#gina manes

[silentagecinema]

1920s ladies: gina manes as marie in coeur fidele (1923)

[dare-g]

Looping the Loop (1928)

[chiyuo]

“such a pretty girl…”

rosa diaz x fem!reader

what happens when rosa diaz finds an innocent little girl at shaws bar?

smut!! wlw - men dni!

warnings: corruption kink, dacryphilia, marking, collar, usage of pet names (pretty girl, bunny, baby, princess, etc.), oral (both receiving ), usage of strap (r receiving), calling a strap her cock, roughness, praise, degradation, and light sadism

a/n: i’m so scared guys this is my first time writing smut please be nice

you looked so cute, drink in hand, y/h/c locks cascading down your exposed shoulders and back, the edges of your slightly messy layered hair brushing your collarbone. it wasn’t until gina pointed you out from across the bar that rosa had looked at you, but the second she did, she was glad. she thought about your pretty, innocent eyes filled with tears of bliss, never being able to be fucked so well.

it wasn’t until you set your drink and phone down and waved that rosa was snapped out of her trance. she sat for a moment, talking to gina in hopes that she masked her excitement well. after she felt enough time had passed, she got up and sat in bar stool next to you.

“hey,” you whispered, a soft smile playing at your pretty lips. rosas eyes were locked on your lips before meeting your beautiful y/e/c eyes. “hey, pretty girl. what brings you to shaws?” she asked, slyly moving her hand towards yours, her curly mane spilling out onto her perfect face. “a birthday celebration for my cousin. they left a while ago, though…” your words trailed off as you felt her left ring covered hand touch your exposed thigh.

“oh really?” she smirked, squeezing lightly. “has anyone tried to take you home today, princess?” you flushed at the nickname, feeling butterflies swirl in your belly, biting your lip. this woman was making you feel so funny for some reason. “tell me, bunny, have you ever slept with a woman?” rosa asked, a hint of a smirk playing on her full lips.

“um, no, actually. i’ve never really been with anyone where it wasn’t a quick handjob, or something. i didn’t really like it much, though.” you responded, unable to make eye contact. “what a shame. maybe i should fix that for you?” rosa smiled, her eyes flashing with amusement.

“you never told me your name”, you said, biting the inside of your cheek. “rosa. rosa diaz.” the woman responded before squeezing your thigh. “y/n…” you sighed breathlessly as she rand her nails up and down your thigh lightly.

“what a cute name for a cute little bunny. how about we go to my house and i teach you some things?” she asked before paying both you and her tabs. you nodded shyly, thanking the bartender for the drinks, smiling as he gave you a thumbs up in response and a friendly wave goodbye.

as you left the bar, the cool new york city air hit you, most lights were off except for some street lamps and 24/7 bodegas’ neon lights. even though it was so dark, she still looked so pretty. “did you drive here, baby?” she asked, holding onto your hand loosely. “no, i’m in walking distance”, you explained, smiling at the feeling of her warm fingers interlaced with yours.

as rosa unlocked the door to her apartment, it was less than a minute until you were up against a wall in between her toned caramel arms, her cold yet soft lips making contact with your neck. “i’m not going to stop until you lose all your innocence and scream my name so loud that we get a noise complaint..” rosa bit down lightly onto your neck. “be a good girl and wait on the bed, it’s four doors to the left. can you do that, bunny?” she hummed in delight as you nodded, fixing the photo that hung above you of her and what seemed to be her family, straightening it.

when rosa entered the room, she’d stripped herself of her shirt and pants, leaving her in her black sports bra and boxers. you could drool at the sight, but that would be simply embarrassing for you, so you bit your lip instead. she set down a bag, pulling out a pink collar with a heart on it, a pink dildo, and a black 7.5 inch strap.

your eyes widened, not entirely sure what to do with all of those, when she stepped behind you and pulled up your hair for you. she ordered you to get down off of the bed and to get on your knees in front of her, you quickly complying. “such a good bunny. now, our safe word is ‘cop’, alright? if you’re overwhelmed or want to stop, say it and i will immediately.” you nodded in understanding. “use your words, princess.” she hummed, running her thumb across your bottom lip, pulling at it slightly.

“yes, i understand.” you breathed out, picking up the collar curiously. “can i wear this?” you asked, examining the pretty pink leather. she nodded, before taking it and clipping it around your neck. “get undressed, baby.” she ordered as you scrambled to get your cute clothes off. “good girl. now, as i get ready, you’re going to suck this pretty pink dildo, alright?” she said, handing the thing to you, it’s pure size shocking you.

she turned around, adjusting the harness of the strap before putting away some spare clothes. you tenderly caressed the dildo before bringing it up to your soft lips hesitantly. you licked the tip softly, your tongue swirling around it. soon enough your were licking and bobbing your head on it like it was the sweetest lollipop, fueled by the fact that you knew that she had used this to bring pleasure to herself during so many nights.

she chuckled softly, admiring how pretty you looked on your knees, taking a cock into your mouth. after she decided it was enough, she slapped it across your cheeks gently, attaching the harness of the strap on securely. she smiled as you instinctively leaned closer to the cock, finding your unsureness and nervousness cute. as you hollowed your cheeks around it, she grabbed your head lightly. “good girl, baby.” she praised, throwing her head back at the sight.

soon enough, tears of pleasure formed in your eyes as she throat fucked you, moan after moan leaving your mouth. “that’s it. there we go.” she smiled, keeping your head in place with her firm hands. once it was wet enough, she lifted you onto the bed, demanding that you get on all fours, pushing down on your back lightly to make it arch more. she rubbed her fingers down your wet, puffy, and sticky slit, admiring your swollen clit and lips.

she used her fingers to toy with your entrance to prepare yourself for something so big. she lightly pushed the tip in, relishing in the way that your breathy moans escaped your lips, before shoving the rest of it in. “you’re so fucking tight, bunny, taking it like such a good girl. my sweetheart…” rosa husked, thrusting into you at a pace that made the bed shake and your ass and thighs giggle.

she reached down to toy with your clit, adoring the way that your eyes rolled back and babbles fell from your pretty lips as she thrusted into you. “my little bitch,” rosa smirked, smacking your ass lightly. with the way you were screaming, she could tell you were close. “are you going to cum, bunny?” she asked, almost mockingly.

you nodded fiercely, still unable to stop yourself from moaning. “yeah, all over my big fucking cock,” she thrusted into you at an animalistic pace, your back arching more. as soon as you felt your climax approaching, she grabbed onto your ponytail and shoved your face into the pillows, feeling that tight coil snap.

as you fell into the bed, she pulled out gently and slowly, laughing at how you whimpered after feeling so empty. she flipped your tired body over, hovering over you. “are you okay, pretty girl?” she asked, gently caressing your cheek. “mhm” was all you could respond with before she started leaving heart shaped hickeys from your neck to you core, shivering at her cold yet soft lips.

she quickly grabbed a sharpie, writing “property of rosa diaz” on your tummy, smiling at her handywork before licking the cum off of your thighs and sensitive pussy. she moaned at your taste, diving in. she gently swirled your clit around her mouth and used her tongue to stimulate your folds, leaving wet open mouthed kisses, careful not to overstimulate you too much.

you felt your second high approaching, feeling that tight coil tense up. as soon as she tenderly kissed your clit, stars exploded in you eyes, seeing colors, your screams slowing to moans to whimpers, holding onto her hand.

she gently licked the cum off of you, carrying you to the bathroom to clean you up with a warm washcloth, praising you on how good you were for her, before tucking you into the bed with a kiss on your forehead.

a/n: ik it’s bad pls don’t come for me it’s my first time writing smut 😭😭

[housewivesoffrankfurt]

The Real Housewives of Melbourne as a Site of 'Feminist Exchange', Featuring Neither Realism Nor Housewives

It is a typical evening. I sit down, and begin to watch the second season of The Real Housewives of Melbourne, eager to see a new iteration of cast members uncover their unreachably exotic lifestyles and dramas over the course of a season. A season recap plays, and, following it, comes what I find to be my most anticipated part of watching a new season: the housewives’ taglines. Gina Liano arrives on screen, with a lion’s mane of hair and a golden floor-length gown. The word ‘GINA’ appears on screen in large, gold letters as Gina herself crosses her heavily fake-tanned arms and declares ‘I deal in fact, not friction.’

Gina openly alludes to the dualism of ‘friction’ and ‘fiction’ that occupy uneasily close spaces in The Real Housewives, recognising the artificiality of its combat. But does ‘fact’ always have to stand in opposition to this ‘friction’? How can ‘fact’ be defined when used from entirely within the constructed setting of The Real Housewives? How does is actuality expressed across a medium of pure fiction? Of course, her tagline also alludes to what became Gina’s ‘brand’ across the first season. She reiterates to other cast members, and the eager audience, her profession as a lawyer, and thus, her inferred proximity to ‘truth’: ‘I’m a lawyer darling, I deal in fact.’(1) The tagline openly confronts the uneasy rules that constitute the narrative universes constructed in reality television. In one line, she references her societal role as a lawyer, her disdain for conflict and ‘friction’, as well as gesturing towards the construction of the narrative that she participates in.

‘I deal in fact, not friction’, The Real Housewives of Melbourne (Season 2, Episode 1), Matchbox Entertainment, January 2014, online video recording, Hayu <https://www.hayu.com/player/episode/29538344255> [accessed 20/07/2023].

Under this context, where do ‘fiction’ and ‘facts’ begin, end and intersect in the realm of reality TV, or, more precisely, in the unusual positionality of the documentary-soap-drama hybrid? Gina’s tagline illuminates these questions rather than answering them directly. More precisely, she references a ‘reality TV’ that has a troubled relation to ‘reality’ itself. What we see here is a co-opting of actuality into fiction, and, to invoke Slavoj Žižek, we see a procedure of offering a product deprived of its substance.(2) It is the cinematic form of cream without fat or coffee without caffeine: it is ‘real housewives’ with no realism nor housewives. Furthermore, nested in this overarching narrative construct, a construct which serves to provide a ‘real’ slice of life, according to The Real Housewives’ executive commentary, are the performances which constitute the identities of the cast member herself.(3) The performances of gender, class and race are mediated through the performance demanded of reality television and documentary forms, then edited and reassembled further beyond recognition in the pursuit of plot and storyline.

I take Žižek’s sentiment of ‘[the obfuscated] line that separates fiction from reality’ and extend it into the realm of woman-centric narrative reality television.(4) In this pursuit, I examine how real-life identities are reconfigured into characters, the ways in which this impacts performances of gender, class and race, and what these processes reveal about the ‘real world’ that they are drawn from. The overarching aim is to trace the boundaries of how reality television deals with what Angela McRobbie describes as an ‘exchange for feminism’; the subversion of ‘progressively’ coded media into a narrative structure that continues to restrain its subjects and reinforce stereotypes.(5) While The Real Housewives of Melbourne ostensibly seeks to empower women through its platforming of their lives, it only platforms the lives of those who already hold privilege, while ironically diminishing and humiliating them and their subordinates. This coincides with a culture-wide co-opting of progressive ideals in their assimilation into neoliberal capitalism, wherein they are substituted for their opposites. Of course, according to Judith Butler, this overarching categorisation and platforming of ‘women’ as a stable category is in itself a process of restriction, as she suggests that ‘the category of “women,” the subject of feminism, is produced and restrained by the very structures of power through which emancipation is sought.’(6) Thus, parallels emerge between the platforming of women in The Real Housewives and their restraint in a variety of ways; the subscription to the category of ‘woman’, the privileging of already privileged lifestyles, and the promoted humiliation of its cast members.

Indeed, the narratives surrounding ‘empowerment’ itself mark a shift towards a neoliberally individualised expression of womanhood; a Foucaultian, commodified neoliberal woman, who is subjected to the subverting core tenets of McRobbie’s ‘feminist exchange’.(7) The ‘empowerment’ enacted by The Real Housewives appears to instead be a process of elevation from an already economically privileged status into one that is also socially privileged: the subject commodifies not just as a rich woman, but is culturally exported as a celebrity too. As an extension to this, Brenda Weber examines elevations to celebrity status as she proposes that celebrity status signifies the combination of image and charisma as currency in an Americanised neoliberal global marketplace of personality.(8) For the power-hungry aspiring Housewife, pure economic wealth does not suffice; she must translate her personality and identity into a commodity from which she may reap social wealth.

FOOTNOTES

(1). Gina Liano, The Real Housewives of Melbourne (Season 1, Episode 2), Matchbox Entertainment, January 2014, online video recording, Hayu <https://www.hayu.com/player/episode/29538344255> [accessed 20/07/2023].

(2). Slavoj Žižek, ‘A Cup of Decaf Reality’ (2015) <https://www.lacan.com/zizekdecaf.htm> [Accessed 25/07/2023].

(3). Alison Brzenchek and Mari Castaneda, ‘The Real Housewives, gendered affluence, and the rise of the docusoap’, Feminist Media Studies, 17.6 (2017) 1022-1036.

(4). Žižek, (2015).

(5). Anglea McRobbie, The Aftermath of Feminism (London: Sage, 2009), p. 1.

(6). Judith Butler, Gender Trouble (London: Routledge, 2006), p. 4.

(7). Michel Foucault, The Birth of Biopolitics (Hampshire: Palgrave, 2004), p. 240.

(8). Brenda R. Weber, ‘Celebrated Selfhood: Reworking Commodification through Reality Celebrity’ in Makeover TV: Selfhood, citizenship and celebrity (Durham: Duke University Press, 2009), pp. 215-251 (p. 215).

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Brzenchek, Alison, and Castaneda, Mari, ‘The Real Housewives, gendered affluence, and the rise of the docusoap’, Feminist Media Studies, 17.6 (2017) 1022-1036.

Butler, Judith, Gender Trouble (London: Routledge, 2006), p. 4.

Foucault, Michel, The Birth of Biopolitics (Hampshire: Palgrave, 2004), p. 240.

Liano, Gina, The Real Housewives of Melbourne (Season 1, Episode 2), Matchbox Entertainment, January 2014, online video recording, Hayu <https://www.hayu.com/player/episode/29538344255> [accessed 20/07/2023].

McRobbie, Angela, The Aftermath of Feminism (London: Sage, 2009), p. 1.

Weber, Brenda R., ‘Celebrated Selfhood: Reworking Commodification through Reality Celebrity’ in Makeover TV: Selfhood, citizenship and celebrity (Durham: Duke University Press, 2009), pp. 215-251 (p. 215).

Žižek, Slavoj, ‘A Cup of Decaf Reality’ (2015) <https://www.lacan.com/zizekdecaf.htm> [Accessed 25/07/2023].

[strawberry-jellicle]

tugtumboffelees with whatever headcanon(s) you want

Gina, I'm so sorry this bad boys late. I forgot to post 💀 so enjoy a handful of headcanons!

• I like to think that although the three are a mated trio, they still have a healthy open relationship agreement. (They have respective partners they're friends with benefits with)

• With Old Deuteronomy, Jennyanydots, Skimbleshanks, and Jellylorum all going back a long time, it was a delight to them when their sons came out as a mated trio at a ball. (Personally, I see them doing it post canon while Castor and CJ are kittens, after the move to the cemetery, but before Sarai and Devika are adopted)

• 6 of their 7 kittens possess magical powers!

• Tumble is Vice President of the Tugger Fan Club (and totally not because they're mates or anything. Also Bombalurina is the President of the fan club)

• Tumble and Misto help Tugger dye streaks of his mane pink whenever it fades

• They like to switch around and wear each others' collars

[incorrectmlpquotes]

Insert Holiday Pun Here

Well folks, the holidays are upon us, and I’ve been too busy to attempt to be funny. SO, I thought I’s treat you all to something a little different. 

[This joke would be funnier if my name was actually Gina]

I’m going to go through the holiday (read: Christmas, because let’s be honest: Hearth’s Warming is a Christmas expy) episodes and give my thoughts on each. This will not include the Equestria specials because I haven’t seen them (but I have read the IDW 2014 holiday comic and oh boy, that’s a post of its own). I’m not going to recap them (much) because it would take less than two hours to watch them all. Take a break from Charlie Brown and Rankin Bass to appreciate some true holiday classics.

Hearth's Warming Eve, Season 2 Episode 11

I don’t like it.

It’s hard to be the first of anything. You’ve got a lot to set up and only twenty-two minutes to establish lore and tell a complete story. I didn’t care for the Nightmare Night episode the first time I saw it, but upon rewatch it held up better than I remembered. Plus, it had the benefit of being really funny.  This only has a few moments that gave me a sensible chuckle.

What a shocker! An earth pony with no ideas.

Ostensibly, this is a very important episode because it introduces the holiday and gives us some Equestria history, but I never expected this show to have such a mean-spirited holiday episode. And I don’t just mean the pony summit that is supposed to show animosity. The beloved Mane Six begin the episode by grousing with each other.

The holidays stress me out too, and I wouldn’t have a problem if they resolved this by the end of the story, but they don’t. The name of the show is “Friendship is Magic.” This grinch’s heart should be growing three sizes, not reminded of family gatherings that turned into verbal brawls.

And then there’s the play. Obviously, the personalities of Pinkie, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity get turned up to an eleven in their respective roles, but it just rubs me the wrong way. Especially since the other three are depicted normally. The three heroes bond over how much they hate their bosses. This is a relatable notion, but a weird choice for a children’s program. In the beginning, the three races of ponies were divided by hate, and now they’re being brought together…by hate. Talk about your mixed messages. 

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I don’t like it when they fight unnecessarily.

2/5

Hearthbreakers, Season 5 Episode 20

It was a long wait for another holiday episode, and it was worth it.  This one delves into a topic that I don’t see too many shows acknowledge: that different families have different traditions. And more importantly, that someone else’s traditions aren’t bad or wrong just because you might not enjoy them. It should be an obvious lesson to respect other’s differences, but the amount of people who lose their minds when told to have a happy holiday is any indication, it bears repeating. This time of year can be difficult for blended families or people coming together for the first time, and it’s especially relevant for this changing world. It stands to reason that the very stubborn Applejack would be a stickler for tradition and have difficulties being flexible.

How rare it is to see Pinkie Pie be the peace keeper?

4.5/5

A Hearth's Warming Tail, Season 6 Episode 

This one is a mixed bag for me. I am a big fan of A Christmas Carol and I do enjoy when shows do their own version. The story itself is fun, with the added twist of higher stakes than the original, but the framing devices gives me pause. Twilight freaking out because Starlight doesn’t want to celebrate a holiday is a little over the top. No one should be pressured to celebrate a certain way or celebrate at all if they don’t want to. Maybe someone has bad memories with the holiday and doesn’t want to be reminded of past events. Maybe they can’t stand the over consumption and commercialism of this time of year. Maybe they belong to a religion that doesn’t celebrate Christmas and are very tired of being constantly ignored. Maybe they work in retail. The reason doesn’t matter. 

It’s such an easy fix. Maybe instead of being indifferent towards the holiday, Starlight’s nervous that she’s going to be in such a big group and worried that she’ll mess things up. Twilight gives her the book to show that you can’t really ruin Christmas Hearthswarming because blah blah blah togetherness. I don’t know.

Maybe I’m reading too much into it, but this episode aired a year after people lost their minds over a red paper coffee cup, so my concerns aren’t unfounded.

3.5/5

The Hearth's Warming Club, Season 8 Episode 15

It was like the writers saw inside my brain and realized the issue with only recognizing one holiday that gets celebrated in the pony equivalent of December. 

The set up for the Breakfast Club-esque story has some issues, but I'm willing to look past them because I enjoy the episode. The best things that come from the magic school storylines are the exploration of the non-pony lore.

We had to wait eight years, but there was finally an acknowledgement that other holidays exist. 

4.5/5

Best Gift Ever (aired between seasons 8 and 9)

The gold standard by which I’ve held all the other episodes. Everyone is perfectly in character. No one had to resort to stupid “Gift of the Magi” BS that they could have easily done.

I’ve never seen a kids show display so succinctly how stressful the holidays are, while simultaneously expecting you to have a good time. It’s the most wonderful time of the year, right? Why aren’t you having fun? What do you mean you don’t have time to clean, decorate, bake, wrap presents, send out cards, do crafts, mail gifts, and spend time with loved ones while also working/going to school/ continuing to be a human being? 

I have been in this exact position, spending an hour inputting packages, and explaining that the delivery times were not guaranteed. 

But this friend group really needs to discover the magic of waiting until after Christmas to have your get-together.  It lessens the stress and gives you something to look forward to. Plus, you can snag those post-holiday deals.

I have pulled a Pinkie Pie and ignored the rules of a White Elephant exchange because I had already gotten everyone a gift. No one seemed to mind.

Forget the magic anthropomorphic horses, the most unrealistic thing about this show is how easy it is to make friends as an adult. It's trite to say that friendship is the greatest gift of all, but I am going to see my friends after New Years, and after not being together for over three years, I really couldn't ask anything better.

A totally heterosexual explanation for this image exists.

The chef’s kiss of holiday episodes. I will even forgive them for airing it in October. I will be watching it again this year while the rest of the family watches Die Hard.

5/5

Shoutout once again to whoever posts the images on the wiki gallery. You remain the funniest person on the internet.

[dreaminginmysoup]

most recent chapter of my fic now has it so both of Gadget's parents were briefly described, so I thought I would post this quick sketch I did a bit ago of his family (pictured a bit over half a decade ago.) More info below the cut.

From left to right:

Gina the Wolf, currently 55, pictured at 49. She was raised in an environment that emphasized academics, and she is a tenured professor at New Mobotropolis University. Has a PhD in mechanical engineering and mostly teaches at the doctoral level. Notorious for being a bit too lax when it comes to dangerous or controversial research projects.

Gizmo the Wolf, currently 16, pictured at 10. Artistically inclined, outgoing and never hesitates to bother his brother. Still finishing high school and plans to study art at a local university.

Gadget the Wolf, currently 20, pictured at 14. Hero of the war. Originally a quiet kid who had just moved far away from home to go to college to study computer science when the war suddenly hit. Most people know the rest of the story.

Gears the (Maned) Wolf, currently 52, pictured at 46. Car mechanic by trade, grew up in a rough neighborhood. Now owns her own repair place. Is half Maned Wolf (making both her kids a quarter). Her and Gina met when Gina brought her car with a flat tire to the shop Gears worked at during that point in her life. Gina's parents didn't approve of them being together due to several reasons. They have been married for 22 years.

[amidst-wonderland]

[mane]

pairing: mentioned! nora + michael / michael + gina warnings: language, alcohol, smoking summary: one of the many series five, ep two versions i have (this is pre-timeline nora because i started writing it about three years ago but i genuinely have nowhere to put it now because this isn't at all how i'd handle the scene at all). word count: 0.7

“look, i don’t want to hear another fucking thing about mosley. that man is a danger to this country, but,” he braces himself whilst stubbing out the cigarette. “jimmy mccavern is an immediate threat to us.”

     thomas’ eyes dance around the dimly light room hidden at the back of the garrison, watching each and every member of his family stare intently with varying degrees of distaste and discomfort. “the tory-bastard has all eyes on him; mccavern is a protestant hooligan in over his head that nobody gives two fucks about. glaswegians don’t do suits; they don’t do politicians and they don’t do family meetings. they use their fists, their rage.”

     the atmosphere felt tense, bleak and unbreakable despite everyone being surrounded by loved ones. polly and ada were cornered off to the side mumbling amongst themselves. occasionally an contradicting remark would slip from the matriarch followed by a giggle and had she wanted thomas to have heard, arthur would’ve chuckled. shelby boys were spread between, as was charlie, johnny and isaiah.

     “i say, we go to glasgow, their territory – their shithole. pol’s even set us up with acquaintances.”

     she scoffs rolling her eyes. “if you’d call it that.”

     michael glances to his mother, feeling his eyes narrow on their own accord. glasgow meant trouble and trouble in glasgow was the last thing he needed.

     “our contact runs a pub like this one and is somewhat of a figure head of the norman conks. they live in brigdeton – yes, the same place the billy boys are from before you ask finn.”

     “he’s got a son, a missus and an older sister who operates in said gang and in the taylor’s inn pub. father is scottish and mother was originally born in calais.”

     “you said, taylor’s, didn’t you?”

     “yes.”

     “the mother, you got a name?”

     “no.”

     “oh, i do.” johnny smirks, before continuing. “name’s carmen taylor, married colin mcleod, beautiful ceremony – a lot like your john’s – anyway that was 1901 up in gretna green. then…”

     “-you goin’ anywhere with this fucking story?”

     “1903 strolls around, as does baby number three. wouldn’t you believe she’s once sat in this very room.”

     michael sighs, attempting not to beat johnny to the punchline with gina sitting within his peripheral.

     “our nory.”

     the room falls into a unanimous confusion. “you’re dealing with nora’s fucking family tommy.”

     “i don’t see how that problem pertains to the rest of us michael.” thomas states rather nonchalantly. “you dug that grave.”

     polly snorts at her nephew’s blatant hypocrisy, earning herself a few contentious looks from him and the other women occupying the space. any of them could’ve been in that position, particularly linda. the shelby men left behind a trail of dead, deserted and abandoned wives, any of the remaining would be next on the chopping-block.

     “alec’ll have your fucking head kid.” arthur mutters, patting his cousin on the shoulder when passing behind him to pour another drink from the bar. “can’t speak for tom or finn, but if that was lovely ada and fred–“

     “arthur.” michael warns, “not here.”

     michael’s sudden sharpness intrigues thomas, as he watches the boy fidget in seat not knowing quite where or what to do with his hands and the conclusion being rather obvious with his disposition. “have you neglected to mention this to your new wife?”

     perplexed, gina’s tilts her head pouting at her husband who was now pulling out his cigarette tin.

     she’d assumed this nora her in-laws spoke of was simply a jilted ex-girlfriend michael had left behind and that her family didn’t take too kindly to his sudden departure nor his return.

     “george’d be what? five–six? starting primary school and making friends of his own.” thomas jeers, “and little rosalin she’d be–“

     “–three.” michael mumbles into the straight as he attempts to light it. “the fuck’s your point? i wasn’t there, alright?”

     “my point michael,” thomas punctuates. “is that it was carless, reckless and because you lack any fucking fundamental sense of initiative and responsibility you’ve once again ended up with a mass amount of collateral that we’re – as a family, having to clean-up.”

     “where are they?”

     “glasgow. scattered.”

again, like i said this was written quite a while ago and at that point the mcleod's and shelby's had never met, let alone had reoccurring engagements.

also back then thomas had faked michael's death after nora purposely left him so she wouldn't go looking for him when in actual reality michael is more of a flight risk and thomas didn't want him coming back knowing he'd be more likely to find nora than the vice-versa.

i switched it because for all his faults (and theirs as a couple) i truly don't think michael would've gotten remarried if he knew nora was still around. do i think he would've cheated on her? absolutely but at the very least the threat of the legal system would've stopped anything past that.

nora and the kids obviously aren't dead with thomas, polly and ada being the only ones aware of the truth. but that's initally why i wrote michael shitting himself a little because in the older version he was going to have to face nora and her volatile family.

[heartlandians]

Filling Empty Spaces (Amy/Mitch), part 223

Mitch and Amy find an unexpected connection due to absent lovers. Set around season 11->.

A/N: I didn’t have a beta for this story, so hopefully there won’t be too many grammar errors.

****

Despite the start of the trip to the rodeo being rough, Amy had faith that the atmosphere would take a turn once they'd get to the event. This was a variety of cowgirls accompanied by a cowboy, after all, and there was nothing that really brought a group like this alive like rodeo.

She was hoping the joyous pride of the community and the colors of the rainbows that were visible all around would somehow help them all find a way to enjoy this day as well.

Even though she had attended different rodeos for as long as she could remember, Amy was feeling curious how she'd feel about taking part of this type of rodeo for the first time.

But much to her surprise, this Canadian Rockies Gay Rodeo didn't necessarily look or feel that different. It was evident in the little things that this was arranged by a community she wasn't usually associated with, but at the same time all the key elements of the rodeo were there; you could immediately spot horses, cowboys and cowgirls. The food trucks sent out familiar smells of delicious foods, mixed in with the smell of the livestock that was also present at the event.

As they walked through the crowd of attendees getting familiar with the area and meeting other like-minded people, Lyndy spotted a horse that had its mane painted in all the colors of the rainbow. The horse looked like it could have been a real life unicorn, and Amy could already imagine how Monty would have a makeover once they'd get home, if it was up to her little girl...

The schedule looked familiar to any other rodeo event too, with team roping, saddle bronc and barrel racing being listed as something they would be able to enjoy if they wanted.

The only one who this was all new to was Sloane. She had never seen anything like this.

"This is so... retro", she commented when they walked toward the venue, looking around and getting familiar with the surroundings. Her eyes were wide with excitement as she took everything in. "I kind of love it. It's like stepping into a different time or a John Wayne movie."

Amy smiled, thinking that it was nice to be able to introduce this type of community to someone new, especially when it was such a safe space for so many people, like Sloane.

Trace looked around, furrowing his brows a little bit, and it was clear he had something on his mind. Unlike to Amy, the differences stood out to him more than the similarities.

"This isn't a rodeo I've ever seen before", he commented when couple of drag queens walked by them in their cowgirl inspired costumes. One of them could have easily been mistaken for Dolly Parton.

Jade glanced at him and then at Amy. "Oh my god, you didn't tell him...?" she asked.

Amy turned to look back at her. "What do you mean?"

Jade sighed, then deciding she might as well do it, because Trace was clueless but also apparently too thick to understand it himself.

"This is "a gay rodeo"", she simplified it to him. Surely he had heard of those, at least.

Trace stopped at his tracks, then looking at his company. "Wait, what?"

"Oh..." Amy let out, looking at him and then at Jade.

She had not even realized that should be something she should disclose, but then again people still had a lot of prejudices in these circles, so maybe she should have taken that into consideration.

"Is that a problem...?" Amy decided to ask after a pause, because if it was, maybe she should rethink about hiring this ranch hand as she had made a promise to Asher's moms, Gina and Susan, that her business was LGBTQ+ friendly.

Amy wasn't the only one waiting Trace's response, because Jade had her eyes locked at him too. What Jade had hoped would be a nice, freeing experience for her had turned into her being guarded around someone who she would continue to see on a weekly basis.

Due to Jade's situation with her mother, she didn't feel confident about being openly out in Hudson, let alone introducing Sloane as her girlfriend to that many people, including Trace or the rest of her rodeo school team mates.

"No, I just... I guess I didn't realize you were interested in this sort of thing", Trace admitted, still looking a little bit shocked.

Jade tensed up a little bit. The way Trace had phrased that made it seem like he automatically assumed she was straight - just like everyone else - and that this was just some type of way to chase a trail of curiosity that had personally nothing to do with her.

"Relax, I don't think anyone here thinks you're gay", Jade scoffed, wondering if that was the problem, because it could be for some guys. "I'm sure there are a lot of allies, too."

"I mean, I am an ally", Trace hurried to add, realizing he didn't even know what Amy's situation was, even though she had said in the truck that she was here to see a former client perform. But she had asked if being surrounded by gay people was a problem, so maybe that was why.

"My friend, Kobe's family has someone who's two-spirit", he wanted them to know, desperately trying to prove that he wasn't ignorant even though he might have been a little bit dumb.

"What's a two-spirit?" Amy asked.

Sloane, who had been listening to the conversation, joined it once she saw an opportunity to finally share something she actually knew about.

"Indigenous people use that term to describe someone who has both a masculine and a feminine spirit. That's the "2S" in LGBTQIA2S+."

Amy nodded, thinking maybe this was a good experience for her as well; even if she was an ally, she apparently still had so much to learn about how to be one. "That's good to know."

"So, are we all good?" Jade checked so that they could move forward.

People like Trace already took so much of her energy out there that she wasn't interested in coddling them in the middle of an event that was supposed to be one of those few places where she didn't have to stress about not being authentic to who she was.

"Yeah, we're good", Trace confirmed, coming back from his slight shell-shocked state, so they were able to continue their rodeo experience.

Jade, on the other hand, was suddenly feeling defiant because she was reminded how much of herself she still had to keep in the dark just because other people had problem with who she was.

It wasn't only about what Trace had said, but also about the build-up she had been carrying inside of her for months as soon she had shared her news with her mother.

Jade wanted to believe that her mom loved her as who she was, but it made her angry that Tricia was worrying more about how others might feel instead of thinking what she - as her daughter - was going through.

And despite her mother's attitude to her identity making Jade angry, she herself had cowarded into being complicit of the very same thing when she knew that it wasn't like her at all.

She wasn't one to turn away when things got scary.

She was a bronc rider, damn it!

As they kept going, Jade turned to Sloane, still hesitating at first, but then deciding to take her girlfriend's hand now that this had been covered.

Just because Trace assumed she was straight, didn't mean she "had to be". It was time for people to check their bias as she had been sheltering them for far too long now.

Sloane, who already felt comfortable among her peers, but was curious about the sub-community of the cowboys and cowgirls, was surprised to feel Jade insinuating PDA because it was unlike her.

When Jade entwined their fingers, they exchanged a meaningful look before their lips melt into smiles.

Sloane was ready to be there to support Jade through a moment that she knew was nerve-wrecking for her girlfriend as they had previously talked about Jade not being ready to do something like this in public.

But apparently this had felt the right time for Jade, and Sloane felt proud of her and welcomed her affection.

Jade felt Sloane squeeze her hand slightly, and it was like they became an unit in that moment. It felt good not having to hide.

Walking next to them, Amy noticed the difference in their body language, the freedom that suddenly was exhumed out of them. It moved something inside of her.

Her situation with Mitch and having to hide their relationship might have not been identical to theirs, but she felt proud of Jade for showing how she felt for Sloane publicly, knowing it had not been easy, especially because Jade didn't have her family's support.

Things suddenly felt so natural and despite what Jade might have thought, the world had not ended. It was a good reminder that sometimes some things were ready to come out sooner than you thought.

"Look, there's a rodeo school registration", Jade said, pointing the sign to Sloane. "Maybe we could get you started on calf roping, steer decorating and chute dogging too."

Sloane shook her head, trying to keep up.

"It's like you're talking foreign language to me..." Sloane laughed. "I know what some of those words mean, but together like that...? I have no idea."

Amy knew Jade and Sloane had been dating for a while now, but she had not really heard much about the kind of things they liked to do together.

"Jade has never invited you over to the Hudson rodeo grounds?" Amy asked, slightly surprised.

Trace listened to them talk, walking few steps behind so they wouldn't form too wide of a line and people could walk pass them, then noticing Jade holding Sloane's hand.

It was slowly starting to catch up to him why Jade was probably attending this rodeo, and he realized he had never even considered that option, maybe because he knew that Jade had once dated Matt from rodeo school and had just assumed based on that that Jade was into guys.

"I guess I never thought she'd be interested", Jade said, shrugging, looking at Sloane.

Her girlfriend shook her head. "That's because you never asked."

Amy watched them, but couldn't help but wonder if maybe Jade had not asked "on purpose". She then glanced at Trace's way, noticing him staring at the two young women holding hands.

There was no disgust in his eyes, more like confusion.

It seemed like he had had no idea Jade was dating a girl.

That was probably why Jade had been so antsy about Trace joining them for the rodeo.

Somehow seeing how open Georgie and Jade were about these sort of things with their friends and peers had blinded Amy of any other realities; maybe that wasn't automatically the case with Jade and the other young people in their lives.

Amy felt guilty for not planning this better.

If she had not been so overwhelmed by the things that had been occupying her mind, Trace wouldn't have felt "ambushed" and he would have gotten a better job interview, and Jade wouldn't have been outed to her team mate like this.

"Well, we're in a rodeo event now, and you have your personal expert with you, so it couldn't get better than this", Jade said, leaning against her in a flirty manner and almost making Sloane lose her balance. "Besides, Hudson Rodeo is nothing compared to this. This is a whole new level. We're starting from the top!"

"It's too bad we missed the pancake breakfast", Trace started talking then, almost like wanting to change the topic.

Everyone stopped and turned their heads toward him.

"Are you saying you're hungry?" Amy translated, then getting a nod from the young man.

Even though she had not done a stellar job taking care of a possible-future-employee so far, there was still time to change that, she hoped.

"Well, we could grab something too", she then figured and had a peek of Lyndy under her cowboy hat.

With kids, there always had to be snacks or food available for when the hungry feeling kicked in so a meltdown could be avoided.

"There's some time left before the roping event starts", Jade stated after checking the time.

"But first, I think it's time for a bathroom break", Amy decided since it was a hot summer day, and Lyndy had been drinking a lot of juice on the way here.

"I'll join you", Jade then said. "Will you guys wait us here?" she then asked, glancing Sloane and then Trace.

The two strangers-to-each-other exchanged looks, but then nodded.

"Yeah, sure", Sloane confirmed.

"We'll be here", Trace added, nervously.

"Okay, we'll be right back", Jade said.

Amy started making her way toward the toilets, tugging tighter on the diaper bag that was falling down from her other shoulder, but when they turned the corner, she wanted them to have a moment.

"Hey, Jade", she tried to get her attention.

They both stopped.

"Yeah?" Jade asked, looking at her.

"I'm sorry if I put you in an uncomfortable situation by bringing Trace into this", Amy wanted to say.

Even though Jade had made the ultimate decision to out herself to Trace, Amy had not necessarily been able to provide her a safe environment to do so, despite always trying to look out for her.

A mistake had been made on her part, and she wanted to keep herself accountable.

Jade was surprised that Amy had even given it a thought. She didn't know what to say right away.

"I know you've been struggling with having to hide who you are from some of the people closest to you, and... I didn't think ahead what bringing Trace along here could mean to you", Amy continued. "I didn't want to out you by force; no one should have to go through that. I know I've failed to do a lot of things lately, but this shouldn't have been one of those things because my actions affect you too. I was careless and I apologize for that."

Nodding a little, Jade accepted her apology.

"I appreciate you saying that. And you're right, no one should be forced to do something they're not ready to do yet", Jade agreed.

Even though her situation was different with Mitch, having Georgie be a ticking time bomb of revealing everything to everyone had stressed Amy out. She couldn't possibly imagine what something like that might do to someone who could be in danger if a secret so tight to who they were were to ever come out by force.

"But... I'm actually not angry", Jade then wanted to say, offering some relief for Amy. "It's just-- well, I can't lie that it did took me by surprise to see him with you, but... I guess it did make me realize just what exactly I've been doing - and how that's not like me. After I told my mom about me and Sloane, she got under my skin and made me think that I should hide my relationship from everyone instead of just being... happy openly."

Amy nodded. "Yeah... I guess it's easier to dismiss what others think if you aren't close with them anyway, but if it's your loved ones... then it's more tricky."

"Exactly", Jade said. "I'm not one to be quiet about things that are important to me. So I've decided I actually don't care what Trace thinks - or anyone else, for that matter. Easier said than done, but... I never know what happens when I get on a horse either and still I do it."

Amy smiled.

"I'm really proud of you, Jade. And happiness looks good on you", she wanted to say.

Jade blushed a little bit, a shy smile appearing on her lips.

"It feels good too, especially after all the people I've dated before and the drama I've been through... I don't want any more games. Being with Sloane is... easy, despite all the other things around us."

Amy nodded. "Sloane seems really nice. I'm glad I have the opportunity to get to know her. I hope that one day your mom gets to know her too. She's missing out."

"Me too", Jade agreed. She then looked toward the toilets, seeing people stepping in to the end of the queue. "Anyway, we should probably get in the line for the toilets because it looks like it might take a while before we get in, and I don't know how Sloane and Trace will get along..."

Amy sighed as she watched the crowd. "Yeah, we should."

When they joined the queue, Amy felt like she had a good opportunity to have a second opinion about something.

"So, you've known Trace for... how long?" she asked from Jade.

Jade heard the question as she was checking her phone in case Sloane had already sent her a SOS text, but there was nothing. She put the phone back to her pocket, then thinking what to reply.

"Oh, uh... I guess a little over a year or something now", Jade estimated.

Amy nodded. She assumed that within that time, Jade might have gotten to know him a little bit then, at least.

"My dad referred him to me, but I wouldn't mind a second opinion", Amy shared why she was asking. "Do you think he'd make a good ranch hand? We had a talk before I picked you and Sloane, but... I guess people can say anything in an interview to make a good impression, so I was just wondering if he is actually the type of person he says he is."

Jade thought about it for a while.

"Well, I don't know what he's said, but... I think there could be potential there. He is good at what he does when it comes to rodeo, so he understands horses for sure. He also helps out with the tack and equipment we need, trains hard and motivates others too. He's a team player, but can also do things independently", she listed things that she figured might be important for Amy to know.

"That sounds good to me", Amy expressed. "I guess the only thing I was wondering was... if he's like Caleb."

They moved forward in the queue, and Jade glanced at Amy.

"In what way?"

"Well, I love Caleb, but... he wasn't always the best ranch hand", Amy admitted. She felt a little bad saying that, but if asked, maybe even Caleb himself would have admitted that.

Grandpa would definitely agree with her, at least.

"And I guess Trace is giving me a Caleb vibe", Amy added. "I need a hardworking ranch hand, I don't have a time to make a mistake."

Jade let out a laugh.

"I guess what you're describing as "Caleb vibe" is just how some cowboys are - well, from my experience, anyway. Sure there are some things that could be Caleb-like in Trace, now that I think about it, but the two are not alike. I mean, there's no one like Caleb..." she spoke and her tone made it sound like there was so much unsaid things hidden in that that it was a borderline roast on her part.

It made Amy giggle.

"That's true..." she admitted, feeling like maybe she ought to take a chance with Trace then. "Thanks, Jade. I appreciate your input."

Jade smiled. "Anytime."

[cinemaorlure]

Cœur Fidèle, Jean Epstein (1923)

[filmforfancy]

Cœur fidèle (1923).

[chasingshhadows]

Also I just watched the first episode of Roswell New Mexico and it quite literally took me two and a half hours (I clocked it using the timestamps on my squee messages into my friend’s chatbox) bc i kept rewatching so much of it over and over and over and I’m pretty sure i shattered about 13 times and somehow this show blew past all emotional checkpoints and dove straight from Hello My Name Is into I Have A Burning Seething Passion For You And I Can’t Hide It and ~somehow~ that describes not one, but TWO couples on this goddamn show that I somehow am just fully invested in within fucking seconds of being introduced to them and I

need a nap. or just a sleep.

Michael leaping at Alex and kissing him like he’s been drowning and Alex is the only air left in the universe physically and emotionally exhausted me in the most profoundly good ways and I’m tired.

[allexiaputellas]

.

[fandom]

Ships

Week Ending August 29th, 2022

Byler +1 Will Byers & Mike Wheeler, Stranger Things

Steddie -1 Steve Harrington & Eddie Munson, Stranger Things

Ronance Robin Buckley & Nancy Wheeler, Stranger Things

Cockles Misha Collins & Jensen Ackles, Actors

Malex Michael Guerin & Alex Manes, Roswell, New Mexico

Jargyle +3 Argyle & Jonathan Byers, Stranger Things

Dreamling Dream of the Endless & Hob Gadling, The Sandman

Adrienette -3 Adrien Agreste & Marinette Dupain-Cheng, Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir

Nandermo -5 Nandor the Relentless & Guillermo de la Cruz, What We Do In The Shadows

Elmax -4 Eleven & Max Mayfield, Stranger Things

Lumax +3 Lucas Sinclair & Max Mayfield, Stranger Things

Lumity Luz Noceda & Amity Blight, The Owl House

Destiel Dean Winchester & Castiel, Supernatural

Daemon x Rhaenyra Daemon Targaryen & Rhaenyra Targaryen, House of the Dragon

Jegulus James Potter & Regulus Black, the Harry Potter universe

Hannigram +1 Hannibal Lecter & Will Graham, Hannibal

Harringrove -10 Steve Harrington & Billy Hargrove, Stranger Things

Wolfstar Remus Lupin & Sirius Black, the Harry Potter universe

Blackbonnet -7 Blackbeard & Stede Bonnet, Our Flag Means Death

Rina Ricky Bowen & Gina Porter, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series

The number in italics indicates how many spots a ship moved up or down from the previous week. Bolded ships weren’t on the list last week.

[hoe4almondmilk]

Better Together

Nicky Nichols x Reader 

(TW- Mentions of drugs/drug dealing) 

“What the fuck do you mean she’s back?” Nicky asked Gina angrily.

“I-I don’t know, Nicky. Me and Norma saw her walking by with some of the other new inmates. She had a bag and everything.” Gina mumbled.

“What the fuck!” Nicky frustratingly ran her hands through her big copper colored mane. “Listen Gina, do you know where she is? You gotta tell me.” 

“I don’t know! You know her better than any of us do.”

“Whatever man.” Nicky jumped up from the cafeteria table as she sped out of the cafeteria.

“Slow down, Inmate!” A random CO yelled.

Nicky rolled her eyes as she slowed her pace. There’s no way you could be back, you got out just a few months ago. There’s no fucking reason you should be back in this shithole. Nicky clenched her fists angered at the thought of you being back. You were better than this place. You had plans and dreams that were much bigger than Litchfield.

“Hey, DeMarco.” Nicky barked as she entered the doorway of her and Rosa's bunk.

“Oh fuck.” DeMarco groaned and she sat up on her bed. 

“Where the fuck is she? I know she’s bunking with you in here.” Nicky demanded impatiently.

“Look, if she ain’t in the cafeteria I don’t know.” DeMarco stated as she laid back down.

“Does anyone here know anything?” Nicky griped as she left. 

There was only one other place you had to be, The Chapel. A place you were both quite familiar with. Nicky shook her head, now was not the time to be thinking about that kind of shit. 

Nicky waltzed through the entrance and immediately found you. You were laying there, in your orange scrubs back flat against the stage, eyes closed. You looked so peaceful. She almost felt bad interrupting you.

You let out a deep groan as you slowly sat up. “Pennsatucky, I swear to god if you even think about trying to bapt-” You paused as your eyes met with Nicky’s. “Fuck.” 

“So first off, you get sent back here after getting the fuck out and then avoid me? What the fuck is that about?” Nicky was rightfully frustrated. You weren’t supposed to be back here. To be honest, you were embarrassed to be back here. 

“Nicky, I didn’t want to come back here.” You whispered as you tried to avert your eyes away from hers.

“Then why the fuck are you back here?!” Nicky asked, demanding an answer as to why you would ever want to come back to this shithole. 

“Nicky, you wouldn’t understand!” You cried, there’s no way she’d ever understand what happened out there. “It’s fucking embarrassing being back here.” 

“Yeah, You’re right. I wouldn’t understand how you could give up freedom and land your ass back in here.” Nicky scoffed as she turned about to walk away. 

“I had no one out there, Nicky!” tears welled up at the corners of your eyes. “I was absolutely alone.” 

Nicky paused turning around. “What do you mean you had no one? Your dad picked you up!” Nicky replied confused as she walked towards you. 

You scooted over to the edge of the stage, your legs dangling. “Yeah he picked me up and dropped me off in Queens. He told me that was the last thing he was ever doing for me and fucking left me.” You hopped off the stage, walking towards her. “Apparently my family couldn’t handle the burden of housing their felon daughter.”

Nicky looked down, “(F/N), I didn’t-“ 

“I had no money, I didn’t have a job, I had nothing. I had to stay with one of my friends and go back to dealing.” the tears rolled down your cheeks. “I tried to get a job, no one wants to hire someone fresh out of prison. It was either sell drugs or live on the streets.” You sobbed, crying into your hands. “I wanted to call you so bad but I didn’t want you to worry.” 

“I’m sorry, doll.” Nicky said, removing your hands from you face as she pulled you close to her chest. She kissed the top of your head. “You should’ve called you know.” Nicky's voice cracked as she was trying to hold back tears. 

“I missed you.” You sniffled, as you lifted your head up to look at her. 

 “I missed you more.” She replied as she held your face into her hands. She gently placed a small chaste kiss onto your lips and looked into your eyes with those big beautiful brown eyes, making you fall in love with her all over again.

“So what did I miss while I was gone?” You smiled up at her.

Nicky chuckled as she wrapped her arm around you as you two began to head out of the chapel. “Well, that fuckin’ chicken returned.”

[amarettocoffee]

I know you said you'd do all of them buuuuut question 16 for the ask meme? :D

— @amys-cringe-cabinet <3

hello, not going to lie this did take me awhile but boy was in fun 

How have your S/Is habits changed since they got together with your F/O? What about your F/Os habits? Any new ones they picked up from/because of each other or old ones they quit for each other?

most of my S/I’s old habits remained the same but they definitely gained some new ones as well

Dieris- 

Iris started to pick up and use some of the rhyming slang Diego uses off-hand.

Diego picked up iris' habit of baby talking to the horses as well as her habit of braiding the same section of a horse mane when she is bored while riding 

both of them picked up the habit of trying to make the other laugh at parties and events (usually whispering a roast or witty observation about someone in the area to the other )

Gista- 

Gina started to avoid the number four slightly, not out of fear but rather to somewhat understand what Guido goes through.

Guido start to use actual shampoo and conditioner and not three in one and actual really started to take care of his hair.

Gina also picked up Guido's habit of playing( and dancing to ) traditional Italian songs while cooking food

kokoyion-

Kokoro started to do the iconic cherry trick when she thinks no one is watching 

kakyion picked up Koko's habit of chewing on pencils when concentrating but with his paintbrushes 

Kokoro has now smells her drinks before taking a sip after someone put their paint water cup beside her drink