#except marcus. he’s just an asshole

[sulevinen]

i feel like every jayce hater is a viktor lover

[sunrisesfromthewest]

First Encounter Part 8

Warnings/Summary:Slight Angst|Armando flipping the switch all the sudden|Everybody ready to whoop his ass|Y/N and Rita having much needed girl talk| Mando reflecting on his assassin days |Y/N making him work for it if you get what I mean😌

Previous Parts: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

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Receiving an amused expressions from the group and a stressed out one from Mike, you attempt to shut down your fathers' comments. 

“Dad for the last time I’m not pregnant....and plus it doesn’t work that fast!" you exclaimed crossing your arms annoyed that he keeps trying to speak a child on you. 

Pursing his lips in disagreement your dad, sends Mike a look, "She's in denial but don’t worry Mike, this is your chance to get reconnected with your son and future grandchild.” 

Closing his eyes Mike lets out a frustrated sigh, "Marcus, I don’t need to be thinking about a nonexistent grandkid when I’m still trying to get used to having a son and a wife!"  

Shaking his head, he looks at Armando who has been silently listening to the conversation, mind seemingly lost on the possibility of bringing a child in this world. 

“No Mike this...” pausing Marcus gasps loudly in realization, which startled everybody, "THE VISION! OH, how could I be so stupid.” Without any explanation Marcus walks away mind now occupied with this new spiritual hint he has received. 

“Okay...should we go ahead and head towards the location.” Kelly says bringing the conversation back to the mission. 

“Yeah, there should be a safe house not too far from the meet up spot, lets gather what we can and load up." Mike replied to Kelly with an exhausted tone. 

With that everyone proceeds to make their way to the lake house, except for Mike who ask if Armando could stay behind for a second. 

Hearing this you glance at Armando who has a contemplating look on his face, sighing he gives your hand a small squeeze, and makes his way back to his father. 

Sending Mike a smile you continue walking with the others, allowing them to have a private moment. 

Reluctantly Armando brings his gaze to his father, "Did you need something?” 

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While everyone collects things for the mission you go through your medical bag, double checking your supplies as Midnight lays on your lap sleep. 

“Hey,Y/N I meant to ask you to check out Rita, she got into a scuffle with Lockwood before we had reached them." Kelly says while zipping up a duffel bag. Glancing up at the mention of her name, Rita shakes her head in disagreement, "I’m fine, we should save the supplies for when it’s needed.” 

Standing up you lay Midnight by your bag, as you make your way over to Rita with concern, "I got plenty of supplies and you should let me determine if your fine or not.” 

Sighing she says, "You're not going to leave me alone, until you check me out aren’t you." Running your eyes over her, you let out a small laugh, as you reach her tense form, "You know me so well. Are you hurting anywhere?” 

“Leaving the elevator, it was hurting at first but the pain is dull now." she says pointing to her head, while glaring at Lockwood. Pressing your hands down softly on her head, you asked if she felt any pain, while you palpate and look for any bruises. 

“No, mostly mentally hurt than physical." she says removing your hand from her head, looking up she gives you a sad but reassuring smile.  

Leaning down near her ear you asked her if she wanted you to prescribe her some “Medical” Hemp, on the low. She turns to you with an amused expression, "Are you trying to sell a police officer weed?” 

Raising your hand up, in defense, you say with a smile,” Hey, you said it, I’m just trying to help a friend relax and take her mind off of a useless asshole.” Walking over to your bag, you glare at Lockwood, who glares back at you. 

“Some men just don’t deserve a woman's love, especially from a caring woman like you Rita." you say still glaring at Lockwood as you rummaging through your medical bag, for some ibuprofen.  

Lockwood looks like he wanted to reply but with the duct tape over his mouth and hands   handcuffed behind him all he could, do was roll his eyes and huff noisily through his nose. Giving Rita the pills she takes it nodding her head at your words, but making a skeptical expression, while looking down at the pills in her hands. 

” Take them pills Rita, ain’t nobody tryna slip you some weed." you said watching with a big smile as she debates about taking the medicine or not. Rolling her eyes, she takes them while glaring at you playful, "If you gave me some weed Y/N, I swear...”  

Cutting her off you say, "Girl that was pain medicine, you weren’t hiding your flinching very well, when I was examining your head for any swelling.” 

Shaking her head at your words, she points at you with a knowing look, "Can't get nothing past you, Huh?”  

“You already know, you want me to get you some water.” you said heading to the kitchen. Hearing a ‘please’ you make your way to the fridge, smacking Dorn shoulder playful, while passing by him. 

Unbeknownst to you Mike enters the house with a solemn expression, while Armando trails behind him, eyes narrowed as he traced the room for you. 

Moving around Mike, he heads further into the house, briefly looking in the living room before turning his head towards the kitchen, where he sees you grabbing some water. 

Sighing he walks over to you almost hesitant, as he watches you glance away from the fridge. 

Seeing Armando approaching form you smile, but it immediately drops when he doesn’t return it with a playful smirk. Concerned you close the fridge door, setting the water on the counter as you walk towards him. 

“Hey...is everything okay?" you said blinking up at him as he looks everywhere but at your worried expression. After not receiving a response, you grab his hand bringing him further into the kitchen, so you can talk to him without any curious eyes watching y’all. 

Feeling him snatch his rough hand out of your soft ones made you turn to him with raised and curved brows. 

“Mand-” before you can question him, he cuts you off, "Don't call me that,Y/N!”  Even more confused you try to reach out to him, but he just steps away from your comforting hands, while frowning at you. 

Defense immediately coming up, you pull your hands back opting to wrap it around yourself as you look at him completely lost on why he was acting like this all the sudden. 

“Mando....baby what’s wrong.... did I do something?" you said chewing at your bottom lip nervously as you wait for his response. 

Brown eyes glancing down at your lips, he shakes his head eyes flickering back up to yours while he lets out a frustrated sigh, "No... I did...whatever was blossoming between us, it stops here.” 

Letting out a stunned laugh you say “What?” fully hearing him but lost by this random change of heart. 

“You heard me, Y/N.....and plus this was just a one-time thing, like you said.... Shit we both just needed to scratch an itch.” he says watching as you wince at his words, while avoiding his gaze. 

Blinking your tears away you laugh bitterly, "Wow, after all that defending I did for myself...and you... is that what you thought this was.... the need to scratch and itch!” you said with a clenched jaw while glaring up at him. 

Pursing his lips Armando goes to speak but you cut him off, "You know what Fuck You Armando! and to think I was starting to have a change of heart about you......I should’ve listened to Kelly!” 

“Yeah, you should’ve and you already did the first part!" Armando says as he watches your face flush with anger. 

Shaking your head in disbelief and hurt you shove pass him hard, as you make your way to the restroom, not wanting to face the embarrassment or the looks you’ll receive from the other, as you had no doubt that they heard you guys' arguing. 

As you walk away Armando’s angry facade slips away as he drops his head into his hands, with regret.  

He knew that what he did was for the right reasons, even before his conversation with Mike, even when he had first met and seen you, he knew that something was different about you. But the life that he had lived so far has been so devoid of love.... not just affection but real love, that he jumped at the opportunity to experience it with you once it was finally offered.  

And now as he leaned against the counter with his head in his hand, he wiped away at his tears of frustration, while staring blankly at nothing. Did he fuck up the only chance he had at happiness? 

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Everyone could sense the tension between you two but chose to ignore it ,as you all gather up your things and load into the van. Seeing that the back was going to be crowded you choose to sit in the front with Rita, not really wanting to be in Armandos presence, as y’all make your way to the safe house. 

Noticing this Marcus closed the back of the van doors, confused on why his daughter wouldn’t want to sit next to the boy in front of him. As the van begins to move Armando could feel everyone stares, as he leaned against the van walls, eyes closed as he attempts to relax. 

Sighing when he starts hearing slight muttering to his left he opens his eyes, "Speak up, If your gonna talk shit about me, at least have the balls to do it to my face.” 

“You know you're a fucking asshole,right!” Dorn says face red with anger from the way Armando spoke to you. 

Humming in agreement Armando stares emptily at him, "Heard that one before.... anyone else got something to say." Tilting his head to the left he see Kelly glaring at him with the same angry expression. "She genuinely started to like you even when I tried to warn her, she chooses you of all people to show love and affection; just for you to act like that asshole Rafe!” 

Sitting up at this, Armando furrows his brows at her words, "Who's Rafe?” 

“Y/N ex-boyfriend and an ex-member of the AMMO Squad, you ran into him a couple of times when you were still working under the cartel." Marcus says crossing his arm as he watched the scene unfold in front of him. 

Rolling his eyes as he remembers that smug member of the group he scoffs, "I'm nothing like that asshole,get your facts straight before comparing me to him.” 

“Nah the comparison is pretty accurate, and you both done her wrong." Dorn says looking like he’s ready to launch at Armando. 

Becoming frustrated he shakes his head in disagreement, "You don’t have a fucking clue about the way I feel about Y/N,so mind your fucking business!" Armando says feeling anger flare inside of him. 

“Oh Yeah! If you felt so strongly about her, why the hell did you treat her like that in the kitchen!" Kelly says with frustration, seconds away from pulling her gun on him again. 

“Y’all just drop this convo-” Before Mike could defend his son, Marcus cuts in "No! Mike you been defending this boy all day, I need to know the reasons behind his actions, especially when it comes to my daughter!” 

Groaning in frustration Armando glances at his father debating if he should tell the others or not. Staring his son down Mike shakes his head in disagreement but after seeing his son almost pleading stare he sighs, "Tell them what you told me.” 

Everyone looked at the two confused as Mike says this, "What have y’all been keeping from us!", Marcus says with worry written all over his face. 

“Before I completed any assassination, I liked to study my victims, you know learn their habits and hangout spots....” Armando says face harden as he reflects on his memories and actions. “During that time, I learned how you all worked and function, even knew that you two were fucking even, before I completed my observations." Armando says pointing at Kelly and Dorn who become flush at his words. 

Sighing he rubs at his eyes, "I was supposed to execute each and every one of you, the night after I shot Mike.”  

Everyone froze at his words except for Mike who grimace from the memory of being shot. Armando shifted in his seat as he watches the unsure gazes of the people around him. 

“I know you killed Captain Conrad....but why didn’t you go after the rest of us." Marcus says wondering what stopped him from continuing his assassinations against the squad. 

Closing his eyes for a split second, he runs his hands through his hair before looking up at Marcus with a shaky smile,” Y/N. ” 

Not expecting that everyone stares at Armando confused and surprised as he says your name. "She wasn’t even involved with the case, when you were after the squad!" Kelly says thinking that Armando was lying. 

“Yes, she wasn’t involved in the case but I always keep an eye on the family members just in case something goes sideways, but one night when I was scoping out the station, I wasn’t watching where I was going and I ran into her." he says smiling softly at the memory. 

“She seemed upset and tears was clouding her vision, so I can see why she doesn’t remember me.” Pausing Armando look at the others before continuing, "It was the way she franticly apologized and made sure I was alright... that had me second guessing my orders......how could someone who was clearly experience the worst pain in their life, disregard her feelings to make sure a stranger was okay." he said glancing around at the team. 

Everybody just sat there and listened about how your one act of kindness, potential saved them from knocking at deaths door. "That's why when she walked through the door this morning, I couldn’t keep my eyes off of her.” 

Leaning over to Mikes ear, Marcus whispers, "Looks like it’s the LOWREYS who can’t keep away from us BURNETTS.” 

Rolling his eyes Mike ignores Marcus comments, as he continues to listen to Armando explanation. "But that doesn’t explain why you said those things to her." Dorn says making Armando drop the small smile he had on his face.  

Blinking he looks down at his hands, "I just snapped...I didn’t mean for my words to come out that way, I never felt like this for someone....ever, it's like every cell in my body went into defense mode, when they realized that my heart was beating quicker for a different reason other than protecting myself....” 

Sighing his eyes squeezed shut as he muttered words that shocked everyone, "I think I’m in love with, Y/N.” 

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The drive to the safe house was surprisingly peaceful as you and Kelly talk about your bad taste in men. It’s funny how crying helps relieve the pain, in your chest temporally after being hurt by someone. 

“I just don’t understand what happened it was like his whole attitude towards me just shifted......maybe he was finally showing me, his true colors." you said wiping at your eyes. 

Pulling into the driveway Rita, puts the van in park before turning towards you, "I wish I could give you an explanation for his actions but men are weird when it comes to dealing with their emotions," Sighing she leans against the driver seat eyes moving to look at the dashboard, "it's like their fight or flight kicks in....and the men I chosen so far always pick the fight, then flight after getting what they want.” 

“But the heart wants, what it wants.... right?" you say still apprehensive about the emotions you were feeling at the moment. 

Turning towards you she gives you a small smile, "Your young you still have the chance and opportunity on finding someone who truly cares for you....and yes, the heart wants what it wants but don’t forget about this one either." she says pointing to her head while making direct eye contact with you. 

“Be smart Y/N,I’m just giving you advice from someone who has let her heart decide on what she needs multiple times......and let me tell you how wrong it’s been." she says laughing slightly, while blinking the tears away that threatens to fall. 

“Oh, I know, I've had problems with that too." you said laughing along with her. 

You two sit in comfortable silence, allowing the a/c to be heard as its humming noise filled the empty noise around you two. Lost in thought you sit in the passenger seat reflecting on everything you two talked about but before you can completely space out, someone knocked hard on your window. 

Jumping from the abrupt noise you turn to see, Kelly standing by the door with an apologetic smile. Rolling down the window you give her an annoyed look, “You ain’t on duty, why you knocking on my window like you trying to give me a ticket?” 

Shaking her head at your comment, she laughs while leaning against the passenger door, "Just wanted to see if you had completely left mentally, and everyone already went inside the house,they wanted me to check up on you two.” 

“Really, I didn’t even notice." you said unbuckling your seat belt, while Rita turns the van off and complete the same motions as you. 

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Upon entering the safe house, the men seemed to already have set up a sleeping arrangement as everyone turned in for the night. Glancing to the side you make eye contact with Armando for a split second before shifting your gaze to a different area of the house. Setting your bag and Midnight down you asked your dad where you were sleeping. 

“There are only 4 rooms so we decided to sleep in pairs." Marcus says while digging through his bag. Tensing up you look around unsure before Dorn gives your shoulder a light squeeze, while slipping by you, "Don't worry he wanted to sleep on the couch.” 

Sighing in relief you nod, as you walked towards what you assumed was your bedroom for tonight. The room was only lit by the small lamp on the night stand, which provided only a little light but other than it looked quite cozy.  

Walking back out you go to pick up your duffel bag but freeze, at the sight before you. Midnight must have wonder towards Armando while you explored your room, you had to admit the sight of him playing with your little black fur baby was cute. Watching as his brown doe like eyes move up to meet yours with a hesitant smile, had you roll your eyes as you snatched up your bag, and quickly returned to your bedroom. 

Feeling the physical and mental toll of today finally kick in you hurriedly complete your night routine, and quickly get in the bed, opting to just sleep in your shirt. Turning the light off you lay in bed, as you watch the natural light from the moon shine through the windows. 

The funny thing about being tired is that the minute your head hit the pillow, you have that random burst of energy that keeps you from falling asleep too quickly. You tossed and turned for a good ten minutes before, letting out a loud sigh as you sit up. 

“Midnight usually sleeps with me.”you said figuring out the problem, groaning you throw the comforters off of you before, returning back to the living room. You quietly make your way to the living,and become confused when you don’t see him or Armando on the couch.Hearing quiet meows and a quick shushing from the kitchen makes you walk over wondering what they were up too. 

“She’s mad at me...I know.” Armando says staring down at the kitten as it stares up at him. Amused by the sight before you, you continue watching the interaction between the two from a distance. 

“What can I say to her...your mama kinda hard headed so she wouldn’t want to listen to me......but I don’t blame her." He sighs as he rubs the skin between his furrowed brows. Staring up at him Midnight tilts his head in confusion, as he watches the man before him. 

“Why the fuck would I say those things to her!" he exclaimed quietly as he lays against the table. Midnights lets out a few meows as he rubs his small frame against Armando, in an attempt to comfort the man in front of him. 

Sitting up Armando pets the kitten softly, "My bad little guy.... she would've got onto me for cursing in front of you.” 

Smiling to yourself at the interaction in front of you, you decided to come out of your little hiding spot. Midnight perks up as he sees you approach letting out happy noises, as he turns his attention to you. 

Confused Armando looks up but sucks in a breath as he sees you approaching them, but your eyes only remain on Midnight, as you pick up the small kitten. Laying the kitten against your chest, you give Armando a brief glance before returning back to your room. 

Slightly hurt by the way you barely acknowledge him; he gets up and follows you quietly calling out your name so he wouldn’t wake up the other’s. 

Hissing out a quiet What, you turn to face him, biting the inside of your cheek as you stare at him expectantly. Admiring your annoyed expression for a second, he asked if you two could talk. 

Rolling your eyes, you smack your lips quietly at his response, "You talked enough earlier remember and at this moment I have nothing to say to you." Turning back around you hear the quiet shuffling of his feet against the wooden floor as he followed you. 

 Before you could close the door on him, he pushed his way in closing the door behind him, while staring at you apologetic. 

“Armando, I really don’t have time for your BS tonight, I just want to go to sleep." you say becoming agitated at his persistence. 

“Y/N... please, all I want from you is to listen after this, I will leave you alone." he said not really believe that last part but he really just needed to explain himself. 

Sighing you sit on the bed, staring up at him quietly as you wait. He couldn’t help but let his eyes wander down your body, as he just realized that you're only wearing a shirt. 

Clearing your throat, you bring him back to reality, as his gaze return to your narrowed ones. "I'm not very good at expressing my feelings...so bare with me.” he says nervous as he feels your intense gaze on him. 

“It shouldn’t be that hard seeing that.... you were able to talk to Midnight truthfully.” you say watching as his eyes widened at your words. 

Nodding his head he sighs as he slowly begins explaining his actions from earlier, and the reasons behind his responses and words. His worried eyes shift between yours and the floor as he explains and apologizes for the way he spoken to you, nerves flaring slightly as he watches you listen to him without a hint of emotion on your face. 

After he finished, he stared down at you hoping and praying for any reaction, instead of the blank look that seems to remain on your face. 

Anxious to what you’ll say he huskily says your name as his eyes,franticlly move to meet yours. "Was that all?” you said blinking up at him a few times, eyes tracing his form as you wait for his response. Pausing at your words you watch in amusement as he stares at the ground, in thought before nodding his head. 

Walking past him Armando watches with confusion as you grab a small pillow from the chair in the corner of the room, and walk over to the bathroom. Placing Midnight on the pillow you leave the light on, as you walk back over to the front of the bed...calmly to calmly for Armandos liking. 

Laying against the bed you stare up at him with half-lidded eyes, "I don’t think I’m convinced just yet.....Mando.” Running his eyes down your relaxed form he swallows slightly at the sight of your thick brown legs teasingly opening before closing and the way that your taunting voice calls out to him, makes him blink a few times. 

Stepping towards you he hesitantly reaches out a hand to touch your leg only for you to smack his hands away. Confused he looks up at you with hunger but he waits for your response. 

“You think I’m going to let you touch me, after all that shit you was talking." you said grinning widely as his eyes move up to yours, watching his expression darken as it seems like he was having an internal battle with himself.

“Shit princess,I already said I was sorry…what else do you want me to do?”he said glancing at the way your harden nipples press against your shirt.

“I think you need help fixing that filthy mouth of yours Mando, and it looks like you're in luck cuz I have a perfect way of doing that." you say beckoning him over with your index finger, as you open up your legs for him. 

Shivering slightly at the sight of you, his dilated eyes shifted up to yours as he approached you, "Your sure, Nena?” 

Maintaining eye contact with him you nod, as he goes to raise your legs over his shoulder, but you press your foot against his firm chest. 

“What’d I say...put that pretty mouth of yours to work...and maybe I’ll forgive you.” 

Smirking as he hears the words he said to you earlier be used against him now,made him lick his lips while chuckling slightly.Laying against the bed in front of you,he quickly mutters yes ma'am before spreading your legs wider and diving straight in.

Even though tomorrow was a serious day, you two didn’t get much sleep as Armando showed you just how sorry he really was. 

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Authors Note:🎙️Y’all thought this was turning into a smut,don’t lie😏🫵🫵,and I know for sure he a eater so don’t fight me on it🧍🏾‍♀️ .

Anyways stay tuned for Part 9,Let’s see who survives 🙂

[faerygrant]

Making out with Carmy and you get lipstick all over his face

[Sidenote/ I can imagine reader making a replica of the Maison Margiela lipstick shirt except she does it for Carmy on one of his chef whites as an intimate Valentine’s Day gift just for him when he’s cooking in the house 😭😭🫶😭😭]

He’d get so flustered if you did this in his office while everyone is out there. Especially if he doesn’t notice and then steps out to grab you a drink and you’re too hazed out to remind him there is lipstick stains of your lips covering his entire face. Just imagining him stepping into the kitchen and immediately Richie and Fak are whistling and being obnoxious about it. “Wohohoooo, you tryin out a new look Berzatto?” Richie is first to start the teasing and Carmen’s just like what? And then Fak follows with “I like the little look you got going on buddy, deep red is your colour” and Carmy is still fucking lost. “Alright what the fuck are you assholes talkin about?” And then Marcus comes in holding a tray of some desserts and has to break it to Carmy who is so quick to run back into the office, extremely flustered and a little embarrassed.

“You’re back… and empty handed, where’s my water Carm?” You question, laying on the sofa against his office wall and he’s “You didn’t tell me I had fucking lipstick all over my face” he groans immediately looking into his phone camera to assess the damage. “Oh shit, I forgot, m’so sorry Bear Bear.” You laugh hysterically, taking his pouty face in yours. “S’not funny, guys made fun of me.” He tries saying as your hands are still squishing his face and you can’t help but smile at how cute and pouty he’s being. “Aww is my Carmy Bear all flustered that his coworkers saw him covered in smooches, hmmm?” And he’s just rolling his eyes because while it may have been embarrassing he’d never take your kisses for granted.

[accioepiphany]

I've come to peace with the way I feel about season 3. And I think it's still glorious at times and if you take each episode by itself, quite great. But as a whole, and as a series that needs to follow a group of characters it does gets lost and erases some of the characters' traits and progress that we had already seen, which by the end produces an accumulation of disappointment that is hard to rub off.

I do think its main issues could be summarized in three of the non-negotiables Carmy kept breaking throughout the season:

Focus

Carmy clearly gets out of the walk-in with the goal in mind to fix all his wrongs and he thinks the way to do that is by hyper focusing on his wrongdoings. Somehow, if he is aware of his mistakes he will be able to be one step ahead of them. Or at least that is what he thinks… you have him asking Ebra if he is fucking up, he takes Syd’s notes on a dish he creates as if it is his mistake that he didn't think of it better. But that's where he is wrong. This is not about him. And Syd calls him out on it in episode two, when she tells him that he is making it again about himself. He is so focused on himself that he fails to see everyone else's suggestions and attempts at collaborating with him. He is unfocused on the team…

And so is the show. It lacks so much focus on where the characters should go, it's part of why it feels so aimless. It's trying to do ten things at the same time and none truly. It´s trying to make Claire happen while never really giving it space and actual scenes. Just a bunch of flashbacks. It wants to take us into Carmy's brain without being too certain of what's in there, hyper focusing on his trauma and forgetting the Carmy we met on season 1 who was an asshole, but one that cared. So the focus is not on the people, which is so ironic with having Chef Terry say people forget the food but not the people they had it with.

Which brings me to the second point:

Vibrant Collaboration

Carmy’s non-negotiables have trapped him in a prison of his own that has closed up any attempt anyone might have of actually collaborating with him. So his vibrant collaboration is actually him imposing his ideas on everyone and maybe letting them work over them. Which is why we don't see many of the scenes we had in season 2 of him brainstorming with Syd. Just him being stubborn.

And the show also lacks a proper integration of its characters. Giving way too many screen time to the Faks, the people less integrated to the kitchen. Failing to incorporate Tina's and Marcus' ideas, which they are so enthusiastically developing, but never even get the chance to share. except for sparse acknowledgements by Syd, Nat and each other, that doesn't really take them anywhere. We get beautiful conversations among some characters that lead to nowhere, no consequence, and just because of that, makes them feel repetitive and a waste of time...

Every Second Counts

Which leads me to one of the prime phrases of The Bear, one with so many layers, that is what made it such a protagonist last season and what made Forks so poignant. It's the embodiment of being in the present, and not wasting time, because every second it's precious, which is why if you are not living it, consciously, to its fullest, then what are you doing?

And Carmy is so trapped in his past, thinking this is what will make him not waste time, that it ends up being the opposite, because he cannot just be in the moment and enjoy what he currently has at all.

Sadly, this season has a similar problem and has too many flashbacks and side-plots that drag and just doesn't move forward and kind of waste the very valuable seconds each episode has.

I still love this show and its characters, and I still truly believe it can pivot in season 4, specially if the creators were trying to set the ground with season 3 for maybe more action in season 4. But, I think it's also important to point out when it doesn't go well, as everyone did this season with Carmy, trying to tell him his non-negotiables where ruining everything. I just hope, different from Carmy, the creators of The Bear can listen and change.

[daddy-dins-girl]

Playdate - Chapter Twelve

Main Masterlist Series Masterlist

AO3 link

pairing: Marcus Pike x f! Reader x Dave York

Word Count: 4k

Notes: I'm so sorry this took forever. I was trying to get a monster chapter out but summer has been so busy that I haven't done much writing unfortunately. So here's a small chapter to tide you over for now hopefully.

Chapter Summary: You and Marcus are finally given the opportunity to tell Dave how you feel.

Chapter Warnings: 18+ MDNI. There's actually no smut in this chapter, and for that I deeply apologize. Mentions of previous smut though. Angst. F/M/M. M/M. Actual conversations (who am I, letting these three talk things out for once?). Cursing. Mentions of drinking/hangovers. Mentioned (previous) anal sex. Throuple in the making? Maybe? ;)

When Dave begins to open his eyes, for the second time that morning, the first thing he notices is the blaring headache that’s apparently taken up residence directly behind his eyeballs. His hangover had unfortunately - and inevitably - caught up with him, as he knew it would. Apparently that tray of six shots of tequila on a stomach that was empty from everything except bourbon had been a bad idea. Who knew? 

The other not so bright idea he’d had, he weakly remembers now, was picking a fight with some random bar-goer and allowing himself to get his ass kicked on purpose for literally no reason other than to be an asshole. 

That’s the reason he tells himself he did it anyway, but deep down, he knows better. He knows the truth, and the truth of the matter is that he just wanted to feel something. Something other than sorry for himself, which is all he’s felt basically for months now. He feels like he’s been walking around as an empty shell. A hollowed out version of the man he once was and he felt, frankly, pathetic. Drinking only seemed to amplify his own self-loathing and then when the bright idea of getting himself laid apparently didn’t help either (as he’d all but pushed the poor unsuspecting girl off his lap the moment he saw you leave and chased after you like a lovesick puppy) he’d resorted to physical pain to try and counteract the emotional. 

And now, he pays for all of his sins. Hungover, head pounding, and still somehow managed to wake up with goddamn morning wood. 

He carefully brings himself up to a seated position, not wanting to jostle either of his sleeping bedmates, and rubs his palms into his eye sockets as if he can just push the headache away with pure force.

Stupid, stupid, stupid, his brain mutters. Why had he been such an idiot last night? He wasn’t kidding himself, he’s not going to sit here and pretend he was over you two and that last night meant nothing - a farewell fuck, if you will. No. All he did last night was set himself back months to where he started. Which was, for all intents and purposes, fucking miserable. He just couldn’t help himself. Seeing you last night… it’s like his heart remembered how to fucking beat again. But of course, he had to act like the world’s biggest asshole at first because he wasn’t prepared to see you. Wasn’t prepared for everything he’d spent months trying to put behind him to come flooding back to him in an instant the moment your eyes met from across the crowded room. He had contemplated - for all of five seconds - of doubling down on his original plan for the evening and taking the overeager waitress home with him but then he’d watched you storm out and suddenly his feet couldn’t move fast enough to chase after you. By the time Marcus had shown up, Dave knew he was done for. Whatever shred of resolve he might’ve been kidding himself that he’d had, had crumbled. He threw his arms around the younger man and for a brief moment, everything felt right again. The three of you, together again. His heart suddenly healed, even if for only just one night. 

He sighs heavily as he carefully shifts to the end of the bed and starts pulling his scattered clothes back on. He should probably wake you both up. Say thank you. Say goodbye this time, at least. Only he knows it’ll only do himself more harm than good so he decides maybe he’ll just leave a note. A half-assed apology and a thank you for not letting him maim himself any further last night like the drunken fool that he was. You’d both understand, maybe even be grateful that you don’t have to have that awkward moment where you kindly ask him to get the fuck out and not let the door hit him on the way out. 

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

You begin to stir again when you feel the weight in the mattress shift. Slowly you blink open your eyes, the room only slightly illuminated by the barely risen sun outside the partially opened blinds. You hear some shuffling around and you turn on your back and sit up on your elbows, eyes adjusting to the light as you look down to the end of the bed at the source of the noise.

“Dave?” you mumble sleepily, rubbing at your tired eyelids. It could barely be six or seven AM, given how tired you felt and how little light was coming in from outside. When your eyes fully open you see that he’s tying his shoes back on his feet and you sigh.

“Hey,” you offer softly, reaching forward to land a hand on his shoulder. He turns when he feels your gentle touch and looks at you with remorse for a brief moment before looking away.

“Hey, I’m sorry about last night. I was… well, there’s no excuse for my behavior at the bar.” He shakes his head slightly. “I was drunk and… well, acting like a fucking idiot, honestly,” he huffs an embarrassed laugh, refusing to meet your gaze.

“And, afterwards? Earlier this morning? What was that?” you decide to push and his head drops again, shoulders deflating a little. 

“That was me being selfish,” he admits quietly, almost under his breath. “I just figured… well, it doesn’t matter,” he trails off momentarily before he heaves a heavy sigh and speaks again, more clearly this time. “Anyway, I’ll get out of your hair. Um, thank you again, for everything.”

He’s leaving? Again?! Just like that?

Before you have a chance to protest, Marcus’ sleepy voice suddenly floods the room.

“Hey, you’re up,” he says casually, his words spoken through a long yawn as he pushes himself up to a seated position. “How are you um… How’s your head?”

“Oh, this old thing?” Dave chuckles awkwardly, trying to push past the uncomfortable tension in the room by rapping his knuckles against the side of his head. “Been through far worse, believe me.”

“Well, still, I’m glad you’re alright,” Marcus says sincerely, a frown forming on his face when he notices Dave is fully dressed again and you look upset. 

“Yeah,” Dave agrees solemnly, looking down at his suddenly very interesting shoes. “I should g-“

Before he even utters the last syllable you react.

“Don’t!” 

Your voice comes out louder than you meant it to, all sets of eyes in the room now trained on you.

“I mean, w-wait. Let’s… we can make some coffee, or get you something to eat? I just want us to talk and then you can go, if that’s what you want. You won’t even have to call a cab, Marcus can drive you back to the bar to get your car.”

He stares at you for a long moment and you’re not sure if he’s trying to figure a way out of it so you add, just in case, “come on, you owe us that at least.”

He sighs and drops his head but slowly nods in agreement. “Sure, coffee sounds good.”

Dave pretends to be interested in something on his phone, faced away from you both as you and Marcus gather your scattered clothing from last night and slip back into them until you’re decent again and you announce that you’re going to go start the coffee. Marcus asks Dave if he needs any Aspirin or anything for his head but Dave just shakes his head, letting him know that he’ll be fine and so you and Marcus leave the bedroom, Dave eventually trailing slowly behind you, eyes still buried in his phone, trying as hard as he can to ignore you both it seems. 

“Is anyone hungry? I could whip something up quick,” Marcus says, eyes darting around the kitchen between you and Dave. You don’t answer, busying yourself with making the coffee and honestly wanting to hear Dave’s answer first anyway. Once you do, well, it doesn’t surprise you.

“Just coffee’s good for me, thanks,” he says, not even bothering to look at Marcus while he speaks to him. You figured he’d opt out of breakfast, he seems pretty content on getting out of here as quickly as possible. You roll your eyes but it’s behind their backs so neither of them notice as you stand idly by the steady drip of the coffee maker. 

It suddenly feels like there’s so much tension in the room now, and not the kind of tension you’re used to with these two. Not the good kind of tension. You’d felt so amazing with Dave earlier this morning when he’d woken you up, it was like old times again. But now he’ll barely look at either of you, face buried in his phone and barely speaking more than two words at a time and honestly it’s driving you crazy. You just wish you knew what was going on inside of his head. You need to figure it out and you can’t let him leave this house again until you do. Can’t let him slip through your fingers again, not without saying your peace at least.

“What did you mean earlier?” you finally say, recalling Dave’s words from a few minutes ago that you hadn’t understood then.

He doesn’t answer, just stares blankly at you while you turn towards the kitchen island where he and Marcus are sat on opposite sides. 

“You said you were being selfish,” you remind him, eyebrows raising. “What did you mean by that?”

Dave looks away again, shaking his head just slightly like he’s trying to laugh it off but also like he’s stuck and doesn’t know what to say. You continue to stare at him and the moment he lets his gaze float back to you he notices and heaves out another heavy sigh. 

“Was just… trying to take what I could get, while I could get it I guess. Selfish, like I said. Took advantage of your… hospitality,” he finishes lamely with a shrug.

You huff an incredulous laugh, actually kind of pissed off now. “Hospitality?!” Your voice is raised and both men’s heads whip towards your direction upon hearing your outburst. 

“Letting a friend crash in the guest room would’ve been hospitable, but letting him put his cock in my ass? That wasn’t exactly me playing Susie fucking Homemaker, Dave!” you practically spit at him and you actually see him wince momentarily, stung and surprised by your words.

“I know, fuck, I-“ he pauses, bringing his hands to cover his face as he groans, trying to get his thoughts in order. “You know that’s not what I meant,” he eventually settles on, gaze finally finding yours again and looking remorseful. 

“So what the fuck was this morning then?” you grill him again, both hands coming down to plant on the marble surface in front of you as you square your shoulders at him. 

“Look, don't get pissed at me,” he starts with a frustrated huff. “Let’s not pretend like any of this was going anywhere. I took my out months ago so you guys wouldn’t have to do it, and yeah, last night when you turned up I… well, I fucking slipped. I saw you and I just… it doesn’t fucking matter anyway.” He goes back to shaking his head, picking his downturned phone up from the table.

“I can just call an Uber.”

You’re so pissed and confused and hurt you want to slap him but you decide instead to stalk across the kitchen and snatch that phone out of his hands, only, to your surprise, your husband beats you to it.

“Hey!” Dave snaps when Marcus rips the phone from his hand. Marcus, unlike Dave, is not hungover or reeling from a minor head injury and his reflexes are far faster than Dave’s, he quickly moves a couple feet down the counter, next to you now, and shoves the phone into the pocket of his sweatpants.

“She’s right, we deserve a conversation at least,” Marcus argues, folding his arms across his chest and standing tall at your side. “So let’s talk.”

“Jesus Christ the fucking talking with you two,” Dave grumbles, shaking his head in his hands. “Hope that’s strong coffee,” he adds and you roll your eyes but turn around and get to pouring, Marcus grabbing mugs from the nearby cupboard and then heading to the fridge to retrieve the milk.

Everyone takes a moment to collect themselves, making their coffee to their own liking but otherwise all remaining silent, keeping any snarky comments to yourselves for the time being. You wait until you’ve all had a chance to at least have a few sips and get your thoughts in order before you start the conversation again.

“Who said it wasn’t going anywhere?” you finally say, a hint of annoyance in your voice as you cross your arms in front of you again. 

“What?” Dave looks across the island at you, confusion etched across his handsome features.

“You said it wasn’t going anywhere,” you reiterate, shrugging your shoulders once. “Who said that? Not me. Not Marcus.”

“Come on,” he huffs a laugh like you’re the one being ridiculous right now. 

You say nothing, both you and Marcus simply holding your ground and staring at him. Eventually it’s a losing battle for Dave and he has to glance away. 

“Nobody said you had to go anywhere Dave,” you say, your voice softer now and arms dropping to your sides. “You made that decision. Without even discussing it with us, might I remind you.”

“What, you were gonna keep me? Like some pet?” he laughs again, shaking his head. 

“Like a partner,” Marcus chimes in, surprising everyone in the room. Dave’s eyebrows nearly meet his hairline as he turns his gaze towards your husband. 

Dave continues to stare, like he’s waiting for a punchline to drop. When it doesn’t he just lets out a harsh laugh.

“Come on, be serious,” he huffs, still staring, waiting, but neither you or Marcus even flinch.

“You two are fucking married!” he finally shouts, shoving back from the counter and off of his stool when neither of you respond. 

“Yes, we’re fucking married,” you reiterate, reaching down to take your husbands hand in yours. “And we're in love,” you add simply. 

“Yes, I’m aware, I’m not an idiot.” Dave groans, hands falling to his hips now. 

“Apparently you are,” is all you say before you drop Marcus’ hand and cross the room to Dave, placing both hands on either side of his face and planting a kiss to his lips. Dave’s brow furrows, you can feel the way his face contorts in your hands but you kiss him for a solid few seconds until you finally pull back. He doesn’t get a second to react, to question you, to do anything before Marcus is stepping into your place and pressing his own lips to Dave’s. This time, after the initial shock wears off, Dave actually kisses back. His mouth slants slightly before his lips move over Marcus’ and before long he’s opening up to him, letting your husbands tongue glide easily inside and they both let out a quiet moan as the kiss deepens while you stand idly by, watching, not wanting to miss a second of what is their first real kiss together. 

And holy fucking shit is it hot.

It only lasts a few short seconds before Dave’s hands finally come up to Marcus’ chest and he gently pushes him back, leaving them both standing just inches apart and breathing heavily. 

“I don’t… what…” Dave trails off, utterly confused by what is happening right now. He brings his hands to cover his face and groans into them, a quiet mumbled ‘what the fuck’ muffled by the barrier of his hands. 

“Marcus and I are in love,” you say again. “With you,” you add, wanting to make sure he understands you perfectly. His hands drop from his face and he looks at you both, his expression unreadable and for a moment you wonder if you’ve made a mistake. Just completely embarrassed yourselves in front of this man who maybe wasn’t interested in anything more than your bodies between bedsheets. You stand up a little straighter and settle your shoulders, deciding you don’t care if you should feel mortified, your feelings are real and now he knows them. You can’t and won’t regret being truthful with him, no matter the outcome of it. 

Dave finally blinks and you take a small step closer to him, reaching out to take one of his hands in yours. “Say something,” you plead, eyes boring into his.

Dave sighs, looks between you and Marcus and then finally settles his shoulders and speaks.

“Can I have my phone back please?”

God damnit.

“Yeah, of course, sorry.” Marcus shakes his head slightly and pulls the device out and holds it towards Dave who drops your hand to take it back. 

You fight to keep the tears that are starting to well in your eyes at bay. You did your best. Shot your shot, so to speak. Maybe you had been naive this whole time and were reading into things you thought Dave felt for you both that just weren’t there. 

Dave remains silent, grabbing for his phone and gripping it in two hands while he hastily taps away at the screen with both thumbs, most likely arranging his ride to get his car and disappear from your lives once more. You’re devastated, of course, but you know eventually you and Marcus will get through it together. Your husband’s hand slips into yours, interlacing your fingers and giving it a gentle but reassuring squeeze, telling you without words ‘it’s okay, it’ll be okay’ and you love him for it. Both your hearts might be breaking in front of your eyes, but at least you have each other to piece them back together. 

After what feels like a small eternity but in reality was mere seconds Dave finally finishes tapping away on his phone, clears his throat and raises his head to look at you both. You start to open your mouth to say goodbye, wish him well and all that horse shit that is the nice thing to do, when suddenly, two echoing pings sound off from the pockets of both yours and your husbands pajama bottoms. 

Your hand slips from Marcus’ as you both reach to pull out your phones and your heart feels like its about to fucking bottom out when you see the notification on the screen, a new message in your old group chat, from Dave. He’d finally unblocked both your numbers.

“Dinner tonight?” the text simply reads.

This time there’s no stopping them, no holding them back, the tears welled in your eyes begin to spill out and a wide smile breaks at your lips as you raise your head again to look at Dave.

“I’m not running away, I just… I need to go home, shower, maybe get some more sleep so my head will stop feeling like a goddamn marching band is playing up there and… I think I just need some time to think, process, get my head on straight. Then I’ll come over tonight and we can talk about everything. If that’s okay.”

You smile, looking up at him through watery eyes and nod your head. “Of course that’s okay.” 

“We’re not going anywhere,” Marcus adds softly, shrugging his shoulders. 

“And neither are you, we know where you live now, you told us last night,” you joke and Dave lets out a full bellied laugh at that, tossing his head back. 

“What can I say, I’m a sloppy drunk,” he teases in return, but his features even out again when he looks at you now, a smile at your lips but tears in your eyes. He reaches forward, a gentle thumb brushing a stray tear off your cheek and his soft smile returns. 

“I’m sorry,” he says genuinely, likely only just now realizing he’d yet to apologize for any of his actions. 

Your smile widens, sight blurred by your tears but you bring a hand up to place over his on your cheek and hold it there a moment longer. “I know,” you nod. 

“So, tonight?” he asks, gaze flickering back and forth between you and Marcus. 

“7 good?” Marcus asks and Dave nods, takes a step forward and leans in to press his lips to your forehead that nearly has you melting into a puddle on the floor. 

“I’ll see you tonight,” he promises, voice barely above a whisper as his breath fans your forehead, thumb absently running back and forth across your cheek. He’s so soft, so warm in this moment you can feel your entire body deflate with all the stress and anxiety you’d been carrying around with you, like it all just melted away with one single promise whispered from his lips against your forehead. 

The distinct buzz that sounds from his pocket pulls you out of the moment and he takes a step back, retrieving his phone from his pocket and taking a quick glance. 

“Ride’s here,” he says, sighing as he slips his phone back into his pocket. Apparently he had actually called for one during one of the times you’d seen him on his phone earlier but you weren’t upset about it now. You’re happy to give him his space for now, knowing that he will come back to you this time and you can empathize with him that this morning was likely a lot to take in for him, it’s a lot for you too. 

“I’ll walk you out,” Marcus says to Dave, placing a gentle hand on your back and smoothing a few circles into your skin just to settle you a bit, knowing how emotional you’re feeling right now. 

“See you at 7,” you manage to rasp out, hand coming up to place over your throat as you clear it. “I’ll put Marcus to work in the kitchen,” you tease your husband, pinching at his side and he laughs but nods in agreement. 

“Happy to,” he smiles easily. “C’mon,” he nods his head towards the front of the house and begins to walk towards the door, Dave following after him. You sigh as you slump against the wall in your open concept kitchen and watch as your husband opens the door for Dave. They pause for a moment and then both open their arms and embrace each other in a quick hug, your heart skipping a beat when you watch Dave’s hand come up to hold onto the top of Marcus’ head for a brief moment before they’re both pulling back from each other and Dave is heading down the steps, turning back momentarily to offer a quick wave before he heads the rest of the way down the driveway and slides into the back seat of the idling car. Marcus waits at the door until the grey sedan backs out of the driveway and speeds down the street, taking Dave away. It’s not until he feels your arms wrap around his middle as you come up behind him that he shakes himself out of his daze, a smile pulling at his lips as he brings his hands down to cover yours. 

“He’ll be back,” Marcus says, almost as if he needs to say it out loud to believe it himself.

“Yeah,” you murmur into his shoulder where your face is currently pressed, knowing he can feel your smile through his soft t-shirt. 

You’ve never been more excited and nervous to have someone over for dinner.

Taglist (if you want to be added - or removed!, lmk!) @senaar-ika @suzdin @boliv-jenta @prolix-yuy @vabeachazn @seasonalobession @pedroshotwifey @nerdieforpedro @chronically-ghosted @macabremads @survivingandenduring @theywhowriteandknowthings @axshadows @iamasaddie @vickywallace @lincolndjarin @its-nebuleuse @janaispunk @missladym1981 @heareball @staywildflowahchild @guelyury @anotherpedrolover @mysterious-moonstruck-musings @runningmom94 @yorksgirl @harrington-thedad @missyorkswhore @disassociation-daydreams

[iambicpentameterhamster]

Every umbrella academy character ranked

Prior to Season 4 coming this year, thought I'd share my character rank with you for the first 3 seasons all together. (Spoilers ahead)

#33- Marcus, Jayme, Alphonso and Fei

Painfully insignificant and underdeveloped. Their only character traits being "spoiled and a bit evil" made them EXTREMELY captivating villians...

#32- Christopher

Only higher because I find the idea of someone carrying around a cube on a stick onset really funny.

#31- Sparrow Ben

Hard to watch honestly, especially in comparison to his lovely counterpart Umbrella Ben.

In general, the Sparrows were terrible and pointless characters, and clearly the writers knew this because most were killed off pretty quickly. All except for Sparrow Ben, which just meant we had to suffer watching him for even longer.

#30- Viktor

This is a controversial choice. He is tolerable in season 1, but then just becomes a moochy emo sod who is boring to watch. I don't know if it's the acting, script or both, but he’s just such a meek and flavourless character who is PARTICULARLY bad in season 3 when he jeopardises his whole family and is repeatedly selfish and has a victim complex.

#29- Luther

He caused the apocalypse in season one and you can't convince me otherwise. Got some alamaba shit going on with Allison...

There are so many reasons I hate Luther. He's a self-centred man child who couldn't care less about his siblings and their feelings, showing zero empathy to Klaus or Vanya, for example. He only shows respect and kindness when he is attracted to the person (As shown when seasons 1 and 2 he is only nice to Allison, then completely ignores her when he moves on to Sloane) or when they pose as an authority figure to him. All he does is whine and feel sorry for himself.

What's that? You lived in the apocalypse all alone for 40 years? You are addicted to drugs and lost the love of your life in a war? You have a power you can't control and a lifetime of rejection? WELL LUTHER WENT TO THE MOON

#28- Carl Cooper

Hated him as a character but he was a menacing villian which I can respect

#27- Harlan

Couldn't care less about him, only there for plot convenience and Victor's arc pretty much

#26- Sloane

An improvement from Luther's literal sibling. Further evidence that Luther will simply fall for any woman who gives a flying fuck about the moon.

Personality: attracted to Luther

#25- Pogo

Basil exposition of the first series

#24- Detective Patch

Barely remember her

#23- The Swedes

They were kind of goofy as villians but there was some good acting and they posed a real threat. Cute moments with the cats. In general, alright, but they could have easily been replaced plot wise with something more interesting.

#22- Cha Cha

Lack of character development for me. I think she deserved to be fleshed out more, I don't think it's fair that only her partner got to be a three-dimensional being. What are her motivations? Who is she underneath it all?

But overall i liked the acting and she was a good villian.

#21- That hotel worker from season 3

He's barely a character but I liked his sass so he's on the list.

#20- Reggie (Reginald Hargreeves)

He is supposed to be the main antagonist/villian of the show, yet The Handler stole his spotlight. He's a bit too stereotypically evil and asshole-ish for me, basically twiddling his moustache and stroking a cat in a dark corner the entire show. The delivery is too blunt and that doesn't help to build the tension and mystery surrounding him as much, but if he were more complicated and cryptic in his personality it would be more effective.

This is very nit picky and overall Reggie is fine. He has some hilarious moments with Klaus in season 3 and I am genuinely intrigued about the unanswered questions surrounding him.

#19- Elliott

He wasn't a particularly important or central character but I enjoyed it when he was on screen and he played his role convincingly. He was a good comic relief in some scenes, and when he died (spoiler alert) the reactions from other characters were realistic and quite impactful. I felt for him throughout, which is impressive for less significant characters and he had a lot of depth relative to the size of his role.

#18- Destiny's children

Not a singular character, but I LOVED Destiny's children. It fit Klaus's character perfectly to have a cult and led to some of the funnies moments in the series.

#17- Dave

From the very limited moments we see with this character, a lot of personality and emotion was communicated, and I feel like we got a big sense of the character. That is down to the brilliant acting from both of Dave's actors and from Robert Sheehan that really sold this character with so little screen time.

Anyway please come back to life Dave! Death doesn't look good on you!

#16- Agnes (Donut woman)

Very sweet and I wish her all the best in life.

#15- Sissy

BRILLIANTLY acted and impactful. Stole every scene between her and Vanya.

Also, she looks EXACTLY like Sheldon's mum in young sheldon...

#14- Herb and Dot

I want to put them both in my pocket and protect them from harm.

#13- Kenny's mum

Again, barely present but I love her. She's a queen. I would go to a rave with Kenny's Mum.

#12- Stan

I love Stan, and he's a big part of Diego and Lila's character development and motivations. I hope they adopt Stan and live happily ever after.

But yeah, great one-liners from Stan.

#11- Grace

Very well acted and haunting.

Top 10 *drumroll please*

#10- Harold Jenkins (Lenoard Peabody)

Again, quite a controversial placement, but I stand by my decision. The acting and delivery of Harold Jenkins as a villain is possibly the best in the whole show. I was totally convinced Lenoard was a nice guy and I was rooting for him and Vanya, until he started dropping hints and slowly revealing his true self and losing the facade and its... it's chefs kiss. So realistic. The actor deserves an award and a standing ovation.

The writers also deserve a pat on the back for this one because he has a convincing motivation and backstory, and the dialogue is DELICIOUS when it comes to Lenoard. He is a truly menacing villain without being overtly scary and powerful and dangerous.

#9- Ray

Charismatic, gentlemanly, empathetic, loving, trusting, supportive... Ray is THE IDEAL MAN. I'm a little bit in love with Ray so I don't blame Allison.

HUGE step up from Luther, for sure.

#8- Umbrella Ben

I would have liked to see more of his character, but I liked what I did see. He loves his siblings and shows it. He is selfless and sacrifices his own existence for Vanya, he is blunt with Klaus because he cares and wants him to improve. Of course, he and Klaus are also a hilarious duo.

#7- Hazel

One of the most touching arcs that offers an insightful message about what life is for, and about Love. Beautifully acted, a very real and lovable character who probably resonates with many in some ways. Hazel is adorable and i miss him in later seasons.

#6- The Handler

I LOVE THE HANDLER MORE THAN WORDS CAN EXPLAIN!!! Funny, playful, entertaining, uexpected and whimsical and yet simultaneously dark and menacing, AMAZING villian that stole EVERY SINGLE SCENE she was in. Kate Walsh was the perfect choice for the role and she played it to perfection.

A bit of trivia about the role, The Handler was originally written for a man, and when Kate Walsh got the role she insisted they didn't change the script (which, let's be honest, they would have.) She put a wonderful spin on it and it's just perfect, I wouldn't change a thing. I would 100% watch a spinoff all about the handler. Season 3 was worse than the previous two thanks to them killing her off (amongst other questionable plot choices)

#5- Allison

Allison was the only character who knew what they were doing, and honestly, if everyone just listened to Allison, there would be no apocalypse. Her storyline losing both Claire and Ray and her powers driving her crazy with power breaks my heart but is well portrayed and impactful.

She's charismatic, clever, strong, and kind. I love Allison and I think most of us do.

#4- Diego

He's stupid but in an endearing way, I find him to be so entertaining and funny, and the actor's face is like an open book. He's not show-stopping but his consistent presence just sets the mood and allows others to act off of him, while he really sells it with his expressions. He's like the rock of the show.

#3- Lila

Lila. Mi amor. Mon amour. Amore mio. Meine Leibe.

#2- Five

For several reasons:

A) He is the daddy here, Luther!!

B) That should be the only reason you need

Seriously, though, I was SUPER impressed with Aidan Gallagher and his incredible screen presence, especially at such a young age. He really embodies the character. Five is the face of the Umbrella Acadamy, and is undoubtedly the most iconic character. 10/10, two thumbs up, absolutely BRILLIANT.

#1- Klaus

No justification necessary.

[magmagicstyle]

EASIER (B)

⚠️WARNING⚠️: Edward is an asshole… BUT THAT��S NOTHING NEW AT THIS POINT… Some insults, and violence but nothing too exaggerated... Also! We kinda hate Bella but not really, because let’s be honest… Edward is kinda a manipulative bitch. Unhealthy relationships (Bella and Edward).

Pairings: male!reader x The Volturi kings.

“Very well, my dear, we shall do as you want.” Aro finished the exchange by getting closer to you and caressing your face, smiling when he noticed how you were thinking of him and his brother in unholy positions, just to avoid giving the plan away. Then he leaned towards you and kissed your lips with passion before pulling away and looking at you with a devilish but comforting smirk. “We trust you, darling.”

Every time that you say you're gonna leave

That's when you get the very best of me

You know we need it like the air we breathe, air we breathe, yeah

I love you so much that I hate you right now

it's so hard to blame you cause you're so damn beautiful

So damn beautiful

After your kings decided to trust you with the task of managing the whole newborn situation, they decided that it was time for you to have a guard on your own. In their words, it was like a special guard, formed by only the best of the best. Vampires that wouldn’t doubt at the moment of killing anything that could pose a treat to you, and that wouldn’t think twice before dying for you -even if you didn’t like that idea as much as the killing one-.

That took you to the exact moment where you stood in the middle of the grand hall of the Volturi castle, bathed in the soft glow of candlelight, you were flanked by Aro, Caius, and Marcus, the three reigning kings of the Volturi and your fated mates. In front of you, a bit closer to the main door of the grand hall, the loyal and esteemed members of the Volturi guard stood. They were the vampires that your mates had designated to protect and defend you. You already knew Jane, Alec, Demetri, Felix and Nikolas. There was a face that you didn’t have the pleasure of meeting before. His name was Raine from what you heard before in the hallways and between whispers, hopefully, you weren’t mistaken. All the vampire’s eyes were filled with a mixture of respect and affection. Something a bit surprising since you hadn’t interacted with the last two mentioned.

Raine, seemed to have a commanding presence and unwavering loyalty, you didn’t need to look at him too long to feel that. He stepped forward, and his gaze met yours, and, just like that, as easy as breathing (even if you didn’t have to) a smile tugged at the corners of his lips. It was comforting, like a silent reassurance of the bond you shared. At that exact moment, you understood that Raine was going to be more than a member of the guard; he would become your protector, your confidant, and maybe with time, he would be like a brother to you.

"I know you haven’t interacted as much or well… never, so… Allow me to introduce Raine," Aro declared, his smooth voice reverberating through the hall, accompanied with a deep and amused chuckle. "A formidable warrior, devoted companion, and beloved mate to our esteemed guard, Nikolas. His unwavering dedication to the Volturi and to your safety knows no bounds. So, we are sure that you will be safe with him…"

The weight of Aro's words hung in the air, affirming the significance of Raine's role not only as a member of the guard but as your protector. Raine inclined his head with pride, his eyes never leaving yours, silently reaffirming his commitment to your well-being.

Jane, the petite yet powerful force within the guard, stepped forward next. Her gaze, filled with respect and admiration, swept across the room, acknowledging the honour bestowed upon her to protect you. Her loyalty to the Volturi and her unwavering dedication to your safety was unmatched.

"You already know Jane," Marcus announced, his voice laced with reverence. "So, we hope that you know that her unwavering loyalty and exceptional abilities make her an invaluable asset to our cause. So, as your protector, she will ensure your safety with her unique gift and unyielding determination."

“Of course, my love… Jane is always welcome with me… She’s aware of that, and she knows that I’m always grateful for her presence and company…” You said softly while looking at the young girls with a warm smile.

Jane's eyes met yours, reflecting a profound understanding and shared experiences. She knew the depth of your bond with the kings and the magnitude of the responsibility entrusted to her. Not only that, but she personally appreciated you. You were like a comforting parental figure and mentor. You calmed her down when her emotions got the better of her and you encouraged her to practice with her powers. Meanwhile, you, in her gaze, found reassurance that your safety was in capable hands.

Alec and Demetri followed suit, they didn’t need any introduction at all, their presence commanding and their commitment unwavering. They had proven themselves time and again, earning their place within the guard and their role as your protectors. Besides, they were also your friends, always willing to talk with you in your free time or just spend with you the few minutes your mates were busy with they royal duties. The loyalty and shared experiences of the two vampires cemented the unbreakable bond that tied them to you. With his unwavering strength and fierce determination, Felix stood tall beside his comrades. His role as a guardian extended beyond physical protection; he was a steadfast companion, ready to shield you from any threat. The trust you had built with Felix over the time you were in the castle made him an integral part of your journey. From the moment you met, he acted like a caring and annoying older brother, always ready to mess with you and protect you when necessary.

And then there was Nikolas, a seasoned member of the guard, his wisdom and experience enriching the group dynamics. Nikolas had been by your side for countless moments, and his loyalty was never tested, because it was so obvious that he believed in the king’s rules and laws that he never need to be put in trial for anything. He was one of the oldest members of the Volturi, so obviously, his guidance and presence carried weight within the guard.

"These are your protectors," Aro proclaimed, his voice filled with pride and reverence. If you could compare your amazing mate to something else, you would think of a child in Christmas morning, when he knows he was able to get the perfect gift for someone. "They have been chosen not only for their exceptional skills and unwavering loyalty but for the love and devotion they hold for you. Together, they form a formidable force, bound by their duty to safeguard your well-being."

Of course, as Aro's words echoed through the hall, a sense of gratitude and warmth enveloped you. This guard was not merely a group of protectors; they were going to be your family, bound by love and a shared purpose. Each member was starting to play a unique role in your life, and you only hoped that with time their presence would turn into a testament to the strength of the bond you were feeling between you and them.

Stepping forward, Aro extended his hand toward you, a gesture of camaraderie and trust. You took his hand, feeling the weight of his words resonate within you. With your new guard by your side, you were prepared to face whatever challenges lay ahead, knowing that their love, loyalty, and shared experiences would guide you through the darkness.

You approached a bit, your steps were measured and confident, a regal grace imbued in every movement. It was only when you were directly in front of your new guard that you stopped walking. "Thank you for joining me," you spoke, your voice carrying a mixture of gratitude and warmth. "It is an honour to have you by my side, to know that I am protected and cherished."

Nikolas met your gaze, his voice steady yet filled with sincerity. "I am privileged to serve you, to stand as your shield and your confidant. My loyalty is unwavering, as is my commitment to your well-being." The members of the guard, Jane, Alec, Demetri, Felix, and Raine, stood alongside you, their expressions a mix of respect and camaraderie.

You smiled, a true and kind smile that was rare but obviously genuine, it was an expression that lit up your features and that was mostly reserved for your adored mates. "Together, we are stronger," you said, your voice carrying a note of conviction. "In each of you, I see unwavering dedication and unwavering loyalty. I trust in my kings' choices and I believe that we will navigate the path ahead with grace and determination."

Felix stepped forward, his gaze meeting yours with unwavering intensity. "We will protect you with our lives," he affirmed, his voice filled with resolve. "Our duty extends beyond duty itself. It is a commitment to your happiness and well-being, to safeguarding the love and connection that binds you with our kings and with us all as your subjects and companions."

Your eyes softened, a flicker of emotion passing through your features. "I am grateful to all of you, for your presence, and your unwavering support," you replied, your voice tinged with genuine gratitude. "To have such loyal companions by my side gives me strength and reassurance."

A few days later, in the dimly lit chamber of the Volturi castle, you stood before a large table where Raine, Jane, Alec, Demetri, Felix, and Nikolas were gathered. The air crackled with anticipation as you prepared to give them their assignment. The kings weren’t there, trying to avoid any type of involvement with the planning in case Alice was trying to see their choices and plans. The last thing they needed was the little vampire acting like some type of prophet and trying to blame the Volturi for the newborn’s attack on the Cullens.

"Raine, Jane, Alec, Demetri, Felix," you began, your voice carrying a commanding tone. You hated when you had to act like a boss in front of your guard. You didn’t want the coven to be like that, like an enterprise, without feelings or any type of warmth, but sadly, considering how stupid the Cullens were acting and how they were about to go to war against lots of newborns that would destroy them without a second thought, you had to be serious and bark orders while thinking of a strong strategy that would help the smaller coven.

"I have a task of utmost importance for you.” You started your explanation while looking at the vampires in front of you. “The existence of our kind is at stake, and it is your duty as representatives of the Volturi clan to handle this matter with precision and efficiency."

Raine, with his piercing gaze and an air of quiet strength, nodded, his expression serious in the usually laid-back face. Jane, with her captivating aura of power and authority, even for her young appearance, stood by Raine's side, ready for any challenge. Alec, exuding calmness and a commanding presence, prepared himself for the mission. Demetri, with his unparalleled tracking abilities, exuded confidence and determination, and Felix, radiating sheer physical strength, stood tall and resolute. You knew they were all ready for whatever plan your mind had created. They would follow you without a doubt, ready to end with the threat towards your kind.

"Jane, you will take charge of the operation. Your keen intellect and combat prowess will be invaluable in this endeavour. Besides, we all know how extraordinary is your gift… Raine, the newborns probably won’t have any idea of who you are, so… I’ll need you to use your power to disorient and incapacitate them, stop their abilities, make them feel weak. Alec, reinforce their illusions and provide cover when needed. Demetri and Felix, you two will be in charge of tracking and subduing them… ensure their compliance." You paused for a moment, allowing the weight of the the task to settle upon them.

"And Nikolas," you continued, your voice filled with warmth and gratitude, "I will need you to stay by my side. You know that I consider you a loyal protector and confidant, besides… The kings would feel better if you stayed behind to protect me… You, surely know, that your presence is essential to my safety."

Nikolas, who had been standing silently in the background, nodded understandingly. He knew his duty was to safeguard you, and he accepted the responsibility with unwavering dedication. That was his main task from the moment you arrived in Volterra, to protect you, to defend you against anyone who tried to hurt you.

"While you won't be joining the others on this mission, your role here is just as crucial," you reassured him. "I trust in your abilities to protect me, and I know that I am in capable hands."

Nikolas met your gaze with a determined expression. "You can count on me, my prince…" he affirmed, his voice filled with loyalty.

After making sure that Nikolas understood why it was so important for him to stay with you while the others went to fight, you turned your attention back to the rest of the guard.

"I have every confidence in your abilities. Show the newborns the might of the Volturi, but exercise restraint and judgment. Our goal is to restore order and ensure the safety of our kind, not to needlessly destroy. If there’s someone salvageable, anyone, that would be a good addition to the clan, or if someone shows true regret and is willing to learn the rules and follow the law, let’s give them a chance. The Vulturi don’t give second chances, but let’s consider that those newborns, never had a chance to begging with."

As the team prepared to depart, you stepped forward, your gaze filled with unwavering trust and gratitude.

"Remember, you are not alone. Together, we will face the challenges that lie ahead. Your bond as a team is as essential as your individual talents. Protect one another, trust one another, and return to me victorious. The kings and I trust in your abilities and your good thinking…"

With those words, the group of Volturi representatives turned to leave, their resolve unwavering. The weight of their duty pressed upon their shoulders, but they carried it with honour and determination.

As you sat in the quiet meeting room of the Volturi castle, your gaze fixed on the regal figure of Jane as she prepared to leave. Everyone else had already left. The meeting is long over. And you couldn’t help but think that the room exuded an air of solemnity, the walls adorned with ancient tapestries depicting scenes of the Volturi's immortal reign. Maybe it was the words that were exchanged just a few seconds ago, maybe it was just how the sunlight filtered through the tall windows, casting gently rays that danced upon the polished marble floor, creating a serene ambience. You weren’t sure. Still, you had a second mission, the planning was over, and now… the second part of the plan needed to start.

Seizing the moment, you rose from his seat, your expression calm yet resolute. This was going to be quite difficult for you, but still, you knew this was necessary. Your eyes met Jane's, locking onto her crimson gaze with a steadiness that bespoke your unwavering resolve.

"Jane," You called out, your voice carrying a quiet intensity that cut through the stillness of the room.

Jane paused, her graceful movements halted as she turned to face you. Her porcelain features held a trace of curiosity, her piercing eyes sparkling with a mix of curiosity and expectation. She was ever an enigma, capable of both unspeakable power and surprising depths of empathy. Still, when you looked directly at her, she felt so young, so inexperienced in life, like a child wanting comfort and protection. Sometimes, in secret, when nobody could see your thoughts or feel your emotions, you let yourself think of her and Alec as your children. Still, you weren’t sure that it would be welcomed so you kept those feelings to yourself.

With a composed demeanour, you continued talking, your words were measured yet purposeful. "Before you depart on this mission, I have something important to convey," You stated, voice projecting a confidence borne from the knowledge that every word had been carefully considered.

Jane's brows arched ever so slightly, her attention fully captured. She remained silent, awaiting the revelation that would shape their course of action.

"In the event that you and the others discover information that could alter our plans, that could change everything," You explained, words deliberate and laden with significance, tone of voice soft but serious. You weren’t joking about this, and it was clear that you truly believed that something would change your guard’s course of action. "I ask that you exercise your judgment and take the necessary actions to ensure our success. But please, do not inform me of any such developments."

Your request hung in the air, the weight of its implications palpable. You understood the reason behind it—the need to shield the choices of the kings and your own decisions from the penetrating gaze of Alice. After all, knowing her, it was obvious that she would also see your choices related to the newborn threat. She always thought that her gift was almost perfect, and she would make sure to try to use it against any plan that the Volturi could create. The unspoken tension that had surrounded them all since the meeting's inception now found its voice in this solemn exchange.

Jane's gaze softened, her features betraying a glimmer of understanding. She nodded in acknowledgement, a silent agreement forged between you and her. Though you knew that Jane changing the plans depending on the situation would leave you in the dark, you understood that it was necessary and accepted the essential part of this arrangement, knowing it would safeguard their endeavours from the prying eyes of those who might manipulate fate.

With that, Jane resumed her departure, her figure gracefully gliding through the doorway. Meanwhile, you remained behind, contemplating the gravity of your shared secret. In this moment of quiet reflection, you took an unnecessary deep breath and prepared yourself for the unknown, ready to face the consequences of a future shaped by the choices of others. Right now, you quite loathed Alice and her stupidly useful gift.

Is it easier to stay is it easier to go I don't wanna know oh but I know that I'm never ever gonna change and you know that you're always gonna stay the same

Is it easier to stay is it easier to go I don't wanna know oh but I know that I'm never ever gonna change and you know you don't want it any other way

As the moon reached its highest point, casting a luminous glow upon the enchanting and mysterious gardens of Volterra, the Volturi kings prepared for a momentous occasion. You weren’t aware of this, but it was there, surrounded by the whimsical beauty of nature that helped them hide from the chaotic world and stay in that small piece of heaven and safeness, that they had meticulously arranged a scene that would forever mark their love and devotion into your heart.

The gardens came alive with the soft glow of innumerable fairy lights, delicately twinkling like stars suspended from the branches of ancient trees. Their ethereal radiance bathed the surroundings in a warm, romantic ambience, enveloping the space in a magical embrace.

They knew it wasn’t the best time for this type of surprise, but they couldn’t help it. They were tired of hiding you, of acting like they didn’t consider you their equal. They wanted for you to be able to stand proudly by their side when they had to judge a rebellious clan, they wanted for the rest of the vampires outside their coven to respect you and fear you like they respected and feared them. They desired to be able to listen to your ideas and plans without having to hide because of your lack of a royal title. It wasn’t fair, you were one of the smartest people they’d ever met, and they didn’t want to keep insulting you by ignoring that fact. You were their mate, the only being that was solely made to be by their side, you weren’t made to be hidden and to stay put like a trophy, you were born to rule, to protect and defend what you and they considered important. Unlike them, you showed the compassion that they had lost many years ago, and they felt that it was time that the vampires of their world had a ruler they could turn to, not only to accuse another coven but to seek help and comfort.

They looked at the garden, a cosy seating area nestled beneath the sprawling canopy of a centuries-old oak tree, adorned with cushions and blankets in hues of velvety midnight blue and rich crimson. Soft, plush pillows were carefully arranged, inviting you to sink into their comforting embrace. The idea was to show the comfort and kindness that you usually showed to them and to your friends inside the Volturi guard.

A table, draped in elegant silk, stood nearby, adorned with crystal glasses that glimmered as they caught the moon's tender light. The lack of silverware, plates and food was quite obvious, but they couldn’t do anything about that. It wasn’t like you could eat, so the idea of sharing a meal would be ridiculous and wasteful. Still, they had mixed some blood with your favourite wines from when you were alive, wanting to show you that they cared not only for the current you, but also for the things that had made you into the being they loved so much. This careful mixture of alcohol and blood was a token of the kings' unwavering commitment and affection. Just like that, from the carefully opened bottles that rested in the middle of the tastefully decorated table, a tantalizing fragrance permeated the air. It was a delicate blend of freshly picked roses, intertwined with the aroma of rich, aged blood. A symphony of scents of sorts, a harmonious combination that reflected both the beauty and the primal essence of their immortal existence. An existence that they hoped to share with you by their side.

As you entered the gardens, your footsteps were muffled by the lush grass. It wasn’t possible, not at all, but the kings could almost feel how their hearts quickened with anticipation. The Volturi guard, standing sentinel around the designated area, exuded an aura of reverence and support, they had decided to take a moment to maintain this moment untouched by the responsibilities of everyone outside. Their tasks were simple, make sure that you four wouldn’t be interrupted. Each member of the guard, adorned in their regal attire, wore a gentle smile, their eyes conveying unwavering love and acceptance.

Aro, your charismatic and visionary king, the spokesman of the three kings, stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with a mischievous sparkle. "Ah, my love, we have orchestrated this moment with utmost care and affection, for we have longed to profess our love for you in a setting as extraordinary as the bond we share."

Then, Caius, your strong king, let his stoic facade softened by the warmth of his emotions and spoke with a resolute tenderness. "In your presence, we have found solace and completeness. The depths of our hearts are forever entwined with yours. Tonight, we offer you the promise of a love that transcends time and fate."

Finally, your quiet but caring king… Marcus, the always introspective, with his gaze full of profound intensity, whispered words that carried the weight of centuries. "The course of our immortal existence has been irrevocably altered since the moment we met you. Your presence fills our lives with purpose, and your love has breathed new life into our souls."

With their words hanging in the air, the Volturi kings stepped closer, their eyes locked on your own, their hands extended in a gesture of unwavering commitment. Aro, his voice both commanding and gentle, continued, "In this enchanted garden, beneath the moon's tender gaze, we ask for the honour of your hand in a union that surpasses mortal bounds. Will you become our beloved, our partner in eternity?"

This is it… They were finally asking you the biggest question of your inmortal life…

Overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of love and devotion before them, your heart swelled with emotion. Tears of joy danced in your eyes as you gazed at the kings and the extraordinary scene they had meticulously crafted. The tears would never fall, unable to find release thanks to your unnatural anatomy, but still, the emotion was there, your face and whole body were showing off the multiple feelings that were going through your heart and mind at the moment. It was a moment that surpassed your wildest dreams. You knew they wanted to marry you, you were aware of the fact that this would eventually happen but… Now? Like this? This was better than any dream, better than any imagined scenario that you had created in your mind. This was a thousand times better because this came directly from them.

You knew this wasn’t the time to be shy, you needed to convey all your feelings and you were planning to do it. Your kings had created such a beautiful proposal for you, there was no way you wouldn’t correspond to their feelings in the best way you could. So… with a voice filled with love and unwavering conviction, you replied.

"I spent most of my life until now… chasing a love that would never come true… But it’s in your arms, that I have found solace, passion, and unwavering support. To be chosen by you, to be cherished and loved by all three of you, is a gift beyond measure. With all my heart, I accept your proposal, knowing that our love will continue for the rest of our lives and that, it’s only your love, the thing that I was truly craving when I was lost….”

And the hardest part of all is that we're only built to fall

Is it easier to stay is it easier to go I don't wanna know oh but I know that I'm never ever gonna change and you know that you're always gonna stay the same

On the other side of the world, a similar, but quite different picture was starting to appear as the sun began its descent beyond the horizon, casting a soft golden glow across the meadow of the forest of Forks.

There, Bella stood on the delicate precipice between love and doubt. With the warmth of the evening air wrapped around her, mingling with the scent of grass and wildflowers, she asked herself if this whole situation was what she actually wanted. Still, she stood there, waiting faithfully doing her best to stay immobile as she waited for Edward to arrive.

Bella’s heart was heavy with conflicting emotions, doubts creeping into her mind like shadows, whispering their insidious words. She couldn’t help it, the problems, the fights, Edward's own actions in front of you and in front of the kings of the vampires, all of those little things were starting to pile up and they threaten to pour out of her heart, filling her head and soul with doubt and questions that nobody seemed to want to answer. Also, a part of her questioned if Edward truly loved her as deeply as he professed. After all, the way he reacted to meeting his ex-partner, even after he told him that it was you that was hanging onto a relationship long over, it was confusing. You had already moved on, so… Why was Edward so upset about it? Why did the brunette make such a scene accusing his ex-lover of horrible things and trying to attack them? And then… his actions towards her during their trip back to Forks, his reluctance to turn her into a vampire, to make her inmortal so they could be together forever… Did he really love her and cherish her as much as he said to do? Or were his words merely empty promises, masking a more self-serving desire to keep her in his world for a while? Like a little pet, a little thing you want to love, knowing that they wouldn’t live as long as you do… Did Edward see her as just a fleeting love? Maybe he saw her as something he could play with and pretend to love with the reassuring thought that she would grow old and die while he would stay young forever…

Bella gazed at the shimmering light filtering through the trees, the same light that had once illuminated their undying love. She still remembers the hidden encounters, the kisses in the forest and laying in the same meadow as Edward while talking sweet nothings to each other. She remember how he explained about you, about his disturbed ex-lover that dreamed of a wedding that would never happen and that fantasied about a relationship that was long dead. At the time, she was so worried for Edward, so saddened by the fact that he was tied to you, and so resentful for the fact that she had to hide her love under those threes and little bits of lights… But now, the same lights and soft shadows cast doubts upon her heart, casting darkness upon the very foundation of their relationship.

At this point, she couldn’t help but ask herself if anything of what Edward told her was even true. When she met you, you attacked her and yes, acted crazy but… were your actions really the act of someone delusional and trapped in the past? Or were those the doings of someone that was betrayed and lied to by the man they loved? Edward and herself -even if now she was ashamed of it- had made fun of you behind your back, joking about your mind being trapped in a delusion where your ex-boyfriend was still in love with you… and yet, now, she was the one who felt trapped.

She was entangled in a web of her own dreams and desires, her own personal simulated world. She felt weak, stupid… She let herself be moved by the allure of immortality, the idea of being the only one in the life of a creature that was designed to be perfect, the idea of forever being with Edward, of being loved for all eternity, the idea of being so important for someone that he was willing to ignore his own nature just to love her… that lies, that illusion held her captive. So, still with all those doubts and worries plaguing and poisoning her mind and heart, she stayed there, standing motionless, waiting for her boyfriend.

And just a few seconds later, there he appeared, a figure emerging from the depths of the forest, it was just the blink of an eye for Bella, but suddenly, he was in front of her, looking directly at her expression while his eyes glowed with an intensity that had once mesmerized her. Now, she wasn’t sure what she felt looking at that unnatural gleam in his eyes, she was just glad that he couldn’t hear her thoughts, thankful for the shield nature had given her. Edward had approached her with a confidence that both comforted and unnerved her. His voice, so sweet and melodic, echoed through the meadow, blending with the whispering breeze. She felt like he was trying to touch her with his words, cover her and hide her from the world… She used to be grateful for that feeling…

"Bella," he said, his voice laced with tenderness… but was it real? "I have loved you from the moment I laid eyes on you. Every beat of my heart, every fibre of my being, longs for you. There is no doubt in my mind that you are my destiny, my forever."

His words reached her ears, but her heart yearned for more than mere declarations. Besides, his promises and sweet nothings seemed to stay there, unclear and almost impossible to be true. Did he yearn for her because of his love? Or was it because of some weird instinct that he couldn’t control? The doubts that plagued her thoughts begged for reassurance, a tangible proof of his unwavering commitment, a way to show that he truly loved her and wasn’t only following what he thought he had to do...

Was this proposal an act of genuine love, or a desperate attempt to keep her bound to him?

As Edward dropped to one knee, a small velvet box in his hand, Bella's heart fluttered with a mixture of hope and trepidation. What? She wasn’t confused, she understood what his words and actions meant but… She wasn’t even eighteen just yet… She was barely finishing high school… Did she want to tie herself to Edward without a chance of experimenting with other things in life? She wasn’t legally allowed to drink, she hadn’t thought of universities or if she wanted to work in something in particular… Hell, she was still a virgin!

But there it was… The delicate ring nestled within the box glimmered in the waning sunlight, a symbol of an eternity she had once craved. The commitment and future she once asked for… She even pushed Edward to take her back after he tried to leave her when the first vampire attacked her… Then she saved his life and almost pushed him to commit to her forever…

But…

Did she genuinely want this? Weren’t all teenagers allowed to do a couple of stupid things before becoming real adults? Still, how could she say “no”?

At that moment, looking at that gorgeous ring in that delicate velvet box and looking at Edward that was waiting for an answer with a small and charming smile, she felt the weight of his expectations pressing upon her, and she wondered if she could truly deny him.

Her mind raced, questioning the very essence of their love. Was it pure and selfless, or did it stem from a possessive need to control her destiny? Did Edward want her because of her? Or did he want her just to avoid losing something else that he considered his? Doubts clouded her mind and she knew that if she didn’t control herself, she would start shaking… Still, she found herself hesitating, unable to voice her doubts. The fear of losing him and the dreams she had woven around their future kept her silent. She spent so much time thinking of being with him. She risked her life, ruined other relationships, and forgot about the other possibilities of her future just to stay by his side, so… If she decided to say “no”, what would be of her? What would she do? At this point, she wasn’t sure if she could be Bella without Edward by her side…

At that moment, the conflict within Bella reached its climax. She couldn't deny the love she felt for Edward, nor could she ignore the doubts that now consumed her thoughts. Still, there was no more time, Edward was there, in one knee, waiting for her answer and she was about to get all that she thought she wanted… She just needed to ignore the questions. It wouldn’t be so hard, and maybe with time, she would get used to it…

And so, with a mixture of reluctance and resignation, she whispered, "Yes, Edward. I will marry you."

As he slid the ring onto her finger, sealing their fate, Bella couldn't shake the lingering doubts that were whispered in the recesses of her mind. But for now, she would bury them beneath a facade of acceptance, hoping that time would reveal the truth behind Edward's words and intentions. In any case, she at least knew that Edward loved her or cared for her to the point of wanting to marry her and that would be enough… That needed to be enough.

-It won’t be…- Her mind whispered, almost like answering to her silent promise. Weirdly enough, the voice sounded so much like yours that she couldn’t help but feel like she was making a mistake. Still, it felt like it was too late to change her mind now. She was going to marry Edward, and with that, she would turn into a vampire, like she was always meant to be. She was sure that with time, everything would fall into place. The doubt was, where would she fit in the whole picture once that happened?

Is it easier to stay is it easier to go I don't wanna know oh but I know that I'm never ever gonna change and you know you don't want it any other way

I love you so much that I hate you right now

It's so hard to blame you cause you're so damn beautiful

A/N: Hey guys, sorry for taking so long. Here's the update, hope you like it.

[yangsharperavery]

I was reading five times at a simmer; once boiling over again and idk if someone else already pointed out but I noticed you predicted a lot of things for season 2 like the “I couldn’t have done any of this without you” line, the panic attack moment and syd helping him, the fact that she wants accolades like a star and carmy saying they’re overrated, and probably more! so idk if it’s because they as well as their relationship are very well written so they are predictable for amazing writers like you or because you’re just a genius or you’re actually chris lol but wow this was great to read and you’re extremely talented!

Also pleaseee share some theories you have for sydcarmy s3 I will believe you!!

gah! thank you so much. thoughtful words like this mean so much to me. writers are typically so deeply critical of their own work and i am no exception! i appreciate your sentiments so very much. truly.

it's so funny because the same thing was brought to my attention about the second one shot i wrote after five times at a simmer; once boiling over.

in still don't know what love means i also predicted a few things that ended up happening in the second season.

i watch so much tv and have written a handful of spec scripts so its very possible i just see the story theme threads and follow them in the way i think they would naturally go in subsequent seasons.

i actually don't have any concrete guesses around s3 other than what i've seen other fans speculate about.

there's gonna be a lot of tension and discord. carmy's going to regress and probably drive sydney away/she'll be poached. they'll fight. probably alot. i forsee some type of emotional breakthrough for carmy towards the end of the season. like maybe we'll see him crying for the first time? perhaps over natalie's baby or hearing about the details of mikey's funeral or something happening to or with donna.

maybe he'll go somewhere to attempt to release or process or deal with his anger and grief. maybe even something unconventional that isn't therapy.

he's probably gonna turn into asshole chef from nyc, which is one of the reasons syd will threaten to walk/actually walk.

i'm very interested in the grand gesture carmy will present sydney with this season. first season was the restaurant, second season was the chef's whites. it's easy to say the third season would be a star but i actually think it's going to be more personal this time around. i also am not convinced they'll get the star on their first try.

but that will be his hyper-fixation and preeminent concern throughout the entirety of the season which will likely turn him into someone sydney won't want to be around or can't trust.

this is gonna be their angst season without a doubt. i eat up angst with a spoon so i'm ready.

richie or tina or natalie likely makes some comment(s) about the nature of the sydcarmy partnership. one or both refute/deny/hide, etc.

they might get too physically close or cross the energetic plane during an intense moment of resolution or continued conflict. they probably won't address or talk about it.

carmy may display some jealousy that he'll mask as rigidity and order and discipline in the name of getting a star if he sees richie/marcus/luca being too chummy with sydney.

edit: oh and something like this

[mxmajor]

Didn't you tell me to be the guy? "I didn't tell you to be an asshole."- Uncle Jimmy

And for Carmy, those are one in the same. And because the show has been so tight on his perspective as the protag, many viewers have joined on the perspective of seeing everyone but Carmy as an asshole even when they aren't (except NY Chef/David Fields, fuck that guy).

In previous seasons we see more of Carmy's interiority (his memories, his ideas, his intrusive thoughts, his vulnerable moments at the thing), but marginally, we are made aware of how his behavior is impacting those around him.

in season 3 , we get a nice long introspective opener in 3x01 that visually lays out the experiences, memories, and thought process carmy's attempting to synthesize into success to overcorrect after friends and family.

He also does all of this alone.

In the following episodes we see more of the real time misunderstandings and failed efforts to establish and reinforce bonds with ppl not immediately in carmy's kin circle.

At first glance, the faks are doing a lot screentime wise, but I think their presence and the window guys, and even Tina's story highlight the lack of reliability that could happen in Carmy's perspective in addition to how spot on he is abt what is fucked up around the beef/berzatto family.

They show us an affection, and familiarity, and warmth with each other in their sophomoric antics and bonds with each other. All of it looks unprofessional and silly, esp when richie is trying to do so many random things not to thwart Carmy but save some of the atmosphere that makes people want to be there. But we see that ppl in other BOH kitchens have that, which Richie knowss. Cause he's experienced it at the Beef and Ever, even if not all the time with the berzatto siblings.

But I feel vindicated abt the old posts I made abt Carmy being an asshole, not because I think he's bad or I want to see him fail, but because I think he can eventually be aware of himself in a positive way and maybe be better in season 4. but he has to own his shit.

Carmy's genius and youngest child syndrome can passively slide him into a role where he is just accepted as complicated and misunderstood. Carmy is Carmy, no one tells him no really. Syd and Richie are the ones that give him the most pushback (which he desperately needs to listen to). But he got nearly a million dollars to do as he wanted off of love and guilt.

he goes inside himself to figure things out, and waits to be noticed dand interpreted but does not assertive in way that helps him engage. He doesn't see clearly that the success, magic, and joy is in the shared experience (with his siblings, coworkers, supervisor, dating) because he has been in that odd man out role and believes he doesn't belong.

So many people think this is his dream and passion but he literally never says that. Most of his relationships happens through projections he doesn't really clear up because he is so focused on the negative projects he assumes ppl will know about him because of his family and past.

He also tends to make things about himself that are not about him. When it is his familiars, it explodes into something, When it is Sydney or the computer it deflates and gets redirected because no one is coming for him like he anxiously/insecurely believes they are.

Carmy: Is that a shot? Computer: I don't understand. Carmy: Are you giving me shit for not calling people back? Ep. 5, Children, 23:33

Why the hell would the Computer (who is a great organizational professional, i need to look into credentialing like his) take time in a serious meeting to take a dig at Carmy????

Sometimes it seems like he only has genuine convos with Syd & Marcus but I think that is because he sees/projects parts of his chef self in them. Moreso Marcus now than Syd, he doesn't want them to experience and make the same mistakes.

I wish he would have asked the chef's he worked under for advice (on camera, in script) but you know, Carmy does not talk, and we wouldn't have a show if he did everything right all of the time.

I think NY chef just eating "the yeah I did the fucked up stuff on purpose, you're welcome" turned everything on its side in Carmy's brain. But I also think he took that exchange well in comparison to his spirals in the past two season finales.

all the core islands and structures in his head he built and rebuilt around being a successful chef topple. Sitting with all of those actual chefs and listening to them are their kitchen experiences foils his belief that people only gain success through being assholes.

SN: Uncle Jimmy, how is Carmy supposed to know what being the man looks like in a non-asshole way if he never got to work with his brother and didn't have consistent male figures growing up? But also, nobody knows how fcked up NY Chef is outside of the industry so how would cicero know either.

Carmy needs to socialize outside of his immediate family that he grew up around. And actually fucking talk to people. Not just stare and say very heavy one liners related to his inner monologue that are narrowly connected to the present topic.

heeey @currymanganese here is a post with initial thoughtsss

[fxckin-polkadots]

Hii idk if you accept requests but first of all i just wanted to say i LOVE how you write about Alphonso, it touches my heart in a unique way. I really just wanted to ask for any idea you have about him if that's okay.

Take care!!

my requests are always open dear reader !!!! and this one made me so happy i had to tell my bf about 😭 be still my tiny autistic heart!

i guess by any ideas you mean head canons, which i have a lot of, i think of Alphonso often 🫶🫶

Random Headcanons // Alphonso hargreeves

Master List

Warnings: none, this is all pretty fluffy head canons / not proof read

A/N: the reader isn’t the main focal point but they are mentioned (they/them pronouns are used or none are used at all)

pairing: N/A

Synopsis: N/A

—————————————————————————

Okay, i am not sure if the Sparrows even own phones or anything that can play music besides like, a gramophone, but i 100% believe Alphonso would like musicals. Legally Blonde, Waitress, Six, Hamilton, Mamma Mia, you name it, he’d probably have it on record. He would probably keep them under his bed or something with a record player, i also get a strong sense he’d like ABBA or Dead or alive (or in general 70s/80s pop music). He’d be a music nerd, is what im saying, and i mean that with love. If you were ever at his house he’d definitely show you his collection of vinyls, talking your ear off about details about the bands or album itself, whether or not you’d actually understand anything is up for interpretation but its something that makes him happy so your more than happy to listen.

He doesn’t do it often, mostly because he doesn’t want to, but Alphonso can cook very well. The only reason he doesn’t do it often is because he doesn’t really enjoy cooking for other people (except for Jayme & someone close to him). He once got caught cooking by Marcus & was then forced to cook dinner by the family, despite his mild protesting.

Despite his outwardly, well, asshole-ish type personality, he’s actually a sucker for sappy things. He didn’t get a lot of love growing up (he’s Reggie’s kid, cmon) simple things actually hit him hard in the heart strings, even if he wont verbally admit it or physically indicate it. An “Im proud of you”, or a good hug after a long day really goes a long way for him, honestly. He really appreciates when people look out for him too, sure he can hold his own in a battle of wits, but its always nice to be reassured he has people in his corner who care enough about him to stick up for him. He won’t thank them or anything, but he’ll be thinking about that interaction for a long, long time.

This could be just a me thing, but i personally think Alphonso is italian (though theres probably more proof of him being spanish if you count him referring to himself as “numero cuatro” while talking to luther in episode two), so i also like to think when he’s not with the rest of his family, either with y/n or Jayme, he probably mutters to himself in italian. I honestly just choose to believe that the hargreeves all learnt their mother’s dialect, except for luther who never quite grasped it (but that’s an idea for another post 👀)

—————————————————————————

Oh my goodness i have not been alive for so long guys i apologize 😢first year of college is kicking my ass and i’m constantly either busy or just laying in bed 😭

will be answering all my asks + emptying drafts as i’m off for a while !!

bye bye :3

- syd

[lumilasi]

UPDATE: Decided to fix my issues with the Montero siblings, I didn't like their designs fully. I also added Basil to this post given he's closely tied to our Lesbian cat-witch duo and is often hanging around them. (They have more outfits too ofc, these are just the ones they tend to wear a lot)

Fun facts about the trio below:

The bow in Irina's cardigan serves as the top button as well, and sometimes she wears it with only that button closed.

Her cardigan mimics her actual sorceress robes and is custom made.

She can transform her umbrella into a blade or a whip, and use it as a shield or float with it. or just to smack when her kitty is being mischievous

she has a yellow sleeveless top and black leggings under her cardigan and boots; She mostly dresses more modern, but does have more traditional outfits too she might put on occasionally.

Irina was adopted by a Winter Warlock (whose patron is Jack Frost) called Marcus Vasile, when she was a toddler. She was abandoned there by her family who didn't know what to do with her magic powers

Marcus is a Romanian noble, or has noble heritage to be exact, though he's mostly seen as an eccentric rich hermit, or was before he got himself a daughter. (His family does originate from the mirror realm - also known as Ether, where all magic on earth comes from)

Reina is from a special werecat family that are also known as Stormbringers, as each member has an elemental power somehow connecting to storms. Reina's is wind element.

Reina is close with her older brother Basil, whose element is lightning; they bicker and fight a lot (Loudly, typically in Spanish), but make for a badass fighter team once they work together.

Same can be said about Reina and Irina, although they don't actually physically fight, just bicker a lot.

Reina is a hotheaded goofball, whereas her brother is more of a chill asshole; both ultimately mean well most of the time though.

Basil is Bisexual, he later develops a thing to Marcus' acquaintance's pupil, Hayden Faylune.

Reina's feline form reminds a lynx, except for having a long tail, whereas Basil looks like a black panther.

[yanderes-galore]

Can I request rivalry between Marcus and Baird? With wingman ( platonic yandere Cole and Dom)

Man... I love Delta Squad.

This is me spilling thoughts based on the Anon messages before. If you want their singular yandere types please look at the concept below. I wanted this to be longer but I decided to primarily just focus on the wingman idea.

Using behavior from here

Yandere! Marcus vs Baird (+ wingmen Cole and Dom)

Pairing: Romantic - Rivalry (Marcus+Baird)/Platonic (Dom+Cole to Marcus+Baird)

Possible Trigger Warnings: Gender-Neutral Darling, Mature language/Swearing, Obsession, Manipulation, Jealousy, Stalking, Coercion, Slight abuse of power, Violence, Mentioned murder, Secret recording, Isolation mention, Possessive behavior, Forced relationship.

This is probably one of my favorite Gears yandere ideas.

You're a member of Delta Squad who just so happens to gain the attention of two of its members, Marcus and Baird.

Marcus and Baird alone are intimidating and sometimes... well... assholes.

Marcus is hard to read, gruff, apathetic, and seems like he hates you.

He doesn't, he's just not used to being so close to anyone except Anya.

Then there's Baird, an arrogant and antisocial man who appears upset at everyone and everything.

He struggles to connect with others as he seems so hard to get along with.

Marcus and Baird are known for fighting at times, especially in Gears 1-2.

These two fighting certainly puts you off.

Even more so later on when the topic tends to revolve around you.

To quote my previous concept for these two;

"Marcus is a stern protective yandere who is hard to read. Not only that but he often gets help from Dom if there is some issues between you and him."

"Baird can be a yandere who seems to hate you at first to hide his obsession. In reality he struggles with his obsessive tendencies towards you to the point he can't take it anymore and takes control of the situation."

These two often come off strong and intimidating to their darling if you are a new Delta recruit.

Which is why they have Dom and Cole respectively to help them.

The two are way more friendly compared to their respective best friends.

Cole is incredibly charismatic and easy to get along with, unlike Baird who struggles with the whole people thing.

Meanwhile Dom is softer and more open/caring than Marcus who is more closed off.

They are their best friend's opposites.

Which would make them wingmen to their friends since they seem to enjoy you.

You could make the argument that these two would be "platonic yanderes", trying to help their respective friend get with the new recruit they got.

They'd be willing to do whatever they can to help Marcus and Baird obtain your favor.

How this rivalry would primarily go is either Dom/Cole tries to warm up to you first.

Once you trust one or both of them, they'll introduce you to Marcus/Baird.

Dom tries to ease you into trusting Marcus.

He's soft and tells you Marcus means well.

You still struggle to stay around Marcus but Dom is adamant that he cares about you.

Dom may even encourage Marcus to be a bit more open.

Just small things at first... like praising verbally or even small pats on the back.

Considering Dom has a wife back at home and Marcus was with Anya for a few years in this, the two would have some knowledge in the subject of courting you.

Dom promises Marcus will be perfect for you.

Plus, maybe with Dom helping, Marcus will try to be more straightforward with his feelings towards you.

Then there's Cole helping Baird.

Cole is very easy to get along with so warming up to him is easy.

It's when he tries to get you close to Baird that there's struggle.

Baird tries his best to play nice as Cole is acting as a bridge between you.

Cole is being kind to try and win him over this recruit he likes so he'll comply.

Plus internally Baird is excited because you and Cole are the only people he likes to be around.

It's hard as sometimes you frustrate Baird when you still distrust him.

But hopefully Cole can smooth things over enough to finally make you Baird's.

While Marcus and Baird get into arguments about you, Dom and Cole occasionally get tense around each other as they both know what they're doing.

They won't hurt one another but they may also argue.

Cole no doubt knows about Baird's tendency to stalk you through JACK.

As a result he simply helps hide all the folders Baird has of you.

Meanwhile Dom is aware Marcus gets aggressive when your life is threatened or he's jealous.

Which means he'll help hide any evidence of possible murder in the future for his friend.

Dom and Cole are certainly enablers for their yandere friends.

They support their actions and coerce you into getting with one of them.

Ironically, this scares you more than before they got involved.

Marcus comes off as scary yet he tries his best around you to be softer.

In truth he's unsure on how to properly connect with you, even with Dom's help.

But over time it gets to him holding you close and muttering about how much you mean to him in your ear.

Baird's personality is rather volatile but he tries to cool it for you via Cole's advice.

When not being... him, Baird expresses a softer side to you.

He isn't heartless even if he tries to antagonize Marcus to have you.

He is capable of being caring, giving gifts to try and win you over.

Once he has you... he dreams of you and him in a lab, in total isolation, away from everything and everyone.

Then it'll be just you and him.

Marcus and Baird often try to antagonize each other into doing something to scare you while also appealing to you.

That way you'll have to side with one of them.

They are often petty with one another.

However their fights can escalate into physical ones, which often results in Dom and Cole pulling them apart.

They're still a team.

It doesn't matter if you manage to side with one side or not.

The other will still be unhappy and things may even get worse.

If anything, it's best you swap teams to keep things at bay.

Even then there's certainly aftermath.

Truthfully, your fate was most likely decided once you joined the team.

Leaving now may just cause problems...

But staying may not change anything either.

Perhaps you were stuck here ever since you joined and they laid eyes on you.

[thegaycat]

young royals season 3 wishlist <3

bc i am too excited for s3 and need to collect my thoughts 🥞 ok some of the thoughts are not mine but i agreed and put them on my list anyway :)

and also i 100% wander off topic but its okay ive decided. okay lets go

wille peeling an orange for simon while studying (@littlebabywille said it first)

wille listening to simon singing and playing to the piano (like marcus did in s2ep1 except with consent bc sneaking up on people in their own room is not cool esp if you dont even know them <3<3) (@irenes-diary said that first)

simon singing and wille playing the piano 👀 (@rndm-fandoms)

a third ELIAS song, maybe about true love or something

on the topic of true love, wilmon endgame please??? that will happen right?? she wont keep them apart? if wilmon is not endgame it better still be a happy ending

seeing studenten, august and nils and vincent and the third years graduating epic hillerska style

the queen getting a better understanding of simon and wilhelms relationship

scenes with her and simon, maybe awkward but with possibility of a better relationship in the future??

kristina trying to be a better mom

simon allowing himself to be vunerable and sadfeely, and letting wille comfort him

more rosh and ayub bc i love them <3<3

some erik processing maybe .....

a glimpse of how felice and her mother's relationship is going, how is she taking it that felice is rebelling against her

i wanna know what happened to russeau!! like does august sell it back somehow? does he keep it at Årnäs or maybe at the Hillerska stables? does Sara accept it? bc it is still her horse like emotionally? she must realise that even tho its a (kinda desperate) gift from august the horse will have the best life with her at Hillerska

okay another yr3 wish is for fredrika to realise that stella is in love with her and maybe also realise that it is mutual??? lesbians yes please :)

also more henry development and also him being funny. maybe some more walty crumbs too

summer fits :)

vincent being an asshole because it is so fucking funny like the way he says things <3 he's a bully but its funny it. hes so tired of the rowing team being incompetent. <3

Also someone mentioned his necklace and i dont realistically think we will get a background for that but the little sister hc is very cute and i like it

more of these new queer side characters being queer bc casual representation is always good and nice and makes little bi me very happy

also on the topic of bi, wilhelm remaining unlabelled because i think he is, and also it is so important to show that it is okay to be unlabelled <3 :)

also the choir singing in church again

and wille listening happily and also staring at simon as usual

ooh maybe the spotify extra verse of simons song is written in season 3 👀

i am worried about the police and drugs and sara and the video buttttt maybe all this could bring back micke and also we can see more of the erikson family

how the hell are simon and sara going to live in the same house

linda being a good mom and wille and simon hanging out with her maybe like in s1e6 playing games or just eating dinner or something

just .. wille in simons home

and simon in willes home <3<3

rowing on the actual lake and someone falling into the water bc that would be very funny and i need that actually

some sort of end to august like maybe therapy or jail

most of all i just want simon and wilhelm to actually be a couple and go trough all the shit coming their way together

[diningwiththeasquiths]

Jaccard - Part Two

Ended up writing more for this fic. Part One can be read here. 660 words of Carmy dealing with the fact he hired down-on-his-luck NYC Chef to come work for him at The Bear in a moment of madness. Still genfic at the moment, but feel free to squint and imagine whatever ship you like. :)

Instead of sleeping, Carmen fends off panic attack after panic attack throughout the night. Somewhere around 4 AM he starts wondering if his mind made it all up somehow, and Chef Frederick is still a safe 712 miles away from him in New York City.

At least he doesn’t throw up when he gets up in the morning, that’s something right?

He blinks when Frederick actually shows up, right on time and dour as ever. Okay, so not a figment of his imagination. Especially since everyone else can see him too. He introduces Frederick as the freshly hired Chef de Partie and tries not to cringe when offhandedly mentioning they’ve worked together before, but nobody asks any questions. In fact, everyone seems relieved the position got filled, and after saying hi to Frederick they move on to the order of the day. 

He’s giving Frederick a quick tour of the place—fighting the urge to wipe the nervous sweat from his forehead—when Sydney asks if they can talk. Nodding, he wraps up the tour and asks Marcus if he can grab Frederick his uniform, distracted by the dread in his stomach about what exactly it is Sydney wants to talk to him about. It sounded serious.

“Hey,” she greets him, when he finds her in the pantry. “So, congrats on the new hire. Really cool that you came to me first, to discuss that, that was really nice of you.”

Shit. Another fuck-up in a long line of fuck-ups when it comes to being a good business partner to Syd. 

“Sorry, I’m sorry.”

He means it, but damn if it doesn’t feel like a weak apology. He absolutely owes her the whole explanation. Even if he’s actually not that sure what the fuck happened. 

“Look, he was Head Chef at the restaurant I worked at back in New York. I don’t know why I hired him yesterday, the guy made my life a living hell. I mean he really pushed me, but I think he definitely went too far, you know. But now he’s like, financially ruined or something. Something to do with coke, I don’t know. He says he’s clean now, so. Anyway, do you need me to fire him?”

Syd’s been staring at him during his rambling account of why certain things happened the way they did, looking increasingly less pissed and more concerned. 

“We don’t have to get rid of him, I don't think we should, not without good reason. We really need a new Chef. But, a heads-up would’ve been nice, that’s all I’m saying. You've gotta include me in things like that, please. Even if it’s just calling to say you panicked and hired some asshole because you’re too good for this world, okay?”

His mouth twitches into a grateful smile. “Heard, Chef.”

When he steps back into the kitchen, Frederick is getting acquainted with his responsibilities while Tina keeps a watchful eye. Carmen’s obviously not worried about Frederick’s abilities, except for his ability to follow orders instead of barking them at others. The queasy feeling in his stomach returns.

Richie and Fak walking past is a nice distraction, their loud arguing so nice and normal that it’s soothing to Carmen. He isn’t even hearing the words of their argument, just lets the heated dispute wash over him while he goes over the preparations for tonight.

They’re so invested in their petty disagreement that they aren’t paying attention to where they’re going; Richie especially seems to have forgotten all kitchen etiquette. Carmen watches them from the corner of his eye and catches Richie almost bumping into Frederick. 

“Watch it, Beanstalk,” Richie says. He doesn’t miss a beat, barely glancing at the new hire as he continues argueing with Fak, the two of them making their way to the backdoor. 

Tina shakes her head, muttering something to herself in Spanish. Only Carmen sees the way Frederick’s eyes narrow behind his glasses.

Fuck. That better not become yet another problem.

Part Three can be found here.

[starlit-hopes-and-dreams]

Seven snippets

@winterandwords tagged me to share seven snippets from my writing. Thank you!!

I edited 3 chapters today, and am up to a little over 30k that's done. YAY! only like... 90k to go 😂😅

This will be from *edited* chapters of Shattered Dreams to celebrate :) wip intro

1

“Fuck you. I hope this haunts you for the rest of your godsforsaken life,” Alaia said bitterly, shuffling aside when he reached for her arm. “Don’t fucking touch me, asshole. You’re no better than Jayce or Father, are you? It’s been an act this whole time.” Her breath hitched, her heart constricting.

2

“You look ridiculous when you do that,” Darian muttered. He didn’t bother to dispute his friend’s opinion as he resumed painting the tips of the silvery-gray feathers on his seraphine wings.

Kadin wouldn’t have listened anyway, and likely would’ve come up with more flowery ways to describe him. Darian didn’t feel like hearing about his luscious gold-dipped caramel skin and statuesque muscled physique again anytime this decade. Wishful thinking, he knew–the last twenty-five years had taught him that much.

3

Staring at the ceiling, Serin asked, “What’s your name?” 

He didn’t want to know. One question invited others, and before you knew it, your life was spread out on the table like a buffet. Except no one wanted to eat at his table. And he certainly didn’t want an invite to hers.

4

It tilted its wedge-shaped head, assessing first her and then her surroundings. *Your living quarters are… interesting.* Its tone spoke of uncertainty as the edges of its body began to waver. *No matter. You call to me. We will bond. I will help guide you, and you will help teach me. Goodbye, for now.*

“Wait!” Alaia cried out, finally able to force another word besides ‘what’ from her mouth, despite the whirlwind the creature’s message had left in her mind.

5

Serin caught himself looking forward to her monologues and pulled back once again.

Then, as she grew more comfortable around him, apparently assured he wasn’t going to harm her, she began to find excuses to touch him. She’d lean into his shoulder while they sat on the cot together, brushing her hand against his knee. Her fingers had been gentle as she’d combed out the knots in his hair.

He still didn’t know why he had allowed her to do that. A moment of weakness, he supposed.

6

“What you said was fucked up, but I know you didn’t mean it. And I…” Too close, she’d gotten too close. So he had allowed anger and shame to cleave through her fragile trust. To shove her away. “I baited you. Alaia, I’m sorry.” 

Still nothing. Shit, had she gone back to sleep? 

“I wasn’t pretending,” he whispered, feeling the truth of the words worm into his heart.

7

“Noooo,” she moaned, clutching the blanket around her as best she could with bandaged mitts for hands. “My fault, I shouldn’t… you said, you told me.” She hunched over her knees, ignoring the burn of the knife wounds crossing her chest. 

It was all her fault. Always her fault. Her skin crawled, and she half-wished Marcus had just cut it off.

I'm gonna no-pressure tag @i-can-even-burn-salad, @whumping-in-the-wings, and leave an Open Tag <33

[sakebytheriver]

So I'm writing an Alternate Universe H-money fic and the relationship I'm building for Trevor and Sas is prolly my fave part of it so far 😭😭😭

Like please read this little excerpt and join me in a different world of my own design for a moment 💕

Sas.

Sas was his best friend of all time, you wouldn’t know it if you ever saw the two of them together, you would probably think they just met that second, but they’d known each other since they were in diapers. Trevor’s mom took him to the same daycare that Sas’ dad found for him, and the two of them bonded over blocks and picture books. Even as they got older and found different interests, Trevor preferred action movies while Sas preferred foreign flics, Trevor read mostly biographies and detective novels and Sas would read anything except James Patterson, Sas drank wine, Trevor drank whiskey so on and so forth, the two of them never stopped being best friends. Mostly because when they grew up and both started to look at the girls around them and both got stupid about the ones they liked the most, they soon realized they were both hopeless romantics who would definitely have to help slap each other out of it when they got too stupid. So Trevor gave Sas the creepy nice guy talk when he was going after Shiki and Sas gave Trevor the douchey fratbro talk when he was with Bela and they both got mad at each other and cursed the other out and didn’t call for a few days until they texted “you were right. sorry” and they got drinks right after.

Sas was never the guy Trevor went to first, but he was always the guy Trevor went to eventually. He remembered the biggest fight the two of them ever got into, when he’d just gotten into his frat and invited Sas to come hang with the guys for a night of underage drinking and stupid college boy shenanigans. The night went fine enough, even if Sas was quieter than he usually was around Trevor, but he figured it was just because of all the new people Sas didn’t know hanging around making him extra shy. They drank, they did bad karaoke, they did stupid stunts off the frathouse balcony into the pool, and the next day when he wasn’t hungover anymore Sas told him he never wanted to hangout with those guys ever again and Trevor just did not understand why. Sas had tried to drop the subject, but Trevor had pushed him until he’d blurted out that he thought all of Trevor’s new friends were assholes who didn’t deserve him and that he never should have joined a frat in the first place. That had been a really bad day for their friendship. In fact, it had almost been the end of their friendship, Trevor blocked Sas’ number for a full three weeks and wouldn’t even listen to his own brother when he told him he was being a dumbass. Then his fraternity brothers had left him hung out to dry without a second thought and suddenly Trevor saw all the little things he’d been ignoring all that time that Sas only had to spend one night with them to figure out and Trevor felt like the biggest idiot of all time. The sound of the phone ringing as he waited for Sas to pick up when he finally called him felt like the most judgemental sound in the world. Sas had barely said anything before Trevor had blurted out an apology. Then Sas just sighed and gave him the name of a bar and a time to meet him. They closed down the bar that night just talking for hours about everything and anything that came to mind and they agreed right then and there that anytime they needed one another they’d just send a beer emoji and a time and they’d go to this bar no questions asked.

So now, that’s where Trevor was, sitting behind the bartop with his clean cut suit from Neiman Marcus with Sas in one of the t-shirts decorated with Lenape art and poetry he sells on Etsy, peeling the label off his beer bottle nervously trying to decide if he should say why he’d brought his best friend here or if he should make up a different story.