#josephine answers!

[rosie-of-beauharnais]

If Napoleon had become a girl, would you have been a lesbian couple with her?

what's going on with my correspondence now of all days, sorry @alexanderfanboy

in that case anonyme, as a woman, i am not sure enough if my feelings would even blossom in the first place.. well! that one time we swapped genders there was no trouble at all with the.. ah, love-making. what i want to say is, how we would do it it's not the problem perse, that is another matter.

[blakelysco-pilot]

For the February prompt ²⁶⁾ warm july nights with Rosie and Jo, please?

Oh my goodness yes please! I so enjoyed writing this one! I really hope you enjoy it as well 🥰

February Prompts💌

26. Warm July Nights - Rosie & Jo

She had dreamt of this during the days of the war. While Rosie was an ocean away, and she remained home, it was one of the many hopes for the future that they had both shared. It had crossed her mind one afternoon while sitting on the front steps of her parents home with Pappy; watching the neighborhood children run through the open fire hydrant to stay cool, she had wished for the day that the person next to her would be her Robbie.

Now, sitting on the front steps of her home, Josephine watched as the neighborhood kids played in the street, the sun just below the horizon as the Brooklyn sky turned a brilliant shade of pink. With a smile, she lifted the glass of ice tea to her lips, just as the kids all turned to run down the block in tandem. Their shouting and excitement palpable, she felt her smile grow just at the sound of their cheers.

“Mister Rosenthal!”

“Heya boys! You behaving?”

“We’re playing stick ball!”

“Well, it’s getting dark okay, so be careful…”

“We will!”

The kids ran back down the street to where Jo could see them, and just in time for her to see Rosie approach their house.

“Well, if it isn’t Mister Rosenthal.” She grinned from her perch.

“Hey there honey pie.” He heaved a sigh, the weight of work seemingly disappearing into the warm July night. His suit jacket was draped over his arm, and the sleeves of his white button down were rolled to his elbows.

“Good day?”

“Long day.”

“Come sit,” she gently patted the space next to her, inviting him to take up his spot on the steps. “I’ll get you a drink.”

“No,” he grabbed at her wrist gently as she made to stand. “Don’t go inside just for me.”

“I’ve got the pitcher and an extra glass right here,” she gestured to the small table on their porch. “Was waiting for you.”

“You’re too good to me…”

“Well, I love you.” She turned to pour him a glass, quickly bringing it to him before sitting back down.

“I love you too…”

Taking a generous sip of his ice tea, Rosie deposited the glass next to him on the steps before letting his head drop to her shoulder. Together, they watched the kids abandon their rubber ball and stick in favor of chasing the fireflies. Their excitement each time they caught one seemed to fill the air, and Jo couldn’t help but give his hand a gentle squeeze as she remembered when they were just kids running in the street.

“Remember when we used to chase the fireflies?”

“How could I forget,” Rosie looked up at her. “Used to beg my Ma for a jar so we could keep them.”

“She would get so mad at you for poking holes in the tops.”

“They needed air!” He laughed.

“You’re so adorable,” Jo turned to him, lips finding his temple softly. “Don’t ever change.”

“Never. I promise.”

[winniemaywebber]

Winnie darling!! Happy December prompts season 🥰 I’d love to see 3 and 15 for our dear Jean & Croz, and 23 and 19 for Olive and Dougie? Love you bestie! 🫶

hi, my love!! happy december.

both prompts under the cut to save space! from this list - feel free to send me some more. inbox is open as always!

doctor's orders // knees pressed into soft carpet

A frigid chill swoops through the windows of the Crosby residence, Josephine Harris shivering in its wake.

“Jesus, Jeanie,” she grumbles, wrapping a blanket around her shoulders. “Can we close these windows yet? It’s freezing!”

“Go upstairs if you’re cold,” Jean barks back in return, the heaviness upon her body making her sweat. Nobody told her of the sudden hot flashes in the last few weeks of pregnancy, sweating like it’s summer despite the Fall chill. 

“No,” Jo soothes. “I’m staying with you.”

Jean lays back on the couch, groaning in pain. “I’d love it if I could be up and about, trying to get this baby out,” she complains, shifting her head on the cushion of her makeshift bed on the couch. 

“Doctor’s orders, Jean,” Jo reminds her, flicking through a magazine. “You heard him. Bedrest. You’re too top heavy to be getting around,” she smirks, taking in her friend’s convex shape.

“Oh, shut up, Josephine,” Jean huffs. Her eyes suddenly start swimming with tears, biting her lip to unsuccessfully keep them at bay. “Sorry,” she sniffs, reaching towards a handkerchief on the coffee table, Jo handing it to her. “I’m sorry I’m so grumpy. I’ve just had enough.”

“I know, doll,” Jo comforts, pulling a blanket over her friend. “My nephew needs to start making his way out. Believe me, this is just as much fun for you as it is for me.”

A short rap on the door shocks the pair of them, Jo patting Jean on the shoulder as she goes to answer it. 

“Mail’s here!” Josephine calls, entering the living room once again. In her hands, she holds a stack of envelopes, two instantly recognizable. Disregarding the others, Jo kneels in front of Jean, her knees pressed into the soft carpet.

“Who would you like to hear from first, Jeanie Bug?” she asks, her voice soft and soothing. “Rosie or Harry?”

“Binger, please. If that’s okay?”

“I wouldn’t have asked if it wasn’t. Now,” she pauses, carefully opening the envelope. “Let’s see what our Croz has to say.”

My Jeanie,

It won’t be long now, until our boy is here. I wish, more than anything, that I was there to take care of you. Hold your hand, soothe you and make you comfortable. I’m glad Jo is there to do those things. I am so excited that I feel like I’m walking on air around base. 

I hope you’re not in too much pain, my darling. Rosie has passed on from his letters from Jo that you’re not exactly having the best time in these last few weeks, but I promise it’ll all be worth it. All worth it to see our boy.

Jeanie Bug, I miss you with everything in me. Next time I hear from you, you’ll be with our Joseph Robert and I can hardly wait.

All my love, my little wife. 

Bing

“Joseph Robert?” Jo asks, wiping tears from her flushed cheeks. “After Bubbles, and Robbie?”

“Yes,” Jean squeaks in response. “And after you, my best friend.”

ursa major // a hotel bar

“Happy new year, honey girl,” Dougie says, pulling Olive in for a kiss.

“You, too, my love.” 

Despite the promise of a quiet night, the Officer’s Club had turned chaotic; Harry Crosby crooning as awfully as John Egan due to the amount of whiskey he’d put away, Rosie dancing with every Donut Dolly as the band played his favorite jazz tunes, the girls shrieking in absolute delight as he flung them across the dancefloor. Val approaches them, out of breath from her spin with Rosie, glugging back her French 75. 

“Jo’s a lucky woman,” she laughs, clinging to Olive. 

“Hope she can keep up with him,” Olive laughs in reply, watching him fling Tattie about the floor this time. “He hasn’t stopped!”

“Don’t worry, English, she knows what she’s in for.” Everett Blakely comes up behind his girl and plants a kiss on her temple, murmuring something in her ear that makes her giggle mischeviously. “I think it’s time for me to go to bed,” she winks, kissing Olive on the cheek.

“Mhm,” she smirks, taking the glass from her friend’s hand. “Have fun!”

Dougie and Ev saying their goodnights to each other, Olive watches the crowd in front of her dwindle as the time ticks by. She yawns, covering her mouth quickly to hide it.

“Wanna get out of here?” Dougie says, holding her close to him.

“Yes,” she says sleepily, leaning on his chest. “But not to bed. I just wanna be with you a little longer.”

“I’m sure I can make that happen,” he smiles, eyes crinkling at the edges. “Wait here.”

***

A short while later, the pair of them are sitting on the wing of a fort, looking up at the first clear sky they’ve seen in weeks. Precariously balanced, the couple snuggle up together, legs dangling. Olive sighs, looking up at the night sky.

“What’s it like up there?” She asks, tearing her eyes away from above to look at James. 

“Apart from the flak and enemy planes?” he replies, handing her his hip flask.

“Yes, apart from that,” she chuckles, taking a sip. “What’s it like?”

“Well…minus all of that, it’s freeing. When I’m up there, I’m not thinking about anything else. Just getting the job done,” he shrugs, taking the flask back. “But before all that, I get to see the endless blue sky and on a clear day, it’s magnificent.”

“Sure sounds it,” Olive sighs. “I suppose it’s akin to ‘calm before the storm.’”

“Something like that,” he chuckles. “I’ll take you up there, one day. When the skies are safe.”

“You mean Ev will take us up?”

“Right,” he agrees, pulling her in closer. “But I’d want you to sit in the nose with me, sweetheart. Best seat in the house. View is to die for.”

“Uhm?” Olive stops, brow slightly furrowed. “Bad choice of words, darling.”

He tuts, laughing softly after. “You know what I mean.”

Both their heads turn back to the sky, Olive spotting a constellation above them in clear view.

“Look!” She shouts. “Ursa Major!”

“Ursa what?”

“Ursa Major - the bear!”

He pauses for a second, eyes squinting to make out the shape as he follows Olive’s finger, mapping it out for him. 

“Oh, I see,” he says. “It’s not fair that you’re beautiful and smart, y’know.”

“Shut it, you,” she smiles, touching her nose to his.

“Only if you make me.”

[gorbalsvampire]

Hello :3 You are now being sentenced to do this entire section: You have been given a chance to play your perfect Chronicle, let's build it!  26. Who is your Storyteller? 27. Where and when is it set? 28. What is your sect? 29. What clan are you going for? 30. Your Coterie is yourself plus four other players. Who are they? (Can be anyone!)

Hi. Thank you for this gift, which overcame me to the extent that I had to have a little nap and a think about it. At first I thought this was meant to be some sort of parasocial thing, like basically "which actual play would you elbow your way into?" and that sort of thing makes me very insecure, but how could it be about my IRL groups? So many of those players are chronically offline! How do I make this Tumblr mutual relevant? How does this section work?

But that's probably overthinking it, so here.

26. Who is your Storyteller?

You know what? For the sake of these questions, which are very player-oriented, I'm giving myself some time off. I shall cede my lofty throne to @biomechanicaltomato, who knows exactly what she's about. We're of a similar vintage as players but she has a different set of priorities, and experience running a kind of game I've never really tried. I'd also really like to be a guest at her table: I've been Tumblr-RPing with some of those people for years now, and it'd be great to interact in real time.

If I'm allowed to be a parasocial weirdo: Josephine McAdam. She has a sense of subtle mischief that I think I'd have fun riffing off, and also I would get to listen to her marvellous, marvellous voice. There is a slight risk that I'd zone out mid session, blinded by the heart eyes, but I'm willing to chance it.

27. Where and when is it set?

Somewhere I'm not already obsessed with, and have never run a game. Not LA, not Glasgow, not London, not Prague, not Constantinople, not Venice. I think I'd like a Victorian Age game, but a specifically American one, set in the Old West, when California was being sold by the yard.

28. What is your sect?

Camarilla. I have never actually run a proper Camarilla game. Plenty of Dark Ages actual feudalism, multiple Sabbat in Victorian Age and the Final Nights, but all my modern games have defaulted to Anarch by player preference. I don't entirely trust myself to run the Cam - its economy of grace and favour, lies and bullshit, rule by fiat and so on, isn't something natural for me to occupy - so I'd like to learn from the best.

29. What clan are you going for?

Hmm. Historically, I've always thought Lasombra antitribu are the Camarilla on hard mode, and I love playing Lasombra. But let's really push myself here: Gangrel. Gangrel are the clan I've never really clicked with, and I think if I spent some time playing one I would have to turn them around and fit them into my head.

30. Your Coterie is yourself plus four other players. Who are they? (Can be anyone!)

I am bringing best friend @gwenynen-bach, because I can rely on her to roll with a grounded, constructive, secretly fucking deranged character and that's a good energy to have. And I'd really like to spend some table time with @silkenred and @lydia-too-late - they put so much thought and care and richness of detail into their characters and it'd be a privilege to play alongside that. And if I can't have a celebrity guest Storyteller, I'd love a celebrity guest player, so let's play my joker and say Josephine McAdam again. In the most non-weird, not-parasocial, good god I don't know how to deal with this kind of fandom way. If not, please to bring saintly partner @newt-n-abbey because why the hell not? Easy to be a wife guy when you have such a great wife.

[duete]

TAGS

[oopsallmabari]

was not paying close enough attention to the results on that last poll and I must ask for those of you choosing the hanged man are you ok. I don't know that I would trust water from the hanged man yall

[aheathen-conceivably]

Josephine with a baby would be insane. I don’t have anything else to say; the dynamic between an uneasily pregnant Jo and a wishful and wistful Zelda, still waiting for lightning to strike HER again, would be so heartbreaking. I do think Jo could find new purpose with a child, especially in this life that’s so different from anything she imagined for herself, but it’s not a decision to be taken lightly or made on a whim. It would take a serious miscalculation (as if!) or some bizarre irregularity in her cycle……. Highly unlikely. 👀

Well hello hello, friend. Look at you, back in the inbox right on schedule. Grab a chair, why don’t we? It’ll be a long one….

Okay so FIRST of all this is why when you sent me that ask yesterday I was like, boy oh boy, do we have a psychological dive in store for you. Because y’all, there’s so damn much going on in that post. Why don’t we, uh, go back to an old tradition and follow a heathen under the cut while she rants about her pixels…

A plotline where Jo would be (even somewhat begrudgingly) pregnant while Zelda was the one who wanted the child would be too heartbreaking, even for me. While I think there’s potential there for support and mutual parenting (which they’re doing with Violette), at its core it would be gut wrenching for them both. I think we can really see why that is for Zelda, as she almost “illogically” wants a child more than she can describe. This is where the double entendre of Josephine talking in the mirror in today’s post comes in, because we can apply it to Zelda and the fact that there are VERY good reasons for her not to want another child. But there’s still something in her that is longing for one, and so to make her watch while it happens to her best friend would absolutely break her.

However, Jo is not aware of Zelda’s struggles at all. When she is speaking in the mirror, she is talking to herself. What we (and Gio) caught Jo in the middle of was sheer, unadulterated spiraling. If you go back to the last line of the corn post, you can see Jo setting herself up for this, insofar as she thinks that Zelda is happy because she has fully given herself over to this life, and that Josephine wants that; she just doesn’t now how.

Keep in mind Josephine is 32 at this point, and I think this is an age where there’s a moment for many people who can bear children, where you think “is that what I’m supposed to do?” or “will it make me happier?” even if you’ve decided that you don’t want children. While a small part of Jo is considering Gio in these thoughts, it is mostly self-pressure, with the influence of society and other women - being Zelda here, too. So when she’s listing these logical reasons why she shouldn’t have a child, she’s telling that to herself. She’s talking herself out of it, and as the end of the post hints at, it’s because she can get pregnant at that moment and she knows it.

But simultaneously her choice here shows that even while she is at her lowest (arguably even more than her depression because now, she’s giving it her all and it’s still not working), she will never choose to have children. You are not wrong in that it might give her life purpose, and that’s part of her thought process here too. She’s almost convinced herself that the act of bearing a child could give this pointless life she’s living meaning, and in doing so she could finally let go of her need for control and give in to her situation.

Like you said, there’s always the element of a mistake, but she tells Gio point blank “that she doesn’t make mistakes.” Of course all it takes is one, but this post is meant to show that she’s far too calculated and self possessed to give herself over not only to the intense emotions she’s experiencing at the beginning of the post, but also any sort of physical drive that might lead her to sleep with Gio when she knows not to.

She also very purposefully ends the post without ever giving in to him physically or emotionally. Even more, she’s still using selective vulnerability and sex to more or less manipulate him. Her balancing on the tip of her foot only to pull away is very indicative of this, insofar as she gives him just enough of herself without ever doing so completely. When she ultimately walks away with that little smirk on her face, its because she has truly talked herself off the ledge and reestablished some sense of self autonomy that she felt like she lost even in the act of considering a child. She’s realized that even in his world and for however much she has altered her life around his dreams and their situation, she still at least has that level of control over her own body and even his.

Y’all please just know I can write a whooooole ‘nother essay on the last paragraph so God help you if you made it through this one and imma shut up now…

[lcveblossomed]

"Ah so- my memory of this particular dialect is a bit..." Florian begins to say before rocking his hand back and forth to show how wishy washy his knowledge was. He presses his lips together and trying to think. "I believe I either agreed to an arranged marriage or started a political disaster the likes of which will have the Inquistion torn to shreds."

He lets out a sigh pushing his hair out of his face. This was not good but he had gotten himself into worse situations. At least he thinks it is the worst situation but if his translation was off it could be world ending disaster and he would never know. "Either way Josephine is going to kill me so how about we keep this between us? Surely we can figure this out without her scolding me."

open || inquistor florian trevelyan

[chroniclesofnadia111]

✨🤍✨🤍

[rosie-of-beauharnais]

have you been aware of the licentious behaviour exhibited by the duke of frioul, the duke of istria, the king of naples and his wife, who are all engaged in... a "neapolitan polycule"

beloved anonyme, this news have caught me by surprise, partly... i didn't expect it from the duke of istria and frioul, this seems out of their character, nonetheless i am not the right person to judge them. i made amends with the roi, but he didn't tell me anything of the sort.

i would have liked himself to inform me of it, you shouldn't be afraid to do it, @your-dandy-king, what more are you hiding from me?

[blakelysco-pilot]

G darling!! Happy Sleepover Saturday 🥰 For the domestic prompts, how about 13 for Rosie and Jo, and 51 for Ev and Val?

Sage bestiiie! These were so fun! 🥰

Prompts from the Domestic Prompts list - Inbox is open chickies 💗

Prompts under the cut to save space

Worth a Thousand Words

¹³⁾ pictures lined up on a mantlepiece - Rosie & Jo

Part of Harry Crosby being in charge of the 100th bomb group’s quarterly newsletter now that the war was over meant that he was able to dig up photos that the regimental photographer had taken during their time at Thorpe Abbotts. It also meant he could ensure his family’s news was always included. He had been privy to photos before anyone else, and this time, on the heels of a very important birthday, Josephine was cashing in on Harry’s position.

Rosie had woken up that morning thirty years old, and he was griping about it every chance he got, as if he was the first man ever to do so.

“Harry, he’s been moping for a week!”

“Oh I know,” Harry Crosby stood in the foyer of his home, a small package wrapped in his hands, his son sitting at his ankles tugging on his pants. “He called me up for lunch the other day and spent half an hour whining about it.”

“I just don’t understand, nothing’s changing!”

“Jo,” Harry groaned as she bent to pick up her nephew who had changed gears and was making grabby hands at her. “Just last week you were moaning over your coffee to Jean about turning thirty.”

“It’s different for a woman!”

“So Rosie isn’t getting gray hair and wrinkles?”

“He’ll look distinguished,” she smiled, bouncing little Joseph Robert. “I’ll look like a sea witch.”

“Doubtful,” he smiled, taking the baby from her in exchange for the package. “Okay buddy, say bye-bye to Auntie Jo. Go on, give her a kiss goodbye and say see ya later!”

“Goodbye my little love,” Jo dusted a kiss to her nephew's forehead before giving Harry a hug as well. “Thanks again, Harry, I appreciate it!”

“I know he’ll love it.” Harry smiled, walking her out.

***

When Rosie arrived home from work that night, it was to a cake on the table, a meticulously wrapped box next to it, and his wife dressed immaculately in the living room with two cocktails.

“Hello birthday boy,” she smiled, allowing him a moment to drop his briefcase next to the chair. “Have a good day?”

“Does getting older mean everyone wants to celebrate you?” He smirked, stepping forward to pull her into his arms.

“Yes, because you’re worth celebrating.”

“Look at you,” his voice a whisper as he pulled her into a kiss. “Stunning, honey pie.”

“Thought you might like to have a small celebration, just us.”

“That’s exactly what I want.”

“I know you had a big lunch so I thought we’d skip right to the cake. Don’t worry, I won’t sing and there’s no candles, all I ask is you cut it and make a wish.”

“If I promise to cut it and make a wish, can I open my gift first?”

“You are still a boy at heart,” she grinned, shaking her head. “But yes you can.”

Rosie beamed, taking his cocktail off the coffee table and pulling Jo into the kitchen with him. She nodded again as an OK before he lifted the box and gave it a gentle shake. Brows furrowed, he tore into the paper, lifted the lid and stopped on a sharp breath.

“Where did you get this?”

His blue eyes were wide, mouth hanging open in amazement as he lifted a frame from the box, housing a photo of him on the shoulders of men after he had completed his 25th mission. He was beaming, crush cap in his hand, and flight gear still on, and he remembered. Pappy had been on someone else’s shoulders right behind him, the rest of his crew jumping around them on the ground.

“Jo, honey how did you get this!”

“Harry helped me,” she smiled, coming to stand next to him. “He got in touch with, Joe? The regimental photographer.”

“I didn’t even know Joe got a picture of this!”

“He did,” she pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. “Do you like it?”

“I love it, so much,” he turned to catch her lips again. “Let’s put it on the mantle next to the one of me and the fellas.”

“I already made space.”

��———————————————————————

It’s a Date

⁵¹⁾ scrawled-on calendars - Ev & Val

It was still significantly cold in March at Thorpe Abbotts. The wind could pick you up and carry you to your destination faster than you could walk some days. So, once Val was inside the Red Cross hut and had the pot belly stove in the corner burning, she wasn’t moving unless she absolutely had to.

Pulling a chair up to the side of the stove, Val quickly removes her navy blue jacket, tossing it over the arm before getting comfortable with her stationary. She’s a bit overdue to return Mama Biddick’s latest letter- the Irish matriarch is just as much a mother to her as her own, and no less worried than her own. Just as she begins writing, the door to the hut swings open, bringing the breeze and her boyfriend all at once, along with a scowl.

“Everett, shut the door!”

“Oh shit, you lit a fire, sorry!”

“It’s fine, just hurry up and come inside before it goes out.”

Quickly shutting the door, he dropped a kiss to the top of her head before perching on her bed, a smile on his face as he looked around the room for what, she had no idea.

“I thought you had a meeting with Red?”

“We finished a bit early,” he looked up at her, still searching her things. “When I stopped by the truck Tattie told me you finished up early and she sent you to defrost.”

“Yes, it’s so cold today!”

“Bites you right on the ass, hmm?”

“Yes, and I don’t want anything biting my rear end.”

“Nothing?”

“Everett!”

“I’m only joking baby, I won’t bite your rear end. Even if it is the cutest I’ve ever seen.”

“Fresh,” she swatted his arm playfully. “What are you doing anyway?”

“Where the hell is your calendar sweetheart?”

“My calendar? What for?”

“Want to see something.”

Pulling open the locker designated to her, she reached in and pulled out a small calendar. Face full of skepticism she handed it over, watching as she picked up the pen she had been using to write with, and scribbling something down quickly.

“What- Ev! What are you doing!”

Smiling, he handed it back to her, and waited for her to read the newest event.

Three day pass with the love of my life

March 17-19

“A weekend pass?”

“Yup! Why did you think I was meeting with Red?”

“Oh, gosh, I don’t know? The war?”

“Well, yeah, but you need a break and I need some time in a bed for adults with you.”

“You really are fresh, you know that?”

“I know,” he grinned, giving her a quick kiss before heading for the door. “Start packing, tomorrow is the 16th!”

“Hey! You’re leaving?”

“You looked busy when I walked in…”

“Writing to Curt’s mom.”

“Tell her I said hi,” he smiled, pulling the lucky strike from behind his ear and moving back into the room. “Maybe I will stay, it’s warm in here.”

“Give me ten minutes and we can get under the covers if you want.”

“Now who’s fresh.”

[winniemaywebber]

hi bestie!! from those intimacy prompts: could I please request “i’d rather sit and do nothing with you than do anything with anyone else.” for Jean & Croz, and “your collar’s all crooked, let me fix it” for Olive & Dougie? Love you honey!! 🫶

hi darling!!! I'm sorry these took so long - my brain didn't let me make a coherent sentence for a week and it was torture 💔 ily!!!! under the cut to save space

“i’d rather sit and do nothing with you than do anything with anyone else.”

Harry Crosby, newly enlisted in the United States Army Air Force, has a date to keep. Ever since he had set his eyes on beautiful Jean Campbell - Jeanie, he called her. Jeanie Bug, affectionately - in the debate class he had been ordered to take in order to get his GPA up, he had been taken with her. It was her beautiful brown eyes he had noticed first, her delicately rouged cheeks. But it was that smile, dazzling, so big it made those eyes sparkle that had made him fall for her - hook, line and sinker.

As he reaches the building to await Jeanie after debate club, he is greeted by a friend.

“Back so soon, Crosby?”

“Nah,” he laughs. “Waiting on Jean.”

“Of course. Say, which branch did ya choose?”

“Air Force. You?”

“Navy.”

Harry reaches over and offers his hand to his friend. They shake, a silent moment passing between them.

“Well, good luck, Crosby. See ya in a few years.”

“See ya, pal.”

At that moment, the classroom door swings open. Sweet Jeanie Campbell stands in the doorway, her cheeks flushed as she blows a strand of hair away from her head.

“Bing!” She runs to him, burying herself in his arms and sighing with relief. “How long have you been waiting?”

“Not long at all, Jeanie Bug. How was your day?”

“Ugh, don't even get me started–”

“Miss Campbell, you're up!”

“You're not done?” Harry questions, glancing glancing the lecture hall as the door closes. “I thought–”

“That's what I came out to tell you. We're running a little over time.”

“That's okay, darling. I'll be here, don't you fret.”

“Good,” she smiles, kissing him on the cheek. “Won't be long.”

***

An hour passes, Harry growing restless and beginning to pace the hallways. He pats his pockets numerous times, ensuring that he had in fact pocketed the small square box that had been sitting on his dresser for a week.

“Come on, Jeanie Bug,” he whispers to himself, checking his wristwatch. They'd missed the start of the movie by now, but there was still dinner - there was still time.

Thirty minutes later, she emerges, eyes tired and curly brown hair all over the place, as if she'd been stressfully running her hands through it.

“Darling,” she sighs, patting down her hair and smoothing her skirt. “You waited!”

“I told you I would, honey,” he shrugs, pulling her close to him. “We've missed the movie, though.”

“Oh, heck,” she replies, wincing apologetically. “That's what I get for being so darn competitive.”

“Hey, don't ever let it go. It's one of the many things I love about you.”

She pulls him into a quick kiss, stroking at his cheek as he blushes. “Come on,” he whispers, taking her hand. “Let's take a stroll around the park. It's a nice night.”

***

After a long walk, a bench to sit on is welcomed by the pair, aching feet finally able to relax.

“Sorry tonight was a bust, my love,” Jean apologizes again, laying her head on Harry’s shoulder.

“Hey, no need. This is nice. I'd rather sit and do nothing with you than do anything with anyone else.”

“Ditto,” she whispers in response.

“In fact,” Harry starts, moving from his spot on the bench and kneeling in front of her. She gasps, eyes immediately filling with tears as her glasses begin to fog up. He pulls the box from his pocket and opens it, revealing a simple gold band with a singular diamond. “I'd like to do that for the rest of my life. What do you say, Jeanie Bug?”

“Oh, Bing,” she weeps. “Yes. A thousand times over.”

“your collar’s all crooked, let me fix it”

“Darling, you look like you're about to pass out,” Olive says, observing Jules’ eyes as they glaze over. “Earth to Juliet,” she urges, waving a hand in front of her face to try and get her attention.

“S-sorry,” she stutters, shaking her head as she returns to herself. “I'm just–I'm so nervous.”

“About what, chickie?” Val pipes up. “You're marrying your boy. Smooth sailing from here!”

“Yes!” Vika replies, nodding enthusiastically. “This is the day we've been waiting for!”

The girls hear a clink from the other side of the room, Jean mixing her famous martinis for them all with equipment they'd procured from the hotel bar the night before. Jean had known that Jules would need a drink pre-ceremony, knowing those last minute jitters all too well. It was Jo that had somehow sweet talked Rosie into speaking to the barman, knowing his lawyer charm would work a treat.

“Here,” Jean says, shoving the glass into Jules’ hand. “Drink up, pumpkin. Only half an hour to go.” Jo helps Jean hand the glasses to the other girls, before raising her glass.

“The Bradys,” she says, everyone repeating her words. After a sip, her face contorting at the strength of the drink, she turns to Jules and places a hand upon her shoulder. “Now, doll. Do you need us to check up on anything?”

“If one of you could walk over to the church…make sure everything is set–”

“I've got it, chicken,” Olive soothes, draping the silk shawl that matches her bridesmaid dress over her shoulders. “Anyone wanna join?”

“Me!” Vika agrees, raising her hand.

“You're keen,” Olive winks. “I'll look at the floral arrangements - you go look at Benny.”

“Oh, hush,” she giggles, the alcohol already taking effect on her. “But I'm not denying it.”

“Cheeky!”

***

The gardenias and bows tied perfectly at the end of each pew, Olive takes a final look around the currently empty church. She takes a deep breath, sighing longingly over the day that's to come and is filled with so much excitement for her friends that she could burst into tears right then and there.

“Sis,” she hears, turning to greet the voice. Benny Demarco sidles up to her, squeezing her hand quickly before pulling her into a hug. “You look wonderful.”

“Oh, thank you, doll. Wait til you see your girl though.”

“She's–she's not my girl.”

“Not yet, Benny. Give it time.”

“I just–oh…oh my goodness.”

Her eyes follow his gaze, spotting Vika across the church. “There she is,” Olive whispers, chuckling at how Benny’s eyes soften upon seeing her. “Told you.”

“Holy sh–”

“Hey, no cursing in church, Demarco.”

It's Olive’s turn to soften, feeling Dougie’s arm wrap around her waist and plant a kiss on her temple as he squeezes her closer to him.

“I'll give you guys a minute,” Benny says, smiling at the couple. He begins to make his way over to Vika, who smiles broadly as he approaches.

“Wish they'd get it together,” Dougie murmurs, watching them.

“Don't we all,” Olive sighs, shaking her head. “Maybe Val can lock them in a room to sort it out, hm?”

“Worked for us, didn't it?” He laughs, kissing her deeply. “You look so beautiful, my girl.”

“As do you, lovey. Here,” she says, voice soft. “Your collar’s all crooked. Let me fix it.”

“What would I do without you, Ollie?”

“I don't think either of us want to find out,” she giggles, patting his collar as it's straightened to perfection. “There, baby. All done.”

“Thank you, sweetheart. Hey, our turn soon.”

“Our turn soon,” she nods, James taking her hand and toying with her engagement ring. “Blakely's first, then us.”

“I could just go ask now–”

She squeals as he jokingly pulls her by the hand towards the padre.

“James Robert, don't you dare!”

[thedeafprophet]

12 - Do they have any self-destructive habits?

For whoever and as many as you want :)

12 - Do they have any self-destructive habits?

Josephine:

Oh no, Josie is Perfectly Fine. Obsessing over her vengeance quest for 13 years and being unable to move on or accept anything else is Totally 100% Healthy behaviour

In generally Josie's self destructive habitd can come off as less obvious... spending nights in her lab without rests, but really she just needs to finish this one thing-

Staying up late and fretting over her anxieties, unintentional self isolation, not asking for help when she needs it, etc. are things she tries to bury under her guise of Rationality and Focus but it really... isn't that.

Alex:

Alex is an arsonist. that is not. a healthy habit

Alex has a tendency towards self isolation, pushing other people away and refusing to make connections, not knowing what to do or how to keep people.

He often ignores his physical needs, like food and sleep, and will often push through pain and refuse medical attention or any kind of help, presuming he can just push through everything and make it (Narrator voice: this is not substainable)

Jamie:

Have you seen Jamie...

Jamie and self destructive habits go hand in hand, from their day to day activites to the relationships they engage it. Jamie repeatedly follows patterns of purpesfully putting themself in bad situations, even when they know they should leave.

(content warnings for self harm, drug use/alcholoism, and suicidal ideation)

Jamie has a long history with physical self harm , nothing ever super major, but enough to have used shapeling arts to remove previous scars. They struggle frequently still with suicidal thoughts, though obviously that takes a different edge when it comes to being in the neath. They tend to throw themself into reckless situations without much care of their own wellbeing or survival

Jamie copes badly with their mental health struggles and unknown ADHD, turning to drug usage and alchohol fairly frequently on a day to day basis,

I would posit that Jamie's dynamic with The Princess can be viewed further through the addictions metaphor, of how people can relapse when in a bad mental state, when support and needs are not met.

Self destructive habits are a fundamental part of Jamie's character... and im not sure even they know who they are without it anymore.

ask game from here

[everysongieverwrote]

Something that really got me (there were a lot of things. Still processing ngl) was when Jo pulled Dusty off the tracks. Because we've seen how horribly she treats her "gophers", through flashbacks etc. And her actress does a phenomenal job of giving us those expressions to show how much she relished the power she has over the other girls and pitting them against each other. But you contrast that with all the micro expressions she gives each time Kelly proves how ruthless and cruel she is, each and every one of those quiet moments with Jo and Reena, or Jo breaking through to Dusty, feels so earned. Because we see the way she struggles with herself. With being stone cold and untouchable--and with being human and feeling. And I just--this show has handled each of these characters so well!!!!

Yeah, I'm also still processing. That was way too many feelings, way too many thoughts, and too much information all at once. Sometimes I forget that this show is a limited series and has to wrap everything up in just 8 episodes (we're only missing two now!)

I love how the show has treated Jo's character and her actress has done an amazing job with her. On one hand, she likes the power, the control, the admiration. But she also has a conscience and feelings and is very much human. She's hurt and dealing with childhood trauma and while she might be cruel and tough, she knows where and when to draw the line.

Kelly might be her so-called best friend, but Jo has something with Reena and Dusty that she doesn't have with Kelly and that Kelly doesn't have with any of them. And that's trauma-bonding and understanding of their situation. That's why she took them under her wing, she's creating her own family. Kelly is slowly and all at once destroying that family and by extension her authority as the default leader.

Jo is just like Dusty and Warren, not 100% guilty and not 100% innocent either and slowly becoming aware of their mistakes and trying their best to protect themselves and who they care about while also trying not to fall for Kelly's traps, mind games, and manipulations. The power dynamics shifted and if Jo, Dusty, and Warren (and by extension Samara) had worked together since the beginning instead of against each other (out of fear of Kelly, mostly) things would've been way different than how they are now.

And of course, kudos to Chloe Guidry for being such an amazing actress at such a young age. I really hope she keeps acting after this and that going forward she doesn't get type-casted as the mean girl or the angsty/troubled teen because I genuinely believe she can do way more than just that and it would be a shame if Hollywood doesn't even give her a chance to even try just because they liked her performance in "that one show where she played the mean girl" because her character is way more than just that and Chloe Guidry can clearly do so much more than just that.

Once again, a long rant but honestly this show!

[borawinters]

👀 + top five most bang'able people in Aurora Bay

"Hm. Cordelia, Romina, Stevie, Delilah and Joey." @cvrdelia @rominacortez @steviesharp @delilahcarreno @joey-madani

Send my muse “👀 + a question” and they’ll have to answer with 100% honesty.