#i would’ve just saved gas and time and hung out with my cousins!

[duffmckagans]

Hi Kelsey!! How are you?? I hope today is great!! 🩷

hi ashley!! this is an old ask but i’m saving you time!!

first - happy new year! i hope you’re having a wonderful start to 2025 and that this year brings nothing but great, exciting things for you!!

second, im fine. my sister kind of angered me last night by bringing her bf over when we had plans so i lowkey walked out like an hour to midnight and went back to my aunt’s house — but then i just hung out with my cousins, so…yay!!! she was texting me after like “i thought you’d understand id want him over for a new years kiss bc it’s our first new years together…and then we’d go back to watching our movie.” first of all, cringe? second of all, i had told her 50 billion times that the movie we were watching expired on netflix on dec 31—there was no movie to go back to!

so anyway, not a great note to start 2025 on with her but, no fault to that bf bc i’m sure he has 0 clue what’s going on, she’s being so annoying.

today, i have to study a little!! but im also off work so ill probably just write afterward? nothing too extravagant??

how are you? i hope your new years was more fun than mine lol🩷

[janeyseymour]

Escape- pt 12

pt 1. pt 2. pt 3. pt 4. pt 5. pt 6. pt 7. pt 8. pt 9. pt 10. pt 11.

Jane Seymour has stayed with Henry for long enough. Cue Catherine of Aragon and the rest of the girls to save her.

Jane and Catherine have a late night talk. The girls are let in on a secret. Aside from the beginning, a pretty fluff filled chapter.

“Where the fuck is she?” Henry yelled at Thomas. The two had met accidentally in a gas station and were currently fighting in the parking lot.

“I don't know! Let me go!” Thomas practically cried.

“Yes you do!” Henry gripped the man tighter.

“If I did, I would’ve won her over by now!” Thomas confessed.

“You fucking piece of shit, backstabbing son of a bitch! I’m going to find her first!” Henry threw Thomas to the ground.

“No you won't! You’ll see fucker.” Thomas cringed at his own words. Had he really sunken to Henry’s level?

“Hello?” Jane whispered, trying not to wake the slumbering woman next to her.

“It’s Beale. Henry posted bail. Stay where you are until we find him and you can testify against him.

Jane’s heart hit the bottom of her stomach and whisper-yelled,” He- are you sure?”

“Yes. I’m really sorry Jane.”

“I don’t know why this all has to happen to me,” she pitied herself.

“I’m so sorry. I’m doing all that I can, and I’ll keep you updated.” He hung up.

“Lina?” Jane began to cry. “Catherine?”

“What?” she moaned as she was pulled out of her sleeping state.

“Beale called. Henry’s out on bail. We’re going to die,” she worried aloud.

“We’re going to be okay. I promise; I already told you this.” Catherine wrapped an arm around Jane and pulled her closer.

“That was before we knew.”

“Yeah? We’re going to be fine. Nothing’s changed here. He doesn’t know where you are. Try not to worry so much, okay?”

“How can you tell me not to worry about something that could literally cost us our lives?” Jane bolted upright.

“Honey, just relax and try to go back to sleep.”

“No! I will not go to bed!” The blonde was shaking with anger at this point. “You can't keep staying so fucking calm about this! It’s ridiculous! You shouldn’t have ever been mixed up in all of this in the first place, and here you are! Here you are, risking your life just to keep your stupid and pregnant best friend company!” Catherine shot up at this.

“Are you-” Catherine was cut off by Jane’s lips before she so quickly pulled herself away from the hispanic.

“I’m so-” Jane began.

“Please tell me you’re going to remember this.”

“What?” she asked, slightly taken aback.

“You kissed me before.”

“I what?”

“Over the past month, I’ve been kissed a lot,” Catherine cleared her throat. “By you.”

“Wow.”

“Yeah.”

“Well, I’m not going to forget this one. I don’t want to.”

“Are you saying-”

“Yes. I’ve done so many stupid things. I want to take the leap. I want to be your girlfriend,” she confessed. “As long as you want me to be your girlfriend.”

“Are you positive?”

“Yes. I think I just want to keep this quiet from the others until everything with Henry is over.”

“I’m thrilled with this, but I have to ask why the sudden change? I’m more than okay with waiting.”

“My dad made me realize that sometimes you just have to take a leap of faith.”

“Whatever you want. I already told you: I’m in this for as long as you are.”

The relationship between Jane and Catherine didn’t stay a secret for long.

“Do you think we should just ask?” Kat asked Cathy, the two closest to the other women.

“I mean, I think that if they wanted us to know, they would tell us.”

“They’re dating,” Anne threw in.

“How do you know?”

“Oh please. Even if they say they aren’t, they definitely are.”

“They’re dating,” Cleves stated smugly.

“How do you know?”

“When I tell you I’m observant, I mean it. I know things about you guys that I’m sure you think is too minor for anyone to pick up on. They’re dating.”

“Oh really?”

“Yes. But I also heard Jane call Catherine ‘baby’ like a week ago.”

“You heard that?” Jane appeared in the kitchen, carrying a load of laundry on her bump.

“No?” Anna tried.

“I thought we were alone in the house,” Jane sighed.

“I had literally just come back. I made it like, three steps into the house, heard that, and walked right back out. I don’t need to know what you two do when we’re not here.”

“Anna!” Catherine exclaimed. “We do not do anything like that!”

“Oh yeah right.” Anne smirked. “She’s pregnant. Don’t tell us she’s not-”

“That’s enough.” Katherine covered her ears in case her cousin didn’t stop talking. “I do not need to hear what you think someone I think of as my surrogate mother does with her girlfriend.”

“Surrogate mother?” Catherine questioned. “Does this mean I’m like your-”

“You’re kind of like the cool aunt who’s around all the time.”

“Woah. You think of me as a mother figure?” Jane’s expression was unreadable.

“Jane, don’t act surprised. You might not be all that much older than Kitty here, but you act like her mother sometimes. ‘Kat, don’t forget your lunch!’ “Kat, are you sick? Here, I already measured out your medicine.’ You mom her a lot.”

“I-”

“I don’t really mind Jane. It’s nice to have someone take care of you for once.”

“Hey! I took you in!” Anne was about to fight Katherine for the previous statement.

“Yes, and I’m so grateful for that, but we also do dumb shit together all the time. We got arrested together once and had to spend the night in the holding cell until Cathy could come bail us out. You’re more like my older sister than a mother figure.” Anne nodded. Her cousin had a point.

“So, I guess the cat’s out of the bag?” Catherine went back to the previous subject.

“So, you guys are dating?”

“Yes,” Jane confirmed.

“For how long?” Cathy interrogated.

“Maybe a month?”

“And when were you planning on telling us?” The two women looked at each other.

“We hadn’t really thought that through. We figured you guys would figure us out eventually, just not this soon. Idealistically, we would’ve waited until after the baby was born, but I guess that’s not in the cards anymore.”

“Rude!” Anne burst out. “You just weren’t going to tell us until the baby came?”

“Well, you figured it out anyway.” Jane crossed her arms and gave Anne a defiant look.

“You know-”

“Congrats you two,” Cathy cut Anne off before anything could escalate.

“Thanks Cath,” Catherine pulled her younger cousin close.

“Congrats on finally getting it together enough to stop denying that you two are meant for each other!” Kat chimed in.

“Thank you love.” Jane smiled warmly at the younger woman and opened her arms. Kat flew into them almost immediately.

“You’re doing the mom thing again.”

“Oh well,” Jane sighed happily.

“You’re gonna be a good mom you know,” Kat whispered to the woman holding her with a smile on her face.

“Thank you love.”

[ariskevil]

Out of Place

I looked around as I woke up to the hum of wheels and car horns and the lull of the aging engine to the truck.

I lifted a hand to the passenger car door playing with the handle. With each inhale I took in the smell of rain in the cotton seats running down my leather jacket and collecting itself in my jeans. The car slows on the highway and I look away from the traffic to take a glimpse at Jim. I smile shyly at him as we make eye contact. Jim mindlessly scratches his tangled beard and lightly taps the wheel to an unheard beat.  There was an accident on the side of the road. Minor, but enough to break the flow of the car's smooth rhythm on the highway. I didn’t have the patience for this right now and I knew Jim could sense it. I counted the numbers on the road signs and added them up to an even number. Then I started dividing that number by four. Numbers always calmed me down. They were so normal so stupid and emotionless and I loved that.

“You like the radio?”

“Whatever is fine” I hated when he asked for my opinion because I knew he truly cared. Two-hundred and fifty six divided by four is sixty four…

“Come on everyone’s got a tune”

“Yea”  and nobody ever did. Care that is. eight…

“Nothing?”

“Mmh” two…

He coughed nervously and I felt him shift in his seat so that his hand rested in the space between us. I was being unfair and I knew that. Jim was saving my life. The least I could do was have awkward road conversation. I laid against the window as my kinky hair framing my face cushioned my head and drifted asleep.

Cities became suburbs and suburbs became thinner roads and dimmer lights. Jim eased up on the gas as we got off the highway into “Clifton”. I had honestly no idea where we were going. Just as long as it was safe.

The thinner paths narrowed into one remote dirt road and I changed my position from the passenger window to the front to get a better view as more and more woodsy trees blocked out the setting sun. The rocking of the truck nudged at my fluttering stomach as we slowed to a stop in front of a house with a massive frame. The house was white with green shutters and stood impressively at two stories. Surrounding it were several towering trees that teased what little sunlight was able to shine through to the house as the sun headed west.  Several of the windows sprouted lights from the inside telling me how late it was. I closed my leather jacket around me even closer to shake off a shudder as the wind licked at the holes in my weathered jeans. I stepped out of the car and jumped to the ground and felt the gravel meet my worn out converse.

“Come on let’s get ya inside” Jim placed his hand on my shoulder and carried my duffel bag and suitcase. I wasn’t sure how long I was staying and Jim didn’t seem to mind.  Why was I being so selfish? Jim could’ve thrown me out like the rest of my family. Hung up the phone, blocked my number and scorned me the way the family did to him. He was so kind and didn’t bat an eye when I told him I needed his help. He had much reason to curse my name and cast me to the side but I knew he wouldn’t. I knew his warm heart was the same thing that got him shut out from the family in the first place.

We got to the door and Jim yanked his keys from his front belt loop and opened the front door. I couldn’t help but notice the obscured “Welcome” that decorated the mat as I swiped my feet across its surface and stepped inside.

“I’ll get your things in your room so you can start settlin’ in. Go ahead and find somethin’ warm to drink in the kitchen. I’m bettin’ Linda left some tea on the stove.” He walked through the expansive living room and started up the stairs behind the enormous couch facing a large television.

“Come out you rascals I know y'all’ ain’t sleepin’!” giggles echoed the house and I jumped in surprise. Jim and Linda were driven so far out of the family circle I never learned about how many kids he had. How many more cousins I have. My family was very controlled with my Father at the head of the table pushing all the right buttons. Either you played by his rules, or he played you.

“Where’d you say the tea was again?”

I yelled towards the staircase so that he could hear me but I got no response. I took the time to notice the architecture of the stairs. The wood of each step hardened with shine. Nothing was out of place in this house. With the amount of giggles I heard there must be at least three kids. Whoever the housekeeper was they had their hands full.  I suddenly remembered I had heard no creaks as he trekked up the stairs.  Not a hair out of line. Not even their stairs. No matter how estranged Jim was to the rest of the family he still occupied one of the families many properties. I scanned the living room and took in my surroundings. adjacent to the couch on the opposite wall of the stairs stood a glorious fireplace mantle sprouting with pictures. I walked over and tears almost filled my eyes. There stood Jim and his family on a beautiful sunny day in front of this house. His arm graced the shoulders of presumably Linda. To say Linda was beautiful gave her no justice. Her looks were poetic. She had large but piercing dark brown eyes that complimented her full lips. Her effortlessly styled locs framed her heart shaped face. and her dark skin glowed like the sun's reflection on the sea. I found myself being filled with jealousy. Here stood this stunning woman that had welcomed Jim with open arms as his family discarded him to the side. and of course the children. That's what hurt the most. They would probably never know their family. Do you still call them family when they do what we did to Jim? They smiled back at me with such glee. I glee I didn't think I could experience anymore. Brown dimpled cheeks smiled back at me and a tear finally dropped out my eye. I looked around the cozy living room again and sighed. This house has been in their family for generations. I recognized it from the pictures. All of the pictures. All those memories. With such an old house they would’ve had to spend a fortune to make it accommodating to the kids.

Just I shifted to move to the kitchen a snap of a twig broke the silence like a whip. Why did I feel like eyes were glued to the back of my neck? The hairs on the back of my neck suddenly stood up and I tensed. I wanted to peer out the window but it was too dark and that would alert whoever was watching me. No I felt it. Something was wrong. No, it couldn't be happening here there's no way anyone could know I'm here I made sure of that. I stilled so all I could hear was the sound of my own breath. The giggles upstairs had ceased and worried me that something was very, very wrong. I started to panic. Wait, stop no don't panic!

Why hadn’t Jim come back downstairs yet? And where was Linda? It was very unusual in the south for the woman of the house not to greet a guest. Was Linda still angered by Jim's exile? I’d never met my Aunt but I was assuming that I’d be safe if Jim trusted her enough to marry her.

“Jim?!” I ran through the living room to the kitchen and rummaged violently through the first drawer to my left. I looked up and by the stove a wooden stand held several cooking knives. I grabbed the largest steak knife and held it by my side. Listening. Waiting.

Knock. Knock. Knock

No no no no this can’t be happening there’s children here they can’t get in the way. Four, eight, twelve, sixteen, twenty…

Knock. Knock. Knock

I couldn’t even tell where the knocking was coming from, the front door, a window, the house was so big and it was unfamiliar. And all the damn lights were on. Whoever was out there was definitely watching me right now.

I heard footsteps pummeling down the stairs and I strengthened my stance with the handle of the knife firmly held in my hand.

“Jim?!”

He had a gun in his hand. I was glad that I wasn’t the only one who had heard the knocking but now I knew for sure someone was here. “Jim I’m so sorry” I said.  I had done this to him. His home. His family. I didn’t know who was out there but I knew they weren’t leaving anytime soon. How could I have been so selfish? It was always like that. In her tiniest memories Jim was the one who showed her passion and love as a child. And then one day he just wasn’t there anymore. He looked into my dark brown eyes and said nothing as he met me in the kitchen and took guard in front of me. I knew that look. It was the look he would always give that I could never forget as a child. The look I could never get from my own father. It said “I gotcha”.

The door exploded open and a creature jumped inside. It was the size of Jim’s truck with four sturdy tree trunks as legs that held its massive body. Jim had already begun to shoot at it raining bullets in its direction as it made its way toward us. It’s eyes were blue. A beautiful icy blue. As if it couldn’t see. “Jim it’s blind!” He nodded in response and shot above the creature’s head. Large chunks of debris rained upon its head and it whimpered as it fell to the ground. Piles and piles of the house just fell from above, the living room ceiling pinning the beast to the ground. Then there was silence.

“Jim, the kids, Linda, are they okay?”

“Yes let’s go we don’t have time”. He opened a drawer and reloaded his gun and I stood still in disbelief. His family was in this predicament because of me. I did this. I brought this thing here.

“Ingrid” he snapped. “Please we don’t have time we need to leave now”. He grabbed my hand and we ran around the pile of concrete and wall plaster that trapped the creature. His beautiful house. Nothing out of place.

He let go of my hand so we could run down to the truck. His dark skin caught what little light was alluding them from the house and I opened the door and hopped into the passenger side. I screamed.

Just as Jim went to slide into the driver’s seat the monster grabbed his torso.

"JIM!"

It swung him from side to side with its snarling mouth as Jim let off a round of bullets into its abdomen.  It dropped to the grass with Jim still in his mouth as it collapsed. Its rugged breath no longer filling the silence of the woods.

“Jim! Jim! Wake up man come on come on come on!” I wanted to cry but no tears came. I bent down at his side and took his hand tightly in mine. He opened his eyes and I stopped my breath. They were a beautiful icy blue.

I loosened my  grip from his hand but he kept holding on too tightly for me to release my fingers. His face distorted into a smile that should have been too large for his face. He flashed his teeth and each one had a razor sharp point that glowed against his skin. Jim smiled when he was nervous. He smiled all the time. This wasn’t the same smile. One of his hands grabbed my neck and I wrapped my fingers around his arm as his hands squeezed tighter around my windpipe. I choked and tried to scream. I dug my nails mercilessly into his skin to loosen his grip with no prevail. This wasn’t the Jim I knew. This wasn’t the man that would sneak me tamarind balls under the dinner table when I didn’t want to drink my soup. This wasn’t the Jim that took my face in his hands when I was a little girl and told me I was gonna change this family forever. This wasn’t the uncle I wished had really been my father.

I was starting to lose my strength. His icy blue eyes where the dark brown ones had been, stared into me waiting for me to give out. So was I. “I’m sorry Jim” I thought. I’m so so sorry.

The grip abruptly loosened and I dropped to my knees in the grass. I looked up and Jim lay sprawled on the floor. A bullet straight through his head. I looked behind me to see where the shot came from. A woman stood ten feet behind me with a rifle still raised. “Oh Jim” I moaned.

Linda lowered her gun but kept her eyes on Jim as the wind blew her locs pass her face, “wasn’t Jim anymore hon. Wasn’t him”. She walked back towards the house dragging the butt of the rifle in the grass. I stayed kneeling and wept the tears I couldn’t weep before.