#id be a terrible father

[olivers-media-blog]

Thoughts on a Horror Film - a Review of Se7en

Seven (often stylized as Se7en) is a horror film directed by David Fincher and written by Andrew Kevin Walker. I watched the film a couple of weeks ago with a friend (thank you Jay), and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was released in 1995, and does not skip out on thrill. I was never bored while watching it, and I'll expand more upon that in the next paragraphs (since I wasn't there when we watched Get Out).

Watch Se7en Trailer Here

The film takes place in a most likely fictional city in California, inspired by Los Angeles. It's set in 1995, the same year as the movie was released. The two main characters are detectives Lt. William Somerset and David Mills, played by Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt. As these two detectives work towards different goals, one set to retire and the other to take his place, they are united by a common cause: a serial killer on the loose, seemingly killing according to the seven deadly sins. In this thrilling and gorey tale, I guarantee the ending will surprise you.

Kevin Spacey did phenomenal work in playing the antagonist of this film. His chillingly calm demeanour and unsettling bald head made his rather short screen time some of the best in the movie. That isn't to say, however, that the rest of the film was lacking by any means. Between Morgan Freeman's excellent portrayal of the talented Lt. Somerset, and Brad Pitt's devastatingly good looks as detective David Mills, I was captivated throughout.

My favourite portion of the film has to be everything that happens after the detectives' encounter with the killer in the police station. From that point on is where you really see Spacey's talents, and the big twist scene of the movie is my favourite scene overall. I won't spoil it, but I highly recommend watching the film, because whatever you predict the twist to be is absolutely incorrect.

The film, focusing the killer's crimes around the seven deadly sins, has a slightly religious focus in its messaging. Even despite this, non-religious people can also take something away from the film, as the seven deadly sins are very common in every day life. The film shows that when someone has a very strong belief, they may go to extreme lengths to make sure they are heard, and people are heard best through unforgettable acts. In this case, the act is violence, which is something that happens very often in the world.

I would recommend this film to detail-oriented horror fans and people who enjoy philosophy/theology, due to the subtle yet intentional details throughout the film, as well as the religious and moral themes. I found it incredibly worth the watch, and I am now very specifically recommending it to you Mr. Edwards. Watch the film. Please and thanks. :3

(Watch it over the break perhaps)

I give it an A+ ❤️

[sofuss-y]

space, the final frontier !!!!!🌟🌟

[alvindraperzzz]

People are allowed to read a character however they want, and playing with aus and different interpretations is fun, but I’ve never really understood the fandom’s insistence that Cassie is comphet because it’s so antithetical to how I read her. 

You think Cassie spent years pressuring herself to hide her real feelings and live up to some nebulous feminine ideal even as it made her miserable?

Cassie Sandsmark. Cassie, who declared herself Wonder Girl and outright asked the king of the gods for powers? The same Cassie who couldn’t keep her identity secret for five minutes at a time without blabbing to someone? Cassie, who couldn’t stand the makeover plan she came up with so she ripped the wig off and confessed the whole thing to her crush almost immediately? Cassie, who constantly puts her foot in her mouth, pushes people, and can’t leave well enough alone because she’s so focused on what she thinks is right?

The reason the “Cassie is comphet” headcanon never made sense to me is because it just doesn’t fit her canon character. She's headstrong, sincere, and generally isn’t afraid to go after what she wants. She can’t help but be herself, and any attempt to purposely be something or someone she isn’t doesn’t last long.

Also…. do you really believe Cassie Sandsmark, protege of Diana of Themyscira and honorary Amazon, thinks she has to pretend to be straight? Come on now.

[thunderboltfire]

I was having fun with making up their voices! I've also decided to solve a question of languages (languages color-coded to avoid confusion).

Also, this one has quite a lot of tiny text, so I've included transcripts.

[ID: a list illustrated with colored doodles of characters' heads. Titled Who speaks what?

Igna [cartoon picture of Igna's face drawn in brick red color]: Native language: illiraian (southwestern regional form). Understands enough elvish to know when she's being threatened, and can ask for directions, but not much more.

Argo [cartoon picture of Argo's face drawn in sap green color]: Native language: northern elvish. Fluent in illiraian, hardly discernible accent. (it took Igna 3 months to figure out what's off - he rolls 'R' a bit too hard and his vowels sometimes are pronounced too close to the back of his throat).

Theria [cartoon picture of Theria's face drawn in muted brown color]: Native language: Samhran. Fluent in illiraian, audible samhran accent (difficulty pronouncing consonant clusters, palatalising 'L's and 'T"s, mixing up vowels and dyphtongs, sometimes sing-song affect to the vowels). Speaks basic Andaran and broken Omtheron.

Daen [cartoon picture of Daen's face drawn in violet color]: Native language: Moer. Fluent in illiraian, Andaran and gods know what else. Communicative in old elvish. Understands both dwarven languages, but speaks neither. No discernible accent in illiraian.

Haart [cartoon picture of Haart's face drawn in blue]: Native language: Kará (east-dwarvish). Fluent in illiraian (mostly without an

accent, but he often switches soft and hard 'H'). Understands some Andaran and Omtheron. Knows his local variety of sign language.

Knows some expressions in samhran (exclusively swearwords and toasts).]

-

Results: Igna is a spoiled kid, she's the only one in the group who has the luxury of speaking her native language day-to-day. She grew up in complete nowhere, with a very scarce contact with other languages. Tentative A1 in elvish, due to her dad trying to teach her.

Argo probably had the knowledge of Illiraian hammered into his head during his education - inhabitants of Riss speak exclusively a dialect of elvish day-to-day, but the duchy is an enclave, and it would be severely imparing not to know the neighbors' language.

Theria has been away from home long enough to gain a pretty good grasp of Illiraian, and has around B1 level in Andaran. Both spoken with a pretty thick accent, her native language is from a different language family with a strikingly different phototactics, and she's learnt the foreign languages pretty late.

Daen speaks many languages, and all of them pretty well. Maybe it's his long lifespan, but it's possible he's got a knack for language learning.

Haart has had a similar situation to Argo in a sense he's lived in a close neighboorhood of another language and learnt it in childhood. He comes from a merchant house, so it's understandable his family would want him to know foreign languages.

[ID: a scale diagram titled "profanity meter" Left to right: Daen titled "Apocalyptic event indicator", Igna titled "curses when hurt", Argo titled "curses if pissed", Haart titled "curses to emphasise" and Theria titled "Fuck is a sentence divider"]

-

I have to face the fact that Theria most probably has a severe case of unwashed mouth. Her mercenary career spans a good few years when she enters the stage and she doesn't seem like the type to watch her language, so in all probability she doesn't even notice that she curses like a sailor.

[ID: a list titled "Voice and expression". On the left side there's an up-and-down double ended arrow titled "pitch". Characters from top to bottom:

Igna: Easily the highest voice of the group. Clean, and rather strong despite it. Makes an open and honest impression when speaking, fairly good singing voice.

Theria: on the lower side of feminine voices, full-bodied voice with a bit of a vocal fry, on average way louder than the rest of the group. Enjoys singing, but easily dominates a choir

Argo: rather raspy, matte voice. Has a tendency to mutter - the limited sensitivity on the scarred side of his face makes it harder to speak clearly. Speaks quite fast despite of this. Can't hold a note for his life.

Haart: soft, full baritone. Probably the nicest laughter. Nice singing voice, talks with his hands a lot. Makes a characteristic huff when he's nervous.

Daen: low, resonant voice. Clear pronounciation. Reticent, rarely talks more than necessary. Makes a formal impression.]

Last but not least, my trials to work out how would they probably sound like. (I'm not really one to do voiceclaims).

[thesummerstorms]

See, the thing is I actually really love the *idea* of Dragon Age 2 as an inescapable tragedy, one where Hawke is doomed by a narrative they can't escape.

But the lazy writing of the ending, the strange and often bitter dynamics between the different NPCs (bitter to the point of being nonsensical for the sake of drama in places), the way the narrative functionally handles the struggle between Mages and Templars, the "rivalmance" dynamic all just make it very much not a game I personally enjoy playing.

[favvnsongs]

nearly twelve in the night and im having som Emotions about wash&lina ;__;

[nicholaes]

had a dream I flirted with a blond guy

[an-absolute-trainwreck]

By no means should I be allowed to raise a child, but also I am convinced I’d raise an absolute prodigy who would be immensely talented and use their trauma from being raised by me to fuel their art

[unrubenovichon]

the longer i stay at my dads the more my dormant 'i should start surfing' genes activate with no opportunity to indulge them. in other news: a woman who can barely hold an eagle pose thinks she's not that likely to drop a dresser on herself if she holds onto it while trying out a balance board

[thehoneydee]

So I was talking to Salami about the latest chapter of R&D (I'm still working on it but it should be up within the next week) (also Salami is my beta reader <3) and I was explaining how the chapter keeps getting longer cuz I keep adding extra scenes and details to flesh out the characters and story more. And I'm like I wanted to show more of how Lou cares a lot about his kids even if we don't see said kids much in the story and I wanted his office to be full of stuff from them so I added like two paragraphs about origami cranes and Salami points to their origami crane tattoo and I just stopped and was like I forgot you had that. Anyways woe, meme be upon ye

[nihtscada]

WHAT IS HAPPENING

"Hey, we're being shipped!"

"..To where?"

"stop calling him babygirl, that is a grown man" TELL THE ARTISTS THAT, THEN

[ivynightshade]

fatima aamer bilal, from coffin heart? bury me.

[text id: how did you get so close that i have to dissect you out from under my skin? / memory is a deathbed. remembrance is a grave. the memory of you is a scab that i keep picking so that it scars. a burn, a souvenir, something to claw at that claws back at me. / i refuse to be haunted by something less. / there's a sun-sized ache where your hands used to be. / and now that your place is empty, the blood in my heart pumps around nothing. / nothing. / nothing at all. / senseless circulation. / what am i to live for when i have made my body my casket? / where am i to go from here? / and i always knew longing had another name she wouldn't let me call her by — it's hunger. / my heart grew up to be far more starved than my stomach. / it's the things you learn in your childhood, from the words of your mother, from the hands of your father. / if your teeth do not graze my bones, i do not wish for you to kiss me. / how have i turned gentle love into such devastation? / such greediness? / i carry a coffin for a heart; everything i love must be buried. / plant your garden in the cracks of my skin—mud, gravel, everything. let my blood be water to cater to your needs. / terrible, terrible human, thinks barbarity and love are words of the same meaning. / a mad dog would be a far more gentle lover to the rocks being thrown at him. / and, my dear, i wouldn't ask you to fold me in the pages of your favorite book, just the embedment of fingers between my ribs. / how did you get so close that i have to dissect you out from under my skin? / GET CLOSER.]

[malcriada]

Help Firas and Nisreen pay their university fees until August 1st!

i had an exchange today with Firas @firasmuhaisenn that brought me to tears.

Firas is a first year medical student, currently studying in Egypt together with his sister Nisreen. they have to struggle through an extremely tough university year, studying for exams, all while the rest of their family is stuck in Gaza. they have lost their beautiful home and their jobs, their livelihoods. his campaign is extremely time sensitive. it has been verified and reblogged by @/90-ghost here their father's factory which was bombed by the occupation used to specialize in construction work. in the future, when it is rebuilt, it could play a crucial role in the reconstruction of Gaza. but because it was reduced to rubble, their father is out of income and cannot possibly help them with their fees.

to make matters worse, they have to pay university fees until August 1st, otherwise they will have to pay a fine and won't be allowed to continue their studies. their university knows of their plight and is not sympathetic to them at all. they are not granted any exception to the rule, not even a time extension. they are treated like every other student even though their family is going through genocide. these siblings are their families last hope, they desperately want to become medical doctors to better aid people in Gaza and they are also responsible for getting their family out of an active war zone. i think most of us would not be able to imagine or even withstand the amount of pressure Firas and Nisreen are under. they need to raise $ 6,000 CAD as a short term goal, to not only pay for both of their university fees but also accounting for the cut gfm takes. so far they have:

$ 4,018 CAD / $ 6,000 CAD which means $ 1,982 CAD more to go!

@marnota is offering some really nice art commissions in exchange for proof of donation so please check those out here You can get some wonderful art for the price of $10 CAD so please consider getting some! Firas is genuinely a wonderful person, kind, determined and very hardworking (he is constantly studying for his exams and close to achieving distinction in his first year). he misses his family and his cat terribly. even amidst all the war and destruction and death, he would rather be together with them than in Egypt, where he is now.

please, if you have anything you can give, give to Firas and Nisreen so they may continue their studies and also reunite with their family.

[ID: two images of a completely ruined building, it is almost entirely rubble. one person stands before it. the text reads „Donate to Help evacuate our family and complete our studying, organized by Firas Muhaisen“ End ID]

taglist for reach under the cut (apologies for the tag. if you'd like to not be added to these, please let me know and i will remove you)

@meaganfoster @briarhips

@mazzikah @mahoushojoe

@rhubarbspring @pcktknife

@transmutationisms @sawasawako

@feluka @terroristiraqi

@irhabiya @wellwaterhysteria

@deepspaceboytoy @junglejim4322

@kibumkim @neechees

@mangocheesecakes @kyra45-helping-others

@northgazaupdates2 @tortiefrancis

@toiletpotato @fromjannah

@omegaversereloaded @vague-humanoid

@criptochecca @aristotels

@komsomolk @riding-with-the-wild-hunt

@heritageposts @ot3

@amygdalae @ankle-beez

@communistchilchuck @dykesbat

@watermotif @stuckinapril

@mavigator @lacecap

@socalgal @chilewithcarnage

@ghelgheli @northgazaupdates

[imminent-danger-came]

[id: a drawing of Ezran from the dragon prince. he holds the messenger arrow that sends word of his fathers death. the arrow splits the drawing into two. the moonshadow binding disintegrates and flows past his head in the top of the drawing. he has one eye and is wearing a blood red crown. below the arrow dividing the drawing is Ezran's boot crushing the arrow. end id]

“I can smell the blood upon your pretty crown. Was it not once a blade? Perhaps you should leave it here, too, with all these terrible things.”

Ezran art in honor of his short story! The original plan was to get this out before the new season, but seeing as it released 5 days early that ended up not happening! Enjoy it now!

[lenasai]

this week, i'm spotlighting dr. isam's campaign!

i'll let the organizer's words speak for themself:

Dr. Isam is a successful dentist and a loving husband and father who fully supports his family of eight. Prior to the war, Dr. Isam owned two dental centers: a home for 20 employees including his own children. In this latest assault on Gaza, both of his centers were destroyed, destroying his and his entire team’s livelihoods, futures, and dreams. His family consists of his wife and eldest daughter, Sondos (27 years), who holds a degree in interior design; she has health issues that have worsened throughout the war and require immediate attention. His elder twins, Saleem and Ahmed (25 years), have degrees in Medical Assistance and Computer Programming. Saleem is married, has a beautiful two-year-old daughter, and lives with his wife and daughter in the same household as Dr. Isam. His younger son, Osaam (20 years), also has a medical condition that requires immediate and continued treatment, and sadly cannot be found in Gaza at the moment. Given the terrible experiences they have suffered over the course of the past six months, Dr. Isam, is hoping and praying to get his family out of Gaza in order to start a new life away from the pain of war and constant threats of death. His wife needs urgent medical care, and his children need to continue their education and work to rebuild and maintain their physical and mental well-being.

i have donated $15 cad and hope you will consider matching my donation!

ID: Screenshot confirming $15 donation to the above campaign. End ID.

if you cannot donate, please share this post. it really does help if more people see the post. to my knowledge, the organizer does not have a tumblr account and cannot fundraise here.

this campaign is featured on the @gazafunds website and i have full confidence in its legitimacy.

[dreamwritesimagines]

The Eye of the Hurricane [26] - Breaking the Rules

A.N: Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback, you made my day! ❤️I hope you’ll like this chapter as well, and please don’t forget to tell me what you think! ❤️

Summary: Fighting for the crown comes with decisions.

Word Count: 2600

Pairing: MobBoss!Bucky Barnes x Female!Reader

Warnings: Violence, guns, crime, blood, explicit language, dysfunctional relationship, mentions of sex. This is an AU, friendly reminder that I don’t condone any of the actions depicted on this story and please read with care.

Series Masterlist

Growing up as your father’s heir, you had to memorize certain rules.

Honoring the alliances was one of them. No family could survive on its own in this line of work against all the others, and it was a matter of honor not to cross or go behind your allies.

Not putting civilians in danger was another. The business and its deals or disagreements could only affect the people who chose to be in it, civilians were always off limits.

But the most important rule that was drilled into your and every heir’s head?

Never, ever do anything to break the truce.

“Y/N?”

Your head shot up and you tried to smile at Becca. “Yeah?”

“Are you okay?”

No.

No you really weren’t.

What you and Bucky were planning was way too dangerous, which meant that you couldn’t say that to anyone, Becca included.

“Sure!” you said as Leila came back to the table, carrying coffees.

“Thanks babe,” Becca pecked her on the lips and she smiled at her.

“Not a problem!” she said. “So, is there any reason why you look so gloomy, Y/N?”

Shit.

“Gloomy?” you asked with a small laugh. “I don’t look gloomy.”

“Is Ethan being his tortured lover self again?”

“He’s not—” you stopped yourself. “I haven’t talked to him in a while actually.”

“Bucky then?”

“Oh is this about that girl you told me about?” Becca asked. “Anna?”

You blinked a couple of times. “Uh…”

“Anna?” Leila asked and Becca waved a hand in the air.

“This incredibly hot woman Bucky is doing business with.”

“Did I say she was incredibly hot?”

“You said hot and I stalked her,” Becca said helpfully, “She is incredibly hot.”

“Thanks a lot Bec,” you muttered and Leila tilted her head.

“Let me see!”

“I’m not gloomy because of Anna,” you said and paused for a moment. “Although, Bucky does have a meeting with her today.”

“Here,” Becca said, handing her the phone and Leila raised her brows, staring at the screen before licking her lips.

“Maybe she just has a terrible personality.”

“You guys are the best,” you muttered and Becca let out a laugh.

“We’re joking, obviously you’re hotter.”

“For some reason I highly doubt that,” you pointed out and Leila rolled her eyes at you.

“You are,” she said. “But jealousy is less about looks and more about the vibes.”

“I’m not jealous!” you said, your voice going a pitch higher before you cleared your throat. “I wasn’t even thinking about her until you brought her up.”

“Then what—” Becca started but your phone started vibrating on the table, making you grimace when your eyes fell on the caller ID.

“Excuse me for a moment,” you said and grabbed your phone, then walked out of the café to answer it. “Auntie?”

“Y/N hi honey!” her cheerful voice reached you. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything?”

“Nah, I’m just with my friends,” you said and she hummed.

“Well then, clear out your schedule for the afternoon because we’re having an aunt-niece lunch,” she said, making your eyes widen.

“Oh I actually—I had this thing—”

“I already made the reservation, I’ll send you the details,” she cut off your stammering. “See you in two hours!”

With that, she hung up and you threw your head back, letting out a groan.

“Great,” you muttered to yourself. “Just what I needed today.”

                                                       *

Of course your aunt had picked a restaurant in your father’s territory and of course it was already swarming with your father’s people. Unlike you, she had no problem with being followed by bodyguards even if the restaurant seemed to be closed to any other people but you two and the bodyguards, so you tried not to roll your eyes as you sat down, the waitress bringing your food almost immediately. You pulled your brows together and your aunt sat up straighter.

“I ordered for the both of us already,” she said, making you hum.

“Wonderful,” you said. “Thanks.”

“So,” she smiled at you. “I figured today is as good of a day as any to catch up!”

No, today was supposed to be about you having an existential crisis at home, and yet here you were.

“How’s marriage going?”

Jesus Christ.

“It’s going well,” you said curtly before digging into the salad in front of you. “And you? How are you after the break up?”

“Oh,” she waved a dismissive hand. “Let’s not talk about that. Bucky seems like he grew into such a gentleman!”

“Mm hm.”

“And George is happy being retired?”

You thought for a moment, then shrugged your shoulders.

“Bucky is doing a great job,” you said, unaware of the proud tone in your voice. “So yes. He probably does miss being more involved in the business but it’s Bucky’s time now. George knows it.”

“Promising heir turns into successful king, not much of a surprise there,” she commented and you sipped your wine.

“Exactly.”

“And speaking of heirs…” your aunt said, making your eyes shoot up to hers.

Fucking—

Yeah, you had walked right into that.

You knew that everything you said and did, even the smallest reaction would be reported back to either Ian or your father, so you had to keep your calm. Even though anger had started to boil deep inside you, you lowered your wine glass, tilting your head at her.

“Hm?”

“Your father may have mentioned that things between you and him are rather tense lately,” she said. “Especially after him naming Ian as his heir.”

You frowned, feigning confusion before taking your fork into your mouth again.

“I didn’t think they were tense,” you said after swallowing your bite. “Is that what he thinks?”

She paused only for a moment.

“It is,” she said. “And you know how important family is. We don’t always have to see eye to eye, but we do have to support each other.”

“Does father think I won’t support Ian?” you asked silkily and she licked her lips, deep in thought.

“Ian worked really hard to be where he is right now, Y/N,” she said, making you pull your brows together. “I am aware that you might feel some resentment but that position belongs to Ian now. And we as his family must make sure to make his job easier.”

You wanted to laugh at the audacity but managed to keep your expression under control. Of course she supported him, that much wasn’t surprising but—

Ian working for where he was?

He hadn’t even bothered to go through half of the training you had.

“I don’t know why you’re telling me this,” you told her. “It’s father’s job to make Ian’s job easier, he was the one who named him heir. What I think about his decision doesn’t hold any power in this, I’m not in the business—”

“Yes you are.”

You scoffed. “Well, that’s news to me then. Do you know something I don’t?”

She shot you a look.

“You and I both know that some bosses in the city support you to become the heir, not Ian.”

You bit back a smirk and took another sip of your wine.

“Which is normal, outsiders can have different ideas, it’s the family that decides on the heir,” she said. “But Bucky…Bucky is family now.”

You shrugged your shoulders. “I don’t control Bucky.”

“Yes you do,” she insisted. “And Bucky doesn’t necessarily like Ian, does he?”

The realization dawned on you in a second; your father hadn’t put your aunt up to this.

Ian had, because he felt threatened by Bucky.

Which in all honesty was a bit insulting, because even with other bosses supporting you to become the heir, he still didn’t think you yourself were a viable threat to him.

You pushed at your salad with your fork, pretending to be nonchalant.

“Strange as it may sound, me and Bucky don’t really spend our time talking about Ian,” you said and your aunt heaved a sigh, then reached out to clasp her hand over yours.

“Honey,” she said. “You know what will happen if a war breaks out.”

“Tell that to Ian, not me,” you said. “He seemed to be very interested in a war the last time we spoke. I know what happens if a war breaks out, does he?”

“He’s still very excited to prove himself,” she said, making you clench your jaw. “So he may come across a bit… wild but he will not start a war.”

“Funny how everyone around him seems to have to make excuses for him.”

“So many people died before the truce,” she insisted. “So many families. I know that your father promised you that position, but you cannot set the whole city on fire just because he changed his mind. Ian is the heir now, you and everyone else need to make your peace with it.”

Anger was pulsing through your veins and you dug your fingernails into your palm, then pushed at your plate and stood up.

“I have this thing, so…”

“Y/N—”

“And for the record, I’m not setting the whole city on fire,” you told her. “Make sure to hear the same thing from Ian, will you? Because from the looks of it, people aren’t that thrilled to do business with him when he’s been foaming at the mouth to start a war.”

With that, you walked out of the restaurant with your bodyguards following you.

                                              *

As much as you hated to admit, your aunt’s words did manage to make you even more restless. You had tried to take a nap but it was no use, and by the time Bucky got home, you had been pacing in the apartment for almost an hour now. He had some blood on him so he had gone straight to the bathroom to take a long shower, and when he came back, he found you by the window, your gaze fixed on the skyline.

“Hey beautiful.”

You looked over your shoulder and tried to smile at him.

“Hey,” you said. “Whose blood was it?”

“Some idiot,” he said. “Not important. Are you okay?”

“How was the meeting with Anna?”

“It was good, everything is going pretty smoothly. Are you okay?”

You turned around to see him better, then nodded your head.

“Sure!” you said. “There’s uh…there’s dinner in the—”

“What’s going on?” he cut you off, stepping closer to you and you heaved a sigh, then shrugged your shoulders.

“Nothing, it’s just…it’s been a long day.”

“I thought you were meeting Becca today.”

“I did,” you said. “Then my aunt asked to have lunch together so that totally ruined my day.”

He raised his brows. “What did she say?”

“Usual bullshit,” you said. “She wants me to support Ian.”

Bucky snorted. “Yeah, that’s gonna happen.”

“And Ian is intimidated by you.”

“Good,” Bucky said. “Does he also know the only reason he’s alive is because of the truce he’s been so excited to break? Someone should let him know.”

“He thinks he’s untouchable, you know that,” you said with a roll of your eyes. “He doesn’t even carry a gun, he’s that sure of himself. Ryan carries his gun for him.”

Bucky threw his head back. “Does he—” he started but was cut off when his phone vibrated on the table. Your heart skipped a beat as he read the text message, then held up the phone.

“So…” he said. “Are we doing this tonight?”

You swallowed thickly, your heartbeat getting faster before you ran a hand over your face.

“Bucky, is this a mistake?”

He tilted his head. “Why would it be a mistake?”

“We’re ordering a hit on a shipment,” you whispered. “That’s breaking the truce.”

“Eh, it’s not like they’ll know who did it.”

“But if they somehow figure it out?” you insisted as you stepped away from him to pace in the room again. “I keep telling myself Ian is the wrong choice, but what does it say about me that I’m willing to risk war? That I’m willing to risk so much bloodshed just to get there?”

“That you have what it takes.”

“Do I?” you asked him. “At that cost? You heard the same thing I did while we were growing up, over and over again. Never break the truce—”

“We’re not breaking the truce,” he assured you. “No one will know it’s us, and even if they did somehow figure it out; your father will kill me on grounds of breaking the truce sweetheart, nothing will happen to you.”

Even the thought of it was enough to send a shiver down your spine.

“Don’t say that,” you murmured, rubbing at your eyes. “Just don’t.”

He shot you a playful smile. “I thought you wanted me dead.”

“If I wanted you dead, you’d be dead,” you grumbled as you approached the window to look outside again. “It just feels…”

“Overwhelming?” he asked you as he came closer before his hands clasped over your shoulders, massaging there, making your eyes flutter close.

“A little,” you admitted and he hummed.

 “Of course it’s overwhelming, we’re pushing you to the top.”

You opened your eyes again, then turned around to look at him better.

“Why are you risking your own life for this?”

“Because I want to see you at the top of the food chain,” he said, then flashed you a smirk. “And on top of me but—”

“Bucky,” you said warningly as if that didn’t make your stomach do a happy flip despite the tension and he chuckled.

“Because unlike what your father seems to think, you’re the right choice for this.”

“And you still think that about me even if I’m putting the truce in danger right now?” you asked and his smile widened.

“You could shoot me right now and I’d still think that, princess.”

You nibbled on your lip, a warmth spreading in your chest before you let out a bitter chuckle.

“We’re both fucked up, you do realize that?”

“I know,” he said. “But fucked up or not, will you be alright when Ian inevitably burns your father’s empire down? The empire that belongs to you?”

You swallowed thickly as he ran his fingertips over your bare arm, awakening fire underneath your skin.

“Stop playing by your father’s rules,” he said, his voice a low murmur. “It’s your game now, you make the rules.”

You pursed your lips together before taking a deep breath, then looked up at him.

“Give the order.”

Bucky smiled at you, then touched the phone’s screen before taking it to his ear.

“Do it,” he said, then hung up, making you let out a breath, your head spinning because of the adrenaline rushing through you. Bucky stepped closer to press a kiss on your temple and you rested your forehead on his chest for a moment, letting his irresistible scent fill your nostrils.

“You’re alright.”

“I’m alright,” you muttered to his chest and pulled back to nod your head as if trying to convince yourself. “I am.”

“You are,” Bucky said, then smiled at you. “So let’s get drinks and dessert, hm? To celebrate your first ever hit order in the business?”

A nervous laughter climbed up your throat. “What?”

“Yeah I’ll even put a candle on the champagne— or on the cake, I haven’t decided yet,” he told you, pulling you by the wrist through the room while you giggled.

“Bucky wait, I need to do my makeup if we’re going out—”

“Less whining more walking princess, come on,” he said and you snatched your coat off the hanger as you walked past it, then followed him out of the apartment, still smiling.

Chapter 27