#i love how much he loves being a maine alum

[taxlikesmarsroverz]

REVIVED SHOW: OBJECT THING

I made it 2 years ago. I revived it because it's just sitting in a notebook that had nothing. This is kinda lore rant for my object show world

Host: VINNY (VINCENT) Vinny is a nightfall flower from the game Botany Manor, he had some sort of disease (that was extinct) and died in his mid 20s. He was a terrible person, in all honesty. He couldn't be sent to the regular afterlife, it'd affect it way too much. He was sent to a purgatory for him to wreck, but he didn't like being alone. He cursed ten random objects, whether they're already alive or don't exist yet, to come to this dimension when they die. He's constantly drooling and gagging, so he hides away and presents himself as a tentacle (he can summon those due to the disease/curse) and hosts as that.

Tulip: Tulip died in her late 40s, she was a loving mother to a son who ended up in a tragedy but lived. She treats the others like they're her precious little 5 year old kids, she does have a bit of dementia. She always says she'd bake everyone something if she could. She is from Mooncradle.

Raven: Raven is a magic staff. Raven was a Moonkeeper, A type of god for her culture. She came from a family frequently blessed with being born on a day when all the moons are in the same phase (how moonkeepers 'form'). She was part bird feral (she is actually a crow), she died when she was 3762. She died from exhaustion after flying for 21 hours straight. She doesn't really care about anything, doesn't know about her family past her grandchild, and will ignore you. She cares about 2 things, Luckie, her best friend, and how her singular bird wing looks.

Luckie: Luckie is a st Patrick's day cupcake topper. He died when he was 19. He committed suicide because he was having a major depressive episode. He's paranoid and clingy, but does his best to be cheerful. He's missing his letter L, he just says 'ucky' now. He wants to figure out what's happening in the world currently, instead of just this little dimension. He does not have arms

Flaggy: They're a three striped flag, with unknown origins. No one knows much about them other than they're a freak and a nervous wreck. They look to be about 23, but Objects don't show many extra aging signs until they're in their 50s. They do not have arms.

Erasy: She's determined and most definitely a tomboy. She got hit by a car when she was 16. She hopes someone she knows can respawn her, but that won't happen due to her curse. She prefers to be independent and talks fondly About her old friends. She only really knows Mac. She wears a bandaid she doesn't need.

Alum (Aluminum): Despite his name, he is actually a thesaurus that's pages and cover are old and faded. He is mentally ill and constantly happy, even when a situation really shouldn't invoke joy. He's social, most of the time you can't help but smile when you're around him. His best friend is May. His age is unknown, even HE doesn't know. He died from an overdose.

May: She is a calender. She died when we was 34, she was unfortunately murdered by her partner when she was alive. She's an optimist and almost always happy because she's around Alum. Mac considers her strange. May has some sharp little bat fangs. She may or may not have a crush on Tulip.

Stressball: She's my old retired Objectsona, and has found her new purpose in Object Thing. She's quiet and is a Fox feral, she wears two teal bows on her fox ears. She has a poofy fox tail and paws. She is addicted to string cheese. She died on her 37th birthday due to heart failure.

Mac: The main character, in all honesty. They're a college textbook on biology. They wear a graduation cap they got in high school, they never wanted to cling to family relationships, but they did. They died during their driving test due to a drunk driver crashing into them. One of their pages is ripped, and they're quiet. They're scared of the host (and Raven). They want to go back. They were the most recent and last arrival Vinny has planned so far. Their fate was sealed the second they got in the car.

[clueless-fan-critic]

Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur: Now That’s Moon Girl Magic!!!

 One 

In my opinion, Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur is one of the best new Disney shows in the 2020s and I’ll calmly make an argument for anyone who thinks otherwise. It has popping color, even poppier music, excellent characters, and strong storytelling all wrapped up in this fun, groundbreaking Disney show. With Season 2 coming out, I thought it was time to share what I got to say about its revolutionary ways and how it may even set the bar for future Marvel projects and even MCU ideas.

The Characters

Lunella Lafayette, played by former X-Factor contestant Diamond White, is one of the most bombastic but relatable super-genius black girls at the time I write this. I love how her intelligence isn’t just her sole personality trait as she’s confident, sassy, and optimistic. Lunella is still a young teen who worries about fitting in, cares about her family, and tries to be the best person she can be.

I liked that they don’t make her into a bullied nerd like Peter Parker, which would contradict the whole message about protecting her community. She’s still pretty social around her fellow students but doesn’t have that social finesse which makes her have a lot of friends.

She’s a flawed character: she’s over-competitive and obsessed to the point of disregarding her work and other people. She does overcome and learn from those issues in order to become a better person in the end.

Devil Dinosaur is more than a pet sidekick meant to be cute or the comic-relief. He does get his time to shine from his insecurities of being too big to a fear of jellyfish. With basically growls and snarls made by Fred Tatasciore, Devil conveys a huge range of emotion from joy to sadness to anger.

Casey Calderon is the best friend and manager of Lunella whose savvy with fashion and social media. She’s pretty much what you expect from the girl who’s into social media as exuberant and charismatic, but never shallow or vain. She genuinely wants to use her skills to help Lunella’s message spread. She’s the support to the superheroics of Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur in making the heroes more human in the eyes of the LES.

Many other characters have not only impacted the story but also the main cast itself with the Lafayette family and various members of the LES.

The Lafayettes have their times to shine in their own ways whether as shoulders for Lunella to get support from or voices of reason that plays into the lesson that she must face. Adria Lafayette acts as a strong moral compass for Lunella to follow like protecting the LES from gentrification. Both James Jr. and Pops aren’t as big as the Lafayette women, but they do get there times to shine throughout the show.

In the finales “O.M.G. Issue 1 and 2”, we get the reveal of Lunella’s grandmother Mimi, played by MCU alum Alfre Woodard, is the Original Moon Girl or O.M.G. who helped build the portal generator that Lunella rebuilt years later. It gives us a deep look into how the super-genius doesn’t fall far from the tree.

The Beyonder, voiced by the famous Laurence Fishburne, is a fun and interesting character that acts more of a reality warping nuisance to Lunella than an actual villain. Combined with Fishburne’s comedic delivery and stylish  animation, the Beyonder is a hilarious trickster learning about humanity the best way he knows: messing with superheroes.

The Villains do create a dynamic with Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur by creating various conflicts both externally, internally, even symbolically. The first villain of the show Aftershock was an electrical villain who literally stole power from the LES, putting businesses at risk of closing, which can be interpreted as someone taking away others’ autonomy from their homes. Another set of villains were the Muzzlers, basically high-powered tech giants wanting to gentrify the LES and take away anything unique from the people. They even “silenced” the people with their tech and rendered them voiceless, but the people prevailed together.

The show not only showcases obscure Marvel characters in new, refreshing ways, but also creates their own stellar ones that put together what it can showcase.

The Animation Style

The most eye-popping way it stands out is the animation. The colors and style beautifully blends with the music. Every time a fight scene happens, the colors become much more vibrant with heart-pumping music from various artists. You can really tell that the animators put a lot of love and passion into making something both familiar but also standout with its fight scenes.

One of my favorite scenes is in Episode 3 “Run the Rink” with Moon Girl fighting Gravitas to a Childish Gambino song. A Childish Gambino Song! You know that you got a hit when you get a hit song from a famous rapper.

All the musical scenes play into the story in an entertaining way while fueling the animation on a higher level.

The Stories

Almost every story plays into Lunella’s development throughout the first season from self-love and self-acceptance to fighting for one’s community. One of my favorite episodes is “Hair Today Gone Tomorrow” that perfectly addresses various issues about one’s hair. I think a lot of people, especially black women, can understand how we can get insecure about themselves. “O.M.G. Issue 1 and 2″ highlights how people of color, especially those in STEM fields, were essentially erased from the work they did and all credit was taken from them by the higher-ups. The main villain of the finales Maris Morlak is both a terrifying and relatable person whose motivations are sympathetic in how his work was taken from him and was erased.

What’s Next For Moon Girl?

With Season 2 coming out of woodworks, I’m hoping to see more adventures, heart, and fly music that elevates Moon Girl to a different level and even set more bars in terms of storytelling and animation for both Marvel projects and even the MCU itself.

[the-elderly-are-evolving]

gay twilight princess character headcanons bc it pride month

look im sure someone else has done it but idc i have A Lot Of Feelings rn and they have 2 go somewhere so get on board or get off ma ass about it

Link:

u no him, u love him, he has like 3 pixels in this game and all of them r doing their best!

he's coming from a conservative little backwater (i say this as the unfortunate alum of a conservative little backwater myself-- sorry, but Ordon's main export is like. goats or w/ever, there's no way there aren't any trump supporters in that town), but i think once he travels around n gets 2 experience different things on his quests n shit he starts 2 unravel some of that internalized homophobia & becomes a great ally and, dare i say it, a little bi-curious

"but, gabe," i hear u say, "link is such a nonbinary icon, what about the transmasc & transfemme gender envy???" and 2 that i say mmmmm yea yea ik, but i don't think he sees it in himself yet, i think that comes later when he's got more adult confidence n shit. like i can see a 20's/30's link with long luscious braided hair wearing crop tops and mini skirts 2 show off his sick nasty battle scars while he picks ppl up at the bar

final verdict is bi and, later, genderqueer, although i think he's one of those ppl who doesn't really care about labels/ pronouns bc he is simply 2 busy sparkle emoij boots the house down slaying monsters hahahah get it im hilaris

Midna:

now that's a she/they if ever i've met one

one of those ppl whose gender presentation is mostly just looking like a scruffy & stinky goblin cretur 95% of the time except 4 that like. 2% of the time they actually make an effort and turn out****

def has a bro-code friendship w link where they both just don't talk about their feelings and instead r violent together love this little war criminal & her dog best friend

ur 1st instinct is lesbian, but look a little closer, and u will soon realize that this is simply a pansexual with a strong preference 4 women in their natural habitat

i think she is trying 2 b a responsible queer bc she knows link is unfamiliar w the community n she is trying 2 b a good ambassador between link n the gays uhhhhh unfortunately she is simply 2 busy trying 2 commit crimes & being like. a chronically online 20-year old or however old she's supposed 2 be & i think link comes away more confused than ever b4

****couple things here: a) ik that doesn't add up to 100%-- i am gay, what part of do not talk 2 me about numbers don't u understand b) ik midna was literally cursed 2 b an imp by zant, but it doesn't change anything in my mind and u can't convince me that she didn't just pull out her "true form" bullshit 2 try an seduce zelda at the end of the game c) no i have no personal experience with this gender presentation at all how dare you insinuate anything of the sort i have totally showered this week totally now shut up

Zelda:

Lesbian, no further questions ur honor

Furthermore, femme lesbian, often gets Assigned Straight On Sight & is very tired of getting hit on by straight men

One of those gays who wear wacky silly n fun statement earrings so other queer ppl know they're gay

We don't actually see her a lot in this game so there's not much 2 go off of with her characterization... this zelda has had a lot of pressure put on her what with being the sole leader of her people in this time of extreme stress, & so i think she is very competent & composed & controlled, but out of necessity, which will prob lead her 2 rebel later in life & act out a little when the country is not at war & she gets to be more of a child again.... basically what im saying is twilight princess should've had a sequel n it should've started w zelda deciding she's punk now, shaving her head, and making link help her run away from home

EDIT: how did i not see this b4...... i have been a fool...... zelda is secretly an astrology gay. it's one of her guilty pleasures bc she knows it's prob not real n the planets prob aren't doing anything w ppl's personalities, but she can't help but b like oooh but wouldn't it b fun if the real reason zant was such a little bitch was just bc his pisces is in retrograde?

[echthr0s]

tagged by @softtidesworld

I have many OCs but since I was tagged by a Far Cry/Fallout mutual I will do... the main Far Cry/Fallout OC! and also his brother, for funsies.

＊✿❀○❀✿＊

name: Noah Marten Kingfisher

nickname: I don't think he has any, unless his sister has given him one that I don't yet know about

gender: inapplicable but most people regard him as male and he's fine with that reading

star sign: I haven't done natal charts for any OCs, unfortunately

height: somewhere in the vicinity of five feet, eight inches, I imagine

orientation: yes

nationality/ethnicity: USAmerican by citizenship, an African-diasporic mishmash by heritage

fave fruit: according to Preston, "cherry Nuka-Cola is NOT a fruit" 🙄🙄 but he is rather fond of berries (all kinds) and mango

fave season: autumn

fave flower: good question (he has a whole sunflower Theme going on but I don't know that that's actually his favourite flower! that motif is more about symbolism than actual preference)

fave scent: [orc voice] man flesh

coffee, tea or hc: cocoa all day

average hours of sleep: I... lmao man idk

dog or cat person: dog

dream trip: hmm

favorite fictional character: this is actually an excellent prompt but aside from knowing that Noah is a frequent comic book enjoyer I couldn't actually tell you what his favourite characters would be

number of blankets they sleep with: all of them

random fact: Noah is a CIT alum and would later (much, much later, lmao) return to that very same campus to eventually become Director of the Institute!

＊✿❀○❀✿＊

name: Gabriel

nickname: you don't give Gabriel nicknames. you just don't. he does take an epithet quite gracefully, though. "the Revelator" is a particular one that gets its fair share of hushed whispers throughout the Wasteland

gender: inapplicable but most people regard him as male and he's fine with that reading

star sign: [see above]

height: *waves hand around the "five feet, four inches" area*

orientation: aroace, we surmise. but we think this is mainly a result of severe trauma as opposed to being a neutral lack of attraction

nationality/ethnicity: I imagine nations don't really exist in the same way post-war, so I couldn't tell you. he's simply a Wanderer. I'm also not sure how to square ethnicity in a setting like that. he's Black, though. regardless.

fave fruit: [Ulysses voice: ''Dandy Boy Apples are NOT fruit. they are a mockery, a--"] [*immediately mutes ED-E*] dandy boy apples :)

fave season: it's all the same to him

fave flower: I think if given the space to really consider it, he'd like dandelions

fave scent: if the entire Mad Max franchise had a smell, that'd be it. Gabriel probably should have been a Mad Max character, honestly. he'd say so, at least

coffee, tea or hc: black coffee enjoyer

average hours of sleep: Gabriel doesn't sleep, he dreams /truedetective

dog or cat person: no

dream trip: anywhere off this blasted rock

favorite fictional character: *puts a pin in this one*

number of blankets they sleep with: also all of them. but it's because Ulysses has piled all of them on top of him

random fact: you wouldn't think so, but Gabriel got on like gangbusters with the kids from Little Lamplight. they fucking love him

[ofhexes]

woah , i think i just saw SIRIUS BLACK ! there’s been so much happening lately that i totally forgot about the PUREBLOOD but i am glad to see HE/HIM still around . they always had wanted to be A BAR OWNER , i wonder how that’s going. the last i heard about them was that they might be involved with ORDER OF THE PHOENIX , but i’m not sure how true that is. besides, they always seemed LOYAL and DETERMINED . although , now that i think about it they were also HOT HEADED and IMPULSIVE . still the GRYFFINDOR alum always reminded me of I KNOW WHAT I AM by BAND OF SKULLS and SITTING LOOK OUT INTO THE RAIN ON A COLD WINTER NIGHT, THE SMELL OF LEATHER AND CIGARETTES, A FORCED SMILE ON THE FACE OF SOMEONE TRYING TO CONCEAL A SHATTERED HEART AND BROKEN SPIRIT . i hope they haven’t changed too much !

full name: sirius orion black 

nickname(s): siri, padfoot

fc: deaken bluman

dob: 2nd november

age: 21

gender: male

sexuality: pansexual

house: gryffindor

blood status: pureblood

patronus: a black dog, the same as his animagus form

occupation: owner of a bar called ‘The Grim’ in London

side: the order

bio:

born on november 1st to orion and walburga black, sirius was privileged since birth. being the heir to one of the more respected pureblood families meant that there was a giant weight on his shoulders and he felt that from a very young age. ever since he could talk he was told how to act and what was respectable behaviour in his parent’s eyes. he never really got the chance to be a child. but he never really blamed his parents for that. he blamed the traditions that came with being a pureblood. he hated the coldness of it all. all he really craved for was affection, though he barely got any.

but he tried his best to stay out of trouble and keep himself in line. even as he sat at family events bored out his mind he knew better than to misbehave. it wasn’t worth his mother’s wrath or his fathers disapproving look. he was a fairly quiet kid. other than a few snarky remarks here and there he really didn’t give his parents a reason to believe he would be anything other than the perfect heir they were raising him to be.

it was exceptionally lonely, however. other than his brother and his cousins he didn’t have that many friends. and living at grimmauld place was extremely isolating. he couldn’t just go out and play with the nearby kids cause they were “filthy muggles” according to his mother. some might question why his family choose to live beside muggles if they were apparently beneath them but sirius never did. so he spent his time in the library reading and teaching himself spells.

growing up his father was the person he looked up to the most. he loved spending time with him. and his main goal when he was little was to hear his father say he was proud of him.

he never did.

having spent most of his younger years surrounded by pureblood that all had the same beliefs on purity as his parents sirius’s view on others was somewhat swayed by them. but, as he grew older, he started to question why exactly where they better than others? yes, their blood was more “pure” but he didn’t really understand why that made them any superior. he spent more of his free time reading and a lot of the books he read were by half-bloods or muggle-borns and they seemed just as intelligent as any pureblood he knew. it was confusing to him. but he made sure to never question it out loud.

sirius’ first day at hogwarts was both the best and worst day of his life.

it was the best day because he met three people that would soon mean the world to him: james potter, remus lupin, and peter pettigrew. all three of them would play an important part in how sirius became who he ultimately was supposed to be. they taught him there was more to life than pureblood galas and acting like the respectable pureblood male who’s only job in life is to make sure he carries on the family name. they taught him to have fun, they brought out his mischievous side and brought him out of his shell. some might argue that sirius becoming more confident is a bad thing. but sirius wouldn’t change it for the world.

it was the worst day because he got sorted into gryffindor.  

he knew from the second the hat shouted out gryffindor that he was in trouble. he couldn’t remember a member of his family that wasn’t in slytherin and so he had made his way to the lion’s table with trembling hands. he had hoped he would have at least some time to deal with the sorting on his own. but the very next morning he had a letter from his mother saying how this must be a mistake. that he doesn’t belong in gryffindor and that they would sort it. but, deep down he knew he did belong there. deep down he knew he wouldn’t fit in with the other slytherin’s, he just didn’t want to admit it. and so he had ignored the letter and when mcgonogal had spoken to him about it the next day he told her everything was fine and he was happy being in gryffindor.

he sometimes regretted that decision even to this day.

something seemed to change in sirius’s mind the longer he was at hogwarts. the more time he spent with other wizard and witches from different backgrounds the more he realised that his families views were ridiculous. and with the war brewing, he knew he’d have an important choice on his hands. he’d have to choose between the friends he has made and the family that could destroy him if he left.

the choice came the summer before the start of his sixth year. his parents had finally had enough of his antics and sat him down to tell him they had decided he was to join the death eaters and finally make them proud. he was told that voldemort would be happy to have the black heir on his side and that he would be joining the war on his side. for the first time in his life, sirius was terrified. and he didn’t even think before he left in the middle of the night with just a bag of clothes and the money he had hidden in his room. he ran away in the night without a single world to anyone.

he never wanted to leave his family behind. especially not his brother. but he didn’t have a choice. he couldn’t be who they wanted him to be. he couldn’t follow down the path they had taken. he loved them but that just wasn’t enough. the war was wrong. and he could never stand on the side that harmed others just for existing. even if it broke a part of him to leave.

he never told anyone exactly why he had run away. though he had told his friends enough about his parents, and family in general, that he allowed them to come to their own conclusions and he doesn’t deny anything. but even though he felt resentment for those he was meant to call family and how he was treated in the end he couldn’t bring himself to tell anyone the truth. that betrayal was too much for him. and he didn’t want anyone knowing that his family were so lost in the wrong side they had officially joined the dark lords fight. he still had enough family pride to not let anyone go into azkaban just for his spite. he loved them too much to see them suffer. maybe he shouldn’t. but he couldn’t turn off that side of him.

part of him resented the war the most for driving him apart from his family.

his main goal now is to just move past everything and get on with his own life for the first time ever. he wants to fight for those that deserve a place in this world. he wants to prove that he is more than just his last name. so he used the money that his uncle alphard had left him after his passing to open up his own bar and create a space where everyone was welcome. he didn’t care if who walked through that door was a pureblood or a muggleborn, as long as they behaved and wanted a drink they were welcome. and it was a job much better suited to him than a ministry job would ever have been.

some wanted connections:

friends - other than the marauders obvs

sibling-like relationships

family friend - could still be on good terms or they could have heard of sirius’ disowning and turn their backs on him too

unlikely friendship - could be that they have been friends since they were little and even though they are polar opposites they just get on so well that they can’t not be friends

family members that don’t hate him are always a win

enemy - they have never gotten along and they will never get along and both are okay with this

frenemy - they hate each other but they are also kinda cool and if they hung out that would be awesome????

anything angsty tbh

[flowbros]

Devin Shore supports the #CrushCancer movement by purchasing a “comfy beach lounge tube”

More info at bluutide.com

[thetimesewers]

Proof that the Professor is Possessed

Kicking things off not even a minute into the episode, the box now has chains. I have no idea what could be inside, but it’s clearly important to “the Professor”. He’s still very protective of it.

The Professor says that he got his master’s at Charles University in Prague, even though he states (very proudly) in a previous episode that he’s a PU alum. I don’t think this is majorly important, but it’s just something I picked out. I also wanna know what the master’s was actually in.

Also, he just agrees to Ryan’s slander when he calls him a douchebag. Not solid evidence of this not being the Professor, but the real Professor would never allow this insult.

The ‘example window’ is a new thing, and it’s probably just a one-off for the episode (since it’s about windows), but I definitely have a feeling someone’s gonna get yeeted out the window by the end of the season (hopefully the fake Professor). Also, I’m pretty sure whoever this is has definitely thrown someone out a window before.

“Not that I’ve, well, successfully murdered somebody.” Ryan… Also, the crickets after he says that 😂.

I love the shirts that the Hussites have. “HUSSITES FOR LIFE”, “WE ❤️ JAN”, and, my personal favourite, “RIP OUR CRISPY KING.” I really want one of those T-shirts.

He did the same thing that he did last week with the “not everything on this stage is as it seems”. “Thank goodness no one here has to beware of false prophets in sheep’s clothing, right? We’re all exactly as we seem.” He’s pretty much giving himself up, and I feel like it’s pretty obvious that Ryan’s gonna have to catch on at some point if he keeps doing this every week.

Drawing the attention back to the example window again, I feel like it’s gonna be important for some reason at some point. I just don’t know why or how.

I like how the sponsor was the horse’s wife. Also, the horse is now the first main puppet to have a name. I do find it strange how Dorothy is still alive, when, a) God said that she was (most likely) dead, and b) I thought all the puppets were supposed to be dead. I mean, I know she wasn’t at the party, but it’s just confusing to me. I’m probably looking way too much into this honestly.

I love the signs that all the people are holding up, and how there’s references to previous episodes. “It’s high time this stopped!” (the Black Death episode), “Someone should invent more comfortable shoes!” (I think that’s a reference to the Dancing Plague episode), “The Pope’s a Dope!” and, of course, “HUSSITES: STILL MAD.” Oh, plus “(EQUALLY ATTRACTIVE NON-CATHOLIC BELIEFS)

Love Ryan laughing at penal 😂. Honestly, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think it was a funny word too.

I like the detail they put into the example window, like making the tree move and everything. I think that’s amazing, and I appreciate the extra effort put into it.

He’s doing the B-boys bit again, but this time he’s added bees.

HE DIDN’T DO THE C DOGS BIT. Honestly, this on its own is enough proof that that isn’t the Professor. I remember having to pause the episode on my first watch because I was so shocked that he didn’t even notice.

The song is AMAZING. I definitely prefer it to last week’s 😂 a lot less disturbing. And obviously the Professor’s set up. Obviously I can’t make out everything on the desk, but I can see a Coveted Cup and a bottle of Puppet Lotion. Also I did not expect the algorithm to be an actual real thing, I thought it was just something the Professor made up. Which means he probably actually didn’t want Ryan to lose every time. The little glitch that he has when BDG is declared the winner. I do wish that they didn’t interrupt the song though, it was such a bop 😂. Also, Ryan knows the Professor is up to something, so I wonder what he’s gonna do.

Ryan lost the auction for the Genie lamp. I wonder what that means, and if he’s gonna have to find a way to get it back. The nervous laughter when he denies being in the studio means that that glowing-eyes plush was definitely him. His voice did the thing again as well when he shouted “RATS!” After rewatching some clips and episodes, I realised that it’s very similar to the Devil’s voice, which means he could be behind this whole thing.

The cinematography in this scene, with the Professor looking out the window, is so good. Plus, the Professor hatching out of the egg, confirms that this is most definitely not the Professor, which leaves the most probable conclusion to be that this is a hologram, and that the Devil (and maybe the Genie) is behind this.

That’s pretty much all I picked up, but one thing I also want to mention is the fact that at the end of the episode, you can hear the part from the Book’s song about the dinosaur (“or ‘bout how long it’d take a crusty old Tyrannosaur to digest your learned body whole”), which I thought was a pretty fun little detail.

I decided to include the tally in the same post this time (even though it’s not necessary because we literally see who won - or, who was supposed to win):

Ryan: II

Brian: III

[flightfoot]

The early miraculous fandom (and in turn the show) was a *widely* different place. Love square was the main (and really the only significant) ship, salt wasn't really a thing and the salt creators of today actually loved the show, and fan content just seemed higher quality? You can routinely see massive dubbing projects, more animations, roleplays, etc. Perhaps I'm viewing everything through a nostalgic lens but the "vibe" of the fandom was widely different!

Not to mention how interesting the fandoms ideas were, but of course that's natural for any early fandom. You get the whole who is hawkmoth theory, people analyzing of where the alums flies out, facial structures etc. Gabriel was sometimes speculated to be just a mean father, possibly Joining the heros team with the peacock miraculous if he ever found out. True selves was stronger from what I remember but still contested. Volpina was sometimes apart of the heros too.

Though to be honest, I wasn't as active in the fandom as today so there's likely a lot of information im missing.

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

Yeah this is the impression I got just from looking at fanfics pre-Chameleon. I'm not too bothered by the ships branching out - I love Love Square, but there are a lot of awesome characters and interesting ships, so it's good to look at others as well! I especially love ones involving Alya and Nino, though to be fair, they were thrown in a lot in Season 1 fanfics.

I dunno about fan content being higher quality necessarily? But I only really read fanfics. I haven't gone looking for animations much, and roleplays aren't my thing.

I am sad that a lot of the old S1 creators delved into the salt and never came back up, I've read some great stuff from back then, and then checked the AO3 pages to find just mountains of demonizing Alya, Adrien, the class, etc so Marinette and her new posse can lord over them.

Yeah from what I heard, people knew Volpina existed and that there was going to be a fox miraculous user, which led to a lot of fics where Alya was the fox, but called herself "Volpina" instead of "Rena Rouge".

Heard about the Hawkmoth theories too! From what I've heard, Gabriel was the prime suspect, but Alix's father was also on that list. Which seems funny nowadays since he's barely appeared. Kinda makes me wonder what Volpina, with the revelation that Gabriel had a secret vault with a book full of pictures of Miraculous wielders, did to the fandom, how sure people were of the theory after that. I'm sure some people tried to disprove it by pointing to Simon Says, with how Gabriel put himself in danger and how he would've needed to transform and detransform repeatedly to pull it off, but then again... well... Gabriel was rather fixated on Chat Noir's ring in that episode, and when Hawkmoth found out that Simon Says wanted to storm the Agreste Mansion he found the idea "interesting", so there was some good fuel for proponents of the theory as well!

And yeah, True Selves was strong in S1 fics, and I can see why. Most of the episodes that took sledgehammers to the idea, like Desperada and Oblivio, aired during season 3. Season 1 mostly established the characters and setting, it didn't explore them in much depth.

[shesawriter39049]

|UNWRAP ME| M|

Pairing : Jimin X Reader (Ft a lil Tae)

“There’s a bow on my panties because my ass is a present!”

About- Honestly, you were just trying to prep gift bags for your company’s holiday party! But Jimins stressed, and needs a little brain reset sooo….I guess we’re prepping gift bags later!

Or- The company has quite a few deadlines to hit before you guys close for the holiday! Jimin’s in charge of talent and everybody’s fucking up…but in your line of work it’s a domino affect! So if his crew falls behind ultimately everybody’s behind! Hints Jimin’s stress and frustration....

WC: Sneak peek (1k)

WARNINGS: (FULL THING): Teasing, light edging, dirty talk, top/bottom OC, top/power bottom Jimin, hand restraints, unprotected sex, over stimulation, fingering (F receiving), biting/marking kink, VERY light degration kink (he playfully calls her a “little bitch/slut” once) light come play, light spanking

FINAL NOTE: This is a stand alone smut drabble within my OT7 poly universe called “7 DEEP”. Short AU SUMMARY: Your husband Namjoon and yourself run a successful Adult Film Entertainment Company called “Onyx” with your 5 best friends from college who you also happen to be in an open relationship with! P.S. If you’re new here Kookie joins the party a little later….

*Pierced Jimin/Red haired “Dope” Era Jimin meets 2020 Jimin!?

*Also it should go without being said but Jimin, IS Westernized, he’s from LA in this ffs!

*In true Rocki fashion I decided to do holidy prompts late af & did not finish in time for the main Holiday but w/e! Note, there is some backstory here bc this was set to be the 1st of 3 holiday prompts!** ___________________________________________________

Sunday, December 14TH, 4PM 

“Alright, so you wanna hear some bullshit?!”

K, well that’s apparently Jimin, musing around a mouth full of fries! I love how no one even bothers to knock, give notice they just show the fuck up! Whenever...

Cute.

I swear it sounds like your running a damn liquor store because there’s an obnoxious amount of bells and mistletoe hanging above the door almost acting as a doorbell at this point. Just casually Fa-la-laing together, echoing throughout your entire apartment every damn time the door opens! Honestly, your slowly regretting giving Jin and Tae free reign with decorations because that shits annoying as all hell!

Gaze still focused on your original task, not even looking in his direction “Don’t trip over the-“ There's a loud thud, followed by an obscene groan, accompanied by an even louder “Fuckkk!” Which solidified he did in fact trip over the ....

“....Box with Jin’s other Christmas tree in it ...” The words kinda died off your tongue at this point because well, clearly the warning did not fare well! “If anything’s broken I’m totally snitching just so we’re clear” Sassing over a half empty glass of spiked eggnog.

Now that you’ve finally looked at him, you find yourself hiding a smirk behind your cocktail as well! The boy is fine, you’d give him that! Looking like a model off duty, in his low cut white v, neck hidden beneath a distressed leather jacket! Topping off the look with a pair of chunky combats and disrespectfully tight dark wash denim jeans! I swear they damn near looked painted on, aviators resting on the bridge of his nose! Gucci backpack slung over his shoulder, Starbucks in one hand, and some brown bag full of grease in the other! Jimin recently went back red, looking dangerously close to the same 18 year old you met, at UCLA almost years ago now!  Just a boujier version, it’s like this Jimin’s from Calabasas instead of the Bay! Though your down for both options if we’re being real!

Not that Jimin’s not equally as good of company as well, you were honestly just expecting Tae! The two of you were starting to put together the gift bags for next week's holiday party! Hints the hot ass mess all over the floor of your living room, it’s a disgusting pile of shopping bags and boxes! Everything from Amazon to Saks Fifth, at this point you aren’t even sure where the fuck your floor starts or ends! One thing you do know for damn sure is Hobi’s going to have an aneurysm If he sees it! Sooo, hopefully Tae shows up sooner than later...

It’s become a tradition, or at least since the companies been profitable enough to do so! First off, you’re love language has always been a combination of “Gifts” and “Acts of service, so shit like this is essentially second nature!

However, quality time has slowly slipped its way into the mix over the past couple of years as well! Especially considering it’s almost a luxury for the seven of you at this point but you try not to complain! I mean Namjoon and yourself just did an interview last week for Forbes 30 under 30 for fucks sake! But anyway, like I was originally saying this little party is your way of trying to give your staff a combination of all 3 said love languages!

Above everything else you all work your asses off well, aware this is far from a 9-5, yet they give you their best constantly! Yeah, it was built on the backs of you and your boys but it wouldn’t be were it is now without everyone else! So, with that being said the schedule is as follows! 

1.Bust ass and hit all of your year end deadlines by December 22nd. 

2.The holiday party is on the 23rd...

3. Thennnnnn....after that the companies closed until the 2nd of January! 

Well kinda, if we’re being real the 7 of you never fully stop working, but you damn sure plan to try! I guess it’s the beauty and the curse of having damn near everything accessible on your phone! I swear this morning Joon was washing your back whilst you read him the latest profit/loss update from Jin soooo......that’s that!

Everyone else however....off duty with pay!

Which brings us back to the original task at hand before Jimin showed up,prepping the gift bags that get handed out at said holiday party! The invite list is pretty exclusive honestly,outside of your staff, and there plus one, the other guests are typically the immediate crew/ talent used throughout the year on various productions! Oh, there’s also special little packages mailed out to a couple of the company's sponsors as well! So all together were looking at at least 100 gift bags give or take! Of course at this stage you guys go all out but that’s not what it’s about! It’s legitimately the thought that counts!

Little gestures like this just remind people that you care,that they’re on your mind even if they aren’t currently doing you a favor! That’s what sets Onyx apart, all the little things you do without even thinking about it! Coffee, donuts, catering on set for long shoots,or even the little kits Jimin brings with him to set for the models! Fully stocked with soothing cream, heating pads, the full nine! It’s actually sad how much of a rarity it is in your line of work! 

Obviously, it goes without saying that those types of gestures aren’t feasible for everyone....However there’s companies worth more than you that do amples less!

But anyway back to Jimin and Tae! As I mentioned when the door originally opened you were expecting a mop of silver locks as opposed to red! Baby boy ran out to pick up the custom gift bags from this Indie vendor in WeHo. Hint’s why you were expecting Tae instead, now, why Jimins here I have no damn idea! Clearly we’re about to find out and apparently it’s “Some Bullshit!”

Honestly outside of checking his OOTD you didn't truly look at him. Far too busy propped on top of your oversized dining room table sorting through a manusery of  “Thank you” cards!

Eyes flicking to the left ever so slightly as you hear him shuffle closer “I-yeah sure what bullsh-wait are you eating my DoorDash?!”

It’s the way you constantly have to remind yourself that jail will not be like Orange is in the new black! Because I swear you damn near chucked this martini glass at that fire engine red dome of his!

Jimin just shrugs, a little nonchalant and unenthusiastic, almost as if he’s inconvenienced actually...

“Mmm, depends on perspective” He deadass just stuffed two more fires in his mouth! You're literally going to strangle him! It’s borderline painful how hard  your jaw tick, eyes narrowed in his direction!

Brows arched so damn high your gonna end up needing Botox from the permanent crease embedding within your skin. “Perspect-your literally eating-“

Holding a solitary finger in your direction “Tae just text me and said look at your phone and text him back...with like, a million pouty faces. Also, different note, who changed the decorations I placed on the mantle?! “

Jimin’s hand is now resting on his hip, legitimately angry about these damn decorations! I think his neck even did a couple rolls in the process, and I’m willing to bet,before he leaves they will be swapped out again!

A frustrated groan attempts to leave your throat  though it goes unacknowledged as your lacking any ounce or bite! Far too fond of both of your boys to truly be agitated at the moment! Actually that’s a lie, you high key wanna punch Jimin but it’s fine ....

“That, would be Jin, he said they clashed with the table decor” Pointing to all of the gold, and maroon colored decorations donning the marble coffee table “So, if your pissed go curse him out because I could give less than a damn! Now where the fuck is my phoneeee”

Hopping off the table causing your oversized UCLA Alum hoodie to hike over your ass. Said ass is covered or barely covered considering your cheeky, red, ruffle little panties are in fact assless! A cute little bow perched right on top of your tailbone, as if to direct the eye where to go….

Jimin is now choking on stolen fires and yeah there’s a smirk on your face as you grab your phone!

Mmmmhmmmm...and to think, maybe if he wasn’t being such a brat you’d let him unwrap one of his gifts a little early!

“Baby now he’s calling meeee” Anddddd he’s whining, wiggling his phone like it’s on fire! Ya know, moments like these in fact remind you that Tae and Jimin are the youngest!

“Oh for fucks sake!” Huffing in his direction snatching the phone and bag of Five Guys away in the process!

“Yes baby?” It’s actually terrifying how quickly your tone, and entire demeanor just switched! Somewhat reminiscent to how you’d see a mom scold one child then baby talk another all in the same breath! 

Jimin without a doubt noticed too, lip jutting out in a pout and no matter how many times you roll your eyes you still find yourself leaning forward kissing it right off! He moans into it and you Instantly taste the tangy seasoning from your fries, especially once he tries to swipe his tongue past the seam of your lips. The feeling of that tiny piece of metal playing in his mouth almost distracted you, but alas...the notion immediately reminds you why you were irked to begin with! Without even thinking you lean back into nipping at his bottom lip, though...this is Jimin we’re dealing with here! So whatever you thought you’d achieve is now dead, because a needy little whine just rustled in the back of his throat 

Speaking of love languages,there’s another called “Physical Touch” which has the words Jimin Park written all over it. So with that being said you really should’ve already been prepared for whatever’s about to unfold.

It’s subconscious at this point, head dropping down to the crook of your neck, nosing up a vein like a neglected puppy! Squeezing your waist hard enough to damn near engrave his thumb print in against your hip bones! Well, clearly he doesn’t want you going anywhere anytime soon!   

So what do you do instead? Place the bag of food on the bar, hold the phone in one hand and bring the other up to play in his freshly dyed locks! I swear this man is a second away from purring so maybe he’s not a puppy after all. Suddenly his ring clanned fingers trickle down your spine heading south, flexing his palm to squeeze down around the swell of your ass! Shifting you forward so your chest to chest...

So, here you are trying to cater to both of your boys at once...lord help you!

“No, of course I wasn’t ignoring you, I was just busy-yes Tae. You wanna put what in a what,Now?”

~~~~~

Hiii, as I mentioned above this was kinda last minute, I wrote out prompts on the 21st, then adult life kicked in. I actually had my own little office Christmas party to plan (Nothing on this scale obviously because well, we know the way the real world is rn) However because of that I couldn’t truly work on this until the 24th. However it’s been a long time since I wrote/wanted to write so I opted to just post it anyway! Hopefully the full thing will be up by the 28th at the latest.

I have also attached the overall masterlist for this AU!

7 DEEP 

[suchalonelysunflower]

Entangled Part II (c.h) (h.s)

Pairing: Calum Hood X Reader / Harry Styles X Reader 

Requested: Yes! 

Summary: After months on tour, the boys finally make a move. But you are too caught up to even notice it. Let the triangle begin! 

Warnings: Love Triangle! Pinning, unrequited love, language, angsty with a little fluff, mentions of alcohol and some grammatical error (English is not my first language, I’m sorry)

Word Count: 8 K 

Author’s note: Part 2 is finally here! Thank you so much for all your support, it really means the world to me. Reblogs, comments and feedback are always welcome, I love to hear from you guys and if you have any questions about the series, please don’t doubt to reach me 💕 You can read my other works for Harry and 5SOS HERE.  Hope you like it and happy reading 🦋✨

Part 1

Part 2: Dates and other names 

“Calum stop that right now!” You said sternly while glaring at him. The boy, however, raised his eyebrows defiantly.

“Make me” 

“Oooh” You heard Michael say, teasing at the probability of a conflict while he sipped his beverage with a metal straw, sitting in front of the vanity. But you paid no mind to it, not when Calum was at risk of doing something incredibly stupid.

“Calum Thomas Hood” You threatened, knowing that everyone has a reaction to their full names being called with such a tone, Calum was no exception “Put down the brush and leave your hair alone before I grab a razor and shave your entire head” 

Calum just kept staring at you, still standing on the couch where you couldn’t possibly grab a hold of him or the brush that was dripping with pink dye. He shot one of his charming smiles at you, shaking his head.

“You wouldn’t. You always tell me that you love my hair as it is” 

“I do. That’s why I don’t want it pink!”

“But Michael has pink hair! Why wouldn’t I?” He argued. 

“Let Michael deal with the consequences of too much bleach when he’s older” You heard Michael give you a whiny ‘heey’ “Sorry Mike, your hair is lovely as it is but it’s true that you need to take a break on all of these dyes before you end up bald” 

Michael groaned an ‘okay, fine!’ Before turning all of his attention back to the interaction. You, on the other hand, turned to Calum with one of your ‘dont fuck with me’ face and placed one of your hands on your hips, extending the other so he could place the brush there. 

“Okay, I'll tell you what” he bargained “I’ll leave my hair alone if…” 

“If?”

“If you go to dinner with me after the concert” He smiled. 

You stared at him, lips slowly going upwards as a shy smile formed on your face. You lowered your gaze from his eyes, shaking your head as a small giggle came out of your lips. Calum, on the other hand, didn’t even flinch his eyes from you, his smile growing wider and wider while the teasing tone of the question still lingers on between the two of you… And Michael who was just as invested in this scene as anyone would be. 

“You seriously are crazy, Cal” You said “Of course we can go, are you kidding? It’ll be fun” 

Calum’s eyes gleam in delight at your words. His face at that moment could only be defined by comparing it to a child receiving their dream toy on Christmas morning. 

“Now, give me the brush before I change my mind” You threatened again, extending your hand to him. Calum jumped off the couch and compiled, handing you the dyed tainted brush as he walked past you to sit in his own chair and giving Michael a small fist bump while doing so. 

You walked over to the green eyed boy, finally being able to keep going with your work and the conversation started flowing once again. 

It was amazing, but at the same time not so hard to believe, how well you got along with all the guys. The end of the tour was close, but you didn’t want to focus on the sadness that brought you, instead you decided to enjoy every single moment of it. It was amazing how you found yourself creating a loving family among them and Lottie, who was always by your side calming your nerves the first few days. The way you find it so easy to talk to either one of the Australians or the 1D boys is something you didn’t expect, quickly creating emotional connections with each of them. 

For example, you always considered Louis like an older brother to you, always very protective and attentive. Who would’ve thought that Zayn fell under the same category? On the first few days they, along with Lottie, always made sure that you were taken care of as well as having fun and not overworked yourself as you normally would. But it was hard to even consider this a ´serious job´when you had nine young adults running around your little office. However, when it did get serious, you knew you could count on Ashton or Liam for an encouraging chat, always ready to listen and give you the best advice for any situation, creating a sense of trust you never really had with someone, especially someone you just met not too long ago.  

For quiet moments though, Michael was perfect. It didn’t seem like it at first, knowing that boy had a reputation for being extremely loud sometimes. But if someone understands the need of just staying silent and doing nothing for a few minutes, was him. Always inviting you to play some of his games or just sit around you, keeping you company or just relaxing after a tiresome day, Michael was your guy. On the other hand, Niall was the complete opposite. That Irish little shit never stayed quiet for long, bringing his guitar with him wherever he went and lifting your spirit anytime he caught you feeling a little off. He made you laugh the most along with Luke who was just as chaotic as he was but with a little more common sense. He was like a little brother to you, even though he was a feet and a half taller than you, and you always felt the need to protect him of any harm. If someone won the soft spot on your heart, it was Luke, without a doubt. 

And then there’s Calum and Harry, your boys. You would never admit this to anyone but they were your favorites. From day one they were nothing more than pure sweethearts. Yes, you did have your rocky start with both of them, nearly breaking one’s nose and the other one almost breaking you, but you wouldn’t have it any other way with them. The best moments on tour were the moments you shared with them, and they seem to agree on that. They always look for excuses to spend time with you, trying to get your focus completely on them and you find that funny, assuming it was their nature, but what you didn’t know is that they were both completely and utterly smitten by you. 

Harry and Calum both laid their eyes on you from the beginning, practically jumping at every chance they had to help you or hang out with you or just talk to you about anything. And the funny thing is that you were completely unaware of all this circus around you. Friendship was one thing, and you were very grateful for that, not even in your wildest dreams you thought you would’ve befriended all of these amazing guys, so the idea of something else was absolutely out of the question, that was just simply impossible. Only if you knew what you were getting yourself into… 

You were so unaware of these feelings that you didn’t notice how Calum’s smile didn’t leave his face for a second after he asked you, watching you work through Michael’s hair through the mirror. 

“So,” Michael said, while your fingers were entangled in his hair “Are we going to wait for the full concert to be over or just our set to go back to the hotel?”

Lately they found excuses to hang around backstage after their set, management wasn’t too happy about that decision, not wanting even more attention to the Aussie band than to the actual main act, but they managed to sneak around them, only staying backstage and not actually being able to see the concert.

 You, on the other hand, never missed a set, not only because you promised Harry and Calum that you’d be present in each one, but because you actually enjoyed the energy of the whole thing. You loved to jump around and dance to their songs, you already mastered the lyrics of every song on the set list and even created some kind of choreography with Lottie for each one. It didn’t matter to you that your feet hurt afterwards from the massive tiredness of the next few days, you were living your best life watching your boys perform and you would do that every single day of your life if you had to. 

“Oh, I’m staying the whole concert” You answered “Can’t miss see them on stage”

“Aw, c’mon Y/N” Said Calum, faking a whine “You can miss at least one concert” 

“Who is going to miss the concert?” Someone asked as they opened the door. 

Everyone turned their faces as they saw Lottie came in with Louis and Harry. You smiled at them while they took a seat in front of the vanity, Harry’s eyes shining when they met yours through the mirror, smiling almost at the same time when Calum lowered his gaze and started fidgeting with his thumbs. 

He didn’t know why, but he always got uncomfortable with the idea of Harry being around you and spending your time with him. Is not like he didn’t like the guy, on the contrary, they had a very good relationship, but the fact that you shared jokes, touches and moments with him made Calum feel uneasy. Same thing goes for Harry, he didn’t particularly enjoy how close you and the bassit were, but he wasn’t going to mention it, it would make him look like an asshole to you and to the Australian who he considered a friend. And you, as usual, were completely oblivious to it. 

“We were just asking Y/N if we are going to skip the concert so they could get ready for their date” Michael said, pointing his finger between you and Calum as your cheeks went red. 

Harry’s smile went away in an instant, snapping his head towards Louis who just stared at him blankly as he gave an apologetic smile to the curly haired man. 

“What..? Michael, is not a date.” You said in an awkward laugh “We are just hanging out, right Cal?” You asked, smiling at him, not noticing the surprise in his eyes. 

All eyes were on you again. Louis, Lottie and Michael gave you a confused look while Harry looked like he could breathe again. Calum, however, just blinked a couple times before lowering his gaze again, trying to hide the hurt in his eyes as he responded “Yeah.. it’s not a date”

An uncomfortable silence fell upon the group for a few seconds, no one really knowing what to say until Lottie was brave enough to break it by commenting on Michael’s new hair color that needed rincing, making the conversation flow easily among them, well, among everyone but Calum and Harry who stayed silent in their seats, having very different but similar thoughts. 

A few moments later you excused yourself to go towards the catering section, expressing your dire need for a snack before you pass out applying gel to the boys hair. Louis offered to go with you. 

As you were walking down the halls of the venue, he ventured “So… What made you accept the lad’s proposal?” 

“Calum’s? it was not a proposal” You rolled your eyes “It was more like a quid pro quo kinda thing. He threatened to dye his hair if I said no” You chuckled. 

Louis hummed “And you’re sure it’s not a date?” 

“This again?” 

It wasn’t the first time this conversation rolled around between the both of you. He had been teasing since that night of the party, where you found yourself with two drinks in your hand, one from Harry and the other from Calum. You spend the whole night talking to them, apologizing for the misunderstanding and thanking them for being such sweethearts. For you it was an innocent act of good manners, a nice gesture from the two boys. For Louis, that witnessed the whole thing, was more than that. 

He was convinced that they had a thing for you. He believed, no, he knew that they were completely head over heels for you and, he had to admit, it was pretty funny to see all the things they did to gain just a little bit of attention from you. 

“He is just friendly and so am I. We are just going to hang out, nothing more. It is not a date” You explained “We’ve had this conversation over and over again and it’s still the same answer, don’t you think that if he was making a move I would know?”

“Actually, no, love. You are completely blind and I would be very surprised indeed if you happen to notice that”

“What? Lou…”

“Didn’t you see the face Calum made when you said it wasn’t a date? Or Harry’s when Michael said it was? He was crushed” 

“I-“

Louis shook his head and sighed “Look, love. I know you don’t mean to, but you’re breaking those guys’ hearts”

“I’m not breaking anyone’s heart. How could I? They’re just my friends, they can’t like me like that”

“Why not?” 

“Because! Look at me, Louis” 

“I am looking, love! And I’ll I can see is a beautiful person, inside and out, with an enormous talent and even bigger heart. Anyone would be lucky to have you” Louis said, placing his arm around your shoulder and giving it a squeeze “And I just happen to know two lads that would kill to have that privilege” You rolled your eyes and he sighed again “Fine! Don’t believe me. But don’t say I didn’t warn ya” 

After grabbing a snack and a drink, you started to make your way back to your little room, but then you realized it was almost time for them to start the show so you decided to go wait by the side of the stage until the Australian band came out to the public. 

On your way there, your mind didn’t stop thinking for a minute about what Louis had said before. Was Calum upset that it wasn’t a date? Did he expect it to be? And why was Harry even a topic? Did he talk about you with Louis? They couldn’t have a crush on you… could they? 

Suddenly flashes of the past few months flew by in your head. How Calum’s eyes shined every time he heard you talk about hair related things because he knew you were very passionate about it, or how Harry always seemed to have some kind of trouble with his hair and needed your help, and only your help, to fix it because you were the only one who ‘understood his curls’ even though Lottie could’ve done a better job if he asked her. Calum put you in charge of recording his keeks and always made you feel welcome and comfortable around him and the guys, making you laugh uncontrollably with each shenanigan they pulled, or when every time Harry told a really bad joke he always looked at you first, almost like searching for your approval and smiling every time you did laugh, even if it was out of pity. How every night they were on stage they looked to the sides to find you dancing or singing along to their songs, making faces at you or copy your movements or give you reassuring smiles as they kept performing. They always seemed to know when you were feeling under the weather and they always went out of their way in order to make you feel better, going from making silly things on stage that night to just hold you and listening to you rant about what was bothering you, not even flinching at your touch but actually craving it. Every time you hug they don't pull away, in fact, they hold on. And you didn’t seem to mind at all. 

You love them both, truly and wholeheartedly. And you would be a fool if you didn’t think they’re very attractive and attentive and different and special in their own ways. At the beginning of the tour you could’ve easily fallen in love with one of them if they ever showed interest in you, but you were sure they didn’t and probably never will so, why bother to think like that as a possibility? It will only get your heart broken in the end. You were sure that if they liked you as more than a friend they would’ve said something by now. 

The thing was that they tried to tell you, countless times. But they were, in all honesty and innocence, idiots. So you had no clue on their true feelings. 

But you would be lying if you said that Louis didn’t plant the seed of doubt in your mind. 

“Hey, Y/N!” You heard a voice call you from the end of the hall. You lifted your gaze and smile when you saw Calum approaching, bass in hand ready to go out on stage. You lifted your finger and brought it to the side of your nose and he did the same. It became your own little secret ´handshake´ 

“Calum! Are you ready to go and kill it in front of a thousand screaming fans” You teased, resting the back of your hand on your forehead, mocking a faint. 

He laughed, shaking his head “I rather concentrate on the fan that keeps dancing along Amnesia like it’s not an acoustic song backstage”  

“Are you saying I’m distracting you?”

“You always distract me, sweetheart” He smirked “But I can’t say that I don’t like it”

You felt your cheeks get warm with his words. You must admit that Calum had a way with words, always tempting the line of cute remarks and downright flirting, creating a friendly banter between the both of you. Now you begin to wonder if they were ever friendly at all. 

“Well the job of a fan is to hype their favorite band while on stage, right?” You smiled. Calum’s eyes shined like glitter. 

“Are we really your favorites?” He asked. 

“Hey, I don’t go around creating bomb coreos for any band, you know?” You slightly punched him in the arm as you both chuckled.

Suddenly you became very aware of his proximity to you and you didn’t seem to mind one bit, in fact you were enjoying how close he was, noticing even the crinkles by his eyes every time he smiled.  “Hey, Cal. I’m sorry for earlier” You apologized, not really knowing how to approach the subject “I’m sorry if I made it awkward and-”

“What? No, no, no, no,” He said way too quickly, shaking his head rapidly “It wasn’t awkward” Calum said awkwardly. 

Your face visibly cringed “Yes it was! And I’m sorry, I didn’t know that-” 

“Hey, hey hey. It 's okay. If you say it’s not a date, then it’s not a date. We are just hanging out and that okay” Calum calmed you, rubbing his hand up and down your arm in a reassuring manner “It’s more than okay, actually. I really love spending time with you, Y/N” 

You looked into his eyes and you could see the honesty in them, you covered his hand with your and smiled “I really love spending time with you too, Cal” 

“CALOOUM” You heard someone yell from the side of the stage, not even a second after Ashton popped out his head from the wings “Get your ass over here, the concert’s abou to start you dipshit!... Hi, Y/N” 

“Hi, Ashton” You laughed. 

Calum rolled his eyes at his bandmate and took a step back from you “Well, duty calls. Someone has to woo the thousand screaming fans, right?” 

You nodded as you quickly cupped his left cheek on your hand to give it a small kiss “Go kill them, you dipshit” You chuckled. 

Calum did his best to try and hide the redness of his cheek, lifting his finger to the side of his nose as he walked away, turning around quickly to delicately press his palm to his cheek, still warm from that little kiss you just gave him and smiling like an absolute idiot. 

“Mate, you’re whipped” Luke teased when he saw Calum’s grin. 

“Shut up” 

It was after Calum had turned away that you realized what you just did. You mentally slapped yourself, it was no big deal, right? just a friendly kiss like you and Louis do all the time but, why did it feel so different?

In the midst of your internal debate, you decided to walk to the other side of the stage where you knew Lottie would be waiting for you, you also knew it was Calum’s side of the stage, but it had the best view you could ask for. So you made up your mind of sucking in the embarrassment of your careless and innocent action from earlier and started making your way. 

You enjoyed walking backstage, you knew every venue was different but the backstage rarely changes so it was easy to find your way around the messy halls full of people you now know and love. Every person you met along the way greeted you with a smile or a nod, they all respected your work and you respected theirs, all of you knew that this tour couldn't work without any of you. 

Tonight, however, there was a new face in the multitude of people. You catched her eye as you almost walked past her, but she stopped you by gently putting her hand round your shoulder.

“I’m sorry, dear” The woman said with a smile “But aren’t you Y/N L/N? The stylist?” 

The mysterious woman stood in front of you, her hand already gone from your shoulder, but she had your full attention now. She was wearing a black suit with a white button down to go along with some killer heels. Her black hair stopped right at the end of her neck, giving her a Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction vibe, elegant yet powerful. She was smiling at you like you were her next meal and it made you uncomfortable. 

“Yes, I am. Well, one half of the team,actually” You answered, nervously looking around for nothing in particular “Can I help you with anything, Miss..?” 

“Oh, how silly of me,” She laughed “I’m Mariah Slendge, I work for Jordan Coutier? You heard about them?” Of course you have! They were the most famous, most expensive, most stylish beauty company of all times! Led by the Jordan Coutier himself, the legend of legends when it came to hair and make up. A true inspiration for you and for many others. You nodded, trying not to freak out too much in front of one of his representatives “Well, we’ve heard about you too”

“‘Bout me?” You asked in disbelief. 

“Why, yes, darling. I’ve seen your work with the boys, very impressive”

“Oh, it’s nothing really-”

“And your Instagram?” She said, pulling out her phone and showing you your feed that was filled with different hairstyles you’ve made along the years and on the tour, showcasing your work on different types of hair and for a wide variety of people “You are very talented” 

“Thank you, but-”

“I have an offer for you” She stated, putting her phone back in her purse “Well, an almost offer, actually. I wanted to have your consent before I do anything” 

You stared at her, wide eyed as your mind was a blank space. What was happening right now? 

“Once this tour ends I want you to come work with us in New York as a paid intern for a few years. You would learn everything you need to know in order to succeed in this business and more. You’ll be working with the best professionals in the world and you’ll make really good connections in the industry, I can assure you that”

“Y-you want me to work with you?” You stuttered. 

“Only if that’s okay with you, darling. I haven’t said anything to the big boss yet because I needed your approval first but-”

“YES!” You yelled “Sorry! I’m so so sorry. I didn’t mean to do that but, yes. My answer is yes, I would love to” 

Mariah smiled like the cheshire cat “Wonderful! You’ll be hearing from me in a few days. Take care, darling” 

She blew you a kiss and waved as she walked away, leaving you in complete awe before you could even begin to thank her. 

You shook your head, waking up from your daze and practically ran towards Lottie, who was waiting for you at your usual spot from the side of the stage. 

“Where have you been?” She asked when she took on your breathless appearance “The boys are in the middle of the set already and-”

“I know! I know, I’m sorry but,” You said, panting as you tried to gain some composure “You would never believe what just happened” 

To say that Lottie was over the moon with the news you just brought to her was an understatement. She celebrated with you and congratulated you like you just won the lottery “Oh my god! I can’t believe it” 

“Well, it’s nothing sure yet, but-”

“But nothing! This is amazing and you completely deserve this, honey” She hugged you “I’m so proud of you” 

You melted into the hug, wondering how on Earth did you get so lucky, having a best friend like her was… Oh, it was more than you could ever ask for “One more thing,” You said, separating from her embrace “Don’t tell anyone. I don’t wanna jinx it”

“But Louis will be so happy and-”

“Lottie, please” You pleaded with your best puppy stare. She rolled her eyes and muttered a ‘fine’ before wrapping you into a hug once again. 

When she let you go, you focus all of your attention towards the stage. Your eyes met Calum’s as he was looking at the two of you with a quizzical look. You lifted your finger to your nose once again and brushed it off, he smiled and mouthed something like ‘You’ll tell me later’ making you laugh and shrug as you started dancing to their cover of Teenage Dream. 

Moments later, when their set ended, Calum came running towards you but you pushed him away “Uh uh, no touching until you get into a shower” 

“What about you, Lot?” He asked your friend with open arms, she just shook her head and started laughing “What? You can hug but I’m left all alone?” Calum pouted. 

“Take a shower and we’ll see, Hood” 

He mocked a salute and said “We’re still hanging out later, right?” 

“Of course!” 

“Great, can’t wait” 

Calum smirked and ran offstage. You stayed with Lottie, talking about your hypothetical plans for the future until it was time for One Direction to take the stage. 

The energy on the concerts was hard to ignore, every night you found yourself with goosebumps running up and down your skin every time you heard the guitar riff or when you felt the bass and the drums shake the floor, literally. Not to mention the vocals of every single one of them, it filled you with joy seeing them perform and give their absolute best to all of their fans, who loved them just as much as you did. 

You followed your usual routine with Lottie, dancing your specific choreographies to each song, but something was different tonight. 

Every time you glanced at the stage you found a pair of green eyes already staring at you. Harry smiled whenever your eyes met, but his gaze always seemed to lurk around you for a second too long before putting all of his attention on the crowd once again. 

When it was time for a break, Harry, as usual, took center stage and started interacting with the fans. 

“Okay. Here in One Direction we sing a lot about love” He said, making the crowd go absolutely ballistic “Now, who here came with a date? C’mon now, wanna see those hands up, who here is taken?” 

You laughed at how the fans started screaming unintelligible things at the boys, you saw how some brave ones started lifting their hands, showcasing their love in front of a full arena of people. 

“Aww that’s wha’ I wanted to see! And what ‘bout over there at the sides” He said, pointing to your side of the stage “‘nyone in the crew who might be on a date today?” 

He was asking the crew of the sides in general, some of them raising their hands in amusement, but Harry's gaze was locked on you and how you were giggling with Lottie about the whole ordeal. 

“I think he’s talking to you, love” The young Tomlinson whispered in your ear. 

You looked at Harry with your eyebrows furrowed, he returned the gesture by raising one of his own, asking you to answer him. You rolled your eyes and smiled while giving him the middle finger. His face visibly relaxed as he gave you one of his signature smirks and went back to amuse the crowd, who by now, were already losing their shit. 

“‘M very glad to know that” Harry claimed into the microphone “Love is love everybody so if you love someone you gotta tell ‘em” And while his eyes were fixed on the crowd, you managed to find Louis bold stare already setting on you, giving a knowing look that you tried your best to ignore “Let’s celebrate love, everyone! This song is called Little Things” 

As they settled around the stairs of the stage, you and Lottie started to sing and dance, not noticing how, every time he had a moment of silence, Harry would glance at your direction and smile a little bit to himself, hoping that you would look his way. And the universe seemed to listen, because when his last chorus was approaching, you turned your gaze to meet his. Harry smiled as he started singing, and, for the first time, he didn’t advert his eyes from you. 

You felt a warmness spread from your chest to your whole body as the curly haired man started his last verse, green eyes staring right back at yours as the words slipped through his mouth with such an ease and calm melody, you didn’t dare to look away. 

The feeling had no name, for what you could tell at least, but it was almost the same as the one you had when Calum was close to you earlier in the evening. It’s not uncomfortable, in fact, it’s totally the opposite. It’s almost like a calming breeze flowing through your entire body. Safe, noticed, warmth, shyness, love? You couldn’t figure it out. 

The trance ended just as the song did, you felt a little nudge on the side of your body and turned to see Lottie giving you a smirk. You were about to tell her off when you were interrupted once again by a known beat, the next song was already starting as Harry’s eyes concentrated on the crowd once again, only glancing at you a few more times the entire set. 

After the show ended, you and Lottie went backstage to celebrate with the boys. 

“That was amazing!” The girl said, giving her older brother a pat in the back, not wanting to get all sweating because of him. You joined the congratulations and started simple conversations about what happened tonight on stage. You were so invested in the story Liam was telling about how he thought he saw the clone of Justin Bieber watching the show, that you didn’t notice how close Harry was to you until he whispered in your ear.

“Did you lie, earlier?” He asked. 

You turned to face him, his face was unreadable, but his eyes had a glimpse of desperation in them, almost begging you for an answer he might like. “What are you talking about?” You responded, looking around, but no one seemed preoccupied with your little conversation.

“When I asked if anyone was on date”

“Mmh, and I recall I gave you the finger, didn’t I?” You smiled “Why did you think that was?” 

Harry smirked “It was a tad rude, actually” You rolled your eyes at him “So you’re not seeing anyone at the moment?” He pressed, even when he saw you shake your head “Not even an Aussie lad that’s traveling with us?” 

You sighed “No, I’m not dating Calum. We are just hanging out, as friends and nothing more. Just like I do with you, H” 

Harry tried to mask the sudden hurt expression that came upon him, is that all you thought of him? 

“And besides,” You continued “You can’t believe anything the Tomlinsons tell you, most times at least” 

He chuckled “That’s true, love. I just…” He sighed “I really care about you, Y/N” 

“I really care about you too, Harry” You said in all honesty. 

“No, but I mean-” 

“Hey, Y/N” Interrupted Lottie “Shouldn’t you be on your way to the hotel now?” 

You opened your eyes like plates and looked at the time on your phone “Oh shit” You grabbed your stuff as fast as you could and said goodbye to everyone as you ran through the exit to grab a taxi. 

Once you reached the hotel, you already saw Calum waiting in the lobby for you and suddenly you felt way underdressed when you saw him wearing a white shirt and some nice black pants to go with it.

Calum lifted his gaze from his phone and smiled when his eyes met yours. You gave him an apologetic smile as well as your secret code of putting your finger on the side of your nose while you walked up to him “I’m sorry I’m late, I got caught up in the concert and-” 

“Hey, I get it” He chuckled “I know what it’s like to be a fan and those guys give a whole damn spectacle of everything. I’m glad you came, though. So,” He said, clapping his hands “Ready to go?” You nodded and let him guide you through the streets of the city. 

You ended up in a little secluded sushi restaurant, not so far away from the hotel “The best sushi in town” Said Calum “Or at least that what they told me” 

The night was spent between laughter and deep talks. You got to know a side of Calum you never expect. The way that he talked about his family and how hard it was for him to leave them behind in Australia but how, at the same time, he was happy he did it because now he could live his dream with his best friends. He told you anecdotes of when he, Michael and Luke were in school and played all kinds of pranks to their music teacher and how he lived in Brazil for a few months before realizing his dream was music all along. 

He got to know you as well, how you grew up in a very strict family and how you were the ‘child-with-too-many-dreams-to-count’ how you met the Tomlinsons and how they became your real family in no time. He listened enthusiastically when you talked about when you first found out about your passion for styling someone when your first dance came around and you had to do all your classmates' hair and make up with the help of Lottie, creating a form of art that was so simple yet so special at the same time. 

He made you laugh as well, playing with the chopsticks that were mostly for decoration and pretending to be some weird animal, he was so invested in his act that he didn’t notice how much wasabi he had put on his sushi bite, having to excuse himself to go to the bathroom. 

You were wiping away your tears of laughter when you notice something, or rather someone, walking outside and entering the restaurant at that exact moment. 

“Harry?” 

The curly man turned around and faked a surprised face “Y/N? Hi, darling. What are you doing here?” 

“Me?” You laughed “What are you doing here? I thought that maybe you and the other would go to a club after the concert” 

Harry grabbed a chair and sat down next to you “The others did, but I was jus’ so tired tha’ I asked someone to recommend me a place to grab some take out” He chuckled “The food at the hotel is truly awful for a four and a half star restaurant” 

“Well, let me tell you. This salmon roll is just exquisite so you won’t be disappointed here” You said, not giving too much thought at his excuse. 

Calum got out of the bathroom soon after, he couldn’t see Harry just yet, but he could tell you were laughing at something. Once he got closer and noticed the british boy sitting next to you, making you laugh and give you the pretty eyes, he felt that uneasy feeling again, the one he always had whenever Harry was around you. He noticed how his jaw clenched and how his hand became a fist when he heard you laugh again, knowing it should’ve been him the one who should make you smile like that tonight. 

When you looked at him, however, the uneasiness went away as soon as it came. He walked over to your table and put on a surprise show at Harry’s sudden appearance. 

“Harry,” He said with a fake smile “What are you doing here?”

“Jus’ passing by, looking for something to eat and then I found Y/N here” Harry answered in a cool tone “What a coincidence, right?”

“Yeah, weird” Calum said, looking directly at the green eyes from across the table. 

An uncomfortable silence came upon them as they glared at each other. From any perspective it was easy to see that they were having a silent conversation with those looks. A conversation filled with questions, realizations and accusations as the two men finally acknowledge the feelings each one had towards you. And, just like any situation when a man feels threatened by another man's feelings, it meant war. 

However, they were not stupid. They knew they had to keep it civil for your and the tour’s sake, knowing it would not be fair for anyone to start fighting over you and especially when you seem to have no clue about what’s going on. So, with one look, a deal was sealed: You would have to choose eventually, and whatever you say goes, they were mature enough to respect your decision, but that doesn't mean they are not going to try to win your heart. 

“So,” Harry said after a while, faking modesty as he made a move to get out of the chair “I should better get going, I don’t want to interrupt whatever’s happening here” 

“Oh, you are not interrupting” You said, completely oblivious “Right, Cal?”

Calum looked at you, and he found it impossible to deny you anything at this moment, even if it mean having Harry joining your ‘not-date-date’ So he gave a fake smile to the curly haired man and said “Nope, not interrupting at all” 

Harry smiled with sufficiency and sat back down, officially joining you for the night. 

From your perspective, you were having a great night next to two of the people you love the most, having fun and joking around. Too busy enjoying their company to notice the passive aggressive attitude they excelled, silently competing to gain your attention. At one point in the evening, Harry started singing along the song that was playing on the restaurant’s speakers, telling you a story about the composition of that specific Fleetwood Mac song and you gladly listened. Calum then proceeded to woo you with some food related tricks, making you laugh at his failed attempt to try and put three California rolls in his mouth. 

The talks came to a neutral ground when you started mentioning the tour. They both loved to hear you talk about your experience so far and they even shared some stories and tips about it too. You shared anecdotes and your favorite moments, making your boys smile whenever they realized they shared most of those moments with you. They understood that, whatever happens, they were truly the lucky ones just by having you in their life. 

The evening went on and as it did, all of you started to feel more and more tired, given that you had to be on an airplane somewhere the next afternoon, so you decided to call it a night. Walking out of the restaurant, you made your way into the hotel again. Calum said his goodbye with a kiss on your cheek, making you blush and Harry clenched his jaw. He lifted a finger to his nose and disappeared into the other hall of the lobby where the elevator to his room was. You were about to do the same, already walking to the other elevator, but Harry had another idea.

“There’s an ice cream shop down the block” He said as he grabbed your hand to call for your attention “Wanna try it, Y/N?” 

“Oh yes! I would love to” You smiled at Harry“But, aren’t you tired? You perfomed a big show tonight and-”

“I could never get tired if you’re by my side, love” He grin and tugged on your hand, leading you once again into the streets. 

The ice cream shop was very small and it was horribly decorated with pink and purple cows. Their ice creams, however, were a delight. You sat down in a tall stool next to Harry, enjoying your scoop of rocky roads with chocolate syrup and sprinkles on top. Harry was staring at you, his smile never fading for a second. 

“What?” You asked when you felt his green eyes on you “Do I have something in my face?” You brought your napkin to your face, but Harry just shook his head.

“You’re just too cute,” He said, smiling again.

“‘m not” 

“You are” He countered “Knew that from the moment I met you”

“You mean when you knocked me to the ground and almost broke my bum?” You teased, raising an eyebrow at him. 

“Exactly,” He said, unfazed by your sarcastic tone “Thought I died and went to heaven”

You laughed and gently punched him in the arm “Oh, shut up, Haz” 

For the rest of the night and the beginnings of an early morning, you and Harry sat down on those stools in that ice cream shop, talking about everything and nothing at the same time. He talked about how hard it was to be constantly under a magnifying glass in the eyes of the media, about the rumors and about how he didn’t expect his life to turn this way “I assume it’s not easy” You said “But what you’re doing is amazing, Harry. You and the boys have changed the lives of so many people, it’s… truly something else” He thanked you for your words and then started to change the subject so the conversation was focused on you. 

You pretty much told him the same old story you told Calum a few hours ago, he too, was very invested in whatever you had to say and let you ramble on and on about everything you thought it was worth mentioning. He even let you play with his curls a little bit before noticing your eyes were beginning to close, already too tired to keep the conversation going. 

You walked to the hotel once again, this time it was you who gave Harry a good night kiss on the cheek before making your way to your shared bedroom with Lottie and basically plopping down on the bed, thinking about how great this night was. 

There were two more stops before the tour finally ended. You could feel the tension in the air. It seemed like everyone was anxious about coming back home and seeing their families again, and you were too, but you got to admit that you were going to miss this even more. 

And it seemed like it was the same for Harry and Calum, because for the past few days they barely left your side.  And it was not like you were complaining, not at all.In fact, you were savouring every moment of it, not knowing if you would ever have the chance to do this again. So you let them play with your stuff, hanging out till late at night , you laughed at all their antics, from Calum’s keeks with the band to actually helping Harry pull down a prank to their bodyguards. On stage the energy was always the same, stolen glances and mocking faces between you, inner jokes said at loud only for you to understand and weird dance moves to make them break in front of the crowds. 

You were definitely going to miss all of this. 

When the last night of the tour arrived, so did an email addressed to you. You were sitting in your little office, cleaning and setting everything up before the boys needed to get ready when you phone dinged. 

Your breath got caught in your throat as you realized who that email was from. 

From: Mariah.S@JCNYC.com 

To: Y/E/A@Sunflower.com 

Dear Y/N, I am very glad to inform you….

Suddenly the door bursts open, a breathless Calum standing right under. 

“Y/N” He panted. 

You looked at him, confused “Calum, what’s going on? Are you okay?” 

Calum smiled “Yes! I’m more than okay actually, uuhm,” He said, trying to find the words “You know the band is going on tour, right?” He said referring to one of the biggest tours 5SOS was going to make following the release of their new album. 

“Yes! And I couldn’t be more excited for you! That 's huge!” You celebrated. 

“Come with us” 

“What?” Your smile faded. Calum got nervous.  

“Uh, I- well I mean we-” He took a deep breath “Me and the boys want you on tour with us as our stylist” Your mouth hung open, Calum took it as a good sign “We already talked to our management and they all agree. We want you to come on tour with us”

You were speechless. Part of you wanted to jump in joy, but the other part… “Cal, I-”

“Hey, Y/N” Another familiar voice called from the door “Great news, love. Yo- Hello, Calum, what are you doing here? Harry said when he laid eyes on the Australian, who wasn’t very fond of the interruption. 

“I came to tell Y/N some good news,” Calum said, dryly. 

“What a coincidence, I came for that as well”

“I don’t think there are any coincidence when it comes to you, Styles” 

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Harry asked, defyenty. 

Calum was about to answer with another passive aggressive remark when you interrupted them “Guys, not now” You said with a tired tone “What’s up, Haz?” 

“You’re coming on tour with us” He said, smiling at you “We already talked to management about it and you and Lottie are staying for the next tour”

You opened your mouth to respond but Calum cut you off, fuming. 

“Well, that’s not possible” 

“And why not?” Asked Harry, putting his attention on the other boy.

“Because Y/N is coming on tour with us” 

Harry scoffed “As if Y/N would want that” 

“How do you know that? You’re so arrogant and self centered-” Calum said a tad too loud.

“Don’t start something you cannot finish, Hood” Harry started, leveling his tone to match Calum’s “You immature prick -”

“Enough!” You yelled over their voices, making them turn their heads to you “What the hell has gotten into you today? It’s the last day of tour and this is the memory I get from you two? What a parting gift!” 

“Wait-” Calum said 

“Parting gift?”

You sighed “Guys, I can’t go on tour with either of you. I got an internship job with Jordan Coutier” You could see the disappointment in their faces as you softly said the words that would break their hearts “I’m going to New York”

Part 3

[davidpwilson2564]

Bloglet

Wednesday, September 29, 2021

They’re grilling Gen Milley again.  House Republicans are asking him to resign.  He says he won’t do it unless requested to do so by the President.  Biden has lost some points because of the messy Afghanistan exit.  There is no way it couldn’t have been messy.  It could have been horrific.  

Stephanie Grisham, the press rep who never met with the press (because she was so embarrassed by Trump and his pals) has written a book.  She resigned on Jan 6 when the Capitol Building was being stormed.  She escaped to Kansas.  Her tell-all is, of course, said by Trump to be a pack of lies.  

Beautiful weather.  Head out.  On the corner someone is up on a high ladder removing the Lululemon letters and logo. It s the second store on the block that didn’t survive the pandemic.  The other to go under is Brooks Brothers (!).  We wonder if they’ll be replaced by a Chase bank and another Starbucks. 

  Lunch with C Cox from the University of Tennessee.  Roger would have joined us but he is in Maine. I expected a few more alums.  I am decades older than Mr. Cox and filled him in on some Knoxville history.  Great fun.  Of course, Mr Cox’s mission to ask me for a contribution to the U of T music department.  I am of no help there but he does not press the issue.  At one point he mentions “Dr George Devine,” the music history teacher whom we all loved.  I tell him Mr. Devine, an anomaly, never held a degree.  David Van Vactor brought Mr. Devine from Chicago, to play the bassoon in the orchestra, to copy music to teach music history (he knew everything) and organize a music library.  The library still bears Mr. Devine’s name.   A wonderful man.  

Marginalia: Biden axes Lee Greenwood (from the National Endowment for the Arts). Trump likes Greenwood’s “God Bless the U S A” (patriotic but in an extremely grating way) but also loves “Memory” from “Cats.” (Nixon was said to love “Sound of Music.”) Mussolini loved Respighi, who had the good fortune to die before he could be tarred with the fascist brush.  Hitler loved Wagner but didn’t quite get him.  Nor did Hitler’s pals get Wagner.  Note that speech about the heroic German dead entering the Valhalla.  Infelicitous thought, as the Valhalla came to complete destruction.  

Note: I ordered something from Amazon.  A small order.  It didn’t up when promised.  I tracked it.  Amazon said it was delivered.  On further inspection I found that it was delivered, in California.  

Note: I ordered a book on Kindle, which saves room on my bookshelf but is not without its drawbacks.  For instance, one cannot flip ahead to see how much of a chapter is remaining.  But...I can’t allow myself the luxury of buying any more hardcover books, the shelves are groaning under the weight of those I now have. 

to be continued

[found--family]

‘Supernatural’ season 15, episode 15 screener secrets: We’re ‘Highway to Heaven’-ing this bitch

[everything is from this Hypable article] 

This week on Supernatural, Amara returns and are angels solving people crimes now? Hypable previewed Supernatural season 15, episode 15 “Gimme Shelter,” so read on to find out more.

After a sweet and fun return to ease us back into the world of Supernatural last week, things are heating up pretty dramatically – I knew there wouldn’t be much more time for messing around.

“Gimme Shelter” sees Supernatural dip its feet into what the Winchesters currently believe is their big plan – eliminating Chuck by also taking down Amara, resulting in what they believe will be a cosmic-being-free balanced world. But first, they have to find her. Sam and Dean get a pretty good lead on her location, which results in a very interesting conversation between Amara and the boys – especially with her most favoritest Dean, of course.

Meanwhile, Castiel is persuaded into taking Jack to investigate a nearby case in Missouri – which all three adults suspect is probably the work of a human criminal – for the sake of humoring Jack and keeping him both busy and supervised. On the way home, they have a very interesting conversation of their own.

Spoiler Warning: This article contains generalized spoilers for Supernatural season 15 episode 15, “Gimme Shelter.” If you do not wish to be spoiled at all, do not read this article in advance of the airdate.

The official synopsis for Supernatural season 15, episode 15 reads:

MATT COHEN DIRECTS — Castiel (Misha Collins) and Jack (Alexander Calvert) work a case involving members of a local church. Meanwhile, Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) go off in search of Amara (guest star Emily Swallow). Matt Cohen directed the episode written by Davy Perez (#1515). Original airdate 10/15/2020.

If you want to know what to expect from this week’s Supernatural, here’s 10 teasers plus 15 single word clues from our advance viewing of Supernatural season 15, episode 15 “Gimme Shelter.”

‘Supernatural’ season 15, [10] episode 15 screener secrets 

1️⃣ During the filming of this episode (27 January – 5 February) Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles both spent much of the week at home with their families in Austin, a detail which was made clear on their and their wives’ public social media accounts – possibly the result of scheduled time off as they’ve mentioned occasionally requesting? The result is that the episode is weighted much more towards Cas, Jack and the murder investigation they’re chasing than towards Sam and Dean, but on the flip side, the Sam and Dean arc is more crucial to the long game of the show, so what it lacks in minutes, it makes up for in impact. 

2️⃣ However, the episode still begins and ends in a grounded family group way, at home in the Bunker – one of those “we know we should be doing this together but there are Reasons we have to split up” situations. This detail, in my opinion, really speaks to the motivation of the creative team towards honoring the four leads as parts of a whole – in earlier days, this kind of episode would have been two entirely non-touching threads. This one is, if not a tapestry, at very least a braid – tied up together at both ends, and intertwined in the middle.

3️⃣ You might have seen pictures or ominous trailer footage of Castiel and Jack digging a hole at the crossroads. We all know what that means! However, don’t worry. They simply want to talk – and the demon they summon has some really interesting – and dare I say positive? – news about the state of Hell under Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Rowena. Let’s just say the demon is actually pretty friendly… and extremely bored.

4️⃣ The two main guest stars on Cas and Jack’s side of the episode are both actors who have been briefly featured on the show before, in a couple of pretty famous episodes – one from season 2 and one from season 5. I don’t think there’s meant to be any meta or Easter Egg element to this, just the usual Vancouver casting industry cycle (see the ‘Weren’t You In Another Episode‘ reference page on the SuperWiki) but one of them is one of those cute “I appeared on Supernatural as a child and now I’m here as an adult” situations, and the other, well… the original character’s very name has become the stuff of Supernatural legend, and if I were in charge of this episode I would have put the actor in a particular piece of footwear and made sure we got a shot of it, just for kicks.

5️⃣ Castiel steps into a prayer circle when the church group members are meant to give a testimony – presumably of their journey so far and their relationship with faith. That’s what Cas chooses to share, at least – in a non-specific, humanized way – and fans of the character will be moved to hear the ways he verbalizes his own growth.

6️⃣ Speaking of growth, some of Dean’s is spelled out for him in the most miraculous way by Amara. After Sam and Dean meet up with her and have a conversation about Chuck that’s ultimately a bit of a non-starter, Dean returns to ask her another, more personal question. Her response gave me legitimate chills. It’s a very weighty mic drop and the combination of the level of impact and the level of clarity (it’s entirely airtight, no room for interpretation) feels like the culmination of all the self-actualization work the show has been doing on Dean in the last four years. (I wish I could tell you Sam got a big special moment like this in the episode, but he doesn’t. Amara’s return was always going to be Dean’s thing.) Amara’s speech to Dean… it doesn’t feel isolated, like the idea of it was invented just for this episode. It feels more like concrete evidence of what the show has been trying to prove for ages. And the funny thing is, Amara is the anti-Chuck, right, and all season, we’ve learned about the version of the story Chuck thinks is good, and we’ve been told to root against that. Chuck’s version of Supernatural isn’t how the writers really feel. But I think Amara’s might be. Dean has obviously struggled to see what she tells him, all in one piece, but here it is – this was the point, laid out on the table, from the entity behind the curtain – both onscreen and off. Amara knew what she was doing, and so did the writers. This was always, always the point.

7️⃣ Even before this massive scene, Amara’s return is just great. Emily Swallow does such an incredible job with this character – she really is the anti-Chuck even without the whole writer comparison. Swallow imbues this character with such an incredible peace and stillness in comparison to Chuck’s histrionics – this was true in the way she spoke and behaved even in season 11, but this Amara also feels kindness and patience and tolerance. She radiates power, even when she’s also slightly goofy. There’s no fight, there’s no antagonism, but the boys in her presence are like little fish in a vast ocean – they quickly realise they have no real control in this conversation. The way that we leave her indicates she’ll be back and has more to say or do, and what she shared during her reunion with Sam and Dean makes me really curious about the role she’s due to play in the show’s endgame.

8️⃣ I’m not very religious but I really like the version of a church group or ‘faith-based community,’ as they say, featured in “Gimme Shelter.” Supernatural has a shaky history in terms of how the show portrays people in-universe who believe. Sometimes they’re treated like a joke, or stupid, or dangerous, or hypocrites, but occasionally civilian acts of faith are shown as great and powerful things, even in a world where we know that what they believe in isn’t strictly accurate. That concept became an even bigger question mark for me when we got the reveal that Judeo-Christian God is not only absent, but our actual villain. However, this was a really nice look at why faith can still be a framework for a good way of life – loving thy neighbor – for some people, no matter the truth about Chuck. The episode also features a callback to writer Davy Perez’ very first Supernatural episode “American Nightmare” in terms of the way that some people have weaponized faith and religion to the detriment and harm of others or even themselves, but this factor does not negate the positive point mentioned above.

9️⃣ Supernatural alum and newly minted director Matt Cohen really got the full old-school Supernatural episode experience when it comes to leaning into the spooky horror element. The murderous case-of-the week featured in this episode is heavy and lingering on the gore and even contains a little bit of a jump scare, so view responsibly.

🔟 So, um, you know that line, in this week’s teaser trailer? The line that a lot of people are freaking out about because it seems to pertain to something important that we know about Cas’ fate that Dean and Sam aren’t aware of? Yeah, it is 100% absolutely not about that at all. It is about something super important, but it’s not that. It’s also the last line of the episode, but trust me – it’s not a cliffhanger and it’s not a red herring and it’s not a twist. The information is gleaned within the episode and you’ll know exactly what Cas is telling Dean about after seeing it – narratively, that’s the reason it isn’t in the episode, because the show clearly assumes you’ll get the picture and can skip a rehash of information. But what you were probably expecting – maybe even hoping for – it’s not that. You’re gonna have to hang on for that one.

Finally, have 15 random yet significant words from this week’s episode without any context whatsoever: Gaia, Ronald, mother, pierogies, cats, philosophy, target, blind, permission, lockdown, Kool-aid, buffet, gift, trial, choice.

‘Supernatural’ airs Thursday at 8/7c on The CW

[deep-dive]

my submission for https://realfantasy.zone/

- - -

My first boyfriend was a death eater. Virtual Hogwarts (virtual-hogwarts.org) is an immersive roleplaying forum where a year at Hogwarts plays out over the course of 4–5 months. You take classes, actually completing homework and getting graded on it, though the grading was based off how well you role-played the prompt and not actual quizzing. You can try to make the Quidditch team. You can duel using a pretty meticulous, mathematical system they created specifically for the boards. Basically anything that existed in the books, exists on the site. It was an intensely intricate world of different systems and world building that I still find impressive and is still ongoing to this day. They’re currently on Year 40. Once your character graduates, they become an alum and the account loses access to the Hogwarts forums but is still involved with lore beyond the school, though the focus is still on the seven school years. Two of my characters remain in this state, with a mostly full archive of my RPs accessible. Please don’t try and find them! Being such an immersive experience, you naturally became incredibly close with the people you were roleplaying with. We created MSN accounts specifically for our original characters. The lines between reality and fiction were often blurred — many people were incredibly secretive about who all of their characters were (especially if they were professors or canon characters). I have one vivid memory of a friend who would alter her voice while using Skype after creating a mysterious new character. We would group chat until 6AM, but she still somehow fooled me for months. My main character was a bisexual Ravenclaw and his celebrity alter (as we called them, basically who we used in our siggies and avatars) was Brian Molko. During a planned attack on the school, I began chatting with one of the death eaters through MSN after a friend said they were interested in me after learning I was gay IRL. Growing up deep in rural Maryland, I had never had a boyfriend and barely had met anyone else gay my age at the time. No one had ever shown much interest in me. I was naturally excited. We chatted and Skyped, using voice chat only, over a period of about a month before I called him my boyfriend. We revealed all of our characters and alts. He had a Slytherin Year 7 prefect alongside his death eater character. I had a dueling instructor and a presorting lesbian character I was developing using Ellen Page circa-Hard Candy as her alter. He told me he lived in Seattle and was 19. He played soccer and had a deep, sexy voice. I was 14. Chatting eventually lead to sexting, but the sexting was really just me taking awkward photos on my mom’s Nikon and then carefully erasing the pictures after sending him zip files of what I thought the best ones were. I was hardly aware of my own sexuality at the time even knowing that I was gay, which always felt more like this subconscious, deeply understood part of my personhood rather than something directly tied to sex at the time. I was always obsessed with forbidden love stories and romance, stories with themes of isolation and outcasts. This unawareness includes what I desired, how to view my body in a sexual way, and what other people desired. Despite this, he seemed to enjoy the photos, always requesting more. I happily obliged. He never reciprocated with his own photos though. I had one photo of him which I cherished and then became skeptical of. I was young and naïve, but not completely foolish. There were always excuses. I started to dread his phone-calls. They became more and more frequent. He left voicemails on our family’s machine for me. I’d delete them. I eventually tearfully told him I wanted to break up, and I didn’t want him calling anymore. He was angry but abided. I stayed on the site for a few more years, leaving before I went to college. In 2015, I found a note written from a friend after my dad passed away while clearing out my mom’s old house. It would have been written a couple of months before my brief online romance. It was a letter about what our friendship meant to her, an incredibly sweet gesture in hindsight. In that letter, she said “I love that you live two different lives.”

[queencarolinemikaelson]

That One Time Caroline Forbes Lied to the Truth Circle

//klaroline au week// - day 7 - trope x trope best friend’s little sister x first time sex This is a long one, folks. NSFW. Enjoy!

xxx

There were many moments in Caroline Forbes’ life that led her to this excruciating moment.

God, dammmmit, how she wished to be literally anywhere else but here.

But she wasn’t anywhere else. She was here, and this was happening.

“Tyler after the football finals, in Junior year,” Elena stated.

“No, wasn’t it Matt? At that New Year’s party?” Bonnie chimed in. “Sorry, Bekah.”

“I’m well aware of Matt’s romance before me with not one, but two in this circle.”

“You know, Caroline,” Katherine said. “I don’t think I actually know this story?”

“Wait, I don’t think even I know this story, either,” said Elena.

“I don’t know if I want to know this story,” Stefan mumbled.

Bloody hell, bloody hell.

She could feel the honest truth forcing its way from her, she could not defy the sanctity of Truth or Dare! The mixture of honour and tequila in her blood wouldn’t allow it!

“What was the question again?” Caroline asked, feigning ignorance to buy a tiny bit more time.

“Who did you lose your virginity to?” the group chorused. 

It was a story Caroline had kept as close to her chest as her heart itself, for more reasons than she could count, the main of which were sitting in that circle right now.

In a somewhat out of body experience – maybe brought on by the quart of tequila in her system, or maybe just from the sheer mortification of it all – Caroline could see very clearly every moment in her life that progressed her on this path. Whence she was but a wee four-year-old, all the way to the 22-year-old she was now.

It all started when her father left her mother, admitting he love for another man. It rocked the little conservative town of Mystic Falls, and left the little Forbes family a little littler. But at the end of the day, Caroline loved her father, loved her step father, and loved that they were happy.

Then there was her mother. Elizabeth Forbes, while rightly distraught about the divorce, was self-aware enough to know that her relationship with Bill was not true love. So when her high school sweet heart happened to move back to Mystic Falls, two motherless kids in toe, Liz took it as a sign from the universe. Only two years later, Liz Forbes became Liz Salvatore, and Caroline gained another step-father and two brothers, Damon and Stefan.

Caroline supposed Damon deserved an honourable mention in this memory-lane-trip. Because, at seven years her senior, Damon was a built-in babysitter for the youngest in their blended family. And Liz and Giuseppe grew quite comfortable with that fact, thank you very much. But as soon as Damon got his first set of car keys, there was no way in Mystic Falls – or even in hell, for that matter – he was sticking around to babysit his 9-year-old sister?

Of course, once Damon would no longer babysit Caroline, the Forbes/Salvatore parents just had to find someone. After all, Damon wouldn’t do it – because “DUH I have a life? Why are you trying to ruin to it?” – and Stefan, well Stefan was old enough at thirteen to get himself to and from school and extra-curricular activities. But he was certainly not old enough to mind Caroline. So who better to ask than Elijah Mikaelson. He was polite, whip smart, gracious, kind and the most charming teen in town. Elijah’s role in this entire saga, however, was to come into play years later.

And of course, of course, Stefan played a huge part. Stefan was her other big brother, and he was her yard stick for something that was cool. And, more pertinently, Stefan chose to become best friends with another of the Mikaelsons, Elijah’s younger brother, Klaus. But she would get to Klaus later.

Caroline supposed, there wouldn’t be this story without the rest of the Mikaelson family, would there? Finn, Kol, Rebekah, and Henrik. Finn didn’t really play his part, as innocuous as he was. But the three younger Mikaelsons certainly did, and their mother, Esther. If it hadn’t been for them, the events of that weekend, that Caroline was so reticent to share, happened as a direct result of their existence.

Caroline knew she had to take some responsibility. She had organised tonight’s event. She suggested playing their old high school favourite game. She was there that night. And it took two to tango, after all. But god, couldn’t they just drop it?  

Which just brought her back to Klaus. None of this would be possible without Klaus.

Klaus was Stefan’s best friend, since nearly before Stefan was Caroline’s brother. The two had been inseparable their entire middle school lives, with not much changing well into their high school and college life. Klaus was smart, funny, and gorgeous, just like Stefan, and so of course they were quite the dominant pair strutting around Mystic Falls high.

Bloody Klaus. He always starred in the bits of her life she was most closed off about. He was the only one who saw her her bikini strap break when she was 13, leaving her chest completely bare. He’d quickly given her the giant pink flamingo he had been floating on, instructing her to use it to cover herself, while he grabbed a towel she could use. It was a moment that had completely mortified Caroline, but they had never mentioned it again.

He was also there when, at the age of 15, she had gotten tangled in the strappy sandals she was wearing to a party and fallen flat on the bitumen. He’d doubled over laughing, until she sat up dazed, blood running from a nasty, dirty cut on her face. His mirth had vanished and he rushed her to his house, which was much nearer than hers. She was his best friend’s little sister, of course he would look after her. That’s just what good people did. Caroline would never forget his 17-year-old fingers tenderly cleaning her wound, while she fidgeted distractedly. It was another moment they’d never spoken of again.

And of course, he played the starring role in the story they were trying to needle out of her right that very moment. It was a moment he had once again never mentioned again.

“So uhh... the question again…” Beetroot-red-Caroline squeaked.

“Come on, Caroline! Stop trying to weasel your way out of this!”

“A lady never kisses and tells,” Caroline said, positively willing the swelling in her face to go down. “Why are we playing this dumb game anyway?

“Caroline Elizabeth Forbes,” Elena said, sternly. “You will not sully the purity of the truth or dare circle!”

“You’ve been making all of us confess to our deepest darkest secrets for years, because of your insistence upon the integrity of this dumb game,” Bonnie chided. 

“Yeah, Caroline,” Marcel drawled. “You made me admit all the stuff I did with Charlotte, while my new girlfriend was in the circle. You can cough up one lousy virginity story.”

Caroline helplessly looked from her friends to her brother, who just shrugged sympathetically. Stefan loved his sister, but she did have quite the way of squeezing people’s deepest secrets out of them.

“You’ve made your bed, Care,” Stefan said, ruffling her hair. “What do you think, Klaus, think she’s gotta suck it up and give us a bit of a story?”

Caroline turned her imploring eyes to Klaus.

“Please, I really don’t want to share this story,” Caroline said pointedly, almost as if she was talking directly to Klaus. “It’s private, you know.”

The protests from the group were instant. Caroline was usually the first person to tell you that you had to be honest and truthful, especially in truth or dare. It was the rules and what a better way to have hilarious fun that making people spill their secrets.

Klaus didn’t know why she was so reticent to sharing her first time story. Tyler had been her boyfriend, nothing saucy to ruffle her beautiful feathers. Just high school sweethearts trying things.

“Guys please,” Caroline beseeched.

“Nope, no way Caroline, those puppy dog eyes will not get you out of this!” Elena said, stubbornly.

“Come on, Care, it can’t be that bad!”

“Tyler wasn’t a bad guy even if he did peak in high school!”

“You gotta tell us!”

“Car-o-line! Car-o-line! Car-o-line!”

Suddenly someone in the group started chanting her name, the same way they chanted U-S-A on game days.

“Car-o-line! Car-o-line! Car-o-line!”

More and more people joined in, until the whole group was shouting, “Car-o-line! Car-o-line! Car-o-line!”, and crowding in on her.

“Fine!” she shouted, a little more aggressively that she would have liked, but it had the desired effect of shutting everyone up.

“I will not tell you who it was with, because that is my business,” she said, pompously. “But it was at that Founders’ Christmas party senior year.”

Before anyone else could protest her caginess, or even respond, Caroline was up and gone.

“The Founders’ Christmas party senior year?” Elena said, confused.

“I wasn’t there when you guys were seniors,” Stefan said.

“Neither was I,” Katherine added, and a number of the Mystic Fall alum nodded their absentia. “Esther hosted it, I think? I remember Elijah complaining about how tense Mama Mikaelson was about it.”

“Yes, that’s right,” Rebekah said, her eyes flicking to Klaus, shrewdly.

“Wait, Klaus, that was the year were there, right?” Stefan said, his brow furrowing, trying to pull details from his mind. “My parents and your mom roped you into going home to stay with Caroline, and help your mom. Do you remember Caroline hanging around anyone?”

“Not to my knowledge, no,” Klaus said, with every ounce of cool, calm, collectedness in the world.

“Caroline was so mad our parents made her have a babysitter,” Stefan chuckled at the memory. “It was probably because she wanted to shag this mystery person without anyone being any the wiser.”

“And none of us were!” Elena said. “I can’t believe she never told us! Why is it such a secret?”

“Who knows,” Kat said. “But also who cares, she’s not here anymore. Truth or dare, Stefan!”

As his best friend chose dare, Klaus sighed in a bit of relief, but also in revelation.

Opting to take a moment to collect his thoughts, Klaus left the circle to get something stronger to drink than beer; a goodly amount of the bottom shelf whiskey to be precise.

He gulped it all in one go because he lied. He lied to the whole truth circle.

Klaus did remember someone hanging around Caroline that weekend.

It was him.

xxx

Four years earlier.

It was four years prior to that fateful night when Elijah’s role in the humiliation had starred.

Elijah was Caroline’s faithful – or fateful as this case may be – babysitter all the way up until she turned 12, and Elijah regretfully moved away from college. Caroline would miss him, as he had been minding her twice to three times a week for the past three years. But when he left, Liz and Giuseppe, fell into the trap many parents do with their youngest, and decided Caroline was definitely mature enough at the ripe old age of twelve to take care of herself after school.

Sometimes she would hang out with Bonnie and Elena. Sometimes she would have an after school activity. Sometimes Stefan would let her tag along to whatever he was doing. But most days though, Caroline took herself home, and hung out by herself until her brother, or parents came home.

It was a good, independent life, even if a tad lonely. Perfect for someone as old as her.

So, imagine when, in her final year of high school, after six whole years of being her own babysitter, Giuseppe and Liz were going to be away for a week on a business trip, turned mini-vacation, and they insisted on finding someone to stay with Caroline. As she was too young to stay by herself, for a whole week after all.

This offended Caroline on many levels.

She was eighteen, for heaven’s sake. She would have school during the day, she’d been a lone ranger in the after school hours for years. She wasn’t suddenly going to be terrified at night by herself?

And what was she supposed to get up to at night anyway? Sure, she was a party animal, and the best party planner her age, but there was absolutely no way any of the year would go to an illicit party at the Salvatore house. Caroline was the daughter of the town sheriff; that wrath was a fate no teenager would willingly bring on.

Caroline made these arguments loudly, infuriatedly, and petulantly. But nope her parents would not have it.

“You can look after yourself sweetie, we know,” they implored her. “But we just don’t want to be worrying about you all alone while we’re trying to relax.”

Caroline’s protests didn’t change, but neither did theirs.

They, of course, asked Stefan first.

“Please Stefan,” they said over the phone. “She’s your sister, and you love her.”

And Stefan did love her. Caroline was his favourite girl in the whole world, and he couldn’t wait until she lived in the same college town as he did so they could party their lives away together. But there was no way in hell he was giving up a weekend just to go home and mind his baby sister. Not this close to finals. Not when he almost convinced Valerie Tulle to finally go out with him.

And especially not because Caroline had text him before their parents even called him, and threatened the life of his Bon Jovi vinyl collection if he agreed.

So Stefan had politely declined his parents, citing a very imminent, very important, but also quite vague exam in his reasoning.

So, the Forbes-Salvatore parents half-heartedly ran the request past Damon.

“Please Damon,” they begged him. “She’s your sister and you love her.”

And Damon did love her, at least begrudgingly – it was hard not to love the bouncy ball of blonde. But there was not a chance that he would leave the office for an entire week, only to drive from New York to Mystic Falls to mind his younger sister.

And especially not when Caroline text him, begging to turn down their parents. She just wanted some alone time.

So he declined his parents – “Wall Street doesn’t just take vacations.”

Maybe if Elijah had never been he babysitter, Caroline’s mother and step-father would have left their search at Stefan and Damon. And given up the whole search as a bad job.

But no.

This was when Liz and Giuseppe even went as far as calling Elijah.

Luckily, for Caroline though, her former babysitter, as touched as he was that they still thought so highly of him, was busy in the first few months of a new job, so was unavailable.  

And after that, Caroline honestly thought she had won. Who on earth would they ask? She was 18! She didn’t need a baby sitter. No one in their right mind would agree to baby sitting an 18-year-old.

At least, that’s what she thought, until approximately three days before her parents were due to leave and Liz came in to where Caroline was studying to talk to her.

“So, Klaus is going to be here at about 5pm on Saturday, does that sound okay? You’ll be okay for the rest of the day?”

“Wait, what?” Caroline exclaimed, slightly thrown.

“Klaus is staying here while we’re away this week, remember? I thought I’d run it by him, given that Elijah was always so reliable, and he is, after all, Stefan’s best friend,” Liz said, seemingly baffled that her daughter didn’t know this information. “I told you all this last week?”

“Oh my god, what? No you didn’t?!”

“I did wonder why you didn’t put up more of a fight,” Liz mused. “Well, this isn’t up for discussion, Caroline. He’s basically just here anyway so we don’t have to worry about you here alone at night. Klaus is here for the week, and that’s final.”

And with that, Liz turned on her heel and went back to packing, leaving a tongue tied Caroline in her wake.

And so sat a truly grumpy Caroline that Saturday, waiting exasperatedly for her ‘babysitter’ to arrive.

When the knock at the door came, just after 5pm, as Liz had promised, Caroline pulled open the door a fiery look in her eyes.

“What on earth were you thinking?” she griped, without so much as a ‘hello’. “Did it not occur to you that I’m actually an adult? I don’t need a sitter.”

“Well hello to you too, love,” he drawled, giving her that wicked grin he always gave when he was stirring the pot. “I wasn’t aware that I was so unwanted in this household.”

“Don’t be cute with me, Klaus,” Caroline snipped, not having any of it. “Like, didn’t you even ask Stefan? Did it not cross you little mind to go ‘hey, best friend, your parents want me to babysit your adult sister for a week, why can’t you do it?’”

The final sentence Caroline put on her best mockery of his English accent, and flopped melodramatically onto the nearest couch.

“If you had asked that,” Caroline continued, now addressing the ceiling in the living room. “You would know that they did ask Stefan and he refused because I asked him to. I don’t want baby sitting! I just want to be able to use my house the way I want to for a change!”

Caroline felt her own frown so deep, so petulant, on her face, that she wryly admitted to herself, maybe she wasn’t as mature as she liked to think she was. But that wasn’t the point.

“I could have eaten whatever I wanted. Danced to loud, cringe music. I could have studied with no pants on! And now I don’t have that!”

Klaus just grinned his little grin, and picked up his bag.

“I’m sorry for ruining your no-pants plans, Caroline.”

Which was all he said before trying to dart upstairs to put his bag in the spare room.

“That’s your take away?” Caroline cried, dragging herself from the couch. “That I just wanted to wear no pants for the week? Nothing about the fact I can, as a matter of fact, look after myself!”

Klaus laughed at her, she really looked so completely stubborn and done with him already.

“Love, eat whatever, dance to whatever, wear pants, wear no pants, it’s all the same to me,” Klaus replied. “You can pretend I’m not here as much as you like. In fact, that might be the best outcome for us both.”

With that, and a wink, Klaus shut the spare room door in Caroline’s face, which only served to infuriate the Forbes woman even more.

With another giant huff, Caroline stomped back down the stairs, and flopped again on the living room couch again.

It was a few hours later when Klaus resurfaced.

In those hours, Caroline hadn’t done much more than sulk about her situation, but she also baked a cake, and started cooking dinner, feeling ever so slightly bad about her nastiness and petulance.

He was, after all, just being a good family friend, even if it did irritate Caroline’s personal preferences. And she liked Klaus. Of course she did, she’d know him forever. And it would be a little bit not awful to not have to be alone the entire week.

As he strode down the stairs, the garlic-y smells of a pasta sauce filled his nose.

If he were honest, Klaus had been wary of agreeing to this week. Rightly so, apparently. She was his best friend’s little sister, not exactly the top of the list of activities for a college student.

But soon after he got the call from Liz, and before he had a chance to talk to Stefan, Klaus received a call from his mother, Esther. And Esther told him, in no uncertain terms, he would accept Liz’s offer. Much like Caroline’s, Klaus’ protestations had fallen on unsympathetic ears. Esther’s insistence that Klaus came to stay with Caroline was just as much about her own personal gain. As a self-employed event planner and mother of six, Esther found herself with more to do than sense most of the time.

She was putting on the biggest event of the year for Mystic Falls, and with still three kids at home she thought she may forget to feed them amidst all the kerfuffle which was the week leading up to the Founders’ Christmas party. So, when Liz mentioned asking Klaus to stay with Caroline, Esther knew she would feel much better with an extra pair of hands on deck.

“During the school hours, Niklaus,” Esther said, sternly down the phone. “You will cook food for the fridge, and the freezer, so the kids can help themselves. You will run any errands I need of you. And you will do the school pick up and drop off.”

Klaus had, obviously, groaned, but was secretly glad for the excuse to say yes. He enjoyed going to Mystic Falls, because college sometimes became a little too much. It would be good to unwind a little. And even if his mother was going to be in her high-strung planning mood Klaus could vanish in the evening, because after all, he had an obligation to Caroline.

It would be a nice week.

“So,” Klaus said, leaning on the kitchen bench, feeling a little awkward. Sure he and Caroline had spent a small amount of time alone over their lives, but definitely nothing like this, and definitely not in a number of years.

“So,” Caroline mimicked.

“I suppose, I hardly even know much about you these days, sweetheart,” he said, flashing his signature dimples at her. “Your hopes, dreams, everything you want in life.”

Caroline just scoffed while stirring the pasta, though unexpectedly, even to himself, Klaus was delighted to see a slight blush, and just a feather of a smile settle on her face.

“Come on, Caroline,” he said. “I’m serious! You have to talk to me at some point. I am here all week, remember?”

“Uh! Don’t remind me!” she groaned. “Why did you agree to stay here anyway?”

“My mother is planning the Founders’ Christmas thing next weekend,” Klaus said, picking at some of the carrots Caroline cut for the pasta. “She demanded I agree to stay with you, so I can help her while you’re at school.”

“Why couldn’t she just ask you to stay with her and help her?” Caroline asked.

“I assume because she thought it would be a much more attractive offer for me,” Klaus shrugged. “Here with you is likely to be a lot calmer fro me than if I stay there.”

Caroline nodded, but was distracted from answering, as Klaus tried to nab a couple more bits of vegetable to snack on.

“Hey!” she chided. “That’s to go with dinner, keep your grubby paws off!”

Klaus laughed, and waited until she turned back to the saucepan on the stove, before grabbing a piece anyway and popping them into his mouth.

“I heard that,” Caroline snapped. “See, I’m already regretting you being here.”

From there, the rest of the evening was fine. Caroline was still mildly annoyed she had a babysitter, but, she reasoned, Klaus wasn’t so bad.

If the task had fallen to Elijah, Caroline would definitely have felt obliged to be a host the whole week. If it was Damon, he would have made her be his minion the entire time. If it was Stefan, the week would have been them having a semi-party every night, and Caroline would have gotten absolutely no work done.

So, if there was any outcome that required a babysitter, this was the best one.

Klaus gave her company at meal times, but gave her space when she wanted it.

Though, when school finished on Tuesday, a couple of days later, Caroline felt herself not wanting as much space as usual. It had been a long, boring day at school, and even though cheer practice after school had been fun, Caroline was still looking for a bit of interaction.

“Klaus,” Caroline called as she came in from practice. “Klaus, are you here?”

There was no answer.

Curiously, she nosed her way around the house, looking for her current housemate. There was definite evidence that he was around, his car in the drive for one, but there was not a sound nor a movement to alert her to his whereabouts.

“Ka-lau-ssss,” she said, exasperatedly. “Jeez, I finally start wanting you around the damn house, and now you’re suddenly Harry Houdini!”

“Oh, you want me now do you?”

Caroline jumped about a foot in the air, as Klaus spoke into her ear.

“What on earth is your game?” Caroline shrieked, punching him in the chest. “You’re supposed to be babysitting me! Not trying to kill me!”

Klaus just laughed at her – a habit that was becoming far too common, if you asked Caroline.

“Not trying to kill you, love,” he said, mirth still laced in his voice. “Just trying to entertain myself.”

“Can’t you entertain yourself by getting yourself off, like a normal college student,” Caroline huffed, still trying to slow her heart rate.

Though, her statement didn’t do a great job of slowing her heart rate, as she considered the substance of what she said.

“Been thinking about me getting myself off, sweetheart?” Klaus said, slipping a little flirt into his voice, before he could stop himself.

“No! I just… I was just saying… shut up!” Caroline spluttered, going an excellent shade of pink.

“Come on, love,” he goaded, still with that inexplicable flirt in his voice. “It’s not that disgusting a thought is it?”

His eyes were locked with hers, and she could feel herself crumbling a little under his gaze. He had kissed boys before, and done other things with them, but she’d never really explored much. And it was wildly inappropriate to wonder about her older brother’s best friend as a sexual being, but she definitely found herself doing it in that moment.

She had to shake herself a little after a moment, and unable to find the right way to answer to Klaus’ question, she ignored it.

“I thought we could have pizza for dinner,” Caroline said. “Maybe go for a walk or watch a movie? I’m still full of energy after cheer practice, I don’t want to just sit in my room and ignore you like I did last night.”

Klaus opted to allow for the change of subject.

“Have extra energy, love? I’m sure I can think of something we can entertain ourselves somehow.”

Well, almost.

Caroline rolled her eyes, hard, and stalked away from him.

“Fine!” she growled. “I thought it could be nice, but since you can’t keep your mind from the gutter, Klaus, I’ll just…. Entertain myself!”

Caroline by this point, was at her bedroom door, and managed to slam it in his face. And she felt quite proud of her timing, until she heard a hearty laugh from the other side of the door, and Caroline realised exactly what she said.

She groaned loudly to herself. Though was inconveniently still thrumming with energy from the day, just now with a second lot of energy joining the rest.

Later that night, it was Klaus’ turn to cook Caroline a silent apology meal. The same way she cooked for him the night he arrived.

He wasn’t sure what had got into him. Winding up Caroline was just such a delicious exercise. The shades of pink she turned, the entendres she inadvertently made, the adorably over the top facial expressions he elicited. It was just quite fun.

But after an hour of feeling a little pleased with himself about it all, he started feeling a little guilty.

She was an adult, and she was an exceptionally beautiful adult – although he’d never let himself admit that to himself before and never would again (she was Stefan’s sister after all) – but she was still young. It wasn’t like he was 1000-years-old and she just 18 – he was only two years older than her – but he didn’t know where she was on her sexual journey. Flirting her into knots when he was quite confident in his sexuality, and she not so much, just felt a bit ick.

Klaus decided as much fun as flirting with Caroline had been, he was going to leave that ball in her court, so to speak. If she wanted to flirt with him overtly, then he would pick up what she put down, but wouldn’t initiate it.

“Hey Klaus,” Caroline said softly, when she finally surfaced for dinner. “This isn’t pizza.”

She still had a bit of pent up energy, but was wary because of before. Although it felt surprisingly good to flirt with Klaus, she felt it was a bit of a dangerous line to toe.

“Well spotted,” he intoned, sardonically. “I thought we could partake in a well loved, alliterative tradition; Taco Tuesday.”

Caroline smiled a little brighter. If he wasn’t going to mention earlier, then neither would she.

“That sounds nice!” she replied. “I have some tequila upstairs if you want margaritas to go with it?”

“Caroline Elizabeth Forbes!” Klaus exclaimed, in mock indignance. “It’s a school night!”

She rolled her eyes in response, and flounced upstairs to get the bottles she needed.

When she came back down, she set to work on the cocktails for the two of them.

“You know Caroline,” Klaus said. “I still don’t know much about you anymore. Tell me about yourself.”

“What don’t you know about me? You’ve known me since you were like eight?” Caroline said, squeezing a lime.

“Be that as it may, I hardly paid you any mind while in high school, and now I don’t live here,” Klaus reasoned. “Have you made any decisions about what or where you’ll study?”

“Not really,” she began, before thinking a couple moments longer. “I’d obviously love to do event planning or management. It would really be in keeping with skills I already have, but on the other hand, why waste money on a degree in something I’m already basically professional at. Another thing that was interesting to me was broadcast journalism, but as mom so rudely, but very fairly, pointed out, I barely watch the news as it is. I could do nursing, though blood makes me a bit squeamish.”

As Caroline continued to chatter about what she might want to do with her life, Klaus watched her, and noted the fondness he felt toward her. It was nice listening to her.

“I’m just rambling though, sorry,” Caroline said, a little embarrassed of herself. “I’m always doing that.”

“Not a problem in the slightest, Caroline,” Klaus said, throwing her a genuine smile. “It is nice.”

Caroline smiled shyly back at him, and blushed a little. He sounded so sincere, and it was so at odds with her usual interactions with Klaus.

“Any other thoughts on your future?” Klaus asked.

“Not really,” Caroline said. “I know people think I’m so planned and structured. But I think I want to go with the flow for a while, work out who I am before I settle for anything.”

“That’s very wise, love,” he said. “And I believe our food is ready.”

“Perfect timing!” Caroline grinned. “Margaritas are too!”

“Shall we take our dinner in the lounge?”

“No way, you animal!” Caroline laughed, grabbing the margarita jug in one hand and the glasses in the other. “We are having party food, which means we dine in the party room!”

“The den, I take it?”

“Correct!”

With that, Caroline was off, leaving Klaus to bring all the dishes for dinner into the den, where Caroline was setting up some elaborate game for them already.

“Steady on, sweetheart!” Klaus laughed at her. “How are we supposed to eat and play beer pong at the same time?”

“Oh, Klaus, honey, this isn’t beer pong!” Caroline laughed. “It’s the greatest board game you’ll ever play. I’m prototyping a drinking game for when I go to college.”

“Silly me,” Klaus drawled. “Explain the rules while we eat. But tuck in love, before it gets cold.”

The two friends whiled away the next few hours playing Caroline’s game. Klaus had to hand it to her, the girl knew what made a good drinking game.

It was just after 11pm when they decided to stop playing. Even by that time, there was not a clear winner.

“This is why I am prototyping, Klaus!” Caroline said, swatting playfully at him. “So I can discover where there are holes in the game play. I obviously have to work on the point system more!”

Both of them were definitely well past tipsy, but not quite properly drunk yet. They were in that happy, buzzing period where everything was that little bit heightened. Jokes were funnier, jibes were more meaningful, and flirts were more sensual.

“I probably should go to bed,” Caroline said through her buzz. “Or I’ll regret this in the morning.”

“How could you regret such quality time with me, my love?” Klaus teased.

“Oh so I’m your love now, am I?” Caroline giggled. “Not just a plain old love.”

“You get special consideration for making me laugh,” Klaus stated, matter-of-factly.

“I get it,” Caroline said, as she sprung up from the couch. “There’s levels, am I right?”

“And what on earth do you mean by that, Caroline,” he replied, getting up to follow after her.

“Oh you know,” she said, as she began climbing the stairs. “Everyone gets ‘love’, right? The ones you like a little more get ‘sweetheart’. And then the best people get ‘my love’?”

Caroline stopped midway up the stairs to turn around and raise her eyebrows triumphantly at him. Klaus, stopped his ascent when he was just a step below her, and he was awfully close to her. But in this tipsy state, he didn’t much mind.

“That’s right, my love,” Klaus said, cockily.

She leaned in, her face so close to his, he could count the freckles on her cheeks. Even though she was a full step above him, she was just at his eye level. Her heavy eyes bored into his and Klaus could have sworn her eyes flicked to his lips. And he certainly would by lying to himself if he said his eyes didn’t flick to hers.

“That’s what I thought,” Caroline said, her voice as low as he ever heard it.

With her eyes still locked with his, a tiny, mischievous smile lit her face, and she began chewing on her bottom lip.

It was Caroline unlike he’d ever seen her before. Enticing, intriguing, exciting. And that was enough to make him want her. But add just a hint of the forbidden in the mix, and boy, did it make her that much more alluring.

She leaned in a fraction closer, and Klaus was sure he was about to feel the glory of her lips on his, when his phone started buzzing loudly in his pocket.

Caroline visibly shook herself, apparently regaining her composure much faster than he was able to.

“You should get that.”

The voice was still Caroline’s, it was still kind and melodic, but he couldn’t help but feel he lost something secret.

“Klaus, the phone,” Caroline urged.

Finally pulled from his trance, Klaus reached into his pocket to grab his still ringing phone.

“Hello,” he answered.

“Klaus!”

Caroline only heard a loud voice excitedly say Klaus’ name, and she already heard enough.

With nothing more than a gesture upstairs to her bedroom, Caroline was off to sleep.

She didn’t escape fast enough, before she heard the tail end of Klaus’ conversation.

“I’m busy,” he said. “Hanging out with the best people. Goodbye.” 

Hearing that made a warm glow spread through her.

It was still alight within her the next night when she and Klaus were sitting in the lounge watching a movie after dinner. 

“So, am I invited to the event this weekend?” Caroline asked, about 45 minutes into the movie.

“It’s the founders’ Christmas party. You are part of two founding families, Caroline,” Klaus replied, sardonically. “I think you have a weightier invitation than I do.”

Caroline just laughed.

“But in all seriousness,” Klaus said. “Mother made a point of saying just today to make sure you come along. You’ll be the only representative of the Forbes and Salvatore family in attendance this year apparently.

“I guess that’s right,” Caroline said, pondering. “I will be all alone!”

“You will hardly be alone, love,” Klaus said, chuckling at her dramatics. “Elena and Bonnie will be there.”

“No actually,” Caroline said. “Elena and Jeremy are going to some family reunion thing out of town, and Bonnie is will be visiting her cousin.”

“What about my siblings?”

“Come on, Klaus,” Caroline chided. “All of them will have their friends there. Plus, your sister is dating Matt, my ex. Not super keen to hang out with those two just yet, as much as I like them both.”

“Well, there’s nothing else for it,” Klaus stated, with a tiny wink. “You’ll have to be my date for the evening.”

“I’ll have to be your date, will I?” Caroline asked, a little coolly.

“Yes you will, my love,” Klaus teased.

Caroline laughed, her faux-cool exterior cracking.

“Fine, I’ll be your date, Klaus,” Caroline said, that flirtatious smile back on her face. “But only if you wear a suit, and court me somehow. And get me a gift, obviously. I don’t put out otherwise.”

“I wouldn’t dream of you putting out for me, sweetheart,” he replied, trying desperately to play it as cool as she seemed to be. “But I can definitely find a suit.”

“I’m going to hold you to that,” she replied.

At that moment, she hauled herself up from the couch, and began to pick up the plates in front of them, left over from dinner.

“Don’t worry about that yet, love,” Klaus said, covering her hand with his, and gently indicating to leave the chores for later.

Caroline flicked her eyes from their joined hands to his eyes.

“Stay,” he urged.

Caroline let herself be pulled back onto the couch, although this time she was far closer to Klaus than she had been, and he did not let go of her hand. And she wasn’t quite sure why, but she felt very comfortable to stay tangled up in him.

For the remainder of the film, neither of them spoke much, other than a bit of banter dragging the movie, but their bodies stayed close, and their hands locked. Every now and then Caroline would stroke her foot delicately along Klaus’ leg, or Klaus would draw circles with his thumb on her skin.

After it finished, they stayed in a similar state of sweet, both ignoring the complete insanity of what they were doing; just chatting, laughing, teasing.

And that’s how it was for the next couple of days. They spent every possible moment together; furtive glances, lingering touches, and enough entendre to keep both of them dizzy for each other. Though they still hadn’t taken it any further. While it was just implied attraction, it seemed much easier to deny.

When Saturday morning dawned, Caroline could hardly contain her excitement.

Now, she had been giving herself stern talking tos all week, because she knew once her parents were home, and Klaus left, things would go right back to the way they were. It would be like he was never there.

She knew that. She knew it would be that way, she knew it would have to be that way, she knew, no matter what this dalliance was, Klaus wouldn’t let it be any other way. And frankly, she wouldn’t let it be any other way.

But gosh, for the moment, it felt damn good to be so wrapped up in someone.

“Morning, my love,” Klaus yawned, as he came down the stairs the morning of the party. “Sleep well?”

“Yeah! Really well,” Caroline replied. “I was thinking of making pancakes for breakfast. Sound good?”

Klaus nodded his affirmative, before turning to put a pot of coffee on.

“What plans do you have for the day?” Klaus asked, just as the coffee machine began to whirr.

“Not really much, just breakfast, relax a bit, then I’ll start getting ready for the party at some point,” Caroline replied, smiling at him. “I have a very handsome date tonight?”

“Do you just?”

And boy, did she just.

Because later that day, as she descended the stairs, she nearly choked. For, standing at the bottom of the steps, with that god-damn perfect smirk quirking his lips, was Klaus, looking positively devastating in a crisp dark, navy suit.

“You scrub up well, Mikaelson,” Caroline praised, managing to keep her cool, and keep from actually choking.

“As do you, Forbes,” Klaus replied. “You are stunning.”

And she was. Her off-the-shoulder dress was the perfect package, for such a beautiful woman. Klaus honestly wasn’t sure how he was going to go back to Caroline being just his best friend’s little sister. Maybe he could never go back.

“I got you something,” Klaus said, handing her a long, thin box.

Caroline’s brow furrowed slightly, even though her eyes were wide, as she took the gift. She popped the lid of the box, and was met with a sparkling bracelet twinkling back at her.

“Klaus, it’s beautiful,” she said, in awe. “But I can’t accept this.”

“Come now, Caroline. This is that gift you demanded,” Klaus chuckled, taking the bracelet from her hand and beginning to attach it to her wrist. “Although, I still don’t expect you to put out, even though I met your demands.”

Caroline laughed out loud, remembering their conversation from days before.

“You really know how to make a girl feel special, don’t you?” Caroline asked.

“Only the very best,” he replied, winking. “But we best be off. Mother will have my bow tie, and the head above it, if we are too late.”

“Yeah, you know the bow tie? Weird choice.”

Before too long, the two of them were stepping through the doors of the Mikaelson Mansion – the scene for the party that particular evening.

Caroline really was in awe of Mrs Mikaelson and her unrivalled ability to put on a show. Everything was twinkling, or sparkling, the soft music playing in the background was classy but not the usual boring string music that normally played at this sort of thing.

“Niklaus! Caroline!”

The hostess herself swanned over to the almost couple the moment they were through the door.

“It is so lovely to have you both here.”

“Thank you for having me, Mrs Mikaelson,” Caroline said, sweetly. “This place looks amazing.”

“Yes, mother,” Klaus interjected. “You’ve truly outdone yourself.”

“Oh, stop it,” the older woman beamed. “I’m glad you two are here, now the grand total of young people is at about 15. I did so hope more of your classmates would come along, Caroline.”

“Me too,” Caroline sympathised. “But you know this time of year, just so busy!”

“Yes, yes, well, I suppose,” Esther said, as another few guests arrived. “I must be off, do enjoy yourselves, and say goodbye before you leave.”

With that, the Mikaelson matriarch was off, leaving Caroline and Klaus to the party.

The two of them walked deeper into the house, a little awkwardly. They had been cooped up all week, just the two of them, and now they were out in the open, not particularly sure how to interact.

“Maybe we get some drinks?” Klaus said.

“Yeah, as if they’ll serve us alcohol. We’re both underage. Your mom’s the host, my mom’s the sheriff!”

“We can have orange juice or coke, sweetheart,” Klaus chuckled.

“Hi you two!” a voice said, from behind them.

It was Rebekah, who was holding a bit too tightly to her boyfriend’s hand.

“Hi,” Caroline said back, tensing a little. She was over Matt, she had to remind herself. “You guys having a good time.”

“Yes!” Rebekah exclaimed. “Most of my friend group is here. Not many seniors though, just you and Matt as far as I can tell.”

“Yeah,” Caroline said. “Honestly, though, without Bonnie and Elena, I’m pretty fresh out of my best buddies.”

Rebekah laughed in response, and then launched into her thoughts on Caroline’s current routines about the cheer squad.

The two girls spoke for a while, Matt and Klaus making gruff males-who-don’t-have-much-in-common small talk, until the lights lowered further, and the stately classical music, gave way to more popular tunes played by a DJ.

“Oh my gosh, Matt! It’s our song!” Rebekah shrieked, as a fairly non-descript pop song began to play.

With that, they were off into the middle of the crowd, dancing joyfully. 

Caroline felt a little pang in her chest. Partly out of the loss of such an easy boyfriend, as Matt was. But more for the fact that she and Klaus didn’t have a song, and never would. Tomorrow, her parents would be home, Klaus would be gone, and their moment would be over.

She and Klaus stood watching the crowd for a few minutes, when the song changed, and a Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas began to play.

“Care to dance, my love?” Klaus asked, almost tenderly.

She smiled, and let him lead her into the fray.

He pulled her close, close enough to drive them both crazy, but still far enough away to maintain that increasingly elusive plausible deniability.

“Does that make this our song?” Klaus murmured to her as they held each other.

“Do we need a song?” Caroline asked, doubtfully.

He didn’t answer, but he did pull her fractionally closer, even as he cast his eyes downward for a moment.

They remained silent for the rest of the song, though as the next started, Caroline’s face cracked into a smile.

“You know what, yes,” she said. “That is our song. I’ve had a really great time this week Klaus, no matter what.”

“Me too, my love,” he said, softly.

“Why don’t we get going?” Caroline asked, as though making an internal decision. “We can play loud music back at the Salvatore mansion, and maybe make our fun.”

Klaus nodded briskly, and she strode away from him. Following after her at a slower pace, his heart sped up slightly at the thought of what Caroline maybe had in mind. His best friend’s sister she may have been, but Klaus couldn’t deny the way his body had been consistently reacting to her the past few days.

“You two leaving so soon?”

Esther caught them as they were right at the exit. Klaus hoped Caroline would have an excuse because he certainly didn’t know how to explain to his mother that he was leaving her party early, with a girl, to go back to the girl’s empty house.

“Yes, Mrs Mikaelson,” Caroline said, with sincere sadness in her voice. “I have been trying to be really strict with my curfew lately, being a senior and all. I’ve got to keep my nose down if I want to get into my first choice college.”

“If it’s for college, I suppose I can’t fault your commitment to your studies.”

“I can send Klaus back after he’s dropped me off, if you’d like?”

“Only if he wants to, Caroline,” Esther replied. “I have a feeling he only came today because you were interested. Niklaus will do what Nikaus wants, and nothing more.”

“Okay then, we better get going then,” Caroline said with a bright, charming smile. “Thank you so much for having us. You wait until I tell the girls at school what they missed because they had plans!”

Klaus bid his mother goodbye, and the two were off.

“You should win an academy award for that performance, Ms Forbes,” Klaus quipped.

“That’s because it’s not untrue!” Caroline said to him, as they both clambered into the car. “You’ve been a horrible influence on me! Since the start of semester, every week night, I’ve been in bed before ten, and every weekend I’ve been in by eleven. Admittedly, it’s only nine now, but still.”

“I didn’t realise I was in such proper company,” Klaus joked.

“Oh shush, I can party after I get into college, and I have no idea what I want to do, so I’m keeping my options open.”

“So, if I call on you for a party the moment you finish finals, I can be sure of party animal Caroline in full force.”

“You sure can, Klaus, and that’s a promise.”

Klaus smirked, as he started the drive back to the Salvatore house. He fully intended to collect on that promise.

“So, what do you want to drink?” Caroline asked, when they arrived back.

“Whatever you’re having love,” Klaus said.

“I don’t think I’ll have any,” she said, before winking. “I don’t need alcohol to have fun.”

“I’m sure you don’t, sweetheart,” Klaus said. “But it sure can help get the fun started.”

“Yeah, I know,” Caroline said. “But, I meant what I said to you earlier. I’ve been really bad this week. It’s been so fun with you, but I want to at least be able to look my parents in the face tomorrow and not have to lie about boozing all night tonight.”

“Right you are, love,” Klaus smiled. “Not an enviable task I’m sure; lying to the sheriff.”

“Do you want something to eat?” Caroline asked, striding into the kitchen. “The food at the party was lovely, but it sure was small.”

Klaus chuckled, he knew what she meant. Finger food was always the choice of snack for that sort of party.

“We came back to have our own party,” Klaus replied. “So party food is always a good start.”

Klaus was leaning against the kitchen bench when Caroline pulled out some ingredients to make grilled cheese sandwiches for them both.

When they polished off the sandwiches, Klaus looked at Caroline, his head tilted to the side.

“What now?” he asked her.

“Are you sure you don’t want a drink?” she checked.

“My eyes will be as open as yours, Caroline.”

“Do you want to watch a movie?”

“That could be nice,” he replied, though he noticed an unfamiliar, but exciting glint in her eyes.

“Or we could do something else,” Caroline said, as she pushed herself off the counter to looped her fingers though his belt loops and pulled him closer to her.

Klaus settled his hands on her waist, his mouth a little dry, and his heart pounded a somewhat faster. She was looking at him with such determination, and any resolve he pretending to have wavered.

And then she pressed her soft lips to his, and it completely crumbled.

When Klaus would replay that night in his head, as he secretly would many times in the years to come, he would always edit in a pause, where he showed some semblance of restraint, where he didn’t kiss back straight away.

But in reality, so lost was he in instant euphoria, he fell headlong into the moment.

He brought his hands up to cup her face, pulling it even closer than it already was. He tilted his head to the other side to open his mouth, and deepen the kiss.

For the intensity of the moment, it was still quite innocent.

After a few more seconds, Caroline pulled away, her nose and cheeks delightfully rose coloured, her pupils dilated.

She sucked her lips a little nervously, and looked at him through her long lashes. She ran her hands down his arms to interlock her fingers with his. Without saying a word, unable to get enough, he placed a few chaste kisses to her lips.

“Klaus,” she said, her voice laden. “Do you want to go upstairs?”

He softly, playfully, ran his nose up the side of her face, until his eyes met hers, he smiled faintly, and nodded.

Caroline used their linked hands to lead Klaus from the kitchen, up the stairs, stopping at her bedroom door.

“Are you sure, Caroline?” Klaus asked.

“Are you?” she replied.

“Yes.”

The word hung between them, signing away any plausibly deniability. But they were both too wrapped in each other to quite mind.

Caroline opened the door, and let him in.

For the first time since Caroline kissed him, Klaus was curious to the world beyond her. He had never been into her room before, in all the years he’d been in and out of that house.

It was tastefully decorated, of course it was, and had such an eclectic mix of trinkets and doo-dads from Caroline’s life. A photo of her, Elena, and Bonnie as young girls, a souvenir model of the Eiffel Tower, a figurine of Harry Potter, her Miss Mystic Falls trophy. It was such a study in Caroline, and he felt his heart clench at the thought that beyond tomorrow, he would no longer be able to study her.

As Klaus appraised her room, Caroline appraised herself in her mirror. She noted her extra flushed complexion, and her mildly smudged make up. She noticed her slender shoulders, and how striking she actually looked. She wondered how Klaus saw her.

As she gazed upon herself, she wondered if this was the right thing to do. She had always imagined having sex for the first time with someone she loved, or at least someone she was in a relationship with. Klaus was neither of those things.

Sure, she fancied him a bit. And had for a long time, but in the way girls tended to do about their older siblings’ friends. She’d fancied Damon’s friend Ric for a while as well, didn’t mean she wanted to sleep with him.

She wasn’t sure what it was about Klaus, but she wanted him.

Plus, she was sick of pretending. Half the people at school thought she’d slept with Matt, and the other half thought it was Tyler. Even Bonnie and Elena just assumed she had. They never really asked her, more wrapped up in their own drama. And it was always something she was too awkward about to correct.

With both Matt and Tyler, they’d done some stuff, but Caroline had never felt comfortable enough with them or with herself, to want to take that next step.

But with Klaus, boy, she wanted it. She had been aching for him all week. In a way she hadn’t before. And she may not have had sex, but she knew how to help herself out thank you very much – and she had.

The long and short of it all was, she was ready. She wanted it to be this way. It may not have matched the picture in her head, but it felt better. And that, more than anything, steeled her resolve that this was what she wanted.

She turned away from the mirror, and faced him.

“So,” she said.

“So,” he repeated.

He moved toward her, and placed his hands on her bare shoulders, gently rubbing his palm back and forward over the exposed skin.

She leaned up to catch his lips once more, this time a little more passionately than the last.

Klaus responded instantly, sliding his hands from her shoulders to begin exploring the curves of her waist, and butt.

Caroline began walking them backward, until they hit the bed, and she pulled him on top of her. Being horizontal with him, on her bed, amped up the ever rising excitement in her, and she couldn’t help the pushing herself up to alleviate some of the pressure.

“That felt nice,” she murmured to him, between kisses.

They remained in that position for a while, Caroline not particularly sure how to progress things along, but also not wanting to admit this to her lover.

Though, before too long, the increasingly impatient Klaus, sat up to rid himself of his button down shirt, before settling himself on propped elbows above her.

Caroline was in total awe of his body. In high school, Klaus had never had a dad-bod or anything, but has also never been particularly jacked. But the man above her now was toned and defined in an incredibly alluring way.

Before she could stop herself, Caroline was running her hands softly over his skin, trying to commit to memory every dip and crevice in his body.

“Sorry,” she said shyly, when she shook herself out of the stupor.

“I am yours tonight, Caroline,” he replied, his eyes hungry for her. “Explore all you want.”

Caroline smiled appreciatively at him, and briefly wondered if he knew what he was doing. But she brushed that off almost immediately. That was for future Caroline to fret about.

After a little longer exploring his body, Klaus began slowly running his hands down from her shoulders again, though this time, he caught her dress on the way down. It pulled down easily, and soon revealed Caroline’s perfect body to his eyes.

“You are a picture, Caroline,” he said, with a strangled note to his voice, as he took in the matching red lace strapless bra and panties.

Caroline smiled, a little abashed by the look in his eyes. Though buoyed by it also, Caroline reached for the zip of his pants, and undid it. Rather than awkwardly wriggle under him to make her attempt with her hands, Caroline laid back down and brought her flexible legs upward, locking her dainty toes into the waistband of the pants. She deftly manoeuvred the pants down his legs enough that he could simply shake them off himself.

She internally congratulated herself on that move. She’d seen it once in an adult movie she watched, and she was stoked that she managed to do it without it being completely awkward.

Now both almost completely naked, they resumed their kissing, though this time everything became a little more frenzied. Both of them were losing the little self-control they had, their skin rubbing together intoxicatingly. They only paused when Caroline rid herself of her bra, leaving her breasts to bounce freely.

Klaus immediately cupped with mounds with his coarse hands, further tightening the spring in Caroline’s abdomen. He honestly didn’t think he’d ever touched such perfect breasts before, and it was driving him wild.

Klaus changed positions and suddenly he was kissing himself down her body, before he went to place an open mouthed kiss on the apex of her thighs through her underwear.

“What are you doing?” she asked, a little alarmed by this turn of events.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Klaus replied, instantly looking guilty. All the girls he’d tried this on with had been like putty in his hands. “I thought you might like…”

“Umm, I guess,” she said, self-consciously, turning bright red. “No one has ever…”

She left the sentence hanging, and looked just about anywhere than at his face between her legs.

“I don’t have to, Caroline,” he said, trying to calm her unease. “But if you want me to, I’m more than happy to oblige.”

“Do I have… to um… I guess…” she said, stumbling for the way she could say what she wanted. “Will you want the same?”

“I don’t know who you’ve been sleeping with, Caroline,” Klaus chuckled, completely missing the guilty look Caroline’s face. “But I will not make you do anything you don’t want to do. And I won’t even hold your own pleasure to ransom for it. There’s no fun in that for me.”

“Oh, okay, I guess I…” she started, still not quite sure what she wanted. “Can you… umm… do your thing… for a bit, then we see?”

Klaus nodded. Though, before he went back to his task, he crawled back up her body, and kissed her lightly on the mouth, looking deeply into her eyes.

“You’re beautiful, Caroline,” he whispered. “Just relax, and make sure you tell me what you want. I’m not some high school jock solely interested in my own pleasure.”

He winked, and kissed her again, before adding in the most diabolical voice Caroline ever heard, “I’m very interested in your pleasure too.”

That was enough to halt her embarrassment, and have her spring coiling again. There was something particularly sexy about someone wanting her pleasure, as well as their own.

She caught herself briefly pondering whether Klaus would spoil her for boys her own age, but before she could explore that thought any more, the thought was whipped from her mind, as Klaus hooked his fingers into her strappy panties, left her bare in front of him, and placed his mouth on the heat between her legs.

It felt quite unlike anything she had experienced before

He kissed at her a few times, before he started flicking his tongue back and forward over her clitoris. It was fire. He slowly added one of his fingers into her, then two, pulling them in and out at an increasing pace. She couldn’t help the small whimper that escaped her mouth.

“Klaus,” Caroline asked, after a few minutes, her voice a lot more strangled with want than last she spoke. “I want you now, I think.”

Klaus had never heard anything sexier in his life, and he was all too willing to abide. He gave only a few more thrusts of his fingers, before he pulled them out, and finally pulled his own underwear off.

With both bodies now completely nude, the tension in the room buzzed up a notch.

Klaus settled himself back over her, and kissed her, hard.

Caroline could now reach his cock. And reach it she did. She took it into her hand and began to stroke up and down, imagining with each stroke that he was pumping into her.

“Condom?” Klaus asked, trying his absolute utmost to be responsible, when all he wanted to do was thrust into her, consequences be damned.

She scrambled from the bed, and went into her en suite, to pull out a couple of the little foil packets.

As she crossed back to him, he grabbed at her waist to pull her down onto him as quickly as possible, and he began attacking her lips again. They lost themselves in that for a moment before Caroline pressed the condom into Klaus’ hand.

He moved off her and onto his back, to tear the packet open, and remove the item. He reached down to roll the latex over himself, then rolled back so he was bearing over her once more.

Caroline’s breathing hitched with every breath, anticipation sizzling every part of her body. Klaus reached between them to grab his cock, and guided it toward her opening. He teased her a little with it, running the tip of his penis along her folds, until she mewled for more.

Delicately, Klaus began to push into her. He pushed slowly, centimetre by centimetre, until she fully gloved him.

“You feel…” she said, barely able to get the words out. “Amazing.”

“God, Caroline,” he said, nearly embarrassed at how desperate he was to move in her. “This is incredible.”

“Move, Klaus, please.”

Only too happy to obliged, Klaus pulled himself from her and slid back in, with more speed that the last time. Then he went again, quicker still.

Soon, Klaus was set in a steady rhythm, and Caroline couldn’t believe what she was feeling. She clung to him, and was astounded to feel herself wanting more and more. Her hands made their way to his muscular ass and gripped it. She found if she used her grip on his butt to push him further into her, they both let out moans of pleasure

She found her breathing grow a bit ragged, as she studied Klaus face, his brow furrowed, his mouth slightly open from the pleasure.

“Caroline,” Klaus said, his voice strained. “I’m going to come.”

She couldn’t help but gasp at the pure need in his voice, then again when she felt the twitch from his cock as he came into her.

They both lay there panting for a few moments, and Caroline couldn’t believe what had just happened.

He kissed her tenderly, before easing himself out of her. He got up and padded into her bathroom, to dispose of the condom, but was back as soon as he could. He felt the loss of her body instantly.

Caroline smiled shyly at him again, like she had earlier in the night.

“Sorry I didn’t…,” she said, once again not finding the right words. “You know… come for you.”

Klaus’ face twisted, a little bit in embarrassment, little bit in sympathy, but mostly in amusement for her innocent remark.

“Caroline, I would have been more offended if you had faked it,” he said, kissing her on the forehead. “I should be apologising for not helping you get there.”

“I don’t really know how to get there,” she admitted in a whisper. She never admitted it out loud before, and she was mortified with herself that she had then.

But Klaus smiled understandingly at her.

“I don’t think that’s uncommon,” he said. “And practice makes perfect, right?”

She laughed, and swatted at him. She was also a little bit in awe that he had made her feel comfortable about something that had brought her such anxiety.

“Also, again, you’re sleeping with the wrong people if they don’t help you practice.”

Caroline blushed, and covered it by kissing him. She didn’t know why she was too embarrassed to tell Klaus this was her first time, when she so obviously gave him pleasure. But she just decided it was too much to share, she didn’t know if she would be able to if she tried.

“How about I get us a snack, and then we kiss some more?” he said, playfully, as he sprung out of bed to find something to cover himself. 

When he left the room a minute later in nothing but a towel, Caroline relaxed back to stare at the ceiling.

Unsure of how to feel.

Her body was still buzzing in the after glow, and she thought, even though she hadn’t had one of those really loud, body shaking orgasms she had seen the few times she watched porn, she’d also read enough articles about first times to know that this one had been a pretty special one.

By the time Klaus was back, chocolate bars and cups of tea in hand, Caroline had regained her most of her faculties, and she grinned at him.

“Well that was fun,” she said, as he handed her one of the mugs.

“That it was,” Klaus replied, chinking his mugs to hers. “Repeat?”

“When?” Caroline laughed.

The mood shifted slightly, both of them immediately a little uncomfortable with the question that had been chasing them all week.

What happens next?

“I’m not sure,” Klaus said, looking down at the drink in his hand.

“Me neither,” Caroline replied.

They were an absurd picture, Caroline was sure; a young couple, sitting completely naked, in silent awkwardness, drinking tea from dainty china cups.

“I don’t want to pretend this never happened,” Caroline confessed. How could she pretend? “But I understand if you do. Because of… you know… Stefan, and I’m in high school, or whatever.”

Caroline lips were tight, and her jaw was set, Klaus knew it was hard for her to say, and he appreciated it. But honestly, he didn’t know what he wanted to do.

“We did complicate things a little, didn’t we?”

“Yep,” she replied, popping the p audibly.

“It doesn’t have to be complicated,” Klaus posited, an underlying question in his voice.

“It doesn’t?” Caroline asked, raising her eyebrow.

“The age thing isn’t weird, especially since your brother dated your best friend and you had to be okay with it?” Klaus said, remembering the awful time throughout their final year of high school and first year of college when Stefan and Elena dated.

“Oh yeah, because I could ever have made Elena realise it was totally weird for me,” Caroline scoffed. “I love her, but she has got no self-awareness, and frankly no concept of a world not revolving around her.”

“Yes, I can imagine if you told her about this… about us, she would go all hysterical at you, all distraught about how I’m the reason she and Stefan broke up,” Klaus laughed.

“You’re so right, she hates you, I forgot!”

“Yes, and Bonnie doesn’t like me much either,” Klaus noted.

“Oh my god, I wish she would get over that! You and Stefan played one prank on her, and she will never let it me, or anyone else, forget it!”

“I’m still not sure how Stefan has been cleared of all charges, and yet I am still in the dog house after three years!” Klaus exclaimed. “Speaking of Stefan…”

“Honestly, he’s a wild card,” Caroline said. “He’s usually pretty understanding, but sometimes is a totally over protective ass, you know.”

“I can imagine he would avenge your innocence in subtle ways,” Klaus said. “Like would drop into random conversations with ethical questions about dating their friend’s siblings.”

“Yeah, probably,” Caroline giggled. “Imagine Elijah! ‘Niklaus! I used to babysit that girl!’”

“Yes! And ‘you are far too brutish for a sweet girl like, Caroline,’!” Klaus added. “Oh and think of Rebekah.”

“How could you sleep with my brother!” Caroline cried, in a high pitched, mock-English accent, imitating Rebekah. “How could you sleep with my ex, Bekah, if we want to get into the weeds on the girl code.”

“Bekah and Matt have slept together?” Klaus asked, sharply.

“Oh come on Klaus,” Caroline chided. “Given the conversation we’re having, maybe we not judge your sister for anything she wants.”

“There’s the rub though, sweetheart,” Klaus said, sadly. “That’s how the judgement will happen.”

“Does it matter?” Caroline asked, trying not to sound hurt.

“I don’t know,” Klaus said, honestly. “But rest assured you won’t be my dirty little secret. I refuse to let something I enjoyed so much be something I feel guilty about.”

There was such conviction in his voice that Caroline could have cried. And she did have to take a few deep breaths to stop the tears from visibly springing to her eyes. 

“Okay,” she said, decisively. “We won’t tell people, but we won’t lie if asked. That seems okay right?”

“Seems fair,” he replied, as he put his arm around her shoulders and drew her closer to her, and placed a gentle kiss to her mouth.

“And leaves it open for something else in the future,” she winked.

“Now that,” Klaus said, genuinely smiling. “Would be my pleasure.”

Caroline smiled back at him, and kissed him again, feeling content with their conversation.

It wasn’t until the next afternoon, when Liz and Giuseppe returned home, and thanked Klaus for being company for Caroline while they were away, did Caroline fully comprehend the feeling of sadness that was mixed in with the contentment.

“I’ll see you out,” Caroline said to Klaus, as he grabbed his bag and headed for the door.

“Chin up, my love,” Klaus said, nudging her with his elbow. “We don’t need your parents thinking I’m a bad babysitter. They’ll never ask me here again.”

“I had a really great time this week,” Caroline said, earnestly, as he packed his bag into the boot of his car.

“As did I, Caroline,” he replied. “I am looking forward to when you’re in college, maybe you’ll join me and Stefan. It would be nice to have you around.”

Caroline glowed a little from the compliment.

“And in any case, perhaps, when you’re done with senior year, and that party animal you promised me comes out to play,” Klaus said, cheekily. “Maybe you will invite me for one of your events.”

Caroline grinned at him, before wrapping her arms around him for a hug.

“I’ll see you,” she murmured.

“Thank you, Caroline.”

And with that, he was slipping into the front of his car and was driving off, leaving Caroline to just wave at his tail lights as he went.

xxx

Let me know what you think!!!

[averys]

There will be a fire awoken inside of THE INSURGENT, an inferno that has the capacity to burn down everything in its path. However, if it can be harnessed properly, it will bring them strength in the darkness and light their way back home...

❝ I was looking for a breath of life, a little touch of heavenly light, but all the choirs in my head sang no. ❞ Merlin’s beard, what is ( LAVINIA AVERY ) doing out at this hour? For a ( PUREBLOOD ) who is ( 51 ) years old, ( SHE ) really ought to know better. You know, I hear that they’re aligned with ( THE ARCHANGELS ), but that could be just a rumor. I do know that they’re a ( CIS WOMAN ) and a ( SLYTHERIN ) alum who works as a ( GOVERNOR AT HOGWARTS ) though. They’re very ( PRAGMATIC ) and ( CHARISMATIC ) but also quite ( MASTERFUL ) and ( IRRITABLE ), which could be why they remind of ( FORCED SMILES AND FEIGNED LAUGHTER, SILVER PLATED JEWELRY, AN INTENSE GLARE OVER READING GLASSES, ROLL NECK SWEATERS, BOTTLES OF WINE STORED IN WOODEN FRENCH WINE CRATES, A LOCKED SAFE GATHERING DUST ). Some people say they’re the spitting image of ( JENNIFER ANISTON ), but I’ve never heard of them. Word on the street is that they’re ( THE INSURGENT ) and their prophecy is ( PROPHECY 24 ), but only time will tell if that’s true or not. [ ELLE,  22, SHE/HER, BST ]

abuse tw, abandonment tw, death tw

THE BASICS

name: lavinia avery

age: fifty one

pronouns: she/her (cis female)

blood status: pureblood (sacred twenty eight)

house: slytherin

occupation: hogwarts governor, previously a ministry of magic employee

special abilities: leglimency

wand: 9″ red oak, phoenix core.

affilliation: the archangels

code name: leviathen

CHILDHOOD

the avery family were no strangers to dark wizards. lavinia’s father had the dark mark and his position on blood purity and indeed the dark lord limited her choices growing up and indeed in her adult life. the avery’s were one of the named twenty eight sacred families and she would always have to live up to that.

her father was one for discipline, tough discipline. they were all afraid to say anything to him, to argue with him was a dangerous game. it was a toxic household to grow up in but lavinia didn’t know any better. the day her letter from hogwarts came in the mail was the happiest day of her life as it gave her an opportunity to escape it and feel as safe as she could.

unlike some of her slytherin counterparts, she wasn’t one to terrorise other students nor was she stuck on blood purity. this surprised most as she was different to what they were expecting. lavinia was tolerant but easily influenced. she wouldn’t fight others on issues or stick up for the little guy but she’d watch it being done.

lavinia was too sensitive for her father’s liking. she was a feeling person that acted on her emotions, one that grew more and more afraid to act on them as she grew older. there were always so many unsaid things in her household because things were never questioned; her father was the head of the household and they had to do what he wanted. lavinia was obediant but she never hated things hard enough to get on the level she was supposed to in order to catch the dark lord’s attention, not like draco malfoy did. her father was disappointed in her but it was left unsaid, he didn’t need to say it she already knew.

she always saw hogwarts as a safe place but that wasn’t what she experienced in her sixth year. however, a prank her friends orchestrated on a younger muggle born student showed her that harm could come from within its walls. that was the eve that she did stick up for the younger student because it had already gone so south and the other would have lost their life had she not being there. however, her father wasn’t happy that people were talking about her, doubting their family after siding with a muggle-born. it got her into a lot of trouble, incited so much anger in her father that she would never do anything like that again. it would take people a while to forget that his daughter had sent a very clear signal to everyone that she was tolerant and it didn’t sit well with him.

after she returned to hogwarts, she wasn’t the same. she kept her head down and hoped the hero trope would be dropped so she didn’t bring any more shame on her family. she had done the right thing but it hadn’t once felt good as she had to endure so much after it, including making her father’s life more difficult with the dark lord.

lavinia was known to be a stellar student and the school couldn’t fault her purely because of who her father was and how he acted. her own actions did cause her to be bullied by her house mates until snape took her under his wing and taught her leglimency. he was in on it, she knew that, but he did make an effort with her in terms of preparing her and giving her a skill that she could use.

AFTER THE WAR

lavinia’s father fought along side lord voldemort and ended up in azkebanwhile her mother disappeared; it wasn’t clear as to whether she had died or seen it as a perfect opportunity to escape a toxic household. lavinia was hurt by this and she’d never get an answer. as horrible as it is, she’d rather tell herself that her mother was dead than accepting the possibility that the woman left her in a time like that.

after leaving hogwarts, she worked for the ministry of magic for twenty five years before handing in her resignation and becoming a hogwarts governor. in between that time, lavinia married, he would take her last name in an attempt to higher his status, to feign being part of the secred twenty eight. just like that, it took the focus of her and he looked like an avery heir. they had one child, who lavinia loves so much.

THE WRAITHS TO THE ARCHANGELS

her husband was very involved with orion and therefore, lavinia became the supportive wife who would keep her mouth shut, just like her mother did with her father. everything was a cycle and she saw no point in fighting it.

she was a devoted member of the wraiths by association and had been incredibly supportive until her husband returned from a meeting cursed, imperiused. whoever cursed it wanted them gone for reasons unknown to the woman. she killed him protecting her child and it was the hardest thing she would ever had to do.

it had ruined her, ruined them, and it was something that couldn’t be undone. it was deemed a self defense incident but that still didn’t bring her husband back, nor replace him as a father. hatred fuelled her and pushed her to plan to set up her own organisation - the archangels. the wraiths would get what was coming to them and the more people deflected, the better chance she’d have.

she carried on meeting people once she had left and recruiting people, through various false promises but that was the game she had to play in order to get justice and to feel in control of the situation.

lavinia is the charismatic, pragmatic leader , something that does feed her ego. however, she does feel like she’s in the right in what she’s doing instead of simply just becoming a new version of orion lestrange. she’s under pressure because of everything to make it work; she can’t fail at it, she just can’t.

it’s obvious she does have some doubts seen as her child is part of the organisation but she keeps them as far away from the truth as possible. she worries that something will happen to them, that they will be targetted just like their father was so the less they know, the better. she really cares for them and although she’s on a quest for power, her child is her main priority and will always be... hopefully.

[thehollowprince]

Penny Dreadful: City of Angels

Episode 1: Santa Muerte - Recap and Review

SPOILER WARNINGS ARE IN EFFECT BELOW THE CUT

The episode opens with a Mexican standoff (ba dum tsh) between Santa Muerte (Lorenza Izzo) and her “sister” Magda (Natalie Dormer), who seriously has to be roasting under the Southern California sun in that black leather outfit.  (Sidenote, how does a Mexican folk spirit/deity have a British woman as a sister?  Guess she was adopted.)  Anyway, Magda is monologuing, as villains tend to do, saying “All mankind needs to become the monster he truly is, is being told he can.”  They go back and forth for a minute, and I was eerily reminded of the movie Constantine that came out many moons ago.  Y’know the one, right?  Loosely (and I mean loosely) based on the comic character?  Played by Keanu Reeves?  That was the vibe I go here, with Santa Muerte and Magda making some kind of bet about the “worthiness” of mankind.  (I also got strong jealous ex vibes from Magda in this scene, but we’ll see how that goes).

So we start the action by showing a field of Mexican-American laborers working the fields with a little boy sitting on the truck, picking the music they listen to.  His father jokes about his choice of music before getting back to work.  Now I’ll be the first to admit that everything that played out next was just this side of tone deaf.  I understand that Magda is the villain here, and wants to see humanity burn, but having a white woman set fire to a field full of brown people, resulting in several deaths kind of defeats the message they’re trying to send with this show, but I will suspend my disbelief for a little while to see how all of this plays out.

All in all, it was a beautiful shot, as gruesome as it was, with the flames, and then seeing Santa Muerte cradling the boy’s father as he died in the flames all while La Llorona played in the background.  The boy tries to save his father, but Santa Muerte uses the Force to push him away, despite not even two minutes earlier claiming she “had no heart for the living”.  Must be something special about this boy.

Cut to 1938 and the boy is all grown up.  Tiago Vega (Daniel Zovatto) just passed his exam to become a detective, the first Chicano detective in Los Angeles.  His Mamá (Adrianna Barraza) prepared him a cake to celebrate the occasion, and we get to meet the rest of La Familia Vega.  First there’s Mateo (Johnathan Nieves), who is seriously adorable.  Next is Josefina (Jessica Garza), who is the baby of the family.  And then finally we get the big brother, Raul (Adam Rodriguez), who “mysteriously” isn’t a part of the main cast.

Anyway, Raul is not happy about his baby brother being a detective, given the Mexican and Mexican-American relations with law enforcement, which... valid.  He has a point.  But Mamá quickly shuts Raul down when he tries to be a Negative Nancy and they celebrate as a family.  Cut to later, and Mamá is walking Tiago to the bus, and they remark about the construction equipment at the end of the street.  Here we’re introduced to the main conflict of the story.  Their neighborhood is set to be demolished to make way for construction for the Arroyo Seco Parkway, the first of the LA freeways.  Mamá remarks about the machines, likening them to animals baring their teeth at her, before Tiago gets on the bus to go to his apartment, because he’s the only member of the family to move away from home.

By the way, I will never complain about the size of my apartment again after seeing how tiny Tiago’s is.

Cut to the next morning, where the phone rings, waking Tiago up, and it’s his new partner on the phone.  Congratulations!  You get to start two days early with no prep time.  Said partner, Detective Lewis Michener, is played by Nathan Lane like you’ve never seen him before.  And as an aside, just hearing him drop the F-bomb made my day.  The reason they’re starting early is because their was a homicide, and the captain himself called them specifically.  The murder is a family of four, dropped in the Los Angeles river bed, their faces painted in Dia De Muertos makeup.  Also, there’s a message scrawled nearby in blood (or red paint)

TE LLEVAS NEUSTRO CORAZON TOMAMOS EL TUYO 

“You take our heart, we take yours.”  If you haven’t guessed it by now, the hearts of the four victims had been removed.  This all ties back to the Arroyo Seco Parkway and how it’s planned to cut through the heart of the Chicano community.  Michener makes the connection as to why they were called, “It’s a spick thing.”  (Fair warning, that kind of language, while not super common in this show, isn’t exactly uncommon.)

Elsewhere, Mamá is getting off the bus in a fancy part of town, because she’s a maid to Peter Craft (alum Rory Kinnear), who is a German immigrant with two sons and a wife that looks a little strung out.  This scene is pretty filler, but it establishes the dynamic of Craft’s household, with him talking to Mamá before his own wife.  He leaves for work, listening to tape recordings in his car as a way to practice on getting rid of his accent to blend in and “be more American”  It was kind of adorable.

Back at the police precinct, Tiago got blood on his cuff from the crime scene and MIchener tells him to just throw the shirt out.  Que the racist cops who harass Tiago, because the audience needs to understand just how unwelcome a Chicano detective is among his all white peers.  The two visit their captain and discover that their four victims are a wealthy family from Beverly Hills, which judging by everyone’s reactions in the scene is a pretty big deal for some reason.  There was a horrible moment where the captain says “You have no idea how much I wished those bodies were Mexican” before he realizes who is in the room and adds a halfhearted “No Offense.”  I have to say, Tiago has way more patience than I do for shrugging it off.  The captain decides that it’s obviously Mexicans behind the murders and Michener suggests pachucos. 

Now we’re back with Craft, who is a pediatrician, and his current patient is the son of... Natalie Dormer... but now she’s blonde?  Elsa is concerned about her son Frank’s breathing problems and talks with the doctor privately about it, revealing that she’s also a German immigrant, originally from Berlin, “but now we’re in Boyle Heights, with the Jews” (seriously not a fan of how she said that, which I’m guessing is the point, but only time will tell).  There’s a moment between the two, with him offering her his handkerchief when she starts crying.  

After she leaves, we get one of the most disturbing scenes I’ve ever seen.  It takes a lot to unnerve me, but this scene unnerved me.  If you’re going into this show blind, let this be the moment when you find out that all the characters played by Natalie Dormer are all Magda, who shapeshifts into other people to further influence the negative emotions of those around her, bringing out the worst in humanity.  Well, “Elsa” enters the elevator with her “son” and unbuttons her blouse before placing his head against her stomach.  She absorbs him back into herself like some sort of weird reverse-birth, taking him “back to the womb” as it were.  It wasn’t overly graphic, but it unnerved me nonetheless. 

Back at the doctor’s office, one of his nurses asks what he wants for lunch and he says he’ll be going out.  He walks over to his closet and opens it, revealing a Nazi flag and uniform.  Abort!  

Abort!

At the city hall there is a meeting of the City Council, or some division of it involving transportation.  Its a meeting to discuss the Arroyo Seco Parkway, with almost everyone in attendance being Mexican, led, of course, by Tiago’s older brother Raul.  Gotta have that brother-against-brother angle.  The guy leading the meeting is some douchebag named Townsend (Michael Gladis).There’s a standoff between him and Raul over this parkway, with Townsend telling them to “go back where they came from”, which Raul responds rather cheekily to the fact that he was born in the Los Angeles County Hospital, same as him.

Raul: “When progress becomes barbarity, it ceases to be in the public interest.  We are the public, sir, no matter the color of our skin, and we will not be moved.”

Townsend: “Then you will be pushed.”

Naturally from there it ends in police brutality, with the cops on scene beating Raul with their clubs as they drag him from the city hall, despite it being open to the public.  And people wonder why no one likes the police? Although, I do love the fact that they made Raul so well-spoken.  Given how they’re presented as poorer, it would have been so easy to fall back on that illiterate Mexican trope, but they shied away from that, and I’m grateful.

After the meeting, Townsend is walking down the hall with Natalie Dormer by his side, this time as a gray-haired, middle-aged woman?  Man?  It’s unclear at first, until we get a wide shot and we see that she’s wearing a skirt with her masculine suit and tie combo, so definitely a woman.  Personally, I would have been okay if this persona - Alex - had been a man, but that’s just me.  Anyway, Alex is just feeding this blowhard’s ego, and he equates himself to Mussolini, and then Hitler (ABORT!).  The topic turns to more motorways, stuff to keep Townsend in the papers for some unknown purpose.

And we’re back to the Michener and Vega hour, where the two detectives are enjoying their lunch break when we hear drums and look up to see Nazis - I’m sorry, the German-American Bund - walking down the street in full regalia with Craft at their head.  Craft gives a big speech about staying out of foreign affairs (it’s 1938 and WWII is just about to start), saying “America First”.  Michener is giving them the stink eye and it’s at this point I remembered that he’s Jewish, so odds are he knows full well what the ideology behind the Nazi Party, even if their worst crimes are still ahead of them.

Michener insists they go, with the two heading over to Beverly Hills to investigate the home of the murder victims.  Inside there’s a portrait of who I thought was Joseph Smith above the fireplace, which I guess means these people were Mormons.  The radio, when turned on, is playing some Radio Evangelist (this is before Televangelism became a thing), and I think the woman preaching is the last member of our cast, Sister Molly (Kerry Bishé).  The two investigate the house and determine that the family wasn’t murdered there, though they do discover that the father was one of the guys behind the Arroyo Seco Parkway.

The plot thickens.

Cut to a shadowy meeting at the bluffs between Townsend and Baron von Strucker from the MCU.  Ugh, more Nazis.  The new Nazi talks to Townsend about getting him the position of Mayor of Los Angeles, to further their own agenda, and warns him that his driver is a Gestapo agent and has been told to shoot Townsend if the meeting does not go their way.

Later that night, we’re in downtown L.A., presumably in a Mexican-American neighborhood where Mateo works.  There’s some hanky panky going on in the store where he’s stocking shelves where some random dude and his sister, Josefina, are getting to second base.  Mateo puts the kibosh on that quickly, chasing the boy from the store while shouting obscenities, before arguing with this sister, until Mamá shows up and sets them both straight.  There’s a poignant moment between mother and son where he remarks about how as a Chicano, his options for the future are limited, that Tiago was the exception, not the rule.

Speaking of Tiago, he shows up to ask about Santa Muerte and if his mother had heard anything about something going on, as he recognized the face paint on the murder victims.  It’s revealed that he doesn’t believe in Santa Muerte, though his mother does and remarks about him being “marked”, revealing that he was the little boy from the beginning.  We all know that something bigger is going on, but Tiago is unconvinced, and this is the one time we see him and Mamá butt heads.  There’s a moment where the two calm down before we get a really cute scene of Tiago dancing with his mother.

That moment slides into a moment between Los Hermanos Vega, which starts nicely but ends up tense and serious, as they talk about the construction of the parkway to begin on Monday, which requires Tiago to be with the police but his brothers will be with the neighborhood.  I think they’re taking this brother-against-brother thing a little far.

Mamá is praying to Santa Muerte, begging for help, and Santa Muerte actually shows up, calling Mamá “Old Coyote” (I think).  The two argue, with the former mentioning a prophecy and the Vega matriarch begging for any kind of help because she wants to protect her children.  After Santa Muerte leaves, Mamá goes to Tiago’s apartment and implores him to try and stop the protest the next day, before chugging his whiskey.

As the episode started, that’s how we end it, with a Mexican standoff, this time between the police and the residents of Belvidere Heights.  Tiago hands his gun to Michener and tries to talk down his neighborhood, to avoid bloodshed, facing off directly with his brothers who are at the front of the opposing crowd, but unbeknownst to all of them, Magda is there (in her “true” form) pacing in front of the police.  She finds one officer and we see her whispering in his ear, which leads to him firing his gun, killing one of the protesters.  Gunfire erupts and chaos ensues, leading to a full blown riot.  Magda ends up whispering to Raul next and he takes a gun and starts shooting police officers, eventually aiming his gun at Michener.  In a heartbreaking moment, Tiago shoots his own brother to stop him from killing his partner, all while La Llorona is once again playing in the background.

All in all, I’d give the episode an 8/10.  It was a great start, introducing most of the key players involved and getting the conflict started right away, but there are still a lot of questions.  Also, there were too many Nazis in this for my liking.  I understand the point they’re trying to make, being a parallel to today, with Nazis being everywhere and no one batting an eye about it, but it’s still unsettling.

Can’t wait to see how this all turns out.