#in fairness lucy has never /said/ she's not like other girls

[iamfitzwilliamdarcy]

for not being like other girls, lucy sure does act like a 15 year old girl

[theoldsports]

Moody.

Coriolanus Snow x Reader | 3.3k words

depression, arguing, manipulation/toxic marriage, fucking each other over, possessiveness. it’s tamer than some of my others in an objective sense, but emphasizes dark thoughts and internal monologue.

requests always open! thanks for your kindnesses. i think this one is more experimental than the others. the objective here was to show how both of them mimic regular human feelings because they know they should, but it’s a poor pantomime. two sickos with nothing else but each other <3 i think i am going to call these works the Truculent series.

Coriolanus grew cold fast and did not tolerate heat well. He only slept only in his underclothes and wore heavy layers at the first sight of winter. His alarmingly fair complexion meant excessive sun wasn’t in the cards. In spite of his name, his scrappy build wasn’t meant to cut through harsh January terrain either. His nails chipped at labor, and his mind grew uneasy at laziness.

The world was tough on Coriolanus and he was tough right back on the word.

There was little Coriolanus was designed to do. Many people were strong, or smart, or wealthy, or drop-dead-gorgeous, or violent, or talented. There was something about every person Coriolanus could think of that made them stand out. He could easily categorized people by them. Here was the group of people known for their beautiful voices; here, those who could benchpress four-hundred pounds… Coriolanus could not be quantified like that.

Coriolanus Snow had to take what was left, like a runt. He was only good at two things: enduring and controlling. Since those were the only options leftover for him, Coriolanus became the best at them both. When, like Coriolanus, one has been gifted such shitty talents and nothing else, they have to figure out how to use them well enough to win against everyone with a better gift. Eventually, he realized his talents were not the ability to endure and the ability to control, but actually the ability to win. Eventually, he won so much, Coriolanus forgot there was ever a time when he lost (most days).

(The days he didn’t forget were the Bad Days).

Coriolanus felt like he couldn’t get out of bed on the Bad Days when the crushing weight of his failures and his ego landed across his chest. He told himself he was done with love after Lucy Gray. Disgusting Lucy Gray, a name he never wanted to even think again. He thought he would marry someone he hated and be done with love.

But junkies and addicts quit every Monday anyway.

Once he found [Y/N] again after their childhood together, there was no quitting. He knew it was bad for him, so he married what was bad for him to make sure he had an endless supply. How he hated that familiar feeling of obsession, the feeling of being so desperate that he had to rely on something other than himself. Somehow, he would have to sustain the feeling without losing his girl like an idiot. Marriage was likely the thing to steel their attempt at a bond.

Upon waking up to the alarm that morning, Coriolanus knew this was one of those Bad Days. Maybe it was the weather, the stress of Games. First year as head Gamemaker had almost driven Coriolanus mad under the pressure to succeed. He reached over to turn off the clock that buzzed painfully at six in the morning every day ending with a Y.

“Coryo…” [Y/N] mumbled, hearing him stir beside her. The sound must have woken her. She tossed an arm over his chest.

“‘Mornin’, Darling,” Coriolanus replied, wishing he were dead.

[Y/N] immediately picked up on the flatness of his tone, but she knew better than to push him too far. “All good?” She asked.

Coriolanus grumbled passively. He rarely did anything passively. Coriolanus grabbed the hand over his chest and dragged it up to the side of his face to rest it there, but only after he had kissed [Y/N] palm.

“You’re affectionate this morning.”

“I just missed you. I’ve been busy.” He said dismissively, pressing his face further into her hand.

“Well, thanks, dear, but don’t you have work?” [Y/N] asked. She propped her chin up on his shoulder to stare at him inquisitively. This attitude was odd. First thing in the morning during Games seasons, she got a kiss on the forehead and then Coriolanus was gone for a run and a shower and out til nightfall, barring special occasions.

“Don’t you?”

“Not til early evening today. Normally, you’re up and out of here first thing on a Tuesday morning,” [Y/N] told him, as she rubbed from his cheek to the side of his throat gently. She dragged her hand up his face to rest on his worried forehead. “You sick, or something?”

“No.” Coriolanus replied weakly. He closed his eyes again. He couldn’t face the legendary blunder he had made at work. Coriolanus had allowed his aides to code the program for the arena wrong. The open water was nowhere near as deep as was needed for the aquatic muttations. It was causing all sorts of trouble. The Games would end too fast if he didn’t do something, yet the stress of thinking of reaching across the nightstand for his Communicuff was paralyzing.

“You sure? You don’t feel feverish,” She confirmed. [Y/N] sat up to press her lips to his forehead just in case her cold hands had misread his temperature. “I can call the doctor, though.”

“[Y/N], stop. I’m fine.” Coriolanus lied harshly. He tried to sit up, but his psychological anguish made him feel like vomiting.

“Call in. Stay here.” She suggested, watching his weak movement to sit up.

“I’m head Gamemaker, I don’t get to call in. I need to go for a run’n I’ll be fine.”

[Y/N] raised an eyebrow. “So you aren’t currently fine? Because you said—“

“I know what the fuck I said, okay?” Coriolanus barked. “Wanna recap anything else, or can I go?”

Sharply, [Y/N] scooted away from him to the other side of the bed. His moods were hardly predictable. She sighed. “Fine,” She said, averting her eyes to her hands like a scolded girl. “I was merely concerned that you—“

Coriolanus scoffed at her and shakily stood up from the bed. He quickly stepped into the closet and stepped joggers and a wifebeater. [Y/N] hoped he would grab a jacket as well; the weather was much too cold for mid summer. The Capitol itself got disproportionately cold often. She didn’t say anything out loud, though. “Get off my ass. Can’t you sit there and be grateful for once? With all that I do for you?Fucking hell.” Coriolanus said. He did not so much as look back at her as he stormed out of the bedroom.

[Y/N] could not understand what she had done wrong. The only things she had were provided through Coriolanus or simply the man himself. Once Coriolanus was presumed out of earshot, [Y/N] dropped her head into her hands and cried. Not tears of frustration or anger, but tears of self-pity that her one lifeline had yelled at her like that.

—

By the time Coriolanus returned from his run, it appeared his wife had gone out for the day. Strange since she usually capitalized on the extra sleep if she was not working downtown with Capitol News until evening shift. Since their reckless young adulthood of media stunts, Coriolanus had watched [Y/N] grow a stifling love for spectacle. With his support and their shared deranged name recognition, she had quickly risen from an editor, to a correspondent (brief. He had helped her but her way up and out of that position) to Associate Head of Programming for Capitol News. It helped to have his wife steer both their media narratives from the inside.

Except for when she was mad at him.

Coriolanus wiped the sweat off his brow in the shower as he thought. There was no doubt in his mind that [Y/N] was going to run some sort of primetime bulletin that made him look a fool during his Games coverage that night. It was bad enough that Lucky Flickerman was beginning to look like botox had gotten better of him, in addition to Coriolanus’ own fuck up with the muttations. Fact of the matter was that viewership was down and [Y/N] was going to make it worse. She was going to make his Bad Day worse and he knew it.

He could feel his heart rate racing as he stood under the shower’s cold stream. His equally cold blue eyes glanced across the bathroom at the clock. Six-fifty AM. Realistically, he need to be into the Gameroom by no later than eight-thirty, but it frustrated him to be in later than eight. In roughly an hour, how could he perform the maximum amount of damage control? Coriolanus’ head began to ache at the thought.

She had never run that harsh of a piece on him before, but it was a Bad Day, and no doubt she was angry with him for his attitude. [Y/N] was capable of a great many horrible things. Wouldn’t Coriolanus himself want to sting somebody back who he had known was pissy with him?

When he exited the shower, Coriolanus rushed to dress himself. [Y/N] said she wasn’t working until late. But where, then, had she gone? With all the thinking about his own feelings, he hadn’t considered that conundrum.

—

Coriolanus called her secretary, a boring woman with a name neither man nor wife could recall. According to that woman, [Y/N] had not gone early to work. He rang Tigris. Tigris said [Y/N] had not been over unless she was lying which Coriolanus wouldn’t put past her. The Plinths swear they had not encountered her.

Coriolanus stared down at his datapad of phone numbers. He refrained from calling all of their friends because he didn’t want to to exude the panic he was starting to feel for letting his wife run away. None of her belongings seemed out of place. Her suitcase was present in the back of their closet. Still, Coriolanus was terrified in the back of his mind that his wife had finally left him. A year and half was a dreadful lifespan for a marriage in his opinion. [Y/N] was not getting away that easily.

However, his watch told him it was eight and the Games weren’t going to run themselves.

Throughout the day, Coriolanus could not get his heart rate to settle. It made him feel ill. So ill, in fact, that he couldn’t keep down most of breakfast, or all of lunch. He skipped dinner all together. Who was [Y/N] to up and leave him like that?

The slight rational segment of his brain told him to walk it back, but the rest of his brain paid no mind. Coriolanus had nothing going for him other than gut instincts and his gut instincts now were implying something was fundamentally wrong.

Coriolanus’ decision-making was way off of its game at work. Coriolanus, for ratings, could not allow the Hunger Games to end on a Tuesday night. Somehow, he would have to create obstacles to last the four remaining tributes til Friday. He didn’t much like those odds. He was going to cave and hand in his resignation before the end of the day, he was certain.

Though, at eight in the evening, the primetime announcement or chiron that Coriolanus was a shitty husband or a murderer never cut through his broadcast to make his Day irreparably Bad. Nor did it at eight-thirty, or even nine. Coriolanus felt shaky. Maybe with relief for his reputation, maybe because he had nothing in his system.

If nothing had aired at Coriolanus’ expense on TV, had something happened to [Y/N] while he was on his run, or later? Was this some rebel attempt to bring the head Gamemaker to his knees? An attempt from a bitter rival to play games with him? Coriolanus frowned. Many things could have happened to his wife between six in the morning and nine at night. Coriolanus could barely stand up as it was. He clocked out and summoned his driver as quick as he could.

The second Coriolanus’ key entered the lock, he started shouting with the energy he had left. The door had yet to even close behind him. “[Y/N]! [Y/N], my love! Are you here?” Coriolanus pushed open every cabinet and closet on his way to the bedroom. Empty. He checked the closet - her suitcase remained. Coriolanus had called her office on his way home. She had not shown up for work. Unheard of.

Coriolanus ran through every room of the townhouse shouting [Y/N]’s name over and over until he felt hoarse. He could only imagine what the neighbors thought. Then he saw the attic door open.

The door remained open, but the stairs to the attic had snapped back up halfway and gotten jammed. “Coryo!” He heard [Y/N] yell faintly from upstairs.

“Darling, are you… in the attic?” Coriolanus shouted back cautiously under the open door. He watched as [Y/N]’s tearstained face peered around the edges of the attic door. It was really her. Not a Jabberjay, not a setup. Coriolanus exhaled for what felt like the first time all day. “Let me come up. I’ll come to you. Hold on!” Coriolanus’ finally left behind the Bad Day as he leapt into action. Protecting his wife was his job before Gamemaker, or any other obligation. Anyone in the Capitol would remember their vows, or her smashing cake into his face much to his dismay. Marriage was socially his most binding contract of all. Coriolanus did not take contractional obligations lightly.

Coriolanus had not realized that his wife was so delicate and helpless as to get stuck in the attic. She needed him more than he thought. His heart swelled with pride. Coriolanus grabbed a broomstick and hooked the hinge in the stairs. He yanked with all his strength until the ladder descended. Quickly, he dropped a large sack of rice from the kitchen counter over the bottom step in hopes it would weight the stairs down and he took off up them.

“[Y/N], are you alright?” Coriolanus asked, popping his head through the attic door

There on the unfinished attic floor sat [Y/N], bundled up in her thin teddy she had been wearing when Coriolanus left. She had only that and a too-short blanket Tigris had crocheted as a child. There was very little in the attic at all. Some of the Grandma’am’s belongings in clear glass bins and whatever surviving relics had carried on from their post-war childhoods.

It was clear [Y/N] had been crying. “I thought you would come back.” She sniffled.

Coriolanus urgently climbed the rest of the way up the ladder and sat carefully down beside [Y/N], wrapping her in his long arms possessively. “I thought something happened to you,” Also, that you tried to leave me. “You’re freezing… How long have you been up here?”

“Since you went on your run.”

“Shit… All that time?”

[Y/N] thought her tears had long since stopped, but seeing Coriolanus appear upset about ignoring her all day made her want his attention more. She wanted him to feel bad.

The tears started flowing the second his arms were looped around her waist. [Y/N] rested her head on Coriolanus’s shoulder heavily. “Coryo, you just left. I come up here all the time to think and I didn’t think it would—“

The blonde man’s heart softened at the sight of her. “Darling, Darling, shh, don’t cry,” Coriolanus combed his hand through sobbing [Y/N]’s hair. “You’re okay. I’m here now.”

Coriolanus felt like he was able to play the role of comforter and protector nobly tonight in a way he had recently felt inadequate at. With ease, he draped her legs across his lap and adjusted her arms around his neck so that her body was completely supported by his. She clung to him like a desperate child. The skin-to-skin contact was most appreciated by Coriolanus after the Day he’d had. Coriolanus excitedly drew a breathe from her neck, taking in her scent.

[Y/N] sobbed dramatically into Coriolanus’ dress shirt, but he pretended not to care like a good husband. “I’m sorry. I c-couldn’t—couldn’t get down. I th-thought you would come get me. I shout-ted for you,” she played up her tears. [Y/N] played up everything for attention; they both knew that. But the situation was mutually beneficial for people that liked attention so damn much. “You didn’t hear me.” You never hear me.

“Oh, Princess…” Coriolanus rubbed his hands up and down her arms, hoping it would warm her up. He pulled away from her regrettably and stripped off his blazer. He wrapped it around her shoulders and pulled it carefully in front of her. He knew [Y/N] would like the gesture. Now, Coriolanus did not say I’m sorry. It was not his fault that [Y/N] had fled to the attic. He did instead try to make good from now forward. “I was so worried, I started to think something happened to you. I wanted to give you space, but then I didn’t hear from you all day. I’m relieved to know the only monster that got you was the attic,” Coriolanus leaned into her neck to kiss her in his favorite place. “You sat up here in all this junk and dust today; how are you still so stunning?”

[Y/N] laughed through a wet sniffle as Coriolanus searingly kissed her neck. “I didn’t know I’d worried you this much.” She muttered.

“I didn’t know I’d upset you this much,” Coriolanus agreed. That was as close to I’m sorry as she was going to get. “What did you do up here all day?”

“W-Went through some boxes. Found your old uniform.” [Y/N] smiled back.

“My Peacekeeper uniform?” Coriolanus asked in surprise. He hoped that she had not found anything else, if there was anything more scathing up in the attic.

“Mhm,” she affirmed. [Y/N] stood shakily from the floor, snot dripping from her nose. Snot, which she knew better than to wipe on the sleeve of his blazer. She followed where the beams were in the floor nimbly so she didn’t put her foot through the ceiling below her. [Y/N] collected a decently sized metal crate with a handle on it. PRIVATE SNOW, CORIOLANUS B. was stamped on top of the dusty, dented metal. She carried it back to Coriolanus and sat down with it in front of him.

“I didn’t go through everything in here, that felt intrusive, but I did pull this out,” they both knew that was a lie and that she had absolutely gone through every item, but Coriolanus let her keep going without cutting in. [Y/N] decided she would still let him explain the history behind every item he wanted to share anyway.

When she shook the long gray-blue jacket out of the box, something happened that hadn’t happened last time she took the jacket out. “Coriolanus, what’s this?” [Y/N] asked, plucking a bulky chain off the floor that had tumbled from the coat’s breast pocket.

“Ah, I’d forgotten where those went. Dog tags from my time in Twelve.” Coriolanus said.

“I still have my father’s. You were like a real soldier then, huh?”

“Peacekeeper.” Coriolanus corrected.

“Yes, Peacekeeper.” [Y/N] agreed quietly.

[Y/N] held the two identical pendants in her hands.

SNOW, CORIOLANUS

CITADEL, CAPITOL

4147769218S 12

O NEG

CREMATE

His entire identity all on two pieces of nickel. While she squinted at the embossed metal, Coriolanus leaned forward across the box that had once held his entire world and grabbed the chain she was holding as well as her hands. [Y/N]’s red weepy eyes met his crystal clear blue ones. “Would you like them?”

“You don’t want to keep them?”

“Certainly not. My name right there on your chest? That’s preferable to them sitting in a dusty box forever. People will know who you belong to if you wander off like this again. ‘Know you’re not, hm, like… up for finders-keepers.” Coriolanus shifted them out of [Y/N]’s hands and dropped the chain around her neck as if it were the finest gold necklace he had ever purchased her.

Coriolanus put that box up in the attic because he had not wanted to think about it ever again. Above all, though, Coriolanus Snow was an opportunistic man and he put those dog tags on [Y/N] just like he had Lucy Gray because he knew this move was flattering. If it worked once, it would work again. Sickeningly, he pulled out the same words he had used before too: “There. All mine.”

“All yours.” [Y/N] replied.

TAGLIST:

@badwicht @stelleduarte @cinnamongirl127 @prettyppetty @soulessien @bejeweledreverie @jjstyles @arminsarlerts @chmpgneprblem @co1dmountains @miscellaneousmoonchild @lille999 @pumkinnxsmut @taykorsyogurt @ndycrls @watermelonharry @nananarwhal @ohantonia @catlover420sstuff @justaproudslytherpuff @notarabellasstuff @scarytiger111 @zucchinimalfoy @secretsicanthideanymore @h-l-vlovesvintage @dannydevsbbg @clintsupremacy @lookclosernow @10ava01 @or-was-it-just-a-dream @lucielsstuff @fairyydvst

as usual, apologies if your tag didn’t work. tumblr’s tough like that. also so sorry if i forgot anyone! remind me if i did!

[girlgenius1111]

it was war it wasn't fair

the great war chapter 2 :)

R's teammates debate the potential causes of her breakup. Ona comes to her defense. R realizes her feelings might not be as easy to avoid as she hoped.

ps. not one bed trope, but... teammates-sharing-a-hotel-room-at-an-away-game-and-one-has-a-nightmare-kind-of trope.

brief descriptions of a panic attack.

-----

You were sure that if you could just sleep you'd be fine. You'd never really had problems sleeping before, but in the days since your breakup with Alessia, you'd been struggling. Your brain wouldn't turn off; you went back over every little moment in your relationship, over analyzing, trying to figure out where it went wrong. Where you went wrong.

You honestly wished that was the only thing keeping you up. It wasn't. You couldn't get Ona out of your head. The kindness she'd been showing you, how perceptive she was of your feelings. It was overwhelmingly confusing, to be heartbroken by someone, and completely fixated on someone else at the same time.

Most of the time, you were glad to have such a close team. Everyone looked out for each other, and you knew they'd always have your back. Unfortunately, they seemed to think that having your back in this situation meant hovering over you every second of the day. It didn't help that you wouldn't tell them why you and Alessia had ended things.

Although you knew your teammates were keeping an extra close eye on you, you hadn't realized that some of them had begun to have suspicions about what had gone down. You'd come to a halt outside the locker room, after hearing your name. You'd forgotten your keys, and were heading back inside when you heard Keira's voice floating through the doorway.

"Leah said Alessia's really torn up about it, but she won't tell anyone what happened either."

"I knew they weren't doing well, but both of them seem too upset for it to be a mutual thing," Lucy responded.

"Y/n doesn't look like she's slept in a week," Alexia chimed in. Perfect. This was a group conversation, apparently.

"Maybe one of them cheated. I don't remember seeing y/n leave by herself when we went out last week," Keira mentioned offhandedly.

You knew Keira didn't mean anything by it; anyone looking at your relationship from the outside would guess that between the 2 of you, you'd surely be more likely to cheat than Less. You'd been significantly more of a playgirl before Alessia, and your friends had always joked they'd missed the version of you that went home with a different girl every weekend.

Still, the implication that you'd done what had, in fact, been done to you, really fucking hurt. You were more than prepared to go in there and start yelling, god knows you've been needing someone to shout at, but someone beat you to it.

"If she wanted you guys to know what happened she would have said," Ona's voice rang out through the locker room, unmistakably filled with anger. "You're supposed to be her friends, she's clearly having a tough time, and now you're accusing her of cheating? Behind her back? "

"Ona, I didn't mean anything by it," Keira began, clearly startled by the angry tone with which the brunette spoke.

"Y/n didn't cheat, she'd never do that," Ona replied fiercely. "You're lucky she didn't hear you suggest that, because I'm not sure any of you would have been able to put her back together."

With that, Ona stormed out of the room, turning the corner and coming to a sudden stop at the sight of you. You'd been too baffled by her words to move, and now it was too late.

"Y/n,"

"Thank you, Ona. Really," you said, blinking back tears. Behind Ona, Lucy, Keira, and Alexia walked out of the room, clearly on their way to go after the defender and calm her down. They all looked comically shocked at the sight of you, but you had no interest in talking to them. You spun on your heel, walking briskly out of the building and to your car, ignoring the calls of your name behind you. Ignoring, too, the tears that began to cloud your vision.

-----

Despite arriving home several hours ago, you lay in the same spot on the couch that you'd occupied since walking through the door. Your brain was working a mile a minute, going back and forth between fixating on Ona's passionate defense of you, and being angry at your teammates for speaking about you behind your back. You'd gotten texts from them, you knew, a particularly long apology from Keira, but you'd yet to open them. Ona had texted you too, and you hadn't read that either, for a very different reason.

You weren't mad at Keira for thinking you'd cheated, not really. You just hated that they were trying to figure out what happened; you'd made it clear you didn't want to talk about it, and here they were, dragging it back up over and over again. Logically, you knew it was because you weren't handling it well, and they could tell. Maybe you didn't like them worrying about you, either.

You were about to grab your phone and absolve your teammates of guilt, when there was a knock on your door. You walked to the door, looking through the peephole, and sighing. Of course.

"Hola, Alexia," you said, swinging the door open. Captain Alexia wasn't one to take team conflict lightly.

"Can I come in?" she asked, after returning your greeting. In response, you stepped to the side, allowing her into your apartment. She followed you in, sitting next to you on the couch. She had a familiar glint in her eyes, one that you knew meant she was determined to do something. What, you weren't exactly sure.

"Y/n, I'm really sorry we were talking about you when you weren't there. We're really worried about you, but there's no excuse. We should have brought our concerns to you," Alexia tells you sincerely.

"I know you're worried," you sigh. "And I probably wouldn't have been very receptive to you asking me about how I was doing."

"And what Keira said-"

"I get it. Of the two of us, I seem like the one who would sleep with someone else. I would have thought the same thing too."

"Does that mean Alessia cheated?" Alexia inquired, after a moment of silence. You looked at her, stunned, not quite sure how she came to that conclusion. In response to your expression, she explained.

"You're both apparently really upset, so it's clearly not mutual like you said. I know you didn't cheat. Sleeping around might have been your thing before Alessia, but it's not now, and it would be unfair to assume you hadn't changed. And, the way you phrased that last part. You "would have" thought the same thing too. That makes it sound like you no longer think that way."

You processed this for a minute, reminded of how smart Alexia was. You wanted to be annoyed, because if Alexia knew, it wouldn't be long before the whole team knew. Alexia had a strict policy of sharing everything with her co captains, who, famously, could not keep their mouths shut. You were really just relieved, though, like a weight had been lifted off your shoulders, now that you didn't have to try so hard to pretend to be okay.

"Yeah. She slept with some girl in a bar."

"I'm sorry, y/n."

"It's fine. We were probably going to break up anyway, and she's having a hard time. I don't even know why I'm upset."

Alexia's face changed at that, looking somewhat stern.

"It's not fine. She still betrayed your trust, even if you were going to break up. Even if she is struggling. That's not an excuse, y/n, and you're allowed to be upset that a relationship you spent a lot of time in ended so horrifically."

You shrugged in response and avoided her eyes, chewing on the inside of your cheek. Her hand came to rest on your shoulder before she spoke again.

"It's okay to be upset, y/n, you don't need to pretend you're not having a hard time with this. None of us will think any less of you." Alexia's tone was gentle, and at her reassurance, you turned to look at her, eyes big and wet with tears.

"Oh, nena," she said, pulling you in for a hug. You went willingly, allowing yourself to be comforted for the first time since the breakup. You cried softly into Alexia's shoulder, your captain's arms wrapped tightly around you. You felt safe here, in this little bubble with the older woman, safe enough to allow yourself to feel the hurt that you'd been pushing down for days.

-----

You'd assumed that after speaking with Alexia, you would feel better, and start sleeping better. You did feel better; it seemed that leaning on your friends during a tough time did, in fact, make getting through it easier. But you weren't sleeping better. If anything, it was getting worse. You'd wake up on the verge of having a panic attack, so filled with anxiety you could barely breathe. You didn't recall any nightmares that prompted this, and it didn't take long for you to calm down, but it made sleeping an ordeal.

The team's next game was an away game in Tenerife. You all had flown out the afternoon before the game, and tried to distract yourself from your exhaustion by goofing around with your teammates. Keira and Lucy had been relieved when you easily accepted their apologies.

Things with Ona were... more complicated. She'd seemed almost embarrassed after her outburst in the locker room, and had taken to avoiding you. Not completely, because you still caught her staring at you during practice, but enough that you found yourself inexplicably missing her presence. Those that had been on the receiving end of the defender's scolding were evidently intrigued by her behavior.

So, when you got your room assignments for the trip and saw Ona's name next to yours on the list, you couldn't help but roll your eyes at the clear attempt from Alexia to get you back on non-awkward terms.

You all headed to dinner first, and you couldn't help but watch as Ona barely touched her food, seemingly caught up in her own thoughts. You weren't quite sure if she was preoccupied with you, or something else, but you were determined to find out. She was your friend, after all, and despite your increasingly confusing feelings for her, you wanted to be there for her.

Ona beat you to your room after dinner, and you walked in to find her sitting nervously on the bed nearest to the door, fingers picking at her nails. She began speaking almost the minute the door had shut behind you.

"I just wanted to apologize, y/n, if I overstepped. It wasn't my place to say anything, and-" you cut her off.

"Oni, it's really okay. You don't need to apologize for sticking up for me. What you said was... it was really nice." You were blushing. Why were you blushing?

"Okay, good," Ona replied, smiling in relief. She turned, presumably to finish getting ready for bed.

"Are you doing okay? You've seemed stressed recently, not like yourself," you mention, heading to your luggage to act like your question was more casual than it really was. Out of the corner of your eye, you saw Ona freeze.

"Yeah, I'm okay. Just been a long week." she said. For some reason, you didn't believe her. Something in her voice told you that she was lying, but you didn't want to push.

"Well, if you want to talk," you say, smiling at her reflexively. It was almost unconscious, the way your lips lifted into a grin when you saw her face, freckles scrunching adorably as she returned your smile.

You turned back to your bag, internally shaking your head at yourself. You needed to get it together. You weren't so naive to not understand what was going on, but getting into a relationship with a teammate, so soon after the disastrous end to your previous one, seemed like the world's biggest mistake.

-----

Even though you'd done everything you could think to relax yourself before falling asleep, you still startled slightly only a few hours later, stuck in the land between wakefulness and slumber, your body thrumming with anxiety. It was a bad one, that was really your first conscious thought. You were already short of breathe, but still somehow drowsy, and you fought to drag your eyes open, and go through the familiar routine of grounding yourself.

You didn't realize you were breathing loudly, nor did you hear Ona the first time she said your name. It was only after the first time, when she spoke louder, that you turned your head to look at her in the other bed.

"Y/n? What's wrong?" She asked. You simply shook your head in response, not quite sure you could explain it. You wanted her to go back to sleep, let you pull yourself together on your own like you always did, but you should have known Ona wouldn't do that.

Ona rose from her own bed, approaching the side of yours. You'd sat up, resting your head in your hands as your chest rose and fell erratically.

"Y/n," Ona called softly, hovering nervously next to the bed, like she didn't know what to do.

"I'm ok-okay," you gasped out, admittedly not very convincingly.

"You don't seem okay," she said, doubt clear in her tone. "Do you want me to get someone? Lucy? Ale?" She turned as if to leave.

Suddenly, you were struck with fear at the idea of her leaving. You hadn't realized how much you'd been relying on her presence to calm yourself down until she mentioned leaving. You breathing sped up again, and you reached out frantically, grabbing a fist full of her shirt. She turned back to you, seemingly surprised at your movements. her face was filled with a kindness that was so distinctly Ona, you felt yourself calming down again at the mere sight of it.

"Hey, I won't go, it's okay," she reassured you, taking a careful seat on the edge of your bed. She gripped your hand in hers, tugging it off of her shirt, and you squeezed it gratefully. She sat next to you, allowing you to regulate your breathing, not saying anything, but apparently realizing you just needed to feel her next to you. When you were calm, a few minutes later, you turned to her, prepared both to thank her, and apologize profusely, but she asked a question before you could open your mouth.

"Is this why you haven't been sleeping?" she questioned. Her eyes were peering into yours, and you wished the lights were on, so you could see the warm honey brown staring back at you.

"Yeah. I don't really know what's going on, I just wake up really anxious," you admit, again reminded of Ona's miraculous power to get you to tell her the truth. Ona contemplated for a minute, before she motioned for you to scoot over. You did, although confused, and watched as she slid into the bed next to you. Ona's had her poker face as she laid down, resting her head on your pillow, and motioning you to nestle in next to her.

You were planning to object, really. Instead of opening your mouth, though, your body moved almost without your permission, and you were soon laying next to Ona, head tucked comfortably into her chest. It was such a natural thing, laying against her, like something you'd done a thousand times. You weren't tense, or uncomfortable. You just felt sleepy, suddenly, and enjoyed the feel of the spaniard's soft t-shirt on your cheek, not even questioning it when her arms wrapped around you, holding you securely against her.

Ona didn't say anything, and she didn't need to. You were already drifting off, remarkably calm for someone snuggling one of their friends, who they maybe, possibly, were developing a crush on. You didn't feel butterfly's like you would have expected. Ona never made you feel nervous. Flustered, sure. But as you drifted off into the best sleep you'd had in weeks, you were truly struck with how she comforted you easily, and how she got you to accept that comfort with no argument.

When you woke the next morning, still cuddled close to Ona, you marveled at the fact that you'd slept through the rest of the night. You watched her face as she slept next to you, the morning sunlight hitting her freckles perfectly. You wondered if you could count them all.

You also wondered how much longer you could pretend you weren't falling for the girl next to you.

-----

[outsideratheart]

A/N: I know it’s been a while since I posted the first snippet of this fic but I’ve been struggling with writer’s block which is think is just about gone.

To apologise here is another little part of it.

“Alexia, that is enough!” Lucy slams her fist on the locker before turning to her captain “She has come to this team and done nothing but good. She plays well for us and gives it her all on the pitch. Off it she makes the effort and yes sometimes she says no to things but isn’t that her right? You stand there as our captain but look at you, you’re nothing but a bully. I am ashamed to say i’m your team mate right now. That girl has been through hell these past couple of years and since coming here all you keep doing is reminding her of what has happened. You are obsessed with her. Look around, no one else is digging for information. No one is making her uncomfortable on a daily basis”

“She is lying to us. She won’t tell us where she was for over a year. She is hiding something and that isn’t fair on us” Alexia tried to defend her actions.

“Isn’t fair? Are you really that self centred? You have no right to talk about what is and is not fair. I don’t care if you are my captain, I won’t stand by you while you treat my best friend like she has done something wrong. You, Alexia, are a —“

“Lucy” The whole locker room turns upon hearing your voice “I have given up on Alexia, it’s time you do too”

“No! I won’t let her talk about you that way. You don’t deserve this”

“No I don’t but —“

“Y/N” Lucy begs you to let her fight you case.

“Walk away Lucy” 

A stare down takes place between you and Lucy. A few seconds later the defender grabs her stuff and leaves the room. To everyone else you are calm and collected but Keira recognises the look in your eye, you are furious.

“I want everyone to listen to me and listen good. My past is none of your business. To those who have let the obsession go, thank you. To those that haven’t” you look Alexia dead in the eye “I want nothing to do with you. I will remain civil on the pitch. Other than that I ask you to stay away from me. That’s if you can respect my wishes. I know it has been hard so far”

You quietly gather your things and try to ignore the multiple sets of eyes on you. With each second you can feel your chest getting tighter and you know it is only a matter second before you will no longer be able to control your breathing. You just needed to get out of there, away from prying eyes.

The hallway is the furthest you got. You mind was filled of flashbacks, the moments that you tried so hard to bury. The past was not a pretty place, not the last year, but you know that it was only a matter of time before it came crashing down on you. 

“Y/N, are you ok?” Mapi and Ingrid are by your side, clearly the couple had left just after you.

“Natalia, she, she” 

Ingrid and Mapi shared a look, who was Natalia? They had never heard you mention a Natalia before. Both of them didn’t know what to do. Whilst you had become friends with the pair, they didn’t know you well enough to cope with this moment. 

Luckily for them Keira appears out of nowhere. The English woman clearly equipped with what to do.

“Get Lucy, now!” She whisper shouted and Ingrid goes running hoping to catch the defender before she leaves.

“Keira—Natalia”

“I know, I know. We can talk about her later if you want. Right now, I need to focus on me. Can you do that?” 

You nod your head as tears flow down your cheeks. 

“What happened?” Lucy rushes over to you.

“We found her on the floor. She kept talking about Natalia” 

“She told you?” Lucy asks shocked. She knew you wasn’t ready to tell them team but in a state of panic you might be let it slip.

“No. She only said her name” Mapi says. She couldn’t take her eyes off you. This wasn’t a panic attack, no she had seen one of those before. This was something much more intense.

A few minutes pass and Keira manages to keep your breathing under control but you’re still not ready to move. Lucy, Mapi and Ingrid stay close making sure to tell anyone who passes to keep moving.

“What is going on?” Alexia asks with concern, a concern that doesn’t reach Lucy in fact her asking is the worst thing she could have done.

“Get away from her” Lucy is up on her feet and pushing Alexia backwards. She would has fallen to the fall if not for the wall behind her “This is all your fault. You see this, you see her, this is what you have done to her”

“Lucy” you reach up and take her hand. The defender used her strength to pull you up. 

You, Lucy, Keira, Mapi and Ingrid walk towards the exit of the stadium.

“Y/N” Alexia’s voice is soft and it is only now that she realises she might have taken things too far.

You turn around to face the Catalonian. For the first time since arriving you make no effort to hide the pain you have felt on a daily basis.

“I want nothing to do with you Alexia”

[am-i-the-asshole-official]

AITA for being too close to my childhood best friend?

(This is so long I'm so sorry, there's just a fair bit of info.)

Me (22F) and Jake (23F) grew up together. Our mothers were friends for years and got pregnant around the same time, and we've basically been side by side our whole lives. We consider each other platonic soulmates and siblings.

Jake has had a girlfriend (Lucy, 23F) for the last seven months. I really like Lucy, she's so funny, so interesting, and she clearly makes Jake happy. There's been one or two awkward moments between us, but its never been anything that lingered or caused problems.

Now I know how people generally act/think about "the girl best friend" so when Jake said he was thinking of asking Lucy out, I made sure to back off a bit. Instead of having a brate (bro date, just hanging out doing something like bowling, Maccas, movie theatre, ect) once a week I said we should have one once a month, I don't call him just to hang on the phone together anymore, I make sure to not message at all on the days I know they have dates planned, ect.

I've really, really done my best to not get in the way, to make sure Lucy knows he really is just my brother, and I've tried to give them both space as someone who is not involved in their relationship.

I thought I was doing really well because its never really come up until this week. It was Jake and I's brate day and we decided to go to the mall so I could shop for clothes and he could get the slushies he likes there. Lucy knew where we'd be, and "happened" to show up, which was fine. Like I said, I like hanging out with her, and I actually thought it was cool I could get another girl's opinion on my outfit.

Jake decided to try on some clothes too while he was there and it turned into something of a mini fashion show of both of us showing off our possible choices. Lucy seemed to alternate between really having fun and going quiet. She refused to try on any herself but grinning and laughing while Jake and I were, and while we were taking turns playfully hyping each other up.

Jake tried on a pair of jeans and I was teasing him and said "damn dude, look at all that ass" trying to make him embarrassed. This was when Lucy muttered something I didn't quite hear, and politely suggested I should leave. Both Jake and I were really confused and taken aback and Lucy kind of shrugged and said things like this were things couples should do, and it was really inappropriate of me to make a sexual comment about her boyfriend while she was right there.

I didn't want to make a scene so I said I'd go, but Jake argued back and said it was clearly just joking around and he's sick of her getting upset at literally anything I do, or he does with me, which was surprising because it was the first I heard that she's had actual complaints.

We all wound up sitting down in the food court to talk and Lucy basically said that she's growing more and more uncomfortable with how close Jake and I are as her and Jake get closer, even though Jake and I's interactions have drastically dropped since they started dating. She thinks its weird we have friendship bracelets (our families went on a double vacation when we were 14 and me and Jake bought those cheap seaside shell bracelets in matching colors, that's literally it) and we hang out alone once a month (even though she's been invited multiple times and always refuses) and she thinks its even weirder than our families are so close and call us siblings.

I won't lie, it killed me inside, but I offered to back off entirely and only be around Jake in group settings, if at all, but Jake cut in and said that wasn't a compromise he was willing to make, and asked Lucy to talk more in private. They left together and trying to be respectful, I haven't reached out at all to either of them while they talk it through.

Jake's mom came over today to hang out with mine, and wound up telling me the last few days Jake has been stressed out, miserable, and isn't sure about staying with Lucy. She said it was a shame because Lucy seemed so nice, but she also said she was proud of him because I was family and Lucy's insecurity wasn't reasonable.

It made me feel sad and like I was hurting Jake by interfering with his relationship again, so I asked some of my online friends from a game I play and the opinion was kind of split. They all agreed I've never spoken about Jake in a way that hinted I liked him, but also that as girls, they'd feel weird anyway about knowing their boyfriend had this close bond with another girl, and they'd be wondering what the future would look like and if our friendship would get in the way of choices like moving, starting a family.

Now I feel completely lost and honestly a little scared of both losing Jake and apparently ruining his life by being so close to him. None of the rest of our IRL friend group has ever brought anything up about it, and I don't know if this is Lucy being jealous or if this is my fault.

What are these acronyms?

[ninadove]

Nina reads Dracula 🦇

September 29th

Long one today, but Quincey’s here, so everything is right in the world. ❤️

First of, the boys are going grave-robbing as a gang! 🎉

"The more we talked, the more puzzled we got, till now I can say for myself that I'm about up a tree as to any meaning about anything."

"Me too," said Quincey Morris laconically.

"Oh," said the Professor, "then you are nearer the beginning, both of you, than friend John here, who has to go a long way back before he can even get so far as to begin."

GDHSKSKSKS THE BURN. Completely gratuitous too, John hasn’t even spoken yet.

Therefore may I ask that you promise me in the dark, so that afterwards, though you may be angry with me for a time—I must not disguise from myself the possibility that such may be—you shall not blame yourselves for anything."

🥺

"That's frank anyhow," broke in Quincey. "I'll answer for the Professor. I don't quite see his drift, but I swear he's honest; and that's good enough for me."

[Sigh] ❤️

"Would it not be well to hear what I have to say?" said Van Helsing. "And then you will at least know the limit of my purpose. Shall I go on?"

"That's fair enough," broke in Morris.

Spoken like a man who immediately thought VAMPIRES after eavesdropping for two minutes and a half ❤️

"There are mysteries which men can only guess at, which age by age they may solve only in part. Believe me, we are now on the verge of one. But I have not done. May I cut off the head of dead Miss Lucy?"

I love the way he asks like a kitten eyeing your food. I can has head of dead (<- important precision) Miss Lucy? 🥺

His voice broke a little, and he went on with a voice full of pity:—

"But, I beseech you, do not go forth in anger with me. In a long life of acts which were often not pleasant to do, and which sometimes did wring my heart, I have never had so heavy a task as now."

Day I-don’t-know-how-many of asking for Van Helsing’s backstory

"For her—I am ashamed to say so much, but I say it in kindness—I gave what you gave; the blood of my veins; I gave it, I, who was not, like you, her lover, but only her physician and her friend. I gave to her my nights and days—before death, after death; and if my death can do her good even now, when she is the dead Un-Dead, she shall have it freely."

Ok, let’s pause here for a second. I understand why so many authors directors artists etc. have developed an erotic fascination for vampirism. I see the themes, you see the themes, we nod in understanding.

But I have to wonder why the blood transfusions were not co-opted in the same way?

Like!!! We keep going back to them!!! Van Helsing in particular is so uncomfortable about the implications of sharing his blood with this young girl who was another man’s fiancée! Arthur compares it to an actual wedding ceremony!! John and Quincey let their own blood be drawn because they also loved her!!! WHY ARE BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS NOT ROMANTICISED IN THE WAY VAMPIRISM IS.

Can you imagine the creative possibilities? The poetry of giving such a fundamental part of yourself without expecting anything in return? And pushed to its extreme — the devotion that has you wasting yourself away when there is no hope of saving your lover? COME ON don’t tell me it’s not fascinating!!!

"Come to me, Arthur. Leave these others and come to me. My arms are hungry for you. Come, and we can rest together. Come, my husband, come!"

Oh oh.

"But of the most blessed of all, when this now Un-Dead be made to rest as true dead, then the soul of the poor lady whom we love shall again be free. Instead of working wickedness by night and growing more debased in the assimilating of it by day, she shall take her place with the other Angels. So that, my friend, it will be a blessed hand for her that shall strike the blow that sets her free. To this I am willing; but is there none amongst us who has a better right? Will it be no joy to think of hereafter in the silence of the night when sleep is not: 'It was my hand that sent her to the stars; it was the hand of him that loved her best; the hand that of all she would herself have chosen, had it been to her to choose?' Tell me if there be such a one amongst us?"

Oooooooof

There, in the coffin lay no longer the foul Thing that we had so dreaded and grown to hate that the work of her destruction was yielded as a privilege to the one best entitled to it, but Lucy as we had seen her in her life, with her face of unequalled sweetness and purity. True that there were there, as we had seen them in life, the traces of care and pain and waste; but these were all dear to us, for they marked her truth to what we knew. […]

"And now, my child, you may kiss her. Kiss her dead lips if you will, as she would have you to, if for her to choose. For she is not a grinning devil now—not any more a foul Thing for all eternity. No longer she is the devil's Un-Dead. She is God's true dead, whose soul is with Him!"

🥺🥺🥺

Then we cut off the head and filled the mouth with garlic.

Whiplash

And now onto Mina being cute:

"I was only entering my diary."

"Your diary?" I asked him in surprise.

"Yes," he answered. "I keep it in this." As he spoke he laid his hand on the phonograph. I felt quite excited over it, and blurted out:—

"Why, this beats even shorthand! May I hear it say something?"

Baby girl… Baby… ❤️

"You helped to attend dear Lucy at the end. Let me hear how she died; for all that I know of her, I shall be very grateful. She was very, very dear to me."

MINAAA 😭😭😭😭

"But do you know that, although I have kept the diary for months past, it never once struck me how I was going to find any particular part of it in case I wanted to look it up?" By this time my mind was made up that the diary of a doctor who attended Lucy might have something to add to the sum of our knowledge of that terrible Being, and I said boldly:—

"Then, Dr. Seward, you had better let me copy it out for you on my typewriter."

I love her your honour ❤️

"You do not know me," I said. "When you have read those papers—my own diary and my husband's also, which I have typed—you will know me better. I have not faltered in giving every thought of my own heart in this cause; but, of course, you do not know me—yet; and I must not expect you to trust me so far."

OH SHE SPEAKS LIKE VAN HELSING ERGO LIKE DRACULA

"I know that Lucy told you of me; she told me of you too."

🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺

And back to Seward:

I was so absorbed in that wonderful diary of Jonathan Harker and that other of his wife that I let the time run on without thinking.

“Wonderful” certainly is one way to describe it, yes.

"That is a wonderful machine, but it is cruelly true. It told me, in its very tones, the anguish of your heart. It was like a soul crying out to Almighty God. No one must hear them spoken ever again! See, I have tried to be useful. I have copied out the words on my typewriter, and none other need now hear your heart beat, as I did."

Mina continues to be the real MVP

And back to Mina:

Fortunately I am not of a fainting disposition.

Oh trust me, I know.

The world seems full of good men—even if there are monsters in it.

THANK YOU YES THAT IS IN FACT THE POINT

[Still traumatised by the 1992 movie]

I remember how much "The Dailygraph" and "The Whitby Gazette," of which I had made cuttings, helped us to understand the terrible events at Whitby when Count Dracula landed, so I shall look through the evening papers since then, and perhaps I shall get some new light.

WHAT A WOMAN.

< Prev 🦇 Next >

[kepnerandavery]

My favourite quotes from On the Way to the Wedding..

1. “It was only a matter of time before he, too, found the woman of his dreams and settled down to be fruitful, multiply, and take on such baffling hobbies as papier-mâché and the collection of nutmeg graters.”

Nutmeg Graters?? I can’t 😂

2. “Where is the scintillating Lord Bridgerton?” he asked. “Oh, somewhere. I don’t know. We’ll find each other at the end of the day, that is all that matters.”

This book is every Kanthony stan’s dream follow-up to TVWLM 😭 I love that we got little glimpses into their marriage to see how they've evolved as a couple and people.

3. “She was without artifice, the sort of girl a man could trust. Rather like his sisters, he supposed, with a keen wit and a sharp sense of humor. Lucy Abernathy would never inspire poetry, but she would make a very fine friend.”

Bahahaha. Did he just friendzone her in his head? 😂

4. “It was nothing. She was nothing. No, that was not fair. She was something. Quite a bit, actually. But not for him.”

Ohhh Gregory! My poor, sweet, innocent, naive Gregory 🤣

5. “Lord Fennsworth took one look at the duo (more at one than the other, and suffice it to say that blood was not thicker than unrequited love), and he murmured, “Friday it is.”

Props to Gregory for being perceptive about someone’s feelings, if not his own 😂

6. “At least she seemed rather more like herself. The world seemed a bit steadier with Lucy Abernathy yipping along like a terrier. He’d felt almost off-balance when she’d been staring morosely at the trees.”

Signals!! He’s missing all of the darn signals. How?? 🙆‍♀️

7. “Auctioning your friend off to the highest bidder. You’ll be well-practiced by the time you have a daughter.” She jumped to her feet, her eyes flashing with anger and indignation. “That is a terrible thing to say. My most important consideration has always been Hermione’s happiness. And if she can be made happy by an earl . . . who happens to be my brother . . .” Oh, brilliant. Now she was going to try to match Hermione with Fennsworth. Well done, Gregory. Well done, indeed.”

Hahaha, Lucy is too nice for her own good. And Gregory just keeps making things worse for himself at every given opportunity 😂

8. “Didn’t you wish for time for yourself?” she asked, softly . . . so softly it was almost a whisper. Slowly, he shook his head. “I did,” he said, sounding as if the words were coming to him at that very moment, as if the thought itself was new and not quite what he had expected. “I did,” he said again, “but now I don’t.”

My heart 🥺 💕

9. “She later told Gregory that he had still not forgiven her for costuming him as Cupid at the Billington fancy dress ball the previous year.”

I will so pissed if I don't get to see Anthony dressed up as Cupid on the show. I simply must see it 🤣

10. “Surely she would not come over an hour late. If nothing else, Lady Lucinda would not have tolerated it. She was clearly a punctual sort. In a good way.As opposed to an insufferable, nagging way. He smiled to himself. She wasn’t like that.”

Omg, someone needs to hit him in the head!!! How is he missing this? 😫

11. “What happened to you? Are you all right? Did someone—” His grip loosened slightly as he looked frantically around. “Who did this?” he demanded. “Who made you—”

You’re a little too concerned about her safety, aren’t you, Gregory?? 😂

12. “And I didn’t have my mask, which made me stick out a bit.” “Like a mushroom?” “Like a—?” He looked at her dress and nodded at the color. “A blue mushroom.”

Trust him to be even cuter when he's drunk 🥺

13. “I will walk you to the stairs, then.” Lucy knew better than to argue. He would not relent. His voice was quiet, but it had an edge she wasn’t quite certain she’d heard there before. “And I will remain there until you reach your room.” “That’s not necessary.” He ignored her. “Knock three times when you do so.” “I’m not going to—” “If I don’t hear your knock, I will come upstairs and personally assure myself of your welfare.”

Omg. He's sooo cute 🥰

14. “I’m not, he thought, and he realized that it was true. He had a sudden flash of his life married to Hermione Watson, and he was.. Bored. Good God, how was it he was only just now realizing it? He and Miss Watson were not suited at all, and in truth, he had made a narrow escape.”

"A narrow escape" haha 🤣 🤣 At least he realized it rather quickly. Granted, his brothers have set the bar quite low when it comes to life-altering realizations lol

15. “And Anthony was worse. He didn’t even have to say anything. His mere presence was usually enough to make Gregory feel that he was somehow not living up to the family name. It was difficult to make one’s way in the world with the mighty Lord Bridgerton constantly looking over one’s shoulder. As far as Gregory could determine, his eldest brother had never made a mistake in his life.”

Oh, if only he knew.. Looks like Anthony hid his devilry from the younger siblings quite well. Props to Benedict and Colin for covering for him 😂

16. “The way she was looking at him, her hand on his arm. She’d been clutching him, and for a moment it had almost felt like she needed him. He could be her rock, her center. He had never been anyone’s center.”

Awwww 🥺

17. “She turned. She turned, and she saw him. Her eyes widened, and her lips parted, and it hit him squarely in the chest—It was good to see her.”

I would have found this so romantic if I wasn't so mad at him at this point 🥲

18. “He simply liked Lucy. Considered her a friend. And he wished for her to have a bit of fun. It was admirable, really.

Haha, sure Jan 🙄 It totally doesn't seem like you're in love with her. No one goes so out of their way to help friends. He would've never gone to Violet if she wasn't so special to him 🥺

19. “Anthony is exceedingly generous,” Gregory said quietly. “Yes, he is, isn’t he?” Violet said, smiling. “With his money and his time. He is quite like your father in this way.” She looked at him with wistful eyes. “I am so sorry you never knew him.” “Anthony was a good father to me.” Gregory said it because he knew it would bring her joy, but he also said it because it was true.”

My heart.. Anthony was so worried about living up to their father, and yet he has managed to fulfill all of his duties to perfection. Edmund would be so proud of him 😭

20. “I know what it means to work for something,” he said in a quiet voice.”

He's got so hurt by her implication.. And when Gregory is hurt, I'm hurt. It's a simple law now 😫

21. “I have found that most men do not notice anything that is not clearly spelled out, anyway.” “Even your sons.” “Especially my sons.”

Haha It's a universal truth 😂

22. “And then she saw him. Lucy saw him. He saw it first in her eyes, which widened and sparkled, and then in the curve of her lips. She smiled. For him. It filled him. To near bursting, it filled him. It was just one smile, but it was all he needed.”

Sighhhhhh 🥰

23. “His fingers gripped hers when they should have just brushed by. She looked up and saw that he was gazing at her. ”

Ohhh... How scandalous lol 😏

24. “Hyacinth regarded her with a delighted smile. “I like you,” she said slowly, as if she were deciding upon it right then and there. “You are wrong, of course, but I like you, anyway.” She turned to her brother. “I like her.”

Hyacinth literally showed up out of nowhere towards the end of the book and stole the show 😂

25. “He and Lucinda Abernathy were meant to be husband and wife. Hers was the face he was supposed to gaze upon over eggs and bacon and kippers and cod and toast every morning. A snort of laughter pressed through his nose, but it was that nervous, desperate kind of laughter, the sound one made when the only alternative was to cry. Lucy had to marry him, if only so that they could eat masses and masses of food together every morning.”

And the most endearing Bridgerton sibling award goes to... 🥰

26. “Her eyes glistened as they met his. In the dim light of the night, they looked a dark, dark gray, and achingly sad. He could imagine the entire world there, in the depths of her gaze. Everything he needed to know, everything he might ever need to know—it was there, within her.”

My man is soo wrecked in the best way possible 🥺

27. “Let me kiss you,” he whispered. “One more time. Let me kiss you one more time, and if you tell me to go, I swear that I will.”

The respect!!! No wonder Lucy fell in love with him so quickly 😭

28. “The night seemed to dance, sparkling and tingling, as if the air itself understood that nothing would ever be the same. Dawn was waiting on the other side of the horizon, and already the stars were beginning to look less bright in the sky. If he could have frozen time, he would have done so. Never had he experienced a single moment that was so magical, so.. full. Everything was there, everything that was good and honest and true. And he finally understood the difference between happiness and contentment, and how lucky and blessed he was to feel both, in such breathtaking quantities.”

Awwww! Happiness is seeing your favourite fictional men so utterly and hopeless in love 😭

29. “It was simply impossible to enjoy one of nature’s small miracles and not kiss her.”

Why is he soo cute??? 🥺

30. “I have sworn in my heart to protect you,” he said, his voice passionate and fierce and maybe even a little bit revelatory. Because today, he realized, was the day he truly became a man. After twenty-six years of an amiable and, yes, aimless existence, he had finally found his purpose. He finally knew why he had been born. “I have sworn it in my heart,” he said, “and I will swear it before God just as soon as we are able. And it is like acid in my chest to leave you alone.”

She's so darn lucky. She wasn't even looking for love and somehow found the best of the best 🥰

31. “Gregory had told Colin everything, even down to the events of the night before. He did not like telling tales of Lucy, but one really could not ask one’s brother to sit in a tree for hours without explaining why.”

What are brothers for, if not to sit in trees for hours in front of their sibling's girlfriend's houses? 😂

32. “Listen to me. I love you.” Her eyes filled with tears. “I love you,” he said again. “There is nothing in this world or the next that could ever make me stop loving you.”

Oh my god, whenever he told her he loved her an year was added to my life.. It's so damn adorable 🥲

33. “He would try with everything he had to make sure that they both came through this alive and unhurt, but if there was a choice—if only one of them was to walk out the door.. It would be Lucy.”

Chivalry at its finest 😭

34. “Nine children. Nine. It was only one less than ten. Which possessed two digits. If he did this again, he would be in the double-digits of fatherhood.”

Haha, Lucy wanted a large family, and Greg certainly didn't disappoint lol 😂

[prefect30]

Little Dove

Instead of Lucy Gray, he got her younger, little sister, Rosalie Jade.

Previous Chapter

Chapter One

"YOU CAN KISS MY ASS!"

And just when he thought that maybe he had a shot, she blew it.

Coriolanus watched Rosalie Jade sing on that stage and for a quick minute, he thought that maybe, just maybe, he could turn his luck around. That he could turn her into a star with her singing before he led her to the stage of death cause there is no way that this scrawny, little girl is going to win. But then she had to offend all of Panem with her little ending.

Taking a bow, Rosalie Jade walked off the stage and the screen cut off.

Looking around, realizing he was still standing, he started to quietly laugh along with everyone else who seemed to find her ending amusing.

As he walked out of the Hall to the luncheon, he was given many praises and heard peoples jealous remarks about his tribute.

"She's a real star, that one!"

"You got lucky with her Snow, mine just cried!"

"It's not fair he got the best tribute or at least the best showman."

Maybe he still had a shot with Rosalie Jade.

"Quite the scene she put on back there, huh? It's all anyone seems to be able to talk about."

Shit.

"Yes, it seems so."

Coriolanus never truly understood what Highbottom's problem was with him. He never did anything to him, well other than making the nickname, 'High-as a kite-bottom.' Maybe that's why he got Rosalie Jade, because the nickname got back to him.

"God, look at you, in your to tight shoes and in your fathers old shirt. You walk around like you own the place when I know that the Snow's don't even have a pot to piss in."

Coriolanus attempted to stand tall, but Highbottom knowing this information put him on edge. How Highbottom knew this he didn't now, nor did he like.

Right as he went to respond, Highbottom cut him off swiftly with, "Good luck with that little songbird. God knows you'll need it Snow."

Yep, the nickname definitely had gotten back to him.

"Everything is about winning."

Coriolanus couldn't believe he was still arguing about this with Tigris. Yes, he knew that they both saw things differently, but this was just getting annoying now.

"Think about what that little girl is going through right now Coryo. She just got ripped from her home to be forced to fight for her life. Imagine that was you, Coryo."

Always the pacifist, Tigris.

God, this type of naïve thinking is going to get her killed one day.

"I wouldn't do a lick of anything for you if I didn't trust you."

Trust?

"And how would I get her to trust me Tigris? She's District, she knows we hate her and her us."

"Do not out her aside just because she is District. She is still a person. A child. Maybe you could bring her something. Just let her know you care, that your on her side."

Now she's starting to sound like that District mutt, Sejanus. How he hates him with his stupid thinking that Capitol and District are equal, cause they're not. That's why Distirct children play in the games, not Capitol.

However, maybe Tigris is on to something. If he can get Rosalie Jade to trust him, then it will be easier to mold her into the perfect spectacle he needs to win that damned Plinth Prize. Besides, with her being the youngest tribute, that should earn her him some sympathy from the Capitol. It will be easier to manipulate her too with her being 12.

Yes, Coriolanus knows exactly what to do now.

"Thank you Tigris. I know what I need to do."

Thank you Tigris indeed.

Where is this damn train?

Coriolanus has been waiting for at least two hours now for the train carrying all the tributes to arrive. He had made a plan to gain Rosalie Jade's trust just like Tigris said. He decided to bring her one of Grandma'am's pristine, white rose's since he had nothing better to give her.

Now that plan seemed plain idiotic. He had been waiting for hours in the blistering July heat for a train that seems will never come. Peacekeepers had given him strange looks as to why he was there. The rose had even started to wilt a bit from the heat and him toying with it as he waited.

This plan was so fucking stupid.

Figuring that this stupid train was never coming, Coriolanus turned around and started to leave just as he heard a train whistle.

Finally.

As he waited for the Peacekeepers to get the tributes out, he started to feel antsy. This was his first time that he was actually going to meet his tribute. The person who could make or break his future. His life.

But as he waited, no Peacekeepers made any effort to get the tributes out. Now what was the hold up? All he wanted was to see his tribute for the first time in person.

Finally, after another twenty minutes of waiting, a Peacekeeper went to talk the conductor of the train and got the keys to open the train cage.

As Coriolanus watched the Pecaekeeper take his time finding the right key to open it up, he realized that the train had no windows. It had to be a cargo train. They put them in a fucking cargo train.

Once the Peacekeeper finally found the right key and unlocked the train, he started to yell for them to get out.

"Come on! Get out, the lot of you!"

As Coriolanus watched the first tribute come into the light, he saw that there was at least a five foot drop from the train to the platform and each tribute were wearing hand cuffs.

He watched as each struggled to get out of the train and Peacekeepers starting to get impatient and pull most down.

The boy from 11 though, had no problem getting down with his tall and muscular build.

Lucky Clemensia.

As he waited for his tribute to get out, one of the other tributes refused to get out.

"Get out now! Don't make us come in to get you!"

The tribute continued to refuse to get out, causing a Peacekeepe to come in and get her, throwing her down onto the platform. Coriolanus cringed as she screamed, knowing that she had to have broken a tooth. The same Peacekeeper came back out and kicked her, yelling at her to get up.

Now that the train was empty, he still didn't see his tribute until he realized that there was a second cargo train.

As he watched the tributes pile out again, he saw a flash of color. In fact many colors.

There you are.

With his hands in her waist, the cuffs giving the tributes at least some space to work with, her District partner helped her down off the train, making sure she didn't get hurt on the way down.

Why is he touching her waist?

Rosalie Jade seemed to float as she was lifted by her partner, and when she reached the ground, she squeezed his shoulders as a thank you and he let go of her.

Good.

Coriolanus waited a minute more before going over. He wanted to see how she would react to this new environment.

He watched as she dusted her dress off and ran her fingers through her golden waves, trying to tame them.

Interesting.

She seemed to be more worried about how she looked. But not in the way Coriolanus would see most of the Capitol girls do. They would do it out of vain, wanting to make sure they were always the most beautiful in the room. But with Rosalie Jade, it seemed that she just wanted to make sure she looked presentable.

As she turned around to look at her surroundings, she locked eyes with Coriolanus. She looked him up and down with a look of curiosity and confusion.

Well, curiosity killed the cat.

Deciding that now was the best time to go over, Coriolanus started to walk towards her. As he got closer, he smelled something horrid. Then Coriolanus realized that it wasn't cargo train that they all were in. No. They were in livestock shipping containers.

She started to back away a little bit when she realized that he was coming towards her and grabbed onto her partners hand.

Why is she holding his hand?

Shaking off the his thought, he presented her with the rose once he got to her.

"Welcome to the Capitol."

Her partner stepped in front of Rosalie Jade as if to...protect her?

Protect her from what? Me? I'm trying to help her.

Just when he went to say something to her incompetent partner, Rosalie Jade squeezed his hand.

"It's ok Jessup."

Yeah Jessup, it's ok.

Letting go of, the now learned name, Jessup's hand, she cautiously stepped forward and looked at the rose then Coriolanus.

Then she said the most bizarre shit Coriolanus had ever heard.

"Roses are beautiful." Rosalie Jade said getting closer to Coriolanus now realizing that he's not a threat. Then, out of nowhere, she put the tip of her index finger on the tip of one of the thorns, pricking her finger and causing a little drop of blood to form on her small finger.

"Until they're not." She said as she plucked a petal from the rose, getting her bright, red blood on pure rose. Then, she let it drop.

"You look like you're not supposed to be here."

What the fuck.

Still in shock from what she said and did, he didn't even realize that she took another rose petal and started to eat it

She really is mental.

He needed to get it together. He could judge her and her antics later.

"I'm not, but I'm your mentor. Coriolanus Snow."

Smiling teasingly, Rosalie Jade looked back at Jessup, "Ah, a rebel."

Jessup smiled at this while Coriolanus stood appalled. Coriolanus Snow was many things, but a rebel was not one of them. He knows she must mean it as a good thing, coing from 12 of course, but he still can't help but feel a little annoyed at her teasing.

"And what does my mentor do besides bring me roses?"

"I do my best to take care of you."

Just as Coriolanus said that, the same girl tribute from earlier screamed after being hit by a Peacekeeper for not getting into a truck.

Where are they going to take them Rosalie Jade?

"Well good luck with that, Capitol Boy." She said as she took the rose from his hand.

And with that, two Peacekkeper came over and started to push for Jessup and Rosalie Jade to get into the truck.

That girl tribute was starting to get onto his nerves. He was actually getting Rosalie Jade to talk with him and that girl just had to go and ruin it.

He watched as they dragged them both away onto the truck. He needed to get her to trust him, and with the way their conversation ended, well he might not have even bothered to come to the train station.

Coriolanus looked down at the rose petal she dropped on the ground. It now had a bloody spot on it. No longer pure. He quickly picked it up and stuffed it into his pocket.

Coriolanus walked up to one of the Peacekeepers to see if he could get into the truck with the other tributes. He did not spend two hours waiting in the heat and having a bizarre conversation with a mental 12 year old to not gain something from it.

"Excuse me. But is there anyway I could go in the truck with them, please?"

"What? You want to go in there with them? Yeah, no. Sorry kid but they're dangerous."

As he looked back into the container, he locked eyes with Rosalie Jade again and she looked at him like she didn't understand what was going on at all. Cute.

No. He had to get in there. This was his only chance to earn her trust.

"Sir, I'm actually a student at the academy and my tribute is there. She's the youngest, and well, to be quite frank, I don't want anything happening to her while she's in there with all the other tributes. All of them have some sort of advantage over her. I just want to help her."

Well, there was some truth in there.

The Peacekeeper, getting annoyed with all of his talking said, "Yeah, fine. Whatever kid, but if you get hurt or killed, it's your fault."

"Thank you." Coriolanus quickly ran up to the container and jumped in.

Holy shit.

If he thought that it smelled bad when he was talking to Rosalie Jade, well this was much worse. With all of the tribute being smushed together in the small truck, it was if he really was in a barn.

As he looked around, he saw Rosalie Jade looking down at his rose in her lap all while the other tributes were looking at him.

This was a bad idea.

"You in the wrong cage, Capitol Boy?" He recognized the voice as the boy from 11, Clememsia's.

It sounded better coming out of Rosalie Jade's mouth.

"No. This cage is delightful."

The boy scoffed and quickly ran up to Coriolanus and pinned him up against the truck wall.

"I could kill you right now."

Yep, this was a very bad idea.

"He'll do it. He killed two Peacekeepers back home, no one even knew it was him."

"Shut up, Dill."

Sunddenly, a chorus of voices started agreeing with the boy from 11. Started agreeing to killing him.

"Do it Reaper!"

"I'll help!"

"We've got nothing to lose."

How was he going to defend himself? He could use the rose on his lapel. Rosalie Jade showed him that it could hurt someone. But Coriolanus couldn't take on 23 tributes animals with a rose thorn.

"You got family back home?"

What?

"You hurt him, they hurt them. Then you. You damage a single hair on his pretty little head, they get yours."

She's helping me. Defending me. Well, maybe I did get her trust. Maybe this was a good idea.

Looking up at Coriolanus, smriking Rosaile Jade said, " 'Sides, he's my mentor. Might need em'."

"Why does Rainbow Girl get a mendor?"

"Mentor. You all get one."

Getting up close into Rosalie Jade's face, the girl said, "Why didn't ours come then, huh? How come you get special treatment?"

Rosaile Jade smiled, "Just not inspired I guess."

Coriolanus smirked at Rosaile Jade's remark and before the girl had a chance to retaliate, the truck abruptly stopped and the back opened.

Suddenly, the truck started to tip forward, and everyone started to fall. Coriolanus held onto a divet in the truck wall and grabbed onto Rosaile Jade's hand, trying to stop her from falling as well.

His grip started to give and both of them fell. The fall down was painful. They had to have been rolling down on rocks and they landed on a pile of hard grass.

Coriolanus looked over at Rosaile Jade and saw that she tucked herself into a ball on the way down. Her hands were around her head, trying to protect herself from the fall.

Slowly, he looked around.

Wait. This place looks familiar. Why does this place look familiar?

Then he remembered.

He was in the Capitol Zoo.

He was in a monkey cage.

Yep. This was definitely a bad idea.

Next Chapter

[ratgrinders]

hello tumblr user ratgrinders... appreciate the work you do even in these trying times (post onscreen homicide). i think the fact that kipperlilly is like, annoying and reminds people of girls they didnt like in high school ppl miss out on a lot of interesting stuff going on w her!

like, the "power hungry teen girl who is just evil and tbk kill her" thing has already been done in fhfy with penelope, & its much more interesting to think about how & why the ratgrinders are doing all this suspicious stuff tbk are noticing-- like the fact that they have been very cagey about showing their combat abilities, the weird stuff going on with various deities, and even kipperlilly's stolen therapy files (lol) are very intriguing!! and imo writing that off as assuming they'll be straightforward, incompetent villians (popular assumption due to their lack of friendship, even though it's famously the weakest magic) is far less interesting. like... they got into this situation for a reason and got involved w all this stuff somehow, & i don't think all of this would happen if they were a normal adv party, even a shitty one. how did they get here! why!! thx

thank you so much, its getting hard out here but nothing can stop the rat grinders stan grind!!!!! (<- is coping. im coping)

yeah but fr, kipperlily is FASCINATING to me. i truly believe that she thinks everything she does is justified in service of her larger goal, whatever that may be. yeah, stone cold murder really isn't the fairest thing you can do to your academic rivals, but writing all of that off as "oh she's just always been a jealous hypocrite who never believed in what she was spouting" i think is an inaccurate interpretation of her own motivations. she clearly believes in something.

cuz the thing is, we're still not really sure was kipperlily wants? ("egg on my face for wanting something"). sure, she's trying to run for student body president, but what exact rules is she hoping to implement, and how does that relate to trying to resurrect a rage god? plus, grix attacked ruben because he/his ritual were a direct threat to the existence of the school, which seems counter productive if you're trying to become president of it.

and what cause would kipperlily specifically have to be tied up with a rage god anyway? there's nothing that clearly on the surface ties a little type A halfling rogue to a fiendish god of rage and conquest, hell some of the other members in her party seem like on the surface they would have a closer tie to it (like both of their now dead clerics, mary ann who literally harnesses rage, ruben who is full of teen angst). kipperlily's apparently been filled with rage since freshman year, but why? (is she like riz, who spent his whole life infected with an aspect of the nightmare king and literally grew up with this seed of doubt inside him? did something similar happen to kipperlily?)

ankarna is the goddess of justice and the conviction to act when they see something unfair. no matter what, i think kipperlily truly believes that she's witnessed something unfair. and it feels significant to mention that this last murder is an escalation on the rat grinders' part. the other people who have ended up dead around them (lucy, yolanda, the original hosts of frosty faire) all seemed to have died indirectly as a result of the rage crystals and the uncontrollable rage it inspires. this is the first time we're seen stone cold premeditated murder, done with simply a blade and betrayal.

honestly, this transition seems to mirror what ankarna herself went through, starting off as the goddess of conviction and justice but slowly transitioning to one of conquest and war. brennan said something about ankarna, "yeah its nice to have someone like that on your side who will stand up for you, but you better hope that person is always right". i think what we're seeing now is someone with that same conviction, but with a misguided cause.

kipperlily's crossed a line now and i wouldn't be surprised if she doesn't end up redeemed by the end of the season, but i'm still interested in how she and her party were motivated to do this in the first place, because like you said i don't think a normal adventuring party would've ended up here. it takes a lot to transition to multiple murders!

[misslavenderlady]

Just Girlie Things: Mikayla Emerson

More info about my best girl~

Embarrassing secret: She thought the term "powdering your nose" was literal. So after she started her transition, she always brought a compact mirror with a set of powder in it when she went to the restroom. When one of her friends asked why she always did that, she explained herself only to realize it was just a saying. Her girl friends teased her about it, but not for very long.

Favorite mascara is Maybelline Great Lash, because that's what Lucy uses (as did every other mom in the 80s and 90s)

HATES the smell of hairspray, and that's a problem because all the other girls in the locker room and bathroom use the hell out of it. She prefers using mousse to keep her curls looking good.

Some of her favorite songs are "Open Your Heart" by Madonna, "Shadows of The Night" by Pat Benatar, and "How Will I Know" by Whitney Houston

She did little league as a kid, and now during her free time or in gym class, she likes to play softball. Once threw a ball at a classmate that said she "threw like a bitch". He got a black eye as a result.

As a cheerleader she acts as a "base", helping lift up the others when doing stunts. The other girls think she's got the skill to be a flyer, but she's very shy at the idea of the attention being on just her for a routine.

All four of the Lost Boys have lent her their jacket as an act of chivalry. Dwayne's made her the most bashful since he doesn't have a shirt on underneath.

Slightly nsft: Girl got SUPER lucky with estrogen and chest growth. She's a C cup, and very proud of it.

In middle school she went through a phase of dotting her "i"s with hearts.

Unlike her movie counterpart, Mikayla does want to go back to school after the summer break. After meeting David she starts daydreaming about him being her date to the senior prom.

Lucy constantly has to scold her not to slurp her drinks or put elbows on the table, saying it's not "ladylike". Mikayla hates this, often pointing out that Sam never gets in trouble for doing the same thing and that it's not fair.

Has a lucky, pink scrunchie she wears for cheer practice. She's paranoid she'll mess up if she doesn't wear it.

Sneezes like a kitten. She's not even doing it on purpose to be extra feminine, she's just always sneezed like that.

Tag List: @hypocriticaltypwriter @ria-coolgirl @happypanda101 @hagelliot @people-are-strange-87

[nijigasakilove]

Sylphie you’re stronger than most and deserve so much better… but fairs as much as I wanted to because of the cheating situation, I can’t even hate on this episode too much. It really was a beautiful finale that feels like the closing of one chapter in Rudy’s life and the start of another.

One thing that Mushoku Tensei truly excels at in comparison to other isekai is that it really does feel like we’re growing alongside Rudy as the story progresses. It’s not just an anime, but someone’s life story we’re witnessing play out, almost like a biopic.

Norn was the star of the episode in my opinion, her seiyuu brought so much pain and emotion to every line today. From learning of Paul’s death and breaking down to COOKING Roxy and Rudy, she was great. She also said pretty much everything I feel on the matter directly to both people involved so I feel a lot better. It’s like the audience had a proper stand in in the story 😂. If Sylphie ok with it, we move I guess. Funny how in the end, we all become our parents one way or another.

She accepted everything with such grace and I love the “you’re just an ordinary girl who likes Rudy like me” ❤️ love her to bits and she’s going to be an amazing mother to Lucie.

They say you never know true love until you have a child, and that sudden realisation from Rudy that he’s a father, he has a physical tangible legacy, a beautiful loving family.. after everything he went thru in his original life.. just a beautiful moment and he can finally understand how Paul and his parents felt.

“Because you saved me that day I got to hold her.” “Dad I was a failure of a son. But I see myself as Paul greyrats son now.” The graveyard scene is arguably the greatest mushoku scene so far. A culmination of the entire first two seasons. Rudy was a child when he got reincarnated, physical age is irrelevant. His brain hadn’t developed properly. As he left that gravesite today after talking to Paul’s tombstone, he was a man. Determined to live his life to the fullest and with no regrets. I’m proud of him.

And the last shot of everyone together paying off the volume cover.. yea that and the OST got me pretty emotional. Love it or hate it, there’s nothing like Mushoku Tensei.

[pyropsychiccollector]

How many kids would each of Natsu's girls would want to have? Juvia will probably try to have the most followed by Mira but who would be too shy to have more than one?

Let's calm down now, boys. It was hectic enough with someone asking how many kids Nagisa had. (人◕ω◕);; 26(+) is an awful lot for 9 wives. Natsu's got 15 wives, and I'm not gonna count the kids this time. I'm not. Fairy Tail lassies are made of sterner stuff, so bigger families are anticipated. Because these ladies have what we call pride.

... And love for Natsu. That too. (人◕ω◕);;;

But all the same. I will talk about each one as is the fair and proper thing to do. (人◕ω◕) Because let's be honest. Big 4 ships are getting a ton of love these days, and I've never - with the exception of appreciating Gajevy/GaLe on the rare occasion - cared for any of those mainstream ships. Nalu and Jerza may especially burn in the deepest bowels of hell.... I could go on for hours about what's wrong with Lucy and Jellal. (人◕ω◕) ... But I won't do it here. I won't. Not worth the writing space. (人◕ω◕)***

I'm not going in any particular order this time, though I'm saving my Fairy Tail Founders for last. (人◕ω◕) The other main thing you need to know is I will only confirm if they have one or more kids. I am not numbering them this time. That is how brawls get started, good sir/ma'am. We are keeping things civilized. (人◕ω◕)

Yukino... she's an interesting one. (人◕ω◕) You would think based off her personality that she would be satisfied with but one little bundle of joy. After all, when she's not kicking ass, she's a little goober. Everyone knows this. (人◕ω◕) Goobers aren't little horndogs. Surely.

... Except this goober is Sorano-chan's younger sister, and she indulged her neechan a little too much with the unprotected sex. (人◕ω◕) She doesn't have too many, just a few. But she certainly has more than one. And Yukino-chan is a good mother, she is. After the tragedy she and Sorano went through as kids, Yukino-chan is there for her children and is very supportive of them. She is even among the list of wives to call on for babysitting their kids; admittedly she's not at the top of the list because she has a history of being incapable of saying "no" when she really should, not feeling right about strongly disciplining kids. But this has only happened a few times, and so she is one of the responsible wives. Yukino just needs a bit more steel in her spine. Not much, just a sprinkle of it. (人◕ω◕)

Lisanna-chan is another of those, "Aw, she's a more subdued girl for Natsu!" ... When in reality, you should really pay more attention to who she's related to. (人◕ω◕) Unlike Yukino, however, there's a bit more of give-and-take between Lisanna and Mira. Neither side is a doormat, and there's been some tense "understandings" that have happened with this grudging acceptance that they're really doing this, really sharing Natsu. (人◕ω◕) Lisanna-chan is just... put out that she's missed her opportunity of keeping Natsu to herself. She never really lets the other wives forget that she was the childhood waifu who first envisioned marrying the pyro. Most of her fellow wives are chill with these reminders, but there are a... few... who do find it grating and will start brawling if Lisanna rubs it in too much. (人◕ω◕);;;;;;;;

... That said, Lisanna has a healthy amount of kids birthed out of her love for Natsu. (人◕ω◕) Unfortunately not as many as Mira, but frankly, her neechan is more adept at bedtime bonding time with their shared Dragon Slayer. Mira is more durable, can keep up with Natsu, and frankly just has the drive to keep going past the average limits of families. (人◕ω◕) I won't put a number on Lisanna's kids, but she's got somewhere under 15. As I said, it's a respectable amount. More than a few, but not an ungodly amount. Lisanna-chan's libido is healthy~ (人◕ω◕)

And also, much like Yukino she's on the list of good eggs for wives to go to for babysitting their kids. (人◕ω◕) A little higher than Yukino on the list because she can say "no" more consistently, but let's be real. Lisanna is still a Fun Auntie, and isn't above encouraging mischief from time to time. (人◕ω◕) But never anything nefarious. Lisanna-chan has standards. (人◕ω◕)(人◕ω◕)(人◕ω◕)

Now, Cana-chan... She is a fascinating one. (人◕ω◕) You would think with her ability to drink any of the other wives under the table that she would have more "accidents" of unprotected sex, and thus have a whole brood of children under her belt. (人◕ω◕) ... But no. There are factors that have led Cana-chan to having just the one kid with Natsu and being done with that. And it's not that she can't be bothered with all the rambunctiousness, or that it's not healthy for pregnant women to be drinking.

... Though frankly, those came in rather clutch for hindsight. (人◕ω◕)

No. Cana's main reason for limiting herself to just the one kid is... She wants to be better than Gildarts. (人◕ω◕) She loves her daddy, but she sees the kind of guy he is. Always drinking, going wherever he pleases, it would be so easy to do the same and have a ton of children with Natsu. But she wants to be a better mama than that. She doesn't want to end up forgetting a few children and leaving them unloved or unattended. Cana-chan doesn't have the drive or energy that some of the other wives do; for her, one is plenty and keeps it simple.

Cana-chan is... not necessarily on that list of wives to go to for babysitting kids. (人◕ω◕);; She is on the reserve list, if there are no other options available. Cana-chan is known for her bouts of maturity. ... But those are just bouts. Cana loves drinking and having a good time. And she's so often lounging in the Guild so kids would be exposed to the constant brawls. ... Not that they wouldn't already as they're all Natsu's kids, but you understand, yes? It's not the most conducive environment. (人◕ω◕);;;;;; And Cana more than likely would encourage bad habits and allow far too much barring the stuff that would really hurt. Physically, emotionally, or otherwise. (人◕ω◕) They've been trying for years to "rehabilitate" Cana, but she's stuck in this cocktail of drunk x maturity. She's a weird one. But she's Cana-chan. (人◕ω◕)

Wendy-chan... (人◕ω◕) This is another one that comes as a surprise. See, in most cases Wendy is a cheerful, exuberant, peppy, supportive goober of a young lady. You would think Wendy-chan would limit herself to just the one kid and be happy. (人◕ω◕)

....... (人◕ω◕)

..................... (人◕ω◕)

........................................ (人◕ω◕)

Unfortunately, I have been exposed to Fairy Tail fanfiction far too long and have accepted that there is this concept called "Dragon Slayer Mating Season". (人◕ω◕) For Natsu, this phenomenon is overlooked because of the sheer amount of wives he's got and how horny he is on even the best of days. (人◕ω◕) However, Wendy-chan is a much needed wakeup call for everyone else. Because this mating season occurs every year, and lasts a good, healthy week. And in that week, Dragon Slayers become these very horny, very territorial creatures. Natsu has managed to subjugate Wendy over the years and make her accept even at her basest state that he has mates and Wendy can't just have Natsu for herself. ... Though as she's grown up, the mating season has certainly intensified and is like a bonus S-Class Trial for the other wives every year without exception. (人◕ω◕);;; It's, uh... It's not as bad as when they first found out about this ominous tradition, but you can be sure that every year a few weeks before the mating season hits, the other wives hold a sort of council meeting amongst themselves to prepare contingencies and just overall steel themselves. (人◕ω◕);;;;;; Wendy-chan is a healer, you understand, and when a healer goes mad with power for a week, you must always be prepared.

... Consequentially, Wendy-chan has a healthy amount of kids. (人◕ω◕) Probably less than 20... Honestly hard to say. The wives do what they can to mitigate the unprotected sex during this mating season period, but it's mighty difficult to prepare for every eventuality... Ehehe. (人◕ω◕);;;;;;;;

But outside that one hellish week, Wendy is a wonderful mama. About the same level as Yukino... or between Yukino and Lisanna. She just needs to learn to say "no" and not let the kids walk all over her. (人◕ω◕);; At least she's definitely on the list for babysitting because of her skills as a nurse. Wendy-chan is a good waifu. (人◕ω◕)(人◕ω◕)(人◕ω◕)

Let's just get this out of the way now. Chelia and Wendy are two peas in a pod. (人◕ω◕) Doesn't matter that they're two different varieties of Slayers, Chelia has her own... mating period, too. Hers lasts a month. (人◕ω◕);;; But mercifully, she's not as, er... Not "feral", that's too mean. (人◕ω◕);;; She's more open to orgies than Wendy is during her mating season. Chelia just needs to mate. With Natsu. She doesn't mind sharing the L O V E~ \(人◕ω◕)/

... But yeah. Lasts a whole month. The other wives hafta brace for impact with this one, too. (人◕ω◕)

Like Wendy-chan, Chelia has a healthy amount of kids. Probably less than 25. Probably. (人◕ω◕) See, while Chelia is a goober like Wendy, she has more... confidence. She's definitely around the same level of Lisanna in mamahood, if not a little "above" Lisanna because she doesn't need constant negotiations with an older sister like Lisanna does. (人◕ω◕) Chelia can muster a little bit of sternness, and isn't afraid of disciplining kids... Because in the end, love is more than unconditional support; if you well and truly love someone, you have to steer them along the right paths. And this includes children, who are especially susceptible to naughty habits. (人◕ω◕) Chelia-chan is by no means perfect. But she's definitely high on that list of wives to go to for babysitting your kids. (人◕ω◕)

Brandish is more predictable... (人◕ω◕) She's mellow like Cana, just has more of a sweet tooth as opposed to nonstop drinking. There are few people that inspire her more cutesy side - Aquarius, Natsu (when they're alone), ... that's about it, actually. (人◕ω◕) Otherwise she's pretty stoic and deadpan most of the time. Let her relax, or have time with Natsu, and she won't bother you much at all~... And by "bother", I mean that she won't shrink or mess with your body for annoying her. (人◕ω◕)

Brandish has... a few kids. Only a few. See, whereas Cana has a more iron control, Brandi-chan does have a bit of a libido. It's rarer to see her pester Natsu about her "needs", but it does happen. (人◕ω◕) He gives very good massages~ Which often leads to bonking like monkeys. (人◕ω◕) ... But yeah, because it's rarer, and Brandi-chan doesn't have a drive for "moar", she's good with the few kids she has. (人◕ω◕)

As a mama, Brandi-chan is pretty chill. But she's not on "the list" for watching your kids because she allows way too much. (人◕ω◕) She's like last-last-last resort for babysitting. Brandish ensures the kids are loved, but she's all about letting kids experience life for themselves and learning what not to do on their own. (人◕ω◕) Very laissez-faire, this one~

Juvia-chan is... same tier as Chelia and Meredy-chan. (人◕ω◕) Healthy amount of kids, makes sure Natsu-sama is loved every day (not talking about sex here, not exclusively)... She's got a bit of a jealous streak and is very, very vocal about being everyone's rival for Natsu-sama's affection. (人◕ω◕) Juvia-chan is also the one-woman army for creating Natsu-sama merch... which she tries so hard to keep to herself, but in this economy? (人◕ω◕) ... Well, truthfully, the other wives pay her handsomely for her merch, which is why she allowed the poachers to take any of her Collection. But the other wives know that Juvia is holding out on them. (人◕ω◕)(人◕ω◕)(人◕ω◕)

... Anyway. Healthy amount of kids. And she's a pretty good mama. She's like Chelia in that she knows love is about boundaries and sometimes requires discipline. Like Chelia, she's high on the list of mama's to go to for babysitting. (人◕ω◕)

Meredy-chan is just like Juvia and Chelia. (人◕ω◕) ... In her chipper and loving personality, that is. Unfortunately, this is where we start hitting the wives that have... a lot of children with Natsu. (人◕ω◕);;; I can't put a number on this without getting into trouble. So I won't. (人◕ω◕) Just know that Meredy-chan has a libido that rivals even the mighty Sayla and Mirajane... My, my. (人◕ω◕)(人◕ω◕)(人◕ω◕) And her Maguilty Sense helps remind her rival wives that pregnancy is.... a wonderful phenomenon. (人◕ω◕)(人◕ω◕)(人◕ω◕)(人◕ω◕)(人◕ω◕) Only hurts a little bit. And Meredy-chan keeps. Getting. Preggo. (人◕ω◕);;;;;;;;;;;

But I digress. Meredy-chan is a good mama. Same level as Juvia and Chelia. (人◕ω◕) She's a little bit less stern than them, though. Because she leaves that discipline stuff to Auntie Ultear. (人◕ω◕) It doesn't help that all of her and Natsu's kids have the patented pink hair. The other wives are very jealous. (人◕ω◕)(人◕ω◕)(人◕ω◕)

Kagura-chan has what a lot of the other wives seem to lack. (人◕ω◕) Discipline. Self-control. (人◕ω◕) Kagura-chan has only a few kids, and she has come to accept this. She approves Cana-chan limiting herself to just the one, and wishes her own conviction was just as strong. ... But alas, Kagura-chan can't help how cute her and Natsu-kun's children are. So a few it is. (人◕ω◕)

As far as mamahood goes, Kagura is... on the stricter end of the spectrum. (人◕ω◕);;;;;; She has gentle moments, and she's not abusive. But she's definitely near the top of wives to leave your kids with, because she doesn't bend easily to puppy dog eyes or cheap tricks. (人◕ω◕) Kagura-chan teaches kids the value of Order and Diligence (training). (人◕ω◕)(人◕ω◕)(人◕ω◕) Kagura-chan's a good mum. She's just a little bit tough on the parenting thing. (人◕ω◕)

Virgo, erm......... (人◕ω◕);;;;;;;;;;; We're scraping the barrel of "reasonable expectations" by now.... Virgo isn't even a human, so she's built differently. Let her pop off to the Spirit World for an hour, and she'll pop back with fully charged batteries. (人◕ω◕)(人◕ω◕)(人◕ω◕)

... Virgo-chan has a lot of babies with Natsu-sama. A loooooot~.... (人◕ω◕);;; And that is all I will say on the matter.

In terms of mamahood, Virgo is a good one. But she's on that last-last-last resort list because of all her horny BDSM antics and her insistence on serving the needs of her Masters, Natsu and his gaggle of wives and all their children. (人◕ω◕);;;;; She allows far too much. Even if she's a wonderful mama. (人◕ω◕);;;;;;

............... (人◕_◕)

(❋•‿•❋);;;;;;;;; Sayla-chan is same tier as Virgo in libido. I mean, she's a literal demon, what more do you want me to say? Sure, she'll exhaust herself to the point of reverting to a book, but give her an hour and she'll be right back up. (❋•‿•❋);;;;;;;;;;;

... So yes. Sayla-chan has a ton of kids, too. And only half of them have horns like she does. (❋•‿•❋) We can call that progress. Probably. (❋•‿•❋)

Despite how troublesome she is as a woman, Sayla-chan is a surprisingly decent mum. (人◕ω◕) She's mature. A bit aloof, a bit of a mean streak, a bit mischievous on her worst days... But she's dutiful because Natsu-sama is her Master. (人◕ω◕) And that means watching over their kids~... She's high on the list if you want someone to watch over your children. ... There's just a note of caution because Sayla is a demon, so leave it up to your discretion if you trust her or not. (人◕ω◕)

Sorano-chan...... Now that we're hitting the Founders, I must stress we're entering the realm of the goddesses. (人◕ω◕) Every one of these ladies from hereon has..... copious amounts of kids. It's not just all the raw sex that they believe is the true, ideal way to savor Natsu, These four well and truly love Natsu Dragneel, flaws and all. (人◕ω◕)

Sorano-chan is....a fascinating mum. (人◕ω◕) You would think that she would be all fun, no control. But Sorano's style of parenting is to work and train hard so they can all have fun later. (人◕ω◕) She IS known to allow too much, which puts her on the naughty list of wives. Yet she has a curious amount of respect from the other wives because of her admittedly structured and mature way of parenting. (人◕ω◕) ... She just has a problem of partying too hard. That's her main critique, aside from the very obvious lack of clothes she doesn't wear on a regular basis. (人◕ω◕);;;;;;;; Thankfully her children haven't picked up on Mama's "a bikini counts as everyday clothes" routine. (人◕ω◕);;;

The other wives can absolutely live without Sorano rubbing it in that she's not ALL bad as a Mama. It tends to step on every last nerve when Sorano-chan gets.....braggy.... (人◕ω◕);;;;;;;

Ultear-chan.... Hoo, boy. What a woman. (人◕ω◕);;;;;; So don't spread it around too much, but Ultear has the distinguished honor of having taken Natsu's virginity. (人◕ω◕);;;;;; Believe me, she had stiff competition. But somehow Ultear snagged this high honor. ... And Erza are Mira have NEVER forgiven Ultear for this slight ever. (人◕ω◕);;;;; It, uh.... It gets a bit tense whenever Ultear reminisces on that little achievement. That's another way brawls get started. (人◕ω◕);;;;;;;

Ultear has copious amounts of children. (人◕ω◕) She and Natsu have it down to an art form. Natsu openly admires her body, and that's something else Ultear tends to hold over the rest of the wives. Natsu's so often surrounded by beauty he doesn't comment much less give out hugs on sight. Ultear, though? Definitely can't stop hugging her. (人◕ω◕);;;; Although Ultear could live without the "still can't believe you're a real woman" comments. The whole Zalty snafu was YEARS ago, Natsu. (人◕ω◕);;;;;

But I digress. Ultear is a good mama. Has plenty of experience, looking after Meredy. She has a mischievous streak, but overall she's very balanced and mature. Doesn't let kids get too crazy or unsupervised. (人◕ω◕) She's high on "the list", but if you do choose to go to her for babysitting, prepare yourself to owe her a favor or pay exorbitant fees. Ultear-chan doesn't work for cheap. (人◕ω◕) Although she makes exceptions for emergencies. She's not heartless. She just wants some side money if you're going to be lazy about parenting. (人◕ω◕)(人◕ω◕)(人◕ω◕) Much like Sorano and Yukino, Ultear's past trauma has inspired her to be a magnificent mother. \(人◕ω◕)/

Mira-chan.... Ehehehe.... (人◕ω◕);;;;; So. She's got a reputation among the wives. Many love to hate her for her spunkier, meaner rival side. However, Mira-chan is absolutely an enormous threat as a wife and mother of Natsu's many kids. So many that are her own. (人◕ω◕);;;;;;;; She can cook, she can clean, she's amazing at entertaining kids.... Mirajane is like the whole package. Barring her sadistic rivalry angle, Mira-chan is PERFECT. Too perfect. And it's just not fair. (人◕ω◕)

Mira-chan has an insane amount of kids with Natsu. Competing with Erza, Ultear, and Sorano. (人◕ω◕) You would think this kills her modeling career, but no.... If anything, the fact she's very much taken and is in very good shape between all the sex and training.... Mira-chan continues to maintain her gorgeous public image over the years, and the other wives just don't know HOW. (人◕ω◕)(人◕ω◕)(人◕ω◕) She ages super gracefully, has oodles of charisma.... Sheesh. Angels must fall from heaven, cuz Mira-chan is so angelic all the time.... But everyone knows she's got a switch. And when it gets flipped.... You're boned. Very much boned. (人◕ω◕)

Mira-chan wormed her way into Natsu's heart over the years with her cooking and how she listened and talked with him so easily. Even when most others wrote him off as a kid at heart. (人◕ω◕) Mira always saw the diamond in the rough that he is, and she heavily invested in him. Even trained with him after getting her powers back. (人◕ω◕) Natsu is her equal in every way that matters, and she's not sorry for being greedy with him. That's HER pyro, dammit. (人◕ω◕)(人◕ω◕)(人◕ω◕)(人◕ω◕)(人◕ω◕)

Finally, Erza-chan. (人◕ω◕)

Same deal as Mira, Ultear, and Sorano. Insane level of kids, unapologetically territorial of HER pyro. (人◕ω◕) Missions, training, relaxing.... She does it all with Natsu and their family. (人◕ω◕) And just like Mira, she somehow finds the time to maintain her image and spot as the guild's disciplinarian and one of their aces. (人◕ω◕)

In terms of mamahood... Erza admittedly has to adapt to a learning curve. She didn't have it mastered right off the bat. However, like Mira and Ultear, Erza is diligent, hard-working. (人◕ω◕)(人◕ω◕)(人◕ω◕) She might be awkward sometimes, but that's simmered down over the years. Natsu helped her mellow out, to find that happy medium between stern and having a good time. (人◕ω◕) Perhaps just as important, Erza will always have a special place in Natsu's heart, and it's a two way street. Natsu will always look up to and admire Erza. She's strong as hell, and she's fun to play around with.

... Even if she sometimes hurts. (人◕ω◕) But that's usually when he messes up. And that's okay~

Erza took a while to get parenting down, but she and Natsu learned it together. (人◕ω◕) Like Mira, she's at the top of the "list" for leaving your kids with her for babysitting. ... You just have to beg her to not go too crazy with collateral damage. (人◕ω◕) When Erza goes all-out, she goes all-out. Nuff said. (人◕ω◕)(人◕ω◕)(人◕ω◕)

[maraschinomerry]

hi lovely, adore your writing <3 i was wondering if i could get a lucy x fem!reader where lucy thinks she’s jealous of the reader cause she always thinks the readers so pretty and it’s just a lot of pining and everyone’s trying to make lucy realise she’s in love, and then one day she sees someone flirting with r and is like oh i’m not jealous i’m gay and just a lot of fluff and things thank yoy so much <3333

Chance Encounters

Pairings: Lucy Carlyle x fem!reader

Content: oblivious flirting, pining, self-esteem issues, kissing

A/N: what a way to get back into writing, this is one of my longest fics yet! Thanks for being so patient with me, hope you enjoy it 💙

Word count: 3.8k

Taglist: @neewtmas @marinalor @ettadear @honey-with-tea (let me know if you want adding or removing!)

Lucy flopped into her seat with a stack of books and a dejected huff. "Do Fittes have a secret beauty quota for new hires or something?"

Lockwood and George both began speaking at the same time from the other side of the table - Lockwood to assure her that she'd be a shoe-in if that were the case, George to protest that Kipps would never have been hired.

The team were in the British Archives researching a particularly tough case, when Kipps and his crew strolled in with their newest member. If Lucy had thought Kat was pretty, this new girl was on a whole other level. Girls like that always got the best jobs, the most attention from boys, all the perks. It just wasn't fair.

You kept close, tucked behind Kipps' shoulder, as your team strode with far more confidence than you through the maze of shelves. You'd only joined Fittes a week ago and were still getting used to all the rules, both written and unwritten. Kat had at least warned you in advance about the odds of running into Lockwood & Co, how fierce the rivalry was between their leader and yours.

"Ah, Tony," Kipps said ahead of you, and you almost ran into him with how little you'd been concentrating.

Whatever you'd been expecting the members of the infamous agency to be like, this wasn't it. The one scowling most intensely at your colleague must be Lockwood, not the older man you'd pictured but a thin, smartly dressed teenager with bags under his eyes almost as dark as his hair. He was only accompanied by two other people, a curly haired boy who was only visible down to his glasses over the top of an enormous stack of books, and a pretty brunette girl who hadn't taken her eyes off you from the moment you walked in. Her gaze was unwavering and unreadable, and you had to resist the urge to squirm.

You tuned back in. Kipps was speaking again. "Allow me to introduce (name), one of the most prestigious agents the country has to offer." It would have been embarrassing enough had he just called you prestigious, but the way he emphasised it made you wonder if it was some kind of dig at them. You tried to shrink further behind him, cheeks growing warm.

"I'm Lucy Carlyle," the girl suddenly blurted. Her eyes widened as though she was surprised by her own actions. The boys also looked at her, a little stunned. "I mean," she fumbled, "obviously just call me Lucy. This is Lockwood and George."

Learning her name finally made it click where you'd heard of the other agency. "Oh, you solved the Annabel Ward case! I remember seeing it on the news, you're amazing!"

Kipps elbowed you without subtlety, but you didn't miss the way Lucy's face changed. It was only brief, but there was a flicker of pride and something like awe.

"I was going to say the same to you!" Clearly she hadn't noticed Kipps' reaction, nor the unusual look her boss was shooting her. "I'd give anything to have been there when you fought that Rawbones, it sounded so impressive."

"Well," Lockwood chipped in at last, "when you get fed up of Kipps you know where to find us to exchange stories and advice." The flash of a glare he shot your boss was sharp as a rapier, but he smiled warmly at you.

You returned the smile. "Either way, I'm sure we'll run into each other again."  Lucy met your eyes again, but where before she'd stared intensely, now she quickly averted her gaze. Odd. Kipps led you away before you could address the matter further.

—

Nearly two months went by without so much as a glimpse of Lockwood & Co. Part of you wondered whether Kipps was intentionally avoiding them, but you knew that was irrational - even he couldn't predict their movements all the time.

This proved true one Saturday afternoon, when you were sent on a last-minute errand to Satchell's. Your team was out of flares, Kat had said, and Fittes wouldn't get an official restock until Monday. Armed with your rapier, a wad of petty cash, and firm instructions not to return empty handed, you hailed a cab across town. It was a pleasant enough day, but you didn't much feel like walking. Best to get the supplies and get back to whichever task Kipps no doubt had lined up for you next.

Kipps wasn't a bad team leader, not by any stretch of the imagination. He was fair, mucking in on tasks and never asking anyone to do something he wouldn't be willing to do himself, and caring enough to always check in after a case. Nonetheless, it was clear this rivalry with the other agency had had an impact on him and made him so desperate to push himself, and by extension his team, to higher and higher standards. Frankly, it was a little exhausting.

You were so caught up in your thoughts that you didn't realise you were running on autopilot until you reached for the handle to Satchell's door and another hand came to rest over yours. A streak of blue appeared in the corner of your eye, and you looked up to see a familiar brunette.

"Lucy, hi!"

The other girl jumped a little. "Oh, (name) I'm so sorry, I was in my own world there." You waved the apology away with your free hand, glancing briefly at the other under hers. She noticed, following your gaze, and quickly snatched hers back with a nervous chuckle. No longer at risk of accidentally smacking her with the door, you opened it and gestured for her to go ahead. She stepped in, reaching back to hold it open from within for you.

Inside was a maze of weaponry. Shelves upon shelves of neat packaging stamped with the Satchell's logo; you recognised many of them, of course, salt bombs and Greek fire and lavender water, but there didn't seem to be much logic to how they were laid out. Turning one corner brought you face to face with floor-to-ceiling silver-glass. Where did you start?

You'd frozen on the spot, and Lucy was a little way ahead of you before she faltered. She must have realised you were no longer behind her.

"Everything okay?"

You nodded unconvincingly. "Fine, I just… haven't actually been in here before."

"Oh, it's easy enough to find your way around once you know. They sort of organise by intensity so you can't get someone popping in the door and making off with an armful of bomb flares." You both giggled at the thought. "But, um, I can show you around a bit if you know what you're looking for?"

You felt your smile ignite, but she continued hurriedly without noticing. "Only if you want, I mean, the staff are super helpful here and they probably know more than me. Not that you can't figure it out on your own, you seem like one of those cool independent types so-"

Finally, you cut her off with a gentle hand on her arm. She stopped talking instantly, like you'd managed to find a secret 'off' switch, and actually looked as though she'd short-circuited entirely. Cautiously, shyly, you slid your hand down and through until your arm was linked with hers. 'Off' no longer pressed, she sprung back to life with a fierce blush.

As Lucy led you round the shop, she chatted away about the different types of defences on offer. She’d taken you to the flares you were looking for first, of course, but when you made no move to leave she took you along to gather her own supplies. She’d seemed so jittery at first, you almost worried she was uncomfortable having you there, but the more she spoke about her experience making her own salt bombs and the run-in she had with a bunch of ghostly monks and a bomb flare, the more confident she became. Something about seeing her so in her element helped you to relax as well. It broke the ice.

“So what’s it like at Lockwood and Co?” you asked eventually. You’d been curious about the other agency ever since that first meeting - nothing about them had been expected, and you wondered if maybe the impression Kipps had given was more biased than you thought.

Lucy glanced at you, arm deep in a shelf stocked to the brim with vials of lavender water (they stock from the back, she’d advised, so the fresh ones are the hardest to reach). She hadn’t expected the question, but the answer came naturally. “Great, actually. I came to London hoping to get in with one of the big agencies like Fittes, but I didn’t have any of the right papers so I ended up there as sort of a last resort. It was difficult to get used to at first, they’re not exactly by-the-book as you’ve probably heard from Kipps, but now I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Lockwood and George are like family.”

The final part hit you like a ton of bricks. That was what you’d felt missing in your team. They were all good people and had quickly grown to be your friends, but they didn’t feel like family. Fittes didn’t feel like home. And here was this girl, who before today had barely had a full conversation with you, guiding you round the shop like it was nothing and telling you how this funny little agency was just that. Home. A weight you didn’t even realise you’d been carrying shifted, working its way up from the pit in your stomach to your chest where it settled, resolute yet comforting.

You realised you were now the one staring when Lucy waved a fistful of vials at you. “I think that’s me sorted,” she nodded to the smartly dressed man at the till. You picked up your basket of flares from the ground, wrapping your other hand around the wad of cash in your pocket, and followed her lead.

—

The rosy hues of evening were beginning to drift across the sky when the two of you emerged onto the high street. You hadn’t realised how long it had been; Kipps would be wondering where you were. The weight in your chest and the smile on your face told you that you didn’t much care. Now that the temperature had dropped a couple of degrees it was much more pleasant, and a gentle breeze ruffled your hair, carrying a soft floral scent. There were no flowers nearby, and you wondered whether it came from the girl beside you. It was lovely, whatever it was.

“Thanks again Lucy, I’d still be lost in the first set of shelves if it wasn’t for you.” The laugh that got from her was as fresh as the breeze, and you couldn’t help but smile wider. It gave you the courage to continue and ask, “Could I walk you home?”

Lucy frowned, and you worried it was too forward. You’ve only met her twice, for goodness sake. “Isn’t Fittes the other way? I don’t want to drag you all the way across town for no reason.”

That was hopeful - she wasn’t concerned about your intentions but for your wellbeing. “I don’t really want to head back just yet,” you admitted. “Besides, you’ve got more bags than me, the least I can do is give you a hand after all your help in there.” She tried to protest, but you held out a hand and with some reluctance she handed one over until you had two each. “There’s something I need to ask Lockwood too, so…”

This was turning out to be a day full of surprises, because you couldn’t possibly have predicted what Lucy said next. “Oh, he’s single, if that’s what you want to know.”

All the breath in your chest rushed out at once, the weight pressing hard on your lungs. “What?”

Your shock was mirrored on her face. “I just… after you were both talking about meeting again in the Archives… and since he’s a bit of a charmer and you’re gorgeous, I figured-” The words died in her her throat as the blush returned, this time reaching up to the tip of her ears and down past the collar of her playsuit.

You fought to keep your smile from breaking into a full-blown grin. The poor girl looked like she wanted nothing more than for the pavement to open up and swallow her whole, and while it was so tempting to tease her a little and see how far that blush could spread you resisted. Plenty of time for that, if you’d read things right. For now, you gave a light chuckle. “Thanks, but I don’t think I’ve been charmed by him.” You tried your best to give the right amount of emphasis on the fact it wasn’t by him, but it didn’t seem to help. Maybe you’d misunderstood. You hoped not. Maybe she was just embarrassed and not thinking about it properly. At any rate, she didn’t shy away when you tucked in close for the walk back.

—

Lucy paced anxiously through the library. George was curled in one of the armchairs with a comic; you and Lockwood were away in the living room, discussing goodness knows what. She hadn’t dared to ask any further on the walk home. She’d eventually plucked up the nerve to talk to you again after what she’d said (why on earth had she said it in the first place, she wondered) and found you to be so easy to talk to. You’d told her about life at Fittes, she’d told you about life in Portland Row. It sounded fun, chaotic at times but in a good way.

“Will you please sit down before you wear a hole in the carpet,” George groaned. Lucy sighed dramatically, but obeyed and slumped into the other chair. The lamplight cast unusual shadows across her face - it was well into the evening now, curfew had descended, so clearly whatever you had to discuss was of vital importance or you’d have gone back to Fittes by now.

“What do you think they’re talking about?”

George didn’t look up. “I really couldn’t say, I don’t know her well enough.”

“Exactly, and Lockwood doesn’t know her very well either, so if she is trying to ask him out then-”

“Whoa whoa whoa,” George interrupted, dropping his comic with uncharacteristic urgency. “You really think that’s why she’s here?” He studied Lucy for a moment - the way she kept glancing at the door like she expected them to walk in hand in hand, the way her index finger tapped rapidly where her hand rested on the arm of the chair, the way her lip wasn’t curled with disgust or outrage but quivering with upset. “Oh my god, you’re jealous!”

Lucy rolled her eyes. “Obviously I’m jealous, George. I know what it’s like with girls like her, they’re always one step ahead or one move beyond me. Just because they’re pretty it means they get everything.”

George’s comic was thoroughly neglected now, this was far more interesting. He had his suspicions about why she was reacting like this, but knew her well enough that he couldn’t just come out and say them or she’d deny it. She had to realise for herself. “Riiight, you’re jealous that she gets Lockwood and you don’t.”

Her nose wrinkled, the first confirmation of his theory. “Ew, no. He’s like my brother. I just don’t think it’s fair, is all. She’s been so sweet all day but as soon as there’s a better option I fade into the background again.”

Second and third confirmation: Lucy thought you were sweet (and he remembered she’d said pretty before, a fourth point on the tally) and, whether she realised it or not, had just called herself an option. George was getting more certain by the minute. God, as much as it hurt seeing her think so low of herself, he had to admit it was amusing trying to make her see that perhaps the ‘better option’ was the person you’d gushed over and pointedly said you hoped to see again and whose arm you’d been hanging off the whole afternoon, not the person you’d barely said five words to. “Got it, so you’re just jealous on principle, not of her specifically.”

“Right!” she said confidently.

“And it's nothing to do with you having feelings?”

“Right,” she said less confidently.

George didn’t say another word, just pushed himself up from the armchair and left the room.

Five minutes later, he returned with Lockwood in tow. The taller boy didn’t fully enter the library, just leaned round the door with an excitable twinkle in his eye.

“Ah, Luce, I was just about to give (name) a demonstration of the training area, if you want to come and help? I’m not sure her mind’s really on training at the moment.” He raised an eyebrow suggestively, but Lucy only looked more disappointed than ever.

George grumbled under his breath, low enough that Lucy wouldn’t hear. “Is that your best attempt at acting coy?”

“Coy?” Lockwood hissed back. “I thought I was helping her realise that (name)’s crush isn’t on me, it’s on h-” A sharp elbow in his side cut him off. He returned to normal volume. “Anyway, she’s also going to stay over tonight, if you’re okay sharing your bed? Or I can always put her in-”

Lucy shot up. “No, no, I can share.” Her gaze flickered to George, who gave her a triumphantly smug grin. “And don’t worry about the training, I’ll go with her.” Lockwood matched the other boy’s grin, and ducked out again.

George made his way back to the armchair, Lucy’s eyes following him the whole way. Her expression was a conflicted mess - irritation at proving him right, amazement at her newly discovered feelings, worry and hope all blended together.

“So you were jealous that she might like Lockwood, but not for the reason you thought?” he asked gently. It wasn’t you she was jealous of, seeming to get his attention, but him for getting yours.

She shook her head, tears beginning to well as her lower lip wobbled. “Okay fine, you win, I have feelings! Still doesn’t change the fact she went straight for him. She doesn't like me the way… the way I like her.”

There was no more amusement to be had from this, and it broke George’s heart to see one of his closest friends so upset. He stood and pulled her into a hug, feeling her sniffle into his shoulder. “You know it was you she was talking to when she said about running into us again, right?” Lucy pulled back and looked at him incredulously, puffy cheeks bearing the telltale streaks of tears. She reached up and wiped them away vigorously with her cuffs. “And when Lockwood said she’s too distracted to train it’s not because she’s flirting with him, it’s because she didn’t shut up about you the whole time she was asking to join the agency.” Immediately, Lucy stopped scrubbing at her face. In fact, she stopped crying all together.

“She what?”

“Something about you showing her how much she was missing having a family, and she wants to be part of yours. And she has a bag of flares which technically she’s now stolen from Kipps to sweeten the deal, if you’ll have her. Lockwood said it’s your call.”

Lucy’s frantic rubbing resumed, trying to erase any evidence of her crying even as she hastily made her way to the door. George called after her, “Does this mean you finally acknowledge that I’m always right?” He laughed at the chain of expletives he got in response.

—

You were alone in the basement, admiring the collection of rapiers and trying not to overthink what was taking Lockwood so long, when Lucy came barrelling down the stairs. She skidded to a halt in front of you, breathing heavily and as flushed as she had been earlier.

“You were flirting with me?!” she gasped.

“I… yes?”

“Why didn’t you say so?”

“That’s generally how flirting works, love.” Her face grew redder at the pet name. “You only just realised?”

She cast her eyes upwards. “George helped. I thought you were just being nice to get to Lockwood.”

“I told you it wasn’t him I was charmed by.” You wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close. She folded willingly into you, burying her incredibly warm face in the front of your blouse. The heat sparked something in your chest.

“You didn’t say it like that!” she whined.

“Well you know what I just realised?”

“What?”

“How cute you are when you’re flustered.”

“Really?” Her hands ran slowly down your back, coming to rest on your waist, and her eyes met yours before gliding down to your lips.

“No, of course not - I realised in the Archives.”

She smiled shyly, melting your heart even more. “I can’t believe you think I’m cute.”

You dragged her even closer, reaching up to boop her nose which made her scrunch her whole face up in the most adorable way. Your hand continued to the back of her neck, gently bringing her face towards yours. Perhaps you could make her even more flustered.

Lucy had other ideas. Her hands on your waist gripped tightly as she bounced up to meet you, lips soft and sweet yet firm and passionate. Her intensity took your breath away, and you felt your knees buckle. She held you strong, backing you up against the wall for support. You gasped a little into the kiss, trying to regain some air, and she did the same when your hand wound its way into her hair. When you both ran out of ways to breathe, you broke apart, but her hand found yours and yours never left her waist.

“Kipps is going to be absolutely fuming when he hears about all this,” she murmured with a grin.

“Oh trust me, I can’t wait to tell him myself. I quit, I’ve joined a better agency, and I get to be with one of the most amazing agents - one of the most amazing people - I've ever met.”

“I could say the same.” She puffed up her chest, pulled a face and lowered her voice in a silly impression of your now-former boss. “Allow me to introduce (name), one of the most prestigious agents in the country and my girlfriend… if you want to be?” Her voice returned to normal and she bit her lip nervously.

“There’s nothing I’d want more,” you smiled as you leant in to kiss her again.

[starseneyes]

Chenford - Lucy Chen / Tim Bradford - The Rookie - Season 5 - Ep 11

"The Naked and the Dead" AKA "Chenford is SOOOO married"

SPOILER WARNING: I will spoil the entire episode, likely the entire show, and I am addicted to details. Please proceed with caution.

Everybody primed and ready to go? Let's dive in!

"Hey, let me do it."

Timelines are tricky on this show, so I really don't think this was after the "second" date, but later. We saw in the cold open that Nolan and Celina were on a case during the day, so I think Tim and Lucy have been sneaking in dates and we're MAYBE a few days or a week past the end of the last episode.

So, that cute little glance Lucy gives Tim before uttering "let me do it" made me squee. Yes, I squee like a little girl kicking in a too-tall chair. Let me flail. I'm good at it!

Tim steps back and lets his wife girlfriend get to work on the coffee machine.

We know he's into black coffee (and clearly she knows his order after all the years on the job together), and I bet if he has a machine at home, it's either a grind-and-brew to give him whole bean goodness in a more instant form, or it's that "one cup" model I gave my husband to keep at work. Insert coffee. Insert water. Brew.

"So, what'd you guys get up to last night." "Nothing!"

Tim. Oh, Tim. Remember last week when I said you should stop lying? Yeah... maybe time to take my advice because your "nothing" is louder than a lot of "somethings".

To be fair, Nolan did say, "You Guys", which might trigger Tim's Fight-or-Flight response. Fleeing the scene might have appeared less suspicious.

Lucy slips in with her well-practiced UC skills on full display. See, she's had time to prepare, this time, and she's not going to get caught in the early stages of her secret romance.

She rattles off her love of the new Chagall exhibit while Tim suddenly gets lost in the aroma of his coffee so he can't open his big mouth, again. He seriously can't even look at either of them.

Tim finds a spec of dust on the floor to admire, sips his coffee, and hopes nobody notices.

Also, can we talk about Lucy handing Tim his coffee!? I know she could have done it at any other time in their relationship. I mean, she was his Boot and then his Gofer. She's handed him MANY a cup of coffee over the years.

But there is something so bloody domestic about Lucy Chen handing her boyfriend a cup of coffee.

"Nothing? You had all morning to come up with a cover story and that's what you went with?"

First off, I love the tone change from Lucy sending Nolan off to confronting Tim.

Second, I love how Tim immediately has to right the wrong of him being perpendicular to her and set himself directly in front of her, feet pointing towards what he desires. (Any New Girl fans out there?)

"Woah, woah. He bought it, didn't he?" "Uhhh."

I love this teasing. Both Eric Winter and Melissa O'Neil excel at something I adore in actors... the Art of the HUM. It can be "uh" or "hm" or "mm".

I don't care which of the "H" "U" "M" s you use and in what combination, a great actor can use them to add layers to a scene and make it feel completely natural rather than written-in.

Chenford fans are blessed with both actors masterfully pulling it off. Think Matthew Goode in A Discovery of Witches. If there's a King of the HUM, it's him.

But these two are pretty high up there in terms of mastery.

"What if he had asked you a follow-up question about the exhibit?"

There's that competitive spirit coming out with these two. Tim wants to prove that his excuse is more fool-proof than hers.

And, Tim, while you may be the Master of Tests, Lucy is the Master of Cover Stories. Remember Dim and Juicy's meet-cute Lucy created that made you think naughty thoughts you tried to cover up with veiled barely-there compliments? Lucy's gonna school you, former TO.

"Let him. I read the catalogue to the exhibit cover to cover."

First off, how the hell does Melissa O'Neil make that line sound hot? The world may never know.

Secondly... BOOM, Tim Bradford! You've been schooled by the master! Lucy is the queen of preparation. For goodness sake, she read psych journals trying to prepare to break up with her ex-"Work In Progress".

Lucy has a pattern, and it's a good one when your SO becomes your SO and you don't want anyone to know... o.

"Mmhmm"

See? Master of the HUM.

"I hear you have Citizens Academy today." "I do. Do you have any tips?"

She trusts him completely, and I love that he immediately rattles off information to help her. At this point, he knows exactly what she needs to hear, and what will be useful to her.

Also, Tim's disdain for screenwriters is strong. Or someone in the writer's room is really tired of unsolicited screenplays in their inbox.

"So... um, what are you doing tonight." "Nothing... I hope."

Ooooh, Velvet Voiced Tim is back! Eric Winter puts this velvety quality into Tim's voice when he's in boyfriend-mode, and it's so bloody delicious.

I did VO for over 20 years, so I get SUPER excited about these little shifts in performance. Immediately, we know what he means. Yowza.

"Nothing sounds perfect."

Okay, I have to be upfront and honest, here. My original prediction was that they would not have sex for the first time off-screen and that they would not have sex this episode.

But when this scene dropped as a promo (and I love that they did widescreen with wings when it was too awkward for the crop), I second-guessed myself. Did they... do it off-screen!?

No. Now, I firmly believe, no. But this scene had me going for a minute!

Narratively, it makes more sense to drag it out. Yes, I know that in real life some people sleep with one another the moment they meet. But I believe for these characters in this moment... it makes sense to take their time.

But when I first heard they were doing "nothing" and they'd also done "nothing" the night before with only the morning to make up a cover story... I questioned my choices hard.

And now my mind's in the gutter.

Okay, readjusting. Let's get back to Tim's beautiful smirk as he watches his woman depart. "I hate to see you go, but I love to watch you leave", anyone? Our kitten is smitten.

Lucy On A Mission

Lucy works at the computer, lost in thought and using that big brain and compassionate heart of hers.

Aaron slides up, completely unaware of what's on her computer. He's ready to spill the tea, and the tea is standing right beside him.

"You'll never guess who's coaching Little League." "Nolan?" "No. Sergeant Friendly."

I love the glare Tim gives Aaron. Because it's his damn fault. But I also love Aaron poking fun at Tim. Their dynamic's been a lot of fun to watch this season.

"Whu- How did that happen? Can I watch?"

Ma'am. This is a PRECINCT. Please pick your panties up off the floor and resume normal operating function.

I mean, wow, Lucy! There was some heat in that question and Aaron is right there!

Lucy Materializes Out of Thin Air

I had to watch it twice to pinpoint where the hell she came from at the ball park. So, my initial surprise was akin to Tim's.

"Hey." Hi."

How. Is. This. HOT!? They're just saying "hi" and it's so charged with electricity the baseball field lights are about to turn themselves on. There is absolutely zero chill with these two since they started dating, let's be real.

"Um... who are you?" "What?" "I... the... a lot of heart? They're kind of a mess." "They're kids. It's supposed to be fun." "Yeah..."

I hear that edge in his voice on that line.

It's the same edge that gets into his voice anytime he discusses anything remotely connected to his father or childhood. So many of his choices are informed by the scars he still bears—physical and emotional.

Tim walks away, a little frustrated, because he can see Lucy doesn't get it. To be fair, he isn't explaining it. He's not communicating with her at all here.

But, also to be fair, he's never sought counseling or therapy for what he survived. There's a lot bottled up and it can be hard to pour it out in digestible bits if you've never learned how.

Genny fills in the gaps. That's all Lucy needs to process where Tim is and what he's going through.

I grew up with a lot of yelling, name-calling, and verbal and emotional abuse. Manipulation. Control.

One of my greatest joys is breaking those cycles with my own children—giving them a better childhood.

Tim watched the anger and the volatile nature of the last coaching situation here. He remembers his own father. He wants different for these kids, even if they aren't his own.

"He's trying not to be like him." "Yeah."

Lucy deflates a little, here. It was only silly puffery meant to tease, but now she gets it. Now she sees where this comes from, and she feels a little guilty. Of course, she didn't know, but now she does.

*Tim thumbs ups a kid dropping a ball* "Well, I mean, there is such a thing as over-correcting."

Here's where Lucy knowing Tim so well comes in. She doesn't try to talk to him about it. She doesn't try to tell him what to do.

Instead, she gets in there to help course-correct so Tim can keep being supportive, and she'll provide the structure so he doesn't have to have the anxiety of in any way resembling his father.

This is such a demonstration of love, to me. She knows he's not ready to deal with all of this. There will be a day—perhaps when his father dies—that he'll start to process through everything that happened. But, in the meantime, she'll help him through.

This is where Tim and Lucy live, now. It's a "we". It's an "us". It's something neither of them has ever had to this degree, before, even though Tim was married once-upon-a-time.

Lucy and Tim are a team, now, and this episode highlights why—they complement each other. They balance each other. They sharpen each other.

And in this way, Tim's very fortunate to be falling in love with someone with a pysch degree who can understand what's needed. She's the ideal partner to help with this because she knows him enough, now, not to push. But she also knows enough to provide a safe space for when he is ready to discuss.

"What are you doing?"

You never know what your girl is gonna do, do you, Tim?

To note, the last time he asked her this was when he was in the hospital recovering from spinal surgery. She was supporting him, then, too. She has a knack for it. (and I think the time before that was when he caught her putting boots in his locker... she also has a knack for pranks, of course)

"My name is Lucy. I am Coach Bradford's... friend."

Look. At. Tim's. FACE. Look at that bemused smile when she asserts she is his "friend". There was a time when he wouldn't even have accepted that moniker.

It wasn't until they were discussing her love life in the shop during the last 30 days of her training that she said, "we're friends" and instead of refuting it, he simply made a face.

And I love that she remains his friend even as they're transitioning into everything else. I often tell my children that my husband is my best friend—and I mean it. Nobody supports me like Matthew, lifts me up like Matthew, understands my trauma like Matthew, and makes me laugh like Matthew.

I love every layer of that man. And he loves every layer of me. And friendship goes a long way to getting to that point, I think.

Lucy rattles off instructions for how to throw a ball while Tim side-eye-fucks her and thinks of other things she can do with her hands as she's acting out the motions.

Come on, I'm not wrong here, people! Look at his face and tell me there aren't a few things happening in his mind that are not baseball-related but might involve running some bases.

Lucy disperses the kids, and Tim fires off a "You heard her" which is the Chenford Coaching Team equivalent of "Listen to your mother!"

He looks her up and down and smiles deliciously at Lucy, activating her praise kink in a delightful motion of her head.

Yes, Lucy Chen absolutely has a praise kink. And there's nothing wrong with that! But I love how Melissa O'Neil has been consistent with that little head swish Lucy does.

We've seen her do it throughout the years ("Maybe one day she'll be as good as you" comes to mind), and it never stopped. It only morphed.

Look at it at Lopez's wedding when he compliments her (in his way) and then asks her for a dance. Praise Kink Activated.

She does it at the end of 5x08 as we wait to fade to black, and there's a softer version of it when she's basking in Tim's adoration at the end of their first scene of 5x09 in the Watch Commander's office. Girl's got it bad for Tim Bradford.

He offers her the ball... but no he didn't. And I'm giggling like Lucy last episode because he's such a teenager around her, sometimes.

I've heard the expression all my life, "Love makes you young". I often think of Patrick Stewart wearing the Elf Song Hat while his wife recorded him (Google it... you'll die laughing).

With Tim, I feel like it resets him to before all the hurt and heartache in his love-life with Isabelle. He can be... free. Flirty. Fun.

But, seriously, Tim's the one who is going to get them found out for sure. Because, you know who had a front row seat to that eye-fuckery? Genny, that's who.

Y'ain't fooling anyone, Timothy.

"I think you two should co-coach. You were great together." "Oh, no, no. I'm ready to hand over the reins, entirely." "Not a chance."

I've thought about the layers in this little interaction quite a bit. Genny sees something here—whether it's the romance, the layered friendship, or the true partnership they've developed over the years.

But I feel like Tim's dealing with some self-doubt, here, and Lucy catches onto that.

I have a husband who deals with self-doubt. He's an incredible human, but I can tell when he's leaning into that and when I need to pull him back out and remind him how awesome he is.

I get that feeling here with Tim and Lucy. Maybe I'm projecting. But, I feel like he's saying, "She's better than me" and she's saying "No way, no how". Because he's not bad at this. Yes, he over-corrected a bit, but kids do need the support he offered. And Lucy brought the structure. They're better together.

I mean, just look at the way they're cleaning up together. Lucy's handing the bats to Tim and Tim's putting them away. They're doing it instinctively because helping one another and working together is completely natural, by now.

It's not something they have to discuss or consider—it's instinctual.

I've seen this in nature, before. A client of mine (yes, same client from last Meta) flew me out to Los Angeles a few times for work. I stayed with him and his wife, and I got to watch them work in the kitchen together.

After decades and decades of it being the two of them together, with no kids or anyone else in the way... it was like watching a dance.

That's Tim and Lucy. They move together rhythmically and naturally. May it be so in all aspects of their life—but I'm skipping to another episode that hasn't aired, yet, now!

"No, but seriously! I saw today why you work so well together."

And, Tim, poor, sweet Tim, opens his mouth. Tim can't get words out, and one look from his wife, and he knows to shut that mouth.

"We spend so much time together on, out on the job. It's so great that Tyler has been making friends so quickly after moving here."

Anyone else thinking Lucy's UC school was solely so she could cover up for her and her not-so-secretive secret boyfriend? Because, hello, it keeps coming in handy!

This is classic redirection. I use it with my children all the time. Just this morning my 5-year-old daughter was having an unusually hard time saying goodbye to go to school. Usually, she walks in without a glance back. Today, it was CLING city.

So, I went through the room until we finally finally found something to get her mind off of me so I could slip away.

Lucy's doing the same thing. She's pointing at something else in Genny's life to let that thought of "Tim and Lucy" slip away. It gives Genny something more personal to her to focus on, and shifts the conversation gently.

"We'll make sure he gets the best seat in the house."

Just thirty seconds ago, Tim was trying to get out of co-coaching, and they were both deflecting why they're great together, but now we're back to "we". Heck, we never left "we" for Tim and Lucy. They're a unit, now.

"What's wrong?" "There's something going on with my Domestic." "You want me to come? "No, it's okay. I got it."

Oh, how far we've come. In the past, if Tim said, "What's wrong?" to Lucy, it was surprising that he was taking interest. But, this is his girlfriend, and he knows her well. He looks to her phone for a clue as she approaches.

Then, he offers his help. This isn't TO Tim who wants to make sure his Boot doesn't mess things up. This isn't Sergeant Tim who is going to be backup for Officer Chen. This is Boyfriend Tim willing to be there for his woman, but asking what she wants because he knows she's more than capable of handling herself.

That's what hits me the hardest about this—he knows she's got it, but he's there if she wants him.

And I think that's why her "No" and the head-tilt comes off as intimately as it does... Lucy knows what Tim's offering and why. It's love he's demonstrating and she's sending a "message received" with that look.

And Tim's little "okay" downturn of his lip at the end of the clip even shows how he's not worried a bit. But he was going to offer. And I bloody love that.

Tim and Lucy and Wesley

I love this scene. It's so small and seemingly insignificant plot-wise, but it's the heart of the story, here. Okay, I'm tearing up a little.

PAUSE: TW Abuse CW Abuse

I don't want to give details, but I have people in my life who have been where these women are in the story. So, to me, I don't see the characters. I see my cousin. I see my friend. I see the girl when I was in college who was murdered by her boyfriend in the dorm.

In the case of the plot, this scene isn't necessary. But in terms of the context, it adds so bloody much. It's the message. It's the truth of what happens all too often. Gabby Petito is a recent case that made national headlines, but this happens all over, every day.

And what can we do? What options are there? How can we help? There is some heavy stuff in this episode. But, it's important for us to listen and learn.

END TW Abuse CW Abuse

I love that Tim has Lucy's back, here. She could have done this alone, but I bet she asked him along for his experience and for the weight of his strips in the discussion.

And I ADORE Shawn Ashmore (the sharp-eyed twin, as I've always thought of him), and there's something so irreverent about him sitting in that suit atop the desk that made me giggle a little the first time I saw it.

"Him and Bailey are just way too nice to be landlords." "Totally." *aggressive head-nodding Tim*

And like the Fool who took the stage immediately after the gruesome murder in the Royal Shakespeare Production of MacBeth (the Scottish play for my theatre siblings), there's the levity we need to help transition to what's next.

It's the rhythm of the scene and script where somehow this writer's room is tasked with heartache and hilarity in the same space. It takes skill to do well, and this scene does it well.

"Okay, hold on, you are a complete badass out on the streets-" *Tim question's wife's opinion aggressively* "Off hours, you're a little...." "Easy target."

Nolan's indignation combined with Celina's face make that moment. But it's all the rhythm of Tim and Lucy that gets us there. Tim and Lucy are still Tim and Lucy.

Lucy wants to try to find the compassionate angle, and Tim's going to tell it like it is.

Chenford Coach a Game

Tim and Lucy have me smiling ear-to-ear for so many reasons in this scene. Look at how sweet he is with the kids, making sure they have a good experience. Look how competitive she is. Miss "I like trophies" is coming out, and it's amazing.

"God, every time!" "Be encouraging." "Good. Good job. Good try." "We're gonna work on that."

Married. So married. Beyond married. This whole interaction is gold. And the matching hats and shirts!? Normally, I wouldn't think Prison Orange would be a good look on a cop, but these two pull it off!

Tim is coaching Lucy as much as he's coaching the kids. I see a little "teacher Tim" in that "Be encouraging", though far gentler than TO Tim. And his face right before he tells her, "We're gonna work on that" has me rolling. That little down-turned mouth cracks me up.

We're getting a sneak peek into their future with this one. And, as usual, Tim and Lucy are balancing one another out.

That's one of the things I really love about them. They're not the same person, like Lucy says his ex was. They're very different people who are on a parallel path and are willing to put in the work to make this work because they're worth it.

"I'm excited." "I know."

AHHHHHHH. I know it's a TINY, tiny thing, but the way that he so effortlessly leans into her, the way he cocks his head as he says, "I know." It's so married.

And I have to call out the camera work, here, and the directing. If we're paying attention, we see Nyla and Angela showing up as Blake goes to bat. From the other angle you might note Blake's father shooting to his feet as Blake's bat connects with the ball.

The director is allowing us to discover the story-line without dumping us in at that shot of Nyla and Angela surrounding Blake's father. And I bloody love it.

James Patterson (pre-ghost writers) took the same approach with his mystery books. If you were really paying attention, you always had the opportunity to discover the answer along with the detective. That was something the ghost writers just always missed.

It's fun to have the chance to be detectives yourself—and this director allowed us that chance.

And, I just looked it up. Robert Bella, again! That explains the composition of Tim and Lucy with the fence during the night scene at the ball-field—having Eric Winter take the two steps up so he'd be framed behind the fence instead of in the gap as Melissa O'Neil steps away for Lucy's call.

Anyway.... back to Blake's Criminal Dad...

I had hoped this was the way the story-line would go (with Blake's father being arrested at the end of the game), but I didn't call Nyla and Angela being involved.

So, that gives two more people front row seats to "Why the Hell are Tim and Lucy Coaching Together if They're Just Friends And Holy Crap Were They About to Kiss on the Sidelines?"

Also love the Genny is up there, and that she's positioned behind Blake's father. I don't know if she did it on purpose to help make him easier to find for Nyla and Angela, but that's my head-canon.

And LOOK at Tim and Lucy cheer Blake on! Married. So married.

Plus, that hi-five. I know we're all talking about what Tim has in his hand. Is it cash? We've seen him bet on things before (including that his Rookie would smoke everyone at firearm re-certification), but did Tim and Lucy bet on the game?

She definitely grabs on after the high five, and we see his fingers wiggling. Is he trying to get out of giving her the money? We might need Eric Winter and Melissa O'Neil to chime in on this one...

I have to say, I am loving domestic Chenford, and watching them find new layers to their relationship. I know a lot of people want snogging every week, but I am a huge fan of dolling it out in smaller dollops, much as the romantic aspects of this relationship have been leading up to "Do you want to go on a date?".

Yes, in real life, some people sleep together the moment they meet. Then, you have me and Matthew, who waited four years and until we were married. Lucy and Tim are somewhere between that, and I think they're doing what's right for these characters in this moment.

And I have to separate Chenford back into Tim and Lucy, for a moment, to acknowledge what might not be seen as "Chenford" to most, but totally is to me... Tim and Lucy had separate story-lines this episode.

Yes, Lucy came together on the baseball story-line. Yes, they converged at parts on the Domestic story-line. But, we got to also see them handle themselves without the other as backup. And I think that's so important for us to see as an audience—Tim and Lucy are still Tim and Lucy. They don't have to be together every second.

Tim was highly organized and communicative as a Sergeant in the shoot-out. We got to see his military-level calm and control on display.

For Lucy, we got to see her compassion, bad-assery, and conflict de-escalation without anyone having to back her up. She's a confident and competent cop.

Together, we love them. But I'm someone who also lovesTim and Lucy as Tim and Lucy—separate from Chenford.

I think it's important for the show to remind us who they are on their own so that we can appreciate them both, and not let "Chenford" become the only story-line for either. Both characters are rich and complex, and deserve the opportunity to shine separate from one another, not only when they share a scene.

PAUSE: CW Abuse TW Abuse

This story-line really broke my heart because I know those women. I've been the one in Lucy's position trying to help before one was nearly strangled to death by her husband. And she stayed... it was rough.

If you are in an unsafe situation, please reach out and get help. Here is the number for the National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233

I like to keep these Metas light and frothy, but I'd be remiss if I didn't acknowledge this plot line that isn't a story for two many people in this country and in this world.

Yes, we watch television often for entertainment, but there can be some truth in the messages we receive.

END CW Abuse TW Abuse

As always, thank you for reading and joining me on this ride. I can't wait to see what's next for Tim, Lucy, and Chenford.st

[bumblebeehug]

as much as i love to shake my finger at Natsu for leaving Lucy that one year, i kinda feel like he’s not the worst person in this scenario. We all know the things he went through and wanted to battle on his own before returning to his guild, and its honestly reasonable (though never let that man write a letter again, who says bye like that lmao)

can we please talk about how Lucy ended up completely alone when the guild disbanded??? She has loads of friends in that guild, but Levy ran off with Gajeel (they wanted to shag so fair enough), Gray and Erza kept in contact, Juvia went along with Gray, and the Strauss-siblings stuck together as well. Wendy went to Chelia (which is also fair enough because they’re cute together and deserve to hang every second of the year) and she wasn’t alone since she had Carla from the guild with her. Obviously idk what the other guild mates did, but literally no matter what they went off doing, why couldn’t anyone keep in contact with Lucy?

Our girl was literally left completely alone. Like yes, she has her spirits which never makes her truly alone (her words) but now that Loke mostly spends his time in the celestial realm, it isn’t quite the same to say that he kept contact and is a guild member.

Like honestly, they all owe her an apology. She wasn’t exactly undercover either, she was literally working as a journalist - I’m pretty sure Juvia said she read all Lucy’s articles (maybe it wasn’t Juvia but someone said it). So why couldn’t they just talk to her? Reach out, ask how she’s doing.

Lucy didn’t have the guts to do that because she felt like everyone had moved on with their lives. She felt like she was alone in feeling like she still was stuck in between normal life and the guild life. She did what she could to know where her friends were, and made sure that they all were safe (as safe as a mage can be) and in my opinion her reason for not reaching out makes sense. Theirs don’t (some of them do. Gray and Erza were doing that crazy undercover mission - though why didn’t they let Lucy join? Another question raised lol, and Wendy is too timid in her personality and probably felt like she was trespassing into Lucy’s private life if she considered contacting her, so her reason checks out as well).

i’m probably reaching as usual (and also rambling as usual, why do my posts get so long) but lucy is my babe and she’s been through so much that i just want her happy. peace out ✌🏼

[inlovewithfictionalmensblog]

𝐘𝐎𝐔'𝐋𝐋 𝐁𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐖𝐇𝐎 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐃𝐈𝐃  °.ཻུ۪›› Caspian X

Princess y/n had always been a bright, angelic woman. She was her kingdom's golden girl, loved by all. No one ever had a reason to hate y/n. She was too devine. But she was of fire, beautiful, warm but lethal. A curse she was gifted when she was born. She was unable to touch anyone. Though she never expected that the one she could touch would be her enemy.

Warnings : enemies to lovers. Angst, fluff, !intense shit. Reader has brown hair and amber eyes.

-—𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 day y/n discovered she was unable to touch anyone was the day of her nameday. It had all happened so quickly. One moment, she just turned ten, and the next, she was sitting down with a body in front of her, shaking and whimpering in pain.

She screamed for soldiers that day, foe their help, and when one offered their hand to her, he screamed in pain. Nights she wondered what she had done to deserve such a terrible 'gift' . She couldn't hug her parents, touch any animals, touch anyone for that matter.

Her mother had been disappointed, putting things in y/ns head. How would she marry if she can't touch, how would she have an heir if she can't touch, how would anyone love her?

Her father hadn't mind. He was the only one out of her family to treat her the same. Touch wasn't the only way to express love. He often gave her gifts, blowing her kisses, he'd near her cheek to 'peck her cheek' only his lips never touched her.

She remembered the day the four kings and Queens of Narnia returned, her father fought in the war for the freedom of narnians and for the throne of Prince caspian.

Prince caspian had been a handsome man. He was polite, brave, and noble, like every prince. His deep brown black eyes, tanned skin, body, and telmarine accent. He was the most beautiful man she'd set eyes on. But while her eyes were on him, his were on susan pevensie.

Y/n couldn't deny Susan's beauty. Starting from her perfect pale skin, beautiful blue eyes and full lips. Not to mention, susan wasn't cursed.

She remembered the way he looked at her when he found out who she was. She remembered how peters/caspians' army stared at her, scared of her. They didn't go anywhere near her, Peter stopped Lucy from going anywhere near y/n .

Now presently, eight years later. Three years since the older pevensies left for good and another three since the younger ones did as well, two that y/n last saw caspian.

And suddenly y/ns father, Nathaniel announces that in a day, king caspian will visit. It didn't make y/n feel scared, not even nervous. Over the eight years, she changed, still unable to control her touch, she learned to use her 'gift.' .

One year ago her mother passed, it never saddened y/n, but her father was getting old and she was the only heir. Meaning sooner or later, y/n would be Queen, and she didn't have time to fear or to be weak and let others step on her.

"Princess." A fair tone said behind her, turning she saw her guard, Thomas. He gave her a simple and gentle but firm head bow. "The king requests for you to join him in the gardens."

Y/n smiles, walking away from the balcony and onto her way towards the door, Thomas looked at her, smiling. "Thank you, Thomas." She nods her head, and he returns it. Stepping aside to let her pass.

Walking through the halls, her heels echo. She lifts her gown to step down the stairs. One hand comes to her face to move a strand of hair away from her face. The sun hits her like a slap, and she smiles when she sees her father, looking at the tulips with squinted eyes, when his eyes met hers, his eyes softened.

"My sweet girl." His voice is gentle and sweet, he cocks his head towards Thomas, signaling for him to leave. "Father." Y/n smiles, making sure she's distant from him, he smiles at her. "Beautiful flowers aren't they?" He asks, suddenly.

Y/n looks at the many colorful tulips. They were beautiful. " Yes, Papa. Truly beautiful." She smiles, her finger touching only one petal, so delicately. She wasn't able to touch humans, but she was granted and able to touch un-living things, thanks to Aslan.

Her father sees and smiles, "dear," he says, "walk with me." He orders gently, to which she obeys. Walking alongside together, her father speaks. " Our Kingdom is the largest in the world. The second largest, seeing as Care Paravel had always been first before it turned into merely rocks and ruins."

Y/n nods , listening intently, her father's pauses with his words."and one day." He begins, "You will rule it all. But I am afraid you'd rule it alone." He seems hesitant, afraid. Y/n sighs, quietly.

"I don't expect you to want to marry, and I will not force you to." He says, looking at her. "You are a woman , free to do whatever you want. But I ask that you consider wanting to marry." Y/n looks away, staring at the fountains, the brught green grass, and at the town from a low view.

The kingdom, Therondia, was truly a big kingdom. Twice as beautiful as Cair Paravel. Green, the villages were beautiful, there were hundreds of lakes, and beaches, tunnels with secret lakes. Creatures that are only seen in Therondia.

It amazed y/n that one day, she'd be Queen of it.

"Who would want to marry me, father." She asks, not in a harsh tone or sad. In a normal tone, one she used all the time. Her father stared at her, shrugging. "You never know, dear. If I announced to all in Therondia , I'd need a good fit for you. I'm sure there'd be a line of thousands."

Y/n chuckles, shaking her head. She stared up ahead, seeing gardeners. Suddenly, the thought of her father leaving her hits her. Her father was getting older, hair growing white, wrinkles on his face.

"But I don't think you'll be leaving me soon, Papa." She says to him, stopping her tracks. She gives him a sad smile. He stopped to look at her also, she looked so much like her mother. Gifted with beautiful brown long curls, amber eyes, and fair skin.

"I'd never leave you, my dear."

After their walk, y/n entered her chamber, closing the door. Sitting by her fireplace, flipping through pages of a book. She tapped her fingers against the table beside her, although she wasn't paying attention to the letters/words. Tomorrow, someone she hasn't seen in two years, someone who hates her, would come and visit the kingdom.

She hadn't thought about it truly until recently. But now she couldn't push away the thought of seeing him once again. She shook her head, closing her book, opening her balcony door open, walking towards the edge, staring at the beautiful view of the seas , from the side she could hear faint music from the village.

She could see the lights, gleaming. She sighed, bringing her robe tighter on her. The air was fresh and smelled of sea salt, freshly cut grass, and smoke. Nothing smelled better. She closed her eyes, laying her head on the stone, sighing. She lifted her head , staring at her hands, only a knock on her door made her turn, the door opened revealing thomas.

"Your tea, princess." He bows, entering with a silver tray with tea. He places it on the table next to the fireplace, stands straight, and stares at her. The black silk satin robe, although her left shoulder was exposed, her nightgowns strap visible, her hair was down, and her skin looked warm. Thomas was stuck until she cleared her throat.

"Thank you, thomas." She smiles, "is that all?" She asks, keeping her distance. "No—no yes, yes. Rest well, Princess." He bows quickly, making an exit.

Y/n shakes her head, sitting down on her chair. Thomas valrik was a young man, younger than her. He was a dirty blond with green eyes, fit and strong. Which is why y/ns father had chosen him to be her guard. Y/n often found him a good friend, she trusted him with what she needed to let out. And her handmaiden , dayana even had a little crush on him.

She sips tea, relaxing. Tomorrow would be a new day, with visitors. She didn't know why, but she didn't want to be there when they arrived, she didn't want to have to see.. him. He often called her out with never being able to help, called her out on her curse, and he blamed her for hurting susan, which was an accident.

He was so.. obsessed with Susan, he never left her sight. What y/n did to susan was an accident, but caspian didn't see it like that. He was angry, unknowingly, he pushed her away from susan, angrily, and shielded susan.

She tried to explain what had happened but caspian never listened.

She was afraid, he would be worse.

----

Y/n stared at her reflection in the mirror. Sometimes, she didn't recognize herself. She looked different every day. Two years ago, she looked completely different.

Her handmaiden smiled at her, "You look beautiful, princess." Her handmaiden, dayana smiles, kindly. "I wish I could look like you, Your Grace."

Y/n turns, frowning. "You are beautiful, dayana. " y/n smiles, "you could win hundreds of hearts if only you were confident, my dear." Y/n says gently, her tone was angelic. The tone that a mother would use on a child. Dayana blushed. "Your grace—"

"I mean it, dayana. Never compare yourself to anyone." Y/n walked a little closer. Her finger didn't touch dayana, but softly pushed a small strand of hair from dayanas face, dayana didn't flinch. Dayana wasn't afraid of y/n. Dayana smiled.

"Thank you, Princess." Dayana said, smiling. She bowed and turned to leave the chamber, leaving y/n alone once again. Y/n sighed. She could see the large ship that belonged to caspian and his men. She wondered if, after all these years, he moved on from Susan.

Y/n looked away from the balcony, sighing with a pit in her stomach she couldn't fathom. She turned to her door, opened it, and closed it. She walked alone through the empty halls , her heels echoing in the hall, and she takes a shortcut, but it's cut off by her father.

" The king is on his way." Her father tells her, she nods, "yes," and he nods as well, " So where do you think you're going?" He asks, and she laughs nervously.

"To get some air." She lies.

He doesn't believe her. "Right. There is plenty of air inside as well, no?" He questioned, looking around the empty hall. She smiles , nodding once again. "Yes."

"Hmm, come. We must be there when King Caspian arrives."

Y/n sighs, huffing. She takes a deep breath and follows her father. He walks towards the throne room, where there stood in the center, the large stoned throne, silver diamond embroidered, shaved. King Nathaniel sat calmly and patiently while y/n stood beside him with her guard behind her, Grimsley by her father's side.

Y/n shifted from one foot to another, toying with her fingers. "Relax, princess." Thomas says behind her, whispering so only she can hear. She nods, swallowing. Footsteps approach and the doors open, Lord drinian steps first, then reepicheep the noble and brave rat—knight, she smiles when she sees reep and trumpkin, though she hides it. Her head is high, but they stare at her.

Then, here he came. Looking as different as before. He no longer had long hair but had cut it short, face was full of facial hair but not too much, it looked good, he was dressed in fine black clothes, black boots, with peter pevensie's sword hanging on his hip.

King Nathaniel stands, "King Caspian," he bows his head. Caspian hasn't seen y/n just yet, which she is thankful for. "We welcome you to our home," the king says, giving a warming welcome to the telmarine king.

"We are most grateful, You're grace." Caspian bows , y/n stares at him, but looks away shortly, not wanting to be caught. Her hands are locked in front of her, her chin high, and she avoided eye contact with any of her old friends.

Her father opened his mouth to speak of something, his voice echoing across the halls, reep and trumpkin stepping aside, lord drinian standing just beside caspian as always.

"My daughter and I hope your stay is as comfortable as you deserve." Her father says, smiling towards y/n, caspian looks at her, his fierce eyes trailing her form, she looked at him, bowing , "King caspian," She avoids his gaze, when she's straight he bows his head as well, "Princess y/n."

His tone was cold as usual, his telmarine accent gone, now replaced with an English strong and fierce accent. His voice was deeper. But then again, he was older.

She didn't say anything afterward, reepicheep looked at her, looking excited. She smiled softly at him, nodding to him as well.

When their welcome was over, y/n rushed out the throne room, thomas following quietly. She didn't turn to look at caspian, but she could feel his intense stare , following her as she walked out.

She let out a breath she didn't know she held, her back against a wall when she saw she was alone. Thomas gave her a look, "I see the tension still continues." He says, and she nods , chuckling.

"He hates me." She whispers, shaking her head. Thomas frowns. "I don't see how anyone could hate you, princess. You are kind."

Y/n shrugs, beginning to walk. Thomas never walked beside her, only ever walked behind her. Because that was his job as her guard. "He's hated me since before he met eighteen years ago." Y/ns begins, "but I suppose he only despised me when I accidentally, but to him, purposely hurt his precious susan." Y/n seemed sarcastic. She mocked Susan's name. Thomas seemed amused.

"It seems to me he's misunderstood you." Thomas says and y/n squeals. "EXACTLY!" She whispers yells. " The man only met me within 5 minutes and decided I'd be his worst enemy."

After walking, she made it to the garden and spent the rest of her day there.

----

Y/n knew she shouldn't be up late, but she couldn't sleep. Something kept her awake.

She walked alone at night with a lantern in her hand, making her way towards the library that truly belonged to her. She was the only one who read aside from her mother, who was.. gone now.

She opened the large door to the library and quickly closed it. The library was large, filled with problems, millions of books, a large and long window , showing a beautiful view of the moon and stars. She places the lantern down and goes over a couple of books, finding one that would be interesting for her.

"Not that one." She whispered to herself, as quiet as she could.

She was distracted with her book. She failed to realize she wasn't alone, and someone was watching her, both amused and slightly confused.

She dropped a book, hissing as the head of it hit Her toes. "Ow!" She hisses, desperately trying to be quiet. The library was incredibly both quiet and echoey. One sound, and it would echo loud enough for someone who coincidentally passed by to hear.

She bent to get the book, "Shouldn't you be asleep?" A voice behind her causes her to flinch and gasp. Turning she faces, standing in front of caspian who was dressed in other but a white button up, pants and his black boots. His hair was messy, and he looked tired.

"I-" She stammered, "I couldn't sleep." She said, then frowned. "Why are you here?" She asks suddenly. Caspian clicks his tongue, "it's a library, is it not? What other reason is there to be in a library if not to read?"

She mentally rolls her eyes, but instead, she hums. Not replying. She turns, grabbing a book, and wants to make a leave when his voice stops her. " You've changed." He says, his eyes are on the book in front of him for a moment, then he places it on a counter and looks at her, hands going on his pockets. Even from a distance, he was still very much taller than her.

"No," she shakes her head, "I haven't. I'm still the same." She lies. She did change. She'd like to believe. And he clearly sees it, too. He hums, he doesn't smile or anything. "But you have. Changed, of course. " he tells her again, he doesn't move.

His eyes are hers, waiting for her to reply. To say something. To bite back, but she didn't. She never did. Whenever caspian told her something, whether it was mean.. or mean. She'd never say anything back.

She shrugged. "Goodnight, Your grace."

-----

"I'm so glad to see you again, princess." Reepicheep says, biting into a block of cheese, cherishing the flavors.

Y/n smiles, "I'm glad to see you too, reep. Amazing how long it's been and nothings changed of you."

Reepicheep makes a 'oh stop' noise, waving his hand and chuckling. Y/n smiles, shaking her head while eating her breakfast. Her father is at the end of the dining table, caspian on the other end, y/n sat in the middle, reepicheep next to her, trumpkin in front and lord drinian next to caspian.

Y/n stood up, dusting herself off. "I'm off to the gardens father." Y/n says, caspian turns to look at her, her father nods. "So soon, my dear?" He asks, drinking his wine.

Y/n nods. "I'll be safe—"

"Yes, you will. Have Thomas be with you."

Y/n stays silent, only nods and leaves the wrong. Caspian watches her walk away and leave the room, reepicheep groans at his food, when capsian speaks.

"Thomas?"

The king looks at caspian, "Yes, her guard." He bites a grape. " Since the death of Queen Alysanne, I've been quite paranoid. I ordered for her to have a guard to protect her."

"I thought she was well trained in combat. No one would dare harm her. They can't to–" caspian stopped himself from finishing his sentence , ye coughs. "I see."

The king stares at caspian, "I can assure you your grace. My daughter has learned to defend herself, but as a father, I have my fears. Surely when you become a father, you will understand."

Caspian only nods but stays silent.

----

"He's so... irritating. He was in my library, thomas. my library." Y/n groans, walking through the gardens of roses.

Thomas is behind her, listening to her trantrums. Amused and finding it hard to keep on a laugh. "He gave me that stupid look, too."

"Look?" Thomas says, raising a brow. "Should I ask."

"Dont." Y/n warns.

Thomas puts his hands up in defense, smiling and shaking his head. Y/n continues to walk, collecting her own bouquet of flowers . "He frustrates me."

"I can see." Thomas says back, earning a glare from y/n. Thomas snorts out quietly.

----‐

Days passes, y/n had no idea why caspian was there. Why was he in her kingdom, she didn't know.

Days passed , and she avoided him every time. He looked at her often, sometimes wheen she caught him , he wouldn't look away. He sometimes studied her.

Until one day—night. Y/n got in a fight with her father. The two disagreed, and she stormed off. No one knew where to, but they knew she ran off to the forest.

Dayana tried to run after her, but even y/n was too fast for her to keep up.

"Where is she?" King Nathaniel shouts, the staff all flinch. Caspian stares with his arms crossed, he turns to Thomas, Thomas looks devastated and for some reason, caspian is glad.

Caspian grabs Thomas by the collar, leading him to a different room. " Where is she." Caspian nearly growls. Thomas doesn't flinch, although he should.

"Anwser me." Caspian says dangerously. " You are her guard. You know where she hides." Thomas looks at caspian and frowns.

"And you care why?" Thomas bites. "All you've been is cold towards her. "

Caspian huffs. " i don't care." He shrugs. "But she's the kings daughter. And if she dies, you'll be the one suffering the consequences." Thomas shakes his head.

After a moment of silence, thomas gives in. Telling caspian where y/n usually hides, a place no one knew about. And in an instant, caspian flees. Thomas watches, "Don't care? Rubbish." He says to himself.

----

Y/n is in the middle of the forest. It's dark, and she can't see. She wants to turn and return to the castle, but she doesn't want to face her father.

She's in complete silence , standing in the middle of a forest, and she's alone. She cursed herself, turning around, but she hears a crack, making her stop. Another crack followed.

"Hello?" Her voice isn't shaking. She's curious, but she regrets that she didn't bring a weapon with her. Though, she didn't really need one.

"Hello." A deep voice behind her approaches. She turns and sees a man, she can't see his face but he's wearing a cloak. "Oh." She whispers.

"Oh?"

"Sorry to... disturb. I was just leaving." She hesitates. The man in the cloak tilts his head. "But you just arrived. You couldn't possibly be leaving already?"

Y/n freezes, the man is scary. "I'm sorry , truly! But my fathe—"

"The king can wait." The man says quickly. Y/n doesn't day anything, one step forward, and she takes one back.

"Sir." She whispers. " I need to go home."

"Home?" He repeats. "I don't have a home. What's it like." He says. He keeps titling his head from left to right. His voice gets deeper and shallower.

"It... it's " the man takes wha looks like a dagger from his pocket, and y/n pretends she doesn't see.

"Uh huh?"

Y/n makes no noise and doesn't speak. She's quiet for a long time. "You do not want to get near me.""

The man chuckles. "Oh but I do. I haven't felt someone's touch in a very long time. I get lonely."

Y/ns breathe shudders. "You do not want to touch me." Is what she wants to say. But instead, she says quiet. The man in the cloak circles around her, though she still can't see his face.

He gets closer til he's inches away from her. She doesn't push him away. Suddenly, everything was done. Sudden, his hand grabbed her neck, throwing her to the ground with him on top of her. Her hand gripped his wrist, and immediately, he screamed in agony.

The burning desire, she could feel her veins pop out. She could feel her blood pumping, her heartbeat. She felt hungry for more. He screamed and screamed, shaking, crying, and sobbing. Yet the more he was dying thr weaker she seemed to get.

"Let go!" He screams. "Let go!" He screams repeatedly. But she did. She had let go a long time ago.

She was breathing heavily, trying to stand, trying to waddle her way closer to the castle. Her vision is blurry. She can't feel her legs. For a moment, she could hear faint screams from someone else before everything went black.

-----

Y/n opened her eyes slowly, blinking slowly. She can feel pain on her neck and on her head. She groans, not realizing she wasn't alone.

She expected her father or Thomas, maybe even dayana. But she never expected caspian sitting and watching her.

"Who did this to you." Is all he says. He stares at her neck, not looking away from him. "Who?" He asks again. But she doesn't reply.

"I will search this entire kingdom if I have to. Don't tempt me." He finally looks at her. She's confused.

"How did I end up here?" She asks, staring at her surroundings. Who brought her here and how.

He shrugs. "I found you in time. You were already on the ground, unconscious." He says to her. He hesitates for a moment. She raises a brow, slightly.

"How did you bring me here?" She asks again, slowly. He doesn't reply, he stares but he doesn't reply.

"Did you touch me?"

"I didn't have a choice. You were unconscious." He tells her. Y/n stares at him , eyes widened. "I hurt you?" She whispers, staring for injuries but he looked fine.

"No." He shakes his head.

"So how did you touch me?" She asks, her voice louder. He swallows, gets up from the chair and sits on the bed. Not too close to her.

"Do you remember when you touched susan?" He asks her, the memory replays on her head. She nods, brows narrowed down. "I pushed you away." He tells her, "and I didn't feel pain. I pushed you from your shoulder, I felt your skin under mine. But I didn't feel pain. And I wondered—" He pauses to lick his lips. "Susan was in tears from a mere touch from you, an injury that scarred on her arm, and yet your touch never affected me."

Y/n is listening, but she can't believe it—him.

"I thought it was because I touched you so quickly and pulled away, but a couple nights ago." He hesitates. "You fell asleep in the library, and I couldn't help it." He stops. "I touched your face. It was killing me... I needed to know. And... it didn't hurt me."

Nothing makes sense anymore. Y/n is lost for words. She can't understand everything anymore.

"And when I saw you fall, your head was bleeding. I didn't check to see if there was anyone else. I needed to take you to safety. I brought you before anyone could see me." Caspian says, his eyes were deep and staring into hers.

"I can touch you?" She whispers and he nods. "Only you?"

Caspian seems hesitant but nods. " yes."

"Oh."

-------

Y/n sat in the library. A book In her hand, she's focused when the doors open and there is caspian. Dressed in a black robe, he's frozen on the spot.

Y/n paused. She avoided him since the accident. Not knowing or wanting to see or talk to him, afraid of the subject.

"I apologize—I didn't know you'd be--"

"It's okay." She says quickly. Offering him a kind smile. "The library is for all. Please.." She goes back to her book, and he nods.

After minutes of silence, he looks at her. "Couldn't sleep?" He asks, wanting to make conversation. She shakes her head, not looking at him.

"Me neither." He whispers.

Y/n sighs " it scares me to sleep." She says, admitting. He stares at her. " why is that?" He asks.

She shrugs. "When you sleep... you never know what's happening in the world. When you sleep, you're in a void of darkness. Since the night my mother was killed, I haven't been able to peacefully sleep without feeling like something will happen to me or to my father." She confesses , she closes her book, and stares up at him, but he's already staring at her.

"I suppose that is why I found you sleeping here? In the daylight."

Y/n smiles, nodding.

He hums, watching her stand. She places the book on the counter, bowing her head as she nears him.

"Goodnight 𝘊𝘢𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘢𝘯."

Caspian watches her leave the room, passing him he deeply inhales. The smell of lilies and soap brings him to heaven. He closes his eyes, savoring the smell.

"Goodnight, Y/n."

-------

Idk if it gave enemies to lovers.... I TRIED YALL.

Part 2???