#i know i'm late ooof

[acid-ixx]

Ghost-Anon here!! 😋

Ooof the new chapter was good! I especially loved the part where Dick goes kinda nuts after Reader blocked him (as deserved :p ) more so I’m so excited for Yandere!Damian too xD

hii !! tysm for enjoying the first chapter ^^ i was afraid that i wrote dick's descent to madness too quick but then i realized that "oh yeah it's literally dick we are talking about, times where he is at his limits are times where he lets the emotions control him." dick really does love his family, as proved in the comic panels i have read, and I don't like how most other comics picture him as just this silly guy who never gets mad at anyone.

he had his immense bouts of anger and frustration, it would be worse if it was caused by you, directly or not. the thing is, he understands where you're coming from. one of the things about dick grayson is that everyone loves him but himself. he has flaws that take a lot to fix, and they simply worsen when it comes to you because he had caused the same mistake bruce has committed. he was the same guy who criticized his own father for his mistakes, angered by jason's death and killing the joker after tim's own 'jokerfication' and yet he had never once noticed your demons, he allowed the world to take you away and destroy you; a crime greater than anything he could imagine.

the worst thing was, he was the same brother who had led your hopes high and crashed it at the same time. dick is the man who was described to be giving empty promises to you. it's bad enough that bruce had never even known about your presence, had never once talked to you, but dick had every opportunity to grab because truly, you saw him as your favorite before anyone else. everyone praised dick and you wanted the same praise from the next thing closer than your father— and he failed because he never tried, he failed his cute, little baby bird.

he knows that he needs to make it up to you before it gets worse but he also doesn't know that it's already too late.

you don't see him as the dick grayson. you don't see him in any positive light anymore other than the sheepish grins he would give you right after he rejects your offers.

if he wasn't so damn stupid, then you would've been there with him, at the mansion flipping through movies, pranking each other, throwing flour at one another when you bake, decorating your next diary entry with him.

and he needs to experience all that because you're the only normalcy that life has to offer. he momentarily relishes in the fact that you think so highly of him, but he breaks at the same time because all your other diary entries began to paint them all as your demons.

dick would ward the monsters away from you, he promises.

and this time, he genuinely means it.

i am so excited for yan! damian too! i wrote his character to be terrible towards you (he doesn't know he's self-projecting lmao) but i had hinted in one paragraph of his relationship with the reader. you see, most of his feelings towards you may have stemmed from some sort of jealousy, or the feel the need for competition. he had already fought tim before, it's only right that you get to experience the same pain— and i'm not expanding on this because then it would spoil the future chapters hehe, but i'll be giving one small spoiler and say that damian would go through some sort of immense, internal breakdown at the thought of you.

[calicoheartz]

Write one where Paige & reader get into a heated argument lots of angst happy ending

From Ashes to Affection ; Paige Bueckers ﹒⟢

꣑୧ — summary | you and paige were known for your self-deprecating jokes towards one another, but after tension builds and threatens to boil over, will your relationship spoil or will you manage to save it?

wc ; 662

— warnings | swearing , arguments , lots of angst but w a happy ending (yay) massive tw : self deprecating joke about anxiety

my master list ㇀♡

a/n : ooof I feel like I haven’t been writing as much angst lately so it was very fun to write ! enjoy ◡̈

After a long week of final exams and nights filled with books sprawled across your desk, you took the opportunity to spend the eve of the incoming weekend with your girlfriend Paige.

Your differing schedules and commitments had left tension to build for weeks, simmering beneath the surface until it finally boiled over. It started with a harmless comment, a joke that was meant to be lighthearted, but it was taken the wrong way, triggering a chain reaction of hurtful words and unspoken frustrations. 

Paige knew how much you struggled with your anxiety, it was something that had plagued you for a majority of your life. You two had always made self-deprecating jokes at one another, the atmosphere was light and loving, giving you hope that maybe you were moving past the rough patch of your relationship. All until…

“Well thank god having bad anxiety isn't an olympic sport because you'd definitely have a gold medal.”

You felt your heart sink, you felt tears threatening to spill out of your eyes, due to the shock at the words the blonde had just said.

"I can't believe you would say that, Paige," you said, your voice filled with hurt. "I thought you knew me better than that."

Paige's expression hardened, her own hurt turning into anger. "Maybe I don't know you as well as I thought," she retorted, her words cutting like a knife.

The argument escalated quickly, both of you saying things you didn't mean, words fueled by hurt and anger. Before you knew it, Paige was storming out of the room, leaving you alone with your thoughts and the shattered remains of your relationship.

You packed a bag, leaving your promise ring on the bedside of the blondes bedside table, and headed towards your best friends house in order to calm down. 

Days turned into weeks, and despite your best efforts, the rift between you and Paige only seemed to grow wider. You missed her more than words could say, missed the way she would smile at you, the way she would hold you close when you needed comfort. But you couldn't bring yourself to reach out to her, to try and mend what was broken.

And then, one day, you received a letter from Paige. In it, she poured her heart out, apologizing for her part in the argument, for the hurtful things she had said. She admitted that she missed you, missed the way things used to be between you.

Torn between anger and longing, you found yourself faced with a choice. Could you find it in your heart to forgive Paige, to try and rebuild the trust that had been shattered? Or was it too late for the two of you, the damage done irreparable?

With a heavy heart, you penned a response to Paige, laying bare your own feelings and fears. You admitted that you missed her too, missed the way things used to be. But you also expressed your doubts, your fear that history would only repeat itself if you were to reconcile.

Weeks passed, and as the days turned into months, you found yourself thinking more and more about Paige, about the possibility of a future together. And then, one day, you received another letter from Paige, this time with a different tone, a tone of hope and determination.

"I understand if you can't forgive me, can't trust me again," Paige wrote. "But I want you to know that I'm willing to do whatever it takes to earn back your trust, to prove to you that I've changed. Please, Y/N, give me a chance to make things right between us."

Tears welled up in your eyes as you read Paige's words, words filled with sincerity and love. And in that moment, you knew that despite everything, you still loved her too. Taking a deep breath, you picked up your pen and began to write, ready to take the first step towards healing and forgiveness.

sorry for the short post my loves !! ive been super burnt out from writing and have been suffering from writers block so I hope y'all enjoyed this one <3 as always, thank u sm for reading !

[strongheartneteyam]

Realize where you belong.

Pairing: neteyam sully x female!human!reader/female!dreamwalker!reader

Neteyam is aged up.

Chapter 2

CW: angst, reader hates her life, neteyam is like her "secret admirer" but he eventually becomes obsessed, so, it gives off some creepy vibes, possessive neteyam, forbidden love, neteyam is REALLY protective over her, neteyam isn't really fond of humans (hates them) and only makes an exception for reader, TRIGGER WARNING for a few depression symptoms (such as reader holding back tears and looking miserable really often), stalking, obsessive behavior & possessiveness

Synopsis: Reader is unhappy with her human life. She works for the lab as a cook. She's a Dreamwalker and she spends every free day she gets walking through Pandora's forests. In one of those days, Neteyam sees her but she doesn't notice him. He falls in love, seeing how happy she is amidst nature. Neteyam finds out she's actually a human in an Avatar, so, he finds a way to go where her real body is. He hates to admit it but, seeing her in her human body, he realizes he still loves her. After watching her, he notices how she's always happier when she's in her Avatar, so, he develops a deeper connection to her. However, he becomes obsessive. Reader has only heard about him, the famous son of Jake Sully and future Olo'eyktan, praised for his great achievements as a young Omatikaya. After getting reader's attention, Neteyam asks her to choose to live forever in her Avatar, becoming his mate and making tsaheylu with him, gaining a new home as a fresh member of his tribe. Reader is scared and torn, since, even though she's intensely attracted to him and only truly enjoys life when she's Dreamwalking, she doesn't really know him and she's afraid of dying when trying to go past Eywa's eye. But Neteyam just won't give up on her that easily.

♡ This is Reader's Avatar

☆ This is the official playlist for this story, the songs I listen to while working on it.

•

Finally, this fanfic is out!! lots of people seemed to love the tiny sneak peek I posted so... I hope you guys will love the fanfic itself too hehe I'm so relieved I could finally post it ooof My environment is the worst EVER rn & i haven't had any motivation or focus to write lately BUT i seem to be getting out of that damned writer's block I was in (ITS THE WORST FEELING IN THE WORLD UGH HATE IT TO DEATH)

Not proofread. My life is a hurricane, so, we don't work with proofread stories here. Hope you find it in your hearts to forgive me, my angels :')

na'vi words:

yawne - beloved

tsaheylu - the neurological bond the na'vi make with their mate, through their tendrils, at the end of their long braid.

Chapter 1

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

I love your touch, cold as ice

And I love every single tear you cry

I just love the way you're losing your life

Oh, my baby, how beautiful you are

Oh, my darling, completely torn apart

Gone With The Sin (HIM)

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

Neteyam would look at you every moment he could. He didn't have that much free time since he was the Olo'eyktan's son and had so many responsibilities weighting on his shoulders. But he would always make any sacrifice he needed to make to find time to see you. Even if it meant using the few hours he had to himself to contemplate you. His sad, gloomy-eyed, beautiful girl. You were not actually his yet, but, he was determined to make that change.

Neteyam saw you holding back tears way too damn often, so, he was always deeply worried about you, and, that was one of the reasons why he was always creeping around, high up in branches of trees located in Hell's Gate, watching over you, almost every day, ready to help you, defend you from any danger, to say "screw it" to how out of the blue it would be if he - a stranger, a male na'vi stranger - just came up to you and said "hey, I've been watching you for a while, and… I'm so, so in love with you. Please, leave this damn idiotic human life you live and let Eywa help you be transferred to your Avatar body for good, just like she helped my father. You're so insanely pretty like this - and I have never felt attracted to any female of your demon kind before, so, believe me when I talk about your beauty - but you look even prettier when you're in your Avatar form. Let me make you my mate, let me make you the future Olo'eyktan's mate. I can give you a far better life than the one you have now"

He knew he was just a weird alien boy (as the humans would probably say), stalking you, always up in the highest tree branches he could find and reach, watching a girl while she cooks - as it was your job - like a hunter watching their prey. But he meant no harm. On the contrary, he meant to take care of you, to save you from it all. Because he wasn't blind. Neteyam saw how unhappy you looked while peeling potatoes (he knew what they were because his dad who was once human told him and his siblings about how delicious that vegetable from Earth tasted, especially when it was made as French fries) to cook on the high-tech stove the humans used to prepare their meals in and prepare mashed potatoes to those damn lab guys who invaded his Planet and did nothing but harm.

Neteyam thought it to be unnecessary. His future mate could easily prepare the same potatoes in a bonfire he would light up for you in the Omatikaya forest. He knew they would taste even better roasted in the natural fire than just plainly cooked in that energy fueled cooking device the humans used. He could give you a life so incredibly better than the one you had right now, it pained him to see his yawne working so hard to feed every damn scientist in that cold, air-conditioned lab while not being as appreciated and thanked by them as you deserved to be. You could be preparing food to feed his children instead, the sons and daughters he would give you, if only you accepted becoming his forever mate.

He hated the humans. They didn't know how to lead a proper life. But you were different.

Neteyam knew how breathtaking you looked in a na'vi like body because the first time he saw you, you were in your Avatar body - as you were a Dreamwalker - and that's when he fell in love with you. But he learned to love your human body too. He could never hate you, even in your human form. You were the only human he did not despise.

The day Neteyam first saw you, he was out in the forest to hunt and gather food, collecting bladder polyps, lionberry seeds and trying to kill a hexapede, so, he could bring all of it home and him and his family could eat a nutritious dinner.

That's when he heard a squeaky, funny laugh. It was a female voice, he recognized. Neteyam followed that sound just like he was a sailor and the girl whose laugh he heard was a mermaid, bewitching his senses and drawing him closer.

When he saw you, it was like his heart was going to explode in a thousand pieces, so fast it was beating inside his rigid ribcage, so strongly the blood was being pumped through his arteries. He knew he had to make you his mate, to have you forever.

Neteyam had always been a practical and rational young man, he had to be. He was the eldest son and had to look after his 3 younger siblings and not show a single sign of weakness when his father would scold him in a harsh tone, whenever any of his siblings - specially his younger brother, Lo'ak -, got into trouble and somehow, Neteyam ended up having to take responsibility over their actions. "But that girl… that beautiful, ethereal girl… she makes me believe in things I've never even considered before. I know it sounds stupid to say that about a girl I just met, only some minutes ago but I don't care", he thought. Only he and Eywa herself knew the raw, powerful feeling he was experiencing at that moment. He just wanted to let go for a while. To not force himself to be all brains, zero heart for once, just once. And you were gifting him the opportunity to do just that. Your beauty was so enchanting, it could leave any creature in awe.

His father had once told him about Christianity, one of the most popular religions back on the glory days of the Planet Earth, and, of course he didn't follow those beliefs, his spirituality was completely based on Eywa, the Great Mother, the spirit and moving energy of Pandora, but, if the beings called "angels" his father talked about were real, Neteyam was utterly sure that they could only look like you.

You were perfect. Every curve of your body, every bioluminescent freckle, every pattern of your stripes, your long dark braided hair falling like water on your flawless back, as you kept smiling and touching every single flower you could see, playing in a foolish way, just like a child. He felt a primal urge coming from his guts to make tsaheylu with you right there, right at that moment.

So many thoughts roamed through Neteyam's mind: "I need her… right here, right now. She's… ugh… I've never felt anything like this before… What's going on with your stupid mind, Neteyam?! You can't just choose any girl to be your mate, you'll be the next Olo'eyktan, remember?! The best choice would be a girl who has a calling to be Tsahìk. Maybe your parents will try to arrange a marriage, to find the perfect match for you. Damn! Who am I trying to fool? She is the only perfect match for me…"

Neteyam started to watch you go about the forest every chance he got.

When he found out you were actually a Dreamwalker, a human in a body created in a laboratory, a hybrid of demon and na'vi, a freak... It was like his world was falling apart, piece by tiny piece crashing on the floor. How did he not notice your fifth finger before?! Was he that much under your spell, that blinded by how beautiful and charming you were?, he asked himself.

So, he told himself he was going to find a way to at least see what your true form looked like. He hissed at the thoughts and feelings you had caused him the whole way to Hell's Gate, where the laboratory was and where he knew all the humans that stayed in Pandora and had an Avatar stayed.

When Neteyam saw you in your human body, he got hit by something as strong as lightning. The moment he sniffed your sweet scent (the smell you had in your Avatar had notes of your original human scent, as your DNA was used to build that body), the moment he recognized that melodious voice… The expression in those eyes, that smile, that laughter… it was you. His yawne.

He didn't understand how that was possible, what he was feeling. Nevertheless, he realized he still loved you. His heart still beat fast for you. It didn't matter which physical form you took. Na'vi or human. You were you. And he loved you. Madly.

His people had a great contempt towards the ones who Dreamwalked. They were "demons in false bodies", like his grandma and his mother always said. And Neteyam himself felt the same. Worse, he had felt disgusted by the love and desire you made him feel, back when he watched you wandering around the Omatikaya lands, when you would jump like a little kid, so happy playing with the bioluminescent, neon plants of the forest.

But, still, that feeling lingered inside him. The attachment, the deep affection, the devotion… He could not comprehend it.

All Neteyam could grasp was that he hated all humans, but you were the only exception.

Even though you were originally human, you had a na'vi heart. He just knew that. As crazy and impossible as it sounded, he figured out it was true. And that blew his mind. That sorrowful girl he was seeing cooking in a small technological kitchen was not the same one he had seen at the forest. But it was, at the same time. It apparently made no sense, but it actually did. You were not where you belonged. You did not belong imprisoned among those four walls that the other humans kept you in. That you were keeping yourself in. You belonged free amidst the Pandoran trees. You did not belong in those big human clothes. You belonged in a comfortable loincloth and a big leaf necklace covering your beautiful breasts, letting the wind hit your skin.

You seemed out of place in that environment you were currently in. And that made Neteyam feel something so overpowering. He knew it was useless to try and fight it. He was not even sure if he even wanted to fight it anymore. That feeling was good. It felt just like what he felt when he thought you were a na'vi girl. He even felt attracted to you, even though he still thought you looked much prettier in your Avatar body.

He was fully aware you were one of the demons. But you were not like the rest of them. You were special. He could tell that. He could tell you'd be a hundred per cent happier if he could convince you to become na'vi. And that's exactly what he was planning to do. He still did not know how, but he would find a way.

༊⁀➷

Taglist:

@crazy4books1

@samistars

@lik0

@miri-belle

@nerdybouquetofkittens-blog

@xxunnie

@your-girl-mj

@sereisstuff

@darktyrantwinner

@henhouse-horrors

@explosiongamora

@yeosxxx

[jesswritesthat]

Osamu Miya: Numbers

Fandom: Haikyuu!! — [ Masterlist ]

Summary: ~1.5k, fluff, slight angst

• When your work bestie gets a crush on Osamu, you start to realise that it might be too late for you.

Warnings: None

>>>>——————————>

In honesty setting up a work convention wasn’t where you’d expect to meet a potential partner, but it seemed your favourite confident colleague didn’t share that view.

"Woah..."

"Hm? What are you looking at?" You ceased your distraction task, scanning to match your colleagues’ line of sight.

"Mister tall dark and handsome over there."

"Who? Where?" Admittedly there was a hint of excitement bubbling inside you at the prospect but soon dispersed when Mai pointed him out.

"The guy fixing the stand, god what he could do with those hands. Who is that? He looks strong, I bet he's strong." Ramblings of an instant crush you noted, but since you knew said suspect personally you were obligated to shed some light (since you were also the one who called him here to help out in the first place).

"Oh? That's Miya Osamu, and yeah I guess he's strong. Lifting the bags of rice for his onigiri business helps I suppose."

With that, you went back to what you were doing - at least until Mai had giddily grabbed your arm filled with dire questions.

"Miya Osamu huh, is he single?"

"Um, yeah, he is."

"A business owner and he cooks too. What kind of lover does he like?"

"Ones who eat? I dunno, I'm not sure what Osamus' taste in people is." You were uninterested now, something churning deep within you, but apparently she hadn’t noticed.

"Maybe it'll be me, he's so hot though, I wouldn't know where to start."

"He has a brother!" Why did you say that?! It was the most left field tangent imaginable, a diversion almost.

"What?"

This feeling, a hint of embarrassment and a plummet in your stomach. Too late to stop now.

"Yeah, a twin brother who's more outgoing. He should be around here somewhere for you to meet." Where is Atsumu the one time you freaking need his annoying ass?

"But Osamu is—"

"—is not a famous athlete. No no, Miya Atsumu on the other hand - ooof, gorgeous specimen and... incredibly passionate too." You’d charismatically tried, as if becoming a wingman for him.

"Wow sounds like you've got a thing for him~"

That wasn't your intention, not that you're certain of the direction you were headed in the first place but convincing Mai you fancied Atsumu wasn't it.

"Hey lil' Jackal~ Ya talkin' bout me?" Speak of the devil and he shall appear, an arm slung over your shoulder in usual greeting.

"Sort of - also get off me Atsumu!"

"Ya never normally mind, is it 'cause yer all dressed up and incredibly stunnin'?"

"No I— you what? No—" Flicking between a smirking Mai and complimentary Atsumu you desperately attempted to get them to talk.

"I mean it, yer look really nice. M' sure 'Samu will agree. Have ya seen him yet?”

"Wait I want you to meet—" Too late, she’d began backing toward her desire, waving to you both with a wiggle of her eyebrows.

"I'll leave you two together, I'll catch you in a minute~"

"Mai— dammit."

"Did I miss somethin'? Seems like she's set us up and got an eye on my brother." The blonde overlooked how she’d floated over to Osamu, hand tenderly placed on his bicep to get his attention.

"It's that obvious? Do you think 'Samu will like her too?" You muttered with a hint of discomfort, eyeing the pair alongside the Setter.

"Ah, don't think so. I think his heart lies elsewhere..."

"You're right. Nothing stands in the way of Osamu and food." You confidently affirmed, Atsumu flicking to you baffled.

"Not what I was gettin' at considerin' yer the one he—"

"Especially delicious rice dishes.” You cut the blonde off with your addition, the man boredly rolling his eyes.

“Why do I even bother?”

“Don’t worry, I know your favourite food too Atsumu. It’s fatty tuna.”

“Wanna get some? This is making me sick.” Atsumu jutted his chin toward the scene of Mai flirting with his twin, and you found yourself wanting to rid the image from your mind (and heart) too.

“I second that.”

———

It was the following evening after work that you’d entered Onigiri Miya near closing time, Osamu brightening upon your arrival.

"Your usual?"

"Yeah, to go please."

Osamu paused momentarily due to this unforeseen change in routine, had he missed something? An event you'd mentioned that he'd forgotten about?

"Hey so I feel a little weird talking to you about this, but it's you and—"

"—and you've probably said worse."

"Yeah..." An embarrassed laugh and then you cleared your throat. "Anyway, Mai caught me yesterday, she's one of my colleagues from work."

"I know who she is." Clear and confident, of course he knew and you felt your tone lighten in pitch and speed. Were you nervous?

"Oh good, good. I guess that's because I saw you guys talking alone, and it looked pretty private so you probably found out then."

"Uh huh, where ya goin' with this?" Osamu raised a sceptical brow, slowing on preparing your order.

"She mentioned beforehand that you didn't y'know, make her want to throw up or whatever, so I figured that you two might've made date plans and that just feels kinda weird to me." That was putting it harshly, she’d spoken non-stop about how attractive he was all freaking day.

"Weird how?" Considering he was quite perceptive, you’d hoped he’d get what you were implying without so many questions but knowing him, this was for his own benefit.

"I mean if you did date, since I work with her, I'd hear things - and I don't know... I'd like my personal and work life not to crossover and ruin my perceptions of people."

He stared at you, awaiting whatever request you were trying to ask alongside these awkward descriptions.

"So if there's any way you could not date her, that would be really great."

"Y'got some nerve, 'm a grown man - ya can't tell me who to date."

"I'm not telling you who to date, I'm suggesting who not to date."

"Well ya can't tell me that either!" Was his adamant response, the atmosphere now bordering on defensive compared the one beforehand.

"I know I have no right but—"

"No you don't, and if you don't like what you might hear then don't listen." Osamu shot back as a proposal to your problem, leaving you to truly speak your subdued feelings in the matter - one’s he hadn’t thought you’d felt.

"I just thought that if something was going to affect our friendship, then you might care about it, because if the situation was reversed then I would care Osamu."

With that he diverted his attention solely toward your order with a hum, you on the other hand felt ridiculous. Maybe you were being petty, and just because the thought of constantly hearing how Osamu loves from Mai everyday would be heartbreaking, you could endure it if he was happy. You’d force yourself to, it might even help you get over this stupid romantic liking you’d recently discovered. In that case, you’ll have to brighten this damp mood.

"Okay you’re right. Go ahead then, date her, marry her, and make her Mrs Salmon Sushi Roll, live happily ever after for all I care. I hope you'll be delighted." You crossed your arms and turned away with a small huff escaping you once finishing your embellished claim whilst Miya blinked at you with mild bemusement.

It remained quiet for moment as he digested your words, soon enough breaking the lightened silence himself.

"By the way, I was telling Mai 'bout Volleyball serves. Dead romantic." It was spoken sarcastically, but also in a way to match your prior energy. "Said strong spike serves are harder to properly receive than floaters. Hot stuff I know, and then she asked for my number."

"That's so typical of you!" Came your slightly raised voice, spinning back to him with an accusing tone.

"What?"

"Everyone knows that jump floaters are far more effective at throwing off opponents because of their unpredictability. Everybody knows that 'Samu, everyone except you apparently, now goodbye." Knowing Mai had made her move was clarification enough - hence your volleyball tangent and strive toward the exit with your flourishing farewell.

"Yer food."

You fell still at the door after his victorious reminder, a few seconds passing as you thought about crawling back for the food or just abandoning it for the sake of pride.

"..."

Screw pride, you’re hungry.

But also you might’ve wanted to know one more thing, voice quietly asking for it once you’d reproached the counter and accepted the takeout bag he tauntingly held out for you to collect.

"Did you give her your number?"

"Yeah." Osamu smiled, one of relief and sincerity. "Seemed disappointed with the Onigiri Miya menu though."

You didn’t know if you’d managed to hide the brief feeling of melancholy well but you mirrored his smile all the same.

“Yeah, I would’ve been disappointed too.”

"Why? I make ya 'not want to throw up' too?" Came his mocking retort of your previous statement, leaving you to wittily respond as per usual.

"Shut up! I might gag, but otherwise no because you’re quite pretty. Besides I’ve had your number for years so I don’t need it."

“Knew ya liked me for more than my cooking, speaking of, there’s new menu items so take a look will ya?” Rolling his eyes with a scoff, he slid a menu over the counter which you gladly took and offered your goodbyes for the night.

—

After finishing your meal at home, your fingers lingered on the menu with mild curiosity, eyes skimming over it whilst hovering over the bin.

There were a few new appetiser additions, leading you to flip to the alternate side and almost drop it out of shock.

You traced the additional pen indentations with both your fingertips and eyes like precious scripture - a sentimental smile blooming at his charming stupidity.

Yer pretty too, call me later (Y/n),

(xxx-xxxx-xxxx)

<——————————<<<<

[ Masterlist ]

[bu-blegh-ost]

Okay, but like. The spy. The mole. For me immediately only one person comes to mind. Here is the way I think.

It is absolutely not Marshall John. He was clearly not in the spy division granted he had a crew and literally lazed around in Cannella long enough to abuse authority there. And after that there is absolutely NO WAY Navy's plan was to fucking execute him in the BLOCK and have Riptide Pirates go for him, on a downright suicidal mission so he joins ANOTHER crew. They could not predict nor plan for this. John is absolutely clean in my book.

Caspian. Ooof, it would be so tragic, cause he's always been there for Lizzie. They knew each other for YEARS, literal years, they were raised together. And that's exactly why he's not the mole. After leaving his tribe, which we know must be true since he mentioned his sister leaving to the capital and I'm pretty sure she is one of the Elders now, he went above water and spent most of his late childhood/teenage years with Lizzie on the Shadowbeard's ship. In no point in time were they split, and so Caspian would have absolutely no way to be trained as an undercover solider. Caspian is not a mole.

But who then, you may wonder? These are the main two closest to Lizzie, right? We don't know anyone else, right? Wrong. There is a new addition to her crew, quite recent actually and it's no one other than Rudith. The fucking healer from Joaldo island, one who had connections with Grandberry Pirates, letting them hang out under his fucking pharmacy. Rudith from Joaldo island which weirdly got attacked the same time a large amount of pirates were gathered there for a tournament. Rudith, who kept saying that life at sea is not really a life for him, and yet when they dropped the fucking sick at Edison Kingdom he surprisingly CHOSE to stay with Lizzie instead and had an absolute honour to listen to them all talking abt thier goddamn plans when they were in a tavern in Allport.

Quiet little, forgettable Rudith. A healer of the crew who just happened to be here. One that interacted with Riptide Pirates so little they don't even remeber he was there.

A perfect fucking mole.

[sunlightmurdock]

I'm in a really angsty mood after listening to sad songs so in the usual rich person x normal person stories the rich person is usually embarrassed about being in a relationship with them but for mechanic bradley I feel like girly really wants to make the relationship public but bradley is embarrassed

how are we feeling about this wrong/not wrong/could be better?

Ooof yes! Immediately thinking of the song 18 by Anarbor, not in the sense that reader is 18 — just in the sense that Bradley very much assumes that whatever is going on between them must be a phase for reader, and that she’s just using him to sow her wild oats or whatever

He’s cool with that at first.

Taking her out for rides on his bike, sneaking into her room late at night, making out in his truck. That one time he broke someone’s nose for getting too handsy with her seemed to be a personal favourite of hers.

He figures that she wants him because he’s trouble, that she gets off on the excitement or something.

But then he starts to feel himself getting attached. He likes the way she looks at him, and the way she talks about him, the gentle way she runs her fingers through his hair and the way she makes his bed smell of perfume.

Then, when she’s laying in his arms one day and they’re catching their breaths, covered in sweat and exhausted — she tells him that she wants him to meet her parents.

So, he decides to end it. Screwing around is one thing, but being paraded around for them to hate him is another. If she wanted a bad boy then she should have known that this would end with him breaking her heart.

“What?”

“I don’t want anything serious.” He shrugs as he steps back into his jeans, stone-faced, his back to her. His throat tight. “You know that.”

And immediately she’s thinking about the flowers he has given her, the forehead kisses and the way he touches her. She knows by now that when things get difficult, he puts his walls up.

“Don’t do this.” She whispers, pulling the sheets with her to cover her up as she walks over to him. He tenses as he feels her press close to him, kissing the sweat from his shoulder. “Please. Bradley, you’re important to me, I-I care about you — and I know you care about me.”

He tries to shrug her off, shaking his head softly.

“What’s the point?” He scoffs, turning slowly to face her. “They’re never going to think I’m good enough for you.”

[rapha-reads]

IWTV rewatch

(s1 finale… Ready for pain and blood? Let's do this. *grabs tissues*)

Season 1 episode 7 [The Thing Lay Still] - part 1/3

- Oof, opening with the Moonlight Sonata, how to put you right in the mood.

- Daniel side-eyeing Rashid/Armand…

- [Daniel] "Can an immortal meet mortality?" - weeeell, to paraphrase our favourite rockstar, "the sun or the fire might kill me, but then again, it might not".

- [Louis] "Decapitation. He confided that to me one blood-drunken night in Bâton Rouge." - and then Louis proceeded to never forget it. I want to know more about their nights of hunting and partying. There's like, 80 miles (is that roughly 100km? I'm French, I don't know miles) between NOLA and Bâton Rouge, even if they're vampires, that's still a little trip that could be special when they have all of New Orleans to hunt (an anniversary? A date? A special performance of Macbeth or Puccini? Someone needs to write a fic)…

- [Louis] "Add to the toxic air a new ever-present paranoia, and now, you are with us." - kinda wish I wasn't tbh. "The toxicity, in my city"… Ahem.

- [Louis] "Lestat de Lioncourt. 179 years in the Savage Garden. 148 years the blood-drinker, the bringer of death… the deer come up the trail." - ooof, first point, Lestat, or at least, Louis' version of Lestat in this recollection, oozes danger and predator. He looks, feels and moves dangerously. And acts unhinged. His words heavily accented. Go figure if he really was that scattered and angry at that time, or if Louis' anxiety, trauma and guilt color the scene that way.

Second point, another mention of the Savage Garden! Made by Louis this time, so one could imagine that Lestat told him about it, that they had a conversation or more about the subject during those 30 years together, given that the theme is a Lestat special.

- Ooooh, the unholy family moving and acting together as one, totally in synch! Say what you want about how toxic they are for each other, it can't be denied that they are a family that knows each other by heart.

- Hey, who turned off Moonlight Sonata? Now I'm left wondering if it was extra or intradiegetic music. A disk playing in NOLA in 1940 or in Dubai in 2022? Can't decide.

- [Lestat] "Enough! Two in one night. Dolls, Bibles, letters become torches and pitchforks. We have to leave this place. We have to leave New Orleans." - should have left 10 years ago when Grace decided to kill off Louis… I wanna say better late than never but given that people are actually openly seeking your house to ask for healing and whatnot… Y'all are in danger. And obviously it's Lestat so there's no leaving discreetly. Gotta make a show out of it.

- Looooove Daniel getting distracted by Armand's presence. Cannot wait for some more Devil's Minion.

- Hello social commentary, segregated tramway, another slight to Louis and Claudia. I love the layers.

- [Claudia] "'You share a coffin with him.' [Louis] 'I don't talk in my sleep.' [Claudia] 'You share a heart with him.' [Louis] 'I can cut it off!' [Claudia] 'No, Louis. You can't. You spend an hour with him and you're breathing in sync together.'"

Thank you for confirming that they've still got it bad for each other, Claudia. Love the way the heartbeat starts getting louder, love the way Lestat can feel Louis looking at him and immediately looks back.

[Claudia] "'He'll know. It'll only work if you give in. Give him all your heart and I'll do the rest.' [Louis] 'I can't do that. I'll lose myself in him.' [Claudia] 'Leave a little shelf inside there for me. I'll jump back in and pull you out before I kill him. Can you do that for us, Louis? Louis?' [Louis] 'Yeah, I can do it.'"

*screams* First the wink and Lestat obviously seeking Louis' attention. Then Claudia directly asking Louis to keep a part of his heart for her, all that she's ever wanted, to be put first. Then her overestimating her pull on Louis and underestimating the intensity of Lestat and Louis' relationship. And then Louis very clearly knowing he cannot resist his feelings for Lestat no matter what. And finally Louis outright lying to Claudia saying he can pull it through while already knowing it will destroy him, have you seen his face in the last shot before leaving the tram? He knows he can't but he'll still try and maybe do it, but he'll lose a part of himself, and he's already grieving for it.

Then again. That's 2022 Louis describing the scene and the conversation, with the hindsight of 80 years or more (I'm bad at maths) of knowing what he's lost and how he lost it and how much of himself he's lost. Maybe 1940 Louis wasn't thinking of that at all.

*screams a little bit more* Maybe if y'all learn to openly communicate, we wouldn't be currently plotting a murder. Maybe.

- [Louis] "'What about Greece? Cradle of Western civilisation.' [Lestat] 'Sun worshippers, hot springs…. Those Who Must Be Kept.' [Louis] 'What was that?' [Lestat] 'Nothing.'"

Yeah, absolutely nothing. Don't mind that. It's really not important. Not at all about to come back and bite you all in the neck.

Things that mean nothing for show-only and everything for book readers… *jumps around the room in excitement*

Do we think Marius is still in Greece in 1940? If Lestat still meets him around 1789-1790, it's been a century and a half, he's definitely moved them somewhere else.

Love how Lestat's face goes vacant and momentarily dreamy when he starts thinking about Akasha. You can tell she still lingers in his mind.

- [Claudia] "'Bach. Always back to Bach.' [Lestat] 'Bach is beyond you.' [Claudia] 'Yes, the music of the master race is… not made for these mongrel ears.' [Lestat] 'You irritate me. Your very presence irritates me.' [Claudia] 'I came to make peace with you, Uncle Les.' [Lestat] 'Mm. Sister, daughter, infant death, you must think me an idiot.' [Louis] 'Could you two please just…?' [Claudia] 'Musique française pour les mains françaises ?'"

Pleaaase I love them. Toxic mother-daughter relationship, it's like looking into a mirror. Love all of Claudia's punches. Bailey's French is really good. And love how Louis immediately moves in to turn the pages for them.

- Oooh, so the party idea is not Lestat's but part of Claudia's murder scheme? How delightful!! Like father like daughter I guess, how they resemble each other so much. And love how Lestat starts by being against it and then gets slowly seduced by the idea.

- Oh, goddamn fucking bloody Tom Anderson is still bloody fucking alive. Kill hiiiiiim, please kill him. Wonder why he hasn't led a mob to their doors yet, with how he literally has known them since 1910 and has a pic showing them still as they are. Too chicken, Tom? Or too New Orleans, rather not know and keep going as is? Oh, I see, tempted to make your own deal with the "Devil". Ha. Idiot.

- [Louis] "The weird brothers and their doll-like sister were coming out." - I just like this line. Tells about a whole story hidden behind the main story.

- "Let the flesh instruct the mind." - now that is one hell of a line.

- Lestat playing his bloody Marie-Antoinette fantasy is simultaneously so bad taste and so hilarious.

- Their outfits are GORGEOUS. And the white is making Louis' green eyes even greener.

- [Louis] "The blood was everywhere. The veins and arteries of a few hundred hearts ringing out like air sirens, drowning out the rhythm section of the hired band."

I love how Louis' narration is almost inaudible beneath the sounds of heartbeats.

- Lmao, Lestat has groupies everywhere he goes.

- [Louis] "A cascade of feelings came over me as I watched him sponge up the adoration. I wanted him dead. I wanted him all to myself. The fasting was a mistake. I wasn't thinking clearly. Something was off."

You never think clearly around Lestat, Lou babe. Case in point, the besotted face you were just making at him, that he was returning to you (where are Sam and Jacob's awards), and the fact that suddenly you can't even tell Claudia's mental voice from - oh, a wild Antoinette appears. Yeah, something is off.

- When can we get rid of Tom Anderson. Soon? "It's got to be one of those tricks that you and your fag pederast satanic trio got in your pocket." Ugh, he looks so proud of his dumb line. Please tell me we're draining him soon. Thank you Louis.

- Aaaah, a balcony scene, aaaaaah! Aaaah, the lightning of cigarettes, aaaaaaah! Aaaaah, Lestat being emotional and genuine, aaaaaah!

Time to sing Sam Reid's praises:

"I'm going to miss this place. There's not an inch of this city that wasn't built from the fierce wilderness that surrounds it. Hurricanes, floods, fevers. The damp climate on every painted sign, every stone facade. High windows, through which enamelled bits of civilisation glitter. Silhouettes emerging, wandering out to catch a silent flash of lightning. The silky warmth of summer rain. Desperately alive… and desperately fragile. The hunger has me too, it seems."

*pterodactyl screech*

It's the way his voice wavers with barely restrained emotion. It's the tears glittering in his eyes. It's the way he never stops looking at Louis. It's the way New Orleans was, is and continues to be a metaphor for him, for Louis and for their relationship, "I am she, she is me".

The way his voice breaks on "desperately alive", because at the end of it, that's what Lestat, little Wolfkiller, who refused Magnus' bite and was forced into the darkness, who rejected the idea of a coven, who gazed upon the Mother of all vampires, Lestat who is constantly struggling to run away from his pain, trauma and loneliness, that's what he is, desperate and alive and desperately alive. And so afraid to show his real self to Louis and be rejected for it that he immediately makes a joke out of his deeply genuine moment.

And the way Louis refuses to engage with this moment also says a lot about where Louis is at at this stage. Refusing to give in fully, rejecting the true emotions, running away from both Lestat's love (because that's what it's about) and his own love (the shame and the guilt and the fear)… Refusing to open up his heart and thus forcefully closing down any door that could be opened.

Imagine for a moment that Louis had answered Lestat's feelings in truth? What would it have changed, in what ways? Or would it not have changed anything, because neither he nor Lestat are in control of the narrative at that point and Claudia holds the power? And what would Louis responding in kind and giving in to Lestat's depth and his own emotions look like? It would be interesting to explore it…

ep1 | ep2 | ep3 | ep4 | ep5 | ep6 | part 2 | part 3

[dawnanddorisqna]

Hey dawn or doris Have you heard of cool world?, or Ralph bakshi

Ooof

Okay...I've been asked about this movie before. A movie Doris said I wasn't allowed to watch. I thought WHY THE HELL NOT! I've seen the most brutal stuff in anime. What could be so bad that this was a no? All she told me was she's seen it once. She had known some toons that appear and felt like she had to, but thought it's best to just leave that in the past.

So obviously, I had to see this. (Don't watch it? How are you going to stop me? streaming exists!)

Late at night, I found it on PlutoTV. I could've watched it when she was out or just in my room, but after all the don't watch talk I wanted to see this in the living room and still treat this like a weird secret. close the blinds, you can't stop me! but no one must know!

At first, It looked like a completely different film from what I expected. Like post war stuff, soldier coming home. Then Brad Pitt's mom is thrown off a motorcycle and shit got....well it GOT!

First off, they call toons doodles. That's cute. I'm forever connected to this. Second, GOOD GOD THIS MOVIE IS HORNY! Like I've seen movies with sex in it. I watched Poor Things. It's whatever. But this! I was alone in the room and felt so uncomfortable! This thing just dry humps your eyes until the end. And Cool world is like going to the seediest alleys in South LA at 1 am, but on like AAAAAALLLLL the drugs.

I'd get into the story, but they were just making up this shit as it went on. "Don't you know that when a noid is kiled by a doodle in the real world they become a noid in cool world!?" What is that?!?! I guess fuck me for asking questions!

BUT! You want to know the weirdest part! Your girl was watching this movie. Your girl who loves horror, animated and live action. I got through this and for whatever reason...I felt scared of this film and disturbed. the whole thing made me feel so uneasy with the look of Cool World. Not the buildings with eyes and teeth, that was scary but like fun scary. I'm talking about when they had rooms with flat board standups, and toons and things floating around, vanishing for no reason. That look actually had me shrinking back into the couch. It was uncanny. Toon Uncanny!

And then the ink pen, the ending with thing flipping from human to toon, a whole wacky world ending thing. I was disturbed, almost sad. WHY WAS I SAD!!??!!? not for any character but like for existence I guess?

This movie was a weird watch and I don't think I can do it again. In the morning I couldn't even keep it a secret. I was still on the couch, looking confused. Doris found me sighed and said "You watched it."

I needed a day outside after that. I found out later that it was first meant to be a horror film. If what I watched wasn't a horror film, how disturbing was it originally going to be?

[melanieph321]

Ruben Dias - Lost in Sardinia Part 5/8

Ooof, this chapter. 😮‍💨

It's a long read and I received some great advice following the last chapter, on how to use the correct warnings for chapters that are explicit or triggering in anyway.

I don't think this chapter need any warnings, other than that it deals with anxiety and confrontation.

Summary - Ruben is on a getaway in Sardinia. There he meets a girl named Fiorella. She starts to wonder why Ruben won't tell her what exactly he is getting away from, or even what his real name is.

Enjoy!

Fiorella stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the straps of her bridesmaid dress. Chiara's dress fitting happned at a beauty parlor in town, the owner of the parlor was a seamstresses who happened to be a dear friend of Nonna's.

"What is this Chiara? Are you having a wedding or a funeral?" Sophia studied her bridesmaids dress in the mirror, looking very displeased with the choices Chiara had made for them.

"Don't be bitter just because the dress has no cleavage." Chiara chuckled. She came up behind Fiorella, resting her chin on her sisters shoulder. "How do you like the dress Rella?"

"It's fine."

Chiara frowned. "Just fine?"

Fiorella raised her head, realizing that she had been drifting away. "I mean it's perfect Chiara, it's really pretty."

"Don't lie now Fiorella. The two of us can still vote for another dress."

"You wouldn't?" Chiara gasped.

"Watch me." Sophia challenged. "I'll tell Miss Bedotti right now."

"No you won't. Get back here Sophia!"

The two of them ended up chasing each other around the beauty parlor. Fiorella kept tugging at her dress in front of the mirror. She had to agree with Sophia on this one, she wasn't feeling the dress. Not because it showed too little skin, the opposite really. Fiorella's eyes fell upon the reflection staring back at her, she couldn't shake off the feeling that the dress showed too much skin, making her feel exposed and vulnerable.

"Okay, fine." Sophia surrendered, sruggling to catch her breath. "Since it's your wedding and all, I guess I can compromise on wearing an ugly dress. It's only for one day, right?"

"Geee Sophia, how generous of you."

The the two of them returned to the big mirror where Fiorella stood.

"It settled, you're wearing the dress." Chiara said victoriously.

"Great."

"Fiorella, what's with you?" Chiara met her sisters reflection, expressing her concern. "Why have you been so down lately?"

"Haven't you heard." Sophia fell back against one of the leather sofas. She reached for the tray of pastries placed on the table before her.

"Heard what?"

"Fiorella has fallen for some tourists in town. I'm assuming it's not working out so well."

"Is this true?" Chiara said, turning back to meet her sister gaze in the mirror.

"Apparently he's some kind of big shot hiker from Portugal. What was his name again, Rory?"

"Ruben." Fiorella hissed. "His name is Ruben."

Fiorella told her sister about her troubles in confidence. After what happned with Ruben on his boat she hadn't been able to shake the nasty feeling in her gut, the feeling that what happned between them wasn't right, and so she told her sister about it, or at least about the mixed emotions that she had.

"Why am I informed about this now?" Chiara said, hurt to be the last one to know about Ruben.

"Well for starters, you're never here." Sophia picked at somthing stuck between her teeth. "How could you possible know anything that's happening in our lives if you're never here?"

"Don't start Sophia." Chiara sighed. Her attention was brought back to Fiorella. "Tell me everything about him, where did you guys meet? Is he cute? Is he old?"

"He's older than me, yes. But only by a few years."

Fiorella had actually forgotten to ask Ruben his age. She even tried to do a background check on him, but she couldn't find anything googling the name Ruben Sanchez, adding 'hiking' as a reference. The hiking community must not be that big.

"I would love to meet him." Chiara said, cheerful as ever. "I know! You should invite him to the wedding, as your date."

"What?"

"What?

Fiorella and Sophia seemed to agree that Chiara's suggestion was a bad one.

"Why not?" She insisted.

"Well I don't really know him that well." Fiorella said. "We've only gone out once."

"Go out again. Make sure to ask him then."

"Chiara you're such a fool." Sophia said, rolling her eyes. "Fiorella is clearly not that into the guy, right sis?"

"Like I said..." Fiorella straightened her dress. "We've only gone out once."

********************************************

A day passed.

Fiorella still hadn't gone for a swim at the docks since her night with Ruben. In a way she was avoiding him. He did know where she lived though, so it wasn't like he made an effort to get in touch with her either. Perhaps Sophia was right, the best thing would be to forget about him entirely. What he wanted from her she didn't feel comfortable giving to him. It had just come as suprise, a surprise that Ruben wasn't who she thought he was.

"Acqua!" Fiorella's little brother exclaimed. The two of them eagerly made their way to their local beach in Sardinia.

Compared to the docks, the beach swarmed with tourists, however, the sun shone brightly overhead, casting a golden hue on the crystal-clear waters. It was the perfect day for an adventure, and Fiorella had been longing to swim again.

With her snorkel gear in hand, she led Dino to the water. She took it upon herself to teach him how to dive for clams. She taught him the basics of diving down and scouring the sandy ocean floor for the elusive clams. With each successful find, Dino's face lit up with joy and curiosity. Though they only managed to catch a few, Fiorella reveled in the moment, making memories with her brother that would last a lifetime.

As they made their way back to the shore, clam shells clutched in their hands, Fiorella's heart skipped a beat. There, standing near the edge of the beach, was Ruben. He wore shorts, no shirt. His hair and torso damped with sweat. He looked to have just returned from a hike up the mountains near the coastline. Ruben's eyes widen as he recognized Fiorella. Spotting her, he raised his hand, waving for her attention. 

"Fiorella."

He said her name with such longing, as if the two of them had gone a year without seeing each other.

"I've been wondering where you've been."

Impossible, she thought. She had been home, on the farm. Where else would she go? Her sister was getting married, Fiorella was pretty sure that she had shared that with Ruben. Either way, her cheeks flushed with a mix of surprise and pleasure. She hadn't expected to see Ruben again so soon.

"I've been taking my little brother Dino snorkeling for clams," she explained, gesturing towards Dino, who flashed Ruben a toothy grin.

Ruben looked impressed. "Snorkeling for clams? That sounds like quite the adventure!" He was leaning towards Dino when he said this. Dino who proudly showed off his catch of the day, two palourde clams, clutched in his tiny little hand.

"You caught those by yourself?" Ruben asked, brightly.

Dino eagerly nodded his heads.

"How impressive."

"Give him one." Fiorella said, nudging Dino towards Ruben.

With his hand out, Dino heaved up to his toes, trying to hand the giant that was Ruben his clams. Ruben met him halfway way, crotching down in the sand before him.

"Thank you." He smiled, accepting the clams from Dino.

Fiorella's head tilted as Ruben stood. He noticed the sun irritating her eyes and moved to block it with his body.

"Have you been busy, with your sisters wedding and all?" He asked.

So he was aware.

"Not that busy." She muttered.

Ruben's eyes search her face, perhaps not sure of what to make of the distance in her gaze.

"If you aren't too busy with the wedding...." Ruben scratched the back of his head. "I'd like to see you again, to maybe..." His eyes shifted to Dino then back to Fiorella. "...maybe talk things over?"

Fiorella nodded, she wanted to talk. She needed to talk. "I might be free tonight."

"Well...you know where to find me." He shrugged.

Fiorella nodded. Her and Dino then bid their farewell.

Returning home Fiorella had a decision to make and it was either gonna make things better or worse.

********************************************

"We'll be waiting for you right here Fiorella, don't worry."

"Will you shut up." Sophia hissed.

Fiorella had told her sisters about meeting up with Ruben again. She had also expressed some of her worries about him, mostly the fact that he was some what a stranger to her.

Chiara volunteered to accompany Fiorella to the docks, which seemed like a sensible move for a big sister. Sophia, however, had her own agendas for coming. She said it was mainly to see how ugly Ruben was.

"Just give us a call if somthing goes wrong." She said, holding Pluto in his leash.

The presence of the three of them calmed Fiorella's nerves as she made her way to the docks, towards Ruben's boat.

As she stepped onto the sleek white vessel, Ruben greeted her with a smile. "Fiorella, it's so good to see you," he said, his voice filled with exuberance. "I've missed you."

Fiorella nodded, forcing a half-hearted smile. She followed him onto the deck, taking in the panoramic view of the marina. The afternoon sun reflected off the tranquil waters, casting a warm glow on the surroundings. Fiorella's uneasiness began to subside as the memories of how she and Ruben first met returned to her. It gave her hope that maybe they could work thinks out, that that night was simply a misunderstanding.

Her hopes were shattered though, when Ruben released the boat from its stationary ties and steered it away from the docks. Panic surged through Fiorella as she realized they were leaving the safety of the harbor and venturing out into the vast expanse of the ocean. Her heart raced, and she stumbled backward.

"Ruben, what are you doing?" she cried out, her voice barely audible over the sound of the engine. "I thought we were going to talk things over, not go sailing."

Ruben turned to face her, an enigmatic smile playing on his lips. "Fiorella, trust me. We need this."

Fiorella's fear turned into anger. She had agreed to meet Ruben under the assumption that they would have a conversation, not get trapped on a boat with him alone. Her mind raced, searching for a way to assert her independence and regain control of the situation. She could scream, her sisters could hear her and alert the police. They were drifting away fast though. Too far away for her sisters or anyone else to hear her scream.

"I didn't agree to this, Ruben," she said firmly, her voice filled with determination. "You can't force me to be here. Take me back to the docks right now."

Ruben's smile wavered slightly, but he kept his hands on the wheel and continued steering the boat farther from the shore. "Fiorella, please. Just give me a chance. I believe we can still make things right."

Anxiety flooded Fiorella's mind as the boat sailed further into the endless blue waves. She searched her surroundings desperately, seeking any opportunity to escape and find safety. But miles away from land, there was no one to hear her cries, and no means of escape.

As the magnitude of her situation sunk in, Fiorella realized that running away from Ruben was no longer an option. She had to confront him, face her fears. With newfound determination, she looked Ruben in the eye and spoke with unwavering conviction. "Ruben, I can't change the past, and I can't predict the future," she said, her voice steady. "But I do know that I cannot be with someone who forces me into situations I'm uncomfortable with. If we are to have any chance at all, it must be based on trust, mutual respect, and open communication. Take me back to the docks, or I will find a way to get off this boat myself."

Ruben's expression softened, and he finally acknowledged the seriousness of Fiorella's words. He nodded reluctantly and steered the boat back toward the direction of the marina.

Fiorella felt a sense of relief wash over her. She knew that her confrontation with Ruben was a crucial turning point, and she had reclaimed a small part of herself that she thought she had lost.

As they approached the harbor, Ruben docked the boat just outside of the reef. Fiorella felt more relaxed knowing she was no longer trapped in the middle of the ocean. And now, if things went really south, she could always jump ship and swim back to shore.

"Ruben." Fiorella ran a hand down her face. "What happened that night, If that's the kind of stuff you're into...."

"It's not."

"You sure, because you seem pretty fucking into it."

"I know Fiorella, but I made a mistake. I'm really sorry."

"I'm not looking for an apology Ruben. I'm just here making myself clear. To me that can never happen again, not now, not ever."

"If I could take what happened back, I would. But the truth is...."

"What?"

"The truth is that...."

"What is it Ruben, just say it."

"Look." He sighed. "I've made some mistakes, alot of mistakes that I have been trying to do right ever since I got here. Then one day you showed up and I started forgetting about my mistakes, the fact that I've jeopardize alot of things in my life for not dealing with my own baggage.

Fiorella folded her arms, indicating that she was listening.

"Meeting you, I wouldn't say it was a mistake, but it was selfish of me to get you involved in my shit. We should have never gone on that hike and I should have never brought you home with me that night. It's a mistake I'll never be able to undo. But trust me when I say that I regret it more than anything, and that I'll understand if you never want anything to do with me again."

A minute of silence.

"I need some time...." Fiorella said.

"Of course, take all the time you need."

And with that he let her go.

As they docked the boat, Fiorella thanked Ruben for bringing her back. Without another word, she stepped onto the solid ground and returned to her sisters.

"Oh my god was that him? Where did he take you?"

They ambushed her with questions, questions that Fiorella didn't have the strength to answer right now.

"He was hot wasn't he? Look at the picture I took when he helped you onto his boat."

Fiorella's eyes couldn't focus on the screen Chiara flashed before her eyes. Her thoughts were elsewhere.

Ruben had alot of baggage, she thought. Things that he wasn't and perhaps would never tell her about. Fiorella asked if what they had for a brief moment was worth fighting for? Was it worth getting involved with someone whom she knew was keeping things from her? In her current state Fiorella felt that it probably wasn't worth it.

[commander-krios]

Tagged by @aevallare, thank you my love <3 I did this before, but I can't remember how long ago? lol so I'll just do it again.

Not tagging anyone specific but feel free to use this and tag me in it so I can see your answers!

1) How many works do you have on AO3?

228

2) What’s your total AO3 word count?

446,245

3) What fandoms do you write for?

BG3, Mass Effect, Andromeda Six, edit: I can't believe I forgot KOTOR

4) What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

Better Judgement: Rolan/f!Tav, Mature

The Fall: Krem/f!Lavellan, General

Long Rest: Rolan/f!Tav, General

If It Pleases You: Krem/f!Lavellan, Teen

Nights Like This: Rolan/f!Tav, Teen

5) Do you respond to comments?

Yes! I love comments and try to respond to each one if I have time. I've been slacking lately, but I swear, if you leave one, I will most likely respond to you.

6) What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Ooof, that would be the fic where I wrote my Amell joining his wife, @caffeinatedrogue's Leda, on her Calling.

The Calling

7) What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

For a more recent fic (since I write quite a few happy fics), I'd say With Devotion And A Little Luck ended quite happily.

8) Do you get hate on fics?

Not directly. Not sure if anyone vagues about me, lol but no one has ever complained to me personally.

9) Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

Yes, occasionally. Usually it's M/F smut, but I've done M/M as well.

10) Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written?

No.

11) Have you ever had a fic stolen?

I don't believe so

12) Have you ever had a fic translated?

I'm unsure if I have or not

13) Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Yup! I'm cowriting a fic with a friend that's an original work, not fanfiction, so it's secret. Also do Round Rugan with my friends over at the Zhent server.

14) What’s your all time favorite ship?

Nooo don't make me pick! I'm going to pick one per fandom, i don't care if it's cheating.

BG3- Rolan/Juniper Mass Effect- Charley/Thane Andromeda Six- Damon/Astrea KOTOR- Revan/Canderous Dragon Age (for the hell of it)- Elissa/Nathaniel

15) What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

I have a FemShepley AU where Shepard gets turned into a husk like creature by the Illusive Man instead of the normal Shepard like ME2 and it's almost like a "Ashley tries like hell to help Shepard remember who she was before" fic. It's heavy, not sure if I'll ever manage to finish it, but I'm obsessed with the idea.

16) What are your writing strengths?

Dialogue, banter, characterization

17) What are your writing weaknesses?

Smut, world building

18) Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

I won't do it if I can help it, especially if I'm not fluent in it. If it's a made up language, like Mando'a, I will try to learn enough to get by, but I prefer to not butcher a language I don't know.

19) First fandom you wrote for?

Buffy, I believe, but that was a long time ago. As far as tumblr fic goes, probably Skyrim?

20) Favorite fic you’ve written?

Making me pick a favorite child?

I think I'm obsessed with the writing I did in Astrea/Damon's fic, A Shimmer of Gold. So I'll plug that fic today.

[sarilolla]

Ooh! How about Clay being the third and last to arrive before Branch dies? And Viva reuniting with Poppy that way and her reaction to Branch's death and his brothers' grief considering she knows what it's like to essentially lose a sibling?

And JD arriving too late? How would he react upon realizing his controlling nature essentially sealed his baby brother's fate?

Ooof ouch, that hurts- Ofc I will write that >:)

Hanahaki Branch au (slight spoilers/alternative ending to not finished fic)

***

Life in Putt Putt Village was calm yet vigilant. Being co-leader meant Clay did many tasks around the golf course, and he for one excelled at the “boring” tasks. Life was calm, until it wasn’t.

The golf course was made by Bergens once upon a time, and there was always a possibility that one day they would show up. The Trolls in the village were quiet as a couple came through the doors, commenting on the eeriness of the place. Viva led the attack, tying them up, which seemed to surprise them, but they didn't directly fight back. The *Trolls* with them argued against their capture though.

After a few very tense moments, they got to talking. The group insisted they were friends with the Bergens, who were the young king and queen, and it was very hard to believe.

Two of the Trolls were speaking together, and Clay and Viva froze upon hearing two names.

"Told you we should have brought Poppy with us. She would know how to convince these Trolls about at least listening to us," the short yellow one said, and the glitter Troll shook his head.

"You know she wouldn't have left Branch behind in his condition."

"Fair enough."

"Wait, wait, wait, what?"

And the explanation came. Something about Poppy and Branch saving the world twice, but that Branch was sick, and had been for a long time. Clay wanted to scream when he heard which illness he had. Hanahaki. He had read a book about it when he was younger, a tragic love story, but to think his baby brother had it? That was worse than every sad book he had ever read combined and tripled. He had to go!

Reluctantly, they let the Bergens go, and tentatively, Viva and Bridget bonded over Poppy. Clay just wanted to get to Branch. People were out looking for the rest of his brothers, and even if he had been angry with them once, he would face them for Branch.

The trip from Putt Putt to Pop Village felt like it took years, even if it was only a few hours. Clay was too focused on where he was supposed to get to his baby brother, he barely noticed Viva reuniting with her dad. It was teary, and he was happy for her.

When he got to the bunker, a pink Troll with fuschia hair left, and she resembled Viva a lot. It had to be Poppy. Her eyes lit up stepping off the elevator, and from what Clay had learned, Branch had built the bunker himself. It was very impressive.

"Clay?"

"Yes?"

"I'm Poppy. Branch is on the lowest floor. Someone will point you the way to his door. Floyd and Bruce are there too."

He nodded, not questioning the name, and headed down as quickly as possible, not missing her little mantra of "There's still hope.".

A purple aquatic-looking Troll with pink hair was sitting down in what looked like a living room, comforted by a shorter Troll with wings and pink hair, who pointed him to a door. Walking up to it while wringing his hands, he took a deep breath before knocking, and a voice he could recognize anywhere told him to come in.

Three of his brothers were inside, and all looked happy to see him. His focus was however immediately on the one in the bed, who was blinking at him sleepily. Branch was an adult, but he looked so small like this. It didn't feel right. Branch was their bright, happy baby brother. Not... not this.

Closing the door, he rushed over to Branch's side as Floyd gave him the space to do so. Both middle and youngest brothers were looking at each other, and Clay wanted to squish that too-tired look out of his face.

"Hey, Bittie B."

Branch wrinkled his nose at that, and Spruce chuckled.

"He insists it's Branch now. Made the mistake myself."

"Oh."

"And, by the way, it's Bruce now. Changed my name a few years back."

"Very fancy, I like it."

It was so nice being back with his brothers. He had thought they were dead a long time, but no, here three of them were.

"Clay..."

Branch said, and Clay's attention snapped back to him. The way his voice was so small and fragile made his heart hurt.

"I'm here, B."

"Love you."

His breath caught in his throat, before he nodded, "I love you too."

With the confession, Branch's breathing cleared a bit, and the collective relief in the room was palpable. It still wasn't clear, it was still stuttering, and the realization that they needed John Dory to come soon hit hard.

"Tell me what you did outside the tree," Branch asked him, and he looked at the other two.

"He asked the same of us," Floyd shrugged, and Bruce nodded, "Tell us what you've been up to Clay."

"Well, first off, I'm now a licensed CPA, and..."

He talked about his travels, finding the Putt Putt Trolls, being co-leader, and everything else he could think about. None of his brothers seemed judgemental that he had stopped being "The Fun One", but more... proud of who he was now.

Poppy returned after a while, holding Viva's hand. Both looked both happy and sad, and Bruce gave up his spot on Branch's side for Poppy. The two youngest looked at each other, Poppy brushing his chin carefully just to check on him, earning a soft hum.

Viva stood slightly to the side, before Clay looked at her, offering a spot beside him. Floyd was once again holding Branch's hand, and Viva took Clay's as Branch's breathing became weird again. His eyes slipped shut, and Clay looked between Branch's face, and the hands that still held onto Floyd and Poppy.

They were getting slack, and his breath was getting unnoticeable except for the weak stuttering to it. Holding onto that slightly raspy sound as the only proper sign Branch was alive, wasn’t fun. This wasn’t something either Fun-Clay or Serious-Clay could handle, not really.

Viva’s paw slipped into his when the sound stopped. The entire room was silent.

Branch wasn’t alive anymore. He wasn’t with them anymore. He was gone. Viva held his hand, but also held onto Poppy as she started sobbing. Floyd moved around the bed to sit between his older brothers, leaning into Bruce’s side as Clay clutched his hand.

They hadn’t saved their baby brother.

—

Far enough away that it was a problem, an increasingly greying Troll sat behind the wheel of his most trustworthy companion.

“We’ll get there in time. We have to get there in time. I can’t…”

John’s voice broke off, his mutterings barely heard by the other two Trolls inside Rhonda. He never thought he would see those two leaders work together, but they had, to find him. So he could help save his baby brother.

His brothers were probably already there, and John Dory had to make it there in time. Tell his baby brother he loves him. Tell all his brothers he loved them. Apologize for being a massive jerk when they were younger. If he hadn’t, maybe they would have stuck together. Branch would know he was loved. He wouldn’t die.

Suddenly, a small *ping* made its way into his ears. Pulling out the small hug time bracelet, he looked at the now open flower.

It had belonged to Branch. He had fastened it himself around his tiny wrist on the youngest first birthday. John had found it when he visited the destroyed remains of their home.

The forget-me-not shone so innocently, and yet… John knew it hadn’t pinged him for hug time.

***

*bonks you* Did you guys know that if any of the brothers got Hanahaki for Branch, our beloved boy would be the Forget-me-not? Little baby boy who loves his brothers above all is the flower meaning “Don’t forget me”? Isn’t that just swell?

Also, headcanon that hug time bracelets are given on the first birthday by a family member. They're not actually made of the different flowers, but they're modeled after them. And as mentioned in the main fic, Branch lost his at one point before or during the escape.

So yeah, Bridget, Gristle and the Snack Pack finding Clay, Viva, and the Putt Putts, while not specified here, it's Delta and Barb who finds John. I mentioned in this ficlet that Country and Rock had interacted with the oldest brother, so they set off to find him. I don't know why I decided to add that Synth and Dante Crescendo sitting there keeping watch of Branch, I haven't watched much of Trollstopia at all, but it just felt right. (Also, Clay never interacted with other genres, and neither have any other Putt Putt, so he doesn't know they're Techno and Classical)

So, yeah, that was another dose of angst. Alternative endings counter: 7. Alternative endings were Branch dies: 6

[kelcemenow]

Skipped A Beat - Chapter 1.

Pairing Dr Mike x Reader

Words 1104

Warnings Nothing scary, just some slightly anxious feelings.

CHAPTER 1

“Honestly, he’s really cute. And smart!” Katie emphasises as she shouts through to your bedroom from her own as you lazily apply some make-up to your tired and stressed skin.

You roll your newly lined eyes, “It sounds to me like you're trying too hard to convince me!”

“Okay, maybe...but I’m just excited for this! He’s had a crush on you for ages!” She appears in your doorway, leaning on the doorframe as you stand up to retrieve an outfit from your wardrobe.

“Relax Katie, I’m not promising anything. I only said yes to get you off my back.” You say with a smile as you run your fingers over the fabric, pausing on a black lace skirt, “I still don’t think I’m ready yet.”

Katie slowly walks across your wooden floorboards, “Y/N. You need to move on. And the only way to do that is-”.

“Is to start dating again...I know, I know.” You interrupt as you hold the skirt against your waist, “Just, don’t pressure me too much today, okay? I’ve got enough on my plate as it is.”

“What? Because you finally got your dream job that you’ve trained years and years for? Oh yeah, sounds awful.” Katie scoffs.

“And I start tomorrow! It’s scary, okay! New job, new colleagues and new hospital to get lost in!” You pick up a yellow cushion from your bed and throw it at Katie, “Now get out or I’ll be late!”

Katie easily catches the cushion with one hand and laughs, “Good one, throw something to the professional goalkeeper!” Her voice trails off as she disappears around the corner and into her own room.

______________________________________________________________

You stared at your glass as a cube of ice floats across the surface of your cocktail. Tapping it with your straw, the cube bounces off the side of the glass and back across.

“Forgive me if I’m jumping to conclusions...”, a voice interrupts your thoughts, “But I’m getting the feeling that you’re not really here.”

Your head snaps up to make eye contact with the curious face in front of you, “What? Oh sorry! No, sorry, I’m just...”

“Distracted?”

You exhale quickly, “Distracted.” You nod and look back to your drink.

He’s cute, sure. And you’re fairly certain that he’s smart. The handful of words that you’ve occasionally paid attention to certainly seemed to be well spoken and grammatically correct. But he was right, you weren’t really there.

You swallowed hard, “I’ve just got a lot on my plate at the minute. It’s nothing to do with you, really.”

He grins and raises an eyebrow, “Well this sounds like a line.”

You both laugh.

“No, no! Look...” Your eyes widened slowly as you searched for the correct name.

“John?”

You let your head fall into your hands. “I’m really not doing well here, am I?”

“Hey, don’t worry about it! I can tell you’re not feeling it really.”

Your wavy hair shakes as your head moves from side to side, “It’s just...I’m starting a new job tomorrow that I’m really nervous for. I know I'm completely qualified but it's scary, you know? I'm not the best with change. Plus, I guess I’m a little bit unsure about dating my roommates coach and to top it all off, I’ve just come out of a fairly serious relationship that I guess if I'm being completely honest, I’m not quite over it yet.”

“Ooof.” John sits back in his seat, “That is a lot to be dealing with.”

There’s a short pause as you assess his reaction.

“Forgive me if I'm prying, but how long ago did the relationship end?”

“About 2 years ago.”

John’s eyes narrow as he searches for your gaze, “He must have been pretty amazing for you to be still hung up on him?”

You lift your eyes up and press your lips together.

“Well, when you’re ready to let someone better into your life, you know where I am.” John stands up from the table and leans down, kissing your cheek before disappearing out of the bar.

You feel stuck to your seat as you try to let your head clear. Closing your eyes, you breathe a sigh of guilt and equal relief with the idea that you can finally go home and sleep.

______________________________________________________________

Closing your bedroom door, Katie tries to squeeze any information out of you about the night that she can.

“You can ignore me all you want but he’ll just tell me tomorrow at practice anyway!”

“There’s nothing to tell.” You giggle nervously as you slump onto your bed.

“Fair enough...suit yourself...be like that then...”

You let Katie’s voice fade away out of your mind as you stare up at the ceiling. Your eyes grow heavier until the sound of your phone snaps you out of your daze.

‘Hey. Tonight was weird. But I like you and I meant what I said. Just let me know. John x’

The corners of your mouth rise slightly into a vague smile and you let your arm drop next to you as your eyes slowly close and you drift into a deep sleep.

______________________________________________________________

Downing the last sips of coffee, you look up at the building in front of you. Your first day as an Occupational Therapist for a medical trust. You’d be responsible for patients in three hospitals, but you would be based at the bigger of the three. Which was currently staring you in the face, cowering over you and pushing your nerves to the forefront of your mind.

Clearing your throat and throwing your empty cup into a bin next to you, you tightly grasped the handle of your laptop case and started up the small stone staircase leading to the doorway.

As the glass doors slide open, you stop dead in your tracks.

There he is.

Blue scrubs, dark hair, rounded glasses and strong, large hands carrying a clipboard. He’s stood over a counter, reading something and talking to another doctor.

Your eyes fixate on him as the corners of his mouth curve up as he speaks, his face full of expression.

You can hear your heart beating in your ears, your feet glued rigid to the spot in the hospital doorway. Your head becomes fuzzy and your eyes begin to blur. Swallowing hard, you use all of your energy to turn around on the spot in a quick attempt to hide yourself from him. Suddenly unaware of where to go in such an unfamiliar location, you start to walk straight forward and back out of the building.

“Y/N?”

You stop. Licking your lips quickly, you turn around, smiling weakly.

“Mike.”

______________________________________________________________

This the first part of a new series for Dr Mike. I've never tried to deal with fics for multiple fandoms before but I feel really strongly that there isn't enough fanfiction out there for Dr Mike! I hope people enjoy it!

I'll be starting a new Taglist for Mike so if you want to be on it, just drop me a message!

[inevitably-johnlocked]

Hi Steph how are you?

Lately I've been noticing in myself some signs I am autistic. There were times that one symptom disguised as another, such as myself in high school: I believed i did suffer such a high anxiety that it led to me being non-verbal some days. As an adult today I see I probably had and to this day have a tendency to have meltdowns when overstimulated.

That said. I am kinda letting it go with the flow, I kinda fear that in someway I will change, but I'm kinda scared of keeping myself and treating myself as a neurotypical knowing that it probably will lead me to mask too much and I don't know. I was hoping that maybe you had any lists or recs of Sherlock being autistic? Lately I've been reading much of these for my comfort, I definitely am not as intelligent as him, but feels good to read about a character being since I can't right now affirm that I am.

Oh and parêntesis {this thing () don't know the word in English) I met someone in my insta that is a fan of Johnlock, so I recommended your profile to her, as I commented at this point I've read about of 70% of your lists and I simply know it's a waste not to talk about you to people that are fans.

Kisses from Brazil 🇧🇷

(SUBMITTED BY oruyaki)

=====

Hey Lovely! *HUGS*

Ooof I feel you on the "signs that I'm autistic"... I eventually got officially diagnosed, but yeah, it's frustrating for sure when you are PRETTY sure you have it but still have to continue on in a world not really made for us, LOL. I get overwhelmed and exhausted too, and I hope that you get a diagnosis 💜 It's made a lot of things a bit easier for me since I now know methods to cope with things and to KNOW to leave when things are Too Much for me. Almost like it's "permission" to take care of yourself, you know? Ugh I hope that makes sense.

That said, I do have a list of Autism Fics from Apr 2020 that sometimes gets new fics in the notes, so check that one out, it's goot great fics on it 💜

And THANK YOU kindly for reccing me to your friends!!! What a high honour that I am undeserving of. You're very kind!!! <3

That all said, if anyone has some Autism-Spectrum fics to recommend to Oruyaki, PLEASE add them here!!! I need to collect together all my fics again and make a new list soon, I think.

Cheers!!!

[servenas-inner-fangirl]

Watching Black Sails 3x8

Oh, is that the "Is it gay living in a house" moment that I heard so much about??

Hahaha, it really is Vane at the piano, annoying the hell out of Flint in the process.

"I can't understand how you cannot understand." Ugh, I love the way these two are so similar from the outside, but so different in regards to how they see the world and what they value - except that right now, their goals are aligned anyway.

"You want your partner back, he wants victory" - oh, I think Vane wants Jack back as well, if maybe not quite as badly. He could've taken the cache back last episode, but he didn't, at least partly because he feared what the English might do to Jack in return imo.

I love these little nods between Flint and Vane, the way they work together like they've never done anything else, ugh.

So Jack is not on his way yet. - Hahaha, him talking up the rat like it's destined for greatness!

Also Jack being incarcerated in his own fort is some bitter irony.

Oh, so Rogers is going himself.

"She left the transaction unscathed." That should tell Jack something was up. Anne would've fought to the death for him otherwise.

"You have my word." Your word is not worth shit right now, Rogers.

So the walrus is waiting for a signal out there?

Sure, Madi, that's the only reason you're concerned.

Goddamnit, Flint isn't there for five minutes and already things are starting to fall apart.

The porn is truly back, and I do not mind one bit, for it is better porn than most. - But also, bold of that whore to try to play Max' own tricks on her. Did the madam set this up? - Yeah, and it didn't work.

Eleanor in the whorehouse visiting Max, what a blast from the past. - Oh, that's a nice dress! Max is truly dressing very different from when Eleanor was in this position.

Max truly is upset about Jack, to her credit. Oh, and she realizes immediately that letting the cache go was very unusual of Anne. She's gonna figure out there's something going on... but is she going to say anything? Aaargh, yes.

"Eight? You could have sent a thousand men." My thoughts exactly.

But is it to late or can they still send a rider or backup after them? I know something's gonna go wrong...

So Jack doesn't speak Spanish, but Vane does. Huh.

"I'm sorry. 'If'?" Rogers is catching on fast. And Jack has so much faith in Anne. ;_;

Noooo, so do they have the right route or not?? How good is Featherstone's intel??

Haha, the governor won't be warned just because an idiot in a uniform doesn't listen to two women. Misogyny is gonna make their plan fail and that is divine justice.

"I know the route." Max, I love you.

Ugh, Eleanor and Hornigold, isn't that a match made in hell.

Now Silver knows exactly how Flint feels all the time as captain of this crew.

So what's the solution? Kill all of them? Oooh, Silver is going to bring in Madi, isn't he? Yes!!

Oh fuck, is she going to kill her own man?? Ah no, she's just cutting the rope.

She truly is a future queen.

"When I speak, my men listen." Ooof, the shade.

"Plenty of people know about it, just not you." Hahaha.

Oh, and she doesn't even know Vane is back on the island, right?? For all she knows, he's miles away right now.

Dammit, Hornigold isn't as stupid as he looks.

Rackham sure does know how to tell a story. And now I get why his name is so important to him.

"But Jesus, did I make up a lot of ground to catch you." Daaamn.

But also, are Rogers and James McGraw actually very similar people, except James had a rougher start? "If people knew what you were capable of when pushed"...

Yes, Jack using his opportunity!!

And now to the question I always wanted to ask - can Charles Vane ride a horse?

Is that Flint up front on the white one? Oh, and there's Anne!! Oh, shooting the carriage, smart, but risky.

Hah, whoops, that's Charles! Mistook his hair as red. But that answers my question. And also explains the risk-taking.

Yeees, the two of them are reunited! ;_;

Love the close view we get of Anne's earrings.

"We'll be right behind you" is the really the sentence I do not want to be hearing in a situation like this!!

"Got worried you two'd be lost without me." ;__;

Oh, so that's Jack's chain he's working on, not another chest. That makes so much more sense, and is also much more tragic.

Noooo, Charles!! - But that explains how Rogers could ever defeat him, shooting him from behind like that.

Ugh, the way Anne hesitates and looks back at Jack, before riding off! ;_; I can't take this, make it stop!

The fact that Charles even gets a hit in in his condition... truly impressive. Oh fuck, he really almost had him! It's the backup that saves Roger's life. That fucker.

Does Rogers even know who he just fought? But I guess Eleanor gave him a description...

Love that shot of Madi and Silver side by side from behind.

Madi truly is so mature for her age.

Ah, so Silver didn't let Dobbs off the hook after all.

Oh no, there comes Hornigold.

Love to see how much damage Charles did to Rogers. I am a petty bitch like that.

Awww, Flint is actually going back for Charles!! <3

"Charles Vane swinging over Nassau is a statement we cannot afford to be made" - isn't that exactly what Vane said back at Charlestown?

I really do not know if I trust Billy with this mission. But he doesn't have a bone to pick with Vane, right? I mean, apart from the Man o'War thing...

I don't think Eleanor is listening to the rest Rogers is saying right now. She's still hung up on Charles - as she should be.

How come a character I do not like at all gets the whumpiest of scenes? It is not fair.

I wonder if Eleanor would have a harder time resisting that temptation if she didn't have all cause to believe the man she once loved wants her dead - and that this is completely justified.

Ah yeah, and then there was her father's murder, I guess.

Aaaaaah, why does it have to be this way, WHY.

But she still goes to see him.

And THIS is where you end the episode?? GODDAMMIT.

So now they have the cache, but exchanged one prisoner for another. I wonder if this was Jack's cell. I wonder if the rat said Hi...

[jdeanmorgan]

10 questions for 10 writers

i was tagged by my lovely husband @bigassbowlingballhead thank you baby mwah

How many works do you have on AO3? 43 (i have multiple accounts but let's just focus on the one i actually use, not my old one that I haven't logged into in a long time)

What's your total AO3 word count? 441,047

What fandoms do you write for? lately, it's just been a lot of the walking dead, but I've also written 911 and supernatural, and i lowkey miss writing 911 so who knows, maybe i'll do so again soon

Do you respond to comments? Why or why not? sometimes yes

Have you ever had a fic stolen? not that i know of, so probably not

Have you ever co-written a fic before? none that have been published.

What's your all-time favourite ship? hmm. i don't even know. there's a few i love but have never been in fandoms for or never read/written fic for, but i don't even know if i even have an absolute favorite, just ships i really enjoy. chucky/tiffany, nina/mattias, jennifer/needy, chris/toby (oz), mulder/scully, sam/dean, etc etc etc

What are your writing strengths? ooof. I genuinely do not know. maybe just. honestly dialogue??? i feel like i'm not the best at descriptions and action sequences, but i know how to write dialogue and motivations i think. not sure though. i never really think about it bc otherwise it'll just make me super self conscious haha.

What are your writing weaknesses? finding an ending for a fic. i feel like i'm very good at starting a fic, but it's always a true struggle to end it.

First fandom you wrote for? glee lmao. it's somewhere on fanfiction dot net and i refuse to look at it because i bet it sucks lmao i was like 15 so.

i shall tag: @ex0rin @stunt-lads @mcplestreet @honestlydarkprincess @tawaifeddiediaz @alkaysani @duchessonfire @buckttommy & any of my writing mutuals who might wanna do this.

[thirteenemeraldcats]

Answer the questions and tag five fanfiction authors you know!

tagged by the terrifyingly talented @kvetchinglyneurotic and the impossibly incredible @sighonaraa

1. How many fandoms have you written in?

One! Uno! Eins! All of the ridiculously emotionally evocative writers in the Ted Lasso fandom completely broke my brain and launched me into the undiscovered country (fic writing).

2. How many years have you been writing fanfiction?

Since January, so about .3 years 🤗

3. Do you read or write more fanfiction?

Definitely read. I am perpetually mentally exhausted in my free time and usually can't concentrate enough to write. That being said I also haven't had much time to READ fic lately. So. Help???

4. What is one way you've improved as a writer?

Hmmmm. I'd say embracing the draft process? When I started writing fic (OH SO LONG AGO I KNOW) I was very 'this needs to be good' and now I'm appreciating the 'this needs to be FUNCTIONAL' mindset more.

5. What's the weirdest topic you researched for a writing project?

Definitely not weird BUT I did accidentally fall down a research spiral for ONE WORD in 'i learned to walk while he was away'. For context: I am not Jewish, but I head-canon Roy as Jewish and there is ONE LINE that references this in that fic. I wanted to double check if there was any significance to the different spellings of Hanukkah, lest I accidentally step on a cultural landmine. Cut to a day later where I'd fallen deep, deep down an equally enjoyable and educational rabbit hole about Jewish holidays, (fostered my ongoing vendetta against the English language,) and found a Jewish bakery that's local to me because I wanted to try Challah very badly. (It was great.) (There is not a large Jewish population where I live [in case that wasn't obvious] I'm blaming my now-semi-remedied culture blindness on that. But Em, you took an elective on world religion in University? SHUT UP I KNOW.)

6. What's your favourite type of comment to receive on your work?

ANY COMMENT. I made an ao3 account last year because I wanted to not lurk quite so much, stop being a 'consumer' of fan-creations, and LEAVE SOME COMMENTS. And I'd seen authors talk about how great getting them was but holy guacamole nothing could have prepared me for the feeling of people liking something I wrote enough to leave a comment or a heart or an 'ah'.

7. What's the most fringe trope/topic you write about?

Errrrrrrr. I guess just gen-fic? Looking at the numbers of ship-fic in the archive, it certainly feels fringe-esque to write gen.

8. What is the hardest type of story for you to write?

I was going to say 'short' because things just keep happening when I try to write succinct outlines (somehow NONE OF THOSE 'THINGS' ARE PLOT), but after applying a bit more scrutiny to anything I've ever written; it's action. Fast-paced action. I don't know her.

9. What is the easiest type?

Assorted emotional whacks! When I was writing original fiction a solid decade ago as a teen-bean I favoured physical-whump, me now has found it a lot easier to write emotional-whump. Not sure why??? But here we are. (Either way someone's suffering.)

10. Where do you do your writing? What platform? When?

Okay this is actually a very involved story that I might tell later, but I just changed what platform I was using. SO! As of about a week ago I've been writing on google docs. Beyond that, it's a laptop/couch combo whenever I have the brain power (which is almost never 😭).

11. What is something you've been too nervous/intimidated to write, but would love to write one day?

OOOF. There are a few wips in the assorted-mountainous-pile of non-active development that are. Heavy. Heavier than the various fics/wips I've published/am actively poking at. I'd like to write them one day but I am also very 'hmm' when I look at them.

12. What made you choose your username?

So 'Em' is a real-life nickname, smash that together with my love of the colour green and tada! You get 'emerald'. 'Cats' is about... cats. I am obsessed with the little creatures, despite never owning one. (Initially I spelt it as 'kat'- no idea why??? I think I just like the letter 'k'???? Potassium?????????? B A N A N A???????????????) And 'thirteen' is my favourite number, just because I find the concept of a number being considered 'unlucky' hysterical and the idea that some airlines genuinely leave out a row thirteen because of superstition always makes me grin like an idiot. The order is purely because I like the image of a bunch of green cats running around together.

I have done a quick investigation and everyone I know has either already done this or already been tagged. (I have once again shown up two days late with iced-coffee to a tag-game. [At least I showed up, I forgot to do like three of these things despite loving them, I'M SORRY 😭])

If anyone sees this and they HAVEN'T been tagged, consider this your green-for-go flag and feel free to tag me as your tagger.