#everybody gathering together to take pictures and make fun of his tie on his first day <3< /div> Explore tagged Tumblr posts

[dammit-stark]

what’s the teen titans fic economy look like?? I was a big teen titans kid and I’m a superbat adult so I’ve been thinking about using my complete lack of canonical understanding to write a teen titans/batkids slice-of-life fic but I fear being judged for all the liberties I’m about to take

just something about batman and superman reluctantly adopting their son’s superpowered friends yk <3

[snowwhitelass]

New Outlander Game Coming – Talking with the Game Designers

By:  Erin Conrad, June 15, 2021

Gamers Corner, TV News

Outlander game, Sony, Starz Outlander, Variable Outcomes

Who wouldn’t want to dash around the Highlands with Jamie, trying to be his favorite, and rescuing him from trouble on the way? That definitely sounds like a fun time, even if all you can do is dream about it. Or IS that all you can do?

NO! Sometime this fall, a brand new board game will debut – Outlander The Series! Designed by the husband and wife team of Matthew and Ashley Killeen, the game will let you play with a bunch of your friends, meeting familiar faces along the way, and getting in and out of all kinds of scrapes. The game will be available for holiday shopping, so you can start to set up your Outlander game nights now. I had the opportunity to talk with Matthew and Ashley about the development of this new game, and learned some details.

From the game’s marketing information: “His fate is in your hands! Step through the stones of Craigh Na Dun and run through the Scottish Highlands with the handsome Jamie. The year is 1743, and the outlaw James Fraser is at your side as you navigate the thrills and dangers of the Highlands. Use your wit, reach the right locations, make the right friends, and gather the items you need, all while keeping Jamie out of the hands of the many who would do him wrong. The gallows await fair Jamie (or worse!) should you fail. Fulfill your destiny, and win his heart. Only then will victory be yours!”

Outlander is the Killeen’s first big franchise game. “From a business point of view, it’s something I always wanted to do,” Matthew said. “I enjoy games with an IP license attached, TV show or movie, and I have designed prototypes that might be good for Ghostbusters or Star Trek. I really wanted to get into that.” Ashley knew Matthew was interested in trying a licensed game, and said “I’ve been watching Outlander, you should make a game based on that.” Matthew hadn’t yet seen the show, so he said “you do it” – and she did.

Ashley didn’t get into the show until season three. “The first version (of the game) was based on the book, because I thought that might be the avenue to go. But it ended up being more layers to secure the book rights than TV. We heard back from Starz/Sony quickly, and the show and book were similar enough that I didn’t have to change too much from initial design. I swapped out characters and items that didn’t translate from one to another. Jamie still has same event encounters, the same enemies. It’s nice to look at both sides, to really put in all those little hidden tidbits from show. I’m hoping that fans of the show will enjoy all those subtle things that I’ve put in. But the other thing we wanted to make sure was that it was not dependent upon being familiar with the show, because the last thing you want is a game with Outlander masked on top of it that doesn’t play as anything on its own. And having a lot of friends who knew nothing about Outlander, how could I get them to the table?”

Matthew said, “One of philosophies for the board game stuff was that I’ve seen games that were maybe like a movie spin on top. Is this fun or exciting because of the game, or just because of the movie or tv show tie in? And one reason, the biggest reason why I got excited was when I first played it, I had never seen the show. I knew nothing about it. I had never seen the characters, and yet, I still enjoyed it. It was a good game.” Ashley added, “He has since seen the show.” Matthew continued, “That’s another thing that’s always bothered me. I feel like if a certain publisher or game designer makes something but doesn’t know the back story, that’s lazy. As soon as I found out we were going to do this, I watched the show. I know all my lore now. I was obviously able to play the game again once I knew the show and the lore, and it made the game play better.” ��You understood my decisions,” said Ashley. “Exactly,” said Matthew. “Whether you know the show or not, it’s a good game.”

Ashley discussed their process: “I started December 2019. This past December, we were finally able to go forward. We got the contract from Sony in November. It was a long process! We got approvals for the design of the game, and access to the virtual library. We could figure out images that would go with the components we had.” Once they had that, Matthew figured out the graphic design for the game.

Was Sony/Starz helpful? Enthusiastic? Ashley said, “They were enthusiastic. They didn’t really have a board game. They had Destiny Dice, but that wasn’t the same thing.” (For my review of Destiny Dice, a game that came out a couple of years ago, click here.) I’ve had reservations about this previous game, so I asked how they overcame the failings of that one to make this new game. My concern with a platform like this is that the show is so big and layered – a group of women will come together over a glass of wine or three, and are they going to be able to figure it out easily enough to have a good time in an evening? Ashley feels that the new game will let us do that. “The idea behind this was that we wanted to bring everybody to the table – people whose board games lives consisted of Scrabble for their whole lives, and those who have played campaigning, like Mage Knights, epically, every week. We want to bring both those sets to the table. It should be intuitive enough once you’ve figured out the first turn order. It’s the repetition of that, it’s just your personal strategy that changes on what you choose to do, but the game play isn’t going to change on you as you go.”

She added, “But there’s enough in there that if you are an experienced board game player, you’re not sitting there bored waiting for the next thing to happen. That was our goal, as many people at the same table as possible enjoying it at the level they’re at. You can have the game player who knows nothing about Outlander, and you can have the Outlander fan who doesn’t play board games, and they will have a good evening. We also tried to be strategic about the length, because you don’t want to have just a tease of a game, because then you can’t be really invested and immersed in that world, but we also know, especially being parents now, you don’t have time to spend four hours on a game. That’s not going to happen any more. What’s a good length? If you can watch an episode of Outlander, you can play a round. So we wanted to find something that made sense. A lot of these pieces, once you apply a little logic to it, they fell together really nicely.”

This is the first “franchise” game the Killeens have designed. The fascination with board games started in 2004, and in 2011, Matthew began to design games as hobby. “I enjoyed playing, but in between then I was going to school and forgot about it. As school was winding down, I really got into it. I created an educational game called Witchful Thinking. We’re both teachers, and when doing practicum, the teacher (that he was working with) had kids doing games for math. but they were really boring, and the kids didn’t like it at all. I remembered I had a game that worked for this! I started looking at my business from a professional point of view, filling in gaps in the market. I wanted to bring people to a table they hadn’t been to yet. Witchful Thinking is a card game – witches brewing potions, teaching math – subtraction, addition, pre-algebra, and more advanced math. It was a great educational tool.” The company has more ideas – they have an upcoming Kickstarter for a game called Tennessee James, an Indiana Jones parody (learn more here). Matthew says that the company expects to bring out many more titles – “Between the two of us, we have a backlog of designs.”

When do they expect to have this out? Matthew said definitely for the Christmas season. “I am working with manufacturers right now, trying to iron out some of those details, but we’re going to be moving into manufacturing right now. It depends on how long it takes to do the mass production plus shipping, but I would estimate this would maybe in stores (or online retailers) by October. That’s probably a good estimate.”

Did they do a lot of testing? “We needed especially non-Outlander fans to play this game. The Outlander fans, it didn’t take a lot of convincing to get them to play,” said Matthew. “Even before there were pictures on the cards, they knew the board, they knew the characters. So even if you had a blank piece of paper that just said Murtagh on it, they know what it means. I wasn’t worried about the Outlander fans, and the game play is pretty intuitive, once you go through the steps. So once you’ve done a round, you can keep going around, no problem. So we were just like, ok, you don’t know what these names mean and where these places are, but you’ve got a bit of the information, are you on board? And so far the reaction has been, yes, I feel like I’m playing a game, even if they don’t know who Jamie is or anything like that.”

He continued, “The tall and short of it is that this that this has been play tested thoroughly. It’s not broken, and the most important part is that it’s fun.” Ashley added, “It’s a nice balance of cooperative, nobody wants Jamie to come to any harm, but you still want to be his favorite. So you can get a little catty, and that’s what makes the fun. You’ll be adding something a little stronger to your tea nights once you start playing that way.”

Matthew said, “One of my strategies for play testing is that I like to try different strategies each time and see what works and what doesn’t .Ashley laughed, “You played mean one time.” “Yeah, it’s my wife, I’ve got to play nice, right? But one time, I didn’t play nice, and I took a competitive edge, and it was awesome,” he said. So players, remember that!

“When I was working on Witchful Thinking, I was looking to put it into Walmart and Target. But they don’t want to talk to the independent company, they want to make sure they’re getting multiple products from the same distributors. So we want to make sure that the distributors that we get are also trying to get the game out there. I do have distribution in the US for Witchful Thinking, and they’re excited to take on this one.”

What was your favorite part of the game, as you play it, I asked? Ashley said, “I like the QuickSave. This is a component we have because Jamie is always going to move in a predictable pattern, and the three villains he’s trying to avoid – Black Jack Randall, the Redcoats and the Watch – those are all the Meeples that are going to be moving around. As you are collecting friends along the way, if you happen to be en route to an Encounter, you can use the special abilities from your friends. So maybe it’s Dougal who is going to be discarded, and that will be a Quicksave to put Jamie back in hiding, so the game’s not over, you haven’t captured him yet. I like that idea, the Quicksave. So you’re strategizing, not just for what’s going to give you a lot of Favor from Jamie to try to win his heart in the game, but where are these people going to help me if Jamie is in a pickle. Because he’s going to get himself in a lot of pickles.”

As he does on the show, I said! Ashley continued, “And as a designer, that’s a fun way for me to tie in the personality of the characters. There’s a reason why they have the values that they do. There was a little argument between us in the design phase, because I made Willie – Willie Mackenzie from the first season – he has this hidden kind of superpower that most of the time, he’s a bit weaker, but when the danger level’s up, he’s strong. Matt was criticizing that, ‘he’s a minor character, why is he so strong?’ But you haven’t been paying attention. Because when Jamie’s in Wentworth, it’s Willie who’s willing to go. So that’s his power, when things are toughest, he’s the one that can save the most. I was having fun finding those little nuggets, the lore, that fans love, and if you’re paying attention to how I’ve designed it, you’ll start seeing like why you get more Favor in some places, or more Wit, or why you have the saving abilities.”

The women playing will like seeing that, I agreed. “I think that we’ve got it so that your favorite characters, from S1 at least, this is just in the Highlands, you’re going to see them, I think they’ll do you proud,” Ashley says. “We’re still excited about it, even though it’s been a year and a half doing it, so I think that says something about it, that we can still be passionate about it, little choices like that, I think the game has life.” Ashley told me that she has ideas for additional Outlander games to follow each season, so this may go on for quite a while!

As their cute kids came into the room, I asked if game design was full time, or is this an extra job? Ashley said, “I’m a full time teacher, so I’m squeezing this in between the report card writing and the classroom stuff. With a bunch of changes with Covid, it’s made more sense for Matthew to stay home, so we decided to go all in, make this run for itself.” Matthew said, “I can speak from the graphic design standpoint – I didn’t design the gameplay, Ashley did that, but I offered suggestions here and there, it was her decision on things, and she made some great decisions. And between that, I did the playtesting and the graphic design in January and early February, I’ve put in hundreds of hours, not just with the graphic design, but also the business stuff too, figuring out social media posts, getting things approved by Sony, talking with the distributors. So this has been not just like a full time job, but overtime, I’ve put in some serious hours for this.”

Since this is the company’s first big license, I asked if is this something they want to continue. “Absolutely,” Matthew said. “And I knew that when I turned this into a hobby back in 2011. I enjoy making board games. I enjoying making movies, watching movies, reading books, all that stuff. I needed some sort of creative outlet. And this was it. I enjoy tabletop games, so I found a business that I’m passionate about. But I found over the years, since I am a small business, I had to learn everything. I can do the game design, I can do the graphic design, the IP stuff, social media, the PR, distribution. I have all those experiences, so if I can continue this, I’ll be very happy.”

Price point for the game should be $48.99 CA (US equivalent is about $40). And it will be available in the US, and more – Matthew says, “The territories we have with Sony are Canada, USA, UK, Australia and France. We’re a small family run company, but at the same time, this is a big license. So we want to do the fans proud, we want to do this IP proud, so we want to give the biggest reach that we can.” Ashley said, “We’re limited because we’re not the distributors, so once we put it in those hands, it’s really up to those stores that want to put it on their shelves. So until we know where they’re placing it, I can’t tell you ‘oh, pick it up here.’ ” Matthew agreed. “I have experience with all of that, so when I made Witchful Thinking and released that, I had a hard time getting distribution. So I went store to store, city to city, and I made those contacts myself. For me as a business owner, I’m not just one of those owners who throws money out and does it. I have experience in all these aspects. So when this game comes out, let’s say that distribution doesn’t have as far of a reach as possible, I’ll make it happen. With Covid especially, the online market is important.”

“From a business standpoint, we’re a new company,” Matthew said. “It seems that we’re very new to this but that’s not really the case. This game has been been in development for a long time, and between the two of us we have 20+ games in prototypes. So we definitely know how to make games, and make games fun. And the fact that we’re both teachers, I think makes it even better. Because as teachers, we have to know how to sell to an audience.” ” And explain the games,” Ashley added.

PRE-ORDER THE GAME RIGHT HERE! Three if by Space has the game available for pre-orders in our Collectibles shop!! Click here to go to the pre-order page!

[hklnvgl]

but for their voices (iii)

(for the first week of the Mister Impossible Countdown by @pynchpromptweek : Adam’s College Experience! tw: past child abuse.)

3/4 | ao3 | prev. chapter | from the beginning

Breaks were the worst, Adam was starting to realize.

It’d also been like that back at the trailer, because with school off it was inevitable that his dad saw more of Adam, and he had more days to recover, too.

Ronan’s text came out of nowhere. Plans for thanksgiving?, and he left it at that, not offering plans of his own, not clarifying if this was him asking Adam to come down to visit or it was to make sure Adam actually did have plans.

But Ronan had no way of knowing Adam didn’t. In Ronan’s eyes, Adam had a perfectly normal family waiting for him back home to celebrate Thanksgiving with. Once, when Eliot had asked if he missed any homemade meals from home, Adam had said his mother made this awesome soup in chilly days. The only soup the real Mrs. Parrish had ever cooked was the canned type you got at the supermarket, a four-pack for less than four dollars. And it was up to Adam to heat it up most days, when his ma came late from work and his dad got cranky if he didn’t eat at the same time every day.

Might go home, Adam wrote, because it was the expected thing to write. You?

we normally gather here but my brother insisted on hosting this year. We’ll see how the shitshow goes

Fletcher asked, too, and only when Adam saw him freaking out because he’d run out of space in his hand luggage did he realize he needed to also start packing if he wanted it to be believable that he was travelling home.

“Packing is the worst,” Adam said, carefully folding his already ironed shirts on top of his comforter, wishing Fletcher would hurry up so he could hang them back into his tiny closet before any wrinkle appeared.

“And then you have to unpack,” Fletcher said, finally sitting down to tie his shoelaces. “Well, Adam. Have fun, yeah?”

“You too.” Adam forced a smile to cut his face. Fletcher waved as he wheeled away his suitcase.

Adam counted to ten after he’d left before he crossed the room to the door and locked it.

When he was younger, he’d been naïve enough to tell himself he’d be able to stop lying like this once he reached college. He was used to it, of course. He didn’t need to think too much to keep all his lies on track—he made sure to never tell stories that could contradict each other, even to people from different circles. It wasn’t even tiresome anymore—it just was. He’d been lying every hour of every day since he could remember. To his parents, to his teachers, to his classmates.

He didn’t believe his own lies, of course. Despite what his dad liked to say, Adam knew the difference between a lie and the truth. But once he told a story he made it real, in the way that he now had memories of having told that story, and the other person had no proof that what Adam had said hadn’t actually happened. So it was not only in Adam’s head.

Nobody wanted to hear the truth, anyway. The truth would just turn everything ugly and sad. It would ruin everything Adam had managed to build here, as flimsy and fragile as it all was.

He didn’t text Gansey, who was also staying in town, to meet up. He’d mentioned he had plans to go hiking somewhere anyway—nobody had questioned that he hadn’t joined his parents on their Europe trip. But they would question Adam if they knew he was staying.

So he ordered takeaway and stayed in his room, alone, catching up on his reading. He didn’t clean too much, so that when Fletcher came back he believed that Adam hadn’t been there either.

When Ronan texted him a picture of him and his brothers, Adam had a minute urge to throw his phone to the wall. He reined it in, of course, and sent back a smiling emoji before switching the whole thing off.

Sure, it must be nice to gather together around a big table with people who didn’t hate that you were born and enough food to put on a couple pounds. It was just not something Adam could hope to have.

He had work to do, anyway, so he spent the weekend catching up on his reading.

He was actually relieved when Fletcher came back, until he reminded Adam that it was less than a month until Christmas break.

Everyone here was thrilled about going on break—did they not want to be at Harvard in the first place? Why were they all so eager to leave?

So Adam had to cave and go along with the default sentiment and pretend he was also excited when he learnt that the dorms were closed for three full weeks so he had to find some alternative housing if he didn’t want to sleep under a bridge or something.

Ronan was back, too, but Adam wasn’t really in the mood to talk about vegetables and cattle when he was about to spend all the money he’d so carefully saved during these months in some shitty apartment that would charge him extra for staying such a short time.

He should probably look into off-campus accommodation for the following year.

Ronan, of course, noticed he wasn’t really feeling the holiday spirit.

“It’s just—,” Adam began, and Ronan’s face was so open, as he listened to what Adam had to say. As if Adam wasn’t using him to feel better about himself. “Exams are next week,” he lamely finished, hating himself for it.

“You’re going to fucking ace them, man.” Ronan raised his glass of soda in a mock cheer.

Adam nodded, because if he hadn’t Ronan would’ve known there was something else going on.

They hadn’t kissed again. Adam was hoping they could maybe do so tonight.

“Gansey’s been fucking annoying, too,” Ronan said. Adam remembered they were talking about exams.

“Yeah, you being here must be an unwelcome big distraction,” Adam nodded, before he realized what he was saying, by when it was too late to take it back.

Ronan laughed.

“That’s the reason I’m fucking here,” he said.

Adam looked away from him, at Gansey dancing with Benjy under the bright lights. Of course Ronan was here to visit his friend. Why had he let himself believe that Ronan had driven the whole eight hours it took to get here from his farm just because he missed Adam? After just a kiss that neither of them had mentioned ever since?

Adam truly was stupid.

“So you going home for break?” Ronan asked.

Adam looked back at him.

“Isn’t everybody?” he said, feeling cold all over despite how stuffy the pub was.

“Do you think—I mean, if you’re not busy, maybe I could come visit?”

“What? No, that’s—”

“I don’t care if it’s far. I just have my brothers over on Christmas day, but the rest of—”

“You can’t,” Adam snapped.

Ronan frowned, probably because Adam had let too much of the real him show.

The curve of Ronan’s eyebrows was asking for an explanation, but Adam didn’t have it in him to care to elaborate one. He went back to his own drink.

Ronan eventually stood up and went to talk to Gansey. Not long after, they both left.

Sorry for assuming, Ronan texted him later, when Adam was in bed reviewing his notes for his first exam on Monday morning.

He could have said something, then. A no problem, or I have a lot to study, or I miss my parents and want to spend some time with them. Whatever would make Ronan not run away. But he really needed to get a good grade in this exam and his eyes felt heavy already and he couldn’t let himself be distracted from the real objective here.

So, with a sigh, he went back to his notes.

He took his exams. He found a place to crash during break. On the 25th, he briefly considered sending Ronan a Merry Christmas text, but then chickened out when he remembered Ronan would be with his family.

The day he moved back to his dorm, Gansey called and said he wanted to meet with everyone. Adam hadn’t talked to anyone for weeks, outside of the job he’d taken refilling supermarket shelves, so he agreed to go.

As they walked to the diner, Fletcher told him all about the cute trinkets his grandmother had gifted the whole family. Adam kept asking questions about it so that Fletcher wouldn’t remember to ask Adam about his own presents.

He only realized Gansey had failed to mention he wasn’t coming alone when Benjy was already hugging him hello.

Because, sandwiched on the booth between Gansey and a girl Adam didn’t know, there was Ronan Lynch.

(next chapter)

[loudsuitlover]

Doctor Harry XXVIII. Tercer movimiento: Lo de dentro.

A/N: Long ass chapter but lovely, I think. I hope you like it too <3 Every other part can be found here

BLUE’S POV

“Are you done?” I giggle as my mum keeps taking pictures of me in our garden.

“Yeah, I think so but I hope you send me some more with Harry at the reception.”

“I will.” I promise her.

I walk inside towards the kitchen and she follows me. It wasn’t really hard to find a dress for the wedding. Coco, Ollie and Marie offered to go shopping with me on Monday afternoon and we genuinely thought it might take all week to find the right dress but it didn’t. It only took a couple of hours.

I asked Harry if there was any sort of etiquette or particular dressing code but he just said apparently you can’t attend a wedding dressed in white and then I asked if he had any preferences in colour but then he just said what he wanted didn’t matter and to wear whatever I wanted. He wasn’t of much help but I wouldn’t have wanted for him to say anything different from that.

I have never dressed for anyone other than myself but I hope Harry likes my dress tonight. I chose a floor-length slip gown made of silk. It is a soft baby blue colour and so soft to the touch I think I could sleep on it. It’s backless too because I’m a sucker for backless shit and I hate bras so I don’t have a problem with going braless. I keep the jewellery and makeup to a minimum but I do wear crimson lipstick and my thin white gold choker. I wear Coco’s long bright grey fur coat and bright grey heels salon heels.

Harry did ask me about the colour of the dress but I guess that has to do with his choice of tie or handkerchief. I know it’s cheesy but it excites me that he would consider my dress so as to match me.

The bell rings and I get the door as I put on my coat. When I open the door, my breath catches on my throat as I’m faced with a very sexy, annoyingly handsome Harry that looks like a bright peaky blinder without the cap.

He’s wearing a fucking bright cream colour vest and cream colour jacket and pants and a baby blue silk shirt, matching my dress. The first few buttons of the shirt are unbuttoned so the almost looks like a handkerchief.

“Fuck.” He grins. “You can’t be prettier than the bride, Blue.”

I giggle and he leans in and touches my Hollywood style waves and lets them drop back against my chest. I knew he would appreciate the hair down.

“I thought you said you couldn’t attend a wedding dressed in white.”

He smiles.

“This is cream” he defends “and the bride knows what I’m wearing.”

“You look dreamy.”

“Let me see!”

My mum comes running from the kitchen and I feel the heat on my cheeks hot enough  I’m sure they look like my lips at this point.

“Oh my God! You look like a brunette James Dean!”

Harry laughs but blushes and I giggle along with my mum like two teenage girl.

“Grasias, Alisia.”

I raise my eyebrows as I remember.

“Está aprendido español, ¿sabes, mamá?” (Did you know that he’s learning Spanish, mum?)

Harry smiles with his lips closed and my mum swoons.

“¿En serio?”

“Sí.” Harry nods. “No sé mucho pero entiendo algo.” (I don’t know much but I understand some.)

“Nena, cosételo.” (Baby, tie him up.)

I chuckle and pray to God he didn’t understand as I gently push him away from my drooling mum towards his car. He gets on the driver’s seat and doesn’t say anything else as he drives away.

“Are you nervous?” I ask him.

He sighs.

“A little.”

“I’m sure it’ll all be beautiful.”

“Yeah, it better be or else Gemma might kill some people.”

I laugh but think it to be true. I’m familiar with the term bridezilla and something tells me Gemma has a character. I guess we recognize each other.

There’s a small grey stone church with a big colourful rose window over the door at the top of a hill and Harry parks the car on an esplanade some meters away from it. When I step out of the car, I notice the ground is covered with loose small white stones that sort of look like snowflakes.

Harry is smiling, waiting for me to join him and only then I realize I’ve been gawking around. It’s such a beautiful place and I didn’t even know of the existence of this church. Then again I’m an atheist.

“I think you’re the most beautiful creature I have ever seen.”

“Creature?” I smile. “I knew you’d like my hair down.”

“Come here.”

His hands wrap around my waist through my thick coat before he pulls me to him and his lips press against mine. Thank God Coco had that fixer spray for the makeup so he doesn’t ruin my lipstick too much.

Inside the church, it’s warmer than I expected. Despite the stone on the outside, the inside is wood and I’m thinking the architects, whoever that was, did a good job with the insulation. There aren’t that many people on the church but I guess it’s normal for the bride’s brother to be one of the firsts to arrive.

The ceilings are so high it’s even hard to appreciate the reredos but it gives the chapel some sense of highness, even I, an atheist, feel closer to heaven. It’s the last hours of sunlight of the day and the winter can be heard outside in the form of wind and leaves but I still think it’s such a nice time to get married. It kind of feels as if they would be safe from the storm, because they’re together, and it also feels as if it doesn’t matter how’s the weather outside, it would always be warm if they’re together. I know, weddings really turn me into a softie.

Harry’s hand on mine guides me along a corridor on the left side of the church. I know in a church, the left side is the right side for us to stand, for it’s the side of sin and that’s where we belong. At the end of the corridor, a few very elegant people are gathered.

“Hey, son.”

A man with grey hair short hair and a gentle smile, a few inches shorter than Harry, gives him a hug.

“Hey, dad.”

He doesn’t look much like Harry and neither does his smile really for he doesn’t have any dimples and his lips are quite thinner but he’s got the same air of kindness about him and he transmits the same goodness as his son.

“This is Indie. Indie, this is my dad, Des.”

“Hello, dear.” He politely offers me his hand and I shake it.

“Nice to meet you, sir.”

He asks me how I’m doing and we start a casual conversation but I can’t help my eyes from drifting to Harry as he frowns and looks around. He really is nervous so I forgive him for abandoning me with his dad.

“Your sister is inside.” He answers his silent question and Harry’s eyes set on him.

“Do you think I can go in?”

“I think yes. She did kick me out but try your luck, son.”

He nods and gives me a look.

“You go.” I encourage him.

It’s way too intimate for me to be in there after talking to Gemma just the once. I don’t even know his mother.

“I’ll be fine.” I tell him.

“Yes, I’ll look after her.”

His green eyes set and travel between us both as if he was considering whether to leave me here or not. But after a few seconds he nods his head as if convincing himself and knocked and opened the door that hid her sister.

“Way to introduce you into the family, huh?” Des starts. “My son and his weird ways, I guess. It’s okay if you don’t remember everybody’s names.”

I giggle.

“I’m pretty good with names.”

“The thing is every young female in the family look alike. Even I get confused and they’re my sisters’ daughters.”

He starts telling me about the members of his family and asks me about mine and I tell him about my siblings and my parents. He finds our names very interesting, naturally, and tells me about how they decided on Harry’s name. I also learn his middle name is Edward.

I don’t know how much time has passed when Harry finally exits the room but his eyes are teary when he does and he’s holding a flute glass with what looks like a mimosa.

“I gotta go check on Michal.” He tries to sound unaffected but I smirk because I know better. “But my mum gave me this for you. She says it’s good.”

I smile and gladly take it from his hand as he turns to his dad.

“I tried sneaking one out for you, dad, but they said some shit about us men having enough with not having to do our makeup or something like that.”

I giggle and Harry smiles teasingly at me.

“That’s alright, son.” Des chuckles. “Thank you.”

Harry nods and like that he leaves us again and opens another door on the same wall. I think it’s beautiful that both bride and groom are that close together only with a wall apart. Des keeps the conversation going about my personal choices on Medicine, whether I like consultation over surgery and so on, until Adam joins us and shakes his head.

“Hello, Des. Long time no see. Hi, Indie. You look beautiful.”

“Thank you.” I give him a smile.

It’s such a shame Marie couldn’t come but your grandparents’ golden wedding is not something one can say not to. I know she would have liked for Adam to be there but she understood his motive. After all, Adam is a part of the Styles’ family and that makes Gemma sort of like a sister to him too. Yet I wish Marie were here. I know for a fact we would have had so much fun and she would have been a cheerleader for me if I freak out at meeting so many important people to Harry in the same day.

“Where’s Harry?”

The moment he asks that, as if on cue, Harry comes out of the groom’s room and places a hand on my lower back. He sighs.

“Just making sure Adam wasn’t having a panic attack or climbing out the window, Gemma’s words not mine. I’m gonna tell her he’s not so she can keep it together.”

The three of us laugh as he rushes to her sister’s room now.

“I remember my wedding day” Des said “I have never been more nervous in my entire life, not even when my kids were born.”

“I don’t think he would climb out the window on this weather though.” Adam jokes.

I laugh with them but don’t say much. I’ll admit I’m nervous. I don’t know what to say to seem worth it of Harry. Thank his mum for the alcohol in this graceful mimosa.

“Alright” Harry says as he joins us “I look like the errands boy but now they want me to say hi to guests and show them to their seats. The things one has to do… Would you accompany me?”

I panic. He wants me to stand there and say hi to every single guest? But he looks so good… And I’m going to say yes.

“I’ll help.” Adam smiles.

“Thank you.”

The three of us say goodbye to Des who has to wait for Gemma to be ready since he’s walking her down the aisle and make our way towards the flowers arches that mark the aisle.

“My mum wanted to meet you already” Harry says “and she’s sorry she didn’t come out to at least say hi but her hair wasn’t done.” He smirks.

“Oh, no, that’s fine. She shouldn’t worry. It’s her daughter’s wedding day. I’m not the important one here.”

“I know.” He smiles. “But you’re the first girl I bring home and she’s excited. Let the woman dream.”

I blush as I look at Adam from the corner of my eye. He’s smirking before he stands on one of the narrow corridors on the sides of the benches and Harry and I continue walking until we stop and stand on the main arch.

“How was your sister?”

“Gorgeous” he states but he’s rather stern “and nervous. She made me go check on Michal because she was at the verge of a panic attack herself.”  

I smile because I know he’s exaggerating. He always is and he looks down at me with a big smile.

“What did you and my father talk about?”

“Family, mostly. He also told me how your mum and him came up with your name, Eddie.”

His jaw clenches and he gives me a death glare but I just laugh at his reaction. Our conversation dies the moment the guests start arriving without giving us enough time to talk in between. I don’t know how many times he’s said this is Indie, my girlfriend but if I concentrate, I can hear him on my mind now.

“I wish there was some sticker or something we could stick on your forehead” He jokes “I’m Harry’s girlfriend.”

I chuckle but when I’m about to playfully swat at his arm, a blonde girl wearing a lilac gown indicates us to our seat and Harry guides me to the very first row. Oh, boy, where have I gotten myself in?

Less than a minute after we sit, his mother stands next to him. She looks even prettier than she does in the picture he’s got on his bedside table and even if she could be my mum, she intimidates me. She’s absolutely gorgeous, with lively green eyes and dark hair and for the love of God she looks so much like her son.

“Finally” she smiles at me “I get to meet you.”

“Hey, mum” Harry stands up from the bench and I follow suit “this is Indie. Indie, meet my mum, Anne.”

“It’s really a pleasure to meet you, darling. Unbelievably, you are even prettier than in pictures.”

Harry grins. Is he proud? I think he’s proud at his mother’s compliments to me. I smile despite the heat on my cheeks.

“Thank you. You look stunning too.”

“Thanks. Uh, here comes the groom!”

We all sit down and see Michal walking down the aisle with his arm intertwine to the one of a woman. I suppose that’s his mum. He smiles at Anne when he gets to us and then he takes his place on the altar and holds his hands together over his belt. He looks at the flowers arch with a big smile waiting for his lover.

A few minutes after, not making him wait too much, everyone in the chapel turns her head and down the aisle, we watch a stunning, very happy and extremely beautiful Gemma making her way all dressed in white; wheelchair included. Her dad walks on her side and their arms are intertwined and only when Gemma’s past us, three little girls dressed in white too come into view. They have spread flowers all over the floor after Gemma and one of them had actually been pushing the chair. They look like little angels.

Michal sits down on a white metallic chair adorned with white flowers, just like Gemma’s, and they both stare at each other and giggle and that’s when the bubble forms and everyone different from them two just gets to stare but we’re all out of it.

I hear the ceremony and as beautiful as it is and as gorgeous as the two of them look, my eyes keep drifting at Harry because he’s smirking the entire time and I have never seen him so handsome.

I cannot believe, out of all the people in the world, he chose me to sit next to him today. I am the first girl he brings home and there’s one part of me that feels so special but there’s another part who wished that wasn’t true because it makes me realize how hard it’s really going to be for this to work. After all, who stays with the first girl they bring home forever?

His green eyes set on me for a second and he smiles. The air is out of my lungs.

“Gemma, you are the smartest person I know but not even you could understand how incredibly lucky I feel to be here with you today and become your husband. I remember wanting to have, and sometimes making up, excuses to talk to you and now look at us.” They both giggle “You are my best friend, Gem, and you’ll always be so today I vow to change your name in my phone from ‘lady friend’ to ‘wifey’.” Soft giggles accompany Gemma’s through the chapel and Michal grins at her before continuing. “I vow to always appreciate your laugh, your smile, your caring nature and that face you make when I add too much chili to your nachos. I promise if there's only one beer left, I'll let you have it and to always make sure there’s Earl Grey on the cabinet. I promise to always love you without conditions or reservations, even when you make me watch the Bachelor, and to show it with care and consideration. I promise I’ll be patient, even if that means I’ll have to listen to how I should have gotten you ice-cream even if you said you were on a diet.” He smiles. “I vow to always remember these vows and to love and honour you for as long as I shall live.”

“Those were really great vows.” Gemma nods her head.

“Right?” Michal’s nose shrinks as he nods along with his almost-wife and everyone starts laughing. “I felt it, I felt like I owned it.”

“You really did, babe.”

They both giggle and just as fast as the distention of laughter have fallen upon us, a sort of intensity covers my shoulders but the smile is still on my face, and on Harry’s, when Gemma clears her throat.

“Michal, I had never believed in destiny until God gave me a second chance and ever since then I’ve always thought he didn’t let me go then because I didn’t yet know you.” I see Harry’s emotion on the way his shoulders tense and hear his breath getting stuck on his throat. I land a hand on his shoulder. “So thank God you took that gap year in Colombia.” And then he lets out something similar to a chuckle and I realize Gemma’s a master, much like her brother, for she knew she had dropped the mood and then masterly lifted it up again. “I have thought very hard about what to say today because I could never list all the things I love about you for I love your thoughtfulness and your kindness but also the way you weirdly get excited about pumpkin late and how your eyes crinkle when you laugh very had. And it’s for those things that today I want to vow that I will never forget that you are the love of my life and that in the darkest moments, I will always have a friend in you and you will always have a friend in me. From this day on, you will never walk alone. I mean, technically you will, but you know what I mean.” Michal shakes his head and laughs and Harry clicks his tongue at her sister’s dark humour but smirks anyway. “I vow to be your strength when you feel weak, to only fight you when you’re fighting yourself and to fight beside you for the rest of the times. I vow to pretend not to be annoyed when you pretend you don’t like The Bachelor and to listen to you when you talk about footie.” She takes a deep breath that can be heard through the church and Michal gives her a loving smile. “You know, when I was studying journalism with Chloe, before every presentation we would look into each other’s eyes and tell each other ‘I believe in you’ and even though we never really talked about what that really means, to me it meant ‘I love you and whatever happens out there, I’ve got your back’ so since words cannot do it, I promise to show you, for the rest of my life, how much I love you because Michal Mlynowski, I believe in you.”

Harry and I stand behind as the just married couple exist the church and I don’t say anything because I know he needs this moment to himself. His eyes are shut and he’s looking up with his hands on his hips. Respecting the silence, I wrap my arms around his waist and rest the side of my head on his chest and it takes him about a second to wrap his arms around me too. I feel his muscles relaxed until he’s as soft as his muscles allow him to feel and rests his cheek on the top of my head.

“You know you’re not alone, right?”

He doesn’t answer nor move so I pull away from him enough so I can look into his eyes. His eyes lock with mine but he remains expressionless.

“You’ve got me.” I offer.

My words change the pattern of his breathing and his eyes set on every inch of my face, as if he was looking for a tiny wound. After not finding any, his eyes set on my lips and even though he doesn’t say anything, I know that look. I’ve seen it before and I know what he wants so I tilt my neck back and press my lips against his in a tender, innocent kiss, letting a flood of butterflies loose on my belly and my heart. When I pull away, he presses a tender kiss on the tip of my tongue and then on my forehead.

“I know, baby.”

He leans down and kisses me again but since he was the one initiating the kiss now, he’s also the one taking control of it, and this time he deepens it and I suck his breath on my throat. My heart’s beating fast and I… I…

“You have no idea what you’re doing now” he whispers “but the only reason I managed to go through that without any artificial sedatives was because you were there.”

I swallow the lump on my throat. I really don’t want to mess up and I don’t think there’s anything I could say to him right now that would really hold the meaning of whatever it is that I’m feeling right now.

             Dinner was surprisingly fun. I thought I was going to be awkward, always measuring what words I could use or what I couldn’t say around them and I genuinely thought the mood was going to be a lot more tense but Harry isn’t as bad around his family as I thought he’d be.

We’ve been casually talking and his mum Anne has proven to be the sweetest woman in the world, explaining Harry’s caring nature and his own kindness, and welcoming me in the family like I had been coming over to birthday parties and family dinners for ages.

Gemma and Michal are also quite funny, which I had already realized as they vowed, and I’ve found out Michal has a real talent when it comes about teasing Harry, which has been quite funny to me.

“Harry, I think it’s time.” Michal tells him.

I tilt my neck to give Harry a look but he just nods at Michal before he stands up. He makes his way towards a little stand I haven’t even seen before after taking a glass of champagne from one of the trays the waiters are holding and I watch him, completely hypnotised, as he smiles and runs a hand through his hair in front of the microphone.

“Hi” He clears his throat “Good evening, everyone. I’m Harry, I’m Gemma’s younger brother, even though I think you all know that and I’m standing here about to give a speech ‘cause she’s begged me to, quite simply.” Everybody laughs but he just raises his eyebrows and shakes his head as if saying it’s the truth. “Uh, when I was thinking about what to say tonight… So 30 minutes ago,” He knows when the laughter is coming so he stops and grins and my heart stops every time “I thought that, uh, I should really start thanking my sister; thank you, Gem, for making it so easy for me to be Mum’s favourite child.” Gemma laughs out loud and everyone joins her. “As most of you know, I’m a doctor, I’m an Anaesthesiologist and Gemma is… Gemma’s brave.” His sister laughs. “She was brave when she stood her ground and decided to study journalism even when most people would tell her no; she was brave when she learnt to live a new life, in a totally different situation and she taught me how to do that; she was brave when she started her own business but mostly she was brave when she agreed to marry Michal.” Michal laughs and nods approving his brother-in-law’s joke and I didn’t really know Harry could be so funny, except I did know. “It’s such a blissful, beautiful thing for me to see my sister trusting and loving someone so much, someone who loves her and trusts her just as much and who clearly married up” He grins and I love it because I can see the chuckle he’s holding back “and it’s also a wonderful thing to win a brother like Michal because… Michal, I love you, you love me, we love each other… Although” he stops to add some dramatism and everyone smiles in anticipation “we kind of are polar opposites. He’s funny,” his hand opened in the air points at the direction of the groom before he rests his palm on his chest “I’m smart. He’s athletic, I’m incredibly good looking” he chuckles and so does everyone else “but the thing we both have in common is Gemma and how much… It annoys us when she makes the whole family watch The Bachelor.” He chuckles. “No, but seriously, Gem, you’re my best sister and I love you more than I could ever say to you. Growing up, we didn’t always see eye to eye, I used to kidnap your dolls and ask you for ransoms and you didn’t let me use your karaoke but I can’t imagine my life without you and I know I wouldn’t be half the man I am if you hadn’t been there to show me what it means like to be strong, to be brave and to be kind. I was told recently that it shows that I was raised among women, and this includes you, dad” he jokes “because I am protective by nature and I think it’s true” his green eyes, amused, nervous and brave look at me for a second before they set on his sister “because, even though I’m younger, I have always been and will always be protective of you, Gem and I’ll protect you because I need you.” He clears his throat but I know it’s an attempt to get rid of the emotion clinging on his throat. “I have always admired you and I always will and I wish you and Michal the very best and a long, happy life full of love and joy because that’s what you deserve. Mum made me say that.” He grins at bride and groom and lifts his glass in the air and so do we all. “So let’s have a toast for Mr and Mrs Mlynowski and for all the good they’ll bring to the world. To Gemma and Michal, I believe in you.”

Bringing my glass to my lips, I still see Harry having a sip of his champagne. I tense up. That’s the first time I see him drink. He comes back to the table and hugs both his brother-in-law and his sister for the longest time and then Michal indicates we shall mingle around for a few minutes whilst they get dessert ready.

Harry rests his hand on my waist and gently pulls me away from the just married and towards the very centre of the hall. I politely decline yet another glass of wine I’m offered and the waiter walks away.

“You can drink in front of me, you know?”

“I know. I’ve done it plenty of times before.”

“I’m not an ex-alcoholic, if that’s what you think.” He smirks.

“That is not what I thought. You said you didn’t drink because you don’t like alcohol. You never said you had trouble with it.”

He nods his head slowly before he leans down until his lips brush the shell of my ear.

“My mother does.” He whispers. “The reason I don’t drink is because I’ve seen what alcohol did to my mum when she was indeed an alcoholic and I don’t want that for me.”

My blood boils. I get furious that he had to go through that too but then I look at him, and it’s like I realize I won’t help anybody with that anger, and then I feel cold that he’s dropping a bomb like this in the middle of a wedding and that he’s trusting me with this now. I give him a lips closed smiles.

“It looks like you enjoy dropping bombs at family reunions.” I joke.

He chuckles. And when a waiter passes next to us with a tray full of champagne glasses, he takes two of them and hands me one with a big smile. I take it and inevitable smile back at him.

“That was such a great speech you gave.” I congratulate him. “Funny, witty, tender… I enjoyed it.”

“Thank you.”

“I didn’t know you had such a way with words.”

“Yeah, I understand why you wouldn’t know that.” We both giggle at his comeback. “But… I actually write sometimes.”

“Oh, you do?”

He nods.

“Yeah, I started doing it as a thing in therapy. You know I had like this journal where I was supposed to write my own feelings and like elaborate on them as part of a bigger understanding… And now, I just… Still write sometimes.”

“Have you written anything about me?” I smirk.

A timid smirk escapes his suppression and he looks away from me. Oh, God; he has.

“Wouldn’t you like to know?”

“You so have.”

I’m about to ask him more on that when a few young people join us. There’s the blond girl who told us to take our seats at the beginning of the ceremony, a tall brunette guy with short hair and a quarterback’s smile and a lanky guy with kind eyes but naughty smirk.

“Nice speech, Harry.”

“Funny.” The girl said.

“Thank you, lads. I think you all know this is Indie and Indie, these are Laura, Max and Liam, my cousins.”

“Oh, hi.”

“Hello there.” The girl I now know is named Laura smiled. “D’you know Mum and Auntie Sally have been talking about you two all dinner?” She smirks.

Harry shakes his head.

“I mean, even at your sister’s wedding, dude, you’re the one who makes the family talk.”

“Your mum and Aunt Sally don’t need a reason to gossip though. We both know that.”

“I suppose you’re right.” She giggles. “But hey, how are you holding up? I bet everyone is driving you crazy, coming up to you to talk, get to know you… Only Harry would introduce his first ever girlfriend in such a day.”

“She can take it.” He grins.

“It’s actually been quite fun.” I admit. “My mum’s Spanish and she’s got eleven siblings so-”

“Crap!” She says.

“Holy shit!” Harry chuckles.

“I’m used to big family gatherings.”

“For the love of God, eleven siblings are quite a lot of siblings.”

“Do they all also have many children?” Harry asks.

“Not all. I have 24 cousins.”

“What?” They all laugh and I laugh along with them.

We keep on talking and I learn a lot of things about Harry’s family, the big picture, but he also learns his fair amount about mine. We also chat with his grandparents for a while and they both are so sweet and British they make my heart swoon.

Harry’s Nana keeps insisting on him bringing me over some time for tea and biscuits for she still keeps of her silk clothes from when she was young and she wants to show them to me. She used to be a dressmaker and she used to design and sew her own dresses so I bet she’s proud of them. Her grandad just sits there and stares at her but he also adds some of the dresses he remembers and that just has me turning into mush. I love elderly couples what can I say?

We go back to our table for the wedding cake and I am so happy and excited I even have one and a half pieces. Harry and I shared the second piece as I talk with Anne about her mother’s dresses. She herself tells me about her wedding dress and it’s only when her eyes drop to my knee and she smiles that I notice her son has his hand resting there. I’m so used to our physical contact, that I think it would be easier for me to notice its absence at this point. My cheeks tinge pink.

The little angels that were throwing flowers after Gemma come running to our table with flowers crowns on their little heads and I recognize those curly locks, similar to Harry’s, on one of the little girls’ mane of hair. The must all be under 5 years old and they look so adorable I wonder how I haven’t noticed them during dinner. The tallest one blows on a bubble blower on Harry’s face and he tilts his neck back frowning jokingly and making the little one laugh.

“Oh, bubbles on my face, just what I wanted.”

He leans down, resting his elbows on his knees, so he can see the kids eye to eye.

“They dressed you up like little angels today, didn’t they? Then why are you still fighting to be the devil?”

“I won gold on my last gymnastics competition.” The little kid just changed the topic and Harry gasps exaggerating his surprise.

“That is very impressive, May.”

She nods her little head and I notice her eye drifting to me intermittently. She clearly doesn’t know who the fuck I am but I think she’s too shy to ask. Harry follows her sideways gaze until our eyes meet and then he smirks and leans down to whisper something at the little girl’s ear. Her mouth opens wide as she stares at me and I smile at her before I give Harry a look. He just smirks.

“She has got such long hair.” Little May says.

“She does.”

“Lucy, Lucy!” May tilts her neck so she can talk to younger little girl. “She’s a mermaid.” She whispers.

I look at Harry but he just grins.

“Why don’t you guys introduce yourselves?”

“My name is May and I’m 4.”

“My name is Lucy Ecran and I’m 3 and my mummie is called Angela and my daddy is called Finn.”

“We are sisters.” May explains.

Yeah, I figured that on my own the moment they started talking. I grin at then and offer they my hand and they shake it.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, girls. I love your dress and your flowers. And congrats on the gold.”

“She really is a mermaid, Lucy.”

I suck my lips inside my mouth so I don’t laugh but before I can tell Harry to tell the girls the truth, a little boy dressed like a man comes running and tags May. She panics for a second but then her little chubby hands swats Harry’s chest as she yells tagged and runs away.

I was not expecting Harry to stand up from his chair and jog after the little girls but the two of them erupt into an adorable fist of giggles and the image warms my heart. I don’t know why I’m surprised, Harry’s so caring it makes sense these little girls would like him. He’s funny too and I’m sure he actually listens to them when they want to tell him stories about kindergarten or gymnastics.

“They love him.” Anne says.

Tilting my neck, I realize she’s also looking at them as they run around.

“Naturally.” I agree. “He’s sweet.”

Her green eyes, much like her son’s, lock with mine.

“I am so happy Harry finally found you.”

I swallow at the way she said that. Finally found me… As if he had somehow been looking… But I have to admit, sometimes I feel like we found each other too. I guess… I never thought I was going to find any other person ever again and yet, when we’re alone and I look at him and we I hear him breathing beside me on the bed, I just think… It kind of had to happen.

“I thought I was never going to say the day.” She smiles but her eyes are getting teary. “He’s been… Like… Gone, for a while.”

“How was he? Before the accident.”

She takes a deep breath. I don’t know her but I think my question caught her off guard.

“He was… He laughed a lot and he had all these plans; he could talk about the future for hours… He joked all the time too.”

“Well, he still has his fair amount of jokes.” I smile.

She grins.

“I guess he now has someone who laughs at them.”

“He’s great.” I nod. “I actually admire you for having raised such a wonderful, caring, kind man. I don’t want to take the credit away from him, after all, he chooses to be like that every day, but I still think the bigger part is thanks to you.”

“I’ve always wondered how he’d do in a relationship because, as caring and affectionate as he is, he’s also always had a very clear, very private inner world. He’s a private person, he’s always been, so I wondered… You know, if he would actually let someone really in. We’re very close, we’ve always been… He’s helped me so much, even when he was just a boy, but still sometimes I felt like there was always another part of him I couldn’t really reach.”

My eyes look away from hers. I can’t tell her that I’m worse than her son at that. I don’t know what to say so I just sigh and shake my head.

“Well, I… I think that’s… Good.” Anne’s eyes set on mine and I can’t believe I’m about to sort of contradict her on the first night we met. “I mean he doesn’t have to share everything with me.” I need to fix this. Come on, explain yourself, Blue. “I’m happy he shares whatever he needs or wants to, but if he wants to keep some things to himself, that’s cool too.”

The corners of her lips curl up in a lips closed smile and I feel relieved that she didn’t feel offended. I mean I never meant to, but some people these days, they take everything to heart…

“That’s a beautiful way to see it.”

I smile.

“I love the way his mind works, the way he thinks… Fascinates me and every time he shares that with me, I feel… Lucky and special and I think it’s a gift he’s giving me but he doesn’t have to.”

“Who doesn’t?” Harry runs a hand through his hair as he stands before us and his mum giggles.

“Did you catch her?” I ask.

“May? She’s a gold medal gymnast.” He frowns as if saying are you crazy?

I laugh and he smirks.

“I tagged Adam.”

The three of us giggle and in the background, we see Adam running after the kids. I think Marie would love to see this.

“Harry, dear.” Harry’s Nana reaches her hand to Harry’s waist and he turns his body and hold her hands to welcome her in our small group of three. “I wanted to come chat some more to Indie.”

Harry gives me a smile and helps his grandma sits down on his chair. Michal calls his name and he gives me questioningly look as asking for my permission so I frown and shrug and he reaches his now brother-in-law and his sister. His mother, his grandma and me start a conversation about books and I feel excitement takes over me as the three of us talk about Virginia Woolf and Sylvia Plath and Anne tells me growing up her mum and dad used to have this little library, on such small house, but that to her it always looked quite big and she wondered how it was possible for someone to read that many books.

My parents themselves read quite a lot. I don’t remember a single moment on the garden, being little and playing with my siblings that my dad wasn’t reading a book. He used to read them with a pencil too and he used to underline shit. I think I got that from him, all my copies are underlined.

Anne excuses herself to join her children and Harry’s Nana, Esme, tells me about her own experience, growing up and getting married and having kids, when all she was supposed to do was just that.

“And I was happy, I swear, I don’t think two people could love each other as Edward and I love one another but that is because he knows, you know? He told me, when we going to get engage, he said to me ‘Esme, I know you don’t love me now, but you will and that’s a promise’ and he was handsome, you know, he was very handsome but all I wanted back then was to have a voice of my own.”

“A room of one’s own, eh?”

She smiles.

“That’s right. And that’s what I got. I could do whatever I wanted, you know, Edward was just the guy who would support me, no questions asked. I think that’s why I did that many dresses. It was my own thing… And he loved them all.”

From the corner of my eye I can see Harry’s grandad surrounded by his family and yet his green eyes would look for his wife. They got married in 1950 and it just sounds so crazy to me that in that time, I mean it wasn’t that long ago, was it? Still women had to do as men told them.

One of Harry’s cousins, a pretty girl as well, for everyone in this family seems to be out of a magazine, joins Esme and me and Esme starts boasting off her granddaughter, much like she would do of Gemma or Harry, I’m sure.

I see Harry making his way towards me. He has been talking to his mum and I wonder whether she’s told him about our chat over him. I wouldn’t mind if she did, I think it would be nothing new for him.

“Blue,” he bows a little so I can listen to him better from my sitting position “do you want to dance?”

My lips curl up at the corners and I stand up. My eyes lock with his. He seems timid.

“Thought you said you didn’t dance.”

“Mum told me to ask you. Come on, I asked for this song.”  

I roll my eyes but let him guide me to the dance floor. It sounds like a song from the eighties and it doesn’t surprise me but I don’t know what to expect when a very deep voice starts saying “Girl, you know we belong together. I have no time for you to be playing with my heart like this. You’ll be mine forever, baby, you just see.” But after that, a very beautiful, soothing voice takes the lead and I haven’t seen the singer but I know he’s black. We belong together and you know that I’m right.

Harry’s hands rest on my back, behind my waist, and mine intertwine behind his neck as we slowly move. I have never done this with him but my heart is about to explode. Why do you play with my heart? Why do you play with my mind? He doesn’t say anything and neither do I for I’m listening to the song he said he asked for and I feel like a tide untie inside my body. I feel the waves moving up and down and I swear I feel just like I do after we untangle from one another after our closeness. I am on my tippy toes at the edge of losing conscience, right in that place where so far he’s only got me naked, but right now, even though I’m fully dressed, I am feeling naked on everything that’s not clothes.

When I can't sleep at night without holding you tight

Girl, each time I try I just break down and cry

Pain in my head oh I'd rather be dead

Spinning around and around

“D’you know the song?” He asks me at last.

I shake my head and he just nods but his green eyes don’t leave me as his gaze undresses me.

“You introduced me as Indie to everyone.” My voice comes out as a whisper but he’s unfaced by it.

“That’s how everyone calls you.”

“But you call me Blue.”

His eyes look into mine but he remains silent and stern, his lips are closed and I know he’s not going to comment on that. Yet somehow I understand, not everyone gets to call me Blue and he likes it just as much as I do.

“Mum loves you.” He says out of the blue. “I can’t leave you now.” His eyebrows raised on his forehead but I swat his chest because I know he’s kidding.

“We should visit your grandparents one day.”

“You wanna visit Esme?” He smirks.

“And Edward.”

“Oh, so you wanna make sure I really don’t leave you, eh? Becoming Nana’s friend too… Should have known before I brought you in here…”

I roll my eyes and he just chuckles.

“You don’t have to worry, baby, don’t have to try either.”

“I like them.” I confess. “You have a beautiful family and your speech was beautiful too.” He smirks. “And… I mean… So are you. You’re beautiful as well.”

His lips, still closed, curl into a smile and I feel my face heating up.

“Thank you, baby.” He leans down and presses a chaste kiss on my lips. “Mum’s probably watching us.” His whisper sounds muffled against my lips and I chuckle.

“Do your cousins still think I’m a mermaid?”

“Now they think you’re the princess of the sea.” I give him a warning look but he swears to be innocent. “That was all Max. So are you having fun?”

“I am, yes. And you?”

“Yeah.” He smiles. “I meant every word I said up there.”

“Guay.” I smile. “Me alegro.” (I’m happy for you.)

I tilt my neck back and capture his lips with mine and we kiss slowly and intimately, even though yes, his mum is probably watching and who knows who else but I can’t bring myself to care. When we pull apart, out of breath, he pecks the tip of my nose and smiles.

“I realized something today…”

My pulse accelerates and I swallow the fear and the anticipation of what might be to come but he just smiles and his green eyes burn into mine and he doesn’t say anything else. I don’t need him to. I know what it is.

I rest the side of my head on his chest and we keep dancing for Lord know how long. But after that slow dancing of ours, there comes some drinks and he actually drinks a little too and we end up jumping and dancing with his cousins and Gemma and Michal and I’m happy to see him like this.

I don’t know what time it is when Anne approaches the two of us with her coat on. Harry and I are resting our bags on the structure that holds the white marquee where the party is dying down.

“Here you are.” She smiles. “I was wondering, would you guys like to sleep at home tonight? You can leave whenever you want tomorrow but just so you don’t have to drive all the way back to Grad now.”

Harry’s eyes search for mine but I have nothing to say.

“Thank you very much Mum, we would really appreciate that.”

“Of course!” She smiles. Wow she really did want us to stay. “Go grab your coats, say bye. I’ll wait by the car.”

We do as we’re told and I walk with Harry towards his car. Anne’s standing next to the driver’s door and I almost smile. I don’t know why it surprised me that Harry lends his mum his car but for some reason I had pictured him to be some sort of car lover that doesn’t let anyone drive it. I wonder if he’d let me. The ride is silent and I take this time to myself. There’s nothing wrong with any of this. There can’t be.

I recognize the main road of Bellamond from last weekend. We pass the football field where Harry parked when we went to Tino’s and take a turn to the right. We drive past a school, an outpatients clinic and past a small park.

“Was that where you went to school?” I ask Harry.

“Yes.” He smiles.

“Is it still the same? I mean, was it like that when you were little?”

“How old do you think I am, miss?”

I throw my head back and laugh while he jokes about how there used to be dinosaurs when he went to school but for the rest of it, it’s pretty much the same. I imagine a little Harry with huge green eyes and curly hair walking inside school, when kids are so little their school bags are bigger than them. I imagine him having a cupcake on the recess for somebody’s birthday and eating a small sandwich with pickles the rest of the days.

“And we’re home!” Anne croons.

Stepping out of the car, I can’t really see much in the dark but I see a huge garden, carefully looked after, and a two floors house with a white door and white windows that contrast with the bricks.

“Your bed is made.” Anne whispers as we enter the house. “Now, I’m exhausted but you kids can have a cup of tea or something. I just… You will have to excuse me but I need my beauty sleep.”

“Sure.”

“Of course, Anne, thank you very much.”

“Oh, nonsense, this is your house.” She dismisses me. “Anyway, good night. Sleep well.”

“You too.” Harry smiles. “So… Do you want tea or water or milk or even… I don’t know, are you hungry?”

“No.” I frown. I’ve eaten so much I think if I roll up in a ball I might actually make one. “I’m good, thank you.”

“Okay.” He whispers. “Then let’s go to bed.”

He walks past me and turns on the light in the kitchen. The cupboards are white but the countertop and the household appliances are dark grey. Harry gets two glasses from the cupboard over the sink and fills them with water and asks me to turn off the light before we make our way upstairs.

I’m the one opening the door for his hands are full and when I enter his childhood room, I have a look around and feel my insides warming up. My house is a lot less personal. Even growing up, my Mum did the decorations of the entire house and even though she did it thinking of us and I loved my room, it still doesn’t feel as personal as this. There are posters from different bands and Elvis on the wall and he’s got a record player on the corner near the window. The room is painted a dark blue and even if it might make the space smaller, it also makes it cosier.

He takes off my coat and places it on his desk alongside his.

“I quite like your room.”

“You do?”

I nod at his rhetorical question and feel his hands over my ass. I tilt my neck to look at him.

“Come here.”

His hands fully wrap around my hips and he pulls me to him until my chest collides with his and he kisses me. His lips mould against mine and his tongue gently pushes inside my mouth. He smells so good… And fuck, this suit… Looks so sexy on him. This Peaky Blinder thing is really doing wonders to my sex thrive. I gasp and his hands grab my ass and I feel his nails sinking down the back of my thighs over my dress.

“H” I gasp “your Mum’s here.”

“My Mum’s passed out on her bed.”

His lips from my mouth to my chin and to the side of my neck and his warm tongue makes my skin cold when he moves away. He nibbles on my neck and his hands squeeze the flesh on my body through my silk dress. His touch is exquisite.

“She could hear us.” My voice comes out as a desperate moan, betraying me like a bitch, and I feel Harry smiling against my skin.

“Well, then you’d have to be quiet, won’t you?”

His mouth comes back to mine before I can answer and his hand, warm and big, cups one of my breasts and makes me moan on his mouth. His hands caress my legs, from my knees to my hips and the dress slips against my skin when he opens his fists.

His lips kiss my neck again. He knows it makes me fucking wet when he does that.

“I haven’t told you” I whisper “but you look so fucking sexy in this suit.”

His white teeth skim my skin as he grins.

“D’you like it?”

“You look like Tommy Shelby.”

He chuckles against my skin.

“And that turns you on?”

“Can you imagine if you were a Peaky Blinder?” I cup his jaw so he looks at me.

Fuck me, he is so handsome. I can feel the definition of his jaw on my hands and his eyes look so hungry and intense with dilated pupils against the brightest green I’ve ever seen.

“I would die.”

He frowns amused.

“Do you want me to be bad and rough?”

My cheeks tinge pink. No, I don’t. I like it the way he does it; gentle until he drives me crazy and then fast and hard and rough. My lips clench between my legs.

“I want you” My heart beats furiously on my chest “in my mouth.”

He doesn’t have any witty remarks to give me and that’s what I thought. Any other day, I would have teased him but he looks so fucking good and I can have him to myself now.

“You’ve been driving me crazy all night.” I confess.

I carefully lower down my hand from his shoulder to his chest and I feel his heartbeat, as fast as mine, and I love the way he’s looking at me. I touch him, I touch his chest and his arms and the buttons of his vest and he just lets me give me the same lustful adoration he’s given me plenty of times before.

I can say anything else because his mouth crushes against mine and he can posses me with one kiss and he does, his warm powerful tongue pushes my lips apart before it finds my own and caress it. His fingertips sink on my hips as he takes a deep breath through his nose and then his hands caress my belly until he cups both my breasts and squeezes them.

“Fuck, I want you.”

Still in my dress, I make a show of it as I get on my knees before him and his lips part. I unbutton his pants but keep the rest of his clothes on so I can see him and hooking my fingers on the hem of his pants, I slowly pull them down his thighs and leave him on just his boxers.

I love having him like this, all to myself, without saying a word or having control of the situation. He’s let me have the control for now and I know he trusts me like that. He doesn’t need to know what I’m going to do next. He just stands there and lets me have him and I feel fucking special for that.

I snake my hands under his shirt and caress his abs as I watch every seam of his jacket and the way it hugs his muscles. He is so fucking hot. I hook my fingers on his boxers and pull them down his legs so his hard, healthy, desperate cock is right there for me. I lick my lips before I hold the base between my fingers and lick a slow, timid stripe from the base to the line where the head begins. He gasps. I do it again.

“Please, baby” he groans “don’t play.”

Our eyes meet and I give him a little smile before I wrap my mouth around him and give him what he wants.

“Fuck.”

I feel his fingers tangling on my hair until his palm massages my scalp and I bow my head, slow and superficially at first, so he’s not yet reaching my throat, before I take him out of my mouth and lick him. His lubrication mixes with my saliva and always holding his base, I devour him like I’ve never devoured anyone ever in my life.

I want him and I want him forever and I know this might not be the most romantic time to realize that but that’s what it is. My yearning for him overcomes every other thought I might have in this moment and all I can think about, and all I am even, is just another part of him.

This time he doesn’t need to ask me to look at him because my eyes search him. I can’t take them off him. The sight of his manhood, this thick and close, drives me crazy so I think the fact that my eyes still look for him talks about how wonderful he really looks tonight.

Our eyes lock and I let my tongue out as I feed myself with him before I wrap my lips around him and suck. I feel him throbbing on my tongue.

“Fuck me, baby…” He groans. “You’re driving me crazy.”

Every time my tongue takes an extra slow lick he closes his eyes so I do it all the time because I love watching him and the way he grunts and moans when I suck him. I free him with a pop and pump my wrist instead, sucking his balls inside my mouth instead and his grip on my hair tightens.

“Shit.”

He’s fighting for breath and I revel on how vulnerable we both are right now. I’m keeling on the floor for him and yet he’s the one at my mercy. I lick him from the base to the tip and lick the crown of his hard on in circles. I smile when I look up at him.

“Fuck, you know perfectly fine…”

What I’m doing. I hold his thighs so I can use him as counterweight and leverage as I bop my head and feel his muscles tensing under my hand.

“Oh, baby”

I clench my thighs together trying to relieve some of the tension his grunts and moans are building on the lower side of my belly and between my legs and Harry places one hand on the wall beside him to support his weight whilst I bring him closer and closer to the climax with my mouth. I don’t take my eyes off his and I know that drives him crazy. His jaw is clenched when his lips don’t part and he lets out soft grunts. His hand moves from my hair down my cheek and his fingertips caress my upper lip.

“Fucking hell, love.”

I have all of him and I moan as he fills my mouth until I feel him on the back of my throat. I know when to stop so as not to gag and when I look up at him, he moans.

“I’m gonna cum, love.”

I nod my head while I keep on sucking and in a second, like he promised, he moans and I feel his hot cum on my tongue. I lick and swallow all of it whilst his thumb caresses my cheek lovingly and I lean my head on his head, revelling on his tenderness. When I get him out of my mouth, I give him a shy smile and he chuckles softly before he lifts me back to my feet. When I’m standing up before him, he wraps his arms around my body and pulls me to him in a tender hug almost unsuitable after what I just did to him. I hug him back and we stay like that for a few seconds.

Then his hand moves to the low of my back and he lays me on his bed but stands between my legs. His hands grab my thighs and pull my body to him until my ass is on the edge of the mattress.

“You look so fucking gorgeous in this dress, love.” His hand moves from my thigh to my belly until he cups my breast. “So fucking sexy.”

I desire him so bad it’s starting to hurt but he’s right there for me and I just have to be a little patient. He takes off my heels and then his hands caress my legs from my ankles to my hips, pulling my dress up with them. I moan when his fingers move my knickers away and he touches me. I’m dripping for him, I don’t think I’ve ever been this soaked and I feel like if he touches me twice I’ll combust.

He gathers some of my wetness on his fingers and slips two inside me and I moan and bite my bottom lip because I have to be quiet. I close my fist on his duvet and cling onto it while he thrusts his fingers slowly in and out of me.

I try to be as quiet as possible so only muffled strangled moans leave me every once in a while but I can listen my own wetness and Harry’s breathing. His other hand snakes up my torso and takes the strap of my dress off, exposing my breast before he wraps his lips around my hard nipple. He sucks and licks my breath and I arch my back and bite on my bottom lip. He’s taken off his jacket but it’s even sexier to see him with the cream vest and the blue silk shirt.

“That’s it, baby, you’re being so good, so quiet.” He whispers against my skin.

“Oh, Harry…”

I feel his hot hard on against my thigh as he keeps moving his fingers in and out of me. He hovers me and I hold onto his arm that’s moving his fingers inside me.

“Harry, please” I whisper “get inside. I need you, please.”

I don’t have to say it twice before I feel him filling me and satisfying my frustration. My hands curl around his biceps and he grinds his hips with a delicious, torturous rhythm and we both gasp and softly moan as much as we try to be quiet.

“You’re so beautiful.” He moans. “And you feel so good, fuck.”

I moan and feel my nipples hardening and the knot on my belly tightening and tightening and tightening. My walls flutter. And so does my heart.

“Are you close?” He whispers.

“Yes, fuck, yes.”

His lips cover mine and I feel my muscles tensing before I lose conscience for a couple of seconds. Harry keeps pounding over me trying to reach his own climax and overstimulating me. I moan and he kisses me so as to muffle my sounds. We could be heard but fuck, I think I’m gonna pee myself and if I pee on him I’d die from embarrassment.

“Harry, I-”

“Fuck, baby, you’re squirting.”

With another thrust he comes inside me and kisses me deeply but slowly, as if trying to calm me down. I have never felt like this before. I mean sex with him is always amazing but fucking hell I am exhausted, beyond consumed. I kiss him back and take deep breaths.

I’m not fully aware of the next few minutes, but I know he got me cleaned up and took my dress off for me before he took the rest of his clothes off and got in the bed with me. When I turn around, he’s grinning like a kid and I ask him what’s on his mind.

“I’m just thinking, teenage Harry wouldn’t believe this.”

I laugh.

“I’m serious” But he’s grinning when he rests his weight on his elbow next to me and hover my torso. “I can’t believe I just fucked someone as fucking gorgeous as you and that you’ve had me in your mouth and that you’ve fucking squirted. Jesus Christ, I think this was the best night of my life.”

I blush.

“That… Uh… That had never happened to me before.”

He grins.

“If only I had known about this Tommy Shelby fantasy of yours sooner…”

I laugh again but it’s harder and harder to keep my eyes opened so I rest my head on his chest and he hugs me.

“That had nothing to do with Tommy Shelby… It was all you…” I yawn. “I’d have you over him any day. I’d have you over anyone.”

[hollowlegend]

IzuOcha Week 2020 day 1

Our flight over from Japan to Hawaii wasn't as long as I was expecting, only 8 hours in total. After we got off the plane, Ochako’s parents were ecstatic to finally be here. It's hard getting any time off when you are The Symbol of Heroism itself. Ochako and I have been dating since our third year at UA high and got together when the Meta Liberation Army attacked UA and I saved her life knowing that if she died I couldn't go on. That was five years ago and I haven't told her the true meaning to our little vacation. As far as she's aware we are bringing her parents here to spend 3 months in a five star resort on the main island. Not to flex on anyone or seem ungrateful but when you're a top ten hero let alone the number one pro hero, money isn't an object anymore. I don't do my job for it's ridiculous 12 digit salary, I do it because it is the right thing to do. The real reason I brought Ochako’s family here, including her of course, is to propose to Ochako. 

    Once collecting our bags from the baggage claim we make our way to the rental car center and then freak out slightly because they don't drive on the same side of the road as we do in Japan. Once collecting our car from the rental office we leave the airport destined for the main resort on the Island. King Kamehameha’s Palace resort, sounds like something out of dragon ball but apparently he was an actual person. Unlike the resort because the Author couldn't be bothered to look up a resort in Hawaii and is now having me break the fourth wall to let you all know that it's fake as far as he is aware, and seriously stop with the comments about fixing the wall I'm just going to break it again because the Author wants me to. Anyways, the resort is absolutely massive and when we arrive both Ochako's Mother, Tousa, and my brunette lover herself, pass out from seeing the lavish building that looks like it's made of gold. We get separate rooms and make our way to the east penthouse suite and Ochako’s parents are in the west one. 

“I can't believe it Izuku! This is amazing! Everything is so nice! The soap looks like it costs 10,000,000 yen to hold! And the bed feels so soft! We need a bed like this in the house!” Ochako exclaims as she sets down her toiletry bag and flops on the massive bed. I smile at her reaction before unpacking my bag and putting it in the drawers by my side of the bed. 

“You say that but most nights you end up sleeping curled around me like our little Mochi and Udon. Speaking of, do you think they will be fine staying with Eri and my mom? She already has 5 cats so the two rowdy kittens might be a little bit of trouble.” I respond thinking of our twin tuxedo kittens whose coats are the inverse of the other. One being black on most of her belly aside from her stomach and her brother being the opposite.    

“Eri will probably be snuggling with them all day. For cats those two are surprisingly lazy. Izuku… I never got to thank you for everything. Saving my life, going out of your way to raise my self esteem, training with me when you unlocked float, everything you've done with me or for me.” She says hugging me and laying her head on my chest. I rub my arm along her shoulder and kiss the top of her head.       

“You don't need to thank me Ochako, everything I did, I did for you because it is the right thing to do. Out of everyone that I have saved during my hero career, you were the first one in real danger when no one else was going to help. Kacchan doesn't count since All Might was the one who dealt with the villain after I ran in there attempting to free him. Always remember you were the first I saved, and the first and last I will love. There will be no one else except for you my sweet mochi.” I respond pinching her chubby cheeks slightly which causes her to pout adorably in response.  

“What time is it Izuku?” She asks as I pull my other arm around her and look at the time. 

“Well we need to get ready because we are going to a Luau soon. Which one did you want to do?” I ask as she breaks our little embrace and walks over to the desk where she put the brochure. 

“Hmm… I don't want to go to the whole scripted one that the hotel is holding all that much. Sure it is fun but we don't get to meet anyone local who enjoys themself instead of working. Let's go to Germain’s luau instead of the King Kamehameha one that one kinda sounds lame.” She says causing me to laugh to myself a little bit. 

“I'll text Maruki and let him know which one we are doing. Now How about we go see what that 360 degree shower is all about shall we?” I say causing her to blush as I pick her up bridal style and we head into our bathroom to get ready.

After getting ready and making our way down stairs we meet Ochako’s parents on the way to the bottom floor. Once down there we head to the parking lot and await the arrival of the bus taking us to the luau. As we were waiting, I told Maruki of what I had planned for this evening to which he gives me a look I have never seen before in anyone, even my father All Might had never literally glowed with excitement at what I had said. Once the initial shock wore off he slapped me on the back and said that he better have grandkids very soon. Not long after the bus arrived and we along with several other people including a rather fluffy hisapnic man wearing a hawaiian shirt got on the bus. We sat towards the middle and talked amongst the other passengers including that fellow who is very very funny. Soon the man hosting the party gets on the intercom and addresses us.    

“Hel- turn that down bro. Ehem Hello everybody. Welcome to Germain’s luau my name is Rino and you can call me cousin Rino just don't ask for any money y’know what i'm sayin’.” He says in english and I translate to Ochako and her parents, I learned it from Dad-Might and David Shield. “Now do you all have any questions?” 

Several other passengers started asking questions about the weather and if and or when we would get anything to eat. He responded in a way I wasn't quite expecting which caused me to laugh a little bit. Soon he takes a seat next to the driver and we exit from the resort and head towards the Luau. As we were driving through the tropical island we admired the view from the windows as Ochako and her mother gabbed on about our homelife and why we haven't bought a massive estate like most heroes own. She goes on to tell her mother that most of my money I give to charity and keep more than enough in savings incase we get sick of our apartment or if we are going to have a baby and need another room. Eri would be ecstatic if we were having a son or daughter. Though she's only 11 right now I can definitely tell that she not only will be an amazing hero but end up getting married to Kota by the way the act around each other. We arrived at a private beach with a gazebo of palm tree leaves strung with lights with tables and an open bar nearby. It took us quote ‘Hawaiian time’ to arrive at this private beach and all being said it was very nice for a small venue. 

We got off the bus and made our way around the tables and chairs before getting served our dinner by a massive barbeque pit behind the bar. Along the beach there is flaming limbo, a flaming coal walk and fire spinners. For some reason they really really like fire. Ochako’s mother and father order a tropical hard drink in a coconut and I notice that Ochako turned down the chance to drink the alcoholic beverage they were serving. She's always been a lightweight when it comes to drinking and doesn't do it too often so it didn't surprise me all that much. As we make small talk the event starts and one by one people start doing the various activities they have planned here. Some people trying the limbo, others watching the fire twirlers and fire breathers while others took turns walking across the coals. Ochako’s parents did every single activity there was at this event. When Ochako leaves to use the bathroom I walk over to the DJ and hand him 20$ saying that I need to make an announcement and to let me use the mic. He agrees and says that he doesn't need the twenty so I put it back in my pocket and simply thank him as well as hand him an autograph for his son. After Ochako comes back from the bathroom Germain in the booth gather’s everyone’s attention. 

“I hope you guys have been having a good time but this Malou here has an announcement to make. Take it away Deku.” He says handing me the mic and causing several people to gasp and take out their phones to record and take pictures of me. 

“Thanks Germain, Now the first person I saved before becoming a hero is here tonight enjoying this Luau. Will the number 5 hero Uravity come up here please? I have a very important question to ask you.” I say and I can visibly see Ochako’s eyes widen to the size of grapefruits after registering what I had said. “Everyone here knows we have always been a couple from Day 1 of our hero career. They know that we've dated for a long time and I think it's finally time to tie the knot.” I say before getting down on one knee and pulling out a gold ring with a paragon pink diamond as the centerpiece. “My hero, My best friend and My love Ochako Uravity Uraraka, Will you make me the happiest hero alive and marry me?” I ask trying to keep my composure and not stutter. 

“Y-YES IZUKU!!!! I WILL MARRY YOU!!!” She shouts before tackling me into the sand and peppering my face in kisses repeatedly. Everyone in the audience claps seeing this and cheers as we kiss each other for the first time as an engaged couple. I slip the ring on her finger before She herself goes over and grabs the mic from the sand.

“Izuku there's also an important thing I need to tell you. My number one hero and soon to be husband… I'm pregnant.” She says then I immediately pass out.   

[shipp48-blog]

The Role of the Director During Pre-Production

Pre-creation is the most official time for any authority since it is the where we experience a "structure for introduction." Here is a system of what is anticipated from an authority during pre-creation. In case it's not too much trouble structure that all these pre-creation exercises will tie in time and criticalness relying on whether you are shooting a film or TV tim hutton .

(1) Location Scouting

Area taking a gander at is one of the central exercises you will do in the pre-creation time of filmmaking. Without a doubt when you have picked what sort of look you require for the film, an outing is then started for reasonable zones.

Who goes on the spot scouts: Director, Location Manager, first Assistant Director, Producer, Production Manager or Unit Production Manager, Production Designer or Art Director, Transportation Captain or a Driver

(2) The Budget

During content improvement, creators produce an astonishing gobbling up way to deal with oversee regulate supervise control direct persuade makers and movie studios to give them a green light for creation. During pre-creation, a perseveringly wrapped film spending plan is passed on. This record is utilized to guarantee about financing.

A spending limit is never-endingly passed on four zones: Above the Line (inventive cutoff), Below the Line (direct creation costs), Post-Production (changing, terrific plans, and so on), and Other (security, satisfaction bond, and so on).

The Director ought to in like way observe past what many would think about possible. You should know where you can make proposal on what parts to take out - and on what to join.

(3) Casting

Believe it or not when a key first beginnings prep, you read the substance through various events to discover what the story is about and who the characters are. You by then host a get-together with the Producer(s) and the Casting Director to plot their bits of data on the characters.

This is a tremendous social occasion for the Director, since it's the spot you find what the Producer(s) are thinking and on the off chance that they are progressing charmingly.

After the social affair, the Casting Director deals with a kept up structure for entertainers that fit the character properties and express watches paid novel cerebrum to in the gathering with the Producer(s).

The Casting Director by then has her/his own hurling meeting where they record a "short relationship" of entertainers for the force and the Producer(s) to see.

A Director never has baffling opportunity to work with the on-screen characters in a throwing meeting, so here are the 3 most epic properties you check for while studying entertainers:

1. Do they show up correspondingly as it?

2. Do they have make?

3. Would they have the decision to take bearing?

(4) Meetings, Meetings and More Meetings

The Director will have express social unlawful relationship during pre-creation. These social affairs are held by the AD Department and range from content get-togethers and thought parties with the makers to single division head parties.

The authority ought to have the going with social unlawful affiliations:

- thought meeting with makers/zone official/workmanship chief

- content social event with makers and maker

- hurling meeting with makers and hurling chief

- Director and first Assistant Director parties

- parties

- props

- set dec

- beating FX

- stunts

- additional throwing

- transportation

- creatures

- visual FX

- Production meeting

(5) Script and Scene Analysis

Since an authority is a storyteller, you have to see everything about the story you are telling. Understanding the story requires a titanic level of work on the official's part since you have to beat the substance scene by scene to discover what it is about, what works and what doesn't.

A Director's guaranteed about introductions are key when you start the substance read through structure. You have to consider your related with response to the story and what pictures the story props in you. What you "feel" is truly what is mammoth, since it is your vivacious reaction to something that plots it as a "Truth."

To esteem the substance, a Director needs to work in the sub-universe of the characters. Starting at now, of the savage clarifications behind substance assessment for a Director is to discover who the characters are, and what happens for them.

(6) Character Analysis

Happening to looking at the substance and making notes about substance structure and scene assessment, the Director needs to regard the targets of the characters. You do this by understanding the characters foundation, targets and exchange.

You need to discover the responses to these plans:

- who is the MAIN CHARACTER (related with the structures)

- what is the CHARACTER SPINE (inspiration/objective/progress)

- what is the SUPER-OBJECTIVE (the goliath needs of the character)

- what is the OBJECTIVE (what the character needs/dynamic decisions)

- what is on an astoundingly head level the CONFLICT (inside/social/social/situational/ingested)

- what are the THREE DIMENSIONS (thinking/doing/feeling)

(7) Creating the Visual Concept of the Show

A Director's visual idea is the course by which you make the picture structure and style of the movie - it's the "visual stamp" or look you put on the image.

A couple of events of visual style are:

1. Picking what the gathering is going to see (and not see) by picking where to put the camera.

2. What is the pacing and nature of the story? (Mindful or moderate, ruin and merciless or light and fun?)

3. What is the perspective of the story - a scene - a show? (Each scene ought to have highs and lows.)

4. What is the shade of the story? Tones can be utilized to permit suppositions and questions and address unequivocal properties of a character that can affect the sets and the outfits.

5. What is the standard picture to join the get into this new world?

(8) Mise-en-scene and Subworld

The French explanation mise-en-scène begins from the stage and genuinely finds, "setting before a social affair of individuals." When applied to the film, mise-en-scène removes up everything that shows up before the camera: sets, props, entertainers, outfits and lighting. Mise-en-scène about graphs the structure and improvement of entertainers for the set, which is called blocking.

The subworld of a movie is all the assessments and sensations a Director makes to prop certain tops from the gathering. To do this, the force makes the story "underneath" the key story by making activities, occasions and occasions that pack the more titanic criticalness of the story and the subtext of characters.

- take a gander at any source that will help (sprinkle yourself)

- what do you need the social affair to know or to encounter

- what is the story underneath the story

- what makes the improvement for a character

(9) Shot Lists and Storyboards

A shot report is a technique of all the camera plots for a scene and can set shot size, camera improvement, character progress, mix and cutaways.

In the film business, there is no standard need to follow while setting up a shot once-wrapped up. It changes from capacity to official. Different Directors don't make shot records not in the most clear degree like kept through TV Commercial manager who need to work with shot records and storyboards.

Shot records are astoundingly major since they can help direct you through the blocking structure. Notwithstanding, the confusing point is this - a shot report takes after a guide: it gives you a course to your goal, paying little cerebrum to you don't all around need to tail it.

Storyboards are an improvement of pictures that are showed up in a perspective with an unbendable goal of pre-envisioning certain scenes in a film. A few supervisor ought to storyboard the whole film, at any rate most storyboards are utilized for got progress scenes and striking frameworks degrees of progress.

(10) Script Read Through and Cast Rehearsals

For any head, contributing immensity with your entertainers before shooting is a when everything is said in done should. The substance read-through is the see the position and cast talk about the substance and their characters. This routinely occurs in a lodging where the open cast, authority, considers and the makers void up around a table and read the substance.

This read-through is the standard open part that everybody can get together to begin the course toward dealing with the substance. In the event that the entire cast can't be open, two stunning entertainers (one male and one female) can be found the opportunity to take a gander at changed parts. Or on the other hand clearly, subordinate upon your cash related cutoff, the makers will what's more research different parts.

After the read-through, the focal ought to practice certain scenes subject to the particular needs of the force and on-screen characters. This is so they can channel through character and story issues stealthily before remaining on a set with 100 social affair individuals seeing.

A mammoth piece of these cast practices happen in lodging meeting rooms, yet expectedly they can occur on the surrendered sets or liberal zones that will be utilized in the film.

Ruin D. Marshall is a regard winning producer from Vancouver, Canada. He has worked in the Film and Television Industry for more than 37 years - as a Film Director, Television Producer, First Assistant Director and TV Series Creative Consultant.

[threads-and-fate]

Session 1: Welcome to Arden High

There’s only one place to start, and that's the beginning. It was an early Wednesday morning. The heat having not settled over the growing gathering of young teenagers yet. The sky was clear and highlighted the tall building they stood outside of. Smooth clean stone fences surrounded the tall school. The school itself was a pale white colored brick building with mosaic windows with various shades of blue, purple, and green. Standing within the gates was and average height girl, with two others behind her. She stood on top of a soap box and was directing the crowd some and half discussing something with one of the other girls. One was knelt and working on something on her phone.

A girl with vanilla dyed hair stood, Hazel Foltz, with a small group, excitedly observing her surroundings. With her stood five other teens, two other girls and three boys.

“This place is crowded, there has to be at least two hundred students here.” The boy with black hair and a hoodie noted, his name is Jamie Runfords.

A girl with colorfully streaked hair stood with him, that’s Camilla Jane Runfords, but don’t call her Camilla, just Cami. She was bouncing up and down, her rainboots making weird squeaking sounds.

"ITS HUGE, IT’S LIKE A WHOLE HOUSE!"

Meanwhile, Jamie was holding her hand in attempts to prevent her running off right away. She stayed put but was squeezing the life out of her cousin’s hand.

An annoyed brunet nearby rubbed his temples. “Cami this is much larger than a house,” Oliver sighed.

"Ok, four houses!" She corrected

Mia, the strawberry pink of our neapolitan quadruplets, giggled at Oliver’s annoyed look. Hazel hummed quietly as she looked onward, pushing her glasses into place. Ethan, a boy with cherry dyed hair and a denim jacket, looked around, standing on his toes to get a better look at the girl at the front. The Foltz’ all were in an almost square.

Jamie looked at the sea of heads and faces fidgeting slightly. "I hope the hallways are big because cramming this many people into classes is gonna  be worse than middle school...”

Nearby a girl pushed a boy’s wheelchair cautiously through the crowd, wearing headphones that lit up to some unhearable beat.

Hazel turned and grinned. “We’ll be broken down into classes, no class is larger than twenty people I read!”

Oliver sighed in relief at that. “That’s good to hear,”

"That’s a little better." Jamie nodded in agreement.

Mia smiled and nodded. “Though we may get separated some then.” She sounded a tad disappointed.

"There’s always study group just in case." Cami pat her friend on the shoulder. "But we should end up together in at least one class!"

She smiled and nodded, enthusiasm returning. “You’re right! And hopefully we’ll have lunch together,”

Cami grinned, Jamie was thinking about Elliot. "I can’t believe we’re finally here, Elliot is also gonna be in 3rd grade this year, I hope I can work out some way to walk with him before our bus comes,"

"If you can’t, he has to get used to going to the bus or his classes alone sometime Jamie.” Cami shrugged. "He's a big kid,"

Jamie frowned at the idea.

The teen at the front was speaking to the black haired girl and the brunette next to her. The brunette looked excited as they spoke, the black haired girl was watching the crowd more so. She seemed a little weary, like she hadn’t signed up to help.

Mia hummed. “He can still be a little protective Cami, till at least 5th grade?”

Oliver rolled his eyes at them. “Don’t baby him too much,”

"All I’ve done is baby him, nobody else would," Jamie said.

"But auntie can do that now for you," Cami reminded him. "That’s her job. She’s your mom now,”

"Really, I didn’t know."

Ethan shrugged. “Nothing wrong with babying him a bit, just as long as he doesn’t get bratty...”

Hazel shook her head. “This is Elliot we’re talking about, Ethan.” He chuckled and nodded at that.

"If he turns out bad I’ll blame myself really," Jamie chuckled awkwardly.

Mia pat his shoulder a bit stiffly.

Cami stood on her tiptoes to see. "Are we gonna go in soon? I’m getting antsy,"

The sound of a microphone being tapped a few times began to get everyone’s attention

“Hello? Is it on- oh there it is, thank you Charisse for making it work!” The girl chimed politely.

The girl stood on her soapbox, dead center of the gates. The large school towered over her, the building was decorative, colorful glass panes made up a gradient on the front tower like structure. The school looked like what maybe a modernized castle may have looked like. Sleek but sturdy and maybe a bit intimidating. She and the other two girls all wore similar uniforms, the ties being the only difference.

Cami squealed. "Its starting!"

Mia bounced excitedly with her. Ethan was beginning to rock between heels and his toes even.

“Hello freshman! Good morning!” Her tone was chipper, but not obnoxiously so. “I hope you slept well, if not I’m terribly sorry this is taking place at seven AM,” She announced.

Oliver huffed a laugh at that.

Cami shrugged. “I didn't sleep last night anyways I was too excited,"

“Everyone, my name is Laci Paulk, I am the student council president. I’ll be giving you a tour today of our quite frankly enormous school,” She went on. Adjusting her braid as she spoke before rocking her weight to one side, her tie was a dark purple. “With me is two students that are now going up to sophomore and junior year, they’ll help answer questions,”

She turned to her company and held the mic out, a faint. “Want to introduce yourselves?” Was heard from Laci.

The other brunette stepped up, her hair was a shoulder length messy bob, her tie was a lilac.  “Morning everybody! My name’s Charisse Galate and I hope you guys are excited! I know I was when I first started,” She spoke enthusiastically. She squinted at the crowd “Aaandd somewhere out theeerree is my brothe- HI JEREMYYYYY!!!” She said unnecessarily loudly to annoy him, waving erratically. A few people winced at the yelling over the microphone.

The boy nearby in the wheelchair slowly covered his face, making various dying sounds. The girl with headphones pat his back sympathetically.

Jamie sent his condolences as well to whoever the girl was talking about.

She passed the mic to the next girl who stepped up as she went down, she had long curly black hair and a tie that was pastel blue. “Mornin’, not gonna lie I don’t wanna be awake but hey, my friends are here so I am too, my name is Simone O’Rourke, I just graduated the year you’re going into.” She briefly waved as she spoke, pushing her hair back out of her face.

The boy in the wheelchair softly laughed into his hands at her usual behavior.

“Also... If you guys know what a packet teacher is... beware of geography,” She warned, “And Lasomono is weird but ok.” She added glancing off.

“Simone!” Laci hissed from the sidelines.

Some students groaned at the info, others were laughing.

Jamie made note of this. "Take the vital info while we can get it guys,"

Laci walked up a bit stiffly before holding out her hand and then taking the microphone. She returned to the box.

“Alriiightt, now that that’s done,” She slightly glared at Simone who was still grinning.  “Let’s get on with the tour shall we? Charisse will be mingling with all of you and Simone will be at the very back to make sure everyone stays together, now!”  She stepped off the box, lifting it to reveal it was the speaker, she hung it from her shoulder like a bag and made a motion to follow.

Simone sidled out of the crowds way to head towards the back. Standing off to the side and sliding along the noisy crowd. Simone took over pushing the boy’s wheelchair once her friends met her in the back of the hoard.

Cami started skipping to keep up with the hoard, Jamie kept pace with her by simply speed walking. Ethan was trying to keep stride with them, Mia joined her in skipping, Hazel was nearly there but not as obvious.

Cami grabbed Ethan’s hand with her free one and smiled. "Can’t lose anyone in the hoard, c’mon Oliver you wanna skip too?"

Oliver shook his head rapidly. “No thank you!”

Ethan smirked at him and promptly skipped along with the girls.

Jamie shrugged. "You’ll have to keep up via speed walking then, they skip rather fast."

Oliver sighed annoyed and continued speed walking.

Charisse eventually had filtered her way towards them, and was skipping with them jokingly “Why are we skipping?”

Jamie pointed to Cami. "I don’t think she remembers how to walk really. She skips a lot so we kinda started a chain?"

Cami nodded. "Its more fun than walking,"

Charisse snickered before stopping and walking instead.

Cami made sure everyone was still semi close by. "Ethan, I’m giving you candy when we stop for not being a stick and skipping with us,"

“Sooo kiddos, any questions?” She quirked her head casually.

Ethan cheered a bit before looking at Charisse. “You’re not that much older than us, why kiddos?”

“Because I can! Next question.” She clapped.

Hazel watched the halls and the decorations on the walls, posters, photos, decor of all sorts were organized rather neatly along the neutral colored surface. Giving it pops of color in a semi-chaotic way. There were framed pictures of classes and activities as well. The school ironically felt like some extension of home with all of the displays proudly showing off it’s students and teachers.

"WHAT’S ON THE LUNCH MENU?" Cami shouted more so than asked.

Charisse’s nose scrunched. “Uhh, it changes throughout the year usually? You can check the site once the year starts to have a heads up for the week’s menu, I advise bringing snacks either way though because we can only get one serving,” She explained.

They had apparently gotten far enough back for Simone to contribute. “AND THE SERVING SIZES SUCK!” Jeremy face palmed.

Charisse rolled her eyes. “And you have the appetite of four of the swim team members!”

Jamie laughed. "I think Cami managed to feed everyone once from her candy hoard in her bag,"

Cami nodded proudly and tossed Charisse a snickers. "Thank you for the heads up!"

“That's.... impressive..” She caught it. “Very impressive,”

"I have lots in this bag."

“Serving sizes are kinda small but filling, so again, snacks.” Charisse pocketed the candy for later.

She took out her favorite brick as an example.

“Leeettts not carry that to school?” Charisse said in a confused tone.

"I read the rules, its allowed actually,"

"What part of the handbook was this?" Jamie quirked an eyebrow

"I dunno but Oliver had it highlighted." She paused then added, "Most of it was highlighted,"

Oliver sighed. “It said no knives or weapons on school grounds.... Technically a brick isn’t a weapon, it’s a building material,”

"Exactly,"

Charisse snorted. “I feel bad for whoever pisses you off- wait can I swear in front freshman? Meh sure,” She muttered.

Jamie shrugged. "Not like we haven’t heard the words before,"

“Fair enough,” She nodded.

Cami snickered. "Auntie gets heated sometimes,"

“So, what’s the student council president like? She seems nice?” Hazel queried.

“Laci? Yeah she’s nice. Mostly focused on studies and president stuff though, she has a friend that’s in your year I think? Or is he in sophomore now?” She pondered aloud.

"Who are the teachers to get." Cami continued the line of questions.

“Uhh, geez well I think you guys are getting Simone’s teacher set so uh- SIMONE COME DO YOUR JOB!” She yelled before stepping off to another crowd.

Simone made an annoyed noise, letting the boy take over pushing the wheelchair and heading forward. “Yeah?”

"Teachers to get?" Cami repeated.

“Hmm, Mrs. Turman’s awesome. She’s kinda slow, she’s older. But if you behave or do well on stuff she gives out caramel or other candy?” She shrugged.

"I like candy!" Cami perked up.

“Mr. Watton is the gym teacher and he’s kind of.... Annoying? Ok, no, he’s incredibly obnoxious.“ She snorted at herself.

Oliver rose an eyebrow. “A bit rude aren’t you,” He muttered to Jamie.

"She could be speaking the truth, we'll have to see for ourselves though, I think it’s kinda funny." Jamie mumbled back with a shrug.

Oliver sighed and nodded.

“He’s waaay too enthusiastic, if you end up like I did, you’ll get him first thing in the morning which is utter hell.” She groaned at the memory.

"Morning gym sounds..ew.." Jamie made a face at the idea.  "Whos idea was morning gym,"

“No clue, but they’re a moron,” Simone muttered.

Cami shifted her weight back and forth in her spot thinking. "I could run in the morning if needed!"

Jamie then prayed he didn’t have gym in the morning and with Cami. One or the other or else he might not survive long.

“Uhhh, the geo teacher, Mr. Clause is kind of a pain, he’s the packet teacher,” She rattled off.

Mia tilted her head at Simone. “This may be more social and less school related but, you’re the one who ended up helping us solve that question a while back right?”

Simone thought for a moment. “Oh the summer warm ups for freshman? Yeah that was me,” She smirked.

Cami stared at Simone's face for a second and slowly nodded. "Hey.. Yeah!! She's right! You ordered blueberry lemonade I think,"

Ethan sighed. “We were stumped, how did you remember that?”

“I had literally an hour before then helped my friends with the same problem,” She grinned “Don’t worry, rarely does anyone get that right without help,”

Hazel rubbed her face, shoving her glasses up. “Uughh, I hate those kinds of problems!”

"Well, we owe ya," Cami added. "If we can ever help you out sometime let us know!"

She smiled politely as they stopped slightly. Seeing a staircase up ahead as Laci turned to face the crowd. Despite a little over a hundred people filling the hall it managed fairly well. It was crowded but not painfully cramped.

“I know we have someone who is in a wheelchair so umm,” She paused briefly. “Charisse, take your brother to the elevator?”

Simone immediately bolted. “I’VE GOT IT!!” She pushed the chair past the crowd, hopping onto a bar on the back that appeared to have been added.

“SIMONESIMONESIMONE NOOOO!!!” Jeremy shrieked as they sharply rounded a corner. Cackling heard down the hall as the girl with headphones ran after.

Laci sighed slowly. “.... You can’t say I didn’t try,”

Charisse laughed. “They’re inseparable what’d you expect?” Was heard from the microphone as well. “She’s just glad they’re all in the same building again,” Charisse continued grinning.

Mia grinned. “They seemed pretty close,”

“And a bit crazy,” Oliver murmured.

Cami nodded at Mia, Jamie sent his condolences out again. "I just hope we don’t hear any crashing noises in a moment,"

Cami sighed. "Oliver, do you even ride the baby coasters at the fair with that attitude?"

“He’s in a wheelchair, she should be more cautious!” Oliver huffed and folded his arms at her.

Hazel awkwardly smiled but nodded as they headed up the stairwell. “He could get hurt,”

Once they made it to the second level they caught sight of the trio again, Simone riding the back of the wheelchair again. At a more reasonable speed this time however.

"If you’re stuck in a wheelchair you should have a little fun!" Cami retorted as they stepped out into the open. "He's alive right over there,"

He looked a bit ruffled and was currently whining at her. “Siimoooneeee, you’re gonna break my wheelchair!” He groaned.

“Nonsense, I re-enforced it last month!” She chirped.

Nell motioned to the duo and signed something at them. Simone grinned and Jeremy sighed again.

“You two will be the death of me.” He motioned as he spoke.

Mia tilted her head. “Why sign language? She has to be able to hear if she has headphones on?”

Hazel shrugged. “I don’t know but come on we’re lagging behind.” She lightly nudged the group forward.

Cami resumed the skipping chain, Jamie was not prepared and screeched a little and caught up.

"You’re gonna tear my arm off," He huffed.

"Your fault for holding on to my hand like I’m five though," She retorted.

Mia curiously watched over her shoulder as the three talked amongst themselves.

Ethan shrugged. “Maybe she's mute?”

“But.... She can hear still?” Mia looked incredibly lost. “But I feel it may be rude to ask...”

"Lets not right now," Jamie agreed.

Cami wasn't phased. "Maybe it's like a code, I have my own code in my head,"

“Why in your head?” Ethan asked confused.

"Helps me group stuff sometimes," She explained. "I have so many thoughts bouncing around at once,"

"But you’ve heard me refer to you guys as oranges before, that’s like code." Cami stopped to stare and think. "Or maybe I only group you like that in my head.."

Mia tilted her head. “I think I’ve heard you mention it,”

Oliver had a look that said he didn’t want to know what went on in Cami’s head. Cami continued walking lost in thought.

“Is she ok?” Ethan asked quietly.

Hazel shrugged.

Jamie nodded. "She's fine,"

Cami snapped out of it and brushed off the question. "Oh, well just know you guys are great,"

Mia beamed. “You are too Cami!”

Cami smiled wide. "Aw thank you! Hey look more buildings.. How big is this school.."

Out a window they were passing showed another large chunk of the school grounds, two buildings were visible along with what appeared to be a soccer field. The shorter building was closer and appeared to be a gym. The building behind it appeared to be two or three stories high on it’s own. It’s dome shaped roof and vaguely visible opening implied it was an observatory. The grounds themselves they could see were well trimmed and kept. Neat purple and blue flower beds lined the walkways.

“This place could classify as a small city,” Hazel murmured.

Oliver glanced over. “Am I the only one listening to the guide?”

“I’m listening!” Hazel huffed defensively. “..... Kind of.”

Mia sheepishly smiled. “Oops...”

Ethan snorted. “Wow, the ever attentive Hazel isn't paying attention?” He jabbed her side to which she smacked.

“Shut up I was trying to be social! And I asked Charisse some questions.” She continued giving her “explanations”. Hazel isn’t one to admit things like this if you couldn’t tell.

Cami was staring at water spots on a ceiling tile. "Hey, that one looks like a plus sign,"

Jamie laughed. "I was half paying attention, Cami's exploring on her own now,"

Simone was still behind them to make sure they didn't get separated. She was pushing the wheelchair along and contently talking with the other two.

Cami gave Oliver a dramatic look. "We won’t survive if we’re too dependent on our elders, we must learn to explore and grow, ON OUR OWN!"

He gave a long sigh. “The school is enormous and I don't want to be late on the first day,”

"And if you act like a grumpy stick this whole tour I'll sharpie your forehead," She threatened.

He backed up slightly at that. Cami took a sharpie out of her bag and waved it towards him in threat. He scowled and stepped behind Hazel who was looking at the classroom signs.

The crowd had slowed slightly, they could barely hear Laci speaking. However, a pleasant ringtone was loud and clear over her speaker before she spoke louder.

“I’m sorry, I just got an important call I really need to take. Charisse please wait and handle this?” She quickly passed the mic to her before disappearing into what appeared to be another classroom.

Cami looked at all the doors and read all the name tags for teachers. "There's the mean geo teacher's room,"

Unbeknownst to our dear students, some of their more interesting teachers were passing through. Adair, the chemistry teacher who has “wasted” talent, saw Thryver, the Acchian faun, sneaking up on the back of the crowd; he already saw where this was going.

"Y'know I really think we should repaint the gym to help bring out motivation." The gym teacher was still prattling on to the astronomy teacher who was clearly not interested, nor paying attention.

Simone glanced over her shoulder and saw Mr. Thryver. “Uh oh,” She whispered, grinning.

Adair looked like he was suffering, watching Thryver and side eyeing Watton, one of the gym teachers. He was already beginning to rub his temples. The teacher group made an interesting lot, Adair dressed in a nice button up, slacks, and a lab coat like most of the teachers wore; he looked the most orderly of them. Watton was wearing a tracksuit, with a whistle being the most notably different part of the outfit. The astronomy teacher looked like a more disheveled Adair. Thryver wore traditional Acchian robes. Dark blue wrapped around his torso and then opening and loosening into a skirt of sorts.

“VITE THA UN DOTELLA!” Thyver abruptly shouted startling the crowd.

Mia jumped a mile, Cami however turned around excited and waved looking for who said that. Jamie also jumped out of his skin at the shout. Ethan whipped around and Oliver may have been one of the people that screamed.

Charisse jerked and blinked. “And there's Mr. Thryver!”

“THAT MEANS HELLO AND WELCOME!” He continued loudly.

The gym teacher scanned the sea of freshman. "ARE THESE THE NEWBIES WE GET TO HAVE FUN WITH IN GYM CLASS?!"

Jamie frowned. "Oh dear the teacher sounds much too excited for gym class I think that girl was right,"

Adair groaned quietly then saw Simone. “And you’re here... Just when I thought the day couldn't get worse.”

“Good to see you too Mr. Adair!” She chimed with fake enthusiasm.

Oliver nodded at Jamie. A bit alarmed. Charisse waved the crowd of teachers.

The astronomy teacher scanned the crowd. "YES WELCOME, WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO WELCOME YOU TO OUR SCHOOL, ITS HISTORY IS QUITE THE CONSPIRACY!"

“Everybody that is Mr. Thryver who just yelled, he's our teacher for Acchian, the man in gym gear with too much energy is Mr. Watton and that enthusiast there is Mr. Lasmono, the astronomy teacher.” Charisse laughed over the speakers as she spoke. “And the man with a look of suffering is Mr. Adair, our loving and dear chemistry teacher,” She snickered.

"Oh don't be silly, our school was not built on any of the stuff you say it was," Mr. Watton laughed at Lasmono.

"Do we know that?" He asked, before answering himself. "No,"

Simone leaned over. “Hey, we may be on an ancient burial ground,”

Jeremy shook his head at them.

Cami nodded interested in what the astronomy teacher had to say. "He has a point though,"

Jamie facepalmed.

Hazel adjusted her glasses. “Actually it’s believed is placed around what would’ve been mid-world’s Thailand, so technically what we have would be Indian burial grounds,”

"ARE YOU KIDS READY FOR SOME HEALTHY TEAM BONDING THIS SUMMER? ALSO IF YOUR INTERESTED IN GETTING YOUR SCHOOL SPIRIT ON I HAVE SIGN UPS READY ON THE SCHOOL WEBSITE FOR CHEERLEADING!" The gym teacher continued. The crowd wasn’t very responsive.

Simone rolled her eyes at his hyperactivity.

The girl in headphones watched the teacher with immense confusion, she couldn't read his lips very well.

Jamie shook his head. "Last time someone said team bonding it meant dodgeball,” He sighed "That's not healthy,"

“Agreed,” Oliver nodded.

The sound of the mic shifting and Laci speaking grabbed the group’s attention yet again.

“Hello, so sorry I had to answer that... ah...” She looked stiffer than before. “I see some teachers have joined us? How are you all this morning?”

"I’M FEELING GREAT!" Watton cheered.

"I’d feel better if the government wasn't lurking to be honest," Lasmono mumbled.

“I’m well, miss Laci I hope you and your friend is too?” Thryver singsonged.

Adair’s expression answered her question.

Laci stiffened mildly. “I’m alright... I’ll chat later, you know uh- schedule and what not!” She awkwardly motioned for them to continue moving, attempting to maintain her previous enthusiasm.

Mia’s expression shifted to concern. “Is she alright?”

Jamie slowly shook his head again. "I would guess no… She looks worried."

Hazel nodded a bit at that.

Cami chucked a snickers bar in her direction. "Just in case," She explained.

Oliver winced as he saw it hit a random student.

"Cami, you can't just candy snipe strangers," Jamie groaned.

"It was for a good cause,"

“Maybe we should check on her after?” Mia gently suggested.

Hazel nodded. “She has to wait for everyone to leave first after all, it'd be hard to miss her,”

"Good plan," Cami agreed.

The tour had finally come to a close, students or soon to be students were all filing out the front gate. It was a little after noon and the heat was worse. The sun shined brightly just outside of the building’s entrance and waves of the heat made it in as the doors stayed mostly open. Laci stood to the left of the building entrance, waving at anyone that looked her way or answering a few final questions. Cami signaled the rest of the group when she spotted Laci through the sea of heads. "C’mon let's check on her before we get pushed out by the hoard!" Mia almost jumped Ethan in attempts to stay with the group.

“Hey, I’m not a ride!” He huffed but helped support her weight, annoyed. Cami started to weave between people like a little rabbit, Jamie awkwardly tried to follow her but was nowhere near as fast.

"I think Cami has a sixth sense that makes her fast," Jamie mumbled to the others, "Or the candy.."

"Probably the candy and a sixth sense,“ Hazel concluded.

Oliver pressed through till they managed to break from the crowd, now out in the open space Laci stood in. Cami waved to her. "Hi! Great job on the tour by the way!" Laci turned and pulled another strained smile. “Thank you, glad to help! I hope you’re all looking forward to your first year here.” She slightly pushed her bangs to the side. Briefly checking her phone before it went back down to her side. "Although, we did notice earlier you seemed kinda stressed so we wanted to ask if everything was ok?" Jamie added onto Cami's comment. Cami nodded and dug around in her purse for another snickers bar. "I tried to throw this at you but it hit someone else instead..." Her eyes widened slightly and she stiffened. Mia stepped forward as well. “We just figured we would check on you?” She gave another concerned look. The brunette looked a bit surprised but thankful. “Ah... Was it that obvious?” She tugged at her button up’s collar. "Maybe we’re just super observant," Cami shrugged.

Jamie was going to say something but Cami did focus on details sometimes so he stayed quiet. Cami handed Laci a slightly squished handful of various fun-sized candies and a smiley face sticker. "The sticker is for a good job," Laci looked a tad confused but nodded her thanks. “So... Is everything alright?” Hazel quirked her head. Laci shuffled briefly to put away the candy before sighing. “To be honest, no. Not at all,” She checked her phone again. "Is there anything we can do to help..?" Jamie asked hesitant. He wondered what kind of situation it was, he was afraid of seeming nosey though and wondered if they should even be asking. Cami rocked back and forth and glanced at Laci's phone, trying to see if she had an interesting case for it. It was a plain light purple. She had put the sticker on the back of it.

“Not unless you’re miracle workers,” She sighed.

Hazel awkwardly glanced at the others before Laci elaborated.

“My.. my childhood friend is in the hospital.. he’s... he’s not doing very well...” Her voice shook slightly, a deep breath and she tried to steady herself. “And it's getting worse..” Cami's face fell, she dug in her purse again for a second but stopped and said nothing for a bit.

Jamie looked awkwardly at the ground thinking they possibly made her feel worse. He thought of his Mom though and spoke up softly. "...Does he like any deserts..? Can we bring you or him anything..?" Laci jumped slightly. “W-well uhh, he likes lemon bread? It's been a while. The medicines he's on... but...” She smiled a bit. “I think that'd make his day...”

Simone had wandered up, catching the tail end of her sentence. Jamie nodded slowly "I think I can try that..yeah.." "Is there anything you like specifically?" "What's his favorite color?" Cami asked following Jamie's train of thought. "Hmm.. lime cupcakes.” She smiled a bit fondly. “And he likes purple a lot.”  She looked calmer at the implications this was giving. Cami smiled. "Purple, I can work with this," Jamie took notes quietly on his phone. "Is there any way we can reach you to give you some food and stuff..?" Simone eyed them briefly. “Wyatt ok?” She shoved her hands in her jacket pockets. Laci jumped again. “Oh- oh he’s... He's been better, the doctors couldn't get a hold of his parents and he... heart... stopped... for a - yeah.” She swallowed and nodded stiffly again. Simone scrunched her nose. “Then what are you doing here? Council head or not he's your best friend,” She made shooing motion. Laci sighed. “I can't just-“ "I’ll handle it,” Simone interrupted. "Wait," Jamie interrupted.   "What... Simone you hate socializing,” She raised her eyebrows.

“I’ll get over it, go on.” She waved again. "WAIT I CAN'T GIVE YOU FOOD UNLESS I CONTACT YOU." He interrupted loudly and a bit distressedly. Laci stopped. “Right right, uhhh here.” She pulled out some note paper, tearing a corner off she wrote out a number quickly. “Here, thank you! And thank you Simone I owe you!” She squeezed Simone in a short hug that the raven haired girl cringed at.

"Thank you, now indeed you should go." Jamie pocketed it. "We should have some stuff for you in a couple of days." "Yeah yeah, listen to them and get out of here,” Simone laughed.

Laci bowed a final thanks, practically sprinting out.

Cami gave him a look. "I can put stuff together in hours man," Jamie sighed. "BAKING IS AN ART FORM THAT CAN’T BE RUSHED!!" Cami frowned. "Don't yell at me there's people here now," "If they go to school with us they will see me yelling at your shenanigans again," Simone moved to stand where Laci had been, occasionally answering questions. Cami rolled her eyes and turned to Simone. "Hi!" Simone nodded at Cami. “Questions or just being friendly?” Mia smiled slightly. “That was really sweet, just a moment ago,” She shrugged. “Just human decency,” "Still good," Cami agreed. "And just being friendly." She bounced a little. ‘She's very friendly," Jamie said, Cami couldn't tell how he meant that so she didn't mind it. Simone nodded slightly, watching the crowd, Charisse was on the other side of the crowd that was now thinning out finally. "We saw you pushing your friend around earlier, do you do go karts as a hobby or something because you steer well for sharp corners!" Cami continued bouncing as if she was listening to music. Jamie noticed she had one earbud in and leaned in. "Are you listening to the nyan cat theme?" "....No..." Ethan made a face at that. Simone rose an eyebrow but answered her. “I mostly hoverboard, but I’ve had a lot of practice weaving his chair around the last year too,” She explained. “Oh neat!" Cami exclaimed. "I've always wanted to try but this grump screams at me if I go too fast on a scooter even," "You wear roller skates while on the scooter to go faster," Jamie protested. Ethan lit up. “Didn’t we talk about me teaching you?” Oliver looked like he swallowed a lemon. Hazel looked a bit worried. "OH YEAH!" Cami grinned. "CAN WE GO NOW?" Mia’s enthusiasm seemed to strain even. Jamie looked at Ethan and shook his head. Cami put her hand on his face and nodded like a bobblehead. Ethan was bouncing a bit. “Our house is on the way, we could get our hoverboards and guards and go!” "YAAAY!!" Cami squealed, she handed Simone a sticker. "You did good on the tour too by the way!!"

"NOW LETS GO BEFORE OLIVER OR JAMIE STOP US!" Cami bounded towards the nearest exit at top speeds. Simone blinked, confused by the sticker, watching as the group all left rapidly. Jamie was stressing already wondering how he would explain to Rachel that Cami split her head open.

[fanders-fic-awards]

One Short Day (Summer Fic Comp 18)

Summary: Patton has a really bad day, so Virgil tries to help.

Trigger Warnings: The Q and F slurs. To skip them, skip the from ’“Okay,” Connor said’ to ‘Oh. Oh.’

Word Count: 2059

Ballot

Patton was having a very, very bad day. First, his coffee maker broke, spilling coffee everywhere and probably ruining his favorite sweater. Then his car wouldn’t start; thankfully, however, he had listened to Logan and gotten a portable jump starter kit that didn’t require a second car.

He pulled up to school, barely in time to start his first class of the day, which was senior-level Honors English. The bell rang, and 30 tired and unenthused seniors walked in the door.

“Good morning, class!” His greeting was met with mumbles, so he tried again, with even more pep he wasn’t at all feeling.

“What is up, everybody?”

“Hi, Mr. Sanders” came the ever-so-slightly more energetic response.

“Now, kiddos, I know it’s early on a Monday, but you can do better than that! I be-leaf in you!” Patton held up the plastic maple leaf he kept on his desk, eliciting 29 groans and 1 giggle.

“Ayy, you got me, Thomas!”

“Yeah, because you tell the same joke every day, Mr. Sanders.” The entire class laughed at Thomas’ quip, Patton included.

“Good point,” Patton ceded, pointing at him, “Get it? Good point? Also, valid observation.”

“You have cat to be kitten me. It’s too early for this bull-”

“Hey now, language! But you definitely deserve a Patt on the back for the excellent dad jokes today.”

“Was… was that a self-referential pun? To a crowd that usually doesn’t know the first names of their teachers, when you only just told us your first name last week?” Joan, Thomas’ friend, spoke up.

“Well, yeah! Why do you think I told you guys? Before that,” he said with a mischievous glint in his eye, “I was Patton pending!”

“I never thought I’d say this, but can we please get to actually learning things?” Talyn, Joan’s datemate, called from the back of the class.

“Right, as usual, Talyn,” Patton laughed, “so who has thoughts they’d like to share on the chapters of The Picture of Dorian Gray you all read over the weekend?” Silence fell, with the exception of a murmur from a boy named Connor.

Patton knew it wasn’t right for teachers to have favorite or least favorite students, but Connor was by far his least favorite. Connor was the kind of student who put no effort into understanding the material and then complained that he didn’t get it, that it was boring. Patton frankly couldn’t understand why he was taking an honors course, and nothing he said or did seemed to get through to the kid. And that’s what bugged Patton the most. Every no-effort paper, every barely passed test, felt like a personal failure to Patton. He was responsible for his students and their success. At the end of the day, however, he knew that learning is communication, and communication is a two-way street. He didn’t dislike Connor as a person, of course, he was simply sad and frustrated by his apathy towards his education.

“What was that, Connor?”

“N- nothing, Mr. Sanders.”

“Now, kiddo, we both know that’s not true. Your thoughts are as important and valid as anyone else’s. So, please, share them with us.” Patton’s voice was firm, making it clear he wouldn’t accept ‘no’ for an answer.

“Okay,” Connor said, a challenging smirk on his face, “I think that this book is a waste of our time and that no one cares what a dusty old queer had to say about other faggots over a hundred years ago.”

Oh. Oh. Patton’s chest got tight and he briefly saw red before he remembered where he was. He noticed at least five students flinch at the slur and realized he had been presented an opportunity to make a real difference in his students’ lives. Patton took a deep breath and gathered his thoughts before beginning.

“Thank you for your honest input, Mr. Williams. While your phrasing was incredibly offensive, and we will have a serious conversation with the principal after class about your use of those slurs, you bring up a point that warrants discussion, one that has occurred in countless English courses.

Why should we care? What did this novel add to the world, and does the author’s background add or remove weight from their work? I was going to discuss Oscar Wilde’s sexuality and the homosexual themes throughout the novel after we finished reading it, but since Connor brought it up, this seems like a perfect time.

Before I start lecturing, I want to know if any of you have things you’d like to add to the discussion. Yes, even you, Connor, provided you phrase your comments more carefully.” Patton paused, giving his students time to speak up if they wanted to. He was immensely relieved when a usually very quiet girl named Samantha rose her hand.

“Yes, Samantha, the floor is yours.”

“Oh, um, I just wanted to say that I think it was really brave of Oscar Wilde. I feel like the book is about vice and, um, how it destroys people, even if you- if you can’t tell by looking at them. The fact that it’s Basil Hallward who is explicitly gay is really important. Other authors might have added being gay to the list of 'sins’ Dorian Gray is guilty of, but Wilde makes Hallward something of a tragedy.

The portrait is basically the product of Hallward’s sexuality, a representation of it. Gray destroys it and then kills Hallward, which by could be interpreted out of context as a 'punishment’ for Hallward being gay. And while killing the gay character is a tragically common trope, that’s not what Wilde wrote. Because it’s Gray who killed him, it can be argued that acting the way he did is yet another example of the debauchery that causes not only his death but in the end makes him as ugly as he always feared he’d become.

Sorry, I know you hadn’t assigned that far, but I really liked the book and needed to know how it ended. And, uh, sorry for talking so much.”

“Samantha, please do not apologize for any of that. That was very well put and almost every point I was going to make.” Patton wanted to comment that he noticed her voice getting stronger and more sure as she talked, but he didn’t want to embarrass her.

“Oh, um, thanks, Mr. Sanders.”

“Mr. Sanders, what are the 'other points’ you wanted to make?” Joan asked, who had been giving Connor a murderous glare the entire time.

“Before I answer, is there anything anyone else would like to say?” Patton waited for anyone to speak up, but when no one did, he continued, “I want to discuss the larger picture. But we’ll have to table that for another day since the bell is about to ring. If you want to read ahead, please do, but I’m not going to assign another chapter for tomorrow- all I ask is that you come prepared for a discussion of notable LGBT+ authors and how their identity shaped their works, such as William Shakespeare, Truman Capote, Emily Dickinson, and Tennessee Williams. Wow me with what you bring in and there are extra credit points in it for you! Have a wonderful day, and I look forward to our discussion tomorrow. Connor, a word, please.”

—-

Virgil came home to complete chaos. There was a mess of tangled fairy lights on the couch, and it looked like there was an explosion of flour in the kitchen.

“God, Pat, you are lucky I love you. What’s up with all the messes?” Virgil called out, laughing fondly at his chaotic energetic boyfriend.

“Oh hi, my love! I meant to have it all cleaned up by the time you got home. Time flies when you’re having fun, I guess! How was your day?”

“It was really good. Got a really big breakthrough with the couple I told you I’ve been struggling so much with- I think they’re gonna get somewhere really healthy.”

“Oh my goodness, that’s so great! We have to celebrate- as it so happens, I made chocolate cake, and was gonna make stroganoff for dinner.”

“Pat, it’s my turn to cook, remember? You spoil me too- shit. I can’t believe I missed it. What’s wrong, sunshine?”

“Nothing, Virge. I just wanted to do something sweet for my sweetie!”

“Please let me in, love. Can I help?”

“I- I don’t know, and I didn’t want to worry you. It’s just been a really rough day.”

“Let’s make a deal. Let’s make lasagna together while you tell me what’s up, and then I’ll draw you a bubble bath and we’ll watch 8 Mile?”

“Not 8 Mile, not tonight. Make it the 2005 Pride and Prejudice, and I’m in.”

“As you wish, Patton-cake.”

“I love you too, dork.”

The two men got busy making lasagna, singing and sort-of dancing as they cooked. When they put the dish in the oven, Patton started talking.

“V, it was a hell of a day. The coffee pot broke, and I spilled coffee all over my sweater, and I really need to call your brother and thank him for the advice about the jumper kit. Without it, I wouldn’t have gotten to work on time. But that was little stuff, and you know me, I brushed it off and was really excited to talk with my kiddos about The Picture of Dorian Gray. And class started really well, you’d have died at how they kept the pun train rolling. I love them all so much. I’ve talked to you about Connor before, right?”

“I think so. Total slacker, could be one of the best students in the class if he gave a damn?”

“Yep, that’s the kid. He dropped the f and q slurs a couple of times complaining about the book.”

“Oh my god Patton are you okay? What happened? Did the kid get his ass handed to him like he deserves?”

“Breathe, Virgil. It’s all okay. He’s got detention for 2 weeks, his parents know and are pissed, and I was able to turn it into a good teaching moment. Well, technically, Samantha did.”

“Quiet Samantha?”

“Yeah, she had some incredible insights into the book and how it deals with sexuality and morality. She apparently read ahead and finished the book, so she was able to tie in Gray’s death too.

It was incredible to watch. She’s so quiet and started out so unsure, but by the end, she was so confident, I almost cried.”

“You cry at everything, Pat. Don’t argue- you cried last week because snakes don’t have legs. For real, though, that’s amazing. You are amazing.”

“It was all her!”

“No, it wasn’t. I was just like Samantha in school. I had so many things to say, but I was terrified of being wrong, so I said nothing. Except in classes where I completely trusted the teacher, where I knew my ideas would be really heard, not just listened to, and respected. Teachers like that, teachers like you, change the world. I guarantee that Samantha will never forget today, and neither will any LGBT+ kid in that class.

God, Patton, you change lives. You are the most incredible person I’ve ever met, and it blows my mind that somehow you think I’m worthy of your love. Every day, I try to be someone you can be proud of, and I want to keep doing it for the rest of our lives.” Virgil slipped out of his chair and onto one knee, pulling a small velvet box out of his jacket pocket.

“Patton Sanders, at the risk of sounding cliché as hell, will you make me the happiest man alive and marry me?”

“Virgil… my sweet and sour misunderstood shadowling, I couldn’t do any of what I do without you. You’re as important to me as air or puppies. You make me want to be the best version of me, and there is nothing I want more than to marry you.”

“Is that a yes?”

“Yes! Virgil Raine, I absolutely will marry you!” Crying, Patton pulled Virgil up and kissed his fiancé. “Now, let’s have some engagement lasagna and take an engagement bubble bath!”

“You’re such a dork. I love you so fucking much.”

“I hope you do, 'cuz we’re getting married!”

“That we are,” Virgil chuckled, tears in his eyes as well.

 @mystrangedarkson

[actuallylorelaigilmore]

Strange How We Fit Each Other, Chapter 2: The Bearer Of Unconditional Things

Continued gift for @hellolivingstereotype. It’s still your birthday here for a few more hours, but it’s about to end where you’re at...so I hope you had a really great night!!

They talk, they dance, their time at the party goes exactly as planned--almost.

Penelope x Schneider, One Day At A Time. Also on AO3. Chapter 1 is here.

“They’re calling that food?” She couldn’t help scoffing at it--her Cuban and maternal instincts were equally insulted. “Looks like a lettuce leaf and a miniature pine cone. That wouldn’t feed anybody.”

“Well, luckily that’s not the goal.” He glanced her way. “It’s not like a fun party, Pen, where you and Lydia cook and the kids fight over the last pastelito and we stay up too late watching movies.”

“I know that,” she replied. “But why bother having snacks at all, if they’re not going to be edible?”

“To give off a very specific impression.”

In the years she’d known him so far, Penelope had seen Schneider suited up, she’d seen him take her Mami out in style--but she had never seen him like this. Dressed to the nines, with his face a perfect mask of company manners, Schneider was deeply miserable. 

“I’m glad you went with a regular limo,” she told him as they arrived at the event.

“Yeah?”

“Yes. I mean, if you had to do the limo thing at all...at least it’s not a Hummer limo.”

He scoffed. “Come on, Pen, don’t be silly. A Hummer limo is way too casual for a white tie gala.”

“Right.” Because the opera is so down to earth, Penelope thought as the car slowed to a stop. She hugged her coat a little tighter and reached for the door handle.

Schneider’s hand on top of hers stopped her movement. “What are you doing?”

“Going to a ball.”

“That’s not how you go to a ball.” He shook his head. “Look at what you’re wearing, Penelope. Gorgeous women in beautiful gowns do not open their own doors.”

She wrinkled her nose. “It’s going to be like this all night, isn’t it?”

“Like what?”

“You telling me everything I’m doing that doesn’t fit into your privileged world. I agreed to come, I can handle it...but ay Dios mio, Schneider, it’s annoying.”

His eyes widened behind his glasses. “I don’t mean it like that!”

Penelope sighed. “I know you don’t."

“I’m not phrasing things very well.”

“It’s not about how you phrase stuff.”

Schneider rubbed a hand over his beard, a tell for stress that she didn’t see very often. “Yes, it is. What I was trying to say was that you’re my guest. You shouldn’t have to open doors. And I know that’s pampered and patriarchal and offensive to the badass you are, but the thing is...you came here for me. And you don’t deserve to be treated like you’re less than the other women who are getting out of their own limos right now. You’re worth twice as much as all of them put together.”

Faced with that level of monologue over who should open a door, all Penelope could think to say was, “Oh.”

“Yeah. Now, if we were married, I could get out first and open your door. They only frown on that a little. Since I’m just your escort, the valets will open both our doors.”

“That’s so unnecessary.”

“It is.”

“Hey, Schneider?”

“Yes?”

“Thanks for that stuff you said. It was sweet.”

“It’s completely true, Penelope. I’m glad you’re here.”

****

They introduced themselves to what felt like every person at the party. As Schneider fielded comments and questions about the family business, Penelope tried not to stare too hard at the cavernous ballroom they were gathered in.

It was even harder not to stare at the people. Couples passed by, offering air kisses and insults phrased like compliments, while Schneider made small talk with a slightly pained expression.

Most of the gala attendees were older, his father’s age, carrying themselves with the unmistakable look of wealth that meant endless beauty treatments and unnecessary surgery.

After two hours of men looking down her dress and women looking down their noses, Penelope wished desperately for a moment to rest and stop smiling. Plus, was she seriously the only Latina here not wearing a uniform?

Maybe she wasn’t keeping her fatigue under wraps as well as she thought, because Schneider put an arm around her and led her off to a corner of the room.

“Time for a breather,” he declared. “That’s enough fake-listening to last the next hour."

“You okay?”

“I’m fine,” he answered with a shrug. “I could just use some time to be us again. Couldn’t you?”

“I would kill for a place to sit down,” Penelope confessed.

“They don’t really expect you to sit. Just mingle.” Schneider looked around the ballroom. “Basically, if you’re ready to relax, you leave. I’m sorry we can’t go until Father gets here.”

“Hey, I’m looking forward to meeting him.”

Schneider shook his head and didn’t respond.

Arching her feet inside the heels her Mami had helped pick out, Penelope let her attention wander.

"Hey, what are those?”

Schneider glanced at the tray as it moved past them, carried by a man in a pristine suit.

“Appetizers.”

“They’re calling that food?” She couldn’t help scoffing at it--her Cuban and maternal instincts were equally insulted. “Looks like a lettuce leaf and a miniature pine cone. That wouldn’t feed anybody.”

“Well, luckily that’s not the goal.” He glanced her way. “It’s not like a fun party, Pen, where you and Lydia cook and the kids fight over the last pastelito and we stay up too late watching movies.”

“I know that,” she replied. “But why bother having snacks at all, if they’re not going to be edible?”

“To give off a very specific impression.”

In the years she’d known him so far, Penelope had seen Schneider suited up, she’d seen him take her Mami out in style--but she had never seen him like this.

Dressed to the nines, with his face a perfect mask of company manners, Schneider was deeply miserable. Everything about that picture was so wrong, it hurt to look at it.

“Well,” she said after a moment. “We can’t eat the food, we have to limit our beverage intake in these getups...do you want to dance?”

Schneider was too far away. He didn’t respond. Whatever was flickering in his eyes, Penelope wasn’t sure she wanted to know the details, so she reached for his hand.

“Hey, come back. You can’t just leave a well-dressed woman out on a limb like that.”

“What?” He squinted down at her, then sighed. “Sorry. What did you say?”

“I said, would you like to dance?” She nudged him a little with her bare shoulder. “But now I’m thinking of making it an order instead of an invitation. Otherwise I’m going to spend this whole night alone while you’re standing right next to me.”

“Bossy,” Schneider said with a grin. “Sure, let’s go.”

Penelope left her hand in his as they crossed to the open ballroom. Part of her hoped maybe that would help keep him with her; a different part she chose to ignore thought that Schneider holding her hand aloft and leading her to a dance floor shouldn’t feel quite so natural.

“I’m really sorry, Pen,” he offered as they found a spot. “I asked you to come, and I’m being the worst date. All of this just reminds me of stuff I’d rather forget.”

“I didn’t come here to have fun,” Penelope reminded him, the teasing insult in her tone making him smile a little. “I came here for you.”

The music was a slow waltz, and as they began to move, it occurred to her that she had never really asked him about his life before they met.

Schneider could be such an open book, he volunteered so much that Penelope never wanted to know--what did it say about her that she'd let him talk her through major life crises but she didn’t even know his mother’s name?

Tipping her face up to his, Penelope was pleased to see that he looked a little more relaxed.

“Hey, can I ask you something?”

“Go for it.” He was a good dancer, which was surprising since the man holding her in a formal waltz frame was the same one who had fallen off a stationary bike multiple times.

“Was it always like this when you were growing up? With the food you can’t eat, and people you can’t stand talking to, and everybody substituting money for having an actual personality?”

“Sometimes it was worse,” Schneider said, looking over her head as he spoke. “This is everyone on their best behavior. You’re not seeing what it’s really like until the alcohol has hit the empty stomachs and mixed with the trophy wives’ pill collections and they’ve all forgotten the staff are still here.”

“Ouch.” She hugged him a little, from an awkward angle with their hands still clasped. “No wonder you drank.”

Schneider laughed and she felt him press a quick kiss to the top of her head. “I mean, it’s not that simple, but yeah...you have a point.”

“Oh, I know,” Penelope said. “It’s complicated and difficult and you’re coming up on eight years sober. You’re amazing. But also we’ve been only here two hours and I’m ready to drink three bottles of wine by myself.”

He stopped dancing. They were standing on the edge of the ballroom now, with Schneider looking at her like she had just sucker-punched him.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. We’ve, um--” He paused before reaching for her again. “We’ve never talked much about my sobriety. And I think that’s one of the nicest things you’ve ever said to me.”

This time, Schneider drew her closer, and Penelope let him, resting her face against his starched vest and breathing in the combination of formalwear and his cologne.

“I meant it,” she said, close to his heart. She was pretty sure she felt his lips brush the top of her head again, but they kept swaying without mentioning it.

“Were there any good parts?” Penelope found herself asking, as the music changed and he twirled her out in a slow spin. “Things you liked, things you miss?”

The night made her curious, when she never really was before. How did he go from this world to hers? It was hard to picture it, now that they were surrounded by old money and he was pulling her back toward him with the smoothest of moves.

“Not really,” Schneider said, thinking it over. “Having money has its perks, obviously, but this whole scene? Maybe ten years ago I would’ve said the easy access to vodka. In hindsight, not so much.”

“What about pretty girls in shiny dresses?” She joked as she settled back into his arms. “I mean you were a rich teenage boy--your hormones must have been happy.”

“I was a rich teenage boy,” he agreed, his tone the opposite of hers. “And there were lots of pretty girls. But I was a geeky kid with niche interests and the girls were the daughters of families like this.”

He gestured around them, then returned his hand to the small of Penelope’s back, where her glittering dress gave way to bare skin.

“It was never me they really liked. And that was all I wanted--to be appreciated for something other than the money.”

“Pobrecito,” Penelope murmured as she let her free hand curl against his chest. It was too easy to picture him young and long-limbed and lonely.

But in the moment, neither of them spoke, and his fingers were warm where they pressed into her back. The heat spread over her skin while they slow danced.

Then there was a rumble in the crowd around them, and the music stopped. 

“Well, here we go.” The near-whisper came out like both a warning and an apology. 

Schneider held her close, keeping his arm firmly around her waist, until someone beckoned him away from across the room.

Penelope missed him as soon as he was gone.

****

She watched as Schneider crossed to a dais and nodded in response to whatever the woman next to him was saying.

Then he stepped up to a microphone, offering the crowd a smile with nerves around the edges that Penelope was certain only she could see.

“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.” Schneider cleared his throat while polite applause crested and subsided. “Thank you all for coming tonight, to support My Friend’s Place and their work with homeless youth here in Los Angeles. Schneider International is honored to sponsor this gala, and my father and I are incredibly grateful for every one of your generous donations.”

Penelope listened as he rattled off statistics about the charity--apparently from memory. She couldn’t help noticing that Schneider was more animated about the plight of homeless teens than he had been about all of the expensive festivities so far.

He didn’t belong there any more than she did. The thought struck Penelope while she watched him run through a list of sponsors the corporation also wanted to thank. He might have the money and the history to match the bored-looking people surrounding her, but Schneider didn’t fit.

Not with them.

“And now,” Schneider said, pulling Penelope back to the present, “I’m pleased to welcome the man who made all of this possible--my father, Leonard Schneider.”

He took one large step away from the microphone and out of the spotlight, moving aside for someone she couldn’t say bore much of a resemblance to her best friend at all. He must take after his mom.

Though the elder Schneider’s build was the same, his features were sharp, almost hawkish. His close-cropped hair was silver. He even carried himself differently, stiff where Schneider was at ease. The formality of white tie suited him perfectly.

“Yes, thank you, everyone--and welcome,” Leonard echoed as he took the stage. “As many of you know, this is a cause that is very close to my heart, and I’m pleased to be able to use my influence to raise awareness and donations.

“When I expanded my company to the United States more than a decade ago, people called it a risk. Some called it crazy. But the business grew. It thrived. And that growth, that success, allowed me to fold more charitable giving into not just my life but also the life of Schneider International.”

Well, somebody didn’t lack for ego, Penelope thought. Who talked like that? Her eyes kept wandering back to Schneider, whose face was a mask again, with that faraway look that left her feeling deeply unsettled. 

Living every moment with utter joy, sometimes an almost-childlike abandon--that was the essence of Schneider. Even in serious moments, he was the most present person she knew.

“Our company will be donating $500,000 to My Friend’s Place over the next year, to support their work in Los Angeles. Additionally, every donation made here tonight will be personally matched by me,” Leonard announced with a small smile. “So please, give generously. And enjoy the party.”

As the crowd applauded, Leonard left the low stage. Penelope watched Schneider bow his head while his father spoke to him, before he straightened up to peer across the filled ballroom.

When Schneider found her in the crowd--when his eyes met hers and for just a moment there was an intensity in them she had never seen before, fierce and desperate and wanting--it actually left Penelope breathless.

Then he blinked, and a passing waiter jarred her shoulder, and time started moving again. 

****

She dialed up her smile to eleven as Schneider approached with his father and the woman Penelope assumed was his newest stepmom. 

As soon he was close enough to reach for it, Schneider took her hand, and Penelope didn’t hesitate to link her fingers with his. 

Pretending to be his girlfriend wasn’t even the point anymore, she realized with more than a little surprise. Now she just needed him to make it through the night and go back to being Schneider again. 

She would figure out what that meant later.

“Father, Rosa,” Schneider said formally. “This is my girlfriend, Penelope Alvarez.”

Schneider looked down at her, a hint of that earlier desperation still in his eyes, and Penelope considered faking an illness to get him out of the room. 

Of course, she couldn’t do that. How would it look? Looks were the whole reason they were here. 

All she could do was see him through this. And not let him out of her sight until the party was over, Penelope decided, as his hand squeezed hers. If he needed a lifeline in this sea of artificiality, that was definitely something she knew how to be.

“Penelope,” Schneider continued, shifting himself toward her a little more, “this is my father, Leonard Schneider, the founder and CEO of Schneider International. And this is his wife, Rosa.”

Rosa shook Penelope’s hand while Leonard was still looking at his son. Her quiet welcome, offered in Spanish, made Penelope smile.

“Was that so hard?” Leonard asked. His tone was polite, but something in it got Penelope’s attention--some edge that she felt more than heard. “That was a proper introduction, and it seemed to come to you easily enough.”

“Father--”

“No, son, I’m curious. I practically had to beg you to come to this event, which is for charity, something I know you were raised to understand the importance of.”

Though in her head, she was already mentally setting the man’s car on fire, just for the way his words were making Schneider fold in on himself, Penelope kept her smile in place and held out her hand to Leonard.

“It’s a real pleasure to meet you, Mr. Schneider. I’ve heard so much about you and your beautiful wife.” 

He blinked and took her hand automatically, lifting the corners of his mouth in what might pass for a smile if he were actually looking at her. 

But if Penelope wasn’t giving him the benefit of the doubt--which by now, she definitely wasn’t--she would more accurately describe it as looking through her. And there was nothing pleasant in Leonard’s eyes, nothing to indicate that he even cared that she was there.

Maybe he wasn’t the nicest guy, maybe he was someone who threw his money around instead of showing up for his son...she got that some fathers weren’t very engaged. 

But how dare he treat Schneider like there was something wrong with him for being single and then not offer up the slightest attempt at happiness when he wasn’t?

Sure, he was single, but his father didn’t know that. Leonard Schneider thought she, Penelope Alvarez, was seriously involved with his only child, and the best he could offer was disinterest?

Now she was pissed.

“It’s nice to meet you, too, Ms. Alvarez.”

“You can call me Penelope, of course,” she said, her voice dripping sweetness with such determination that Schneider’s eyebrows rose to his hairline. “This is a gorgeous party.”

“Well, thank you.” Leonard lifted a martini glass off a passing tray and sipped as Rosa stepped over to exchange small talk with Schneider.

Figuring that meant she was stuck with him, Penelope smiled at Leonard again. “It’s nice to finally meet you. The building you bought your son? My Mami has lived there for more than a decade. She loves it.”

“I see. Is that how the two of you met?”

“Sort of.” His gaze had already turned from her toward the stage where the orchestra was playing again, so she didn’t bother to elaborate. 

How had that man helped create Schneider? Of all the things that Schneider could be called, boring was not one of them.

Schneider was still at her side, turned toward Rosa while they talked. When his stepmother disappeared into the crowd, he smiled down at Penelope and let go of her hand.

“We can head out now, if you want.”

Leonard gave his empty martini glass to a nearby waiter and stepped in front of Penelope to face Schneider. Lowering his voice didn’t keep her from hearing him say, “You most certainly will not be leaving yet.”

“We’ve been here for three hours, Father. We made the introductions, I gave the opening speech, and Penelope was a delight. Our duty is done.”

“Don’t you talk to me about duty. You think just showing up with your girlfriend makes up for everything else? Not cleaning yourself up, avoiding some of the most crucial members of the board...and that speech was a joke. I cannot believe that you came here and couldn’t even be bothered to write down what you were going to say in advance. You don’t think the charity deserved it? You don’t think I deserved it?”

Though he kept his expression blank, Schneider’s voice was careful like Penelope had never heard it before. Like a man approaching a minefield. "Father, I think maybe you’ve had too much to drink.”

“Well, you would be the expert, wouldn’t you,” Leonard snapped. His wife cut through the crowd, concern creasing her face as she took in the scene. 

Rosa looped her arm through Leonard’s when she reached him, and Penelope couldn’t tell if it was to rein him in or not. 

"After six in-patient rehab stays, the lawyers for all the stunts you pulled, buying you that falling-down building like you’re a giant child playing with Legos, paying for a college education you never even completed. My god, son, all I asked was that you come here tonight and not make a fool of me.”

Oh, hell, no. No--that was it. 

“Hey!”

“Penelope, don’t-”

She shoved Schneider back, out of her way--out of the line of fire, some part of her brain thought--and glared up at Leonard in her three-inch heels

“You need to sober up and calm down. This gala of yours is bringing in the kind of money that could run a small nation. All of which is going to a charity that frankly, your son seems to know more about than you do, so maybe he didn’t need little index cards to remind him why it matters.”

His tone was as frosty now as her blood was boiling. "Ms. Alvarez, I really don’t think that you’re in any position to lecture me about my son.”

“I am with your son. Who came here, at your request, to help make the night a success, which it is. And as someone who cares about your son, I have every right to tell you to shut your drunken, rich mouth until you’re ready to acknowledge the progress he has made--rather than focusing on the past because the life he wants is different from yours.”

“Come on, Pen,” Schneider sidled up to her like he would approach an angry jungle cat. “Let’s just go.”

Her temper was difficult to shake even when she knew better. Leonard Schneider didn’t care what she had to say, she had zero chance of getting through to him...but she was just so furious. 

The man spent Schneider’s childhood subjecting him to a revolving cast of stepmoms, he was never around, then he uprooted him and left him to drown on a college campus when he most needed help. Now he had the nerve to act like Schneider was a blemish on the family name?

“Despite coming from a world that never asked him to do more than look important and multiply piles of money, Schneider spends his time fixing the homes and lives of everyone around him. He looks out for my mom, my kids, all of us. And I’m sorry you can’t see that, you can’t understand it, because that tells me something incredibly sad about you.” 

Later, Lydia would smile when Schneider told her how much her Lupita resembled her in that moment: when she lifted her chin at Leonard dismissively, held out a hand and told Schneider, “Now, we can go.”

But right then, Penelope wasn’t thinking about how she looked, or what Schneider’s parents must be thinking--or even that she had definitely raised her voice and caused a scene, the opposite of what she’d come there to do.

All she was thinking was that the man currently guiding her out of the ostentatious building and into the dark night was one of the best men she had ever known. Without question. 

From what she had seen, his father didn’t even come close.

How dare he?

****

“You didn’t deserve that, those things he said.”

They were sitting outside on a bench in the cool night air. Schneider shook his head. “You didn’t know me back then. He’s not wrong.”

She could still hear the hum of the party behind them, but it was blessedly faint. “I know you now. Hey--” Penelope tilted his face her way with the tips of her fingers.

“Hey. He’s wrong. Who you were then, it’s the foundation for who you are now. But who you are now...��� She clucked her tongue. “Ay Dios mio, Schneider, you’re such a good guy. The only one I trust with my apartment, and my kids. Your father doesn’t know that man.”

Taking his hand, Penelope stared at their entwined fingers rather than at Schneider. “Me and my family, we are lucky to know that man. So try to remember that, okay? We love you.”

He lifted his eyes from the floor, staring at her, then at the spot where she was holding his hand.

“You can say that,” Schneider said, “and mean it. You’re a very kind person, Penelope.”

“It’s true,” she protested. “It’s not some act of charity.”

“I know that,” he said quietly, running his thumb over the back of her hand. “But with the family you had, how you were loved growing up...you have no idea what it’s like without. Showing that doesn’t come easily, to some people.”

“It comes easily to you. You give love away, Schneider. Like you give away money. You don’t hoard it or withhold it like your father. You’re not your father.”

“No. I’m really not. Couldn’t be,” he admitted, “even if I wanted to.”

“Please,” she said, with all the sincerity she could muster. “Please don’t ever try. He may be rich and powerful, but the world doesn’t need more men like him. We need you.”

“I need you,” Penelope added. They were still holding hands, she realized, noting distantly that his was hot against hers, compared to the chilly breeze.

Schneider exhaled slowly. “Okay.”

He squeezed her hand, then let it go. Penelope tried not to focus too hard on the feeling he left behind.

“Wanna get out of here?”

“Now, that’s a good idea. Can you handle the drive home?” She smiled a little. “Between classes earlier and this delightful affair, I have to admit I’m pretty tired.”

“I’m fine to drive. But I did book us rooms,” he reminded her. “And you know your mom will keep an eye on the kids if you want to head back in the morning.”

She indulged in the fantasy of a hot bath, with no bickering teenagers nearby, for a few blissful moments. “How nice is the room?”

“Well, I’ve never been there,” Schneider admitted. “But it’s highly rated. Super fancy. You’d probably hate it.”

“I could steal so many little soaps,” Penelope said to herself.

“Huh?”

“Nothing.” She stood, tugging him up after her. “You know what? Let’s do it. Bring on your grossly wealthy lifestyle, Schneider. I could use a quiet night in a soft bed.”

[doctor-who-hears-a-horton]

To Live a Better Life (Ten x Rose)

Rating: Teen and up

Chapter: 2/?

Chapter 1

Summary: Rose Tyler has been the secretary to the CEO of Gallifrey Inc. for nine years, and she’s ready to move on with her life. But when Mr. Smith proposes something less than practical in lieu of her resignation, what will she say?

Read it on AO3 here!

Author’s note from AO3: Can I just say how happy and filled with warm fuzzies i was to see all the reads and comments on this? Thank you so, so much for reading the first chapter of this. I hope you all continue to read and comment, it inspires and motivates me so much!!!!  Also to those who reblogged on tumblr with sweet tags, I never know how to reply, but thank you from the bottom of my very exhausted, college student heart<3

Rose woke up, wishing she had actually been drunk.  Unfortunately, her good work ethic made her feel far too guilty to actually drink until she got drunk.  She blew out her cheeks and rolled out of bed, remembering the night before and Mr. Smith’s idiotic request.  How could he suggest they get married?  They’d known each other for years, yes, but there had never been anything there.  Had there?

She grumbled to herself, beginning to get ready for the day.  He was confusing her for no reason, making her think that he might like her, when she knew that it was simply because he wanted to keep her on as a secretary.  She shook herself and finished applying her makeup and tying her hair up in a professional style.  

When she reached the office, everybody was staring at her.  She walked past the cluster of desks where the others at Gallifrey Inc. worked and looked between them and the path to her own desk, outside of Mr. Smith’s office.  

“Are you all alright?” Rose asked them, leaning against the doorway to their office space.

“We just heard something went on between you and Mr. Smith last night.  He was pretty upset when he came in this morning.”  Martha, one of the marketing team, said.  “We were kinda wondering if you had a fight.”

“Ah, well, I guess you all should know that I’m turning in my resignation today.  I think it’s time I moved on a little bit from the company.”

“You’ve been at Mr. Smith’s absolute beck and call for the past nine years,” Donna Noble said, crossing her arms over her chest.  “I think it’s about time that you went off and did something else.  Congratulations.”

Rose nodded to them and the others, smiling. “Thanks.  I’d better get to him now though, I’m still his secretary for now.”  She walked to her desk, then, before anyone could say anything else about her resignation.  She wasn’t sure she wanted to talk about it.  She set her briefcase down and pulled out the resignation letter she’d written up.  Well, it was now or never.  If she didn’t give it to him now he’d never believe that she was actually quitting.

With a deep breathe, she knocked on his office door, which was a heavy, wooden thing, that opened into a huge office that had a sitting space off to one side. She heard the call from him to come in and she pushed the door open, smiling pleasantly.

“Ah, Miss Tyler!  A pleasure to see you, as usual,” he said.  “As I’m sure it is your pleasure to see me.”

Rose blinked.  This was exactly how she began most conversations with him.  “Well, Mr. Smith, good morning to you.”  She walked to his desk and extended the paper to him.  “Here’s my resignation letter, as I said I’d be giving to you yesterday.”

His smile fell. “What?”

“We spoke about this.”  She said, not letting her smile slip.

“Well, yes, but I thought you’d at least consider my proposal, quite literally.  You won’t find a more eligible bachelor than me, I can assure you of that.”  He adjusted his tie and looked proudly up at her.  “I’m sure what you actually mean is you’ve come here to accept.”

“No,” Rose said firmly, setting the letter down on his desk with finality.  “As I said last night, I will help you find another secretary, but I won’t be staying once he or she is trained.  Now, you have a lunch appointment with Mr. Rasilon at twelve and a board meeting at three.  Should you need me before then, I’ll be at my desk.”

She nodded to him and started to leave, hearing him set down his pen as her back turned on him  She thought he might call out to her, but to her surprise, he didn’t.  Blowing out a sigh of relief, she exited Mr. Smith’s office and let the door snick shut behind her.  Brushing off the anxiety that having a chat with him had brought up, she sat back at her desk and looked to all the files she had to go through before leaving.  There were plenty of things that she’d already sorted once she’d gotten them, since she’d really wanted to be the most organized and professional secretary she could be.  She had to thank her past self for her practices.  She went to taking Mr. Smith’s phone calls and fell into her work day without another thought.

What felt like hours later, Martha slid into the extra chair Rose had next to her desk and put her phone in front of her face.  Rose blinked in surprise and saw that it was a picture of a young business man.  She looked between Martha’s expectant face and the photo.

“Who’s this?” Rose asked patiently.

“His name’s Adam, he’s a business associate to Master Enterprises.  And he’s willing to go on a blind date.” She raised her eyebrows for emphasis.

Rose rolled her eyes.  “Oh, Martha, come on, now, I can’t be dating.  I don’t date, I don’t have time!”

“But you will now!” Martha protested. “You know, since you won’t have to deal with his royal highness in there anymore.  Come on, you should consider it at least.  For me?”  Martha shook her phone a little bit and Rose blew out her cheeks, studying the photo.

She wrinkled her nose.  “Well, I guess he’s cute,” she admitted. “But I don’t know if I’d want to date him, do we have anything in common?”

“That’s what the date is for!” Martha exclaimed.  “To see if you’re compatible.  And it would only be blind to him, so you wouldn’t have to be nervous about that part.  Just promise me you’ll think about it?  Tell me at lunch?”

Rose had to admit that the idea of actually going on a date was very appealing.  “Alright,” She said slowly, “I’ll let you know at lunch.  I’ve got to think about this.”

Martha left just as Mr. Smith left his office and strode up to her desk, shaking Rose from even being able to begin thinking about the blind date.  He had his hands in his pockets and was looking down at her, his brows drawn together.

“What time did you say my lunch appointment was?” He asked, looking frazzled.

Rose cocked her head to the side.  “Twelve.  Are you alright?”

“Yes, fine, just fine, I’m-”

“Your tie is all crooked.”

His hands fluttered by his neck for a minute before dropping.  Rose, however, couldn’t take it and got to her feet, going around the desk to fix his tie herself. She’d done it for him most mornings, and wasn’t sure who had done it today.  Probably him, since it was done so poorly.

She felt his breath catch as she adjusted his tie and wondered if she’d made a mistake. She’d done this so many times, but he’d never proposed to her before.  Was he thinking about it too?  What was he thinking about?  Her heart started beating a little faster and she cursed herself internally, finishing up with his tie and smoothing her hand down it.

“There.”

“You’ll have to do it from now on, as you have been,” Mr. Smith said once she stepped back from him.

Rose smiled pleasantly and nodded, clasping her hands together in front of her body.  “Okay,” she said.  “If that’s what you want, I’m sorry that I didn’t do it this morning.”

“Yes,” Mr. Smith nodded.  “I think it’s better that you continue on with your duties until you…” He stopped, but she knew what he was going to say.

Rose took a deep breath, gathering up the courage to ask her next question.  “Mr. Smith, would it be alright if I put up notifications for the job opening in the company?”

“What job opening?”

She dropped her posture. “Mr. Smith.”

He frowned. “Fine.  I guess you really are serious about this. Go on, then, list it.  I’ll see whoever you want me to see.”  He turned and walked back into his office, brushing a hand over his tie one last time. Rose sighed and turned back to her desk to make the listing.  His guilt tripping wasn’t going to make her stay.  It wasn’t.  She wouldn’t let him do that to her.

She remembered all the time she’d spent here, the times he’d guilted her into learning a new language, going somewhere she didn’t want to go, the list just went on and on.  He made her pick him up when he’d been drinking, and he was a pleasant drunk, but she was a sour designated driver.  She’d be free of Mr. John Smith soon enough.

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

“Have you thought about it?”  Martha asked the second Rose sat down next to her for lunch.

She hadn’t, but she had to say something.  Anything.  And honestly, what harm would it do to go on a blind date with what looked to be a very handsome man?  She nodded.  “Alright, I’ll go.”

“Oh, good, cause I already texted him and he wants to meet up tonight.”  Martha grinned.  “At the little cafe on Northeast.  Sound fun?”

Rose had to laugh.  “Sure, Martha.  That sounds great.”

The others from the office sat around the table as well, chattering about their own days and Rose realized that she was going to miss this. She was going to miss the bustle off the office, the cheerful camaraderie that surrounded their department.  She’d developed such a bond with these people, and she hoped it wouldn’t slip away from her when she left.  

          ******************

That night, she stood outside Cafe 5, a name she never understood for a cafe that had very excellent food and coffee.  She had the advantage of knowing who she was looking for, but she had to pretend like she wasn’t.  

The man from Martha’s picture walked up to her, a beaming smile on his face.  “Are you Rose?”  

“Yeah, I am.  You must be Adam.” Adam shook her hand, rather aggressively, and nodded.  “Yeah, Adam Mitchell, that’s me.  Martha’s told me a lot about you.”

“Oh, she has?”  Rose laughed.  “Well, let’s go inside and we can talk all about that.”

As it turned out, there was one topic that Adam liked a lot, and that was himself.  He was very successful and wanted her to know it, cluing her in on the awards his office had won and how many of them had been on his behalf.  

Rose knew she was thinking too far ahead, but she couldn’t see herself dating or marrying someone like this. He barely let her get in a word.  As soon as it was polite, she said that she had to get going and apologized if she was inconveniencing him.

“Not at all, I have a busy day tomorrow anyway.  But the coffee and conversation was lovely.”  He smiled at her and she politely returned it.

Her eyes zoned in on his tie, which had somehow become crooked.  “Oh, your tie-” On an instinct, she moved to fix it.

“Miss Tyler!” She heard a very familiar, bellowing voice call out to her.  She felt her eyes widen and she let go of Adam’s tie, knowing that if she didn't’ she’d probably accidentally choke him out.  Mr. Smith was striding towards them, his eyes alight with fury.

“What are you doing out here? I called you twice.”  He seemed to not be able to see Adam at all, his eyes locked onto hers.

Rose looked down at her phone.  “I’m sorry, Mr. Smith, is it really that urgent?”

“I should go,” Adam interjected.  “Rose, I’ll call you.”

Rose nodded politely and smiled.  “Alright.  Enjoy the rest of your night, Adam.”  She took her time during back to Mr. Smith.  “And what can I do for you?”

“What was that?”

“I don’t have to explain anyth-” “Why were you fixing his tie?”

Rose blinked.  He was upset over her… Fixing Adam’s tie?  “It’s a work habit, Mr. Smith.  Why did you call?”

“A work habit?  You, touching that man’s neck, is a work habit?”

“Why are you so upset?  You don’t have any claim over what I do, especially not now.” She wasn’t sure where the snap had come from, but it seemed to upset him. His cheek twitched and he turned away from her.  “I’ve brought my car.  I’ve been invited to a wine night at the Prime Minister’s and I need you to accompany me.”

Rose knew perfectly well that the Prime MInister and Mr. Smith were friends, and he really didn’t need her to go with him.  He was using it as an excuse.  For what, she wasn’t sure, but she was definitely annoyed and needed to bite her tongue, lest she say anything else that was on the edge of whatever line she was walking at the moment.

“Fine,” She spit out.  “I don’t see why you need me, but I will accompany you to Downing Street.  Are any other secretaries going tonight?”

“No.  Just you.”

Rose balled her hands up in fists at her sides.  He had to be kidding, absolutely kidding.  He truly was the strangest man she’d ever known.

[wagingwar-rp]

Welcome to Waging War, Julia. The role of Lily Evans is now taken.

As Marlene's player Lily is a very important character for me and thus I had special interest in anybody who applied for her. If I'm quite honest, you already had me when I read how you see the connection between Lily and Marlene because I totally loved what you wrote there. Yet it wasn't only that one connection but rather your whole app that won us completely over. Lily isn't exactly an easy role because of the high expectations everybody has at a Lily Evans player, but your app convinced us that you're the right choice to be our Lily. - Admin Carrie Please submit your blog in the next 24 hours and follow all other steps on our checklist.

OOC INFORMATION

NAME: Julia PRONOUNS: Her/She. AGE: 19. TIMEZONE: EST. ACTIVITY-LEVEL: 8/10. My activity is that number because I am practically free for most of the summer besides working at my college radio station once a week and driving my sister to soccer practice.. TRIGGERS: NONE. ANYTHING ELSE: I’m super excited to start! Everything looks amazing!

IC INFORMATION

BASIC INFORMATION

CHARACTER YOU’RE APPLYING FOR: Lily Evans. Lily: The name Lily refers to the flower which symbolizes purity, innocence, and beauty. It fits Lily because she is pure of heart and willing to help anyone in need. Also, she is referenced as a beautiful girl with red hair and green eyes. Marie: Some references see the name Marie as “rebellion” and it fits Lily Evans because despite being known as a goody-two-shoes she is a fiery person. She will bend the rules in order to help her friends. And she is a part of the rebellion against the evil that is threatening London. Evans:The last name Evans refers to “gracious” or “God has shown grace” which refers to Lily as a kind person and despite being hated by many people in this war she is still merciful to all FACECLAIM: Kat Mcnamara REASON FOR YOUR CHOICE: I have played Lily Evans years ago in a roleplay and I have been waiting for the right RPG to play her again. I love how courageous she is and how unapologetic she is for who she is. She really inspires me to be braver in my everyday life.

MAGICAL TOOLS

WAND: In the Harry Potter books canon Lily Evans’ wand was purchased from Ollivander’s and it was 10¼", Willow, swishy with a Unicorn Hair core.Willow based wands are common among people who have some sort of insecurity and this relates to Lily as her insecurity as a witch is that she is a Muggleborn. She constantly worries if she is a good enough witch which in turn makes her work harder.Also noted by Ollivander is that people who have willow wands contain the greatest potentional as wizards and witches.People who have siwshy wands may be very sociable and fun-loving They are usually very clever and prefer not to tie themselves down to any particular way of thinking until they’ve gathered all of the information.Lily’s wand has a unicorn hair core because it is hard to turn over to dark magic and is extremely loyal to their first owner. This mimics Lily’s personality because she too is loyal to a fault and is extremely against dark magic. PATRONUS:In the Harry Potter books it is stated that Lily Evans has a doe as her patronus. One of the reasons that Lily’s patronus is a doe is because of it’s motherly qualities. Lily constantly takes care of the people she loves and protects them as if she was their mother. Also, the doe symbolizes vigilance and it relates to Lily because she is careful of the dangerous world around her and has the ability to create new ideas to solve problems on the spot. Does are also gentle and inuitive towards emotions much like Lily Evans. Though she seems like a firecracker, Lily is deeply in tune with the world around her. She is often sensitive beneath the brave face she puts on. And the reason that her patronus is a doe is because she matches with James Potter whose patronus is a stag. The paired patronuses symbolize a strong bond between the two as though it was a rope that was tying their fates together. BOGGART: The boggart that Lily Evans would have is having all of her friends turn against her. Throughout her time at Hogwarts, Lily was always concerned that she would lose her friends because they would see her as some of the others did; a no-good mudblood. She would be all alone and no one would be able to comfort her or keep her safe from the darkness around her. It took Lily a while to be able to conquer a boggart as most times she would freeze, the reality of the pain that the boggart would bring would be too much to bear. But over the years she found a way to help her defeat the monster. She had a locket around her neck that contained pictures of her and her closest friends. She would clutch the locket tight in her palm and then she would be able to defeat the boggart. All she needed was a small reminder that her friends would never leave her and that the boggart’s form wasn’t reality.

A LAYER DEEPER

PERSONALITY TRAITS: -Compasstionate:Lily is a compassionate human being towards anyone she meets. When Lily was a young girl she would often help her mother knit scarves for the needy and brin extra food to the local food pantry for the needy. Even at school when there were kids that were rotten towards her, Lily would step in and help them even if they didn’t want it. But overall Lily is most compassionate towards her friends and her family. She is always there to be their shoulder to cry on and give them advice on any problems that they had. Lily would even tutor kids at Hogwarts who needed her help in Potions and Charms since she was the top of her class. Though the world was cruel to Lily she learned to kill them with kindess. -Daring: Lily is a daring person because she is willing to take risks in dangerous or stressful situations. When working for the Order she would volunteer to go on dangerous missions and often times put herself in danger to save someone else. Also, during her younger days she would secretly explore the Forbidden Forest and document the creatures that she found there. She was never afraid to speak her mind either; her sharp tounge always having a witty comment to those who would try and beat her down. Though people saw her as a little bookworm, Lily Evans is a firecracker and ultimately is a renegade in her own special way. -Stubborn: Though Lily is a nice girl she is often times stubborn when it comes to certain things. She always wants to take charge in group projects and often hates being in the backseat on missions. Sometimes she believes that her opinion or ideas are always the best ones and often times ignores others because of it. She is stubborn in changing her mind once it is set sometimes and will not budge until people see it her way. This is only because she knows she is a smart girl and wants people to respect her rather than ignore her. -Sarcastic: Though people may disagree that sarcasm isn’t a negative trait it can get Lily Evans in trouble sometimes. When she was bullied throughout her years at Hogwarts Lily learned that having a sharp tounge was better than getting into duels. She would snap back at her enemies with a quick remark and that would often lead to a hex being thrown her way. People would say her attitude may appear snooty but really she is only trying to have fun and focus on the task at hand. Sometimes her sarcasm is playful, especially towards her friends, but if you cross Lily Evans you better be prepared for what she has to say. CONNECTIONS: -Marlene McKinnon:Marlene is one of Lily’s best friends and allows her to have balance within her life. She is the ying to her yang and allows for her to let loose every once in a while to break her constant working. Marlene is the one person who pushes Lily put of her comfort zone whether it is exploring or going out drinking in a new place. Even through the hard times with Petunia, Lily would always confide in her friend and vent all of her frustrations. Although Lily already has a biological sister, Marlene truly is the sister she was hoping for with Petunia. Though on a deeper level she wants to be a little bit more like Marlene in her every day life. Marlene isn’t afraid when she goes into battle and pours every inch of her soul into fighting. Lily, however, is still scared of what could happen and is hesitant to actually hurt anyone because deep down she still sees these enemies as people. So having Marlene as a friend makes her a stronger person and allows herself to be brave because she always knows that she has a friend on her side. -James Potter:Lily’s relationship with James Potter is more or less a complicated one. Throughout high school she was constantly annoyed by his presence and constant badgering. It was the constant poking at her during class or just asking her out on dates when clearly she wasn’t interested. But something changed towards the end of school where he suddenly had a change in personality. He was still the same outgoing guy but he wasn’t the child that he once was and quit the pranking on other people. He became kinder and instead of chasing after her she was treated as a person or even a friend. She won’t admit that she’s growing soft to his charm and will still keep him at arm’s length. But she secretly is happy that he will be beside her in battle because despite his cocky attitude he really is a skilled wizard. So maybe for now she will try and be his friend but she can’t help but admit that he is starting to look a tiny bit cute. -Remus Lupin:There is one person that Lily relates to on another level and that is Remus Lupin. She isn’t sure if he knows that she has figured out that he is a werewolf but she figured that out around their 5th year at Hogwarts. But through that discovery she has never felt closer to the man. Though people don’t know about his secret if they did he would be treated the same as she would. According to the Death Eaters they are both disgusting creatures that shouldn’t be a apart of the wizard community. Not only that but she feels that Remus is one of the few people who doesn’t mind her constant complaining and doubting of herself. Whenever she needs to talk, Remus is always there to lend an ear and not constantly try to fix her. He understands her plight and always is there for her and even gives her some chocolate to cheer her up. She does wonder some times if he does the same thing for James and if he tells her secrets. But she still trusts him with her problems either way. FUTURE PLOT IDEAS: 1.A part of Lily’s life that I want to explore is the death of Lily Evan’s parents. We know that they have to die before James and Lily since Harry is taken to the Dursley’s I would really love to explore what happened to them. What I would think would be a good plot is that Lily’s parents are targeted for an attack or that the neighorhood they were in was targeted because it was known to have many muggleborns/squibs and that is how they died. I think it would be good for Lily to experience this loss in the roleplay because this would be a direct attack on people she loves. It might also give her guilt because it’s no one’s fault but her own because she is a muggleborn witch and that would break the relationship between her and Petunia. This would mean that Lily only has her friends to rely on because the rest of her family would either be dead or hate her (AKA. Petunia). I see this as a way to connect with James because I’m sure at some point in the roleplay his elderly parents will die as well. And from that their relationship/bond can grow. This will have Lily break down mentally and would crush her spirit for the time. I see Lily as a very positive person and to experience this tragedy may bring her back to the reality of war. This might change her into a more angry person towards the Death Eaters and might make her more willing to hurt them than before. 2. Another plot that I would like to look into is a maybe Severus and Lily might meet again during a battle or while she is out casually and they have a conversation about their friendship. Snape could try to lure her to take his side and join him so they can be friends again which leads to an argument. Or maybe she could forgive him and try to help him get away from the death eaters or it could result in an explosive argument or a duel. Either way I want the pair to revisit their friendship because I think Lily would still try and save him even if he doesn’t want to be saved. Friendships that close just don’t break off after one argument. I think it will take constant rejection and rejection for their friendship to completely end. And for that to happen I want them to have a private moment where Lily tries to take him back to the good side. This could even lead to more pain when Lily eventually dies due to the war because she tried her best to save him. I think that this will make Lily more hardened towards Snape in the end because eventually she will cut him off and she might even end up hating him. And Lily would never hate anyone unless something truly terrible happened between them. SEXUALITY & SHIPS: I would like for Lily to be heterosexual but I would like to explore more than one ship before she settles on James. During the war Lily will want to have some comfort through the horror so I feel that she would build more than one relationship throughout that time period. I would like for her to experiment with Remus Lupin a bit since they both relate to being outcasts because of who they are.They wouldn’t be in a serious relationship but more of an emotional dependence on one another.I would also like for Lily to have small dates with other characters that I see her growing close to in the Order such as Caradoc Dearborn. But of course I would want Lily to ultimately end up with James Potter because I believe their love is pure.And although I know it will kill me personally to have Lily be romantic with other people besides James, because they’re my OTP, it’s healthy for her to experiment with relationships.

EXTRA SECTION

Here is the extra stuff located on this mock blog amugglebxrn.tumblr.com.

PARA SAMPLE

( This is revamped from my old Lily Evans rp ) Lily was alone today in Hogsmeade and that was perfectly alright. It was a day of relaxation and well just a day to read. The day before was a great day, wonderful actually with her friends but now she just needed some time to herself. Walking out of the castle, Lily took her place under a tree next to Flourish and Blotts before pulling out her favorite book and started to read. If you haven’t guessed her favorite book is The Wizard of Oz. A classic that her mother read to her when she was a little girl; telling her she was just a special as Dorothy was. Though she tried, Lily wasn’t even that concentrated. Over the last few days she’s been thinking of recent events and home, wondering if her family was safe. Her parents knew of the war and what kind of dangers they were in but Lily didn’t think they fully understood the circumstances. Her blood was the reason that they could be a target. And if they died…well Lily couldn’t find it in her heart to ever forgive herself for letting something like that happen. And she knew for a fact that Petunia would blame it on her powers like she always did. “Lily is a freak! Her powers are going to hurt all of us one day!” Those words constantly echoing in the back of her mind along with the rest of the doubts she had stuck in the back of her head. Now being away at Hogwarts, she worries even more and sends a letter home everyday just to make sure they were doing alright. But even then the anxiety sets in and she tries to stay focused on making sure that the world is a better place for everyone. If she was going to be a witch then she was going to use her powers as much as she can to improve the world around her. And then she worried about Hogwarts and what would happen here. Well she already knew what normally happens to her would just intensify by a thousand. More hexes will be thrown around and same with the term ‘Mudblood.’ Not only that but she was worried for those other kids that are in her place as she once was at Hogwarts. The constant fear that someone will creep out of the dark and hurt them just for being who they are. Just the thought of it made her blood boil and her fingers tightened against the spine of the book; her knuckles turning white. They couldn’t help who they were and it broke her heart to see these kids in pain. I’m sure they felt like their powers are a burden and not a wonderful gift as she has come to learn.The constantly curse their gift because of the ignorant people around them. She lets out a deep breath that she hadn’t realized she was holding in and tries to concentrate on the words on the page again. It just seemed that whether she was here or at home, Lily had absolutely no place to belong. Her sister hates her for having magic and at Hogwarts people are angry that she has it due to her blood status. Lily couldn’t go home and look like a coward to live with her sister and parents until she can find a Muggle job and there was no way she could leave. The world of magic is her home, well it only seems like it used to be. Being called an unworthy Mudblood everyday does put a damper on the place you love the most. Maybe things would have been better if she was never born with magic in the first place. But then again, she has to stay strong and not think of those things if she wants to fight in this war. Pushing those thoughts out of her head, Lily buried her nose back into the book she was dying to read. And as soon as she started once more, Lily lets out a sigh and drops the book back in her lap. Her hands run over her face and she closes her tired eyes for a moment just to slow down for just a moment. This war has been having her head reeling for days over the many possibilities that could come out of it. Will she live? Will all of her friends live to tell the tale of their victory? Or maybe they will lose and Lily would have to try and run for some sort of freedom? No. She can’t think like that; as if she’s giving up on the fight already. Lily stuffs her book back into her satchel and stands up from her spot that she used to find so much comfort in. This is not the time to be scared and hold back because of some childish fears. She is much better than that and knows deep down in her soul that even if she doesn’t make it to the other side of this war they will win and good will prevail. Coming out of the store she sees Marlene, James, Mary, Sirius and the rest of the people she has grown to love over this journey. Even through the pain that they have been going through they all still have a light burning bright inside of them. Their smiles shine brightly in the summer sun and their laughter fills her soul with hope. Love. That is what will carry them to the end of the line. It won’t be their skill and it won’t be their strategy; though she’s sure that will help. But it is their love for one another and their love for everyone else in this world. Love will carry them through the darkness and into the new world of peace. A smile tugs on the corner of Lily’s lips and she jogs over to meet her friends. “All right, Evans?” James asks, his eyes glancing over to her with a wide grin. Lily looks at the people around her and the beautiful scenery and lets out a huge sigh of relief. “I’ve never been better.” And with that the group heads back to the Order’s meeting quarters, not with fear but with hope for tomorrow.