#he just wants to sell furniture and love his wife

[riccissance]

Been thinking a lot about the brunch scene with Shauna, Jeff, and Jackie’s parents and what it can tell us about the characters. I may be misremembering, but I’m pretty sure Jackie’s dad stays pretty much silent the whole time. Jackie’s mom is clearly the decision-maker in the couple and it seems like he’s along for the ride. He grabs her hand to show solidarity in the offer to pay Callie’s tuition but is pretty irrelevant on his own.

I think that knowing this is Jackie’s main example of love growing up can contextualize a lot of her and Shauna’s dynamic. Jackie’s parents have shown her that love is one person submitting to another. It’s her dad going along with her mom’s decisions and blindly supporting everything she does. It’s her mom taking charge for both of them and not asking for his input. Jackie seems to act like her mom with Shauna and expect Shauna to act like her dad. Their relationship doesn’t even necessarily need to be interpreted as romantic, though I think it can be. Shauna is Jackie’s main person. She seems like the only person that Jackie has any real intimacy with throughout the show. So it makes sense that she’d try to mirror her parents’ relationship with her.

So when Shauna wants to make her own decisions or just disagrees with Jackie, Jackie interprets that as Shauna not loving her. If Shauna loved her, then she would agree no matter what. Of course, that’s not healthy and it makes Shauna feel stifled, but it’s all Jackie knows. And Jackie feels like any indication of Shauna’s independence means she loses her. So Jackie tries to cling harder to her, to control more, which only serves to push Shauna further away. 

And Shauna, the nonconfrontational child of divorce, can’t talk to Jackie about how she feels. Jackie has demonstrated that if Shauna is her own person, Jackie will leave. Shauna disagreed with Jackie’s idea to stay by the plane, and Jackie’s immediate response was to ignore her all day. She even pretended to buddy up to Mari to make Shauna jealous. So Shauna feels like Jackie sees her as replaceable. If she tries to be independent at all, she loses Jackie. And as much as Shauna is resentful of the position Jackie has put her in, she still loves Jackie and doesn’t want to lose her. 

I feel like the show does a good job of giving us enough context on each character to understand why they act the way they do. They make dumb decisions because they’re teenagers and can’t fully understand their own baggage. But at their heart, they’re both desperately trying to maintain their friendship. They lash out when they feel rejected. Jackie’s problem is with the interpretation of Shauna’s actions. She views any disagreement or deviation as rejection. Shauna’s issue is with communication. She thinks that openly admitting her frustrations would make Jackie leave her. 

Plus, the Taylors have made it clear that Jackie can’t just be good. She has to be the best, which means better than Shauna. So Shauna has to be the passive, lesser side kick while Jackie has to remain in control at all times and keep being the best. The funny thing is, they tell Shauna and Jeff how much better than them Jackie would be doing if she was alive, but if Jackie was there, they would probably be telling her she should be doing better. There is no ceiling to being the best so Jackie could never be enough while she was alive. 

I just think it’s very interesting that a pretty short scene with the Taylors can give us so much insight into Jackie as a character. We don’t see Shauna’s parents but their divorce is mentioned which makes it feel relevant. It makes sense that her parents splitting up would contribute to Shauna’s passivity and inability to communicate. Her parents admitted they were unhappy and her family was broken up. If Shauna just never admits she’s unhappy, nothing has to change. 

I really love how layered and morally grey all these characters are. And it’s just so devastating because these were manageable issues that got mixed up with teen angst before being thrown into a life-or-death situation. None of it needed to happen but these girls didn’t know any other way to be. 

[a-hazbin-reader]

HII

Could you do some hcs of alastor with wife!reader who ABSO(LUTE)LY adores dogs? (alastor hates the dog with his entire life)

I mean...he kinda has a good reason not to be a dog person...

😡

Alastor X Reader Headcanons

✅️Romantic

❌️Platonic

TW: Alastor Vs Doggo 🐶 Cannibalism, Vox getting owned by dog

Description: ☝️⬆️

Look, Alastor loves you deeply and would do anything for you, absolutely anything

Except let you have a dog

Absolutely not, he won't have a dog running around in his hotel and creating problems

He can already see it

The dog using the hotel as it's personal bathroom, gnawing on his hooves and ruining all the furniture

Humping everything in sight!!

You can have anything else, you can have Niffty! She makes a good pet don't you think?

No

How about Husk? He's basically a cat

"Fuck you!"

You want a dog, you even have one picked out already

You what? When did you even have time to go look at dogs? He's been purposefully keeping you busy anytime you mention one

The bite marks all over your body are evidence of it

Totally doesn't believe you're actually bringing home a dog until you do, then he's spitting out his tea

"Y/N, darling, what is that?"

"A smoothie."

"You know what I mean."

"Oh this? Our new dog, isn't he cute?"

You can't have a dog in the hotel-

Charlie and everyone else already agreed to it, even Husk said yes just to piss off Alastor

So everyone is on your side and you'll have adequate help, Alastor won't hardly ever even notice the dog

Except he does notice the dog, like all the time

The damned beast is always trying to hop up next to him, only to be shoved off by Alastor

"No furry beasts on the furniture~ The hair is a nightmare to clean up. Disgusting really..."

Not Husk and Angel giving him dirty looks for that one

After a couple of unsuccessful attempts to sit next to him, it simply settles for resting by his feet

At least it makes a decent footrest

Or the dog is always hogging your attention, sitting in your lap, laying with you in bed, following you around

How is a man supposed to sleep with his wife when there's some mutt in his spot???

You've caught Alastor glaring at your dog a few times, especially when you're giving him scratches and pets

He wants to be the one to hog your lap and be pampered by you, maybe you could even try giving him a belly rub or two

It certainly looks appealing

Alastor at least thinks he can get time alone with you outside of the hotel but nope, you insist on taking the dog with you

"He needs the fresh air and exercise, Alastor!"

But your husband needs some alone time with you! He's not being dramatic!

Or he's trying to enjoy his breakfast?? Guess who's paws are on the table, begging and slobbering over the idea of a bite

"Absolutely not, you can just forget abou-HEY!"

Looks like his breakfast now belongs to the dog

You definitely make him another breakfast and apologize over and over again

Kiss him and sit in his lap, then maybe he'll consider forgiving you~

Sometimes, when you're sleeping, Alastor and the dog will be locked into a staring match

"I don't like you."

Whine

Rosie tries to sell him on the idea of just maybe liking this one dog, even she's taken a liking to him apparently

Traitor

You make Alastor promise that he won't ever get rid of the dog, OR EAT HIM, OR HURT HIM

And he can't break a promise he made to his darling wife

But he hates this fucking dog with a passion so when the dog suddenly gets out one day? He's perfectly content to let him run off

Until he realizes how upset you would be that your beloved pooch is gone and that gives him pause

Fffffffffuck

Not him spending all day trying to find a dog he doesn't even like, asking everyone if they've seen him

Nope, no, sorry no, ect

Just when Alastor has just about given up and started to contemplate trying to replace the mutt, he hears a familiar yell

"IS THIS DOG FUCKING PISSING ON ME!?"

Vox

Following the sound, Alastor is greeted with the sight of your dog running circles around Vox, who's standing in a puddle with wet pants

For some reason, the delightful mutt has taken to terrorizing him, biting at his limbs only to jump just out of reach of Vox's claws

Maybe it's something he's picked up from Alastor, you certainly didn't teach the dog that

The sight is too funny for Alastor, who doesn't even try to stop the dog, only laughing maniacally

Maybe this mutt isn't so bad

Later, when he comes home with the dog, you notice they seem much fonder of each other

Alastor goes and picks him out a fancy new leash, he starts giving him table scraps and he even invites the dog to be his footrest

Quit putting your feet on my dog

Stop giving the dog fingers!!

You catch him giving the pup a few scratches here and there, almost in an absent-minded manner

He starts calling the dog by his name instead of calling him beast, mutt, hound, monstrosity, ect

He even gives the dog his own room at the hotel with his own fluffy doggy bed

Okay, that last part might just be him wanting his marital bed back

We love dogs in this house!!

[ashwhowrites]

can i request a little bit of angst?

eddie is in his late twenties, finally got his shit together, a baby on the way with reader! and eddie’s OLDER brother shows up. he’s an asshole, exactly like their dad, tries hitting on reader, crashes on their couch, makes eddies life hell then it all comes to a head and they end up fighting!

I really love this request!!! 🫶🏻

Never proofread

I hope this is what you wanted, thank you for requesting <3

Happy ending

~~~

If there was one thing in life Eddie didn't think he'd ever achieve, it was getting his life together. He never thought he'd make it out of the trailer park. And he definitely never thought he'd have a wife by his side and a baby on the way.

It took Eddie a long time to get on his feet. Selling drugs and living with his uncle was not the future he wanted for himself. He used his dirty money and got himself a shitty apartment, in the corner of the dirtiest neighborhood, but it was all his. And being on his own was something he could be proud about.

~~~

He was living in that apartment for around five years when he met Y/N. She moved into the apartment next to him, struggling to carry boxes through the front door. Eddie was happy he lived on the first floor, easily walking out behind her, trying his best to not seem creepy.

She turned around and screamed as she saw him. A hand over her chest. Eddie jumped at the scream, hands in the air to show he meant no harm.

"I am so sorry! I just wanted to see if you needed help." He offered with the friendliest smile he could manage.

Who would have thought in three years, he would have been marrying that girl.

~~~

Marriage life was the best thing Eddie has experienced, and he felt that fatherhood would be the same. He never knew how badly he craved a family until he was on the path of creating his own. He could start fresh, start a new family tree of the Munson name. A name that didn't have to be originated from prisoners, dealers, and being poor. He wanted the Munson name to be carried on through generations, with all good things behind it. Having a wife like Y/N take his name, told him he had a strong beginning.

She was around six months, her belly growing by the day. Together they made enough to buy a small home, in a safer neighborhood. Nothing too flashy, but it was their home and it meant everything. Eddie gagged at the thought of a white picket fence but he loved seeing it shine in the morning sun when Y/N watered the plants.

The nursery was nearly finished. The walls painted baby pink, and the furniture white. Eddie's favorite bands posted on the walls. He claimed their daughter needed to get her music journey started right away.

Eddie was the happiest he's ever been until an unwelcome visitor showed up at his door.

Y/N knew everything about Eddie, except his family. She knew Uncle Wayne and that was all. She respected that Eddie was private about his family and that he didn't care to share who they are.

So Y/N stood in shock when an older man stood at her door, the same shade of brown as her husband. A similar smile on the man's face, and a slightly bigger version of Eddie's nose.

"I'm looking for my brother," the man stated, looking her up and down. A tiny smirk on his face. But his smirk didn't give her butterflies, it made her stomach turn in a bad way.

She screamed for Eddie, a polite smile on her face. The longer Eddie took the more nervous she got.

"How far are you?" The man questioned, his hand reaching for her stomach.

She took a big sigh of relief when Eddie's hand shot out and stopped the man's touch from touching her. He stood in front of her. Completely blocking her view from the stranger.

"Little E, how the hell are you?" The stranger asked

"What are you doing here?" Eddie snapped. She watched as his body was stiff, she slipped her hand in his back pocket and stood on the side of him.

"Got out of jail, needed a place to crash. Wayne is going out of town and doesn't trust me alone in his place." The man rolled his eyes as he finished his sentence.

"I don't blame him since the last time you did you trashed it," Eddie said, his jaw was tight and his face was hard.

"Come on, E, help a brother out."

~~~

Eddie wasn't sure why he said yes, but he already regretted it watching the way his brother's eyes were glued to his wife.

"Quit staring," Eddie snarled, using his foot to kick him under the table.

Y/N hummed in the kitchen as she checked the chicken. Trying her best to keep her attention off of the two men at the dining table. She felt her body shudder underneath Michael's stare.

"Quite a woman you got there," Michael said, sipping on his beer

Eddie didn't say anything, accepting the silence instead.

Y/N smiled as she placed the food on the dinner table. Putting together a plate for Eddie and placing it in front of him.

"Gonna make me a plate, pretty girl?" Michael winked, his hand reaching forward to her wrist. She gulped and looked nervously at Eddie.

"Leave her alone." Eddie snapped

Michael put his hands up in surrender, making his own plate.

The three sat in silence.

~~~

Michael has been crashing on the couch for the past week, and every day he was getting on Eddie's last nerve.

Y/N worked from home and spent most of the day in her office, Eddie worked at a car dealership. He hated leaving for work and leaving her alone with Michael. He didn't trust Michael but Eddie's boss would also kick his ass for not showing up.

He kept his phone on him at all times, reminding Y/N to call the second she needed him to come home.

~~~

Michael said he found a friend to crash with and would be leaving shortly. Asking Y/N if she would help him clean his clothes and pack up his belongings. She honestly felt too scared to tell him no, silently scooping up his clothes and bringing them to the small laundry room. She excused herself to head into the shower. Eddie would be home within minutes so she felt safe to be in a vulnerable state, checking twice to make sure the door was locked.

~~~

Eddie pulled up in the driveway, bracing himself for another night of trying not to kill Michael with his bare hands. He walked in to see his house trashed, the cushion torn apart, and the cupboards all thrown open, he heard shuffling around in the bedroom. He raced to the noise to see Michael digging through their drawers.

"What the fuck? Are you trying to rob us?" Eddie asked in disbelief, Michael's backpack was filled with random items. Eddie yanked the bag out of his grip, dumping it all out on the bed.

He felt his blood boil when Y/N's ring fell out. But once his brain caught up with seeing the ring, his blood felt cold. She ONLY took it off when she was in the shower. Eddie turned his eyes to Michael, immediately shoving him against the wall.

"Where did you grab the ring?" He prayed with everything in him that she left it in the bedroom.

"She had it sitting on the bathroom counter, she couldn't see me with her back to me. Really hit the jackpot there, Eddie. Shes' smoking."

Eddie felt his stomach turn, he felt like he could throw up at any moment.

"You fucking pig. Don't talk about her." Eddie barked, twisting Michael's shirt in his grip.

"A really nice ass, I bet her tits ar-" But Eddie kicked Michael in the stomach before he could finish.

~~~

Y/N heard a commotion in the bedroom, fear in her stomach as she got covered herself in a towel and called Wayne. Racing out of the bathroom to see Eddie on top of Micahel, screaming and punching.

"OH MY GOD, EDDIE" She panicked, she knew getting in the way would put the baby in danger, but she has never seen Eddie so out of control.

The sound of her scream caused Eddie to freeze, and both men looked to see her.

"Eddie, stop," She said calmly. She placed her hand out, offering him to stand up. He took a deep breath and got off of Michael. Grabbing his bag and throwing it on him.

"You are out." Eddie snarled

Michael coughed as he tried to move his beaten-up body. Eddie rolled his eyes and dragged Michael to his feet.

"I have his clothes," Y/N said, quickly running out to the laundry room.

Michael smirked as Eddie looked over at him.

"What asshole?" Eddie asked.

"I see why you knocked her up. When she was bent over that washing machine." Michael groaned, rubbing himself over his jeans.

Eddie lost it again, immediately throwing his body on his.

Y/N came back with the clothes to see Michael unconscious, but the look in Eddie's eyes was unrecognizable.

She didn't fear him, but she was worried for him.

She breathed a sigh of relief when Wayne came through the door, yanking Eddie off of Micahel.

"Hey, hey, look at me," Wayne instructed, grabbing the sides of Eddie's face, forcing his eyes to look at him.

Eddie's body was shaking, his knuckles cut open, and his breathing was quick and harsh.

Eddie locked his eyes on Waynes, allowing himself to calm down.

"I'll take care of him, hug your wife and go clean up."

Eddie listened in seconds, turning around to throw himself in his wife's arms. Allowing her to hide in his neck. She rubbed his back and cooed in his ear.

She took him to the bathroom to clean up his hands. Kissing each knuckle as she cleaned the blood.

"I'm sorry I let him stay here." Eddie sighed, he couldn't believe he was that dumb. He watched Wayne do the same thing with Eddie's dad for years, and yet he did the same thing.

"Don't be. You wanted to help and that was sweet of you." She said, standing between his legs as he sat on the counter.

They heard the front door close, Wayne and Michael officially gone.

"I'm sorry my family is a mess, this I why I never wanted you to know them." He added. His hands reached down to rub her stomach.

"Wayne is your family, I'm your family, and she is your family. That's the only family I care to know. Wayne raised the man I love and he is the only one I need to know. I have the two best Munsons in my life." She said, leaning up to peck his lips.

"Well, I get to have three." He smiled, kissing her back and his hand stayed on her stomach.

This was his real family.

~~~

tags!

@bmunson86 @mxcheese @ladymunson @michaelfuckinglangdon @z0mbie-blah @biittersweet @mirrorsstuff @slightlyvicked @micheledawn1975 @ago-godance @magnificantmermaid @tlclick73 @hargrovesswifee @cityofidek @manyfandomsfanvergent @silky-luxe @lokiofasgard616 @loving-and-dreaming @eddiemunsonsbitch69 @thegemaqua @ashlynnkennedy @strangerthingsstories5255 @harringt8ns @pleasinghellfire @whoscamila

[imtryingbuck]

Affair Part 2

~ gif not mine credit goes to owner ~

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x fem!Reader, Fem!Reader x ??

Summary: The aftermath of reader telling Bucky she’s divorcing him

Word count: 3157

Warnings: Bucky is a big huge gigantic humongous dumdum. Swearing, if there’s more let me know.

Translation: милая девушка - beautiful girl. ангел - angel.

Masterlist

Part 1

“I filed for divorce” kept playing on his mind for the rest of the night long after she had gone to bed. His phone kept going off nonstop, the messages and missed calls all from Sharon.

He stayed at the home he shared with his wife and children for four hours waiting, hoping his beautiful wife who he betrayed would come back down the stairs and tell him she forgave him.

It never happened.

He left, getting into the car his wife brought him, the same car he fucked his mistress in and went straight to Sharon’s. Knocking on the door he only had to wait for a few minutes before the wooden door came swinging open.

“You finally showed, I’ve been waiting for ages! We need to talk” Sharon stands there, red eyed as if she had been crying.

“She’s divorcing me” Walking past her and looking around the room he’d been in so many time before - double date nights, just seeing his best friend, cheating on his wife with his best friend’s wife.

“He’s divorcing me too” Her voice was happier than his. “Now we can be together, I had to cry in front of Steve pretending I cared. Then you wouldn’t pick up your phone I wa-”

“I don’t want you Sharon. I want Y/n. I want my children and my best friend back. Me and you biggest mistake I have ever made!” Cutting her off.

“You’re joking right? We are so perfect together not me and Steve and especially not you and that bitch!”

“Don’t. Don’t you dare call my wife a bitch” he seethes.

“Don’t act like you care now Bucky where was that caring nature of yours when you was sleeping with me for 8 months? And news flash she’s divorcing you she’s not going to get back with you!”

Having her remind him of the stone cold truth hit him in the gut. Sharon was right, his wife was divorcing him. She was never going to get back together with him.

“I don’t care if she’s divorcing me just don’t call her a bitch.”

“Okay, how about we don’t talk about them two okay? Here’s what I was thinking, I’m getting the house in the divorce so I’ll just sell it and me and you can get an apartment together? We can buy all new furniture and it can be a fresh start for us and oh I’ve already found -“.

As Sharon stands there rambling on he had the urge to ring his wife and tell her she was wrong. Sharon did want him now that they were divorcing, she’s even planned to sell her house so they can get an apartment together. Y/n was wrong about that Sharon and himself couldn’t run off into the sunset and live happily ever after because he stood there with his mistress in front of him and having to hear her rambling off about their new future together.

His wife who he loves more than anything in this world was wrong.

Because it wasn’t Sharon that didn’t want him now their affair was known to their spouses. It was him. He was the one that didn’t want her, he didn’t want the apartment with Sharon, he didn’t want a fresh start with his best friends soon to be ex-wife. No, he wanted his wife back. He wanted a fresh start with Y/n so he can get a second chance of being better. He wanted the love of his life back, and he wanted Steve back - he knew himself that Steve wouldn’t forgive him for his part of her affair.

“-Bucky? Bucky are you even listening to me?” Sharon’s voice cut his inner monologue off.

“Huh? Oh yeah sorry”

“You wasn’t listening was you? It’s okay silly bum I was just talking about an apartment I found the other day, oh Buck it’s beautiful and I honestly think it would be perfect for us” Her voice was hopeful and excited. He found himself comparing her voice to the one belonging to his wife when she found the house that became their home.

“Sharon this isn’t going to work”

“Of course it will, I love you and you love me”

“No Sharon I don’t. I don’t love you, I will always love Y/n”

“No! No you don’t James! You love me!” Sharon screamed at him.

Sighing “Listen Sharon I don’t love you, I never had. I have never been attracted to you-“

“Never been attracted to me? You’re joking right?”

“No”

“You prick!”

“We wouldn’t work anyway Sharon. You cheated on Steve with me and I cheated on Y/n with you. We would always accuse each other, we wouldn’t be happy I can promise you that”

“N-no you wouldn’t cheat on me though!”

“I cheated on my WIFE! You really think I wouldn’t do it to you? I love her for Christ sake, she’s the only person I have ever been attracted to! When I was fucking you I was thinking of her! C’mon Sharon don’t be so stupid, it doesn’t suit you” He’s only now regretting coming over here, at the time he didn’t know where else he could go.

“Yo-you ruined my marriage James” he watched her struggle to breathe for a moment “you ruined my marriage!”

“No I didn’t, you did. You are the one that made a vow to Steve not me. Like how I ruined my marriage with Y/n not you.”

“You-we made love James”

“We fucked. We didn’t make love Sharon” rolling his eyes at her petty attempt at making him change his mind.

“I-don’t-you don’t want me now? But you did earlier? You fucked me in your car, went home and get confronted by your wife, then you come here and tell me you don’t want me anymore? Is that what you’re trying to tell me right now?” Her anger and tears were on full display.

“I’m sorry. I am. It’s just I love Y/n more than anything. I’m going to go; I’ll see you around I guess” he was just about to touch the door handle when her voice stopped him.

“Fuck me one last time. Please James”.

And ever the fool, he did.

~~~

The months after she told him she had filed for divorce she flourished, no more crying herself to sleep, no more fake smiles and no more faking confidence. She was the happiest she had been since she caught her husband fucking a woman that was most definitely not her. Her and Steve’s friendship grew too, they became closer than ever. They were each other’s shoulder to cry on, they supported one another when they needed it.

But then came their divorce to being finalised, and that’s where Y/n struggled.

Nat had forced convinced her to go and see a therapist, Dr Grey was a lovely woman who didn’t care about telling her to stop putting herself down, happily called her stupid when she blamed herself for the affair. Dr Grey - Linda as she told Y/n to call her - became a good friend, a friend she needed and wanted.

In the aftermath of her divorce she became isolated, she didn’t want to see or hear anyone that wasn’t her children. Sam being the best friend that he is, would pick up the kids and take them to school and drop them back off. Nat would go to the shops and sometimes even cook them dinner. She felt like she was causing problems for Nat and Sam because they were spending so much time running around after her that they couldn’t spend any time together.

“Don’t be stupid Y/n. You know me and Sam love you, we are more than happy to help” Nat spoke one night when they were lying in bed together.

“I feel like I’m causing problems and I don’t want you two to argue becau-“

“Y/n stop! You’re not causing problems and we are not arguing, like at all. You know Sam loves them kids of yours, he actually loves taking them to school because and I quote ‘they make me feel cool’” both women chuckle at the red heads husband “so stop милая девушка, we are both here for you, I promise”

She cried herself to sleep most nights, cried for the loss of her marriage - for weeks she would find herself going to play with the ring that use to sit on her fourth finger only for her to look down and only see a fading white tan line. Signing her maiden name not married one took months to engrain as she was just so use to writing Barnes after her name. She would find herself reaching out to the other side of the brand new double sized bed searching for his warmth, always finding it empty, always leaving her feeling alone and cold.

She cried the loss of her friendship with Sharon. They had been friends for nearly three years prior to Sharon introducing her and Bucky to each other. She was the first person Y/n would phone whenever something good and bad happened, she was actually the first person to know Y/n was pregnant with her oldest child - hell it was Sharon that told her she was pregnant as she couldn’t bring herself to look at it. Y/n was always there for Sharon night or day she was there. The pain of her betrayal was almost more unbearable than Bucky’s.

Her mental and physical health took a toll too. Constantly blaming herself for not being enough for him, blaming herself for being tired sometimes to not have sex with him. Blaming herself was so much easier and safer for her than to blame the two people who hurt her. Her weight loss was concerning to Nat and Sam, although she would find herself hungry she just couldn’t stomach anything. Nat cleaned the house whilst Sam took the kids to the park as Y/n had a shower for the first time in nearly a month, she felt like she could conquer the world all because she showered, washed her hair and shaved.

Then she accepted the divorce. She accepted that she was no longer someone’s wife, she even (more dramatically) accepted that she’d be single for the rest of her life. With the help from Linda she accepted that Bucky’s affair was not her fault.

~~~

It had now been two years since they were officially divorced.

Y/n made a friend at work, Peggy. Beautiful, kind and the sweetest person. She had set her up with Steve to help him get himself back out there, they’d been dating for nearly a year. Y/n couldn’t believe how much happier he looked now, she was happy for him truly she was. She believed he deserved it.

Dating for her was, well….

“You’re absolutely glowing ангел” Nat whistled as Y/n walked into the kitchen.

“Stop flirting with me”

“I can’t help it милая девушка”

“Sam come and get your wife!”

“What’s going on?” Sam asks coming to where the women were, placing a kiss on Y/n’s temple then giving Nat a quick kiss.

“Your wife keeps flirting with me”

Wiggling his eyebrows “well things can be arranged”

“Samuel!” Both women scold him but shortly after burst out laughing.

“No but I was telling her that she was glowing” Nat informed.

“You are, you seem happier as well” Sam agreed.

“Well… ikindofmetsomeone”

“What!” Both Sam and Nat shout in unison.

“I met someone..”

“Who?” When? Where? How?” Y/n rolled her eyes at the pair talking in tandem.

“His name is Ari. I literally bumped into after I ran out of the cafe after setting Steve and Peggy up on their date”.

“Is he good to you?”

“Yeah, and he’s great with the kids”

“Wait…he’s met the kids?”

“Yeah it was an accident, James said he couldn’t take the kids because of work and Ari came to pick me up for our date but ended up staying at mine. The kids love him”.

“I can’t wait to meet him!” Nat smiles.

~~~

Bucky hadn’t seen Sharon after he left the next morning, he felt ashamed and guilty for sleeping with her. For some bizarre reason he thought it would be a great idea to go to Nat and Sam’s to talk to Steve.

“Absolutely not. You’re not coming in Buck”

“Please Sam I know he’s here, I jus- I just need to talk to him”

“About what? Jesus Bucky you were having an affair with his wife!”

“I know I just need to apologise” He heard movement behind Sam, when he saw Steve’s pained expression his heart sank.

“I don’t want to hear any apologies. But you will listen to me.” Steve gives Sam a small nod, stepped further out of the doorway. “I have known you since we were kids and not once have I ever not trusted you. Not once have an ever wanted to punch you as much as right now. But.. but I’m not going to, it���s not worth it. You betrayed me man! You knew how much I loved her! And there’s Y/n, you had this perfect woman and you cheated on her!” Slightly shaking his head “you-you had the perfect family and you fucked it up by fucking my wife! I was always jealous of you, did you know that? Sharon never wanted kids so when you told me Y/n was pregnant I was jealous. You two had this perfect relationship whilst me and her were arguing all the time, I was jealous” swallowing hard and taking a deep breath “but you see James as much as I wanted the life you had I would of never and I mean never of done what you have done!”

Bucky stands there with tears rolling down his cheeks, wanting to say something but the words just wouldn’t come out.

“You know when Y/n told me about the affair she couldn’t stop apologising, couldn’t stop crying, she even puked up. I had to calm your wife down trying to reassure her that what you did wasn’t her fault! And where were you huh? Screwing my wife!” Chuckling lightly to himself. “Me and Y/n deserve so much better than you two. I really hope it was worth it James because I can’t forgive you. And the fact you have the audacity to come here after spending the night with Sharon just proves how little you care” when he sees Bucky’s eyebrow twitch in confusion he laughs “I really can’t see Y/n giving you a hickey after she’s told your sorry ass she’s divorcing you. Goodbye James it was nice knowing you”.

Y/n was right, he was alone. He had no one in his corner. Going through the divorce process was difficult for him, like she said she wasn’t going to take anything from him. Custody had been split between them evenly as agreed. The part he was struggling with was, only being able to see her at the weekends, their conversations was just about the kids nothing more nothing less.

Then Sam started to do drop offs and pick up leaving him completely crushed. He no longer got to see her even if it was for 10 or if he was really lucky 15 minutes. The friendship he had with Sam and Nat became strained, he didn’t blame them. He did miss them though.

To deal with the loss of his marriage he turned to drinking. Sometimes he would come home from the bar and call out for Y/n, cry when he got no response, 9 out of 10 times he’d fall over and then fall asleep on the floor.

Then that dreaded day came.

Sam had long gone after dropping the kids off, he was in the middle of cooking dinner with his oldest talking about school when he heard a name he hasn’t heard before.

“Sweetheart what was that?”

“Me and Tommy and Billy are now best friends they’re new to school”

“I’m glad but not that bit baby, you said someone helped you with your homework?”

“Oh Ari, he helps me he’s so clever daddy”

“Who’s Ari?”

“Mommy’s new friend. We saw them kissing” giggling when her younger brother pulls a disgusting face.

Of course he knew that it would happen, her dating. Of course she would, she had every right to find happiness and love after he destroyed that for her. Any man would be lucky enough to be with her - she’s funny, beautiful, loving, kind and passionate, the list goes on - he should know, he was once that lucky man before he fucked it all up.

The knowledge of his now ex-wife is dating again broke something inside of him. What? He doesn’t quite know, he shouldn’t have felt anything other than happiness for her.

~~~

It was their son’s birthday party today, the squeals of close to 30 children running around the backyard full of sugar could be heard from down the street, most of their little faces decorated with face paint.

The birthday boy was currently bouncing around on the dinosaur themed bouncy castle - that he just had to have - after laying on the grass for 10 minutes complaining he was ill. Their oldest daughter was walking around showing the adults her butterfly wings that went with the butterfly paint on her face.

Y/n was rushing around making sure everything was okay and running smoothly as well and making sure everyone was having a good time. Bucky thought she looked absolutely breath taking in the white floral dress and white pumps. Her hair was up in two fishtail braids, just like his daughter.

It was the first time in two years that he saw Steve - like Y/n he looked happier, healthier, freer. The woman that was placed snuggly under his arm was beautiful and when Bucky noticed Steve’s hand position when talking to Sam he saw the pregnancy bump, Bucky couldn’t help but smile at the sight of his former best friend finally getting his dream of being a dad.

The cheerful scream pulled his eyes away from Steve to his daughter who was running past him heading towards the sliding glass doors. A tall, well-built man stood at the doorway with a huge smile on his face.

“Ari Ari - look mommy Ari’s here”

“I can see that sweetie-“

He started to struggle to breath, his own daughter was more happier to see this Ari guy than him, the smile that lit up Y/n’s beautiful face crushed him. Then it got worse for him. He watched as his former best friend go up to Ari and greeted him in the same way them two use to great each other.

~~~

Going back to the once lively and warm house that he once called home the realisation of how truly alone Bucky was, was a tough pill for him to swallow.

~ banner credit goes to @sweetpeapod ~

[bonny-kookoo]

Ahhhh .. I love the Someone Older couple already !! Could we maybe get a drabble, where YN takes care of JK after his accident?

Of course!

Jungkooks house is.. huge.

But it also feels a little stale almost, like an apartment you'd find on pinterest or those websites that sell furniture. Like a display home, not being lived in.

There are some traces of him here and there, but no solid proof that it's him who's made those little hints happen- there's no personality to most of the decoration or even the furniture.

You're trying your best to help, and he's grateful. Even though you have to ask a lot, mostly where what is placed, you're still taking a good amount of weight off his shoulders.

He's eating slowly, mostly because he can't move his arm very quickly due to the bruising still, but even if he could, he wants to savor this. Not even a day of you staying over, and he's already noticed the faint smell of your bodywash lingering in his main bathroom. Your sweater on his couch. Your shoes at the door.

You're filling up his empty house with something alive. Something warm to contrast the white walls.

"Are you cold?" He asks as he notices the way you keep rubbing your socked feet against one another beneath the table.

"The tiles are cold." You say, and he chuckles.

"Gotta get you some slippers then." He suggests, and you shrug.

"Maybe." You agree. Does he want to just make you comfortable, or is he hinting at something more permanent? "Where do I sleep tonight?" You wonder, watching him finish his plate as he leans back, stretching for a second- painful face to go along with it, muscles still aching badly.

"Next to me, preferably." He shrugs after he gives up trying to have his stiff muscles relax. "But you can also take the guest room, if you'd like." Jungkook tells you, giving you another option just in case.

You feel a bit conflicted.

Will he compare you to what he knew with Evelyn if you sleep in the same bed she has before? Will he remember the things they both had, the happy times when they had cuddled or made love, and start reflecting on what this is now instead? It's weird. You want to be close to him, but not in the same spot he used to love another woman.

You're so selfish.

"I uhm.." You're not sure how to properly explain your problem, involuntarily glancing over to a coat left on the hanger near the front door, and Jungkook chuckles.

"She hated this house." He says. "She never liked it. Was angry at me for months when I bought it despite her distaste for it." Jungkook explains. "I got.. rid of most of the furniture and redesigned it all after she left."

"Huh?" You wonder, surprised.

"I just didn't want her anymore. I was hurt." He shrugs. "But in every.. object so to say, I saw a glimpse of her. Mocking me." He confesses. "And I couldn't stand it."

"So you.. threw out the furniture?" You wonder, and he laughs.

"Sold it, to be more precise." He corrects gently. "But yes. That's why it now looks so.."

"Sterile." You mumble, and he nods.

"I didn't want anything like what used to be in here. A complete opposite." He says, before he looks at the coat near the front door. "That coat by the way isn't hers. It's Taehyung's wife's." He says, watching fondly how you become a bit shy at being found out like that.

"I.. oh." You simply nod a bit awkwardly, when his hand reaches out to hold yours on the table.

"She forgot it months ago, Tae never picked it up." He chuckles. "And my bedroom has.. never seen anyone ever in it but me." He further teases, making your eyes snap up to his own, a strange, boyish excitement almost in his gaze.

"I think it's time to change that, don't you think?"

[blanketofbees]

what keeps me sane doing the mahogany home mg is making up lil stories about each person I visit

Jess is renting an overpriced upstairs apartment and the “man” npc whose there is just guy who she hooked up with last night but he refuses to leave. she says she’s got a contractor coming but he’s insisting on running a bath before leaving.

Leela is working a soulless office job doing payroll for the guards around Hosidius. she says she’s acab but she wouldn’t be able to afford a place with a balcony right by the market without selling out her values.

Mariah is Leela’s boss. she’s sold her values long ago and no longer cares as long as she has the most in vogue furniture.

Larry, Norman, and Tau are in a throuple but neither wants to give up their house to live with each other. Larry left his wife and got the house in the divorce so he loves hosting but not appreciates his space

Sarah has her first place and is living in the shittiest part of Varrock. if you leave the door open the “thief” npc wanders in. there’s a gang that has their headquarters upstairs and the satanists are a few doors over. her only saving grace is that she lives by the bar.

[mmkin]

Home from the Sea/Get You Some Arlong - final chapter

Sniffle, sniffle. My very first Arlong story is now complete. I feel a little sad but also proud. This was my first ever Canon x Reader story and I'm really pleased with how it turned out, it was a lot of fun to write and was also a unique challenge for me to write a Y/n. It also got me deeper into the One Piece rabbit hole, lol.

Link to AO3 here, also under the beautiful Arlong pictures here.

All feedback/reviews/comments are very much welcome and appreciated!

Content warning - some smut, mention of violence, but nothing readers of this tale have not already seen.

XI

o0o0o0o

Arlong has sunk a fair amount of ships over the years. Marine, pirate, or otherwise. To support the ever-growing Arlong Village, he’s sent fishmen into the depths to salvage what they can of said ships. On occasion, a treasure or some other stash is found. And when the Arlong Pirates capture ships nowadays, he’s more inclined to keep them than just sink them. After all, he no longer leads just a crew, but an entire tribe of seafolk, and he takes his responsibility to care for them seriously.

It also gives the humans forced to pay Arlong tribute an easier way to come up with that money. They can come to Arlong Village and sell their wares, instead of having to venture outside of Arlong’s territory. It used to be that keeping an influx of money coming to the Arlong Empire, Arlong had to let the humans travel overseas to sell their wares. Wily bastard he was, he only gave out these permits to humans who had loved ones who remained on the islands. The message was clear. Fuck up, or contact the Marines, and bad things will happen to your loved ones.

Brutal, but effective. But hey now there’s Arlong Village, so the nearby islands don’t have to travel as far to make the money needed for their tributes, and you’ve also convinced Arlong to allow the towns to pay some of the tribute in crops, to make it easier for Arlong to feed his growing tribe.

You and Arlong are out for a casual stroll in the village, looking over the most recent construction projects. It’s a beautiful and sunny day, and the birds are singing. The waves are crashing against the shore and piers, and there is a mild breeze. Your mate is at your side, and you feel secure in his presence.

“I don’t know why I didn’t do this sooner,” Arlong grumbles as he looks around at the fishmen strolling about happily.

“All things in good time,” you quip as you hook your arm around his. A few people greet or chat with Arlong and you remain near him while you look around, enjoying the sights and sounds. There’s a small but bustling market, and several fishmen relax in lawn furniture. A couple is coming up the streets, and you see the husband has a baby slung to his chest in a wrap, a strong arm curved under the baby for extra support. The infant babbles softly, grabbing his father’s collar with a pudgy webbed hand.

The couple greet Arlong and he chats with them for a couple of moments. They came here half a year ago from the Fishman District and have made no secret of how better they consider this place than the dumping ground of Fishman Island. The wife had been heavily pregnant back then, and knew she didn’t want to raise her child in the District.

You all move along, and when you look up, you see a wistful look on his face. It’s not too hard to figure out what he’s been thinking about after seeing that baby with its father.

o0o0o0o

You’ve only known Arlong for two years. From what you’ve heard, he had plenty of anger and hate in his youth (and yes, he still holds onto a fair amount of it) but it seems like he’s mellowed out a bit. Many of his tactics remain the same, but he’s changed or honed others with your advice. The Arlong Empire is relatively small compared to the entire world, but it is now a solid presence in the East Blue. With some humans seeing that there is a chance to get promoted in the Arlong Empire, this increases the support in Arlong’s favor, even if by only a few points.

Twenty years ago, Arlong would have scoffed at this notion, but as he’s come to learn over the years, not all humans deserve to be crushed underfoot. He’s still pretty hateful, but he’s learned how to better channel that hate into something productive rather than self-destructive to himself and his goals.

o0o0o0o

Although things are mostly peaceful within the Arlong Empire, there are times when Arlong resorts to violence. There’s only so much you can do to rein him in after all, and when it comes to would-be slavers trying to kidnap fishmen, or Marines coming to challenge Arlong, all you can do is stand back and let him and his warriors do what they will. And you have to admit, it’s sexy to see your mate in action, defending his nakama and tribe.

o0o0o0o

“You looked absolutely sexy out there, swinging your Kiribachi,” you say with a purr as the two of you savor the crew’s latest victory. The crew is at Arlong Park, having a party, but you and Arlong have decided to sneak off to be by yourselves.

He basks in the glow of your praise as you cup his angular face in your hands. And he really does look sexy when his strength is on full display. Shark on Darts, or throwing water at humans, or swinging his sword, eyes wild with warrior’s spirit as he takes down the people who would enslave his people or try to take territory away from him.

“Thinking about it gets me all hot and bothered,” you growl into his ear as the two of you grope one another.

“I can tell,” he replies with a chuckle as his hand moves between your legs.

“What are you going to do about it then, big boy?” you tease, seeing the glint in his eyes.

“What the hell do you think I’m going to do, Y/n?” he replies with a throaty growl, his fingers curling up against you. You shudder and arch against him. Oh yes, you know the answer only too well… There are different ways you can phrase it, but they all have the same end result.

You moan his name as he sinks into your hot, receptive tightness.

“Mine, all mine,” he growls softly, swaying his hips against you. His large, webbed hands lift your legs up, pushing them back so he can press into you more firmly, grinding against you and causing you to whimper in agreement at his words.

“I need you, Arlong,” you moan when there’s a pause in the frenzied rhythm and you’re able to speak coherently. “Need you so fucking bad. My sharkman.”

“You have me, all of me, and I’m going to pound every inch into you until you can’t walk.” And yes, that’s exactly what he’s doing and will continue to do.

“Hey… don’t threaten – ah! – me with a – hngh! – good time!”

He gives you a mock threatening growl, snapping his teeth at you as he continues to pound into you. You snap your teeth back at him, and he grins.

“Yes, take it all, Y/n.”

“All… and more…” you manage to gasp before he gives out a short, sudden growl, his fingers digging into the back of your thighs as he releases his pent-up load into you. He growls softly against your ear, breathing against it before nibbling along the side of your face.

“Mine, all mine,” he growls as he continues to kiss and nuzzle you, mindful of his nose.

“Always?” you ask with a pleased purr, clenching around him as he remains inside of you, running your fingers along his back and fin.

“Always and forever.” He presses his lips along your shoulders, his hands sliding from your legs to your hips as he holds you. “Sweet Y/n, do you think I would ever let you go?” he asks half-teasingly.

“I certainly hope not,” you shoot back as you nibble along his jaw and ear. “You’re stuck with me.” Your tentacles wrap around his middle, and he gives out a playful growl.

It doesn’t take much to renew his ardor when he’s in this sort of mood, and he’s pounding into you again.

“Keep going like that,” you moan as you arch against him. “Fill up my womb.”

His purring growl fills your ears as he does exactly what you ask.

o0o0o0o

You are in the pool, a floating noodle under your knees and another one under your shoulders. The park is closed so only the highest-ranking members of Arlong’s crew can roam around at these hours, so besides you, there’s just Chew and Hatchan, taking the opportunity to relax as well by lounging in the poolside chairs and sipping the drinks they’ve mixed for themselves.

None for you though… at least not for the time being. You rest your hand on your gravid belly, feeling a kick as Arlong’s child asserts its presence. The pregnancy wasn’t too bad at first, but as your belly grows bigger, so does the inconvenience. You’re looking forward to motherhood, but you wish that the journey was at least a little easier. Nowadays, you’re more comfortable in the water, where your belly doesn’t feel so heavy.

A fin slices through the water, and Arlong appears at your shoulder before swimming around you.

“Do you know how sexy you look, floating around in your swimsuit?” he asks with a soft purr. You let out a small scoff of disbelief, and he smirks at you before reaching out and resting his large hand on your stomach.

“I know you’re ready for this to be over. But I’ll admit you look cute like this. After all, it’s my child you’re carrying,” he says with pride in his tone. “And we had fun making it, didn’t we?”

You can not help but roll your eyes a little at that. But you know he’s right. And he is also providing a safe place for you and your baby, surrounded by your nakama and friends.

“We have fun regardless of what the end result is,” you tease him back.

“Mmm,” he agrees, pressing kisses along your shoulder as he remains at your side, floating with you contentedly.

o0o0o0o

This story has run its natural course. In the future, I might be inspired to add another chapter or two here, but right now, I am satisfied with what I have done with this story and want to end it on a high/sweet note.

This started out last year as a collection of smutty headcanons for the sharkman when I started simping for him after watching OPLA. But as the story and Arlong’s relationship with Y/n developed (and I started watching the anime and the Sabaody and Fishman Island arcs) it became much more than just headcanons (although the headcanons were incredibly fun to write!) and I wanted to see what could happen if I wrote about an Arlong that never lost his park and actually managed to have some wisdom and character growth despite being an asshole because let’s be real, you can’t have Arlong without at least a bit of assholery, lol.

But don’t worry, this is not the end of my Arlong fangirling. I have started a new story, the Siren’s Shark, which is about Arlong after he loses Arlong Park. Squid has taken on such a life and personality of her own that I no longer call her Y/n in my head, so I have christened her with the name Yolande. If you’re into the whole Marvel and DC multiveral mayhem that seems to be the cool thing nowadays, you can consider the new story a multiversal alternate reality version of Arlong and his squid. It will be less sweet and fluffy than this story, but will have the usual quality fishman love you can expect of me :)

All feedback/reviews/comments are very much welcome and appreciated!

[kasienda]

Bend the World Around It - Ch 2: A Place to Call Home

Written for @marimbles for the Little Bugs' Secret Santa. Inspired by @blur0se's Jubilation post.

Chapters: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Read on Ao3

Chapter 2: A Place to Call Home

Adrien sneezes and then sneezes again. Who knew an untouched apartment could collect so much dust. It won’t do. He can’t show Ladybug any of this in its current state. He has so much work ahead of him. He takes down all his mother’s old pictures - pictures that documented her life before her marriage to his father. He places them reverently into plastic bins wrapped in felt one by one. 

His mother would have understood, he’s certain. She would want him to be happy, to fight for the love of his life as she had for hers. His father would likely be horrified, but it’s not like his father ever took the time to revisit the old memories.

Which only made the old apartment that much more perfect for Adrien’s purpose. 

Next, he wipes down all the surfaces with a wet cloth. Well, with many wet cloths because they turn black very quickly. But the job needs to be done because no one can live with this much dust. Certainly not his lady. 

After he can breathe without wanting to explode, he polishes the porcelain. He isn’t sure if Ladybug will want to use them. She was very particular when it came to fabrics - she would feel the texture of everything from tablecloths to baby clothes. And since in their dream she was always transformed she had developed a habit of her rubbing things against her cheek to feel them. But will she be as discerning with the dishes? He’s not sure. 

He places the last tea cup upside down in the glass cabinet. 

He’s going overboard. He knows it. There’s no way she’ll ever go for this. 

She’s way too sensible. One of them needs to be. 

But he keeps preparing anyway. He doesn’t have anything else to do, and he really really doesn’t want to go home. It isn’t home anymore. It never will be again. 

Not without Ladybug. 

But maybe this place can be.

… 

Chat Noir:

Can you meet me at this address? 

Ladybug:

That’s a residential district. You didn’t just give away your home address did you?

Chat Noir:

Trust me, M’lady! Nothing here will give my name away. Please come. 

Ladybug:

When? 

Chat Noir:

As soon as you can.  It’s not an emergency or anything!! I’m just excited!  And stupidly nervous. 

Ladybug: 

You’re making ME nervous. 

Chat Noir:

Come in through the window. 

She drops everything and goes straight to the address he sent and through the window. She pushes past wispy white curtains into a small apartment. The living area is filled with elegant antique furniture. The largest wall is oddly bare, but oil paintings and decorative mirrors take up the other spaces. 

Chat Noir is lounging on an antique sofa, looking entirely out of place in contrast with the classic decor. 

“Chaton, what is this place?”

“It… it was my mother’s. It’s been mostly unoccupied for the last decade, though my mother did often entertain here whenever my aunt and my cousin were in town. My father couldn’t bear to sell it, but he can’t bear to set a foot in here either.”

“Your mother who disappeared four years ago?” she asks, realizing as she says it that she knows a lot of personal details about him that she didn’t used to know. The things he told her over the years in their dream — they were all real pieces of himself that he shared with his wife.

“Just a year ago actually,” he corrects. 

She shakes herself. Right. 

She walks around, dragging her finger across the mantle. It’s spotless. He cleaned the whole place up. 

“Chaton, what are we doing here?” She thinks she knows, and it’s objectively an absolutely terrible idea. 

What if someone spotts Ladybug and Chat Noir coming and going to the same place again and again? 

What if she accidentally sees some mail and figures out his mother’s name? 

What if they just tell each other too many personal details and they figure each other out?

His hand flies to his neck and she’s startled at the sign of nerves. He hasn’t been nervous around her in years . 

“I umm… thought we could live here? Like, not full time obviously—“

She wants it.

“—but once in a while we can both get away.”

But it’s crazy! Absolutely wildly bonkers insane!

“The place is unused. I had to clean it up.”

So bend the world around it.

“You would not believe how dusty all of it was. I just—“

“Yes.” 

“Yes?” he repeats, his eyes wide in disbelief. 

A silly grin stretches across her face. “Yes.” 

His shock transforms into pure joy - the same expression he wore on their wedding day when she took her first step down the aisle. 

She grabs his hand and yanks him towards her. Her lips crash onto his. 

He freezes for a second. She’s shock d him once again. 

But then he melts underneath her like butter. And she gasps, at the tingles that shoot all the ways to her toes. 

It’s their first kiss.

Except it isn’t. It shouldn’t be. It’s not their first kiss at all. She’s kissed him hundreds of times no doubt. She doesn’t know - she lost count years ago. 

But none of those kisses felt like this one. It’s amazing how right it feels when everything in the last forty-eight hours has felt wrong.

She pulls away and blinks, her own eyes wide as she drinks in the sight of him with his lips parted and his eyes still closed, like she’s blown him out of this world.

She waits until his eyes blink open to speak. 

“I can’t come home tonight,” she finally says. 

“Home?” he echoes, his eyes sparkling with so much hope. 

She smiles, her teeth biting into her lower lip. She hasn’t even gotten the full tour yet, and it’s already easy to label this apartment home. 

It’s where he is. 

“My parents are expecting me tonight. But I can be here tomorrow?” she asks, biting her lips. 

“Tomorrow,” he agrees, smiling easily. 

“You’ll make dinner?” She misses his cooking. 

The smile falls off his face, and he glances down at their tangled hands. “Uh… I don’t actually know how to cook.” 

Her face crumples in confusion. “But… you always cook.”

His cheeks turn pink, but his eyes meet hers again. “Yeah, because I want to be able to cook. I want to be able to cook for us, for you.”

Now, it’s her face that’s burning. How had it taken her so long to realize how sweet this boy was? 

“Do you even know what it was that I was cooking?” he asks. “Because I can’t figure it out.” 

She frowns. She remembers him in the kitchen, remembers him bringing out food to the table, but he’s right. She has no idea what he ever made. 

It doesn’t make sense. 

“How can I miss something that I never had?” she growls in frustration. 

He squeezes her hand, and pulls her in. His arms wrap around her easily and he kisses her again. And she’s not used to this, though she feels like she should be. 

“I’ll learn to cook,” he promises. “I’ve always wanted to.” 

But he had never had the opportunity because his family had a chef that prepared every meal. She knows so much about him now - that he’s often lonely, his mother is gone, his father’s distant, he has been homeschooled most of his life, and he hadn’t known what it meant to have more than one friend until they had met.

She clutches at her head. Everything feels off. Like her memories of their dream don’t line up, don’t feel completely real. But they feel more right than anything else in the world. It’s like it’s the rest of the world that doesn’t fit. 

She’s never going to know what his cooking in the dream was like, the craving she has might never be satisfied. 

Or maybe it wasn’t the food itself. Maybe it was just the fact that he had been the one making it. 

“We’ll cook together,” she says. “I’ll teach you.”

“Really?!”

She grins back at him. “Yes, it’ll be amazing!”

“I love you.” 

She smiles. “I love you, too. I wish… I wish it was real.” 

“It’s real now,” he insists, so confident she has to believe him.

…

[hisgrief]

CHARACTER SHEET — repost , do not reblog .

FULL NAME.  gary james turner.

NICKNAME.  gaz. 

PRONOUNS.  he/him.

SIZE.  6ft4.

AGE.  41.

ZODIAC.  aries sun. gemini rising. cancer moon.

SPOKEN LANGUAGES.  english.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS.

HAIR.  naturally dark. usually cropped short. tends to curl once allowed to grow out. hairline beginning to recede. occasionally bleached.

EYES.   hazel green. expressive. hooded. prone to a thousand-yard stare. crinkle at their corners when he smiles. he's often described as having puppy-dog eyes.

BODY TYPE.  slim and lanky. broad in the shoulders and narrow in the hips. long limbs. large hands and feet. looks like a greyhound trapped in a human's body.

VOICE.   warm and kind. thickly accented. lowers when he's comforting someone. he has a particular tone when speaking to the animals in his life. example:

DOMINANT HAND.  ambidextrous.

POSTURE.  not the best. tends to slouch to make himself seem smaller and less intimidating.

SCARS.   so many. a couple are products of his upbringing, such as the cut through his left eyebrow and the lack of straightness to his nose. all the others were earned during the attack that killed his wife claire and turned him into a werewolf. he was torn to shreds and had a chunk of flesh removed from his right shoulder. most scar coverage focuses on his upper body, with his legs mostly undamaged. his back took the brunt of the attack, turning it into a mess of ugly scar tissue.

BIRTHMARKS.  covered in a smattering of moles across the entirety of his body. his favourites are the two on his right inner thigh, which he calls his 'vampire bite.'

MOST NOTABLE FEATURES.   his accent. his height. his tattoos. the thickness of his eyebrows and the warmth of his eyes. how quick he is to smile with his entire being. his loud, unrestrained belly laugh. SCENT.  cigarettes. whiskey. warm masculinity. light freshness. he tends to stick to lighter colognes and uses them sparingly due to his sensitivity to smell.

CHILDHOOD.

PLACE OF BIRTH.   preston, england, in the royal preston hospital.

HOMETOWN.   small mining town in lancashire, england, which he prefers not to name. he just says he's from lancashire.

SIBLINGS.  none.

PARENTS. his mother, angela turner, is alive and still lives in lancashire. his father, clive turner, is deceased.

ADULT LIFE.

OCCUPATION.   tattoo artist and owner of INK INK, NUDGE NUDGE.

CURRENT RESIDENCE.   verse dependent, but generally lives in the apartment above his tattoo shop, which is situated in LA.

CLOSE FRIENDS.   anyone and everyone who'll take him. he's particularly fond of frenchie, written by @gingerspiice.

FINANCIAL STATUS.   comfortably middle class. makes good money from INK INK, NUDGE NUDGE and operates an online store where he sells the carvings and furniture he makes.

DRIVER'S LICENSE.   yes, but he generally prefers to walk.

CRIMINAL RECORD.  clean. somehow. he avoids cops like the plague and tries not to get on their bad side. he has first-hand knowledge of what they're capable of.

VICES.   alcohol. cigarettes. marijuana.

SEX AND ROMANCE.

SEXUAL ORIENTATION.  bisexual.

PREFERRED SEXUAL ROLE.   versatile.

TURN OFFS.   cruelty. bullies. overt aggression. people who lack passion. fun sponges.

TURN ONS.   a sense of humour. kindness to animals and the vulnerable. passion. hard workers. people who keep him on his toes but also help ground him.

LOVE LANGUAGE.   acts of service. physical touch.

RELATIONSHIP TENDENCIES.  loyal. tendency to get swept up in the heat of a new romance. will adore his partner with every fibre of his being. romantic. chivalrous. will cook candle-lit dinners just for the hell of it. his partner's biggest fan and ally. a little inexperienced and naive due to spending almost all of his adult life in a monogamous relationship. will be slow to accept a new partner into his life due to the traumatic loss of his wife, but is well aware that she would want him to move on.

MISC.

CHARACTER'S THEME TUNE.   oceans of slumber - the banished heart.

HOBBIES TO PASS THE TIME.   sketching and drawing, wood-carving, camping trips, bushcraft, fishing, building and revitalising furniture, playing the acoustic guitar, playing the jaw harp and the harmonica, reading, coming up with bad dad jokes, cooking.

LEFT OR RIGHT BRAINED.   right-brained.

SELF-CONFIDENCE LEVEL.   he'd consider it fairly high. he doesn't think he's the best-looking bloke, but he knows he makes up for that with his inherent charm. his confidence has however been pretty severely knocked in the aftermath of the attack.

[raspberryconverse]

This is basically why I got married. I literally did not think anyone else was going to want to be with me and I didn't want to be alone for the rest of my life.

I joked about this all the time. "Nobody else was going to want to put up with me, so of course I wanted to marry [spouse]." But it was true.

I'm just realizing now how fucking sad that is because it wasn't a joke.

I think one of the most freeing things about polyamory for me is realizing this isn't true. For so long, I felt I had little to offer and nobody else was going to want to be with me, so I clung to my relationship with my spouse. This is as good as it's going to get, I'd tell myself. When I was complaining about my sad, boring sex life to my therapist and how I felt like I just settled, she said that everyone settles.

But I don't. As of today, I have 675 people who like me on Feeld (not including my 19 matches and who knows how many people I've swiped no on, because that decreases the number of likes you have). I have 3 wonderful beaus who like me for me (and a 4th who used to, but I honestly have no idea what's going on with him anymore and it's probably over with beau #2 if we're being honest). And they tell me so.

I haven't written about this yet, but my spouse and I decided to deescalate. And yeah, it kinda sucks after 2 years of marriage and 6.5 of being together, but it's for the best. We still love each other very much. We're still each other's family. And we still have sex sometimes. But the sex has never been great. And opening our marriage made us realize that. I mean, I knew it, but I resigned myself to thinking there was enough there to be happy. But there isn't.

We're not getting divorced. It's expensive and not really necessary at this point (and with all the shit that's been going down with my company, we want the benefit of having a spouse that if either of us loses our jobs, we can still have health insurance). It's really just a piece of paper. We're not selling the house because it's not a good time for it and we definitely wouldn't get back what we've put into it the last 2 years right now. And neither of us can afford to buy on our own and neither of us want to rent either (I think the only place I'd want to rent would be one of the units in beau #1's building because he'd be my landlord and then we'd be in the same building and could fuck a lot more often because I'd just be downstairs). We've been working on creating our own separate suites in the house. This turns our 3 bedroom into a 4 bedroom with a primary suite with an ensuite bathroom. Huge for resale value.

I'm having fun decorating my spaces. I just spent over $400 at Ikea on furniture and accessories and I honestly cannot wait to host. Being able to host is going to be a game changer for my relationship with beau #1, seeing as we always run into the problem of coordinating with his wife's boyfriend's inconsistent work schedule. It'll also be nice for beau #3 to come to me because he lives almost an hour away. And sleepovers! I used to not be "allowed" to have sleepovers because my spouse liked waking up in the morning to me being there, but now that we've deescalated, we're sleeping separately. Beau #3 can sleepover when he comes to visit or vice versa, so no more 50 min drives home at 2am. I actually slept over at beau #4's place last week and it was pretty nice (minus the not having my trazodone and having to get up at 6 because he had to go to work 😕).

It's still really sad. We're both still mourning what we thought we had, but it's really for the best. I honestly feel a huge sense of relief. I've felt like I've been failing my spouse when it comes to their varied gender states and now that I don't have to try and figure out how to make them feel more comfortable, I'm just relieved. I think that was one of the most crushing things I've been trying to deal with the last few months. And now that I don't have to worry about it, I feel a lot better. I can focus on what I'm good at with my other partners and not feel like a failure. That's huge for me.

We're going to be ok. I'm going to be ok. Life is moving in a good direction for us, all thanks to polyamory.

[decadent-hag]

working at a shop that needs to sell large furniture pieces and needs to turn them over quickly has made me so prejudiced against wives lmao. every single time a couple comes in and the husband LOVES a piece so much that we've been trying to get rid of forEVER and the wife is ALWAYs like "no absolutely not". This guy just came in and really wants a dresser that has been taking up space for almost a year and he almost bought it but he sent a pic to his wife and she called back and was like "we dont need it but if you want it get it" and basically talked him out of it. Ma'am you dont understand I am sick of looking at this this!!!

[rainbowfic]

Today's prompt list is: Avocado

Theme: Music 1. The full moon is calling / The fever is high / And the wicked wind whispers / And moans - The Eagles: One Of These Nights

2. And it's whispered that soon, if we all call the tune / Then the piper will lead us to reason / And a new day will dawn for those who stand long / And the forests will echo with laughter - Stairway to Heaven: Led Zeppelin

3. All the people we used to know / They're an illusion to me now / Some are mathematicians / Some are carpenter's wives / Don't know how it all got started - Bob Dylan: Tangled Up In Blue

4. There's room at the top they are telling you still / But first you must learn how to smile as you kill / If you want to be like the folks on the hill - John Lennon: Working Class Hero

5. Heard the singers playin', how we cheered for more / The crowd had rushed together tryin' to keep warm / Still the rain kept pourin', fallin' on my ears / And I wonder, still I wonder who'll stop the rain - Creedence Clearwater Revival: Who'll Stop The Rain

6. The exodus is here / The happy ones are near / Let's get together / Before we get much older - The Who: Baba O'Riley

7. Keep me in a daydream / keep me goin' strong / You don't wanna save me / sad is my song - Stevie Wonder: Superstition

8. But oh how it feels so real / Lying here with no one near / Only you and you can hear me / When I say softly, slowly - Elton John: Tiny Dancer

9. What'll you do when you get lonely / And nobody's waiting by your side? / You've been running and hiding much too long / You know it's just your foolish pride - Derek and the Dominos: Layla

10. Now she walks / through her sunken dream / To the seat with the clearest view / And she's hooked to the silver screen / But the film is a saddening bore / For she's lived it ten times or more / She could spit in the eyes of fools - David Bowie: Life On Mars

11. Then the door was open and the wind appeared / The candles blew then disappeared The curtains flew then he appeared / saying don't be afraid /Come on baby... and she had no fear - Blue Oyster Cult: (Don't Fear) The Reaper

12. Seeing her skin feeling silky smooth / Colour of cafe au lait / Made the savage beast inside / Roaring till it cried More, More, More / Now he's at home doing 9 to 5 /Living his brave life of lies - Patti Labelle: Lady Marmalade

13. This city desert makes you feel so cold / It's got so many people but it's got no soul / And it's taken you so long to find out you were wrong / When you thought it held everything - Gerry Rafferty: Baker Street

14. Now here I go again, I see the crystal visions / I keep my visions to myself / It's only me / Who wants to wrap around your dreams and... /Have you any dreams you'd like to sell? - Fleetwood Mac: Dreams

15. Too hot, too greedy / How could you leave me / When I needed to possess you? / I hated you. I loved you, too. - Kate Bush: Wuthering Heights

16. There is no pain, you are receding /A distant ship smoke on the horizon / You are only coming through in waves / Your lips move but I can't hear what you're saying - Pink Floyd: Comfortably Numb

17. Love is an angel disguised as lust / Here in our bed until the morning comes / Come on now try and understand / The way I feel under your command - Pattie Smith: Because the Night

18. But there are times that you feel you're part of the scenery / All the greenery is comin' down, boy / And then your wife seems to think you're part of the / furniture oh, it's peculiar, she used to be so nice - Supertramp: Take The Long Way Home

19. But what a fool believes he sees / No wise man has the power to reason away/ What seems to be / Is always better than nothing - The Doobie Brothers: What A Fool Believes

20. You see I've been through the desert on a horse with no name / It felt good to be out of the rain / In the desert you can remember your name / 'Cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain - America: Horse With No Name

--

RainbowFic is an original fiction (and more) community on Dreamwidth. The pinned post has more information.

[blametheeditor]

Court's In Session

Prompt Roulette By Title

Character A's been dreading this day for a long time- the end of a committed relationship that Character A had tried desperately to make work. But what can they say, sometimes divorce is a better solution that couple's counseling. Issue is, Character B isn't content with JUST signing papers and leaving. No, Character B's far more interested in arguing the need for alimony, their number one citation being "-you're paying for my therapy sessions, asshole."

NOT MEANT FOR EVERYONE

Content Warnings: Cursing. Mentions of people being experimented on. Mentions of child custody. Messy divorces.

I promise to give Scott a break after this, he deserves it

_________________________________________________

Scott had been praying that his boy’s would be brought to the meeting. He knew it wouldn’t happen, knew his soon to be ex-wife wouldn’t want to put them through that because it wouldn’t be fair to them. That there might be yelling, at the very least name calling, and she would be a good mother leaving them with her parents while they sorted this out. 

But he’s selfish. He wanted to see them one last time despite how much it would hurt them. Yet another reason why he isn’t fit to raise his children.

Karen will always take care of the boys first, though, meaning she came to the house alone. A decision he respects and even appreciates because it was the right thing to do. Didn’t say anything as he passed the divorce papers over after she sat down at the dining table. The familiar furniture seeming almost alien now that the center piece and placemats had all been taken. 

They sit in silence as she reads it over. The first time they’ve been alone in a room together. No lawyers this time. It goes against everything they were advised, and if changes want to be made it would’ve been easier to have the people who can do such a thing in the room, but they had wanted to go over what was submitted as a ‘final draft’ with just them. 

Karen suggested it because she didn’t like how formal everything was, as if this they weren’t discussing a transaction instead of the end to a relationship. Scott had agreed because he loves her, and he always will. 

“...I get the boys.” 

Scott hangs his head, looking down at his coffee instead of meeting her gaze. “You do.” 

She hesitates. “You’re not fighting me on visitation rights.” 

“I’m not,” comes out in a whisper, clearing his throat in order to keep his tears at bay. “I, it’s not that I don’t want to. I’ve had a lot to think about and...and it seems like it’d be for the best.” 

It had taken several months for him to see Karen’s request as something more than just her trying to be spiteful. She has the capacity to, and had displayed it a few times during their relationship, but it was never used as a weapon. Never to hurt someone. Because at her core, she does everything in her power to make sure the people she loves most are taken care of. Fights when she thinks she or someone else is being wronged. 

He hadn’t remembered that when he heard the words ‘you will never see or speak to them again’. He had only seen red. Cursed her name every way he could as soon as he got home that day. Broke down sobbing when a week later, he realized she only wanted to protect their sons. It would only hurt them to keep Scott in the picture, even if it was just a phone call. 

“Are you planning on selling the house?” she asks, glancing at the page where the house they bought together, the one they’re currently sitting in now, has Scott’s name laying claim over it. 

He shakes his head. “I don’t think I ever will, to be honest.” 

Karen takes a deep breath. Closes the small packet of papers before setting her hands on it. “I won’t sign it.” 

“Any particular reason why?” Because the rest of the assets had been split 50/50 between them. The house falling under his name had actually been something she requested, not wanting their sons to be raised somewhere only bad memories were kept. 

“I want alimony.” 

Scott’s jaw drops. “E-Excuse me?” 

“You heard me,” she murmurs. Not combative, just firm. 

“Karen, I’m paying child support, as much as I can. With the rest of the mortgage, I-I can’t pay alimony.” 

“I can’t live with my parents forever,” she begins. “I already have a few job interviews, but I don’t have enough to rent an apartment. I can’t even send the boys to daycare.” 

“I know, I know,” Scott sighs. “But I can’t. You know Freddy’s doesn’t-” 

His wife- soon to be ex-wife suddenly stands up as she glares at him. “You’re still working there!” 

Even when that’s the reason why I left? That’s why you were never home? That’s why we continued to struggle financially? You love it more than you love your family?

He hears it even though she doesn’t say it. Because it’s a familiar topic they had discussed before. Fought over. Written on the message she left when she packed everything she could and left with their sons. 

Scott almost breaks. Almost tells her everything. After years of holding it in, keeping it a secret because he didn’t want to burden her, he almost lets the damn break. 

“...yes.” 

Karen grows furious. “Then I’m getting alimony. Because you’re paying for my therapy sessions, asshole.” 

“No.” 

“For what you’ve put us through, it is the bare minimum that you could do!” she erupts, throwing her hands into the air. “You seriously don’t expect me to let that slide! You’re still at that hell hole despite losing your family! What makes that damn place so special that it deserves your everything!” 

“I can’t leave!” he shouts, standing up in order to look her eye to eye. Pleading she understands. “I can’t explain! I want to, but I can’t! It’s not my choice!” 

“It sure looks like it is, Scott!” 

It looks like it is. But it’s not. Forced to stay alive every night made his world crumble beneath his feet. The small patches of discoloration on his arms and legs took away his freedom. Hearing the methodical voice repeating key words in the back of his mind every second of every day makes him question who he is. 

And if he tries to leave? Tries to escape? It’s been proven too many times what would await him is worse than death. 

How can anyone expect him to be a good husband and father when someone is literally pulling on his strings to make him dance? 

“I, we can’t continue this discussion,” Scott says, backing away from the table, from the woman he loves, from his everything. “I’m so sorry. But y-you need to go.” 

Before I damn you too.

She stares at him. He swears a look of remorse flashes across her face before it disappears, so quickly he might’ve just imagined it in his desperation. Then she turns on her heel and stalks furiously out the door, slamming it behind her. 

Scott waits for the tears to come. Stares down at his now cold coffee. Feels nothing but resignation. 

He wants to be angry. That she isn’t by his side when he needs her most. That she’s taking away his entire world as he’s reaching out for a hand to keep him from falling. That she’s nailing his coffin shut without remorse. 

But that wouldn’t be fair. He brought this upon himself. At least Afton will be happy now that Scott has no reason to be anywhere but right next to him, ready to obey every command. 

At least his sons will never see the hollow shell their father has become. 

[acorncoffeeformysweetheart]

Okay, I decided to edit that fic and write a whole post about the furniture in the Cabot house. Spoiler alert: yes, Ed and Sole finally kissed after two years of awkward tension (even though Sole already has these two dumbasses, Mac and Gage).

I thought this could be a nice example of environmental storytelling. I understand that it is impossible to realize this in such a large game, but I can write about it.

 Let me start by saying that five years after the bombs fell, Ed decided to get married, which made Jack absolutely mad. Ed left the job, but four months later, Jack and Emogene apologized and begged him to come back because they could not find anyone suitable to replace Ed. He agreed to return. Jack began to behave much more respectfully, gave Ed a big raise in salary, and a large room on the first floor next to the kitchen.

I found this photo three years ago and fell in love with it. It’s very close to what I’m thinking about. "Went to get wood", Wood, found objects, ≈12’x9’x10’, 2008 - by Ethan Hayes-Chute

Ed, like many ghouls, has sleep issues, and his room is very different from the rest of the house. It is painted dark green (even the ceiling). Thick, heavy curtains hang from the window. The bed is just huge, 2+ meters, because Ed himself is fucking huge two-door brick-built fridge. And this bed is for sleeping. No one in their mind would bring women to the house they are working for, especially since Ed was generally not interested in this (his wife and child lived in the next house). So, the bed takes up a significant part of the room; there are several different blankets and a dozen of pillows on it, and when Ed sleeps, he buries himself in them like in a nest (quite funny, yes). He even has this silly pillow stuffed with aromatic herbs that you put under your main pillow to make it smell nice.

 He has a lot of strange things in there because his duties include working with caravan owners, knowing who sells what, where, and when, and seeing a lot of different things. And periodically, he buys something for himself because, why not?

 After all, when a single mature man works a lot, he should have his me-time and me-things. And Ed has several hobbies. He loves good clothes. He gathered a whole collection of these goddamned (oh, I adore them) Irish grandpa caps (although he had a hat for any occasion, the sun of the wasteland will burn your bald head). He drinks a lot and smokes like twice as much as Sole and Mac together.

So his room, still perfectly clean, has a lot of stuff in it. A large wardrobe (because he has a lot of good clothes for weekends and even has a seamstress friend who sews for him), a full-length pre-war mirror—a true rarity. Several large shelves with books, notebooks, and folders with blueprints—because he does all the engineering work around the house (after all, he is a former navy engineer; during the war he served on a ship, and he has been on airships and loves them), looks after weapons and equipment, and also helps Jack with the simple stages of his research. Large work desk. A comfortable armchair for reading (oh, I adore the fact that the community unanimously considers him a reading person).

Soon after the assault on Parsons, one by one, the Cabots died. Ed buried them and grieved. He drank for three months and even gave the cats to Daisy because he was afraid he wouldn't be able to take good care of them. Then he joined one of the caravans and worked as a security guard for six months just to get his mind off things, to be in the fresh air, and to be around people, not for money. 

Then he pulled himself together and returned to the house. You know, this may sound cool—I inherited a house like this. But in reality, no. And Ed didn't want that. After all, he could live anywhere.

He took off paintings and removed unnecessary furniture. When Sole came for the first time after a long break, she was very surprised. The living room and dining room (in fact, Ed moved there) greatly changed. They have lost their fashionable gloss but have become warmer and cozier. It was immediately obvious that he now lives here. There was a knitted blanket and colored pillows on the sofa. Instead of that huge portrait, Ed hung a simple rug, the kind Sole had seen in farmers' houses. There were books on the coffee table, by the sofa, and on the dining table. An open bottle of whiskey and a glass. Ed carried the wood-burning stove into the dining room and carefully routed its chimney out the window. On it stood a large, bulbous copper kettle. Simple clay bowls and one huge crooked wooden one for all the weird beer snacks Sole loved so much.

He almost stopped using electricity, except for the reading lamp. There were now large grease candles in metal trays everywhere. And one oil glass lamp (similar to Orthodox icon lamps in Sole’s homeland) so that there is always a fire lit at home, from which you can light a cigarette (he still tried not to smoke in the house, although no one could stop him). I think there should be a smoking balcony with chairs and potted cacti. Ed used to smoke there with Emogene. There was never anything romantic between them, but she sympathized with him and loved his company.

Overall, it was a large and lonely house. It saw a lot. So when Gage asked Ed to come live with them on the lake, Ed was very relieved. Everything has become easier. He was a simple man, and his pleasures were simple. Beloved woman nearby. Beautiful view. A friend's little funny son (Ed loves children and got along well with Duncan). Clean water to bathe at any time. Farm animals. The forest. The caravan still comes once every ten days; you can have a drink and listen to their stories. You can take a boat and go fishing. You can even pack your stuff and go to the sea or to Diamond City if you really want to. Life is good.

At the farm, Ed lives not in the house itself but in the former boat house and workshop, in which part of it was first fenced off, and later another room was added. The room was small, and most of it was taken up by the bed. Pillows and blankets. Books are on shelves under the ceiling. In the same place where a huge amount of dried herbs hung. Ed continued to distill and collect herbs for infusions, cooking, and medicine. He made delicious tea, massage-soothing cream, and even a little perfume on holidays as gifts. Sole loved sleeping in his bed during the day; the room was always cool and smelled deliciously of herbs, wood, and oil. Calm and safe.

[foreversecrets]

When Ransom Submitted to Tori

Part of my Rogers Family Expansion series

Pairing: Ransom Drysdale x Victoria Stark (OC)

Summary: His family has never asked him for anything his entire life, but now they may just ask far to much for playboy Ransom Drysdale.

Rating: General

Victoria adored her family, let's make that abundantly clear-she would do anything for her brother, niece, and her sister-in-law. But, she wanted nothing to do with the family business. She’d watched her father and brother growing up, their actions reason enough for her to want nothing to do with the mafia world. A decision they wholeheartedly supported when she went to college and eventually became a math professor. Honoring her wishes, the family kept her out of the business, that is until today.

Victoria doesn’t know what to say as she places the contract back down on her brother's desk and rubs her temples. How is she supposed to process the reality that an archaic practice is something her brother is urging her to accept? An arranged marriage. Her eyes linger on the picture of the youngest Rogers brother, he’s not unattractive but his appearance and personality are irrelevant when the core of the matter is choice. She didn’t choose this, granted Tony was asking not telling her but the reason this contract was even drafted was the Rogers Family is massive while the Stark Family has narrowed down to only four members. The probability of the Starks becoming an extinct lineage drastically falls if they do not receive the favor of the Rogers. What stronger alliance than for them to become family?

“I won’t make you do this,” Tony promises. “Rogers and his wife have been trying for a kid, I could agree to Morgan marrying their first born but-”

“But she’s a toddler and none of us wants to set her future for her.” Pepper snaps looking at her husband, clearly peeved with this whole arrangement. “Not that we want to do that to you but we wouldn’t ask this if-”

“It’s alright Pep, I understand.” sighing Victoria looks at the terms again, if she does this it's for life. 

Neither her nor Ransom can terminate the marriage at any time and she herself will be unable to have children with anyone other than Ransom. Bodily autonomy will remain a decision by both parties at all times so she is reassured she will never have to bear a child. But the file on Ransom describes him as a pompous, spoiled, unemployed member of the family meaning he wasn’t invested in the mafia business like her and she doubted he’d want children anymore than she does. She’d always loved her role of being the cool aunt but the idea of having a kid herself that was a lifelong commitment and responsibility had never been appealing to her.

“I want the lake house,” she looks at her brother. If she’s doing this she wants to be able to escape for a day or two from her husband instead of being trapped in a home she may or may not get along with.

“Well-” Tony starts only to be interrupted by his wife. 

“Whatever you want.” she promises. In reality it was a cheap price to pay for Victoria’s future, she could ask for so much more and Pepper would willingly give her whatever she desired. 

“And I demand you two have another child.” she laughed, rising from her seat. Tony was clearly eager to fulfill that while Pepper rolled her eyes and excused herself from the room. “So, when do I meet Ransom and when is the wedding?”

“We will iron out the details tonight, our families are getting together for dinner at Steve’s tonight.”

Nodding, she promises to be there before heading home to her apartment, needing to mentally prepare for the evening. When she enters her tiny but cozy studio apartment she absolutely adores, a sadness rises. Ransom will make her sell her furniture, she doesn’t imagine he’d allow her to completely rearrange his abode. Prepahs she can convince Tony to move her furniture to the lakehouse and sell what is already there. Questions of what her new life would look like once she moved in with Ransom started to pop into her head. One of the reasons none of her previous relationships worked out was her love of privacy and hatred of sharing her space, maybe that’s why she asked her brother for the lakehouse. That and her commitment issues that Tony had always promised her would fade over she found the right partner, Pepper had been the blessing to mix that in Tony along with so many other issues her brother had. Everytime Tony found there was improvement that Victoria needed to make in her life would magically be solved once she found the love of her life. Once upon a time she would have rolled her eyes at his reassurances but now she finds herself regretting that she’d never get to prove her brother wrong or right. 

Then her thoughts shifted to Ransom, would they have a normal happy relationship or would they just be two adults cohabiting? She didn’t want to live a loveless life, where her husband and herself would have a string of lovers but never truly getting that happily ever after. Monogamy, though something she’d always been afraid of, was something she craved. She’d seen the way her parents loved one another, the way Tony loved Pepper and she had to admit she was envious. Failing time and time again maybe this arrangement wasn’t the worst thing that could happen to her. It was Ransom or no one now, she really hoped this would work out for the better. 

Pushing all thoughts from her mind, she decided to take a nice hot shower and doll up, the process always relaxed her and boosted her confidence. She’d never dolled up for a man before, always doing it for herself because she liked the way she felt afterwards. But more often than not she went without makeup so that would be something Ransom would have to deal with. It also gave her an edge when she wasn’t sure what she was walking into. 

Tony offered to pick her up for dinner but her car was a lifebuoy should things go south, so she took the address from her brother and began the journey just outside the city. Rogers Estate was too over the top for her tastes but it was far cozier looking than Tony’s luxury penthouse. When she pulled up there was only one car parked, a light colored beamer she assumed belonged to Mrs. Rogers. She couldn’t imagine a massive man like Steve Rogers cramping into the driver seat when he could easily afford a more spacious vehicle. When she knocked on the front door she began regretting it, wishing she’d waited for her brother to arrive before going to the door.

“Oh! You’re here!” the excitement in the women is above what she would expect for some household staff, leading her to believe the woman was Mrs. Rogers. “Please come in! Ransom and Steve are locked up in the office but should be joining us soon.”

“Thank you, this is for you” Victoria held out a bottle of wine that would not serve everyone attending dinner. Tony had said both families would be in attendance, meaning all the Rogers and their partners. 5 Starks and 14 Rogers. Joseph Rogers really needed to have a vasectomy earlier-who the hell wants to have 9 kids! Granted the Alder and Levinson’s had been twins but still, to have 9 children all so close together!? Her hips hurt just thinking about the 7 women who had the misfortune of contributing to Joseph Rogers brood. 

“Thank you!” Mrs. Rogers' look of genuine gratitude endeared Tori, even more so when she could see the woman mentally scolding herself. “Where are my manners! I’m Annie.” Tori shook the woman's hand and offered her name though it was clear who she was. 

“I begged my husband not to be so medieval for this alliance, you just say the word and I’ll stop this whole thing.” Annie whispered into her ear, making Tori laugh again.

Amused Tori questioned her, “You’d go against Mr. Rogers?”

“It wouldn’t be the first time, my husband learned early on what battles weren’t worth fighting me on.”

Tori tried to maintain her composure as she tried to picture this ball of sweetness ever taking a raised tone of voice with her bulky husband who probably stood a good two feet taller than herself.

“How else would they solidify the alliance?”

“A contract! They love the damn things so much I don’t see why they are complicated matters.” Oh Tori was absolutely in love with Annabelle Rogers. This arranged marriage would be worth it if it meant she got to interact with Annie on a regular basis.:If you need the arrangement to end, just say rosebush and I will get you out of this.” Annie conspired.

“We will see how the evening pans out,” Tori finally breaks and offers a chuckle. “Rosebush, I got it.” she smiles.

Annie dotes on Tori while they wait for everyone to join them, getting to know Annie in the span of about an hour and a half. She understands why Annie is so positive and nurturing, she grew up outside the mod world with a normal little middle class family she adored. She had the life Tori had only imagined as a kid, what would an uncorrupted childhood have been like, one where she hadn’t seen her first murder at 7 years old? 

“Babydoll?” a voice calls out Tori assumes it belongs to Steve Rogers.

“Here comes trouble,” Annie winks at Tori. “In here honey!”

Tori stands for introductions as Steven and Ransom enter the room, her eyes instantly falling on her intended. His face is still red, his brow furrowed, whatever he was discussing with his brother (she suspects it to be the marriage) he was not happy about it. Steve gives his wife a quick peck on the lips before shaking Tori’s hand in an introduction.

“And this is my brother Ransom.”

Tori puts her hand out towards Ransom who looks at it only a moment before sneering and walking towards the opened wine bottle and grabbing a glass for himself. Either oblivious or not caring about the tension he has caused he indulges in the sweet dessert wine as the doorbell rings. Steve Rogers is apparently adverse to awkward situations because he scurries away as quickly as possible to answer the door himself. Annie takes a deep breath before addressing Ransom again. 

“Here’s how this is going to go, we give it a try and if we find ourselves incompatible, be the terms of the contract we can just be roommates.”

Ransom annoyance transforms into curiosity. “I have a one bedroom home.” 

“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”

She watches as the tension slowly eases from his shoulders, he takes a deep breath as his face morphs into a neutral expression. He walks over, she maintains her composure and allows him to take her hand to place a quick kiss to one of her knuckles. A relieved breath escapes her as she offers him a kind smile. Regaining his posture, conversation doesn’t resume but the room is lighter now, while it doesn’t resume until her niece and brother enter the room.

“Who's ready for dinner?” 

[giraffeonstrike]

In gearing up for a career change, I've been considering what my passions are and I've been a little stuck. It's an odd thing to go back and think about at my age...not that we don't change a ton between 20 and 43, we absolutely do and that's a good thing, but to really sit and take a good look at what moves you is typically a thing that younger people do before they start their careers and to a degree their minds and attitudes are better suited for self reflection and exploration.

When I was a teenager ten thousand years ago, my father decided we were going to build houses with Habitat for Humanity. He liked building stuff, I also liked it, people needed houses...simple. It was about a year into that when a guy we worked with asked me if I wanted to come work with him in his shop building cabinets and furniture. People were ordering things for Christmas, it was just him and one other guy, they needed help. So I went and worked with him, he taught me a lot, and it was hard but very fun so I'm 17 and have decided this is what I want to do.

I tell my father and he's confused. A carpenter? Really? No, no...you have to go to college. He didn't come all this way for his son to do manual labor.

I remember asking him "so it's good enough for Jesus but I can't do it?" which he was silent about for a while. No good reason, it's just not what he envisioned for me and eventually I gave up. Went to college, had a variety of jobs that were fine until I ended up here in the job I have now. I've sold cars, I put my own schooling on hold for some years to put my ex wife through school when her parents cut her off, doing the highest paying thing I could do with my skillset (talking) and an unfinished degree...being shipped around the country selling software. I can't even tell you what that was like, it was so mentally taxing and I was just always going.

But I did learn something incredibly valuable, which leads me to my really drawn out point. Frequently there were language and access barriers that prevented me from being able to close deals. You can't sell English language only software (of which there are almost none now but this was long time ago) to schools with strong ESL programs. They need a Spanish option...huge roadblock in southern California, the southwest, and south Texas. We had very little for special needs schools.

There were always handouts but frequently there were no actual people or departments that dealt with the care and management of special needs students. A secretary would hand me something and then disappear. I would never get a feel of what their needs were and if I ever asked they couldn't tell me.

When I came to work at my branch, that still bothered me. What bothered me even more is that I was coming up against the same problem. We had no audiobooks, no books in braille, no bilingual staff, only English language books, no one knew sign language but me. A library should be a place where anyone can go to get the information and enrichment that they need to learn and thrive. It's better now, but lack of funding has always been an issue and we never have been able to get to where I'd like us to be.

I'm 43 years old and realizing that my real passion is accessibility. Ease of use. Making what is difficult less so in whatever way possible. There are so many apps and programs now that hit that mark, but in talking to people who would know I've found out that the human element is lacking. For better or worse we are social creatures and sometimes you just want another person there to guide you.

I will formally resign my position soon, when I can set some things in motion to ensure that my assistant, Angela, will be asked to take over for me. I love my branch, I believe in it, and she's the only one I know who loves it like I do and will make it stronger. We're the only two who know, she's asked me if I'll still do storytime and I'm just delighted that she'd keep me for such an important job.

This is going to be a big year.