#jem writes <3< /div> Explore tagged Tumblr posts

[jemjams02]

Mammon Relationship Stuff :p

no gender/genitals mentioned! contains NSFW

thank u anon for making me remember I have free will and can gnaw at my enclosure while Mammon stands on the other side of the bars, visibly afraid

Mammon constantly has his hands on you. He HAS to be touching you; a hand on the hip, arm around the shoulders, hand in the back pocket, etc. If it's not his hands, it's his whole body, he'll press against you just to feel you there

Speaking of hands, Mammon's are pretty! Perfectly manicured, and with many rings on his fingers. He often gives you one of his rings to wear! An innocent gesture in your eyes, but to him, it's just practice for when he gives you your own special ring (wink wink)

He can't say no to you. You don't even have to give him any puppy-dog eyes, he'll do pretty much anything the first time you ask! He's absolutely whipped for you, and would kill someone if you asked.

If he could, he would whisk you away to a secluded place forever. He wants you all to himself! He can't help his greed, ESPECIALLY when it comes to you. Anything you're willing to give him, he'll take and take, and sometimes he just wishes you could give him and only him your attention.

Not a sharer, and will consistently invite himself to your plans (especially the ones with his brothers). He has to make sure nobody tries to steal you away!

NSFW

Sex with Mammon happens almost every night, he honestly doesn't sleep very well without you bouncing on his cock for at least an hour before bed

Desperate to make you cum, whether it's in his mouth/on his face, on his cock, or inside him. He needs it, he's greedy for your pleasure, and sometimes will ignore his own hard-on to work your sex until you're crying and begging for him to fuck you properly

LOVES having you sit pretty on his cock! He loves using his demonic strength to push and pull you up and down his shaft; sometimes slow and teasing, and sometimes he bounces you on his cock with reckless abandon, loving the way you writhe and shake in his grip at his merciless pace.

LOUD LOUD LOUD this man cannot shut up once he's got you in his bed. If he's not yapping, he's moaning like a bitch in heat. You just feel so good!!! Constant streams of praise and compliments fall from his lips as you squeeze around him just right

Master of aftercare, he just needs a second to breathe. If you're up for it, he'll run a bath and soak with you for a while as he uses a warm washcloth on your more sensitive areas

Biter, absolutely a menace. Since Mammon made you his, you don't walk around without a few dozen marks on your body at any given time, it looks like you were attacked by a pack of wild dogs

Likes dressing you up all pretty for him, only to tear whatever cute lingerie/underwear he bought you to shreds. Likes seeing makeup get ruined by your tears as he makes you cum for the upteenth time, and he WILL have you wear jewelry (and only jewelry), his favorite color on you is gold, obviously

LOVES cumming inside, it fills him with a sense of satisfaction to see his cum filling you. He's claimed you, inside and out,

[thatuselesshuman]

New OC alert!

Introducing.... Simon Cruz!

Simon is a man who looks about 26, but is in reality much much older. He was cursed with immortality when he was 26, along with painful events called 'glitches' (his body suddenly rips apart before putting itself back together again, a lot like video game characters glitching). These glitches heal whatever physical injuries have been inflicted upon Simon, though they happen randomly and not just when he's injured.

Before he was cursed, he had a wife and 2 young children (a son and a daughter). After he was cursed, his wife vowed to stay with him no matter what. Simon didn't view his affliction as a curse until he attended his wife's, son's, daughter's, and multiple grandchildren's funerals. He soon began trying to find ways to die, so he could be with his family. The emotional distress caused his glitches to become more and more frequent, so much so that Simon wears bandages to keep the blood from seeping into his clothing. He has tried just about every method to die you could think of, but he's still as healthy as a normal 26 year old (despite having great great great grandchildren alive).

[embersofhope-if]

The original mortal instruments book series was an absolute mess (in a fun way) but listen. The prequel series? That actually slapped

i remember the infernal devices was the series i was OBSESSED with. like i enjoyed the originals but the prequels i absolutely devoured and then didn't stop thinking about them for a good 5 years after. That series just has so many troupes that i love it was kinda hard not to make it my entire personality

i was (and still am) absolutely obsessed with jem and wills relationship. they just cared about each other so much it actually rotted my brain

[realjem-art]

some scarlett expression doodles! believe it or not she can emote more than :3

[becauseplot]

oh my GOD i did it i finished it i finally got through the dialogue ive been struggling to write for *checks notes* technically over a month now??? ive been actively working on it for a week now at least. in any case im free im free(!!!!) i can move on with my life and write other things without this goddamn scene breathing down my neck ohhhhh my goddddd 0(-( <-me passed out from sheer relief

[ap-sadistics]

i love chai hi fi rush so fucking much and i need more fanfiction of him DIRELY. help. i am. withering. fading away. i need it in my mouth.

[artistformerlyknown]

🥀 favorite angst quote from a published work ‼️

hello hello and thank you for the ask!! i originally wrote in this ask that i don't have a lot of published angst before realising that... isn't really true so i had a decent catalogue to pick from! this was actually a hard choice because despite having a fair amount of angst, it's all either really niche and specific or context needed buuuut i think that He half expected him to get up one more time. He didn’t think that cruel fate, the burden of existing no matter what, was gone just yet. He hoped it wasn’t, even if it was just so Leopold could throw him on the floor, rip him to pieces, beat the final vestiges of life out of his eyes so he didn’t have to live a life where he was alone again. It would’ve been enough for him.  takes the point for my favourite angst quote from something published! it's more of a section than a quote but tomato tomahto. this comes from my fic my pain fits in the palm of your freezing hand which was a gift for my friend alex!!

[bagelzest]

ok I've been writing down every code I could find and what they do for thisisnotawebsitedotcom in my notes app so here's what I've found so far:

• tjeckleburg - NEVER MENTION THAT NAME AGAIN

• bill - eye of providence wiki page, then sesame street jazzy triangle meets a square square (same result with cipher)

• bill cipher - triangle wiki page

• weirdmageddon - gravity falls gossiper newspaper

• soos - letter from soos

• pinata - bill piñata gettin beat

• mabel - stickers on everything till 'LAB NOW FULLY MABELIZED'

• dipper - note from bill telling dipper to stare at the sun for 13 hours, enter multiple times for a retina burning sim

• mason - letter from dipper

• pines - A GOOD FAMILY TREE

• stan + stanley - brass knuckles ebay search, keep entering to get wheel of shame page

• ford + stanford + sixer- ford's polydactyly diagnosis + report

• pacifica - letter from pacifica

• wendy - note from wendy

• waddles - pigplacementnetwork.org

• gideon - sweat resistant bolo ties google search

• fiddleford - cotton eye joe mv

• dippy fresh - burger king kids club r/nostalgia

• axolotl - YOU ASK ALOTL QUESTIONS

• tad strange - bread slicing

• alex hirsch - flannel google search

• blendin - TIME AGENT LOST AND PRESUMED INCOMPETENT

• robbie - text chat between robbie and Thompson, pic of them being taken by bill

• gravity falls - NEVER HEARD OF IT

• mystery shack - confusion hill

• blind eye - eye test, colour code at bottom- euclmjiannrepttgccvisignnsupervisionn I think?? EDIT wtf was I on that is obviously not what it says

• reality - IS AN ILLUSION

• the universe - HOLLOGRAM

• deer teeth - FOR YOU, KID!

• fuck - I get told to wash my mouth out with soap :(((

• book of bill - HIDE IT UNDER SHIRT DURING PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

• giffany - enter multiple times, computer tries to block, SOOS, I STILL LOVE YOU, giffany appears on screen, downloading file IM NEVER LEAVING! file has all her sprites, a doc called ILL ALWAYS BE WITH YOU SOOS which is text in the shape of giffany

• euclydia - DIMENSION NOT FOUND

• portal - PORTAL.EXE HAS BEEN DELETED. I BET YOU COULD BUILD ONE

• toby determined - google search restraining order

• journal 1 - THE JOURNAL OF FUN

• journal 2 - THE JOURNAL FOR YOU

• journal 3 - THE JOURNAL FOR ME

• babba + disco girl - recording of dipper singing and listening to babba

• gun - OH YES OH YES OH YES THEY BOTH

• abuelita - best vacuum for walls and ceilings yt vid

• weird - weird al trapped in the computer

• xyler + craz - jem and the holograms theme song yt vid

• triangle - TRI HARDER

• theraprism - blue sign - IN CASE OF [the old one] DO NOT USE ELEVATORS

• yes - WHAT'S MCGUCKETS FAVOURITE SODA? (I tried putting in pitt cola and variations and nothing worked)

• no - YOUR LOSS...

• vallis cineris - creepy vid of baby bill held by static parents with voice saying why did you do it

• disney - RAT.GIF CENSORED FOR YOUR PROTECTION

• love + marry me (don't worry about how I discovered that) - pic of the love triangle book, click it and it plays an audio audiobook of it

• death - LIFE'S GOTH COUSIN

• life - LIFE: 72% COMPLETE. NOW LOADING: DEATH

• blanchin - how to blanch vegetables yt vid

• divorce - o' sadleys logo (aka the bar bill was at after "losing sixer" oh my GODDD)

• season 1 - SEASON -1: ANTIGRAVITY FALLS

• season 2 - SEASON 1

• season 3 - SEASON 2

• help me + save me + god - vid of axolotl swimming infront of a little bill statue

• ad astra per aspera - 2 journal pages starring ford and mabel, pls read them it's so good

• trigonometry - bill's attempt to have plato build the portal

• cray cray - mental health wiki page

• who are you - I COULD ASK YOU THE SAME QUESTION

• lies - bill talking about lying and nerds

• morality - fun game!

• R34LITY - henchmaniacs polaroids

• ducktective - DUCKTECTIVE STARS IN "LOVE, QUACKTUALLY" COMING TO: "OI, ITS THE COCKNEY CHANNEL INNIT?" THIS FALL

• question - ANSWER

• answer - QUESTION

I'm editing this post when I find new ones, feel free to add any you find!! please look at the replies to this post because people have found more codes!!

EDIT I'm probably done with updating this list, these are just the ones I found after goofing around on the website for 4 hours. other people have definitely made lists of all the codes found so far so make sure to check them out !!

[cassandraclare]

I still have some questions about Belial:

1) How did Belial make Tessa with his curse?

2) Was Belial's debt to Jem originally planned as something other than passing on a message?

3) Why would Belial give powers to James and esp Lucie when they could use them against him (and in the latter's case, he didn't care about her)? I just still can't understand why they would be taken away with his death or why he'd intentionally bother with that.

Thank you in advance!

Okay! I would say strap in for some boring technical the-nature-of-fantasy-writing stuff.

How did Belial make Tessa with his curse?

We already know Belial can, in fact, walk on the earth if he possesses someone. In the case of possessing an ordinary human, the body falls apart quickly. If he possesses a demon it lasts longer, and he could wander about for a while as a demon if he liked, he's just not interested. He's obsessed with the idea of being on the earth in a human body: i.e. James. Anyway, he possessed the Eidolon demon that took the form of Richard Gray, Tessa's father.

2) Was Belial's debt to Jem originally planned as something other than passing on a message?

It took me a while to try to understand this question, and I'm still not totally sure I do. I thought it was a question about what the favor was, but I think it's "Did you ever plan for Belial to owe Jem for some other reason?"  To which the answer is no. It was always planned to hinge on the deal that is made re: the Herondales. While Jem frames it as "passing on a message" that is in fact, not what the favor was.

3) Why would Belial give powers to James and esp Lucie when they could use them against him (and in the latter's case, he didn't care about her)? I just still can't understand why they would be taken away with his death or why he'd intentionally bother with that.

These seem like two different questions, so for the first one: Belial didn't give powers to James and Lucie in the way you seem to be framing it. He gave a specific power to Grace, which is why Grace, you know, remembers that happening. James and Lucie just have powers because they are related to Belial. Same reason Tessa has her power. Belial had no idea what the specifics of all his mortal descendants would be—how could he? Shadowhunter/demon hybrids had never existed before. He may have thought they might have powers of some sort, but he did not handcraft them and send them to James and Lucie for Demon Christmas. :-)

As for why, I guess, Belial didn't kill them in the womb or something (assuming he could have done that) — this seems to be the question, "Why would Belial ever make a mistake or take a risk?" And the answer is, "Why wouldn't that happen?" Being a demon doesn't insulate Belial from having flaws or being in error (some might say that's the essential nature of demons.) It's a bit like asking why Satan made war on God in Paradise Lost when he was certain to lose because you know, God. Milton kind of wrote his entire epic poem to answer that question. And (Cliff Notes): the answer was pride. Pride blinded Lucifer, and if Lucifer can be blinded by pride, then Belial can also be blinded by his own flaws, specifically hubris and a misunderstanding of the nature of human beings. While Belial knew James and Lucie had powers, he never thought those powers posed a significant risk to him and he wrongly assumed he would always be more powerful than they were and easily able to turn their powers to his advantage. Jem explains Belial's error fairly plainly:

"There was also the great weakness of demons: they did not understand either love or faith. Belial had underestimated not just Cordelia, Lucie, and James, but also their friends, and what they would all do for each other."

As for why J&L's powers vanished with his death: I think there is a confusion here between two kinds of magic. Rules-based magic, and numinous magic. Rules-based magic being what it sounds like, and numinous magic being magic that has an almost mystical element that cannot be explained like a math problem but is rooted in the resonance of human experience, of myth and fairy tale. Rules-based magic needs to be explained to us in fiction. Numinous magic we understand because we're human and we know. (Jo Walton has a good essay on the two kinds of magic and the ways they work together and apart here.)

Neither is a better kind of magic in fiction than the other and most good fantasy contains both. An example: The Ring in Lord of the Rings. It has a numinous power: it exerts an evil influence, but that evil influence doesn't work in a specific, ordered way, and it works differently in different situations and on different people, often without an obvious reason why. But it makes sense, as long as you keep the essential nature of the Ring in mind. The Ring also has another power. If you put it on, you become invisible. The end. Works the same for everyone. The Ring has both numinous and rules-based powers.

If you are looking for a math-type answer to why James and Lucie's powers vanished with Belial's death, there is not one, as their powers were inherently numinous to begin with, and we already have both rules-based and numinous magic in the Shadowhunter world. In fact, we already have examples of magic coming apart when the magic-creator dies in the Shadowhunter world. When Sebastian dies, the Endarkened die with him. When Johnny Rook dies, his wards fail.

To go back to Lord of the Rings, when Sauron dies, his fortress of Barad-dûr collapses. This is not because it was architecturally unsound. It is because we understand things like Sauron's fortress to be the expression of someone's will in the world, and when they die, their will is broken.

The breaking or undoing of that will is concretized in fiction (just like all metaphor is) — so while James and Lucie couldn't have predicted that their powers would vanish with Belial's death as their situation (being a Prince of Hell’s Shadowhunter grandchildren) is literally unprecedented, it makes sense to them that their powers would go when he went. They don't seek a rules-based explanation since 1) they already live in a world where magic sometimes disappears or collapses when the magic-creator dies and 2) they don't need one. As James says, "Not because [the gun] no longer fires at my command, though that is true—but because it only ever worked for me because of Belial, and Belial is gone."

[inthe-dark-tonight]

And All the Stars Align

chapter one: across the room, your silhouette

din djarin x princess!reader series

chapter two

summary: your mother seeks out the well known mandalorian, din djarin, to help your planet by fighting in a duel. what starts as a strong distaste for the armored man grows into something more.

word count: 1.7k

series rating: E (18+ mdni)

warnings: no use of y/n, slow burn, slight enemies to lovers, some helmetless din, no physical descriptions of reader other than clothing a few times, no mentions of age gap so read however you’d like, not really that many warnings yet :)

notes: this is the first thing i’ve ever written, i’ve just been really nervous to post it but here it is!!! i also was slightly inspired by padme and anakin’s relationship in episode 2 & 3 so you may see some similarities here and there. this will be multiple chapters, not sure how many yet but know that it will be quite a few lol. thank you to my loves @shatteredbaby & @javiscigarette for beta reading and brainstorming with me mwah. also @pr0ximamidnight for listening to me ramble about this fic and also encouraging me to keep writing ily

He’s sitting in the cantina on Nevarro minding his business, when he suddenly feels a presence behind him.

“Can I help you?” His deep voice booms through the modulator on his helmet. He doesn’t bother to turn around.

The man standing close behind him clears his throat before speaking. “I’m visiting from the planet Xeron. I was sent by the queen in search of a Mandalorian named Din Djarin.” He pauses, hesitating for a moment. “I was told he could be found here.”

Din turns around in his seat and props his elbow up to lean back on the counter nonchalantly. “You’ve found him.” He says in a flat tone. Although his face is covered with a beskar helmet, his voice is enough to make anyone intimidated. “You have one minute to explain what you’re here for.”

The advisor swallows hard and clears his throat. “I- uh,”

“Fifty-six seconds.” the Mandalorian says, his voice coming out deep and monotone.

“Our planet, Xeron, is having a quarrel of sorts with our sister planet, Arkam, and we need help. We need your help.” He hesitated for a quick moment, a bit flustered. “Word around the inner rim is that you’re a great fighter, you’ve taken down a mudhorn, a kryat dragon, the list goes on and on. We’re desperately in need of someone to fight. Someone who will win.”

“What’s in it for me?”

A week later the Mandalorian is on his way to Xeron. Your mother, the queen, insisted that he come a week early to settle in before the duel. She had said we should lend him our hospitality for what he’s agreed to do for our planet, so there’s going to be a welcome dinner hosted tonight when he arrives.

You’re currently in your room getting ready to leave when there’s a knock on your door. “Come in.” The door opens a crack and you see Jem poke her head in.

Jem is your closest friend, though she’s more of an assistant of sorts. You don’t like to think of her that way, she’s just your friend that also happens to keep watch over you and help you out with anything you might need.

“Are you almost ready? Your mother is already in the grand hall awaiting your arrival.” She raises her brow at you, knowing that you always tend to be late.

“Yes just- give me a second. I’ll be right out.” You smile before she shuts the door behind her.

You turn towards your mirror and take a deep breath. Why are you so nervous? It’s not like you haven’t attended banquets for visitors in the past. You run your gloved hands over your floor length dress and take one last look in the mirror before turning to leave.

When you open the door Jem is waiting there for you, also wearing a long elegant dress for the occasion. She turns to walk down the hall and you quickly follow.

“Are you curious to see what he’s like?” She asks as you make your way towards the grand hall.

You look at her slightly confused “….who?”

She blinks at you, waiting for you to say something else. “The Mandalorian, you know, the one your mother hired to fight in the duel?” She gives you an odd look before the two of you step into the elevator. “I’ve heard he’s quiet, a little mysterious. I guess we’ll see for ourselves.” A smirk grows on her face as she says the words.

When the elevator doors open again, you quickly round the corner to see that the doors to the great hall are wide open and the room is flooded with people. Some are gathered standing in large groups, others are sitting at the large tables spread around the room. You look around the room and see your mother through the crowd, sitting in her usual spot. You walk towards her smiling here and there at guests as you pass by.

“You’re here! We can get started finally.” She gestures something to one of the royal guards, seconds later you hear a loud noise signaling that dinner will be served shortly. In the next couple of minutes everyone is finally seated, Jem sitting next to you. You glance around noticing that someone’s missing, the guest of honor. Great first impression, you think to yourself. If he can’t even arrive on time, how’s he going to win this fight?

You can see your mother glancing around the room frantically. “Where is he?” She mumbles to herself. The guests are chatting at a low volume, probably wondering what’s going on as well.

All of a sudden one of the doors to the royal hall opens, everyone’s head snaps towards that direction to get a look. As you look around the room, everyone’s quiet and still. It’s like the world has stopped. You hear heavy steps growing closer and what sounds like something clanking. Finally you look towards the door and your eyes land on him. The Mandalorian.

He’s covered head to toe in beskar armor, and the visor on his helmet creates a t shape. There’s a sway in his step, he walks with confidence and you can feel the air in the room has changed just from his presence. Your mother stands from her chair as he gets closer, and everyone else in the room follows. You’re so mesmerized by him and the confidence in each step he takes that you end up being the last to stand, eyes never leaving his captivating form. When he gets to you and your mother he bows his head, leaving your mother ecstatic.

“Ladies and gentlemen, our guest of honor, Din Djarin.” She gestures towards him. “The Mandalorian.” the room applauds.

He nods and takes a seat next to your mother, everyone following her lead to sit. Your mother looks at one of the royal guards and droids start coming from the kitchen with plates full of food, placing them at every table.

Your mother turns her head to Din “Thank you so much for being here tonight, I’m glad you could make it a week early. We want to show our thanks, and how greatly appreciative we are.” she smiles at him.

Din turns his head towards her and nods. “Thank you for your hospitality.” His voice is deep coming through his modulator, it sends a chill down your spine. You’re still staring at him when your mother starts to speak.

“This is my daughter.” Your mother fully sits back in her chair so he can look past her and see you properly.

He turns his head towards you. “Princess.” He nods his head again. What Jem heard is true. He really doesn’t say much, but you feel squeamish under his gaze.

“We really are more grateful than you could ever imagine.” Your mother smiles again. “Please! Help yourself!” Your mother gestures to the table full of food.

Jem nudges your shoulder and you turn to her, finally breaking your gaze away from Din. She’s smirking “I told you” she whispers before reaching to fill her plate.

You’re trying not to stare at this point, just looking out the corner of your eye. You pile a few things onto your plate and before you can take a bite you see his hand lift up to his helmet. You hear a hissing sound as he lifts it off his head.

You snap your head to look over at him and you’re absolutely stunned, almost breathless as his profile comes into view. The strong outline of his nose and plush pink lips immediately catch your attention. You don’t think you’ve ever laid your eyes on someone as beautiful as him. Still taking in his features, your mouth slightly opens in awe. His large brown eyes, the crease between his brows, the way his curls fall perfectly over his forehead even after having a helmet on.

He turns his head towards you, almost like he could feel your gaze. A blush creeps onto your cheeks as you quickly turn back to look at your plate in embarrassment. You can still feel his gaze burning through you, your body starting to heat up. Through the corner of your eye you can see him staring now, you lift your head and turn to look at him again. This time he turns away, quickly glancing back at you for only a split second before focusing on his plate. It’s almost… shy. Cute, you think.

“I didn’t know Mandalorians could remove their helmets?” Your mother asks him.

Din clears his throat as he glances at your mother. “The rules aren’t… as strict as they once were.” He states.

His voice sounds even more heavenly without being filtered through the modulator. It makes your skin tingle.

The rest of the dinner you don’t dare to look at him. Your mother dismisses everyone and people get up to gather and chat again. Everyone wants to speak to Din, he’s never not crowded by guests. He put his helmet back on at this point after dinner.

Jem pops up beside you. “Wow, I knew he’d be popular tonight, being the guest of honor and all but… he really can’t catch a break”

“Yeah.” you’re trying to seem nonchalant as you stare him down from across the room.

“Have you gotten a chance to speak with him?” She looks over at you.

“No!” Your head snaps towards her and Jem’s brow raises at your tone. “I mean, no. He’s been occupied basically all night.” You’re looking back towards where he stands.

“What’s there for me to say anyway?” You glance over at her “Am I supposed to thank him? However much my mother’s paying him won’t be worth anything if he doesn’t make it out.” You look back out into the crowd of people and you’re unable to spot him.

“Yeah, I guess.” She pauses for a moment. “Well I need to go find your mother, I told her I’d help her with something. See you later?”

You nod and watch her disappear into the pool of people laughing and talking loudly.

You hear someone say your name in a deep voice from behind you.

“Princess.”

thank you for reading lmk what you think & my asks are open to chat :) xo

np tagging some moots: @ilovepedro @isitmeulookin4 @joelsversion @nostalxgic @ramblers-lets-get-ramblin @jenispunk @beskarandblasters @javiscigarette @gracieheartspedro @cannolighost @eliza-8 @hearteyesforjoel @tieronecrush @daydreamingmiller @pamasaur

[sarascamander]

Ranking the Shadowhunter male protagonist:

1. Julian Blackthorn

His story is my favourite and he is so complex, so tortured, incredibly cunning and smart. Literally he's perfect. (I can write an essay about him and we'll be here forever).

2. Will Herondale

I don't quite like him in the first book because he was acting like an asshole but god his character is so good. I cried for him, I laughed at him, and his love and devotion for Jem just — my heartttt.

3. James Herondale

I think I have a soft spot for him since we literally see him growing up from little baby to an adult. I will always cherish him.

4. Jace Herondale

Jace's humour is top tier, I absolutely love that about him but he pissed me off a lot while reading. I don't even remember what he did, I just remember flipping him off a lot. 😭

[rosylix]

── ⋆.ೃ* 파란 선으로 세상을 넓혀 ✈ 🩵

rosylix masterlist

hi! i'm jem ('ー')/~~

✎.. '02 liner, no pronouns, #1 staybit, seunglix bias 🐱🐶

ao3 ▪︎ rules ▪︎ kofi ▪︎ main

i don't do taglists. if you want to be notified of when i post new works you can subscribe on ao3 or subscribe to this post

click for palestine 🇵🇸

masterlist is below the read more..

masterlist

everything i write is fiction. the characters i write are just that, characters, and do not represent the real people they may be inspired from. my stories are not meant to harm anyone and i do my best to keep them in fandom spaces only. please do not repost my works anywhere and please be mindful to separate fiction from reality while reading.

with that said...

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟

✎...member pairings

jilix (jisung × felix)

chaotic, my heart is off time (12.2k)

a certain dare leads jisung to discover he may not be as straight as he thinks he is (or: felix is really pretty and jisung is confused)

✎...member × reader

felix

rosy (series) (ongoing)

you dont know how to give a hickey... what are friends for if not to help each other with these things?

✎...drabbles

mario kart (bsf!felix × reader)

will be updated as i write more :)

mdni banners used are by @cafekitsune <3

[bekolxeram]

8x03 predictions

So... yeah, kid is landing that plane, and I'm very happy about it.

Wasn't trying to jinx it when I made that post a few hours ago about the jump seat plugging that hole in the cockpit. I was about to write how disastrous it would be if the jump seat flies off, taking more chunks of the fuselage/wiring with it and sending more debris towards to cabin and potentially the engines.

Apparently, it will indeed fly off in 8x03, and the result is catastrophic. So they will lose the ability to turn, it can be due to all sorts of reasons. I can see the screens still lit up, so probably not a total electrical failure. It can be a dual engine failure, and they can't make drastic turns and risk losing precious airspeed and altitude, but I think I can still hear the engine in the sneak peek? The number one culprit of total inability to make flight control inputs in an airliner is the total loss of hydraulic systems (all 3). I can see maybe debris damaging the hydraulic lines but neither Jem nor Athena have the knowledge to stop the hydraulic leak before it's too late?

Anyway, the result is still the same, they can't turn. Flying/gliding due north is their only option.

Obviously, there's no ocean north of Los Angeles, but also you don't want to ditch in water unless you absolutely have no other choice. Water is incompressible, and the ocean is wavy. If you hit a wall of wave while ditching the plane, it's exactly like hitting a brick wall, and the plane will break apart.

TW: plane crash

An open field or a multi-lane highway is their best option.

If they've indeed lost all hydraulics, braking will obviously be an issue too, since they'll also lose reverse thrust and spoilers.

You know what? There was a case of an airliner (DC-9) making an emergency landing on a rural highway, Southern Airways Flight 242 in 1977. The touchdown itself was pretty successful, just a bit bouncy, but its left wing unfortunately hit a roadside gas station during the rollout, so it triggered an explosion, swerved to the left and ended up crashing. If that plane could land firmly on the ground on a narrow road back in the 70s, Athena's plane can land on a wide city highway too. It won't be pleasant or risk-free, but at least it's not a death sentence.

As for Tommy's involvement in this opening disaster, I've said it many times, but I'll say it again: I don't think it makes sense narratively for him to play hero and land the plane. Real life constraints (money) also limit him from being in a helicopter on screen. The only way he'll be seen in 8x03 is working on the ground, helping with the rescue. Any other way he'll just be mentioned at best. I pray that he'll be there running towards Buck all worried because the plane barely misses the 119 truck.

You're asking what's with the 217 truck if he's not in 8x03? Well, obviously the show won't get a new truck with a new station number for nothing, so maybe Tommy and the 217 are planned to be heavily featured in future episodes?

Oh, let's not forget Dennis Jenkins, I think he's likely to be in danger.

This is classic famous last words. Athena will have to take on the burden just in time before Jenkins takes his last breath.

If he's not dying, then there'll still be drama related to him. Those dirty cops are looking for him and their plane is currently all over the news. Athena will need to find a way to sneak him out to safety.

[headedstraightforfrankcastle]

Anakin Boyfriend headcanons SFW

SO lately I’ve been obsessing more and more over Star Wars - mostly over Kylo, Poe and our boy Anakin. I’ve been thinking about some things lately and now you have to think about them to :)

!: no gender specified, Revenge of the Sith!Anakin (but no downfall lol just cute vibes here)

A/N: not proof readed, please let me know if you notice any typo! sorry about it <3

-

we can all know he basically he’s a gentleman 

his love language is small acts of service.

you would help him get ready for his missions, he would help you get ready for yours

he would make sure you have everything packed with you, and if you’re a particularly forgetful person he would place all your thing on your bed so you don’t forget anything

if you don’t understand how soomething works he’s ready to explain it to you again an again, if you lose something he’d help you find it, if you’re feeling down he won’t leave your side unless he absolutely has to.

he would kneel in the middle of a corridor just because your boot is untied

your official styler

he would bring you small gifts from his missions 

everytime he sees you treasure them like jems on your shelves he smiles like a proud baby

constantly sitting on top of him

like - this man is the only chair existing for you

he would love to balance you on his leg, with your back against his chest and his hands slowly caressing your wast

whenever you two are alone he gently pushes you against the first wall he finds only to kiss you so slowly and kindly it hurts

he holds your hands in his when you’re cold! 

I told you to bring your gloves, baby, why don’t you ever listen to me?

little did he know, it was your plan all along

if you can walk side by side keep one harm aroud you waist or shoulders so you have all the space you need to hug his side 

one of your favourite things in the whole galaxy is seeing him try to hide a smile when you stroll like that

if you two are separated but still in sight, he would keep an eye on you 24/7 to make sure you’re okay and no one is bothering you

when your eyes meet his, you swear you can see them shine

this king would bring you breakfast in bed

most of the times he just asks C3P0 to do it, but when he’s in a good mood he tries to cook your favourite dishes

i’m not sure he’s good at cooking but he tries with all his heart, and you both finish your food with the promise of you teaching him your secrets in the kitchen

constantly makes sure you stay well fed and hydrated

training sessions with him! (propably would write something about it, stay tuned)

everytime he passes next to you he leaves a small kiss on your forhead, or a soft stroke on whichever part of your body he finds first

you have to be the first thing he sees when he wakes up and the last one he sees before he fells asleep

would tell you you are beautiful even when you’re at you worst (you’re always an angel to him) and mostly when you feel like everything but something remotedly good

kisses your tears away and keeps you close to his heart when you’re crying

literally there for you wheneve you need him

the. way. he. looks. at. you. you are the only person for him, he is the only person for you - and the galaxy must know it, because it stops when you linger a bit too much in the glance of the other

when you’re in a dangerous situation he keeps one step in front of you 

he knows you are fully capable of protecting yourself, and you’re damn good at it, but it keeps him calm to think he has at least this under his control, so you let him 

also it allows you to watch his back, so it’s a win win

little spoon (I will not elaborate)

Thank you for reading, let me know what your thoughts are on bf!Anakin and if we share something!

[anti-homophobia-cheese]

Get to know me 10/10/24

Once upon a time, I was tagged by my lovelies @14carrotghoul @alasse9 @pinkamour1588 @almightaylor @amnesiaa-on-ice to play this very cute game 🥲 It took me 84 years to play it but thank you for the tags, friends <33

Rules: Answer and tag nine people you want to get to know better and catch up with

Fav Colour: This keeps changing. Right now I'm mad into sage green

Last song: Gotye's Somebody That I Used to Know came on my Instagram fyp this morning and every two minutes I've been screaming "you didn't have to stooooop so low". Yeah, I'm real annoying to be around rn 😌

Currently reading: Uh. I've been a bad reader lately :(( It's not a slump exactly but all the hospital trips have left my mind too scattered to concentrate on words. But before all this madness, I had been reading The Darkness Outside Us and The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I am itching to get back to them super soon <3

Currently watching: Agatha All Along, Only Murders in the Building. For comfort, I've been watching King Fu Panda 2 and random episodes of How I Met Your Mother.

Currently craving: Huh. It's weird that I'm currently not craving anything but would I say no to a fudgy chocolate cake? Nope.

Tea or coffee: Tea is more comforting, it smells like home. But coffee has its moments too. (When you ask a pansexual to make choices, expect answers like this)

Hobby to try: I WANT TO LEARN HOW TO MAKE GIFS SO BAD!!! People who can make gifs are so hot my god

Current AU: I've been reading down for the count (down bad for you) by 0npurpose and acdhandfidget. I've also been following the kinktober 2024 fics by @kiwiana-writes

I'm sure everyone's already done this. But leaving no pressure, v.chill tags for a few moots I'd like to get to know better:

@evanbuckwad @catdadacd @luainthewild @myteavsricochet @myheartalivewrites

@run-for-chamo-miles @taste-thewaste @elliss-stuff @stratocumulusperlucidus

@potato-jem

and an open tag for whoever wants to play!

[cetaitlaverite]

Why All This Music? - Deleted Scene

Masters of the Air - Rosie Rosenthal x OC

hiii <3 another long awaited bonus chapter!! the only context you really need for this is that it is the first meeting from chapter 1 but from rosie's pov and, i suppose, if you're not following my other mota fic (ata) then it might help to know that alice, who features at the beginning of this deleted scene, is from there, a friend of my other oc, stella.

hope you loveeeee <3 masterlist is here

Freddie and Rosie's First Meeting From Rosie's Point of View

As Rosie adjusted to his new life at Thorpe Abbotts, he kept catching himself drafting up letters in his head of what he would write to his mother and sister about it; the lively parties in the officers’ club and the fancy officers’ mess with its tablecloths and table service, the whirlwind of trying to learn so many names and keep them reliably attached to faces, the sheer size of the airfield and the quaint little village it was attached to, the Red Cross girls and the ATA pilots and the wireless operators and the many, many American airmen.

It wasn’t what he’d been expecting and yet, somehow, it was exactly what he’d been hoping for.

And, no, he’d tell his mother and sister dutifully, indulgently, preempting their prying questions, he hadn’t fallen in love yet. His sister had joked about him returning home with a British girl on his arm and his mother had worried that instead he’d decide to stay in England, so head over heels he’d trade the life he loved at home for whichever one his sweetheart wanted. But his mother had little to fear, he’d assure her; he hadn’t met anyone like that.

Not, of course, for lack of trying on part of one ATA pilot. Her name was Alice and she was nice enough - she’d be another man’s dream, Rosie knew, but unfortunately she wasn’t his. He couldn’t altogether articulate why; she was pretty and smart and funny, had buckets of personality and confidence, and, of course, she was a pilot, which gave them common ground. It was more just that Rosie knew himself and he knew, as he always had, that when he met the right person he would know. It was why he’d never gone all the way with the previous girlfriends he’d had who his family had loved and who had, for all intents and purposes, been real catches. He hadn’t felt it yet. Really, he didn’t even know what it was supposed to feel like. But he would know it when he found it, of this much he was sure. And he hadn’t found it just yet.

Right now, with the warm light of the officers’ club dancing in her eyes, Alice of the ATA was making another valiant attempt at flirting with him as they stood by the bar. Rosie was smiling politely at her, blushing occasionally when she was bolder with her compliments, and sipping intermittently from his beer. All around he was enveloped by conversation and music, the band at the far end of the room playing a raucous tune which had many of the Red Cross girls swept up by partners.

But, in spite of the noise, the room wasn’t quite full yet; the wireless operators weren’t here. Rosie noticed because he’d found in Millie Harlow something of a friend - and one who didn’t try to flirt with him, at that. And the first time they’d met a couple of nights ago she’d told him about her best friend who was away on leave but who she promised he would just adore, and apparently this best friend was back at the airfield today.

As though orchestrated by the composer in the corner or else divined by some higher being, the door to the officers’ club was flung open right then and most everyone’s attention, willingly or otherwise, was diverted towards it. Because through the door spilled a sparkling, giggly crowd of wireless operators, their arms all flung around each other, their red-painted lips split wide with smiles. Some of them were cheering, others were calling to each other, and at the front of the group were Millie and her friend Jem, holding on tightly to a girl Rosie hadn’t met yet.

She was startlingly pretty, this girl, the one Millie must have been talking about the other night. With dark hair and warm brown eyes, full lips and dimples in her cheeks, Rosie realised quite suddenly that he was staring. It was impossible not to, really, and he certainly wasn’t the only one, but while most everyone else was staring that way because some of the other girls were shouting about war heroes and Victoria Crosses, Rosie was staring that way because there was some sort of magnetic force keeping his eyes stuck there, like if he looked away he’d miss out on the best moments of his life, like if he even blinked he’d never again lay eyes on anything that made him feel this way, warm and excited and alive.

“Ladies!” called Major Egan, standing up straight from where he’d been leaning back against the bar with Major Cleven a little ways away from Rosie. “There you are. We been missing you!”

“Looking this good takes time, Major,” Millie replied with a smirk and a conspiratorial pat to his shoulder as she passed.

The girl under her arm grinned, glancing at Millie with her eyes all lit up with fondness and good humour.

“Rosie,” Alice said from in front of Rosie, clicking her fingers in his face to divert his attention back to her. “Did you hear what I said?”

“Oh.” Rosie cleared his throat, refocusing his eyes on her but not quite getting the hang of forcing them to stay there. Every few seconds they would flick up over her shoulder to Millie’s friend where she was swept up into the conversation of the big group in the middle of the bar, smiling and rolling her eyes as she conversed with Majors Egan and Cleven and the other wireless operators and whichever other airmen managed to get a word in. “Sorry.”

“I was saying,” Alice began, but Rosie’s ears were pricking.

“For her,” Jem was correcting, her eyes narrowed on Major Egan. “Freddie’s our war hero.” She inclined her head in the direction of the new girl with the dimples and the eyes.

“Or heroine, I suppose,” added a different girl - Amy, he thought, who had also tried to flirt with him on his first night - winking in the first girl’s direction.

Freddie, Rosie thought, considering the name in his head. It seemed strange, a boy’s name for a girl that pretty, but somehow it also suited her. There was a sweetness to it that echoed in the gentle twitch of her lips and the pink hue in her cheeks as she blushed at the attention, and a musicality to it, too. Freddie. His lips noiselessly formed the word, trying it out for size.

He watched on, grinning, as one of the other wireless operators, the one with the thick Irish accent, started to explain just what had transpired earlier to gain Freddie her war hero status. His eyes were stuck to her as she fidgeted and shook her head, as though shooing away the praise, and as her eyes dipped to her shoes and she scrunched up her face in embarrassment.

“After a dogfight,” the Irish girl was explaining, “a German fighter must’ve gotten himself disoriented. He was flying over England but had convinced himself it was France. When I started receiving him on the radio I had no idea what to do, of course, and I started panicking and damn near started crying because I was so scared. But then Freddie - who, it turns out, speaks perfect German - took the receiver from me and started directing this German fighter in like she does it everyday. Cool and calm as you like, she guides him in, and then the second he’s down we’ve got him caught and captured and his plane is being taken in for analysis and now we have the newest German fighter in our hands to find out how it works.”

Rosie drank all this information in like it was water and he was stranded in a desert.

Amy leaped in to add, “Say what you like, but our RAF fighters are going to owe a lot to our Freddie when they know how to dogfight these new German Messers because we have one of them.”

“Yeah, well, we’re hoping we’ll know a lot about the German Air Force in general when the brass have finished interrogating the Jerry who fell for the whole charade,” commented Jem with a wry smirk.

“Well,” started Major Egan, grinning, clapping his hands together, “seems like maybe you really do need a drink, Fred.”

Fred. Her friends called her Fred.

Adorable.

“Rosie,” Alice complained from in front of him.

His eyes snapped back to her, heat creeping up his cheeks. He’d forgotten she was standing there. “Sorry,” he said hastily. “I’m just a little out of it tonight.”

“I’d say so,” Alice agreed with a bitter laugh. “Freddie Leroy caught your eye, has she?”

Rosie flushed harder. He’d been so focused on listening into the conversation about Freddie, on keeping his eyes on her, he hadn’t thought to even attempt subtlety.

“Leroy,” he said, without meaning to say it. Her last name was Leroy.

Alice rolled her eyes. “Yes, Freddie Leroy. One of the wireless operators.” She shifted on her feet, agitated. “Anyway, what I was saying was…”

“Beer?” Millie was asking Freddie Leroy, inching her way closer to the bar towards where Rosie was standing.

“Lemonade,” Freddie corrected.

Rosie chuckled softly under his breath.

Millie scowled. “No.”

Suddenly, Freddie was frowning. It was so utterly precious Rosie’s heart ached, coiled tight, like a dish towel being wrung out within an inch of its life, its water pouring into the sink. “What do you mean, ‘no’?” Freddie asked.

“I mean ‘no’,” Millie answered steadily. “I’m not buying you lemonade.”

“Why not?!”

“You can have beer or you can have wine.”

“I’ll buy it myself, then.”

Alice had stopped talking when Rosie next looked down at her. She had an expectant look on her face, clearly waiting for a reply to whatever she’d been saying, and all Rosie could do was offer an apologetic smile. It wasn’t like him to be this rude but he was powerless to stop it. There was something about that girl, Freddie, that wouldn’t let him rest, not while she was in the same room as him, within looking and hearing distance, not while there was the potential that he might talk to her.

“Sorry,” Rosie said again, resting both of his hands on Alice’s shoulders and giving them a gentle, friendly squeeze. “Will you excuse me?”

Alice deflated, like she knew what was happening. “You’re not interested in me at all, are you?” she asked, upfront and matter-of-fact as ever.

Once more, Rosie’s answering smile was apologetic. “I think you’re great,” he told her, and meant it. “And I think you’re gonna be some guy’s dream.”

“But not yours,” Alice deduced.

Rosie gave her shoulders one more gentle squeeze. “But not mine,” he agreed.

Sighing, Alice shrugged. Rosie’s hands fell away from her. She gave him a tight, though not disingenuous, smile. “Go get her, then, I suppose. Good luck.”

Smiling, Rosie nodded. “Thanks.”

When Alice left, Millie was quick to step into the space she’d vacated, trying to find space at the bar. Rosie knew he would have to be quick if he wanted to buy Freddie her drink before Millie did, so he sought out a couple of lower ranking airmen and stepped in beside them, and they let him order before them without a second thought. He would have to remember their faces, he thought as he ordered, and buy them all a drink later in thanks.

By the time he had ordered and paid for the lemonade, Freddie had only moved a little bit. As Rosie came up behind her he caught the tail end of her conversation - which was, apparently, still about lemonade.

“Exactly,” Freddie was saying to Major Egan and Jem, “and hotshot wireless operators drink lemonade.”

“No,” Jem replied, laughing, “we don’t.”

If there was ever going to be a gap in the conversation, Rosie knew this was it. Mustering all the courage and all the confidence he had inside of him, he drew in a deep breath and held out the glass of lemonade towards her, then ventured, “Excuse me, ma’am.”

Freddie turned and her eyes landed on him, wide and curious, warm and beautiful. She had to tilt her head back a little bit to meet his eyes and the angle made the light spill over her perfectly, like an angel in a Renaissance painting. She was even more startlingly beautiful up close.

Rosie’s heart squeezed before it resumed its beating.

“Hi,” Freddie greeted softly in what was almost a chirp.

“Hi,” Rosie replied, almost dazed under her attention. He had to shake his head slightly to clear it and refocus. “I hope you don’t mind, ma’am, but I couldn’t help overhearing your conversation and I thought - well, here’s your lemonade.” He offered the glass to her again, blushing as he fumbled his words.

“Oh,” Freddie said, accepting the glass of lemonade from him. Her fingers were warm where they grazed lightly against his even though he’d been careful to try not to place his hand in a place which would force her to touch him. “Thank you,” she added shyly, politely.

Rosie smiled. His heart was racing, loud and insistent in his ears. “Nothing at all, ma’am.”

Freddie hesitated, her wide eyed gaze uncertain and almost a little bit panicked, like she had no idea what to do with herself, so Rosie took a step back. He didn’t want to force her into a conversation she didn’t want to have, didn’t want her to feel trapped, so he inclined his head in farewell first to her and then turned to Majors Egan and Cleven by the bar.

“I’m Freddie,” Freddie blurted suddenly, and he turned right back.

Her voice was high-pitched and hasty, like she’d only decided to speak at the very moment she’d started to. She was blushing, like she hated the sound.

Rosie could only grin, unspeakably endeared. “Nice to meet you, Freddie,” he answered, revelling in the first time he properly got to say her name aloud. “I’m Rosie.” Belatedly, he wondered whether he should have introduced himself using his first name but the thought disappeared when Freddie smiled shyly, gazing at him from beneath her eyelashes.

“Rosie,” she repeated. “That’s a sweet name.”

Rosie smiled wider, brightening under the compliment. His eyes were stuck on the reappearance of her dimples. “Thank you, ma’am,” he said, sure he was staring. “Comes from my last name - Rosenthal.”

Freddie nodded, then hastened to respond, “You don’t have to call me ‘ma’am’. Just Freddie is fine.” She shrugged one shoulder. “That’s how everyone knows me.”

“Alright,” Rosie conceded, trying not to smile too wide. “Freddie it is.”

He paused, searching desperately for something to say to keep her here for even a moment longer. He may as well have never had an interesting thought in his life. He could ask her about her German, about why she spoke it and whether she liked it, whether it caused her problems to speak a language so hated in England, but then he’d give away that he’d been eavesdropping. So maybe he could ask her about where she’d gone on leave. That seemed like a reasonable thing to reveal he knew about her, because he hadn’t seen her around before tonight.

“So, uh,” he began with a palpable degree of awkwardness. “They said you were on leave?”

“Yes,” Freddie confirmed, fiddling with the straw in her drink. “I went home for three days, to Oxford.”

Oxford. Rosie committed it to memory. Freddie Leroy, a German-speaking, lemonade-drinking wireless operator from Oxford.

“That must’ve been nice,” he told her. He hated how he suddenly had so very little to say. She must have thought he was so, so boring.

Mercifully, Freddie giggled, a sweet sound like the jingling of wind chimes. He could have melted. “Yes,” she replied again. “Yes, it was wonderful. Strange to be home, to be sure - I haven’t visited since Christmas - but it was especially lovely to see my dogs again. I don’t get any letters from them, see.”

Rosie chuckled lightly, nodding along with her, relieved at the release of the uncertainty. “Right,” he said. “They’re not big on writing letters, then?” Stupid joke, he chided himself, but inexplicably Freddie was grinning back at him.

“They’re dogs of few words,” she agreed with a short laugh.

“How many do you have?” he questioned next.

“Dogs?” Freddie wondered. “Two. The big one’s Bruno and the little one’s Earnie, both boys. A German Shepherd and a Westie.” Her eyes were all lit up, fond and excited, as she spoke about them, clearly imagining them in her mind’s eye.

Rosie was beaming at her. “What are they like?”

Freddie’s eyes glinted. “Trouble.”

“I always wanted a dog,” Rosie confided in her, even though it wasn’t entirely true. He had nothing against dogs and actually quite liked them, but he also hadn’t ever actually been truly interested in owning one - but he desperately wanted her to like him and she clearly adored her dogs, so it seemed a good place to start. “But where I’m from, in Brooklyn, we always lived in an apartment. No pets allowed.”

Freddie gasped. “That’s tragic.”

Rosie grinned. “I know. Someone oughta fix that rule.”

Freddie sipped on her lemonade, nodding, and her eyes found the floor.

Rosie took the opportunity to watch her, tapping his fingers against his glass of beer. She was so beautiful and she so clearly didn’t even know it. Even just looking at her made him feel like he was being bathed in sunlight.

Rosie opened his mouth to say something more - desperate to say something, anything, really, that might get her to smile again. Those dimples of hers - if he hadn’t signed up to go to war already he knew he would’ve enlisted just on their behalf. But whatever he was about to say never made it out. It was for the best, probably, since he couldn’t guarantee it wouldn’t have been something incredibly forward, some grand statement about her startling prettiness which she was bound to have heard a million times before.

Instead, he was swiftly cut off by Millie, returning from the bar with a pint of beer in each hand. “Fred, I got your beer, and you are going to like it, god damn it, even if I have to pour it down your throat myself.”

Freddie flushed and turned to Millie.

Rosie forced himself to turn to her too.

“Oh,” Freddie said. “I have lemonade,” she added after a beat.

Millie laughed, her eyes flicking between Freddie and Rosie. She looked absolutely made up about catching them together. “Is that right?” she teased. “And who do I have to blame for it?”

Rosie shared a secret smile with Millie and, in the answering, subtle shift of her shoulders which betrayed her silent laugh, he knew she’d received everything he’d been trying to communicate to her; that she’d been right, and he was nothing short of utterly infatuated with her best friend. “That would be me, ma’am,” he told her.

“Rosie,” Millie replied with a tut. “Now why would you do that? You’ll only encourage her!”

Rosie shook his head, chuckling under his breath. “I just figured war heroes should get to choose what they have to drink,” he answered, playing along, “otherwise what’s the point of being one?”

Millie laughed along with Rosie’s joke and neither of them noticed the soft exchange taking place right beside them between Freddie and Benny DeMarco. And, when they did, it was too late; Freddie was already on her way over to the Siberian husky Rosie had been informed in passing was DeMarco’s dog where he was lying beneath a chair at a vacant table. She lowered herself to the ground beside him and curled her fingers into the hair around the scruff of his neck, bowing her head towards his as she began to speak to him.

Rosie’s heart clenched once more - seized up, like a kettle about to whistle. With locks of soft, dark hair falling into her face and her eyelashes sweeping her cheeks as she looked down into the dog’s face, she could have been some kind of goddess bestowing wisdom and goodness onto her earthly subjects.

Rosie wasn’t sure where he’d gone wrong. He’d actually thought the whole affair had been going a hell of a lot better than he’d predicted. But maybe he’d been silly to believe a girl like her might give him the time of day, naïve and optimistic. He didn’t tend to struggle with getting female attention, no, but she wasn’t just any girl.

His eyes sought Millie’s and she smiled sadly at him, shaking her head. “It wasn’t anything you said,” she reassured him, “or anything you did. You just need to be patient with our Fred.”

Patient. He could do that. He could be as patient as she needed him to be if it meant there was hope.

There was a conversation about Freddie continuing around him but Rosie paid it no mind. Instead, of their own accord his eyes found their way over to her again where she was still talking to the dog while she pet him. And something inside him coiled tight, an elastic band the instant before it was either let go or snapped. You, he thought, gazing across the room at her, you, you, you. He hadn’t been looking but he’d found her anyway, found it anyway.

He really had always known.

Suddenly, inexplicably, and largely against his will, Rosie started to smile.

Sorry, mom, he imagined himself writing in his next correspondence home, remember when I said I wouldn’t fall in love with a British girl?

Oops.