#gotta make henry proud

[one-hell-of-otaku-is-here]

Studying for my finals and trying to summon my inner Henry Winter

[crazyunsexycool]

My little love

Chapter 37

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x enhanced!Reader

word count: 3.5K

Warnings: fluff, scare prank, talks about a wedding, nightmares, briefly implied smut, little bit of angst at the end I guess,

A/N: Alright my lovelies were we are with another chapter of our favorite family. We are getting closer to the slight end of the series there are about 4-5 chapters left. Like I said before I still have more things planned but it will mostly likely be fluff fun check ins and maybe Bucky and Sugar's point of view for Steve and Honey's story. So lots still to come but my focus will soon be on A love as sweet as Honey

Series Masterlist

“Daddy, you catch me?” 

“Of course I will, doll.” Bucky smiled up at Lottie. 

“You stay wight the-uh?”  

“I’ll stay right here. All you gotta do is jump.” 

“Kay.” Lottie says as she shimmies backwards. 

Bucky sees her peering back down at him and can’t help but chuckle. Her furrowed brows and concerned blue eyes peek over the ledge. She crouches down and wraps her arms around her knees. 

“You don’t have to do it, doll, it's ok.” 

“No, I do it. Am big girl.” 

“Ok. How about if I count and then you jump?” Bucky suggests. 

“Kay.” 

“1…” Bucky says and he watches as Lottie stands up straight. “2…” her little toes and fingers wiggle around in anticipation. “3…” she giggles nervously. “Jump!” 

Lottie jumps when she’s told to and she splashes into the water. Bucky’s right there to catch her. She’s all giggles as Bucky wipes away the water from her face. It was Lottie’s first time jumping off of a diving board but she did it. 

“You did it, doll. I’m so proud of you. Do you want to do it again?” 

“Yeah.” Lottie nods and Bucky swims to the edge of the pool with her.

With how hectic your lives have been lately you and Bucky had decided to have a pool day with the kids. You wanted to do something fun with them before you continued your wedding planning. The closer the wedding got the less time you would have to do fun things like this. 

Bucky got to the pool before you did since you had to work at the medbay in the morning. You walked into the pool area an hour after Bucky got there. In the pool you first saw Charlotte in her red and gold bathing suit, mini arc reactor painted on the front, swimming. She didn’t have on her life vest or anything else that could help her afloat, she was going it all on her own. The way her legs and arms moved she looked like a little frog. Bucky was right beside her making sure she was ok as she learned to swim. 

“Wook it, mama.” Lottie yelled. “Am swimming wike a big girl.” 

“When did you get so big?” 

You could see her kicking her feet and moving her arms really fast as she treaded water. Her little head bobbed up and down as she looked at you with a smile, some strands of her hair sticking to her face. You got closer to the edge of the pool to talk for a moment. 

“On my biwthday.” She starts to slowly swim in a circle around her dad.

You and Bucky laugh at her very matter of fact answer. 

“Your swimsuit is in that green bag.” Bucky points to a chair. 

“Thanks, babe.” You turn to grab your things before looking back at the pool. “Where’s Henry?” 

“AAAHHH!” Henry yells as he turns himself visible again. He leaped over the edge of the pool and grabbed your leg. 

The scream you let out echoed through the large room. Henry was laughing so hard he was turning red. Half of his body was still in the water.  Bucky and Lottie had joined in on the laughter but you had a hand over your heart. It was definitely unexpected. 

“Henry Grant Barnes. Just wait until I get out here, you’re going to pay for that.” You said playfully before running to get changed. 

**** 

You changed as quickly as you could and thought about how to get Henry back. At the door of the changing room you peek out to see where he was. You saw that Sam and Nat had joined. As quickly and quietly as possible you open the door and slip out. 

Lottie was currently being balanced on Bucky’s hand. She had her arms stretched over her head in a circle and one leg kicked back, like a ballerina would. Sam was both cheering her on and making sure he could catch her if she fell. Henry had his back to you. He was hanging on the edge of the pool while talking to Nat and sharing grapes. You tiptoed to the edge of the pool and when Bucky brought Lottie down with a splash you jumped in and immediately submerged yourself. In a few quick strokes you were across the pool and grabbed Henry by his midsection and lifted him out of the water. Now it was his turn to scream.

“Gotcha.” You said as you pulled his back towards your chest. 

“Mama!” Henry started laughing so hard he could barely breathe. Soon everyone else was also laughing. His head was resting against your shoulder while he calmed down. You turned your head to give him a few kisses on the cheek.

“Told you you’d pay for that.” 

Henry giggled again as you let him go and he took his place by Nat again. 

“I’m watching you mister.” You narrow your eyes in his direction before swimming away. 

For the rest of the afternoon you lounged in the pool and played games with the kids. Wanda and Vision joined soon enough. Finally Steve showed up and was pushed into the pool by an invisible Henry. 

After the day in the pool, dinner and bedtime for the kids, you and Bucky were laying in bed cuddling. You yawn and your eyelids get heavier with how Bucky is rubbing his hand up and down your back. 

“Are you gonna tell me where we are going for our honeymoon?” You ask for the hundredth time. 

Bucky had told you he’d take care of the song for the first dance and the honeymoon since you were already taking most of the wedding planning. He had decided to keep his plans a secret.

“Nope.” 

“But how am I supposed to know what to pack?” You were so excited for this trip you just wanted to try and get any information any way possible.

“Nice try, Sugar but I already have that figured out.” Bucky chuckles as you groan. “Just let me surprise you.” 

“Fine, but it’s a trip you’ll enjoy too, right?” 

“Sugar, you know that I could go to the most boring place in the world with you and I’ll enjoy it. But yes I’m choosing something fun for both of us.” 

“Good.” You say and then break the silence again by asking, “But what is it?” 

Bucky laughed at your insistence. “You’re not getting a word out of me.” 

You pull back and narrow your eyes at him. Bucky gives you a smug grin and raises his eyebrows. He didn’t expect you to straddle him and take both his hands in yours and pinning them above his head. 

“I bet I could get a lot out of you.” You said before leaning in and pressing your lips to his. 

Bucky smirks up at you. “I’ll give you everything I got, Sugar.” 

Bucky walked into your shared home mid afternoon. He was done with his briefing and he knew there were some things that needed to be talked about concerning the wedding and kids. You had taken most of the responsibility even though he offered many times to take some things off your plate. From the wedding to getting the kids into a normal routine, you wanted to handle it all. So it was no surprise that you were more exhausted than usual. Bucky found you napping on the couch with papers and folders sitting on the coffee table. Alpine was curled up on top of your chest, keeping you company. 

Just as Bucky started to smile at the sight, you flinched. Alpine shot up and moved away quickly, annoyed she’d been awakened. Bucky watched for a second as your face contorted with fear and pain. A whimper escapes your lips followed by a small ‘no, please.’. 

“Hey Sugar, it’s ok, it's just a dream.” Bucky whispers. His hands trail up and down your arms. “C’mon you gotta wake up.” 

And you do, with a start. You almost head butt Bucky in the face. He holds you at arms length for a moment until your eyes aren’t glazed over. Your lower lip trembles and he finally pulls you into his chest.

“It was just a dream. You’re safe. They can’t hurt you anymore.” Bucky reassures you gently. “Do you want to talk about it?” 

You shake your head and press yourself deeper into his chest. After a moment of calming yourself down you pull away.

“We have a wedding to finish planning.” 

“Are you sure?” Bucky asks. His concern was evident on his face. 

“I’m sure. I’d rather focus on one of the happiest days of our lives.” You smile. 

Bucky nods, letting the subject drop and following you to the dining room to lay out everything you have to go over. You first go over the final guest list making sure you didn’t forget anyone important. Then it was on to seating arrangements at the reception. You were grateful that Bucky was giving so much input and opinions. It was his wedding too after all. He’d been the one to suggest the sweetheart table should include the kids. You smiled warmly at him. 

Once the wedding topics were done, it was on to the kids. Mostly what you wanted to do about school. Tony had offered to get private tutors for them but it was the socializing aspect that worried you. 

“Well the results for the tests Tony and Bruce have done came in. They say that Henry and Lottie could skip a couple of grades.” You say while reading the IQ results from the tablet you had. 

“But do we really want to set them up for that? It could be hard on them being so much younger than the other kids.” Bucky points out. 

“How about if we keep them with their regular age group and appropriate grade and put them in some extracurriculars?” 

“That sounds good. Balance it out so they won’t be bored?” Bucky nods as he says it. 

“Daddy. You home.” Lottie makes her way to Bucky. 

“Hi doll.” He kisses the top of her head. 

“Is doing wedding stuff?” She asks as Henry sneaks his way onto Bucky’s lap, too. 

You smile as you watch each kid settle on one of his thighs as he answers her question. The kids ask a couple more questions about the wedding before Bucky mentions school. 

“I stay with mama.” Lottie says.

“Me too. I don’t want to go to school.” 

“I would love for you to stay with me all the time but you have to go to school.” You say.

“But I already know a bunch of stuff.” 

“Bubs, there's a lot of things you still have to learn. That’s what school is for.” bucky adds. “Besides you would get to meet new people and make friends.” 

“And we were talking about you guys choosing something fun to do after school.”

“Like what?” Henry asks, turning more to look at you better. 

“Like playing a sport on a team or learning to play an instrument.” 

“Oh dancing? Can wearn that?” Lottie asks excitedly.

“Of course, there’s all types of dancing you can learn. Is that what you want?” You smile as you ask her.

“Yeah, I dance wike Auntie Nat.” 

“You want to be a ballerina?” 

“Mhm, and dance on my tippy toes.” Lottie sticks her foot up in the air and wiggles her toes. 

“You’ll be the prettiest ballerina, doll.” Bucky says before turning to Henry. “What about you? What do you think you’ll want to try?” 

“I don’t know, yet.”

“It’s ok my sweet boy, you can think about it and we can find something you’ll like later.” 

“Ok.” 

“Now, the real question is, who is going to help me with the cake tasting that’s in a few days?”

“Me!” Both kids yell at the same time and you can’t help but laugh. 

This is what you focus on as you fight to keep the nightmares at bay. All you wanted to think about was your family and your future. 

You woke up again with a start. Tears streaming down your face and a scream caught in your throat. Nightmares were starting to plague you more the closer you got to the day you were taken. It was always the same thing. Just as you were going to say I do, the sky turned black. There were gunshots and fire. Bucky would grab Lottie while you took Henry’s hand. As you ran away from the darkness that was crawling towards you, you pushed Henry away towards the safety Bucky provided. When he turned to reach for you, you found yourself strapped to a table with people hovering over you. A voice taunted you and told you how they were going to get Bucky and the kids this time. That you’d never have a chance to be happy or see the kids grow up or even grow old with Bucky.

Bucky would almost always be by your side and managed to calm you down but this particular night he was out on a mission. So you sat in your room in the dark, taking deep breaths until you managed to calm down. The same dark thoughts running through your mind over and over again. Knowing you won’t be able to go back to sleep again, you go into your closet and search until you find a small box that holds only one thing in it. You pull out the small thumb drive, get your laptop and sit down. You’d had this information for months and were unsure of what to do but now you knew you had to act. There was no way you could continue to live your life without making sure all of hydra was gone.

After your decision has been made you paced around your room for a bit. The truth was this scared you to death. Things could go right but they could go wrong too. But this was your mess to clean up. If you told anyone on the team, especially Bucky, someone else would handle it. This was your responsibility and you were willing to do anything to keep them safe. You had to make sure this ended.

Before getting dressed you stopped by the kid’s rooms. Although you shouldn’t be surprised to find Henry and Lottie cuddled up in his bed with Alpine curled up at the foot of the bed. You smiled as you watched over them for a few minutes. 

****

You were standing in the living room looking out through the large double doors that faced the backyard. It would only be a few minutes before your dad showed up to stay with the kids since everyone else was on a mission and they would try to stop or want to go with you if they knew. 

“Mama?” Henry’s sleepy voice startles you out of your deep thoughts. 

You turn to see Henry leading a sleepy Charlotte down the steps. 

“Sweet boy what are you doing up?” 

“Lottie had a bad dream.” He yawns. “We couldn’t find you in your room.”

“C’mere sweet Angel.” You pick Charlotte up and sit down on the couch with Henry sitting beside you. “What was your dream about?” 

“Mama was cwying. And I see bad woman. She so mean, mama.” 

“Are you going on a mission?” Henry asks as he finally takes in your clothing. 

“I am. But I’ll be back soon.” 

“I thought you said you weren’t going on any more missions.” 

“I know,” you caress his cheek. “But this is really important. I have to do it to keep all of us safe.”

“What about dad? Is he going with you?” 

You could see how anxious he was getting. 

“Baby, your dad is on a mission right now ok? But I promise everything will be alright. If he comes back before I do, don’t worry him about my mission. Can you do that for me?” 

Henry studied you, he had the same look Bucky did when he was concerned. Fortunately he nodded although he did so reluctantly. There wasn’t much more time since Eddie had just gotten to your house.  You put the kids back into bed and promise them that everything will be ok. 

“Is everything ok, kitten?” Eddie asks as he walks you to the door. 

“Everything is fine. I’m just needed for a mission.” 

“Be careful and come back to us in one piece ok?” 

“I will, dad. I love you.” You give him a quick hug.

“I love you too.” He says as he watches you go.” 

It was early morning when you landed in the empty field. You had some knowledge on flying the jet so it was a bit rocky. Thankfully there was autopilot and assisted landing. You stood at the top of the ramp and wondered if this was the right move. Deep down you know it was but it wouldn’t be easy for you. 

Checking your gear one last time you finally leave the jet. You’re looking down at a small town in a valley. From that vantage point you could see everything. It’s a small community, no more than a few hundred people. But you didn’t come here for any of them. The person you’re looking for is hiding up a mountain in a small cabin. Hiding like a coward.

Before you went there you had to make another stop. Another cabin about a mile away. So you turn away from the town and head into the forest. 

****

You stand just behind the tree line. A single cabin sitting in the middle of a small field. You watch and wait until four men head out. Once it’s clear, you move fast around the small two bedroom cabin. It’s bare, there’s no warmth to any room. As you suspected, this was just a safe house. But you were sure there was information you could use. Being careful to not move things out of place too much. 

In the small living room there was a desk pushed up against a wall just under a window. There were all kinds of files spread across the desk. Some open with pictures and detailed reports. You rifle through them and your blood runs cold. These weren’t just random reports but information about you, your dad, Luke, Sophia and Joshua. Even Molly and Olivia are included. Their schedules and pictures are in there too and they all seem recent.  

The hair on the back of your neck stands up and your eyes snap up to the window. You can just make out a silhouette right behind you. Everything happened slowly but somehow fast at the same time. You threw a kick backwards, sending your opponent crashing through the opposing wall. As soon as you turned around three more were coming at you. 

“We were told you’d be coming by. Didn’t think it’d take you this long.” One of them said as he lunged at you. 

They all had knives in their hands and it’s the first time you realize there was very limited metal in the cabin. These people had been waiting for you. Now you’d show them what you could do. Fortunately you had your metal bracers and used them to your advantage. It wasn’t difficult for you to fight them off and leave them where they fell. The only thing you did was take their dog tags off and stuff them in your pocket, then grab the documents with your family’s information. With one final look around you head up the mountain. 

**** 

This cabin was larger than the first one. It had a large porch with a porch swing. The curtains were open to allow the sunlight in but there was no one home. With a flick of your wrist you unlock the door and slip inside. This place was prepared for someone more important. Paintings on the wall were expensive originals from famed artists. Everything you’d ever need to live in a remote location was available. Nothing was out of place as you walked through the hallway and into the living room, the kitchen, then the dining room and the bedrooms in the back. 

After a thorough inspection you remove all hidden weapons and find more documents on your family. This time Bucky, Henry and Charlotte are included. You’d read something similar before, a list of experiments and procedures they had to endure. Your own file was to the side, all of them with neatly written notes on the margins. It made you uncomfortable reading what had been done to you but you grabbed everything and headed towards the living room where you laid everything out. 

Then you waited. 

**** 

The sun was high in the sky when steps on the porch finally broke the silence. A jingle of keys echo through the hallway, followed by the soft click of the door closing again and more steps. From the shadows emerges the one person you weren’t ready to face but had to. 

“Mother.” 

Ch. 38

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[joehawke]

idk why this just popped into my head, but thinking about Steve who’s actually insanely smart, he always got straight A’s in school and the whole “dumb jock” was just a stereotype that Steve got stuck under and just never tried to prove wrong. Who cared whether or not he was actually smart? So he just played along. (Besides, it was an in to flirt with the girls; to pretend like he didn’t know what he was doing.) His parents had him tutored since he was old enough to count on his fingers, and sure it was exhausting, but it was something he was good at. Math, reading, science, it all came easy to him. He liked being able to impress the people around him. When he got involved with the upside down, the one thing that didn’t crumble around him was his studies. He was determined to make his parents proud. When it was time to send out all his college applications, his parents hadn’t returned home in months and by the time he heard back from the schools the upside down was worse than it’s ever been and it just wasn’t a concern anymore. So Steve stuffed the enveloped futures away. He had completely forgot about them. Until now.

It’s been a month since Hawkins cracked open. Max and Eddie both have been discharged from the hospital, on strict rehabilitation protocols. Because Wayne still had to work despite the government hush money, Steve decided it was best for Eddie to stay with him. Besides, the house is quiet and lonely, why not put it to good use? Steve had been downstairs frying eggs on a pan when Eddie came bounding around the corner clutching a stack of opened envelopes. He looked confused.

“What’s wrong Eds? What are those?” Steve asked, and when Eddie started rifling through the envelopes Steve caught the slightest sight of his school symbols. His heart dropped. “Eddie it’s not -“

“Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Columbia -“ Eddie starts naming off as he rifles through each envelope.

“Eddie.”

“You got into them all Steve. There’s like 10 different top notch schools here that you got into. Why has no one heard about this? And why are they stuffed in a drawer?”

“Because I’m not going” Steve says simply, like it was the easiest decision to make.

“What? What the fuck do you mean you’re not going?” Eddie asks appalled. And Steve gets why, he does, but he’s also determined to stand his ground.

“Why does it matter? I’m not going” Steve pouts, crossing his arms.

“Stevie. Did your parents pay for you to get in or something? Did they use the Harrington name you hate so much? There’s gotta be a reason you won’t go besides just being a stubborn asshole” and Steve gets why he‘a asking, and he’s never been hurt by it, but part of Steve flinches at the fact that Eddie couldn’t believe that Steve got in on his own account.

“No. It doesn’t matter, can we just drop it?”

“No. No we can’t. Do you know how badly I would KILL to get into any school, let alone an IVY. This is incredible Steve.” Eddie states, padding closer into the kitchen and Steve has to hold back a laugh at his rabbit slippers.

“I can’t go” Steve says quietly, turning away from Eddie and back to the stove where the eggs are starting to burn.

“Why though? Can you tell me that much?” Eddie asks, matching Steve’s soft tone.

“Because I have to be here. I have to be here incase Vecna isn’t really gone. Incase the kids need me. Incase Robin needs me. I can’t just leave…” Steve says, turning back towards Eddie to look at him before turning back towards the burnt eggs.

“Stevie. They’ll be fine. When are you gonna put yourself first sweetheart? I need a valid reason why you’re staying and I’ll drop it, because these aren’t -“

“Because you’re here!” Steve yells, turning back towards Eddie. Steve watches as Eddie’s lips part ever so slightly as his breath hitches before he continues. “When I got accepted into those schools the people who I did that for weren’t here anymore and fucking Henry Creel apparently was more prominent than ever, and the kids needed someone to take a hit and someone to protect them and Robin was here and she was the first person to care about me and what would that say about me if I left? And eventually those stupid schools were the furthest thing from my mind and then I thought about maybe going, maybe getting away from this hell… you came along and I couldn’t. I couldn’t leave you Eddie. With the regards of sounding cheesy, you carved a spot into my heart along side those bat bites and how was I supposed to just let you go after that?” Steve’s out of breath, and tears are starting to gather at his waterline, but he doesn’t care because Eddie is looking at him like he hung the sun and the moon and the stars and he remembers why he stays. And when Eddie’s lips collide with his own, he thinks he found home.

“We’re not done talking about this” Eddie says, and Steve chuckles as Eddie dives back in.

[mammons-hubby]

Hiiii :3 can I request platonic headcanons of the brothers with MC who is a child/preteen? You pick which age you're more confident writing, but like in this 8-12 yrs range if possible, thank youuu🩷

I wasn't sure if to make the Mc be cursed or the Mc being chosen for the program while still being a child. I chose the later, hope you enjoy!

The little Mc! :

When the one stepping out of the portal was a 10 year old, he almost passed out.

Lucifer

This wasn't in the papers, at ALL. There is just no way this could've possibly happen, maybe a child stepped into the portal by accident?

But no, once the kid was questioned it was obvious they were the exchange student they were expecting.

Internal panic.

This kid can't go to the basically highschool for demons, and there are no schools in the Devildom.

He has a really stern talk with the brothers so they behave in front of them.

Depending on your behavior he may start to get more grey hairs or take a big liking to you.

In the end he ends up really attached to you.

Pampers you, and denies he does it.

"What?! I gotta take care of a kid?!"

Mammon

New babysitter for Mc. He at first dislikes it a ton, but he has a soft spot for kids so he doesn't take it on you, but you notice he is kinda mad.

Very overprotective. Not at first but with just a couple of days he really starts to like you and can't leave your side.

Will bother you to get a reaction, if you start crying he may even give you some Grimm.

Teaches you how to gamble and gets strung to the ceiling.

Gives you piggybacks.

He may involve you in money schemes at first but never putting you in any actual real harm.

Great. A little kid with sticky fingers.

Leviathan

He doesn't want you anywhere near his room at first, afraid that you will break his precious figurines or destroy his Manga collection.

He still forces you to watch Anime, but in the living room with him. Once you get a liking to it he even dresses you up as his favorite characters.

Once he realizes you won't purposefully break anything of his, he invites you to his room.

You are mesmerized by the pretty lights, the bathtub and the giant aquarium, you say hi to Henry and he melts.

He sees you looking everywhere with awe, and he feels very proud of himself.

From then, you start to play games in his room and carefully read his Mangas.

Lets you play with his tail in his demon form. He finds it kinda funny but gets grossed out when you put it in your mouth and cover it up with saliva. Eugh.

He is kind of curious about you and how you ended up in the Devildom, for Lucifer to make such an oversight is clearly extremely bizarre, almost imposible.

Satan

You kinda look at him with your big baby eyes and he looks back at you, until one of you stops staring and go back to their normal routine.

He is chosen by Lucifer to be your personal teacher. He complains but knows he has to do it.

He will try and teach you things to bother Lucifer, succeeding in some and failing in others.

But he also takes a lot of effort to learn about human culture and teach you the right things and needed things for your mental development.

Will read for you to fall asleep. Devildom fairy stories and others, you seem to like grim stuff too but he reads this stuff to you very rarely. Doesn't want you to be negatively affected.

Buys you a cat onesie and takes lots of pics. Super adorable.

He finds you extremely adorable and amusing, like a little pet.

Asmodeous

He will dress you up in the prettiests of clothings, with the most expensive perfume and hair decorations.

You seem upset and he doesn't understand at first. You explain you don't like being treated like a doll for his amusement.

He thought he was doing everything right?

He thinks about it hard and realizes that maybe being treated like a thing rather than a person must've hurt you.

He apologizes to you and offers to take you to eat something yummy.

He tries and know more about your likes and dislikes. About the shows you like, your favorite colors, the type of clothing you like.

He takes you to buy some pretty clothes of your choosing, and even gets you a cute haircut.

You feel better when you can also express yourself. But from time to time you let him dress you as he wishes, you even match clothings sometime.

Okay so at first a bit dangerous to be near him, considering he sees you as small and chubby and feels the urge to put you in his mouth.

Beelzebub

Once he controls the urges, he is very sweet and caring.

Kinda blunt when he talks, but not clueless. He is not dumb so he knows that he shouldn't say certain things, but considering he is quite honest he lets slip some stuff, but inmediatly notices and fixes it.

Will share his food with you and sit you on his lap while you eat, sorry if you get slobber on your head.

Will make sure you get proper exercise so you grow strong.

Will also take you on piggyback rides wherever you'd like.

Considering he has a younger brother, he grows attached to you very quickly and would give his life for you, and take others.

Belphegor

It depends. If this is an universe where Belphegor doesn't have a vendetta against humans, he may not care too much at first, but then begins to like you.

He would take naps with you, and help you draw and color stuff.

He is the youngest brother, so he may teach you how to get away with being a brat, much to Lucifer's dismay.

Now. If it's the og timeline Belphie?

Things are difficult. He will still try and trick you into doing the pacts with his brothers. And you're a child, so you'd probably believe him.

He does feel more guilty about wanting to kill you, but in the end commits regardless.

It's up to you to forgive him or not. He did kill a child after all.

The brothers are all shocked at him, and disgusted.

It takes a while before things settle down after discovering you're Lilith's descendant.

They're very wary of leaving you with him in a room, in case he tries to hurt you.

But Belphegor feels extremely guilty. It eats him alive, he can't believe that his rage for humanity would make him kill a literal kid.

He tries to make it up to you by being present in your life. Helping you get ready on your day to day life. Taking you places you need to go, pampering you.

It's still up to you if you'll ever forgive him. Perhaps you do, but you'll never forget it.

You can still have a nice relationship with him though, it's not the end of the world. And your life is just beginning.

[mashbrainrot]

Henry Blake in 'The Interview'

In 2006, Larry Gelbart wrote dialogue imagining Trapper, Henry Blake, and Colonel Flagg had featured in the M*A*S*H episode 'The Interview'. Here is Henry's, with the original available to read here via Google Groups.

REPORTER: How does it feel, having the responsibility for saving such a great number of lives? HENRY: We just take ’em one or two, sometimes maybe twenty at a time. The big trick is not to start thinking of ’em as numbers – as just so many stats that go into a report that winds up in somebody’s filing cabinet under “out of sight, out of mind.” You’ve gotta always remember that what you’re dealing with is hurt people, people that have been run over by a war. REPORTER: And not just – HENRY: You gotta remember to take a peek at the odd dog tag now and then and remind yourself that that dangling leg or busted gut you’re going to try and put back together again is somebody’s dad or son or boyfriend – that all that blood and guts soiling your linen belongs to somebody that’s got a name attached to him.

REPORTER: You can’t afford to lose your sense of humanity. HENRY: There’s just so many senses you can lose over here. REPORTER: Humor not being one of them, obviously. HENRY: Around here laughter’s just crying without the tears. REPORTER: You have a family back home, sir? HENRY: In Bloomington. The one in Illinois, not in Indiana – unless things have changed since I went away. REPORTER: You keep in touch with them, of course, your family. HENRY: We write, we phone. Far apart as we are, I don’t think we’ve ever been closer. REPORTER: Would you like to say hello to them on television? HENRY: Be better if this was kissovision, but, yeah, can I? REPORTER: Go right ahead. HENRY: Lorraine? Hi, honey. Hi, kids. I got your report cards this morning and I had Radar go out post ’em on the bulletin board here so everybody can see why I’m so darn proud of you. Especially how you’re doing in math. You must get those brains from your mom. Got to be. Old as I am, I still don’t know how many tens to give someone for a five-dollar bill. (TO REPORTER) Thanks. REPORTER: That it? HENRY: That’s it. (TO CAMERA) Except I’m counting the days till we’re back together again. REPORTER: You have any idea when that will be? HENRY: I try not to have too many ideas. There’s always someone who ranks you who’s sure you’ll agree he’s got a better one. REPORTER: When you do finally get home, what are you going to tell your children is the biggest lesson being over here has taught you? HENRY: To always try to work things out, I guess. Whatever those things might happen to be. You don’t make your point killing the other guy. Even if you do it’s kind of wasted if the other guys not around to get the message. REPORTER: You seem – if all may so, Colonel – you seem near exhaustion. HENRY: What I am mostly is tired of being tired. We’re supposed to be a hospital but it’s more like a chop shop around here. We’re up to our elbows in people that other people are doing their best to chop down. REPORTER: That doesn’t lead to a lot of sleep, I would imagine. HENRY: I used to think of sleeping in terms of hours. How many did I get last night, how many will I get to steal tonight. I’m down to minutes now. It’s like somebody broke one hand off the clock. REPORTER: Does that ever affect your performance? HENRY: I fell asleep a few weeks ago in the middle of resecting a patient’s bowel. How’s that for exhausted? REPORTER: Does that fishing hat mean there are those times when you do get to get away from it all? HENRY: What it means is that I have to fish for those times. And let me say, the biting’s pretty poor. REPORTER: Business is too good around here. HENRY: Let’s just say it takes a whole lot longer to take a bullet out of a belly than it does putting one into one. REPORTER: Thank you, sir. HENRY: Can I say one more thing? REPORTER: Of course. HENRY: I just want you to know we all here are grateful for this visit you’ve paid us, this attention you’re paying to the job we’re doing. You get the feeling sometimes, being over here that, aside from our families, we’ve kind of dropped off the planet, that we’ve been kind of disinvited to the party – like everyone back home is busy living their real lives and for us to give them a call when we get back to town. (TO REPORTER) That sound too preachy? REPORTER: It sounded just fine, Colonel. HENRY: Henry. I’m a lot more a Henry than I’ll ever be colonel. REPORTER: Thank you, Henry. HENRY: Tell me the truth: didn’t that feel better? REPORTER: You’re an excellent doctor. HENRY: Hey – that’s why I’m over here getting 300 hundred dollars a month.

[nocreativityfornames]

teen mc and the brothers (possibly with the side chars too?? idk u can just do the brothers if u wanr!!) going to a carnival and mc goes

"WOAHHHH THATS A BIG STUFFED TOY!!!!" and they look at it with sparkles and turns to them with a smile like :DDDDDDDDD

so i wondered how they would do to win the prize? it could be any carnival booth activity thingy

Thank you for the request! This was very fun to write! 🐢

The brothers ( + Diavolo & Barbatos ) when Teen!MC wants the big stuffed animal prize at the carnival

Lucifer

• He actually wanted to refuse the idea but after seeing MC's little expression he finds himself not having the heart to do it.

• You know that part of the Lantern Festival Event where Levi is struggling to win a shooting game and then we turn to see Lucifer there with the prizes already, having won the thing without no one even noticing? Same shit happens here. He wins the game so effortlessly that the stall guy is just left standing there in shock till Lucifer calls out to him and asks for the stuffed dinosaur.

• Mr.Pride here can't help but snort softly when sees MC hug the dinosaur like it's a long-lost friend, a sweet smile making an appearance on his face. "Now, would you care to tell me how exactly you're planning on carrying this thing home? Because it's almost your whole size and before you ask, no, I'm not doing it. It's yours and therefore your responsibility."

• Little MC tries to convince him otherwise but after seeing he wouldn't give in, their only option is to accept defeat and carry the big plushie themselves.

• The jerk ( affectionate ), he actually laughs seeing MC struggle to carry the dinosaur. Fine, he'll do it, but only because he doesn't wants the kid tripping on their feet for not being able to see where they're going.

Mammon

• Confident as fuck, he's wearing a big grin as he brags about how he's going to win first round! It's just a little game, it'll be easy-peasy! Child's play for the Great Mammon!

• He's at his 11th attempt and still nothing… 🥲

• Man is struggling, he wants to get the damn thing for MC but he'll lose all his precious money at this rate. He can't disappoint the brat though, not when they look so excited to get the stupid duck plushie prize and he's already promised he'd get it for them!

• Finally wins but his wallet ends up dead empty. He's crying on the inside but also happy at the same time after seeing how excited MC is to hold their new duck plushie.

• If they let him name the stuffed animal to make up for all the trouble he went through to get it, his heart will melt on the spot, what a sweet kid! 😭

• "Of course the little human wants the Great Mammon's help to carry it, give it here! I'll show ya how capable I am!" He's very proud as he carries the duck the whole way home, not caring about the looks he's getting from other demons.

Leviathan

• Just stares blankly at the big octopus plushie and MC for a second. Really? They want HIM to play it??

• Not very enthused at first but will do it for Henry! 

• Hypes himself up beforehand: That's right, he's gotta show the kid the power of a true otaku! He'll get that thing in no time, don't worry MC!

• He fails miserably first try but is still confident, on the second try he'll get it! It's alright!

• It's his 5th attempt and he's getting anxious and losing all his energy, but MC hypes him up again and he's ready for more.

• Oof, he finally gets it! The octopus is MC's now! ( if they name it Levi or Lord of Shadow he'll be moved, much like Mammon )

• "Y-You want me to carry it??" He's embarrassed to be seen with this thing, honestly, but he will give in eventually since he can never say no to MC's adorable puppy look.

Satan

• The moment his eyes lay on the cat plush he's in, not that he wouldn't do it if it wasn't a cat, but it definitely made him agree ( much ) faster.

• Gets it first try because he's read about how the game works and knows the most effective strategies to win ( If MC says he looked cool while playing he'll get them an ice cream on the way home ).

• "Can't you carry it yourself? You're the one who wanted it, after all." He stares down at MC with a curious look.

• "You sound like Lou."

• Immediately grabs the thing and starts walking away upon hearing this outrageous offense to his name. MC better pick up the pace if they want to keep up!

Asmodeus

• Of course he'll do it, MC doesn't even need to say a word, their expression on its own is already enough.

• He's many rounds in, but still hasn't managed to win the prize. It's making him tired and the teen can see it, so they try to convince him to give up, telling him they didn't want the bunny that badly.

• Asmo sees right through their lies and decides it's time to pull out the big guns. "Don't worry, sweetie, I still have one card up my sleeve! ♡" MC watches as Asmo shamelessly goes up to the demon at the stall, greeting the guy in an overly flirtatious tone.

• In the end MC ends up with their beloved plushie, and Asmo with a date scheduled for the weekend. It's a win-win situation, really. 🤭

Beelzebub

• Sure, he'll play it for MC.

• Wins without much trouble on the second try, having understood what he needed to do to win the game after failing his first attempt.

• Very happy to see MC's reaction to getting the stuffed bear. "It's pretty big, do you want me to carry it for you?" He asks after the teen thanks him excitedly.

• Will keep the sweetest of smiles on his face the whole way back to the house as he hears MC rambling about all names they could give the bear.

• Happily accepts whichever one they choose. "That's a very good name, MC." He ruffles their head like any kind older brother.

Belphegor

• Will probably say something snarky about how childish they're being and try to dismiss MC's request at first. But! After seeing how much they want it, he'll agree to it, though he still groans while going up to the stall. He's just too lazy for this, y'know…?

• Doesn't even play the game and instead just approaches the demon there, saying something to him that MC couldn't hear since Belphie had told them to stay behind. Soon enough the avatar is coming back, yawning with boredom as he carries the big stuffed bear under his arm.

• He also dodges MC's question when they ask what he said to the guy to get handed the penguin plushie so easily without even playing the game at all. "This thing is really fluffy, I could use it as a pillow." The brother chuckles as they leave together. "Oh, maybe you could let me borrow it from time to time?"

• Yeah, he definitely threatened that guy… 😶

Bonus: Diavolo ( and Barbatos )

• Diavolo immediately accepted. Man was actually even more thrilled than MC to get this thing, he loves these types of games!

• He's very very excited while playing the round and in the moment of truth, he turns to the demon at the stall with a big grin asking if he won.

• He in fact did not win, but the poor lower demon had no choice but to say otherwise as Barbatos stood behind Diavolo and MC giving him the most ominous aura while somehow still managing to keep a smile on his face.

• Ahaha, of course Lord Diavolo won!! Here's your plushie kid!!

• *insert here Dia's loud ass laugh* "I won! MC, I won!" The prince celebrated excitedly, it was hard to tell who was the real kid, him or MC.

• Meanwhile Barbatos just stands there with a content smile as if he's suddenly standing in a field of flowers and hadn't been this close 🤏 from committing murder a second ago.

[eating-plastic]

Autumn Leaves: Henry Barrow x Reader

Warnings: fluff, first kiss, Henry and reader reunite, some swearing, murder, death (Henry and Marie go sicko mode on Gallows Creek), some guilt (Henry questions his mother's actions), I feel like I gotta say this but spoilers (mostly for the bad ending of the game), probably some grammatical errors

Word Count: 2576 words

A/N: Hey everybody! Let's break up the puppet master stuff with some x reader thingys. Leading the pack is a sequel to my first Henry x Reader fic Carnival Lights. I wasn't going to write a part two, but someone wanted it, and that got me brainstorming. It's funny, I never thought I'd like Henry so much (well, I like my version of Henry lol). Enjoy!

--------------------

Ever since that night at the carnival, Henry never forgot you. The first chance he got, he tried to call you. He wanted to believe that you gave him a real number, but there was still this sliver in his mind that wouldn't have been surprised at you deceiving him.

Of course, the moment he heard your voice on the other end of the phone, guilt consumed him for thinking such. You were so happy to hear him, eagerly asking how he was doing and asking him what he had seen on his "road trip" with his mother. He told you everything, with the exception of all the "murder stuff".

Despite wanting to make his mother proud, and wanting to see her plan through, he missed you. That longing to see you again grew with every phone call. With every mile driven in-between the two of you.

--------------------

Henry was lying down on the bed in the motel room his mother had rented. While he was originally listening to the TV, now he was just staring up at the ceiling. His mother sat on her own bed, writing in a notebook on her lap and occasionally mumbling something. He brings his wrist up to his face to look at his watch. It was almost time for him to find a phone booth and call you. He always tried to call you at a set time, so he would never miss you.

He sits up and stretches, before walking to where he and his mother's black trench coats hung.

"I'm going out to get some fresh air, mom," he calls while putting on his coat.

"Alright, be careful,," she replies, glancing up from her notebook, briefly.

"I know," he opens the door and exits the room.

Henry wastes no time walking to the phone booth that stood by its lonesome. He pulls his coat tighter around himself when he enters. It was autumn now, and the weather was getting chilly. He reaches into his pocket for some quarters and inserts them into the machine. He always made sure he carried change on his person now.

He then raises the phone to his ear and waits.

"Hello?," you chirp from the other end.

"Hey, Y/N," he smiles at the sound of your voice.

"Oh, Henry! Hi! How are you?" you ask. He can practically feel your cheerful nature radiate through the phone.

"I'm doing alright. How have you been?"

"I'm good. Nothing too big to report. Just hung out with friends a bit," you respond.

"Well, as long as you're doing okay," he thinks for a moment. "I uh...the road trip's been fine. In fact, tomorrow's the last day."

Tomorrow. The big day. The day that Gallows Creek pays. And then after that...well...Henry wasn't too sure. His mother said that they could finally live a normal life, but where? He thought about asking her to move to your hometown, but then he'd probably have to explain why. And if she said "no"....

Fuck it. He was going to see you again, no matter what she decided.

"Oh, did you have fun?" you question.

"Yeah, it's been fine. I just...I really miss you," he sighs.

"I miss you too. Will you...will you ever be in town, again?" your voice drops.

"I want to. Believe me, I do. I'm...I'm gonna see if my mom would think about swinging through, again. You know, after tomorrow," he decides.

"Really?" you light up.

"Yes...really," he nods to himself.

"And...and if she says 'no'?"

"Then I'll figure something out. Look, I'm not gonna stay away from you any longer than I have to, okay?"

"Okay," a small smile spreads across your face.

"Okay," he parrots. "I, uh...I guess I should say goodbye now, huh?"

"Yeah, I guess so," you sigh. "Good night, Henry."

"Good night, Y/N. I...," he stops himself. "I...I'll see you soon. I promise."

"You better," you quip.

You both hesitate, before ending the call. Henry lets out a shaky breath as he puts the phone back. He was really going to do this. He was really going to go through with his promise.

With that, he walks back to his motel room. When he enters, his mother's bed was now littered with pictures of different people. People he had never seen before. As he glances at them, he feels a bit of guilt twist in his gut. Some of the people in the photos had smiles on their faces, looking innocently into the camera. They really did remind him of you.

He just shakes his head and turns his attention back to the TV. He didn't want to think about that. Instead, he thought about how the faster Gallows Creek reaped what they sowed, the faster he could see you again.

--------------------

As night fell on the small town of Gallows Creek, so did a dark, suffocating cloud. Blood stained the streets under the moonlight. While only some who were lucky managed to escape the wrath of Marie and her son, a devastating list of victims piled up.

Then the end came. Henry visited the radio station KFAM, and stared at the silhouette of Forrest Nash. A savior to few, but definitely not to all. He could hear his mother as she slowly cut away at the man that took everything away from her, Teddy Gallows Jr.

Life really was cruel. His mother, young and alone, trying to raise him with what little money she could scrape up. Meanwhile he sat upon his ivory tower getting richer and richer. If he had it his way, he would take a swing at him too. But no, his place was here. His job was to kill the loose end.

Then Peggy came into the picture. He remembered looking at the photo of his aunt, he did feel a bit ill. She had a smile similar to your own. It was bad enough having to listen to her screams as she died, but Forrest made it worse. He begged, he cried, he sobbed. He wanted Henry's mother to stop, and honestly he did too.

When he had enough, he burst into the room and stabbed him over and over again. Henry just wanted him to shut up, he wanted it all to shut up.

Once he was done, he ran out of the station, keeping to the shadows of the dark alleyways.

--------------------

Henry continues to stare up at the ceiling of the motel room. His mom had been gone for a while now. Sure, there was no possible way that cops could stop her, they both made sure of that. But of course that wouldn't stop vigilante justice from rising up. His mother was just one woman, and a group of people who wanted to avenge their slain neighbors could easily carry that task out. Fortunately, he hears the sound of the lock to the motel room clicking.

His mother walks into the room and removes her mask, an exhausted look on her face.

Henry gets up from his bed and runs over to her.

"Mom, are you alright? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Henry," she nods. "I'm...more than okay."

"So, it...it's over, now?" he asks, hopefully.

"Yes, it's done," she raises her hands to hold her son's face. "Now we're free. We can finally live a normal life."

"Where?"

"Anywhere you'd like," she smiles.

"Really?"

She nods once more.

"Then...then can we live...," he gives her the name of your hometown.

"I don't see why not. Although I don't know why out of all places you'd want to move there."

"I, um...," Henry sighs. "There's something I have to tell you."

A look of concern spreads across Marie's face.

"Okay."

"I...remember when we stopped there and...I had to kill that man at the carnival?"

She nods.

"And I told you that someone was following me around?"

"Yes."

"That...that wasn't true."

Marie's eyes widen.

"Henry," she places a hand over her heart.

"I know I should've done what you told me, and I did...eventually. I...I had fun with them, mom. For once in my life I felt normal. For once in my life I had fun. I...they gave me their number and I've been keeping in touch with them ever since. I...I love them, mom."

He finishes his confession and doesn't break his gaze from his mother's face.

A whole range of emotions go through her mind. She was upset at her son for lying to her. For getting distracted. Then again, that man paid in the end and...and her son was in love. And how was that something to be upset over.

"Oh, Henry," she pulls him into a hug, which he returns. "Remember to hold onto them tightly. To never let them go."

He nods.

"Now," she pulls away. "We've got a bit of a trip ahead of us. We need to rest up the best we can."

Henry smiles, and his mother walks away into the bathroom. He looks down at his hands. Hands that were conditioned to bring pain and death. But not anymore.

--------------------

Leaves in shades of oranges and browns dance in the wind as Henry walks down a sidewalk in your hometown. He and his mother pulled in a couple of hours ago, and he needed to stretch his legs.

Oh, and he also wanted to look for you as well.

He could've called you, but he wanted to find you. He wanted to surprise you. Luckily, he gets his chance.

As he passes by some diner windows, he glances inside and sees you sitting at a booth, too invested in your menu to notice him.

He enters, and you still don't look up. You don't look up until he is right by your booth.

"Excuse me, is this seat taken?"

Your head shoots up and a smile spreads across your face.

"Henry!" you stand from your seat and pull him into a tight embrace. He happily returns it. "When did you get into town?"

"A couple of hours ago. Decided to do some exploring."

You giggle and pull away.

"Oh! Are you hungry? Do you wanna have some lunch with me?" you ask

"Food sounds great."

Henry was no stranger with diner food once his mother decided to set her plan in motion. And you know what? He still enjoyed it. From eggs and pancakes to greasy hamburgers and french fries. So he ate what he ordered so eagerly, that you playfully asked him when the last time he even ate was.

Once the two of you finished eating and he made sure to beat you to paying at least for his own food, you decided to show him around town. All while you held his hand in your own, this time without the barrier of his leather gloves.

As you both walk, a flier catches your attention.

"Oh, hey! I got an idea!" you exclaim.

"What is it?" Henry asks, intrigued.

"The fall festival starts tomorrow. Do you wanna go?" you look up at him, still beaming.

"With you?" he asks, jokily. You nod.

"Well then. I think I do."

--------------------

You stand by the entrance of the festival, glancing around. Your friends came by and asked you to join them, but you told them you were waiting for someone, so they hesitantly left you be.

You eagerly bounce on the balls of your feet, the smells of cinnamon permeating the air. Then you spot him walking towards you, a smile on his face and his hands in his black trench coat pockets. You run to him, greeting him with a hug as you did back at the diner.

"What took you so long?" you ask.

"Sorry, my mom and I had to, uh, figure some things out," he says in a way that makes you want him to explain.

"What do you mean?" you look up at him. "How long are you two staying?"

"Hopefully forever."

Shock spreads across your face.

"Wha-wait? What?"

"Yeah, we...we're trying to find a place to live."

"I...," joy consumes you and you hug him even tighter. "Oh my God! Really?"

Henry chuckles and returns the hug, before patting you on the back.

"Come on. Are we gonna stand here, or are we gonna go to a festival?"

"Oh, right! Sorry," you pull away, and he offers you his hand, allowing you to drag him wherever you wanted to go.

--------------------

The night was no different to the night when you both first met, filled with games and candied apples. The only changes were that the weather was colder, and Henry was warmer.

Now the two of you were sitting at a picnic bench drinking some hot cocoa. While you were interested in your sweet beverage, he was glancing up at the lights strung up above you.

"This is nice," he remarks absentmindedly.

"It is," you smile over at him. He takes a deep breath before turning to you.

"Can I tell you something, Y/N?" he gazes into your eyes.

"Of course you can," you say, your cheeks growing warm from his eyes.

"I like this," he begins. "I like...I like hanging out with you."

"I like hanging out with you too, Henry," you nod.

"It...it's more than that," he shakes his head. "You're so sweet, so gentle. It's hard to believe that someone like you exists....And honestly, I am so happy that...that you decided to follow me around."

You let out a small laugh that makes his heartbeat increase.

"Yeah, I'm...I'm happy I decided to bug you, too. I had way more fun with you than I would've had by myself."

"There's...one more thing," after some debating in his head, Henry takes both of your hands into his own. "Until I met you, I didn't have the best life. My mom had me when she was young and my dad was killed. She had no one...she had nothing, and she tried to give me the best life she could, but....I knew that that life wasn't normal, that I wasn't normal. But you didn't care. You saw something in me."

He moves closer to you.

"When I'm with you, I feel normal. I feel so happy with you, and...a-and I love you, Y/N....I-I really really do."

You were silent throughout his whole confession, but you're smiling harder than you had ever before.

"You mean it?" you lean closer to him.

Henry nods, smiling back at your positive reaction.

It was at that moment that you felt like your happiness was overflowing, bubbling over the surface. So you do the first thing that comes to your mind.

You kiss him.

It's a little rough and awkward with you doing it so impulsively and with Henry having never kissed someone before, but you two evened it out rather quickly. And it felt like the best experience in your life. Both of your minds were completely empty, the only resident now being bliss. To make it even better, you both taste the hot cocoa on each other's lips.

Eventually, you two pull away, your smiles still not wiped away.

"I love you too, Henry," you begin. "I promise that I'll do anything I can to keep you happy."

Henry laughs.

"Believe me, Y/N, with you, that won't be very hard."

[xdirtyxlittlexgirl]

Giving Henry Cavill a boudoir book for when he has his long travels away from Reader and they can’t go with him🫶🏻❤️😘

More Than a Love Letter (Part 1)

Pairing: Henry Cavill X Reader

Summary: Henry is away shooting and has been super stressed lately, so you come up with the perfect plan to surprise him

Warnings: Fluff, mentions of depression, angst, body dismorphia, sly smut, and masterbation

Minors DNI

_

It was almost nine in the night, as you sat on the couch in your living room, eagerly awaiting Henry's call. He had been away for months shooting his new film, "The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare," and you missed him dearly. This was the hardest part of your relationship. Being away from him while he's at work. Obviously, you can join him, but you've been working too, plus being with him on his shoots in the past, hasn't been the best decision made by you two. He's committed to his work, and you're to yours, and it always is hard to balance it, especially after you started working full-time. Although you did often visit him, but with this particular movie, the director is very particular about having family while working, which is adding more to both of your stress. Finally, the call came through, and you excitedly answered, and got greeted by Henry's handsome face on the screen.

"Hey there, love," Henry said with a tired smile. "Long day on set, but it's good to see your face." You couldn't help but notice the exhaustion in his eyes and the weariness in his voice. You knew he had been through a lot lately, with the scandal of losing his role as Superman and the disappointment of dropping out of his beloved "The Witcher" series. Your heart ached for him.

Henry slumped back in his armchair, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "I gotta tell you, this Ministry role is kicking my arse. I don't even recognize myself with all this extra weight and facial hair. I look like my grandpa!" He let out a frustrated sigh. You couldn't help but chuckle, finding his rant endearing. "Baby, come on, you always look amazing, no matter what," you reassured him. Although you knew he suffered through body dismorphia, and this was the last thing he imagined doing, but agreed anyway to give a tribute to his grandfather and aunts and uncles who'd served in the war. "The weight and the facial hair can be managed, and you'll rock that role like the true talent that you are. Plus we discussed this, it is an opportunity to show your diversity as an actor, plus this is your family lineage, it will mean a lot to them too." You add all the good reasons to keep him going, and you see him relax a little. It was working.

Henry's expression softens as he looked at you, his tired eyes lighting up. "Thanks, love. I needed to hear that. It's been tough, you know? Losing those two big roles back-to-back, it's been a blow to my confidence."

"I know hon" you said softly, reaching out to touch the screen as if you could physically comfort him. "But you're so much more than your roles. You're an incredible actor, and your talent shines through no matter what you do. Plus your fans love you dearly too. Don't let these setbacks define you, you never do."

Henry's gaze locks with yours, and you could see the gratitude in his eyes. "You're right, as always," he said, a small smile forming on his lips. "I'm lucky to have you in my corner, princess. I don't know what I'd do without your unwavering love and support." He adds and you couldn't help but blush, feeling a surge of love for Henry. "I'll always be here for you, Henry. No matter what happens, I believe in you. You've got this."

Henry leaned in closer to the camera, his intense blue eyes piercing through the screen. "Thank you baby," he whispered. "Your belief in me gives me strength. I promise I'll make you proud."

The sincerity in his words touched your heart, and tears welled up in your eyes. "You already do, Henry," you said softly. "I'm so proud of you, and I know you'll overcome any challenge that comes your way." Henry's tired expression relaxes, and he reaches out to touch the screen as if he could touch you. "I miss you, baby girl," he said with a strong longing in his voice.

"I miss you too my love" you replied, your voice choked with emotion. "But just a few more weeks, and you'll be home." Henry nodded, his eyes filled with determination. "Yeah, just a few more weeks," he said, taking a deep breath. "I'll make the most of it and give this Ministry role everything I've got."

"I know you will," you said with a proud smile. "And remember, we're all waiting for you to work open arms if you want to just come back. You don't have to do it at the cost of yourself." He nods and then smiles, as he leans in to blow you a kiss through the screen. "Thank you, love. I needed this pep talk. You always know how to lift my spirits." You smiled back and kiss his the screen. "Always and forever!." you winked as he chuckled hearing you quote Klaus from TVD.

You both ended up talking about your day, and you cheered him up by telling him some of the funniest highlights of your day, only to see Henry slowly drift to sleep listening to your voice. You smiled and disconnected, sleeping off yourself as well.

~

Next day you sat in your cozy bed, your mind was consumed with worry for Henry. You had noticed how he hadn't been himself lately, and it hurt you deeply to see him struggling. His recent setbacks with losing out on the Superman role and leaving The Witcher had taken a toll on him, and you wanted to do something to support him. However, you were well aware of his commitment to his work and his dislike for any interference while he was on set. Visiting him was not an option, as it had caused stress in the past when he couldn't spare time for you amidst his busy schedule. He just ended up feeling so much more guilty knowing you're five minutes from him, and he still has to wait ages before getting with you. He was already stressed, and going to see him would just add more to it. So you racked your brain, trying to come up with a way to show him your love and support without causing any disruptions.

Then it hit you. Henry had mentioned how women used to send boudoirs to their husbands during war as a way to remember them, and he had even jokingly suggested that you should create one for him. At the time, you brushed it off as a playful comment, but now the idea seemed to hold more weight. You realized that putting together a care package for him, including some sentimental items, and the boudoir might just be the perfect way to show him how much you cared without intruding on his work. It was an old-school gesture, something that you and Henry had always cherished, and you hoped it would bring him comfort during this challenging time.

You began to gather ideas for what to include in the care package. First and foremost, you knew you wanted to include some heartfelt notes from his family. Henry was very close to his family, and their words of encouragement and love would mean the world to him. Especially from his mum, who is his biggest cheerleader. You also decided to write him a personal letter, pouring out your feelings and expressing your unwavering support. Letters were your thing. It was this way the two of you connected. It has so much more weight and love than a text for the two of you. You knew that words had a special impact on him, and you wanted to remind him of how much he meant to you and how proud you were of him. Something he can read every time he's close to give up.

As you continued to brainstorm, you couldn't help but smile at the thought of including some naughty stuff in the care package. Henry had always appreciated your playful and adventurous side, and you knew it would bring a smile to his face amidst the stress of work. You blushed slightly as you considered what items to include, knowing that Henry was a wild bore when it came to it. So there you were ordering a fleshlight and lube for him. Obviously it wouldn't ever be close to how he feels being in you, but it definitely would help to some extent.

Next you decides to go through some of your intimate pictures with him, which definately did the magic making you wet, as you started to finger yourself thinking about him. Soon you came hard and smirked as you collected the moisture on your panties, which now smelled like you. This is probably the best thing you're gonna be adding in the package for him. He loves the smell of you and smelling your arousal always turned him on.

Thinking about Henry's other favorite things, you decided to include some of his go-to snacks, like his favorite protein bars. You knew how much he loved his workouts and fitness routine, and you wanted to make sure he had some of his favorite fuel to keep him going on set. You also considered including the candle you both usually use while making love, and a small bottle of the perfume you use. As you continued to plan the care package, you couldn't help but get excited about the idea of creating a boudoir for Henry. You knew it would be cheesy, but it felt like the perfect gesture given his role in The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, a movie based on the World War era. You thought about taking some tasteful and intimate photos of yourself, maybe even including some of your favorite memories together, to remind him of the love and intimacy you shared. It felt like a vulnerable and personal gesture, but you knew that it would bring a smile to his face and make him feel cherished.

As you finalized your plans for the care package, you couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation and hope. You hoped that this gesture would show Henry how much you cared for him, even from a distance, and that it would bring some comfort and joy into his life during this challenging time. You knew that he was a man of simple pleasures and heartfelt gestures, and this might just do the trick to uplift his mood.

--

Part 2

A/N: Working on all the requests this week!

[kiwiana-writes]

Hiiiii! For the love your fandom asks, tell me 5, 11, 16, and 20! 🥰

5. something you see in fics a lot and love

Words. I love it when fic writers give me words.

As for an actual answer: Oxford 👏 Slut 👏 Phase 👏

11. if you're a writer or artist, what fic or piece of art are you proud of making?

Wow, this question is mean. Who would ask someone this????

And who the fuck let me put two hundred and fifty nine works on AO3?

Podfics first: It's gotta be Going Platinum by @cricketnationrise. It's by FAR the longest solo project I've done (I think there's one posted podfic and one work in progress that I might have more audio minutes on, both as a narrator for a multi-voice project, but I didn't have to edit that shit so it's not my problem 🤣) and for some batshit insane reason I decided to do soundscaping/sound effects for the first time??? But I LOVED how it came out, and I was exceptionally proud of myself for keeping it a secret from cricket because that was HARD. (And yes I WILL be recording parts two and three!)

Schitt's Creek fic: Time until the end of time, the afterlife fic @ships-to-sail and I co-wrote over TWO YEARS and, not to toot our own horns, but the fandom at large slept on it 😅 It's amazing, actually.

RWRB fic: This one's brutal. It's almost Much Ado, and idk maybe it should be Much Ado, but I actually think it's Like loving the stars themselves aka the Doctor Who AU. Also a little bit slept on, actually, but not to the same extent as above 🤣 I am phenomenally proud of this one. The genre was way outside my usual comfort zone and I think this fic is the best example of the way I love to write media AUs -- the story bent to fit the characters, so it's very much an Alex And Henry Story, but there are little pieces of DW canon, RWRB canon, and something that's entirely my own.

16. a tiny detail in canon that you want more people to appreciate

There are so many, honestly, but Alex's slightly hysterical thought about wanting to send whoever taught Henry to suck cock a gift basket is so, so fucking important to me for an array of Overthinking/Over-identifying Reasons. Also it's just funny as hell. I was very proud of getting a different version of it into chapter two of the arranged marriage AU, actually; I think that bit in particular is one of the funnier things I've written.

20. your very first fandom!

The one owned by terf queen mcgee. That was bb!MJ's first exposure to fanfiction and where I started writing fic.

[✨ love your fandom asks ✨]

[toads-treasures]

Writer Interview

I got tagged by @forget-me-maybe and @pouroverpaloma, thank you for the tag!!! I'm sorry that I definitely may have overshared!!

When did you start writing?

This is going to sound cliche but, since I learned how to write at all, I think? I distinctly remember that I got in trouble when I was about six years old, because I took a photo album that had nice sturdy paper pages from the laundry room and wrote a mystery story in it. I remember it was a mystery because on every other page I colored my own version of the old transitions they’d do in cartoons, with a question mark with concentric colorful circles around it lol. Strangely vivid memory of those transition pages, I think I was very proud of them. 

But I’ve been writing and “illustrating” pretty much my entire life. I started writing fanfiction in middle school or highschool, and that’s what I’ve always liked writing the most.

Then I decided to get a creative writing degree, which then led me to developing both a god complex and a crippling sense of perfectionism and self doubt, and completely drained any enjoyment from writing literally anything, because I couldn’t get my professor’s voices out of my head. I loved my professors and I think I learned a lot, but I became so obsessed with my writing being perfect and impressive and something they would want and like, that I stopped writing things that I liked. So, I had a crisis and dropped out! And didn’t write anything for like four years so 🫠 but we’re slowly gettin’ back into it. 

Are there different themes or genres you enjoy reading than what you write?

I don’t think there are any themes I enjoy reading that I couldn't really write, but genres definitely. I don’t know if I could write a contemporary romance. Unless I am doing a modern AU lol but even then I always seem to end up adding some kind of fantastical element.  I love reading a good Emily Henry novel, but I try to write a lighthearted contemporary romance and inevitably some ghosts or fucked up fairies of some sort will appear. I gotta inject a little horror and fantasy into pretty much everything I write, which I think a lot of people are surprised by. I’m surprised by it, because I am such a baby I can’t handle watching horror movies. I think less horror, and more like, gothic elements maybe? IDK man it’s been a long time since I’ve been in a literature class.

Is there a writer you want to emulate or get compared to often?

I wanna be Maggie Stiefvater when I grow up. She’s a young adult novelist but she is such a talented writer, I can’t even explain other than her books make my brain go !!!!! 

I cannot recommend Scorpio Races or The Raven Cycle enough. She’s got such a distinct voice, and she is really good at magical realism which I love. I don’t know if I intentionally try to emulate her though I think I’m just a sponge that just absorbs bits and pieces of anything I read, but I think I have unintentionally stolen a line or two from her before.

Can you tell me a bit about your writing space?

I have a home office that I adore and is super cute and cozy but unfortunately most of my writing is done at work on my lunch break. But that’s also a pretty nice place, a shaded courtyard at the hospital I work at that’s got really nice tall trees that blossom in the spring. 

What’s your most effective way to muster up a muse?

I always come up with some pivotal character detail or plot point while I’m doing dishes. Then I have to scramble for my phone with sudsy hands to immediately tell Liz I have had A Thought.

Are there any recurring themes in your writing? Do they surprise you?

I think a lot of my stories are about grief, which I don’t usually realize until later. Grief and memory and growing out of the place you were born, and the kind of dissonance that comes from wanting so desperately to go home but not fitting when you get there. Or things are different than how you remember, for better and for worse. I love thinking about complicated parent/child relationships, and coming to the realization that more often than not your parents are neither heroes or villains, they’re just people.  Coming of age stories but the protag are in their late twenties? 

I looooove to write about people slowly (or not so slowly) falling in love and the little things you notice about someone when that’s happening. Like the way a slight sunburn sometimes makes blue eyes look even bluer, the way someone’s eyes widen before they start laughing, like they’re surprised at their own amusement. Getting to know someone in so many different contexts. So different kinds of intimacy I guess? It wasn’t until recently that I even considered writing smut lmao and even now when I try the characters just end up having some deep conversation and unearthing some kind of trauma. Let’s not analyze what that says about me. 

But it always seems to come back to grief at some point and living with loss and growing around it. Which is strange because I’m very lucky to have not gone through that process with anyone extremely close to me. It is definitely something I think about a lot though, it’s almost like I’m trying to brace myself, or practice grieving before it actually happens.

What’s your reason for writing?

Escapism babyyy. I say escapism then talk about how all I ever write about is grief….so….but it is both escapism and kind of working through some shit emotionally lol. One of my favorite possibly cringey things to do, but something that has genuinely helped me a lot, is creating a character that has a lot of qualities that I feel self conscious about. They have ADHD, they’re tall and a little clumsy, or they’ve got the same body type as me. They also dropped out of art school. But it doesn’t bother them at all. They’re not insecure about any of those things. Or if they are, they learn not to be. And the other characters love them anyway.

One of the things I’ve really enjoyed doing with a lot of the fanfiction I write is I get a chance to write about the moments in between the big moments. Explore aspects of characters that maybe there wasn’t time for in the game. Or you know if it’s Wyll just aspects that Larian didn’t bother to do at all i’m not bitter 

Is there any specific comment or type of comment you find particularly motivating?

Literally any. I crave any form of validation. I love when people can point out themes and stuff to me because I usually miss that myself lol.

How do you want to be thought about by your readers?

Uhhhhhhhhh I have never considered this. Positively? I think more than anything I want people to care as much as I care about these characters, that we’re all being genuine and sincere and sappy together.

What do you feel is your greatest strength as a writer?

I don’t know if it’s my greatest strength lol but I love writing dialogue. That always comes easily to me. And descriptions of landscapes. That’s always something people in class would point out. I will wax poetic about a mountain or the sea don’t test me. 

How do you feel about your own writing?

It comes and goes lol. I try not to think about it too much honestly because I’ll spiral pretty fast into extremely self critical territory and freeze up. Because I must be a genius, Professor Signor told me so, now I have this impossible standard to live up to. Also my professor never told me I was a genius but she did really like my writing and wanted me to take a bunch of honors classes and be on the school literary magazine and all of that pressure and expectation kiiinda made me freak out and run away. So now I try to just have fun, and that’s what I want to feel more than anything is that I’m having fun, and truly enjoying this part of me that has been a part of me for as long as I can remember. 

tagging @hauntedliz @mars-colonyand @likesomethingblooming if you wanna!

[queen-of-writing-bad-things]

Henry Danger Reader Insert | Captain Man x Reader: SEASON 1

Episode 6: Substitute Teacher

~Junk-N-Stuff~

"Oh, yes. You are a nice thing." Gooch cooed as he stroked the top of his new machine. In fact, he loved it so much, he wanted to show it off to more people, so he decided to alert everyone down in the Man Cave that something was wrong.

"Gooch! What happened?" Ray and (y/n) came running from the back, heavily panting. They had rushed upstairs together, thinking that Gooch was in terrible danger.

"Why did you send us an emergency signal?" (y/n) said breathlessly, her chest still heaving. She hadn't run like that since college. 

"Look. That's a garbage juicer." Gooch showed them, a proud look on his face, but Ray and the woman next to him just stared back in disbelief. 

"A garbage juicer?" Ray couldn't believe it. (y/n) rested her arm on his shoulder, her breathing coming back down.

"It juices garbage," Gooch explained, even though its name was self-explanatory.

"Gooch, we were busy downstairs looking for criminals." Ray chastised him, but the Indian man still gave them a demonstration.

"Watch. I just dump the garbage into the thingy." Gooch said as he emptied a load of trash into the top of the machine, the smell making (y/n) gag. 

"Gooch..." She tried to tell him that they were busy, but the storekeeper wouldn't listen.

"Now, observe." Gooch pressed the button and put a glass underneath the nozzle of the machine. It whirred to life and started to liquefy the garbage. A greyish-brown juice started to fill the glass cup and the smell was revolting. The two watching the process stepped back in repulsion.

"You see? The garbage is gone. It's all in the juice." Gooch seemed pretty impressed, but the woman in front of him had started to turn green.

"I think I'm gonna puke." She looked away into Ray's shoulder and he curled a protective arm around her.

"Can we go back downstairs now?" He asked to which Gooch just looked down, giving him a silent answer. He grabbed (y/n)'s hand and started to lead her away from the juice before she could throw up. 

"Ray! We gotta talk to you!" Henry burst through the shop door, Charlotte in tow.

"This is important." The girl added in, they walked towards the retreating pair.

"Please, I will be sick." (y/n) moaned at the man holding her hand, using the other one to hold her mouth.

"There's a creepy new kid at our school." Henry started to tell Ray.

"Ugh, can we talk about it downstairs? Gooch's juice smells and I think (y/n)'s about to barf." Ray complained, grimacing at the juice that was still on the counter.

"Okay." The kids agreed, following their bosses downstairs, leaving Gooch to drink his garbage juice alone.

~

"Why do think this Ortho kid is up to something?" Ray asked them in the elevator as the door shut.

"Well, he was asking about the school's water supply." Henry said. (y/n) hugged Ray's waist tightly in preparation for what was about to come, hating the trip down in the faulty elevator. His density meant that he didn't really feel the weightless effect as much as anyone else.

"And he wanted to know about the security cameras and--" Charlotte was interrupted by Ray reaching across and pressing the descent button. His arms went around the woman hugging him so they could secure her to his chest.

The elevator dropped with an immediate effect, causing Henry and Charlotte to scream in terror. They wildly moved around the falling machine, but Ray was perfectly fine.

"I wonder why he was asking those things." He tried to say to his companions, but they were too scared to answer. (y/n) buried her face into his chest even further, also feeling like she was about to die.

"Guys? Oh, stop screaming." Ray told the kids, not understanding why they were kicking up such a big fuss.

They landed with a thud, and Ray waddled out the door, (y/n) still clutching his waist. Seeing that they were now safely back in the Man Cave, she let go of Ray and blushed, but thankfully, he didn't see.

"Can't that elevator be adjusted?" Charlotte looked at her. 

"I've been asking for years, but he never fixes it." (y/n) told her, playfully glowering at Ray. Despite the bumpy ride down, her stomach didn't feel as queasy anymore, now that the juice was no longer under her nose.

"Why'd you say this Ortho kid is creepy?" Ray asked them again, the eventful trip with the pretty girl's hands around his waist had made his mind hazy.

"Because he says weird stuff. And he's got this crazy psycho look in his eye." Henry said, a small shiver going down his spine at the thought of the weird kid.

"You got a pic?" The superhero asked them, wanting to see this boy.

"Uh... Jasper's twitflash." Charlotte proposed. 

"Oh, yeah. Jasper posted a pic of him and Ortho on his Twitflash." Henry said, as (y/n) went over to the supercomputer and loaded everything up.

"Let's have a look then." She said with a smile.

~

Henry had synced his phone to the computer, so the screen mirrored what was on it and everyone could see. To get the 'Ortho photo', first, he had to go through Jasper's bucket posts, of which there were many.

"Bucket. Bucket. Selfie with bucket. Bucket. Bucket." Ray and (y/n) looked at each other, sharing the same thought.

"Kid has bucket problem." She said to him.

"Yep, he sure does." Ray giggled with her.

"Ah. That's Ortho right there." Henry exclaimed, finally scrolling to the right picture. Ray walked to the computer chair and sat down, pulling (y/n) along with him so she could settle in his lap. It was a position they often adopted when alone. However, the fact that there were other people in the room at that moment flustered the woman, so she busied herself by playing with her sleeve. 

"Well, he's definitely a boy." Ray said, which made the girl on his knee roll her eyes.

"You should've called yourself Captain Obvious." She sassed, staring at the Ortho kid in the picture. She could swear he looked familiar, but she couldn't quite place it.

"A boy that's up to no good." Charlotte quipped, not trusting the new boy. 

"Oh, give him a break." Ray said, confusing the kids. They thought he would agree with them that Ortho was some criminal mastermind.

"What?" They both cried out.

"Yeah, the kid's new to your school, he's probably just a little awkward. Let's not make mumps out of marshmallows." (y/n) reasoned with Ray, despite the voice in her head telling her otherwise.

"He also threatened you." Henry deadpanned Ray, making him jump up. (y/n) fell out of his lap and tumbled to the floor. She looked up at Ray, who didn't notice her deathly glare.

"Me? What'd that little marsh mump say?" He growled.

"Friend on the floor here." (y/n) waved her hands in the air, prompting Ray to help her up.

"That his father was going to ''take care'' of you" Charlotte recalled, as Ray's hands squeezed his best friend's fingers in anger.

"Oh, did he? Well, we'll just see about..." Ray said, laughing but not from joy. Ortho had made this personal. (y/n) cut off his threat after Charlotte's words bounced around in her head, activating her muscle memory.

"Wait, did you say his father?" She looked to the kids, her brain racing to fit all the puzzle pieces together.

"Yep."

"Sure did." They confirmed and the woman started to snap her fingers at the computer.

"Henry, put that kid's pic back on the monitor and zoom in." She instructed. Once she was looking at the photo again, she covered the kid's face with her hand and looked at Ray.

"Does that hair look familiar to you?" She asked the man, who sat down again in thought.

"Oh my god." He said, realising who she was talking about.

"You guys ever heard of Drill Finger?" He turned to Henry and Charlotte.

"Those little pickles?" Charlotte was mistaken.

"I think those are Dill Fingers." Henry said, and the kids began to joke with each other about pickles.

"No, no, no, this is not about pickles!" (y/n) clicked her fingers to get their attention.

"We're talking about a dentist." Ray said seriously, the adults remembering the last time Captain Man encountered him. 

"Named Drill Finger?" Henry queried. 

"Yeah." The superhero confirmed.

"Well, he used to be a dentist, but then he turned evil and began a life of crime." (y/n) told the story, Henry and Charlotte leaning closer in curiosity.

"Three years ago, he kidnapped the mayor of Swellview and removed all his teeth." She described, making them shudder.

"That's why he only eats soup." Henry matched up to her story.

"Exactly." She replied.

"And what happened to Drill Finger?" Charlotte asked the adults.

"I captured him and took him to jail. But he was released three weeks ago" Ray divulged, making the four think that the villain was back and out for revenge. (y/n) tapped a few buttons and brought up his mugshot so they could compare it to Ortho.

"That's Drill Finger." Ray told them.

"Does he always wear a mask?" Henry asked, wanting to see his face.

"Yeah, but look at his hair. It's the same as Ortho's." (y/n) pointed out. Ray pressed the camera link button, opening the feed with Junk-N-Stuff, revealing that Gooch was on the phone.

"Hey, I can't talk right now. I"m on the phone with my nephew, Benji. He has the chickenpox." He said, removing the phone from his ear.

"Do you remember when I put Drill Finger in jail?" Ray asked.

"Of course." 

"What were his exact words as they took him away?" He questioned, looking thoughtfully at the monitor.

"He said, "As soon as I get out of here, I'm gonna take care of Captain Man."" Gooch answered in a menacing voice.

"That's what I thought." He said, as (y/n) folded her arms behind him.

"Dude, I could've told you that." She said.

"I wanted an independent party." Ray gave her his puppy dog eyes, and like always, they melted her annoyance away.

"Great. I've got to go." Gooch said, and Ray cut off the video and walked across the room in thought.

"So, Ortho is the son of Drill Finger?" Henry theorised.

"I knew it. I knew that boy was evil. I knew it." Charlotte said over and over again and (y/n) was inclined to agree with her. All the facts were pointing one way.

"Yeah, but did you know it?" Henry bantered.

"I did." Charlotte quipped back, feeling good about herself.

"But what are they up to?" Ray asked, the thought of criminals plotting made him uneasy.

"Well, I guess you're not gonna figure it out by wearing a ridiculously loud shirt and stroking your chin." (y/n) sassed him, even though she loved the way the shirt made his arms look huge and even through the bold pattern, she could see the way his back muscles rolled and tensed. 

"What do we do?" Charlotte looked to the superhero for ideas.

"We're gonna do a little spying on your new classmate, Ortho." He answered, gesturing to himself and (y/n) who looked at him in surprise. 

"What? You're taking me out into the field?" She said, excited at the prospect of spending time with him and getting out of the Man Cave for a change.

"We'll need to find a way into your school, maybe as substitute teachers." He said, the plan forming in his head. (y/n) nodded along, thinking that they just might get away with it.

"We can't just wait until one of our teachers gets sick." Charlotte pointed out, knowing that it could be weeks of waiting. 

"We might not have to..." (y/n) thought aloud, stroking her chin as Ray did earlier, everyone copying her actions. Ray looked at her fondly, seeing her devious plan grow in her head. 

~Later that day, Swellview High~

Ray, Gooch, Gooch's nephew and (y/n) were sneaking around the corridors of Henry's school. Following the young woman's plan, they needed to find the sidekick's history teacher, Miss Shapen. She was their target and Benji was their key. Ray being Ray, he had insisted that he and Gooch put on disguises to blend in with the students, but in truth, it just made them look plain weird.

"You two look ridiculous." She whispered to them, being dressed in her normal clothes. Ray's 'teenage' sweatshirt, complete with a long gold chain and Gooch's long trenchcoat made the pair stick out like sore thumbs, but they didn't listen to her.

Rounding the corner, they peeked past the lockers and saw Miss Shapen waltz through the main doors, minding her own business.

"Look, that's one of Henry's teachers, Miss Shapen." Ray said in a hushed tone.

"Just the woman I was looking for." (y/n) smirked.

"Let's do this." Gooch put a fedora on his head and Ray put on some dark sunglasses in a poor attempt to conceal their identities. 

"My chickenpox itches." Benji said, scratching at the spots on his back and chest. (y/n) crouched down in front of him.

"Benji, never tell anyone about this. There's ice cream in it for you afterwards." She said, looking both ways, before signalling for them to move once the teacher was in position.

"Move, move, move!" She said, and the three scrambled. Gooch seized Miss Shapen by the arms restraining her movements, as Ray lifted Benji by his arms and started rubbing his pox-riddled body over Miss Shapen's face. (y/n) stood guard by the corners, acting as the lookout in case a student or member of staff heard the commotion.

"HEY! Stop! Ahhh, what is going on?!" The teacher screamed, but all the students were in class, so all she could do was struggle against the men.

~The next day~

In Henry's history class, the kids stood around talking and laughing amongst themselves since no teacher had turned up yet. Jasper walked in and tried to get their attention, as he had some exciting news.

"Hey, guys!" He shouted, but no one paid attention.

"HEY, GUYS!" He shouted louder, but still, no one heard him apart from Henry, who paused his conversation with Charlotte and addressed the class for him.

"Hey, guys." This time everyone listened, slightly offending Jasper, but he quickly shrugged it off, as he remembered what he wanted to tell them.

"Principal says Miss Shapen has chickenpox." 

All right, free day." Henry said excitedly, and the class cheered with him, but Jasper quickly quelled their enthusiasm.

"No, no, no. No. He said we're getting a substitute." Everyone jeered when he said that, their happy mood dissolving.

"You don't think Ray and (y/n)..." Charlotte eyed Henry suspiciously, but he didn't share her look of misapprehension. 

"Nah, he wouldn't--" He was instantly eating his words as Ray burst in with (y/n) behind him. He was wearing a bold-check suit, glasses and had slicked his hair down with one thick curl at the front. Unlike him, (y/n) had chosen a normal disguise, which was just a typical teacher outfit she threw together.

"Hello, children." He said with a strange British accent. The entire class looked at him in confusion, as (y/n) struggled to take him seriously, a smile fighting to grow on her face.

"Everyone, please take your seats." He told them, walking in front of the board. (y/n) smiled at the class, even though the twenty-something pairs of eyes on her made her feel very, very small.

"It seems your regular teacher has caught the pox of a chicken." He spluttered out, his weird behaviour not helping (y/n)'s nerves.

"Nasty red bumpies all over her." He said, the accent making some kids in the back giggle and Henry look back at Charlotte in horror.

"But not to worry, I am your substitute, Mr Gelding." He tried to write his name on the whiteboard, but it wouldn't all fit, so he gave up.

"And this! This is my lovely teaching assistant, Miss Phalange." He said, pointing his arm straight at the young woman a few meters from him. She blushed at the word 'lovely', but waved at the class and greeted them.

"Hello everyone." At least the class weren't laughing at her. Henry could deal with (y/n) being the teacher; she actually looked like one, but Ray was being too weird. He got up and went to talk to him at the front of the class.

"Ray, are you kidding me?" He hissed, trying to keep his voice down.

"Shhh, I know what I'm doing." He whispered back.

"This is not going to work." Henry squeaked, as (y/n) eyed them in panic. The class were getting creeped out.

"It might work if you..." Ray muttered.

"You look ridiculous, at least (y/n) looks like a teacher." The teen tried to talk some sense into him.

"..just sit down." 

"Can you talk to me about this?" Henry tried to reason.

"No, I can't talk to you about this. Now sit down and trust me." Ray seethed, wanting to get on with the lesson. 

"You two are causing a scene." (y/n) ridiculed them, grabbing their ears sharply so they'd break apart.

"SIT DOWN BOY!" Ray scolded Henry, making the boy retreat to his desk.

"Yes, Mr Gelding." He complied, wobbling back to his seat.

"Okay class, let's take a roll call." (y/n) swallowed, as Ray rested on the teacher's desk. He grabbed his PearPad and looked at the list of names.

"We'll start with first names that begin with "O"." He said, wanting to single out Ortho.

"My name is Oliver." One of the bug-eating boys raised his hand.

"Shut up, Oliver," Ray said harshly, not really caring about the other students. 

"Where's, uh, where's Ortho?" He said, looking around at the kid's face. Tentatively, the ginger-haired boy raised his hand, declaring his presence. 

"Hello, Ortho," Ray said in a strange, ominous voice. (y/n) crept up behind him and stood and her tiptoes, getting as close as she could to the tall man's ear.

"You're being weird again." She whispered, and he moved back to the board so he could muddle his way through teaching. 

"Now then class, who can tell me about the isosceles triangle?" He asked the class, making (y/n) facepalm. 'I told him not to be weird.' She groaned in her mind.

"Sir? This is a history class." Jasper pointed out.

"Who can tell me about the history of the isosceles triangle?" Ray changed the question, the directed it at Ortho.

"Ortho, what do you know?" He stared at the boy, who squirmed in his seat.

"Um--I...I--I'm new." He stuttered, trying to hint that, he had no idea what was happening.

"Excuse me, Mr Gelding. Can I please talk to you outside in the hall?" Henry interrupted, standing from his chair.

"I'm in the middle of a lesson," Ray replied, wanting Henry to trust him.

"I have a question about my personal hygiene." Henry said in a loud and uncaring voice, forcing Ray to listen to him.

"To the hall, we go. Miss Phalange, take over." He said, trudging towards the door, (y/n) shrinking into herself at the thought of teaching alone.

"Hey, I have lots of questions about my hygiene." Jasper shouted at 'Mr Gelding' who just looked at him in disgust.

"Okayyyy class, who can tell me about..." (y/n) looked around the class and saw Charlotte pointing at her open book, which she had lifted so the older woman could see its contents. She quickly looked over the page and caught up on what they were studying.

"...The Colombian War of Independence?" Several hands went up, and she picked some students at random, feeling calmer now she had clever Charlotte to help her out.

~Meanwhile, in the hall~

"What are you doing? Why are you and (y/n) in my school?" Henry reproached his boss as soon as the door was closed.

"We're spying on Ortho." He said in the weird English voice, annoying Henry further.

"Will you stop with the accent?" Henry commented.

"We're spying on Ortho." Ray repeated, this time using his normal American drawl.

"Well, what'd you do with our regular teacher?" He asked, wondering what had happened to Miss Shapen.

"We gave her a disease." Ray revealed contritely.

"Oh my god." Henry looked away to the wall, not believing what he was hearing.

"Just chickenpox." Ray protested.

"That's the worst kind of pox." The teen whisper-yelled back.

"What about tuna pox?" The superhero tried to catch him out, but it didn't work.

"There's no such thing as tuna pox. You just like getting out of the Man Cave with your girlfriend." Henry couldn't help the words that fell from his lips.

"Okay, she's not my girlfriend, so just leave it. And, you and Charlotte were the ones that said Ortho's up to no good." Ray reminded him, getting defensive at the mention of (y/n) in that context.

"We already know his dad's Drill Finger. Now we just need to figure out what they're planning." Ray said, checking the window to see how the class was doing.

To his surprise, the classroom door opened and (y/n) stepped out into the hall, closing the door behind her.

"What's taking so long? The bucket kid keeps asking me questions about his personal hygiene." She looked between them, wondering why Ray's ears were pink.

"So?" Henry didn't understand the problem, normally (y/n) was so supportive and helpful with problems.

"So, you both better get back in there before I tell him things he does not wanna know." She threatened with a finger pointing to both of them. Turning around, she marched back into the class. Ray's eyes followed her until she was out of sight and then he looked at Henry again.

"Okay, you clear on the plan?" He asked him.

"No!" Henry cried since there was no plan.

"Let's go," Ray said, walking back in, Henry on his heels.

"I just wanna know if I should use different soaps for different parts of me." Jasper was asking (y/n). Charlotte looked at him like he had grown another head.

"Boy, no more questions for Miss Phalange. Now, history is filled with stories of evil, nasty people. Who can name some?" Ray questioned the class, actually being a semi-competent teacher.

"Oooh, Gengis Khan." Jasper suggested and Ray accepted his answer.

"Voldemort." Oliver Pook suggested, which Ray also agreed with, even though (y/n) knew he was a fictional character from Harry Potter.

"Big Bird?" Charlotte shouted out, making (y/n) furrow her eyebrows at the suggestion.

"Absolutely. Now... who can name some other evil people? Ortho?" Ray targeted the boy again. 'Captain Subtle strikes again.' The helper inwardly monologued.

"Um..." The boy stuttered, not knowing what to say.

"Oh, think Ortho. Surely you must know someone with evil intentions." Ray pressured him, speaking in a hard voice.

"Like oh, I don't know? Someone trying to sabotage this school?" (y/n) interjected, trying to keep up her teacher façade. 

"Yeah, Ortho." Charlotte agreed, she and Henry turning around in their seats so they could glare at the kid.

"I--I don't understand." He looked up at Ray in confusion.

"What are your plans?" Ray leaned on his desk and leant in closer to the boy, trying to intimidate him.

"Um, after class, I plan to eat a turkey wrap." He offered, not knowing what else to say.

"Aha!" Charlotte pointed at it, thinking it was part of some evil plan. Ray grabbed the bag and shredded it so all the contents could out. Grabbing Ortho's lunch, he chucked it over his back to Henry.

"You, student, examine Ortho's turkey wrap." Henry opened the lunch bag and tore the wrap apart to see if anything was inside.

"What is going on?" Jasper was so confused, as was the rest of the class.

"Wrap's clean." Henry reported, the filling falling on the floor. Ray walked to the front of the class again.

"Now, students to really know history, we must first learn your history." The superhero decided to switch tactics.

"So, tomorrow, it's Bring Your Father To Class Day." (y/n) butted in, but Ray liked her plan even more than his own so he went along with it.

"All our fathers?" Jasper asked innocently.

"No, let's just start with one father." Of course, they didn't need a class full of fathers. Just one in particular.

"My father lives in our basement." Oliver Pook mentioned.

"Put your hands over your face." 'Mr Gelding' directed him, that way he wouldn't have to speak with him.

"Ortho. You bring your father to class tomorrow." Ray looked at the ginger boy.

"O--okay." He agreed, still feeling uncomfortable with the situation.

"Look, I put your wrap back together." Jasper passed it to him, whilst Oliver Pook spoke again.

"I can't breathe." With all the weird kids in class, it made (y/n) feel grateful that she was a superhero's helper, not a teacher.

"Okay, class dismissed.' Ray said, grabbing (y/n)'s hand and pulling her out of the class since their work was done.

~The next day~

'Mr Gelding' and 'Miss Phalange' were back into the class the next morning. Despite changing his clothes to a thick, blue jumper and grey slacks, Ray still looked absurd as the hair and glasses were still the same. (y/n) had chosen another simple, yet believable disguise and it seemed that the class genuinely liked her.

Beginning the class, Ray glared at Ortho, wondering where his father was. 

"Alright lads and loonies, rumps in chairs." He still had his weird accent. As the class sat down, a ginger-hair man in glasses walked through the door, obviously being Ortho's father.

"Hello. Is this... Oh, hi, Ortho." The man greeted his son and Ray looked at the new man. (y/n) wasn't sure about his identity though. He didn't seem to be an evil mastermind, just a mild-mannered father.

"Hello, father." Ortho replied, making Henry look back at Charlotte.

"Well, if it isn't Ortho's daddy," Ray said, forgetting to do his voice.

"Accent." (y/n) coughed as she walked past her friend, reaching over to shake Ortho's father's hand.

"If it isn't Ortho's daddy." He corrected, not liking how friendly (y/n) was being with the suspected criminal.

"Yeah, sorry I'm a little late. I had some things to do." He smiled, shaking (y/n)'s hand with a firm grip.

"What kind of things?" Henry questioned him.

"Yeah, what things?" Charlotte added in.

"Just some work stuff. So I was told it's bring 'Your Father to Class Day'." Ortho's father asked the teachers.

"Yeah, that's right." (y/n) nodded at him with a genial expression.

"Okay...So, now what?" The man seemed confused.

"Maybe you could tell the children about the type of work you do and--" Ray slowly walked towards the man, putting himself between him and his helper. Once he was close enough, he sneaked his laser control from his pocket and fired a shot at Ortho's father, making him fall unconscious to the floor. (y/n) gasped along with the rest of the room, whilst Ray pretended to be innocent.

"Father!" Ortho cried out.

"Oh, bad luck. It appears that Ortho's father is having a medical episode." Ray told the class, but Ortho was too upset.

"No, I think you did something to him." The boy said, getting up from his seat and accusing Ray.

"Mr Gelding would never--" (y/n) tried to protect Ray, but Ortho still wasn't listening.

"I'm calling my mom and you'll be in big trouble." Henry used his whiz watch to shoot a laser at Ortho before he could tell anyone what had happened. The boy fell to the floor like his father.

"Uh-oh. There goes Ortho." Henry said in mock surprise.

"Oh no, the condition must be genetic." (y/n) lied.

"We should take them to the school nurse," Charlotte suggested and Ray quickly agreed.

"Good idea, let's hurry up, shall we?" Ray went to grab the father and Henry and Charlotte started to drag Ortho out by his feet. Surprising (y/n) with his strength, Ray lifted the man over his shoulder and hurried out of the classroom. 

"Class, read page 22." (y/n) said, before closing the door and ushering them all out of the school.

~The Man Cave~

Ray had put Ortho and his father in restraints, and now they were struggling to free themselves in the Man Cave.

"Where are we?" Ortho asked.

"I don't know, son." His father replied, tugging at the chains around his wrists. The door to the room behind the supercomputer opened and Henry and Ray stepped out in their superhero costumes, Charlotte and (y/n) in tow.

"Well, well, well." The superheroes said in turn, folding their arms and walking towards the father and son.

"Well," Henry added on the end.

"We only do three 'wells'" Ray told him, not wanting to look uncool in front of their prisoners.

"So, mister. Are you ready to admit that you're Drill Finger?" Charlotte stepped around the two and interrogated them.

"What?"

"Who's Drill Finger?" They both asked in confusion.

"You know you're Drill Finger." Charlotte pressed, wanting them to squeal the truth.

"You're a psychotic, evil dentist." Captain Man pointed at Ortho's father, who just looked pale and frightened.

"And now, it's your turn to get drilled." Henry tried to sass, but it fell flat.

"What's that mean?" (y/n) leaned down and said in his ear.

"I don't know, man." The teen wished he'd never said it.

"I'm not a dentist. I don't even floss." The chained man revealed as the alarm went off. (y/n) ran over to the computer, and opened the camera link to see what Gooch wanted.

"What Gooch? We're busy with Drill Finger?" Ray growled over her shoulder.

"No, you're not." (y/n) recoiled with a sinking feeling in her stomach.

"Huh?" 

"Drill Finger was just spotted in Nebraska," Gooch reported, and they all looked at him in shock.

"Nebraska? As in Nebraska above Kansas?" (y/n) really hoped it was a mistake, but it seemed they had made a grave error.

"Affirmative. He put four megatons of sugar in the water supply." 'Sweet cheese.' (y/n) wanted to slap herself.

"Situation?" Henry asked.

"Water very sweet. Teeth in danger." Gooch replied, even though all could have guessed that.

"Understood." Ray closed the link and turned to his friends, who all shared his look of guilt.

"What do we do?" Henry said, stepping back from the computer.

"Nothing, we only protect Swellview," Ray told him.

"Yeah, Nebraska's not our problem." (y/n) agreed with him.

"Right." They all looked at Ortho and his father, who were both glaring at them.

"But you guys... If the real Drill Finger is in Nebraska, who's that guy?" Charlotte pointed out.

"He's my dad, you dip twits!" Ortho yelled at them.

"But, why'd you want to know where our school's water supply was?" Henry asked, as all the puzzle pieces in his head started to fall.

"Because my uncle sells water filters for schools and small businesses." They all looked at their shoes.

"Okay, but why'd you ask about our school's security cameras?" Charlotte still thought that was dodgy, but Ortho's father quickly gave a reason.

"Because at Ortho's last school, the security cameras caught him picking his nose." Again, they all looked away when they heard the explanation.

"After that, some of the other kids called me 'Booger boy'," Ortho explained, and (y/n) couldn't help but feel bad for him, but Ray just found it funny, making everyone glare at him.

"Kids can be cruel." He said after (y/n) pinched his arm to make him say something nice.

"Okay, wait...then why did you say your dad was gonna take care of Captain Man?" Henry questioned them and Charlotte and Ray nodded with him.

"Because my father owns a chain of retirement homes for old people," Ortho explained.

"And I'm building a new one here in Swellview." His father continued.

"It's still in the planning phase." Suddenly everything became clear and the superhero team felt very stupid.

"And, when Captain Man gets old, I hoped I could take of him... To thank him for being such a wonderful superhero." Ray laughed awkwardly, having been so horrible to a man who only wanted to do nice things for him.

"Will you excuse us for just one second? We'll be right back." (y/n) smiled sweetly at the man as she pulled Ray and Charlotte backwards, Henry following too.

"Okay, we screwed up bad." Ray squeaked, once they had moved away, rubbing his neck sheepishly.

"Bad is an understatement. We're gonna go down for this." (y/n) hissed back.

"I better not get in trouble for this," Henry commented, imagining what would happen if Ortho told the whole school what he'd gone through.

"Let's just calm down." (y/n) tried to keep control of the situation, but Charlotte was panicking.

"Hey. Just know I am not going to jail for the three of you." She told them, making her friends shush her loudly. Ray told them to follow his lead, as he sauntered over to the two ginger-haired men again.

"Hey. So good news..." Ray started in a cheerful voice.

"What?" Ortho snapped.

"We've clearly made a mistake here." Ray smiled at them, even though Ortho and his father hated the group.

"So we're gonna let you both go." Henry smiled too.

"As long as you don't mention any of this to anyone." (y/n) tried to use her puppy-dog eyes, but it seemed they only worked on Ray, as Ortho and his father strongly disagreed.

"Are you nuts?" 

"As soon as we get out of here, we're going right to the police." The father confirmed, making the group tense in fear. Ray didn't know what else to do, so he took his laser control from his utility belt.

"Well, in that case.." He shot both of them again, making (y/n) look at him with a puzzled face.

"What was that for? Don't you think we've traumatised them enough?" She said, Henry and Charlotte agreeing with her.

"Just help me get them down." Captain Man said tiredly.

"Aw, man," Charlotte said, as she and Henry grabbed Ortho and Ray and (y/n) dealt with his father.

~

They took the unconscious bodies to a shady back alley in downtown Swellview. Henry dragged Ortho as Ray and (y/n) dumped his father from a shopping cart. He flopped onto the floor, making Charlotte sigh with impatience.

"Will you guys hurry up?" She asked, not wanting to get caught. 

"What about when they wake up? They're gonna get us in trouble." Henry pointed out, so Ray grabbed his memory eraser.

"Not if they don't remember anything that happened." He said, quickly using it on Ortho and his father, much to (y/n)'s anger.

"We can't leave them here not knowing who they are or where they live." She scolded him, but Ray thought it was for the best.

"Now, they won't remember anything?" Henry wanted to confirm.

"Not a thing," Ray smirked, and his sidekick thought it was pretty awesome. The men on the floor started to move.

"They're waking up!" Charlotte noticed, but (y/n) didn't like the thought of them being left alone with no memories.

"You're seriously not suggesting that we--" Ray left no room for her to argue, as he grabbed her wrist and threw her over his shoulder in a fireman's lift. 

"Raymond! I swear to God, put me down!" She thumped his back and kicked her legs, but the man holding her ignore it.

"Run!" He said, and the group quickly escaped before Ortho or his father spotted them. They sprinted to the Man Van and Ray dumped (y/n) onto the back seat before getting in the front and speeding away.

"Sometimes I want to break your face." She sulked from the back.

"You know a face this handsome can't be broken." Ray quipped, causing her cheeks to warm and silence to fall over her. Looking up in the mirror, Henry and Charlotte smirked to themselves, knowing the effect Ray's words had on her, even if he never noticed it.

[pradaxstyles]

Alexa’s notes✨: this is a little self indulgent, but I hope you all enjoy some college! Ellie <3 let me know if you like this and I can always come up w some more for different scenarios 🌷

Thinking about college! Ellie and how she’d be hanging at your house for hours just sitting with you while you did homework/studied. Her classes finished early for the semester so she’s been nothing but supportive when it came to your studies. 

❃ “Come on baby, one more problem and we’ll take a break.”

❃ Your laptop and notes would be laid out messily, colorful pens and highlighters with caps mismatched (this was all Ellie, you hated when she did it) while she’s helping you go through your notes.

❃ “Okay, do you think you could tell me how to solve Hardy Weinberg’s Equilibrium formula? Or do we need to do a few more practice problems? Here, hand me that flow chart and we’ll go over it again.” 

Ellie would be really good at math, majoring in mechanical engineering so your bio homework is a breeze for her. She'd be all over you with the encouraging words, walking you through every step of an equation and explaining it. 

❃ ”No, no I don’t wanna hear it, you can absolutely do it. Just gotta put that pretty mind to it, you got it.”

❃ She’d be sitting next to you on your bedroom floor, playing some soft music from your shared playlist through your laptop, her knees pressed into yours while she waved a pen around.

❃ “What the fuck even is this? Why is this in biology to begin with?” 

She’d crack the stupidest jokes just to see your smile. She hated when you were stressed, and as final exams approached, it seemed as if you were always stressed, and she couldn't have that. 

❃ “Baabbbeeeee I have snacks! We’re gonna hunker down and study for your history exam and we’ll watch an episode of the office! How does that sound, my pretty girl?” 

❃ “Uhhh, why did henry viii have so many wives? What a whore.”

❃ She’d go on random tangents about people in history and how “I can’t believe they used to do that! Can you imagine if we did that nowadays?” 

And when you were really down on yourself, feeling like there was no end in sight, Ellie was right there, reminding you that you were so close to the finish line. 

❃ “I know, sweets. I know. You're almost there. You have no idea how smart and capable you are. You’re gonna crush these exams, and if you don’t, I'll crush your professors,” she’d say with a sly smirk on her face, resulting in you pushing her arm slightly.

❃ “No but I'm serious, babe. I know it seems like it’s all piling up and that it’s one thing after another, but you can do it. If anyone can, you’ll be the one to kick ass.”

❃ “My girl is graduating college in a few weeks. College. That’s fucking huge. I'm sososo proud of you, angel.” 

On exam days, she’d make sure you had a good breakfast, insisting on sleeping over the night before so she could make sure you ate. She’d walk you to class and send an encouraging text as you took your seat. 

❃ “You’re gonna crush it, babe!” 

❃ “Remember to take a deep breath and think each problem through.” 

❃ “No matter what the result is, I'm so fucking proud of you.” 

At the end of finals week, she’d pamper you the way you deserved. Ellie would plan a date night where she absolutely spoiled you and showered you in kisses and cuddles. Every time she looked at you or even in your general direction, her gaze was so full of love and pride. 

[sparkliingdust]

I gotta be honest and say that I was disappointed with the interview with Chris for GQ. I don't want to make it seem like I'm rallying against Chris or have Alba haters after me as if I'm siding with them that she's ruined his life (because please get off the internet and touch grass) but that interview was still disappointing.

Namely, I'm super confused at how stans attacked the interviewer for Esquire for 'painting him in a bad light'...when the new GQ interview literally covers all the same topics and is 3x longer, and Chris did himself no favors as far as his pseudo-personal and professional image goes.

Chris doesn't like to talk about himself and spends the whole interview talking about that anxiety about talking about himself? but he'll read the interviews he gives about how much he hates to talk about himself and how he still doesn't like to do interviews because of the way he comes across?...when interviews are essentially about talking about yourself or investigating your experiences about your life and how they relate to yourself? Check.

His main source of someone vouching for him is his mom? Check.

He talks about Dodger's purity? Check.

He admits to not liking a lot of the work he's done but doesn't talk about his ambition to do better? just leave Hollywood behind and be a carpenter? Check.

How much he likes Boston over L.A.? Check

I hate how harsh this sounds but the last thing this thing needed was him to mention how much he likes karaoke, Disney, and his favorite movie is Legends of the Fall. Like, I don't read interviews for the juiciest gossip or rumors. But for good writing by the journalist and to learn about human stories. And SIR, there was nothing about nothing going on here. As an actor that I really like for his work, it was just....frustrating.

I was about 2/3 through when I just started feeling like DAMN, he is really stuck in a mindset cycle that he has not grown out of in three years, at the very least. At some point, I really did feel like if he feels if it's in his best interests to leave Hollywood, feel free to leave. Because he shows an incapability to a) be proud of the work that he does even if it has mediocre responses like everyone faces and b) really challenge himself and go after projects that are apparently what he enjoys about his career like Snowpiercer, Knives Out, etc. I'm not sure what other objective the interview was supposed to have. And, I'm not putting that result on the writer because you really can only do so much padding and 'digging', or in this case, surface-level reporting if your subject is giving so little.

Since I mentioned Alba before, I have no hate or ill towards her whatsoever. If they're married, good for them. I'm happy that he mentioned Alba versus the alternative route he takes which is to never talk about his significant partners. (It is somewhat side-eyed that when the math is mathing and if you rewind the clock ten years, he would've been 32 and she would've been 16).....No one can say what happens behind the scenes and how he is able to help them through the hateful misogynist scrutiny...but at the same time, the fact that she had to deactivate her account months before him due to the attacks, and he only did it for a social media break does subtly speak wonders about how online culture does not give women the grace to be in a public famous relationship as much as it does a man.

Other actors - with just as rabid fans either continue living their life as best as possible doing what they love (Tom Hiddleston despite the racist attacks against his partner) or at least have come out to stans to stay knock it off (Henry Cavill). Two (if not all) of Chris' girlfriends have been thrown to the wolves online - and one (Jenny) mentioned the stress that they were put under by being in that relationship which is neither of their faults...but he never said anything to protect them - it was just to stay off the radar entirely and keep as quiet as possible. They have the privilege and the means to do so, and it's their choice. If he's gonna take a retirement, that's what retirement is - living a low-key life. But it's also somewhat disconcerting to me that his/their form of escaping trolls and haters is just to hole up in his mansion in Boston, and she gets the brunt of the hate online while he continues to promote his projects, Jinx, do A Starting Point, etc. All of their choices are their own, and their adults to make them. I just hope if she decides to continue with her career, she gets the opportunity to do so if he decides to leave Hollywood behind for a while/forever.

I, like anyone, has been a fan of his and had a crush on him at some point that's worn off. But his inability to grow - emotionally, ambitiously in his career, etc. - at least in the interviews he's been recently and throughout his career - is really making me take a step back as a fan, even though I think I'm as far back as one can get.

[rmd-writes]

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. Let’s spread the self-love❤

Thanks Michelle! Choosing five fics was like trying to choose a favourite child which is to say, it's impossible. Okay, that's a lie, my favourite child is the one who is not sucking the life from my soul at any given moment. Yesterday both of my kids got a turn - first my youngest, because he very sweetly packed me a little fun size Crunchie bar from his personal stash of lollies and brought it to the movies for me and kept checking whether I'd eaten it yet and if I liked it. But then later he was being so loud I couldn't think, so his older sister became my favourite child because she told him to be quiet. Anyway, I'm turning into one of those recipe bloggers who can't give a recipe without sharing their whole life's story, so here is my list of fics I'm proud of in which I absolutely cheat by sharing some fic series:

don't estop me now (RWRB)

(read to the victor, the spoils first and then the prequel, what, like it's hard?)

I'm really so proud of this lawyer AU! I had an absolute blast writing these fics and I think it shows in my writing - it's definitely some of my best. What, like it's hard? is the first really substantial long fic I've ever written and that in itself was a challenge but the snarky rivarly between Alex and Henry is just so fun to write! Whenever I see comments roll in on these fics it just makes me smile so hard to see other people enjoying them

Soon (Tarlos)

PWP but make it bite-sized (aka 37, 100-word chapters). This started as a drabble but then I got the slightly unhinged idea to continue the fic in drabbles (ie precisely 100 words at a time). Was it a challenge to write only 100 words and make sure each chapter told enough of the story in so few words? Yes. Did I have so much fun edging Carlos and the fandom alongside him? Also yes.

Feeling kind of sketchy (Schitt's Creek)

artist!David unwittingly helps Patrick find himself and finds love along the way. This one is a little different in style to my usual writing, and I really leaned into the slightly more poetic style in the second part which I actually structured around a poem.

Precious Love (Tarlos)

A 5+1 exploring TK's relationship with love and self-worth. I don't usually write much angst but I dove into it for this one and I like how it turned out! Don't worry, it has a happy ending, I'm incapable of writing anything else!

Do you even lift, bro? (Tarlos)

aka my Tarlos gym AU - each of these fics (Let's Get Physical, Let Me Hear Your Body Talk, I gotta handle you just right) stands alone as a one-shot but they are part of a planned seven-part series which contains an actual plot, despite the way they read like pwp. The thing I'm most proud of in these fics though, is the coding - with a big assist from @celeritas2997, I learned to code well enough to embed actual instagram posts and DMs with photos in these fics, which for someone who is absolutely not a STEM girlie, is a very big deal.

The Grindr Toolbox: A Guide to Getting Nailed

A Helping Hand (Tarlos)

This Is Not A Drill (David x Patrick)

Are You Screwing with Me? (firstprince)

I set out to write three fics for three fandoms based on one prompt, and while it was a tricky balance to set up three very different fics using the same loose structure, I like how these turned out!

[avissapiens]

Jockbull Summer Week 5 Set A (11/12/23-17/12/23)

Model Used is Tsonghan Wu

1.

This week was..disappointed in terms of actual progress towards the goal. I kept having Pushup days fall on Days where i was training chest. So there’s been no increase in the max because i didn’t even hit the max this week. I did however attempt to integrate a different mode of reaching the new maximums where i do it in sets starting small and then aiming for the final set to be 40+. But idk, i think just going one and done has seen the best overall increase. Gotta get back on track.

2.

Nil on this front save for the comps i’ve already got going. I did also rope my best friend of a decade into the push up comp and he is already on my heels after a week which makes me really proud but also really pissed.

3.

The Item for this week is another shirt. I threw this out because i realized that i have to pay more attention to my colour scheme if i want to get my aesthetic on point. This is another cheapo, over-sized Grey sweatshirt. That dull grey just washes me out. It’s not a shade that speaks of distinction, but blandness. I have an alternate to it that's in black and I think that one looks a lot better on me despite being the same type of shirt. That said, I may regret having chucked this one when winter finally rears its ugly head again. But its summer and we vibe.

4.

Dewds, this one is like so fukin fun rite? Like i feel so godamn Chad when i’ve got this voice goin. I had like an hour long convo with my brah @jocksupremacy an like i know duder was getting chubbed up listenin to me. I even like tranced the fuck outta him just with the voice. It was super rad.

5.

If you would have told me that hypnosis would be a major plot point in this hot man fighting anime i would have laughed in your face. And after seeing exactly how it manifests I’d laugh even harder.

6.

Kind of funny but the day after i wrote the stuff about over-thinking the approach to new dudes, I went and just did the thing. Dude i’ve seen around suuuper regularly. He’s never seemed to grow all that much but his strength is fucking impressive. Crazy Prs. Name’s Henry and he’s going into Uni next year. Stuck between a Compsci and an Engineering degree which frankly is what everyone seems to be getting into here. Seems cool as hell, disarmingly broey voice.

[gayhoediaz]

1, 11, and 14 for the love your fandom asks, if you feel so inclined. 😊 (whatever fandom is speaking to you most at the moment)

we’re doing a mashup of fandoms ♡

1. list 3 positive things about your current fandom(s)

i love how trans!henry and t4t firstprince is so prevalent and common in the ao3 tag, i’ve never quite seen it to this degree in any other fandom i’ve been in!

the lacho fandom is just so chill, maybe that’s cause it’s small atp, but it’s truly just so. anything goes, everyone’s having fun.

the multishipping in the iwtv fandom is elite. (there are people arguing as always, but. not on my dash 💫✨) so many writers are writing loustat and devil’s minion and lestat x daniel and it’s wonderful i want all of it.

11. if you're a writer or artist, what fic or piece of art are you proud of making?

still, for whom the bell tolls and into the fire ♡

14. the ship that always makes you smile

gotta be firstprince. they’re just so cute and romcom and gone for each other and there’s never really that much drama between them.

✨love your fandom asks✨