#just say it's about Hetty already!!!!

[ncisladaily]

The “million-dollar question” in NCIS: Hawai’i Season 3 is simple: What is Sam Hanna doing on the island? LL COOL J has reprised his NCIS: LA role as a special guest star, and while he came to Hawai’i to help clear Jane Tennant (Vanessa Lachey) for duty in the premiere, he’s obviously not just sticking around to help out as needed. But good luck getting any answers out of him! However, Jesse (Noah Mills) does get more than anyone else has yet in the latest episode.

But that only comes after Jesse makes it very clear he wants Sam gone. He’s not impressed when Sam talks about him and Callen (Chris O’Donnell) being trapped in a submarine, full of explosives (NCIS: LA Season 6 premiere “Deep Trouble, Part 2”). Then, “so Sam Hanna’s just around now, huh,” he remarks to Jane as they walk to a crime scene. He claims it’s not a problem (though she can tell it is), but he is wondering why he’s here. So is everyone else.

After asking Ernie (Jason Antoon) for his take on Jesse, Sam later tells the agent they need to clear the air. He knows the team relies on and trusts Jesse, but that the other man doesn’t trust him. “It’s not that I don’t trust you. I don’t know you. And I don’t know your intentions,” Jesse says. “Nothing but honorable,” Sam assures him. “Yeah, I appreciate that. Still doesn’t tell me why you’re here,” Jesse points out, and for once, Sam doesn’t pretend that he’s really just there to teach a seminar.

“Well, I’m not going to tell you why I’m here because I can’t,” he reveals. “But I promise you, I’m not here to look over anyone’s shoulder, not Tennant’s, not yours, and I’ll always have your six. I hope that works.” It does for Jesse.

Thanks to Ernie digging into Sam, we do get a bit more about his current time in Hawai’i—but it just leads to more questions. Ernie didn’t break any laws (just decorum), he assures Jane after sneaking into her kitchen while everyone’s gathered in the living room. “Sam Hanna was indeed TDYed to Pearl to teach his seminar, but not from OSP. All the paperwork, scheduling and pay are coming from something called Elite,” he says. It’s unclear what that is, but, he continues, “any further details are hidden behind triple encrypted firewalls that I’d be committing espionage if I broke.” Jane’s determined to find out what’s going on.

Is that connected to something related to an open case from NCIS: Los Angeles? There have been a lot over the years, and Sam did say he was talking to Kensi (Daniela Ruah) and Deeks (Eric Christian Olsen) about a past case in the previous episode; maybe he was only lying about it being a past case. Could it be related to the mission to rescue Hetty, which was how LA ended its series finale? We have yet to hear if Sam, Callen, and the team Nell (Renee Felice Smith) assembled were successful. Is it connected to anyone from Jane’s team, and that’s why he’s working alongside them?

[ghostlyheart]

Happy Valentines Day!! 💝 I hope you spend the day being haunted by someone you love 👻 (or if you're like me, just eating a lot of heart-shaped candy)

Poll:

[virgoilluminati]

Hospitality at its Finest

a Jude Bellingham oneshot

Inspo: Basically i have the shittiest job ever, and the only thing that got me through it was thinking about how jude would comfort me at the end of a long shift. I feel like a lot of you gurlies can relate so enjoy ☺️

You had had the worst day.

Probably the worst day you'd had in years

And the only person you could blame was your boss.

He was an A grade arsehole. He only cared about how much money your restaurant made. How it made him look in front of the restaurant owners.

He didn't care about your feelings, how crying had become a normal part of the shift or how every time he walked in, your stomach tied in knots.

Today was an exemplar of it.

At the beginning of the shift, everything was fairly normal. You were supposed to start at 12pm, but you had come in early, caring for your colleagues and knowing that they would need the extra staff for the new delivery. As you mentally prepared yourself for the shift, you started putting away the new stock and organizing the kitchen.

Quickly looking at your phone one last time, you clocked into work before admiring your lock screen with Jude. After all, all of this was for your future.

As you made your way to the shop floor, it was dead silent. So silent that you knew the second you opened the door in the backroom, you'd be greeted with a mess. But you didn't expect what you were greeted with. Stacks of dishes towered precariously, remnants of ingredients sprawled across counters, and an unmistakable odor of burnt food lingered heavily in the air.

Your closest colleague Haley was on the ground, covered by stock boxes. When she see's you walk in, she smiles, but the exhaustion in her eyes betrays her forced cheerfulness. Without wasting a moment, you rush to help her up, setting the boxes aside.

"Wha-"

"Don't ask. It's Jamie. He overestimated our multitasking skills again. We could use all the help we can get right now."

You nod, taking in the chaotic scene. Rolling up your sleeves, you dive into the mess, prioritizing tasks in your head.

The second the doors to your restaurant opened, a wave of eager customers flooded in, adding to the already hefty workload. You had only just made your way out of the heavy stock room before you were serving your first customer, your manager already shaking his head.

You grabbed a notepad, scribbling down order after order with precision. As you do such, you realise that no one has set up back of house, and whilst everyone was dealing with the stock, you'd be doing both positions, already.

Oh gawd it was going to be a long day.

The next issues happened just after the lunchtime peak. Your manager—ever the perfectionist—decided to go out and back home to get changed. He didn’t tell any of you, just putting your colleague Hetty in charge.

Now, for all of the reasons you loved Hetty, she was a terrible team leader. She spent half of the time bossing everyone around, whilst the other half chatting and gossiping about the managers. So when you realized that she was in charge, you knew it was going to turn sideways.

What made it even worse was halfway through the shift you suddenly got cramps. It could only mean one thing: your period.

You knew better than to miss your orders, so you managed to deal with the cramps and act normal. But as soon as anyone’s order was mentioned, you gritted your teeth. Deep down, you could feel your cramps churning up. But you managed to keep your cool. Or at least until Hetty began barking orders at you, telling you that while you were making a cheesecake, you also needed to clean the station, get the ice cream ready for service, and get the lunch menu ready that was just coming out.

Needless to say, you didn’t really listen to her orders, instead focusing on the four cheesecakes you needed to bake, twenty lusty turkeys, and the rest of your workload that’s coming in. You’d maybe gotten halfway done with the orders when suddenly your stomach muscles tightened and spasmed at the same time. It hurt to breathe in, so you tried to breathe in as slowly as possible, praying to God that the next person who insulted you would take it back as soon as they said it.

Now, you’re screwed, because between the pain in your stomach and the pressure from the customers, it was overwhelming. To make matters even worse, your restaurant owner Jiah, a certified misogynist, stood next to you as you prepared each of the dishes. Every mistake you made, or anything you said to Hetty, was being monitored. At first, it was fine—still stressful, but you were so preoccupied that you didn’t care. Until you accidentally spilled three of your cheesecakes on the ground.

Every time someone shouted at you, it felt like someone was digging into your sides. Your vision blurred slightly as you bent down to clean up the mess. As you rose, you saw Jiah’s disapproving glare. You braced yourself, knowing a reprimand was imminent.

“Do you even know how much those cheesecakes cost?” Jiah hissed, his face reddening.

"Sorry-"

You nodded, biting your tongue to keep from snapping back. Losing your temper wouldn’t help anything, especially not with Jiah watching your every move. Taking a deep breath, you focused on the tasks at hand, prioritizing the most urgent ones. Hetty’s voice cut through the noise of the kitchen, but you tuned her out as best you could. There was no time to waste arguing with her or explaining why you couldn’t drop everything to clean the station right this second.

The cramps were relentless, and you clutched your stomach briefly, willing the pain to subside. A few of your colleagues noticed and offered sympathetic looks, but they were just as swamped as you were. It was clear that everyone was feeling the strain of the lunchtime rush.

You managed to get the cheesecakes into the oven and started on the turkeys. The repetitive motions of seasoning and prepping gave you a momentary distraction from the pain. But it wasn’t long before Hetty was back, barking orders again.

“You still haven’t cleaned the station! And where’s the ice cream?” she demanded.

“Working on it,” you muttered, trying to keep your voice steady. But the frustration was building, and you could feel tears pricking at the corners of your eyes. You blinked them back, determined not to let anyone see you break down.

Finally, a small reprieve: the cheesecakes were done, and you could focus on plating the desserts and getting them out to the customers. But just as you thought you might be able to catch your breath, Jiah appeared again. He didn’t say anything, but his disapproving glare spoke volumes.

You could feel his eyes on you, watching your every move. When you accidentally spilled three of your cheesecakes on the ground, Jiah’s look was withering. He didn’t need to say a word; his expression made it clear he was counting this as yet another mark against you.

“Get it together,” you heard him mutter under his breath, just loud enough for you to hear. You nodded, biting your tongue to keep from snapping back. Losing your temper wouldn’t help anything, especially not with Jiah watching your every move.

Taking a deep breath, you focused on the tasks at hand, prioritizing the most urgent ones. Hetty’s voice cut through the noise of the kitchen, but you tuned her out as best you could. There was no time to waste arguing with her or explaining why you couldn’t drop everything to clean the station right this second.

Just as it began to calm down again, Jiah's glare disappearing from notion, Hetty came over to apologize for being stressy.

"Sorry for earlier," she said, her tone uncharacteristically soft. "I know I was a bit much."

You accepted her apology with a nod. "It's okay. We were all under a lot of pressure. I was just about to go to the toilet."

Before you could make your way to the restroom, a call came through the kitchen, telling everyone to gather in the staff room. You tried to hold yourself together, though you could feel tears threatening to flow. The cramps were still gnawing at your insides, and the stress of the day had worn you thin.

As you and the rest of the staff assembled in the cramped room, the air was thick with apprehension. Jamie, another manager, stormed in, his face a mask of fury. He didn't waste a second before launching into a tirade.

"I just got a bollocking from the owner! What the hell happened here?" he bellowed. "This is so embarrassing! We've had multiple complaints from customers, dishes sent back, and unacceptable delays. This is not the standard we uphold here!"

His words were like blows, each one landing heavily. You stood there, silent and still, trying to absorb it all without breaking down. The cramps were relentless, making it hard to concentrate on anything other than the pain.

For about forty minutes, Jamie continued his verbal assault, highlighting every mistake and misstep. You could feel the tension in the room, everyone too afraid to speak or move. As he yelled, you just stood there, taking it in, feeling smaller and more defeated with every passing second.

"This has to stop now," Jamie continued, his voice growing louder. "I expect better from all of you. No more excuses. The owner is furious, and honestly, I can't blame him. Today was a disaster!"

With that, he stormed out, leaving the staff in stunned silence. You could feel the tears threatening to spill over, but you fought to keep them at bay. The pain in your stomach and the weight of Jamie's words were almost too much to bear.

Hetty gave you a sympathetic look but didn't say anything. Everyone slowly dispersed, heading back to their stations or taking a moment to collect themselves. You made a beeline for the restroom, finally letting the tears flow once you were safely behind the closed door.

Just as you began to take a couple of minutes to calm down, Jamie pulled you over.

"Hey, I need to ask you something," he said, his tone softer but still urgent. "Are you willing to leave early today?"

You had already had to cut a shift recently, and your hours were pretty low. "I really need the hours, Jamie. I'd prefer to stay."

He frowned. "I need to get rid of some staff because there's too many on right now."

You tried to politely refuse again, but before you could finish, he called out, "Hayley! Do you want to leave early?"

"Sure," Hayley replied without hesitation.

"See, it's not personal," Jamie said, turning back to you. Feeling completely deflated, you turned to get your stuff and clock out.

As you gathered your things, Jamie turned to you one more time. "By the way, you sat down too much today."

You were gobsmacked. "I didn't sit down at all."

"No, you were," he insisted. "And that's not acceptable."

You went to protest again, but he cut you off. "No, you were, and that's not acceptable."

Feeling a mix of frustration, exhaustion, and defeat, you bit back any further response. As you clocked out and walked out of the restaurant, you felt the tears begin to well up again.

By the time you got on the bus, the tears were streaming down your face. You found a seat at the back, hoping no one would notice as you buried your face in your hands and sobbed. The day's events replayed in your mind: the stress, the pain, the unfairness of it all. It felt like the weight of the world was pressing down on you, and you couldn't hold it in any longer.

As the bus moved through the city streets, you cried, letting out all the frustration and sorrow. You knew you had to face another day tomorrow, but for now, all you could do was let yourself feel the pain and hope that somehow, things would get better.

When you arrived home, you tried to wipe away your tears, determined to put on a brave face for Jude Bellingham, who had just returned from football camp. You were emotionally drained but wanted to be supportive and positive for him.

As you walked through the door, Jude was in the kitchen, looking relaxed and cheerful. He noticed your subdued demeanor but decided to wait before saying anything.

"Hey, how was work?" he asked, trying to keep his tone light.

"It was... busy," you replied, forcing a smile. "But let’s not focus on that. How was camp?"

Jude’s face lit up as he started recounting his experiences. "Camp was fantastic! We had some intense training sessions and a lot of fun. You won’t believe the prank Trent and I pulled on the new guys. We got them to believe they had to complete this ridiculous obstacle course to join the team."

He continued with animated enthusiasm, "And then there was the friendly match against a local team. Trent and I were trying out these new moves, and it was amazing to see the crowd’s reaction. We felt like rock stars!"

You nodded and smiled at the right moments, trying to engage with his excitement, but your mind kept drifting back to the stress of the day. Despite your efforts to seem interested, you felt a growing sense of overwhelm.

Jude’s stories flowed effortlessly. "Oh, and the camp mascot incident was hilarious. Trent and I ended up in the costume, and we had this impromptu dance-off with the kids. It was one of those moments where you just can’t stop laughing."

As he chatted, you found yourself struggling to keep up the façade. Your responses became more mechanical, and you occasionally glanced at the clock, feeling the weight of your exhausting day pressing down on you.

Jude seemed to sense something was off but kept going. "You know, I was telling Trent about how you and I used to go to that little café downtown. He said he’s been there before and loved it. We should go sometime."

You forced a laugh and nodded. "That sounds great."

As dinner preparation continued, you made an effort to stay present, but the stress from earlier was starting to take its toll. You kept insisting you were fine, even though you felt increasingly overwhelmed.

In the midst of this, you were preoccupied with trying to balance cooking and maintaining a cheerful demeanor. As you pulled a dish out of the oven, you accidentally brushed against the hot rack. The sudden sharp pain in your hand was like a jolt that broke through your emotional walls.

You cried out and rushed to the sink, holding your burned hand under the cold tap, your composure finally shattering. Tears streamed down your face as the pain seemed to trigger a flood of emotions from the stressful day.

Jude, who had been in the living room, heard your cry and the sound of your sobbing. He rushed into the kitchen and saw you with your hand under the tap, tears flowing freely.

"Hey, what happened?" Jude asked urgently, moving quickly to your side.

"I—I burned myself," you managed to say through sobs. "I’m so sorry... I tried to keep it together, but I couldn’t."

Jude gently took your hand from under the tap and inspected the burn. His concern deepened as he carefully wrapped your hand in a clean towel.

“Hey, hey, hey. Don’t cry, m’love. It’s okay—speak to me,” Jude said, his voice filled with concern as he moved to your side.

“What do you mean? I’m okay, I just burned myself,” you tried to explain, though your voice was trembling.

“Y/N, do you think I was born yesterday? I know my girlfriend, and I know when she’s upset. What happened?” Jude asked, his tone gentle but firm.

His insistence broke through your remaining resolve. You burst into tears, the emotional strain of the day combining with the pain of the burn. “I—I had such a terrible day. Jamie was so harsh, and everything seemed to go wrong. I was trying so hard to keep it together, but I just couldn’t anymore.”

Jude’s expression softened, filled with empathy and concern. “No, don’t say that. You’re not stupid. You’re my Y/N. You’ve been through so much, and you’ve handled it with so much strength and grace.”

He gently took your hand from under the tap and wrapped it in a clean towel. Pulling you into a comforting embrace, he continued, “Your a trooper you know.”

You clung to him, the warmth of his embrace providing a much-needed sense of security. Jude held you close, his arms wrapping around you with tenderness. He stroked your hair softly and whispered in your ear, “You’re amazing, you know that? You’re allowed to have bad days and to feel overwhelmed. I’m here to help you through it, no matter what.”

You buried your face in his shoulder, letting the tears flow freely as he continued to hold you. Jude’s soothing presence and gentle touch helped ease the burden of the day. He spoke softly, his voice full of love and reassurance. “You’ve been so strong, but it’s okay to let go and lean on me. I’m here to support you, to lift you up when you need it.”

Jude carefully wrapped your burned hand in a clean towel, his touch gentle but deliberate. He then pulled you into a comforting embrace. “Why don’t you head to the living room and take a breather? I’ll sort out dinner. And try not to make any more of the place look like a disaster zone, yeah?”

You managed a weak smile as you headed to the living room, still sniffling. The sounds of Jude bustling around in the kitchen—pots clattering, the hum of the stove—provided a bit of distraction as you settled onto the couch.

A few minutes later, Jude walked into the living room with his phone in hand and plopped down beside you. He placed his phone on the coffee table and began gently wiping away the tears from your cheeks.

“I don’t want anyone treating you like that,” Jude said firmly, but with a soft edge. “I’ve had a word with the higher-ups about Jamie. It’s not on.”

You looked at him, surprised. “You did? How’d you manage that?”

Jude grinned. “Let’s just say I’m good at sorting things out when it comes to my people."

You chuckled despite yourself. “Well, thanks. I didn’t think you’d go this far.”

Jude gave a cheeky wink. “I was gonna sort it anyway, oh, also, um well now seemed like the perfect time.”

"Jude-"

He pulled out his phone and showed you the screen. “I’ve had a chat with my agent. "

"What?!!"

"Got you a photography gig lined up. It’s something you’ve always wanted to do. Figured now’s as good a time as any.”

You were stunned, your eyes widening. “What-? How-When? How did you even know I wanted this now?”

Jude’s eyes twinkled with mischief. “I’ve been paying attention, love. You think i haven't notice your Pinterest boards? Or your amazon wish list?”

You laughed, a genuine smile spreading across your face. “I don’t even know what to say. This is amazing.”

Jude squeezed your hand gently. “You don’t have to say a thing. Just remember, you’re brilliant, and you deserve all the good things. And if you ever leave me for a glamorous photographer life, just make sure to give me a shout-out in your interviews.”

You playfully nudged him. “Oh, so you’re worried I’ll become too famous for you?”

Jude grinned. "If that means sharing a bit of the limelight, so be it.”

You leaned into him, feeling a mix of relief and affection. “I can’t believe how lucky I am to have you.”

Jude wrapped his arms around you. “I’m the lucky one. Seeing you happy is what matters to me. Now let’s enjoy the rest of the night. And if dinner turns into a burnt mess, at least we’ll have a laugh about it.”

Jude’s comforting presence and playful banter started to lift the weight of the day, bringing a renewed sense of hope and connection. His support and Brummie humor made the evening feel a lot brighter and more manageable.

[originalwinnercheesecake]

Wish list for CBS ghosts season 4

Make Patience a recurring antagonist for at least 2-3 episodes before that story gets resolved and she gets regulated to a background character.

Patience character to be 50% good religious farm girl, 50% crazy witch. She also needs to have a wicked(ly cool) ghost power

More of Isaac loving dinosaurs

More solo development for Isaac

More of Isaac and Hetty's awesome friendship

No Nigel for a while. I do not like him. He did a lot of things in his and Isaac's relationship that are textbook abusive partner behavior.

I think it is about time for Jay's restaurant to start up, and I would like that to actually become pretty successful/profitable. Mostly because I would like Sam and Jay to have a bit more disposable income to do things around the manor, and I know the B&B is unlikely to become super busy next season (unless the show is ending , which I really do not want).

The difference in treatment between the above ground ghosts and basement ghosts to be addressed. I know after season 3 that they aren't going to move them all up stairs. But it would be nice if Sam and Jay could like furbish the basement , and then more Basement ghosts than just Nancy got invited to come upstairs for games or discussion.

Just to be clear I still want Nancy to keep making her frequent visits up stairs and hang out with the man 8. I just also would not mind seeing Stuart or another nameless basement ghost standing or walking by in the background on the occasion.

Explore Pete's power more. He does not need to hop on a plane and go across the country or anything, but let him keep going out into town and having adventures. Also let him keep going on dates with other random ghosts outside of the house.

I know that Pete&Alberta will probably happen at some point in season 4. The thing is though while that ship was cute in season 1, the way the ship was handled in season 2 soured it like milk to me. Both characters need a lot of development, and separate explorations of what they want out of a relationship, before I can ship them again.

H-Money is still a couple I kinda like. I do not expect them to get back together in season 4 (Please not another season that is fully devoted to coupling up all the character), but I would like them to start scheming together again. Let them figure out how to interact together as friends, and build a stronger foundation to eventually, in season 5 maybe, try again.

I have heard people suggest that Pete's power could maybe be extend to getting the other ghosts through the barrier if they are like holding onto Pete's hand. I want this. Now I know Sass will want to visit a Pizza Hut, and Issac a dinosaur museum, but I would say the most important thing to do with that would be to take Thor and Flower over to the Farnsby manor to visit Bjorn and his girlfriend Judy. It would also be cool if there was a lesbian ghost living there they could set up Nancy with. Since Nisaac is on a "respite" and queer representation (preferably healthy queer representation) is important.

Everyone remember in season 2 when we learned about Flower's super protective, formally MIA, army vet brother : Rob. You remember how the show's staff said they would love to have Rob come to the B&B for a visit, and were already considering actors who could play him? I want this episode. Also if you cannot directly tell Rob his sister is a ghost on the property, then can Trevor or Alberta use their powers to help Flower send a message to Rob. To say that she still loves him. I cannot deal that both siblings spent like 50 years thinking the other hated them when neither did. It is to sad.

It would be cool if we could also have Ira visit once too. I know Flower did not love him like she did Michael or does Thor, but he was still someone who was a big part of her life for a while, and knowing her cannonly had a large impact on his. Maybe we find that while he has done charities in her memory, trauma over watching her be killed by a bear has also lead him to sponsor bear hunts or poaching. Flower is horrified. Then Sam and Jay have to spend his visit looking for a way to convince him that is not what Flower would have wanted.

Four standard episodes for each season are a Halloween episode, an episode where Bela visits, one where Stephanie wakes up, and one where Crash appears and is slightly relevant. I have no idea what to do for an episode with Crash, but for the others

-Ghost animals on Halloween

-Home theater night for ghosts and guests on the night Stephanie wakes up, complete with all the drama of set up and shenanigans that going to the movies encores.

- Bela is broken up with Eric, she does not even like him. This time her and Jay's parents come with her for the visit. Bela wants all the latest gossip surrounding the ghosts, but they have to tip toe around the parents. Jay's dad does not fully support the B&B even without the knowledge that it is haunted, and Sam does not want to give her mother in law another reason to suspect that she might be crazy.

Owning back to the "Can Pete take the other ghosts off the property" theory, can Thomas Woodstone be a ghost who died visiting a neighbors property. We have no reason to see Elias again since he has decided to stay put in Hell. But Thomas reappearing could be interesting for both Hetty and Alberta. If he does show up though I want the twist to be that he is actually severally cognitively impaired (think Lenny from oMaM)... I mean the man was from an inbred family, played with lead based toys as a baby, had a cocaine addict mom, and a father who was a lot of things. He could not have been all there. Also address more on if Earl ever actually cared for any of the people he was two timing (again development that needs to happen to make Alberta want to go from dating an Earl to a Pete).

A Sasappis based episode that is not his death story. I feel like he needs at least one more episode exploring what his life alive was like, to be appropriately gutted when we learn about his secret death.

Actually maybe we can hold off on Sass's death and Hetty's ghost power until season 5. let's keep the element of mystery in the show for a little longer.

[kiwi-and-pasta-at-3am]

MY PREDICTIONS/HOPES FOR CBS GHOSTS SEASON 4

- Trevor comes out as bisexual

- Jay comes out as bisexual

- Sam comes out as bisexual

- Sass comes out as bisexual

- someone comes out as half Italian, can't recall if it already happened but there's always an half Italian bitch in American casts I swear

- Nigel gets an arc or something where he creates actual existing relationships with the other ghosts and Sam and maybe also becomes a slightly better person

- Crash. Literally I just want Crash to be there and do something. Like we didn't get much of hambone but he ended up having one of the most gut wrenching backstories and I'm kinda hoping the same thing happens here

- Alberta and Pete develope more as a dynamic duo without getting romantic yet

- Jay gets to be unbothered, moisturized, happy, in his lane, focused, flourishing

- Trevor and Sass kiss/fake a relationship to make Hetty jealous and have her realize her feelings or something

- we get to see jay interacting with Sass in his dreams AT LEAST ONCE MORE because i can't believe they just threw the dream thing in there and then just forgot about it

- h-money 5 minutes uninterrupted makeout scene, bonus point if she picks him up

- obligatory point stating this list is satire (mostly) just in case

- puritan lady is an antagonist for more than an episode please please please please please let her arc be a bit longer, don't immediately resolve it in one ep

- something happened that makes me bawl my eyes out

- tomorrow they make a statement where they say they pranked us all and that actually season 4 will start airing in about a week and we won't have to wait till October

- jay & Sam cute date, idk how this would work out I just want them to be happy

That's about it

[animationadventures]

Young Eda spinoff this. Philip and Caleb spinoff that. Adult Hexsquad spinoff would be fire. But hear me out.

Gimme a spinoff called Lost Hoots. A show that goes through all the theoretical adventures we could have gotten if the show hadn't been shortened. No serialized plot needed, just show us what these intended episodes would have been like so we could explore x character or x location and how they would have fit into the Owl House world. Examples include:

Hettie Cutburn episode

Vitimir episode

Osran episode

Mason episode

Steve and Matt episode

Beach day episode

Bat Queen origin episode

Hooty origin episode

Dell episode

Clawthorne family healing episode

Emira episode

Vee and Camila episode

Human realm shenanigans episode

Multi-trackers episode

Demon realm food episode

Glandus episode

St. Epiderm episode

Dadrius and Sonter episode

Wittebane bros and Evelyn backstory episode

RAEDA WEDDING episode

The possibilities I tell you.

Don't come @ me saying it's too late, the show's already over; I know that. Let a guy dream about what could have been and what can still be someday.

[jarenka]

Remember this plot bunny? I was thinking about it again and I was like: Nah, Anakin wouldn't be able win against Palpatine to get him arrested. But he can kill Palpatine! So I wrote a fic where Anakin time-travels in the middle of Clone Wars, immediately kills the Chancellor and now Jedi Order need to do something about it because they can't just say: "Sorry, but Anakin Skywalker just returned here from the dark future and killed Palpatine because he was an evil genocidal wizard who planned to take over the Republic. Thank you for your attention."

“How did you find out that Chancellor Palpatine was directly connected with the separatists?”

“He told me himself”.

“Why would he tell you this? Don't you think this is a bit strange behavior for a person who allegedly has been cooperating with the separatists in deep secrecy for many years?”

“We are…” Anakin sighed. It was a touchy question. "Chancellor Palpatine and I were close friends. He proposed... to join him. He miscalculated”.

It isn’t entirelly true. Palpatine hasn’t yet invited Anakin to join him. He bent over his "dear friend", who fainted in his apartment when they had lunch together.

“Anakin, what's going on?.. I need to call a doctor,” Palpatine’s voice came to him distorted. Anakin was dead. He didn't know where he was or why he was hearing a real voice. He didn't know why he felt someone else's hand on top of his own. His lightsaber landed in his palm, and Anakin directed it to the place where the voice was coming from without hesitation. There was a smell of burnt wool and burnt flesh. Something heavy fell on him. When Anakin finally regained full consciousness, Chancellor Palpatine was lying there, completely dead, with a hole from a lightsaber in his chest.

“Why did Chancellor Palpatine invite you to join him?”

Anakin shrugged.

“I don't know.”

“Can you make a guess?”

“Perhaps he was dissatisfied with Dooku.”

Catch Dooku and ask, Anakin wanted to say, but for the past month Obi-Wan and lawyer Laila Hetty have been training him to answer questions correctly.

“So, you don't know for sure?”

“That's exactly what I have said.”

A military expert, a witness for the defense, will confirm that Dooku has failed several important operations in recent months. Perhaps Palpatine had a hand in his failures, but no one will ever know about it.

“What exactly did Chancellor Palpatine offer you?”

They set foot on very dangerous ground. Anakin needed to lie convincingly.

Anakin heard Obi-Wan's tired voice in his head, “You've been a Sith for over twenty years. You should be good at lying!"

He uttered the phrase he had memorized with Obi-Wan: “He offered me a place as commander-in-chief of the Republican army if I help him to prolong the war as much as he needs.”

“How can you, as a Jedi, hold such a post?"

Anakin sighed.

“Chancellor Palpatine wanted to get rid of the Jedi.”

There were whispers in the hall. Anakin tried to ignore them.

“Why?”

“You'd better talk to the members of the Council about this.”

“Did Chancellor Palpatine just casually tell you that he wanted to destroy the Order?”

Anakin closed his eyes and opened them again. He had to remind himself that everyone around him could see his face.

“I myself confessed to him that the Council suspected him of having ties with the separatists and was going to... take action.”

Obi-Wan Kenobi and Adi Gallia will speak on behalf of the Council. They will both say that some members of the council have long suspected that a very high-ranking official works with separatists, and some of them have already begun to suspect Palpatine. Obi-Wan won't be able to remember exactly if he and Anakin talked about it, but it's quite likely — after all, they were very close and discussed a lot of different things among themselves. Another witness for the defense will be an inhibitor chip specialist who will demonstrate that among the orders of the clone army there is an order to destroy the Jedi. He will indicate that this order was sewn in initially, during clone army creation. It’s not that important to Anakin’s case, both officials and independent investigators are now looking into clones’ creation.

“So, Master Skywalker, let's talk about why Chancellor Palpatine decided that you would agree to his proposal.”

I have no idea, Anakin wanted to reply.

“Remember,” he heard Obi-Wan say, “you need to present a convincing story to the jury. You killed Palpatine, it's quite obvious, but you can be acquitted.”

Anakin looked at the jury once again. They were ordinary inhabitants of Coruscant of different ages and races. Who do they see in front of them? The former posterboy of the Republic, pale and disheveled, with dark circles under his eyes. In the morning before the hearing Ahsoka tried to help him clean up, but she had no idea what to do with human hair. Maybe it's even better this way. The jury will think he's suffering terribly after he murdered Palpatine.

“Chancellor Palpatine,” Anakin began, “had already talked about me leaving the Order. He... he knew about my disagreements with the Council and was ready to help me settle on my own on Coruscant.”

“Were your disagreements with the Council that serious?”

“Perhaps I... exaggerated a little in my conversations with the Chancellor, and he thought that my conflict with the Council was much more serious than it really was.”

Anakin in fact remembered that the Council couldn't stand him, and everyone there didn't like him, except Obi-Wan. He thought they would hate him even more when they found out about everything he had done. Anakin was no longer one of them, he had been a Sith longer than he had been a Jedi, right before his death he turned away from the Dark Side but committed numerous crimes before it. And yet the Order came to his defense. It would be much more convenient for them to leave Anakin at the mercy of Republican justice. He would have received a life sentence for the murder of the chancellor and spent the rest of his life in prison. Anakin was ready for such a fate. It was still better than becoming a Sith, and better than losing Padme. She will stay alive, and maybe even visit him in prison.

Instead, the Council insisted on keeping Anakin in the Temple instead of handing him over to the Coruscant detention center. Master Windu came to him and said: “Anakin, you will be judged by a jury, but I'm afraid they won’t like a time-travel story.”

“I know,” Anakin replied. “You didn't have to come here to tell me about it.”

It seemed to him then that Master Windu wanted to gloat. This was a stupid thing to think.

“During the investigation, they will most likely find some evidence that the chancellor passed information to the separatists. And if you prepare well for the trial, you may be acquitted. We will help you.”

“Why would you help me? I'm not a Jedi anymore.”

“That's not true. You're still a Jedi knight, you have a Padawan, and you killed a Sith who planned to seize power in the Republic and destroy the Order. It's the least we can do for you."

Anakin chuckled.

“The least”? And then what counts as “the most"?”

“We won’t talk about it, it’s illegal”.

Mace Windu smiled with the corner of his mouth.

“I know a very good lawyer,” he said. “She and Master Kenobi will help you prepare for the interrogations.”

After that Mace Windu came to him more than once, asked about the Sith, brought datachips with holodramas and recordings of theatrical plays. Obi-Wan brought him records of pod races and his favorite books. Anakin's cell was spacious enough to train, and he had long been used to doing it alone. It turned out that even the prison in the Temple was a much cozier place than his castle on Mustafar or his personal quarters abroad of the “Executor”.”

Adi Gallia came to ask him about Palpatine's ties with different shady groups. Anakin knew about them, although Palpatine didn’t reveal everything even to Darth Vader, his apprentice and right hand man.

“Are you going to conduct your own investigation?” he asked.

“I'm afraid the Order can't afford to investigate. But we can tell someone where exactly they need to dig.”

Anakin was sure that she was talking about official investigators with unnecessary secrecy, and had no good feelings about it. Most likely they, too, were corrupted by Palpatine and would not investigate his machinations too actively, if they didn’t want to accidentally investigate themselves.

A month and a half later, Obi-Wan brought him a datachip and with a large joint investigation of The Evening News and The Point that Chancellor Palpatine was transferring money to several criminal organizations through shady firms under the jurisdiction of the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Journalists were able to trace some money to bounty hunters who carried out the chancellor's orders.

“Six months ago,” Obi-Wan said, “someone killed two The Point journalists who were investigating the creation of a clone army.”

“Has anyone reacted to this article?”

“Oh, it caused a full scale outrage. Our media was scaring us with separatists and bounty hunters for years and now it turns out that the Chancellor of the Republic is tied to both of them.”

“It won't hurt the Chancellor in any way. He's dead.”

“But it means that the Chancellor has committed treason, and you... hmm, maybe you didn't act very wisely, because the Chancellor should be convicted by the court, but at the end of the day your actions were justifiable.”

“He's a Sith, he couldn't have been arrested. He would have had time to give the order to destroy the Jedi. And besides, he could bribe investigators and judges.”

“We know that. But for an ordinary citizen of the Republic, you broke the law and killed the Chancellor instead of initiating an investigation. You need to show that you had no other choice, and you acted in the interests of the Republic.”

“So, the last question. Let's go back to why you killed Chancellor Palpatine instead of reporting him to the authorities?”

This last question was perhaps the most difficult. He couldn't answer it directly. Anakin had many reasons to kill Palpatine, but nobody would believe a time-travel story. Jedi agreed not to touch on this topic at the trial.

It's good that Obi-Wan came up with a plausible explanation for me, he thought. During the time they were preparing for the trial, Anakin even managed to convince himself that Obi-Wan has a point.

“At first I planned to do so. The Chancellor committed high treason, he should have been arrested,” he replied. “But I've known Chancellor Palpatine for a long time. He is… he was a very careful person, and he always had a backup plan. As you said, he wouldn’t just confess his crimes to me, a Jedi General," Anakin thought that here he might be suspected of insincerity. He was speaking in Obi-Wan's words, not his own. — “And then I realized that the Chancellor would not let me live if I refused to join him. Probably he planned to poison me, but I didn't think about it back then. I just realized that I would not have the opportunity to inform someone about his crimes. General Skywalker would accidentally die of natural causes, and Chancellor Palpatine would continue to act on his plans.”

To his surprise, one of the policemen later confirmed that they found a container full of lycaea extract in the Chancellor's apartment. It was a rare poison from Outer Rim that couldn’t be detected with standard tests, and the consequences of poisoning looked like a heart attack. “How did you guess he would have the poison?” Anakin asked Obi-Wan later. “If I were him, I would keep something like this in case of an emergency. Being a Sith he could kill a person with his lightsaber or strangle them with the Force, but such a death wouldn’t look natural. "Natural" deaths occur mainly from poison.”

[the-snake-and-dove]

thorfinn and sasappis are absolutely taking over my brain so here's some of my favorite canon things about them.

-thor learned how to apologize solely because of sass and the fight they had about "their" show. they've since watched all the episodes together.

-they tend to generally like standing close by one another. thor actually stands/sits closest to him more than he does anyone else (until he begins dating flower, but even then he still tends to want to be around him.) even if one of them is sitting, the other tends to stand nearby or behind.

-when another enters the room they tend to first interact with each other over the other ghosts. they also tend to leave rooms together, even if they're not already close by each other.

-sass was the only one who was able to get him to try and attempt therapy and knew what would make him do it. he was also in support of jay's therapy idea from the beginning.

-THEYVE SHARED A WIGWAM TOGETHER.

-they keep secrets between one another. only thor knew about sass' ghost power for 500 years.

-when thor thought flower was gone he started spending a lot of time at sass' side, even talking to him as if he was flower.

-sass smartly turned down rooming with him, and avoided actually turning him down or saying "no" so he didn't hurt his feelings.

-sass tends to react less to his loudness more than anyone else. in s1e2 when they decide to talk with sam and jay over the house and thor starts yelling, everyone yells at him to stop but in the background sass instead nods and goes "okay let's tone it down." he also got mad at isaac for telling thor his energy was too much and kept insisting he apologize to him.

-thor has canonically admitted to watching sass in intimate situations before when he was alive (how are there not more fics of them just from this line alone)

-the entire christmas possession episode. thor follows sass around almost the entire time and looks to him for guidance for every interaction he had to do "as sam."

-they have around 50 or so minutes of screen-time they share together over the course of 3 seasons. most of it is in season 2.

-sass is the most polite in his corrections, and tries to explain things in full so thor better understands. thor often turns to him when he's confused about something.

-thor came up with sass' tree "friendzone" to cheer him up over losing the last thing he had left of his life and said they could watch the trees grow together. (that entire interaction between them is my all-time favorite)

-when flower gets out of the well, we briefly see that they have their arms around each other for a moment when isaac is trying to talk to hetty. out of everyone except flower, sass has been able to touch thor the most.

[bubbipond]

There is something about how they decided to shoot the Peem confession scene. It's not some major event like in most bl's or dramas. Where one character finally says it, after long periods of "will they won't they". Instead, it's shot as a means to end an end. Up til now, PhumPeem have been running around the idea of being with each other. Keeping their relationship a playful-flirty banter, without actually getting together.

But finally, doing that dance has become detrimental to their progress. When you are in a relationship, the idea is, you will never disappear. But in their scenario, there is no such assurance. Either boy could walk away at any point (and yes, technically you can do that in a relationship too but it's not a normal way to break up). They both want to be a comfort zone for each other but in many ways, they can't be in their current status. Their placements aren't like Q with Peem or Fang/Beer with Phum. When their friends need them, they are there. There does not need to be an update to their friend statuses because that is already set in stone. But these two aren't just friends and because of that, being upset and hurt feels very different. Peem can't just kick Phum or tell him to F off like he'd probably do to Q or the others. Phum can't just go ghost and sweep stuff under the rug because he knows Fang/Beer know him well enough to know he's (in theory) okay.

But what I love most is the simplicity of the, "I only know I love you" because up until now Peem has been confused about his feelings for Phum. He doesn't need to understand anything else about what happened or why it happened. He doesn't care about the painting, the art show, or how anyone else feels. He just understands now that his feelings aren't that complicated and that he can't see a future without Phum around. But not even in the way he has been around, he can't see a life without Phum being by his side. So when he tells him, "I only know I love you" he is telling Phum that nothing else matters to him outside that. It doesn't need to be this abstract concept, like what his professor told him. What's wrong with simplicity? There's still a lot of story in it and I think that's the whole of this stupid ass series. Life and love don't have to be extravagant or some huge display. Sometimes is just simple.

Okay, I am banning myself from We Are posts til Wednesday, bye. Gonna go binge a hetty kdrama...

[cass-iopia]

imagine hob and johanna somehow finding each other and becoming friends before dream escapes the fishbowl to meet with hob and once he does escape, jo is one of (the first?) human he comes across in the waking and she instantly learns his name bc of hettie. now imagine dream going to his meeting with hob and STILL not telling him his name (he forgot, hob didn’t ask, etc.) so jo and hob meet up for their weekly drinks sesh and jo is telling hob about her latest exorcism and how dream of the endless shows up etc etc, hob is sympathetic to her story like “yeah, this all powerful personification of the collective unconscious IS a dick” and bc dream is trying to be a better friend he has tuned in to when hob is thinking about him so he shows up to the new inn to surprise hob but instead he hears hob absolutely ragging on him and doesn’t know what to do with himself now. (this could go really angsty really quickly with a huge misunderstanding going on or it could go the comedic route of hob finding out his strangers name right after saying he’s a dick and having to turn back to jo and immediately take back everything he just said (jo is v aggravated that hob is so taken with dream already, she wanted to bitch for a bit longer))

[yourstrulyray]

s4 beginning prediction + hetty power because im going insane :3c (warning it's very yapful)

nigel temporarily goes back to the shed because hes still not over the wedding (isaac lied about the "he understands" thing to make him not look like a total failure in front of the other ghosts) and sorta just. mopes. theres a possibility jenkins would be involved but idk 🤷‍♂️

thor and flower's wedding wouldve probably been being prepared... only if, isaac were there. he'd been gone for a while, which brought concern among the ghosts, they thought he mightve went to properly apologize to nigel but its been over half a day so everyone thinks he went missing. one of them visits the shed to see if isaac was there (lets use pete as a placeholder because hdjsnf im too lazy to type). nigel explains that isaac never went to the shed, or knew where he was, or cares, which confuses pete because isaac told them he reacted fine. then boom miscommunication-while-the-other-is-absent situation, blalala pete continues by saying isaac has been suspiciously gone for a little over 12 hours already, which then does concern nigel (finally)

thor is super stoked for the wedding but flower says she doesnt want to wed until they find isaac. this sort of irritates thor because he wants to get married as soon as possible, just to prove how loyal he is and how much he loves flower, but she puts friends first. thor and flower go on a minor respite (haha get nisaac'd) because of this

its almost the end of the day but they still cant find isaac. one of the ghosts suggests he got sucked off, but that's just too much to handle (especially for nigel), so sasappis suggests that maybe the puritan ghost isaac let go of that one time kidnapped him for revenge. also diabolical, because she probably got sucked off. buuut that doesnt mean she did, riiight??

so

yeah. they decided on that. but there's NO way in heaven nor hell are any of them gonna walk through dirt. this is where my prediction for hetty's ghost power will come in: echolocation. you know how telephones were used to, well, talk to people from far away? and also phones from her time ring loudly? well I think that when she expresses a very strong emotion or uses enough strength like thor, it triggers a ringing sound and gives off a "feeling" of someone's prescence/where a person is. im thinking maybe she could use this power to find isaac through the dirt, but honestly she might end up finding patience instead. theres a chance. but oh well !!!!

also another minor/side quest thing, im hoping hetty brings nigel along with finding isaac. given their previous beef in s2, i think they'll have a mini arc where they both just accept the fact that isaac loves them both equally, and no one is more important to him than the other, allat stuff. also putting each other to risk because, well, theyre in the dirt they cant see shit. hoping that during their traverse under the ground they'll both learn to value each other ,,,,,okay thats just cheesy

now i have no idea what will happen when they find isaac. but its exciting to think of it‼️‼️

[cardentist]

evillious posting again, but I get a bit miffed when people Genuinely get mad at gallerian for cheating on his wife, insist that it's unforgivable and put it on the shelf with hetti media.

1: because it's just silly when people love characters who do cannibalism and blow up the literal entire earth in this series. the man caused fantasy world war 1, I think he's got bigger problems going on

2: ma's role in the whole thing and how what she did was narsty as hell

3: that the cheating was Like That.

Allow Me To Paint A Picture:

you're a teenage boy and a guy you think is your friend gets mad at you when you talk to his girlfriend. you both think it's weird but you don't say anything because you really don't have many friends in the first place.

but then your so called friend goes on a tirade about how you're inherently lesser than him and tries to literally hunt you for sport, and you get shot and one of your fingers never moves right again but you survive. and then you find out that your ex friend was a horrific monster who was born and raised by horrific monsters, and what happened to you is just one in a Very long line of lives they've tried to crush. so you use your status to help these people who saved your life put your used to be friend behind bars through lying and cheating and manipulation

and when it's over and done with his girlfriend who was never allowed to Really be your friend (she'd been His girlfriend, and you'd been His friend) confides in you that the way he treated her was awful and hurt her too. and you don't really like her and she doesn't really like you so much as you both know that it'd make him mad if he knew that you were sneaking off together. you learn that he killed himself in jail, and you miss the person who'd been your friend.

and now you're not even 18 years old and you're getting married, because trying to get back at someone who already wasn't there had consequences. but when your daughter is born you love her. you love her with everything that you have, you love her with everything you'd want to give a family.

you and your wife don't really get along. you'd never Really been friends before you were partners, and she doesn't get you in a way that you don't get her. she always had abundance even when she never had control, you've spent your whole life wrestling for control because you've never been given anything.

it's your birthday, and she's not with you. it's your birthday and one of the people who saved your life is here instead. it's your birthday and she wears the face of someone you lost a long time ago. it's your birthday and you've always wanted a family. it's your birthday and you've never had alcohol before but she bought it for you special to celebrate and she tells you to drink as much as you want. it's your birthday and you're wobbling on your feet. it's your birthday and you're laying in her bed. it's your birthday and she looks down her nose at you but she doesn't say no.

she keeps visiting you. she keeps holding you. she tells you what you want to hear. and then she's gone again.

both gallerian and mira were victims of circumstance, and Neither of them were good for each other. they didn't Deserve what happened but they weren't In Love. they married because their careers would be over if they didn't, they married because their child wouldn't have a family if they didn't, they married because they had to.

also gallerian is gay

(going into detail about what, Exactly, makes what ma did creepy as hell under the cut. 1: because it's creepy and 2: because a lot of people know and don't need to be subjected to it again)

warnings for: incest and grooming

so without getting into the Specifics of how ma happened (because that would take too much) here's the break down:

ma is an Amalgam that's hundreds of years old. she was made by smashing together a bunch of souls at random, and she wants to absorb more into her. but there are Also souls that she wishes to expel out of her.

to do this she needs to create empty vessels that meet the conditions that the souls will accept. namely they need to have the right magical potential (the souls that created her were, of course, some of the most magically inclined that's ever existed).

the problem with That being that essentially the salem witch trials are happening and have been for decades. most people with strong magical potential are dead.

enter gallerian's father. he's a judge with magical potential. she has a baby with him, that baby is gallerian. she then fakes her own death to dip out of being his mother by getting caught As a witch and being "executed."

the problem being that while gallerian has the right magical Potential (being a combination of her magical potential and his fathers), he's not the right Gender (the soul she wanted to get rid of is rather picky).

and so gallerian grows up without a mother, poor and with everyone knowing that he's related to a witch (there's Also something to be said about ma being fantasy japanese, with them living in fantasy america in roughly world war 1 and 2 era. though that part isn't elaborated on in text)

And Then All Of The Above Happens.

She Knows that she is gallerian's mother, She Knows that growing up ostracized without a family fucked him up, She Knows that he's vulnerable and why.

she was his mother, she met gallerian again when he was a teenager, he brought him back into her life specifically with the goal of having sex with him to get rid of the soul she was carrying, it was his 20th birthday the first time they had sex, she knew it was his first time drinking, he couldn't stand on his own.

if the soul had latched onto gallerian when he was born then she would have killed him, but it didn't and so she ruined him instead.

this is grooming, what she did was groom him. and it's not that gallerian doesn't have Any agency, but I simply don't think it's reasonable to treat the situation like it's cut and dry when it isn't.

Especially when she'd come back and does so much worse.

[lamportb]

The stitch up

Finally have a minute to re watch episode 4. Rambling below

Love Fagin and Jack covered in viscera in Gaines’ carriage with his wife. “My colleague and I were burying a cadaver” A+ excuse Jack, totally explains why you aren’t wearing pants.

I didn’t notice just how clear it is that Lady Jane is the real governor of the colony. Don’t love her as an obstacle to true love, but I Stan a powerful smart lady.

Hetty is a queen. “All right! Time to check your rose bushes” while she makes the rounds in the brothel, then single handedly loads Rotty in a cart to haul her to the hospital. Also ignores Sneed and gets Jack when it’s clear the first surgery didn’t work.

When Belle goes to observe the surgery Sneed suggests that the surgical theatre is too gory for her and that she should read to the patients instead “some of them can barely read”. Cue pointed look at Jack. I didn’t pick up on this the first time.

Belle also tells Jack that her father paid for Sneed’s medical training! Talk about having connections.

Jack is soooo baby soft when Belle offers to help him. His eyes change. It’s perfection.

despite hating Jack, Sneed still defends him when Gaines is looking for reasons to arrest him. More reason I love that pompous git.

Seriously, there’s not a filler scene anywhere in this series.

Gaines trashes Jack’s room and threatens him with handing and/or flogging to death. Jack has JUST had this very hopeful conversation with Belle and here he is on his bed holding the trampled remains of his signature top hat - the Dodge dilemma. How can he hang it up permanently, and does he want to?

“sniffly Sneed” 😂

dodger hat back on when sneaking around the governor’s yard to find Belle. “We don’t pay for cadavers. We just… borrow them”

11 o’clock cadaver date is the hottest thing Belle has ever heard.

I love Tim and I love how he loves Red.

Fanny is so excited by the idea that Sneed’s medical knowledge will make him a good lover. Yeah…

Jack the savant surgeon - eyes closed in concentration. Lovely.

Jack is illiterate clue 2: he is so unsettled at the idea of being found out he just nopes himself right out of the situation and leaves Belle in the operating theatre at presumably midnight or later. Lol.

“the white ghost who’s close to his grave” should be my new tag for Fagin

Red is so fucking cool

Feels like a very deliberate choice for Belle to let her hair down when she joins Jack in the surgery. Maybe because of the conversation with Fanny about going for it? (Finding love with Sneed?). Also how did Belle know to be there? Tim says they can do the second surgery because Sneed left the hospital. Did Jack just have her hiding on standby? Was it a coincidence? I don’t care - she looks gorgeous.

lots has already been mentioned about the Hetty/Jack/Belle situation but I appreciate the framing of this scene with the three of them - both women assisting in their own way, and both necessary to Jack’s success.

Belle seems genuinely taken aback when Jack is so abrupt with her when the surgery starts, but her relief when she helps him in the end and he smiles at her is so sweet. She is basking in that smile - I don’t think I realized how fast she fell for him. (Of course they start arguing about publication and the moment passes)

“I shall be turned around as a curiosity” - some more insight into Jack’s insecurities.

Lady Jane: “Have you been alone with the surgeon?” Belle: “There’s always another body in the room” 😂

What time is this dinner starting? 2pm? It’s so bright!

love Sneed and the prof arriving in a carriage while Jack walks up in his Navy uniform.

Note to self: research the siege of Sevastopol.

Ah! Jack describes his time as a naval surgeon as “nothing more than butchery” to Lady Jane. Those words sting all the more when she uses them against him later.

Fanny and Belle are both terrible at flirting. Belle can’t stop interrupting to talk up Jack and Fanny can’t stop staring. “I love soup”

I also love how Jack is SO UNCOMFORTABLE with Belle praising him at the table. She’s not lying, but her embellishments are so unnerving to him. “Really, it’s nothing” - but she just. Can’t. Stop.

Jack really is trying. He takes responsibility for Fagin not knowing what the plan is. He tries to fit in. Seems a bit harsh to snap at Belle but she was terrible at reading his cues - like this is her surgical theatre and he has to defer to her expertise. It’s too vulnerable for him.

“I AM rare!” Have i mentioned how much I love the ladies in this show??

Jack’s little voice crack when he blurts out “I CAN read!” And then a little softer “I can read, just not very well”

All her talk of teams and partnerships - she really did bet on him. All in.

”You can take the boy out of East London but you really shouldn’t”

”Belle will never speak to me again” right before taking Fagin’s share of the money and heading to the card table

whew! Gold star if you got this far.

[cbsghostsmetasandtrevor]

Finally got to see last night's episode.

-Pete and Hetty laughing at Carol. 🤣🤣

-How does Issac "have" money. I'm sure the check was made out to ONLY Sam. And she put it in HER account. No way did she open a bank account in Issac's name. So how can he "claim" it's his? I'm totally with Jay on this. Issac can't LITERALLY spend it, so how is even ONE CENT his?

-Pete going from no ladies to two BABES. 😁

-Carol shut up.

-No, I'm sorry. Issac and his "demands" are pissing me off. Jay is a bit harsh, but really Issac is being ridiculous.

-Wouldn't the smell go away after a good shower and fresh clothes?

-Oh shit. GO PETE!!!

-Pete and Sass bonding over butterscotch. 🥰

-Jay reading the book and making peace. ♥️ Although giving the center table to the ghosts IS a bit questionable.

-Alberta. 🤨🤣🔥

-Damn I knew I forgot something. Trevor. 👏 Although I question him taking two HOURS, what did Sam and Jay do all that time?

YESSS OMG, I am not always the biggest Hetty fan, but I loved her last night! She was fun and cheering Pete up and it's so good. Especially laughing at the Donut Hole bit! LOVED IT.

I've complained about this SO MUCH. It makes 0 sense for Isaac to have money. First because of the whole book was part of "the deal" to leave Sam alone - since they haven't left alone, really - the money for the book should be her compensation. She did the work for it. And second, again, he's a ghost - he doesn't need money and he shouldn't have any. Sam & Jay already do so much for them without anything in return - especially Jay since he can't even see them - so I thought it was ridiculous.

I love Trevor, but the only reason I was okay with what he did there in the episode was A-it helped them, and B-Jay's been always giving him a hard time, so it makes *sense* that he'd be difficult (or encourage Isaac to be difficult).

Anyway, tangent there.

Pete is a BABE magnet. I would've LOVED if Hetty had gotten in on it, too.

I still can't believe Carol was like "I only know from *soaps*" - bitch, please.

I absolutely agree that Isaac was ridiculous about it and Jay was right and I really enjoy the fact that JAY STOOD UP TO THE GHOSTS.

I don't understand the lingering smell - we've never got that indication before? So it feels weird. It should've faded the same way that Flower's hits fade after a time. Or at least after a shower.

YES, Pete went off! He didn't yell, but he was plain and simple getting things off his chest. And I loved it. Also loved Carol's JAW DROP. It was so good.

How'd a miss bonding over butterscotch with Pete and Sass?

I do love the center table thing, but fuck, Isaac didn't apologize did he? Also, it might be a bit weird. Unless, they go with "Haunted" restaurant/B&B (which is what they should've done from the start), and say it's for the ghosts.

Okay okay - So I'm not sold on if that was his power, if it was a dream sequence, or if that is just a thing he can always do but the hair thing is what turned Alberta on? What do you think?

Also, on that note, it felt very 80s/90s, take glasses off and you're suddenly hot moment.

Lastly, the whole TREVOR TAKES TWO HOURS for a password makes no sense. I'm sorry, he was good enough for it to be VERY obvious that a ghost was typing in the Ghost Trap episode in just a very second videos. It feels like they're taking that back and erasing his - getting better at his power thing and it makes 0 sense. Like let him get better at his power now that he can use it all the time. That would make sense, right?

Anyway, didn't like that bit 'cause it makes no sense.

But overall, I'm very, very invested this season.

[audrey-carr1]

You'd have to stop the world just to stop the feeling

A/N: I'd be lying if I wasn't inspired by Rebecca saying she loves Chappell Roan. RIP Hetty, you would have loved Chappell too. If you couldn't tell by the title, this is loosely based on the lyrics of Chappell Roan's "Good luck, Babe". Don't worry I will be doing a more heart-wrenching version with Hetty being the one who broke things off soon. :)

Enjoy, loves! It's a long one!

word count: 3k+

warnings: Angst, fem! reader, mentions & thoughts of suicide, character death, hurt with a little comfort if you squint.

May 1876:

"Hetty, you and I both know that we cannot up and run away together," I say pulling her into the library away from possible listening ears.

"Who says we cannot? We just need the opportunity, and it's staring right at us," Hetty says. It seems in her head she has almost everything figured, but I see nothing but holes in a poorly put together plan.

"There is no opportunity," I sigh, "You are getting married, Hetty." I sit on the couch and reach my hand out for her to follow suit.

"To a man, I do not love! I can not have a life like that, I will not live out my mother's life," Hetty shakes her head in frustration and sits next to me.

"Hetty we could be caught," I whisper adjusting the skirt of my dress to sit closer to her.

"Not if we leave now, please do not make me leave without you," Hetty grasps my hands tightly in hers. Wrapping her fingers around mine.

"Hetty, you know I could not let you do that,"

"You'd rat me out?" Hetty asks.

"Because you aren't thinking clearly. We do not have a true plan, we cannot start a life together on luck," I hiss wiping angry tears from my face.

"You said you wanted to be with me. That you would do anything for us to be together, and now you have cold feet?" Hetty cannot believe what she's hearing. She felt like she was the only one trying to save the relationship.

"Hetty I'm thinking about our future. Your future for heaven's sake is hanging by the thread of a land deal," I try to reason with her, but I know once Hetty has her mind made up it is up to the Lord himself to change it.

"Which is why we take the money that is left and we run. Please I cannot live like this,"

"Hetty, you are panicking. Please think about what it is you are asking me to do. What you are asking of yourself! You are being hysterical!"

"I am not hysterical!" Hetty cries. I flinch at her raising her voice, and she gives me a quick apology. We both know that this conversation is not going anywhere, and it's going to lead to more angry words than comfort. We sit in silence for a few moments. I reach my hand back out to grab hers.

"Hetty, as much as it pains me to watch you have to live and love someone else, I have no choice but to let go and love you from a distance. I am aware I am telling you something you already know. I, however, cannot leave my family right now," I become nervous as I prepare myself to tell her something I wish I didn't have to, "I also have something to tell you, and I know you will not take it well. However, I do not wish for you to hear about it from anyone else but me."

"Well it's not like you're going to tell me you're engaged to be married to that Englishman,"

I avert my gaze to my hands, and Hetty does the same. Hetty's eyes immediately fall upon my engagement ring, and she feels as if her heart has been snatched from her chest. All of this commotion may actually send into Hetty hysterics.

I watch Hetty's face as more tears well up in her eyes, and how her cheeks start to redden in anger underneath her makeup.

"I believe this is when we end our liaisons," I say quietly.

"Leave," Hetty says throwing my hands back into my lap.

"Hetty?" I ask not entirely sure that is what she said. I feel my heart drop as I look to her.

"Go! I do not wish to look upon you any longer" Hetty shouts before turning away from me.

I know she doesn't mean it. However I am no longer in the mood for attempting to talk sense into her. I place a kiss on her cold cheek, and try to ignore the heaviness in my chest as I leave the room without a backward glance.

_____________________________________________________________

May 1876:

I see Hetty twice before her wedding after our argument. The first sighting is at the dressmaker's. We happened to have the same shop sew our wedding gowns. My mother dotes and fauns over me while Hetty is surrounded by her sisters, aunts, mother-in-law, and other female cousins.

"How lucky are we to have two brides at our shop," The seamstress says no doubt happy she has the richest bridges in the county to sew for.

I glance at Hetty from the mirror, and I see her looking back at me. I manage to give her a smile, and I feel my knees weaken when she does the same. I feel her gaze travel over my frame, and I feel my cheeks grow warm. Hetty licks her lips, and as if I were under her spell I do the same. Our moment does not last long as Hetty’s attention is pulled away as she called on by someone in her party. Besides stolen glances, we do not have much of a chance to speak as our families are prattling on about the details of our respective weddings.

Hetty and her family leave, but I happen to sneak one more peek at Hetty before she leaves. By an act of fate, she looks back at me with a passing smile before she exits the shop. The look in her eyes that says she is not mad at me. That same look of love and adoration is still there, it's subtle due to our current location but I know it's there.

A smile breaks out on my face, and no matter how hard I try I can not seem to keep it contained.

______________________________________________________________

June 1876:

The second sighting we meet in secret is the night before her wedding. Hetty did not want to be alone before the wedding as her father would not return from business until the morning, and Margaret was out with her cousins until tomorrow as well.

Hetty and I had meant for it to be a simple meeting, we have never been simple. It started off with confections, then wine, and we ended up with our legs tangled together in sheets.

We are careful to not leave marks on the other one's body, as we love each other physically for what may very well be the last time. I am not sure how long we have spent pleasuring each other. I do know the sun had not yet set when Hetty’s back first met the mattress, and as Hetty brings me to completion yet again the moon hangs in the sky.

“You my dear are perfectly debauched,” Hetty says wiping her fingers on a nearby handkerchief. She kisses me and I moan as I taste myself on her lips.

"Are you sure I cannot come to England with you?" Hetty pouts.

"If I could, I would pack you in my favorite steam trunk," I reply kissing her nose. She snorts as this, and we laugh. I love when she laughs, it is the most beautiful ever symphony composed.

Amid our joy, I cannot help but feel overcome with emotion. While I enjoy being with Hetty, my mind does not want to come to terms that this is our last time together. It continues to wander to ideas of us running away, or us getting caught if we did try to leave. No matter how I try to tell myself I have to keep Hetty safe, my mind tells me that will be impossible in another country. I tried to keep the tears from falling, but a few escaped and fell down my cheeks. I was hoping they would go unnoticed, but Hetty sees them and kisses them away.

"We'll visit each other yes?" I ask softly my voice breaking.

Hetty pulls me in closer, our arms wrapped under each other's as her head rests on mine. She kisses my forehead before whispering, "Of course, my heart, nothing will be able to us apart," She shivers and I pull the covers over us as the sweat on our body starts to cool.

"I feel as if I am trapped on a merry-go-round that never stops. Nothing I do seems to ease my mind," I say another tear escaping my eye.

Hetty hums in agreement, "I believe you'd have to stop the world to stop that feeling, my love ."

The moonlight shines through Hetty's window, and I admire how the light illuminates her skin. Her red hair makes it seem as if she's glowing.

"I love you, and I'll never cease loving you," I say looking up to meet her eyes. I try to commit this moment to memory, so I may never forget how loved I feel.

"Till death do us part, my everything," Hetty vows before kissing me goodnight.

______________________________________________________________

1895:

"(y/n)?" My husband calls out.

"In the parlor dear," I call out to him.

He soon enters the parlor room, takes my hand, and kisses it in greeting. He sits down on the settee to me and places his hand on top of mine. Confused, I look at him and see his face is stricken.

"Darling, you look vexed. What troubles you?" I ask caressing his face in my hand.

"I fear that I have terrible news, and I am not sure how to tell you,"

"What could possibly be so terrible on our trip back to New York? We get to see our friends, and most importantly I get to do some shopping. I wonder if Hetty will finally be available-"

"That is the problem, darling. Hetty..." He clears his throat before continuing, "Hetty has died in an apparent suicide."

I tilt my head in confusion. Processing the words that hang in the air. I look in his eyes, and while I can see no hint of dishonesty my mind tells me his playing an awful trick.

"That is not funn-“ I begin 

He cuts me off, "I would never joke about a matter like this. A pal of mine is friends with their lawyer. It'll hit the public tomorrow. I wanted to tell you because I know how close you two were." Only if he truly knew.

"Well thank you for telling me, I think I will retire to my room now ," I say getting up from the settee.

"If you need anything-"

"Thank you, but I'll be alright," I squeeze his hand in assurance as I leave the room. I use the rest of my strength to carry myself to my room, and I feel as if I'm dragging myself by the time I reach the door. Once inside, I collapse against the wooden frame. My chest heaves and burns as I try to take in air, but it feels as if there is no oxygen left in the room. My eyes sting with unshed tears. My thoughts race, and I feel as if I'm going to tear my hair out. To have spent years an ocean away from Hetty was one thing, but to now spend the rest of my life without her Hetty is going to drive me mad. I have to be with her. I cannot stand to be alone without her. My ears buzz, and my heart pounds. It feels as if all of my sense are in overdrive at once. 

"Oh Henrietta, even in death you continue to ruin me!" I cry out. My sobs echo off the walls and only remind me how hollow I feel. I manage to get into my bed clutching a pillow to my chest. My body shakes as the sobs do not cease. They feel to be growing in strength with every second I live knowing that Hetty is not with me. 

“I can’t go on like this. I need to be with her,” I think to myself. “This pain is far to much for me bear. I need something to rid me of this madness quickly.” 

I call out for my maid, Bernice, and she quickly comes rushing in and closes the door behind her.  

“Yes, madam?” Bernice answers

“Bernice, I need you to do me a favor, and you are not to speak of this to anyone. Am I understood? Not even my husband, I do not care how long he may inquiry you”

“Madame? I’m confused,” Bernice says in a concerned tone. 

“Just listen,” I begin rummaging around my room through the blur of my tears,” I need you to go and find some cyanide, strychnine, I do not care if it’s arsenic. I do care that you do this efficiently and discreetly. Not one word to my husband,” 

“Madame, you know that I can do no such thing,”

“Then what do I pay you for! I am giving you an order so follow it!” 

“Madame, I know you are grieving for Hetty but-”

“No! You do not get to speak her name! Do not speak her name and tell me what I am doing. I know what I am doing and I am trying my best to be with her again. I have to be with her again. No I need to be with her again! ” I shout.

I finally find my hidden money box and I take all the contents from within. I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror, and if I cared I would be horrified from my appearance. “She has taken the sun, moon, and stars from my world with her, and I need them back. I need her back. Now take this money and go. Please I beg of you. I need this pain to cease. I need to stop this world to stop the feeling, and this is the only way.” I look towards Bernice again.

I try to force the crumpled dollars into her hand, but she will not take them. Deep down I know that there is nothing I can do to make her go, and I cannot go and do it myself. I am not sure I would make it past my front door.

“Damn you,” I cry out as I fall into Bernices arms. I am not sure if I am cursing Bernice or Hetty. No matter hard I cry, thrash, or how loud l cry out for Hetty, Bernice does not leave me. Once the tears have ceased she helps me out of my clothes and into a bath. She does not speak while she bathes me, and she does not ask why I grieve so heavily for Hetty as wife would for her spouse if Hetty was only a friend.  I do not look in her eyes for confirmation that she may already know the answer. Bernice helps me into bed, and sits in the chair next to my bed to watch me. My body no longer feels like my own, just a dead weight anchoring my soul from where it wants to be.

Even after all the fits of tears, I cannot find myself to be tired. Everytime I close my eyes, I am assaulted by memories that are too painful to relive at the moment. My mind plays devious games by making me wonder what was going on in Hetty’s head in her final moments.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1895: It has been two weeks since Hetty's death. I helped her children give her a beautiful funeral. She was dressed in very best, and her favorite flowers were purchased from every floral shop in the county.

I had managed to tamper down my emotions except for the fire that stoked my anger as Elias is no where to be found. A rumor has started that he had run off with a maid leaving Hetty to deal with the misfortune.

After talking with Thomas about where they would like to live, we find that it's best if they stay in New York with their aunt Margaret. I am not exactly sure how I would have managed three children in London, but I know that I have done my best. It also would have been a way for me to have tangible parts of Hetty with me, as selfish as it sounds.

"I hope you do not mind that I wish to stay here. I only want to be close to my mother. I can feel her presence here. I would not mind if you stayed a bit longer to help transition into my role as head of the house," Thomas says, " I am not sure how I will manage this alone."

"Of course, anything for my favorite nephew," I embrace Thomas in a hug. 

During my extended stay, I take it upon myself to gather up Hetty’s bedroom. Her bed still unmade, her nightgown still laying on the nearby chaise. The room smells entirely of Hetty, and I am almost knocked over overwhelmed by the feeling. As I begin to pack her belongings into trunks, something in the back of her dresser catches my eye. I reach my hand back, and my fingers pull forward a tiny box with a card attached. I look for a name for who it’s addressed to and I don’t find one. I open the box to find a gold ring with two gemstones I recognize as birthstones belonging to me and Hetty. I sit down in her vanity chair as I begin to read the letter.

______________________________________________________________

My dearest, (y/n)

I meant to give you this ring to on our last night together all thoseyears ago. I put it away and hid it as I could not part with it. I believed it to be a part of you with me that got me through my first years of marriage with Elias. I also hoped that one day I would be able to give this to you.

That night you had said, you felt as if your mind was thrown off it's axis. I have been feeling that way since I saw you off to your new life in England. Please do not think me silly when I tell you I did not leave my room or eat for a week after your departure. I had never felt more beside myself. It took a threat of Margaret writing to you of my condition to bring me to my senses. I could not bear the thought of worrying you because of my selfishness. 

(y/n), please know that I never meant to cause you worry or strain when I had planned to run away with you. I was so overcome with the thought of living a life where I did not have you. I was acting on a whim I thought was best. It wasn't until you told me that you'd love me without ceasing that I knew I was never going to lose you no matter what. Please know that you have never lost a place in my heart, and I give you this ring as way to give you a piece of my heart. For you to have and to hold. 

I cannot wait for your arrival to New York. I will be waiting by the phone for your call. 

My love….my heart….my everything….

Til death do us part,

Henrietta

_________________________________________________

Dearest, Hetty,

My love. Oh my love, how will I continue to go on without you? I will never smell the spice of your perfume on your skin, nor feel the warmth of your embraces. I will not hear your laughter that have always brightened even the sunniest of days. I no longer have a chance to feel your lips pressed against mine, and I pray I never forget the way your lips taste. I thought living in England, thousands of miles away from you was hard, but finding the strength to continue to breath and walk an earthly plane you no longer grace is enough to drive me insane. I feel as if any minute my husband will have committed.

I apologize for not being there for you, as I should have been. Not only through the most recent circumstance, but over the past 25 years, I have not kept my promise of staying in contact with you. I still have unopened letters from you in my home in England that I now feel too sick to open. 

Wherever you are, please know that I am not angry with you. I never could be, even though at times you could be very infuriating. You have been and continue to be my only weakness. You once told me that I would have to stop the world to stop the feeling of being caught on a never-ending merry-go-round. Hetty my world stopped when you left. I have never felt more hollow. I do no eat. I do not speak. I do not sleep as your beautiful eyes now haunt my dreams instead of inspiring them. It pains me to write this letter as I have the knowledge that you will never read it.

My husband and I leave for England tomorrow. I have given one of your maids the instructions to bury this bottle containing with this letter my wedding ring on the property. I now wear the ring you would have gifted me in it's place. I now carry a piece of your heart with me for the rest of my days. 

Until we meet again my love….my dearest….my everything…. I love you and I will continue to love you without ceasing.

Yours forever more,

(y/n)

I fold the letter and I place it in a bottle. After sealing it, I give it to Hetty’s maid, and I tell her to have it buried immediately. With me, I have a couple of Hetty’s items. I have a bottle of her signature perfume, and a pair of her gloves. I exit Woodstone manor for the last time, and I turn to face the house once more to commit this moment to memory. I turn my gaze up to one of the windows, and I feel as if Hetty is there watching me. I feel the sunshine on me, and I embrace it’s warmth as if it were her. 

-END-

A/N: This was supposed to be a one-shot, but I believe I'm going to write a heart-wrenching, gut punching epilogue. Y'all ready!? WOO! Anyway, feel free to leave comments and let me know your thoughts!

[thedepthsoffandomminds]

The guest pt 15

Masterlist

"Drop me off up the road a little! I need to buy some items.". Elle called out to the carriage driver.

" No, you don't. You're going to the hospital to see your paramour." Fanny giggled.

" I am not. I do not have one." Belle shook her head.

"Then why do you spend so much time there?" Fanny asks, screwing up her nose.

"y/n however..." belle turned her eyes on you

"I think it's terribly exciting." Fanny claps her hands together.

"It is a little." You agree.

"I have come to realise that Sneed may not be quite what I thought, but it's no matter. in the next few days, a ship will arrive with a man on it." Fanny announced gleefully.

" Yes, not uncommon in a harbour town, where men outnumber us eight to one." Belle laughed.

"One man in particular. He's with the Bank of Great Britain, and by all reports, someone of outstanding virtue. Mother said she is happy to see me marry, even if it means me going away, and Father said he's prepared to offer a very generous dowry."

Part of you marvelled at how normal these types of conversations seemed to you now.

"He might be a perfect bore." Belle grinned.

"Please. Belle, you're speaking about the man I love." You all snicker,

"If the virtuous man from the Bank of Great Britain kisses you, you will know if he's the one for you. It will feel like nothing else on this earth." Belle says giving you a sideways glance. The two do you get out at the hospital and you make straight for Jack. When he sees you he excuses himself from the patient and comes straight to you, sliding his arms around your waist.

"Good morning." He said giving you a quick kiss."

"Good morning, Doctor." You can't help the giggle that escapes your lips. Jack takes your hand and pulls you into a cupboard, closing the door behind you before he pressed himself against you.

"I missed you." He whispered against your lips.

"I was with you last night." You say as you wrap your fingers around his waistcoat lapels.

"That was too long ago." He spoke between kisses.

"Why don't you stay, tonight?" He asks.

"Jack." You sigh.

"Why?"

"I just...I can't not yet." You say.

The door swings open and you both jump away from each other, Hetty looks down at you.

"There is a patient that needs attention, Doctor" she says, a small grin dancing around her lips.

"Thank you Hetty." Jack said, clearing his throat and walking out. You follow behind sharing a small giggle with the nurse. You see Sneed walking across the corridor his eyes fall on you. Jack already slipping away to his duties.

"Miss y/l/n, it is a pleasure to see you today." He said with a smile.

"Thank you, Doctor. Sorry I won't keep you from your work." You give him a curt nod and go to step away but he catches your arm.

"I would heed caution, y/n. It will not take long for people to notice you spending so much time here and with the unsavoury side of the town. My offer could still stand." He half whispers into your ear.

"Rainsford, you've already proposed to Belle since I last turned you down." You argue back.

"No matter, she has not given me an answer so I may still withdraw the offer." He says confidentally.

"Sneed, please remove your hand from my arm." You say attempting to pull away, his grip only tightened.

"Whatever you think that street urchin can provide you, trust me he cannot. He is penniless. I can buy you houses and horses and jewels."

"I don't want those things. Please let go." You say, panic beginning to rise up in your gut.

"Don't be stupid, y/n. You have two men of fastly different means. I am your best prospect. I am even willing to look past your... indiscretions." He yanked you closer to him.

"Rainsford!" You grit your teeth and tried to pull back once more when you feel his grip slip from you and a body appear between the two of you.

"Don't touch her." Jack held Sneed back against the wall, his fisted in Jack's hands

"Unhand me, Dawkins."

"She is mine! Come close to her again and I'll kill you."

"I don't see a ring." Sneed tried to seem larger than he was whilst still pressed against the wall.

"Mine." He said, giving Sneed an extra shove into the wall before grabbing your hand and walking away.

"Jack. Jack"

He stopped and turned to you.

"Did he hurt you?" He asked feeling your arm where Rainsford had grabbed you.

"I'm alright, Jack." You reassure him with a hand on his chest.

"Dodge, who in God's terrible universe did the Bank of Great bloody Britain decide to send here?" Fagin spoke dragging Jack along with him. You followed along with them.

" How on earth would I know?"Jack pulled his clothes out of his hand.

" Who is the wettest lettuce of all time?" Fagin asked.

" I don't know, but I Was bus.. No."

"Yes."

"No. Please, no."

"Yes."

" No!"

"That's right. Oliver pissing Twist."

"Oliver Twist?" You repeat.

" My goose is cooked. He knows everything about us. And he's so bloody honest. He would see it as his moral duty to send us both to the peelers." Jack panicked.

"Yes." Fagin sighed.

"Did he see you?" You ask.

"No. He was looking in my direction, but I have aged something considerable." Fagin said.

" You've looked the same since you were born. Like a bad piece of taxidermy." Jack growled.

"Hurtful."

You giggle.

"This isn't funny." Jack turned to you.

"It's a little funny. How ridiculous do your lives have to be have the one person arrived here who could ruin everything?" You ask, "look, I'll go back to the house. See what I can find out." You say.

"Wait, wait." Jack pulls you back to him. "I can't do this anymore. You must let me give you this." He pulls the silver band from his pocket.

"Jack."

"No, y/n You have unnerved me more than any other woman I have ever met. You fill me with equal parts joy and dread. Damn you. I can no longer do this without you. let me tether you here." He says eyes begging you.

You hold your hand out to him, letting him slip the silver band onto your ring finger. Jack kissed you hard before you ran off.

*_*_*_*

You reach government house just as Edmund holds a shovel of soil up to Oliver.

"Unsuitable for marrows, more's the pity."

"Oh. Shame." Oliver replies sniffing a pinch of the soil. You walk up to them.

"Ahh, Mr Twist might I introduce my ward of sorts, Miss y/l/n." Edmund gestured towards you. Oliver bowed his head to you.

"An utter pleasure to meet you."

"And you Mr Twist."

Fanny gives her father a pointed look.

"Yes, my daughter here is insisting we have a special dinner for you." He says with a frin that seeps through his wide moustache.

"Marvelous." Oliver grinned, "Yes. Now... I wonder, I believe I saw from my carriage window, an older man in ragged attire that I might have known from London days." Your heart started pounding in your chest and you wondered if the others could see it, "You have no idea... I think his name was Fagin."

" Oh, yes. Him. He works for a surgeon here, a Jack Dawkins." Fanny announced.

"Jack Dawkins is here? I knew him by another name then. I wonder, would it be a terrible imposition to invite Jack to the soirée?" Oliver gleefully clasps his hands together.

"Well, I would hope so, he is my promised." You say holding your left hand up, showing the band around your finger. Fanny squeezed and grabbed your hand.

"Oh this is wonderful news, y/n!" Edmund laughed.

"You and Jack? Oh then the pleasure meeting you is tenfold!" Oliver shakes your hand.

You thank him and follow the others inside.

"So much for he and I." Belle says with an eyebrow raised.

"You said yourself you had no interest in him." You answer sheepishly. Belle took hold of your hand bringing the ring closer to her face and inspected the small yellow stone adorning it.

"It's a beautiful ring. An heirloom?" She asked.

"Oh I'm not sure, it happened a little fast." You took in a deep breath feeling your heart clench.

"What is it?" Belle asked.

"I'm alright. It's just been a long day. I think maybe I should get some rest before the dinner tonight." You say.

"Yes, of course. Let me help you upstairs." Belle takes your arm and walks with you, "I do hope that our friendship can continue after your marriage." She says as you walk up the stairs.

"Belle, I wouldn't have it any other way."

@fandomfan-102 @deanstolemydragon @mydeputyghostwagon