#got my top five seasons easily

[one-half-guy]

Something I think we should talk more about is how humanized Ransik is, AND HOW NICELY THAT'S DONE!!! (At least so far to the ep 14, but I'm confident it'll keep)

It's not only about his sad backstory being told to us early in the season and how this is his motivation unlike the previous villains that were all Space Pirates, Galaxy Coquerors & Emperors, Demons and such, all moved by greed and/or pure desire of destruction and chaos.

It's also about what he (and Nadira, mostly Nadira) does in his lair, besides speak loudly about hating humanity and desiring the complete destruction of the Power Rangers, he and Nadira do... routine stuff. Stuff that we deem as mundane but also can't deny is funny and enjoyable.

In many starts of episodes they are just there, receiving a relaxing massage, watching some goofy TV, taking a hair care routine, taking a shot of the medicine he needs to not die... That's totally different from the previous villains, who were constantly observing the city to come up with an effective way to attack, or even stalking the Rangers themselves to this goal like in Rita & Zed's case...

Even when we had two pirates villains, Ransik's group is the only one who really focused in money several times, he got a mutant to fulfill the sole purpose to steal money... That's an awful thing we see humans doing, some of the moments highlighting their pettiness are petty actions we can totally witness with our own eyes in people around us... It's in the details guys!!

Even when we compare with Trakeena, who was also a typical spoiled preppy girl, in Nadira this characterization is there to humanize her, it comes to add a layer to her character, on contrary to Trakeena, we don't see Nadira launching tantrums because she wants to command an army and her daddy won't allow, or because her daddy doesn't trust her to fight*, or because she is pathetic fighter unable to beat a single minion when everything should be easy for her, we see her complaining of how the food is disgusting and greasy, of how her telenovela was interrupted or of how her hair care was interrupted, petty actions, but petty human actions that you can see even in your house. (*at least in the start, I admit I am ignoring the chance of Ransik's protection over her grow throughout the season as the stakes rises and it lead her to feel he's not trusting as she deserves... Although yet, she indeed showed competence from the start, so wouldn't be just prepotence on her part as she has feats to support her side)

Trakeena lost this trait almost completely when the writers decided she should assume as main villain and thus should be competent, meanwhile Nadira was always portrayed as competent, being able to stand on her own in battle against the Rangers, give ideas and even elaborate plans even though she was such a preppy, they show us her defects but also don't deny her qualities, and both reflect in her actions that are closer to what we can see in people around us than whatever Trakeena may have done.

Oh, sorry I got carried away...

So in short: RANSIK AND NADIRA ARE AMAZING VILLAINS, THE EFFORT DONE FOR THEIR CHARACTERS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW HUMANIZE CHARACTERS, TIME FORCE IS EASILY ONE OF THE MOST MATURE SEASONS OF POWER RANGERS AND THE WRITERS KNEW TO HANDLE THE SUBJECTS AND SUBTEXTS THEY MEANT TO TALK OF

[denwritesandcries]

Take a Breath (and kiss me) – T.C

Pairing: tara carpenter x fem!reader

Summary: Your girlfriend Tara gets a little clingy when she realizes you haven't kissed her properly in days.

Word count: 2,0k

Content: cursing, fluff, kisses, cuddles, tara being a sad pup, college routine kicking everybody's asses, core four as a family.

Note: First time writing for Tara! Pure fluff cause I’m starting on a new job this week and needed comfort.

English is not my first language.

It's been four days straight since you last kissed Tara.

Not that she was counting, she really wasn't, but now, after an extremely long and tiring day of exams and more exams, it seemed impossible not to feel your absence next to her. The feeling of neediness and loneliness hits her hard when she realizes how long it's been since you two have been together.

Four days. Four whole days of no holding hands or playing with her hair, no hugs, no cuddles and definitely no kisses. Be it on the forehead, the cheek, the shoulders, the hands, or on the lips. Nothing. It's like the universe just decided one day 'nuh-uh, no kisses for Tara Carpenter' and boy that was unfair.

The last time you kissed her – actually kissed her – was on Monday morning, at the beginning of that hellish week, when she woke up too early with the sunlight escaping through a crack in the curtains bothering her eyes, with her whole body completely curled up on top of yours. One of the best ways to wake up, really. The same thing happened to you a short time later, because as much as Tara loves being in your arms, she also can't help but feel restless when she's awake and move a lot, but the way she lights up when you sleepy mumble a good morning to her doesn't make you able to be upset with her for that.

You gave her a slow, lazy kiss, still with that warm aura of sleep remaining.

It was the most she could enjoy of your company before you had to leave in a hurry to escape the scolding Sam would give you both for spending the night having class the next day – even though, you know, you're college students and adults – and get to your own dorm to be ready in time for your first class in the morning.

She would have braved the scolding and made you stay a little longer if she had remembered that exam season was about to start. Unfortunately, this only occurred to her when she had her first taste of it later that day.

See, that was perhaps the thing Tara hated most about her new life as a student in New York: the way the change in routine could easily overwhelm her, and how that made it even worse because you couldn't be around as much as she wanted you to.

You were a year ahead of her and your courses were different, so you didn't have any classes together and your paths barely crossed during the day, which meant the only times she got to see you were on quick runs across campus, barely having time to exclaim a 'hi baby!' before disappearing with stacks of books and notebooks in your arms.

Sure, you exchanged a lot of messages, but it wasn't the same as having a warm body next to her in bed or on the couch. You couldn't even come to the apartment after everything because she was also too tired from her own work to hangout after it.

But Friday had finally arrived and she had enough time to wallow in self-pity until everyone got home. Checking the patterned wall clock that her sister bought when they moved in, Tara realizes that it's already past five pm and the sound of the door opening is the sign that her family has started to come in. She buries her head in the pile of cushions, ignoring the throbbing pain in her temples.

“Ugh, finally." Mindy plops down next to Tara on the other side of the couch, clasping her hands above her head to stretch, “What is this? Why is there a sad, miserable gremlin on our couch?”

She hears Chad's loud laugh coming from the kitchen but can only mutter a 'fuck you' muffled by the cushions she's sunk into, feeling a tap on her calf in response.

Tara wasn't going to put up with any mockery now, not when she was so tired and sleepy and missing you. She would do the same thing she had done the last few days: take a hot shower without giving a shit to Quinn's protests about using all the water, hug Sam when she got home from work in 45 minutes, and accept the offer of a snack when her sister ask if she had already eaten, then she would go to her room, throw herself on the bed and text you goodnight, before completely blacking out until the next day, when she could finally have you all to herself for the entire weekend – and for the rest of the week too. The worst part is over, so screw it, you guys could afford to miss some classes.

“Are you just gonna lay there and give up on existence, lil dude?” Mindy starts again, interrupting the peaceful and only partly distressing silence Tara had settled into as she builds up the strength to stand up.

“Will you shut the hell up?” She bites, grabbing one of the cushions and hitting her friend in the face, “You’re not funny and my head hurt as fuck.”

“Jesus, okay, okay!” Mindy waves her arms in defeat and stands up, “I won’t say anything else then.”

"Great."

“I’m not gonna say–” She takes on a teasing tone, “–that Anika thought that a certain someone was really upset and buried in books all that time in their dorm and that it would be better if they came straight here after class to take a break, but I’m not gonna tell you that.”

"What?" Tara’s expression immediately brightened, “You’re serious? What you–"

“Well, I told my girlfriend to bring your girlfriend. But it's okay, I'm not gonna say any of that.”

Mindy looked extremely smug but Tara chose to spare her another hit in the face for the sake of the information she just received. She lights up and jumps off the couch in a flash, rushing to shower and get ready now that she has a good reason. She hears Chad shouting from the kitchen:

“Girl, I thought you were tired!”

“Right?” Mindy laughs, “Wednesday’s at that age when a girl has only one thing on her mind, Chad.”

This makes her stop: “I don’t look like her!”

She slams the door shut when she hears their laughter increase in response.

If someone asked Tara if it was true that she sat on the side of the sofa closest to the door so she could see the exact moment you arrived, she would vehemently deny it – even though that's exactly what she did – and she would also deny that she deflated a little when the first person to arrive after the twins was Sam with a pizza box in one hand and covering a big yawn with the other.

You and Anika only arrive almost half an hour after Sam, finding Tara already watching you with doe eyes. Your haggard face immediately breaks into a smile, lines of fatigue crinkling in the corners of your eyes.

“There you are, dear,” you cross the room towards her and Tara leans in, even before you touch her, practically purring at the soft kiss you leave on her forehead, “I missed you.”

She melts when you wrap your arms around her, burying her head in your chest, but that's it. A kiss on the forehead and a hug and then you're pulling away again because you and Anika have brought more food that should be placed on the kitchen counter.

It only took this small moment of you going back and forth for everything to come back to Tara with full force. You didn't kiss her.

It's stupid, it's irrational, but her eyes fill with tears even though she can clearly see you from behind, unpacking the groceries and talking to your friends there.

Tara tried to just sit and wait for you to come back as soon as you were done, but patience was never her thing.

“Hm?” You hum when you feel a tug on your hodie's sleeve, looking back to find Tara with a tearful, frustrated expression.

“I had a really long day,” she begins, not quite sure how to ask for what she wants, eyes focused on the floor, “Will you come stay with me?”

Your heart races and your voice immediately softens: “Of course, sweetheart.”

Tara wastes no time in dragging you to her room by your wrist and you can't even react to the warning look Sam throws you over her shoulder.

She perches on your lap the second you sit down on the bed, sighing in relief as she buries her face in your shoulder.

You rest your chin on her head, “Did somethin’ happen?”

“I’m gonna quit college." She moans in defeat against your neck.

You huff a giggle into her hair, “Same, baby.”

Tara pulls away just enough to look at you and the pure love and tenderness in your eyes is more than enough to make the tears come back.

“What? What is it?" You straighten up, worried, tightening your arms around her.

“You haven’t kissed me in four days.”

She blurts out, voice cracking and strangled and you stop.

“Four days?”

Tara nods, “Except for the one on the forehead, you haven’t really kissed me in four days and like, several hours.”

“Oh.”

“Oh?” She frowned. Shit, now she was getting mad at you, “Oh?”

You rush to take her mind off it, pressing a kiss to her lips in which she immediately melts with a soundly sigh of relief.

“I’m so sorry, baby,” you murmur between small pecks distributed on her lips, “I was so caught up in everything that I didn’t even notice.”

Tara still seemed a little upset by your response, but you kissed her again, bringing a hand to her jaw to deepen, feeling your girlfriend's arms entwined around your neck.

When you pull apart this time, you're both out of breath and Tara's face is covered in a soft red glow. You gently draw patterns with your fingers on her hips and lean in, leaving a kiss on her warm cheek.

“I’m sorry, Tar,” you echo, looking deep in her eyes “I’ve missed you so much. How can I make it up to you?”

She pretends to think for a moment, averting her eyes to hide the shiver that runs through her body.

“It's been four days,” she huffs with more annoyance than she actually feels, “I'm a girl who has abandonment issues, you know, it's your obligation to kiss me every day from now on.”

“Noted,” you smile.

“But…” She starts with a mischievous smile, “You could also make me feel better by watching The Babadook with me.”

“No, no, Tara!” You whine, “The noises of that movie freak me out!”

“Oh, I know,” your girlfriend says, blinking innocently, “But I want to do something with you, it's been so long since we watched something together alone and I love you so much.”

"I love you too." You respond instantly.

It only takes a look at those doe eyes and you lose the battle immediately and Tara looks victorious. She knows the power she has over you, the adorable little shit.

She leaves your lap just enough time to pick up the laptop on the table and returns to her place, you pull her back and lie down on the pillows, dragging her against your chest, pulling a blanket from the corner of the bed to cover you both.

“Tests are over,” you say, burying your face in her neck as the movie scene darkens, “The next few weeks are ours now. Just ours.”

Tara giggles when you startle again, sinking further against your body, smelling the hodie you were wearing, the one she got you for your birthday.

“Ours,” she says, “I like how that sounds.”

Tara tries to stay awake as long as possible, even after you fall asleep with your face buried in her neck. She's almost asleep when Sam quietly opens the door, a plate of pizza in hand and an eyebrow raised. The silent question of ‘can she stay the night please?’ is just a formality.

There's no way you're getting out of her league anytime soon.

[bunny-1111]

One step ahead - TN, enemies to lovers + academic rivals

Description: You and Theodore hate each other. Amidst exam season, was the tension and the teasing because of your rivalry or something else?

Word count: 1.2k

Authors Note: I'm backkkkkkkk, sorry for not being as active been so flat out, but this story came into my head, and I just couldn't resist

...

You glared at Theodore across your charms class, his gaze already haunting you before you could find his eye line.

It was always a competition; who would break away first, but he always won.

Regardless of being in the same friendship group, it did not affect your rivalry.

Since children, you hated everything about each other.

You hated how he strutted. You hated how he'd be so sure he was right about everything. You hated the way he flirted with every girl in Hogwarts, you hated how he'd always find a way out of trouble, regardless of always breaking the rules, You hated the way he sounded so sophisticated, even, if not, especially when he cussed.

He hated the way you'd smile, and get your every which way bewitching anyone with that stupid perfect mouth of yours. He hated how guys would kneel down to you, he hated how you always managed to hold such composure even when you were slaughtered drunk, how you fluttered your eyes up, and more than anything, he hated how he couldn't get rid of you, you lived in his mind, you danced in his head like a memory he couldn't shake.

As he made his way towards your desk, his face didn't budge, his expression curious, like he had planned what he was going to say before he even got to you.

he leaned over and inspected your grade, his arm leading awfully close to your hand, "One point behind me" he almost laughed

Your brows threatening to furrow, his lips threatening to smirk.

"Well, next quiz, you'll be two points behind me" you insisted

"Shame that's not true", he shrugged, "I'll always be one point and step in front of you." he practically gritted through his teeth

With that, the bell rang, he turned and made his exit. Not that easily, you thought, shoving into his shoulder, overtaking his place in the corridor. You didn't look back, you didn't need to, you already knew his eyes were watching you, you felt them.

With exams coming up, the pressure was on, more than ever, to outdo each other's intelligence.

Sitting around a large round table at the table were Matteo, Enzo, Theo, Pansy, Draco and yourself, most eyes glued to books, except Theo's. His eyes found themselves studying your face instead of his charms book. When you caught him staring, you rolled your eyes and took a deep breath, concentrating back on your notes; you thought he's just trying to distract me. Do not let him win, you reminded yourself, fighting the urge to look back up.

When your exams finally finished, you dropped your pencil and followed everyone out of the hall, Theodore found himself beside you, "Stand still for a second, Nott" you say. He listened and waited for what you were about to say; you took one big step in front of him "see that, one step ahead" you smiled as you continued to walk backwards, he laughed, actually laughed, shaking his head. You couldn't help but smile yourself.

"Did you see that?" Pansy says, nudging into Draco's shoulder, "See what?" he questions. "I think they're... getting along... in their own fucked up way," she concluded, her head tilted to make sure what she was seeing wasn't in her own mind. "Maybe hell has frozen over", he said, watching, equally as shocked as Pansy.

Sitting patiently in your chair, waiting for you exam results.

When you flip your page over, you smile, confident you have beaten Theodore, "98" you mouth to him from across the room, his lips turn into an exaggerated frown lifting his paper up for you to see. 98.5 written at the top of his page.

You have to be fucking kidding me! You wanted to scream, point five, point motherfucking five, are you kidding me?!

Throwing your page back onto your desk, you were pissed, as Theodore had never been more pleased.

You didn't wait around for his snarky comments, you walk straight out of class, you were in no mood to be trifled with.

Spending the rest of the day in your room, not showing up for dinner, you had no appetite for food, or Theodore's reminders of beating you, just.

Just after 11pm, you couldn't sleep. Being a weekend with no curfew, you grabbed your packet and stormed outside, desperately fighting the wind, trying to light your cigarette.

"need a hand?" Theodore said covering your smoke from the wind, you said nothing back, instead leaning slightly on the wall behind you.

"What are you doing here?" you finally replied

"I could ask you the same question," he retorts

You couldn't look at him, so mad, you were scared you would cry or hit him, which would encrypt guilt or satisfaction?

"Look at me when I speak to you," he demanded. Had he been talking? We were so caught up in your thoughts that you couldn't hear anything he had said.

Clocking your head towards him, "Don't tell me what to do", you huff, exhaling. He snatched the smoke out of your lips, stomping on it

"Sorry?" He gritted, spineless

Rolling your eyes, he took hold of your face, more specifically, your chin, "Don't fucking roll your eyes at me again, understand?" he instructed "I always roll my eyes at you" You reply, eyes squinting in anger

"Not anymore," he said calmly

Now you were confused, "I don't un-" you start

"Understand, yeah, I know" he finishes

"But that's a lie, I do understand, and so do you, all too well" He continues as he stalks closer to you, to the point your back is now completely pressed against the wall

Your heart rate picked up, "You hate me. I hate you too," You had to say out loud, trying to remind each other about your feelings

"Tsk, tsk, tsk," he says, pressing his chest onto you

"Don't do this" you begged. He didn't listen. He just kept getting impossibly closer.

You huffed out a deep and heavy sigh. "What's wrong" he practically whispers

"I'm frustrated because I hate you, you frustrate me" you hiss out

"No," he said, as his mouth rested at the top of your neck. "You're not frustrated because you hate me; you're frustrated because you want me." He breathed onto you without thinking you pulled his face upright, crashing your lips with his for what felt like too long.

"Theodore" you rushed, catching your breath

"Don't pull away from me" he pleaded, kissing you harder.

Finally, leaning off him, you turned away, "Why did we do that" you ask, were you asking him or yourself?

"We can't help it" He soothes, turning you back over to face him again

"I have a bad habit of breaking everything I touch, y'know," he admits, his hand gripping the back of your neck, the other firm on your waist.

"go on then," you say above a whisper, hands linking behind his neck.

"Break me. Touch me." You purr.

[bellarkeselection]

I had an idea for rip. It’s kinda like the scene from season 1 where jimmy got beaten up by Fred but instead of Jimmy could it be the reader is rips wife and she’s secretly pregnant with their second child and she protects her stomach and then revel to rip she’s pregnant again. You can easily change bits to the story or even add a little bit of smut that’s fine with me .

The Rule Of Fighting…Especially my Wife

Threading my fingers through his black hair Rip broke the kiss pulling himself out of me where we laid under the covers naked. Running a hand over my face I began catching my breath. Moving my other hand over my growing pregnant belly until Rip grasped my hand in his. Rolling onto my side I whispered still not awake even though we woke up in a very pleasing way. “Do you have to go to work today. Can’t we just take a day and lay around the house?”

“You’re daddy wouldn’t like that. Besides I owe him everything for letting me work at the ranch.” He responded leaning forward and kissing me on the head gently getting up from the bed. He shrugs his jeans on and grabbed his black jacket with his hat off the hook.

Holding myself up on my elbow I held the sheet up against my chest even though he had seen me naked already. “Yeah you’re probably right, baby. Hey though where do you think our little Georgie is off too?”

“I ain’t too sure. He’s probably trying to sattle a horse or running around with his grandpa John. I’ll see you later tonight Y/n.” He placed his hat on his head coming over giving me one last kiss going to work.

Getting out of the bed, I ran my hands down my grown belly, looking myself over in the standing mirror we had in the corner of the bedroom. I slide on the pair of jeans that didn't press on my stomach, pairing it with a light orange flannel shirt that was tucked into them. With some light brown boots and a tan cowgirl hat on my head. Heading towards the barn, I grabbed the saddle for my horse about to throw it over until I heard someone make a remark about me entering the room. "Woah, I guess that Wheeler really couldn't let you go, so he just keeps knocking you up."

"I'm sorry do you have a problem with me?" Throwing the saddle over my horse I turned around on my feet with my boots kicking up dust.

My gaze met the appearance of one of the ranch hands who was named Fred if I remember correctly. "I've got a problem with you getting special attention from the boss."

"Your boss is my father, so.." Crossing my arms over my chest, I snipped in a slight tone.

Fred stepped closer towards me, glaring down at me since he was slightly taller than me. "I ain't talkin about your daddy, Dutton. You're sleeping with Wheeler and get off work early and still getting the same pay as we do. That isn't right in my opinion."

"First off, I get breaks more than you because of my five year old son Georgie and are you blind cause at the moment I'm pregnant again. Two, I'm heading to work now Fred - argh!" I screamed when he stomped up grabbing me by my hair yanking me backwards until I elbow him in the face.

He stumbled backwards holding his nose while I spun around on my feet. "You bitch!"

"You don't want to fight me, Fred." I warned him, getting in a fighting stance with my hands into fists ready to go.

Yet the ranch hand refused my warning and came charging straight for me. He tackled me to the dirt before I could really blink. He was throwing punches at me but I was blocking most until he gave a harsh one to my belly and I released a cry of agony. "God damn!" I cursed curling up in a ball for a second with him getting to his feet.

"You need to remember who is stronger here, Dutton girl." He spat down to me.

Sniffing through some tears i glared at him until I swiped my feet underneath his near mine where he topped to the dust. Forcing myself to my feet I held my stomach with one hand landing a good punch on his nose with the other. Fred came back trying to kick my stomach yet I buried my face close against it so he kneed me in the face. My nose begins bleeding where he quickly grabbed my arm throwing me over his back until we heard my son's sweet voice. "Mommy, why are you wrestling?"

"You're boys gonna see how weak you are - ohhh fuck!" Fred groaned in serious pain onto his knees when I kicked him in between his legs giving me the chance to rush to my son.

Grabbing his shoulders I croaked through tears and some pain myself. "Georgie, go find daddy now. Bring him here." He ran off when Fred started getting up until I charged tackling the man even though it was harder when I was pregnant.

Swinging a few punches at Fred I got some of his blood on my knuckles. He grabbed my wrists twisting them behind my back throwing me down again. "I told you I was stronger than you, bitch!" He growled in my ear where he about kicks me in the stomach again until someone harshly shoved his body against the wooden barn stalls.

Gasping for breath and some relief I sat upright seeing my husband Rip had him by the collar where he threw him against the stall and then did it again but it was down in the dirt raising his voice. "What's the rule about fighting, Fred. You wanna fight somebody, come fight me. I'll fight you all damn day!"

"That girl done started it with her saying that she deserves the same pay as we do but cuts out half the work. I guess you'll believe anything when you married a whore." Fred coughed looking at me when Georgie came over by my side.

Rip yanked the guy by his jacket holding him against the wall where he almost couldn't breathe by the choke hold he had on the ranch hand. "What did you call her!"

"She's knows I'm right that's she had to send in the little guy to get the big guns." Fred taunts until my husband kicked him harshly in the gut and he collapsed into the dirt.

He grabbed Fred up one last time against the wall for good measure croaking his deep tone with the words he declared. "If you ever hit or speak to my wife like that again I'll kill you, Fred! Are you okay, Y/n?" He released him from his grasp coming slowly over to me with his gaze softening.

"I hurt a little bit...here especially. But otherwise I think I'll be fine." I mumbled placing my hand in his with my eyes dropping to my pregnant stomach where he tugged me up to stand where he picked me up bridal style when I almost collapsed onto the dirt not able to stand on my own.

He carried me back to our cabin with Georgie following us and opening the door to the cabin, then our bedroom and finally the bathroom. "Georgie, go grab one of my shirts and the shorts off the foot of the bed for mommy." Rip spoke towards our son who quickly came back with what he asked.

"Is mommy going to be okay, daddy?" He asked with worry in his sweet voice.

Rip sat me down on the toilet lowering himself to his knees since I didn't have gotten my balance back yet. "She will be. I want you to go play with grandpa John while I help mommy okay little man." He nodded leaving us alone in the bathroom letting silence into the room.

He slowly tugged on my shirt shrugging it over and off my body giving him perfect view of my belly. "I'm sorry he did this to you..to our baby. I'll take him to the train station tomorrow morning if that's what you want." He placed his on my bump feeling me slightly pull away when he touched the sorest part of my body from the fight.

"Rip, don't blame yourself for this. Fred has always been a jackass from the day my father hired him. I'll go to the doctor and get the baby checked out." Resting my hands on his shoulders I sent him a half smile knowing he would start blaming himself for me getting injured.

He nodded, helping me remove my pants and slide the shorts up. He ran a hand through my hair once I slipped his shirt on that was like a dress on me. "I love you so much, darling. He will never touch you again I swear it." He softly took me into his arms carrying me into the other room laying me down in the bed.

He climbed in on his side and I snuggled up into his warmth knowing he would leave to deal with the rancher when I went to sleep and rested. "I love you, Rip and so will this second child of ours." Whispering up into his brown eyes I intertwined our hands together closing my eyes letting sleep overtake me.

Comments really appreciated ❤️

[lost-in-fiction-like-ur-mom]

Hello friend 👋 wasn’t episode 4 of tbb amazing?? I’m loving this season. Wanted to pop in and request a fic - you know how when you’re walking your dog and everyone has to stop and say hello to the dog bc obvs. Can you do something like that but it’s crosshair walking batcher and reader stops to say how cute but then crosshair gets jealous of batcher getting all the love lol

Dog Days

Crosshair x Reader

Summary- You met Crosshair while he was taking Batcher for a walk. Passing your house quickly became a daily task you all looked forward to. Is it wrong to say you caught feelings for him? And was Crosshair really jealous of the attention you gave Batcher?

A/N- Hey girl! Sorry your request took so long to get around to. I didn't forget you! I want to personally thank you for all your kind words. I always see your liking and commenting on my works! This was such a cute idea!!! Crosshair is definitely the 'dad who didn't want the dog, but now loves it' guy. Thanks for requesting!

Word Count- 1,409

The scurrying of paws on tile caught your attention. You raised from your bent position, having been watering your plants outside your home.

You turned just in time to see a various colored blue animal running your way. The figure and attitude of it reminded you of a dog, but you were sure it wasn't.

The closer it got, you realized it was not slowing down. With a hiked breath, you squinted your eyes and prepared for impact.

"Batcher, stop!" A males voice rang out.

Just as commanded, the animal stopped at your feet. You opened your eyes to see it now sitting, tongue out. You blinked, heart still pounding.

"Sorry." Said the man, which you recognized as Crosshair. Him and the rest of his brothers had come back to Pabu after rescuing Omega.

"No, it's okay. Really, he seems sweet." The animal jumped to its feet as you reached a hand out. Your hand was soon met with slobber, as the animal licked you again.

"She."

"Oh, sorry. She seems sweet." You crouched down to her level, now fully petting her. You gave out a laugh as she now nuzzled into your face.

Crosshair crossed his arms and rolled his eyes. You took the hint.

"I guess I'll let you two get going. Have a nice day!" You stood, much to Batchers dismay. She already had a liking to you. She reluctantly followed Crosshair when he turned and walked away.

Only a day passed until you saw the two of them again. This time you had been leaving a neighbors house, needing some flour.

You of course, saw Batcher running down first. Crosshair slowly following. She barked at the sight of you, you didn't get scared when she ran at you this time.

"Hey girl!" You called out to her, but what you didn't expect was for her to actually jump on you.

It wasn't painful, but she did manage to knock the small bag of flour out of your hands. She had you playfully pinned under her, licking whatever she could.

The flour was also on top of you, and her, and the surrounding tile.

You gave out a cough, a white puff leaving your lips.

'Batcher, off!" Crosshair was frustrated at the scene. He had watched the whole fall.

Batcher didn't understand and happily ran over to him. You were still on the ground, slightly embarrassed at the turned heads.

A hand reached down to you, you grabbed it. Crosshair easily pulled you up. His strength took you by surprise.

"She hurt you?" He asked.

"I'm okay, I think most of the impact was on my butt." You rubbed at your hip, a dull pain arriving. It was going to bruise.

"How much flour was it?" He didn't seem to really care how you were doing.

"Uh, I think five cups? I was just borrowing it from my friend."

He hummed, Batcher was still at his side. She was awaiting his next command.

"It's fine, really. I know she didn't mean to." There was an awkward air around.

"I'll bring some tomorrow." Was all he said before turning and walking off.

He did bring the flour the next day, a bag double the size of what you had. You gave your neighbor her portion and put the rest in a jar.

You profusely thanked him, but he brushed it off and continued his walk.

To show your gratitude for the extra flour, you baked him a dozen cookies. You wrapped them neatly and carefully waited to see the two of them.

You found ways to busy yourself outside, trying not to make it obvious you were eagerly waiting for Crosshair. Oh, yeah and Batcher.

Upon hearing a bark, you ran inside to grab your fresh cookies. You raced back outside just in time to see Crosshair standing. He had his head turned, looking around. Was he looking for you?

"Crosshair?" His head shot your way.

"I baked you some cookies! As a formal 'thank you.'" He just looked at you, so you raised the cookies to him.

"Thank you." He said, fighting a smile.

"What did you say your name was?" It was your turn to smile at his question.

You promptly told him, trying not to grin too big.

He nodded.

"T-Theres enough cookies for the rest of your brothers, and Omega." You informed him. At his look, you felt your cheeks getting hot. He probably felt weirded out that you knew everyone's name, especially since he just learnt yours.

"Sorry..." You didn't even know what you were apologizing for, but you felt guilty for making things awkward once again.

"You have nothing to be sorry for, so don't apologize." His words were cold, but had a sense of affection in them.

At the new silence, you figured it was time to part once again.

"Have a good day, I hope you like the cookies." He actually waved this time, glancing over his shoulder to see you smile and wave back.

With each day that passed, you slowly got closer and closer to Crosshair and Batcher. Passing your house seemed to be on their daily walking routine.

A minute spent passing your house turned into taking a twenty or thirty minute break. You'd hold and play with Batcher while talking with Cross. It ranged from the weather to nightmares. You both found yourselves opening up to each other.

You quickly grew feelings for Crosshair over the weeks passed.

There were times you thought he felt the same, but the second you might have confessed or leaned in for a kiss- he'd change the subject. You just accepted that he didn't like you in the way you liked him. It hurt but you couldn't force feelings onto him.

You had started to notice that when you giddily ran to Batcher or held her tightly, Crosshair curled his lip- or gave out a glare. You picked up that he might be jealous of the attention you were giving her. Though, why would he be jealous if he didn't have any feelings for you?

It came to be a few minutes past two o'clock. Crosshair would be coming down any minute now. Though, your pesky bladder had you quickly running back inside.

When you came out, Crosshair was sat on your front porch. Batcher was at the ready, panting and hyper.

You greeted her first, dropping to your knees. She was more playful today, not leaving you alone.

"Oh, you're such a good girl!" You scratched behind her ears, she closed her eyes and wagged her tail.

You continued to play with her, she was rolling and doing tricks for you. Out of the corner of your eye you saw Crosshair stand. He crossed his arms, a scowl on his face.

"Such a pretty girl, so cute." You announced praises at her. Though not on purpose, you ignored Crosshair. She was on her back as you rubbed her belly.

"Why don't you get a room." He remarked, now obviously jealous of Batcher.

"Don't listen to him, Batcher! He's just grumpy and jealous." You were getting brave with your comebacks.

"I am not!" He was getting defensive.

"Shh, it's okay Batcher. Your dad is pretty cute too." You said, nuzzling her face.

"I am not her dad and i'm n-" Your words registered in Crosshairs head, the same time they did in yours.

You moved away from Batcher, the mood changed. It was silent for a moment, you looked at the ground.

"Okay I'll be leaving now." You stood to your feet, about to die of embarrassment. That was until Crosshair grabbed a hold of your wrist.

He forced you to face him. "Why?"

"Well gee Cross, I don't know. Maybe because I just said the dumbest thing ever. You think I don't know the feeling isn't mutual!" You confessed.

He stared for a moment, hand still gripping your wrist. You could tell he was contemplating something. That was until he made the last step forward and kissed you.

You felt light as a feather. He did like you back!

You could feel Batcher rubbing against your leg, but payed no attention to it. You were too lost in the kiss.

The two of you held each other, not puling away except to gasp for air.

"I guess I was wrong?" You panted out.

"You were far from being right." He just pulled you back in for another kiss.

A/N- Thank you so much for reading! I am so appreciative for your sweet comments HayBelle! Please let me know if there is anything you want changed in this fic!

Tags- (lmk if you want to be tagged as well!) @thethreeeyed-raven @knight-of-flowerss @dangraccoon

[alaynestone]

FIC RECS for @spnficrecfest - august 19-21 tropes or outsider pov

i'm attempting to limit myself to just one small sample of the fics that could be recced in every category so that my list is more easily digestible. it's a given that many good fics will be left out but if we keep this up they will have their turn later.

outsider pov

the tomato plant doesn't grow mangos by harrigan (gen, preseries) If you lived next door to the Winchester family in 1993, would you call Child Protective Services?

the perfect life by brightly_lit (gen, preseries) A new guy comes to school, who has looks, cool, and attitude to spare. Name: Dean Winchester. Basically, he's a guy's perfect new friend, even if his family's a little weird. Okay, a lot weird.

days without feathers by pyrebi (gen, season 1) It’s tragic, everyone says. A chance in a million—a shorted wire, an untended candle. When they get the news (one survivor, a young male), she puts a hand over her mouth and waits for the world to end.

peanuts by kalliel (gen, preseries) Dean Winchester, according to Stanford vs. Dean Winchester, according to Sam.

five times jess wondered about sam by waldorph (sam/jess, preseries) There are things about Sam that Jess thinks are a little odd.

the long slow scythe by inheritedjeans (gen, season 7) A young cop repeatedly spots the presumed dead yet very much alive Winchesters, but no one will believe him.

i'll take my chance on a beautiful stranger by fleshflutter (sam/dean, preseries) In which a hustler meets a boy from Stanford.

sweet and proper by road_rhythm (sam/rachel, preseries) Apparently, Sam Winchester is important to somebody. Apparently, you're just what he likes.

monsters are real by whiskyboys (gen, preseries, crossover) The kid sitting in the interview room swings on the rear legs of his chair, throws back his head, and at the top of his lungs, sings a painfully off-key version of 'Wanted Dead or Alive'. Hotch looks at Morgan with one eye-brow arched in question. "You think he's your unsub?"

it's the damnedest thing by dragonspell (gen, preseries) It’s the damnedest thing but Jim thinks he’s just about got it figured out. There’s a snot-nosed kid in room 3 with the biggest damn green eyes he’s ever seen and the punk’s been batting them at anyone who’ll stand still long enough.

goodnight, st. louis by tekuates (gen, season 10) I remember his eyes were this bright, bright green, and thinking that it should have made him look alive. But he didn’t look alive. His eyes were like glass.

going, going, gone by sonofabiscuit77 (sam/dean, season 15) Sam doesn't carry on after Dean's death. He dies eight months later. This story covers Sam's last few months on earth before his heavenly reunion with Dean, from the POV of Jody Mills.

[writeplace-wrongtime]

The Bet

*cracks knuckles* fine, I'll do it myself.

Okay but seriously, I've only binge watched the first 6 seasons of criminal minds, so I'm probably a bit off with character personalities.

This turned into mostly the team finding out, so if anyone wants a part 2 with more scenes pre-reveal I'd love to write it!

masterlist coming soon

Word Count: 3k

CW// brief mention of kidnapping case, use of y/n (i'm sorry), not beta'd

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

‘When was the last time you saw Hotch leave before the rest of us?’

The most recent case had been a relatively short one, allowing the team to get back to Quantico reasonably early. A young man caught kidnapping local women, caught easily when he appeared on CCTV taking his latest victim. Three women, three days. All had minor injuries, but all were alive. It had been the ideal end to the case and no loss of life meant the paperwork was minimal.

Emily’s voice caught the attention of Derek, who followed her gaze to the elevator, where the Unit Chief stood waiting. He raised his eyebrows, trying to think back on the last few months of late nights, week-long cases and multiple middle of the night calls.

‘Not since before his divorce,’ Spencer piped up helpfully from behind his desk, packing away the days half-finished reports and case notes before he too looked up. ‘Hey, has anyone seen y/l/n? They mentioned going for food on the jet, and I know this really nice Indian restaurant not far from here, I was going to suggest we all go.’

Now that Emily thought about it, she hadn’t seen you after you’d gone to Hotch’s office to drop off your report. Barely five minutes later, Hotch had made a beeline for the elevator, leaving unusually early compared to normal, and then you too had disappeared.

‘Holy shit.’ The dots were connecting in her head. ‘They’re totally hooking up!’

This gathered the full attention of everyone in the room.

‘Who’s hooking up?’ Penelope had her bag in hand as she peeked in the door, drawn to the gossip like a moth to a flame.

‘Y/l/n and Hotch!’

‘Oh my god!’ Penelope was quick to rush over to the group now huddled around Emily’s desk.

‘No way,’ Derek was shaking his head, arms crossed over his chest. They’d been working as a team for years, there’s no way you and Hotch were in a secret relationship, and no one had noticed. ‘Come on, you really think they could have hidden something like that from us?’

Spencer shrugged, joining the conversation fully. ‘Hotch hid the fact that Emily was alive from all of us for months, so a secret relationship wouldn’t be that hard for him.’ Emily grimaced at the comparison, searching for any hint of bitterness in his tone, though found none. He had been hurt that they hadn’t trusted him to know the secret, but that hurt had faded over the couple years since Emily had returned. He offered her an apologetic smile, as if only realising what he’d said.

‘Want to make this more interesting?’ Quick to bring the conversation back to inane office gossip, Emily reached into her bag to pull out her purse. ‘100 dollars they’re doing it.’

‘Oh, you’re on. 100 they’re not.’ Derek placed two fifties on top of Emily’s two. Another two went down, and they both looked up to see Spencer sheepishly tucking his wallet back into his pocket.

‘I think they’ve been dating for a couple weeks now, I assumed everyone else had noticed.’

Quickly, Penelope had joined, and much to everyone’s surprise, so did Rossi. Penelope thought they’d just started dating, and Rossi thought it had been at least six months. JJ scooped up the cash, promising to be a neutral party to assure the winner got the whole lot. Plus, when this inevitably went wrong, she did not want to be involved in the fallout.

‘Okay, but how do we get them to admit-‘

‘Or not admit,’ Derek cut in.

‘Or not admit, what’s going on?’ Emily mused. Everyone’s eyes instantly went to Penelope.

‘Oh no, no, no-‘

Penelope’s office felt quite cramped with some many people in it, the space only meant to house one technical analyst, not one technical analyst and five nosey special agents. Five nosey agents who were all huddled around Penelope to peer at the screen over her shoulders.

‘Oh it does not feel right tracking their phones like this,’ Penelope’s fingers danced across the keys as she brought up both locations, ‘My powers should only be used for good, not- not snooping on our friends personal lives!’ Still, she let the trace run its course, displaying the address for the others to see.

‘That’s Hotch’s apartment.’ Spencer recognised the address immediately. Two little dots blinked on the screen, Hotch’s address hovering above them.

‘So they’re together, that doesn’t mean they’re hooking up.’ Derek knew his argument was weak, but hell he had 100 dollars riding on it.

‘Oh come on, they sneak out and go to Hotch’s apartment and you think they’re what, making cookies?’

‘Kids, stop fighting,’ Dave put a hand on both Derek and Emily’s shoulders. ‘Why don’t you just phone y/l/n, invite them for food, see what happens.’

‘You think they’d lie to us?’ Spencer asked, as Penelope pulled out her phone and dialled your number.

‘They’ve been lying to us about this for weeks, if you’re bet is right anyway,’ Emily nudged him with her elbow. He nudged her back.

‘Technically it’s an omission not a lie, since none of us directly asked if they’re-‘

‘Shhh its ringing!’ The room fell to silence as Penelope put her phone to her ear.

~

Even though it had been a short case, you had been looking forward to getting back. And by how quickly Aaron had offered up his apartment for a movie night, he had been too. It was important to keep a clear line between boss and boyfriend while in the field, and it was only professional to stay in separate rooms during cases, so it felt good to have Aaron back in boyfriend mode, with comforting touches and quality time away from the office, away from the titles and roles that accompanied your positions at the BAU.

You had finished your report in record time. It was pure luck that everyone was too caught up in their own work to notice you slipping away. After dropping your report on Aaron’s desk, you had made a quick exit, waiting by Aaron’s car until he joined you in the car park. It had become routine to leave short gaps between your arrivals and exits, allowing the illusion that you had travelled separately, from different apartments, in different cars. It was a short ride back to his apartment.

You had only just settled back against Aaron’s side, a bowl of popcorn perched between your thighs when your phone buzzed.

‘Hey beautiful, where’d you run off to?’ Penelope’s sweet voice rang out from the other end of the line, ‘We’re going for food, you coming with?’

You glanced sideways at Aaron, who kept his eyes on the TV, though you knew he was listening in by the way his arm tensed around you. You gently squeezed the arm closest to you, relaxing further into his hold so he knew you weren’t planning on leaving.

‘Sorry Pen, not tonight, I’m, uh, not feeling great after today’s case…’ You trailed off, hoping she’d accept the excuse and you’d be home free. You should’ve known it wouldn’t be as simple as that. There was pause, and you could’ve sworn you could hear hushed conversation. Must’ve been the rest of the team packing up to leave. You felt almost guilty that they were still at the office, when you’d left as soon as your own report was done.

‘Oh honey!’ Her voice was laced with sympathy, ‘That’s it, we’ll bring the food to you! Nothing like good food and company to cheer up the soul!’ Your head fell back against Aaron’s chest with more force than necessary. Curse her and her kindness.

‘No, no it’s okay, really-‘ You tried to prevent your voice from giving away your panic, ‘No need to go out of your way! Tell the guys I said enjoy!’

‘Its not out of our way at all! See you in twenty, gorgeous.’ The line went dead before you had a chance to respond. You could feel the vibrations of Aaron’s quiet laugh behind you, tilting your head back to look up at him.

‘You think this funny?’ Your words were pointed, but the smile on your lips gave away your hidden amusement. In lieu of an answer, he leaned down to pepper kisses along your shoulder, the side of your neck, anywhere he could reach. You savoured the warmth of his lips against your skin, a soft moan escaping your parted lips as the kisses became more heated. Tilting your head back to give him easier access, you let out a disappointed whine when he instead detached from you, gently pushing you up until you were sitting straight.

‘They’re going to be at your apartment soon,’ He reminded you, giving your arm a squeeze before moving to stand. Your cheeks were flushed red, taking a few steadying breaths as he took the popcorn from your lap, placing it on the coffee table, before holding his hands out to you. Shooting him a mock glare, you resigned yourself to getting off the comfortable couch and getting your shoes on. As much as you loved your co-workers, so much that they were practically family, you really did not want to spend the evening with them, not when you could be curled up on the couch with Aaron, pretending the outside world didn’t exist.

‘Shit,’ You nearly tripped over your untied laces in your hurry to turn, ‘My car’s still at the office, Aaron I don’t have time to get back there, get my car AND-‘ Your words were halted by the soft press of his lips on yours. Clearly, you weren’t the only one wishing you could stay. Melting against him, your hands found purchase on the solid expanse of his shoulders, fingers digging into the soft material of his t-shirt. He pulled back, just far enough so he could press his forehead against yours.

‘I’ll drive,’ His voice was quiet in the minimal space between you, ‘Tell them your car broke down and I offered you a lift home.’ You just hummed your agreement, too caught up in his closeness to really be paying full attention. Overwhelming warmth encompassed you as you breathed in the faint smell of his cologne, trying to catalogue the feeling in your mind as your panic disappeared with the gentlest of touches.

‘Or,’ You offered mildly, blinking up at him through your lashes, ‘We could just turn our phones off, lock the door, and deal with all of this tomorrow?’ Soft open-mouthed kisses were pressed to the column of his throat in between your words, hands climbing to wrap around the back of his neck. Your fingertips teased the baby hairs at the base of his skull. You knew he wouldn’t take you up on the offer, even when his hands gripped at your waist, pulling you flush against him as he once again claimed your lips with his.

 It had been a tough decision, keeping the relationship from your team, but you had both ultimately decided that it was for the best, at least while things were still new. Then, six weeks had turned into six months, and six months into nearly a year. It was becoming harder and harder to keep a secret, and you nearly wanted the team to catch on. You’d met Jessica, and had a proper introduction to Jack, even going so far as to have gone to a few of his soccer practices at Jack’s insistence. You had been slowly moving your stuff into his room, small things like toiletries, pyjamas and a few spare work outfits. You spent more time at Aaron’s apartment than your own. You loved it. What you didn’t love, was having to hide it all from your friends.

‘We really should go,’ Aaron murmured against your lips, ‘At least you’ll get free food out of this.’

You laughed softly at that, pressing one last kiss to his lips before pulling back, cheeks dusted pink. ‘I’d rather have you.’ A rare boyish grin was your only response, before he turned to grab his keys and you quickly tied your laces. You were soon on the familiar road home.

 ~

They didn’t wait around to see if you were rushing from Hotch’s apartment, instead piling into the back of Derek’s car haphazardly. All but JJ, who had familial responsibilities, and Rossi who just wanted to go home, managed to fit into one SUV.  If Rossi had been with them to take some of the blame, Derek might’ve even thrown on the sirens and lights. Instead, he skipped through a few orange lights, and just barely stuck to the speed limits. When they arrived at the Indian restaurant, Spencer was sent to pick up the order, being deemed least likely to do something stupid like flash his badge for quicker service. Emily followed him inside to help carry it all back to the car. Even without the badge, they managed to make it in and out in under ten minutes. Luck was on their side, getting them to your apartment just 25 minutes after Penelope had hung up on you.

When they came to a stop outside your apartment complex, your car wasn’t parked in its normal spot, and they had a moment of celebration before Spencer realised the light was on inside. A light that meant you had beat them.

They all had to hide their disappointment when you greeted them at the door, not showing any sign of having rushed from one apartment to the other. Being one of the closer apartments to the office, yours was often used as a base for nights out, girl’s nights, and team movie-nights. It was the team’s apartment more than it had ever been just yours. Moving seamlessly through your kitchen grabbing plates, cutlery and glasses, Emily and Penelope set to organising the food, while Spencer and Derek moved your coffee table to the centre of the room so everyone could sit around it. It warmed you to know they felt at home here.

‘I’ll have to get someone to look at it tomorrow,’ You sounded morose enough that Emily almost believed your “car trouble” story. She just hummed her commiserations before stealing some chicken from your Jalfrezi. As much as she’d hoped to catch you and Hotch in your lie – or omission as Spencer would remind her – she enjoyed spending time with you, and this had been the perfect excuse for a team night.

‘Hotch didn’t stick around after dropping you off?’ Emily asked casually, scooping up a mouthful of curry with the edge of a poppadom. If you noticed the groups sudden interest in your conversation you didn’t show it. You shook your head, pushing the thought of his hands on your waist and his lips on your skin, out of your mind.

‘He was just being nice, he probably has better things to be doing after a case than hanging out here.’

Derek had to hide his laugh with a cough. You frowned at him, but before you could question it, Emily dragged you back into a conversation about Sergio and how he stole her bagel the other day. She glared at Derek when you weren’t looking. Conversation flowed easily after that, and it wasn’t long before everyone was on their second helping of food and the booze cupboard had been ransacked.

‘Hey babygirl, you seeing what I’m seeing?’ Derek had just sat back down with his second full plate when he spotted it; the start of your downfall. He nudged Penelope, nodding his head toward you. Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion, before rising nearly to her hairline. A sharp “oh my god” left her lips, before she covered her mouth. Just beneath the edge of your oversized t-shirt, a small red mark was blooming on your skin. It looked suspiciously like a hickey. A very, very new one at that. Penelope’s little outburst was quickly noted by Emily, who paused mid-conversation to notice what they had. Her shit-eating grin matched Derek’s perfectly.   

‘What?’ You frowned at her, quickly glancing at Spencer opposite you. He shrugged, offering no help.

‘Maybe Hotch stuck around for a little while after all?’ There was a teasing lilt to her tone as she reached out to tug your collar a little lower. You could feel heat rising up your neck into your cheeks, a beautiful shade of crimson. Covering the offending mark with your hand, you tried to come up with an excuse. Nothing came. Opening your mouth and then closing it a few times, you tried to look anywhere but at your friends. You were caught and you knew it. They knew it too.

‘Is there any point in me saying I burnt myself?’ You tried for a smile, but it turned out more like a grimace.

‘Nope.’ Emily said, popping the “p”.

‘Aaron and I, we, uh…’ You fidgeted with the hem of your shirt, your blush darkening, as Penelope mouthed “Aaron!” at Emily, who practically giggled. You were going to have to restock your alcohol cupboard before they came round again. You took a breath, glancing around the room. All eyes were on you.

 ‘We’re dating.’

There was an immediate outburst of “oh my god!”s and “I knew it!”s. You had expected to feel awful when your secret was finally out in the open, but all you could feel was relief. Well, and a tinge of embarrassment. Warmth bubbled in your chest, looking around the room at your team, your family, knowing you didn’t have to hide it from them anymore.

‘What ya thinking about over there?’ Emily nudged your arm, a small tendril of guilt creeping through her. You’d obviously wanted to spend your evening with Hotch, and instead they’d dragged you away in a hurry, all just to invade your privacy. A small grin broke through your façade.

‘I’m thinking, seeing as it’s not a secret anymore, I can leave you losers and go back to spending the night with my boyfriend.’ A chorus of cheers followed your words, and someone (you suspected Emily) shouted “Go get some, girl!”.

Spencer wrinkled his nose at that. ‘Gross, remember that’s Hotch we’re taking about, he’s pretty much our work dad.’ His words caused a laugh to bubble in your chest, and you leaned over Emily to plant a big kiss on his cheek.

‘Guess that makes me your new work-mom!’ He made a big show of wiping your kiss from his cheek, but the small smile that followed gave away his charade.

‘What are you waiting for beautiful? Your man is waiting for you!’ Your wide grin echoed Penelope’s as she ushered you up and out of the living room. Your overnight gear was already at Aaron’s, so all you needed was your shoes and phone. You felt almost giddy as you threw the spare key to Spencer.

‘Don’t stay up too late kiddos!’

‘Hey, hold on a second,’ You glanced at Derek, who had started stacking plates to take to the kitchen, ‘How long has this been going on?’

‘Oh… Y’know, only about 11… months.’ You shot them an abashed smile, before darting for the door as all hell broke loose.

‘You didn’t win the bet either!’ Emily and Derek’s argument floated out the door with you, and you couldn’t help but laugh. Of course they had bet on it. You didn’t have it in you to care, instead shutting the door with a sound click. Pulling your phone out of your pocket, you dialled Aaron’s number.

‘Hey handsome,’ You couldn’t help the smile that carried through in your words, ‘You want to finish that movie?’

[trutrustories]

STUDY IN LOKI ROMANCE Part 1: Ouroboros

Since we're only a few days away from the last episode, I decided to COUNT DOWN everything we´ve got so far ( that can be interpreted very easily as romantic ) and discuss what the actual fuck is going on with second season. Because even though I shipped lokius practically from S1E2, I absolutely did NOT expect this kind of development. (Not that I´m complaining) Warning: This is gonna be LONG post, lots of screenshots, lots of SPOILERS, lot of "oh-my-god-they-so-cute" language, and little bit of meta. I originally thought that this post would be everything at once, but since I have just too many screenshots this time around, I´ll have to split it. so every post will be one episode. Color coding means:

IIIIIIIIII = anything, that coud potentialy be just acting choice.

IIIIIIIIII = everything else (tzn.: whatever was written, and/or carefully prepared by filmmakers. )

side note: I already wrote, about how amazing it is, that Mobius is unable to fight but fights anyway and how beautifuly, and ridiculously brave he is HERE. But this is about Loki/Mobius interactions, so I´ll try my best not to talk about THAT. (Even when I´m really happy, that s2 continues with this formula and Mobius is still his completely defenseless while aggressively brave self. I love him, btw.)

Soooo EPISODE 1, le´t go: 1)"Mobius It´s me!" few second in and we have slowmo chasing scene with detail on Loki, and Mobius and then THIS Loki´s heartbreaking look on his face here.

2) "Tell me, you recognize me!" (Loki trying to desperetly find Mobius, and then running towards him) Also If this Time slipping didn´t triggered anything external, but It´s just his own, unlocked power - I honestly don´t know, how they will explain that - does that mean, that he unknowingly unlocked this power, because he was send by Silvie into the past, and then he was simply desperete and Mobius couldn´t recognized him so his body reacted by time slipping to place and time, where Mobius would know who he is???

3) this very unexpected exhibition of touches (meaning Mobius practicaly glueing himself to Loki for this entire section)

I´m sorry, but my man here is like "no, I´m not about to let you have a personal space. NOT. AN. OPTION. let me hold you some more" xD

4) This scene in in an elevator first of all, that was a second time, he slipped and was RIGHT back with Mobius, the very next second. secondly: Mobius being scared for Loki and insisting he needs immediate help thirdly: Loki reassuring Mobius, It´s not that bad.

also this "we just had sex in a cabin" shot:

and lastly...

Big thanks to the film crew for this shot to give us an idea just HOW MUCH OF AN UNUSED SPACE was in the elevator! 👌

5) Mobius and Loki talking to OB. being perfectly coordinated team and smoothly working together, while standing on a same spot, but in a completely different time.

poetry... just poetry!

6) Distressed God and his Happy Face just so we know: how long is it, since their reunion? Because I would swear that not even five minutes ago Loki was in state of complete panic, and look at him now:

Look at him smiling, enjoying view at struggling mobius 💚

few minutes with this man, and HE forgets all about his trauma and just vibing.

me too, Loki. Me too 🥲

btw, this thing over here?!!!!

7) bickering, like married couple, part 1

8) "Mobius if I don´t make it back" and "You´ll make it back". What was it, what where you about to say Loki? It sounded important! next time TALK FASTER!

9) Mobius risking his life SKIN for loki and refusing to give up on him.

10) Loki saves Mobius in an epic fashion and they end up in a hug: also they roll around the floor together

I mean... this whole scene was absolute TOP! So yeah. That was a first episode. before the premiere I was litteraly hoping, that I will see our Loki and our Mobius together at least ONCE, before first end credits. I actually couldn´t believe my own eyes, holy shit!

[ultralightpoe]

Bejeweled - Jamie Tartt

Authors Note: I have been trying to find any sort of energy to post and get out of bed. Got so close to giving up on life itself and I'm barely back, please bare with me as I try to find my way out of my depression hole I have dug for myself everyone. I know it's been a minute but life has been kicking my ass. Be patient with me - Ultralight

Word Count: 4454

Warnings: i dont think any

Apart of my MIDNIGHTS EVENT. (Next Event is Sour by Olivia Rodrigo. Requests closed. Event following yet to be decided)

SOUR EVENT

MAIN MASTERLIST

Enjoy!

Baby love, I think I've been a little too kind

Didn't notice you walking all over my peace of mind

In the shoes I gave you as a present

Puttin' someone first only works when you're in their top five

And by the way, I'm going out tonight

Diamonds can dull if not taken care of properly, they can accumulate dust and grime, the shine from the gem being lost amongst the age of the years. You were raised by a grandmother that taught you the most important thing a little girl could know, never ever EVER let a man dull your shine.  

She would lecture you on this as she showed you her jewelry collection, showing you all seven of her engagement rings through the years. The first had been a diamond pear cut with a silver band, given to her by the young salesman that had promised her the world from his office on wall street.

She packed her bags and took the ring the day he slept with his receptionist.

You would wear the diamond ring 10 years later when you met Jamie Tartt, and oddly enough you would be wearing it the day you found out he was cheating. 

-

Maybe it was your fault. Maybe Jamie had strayed from your bed because of you. 

Not because you were bored in bed or because you didn’t give him enough attention, no. Maybe you gave him TOO much attention, you let him forget who you were. You were a fucking diamond.

Diamond of the season as Bridgerton would say. 

You always kept your lovers on a leash, and when they strayed you proved to them just what they would be missing, but you had trusted Jamie as stupid as that was. You had been waiting for an engagement ring, getting your nails done religiously just in case you needed to take a picture. 

You stared at your nails now, as you scrolled through the twitter feed, seeing him leave her flat with lipstick on his cheek and his shirt still unbuttoned. 

Your grandmother would be so disappointed in you. You were better than this. 

And you would be. 

But you had to play your cards right. If Jamie Tartt thinks he can get away with screwing over a gem like yourself then you would just have to show him what a fool he was, and that began with a smile. 

You smiled at him when he came home, all dolled up as he lit up at the sight of you, making it seem like you hadn’t been waiting at the stairs for the sound of his keys and just naturally caught him on your way out. 

“Y/n? Love? Where are you headin’?” He asks, moving closer to you for a kiss. You kissed him back easily, this would only work if he didn’t know that you knew. 

“Just to the club with some friends.” You smile, giving him a twirl in your short dress. 

“What friends?” He mumbles casually, far too casually as his eyes roamed over you slowly. You knew his game and you knew that his casual act was far from the truth, inside he was panicking about you going out in this.

“Oh, just Brent and Jordan.” You shrug, leaning in to kiss his cheek before disappearing from sight. 

-

“You’re new here.” The stranger smiles cheekily at you as he walks up, admiring you without a second of hesitation, not even bothering to hide his eyes drifting to your chest. “I would recognize a beauty like ya’.”

“Oh I am sure you say that to all the girls.” You smile, giving him an airy look you knew would hook him quickly. It works, he gives you a lopsided grin that tells you he is ready to play your game. 

“Who’re your bodyguards over there?”  He nods his head to the direction of your friends Brent and Jordon, both of which you had been flirting with all night. 

“Oh, just some friends.”

“They don’t look like friends.”

“What’s it to you?” And there it is, the jealous look in his eyes that tells you the sex is going to be good. Hook…..Line……

“What are ya’ drinkin, lovey?” 

“Whatever you buy me.” You giggle, moving your hand to touch his elbow expertly, keeping your touch light and your smile easy. 

He blushes a bit at it, moving to the stool across from you and holding his hand out. “Your name?”

“Y/n. Yours.”

“I’m Jamie fucking Tartt.” His voice is smug, and his eyes are gleaming. This poor fool had no idea what he just got himself into. 

“And what can you do for me, Jamie?”

“I thought the sayin’ was what can I do for you?”

“Why would I ask that when I already know I can give everything.” And sinker. 

-

Best believe I'm still bejeweled

When I walk in the room

I can still make the whole place shimmer

And when I meet the band

They ask, "Do you have a man?"

I can still say, "I don't remember"

Familiarity breeds contempt

Don't put me in the basement

When I want the penthouse of your heart

Diamonds in my eyes

I polish up real, I polish up real nice

She let you try on the second engagement ring when your fingers were still too tiny to actually keep it on, laughing when you’re young eyes widened as it sparkled in front of you, amazed by the piece even if you were too young to truly understand what it meant. 

She told you the story of the second man that proposed to her, the one that owned his own business in London which is the reason she moved there in the first place, she told you how he whisked her away and how she ended up moving in with him after a month of knowing him. The way she described his apartment was nothing but luxury and the emerald necklace she showed you that went with the ring screamed money. 

You would learn the term blood money later in life. 

But then she told you about his actual wife, the one he let live in the mansion nestled in the countryside that he never spoke of while he hid mistresses away in apartments along the city promising to marry them while he bestowed jewels to them. 

She wore the ring and the necklace the day she left him, having his valet back all her suitcases into a car and driving her to the far side of the city where her one and only friend in London lived. 

You wore the set on your third date with Jamie, and then you wore it again the day he embarrassed you. 

-

The necklace and ring paired nicely with the gala gown that Rebecca and Keeley helped you pick out, both girls fawning over you the second they saw you show up to the event. 

“You look right fucking fit!” Keeley gushes, eyeing you up and down as Rebecca smiles. “A gorgeous color, and that necklace is absolutely stunning.”

“You should see the ring.” You smile, holding up your hand and letting them gawk. “Famly heirlooms darlings.”

“I don’t know if I want you or I want to be with you.” Keeley whispers, “you made my lower parts like throb-”

“Keeley!” Rebecca gasps, a laugh tearing from all three of you before a hand nestles itself on your hip. 

“Let’s head to our seats, ye love?” Jamie asks, pulling you away before you could actually answer. You were a bit irritated with him, ever since finding out he cheated a week ago you found yourself sick to look at him. 

And he hadn’t complimented you once this evening. Fucking fool. 

But you kept your mouth shut, this was the long game here. You smiled at him, and let him know how handsome he was. It would all be worth it. 

You kept reminding yourself of this during the auction, watching dozens of women bid on Danny Rojas as Keeley motioned for you to look at your phone. You ignore her at first, until she gets Roy to do it as well and you finally give in. 

K; See that goddess in the corner? Blue dress with the massive tits?

Y; Could have just said blue dress

K; She is Jamie’s date

Y; But I’m Jamie’s date

K; So is she. 

Game. Fucking. On. 

You risk one more look to the girl as Jamie is called up, allowing him to kiss your cheek quickly before waltzing himself up and standing proudly as the bidding starts. 

You let her bid back and forth with the girl in the yellow dress towards the front, wondering if yellow dress was another date of his as he gives you an odd look from the stage, drinking your champagne easily. When he gets back you catch a whiff of his cologne, the one you bought him for christmas, while he leans in. 

“Why didn’t ye bid on me, love?”

“Figured I would give another lucky lady some time with you.” You smile, leaning to rub his shoulder. He nods happily, enjoying your answer while your mind flashes back to the photos of him coming out of her apartment. 

He couldn’t even bother wiping off her lipstick from his lips and cheek. 

So when Sam goes up you raise your hand, meeting Jamie’s eyes with that same airy smile you gave him when you met, calling out “2,000 pounds”

And the look on Jamie’s face makes the moment so fucking worth it.

-

“Jesus fuckin’ Christ-” Jamie blurts when he walks up to your door, eyes widening as a red tint covers his neck and cheeks. “Fuck- sorry- lords name in vain and all that but I think I might just die a happy bloke right here.”

“It’s not too much?” You ask, smoothing out the sides as you try to relax your racing heart. This was the first time you were nervous for a date, this was the first time you actually wanted the date to go somewhere because Jamie Tartt was one hell of a man. 

He was sweet and caring, he held doors open for you and talked to you about football with so much passion your heart burned……and he was a god in bed. 

“Never too much, you’re like a fuckin’ Aphrodite brought to life.” He mumbles, eyes never leaving yours as he holds out his arm for you to grab onto. You admire his look then, placing your hand in the crook of his elbow as your gaze travels the tux he wore.

For a brief moment you find yourself excited at the fact that his tie matched your dress perfectly without the two of you planning it in advance. Like an omen that you were meant to be, and you can’t help but thinking that your grandmother would laugh at that statement. 

She wasn’t here, and you were too busy smiling as Jamie led you to the restaurant like you were a princess. 

-

Baby boy, I think I've been too good of a girl (too good of a girl)

Did all the extra credit, then got graded on a curve

I think it's time to teach some lessons

I made you my world (huh), have you heard? (Huh)

I can reclaim the land

And I miss you (I miss you)

But I miss sparkling (ah, hey)

The oval cut Garnet ring with the silver band came next, from the artist she met in that small apartment building. He drew her millions of times, filling his sketchbook with her dancing and posing until he was able to draw her out of memory. 

He pawned his fathers pocket watch for the ring, proposing to her in the middle of lovemaking as he demanded the stars pay her what they owe her. But then he disappeared, stopped coming home and she couldn’t find him. 

Just when she had begun wondering if he was cheating the police had knocked on the door asking if she had seen him. Turned out the pocket watch he pawned wasn’t his but his bosses, as well as the 4,000 he had stolen from the safe the same night he stole the watch. 

She told the police she was house sitting for him, and the second they were out of sight she packed and bolted with the ring. 

You wore it the night you first said I love you, and again when told him your biggest lie. 

- 

“Oh you should have seen it, Y/n. Fuckin’ Nate had no words. We all gave him one hell of a show, glarin and just being downright nasty on the field.” Jamie brags, pacing back and forth in your kitchen as you wiped down the counters for something to do while he rambled on. 

Normally you would be hanging on to his every word, asking about it and actually giving a shit. But today? All you could think about was her. 

Was the women in the blue dress the women from the apartment? Or were they different? How many women were there? How long has he been doing this? A month, a week or years? Should you get tested for anything?

“-oy, you okay?” Jamie asks, concern laced across his face as he comes up to rub you back carefully, bending down to look in your eyes. 

“I’m fine,” You lie, nodding quickly. “Just a little sick.”

“Let’s get you to bed, yeah?” You let him, enjoying the caring side of him as he tucks you in and puts a glass of water beside your bed. He sits beside you for a moment, rubbing your cheek carefully as he watches you. “I’ll be in the living room. You’ll call me if ya need me, ya?”

“Yeah.” You nod, closing your eyes gently as he leans down to kiss your forehead, hating the way your heartbeat through your chest. 

“I love you.” He whispers. 

“I love you too.” You whisper back, feeling sick at how empty the words were, and how easy the lie slipped from your lips. 

- 

You hadn’t planned on saying it to him that night, the dizziness of it all just got the best of you. 

Jamie had snuck you into the richmond field in the middle of the night, both of you laughing and slipping in the wet grass as you tried to play a crappy game of soccer. 

Sure your outfit was ruined but you had been smiling so much your cheeks hurt, ribs aching from laughing too much and your heart 2 seconds from exploding every time he touched you. 

By the time you both tire out, him swinging his arm around your shoulders and snatching the ball up easily while trying to catch his breath, he leads you out to the parking lot. It’s there you say it, in the dimness of the broken light, your cheeks heated from nervousness as well as the workout. 

“I think I love you.” You blurt, watching him stop quickly, whipping to look at you with wide eyes. “No. I do. I know I love you.”

A moment of silence follows and you begin to think you’ve blown it, getting ready to rush off out of pure embarrassment, when a smile cracks out on his face and he rushes forwards to kiss you passionately. 

“I love you too.” He murmurs as he cradles your jaw, lips grazing your own. 

- 

Best believe I'm still bejeweled

When I walk in the room

I can still make the whole place shimmer

And when I meet the band

They ask, "Do you have a man?"

I can still say, "I don't remember"

The factory worker with the easy smile came next, and after 4 months of dating he popped out a black diamond ring with a black band on it, the darkest in the collection which should have shown what was too come. 

She never liked to talk about that one often, and she never let you touch it, as if the ring itself could ruin your life in an instant. 

And you truly believed it could. 

All you knew from that time in her life was that she left bloodied and battered, leaving during the day while he was at work, where she would head to a co workers flat waiting for him when he got home and trying not to cry as he cleaned the cuts. A week later she would take the pregnancy test, that was all you needed to know. 

The ring sat in the red velvet box your grandmother had put it in when she took it off, and it would stay in that box where you would not see it. Except for the two times it nearly escaped. 

- 

“Hey Y/n?” Jamie calls from the room down the hall, drawing your attention from the project you had been working on as you wait for him to keep going, when he doesn’t you sigh out and stand to go find where he was summoning you. 

“Yes?”

“Have you seen my lucky knee pad?”

“Shouldn’t they be in your bag?” You ask, moving to check the said bag where he had laid it in your shared bed. The zipper moved easily as you began searching throughout it. 

“Do you think I would be searching the room if it was in there?” He snaps, and as he swings to glare at you his hand hits the jewelry box on your dresser, sending it tumbling down and the cap of the cursed velvet box flying, the ring sliding across the floor right in front of your foot. 

You stare at it like it’s a bomb, breathing heavy as it gleams up at you. Jamie watches for a moment before he sighs out. “Just pick it up will ya? Won’t bloody hurt you.”

You roll your eyes, ignoring the comment and turning back to the bag where you pull out the lucky knee pad, making him groan. “I swear it wasn’t there when I checked.”

“Just pick up the mess you made.” You grunt out, putting the knee pad on top of the bag and rushing out of the room to go shower. 

- 

The day you move in with Jamie is spent with cheap dancing music that makes you both laugh and dozens of boxes to unpack. Instead of tag teaming your shared boxes in your new shared apartment you both decide to do one box at a time, working as a team. 

Because why be efficient when you are in love?

By the time he gets to the box holding your jewelry he spots the velvet box, reaching in and pulling it out before you notice. By the time you turn to see he already has the lid fully off and the ring pinched between his thumb and forefinger. 

“I don’t think I have ever seen a black diamond.” He murmurs, holding it up to the light as you chuck a pillow at his face. It hits him square on and he gives you an incredulous look as you begin pointing at the ring. 

“Put that thing back in the box, hide it deep in the jewelry box and go wash your hands!” You order, making him blink in shock before he does as told, coming back with wet hands and a small smile. 

“I know it sounds crazy but-”

“I have superstitions too.” He shrugs, moving closer to kiss you softly. “That ring was fucking ugly anyways.”

- 

Familiarity breeds contempt

Don't put me in the basement

When I want the penthouse of your heart

Diamonds in my eyes

I polish up real, I polish up real nice

The pink diamond came from a mistake she wasn’t willing to admit. 

Moments of panic and loneliness have a way of making humans confuse many things for love, she had shown up bruised and broken and she thought her coworker had mended her. 

He was kind, and he was gentle. They got along well and he was very supportive of her keeping the child in the pregnancy. He was safe…..but they weren’t in love. 

She tells you of the conversation she had with him, 3 months pregnant and wearing an engagement ring. They talked about how they went too fast, she told him she wanted to be a mother first and foremost. 

They said goodbye, he told her she could keep the ring. 

He would later be the baby's godfather, and he visited every christmas. 

There were two christmases that actually mattered. 

- 

Jamie missed Christmas dinner with your family that year, not that you minded since all you had been silently hoping for was a break. Just a little longer…. You reminded yourself. The long game. 

But as you marched up the path to your parents home you found yourself breathing out a sigh of relief, home. Home was right here and you would be safe to show your pain. 

Your great uncle is the first to notice said pain, nodding you over to talk to you. 

“You’re grandmother raised you right,” He tells you. “And if she were here she would not let you stand to be in pain.”

“I know.” You mumble back, nodding your head quickly. “I’m working on it.”

- 

The year you brought Jamie home for Christmas was a year full of chaos, one where you had been rushing around in a panic, nervous and anxious about your family not liking him. And it had all gone wrong so far. 

The ham was burnt and the tree managed to catch on fire. Both your bags had been lost in transit so you both were forced into the ugliest sweaters you had seen and you thought Jamie would bolt. 

But he merely grabs your hands softly to stop your pacing, kissing your knuckles and peering up at you. “We’ll be alright, yeah?”

“Yeah.” You nod, smiling back at him as your great uncle walks in, giving you a nod of approval when Jamie can’t see. You ease up then, you had nothing to worry about, Jamie would win them over no problem. 

- 

Sapphire tears on my face

Sadness became my whole sky

But some guy said my aura's moonstone

Just 'cause he was high

The 6th ring had been a simple silver band given to her by the neighbor that claimed she was aphrodite reborn. They had talked 3 times before he gave her the ring and though it never actually counted as a proposal she claimed it did since he had said “I’ll get you the diamond when I prove to you we’re meant to be.”

He lost interest after 3 weeks, she didn’t mind. 

You always used to wear the band when you wanted a good laugh, but as of recently you couldn’t find any humor in it as you left it in the box.  You were beginning to lose energy for all happiness in general. 

- 

And we're dancin' all night

And you can try to change my mind

But you might have to wait in line

What's a girl gonna do?

A diamond's gotta shine

The seventh and final engagement ring had been given to her by a nervous accountant who acted like she had torn the stars from the sky. He was a shy and nervous man, blushed everytime she looked at him, but there had been a spark like no other.  This would be the first ring she would accept with her future planned out, no way of living without him. This had been her lovematch. 

It had been sapphire, her birthstone. She had worn it for three months. 

You wore it the day you met his mistress. 

- 

The apartment was quite nice, and as you took a look around you couldn’t help the anxiety that built through you as she watched you from the couch. 

“He told me he was leaving you.”

“Of course he did.”

“He said neither of you were happy.”

“Not anymore.” You smile, everything in you easing. “But it’s almost over.”

 - 

Best believe I'm still bejeweled

When I walk in the room

I can still make the whole place shimmer (shimmer)

And when I meet the band

They ask, "Do you have a man?"

The last and final ring in the collection hadn’t been an engagement ring, rather a wedding ring. Your grandmother had worn it since the day she got it to the day she died, passing it down to you.  A simple pearl ring that stopped your breath short every time. 

She wore it the day she gave birth to your mother, claiming it gave her strength. She wore it the day of your grandfather's funeral and your mothers as well. 

You wore it the day of her funeral and had been saving it ever since. This would be the ring you wore the day you decided to leave him. 

You waited up, your biggest mistake of it all since you already knew he wouldn’t be home for awhile. 

He would claim it was the game, you would know the truth, he would not feel bad about lying to your face. 

You twisted your grandmother's ring on your finger. It was time. 

 - 

I can still say, "I don't remember"

Familiarity breeds contempt

Don't put me in the basement

When I want the penthouse of your heart

Diamonds in my eyes

I polish up real (nice), I polish up real nice

He proposed with a ruby ring, after years of waiting and it finally happened. You took the ring, kissed him softly and a week later you left a letter on the table explaining it all as you left. You took your clothes and jewelry with you, leaving the pain behind with him. 

You were a fucking jewel, this he would not forget

- . 

And we're dancin' all night

And you can try to change my mind

But you might have to wait in line

What's a girl gonna do? What's a girl gonna do?

I polish up nice

Best believe I'm still bejeweled

When I walk in the room

I can still make the whole place shimmer

You wore your grandmother's wedding pearl wedding ring on your left hand the day you gave birth, and on your right held the engagement ring Jamie had given you. 

When your daughter was old enough you would show her your collection, telling her your grandmother's history all the way up to the ruby ring, where you would tell your own story, all the while wearing the ring you bought yourself, with the dahlia diamond. 

You were a jewel, and just as your grandmother taught you…..never ever EVER let a man dull your shine.

[thekristen999]

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers! Spread the self-love 💞

@dangerpronebuddie also asked me to share. Thank you to both :)

I've been in fandom for a long time, so I'll pick my top 5 for my current obsession. All Buddie. This list changes often. lol

.

We Found Each Other (Over There) 

A combat medic and a G.I. meet during one of the world’s greatest battles. A WWII European Theater based AU.

Trying Hard to Remember, Trying Hard To Forget 

Eddie doesn’t remember the shooting and Buck is haunted by it. As they struggle with their feelings for each other, Eddie and Buck grapple with the realities of trauma recovery and the understanding that everyone heals at their own pace. Coda to 4.14.

bro·ken 

adjective 1. having been fractured or damaged and no longer in one piece or in working order. 2. having given up all hope; despairing.

Forced to take shady side jobs to pay his bills, Evan Buckley doesn’t think he’s ever seen such rock bottom. Until he meets Eddie Diaz, a man even more desperate and alone. Season 3 AU.

Alone In The Dark With You 

Buck couldn’t remain here alone with all his racing thoughts. Catastrophizing. That’s what his therapist called it. He had to move. He continued trying to dig his way with his good hand, but the way the rocks had fallen, if he removed one, another took its place. It was like he was inside an hourglass.

But he wouldn’t give up.

There. Was he hearing things? A scraping sound.

His adrenaline spiked. He pawed at the rocks again, because noise meant movement and movement meant—

“Buck?”

“Eddie?” Buck rasped.

 He was alive! Eddie was alive.

(Or Buck and Eddie get trapped in a cave-in and things go from bad to worse.)

Cutting The Ties That Bind

Evan Buckley was a businessman, he had meetings and deadlines like everyone else. Sometimes he used intimation. While using the very same tactics he was trying to end while converting his family business into legitimate operations was a little hypocritical, it was the results that mattered.

Occasionally, he got threatened, but it was usually all hot air and ego. That all changed the day his breaks were tampered with. Enter Eddie Diaz, security specialist, who was not easily impressed by Buck’s expensive suits or financial conquests. That was okay. Buck enjoyed a challenge.

(The Mafia AU)

A little of everything :)

[vurelly]

Make a soup tier list! Please!

Look at how good the soup looks. The soup compells you

top five soups for your the perfect winter season:

Chicken Noodle: It's a classic-- it's got meat, it's got veggies, it's got meat, it's got noodles, it's everything you want

Baked Potato: I am biased, but everything is better with potatoes, how can you not want a soup where the main ingredient IS potatoes.

Garlic Soup: If you haven't had it, look it up, if you like garlic you will like garlic soup. Enough said.

Miso Soup: Easily ties with number 3. It's warm and brothy and maybe not filling in the way that you'll want it as a whole meal, but tell me you don't like Miso soup and I will call you a liar.

Italian Wedding Soup: This soup lies to you. It is not for italian weddings, but it is for the stomach, so I guess a little lying is okay as long as you taste good.

Honorable mention:

Tomato soup: I fucking hate it, but one of my best friends really likes it so I guess it gets to be on the list.

[writeforfandoms]

Shatter Me 15

Find the series masterlist

Things can never go according to plan with Mando and Grogu, something you're reminded of rather forcefully when the three of you reach the next planet.

Oh boy. Guys. We're getting into the good stuff here. We've got I think five chapters to go before the interlude. Hee hee hee. Don't mind me sitting here rubbing my hands together in glee...

Warnings: Canon typical violence, swearing, Feels, Mech is going through it, we're on season 2 episode 6.

Word count: 2k

You were in the hold when the ship dropped out of hyperspace, and you balanced easily against the hull. You gave the two a bit of time - you could just hear Mando’s voice, but not what he was saying, and only if you concentrated. You waited until he had gone quiet to rejoin them in the cockpit. 

The planet below you was new, shades of brown and tan and green. Mostly the vegetation seemed to be low-growing - grass and shrubs. You hadn’t seen any trees. Mando guided the Crest above the planet easily, keeping an eye out below. 

Up ahead, you could just see some ruins, jutting up above the ground in an impressive display. There was nothing else around it, just hilly land and rocks. 

“Looks like that’s the magic rock I’m supposed to take you to down there,” Mando observed, tipping the ship to circle around the site, to get a better look. Grogu burbled and then went quiet, looking out at the ruins. “Sorry, buddy, I can’t land on the top. Too small. Looks like we’re gonna have to travel the last stretch with the windows down.”

What was he talking about? You eyed him, a little nervous. The windows didn’t come off. 

He landed the ship as smoothly as ever and picked up the kid, carrying him down and out. You followed, curious and a little apprehensive. 

And then Mando set the kid down briefly to slide his jetpack back into place, and you understood. 

So when Mando turned to look at you, you didn’t give him a chance. You weren’t sure if he was going to offer to take you with, or tell you to take the long route. But you already knew what you wanted. 

“You two go,” you told him, glancing quickly at Grogu. “I’ll follow behind you. You’ll be faster with just you and the kid.”

Mando hesitated for a moment before he nodded. “Keep your blaster with you,” he instructed, picking up Grogu and cradling the child against his chest.

“I will,” you agreed. “Now go.” 

Mando hesitated one more moment before he nodded and took off. His ascent was smooth, and you watched them for a few moments, just to watch them go. 

Then you sighed and turned to get your blaster.

It was far from the worst walk you’d endured. Sure, it was a little ways away, but it wasn’t boiling hot. You weren’t surrounded by people. It was quiet, with a gentle breeze occasionally ruffling the grass at your feet. 

This was a different kind of quiet. Not the quiet of night, or the quiet of a crackling fire, but the quiet of lack. Lack of people. Lack of life. 

It was starting to get to you, just a little.

Even Tatooine had life, had little noises. This? This was… unnerving. 

Idly, you wondered if Mando even noticed. Did he feel unnerved? Ever? Or was he too much a warrior through and through to feel something like that? 

You stopped, eyes going wide. Why were you thinking about him? Why were you even wondering? His emotions (or lack thereof) were his own business, not yours. 

You were just… You liked him. He was… kind, in his own way. Polite. He’d treated you better than many people had. 

And you were maybe a little enamored with that kindness, that hidden softness in him. A little. But it was a passing fancy, that was all. 

Besides, you didn’t even know if you’d stay with him, once the child was gone. 

If the child left. If a Jedi responded. 

So many ifs. So many possibilities. It was… staggering. Weighted. Both better and worse than what you’d grown used to. 

You sighed, a short exhalation through your nose, when you missed your step and nearly fell. Okay. That was enough time wondering about the future and what ifs and all this nonsense. You needed to focus on where you were going. 

The sound of another ship broke your concentration yet again, and you ducked low into the foliage before looking up. It was an unfamiliar ship, oddly shaped, and you frowned as you watched it go past overhead. It was headed towards the Crest. 

But you stayed put, well aware of your limitations when it came to fighting. Namely that you couldn’t. 

As soon as the other ship was out of sight, you booked it towards the seeing stone, as fast as you could manage. Mando was up there, probably. Unless he had gone to investigate. 

You were no good in a situation like this, and you knew it. 

Mando dropped down in front of you, and it was only habit that kept your lips closed. His hand landed on your shoulder, firm but grounding, not painful. 

“Stay down,” he told you. “Looks like trouble. Get to the kid if you can, but stay out of sight.” 

“Okay,” you agreed, heart pounding. For a moment you simply stared into the dark visor, hoping you were meeting his gaze, hoping that nothing was going to happen. That this wasn’t about the child. That these two weren’t in danger. 

Then he nodded, once, and took off again, far quieter than you would have guessed considering all the beskar. You took a deep breath, trying to rally yourself, and continued on. 

It was slow going, trying to stay down and out of sight. Especially since you didn’t know what you were staying out of sight from, or where, or how many. Your hands shook a little as you scrambled up finally to the top of the hill, ducked low. 

A faintly pulsing blue… energy? Something like that, surrounded the kid and the stone. Grogu’s eyes were closed, and he seemed oblivious to the world around him. You pulled your blaster out, holding it down and closing your eyes briefly.

Maker, you hoped you didn’t have to use this thing. You were absolutely no good at it. And you didn’t want to hurt anyone. You really didn’t want to have to shoot someone. You would, if you had to… Probably. But just the thought of it, even to defend this precious child, sent your heart fluttering with anxiety and made your chest hurt. 

You had the brief, wild thought that you should never have let Peli bully you into this. 

And then you swallowed and drew in a deep breath through your nose. Nothing had actually happened yet. You needed to pull yourself together, get a grip. You could do this. Mando had only given you one task: get to the kid. You’d done that. 

Now, you wanted to defend the kid. You wanted to. You. Just you. 

Your hands steadied, at least a little. You kept breathing, slow and steady. You didn’t hear shooting, didn’t hear shouts of pain. You also didn’t hear anyone approaching, not for long minutes. Long enough that your heart had almost settled back into a normal rhythm. 

And then a third ship emerged, flying low towards the Crest. And that ship? You knew the shape of that ship. You knew what the inside looked like. 

You’d had to work on one, once, as a personal favor. It had taken every ounce of willpower to not ask about the blood stains in the hold. 

This was bad. This was very bad. You wished briefly that you had a way to alert Mando, to let him know. 

But he was smart, he’d probably already seen what was going on. 

“Grogu,” you called, unable to contain the fear in your voice. “C’mon, we need to finish up and go.” 

But the child didn’t move, motionless atop the rock, eyes still closed. You swallowed hard, turning in a slow circle to try to see if anything was coming your way. No Mando. No soldiers. Nobody. 

And then the blaster fire started, the shouts drifting up to you, too distant to hear clearly. You swallowed, gripping your blaster more firmly. Okay. You could do this. 

You turned and started towards Grogu, even as the air felt oddly heavy. Trying to get too close felt like pushing through something thick and heavy, your hand meeting resistance as you reached for the child. 

And then the tension snapped suddenly back against you, pushing you back and sending you stumbling several steps away. You gasped in a breath, shaking a little, looking at the energy field around Grogu with awe and frustration. 

Even if the first ship hadn’t been here for Grogu, the second definitely was. You needed to get Grogu out and get going back to the Crest. 

“Grogu,” you called again, pushing closer to the child, struggling against the tension. “We have to go, kid.” 

But he didn’t respond, and after a few moments of holding steady, you were shoved backwards again. You stood there panting, trying to figure out if there was another way to get to him. 

“Hey, kid! Time to go.” Mando emerged from the rocks, starting towards the kid. You opened your mouth to warn him, but not in time. Mando got close, though, almost reaching the child before he was shoved backwards hard enough that he actually went flying a few feet. But he got right back up. 

“I tried that,” you told him, skirting the edge of the blue energy field to stop next to Mando. “I can’t reach him, not while he’s doing this.”

Both of you turned and watched as a second transport ship landed next to the first. Oh, kriff that was bad. So bad. You were all so screwed. 

“Stay with him,” Mando ordered you, turning away. “I’ll buy you as much time as I can.” 

“Mando–” 

But he was gone, leaping back down the rocks and out of sight. 

Your heart hammered in your chest as you took a moment - a few moments, really - to look at what he was facing. That was… a lot of potential troops. No matter that the Empire was supposed to be gone. 

You sucked in a couple deep breaths and turned to look at Grogu. Still doing… whatever he was doing. Okay. You licked your lips and held your blaster a bit tighter. Would it be better to walk around, keep an eye out in multiple directions? Or to just keep watching from this area? Did they even know the kid was up here? 

No. No, you needed to focus. Just stay here, where you had a pretty good view of the area below. You could hear the shouting and blaster fire, could even faintly see the flashes of red. 

You shifted your weight, anxious and feeling the need to do more. But you were guarding the kid, you were doing what you could. You would be no good in a firefight, and you well knew it. You were just as likely to hit an ally as a foe, and that… that was unacceptable. 

Too jittery to hold still, you started pacing, back and forth. The shouting was less now, farther away. You watched as first one, then the second transport ship took off, flying away. Your shoulders sank in relief. 

Behind you, the sudden cessation of humming made you turn and look, just in time to see Grogu slump sideways, passed out on top of the stone. 

An explosion made you turn again to look and see that one of the transport vessels had been hit and collided with the second one, sending the both of them into flaming ruins falling from the sky. 

Relief made your hands nearly numb, and you dropped your blaster to run to Grogu. “Kid. Hey. Grogu. You alright?” Carefully, you stroked one downy soft ear, but there was no reaction from him. Just soft breathing. He was out for the count, then. 

It was easy to scoop him into your arms, holding him close as you turned to look in the direction Mando had disappeared. Maybe you could leave now, could get going to… wherever was next. You allowed yourself a few moments to feel hopeful.

[localfanbaselurker]

I’m watching Voltron: Legendary Defender for the first time and here is what I have had to say per each season (this is 1-2) (3-4) (5-6) (7) (8)

Pre-Watch Knowledge

->big transformers type robot

->pretty alien girl that looks like princess yue from A:tLA

->they are the epitome of color-coded characters

->space??

->there was crazy people in the fanbase that sent cupcakes laced with something to the creators

->queer baiting (this one in particular got me)

->klance.

->^honestly I only knew that because people were comparing it to zukka and I wanted to check it out

->my friend really likes it

Post S1 thoughts-

->that cliffhanger was crazy imagine they weren’t renewed for a s2

-> i went on tumblr after and youre telling me they made that show IN TWO YEARS?? EIGHT SEASONS. IN TWO MF YEARS?? that is insane. props to the writers bro they fr must of known what they were doing.

->all of these characters already scream “doomed by the narrative”

->my fav characters are pidge and lance

->I definitely did NOT expect yue Allura to be British

->bonding moment.

->^like yeah okay i get it now

-> the healing pods are a very interesting concept. Like, what if you get some ailment that it doesn’t recognize?? Do you just die??

-> genuinely felt so bad for Not Yue. Allura. Allura when they had to remove her father’s memory thing. Like yeah I know the castle was corrupted or wtv but bro imagine. Your entire race is dead. your mom, who you previously knew alive is now most likely dead. You already had to go through losing your father once, and now you have to lose him again. Any sliver of hope you had of staying connected with him is gone, because the entirety of his essence is now gone. She’s stronger than me, I would have never given him up so easily. I admire that about her.

->I also made the horrible mistake of going on ao3 after

yk for gits and shiggles… and when I go to a new fandom I always search by hits to see the classics first yk

…

WHY are you guys so 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓴𝔂… I genuinely shed a tear what. I was flabbergasted to say the least.

On that note the top 23 were about redguy/blueguy getting smoochy-smoochy with each other so I guess that should be a hint as to what you guys like

->the description of the show says the robot (voltron) is operated by “five teenagers” but that shiro guy has to be AT LEAST 25. He is pushing 30 you can’t convince me otherwise.

->for now it’s kinda giving atla except the war is intergalactic and lasted 10,000 years instead of 100.

->all the other characters seem to have a pretty clear background, but we haven’t yet heard about Keith’s backstory, so I want to know (I know now, this was my initial thought)

->shiros backstory/ptsd is very interesting, lots of angst possibilities i see

-> I had an inkling that pidge was…genderly different. (At first I thought she was transmasc)

Post S2

-> WHERE is my man. Where did he go.

-> Pookie please come back. Now. It’s not a suggestion.

->KEITH BACKSTORY I PREDICTED THEY WERE GONNA SHOW US YAY I LOVE BEING RIGHT

-> he’s galra! Soooo much whump opportunity

-> the whole “Allura doesn’t hate you she’s just a little upset to find out ur part of the race that killed off her entire peoples and family and okay maybe she does hate you” scene with keith and hunk is really giving that scene in atla: the southern raiders where zuko thinks katara hates him and sokka reassures him (badly) while he was just trying to get laid w suki.

->^ that’s gay

-> the aliens they met are going to be very important, aren’t they?

->^ oohhh so this is where the “langst” stuff comes from? he’s just kinda insecure i think, but it can’t possibly just be this episode that has that tag so high, unless flanderization is just really popular with you guys, but already suspect that unfortunately

->^Allura high key ate with this

->the “Blade of Marmora” people are definitely gonna be important later

-> the mall episode was soooo fun! fav s2 episode for sure!

->^gay. It’s literally giving “two bros chillin in a hot tub. five feet apart cus they’re not gay”

-> I know of 2 ships now. klance and allurance. I only see the former though, the latter seems more like a running gag/unrequited crush thing (for now i suppose)

-> Coran is an icon. I love that whimsical man. he’s beekeeping age per say.

-> I need pidge to find her brother and father man I feel so bad for her PLEASE DOBT TELL ME THEYRE DEAD ILL LITERALLY DIE.

-> pidge is sooooo cool i love her so much she’s literally the pookiest of the pookies

-> Who tf is gonna be the black paladin now. Keith sure as hell isn’t ready for that. maybe Allura?? Cus yk she kinda already leads them a little bit

These are thoughts I had compiled over a while now. I am on S5E3 as of now (07/03/24) but I wanted to document my thoughts either way. I will post on the tag “laura’s first vld”

[maxarchive]

2023 L'Équipe Interview, "I'm only here to win"

For the Dutchman, on course to win his third world title in a row this weekend, success does not quell his appetite for victories. If anything, the Red Bull driver appears even more determined to not leave anything to others.

He's funny. No, that's the wrong word, because we don't joke with Max Verstappen. At least when you're not one of his close friends, because with his people, he's apparently funny. So it's interesting, not to say edifying, to recall the first interview he gave to L’Équipe. On his debut with Red Bull in 2016, the Dutchman chatted in this same Singapore paddock, just a few months after his first GP success (Spain). The kid was a young wildcat who attacked, bit, and didn't let go. It was a very constructive experience.

Nine years later, he's on the verge of becoming a triple world champion this weekend in Qatar. His arrogance has been transformed into an icy confidence, and his fiery temperament has mellowed with victory and years of taking criticism. Today, Verstappen conducts his interviews like he drives his Formula 1 car. Without trembling or worrying about his opponent. He lives his life and answers straightforwardly, without giving himself away. He's become unflappable behind the wheel, and just as unflappable when it comes to giving of himself. He does the job to perfection, faultlessly and without spark. He responds quickly and efficiently. It's easy to see how the 18 year old has become an - almost - three time world champion, who knows how to thank his team, and rightly so; who knows how essential consistency is; but above all, who knows how to rely solely on himself to win, the only thing that counts for him. In this, he really hasn't changed.

Q. How are you enjoying the season? Are you as bored as we are? Not at all (he smiles). As far as I'm concerned it's quite the opposite. I'm always excited to come to the track and I'm always 100% motivated. I feel like this is the best thing that could've happened to me. I'm a driver at heart and to be able to win at the wheel of an incredible car is a real opportunity.

Q. But what excites you? The hunt for records or the pleasure of winning? I'm only here to win. Finishing in the top five, you know, that doesn't interest me. So I stay motivated because I know I can win and I love winning. The more wins I can get, the more motivation I'll have.

Q. Do you enjoy all your successes, or do you prefer some of them? For example, do you enjoy starting at the front and taking the lead, or battling and climbing back up the field, as you did at Zandvoort? Well, I like to get out in front and focus on a race that I want to be as clean as possible. At times like these, it's the moment when I can concentrate on my lap times, look after my lap times and preserve my tyres. In short, to do the best I can. But sometimes, if you run into problems or an unforeseen event sets you back, moving up in the rankings and fighting your way back into the lead is very enjoyable too. Except that, in those moments, there's inevitably more risk involved, and when you're fighting for a Championship, that kind of risk spoils the fun a bit.

Q. At Monza, we sensed that you were greedy, following Carlos Sainz and watching out for a fault in his tyres or his driving… They were better in qualifying, but we've got a great car for the race, so I just wanted to know what theirs was like, and when I saw that it was ruining their tires, then I knew.

Q. And then, when you're easily leading a race, what do you think about? About the race, or about dinner or anything else? No, definitely not. I never think about anything other than the race when I'm driving. As I told you, I stay very focused on my lap times, on my car; I want to do the best job I can.

Q. In the past, we'd hear you complaining at your engineer when he asked you to preserve your tyres. Today, you tell us that you're careful. Is that maturity? It's just that it depends on the circumstances. When I was complaining about this way of managing the tyres, it's because I wanted to attack. I had a car to win races, not a championship. So if I saw the window open, I wanted to go for it. And I was aggressive.

Q. Speaking of qualifying, it's an area where you weren't the best when you started out, and you seem to have taken a long time to get good at it. Now, it's one of your strengths. Is this an area you've worked particularly hard on? I've always enjoyed it, but in Formula 1 it's even more complicated than in the lower disciplines. There are a huge number of parameters to manage, in addition to your driving, which has to be on the limit. When I arrived in F1, I only had one year in a single-seater, and that's not much compared with the others. So it may have taken me longer because of that, but now I've got the hang of it. And the team has given me a car that can do it. Because a driver alone can't win pole.

Q. Since the summer, we've been hearing you say that you don't see yourself, like Fernando Alonso or Lewis Hamilton, in F1 until you're 40. Are you saying this because you're afraid of boredom or because you don't have enough rivals? First of all, there are the victories. Doing F1 if I don't win anymore… (he sighs). I could get motivated again by coming back to the front and winning again. That would be motivating. Then there's the quality of life. You can't measure the schedule of an F1 driver. And it doesn't get any better as the years go by. So that's what tells me I'll stop one day.

Q. Do you think that with a real opponent next year, you'll have more fun or, as you keep saying, only victory is beautiful? Obviously, for the team, the challenge is always greater when you have an opponent. If that were the case, it would be like 2021, when every weekend we were very close and didn't know who would win in the end. There, to finish as winners, you had to be very close to perfection.

Q. Do you miss that fight? You know, I loved that season. Just as I loved 2022. If things repeat themselves, that’s the trouble!

Q. So how do you see 2024? Or rather, how do you hope to see it? I don't really care. I mean, I'm ready for anything!

Q. Even to bore us like Michael Schumacher or Hamilton did by dominating everything? You know that some people appreciate domination. If you look at other sports, you'll see that domination can be enjoyable. For me, it's fun to watch and follow because the team or the athlete shows the world that he or she is doing a better job than the the others.

Q. So you liked Hamilton's domination? This is different. I don't like being beaten and neither does my team. But you have to appreciate what he did, his consistency and the work he put in.

Q. Was it important to beat Hamilton on the track like Alonso wanted to do with Schumacher? I'm repeating myself, but the most important thing for me is to win. I want to win and win again. It's not a question of people, and I think it would be a mistake to focus on a driver and make it personal. I don't want to beat one driver, I want to beat them all.

Q. Is consistency what you were lacking? Just putting one thing out seems difficult to do. I've grown as a driver by improving everywhere, but it's true that a great champion is measured over a whole season. You never see them with an off day, and that's what I want to achieve. Of course, you can't be perfect, but what I want is to continue to perform consistently.

Q. And how do you go about achieving this? Experience is essential. And of course, the car. Just as much. That helps a lot.

Q. Since the departure of Daniel Ricciardo (at the end of 2018), none of your team-mates has been able to rise to your level. Do you have an explanation for this? First of all, I think I've improved, that I've become a better driver in all areas. After that, it's hard to find an explanation and, you know, I'm pretty focused on myself. I'm not very interested in what's going on elsewhere or in the garage next door. I just want to go faster.

Q. Sometimes looking at your teammate's telemetry can help… It can happen, but not often. But my work is focused on what I do.

Q. Are you interested in taking part in the search for the next Red Bull driver? Like, for example, having your pal Lando Norris with you?These are just rumors. And then, we have fun talking about it. Like a game. Lando is my friend but it's not my decision to make.

Q. And would you like to contribute to this decision? No (instantly). I wouldn't, even if I could.

Q. For your third title, you could be crowned in the sprint race in Qatar, which would be a first… (He interrupts.) Is it? I hadn't thought of that. Well, there won't be much to celebrate because there's a race on Sunday. And I'm still concentrating on that. Winning a GP is what counts for me. But I don't like to think ahead.

Q. Last question: you're about to join the exclusive club of three-time world champions (Brabham, Stewart, Lauda, Piquet, Senna). Which one do you think is closest to you? I have no idea. I'm Max Verstappen and I'm very happy to be.

Translated via DeepL and Google Translator

[coraniaid]

Who do you think tended to be consistently the strongest and weakest writers on the Buffy staff? [With the obvious caveat that TV writing is collaborative of course.]

Looking only at writers who are credited with at least five episodes so that we've got a decent sized sample of their writing (and, as you say, pretending for the sake of the argument that each episode was written entirely by the writer named in its credits), our long list is:

Dean Batali and Rob Des Hotel co-wrote five episodes together, starting with Season 1's Never Kill A Boy On The First Date and ending with Season 2's Killed By Death

Jane Espenson wrote twenty-three episodes, starting with Season 3's Band Candy and ending with Season 7's End Of Days (co-written with Doug Petrie)

David Fury wrote seventeen episodes, starting with Season 2's Go Fish (co-written with Elin Hampton) and ending with Season 7's Lies My Parents Told Me (co-written with Drew Goddard)

Drew Goddard wrote or co-wrote five episodes, all in Season 7, starting with Selfless and ending with Dirty Girls.

Drew Z. Greenberg wrote six episodes, starting with Season 6's Smashed and ending with Season 7's Empty Places

David Greenwalt wrote eight episodes, starting with Season 1's Teacher's Pet and ending with Season 3's Homecoming

Rebecca Rand Kirshner wrote eight episodes, starting with Season 5's Out Of My Mind and ending with Season 7's Touched

Steven S. Knight wrote five episodes, starting with Season 5's Blood Ties and ending with Season 6's Seeing Red

Marti Noxon wrote twenty-three episodes, starting with Season 2's What's My Line? (Part 1) (co-written with Howard Gordon) and ending with Season 7's Bring On The Night (co-written with Doug Petrie)

Doug Petrie wrote seventeen episodes, starting with Season 3's Revelations and ending with Season 7's End Of Days (co-written with Jane Espenson)

Joss Whedon wrote twenty-seven episodes, starting with Season 1's Welcome to the Hellmouth and ending with Season 7's Chosen

Unfortunately for people who like to claim that being a good person and being a good artist are correlated, I think it's pretty much indisputable that Joss Whedon was consistently the best Buffy writer. As well as every season opener and season finale except for Season 5's Buffy vs Dracula and both Season 6's Bargaining and Grave, Whedon-written episodes include Lie To Me, Innocence, Doppelgangland, Hush, Who Are You?, Family, The Body and Once More With Feeling. You could easily make a plausible top ten of Buffy episodes without picking episodes written by anybody else.

It's true that Whedon has a very particular style, that his characters all tend to default to speaking in a certain way and that he is a lot better at mood and metaphor than tight, multi-layed plotting. I'm not sure this is an approach that necessarily works well outside of the show (as well as easy targets like Avengers 2 or Whedon's bizarre Wonder Woman script or whatever was going on in the post-Chosen comics, I should admit I don't think fan-favorite Firefly is very good either), and by all accounts he's a pretty terrible human being as well, but as a writer on Buffy I think his work is consistently very good. The worst Whedon-written episodes are probably the opening two parter, Welcome to the Hellmouth/The Harvest, Season 1's Nightmares and Season 3's Amends, and I think it's a stretch to call any of them bad episodes.

Of the other good Buffy writers ... well, I wouldn't be much of a Faith fan if I didn't mention Doug Petrie (whose best episodes include Revelations, This Year's Girl, No Place Like Home and Fool For Love), but I think his Season 6 and Season 7 episodes are quite a bit weaker. I'm not a huge fan of Season 4's The Initiative either.

Marti Noxon had as big an influence as anyone on the show other than Whedon, but 'consistent' is not the word I'd use to describe her. Her best epsiodes (I Only Have Eyes For You, Consequences, The Prom, Forever, Bargaining) are fantastic, her worst ... well, she wrote the worst two episodes of Season 3 (Dead Man's Party and Beauty and the Beasts), she wrote Buffy vs Dracula (which I know some people love but I can't stand at all) and she wrote (or cowrote) Bewitched, Bothered & Bewildered and Doomed and Into the Woods (all three of which, I think, would be in the running for a list of the show's worst ten episodes).

I think Petrie and Noxon are probably the show's best two writers after Whedon. I know a lot of people really rate Jane Espenson's work, and I do like a lot of her episodes (Earshot and Band Candy are both very good), but she also wrote some real stinkers (Pangs, A New Man and ... again, Doomed). She doesn't quite have any real knockout episodes, for my money.

Worst writer is a more hotly contested category.

David Fury wrote (or co-wrote) Lies My Parents Told Me and Go Fish (and, not to keep banging on about it, Doomed) which is a pretty good claim to the title of "worst writer", but he also wrote Helpless, Choices, Fear Itself and Real Me and at least co-wrote Bargaining. So I don't think, hand on heart, that he can possibly be the worst Buffy writer. Certainly not consistently so.

David Greenwalt wrote (or co-wrote, with Whedon) School Hard and Ted and Faith, Hope & Trick and Homecoming, all very good episodes. But he also wrote Teacher's Pet, which .... uh.

Probably the consistently weakest writers are the ones who didn't really write anything dreadful but also never wrote anything particular amazing.

Dean Batali and Rob des Hotel's worst episode is the forgetable Killed By Death, and I'm not sure I could tell you what their best episode is. Never Kill A Boy On The First Date, maybe? I think I like that one more than most people do.

From the other end of the show's run, there's Drew Z Greenberg, whose worst episode is probably a tie between Him and Empty Places and whose best episode is ... uh. Entropy, maybe? And David Goddard, who only wrote for the show's worst season and who managed to cowrite Lies My Parents Told Me, easily the show's worst ever episode (and I am not as much of a fan of Selfless as many people, although I'd agree it's certainly his best work).

It's no secret that Season 7 is my least favorite season, and while I don't think Season 1 is objectively great, it -- and the early parts of Season 2 -- have a certain nostalgic charm I don't really get from the rest of the show. So I guess I'd pick one of the Drews, either Greenberg or Goddard, if I had to pick a single worst writer. Or fail to pick one, as it happens, because I can't pick between them.

Though I think the absolute best sign that an episode is likely to be a stinker is if it's credited to more than one writer, especially writers who don't normally write as a team. There are a handful of exceptions -- Conversations With Dead People comes to mind -- but on the hand you've got 'classics' like The Pack and Go Fish and Flooded and Life Serial and Sleeper and Bring On The Night and Lies My Parents Told Me and End Of Days. That's a pretty consistent list of dubious to terrible episodes right there.

Oh, and don't forget Doomed, the only episode of the show officially credited to three different writers. Have I mentioned that I don't like Doomed? Because I really don't like Doomed.

[ereardon]

As It Was [Hangman x Reader]

Summary: When Jake Seresin calls to tell you he’s accepted a permanent position at Top Gun, you’re elated to finally be living in the same city as your best friend. But everything changes when Jake tells you his news — he has a new girlfriend, and he’s serious about her. And while you want to like her, for Jake’s sake, something about her feels wrong. Jake's arrival in San Diego also puts you in the direct path of Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw, who has set his sights on you despite being Jake’s sworn enemy. Every move Rooster makes, Jake intercepts. What game are these two playing, and why is Jake more concerned about you moving on with Rooster than he is about his own relationship? 

Warnings: Cursing, alcohol, no use of y/n

Pairing: Jake “Hangman” Seresin x Reader 

Series masterlist here

It had been five months since you had last seen Jake, the longest you’d ever been apart since the day you had met in your freshman year. 

And then, out of the blue, he called. He was moving to San Diego, permanently, for a new post at Top Gun. You had screamed so loudly into the phone he complained about a burst eardrum. 

That had been four days ago. 

You waited on the steps of your house, the sky quickly turning a deep eggplant shade. An odd sense of nervousness ran across your stomach. It happened every time you saw Jake after a season apart. He was as familiar to you as your left foot, but every time you saw him for the first time after a long time he took your breath away. 

Just as you were about to call him, scold him for being so damn late, you saw headlights turn into the end of the driveway, his Jeep’s familiar front end zipping into a spot next to your C-Class. 

You stood up, smoothing your fingers over your high-waisted jeans, just as Jake flopped out of the driver’s door, slamming it shut and running around the front of the truck. 

“Bubs!” he yelled and you laughed, launching yourself into his arms. He quickly grabbed you and whipped you in a circle and you clung to him tightly, even when he set you back down. You pulled back a fraction to look at him. He looked older, more handsome if that was possible. Ridiculously white grin smiling back at you, perfectly coiffed hair, charm dripping out of every pore. 

“Hey Jake,” you said quietly and he squeezed his fingers into your back before taking a step back, grabbing your hands and looking you up and down. 

“California has been good to you,” he said appreciatively and you blushed. 

“Shut up,” you said, swatting at him and he laughed. You grabbed your purse from the ground and swung it over your arm. “Alright, time to get drunk.” 

He tipped his head as if he were wearing a hat. “My pleasure, darlin’.” 

Walking into the bar, you watched heads turn. But they weren’t looking at you. Everyone had their eye on Jake. He grabbed your hand and pulled you through the throng to the back of the bar near the pool table, where a group wearing khaki uniforms were gathered. 

A beautiful brunette in uniform smirked at him, leaning up against the table. 

“Phoenix,” he said, nodding. “Who are your friends?” 

“Fellas, this here is Bagman,” she said. 

“Hangman,” he corrected easily, smile gleaming. “And this is Abby.” You smiled at the group, all men except for Phoenix. 

Jake dropped your hand and leaned into your ear. “Want a beer?”

You looked up at him. “I got it. You stay here. The usual?” He nodded and you ventured off toward the bar. 

“Hi,” you said once the bartender turned to you. “Can I get two Coronas please?” 

She nodded and slid the open beers to you, and you dropped your Amex on the bar to hold the tab open. Jake had settled onto a stool, in conversation with a few other aviators, and you nudged his shoulder, holding out the beer. He took it and pulled you into the space between his legs, one of his hands finding your waist as you sipped on the beer. 

“So Abby, did you move here with Hangman?” Phoenix asked, turning to you. 

You shook your head. “No, I’ve been out here for about two years now.”

Jake’s grip on your waist tightened. “Abs is an assistant professor at UCSD.” 

Phoenix’s eyebrows raised and you took a sip of beer. “What discipline?”

“Chem,” you said. “I was in drug development for a minute, before I switched over.” 

She squinted. “So how did you two meet? And why have we never heard about Hangman’s insanely smart girlfriend before?”

You turned back to look at Jake who simply grinned. “We’ve known each other since college. But I’m not Jake’s girlfriend.” 

Behind her, another aviator in glasses scrunched his nose in confusion. “You’re not?” he asked, eyeing Jake’s grip on you and your casual stance between his legs. 

You shook your head. “Nope, I can promise you that.” 

“Bubs, I’m offended,” he said softly and you rolled your eyes at him, pushing his thigh, and he laughed quietly. His fingers fell from your waist. 

“Well that explains it,” Phoenix said, smiling. “You’re way too good for him, it wouldn’t have made sense.” 

You laughed, loudly. “Oh, I like you.” 

Behind you, Jake scoffed. “God, Phoenix, hang me out to dry, why don’t you?” 

“That’s your specialty, Bagman,” she said breezily. 

The rest of the night slipped by. You were four beers deep by the time Jake shot you a look that you knew well. Are you OK? He was asking, one eyebrow raised. You nodded back and he eyed you suspiciously for a moment, gauging for himself if your response was true, before continuing his conversation. 

Phoenix and Bob, the bespeckled aviator, peppered you with questions about your job and you fell into easy conversation. 

It wasn’t until the door swung open and a man with a mustache and ridiculous Hawaiian shirt strutted in that you even bothered to look at your watch and notice it was edging in on one in the morning. 

“Bradshaw, is that you?” Phoenix called loudly, stepping forward and wrapping mustache guy in a hug. He pulled back and grinned at her. 

“Hey Trace.” His voice was deep, and friendly. 

Bob reached out a hand and the other man took it, pumping it enthusiastically.

“Bob, what’s up man?” 

“Not much, Rooster,” Bob responded and you paused near the pool table, your fingers wrapped around the wood edge, as Rooster’s gaze slid across to you. 

He smiled underneath the full mustache, eyes trailing from the top of your head across your chest in your tight bodysuit, over your denim-clad legs and then back up to your eyes. 

“Who’s your friend?” he asked and you opened your mouth to respond when you felt an arm snake around your waist. 

“This is Abigail.” Jake’s fingers pressed into your side and you resisted the urge to shove him away. Since when did he refer to you by your full name? 

“Abigail,” Rooster repeated. 

“You can call me Abby,” you said, stepping forward out of Jake’s grip, holding out a hand. He smiled and shook it, not nearly as forcefully as he had with Bob, and you felt his warm calloused hand completely engulf yours. It felt like he was touching every nerve ending on your body all at once. 

“Rooster,” Jake said and you sensed a frigid air between them. 

“Hangman,” he bit back, solidifying your assumption that there was bad blood between the two. 

You looked around, Phoenix and Bob also stood in silence, the tension between Jake and Rooster so thick it could get cut into squares and served at a potluck. The other aviators in their khaki uniforms seemed oblivious, laughing over the pool game. 

Behind you, you could feel the agitation radiating off of Jake, even through the silence. That was the thing about knowing someone so well and for so long. You started to sense their actions before they even happened. You could tell what Jake was thinking by the way he gripped his beer bottle, or the angle of his jaw as he clenched his teeth.  

Like all the times before, you stepped in to diffuse the situation. 

“Jake?” you said, tugging on his arm and pulling his gaze away from Rooster. “Will you walk on the beach with me?” 

He gave Rooster one last long look. “Sure, darlin’,” he said, nodding, before sliding his hand into yours and brushing past the team. You watched his shoulder dig into Rooster’s as he passed, and you gave a sympathetic smile as Jake dragged you outside. 

You shrugged your hand out of Jake’s as the door swung open, the salty air hitting your face a welcome refresh from the humid air inside the bar. 

“What’s your deal with him?” you said, sliding off your shoes and tossing them, sinking your feet into the sand and turning back to look at Jake who was standing near the door, hands crossed over his broad chest. “Jake?”

He turned to you and you gave him a tired wave, ushering him over. He sighed and followed you out onto the sand, kicking off his loafers in the process. “Don’t know what you’re talking about.” 

“Like hell you don’t,” you said, walking a few steps down toward the water before plopping down onto the sand. “Haven’t seen you have so much tension with someone since Chuck Preston dissed you at that SigEp party sophomore year.” 

Jake snorted and you looked over at him. His jaw was tense, but even under the moonlight he looked like your Jake. The same guy who would come pick you up at three in the morning from the library because he refused to let you walk home alone in the dark even though your room was only five minutes away on foot. Jake who had punched your freshman year boyfriend after you found out he was cheating on you with the dorm’s RA. Jake who had taken off work and traveled all the way to California to sit in on the first university lecture you ever gave even though he knew about as much about covalent bonds as you knew about twin turbo engines. 

“Tell me,” you said, nudging him with your shoulder. 

He let out a long sigh. “We just don’t get along, that’s all.”

“You two looked like you were about six seconds from either landing punches in each other’s noses, or making out.” 

“Shut up.” 

You looked over and laughed, and Jake followed suit. 

“Thanks for coming tonight,” he said. “I missed you.” 

“Well you’re done missing me. You’re here for good, although I can barely believe it. Do you realize it’s been an entire decade since we graduated college? It’s been ten years since we lived in the same place. How crazy is that?” 

He crossed his arms on his bent knees and tilted his head toward you. His green eyes scanned your face. “That’s wild, Bubs. Feels like yesterday you were the beautiful sorority pledge we were told not to touch with a thirty-nine and a half foot pole.” 

You smirked. “Yeah, and just yesterday you were the pompous asshole freshman they all warned us about during chapter meeting. I think there’s still I hate Jake Seresin scratched into the ACO downstairs bathroom wall.” 

Jake chuckled and leaned back on his forearms. “You look better now than you did back then, you know that?” 

You sucked in a gasp, mocking offense. “Excuse me? You’re saying I was ugly?” 

“No!” He corrected quickly before seeing the smirk painted across your face. “Oh you little shit,” he muttered as you laughed. Jake reached out and grabbed your shoulders, rolling over until you were pressed with your back against the sand, Jake hovering over you with a smile spread wide over his tanned face. “You were pretty back then. Of course you were. But you’re beautiful now.” 

You stared into his green eyes, momentarily lost, before the slam of a door jolted you both back to reality. Jake rolled off of you, and pushed himself to standing. He reached out a hand, pulling you up, and you brushed the sand off of your legs and back. 

“Hangman!” Looking up, you saw Phoenix at the door, hands cupped around her mouth like a megaphone. “Last call!” 

Jake turned to you. “One more for the road?” 

“You’re on.” 

Inside, Jake made a beeline for the bar and you stepped in line for the bathroom. As you exited, you almost ran into a figure that was posted right near the doorway. 

“Oops, sorry!” you said, hands catching the man’s shirt and before you realized it, he turned around. It was Rooster. 

He flashed you a pearly smile. “Abigail, right?”

“Just Abby is good,” you said, dropping your hands. He was muscular beneath the Hawaiian shirt and your fingers tingled from where you had brushed against his hard abdomen. 

Rooster leaned against his arm that was propped up on the wall, essentially trapping you in the small hallway outside of the bathroom. The rest of the bar was just beyond him. It was quieter in the hallway, darker. He dropped his tone to match the setting. “So, Abby, what’s your story?” 

You cocked your head. “Story? Are we talking David Foster Wallace length, or Reader’s Digest?” 

He chuckled. “Somewhere in between, if you have the time. Give me the Cormac McCarthy version.” 

“McCarthy. Good, but odd, choice there,” you murmured and he leaned in to hear you. It must have been the beers, they were getting to you, but you reached out and fondled his open Hawaiian shirt, rubbing your thumb and pointer finger around one of the buttonholes. Rooster looked down, watching your slender fingers cross the fabric. 

“Don’t get me wrong,” he said quietly, his voice husky. “I’m not objecting. I just don’t want Hangman over there to see me monopolizing his girl all night and have one more reason to hate me.” 

There was a twinkle in his eye, and it surprised you how much that sent sparks shooting down your spine. “I’m not his girl,” you said. “We’re just friends, me and Jake. Always have been.” 

Rooster grinned and in one quick motion, he slid over you so you had your back pressed up against the wall and he had both arms resting on either side of your head, his face bent low toward yours. He was tall, much taller than you and even taller than Jake, and you had to crane your neck to look up at him. “Is that so?” His voice dripped with heat.

You swallowed. He smelled like tropical fruit and pine trees and it should have made you sick, but instead it made your pelvis ache. All you could do was nod stupidly and Rooster chuckled again before pushing himself away. 

“I should let you get back,” he said softly. “See you around, Abigail.” 

He watched you walk away, muscular arms crossed over his chest, and you almost crashed into a bartender holding a tray of empty beer glasses as you shot him one last smile over your shoulder, disappearing around the corner. 

He was bad news, in the best kind of way. 

Jake held out a beer as you approached him and you waved it off, causing him to frown. “Bubs, never seen you turn down a free drink.”

“I just think I’m good for the night,” you said, settling on the stool next to him. 

“Do you want to head out?” he asked and you nodded. “OK, darlin’, let’s go.” 

You waved goodbye to Phoenix and Bob who smiled back, and Jake clapped a few guys on the shoulder before pulling out a cash tip and throwing it on the bar. You closed out your tab, sliding the receipt back to the bartender and catching Rooster’s eyes over the bar as you did so. His dark brown eyes searched your face mischievously, and you blushed, turning away. Jake pressed his hand to your lower back, guiding you out of the bar. 

The car ride was short, and Jake cut the engine in the driveway, turning to you. You leaned your head back against the headrest and gave him a sleepy grin. “What’s your schedule like? I teach Mondays through Thursdays and have office hours on Fridays.” 

He reached over and grabbed your hand, turning it over in his. Jake was touchy, always had been. It had been a point of contention with several of your exes, but that never stopped Jake. Or you, for that matter. “I won’t know until I go in on Monday,” he said. “But what are you doing tomorrow? Technically today, I guess,” he said, looking at the clock on the dash that read two in the morning. 

“Free as a bird.” 

“Dinner at my place? Around seven? I’ll text you the address.” 

You nodded and grabbed the door handle. Jake let your hand slip from his. You leaned against the open door. 

“I have a surprise for you,” he said softly and you turned around. He looked happy. But somewhere, underneath it all, there was a timidness. A hesitation. There were very few times in your life that you had seen Jake hold things back from you. It felt like a violation. 

“Oh yeah?” you sked, sliding out of the seat onto the ground. 

“Mmhm.” 

"Tell me!"

“Tomorrow.”

“Ugh, please,” you pouted and he let out a low chuckle. 

“Be patient, sweetheart.”

“Will I like it?” 

“I hope so,” Jake said. 

You smiled and slammed the door, the open window rattling. “Night, Jake. See you tomorrow.” 

“Goodnight, Bubs. Sleep well.” 

You watched as he turned around carefully in the driveway, shooting you one last glance out the rearview mirror as he barreled down toward the street. 

Watching him drive off, something in your stomach turned. An ache. A premonition. 

A sense of dread. 

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