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itsjusthockey · 1 year ago

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Hughes Your Daddy? - Jack Hughes

hahahaha finally

enjoy

request

If I get 10+ comments/asks ill make a part 2

Yes, that's me bribing you, I want more interactions

w.c: 3,007 (credit to gif maker) (don’t steal my work)

Pt.2

The last few weeks of college are the worst weeks of a student's life. There’s nothing but studying, finals, and pure hell. Yet, when Ellen Hughes calls and tells you to get on a flight to Vancouver to be present at the Hughes Bowl, you fucking get on a flight to Vancouver.

The flight itself is terrific; you study a bit of your flashcards, drink some hot cocoa, and even get in a solid half-hour nap. You honestly feel a little sad when the intercoms go off, and they announce your descent into Canada.

The sadness washes away quickly when you clear the clouds and realize how excited you are. This trip, tomorrow’s game, is a very, very special event. Each Hughes brother will be playing on the ice tomorrow night, and you’ll be sitting, as requested, in the Hughes box overlooking it all.

As soon as the 737 touches down, you’re quick to switch your phone off airplane mode. You appreciated the few hours of bliss without endless notifications, but life has to go on. As soon as the iPhone gets service, a flood of messages rolls through. One from Ellen, to which you respond. Two from Quinn, which you answer. And 36 messages from Jack, which you ignore.

You should respond, and you will, but first, you have to get off the plane and find your favorite chauffeur.

Without further delay, you exit the plane, grabbing your carry-on and swinging your backpack over your shoulders. You smile at the few flight attendants on the way out and throw an extra thank you to the woman who gave you some extra cookies when she saw your flashcards.

The Vancouver airport is bustling, and you can’t help but feel the positive vibes radiating from the space. The entire airport is decorated for Christmas, and you’re reminded why it’s ranked one of the best airports in North America.

You make your way to the baggage claim, checking your phone to ensure you’re heading toward the right spot. You are, and while you’re walking, you pass all the cute little shops. You see a couple of little knickknacks, and you make a mental note to pick up something on your flight back. Now, however, you must focus.

The baggage claim area is pretty full, and you’re dodging people left and right. You’re unsure in the sea of people where Quinn might be hiding until you hear your name shouted from somewhere to your left. You turn your body, and there he is, waving a bit and standing with a small smile.

“Oh my god, is that Quinn Hughes?” You say in mock shock as you get within his earshot. “The newest captain of the Canucks and Vancouver's most precious gem?”

He rolls his eyes back as far as he can when you approach, but nonetheless, he pulls you in for a hug.

“Please stop.” He groans out as your part and takes your carry-on from you.

“Never.” You smile as he leads you out of the airport.

It takes mere minutes to get to the car, and you both catch up about whatever. It’s been months since you’ve seen Quinn, and whenever you’re with him, you’re reminded why he might be your favorite besides Ellen and Jim, of course.

As soon as you are settled into the passenger of Quinn’s car, he reaches back behind him and pulls out a small gift bag.

“Here, before I forget.”

You give him a questioning look, and he just gives you a slight smirk.

“Just open it. It’s more of a gift to everyone else.”

You squint your eyes a bit suspiciously but pull the tissue paper from the bag. As soon as you do, you see the familiar blue and white colors, and a laugh burst from your lips.

“Oh my god.” You shriek out, laughing, pulling the Canucks jersey from the bag.

You both immediately start laughing, and you can hardly contain yourself.

“Of course, you don’t have to wear it for the game.” Quinn says. “but he’s gonna flip if he sees you wearing it when they get here.”

You scan the Jersey and agree with the boy next to you. Your boyfriend is very possessive when it comes to jerseys, and he hates everything that isn’t red, black, or white and doesn’t have Hughes 86 plastered on the back.

“Oh, this is gold, Quinn.” You say, tucking the jersey back in as Quinn moves the car out of the lot.

“Ma and I thought so, too. She said it might humble him for the night.”

Speaking of humbling your boyfriend, you reach for your phone and go to text him back. You scan the many messages and roll your eyes at a few. Most of them are him just wanting attention, but the last one catches your eye.

we’re 2 hours behind ur flight. No fun or smiling before I get there

You read the text allowed to Quinn, who rolls his eyes at the statement, and you’re quick to shoot a response back, telling Jack that it’s too late and you’re having the best time ever.

————————-

As soon as you step through Quinn’s front door, you hear a happy yell, and Ellen is pulling you in for a long-awaited hug. You practically melt as she squishes you, and the happiest of laughs exits her.

“Oh, my sweet girl, I’m so happy this worked out.” She says to you, pulling back just enough to look at your smiling face.

You look behind her as Jim is standing nearby, waiting his turn. You give Ellen one less squeeze and then turn to the original Hughes and give him a big hug.

“Hey, kiddo,” He says. “Glad you’re here.”

As soon as you say your hellos, you move to get your stuff settled into your room. As quickly as you can, you throw your stuff down and pull on the New Jersey, making your way back out to the kitchen.

As soon as you enter, Jim laughs, and Ellen raises her hands to her mouth.

“Oh, Jack is gonna hate it.” She turns to Quinn and laughs, using him to steady her.

“Oh, we know.” You say, high-fiving Quinn as you grab a cup of some water.

As soon as you get your water, you all settle into the living room, and questions are flying left and right. You talk about school, work, and whatever else comes to mind about the time you’ve spent away from them. They hang onto every word, and you can’t help but smile. You’ve always been close to Jack's family, but when the one-year mark passed, it’s like they fully accepted you as one of them. Now, almost two years in, Ellen and Jim treat you like the daughter they never had, and they tell you often how much more they like you than any of their sons. You always laugh, but you know deep down that you are special to them. And that fact alone makes you consider yourself one of the luckiest girls.

“They just landed,” Quinn announces. “Almost showtime.”

Ellen winks at you from her space on the couch, and you settle deeper into the comfortable space, counting down the seconds until your boyfriend walks through the door.

—————————-

About half an hour later, you hear loud commotion as the door swings open and Jack and Luke enter the building. It takes less than three seconds for Jack to yell.

“Where is she?”

You laugh at him and yell back from the living room. “I’m in here.”

In mere seconds, Jack is in the room, making a beeline toward you. It’s the first time you’ve seen him in a month, and you won’t lie; he looks pretty good.

You make your move and step off the couch, going to hug him, but he halts in his place a few feet away, giving you a once-over.

“Get that shit off you.”

As soon as that leaves his mouth, everyone busts out laughing, and Jack gives you a less-than-impressed look. You feel a bit bad, so you give him a small smile and lift the jersey off your frame, revealing a Devils t-shirt underneath.

As soon as you throw the jersey away, he takes two long strides and engulfs you in a hug. You thought that nothing could beat Ellen’s hug, but Jack's grip nearly breaks your back.

You pull away after a second and pry him off of you. You love him more than anything, but you’re not about to show massive amounts of PDA in front of his parents, who are sitting a few feet away.

He gets this because he lets you go and gives his parents and brother a quick greeting, then leads you away from the living room. Everyone allows it to happen, and you find yourself in the privacy of the bedroom.

“You’re funny, but you better have my jersey for tomorrow night.”

You let out a small laugh and cross the room again, linking your hand behind his head and pulling him closer to you. His hands find home on your waist, and his fingertips dip under your shirt a bit, gently squeezing.

“I promise, J,” you grin. “I’ll do my best to show support to the losing team.”

He releases a soft gasp and gives you a slight look of betrayal.

“Losing team?”

Your grin goes even wider. “Check that stats, bud. You’re in a bit of a losing streak.”

He narrows his eyes a bit, and with one quick motion, he grabs your frame and tosses you on the bed. He enters attack mode, lays his entire weight on you, and begins grabbing at your sides. You, of course, go into defense mode and fight to push him off. You fight for power for a minute before you pull your defining move. He gets close, too close, and you give him your best doe eyes. The second he catches your stare, he folds, and he puts himself at your mercy.

For the first time in a hot minute, you pull him to meet you; the second his lips are on you, you implode. It’s been too long, and there is nothing more comforting and familiar than the boy lying nearly on top of you. You kiss him for a minute, your lips molding perfectly together before you pull away, gently patting his face.

“I think your family would like to see you.”

You push him away again as he rolls his eyes.

“I see them enough.”

He goes back to try to kiss you, but you push him away, putting a finger to his lips and shaking your head.

“Come on.”

He lets out an annoyed huff and removes himself from the bed, pulling you up along with him. You make your way back to the family room and laugh yourself into the family events.

Soon, you’re all playing board games, and you find out very quickly reminded about how sore of a loser your boyfriend is. You play board games cards, and when it gets late enough in the night, you all make your way to the living room for a movie.

You watch something light-hearted, and you can’t help but feel bliss as you’re tucked into Jack's side, surrounded by the entirety of the Hughes family. It’s a nice moment, and it’s the times like this that have you thankful you’ve stuck with the boy at your side.

——————

Before the sun rises, Jack's alarm blares next to you, and you can only groan at the noise. Alarms are truly nothing but an escape from bliss, and you wish you could stay forever in this little bubble. You’re warm comfy, and you don’t mind the boy you’re cuddled next to.

But alas, he is a slave to hockey, and he presses a quick kiss to your lips and swings himself out of bed. You follow a few minutes later, moving at a sloth pace. Instead of getting fully ready, you make your way downstairs to where the smell of bacon is wafting through the house. You’re almost giddy as you see Ellen and Quinn making breakfast, and you get even happier when Ellen places a steaming mug of coffee in front of you.

“You’re an angel, thank you.”

She gives you a big smile and pours another cup for herself. As soon as you catch the time, you offer to take Quinn’s place with the cooking, to which he gladly accepts and runs off to shower and get ready for the big game.

As soon as all the Hughes boys are out of earshot, you get down to business.

“I’ll raise to fifty on the Devs.”

Jim scoffs at your bet. “I love ‘em, but I disagree. Offense has been a bit sloppy. I’ll raise to a hundred on the Nucks.”

You quirk your eyebrow, then turn to the Queen, who seems to be pondering.

“I’m sorry (Y/N), but I think I’m gonna say Nucks too.”

You let out a soft groan but hold your ground.

“Alright. Final bet is a hundred. Winner takes all.

You all shake hands, sealing the deal.

As if you weren’t up to gambling, you act as naturally as possible as the three boys enter the kitchen. Each one is clad in a suit, and it warms your heart to see them all together. They look adorable, and you can’t help but laugh when Ellen demands a picture. They oblige, but like every other photo they take, it slightly looks like they’re being held at gunpoint. But you win some, you lose some.

Eventually, you’re all fed, happy, and once another alarm goes off, you know it’s time. You say your goodbyes to the boys, wishing them the best of luck. You hug Quinn, do your secret handshake with Luke, and press a quick kiss to Jack's lips.

Once you finish, they say their goodbyes to their parents and make their way toward the door, but they don’t get far before Jack pulls you toward him one last time.

“You ready to watch me destroy Quinn?” He teases.

You roll your eyes, pushing him away with a laugh. Nonetheless, you give him one last peck, swat his ass, and yell one final encouragement as he heads out the door.

“Don’t embarrass me!”

He flips you the bird as he gets into Quinn’s vehicle, and you smile and give him one back as you head back into the house.

You sit back down to finish talking with the parents l, and time ticks by faster than you’d like. Soon enough, it’s time to get ready, and you throw on your devil's jersey. You say a little prayer and hope they all do good. Things like this don’t happen often, and you hope it’s simply a good game.

———————

You smiled as wide as you could as the three Hughes brothers posed for a couple of pictures. You could see the distaste on all their faces, but they did it anyway.

Once they do the appropriate media, the game begins, and you’re sitting on the edge of your seat. It’s a good game, no, a great game. Soon, the first period is almost over, but not before your boyfriend has to remind everyone who he is, and he scores a goal.

It’s known that the Hughes parents don’t show much emotion at the games, and even more so when it’s their sons playing on opposite teams. So you control yourself, but you don’t miss when Ellen squeezes your hand.

The game continues, and it’s a nail-biter. Each minute you watch, you get more and more tense. Maybe it’s because you’re just nervous, or perhaps it’s the fact you have a hundred bucks on the line. But either way, you pray the clock ticks faster.

It doesn’t, but once Luke scores, you can’t help but start to think that this might be the end of a losing streak. You laugh on the inside because, of course, all it takes is a little brother rivalry to get the Devils back into motion.

———————

When the clock hits zero, and the Devils win, you practically die in your seat. You’re so thrilled for Jack and Luke, but a small part of you is a bit depressed for Quinn. But you know, if anyone can handle a loss like this, it’s the eldest Hughes, so you’re not too worried. Instead, you focus on your boyfriend, who, even from the box, looks the happiest he’s been in a while. He was given the title of the first star of the game, and you absolutely love it when he’s like this. You know he’s going to be in one of those unstoppable moods. You love it, but he can be a cocky little shit, and you know he’s going to be almost insufferable. You’ll take it, though, and embrace every part of it.

A few minutes later, the area starts clearing, and you’re all getting ready to leave the box, but you almost forget what is happening when Jim slides you a crisp hundred-dollar bill and winks at you.

“Jack really pulls out the stops when you’re at a game.”

You let a blush creep onto your face as you take the bill. You’d be lying if you said that you felt bad. This isn’t the first game you’ve bet on against Jim, and it certainly won’t be the last.

“Alright, you two gamblers, let’s go see the boys, shall we?”

Ellen leads the three of you down to where you’ll see the men of the hour. You feel the happiest you’ve felt in a while as you follow behind them, and when you get close enough, you can hear your boyfriend laugh from a short distance. Your heart skips the noise, and as soon as he spots you from across the room, he moves as fast as lightning to get to you.

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shellbilee · 5 months ago

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Hey There Darlin' - Chapter 7

A Glen Powell RPF series

Can't believe how much this is growing. I'm so thankful for every like, reblog and comment. Sending all of my apologies for the delay, I've forgotten how hard smut is to write and I'm embarrassed to admit how many times I wrote and re-wrote this trying to make it perfect. Hope you enjoy! x

Thankyou to @zacksnydered for the gifs!

Warning - Smut heavy in this chapter.

Billie

“105! Dani, you did it girl!” Billie beams, grinning from ear to ear as she helps her patient re-rack the loaded barbell on the squat rack.

Dani’s grin matches Billie’s when she turns around and jumps into Billie to hug her, the two having a celebratory embrace at the new squat personal best. Dani was a sophomore who had torn a major ligament in her knee playing high-level basketball, and after close to six months of rehabilitation, she was back to squatting even more than she was pre-injury.

“I told you you could do it, I’m so proud of you!” Billie announces as they part, holding Dani’s shoulders and grinning back at her teenage patient.

Dani’s smile takes up her whole face. “Thank you so much Billie, honestly I couldn’t have done it without you”

Billie scoffs, “Don’t be silly. This was all you!”

“What’s 105 in pounds?” Dani asks, picking up her water bottle and looking back at Billie, “Also, when are you ever going to stop using kilograms?”

“About 240 pounds” Billie replies with a laugh, “And never. I can’t help it that my brain thinks in kilos. That’s what I learnt in school way back when, and that’s what I’m sticking with”.

Dani laughs, sitting down on the floor and stretching out her legs, Billie perching on a nearby plyometric box and looking down at Dani.

“So, same time next week?” Billie asks, pulling out her iPad and checking her patient diary for next week, “Two-thirty?”

Dani nods and Billie inputs the appointment, running through the plan for their next session before saying goodbye.

“Well done again Dani” Billie says, squeezing her shoulder as they walk out of the gym area, “We’re going to have you back on the court in no time at this rate”.

Dani grins and Billie nods, waving goodbye as Dani goes to get her things and Billie retreats into her office.

Almost immediately she picks up her phone, her stomach flip-flopping when she sees a text message notification from Glen. They’d transitioned to text messaging, having exchanged phone numbers on Sunday night, and despite it being two whole days, Billie wasn’t sure she would ever get used to seeing Glen Powell’s name pop up on her phone.

There’d been no shortage of interaction between the two of them, Glen and Billie texting back and forth - talking, flirting and sharing pictures of their day. Of Brisket and Nugget, of Billie out on a run, of Glen at the gym, a playful selfie here and there. Their texts had become increasingly flirtatious, and Billie was seriously struggling to keep her thoughts in check.

She was trying to focus on work - on Chelsea's niggling shoulder, on Derek’s hip that was catching every time he reached top speed on his sprint, on the brace that she had to order for Jimmy’s knee, but thoughts of Glen somehow kept inching their way in.

Billie felt like she was back in high school and with a teenage crush. Except this time, she was a grown up, and her teenage crush was a Hollywood celebrity.

She swipes across the screen to open his text message, nearly audibly groaning at what appears on her screen next. Glen was at a photo shoot today, and he’d sent her a little sneak preview.

How was it physically possible for anyone to be that good looking?

Honestly.

The man was literally sex on fucking legs.

The photo shows Glen dressed in a light blue shirt and jacket leaning against a door frame, his shirt unbuttoned and leaving very little of his chest to the imagination. Billie isn’t sure where to look first, torn between the delicious planes of his chest covered in a dark mess of hair, or his intense, intimate expression that makes Billie need to catch her breath. His jaw is covered in more stubble than when she’d seen him last, and suddenly she can’t help but wonder how it would feel when she kissed him.

Her fingers hover over the screen, her brain at a momentary loss of what to say.

How am I supposed to focus on the rest of work when you're looking like that 😍

Typing bubbles appear almost instantly, and Billie realises she’s smiling.

You’re not the only one having trouble focusing. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about seeing you tonight

Billie’s smile grows then, her whole body instantly flushing with warmth. She types back, knowing her thoughts have undoubtedly been very similar to his.

Surely that ‘lost in thought’ look is what works for photo shoots though?

She can almost hear Glen chuckling as he reads her words.

Except that they kept asking me why I seemed so distracted all through the shoot

Billie feels herself grin stupidly.

And what did you tell them?

I said that I had something I was looking forward to doing tonight

Billie nearly drops her phone at that, her breathing instantly ragged. Fuck.

And what might that be?

Seeing you, of course

Billie lets out a laugh then, loving their flirty back and forth.

She's already decided she’s going to sleep with Glen tonight. Not only because she was dying to, but because she knew there was no way she was going to be able to stop herself. How she'd done so on Sunday at his house she had no idea - she could still feel his lips on hers if she thought about it, tender and heated as he held her on the kitchen bench.

Billie grins and bites her bottom lip, fingers tapping on the screen.

See you at 8 darlin x

You’re trouble mister 🙈 I'm looking forward to you seeing you too.

“Am I allowed to know about whatever it is that's making you look at your phone like that?”

Billie's head snaps up when she hears her colleague Lisa's voice, seeing her standing in her office doorway with a curious look on her face.

“Nope” Billie says, sending a kiss face emoji back to Glen before locking her phone and quickly shoving it back into her pocket.

“Cmon B, we've worked together long enough for me to know that that” she says pointing at Billie's pocket, “Is absolutely something to do with a guy. So come on, spill”.

Billie grins, picking her water bottle up from her desk and bending to check her computer screen to see who her next client is.

“Need to know basis at this point, Lisa”

“Oh yeah? I don't even get a little hint?”

Billie laughs at her friend's insistence.

“Alright, here's one. He's fucking gorgeous”

Lisa rolls her eyes. “That's hardly a hint Bil”.

Billie shrugs, smiling sweetly and walking over to the doorway beside Lisa.

“That's all you need to know for now”.

“Need to know, or get to know?”

“Both”

“Did you meet him at Rufus on Friday?”

Billie shrugs again innocently. “Maybe”.

Lisa raises one eyebrow, running her fingers through her platinum blonde, spikey pixie cut.

“You know I'm going to keep asking you, yeah?”

Billie laughs, the two walking down the hallway and stopping at Lisa's office.

“And you know I’m going to keep deflecting your questions yeah?”.

Lisa punches her arm playfully and Billie grins, nodding at her friend before walking off to the waiting room.

“Billie!”

Billie stops short as she passes Ross’ office, her boss sitting at his desk and waving to her.

“Hey bossman”

“Just checking you’re still okay for the Monterey trip in August?”

Billie nods. “Sure am”.

Due to the clinic’s work with high school and college athletes, they often got asked to accompany teams to tournaments and competitions around the country. Billie had been on a few trips in her years at Evolution Sports Rehab, using them as a convenient excuse to see more of the US. So far she’d been to Florida, Atlanta and Boston, and several places in the greater California area.

A few weeks ago Ross had been contacted about a four day college football tournament in Monterey, California. He'd pitched the opportunity to her and the rest of the physical therapists at a clinic meeting last month and Billie had put her hand up to go. Namely, because Bec and Ben had a gorgeous beach house down in Monterey that Billie had spent countless girls' weekends at. Knowing that Bec wouldn't batter an eyelid if she asked to borrow it for a few days, she'd jumped at the idea of a mini getaway at the beach - even if she had to work for a little while she was there.

“Can you make sure you've done your stock order by the end of the week please? Whatever sports tapes and creams you think you'll need for it”

Billie exhales and leans her hip against the door frame, shaking her head at her boss.

“Why on earth do you think I haven't already done that Ross?” Billie asks, grinning when Ross rolls his eyes and laughs, “I mean we've only worked together for how long? It's like you don't know me at all”.

“Alright, alright, I’m sorry” he says, waving her off.

Billie laughs and turns to exit his office, Ross’ voice making her stop.

“You seem like you’re in a good mood today?”

Billie turns to look at Ross curiously. “Am I not usually?”

Ross laughs. “You’re always happy and bubbly Billie, but it just feels like you have an extra spring in your step today”

Billie shrugs innocently, knowing full well that it's the evening activities she has planned that's making her seem giddy. But her boss certainly doesn't need those extra details.

Billie opens her mouth to respond but is cut off by Ross’ phone ringing, the two sharing a look that says ‘talk later’ without words. Ross nods at her before he picks up his phone, Billie waving him off and walking out to collect her next patient.

---

Billie is lighting her favourite coffee scented candle on the table when she hears the knock at the door, Nugget jumping from his bed and barrelling down the hallway like a rhino in a stampede. She puts the box of matches down and makes her way to the front door, pausing to quickly look over her reflection in the oversized hallway mirror.

She exhales heavily, looking back at her face.

Glen Powell is about to be in her house.

It's words she never thought she'd say in a million years, yet here she is, about to invite him in on a third date.

A third date, that she's very much hoping ends in the stereotypical way it's said that third dates do.

Billie is acutely aware of the way her heart is doing backflips in her chest, her insides feeling giddy as she pulls open the door.

“Hey there peach”

Billie's cheeks instantly flush at his nickname, never mind the utterly sexy smile on his face that makes her temporarily forget her own name. He’s dressed in a tight tan t-shirt that Billie can’t help but notice is nearly strangling his thick biceps, his hair fluffy and brushed back like it was in the photo he'd sent her earlier.

It takes everything she has not to jump him right there and then.

“Peach?” she questions with a grin at Glen, tilting her head and leaning her temple against the door edge.

He grins, shrugging his broad shoulders adorably. “I dunno, it just came to me”.

Billie laughs then, opening the door all the way and gesturing for Glen to come in. He’s holding a wriggling Brisket in one arm, the tiny dog desperate to get to Nugget who is similarly wriggling with excitement at Billie’s feet. Billie manages a quick hello pat before Glen bends and lets Brisket run off into the house, the two dogs galloping away already in play mode.

Glen steps inside and stands beside Billie, the heady scent of his delicious cologne instantly clouding her. She barely has time to close the door behind her before Glen's hands are on her, his lips finding hers in a heated kiss that leaves her breathless and wanting.

“I've been thinking about doing that all day” he whispers when they eventually part, his lips still only an inch from hers, one of his hands reaching up to tuck one side of her loose hair behind her ear.

It's the smallest gesture, but in an instant it has Billie melting.

“That makes two of us” Billie replies, her eyes never leaving his full lips, reaching for his jaw and pulling him back in for another tender kiss that he immediately deepens with his tongue.

God, if she didn't stop now they'd end up fucking in her hallway.

She forces herself away from him knowing that she’ll lose control if she lets their kiss continue for even a second longer, feeling her stomach squeeze in the best way when he keeps hold of her hand and lets her lead him down the hallway.

“Can I get you a drink?” Billie asks, gesturing for Glen to take a seat and walking over to open the back door for Nugget and Brisket to go outside, “I’ve got beer, wine, soda or water”.

“I’ll take a beer please” he says, pulling out a stool and sitting down, resting his elbows on the bench.

Billie can’t help but smile at the sight of him sitting in her kitchen. It all seems so domestically normal, but really, it’s anything but that. It’s like she has to actively work to keep her eyes from staring at him - at his thick, tanned forearms, his full, plump lips, or his gorgeous green eyes that are currently following her around her kitchen. The kitchen of which, she’d happily let him take her on every single surface of.

She exhales silently through her nose.

Fuck.

“I realise that I should have asked this earlier” Billie asks suddenly, turning and opening the fridge to retrieve a beer and an already opened bottle of pinot grigio, “But please tell me you eat sushi? Because I definitely don’t have an option B prepared”

Glen laughs, his deep chuckle echoing in the kitchen. “I do. Did you order in?”

Bille shakes her head, popping the cap off the beer and handing him the bottle. “No, we’re making it”

Glen eyes her curiously, one eyebrow raised. “I’ve never made sushi before”.

“It's easy, I promise”, Billie says as she pours herself a glass of white wine, lifting the glass to her lips and taking a sip, “I’ve got it all ready to go”.

“How was work today?” Glen asks when Billie starts taking her already chopped and prepared ingredients out of the fridge and laying them on the bench in front of Glen.

She tells him about Dani, her patient that pulled a new personal best, and about the Monterey trip in August.

“Do you go on trips like that often?”

Billie shrugs as she peels two sheets of dried seaweed from the packet, laying them on the bamboo mats in front of her and Glen.

“I've been on a few actually. The last one was a baseball tournament in Boston last October” she explains as she pulls the bowl of now cooled sushi rice from the stove onto the bench, “I went with Shanya, one of my younger colleagues and honestly it felt more like a holiday than work. We had the best time. Got to see Fenway too, which was definitely a highlight”.

Glen listens intently as she talks, Billie feeling his eyes on her as she leans against the bench and takes another sip of her wine. She loves the way each part of her body feels as he looks at her, her mind soon wandering and imagining how his hands would feel instead.

For a second she seriously considers completely ditching dinner and moving straight to the part of tonight she’s been thinking about all day.

“Okay so do you have any idea how to do this?”

Glen shakes his head no, the adorable expression on his face making Billie laugh.

“The hardest part is making sure you don't put too much rice, and then the rolling of course” Billie explains, using a spoon to flatten a layer of rice onto the seaweed sheet, “Then you just add your fillings long ways like this” she adds, arranging salmon, avocado and Japanese mayonnaise horizontally across the rice.

She wets her fingers and carefully rolls up the seaweed, looking up at Glen when she's produced a perfect looking sushi roll.

“See, easy right?”

Glen laughs, clearly not convinced.

They spend the next fifteen minutes making sushi, Billie offering her best constructive criticism and chuckling when Glen's first attempt immediately unrolls on the plate. The second one is a little better albeit has filling falling out the sides, Glen clapping his hands in triumph when it stays put on the plate and making Billie laugh harder.

If her life were a movie, this scene would be shown as a video montage in the kitchen with a fun pop song in the background, cutting between snippets of Billie and Glen laughing and grinning at one other.

She can’t help but smile stupidly at the thought.

“Wow, you can't half tell which ones are mine” Glen comments when they’ve finished, taking a sip of his beer as Billie clears the empty prep plates into the sink, “Mine look terrible”.

Billie scoffs. “For someone that’s never made sushi before, I think they’re a pretty good first attempt”

Glen flashes her a grateful smile that Billie returns with her own, asking him to refill their drinks as she sets about slicing the sushi rolls and bringing them over to the table.

“How old are you in this photo?”

Billie looks up at Glen to find him pointing at one of the many photos on her fridge door, walking closer to see that it’s the one of her and Sloane at Camp America.

It's one of her favourite photos, her and Sloane standing with their arms wrapped around each other, faces plastered with enormous happy smiles as they balance precariously on stand up paddleboards.

A split second after the photo was taken, they'd lost their balance and splashed into the freezing but stunning turquoise blue waters of Lake Tahoe.

To this day, Billie wasn't sure if it was the happiness on their faces or the memory of them falling and laughing that made her love the photo so much.

“That would have been seven years ago now, so twenty three, twenty four?” Billie replies, coming to stand next to Glen and looking back at the photo nostalgically, “God that was an incredible Summer”.

“You know what’s incredible?” Glen asks, tilting his head as he looks down at Billie beside him, “You in that bikini’. Fuckin’ hell darlin’’”

“Oh stop it” Billie replies, punching Glen’s shoulder playfully.

“I'm serious, peach. You'd have driven all of the teenage boys crazy looking like that” Glen adds, clicking his tongue as he looks back at the photo, “I can just imagine them all lining up to have you as their camp counsellor”.

Billie laughs. “Actually, I was mostly in charge of teaching water sports and leading hikes”.

“And they were the most popular activities?”

Billie grins. “They were pretty popular, yes”.

Glen's face splits into an even bigger grin, Billie shaking her head and walking back over to the table.

“So what about you?” Billie asks when they’re both seated minutes later, taking a sip of her now full wine glass and looking across at Glen, “How was your day? The photoshoot?”.

Glen’s eyes are narrowed as he momentarily focuses on dipping a slice of sushi roll into the bowl of soy sauce without dropping it, Billie glancing over at Nugget and Brisket and smiling when she sees them both squeezed onto the dog bed in the living room.

“It went well, as good as photoshoots can go I suppose” he reasons, shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly, “After a while, they sort of all blend together. But sometimes they’re fun”

“Do you at least get to keep the clothes?”

Glen laughs. “Sometimes. But also, some of the shit they get you to wear, I don’t know what they’re thinking sometimes”

Billie laughs then, covering her mouth as she chews.

They soon settle into a quiet comfort, eating, talking and laughing.

Billie isn't sure she’s ever met a man who could make her laugh as much as Glen did, and certainly not one that she could have such a rich conversation with at the same time. Not only that, the way Glen looked at her as she spoke - like she’s the most stunning, intriguing, sexy thing that he’s ever laid his eyes on.

It was hard not to feel fucking incredible when he looked at her like that.

Billie smiles to herself and lets out a silent breath as she settles back into her chair, her mind quietly wondering about all the other ways that Glen could make her feel.

Fuck.

---

Glen

Glen relaxes back into the couch, cold beer in hand as he watches Billie standing at the back door waiting for the dogs to come back inside after their dinner. For the millionth time in the hour and a bit that he’s been here, he pushes away the sinful thoughts of Billie that have all but plagued his mind for the last three days.

She looks somehow even better than he remembered from Sunday, today dressed in a pair of slouchy denim cut offs that end high on her toned, tanned thighs, and a loose white knit sweater that seems to keep slipping down to reveal one smooth, bare shoulder. The top half of her hair is pulled back from her face with a tortoiseshell coloured clip, a few loose bits falling around her face as the rest tumbles down her back in soft, chocolate waves.

He wonders idly if she has any idea how god damn sexy she is, Glen forcing himself to look away from her bare legs when she whistles for Nugget and Brisket to hurry up.

He looks around the living room, loving the homey details that are so uniquely Billie, his eyes falling on a photo book on the coffee table in front of him. He reaches for the book and starts to flip through it, smiling at each new page of the lovingly snapped and collated photos that display all of the people and things that Billie loves.

There’s multiple snaps and pictures of Nugget - from when he was an adorable tiny puppy all the way through the giant golden bear that he is now. Of him and Billie at the beach - Billie kneeling and smiling happily at the camera while Nugget stands saturated and panting beneath her arm, of Billie laughing as she holds Nugget like a baby - his head flopped upside down and tongue lolling out to the side, a selfie of the two of them with their faces side by side.

Next is photos of Sloane, Bec and Billie at various times - the three of them posing and dressed to the nines at a formal event, another of them each holding a fruity cocktail, sun-kissed and smiling as they stand on beach somewhere tropical, and another of the three of them standing together arms intertwined with their heads thrown back in laughter.

Glen looks up when Billie comes over to the couch, shifting to give her more room when she sits down beside him. Her sweet, peachy perfume fills his nose as she leans into him, her knees bent and folded beneath her. He smiles down at her for a moment, Billie oblivious to his gaze as she picks up her phone and navigates to Spotify, a soft Luke Combs song suddenly playing from the living room speaker.

Glen looks back at the book as Billie sips her wine, flipping the page and looking down at a picture of Billie standing arm in arm with a guy. It takes him a second to realise that he has the same honey-green eyes as Billie, the shape of their smiles similarly wide and happy.

“Is this Bradley?” Glen asks, noting more similarities between the two of them the more he looks at the picture.

Billie nods.

“And that” she adds, leaning over and pointing to two pictures on the page next to it, “Is Harrison and Kiara”.

“Kiara looks like you” Glen comments looking down at the adorable brunette girl in the picture, Billie leaning her head on Glen’s shoulder and smiling almost nostalgically.

“Bradley and Jordyn say that all the time”.

Glen looks down at Billie and smiles softly.

“You miss them”

“Everyday” she replies, letting out a quiet exhale, “You know what it’s like with nieces and nephews”.

Glen smiles gently but doesn’t say anything, closing the book after a few more pages and turning to look at Billie.

“So you said you don’t start until late tomorrow?”

Billie nods, turning so that her body is facing Glen, leaning one elbow on the back of the couch and resting her cheek in her hand. “Yep. I’m going to that gymnastics meet. So I don’t have to be in until 12”

“So you can sleep in then?”

A grin slowly grows on Billie's face then, a playful look in her bright hazel eyes.

“I can, yes”.

Glen can’t help the expression that takes over his face.

“I like sleeping in”.

Billie raises one eyebrow, her head tilting as she looks back at him.

“Is that right?”

His lips stretch into a mischievous grin and he nods, Billie grinning as she taps her fingers against the wine glass in her free hand.

“You know what I like even more?” he breathes, reaching out to tuck stray hairs behind Billie’s ear as his eyes fall to her plush lips.

“Tell me”

“Kissing you”

Glen’s hand cups her smooth cheek and he leans in and kisses her, pressing his lips to hers in a soft, tender embrace. He can taste the wine on her tongue, her mouth moving against his in a way that makes his stomach flip, Glen moving his hand into her hair and deepening their intimate kiss.

Billie lets out a soft moan that he swallows with his lips, the sound making Glen’s whole body stir in the best way. He can feel his arousal growing, his heart starting to race, his grip tightening in Billie’s hair as he explores her mouth with his tongue.

He wants more, needs more, suddenly desperate to feel more of Billie beneath his fingertips.

Glen pulls away for a second, lungs starting to burn, reaching down to take the wine glass from her hands and deposit it on the coffee table. Billie understands the action immediately, barely waiting for Glen to sit back before she’s climbing into his lap, straddling his legs and wrapping her arms around his neck.

Her lips are back on his in an instant, their kiss immediately deepening, Glen kissing her hungrily as his hands fall to her waist and grip at the thickest part of her hips. The feel of her curves in his hands makes him dizzy, even more so when Billie threads her fingers into his hair and drags her nails against his scalp.

He groans then, the sound clearly having an effect on Billie, her hips grounding down into him in response. He’s hard now, painfully hard, and he knows Billie can feel it as she starts to rock her hips into him.

Fuck he wants her, every single part of her, all over him and everywhere.

Glen finds the hem of her sweater, sliding his fingers underneath the thin cotton and onto her buttery-soft skin, pressing his fingers into her warm flesh and pulling her flush against his chest. The action makes Billie break their kiss, dropping her head back as a breathy moan escapes her, Glen not missing a beat and dragging his lips along her jaw.

He’s overwhelmed by her scent - sweet and heady and driving every one of his senses mad, completely lost in her as he kisses her ear, her neck, her collarbone.

“Fuck, Glen” Billie sighs, her voice barely louder than a whisper, a wanting, almost pained moan following when Glen sucks at the thin skin near the base of her throat.

He’s just about to move lower, all of a sudden desperate to have his lips on her chest, Billie suddenly somehow reading his mind and reaching for the bottom of her sweater. He pulls back for just a moment, hands helping to peel the soft material from her body, a groan he can’t control falling from him at the sight that’s now in front of him.

He doesn’t know where to look first, painfully aware of the way his length is straining in his jeans beneath Billie, eyes glued to her breasts held in only just by a small, black bralette. They’re not big but they’re certainly not small, round and perky and threatening to fall out of the thin cotton material with the smallest of movements. He can see her nipples straining against the fabric, his tongue reflexively wetting his lips at the sight, his breathing turning ragged when he reaches out and cups her soft flesh.

Billie drops her head back again, sounding nothing short of perfect when she sighs his name, every single one of Glen’s muscles clenching as she arches her back into his hands and all but begs for his touch. He kneads her tits in his hands, thumbs swiping roughly over her covered nipples, looking up when Billie lifts her head back up and gazes down at him with seductive, hooded eyes.

“Fuckin’ hell peach, you’re gorgeous” Glen breathes, words trailing off into another strangled groan when Billie rolls her hips against his.

She cups his face with both hands and pulls him back in for a kiss, this time hungry and feverish, like she can’t get enough of him fast enough. Glen responds eagerly, licking into her mouth and matching her desperation, his hands palming her harder as his thumbs drag the thin cotton down so that her breasts fall free.

The sound she lets out when he plays with her nipples is absolutely sinful, the way her breathing becomes instantly shaky making Glen want to growl. He breaks their kiss by biting down on her bottom lip, leaving her mouth and licking his way down to her chest.

In that moment he swears he could stay there forever, drunk on Billie’s scent, her taste and feel beneath his lips, kissing and mouthing her smooth, silky skin. She cries out when his lips close around her left nipple, her back arching into his chest and his free hand moving to hold her there. He suckles at her, loving the way she all but shudders in his arms, her hips increasing their pressure with each new roll against him.

“Glen” she breathes, her voice soft and erotic, her hands threading once again into his hair and tugging gently, “Bedroom. Let’s go to the bedroom”

Reluctantly he releases her nipple - though not before savouring her for one more delicious moment, his grip on her waist tightening when she moves to stand up from his lap. He’s having none of that, instead moving both of his arms to her thighs, Billie letting out a surprised chuckle when he stands up from the couch with her wrapped firmly in his arms.

“Direct me, darlin’”

Billie laughs and bends and kisses him, Glen loving the plush, swollen feel of her lips, the two grinning back at one another as she instructs him to head down the hall to the last room on the left.

He’s instantly distracted by Billie’s breasts in his face, unable to stop himself from immediately returning his lips to her sensitive flesh, navigating around the couch blindly as Billie tries to concentrate on guiding him.

Bumping into a side table and the wall of the hallway, several giggles fall from the both of them as they eventually make it to the bedroom. Glen bends and sits Billie down on the edge of the bed, her eyes never leaving his as she peels off her bralette and pulls the clip from her hair, Glen simultaneously shedding his t-shirt.

He loves the way she looks back at him then, her eyes sultry and wanting as they roam over his now shirtless torso, Glen’s own gaze dragging between her swollen lips and naked chest. Just when he thinks Billie couldn’t possibly look any sexier - a seductive, wanton goddess, all flushed cheeks and tousled hair, he sees her hands move to her shorts and watches as her fingers make quick work of the button and zip.

Glen feels like he’s frozen then, unable to do anything but watch, his breath coming short and heavy as Billie slowly, torturously, shimmies the denim material down her legs. She slides them down to her ankles and lifts both feet in the air towards Glen, daring him to take them from her as the new position of her legs teases an explicit view of between her thighs.

A groan falls from Glen, low and rumbling from somewhere deep within him, Billie grinning seductively when he grabs the shorts from her ankles and tosses them onto the floor behind him. She moves to scoot backwards but is stopped by Glen’s hand on her calf, Glen instead pulling her closer to the edge of bed as he lowers himself to the floor in front of her.

He doesn’t miss the soft whimper that falls from Billie when he pulls her legs apart and rests her thighs on his shoulders, the sight of her naked save for a skimpy, black cotton thong stirring something primal in him. He swears he could look at her all day like this, feeling dizzy from the sight of her, the smell of her arousal, the sound of her increasing breathing. He swallows thickly, his throat suddenly dry, his own arousal throbbing painfully inside his jeans as he thinks about what he’s about to do.

Glen’s been thinking about doing this since the moment he first kissed Billie, wondering what she’d taste like, what she’d feel like and what she’d sound like coming undone on his tongue. It’s his favourite thing to do - something he enjoys arguably more than sex, unsure if it’s the way he can tease and bring them right to the edge, the sight of them when they eventually fall apart above him, or the way they feel when they spasm against his mouth that he loves so much.

He inhales heavily, hands sliding beneath Billie’s ass and grabbing at the thick part of her thighs, holding her steady and bending to press a kiss to her hip. He grins to himself when she lets out the softest whimper, looking up to see her eyes trained on him, her lips pressed together as her chest rises and falls quickly.

He loves the desperate look in her eyes, he’s mad for it, feeling the electric tension in the air as she silently begs him to kiss her lower.

He kisses along the waistband of her thong, moving slowly as he holds her steady, tongue drawing delicate circles along her sensitive skin. He knows he’s driving her mad, watching as her jaw clenches and her fingers flex into the sheets below her, her eyes following his every movement. He grins as he moves lower, kissing over the cotton now, feeling her heat beneath the material as his fingers dig into her harder. He holds her gaze for a moment longer, electricity and an unspoken communication between them, finally tearing his eyes away and looking down as he hooks his finger and pulls her panties to the side.

And god if it’s not the most gorgeous sight he’s ever seen, his deep muscles clenching in the most delicious, desperate way.

He groans.

“Fuck peach, look at you”.

His eyes run over her syrupy folds, pink and glistening and begging to be tasted, his tongue wetting his lips before he bends and kisses her sex. The second his mouth is on her Billie tosses her head back into the sheets, a beautiful, breathy moan falling from her that makes Glen grip her harder.

He doesn’t waste any time, burying his tongue into her velvet flesh, his nose brushing her clit as he kisses her open-mouthed like he would her lips. The moans he teases from Billie are nothing short of erotic, an intimate melody Glen would happily listen to for hours. He brings his fingers to her sex and uses his thumbs to spread her open, licking and sucking at her sensitive flesh until he feels her muscles starting to tremble.

His name falls from her lips between a myriad of expletives, her voice slowly getting louder as her body starts to writhe on the bed. Glen knows he’s got her then, knowing he’s close to teasing out her first release, determined to give her as many as she can take as he quickens the pace with his tongue.

“Oh Glen fuck” she moans when his lips find her clit, circling and sucking as her hips start to ground into his mouth.

He groans into her folds, loving how she’s practically fucking his face, moving one hand to her pubic bone and flattening down to hold her steady. She sucks in a long, shuddering breath and Glen knows she’s almost there, increasing his pace with his tongue and watching as she tries to buck her hips against his hold.

“I’m close Glen, I’m close” she breathes, moans punctuating her words, her eyes squeezed shut as her hands fist into the sheets.

“That’s it darlin’, let me hear you” Glen whispers against her, sucking one of her luscious folds into his mouth and loving the way she cries his name, “I wanna hear you, peach”.

Keeping one hand flat on her pelvis, he drags two fingers through her folds and coats them with her slick, easing them inside her and looking up when she cries out in pleasure. Glen groans out loud, his eyes not knowing where to focus first, torn between the way his fingers look knuckles deep within her, the sight of her wet, syrupy folds practically dripping onto his hand, and her gorgeous, near naked form trembling on the bed.

Glen can’t get enough.

And neither can Billie.

He curls his fingers in the way that he knows will drive her mad, bending and kissing her slick flesh before lavishing it with his tongue. He quickens his pace, fucking her with his fingers and sucking at her clit, Billie’s cries becoming gorgeously desperate as her body soon starts to shake.

In that moment he knows he has her, letting out a heavy breath and coaxing her over the edge.

“Just like that Bil’, that’s it” he breathes against her slit, just loud enough for her to hear over her breathy moans, “Come on darlin’, give it to me. Come for me, sweets”.

His words are her undoing and in an instant he feels her entire body tense and release, Billie’s back arching away from the bed as her head tosses back in ecstasy. His name falls from her lips like a desperate prayer and her hips buck beneath his hold, the sight and sound of Billie’s orgasm taking over her so fucking beautiful that Glen can’t help but stare enamoured. He coaches her through her release, still fucking her slowly with his fingers, eventually stilling within her when she grabs his wrist silently telling him to stop.

He bends and kisses her velvety folds gently, withdrawing his fingers and watching in awe when her body spasms with tiny aftershocks, looking up to see Billie’s chest heaving as she lays back painting on the bed before him.

He crawls his way up her body, leaving kisses on her heated skin - her hip, her breast, her collarbone, hovering above her and grinning down at her adorable post-orgasm bliss smile.

“You’re an absolute sight when you come darlin’” Glen whispers, bending and kissing her parted lips gently, “Never seen anything more fuckin’ sexy”.

Billie’s eyes flutter open, taking a second to focus on Glen above her, her swollen lips stretching into a soft, playful smile.

“I have” she whispers after a moment, lifting her hands to cup his jaw and pull him down for a kiss, “Your face looking up at me from between my thighs is something I won’t be forgetting anytime soon”.

Glen lets out a deep chuckle, lowering himself onto her and rolling his hips so that his painfully evident arousal presses into Billie’s belly. The action teases a soft, sexy moan from her throat, and suddenly he can’t help but think of another half a dozen things he’d like to do and make her not forget about.

He bends to kiss her then, capturing her lips in a heated, sensual kiss, her hands reaching out and roaming his naked back as his length presses against her, thick, hard and wanting. All at once the tension between them is building again, a growing desire licking at Glen’s insides like a raring, burning fire.

In an instant he can’t think of anything except for how much he wants Billie, how much he wants to make her come again, to bury himself inside her and fuck her over and over into the sheets beneath them - to watch her, hear her, feel her come undone around his cock.

His thoughts make Glen groan into her mouth, forcing himself away and quickly jumping from the bed, Billie propping herself up on her elbows to watch as he reaches for his belt buckle and makes quick work of his belt, jeans and underwear. He stands stark naked then, loving the seductive, hooded gaze that's returned to Billie's face, reaching down to stroke himself as her eyes run over his body and back again.

He's hard, painfully hard, his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths, looking over her parted lips and down to the tiny black thong that's still pushed to the side and affording him the most sinful view of her still slick folds. She’s like a siren, a vixen, a goddess if ever he's seen one.

And fuck he just can't get enough of her.

Especially not when she reaches over to her nightstand and pulls a condom from the top drawer, scooting backwards into the pillows and winking one gorgeous eye at him. He grins back devilishly, needing no instruction after that, crawling back onto the bed and cupping her jaw, kissing her hungrily as he takes the condom from her fingers.

“You ready darlin’?” he asks when he’s rolled it down his length seconds later, parting Billie’s legs and resting one of her ankles on his shoulder.

She only nods, her chest rising and falling with desperate anticipation, the look in her eyes telling him everything he needs to hear without words. He strokes himself roughly, cursing at the sight of his length dragging through her slick, lining himself up with her velvety folds and exhaling loudly as he meets her eyes once more.

Glen wets his lips and grins, loving the way Billie looks back at him then.

“Hold on, peach. Gonna show you somethin’ else you won’t wanna forget any time soon”.

----

Previous Chapter

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#glen powell #glen powell fic #glen powell fanfic #glen powell series #glen powell smut #glen powell x ofc #glen powell fluff

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xoxoamyas · 1 year ago

Text

Alone Without You (But I'm Still Here)

rating : hurt/comfort, petnames used on reader [ love + sunshine ]

wilbur x gn!reader [ use of you/yours, no use of y/n ]

☆ wilbur finally comes home from touring after you have had a long few months day. <3

masterlist [ ☆ ]

note : n/a [ enjoy ! ]

⋆˙⟡

It had been a long day, and you were ready to curl up into your bed. Getting home was hard enough for you because you had to go through the motions you went through every day.

You didn't bother with flicking the lights switch to the living room, just walking about almost automatically till you reached your horribly empty bedroom. Fighting back tears as you flicked only that switch up, standing in the threshold to your bedroom, staring at the messy and unmade bed.

Usually, you'd have someone to share it with, someone to kiss away the bad and ugly terrors of the harsh day. But your love had been gone for nearly two full months now, having been on tour with his band.

You were proud of him, him being Wilbur. You texted him good morning, and I love you. As consistently as possible, anyway. You usually got a response, whether it was right away or delayed. Today had been a no response day, a day he was meant to go out on stage.

You don't know how long you stood there for, but eventually, you managed to move your heavy feet towards Wilbur's dresser. Pulling the top drawer out and picking one of Wilbur's sweaters you had seen him wear before, pushing the drawer closed after and trying not to stumble over to your bed as you tried to take your clothes from the day off. Now sporting the sweater and, eventually, some soft shorts to rest in.

You almost forgot about the light, trying not to cry over how overwhelmed you already were from the events of the day. You didn't want to walk all the way back over to the light switch, the idea of it all making you feel worse than you initially did.

After a long internal debate and disagreement, you found it better to turn the light off, seeing as that would make resting much easier. You were quick to find yourself in the bed on Wilbur's side right after, curling up around one of the two pillows Wilbur usually used to sleep with.

Just a couple more weeks, you tell yourself.

It's difficult, though, especially with how lonely it's gotten. You haven't been the same since he started touring. You tried hard to stay in contact with at least your own friends, and you tried talking to them about stuff you would usually discuss with Wilbur. Yet it all felt wrong. It felt out of place.

Wilbur was your best friend as much as he was your lover. He meant the world to you, and you wanted to stay by his side throughout it all. But you loved him to an unsurprising fault. You wanted him happy, and if that happiness for him was singing his heart out on stage for fans rather than being in bed with you after a long day? Then you supported it.

Sometimes, like right now, as tears silently trail down your face and against the pillows you used, you wonder what would've happened if you told him honestly how you felt about the touring. It was breaking you, tearing you apart at the heart.

You fall asleep, swarmed with the negative thoughts and the feeling of longing for a lover that's not where he could've been. You're asleep long before the front door opens.

Wilbur had been at the airport, seeing the notification for an "I love you" from his favourite person, yet he's distracted before he gets the chance to respond. The gates to his flight had been announced, meaning he had to rush and get to his plane with the rest of his band and crew.

It's long, longer than Wilbur would have liked, but they eventually had finished the process of everything. Boarding the plane and sitting for what felt like forever before it finally touched ground once more.

Tiredly, each individual took their respective rides to their own homes. It was nearly four in the morning by now, and Wilbur was definitely struggling with jet lag, yet that didn't deter his own growing excitement.

He was headed home to his beloved, happy to finally get to hold you in his arms once more. Wilbur was silly, yes, but he knew you'd be long asleep. That's why he remains silent when he finally makes it home, not daring to utter a single word as he clicks the front door shut behind him. Taking a deep breath of the welcoming air before letting out a sigh of relief and thanks.

Wilbur takes his time, knowing that he's likely to stay up until later into the evening. His first stop after abandoning his shoes by the front door is your shared room. He hadn't bothered to knock, not wanting to awaken your slumber as he slipped into the room. His heart melted as his gaze landed on you in the dark room, able to tell that your form rested in his usual spot, clutching a pillow in your grasp.

Momentarily, he had to stop and remind himself it was a pillow. He would not be jealous of a pillow.

Wilbur steps closer after a moment of basking in the atmosphere. He has to strain his eyes, but he can tell from anywhere that you had gone to sleep upset. Gently, he presses his hand to your cheek and can feel the old tears dried on your face. His heart breaks for you as he momentarily notices that you're wearing his sweater.

For the time being, he carefully removes the pillow from your hold. Not bothering to change out of his own clothes, the idea on the back of his mind more than anything. His arms effortlessly slotted around your waist after sliding you both closer towards your side of the bed.

“I'm home,” He hummed out softly, knowing you weren't conscious to hear him but that at least your subconscious and body would pick up on his presence. He hoped he could ease you more than you already were, if you even were.

When you wake up, it's not an alarm that wakes you. Something you had forgotten to set in the midst of getting caught up with your feelings the night before. You wake up to a foreign yet familiar warmth surrounding you, an arm around your waist and a hand combing through your hair gingerly.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize Wilbur was in your bed holding you. However, it does take a minute to realize that your tears have started up again.

“You're alright, love, I'm right here.” Wilbur gently hushes you as he moves his hand in your hair to gently cup the back of your head. Successfully, he pulls you closer so that you're comfortably pressed against him, head against his chest as his chin rests atop your head.

“I thought you weren't coming home anytime soon?” You manage to mutter, the words muffled. It takes a minute for Wilbur to process the words in full, but he softly sighs when he realizes what you've said.

“I know, sunshine, and I'm so sorry. But I'm home now, I'm safe, you're safe.” His reassurances help you even just slightly.

You can't bring yourself to say anything, none of the words you want to say are going beyond your thoughts. The thoughts that circle you like vultures waiting for their snack.

You just sigh, letting your body relax as your arms move to hug and curl around his back. Holding him just as close and tight without hesitation. You've been without him for too long, and you think the hold is enough to start with for the moment.

Though Wilbur can tell there's more that needs to be said, he leaves it be. He knows you'll talk to him when you're ready.

For now, he's holding you as close and tight as he possibly can. Pressing a sweet kiss to the top of your head as he lets himself properly relax with you.

#amyas writes #x reader #angst #fluff #wilbur soot #wilbur fluff #wilbur x reader #wilbur soot x reader #wilbur soot x you #wilbur x you

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gb-patch · 1 year ago

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Hi! I saw your ask about skin tones and honestly, that is very much a barebones excuse to not include skintones in your game. You act as though adding skintones to a sprite would be a complete hand-drawn new asset when it would quite literally be filling in a pre drawn base for both Opal and the mc. Not only that but you potentially have thousands of mc outfits you promised for specific tier havers on the kickstarter. And then for 250,000 dollars, you're telling me we'll get more colors but not even 2 or 4 skintones when there are games with Less funding who have more skintones? Especially considering OL:B&A had the exact same amount of skintones and I could count all the afro centric hairstyles in that game on my two hands. I rather have more skintones than just pale, peach, olive, tan, brown and dark brown (most of which screams a 2000s foundation line of tones) than have more hair or clothing colors. I'm sorry, I love your games, I really do but that's an extremely lazy and abhorrent response from you and I am extremely disappointed.

"Hi. I just saw the post about you not adding in more skintones. I really hope this doesn't come across as rude or demanding but I find your reasoning for not being able to add them...lackluster at best. With all due respect, you set this goal for 250k, over three times the original goal you set for the kickstarter, the idea that somehow you can promise an additional set of darker colours for the clothes, accesories hair and eyes alongside the additional MC pieces people are going to request but not an additional skintone because of Opal seems a little ridiculous. I'm not an experienced artist but I do know how art files tend to work and I imagine adding additional colours to Opal's base design wouldn't be an extreme undertaking. In fact, by contrast, the work to add more colours to the clothes and hairs seems much more labourous considering the amount of them and the fact that some of the clothes have subcolours.

Again, I do hope I don't come accross as rude but I just feel like this announcement was highly dissapointing, especially considering the fact that the additional colours are currently the biggest goal for the kickstarter at the moment" There were two replies, so I put them together. I hope that's alright.

I understand. It would be bad and make no sense if that didn’t happen. I can say that this has nothing to do with funding. I'm not gonna attach more skin tones to a stretch goal, that’s not fair. It’ll be done whenever it can be regardless of what happens with the Kickstarter.

The other colors for hair and such is something I confirmed can be done by our programmer ahead of time using a color picker system in coding.

The situation as it stands today for Opal is that I personally don't have the skills to recolor her myself, the artist we have is in a situation where it would be unkind to increase how much work they have to do (it'd be easier if even less work could be on them), and while another artist could be hired- that hasn't happened at this point. So, saying it "could happen but maybe not" is cautious development process. It’s how it went with both the Cove Patreon Bonus Moments, where I pretended for months that it may or may not happen while working on it behind the scenes because I wasn’t sure how long I’d need to finish it and was worried it could be delayed for long stretches of time.

Being realistic, it is virtually a 100% certainly that before the game comes out, the skin tones will be expanded. There is no good reason why it wouldn’t. I was waiting until things got to a better point in production before coming out to officially say that it’s happening.

And I could’ve said it’s extremely likely but we’re not able to do it quite yet and avoided making anyone feel hurt. I wish my way of handling it hadn’t made the people who believed in our games sad. The reason why I didn’t is that I just can’t help but be averse to making promises I can’t do/the team can’t do and so have to rely on something else working out at some point in the future, even if it is entirely likely that it will.

That’s because I know that these things will make a lot of people happy. I want the excitement and any praise that might come to not happen until the goal has been achieved or is on the way to being achieved for sure. To a degree it’s helpful for players to have confidence in what the company is promoting, but it’s mainly to help with my own habit of catastrophizing. I tend to believe bad things could happen and I’ll let people down even when it’s so unlikely it’s not worth considering. I consider it anyway. And so, you get this kind of long-term hedging before the feature people hoped for suddenly appears. Even now my compulsion is to add a caveat that “there’s still a chance something (I don’t even know what) could happen and it won’t be added so don’t thank me yet” despite me already coming out with the truth that there’s every intention to have it added. I’m sorry to have disappointed you and made you feel disregarded by doing this. Hopefully when the skin options are expanded people will be able to enjoy the game a lot more than how it is with the current demo. And thanks for taking the time to let me know what you thought rather than giving up on the project entirely.

#our life #our life: now & forever #ask

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sanjisblackasswife · 2 years ago

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hiii! I saw that you already did dad headcanons, but I was wondering how you think those same boys would react to hearing the news about their s/o being pregnant. And how would they break it to the crew?

A/N: OP Boys As Daddies Here! Enjoy!

Next part will have Cora and Law <3

Monster Trio React to Their S/O Being Pregnant (SFW)

Cw: VERY SLIGHT mentions of abortion

Black Fem Reader in Mind

Ft., Luffy, Zoro, Sanji

Sanji

I mean it was bound to happen.

Not saying Sanji has a breeding kink, but he has a breeding kink. He got with you and just didn’t know wtf pull out meant.

Plus he does not believe in condoms.

But none the less Sanji would be a treat to tell

It was after dinner and you and Sanji were talking as he cleaned and you wanted to let him know gently because he was a very dramatic man.

“Ji… how do you feel about kids?”

He answers you with glee, he loves kids, he always wanted to have a little family of his own with you once you all achieve your goals. It actually ends up calming the nerves you began to have.

You kept asking baby questions and eventually he turned around and caught on.

“Y/N…”

“Hm?”

“Y/n….what are you trynna tell me…”

“….”

“…”

“I am pr—-“

The words didn’t even come out of your mouth yet his eyes lit up like a light and he grabbed you tightly crying on your shoulder not even believing you at first until you brought him the pregnancy test.

He still has it btw.

Sanji somehow had a suspicion you were pregnant. He knows your body better than yourself, so even though he cried a little he was happy that his assumptions were correct.

You both didn’t even sleep that night, you just kept talking about your future. You had to hold him to keep him still he just couldnt stop jumping around

As for how you both announced the pregnancy he wanted to tell everybody at breakfast so he made a feast. When Robin asked what the occasion was he grabbed you by the hand and told everyone.

“Y/N and I….are pregnant.” :)

Luffy: Men can’t get pregnant…

“LUFFY!”

None the less it was super sweet and honestly you becoming pregnant changed him in a pleather of ways.

He became more mature, protective, vigilant, calm, and even slowed down on his simping for other women. Because now that you have his baby inside you

You both are his only focus now.

Zoro

He didn’t believe you but Chopper was the one to tell you both actually which was really cute because they both nearly fainted.

Also He actually doesn’t understand how you could have gotten pregnant

“UM???? YOU CUM IN ME EACH TIME?!”

“Yeah, but i thought after you take a shower it all comes out.”

Bless him

Though his reaction is a bit …delayed best believe he does become happy.

Shocked, but happy.

He will respect your decision whether you want to keep the baby or not but deep inside he hopes you keep it

But thank God you do!

You actually caught him doing that and teased him all day.

He becomes a damn menace though.

He steals parenting books from the library and reads them after training. Even though he acts like having a baby isnt a big deal he is internally panicking.

He wants the best for both you and the baby and it shows in the most annoying way though.

He doesnt even tell the crew yet because he believes them knowing would stress you out

However Zoro is doing that all alone himself

“What are you doing?”

“I cant get up?”

“Its not good for the baby!”

“….i have to pee….AND IM LIKE 2 WEEKS PREGNANT AND IT IS???”

The crew found out because Zoro was upset

You and Zo are known for drinking together alot but of course you stopped and plenty of people began to notice everytime you turned down a drink.

You were sitting on Zo’s lap by the fire with everyone and even Luffy was drinking except you.

“Y/N are you sick? Why arent you drinking?”

“She cant.”

“Why?”

“Because i said so, Luffy.”

“Youre not the boss of Y/N she can drink if she wanna—“

“SHE CAN’T IT’S NOT GOOD FOR THE BABY!”

Cue in the dramatics.

Zoro to this day slaps his head thinking about how harshly he made sure YOU and Chopper won’t spill but he ended up doing it himself.

But his worries were diminished realizing the amount of well support you both got from the crew since then.

Zoro puts your safety above his every single time and actually gets mad when you don’t listen.

He takes more care of hisself and he isn’t too reckless when he is fighting. For the first time in his life he knew his life was worth taking care of for his future family.

Luffy

Doesn’t get it, but he is a good sport

When you and Chopper tell him he just can’t understand???

“Who’s baby is it?”

“YOURS OBVIOUSLY!?”

“I thought you said if i pull out you wouldn’t get—“

“PULLING OUT BEFORE You ejaculate not AFTER—“

Not until you’re about 2 maybe 3 months and showing is when he finally registers he is going to be a dad.

Every month up until then he looks at you and wonders why you don’t drink, fight, or any thing that you usually do until FINALLY Law explains it to him like he’s 5.

Now that he is up to speed about you being pregnant he suddenly becomes pregnant?

You got cravings? So do Luffy.

You want cake and tacos at 2am

Bless Sanji heart because Luffy do too

He actually ends up gaining a little bit of weight but it wasn’t even noticeable really, he trains too the rubber man really just bulked up

Luffy was showing his concern of being a father to Robin alot. He didn’t want to worry you in thinking he didn’t want the kid especially if you were willing to rid of the baby if he suggested.

Overrall during pregnancy he intrust the crew to watch over you when he leaves. He has complete trust to make sure you are okay and well and healthy.

A few cute things is he will have some moments where he stretches out his belly to bump yours, talk to the baby, sing to it, and even place his hat on your tummy always reminding him or her that their daddy will be the king of the pirates.

You honestly believe you having this baby has matured him in ways you didn’t think was possible.

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itsblasttothepast · 6 months ago

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f1 conspiracy theories - Checo Edition

As I'm already rambling away, I wanna share my thoughts in whatever is going on with Checo and RedBull, because honestly... what the hell is going on there?

See, I think is strange that my other boy, Carlos Sainz, still hasn't confirmed his seat for 2025. We know he's getting offers, but the announcement is being delayed. But we forgive him because he's super hot.

Anyway, I also found strange that since the start of the season, Carlos kept complaining about Checo, when they were friendly before, that honestly baffled me; Carlos and Checo always spoke so nicely aboyt each other, and seeing this was so weird.

And lately, with whatever is going on with Checo (he aged like 10 years since Monaco, and he looks so sad and defeated... but we keep forgetting that he had a crash that could have potentially killed him, and PTSD is expected), RedBull keeps reminding us that his contract has a 'performance clause'. Meaning: if you don't get the results we want, we give you the boot (as many, many, MANY people keep dreaming about).

Helmut Marko (president of the 'I hate Checo' club) keeps talking about how Spain, Austria and Silverstone will show if Checo stays or not... but what if the plan wasn't keeping Checo, but just pretend and then using the lack of good performances as an excuse to fire him and bring Carlos to the team...

I know it's far fetched, but honestly, now even Toto Wolff is saying shit against Checo. If I hear one more interview with Horner or Marko saying that Checo has to 'step up' and if he doesn't they could end his contract, I'm going to scream:

Anyway, this is my conspiracy theory of the day, so Checo, is you're reading this in one of your ghost accounts, I wanna share my dreams for you.

I wish Checo would buy out his contract. I think there's a penalty fee if a driver does not fulfill the contract, and if I have to pay a little more in my Telmex bill, so be it. Then I wish he could go back to Sauber, with Nico Hulkenberg.

It would be so amazing, because Sauber is developing their cars, and since they'll be Audi in 2026, they want to test everything, and Checo IS SO GOOD AT THAT! He was involved in the engineering room in Force India/Racing Point (his engineer cried when he had to go), and Nico is familiar with Checo, they get along (Hulkenrez, anyone?).

And most important, he would be free to fail and start over without eveyone always saying that he's a mediocre driver because he can't beat Max, Lando or whoever driver is before him. We would have peace and our boy could do amazing things again. The whole 'he has the fastest car and he should be close to Max' speech is followed with so many hateful comments... I think is getting to him and lowering his confidence. As human beings, like Michael said:

Or, since the CEO of Ford loves him, I suggest Ford to find another Lawrence Stroll so they can create a F1 team and make Checo the number 1 driver.

We'll see what happens, I'm nervous about Austria, but I'm with Checo all the way... if he goes to another team, I think it would be the best. And Carlos would be an interesting addition to RedBull, if my theory is correct.

I know I'm delusional, I admit it, this was just one of many conspiracy theories of the F1, perhaps mine is totally off the grid, but whatever, I still think there's something fishy with what's going on with Carlos and Checo.

And I love Carlos, this is not a post against him, I'm just curious about the whole team thing.

And on a cheery note to end this crazy post, here's a picture of beardy Checo, because it's rare and he looks super hot and good.

#f1 conspiracy theories #f1 #random f1 ramblings #sergio perez #checo perez #carlos sainz jr #checo go to sauber pleaseeeee #be nico's teammate #hulkenrez revive #nico hulkenberg

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queen-of-writing-bad-things · 11 months ago

Text

Henry Danger Reader Insert | Captain Man x Reader: SEASON 2

Episode 7: Secret Beef

~The Man Cave, (y/n)'s PoV)

I had been waiting for Henry and Ray to return for about half an hour when the kid sent me a quick text saying that our plans to go out for Chinese food were gonna be delayed. Apparently, a news crew had rocked up with stupid Evelyn Hall and all her... feminine assets. I remembered how Ray loved to flirt with her and it turned my mood sour.

"We have some breaking news. It seems like Captain Man and Kid Danger have captured the Time Jerker. Now, let's go to Evelyn Hall, live at the Swellview Clocktower." I watched Trent Overrunder interrupt his colleague and sighed as Evelyn's pretty profile came on the computer's monitor.

"Thanks, Trent. Captain Man and Kid Danger, can you tell us what happened here?" The woman asked Henry and I could see the Time Jerker struggling behind Ray, who was posing for the camera. Always a showoff.

"We found out that the Time Jerker was--" Henry tried to explain, but Ray interrupted him as he flirted with Evelyn. I felt my jealousy bubbling up in me as I watched him shove the poor kid out of the way and cosied up to her.

"Hello." He smiled at her, making tears spring up in my eyes. I hated that he couldn't see how I was here, in his home, waiting for him. It hurt me so much that he saw something in her that I hadn't got. Whatever she had, I desperately wanted.

"Hey." Evelyn breathed out dreamily and I could see the way my best friend's devilishly handsome good looks melted her heart. He always had that effect on women, including me and sometimes I couldn't help but feel so damn stupid that I lined myself up to be the next fool. I loved him, but I wasn't going to be another notch on his bedpost or another broken girl chucked out on the street the next morning. I'd die before I became another faceless name on his list of ex-lovers; the friendzone seemed much better.

"So, about an hour ago, I swung in here, swung through that glass and captured that Time Jerker you see right over there," Ray reported, making me scoff. Who was he kidding? I knew Henry had helped out and that he was just begging himself up in front of the gorgeous news reporter. Honestly, he pissed me off sometimes.

"I also participated." I saw Henry lean over and try to get himself onscreen, but I knew it was pointless. When Ray had his sights set on a girl, sadly, he didn't take them off until he had his way with them.

"Well, Captain Man, once again, the city of Swellview owes you a big, fat thank you." Evelyn purred at him, making me feel nauseous. I could never be that seductive with Ray, it just made me feel silly and clumsy with my tongue.

"I also participated!" Henry reiterated, but this time more loudly. Still, they ignored him, poor kid.

"Ehhh, I don't do it for thank yous. But there is something that I want." Ray mentioned, which piqued my interest. If he was about to announce he wanted to take her on a date on national television, I might just puke or faint or both.

"Sure...anything...uh, I mean, what?" My eyes nearly popped out of my head at how hard I rolled them. At least I tried to be subtle.

"As I'm sure you already know, there's a very special steakhouse here in Swellview, called Montego's." Ohhhhhh, so that's what he was after. I remembered how Ray had banged on and on about that restaurant for months after it opened and despite his status as Swellview's greatest hero, he still hadn't been invited. I had listened to his whining like a good friend and I was well aware of the hype surrounding Montego's.

I had a friend there who worked in the kitchen as a head chef or something. It was a fancy job, I think, but I had never really asked. They had even wangled me a few free dinners with them about a year ago, not that I had mentioned it to Ray. I didn't want him to be upset that I had tried their award-winning steaks before he did. As I always said: what Ray didn't know wouldn't hurt him.

"Right, I've heard of Montego's." Evelyn's dulcet tones broke me from my daydream and I focused on the interview again.

"Right, well, did you know that you can't get a reservation at that place? You have to be invited by the owner." I chuckled at how petty Ray was being. I mean, the steaks were good, but they weren't worth whining on TV for.

"Anyway, we're really glad that we were able to capture the Time Jerker---" Bless Henry's little cotton socks. He didn't have Ray enormous ego and he was just happy that he had made our city that much safer for its citizens.

"--So to the owner of Montego's restaurant, hey! It's me, Captain Man, guy who keeps the whole city safe." Ray bragged to the owner who was probably watching. Geez, he was so needy.

"You really do." Evelyn praised him, her gaze soft and star-struck like he was a God put on the Earth for us mortals to behold. I wondered if I ever looked at him like that. God, I hope not. How to out myself in one simple step.

"I like steak. I like it a lot, so...feel free to invite me to your restaurant at Montego's." I snorted as he just came out with it. Well, I suppose if you don't ask, you don't get.

"I also like steak." Henry jumped on the bandwagon, hoping the invitation extended to him too. Maybe if I was lucky, they bring me home a doggy bag.

"I'm Evelyn Hall, single and ready." Okay, that definitely stung, especially when Ray smirked at her and stepped into her personal space.

"Try being ready for like eight years, love. He still doesn't notice." I mumbled to myself as I turned off the computer. I was ready to be swept off my feet, to love and be loved, to give him everything he was looking for. The only questions I had were, would he accept me? Or would I be another Evelyn, Hannah, Grace, Monica, Rebecca or Fiona walking out his door?

~Two weeks later, 3rd person PoV~

(y/n) was supervising Henry and Charlotte as they worked on the supercomputer. They were trawling through the database, memorising each criminal and their details.

"Okay, next criminal." The woman told Charlotte after Henry had scanned the information for a few minutes.

"They call him Malkov. He steals dogs and then shaves their hair sells it to wig shops." The girl read out, making Henry grimace at the odd man's gross crimes.

"Ugh. Sick weirdo." He grumbled as (y/n) agreed, Yeah, Ray never liked dealing with Malkov.

"Hey, hey! Guys, guys! Hey, hey!" Ray yelled, sprinting down the steps as he returned from his bathroom break. This had been happening for the past two weeks; non-stop interruptions from the large man, who was desperate to get into Montego's.

"For the five hundredth time, no, Ray, that damn restaurant hasn't called you." (y/n) sighed, causing Ray to swat his fists in frustration.

"Dang it!" He cursed as (y/n) put a calming hand on his bicep. She didn't know it, but the simple touch made his heart flutter more in ten seconds than a whole interview with Evelyn Hall did.

"Dude, if you want steak, let's just go to Backout Steakhouse." Henry reasoned, but Ray rejected the offer with a sour face.

"No! I'm not gonna go to Backout Steakhouse." Ray mocked the restaurant by putting on a phoney Australian accent. He couldn't go there, he wanted to take (y/n) to a classy restaurant at some point and Backout Steakhouse wasn't classy. He need to try out Montego's, then he could take his girl for the meal of her life.

"I wanna go to Montego's!" He whined, making Charlotte roll her eyes.

"Raymond, I want you to sit down, relax and finish your juice, like a good boy." (y/n) took charge of the situation and manoeuvred Ray like a child so he could sit and calm down. He flushed at her nickname for him and hid his red face in his beaker, gulping his cool juice so he could relax.

"Don't you feel better?" (y/n) bent down next to him and smiled up at him kindly.

"Yeah, I do." He told her gently, her smile melting his anger. She looked so perfect when she gazed at him like that and he couldn't stay mad.

"I just don't get it. I said it on the news two weeks ago." Ray carried on looking sadly at the computer as (y/n) connected their hands by holding onto his pinky with her. It was a small connection, but a sweet one.

"I said, feel free to invite me to your restaurant, Mr Montego. He probably heard me say that, you know it!" He ranted, finishing his tirade by placing each hand over (y/n)'s ears and gazing into her eyes intensely, making her breath catch.

"Should I be concerned?" She asked carefully, trying to stop her face from warming up under his palms. However, she didn't have to worry for long since the computer started beeping, indicating they had received a message.

"Maybe that's Montego's!" Ray exclaimed and dashed over to where Charlotte was sat, leaving his stunned friend in a bit of a daze.

"Move, move!" He yanked a protesting Charlotte off the chair and sat down himself.

"Hello, Captain Man hotline, what is it please?" The superhero asked in a polite tone as his friends scowled at his erratic behaviour.

"Hello? I'm calling from the Swellview Home for the Elderly--" A frail voice started, but it wasn't what Ray wanted to hear.

"Dah, you're not Montego's" He snapped and hung up, shocking Henry, who's moral compass was at the forefront of his crime-fighting persona.

"Dude, you can't just hang up on people like that." He scolded his boss who had shrunk back from (y/n)'s glare.

"That could've been an emergency." Charlotte pointed out, making Henry go back to the computer as the hotline rang again.

"Yeah, hi. What's your emergency?" Henry answered, intent on responding properly this time.

"Uh, a man broke in here and stole all our money and our clothing. We're all here naked, can you help us?" The terrified man said, making Ray, Henry, Charlotte and (y/n) think about the situation for a second. Old people and nakedness. Ew.

"I'm sorry, did you say you were all elderly and naked?" Henry asked tentatively as (y/n) shuddered and leant back into Ray, who crossed his huge arms across her chest.

"Yes." The man on the line confirmed.

"...Sorry, wrong number," Henry said after thinking for a minute. Yeah, he didn't want to deal with wrinkled skin and flabby...things. He'd just stay at home in pure, ignorant bliss.

~Swellview High~

It was a rare occurrence in school that Miss Shapen searched for a student with good news. However, today was just one of those occurrences and Henry was the lucky recipient.

"Henry Hart! Henry Hart! We're looking for you!" She shouted happily as the marching band played behind her. She scoured the halls for the lucky boy, who just so happened to turn the corner as she called his name. He looked at all the fanfare with utter confusion, as the crappy band of kids stopped playing.

"Hi." He greeted his teacher carefully, wondering what all the fuss was about.

"Heyyyyy." She gave him a rare smile, which hinted to Henry that something was up.

"What's up?" He asked Miss Shapen, nerves bubbling in his stomach.

"Henry, three weeks ago, I was injured, lying on the gym floor. But you found me and you pulled that long, rusty, bloody nail right outta my foot." The woman recalled as a crowd began to gather around the teacher and her student.

"Yeah, I remember," Henry said. How could he forget? It was one of the most disgusting moments of his life.

"Well, because of your good deed, I hereby present you with this gift bag because you, Henry Hart, are Student of the Month." She exclaimed and the crowd burst into applause. Well, Henry's day just got brighter.

"Wow, thanks, cool." He smiled at Miss Shapen.

"Well, we wanted--" The teacher was cut off by the loud, offbeat playing of the band and she quickly whipped around and sharply yelled at them to quit it.

"Now, look what's in your bag." She told Henry, who excitedly peeked in the paper bag and pulled out a chain with a dirty nail on it.

"What's this, a necklace?" Henry asked.

"Yeah. That's the nail you pulled out of my foot." Only Miss Shapen would get him a gift like that.

"Oh, yeah. Dried blood." Henry gaged and quickly put the thing back in the bag before he yacked.

"Keep going." She encouraged him, so Henry dug through the tissue paper and pulled out a card.

"A gift card?" He asked, hoping it was something good.

"Yep. That gets you dinner for two at Montego's restaurant!" She revealed, making Henry grin excitedly. This was perfect! Now, Ray could go to Montego's with him and try the steak so he could see if it was a good place to take (y/n). He always felt like if he could impress her, she'd see him as someone on her level and maybe she'd look at him the way he looked at her. If only he saw how she longed for him to do the same.

"No way! How'd you get this?" Henry asked his teacher, bewildered as to how Sherona Shapen had such a prestigious contact.

"Well, the principal's wife is the second cousin of Mr Montego's brother-in-law." She explained the very distant relation, but it didn't matter to Henry. He just cared about how he was going to Montego's!

"Thanks." He smiled at her, but she couldn't help but have an ulterior motive.

"You know, that's, uh, dinner for two. You wanna take me with you?" She asked hopefully, but it was the worst suggestion Henry had ever heard of. Dinner with Miss Shapen? No, thank you!

"No." He answered simply.

"Are ya sure?" She pushed, thinking that he might change his mind.

"Yeah." His direct statement made Sherona walk off with her marching band, leaving Henry to smile at his prize. Boy, he couldn't wait to tell Ray the good news.

~Later that day~

Henry had returned home that afternoon to find a group of people sat in his living room. His parents, Jasper, Charlotte, Piper, even complete strangers were in his house, all bearing gifts to sway Henry to their side. He was utterly puzzled as to why they had all gathered on the couch, there was even a homeless guy called Herb on the end seat.

"So, Henry, we heard that part of your Student of the Month prize was dinner for two at Monetgo's." A neighbour piped up and that was what tipped Henry off when they all acted like they had no idea what she was talking about. They really needed to work on being subtle.

"OH, PLEASE TAKE ME!!" Jasper pleaded with his best friend and his shouting set everyone else off.

"Why would he take you? I'm his best friend." Charlotte argued, setting off a bitter quarrel between the two over who Henry deemed his favourite friend. Not that he did.

"Hey, a boy's best friend is his mother!" Mrs Hart argued, not being above using her motherly relationship to muscle her way into a steak dinner with her son. Mr Hart certainly had something to say about that. So did Herb. In fact, the whole group did and it all descended into an argument that Henry struggled to stay on top of it.

"Hey!" Suddenly, Ray burst through the door with (y/n) on his heels, both of them out of breath from legging it to Henry's house. Ray was desperate to get that dinner place and (y/n) didn't want to miss out on anything.

"Hey, Henry, hi. I just heard about your prize, y'know, oh god." He smiled at his sidekick as (y/n) fanned herself, she and her friend sweating profusely.

"I think I'm having a heart attack." (y/n) wheezed, as her legs burned from sprinting. Unlike Ray, she wasn't a perfectly trim and fit superhero and she hadn't run like that in a while.

"Why are you both wet?" Henry asked them and (y/n) sat on the floor, too tired to give a shit about the neighbours' judgemental stares.

"We're sweating. We just ran nine miles to get here." Ray panted.

"I'm dyingggg." The young woman whined her head in her hands as the nine-mile run caught up with her. It had felt a lot longer than nine miles once she'd gotten past the two-mile mark.

"What's the dog leash for?" Henry pondered, seeing the red leash still in his boss's fist. Only, there was no dog.

"Oh, we were walking a friend's dog. You know how (y/n) loves them and wants one, but we can't keep one." He explained as his breathing started to even out.

"Where's the dog?" Henry asked with a frown on his face.

"I don't know," Ray said, grabbing a kid's glass of water and taking a swig from it before giving the majority to (y/n). She stood up on wobbly legs and leaned against him as he held the glass to her lips.

"Hey, who are these guys?" A woman holding a lamp and looking the couple up and down asked. Ray leaned back with (y/n) held to his chest as she held the lamp aloft.

"Hey, hey, hey!" Henry calmed everyone's confused whispers and they all fell back into line.

"For those that don't know, this is Ray, my boss at Junk-N-Stuff and this is my co-worker, (y/n). Ray has been dying to go to Montego's for years, so...I'm taking Ray to Montego's." Henry broke the bad news to everyone else as Ray starting jumping in delight.

"Hahahahah. Yeah, baby, who's got the lamp now?" Ray gloated as the crowd grumbled and groaned in disappointment.

"You do!" (y/n) giggled with him as he pulled her and Henry into side hugs. He couldn't help but think about how she'd answered his rhetoric after he slipped in the "baby" bit and god, it felt so right to imagine actually being able to call her that. If he could just wow her, he might just stand a chance. He might just get to call her baby.

~The next day, Swellview High~

Henry strolled to his locker, feeling pretty good about himself since he'd been on a lucky streak lately. However, when he opened his locker, a confetti cannon exploded in his face and pushed him backwards. Bianca giggled as Henry stumbled back to his feet.

"Happy lockerversary!" She exclaimed after she'd shuffled over to him as quickly as she could in her cutesy flats.

"I'm sorry, happy what?" Henry asked as politely as he could. What the hell was a lockolerlyversary or whatever?

"Lockerversary." Bianca clarified, thinking the portmanteau was pretty self-explanatory.

"I'm so lost." Henry smiled at her nervously, looking for some help.

"It was six months ago today when you and I first started sharing this locker!" The brunette explained and everything became clear for her boyfriend.

"Ohhhhh, okay." Henry smiled. That made sense.

"Wait, wait, wait. For you!" Bianca held out a mini replica of their locker with a copper-coloured ribbon stuck to the top of it. An odd choice for a good, but it was kind nonetheless. Opening the mini-locker, Henry was shocked again as a mini-confetti cannon exploded in his face. Again.

"But, I feel bad 'cause I didn't get you anything," Henry told her as he put his locker in his locker. Funny.

"Aw, you didn't have to." Bianca smiled, relaxing Henry twisting insides.

"Oh, awesome." He breathed out.

"I mean, what's better than the two of us having dinner together at Montego's?" The girl said happily, but Henry felt anything but happy.

"Wait, what'd you say?" He asked, a tight smile on his face as he tried not to freak out in front of her.

"You're taking me, right?" Bianca's tone made Henry's stomach drop. How could he tell her he was taking his boss, not her?

"Well, yeah. Duh. I mean, what kind of person wins dinner for two and doesn't invite his girlfriend?" Henry lied, unable to tell her anything else. Ah, geez.

"A terrible person." She confirmed, unknowingly making her boyfriend feel even worse. Did he dare tell Ray?

~Later that day, in the Man Cave~

Henry fell down in the elevator and stumbled out to see his boss sat happily in the middle of the Man Cave at a fancily-clad dining table. (y/n) was sitting at the couch table, her head and arms rest on the back of the couch as she watched as Henry's face crumpled in confusion.

"Hi." Henry greeted tentatively, seeing how Ray smiled brightly at him.

"Hey, Henry, you wanna join me?" The large man asked as (y/n) rolled her eyes. The whole set-up was weird to her; Ray even had a cardboard cutout of a waiter.

"For what?" The boy asked, puzzled as to what was going on.

"A "rehearsal". He's practising what he's ordering when he goes to Monetgo's. God knows why." She said in a bored tone, ignorant to the fact that this was a setting that Ray fully intended to take her to, once he'd ironed out all the wrinkles.

"Okay, Ray. I gotta talk--" Henry tried to stop him before Ray could get all excited, but it was too late. (y/n) could see that something wasn't right and she felt a sense of dread at what Henry was trying to say.

"--Uh, yes and I'll have the steak. I'll have the 16-ounce ribeye and I want that medium-rare." Ray pretended that he was in the restaurant and looked at the "waiter" like he was actually taking his order.

"Of course, and would you care for anything else?" He wobbled the cutout and spoke in a silly voice.

"Yeah, I'll have two more steaks!" Ray laughed at his little joke as Henry's face twitched as he tried to smile. Oh god, this was going to break his heart.

"Oh, Henry. You don't know what this means to me." The superhero thanked his generous sidekick as his best friend came over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. Her touch just made his heart shine brighter.

"It's just beef, man." Henry tried to play it all down, but nothing could dampen Ray's spirits.

"Look, I didn't tell you this but, I've been going through a rough patch lately," Ray confessed to Henry, walking over to the kid and putting his arm around his shoulders. (y/n) gulped as he divulged his feelings to Henry; she hadn't known he'd been feeling bad. Why hadn't he come to her?

"Ah, geez." Henry breathed out as Ray turned to him for support. This was (y/n)'s area of expertise, not his.

"I've just been feeling so depressed the last couple of months until you invited me to go to Montego's for dinner," Ray told him. He had felt a bit useless recently; he had been having difficulties as Captain Man and had been pining for his girl for too long. His heart yearned for her, but he couldn't gather the courage to ask her out. Montego's was his chance.

"Well, yeah, but.." Henry stumbled, trying to get the words out, but Ray wouldn't let him.

"Is it okay that I tell you that I think of you as family? You're like the little brother or nephew I never had." Ray cooed, squishing Henry into a hug. Okay, that definitely made (y/n)'s heart soar. Henry was like her little brother/ nephew too and she loved him just as much as Ray did.

"Ray, I can't take you to Montego's!" Henry exploded, his feelings bursting out as the pressure became too much. The young woman behind Ray cringed at what he said, this news would kill Ray.

"What'd you say?" Ray shook his head, thinking he misheard the boy. His stomach dropped as Henry gave him a sympathetic look and (y/n) shuffled closer to the boys timidly, not wanting to flare any tempers.

"I gotta take Bianca. I'm sorry." The boy apologised, but Ray just didn't want to believe him. He'd been dreaming about this for so long.

"Ahhh, you're joking." He smiled at his sidekick, hoping it was all some big prank.

"No..." Henry replied quietly as Ray began to feel a bit sick.

"You're...joke-making." The man continued, praying that if he said it more, it would come true.

"No." Henry reiterated more firmly, looking behind Ray to (y/n) with pleading eyes. If he'd listen to anyone, it would be her.

"You're making a joke." Ray chuckled bitterly, his emotions not being able to process what he was being told.

"Ray, he's not joking." His best friend said as gently as she could, putting a delicate hand on his arm to see if it would ground him.

"He is too. He's telling a terrible, awful, mean joke, but it's all gonna be okay 'cause he's still taking me to Montego's...with you right?" He looked at Henry as he ranted. He daren't look at the glossy-eyed girl next to him, gulping as he thought about how no Montego's meant he'd failed. If he couldn't get into one, measly restaurant, what kind of boyfriend would he be for her? A lousy one, in his mind.

"Ray..." Henry shook his head.

"I said, you are still taking me to Monetgo's with you, right?" He repeated fiercely, his eyes glancing sideways to remind Henry about why he wanted to go to the restaurant in the first place. Not for the steaks anyway.

"Bianca's my girlfriend, I gotta take her." The teen exclaimed, feeling trapped in the situation.

"W-Why?!" Ray yelled as tears sprung up in the corners of his eyes.

"'Cause I do. I'm really sorry." Henry sighed, making Ray deflate as his disappointment reached its peak.

"Okay." He accepted, walking past his little dining table.

"Ray, it's just a steakhouse." (y/n) whispered to him and squeezed his hand, but she didn't know that it was so much more for him. He saw it as a chance to do a boyfriend thing, seeking out a place that she'd like and then building up the courage to take her there. She should've just told him that Montego's was just another restaurant to her. The steak was nice, but she didn't need anything fancy, she only needed him.

"Dude, look. Maybe later, you, (y/n) and I can--" Henry tried to suggest something that would fix the mess, but Ray didn't want to hear it.

"Don't worry about me. I'm fine." He smiled at the boy and sat down on one of the little chairs. (y/n)'s heart ached for him, there had to be a way to get him into that damn restaurant.

"Are you sure?" Henry asked, not really believing him.

"You don't look fine." The young woman interjected, seeing his bloodshot eyes and tense muscles.

"Yeah, I'm fine." He swallowed, but his rage exploded as he picked up his chair and threw it at the cardboard waiter. (y/n) squeaked in surprise and fear as he ripped it to shreds in anger. Seeing him that angry was a rarity. She tiptoed over to Henry and ducked behind him whilst Ray continued his temper tantrum. How was she meant to deal with that?

"Ray..." Henry started in a surprisingly level voice considering the show his boss just put on.

"I'm fine." He replied throatily, his heart turning to water as he saw how (y/n) had recoiled from his splenetic actions. He couldn't bear to see her apprehensive gaze and he felt so stupid and childish that he just walked away. Maybe it was cowardly, but everyone knew he needed a minute to calm down.

Henry sighed as the secret door closed, leaving him alone with (y/n).

"Well, that went horribly." She retorted, unclenching her fist which she hadn't noticed had curled up tightly after Ray's outburst.

"I feel so bad," Henry confessed, his eyes lowered glumly to the floor.

"Look, I know Monetgo's is good, but it's just steak. Trust me, he'll be fine." The woman reassured him, putting both of her hands on his shoulders.

"Yeah, but, what if he hates me?" He worried, thinking about how he could lose his job or worse, his friend.

"All that stuff he said before about how you're family to us, that was true. He doesn't hate you." (y/n) said softly, smiling at the kid who had grown to be like a brother to her.

"Really?" Henry chuckled, suddenly feeling a lot better. She really knew how and when to say the right thing.

"Yeah, totally. And he doesn't have a lot of family left and mine doesn't live in Swellview. Believe me, kid, you're not going anywhere." She ruffled his hair with a giggle and he laughed with her.

"Thanks, (y/n/n)." Henry gave her a quick hug, glancing at his watch as he did so.

"Oh, shoot, I gotta get home." He exclaimed, realising that he had to go home and groom himself for his big dinner with Bianca.

"Better get a move on. Bianca will expect the best." (y/n) teased him as he dashed to the elevator.

"I know!" The boy said over his shoulder.

"And don't worry! I can deal with Ray!" She yelled as the elevator door slid shut and took the boy away. Left alone in the main room, the task ahead of her was daunting.

"I think." She gulped. Looks like she'd have to pull a few strings to make her best friend happy again. After all, she'd do anything to see him smile.

~Later that evening, Montego's restaurant~

Well, it seemed that (y/n)'s scheming hadn't gone quite to plan. Against all her protesting, advice and best efforts to stop him, Ray had convinced Schwoz to put on a wig, dress and makeup and the two of them had arrived at Montego's in disguise.

Yep, they were masquerading as two teens, Henry and Bianca, and it was safe to say that it wasn't very convincing. Sauntering down the restaurant's steps from the entrance, Ray and Schwoz approached the maître d'hôtel, who looked at them in bewilderment and disapproval. Ray really didn't suit being blond.

"Your names, please?" The formal man. asked politely, maintaining his manners despite his odd guests.

"Uh, yes, I'm Henry, Henry Hart and this is my girlfriend, Bianca...Smathers." Ray lied, swallowing his nerves as Schwoz gave the man a not-at-all charming smile. This wasn't the way he'd dreamed about going to Monetgo's with a girlfriend in tow, that's for sure.

"It's our lockerversary," Schwoz said in a high-pitched voice, the two men not noticing Henry or Bianca coming down the stairs. Oh, shit.

"Ray?" Henry frowned at his boss. He knew he was desperate to come here, but he didn't think he'd try to impersonate him.

"Uh, no, I'm Henry Hart, teenager." The superhero stammered.

"Sir, I'm Henry Hart." His sidekick corrected, irritated that Ray was embarrassing him like this.

"Wait, isn't that your boss from Junk-N-Stuff?" Bianca asked in confusion.

"Yes!" Henry growled.

"No, I'm in ninth grade, dude!" Someone needed to tell Ray that teenagers don't sound like that.

"Pardon me, where's the ladies' room?" Schwoz asked in his "lady" voice, which wasn't fooling anyone.

"I know you're not a girl." The maître d'hôtel told him, turning the genius's mood sour.

"Prove it," Schwoz growled, thinking he played at being a girl brilliantly. Ray and Henry descended into an argument and they didn't see how they were causing a scene in the middle of the restaurant.

"Okay, let's have some decorum, please!" A soft, but still authoritative voice shouted. Everyone broke apart to see (y/n) trotting down the stairs, the young woman growling at the fighting boys as she folded her arms next to Bianca.

"I'm so sorry, Bernard. Are they causing trouble?" She looked at the host politely, who smiled at her with familiarity. Wait a second, how did she know his name?

"Yes, Miss (y/l/n). They're upsetting my diners." He grumbled, causing (y/n) to sigh. Of course, her friend would be troublesome in the one place she had some refined, sophisticated friends.

"I'm so sorry, please, let me apologise for their behaviour." She crooned, using her most endearing smile and her best manners to sweeten her acquaintance's mood.

"Bernard? How do you know him?" Henry asked as Ray silently watched the situation. He noticed that she was nervous and uncomfortable and he wondered what was putting her on edge.

"Miss (y/l/n) has dined with us many times. She is our head chef's personal guest." The host butted in, making Henry, Ray, Schwoz and Bianca look at her in shock. She had been before and not said anything?

"I mean, many times is a bit excessive." She nervously laughed as Ray stepped towards her.

"You know the chef and you've been here before? You—you never told me..." He looked at her in hurt, making her feel like the bad guy. She didn't want him to react like he was reacting now, she didn't keep the secret to be nasty or malicious. It just seemed better to day nothing at all.

"Why are they here pretending to be us?" Bianca piped up, her confusion bubbling over.

"Why are you here pretending to be us?" Schwoz shot the question back to her as (y/n) looked away from her best friend and rubbed her eyes. She couldn't cry in public. He just focused on winning the argument since he was too deep now to quit. Although, he was desperate to see this chef that had beaten him to the chase.

"Stop it!" Henry scolded them as they picked on his girlfriend. This was all getting too complicated for him.

"Look, they did this 'cause... Ray's been, like, dying to come to this restaurant for years." Henry said, looking over his shoulder at his boss who bashfully avoided eye contact.

"Well, now I feel all bad," Bianca said sadly and (y/n) could relate to that. She was wracking her brain for a way to make it up to the man she loved.

"No, you shouldn't." Her boyfriend replied, hating that he had put her in this situation.

"But I'm not even into steak," Bianca revealed slowly.

"What?!" Ray cried in disbelief and disgust. She came to a steakhouse but didn't like steak? What was wrong with the girl?

"The chicken's pretty good here too." (y/n) told him in an attempt to build a bridge, but it didn't really work out.

"Oh, no, no, no, no!" He whined and stomped his feet around the foyer, behaving like a spoilt child, which disheartened (y/n) and irritated Henry.

"Ray, you're embarrassing me." He hissed at his boss, eyeing the way the young woman next to Bianca fiddle with her bag's strap as she lost herself in melancholic thought.

"Oh, I'm embarrassing you?" Ray scoffed, ignorant of how his selfish behaviour was affecting those who loved him most.

"Yes!" Henry snapped, having had enough of his brattish actions.

"Or is it your chicken-loving girlfriend there?" Oh, that crossed a line and (y/n) decided that she wasn't going to let him bully poor Bianca just because he was jealous.

"No, it's definitely you, Raymond." She hissed, shocking Ray with her harsh tone. Bernard, Schwoz and Bianca looked on awkwardly as Henry and (y/n) tried to sort things out.

"Ray, please go home." The boy pleaded, grabbing his boss by the elbow and leading him to the stairs.

"I promise I'll make this up to you." (y/n) swore, hoping the sincerity in her voice would convince him that she was unbelievably sorry for keeping the truth from him.

"Bianca and I--" Henry started as the woman's words edged Ray towards the exit, but his girlfriend butted in.

"No, it's okay. Seriously, I don't care that much about eating here and your boss really does so, have dinner with him." Bianca said graciously, her kindness melting everyone's anger. What a sweet girl.

"You sure?" Henry looked at her in shock.

"Sure she's sure! That's what sure people look like!" Ray squealed in happiness.

"Yeah, I'm sure." Bianca giggled at his antics and returned the gift card. She wasn't one for fancy restaurants anyway.

"Alright, man. Looks like we're having dinner here together." Henry told his boss with a grin, making him jump a little in excitement. He even gave (y/n) a grin and brief side hug. She was beyond relieved that his anger was fleeting.

"Me too?" Schwoz asked hopefully, but he had no chance of eating with them.

"The reservation is only for two." The maître d'hôtel clarified, making the little man contemplate his situation. He had nothing to lose so...

"Look, balloons!" He shouted and used the opportunity to run into the dining area and steal a steak before running out. The sneaky little...

"Hey, come back here!" A deep masculine voice called from the dining area and an alarmingly handsome chef ran into the lobby. Oh, god.

"Well, well, well, I thought that you'd be here if there was trouble, (y/n) (y/l/n)." The chef spoke smoothly, his sudden appearance making (y/n) tense. He wasn't a bad person, just not someone she felt would integrate well with her closest friends.

"Hello, Jesse." She smiled warmly, stepping forwards to give him a quick hug that in Ray's eyes, lasted forever. His mouth turned dry and his face paled as this...guy took his girl into his arms and pressed his cheek into her shoulder, just like he did. His heart broke at how she seemed to fit into another man's arms so easily, a chef's no less. The chef at Montego's, the place he couldn't get into despite him being Captain Man. He felt so inferior, so unworthy, it just hurt so bad.

"You and your friends making all the ruckus out here? I could hear you lot in the kitchen." Jesse chuckled as his friend playfully hit his arm, not realising that the movement was like a stab to Ray's heart. She hit him like that, it wasn't special like it seemed and that made him feel...small.

"Yeah, this is Henry, Bianca, Schwoz and...Ray." She introduced them all, feeling nervous as she came to her protector. Jesse knew all about her love for him and she was praying he didn't say anything revealing or humiliating.

"Ah, the famous Ray Manchester. Pleased to meet you, man. (y/n)'s told me all about you." Jesse extended his hand for him to shake, the twinkle in his eye stemming from his amusement at finally meeting the man his friend had gushed about. The man who outshone all other guys in her eyes, the man she wanted so desperately but thought she could never have.

"Nice to meet you too, Jesse," Ray said curtly. He really didn't want to exchange niceties with the man who had taken his sweet girl on several dates to the restaurant he wanted to take her to. It felt like he was being mocked for being too late, Jesse had taken her heart before he could even make his move.

"Gentlemen, your table is ready." Bernard interrupted the tense moment as he tucked two menus under his arm. He really knew how to pick his moments.

"Ray, come on." Henry tugged on his boss's sleeve, hoping to avoid a fistfight between the two men since Ray had clearly labelled Jesse as a rival. Not that he actually had anything to worry about.

"You eating here tonight?" The handsome man smiled at Ray, clearly not bothered by the way the other man was brushing him off and acting tough. Jesse knew he didn't stand a chance against Ray, (y/n) had been chasing him for years and had no intention of stopping now. Not that he wanted to chase her, he saw her as a little sister.

"Yeah, we better go sit down." The superhero mustered all his manners to force out the sentence and allowed Henry to lead him away, but not before he heard the other man bid his best friend goodbye.

"I gotta get back to the kitchen. See ya later, sugar," Jesse said charmingly, which made Ray's blood boil and his stomach drop. Someone else had a pet name for her? He felt less and less important to her as each second revealed something new. How had he never seen this coming? Why hadn't she mentioned him? Had he kissed her—or worse? What did Jesse have that he didn't?

Why did she love him when he'd been waiting all along?

~10 minutes later~

"Dude, let it go, he's just a friend," Henry told Ray as a waiter placed some warm bread rolls in front of them.

"How do you know that? He hugged her and called her...a gross thing. What if she's dating him or if she likes him? God, I want her to be happy but not with that asshole. She's way too good for him..." The large man grumbled and ranted, his stomach still twisted in a jealous worry from (y/n)'s interactions with the head chef.

"Whoa, man, calm down. I just know that (y/n) doesn't see him that way." Henry insisted, trying to explain that the woman in question never looked at any other guys romantically. She had everything she wanted in Ray, but Henry couldn't tell him that; it would break every promise he'd ever made with her.

"Yeah, whatever. Anyway, you feel that? You feel that warm bread?" Ray diverted the topic. He didn't want to think about Jesse kissing and holding his girl anymore, he just wanted to drown his sorrows in a damn good meal before he was put off his meal.

"This is how bread should feel." Henry agreed, dropping the topic of Ray's jealously. For now.

'Right! Okay, ready?" The man asked, lining up his bread for tasting.

"Yeah." Henry nodded and they both took a bite out of their warm bread, the exquisite taste making them fall back with pleased groans.

"Hey, after we finish our steaks what do you wanna get for dessert? I think we should get more steak." Ray suggested, thinking that he might as well eat until he exploded since there was no point in him coming back here. The restaurant wasn't that special to him or (y/n) anymore.

"You want steaks for dessert?" The teen looked at him weirdly.

"What would you rather have? The chicken?" Ray teased, still not above poking fun at Henry's girlfriend.

"Okay, don't make fun of Bianca. She gave up her dinner for you." He said defensively. If he wanted, two could play at the girlfriend mocking game.

"I know! So stupid!" Ray giggled, irritating Henry further.

"I could just march to the kitchen and set (y/n) and Jesse up on a date, what'd you think about that?" Henry snapped, ceasing Ray's laughing. Okay, that was a bit mean but it worked. Ray couldn't bear the thought of his girl in another's arms, even if she chose them and not him. The heartache to have her was too much.

"Hey, that's not fair!" The large man whined, his heart twinging again at the thought of that stupid chef holding (y/n)'s hand over a table or feeding her pasta.

"Dude, I don't get how you can just--" Henry's reprimand was cut off by Ray shushing him as two people behind his sidekick caught his eye.

"What?" Henry asked, wondering what the superhero had seen.

"Okay, you remember two weeks ago, the robbery at that jewellery store?" Ray recalled.

"The robbers who stole that jewellery?" Well, that was a dumb question.

"Yeah. Their names are...(y/n) saved it somewhere...Ert Landers and Bernie Caldwell. They're right over there." Ray said, scrolling through the list of criminals his helper had downloaded onto his phone.

"For real?" Henry spluttered and gulped when the man gave him a sharp nod. Deciding that he had to see this for himself, Henry picked up his fork and "accidentally" dropped it on the floor. Turning around to pick it up, Henry got a good look at the two men sat at the table behind them and knew that it was definitely the two criminals.

"That is Ert and Bernie!" Henry confirmed, dropping his cutlery back on the table.

"I know. Punks! Hey, they're about to leave." Ray gasped as the men threw down a couple hundred dollars to pay for their meal.

"Well, that's our cue," Henry smirked and took out his gum tube, but his actions were slowed as he noticed Ray's slow, hesitant movements.

"Pop a gumball." The kid instructed, making his boss squirm in thought.

"But I haven't had my steak yet." He mewled, wanting to eat first then fight.

"They're criminals," Henry stated firmly.

"But I wanted my steak!" Ray whined, his childish side coming out again.

"Ray, pop a gumball in your mouth right now, or I'll call (y/n)." The boy threatened, knowing that the mention of the young woman would kick Ray's butt into action. And it did. Standing up together, they rounded the corner so they could transform away from prying eyes, just as a red-shirted waiter place their dinner on the table. Hoping to get a small nibble, Ray briskly walked back to the table and tried to take a bite, but Henry pulled him back to his duty. It was hero time.

Just as Ert and Bernie were standing up to leave, Captain Man and Kid Danger stood in the entrance arch, blocking their exit.

"Hey, Ert."

"And Bernie." Ray and then Henry quipped as the robbers paled at the sight of Swellview's greatest crime fighters.

"Aw, man." One of them groaned, knowing that they probably wouldn't get away from this.

"That's aw, Captain Man! Now, can you count from one to bam?" Ray asked them confidently, cracking his knuckles in preparation for a fight.

"I'll try. One---" Ert started to count, not realising what Ray was doing.

"Bam!" The superhero smashed his fist into the. criminal's face, sending him flying across a table as Henry swung at Bert. The diners looked on in horror as Bert tried to whack Kid Danger with a chair, thank god the kid was too quick for him.

Tackling him to the floor, Henry slapped his criminal with a piece of meat as Captain Man sat down to eat his steak whilst Ert groaned in pain. However, he couldn't cut through it quick enough, Ert was back on his feet before he could even savour a morsel.

Seeing that he had no choice but to fight, Ray ditched his knife and fork and gave Ert another punch to the jaw. He tried to eat another person's steak, but the criminal kept getting back up. Henry dusted himself off as he left Bernie on the floor and picked up a large pepper grinder from a table.

"Care for some fresh pepper?" He asked sarcastically before smacking the man on the head with it and grinding some of the burning granules into his eyes. Ouch. Seeing that Ert had his legs around Ray's neck, Kid Danger skidded over and freed his boss.

"Watch out!" Captain Man shouted at his sidekick as Bernie came over with the pepper grinder. Stopping him in his tracks, Henry twisted the man's arm around and then whacked him several times in the nose. As Ert rubbed his eyes, Ray grabbed a painting off the wall and cracked it over his skull, the canvas tearing from the blunt force. With a final show of his superhero strength, Captain Man pushed Ert into the wall, the guy collapsing in agony.

""I'd say that was a job...well done." Ray giggled with Henry as two cops arrived on the scene and took the criminals away.

"Take him away, boys. And now, some cow." Ray smirked at Henry and the two of them returned to their table, fully intending to finish their meals. But...

"Excuse me, Captain Man and Kid Danger." Bernard the host said as he stood next to their table.

"Uh-huh?"

"What's up, big guy?" The two superheroes asked nonchalantly, not seeing that they had a major problem.

"I'm sorry, but your names aren't on our dinner list and you can't eat here without an invitation." He told them, stopping their cutting as they stammered. They screamed in protest as a waiter came over and dumped their dinners into a bowl and took it away.

"WHY?" Looks like they were going steakless tonight.

~Back in the Man Cave~

Schwoz was sat at the couch table, reading a random magazine as he waited for Henry and Ray to return. (y/n) had gone out about fifteen minutes before, intent on seeking a way to brighten up Ray's crappy evening. The man in question and his sidekick came down the tubes with grumpy faces, feeling like they'd been cheated out of their food.

"Hi. How were your steaks?" The genius asked kindly, unknowingly rubbing salt into their wounds.

"You better shut your mouth, Schwoz, you better shut your dirty mouth," Ray growled as he walked across the Man Cave.

"Geez!" Schwoz recoiled at his mean words as Ray sat down at the computer and rubbed his forehead tiredly. He needed his happy girl, where was she?

"Why are you still wearing that dress?" Henry looked at the little guy with a confused expression.

"Cause, it's so comfortable and I like how the cool air blows up in here." Schwoz shook his hips and twirled around so the skirt fanned out.

"Hey, you wanna go to Backout Steakhouse?" Henry asked his boss, who was exceedingly moody since he'd been robbed of a steak dinner and didn't have his girl nearby.

"No, I wanna go to Montego's!" He snapped in a tetchy voice.

"Schwoz, where's (y/n)? He's being moody again." He called to the small man at the couch, but he just shrugged in response.

"She's not here. She went out." He replied dryly as he flicked through the magazine again, his words making Ray groan again. She was probably out being wooed by that dumb Jesse guy knowing his luck. Shit, why did that idea hurt so much?

"We can't get steak from Monetgo's." Henry reminded him, thinking about how he would now have to handle this child trapped in a man's body.

"W-what is that? Is that? Do you know what this is?" Ray gasped all of sudden and plucked a piece of meat from Henry's tunic.

"Steak." The boy answered obviously, not seeing the correlation or importance of one tiny bite of meat.

"From Montego's!" Ray squealed as he held the precious piece between his index finger and thumb.

"Whoa, it must've fallen down here when we were fighting Ert and Bernie." Henry smiled as he remembered being covered in a load of food.

"I know! Can I have it?" Ray asked the boy after sniffing the savoury meat and loving its smoky scent.

"Can we split it?" Henry asked back, knowing that a fifty-fifty split would be fair. Ray stared at him intensely as he contemplated his proposal. Maybe it would work.

With the cardboard waiter taped back together, Ray and Henry sat down at the little table again. With the chunk of steak cut in half, Ray served them both a slice, the whole situation feeling cutely depressing.

Skewering each piece with their forks, Henry and Ray took a moment to examine their tiny mouthful with a magnifying glass. They chinked their cutlery and ate their steak cubes. Damn, that was good steak, well, it was while it lasted.

"Wanna go to Backout Steakhouse?" Henry reiterated his question from earlier as the moment was over all too quickly. Yeah, it tasted amazing, but he was hardly satisfied after some a meagre chunk, he just wanted food now.

"Yeah, I guess." Ray sighed and the two stood up to go to the elevator. A crap steak was better than no steak, right?

However, the elevator door slid open before they could even press the button and a rosy-cheeked woman stepped out: (y/n).

"Hey, guys." She greeted them in a slightly breathless voice, her energy being sapped by the numerous, heavy bags of takeout food she had walked home with. Well, well, well, what did she have there?

"Hey, what you got there?" Henry asked in confusion whilst Ray stepped forward to take the bags off her. She chuckled slightly as her best friend took the bags to the table and peeked inside, her laughter increasing as he recognised the logo printed on the takeout cartons.

"It's—it's food...from Montego's." He stuttered out and snapped his gaze to his flushed best friend. Did she get food for him? How?

"What? For real?" Henry gasped and dashed over to look in the bags himself, exclaiming in delight as his boss pulled out several boxes of steak dinners with perfect fillets and all the trimmings to boot. Ray couldn't believe it, after all his brattiness, she'd spent her own money on what looked like a very expensive round of takeout, just for him and her friends. Sweet girl...

"I didn't know Montego's did takeout." Schwoz frowned as he was given his food, everyone's hearts fluttering when they saw how she'd gone above and beyond just to make them smile.

"They don't." Ray breathed out, making the young woman nervously scratch the back of her neck. This shouldn't have been possible, no one got the leftovers from the restaurant, not even those who offered to pay for it. Doggie bags were so common and distasteful, plus, some unscrupulous people might sell their leftovers on for a profit—that's just how popular Montego's was.

"Well, I had to pull a few strings with Jesse, but luckily, a lot of food wasn't served after Captain Man and Kid Danger had a brawl in the restaurant. So, he gave most of it to me." She smiled, Ray gulping slightly at the mention of him. He wasn't sure if he wanted to eat something from that guy and he shuddered at the thought of (y/n) seeing him again.

"And the easy clean up meant that he could go home to Angela early, so it's a win-win for everyone." She added on the end, freezing Ray's inner panic. She couldn't mean...could she?

"Angela?" He asked in a small voice whilst Henry plated up all the food with Schwoz. He figured it was best for (y/n) to explain everything jow so they could fall back into being all loved-up and gross.

"Yeah, Angela. I went to school with her. She's Jesse's finacée, that's how I know him--" She was cut off when the superhero dragged her into a tight hug, his arms returning to their natural home around her waist.

"Sweet girl, I'm sorry for being so damn horrible earlier." He mumbled into her neck, feeling so stupid that he had judged her friend before he knew him. He couldn't help it; in his view, every man could see how perfect she was and that terrified him.

"You were pretty grumpy. But I know you and I know that you were just upset." She replied quietly, burying her fingers into his soft hair. She loved being in his embrace, it just felt like home.

"And I'm sorry for not telling you the truth about me going to Montego's." The young woman apologised too, her chest feeling so much lighter now they'd aired their grievances.

"You don't need to apologise." He reassured her as they pulled with gentle smiles on their faces.

"Do you want some steak?" She asked him in a cheeky tone, her tongue poking out to wet her lips, making Ray burn with desire. He had lost count of the times he'd dreamt of tasting those lips and exploring the depth of her. God, he was sure no man would ever love her and take his time with her the way he would. She was a goddess and she deserved to be worshipped.

"Of course." He answered calmly, letting her lead him to the table where the hot food was plated and ready to be eaten. He couldn't help but smile at the scene.

She was the heart of his little family: Charlotte, his little sister, his friend, Schwoz, his little brother, Henry, and his love, (y/n). She was the centre of everything he had built and everything he adored, she just didn't know it yet.

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lastweeksshirttonight · 11 months ago

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I've listened to this almost four times at this point, so I better write some thoughts on it. (Did you need them? Probably not but humor me.)

This whole podcast talks deeply about the emotional toll of COVID and the pandemic, so be advised.

Interview starts at 16:10.

To start, I think a thread that runs through this entire episode is Marc being more cynical or bitter than John about a point, and John pausing to realign himself with what his actual level of cynicism is. You can tell that Marc and John like each other a lot, but there is also a tension to some of their discussions that I find really interesting. Like a mental chess match where Marc has a clear POV and John is trying to subtly spin the response to be closer to his own ideals.

The interview opens with the two of them talking about microphone levels and people not being closer to the mic and how irritating it is when people don't know how to use microphones. I am weak to John talking

I haven't watched Rachel Maddow in a while, is she really doing radio shows about Spiro Agnew? What? Why?

John speaking about context and contextualizing our current dark reality. The way he viewed the pandemic and the extent of society's flaws, and how nothing was fixed was really interesting. For as much as he's said that he's allergic to sincerity, that's just plainly untrue. He really does want to believe in the best of everything around him - he later talks about how he loves his children so much it's painful, and I had the same thought. Marc's darkness is something else though, I would laugh helplessly too at being reminded that 30% of the country wants to kill me specifically (help)

"It will eat your messages and shit them back into your face." I truly enjoy when John goes this blue, it always surprises and delights me.

John wants everything to have a system. He really likes the John Wick coin-based hotel system. I don't quite know how the two of them got from the comfort conspiracy theories can provide in dark times to John Wick but hey.

Marc being mad about having no awards and John being like "you really didn't need to say your bitterness out loud bro" killed me.

John has no idea why LWT was moved into another category. He doesn't even know who he's competing against. The Emmys basically afford him the right to be left alone with his show. I think he values that more than anything in regards to LWT - this topic comes up multiple times in this podcast and John stresses that having no sponsors to be beholden to, no commercials, and seemingly little to no oversight makes them able to do things that just can't be done on commercial television. There are more details to mine about this later, but it seems like, for all the absolute chaos of HBO and Warner and Discovery (something John likens to continually having new fathers around and wondering if he even has to bother learning their names), he's still relatively free to plug away at LWT the way he and his team envision it. Which is a relief to hear, honestly, the delayed announcement of LWT being renewed really made me concerned that Discovery in particular was done dealing with him.

I like how John, when given questions, will often ask clarifying follow-ups in this. He's not one for vagueness as it seems - the one that particularly stuck out to me was Marc relaying how he struggles with pulling his thoughts together on current events, using the Gaza crisis as an example for him before asking how John settles on topics. John's response is to ask if Marc means in general, or om Gaza specifically. The conversation moves into the general and how LWT is made now that it's ten years in (John calls the research department a machine and I can tell Marc is hoping that John literally invented a research machine from his tone of voice), but those are two very different conversations that could be pulled from that one question.

I also love John and Marc taking the piss out of John's show. Truly, if John leaves his desk, you obviously just sat through 30 minutes of the worst human misery possible.

Marc: "Because of your innate Britishness and your sense of humor, that... you do irritate -"

John, sounding like something just activated in his brain and as darkly as I've ever heard him: "I love to."

Marc: " - the right - ???"

My new favorite running theme in John's interviews is his apparently very tense relationship with his lawyers. The nitty gritty of the legal needs of the show, and how John views his lawyers and the frustrations that come with trying to do hard-hitting topics while having lawyers drop out from conflicts of interest, always fascinates me.

John also delves into the security he requires because of the breadth of people he's pissed off. He doesn't seem to care at all and enjoys pissing these people off, despite his wife's concerns. (I'm so sorry Kate you married a deeply weird man) John derives such pleasure from irritating people that it outweighs, say, never being able to go to Thailand without being arrested.

I cannot believe the Sacklers tried to come to the LWT office. Jesus Christ the entitled gall of these people.

Marc offends John with his assessment of England having many destroyed buildings, which leads into him saying, in a way reminiscent of the long-lost American from the Bugle, that he "enjoys the castles". God I miss the American. "How old's this wall? Holy fuck!"

Marc: "What are we gonna do about the futility..."

John: -cracks the fuck up-

Marc, finding his point: "...of..."

John: "Let it hang. Feel free to let that hang in the air. Let's just all enjoy the fact that we're all filling it in and coming up with different, equally valid, depressing ends to that sentence."

John is so severely offended and killed by Marc's suggestion that he did a Q&A tour. The absolute lowest form of entertainment in both of their minds. John mentions that he emphatically told people they could leave before the Q&A they hosted at the John and Seth stand up show I was at because he feels so strongly about this. I wrongly assumed this was because John hates himself and can't imagine people sticking around for him, but in my defense, that's usually the reason he tells people not to do something/shits on his bangs/etc.

(We still have like 30 min of this podcast, why am I like this)

The question of "what's gonna happen" is a pretty dark one, as John notes. He fears the worst but hopes people will work hard to stop the path we're on. Marc wanting to illustrate where we are is pretty ridiculous, as John points out - just look around.

I think Marc talking about what "all right" means to people gets to something that deeply concerns me about what the future of this country will be for me. I don't want to be that cynical but there is a deep well of selfishness in the US (rightfully identified) that does keep the country from uniting and fighting for survival in times like this. We're definitely at that turning point and I really want to hope we don't drive off the cliff.

I am not really emotionally prepared for jokes about John being in prison, I was genuinely a bit concerned about that The Last Time. That's my own problem though.

I didn't expect to get more information about John leaving The Daily Show on this podcast, but that's one of the most interesting things discussed. Marc asks if John left TDS because he felt the freedom he has with HBO wasn't there, and John says that wasn't the case - his contract expired at the end of 2013, after his summer hosting gig. Ideally, and Jon and John had discussed this (!!), the goal was to have John do TDS in the summers so John could, you know, rest. Sleep. Not be beholden to the horrors all the time. But Comedy Central, in John's blunt words, "didn't really care", so he went to HBO. The way that John mentions that "they would have probably kept [Jon] longer" if they'd actually tried to keep John around sounds just a tinge bitter and honestly, yeah. I'm annoyed hearing that we could have had this magical 2-host version of TDS and CC just... sucks. God I hate them. They gave me most of my worldview as a teenager because of TDS, but fucking A man.

Also interesting to hear, however vaguely, that John had some other offers. Wonder what those were. My best guess, based on what else was going on at that time, is TBS (who later made Full Frontal with Samantha Bee and were building around Conan) might have made a play.

I'm not a parent, but I do appreciate the discussion of parenthood, particularly how anxiety-inducing it can be. Hearing John talk about his worries regarding his prematurely-born son definitely resonated, and I'm glad his son is doing well now. ❤️

The brick joke in the middle of the parenting discussion is the hardest I've ever laughed at Marc Maron. Truly. Masterful brick joke.

I don't have an elegant tag for this - there's much more than what I touched on here in the podcast, and I appreciate how deep the conversation gets. It was really nice to listen to this multiple times during my hell day, and to hear John talk deeper about things that he's rarely asked about.

Also I'm sorry I wrote like fucking too many k words on this, I clearly had thoughts

#john oliver #marc maron #wtf with marc maron #last week tonight with john oliver #last week tonight #the daily show with jon stewart #the daily show #lee's tl;dr

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a-random-whovian7 · 2 years ago

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Honestly, it never ceases to infuriate me how dirty Jodie was done both during and after her era. She literally:

- Had people go against her from the moment her casting was announced purely because she was a woman.

- Had her era almost instantly labelled as "too political" despite the fact that a) a lot of the stories were painfully centrist at best and b) when compared to previous eras, the political commentary was significantly watered down.

- Got stuck with a sub-par showrunner and a BBC committee that immediately started sabotaging the era's marketing the moment TV ratings began to drop (completely ignoring streaming figures, which remained consistent).

- Carried all 3 of her seasons, despite most of the episodes failing to stick the landing.

- Gave an outstanding performance despite the fact that the writers never gave her much to work with.

- Had what was arguably the most controversial episode of all time happen right in the middle of her era, and still kept going despite all the vile attacks that were directed towards her because of it.

- Nearly ended up with Revolution of the Daleks being her last episode because S13 was nearly cancelled due to Covid.

- Kept making videos during lockdown out of her love for the character.

- Was almost constantly overshadowed by previous eras in official marketing, projects and events in this time.

- Turned down multiple acting opportunities for S13.

- Filmed Flux despite Covid-19 restrictions and the fact that production constantly suffered from delays and setbacks.

- Filmed Power of the Doctor while she was pregnant and suffering from morning sickness, only for the BBC to under-advertise it.

- Was immediately replaced by David Tennant purely just to get people back for the 60th (no hate towards RTD and Tennant, they're both fantastic and probably the best way of getting people back on board, but it was pure cowardice on the BBC's part).

- Literally all the show's marketing was amped up the moment her era ended.

She kept the show going despite everything and deserves so much more respect because of it. I really hope she's given a really good set of Big Finish stories like Colin Baker was, cos she absolutely deserves them after everything she went through.

#doctor who #jodie whittaker #doctor who rant #13th doctor #chibnall era #i'm so fucking angry

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vikingnerd793 · 2 years ago

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So uh. The Ubisoft Gear Store is dead. Just disappeared out of nowhere with random Tweet replies that it was shut down. Mirage still has no gameplay shown and it was supposed to launch in March. Three unknown projects cancelled, Skull and Bones delayed for a sixth time. I believe Prince of Persia was already canceled. Two non AC games bombed this year, projected loss of $500 million. Keep in mind Valhalla earned a billion in a year which is the most of ANY AC GAME and the 2nd best in Ubisoft history. That revenue is huge for them. So, a $500+ million loss is not small. They’re reducing headcount for two years to try to keep afloat I just read.

I’ve said this multiple times as a guess, but now I truly believe it’s not a guess. I think Ubisoft is in serious, serious trouble. I think the only reason we even got The Last Chapter at all, with likely ZERO resource and budget behind it, was if the content was a promotion for Mirage first, with a modest focus on Eivor’s conclusion. Wouldn’t be shocked if they took a crumb of budget from Mirage for it. It’s why all support was abandoned. No Yule, no NG+.

I don’t think The Last Chapter was meant to be the way it was originally. It felt like a project that got chopped. No other content in its two years of existence felt so basic. No actual gameplay. Like an hour of cut scenes. What little recycled assets they used, the peacock feather bug STILL happened and still has not been fully fixed. I doubt we will ever see another patch for it. This isn’t trying to excuse what we got, as honestly it felt so bad it shouldn’t have even been released. Just cancel it. But my visceral reaction, that this content felt like something that didn’t belong because it didn’t have any of the thought or depth of previous content, likely wasn’t off base.

I wouldn’t be shocked if the choice to make Mirage such a big project, while ALSO announcing multiple AC games being done simultaneously, and also hemorrhaging talent with huge projects being worked on (and now having to reduce headcount further with bad financials) is maybe not working out well. Especially with other titles floundering the way they are. It’s like they NEED Mirage and Infinity to not only happen, but sell at or above Valhalla levels just to survive. I might be wrong, but it’s pretty ominous. They can’t just get these games launched. They bit off possibly way more than they can chew and need record numbers from AC now.

So I can see execs telling them ACV is a dead game to them. Support was done after Forgotten Saga and the licensed crossovers that likely got them some cash flow, and the Mirage promo masked as TLC. Fuck the fans of this game who made us record money, we need the old fans who are long gone to come back and we need to focus on getting the new fans to focus on the next games. But I’m not sure that was the smartest idea, as you want to respect fans who you just got in the door if you want to keep them around.

I don’t feel happy, per say, about this, as this will affect livelihoods of many people and this company did give us Valhalla and some other great games. But it at least feels like circumstances contributed to the disappointment of Valhalla’s “end of life.” Not just a conscious decision to ruin Eivor and make her ending about a different game’s setup.

EDIT: oh I’m totally not wrong.

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stardustedstories · 6 months ago

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They weren't supposed to be here. Raine was supposed to be staying out of trouble, keeping their nose clean until Scooter's retirement and the fact that they were succeeding them as head of the Bard Coven was announced. But the moment they'd heard the broadcast, had heard Eda's name in conjunction with the word "petrification," Raine knew they couldn't just sit idly by.

The bard was normally one for planning everything out, figuring out each possibility and going with the best plan (or the one that would cause the most chaos, depending on the situation), but they didn't have time to think; they just had time to go, to do.

And even as Perry's report continued, they were moving, making their way to the Conformatorium as quickly as possible, hood of their cloak pulled up, hiding their face. They didn't know what they were going to do, but they were going to do something. It didn't matter that they hadn't seen her in more than twenty years, didn't matter that the last time they had seen one another had been when they'd broken up, Eda wasn't going to die today.

Raine knew their way around the Conformatorium; it wasn't the first time they'd been here as part of a rescue operation, and it likely wouldn't be the last. It was the first time they were here without some sort of plan, so it was a good thing they had a knack for improvisation. It also meant they knew right where to go, right where the petrification ceremony would be held.

Maybe it was for the best that their ascension to coven head had been delayed; right now, they were just another nondescript person in the crowd, here to witness the first public petrification in more than thirty years. They weren't sure whether most of the crowd was looking forward to the spectacle or if they were here to watch the same way they would a twenty-witch-pileup. Honestly, right now, that didn't matter. The more spectators, the better; it would be harder to pinpoint exactly where their spells came from.

It would have been better if they could have gotten to Eda, gotten her out before the ceremony itself started, but there were too many cells and not enough time to search all of them. They were just gonna have to make sure to cause a big enough scene, a distraction to pull everyone's focus while they got her out of there.

Their mind was racing; they hadn't ever wanted to see this day. It was part of the reason they were okay with seeing Eda's wanted posters: since they were still up, it meant that she was still okay, was still free. And that was all that mattered.

Raine made their way forward, towards the front of the crowd, with a few rows still left, providing them cover. They needed to be able to see platform, where Eda would be, something that made their heart skip a beat, even after everything. What would she look like now? Would she even recognize them, if she saw them in the crowd?

If they were being honest with themself, it didn't matter. It didn't matter what she looked like, if she remembered them, or even if she hated them. They were going to get her out of here, and that was it. Because even after everything that had happened, even though they hadn't seen one another, had broken up so long ago…., Raine Whispers still loved her.

They heard Perry's announcement, saw the platform rising, and then suddenly, there she was.

"Eda," they whispered, but thankfully, no one seemed to notice. Everyone's attention was trained upwards, fixed on the cursed form of Edalyn Clawthorne. Raine hadn't realized they were holding their breath until they started to get a little light-headed, and they forced themself to inhale, to breathe. They wouldn't be any good to Eda if they passed out; they had to focus, had to figure out a way to get her out of there.

The petrification machine rose up to the platform, and Raine looked over it, wondering if they could stop it from here. They weren't entirely certain how it worked, but if they had two seconds to examine it, they could do something--

Their train of thought is interrupted by the sudden appearance of Lilith in the cage, followed by two children interrupting Perry's broadcast. This was good; they could use this to their advantage.

Raine started moving through the crowd, trying to get a better vantage point, to see what was going on up on the platform.

They were still listening to everything that was happening, so they heard when the kids said that what was happening to Eda wasn't right, that she hadn't done anything worth being petrified, listened as they started to chant to "let Eda go!"

Raine's heart lifted; they weren't the only one who thought that all of this was completely wrong. Eda shouldn't be punished just for wanting to choose her own path, for living her life.

Before they had a chance to do anything, the petrification beam shot from the machine, heading right towards Lilith, only for Eda to jump in the way.

Just as quickly as their heart had lifted, it plummeted, and they let out a strangled cry even as Lilith shouted Eda's name. They had to get to her, had to get up there, get her out! They weren't thinking anymore, they weren't trying to plan or figure out anything beyond keeping her from turning to stone.

But the crowd was in the way. Their brilliant plan of not being at the front was backfiring on them now, and they couldn't push their way through fast enough without using their magic. And they couldn't afford to do that, not when it would get them caught, would keep them from actually helping.

They could see the stone creeping up Eda's form, and they couldn't get to her! If they brought out their violin, they could do something, but that wasn't exactly subtle, and then they'd be arrested for trying to break her out.

With Lilith there, though, maybe there was still a chance. She was the head of the Emperor's Coven, but she was just as in that cage as Eda was.

"Come on, Lilith," Raine whispered, clenching their hands into fists. "I can't get to her; you've gotta do something."

And if she didn't….., well, they were just gonna have to risk being arrested. They were pretty sure they could talk their way out of it, if they really had to. Raine might not do well in front of crowds, and they absolutely got stage fright, but they would come up with some sort of reason why they were aiding a fugitive, and they would have to make it stick.

They'd deal with that if it happened; right now, their eyes are glued to the platform, begging Lilith to do the right thing.

There's someone else on the platform now, someone working to free her, and Raine breathes a sigh of relief, eyes still glued to Eda's form.

"Please be okay," they whispered, not noticing how hard their fists are clenched. They can't summon Fiddlesticks, not with their palisman currently disguised in their violin, but all they want to do is be up there, to see her for themself, to know that she's okay.

The Coven guards start to circle the little group, and when Eda takes off with the rest of them on her back, the crowd starts to cheer. Spears fly in the direction of the retreating wild witch, and Raine lifts a hand to their mouth, letting out a shrill whistle, covered by the noise of the crowd. The golden arc of magic disrupts the path of the spears just enough to keep them from making any sort of contact with Eda, and Raine finally breathes a sigh of relief.

They hadn't been able to do much, hadn't been able to save her….., but she's still alive. And she has other people looking out for her.

Raine will have to content themself with that knowledge. Because even after everything…., she still means the world something to them.

#✦ raine whispers || headcanon ✦ there is real communication between voice and violin #[drabble tag tbd]#[Missa requested knowing what Raine was up to during the petrification ceremony and this is what I came up with]

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sillyname30 · 5 months ago

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Elsie Fest has always been announced short notice (at least during the last couple) but if he’s announcing in a few weeks that’s realllyyy pushing it. It’s different when fans expect it, but I honestly figured it was done. I certainly didn’t think he’d bring it back when he has a show coming up. That’s why I’m thinking you might be right and they decided to do it after MHE got pushed back. Bringing it up but delaying the announcement makes me assume he’s still getting his ducks in order.

It varies show to show but from what I’ve seen on Reddit, rehearsals are anywhere from 6-10 weeks, 5-6 days a week, 9am-5pm, or 10am-6pm. I suppose it could be on a day off, but I just can’t picture him doing it in the thick of rehearsals.

Darren is a different breed, though. It’s like he has extra hours in the day. Mia too, since she’s usually with him.

Darren isn't good at doing nothing. I can imagine him thinking: "Crap. MHE got postponed. I have a month with nothing to do. Oh, I know. Let's bring back Elsie."

Darren isn't good with "time". He never knows what happen when. "A few weeks" could mean 2 weeks or 4 weeks or maybe an announcement next week.

I expect to see his MHE colleagues at Elsie. It's a good way to introduce them and a few of the songs.

I guess for a new musical it's a longer rehearsal time to figure out how it works best with the people you got. For Little Shop they had to learn how to fit in an excisting production which doesn't take up that much time.

#darren criss #elsie fest

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fayesdiary · 1 year ago

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Faye's Fòdlan Journey: Season 1 - Opening Thoughts

Introduction

Masterpost Next->

As a reminder, we're starting with Azure Moon first, followed by Verdant Wind, Crimson Flower and lastly Silver Snow.

This was a route order I decided when I asked around for advice on which order to play them (mainly if there was an intended route order like in Fates) and they basically told me "play Azure Moon first, don't play Verdant Wind and Silver Snow next to each other since they're incredibly similar" and something else that made me decide to place Crimson Flower in the third slot. We'll see how well it turns out.

Before starting, I want to make a small note on my past experiences with Fòdlan.

I was there when Three Houses was first announced and I watched all the trailers as well as some Youtubers breaking them down.

But once it got released, I decided to go on hiding to avoid spoilers, which among other things meant unsubscribing to the very bad, not good r/fireemblem subreddit. One thing led to another, I eventually realized Reddit did me more harm than good because at that point I logged in there deliberately to get angry, so I decided to delete it.

Which means, in a way, I have to thank Three Houses to get me out of there, years before Reddit crashed and burned on top of that.

The following years were spent dodging most (but not all, sadly) spoilers, witnessing third-hand reports of flame wars with morbid curiosity (basically it's as if there was a huge wildfire outside and I was in my garden ignoring it while grilling) and being increasingly annoyed that almost every new content felt like it was about Fòdlan. At least before Engage was announced.

So I my feelings coming onto this game are a mix of awe, curiosity, fear and annoyance. I wonder if that makes sense.

Speaking of annoyances, I have to talk about a small pet peeve I have with the cover art.

While I definitely wouldn't call it bad, something about it felt off to me from the moment they revealed it.

It's clear what they were going for, with the house leaders dividing the art into three spaces, but the end results ends up looking a bit goofy, especially with the infamous upside-down Claude (which became a meme from the very beginning) and the Byleths just slapped onto the background of a building even if it doesn't make much sense.

But this is mainly a subjective thing. What isn't subjective, though, is the art error where Claude's bow is misaligned. If you look closely at the center, you'll notice the end of the bow isn't actually ligned up with the rest of it, and now you won't be able to unsee it, bothering you as much as it bothers me. You're welcome, by the way.

But we've delayed the main event for long enough. Let's start the game, shall we?

The first thing you see when starting the game is an empty throne on the left, followed by a quiet rendition on the organ of the Fire Emblem theme. Already it's starting to become clear the tone this game is going for.

Waiting around a bit, the opening of the game starts playing.

First of all- wow, that theme. Edge of Dawn is one of the best vocal tracks of Fire Emblem by far. I remember listening to it on loop when it first got released!

Also I gotta say, I missed the anime-style cutscenes.

While I like the 3D ones these give the game plenty of charm, even if I wish they were a bit more fluid. Honestly, they make a solid argument for a Fire Emblem anime to be released. no the cancelled OVA doesn't count shut up

If this is anything like Echoes, this opening is made of spliced-up future cutscenes. And given a good portion of it shows up again in the intro cutscene, I'd say I'm right.

Returning to the game, we start creating our file and- ooh, boy.

Ignoring the difficulty options for a second, which are the same as every modern Fire Emblem save for Echoes (only difference being that "Lunatic" is now named "Maddening"), it's time for my first big criticism of this game.

Which is ironic, given that it's about all of the text being too. Freaking. ˢᵐᵃˡˡ.

Maybe it's just an impression I have, but back when Three Houses first released, it felt like every AAA company was in a competition to put the tiniest text possible due to the larger screens, with the result that most of the time you have trouble reading it unless you get closer.

This is a huge blunder on accessibility for people with visibility problems, and while it luckily got better especially now that accessibility is a larger focus for most mainstream developers (except, of course, Nintendo), here it still shows its tiny, hugly head.

And remember, the Switch is also a portable console, so there are people who had to read this tiny font on a small screen, so I'd say this is pretty bad. I doubt I'll play Three Houses on portable because of this.

In fact, I feel this is such a problem I will be including alt text on all the screens with dialogue.

Going back to the difficulty options, I will be playing on Normal Classic.

Normal because I'm an impatient scrub, Classic because I like having some form of consequences. Besides, I have Divine Pulse covering my ass.

Hey, I said I was a long-time Fire Emblem player, I never said I was good at it.

With that said, the screen fades to black, and the first proper cutscene begins.

We open on a large, rainy battlefield, in what I assume is the distant past.

Two armies clash against each other, until a human(?) named Nemesis descends from the skies in a burst of flame. Immediately he turns his attention towards his foe, the goddess Seiros.

The two soon begin a duel to the death. Seiros uses a sword and shield which couple with her general design makes me think she might be slightly inspired from Greek culture? Big if true, because from what I know Fire Emblem never took inspiration from Greece.

Nemesis, meanwhile, fights with... the Sword of the Creator?

Huh. Will need to keep a closer eye on that one.

Eventually, Seiros prevails, and in a fit of rage, stabs Nemesis to death over and over, yelling that he took everything she loved.

After felling her *heh* Nemesis, Seiros grabs the Sword of the Creator, lovingly caressing it calling her Mother.

We see the Divine Pulse activate, and all of a sudden we're brought at Best Goddess Sothis' Mind Space, where she notices her new visitor.

So. This intro.

Besides already setting the tone Fòdlan is going for (grand with a lot of death and tragedy and murder), it's interesting how if you're at least a bit savvy with how Fire Emblem stories go, you can already put two and two together with that's happening.

Granted, future games and loose spoilers are kind of helping me, but still. Let me explain.

First of all, Seiros is a goddess. If it wasn't clear from the fact there's a Church named literally after her. And given what most goddesses are in Fire Emblem are and her particular shade of green hair (the same Naga and Tiki and also Mila share), it's clear she's Fòdlan's equivalent of Divine Dragons.

Nemesis, meanwhile, is using a sword made of bones, which are what all of Fòdlan's legendary weapons are made of. And given they are all effective against dragons as Heroes and Engage show...

Well, it doesn't take a genius to realize where those bones come from.

Remember, Falchion is made from a dragon's bone too.

And given what Seiros says, it's likely Nemesis or someone else affiliated with him murdered all of Seiros' loved ones to make legendary weapons of unfathomable power out of them.

The Sword of the Creator seems to be made out of the bones of her mother, on top. No wonder she's pissed.

I am curious about the Divine Pulse transition. Is it just cosmetic to signify a fast-forward, or is there some time fuckery already going on? I guess there's only a way to find out.

Sothis greets us in her own, sassy way, prompting the Avatar creation screen.

And lo and behold, we went from Awakening and Fates' somewhat limited but still extensive customization options to... Just getting to choose the Avatar's gender.

*sigh* Listen. I went on a tangent about this multiple times, so I'll just keep it brief and say that given how restrictive Fire Emblem's dialogue options are, if you're not going to make the Avatar at least visually properly customizable then there's no reason to have an Avatar and all.

Okay. With that tangent aside, let's talk about Byleth's designs.

Male Byleth is my favorite. The outfit looks good and practical for a mercenary, I'm a big fan of the loose sleeves of his jacket (?) and his face looks neutral but serious.

Meanwhile, Female Byleth... well.

I'm sure I'm far from the only one who mentioned this, but between the random holes in her armor just to show more bare skin, her strangely ornate thights and her somewhat younger face with larger eyes... Yeah, it's clear what the designers' priorities were for her.

Also her expression makes her look like a doll. A doll having flashbacks.

I like her hair more, though. So that's that at least.

As a reminder, male Byleth will be used for the first two routes while female Byleth for the last two. But regardless, I will be talking about Byleth in a gender neutral way, safe for cases where I mention a specific gender. Because again, besides romance options, the Avatar's gender really Does Not Matter.

Here we have the first dialogue option, something this game loves to use. I guess it's why Byleth's a silent protagonist, although I doubt it will be worth it.

As a general rule of thumb I like to immerse myself in who I'm playing as, so I will be picking the dialogue options I think Byleth would choose, which will be the highlighted ones in the screenshots.

I know Byleth is nicknamed the Ashen Demon but I don't know how they feel about that moniker yet, so I choose to have them call themselves a mortal.

Sothis then asks Byleth for their name, which for every route will be... Well, Byleth. Not that it's ever said out loud anyway.

Lastly, she asks them about their birthday.

It's interesting to note how here, instead of using our real life Calendar, every month has its Fòdlan counterpart. While this is really neat, I hope they will keep the number along with it because I know I will forget about them otherwise.

And I share their day of birth as well! What a peculiar coincidence!

With a last phrase that feels like it's leaning on the fourth wall, Sothis bids Byleth farewell for now.

donotmakeaSkyrimjokedonotmakeaSkyrimjokeDONOTMAKEASKYRIMJOKE

Byleth's father and soon-to-be corpse, Jeralt, wakes Byleth from their strange dream.

Apparently, Byleth dreamt about Sothis multiple times, but this is apparently the first time she actually noticed them.

Guess she was asleep for the other nights, that must have been pretty awkward for them. I hope she doesn't snore at least.

The father-and-child duo prepars for another mercenary mission, when they're approached by three inconspicious teenagers who definitely haven't set the Internet on fire for years to come, asking for help.

The problem is of course, bandits. The universal evil of all of Fire Emblem. With a whole group of them on their tail and about to attack a village, the five prepare their counterattack.

Which we will see next time, since this post is getting incredibly long and more importantly, I've hit the image cap!

Introduction

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#fire emblem #fire emblem three houses #fe16 #faye's fòdlan journal

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