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rjalker · 1 year ago

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Welp, since the OP turned off reblogs on the original post:

My original reblog:

Okay, I know RTD has fucked all of this up by using the words "male-presenting" in this way, but male-presenting is NOT a synonym for "looks like a man" or "wear's men's clothing".

Saying that butches could be considered male-presenting is just. flat out wrong. That is not what these terms mean.

You can IDENTIFY yourself as male-presenting or female-presenting. You cannot assign those terms to anyone else, which is one of the major things RTD did wring with this scene!

No one asked the Doctor how hea identifies, everyone just went "well you're played by David Tennant now so you look like a man so that means you're purposefully presenting yourself to the world as male" and that's not how this works! At all!

Trans women not being out or able to socially transition doesn't mean they're male-presenting.

"male-presenting" is not a synonym for "looks like a man" or "assigned male at birth" or "wears mens clothes".

It is not something you get to assign other people, it is strictly a self-identification term, saying that you are choosing to present yourself as male, or masculine, or whatever descriptor is being used.

And I'm not even going to bother getting into the whole "the Doctor was a woman (because Jodie Whittaker had the role) five minutes ago" because again, that's literally not how gender works. Looking like a woman because a woman is playing the character does not equal "the character is a woman now" when it's just been established in this episode that the Doctor is nonbinary.

You can, and should, point out the biological and gender essentialism in this scene. But you shouldn't be ignoring the fact that the Doctor is being misgendered by being assigned male-presenting by people who have not asked, and are literally just deciding that for themselves because they think the Doctor looks like a man.

Do not use "x-presenting" language for other people --including fictional characters, which as we can all see from the fallout from this scene makes people think they can do this to real people-- unless it's something that person self-identifies as.

Calling anyone "male-presenting" or "masculine-presenting" or "female-presenting" or "feminine-presenting" without them first telling you that's how they identify is literally just misgendering people but pretending to be progressive about it.

Which is the most fucking damaging impact of this scene. And I'm getting really tired of having to explain this over and over again when people have been talking about why these terms are not okay to assign to other people for years now. Russel T Davies just came along and fucked it all up by making people think this kind of misgendering is okay when it's not even remotely.

= = =

@daily-sloop-john-b:

Okay, I'm —ing confused.

@rjalkers-polls can you please send me where you're pulling the "presenting" definition from?

And what's the word(s) for referring to that outside shell to which onlookers ascribe a gender?

No animosity meant at all; you seem to have a very specific idea of it's usage, and I'm curious what community it comes from.

= = =

Me:

this isn't a definition you're going to find in any dictionary, because it's not an "official" thing in any way, it's what many trans and nonbinary people have been talking about over the years.

I can link some posts of people talking about it if that'll help.

in no particular order:

4 days ago

September 2023

June 2019

2 days ago

November 2021

December 2021

And there's a whole lot more on my blog but tumblr doesn't want to let me find them at the moment, mostly because I didn't think to create a tag specifically for it.

Try searching any of the variations on tumblr or google.

Before November 25th 2023 you'll find a mix of people using them as self-descriptors, people talking about how it's misgendering to be called it without permission, and a few people assigning them to other people thinking it's okay.

And now after November 25th 2023 you'll see a massive surge in people throwing these terms around willy-nilly in the most absurd and bigoted ways.

The proper way to describe people without assuming and assigning gender to them is to describe them in factual statements. Are they tall? Short? Fat? Thin? Long hair? Short hair? Big chest? medium chest? Flat chest? Light skin? Dark skin? Round face? Angular face? Eye color, ect.

And if you know someone's gender, you can call them by that. A man, a woman, a nonbinary person, an enby, ect. At no point is it necessary or okay to describe them as "x-presenting", because as I say above, that's taking your internal bias and saying it's something they're doing on purpose.

If someone calls me female-presenting because they think I look like a woman, that's misgendering. I'm not presenting myself as female, I'm literally just existing in a body that happens to have boobs, through no fault or choice of my own.

= = =

@walks-the-ages:

Here's a post I reblogged nine years ago that captures the essence of why using “x-presenting” language is misgendering; you’ll notice that the post makes no mention of x-presenting language, because that only really started popping up in the last…. hmm, maybe three or four years? It became a popular way to describe someone whose gender you didn’t know, but was thankfully shot down pretty quick when trans and nonbinary people pointed out this is just a new way of misgendering someone but trying to sound progressive, by looking at someone’s appearance and assuming that what you think they look like (aka, like a man, or like a woman, or androgynous) “must be!” what gender they are.

[ID: a text post by user Viciere, posted October 31st 2014, that reads: “if somebody wears a dress and copious amounts of makeup and has ass-length pink hair and they say they are a boy you call them a boy gender stereotypes are not an excuse for misgendering someone it doesnt matter what gender you think they “look” like. respect the gender they ARE.” End ID]

If you look at the tags and replies of many of the posts made about the “male presenting” line in the Star Beast, you will find countless, countless trans, nonbinary, and even cis people expressing how they have personally been misgendered by people referring to them as ‘x-presenting’ based purely on their clothes or their physical appearance, which is especially hurtful to trans and nonbinary people who already suffer from negative body image and body dysphoria, especially if they can’t afford or physically cannot safely get top or bottom surgery, wear a packer, or padded bra, or even safely wear a binder.

TL;DR: “X-presenting” language should only be used as a self-identifier, or exclusively for those who have given you express permission to refer to them as such. Using “x-presenting” language for someone you don’t know is the same as misgendering– if you don’t know someone’s gender, just ask :)

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savemewattpad · 1 year ago

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Leila Whittaker

Aliases: Snow White, Sobaka, Laika Other Names: Leila Winchester (Wicked and Divine) Faceclaims: Eiza Gonzalez (default), Jenna Ortega (younger Eiza), Emeraude Toubia (untitled XMCU verse), Talia Al Ghul (comics) Previous Faceclaims: Nina Dobrev, Inbar Lavi, Medalion Rahimi, Hande Ercel, Melisa Asli Pamuk Fandoms: Marvel (various), Supernatural, Grishaverse

Verses

Mirror, Mirror: MCU. Leila's original verse. Leila is a former crimelord with the ability to copy other’s superpowers. She’s recruited to SHIELD (or rather coerced into joining), joins STRIKE team Delta, and eventually becomes an Avenger. Read Here.

Main Ship: Steve Rogers Minor Ships: Brock Rumlow, Natasha Romanoff, Aiden Hendrix, Wes Barton, Seth Lennox, Matt Murdock, Seol Hee

Beyond Seven Stars: Marvel (MCU, TASM, X-Men (XMCU inspired), various other Marvel), + National Treasure Crossover. Similar to Mirror, Mirror, but with a backstory more tied up in X-Men lore. Read Here.

Main Ship: Steve Rogers Minor Ships: Seth Lennox, possibly others

Wicked and Divine: MCU + Supernatural Crossover. Leila is Sam and Dean’s half-sister. John and Dean rescued her from a cult when she was thirteen and raised her until she joined SHIELD at nineteen. She becomes an Avenger and then helps her brothers find their father. And then her brothers help the Avengers stop Thanos, and then the Avengers help the Winchesters stop an angelic apocalypse. Read Here.

Main Ship: Steve Rogers Minor Ships: Aiden Hendrix

Gods and Monsters: Marvel + Grishaverse Crossover. Description here. Leila is the foster sibling of Grant Ward, after he was put in the system by his family and she was rescued from the cult compound.

Main Ship: Steve Rogers Minor Ships: None

Snow on the Beach: MCU. Takes place after the snap. Steve got snapped and Leila was left a social outcast for her (nonconsensual) role in the snap. Three years later, she comes back for one last mission and is made to work with Scott Lang. Read Here.

Main Ship: Scott Lang (sequel features Scott/Leila/Steve end game) Minor Ships: Steve (past)

Unnamed (Other) Scott Murdock AU: Marvel. Leila leaves the Trust before Johnny's murder attempt, and falls in with Scott Lang's band of thieves instead.

Main Ships: Scott Lang, Steve Rogers (OT3)

Unnamed XMCU Verse: Marvel (XMCU, possibly comic elements.) Leila is part of the Brotherhood of Mutants until she joins Xavier, less out of moral conviction and more out of emotional exhaustion.

Main Ships: Pietro Maximoff, Steve Rogers (possibly)

Unnamed X-Men Evolution Verse: Marvel (X-Men Evolution.) Leila is part of the brotherhood, and enjoys flirting with Cyclops to annoy him. Likely the same universe as Jace's Evo fic.

Main Ships: None (unless I again choose to expand it and include Steve in a future-set plotline).

Untitled Comics Verse: Marvel Comics. It's comics. I can't sum it up here. Ask about it if you want.

Main Ships: Steve Rogers Minor Ships: Pietro Maximoff, Scott Lang

So Close: MCU. Sex Pollen AU of Mirror, Mirror. An old Hydra bunker forces Leila and Steve to work out their issues. Read Here.

Main Ship: Steve Rogers Minor Ships: Brock Rumlow (mentioned only, unless I continue the fic with a part 2)

Call It What You Want: MCU. After her falling out with Steve, Leila is assigned by SHIELD to babysit a depowered Loki.

Main Ships: Steve Rogers, Loki (platonic)

Invisible String: MCU. Soulmate AU. Leila's soul mark was burned off as a child, but Steve Rogers' mark looks an awful lot like she remembers hers. She keeps this to herself, until she doesn't.

Main Ship: Steve Rogers

You Should See Me In A Crown: Riverdale. Leila is the leader of the ghoulies, who have to team up with the serpents against Hiram Lodge. Leila's role in this verse is largely abandoned, unless I turn it into a Marvel crossover.

Main Ship: None Minor Ships: FP Jones

Unnamed Reboot AU: Marvel AU. Leila is an ex-child actor who starred in the iconic teen sitcom The Avengers. When the network decides to reboot the series, Leila--now a music producer living a non-public life--decides to sign on, for...some reason that I'm still figuring out.

Main Ship: Steve Rogers Minor Ships: Tony Stark (past, currently platonic)

Playlist | Pinterest | Mirror, Mirror Blog | Tag | Full Navigation (Under Construction)

#oc masterlist #oc; leila whittaker

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myglassesareinkansas · 2 years ago

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About Me

Name: Call me Joy

AO3: Here or Old Account

Active Fandoms: Open Heart (Pixelberry Choices), Princess Diaries, Left Behind, Ted Lasso, Schitt's Creek

Inactive Fandoms (Could be Resurrected): MCU, Irondad, Psych, B99, Parks & Rec, Castle, Adventures in Odyssey, M*A*S*H, New Girl

Blurb: I just graduated college, and I'll be starting grad school in the fall. I'm a history student, so along with fandom, you might see me reblog or post about historical figures or major events happening in academia or in public history. If you're a history student as well and have questions about French history or public history (or oral history — my all-time favorite), please send me something in my inbox! I also love and miss writing for fun, so I will have my ask open for any requests (please be mindful of active or inactive fandom list — I won't write something I'm unfamiliar with).

Current Ships (Romantic / Familial / Platonic):

Mia Thermopolis x Nicholas Devereaux

Bryce Lahela x F!MC

Judd Thompson Jr. x Vicki Byrne

Mark Eisman x Vicki Byrne

Ted Mullins x Alexis Rose

Jason Whittaker x Connie Kendall

Henry Spencer x Maddy Spencer

Shawn Spencer x Trish Connors

Guster OC x Spencer OC

Hawkeye Pierce x Margaret Houlihan

Bryce Lahela & F!MC

[any Left Behind characters]

[any platonic Ted Lasso dynamic]

Irondad

Clint Barton & Kate Bishop

Henry Spencer & Shawn Spencer

Javier Esposito & Kevin Ryan

Jason Whittaker & Connie Kendall

John Avery Whittaker & Connie Kendall

BJ Hunnicutt & Margaret Houlihan

Hawkeye Pierce & Charles Emerson Winchester III

#about me #pinned post #ask me anons #my fandoms

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the-blind-assassin-12 · 4 years ago

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Let’s Face the Music & Dance

Part One: There May be Trouble Ahead

A/N: Alright. Here. We. Go. Got your dancin’ shoes? John is makin’ moves. (Quote in bold taken from Much Ado About Nothing)

*read the intro here*

Warning: um... narrowly avoided vehicular manslaughter?

Word Count: 3,492

The air rushed past his face chilling the skin of his cheeks beneath the leather trimmed goggles that he wore as he sped down the open country roads. His carefully slicked back hair had blown free only a few kilometers into the trip, loose strands trailing down and back over his ears. I can’t believe that… He tightened his grasp on the handles, pushing the limit on the speed as he pushed the thought from his mind. The truth was that he could believe, he did believe that his mother thought so little of him. She’d made it quite clear where she placed blame and where she placed expectations. And the former far outweighs the latter, so… He sniffed, his nose red from the cold air and from the way Veronica’s cold comments stung at his eyes. So this is how it has to be.

He hadn’t planned to make the trip down to Oxford all in one go, nor had he planned to leave home that day. But I couldn’t stay, not after… Trees blurred into countryside, rolling hills and pastures full of sheep flying by as John left everything he knew behind him in hopes that he could make something new of himself; something successful and worthy of rehabilitating the Whittaker name. Worthy of showing everyone that they were wrong about me. He tucked away as much of the hurt that his mother’s words and decisions had caused him as he could, stuffing it into the emptiness that the dissolution of his marriage had left him feeling. It won’t do any good to dwell...to continue to...to wallow.

After Larita and his father absconded from the estate in a flurry of shattered statuary and broken hearts, John hadn’t come down from his room for nearly a week. He’d quickly realized that while he did love her, and he was sure that she had loved him- at least while we were together in Monaco- the two were about as unlikely to last as ice cream on an August afternoon. There were too many differences, too many areas of their lives that were complete and utter mismatches. But still, the fact that he’d taken her hand and taken the leap only to end up on the ground alone was… lonely, I felt...I felt alone. He’d thought that being married, having a wife, being her husband, would mean that he’d never have to feel that way, and certainly not so soon after taking that leap did he expect to crash. It wasn’t that he missed Larita. It was that he felt as though he had failed himself by grabbing the wrong hand.

But shortly after he’d realized that it wasn’t her absence that was causing the ache in his chest but the connotations of that absence, John started to come back to himself. His mother, it seemed, had already gotten past the pain of her own crash, likely before she’d even hit the ground, and he was hurt all over again by the fact that he was alone in feeling alone. The truth, as he’d learned, was that not only had Veronica made peace with the fact that her marriage hadn’t been what it once was for a very long time, she’d also made peace with selling even more of their property to a banker named Harold Roberts, and marrying Hilda off to his son Walter. It was an attempt to keep what little they had left, but it was an attempt that excluded John completely. While Marion seemed content to be overlooked, believing, as Veronica had always said, that marriage would never be the route that she went down, John on the other hand, felt as though the rug had been pulled from beneath him.

It was no use fighting with his mother once she made her calculating mind up, though, and so he chose to go on with his plan regardless of the other that was hatching. Phillip Hurst, in his own attempt to try to make something meaningful of his life, had decided to attend Oxford University, and John had decided to join him. He wasn’t quite sure what he’d study, or where it might take him, but he knew that it was a much better plan than waiting around to make another dangerous leap. He spent the rest of the trip from Nottinghamshire ruminating on what courses he might take, on what knowledge he might gain. Phillip had chosen to study Literature, which to John made sense, as his friend had always had a flair for the dramatics, but sitting still and reading for hours on end was not something that John could see for himself. Still, Phillip had been supportive of John’s choice to enroll in University, quoting Shakespeare in a telegram that John supposed was meant to be comforting. “Everyone can master grief but he that has it… so leave it behind and join me!”

Four hours since leaving the home he wasn’t sure he’d ever get to call his again, John Whittaker arrived in Oxford, England. He pushed the goggles up onto his forehead to get a better view of the city and of the buildings that constituted the University. Feeling better, if only for the moment, he took a deep breath and allowed himself to feel hope for the first time since he watched his wife and father exit his life. This is… I’m really…

But before he could fully enjoy the feeling or the moment, a young woman was shouting as she leapt out of the way of his bike. Taking his eyes off the road to appreciate his new situation had caused him to veer slightly off course, sending him careening towards the walkways. Oh! Quickly turning the handles, he narrowly avoided crashing into the woman, though he hadn’t avoided the bush right beside her, ending up halfway into the greenery before he could stop. Right. Well. I’m here.

“Would you watch where you are going? You nearly knocked me over there with your carelessness! Who even…” You’d dropped your books when you’d had to jump from his path, your skirt twisting around and your top askew.

What? I...Oh, I… “I’m sorry, I’m so…” He pulled the motorbike out of the bush and bent down to pick up one of your dropped texts, handing it back to you as a page fluttered out onto the ground. “Are you alri-” You snatched it back from him with one hand, the other pulling at your clothing to fix it back into place.

“No, I am not alright! As I said, sir-”

“It’s John, actually, John Whittaker, and I’m very-”

“As I said, John, you nearly knocked me over with your,” you gestured at his motorbike with the book, “your ridiculous cycle here, and I-”

“But you aren’t hurt, are you?” He asked as he stepped towards you, the sincerity in his eyes clearer than the embarrassment. He looked you over quickly scanning your elbows, your face, the small amount of skin that was visible beneath the hem of your skirt. She’s not bleeding, I don’t see any-

You blew out a breath in a huff and shook your head. “No, I’m not hurt, but you should… You need to be more cautious.”

Nodding profusely, he agreed. “You’re right, I should be more careful, it was foolish of me not to pay more attention.” You seemed to be expecting him to disagree and were caught off guard by the lack of fight he put up, your sharp eyes softening the smallest amount. “Can I… do you need any help or… can I walk you to wherever it is you were going?” The soft look vanished as one eyebrow shot up, but before you could open your mouth to protest his forwardness, he continued. “I don’t mean to be forward, I only want to make sure that you’re truly not hurt. It seems the least that I can do after, well after,” he tilted his head towards the motorbike, a broken branch of leaves sticking in the spokes of the front wheel. “After I almost ran you down, Miss..?”

You narrowed your eyes at him as you tried to decide what his intentions might be. I only want to make sure that I don’t leave my mark on your life like I do everywhere I go. Blowing out another breath through your nose as you fixed your sleeve, you told him your name, which he repeated in his mind immediately, not ignoring the fact that he liked the way it sounded. No, don’t start that now, that’s not why you’re here. “Um… no, I, er…” you nodded curtly. “I’m alright, John, and I need to be going now or I’ll be late to my study group. Just...just be more careful, and keep your tires on the road, will you?” With that, you turned and kept walking down the path you’d been on before he’d disrupted your day.

“Excellent first impression on Oxford, Whittaker!” Phillip’s voice called from across the street, and John turned to see his friend ambling towards him with a laugh lifting his cheeks and lighting his face. “If you’re done running down students, why don’t you pull that heap of rubbish out of that bush and follow me, I’ll show you to the dormitories.

.. .. .. .. .. .. ..

A few days after moving into the dormitory hall, John decided to use the last remaining days before formal instruction began to familiarize himself with his new surroundings, striding out into the early autumn sunshine and strolling the paths. Not two minutes into his walk, he found you, walking the same path he’d run his vehicle up onto the day before. What are the odds? Wanting to ensure that you were still alright after what had happened, he crossed the road, waving one arm as he called your name.

You turned, an unsure look on your face as your name hit your ear that vanished the second you saw him, replaced with a slightly exasperated expression. “Oh, it’s you, the motorbike man.”

The motorbike man? He shook his head. Not important. “H-how are you? Are you still...are you alright?” He blinked as he looked you over, suddenly aware of the way that you were looking at him. Oh, she’s…

“Yes, I’m alright.” You raised one hand towards the road. “No one has tried to run me down yet today, and since you’re here and your cycle is not, I presume that I’m safe. For now.” You nodded. “Now, If you’ll excuse me, I do have an appointment with my advisor and so-”

Oh! She’s a student? She- “So you… you study here then? You’re a student?” John’s eyes flicked from your face to the imposing structure that you were walking towards, its chimneys looming above the brick building.

“Well aren’t you brilliant?” Your teasing answer came from the corner of your lips as you continued to walk along as though John wasn’t trying to have a conversation with you.

Brilliant? That’s the last- “Brilliant? Oh, no, I think that-”

“No?” Turning to face him, you brushed your hair back behind your ear, and John couldn’t help but notice the way that the skin at the corner of your eye scrunched as you looked over at him. “You aren’t brilliant then?”

Not if you ask- “Well, not if you ask-”

Cutting him off, you adjusted the small stack of books that you were carrying. “I’m asking you, Jack, is it?”

“It’s,” he gestured to himself. “It’s John, actually.”

“Yes,” you winked at him. “That’s right. John. John Whittaker.” Yes, that’s me, she remem- “John Whittaker, the man who nearly knocked me off my feet with his motorbike just the other day.” You’d stopped walking, pausing at the corner to wait for a baker’s delivery truck to trundle slowly through the intersection.

The smell of still warm, freshly baked loaves wafted through the air, reminding John that it had been nearly a full day since he’d eaten anything. His empty stomach rumbled loudly to confirm that, par for the course, nothing since he’d left home the previous day had gone as he had hoped it might. The echo of his mother’s words tumbled in his ear, but he shook his head to empty it, returning his attention to you. “That was...well it was…” The truck passed through the intersection, turning a corner, and you promptly began crossing the road. He stepped off of the curb, crossing just behind you. A cool breeze swept some leaves about your feet and ruffled the hem of your skirt, adding to the clipped click of your heels on the hard road. The image of you sprawled across the street, books strewn about and your elbows scraped flashed quickly through his mind, but he blinked it away. That’s not what happened, only what could have happened. A small frown pulled his lips downward as he thought about the trouble he’d almost caused with his carelessness. Catching up to you, he stepped onto the sidewalk at the same instant that you did, speaking your name with such earnest apology in his tone that you actually faced him with a hint of sympathy in your eyes. “I’m sorry. What happened yesterday was boorish of me and, well, well I only wanted to say that I’m glad that you weren’t hurt. And if there’s anything that-”

“John.” You pressed your rouged lips together before letting them slide into a slight smile. It wasn’t a joyous expression, or one of surprised excitement, but it changed the light in your eyes, softened the hard outer shell that he suspected was necessary as a female student at Oxford. He wasn’t prepared, though, for the way that it felt to hear you speak his name and know that after it had left your lips, they curved into that small smile. A small breath escaped his lungs, and suddenly he felt much warmer than the autumn temperature should allow. “I was only teasing you. I know you didn’t mean to barrel through that crosswalk on that...thing of yours.” A short burst of air from your nose served as an amused little laugh and you shook your head, John watching as your lips curved upwards a little more. “You have nothing to apologize for.” You held up one finger, shifting your books in your arms. “Yet.” The smile turned smirkish as you turned and continued walking.

Instantly, the phantom guilt from what almost happened dissipated, and where he first felt uncertainty about where he stood with you, he was invigorated with new hope. For what? I’m not… I didn’t come all this way just to… It was even hard to think it, but he forced himself to, if for no other reason than that he deserved to give himself a fair chance at this endeavor, and not allow himself to fall quickly into something that would derail that chance. I didn’t come all this way just to replace Lari. Having passed, the thought that seemed difficult proved itself to be unnecessary as he realized that even though he’d not known you more than a collective twenty minutes, you were nothing like his ex-wife. “Well, I hope to continue that streak of having no need for apologies then.”

“Is that so?” He nodded. “To what end?”

“To what..? To what end? Well, to the end of…” Think, Whittaker, and fast. “Well perhaps to the end of studying together some time.” It sounded like a suggestion or a line and he knew it thought it truly wasn’t, but luckily your temporary suspension of teasing remained in place.

“You want to study with me, John?” You raised an eyebrow as you began walking again.

“Well, yes. I mean, that is to say, if you don’t-”

“Do you even have any idea what courses I am here to study?” The smirk still hadn’t left your face and he was beginning to forget the way your tight frown looked in favor of this more relaxed demeanor. “Do you even have any idea of what courses you’re here to study?”

“Well, of course I know what I’m here to study,” he answered quickly without actually answering. He confidently imagined you seated at a piano, and could almost hear the comments you would make on The Mona Lisa. Yes, Arts & Music, I’m almost certain. “And if I were to guess, I’d say that you are enrolled in the-”

“Philosophy, actually,” you tossed your correction of his assumption over your shoulder, where it bounced with your curls and hit him smack in the face. His eyes grew even wider, mouth dropping open as yours scrunched to the side in a failed attempt to contain your burst of laughter. “Not at all what you were expecting, I presume.”

John quickly shook his head, closing his gaping mouth and hurrying toward the sign post, grabbing onto it and swinging himself around so that he was next to you once more. “Not, not what I was expecting.” He pushed the loose strands of hair that had fallen in front of his face back over the crown of his head. “It's only that,” letting go of the sign post, he stuck both hands in his pockets and focused on keeping stride with you down the sidewalk. Since I can’t seem to keep stride with the conversation.

You turned, raising one eyebrow and tilting your chin. “It’s only that?” Pausing long enough to make him sweat but not long enough to let him answer, you continued. “It’s only that women don’t-” What? No, I… “It’s only that we should only be allowed to study certain-“

Once again, John scrambled ahead of you, his head shaking furiously from side to side. “No.” He gestured with his hands, crossing them in front of his body before sweeping them out to his sides, and while you had let out an exasperated breath, your eyes rolling as you did, he was glad to see the hint of a smile pulling at your lips again. That’s a relief. Come now, don’t mess it all up, John. “It’s only that Philosophy… well it sounds so,” Your smile turned slightly more amused as it climbed up into your cheeks as you started walking again. John followed closely at your heels. “Well It’s only that Philosophy sounds so dull.” He could tell that it was the wrong thing to say, yet nonetheless there the words hung in the crisp air.

But before he could worry that he’d offended you yet again, you laughed, the sound light and clear. “Dull?” You asked, “tell me, sir,” it’s John, you know my name is J- “What is dull about learning how to think intelligently about the world in which we live?”

I hadn’t thought of it that way. “I only meant-“ that you aren’t dull...you aren’t dull at all and-

“You only meant that-“

“I only meant,” John stepped around in front of you again, standing directly in your path. “That you don’t seem to be the type of person who likes to be told how to think.”

You regarded him for a few seconds longer than you had yet to, and he could feel your eyes weighing his. “That is the first correct assumption that you’ve made about me so far, John Whittaker, and it is precisely why I choose to study the classics, the great thinkers.” John cocked his head to the side, brow wrinkling questioningly, not quite following your reasoning. “I want to know how others have looked at the world, so that I can look and form my own opinions. I want to…” You blew out a breath, shaking your head and finally breaking eye contact to stare at the buckle of your shoe as you scuffed the sole across the cobbled walkway.

“You want to...what?” He dipped his chin to find your eyes again, bringing them back up with his own.

“I,” But the rest of your sentence was drowned out by the tolling of enormous bells, announcing the hour. You gave a startled gasp, eyes widening. “I have to go, John or I’ll be late to meet with my advisor.” Chewing your lip, you hesitated before spinning away from him. “If you…” If I? You inhaled quickly and finished the rest with that breath. “If you’d really like to study together, meet me in the library tomorrow at two o’clock.” John felt his whole face lift as he nodded. “And John?” You started walking backwards, still looking at him but heading towards the building that he presumed your meeting was in.

“Yes?”

“Don’t be late.” With that, you shook your head and laughed quietly, turning and picking up your pace, steps widening and quickening almost into a run. He stood on the cobbled pathway, students and other pedestrians milling about that he hadn’t noticed before, and watched as you disappeared through the brick archway. I won’t be.

Please let me know if you would like to be added or removed from the taglist for this story, and as always, THANK YOU for reading!

@something-tofightfor @its-my-little-dumpster-fire @malionnes @gollyderek @suchatinyinfinity @fific7 @alraedesigns @pheedraws @valkblue @commanderlola @thesumofmychoices

#let's face the music & dance #john whittaker #john whittaker easy virtue #easy virtue fic #john whittaker x reader #john whittaker x you #there may be trouble ahead #(there will be.)#john takes on oxford #look out world #no really LOOK OUT #here he comes #much ado about nothing

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something-tofightfor · 5 years ago

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Love Letters #13

From: @the-blind-assassin-12 and John Whittaker

To: @something-tofightfor

(This one is a little different because it felt strange to write myself a love letter)

Full text:

Darling -

This is technically two letters in one, but I thought that you needed to see the first, too. I found it in the attic, from when Mother had my old things packed and stored. You may still doubt me and the way that I feel sometimes, but I hope this puts those feelings to rest. Come find me when you finish reading this - I’ll be in the greenhouse.

All my love,

John

A trade? A trade as friends? If you only knew… I’ve half a mind to come back to your property and tell you exactly what I think… but I won’t. Instead, I’ll write it here as if I’m Hilda or Marion writing in their diary. I can’t deny you a trade - you know that, and took advantage of it, even though…even though I know damn well you didn’t do it on purpose, why did it have to be THAT? A kiss - your first and mine - and then nothing more, neither of us ever speaking of it again.

We’ve been friends for years now, and things have changed - I feel it and I’m sure you do too, but your mother’s plans and my mother’s plans leave little room for us to stray, don’t they? But… friends? Is that what we are? What we’ll stay? Apparently. You’ll go and meet that cad, and I’ll… You’ll charm him, as you’ve charmed everyone you’ve met, and while any marriage wouldn’t happen for a while, our friendship will wane as you ease into your new life. We always thought it would be me that left you behind, but it’s the opposite.

What about me? What about us? As far as first kisses go, the only redeeming thing about that was that it was with you. I apologize for running, and it doesn’t matter because you won’t ever see this, but you need to know that it wasn’t because I was angry with you. I’m angry at myself for those two miserable excuses for… I could have done better. I should have done better.

I will do better, next time, with you. It won’t be our first kiss, but the next? I’ll make sure it counts.

#valentine's day event #valentine love letters 2k20 event #writing #john whittaker #john whittaker x reader #john whittaker x you #john whittaker x mrs whitt #john whittaker x rachael #john whittaker x something-tofightfor #JOHN WHITTAKER X ME #thanks for participating!#in case it wasnt clear the second part is from John's teenage journal #from right after he and the real mrs whitt traded their first kisses #long long ago #THANK YOU ALYSSA

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lostcosmos · 3 years ago

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Doctor Who Flux | The Vanquishers

#doctor who #dwedit #dwgifs #thirteenth doctor #yasmin khan #dan lewis #thirteen x yaz #thasmin #doctor who spoilers #mandip gill #jodie whittaker #john bishop #thirteen #own gifs #not the way yaz tried to downplay how its been years :(( like bb we know you were struggling

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kinglivv · 3 years ago

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WWTDD?

13th Doctor x Reader

Summary: A brief moment at the British Hotel, the night between the last battle and the next.

Warnings: None

A/N: This is a short one, but I wasn't in the mood for anything action packed. This just felt like a nice moment in the midst of the chaos :)

When you finally catch her alone, it's outside the British Hotel. It's raining slightly, the kind of rain where you can't tell if you'll need an umbrella or not, and the moon's peaking through the clouds, casting a sad glow over the land. The wind is cool, but not cold, and her coat flaps around her legs, the only part of her in motion. She's leaning against the wooden hut, arms hugging herself, eyes closed against the moonlight. She's thinking.

"Hey."

"Hey." She replies quietly.

It's completely silent, which is surprising for a war zone. You kept expecting Sontarans to come ploughing over the hill at any moment.

"How are you?" You ask. It wasn't a question you asked normally, but it felt like the only thing to say.

"Dandy," she says, eyes opening, accent unusually thick. "There's a universe ending Flux just outside Earth's atmosphere, Sontaran's rewriting history, an army general who won't listen to me and Yaz and Dan are gone."

You sigh and come to stand next to her, shoulder to shoulder and head thunking against the wood.

"I've tried texting Yaz. Not hearing anything," you hope it offers something useful.

"Unsurprisingly."

"She'll be fine."

"How do you know?"

"She literally has "What would the Doctor do?" written on her hand."

"What would the Doctor do?"

"Not whatever this is," you snort and step in front of her, hands coming to her arms and easing them away from her tense body. You wrap them around your waist and push a hand into her wavy hair.

"She'd take one day at a time." You tell her, "She'd deal with what's happening now, in this moment, just like she always has. Trust in the universe."

"The universe that's currently being eaten?"

She's gazing up at you, and even in the dark you can see her eyes sparkling.

"Travel hopefully - the universe will surprise you. You've said it yourself."

She leans in to capture your lips. A soft, deep kiss, the type you haven't had time for lately. She drags you in, clinging to you like you might disappear too, a desperate whine building in her throat. She's needed this, you realise - this contact, this grounding, after probably the most stressful two days of your lives. Or was it one day? You couldn't tell.

"We're going to be fine," you afirm breathlessly, before going in for another kiss. You can feel the tension leaking off her shoulders and being used like fuel for the spark between you. "There's always a way out."

There's a trickle of doubt in the Doctor's mind as she hears your words, but she pulls you closer and carries on kissing you anyway.

Taglist:@truthbehindthemysteries @queerconfusionthings @xenteaart @actuallyanita @ateliefloresdaprimavera @persephonehemingway @fabulous-jj-style @anteroom-of-death @thewinterpoet2

#doctor who #13th doctor #series 13 #dw spoilers #mandip gill #thirteenth doctor #doctor who: flux #jodie whittaker #13 #dan lewis #john bishop #13th doctor x reader #13 x reader #thirteenth doctor x reader #13 x you #13th doctor x you #jodie whittaker x reader #jodie whittaker x you

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aenslem · 5 years ago

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take me with you take me with you

#dwedit #doctor who #bbelcher #userstream #tvedit #doctor x master #timelordgifs #jodie whittaker #sacha dhawan #david tennant #john simm #not tagging hands :D #sd*#mine*#my soul is so afraid to realize how very little there is left of me and I want you #huh

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casmybelovedass · 5 years ago

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Me: The Doctor should have called the Master "Koschei" to distract him and escape... Cuz that's his real name... right?

Am I- no, I'm right, that's- is it? Am I- hold on

Me: *searches Master's real name to be sure*

... what

LORD VOLDEMORT WAS THE MASTER ALL ALONG????!!!!!

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something-tofightfor · 6 years ago

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I am so in on this one. All the way in.

Slow dancing with him? Drinking with him? Friends for years? Those eyes? That smile? His sister disapproving? Sarah who?

Moremoremoremoremoremoremore

‘Deed I Do

as @something-tofightfor pointed out….it’s later in the week. technically, as last as I could get it before missing my promised deadline. SO. Intro time.

WC: 983

The music was loud and the room spun with you, as crisp gin and an early summer evening inspired more dancing than you’d done in months. Hilda Whittaker would soon be married and while she lamented the distance between her and her lover, scorned her father for being absent from the celebrations, and hysterically cried against Marion’s shoulder, you’d found entertainment of a different sort. What was once a respectable dinner banquet hosted in Hilda’s honor had dissolved in the late hour to a few of her school friends lingering on heirloom couches in the Whittaker family sitting room, two or three young gentlemen attempting to swindle each other at the Billiard’s table, while elder couples were tucked away in cars headed home or in one of the Whittaker’s guest rooms. It seemed the evening was being swallowed up little by little as another goodnight and goodbye was whispered. However your energy was only matched by John Whittaker’s, who’d yet to turn you down for a dance.

Keep reading

#john whittaker x reader #John Whittaker imagine #easy virtue fic #oh johnny #here we go #Deed I Do #ben barnes character imagines #my little dumpster fire #john whittaker x you #john whittaker x you imagine

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bloody-cupcakes · 2 years ago

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Masterlist~

I could be a better boyfriend than him..

Kate Bishop

Kate Bishop x yandere/dark gn reader scenario: you express your displeasure to her laughing at your love letters

Damon Salvatore

Damon Salvatore x yandere/dark gn reader scenario: he finds out who you really are

Regina Mills

Yandere/dark Regina Mills x gn reader scenario: her catching you trying to escape and punishing you for it

Tenth Doctor

Yandere/dark! Tenth Doctor x gn reader scenario: he helps you celebrate your birthday

Yandere/dark! Tenth Doctor x gn teen reader scenario: you ask to be taken back to earth after a few too many adventures (platonic)

Yandere/dark! Tenth Doctor x gn teen reader scenario: you discover he's purposely keeping you from leaving (platonic)

Eleventh Doctor

Yandere/dark! Eleventh Doctor x gn reader scenario: he scares you into a fit of hysteria by yelling at you

Twelfth Doctor

Yandere/dark! Twelfth Doctor x gn reader scenario: he visits you in the vault

Thirteenth Doctor

Yandere/dark! Thirteenth Doctor x gn reader scenario: she force-feeds you when you refuse to eat

Martha Jones

Martha Jones x yandere/dark! Timelord! gn reader

Missy/Gomez! Master

Yandere/dark! Missy/Gomez! Master x gn reader scenario: she fingers you while you're trying to sleep

Whittaker! Master

Yandere/dark! Whittaker! Master x gn reader scenario: you get caught trying to escape

Yandere/dark! Whittaker! Master x gn reader scenario: after trying to escape, you're forced to make it up to her to avoid punishment

Jason Dean

Jason Dean x yandere/dark! gn reader scenario: you stalk follow him wherever he goes

Jason Dean x yandere/dark! male reader scenario: you love further corrupting your already less-than-innocent boyfriend

Yandere! Jason Dean x gn reader x yandere! Veronica Sawyer scenario: you worry about messing up their murder plans

Jason Dean x yandere/dark! gn reader scenario: play fighting that turns into you teasing him for getting turned on

Jason Dean x yandere/dark! gn reader scenario: you're visibly crazier and more noticeable than he is

Veronica Sawyer

Yandere! Jason Dean x gn reader x yandere! Veronica Sawyer scenario: you worry about messing up their murder plans

Manipulative yandere! Veronica Sawyer x gn reader (headcanons)

Manipulative yandere! Veronica Sawyer x gn reader

John Bender

Yandere/dark! John Bender x yandere/dark! gn reader scenario: you're visibly crazier and more noticeable than he is

Allison Reynolds

Yandere/dark! Allison Reynolds x gn reader scenario: she grows obsessed with you after becoming your friend

I could do the shit that he never did..

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just-here-for-the-moment · 4 years ago

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7 x 7 - List 7 of your comfort movies and tag 7 people

This is where I copy and paste my answers and start a new thread, because reblogging a list of text 3 miles long gives me a headache.

I got tagged by @quica-quica-quica AND @pintsizemama AND @dihra-vesa for this one! I'm gonna be sore tomorrow...

The Thing (1982) Love it, love it, love it. Watch it every Halloween and again earlier in the year.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) When I don't know what I feel like watching I always turn this on. It's just actiony and I don't have to use my brain and I get to watch Chris Evans being all beefy and charming.

Rebecca (1940) Super creepy film adaptation of the novel by Daphne du Maurier, and it was Alfred Hitchcock's first American film. Gothic and creepy and just... ugh, I get shivers just thinking about it. So great!

The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984) Because, you know, child of the 80s. And this one has the imaginary flashback to the Muppet Babies that spawned the cartoon, which was also awesome. (And I'm going to sneak an extra in here and tell you to also go watch The Great Muppet Caper from 1981, too! Because it's the perfect double-feature for a day when you're stuck in bed with the flu.)

Clue (1985) Because it's Clue. Just go watch it again. You probably already have it memorized. "One plus two plus one plus one, not one plus one plus two plus one..."

Hard Boiled (1992) An early John Woo feature when he was making his name in Hong Kong cinema. Cheesy, early 90s, so many bullets and explosions and coreographed fights and just so, so, so good. I love it. And c'mon, Chow Yun-Fat? So cute in this movie!

Valley Girl (1983) I hate Nicolas Cage SO MUCH and this is one of only 2 movies of his I will watch, because he's a baby here, he's not the annoying "Nicolas Cage" of today yet. A slumber party staple of the 80s/90s, from the dinosaur days when you would have to go rent VHS tapes. Fun fact: the French Maid from Clue is the same actress as the hippie mom in Valley Girl, Colleen Camp! She's a fucking chameleon. You wouldn't ever guess it's the same lady. (I'm going to sneak another one in here and tell you to watch it in a double feature with Fast Times at Ridgemont High from 1982 to get the full 80s high school experience. And in that movie Nicolas Cage shows up in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it role as a nameless punk antagonizing Forrest Whittaker the football player.)

No pressure tags: @1800-fight-me @honestly-shite @oberynmfmartellman @the-ginger-hedge-witch @writeforfandoms @anxiousandboujee @babiiface95

#movie tag game #but seriously go watch Valley Girl

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smallfrenchcar28 · 5 years ago

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THE GAYS ARE PLANNING A PRISON BREAK Y'ALL

#doctor who #doctor who spoilers #doctor who season 12 #fugitive of the judoon #the timeless children #regeneration of the daleks #thirteenth doctor #jodie whittaker #captain jack harkness #john barrowman #prisoner of the judoon #the gays are planning a prison break y'all #gonna be a lot of chaotic gay energy #i want flirty jack #thirteen pretending to be appalled #but then flirting back #but also being like I already have my space wife so never gonna happen #thasmin #yasmin khan #thirteen x yasmin #and jack being like there's room for her too she's a cutie #he had a dream about this once #but also remember the one thing i told you not to do #and what did you do doctor #arguing like a married couple as they run through the prison #angry whispering and pausing as a platoon of judoon come in the room #jack commenting on the aesthetic of the prison #such unflattering lighting in the cells #the doctor being more concerned about the crappy food #no custard creams surely this is hell

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something-tofightfor · 5 years ago

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November Drabble Event

Current as of 12/15/2019

A collection of all of the drabbles that were requested and written based on this list of Five Word Prompts

This will be updated as I finish the ones that I have already received.

Ben Barnes:

Call me now, it’s urgent

Just make sure you’ve eaten / Rise and shine [sweetheart]

Benjamin Greene

I said I love you

Billy Russo:

Time passes slower without you

Actually, I just miss you / You can’t be here now

Kick his ass for me / Zero fucks given, next please / I said I love you

You know who to call

I said I love you

John Whittaker:

You’re just so, so stupid

King Caspian:

And then everything just disappears

Please don’t leave me alone

Logan Delos:

You know who to call / Actually, I just miss you

You can’t be here now

People lie all the time

Just don’t fuck it up / So, did you miss me?

Fight me, you attractive stranger / The fuck? Who are you?

Ryan Brenner:

It’s just a cut, really

So what, you did it?

Samuel Adams:

For once, I was wrong

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fific7 · 3 years ago

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There May Be Trouble Ahead - Part 3

John Whittaker x Reader

A/N: This does not follow canon, it’s all lemon zest 🍋 because the world deserves more of the over-eager puppy that is the handsome Johnny Whittaker. And puppies need discipline.

The song excerpt is from ‘Let’s Face the Music and Dance’ which surely must be John’s life anthem? (It wasn’t released until 1936 but there’s that fiction writer’s licence again.)

Warnings: 18+ NSFW due to sexual content including oral between consenting adults*. Some drinking.

*Irl, please don’t go wild in the country without protection.

(Not my GIF, credit to owner)

As John followed you out of his bedroom, you asked him if you might use the bathroom and he took your hand once more, guiding you along the corridor and pointing at a door. Once inside, you looked around at the huge roll-top bath and large porcelain sink. You smiled, once again it all seemed very Victorian to your (you liked to think) very modern eye.

Coming back downstairs a little later on, you heard a murmur of voices from below you and paused on the half-landing, tip-toeing to the edge and peeking cautiously over the banister rail.

John and Sarah were standing in the large lobby, and you noticed that John had his arms crossed over his chest in a very defensive stance.

You heard Sarah say in her quiet voice, “I just don’t want you to get hurt again, Johnny.” You grimaced as she said “Johnny” and the familiar way she used it. “I mean I hardly have to remind you what happened the last time you met someone and got carried away, do I? She ran off with your Father!” Your mouth rounded into an ‘O’ as you heard those explosive words. A scowl appeared on John’s face, and he snapped, “Well firstly, you did just remind me! And secondly, at least the old man’s not around this time to run off with my wife!”

“Wife!” exclaimed Sarah, “She’s an acquaintance at best! Hardly appropriate to speak of her as your wife. You met her, what - a week ago?” “Took me less time than that with Larita,” shot back John. Now it was Sarah’s turn to pull a face. “I’m just saying to take it more slowly this time, Johnny, that’s all!” John started striding away from her and you pulled back from the banister in case either of them looked up and spotted you. “Well, thank you for the advice, Sarah. You can rest assured that this time I shall be doing things with less haste and more consideration.”

Through the banister rails you watched Sarah remain standing there for a moment, crestfallen, before following after John.

»»————————————-———-　⚜　———————————-————-««

John stalked into the sitting room, heading for a cigarette box on one of the low tables and opening it. Thankfully it wasn’t empty, so he took one out, tapped it a couple of times and lit it with the ornate table lighter next to the box. He drew on it before blowing out a long plume of smoke into the air. He heard heels making their way across the large rug behind him and hoped it was his guest, turning with a smile on his face.

Seeing that it was Sarah, his smile faded and he knew she’d noticed that. But why then did she have to keep on at him like some kind of mother hen? He sighed, “What other pearls of wisdom are you here to cast before me, Sarah?”

She tried a tentative smile, “I don’t mean to nag, Johnny. You know I don’t. It’s as I said, I just don’t want you to get hurt again.” He moved over to the large windows, gazing out over the landscape, “I don’t intend to, believe me. And I don’t intend to hurt my new lady friend either,” he replied, still smoking his cigarette and speaking over his shoulder to her, “I’ve met someone I truly like and I’m not about to mess it up.”

He turned back to the window and therefore missed seeing Sarah’s lips tightening into an almost-snarl as she heard his words.

And unbeknownst to him, the ‘someone’ of whom he spoke was currently listening just outside the sitting room.

»»————————————-———-　⚜　———————————-————-««

A quiet voice behind you made you jump. “Are you lost, madam?” You swung round. Oh, it was the butler, Furber was it?

“Oh no, it’s fine thank you, Mr Furber. I’m just looking for John and I think I’ve found him now.” You pointed theatrically - and somewhat ridiculously - into the sitting room, before giving him an embarrassed smile and disappearing through the door.

You saw that Sarah was now the one adopting the defensive body language, and she and John were staring each other down in what looked like some kind of Mexican Standoff.

Okay, you thought, here I go with my ‘Absolutely Innocent of Eavesdropping’ act.

“Oh, John - there you are! I thought I’d lost you for a moment,” and you gave him a big smile. “Hello, Sarah!” you added, now looking at her and still smiling, but it was a very much smaller one than John had received from you.

John reacted as you’d hoped he would and came rushing over to you immediately, hand going to yours. “Do you want to go, darling? We can, you know.” “Perhaps we should,” you said, “we don’t want to take up the whole of everyone’s afternoon, do we?” He grinned at you, “No, we don’t, darling.”

You hid a smile, thinking that he was perhaps slightly overdoing it with the ‘darling’s’ but you’d take them all. Because you’d caught a look of absolute fury on Sarah’s face for a split-second when she’d heard the first ‘darling’ leave his lips.

That’s more like it, girl! you thought gleefully, let out all that broiling jealousy and sexual tension hiding inside that calm little head!

If she wasn’t going to be honest about her true feelings and instead mess around playing silly mind games, then that really wasn’t your problem. You’d just met John, you liked him (much to your amazement, you had to admit) and you wanted to see where things led.

It had annoyed you, quite frankly, when you’d heard her dripping words of doubt into John’s ear as if she was merely a concerned bystander, instead of being an interested party herself.

And if she was going to play dirty, then you just might have to as well.

»»————————————-———-　⚜　———————————-————-««

John was feeling immensely relieved as he drove the two of them away from Flintham Hall. His darling (which was how he found himself thinking of her now) didn’t seem to have overheard that silly squabble of his with Sarah and they’d managed to take their leave fairly easily without too many entreaties from his Mother to stay longer.

Although she did seem a little quiet on the drive back to town. He shook off the thought, she was probably just a bit overwhelmed after meeting all of them in one fell swoop. It was quite a task, he acknowledged. He knew his family could be intimidating.

Arriving back and parking outside her flat, he was overjoyed when she asked him if he’d like to come in for either more tea or a small aperitif.

It seemed that he was still in her ‘good books’.

»»————————————-———-　⚜　———————————-————-««

You poured a pale sherry for each of you and handed a glass to John. He was lounging - entirely at ease - on your large cherry-red sofa, and you sat opposite him on the matching armchair. He looked slightly disappointed at that but took a sip of his sherry, saying “Mmm, that’s a nice Fino.”

You’d spent the whole journey back pondering whether to confess that you’d eavesdropped. Firstly, you felt guilty for doing so. One of your mother’s favourite sayings was ‘eavesdroppers never hear good of themselves’ if she ever caught you and your little brother listening at doors. And secondly, you didn’t want there to be any lies or omissions between you and John.

“Yes, it’s not bad,” you agreed. “Look John, I need to tell you something.” He sat bolt upright, “Oh no - you’re dumping me! Already!” he wailed. You laughed, “No, I’m not! But I do need to discuss something with you.”

He sat back again, still looking anxious, “Tell me!” he demanded. You drew in a deep breath, “I overheard your conversation with Sarah. I’m sorry!” you said quickly, “I really didn’t mean to, I was just coming downstairs… and then you were in the sitting room.” You grinned, “Furber caught me standing outside!” He also grinned, “Yes, he’s got a habit of appearing without warning! I suppose it’s the whole butler thing.” His expression sobered, “So you did hear us squabbling! And also the final scandalous fact about my ill-fated marriage.” He took another sip of sherry. “Yes, the sad fact is, my Father ran off with her. They’re living in sin and penury down in the south of France.”

“I’m sorry, John,” you said sincerely, “that must’ve been hard to bear.” He smiled at you, “It wasn’t the best. And of course Mother went absolutely mad and said it was all my fault. Which it was, of course. By that time, I’d realised that I didn’t love her but yes, it still stung.” You leaned back and looked steadily at him, “I suppose it was for the best. In an awful way. But tell me, what’s with Sarah?” He gave you a puzzled look, “What do you mean, darling?”

“Your relationship with her. Tell me about it.” He sighed, “Mother always wanted me to marry her. She saw it as the joining of two dynasties, nothing romantic about it. I think I told you we had a brother-sister thing between us? We grew up together so that’s just how it was. Then mater started putting pressure on me to get engaged to her and her parents weren’t opposed to it, so it was kind of understood between the two families that that’s what would eventually happen. But then… Larita. As I said.” Another sip of sherry. “When she left, it was obvious that everyone expected me to just pick up with Sarah again from where we left off. But she didn’t seem all that keen - wounded pride, I suppose and I don’t blame her for that - and to be brutally honest, I really wasn’t keen either.”

His dark eyes gazed over at you, “I never felt that spark with her, you know? She’s just like another sister.” You almost felt sorry for Sarah. “So it was just kind of… left on the side and no-one’s mentioned it again.” You nodded, and decided to take the plunge, “You do realise that she’s in love with you? And probably always has been?”

His face was a picture. “Umm.. what?” You nodded again, “Yes, John, believe me. Her indifferent demeanour is all an act. She wants you for herself.” You met his eyes, watching him intensely, “Does that change anything? How you feel about her? Because if it does, then I’ll just take myself off somewhere else.” He shook his head vigorously, “No! It changes nothing. Absolutely nothing.” He put his sherry glass down on the small table next to the sofa and came over to crouch down beside your chair, grasping your arm, “I’m sorry about it if that’s the case, I truly am. But it’s you I want, not Sarah.” He leant in towards you and the two of you gazed into each other’s eyes, then John’s lips softly met yours and you shared a sedate kiss.

Breaking apart, he laughed nervously, “I hope you don’t mind that I kissed you?” Shaking your head and running a finger along his jaw, you were smiling as you replied, “I don’t mind in the slightest, John.”

»»————————————-———-　⚜　———————————-————-««

John was driving perhaps a little too fast along the country roads, on his way back home in the gathering dusk. He was a very happy man indeed, and he was singing at the top of his voice.

There may be trouble ahead

But while there's moonlight

And music and love and romance

Let's face the music and dance

Before the fiddlers have fled

Before they ask us to pay the bill

And while we still have the chance

Let's face the music and dance

He pulled the car to a grinding halt and leapt out of it, bounding up the steps and into the house. Furber, gliding along with a tray holding a decanter of sherry and four glasses, hid a smile and nodded at him, “Good evening, sir. Shall I bring an additional glass for you?” “Uh.. no, thanks Furber, I’m just going to my room. To.. uh.. lie down for a nap before dinner.”

Furber hid an even bigger smile. He knew the signs only too well. The Master was in love again.

John’s foot was on the first step of the staircase when Veronica’s voice cut through his pleasant thoughts. “John! Please join us!” His shoulders dropped… caught like a rat in a trap! Accepting defeat, he turned on his heel and trotted into the sitting room behind his Mother. The other three ladies were ranged around various sofas and armchairs and in the process of accepting glasses of sherry from Furber, who magically produced a fifth glass and now filled it for John. How does he do that? wondered John, does he keep supplies of spare glasses in his pockets? Hmm, maybe he does, I wouldn’t put it past him.

He took the glass and thanked Furber, settling into one of the squashy old armchairs and facing the four women who were all looking at him expectantly. He looked back at them, until eventually his Mother broke the stalemate, “Well, John? Where did you meet her? At the Art Gallery?” Marion sniggered bitchily, “As if! John’s never been inside an art gallery in his life, Mama!” Shooting her a poisonous look, John replied, “As it happens - no, Mother.” Marion snorted in triumph but John ignored her, continuing, “I nearly hit her in the head with a tennis ball.”

“Johhhhnnn!” wailed his mother, “That’s no way to impress a lady!” He sighed, “I do realise that, mater. I promise you I didn’t do it on purpose. But it was certainly very fortuitous.” He knew that he probably had a dreamy, faraway look in his eyes but he didn’t care. He noticed Sarah’s eyes on him, and he felt a sudden pang of guilt. But what can I do? he thought, the heart wants what the heart wants.

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Monday was dragging by and felt very tedious. You’d begun work on a small canvas by a fairly famous local artist and as you meticulously and gently rubbed at the grime which covered it, your mind drifted to last Saturday evening.

After that first innocent kiss, John had pulled you up off the armchair and slid his arms right around you, holding you close and kissing you in an increasingly passionate fashion. So much so that you eventually had to gently shove him away, smiling and catching your breath.

Most of the (admittedly few) men you had stepped out with had been appalling kissers, all wet lips and slobbering over you in indecent haste.

John might act like an overgrown schoolboy (or puppy, take your pick) but in the kissing stakes, he was well out in front of the rest of the field. His lips had hovered at your ear and you felt little huffs of his breath against it. “Your lips, your mouth, your eyes… you’re driving me insane,” he whispered, and you’d almost fainted at the sensuality of it.

You suddenly heard your supervisor’s sharp voice, and you looked up quickly at the older woman. She was in fact a very good mentor, her bark being worse than her bite as they say. She smirked, “You’re in a world of your own today, dear! I called your name at least twice before now.” Looking more closely at you, she gave a delighted laugh, “Oh my! There’s a man involved, isn’t there?” You blushed furiously and she crowed, “I was right! I knew it. Now, tell me all about him!”

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After spending ten minutes telling your mentor all about John, you were slightly disappointed when she had a bit of a mixed reaction to the details you shared.

“My dear, he does sound very dashing,” she intoned, and you knew there was a ‘but’ coming, “but he also sounds a little bit… risqué.” You opened your mouth to jump to his defence, but she held up a hand, “I know you don’t want to hear this, but you do need to guard against making any impulsive decisions regarding him. He sounds as if he likes impulsive gestures, judging by the sound of the circumstances surrounding his marriage. And then his father running off with his wife! I mean, my dear, that is positively…” “Scandalous,” you supplied, “yes, I do realise that. But I truly believe he’s learned his lesson.”

She looked sceptical, “So you say, but please do bear in mind that he’s still probably inclined towards the impulsive, despite what he says. I’m sure your parents would never forgive me if I didn’t at least try and sound a warning shot across your bows!” You dipped your head and accepted her thoughts, “I am listening to you, honestly,” you assured her.

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John had taken to telephoning you every evening since the Saturday you’d spent together. “I just want to hear your voice,” he��d say say quietly into the phone. “It’s nice to hear yours, too,” you’d reply. When he phoned you on Tuesday evening, you could hear some excitement in his voice. “I’ve got us two stand tickets for the races on Saturday,” he said, his words tumbling over each other, “Oh say you’ll come! It’s not one of the big gold cup meetings but it’ll be so much fun!” You laughed, caught up in his excitement, “Yes, John, I’ll come.”

“Wonderful! Mater keeps telling me not to call you too much or pester you at work but I can’t help it!” “It’s fine, I don’t mind,” you said truthfully, thinking about how you now sat in your flat of an evening waiting for him to call. Not that you’d admit that to him, of course. Your feelings for John were definitely a bit like a runaway train at the moment, and you were trying to keep the brakes on but you were struggling to do so.

About half an hour after you’d hung up, your doorbell rang. Opening the door, you were less than charmed to see your neighbour Euphemia standing on your doorstep clutching a teacup. “Oh hullo,” she greeted you, “I wonder if I can borrow some sugar?” Mentally rolling your eyes, you said, “Of course, step in for a moment.” You took the cup from her and she trailed along your hall after you, following you to the kitchen. You knew exactly why she was here and as you poured out some sugar for her, she said, trying to sound casual, “So you have a new young man, then?”

Your back was to her so you smirked to yourself. “Yes, Euphemia, I do,” you said lightly. “Mmm,” she grunted, “What’s his name, then?” “John.” “John what?” Now she was beginning to annoy rather than amuse you, “John No-one-You’ll-Ever-Have-Heard-Of,” you said sarcastically, handing her the cup of sugar. “There you go, Euphemia! Now, so sorry, I’m right in the middle of something.” In other words, sling your hook. She had a very dissatisfied look on her face as she hadn’t been able to get all the information she wanted out of you. Just then, there was another knock at the door so you headed to it, Euphemia on your heels again. God, that woman!

Upon opening the door this time, you were delighted to see a much more welcome face. John was standing there, a very large bouquet of peonies in his hand. He gave you a big smile then immediately leaned in for a kiss, but pulled back suddenly mid-kiss when his eyes met Euphemia’s over your shoulder. “Oh!” he exclaimed, “I’m so sorry, I didn’t realise you had company.” You looked over your shoulder, saying, “Euphemia was just leaving, weren’t you Euphemia?” you said with a hint of menace in your voice. “Um… yes,” she nodded, “nicer to meet you, Mr… ?” You grabbed John’s arm and squeezed hard, “Bye, Euphemia!” She sulkily brushed past you and John and made her way down your steps.

You dragged John inside and quickly closed the door. “That woman!” you hissed, “She’s just been in here to ‘borrow a cup of sugar’ …in other words, trying to sniff out information about you!” John laughed, “Ah, now I understand! Here, darling… these are for you.” He handed you the bouquet, you exclaiming how pretty they were and beginning to look for a vase. “I remembered you said that peonies were your favourites,” he announced proudly. You were impressed! You two had passed a florists on the evening of your first date and you’d remarked how much you loved the big blowsy pink flowers.

“Anyhow, she’s not very pleased,” you said conversationally as you busied yourself arranging the flowers, “she didn’t get any information out of me at all apart from your first name.” You looked up at him, holding one of the blooms in your hand, “And as much as I’m pleased to see you and these beautiful flowers… what on earth are you doing here, John?”

You saw his face pink up, “I hope you won’t be annoyed but I couldn’t wait until Saturday to see you.” Your stomach filled with butterflies and you put down the peony, going over to where he stood and hugging him, before kissing his cheek. “You’re such a sweet boy,” you smiled at him. You felt his his shoulders relax. “Marion told me you’d get really fed up with me.”

You ghosted a kiss over his lips, “Oh, poor Marion… she’s not a happy bunny, is she?” John smiled a little sadly, “Disappointed in love. Her intended had no intention of marrying her and took off travelling.” “Oh, what a shame,” you sympathised. “It’s given her a slightly skewed view of life,” John shrugged, “she unfortunately tends to revel in other people’s embarrassing situations.”

He leant back from you, your arms still round him, “You’re not fed up with me, are you?” You smiled, “Not yet.” He landed a small kiss on your lips, “I’m pleased to hear that.” “Have you eaten?” “No… I had the sudden impulse to come haring over here to see you.” You stroked his cheek, “Then have a seat,” you waved towards your kitchen table, “and I’ll make you something.”

Your mentor’s words echoed in your head as you went to the pantry and took out some food items for John. “…he’s still probably inclined towards the impulsive…”

You felt a little soupçon of worry. It seems like she had possibly hit the nail right on the head.

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@paracosmenthusiast

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