#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.

[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.”

[blakelysco-pilot]

being shocked that they eat something in a peculiar way (like the whole how to eat a kitkat debate)

or

getting annoyed when they decide to wash dishes right when the other gets in the shower, making their water cold unexpectedly

for whichever couple sparks your inspiration!

-lestweforget5

Thank you so much for the ask, friend! I combined both of your choices. I hope you like it!

Prompts from this list if you’d like to request one. My ask box is open💗

The smell of coffee was the first to rouse him from sleep. Blue eyes blinking away the cobwebs of his dreams, Rosie turned in bed ready to continue his morning with his wife in his arms, but found that Jo’s side of the bed was empty. The sheets pulled up neatly, he could only guess she had gone downstairs some time ago. With a heavy sigh, he let himself remain under the covers a few moments longer before the scent of the coffee became too alluring. Stuffing his feet into his slippers and pulling on his robe, he quickly padded from the bedroom, stopping only when he met Ev Blakely in the hallway.

“Rosie…”

“Ev,” Rosie nodded, peering behind him to see if his wife was in tow. “Val get up early too?”

“Explains the coffee.” He gestured down the stairs, letting Rosie go ahead of him.

The cottage that the two couples had rented in Martha’s Vineyard was bathed in sunlight as the men made their way downstairs. It had been Jo and Val’s idea, a getaway before the end of the summer to get out of the city. It hadn’t taken much persuading on the girls part to get their husbands to agree to a few days off. Still in the honeymoon phase, both men had gladly conceded to their wives request for a couples trip.

Entering the kitchen, they found both women wrapped up in their robes, hair still tied up in their scarves, puttering around. Jo was pouring coffee, watching toast on the griddle, and Val was in front of the stove moving something around in a frying pan.

“Look who’s up,” Val hadn’t even looked up from her task, “Good morning sleeping beauties.”

“Morning, sweetheart,” Blakely crossed the kitchen quickly, dropping a kiss to his wife’s lips, his eyes lighting up as he saw what she was cooking. “I’d gripe about you leaving me in bed, but you’re making eggs in purgatory!”

“Does that mean I’m forgiven?”

“Absolutely,” He winked, gratefully accepting the coffee that Jo had poured for him. “Thanks, Jo.”

“Oh you’re welcome. I know I’m no Red Cross gal, but I hope it will suffice.”

Jo carried two mugs across to Rosie, who was still standing in the entrance to the kitchen, watching his wife and their friends start their day. She held hers in one hand, gently passing the other off to him with a smile and a good morning kiss.

“Missed you when I got up…” Rosie pouted, blue eyes twinkling in mischief.

“You were sound asleep, I couldn’t bear to wake you.”

“You’re forgiven,” He grinned. “You made me coffee.”

“Well, aren’t you sweet!” She winked, gently pinching his side before moving back to check on the toast.

“Sit down you two, breakfast is almost done.” Val peeked over her shoulder at them, gesturing to the two seats they had occupied the night before when they all sat down for dinner.

“What did you say she was making?” Rosie posed the question to Blakely over the top of his coffee cup, watching as the other man’s eyes lit up.

“Eggs in purgatory,” Rosie wasn’t sure, but he could almost see Blakely’s mouth watering. “I never had it until I met her mother, and it’s the best breakfast ever.”

“Eggs in…purgatory?!”

“It’s fried eggs in tomato sauce, with Parmesan cheese, some parsley, and a little red pepper.”

“Eggs in tomato sauce!?” Rosie looked between his two friends, Jo leaning over the table to place a basket filled with toast between the boys. “Val, not everything needs to be cooked in tomato sauce.”

“Don’t knock it till you try it.” She grinned, bringing the frying pan over to the table and setting it on a trivet.

“And yes, it does,” Blakely immediately reached for the serving spoon, first dishing up to the girls before feeding himself and Rosie. “Come on, Rosie, live a little!”

“Eggs in tomato sauce…” Rosie shook his head with a laugh, picking up his fork. His wife and friends looked on as he took a tentative first bite.

“Honey?” Jo looked over at him, waiting for any kind of reaction.

“Pass me that toast, would ya, Blakely…” Was the only response around another mouthful of eggs.

____________________

“You girls go on, we’ll clean up breakfast.”

“Are you sure?” Jo looked at her husband skeptically, knowing that Rosie never voluntarily did the dishes unless his mother was in the room.

“Yes, go on,” He ushered her out of the kitchen with a kiss. “Least I can do after giving Val’s cooking the third degree.”

“Then why am I on dish duty too?” Ev looked at his friend from where he was pouring another cup of coffee for Val.

“Shut up,” Rosie rolled his eyes, watching as Blakely handed Val her coffee and sent her on her way. “Get a towel, you’re gonna dry these.”

“No wonder Pappy went home after you reupped. Bossy.” Ev grumbled, and both girls could be heard laughing as they climbed the stairs to their respective bedrooms to begin getting ready for the day.

Both men began shuffling plates and cups off the table and into the sink to soak, listening carefully for the sound of their respective bedroom doors closing after their wives. With the now empty frying pan on the counter, waiting to be scrubbed, Rosie turned to Everett who had dutifully picked up a dish towel.

“Does Val know?”

“About the vineyard and lunch?” Ev rolled his eyes as if to prove their secret was safe. “Not a thing.”

“Neither does Jo.”

“I’m surprised she didn’t suggest it, didn’t she come here with her parents as a kid?”

“Oh yea,” Rosie laughed, turning back towards the sink. “She hated it.”

“Then why…”

“Beats me,” Rosie shrugged. “But I was happy to pack up and get away for a few days.”

“You can say that again.” Ev sighed, rolling his shoulders.

“No, seriously. She caught me sleeping at the kitchen table last week, a case file under my head like a damn pillow.”

The men, both fully engrossed in their chatter, hadn't heard the showers upstairs turn on in their respective bedrooms. So when Rosie turned the sink on, and let the hot water run for a moment, it hadn’t occurred to him where that hot water was coming from.

“Alright pal, let’s get these dishes-“

“ROBERT!”

“EVERETT!”

“On second thought…”

“Yea, let’s uh, let’s just go…”

“Mhmm, right behind ya pal!”

[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…

[chroniclesofnadia111]

✨🤍✨🤍

[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.

[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?

[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!”

[blakelysco-pilot]

For the Soft Kissing Prompts, #15 ♡ sharing a surprise kiss for whichever couple inspires you today, please. Thank you!

-lestweforget5

@lestweforget5 you’re always there with an ask/prompt and I adore you for it. Thank you friend! 🥰

Prompt is from this list & as always, asks are open chickies!

Ev & Val’s version of this prompt ca be found HERE. Rosie & Jo are below the cut 💗

15. Sharing a surprise kiss - Rosie & Jo

He couldn’t stop his gaze from wandering across the yard, no matter how much DeMarco was going on about the new place he was moving into on his left, and Douglass on his right animatedly telling him he would help build a table. But Rosie wasn’t paying attention to that. His attention was fully on Jo, who was sitting with the rest of the girls under the giant oak tree in the Brady’s backyard, the six of them discussing their latest read.

Their wives and financè’s had started a book club amongst themselves, and it gave all of them a chance to get together monthly now that the war was over. Rosie loved seeing how happy Jo got every time their get-togethers came around; while she had Jean and Val closest to her, getting Olive, Jules and Vika together too, always seemed to brighten her already happy disposition.

“Rosie, what do you think?” Brady’s voice pulled him out of his reverie, bringing his attention back to the fellas he was sitting with.

“Think it’s great…”

“Yea? I just said I was going to leave my wife and take the dog.” Brady raised an eyebrow, that hardened war pilot sliding into place on his face.

“What!”

“You haven’t heard a word we’ve said have you?”

“DeMarco bought a new place, a backyard for Meatball, and a big kitchen for Vika. Did I get it all, Cap?”

“Oooh, Rosie!” Benny laughed, slapping a hand down on his shoulder.

“And before you ask if I heard you, Benny, yes I did. I’ll help you with the paperwork for the house, I know a good lawyer.”

“Ha!” Benny tossed his head back in a laugh, the sound startling Meatball who was curled up between Vika and Olive under the tree. “You mean you’re only a good lawyer?”

“Yeah yeah,” he waved his hand next to him. “I’ll take care of you and Vika, don’t worry.”

They broke off into smaller conversations, and while he was catching up with Douglass, he couldn’t help but let his gaze wander back over to Jo. She was laughing hard at something Val had said, knowing the Italian had a penchant for dry (sometimes dirty) humor, and trying not to spill her martini. Her eyes were sparking in the mid-June sunlight and he had the sudden urge to take her and whisk her away somewhere quiet.

“You’re staring,” Doug nudged him with his shoulder. “You do know she’s your wife, right?”

“Then what you’re doing to Olive is what, Dougie?”

“Oh, I’m staring,” he grinned cheekily. “Can’t help myself.”

“Dougie, do me a favor. Don’t ever change.”

“Aw, that’s sweet. I won’t,” He grinned, as only James Douglass could. “Oh, hey Jo!”

Rosie's gaze snapped up at the mention of his wife’s name, and found her coming around to his side of the table, martini glass in hand.

“Dougie. Behaving yourselves boys?”

“Oh, always!” Doug boomed, causing both Rosie and Jo to shake their heads.

“You alright, sweetheart?” Rosie glanced over at her, reaching out and wrapping his arm around her waist. He pulled her into his lap, her skirt fanning out over his lap as she fell into place.

“Wonderful,” she grinned, thumb and forefinger gently nipping at his chin. “Just going inside to get the shaker that Jean left in the icebox.”

“Round two already?”

“Two? Oh you’re so cute. It’s round three, Robbie!”

“You’re going to make me work for my kiss then, aren’t you.”

“Is that why you’ve been staring for the past ten minutes? You want a kiss?”

“I can’t look at my wife?”

“Sure can,” she winked, pecking his lips quickly before moving to stand. “The other girls think it’s sweet by the way.”

Before she could get too far, Rosie was out of his seat and pulling her to him in a fierce kiss, uncaring of who was watching this time. What he was aware of, was that Douglass was whistling and cheering, causing the rest of the boys to join in.

“Robbie!”

“Would you look at that. Hardly had to work at all.”

“Cheeky.” She shook her head, leaning up on her toes for another kiss.

[ask-stardust-farm]

(@momentusacademy) Josephine@Lavender: The Eevee seems excited to see someone else like her, "Hello!!" After another moment she looks around and tilts her head to the side, "This is your farm now, yeah? Do you know anythin' about farming or is this gonna be a hands-on learning experience?"

“Every summer, when me and my sister were younger, we would come by and help our grandparents with the farm, so I do know a little bit from then, but it’s also a learning experience for me as there are some things I don’t know about farming, haha.”

[ @momentusacademy ]

[aheathen-conceivably]

oh. my. god. the writing in your latest post!!!! it's just sublime! the insight into jo's head is so raw, i love it

Ahhh my Nonny friend! Thank you so much.

Jo has really been getting into my head this arc. Like little by little she’s been taking over my brain, and this post was the final nail in the coffin if you will, or peeling back that last layer of the onion to see what’s been festering beneath the surface of the flapper we met and fell in love with (which, also, the one Gio fell in love with too 👀).

This whole arc her life has been being stripped back, not only from the excitement and the glamor of the roaring 20s, but also her sense of self. The deceptive simplicity of their lives now (and the 1930s as a broader idea), has not revealed a better, calmer life for her the way it has for our other three characters.

She’s kind of known that from the beginning though, right? But she’s been putting all of her (considerable) strength into trying to make it work, because despite everything, Josephine wants to do what she perceives as the right thing. She wants to be loyal to her family and the people she loves, and she knows that she derives joy from their presence. Only this is fighting with her need to reestablish her sense of freedom and autonomy, in turn creating a toxic cocktail of love and guilt thats then amplifying the feeling of being trapped all the more. To the point that this is absolutely a woman who is very close to snapping…

But what does that breaking point look like if it happens where she is now? Feeling powerless and trapped with no one to blame for her misery other than herself? When she’s consumed by her past and her pain almost to a delirious degree?

Or what if she can find a way to “outsource” these feelings? To pin them on someone or something and justify her actions so that she doesn’t have to deal with the unpleasant knowledge that it’s coming from within? Welp. Welcome to arc two babes.

[bigcryptiddies]

It’s not specific to dav by any means, I just wish player characters were able to have the same depth of trauma and vulnerability as companions are on their own specific quests at any point in their respective games and Rook seems especially “smiling through it all” about everything because the rest of the game is also very sanitized compared to the others before it