I am writing Avalon fic this evening. I am going to have Arthur rise again as the Prophets foretold. There is no point in writing/continuing Arthur’s journey post-Camlann if I’m going to be brutally honest, unless we do this. Just to repeat the canon verse model again in another modern verse (or verses) without an endgame is just... well. It’s not daring to be different and brave and new. It’s not the story I want to write anyway.

Good luck to other Arthur writers if that is the case. I sincerely mean that; if you get closure by having the same thing happening to Merthur again that’s fine and valid. But there is another way. It’s traumatic and transforming and full of angst like you would expect from those two, but it has hope and a bit of comedy thrown in there to balance the tone out. And I’m sure when I get on ao3 I will spot other writers who will have done a similar idea to this too (but I haven’t started consuming any fanfic really yet)

Anyway, this is just wordy old writer me here, keeping positive despite the increased amounts of hate I’m seeing on my dash (you have a problem with the Beatles, really? They were singing about unconditional love, the authorities shot John Lennon dead because he was urging for peace over war, he married a POC woman and gave her agency you gonna hate on a man like that??? What the-)

Anyway. Remember to still be kind to the people who hate you. It’s the hardest thing to do, but actually, hateful people cannot stand being met with people who are not mean and spiteful back. It exposes them as bullies. I’m talking about my RL family who hate me, relaaax Tumblr followers and friends.

Take care all.

#OOC #//just putting in some gifs because #//I do that #//thank you for listening to my Ted Talk

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kalee60 · 4 years ago

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So @larkboyd this happened and I don’t think I have any excuse for it... apologies as I haven’t written for Merthur in quite some time - but your enthusiasm stoked mine - so... errr - enjoy??

Based on this Tumblr post here

No warnings except it gets a little spicy ;)

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

“You look like a startled Stoat,” Arthur called out to Merlin, and Merlin couldn’t help the way his shoulders stiffened. For God’s sake he was trying his damndest to keep them alive - all while not letting a slip of magic out, and quite honestly Arthur was getting on his last nerve.

“Yeah, well at least I don’t look like a bone-idle toad,” Merlin snarked, enjoying the way Arthur straightened and seemed to startle, like Merlin was being inordinately rude, which he wasn’t - he always spoke to Arthur in that way.

“You’re saying I look like a toad?” Arthur finally drawled like he couldn’t comprehend the thought, that it was an impossibility to look thus. Merlin was not going to pander to him and confirm that he actually was the most striking man he’d ever seen, and his chiselled features made Merlin’s insides quiver. He was a prat, a pillock and the most infuriating man, no, it was worse - Prince - in the known world. And Merlin wanted him desperately. Much to his disgust.

It made him feel off-balance, so with as much snideness in his tone that he could muster, he responded, “yeah, and maybe one day you’ll magically transform into a handsome prince.”

Throwing his ruck-sack onto his back he tried and failed to notice the way Arthur touched his face as if to check for warts, then ran a hand through his hair, before gazing down at his body, which left Merlin able to look his fill without being caught. Damn it, he had to curb this - want, deep inside.

“Since magic’s outlawed that’ll probably never happen,” Merlin continued, trying to dampen his desires, it was almost impossible though. And he felt his attraction to Arthur was almost as hard to hide as his magic. “Come on let’s go.”

Arthur followed mulishly behind him. Looking after a Prince was more than a full-time job.

~~~

That evening, Merlin tried unsuccessfully to light a fire, as Arthur watched him too closely to use magic. It was getting cold and he was hungry and he needed to heat the stew else Arthur's royal pain in the behind would complain for hours.

“What’s taking so long?” Arthur whined, “usually it takes you two seconds.”

Merlin wanted to snap that things would go quicker if Arthur deigned himself low enough to help sort out their camp (allowing him a swift glimpse of gold to infuse his eyes and get the damn fire started), instead he ignored the prat.

“It’s cold,” Arthur pressed and Merlin looked up archly, his brow raised and he couldn’t help the utter look of annoyance that crossed his face. Arthur saw, if his small smirk was any indication. The clod-pole knew exactly what buttons he was pressing.

“Go get some more kindling,” Merlin demanded, and when a twig flew past his ear he looked up incredulously. “Did you just throw a stick at me?”

“I’m helping with kindling,” was the response, and Merlin couldn’t help the sharp bark of laughter, which turned into something a little more. Then Arthur joined in, and everything was just absolutely ridiculous. He also wished Arthur’s laugh didn’t make his stomach feel all jittery. The low cadence, deep and full of filthy promises, but not ever aimed at him. Never him.

Merlin was a servant, not a potential bed partner. More pity to Arthur, as Merlin had many, many interesting skills.

To Merlin’s surprise, Arthur actually stood up and began to gather wood, which in turn meant he could use magic to light the fire, and soon a warmth was flowing against the front of his body as he nurtured the small lick of flames into a steady blaze.

“There you go, that wasn’t hard. You could have managed that ten minutes ago, I can’t feel my fingers,” Arthur came up next to Merlin, very closely, and rubbed his hands together and held them out to the fire.

“You’re lucky you can still feel your arse, considering it’s the largest part of you,” Merlin said under his breath.

“What was that?” Arthur asked, not sounding at all very forgiving, and Merlin knew he’d pushed a little too far and gave a beaming smile instead and said he’d put the stew on, which interestingly made Arthur’s gaze soften and his eyes drop to Merlin’s mouth. And although it wasn’t intended to be read in any way other than general, it still sent a zing up Merlin’s spine.

Licking his lips he let out a small cough which startled Arthur into a scowl and a ‘hurry up, I’m starving’. Of course he was.

Dinner wasn’t a fancy affair and they both ate in silence, and as the light disappeared completely from their small part of the forest, sheltered by a rock face, Merlin knew it was going to be too cold overnight for him not to use magic in some way to keep them warm so as not to end up dead from the chills. But he couldn’t. It would be too reckless and an ongoing spell would tax him too much, and honestly he’d never performed such magic anyway. He looked between their two cloaks and swallowed all of his pride. He had to keep the future King safe at all costs. Even the cost to his dignity.

“I think we’re going to have to stay close tonight,” he tried at first.

Arthur’s flat look did not instil confidence, “excuse me?”

“Err, it’s too cold tonight, you can tell by the rings around the moon that the fire won’t give off enough warmth, and since we don’t have proper blankets, we’re going to have to…” Merlin trailed off at the look on Arthur’s face, one he couldn’t really decipher through the flickering flames, “... cuddle.”

“Merlin, are you suggesting the future King of Camelot, cuddle for warmth with his servant?”

What. A. Pillock.

“Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying, a dead Prince won’t become King. Even if he’s more frozen than you are now.”

Arthur blinked once, then scowled in such a familiar way it was almost endearing, then finally, much to Merlin’s utter shock, he created a space before him. Not behind. It seemed Arthur was going to allow Merlin to curl up in front of him, closest to the fire. And that was - unexpected.

Although when Merlin made his way over, he instead, lay down behind Arthur as close as he dared. At least behind him if he needed to use magic, he could keep it hidden, to a degree.

They laid awkwardly for about half an hour, when Merlin began to shiver, he couldn’t help it and soon he was wracked with them, trying not to jostle the surly prat before him. Sure he could use a spell to warm himself, but he just wasn’t confident in such close quarters, he’d wait until Arthur fell asleep but of course the dollop-head refused to do anything but stay on guard.

“For the love of Camelot,” Arthur finally huffed and his arm reached out behind him, groping at poor Merlin until completely baffled, his arm was yanked back across and over Arthur. What in hell was he doing? “Better?”

And surprisingly, yes it was, but did he admit that? Instead he took it for what it was, shared body warmth and snuggled in closer, feeling the sharp inhale from Arthur as his hips unintentionally ground into his backside. He swallowed his apology, not wanting to draw attention to it. Trouble was, all of Merlin’s attention was honed in on every breath, every noise, the way the firelight played over Arthur’s golden hair, making it appear ethereal, and he needed to rein in his galloping thoughts. Arthur was not someone he could lust after. Not someone he could have.

“Do you really think that of me?” Arthur said quietly and Merlin craned his neck to try and hear the soft words.

“Think what?”

“That I look like a toad,” was the response, and Merlin bit his lip to stop the laughter bubbling up.

Lord, Arthur was the vainest and most obtuse man in a thousand forests.

“Honestly?” he asked with only a hint of mirth in his voice.

The nod was so unlike Arthur, usually he was full of gust and bluster, but for some reason Merlin decided that the truth wouldn’t hurt. Well part of it.

“No, I don’t think you look like a toad,” he felt Arthur relax a little against him, “but you do look like a prat, not even in training anymore. I’m pleased to confirm you have entered the esteemed ranks of complete and utter fully fledged royal prat.”

“Oh…”

“You sound disappointed? I can still say you look like a toad. Magic, as discussed, won’t help you. But a kiss might...” And what the actual hell just slipped out of his mouth? He was going to blame his absolute lack of brain cells on the fact he had Arthur basically wrapped up in his arms, and the smell and very aura of the larger-than-life man had enraptured his senses until he didn’t even know what he was saying.

It didn’t mean he was lying though.

Arthur went still, very still and Merlin braced himself for a walloping - which didn’t come.

“That could…” Arthur stopped and coughed, his voice thick with something and Merlin held his breath, what was happening between them like an out of body experience. “...could be amenable.”

“Amenable,” Merlin couldn’t help chuckle.

“I mean, I don’t want to be a toad for the rest of my life, who does?”

“No, no of course you don’t.” Merlin barely whispered as Arthur tilted his head back, and suddenly Merlin had pouty lips made for kissing (among other activities he tried not to image too often) within his reach. The small uncertainty in Arthur’s eyes almost hidden by the darkness and Merlin had to school his own features, knowing Arthur could quite simply see his expression clearly in the firelight.

He didn’t wait for a second invitation, not sure if this was his only opportunity to kiss Arthur, other than in his fantasies, he wasn’t about to turn it down, and as he lowered his head, he heard the small inhale between Arthur’s lips, and then they were kissing.

It was everything and unlike anything Merlin had expected. Arthur’s lips were soft, so unbelievably plush under his own cold mouth and he couldn’t help dive deeper, taste further, take everything on offer. And just when Merlin thought his luck had run out, Arthur sighed into his mouth and opened himself more, pressed his body firmer against Merlin and his hand tangled up in Merlin’s hair and, god, it was good. It was perfect, actually.

Merlin couldn’t say how long they lay there, kissing, learning each other’s mouths, seeking to shock and make the other gasp, as when Merlin discovered that Arthur enjoyed having his hair pulled, delighting him to no end.

But it was when a hardness pressed insistently against Merlin’s leg, he realised they’d gone from a fairly innocent teasing to something much more.

“Arthur?” Merlin questioned, diving back in for another kiss, devastating the blonde, if his hazy wild eyes were any indication. “What do you want?”

Arthur didn’t answer for the longest moment, and Merlin was beginning to think he wouldn’t.

“What any good serv… friend would give, nothing more, nothing less.”

Merlin mulled on the words for only a second, making up his mind in less than that.

He rolled Arthur back so he was facing the fire again, Merlin pushing right up against his back, his own hardness tight against Arthur, and although he wanted friction, he had a different plan. The small huff of air, almost as if Arthur were trying to hurry him up, so very familiar and Merlin pressed himself tighter against him, enjoying the hitch of Arthur’s breath.

It was too cold to undress and they had been limited with bathing except the dip in the river earlier that morning, so Merlin had one or two options left to him. He decided quickly what he wanted.

He spared a kiss against the back of Arthur’s neck, and snaked his hand down into the soft folds of Arthur’s pants, grasping his dick firmly, and Arthur bucked against him roughly, and for a moment, Merlin thought he’d overstepped.

But then the way Arthur went boneless and whispered ‘please’ into the night urged Merlin on with his movements.

Arthur was large in his hand, and so very hard, and as he stroked up firmly, his mouth watered, hoping at some stage he’d be able to wrap his lips around the girth, wanting it desperately. Arthur shook in his arms, so Merlin repeated the movement, up and down - slowly, glacially.

“Merlin…”Arthur tried to sass.

“Hmmm,” he replied cheekily, knowing exactly what was going through his mind.

“Move.”

“Demanding, aren’t you?”

Arthur husked in an uneven suck of air as Merlin’s fingers danced across the tip of his dick, finding wetness, enough to spread down his shaft to ease his movements.

“I’m your… oh, god that… bloody hell…” Arthur arched back as Merlin bagan to lazily step his fingers up then down. “I’m your crown prince and I demand you… you know.”

Merlin smirked against his shoulder, not able to stop the small press of his lips on Arthur’s ear, “I’m not sure I know at all, Arthur.”

Maybe it was Merlin saying his name out loud, making it more real, but Arthur moved his head to look back over at Merlin, pressing himself forward as if searching for - oh… Merlin kissed him hard, tongue pushing in and Arthur moaned around him, the vibration of it hitting him square in the gut.

Arthur was stunning.

Merlin began to stroke him hard, Arthur’s lips loosening over his until they were only sharing air, the punched out gasps leaving Arthur’s throat had Merlin puffing out sharp breaths, whispering words of encouragement that Arthur was gorgeous, that he could let go, let Merlin take care of him. He didn’t relent, his pace becoming brutal, with one goal in mind, to get his Prince off. To make him fall apart from only his hand.

“Let go for me,” Merlin rasped, lips pressed on Arthur’s.

It was all he needed, Arthur’s lips clung to his suddenly as he moaned deeply and began to release in Merlin’s hand, the stickiness and warmth pleasing Merlin to his toes. He did that, he made Arthur feel like that. Made him lose control.

It was a heady and addictive feeling.

The kisses turned soft, Arthur still breathing heavily, and Merlin removed his hand, looking down at his soiled fingers and Arthur gave him a look.

“Don’t you dare wipe that on me.”

Merlin smirked, it was not his intent.

One finger disappeared into his mouth and Arthur made a strangled noise as Merlin sucked his second finger clean. Arthur tasted like nothing on earth, and Merlin wanted more. But was it his lot in life to be able to taste Arthur Pendragon from the source?

“You’re going to kill me, Merlin.” Arthur growled before pinning him to the ground shockingly easy. “Wait until I get you back to the palace and into a bed, you’ll not survive the night, especially after a bath - you smell like a boar.”

Merlin laughed, “I smell like you - so are you a toad or a boar.”

Arthur’s hand on his dick stopped the flow of teasing words.

~~~

If Merlin and Arthur were inseparable after their two night jaunt stuck in the woods, and if the other Knights happened to see Arthur’s hand slip into the breeches of his most loyal servant on the odd occasion. Well, it was just as easy to look the other way.

After all - it was their future king and consort they were in the company of.

#mywriting #kalee rambles #not an ask but more of a nudge... 👀#merthur #I should be working on my Stucky fics *shrugs* oops - this just fell out of my brain instead #quick fic

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srprincess · 4 years ago

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Guess what!?! It’s Fictober time again! So – new prompts, but I’m still out here (making an attempt at) finishing my same old fic.

Prompt 1 – “No, come back!” // fandom – omgcp // fic rating – T for language reasons

Notes: This is actually chapter 19 of the Spookydoo AU I started last fictober. I can’t believe it’s been an entire year. I guess months worth of pandemic related block and a cross country move will tend to slow these sorts of things down, but, yeah – a year. Wow. Back at the start I had thought this was going to be a quick month long project, but here we are! If you’re still following me from way back then, here’s the long promised update. If you’re new this will make NO SENSE without the rest of the story - and honestly only minimal sense after - so I’ll drop a link to the rest of the story on Ao3 in the replies (since tumblr hates links)

---

“Are you sure I don't need to head back and get them?” Will asked, for the third time.

“Nah, they’re resourceful. Quit worrying,” Nursey told him, also for the third time. At least. Maybe he had asked a few too many times.

He, Nursey, Shitty and Lardo were gathered back around the table in his kitchen, while Sammy sat at the edge of the doorway leading into the mudroom, happily chewing on a length of rope that Will had knotted up for her. He didn't have much to offer in the way of snacks while they waited, but he’d managed to scrounge up a bag of not quite stale pretzels and some cold sodas. Not the best spread, but good enough he didn't think his mom’s memory would judge him too harshly under the circumstances. Said circumstances being that these particular guests and their friends had basically wiped out his pantry over the course of their previous visits.

They were waiting, with varying levels of patience, for Holster and Ransom to show up with their lunches, and - maybe more importantly, it depended on who you asked - to tell them what they'd found out about Lou’s place. Or rather the house that she had been...haunting? It was still hard for Will to think about it that way, about his longtime friend being a ghost, but, well, could he deny it anymore? Honestly? It was strange, but if she was a ghost - which she was - and had been staying in and around the house - which she had - what else could you call it other than a haunting? At any rate, finding out the property had been sitting vacant might have explained how it could have had a ghost-in-residence for so long without attracting too much attention, but it opened up a whole other set of questions. Who would leave a house on the water empty for years? Sure, it needed some upkeep, but still, it was a nice enough place in a great spot. Where were the owners? Why hadn’t they been trying harder to sell it? Or failing that, using the property themselves? He also wanted to know more about how Lou had ended up connected to the property, but that was going to have to come from her and not a simple property search. Unfortunately, she hadn't seemed any too eager to talk about her final days when he and Nursey had talked to her earlier.

After his stomach grumbled, Nursey checked the time, again, and sighed.

“I said I could head back in for them,” Will pointed out. “It’s not an issue-”

“Might be a while, but I’m sure they're on the way,” Shitty assured him. “I think they were looking for an excuse to rent that bike, and a ride’ll take them a minute.”

“Not the tandem!” Lardo shook her head, “I thought we talked them out of that.”

“Yes, the tandem, and you tried to talk them out of it. I, on the other hand, might have offered to pay the fee as long as they took pictures.”

“They'll never make it here in one piece on that thing.”

“Oh, ye of little stature and faith, they are perfectly synced. They'll make it fine.”

“Whatever. Then why did you want pictures, hmmm? A 20 says they'll crash and burn at least once.”

“Hopefully they don’t fall on my sandwich,” Nursey muttered under his breath.

“Because Jack can't be the only one with pictures of these trips, that’s why. So, deal?”

“Deal.” Shitty and Lardo were just shaking on the bet when the sound of tires on the rocks outside was followed by a knock at the door. They all turned to look at Will, who looked blankly back before it clicked -

“Oh. Yeah. My house. My door. Best be getting that.” He rushed to the answer, more to hide his blush than out of a hurry to let the two in.

He opened the door to the double whirlwind that was Ransom and Holster pushing through, arms loaded with bags.

Shitty took one look at them before holding his hand out to Lardo. “All in one piece. Well, two pieces. As expected. Pay up.”

“Not so fast,” she told him, attempting to shove his hand away before turning to them. “How did you manage to carry all of that on a bike?”

“No bike,” Ransom told her.

“It was already rented,” Holster added.

“Ha!” She slapped Shitty’s hand down. “No payday for you.”

“You neither,” he pointed out.

“Hmmm. I still say you owe me ten,” Lardo argued.

“The hell I do,” Shitty scoffed back.

“But if they would have ridden the bike they would have fallen, and you know it.”

“Says you. Wrongly.”

“My. What an excellent defense. I can see why you're the high-powered attorney here.” Lardo pulled a face at him before stating her case, “If they had tried to ride that bike they likely would have fallen. If they tried to ride it while holding all those bags, they for sure would have. I see no possible way that they would have made it here safely, and so I still deserve half the original bet winnings.”

“Incorrect,” Shitty took a final sip of his drink and a deep breath before standing. Full attorney mode. “First, both these fine individuals have a history of athletic excellence in a sport known for quick moves requiring great balance skills, coordination and teamwork,” he counted off each point in his hands. “Second, they've been known to safely carry much more than a few bags of food, over unfamiliar terrain, in the dark-”

“Well, I did fall on Rans that one time we-”

Shitty hushed Holster before continuing, “Shhh - You aren't helping the case.”

“Why are we even on trial?” Ransom asked, confused. “Anyways, I remember that. Kind of. You only almost fell, bro, and we were hella fucked up that night.”

“You,” Shitty pointed to Ransom, “are helping. Thank you. As I had said - teamwork. While, errr, shall we say inebriated? They were able to use teamwork to accomplish their goals. Mostly safely. Sober, and in the clear light of day, making it here safely would have been no problem. Thirdly, if the bet had been that they `likely’ would have fallen off the bike with their arms full, I allow that you might have won. Unfortunately, for you, it wasn’t and so you didn’t. In closing, your point is dismissed for being unprovable. Case closed. The End.” He, smugly, picked his cup back up to drain the drink.

“You can't just close the case yourself-” Lardo argued.

“And yet, I have,” Shitty shrugged.

She growled under her breath, “this isn't over,” Lardo pointed at him before asking Ransom and Holster, “So, no bike? How did you get here?”

Will, who had been watching like the exchange like it was the most interesting show he’d seen in years, and, let’s be real, with television as spotty as it was out there it kind of was, turned to them, curious himself to hear the answer.

Nursey, who had been enjoying watching Will watch the others, said, “Probably an Uber.”

“No Uber round these parts.”

“Fine, Lyft, whatever.”

“Nope, don’t have those either,” Will told him. “We do have a Martha, but there’s no way that’s how they got here.”

“What’s a Martha?” Nursey asked.

“She calls herself a taxi service, but truthfully she’s just a busybody who got herself a fair reliable rig and a business license. Let’s her keep up on who’s new around, see what they're about and then give them a mandatory tour of her favorite places. Takes her forever to get anywhere. Guaranteed it would have taken them at least another hour to get out here with her.”

“An hour!? How is this town even big enough to take that long?”

“Well, if you drop her a ’tip’ she's sure to add your place on the route, yeah? Bunch of shops do every year. That's a lot of side roads and loops. Now me? I throw her some money every season to miss The Light entirely. She would have tried stalling and distracting them as long as possible before heading this way.”

“So, don’t take ’a Martha’, noted for future.” Ransom cut in.

“We didn't need to anyway,” Holster told the group. “Did you know, if you order food for delivery, you can get yourself delivered along with it?”

“That's not a-” Nursey started to argue before looking to Will for confirmation. “Is that a thing?”

“No. Definitely not a thing.”

Holster gestured at the bags and then at himself and Ransom, “I do believe it is.”

Will frowned, confused, “You know what...I don’t even think they do delivery at all. Outside of town, leastways.”

“You’d be amazed how far friendliness and a smile can get you,” Holster said, flashing a near alarming display of teeth.

“Maybe you should try that sometime, Poindexter,” Nursey joked.

“Ha fucking ha,” Will said, flashing a smile that veered more towards frightening than not.

“Hope you tipped well,” Shitty told Holster, ignoring the shoulder shoving across the table.

“Pfft, of course dude.”

“Good, then. Now, important business, where’s my sammie?”

A whine came from the doorway.

“Sorry, I meant my sandwich, not you Sammy,” Shitty turned to tell the dog. She sniffed in their direction, clearly looking for attention in the form of food of her own but not wanting to leave her new rope unattended. “But, yeah, her food, where’s it at? Guys?”

But he’d lost the attention of Ransom and Holster. With a nudge and a head tilt to where Nursey’s ankle was practically hooked around Will’s, Ransom smirked at Holster, who in turn sighed and pulled some money out of his pocket to hand it over.

Nursery watched the exchange before he narrowed his eyes. “And what’s this about?”

“What?”

“The money?”

“That? He owed me for the, umm, dog dishes.”

“Yeah, sure he did.”

“Right, Holtzy?”

“Absolutely, the dishes. We were going halfsies. Because, uh, gift?”

Ransom scrunched his face up before he mouthed ’gift, really?’ back at him, but Holster just gave a small shrug.

Nursey still looked doubtful and Shitty, who had given up waiting and was rooting through the bags for himself, distracted them when he asked “Well, where are they?

“Where are what?” Ransom asked.

“The. Dog. Dishes.” he answered slowly and deliberately.

“Shit. Fuck. Damn. I, uh, forgot them?”

“Uh-huh,” Nursey shook his head. “You forgot to bring the dishes. That you just bought. As a gift. Suuuure.”

“Don’t worry about it. So long as you brought the food, I can find something to put it in.” Will got up and dug through a cupboard by the sink that was little more than a jumble of used butter tubs and came up with two bowls.

One bowl he filled with water and set in front of the dog. The other he handed them to Lardo who filled it with some of the food Shitty had found in the bags, leading to a very happy Sammy, who flopped on top of the rope before digging in with enthusiastic messiness.

“Isn’t that uncomfortable? And look at that-” Nursey pointed out the puddles and food pieces spread all around the dog.

“It’s fine,” Will waved him off.

“What about your precious floor? All I did was drip on it the other night and-”

“Oh, let her be. Unlike people, she can’t help it if she makes a silly little mess.” Will ruffled the fur on top of her head. “Besides, she’s a good girl, aren't you Sammy,” Sammy wiggled at the good girl comment and went back to happily working to empty her bowl. Dog mess was fine, Will told himself, nothing he couldn’t clean up later. He wondered if maybe he should consider a dog of his own. The company might be nice. He shrugged off the thought for later and went to wash his hands before grabbing a stack of plates to take to the table.

All business of bets and money exchanges temporarily forgotten, the gang worked as one to pass around the lunches.

A giant sub was split between Lardo and Shitty. She flicked an olive that had stayed to her half at him, which he easily caught with his mouth before flicking a pepper back towards her. When he went to grab a drink, she swiped another pepper and one of his tomato slices too. Ransom passed her his pickle spears, and she gave him half her lettuce. Holster split his bag of BBQ chips and the salt and vinegar ones in front of Ransom between them 50-50. Okay, maybe 60-40. But neither complained. Instead of being split up, a large bag of fries was just torn open and left for each to pick from as they wanted. Ketchup squeezed out onto one of the wrappers that had previously held a wrap. All the exchanges spoke to the habits of friends who’d shared a meal many times over. Will eyed the onions that Nursey picked off his sandwich, wanting them. Even though no one else had made a move for them, he wasn’t quite brave enough to push his way into their rituals. No matter, because as soon as the look was noticed, he found them deposited on the side of his own plate. Happily piling them on his own sandwich he spared a slice of bacon back, but just one. He wasn’t that generous.

Will had originally thought they had brought back too much food not realizing some of the others had gone, but the reason for the pile of random extra sandwiches dropped in the middle of the table became clear as each was picked apart and passed around until everyone was full.

As the last scraps of their meal were being cleared away Ransom spoke up, “So, I got in touch with that realtor,” he told them. “The property is up for sale. Technically. Has been for a while.”

“What do you mean, technically? Then why isn't it listed anywhere? Being shown?” Will asked.

“Well, that's the thing. Apparently, they tried? But the seller wasn’t very motivated and only interest at the price was for a package deal.”

“A package-” Will paused and frowned. “Wait. What was the realtor’s name again?”

When Ransom told him, Will’s face clouded over and a hint of rage built up at the set of his jaw.

“So, I take it you do know him. He said you'd, hmmm, spoken? Before.” Ransom filled in the others, “There’d been a big deal in the works with a developer, but they wanted this whole area or no deal.”

“Yeah. Those assholes. Not likely to forget them. Wanted to turn this place into some ridiculous restaurant.”

“Waterfront restaurants can be nice,” Holster tried to play devil’s advocate, “a good draw for the area.”

Will was having none of it. “My grandfather and father both would roll over in their graves if they knew I sold this place. After all the work they put in on the updates? Especially to some stiff from away. All so someone could open a restaurant we probably wouldn't even be able to afford to eat in? No way. No how. I think not.”

Shitty agreed, “I get it, yeah. People like that’ll suck the soul out of a place to make a buck. Fuck ’em.”

They’d only met recently, and it was hard for Will to tell if Shitty was motivated to agree with him in an attempt to stay on his good side, because he actually did agree or just because he couldn't resist joining in on a potential argument. In any case, fueled by the agreement, Will’s knew he was headed into full ’soapbox mode’ but couldn't help himself. “It’s the developers ruining towns like this all up and down the coast,” his voice rose and his arms flailed as he got more worked up. “For years we’ve helped our own. Didn't need anything from anyone other than basic neighborliness. Share and share alike, and everyone makes it just fine. Then some upstart comes in with his fancy ideas and a pile of money and, and, we’re supposed to sell up and then what? Go where? Do what-”

Holster, who seemed to have finally realized what can of worms he opened up, tried to back it up, “I didn't mean- not your place. Just, like, in general? Attractions, well, attract. But you're here, using the place. There's open land out there and they shouldn’t-”

Will steamrolled on, “-always say they want the authentic experience getaway but that’s not what they're really after. What they really mean is some bland cookie cutter experience that’ll get copied at every seaside town. So they can do the same things and share the same photos as everyone else. Nothing is genuine anymore. Where’s the originality of that? If they have their way every place will be the same as the next. Whatever happened to-”

Ransom held up a hand before interrupting, “Dex is right about that. It does seem to be what they were after here.”

Will grumbled out an “Obviously” but other than that let the other man continue speaking.

“This particular buyer wanted everything from the lane out to the water. All the lots. They’d had plans to turn this place into a restaurant, private outdoor seating at the top. The couple houses as you’re coming out this way redone and connected by a huge kitchen in the middle to make a big bed and breakfast or inn type situation. And then uh,” Ransom paused, “well, your friend's house? That was going to be turned into a gift shop. Upscale souvenirs they told him. But, without adding the rest, there wouldn't have been the traffic to support a shop. So - all or nothing.”

“There was, and is, no way I'm selling up and moving out,” Will shoved himself back from the table angrily.

“Hey, I’m not saying you should,” Ransom held up his hands. “Just passing on what he said. Pretty sure he knows that now.”

“Why do ya say that? I mean, good, but why?”

“He described you as - now keep in mind this is coming from him, and not me. I think you're great, and so don’t-”

“Spit it out.”

“he-called-you-the-lighthouse-lunatic,” came the quickly murmured answer.

“He what?!” Will yelled.

“Come on man, don't make me say it again,” Ransom said with a wince.

“He called me - Well that's - that’s rude is what it is. Imagine invading a man’s home, after he’s - then you're going to call him names? Rude. Even more glad I didn't sell. Lunatic,” Will huffed.

“I wouldn't call you a lunatic,” Holster said, as the others added their agreement. “You do get...excited, but no.”

“At the risk of getting you all, you know,” Nursey gestured vaguely at Will before scooting himself back to a safe distance and continuing, “I’m just saying, coming from a person you tried to forcibly eject days ago, is it completely inaccurate?”

“Yes!”

“Is it though?”

“I will throw you back into the ocean with my bare hands. Right now. Let’s go.”

Nursey offered back a weak smile to show he was kidding, mostly, and the rest started to throw out other words in Will’s defense.

“Not lunatic.”

“No, of course not.”

“Excitable?”

“Touchy, edgy?”

“Nah, opinionated?”

“And, fiercely determined”

“Oh, good one.”

“And hermit like?”

“That’s territorial.”

A woman’s voice from the other side of the room said, “he’s enthusiastically defensive.”

Nursey snaps his fingers. “Exactly!”

“Enthusiastically defensive,” Will repeated before turning and nodding in the direction of Lou, who had appeared over by the sink. “I can accept that.”

She smiled before disappearing again.

“Okay, so, big picture-” Nursey tried to take control of the conversation, “it boils down to, without Dexy’s place here, the whole deal was off the table.”

“And other than that offer there wasn't any real interest,” Holster, who had listened in on Ransom’s call with the realtor, finished. “With no package deal, and the other house owners not willing to take the low offers coming in, he decided it wasn't worth coming all this way to show it to people who are never going to buy anyway. Without the potential sellers pushing him, he stopped promoting it. He’d almost forgotten about the listing himself because no one has ever checked up with him in the last few years. Said it was like the owners themselves had even forgotten about it.”

“Yeah yeah yeah, what he said, zombie property. But now back to THAT.” Ransom frantically waved his arms. “What the? Who the? Tell me you all heard that.”

“Uhhh well-” Will stalled.

Ransom looked around at the rest of them, who were visibly trying not to react.

“Is no one going to mention the fucking ghost in the room?!” He shrieked. In a manly way. If you asked him, he would have called it a shout. A very high-pitched shout. That he made while pushing himself as close into the corner, behind the table, as he could.

“Oh, that’s - Lou?”

“Yes, Derek?” she answered from over his shoulder.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to call you, I was just telling him - but since you’re here-”

“Your friends seem a little troubled.”

Will snorted.

Most of them were only staring, quiet, and more than a bit shocked, but remarkable not freaking out. At least not externally. But Ransom - well, his face was doing its best fish impression and - try as he might - he couldn't manage to force another word out.

Holster tried to help by giving him a slap on the back and he managed to eke out the words `girl’ and `ghost’ before slipping under the table.

“Is he...okay?” she asked.

“Eh-” Lardo said, tilting her hand side to side.

“Not really.” Holster reached under the table and gave a supportive shoulder squeeze.

“Hi,” was all Shitty got out.

“Maybe I should go,” Lou said, slowly fading.

“Hi?” Shitty asked.

Will thought it was weird to see her fading, when he’d already found himself getting used to her quickly blipping in and out. Then he realized how weird it was he found himself getting used to anything at all to do with this situation.

“No, come back!” they all yelled. Well, all minus Ransom. He whimpered unintelligibly from his hiding place.

Lou faded back in, “are you sure?”

“Hi.” Shitty repeated, prompting a choked back laugh from Lardo.

“I think he means yes,” Will told her. “Stay a while.”

#fictober20 #omgcp #nurseydex #spookydoo au #near year same bullshit #i swear i will finish this one day #I've been adding a few hundred words here and there for ages #and this seemed like the perfect time to update it #even if I wish I had gotten a little further in the writing... ah well #little writer who could etc etc etc #does tumblr still hate links?#or just me?#because this time my header pic kept me from showing up #ah well deleted that now too

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popculturebuffet · 4 years ago

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Paul Dini’s Jingle Belle: “Sanity Clauses” review or Santa’s Court Ordered Family Therapy Holiday Special

Merry Christmas everyone! I”m finally back on the reviewing reindeer after a week out with a cold, aside from the usual ducktales review, and it’s once again a comission from friend of the blog and the only guy who pays me for reviews weirdkev27. If you have your own holliday hyjinks you’d like me to review I do reviews of television and comics for 5 dollars an episode/issue, wtih variable prices for trades in comics case depending on length. Hit me up via my dm’s here on tumblr or send me an ask for my discord if you want to know more. WIth that plug out of the way away we go. This one was a bit unusual... in that when Kev bought it up I assumed he was going to buy a few issues of Jingle Belle, Paul Dini’s creator owned character we’re talking about today, and just have me review those. What I didn’t realize is he was buying me the full package, a collection of pretty much every jingle belle tale, as well as the released after it “Handmade’s Tale”. one shot. So yeah, while I had’nt really thought of rules for this kind of thing before from now on your free to buy a work for me to review... just keep in mind i’ts both not required for me to review something, and will not wave the commission fee as I use those fees to pay bills, buy things I need like charger cables, and just generally keep my bank account afloat while I look for a day job.

But... since I hadn’t firmly established any of this yet, and since Kev’s gift means a bunch more commissions from a guy who not only made sure I could afford Christmas, but who has provided me steady work while i’m out of work... this one’s on the house. So with all the jargon settled, who is Jingle Belle? Jingle Belle is an indie comics character created and owned by Paul Dini in 1998. Paul Dini is an animation god, who thanks to this review I know more about his career than I did before and as much as I always should have. Dini got his start in the 80′s, writing for everything from He Man to Gary Coleman Adventures, before getting called up to the big leagues for Tiny Tune Adventures around the time of the animation renaissance. To my shock, as I wasn’t aware he wrote for that fine program, he wrote 35 episodes including my personal favorite Prom-ise her Anything. But while a talented comedy writer, his main talent would show when he moved on to Batman the Animated Series as a writer and story editor. He was one of the main creative forces along with Bruce Timm, with the two going on to make the DCAU, aka some of the best superhero shows ever made, after already making easily one of if not THE best with BTAS. And Timm’s influence showed, Co-Creating Harley Quinn with Timm, and writing the series best episode Heart of Ice, which reworked Mr Freeze from a hoaky silver age villian into the tragic and thoroughly sympathetic character he’s been since that episode. Seriously that’s another one to add to the review pile.. which is giant and sentient at this point. And seriously EVERY episode on his imdb page credits is an utter classic and one I remember fondly. The guy is one of the most talented and seemingly nicest guys in the business and both the world of batman and the world of animation owe him a LOT. So to my surprise, I found out in the 2000′s he had a comic, Jingle Belle.. then for whatever reason just never dug into it till now. But now post digging Jingle Belle is Paul Dini’s long running series of one shots and series at various companies following the adventures of Santa’s rebellious teenage-ish daughter.. techincally she’s in the 200′s but still looks and acts like a teenager. The idea came about when he got a christmas card from Stephen Speilberg, and wondered how the kids of famous folks dealt with that and if they resented their famous fathers. And whose more famous than santa?. The series spins both out of that brilliant idea and out of Dini’s love for sunday comic strips, back when the panels were larger and creators were given more freedom to go nuts, though even today i’ve seen plenty of great stuff so it’s not all lost pauly. So in that spirit rather than one long ongoing Jingle Belle is instead a series of one shots, stories in anthologies and what have you, one and done stories more focused on the comedy. The comic has bounced around from various publishers, starting as something pitched to Oni Press, home of Scott Pilgrim and not much else, and has bounced around various publishers since, most recently ending up at IDW, where the trade i’m reading from comes from. So how does a great concept from one of the world’s most creative minds shake out? Let’s unwrap this present and find out.

We open with an appropriately christmasy rhymey opening as we get the story of Jingle Belle: She’s the daughter of santa claus and mrs. claus, in this case the Queen of the Elves. Which isn’t established until the next story but whatever. And as you’d expect she grew up a cheery, rosey little girl who loved helpiing dad in the workshop.. then everything changed when puberty attacked.

As you can see Jingle is now your standard Bratty Teenage Daughter sterotype. At least in this story. See this initial story feels much like a pilot: It’s clear things aren’t ironed out 100% for the idea, and i’ts more a self contained way to get across the general idea, that being Santa has a rebellious teen daughter, via what comes off as an snl skit in comic book form. THat’s not an insult, it’s a GOOD snl skit, and I am genuinely surprised only one movie company’s attempted adapting this comic: the concept is great. I’m just letting you know what i’m working with is all.

So naturally as a high concept comedy skit, Jing soon, after sharing some cigarettes with the local eskmo boys and accidently lighting her Reindeer’s butt on fire and wrecking her sleigh and some surrounding property, Santa is at his witt’s end and we end up in family therapy. And honestly.. Santa in a family therapists office is a great concept. IT’s why I compare it to a sketch: It’s just a simple one line proposal that’s really damn funny and really damn eye catching. It’s often REALLY hard to get a good santa parody going, so I admire how well he pulled it off here. But what really centers it is Jing giving her side, making her a bit more than the mostly one dimensional bratty rebellious daughter she’s been pegged as. Oh sure tha’ts still mostly what she is here, I’ll leave it to later stories to flesh her out hopefully, but she gives vallid reasons WHY she acts out: She points out no one even knew Santa had a daughter, and she has no songs or specials or any of that about her. The most Santa can offer up is “Jingle Bells” because the boys say “jingle all the way”... which really, especially in 2020, just makes HIM come off worse for not only slut shaming his daughter, but that the best defense he can offer is “Well some local boys talk about how you boned them that counts right?”.

That.. poorly aged joke aside Jingle brings up another good point on how sh’es on his shit list.. errr.. naughty list. Still a good gag. And yeah the therapist is understandably surprised Santa dosen’t give his own daughter presents, though his wife does give a valid counter to that: He has to hold a higher standard than anybody.

And that’s why I’m really intrigued by this concept and want to read more: WE have plenty of stories about Santa’s kids, i’ll grant, from him adopting a kid like in elf, to him passing on the legacy with films like Arthur Christmas and Fred Claus, or even just films about his legacy, like the Santa Claus, aka that time Santa died and his clothes forced Tim Allen into a job he dosen’t want with weight and beard gain he didn’t ask for via yuletide mummy’s curse to become the new santa and nearly loose custody of his child. What i’m saying is the concept is inherently fascinating and The Santa Clause is deeply terrifying if you stop to think about it for two seconds.. as is the sequel what with it’s Nazi Robot Santa Claus Tim Allen. Yes really.

But this one’s unique in that it’s not about the legacy. Oh sure Santa tries to get Jing interested, and his last attempte wound up with them having to take the bus, another great gag and i’m glossing over most because this is a very funny little comic, but the main focus is more on what kind of pressure that puts on a kid: wouldn’t you rebel too if your parents wanted you to be perfect and to follow in the family business of being basically a perfect human being? Jing herself sums it up perfectly towards the end of the story.

Granted after a tearful hug, Jing internally says “that new snowboard is mine.. but i’ts hard not to feel that a godo chunk of this is genuine. Sure she’s playing her parents a bit but.. you’d crack too if your dad was freaking Santa. I’m really intrigued to see where this goes both comedically and character stuff wise.

So we end on another christmasy narration bit as Belle plays good for a while, snapping only when it docent seem like she gets her snowboard. A comedy ending and an eh one. Not the best honeslty, I feel the comci would’ve been better ended just at the snowboard is mine bit, but i’ve seen worse.

Final Thoughts: A really good story. WHile it’s rough around the edges, clearly Dini and others have buffed them out over two decades, and i’m really intrigued to see more of this this holiday season and others. Again some parts, mostly playing Jing being sexually liberated for “OH HAW HAW SHE’S A SLUT” laughs is cringe inducing, but most of the jokes have aged well and for a pilot it’s not bad. I really look forward to reading more of the character and diving into her this season and beyond.

Until then be good to one another, have a happy holidays and always remember: There's always another rainbow.

#christmas #jingle belle #santa claus #mrs claus #paul dini #oni press #comics #review #comics reviews

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heavenzfiend · 5 years ago

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My Life In 20 Questions

Thank you so much for the tag @otonymous!!! You are a sweetheart and I love reading these things 😊❤

1. What do you prefer to be called namewise?

Heavenzfiend or my real name is fine, for those of you who know it! :)

2. When is your birthday?

Some time in May!

3. Where do you live? (You can just give the country’s or state name if you’re not comfortable with sharing the city name)

I live not too far away from Boston!

4. Three things you are doing right now?

Just got to work and nibblin’ on breakfast

About to do my rounds of otome after completing this XD

Thinking about Amnesia Memories, which I finished last night but can never get over T_T I seriously love it so much?!

5. Four fandoms that have your peak interest right now?

Ayakashi: Romance Reborn

Shall We Date: Obey Me!

Shall We Date: Wizardess Heart+

Voltage’s Love 365 stories (I seriously read one (or more?!) story everyday! Fav app!)

6. How has this pandemic been treating you?

I still go to work like normal since I’m an “essential worker” so nothing has really changed much for me. Overall I have to wear a mask/gloves at all times at work, which is a bother (definitely necessary but I work alone in a lab so... ^^;;) but I try to look at the positive sides of things: now my work gives me free lunch!!! And traffic to/from work has been nonexistent for the past 2 months, yay!

A part of me wishes to stay home like many of us since my whole life I’ve been training to stay home with my antisocial hobbies but I’m also grateful to still have a job that needs me since many Americans are losing their jobs/income, which is absolutely frightening!

7. A song you can’t stop listening to right now?

Turtle- by Davichi (I love all their songs so muchhhhh! I love how most of their songs are SAD yet upbeat? It tugs on your heartstrings with a strong force. I’ve been listening to this song [and others by them] during my commute for weeeeeks now but can’t stop XD)

8. Recommend a movie

Errr... a movie? I can’t think of anything off the top of my head... can I recommend a Kdrama instead? If you are a Kdrama viewer, I highly suggest one of my fav dramas: “Because This Is My First Life” which is now available on Netflix!!! This is the drama that wrecked all other dramas for me (seriously). Like after seeing this I went on about 2 yr hiatus from all kdramas for some reason XD It was so good and nothing else really matched it to me (before, I was watching kdramas all the time!). Tbh I still haven’t recovered and don’t watch kdramas much anymore... SAD.

9. How old are you? (not that you have to share)

Not YOUNG but not too old either? XD

10. School, university, occupation or other?

Working currently as a scientist! I have a Masters in Food Science, specializing in Food Chemistry!

11. Do you prefer heat or cold?

Hmm... I prefer cold I guess. Snuggling in warm, fuzzy blankets is a good feeling.

12. Name one fact about you that others might find unusual

Why can’t I think of anything?!?! I’m SO unusual but being put on the spot, I’m blanking. I do have crazy, crazy Airbnb stories though: like that one time in Tokyo when the listing poofed the day before I was supposed to go?! Like the listing completely disappeared on the app but I still had their # so I asked if I could come and they said yes. I went to a tiny apartment and instead of the woman who I thought I was speaking to the whole time, it was a man?! (He said he’s a boyfriend of the acct person who had went on a overnight work trip...?) Anyways, there wasn’t even a separate room for us! Only a curtain separating my friend and I from this random man and his bed and our (1) bed was fairly close together! It was just the weirdest experience! XD I survived though.

13. Are you shy?

Absolutely yes! I tend to be most comfortable when I don’t have to talk much XD. In real life, I don’t normally talk to people first unless they talk to me. When I was younger I could never ask the teacher if I could use the restroom because that meant drawing attention to myself and I once almost fainted while giving an introduction about myself in literature class 😅 Yes, I was THAT shy. I’m better now as an adult though.

14. Do you have preferred pronouns?

She/her (but I don’t really care)

15. Biggest pet peeves?

When people are rude for no reason or inconsiderate of other people’s feelings. And selfish behavior.

16. What is your favourite “-dere” type?

I’m not really too familiar with all the -dere out there... I just know that tsundere is NOT my type XD I’d prefer more affection. I think my fav is a soft yandere: someone very gentle but possessive is *chef’s kiss* (I’m thinking of SLBP Nobuyuki and ARR Yakumo)

17. Rate your life from 1-10 (1 being crappy, 10 being amazing).

9? My life is pretty good XD

18. What is your main blog?

This! I only have 1 tumblr blog and 1 twitter one. How can someone manage multiple...?! I’m not that good at multi-tasking, haha.

19. List your side blogs and what they are used for.

N/A!

20. One thing you think people should know about you before they become your friends?

In terms of online presence, I use it to mainly talk about games/otome, so I don’t feel comfortable when minors or someone who is uncomfortable with sex in general talks to me... since all my friends know how horny I am for these 2D men... I just can’t become close with someone who feels uncomfortable when I mention anything sexual... which in turn makes ME uncomfortable... yea, no.

Tagging: @pseudofaux @pickle-scribbles @fromthedeskofelizabeththird (Don’t feel obligated to do it! But if you do, I’d love to learn more about you! ^^)

#tagged #my life in 20 questions

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imperialsea-a · 5 years ago

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ELIZABETH’S IN-DEPTH RP PLOTTING CHEAT-SHEET.

Want new-and-exciting plots for your character? Long to reach out to more of your followers, but don’t know where to start? Fear not! Fill out this form and give your RP partners both present and future all the of juicy jumping off points they need to help you get your characters acquainted.

Be sure to tag the players whose characters YOU want more cues to interact with, and repost, don’t reblog! Feel free to add or remove sections as you see fit. Template here.

Mun name: Rem (not that blue-haired anime girl or DN, it’s from my old blog!) OOC Contact: Contact me through the Tumblr IM system or my Discord! My Discord is: imperialsea#1818. Please tell me your URL if you message me there so I know who you are!

Now, onto the heart of the post!

♛ Who the heck is my muse, anyway? Elizabeth Eva Alexandria Cross, the only biological daughter of Kaien Cross, her father (a canon vk char), and Eva Liliya Cherie Cross, her mother (an oc muse)! Elizabeth is a vampire hunter by blood like all in her family before her! But, shh! Your character isn't supposed to know that . . . unless they're also a hunter . . . or a perhaps a vampire (since her family from both sides are famous hunters, but even then they don't have to know she's a vamp killer if you don't want them to) . . . or they're some sort of ally to her / the hunters association since she can't just tell anyone her actual work on a whim. Where she's from, the existence of vampires are a secret from most of humanity and it's her job to kill the dangerous people-hurty ones and keep that nice and secret so as to avoid a world war! 'Nothing about her is complicated at all', I say, lying through my teeth like Bethy does to society every day by keeping her job and true lifestyle hidden :'D

Further information below the cut, please take time to read if you’re stuck on what to plot and how Bethy operates!

♛ Points of Interest: - She was born and raised to fight against unruly beasts and composed foes alike. Despite her youth, she's a one-woman powerhouse and is not afraid to take herself down with an opponent if she deems it necessary. She's like the Smash player who hits the fake smash ball to take out an enemy on their last legs, even at the expense of her own life. She'll do it! Except in Smash she'd probably just win the match because she had an extra life and not, you know, not die forever for real in a last grand battle.

- She's got vamp genes all over the place and is rare among hunters. She's biologically immortal like a Pureblood despite not being a vampire herself and is living testimony of what her predecessors took from Purebloods both by honorable bestowal of blood from the mysterious Hooded Woman, and straight up [insert painting of Jupiter Devouring His Son here]. Her great grandparent is 3k+ years old, her father is 200+ for devouring his own twin-- it's messy as mythology, but anime :'D She herself is only 18 on default though (19 in K Crossover--), the youngest of her entire bloodline, and she can still be slain in battle even if she is much hardier than a typical human being. She's also sensitive to auras, and capable of sensing vampires.

- Things characters might notice? She's ghostly pale and kind of looks like she stepped out of The Last Unicorn. She looks cold, sophisticated, and vaguely otherworldly-- she really doesn't radiate the friendliest of vibes unless she's doing something she loves, and the calculated yet seemingly effortless grace of her movements are prominent in and outside of combat. She is descended from an ancient royal line, and those posh, stuffy mannerisms and formal speech pattern live on through her even if the Adrasteian monarchy no longer exists.

- She truly isn't a trigger-happy person, whatever the title of 'hunter' implies, and keeps a level head in most situations. Sure, Bethy looks as if she could bite someone's head off and can display some seriously threatening flashes of anger, but she's not going to do something rash and will only resort to drawing her weapons in a serious matter. She's here to save lives, maintain peace, and keep order, not disrupt it and set off a war! No pressure on her, right?

- She is also notably, NOT a high school student, though she may be mistaken for a high school senior or young college student since her age fits the bill. Elizabeth actually graduated from her high school at age sixteen and took to hunting full-time immediately after. She was convinced to slow it down by her grandparents and began preparing for college when her assignment at Cross Academy arrived and, uh, pretty tragically, hasn’t been able to attend any classes due to her work demands. Come to choose between the world and personal fulfillment? Her conscience only let her have one choice; a hunter must hunt.

♛ What they’ve been up to recently: - Work. There's hardly a time when this girl isn't working or planning what to do next, and the workload only grows after the previous president is outed as a dishonorable, self-serving traitor to the hunters. She's seriously injured after trading blows with him and is promptly benched to deal with the fallout and mental agony, but she's back within a year (and in K's crossover? Only six months later!).

- Having said that, Elizabeth does have days off and will spend them quietly with her friends, or alone with music and a rejuvenating swim.

- Depending on the time in her life? Her life circumstances vary drastically-- she can go from a young huntress travelling on her own as duty demands, or she can be a mother of five children and trusted right hand of the new hunter president, Zero Kiryuu. She lives for a long time, so she's always up to something! And of course, she's always motivated to fight for a better future.

♛ Where to find them: - Aside from work, check the beach! Or find her on methods of cross-continental transportation since she travels around the world for her job (she walks whenever possible, so it's rare to see her on a bus, but she’ll begrudgingly take one or a train)! Otherwise, a place like an aquarium, clothing store, or coffee shop, or any place in a city is your best chance.... write w me pls... q-q she is Around Somewhere.

- If not found in any of those places and your character is someone inside Cross Academy, she can be found there, helping the prefects in some way and is familiar enough with the building to help out new students if they ask.

♛ Current Plans: - Elizabeth is chained to her work as a hunter for as long as she draws breath, or until there is no need for her to end hostile vampires. Her ultimate goal is to keep the world from falling into a repeat, all-out war between vampires and humanity. Her living and family situation might change through the years, but that will always be her primary drive-- she's got an indomitable will.

♛ Desired Interactions: - please ovq

- In all seriousness, I’m up for pretty much anything. She needs more friends, more enemies, people to protect, people to be protected by, people she looks up to, people who legitimately unnerve her, everything! I just don’t feel comfortable killing her. Elizabeth fought really hard to get her future and deserves to find comfort after her entire childhood-young adult life was spent thinking the only thing of worth she had was her role as a huntress. I do really, really love angst though, so anything else goes, really c:

♛ Offered Interactions ( please sit tight for this! it will be divided into multiple sections! ) : - IF YOUR CHARACTER IS HUMAN: - She’ll assume your muse is an average civilian until shown otherwise (be it with unusual powers, whacky aura, combat prowess, or prior knowledge from a report or something-- a plot specific thing). Unless they truly know about vampires / work with the Hunters Association, Elizabeth will not be sharing any information about who or what she is without a legitimate reason (such as the human character being bitten by a Pureblood and thus is being turned into a vampire themselves). However, the other party being kept in the dark about vampires can open the door to a more relaxed Elizabeth without her professional, perfectionist mindset. She’s more likely to have a pleasant conversation with humans since they have no part in the hunt-- but in that same vein, she does aim to keep them at a certain distance and not develop a deep emotional bond (but she’s also a lot softer than she looks and acts and tends to care for others quickly, should they get along). It’s a tricky slope . . . She’s thawed out and the nicer aspects of her personality are far more prominent, but at the same time, she’s not being entirely genuine. Give her time and she’ll become more open about personal things, just, not her work.

- Applies to her K Proj. Crossover. Working with S4, Elizabeth takes some time to adjust, but ultimately loves the organization and the people within it. They’re an exception to her ‘no ties with average humans’ rule because....errr.... they’re not the average human she’s used to protecting and in that verse they’re aware of her occupation and peculiar heritage. She’s not as cold first impressions might suggest and loves Reisi’s weird af team building nights, it’s hard for her to not have a soft spot for them, even as an outsider and unofficial member (as in, she has none of the abilities the Blues have, but she has her natural abilities).

- IF YOUR CHARACTER IS A HUNTER: - Elizabeth is a known figure in hunter society; her great grandfather, grandfather, and aunt were previous heads of the organization and each are still alive at present. So, it probably makes more sense if your hunter character at the very least knows about her-- unless they’re an off-series muse in which case go wild and do what you think is best! I always did like the idea of two vampire hunters chilling together with neither one knowing the other is a fellow hunter until they’re attacked by a vamp and they’re both like ‘Oh!’

- A simple but always reliable plot idea is two hunters on a joint mission! It’s really important to know that Bethy does not take kindly to poor performance and expects her partner to take whatever assignment they have seriously. If not? Things get tundra-cold really fast-- o-o;; People’s lives are at stake and in her opinion, if a hunter wants to mope or complain about their blood-given obligation, they’re not fit to be hunters in the first place. ‘Can’t do the job? Then finish what you started with me if you have any shred of integrity, and get thee gone’ sort of thing. Otherwise, uh :’D;; she’s highly cooperative and always aims to reach the outcome with the least amount of damage.

- As a teenager, she attended a hunter-run private academy in Adrasteia for four years. If it’s possible for your muse to attend (as in, they are from a vampire hunter family and can pass the rigorous entrance exams), throw em in for a slightly younger, less stringent Bethy? A national fencing champion at the top of her classes, and great granddaughter to the legendary hellfire headmaster, Elizabeth’s not easily missed! It could be the start to an amicable relationship to carry into future interactions?

- IF YOUR CHARACTER IS A VAMPIRE: - Bluntly put, for vampires, it’s probably better to interact with Elizabeth after Cross Academy has fallen in the large battle that took place there. Her mother is revealed to have been alive and held captive as a vampire, she’s already friends with a hunter/vamp, her two friends turned out to be Purebloods, and ‘oh....my mother and father got together again and now I’ve got a younger vampire brother’ .....and her boyfriend’s half sister is also a vampire who marries the former vamp senate heir..... so...vamps everywhere; she simply accepts them as part of the family. Prior to that, while she isn’t hostile to vampires and certainly has no intention to attack a vamp unjustly, it’s not a place she’s eager to put herself in. Depending on how threatened she feels, she’ll even swallow her pride and keep her head down-- mostly.

- If your muse is a hunter-turned-vampire, she doesn’t treat them as a vampire, rather, she still sees them as a compatriot, like in the case of Zero Kiryuu. Whether or not your muse received the blood of their keeper is up to you, but in the case that they haven’t-- she’s always there to assist in granting mercy whenever the time comes :’)

- IF YOUR CHARACTER DOES NOT FIT INTO ANY OF THE ABOVE CATEGORIES / REGARDING OTHER VERSES: - Please help me find something that works, I’m willing to try! Memes are incredibly helpful! Send one in, the tag is here, and we can go from there!

- My currently finished and ready-to-use Crossover Verse is K Proj., which can be read about right here.

♛ Current Open Post/s: Linked right here. There's no expiration date to these, and it doesn't matter if another person has replied to one, you are more than welcome to reply to one if it catches your eye at all.

♛ Anything else?: YEAH, wow I am so sorry that got so long. Please note that this post may be updated periodically!

#( blog info. )#( SUPER LONG but if you're lost on some plotting things and aren't from VK #this should hopefully give you an idea of Elizabeth and her interactions? She's a tough one q - q )

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mamashitty · 5 years ago

Text

Samwell Elementary Chapter 6

y’all can read the earlier chapters here on my tumblr. or on my ao3.

It is Monday morning after the breakup, and Eric is doing his best to keep a cheerful smile plastered on his face as he greets his students. He feels that it is important to stand by his door and say a little hello to each student who enters as well as to their parents. Eric needs to make people feel welcomed and at home. His heart is not really in it today, though and he might be dealing with a little bit of a hangover. After they collected his stuff from his old apartment, Shitty insisted on a weekend long party. Bitty had thrown himself into it, cooking and baking way too many things. Lardo had stayed the entire weekend with them, and everyone else had stopped by at various points to join in. Shitty had said it was a celebration of Eric cutting loose someone who was clearly an asshole. Eric appreciated the sentiment when it was said, and maybe, he still does. He is confused though because while it hurt that Trevor would do that to him, would sneak behind his back and sleep with another man, he finds that… he is not as hurt as he feels he should be at the end of a two-year relationship. Eric has no idea what that says about him or Trevor and their relationship. He supposes it does not really matter now.

He tries to shake those thoughts from his head because they make it difficult to smile and greet. To be the warm and welcoming person everyone expects him to be and that he wants to be. He likes being that person and he knows he does not always have to be that person, but for the kids, he is going to try his hardest. Who knows if his smiles and his kindness are the only ones his students get in a day? The smile might not reach his brown eyes, but he keeps it plastered on his face, and greets.

“Mr. Bitty!” Eric smiles as he sees little Maisie Zimmermann bounding down the hallway towards him. He sees that today it is Jack dropping her off and that he is holding two coffee cups in his hands.

“Hello Sir Maisie, how are you doing today?” He asks, still smiling.

“Good! Papa got you a coffee! He asked Uncle Crappy what your favorite flavor was and everything. He bought me a cookie too, and it was good. Not as good as your cookies, though.” Maisie says all of this quickly, bouncing slightly on her feet. Eric now notices some cookie crumbs on her plain black sweater. She has on bright pink leggings and purple cowboy boots. “Oh! I see Rhiannon!” And into the classroom, she darts. Eric laughs and tries to ignore the funny little flip his stomach does at the thought of Jack buying him a coffee.

Eric notes that Jack’s cheeks seem a little pink now that he is close to him. He hands one cup towards Eric and Eric takes it. Jack had asked Shitty what his favorite flavor of coffee was and Jack had told Maisie that. Or maybe Maisie had overheard the conversation.

“I—I know you had a rough weekend,” Jack states before Eric has a chance to say thank you for the coffee. Lord, Jack has such pretty blue eyes. “Sh—..errr Crappy mentioned that… I mean… “ Jack brings his free hand up to rub the back of his neck. His face is red and Eric finds that cute. Jack Zimmermann is probably the most attractive man that Eric has ever seen. Adding cute to the equation suddenly seems unfair to the rest of the men out there. “I just… hoped that this might.. I wanted to do something nice?” Jack seems to question at the end.

Bitty feels like maybe he ought to put Jack out of his misery here. He’s happy that Jack thought to buy him a coffee and he finds it sweet that Jack had asked Shitty what his favorite flavor kind was. It makes his crush on the other man intensify and he feels like maybe he should do his best to ignore those feelings. He also wonders if maybe having this harmless crush on an obviously taken man, might do him good. Might ease the pain of Trevor some even if it gives him another kind of pain.

“Jack… thank you,” Eric says, smiling. Even he can feel his smile reaching his eyes. “You really did not have to do this,” Bitty adds just before taking a sip of his drink. It is sweet and sugary just how he likes them. Somehow, he knows, the warmth he feels in his belly now is not just from the drink but also from that smile that seems to light up Jack’s face in response to Eric’s own smile. Or maybe just in response to Eric being polite and saying thanks.

“I wanted to,” Jack says again, almost shyly.

“Well, thank you.” Eric finds himself repeating. He is also finding himself getting lost in Jack’s eyes, not quite remembering when they both began to make such intense eye contact. His heart is thudding hard in his chest and okay, so maybe having a crush on Jack won’t be so good for him. There seems to be a tension between the two of them now, so thick that Eric could cut it with a knife, and he wonders how much of it is just him. Because Jack has Camilla and a happy little family with her and Bitty really needs to break off this eye contact.

Jack breaks it first with what sounds to Eric like an awkward laugh.

“I am going to go say goodbye to Maisie,” Jack says, his voice maybe a little thicker than Eric has ever heard it.

“Right, see ya around,” Eric says numbly and he watches as Jack heads into the classroom to give his daughter a hug.

Lord… why are all the good men taken?

Eric moves between the five tables in his classroom. Each table has five kids at it, with their heads bent over sheets of paper as they practice writing. Denice Ford, the paraprofessional for his classroom moves between the tables too. He and Ford work well together. She had to tell him to stop baking her so many thank you pies for her simply doing her job. Bitty, personally thinks that he could never bake enough pies to truly thank her.

He stops at the table that Maisie and Rhiannon are seated at. Both are working diligently. There had been a minilesson before this independent time where Eric had gone over writing certain letters. Right now, the students are supposed to be writing stories with those letters. They are still learning to read, some more advanced than others, so these little stories that get written never make much sense, and the letters on the paper, rarely make any actual words. It is all just about getting the kids used to the concept of stringing letters together to make words and then words to make sentences. Maisie has her tongue jutted out of her mouth, as she concentrates on writing.

“How are y’all doing?” Eric asks the table.

“Good!” Maisie, as tends to be the usual, answers first. She stops her writing, that intense look of concentration suddenly wiped from her face. “I am writing about hockey robot knights!”

“What is that?” Rhiannon asks with a look of confusion on her face. The other kids at the table stop their own writing to look over at Maisie.

“They are knights who are also robots and they play hockey for the Queen,” Maisie explains, and Eric can hear the disdain in her voice. He ducks his head to hide his amused smile.

“Well, I can’t wait to read the story,” Eric says, and Maisie beams at him. The other kids ask her a few more questions about these hockey-playing robot knights, and then Eric gently encourages them to focus back on their own writing before he moves to another table. Their recess break is coming up soon, and he is excited to get outside with his students to enjoy the sunshine before the weather starts to turn cold.

School is out for the day and Eric is seated cross-legged on one of the tables in Lardo’s classroom. She is putting away masks that her fifth-grade students had made earlier in the way, that had needed to sit out and dry for a while. Eric offered to help, but she had shooed him away, insisting she had her own system.

“Jack… er, Mr. Zimmermann, brought me a coffee today, because of Trevor I think,” Eric says breaking the comfortable silence that had been floating between the two of them as Lardo worked. He notices her stop what she is doing for a few seconds before she goes back to putting masks away. “It was the sweetest thing,” Eric finishes. He wonders if he should say more, but honestly, he is not sure what else to say. Even after he finished the coffee and tossed the cup away, his eyes kept drifting towards the trashcan all day long. He kept seeing that shy smile on Jack’s face and the blush because it had to be a blush.

He kept remembering the intense eye contact.

“Was it good coffee?” Lardo asks, jarring him once more from remembering Jack’s blue eyes.

“Yeah, he had asked Shitty what my favorite flavor was. It was really good,” Bitty explains, and he can feel his own cheeks turning red for some reason. All he is doing is talking about coffee that a parent of one of his students had bought him. He and Lardo have given each other far more explicit details about their sex lives before, and he rarely blushes anymore during those talks! Maybe his cheeks are warm and red because he is getting sick.

“And he has a really nice ass too,” Lardo says.

“Lardo! That… might be true but we are not talking about that right now. It is not appropriate and it has no bearing to this conversation!” Because as much as he likes to take a peek at Jack Zimmermann’s ass, Eric knows that it is highly inappropriate. The man is married and also a father to one of his students, but really, it is the married thing. He knows looking is not the same as touching, and technically, not really wrong. But Eric thinks that maybe he needs to look less, especially if Jack is going to be so damn sweet and nice to him.

He bought him coffee to cheer him up. Eric does not know what to do with that information and he hates that it makes him so happy. He had thought for a brief moment or two that maybe latching onto this crush would help ease the pain from Trevor cheating on him. Now Eric worries that he might fall too hard if he encourages himself. Lardo is not helping the situation. He is also pointedly ignoring the look she is giving him.

“Where did you want to go for dinner tonight?” He asks, doing his best to change the topic even if he was the one to bring it up. Lardo does not fight the topic change, and part of him is grateful for that. Part of him still wants to talk about Jack.

#omgcp #omg check please!#eric bittle #jack zimmermann #zimbits #omgcp au #samwell elementary au #a.shitty writes #a.shitty fics

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