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percy-the-penguin · 4 years ago

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Together Apart

1/? First installment here we go! Please note: This is the intro and is pretty boring and I’m not a great writer, sorry.

Some of the queens intros are a bit longer then the others, I love all of them though-

I really hope you guys like it

I. Catalina de Aragon

It had been three years since Catalina had been reincarnated. She had originally woken up in a house that was unfamiliar to her. She had been extremely confused as the last thing she remembered was passing away due to Heart Cancer. It had taken some digging but she had eventually found out the house was in her name. It was a nice house, two stories with several rooms and a pool out back. She had spent a while just trying to figure out how things worked. Like her phone. Her phone gave her anxiety and she couldn’t even figure out how it worked. She had even thrown it the first time it rang. It was embarrassing when she thought about it. Luckily she had very little need to use it on a day to day basis. She hadn’t even attempted to figure out how to set up her computer, even after 3 years. She figured out how to use a car after a year and had been quite proud of herself for it. She could do everything she needed to function and had even gotten a job as a receptionist/office assistant at a local church. The technology there was easier than at her house. She still didn’t know much about modern life but she was learning and to the former queen, that’s all that matters.

II. Anne Boleyn

Anne Boleyn had woken up in a small run down apartment, one bedroom, one bath, a kitchen and a living room. After two and a half years she had grown to love it. It was small and cozy and she had everything she needed, including life so she really couldn’t complain. The day she had been woken up she had been extremely confused. She had noticed her scar in the mirror and immediately had a flashback. She had been entrawled and entertained by almost everything and had a blast figuring out how everything worked. Granted she still had trouble in the kitchen...she set the toaster on fire every time she used it and barely managed to stop the microwave from exploding when she accidentally left her silverware in it. She thanked god every day for fast food restaurants. And hoodies. She loved those too and always had one on or wrapped around her waist. She had also figured out different hair styles and her go-to was space buns. It had made her giggle the first time because she thought she looked like a frog. She had gotten really into listening to podcasts and music and had even started a history podcast of her own called ‘Beheaded Through the Centuries: A Look at History from the Receiving End of the Blade’. She mostly covered the Tudor era and beheadings. She had been in and out of different waitress/receptionist jobs due to her tendency not to take things seriously and her kitchen problems. She counted herself lucky that her podcast had picked up enough to cover her along with the few poems she wrote on commission. She figured she probably should start looking for a real job though..

III. Jane Seymour

Jane Seymour had been well..surprised to say the least when she had woken up one day in a small house she was unfamiliar with. She had spent about two hours just walking around. Everything was decorated so nicely. There was a beautiful view of a sparkling lake outside her bedroom window and a forest next to her house. The third queen had picked up modern life quite nicely. If she ever had trouble figuring things out she would go to her neighbor who was surprisingly understanding though she doubted they would believe she was the reincarnation of a long dead Queen. She had developed her own sense of style, usually a pastel or white sundress with sandals. She loved talking walks and had gotten the hang of driving pretty quickly. She would walk to the local market for food and anything else she needed once a week and everyone was very friendly. She had even picked up a job at the flower shop near her house. The only thing she would change was..well, she wished she had company. It got lonely especially in the late hours of the day when she was off work, home alone with nothing but her thoughts to keep her company.

IV. Anna of Cleves

Life had been good in the three years the red queen had been reincarnated. She had woken up in a fancy apartment, something she had been quite shocked existed. It was a 2 bedroom, 3 bath apartment with a lovely kitchen and beautiful living room. She was on an upper floor and the view was absolutely stunning at sunrise and sunset. The view was actually what inspired Anna to start painting. She had her own paintings hanging up around the apartment. The fourth queen was able to pick up this life quite easily. Of course, it helped that her riches from her past life had seemingly been transferred to this one. She had no need for a job but she had been taking shifts at an animal shelter near where she lived to keep herself busy. She had discovered what a thrift shop was and frequented one. She had t-shirts from bands she had never heard and loose jeans that were faded. She liked that style though. She often wore a red baseball cap backwards and had taught herself how to use a skateboard. All in all she was living her best life.

V. Katheryn Howard

Katheryn Howard, or ‘Kitty’ as her co-workers referred to her probably took reincarnation better than any of the other queens. She had been ecstatic to say the least when she woke up in a small apartment similar to Anne’s though a bit bigger, with her head attached to her body. The fifth queen was wide eyed and curious about everything and had gotten very attached to a cartoon series called Steven Universe. She picked up modern life well and had been working as a barista at a coffee place near her home for the past two years. She had been a bit shy to try new things as far as food and clothing but eventually figured out a style. Well, many styles. Her outfit was different nearly every day excluding her choker that had a small ‘K’ charm hanging off it. She had nearly passed out from pure joy when a co-worker dyed the ends of her hair pink. She absolutely loved it. Kitty was always curious to learn about new things and make new friends. She loved it in this life.

VI. Catherine Parr

Last but not least, Catherine Parr. Cathy had woken up in a small house, similar to Jane’s but with a worse view and louder neighbors. They had grown accustomed to the noise after three years and found it a happy reminder that they were no longer dead. They were no longer alone. It had taken them a bit to get used to everything around them, honestly. They weren’t as startled by technology as their godmother but they did have trouble with it. But that was okay, even if they got frustrated sometimes. They had learned everything they could about this new world and had found peace in a local bookshop where they would go for hours on end every weekend. The rest of their days were spent either at home or at the library where they worked as a librarian and tutor for young adults. The first time they entered a mall her brain had nearly overloaded. So many sights and new things. They had lost themselves there. They ended up buying a whole wardrobe and some other small things like bandannas and an adorable penguin plush they named Caesar. Their go to outfit was a formal button up shirt with a blue sweater over that and jeans with a pair of black converse or a blue hoodie with black leggings and the aforementioned black converse. Their hair was in the same style every day. Usually a side sweep tied with a bandanna. They loved it. They. That was something else Cathy had learned. There were more than two genders. And more than one sexuality. They had been fascinated by it and the more they researched the more they realized about themselves. Cathy had recently come out to themselves as non binary. They were proud of themselves for getting this far and doing so well in such a new environment.

#six the musical #six fanfiction #catherine of aragon #anne boleyn #jane seymour #anna of cleves #katherine howard #catherine parr #ahhhh

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ingravinoveritas · 4 years ago

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Hey there. I'm glad I'm not the only one who ships David and Michael. I want to ask... Since you ship them too, what are your favorite moments between them and why? And when did you start thinking there actually might something happen between them?

Hi Anon! I apologize that it’s taken me time to respond to your question. I needed to really think about my answer to this, as it is so difficult to choose a favorite moment between Michael and David. I’ve also been talking about so many of those moments lately, so I wanted to think of something that hadn’t already been discussed.

So I would say that, yes, many of my favorites are ones I’ve mentioned previously on my blog, but two that come to mind right now are when David and Michael were on Graham Norton last year, and then David interviewing Michael for his podcast.

Now, there was a lot going on during this interview, with Graham Norton busy Graham Norton-ing and of course the eggplant emoji incident, but what gets me is the sustained look of pure, unadulterated adoration that Michael was giving David:

...That. Nonstop. For almost the entire interview. Amazing.

Their bodies were also oriented toward each other the whole time, again falling into that pattern of always ending up in their own little world. Michael and David were ever the professionals, of course, interacting gamely with Graham and Chris Hemsworth and the audience, but they clearly only had eyes for each other. I also loved the moment where David recited the very long name of the place in Wales. He didn’t learn it specifically to impress Michael, as we know (he learned it from a Welsh actress while doing a Shakespeare play, to mess with the sign language interpreter), but on some level, he had to know what that would do to Michael. And we got Michael’s wonderful, giddy reaction--which was to look like he was barely restraining himself from dropping to one knee and proposing right there--and David just utterly basking in the warm glow of Michael’s attention.

The second moment I mentioned was David interviewing Michael on his podcast. It’s one of the most delightful interviews I’ve ever heard precisely for the reason that it doesn’t at all sound like an interview, but rather like two close friends just having a conversation (which is at least partly due to David’s talent as an interviewer). But right from the outset, one of the first things David says as they’re talking about a GO photo shoot they had just done is, “You're an honest version of how I'm feeling." Which confirmed something that I’ve been observing for a long while now, which is that Michael says the things that David only thinks. There’s a thread of that in so many of their interactions and interviews, which is subtle, but after a while you start to see it, and it’s fascinating.

To go back to the conversational quality of the interview, even though there was no video, the way Michael and David interacted made it easy to imagine what that conversation might look like. My mental image is basically of a sleepover, of them sitting on the floor together in their pyjamas, David behind Michael, knees bent and his long legs bracketing either side of Michael’s body, both of them sharing popcorn out of a bowl beside them and drinking glasses of red wine. David idly plays with Michael’s hair as he asks questions and giggles at Michael’s answers, and then he slowly starts to grip his curls just a tiny bit harder, massaging his head, making Michael’s breath hitch in his throat, but he keeps the conversation going. By the end, they’re both a bit tipsy and Michael is leaning back against David’s chest, warm and flushed and eyes fluttering closed as David rubs the back of his neck, debating whether to laugh or to turn his head and kiss David to break the growing tension...

(...I realize that was rather elaborate, but that whole scenario just blossomed in my mind as I re-listened to the podcast. Also, the fact that there’s a deleted clip of Michael saying “I almost came” and David giggling in response is another reason it’s one of my favorite MS/DT moments and really, really makes me wish we had video of this interview...)

Anyway, to the second part of your question, Anon, which is when did I think there might be something happening between Michael and David. I actually went back into my Tumblr archive to see when I started getting into Good Omens (June 2019) and how the timeline progressed from there. I can see that from the beginning, as I was diving headfirst into Aziraphale/Crowley fanfic and fanart, that I kept gravitating to the more ‘realistic’ art--illustrations, paintings, drawings, etc. that looked like the actors, rather than an artistic interpretation of the characters (which is not to say that other forms are bad, just that it’s my personal preference for fanart).

Right away, I was shipping Aziraphale and Crowley, but I think I was unconsciously drawn to that chemistry between Michael and David, even though I wasn’t outright shipping them then. The shift started to happen not long after that, as I began watching more and more of Michael and David’s interviews and all the GO press tour stuff I could get my hands on. But I am pretty sure that what made the switch finally flip was two things: Michael calling David his “lover,” and this moment, from earlier this year:

Over and over again, Michael has talked about how he was initially excited to be in Good Omens because he’s such a huge fan of the book, he’s known Neil forever, he’s mainlined Ineffable Husbands fanfic like Turkish black mule heroin, and so on. But then here, Michael is talking about what made filming the show so special...and it’s David. He’s remembering this experience--this incredible, life-altering journey of filming this show--and it’s not the book or shipping Aziraphale and Crowley that he speaks about with the most tender affection. It’s David. I just thought that was utterly lovely and very telling.

But the thing is, Anon, is that there really isn’t one specific moment that made me think something might have happened between Michael and David. It’s just been the gradual accumulation of all these moments put together--both the ones I mentioned in this post and the ones I’ve talked about previously. It’s how Michael and David talk about each other when they’re together and when they are apart. And it’s how, despite having numerous opportunities to put out the flames of suggestion, Michael instead runs toward them cackling maniacally, a can of kerosene in hand. (I also like to imagine an amused David just standing there calmly and holding up a Zippo lighter for his part.)

So I hope that helps to answer your question, Anon, and I’m always glad to hear from another shipper. Thanks for writing in and for being here! x

#anonymous #reply post #michael sheen #welsh seduction machine #david tennant #soft scottish hipster gigolo #the graham norton show #david tennant does a podcast with #you'd think after doing so many interviews together they'd get tired of each other #but they never do #the flirting though #if only we could have seen the podcast #alas #they are both going to kill me #i love them so #good omens #good omens rpf #discourse

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artificialqueens · 4 years ago

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Level Up, Chapter Eight (Branjie) - Holtzmanns

read on ao3 | word count: 4082

“I’m here, I’m here, I’m not late, we still have t minus one minute before we’re supposed to leave, so you could say I’m early, hello!” And there Vanessa is, skidding to a stop in front of the group and wasting no time in holding up a fist for Monique to bump.

Brooke doesn’t know why everything becomes so much more fun when Vanessa’s around. Maybe it’s the way she’s always smiling, or how her energy level never really dips. Maybe it’s the commentary. But Brooke does know that she’s never going to be tired of any of it.

AN: Hey, it’s been awhile. Real life has been exhausting both physically and mentally, but a burst of inspiration today has led to a completed chapter, yay! I hate having ages between chapters but life means that for this fic, it has started to happen. Hope you enjoy it nonetheless, and as always, please do tell me what you think! Thank you writ for being the best beta and friend, ily <3

“You’ve gotta be kidding me.”

“Cool, right?” Kameron leans against the vehicle, seemingly unbothered by Asia’s aghast expression.

“Cool? It looks like a kidnapper van!”

Asia raises an eyebrow, and Brooke has to admit that she’s kind of right. The van has a good five rows, enough space to fit all of the athletes going to the tournament and then some, but the white paint job and blacked out windows does make the vehicle look a bit suspicious.

“It was the economical choice!” Kameron sniffs, and hoisting her bag over her shoulder. “Get in losers, we’re going road tripping.”

Brooke holds out a hand in front of Kameron, using her other one to shield her eyes from the sunrise casting pink glows against the brick wall of the gym. “Keys? Want me to drive?”

Kameron twists the key ring on her index finger, shaking her head. “You were asleep five minutes ago at your desk. I’m not gonna let you run all of us off the road because you’re drowsy.”

Brooke wrinkles her nose at the phrasing. “Fair. Shall I navigate, then? Actually…”

She trails off when sees Asia walking up to the group, duffle bag slung over her shoulder, and turns back to Kameron, who’s straightened up her posture after spotting Asia. “Maybe I’ll leave that to Asia.”

Kameron frowns. “Huh? What does that mean?”

“Asia! Wanna tell Kameron what to do for three hours straight?” Brooke gestures at Asia to come closer, and Kameron lets out a groan at the sudden realization.

Asia, for her part, looks positively delighted, opening up Google Maps on her phone. “You bet I do. Also, Kameron, if we don’t get to stop at Starbucks I’m personally going to wrangle the wheel from you ‘cause that just isn’t right.”

Brooke presses her lips together when Kameron gives her a long suffering look. “You’ll thank me later. It’ll be fun for both of you.”

She turns away from the two of them as Asia starts to go over routes that they can take, scanning the faces of the athletes who have already arrived for their bright and early drive. Some are still in sweatpants, topknots balancing on their heads while others toss coffee back like they’re taking shots, and Brooke’s not sure who is actually more relatable. However, the person that she’s looking for the most, the one who’s always loud and excited even at such an early hour doesn’t seem to be here just yet-

Vanessa’s drops her bag onto the floor with a thump and stands on her tippy toes to wave to Asia before she freezes mid movement, and the sudden eye contact makes Brooke’s breath hitch in her throat, too, no matter what a good friend of hers Vanessa is by now.

“You’re coming with us?” The hopeful tone in Vanessa’s voice is unmistakable as she bounds closer, stopping right in front of her and Brooke has to stop herself from reaching out and doing something ridiculous like putting an arm around her or hugging her.

She keeps her grip tight on her bag instead, shrugging a little. “You think I’d leave my student to compete on her own?”

Brooke’s been noncommittal over the last week, volleying her options back and forth in her head about whether she should go with the others. Her immediate instinct had been to say no when Kameron had asked, because why would she even want to go to a competition in the first place, when the atmosphere is one that she’s been trying to avoid for so long, if only to stay away from the memories that are bound to resurface?

But there had been a small voice in her head that had spoken up just a little bit louder than it usually did, reminding her that this tournament won’t be about her. She won’t be going to compete, or to reconcile feelings or trauma and what kind of coach will she be if she leaves Vanessa to get into a competition headspace on her own, especially in one that will be at a higher level than she’s ever competed at before?

Brooke’s going for Vanessa. After every morning practice, every evening training session and lifestyle change that she’s put Vanessa through and the hours and hours that they’ve spent together, Brooke’s going to go.

And from the way Vanessa’s beaming at her, she’s definitely made the right decision.

“In the van guys, we’re gonna be late!” Kameron shouts the words as she throws the driver’s side door open, and it’s the cue that the group needs to pile in.

A tug on Brooke’s arm as she’s squeezing her way through the aisle makes her let out a surprised yelp, and it’s no surprise that Vanessa’s the one behind it, from the way she’s grinning as Brooke falls into the seat beside her.

“Field trip buddies? I got dibs on the window seat.” Vanessa tucks her bag onto the floor before pulling her legs up onto her seat and crossing her legs.

Brooke doesn’t mind the aisle, really, not when her limbs are lanky enough to need the extra space. “How is that position even comfortable on a long bus ride?”

“Some of us aren’t built like Gumby, that’s why. Kidding, kidding!” Vanessa holds up her hands, letting out a screech when Brooke reaches underneath to tickle her sides instead. “I’m being attacked!”

Brooke notices a hand tap Vanessa’s head, and turns around to see a very tired Monique in sunglasses obstructing the majority of her face. “Vanessa, I love you, but it’s not even seven yet and my caffeine isn’t due to kick in for another half hour, and there’s only so much my fragile person can take. Please, for me…shut that trap.”

“Absolutely. Scout’s honour.” Vanessa solemnly lifts her right hand to her forehead in a mock salute and Brooke can’t keep in the laugh that bubbles over, clapping her hand over her mouth when Vanessa breaks into giggles, too.

“She’ll forgive me later. She loves me.” Vanessa whispers once Monique has settled back into her seat, and the conspiratorial look on her face makes it hard for Brooke not to crack up a second time.

“You’re ridiculous.” Brooke turns her body to face Vanessa, resisting the urge to pull her legs up behind her on the seat. “We’ll have to keep quiet, though. Half of the bus is falling asleep.”

It’s true. The bus is mostly silent as they pull onto the freeway, save for the faint bickering emanating from the driver and passenger seats up front from Kameron and Asia. It makes sense, for the early hour - though Brooke’s body doesn’t feel like it can join them, not when she’s reminded of the fact that they’re headed to a competition, where Vanessa’s going to have actual matches and it’s not going to be training anymore-

“Boring. Wanna play Heads Up instead?”

Vanessa’s question cuts through the way Brooke’s thoughts are starting to rev up and it’s a welcome distraction, especially when Vanessa’s expectant face is one that even she can’t resist. And it works, with the first hour of their drive flying by with ridiculous impressions and charades that make Brooke laugh until her sides hurt. When they play through the various categories enough times to know all of the answers, resting back against their seats doesn’t seem like such a bad idea anymore.

“It’s starting to get all light outside now.” Vanessa mumbles the words beside her as she sinks further into her seat, rubbing her eyes. “Just as I’m getting tired.”

“Good thing we still have at least an hour and a half to go. You have enough time for a nap, and you’ll need that energy later today. Sleep.” Brooke shrugs, taking a sip of her coffee. She’s not sure that she’s going to be able to join Vanessa, but it’s not a bad idea.

Vanessa makes a face. “How am I supposed to fall asleep with the sun and all the talking and ruckus on the bus? At home I got one of those white noise machines. Ocean sounds and shit.”

“Ocean sounds, really?” Brooke raises an eyebrow, pressing her lips together. “You somehow strike me as the last person to use one of those.”

“I like sleeping in comfort,” Vanessa sniffs, “and sometimes that means pretending that you’re on a beach.”

But Vanessa closes her eyes, pulls her sleeves over her hands nonetheless, and her breathing begins to even out as Brooke hits the second commercial on the podcast that she’s listening to. Vanessa’s head threatens to slip forward as she dozes, her neck pulling back at the last second as her breathing catches and nearly jerks her from her sleep.

It doesn’t look comfortable, and the last thing that Vanessa needs to wake up with is a neck cramp. So it’s a smart coaching move, really, for Brooke to guide Vanessa’s head towards her shoulder to lean on, a soft surface that she can’t slip from. And the way that Vanessa burrows into her shoulder is natural, too, just second nature as she sleeps, Brooke knows that. But Brooke doesn’t want to move or disrupt Vanessa’s dozing, do anything to wake her because the way her eyelashes are fluttering is almost mesmerizing, as is the way Vanessa’s hands are folding in on their sleeves.

A lock of hair falls in front of Vanessa’s face and Brooke doesn’t even have to think twice before brushing it back, tucking it behind her ear. She rakes her fingers through Vanessa’s hair, smoothing it down and the movement makes Vanessa mumble and snuggle herself more into Brooke’s side and it’s hard not to melt, it really is. Brooke keeps up the movements, forcing her fingers to comb through Vanessa’s hair as slowly as she can, her touch gentle and careful not to tug on the locks or rouse her.

And maybe Brooke’s shoulder is little uncomfortable from their position, but she’s not about to move, not now, not when they’re sitting like this. Because part of Brooke wants to stay like this forever, as the rising sun casts beams of light around the bus and Vanessa’s warmth beside her makes her feel like she’s under a blanket, ready to fall asleep herself.

“Psst. Psst. Wake up.”

“Huh?” Brooke rubs her eyes, trying to ignore the way everything is so bright and the sensation of something incessantly poking at her ribs.

Vanessa’s leg is jiggling as she bounces with entirely too much energy for a morning, and Brooke realizes it’s her hand that’s poking at her side. “We’re here!”

Brooke yawns, turning around to look and it’s true, because outside their window is the convention hall that’s supposed to still be three hours away, and the other girls around them are already picking up their belongings, climbing out of the van.

Huh. So maybe Brooke had fallen asleep too.

“C’mon, get out already! We’re gonna be the last ones off at this rate.” Vanessa looks like she’s about to explode out of her seat and Brooke snorts, standing up to grab her things so that she can put Vanessa out of her misery.

The convention centre reminds Brooke of her early competition days, before she went pro and everything had been big and new and she still had so many ladders to climb, so many goals to strive for. She’d hoist her equipment bag over her shoulder, refusing to let her dad carry it for her and it feels strange now to not have one while surrounded by other athletes and coaches and spectators milling about in the lobby. A part of Brooke has missed this - the athletes getting themselves registered, the sponsor tables with gear on sale, the coaches trying to yell over the noise to get the attention of their athletes. It’s organized chaos, one that hadn’t necessarily been present when she’d gotten into the pro scene. This feels more organic, more novel, even from her lens as a washed up athlete who isn’t competing.

The magic is somehow still there.

“Damn. This is huge.” Vanessa whistles beside her, craning her neck to look around the lobby. “We haven’t been to a tournament this big before.”

“First time for everything. Keep on climbing, right?” Brooke nudges her side, but Vanessa doesn’t return her smile, instead biting her lip.

“And you’re telling me I’m gonna compete at the highest level? Who knows what kinda Olympic level bitches are gonna be here. Jesus.” Vanessa’s fingers tap against her side, the nerves radiating off of her and Brooke grabs her shoulders, turns to face her.

“They’re here, but so are you. Tell me, would you be allowed to sign up and compete at this level if you weren’t qualified for it?”

“No, but-”

“Would I even let you fight if I didn’t think you were at this level, or above it?”

“Now you’re just trying to make me feel less nervous.” Vanessa sighs, and the vulnerability is a rare sight, one that makes Brooke’s heart clench.

“Doesn’t make it less true. You’ve been pushing yourself for months. You’ve competed in many novice tournaments. And guess what? You’re here now. You’ve earned it.”

The words are sincere coming from Brooke’s mouth because she believes them, really believes them. She’s challenged Vanessa and made her work harder and harder and Vanessa’s not only a better athlete now, but a stronger one too. One who has technique but also has the drive to push forward that extra mile.

“You’re here because you deserve to be here, and you’re competing at a high level because it’s your level. You’re not a beginner anymore, Ness.” Brooke nudges Vanessa’s side, and the way Vanessa’s shoulders are beginning to relax let Brooke know that the words are beginning to sink in.

“No longer the girl popping into the gym in full face and asking you what the place is like, huh?” Vanessa grins, and Brooke can’t help but do so too at the memory.

“And a full set of nails too, don’t forget that.”

“They were press ons, bitch! I still wear ‘em now sometimes!” Vanessa sticks her tongue out, crossing her arms and Brooke doesn’t hesitate in returning the facial expression.

“Next in line, please!”

Though it isn’t until Vanessa traipses off to get ready with the other athletes that the reality of the situation really begins to sink in for Brooke. It’s a competition. A more prestigious competition, with Vanessa competing at a higher level than she’s ever done before. And sure, Vanessa’s trained more, worked her ass off and she’s a better fighter now than she’s ever been, but…

What if something does happen?

Brooke’s brain is used to falling down this cycle of thoughts, agonizing about possibilities and things that could happen even if they’re not in her control, but there’s a voice in her head - albeit a small one - that disrupts the routine. Knocks the cycle onto its side a little.

Sure, this situation is not in Brooke’s control. But it also means she’s done everything she can for the things that are.

Vanessa’s as ready as she’ll ever be. She’s competing at this level because it’s her level. Brooke’s coached her to the best of her ability and now?

All Brooke can do is wait and see what happens.

Sure, she’ll bite her nails due to stress in the meantime, but she’ll survive.

Her and Vanessa both will.

“Okay, so if we were pros and the like-”

“Girl, you ain’t never been a pro-”

“Shut up, let me finish. If we were pro boxers,” Monet crosses her legs on the bench, looking between all of them, “what would you want your names to be?”

“Wouldn’t we just use our real names?” Monique’s expression is skeptical, and Monet rolls her eyes.

“No, bitch, you’d need a cool stage name. A fighting name.”

“What would you call yourself?” Vanessa leans forward, tying her shoes, and Monet pauses as she thinks.

“I’d want something cool like ‘The Hurricane’ or ‘The Assassin,’ y’know? Something that would sound hella dramatic when announced on a microphone.”

Asia rolls her eyes. “Out here calling yourself assassin when you cried last week because there was a beetle in the locker room. Unbelievable.”

Monet scoffs. “Fine then, what would you call yourself?”

“Something like ‘K.O.’ or something because I’d be K.O.ing everyone.” Asia presses her fist into her palm, and Vanessa has to admit, it’s kinda catchy.

Monet rolls her eyes. “You’ve never even K.O’d anyone yet. Poser.”

“Well, that’s why it’s a future name!” Asia huffs, and Vanessa has to hold in a snort.

“What about you, V?” Monet asks, and Vanessa leans back on her palms as she thinks.

“I dunno,” Vanessa shrugs, “never really thought about it before. Maybe something unique? Like connected to an actual nickname.”

“You want to be called Vanjie as your boxing name? But then that’s just your nickname.” Monique doesn’t look convinced.

Vanessa thinks. “Maybe if I just make it sound fancy. Add a ‘miss’ in front of it.”

“Miss Vanjie?” Asia lets out a giggle as she says it, and Vanessa can feel her face redden.

“What! It’s kinda cute.”

“Miss Vaaaaaanjie.” Monet drawls out, and even Vanessa can’t hold in a giggle when she does so. “I kinda like it.”

“Me too. At least you’ll know no one else will ever have your nickname.” Monique points out as she stands up, picking up her equipment. “Miss Vaaaanjie.”

“Are you guys just going to keep saying it for the rest of the day?” Vanessa snorts, but she can’t deny that it’s catchy. The name is definitely beginning to grow on her.

“Maybe so, Miss Vanjie, maybe so,” Asia grins, “and I’m so changing your contact name in my phone to that.”

“Unbelievable.”

Kameron and Brooke are waiting for them outside of the change room as they walk out, and Kameron motions for them to huddle against the wall, out of the way of the doors. She turns the clipboard in her hands to face them, pointing at a scrawled out list that Vanessa has to squint to be able to read.

“Y’all are all in different divisions, which doesn’t make it easier, that’s for sure. But I think I’ll be able to run between your matches in between rounds. I feel like a dance mom with too many kids to support, Jesus.” Kameron taps her clipboard with her pen. “Monique, you have a match in ring four, then Asia’s up in ring two, then…”

It’s hard for Vanessa to focus on what Kameron’s saying, her voice turning to static in Vanessa’s brain because her limbs are itching to move and get started. She hates this part of competitions, the calm before the storm that doesn’t seem to go by any faster no matter how much she tries and wills the clock to do so. Her eyes jump between the athletes behind them, the pink scrunchie in Monique’s hair, the service dog in the hallway that’s sleeping beside its owner, the set of double doors leading to the rings that athletes are already beginning to file into. But then Kameron’s yelling for all of them to pile their hands on top of one another and to shout ‘Hytes’ Boxing on three!’ and Vanessa joins in just a second too late, and they’re starting to walk in towards the boxing rings, too.

“You okay with me being the one with you? Like Kameron said just now?” Brooke materializes beside Vanessa, nearly making her jump. “She’s got too many athletes to follow around.”

Not that Vanessa’s heard what Kameron had said but Brooke doesn’t need to know that, so she nods anyway, the idea making her heart flip in her chest. “Uh huh. Ain’t you my main coach anyway, by now? I train more with you than I do with Kameron.”

“True. Just wanted to check, since this is my first time coming to a tournament of yours.” Brooke’s eyes are twinkling as Vanessa feels a hand grab hers and squeeze it. “I know you’re more used to her.”

“I’d rather have you.” The words flow easily because it’s true, when Vanessa thinks about it.

Brooke has the ability to read her body language and know what’s going on in her head when she’s boxing to push her more, making her even better. She knows how to calm her down, how to make her laugh when she’s too wound up. It works in the gym, and here in a competition?

Vanessa really needs it.

“I’m glad.” Brooke’s voice is uncharacteristically soft, just for a second, before she uncrumples a sheet of her own. “So, first there’s a knockout round in your division which will be the quarters, then semis. You pass through those, you can make it to the finals. That’s going to be three matches in one day, if you win them.”

“Damn.” Vanessa gulps, because the hall that’s filled with rings in a grid formation suddenly looks bigger than it did five minutes ago, the athletes just a little bit more intimidating. “That’s a whole lotta fighting in one day.”

“Nothing you haven’t done in the gym with me. Why do you think I push you so hard?” Brooke grabs Vanessa’s bag from her, hoisting it over her shoulder.

“Let’s hope it’s enough preparation, sensei.” Vanessa giggles at Brooke’s furrowed eyebrows at the nickname. “Teacher? Ninja master?”

“Really now?”

“How about papa?”

“Carry your own bag.” Brooke snorts, heaving it back towards Vanessa who catches it with a snicker.

“I think the last one really suits you.”

“I think you need to get ready for your first match, that’s what. We’re almost at the ring.”

“Roger that, sensei. Now or never, huh?” Vanessa nudges Brooke’s shoulder before setting her bag down, and the butterflies in her chest begin to flutter and take flight, because she can already see the girl on the other side of the ring pulling on a helmet of her own and shit, she’s really doing this.

With Brooke here this time. Doesn’t exactly help with the adrenaline.

“Call me sensei again and I’m gonna cheer on your opponent.” Brooke taps Vanessa’s nose, a smile on her face, and Vanessa knows she isn’t serious. “Five minutes to warm up. You’ve got this.”

“I better.” Vanessa rolls out her neck, starts to bounce on her toes to get the blood flowing in her body.

“Remember. First and second rounds to dissect her fighting style and her tells. Third and fourth rounds to take advantage of that knowledge and stay one step ahead of her.” Brooke peeks over her shoulder at Vanessa’s opponent, and Vanessa follows her gaze, the girl’s bright yellow shorts making her wrinkle her nose. “You figure out how she fights, you can beat her at her own game.”

It’s what they’ve done in the gym - Brooke sparring her while favouring a certain side over the other, a specific combination, waiting for Vanessa to catch on and be ready to counter her. Vanessa has to force her brain to step back and see the overall picture of the fight while her blood is pumping and her limbs feel like they’re moving faster than her mind but it’s good practice, because now she doesn’t just throw moves that come to her on instinct. She’s learned to plan.

Maybe, it’s going to be enough. Maybe, the morning and evening and weekend practices, and the conditioning, the sparring, the discussions about techniques will now all be worth it. Even though Vanessa’s fighting in the highest division she’s ever fought in before, even if she’s now a small fish in a big pond? Maybe all of the preparation means she won’t be gasping for air while treading water.

And if it’s not enough? She’s got Brooke swimming beside her, too.

Tags: brooke lynn hytes, vanessa vanjie mateo, branjie, lesbian au, boxing au, level up, holtzmanns

#rpdr fanfiction #brooke lynn hytes #vanessa vanjie mateo #branjie #lesbian au #boxing au #level up #holtzmanns

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geminimoonbeamx · 6 years ago

Text

Oh, Baby: Chapter Two

A/N: So I was so excited about the reaction and feedback I got on the first chapter, I hope you guys enjoy this one too!

Word Count: 3.5k+

Warnings: None really- brief mentions of smut and of course cursing like a mf

Summary: After a drunken night, Y/N finds herself having to face the biggest decision of her life; is she ready for motherhood? And a better question, is Bucky Barnes, her long time friend and womanizer extraordinaire, ready for fatherhood? They’ll just have to go along for the ride and find out together. A Bucky Barnes x Plus Size Reader Story

Chapter 2/6: And a Cherry On Top

Once you decide that you want this baby- that you’re keeping, things become alot clearer in your mind.

All those lists you made? The bullet pointed steps, numbered processes that you need to accomplish zero in, your brain finally able to sort them, at least a little bit. More then you’d been able to last night, or even this morning.

You’re keeping this baby, it’s cemented in your stubborn brain now and even though that brings a whole new round of terror, it becomes a front and center though. A focal point, so to say.

And when you’re focused- you’ve been told you can be a little ruthless.

“Look, Dr. Cho, I like you so far, I really do, but I’m going to be blunt here: I’ve read some horror stories about plus size pregnancies, and how miserable it is to have a doctor who is fatphobic- so I just want to check base and make sure that you’re...okay with having me as a patient, and will treat me with the same respect that I plan to treat you with”

She doesn't look shocked and you don't know whether that's just her training or if her face always has that sage quality to it, but you can't really read it.

“I really admire you bringing up your concerns, and I can assure you that they’re very presidented, but that’s not something you’re going to have to worry about with me if you choose to continue on with me as your practitioner for this pregnancy.

I’ve been an OB for the last fifteen years and have worked with lots of very different women: big and small and everything in between and that doesn't matter to me. What matters is that we find a plan that works for you and your little one and keeps you both healthy as we get you to term. Does that sound okay to you?”

You chuckle, delightedly shocked at her words. At how straight forward and sincere she had been. At the support you could feel from her and how relieving that felt to know that your doctor was going to be on your side, for you, with you.

Being overweight, you’d had prejudice thrown at you left and right thought your life, sadly also by medical professionals, and to know she wasn't going to do that to you?

“Yeah” You nod, with a grateful smile “That sounds more than okay”

The appointment goes smoothly for the next hour and a half or so after that. You’re happy you’d Googled like crazy and had come prepared with a small list of key medical facts: any allergies, past surgeries talks of mental health and medications. She gives you a pelvic exam/Pap and its uncomfortable as they always are, even with her gentle, nimble fingers. Legs in stirrups, biting at the inside of your cheek.

The magic happens when she lays you down and slathers your tummy with a jelly like substance and your heart goes fluttery against your chest as she uses a little wand, probes and moves it gently against the jelly. Looking, searching…

Thump,

Found.

On the screen of the ultrasound machine that she’d pulled up. Dr. Cho had warned you that it was very early, and that there was a good chance that she wouldn't be able to find much of anything at this point and yet there it was.

A tiny little blur in the blob like painting of your insides that we’re up for display on the US machine. A heart beat, the sound it made would be imprinted in your mind forever.

“There’s your baby, it’s about the size of a cherry right now and I has no really defined shape, but as you can hear, it has a very strong heart beat”

Like in movies, you thought you’d cry, and yeah, maybe your close, but really it lights a fire in you. Sets your heart ablaze and makes you feel lightheaded.

There’s your baby, and it’s real. So real. With a little heart inside you, beating along with your own…

You leave the office with two copies of the ultrasound pictures, one for you to keep, and one to give to Bucky.

Now you only had to tell him.

Later that night, as you and Wanda lounge on your living room couch, you text him, clutching a furry pillow in your lap.

You need to get this done and over with, you have to tell him.

Hey, long time no talk. You think we could get together for lunch sometime this week?

----------

Bucky finds himself sitting at a corner table, it’s half past three and you’re still not there yet. You we’re supposed to be meeting him for a late lunch...ten minutes ago? Fuck, why were you always late?

It drove him crazy, was on that long list of things about you that made his eyes cross with annoyance. On that list was also the fact that he could never guess what you we’re going to do- which yeah, that one still stood, too.

When you’d texted him, asking him to meet you for lunch last Friday, Bucky had gaped at his phone for a few minutes. Hadn't you spent the last couple months avoiding him like the plague? He couldn't help himself, though, and had only given you a tiny bit of shit before agreeing to meet you that next Wednesday at you guys’ favorite spot.

And so here he sat, at HandCraft, waiting for you. Trying not too feel excited, hopeful. That usual feeling that settled in his gut whenever you we’re around(even with just the promise of your presence) had been thrown into effect.

He orders himself a Corona, extra lime, but considers something stronger to quell the weird nerves, and orders you a Long Island Peach Tea.

He knew your obsession with everything peach, so when he saw it he couldn't help but order it for you.

He’s a couple drinks into his beer when you walk in. Bucky could zero in on you in a crowd of hundreds, a skill he’d developed pretty quick after meeting you. His weird 20/20 Y/N radar doesn't fail him and his eyes snap to you as you walk in, and he waves you over. You boop through the crowd, and Bucky knows he has a stupid little smile on his face as he watches.

You’re cute, always. It’s infuriating, and intoxicating and damn, will he ever get over this shit? It’s been eight years for fucks sake.

It’d been rainy and humid in the city this May, and the beige long sleeved, off the shoulder top and high waisted ripped jeans you wear are breezy enough. You always dressed nice, most always put together and he’d always taken the time to appreciate your style, the way you hed yourself and adorned your curvy body.

The big bun that sits atop your head is messy and has started to frizz from the time you’d spent in the sprinkling rain, your loose baby hairs wispy and starting to curl as you sit down in the chair on the opposite him.

“Hi” You greet, shifting in the chair. You’re awkward around him now, and it sucks. It really does.

He thinks about that night in early March, and he cant bring himself to regret it, and he tries to ignore the twinge from how apparently you seem to.

“Hey there- I ordered some drinks so I didn’t die or dehydration while I was waiting for you”

You can’t help but giggle- you and Bucky’s dry humors had always lined up. It was a part of the reason why the two of you had always got on so well, the two of you were always throwing off hand, rude to anyone else, jokes at each other.

“It’s three, you’re going to need to check that alcoholism or yours someday” you rebuff and he shrugs, taking another swig if his beer with a cheeky smile-

“It’s five o’clock somewhere...and it’s actually 3:30, which makes you- he checks his watch playfully, asshole, fifteen minutes late”

“I had a meeting with my boss. Give me a fucking break” You snipe back, and yeah maybe you sound a little sharp.

Shit. No, that’s not how you wanted the atmosphere of this conversation to go. But this week had been...a lot.

You’d told your little sister MJ about the big B news and she had advised you to talk to your boss about bumping up your healthcare, about maternity leave and all that other jazz as early as possible- and that had lead to you having to sit for over an hour with the one-eyed owner of the radio station.

Nick Fury was cool enough, really he is, but still. Explaining an unexpected pregnancy to him was...really awkward. Especially when he had asked about the father and you had to pretty much shrug and say “Bitch, I don’t know. I guess I’ll find out later today”

But you definitely didn’t call your boss a bitch.

“A meeting? Is everything okay?” Bucky actually sounds concerned and you purse your lips and spin the straw in the dark drink you hadn’t touched yet because you were preeeeetty sure it had liquor in it and that was a no go for you now.

“Um, yeah...it is now. I just had some serious stuff to talk to him about”

“Serious? That doesn’t sound great” Bucky didn’t mean to pry, but he knows how much you loved your job. How hard you’d worked for it.

He’s always rooted for you, knowing that like many things, the radio waves were dominated by male hosts. He listened to your podcasts, and your new show, religiously.

Every Wednesday night at 7- he diligently listens to your melodic voice, actually for the last couple months it’s the only way he could feel close to you.

Sucker. He knows.

“Um, yeah. Kinda serious? More just things I needed to get sorted out with Fury. A little planning for my future, ya know?” Our future, the life inside me, you don’t say. Yet.

“Okay, well as long as everything’s still going smoothly there, that’s good, right?”

“Yeah, right. Everything’s going smoothly…” fuck.

“Just say it and get it over with. Like pulling off a band-aid” Wanda had pep talked you about this- but god, how could anybody know it was going to be this hard.

Your heartbeat had gone hummingbird and your stomach was in knots as the minutes ticked on. You order an ice water and watermelon salad and Bucky frowns.

Because that’s not your usual...you always get the Nacho Tots. He offers them as an appetizer for the two of you to share and you shake your head with a forced smile, complaining of a stomach ache.

You don’t touch the peach tea, he points that it too and you shake your head telling him you weren’t in the mood to drink which, what? You were always down to day drink. Always.

Half way through his chimichurri steak, Bucky can’t take the weird tension anymore. You’re trying...to hard. And yet he can clearly see that you’re more uncomfortable, more uneasy then he’s ever seen you.

He can only bite his tongue for so long. Months of tension were bound to come to a head eventually.

He couldn’t bare talking about the weather and other trivial bullshit subjects anymore.

“Y/N...if you didn’t want to hang out, why did you make plans with me?” Bucky questions, bluntly. Takes you off guard a bit.

“What?” Is your bright reply and he just frowns and leans back in his chair. His body language is all wrong- and it makes you even more anxious then you already were.

“I just- fuck. Fuck, it’s been so weird between us since March and I thought having lunch today was supposed to be us remedying said weirdness but it just feels worse” Bucky’s tone is slightly frustrated and dejected

You can feel your face drop. None of this was going how you’d planned- and you’d imagined this going 1,000 different ways in the last few days.

“I just want everything to go back to the way it was” Bucky speaks, interrupting your silence and it feels like there’s fucking needles in your stomach.

“It can’t go back” You utter, fidget in place, staring at the busy street outside the window for a moment. Not able to meet his eyes yet.

“Really? Cause I kinda think that’s bullshit. So we slept together? It was consensual and we’re adults, I don’t get why it has to be a friendship ending thing-“ Bucky’s feelings are hurt, and it’s apparent in his tone. Confused, slightly pleading.

Band-aid, Wanda’s words ring in your head as you muster up your courage and look back at Bucky.

Jesus, you could drown in his foggy eyes. Could be melted down to nothing by the molten silver of his gaze.

“I have something to tell you, it’s why I asked you to lunch today. I wanted to talk to you face to face because...this is pretty fucking huge and I- I” you stutter and stumble over your words and Bucky knows it’s something major because words are usually your weapon. You vernacular your sword and armor.

He doesn’t know why he knows, or why it clicked together in his head- call it some kind of weird intuition. Maybe from the fact that he grew up with all sisters and that he remembers his older sister Charlie and her face when she’d told his parents, at the age of sixteen, that she was-

And Oh, ohhhh, you hadn’t drank. Or touched your food-

“You’re pregnant” it doesn’t feel real to him as he says it, as his lips gram the words he can’t really feel himself speak them.

You gasp softly- your big eyes locked with his for a moment where everything goes still around the two of you, and then you nod.

It’s like he had peered straight into your soul anyway. Like he already knew.

“Yeah, I am. Nine weeks- well almost ten now, I guess”

“Oh...oh fuck” Bucky breathes out, a long exhale because he’d been holding his breath and oh shit- he hasn’t had a panic attack in years but this sure feels like what the start one.

“Bucky?”

“It’s mine?” He knows it’s an asshole question, but he grits it out anyway because he has to be sure of what he already knows.

“Yeah, it is. I haven’t been with anyone since we were together” It’s the truth, and he knows because you have a big fat unfiltered mouth that you hadn’t been with anyone for months before him.

“Five months?” You remember him breathing into your neck “Fuck, doll, how? No way”

“Mmhmm” you’d hummed as he’d kissed down your chest “I’m not a whore like you- I can go a few months without sex with out my genitals shriveling up and my brain short circuiting”

He’d laughed around a mouthful of breast.

And now you were pregnant. With his baby.

He gapes like a fucking fish as he tries to digest it all.

“I’m going to keep it, Bucky. And that doesn’t mean I expect you, or am going to force you to be in they’re life but I just...I don’t know I thought i should tell you? And not because I felt obligated to or anything...I mean kind of, but because you’re a good person and I wanted you to know” You’re rambling, yeah, but you’re saying your peace.

“You’re ten weeks?” Bucky questions, breaking you out of your ramblings and you nod, a little confused.

“Yeah, it’s the size of a Cherry right now...trippy, right?”

Bucky barks out a laugh, still in that headspace where he though he might wake up at any given moment.

“A cherry. Oh my god. Holy fuck- you’re pregnant” Bucky exasperates and then puts his hands on his face, trying to calm down. Trying to get a grip on himself.

He knows you. Knows that you’re not lying about it being his, why would you? And there’s a baby inside you, right this moment. One that he’d put there- that the two of you had created together.

“Yup. Super fucking pregnant- a doctor confirmed it and everything” You try to lighten the mood a little, just like you always do.

“Really?”

“Yeah...here, look” you dog through your handbag for a moment and then pull out a laminated picture and reach across the table to hand it to him.

When Bucky takes his first look at it, his heart squeezes and his breath gets stuck in his throat again.

It’s the ultrasound picture. Black and white, unidentifiable shapes- but his eyes zero in on the little blob in the darkness. The baby.

His baby.

His heart clenches again.

“There it is” you point out what he’s looking out with a manicured finger “that’s the baby. I know it all looks like an obscure Picasso painting or something but that’s it” you kind of hate calling your baby an it, but you don’t know what else to call...them, yet.

“A cherry” Bucky whispers, asks.

“Yeah, like-“ you make that annoying, internet famous, 6 shape, with your hand and put it up to your eye to look through it “this big”

Bucky chuckles. You’re so dumb. And so special, for being able to make such a tense situation feel...lighter.

“I’m going to want to be in this baby’s life, you know that, right?” Yeah, he doesn’t know how he feels about all of this yet. He still thinks this might be some kind of fever dream- that maybe he died from that flu he had last week, but he’d been raised right by his mom and pop.

Was he a bit slutty? Yeah, he guesses he’d own that(argue that he only acted on how he was pursued)

Could he be a little bit of an arrogant prick? You, and plenty of other people had told him that plenty in his life and yeah, he’d own that one too.

But he’d never, could never, leave you alone to raise this child. Not with how he felt about you- and shit, even if he wasn’t harboring these feelings could he ever just leave a woman who he’d gotten pregnant completely alone.

“Don’t make promises in the heat of the moment, I’m not expecting-“

“Me to want to be a father to my child” he doesn’t snap, per say, but he knows you can hear how offended he is. It makes you bite the inside of your lip.

“I don’t know. I just don’t...want you to feel like you have to say things you don’t mean because I’m sitting in front of you right now. Like? You might feel different later, you know?”

Bucky instantly feels bad for snapping at you. You’d been sitting on this, thinking you might have to do this alone…

Bucky looks back at the ultrasound picture and his stomach rolls at the idea of you doing this alone. Of him missing this first milestone of your pregnancy. Of his child’s life.

His child.

He’d woken up this morning, single, uncomplicated and now...he knew there was a baby that was half him inside of you.

He should have had that stronger drink.

“I’m going to be there for this baby, and for you. I don’t know what that looks like yet and I can’t promise I’ll be great at it, but I’m going to be here” his voice gets soft and passionate and fuck, the way he’s looking at you, vowing this to you…

It’s almost more than you can handle.

“Okay...I’m game” you say, and he snorts and nods.

He doesn’t know what’s going to happen, if he’ll be a good dad or not. There’s so many unknowns swirling around his head, clogging his brain-

But he knows he’s not going anywhere.

“We’re going to have a baby” He says it, and this time it feels a little more real as it comes out of his mouth. “Holy fuck I’m going to be a dad”

“Um, congratulations” The waiter chooses that time to come back to the table, and the kid who can’t be more then eighteen looks a little awkward at intruding “Do you want a celebratory piece of cake?”

“You know what? Yeah we do- and please, make sure there’s a cherry on top”

He grins too big when he asks for a cherry and you know he’s needs it as a visual comparison to the size of the baby inside you. Bucky is so obnoxious.

He’s also beautiful- in the restaurants low light. All teeth and bright blue eyes- his brows still pulled together and his expression a little overwhelmed, but not mad. Not disgusted or cold like you’d feared.

You can almost here both Wanda and MJ’s “told you so’s” now.

You can’t help but share in his contagious smile- the nerves that had players you aren’t completely gone, not by a long shot.

But...you and Bucky Barnes were going to have a baby.

You could only hope that the two of you didn’t fuck it up too bad.

@peacefulwriter88 @jaamesbbarnes @jalapenobarnes @gifsbysimplysonia @brieannakeogh @lostinthoughtsandfeelings @lostinspace33 @4theluvofall @tatathekissypotato @siren-kitten-his @skishenanigans @geekyweed @spidey-babe-parker @lastfallenstar @rachelle-on-the-run @prettybubblesintheair @dani-si @hufflepuff-always-forever @morganhoran1671 @imdiegohargreeves @nikolett3 @miss-mcbotty @nerdgirljen @readingsubtitles @sgtbookybarnes @prussiangilbert @tiredofsatansbullshit @bitchwhytho @mishameadows @heartbeats-wildly @10kindsofderp @xodearling @notyourtypcalrose @rachelle-on-the-run

The taglist for this story is still OPEN. If you would like to be tagged, please be aware that I will be expecting feedback, and will not take the time to tag you again if you don’t give any- I will update with the next chapter once this chapter reaches 100 notes.

Okayyy, so here’s part two. It might be a little cheesy, but I really want this story to be more fluff then angst, okay?! Which let me say is not easy for me because lately I’ve been one angsty bitch.

So I decided that I wanted to play with more MCU characters then I normally do, do something different- and that’s how I came up with the idea that the readers little sister is MJ(Michelle Jones) from Spider-Man. I love Zendaya- and since I’m usually writing a mixed race reader- she fits as a sibling.

Just for heads up, a little spoiler for the next chapters, I will also be having the Van Dynes be in her family tree. Hope is her cousin.

I’m really just trying to have fun writing for Marvel again. Hope you guys are having fun reading this.

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clericbyers · 5 years ago

Note

im gonna say it - will as kindergarden teacher au and mike as a person who always picks up nancy’s child

“I’m off to pick up Nancy’s little brat from school,” Mike calls as he grabs car keys from the shelf by the door. “Be back in a sec.”

Lucas shrugs from tying at his computer. “Pick up some bread while you’re gone; I think we’re almost out of it.”

“Yeah, sure; just text me if you manage to think of something else we need while I’m gone.” He waves bye to his roommate and leaves the apartment with a whistle, keys jangling in his pocket.

Mike never really intended to be the one to pick up Julia from kindergarten, but he lives closer to the school than Nancy does and she hates leaving her daughter at the daycare while she’s at work when Julia can spend time with her “Uncle Mikey” instead. Mike doesn’t really mind anyway; he’s got a bit of a soft spot for the little tyke and Nancy always looks so happy seeing Mike bond with her daughter, so it’s a win-win situation.

The drive to the school goes as usual. Mike puts on a podcast, listens to the latest news from film critics about various upcoming festivals, takes a moment at the stoplight to think about his original screenplay that got picked up by the city’s theater troop, and then thinks about what his next project should be. The great thing about his job is the flexible hours, hence the ability to pick up Nancy’s little girl, but it does often mean he’s up late writing and trying to stuff ideas into coherent words before his manager and editorial crew start pestering him for an update.

Mike parks about a block from the school and climbs out his car stretching his arms up into the air. He yawns a little despite it being mid-afternoon–he spent all night working on editing a new script–and makes his way toward school grounds, adjusting his gray beanie on the way. Mike smiles at a few of the parents who have come to recognize him already, waves at a few of the kids who smile up at him, and then waits by the front gates for Julia. She’s a little later than usual, but her eyes are bright and she squeals as she runs to Mike and wraps her tiny little arms around his legs.

“Uncle Mikey!” she cheers, giggling when he bends down to pick her up and hoist her on his hip. She’s got Nancy’s big, expressive eyes and it always warms Mike’s heart when he can see happiness reflecting in them. “Today was so much fun! We did drawings of animals today!”

“Animals? Did you get to draw your favorite?”

“Yes! A giant doggy!” Julia squirms in Mike’s arms as she tries to reach her backpack. She frowns dejectedly. “I want to show you but it’s in my backpack.”

“You can show me when we get to your mom’s place, alright?” Mike boops her nose and the girl giggles happily.

“Hi,” a voice interrupts and Mike turns to scowl at the intruder, only for no words to slip from his mouth as he stares ahead.

The guy before him is, well, to be blunt, incredibly handsome and fine and Mike might just be falling in love already looking at the calm, gentle smile on his face and catching the way sunlight happens to sparkle in his green eyes.

“Mr. Byers!” Julia makes grabby hands toward him and the Byers guy laughs heartily. “Have you met my uncle?”

“Uncle Mikey, right?” Byers gives Mike a once over and Mike knows he’s blushing like a tomato right now. “I’ve heard a lot about you. I’m Julia’s kindergarten teacher. I’m glad to put a face to the name now.”

“Uh,” Mike blubbers. “Yeah? I haven’t heard a thing about you. I mean, I have! Heard about you. In passing.”

Nice one, Michael.

Byers chuckles at that though, so Mike thinks he’s forgiven for the blunder. “It’s alright, there’s always time to get to know each other better.”

Did he just..? Mike blinks and adjusts Julia on his hip. “I, um? Yeah. Yeah, there’s time for that. What time, uh, what time works best for you?”

“6 PM this Thursday? Parent-Teacher conference.” And oh god, Mike is really blushing now because of course the guy wasn’t asking him out right after meeting him.

“I’m not..I’m not her parent; I’m sure her mom can get time off though.” Mike rubs at the back of his neck. “I just pick her up because I live closer.”

“And because you love me!”

Mike laughs. “Yes, and because I love you.”

“I love, you, too!” Julia wraps her arms around Mike’s neck, enough to choke a little, but she loosens up pretty quickly. “Mr. Byers, my uncle writes plays!”

“Oh, does he, now?” Byers raises a curious eyebrow but his lips are still curled in a soft smile just for Julia.

“Scripts. I write scripts. Sometimes they are plays, sometimes little indie movies for the university.” Mike shrugs. “Got a big one coming up in the city, though.”

“Really? That’s amazing; congrats!” Byers’ smile is so big and genuine and Mike is so, so wishing this dude is single and gay. “Julia, are your uncle’s plays worth the time to watch?”

“Absolutely!” she pats at Mike’s cheeks. “He’s the bestest play maker ever.”

“I wouldn’t go that far,” chuckles Mike as he pulls her hands away.

“I can’t judge until I see it for myself.” The teacher pulls out his phone and hums to himself. “What dates is your show playing on?”

“Uh, the first one is in two weeks.” Mike feels a lump in his throat. “On a Friday night. It’s called ‘The Upside Down’ if you’re looking it up. Oh, and my name is Wheeler. Mike Wheeler. Michael Wheeler.”

Byers hums and then taps his phone a few times. “Consider my ticket purchased.” Mike’s eyes nearly bug out his head. “And my name is Will, by the way. Will Byers.”

“Okay. Yeah. That’s a, uh, that’s a nice name. Is it short for something? Like Michael is short for Mike. I mean, Mike is short for Michael.”

Will laughs heartily, a hand to his chest and Mike kinda melts inside. “It’s short for William, but no one ever calls me that.”

“Uncle Mikey, why are your cheeks so red?”

Mike swats Julia’s hands away. “Because you keep smacking my cheeks, that’s why!” He turns back to Will with an apologetic smile. “It was nice meeting you, but this little one is getting restless and I gotta take her to her mom.”

“It was nice meeting you, too, Mike.” Will waves bye to Julia. “I’ll see you bright and early tomorrow, Julia.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow, too, Mr. Byers.”

The two stand watching Will walk back toward the school building and Mike lets out a deep sigh he didn’t even realize he was holding in. Julia squirms in his arms again so he lets her down to the ground and takes her hand in his as they walk back to his car. Julia starts talking about her day in detail but Mike can barely listen and he feels so bad for it, but he really cannot believe what just transpired five minutes ago.

“Have you met Julia’s teacher?” Mike asks when Nancy opens the door as she gets home from work. Julia bounces around her mom’s feet excitedly, trying to show her her new drawings.

Nancy shrugs. “Yeah, what about him?”

“Uncle Mikey’s cheeks kept going red while we we talking to Mr. Byers!”

Nancy slowly turns to Mike with curiously raised eyebrows and a smirk on her painted lips. Mike decides he’s done picking up his sister’s tratorious child. “You’re telling me my little brother saw a hot guy and turned into a pre-teen mess?”

“I did not.” Mike mumbles to the ground. “He bought a ticket to my play though. So I think he likes me.”

“Mike, I buy a ticket to your plays.”

“You’re obligated to as my sister. He has no obligation to fund my starving artist ways.” Mike leans back on the couch and hangs his head upside as he watches Nancy parce through the mail. “Do you think he’s interested though?”

“Sure, why not? He’s at least interested in your nerdy fantasy plays, so I’m sure he’d like you as a person.” She ruffles Mike’s hair and then turns to the kitchen. “You wanna stay for dinner? I don’t mind cooking extra.”

Mike smiles warmly, suddenly grateful that he gets to live in close vicinity with his sister still after all these years. “Yeah, lemme text Lucas that I’m staying out for a bit later tonight.”

Nancy grins and leans down to kiss Julia’s forehead. “C’mon, sweet pea, let’s go cook something delicious for Uncle Mikey. He’s finally getting back into dating.”

“Mommy, what’s dating?”

Mike laughs loudly as Nancy coughs around her answer. “Nothing you need to concern yourself with right now.”

#yams writes #this was so cute omg #lets say nancy's daughter is steves #and nancy is a working mom #and when mike and will get closer she also gets closer to jonathan in turn #anon #yams answers

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saleintothe90s · 5 years ago

Text

400. My favorite highlights from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (1980s, 1990s)

In 1982, Olive Oyl became the first human female balloon at the Macy’s parade. However, by 1985, she was left out of the parade due to her height + the bad weather that day:

Olive Oyl was redesigned for her final parade in 1986, but it was too late, she was just too tall:

(also note that her elbow is missing)

However, I found a clip of her at a parade in Philadelphia in 1989! Being her dangerous self. (blog entry about this parade here)

In 1983, Mickey Mouse died, and I am loving the drama associated with it. I looked up what the Mickey balloon looked like back then, and he looked like a knockoff of Mickey. Bobo Mickey.

I watched parts of the 1983 parade on YouTube, and you know who is in it?

Cats.

(at 36:59) Oh my god. The original broadway cast with Betty Buckley playing Grizabella, and Marlene Danielle is there, playing Demeter!

There was also a cat hanging out of the window at Macys! I can’t tell which one this is.

Bryant Gumbel from Today��hosted this year, and you can totally tell that he is miserable. That’s something I’ve learned to like about him since starting this blog several years ago. He never hides how miserable he is. (I mean ... the memo) Rewind the cats performance, listen to him read the lyrics to Grizabella the Glamour Cat. He is gone.

Alvin & the Chipmunks sang “tomorrow’ from Annie? There’s a part where these voices off screen ask the kids when they’re gonna do their chores, and the answer is “🎵tomorrow🎶”. Well, one of the chores is “are you gonna start your diet, Theodore?”Then the camera cuts to Bryant and he is giggling:

(baby) Joey Lawrence is also there through at least the first part of the parade interrupting stuff, like dancing with the Flintstones while they sing “jingle bell rocks”. He was also in the Cissy Houston broadway bit too.

(Robin looked like he was about to barf on his float)

1989 (partial video of parade) , it snowed about four inches that day. Deborah Norville hosted for the first time that year along with Willard Scott. She suuuuckkkked as a Today show host. I know its not polite to use the word “sucked” when I’m trying to be a professional pretend historian, but she wasn’t good.

Melba was at this parade! We remember Melba...

OH. 1989 was the year that Alf kept interrupting! He nearly dies of excitement when he sees the Garfield balloon. He looks kinda depressing here, hanging out a window in a dark room at Macys, snow falling down.

Scott Bakula striked up a band in the snow. The crowd behind him judging his every move. Dixie Carter was on a Native American float wearing a giant grey fur coat, looking like Old 'Doot from Cats.

This happened too.

Bart is my all time favorite balloon. He misbehaved a few years later too:

1995 was Bart’s last year, after having problems every single year he was in the parade.

I love this description on yet another year where Kermit broke (this time in 1991):

1991 (video) was the first year that Katie Couric hosted with Willard Scott. A magician makes them appear!

Sharon, Lois, and Braham was there too ... three people who I completely forgot about until this very second.

A circus came and a wind up elephant dog was there.

Lea Salonga sang from Miss Saigon!

OUR BOY FRASIER SHOWED UP.

Part 2 has Kermit’s demise. Aw, Willard said “it’s not so easy being green” as he was introducing the Kermit balloon.

They had clips of Kermit in better days ready to go! I guess this was the usual back then for when a balloon popped mid-parade, show its archive roll.

“You test me every (thanksgiving) day boy!”

(deflated Kermit was the inspiration for this piece of art in 2018)

You know one balloon I didn’t like growing up? Beethoven. He was in the parade from 1992-1995, and then brought back in 2008 for some reason. I guess he had another direct to DVD movie.

He looked extra droopy in 2008. I guess that’s what happens when you’re a 16 year old balloon.

1994 was the first year for the Cat in the Hat balloon, which became infamous in 1997 when he flew into a lamppost and critically injured a woman, Kathleen Caronna, who was in a coma for a month after her injury. 1 You may also remember Kathleen because in 2006, a plane carrying baseball player Cory Lidle crashed into her apartment. When my dad told me this, I thought he was reading an internet hoax. No, it was her apartment, for reals! 2

1999 was the peak of the dot-com boom, and its apparent. One of the sponsors was (in Don Pardo voice) GAAAATTEEWAYYYYY COMMPUUUUTTERRS.

and the pets.com dog had a float.

The Rockettes also dressed like marshmallow ladies who are manequins come to life? Matt Lauer’s words, not mine. It poured rain that day, and the painted street decoration was ruined immediately. I feel like I remember green pant being on some broadway performers costumes.

Millennium Snoopy in the rain bids the reader au revoir.

Related links:

X-Entertainment (dinosaur dracula) reviews the 1984 parade -- archive from 2003.

Dinosaur Dracula’s Purple Stuff podcast on the 1990 parade

Dinosaur Dracula’s Purple Stuff Podcast on the 1994 parade.

1. Collins, Glenn, “ Woman Hurt During Parade Is Out of Monthlong Coma,” New York Times, December 23, 1997. https://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/23/nyregion/woman-hurt-during-parade-is-out-of-monthlong-coma.html

2. “Bad luck hits twice for one N.Y. woman,” Star News Online, October 14, 2006. https://www.starnewsonline.com/news/20061014/bad-luck-hits-twice-for-one-ny-woman

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fandomsphere · 6 years ago

Photo

Hey everyone! Welcome back to the FANDOM-sphere! Here is our (late) post for #fanfictionfriday the final part of Carried Away.

We also wanted to announce that for the time being, our podcast episodes will be taking over the Friday slot of our postings. We hope to eventually bring back our original fanfic posts, but for the time being want to focus on getting the podcast out to you guys. We hope you enjoy the epilogue of Carried Away, and be on the lookout for our post about episode 2 of FANDOM-sphere hoping to have the technical difficulties worked out by early tomorrow.

-Luci

Carried Away: Epilogue (Read it on ao3)

Adrien stifled yet another yawn. It was barely 7:30 and he was already trying to determine the best way to sneak out of the gala his father had required he attend. Unfortunately, from the look on Nathalie's face as she eyed him from across the room, that would not be an option.

At least, if he had to attend another one of these boring events, this time he got to bring his girlfriend. Girlfriend. He still couldn’t believe it. He had been dating Marinette Dupain-Cheng for two entire weeks and every moment had been amazing. He watched as she took a careful sip from her glass of red wine. He had to admire her poise, she was the image of perfection in her mint green dress with her hair pulled back into a braid. Her eyes were sparkling as she listened to the other guest chatter away about some runway show he had attended in Spain.

He remembered to nod when a comment was directed his way. Fake a smile. “It was lovely seeing you again. I’m afraid we must see a few more people at my father’s request. Pardon us.”

He placed a hand on Marinette's arm and led her away from the other guests. They stepped through a doorway into a back hall no doubt used for the staff to carry in trays of food.

“Sorry about all that,” Adrien said with a sigh. He tugged at his tie that so perfectly matched her dress. “Some of these people will just talk endlessly if you let them.”

Marinette shook her head. “It’s fine, really. I’m having a good time.” She swirled the drink in her glass, watching it carefully instead of looking at him.

He laughed then turned it into a cough. “Are you really?” he asked, eyebrow raised.

She looked at him then. “Okay, well, not good necessarily. But,” she looked through the doorway out at the other guests. “It is a good opportunity. Most of the guests here are people I'd never get the chance to meet otherwise. So, I’m hopefully making some good connections.” Her eyes returned to the drink in her hand. “And I enjoy being with you.” A blush dusted her cheeks and suddenly the hall was much warmer.

He looked away, reminding himself he really couldn’t be caught making out with his girlfriend at an event like this. No matter how tempting her lips looked.

He had just started to contemplate the idea of sneaking away from the party for a more enjoyable date when Nathalie appeared in the doorway. “Adrien, your father has a few more guests he’d like you to greet for him.”

He sighed. “Of course, Nathalie.” He took a step forward and followed his father's assistant back into the party, careful to make sure Marinette stayed close by. If it was connections she needed. Then connections she’d get.

____________________________________

Marinette had to admit, she’d thought these types of parties would be more fun. A room full of people who were influential in the fashion industry: designers, investors, models, the wealthy people who bought the latest designs. And yet, she was tired of it already.

She had to assume it would be more enjoyable if she was actually one of those influential people, but then again, maybe not. Maybe they all were just very good at pretending.

She glanced sideways at her date. Adrien Agreste. She held back a sigh. No swooning here, Marinette Dupain-Cheng!

Her thoughts were quickly sobered by the expression on his face. A forced smile, tired eyes, no signs of his usual playfulness. She wished she could do something about it, but with Nathalie leading them around to every person Adrien was supposed to greet… that wouldn’t be happening easily.

“It is great seeing you again as well, M. Moreau.” Adrien shook hands with the man standing before them.

M. Moreau chuckled and shook hands enthusiastically. “No sign of Agreste senior, I see.” His eyes landed on Marinette and he gave Adrien a smile that Marinette didn’t fully understand. “And who might this lovely young lady be?”

Adrien placed a gentle hand on Marinette’s lower back, guiding her forward slightly. “This is my girlfriend, Marinette Dupain-Cheng.”

Marinette nodded politely and accepted the handshake from the older gentleman. She waited for what would happen next. The conversation would turn back to Gabriel fashions or Adrien and the future of both. Then after the mandatory length of polite conversations, they would move on to the next person.

This time surprised her.

“Dupain-Cheng?” Moreau asked. “Why does the name sound familiar?”

Marinette could feel the surprise on her face. Nobody at these events recognized her name. The shock dissipated quickly though as she remembered that it was more likely people knew her parents, not her.

“Perhaps you know my parents,” she offered with a smile. “Tom and Sabine, of Tom & Sabine Boulangerie Patisserie.”

Moreau looked thoughtful. “Perhaps…” he tapped his chin.

Adrien took the silence as an opportunity to jump in and Marinette briefly wondered if he was going to reign in the conversation. Instead he began with something she hadn’t expected.

“Marinette’s parents run the best bakery in Paris. If you haven’t stopped by, you should make sure to do so before returning home, M. Moreau.”

Marinette could feel her face grow warm at the praise of her family. She knew they had the best bakery in Paris and most of her classmates (especially Adrien) loved coming by for treats, but it was different to hear Adrien praising her parents so openly.

Moreau nodded, seemingly impressed at the information. But apparently Adrien wasn’t done.

“Although, you may have recognized her from my one of my father's shows. She designed a piece for Gabriel a little while back.”

Marinette could almost die. Why was Adrien bragging about a hat. A single piece that wasn’t even an entire outfit. Just an accessory. She could practically feel her face turning red.

Her eyes met Adrien’s and she could see the sparkle of mischief she'd grown used to recently. But before she could do anything to remedy the situation, Moreau's eyes lit up and he nodded enthusiastically.

“Yes! That’s where I heard your name. At the show when Audrey Bourgeois returned to Paris. One of her writers did an article about it and mentioned you by name.” He looked at her with admiration. “I had assumed Gabriel had hired a new designer, but for someone so young to have so much talent, that is amazing.”

“Oh, no. Thank you, M. Moreau, but really I-"

He cut her off mid-sentence as he looked through the crowd. “Would you mind speaking with my daughter? She loved that hat and I’m sure she'd be interested in having you design a piece for her.”

Marinette glanced at Adrien who nodded encouragingly. Then she turned back to the man before her and smiled. “Of course!”

______________________________________

An hour later, Marinette had finished talking with several people in attendance. She had exchanged contact information with a few promising clients after they saw samples of her work that were saved to her phone and was now ready for some fresh air.

“Adrien,” she tapped his shoulder, gaining his attention. “I’m going to go to the bathroom. I’ll be back in a bit.”

He nodded then taking her hand he placed a kiss on the back of it. “I’ll await your return, My Lady.”

She giggled and headed off up the stairs. Once making it down the hall towards the bathrooms, Marinette continued walking. She opened a few doors, looking inside before closing them. Nothing was right for her plan.

Finally, she found an office that would serve her perfectly. She slipped inside and shut the door behind her. “Tikki.”

The red kwami poked her head out through the top of the purse, “Is everything all right, Marinette?” she asked.

Marinette nodded then flashed the kwami a smile. “Everything’s great, but I think Adrien and I are both a little tired of the party.”

Tikki giggled, “And I’m assuming you have a plan to fix that?”

“I do. But I’ll need my phone and you in order to accomplish this.” Marinette accepted her phone from Tikki and typed out a quick message. She returned it to her purse. “Okay, Tikki, spots on!”

___________________________________

Adrien felt his phone buzz in his pocket. He tried to force himself to ignore it as he listened to Nathalie discuss a new line with another guest. He had enjoyed helping Marinette make some connections earlier, not that she really needed his help, but now that she had stepped away he was bored again.

He pretended to pick up another glass from a nearby table and pulled open his jacket slightly to peer down at Plagg. “Hey, who’s the text from?”

Plagg yawned dramatically. Then the cat kwami reached into the pocket and pushed a button. It lit up and he looked back at Adrien. “It’s from your bug.”

Adrien’s eyes widened. Why would Marinette be messaging him when she could just come talk to him? Unless it was because she needed Chat Noir. He hurried back to Nathalie.

“I'm going to the bathroom. Not feeling well,” he lied.

She eyed him suspiciously but nodded. “Do make sure you return.”

Adrien only made it as far as the hall at the top of the stairs before pulling out his phone to check the message.

Marinette ♡♡♡: meet me on the second floor. There’s an office across from a painting of the Seine. Go in and wait by the window.

Adrien felt his mouth go dry. He struggled to swallow down the thoughts that flooded through his mind. Really Marinette was not likely to be inviting him upstairs for an impromptu make-out session.

He went ahead and shoved a couple of mints into his mouth just in case. No sense in not being prepared, he told himself, ignoring Plagg snickering in his coat pocket.

Adrien followed the directions Marinette had given him and quickly found the room in question. But when he stepped inside, he realized that to his dismay the room was very empty.

He glanced towards the door briefly, wondering if maybe he’d gone in the wrong room. “Plagg, she did say this one, right?”

The kwami groaned from his hiding place. “I’m not your messenger. Let me sleep!”

Adrien took a few steps further into the room. He looked around, it was dark. Maybe he had misunderstood the text. He reached into his jacket for the phone when he heard a quiet whirring sound from behind him.

“That’s not exactly the window, y'know? That’s more of the middle of the room.”

He spun around, fumbling and nearly throwing his phone across the room. His eyes went wide, “Ladybug?!”

There suspended just outside the window hanging from a yo-yo string, was Ladybug. Spots and all. She laughed. “You seemed like you could use some fresh air. It can get kind of stuffy inside parties like these, can’t it?”

He took strides to the window, eager to close the distance between them. “So, does that make me your damsel in distress?” he teased, unable to keep the Chat out of his voice.

She rewarded him with a roll of her eyes and a tap on the nose. “Maybe more of a handsome prince trapped in a tower?”

He grinned. “Then please rescue me, fair knight.”

Ladybug beamed at him. “I was hoping you’d ask.” Before he could blink, an arm had shot out and grabbed him by the tie, pulling him out onto the window sill. Ladybug stepped up onto the sill, pressing them close together. She wrapped an arm around his waist. “You ready?”

He struggled to regain his words so he could answer, but finding they were long gone, he simply nodded.

Ladybug leaned closer, allowing her lips to press against his. “Then let’s go. Gotta get you back by midnight, right?”

Adrien laughed, “I think you’re mixing fairy tales now, Princess. I expected bette-”

His words were interrupted by Ladybug suddenly pushing off of the window and swinging them off into the night air. The only sound following Adrien’s outcry of surprise, was his Lady's laughter echoing through Paris as she carried him away.

#fandomsphere #marauderluverz #emerywrites #miraculous ladybug #miraculousladybug #podcast #ao3 #fanfiction #fanfiction friday #carried away

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scribble-fics · 6 years ago

Text

You accidentally ignoring them

(Requested by @theaticalwriter as what if the reader was unintentionally ignoring the rottmnt turts and april due to being engrossed in something.)

Raph-

🍕 at first he was fine with you getting into a new show. And he's fine with you having a life outside of him. It's what humans do he can't expect you to be with him 24/7.

🍕 when you first don't pick up the phone when he calls, "eh they're watching their show probably. Shouldn't bother them."

🍕 later he calls later but you don't pick up, again. He decided to leave a text maybe you would see it- "hey pumpkin when you can give me a call luv u❤"

🍕 when you don't answer his text, not even read it, he's a bit worried. No way your phone is dead or else it wouldn't have ran when he called.. And you didn't even open his text- WHAT IF YOU ARE HURT?!

🍕instantly hits up your place to see you curled in a ball on your couch, tv shining light on your features. Empty soda cans and bowls of popcorn kernels litter the floor as your eyes watch the screen.

🍕 he lets himself in and pauses the tv snapping you out of your t.v. trance, "raph?" When did he get here you have no clue.

🍕 he crossed his arms as you looked at your phone in confusion normally he called when he was about to come ov- 5 MISSED CALLS AND 8 UNREAD TEXTS ALL FROM RAPH!!??

🍕you groan and get up going to your turtle boyfriend who has now opened his arms and scooped you into them. "Raphie I'm so so sorry. I've been watching my show all day.." You honestly felt heartbroken he must have worried so much about you.

🍕 "that's okay y/n, but please next time I want you to atleast say you are watching (insert favorite show here) you scared me."

Leo-

🍕new video game? HE'S IN!

🍕"it's single player, sorry Leo you can watch me though!" Watching his s/o play a new video game? Sure why not.

🍕 when the game starts you are instantly pulled in by it. And actually very good at it too. Way to go you.

🍕 after a while of watching Leo tries to talk to you, "so y/n-" "shh Leo I need to focus"

🍕 he gets it. Yeah he would be focusing too. So he waits for a better time, he tries again, "oh! Wait cutie you are not going to believe- "hold on a sec Leo"

🍕hmpf. Fine you didn't even notice him get up with a huff, "hey uh, I think I'm going to go stretch my legs up top." He looks back at you, yet your eyes haven't left the screen.

🍕 after being out for what had to be hour/hour and a half maybe. He returns to find you- still playing at game. Great.

🍕 "hey cutie I'm back, I went to April's and talked for a bit- uh y/n? You listening" nope. You were shooting zombies rapid fire.

🍕"OH NO Y/N I BROKE MY LEG!!!!....really nothing? Thought that would have broke you...OH COME ON!"

🍕 after ignoring him, and his one liner he finaly reaches forward and pushes the pause button on your controller making you snap out of your video game mode. "Leo?"

🍕 "oh so now you notice me. I don't want you focusing on the game so much y/n, I want you focusing on me."

🍕 you feel guilty. Setting the controller down and giving him a big hug, "I'm sorry leo, I was just excited for the game."

🍕 yeah well. Rip the game, you didn't come back to it after that. spent your time with your boyfriend for the rest of the night.

Donnie-

🍕 keeping your boyfriend up to date, you had told him before of your new book interest.

🍕 and he approved. Books are good for the mind and how could he say no to you reading a series of books you like?

🍕 oh but he was about to. He was about to burn every book in the world.

🍕normally you poke and pester him when he's working in his lab. Which he loves. He loves how much you are interested in him and what he's doing.

🍕BUT NOOOOO ALL HE HEARS ANYMORE IS SOFT SOUND OF PAGES BEING FLIPPED AFTER A MINUTE OR TWO

🍕 he's loosing his mind. You always interact with him first, it's like a gentle nudge for him to comfortable get in a conversation.

🍕 he looks up a few times here and there- still sees your perfect face and beautiful eyes glued to that book and not him.

🍕 jealous? You can't get jealous of a book that ridiculo-UGH HE'S GOING TO RIP THAT BOOK IN HALF WITH ALL THE OTHER ONES THAT COME BEFORE AND AFTER IT THATS HIS S/O WHO DOES THAT BOOK THINK IT IS?!?!

🍕 he's had enough- "ahem, hey babe" ....silence..s-silence? SILENCE?! ALRIGHT FINE!

🍕 he walks over, takes the book, "hey-". He'll cut you off by putting one finger to your lips. Then placing your bookmark in the pages he closes it and-

🍕YEET BYE BOOK- throws it far away from you out the door and turns back to you "much better."

🍕" enlighten me, why did you just yeet my book?"

🍕 I yote your book-" "did you just use yeet in past ten-" "don't interrupt."

🍕 after explaining to you why, you just smiled rolling your eyes and now paying attention to your needy nerd boyfriend.

Mikey-

🍕 podwhat? "Podcasts. It's people talking about topics and stuff its very enjoyable"

🍕awesome! It's good you found a cool thing you like. Even if it sounds boring to him he supports your taste in activities.

🍕 "hey y/n~ we're about to go out want to come? I know how much you like the stars" no answer.

🍕 he looks over at you with your eyes closed, looking so peaceful with your earphones in.

🍕 he wouldn't dare bother you. He sees you looking so peaceful he'll let you listen to your pod thing in peace.

🍕 after coming back he gets to see if you're done listening- nope..man this sucks.

🍕 he just kinda sits around and waits. Watching you and pouting a bit. Then feeling sad.

🍕 why would you want to listen to other people talk. When he was right here and you could talk to him. Or you guys could listen to his brothers talk.

🍕 he taps your shoulder after a while making you open one eye and pull out one earphone, "hm? Mikey? What's up?"

🍕 you see him hang his head a bit and he looks kinda sad, "is your um. Peapod done?" Peapod???OH THE PODCAST!!

🍕you turn off the podcast and nod. It is now. He instantly brighten up "GOOD! I uh I mean you know, uh want to spend some time together or something?"

🍕yes. You would want nothing more than to be with him for however long you can.

April-

🍕her s/o has a new hobby? She interested!!

🍕when you tell her that you enjoy watching most satisfying videos on YouTube she giggles.

🍕not because it's funny but because it's cute. She finds you so adorable.

🍕 on the other hand when you start ignoring her texts because you are watching youtube. She gets irritated.

🍕 "hey baby. Did you see my text" "ah no sorry April I was watching a thing"

🍕oh HECK no. She almost blocked YouTube on your phone. Expect a long talking to. One with her explaining how much that hurts when you just ignore her to watch some paint being smeared.

🍕 you thought about it and yeah. You have been accidentally ignoring her kinda. You just weren't really thinking about it.

🍕 from now on- you answer every text as soon as you can from your loving girlfriend. And when you two are together she'll give these videos a chance and watch them with you.

(This was hella fun to write lol so I hope you enjoy. And sorry about the inbox thing, requests are going to have to be sent through messaging until I set up the inbox.)

#tmnt raphael #tmnt michelangelo #tmnt donatello #tmnt leonardo #tmnt #rottmnt mikey #rottmnt raph #rottmnt leo #rottmnt #rottmnt donnie #tmnt x reader #tmnt fanfic #tmnt 2018 #rise of the tmnt #tmnt headcanons #tmnt head canons #tmnt headcanon #rise of the teenage mutant ninja turtles

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prydon · 6 years ago

Text

a ( VERY LONG) long island geek rundown

aka me just rambling on about paul for paragraphs upon paragraphs, complete with pictures.

so i went to the con with the lovely @haiileyrutledge aka maggie who drove me all the way there from the philly bus station (god bless), it was our first time meeting in person and i still can’t really believe we did this just a few months after we were just kinda joking about going together on twitter when we hardly knew each other

literally the first second we walked into the con, before we’d even gotten our badges, paul mcgann was sitting RIGHT THERE at his autograph table and i may or may not have started aggressively hitting maggie in the shoulder and freaking out and hissing “he’s there, HE’S THERE” and she had to drag me past him so we could get our badges

then we sat in on the panel before his to make sure we got good seats for his. it was a panel with wendy padbury and frazer hines and they were adorable!! by the end of their panel we were literally buzzing tho bc we knew what was next

when paul came in the first thing he did was squint up at the ceiling and complain about the brightness of the lights, like “oh this is quite harsh isn’t it” so they turned them down for him, much to maggie’s chagrin bc she’s a photographer and it made it very hard to take nice photos (look forward to her uploading her photos btw, she got some GREAT shots regardless of lighting)

then we all sang happy birthday to paul, per the interviewer’s instructions! it was v cute. someone uploaded a video of it on youtube. (i took one too, but it was much worse quality)

first question the interviewer asked was what the secret to paul’s eternal youth was, which paul took a SUSPICIOUSLY long time thinking about before finally just claiming it was his insomnia. how not sleeping is supposed to make you look better i have no idea, but it’s clearly not hurting paul’s appearance, despite him “not having slept since the nineties” (his words)

and so on went the panel. it was quite fun, and though i’d heard almost all the anecdotes paul told before, they weren’t ones he’d told a million times and the interviewer asked interesting questions about his brothers and some of his earlier roles.

he also asked him about holby- the most recent episode, even- which i was not expecting lol. he asked paul if gaskell was really dead, and paul was just like “lol it’s a soap, who knows what could happen” and joked about another soap character whose death had turned out to be a dream.

also of note is that paul never called gaskell by name once and exclusively referred to him as “doctor death” lmaooo. i actually know why this is- he mentioned on a radio show a week or so ago that a holby city fan yelled “doctor death!” at him in the street once- but he didn’t....explain this background to the panel audience, so i’m sure many were baffled by it :”D the interviewer was like “so your most recent role, professor john gaskell-” and paul was literally like “ah, yes. doctor death!” asoifjsaij what a dork

^ this pic is actually from the sunday panel but god, actual dork with a heart of gold paul mcgann being juxtaposed next to menacing shots of “doctor death” was never not hilarious

speaking of holby, I GOT TO ASK HIM A QUESTION DURING THE Q & A, and i asked him what it was like working with guy henry! he said working with old friends is tough bc they know all your acting tricks lol. he went on gently roast guy and say he’s looked like he was 40 since they were at rada and that one of their professors told guy that he was the kind of person who wouldn’t find real success until he WAS like 40 bc he just had one of those faces, and lo and behold, that was case. notably, paul said all of this while holding eye contact with me since it was my question, and i was literally trembling by the end of his response bc i can barely hold eye contact with my family members let along PAUL JOHN MCGANN

he also said “fuck” at one point. at another he pulled the cap off his water bottle with his teeth and maggie and i were both like...*sweating*

after that we got our photo ops! then managed to get some food in us, and then i went to get paul’s autograph and give him his bday gift, which i already detailed here [x] so i won’t get into that. notably he also called maggie photogenic and said their photo op looked like a housewarming photo of a couple just moving in. we were both dying afterwards.

theeeen that evening i attended a dinner party for fans with vip passes that the stars also attended! the food was v yummy. there was ice cream too.

unfortunately i didn’t end up at paul’s table, but i was at the table next to him so i may have eavesdropped. my table had jon davey, who plays cybermen and daleks and ood etc, and who was very funny and decidedly attractive, and who at one point pulled out his phone and showed me this video while nearly dying of laughter over it

paul was actually late to the dinner because he crashed a painting panel!!

^ here’s him painting his tardis picture with his dorky ass reading glasses on. what an old man. i love him

he did show up eventually, and ended up drinking a decent amount of red wine and i’m pretty sure got tipsy and at one point misheard the person next to him as saying “penis hands” and was like “penis hands???? PENIS HANDS???”

all my table ended up leaving early but paul’s all stayed hanging on his every word bc that’s the effect he has on people :’)) so i ended up scooting over there just to listen. at one point his assistant came over and whispered to me that paul HAD gotten the letter i gave him with his gift and he WOULD read it tonight and i was like “omg no it’s ok, i didn’t need him to reply asap or anything, i just wanted him to have it!!”

i left the dinner when paul left- his table were the last ones out- and maggie was outside the dinner waiting for me and may have collapsed into a fit of giggles when she saw paul. then we went to our airbnb and fuckin CRASHED because we were so damn exhausted

on to SUNDAY

i started placing bets on what paul would be wearing that day on sunday morning, since i know he only has like three different con outfits that he wears. lo and behold we get to the con and he’s wearing THE EXACT SAME CLOTHES AS SATURDAY. like, down to the scarf and shoes. they were 100% the same.

idk why he was, but he must have washed them, or he must be an ethereal being incapable of sweating because he was just as nice and fresh as the previous day [shrug]

we wandered around the dealer’s room for a bit, maggie bought a vinyl from a charity sale booth and i bought a couple dwms with bb eight on them bc why not

my lovely internet friends and fellow paul superfans @savageinkspillage and @paulmcgannlesbian both paid me to buy them autographs, and i was happy to oblige because it meant i got to talk to paul again

i went up to his booth and he said “good to see you again!!” and told me he was so touched by the birthday card :”0 and thanked me again for the drawing!

i told him what names to sign to for the autographs and there was an incredible moment where i told him to address one to “brittany” and his brain like. short-circuited and he tried to spell it out to me except he spelled it some ridiculous white mom way like “B-R-I-T-N-I-Y” or something and i just stared at him for a moment not sure if he was fucking with me before being like “.....no?”

once i told him “two t’s” he got it and said “like the place!!” and asked me if i knew where brittany was in a stern teacher voice and i was p sure it was france but not 100% so i was just like “d-don’t quiz me”

he also let me take pictures of him holding the autographs that i could send to my friends, which was very sweet!! here’s him with @savageinkspillage‘s.

he was very determined that we let them dry before taking them because he didn’t want them to be smudged, and blew gently on them himself like a dork.

before we could go, he also fully just was like “give me a hug” and got up and hugged me AGAIN. THREE PAUL MCGANN HUGS IN ONE WEEKEND. T H R E E.

then after he hugged me he noticed the bowie vinyl that maggie had just bought in the dealer’s room and was like “!!!!!! is that a vinyl!!!! can i see!!!”

maggie was like “of course” and handed it over and he was FAWNING over the thing and promptly informed us that it was definitely an original print bc it was made of a special sort of material only used to make records in the 70s, and that it had never been played. maggie said she got it for $10 and he was like “TEN BUCKS??”

he also sniffed it because apparently “that’s what you did with vinyls” and took it out of its sleeve (with maggie’s permission) and freakin’ messed with it to show us how bendy the materal was before giving it back to maggie and emphatically telling her to “treasure that”.

he asked us where we got it and i said it was at a table in the dealer’s room, next to where they were keeping his painting from the night before. upon hearing about the painting he was immediately like “noooo don’t remind me of that!! i’m so ashamed!!” and i was like “WTH PAUL NO IT WAS SO GOOD”

here’s paul’s painting!! it’s lovely!!

also at one point maggie’s hoop earring fell out and full on, like, made a break for paul mcgann and rolled behind his chair. she was embarrassed but he just picked it up and messed with it, feigning putting it on his ear and saying he wished he was a girl so he could wear earrings like that and i was like “you should get your ears pierced!” because he SHOULD. he just laughed.

we literally had a whole, like, probably 10 minute conversation with him and he was just so lovely and funny and warm and thanked me one last time for the drawing before we walked away soasifjsaoifj

THEN it was time for his sunday panel!! it was a great change of pace from usual panels, it was called “doctor’s orders” and run by a podcaster who’d based it on advice columns- basically, he asks paul a bunch of questions looking for advice that he’d gathered from fans and paul had to impart his wisdom.

here are just a few choice tidbits from the panel:

q: what do i do if my boyfriend never puts the toilet seat down? paul: get rid of him

q: there are beehives in my house, what do i do?? paul: don’t kill them!! bees are our friends. move out. let the bees have the house instead

q: boxers or briefs? paul: briefs. *pointed look at audience* some of us need the support.

he was asked the trolley problem and said without hesitation that he would move the trolley to kill the one instead of the five. he also endorsed stealing from businesses to feed the hungry (unsurprising because *cough* he’s a socialist). he revealed that he shoplifted all the time as a kid as a right of passage in working class liverpool and asked the audience to raise their hands if they’d ever shoplifted. when a decent amount did, he called it a sign of a healthy society. he doted on his sons quite a bit which was adorable, and said he was the “soft touch” when they were growing up while mum was bad cop.

at one point he said if liverpool won the premiere league he’d “sit naked here in front of you” and then immediately was like “...i don’t know why i said that.” the audience was roaring with laughter the entire time. it was legitimately the funnest panel i’ve ever been too :’0 and we had front row seats!!

at the end, the host opened the panel up to the audience to ask their advice questions, and maggie asked one about how to survive while studying abroad in london next year. paul gently ribbed her at first being like “well, remember to sleep and eat” but then reassured her “you’ll be fine” and i could physically feel her melting beside me.

after the panel he chatted a bit with the women next to us, who i know to be old guards of paul mcgann fandom. i didn’t hear much but i did hear paul refer to “that brexit shit” lol.

the last time maggie and i saw paul, he seemed to be leaving the con and nearly tripped over a remote control cybermat on the way out, which was cute.

all in all...i really don’t have words for how amazing this was. i couldn’t have asked for a better environment to meet my favorite actor in, and i have gained so many wonderful memories that i can’t even keep track of them all, and i can’t wait to do it again.

#personal #li geek #paul mcgann #i am sorry about the obscene length of this lmao #but did you guys really expect anything less from me #also sorry the font on my blog is so small #ctrl + might help you read

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afterspark-podcast · 3 years ago

Text

G1 Episode 47: Transcript

[This can also be found on AO3!]

[Stinger]

S: He's an idiot savant. Whereas he's like, mysterious and has a flamethrower.

[Intro Music]

O: Hello, and welcome to the Afterspark Podcast, an episode by episode recap of the Generation 1 Transformers cartoon. I'm Owls!

S: And I'm Specs.

O: And today we're going to be talking about episode number 47, The Gambler. Let's talk about giant robots today, shall we?

S: Yes!

O: Let's talk about giant robots with gambling problems today, shall we? [laughs]

S: YES!

O: So, if you'll remember in the previous episode. The Autobots were beamed to an alien planet and had to make an escape via a child's toy rocket ship that had been modified by Perceptor.

S: In a rare occurrence of episodic continuity today's episode is a direct follow-up. Starting with all of these Autobots that were you know, transported in the rocket ship in space.

O: And it's ‘Be Mean To Perceptor Day’ as something goes wrong.

S: Ah, typical. Nevermind that it's another ship causing the problem and not Perceptor's amazing modified toy rocket ship.

O: Yes, seriously! He got the thing working you guys- you guys just need to shut up right now. Uh, but the Autobots are captured by a larger ship.

S: Captured by little metal grippy claws!

O: [laughs] Of course!

S: The Autobots disembark their ship and are led into a lab by the aliens that have captured them.

O: These aliens are like human size, maybe a bit bigger- why aren't they just stepping on them? [laughs] I realize that's more of a Decepticon move, but still.

S: [sighs] Percy is enamored with the lab, until clear tubes drop down from the ceiling trapping each Autobot.

O: The captain of this space vessel steps out of the shadows and introduces himself as Captain Bosch.

S: That name is not one that inspires confidence.

O: [laughs]

S: In fact, it makes me think of Hieronymus Bosch and his paintings.

O: I actually don't know who that is…?

S: I think he's the guy who did [The] Garden of Earthly Delights.

[And it is here dear reader/listener, that I remind you that we met each other while attending art school. The painting Specs is referring to is very surreal and includes a multitude of naked people, despite the era it was painted in. ~O]

O: Oh dear.

B: [laugh]

O: Okay, point taken. Optimus demands that Bosch set the Autobots free, but instead he zaps them with electricity taking away their free will and their ability to transform.

S: Oh.., this isn't uh, this isn't concerning at all is it kids? No.

O: If- they're reaping what they sow, getting what they deserve. This is after the whole [brainwashing] thing with Devastator.

S: Uh... yeah, this is concerning. Uh, so much sarcasm earlier. But uh, the only Autobot unaffected with this is Smokescreen. Uh, because of an error with the ship or whatever. Who breaks out to threaten the captain but the captain's men shoot him and freeze him in place.

O: The captain intends to sell the Autobots to get Energon to power his ship, which is apparently low on Energon. And yet he wasted Energon on this entire bit of shenanigans just now!

S: He then walks over to an alien slot machine that he just has for kicks and giggles.

O: [laughs]

S: Pulls the lever, loses, throws a bit of a tantrum because he had the machine, “Rigged, I tell you! Rigged!” and then Smokescreen offers to show him how it's done.

O: Smokescreen walks over, pulls out a little suction cup on a wire from his wrist, connects it to the machine, and basically you know, pulls the lever, gets three diamonds. This apparently means he wins.

S: Three in a row!

O: Bosch calls him a gambling whiz, and laments that if they could get over to Monacus (the gambling asteroid) they could win a ton of Energon.

S: This is overly optimistic and also, Monacus seems to be a reference to Monaco. Which is a city-state very well known for its gambling and casinos. Bosch and Smokescreen hatch a scheme to win some Energon to power Bosch's ship. And in return he'll return the Autobots to normal and presumably free them.

O: That is a surprisingly quick turnaround! He was totally okay with taking away their free- their free will like, five minutes ago.

S: Apparently, all- all he needed was some gambling uh, bonding to make him happy.

O: [laughs] Apparently!

S: Bosch intends to use the rest of the Autobots as collateral, because I guess he doesn't have anything else to bet? Uh-

O: He’s got a ship, but no!

S: [sighs] So yeah, he's going to use the other Autobots as collateral to get some Energon chips to gamble with.

O: To this end he shrinks the Autobots and puts them in a clear container with a handle, which he obviously takes with him. Um, if I had a nickel for every time the Autobots ended up very small in comparison to their surroundings, I'd have three nickels. Which isn’t that much, but it is weird that it's happened more than once.

S: Yup. Especially considering one of the times was in the episode right before this.

O: Right! Even though they didn't shrink, they were still tiny compared to the world they were in.

S: Yup. So Bosch and Smokescreen take off in a smaller ship and head towards Monacus. And after what sounded like an extremely rough landing (that is not commented at all by either Bosch or Smokescreen) they arrive on the outskirts of a city

O: I'm sure that was a very healthy scraping noise sound that came from the ship when it landed, very healthy!

S: Mm-hm. The fact that they called this like, I don't know- a landing zone or whatever, or a landing field maybe at some point is just like, that is concerning to me.

O: [laughs]

S: Smokescreen reveals that they will not have to walk the rest of the way to the city and transforms into vehicle mode.

O: Bosch hops on in, seemingly delighted uh, cape and all, and says, “Head towards the bright lights at the end of the tarmac.” I fear I cannot convey how funny this is in the actual episode, but there's just something freaking hilarious about this alien that’s decked out in surprisingly old school looking armor, and a bitchin’ and purple cape, just hopping into Smokescreen's passenger seat.

S: It's almost like seeing an ancient Roman senator happily getting into a car or bus.

O: Yes. Uh, the two of them don't seem to have much luck using the Autobots as collateral however, and they have to head to an even seedier part of the asteroid called Sheol.

S: Arriving at Lord Gyconi’s Pit of Destruction!

O: Which as you can imagine from that name, Lord Gyconi is probably a delight at parties.

S: Stepping inside reveals a gladiatorial ring of sorts, with a robot and a strange alien critter circling each other in the ring. Bosch calls the critter an Animalian and says if someone can stay in the ring with it for 60 seconds they'll get 100 Energon chips.

O: I'm sure this will in no way be relevant to the plot. [snorts]

S: Ah, hint, hint, hint, hint. A green amphibious looking alien that talks like a Pokemon accosts the two of them. Apparently demanding five Energon chips a piece from them for admission.

O: All he says is Slizardo, and that is also his name.

S: Slizardo! Slizardo!

O: [laughs] Bosch says they're here to talk to Lord Gyconi.

S: Who, um... looks an awful lot like Jabba the Hut’s slightly more defined cousin who's not allergic to clothing.

O: And thank god for that! [laughs]

S: Uh-huh. So Lord Gyconi offers them 50 Energon chips at 500% interest for the other Autobots.

O: Payment due within an hour!

S: They are able to get the amount that they need, but then Smokescreen's gambling addiction rears its ugly head.

O: He bets it all!

S: He thinks he's fine due to his special connection.

O: I know he means that little suction cup, but Smokescreen, are you fucking those slot machines!?!

S: [laughs] It’s Transformers, we will never know!

O: [laughs] But one of the casino workers spots his little suction cup cord and pulls it off the machine causing him to lose all of their fucking chips.

S: Oh Smokescreen, you're at the doghouse now.

O: Back in Gyconi’s office um, Gyconi takes ownership of the Autobots, and they go down a lift in the floor that is not animated. So they just sort of phase through the floor.

S: Yup, a completely solid floor.

O: Gyconi offers Smokescreen and Bosch tickets for the Autobots’ fight in the Pit of Destruction.

S: He had some time to print up passes for them!

O: Slizardo works quick! Graphic design is Slizardo's passion! [laughs]

S: He's multi-talented.

O: Obviously!

S: I mean obv- I mean you know, Gyconi isn't going to, like-

O: Hire multiple people? Slizardo must be a man of many hats!

S: [laughs] Yes.

O: A lizard of many hats! [laughs]

S: Yep, Smokescreen gets angry but Slizardo pulls a gun on them, forcing them to leave.

O: Gyconi orders Slizardo to follow the two of them while giving him an affectionate rub on the head.

S: There's so much weird subtext here.

O: Yeeep.

S: Outside on the asteroid's surface, Astrotrain lands and Dirge and Ramjet exit.

O: The Coneheads complain about being so far away from the city, but Astrotrain says something to the effect of, “You're lucky we got this far! I've burned every ounce of Energon to get here.”

S: Astrotrain then complains that he has to do all of the work and never gets to have any of the fun when they get there.

O: He's not wrong.

S: Except for that one time on like, Saturn’s moon.

O: [laughs] Except that one time when he got to be god.

S: [laughs] Yes.

O: While the two Coneheads are walking Dirge tells Ramjet that he has a creepy feeling they're being monitored.

S: Dirge didn't fail his passive perception role.

O: As they are being watched by an unknown blue Autobot in the background.

S: Mm-hm. Elsewhere, in a bar, Smokescreen laments his hubris while Bosch consoles him. As he's unsurprisingly been in a number of very similar situations.

O: At the door uh, two guards bar Slizardo from entering.

S: Slizardo's not their preferred clientele.

O: Of course. Racism on alien planets!

S: Mm-hm. The unknown blue Autobot walks in, inadvertently knocking over the guards, and freeing Slizardo.

O: Smokescreen gets the brilliant idea of asking him for help.

S: The other Autobot asks who's speaking to him, like they can't see-

O: The giant Autobot brand! But to which Smokescreen responds, “It was I, Smokescreen. An Autobot myself.”

S: That is just such a weird way to introduce yourself?

O: I- dialogue's not this show’s strong point. [laughs] We know this.

S: I'm not sure what the hell their strong point is?

O: Being ridiculous?

S: That's true, I'll give you that. The Autobot, who introduces himself as Devcon, seems happy to see another Cybertronian and sits down with Smokescreen and Bosch.

O: Slizardo begins kissing his hand, because he is so happy that he is no longer being bullied by the guards.

S: Slizardo is swearing fealty.

O: The kissing noises just keep going in this scene too. It feels very weird. [laughs]

S: Yeah.

O: Devcon is somewhat confused by this attention uh, but Bosch informs him that Slizardo is swearing his eternal loyalty to him.

S: Wow, Gyconi really must not have very good benefits for the people working under him. If just, some dude randomly pulling his way through, you know, an incident somehow manages to make a better impression.

O: Right, and again, I still stand by this man has like, two people working for him and one of them is Slizardo.

S: Yeah, yeah, that makes sense the other one is like the animal wrangler.

O: Yeah, or something! May- maybe a guy- maybe he pays a couple of guys to like, take tickets or money for entry or something? Uh, but Devcon just sort of tosses Slizardo off and of course, Slizardo crawls away dejected.

S: Mm-hm. Devcon is apparently a bounty hunter and has followed Astrotrain, Dirge, and Ramjet to Monacus. Which makes me ask- where he picked up their trail?

O: I- yeah! Because it's like- okay well, it doesn't seem like it was Earth so what the fuck were these three doing before now? Did- did he just pass by them in an interstellar gas station and- and started following them? Because that's the image I have in my head now, I'm sorry.

S: Yeah, now... I have many questions and I know I'm never going to get any answers.

O: I'm serious, all I can envision is like, you know, one of the Coneheads walking out of this gas station carrying Energon nachos, walking right past stuff Defcon- Devcon.

S: And Devcon's just got space newspaper that he's looking at.

O: [laughs] Yeah, maybe with little holes cut out for his optics?

S: Yeah, and it's just a picture of a face and his eyes just line up with it.

O: [laughs] Yes! Why they have paper newspapers in space I have no idea, but I love it.

S: It's the gag, it's the visual gag!

O: Obviously.

S: In Gyconi’s office, Ramjet and Dirge accuse him of skimming Energon off the top and cheating Megatron.

O: Does Megatron have an intergalactic Energon racket? Was this being enforced for the entire time he was out of commission on the Ark!? I have questions!

S: I mean maybe this was what Astrotrain and the Coneheads were doing before they turned up?

O: [laughs] Maybe! So they've just been doing this for eons? Okay.

S: I mean, that makes as much sense as anything else so... I'm gonna believe it. Gyconi denies this and the two spot the Autobots versus the Animalian passes from before, and they decide to stay for the show.

O: Right before the fight uh, Gyconi then rigs the matches to make the Autobots have a really good initial showing with dramatic failure by interjecting them with unstable Energon.

S: Optimus is brought into the ring for the first match against the Animalian.

O: As expected, Optimus does well at the beginning of the fight causing a crowd of spectators to bet on Optimus, before losing steam, and eventually the match.

S: Inferno is then brought out for the next match, which is a tag team with Optimus, and then two Animalians, one of which is now distressingly naked.

O: We assume perhaps, maybe only the leader’s clothed or something? But uh, yeah, one of them is definitely not wearing very much.

S: Yeah. Smokescreen gets angry, and he and Bosch leave because apparently they're there.

O: Yeah, they- they walked in on this. Uh, Bosch is relieved until Smokescreen transforms and backs into the arena? From like the ground floor, generating a large amount of smoke.

S: Well, I mean, we've seen the smoke before. Gyconi tries to calm the crowd, but people reclaim their Energon chips. I think, specif- I think directly from him?

O: Oh yeah, they're like, grabbing the chips from his like, area or whatever.

S: Yeah, and then they leave- all those people leave

O: And then Gyconi himself is forced to evacuate due to the smoke too.

S: I don't know how much atmosphere there is here, but apparently there's enough for smoke issues.

O: Well, these aliens must have to breathe something.

S: Yeah...

O: Just not the Autobots, presumably.

S: Yeah. Ramjet and Dirge realize that Smokescreen is the likely cause and fly off to pursue him, firing on him as he and Bosch flee. I have a number of questions about how they can identify this but I guess, Smokescreen’s smoke has a very distinct-

O: Quality? Quality, or something?

S: Yeah.

O: Smokescreen takes a direct hit, but is saved when Devcon fires on the Coneheads.

S: Evidently, they recognized Devcon on sight, by name and occupation, and made the decision to leave.

O: [laughs]

S: Like, this kind of backs up-

O: The whole, that this is what they were doing beforehand thing, yeah!

S: Yeah.

O: Devcon, Smokescreen, and Bosch head back towards the arena, but run into Slizardo on the way.

S: Slizardo apparently informs them that Gyconi and the Decepticons are leaving the asteroid with the Autobots in tow.

O: Just to preface this, Slizardo still only says his name, so we basically are told secondhand what he's saying.

S: Because apparently Bosch can translate.

O: Yeah, or something!

S: Back with the Decepticons, Astrotrain is happy to finally have some Energon for fuel, as the still brainwashed Autobots load him up with Energon.

O: Devcon, Smokescreen, and Bosch arrived to save the Autobots having been joined by Slizardo.

S: Gyconi is not pleased that his henchman has found a new occupation and/or new bffs.

O: He calls out for Astrotrain's help as Slizardo and Bosch rush him

S: Astrotrain absorbs the energy and transforms saying, “Now prepare to meet my friend Mr. Ionic Displacer!”

O: He- he has- his uh, his gun is a mister.

S: Yep.

O: It's his fwiend.

S: Yep. Smokescreen and Devcon are in a fire fight with the two Coneheads before Smokescreen transforms into car mode and drives around doing what he does best, pollution.

B: [laugh]

O: It's his only skill. Uh, Gyconi and the Coneheads escape in Astrotrain. Gyconi to basically never be seen again, so who knows what Megatron did to him. [laughs]

S: Honestly, they might have just shoved them up the airlock at some point.

O: Probably, he probably annoyed them so much at some point they were just like, “Out ya go!”

S: Yeah. Devcon isn't willing to uh, just let them escape and transforms into a spacecraft to follow. Inviting Slizardo to join him as his partner.

O: Well, you know me. You know exactly how I'm gonna choose to interpret this. The giant robot and fib- and amphibian are now joined in holy matrimony.

S: They're gonna go hunt Decepticons on their honeymoon.

O: Why not? Not the weirdest love story we'll see in here. Really. No, I'm not kidding.

S: I mean, it may take some time before like common law space matrimony kicks in.

O: No- no- I'm just saying we see some very strange pairings- later! [laughs]

S: Yes, I know, but I mean specifically with this.

O: [laughs]

S: Later the other Autobots have been returned to normal, and do not remember a single thing that happened in this episode since they got zapped. At this point I'm assuming that at some point that they went and somehow got more Energon chips?

O: Yeah, maybe- maybe they raided Gyconi's office or something?

S: Maybe, because it's not they didn't exactly address how they got the Energon.

O: Yeah, they really didn't. But the Autobots are not so pleased with Bosch right now. Um, thankfully Smokescreen informs them that Bosch has offered to give them a lift home.

S: Bosch then suggests some R&R at a nearby casino, and Optimus says, “Why not?” And they all transform and head toward the casino.

O: Autobots in space Vegas! They need something to blow off steam now- they've been in a galactic war for millions of years.

S: I know, but Optimus- they're all going to learn something about Smokescreen's gambling habits.

O: [laughs] That's because they're going to get- hand Smokescreen like, one sum of money and say, “This is all you get!”

S: Well, hopefully they learn that, or they get notes from Bosch.

O: Hopefully!

S: Join us next time for ‘The Search for Alpha Trion’. Where we find out the Autobots left all the ladybots on Cybertron when they left on the Ark.

O: In the meantime, I remain convinced that Elita-1 has created a harem of lovely ladies.

S: Yep, and we get to see everyone- well, not everyone- but all of the guys paired off with the ladies.

O: I swear to god this entire episode was, “Oh no! We didn't put any women in here. Quick! Quick! Put in the women! There's too much- there's too much sexual tension between Megatron and Starscream, and Megatron and Optimus, we have to fix this somehow!”

S: [laughs]

O: Um, and I'm just sort of like, “Hi guys, this is me, karma talking, and this is what happens when you're like, women don't exist in these things. That people will just sort of assume they're in relationships with whoever is there, and so when you have primarily men- primarily masculine characters that's who they're gonna pair them up with. I'm just saying!

S: Yep, gotta add some heterosexuality on it.

O: Gotta inject some heterosexuality into this! Uh, nevermind that you know uh, ah-hm, 20 years later no- no, we pretty much get confirmed they're all gay!

S: I mean, at one point I think they were considering having Ratchet be a lady.

O: Uh, yeah, I'm sure they were, but I'm just saying they still were like, “Oh god, no wait we have to have women in here!” And then like, you know, IDW came along- Shockwave and Optimus are heavily implied, Megatron and Minimus are heavily implied, Chromedome and Rewind are not implied, and they’re together-

S: It is straight up official!

O: Yes! Uh, Cyclonus and Tailgate are official. Like, Ratchet and Drift- I'm just saying they're all gay, and they- they tried to fix that here, but it was already too late.

S: Mm-hm.

O: [laughs] And I believe we have two fanfic recs today?

S: Yes, we do. The first is uh, Duty Obliges by Steelcircle. It is a G1 cartoon continuity fic. Uh, it's rated T uh, Gen, I think? Uh, I don't think there are any pairings. Um, main characters are Mirage and Jazz, and in summary, “Mirage accepts a black ops mission to Monacus, which makes Jazz worried. And it’s set during G1 S3, sometime after "Grimlock's New Brain".” And this one I think, it's been a while uh, since I've read it, so unfortunately I am very hazy on it.

O: But it actually has Monacus in it, which was the whole theme for it, and why it was picked for this.

S: Yeah, and Steelcircle’s writing is very good. So yeah, on to you, because you had the next recommendation.

O: I had one of my wild card fics and the one for today is called First Dates . It is by uh, ros3bud009. Um, continuity is IDW, it is rated T, it is slash- it has Cosmos/Soundwave. Our characters are Cosmos, Soundwave, and very briefly, Rumble and Frenzy.

In summary, “It wasn’t until Rumble and Frenzy had given him a look that Soundwave considered that, perhaps, he had misunderstood Cosmos’ request.

“It’s just refueling together.”

“It’s never just refueling,” Rumble insisted as he crossed his arms over his chest. Frenzy nodded his agreement.”

It is a one shot. It's cute, and short, and sweet. [laughs]

S: Yep, sounds nice.

O: And then our fan artist for today is Jen Davreux. They seem to do a variety, and a lot of their stuff is kind of just... cute? Like, it's got a very kind of cute chibi style to it and we have linked to some Transformers Prime charms that they had done which are very cute-

S: They are! Optimus is adorable and Starscream looks very grumpy.

O: Megatron is up to something sinister, I'm sure.

S: Uh-huh.

O: And then we have a little Tailgate with Cyclonus-

S: [laughs] Yeah.

O: That is adorable!

S: Cyclonus is- er, not Cyclonus- Tailgate is just doing a little happy dance.

O: Pretty much, and then we have a very grumpy Prowl that I think it's probably IDW Prowl. Um, he's holding a coffee mug that has “Good,” “Bad,” and- with little you know, check boxes next to them and underneath that it says, “Cop,” and of course bad cop is cross- or the check box next to bad is marked out so it says, “Bad Cop.”

We will be linking to uh, her Tumblr, her Twitter, and she also has a separate Tumblr for her own original comic- that is still active. I did find a few kind of broken links to other comics. It seems like she has done several, but- but we will link to the one that is still active.

S: And that just about wraps it up for us today. Remember to check us out on Tumblr or Pillowfort as Afterspark-Podcast for any additional information, show notes, or links we may have mentioned. You can also find us on Facebook, and Twitter at AftersparkPod (all one word) and various other locations by searching for Afterspark Podcast such as AO3, iTunes, Spotify, and Youtube, just to name a few. And feel free to send us questions on Tumblr, Youtube, or AO3. Till next time, I'm Specs.

O: And I'm Owls.

S: Toodles.

[Outro Music]

S: Astrotrain absorbs the energy and transforms saying, “Now prepare yourself-,” bleh.

B: [laugh]

O: It's okay!

#transcript #g1 episode 47 #afterspark #afterspark podcast

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wheeloffortune-design · 7 years ago

Text

AU where they all have a Youtube game channel

in a universe where Jack never went to Samwell...

Jack listens to podcasts during roadies, while running, at home to fill the silence, all the time. At some point he feels like he listened to every podcast and video about history the Internet had to offer, when Youtube suggests a little gem:

Video Games Shit with Ransom and Holster

The name doesn’t interest him, until he sees that it was about the Hockey game where he supposedly starred. (Tater kept telling him to check it out, he never did.)

He watched it and was delighted to see it had some history of hockey, and even some history of hockey games. Jack, being 110%, listened to the entire series.

He learned they were part of a video community called The Haus, and that other vloggers produced content along the same lines. Soon enough, the voices of strangers filled his days, and they soothed him, even when they were yelling obscenities about blue shells.

There was the group named The Frogs, where two of them played versus games and argued incessantly, while a third one acted as a referee with a sunny voice that failed to hide his biting remarks.

For Shits and Giggles was an interesting series that analysed representation in games with foul language that became almost pornographic when the games were actually good.

Lardo’s channel was one of Jack’s favourites. She talked in a low and steady voice, killing zombies without blinking. She had a four hour let’s play of a pong game where she ranted about art history, which Jack listened to when he was feeling anxious. She also made those short paint mixing videos without a sound, and Jack spent an entire night watching them all.

The last youtuber was something of a challenge for Jack. He looked and sounded nice enough, played the cutest games with the wittiest commentary, but his accent was so strong that Jack had trouble understanding most of it. Since Jack hated leaving things uncompleted, he made a point to listen to every video twice, or even three times, until he understood every word.

All that would have stopped there if it weren’t for a reporter-

‘So, Jack, anything you’ve been following, recently?’

‘I, huh, been listening to these videos? About games. The Haus. They’re pretty great.’

‘HA!’ yells Snowy from next to him. ‘You spent all last flight watching the same vid, over and over again- I bet they’re pretty great!’

At the reporter’s look, Jack felt flustered.

‘It’s the accent. Heu, Bitty’s, specifically. It’s hard for me to understand him, but I’m getting better.’

At this point, the interview shifts to hockey, and nothing else would have come of it,

if it wasn’t for Eric Bittle to die of mortification when his favourite hockey crush mentioned him by name because he watched his videos so many times because he couldn’t understand a word he said.

#check please #youtube gamers AU #is this going anywhere #i have no idea #this is mostly based on the fact that the Game Grumps yelling are the background to my life #it's pretty soothing when I feel anxious and the house is empty #yes even Arin yelling about Mario Maker is relaxing #also southern accents are hard to follow #give us quebecquers a break #this story is free to a good home if you want to continue it

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sanguinarysanguinity · 7 years ago

Note

rabbit & like a bat family, for the ask meme, whichever questions you feel comfortable answering

(Questions)

Like a Bat-Family

(Elementary; Martha & Kitty & Joan & Sherlock; part of Rolling Remix)

1: What inspired you to write the fic this way?

I received my copy of “Like Family” for remixing and groused and whined and cursed its author, because like hell did I see a way into it. The obvious thing would have been to flip the pov to Kitty, but “Like Family” might already have been a pov-flip from whatever came before it and I didn’t want to risk just flipping it back again.

I finally decided on a slumber-party-like variation of the mutual nail-painting, probably featuring Martha. Then once I had Martha and Kitty in the same mental premise, I realized they had probably built some kind of relationship during their mutual time in the brownstone, and thus that Martha should be added to the list of people cheated of a proper good-bye with her. (And not just cheated of a good-bye, but of the entire history of their relationship!) So this became a reunion/closure story for not only Joan-and-Kitty, but also Martha-and-Kitty.

I set it during New Year’s at the brownstone mostly out of cussedness. I’d already remixed a story for the exchange, which meant I knew there was a cluster of NYE stories at the beginning of the chain. I thought it’d be hilarious to re-introduce the New Year’s theme at the tail end of the chain, too, in the hopes that it would mess up some of the guessers.

2: What scene did you first put down?

A scene that no longer exists: Joan on the roof New Year’s morning, ostensibly cleaning up after the party but mostly staring at the river, and being surprised by Kitty’s entrance. The energy was never quite right, somehow, and the whole story stalled there until I switched povs and began over with Martha. However, the scene still indirectly exists in the current version of the story, and the original image of Kitty appearing from nowhere like Batman was the genesis of the Bat-Family motif.

The only part of that now-deleted scene that I was really sad to lose was the color scheme:

[Joan stood at the roof edge, looking out at] the desaturated, wintry grays of the city, contemplating the rough slate of the East River and how it reflected back the platinum sky above.

Happily, I was able to salvage the bones of that description for Nostoi:

Beyond that streak of white, there was nothing but grey all around us: sky and rain and sea-water; iron and silver and slate.

3: What’s your favorite line of narration?

Joan and Sherlock argued silently with each other, a flurry of mulish mouths, jutted jaws, and raised eyebrows.

4: What’s your favorite line of dialogue?

“Alfred,” she whispered, and all three of them cracked up into giggles.

5: What part was hardest to write?

Ugh, gah, cramming in the backstory and off-screen bits. Backstory and flashbacks are always a struggle to incorporate smoothly without overexplaining or messing up the narrative flow, and this story was written so quickly, with so little opportunity for editing… Meh.

6: What makes this fic special or different from all your other fics?

My first and only story from the pov of a trans character? More unusually, I didn’t have the time to ask someone who is trans to look it over – that’s usually something that I take care to do when writing a marginalized identity outside of my own experience. But once again, the turn around time was so fast… I hope I did no harm, and I own it if I did.

9: Were there any alternate versions of this fic?

I was going to bring back Joan’s accordion from the first two stories, which – when joined with Kitty’s clarinet and Sherlock’s violin – would be the foundations of a Klezmer band. (Martha would be on drums, because.) When I later saw that someone in the exchange had written a Band AU I kicked myself so hard that I hadn’t done it.

Rabbit

(TSCC; Jesse Flores; 5+1)

1: What inspired you to write the fic this way?

The Terminator franchise centers itself so strongly on Southern California and the Connors, I craved to know what that franchise looks like if you don’t presuppose John Connor as the center of the universe. Further, I am fascinated with the way the timelines fold back on themselves in that franchise, the way Judgement Day is forever shifting, the way futures keep reaching back to rewrite the past-to-be based on whatever has been going on in the current timeline.

A 5+1 seemed a convenient way to explore what successive futures might look like when one is half a world away from the causes, experiencing only the after-effects; it also allowed me to build an argument that John Connor may not always be the single most important person in the future. That is, that there might be futures where other people become more strategically significant.

I also had the very misguided idea that a 5+1 would be a short, simple, and easy structure, and would get me out of having to build and plot a full-blown story. Ha fucking hah.

3: What’s your favorite line of narration?

There are a ton of narrative lines I love, mostly in the final section. But have this one out of the fifth section:

Jesse stared at the farmboy, her gaze flicking to where the dolphins should have been on his chest. Jesus Fucking Christ. A whole crew of nubs. They were running a deathtrap.

4: What’s your favorite line of dialogue?

“You are not a god, Derek. You made choices, I made choices, John Connor made choices. We all made choices. Hell, there’s a twelve-year-old Jesse out there somewhere, making choices. Whether to swim at the leisure centre or swim at the beach. For all you know, the war hinges on the choice she made today.”

Tied with:

“What do you want me to say, that it could have been anyone? That the only reason Skynet went after you—the only reason your family died—is because Goodnow tells a good story and Skynet fell for it?”

Because I have opinions about the Terminator franchise, and how everyone is running around making choices based on stories they were told. Skynet, the Connors, everyone from the future who gets their hands on a time machine, everyone they meet in the past: everyone has heard a story, and now they’re all making choices, and the entire future history of the world is gonna hinge on those choices. Talk about a universe that runs on fucking hearsay and gossip.

But mostly my favorite line is this:

“I’m Jesse!” she screamed at it, to make herself breathe. “I’m Jesse fucking Flores!”

Because Jesse fucking Flores. :-D

5: What part was hardest to write?

All the Australia bits. :-P

@lastwingedthing put in a good chunk of work on this story, correcting language and helping me with geographically appropriate choices for stuff. (That olive tree in the first section began life as a prickly pear, which is invasive in Australia – I wanted an invasive plant for thematic reasons – but it’s invasive in a different part of Australia.) However, the challenge with writing something that will later be Ozpicked (or Britpicked, or whatever) is that it’s not enough to eschew Americanisms in your draft, you have to put in geographically specific stuff, too, otherwise you’ll end up with a bland and non-specific story. And while a generous Ozpicker can and will help with that, you can’t expect them to do the bulk of that work for you.

For an example of what I’m talking about, consider my own The Case of the Six Marmalades against @scfrankles’ The Case of the Deceased Marmalade Thief: they’re nicely matched in terms of fandom, genre, and topic, and I consider Frankles a peer in terms of our respective skill. But notice that Frankles’ use of idiom in her dialog is much, much richer than my own (in part because she really is just that good with voices), but also in part because she’s English, and has a much larger mental catalog of appropriate idiom to select from. In contrast, I’m forever rejecting language as “too American” and then finding I have nothing interesting to replace it with. Consequently, my dialog has a linguistic blandness to it that hers doesn’t. This is the kind of thing I see a lot with American vs. British authors in British fandoms: the British authors have a vibrancy to them that American authors seldom manage to attain.

And this isn’t to run myself down, or to suggest that Six Marmalades is a failure of a story. (It’s not.) It’s simply an illustration of how it is with stories written by outsiders: even if they manage to eschew errors and stereotypes, they often end up with a generic, non-specific blandness that’s difficult to overcome. *shrug emoji* Either you never write outside your own specific cultural context, or you accept that you won’t manage the vibrancy that your story deserves. Choose your poison.

Anyway, back to Rabbit: I had to come up with Australia-specific stuff to put in, but I was starting from near zero. I watched all the Australian post-apoc films I could stomach; I played Australian talk and comedy shows in the background while I did chores; I listened to a series of Australian podcasts for English-language-learners during my commutes; I spent a fuckton of time browsing anAustralian slang dictionary (where I learned more usage via the crowdsourced definitions than in the nominal terms being defined)… Just, trying to pick up idioms and usage and rhythms and words, both to reduce the load on my very generous Ozpicker, but also trying to make sure that when she was done removing my Americanisms, my language didn’t end up blandly generic nowhere. (If nothing else, I could give her possibly-wrong Australian slang that she could correct to something more appropriate, yeah? And she did a bit of that: “yobbos” became “sad bastards,” for example.) So the language was a fair amount of up front work, even with her polishing and fine-tuning it for me.

And getting the Australian bits right was more than just language, of course; there was the usual ton of googling random shit. Who runs public swimming pools, the history and composition of the Australian submarine service, what plants are invasive, imports/exports from Perth… Again, she corrected and fine-tuned a bunch of stuff (and sometimes pointed out issues that I hadn’t thought to question), but there was still a chunk of work involved in giving her something that could be corrected and fine-tuned.

I wanted to set Rabbit in Australia, a place that is distinct from America, and that ultimately was the hardest part of writing the story.

6: What makes this fic special or different from all your other fics?

At the time, it was my only fic set in Australia, my only go at action/suspense, my only 5+1, my only “heroine against the world, framedaround a strong central metaphor, ending when the showdown begins in earnest” kind of story structure. I’ve since repeated all of those things, because I wrote this a long time ago, and I’m as repetitive as fuck.

As to what makes it still unique among my stories…

Um…

It’s the only one with submarines in?

8: Did any real people or events inspire any part of it?

I grew up in a Navy town, outside a nuclear submarine base, and one of the members in my origfic writing group served on a submarine, back in the day. So all the submarine stuff is strongly influenced by my hometown, the kids whose parents were in the Navy, my own dad who worked for the Navy, my schoolmates who went into the Navy themselves, the submariner who I dated when I was faaaaar too young for him (and the shit my dad pulled to scare him off), the tours I’ve taken on out-of-service submarines, the time I’ve spent fucking around in boats while sharing the same waters as submarines, plus all the time I’ve spent editing my friend’s submarine novels based on his own service.

None of which is actually the same as actually serving on a submarine myself, of course, but there are a number of submarine details that were inspired by spending a chunk of my life submarine-adjacent.

(Navy showers! My father enforced Navy showers on us when we were kids. Although not the same way that they’re enforced in the actual Navy, because that would have been child abuse. But you know. You run across random shit in your life, and it eventually ends up in a fic.)

#my writing #dvd commentary #rabbit #like a bat-family #long post #I'm waiting on beta for one story #and haven't started plotting the next #so I'm picking up this very-long-ago-prompt #as a palate cleanser #beanarie

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artificialqueens · 5 years ago

Text

Revelation Sunshine, Chapter 3 (Courtney/Vixen) - Veronica

A/N: Honestly, thank you so much to anyone who’s reading this very self-indulgent story. I adore all of you, and especially the creator of Galactica, my lovely friend @theartificialdane. Click here for previous chapters. <3

Last chapter: Long distance relationships are tough, but the girls are trying.

This chapter: Vixen joins Courtney in LA for the VMAs, and then Courtney surprises her in Chicago.

***

Vixen wasn’t sure why she agreed to this. She was going to be so far out of her depth. But when she told Courtney about a lecture she was giving at UCLA in August, a lecture that happened to be the same weekend as the VMAs, Courtney somehow convinced her to come to the awards show as her date.

“You have to do it,” Asia had informed her, when she heard the hesitation. When she said that she still didn’t know, Mayhem interrupted to give a slightly more forceful message.

“When the fuck are you gonna have the chance to do something like that again?” she demanded. “Come on, stop overthinking like a little bitch.”

Courtney’s cajoling was more gentle. Logical, even—pointing out that it would be great publicity for her book and her podcast.

“It could open you up to a whole new audience. Think of the people that you could reach!”

It was a good point, Vixen conceded. So she agreed, and they casually discussed the logistics. She didn’t really panic until she was in the uber on the way to Courtney’s house. What was she doing? Who did she think she was, showing up at what she was sure would be a gated mansion, to be professionally styled for a red carpet?

It wasn’t a gated mansion. It was a bungalow tucked into the side of the Hollywood Hills, covered in vines and bursting with plants of every type. After giving her a warm, tight hug, Courtney led her into the living room, where someone (a stylist?) was waiting with racks of clothes.

“I didn’t know exactly what you’d want, so I had Jo bring you lots of options,” Courtney said. “We should choose now so that they have time to tailor it while we’re at the spa. Jo, can you show her your favorites?”

Vixen glanced around the room while Jo presented her with wardrobe options and Courtney poured her a glass of lemonade. Without the explosion of clothes, it would have been a cozy, regular living room. Two sofas, some art on the walls. Nothing remotely ostentatious.

“I like your house,” she told Courtney, accepting the drink gratefully. “It’s...uh...not what I was expecting.”

“No?” Courtney asked, head cocked.

“No. Well, I mean, it’s like...a normal house,” Vixen explained.

“And you were expecting, what? A spaceship?” Courtney giggled.

“No, like...I don’t know. Some baroque mansion with columns and a butler and big chandeliers, I guess.”

“Hmm, yeah, sounds like my style,” Courtney said, making Vixen laugh.

“Shut up. You’re rich and you love glitter, okay? So I just thought it would be more…”

“Tacky?”

“Yes?” Vixen scrunched her face up apologetically.

“I mean, that’s fair. My first house here was a bit of a Swaravski nightmare. Oh, I really like that one!” Courtney exclaimed, looking at the royal blue dress in Vixen’s hands. “Do you want to try it on? You can use the guest room as a dressing room.”

Vixen nodded, relieved that disrobing in front of Courtney and Jo (and a random girl she’d just noticed on the patio, pacing around with a phone to her ear) in the broad daylight wasn’t on the agenda.

After trying on a few choices, Vixen settled on a short, black and turquoise romper - it was fun and sexy, but still classy, and would be comfortable enough to sit around in for hours. Jo was helping her figure out the accessories (with occasional input from Courtney as she pranced around with snacks) when the girl from outside stepped in, carrying Courtney’s fluffy pomeranian under one arm.

“Okay, everything’s all set at the hotel,” she said matter-of-factly.

“Vix, that’s Brianna. Yes, I like those shoes!” She nodded approvingly at the bright yellow pumps Vixen was trying.

“Yeah, hi, sorry. I’m Courtney’s assistant. Brie,” she reached out to give Vixen a firm handshake.

“Ugh, I still hate the word ‘assistant.’ Can’t we come up with a cooler title for you?” Courtney asked.

“Sure, that’ll be my top priority,” Brianna replied sarcastically, then barreled rapidly through the day’s plans. “So, after we wrap up here, we’ll head for the hotel. Massages and manicures at the spa while we set up hair and makeup. We should really start by 2 at the lastest to make sure we can manage something presentable out of...that,” she gestured vaguely in Courtney’s direction with a smirk, everyone laugh, “And then leave at 4 to drive to the theatre and do the red carpet by 4:30 or 5. Then the show, blah blah blah, performance, not my problem, and then we head to Van Nuys for wheels-up at 9. Cool?”

“When do we eat?” Courtney asked.

“You’ll have a meal at the spa. You know, in that area by the dipping pool thing?”

“Oh, okay,” Courtney said.

“And then obviously we’ll have snacks in the room, and we ordered a bunch of stuff for you to have backstage. Don’t worry, there’ll be plenty of food.”

“Great.”

“Um...I have a question,” Vixen said, pausing her perusal of the jewelry table. “Are the hair people gonna be familiar with Black hair?”

Brie turned toward her with a vague eye roll, asking, “Do I look like a moron to you?”

Vixen leveled her gaze, not backing down, and answered, “You look like someone who has never worn a protective hairstyle before.”

“Fair enough,” Brie conceded with a grin. “And don’t worry. We got you good people who are very experienced with protective styles.”

“Thanks, Brie! Ooh, how about ‘Executive Vice President of Human Logistics’?” Courtney suggested.

“Whatever makes you happy, girl,” Brianna said tiredly, giving Courtney a salute as she deposited Kylie onto his bed. “I’m gonna go check your suitcases. Or, should I call them ‘transport need satisfaction receptacles’?”

“Sounds good,” Courtney giggled, and Vixen couldn’t help laughing either.

“That little cracker is hilarious,” Vixen commented, admiring the row of bangles on her arm.

“I know, right?” Courtney laughed.

“Hey!” Brianna said, poking her head back in the room, deadpanning, “That was my nickname in prison. Lil Miz Cracker.”

She grinned, waiting for them all to crack up before disappearing again.

“Before her,” Courtney confided, “I had this other assistant that my agents found, this nervous kid who told me I was beautiful like 8 thousand times a day, and it was just...excruciating.”

“The things you’ve overcome,” Vixen said, shaking her head with mock sincerity. “It’s so inspirational.”

Courtney laughed gaily, handing her a pair of earrings to try, which Jo immediately snatched out of her hand.

“No! Hideous,” they said, handing Vixen a different pair.

***

In the car to the hotel, Brie asked Vixen if she had a preferred gender for her massage therapist.

“Well, I kind of like a more gentle massage, so…I mean, not to be discriminatory, but…”

“You want someone with soft lady hands?” Courtney asked, a glint in her eye.

“Kind of,” Vixen replied, hanging her head in mock shame.

“Wuss.”

“You don’t like soft lady hands?” Vixen asked, raising her eyebrows.

“Well I mean...there’s a time and place,” Courtney explained.

Vixen looked into her glittering green eyes, head tilted, as she continued.

“For a massage? I like it deep. So as long as they can put some muscle behind it, everything’s good.”

“You’re right, there is a time and a place,” Vixen said lightly, “I occasionally like it deep as well.”

“Good to know,” Courtney said, giggling delightedly.

The whole day was strange, an almost out of body experience for Vixen. At times, she felt like she was hovering overhead and watching herself get rubbed and plucked and fluffed and painted. Pampered and catered to on a level she never had before.

But the red carpet, that was the most surreal experience by far, just a whirlwind of flashes and shouted questions from reporters. Courtney held her hand the entire time, checking in constantly to make sure she was alright, gently directing her where to look and when to pose.

“My first red carpet was terrifying,” she confessed. “So when you’ve had enough, just tell me.”

She was relieved, at first, for her relative anonymity. No entertainment reporters would know the academic world, or a political science professor.

That is, until Courtney put an arm around Vixen’s waist and dragged her right into the spotlight, introducing her to a reporter as “the brilliant author behind the book ‘Beware White Tears.’”

“Oh!” Recognition dawned in the reporter’s eyes as she brushed her bangs away from her face. “This is the unparalleled genius you’ve been tweeting about all year?”

“Yes ma’am,” Courtney said. “Vixen Taylor.”

“A pleasure,” she said, extending her hand to Vixen and offering a dazzling white smile. “Shea Coulée.”

“Nice to meet you,” Vixen said, shaking her hand. She glanced back at Courtney, who was beaming like a sunflower beside her.

“Shea, you should tell everyone to read her book,” Courtney said, smile growing even bigger as she continued to gush, “And listen to her podcast. She’s so incredibly smart, it’s unreal.”

Shea looked from Courtney to Vixen a few times before asking, “So…what’s the story with you two, then? Are you like, an official thing?”

“Shh, I’m working on it!” Courtney said, giggling, pulling Vixen towards the theatre. Startling her a second later with an ecstatic shriek of, “Adore!”

Vixen wasn’t super familiar with Adore’s music, but she did know her from Courtney’s social media. Apparently a big deal now in the punk rock scene, standing there in what appeared to be the same clothes she’d partied in last night, next to a tall, statuesque, impeccably dressed young redheaded woman. They looked to Vixen to be an absolute mis-match of a couple, Adore’s date classy and serene as Adore squealed and threw her arms around Courtney, the two of them clinging to each other and chattering wildly.

“Omigod, I love that dress-”

“You look like a mess. Gigi, why haven’t you-”

“Don’t blame her, I dress myself.”

“How was Prague?”

“Fuckin’ wild, man!”

“Have you met Vixen?”

Courtney turned toward Vixen, who was overwhelmed by the whole exchange, and grabbed her hand once again.

“Vixen, this is Adore, my best friend for life, and her very patient girlfriend, Gigi.”

“Hi, nice to-”

“Augh!” Adore shrieked. “Courtney! Did you see the pictures of Jinkx and Alaska’s new kid?”

“No, what?! When did they...have? Buy? What word are we using?”

“Adopt?”

“Yeah, that-another kid?”

Gigi turned to Vixen, sensing her obvious discomfort, and offered a smile.

“They’re always like this. It’s best just to...ride it out,” Gigi finished with a chuckle. “They’re like toddlers. Eventually they’ll get tired and calm down.”

“Thanks.”

Vixen opted to watch the show from the audience, happy that she had Adore and Gigi to sit with. (Well...Gigi, at least. The jury was still out on Adore.) She knew that Courtney would need to focus on her performance, and sitting alone in her dressing room for large chunks of time seemed nerve-wracking.

But after Courtney’s performance, Brie showed up to escort Vixen backstage. They were only going to have a little time to hang out before Courtney had to leave, getting on a plane to Paris to continue her tour almost immediately after the show.

Courtney was in the midst of changing when Vixen knocked gently on her door. It was quite a look...track pants and Ugg slippers on the bottom, and a metal corset on top. Brie was helping her out of the corset, and though she didn’t seem remotely self-conscious about being topless, Vixen averted her eyes, waiting until she’d slipped on a t-shirt before addressing her directly.

“You were incredible tonight,” she said honestly.

“Really?” Courtney asked, perching on the arm of the sofa. “I felt like it was a bit of a mess. I could kill Mikey.”

“Who’s Mikey?”

“That dancer who went the wrong way during the second verse? I saw them pounding shots, I think he was hammered. Ugh.”

Vixen smiled softly.

“It’s adorable that you think I was watching the backup dancers.”

In an instant, Courtney’s demeanor changed from professional and annoyed to coy and flirtatious, simpering like a schoolgirl.

“Hmm...who were you watching then?

Brie had slipped away by now, leaving the two of them alone in the dressing room. Vixen stood and walked toward her.

“The camera guys, of course,” Vixen quipped.

Courtney giggled, reaching out for her and pulling her close.

“Oh yeah?” she murmured.

Vixen nodded slowly, then smiled again and shook her head. She slid her hands around Courtney’s waist, gazing unblinking into her hooded green eyes. She leaned in slowly, almost excruciatingly so, pausing for a few moments to enjoy the way her chest rose and fell rapidly, heart pounding in anticipation.

When she finally brushed their lips together, she could feel the hitch in Courtney’s breath, a whimper escaping from the back of her throat. Courtney cupped her cheeks with both hands, pulling her in closer, deepening the kiss, coaxing her mouth open.

Vixen followed her, dazed, onto the sofa, where she dove head-first into the moment, finally able to just enjoy each other for the first time in months. She quickly lost track of time and space, thinking only of the girl in her arms, how soft and delicious she was...how she made Vixen feel so wanted.

She kissed down Courtney’s torso, lifting her t-shirt to trail her lips gently over the angry marks from that horrible corset. She began to pull off her bottoms, pausing just before sliding them over her hips to make sure it was okay. Courtney lifted up slightly, watching Vixen through lidded eyes, legs spreading open once her panties were flung to the side. Vixen paused, breathing her in, making her shiver with anticipation as she spread her thighs even more.

Vixen cleared her throat, fingers dancing up the inside of her thighs.

“Remember, I’m pretty...new at this,” Vixen said, and Courtney nodded vigorously.

“I know, I know. Don’t worry.” Her hand wound its way into Vixen’s hair.

“Okay.” Vixen leaned forward, lips barely brushing against her.

As a soft sigh left Courtney’s lips, Vixen took a deep breath. Her desire to satisfy, to live up to expectations, momentarily overtaken by nerves, until she steeled herself. Just French kiss her pussy, you idiot. Stop freaking out and lick her until she comes.

Courtney was shockingly easy to please, as it turned out. A hand in Vixen’s hair, guiding her, and breathy, whimpered instructions were all she needed to begin unlocking the mysteries of her body.

“Harder, harder…please…”

Vixen didn’t know why she was surprised. From that first tweet, Courtney had been utterly direct with her. And even their first time together, she didn’t hold back at all from saying what she wanted. But somehow, the shameless way she buried Vixen’s face into her pussy, rutting against her, moaning out commands...it all just made everything so much hotter.

“What else?” Vixen asked, raising her eyes to take in Courtney’s flushed cheeks, eyes rolled back in her head. “Tell me what else you need…”

“Pinch my nipples,” Courtney gasped, “And...yes, god...suck harder.”

Courtney arched up, thighs now pressing against Vixen’s ears, muffling the sounds when she started to moan. Vixen had a brief concern of “what if someone hears” before deciding that she didn’t fucking care. All she wanted was to make Courtney come—a task that was looking increasingly likely as she writhed and shook in her arms.

She flicked her tongue against Courtney’s clit, shocked at how much she was enjoying the whole experience. Nerves melted away; the only thing on her mind was the girl pressed up against her tongue.

“I love how wet you get,” Vixen said, voice low, moving her mouth to nip lightly at her thigh.

“I love how wet you make me,” Courtney panted, then arched up, whimpering. “Baby...oh, god…”

Something about being called baby in this context gave Vixen a deep, unfeminist thrill; she had to pause and catch her breath, slightly dizzy with the embarrassing, intoxicating thought of being called a good girl. She panted against Courtney’s thigh, felt her quivering on the edge before going back to her clit, tongue circling her gently, coaxing out a broken moan.

God, she was a mess. A beautiful, shuddering mess. Vixen hummed against her, sucking on her clit, soft at first and then harder and harder.

“Fuck, that’s so good, baby, keep going…”

Courtney groaned, hips rolling faster, and Vixen complied, listening to her moans, the best music she’d heard all night. She kept sucking, didn’t stop until Courtney’s muscles went slack, the only sounds coming from her satiated little whimpers.

“Did I do okay?” Vixen asked, looking up at her almost timidly.

“You…” Courtney lifted an arm weakly to caress her cheek. “You are perfect. Come here.”

Vixen crawled forward, squishing herself in beside Courtney on the sofa. And as Courtney wrapped herself around Vixen’s body, pulling a blanket from the back of the couch to cover them both, Vixen found herself buying in completely, at least for the moment, to the delusional fantasy of them. Of what they could be. Of what a shared life would look like.

She was rudely snapped back into reality when Brie opened the door, an uncharacteristically apologetic look on her face. Vixen sprang away from Courtney on the sofa like a guilty teenager, then immediately felt stupid.

“Sorry,” Brie said, “but we gotta get to the plane.”

“Okay. Just give us twenty minutes?” Courtney asked, a resigned note in her voice.

“You can have ten. Setting a timer.” Brie closed the door firmly.

Courtney turned to Vixen, who smiled sheepishly.

“I’m not really sure why I panicked. Lil Cracker just freaks me out.”

“Well…” Courtney appeared to ponder this for a few moments before reaching out, fingers seeking out Vixen’s zipper. “She did give us ten minutes…”

Vixen shook her head, chuckling.

“It’s fine, don’t worry about that. I’m too paranoid about another interruption.”

“But you took care of me. It’s only fair.” Courtney trailed her fingers up Vixen’s arm.

“Yeah, and you worked very hard today,” Vixen said, and off Courtney’s distressed look, wrapped an arm around her again, adding, “You can owe me one.”

“Well...I guess in that case, I should probably put my knickers back on.”

Vixen laughed, picking her panties up off the floor and handing them over.

“Ugh. It’s so annoying that I have to take off so quickly,” Courtney said. After slipping the panties on, she leaned her head on Vixen’s shoulder. “Do you want me to text Adore? She and Gigi are waiting for you to take you to the after party, so-”

“No, it’s fine,” Vixen said. “I don’t care about the after party.”

“You sure? Because you can totally go. I’m sure it’ll be fun.”

“I’d rather just stay with you until you have to leave,” she admitted. “We don’t have much time, so…”

“Yeah?” The smile that lit up Courtney’s face was enough to make Vixen’s heart burst with joy.

“Mmmhmm.”

“Well...you could ride with us to the airport. If you want.”

“Sounds good,” Vixen said, reaching for her hand.

“And don’t worry, I won’t do anything naughty with other people around,” Courtney promised. “We can just...sit in the backseat and hold hands and gaze lovingly into each other’s eyes.”

“That was my whole plan,” Vixen giggled, leaning forward to plant a kiss on Courtney’s cheek.

***

Vixen had to admit that for once, she posted a picture with an understated, tasteful caption. It was just them on the red carpet, which said, “VMAs with my favorite writer.”

VIXEN: Classy caption there

COURTNEY: That’s not what I wanted to say

VIXEN: ?

COURTNEY: Guess ;)

VIXEN: You’re Too Much

COURTNEY: I’m the perfect amount, actually.

VIXEN: Cocky too, huh?

COURTNEY: It’s also possible that I’m delirious after performing and then taking a 10 hour flight.

VIXEN: I read that as “delicious”

COURTNEY: Oh yeah?

VIXEN: You wouldn’t have been wrong...

COURTNEY: So I’ve been told

COURTNEY: (and cocky)

COURTNEY: And I miss you already

VIXEN: <3

COURTNEY: <3 <3 <3

***

As much as Courtney loved performing, there were times when she had to admit how lonely tour life could be. First of all, there wasn’t a single person with her that wasn’t on payroll. And while she liked them all, there was something a little depressing about being surrounded 24/7 by people that were paid to be around you and cater to your whims and humor every single thing you said.

She did a reasonably okay job of keeping in touch with her friends, but with the time differences, it was hard to get on the same page. Except for Vixen, who always made sure she was available at some point in the evening. They’d often just text back and forth, but more and more, Courtney’d been convincing Vixen to FaceTime. And seeing her smile, looking into her eyes, hearing her laugh, just made everything infinitely better.

At first, when she was in Europe, it was late at night, well after Courtney’s show had wrapped for the evening, once she was safely tucked into bed in whatever hotel she was staying. Curled up with her phone or her computer, laughing until her sides hurt at Vixen’s impressions of her grandmother or her crazy cousins. Or, once the tour moved to Asia and Australia, it was in the morning, after she’d finished meditating and before she headed out to meet her trainer. She’d sit on a terrace or in the hotel room with a cup of tea while Vixen sipped an evening glass of wine, head resting on her hands as she listened to Vixen talk about everything from university politics to her chaotic childhood.

Either way, it quickly became her favorite part of the day. It was strange. They’d only met in person three times, but Courtney soon felt like Vixen knew her better than anyone ever had. And as for Vixen—she was admittedly a little guarded most of the time, but Courtney found her to be wonderfully candid. She told stories about her chaotic childhood and her troubled teens. How confused she’d been during most of her college years. Courtney knew all about her large extended family; she was sure she’d be able to recognize them all on sight, based on Vixen’s vivid descriptions and hilarious impersonations.

And then sometimes, when Courtney caught her in a certain mood, or maybe after a second glass of wine, the conversations would turn into something else entirely. Whispered confessions in the dark, voices hoarse, faces flushed with nervous excitement. It never went too far, but it was usually enough to get Courtney good and worked up, close enough that a few seconds with a vibrator after they hung up was enough to finish her off. It was enough that Courtney had lost any desire to be with anyone else, even when she ached with need. She would take a 2D image of Vixen on her screen over a real-life random hookup any day.

Of course, as good as it was, there was always a degree of uncertainty. There were conversations that they probably should be having...what exactly is their relationship, where is it going, are they exclusive? But it had been so long since Courtney liked anyone as much as Vixen, and she had a vague fear that bringing that up too soon would scare her off, so for now, she just dealt with the uncertainty as best she could. After all, the flip side of uncertainly was potential, and that was pretty exciting.

By the time October rolled around, Courtney longed to be home in her own bed, surrounded by her own things. Just the basic familiar comforts of home. When it was time to fly back to the states, she had to stop in New York for some press and a few meetings, and then finally, she was free to return to LA. But at the last minute, on a whim, she decided to make another stop first.

***

Vixen had been putting the October symposium together for months. She’d reached out far and wide, planning lectures, panels, open forums, and agendas for the break-out groups over two days. There were a million moving parts, and million things on Vixen’s checklist, a million question marks and potential disasters.

But in all of the planning, never in Vixen’s mind did she imagine a scenario where she’d walk out to the podium on Saturday morning and see Courtney fucking Act sitting in the front row. With a pair of reading glasses and a goddamn notebook, rainbow streaks tucked into a librarian-style bun.

Fortunately, after a momentary stumble that she hoped no one besides her noticed, she was able to recover and get on with the agenda. During the first break, she beelined straight for Courtney, whose face lit up as she approached. Courtney jumped from her seat, throwing her arms around Vixen’s shoulders and pulling her in for a tight embrace.

“Hi...this is incredible!”

“I’m glad you...think...sorry, what are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be on a plane to LA right now?”

“LA can wait,” Courtney said, pulling back to look into her eyes. “And I wanted to surprise you. Was that a terrible idea?”

“No, just...unexpected,” Vixen replied with a grin. “You threw me off a little bit.”

“I’m sorry, I should have told you,” Courtney said, chagrined. “I wasn’t actually sure I’d make it in time, my flight from New York was late, and-”

“I’m glad you’re here.”

“You are?” Courtney squeezed Vixen’s hands, and Vixen nodded, kissing her softly on the cheek.

“Yeah. But now I have to go back and take care of things, so-”

“Of course! I’ll be invisible, I promise. I just really wanted to hear your lecture,” she said, eyes shining.

“I hope you’re not bored,” Vixen chuckled softly, shaking her head. She still couldn’t quite believe that Courtney would be there listening the whole time. But fortunately, there was no time to stress about it, so she just walked back to the stage to keep the program going.

“Impossible!” Courtney called after her, settling back into her seat.

***

“Go back. Play that part again,” Vixen insisted, tossing Courtney a wicked smirk.

“Are you serious?”

“Yeah, it’s a really important cinematic moment.”

Courtney giggled, lifting the remote.

Vixen sighed happily, leaning against her shoulder. After Courtney had surprised her at the symposium earlier, they’d discussed a handful of date night possibilities before realizing that all they really wanted was just to curl up in front of a movie in Courtney’s hotel room, basking in the simple pleasure of finally being in the same room with no time pressure, no obligations, nobody standing by to interrupt. So they’d made a quick stop at Vixen’s apartment for a few essentials, and then headed straight to the hotel, getting into comfy clothes and cuddling up in front of the TV.

Partly as a joke, Vixen had selected Glimmer for them to watch, and she was currently making Courtney replay the shot where “Princess Lucie” first took off her helmet. It was an absolute cliché: blonde waves spilling over her shoulders in slow motion in the golden sunset, romantic music soaring on the soundtrack.

“Yeahhh, that’s the stuff,” Vixen leered at the screen as real-life Courtney laughed beside her. “Again!”

“I’ll do you one better,” Courtney giggled, swinging a leg over her to straddle her on the bed. “How about a live show?”

“I’m not gonna say no to that,” Vixen told her, grinning, settling back against the pillows.

Courtney gathered up her hair before slowly releasing it, shaking it out, accompanied by lashes fluttering and lip biting.

Vixen watched the whole over-the-top performance before sighing and shaking her head sadly.

“Real life just never lives up to the movies, does it?”

“Hey!” Courtney scoffed, feigning offense, then leaned forward to brush her lips against Vixen’s temple, murmuring into her ear. “You sure about that?”

“Ummm…I could probably be persuaded to hear a counterpoint...” Vixen trailed her fingers up Courtney’s thighs, smiling up at her. Feeling almost shy as Courtney toyed with the neckline of her top.

Vixen’s heart fluttered wildly as Courtney pressed a soft kiss to her lips. She sighed into it, savoring the moment as Courtney cradled her face.

“It feels like it’s been forever,” Vixen murmured, warmth spreading through her chest all the way down to her toes, to the tips of her fingers. She tilted her head slightly to give Courtney easier access to her neck, where she began to layer soft kisses.

“Next time won’t be so long,” Courtney whispered into her skin. “I promise.”

“Good…”

A soft whimper left Vixen’s lips as Courtney’s kisses turned from gentle and teasing to deep and hot, tongue trailing across her collarbone, moving to the other side of her neck, sucking on her pulse point. Her fingers dug into Courtney’s hips, arching up against her.

The movie still played in the background, neither of them noticing that Princess Lucie had begun to sing one of her solos until the music swelled for the chorus, startling them both.

“THE LIGHT SHIIIIIIIIINES WITHIN MY HEAAAAAAAAAAART!”

“Omigod,” Courtney breathed, breaking away from Vixen and turning around to switch off the TV, telling her Princess alter ego to, “Shut up!”

Vixen giggled, trying to catch her breath as Courtney turned back to her, face immediately softening into a dreamy expression as she gazed down at her, making her feel improbably special. She placed her wrists gently on Vixen’s shoulders, a smile tugging at her mouth.

“What?” Vixen asked.

“I just can’t believe we’re finally together again.”

“You can’t believe? I’m in bed with a bona fide princess.”

“I’m not a real princess,” Courtney reminded her.

“Could’ve fooled me.”

Courtney giggled, hips rolling just enough to make her whimper.

“How about tonight, you’re the princess?” Courtney murmured, and Vixen felt that dizzying thrill again, the one that she barely ever allowed herself to indulge in. At least, not outside the safe space of her own secret dreams.

She tried to come up with an answer, but her mind seemed to go blank, and so Courtney took her face into her hands, thumbs tracing over her cheekbones, whisper-soft.

“What do you say, princess?”

Vixen couldn’t hold back anymore, cheeks blazing hot as she bit back an embarrassing noise. Courtney sat up, looking both a little surprised and incredibly pleased by her enthusiasm.

“You know...have something that I think...you might like...” Courtney began, biting her lip.

“You have a lot of things I like,” Vixen stated hoarsely.

Courtney’s smile deepened. She pressed a kiss to Vixen’s temple and then rolled away, digging through a suitcase on the floor. Finally, she produced what she was looking for: a pink canvas bag with a zipper down the side. She placed it between them on the bed, encouraging Vixen to look.

“Anything in there...interesting to you?”

Vixen unzipped the bag curiously, then after a glance inside, looked back up at Courtney, scandalized, stomach twisting with excitement.

“No?” Courtney asked.

“No. I mean, yeah,” Vixen said. “I’m...I think it could be fun. I just—”

“It doesn’t have to be today,” Courtney said, reaching for her hand.

“What if I wanted it to be today?” Vixen asked, tilting her head coyly.

“Then I’d say, your wish is my command.” Courtney kissed her softly. “Princess.”

Vixen felt her heart pick up speed as she melted against the kiss, excitement building inside her. Before she lost herself completely, she pulled away, trying to catch her breath.

“I’m gonna go get ready.”

“Okay.” Courtney placed a kiss to the inside of her wrist before releasing her.

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