#i died in my own arms like 51 times while watching this show

[roominthecastle]

Louisa & Spiros + hands

[wonpilsonefeel]

Here’s a prompt list for request.

Ask for a minimum of one number (can be more) and pairing. Also add if you want it to be angst, smut or fluff.

ALSO MY ANON PART AINT WORKING BUT I WILL KEEP YALL ANON.

I didn’t come up with these prompts.

1. "How long have you been staring at that screen?"

2. "Do you really want to test me?"

3. "How did I end up watching this?"

4. “I’m sorry. I guess I’m just worried someone is going to take you away from me.”

5. “I just want to hug you and never let go.”

6. “You’re an adult! Act like it!”

7. “Did you seriously patch up a stab wound with scotch tape?”

9. “Are you stuck?”

10. “Man, you sure got knocked around a lot today.”

11. “Just the idea of anything happening to you makes me feel physically sick.”

12. A miscommunication leads to everyone being told Person A is dead, and Person B does not handle it well. When Person A shows up completely fine, Person B is overjoyed. 

13. “It shouldn’t be physically possible for me to love you this much.”

14. “What would you do if I died?” “Can we not talk about this?”

15. “They’re too good for you.”

16. “You look so cute in pajamas

17. “You’re my favorite person ever.”

18. “I love you so much I don’t know what to do.”

19. “You need to be more careful!”

20. “Why are we on the roof?”

21. “I know it’s wrong, but I love you.”

22. Why are you like this?”

23. I can handle myself. You don’t need to protect me.”

24. I miss you.” 

25. You are not fine, you’re bleeding!”

26. Look, I really screwed up and I need advice.”

27. I hope you’re here to apologize.” “Is there something you want to tell me?”

28. You are sick, therefore I am going to take care of you. End of discussion.

29. I’m fine. It was just a nightmare. You don’t need to worry.”

30. I just want to cuddle.”

31. Every day I get to spend with you is the best day.”

32. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

33. “You have the most amazing smile.”

34. “You’re just not intimidating. Sorry.”

35. “Stop whacking me with that stupid rubber chicken!”

36. “Stop kicking me under the table!”

37. “What are you, five?”

38. “I heard a loud sound. Are you okay?”

39. “Why are you wearing my shirt?”

40. “How on Earth did you get so muddy?”

41. “Close your eyes. Don’t peek.”

42. “You know, it’s hard to stay upset when I’m holding you this close.”

43. Person A spends the entire day throwing things at Person B, just for fun.

44. Person A keeps stealing Person B’s snacks.

45. You should really get some sleep.”

46. I just want to make sure you’re safe.”

47. I hate children. They’re the worst.”

48. If you’re happy, I’m happy.”

49. I wish you’d stop saying that.”

50. Person A tries (and fails) to convince everyone they aren’t in love with person B. 

51. I’m having a long day, okay?” 

52. Stop treating me like a child!”

53. I hate it when you rhyme my name with things.”

54.

55. Small kisses littered across the other’s face.

56. A small, fleeting kiss - which is immediately followed by a passionate, hungry kiss.

57. A breathy demand: “Kiss me” - and what the other person does to respond.

58. An accidental brush of lips followed by a pause and going back for another, on purpose.

59. Throwing their arms around the other person’s neck, hugging them close before kissing them passionately on the lips.

60. Wild, breathless kisses brought on by a heartfelt gift.

61. French kisses where they trace every tooth with their tongues as though trying to memorize them.

62. Laying a gentle kiss to the back of the other’s hand.

63. A kiss that lasts so long, they are sharing each other’s breaths.

64. A hello/good-bye kiss that is given without thinking - where neither person thinks twice about it.

65. Morning kisses that are exchanged before either person opens their eyes, kissing blindly until their lips meet in a blissful encounter.

66. Sneaking away to a hidden corner to share a secretive kiss.

67. Butterfly kisses against the other’s cheeks.

68. A kiss so desperate that the two wind around each other, refusing to let go until they are finished.

69. A fierce kiss that ends with a bite on the lip, soothing it with a lick.

70. One person pouting, only to have it removed by a kiss from the other person.

71. Tucking their hands beneath the other person’s shirt, just to watch them break the kiss and gasp in surprise at the sensation of cold/warm hands on their skin.

72. Teasing kisses where one person blows air into the other’s mouth and runs away.

73. One person stopping a kiss to ask “Do you want to do this?”, only to have the other person answer with a deeper, more passionate kiss.

74. Kissing in a stairwell, giving them an artificial height difference.

75. A chaste kiss given to each other because they are in mixed company.

76. A kiss that is leading to more, but is interrupted by a third party.

77. A kiss that tastes of the food/dessert they are eating.

78. Deep kisses where they have their hands tangled in each other’s hair to pull them closer.

79. Wet kisses after finding refuge from the rain.

80. Brushing a kiss along the shell of the other person’s ear.

81. Kisses exchanged while one person sits on the other’s lap.

82. One person tracing the other’s lips with a fingertip until they can’t resist any longer, tilting their chin towards them for a kiss.

83. Staring at each other’s lips for a moment before moving closer, as if drawn together by some unseen force.

84. Weak, sweaty kisses because it’s unbearably hot.

85. Pulling away from a kiss, whispering words of love against each other’s lips.

86. A kiss so passionate, so perfect - that after they part, neither person can open their eyes for a few moments afterwards.

87. An unexpected kiss that shocks the one receiving it.

88. Kisses that start on their fingers and run up their arm, eventually ending on their lips.

89. An awkward kiss given after a first date.

90. Starting with bunny kisses before moving on to soft kisses.

91. Cleaning the other person’s lips with a lick and a kiss.

92. Whispering “I love you” before a chaste, delicate kiss.

93. Kissing tears from the other’s face.

94. A gentle kiss that quickly descends into passion, with little regard for what’s going on around them.

95. Kisses shared under an umbrella.

96. Distracting kisses from someone that are meant to stop the other person from finishing their work, and give them kisses instead.

97. A kiss pressed to the top of the head.

98. Tentative kisses given in the dark.

99. Kisses exchanged as they move around, hitting the edges of tables or nearly tripping over things on the floor before making it to the sofa, or bed.

100. A lingering kiss before a long trip apart.

101. A kiss paired with a tight hug, knocking the breath out of the person being hugged.

102. One person has to bend down in order to kiss their partner, who is standing on their tip-toes to reach their partner’s.

103. Short and sweet kiss after meeting up for a date.

104. A kiss, followed by more that trail down the jaw and neck.

105.

106. Little one jumping in puddles wearing rain boots.

107. Shopping for nursery furniture for little one.

108. Holding the little one for the first time.

109. Being immensely proud when little one takes their first steps alone.

110. Little one’s first reaction to seeing/feeling snow.

111. Singing nursery rhymes to get little one to sleep.

112. Finger painting with little one.

113. Little one getting food all over their face.

114. Going on a walk together with little one.

115. Little one coming to sleep with you after having a bad dream.

116. Picking out little one’s first Halloween costume.

117. Little one’s first birthday.

118. Keeping little one from trying to eat crayons.

119. Little one’s first trip to the zoo or aquarium.

120. Showing little one a lightning bug for the first time.

121. Little one sticking their toes in their mouth.

122. Little one pulling on your hair with surprising strength.

123. Helping little one go down a slide at the park.

124. Little one needing an emergency bath.

125. Tickling little one’s chubby thighs until they laugh.

126. Singing songs and rocking little one to sleep.

127. Reading a book with little one on your lap.

128. Having to show little one that the food tastes good by having some too.

129. Playing airplane/train to get little one to open their mouth and take a bite of food.

130. Little one chasing after bubbles to pop them.

131. Playing peek-a-boo with little one.

132. Little one snuggling with a stuffed animal.

133. Playing “This Little Piggy” on little one’s toes.

134. Having little one help mix cookie dough.

135. Little one eating a slice of fruit and getting juice all down their chin.

136. Kissing little one where they got hurt to make the pain go away.

137. Little one stripping their clothes and running around in their diaper.

138. Waking up to little one crying out in their sleep.

139. Little one biting everything they can stick in their mouth as they teethe.

140. Little one sticking pretzel sticks up their nose.

141. Little one leaving sticky fingerprints on everything they touch.

142. Having little one help flip pancakes.

143. Giving little one a raspberry on their tummy after changing their diaper.

144. Watching little one go in and out of the kiddie pool.

145. Little one pointing out colors and shapes that they recognize.

146. Having little one wear their first formal wear.

147. Little one drifting off to sleep with a smile on their face.

148. Little one settling down after you finally figure out what they need.

149. Choosing little one’s name together.

150. Watching little one attempt to blow the seeds off a dandelion.

151. Little one getting in a laughing kick where everything is funny.

152. The first time little one picks their own outfit.

153. Little one chasing down the pet to rest their head on them and hold them tight.

154. Being unable to stay mad at little one when they give you puppy dog eyes.

155. Little one playing dress up with a grown-up set of shoes.

156.

157. Holding their hands when they are shaking.

158. Tucking the sheets around them when they stir during the night.

159. Traveling long distances just to see them.

160. Making their favorite meal when they are having a hard day.

161. Giving them a kiss before going to work and they are still in bed.

162. Tucking your head into their neck during a hug.

163. Lightly kissing on top of a freshly formed bruise.

164. Buying them something unrequested because it made you think of them.

165. Participating in their hobby even if it doesn’t personally interest you.

166. Sitting in comfortable silence while eating a meal.

167. Telling them a dumb joke just to see their smile.

168. Following their family traditions that they enjoy.

169. Playing your fingers through their hair while sitting next to them on the couch.

170. Singing and dancing to their favorite song.

171. Calming them down when they have a bad dream.

172. Having a tickle fight until you’re breathless.

173. Folding their clean laundry and putting it away.

174. Sharing a soft smile across a crowded room.

175. Bringing them a plate of their favorite sliced fruit.

176. Washing their back/hair in the shower.

177. Sharing your umbrella with them in the rain.

178. Listening to them while they vent.

179. Taking a picture together to print and hang later.

180. Tracing your names together in the sand.

181. Wearing clothes in their favorite color.

182. Doing a chore for them that you know they aren’t fond of.

183. Leaving a plate of food in the microwave for when they have a late shift.

184. Sharing a drink with them from the same straw.

185. Tucking their hair behind their ear to help them get it out of their face.

186. Helping scratch that itch on their back they can’t reach.

187. Pulling a chair out for them to sit down at the table.

188. Wrapping a blanket around them when they are sitting on the couch and watching a show.

189. Throwing away their piles of tissues when they have a cold.

190. Mending an item of their clothing that was ripped.

191. Running out in the middle of the night to get a food item they’re craving.

192. Helping brush their hair after a shower.

193. Making sure to be quiet while they’re taking a nap.

194. Letting them warm their cold hands under your shirt.

195. Giving them your dessert when you eat out because it’s their favorite.

196. Making a goofy face until they notice and laugh.

197. Giving them space when they express wanting to have some time alone.

198. Holding their hand while walking, even if there isn’t a crowd.

199. Holding shopping bags that are too heavy for them.

200. Standing between them and a busy road.

201. Rubbing the back of their hand with a thumb.

202. Giving them a back massage when they flop on the couch or bed.

203. Staying up half the night to finish a game with them.

204. Getting them a coffee just the way they like it.

205. Giving them a tight hug that makes them lose their breath.

206. Buying them a special treat when you go out shopping.

[touchmycoat]

Pan Guan, Ch. 51 excerpts

During that time, Wen Shi was actually quite clingy.

Only he would never say it, nor would he pester Chen Budao with his requests. He didn’t need to be hugged and he didn’t need to be held; the way he clung was simply following Chen Budao everywhere.

As if only being where Chen Budao was could give him peace of mind.

Though Chen Budao had been the one to give him the name Wen Shi, Chen Budao would never properly call him that. He was always coming up with nicknames for Wen Shi.

If Wen Shi was sullen and unhappy and silent, Chen Budao called him “Mute Kiddo.” If Wen Shi followed only half a step behind him from place to place like a snowy little bundle of sticky rice, Chen Budao called him his “Little Tail.”

(**T/N: translation missing a cute little pun here. “Mute kiddo” is 小啞巴 xiao ya ba and “Little Tail” is 小尾巴 xiao wei ba; there’s both structural similarity and rhyme.)

Children forgot easily. Unhappy things, as long as they went unmentioned, were quickly tossed to the back of the head. Early on, Wen Shi was also like this—

Chen Budao gave him medicine to soak in for a few days, and the black mist around his hands went away, so he could sleep peacefully until morning again. Because of this, he thought that it wasn’t such a big deal anymore.

Truthfully, that was because the chill he’d gotten had gotten better, and his spirit had steadied. But he didn’t know this—he thought that his physicality had changed, and the things hidden in his body had lessened in quantity.

That year probably saw Wen Shi with the least burdens. He even brought his Golden Dapeng down the mountain the play.

Though he was quite restrained in his play as well. And quiet.

People off the mountain still called him a demon. Young ones either threw rocks at him from afar or turned tail and ran, as if, were they to stay for just a little longer, he’d start peeling their skin and eating their flesh.

That was why Wen Shi never headed for crowded places, picking specifically empty areas to hole up. Mountain cols, forests, mountain streams. This would later become his natural instinct.

Maybe it was because he wasn’t very animated himself, but he liked those lively and active things, and the peak of Songyun Mountain was too cold for living things to survive for long. At the base of the mountain, he could find a warren of rabbits, a few turtles, even just two fish, and he could watch them for a very long time.

[…]

Wen Shi fought those things in his dreams for a very long time.

When he finally opened his eyes, he found that he was no longer on his bed, but rather standing in front of Chen Budao’s bedroom door. Torrents of black mist covered his hands like knives, and he was just about to worm inside the room.

He stood there frozen in panic for a long while before flinching, turning, and running away. He didn’t dare close his eyes after that.

The Golden Dapeng was not scared of the black mist, this Wen Shi knew. He didn’t return to his room, instead sat with his legs folded on the stone cliff where they trained. He scritched at the Golden Dapeng’s fuzzy head and saw that even wrapped in the black mist the bird was still full of life. Only then did he feel a little bit better.

He didn’t know how long he sat there for before he heard rustling behind him. It was the sound of robes brushing gently over powdery white snow.

He knew that Chen Budao had come. But he kept himself closed off and didn’t turn around.

Because the moment he thought of how he’d stood in front of Chen Budao’s door like some kind of ghoul last night, he felt indescribably bad. Back then, he couldn’t understand why he felt bad. It was only a long time later that he figured out it was a type of fear.

Fear that one day, he would lose control of himself and hurt the person he least wanted to hurt. Even though he knew that with the tiniest bit of precaution, Chen Budao could make himself impossible for Wen Shi to injure.

“How come my tail’s fallen here?” Chen Budao bent over behind him and, with a palm under his chin, lifted his head.

Maybe it was because his eyes were too red, but Chen Budao startled before wiping away the tears hanging at his chin and turning him around.

Wen Shi held out a single hand and said, “those things came out again.”

Chen Budao nodded. “I see them.”

Wen Shi thought he would ask “what happened.” Instead, he heard him say, “does it hurt?”

Actually, it hurt. It really, really hurt. It was the type of hurt that bore into the head, the heart, the body, that stuck to the soul and couldn’t be shaken.

But perhaps he’d been awake for a while. At Chen Budao’s question, Wen Shi felt that it was alright. So he shook his head and mumbled, “no.”

Chen Budao bent at the waist, staring at the top of Wen Shi’s head. After a moment, he said, “you’re still so young, and you’ve already learned to lie.”

Wen Shi wrinkled his brow and looked up, asking, “how do you know I’m lying?”

Chen Budao, “because I’m your teacher.”

He sat down on the stone steps. Wen Shi took a look at the black mist all over his own body and quietly scooted himself a little bit away. He thought that he was careful and wouldn’t be noticed, but most likely, Chen Budao saw everything.

The other was silent for a while, before saying, “I’m going to show you something.”

Wen Shi kept his distance but stared at him in wide-eyed curiosity.

Chen Budao held a palm out at him. The hand was clean, and it was warm. It was better looking than any hand Wen Shi had ever seen. He stared at it for a while, and couldn’t help but put his own black hands behind his back.

But the moment they were hidden, he saw that dustless, unsullied hand of Chen Budao’s begin to emanate the same black mist as his did, ceaseless and in waves…

Wen Shi was so shocked he forgot to talk.

Chen Budao explained that that year, war and famine had been endless. He’d walked many places, and nearly all of them were cages made of countless people all gathered together.

All that resentment was almost impossible to dissolve away. It could only be repressed and treated slowly.

Chen Budao closed his fingers and that black mist obediently disappeared, with no sign of rearing up by tooth and nail. He said, “so you see, I’m the same as you.”

Only on that day did Wen Shi find out that he wasn’t the only person like this in the entire world. There was also Chen Budao.

What was first malignant in the heart had suddenly become a secret connection. Besides the two of them, nobody else knew.

“Then how come yours doesn’t run wild?” Wen Shi asked.

“Because I’m calm,” Chen Budao said.

[…]

That was the first time Wen Shi had been brought inside a cage—the herb-picking grandmother’s.

At the time he’d only learned the basics; he didn’t know how to use puppets, or talismans, or arrays. There wasn’t anything he could do inside the cage besides follow Chen Budao.

But a regular person’s unfinished business wasn’t bound to be anything earth-shattering. That cage was really small, and was no trouble to undo. Chen Budao only brought him along to see that grandmother one more time.

The Wen Shi back then thought that it seemed like Chen Budao could see through all of his thoughts. He didn’t even say anything, but Chen Budao knew everything anyways.

After they came out of the cage, Chen Budao led him back to the mountaintop and guided a wisp of worldly ties out by his fingers. He said, “that grandmother left you a little something. What would you like, a rabbit? A fish? A bird?”

Wen Shi asked him, “what can live forever?”

Chen Budao said, “every living thing has an end.”

Wen Shi held out the bird in his arms. “But you said the Golden Dapeng can.”

Chen Budao, lifting a brow, “you’re pretty smart.”

Of course he didn’t make what an old woman left behind into a puppet to be controlled. Nor did he point to the Golden Dapeng and say, like before, that the birdie was back from the dead.

After all, the little disciple was a bit bigger now, and was harder to lie to.

He guided the herb-picking grandmother’s leftover sentiments into the mountaintop spring. There it became a golden red koi fish.

That was the first time Wen Shi truly understood the purpose of the panguan’s existence—to send away those who had to leave, and then leave something for them on this red-dusted earth.

Wen Shi crouched by the spring and asked, “how long do fish live?”

Chen Budao said, “depends on how you take care of it. If you take good care, this fish can live for seventy, eighty years—enough for a regular person’s life time. If you don’t take good care it can also be belly-up tomorrow, so you best be careful.”

Wen Shi glared at him, not understanding why he had to make things so dangerous.

Next to the spring was a white plum tree. The flowers were in bloom, and the entire tree was white as snow. Wen Shi pointed at the tree and asked, “how old is that?”

Chen Budao gave it some thought and said, “about the same as me? Pretty old.”

To Wen Shi back then, Chen Budao was an immortal who neither grew old nor died. So as he crouched by the spring and watched the fish, he mumbled quietly that after he could solve cages too, he would turn all those worldly ties into trees.

Chen Budao teased him, “all those trees, where are you going to plant them? And trees can’t open their mouths and talk to you.”

Wen Shi, “can a fish?”

Leaning against a tree and watching him, Chen Budao laughed lowly and said, “don’t be tricked by all the silence, he’s really something when he’s mean.”

Wen Shi kept his head down and ignored Chen Budao, stacking mountain pebbles in the spring. After stacking for a while he felt that this spring was much too empty, and the one little fish was too lonely.

“You don’t say a single word for most of the day but now you’re scared the fish will die from having no one to talk to?” Chen Budao lifted a brow; this felt a bit novel. Moments later he nodded, straightened, and left.

Not long after he returned with something in hand. He bent over and placed it into the spring, saying, “found something to keep it company in your place.”

Wen Shi looked, and saw a little turtle.

He looked up and kept Chen Budao’s gaze for a long while before he too turned and left. A bit later, he brought back another turtle and tossed it into the spring.

Chen Budao’s eyes narrowed. “Who’s this taking the place of?”

Wen Shi didn’t even look up. “You.”

Chen Budao laughed once, and scolded, “insubordinate.”

Thinking back now, Wen Shi discovered that though he talked his fair share as a kid, he still left Bu Ning and them with an impression of aloofness. That might be because everything he had to say, he said to Chen Budao.

(god i love this novel so much)

[wienerbarnes]

The Undercover Mission (1/3)

Pairing: Bucky x Reader (Cheek to Cheek)

Word Count: 1,984

Warnings: Lowkey angst👀

A/N: lollllll don't hate me

MAIN MASTERLIST | CHEEK TO CHEEK MASTERLIST

Bucky stands outside your door for fourteen minutes before you open it. He never knocked, he hadn’t built up that courage yet.

“F.R.I.D.A.Y. told me you were standing outside.” You inform him, confused as to why he hadn’t knocked, but deciding not to question it. Yet.

You look cute, even if you’re just in jeans and one of his shirts. He’s looking at you and he already hates himself for what he’s about to do; for what he has to do.

You’re rambling, but it’s good rambling; means you had a good day. You’re telling him about how you went to the shooting range today and did really well and how you’re going to try a new recipe for dinner tonight. But he has a feeling he won’t be staying long.

He already feels the lump growing in his throat when he walks up to you, slipping his arms around your waist, and kisses you where you stand, silencing your words. One last kiss. One last time to feel how your body feels in his arms.

“What’s going on with you?” You ask after pulling away, gentle smile on your lips.

He hesitates for what feels like hours, “We… we need to break up… I want to break up.”

“...What?”

Your smile has dropped. You pull away from him completely, taking a step back. You’re slow in your movements, as though waiting for him to tell you he’s just kidding. But he doesn’t. And he’s not going to.

“Bucky, what the fuck are you talking about?” His eyes water at your question.

“Why are you crying?! I should be fucking crying, why are you doing this to me?!”

Bucky doesn’t have a response for you, so he stutters on his words until you take the reins and yell at him; he deserves it, after all.

“Everything was fine, we were fucking fine this morning, what the fuck happened?! Say something!” You yell, tears finally coming to your own eyes as what he said to you finally sets in. You step back towards him to hit and smack at his chest, and he takes it all, lets you hit him as hard as you can.

“I-” He’s crying now.

“Is it somebody else?” You ask, begging for some kind of explanation.

“Yes!” Bucky snaps, finally finding his words and taking any excuse he can get.

But it was probably the worst one he could pick. Your face drops, tears sliding slowly down your cheeks. It’s like watching someone let the air out of a balloon; he watches as all of the emotion drains from your face until he just sees nothing.

You look like how you looked when he first met you in prison. Numb.

“Okay.” Is all you say before turning around and walking towards your kitchen sink.

“Babe- “

“Don’t call me that.”

“But-”

You grab the closest thing to you, a mug drying on the counter, and chuck it at him as hard as you can. Bucky, of course, dodges it and it shatters against the wall behind him.

“Get out!” You yell.

Bucky takes one last good look at you before stepping back out into the hallway, closing your door behind him. He waits until he reaches the elevator to break down. And he breaks down. He sobs and sobs and sobs in that elevator, to the point where he has to drop to one knee from the pain he feels in his chest after doing that to you.

He feels sick by the time he’s done sobbing, but he knows he’s not done crying for the night. He steps out of the elevator onto his own floor, sniffling every once in a while, trying to keep quiet enough until he can make it to his room. There’s someone else in the hallway, though.

Sam watches his best friend, cheeks wet and face red. He slowly opens the door to his own room and leaves it open; a silent invitation.

One that Bucky takes.

He takes a seat on the couch Sam has in his room and he feels like he’s at his therapist’s. Sam doesn’t say anything, going about his own nightly routine, making a cup of tea to relax his mind and body before bed, letting Bucky compose himself before telling him what’s wrong.

“Did Fury tell you about the mission?” Bucky finally asks him, voice rough and nasally.

“Briefly. The undercover one?”

“Yup.” Bucky confirms, popping the ‘p’.

“Couldn’t have any ties to… her.” Bucky gets out, not even being able to get your name past his lips.

“So, you had to dump her?”

Bucky pauses. Technically, no one was supposed to know about your relationship. The two of you tried your hardest to keep it as quiet as possible. But Bucky guesses they weren’t so good at hiding it in the first place, after all.

“Yeah. It was either cut the ties or she gets taken off the team indefinitely. And I couldn’t do that to her; she’s been doing so well; on missions, with her powers,” Bucky lists. “She’s happy.”

“Well, now she’s not.” Sam corrects.

Bucky glares at him, but Sam continues, “How is she involved, anyway? Why cut ties?”

“...The target is her father.”

…

Bucky hadn’t shown up to the last eight briefings. That’s about two months of no missions. That’s a long time for Bucky. But you refuse to figure out why. You refuse to ask F.R.I.D.A.Y. where he is, or what he’s doing. You’re lucky that Sam and Sharon don’t bring it up around you.

But it’s been a long two months. You haven’t slept well, your voices are back, and it’s affecting your job. Your powers are haywire; never showing anything wrong, but just showing you shit that isn’t important. Instead of looking for missing people or suspected killers, your powers show you a minor car accident in Manhattan, or a couple fighting in a restaurant.

There’s no way Sam hasn’t noticed. But, there’s also no way Bucky didn’t tell him what happened. So, you’re grateful that Sam is pretending to be ignorant.

You know you’re being unhealthy about this. You know you should talk to someone, find better coping mechanisms other than crying, not sleeping, and contemplating shaving your head in the middle of the night. But you don’t want to; you only want him. You don’t care if it makes you desperate.

You realize now, in this briefing where you’re not paying attention to a single thing Sam is saying, that you just want closure. You want to know why. The two of you were fine. There was no fighting. Bucky only had eyes for you, and you for him. He loved you, that you were absolutely certain of that. So why the sudden breakup, and why the sudden interest in someone else?

It doesn’t make sense.

Before you know it, the briefing is over, and you remain in your seat while everyone else files out, like always. Except you notice Sharon follow with them. You glance to the front of the room to Sam, but he’s looking down at a file in his hand. Not the file he was discussing during the briefing, a different one, a blue folder.

You don’t know what’s in them, but the tan folders are the regular missions that involve everyone, and the blue folders are the ones that usually concern Sam, Bucky, Sharon, and recently you. Blue is usually bad. But why did Sharon leave?

The door shuts and it’s just you and Sam in the room.

“F.R.I.D.A.Y., cut all video and audio recordings in the room starting sixteen seconds ago.”

“Clearance level 1 or 2 necessary for that, Captain.”

“Clearance level 2; Wilson, Samuel T.”

“Thank you, Captain. All recording has been paused.”

Reminds of you of when you first got here.

“Agent, did you know that your father is alive?”

You stare at him from your seat in the middle of the room. You can’t say that was what you were expecting. You were expecting a talk about Bucky, a talk about your less than average performance lately, a talk about your powers. But your father?

“I... don’t even know my father.” You admit. Is your father here?

Sam looks at you, seemingly waiting for some insight, as though he doesn’t know what’s going on with your father, either.

“My father was a Marine like I was. He was deployed when I was born and stayed deployed when my parents got divorced. And when my mom died he gave custody to my grandparents; I never saw him again, why? What’s going on?” You inform him, the fact that your father is alive and is somehow currently involved in the Avengers’ radar finally connecting to your brain.

“Sam, why did you stop all of the recordings?” You ask when he has no response.

“Because you’re not supposed to know, but I don’t like leaving my teammates in the dark.” Sam finally explains to you.

“That doesn’t tell me what my father has to do with all of this. Is he here? Did he do something?”

“I don’t know, I don’t know. And if I find out, I can’t tell you. You’re not even supposed to know anything about the case because of the familial relation.”

“So there’s a case?”

Shit. Sam is slipping.

“F.R.I.D.A.Y. resume all recordings.”

“Yes, Captain.”

“Wait, but -”

“That’s enough, Agent 51. If you don’t see anything with your powers, you’re free to go. I have work to do.” Sam commands, Captain’s voice returning.

You huff before standing and making your way back to your room.

Except when you get to the elevator, you change your mind.

“F.R.I.D.A.Y., is Gunnery Sergeant Tyler Camm still alive?”

“Yes, Agent. Gunnery Sergeant Camm is currently 55 years of age, residing in -”

“Okay, okay. Is he here in the building?”

A pause from the A.I., as though she knows she shouldn’t tell you, but hasn’t been given orders not to.

“Yes, Agent.”

“Where.”

“Interrogation Room Two, Agent.”

“Take me there.”

And the elevator descends.

You assume that Fury and Sam didn’t think you’d go investigating, and that’s why they didn’t put any restrictions on the case regarding your father. But you’re still trying to be careful.

No one has said anything, because you assume they pity you after your breakup, but you know it’s been noticeable the change in your powers and performance on missions. You haven’t been doing well. The last thing you need is to be caught interfering with an investigation.

You had tried looking into your father when you joined the Navy; you figured someone there knew who he was. But you were scared of the answer. Scared of this exact thing happening; finding out he was alive the whole time and he just didn’t want you.

The interrogation floor is eerily quiet. You know there’s arguments and begging and yelling happening behind each of the doors, but it’s all soundproof.

You approach the second room and peek into see a man in uniform sitting across from Sharon. Your father.

Why is he here? Is he being asked to help in a case? Is he being questioned? Is he a suspect?

You go to the door next to the room labeled with a large number two, the observation room that stands opposite to the two-way glass. You turn the knob quietly but it doesn’t budge. Locked. You close your eyes in a quiet sigh before turning back around.

This is a sign, you idiot. Get out of here before you’re caught and they flame your ass.

For once, the voices are right. You make your way back to the elevator. One way or another, you’re going to figure out what’s going on here.

[what-goesaround-comesaround]

Let's talk about some Irish newsies-

Hey! So I thought it'd be cool to look into the research I've found indicationg that some of the newsies might have Irish ties! (I'm Irish so that might explain my interest) I'm not an expert at all or anything, this is just the research I've collminated while scouring through newsies facts.

Oh course this isn't set in stone, this is just information I've found so if I've got anything wrong, please tell me! I was inspired by this post to do my own research. (A lot of my research has to do with the original movie but stick around for some fun facts about surnames?)

And now, onto Jack Kelly :

^This is David's description of Jack in Newsies : a novel by Jonathan Fast which can be found here on pg 9. Both surnames "Kelly" and "Sullivan" have their roots in Irish history.

^on pg 27 of the same book David describes Jack again as "an Irish boy". I just thought this would be worth noting, seeing how David wants to make it obvious to us, the reader that Jack appears to be Irish or of Irish descent.

"Kelly", originally anglicized from the Gaelic "Ó Ceallaigh" meaning 'descendant of Ceallach', an ancient Irish personal name, originally a byname meaning 'bright-headed' or 'troublesome' (fitting huh?) Source found here.

Fun fact for you livesies fans, the reigning chieftain of Ui Maine (mid Galway, South Roscommon, sometimes referred to as "O'Kelly's Country") O'Ceallaigh (c1351), was a renowned patron of the arts. Source found here.

Another fun fact : Jack means Seán in Irish.

Bet you weren't expecting that. Or maybe you were. Anyway, source is found here. I also remember it being a topic of conversation in 3rd class Irish class. Wonder how Spot and Jack would feel about that.

^On pg 23 of the original 1992 movie script found here Jack describes himself as a "mick" which was a commonly used derogatory term used against those of Irish decent/Irish immigrants at the time. However this line was not included in the movie. Source found here.

Now for "Sullivan". The original Irish for the surname Sullivan is O'Suileabhain, however the actual derivation of the name is debated. There is no doubt that the root word is 'suil' meaning eye, but whether it is to be taken as 'one-eyed' or 'hawk-eyed' is usually left an open question. Sources found here and here.

The surname is associated with the southwestern part of Ireland and was originally found in County Tipperary before the Anglo-Norman invasion. Source found here

Also, in both movie and stage versions Jack tells us his father "taught me not to starve" indicating his father may have taught Jack about the horrors of the Famine/An Drochshaol/The Great Hunger that plagued Irish families for years after. Source is found here.

Okay! On to Spot Conlon :

^This is David's description of Spot Conlon from the same book, pg 51 (okay he may not outright say he's Irish but they really said "throw all the stereotypes at him like red hair". But seriously in the Hard Promises script and the Newsies script he's described the same way. I guess they really invisioned that red hair huh?)

Spot is interesting seeing as he is the leader of the Brooklyn newsies, Brooklyn being an infamously known place for Irish immigrants to live due to the Great Hunger/An Drochshaol (translated meaning "Hard Times") or as it's more commonly known as "the potato famine" between 1845-1852. Source found here. At least 1 million people died from this and another 1 million immigrated, a lot to America (although the exact numbers are disputed.) Around this time New York becoming the busiest port city in the world. There was labor work to be had in Brooklyn, in the manufacturing and loading and unloading of goods to be sent around the country and around the world. Irish immigrants who had been left poor and malnourished by the famine had no other option but to take on this manual labour to earn money. Many took jobs by the ports and settled by the Watershed i.e. near the ports. This could be a reason to why we're first introduced to Spot and his "cronies" at the port in the movie. Source is found here and here.

Supposing Spot was born between 1880-1886 (he's quoted to be 14 in real life in this article however it's stated in the Newsies Novel on pg 51 to "be around Jack's age" and it's stated in original script before Newsies was rewritten to be a musical and was still a drama, "Hard Promises" he's quoted to be 19 on pg 28. So take this with a grain of salt.) the U.S. census, which counted both place of birth and parents’ birth place as well, estimated that one-third of all New Yorkers were of Irish parentage. By 1890 as Brooklyn neighborhoods were expanding east and south, the amount of people with Irish stock is at 196,372. Source found here.

Also how people will usually use the name "Seán" or sometimes "Patrick" for Spot (one of the fandom wiki pages cites it as his real name here but admits to having no proof of it). Both of these are traditional Irish first names, Patrick being popularised by the patron saint of Ireland St. Patrick/Pádraig. Might have heard of it-

Now for his surname.

Conlon is an Irish family name, it being a variation of the anglicised version of Ó Connalláin. The name may be derived from two Irish Gaelic words "Con" (the genitive case of Cú, meaning "hound") and "Lón" meaning lion - thereby implying a person who has the characteristics of a lion born of a hound - strength and speed. Source found here.

Conlon had a Gaelic form of Ó Conallain or Ó Coinghiollan in Connacht however it's Ó Caoindealbhain in Munster and Leinster. Fun fact, Connal or Connall is claimed to be a pet name for a sprout or little sprout. Source found here.

The history regarding the Conlon surname is complicated to say the least- however it can be traced back to County Meath, where the Conlon descendants are from an important sept near Trim, which traces back to Laoghaire, King of Ireland circa 432. O'Coindealbhain was also anglicised 'Quinlivan' in Munster. Source is found here and here.

This post isn't letting me include the video of Jack, David and Boots going to Brooklyn to negotiate with Spot and the Irish traditional music in the background but I'll make a separate post about that.

Now, onto Racetrack Higgins.

I'm going to keep this kind of brief. We know Racetrack is described as "tall, skinny gambling Italian beanpole" in the Hard Promises script on pg 1 and he's described as "an Italian beanpole" on pg 5 of the Newsies Script. However the surname "Higgins" is Irish as far as my research has told me, not Italian.

The real Ed "Racetrack" Higgins lived in Brooklyn and is quoted to be the real leader of the Brooklyn union, and was elected vice-president of the general union after Kid Blink and David Simmons were accused of selling out. Source found here. I haven't been able to find much information about Racetrack Higgin's life after the strike or his family life which could connect him to Ireland however I thought it would be interesting. If anyone is curious about the real Racetrack Higgins this source has been really useful!

'Higgins" is an Irish family name with ancient royal connections. It is an anglicisation of O'hUigin, from the Irish word 'uiginn' meaning Viking. The original holder of the name was a grandson of Niall of the Nine Hostages, High King of Tara, and all of the O'Higgins claim a common descent from him. Ancient records show that several members of the O'Higgins claimed a hereditary right to be file or poet in the courts of the Irish Chiefs and Kings. Source is found here and here.

Because of their loyalty to Gaelic culture and religion, the Higgins suffered under the English Crown in Ireland and had lost all their lands in Sligo and Westmeath by 1654. Some of them remained in Ireland as tenants on their own lands, but many of them migrated to Spain where they achieved high office in the service of the King. Source is found here.

Fun fact, Racetrack has the same surname as the current (9th) President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins!

Lastly, on to Crutchy/ie Morris!

^This is from the 1991 original script of Newsies when it was called Hard Promises and was written to be a drama. Obviously this wasn't the movie that we have today but I thought this would be a cool add on. I couldn't find a lot of information about the real Crutch Morris, whom Crutchy/ie is based on. The surname Morris isn't strictly Irish, it's a popular surname throughout the British Isles however with this piece of information I thought it would make sense to research it anyway.

"Morris" (Ó Muiris in Irish) was introduced to Ireland by the Normans, along with the variant Firzmaurice (Mac Muiris). A branch of these Morrises moved to Galway in 1485 CE and later became one of the Tribes Of Galway. The name may also have been an abbreviation of Morrissey (Ó Muireasa), a branch of the Uí Fiachrach clan. Sources found here and here.

The ancient Irish name Ó Muirgheasa (variant Ó Muirghis), a personal name thought to derive from muir, meaning "sea" and geas, meaning "taboo" or "prohibition." Source found here.

The Morris family does have an Irish family crest/coat of arms which I'll post at a later date, further cementing themselves in Irish history.

This is most of the information I have regarding the origins of the characters and their surnames however I could go on about the music in Newsies, the family crests, the housing circumstances of poor Irish immigrants in New York at the turn of the 19th century ect.

If you want to learn more about what life was like for Irish immigrants in New York I recommend reading the non-fiction book The Gangs Of New York (or watching the movie. It isn't completely historically accurate but give a decent overview of what was life) or reading this article by the Irish Times.

I've barely scratched the surface of this topic and hope to go into it father in the future!

May I leave you with this gif of the boys doing some Irish (inspired) dancing and David with his twirl combo!

Ps. If the links aren't working for you I'd be happy to provide a list of the resources I’ve used throughout my research on a separate post if needs be.

pps. @maggs-is-a-muppet @annihilatedthenightstalker @newsies-bun @letter-from-the-refuge thanks for the motivation last night 😌

[ace-oreos]

Hamilton 51

Wow, this only took me a few thousand years to finally finish.  😅 😅 But I did include Mereel again, so there’s that! 

“Did no one ever bother to teach you about operational security?” Alpha grumbles. 

Mereel just laughs like there’s nothing wrong with showing up in the middle of enemy territory without bothering to tell anyone. 

“I forgot you haven’t been in the field in a while,” he says, and osik, what Alpha wouldn’t give to wipe that smirk off his face. 

Well, he’s assuming that Mereel is smirking, since he can’t actually see the other ARC’s face.

“Protocol’s gone out the window, vod’ika,” the Null continues. “Besides, I haven’t gotten you killed.”

“Yet,” Alpha grumbles, because if he dies here he wants it known that it was not blind trust in an incompetent Null headcase that did him in. 

“Yet,” Mereel concedes amiably. Alpha waits for him to launch into an extravagantly embellished monologue about the events that somehow led here, but Mereel seems content to sit in the mud, humming to himself. 

“Di’kut,” Alpha mutters for good measure. 

“So how long is your sentence?” 

“What?”

“How long are you stuck here for?” Mereel asks. “I’m assuming this is punishment for finally throwing someone in the skylane.”

Alpha squeezes his eyes shut and blows out a long breath. His rifle is resting in the crook of his arm, which means it would be all too easy to - 

“So it wasn’t murder?” Mereel sounds disproportionately disappointed by the notion that Alpha did not, in fact, commit homicide. 

Alpha wonders absently if he should take his chances now, on a planet somewhere between the middle of shabla nowhere and the shebs end of the galaxy; the justice system is practically nonexistent in places like this. (Which is just as well, because arrests make for a lot of paperwork and he isn’t exactly equipped financially to bail himself out.)

“Arson?” Mereel offers hopefully. 

“I - no, you idiot, it wasn’t either of those,” Alpha snaps. 

Mereel pauses in his idle tracings in the mud. His helmet tilts at the horizon like he’s deep in thought. Knowing all too well it won’t last, Alpha takes advantage of the temporary silence to reign in his temper. Mereel’s vaguely stalker-ish tendencies aren’t enough to warrant putting a round through his head, however tempting it might be. 

Which is really too bad, because Alpha suspects it would be highly therapeutic. 

He carefully adjusts his position - he’s hardly getting old, but lying prone for upwards of four hours will make anyone stiff - and scans the area through his scope. Maze had insisted that reducing CIS presence on this planet was critical to maintaining the Republic’s hold on the entire sector. However much Alpha might be inclined to disagree, he’ll do his job, and do it well. 

Suddenly Mereel gasps. Alpha is on his feet in an instant, searching for the threat, but the landscape looks the same as it has for the past two days.

“Do you mind?” he demands crossly when he’s satisfied that he’s not about to get his head blown off. “I’m on a mission, for kriff’s sake!” 

Mereel doesn’t seem to hear. “It was a woman, wasn’t it?” 

The question throws Alpha off his anger long enough for him to growl grudgingly, “What?” 

“You stole Maze’s woman, and now he’s made sure you’re out of the way by giving you this assignment,” Mereel declares confidently.

There’s a beat of utter silence during which Alpha tries to process this. 

“What is wrong with you?” he yells when he can finally form a coherent sentence. 

“I’m just saying, it all makes sense now - ”

“Why are you like this, you useless chakaar?” Alpha fumes. “You’re not even supposed to be here - I don’t want to know why you’re here, and then you pull osik like this - ”

“Oh, wait,” Mereel interrupts. “Wrong one. You’re ace, aren’t you.”

“I’ve only told you about a hundred times,” Alpha snarls.

“Minutiae, vod’ika,” Mereel says airily. “There’s three million of us, you know, I can’t be expected to remember everything.” 

“One would think, the number of times this topic has come up, you might finally get it through your thick skull,” Alpha rants. “But no-o, you can’t remember anything beyond your last hookup.”

“You’re so open-minded about these things,” Mereel comments. 

“What is it going to take to get rid of you?” 

“Suitable entertainment and more credits than you can afford.”

“Gods, you’re annoying.”

“Mm-hm. Mind giving me the scope for a while?”

“Suit yourself,” Alpha snaps, and thrusts the rifle into Mereel’s arms.

Mereel touches two fingers to his helmet in a casual salute. Alpha manages to return the gesture with only one finger.

“Such a well-mannered young man,” Mereel mutters. 

Alpha huffs and folds his arms. Much as he hates to admit it, he’s thankful that someone else has taken up the glorious duty of monitoring the desolate landscape for hostiles that are unlikely to show themselves. 

“If you blow this op, I might just forget we’re on the same side,” he warns. 

“You really need to chill.”

“You really need to find someone else to harass.” 

“But you’re my favorite little brother,” Mereel says, sounding hurt. 

“Shove it up your - ”

“Oh, just go to sleep already,” the Null interrupts. “You wouldn’t be half as grumpy if you’d actually slept for more than an hour or two.”

“‘M not tired,” Alpha grumbles. Too late he realizes his words are evidence to the contrary. 

“Look, if it’s that important to you, I promise not to get trigger-happy and ruin your record. Well. Maybe not promise, ‘cos promise is kind of a strong - ”

Alpha cuts him off before he hears exactly how Mereel plans to derail the entire mission. “Fine. Knock yourself out.” He fixes the Null with a stern look. “But at least tell me if I’m about to get my throat slit.” 

“Deal,” Mereel says, still cheerful, still impossibly annoying. 

Alpha hesitates a little longer. He knows from experience that leaving a Null ARC to his own devices can have unfortunate consequences.

Mereel lets out an exaggerated sigh. “Look, if we’re about to die an unpleasant death, I know where to find you. So piss off, I’m watching the show now.” “Not much of a show,” Alpha mutters, but he backs off for the time being and shuts his eyes. If they’re going to be ambushed, the last thing he wants to see is Mereel making a fool of himself. 

He thinks he hears a quiet “You’re not half bad, vod’ika” but ultimately puts it down to sleep deprivation. He and Mereel have reached an agreement: taunting is allowed, physical harm is generally acceptable, and murder will be judged appropriately should the occasion arise. 

As he falls asleep with only a Null for company, Alpha wonders if that agreement will change by morning. 

[wonderlandleighleigh]

85 Thoughts while watching Return of the Jedi

1. THE HELMETS ARE DUMB

2. I still love the idea that Stormtroopers fucking loved Vader, and all of the commanders were terrified of him. 

3. Vader helmet so shiny.

4. Back on Tatooine. It always comes back to Tatooine, doesn’t it? 

5. 3P0 was so hoping that the door wouldn’t open. He just wanted to go home. 

6. Everyone in Jabba’s palace looks really...gross. I guess that fits, right? Jabba’s palace is super gross, so.

7. I never understood as a child the slavery - and the sex slavery - aspect of Jabba’s palace. Only as an adult have I fully understood just how fucked up this is.

8. Remember kids, Luke has NO IDEA that Anakin was a Hutt slave as a child. Is there any canon stuff where he finds out about that? I’d be interested. 

9. Han’s carbonite face is so fucking dumb. 

10. Man droid torture is no joke. If that’s what they do to droids, think about what they do to people...

11. Oh god, the musical number. Like I thought it was funny when I saw it for the first time when they did the re-releases, but also, it’s this weird dissonance between that and Oola’s death. 

12. Jabba is so much creepier here than in New Hope. 

13. I love all the disguises and subterfuge in the opening storyline. And I love that they took the time to deal with Jabba and the bounty on Han’s head. It’s a nice break from the Galactic War. 

14. I remember watching this for the first time, and when Leia pulls the helmet off and is like “Someone who loves you” I was like OMG! And my shipper heart grew ten times as large.

15. Han is so...moist. Here. Blugh.

16. Ugh. God. Poor Leia. They do a good job of illustrating just how fucking terrible Jabba is, but...god dammit. 

17. Han and Chewie reunion! <3 <3 <3 

18. Luke Skywalker - Jedi Knight. Somewhere Mace Windu is looking at all of Luke’s attachments and impulsive behaviors and dry heaving. 

19. THE BIKINI IS GROSS! The only thing good about it is that Leia will eventually strangle Jabba to death while wearing it. Otherwise? Ugh.

20. Luke Skywalker. Jedi Knight. Fashion icon.

21. I always felt bad for the Rancor’s master. He loved his Rancor. And the Rancor was just as much a slave as any of the people in Jabba’s palace. It was probably only fed when there was a person Jabba wanted to kill so it would be as vicious as possible.

22. This trio is so bad-ass. 

23. Luke knows what the Sarlacc is. 

24. BANTHA HERD! 

25. Ugh. The Dune Sea is really fake-looking here.

26. R2 as waiter makes me so happy. It’s so ridiculous. 

27. “Convenient.” 

28. Anakin Skywalker would be so fucking proud of his daughter strangling Jabba the Hutt to death. It’s everything he ever wanted to do to fucking slavemasters on Tatooine. 

29. “Boba Fett. Boba Fett. WHERE?!” 

30. Per Dettiot: Luke went to Obi-Wan’s old hut on Tatooine and found the handbook to make his lighsaber, as well as some kyber crystals. What else he was up to between Empire and Jedi, I’m not sure.

31. Knee. High. Chanel. Boots. 

32. The sheer utter chaos and destruction would make Anakin Skywalker kvell*. 

33. I don’t know if Yoda considers Luke his friend. More like just another snot-nosed apprentice who will eventually disappoint him. 

34. Leave us alone, Palpatine. What a fucking pruny piece of shit. 

35. Yoda’s death is so bitter-sweet for me. I love Yoda. But he made so many mistakes in his life that he never really owned up to. I suppose he felt that his exile was his penance. But I don’t know if I agree. He could have come out of hiding to aid the Rebellion. 

36. Also, he was planning to die without coming clean to Luke about Vader. And that is some horse shit.

37. “Suffer your father’s fate.” At least he’s admitting that Anakin wasn’t solely to blame. That there was manipulation there. 

38. “I can’t go on alone.” Go find Ahsoka and Ezra! You’re not alone!! 

39. The fact that Obi-Wan truly believed that that Anakin had died and Vader took his place. 

40. Yoda and Obi-Wan never moved on from their trauma. They keep reliving their trauma and so they cannot move forward, and so they keep making the same mistakes over and over. Asking Luke to kill Vader is proof of that. 

41. And it really shows that Obi-Wan, even after his attachments to Satine and Akakin and Ahsoka - does not understand family. Luke saying “I can’t kill my father,” and Obi-Wan being like “Whelp. There’s no other way so the Emperor wins.” 

42. There being no mention of Luke and Leia’s mother ANYWHERE except for the one moment later on, drives me CRAZY. Obi-Wan could have told Luke about Padme then.

43. I love that Han and Leia can sit next to each other in a meeting and not have to have arms wrapped around each other. Just being next to each other is enough.

44. GENERAL SOLO! Leia’s face. “Excuse you, how did you suddenly get hotter?” 

45. The painted backgrounds are so beautiful. 

46. Poncho game is strong in this movie. 

47. FLY CASUAL is such a stupid line. I love it.

48. Skywalker twin exasperation is the best. Padme would be proud. 

49. Leia just going for it is so so good. 

50. I know Ewoks catch a lot of shit for...well..being Ewoks. But I love them. They’re adorable! And they have no qualms about eating humans! 

51. “My Son.” I think this is the first time Vader has referred to Luke as his son to someone who isn’t Luke, instead of the “Son of Skywalker.” 

52.  Watch as we realize that Leia has been holding the one brain cell this entire time, and Han, Luke and Chewie get totally clueless. 

53. PROPER. 

54. I love Ewok tree houses. 

55. Remember kids. They were planning to eat Han, Luke and Chewie. 

56. Where the hell did that dress even come from that Leia is wearing??? They just had that lying around? 

57.  I guess they ate the last woman who wore it.

58. I love that 3P0 in New Hope, claims he’s not much of a storyteller, and then in the Jedi like is like a master storyteller lol. 

59. And here, we get the only mention of Padme. And it wasn’t even Padme. It was a handmaiden. I will forever be salty that Padme isn’t mentioned at all because George didn’t think of her until the prequels. Argh.

60. Luke’s unwavering belief in Anakin is so amazing. The sequels did that part of his character so dirty. This version of Luke would never have tried to kill his nephew. 

61. “It is too late for me.”  God dammit, Anakin. The thing is that if he goes with Luke, he is admitting that everything he has done for the last twenty years is all for nothing, and he just fucking can’t do it. So much denial .So much pain. Fuck you, Vaderkin.

62. EWOK ON A SPEEDER 

63. REX! A REX SIGHTING! YES! 

64. Y’all remember that Ewok movie with the blonde child? “Star cruiser crash!!” 

65. Padme would be so proud of Luke’s fashion.

66. Wedge got promoted! Yay! 

67. I love the old Hollywood trick of shadowing the Emperor’s face except for his eyes. 

68. I just. I love that the Empire is defeated by fucking teddy bears. I know a lot of people hate it, but it’s just- it feels so karmic.  They’ve done such terrible things. And to be taken down by these fuzzy, little bastards. *chef’s kiss* 

69. Palpatine hitting in that nerve that Luke has about his attachments. About his hope. Oof.

70. The entire Vader fight is just him trying not to see how much like Padme Luke is. That’s gotta hurt. 

71. Bro. Vader. You do not want to try shit with Leia. Like. No. Fuck’s sake. Don’t try it. She’ll have all of you arrested and then executed. 

72.  Yes Luke. Thow away that lightsaber. Show that wrinky fuck who’s boss. 

73. I love that Anakin gets to make the right choice here. He does what he didn’t do with Mace. He finally realizes all the lies...all the manipulation...that he can make things different. And he does. And it rightfully costs him his life.

74. Vader couldn’t survive. Vader would have been tried for his crimes and either executed or jailed for the rest of his life. The same thing happened to Ben Solo in the sequels. He had to die. Otherwise he’d have to have a real-world ending: Prison or execution.

75. I feel so sad that Anakin became this fucking horror show of a person. It didn’t have to be this way. Fuck. 

76. “Tell your sister...you were right.” 

77. Oh Han no. No no no. 

78. No Han.

79. HAN. 

80. Han’s face when he finds out Luke is Leia’s brother is hilarious. 

81. I wish that Rex and Ahsoka had been there when Luke burned Anakin’s body. I feel like they needed to, for their own closure. And Luke would have felt like he had people who understood. Who loved and knew Anakin before all of this. 

82. AND NOW WE PARTY! 

83. Let’s eat Stormtrooper! 

84. I am SO MAD that all of this will be undone by the sequel trilogy. Ugh.

85. I want them to refilm Hayden now that he’s just about the age Anakin would have been when he died as a Force ghost. I feel like that would be really nice. 

*Kvell -  Yiddish - to be bursting with pride 

[cagestark]

Yesterday I found this “whats the point of quarantine if im not going to be quarantined with my beautiful mortal nemesis for days on end until our sexual tension build and we fall in love but before we have the chance to kiss the quarantine ends and we must go our separate ways” and I was “God in need this but with starker” and since you are the best writer here, please make me suffer (in a nice way!!!) Love, 🍝. 🥰

While things where I live are getting sticky (confirmed cases within 30 miles of my tiny town, governor shut down schools + bars + restaurants in the whole state), I’m going to be adding to this little fic every day for the next 14 days while we’re in ~quarantine.~

I highly recommend that anyone who doesn’t want to see this fic centering around the quarantine filter the tag tw:cv19. Let’s get through this together <3

-

“That will be us soon,” Peter murmurs. On the television plays footage of Washington state universities closing down, students flooding from their dorms to return to their homes both locally and abroad and wait out the peak of the pandemic. In his dorm communal space, more than a dozen students are crowded around the largest television on the floor watching the scene unfold from across the country. 

“We can only hope,” someone mutters from behind where he, Ned, and MJ take up the entire sofa. “I’m not looking forward to that physics final in Dr. Banner’s class.”

“Are you kidding me, Thompson?” MJ snaps. Her hair hits Peter in the side of the head from the velocity as she turns to face the other man. “Way to think about only yourself. After this ends and school resumes, I hope you feel proud basing your solid C average on the bones of our elderly and immuno-compromised. Class act!”

Peter listens with undisguised pleasure—watching MJ take people down from their pedestals is always prime entertainment. It helps him ignore his own worries, about May who is getting older and more at risk, about how he can’t afford to travel back to New York to stay with her and he will likely be one of the few students remaining on campus. A low voice cuts through all the bickering, and Peter turns to track it. 

“It starts with the elderly and the sick, but we won’t be far behind. This is obviously biological warfare.” The voice belongs to a student so handsome that Peter’s gut clenches on sight. Then, he scowls. Tony Stark could be downright mouthwatering if his personality wasn’t so repugnant. “January 28th, a Harvard professor was arrested for accepting payments from the Chinese government. He’d set up a lab for them back in China. Three guesses where.”

“Stark, take your conspiracy theory bullshit right back to Area 51,” MJ says. “Shove it beside the Berenstein Bears books and 9/11 being an inside job.”

“Wuhan,” Tony finishes, face flat and handsome, so fucking handsome grave. “Ground zero for this pandemic. Ignore the evidence if you want. Whatever keeps you feeling safe.” 

“Yeah, we all feel real safe,” MJ mutters. 

“I didn’t think you of all people would buy into conspiracy theories, Tony,” Peter says. He can’t tell if he likes this longstanding repertoire he has with Tony Stark. It would make him crazy to like it, the way they argue, the way they contend against each other in their classes, the way his head seems to get cloudy every time Tony is around. But maybe Peter is a little crazy. 

“Pro-tip, Parker?” Tony says, rolling his eyes. “Don’t think about me at all. Got it?”

“It’d be easier if you’d disappear off the face of the earth, asswipe!” MJ shouts at his retreating figure. Tony holds up his middle finger without bothering to spare them a glance and then turns into the corridor, disappearing towards his dorm room. MJ puts her arm around Peter’s shoulders, as close to offering comfort as she gets. 

Peter leans into her hug and tries to put Tony Stark from his mind. 

-

It’s amazing how things can change in three days, Peter thinks to himself while sitting alone on the sofa. His phone buzzes in his pocket: confirmation from Ned and MJ that they made it back to their hometowns safely. May’s text from earlier goes unanswered, her offering to take a few days off to come and drive Peter back to Queens. He’s contemplating it, as terrible as it sounds (and it would be a dick move, because he knows his aunt needs the money that comes from working, and he knows that his presence will be nothing but an increased financial burden on her). When faced with the loneliness of being the last student on his floor, it seems tempting. 

The door from the elevators opens. Peter jerks around, heart hammering in his chest, convinced that the elevator will somehow be empty (there are rumors the dorm is haunted by the ghost of some students who died in a terrible chemistry accident, though no record of the accident exists) but it’s not a ghost that steps out of the elevator. It’s Tony Stark, sweater rolled up to reveal forearms covered in burns and bruises from his time in the lab. Fuck, Peter’s mouth goes dry. 

It goes dry, but it doesn’t stop working.

“What are you doing here?” Peter can’t help but snark. 

Tony groans when he sees Peter. “Parker? God damn it. I thought this was going to be a vacation. Now I see I’m already dead and in hell.” 

“Why aren’t you home? I thought you were daddy’s little scientist. Shouldn’t he have you under a glass bowl to keep COVID from getting to you?” 

Tony’s face goes hard. “Shows what a dipshit like you knows. Not every slacker can afford to take two weeks off of their thesis paper. Stay the hell out of my way.” 

Tony storms off, leaving just the scent of expensive cologne behind him. Peter’s eyes can’t help but track his form. It’s hardly fair, for such an ass to have an ass like that. Even after the other student is gone, Peter feels like he’s swallowed a shot of whiskey, his stomach warm and roiling. This should be the final straw. He should let May know that he’ll be waiting by the curb with his bags packed. 

So why, then, does he message her and tell her that he’s going to stay?

[thebiasrekkers]

Make It Right [BTS Mafia AU]

Plot: “It’s always darkest before the dawn…” It’s a dog-eat-dog world in Seoul, South Korea. One has to dwell in the shadows in order to reach for the light. What are you willing to sacrifice in order to feel the sunlight on your face? What will it take to drag you back into darkness? How long will the journey be to make it right?

Rating: NC-17 // NSFW

Genre: Series | Mafia!AU | Crime!AU | Angst | Romance/Fluff | Smut

Pairings: Jin x OC | Taehyung/Hoseok x OC | Yoongi/Jungkook x OC

Warnings: Graphic Violence (bloody violence), Heavy Language, Angst, Slow Burn, Smut

Previous Chapters: Prologue 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57

Links: FAQ || BTS Masterlist || Admin E’s AO3 || Admin E’s WP || [ REQUESTS ARE OPEN ]

Word Count: 2,327

Tag List: @prisczero, @pinkpjmin, @btsaudge, @flowerwrites06, @unoriginal-username15432, @halussali, @shrimpmsg, @ggukkieland​

AN: And here we go...

Chapter 57: Boy Meets Evil

“But in order to be free from this crime, it’s impossible to forget and give up.”

© thebiasrekkers (Admin E). All rights reserved. Reposting/modifying our work is prohibited. Translations are not allowed. Plagiarism/stealing is not tolerated by any means. Legal action will be taken in instances of theft.

One Week Later Incheon – Sungui; Nam District South Korea

Hoseok and Seokjin stood side by side as they looked at the large, gray building in front of them. They parked their car at the end of the long road, surveying their surroundings. The morning sky was overcast and shrouded the landscape in hues of grays; desaturating everything. Autumn was already upon them and foliage that was once fully in bloom would soon begin singing their songs of lamentation as they died.

It was the season for beginnings to come to an end.

The old factory was worn from years of neglect. Rust spots were speckled over the iron and there were a few spider cracks along large windows on every side. Several other sedans were parked nearby, presumably Jade Fang members. Hoseok cast a critical eye over them, his gaze meeting Seokjin’s. They both nodded, stepping in sync as they approached the large metal double doors.

His hand went out to reach for the handle, pulling it open. The hinges screamed from abuse, crying for attention. The sound wailed through the expanse as the bottom portion of the door scraped along the concrete flooring. Seokjin followed closely as he entered, pulling the door closed behind him. The ambient noise of the city quickly transformed into that of a tomb.

Their footsteps echoed over the wide space. Hoseok took note of the many wooden crates that lined either walls, giving access to a variety of blind spots. The factory had a single floor that was one big open space. High above it, catwalks ran along the rafters all leading from the factory manager’s office: a metal cube suspended at one end of the warehouse. Abandoned shelf scaffolding broke up the empty space. Crates and pallets were strewn around, making decent hiding places.

He frowned when a few of Changkyun’s underlings looked at him suspiciously – each of them armed with bats, pipes, and knives. Sliding his hand into his pocket, he smirked while shaking his head. It was obvious that Changkyun didn’t trust him and that was fine. After the damage he’d caused, Hoseok couldn’t blame him for taking precautions against him.

Even if this was supposed to be a general meeting.

“Jin Hyung,” a voice called to them, causing both men to halt in their steps.

They looked over to the right where another portion of the factory broke off, seeing Wonho reveal himself. He flicked his tongue out over his lip ring, grinning like a man who’d just won a high stakes poker game. Hoseok slowly blinked as Seokjin situated himself to his right.

Wonho stopped just a few feet short from them. “I didn’t expect you to be here. I figured it would be Namjoon-ah like usual.”

Seokjin shrugged. “Yeah well, we’ve decided not to be so predictable.”

They watched him peer around them, as though he was expecting more people. “The others?”

“None of your business. Besides, he asked to meet me, did he not?”

Hoseok flicked some of his hair out of his eyes, watching the smirk on Wonho’s face grow a little more. There was a small flame of anger that continued to burn in his chest. But he didn’t say anything. He waited for Wonho to look at him, bowing his head in respect, before giving a gentle sigh.

“Where’s Changkyun-ah?”

Without breaking their gaze, Wonho raised his hand up and pointed toward the large metal stairwell that led to the manager’s office. Hoseok started to make his way to the stairwell, but stopped when Wonho side-stepped into his path. He cut his eyes at him, his brows knitting tightly. He was in no mood to play any sort of games right now. This was about business.

“Sorry Hoseok-ah,” he said, holding his hands up in a mock show of surrender, “gotta search you. Boss’s orders.”

Hoseok looked around at the armed men in the warehouse before meeting Wonho’s gaze. “…are you fuckin’ serious?”

Seokjin took a step forward but Hoseok held an arm out to stop him. He rolled his eyes, lifting his other arm so that Wonho could frisk him. No one moved, however, and this irritated him.

“Whatever. Let’s get this over with, huh? I don’t have all day.”

“Yes, yes,” he said, moving toward him.

It didn’t take long for Wonho to search him. The clothing he wore was loose-fitting around his torso while his pants were a slim fit. It made movement easier for him, but would have been obvious had he concealed anything on his person. After the search was finished, he stepped to the side to let Hoseok through. He heard Seokjin move only to take note of the sound of him being stopped. He glanced over his shoulder to see that Wonho was now impeding his brother’s path.

“Wonho-yah,” came Seokjin’s even tone, “move.”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that, Jin Hyung. Hoseok-ah has to go on alone.” He grinned. “You can keep me company instead.”

“It’s okay, Jin Hyung,” reassured Hoseok, “I can handle it from here.”

Seokjin didn’t seem satisfied with this, but he shook his head. He knew there was no stopping Hoseok now that he was set to take care of things once and for all. This would be the last time they would have this altercation with their former brothers of the underworld. Timing was crucial.

Hoseok ascended the stairwell slowly, the iron steps rattling under him as he moved. Both hands were in his pockets as he walked, his eyes continuing to look at all the various angles of the factory warehouse. If he knew Changkyun as well as he thought he did, then his other upper-tiered members were scattered around outside. They would be on the lookout for anyone to try and shake things up.

But he already had an ace up his sleeve for that.

At the top of the stairs, the door to the office stood. To the left, a grated walkway led out over the floor, spreading into catwalks that sprawled the entire place. There was a small square window on the door smudged with dirt. He knocked loudly, the sound reverberating off the walls and bouncing back to hit his body in small tremors. When the door opened, it was Shownu standing in the doorway. They stood silently, almost gauging the other, before he shifted off to the side to allow him entrance. Once inside, Shownu exited the manager’s office and closed the door behind him.

Hoseok saw Changkyun nursing a cup of coffee from an electric kettle. The only furniture in the room were two heavy wooden tables. The rest of the office was bare; a thin slit of a window overlooking the warehouse floor. He watched him turn, smiling as he sipped from the mug. Changkyun held out the cup to Hoseok.

“Did you want me to make you a cup?”

“Are you repurposing this place?”

Changkyun snapped his fingers and pointed at him, a look of satisfaction clearly painted over his face. “Wow, you don’t miss a thing, do you Hyung?”

He shrugged, gesturing to the electric kettle with a simple tilt of his head.

“The market value for this place was decent. People need jobs and I just got my hands on a permit to start turning this into a mass shipping facility.”

“How long have you been working on this?”

He watched him hum, as if he really needed a moment to pause and think. “A few months now.”

“I see.”

“There’s money to be made, so why not make it?” He walked back over to the kettle where another mug sat on the table. “Did you want coffee or no?”

Sighing, Hoseok pulled the sleeve of his jacket back to look at his watch. “I thought we were here to talk business?”

“Always so serious,” he said, smiling, “you can relax. I won’t bite.”

“You killed my brothers and my sister-in-law,” came Hoseok’s slow response, “what the fuck did you expect?”

Changkyun clicked his tongue against the back of his teeth while shaking his head. “Oh, come on now. I already told you that this wasn’t personal.”

“You made it personal.”

“Wrong!” His voice boomed out over the small space. “I made a point.”

Hoseok scoffed. “Is that what you call it? A point?”

“Yes, I do.” He set the cup down on the table. “I warned you, Hyung, about how weak your defenses were when you left your power behind. The people around you were at risk the minute you decided to step into the light. Money and power talk and while money has done you some good, your lack of power exposed your neck to me.”

There was a pregnant pause that stretched between them. He wasn’t sure if Changkyun was waiting for him to respond to his statements, but there was nothing for him to say. Not yet. He wanted to hear everything his former brother had to unleash on him before he came out with a rebuttal of his own.

Changkyun moved away from the table, crossing the room to stand opposite of him. His back was now to the office window while Hoseok’s remained facing the door. They stared each other down; both attempting to read the other.

If looks could kill…

“Your business was with us, the Golden Jackals. You didn’t have to drag Eden into it. She had nothing to do with this.”

Changkyun waggled his finger at him. “That’s where you’re wrong.”

“How?”

“Attacking just you would have seemed personal. That’s not my endgame. Eden was an unfortunate casualty, but she was also a necessary piece that you needed to lose in this game.”

A flash of burning outrage slashed across Hoseok’s chest. For him to refer to his sister-in-law as a mere “casualty” was about as much as he could stand. But instead of launching himself across the room to lay into him, he curled his hands into fists at his sides. He couldn’t let him get under his skin so soon. They’d only just started talking.

He took a breath, a seemingly vain attempt to dampen his anger.

“So,” Hoseok breathed, “you still think this is some kind of game, huh?”

“I do.” He grinned. “And I’ve won.”

Snorting, Hoseok folded his arms across his chest. “The game isn’t over, Changkyun-ah. I still haven’t given you the keys to my kingdom.”

He watched Changkyun’s mouth form into a small ‘O’ before it spread into an arrogant smirk. “And are you?”

“They’re not mine to give.”

“I beg to differ.” Changkyun took another step closer. “You held Yongsan and Gangnam in your hands for years. You controlled those territories in a way that the other district bosses can’t ignore. It won’t be as easy as a simple gang scuffle to settle things.”

Hoseok frowned. “And why not?”

“Because you made it that way.”

He couldn’t stop the incredulous laugh that slipped out of him. “So what? This is my responsibility?”

“It never stopped being your responsibility.” He closed the distance even further, reaching a hand to grasp at Hoseok’s shoulder. “Don’t you see that?”

For a while, all Hoseok could do was look back at him. This was the man he once considered a good friend; a brother. They had so many ideas for the future. Ideas to make things better. Back when everything made sense because life was simpler. Hoseok believed he could talk Changkyun into turning over a new leaf with him – of paving a road with clean hands and leaving the dirtiness of the underworld behind them. He thought that Changkyun was better suited for a life that didn’t involve crime, betrayal, and cruelty.

The hope for that began to dwindle the day Hoseok saw him murder the former Jade Fangs leader in cold blood.

It completely vanished when he cremated his family’s bodies.

“It’s still not too late, Hyung,” urged Changkyun gently, “you can still join me. Reclaim your territories and come back home. I don’t want to hurt you anymore than I already have.”

Hoseok sighed, closing his eyes and hanging his head slightly. “Changkyun-ah.” He lifted his head, eyelids fluttering as he opened them to meet the other man’s gaze. “I’m glad we had this talk. You’ve confirmed a few things for me.”

Changkyun canted his head slightly, his calm and welcoming expression melting into slight confusion. “What things?”

“That you haven’t changed. That you never will change.” Hoseok smiled pityingly at him. “You’re incapable of it.”

He felt his hand sliding off his shoulder, dropping limply at his side as he frowned. He didn’t say anything, so Hoseok continued.

“You’ve always been so sneaky. Planning everything so that you are always five steps ahead of the person you’re trying to overtake. You’re good at playing the long game and that’s why you always think you’ve won. That you’ll never be beaten.”

“I have yet to be proven wrong.”

“I’m a thinker too. But there are better thinkers at my side. People who retraced months of your steps in the process of doing their research. People who are better at getting into your head than I am.” Hoseok gave a wide gesture to the empty office space around them. “People who knew about your plans for this warehouse days before my arrival.”

For the first time since their conversation began, Changkyun looked perturbed. Hoseok wasn’t in the business of pouring salt into wounds, but he was done playing nice. He was done giving warnings.

He was finishing this today.

Lowering his gaze, he looked at his watch one more time. His smile grew a little bit wider as he locked his eyes with Changkyun’s – relishing in the realization that slowly overtook his face.

“And those same people found out that you had the gas and electric rewired for the building before having it turned on.”

And then the world shook violently beneath their feet from the explosion downstairs.

[yespleasetommyshelby]

Adam Ruzek Song imagine ~ Say you won’t let go James Arthur

(It’s pretty long and I can’t figure out how to put a ‘keep reading’ thingy, also the ending is kinda crap as I wasn’t sure where I was going with this... anyways, enjoy!)

‘I met you in the dark, you lit me up, you made me feel as though, I was enough... We danced the night away, you drank too much, I held your hair back when you were throwing up...’

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” I asked as me and April walked down the cold streets of Chicago, I’d just finished my first shift at Chicago med and she insisted on taking me out to celebrate even though she had work in the morning.

“I can handle myself, but you need to celebrate!” She exclaimed with a grin just as we reached a small-ish bar that sat on the corner of the street. “Welcome to Molly’s!” She grinned as she pushed the door open, the smell of booze hitting me in the face in an instant.

Looking around I saw a few people that I had recogonised from them coming into med in the last few hours, such as Kelly Severide, a lieutenant from firehouse 51 who had come in to see April, speaking of which.

“Hey, you wanna come to the bar?” She grinned as she looked her arm through mine and practically dragged me through the crowd to the bar.

A few minutes later she had disappeared with Kelly leaving me at the bar drinking on my own, until a figure dropped down onto the stool besides me, looking over I spotted a tall guy with slightly blonde/brown hair and a smile that could melt an iceberg, seriously.

“What’s a pretty girl doing all alone?” He asked looking at me briefly before ordering another beer.

“I was with a friend but it seems like I’ve been ditched for a fire fighter.” I laughed slightly looking behind him to where April and Kelly were sat laughing together. “My names y/n y/l/n by the way.” I smirked lifting my drink to my lips.

“Adam Ruzek.” He smirked back, holding his hand out for me to shake.

A couple of hours and multiple drinks later it was fair to say that I was definitely feeling the effects of the drinks, I had spent the last hour ‘dancing’ in the corner with Ruzek, well, I danced and Adam made sure no guys could get to me in my state.

“I don’t feel good.” I muttered as I dropped down into the seat besides Adam, head pounding and the familiar feeling brewing in my stomach. “I need some air.” I muttered quickly pushing myself up and rushing outside before I emptied the contents of my stomach into the trash can outside.

I groaned as I felt a large, warm pair of hands brush over my shoulder, pulling my hair away from my face as I continued to throw up.

“Sorry.” I muttered as I stood up straight and wiped my mouth with my hand before rubbing them on my trousers, gross I know.

“C’mon, let’s get you home.” Adam chuckled slightly, putting his arm around my shoulder.

‘Then you smiled over your shoulder, for a second I was stone-cold sober... I pulled you closer to my chest... And you asked me to stay over, I said I already told ya, I think that you should get some rest...’

“Thank you.” I smiled as I put my key into the lock on my front door, a short walk that took twice as long due to my stumbling and asking stupid questions. Looking over my shoulder I couldn’t help the butterflies that erupted as my eyes met his, a feeling I had never felt or even knew how to describe until now. “You sure you don’t want to stay?” I asked for the thousandth time since we’d left Molly’s, yet everytime I’d get the same answer.

“I’ve told you, get some rest and text me in he morning.” He smiled shaking his head before he stepped foreward and pulled me into his chest, my arms wrapping around his waist while his cane around me completely.

“Are you sure?” I asked looking up at him resting my chin on his chest, laughing as he sarcastically rolled his eyes and looked down at me.

“I’m sure, but text me in the morning so I know you’re alright.” He said kissing the top of my head quickly before pulling away completely.

“Goodbye Adam.” I grinned stupidly as he started to walk away.

“Goodbye y/n.” He smirked looking back quickly before shaking his head and walking away.

‘I knew I loved you then, but you’ll never know, ‘cause I played it cool when I was scared of letting go... I know I needed you, but I never showed, I wanna stay with you until we’re grey and old...’

“Ready?” Hank asked as his head appeared from behind the door, smile on his face as he walked into the room adjusting his tie slightly. “You look beautiful, you ready?”

Smiling to myself I looked down at what I was wearing, a long white gown with a heart shaped top, the perfect dress for the perfect wedding to the perfect man.

“Hell yeah I’m ready.” I grinned putting my arm through his, after meeting Adam I got to know the whole team from intelligence, Hank had taken on a father kind of role so it only felt right having him give me away, since my own father had died when I was younger.

I couldn’t hide the smile on my face as I walked down the aisle towards Adam, stood in his suit and tie, Kevin and Jay by his side, all three wearing the biggest smiles I had ever seen. I chuckled slightly as I watched Kev nudge Adam slightly after he wiped a stray tear that had escaped. While I tried to listen to what the priest was saying I had trouble tearing my eyes away from my husband to be, seems like he was having the same trouble as the poor priest had to try a couple of times to get his attention for the vows.

“Y/N, you are the most perfect person I have ever met, and probably ever will. I still remember the first night I met you, I saw you sitting at the bar in Molly’s and with a little liquid encouragment, and a nudge from Kev.” He pauses as he looked behind at Kevin and gave him a small, grateful nod. “I gave it a shot, we spent the night dancing and laughing, I even held your hair while you threw up in a trash can.” He chuckled making me groan as the rest of our guests laughed. “But I knew then, the moment you looked up at me outside your old place, that I wasn’t gunna let you go, there was just something about you that I couldn’t get out of my head for the next few days.” He shook his head slightly, as a lone tear fell down his cheek, his eyes met mine as I reached up and wiped it away trying to keep my own tears in. “I love you, so, so much.”

“I love you too, ever since you didn’t just walk past and leave me to fall into a trash can of my own puke.” I grinned laughing slightly. “You are the one person that I could never see myself without, no matter how I imagine my future you are always there, for better or for worse.” I winked making him laugh. “I’ll love you forever Adam Ruzek, nothing will ever change that.”

“You may now kiss the bride!” The priest announced, wasting no time Adam pulled me towards him and dipped us before he placed his lips on mine, the perfect end to the perfect wedding.

‘I’ll wake you up with some breakfast in bed, I’ll bring you coffee with a kiss on your head... I’ll take the kids to school, wave them goodbye, and I’ll thank my lucky stars for that night...’

*Adam’s POV*

“Alright, on the count of three, ready?” I whispered looking down at the twins, Amelia and Amber, only six years old and their already so much like their mother, kind, caring but with a temper that one day will probably make a grown man cry. “Three... Two... One!” I counted down before I opened the bedroom door, huge grins on their faces as they ran in and started to jump on the bed.

“I’m up! I’m up!” I could hear her laughing as she grabbed onto the twins and pulled them down next to her before she leant over them and their angelic laugh filled my ears as she tickled them.

“Happy birthday!” I grinned as I walked over placing the tray of pancakes and orange juice on the bed side drawers before leaning down and placing my lips to hers, a feeling that after seven years of marriage and nine years together I still haven’t got used to.

“Thank you.” She mumbled kissing me once more before her attention was taken by the twins groaning and putting their hands over their eyes. “Oh shush, you’re gunna be late for school if we don’t get going.” She told them going to get out of bed before I put my hands on her shoulder and pushed her back down.

“I am on it, you finish your breakfast and wait here, I’ll be back.” I winked before rounding up the girls and ushering them downstairs, into their coats and shoes before rushing out the door, barely making it on time.

“Bye daddy!” They both waved as I watched them walk into their school, big smiles on their faces as I waved back.

“Baby?” I called quietly as I got back home, hearing nothing but silence I crept into our shared bedroom and could make a y/n shaped lump under the covers. How did I get so lucky the night I met her..?

‘I’m gunna love you till, my lungs give out... I promise til death we part, like in our vows... So I wrote this song for you, now everybody knows, that it’s just you and me till we’re grey and old... Just say you won’t let go...’

*Y/N POV*

I groaned as I put my key into the lock, a long day at med and all I wanted was to get inside, flip on the couch and eat a ton of ice cream, however as I opened the door I had a feeling that my plans were going to change.

“Happy anniversary.” Adam smiles from his place at the dinner table, candles and rose petals littering the top and creating a path towards him.

“Oh, Adam.” I sighed happily as I watched him stand up and walk over to me, taking my bag from me he dropped it at his feet before he stood behind me and removed my coat as gently as possible.

“Where are the twins?” I asked concerned, there’s no way they’d be okay with going to bed early, especially not on a Friday.

“Hayley and Kim give them for the night, their fine.” He smirked as I realised he’d had this under control.

“I love you so much.” I grinned turning and looking up at him, my arms going round his waist as his rested on my back, just like the day we had met.

“I will love you until my dying breath, I promise you that.” He mumbled resting his chin on top of my head sighing contemptly.

As long as he never let’s go, I’ll die happy...

[kthstrawberryshortcake]

BTS Reaction: Their S/O comforts them when they cry

Request by anon: “ can u do something where a bts member is stressed out and they cry so their s/o comforts them “

Here’s what I came up with! I hope you like it. 

These are set up as member x reader.

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Namjoon:  Namjoon had been really busy in his studio lately. His habit of overworking himself was nothing new, but you still tried to do what you could to take care of him a little when he was preoccupied with work. One night you brought takeout to the studio, knowing he wouldn’t have bothered to eat most of the day. You knew he had been writing a lot today, though you had hardly seen him, since he hand’t even come home to sleep. When you entered, you saw him hunched over his desk, looking down at a piece of paper. Then you noticed his shoulders shaking slightly. “Joonie?” You called to him softly, walking up to him and gently placing a hand on his shoulder. It was then that you saw he was crying. “What’s wrong, love?” You asked, concerned. “Writing a sad song…” He replied, and you leaned over him to see what was written on the page. He had very little written thus far and none of it was very sad. You looked at him in confusion. “How long have you been awake?” You asked, and he looked at the time on his phone. “Almost 51 hours,” he answered, causing you to gasp. “Oh, sweetie, you can’t do this to yourself. We’re getting you to bed right this minute.” You said to him authoritatively. To your surprise, he agreed. The two of you went home and got in bed, and you played with his hair until he finally fell asleep.

Jin:  You had been conspiring with the boys about something special to do for Jin’s birthday. You all decided on the idea of making a short film about Jin and what he meant to each of you, with Jungkook’s Golden Closet expertise coming in handy. When filming your part, you got a little emotional, having to wipe tears from your eyes once or twice during your portion of the video. “He makes me smile. He makes me feel safe. He is always caring and kind to those around him. He’s so talented. He’s a good friend. He’s a great cook. His dad jokes make my day. He’s the love of my life.” You hoped he would be able to feel how much he meant to you from the video. When his birthday finally rolled around, you all sat together in front of the TV to watch the short film, anxiously watching Jin’s face for his reactions. The boys’ sweet messages made him teary-eyed, but when he watched your portion, that was when he started full-on crying. He was kind of laughing at himself at the same time, but he was definitely crying. You pulled him into a tight hug, thrilled that you’d all done well with the surprise. “I love you so much,” he laughed, holding you a little bit tighter.

Yoongi:  Yoongi had been in one of his moods lately. It was that workaholic, hyper-intense mood where he neglected all things but music and never left his studio. Food? Sleep? Interaction with others? Never heard of them. It had been an especially long bout of this behavior this time, now having been over two weeks. Namjoon pulled him aside one day on a rare venture outside his studio. “We’ve talked about this, you can’t keep this up. It’s not sustainable. Have you seen yourself lately? You look like a zombie, and an excessively skinny one at that. The weight loss, the dark circles, the sickly color of your skin… They’re bad signs. Really bad.” He said, trying to make his friend see sense. Yoongi, of course, resisted. “I’m fine. It’s not that big of a deal.” Namjoon sighed and ran a hand through his hair, stressed out by the situation. “Except that it is. We don’t need you collapsing from not taking care of yourself. And if your own sake isn’t enough, think of Y/N. Ever since you started looking this severely unwell she’s been having panic attacks because she’s so scared for you and your health.” That got Yoongi’s attention. You struggled enough with anxiety and he was just making it worse by failing to look after himself. After speaking to Namjoon, Yoongi went to find you. Tears were running down his cheeks as he silently pulled you into a hug, sniffling a little as he tried to keep the crying under control. “I’m so sorry I scared you. I’ll do better, I promise.” He whispered, thinking to himself how lucky he was to have someone who loved him that much.

Hoseok:  You were on tour with the boys when one day, your boyfriend got a phone call from his mom. His family was very close, so that in and of itself was not unusual. It was the shocked expression that appeared on his face as he listened to his mom speak, followed by him hanging up and totally breaking down. You had never seen him cry like this before. “Babe?” You called to him, but he didn’t respond, he just kept sobbing. You stood in front of where he sat on the edge of the bed, holding his face gently in your hands. “Hobi, tell me what’s wrong.” You asked quietly. It took him a few minutes to calm down enough to be able to talk. “__________ died this morning.” he choked out, causing you to gasp. They were a relatively young and healthy family member of his. “How?” You asked, shocked. “Heart attack, out of nowhere.” He replied in a quiet, strained voice. You sighed, hurting at the sight of his pain. “I’m so sorry. That’s terrible. I wish there was something I could do, but I think all I can do is be here for you.” You kissed the tip of his nose gently. “And that, jagi, makes all the difference in the world.” he whispered in reply.

Jimin:  It was no secret that Jimin could be incredibly hard on himself. He had openly spoken about his struggles with self esteem and body image. When it came to the quality of his performance onstage, he was just as self-critical. It was during tour and he had come down with a bit of a cold, which had caused some coughing and a sore throat. He wasn’t feeling great, of course, but pushed through it like any other concert. During one song, however, Jimin’s voice cracked during a high note and he immediately coughed pretty hard. He kept going after that, finishing the show like the true professional he was, but he exited the stage feeling awful about how he had done.  You were watching the whole time, of course, and had witnessed the little unavoidable imperfection in his performance, and because you knew him so well, you anticipated how he was going to react. So when he immediately ran off to somewhere more secluded in an attempt to be alone, you followed him. It wasn’t you he was trying to get away from, anyway. You found him sitting in a dark corner crying, his head in his hands. You sat next to him and wrapped your arms around him, pulling him close, and he rested his head on your shoulder. You murmured words of encouragement and assured him that no one would blame him for the cough, rubbing his upper arm soothingly. Tears continued to slip from his eyes, but he wasn’t sobbing anymore. “What would I do without you, jagi?” he whispered, which brought a small smile to your face.

Taehyung:  Your phone rang one afternoon and you smiled to yourself when you saw that it was your boyfriend calling. “Hi Tae,” you answered, only to hear uncontrollable sobbing on the other end of the call. “It’s Tan, he’s really sick. He’s at the emergency vet, they’re going to take him in for surgery now.” He explained as well as he could in his extremely emotional state. “Okay, okay, take a deep breath, I’m on my way. Text me the address and I’ll get there as soon as I can.” You replied before hanging up the phone and hurrying to your car. Ten minutes later you were sprinting into the emergency vet. You saw Taehyung sitting in the waiting room, still crying but no longer sobbing like he had been. You sat next to him and silently wrapped your arms around him and kissed his cheek. “What’s the news?” You asked softly, a little scared to hear his response. He took a deep breath. “They think he’s going to be fine, but there are always risks with surgery so we won’t know for a little while yet.” You nodded. “He’s going to be okay, love. Tan will be fine.” You whispered, taking hold of one of his hands and intertwining your fingers. He still looked worried, of course, but your presence and assurances were calming him. All he could think was that he was grateful that he wasn’t going through this alone. You had a way of making things better.

Jungkook: If there was one word to describe the way your boyfriend saw himself, it would be invincible. He was the golden maknae, after all. He could do anything, and he would be good at it too. Until one day in dance practice, a freak accident caused him to injure his ankle pretty badly. It was bad enough that he would have to keep off of it for at least two weeks. You had been there when he hurt himself, so as the doctor examined his ankle you held his hand. After hearing the prognosis, you realized he had begun to cry. You wiped his tears away, your heart aching to see him in pain. “Does it hurt that bad, baby?” You asked, worried. He shook his head. “I’m going to let everyone down this way. It’s my fault, I can’t believe I could be so stupid as to get myself hurt this way.” He said, and you shook your head vigorously. “No, this is absolutely not your fault. I watched it happen, it was just one of those freak things. You couldn’t have prevented it. And I know you’re pretty amazing, and all that, but you forget that you’re human. What’s more, you forget that being human isn’t letting the people around you down.” You kissed his forehead, him feeling much less guilty after talking to you.

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There you go children! Hope you all liked this one. PS: don’t worry, in my mind with the Tae one here, Tannie ends up fine :)

Please send in requests to ask or message!

ALSO I LOVE FEEDBACK <3

[chickensarentcheap]

Best Part of Me -Chapter 51

WARNINGS: SMUT. NSFW

TAGGING: @c-a-v-a-l-r-y​, @innerpaperexpertcloud​, @alievans007​, @ocfairygodmother​

He’s stirred awake by the brilliant sunshine that streams through the living room window; groaning loudly when the sudden flash of light is too harsh on his weary eyes. After Yaz had left, they’d retreated inside and had sat on the couch talking; a surprisingly calm and rational conversation considering the tension and stresses that Yaz had left in his wake. It had been a rough end to a great day; all the lighthearted, playful, and loving moments quickly overshadowed by talk of Mahajan. Dhaka. All the things he’d hope to avoid over the course of four days. It wasn’t what he wanted; dwelling on his upcoming departure and the seriousness of the task that lay ahead of him. The verbal acknowledgment of the target on his back and the enormous bounty that has placed on his head; quite the incentive for any street thug or even merc with a score to settle.

When Yaz had shown up, he’d brought months of hostility with him. It hadn’t been handled well; his departure from New Zealand. Once he’d made up his mind...once his sanity hinged on whether he managed to get the hell out...he’d caught the first flight home and never once looked back. He should have dealt with it better; given the rest of the team -especially Yaz and Nik- a decent heads up so they would have a chance to prepare themselves and draw up a new game place. But he’d been desperate; on the verge of mental collapse and worried about the state of his marriage. He’d done what he’d was best not only for himself, but for his wife and children. He would have been of no use to the McMann kids; his brain fractured and fragile and incapable of handling the situation.

There’s no doubt in his mind that he would have died there; unable to do the job properly, putting himself and those kids at risk. It was the smartest thing he could have done. Quit. Regardless of what anyone else says or thinks.

Eight days. With the rising of the sun, the days settle at eight. Just over a week until he’s leaving for Mumbai and embarking on quite possibly the riskiest job he’s ever taken on.  The stakes have never been higher; a price on his head, the lives of his family being threatened. He needs to keep his cool; not let his emotions get the better of him. The second guys like Mahajan and his people get into his brain, his need to destroy them will become an obsession. All consuming, unrelenting. And while it’s hard to NOT let his emotions be in control it’s an absolutely necessity to rein them in. His emotions make him weak. Vulnerable. And guys like Mahajan can sense it; they can stop the chinks in the armour from a mile away and they’ll use it to their full advantage. He needs to stay focused; stay on his game. He can’t let them take up space in his brain; once they’re in there, they’ll burrow their way into the deepest and darkest of recesses and it will be impossible to evict them. He’ll be useless then. Unable to protect his own family in the same way he’d been unable to protect the McMann kids. And he’d never forgive himself if his own weakness were his family’s demise.

Sometime during their conversation, they’d both fallen asleep. The last thing he remembers is her climbing off the couch long enough to grab the heaviest blanket off the bed; returning with it wrapped tightly around her body and then laying down with her head in his lap. His hand had been in her hair; fingers combing through those soft, dark tresses and then letting them fall between. And he’s pretty sure he’d fallen asleep to the thought of much he’s been enjoying the time alone with her. How much he’d miss it...her...not only while he was in Mumbai, but if something prevented him from ever getting the chance to be with her again.

He reaches for his phone as it sits on the arm of the couch, quickly checking the time before tossing it onto the cluttered coffee table. Quarter to seven in the morning and not one single reasonable explanation for being up this damn early.  No hungry baby to feed, no breakfasts to make, no kids to get ready for school. The silence in the shake is unfamiliar. Eerie. Almost unbearable. He’s spent the last six years (nearly) being surrounded  by noise and activity, and it’s become the norm.  He doesn’t even think about it anymore; so used to the chaos that anything else feels strange. And he actually finds himself missing it. The middle of the night feedings when the house is still and silent and it’s just him and Addie; those dark eyes staring up at him while he feeds her, all of her fingers wrapped tightly around one of his. Finding himself fascinated by how tiny she is; marvelling at how perfect and beautiful and wondering how a guy like him could ever help make something that incredible. Always falling asleep stretched out on the couch; the impossibly small being resting on his chest, a protective hand never leaving her back.

Or the mornings when he’s still asleep and he can hear the two oldest stirring in their bedrooms; lying in bed listening as the bickering begins and little footsteps can be heard in the hall just before they burst into the master; jumping onto the bed and shrieking and giggling as they attempt to ‘wake him up’. Those tiny yet surprisingly strong and nimble fingers that try and pry his eyes open. The way Declan will climb on top of him and cuddle in close; playing with his ears and stroking his beard as the toddler attempts to lull himself to sleep. It becomes such a huge part of your life, being a parent. Your entire world revolving around those innocent, totally dependent beings. To the point you often forget who you were BEFORE they came along. In his case, that’s a good thing. He doesn’t want to remember what he was like before; his life a disaster before he’d met their mother. She’d been the one who began the job of dismantling the walls he’d built around himself; his kids the ones completing it.  Being a dad again has turned him into a different person. A different man. One that isn’t afraid to show emotion or give and receive affection. One that’s finally done things he can be proud of, instead of hating himself for.

Esme remains asleep with her head in his lap; on her back with her face turned towards him, nose pressed into his stomach. Looking so much younger than she is actually is; that smooth, soft skin devoid of any makeup, a touch of pink from the sun gracing her cheeks, the spattering of freckles -that she always complains about- across the bridge of her nose. She’s everything he could have wanted or asked for. Not just as a spouse and the mother of his children, but as a lover, confidant, and best friends. And it’s all those things together that make it even remotely possible to get through all the hard times and his battle with alcohol and pain med dependency and the issues brought about courtesy of his PTSD.

There’s a slight frown playing on his lips when he trails a fingertip over the thin, pale scar that mars her forehead; touching the top of her right eyebrow and travelling upwards into her hairline. There’s others; a couple from when things haven’t gotten out of hand on the job, but most from Mark not being able to keep his fists to himself. The first couple of years had been touch; she’d flinch or jump away if he’d move too quickly while standing near her. Genuine fear on her face if he even did something as simple as raising his hand to push his own hair out of his eyes. If the movement was fast, it would startle her; taking her back to all those times someone had raised their hand to her with the sole intent to harm. It had been hard to break her of that; to get her to completely trust him despite his own issues and his volatile temper and knowing the damage he was capable of causing in his line of work. Always assuring that he’d never...ever...hurt her. How do you hurt someone you love THAT much?

He rests his palm on the side of her face, thumb repeatedly brushing against her cheek; his eyes closing and his head falling back onto the couch. They have a few hours before their planned departure. Driving to Mitchell River National Park, followed by a hike to where they’d camp for two days. Taking her to the last place he’d ever visited; the day drinking trip with Koen and Rata, when he’d jumped off the cliff and scared the shit out of the latter. Things had been different then. HE’D been different. Two after making that jump, Nik would be on his doorstep offering the Dhaka job and he’d be standing in his kitchen, watching that tiny, cute brunette on his front porch. It’s weird how one moment...one decision..,can change the entire direction and outcome of your life. And how everything can go so wrong but turn out so amazing in the end.

She moves against him, rubbing her face against his stomach and then turning her face into his hand. Lips finding the rough skin of his palm before she gives a long, content sigh and then turns her face towards the ceiling and opens her eyes.

“Hi,” she greets, eyes still heavy from sleep, voice small and groggy.

He runs the pad of his thumb along her bottom lip, then smiles. “Hi.”

“What time is it?”

“Early.”

“How early is early?”

“Very early.”

“Can you be a little more specific or…?”

“Just before seven.”

She groans. “You have this uncanny ability of always waking up way earlier than you need to.”

“Old habits die hard, I guess.”

“I guess.”  She briefly squeezes her eyes shut, sighing as she stretches languorously; bare feet poking out from the bottom of the blanket. “When do we leave?”

“Not for a while.”

She stares up at him, eyes slightly narrowed.

“A few hours.  I forget how you always need things to be accurate. You’re a pain in my ass.”

“It’s a nice ass though,” she says with a grin, and his hand slides down to her throat; chin resting in the curve between his thumb and forefinger as he leans down to kiss her. And she gives a soft smile and a happy sigh as he trails his knuckles along her jaw. “I’ll be back.” she says, as she tosses off the blanket, gathering it up as she slides off the couch. “Oh God…” she grimaces, placing a hand on the small of her back. “...way too many epidurals have fucked me right up.”

“Sixth one should be all natural. A water birth. You can do it. I have faith in you.”

“I haven’t made up my mind about that yet. Don’t get your hopes up. My body is screwed up enough. Why do you want to screw it up even more?”

“It’s a fucking amazing body.” Tyler declares, admiring that familiar yet always alluring and attractive form; clad in just one of his t-shirts, leggings long disposed off.

Her body has changed over the course of seven years, but there’s still no one...no other body...he wants in his bed. His hands and his mouth know every inch of her; every curve and dip and every one of those little places that -when touched or teased- drive her insane. He doesn’t understand the boredom that some men feel being with the same woman for years on end. How can there be anything dull or mundane about someone you love? About knowing someone’s body THAT well? Being in the one that knows that body in a way no one else will ever get the chance to? It’s an ego thing; knowing you’re the only one that gets to experience it, that you’re the one capable of manipulating it and bringing someone that kind of pleasure.  It’s a confidence boost AND a turn on. And he feels it now; that stirring of lust and need and want. It’s carnal. Animalistic. Difficult to control even after almost seven years. Both a blessing and a curse in so many ways.

His eyes are closed when she returns, and he groans deep in his throat when she climbs into his lap; arms circling his neck, bare crotch coming in direct contact with the beginning of his sweats covered erection. She knows what she’s doing; how much she drives him crazy. And she’d never hesitates on taking advantage of it.

“What are you doing?” he asks, when he feels the first touch of her lips against her neck; warm and soft as her mouth leaves no inch of the tattoo or the scars untouched.

“You’re so warm,” she replies, and nestles his face into his trap muscle.

“Something tells me you’re not going this to keep warm.”

She grins against the side of his neck. “You’re very perceptive, Tyler Rake.”

“You’re not exactly the most subtle woman on the planet.”

“I’m a woman who knows what she wants. And I want you. Like, right. This second.”

“And you have the nerve to call me ‘extra’?”

“Look, I’m married to the sexiest in the world. I’m alone with him. One hundred percent alone. With no one around to interrupt us. Considering all the time in the past six years we’ve been cock blocked by one or more kids, I deserve this. And it’s to you...husband...to fulfill my needs.”

He grins, hands settling on his hips; unable to hold back the groan as the tip of her tongue both the inner and outer edges of his ear. “It is, is it?”

“Mmm...hmmm. You’re the only one who is allowed to do these things. So it’s ALL up to you. And I know you’re more than capable of giving me what I want.”

“What if I’m not in the mood?”

“Please…” her lips move along his jaw, and she presses her crotch against the bulge in his sweats. “...I know you. You’re always in the mood.”

“You do know me,” Tyler agrees, his hand sliding up the side of her t-shirt. Callused fingertips sliding over and along her ribs as she licks, sucks, and nibbles every inch of the left side of his neck; following the patterns of the tattoo and moving over the scar. Unable to control upwards movement of his hips, pressing his erection against her; feeling the vibration against his throat when she groans.

“I know you very well,” she says, as she begins to grind against him; actions slow and deliberate, giving a small wince when his short nails rake down her sides. “I know you so well, that I know right now you want to go down on me. It’s your favourite thing to do. And you know I’ll never turn it down.”

“And you call me perceptive.”  His fingers dig into her hips as he moves her from his lap, dropping her on her back.

She’s grinning mischievously at him as she slides backwards on the couch in order to give his longer, bulkier frame more room. Watching as large hands push her legs apart; beard scratching her skin as his mouth moves along the inside of one thigh, then the other.  Her teeth dragging over her bottom lip and her hips rising in anticipation.

“Asshole,” she grumbles, when he lays a heavy forearm across her lower stomach to keep her still.  His lips and tongue and teeth bypassing the ultimate goal in favor of teasing the junctures of where hips and thigh meet. Followed by a series of wet kisses and gentle sucks along her pubic bone.

“I’m in charge here,” Tyler informs her, as his fingertips and tongue trace over every one of those faint, slightly raised stretch marks she hates so much.

“Only time you actually are,” she counters.

He raises his head long enough to smirk at her before returning to the task at hand. Mouth now moving lower; hands sliding between her and the couch and settling on her ass. A cheek in each palms; those calluses rubbing against the skin and long, strong fingers kneading, pinching, and biting into the flesh. Mouth hot and moist against one hip, then the other. Taking his time despite the near painful hard on that strains against the fabric of his pants; fighting the urge to take one of his hands off her ass in order to jerk himself off. And he feels her foot sliding up his calf and over his thigh, growling his approval when she pressed it against his cock.

“Stop,” he snarls, and presses his hips into the couch, trapping her foot. “You’ll make me cum if you keep doing that.”

“Doesn’t take much does it,” she teases, then gives a small help when he bite down on her upper right thigh. “What the fuck, Tyler? Are you going with matching marks now? Don’t be a dick. Stop wasting time.”

“I’ll do whatever the fuck I want,” he retorts, a palm moving across her ass; two fingers pushing their way between the cheeks, the tip of one brushing against the tight, puckered hole.

“Holy fuck…” she groans, heaving a heavy sigh as he eyes close, body trembling as a fingertip continues to stroke and gently -and shallowly- prod. “...you need to stop that...you need to...shit...fuck…” she whimpers the last two words as his mouth finally moves to where she wants it.  Tongue licking a wide strip from one home opening to the other, then back again, tip pressing against her clit.

It doesn’t take much this morning. A few long, lazy laps and less than thirty seconds of fucking on that rigid, sensitive bud and that relentless teasing of that one finger in and around her ass and her orgasm hits. Both hands tightly gripping his hair; holding his head tightly to her as she cries out. A mix of his name and profanities and incoherent babbling.  Her eyes still closed and her body still shaking as he moves his way upwards. Pulling up the bottom of the t-shirt as he goes; leaving it bunched under her chin as he suckles at one breast, then the other. Her juices lingering on his lips and in his beard when he finally kisses her; tongue pushing into her mouth, allowing her to taste herself. Those normally brilliant blue eyes dark and filled with want and need when he pulls back to look down at her.

“You good?” Tyler asks.

She nods, and when he shifts his position and his hips, her foot finds his cock once again.

He smirks. “You’re bad.”

“You like it.”

“I’m not going to like coming like that.”

“How do you want to do it then?”

“You might regret asking that,” he chides, and she shrieks and then giggles when he roughly flips her onto her stomach.

“On your knees,” he orders, and aggressively yanks the shirt over her, tossing it aside.

Hands smooth over her hips and her ass as she does what she’s told. And he leans over to lick a path along her spine, from her tailbone to the back of her neck. Palming his erection as he presses a series of kisses across both of her shoulders, the fingers of his free hand digging into her hip when his teeth make contact with the nape of her neck.

“You are so beautiful,” he praises, roughly squeezing her ass with one hand as the other continues to jerk himself off. His rough palm skimming over soft, supple skin as he reaches around her; two fingers rubbing briefly at her clit before pushing their way inside. “...so beautiful…”

A whimper escapes her lips and her head falls forward when a third finger pushes its way inside; the stretching uncomfortable but not painful. Her breath quickening and her hips moving on their own accord, fucking those long, thick digits.

“Fuck…” he groans, his hand tightening around his cock, teeth grazing against her shoulder.

It’s almost enough; her fucking his fingers and the smell of her and the noises she’s making and his own hand working himself. A long time ago, it WOULD have been. He would have been satisfied enough to finish himself off and not even about whether she got off as well. But it’s different now. HE’S different. And he removes his fingers and pushes her legs further apart, a foot on the floor and a knee on the couch as he brushes the tip of his cock against that warm, slick opening before pushing inside.  Slowly and methodically; letting her feel every inch, every second of penetration.

It’s a beautiful sight. The sweat that glistens on her skin and dampens her hair line. Those huge, dark eyes that look over her shoulder at him. The flushed cheeks. And when he pulls out only to push back in with one solid thrust, she cries out and drops her forehead onto the couch. He stays where he is; enjoying the feeling of being buried inside of her. It’s familiar yet still incredible; each and every time. The way she takes him so well, as if her body was made to fit with his in a way no one else’s ever has.

“Tyler…” she groans into the cushion. “...please...fuck me...I need you to fuck me...please…”

“In a second.”

“Not in a second! Now. Fuck me now!”

He smirks. “You ARE demanding,” he declares, then pulls out once more, only to slam back into her. A hand tightly clasping her shoulder, the other gripping her hip. And he repeats the action several times; each thrust a little harder than the last; encouraged by her cries and her whimpers and how tightly every muscle in her body is drawn. “I don’t think so…” he growls when she reaches between her lips, wrapping his fingers around her wrist and pulling her hand away. “...only I get to do that.”

“Don’t do this,” she pleads. “...don’t tease me like this. Just...shit…” she bites down on her bottom lip when the grip on her hip tightens and yanks her back against him; forcing him even deeper. “...oh god...stop...stop teasing me…”

“Tell me what you want.”

“You. I want you.”

He presses her palm against her pussy. “Who does this belong to? Tell me? Who does it belong to?”

“You. It belongs to you, Tyler. Only you.”

“Fucking right it does,” he snarls.

Normally he hates this part of the game. He doesn’t  mind being aggressive; he knows how far he can take things, how much that little body can take. But talking like that to her...the love of his life, the mother of his children...always so wrong and he always regrets it afterwards. Always worries he crossed certain boundaries and she’d never tell him if he did. But he can’t control himself; the words that come out of his mouth, his actions. All the frustration and worry and stress and rage pouring out of him. Manifesting itself in sex. And he lets go of her hand in favour of grabbing her hair; wrapping it tightly around his fist as the fingers of his other hand bite into her hip as he gives her what she wants. And what HE needs. A hard, no holds barred fuck; pounding into her at a brutal and unrelenting pace. No longer protesting when she reaches between her legs to play with her clit. Continuing to fuck her and chase after his release; his release ONLY. Until he feels her entire body shuddering and those inner muscles clenching around his cock and he hears the screams that erupt from her.

“I wanna come in your mouth.” Tyler says, only pulling out of her when she gives a nod of consent; his fingers releasing her hair as she turns around.

All the edge and the darkness is gone from his face and eyes as he regards her; his hand now gentle as it pushes through her hair and then cradles her cheek. His own eyes closing and his chest dropping towards his chest when those soft, supple lips close around the head of his cock; her hand resting on top of his as he continues to jerk himself off. Only needing several firm tugs before his hand moves from her cheek to the back of her head, holding her firmly in place as he comes; sending spurts of hot, thick semen down the back of her throat.

A mix of profanities and her name rumbling from deep within his chest; entire body rigid  as the combination of her mouth and their hands drain him dry. And his eyes are still closed when his legs threaten to give way. Dropping down onto the couch with low growl; chest heaving, sweat trickling down his temples and the back of his neck. Both arms circling her waist when she once more settles herself in his lap and buries her face in his shoulder.

****

It’s a half an hour hike to the campsite; the exact spot where he’d last visited almost seven years ago. The moment of arrival is bittersweet. Even more so than his return to the shack. He can distinctly remember that time in the water. Sitting on the rocks, filled with the fading images of his dead son; wondering just how long it  would take to die if he simply gave up right there. He hadn’t had anything to live for; nothing by a drinking problem and a drug habit and a dog and a chicken at home that could be cared for by anyone. For some reason he didn’t give into the wish for death. Despite the pain and the heartache; the immense guilt, regret, and grief that were devouring him from the inside out.

Two hours later his life would begin to change. Nik would offer him the Dhaka job and Esme would be on his front porch. Those five days in that dirty hotel room would follow; allowing himself to surrender to all consuming want and need. He refuses to think of anything that came after that; how quickly things had gone so wrong. Dwelling on that...that brief moment when he thought she’d died along with the rest of the team, the attack by Farhad and the street thugs, the night at Gaspar’s...will cause even more mental anguish. It all leads up to the Sultana Kamal Bridge, and nothing good comes from thinking about that.

Camp is easy to set up; a small two person tent, a couple of folding chairs, coolers of food and drink, one bag containing changes of clothes they may need. Tyler watches her as she cautiously approaches the edge of the cliff; staying four feet back and standing on her tiptoe in an attempt to see over. Never jumping or flinching when he wraps his arms around her from behind; her faith and trust in him never faltering or wavering. It’s always there; never worrying that he’ll hurt her or lead her into some kind of danger or trouble.

She’s the only person who has trusted him THAT much.

“You can go closer.” he says, using his weight to push her forward. “You’re not going to fall. I won’t let you.”

“It’s pretty high up,” Esme frets.

“It’s only thirty meters.”

“ONLY he says,” she gives a nervous laugh. “You’re not going to throw me off, are you?”

He gives a chuckle. “You’d die.”

“Maybe that’s your plan,” she teases. “Get me here and do away with me. No one would ever know.”

“I kinda like having you around. Besides,” he presses a kiss to her cheek. “I haven’t updated your life insurance policy yet.”

She grins. “So I’m safe for another day.”

“Another few. Takes time to get hold of those people.”

She laughs at that, then gives a frightened squeal; her nails digging into his forearm when her feet come closer to the edge.

“Calm down,” he tightens his hold around her waist and pecks her temples. “I promise you won’t fall. I’ve got you. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

She holds onto his forearms as she kicks loose stones over the edge, watching as the plummet. “You really jumped off this?”

Tyler nods.

“You’re crazier than I thought.”

“It’s not that high. I’ve jumped from higher.”

“Yeah, in the military, with all your gear on. This is different. You DID have a death wish. You’re not expecting me to jump, are you? Because I love you, but no way.”

“Like I said, the drop would kill you. And you’ve got about fifty years left with me, so…”

“You’re not going to jump, right?”

“I’m too old for that shit now.”

“Don’t ever bring the twins here. You KNOW TJ will try it. That kid is fearless. He is all you.”

“Maybe when he’s older,” Tyler reasons. “Ovi’s age. It’s a right of passage; jumping off here. Guy hits a certain age, this is where they come.”

“Are all Australians nuts or is it just you?”

“It’s just me. Do you wanna go down? Go for a swim? We’ll go see the waterfall.”

Her eyes widen. “We’re not jumping, are we?”

“No jumping. I promise. There’s a path that’ll get us down there. Just gotta watch out for snakes. And dingoes.”

“My favorite combination.

“It’s okay, baby. I won’t let a snake or a dingo get you. I can’t say the same if a chupacabra comes at us, though.”

Esme laughs at that. “The chupacabra isn’t even real.”

“You don’t know that.”

“No one has ever seen one. It’s an urban legend.”

“Or maybe whoever HAS seen it, didn’t live to tell about it.”

“What if Slenderman comes for me?”

“How could he? He’s not real.”

“You could take him, I think,” she says, as she turns around to face him. “You could take Slenderman. Just like you could take Jason Bourne. Or that guy Keanu Reeves.”

Tyler grins. “That might be pushing it.”

“I have faith,” she says, then stands on her tiptoes and presses a kiss to his chin. “You haven’t let me down yet.”

****

It takes twenty minutes to get down to the water, and she keeps a secure hold on the back of his shirt the entire time; somewhat comforted by the presence of the holster and gun on his right hip. It isn’t for any aggressive wildlife they may encounter, and she knows that. It’s a very real possibility that someone IS following them; most likely since they left home. Anyone could be watching them; whether it’s someone Anil has sent to keep an eye on things, or one of Mahajan’s people. She tries not to let it bother her; put at ease by not only her husband’s confidence when it comes to handling any situation thrown their way, but the knowledge that there’s nothing he wouldn’t do to protect her.

“This place is insane,” she breathes, as they find a small, grassy clearing near the water. A hand over her eyes shielding them from the sun as she takes in their surroundings; the looming limestone cliffs and the plummeting waterfall less than a hundred yards away. And she rummages through the backpack he’d brought along; going through the changes of clothes before locating her cellphone and taking a handful of pictures. “Is it safe down here?”

“As safe as it can be, I guess. All we’re going to see is wildlife, unless…”

Tyler doesn’t finish, words trailing off he does off his shoes and peels off his tank; tossing the latter onto a nearby rock, then placing the holster and gun underneath it. He hasn’t seen or heard anything that remotely suggests that someone is following them. At least not yet.   And he doesn’t protest when she wants to take a selfie with the waterfall in the background to send to the kids; wrapping his arms around her waist and pressing his lips to her cheek.

“How many girls have you actually brought down here?” Esme asks, eyes sparkling playfully. “Where am I on the list?”

“First and only,” he answers honestly, as he stands calf deep in the cold, refreshing water and watches as she slips out of her clothes. Eyes widening and a grin spreading across his face as he catches sight of the two piece bathing suit she wears; candy apple red and held in place with a bow at the back of her neck and on each hip.

“What?” she asks, and gives a nervous laugh. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I’m admiring.”

“Admiring what? All the fat and the stretch marks?”

“I don’t see what you see.”

“You need glasses then.”

“Is that what you bought?” he asks. “When we went into town that day?”

She nods, then drops her discarded clothes on top of his. “You don’t like it?”

“Oh I like it. I like it a lot, actually.”

“You always complain about all my other suits. That I need to cover that much.”

“You don’t. It’s all in your head; this bullshit about your body. You look amazing.”

“Even after five kids?”

“ESPECIALLY after five kids. You’re fucking sexy. Isn’t how horny I get around you...and how often I do...evidence of that?”

“I don’t know,” she gathers her hair into a ponytail, securing it with an elastic she sports around her waist.  “You pitch a tent if there’s a stiff breeze in the room. Maybe you’re just easy to please.”

“Or maybe in my eyes, you’re the most beautiful, sexy woman on the planet.”

Esme grins, then gingerly makes her way along the rocks. “Not cute?”

“You’re that too,” Tyler assures her.

She cautiously dips her toes in the water, then curls her fingers around his when he offers a hand. “Wait…” she pauses. “...are there alligators in here?”

“No.”

“Okay…”

“Because we’re in Australia and we have crocodiles here, not alligators.”

She scowls and draws her hand back.

“I’m just saying. How many times have I been over this with you? Australia? Crocodiles. Where you’re from? Alligators.”

“There are no alligators in Colorado.”

“You know what I mean. And no. There are no crocodiles here.”

“If there is…” she once more takes his hand. “...I’m the faster swimmer and I’m letting them eat you. I love you, but someone has to be the sacrifice to the crocodile gods.”

“I promise you that there’s no crocodiles here. You think I’d bring you here...in the water...if there was?”

“I don’t know. You’re a crazy Aussie, after all,” she teases, as she wraps both arms around one of his as he leads the way further into the water.

“Technically, you’re an Aussie too,” Tyler informs her.

“By marriage only. You realize both girls were born here, right? None of the boys were. So only Millie and Addie are proper Aussies. The rest of us are pretend ones.”

“Wannabes,” he says. “You’re all wannabe Aussies.”

“I’m good with that. I married the best one.”   She waits until the water is almost over her head before jumping onto his back; arms around his neck, legs around his torso. “Best decision ever! Marrying a ridiculously tall guy.”

“You’re like four feet,” he chides.  “Everyone’s taller than you.”

“Excuse you, but I’m five four!”

“Bullshit. I have more than a foot on you.”

“Okay, so I’m more like five two and a bit. And you’re absurdly tall. Like a sasquatch. Only better looking. You’re all torso and limbs. So are Millie and TJ. I think Declan’s going to be tall too.”

“That kid’s fucking huge. He’s going to be like six six and built like a tank. Come to think of it, the cable guy did have a couple inches on me.”

“Dick wise?” she teases, and bites his earlobe.

“You know what?” He reaches back and grabs her by the upper arms, effortlessly throwing her over his head into the water. And she’s laughing when she resurfaces, tucking wayward strands of wet hair out of her eyes and behind her ears.

“I’m onto you, Tyler Rake,” she says, as she treads water. “You’re not going to throw me off the cliff. You’re going to drown me.”

“I SHOULD  drown you for the dick comment.”

“I know you’re sensitive about it. About your dick. No!” she shoves him away when he reaches for her. “You’re going to drown me. I know you are.”

“Why would I drown you when people know we’re here together? If I don’t show up at home with you and your body washes up somewhere, it’s obvious who killed you.”

“Good point.”

“There’s other ways to do it. Ways I could make it look like an accident.”

“There’s no way you’re going to kill me,” she says, as she wraps her arms around his neck once more, this time from the front. “There’s no payout. That’s what you get for not being on top of things.”

“There’s something I’d like to be on top of right now.”

Esme smirks. “You’d think you never get any. That you’re sex starved or something. I don’t think all forty year old men are perpetually horny.”

“Guess you’re lucky you married the right one.”

“I already know THAT.” she says, as she pushes a hand through his wet hair and then holds his face in her hands as she kisses him. The tip of her tongue gliding over his top lip when she pulls away. “What if someone IS watching?”

“Let them. They might learn something.”

“You ARE a good teacher,” she reasons, and then sighs when his mouth finds the side of her neck. Eyes closing and her head falling forward onto his shoulder as he licks, nibbles, and sucks at the tender skin.

“What are these for?” Tyler asks, as his fingers tug on the bow on her left hip. “Easy access?”

“Why do you think I said it was for me AND you?”

He grins. “I like the way you think.”

“You like the way I do a lot of things,” she declares, then winces when the back of her head comes in contact with one of the towering, limestone walls of the gorge. “Are you serious right now?”

“Do I look like I’m joking?”

“You don’t want to wait until we get back to camp?”

“Nope.” He yanks at the ties on the one side of her bathing suit, then pushes the fabric aside and lays his palm against her mound. Kissing her deeply as he pushes two fingers inside of her.

“I think there’s something wrong with us,” she says, as his free hand shoves his board shorts off his hips and over his ass. “This can’t be normal. WE can’t be normal. Wanting each other THIS much.”

“Babe, we are so far past normal we’re not even on the chart anymore.”

“Very true,’ she agrees, and then whimpers when he pushes into her; forehead meeting his shoulder and her nails scraping across his back and down his sides, hands settling on his hips. “You feel so good…” she whispers. “...you always feel so good.”

“I love you.” His movements still as he says it, lips pressing a kiss to her shoulder. “So much.”

“I love you, Tyler. More than you could ever know.”

He takes it slower this time; both arms wrapped tightly around her, careful to watch her back against the rocks. And when he comes...shortly after her...it’s with her name on his lips.

****

“I know you’re worried.”

Tyler’s eyes snap open from behind his sunglasses, and he turns his head towards her. They lay on a blanket near the water; spread across a small patch of grass. And while he’s stretched out flat on his back, she sits beside him with her legs folded; drinking a bottle of Gatorade and eating from a can of Pringles. He’s pretty sure he’d dozed off; the sun has shifted and the temperature feels a few degrees cooler.

Her hair is still damp and now hangs loose along the sides of her face and over her shoulders, and she wears one of his t-shirts that he’d brought along over her bathing suit. There’s chafing from his beard along the sides of her throat, and a faint bite mark on her right collarbone; the edge of it poking it from the neck of the shirt. He’d taken her twice in the water; second time from behind and much harder and aggressive. And even with her legs crossed he can the bruising on her inner thighs; proof of two days of often rough and intense sex.

He closes his eyes once more and reaches out to lay a hand on the small of her back as the other rests on his stomach. “What makes you think I’m worried?”

“Because I know you. And you can’t turn things off. Not when there’s a threat. Especially with something as serious as this. You are who you are, Tyler. You can’t change that. And I wouldn’t want you to.”

He sighs.

“And you’ve barely been sleeping,” Esme adds.

“I’ve always had issues sleeping. Ever since we met.”

“It’s different when you’re worried. I’ve been sharing a bed with you for how long now? I know you. I know your habits. You’re getting up several times a night and I know it’s not always because of pain. I know the difference; in things that bother you.”

“Am I really THAT predictable?”

“I’m sure there’s things you notice about me. Little things I do. Habits. You’ve probably never thought about them, but I’m sure you’d recognize when I change. When I change.”

Tyler nods in agreement.

“Are you scared?” She asks.

“Of what?”

“Mahajan.”

He groans as he sits up, left hand rubbing at his right shoulder. “Maybe a little.”

“What are you scared of?”

He helps himself to a swig of her Gatorade. “There’s a few things.”

“Like?”

“How about you stop worrying about what’s going on in my head,” he suggests.

“You know I’m always going about that. About you.”

“I’m telling you that you don’t need to. You let me worry about what’s going on in my own brain, yeah? You’ve got enough going on in your own head.”

“And I’m telling YOU...for the hundredth goddamn time...that YOU need to stop holding things back. I’m not a child, Tyler. You don’t need to coddle me. I’m a grown woman. And I’m your wife and the mother of your children. I’m the person you SHOULD be talking to.”

“I know…” He lays a hand on the side of her head and pulls her into him, pressing a kiss to her temple.  “...I know you worry and I know you want me to tell you things. But have you ever thought that I don’t tell you because I want to protect you?”

“Protect me from what? You? Because I’ll tell you right now that that's a bunch of shit and you know it.”

He sighs and shakes his head. “I don’t want to fight.”

“I’m not fighting. I’m talking. WE’RE talking. Which is one the reason we did all of this in the first place. Going away together. So we COULD talk.”

“Not about this.”

“When else are we going to talk about it? We won’t be able to when we get home. Not with the kids there. And you leave in eight days. And those eight days are going to fly by and then you’ll be gone and I don’t know if I’m ready for that. I don’t know if I'm ready to say goodbye to you.”

“We don’t say THAT word,” he reminds her. “We NEVER say it. So don’t say it now. That word doesn’t exist when it comes to us. We agreed to never...ever...say it.”

“I’m scared,” she says, tears brimming her eyes. “I’m scared you’re going to walk out the door and I’m never going to see you again. At least not alive.”

“I’m scared of that too,” Tyler admits, and his hand falls to her shoulder, drawing her into his side.

“I know you have to do this. I understand it. This more than any other job you’ve ever done. But it doesn’t make it any easier; watching you walk out the door.  And I know you can’t promise me that you’re coming back. But at least promise me that you’ll try. That you’ll do whatever you have to try and get home.”

“I will, baby. I’ll do what I have to. Whatever it takes.”

“Because this life would totally suck without you. I’d miss you too much. And there’s no way I can take care of five kids on my own.”

“You’d be fine,” he rubs her arm comfortingly.  “You’re strong. The strongest person I know.”

“I don’t WANT to do it without you. This life. And I know I’m supposed to be some strong, independent woman that can handle everything on her own and that I probably sound really weak and whiny right about now.”

“You don’t. You don’t sound like that.”

“But I love you and I need you here. And our kids need you. Especially the boys. They need their dad. I don’t want them growing up without you. And I don’t want to grow old without you. No matter how much you drive me crazy.”

He gives a small laugh.

“Promise me, Tyler. Promise me you’ll do whatever you have to try and come home.”

“I promise,” he says, dropping a kiss on the top of her head before tightening his hold on her.

And they sit there, pressed together. Neither of them speaking...or moving...until the sun begins to set on the horizon.

[joaqqquiin]

POLITICAL DYNASTY - AMPATUAN

CHAPTER 1 

INTRODUCTION

Introduction

Politics in the Philippines have been quite a contentious and fragile topic for the past decades. Politics have led to numerous outcomes such as disunity, distrust, dissension, dispute, and even violence. These are some of the factors that have contributed to how society in the Philippines acts in the present which commonly affects the atmosphere the people work and dwell in, the socio-economic status of Filipinos, and most importantly, the well-being of individuals. One example of a hot topic in the past is regarding the feud between late former president Ferdinand Marcos and the Aquino family. This topic is a topic that a number of people would call controversial due to the mixed views and feelings people have in regards to the topic. A riveting concept the two families have in common is that they are both political dynasties in the Philippines. Some people and politicians would consider political dynasties as a root cause of issues that arise such as poverty, bias, impunity, and even quarrels between political dynasties that may get in the way of making rational decisions and lead to neglection of appointed duties. A case in point which proves that political dynasties are nothing but problems was the largest massacre that the Ampatuan dynasty committed. 

The Ampatuan massacre, or popularly known as the Maguindanao massacre, is a carnage which was a ploy made by the Ampatuan family to gain the upper hand against their rivals. This unfortunate event that the Ampatuan dynasty planned was recorded as the single deadliest event for journalists in history. Being a journalist is a reputable job as one is tasked with the obligation to inform the public with the news, however, the Ampatuan family has dented the country’s reputation of being a safe space for journalists as 32 were killed in the massacre. The Maguindanao massacre alone may show that the Philippines is not an utterly safe place not only for journalists but in general. The Ampatuan family has contributed greatly to putting the Philippines in a position where press freedom is attacked, impunity is exercised, and power is corrupted. The Ampatuan dynasty jeopardized the credibility of the nation as a fun and safe place to spend time with your family.

CHAPTER 2

SUMMARY

Background

The Ampatuan family is considered the largest political dynasty present in our country with over 51 members. A few prime members of this family are considered to be the most politically involved and have had the most transgressions. The late Andal Ampatuan Sr. was a patriarch of the Ampatuan clan and was also a main suspect of one of the largest massacres in the Philippines, the Maguindanao massacre. Before the case was resolved, Ampatuan died after falling into a coma caused by a heart attack. Andal Ampatuan has 4 sons, namely, Andal Ampatuan Jr, Sajid Ampatuan, Zaldy Ampatuan, Anwar Ampatuan Sr.

Andal Ampatuan Jr. was the 8th child of Andal Ampatuan Sr. and Bai Laila Uy-Ampatuan. He was known as the mastermind of the Maguindanao massacre and was convicted of 57 counts of murder alongside his brother, Zaldy Ampatuan. He is currently located at the New Bilibid Prison where he is sentenced to a maximum of 40 years without parole. 

Sajid Ampatuan was among the accused of plotting the massacre. He claims that he had already cut ties with his family and said that he assisted his wife who was filing her candidacy at the time of the massacre. He was not present during the promulgation of judgement and was given 5 days to reason out his absence. Due to this instance, he was sentenced to life imprisonment with graft charges and lost his chance to appeal since the rule of court states that absence during the promulgation is not justified.

Zaldy Ampatuan was a governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) however he was expelled from office due to his participation in the massacre. It was said that he planned the Maguindanao massacre alongside his brother, Andal Ampatuan Jr. However, all charges against him were dropped, citing lack of evidence. This was until Justice Secretary, Alberto Agra, restored the murder charges against Ampatuan due to new findings.

Anwar Ampatuan Sr. is the brother of Andal Ampatuan Jr. He was part of the mastermind group and was also convicted with 57 counts of murder. Unlike Anwar Sajid and Anwar Jr. who were identified as first-class convicts or those who had plotted and fired at the victims, Anwar Sr. fell under the second class of suspects or those who had prior knowledge of the crime but were not at the crime scene.

Political History

The Patriarch of the Ampatuan clan, Andal Ampatuan Sr. was already a vice mayor in charge of Maganoy when President Marcos appointed him as mayor. Maganoy is now Shariff Aguack. However, in 1986, due to the People Power Revolution, President Marcos was departed, and Corazon Aquino came into power. As she came into power, she replaced every locally elected official with officers-in-charge. Ampatuan Sr. was also replaced by another Ampatuan, Datu Modi who served for two years in that capacity.

In 1988, after the 1988 local election, he served as mayor for 10 years as he had been winning three consecutive local elections 1988, 1992, and 1995. In his 10th year as mayor in 1998, he was elected as governor and started to accelerate his Clan activities. His family occupied almost all the political costs in the area, the family tried to widen the range of the power, and even, eighteen of the mayors in Maguindanao were once members of the Ampatuan clan.

In 2001, his clan solidified its hold on power by keeping a close friendship with Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. The reason for this is because Arroyo assumed the presidency after EDSA People Power II. And His choice was excellent. The family was appraised by the “Popular support” and openly supports Arroyo. In 2004, during the 2004 presidential elections, Arroyo came into power succeeding the previous president Joseph Estrada and dominated the polls in Shariff Aguack and most of Maguindanao. 

And lastly, in 2006, Arroyo issued Executive Order 546, allowing local officials and the police to deputize local militia to aid in the fight against insurgents. This greatly contributed to the establishment of power in the Ampatuan Clan. The Executive Order was issued shortly after an assassination attempt on Andal Ampatuan Sr. and the end of the Clan's history and relationships was dreadful. 

Issues they were associated with

It is no secret that fear is often instilled to control people. The Ampatuan clan, despite being popular and influential, they were feared. Numerous journalists would say, “They own the people'' or “The word of the Ampatuans was the law. The lives of the people living in Maguindanao would lie in the hands of the Ampatuan family as they had a private army consisting of 2000-5000 armed men composed of government-supported militia, local police, and military personnel. An instance when this private army was put into use was on the 23rd of November back in 2009. This instance was the Maguindanao massacre which would be the biggest issue of this political dynasty. 

Maguindanao mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. was challenged by Buluan vice mayor Esmael Mangudadatu as he was going to file his certificate of candidacy (COC). Vice mayor Esmael received death threats from his rivals so he thought that inviting journalists to his filing of COC would lessen the chances of ambushes. Esmael invited 37 journalists with him to file his COC. Along with the 37 journalists, there were also reporters, lawyers, aides and his family. As 58 of them were on their way to the Elections provincial office, they were kidnapped and murdered. Some were even raped before they were killed. There were at least 198 suspects including Andal Ampatuan Jr., Andal Ampatuan Sr. and several other members of the Ampatuan clan who were charged with 57 counts of murder. However, this was not the only issue the family had. They have a history of killing people way before the Massacre.

Back in 2005, 25 armed men in the military uniform killed the wife and child of Mando Tambungalan. He had identified that the suspects were hired killers on the Ampatuan payroll since he had been targeted by the Ampatuans for running for vice mayor of  Datu Piang in 2001. In 2006, the Ampatuans planted a bomb which exploded near the Shariff Aguak market, killing five people, including Ed Mangansakan who was a known weapons supplier for the Ampatuans. Another instance of their wrongdoings was when motorcycle-riding gunmen, linked to the Ampatuan clan, shot and killed Judge Sahara Silongan while he was driving his family home. A relative of the judge believes he was killed for failing to issue an illegal warrant of arrest demanded by the Ampatuans. As well as in 2008, a cousin of Ampatuan, Jr., and his armed men allegedly shot and killed eight members of the Lumenda and Aleb families. One gunman told the Human Rights Watch that he and the others were ordered to shoot the family because the Ampatuans doubted their loyalty.

CHAPTER III

REFLECTION

Abad, Anton Angelo T.

  My thoughts about the Ampatuan clan is that I'm surprised to see that they haven’t all been imprisoned and even some of them are still not arrested. I was shocked to read that they are responsible for the massacre and that they only did it because they didn’t want to get arrested. I think that people should learn more about these clans and start to plan a way to prevent them from gaining too much power. Because just like the Ampatuan clan they have so much power that they have their own private army and were able to delay there inevitable arrest for 51 murder.

Golamco, Janise Kate A.

The Philippines suffers from widespread corruption. From embezzlement, nepotism or police brutality, the common denominator to these actions is greed. Political dynasties such as the Ampatuan family are a huge factor to further influence these acts. Yet, people continue to tolerate their wrongdoings by doing nothing to prevent them. Because of fear, people have been silenced by their own timidity. Because of their own selfish desire, civilians were caught in the crossfire resulting in one of the largest politically involved massacres. The innocent lives lost cannot compare to merely a few years of imprisonment.

As students continue to grow and learn, it is vital that people know of the things that harm their society and strive for change. Influential families, such as the Ampatuans, use their power at their own disposal and further contributes to socio-economic inequality. It is why knowledge is greatly needed in order to stop corruption. By learning about the vulnerabilities and impacts of misconduct citizens are given a chance to end impunity once and for all. 

Lee, Noah

After exploring the largest political dynasty in the Philippines, there are a number of things left on my mind. It has been 19 years since the gruesome mass murder took place and threatened the Philippines. But I would appreciate that still now, we are studying this and learning about that happening and being reminded to be wiser in how to live as people in this country. We have to know what is currently happening, and what is harming or damaging the order of our country. It is our duty to argue for justice in our society and politics and to heritage it to our next generations. To achieve our duty, we all have to have a bright notion about the corruption of power that someone longs for enough to commit mass murder. 

However, the most damning aspect of the report for me was the support of the Ampatuans by the state, the police and the military, allowing them to consolidate their power. I strongly oppose the idea of making use of the public power for the private benefit of chosen families. It is said that there is no person above the law but I feel irritated about the fact that there is a person who takes advantage of the laws. Until we can generate real justice, we should keep our eyes on our country.

Velasquez, Joaquin Gabriel D.

Having the power to be able to do everything we want is something that if not all, most people dream of. The power to be exempted from the law, the power to generate money, the power to rule the world, or the power to make this all come true. To be able to obtain that amount of power is like living everyone’s dreams, but no, it makes us corrupt. Corruption of power is one of the deadliest aspects that can not only destroy an individual but also a whole nation. Corruption has been present in the Philippines for decades already, it has never left the country and I think it does not plan on leaving anytime soon. Corruption has many factors, it can be through pocketing money, abusement of power, and even the act of impunity. Impunity is as dangerous as corruption as it serves as an immunity pass to those with power. There have been several occurrences in which both impunity and corruption have been present, working hand in hand. A famous case is in the presence of political dynasties. Political dynasties have been believed to be the root cause of far-reaching problems in the Philippines. 

The Ampatuan dynasty or family is one of many political dynasties present in the Philippines. The Ampatuan family is known for planning the biggest massacre which ended up killing around 57 people. Several suspects have been charged with 57 counts of murder. However, due to impunity, a large number of suspects are still at large. In respect to this, I do not condone the presence of political dynasties in our country. As a part of the youth, it is important that we are aware of when corruption and its likes are present, lurking around us. I may not have the power to be able to do everything I want but I have the power that not everyone has the ability to do, speaking up and using my voice to amplify the voice of those who are silenced by the effects of the wrongdoings of these political dynasties. Raising one’s voice does not necessarily mean joining rallies but spreading awareness regarding the wide-ranging effects of the influential families sitting in power. Not speaking up and allowing corrupted families in power to continue and degrade the country’s socio-economic status will make us all accomplices to the destruction of our nation as a whole for failing to protect it. 

CHAPTER IV

CONCLUSION

Conclusion

The Ampatuans remain a powerful and dangerous force with which to be reckoned. For years, the department of justice and the military has been trying to get the Ampatuan family to pay for their actions yet they haven’t achieved full justice. A police officer once asked, “what do we do? This is an influential family.” The Ampatuan family is a powerful family with many connections making it hard for people to stand up against them. The trial of the Ampatuan massacre is a case that has far-reaching implications not only on press freedom in the Philippines but also on one of the biggest threats to the country’s democracy, impunity.

With impunity present in our country, killings and other illegal doings happen all around with no one to be held accountable. Thousands have been killed with impunity in the Philippines’ illegal war on drugs alone, how many more innocent people have died from other activities and remain greatly suppressed, away from where the world can see. In these cases, it is imperative that we equip ourselves with the proper knowledge and be a voice to those who are voiceless.

[satanlevi]

I will now be accepting writing requests!

Hello~ So after much thought and encouragment I’ve decided to hop aboard the writing hype train and take some requests! Below you can find a list of sentence starters, please send me the number you would like to request and I will write up a little drabble for you! The only rule I have is no requesting NSFW specifically for a prompt! I will also only be taking requests for the seven brothers at this time! All drabbles will be written with gender nutrual pronouns unless otherwise specified. Other then that have fun and send some requests my way! 💖

Send me a number from this list, the name of one of the seven brothers, and I’ll write something for you!

1. "Come over here and make me."

2. "Please, don't leave."

3. Wait a minute. Are you jealous?"

4. "I almost lost you."

5. "Teach me how to play?"

6. “Can I kiss you?”

7. "It's not what it looks like..."

8. "You're the only one I trust to do this."

9. "I can't believe you talked me into this."

10. "Please don't do this."

11. "You fainted...straight into my arms. You know, if you wanted my attention you didn't have to go to such extremes."

12. "You did all of this for me?"

13. "I swear it was an accident."

14. "If you die, I'm gonna kill you."

15. "Boo."

16. "Looks like we'll be trapped for a while..."

17. "This is without a doubt the stupidest plan you've ever had. Of course I'm in."

18. “What the hell are you wearing?”

19. “Who crawls through someone’s window at 4am to go for ice cream?!”

20. “I don’t hate you. I could never hate you. That’s the problem.”

21. “Teach me to fight.”

22. “Tell me to go and I will, but if you ask me to stay I’ll never leave you again.”

23. Before you decide to murder me, let me explain...”

24. I love you. I’m completely and utterly in love with you. Please marry me?

25. “It’s only one night, we’ll just share the bed.”

26. “Are you ticklish?”

27. “PILLOW FIGHT!”

28. “I wish you could see yourself the way I see you.”

29. “The only thing I want is you.”

30. “Why the hell are you bleeding!?”

31. You’re so beautiful.”

32. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have kissed you.”

33. “That’s the third time I’ve saved your life!

34. “How can you think I’m anything but hopelessly in love with you?”

35. “This is all your fault! I can’t believe I listened to you!”

36. “I will never apologize for saving your life, even if it costs me my own.”

37. “I guess dying with you isn’t the worse way to go.”

38. “You were never just my friend.”

39. “I’m not leaving you!”

40. “I can’t do this anymore.”

41. “There’s no going back if we do this.”

42. “I want you and I know you want me too.”

43. “I can’t watch you with someone else. It’s tearing me apart.”

44. “I actually hate you right now. I’m considering making you my official arch-nemesis. I might make t-shirts. And badges.”

45. “I could steal them for you. I could also get them through legitimate means. Which would impress you more?”

46. “I love you but don’t you think 32 tubs of ice cream is a little…extreme?”

47. “’We’ll do it somehow’ is not a plan you jackass!”

48. “Stop saying things that make me want to kiss you!”

49. “Your fight is my fight.”

50. “Quick! I need you to hide me and I have no time to explain!”

51. “Wake me up again and you’re gonna wish I’d died in my sleep.”

52. “Calm down, this isn’t my blood.”

53. “Are you…are you trying to flirt with me?”

54. “Do you regularly show up at people’s doors at 3am or am I really special?”

55. “You can’t turn down my proposal just because you wanted to ask me first!”

56. “If we lose, then we lose. But at least we’ll lose together.”

57. “I’m gonna make you regret that.”

58. “Of course you’re worth it.”

59. “Remember how we talked about not doing the stupid thing?”

60. “Good news, we’re still alive. Bad news, we’re about 30 seconds away from that changing.”

61. “Where the hell did you learn to do that?!”

62. “Forever means nothing to me if I don’t get to spend it with you.”

63. “So is this a regular occurrence with you or am I just really special?”

64. “The only thing that makes sense to me anymore is us.”

65. “The important thing to remember is that you love me and I promise you’ll laugh about this whole thing as soon as we get out of this.”

[voyager-into-the-unknown]

An Evening at an Earth Mall

By truegryffindorforever2

(Part 2 of a series, beginning with “An Afternoon in the Garden”)

Summary: Sam is overprotective, Colleen is supportive, Hunk texts Lance when he’s shopping at the mall, and Lance nearly dies of second hand embarrassment when he realizes that Katie Holt, is in fact, not a girl, but a young woman.

After heading to the men’s locker room to change out of his Garrison uniform and into comfortable civilian clothing, Lance headed towards the base’s garage to meet up with Pidge and Colleen. As he approached Mrs. Holt’s car, he heard Sam’s voice from a distance.

“Boyfriend?! Since when?” Sam exclaimed angrily.

“Since today. But we have been really close for a long time, Dad. We were best friends for the last few years—“

“He’s too old for you!”

“He’s a year and eight months older than me. And besides, I’m eighteen years old, and that’s old enough to have a boyfriend.”

“Katie, I’ve watched The Voltron Show. Colleen, did you know that this boy’s nickname is Loverboy Lance?! How did he get a nickname like that, Katie?”

“Dad, that show was totally fake, and Coran gave him that ridiculous nickname. We all thought it was hilarious because Lance hasn’t ever really had a serious girlfriend before—“

“Your friends say that he’s the biggest flirt in the Galaxy. How do you know he won’t break your heart?”

“Dad, please. Lance is a great guy. He’s sweet and funny and honest and brave. And I wouldn’t be standing here talking to you right now if it weren’t for him. He’s saved my life quite a few times.”

Sam exhaled, then was silent, pondering all of this. Lance stood in shadow, behind a large armored vehicle that kept him hidden from view. His heart was hammering in his chest. He wanted the Holts to like him. What could he do to earn Sam’s trust?

“Colleen, what do you think of all this?”

“Well, he seems like a nice young man, and I trust our daughter’s judgement.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

“Also, he’s probably heading this way right now, so you had better be on your best behavior, Sam.”

“All right, but whether you are eighteen or eighty, Katie Holt, so long as you live under my roof, you will have a curfew when you go out at night with that young man. Is that clear?”

“Yes, sir.”

Lance knew he had to face Sam eventually, but at the moment he just wanted to stay hidden. He took a deep breath, and stepped forward into the light.

“There he is.” Pidge waved, smiling at him as she moved toward him.

Lance enveloped Pidge in his arms, and she squeezed him tightly, giving him a swift kiss on the cheek. He grinned at her.

“Hello everyone!” He turned to Sam and snapped to attention to give a salute. “Commander Holt, sir.”

Sam saluted him in return. “Paladin.” Lance extended his right hand and Sam shook it cordially. “So, I hear you are escorting my daughter to the Garrison Ball.”

“Yes, sir.” Pidge took Lance’s left hand, giving it a little squeeze. He smiled at her, then turned back to Sam. “It’s a great honor sir. I think I must be the luckiest guy in the universe.” Pidge beamed at him, and they both blushed as pink as the sunset over the grand mesa just beyond the western gate.

Sam felt a wave of nostalgia, remembering how young he and Colleen were when they first started dating. For a moment, Lance reminded him of himself at that age. The genuine affection between the two of young people was apparent. He honestly couldn’t remember seeing his daughter so happy since she returned home from space, and for a moment he felt a pang of regret. He had missed so much of her growing up while he was a prisoner of the Galra. She matured into a brilliant, courageous young woman, one who had fought warlords and sentries, bounty hunters and space pirates, and who had helped save the universe from destruction alongside this awkwardly earnest, gangly young man who obviously wore his heart on his sleeve.

“You kids have a nice time at the mall. Matt and I are eating supper in the mess hall tonight, and then we’re finishing up a few things in the lab before the weekend.”

“Well, I’ve had a notion. I’m making my famous baked ziti with garlic knots for lunch on Saturday. Sam, wouldn’t it be nice if we invited Lance over tomorrow?”

“Indeed. How does 11:00 sound?”

“Sounds great, sir.”

Colleen smiled. “You know, Lance, Sam and I were quite the ballroom dancers back in our day. We could give you and Katie a few pointers if you’d like.”

“It’s true. Mom and dad gave me dancing lessons since I was little, whether I liked it or not.”

“She’s a natural,” Sam added.

“My parents taught me most of the traditional Latin American dances when I was just a kid, but I am really out of practice. This is going to be fun!” Lance said with enthusiasm.

“Well, we’re all set, then. We had better head out towards the mall,” Colleen said cheerfully. “We’ll be home around ten, dear.” She kissed her husband goodbye and got into the driver’s seat. Katie, to her mother’s surprise, didn’t want to sit in the front passenger’s seat as she usually did. She sat on the back seat with Lance, who couldn’t seem to wipe the dreamy smile off of his face if he tried. As they sped away across the desert Colleen was almost certain that he was holding her daughter’s hand.

The mall wasn’t too crowded, considering that it was a Friday night. Lance was impressed with how quickly the place had been remodeled in the aftermath of the invasion. So much had changed since they had been chosen as Paladins of Voltron, and it took some getting used to. They encountered nearly as many off-world species as humans among the vendors and shoppers, but somehow it was weirdly familiar.

“If I didn’t know better, I’d say we were back at the Space Mall,” said Pidge, voicing his thoughts aloud.

“Yeah. Hey, look, Pidge! It’s the guy from the Earth Store!” Lance pointed to the skinny grey-green alien wearing an Area 51 baseball cap. “I don’t think he’s giving away any free Kalteneckers today, though.”

“Kalteneckers?” asked Colleen.

“She’s our cow. It’s a long story, Mom.”

“Sam said something about you two having a cow in space, but I thought he was kidding, or delusional.”

“She was free with purchase. Pidge really wanted that Mercury Gameflux II with a vintage copy of Killbot Phantasm, but we were completely broke,” Lance explained.

“So we took off our shoes, rolled up our trouser legs and went wading in the mall’s wishing fountain to look for coins,” said Pidge.

“Katie Holt! You know I raised you better than that. My daughter, the criminal,” Colleen chided, in mock disapproval.

“Yeah, she’s a bad influence on me.” Lance grinned. “We nearly got arrested by the Mall Cop. But we escaped with Kaltenecker on a hover board.”

“The things a man will do for love,” Pidge teased. “Lance hit his head when we escaped and nearly gave himself a concussion.”

“Yeah, but you wanted to kiss it and make it all better, right?”

“No, I did not,” she said indignantly, “but I had to bandage you up after that fall because Hunk was riding shotgun with Coran, and Keith was ready to eject you into space.”

Colleen sighed. How had these kids managed to become saviors of the universe? Perhaps the Creator of the Cosmos had a sense of humor.

After a bit of window shopping, they found both the tuxedo shop and the dress shop they were searching for.

“Lance, when you are done trying on tuxedos, you can ask the saleswoman at the dress shop to show you to the lounging area in the back of the store. There are some comfortable armchairs for patient husbands, or in this case, boyfriends, who may have to wait a long time for their significant other to finish trying on dresses.”

Finding a tuxedo that fit him was relatively easy. Lance was tall and slim, and nearly any style looked great on him. He tried on the most classy one he could afford, and then made finger guns at himself as he admired his own reflection in the shop’s main mirror. “Razzle Dazzle, Baby!” He did a little dance, humming to himself as he strutted back and forth, and then he stopped himself, realizing that the other refined gentle beings in the shop were staring at him. “I had better stop that,” he thought. “Sam Holt definitely doesn’t want his daughter dating a goofball.”

After he was finished at the tuxedo shop, Lance headed back to the dress shop and found one of the comfortable armchairs that Colleen was talking about. There were magazines to browse through, but they were all about fashions for ladies, so he decided to check his phone when he sat down. He had a few missed calls. There was a text from Hunk that caught his attention as soon as he checked his messages.

Hunk: Where are you? I’ve been trying to reach you all evening.

Lance: At the mall. I just picked out my tux for the Garrison Ball. 😎

Hunk: Wait a minute, the ball? Did you do it?!

Lance: Do what?

Hunk: Ask her out.

Lance: Ask who out?

Hunk: You’re denser than a neutron star. YOU KNOW WHO I’M TALKING ABOUT. Your best friend.

Lance: Sorry, Hunk, I can’t take you to the ball. My girlfriend would be jealous.

Hunk: Not me! Your other best friend! And since when do you have a girlfriend?!

Lance: Um, since this afternoon. Since we made out in her mom’s hydroponics lab. 😙💋😉

Hunk: No way!

Lance: Yes, way. 😎 *Razzle Dazzle!*

Hunk: I hope you were a gentleman. She’s a sweet, innocent girl, so you better keep that in mind, Loverboy. And she happens to be my best friend, too. So if you ever hurt her...

Lance: I’ll never hurt her. I love her.

Hunk: 😮😃😍

Lance: She loves me too. 🥰

Hunk: I’m crying rn. I’m so happy for you both.

Lance: I call dibs on the best man.

Hunk: What?

Lance: When we get married, I call dibs on you for the best man. Pidge will fight me for you, so I’m calling dibs.

Hunk: 😂 You haven’t even gone on your first date yet, you nut.

Lance: No, but we have already planned our second date, which is really happening before the first date, so maybe the second date really is the first date.

Hunk: You’re not making any sense.

Lance: Italian food and ballroom dancing tomorrow at the Holts.

Hunk: Smooth. They don’t call you Loverboy for nothing.

Lance: ✨😎✨

Hunk: Talk to you later, man.

Lance: Later, dude.

Lance checked a few other messages and put his phone away. Just when he was bored enough to pick up a magazine, he heard Pidge and her mother having a conversation in the dressing room closest to him.

“Let’s see the next one, darling.” There was the sound of a dressing room door opening. “Oh that color is beautiful on you. Turn around...let’s see it...Oh, I love it!”

“It’s my favorite so far, too,” said Pidge.

“But you can’t wear it with your bra straps showing like that. Try it on with the strapless bra.”

“I did. It doesn’t fit right.”

“Why not? Is it the right size?”

“I don’t have enough up top to hold it up. It keeps falling off me. I might as well not wear a bra at all.”

Lance’s eyes were as round as saucers and his face felt as if it were on fire. His imagination was now filled with naughty thoughts about his girlfriend wearing a bra, then wearing a strapless bra, and then wearing...

“Did you try the bustier with it?”

“You mean this white lacy thing that looks like a corset?”

“Yes, with the matching lace panties. Aren’t they adorable?”

Lance’s jaw dropped, then he covered his face with the magazine, hoping no one saw how he looked right now. Is this how spontaneous human combustion occurs? He might just burst into flames any moment now. Holy crow!

“Mom, this looks like bridal lingerie. And it’s expensive.”

“It is, dear. But it’s so worth it.”

“But why spend so much on underwear that no one will get to see except me?”

“Well, if everything goes well, maybe Lance will get to see you wearing it...someday.”

“Mother!”

“I meant on your wedding night, dear.”

“MOM! Can you be any more embarrassing?!”

Lance had sunk as deeply into the armchair as humanly possible. Maybe if he sat still long enough he could turn invisible. He hoped the armchair wasn’t flammable.

Several humiliating minutes (hours?) later, he heard Pidge and her mother come to an agreement about the dress (and the lacy unmentionables), and he decided that it would be best if he wasn’t there when they came out of the dressing room area. If Pidge saw his face she would know instantly what he had overheard, and then he actually might die of embarrassment, or worse, he might say something stupid like “Aw, that’s a cute little bustier,” and then she might turn her bayard on him and murder him on the spot.

Yes, now was definitely a good time to go use the men’s room. He would meet them in front of the store later.

The shoe store was next, and Pidge was apprehensive about wearing the sort of high heeled slippers that would have to be worn with her dress. She teetered back and forth awkwardly when she she tried to walk on such tiny heels, and once, she stumbled right into Lance’s arms. He caught her, and smiled his most charming smile at her. “I always knew you would fall for me,” he said in his huskiest voice. “I’m irresistible.”

“More like incorrigible. Mom, are you sure I can’t wear flats with this dress?”

Finally, after finding a pair of shoes with a wider (and lower) heel, they put all of their purchases in the trunk of the car, then went back into the mall for a late supper at the food court.

“Hey, look, they have a Vrepit Sal’s!” Lance exclaimed happily.

“Mom, you have to try this place. Their whole menu is based on Hunk’s original recipes. The food is amazing!”

*******

It was a clear night, the desert sky alit by thousands of distant stars, some with worlds they had visited, teeming with life. The drive home was a peaceful one, with Colleen at the wheel. Through her rear view mirror, she could see Lance and Pidge sitting behind her, quietly reminiscing about their many adventures in space, until Pidge yawned, snuggled closer to him, and finally fell asleep against Lance’s chest. Lance, who already had his arm around her, kissed the top of her head and closed his eyes, smiling as one does when having a very, very pleasant dream.

[ruby-dear]

all of them except 77, 78, 81, 92 and 96

Ember, I know this was you. I’m doing it, but that’s 93 questions you’re asking for so they’re going under a cut. 

1. Talk about your first love. There have been a lot of those, so let me talk about the first one I really remember. I was in eighth grade, at the time, and she wasn’t exactly a great person looking back but she was cool and confident and she liked me, and she called me her best friend, and probably the best school-related memory I’ve ever had was her tackle-hugging me from across a classroom. I didn’t even realize I liked girls until she’d pretty much left my life completely. Maybe I’m looking at it through rose-tinted glasses now, but I think that’s okay, sometimes.  2. What’s the most beautiful songs you’ve ever heard in your opinion? Most of my favorite songs are Owl City, especially the older stuff. It has a soft, dreamlike vibe to it that I find really pretty even when it’s depressing. 3. How’s your heart feeling right now? Pretty good, I think? 4. What kind of self care is your favorite to do? The fun stuff. Bath bombs, makeup, fancy shampoo. Retail therapy actually works pretty well for me, even if a lot of the time I don’t even buy anything. 5. What’s your skincare routine? Um... Shower? 6. How did you get to be so beautiful? Natural talent and carefully learned confidence. 7. Do you have any stuffed animals? Oh, do I. I have like, seventy Webkinz, and that’s without getting into anything else. You could say I collect plushes, even if I don’t do it as actively now. I have a couple of Eevee plushes, too - I’d say I want to own all of them one day, but I’m like, 95% sure that’s not possible. 8. Best trip you’ve ever been on? Once, we went to Prince Edward Island for a week, and my mom surprised me by meeting up with my best friend’s family, who happened to have gotten a room at our hotel for one night. I think that probably wins. 9. Favorite thing about your room? That it’s starting to look like it belongs to me, even if I want to move somewhere else. 10. Opinion on love? It takes work, but it’s worth it.

11. Are you affectionate? Around people I’m comfortable with, definitely. 12. Who do you look up to? The people who have enough confidence to be unapologetically be themselves.

13. Favorite poet? Robert Frost. When I was eleven, I found a book of his poems, and I loved that book so much I didn’t pay any attention in English class at all.

14. Song that makes you happy? How about one that calms you down when you’re in a bad place? There’s a lot of songs that make me happy. Hard to go wrong with the Pokemon theme, though. As for things that calm me down... It’s Alright by Mother Mother and Misguided Ghosts by Paramore have both got me through a lot.

15. Do you play an instrument? No. I was supposed to learn piano in seventh grade, but I couldn’t read the sheet music so they never let me play, and I tried to learn guitar multiple times but it never stuck for the same reason.

16. Do you do art? Using what (pencil, watercolor, etc)? I paint, though not as often as I’d like to! Using acrylics, usually, but watercolors sometimes.

17. Do you dance? What style of dance? I took ballet as a child, til they kicked me out of class, and I still enjoy dancing but I don’t remember any of what I learned.

18. What’s your zodiac sign? Do you believe in astrology? Gemini. I think it might have some kind of truth behind it, but I’m not really one of those all-or-nothing people. It’s just for fun, you know?

19. Favorite old film? I don’t watch a lot of them. Does The Aristocats count?

20. What’s your hairstyle? It’s long and wavy. I’m getting blue highlights soon.

21. What weather is the most beautiful, in your opinion? Light rain. The kind that dries off before you get inside, when the sky is perfectly clear, but it starts falling anyway and it stops just as quickly.

22. What upsets you most about the world? That however hard we try to fix it, we’re unlikely to get very far.

23. Are you in love right now? Yes. At least, I think so.

24. Do you have a crush? If so, talk about them! I have a girlfriend. Is that the same thing? She’s cute and funny and she thinks the same things about me for some reason, and she knows exactly how much of a disaster I can be and hasn’t run away yet.

25. Do you have pets? Talk about something sweet about them! I have a cat, Little Prince. His sister died about a month ago, and she was the one who usually kept me company (total lap-cat), but ever since he’s usually either close to where I am or comes when I call him over.

26. Do you have a lucky number? Any multiple of seven, but especially fourteen. They’re my favorite numbers for the same reason.

27. Have you ever wished on a star? What about on a fallen eyelash? I try to wish on stars, when I see them. Eyelashes I’m usually more annoyed about than anything.

28. Do you believe emoji spells to work? I think anything has the potential to work, given the right amount of effort and intent. That said, I don’t think you’re going to accomplish anything drastic.

29. Do you believe in magic in general? Oh, definitely. Just look at the world we live in. How can you not believe in magic when it’s all around you? The night sky without air pollution, the sunlight dancing on the water, candy cane white hot chocolate - it’s everywhere, in everything.

30. What’s the most beautiful thing in life, In your opinion? Everything. There’s something beautiful in everything, if you look for it. Today, let’s say the feeling of sliding around on a hardwood floor in fluffy socks, dancing along to one of your favorite songs.

31. Opinion on the color pink? What about baby blue? As a kid, I hated pink. I like it now, though. Blue is my color, light blue especially (particularly with star patterns), so I’ve always liked it.

32. What instrumental sound is your favorite? Am I alloawed to say wind chimes? I’ve always thought they sounded super pretty.

33. Do you like the sound of wind? What about the sound of rain? I love them both.

34.Who makes you happy? My friends. All of them, in different ways, the people who are still in my life for various reasons. I love them.

35. What makes you happy? Light rain, strong wind, good music. My cat’s soft meow when I wake him up by accident. White peppermint hot chocolate. Fall colors, string lights, Halloween and winter holidays. Ice and snow and skating, dressing up for no apparent reason. The trick to it all is finding new things every day.

36. Imagine your ideal life, the life you wish to make, what will that look like? A house big enough for a family. A degree of some kind hanging on the wall. A life where I’m making things because that’s what I love, and I can try new things just for fun, where I don’t have to worry about money so much. The chance to get married someday, maybe.

37. Do you wear makeup? If so what’s your favorite type of makeup or specific makeup product? Favorite store to buy makeup? I do! Unless someone else is doing it for me, I generally keep to lipstick and eyeshadow. I’ve never been especially picky about what brands I use, but I usually go to Nyx because it’s on my usual route when I go on shopping trips, and I’m kind of attached now. Plus, nowhere else I’ve been in person has as many bold colours.

38. Do you wear dresses? If so what’s your favorite dress you own? I like wearing dresses. My favorite that I still have is a longer black dress, and it’s in serious need of either repair of retirement, but I got it for $20 as a cosplay outfit last year and it served its purpose. I wear it around still, sometimes, because it’s generally an easy fix.

39. Ever been heartbroken? How do you deal with it? Yeah, a few times. I vent to my friends, usually, and then I eat ice cream and listen to gnash for a while and eventually I start to feel better.

40. Who’s your closest friend? What do you love about them?

41. Introvert or extrovert? Kinda both? It’s complicated.

42. Do you like MBTI? What’s your MBTI? Is that... Fuck, is that the one with the letters? I think I got ENFP last time, and when I was younger it was INFP.

43. Would you be a fairy, a mermaid, a vampire, a siren, a or an angel? I’ve had people tell me I have ‘fae vibes’ before, so let’s go with that and hope it’s not offensive.

44. What’s the best song a friend has ever introduced to you? I don’t remember enough of them to feel good about picking one. I basically only listen to music I’m recommended now.

45. Parlez-vous français? A little, by virtue of being Canadian and having driven through Quebec. Not enough to carry on a conversation.

46. Most beautiful place you’ve been to? Prince Edward Island, hands down. It’s gorgeous.

47. Where/when do you truly feel at home? When there’s a light breeze, and the perfect song is playing, and the people I love are there. When we’re laughing with each other.

48. Does smiling put you in a better mood? Try it right now, you’re smile is gorgeous! I don’t think it does, honestly? But it does tend to happen when I’m happy.

49. Favorite shoe you own? These ankle boots I got secondhand that have little metal stars on them. I’m gonna be so upset when they finally wear out and I need new ones.

50. Can you walk in stilettos? Do you like them? God, no, I’ve tried. Any heel that’s too sharp or pointy or tall is a major problem for me. It’s part of what makes finding shoes such a pain.

51. Do you feel loved? Not always, but yeah. When I remember, or when I ask, or when I’m reminded.

52. How do you express love to those you care about? I try to tell them, but I’m also the type to engage in constant teasing. I’m the friend that punches you in the arm as a show of affection.

53. Favorite term(s) of endearment? The more creative ones. The basics don’t do much for me, honestly, but it’s more about the person saying them anyway.

54. Most romantic thing someone’s ever done for you? Make me feel like I don’t have to try so hard to feel like myself.

55. When is the happiest you’ve ever been? Walking the downtown city streets in winter. It was cold, sure, but it was gorgeous and I finally felt independent for a while.

56. Are you happy right now? Yeah, I’d say so.

57. What makes you smile? Bad jokes, among other things.

58. Do you laugh a lot? Yeah. A lot more than I used to.

59. What’s your favorite kind of aesthetic? Punk/scenecore. They’ve really influenced my more recent style choices.

60. Do you want to marry for love or for some other reason (like money)? Love, definitely.

61. What would your dream wedding look like? Do you want to get married? With someone I love, and the other people I love there too. Somewhere beautiful. I think I do, someday, but it’s not something I’m so worried about.

62. Favorite flower? Roses. Blue Moon Hybrid Tea Roses, in particular, are especially pretty.

63. Favorite artist? I don’t really have one. I do enjoy looking at art, though.

64. Favorite music artist? Owl City.

65. How kind do you think you are? Is kindness important to you? I don’t know. People seem to think I’m kinder than I believe I am. It’s important to me, yeah, to try and help people and to do nice things.

66. Ever made a playlist for someone? A few times. They were never anything special, as far as I’m concerned.

67. Do you have anything you do to physically comfort you when your sad? Such as a favorite blanket? Or a relaxing bath? Long, warm baths and cuddling with my cat. Warm blankets and stories with happy endings.

68. Early bird or night owl? Night owl. I’m a night person.

69. Morning routine? Wake up, do nothing for a while, actually get out of bed and figure out breakfast. While that’s going on, try and figure out if anything important is happening today.

70. Night routine? Get comfortable, then write or daydream til I fall asleep.

71. What is the most lovely quality a person could have in your opinion? Self-confidence and a willingness to help others.

72. Do you cry often? Does crying help you get the emotions out? Do you feel better after? I tend to hold back my feelings til they all fall out. So I end up crying at least twice a month, usually. It helps, yeah.

73. Do you like hugs? From people I feel comfortable with.

74. When was the last time you kissed someone? On the lips? Never.

75. Are you small or tall? Small. I’m 5′0.

76. Do you like wholesome memes? Yes. They’re cute.

79. Have you ever lived in a different country than you currently live in? Nope. I’ve never lived outside this city, only been on trips.

80. Do you like plane flights? Airports? I’ve only flown once, and I was two, so I don’t remember it very well.

82. The beach or a forest? Sand or bugs? Depends on the day. Today, though, forest.

83. What time of day do you tend to be in the best mood? Evening, usually.

84. Do you push yourself to act together and in a good mood even when you aren’t? Yeah, when I’m stressed.

85. Favorite kind of tree? Either maple or pine. I’m Canadian, what can I say?

86. Do you care about the health of the Earth? Yes, but there’s only so much one person can do.

87. What did you like most about your childhood, if anything? Field trips. Adulthood is sorely lacking in field trips.

88. Do you read a lot? What’s your favorite book? I used to. These days I still read, but it’s mostly fanfiction. My favorite books, though, are Tamora Pierce’s Emelan series and the first two books of Kenneth Oppel’s Silverwing trilogy.

89. What are you most nostalgic for at the moment? Trick-or-treating.

90. What’s your favorite personality trait you have? I try to let the people I love know that I love them.

91. List at least ONE thing you love about your appearance. I have pretty great hair.

93. Do you worry a lot? Constantly.

94. The dazzling lights of the city or the relaxing countryside? The city. The countryside’s nice, but the streetlights and the city skyline are what make me feel at home.

95. Ever changed the shoelaces on one of your shoes? For what reason? I actually don’t know how to tie laces, so no. I’ve never been able to pick it up. I might get someone sense to, if I could find cool enough laces.

97. Do you like doing little acts of kindness? Yeah. It feels good to make people happy, you know?

98. How’s your day/night going? Pretty good! I did just spend over an hour on this, but I finished it, so that’s an accomplishment of its own.