#kath is having the time of her life

[more-sonorous]

if you're taking jack kelly to central park, you can expect no small amount of shenanigans.

(if you saw the original post before i edited it... no you didn't)

[everyothermouse]

Luke's jacket is from his old school, but he hasn't grown that much since then, he's not short short but he definitely isn't tall. Jake likes taking a lot of pictures, but Luke has photo issues cus some witness protection stuff means hes not been supposed to be to be in publicly posted photos for his most of his life. Makes an odd combo for friendship, but Jake doesn't mind that much

[kasagia]

My (and your) tears ricochet

Pairing: Klaus Mikaelson x reader Summary: You and Klaus have a difficult relationship. For 500 years, you bond, break up, and get back together, being both your worst nightmares and your longed-for dreams. But after Lucien bites you and you die in Klaus' arms, the true feelings of your "lover" come out. And you're as delighted as devastated. Warning(s): angst, de@th, mourn, mentions of depression/mental breakdown, vampire violence, a bit of comfort at the end Word count: 5k+ Inspired by: "My tears ricochet" - Taylor Swift

We gather here, we line up, weepin' in a sunlit room

I never thought this would be my end. Killed by one of Klaus' many enemies because I rushed to save the love of my life. An Y/N from 200 years ago would have laughed in my face for my own stupidity.

To die for Klaus Mikaelson - the enemy of my family, the bane of my existence, and the only one I ever truly desired.

It would have been as improbable to my past self as the entire Mikaelson family mourning me with my sister Katherine by their side.

Yet I was here. In the spirit world, watching the original vampires and Kath line up in front of my coffin, they silently watched the sunlight illuminate my gray, lifeless face.

Maybe Klaus was supposed to be my undoing after all.

At least Katerina put me in a nice dress.

Even on my worst day, did I deserve, babe All the hell you gave me?

Involuntarily, I began to reminisce about the events leading up to my unexpected death, as I was looking at Klaus' stone, emotionless face.

"What? I betrayed you?! I should've seen that coming. After everything I do and sacrifice for you, you still can't trust me, can you? I'll never be your precious Camille."

"Don't bring her to this! I'll ask you just once more and for your own good, love, tell me the truth. Did you tell Aurora about her?!"

"No Klaus. I didn't tell your psychopathic ex that you were fucking your therapist. You have to find someone else to blame for her death."

"I didn't fuck with her."

"And I don't care."

I turned away from him to leave his studio, but the man grabbed my arm in a strong, aching grip, effectively stopping me. I turned to meet his furious gaze again.

"We're not finished."

"YES, WE ARE! I'm so done with being a toy you can throw out and take back whenever you want! I deserve something more than a hybrid who has an existential problem with himself and thousands of enemies on his back. I'm done with you and whatever is between us. You're not worthy of my time, and I'm so dumb to believe that you can feel something more than anger or a desire for power. Mikael was right about you. You're just a scared boy who is pushing everyone away from you because you're too afraid of being betrayed."

I burst out, fed up with his sick attitude. From the moment I arrived at his call, he treated me with fucking hostility and distance. After everything we've been through together, I didn't deserve to be treated like a traitor. 

At least that's what I told myself to keep from falling apart, seeing the complete lack of love for me in his captivating eyes, which I loved as much as the day we first met.

"Calm down. I've killed people for lesser slander. You're lucky you're still breathing, love." he whispered, placing his hand on my neck and squeezing it lightly to remind me that he could end my life at any moment. Good thing I was never afraid of him.

"And you're lucky to still have someone by your side after hurting your whole family again and again. This killing of everyone out of fear that someone would dare lay hand on you is pathetic. And as you can see, it doesn't quite work well." I snarled, yanking my arm out of his grip and walking away from the even angrier man than before.

After all, the one that wins will be the one that hits the hardest. This was always our guiding principle whenever we argued and broke up for a couple of decades.

'Cause I loved you, I swear I loved you 'Til my dying day

"Are you leaving so soon, sister? You just came." Katherine asked as I ran down the stairs towards the exit of the mansion.

"Well, apparently my presence is not needed here. In the house of the great Klaus Mikaelson, there is no place for vile traitors and untrustworthy whores."

"You can not fool me! I know what you really think and feel. And I sympathize with you with all my heart. You're making the right choice, little sister. He is not worthy of your love."

"I didn't ask for your opinion." I growled, unable to bear what she was saying and knowing that it was true.

"You still love him... after everything he has done, after he pretended to be with this bartander and broke your heart..."

"Once again. I didn't ask about your opinion, Katerina." I interrupted her to hurry out of the house. If I had known then that this would be one of our last conversations…

And you're the hero flying around, saving face

"What the hell do you think you're doing?! Lucien is running around trying to get to my loved ones at all costs, and you're taking bloody walks around New Orleans?!" Klaus was yelling at me after he pushed me against the wall of one of the alleys.

"You just answered yourself. Lucien is after your loved ones, and I am not one of them."

"Stupid woman, can't you see how much you mean to me?!"

"You've shown me this for the last fucking weeks by flirting with Aurora and playing Camille's damn boyfriend!"

"I did it to protect you!"

"Not telling me anything, keeping me like a prisoner in your house, and treating me worse than an enemy - this is what you call a fucking protection?!"

"How else was I supposed to keep you from participating in a war that wasn't yours and keep you safe at the same time?!"

"It would be too easy to let me know your plans, wouldn't it?"

"Can't you understand that I can't let anything happen to you?! That losing you too will be the final nail in my coffin!"

Suddenly, a strange, disturbing feeling came over me.

"Klaus."

"No. Let me finally end this and tell what's should be told 500 houndreds bloody years ago." Completely unable to focus on Klaus' words, I glanced over to see what was going on behind him. Lucien pointed the pistol at him with a smirk. Whatever was loaded into the gun, it couldn't end well. "Y/N, I love…"

The shot drowned out what he wanted to say. In an instant, I switched places with him, taking a shot at myself. I gasped as I felt my cool blood begin to ooze from the newly formed wound. My gaze, however, stayed hard on Klaus' terrified eyes.

Lucien's venom.

"Y/N!" his scream managed to cut through my dazed body before I collapsed limply on top of him, sinking into the enticing, blissful darkness.

We gather stones, never knowing what they'll mean Some to throw, some to make a diamond ring

"I don't see a bit of sense in what we're doing." Klaus whined as we walked along the lakeshore. Every now and then I would stop to pick up a nicer pebble and put it in one of our pouches.

"Don't be grumpy, old man. Had you never done this when you were a child?"

"We had other activities. Hunting, learning to fight, mother being one of the more ambitious decided to teach us to read and write - looking at Elijah, one of her worst ideas. We had all kinds of holidays, but we never did something as stupid as collecting useless stones."

"My God, you're worse than Katerina. Shouldn't you, as an artist, see beauty even in something as simple as stone? Besides, what if we happen to come across a diamond thrown away by some rich aristocrat's angry mistress? I'm about to waste my chance at finding a ridiculously expensive gem just because you're particularly cranky today." I asked indignantly, pulling him closer to me and smirking as I waited for his response.

"Your overactive imagination worries me sometimes. Also, I'm capable of giving you your own diamond if you want." he replied, unconvinced, staring at me with feigned concern. Sparks of amusement shone in his mesmerizingly beautiful eyes.

"As far as I remember, my imagination didn't bother you last night. You actually complimented it a lot."

"I won't answer that, just because, apparently, I'm the only one in our humble company who cares about a little tact."

"Well… you weren't last night." I kissed him briefly and run away from him laughing.

"Come here, you little tempting, irritating thing!" he shouted, chasing after me with his own smirk.

He grabbed me, pulling my back to his chest. I started laughing even more as he started placing small kisses down my neck.

"I can give you every little diamond ring you want. Just say a word." he whispered in my ear, nuzzling my jaw with his nose.

You know I didn't want to have to haunt you But what a ghostly scene

Consciousness slowly began to return to my body. I felt like I was in a sea of ​​verbena. Every little muscle burned with hellish pain.

I must have been in hell.

"Not yet, love. I won't let you get away from me that easily. You must fight." his voice instantly brought me back.

I struggled to open my eyes, hissing at the blinding sunlight. The man sitting by my bed rushed to the windows, covering them, before immediately returning to sit by my side. I felt a sudden pressure on my skull. I angrily pushed his hand away, severing the connection between us.

"Get out of my mind." I wheezed, wincing as I heard my hoarse voice. The hybrid, undaunted by my condition, moved closer to me and handed me a glass of blood from the bedside table.

"Make me, love. I dare you." he whispered as he watched me greedily drink the red liquid.

He helped me hold the glass in my hand, embracing it and stroking it tenderly with his thumb. Had it not been for the knowledge that I would die in a few hours, I might have found the whole scene romantic.

"You know that even if you throw me a thousand challenges, you won't keep me for long. I'm gonna die, Klaus. Like Finn and Cami."

"NO. I will not let you. I'll go to Lucien and snatch this damned cure from his throat."

"Klaus, I'm already dead. There is no need…" he cut me off, tangling his hand in my hair to pull me into a desperate, demanding, needy kiss.

I let the warmth of his lips touch me one last time, letting a soft moan escape my throat as the emotions I felt became too much for me to hide any longer. He grabbed my waist, pulling me to him so that I was sitting on his lap. We broke apart. I leaned my head against his forehead, staring into his tear-filled eyes.

"You can't leave me. Not like that."

"I guess I don't have much choice." I whispered in a trembling voice, stroking his cheek tenderly, trying to wipe the tears from his eyes. "Klaus? Earlier in this alley, before all this happened, You said you love me. I…" he didn't let me finish by pressing his lips against mine again.

"You can say you love me tomorrow. You won't die today, love." he kissed my forehead and left in such a hurry that I couldn't even try to talk him out of the stupid idea of chasing Lucien.

I could only hope he wouldn't do something stupid and share my fate.

You wear the same jewels that I gave you As you bury me

The funeral was not extraordinary or grand. By Mikaelson's standards, it was quite modest and therefore more personal. It was good to know they'd miss my presence, but I couldn't focus on anyone but Klaus.

He was strangely calm. Emotionless, expressionless. Like a dead sculpture. My concern for the vampire only increased when I saw the necklace (which I gave him for his 1,000th birthday) with the pendant of a wolf howling at the moon hanging proudly from his neck, gleaming in the sunlight. His blue eyes stared blankly at my coffin, which they were hiding in the crypt.

Somewhere in the distance, I could hear Katerina and Rebekah crying.

However, the one person I cared about and worried about ever since I left the world of the living spent the entire funeral in astonishing silence.

It was at that moment that I knew he wouldn't accept my departure so easily.

I smiled as I saw Elijah come over to comfort him afterward. My smile faded as the hybrid growled aggressively at him, shoved his brother away, and ran to a place only known to him.

It must have been harder for him than he dared show anyone.

"Please, let one of his siblings be able to get to him. Despite his best efforts to keep them at a distance."

And if I'm dead to you, why are you at the wake? Cursing my name, wishing I stayed Look at how my tears ricochet

If I thought the funeral was hard for Klaus, then the wake must be his true hell.

Most of the originals have recovered by now, sitting in their living room sipping drinks, recalling all the funny, sad, and crazy things that had to do with me.

I thought it would somehow ease his pain.

Katerina seemed a little cheerier as she talked about all the compromising situations that WERE SUPPOSED to go with me to the grave. But I couldn't really blame her. I would probably do the same in the reverse situation.

It was Kol who unwittingly unleashed the storm.

"Remember when Nik tried to propose to her in the 19th century, here in New Orleans?" my heart and the whole world around me stopped for a moment. Propose?

"What?! How?" my sister's surprised exclamation perfectly reflected my current state. I had no idea that idea could ever enter his head.

"He has had hundreds of attempts over the centuries, but at this time most of us thought he'd finally made it." a single tear escaped my eye as I lamented the future that would never happen. "I even spent all of my money from the safe in Chicago because Nik had planned to…"

The sound of shattering glass echoed through the room, silencing the original. Everyone's attention shifted to Klaus, who had shards of glass stuck in his hands. A trickle of blood began to form from his hand, staining the chair and the carpet beneath it.

"I have enough of this pathetic show." he snarled, brushing off the shards of glass as he walked away to his art studio. Rebekah and Elijah didn't give up so easily, catching up with him on the stairs.

"Is that how your life will look now? You'll growl at us every time we mention Y/…" 

"DON'T EVEN DARE SAY HER NAME!" he burst out, running to his studio. Elijah gave his sister a knowing look and returned to the living room, letting her do her thing.

Rebekah and I followed the hybrid, finding him in the middle of the ruined room, weeping over one of my portraits that had miraculously survived the crash. The blonde kneeled, hugging her brother and combing his hair comfortingly.

"Oh, Nik. That pain will never go away if you don't accept…"

"I WILL NEVER ACCEPT THIS!" he wrenched himself free from her grip, wary of the painting. "And this damn witch knew it! She enchanted me the first time I saw her. She put a dark spell on me, so I never found any other woman even a little bit as attractive as her. She is my heart, my half soul, my happiness, my sadness, and my madness, and now… now she is gone. And will be my curse for the rest of my life, Rebekah. Nothing can change that, especially not passing time, because every second, every minute, every hour, and every day without her by my side is meaningless."

"But you two were apart before, and you never acted like that, Nik."

"It was easier to let her go knowing she was happy and safe rather than cold and dead in some bloody tomb."

"And what about Hope? Your daughter, remember? You must be strong for her."

"Maybe it would have been better if she had never known the wasted shell I became after SHE left."

The blast of air (and all that mess) was all he left behind. Rebekah hesitantly reached for my portrait, staring at it with tears in her eyes.

However, it may not be so easy to let me go for all of them.

And I can go anywhere I want Anywhere I want, just not home

"You just beat yourself up more. By the way, he himself too." Cami's voice came from behind me. I turned to face her, leaving the hybrid alone with my crypt for a moment.

"I thought it was healthy to grieve a little over someone's death."

"Yes, but what you two are doing is obsessive and bordering on pre-depressive. You must let him go. And he you. Holding on to him will get you nowhere. If you don't want peace yet, you might as well travel to other places. You can go anywhere you want."

"Anywhere I want, just not home." I muttered bitterly, looking at the hybrid sitting across from my grave and sipping a bottle of bourbon.

"I don't think I can do anything here. Just remember you have a choice, okay?"

"You're going to find peace?"

"Yes, and don't make me wait there alone for long. Watching them won't help you. I'm so sorry, Y/N." she gave me one last comforting, sad smile and turned to leave.

"Good luck, Camille!" I called after her and turned on my way, approaching Klaus again.

"For you too. I hope you'll find your peace." I heard before the blonde was gone for good.

"I already did." I murmured, grabbing Klaus' hand, enjoying the slim chance of being close to him. At the very least, I could fool myself into thinking I was still with him. 

Because the truth was that I would never find my peace without him.

And you can aim for my heart, go for blood But you would still miss me in your bones

Klaus had slept for a week and stayed only in my bedroom, occasionally popping up to visit my grave. With a heavy heart, I laid down next to him on my bed, watching him sleep peacefully, hugging my pillow, and inhaling my scent left on it.

Involuntarily, I remembered my last hours in this bed.

"I will kill anyone you thought was your friend. I will tear out their throats and hearts one by one and torture them until they feel half as much pain as I will feel. I'll make this whole bloody world go up in flames, and it'll never rise from its fall, and neither will I if you leave me."

"Were you always so dramatic, or did it just happen in your old age?" I taunted, taking a sip of water to cover up my earlier sudden coughing fit from him. But I doubt I'll be able to explain the blood on the mirror if he looks in the bathroom when he returns.

"I'm not joking, love. If you die before I find a cure, I'll follow you straight to hell and drag you back with me. No one and nothing can take you from me."

"I'd find it romantic if you didn't presume that I'm the spawn of the devil. What if I'm an angel in disguise?"

"Then they did a fantastic job of camouflaging you. I have to go now, love. You have one task: Don't die. Can you do it?"

"I'll try. Nik, I lo..." he hung up before I could finish. "I love you, Nik." I whispered to myself, trying my hardest to control the sudden dizziness.

Klaus, whatever you're doing, please do it faster.

And I still talk to you (When I'm screaming at the sky) And when you can't sleep at night (You hear my stolen lullabies)

"I think you should go in the red one. This color has always suited you." I mumbled as I stood next to my sister and watched her look at herself in the mirror.

At one point, she sighed resignedly, falling onto the bed where Rebekah was sitting. The blonde pulled away from the phone, glancing at the doppelgänger.

"What's wrong with you this time? We went through all our wardrobes, and you didn't pick anything? You always look stunning, just go for something."

"Usually, it was Y/N who helped me choose a dress for a date."

The deafening silence that filled the room probably hurt me more than it hurt them. How I would love to be there with them.

"I'm… I'm sorry."

"You don't have to. How could you know? I just… really miss her."

"Yeah. Me too. All of us do."

"I'd probably borrow something from her if she was still here and if Klaus wasn't guarding her room like a vault."

"Speaking of him, I should probably check on him. If you can hear me in any way, take the little red one. Elijah will be delighted." I said getting out of bed and heading to my bedroom. I've probably spent more time in it as a ghost than a vampire.

I entered the room, neatly dodging the piles of books and clothes that Klaus had scattered around, looking for things that still smelled of me. I dreaded thinking what he would do when they were gone. Maybe he'll be in the mood to use my perfume instead and go outside? It was the best scenario.

I sighed, recognizing his curled form on the bed. He was wearing my favorite sweatpants and a (too big for me) sweatshirt. I was a little scared that he could easily fit into my clothes. Several bottles of alcohol and bags of blood were placed next to him. At least he was feeding. I sat next to him, running my hand through his hair (pretending to do so).

"I know it's hard for you and that you can't move on; come to terms with what happened. I'd probably be in much worse shape if I couldn't hear you, see your ridiculously handsome face. But you are stronger than me. Much stronger. You have to get out of this. For yourself, for your siblings, for Hope… for me." I began to cry, trying to somehow hug the also weeping hybrid. "I'm so sorry, Nik."

Suddenly, a very angry Hayley burst into the room with a nervous Elijah behind her.

"KLAUS! That's enough! You have to get yourself in order and get out of this hole. It will be best if you go for a walk with YOUR DAUGHTER. Do you still remember her? Hope misses you and has been restless for several weeks. I can't calm her down, so do your fatherly duty and move your ass, or I'll do it for you."

"Go away." he mumbled, not even looking up since they came in.

The brunette snorted, trying to take my blanket from him, which covered him. As soon as her hands were on the material, the hybrid growled, snatching it from her hands and pinning the woman by the neck to the wall.

"Touch her stuff again, and I'll make it the last thing you do in your miserable, meaningless life."

"Niklaus! Let her go!" I screamed along with Elijah. Klaus ignored his brother, only tightening his grip on the barely alive woman.

"Do you think Y/N would want you to kill your baby's mother?"

Luckily, this convinced the hybrid. He released Hayley from his grip and shoved them both out of the room, locking the door behind them. He threw himself heavily on the bed, inhaling my scent to calm himself down. After a while, tears started flowing from his eyes.

I didn't have it in myself to go with grace And so the battleships will sink beneath the waves You had to kill me, but it killed you just the same

The worst thing about this illness wasn't the debilitating pain. Loneliness was the worst.

Each of the Mikaelsons and Katerina were involved in obtaining the cure. They still had hope. But I resigned myself to my fate the moment Lucien's venom pierced my body with a wooden ball.

That didn't mean I wanted to die alone.

As if on cue, Katerina burst into my room and sat on the bed next to me. I could see her lips move, but I couldn't hear a sound in the world. It wasn't until she poured a glass of cold water over me that my complete consciousness returned to me.

"Are you crazy?!" I shouted. "If you want to get me to my grave faster, there are other ideas." Katerina stopped laughing and suddenly tensed up, glaring reproachfully at me.

"Don't even dare say that. You're not going to die, do you understand? Klaus is getting a cure right now. You will recover. I promise." she said, grabbing my hand and planting a kiss on my forehead, brushing sweaty, wet strands of hair out of my eyes.

"You may be the best liar that ever walked on this earth, but I always knew when you were lying."

"I'm glad I'm not doing it this time. You'll see, you'll be cruising around again in a few hours, avoiding Klaus' argument about obeying his orders."

"At least when I go to hell, I'll meet our father and kick his ass for separating you from Nadia. Maybe Mikael and Dahlia will be on my hit list too." I mumbled, giving in after several hours to the urge to close my eyes. Then I felt that I had been shivering with fever all this time.

"Y/N, open your eyes. You've got to open your eyes for me, just for a little while longer. Please, Y/N."

"We should saddle our horses today and take a ride to the lake. We haven't done that for a long time."

"We'll go to Bulgaria I promise, just open your eyes for me. Molya te, sestrichke otvori ochi."

"Obicham te Katerina." I whispered, feeling the last bloody tears fall from my eyes.

"Y/N! Wake up! Freya!" Katherine screamed in panic, trying to wake me up by shaking my shoulders.

The next few minutes were weightless as I waited to pass into the ghost world. With the remnants of my ebbing life, I felt the commotion around my bed. The bitter liquid was forced down my throat, and someone clenched my jaw to make sure I didn't spit out the horrible liquid. In the background, I could still hear Freya and Davina mumbling, Katerina and Rebekah crying, and Klaus screaming in rage before I was swallowed up in pain-relieving darkness for good.

Cursing my name, wishing I stayed You turned into your worst fears And you're tossing out blame, drunk on this pain Crossing out the good years And you're cursing my name, wishing I stayed Look at how my tears ricochet

It's been a month and a half since my death, and Klaus has made one small, significant progress. He didn't throw his fangs at anyone who so much as uttered my name. After the attack on Hayley, he had controlled his aggression and was not a relative danger to society. Well… at least not more than usual.

I, on the other hand, felt much better than a months ago. My vampire speed somehow reactivated, saving me from chasing the rushing original for half a day. Also, watching my loved ones brought me some relief. Only Klaus was still stuck in place, unable to let me go.

Hayley and Freya joined forces to talk some sense into him and set him on the right path. But even their best efforts could not change the stubborn hybrid's mind.

That's how I got here. At my grave, watching Klaus clean it and add new flowers, throwing out the ones that had faded since his visit yesterday. I got more flowers from him after I died than I've had in 500 goddamn years.

He usually worked in silence, occasionally humming some old song I made him sing ages ago when I was upset. He has always had a wonderful voice.

But today, after a particularly bad fight with Hayley, Elijah, and Freya, he sat on the bench in front of my tombs and did something he hadn't done before. He was talking to me (or rather, to a stone slab with my name on it, but still).

"I know you wouldn't approve of my behavior. I know you would yell at me and get angry. My gods, I never imagined that I would miss it so much. I really wish I could be there for Hope, but I can't. I can't let her see me like this. Even if she's so little now. I know she needs me, but... everyone I love is dying. And I can't let anyone else die again because of me. Especially not my daughter. I want her to live. I want her to grow up. I want her to love, even if it brings you pain and sadness. Be a strong and beautiful woman, as you and her mother. I don't know what to do, Y/N. And I really wish that you were here to tell me, my little vampire."

A fountain of tears spilled from both his and my eyes. For the first time today, I reached for him, pulling him to me in a poor imitation of a hug.

The hybrid jumped up from the bench in fear, staring shocked and suspiciously at the place he had recently occupied. My heart beat faster. Did he? No. It is impossible. Klaus has the same incredulous look as mine. But what if…

"Y/N?" for the first time in these long, cold months, I shed a wave of relief tears. I sat there in shock, staring at the uncertain hybrid with unimaginable happiness. He could feel me. Like I him. "Please, show me it's you, and I'm not delusional."

I rushed over to him, hugging him with all my might. The hybrid almost knocked us to the ground. He probably didn't hear my loud laugh because he would have looked a little more offended than full of disbelief and happiness.

"I'll recognize that smell anywhere. Cruel woman, if you really are just a figment of my imagination and I make a fool of myself by running to my siblings with this, then know that I will meet you soon in hell and will not let your soul depart from me again." I slapped his shoulder for saying such nonsense, and he just laughed, gropingly trying to pull me closer to his chest.

I allowed myself, for the first time in months, to sink into the blissful feel of his warm skin. We needed a moment to ourselves before he shared this discovery with Freya, and their next fight to retrieve me from death's clutches began. For now, I enjoyed Klaus' clinginess.

"Don't even think that I'll deprive you of your touch for a moment. I'm going to hold you until the end of the bloody world." he whispered, moving around me from memory to put his chin on top of my head after he kissed me there softly.

It sounded good. But I knew it wouldn't be enough for us for long.

[doodgiee]

Character lineup of prominant kids in a Riddle School project I've been working on for a long time.

Think I'm going to start calling it Riddle Transferred? Because they're all grown up, they've made the transfer

There's much more to come, but you're allowed this taster.

Canon:

Phil Eggtree: The Phil Eggtree we all know and love, however the guilt and stress of his dream murdering and double abduction have been haunting him.

Phred Whistler: His a little worn and worse for wear, but ever since seeing Phil save the world he's been inspired to live life to the fullest instead of just letting life take him wherever. He's far more motivated than his younger self

Smiley Sundae: With increased pressure with her studies, Smiley's trademark Smile has faded slightly over the years. Her underlying but constant struggle in academic fields has made her question her path for the future, but she'll still lighten up anyone's day with that heart of gold

Zack Kelvin: Despite still learning to deal with his peculiar temperature issues, especially with puberty taking a toll on it, He's definitely become more social after having the opportunity to express himself more without freezing to death. But still lacks crucial social cues. His friends are still helping him with that.

Richy Stud: This pushover has joined the main gang and have been a part of it for a while, serving as the social bridge between the core 4 and the B team of the Riddle Elementary kids he doesn't know them quite as well but still serves as a friendly face. And yes, he collects buttons

Chubb Munch: A gentle giant with a heart of gold. He'll always be a bigger guy comapred to most people, and frankly it never bothered him anyway. But since he vowed to work on his diet his life has never been better

5 08: A little arrogant, but with how charismatic he is it's hard to blame him. His shirt sales have been steady and it serves as more of a hobby than anything else. On good terms with Richy and Phil specifically. He considers Phil his best customer.

Greg Sleep: He's always been a bit distant from his friends, but in all fairness, he's asleep 90% of the time. He remains a bit of an enigma

Joe Kerosene: With his history with the Riddle gang being a rocky middle school life, Joe's not exactly friendly with many of the people he grew up with. He and Phil don't get along at all. Phil considers him an idiot and Joe considers him a snarky prick. He's found company with other people, but he may have bit off more than he can chew

OCs:

Null Rooster-Lea: One of Joe's new 'friends' he's distant, and never seen without a scowl on his face. He's cold, and its better not to cross him

Rodrigo Cwesschyn: Another one of Joe's new friends. He's the son of ex elementary principle Mr. Cwesschyn. Ever since his father has been imprisoned for injuring students, Rodrigo has had to become the man of the house for his mother and siblings. He blames the students that attended Riddle Elementary for his unsteady life.

Cassie Pants: Another part of Joe's group, she's bratty and enjoys messing with people she's directed towards, but she doesn't hold any ill will unlike her friends. She's just a pest, not evil.

Franky Pants: The older brother of Cassie, he isn't interested in the antics and rivalries her little sister gets up to, that's her life to lead. He's pretty friendly, but remains neutral to our protagonists. He just wished his sister made some nicer friends

Kath Penilian : A university student, far removed from the happenings at Riddle High, She's good friends with Richy, meeting over the niche hobby of button collecting. She serves as a friendly, older friend of the Riddle gang, being able to offer an ear to listen and a bit of wisdom.

[kitswritingantics]

Pleeeeease newsies fantasy AU I beggggg

HEHEHAHAHAHAHH I'VE BEEN WAITING MY ENTIRE LIFE TO YAP ABOUT THIS

now just hear me out. think of like. super mario. evil king (pulitzer) has princess katherine locked away. prince jack (forced to marry her in like a month) has to go save her, don't wanna, blah blah blah. get's sent with his servant/partner in crime/best friend charlie (aka crutchie) and knight david. (they're gay. in case you can't tell. i'm a javid truther but i can also be a jatherine truther. jack has two hands.)

on the way the goobers find travelling minstrels (race and spot), bounty hunters/thieves (buttons, finch, and elmer. the guys ever), and all of them tag along to help them fight the king and his dragon (the dragon's probaby snyder now that i think really deeply about it. that's honestly so funny). also more homosexuality, elmer's down BAD for charlie who's an oblivious (and equally down bad) little loser.

you know the drill, fairy tales have happy endings, they save princess katherine and jack decides "hey! i don't wanna marry her!" and goes and kisses davey instead. davey sets up kath with his older sister sarah and they fall in love. charlie and elmer are really bashful and adorable i'm obsessed with them. also LESBIAN SPRACE. BECAUSE I CAN.

anyways there's my yap hope you enjoy!!! i might end up writing this later only time will tell!!

[turneradora]

🤣🤣🤣👍

Kath and I tried not to squeal with excitement when Aidan Turner sat right in front of us (WHAT a handsome man). But sadly he was moved to the front, ready for the Q&A at the end. My friend Amanda was messaging me, telling me to sniff him so she could know what he smelled like. I was four drinks deep by then and might just have had a go, but thank god the poor man was moved before I could work out how to do this. And I probably avoided an arrest for public harassment into the bargain. So sorry, I can’t tell you what Aidan Turner smells like, but he looks very clean. And did I say how handsome he is? New pic of Aidan at the special UK screening of « Rivals », last September 17th. (Sam Harrington-Lowe Journalist)

NEW 💯💯💯

Aidan was sitting in the screening room.

I guess probably next to Victoria Smurfit, on his left

Thanks to my friend Isademrio who found the picture this morning

Thanks to the Journalist Sam Harrington- Lowe who published the article in the Silver Magazine yesterday and took this photo of Aidan, she was sitting right behind him

THE ARTICLE

FIRST LOOK: JILLY COOPER’S RIVALS IS A WILD RIDE

The star-studded launch of Jilly Cooper’s Rivals

I’ve wanted to use this photo of Jilly Cooper for yonks, so I’ve dug it out shamelessly for this piece. Just look at her! How gorgeous? I suspect that Jilly’s life has probably been, in parts, as exciting and racy as many of her novels. When I think of Jilly Cooper’s Rivals, or Riders, or any of them, I sort of picture her like this, writing them.

I grew up loving Cooper. As a child, I can remember my dad guffawing to her columns in the heady days of Harold Evans’ Sunday Times, over a full English and untipped Gitanes. I was too young to read her then, but devoured collections of her scribblings a few years later. And as I hit my teens, I fell head over heels in love with her romantic heroines. Prudence, Octavia, Emily, Bella, Imogen et al – I read them cover to cover, repeatedly. I loved Octavia best, because who doesn’t love a broken bad girl? And Octavia was very naughty indeed.

Tame stuff by today’s standards really, despite the wildness of the ‘70s. But my love for Jilly was set for life. The delicious Britishness of it all was a big part of the attraction. I devoured the wicked filth of Jackie Collins, but it was so American to me, settings I could barely relate to. Whereas Cooper wrote very much about life from my own frame of reference. Country living, London, dogs, ponies… ridiculous 11am drinks parties. As a child, one of my first ever jobs was as a pheasant plucker – I kid you not. So to find someone writing about sex, drama, and intrigue in English country villages…

Read more: Are you common? A class guide…

But I digress

When the big ‘bonkbusters’ (god, I hate that term) started coming out, I was in fits of ecstasy. From Riders onwards I was hooked, reading voraciously and pining until another one came out. I have no idea how one even starts to write novels like that, holding all that information about so many characters together. I can barely remember why I went into the kitchen. But reading the books, sinking into that heady world of treachery, and money, and sex, and absolutely appalling behaviour was a wild pleasure I can still feel today.

So when I saw that Rivals was to be made into a TV series – by Disney no less, a weird marriage, I thought – I was wary. There have been a few adaptations of Cooper’s work before, and they’ve largely been rather awful. Would this be any different? As luck would have it, I was invited to a premiere screening of the first two episodes, followed by a panel sesh with some of the actors – so I would get to find out sooner rather than later.

The invite had specified there would be ’80s-themed drinks and canapes, and on the way up to town, my plus-one Kath and I necked G&Ts and wondered what they might be. Vol au vents, for sure. Possibly smoked salmon. Prawns? It turned out to be a take, rather than a religious revisit, which is probably better. But there were vol au vents, you’ll be pleased to know (creamy chicken and mushroom). Also prawn cocktails, and teenie Black Forest gateaux, amongst other delights.

…you could have been forgiven for thinking it really was 1985. We circulated a bit, rubbing shoulders with celebs and quaffing bubbles and tequila sunrises…

We did however arrive to a glittering event with Duran Duran blaring, hot and cold running cocktails and champagne, and stars galore. For one moment you could have been forgiven for thinking it really was 1985. We circulated a bit, rubbing shoulders with celebs and quaffing bubbles and tequila sunrises, before taking seats in the sumptuous screening room.

Kath and I tried not to squeal with excitement when Aidan Turner sat right in front of us (WHAT a handsome man). But sadly he was moved to the front, ready for the Q&A at the end. My friend Amanda was messaging me, telling me to sniff him so she could know what he smelled like. I was four drinks deep by then and might just have had a go, but thank god the poor man was moved before I could work out how to do this. And I probably avoided an arrest for public harassment into the bargain. So sorry, I can’t tell you what Aidan Turner smells like, but he looks very clean. And did I say how handsome he is?

Tell us about the show

I’m not allowed to write about the show itself yet properly. It’s embargoed until whatever date was on the piece of paper they made me sign. So I can’t actually review it properly. But I think I can tell you a few things without getting strung up.

The lineup was always going to make this enjoyable viewing, even it was shit, let’s face it. Some of my faves are in this – David Tennant, Katherine Parkinson, Danny Dyer, Aidan Turner, Emily Atack… and many more, as they say. It’s a great bunch, and dare I say it, very well cast. Tennant is sneering and chippy as Lord Tony Baddingham, Danny Dyer a perfect Freddie Jones. Bella Maclean is meltingly beautiful as Taggie, and Victoria Smurfit is a brilliant, fragile Maud O’Hara. And if you tell me that there’s a better actor to play hot-headed, principled Irish TV star Declan than Aidan Turner, well I don’t believe you.

The lineup was always going to make this enjoyable viewing, even it was shit, let’s face it

If you’ve been looking at the photos and thinking that Alex Hassell isn’t right for Rupert Campbell-Black, well, you’re not alone. Even Alex admits to being really worried about stepping into his shoes and not exactly looking like everyone expects him to. He’s not blond, for a start. But – and there are no real spoilers here Disney, if you’re reading this – after literally every part of Alex is revealed in the very first episode, as he points out, there’s nowhere really left to hide. So he just “got on with it.” And honestly, he makes a pretty good fist of it. He’s handsome, dastardly, and has a good bash at Rupert’s hidden depths, such as they are.

The challenge of taking on well-known characters

Many of the actors channelled older family members or situations. As readers of the book will know, Declan is fiercely protective of his family. Aidan said he was able to get into Declan mode by looking back at his own family. “He’s a dad, I’m a dad,” says Aidan. “I sort of related to him. And he’s like my dad, he’s Irish, there’s the hair…”

Nafessa Williams, who plays the gloriously feisty TV exec Cameron Cook, said she couldn’t wait to immerse herself in the ’80s, pointing out that she had family back then who looked exactly like she did in the show, big hair and all. She’d been able to use her own experience as the only American actor in the show, not really having insight into the wonders of the English countryside.

“It’s a lot like life imitating art, right?” she says. “Like, she [Cameron] came from New York to come here, I came from LA. So I understood her coming here and being new and not understanding this world.”

I’m not sure how many slow-burn relationships are allowed to happen in a world of Tinder and so on, so it was extremely enjoyable to play

Katherine Parker plays gentle Lizzie Vereker, and I suspect talking about the situation between her character and that of Danny Dyer’s is off limits, although obviously you can read what happens in the book. But she confesses to being thrilled to be working with him, and their chemistry is lovely.

“I was so pleased that Danny was playing that part. It’s so beautifully drawn throughout the series, their dynamic. And it unfolds over eight episodes, which is a kind of slow-burn relationship. Which feels very ‘80s. I’m not sure how many slow-burn relationships are allowed to happen in a world of Tinder and so on, so it was extremely enjoyable to play.”

And another great team

David Tennant is Lord Baddingham, massively hung up on class and wanting to fit in. He’s anchored by his wife, Lady Monica, played by the excellent Claire Rushbrook, who is very much old school posh, and who gives him the only real class clout he has. David says he loved playing Tony.

“It’s all there, it’s all there in the writing. And it’s very potent, it’s very British. But it’s very human too, you know? Like, [as Tony] I can never quite be where I want to be, to always be disappointed, because no matter how hard you try, there’s a club you’re not allowed to be in. And for someone like Tony, that’s devastating. He can only try harder. And he will never be satisfied because he’s always one peg down from the exclusive club, and it kills him.”

…he will never be satisfied because he’s always one peg down from the exclusive club, and it kills him…

Tony’s a grammar school boy, as opposed to, say, Rupert’s start in life at Harrow. And the chip on his shoulder is enormous. The most important thing to Tony?

“Winning!!” shouts Tennant, quite literally, channelling Tony alarmingly right there in the screening room. “Whatever that means, and whatever the situation… because he can never have the ultimate prize, he must have ALL the other prizes.” Tennant laughs. “He’s very balanced. There’s no daddy issues here, AT ALL!”

On scenes with Claire Rushbrook as his wife, Lady Baddingham. “I love those scenes, because it’s where all his armour falls away, and you get to see the little boy again. And he’s sort of got his mum there, that comfort. He’s very at home with her, and absolutely needs her. And he kind of runs this extraordinary lifestyle of treachery and debauchery, but he always has to have Monica.”

It’s not often I fangirl massively, but honestly. It’s DAME JILLY COOPER! After a lifetime of reading her books and words, I actually found it quite emotional to see her in the flesh. She was utterly divine, just so happy with the production and telling all the girls how beautiful they were and all the men how handsome. Plus ca change, Jilly! She’s a rather marvellous 87 now, and looking good on it. Plenty of the old Cooper sparkle, and clearly having a whale of a time at the do. I didn’t get to corner her, and probably would have been too shy really. But it was enough to have been there for this whole event.

As for the show – well, I could have sat there and binged the whole lot in one go. Which is, I suspect, what will happen when it finally airs. It’s one hundred per cent a ‘romp’ and not to be taken massively seriously. I absolutely loved it, and really hope they make the entire Rutshire Chronicles into telly shows, if they’re going to be like this.

Jilly Cooper’s Rivals launches on 18 October on Disney+ in the UK

Don’t say: “I’ll have a soya matcha latte with a gluten-free protein bar.”

Do say: “More champagne and keep it coming, and pass the Dunhills.

[moremaybank]

hello, love! how are you?

i had an idea and i just really needed to tell someone about it but none of my friends would get it so i hope you don't mind you're the one i came to

what would you think about rebekah and katherine fighting for a girl's attention?

rebekah and katherine fighting for your attention...

a/n: babes!! i don't mind at all that you came to me. i adore this idea! i don't know if you wanted this to become a headcanon but i kinda got carried away lol. 🫶🏻

rebekah masterlist | katherine masterlist

okay, we all know that bex and katherine don't get along

never have, and i'm ninety-nine point nine percent sure they never will

though rebekah fights with her brothers, she still doesn't appreciate the way katherine got in between elijah and klaus and caused problems to arise in their relationship

katherine, on the other hand, doesn't exactly appreciate how klaus wanted to sacrifice her

so, they stand where they've always stood when it comes to the other

and it's no different when they set their sights on you

alright, let's get into it

katherine approaches you, asking if you wanna hang out with her

she promises you a night of drinking, dancing, causing chaos, and mostly having fun

but just as you're about to respond, guess who pops up?

"sorry, love. y/n and i already have plans. we're going clubbing, and you're not invited," rebekah says, slinging her arm around your shoulders

katherine's impulse is to roll her eyes, but she wants to make a good impression on you

so she goes "well i'm sure y/n wouldn't mind if i tagged along?"

and of course, you being the sweet person you are, you agree (much to bekah's dismay)

then, one day, rebekah hears that you'd had a rough go of it at work, so she picks up a bouquet of flowers on her way over to your house

a little pick me up

sweet, right?

wrong

because when she gets there and you open the door, her eyes land on the hundreds of carnations — which are your favourites, might i add — and she notices katherine standing behind you with her signature smirk plastered on her lips

it takes everything in bex to not rip katherine's heart out right at that moment

but then she sees the glimmer in your eyes as you still take the bouquet from her hands, and you plant a kiss on her cheek in thanks

so can she really be mad?

there's always some fun (or not so fun) banter going on between them every time you all hang out

"you know, she's not very original. i can name at least two other people who are carbon copies of her. on the outside, anyway."

"hm, well at least i don't have a psychopathic brother stabbing me and shoving me in a box for centuries every single time i annoy him."

and you're just there like :/ because you just want them to get along

there have been a few (many) cat fights

they're both always offering to do everything for you

need a ride home from work?

rebekah's ordered a car service for you

having a stressful day and needing to blow off some steam?

katherine's dragging you to a party

in need of a dress for a fancy occasion?

they've both got racks after racks from every high-end boutique they could find, and have compelled strangers off the street to try the outfits on for you

anything to make your life easier

they're both extremely protective over you, especially when it comes to you

bex: "come with me, love. anyone involved with katerina finds themselves dead as soon as she's done with them."

kath: "oh, please. you have a thousand years worth of enemies trying to take you and your siblings down. i'm only at a mere near-five hundred."

if there's one thing i can say, it's that there truly is never a dull moment

~

rebekah & katherine tag list (join here!): @princess-charming-01 @kittyqrt @techlipse @the-kaya-aa @skydisneylover @iluvniklaus @diyabhanushali1 @your_best_hoe

[jack-kellys]

i hate the song something to believe in dearly and truly. it’s the one part of newsies i cannot reconcile because it’s just so bad

please fix it. or do something with it

it’s just not a banger i agree. alright.

send me issues from the Plot or Script of this darn show. and i’ll fix them onstage

so my rules for this is that i cannot cut the song. i cannot invent a scene bc i did that already & that’s cheating.

i do think tho that the key to being… fine with something to believe in is the scene right before. i think that scene MUST be fucking stellar in order for the song to be passable. and the scene before…augh. it could also be written better. the positionally of it and the context and the stakes are more interesting than what they say to each other. except. for.

“don’t say it like it happens every day. i’m not an idiot- i know girls like you don’t wind up with guys like me. i don’t want you promising nothing you’re just gonna have to take back later. but standing here tonight, looking at you… i’m afraid tomorrow’s gonna come and change everything.” EATS.

what’s rly important abt jatherine to me is that jack like. literally does not express his fears to anyone else except her. he talks about regret and anger with davey in wwh(r), i’m not counting that as fear. kath is the only person in the show he shares this with. and what he’s afraid of is being alone.

tomorrow coming means he did vote for the disbanding of the union, it means all the kids he loves are angry and done with him, tomorrow means everyone is gone from his life. (in his pov).

so katherine has a job with this song. she has to refute those fears, finally admit that she’s fallen for him, which means he won’t be alone, even if he leaves. he’ll be in her heart, he’ll have a home there, even if he were to get on a train the next day. she initially comes into this scene demanding something of him, but when she learns his actions were done out of this loyalty and his fear for others & himself… wow. “you snuck up on me, jack kelly. i didn’t even see it coming.” YOU KNOW?? going from “cocky little sonofa” to “of course there’s something” is wild for her

she needs to see him FULLY and completely by this point. idt she does until now, it has to be here for this scene & song to mean anything. this is her almost like. protecting his scared little heart. she says she’s in love (he doesn’t), she assures him it’s okay that it might be for a short time, that it’s random, that things like this CAN be something that happens any day. she offers terms that are accessible to jack, that can let him love her. belief conquers fear, undermines it, and if there’s something reporters are good at it’s getting to the root of something. she just has to take an angle that she didn’t expect from herself.

i think honestly the only line that genuinely bugs me abt this song is jack calling her “an angel come to save him”…. especially cause that boy ain’t white anymore we’ve grown passed that as a community so now it’s like. eugh like SURE, sure, but jack u did lead the strike. with ur boys. and ur leadership skills. and ur love for them. so i think this can be said as a knowing tease and she can wave it off and blush and whatever. u can make it cute i promise.

smth abt uksies that was stellar (wow what a shocker rizz is praising uk newsies…) was how emotive and present bronté’s kath was thru this song, she reacted to every word jack said to her. as long as she’s present i think this scene and consequentially the song can work. u just cannot forget abt katherine’s stakes and her journey of learning abt who jack kelly really is. it’s not a bad song bc it’s a love song it’s bad bc it’s not…. actually about how THEY fell in love. the courage and fear line from seize the day should’ve had a reprise moment here bc that’s what their relationship is based on.

if newsies rly was a love story i think that would be the proper theme through their whole arc together. jatherine is about fear and courage. and so is the show. tbh. just saying

[phanfictioncatalogue]

Fics Including Kathryn Lester Masterlist

2018 (ao3) - outphan

Summary: Dan has a chat with Kath, about his relationship and future with Phil.

A Long-Awaited Reunion (ao3) - Curlylinguist

Summary: Dan hesitates in the doorway, not wanting to interrupt the intimate moment. He wishes his hands weren’t full so he could snap a quick photo of the scene; Phil bending down to rest his head on top of Kath’s, her hand gently rubbing between his shoulder blades, Nigel on their other side leaning into Phil, whose arm is slung across his shoulder.

It’s been 16 months since Dan last saw them in this exact formation as they wandered round the Saatchi Gallery excitedly pointing out the ancient Egyptian artifacts to one another - but looking at them like this now, settled, comfortable, familiar as ever in each other’s presence and it could’ve just as easily been last week.

Kath and Nigel finally visit Dan and Phil in their new home.

A Very Lester Christmas (ao3) - cafephan

Summary: Upon their arrival to the Lester family home for Christmas, Kath has special gifts ready for her sons.

Bear (ao3) - Mysticallykai

Summary: As a child, Dan was easily frightened and needed comfort; that was when his Nana first gave him his Pooh Bear plush, as something that could keep him safe. Over the years, the plush became his absolute comfort, even into adulthood. When Phil comes into the picture, he makes Dan even more comfortable; through the good times and bad.

Becoming a Lester (ao3) - scifi

Summary: it’s december 2009 and after dinner, phil tells kath about the nature of his relationship with dan

Better Than Planned (ao3) - TwistedRocketPower

Summary: Dan and Kathryn take a walk and have a talk.

catching up (ao3) - neopold

Summary: Phil’s very tired and Dan talks to Kath on the phone.

changes (turn and face the strange) - happy_hufflepuffle

Summary: Kath likes to think she doesn’t miss things when it comes to her family. But maybe this time she did.

Christmas at the Lester’s (ao3) - troyiesivanie

Summary: Kath finally convinces Phil he should bring Dan up for Christmas, and it ends up being the best Christmas of his life.

even while the dust moves (ao3) - cityofphanchester

Summary: Nothing bad is supposed to happen when he’s with the Lesters. (Or, the day after Phil’s birthday brings darkness, and Kath makes tea. Set 2019.)

familiar perspectives (ao3) - cityofphanchester

Summary: Kath twinkles in Dan’s direction, and he knows she’s been watching his hands move across the puzzle. “Is he, now? Shame you’re stuck with him, then.”

(scenes from the isle, oct ‘21.)

house full of noise and laughter (ao3) - dizzy

Summary: Dan finds himself home alone at Kath on a late December morning.

House Hunters (ao3) - citizen101erased

Summary: Kath and Nigel go down to London to help Phil and Dan find a house to buy.

kitchen counter (ao3) - ordanary

Summary: Phil asks Dan to come up north with him for Christmas, some realizations are made in the kitchen, and now Nigel owes Kath twenty pounds.

Lester Family Hospitality (ao3) - yikesola

Summary: The morning’s misty rain has turned into a genuine Manchester autumn downpour. As Kath walks past a novelty shop, she spots a young man facing the brick wall of the building. His arm is bent against the wall, and he’s leaning his forehead against his arm, and the poor thing is shaking with what Kath fears might be sobs.

An au fic about hot meals and serendipity.

love, mum (ao3) - panlesters

Summary: kath’s care packages over the years

Magic Soup (ao3) - ahappyphil

Summary: The Howell Lester household is ill and Kath comes to the rescue

maybe they’re seeing something we don’t, darling (ao3) - phantasizeit

Summary: When Phil invites Dan to the Lester family Christmas, Kath can only assume that they’ve have finally gotten together. Dan and Phil don’t realize Kath’s misunderstanding until it’s a little too late. But, how hard can it be to fake a relationship between them? (AKA: The fic where Dan and Phil are already dating, but have to be put in a fake relationship situation to realize it. Also, they do fluffy Christmas things with the Lesters.)

midnight cereal (ao3) - watergator

Summary: kath wakes in the night to find dan in her kitchen

slipping through my fingers (ao3) - Gal_tic

Summary: Even though he said he’d never grow up, Phil grew up.

Or, Kath reminisces on how time flies

The one where Dan should have packed more tissues(ao3) - counting2fifteen, itsmyusualphannie (itsmyusualweeb)

Summary: Dan wants to ask Phil to marry him, but he wants Kath and Nigel’s permission first.

they grew up so nicely, didn’t they? (ao3) - natigail

Summary: Cornelia doesn’t just get a boyfriend when she starts dating Martyn, she gets a whole second family too. Kath and Nigel welcome her with open arms and she becomes a pseudo older sister to Phil.

She is there watching from the sidelines as a boy bolts right into Phil’s heart and sets up camp. She gets to watch as Dan and Phil build careers and an internet community and all the trials and tribulations, as well as the pride and happiness, it brings along.

[cozyfoxy]

Chosen Family

Summary: After Dan comes out at fifteen, his parents don't pay him any mind. At sixteen, when he goes to his first pride, he meets Kath Lester. She becomes like a mother to him, and when his boyfriend hurts him, he goes to her for help. He wasn't aware that he would finally meet her youngest son, nor that Phil would be someone so special to him.

Warnings: Domestic violence, blood mentions

Read on AO3

Genre: Canon divergence AU

Dan knocked on the front door with a shaky hand, looking around to ensure his boyfriend hadn’t followed him. All he could focus on was the familiar iron taste coating his tongue and the pain that pulsated from his nose to his lower jaw. He shook in place, fighting back the tears that threatened to fill his eyes while he waited for the door to open. He jumped at every noise around him, his senses on overdrive. 

The door finally clicked and opened just enough for whoever opened it to see him. A gasp rang out and the door closed again, only for Dan to hear the locks being unclasped. Before he could even register what was happening, he was pulled into the warm-smelling house. 

“Dan, oh Dan, are you okay? Of course, you’re not okay, that was quite a question, huh dear? Let me go get my first aid kit. Please sit down, I’ll be right back love.” Kath ranted anxiously before pittering out of the kitchen and into the main bathroom.

Despite his pain, Dan couldn’t help but smile at the woman who was very much like a mother to him. When he came out at fifteen, his parents weren’t quite supportive. Though they didn’t kick him out or anything, he knew that they didn’t love him like they had when he was “straight.” When he got his first boyfriend, his parents would always brush off anything he had to say about his partner, like if they ignored his gayness, it would go away. He had felt so alone like he had no one to guide him until he met the Lesters.

~

During his first pride with his friends, Dan had felt anything but prideful. In the back of his mind, he could only think about how he was a disappointment to his parents. He felt like he didn’t belong with his family like he wasn’t wanted because of who he loved. Then again, he also didn’t feel like he belonged with his friends who were all decked out in rainbow attire, laughing and taking pictures while he followed them like a shadow. He didn’t belong anywhere. 

Kath had been at pride too, holding a sign that said “Free mom hugs for anyone who needs them!” 

At first, Dan had been apprehensive. To get a hug from a random woman in place of his own mum felt desperate and embarrassing, childish even. He tried his best to ignore the kind-looking lady, decked out in a rainbow sunhat and a shirt that said “LGBTQ+ mum”. He even made a passive joke about her trying too hard, which was luckily poorly received by his friends. Molly, his closest friend in his group had dragged him to the line in front of Kath, using the excuse that she needed a mom hug and didn’t want to do it alone. 

Dan had felt nervous while they waited. His stomach hurt and he felt like he would be rejected by the strange lady, just like he had been by his mother. When it got to his and Molly’s turn, Kath hugged them both so tightly that it felt like she was using all of her strength to put them back together. At that moment, all of the fear and hurt left Dan’s heart and flooded his eyes. He was in hysterics in the arms of a complete stranger. 

Of course, Dan was beyond embarrassed. He had apologized more in that one moment than at any other time in his life, but Kath was having none of it. 

“Oh my love, none of that.” She had said, pulling tissues from her purse, “When a dam breaks, it breaks because it is worn down. You needed a good cry! My name is Katherine Lester, but you can call me Kath.” 

At the end of their first meeting, Kath had insisted that they swap emails so that she could keep an eye on him. Though Dan could hear his parents’ lectures on internet safety in the back of his mind, he gave Kath his email. They emailed at least once a week for a few months, then they started talking on the phone from time to time. Before Dan knew it, he was at the Lester’s house for dinner every Sunday evening.

Nigel, Kath’s husband wasn’t quite as exuberant as her, but he still cared in his own ways. He was always excited to see Dan and would show him whatever painting he was working on at that time. Nigel had even gotten out his paints one evening and let Dan paint with him. It was a shock to Dan, as his own father never included him in his projects. 

“Thank you for letting me help Mr. Lester, I’m sorry I’m not that good at painting. I feel like I ruined your art.” Dan mumbled an apology as Nigel set the painting out to dry.

Nigel had raised a greying eyebrow at the brunette, “None of that lad. Art isn’t ever about being perfect or even good. It’s the emotion and love put into it, yeah? Besides, my paintings with my other sons aren’t much better. Especially Phil’s painting. The poor lad doesn’t know his right from his left half the time, but we love him anyway.”

That was the first time that Nigel had called Dan his son, and it was a lot for the nearly eighteen-year-old to take in. He was cared for so deeply by people who weren’t even blood-related, whereas his parents rarely checked up on him anymore. He went to school and went home, not even speaking to the two people who raised him. They now seemed like strangers, living ghosts that haunted him. They didn’t have to speak for Dan to know their disappointment, he knew all too well. 

~

Kath came bustling back into the kitchen, dragging Dan away from his thoughts. He smiled at her meekly and went to bite his lip nervously, only to have a surge of pain shoot through him. Tears filled his eyes again and he swallowed hard, breathing deeper to keep himself from crying. 

“Don’t act all tough on me love, I know it hurts. Who did this?” Kath demanded, pulling a bag of frozen carrots from the freezer and handing them to Dan. 

Dan closed his eyes tightly and held the cold bag while Kath cleaned his busted-up face gently. She hummed a soft song as she babied him, making him feel even more like a child, but it didn’t upset him like it should have. He was newly eighteen, a certified adult, but he wanted to be cared for. He wanted to feel loved, and one of the only people he trusted to give him that love had beaten him instead.

The tears that the brunette had been fighting back suddenly flowed from his eyes, the salt burning the cuts on his lips. Kath wordlessly put bandages where she could, pushing the bag of carrots against Dan’s bruising eye. Dan whimpered at the feeling, just wanting it to end. Deep down, he knew Kath wouldn’t judge him, but he felt like she must be disappointed in him. He should’ve fought back, he just couldn’t. 

“Daniel, I need you to tell me who did this.” Kath said, her voice stern, “What happened?”

Dan took a shaky breath and looked away from her, “Travis and I got into an argument… I knew… I knew I should have just kept my big fucking mouth shut. I found out he was cheating on me again and I confronted him about it. He’s never hit me this bad before. This is all my fault.”

Kath shook her head quickly, “No, not at all love. This is his fault and only his fault. Nigel and I will help you through this, you’re not alone. Are any of your things at his apartment? Does he know where you are?” 

Dan shook his head slowly, “The only thing there is one of my old hoodies but I don’t care about that. He didn’t follow me, he got mad because I got blood on his carpet so he was trying to clean it. He probably thinks I went home, he doesn’t even know where you live.” 

“Okay, sweetheart. You’re spending the night here. I’m going to call the police so that they can go after Travis. This is not happening to you ever again. Come to the lounge, get comfortable on the couch.” Kath ordered, ushering him to the couch and helping him lie on his back.

“Mum? What’s happened?” An unfamiliar voice came from the stairs, making Dan tense. 

Kath picked up the home phone, looking up towards the stairs, “Dan’s hurt. He’s lying on the couch now. I’m going to the office to call the police. You can keep him company, please Phil?” she rambled, nearly running into the small office. 

Dan heard a quiet grunt and footsteps moving down the squeaky stairs while he fidgeted anxiously with his fingers. He had known the Lesters for nearly two years, but he had never met Phil before. Dan had heard so much about him that it sometimes came as a shock that they hadn’t met yet. Kath loved to dote on her sons, so she was always talking about Phil’s success at York University and how proud she was of him. He had heard so many childhood stories that he could probably write a novel on them. 

“Hey Dan, my mum has talked lots about you, you know? It’s nice to finally put a face to you though. I like your shirt, Muse is my favorite band.” Phil said, sitting on the floor while facing the couch. 

Dan blushed a bit at the words and kept his eyes closed. His head was killing him and the light would only make it worse. He put more pressure on the frozen bag of carrots, the cold soothing his sore nose and eye.

“Muse is my favorite too. Sorry, I’m kind of out of it, bad night.” Dan whispered, flinching when his voice cracked. 

Phil chuckled, “No need to apologize. Do you want a drink or anything? A blanket?”

Dan was suddenly aware that he was shivering, his teeth chattering randomly behind his closed lips. “A blanket sounds nice if it’s not too much of a hassle.” 

“I’ll go grab one from the closet, I’ll be right back,” Phil said, pushing himself up with a grunt and running to the hallway closet.

The brunette couldn’t help but smile as Phil ran away. They had never met before but it truly felt like they had known each other for years. Dan found himself trusting the other man easily. It could be because he trusted the Lesters so much, and Phil was a part of them. However, it felt deeper than just that.

Footsteps alerted Dan of Phil’s presence again and he opened his eyes slightly. His vision was a bit blurry and he removed the frozen carrots from his face. He stared up at the ceiling, too out of it to move.

“I’m going to put a pillow under your head, is that okay?” Phil asked Dan, receiving a nod in return.

Phil smiled and walked behind Dan’s head, putting his fluffiest pillow beneath Dan’s head. He could tell how tense Dan was just by touching his head for a moment. The younger man’s shoulders were frozen in place and his neck barely moved. Phil wondered briefly if Dan was in much pain.

“I have the blanket too, can I put it around you? I’ll take off your shoes too if it’s okay with you.” Phil offered, wanting to make Dan as comfortable as possible. 

Dan nodded again, “yeah… I’m okay with that, but you don’t have to.” 

Phil chuckled and shook his head, “I know I don’t have to, but I want to. You’re not hurt anywhere else, yeah? I don’t want to accidentally hurt you more.”

“No, it’s just my face, and my ego I guess,” Dan whispered groggily, blinking his eyes a few times to clear them.

Phil nodded and got to work, quickly pulling Dan’s Converse off and setting them on the floor. He was surprised that his mum hadn’t already done this for Dan, but he knew she must be panicked. Someone that she loved dearly was hurt and when her loved ones were harmed in any way, she would go from a rabbit to a wolf. 

“Does that feel better?” Phil asked, “I hate shoes with a passion. Laying down with them on sounds gross.”

Dan found himself giggling a bit, “yeah it does actually. Shoes don’t bother me but they were hurting my feet. I ran here as fast as I could. It was the most exercise I had in a long time.”

“Exercise is the worst. I’d rather just play video games or go on YouTube.” Phil explained with a shrug, shaking out the blanket he had brought for Dan

The brunette smiled and nodded in agreement, watching the blanket move above him. When it landed on him in a smooth motion, he sighed contentedly and yawned. He felt more relaxed in an instant, his tense shoulders becoming pliant against the couch. Dan giggled when Phil began to tuck the blanket around his body like he was being tucked into bed.

Dan blinked his eyes a few more times, and his vision finally became clear. He shuffled slightly, propping himself up more against the pillow. When Dan paused and looked at Phil for the first time, his heart leaped into his throat. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

“You’re…Oh my god, you’re AmazingPhil!” Dan gasped, not believing what he was seeing.

Phil laughed shyly and ran his fingers through his black fringe, “Yeah I am. You watch my videos?” 

Dan nodded quickly and blushed, “You’re literally my favorite YouTuber. How did I not know you were Kath's son?”

At that moment, Kath walked back into the room with a calming smile, “The police are looking for him now. It’s my understanding that this isn’t his first time hurting a partner. They told me to keep you here and they will stop by if they need questions answered.” she explained, gently petting Dan’s hair. 

“Thank you for helping me. I didn’t know where else to go. I’m sorry.” Dan whispered, tears causing his eyes to gloss over.

Kath kissed the top of his head, “None of that dear. You’re family and we Lesters take care of our family. Phil, will you help Dan upstairs? He can take Martyn’s room for the night. The bedding is clean.”

Phil nodded and reached a hand out to Dan, “Come along sire, I shall take you to your chambers.”

Dan rolled his eyes in response, but he couldn’t hide the blush that tinted his cheeks. He took Phil’s hand and shuddered at the electricity that seemed to shoot through him. It took all of his willpower to stop himself from fanboying and babbling like an idiot at the beautiful man in front of him. ]

“Thank you,” Dan giggled, releasing Phil’s hand after he steadied himself. 

Kath smiled at the boys, “I’m glad you boys have finally met. I wish it was under better circumstances, but it’s nice. I’m sure you will be the best of friends. You’re quite similar, seems I raise weird children and collect them too.”

Both Dan and Phil blushed at her words, both giving her goodnight hugs and allowing her to fuss over them. 

“Goodnight my boys, I hope you have sweet dreams. Dan, I expect you to rest. Feel free to watch movies or something on the TV in Martyn’s room, but you better rest up. Phil, give him some pain medicine before he sleeps please?” Kath instructed before tiptoeing to her room. 

Phil nodded at her, chuckling when she walked into the bedroom that she and Nigel shared. “Alright Dan, do you want to hang out in my room until you feel like sleeping? Something tells me that you’re too anxious for sleep right now.” Phil whispered, leading Dan up the stairs.

Dan nodded shyly, “Yeah… I don’t really want to be alone right now. But I don’t want to bother you.”

“Not a bother at all. I want to get to know you anyway. I’ve heard so much about you, but I have so many questions.” Phil smiled, opening his bedroom door to let Dan in.

The brunette blushed at the familiar room, recognizing it from Phil’s YouTube videos. It felt like he had just walked onto a movie set, but it was actually real. Phil’s suitcase was sitting by his computer desk, open but barely unpacked. His room was quite messy, but it felt welcoming nonetheless. 

“Make yourself at home. I’m going to grab you some pain meds and water.” Phil explained, walking out of the room.

Dan took in his surroundings quietly, blushing a deep red color. He sat slowly on the bed, still looking around. It was a dream come true to be in the AmazingPhil bedroom, though not like his typical fantasies. He shook the dirty thoughts from his mind and smiled at Phil when he walked back into the room, a glass of water in one hand and two pills in the other. 

“Here you go.” Phil smiled, handing Dan the pills and water, “Do you want to wear some of my clothes? They might be big on you but they’ve got to be better than jeans and a t-shirt.” 

The younger man took the medicine carefully, chugging the water down easily. His face wasn’t hurting nearly as badly as before, but he still felt the burning of his busted lip and his eye ached. “That sounds nice, thanks.” He grinned sheepishly. 

Phil chuckled and walked to his suitcase, pulling out a green York hoodie and a pair of Cookie Monster pajama pants, “they’re clean, I promise. This is my favorite hoodie to wear when I don’t feel the best. Maybe its good vibes will help you too.”

Dan blushed deeply, recognizing the green hoodie almost immediately. He took the clothes with a soft thank you and walked into the bathroom that was across the hall. He pulled the hoodie on first, relishing the comfort that he felt from it. After he pulled the pajama pants on, he pulled the drawstrings as tightly as they could go against his waist. Dan stood in front of the mirror, frowning at the guy who looked back at him. Of course, he would be meeting his idol like this. He looked and felt awful. 

He heaved a sigh and walked back into Phil’s room with his jeans in hand. He felt more comfortable than before, but he still hated how busted up he looked. Dan looked at Phil who was sitting in his bed, up against the wall. When they made eye contact, Dan felt his heart clench and he shuddered. 

“Sit down, you’re making me feel short.” Phil joked, turning on the lamp beside his bed and asking Dan to turn the main light off. 

Dan laughed softly and sat down beside Phil, shifting to make himself comfortable. The silence between them was heavy, but not at all awkward. If anything, it was relaxing, peaceful even. Dan sighed and closed his eyes slowly, “so, what do you want to know about me?” he asked. 

“Everything you’re willing to share.” Phil shrugged with a smile.

They talked for hours, about everything and nothing all at once. They talked about childhood memories, their biggest dreams, and all of their favorites. They talked about fears, bad experiences, and depression. Neither man could tell you who fell asleep first, or if they were cuddling before sleep overtook them. Either way, they both slept like babies that night.

Around eleven in the morning the next day, Kath knocked on Martyn’s bedroom door, wanting to check on Dan. “Dan dear, I want to check on your face and give you some medicine. It’s probably a good idea for you to eat something as well.”

When she didn’t get an answer, she cracked the door open a bit and peeked inside. All that she saw was a still-made bed and no indication that anyone had even been there. Her heart sank and she looked at Nigel who had just walked up next to her, 

“Do you think he snuck out? The lad’s never been good at being taken care of.” Nigel mumbled, rubbing his wife’s back.

Kath shrugged weakly, “Let’s ask Phil. Maybe he’ll know what’s going on.” she suggested.

Nigel nodded and they walked down the hallway, Kath peeking into Phil’s slightly ajar door and gasping. Nigel frowned at her reaction, “Love? What’s wrong?” He asked.

Kath giggled quietly and pushed the door open further, “Look dear, look how precious they are.” 

Nigel raised an eyebrow and looked inside, smiling when he saw Dan sleeping peacefully on Phil’s chest. Phil had his arms wrapped securely around Dan. The duvet was wrapped loosely around them and Dan was snoring softly. 

“Well, would you look at that?” Nigel chuckled, wrapping an arm around his wife’s shoulders. 

Kath smiled up at him, “I didn’t think they’d get on this quickly. But I’m glad that they did. They were meant to meet last night, I can feel it. Our Dan needs Phil I believe.”

Nigel kissed the top of her head, closing the door quietly to give the men some privacy, “Fate works in mysterious ways dear, perhaps they need each other. Now let’s leave them to rest. I have a feeling that they will both be just fine.” 

Kath smiled and nodded up at him, “I think you’re right. Our family feels more complete now. Perhaps we all needed each other.”

[kaytheday]

Kathy Head Canon's

Kathy is Two-Bit's supposed girlfriend. Here are a couple Head Canon's about her.

Master list link. Comment or PM to be added to the taglist. More under the cut!

Her full name is Kathrine L. Bennett. The L doesn’t stand for anything, it’s because her fathers name was Lawrence.

Almost all her friends and family call her Kathy for short. Two-Bit will shorten it even further and call her Kath or Kat. She yells at him but she secretly likes it. 

She’s got a mom and a dad and three little sisters and one little brother. Her mom works as a nurse and her dad works at a mill. They both work full-time so she is tasked with taking care of her siblings almost all of the time. 

She also had two older boy cousins that lived with them up until they finished high school. They were never good kids but they would never let anybody hurt her. 

Kathy is in all honors classes and is very good in school. She sees it as her ticket out and she’s always looking to please her parents who don’t seem to have much time for her as it is. 

She likes feeling useful

She has wavy blonde hair and brown eyes. She is pretty curvy and is a good size. 

Her family is very poor so Kathy is very good at mending her own clothes. She wears homemade flour sack dresses with workers overcoats that are mended to look good for a girl. 

Kathy has been friends with Evie since they were kids. They balance each other out.

Kathy is a natural caretaker, that's why she gets along with Evie. She is definitely the mom friend of the group. 

But she is very funny. Kathy has a very good sense of humor and has no problem making jokes at any time. This is what draws Two-Bit to her, she was the only one laughing at his jokes. 

She wants to go into nursing like her mother and it figures because she has been a caretaker all her life. 

TAGLIST: @ratwife77

[aardvaark]

the librarians "and the christmas thief" (s4e3) watch through:

patron saint of thieves (ie st nick... ie santa), leverage deja vu!

this has some kath & kim vibes - not sure if that’s intentional from the US writers but i hope it is. you might know kath & kim from this meme:

"did you just say - mum?" maybe they’re already working out what he means, but surely for like one second cassandra was thinking "what did you just call me?!?"

okay woah too many hilarious things just happened at once -

this exchange (plus them all running around the table lmaooo):

ezekiel: "they're my family, i'll sort it out, please!" cassandra: "i thought WE were your family!" ezekiel: "you’re a different sort of family. i like you guys!"

^ but re: the above, i love the fact cassandra's offended that he has another family... you know, the family he grew up with. which does make sense from her pov because both cassie & jacob very much have difficult relationships with their own relatives & the library is like their "main" family. she seems to have assumed it was the same way for ezekiel (after all, he's clearly not talked much about his mum & sisters). so she feels confused & a little betrayed even though all he's done is like. have a mother. lol. very much not his fault but i get why she's a bit upset

also love cassandra's incredibly convincing lie to eve, "i found it. the bottle opener. was in the bottle opener drawer. with the other bottle openers".

baird saying "bye, kids" LMAOOO.

ezekiel kissing cassandra on the lips (to which she looks grossed out lol) & about to do the same to jacob before getting pushed away

-AND lastly, ezekiel saying his mum lives just outside sydney & cassandra goes "that explains the accent". did you think he was just talking like that for fun

CASSIES HAIR

jacob knowing about thankstaking day for some reason??

cassandra giving ezekiel's mum a disturbed stare while she discusses stealing christmas presents, but also introducing herself politely & hugging her lol.

plot of the grinch

thank god for cassie. the one who noticed the globe was missing, now the one noticing the globe is on fire

thief worldbuilding. i feel like a lot of this is like the stuff they would've joked about behind the scenes in leverage ("crime world") but couldn't really add to a show that is mostly grounded in real life stuff. also i remember a society of thieves or something being mentioned much earlier on in this show, when representatives from the library and dragons and the fae etc all met up that one time. for some reason thieves are included in magical society lol.

wait if they frame that guy for stealing here, won't he get liquidated?? hope that blew over

its cool that we've seen the same show runners pick two very different sets of laser-avoidance styles for their thief characters lol. parker (leverage) doing the gymnastics type vs ezekiel basically dancing. both chosen to fit the characters im assuming (or in parkers case, to fit what she would have been trained by archie to do - a very classic thief style, according to tv at least lol).

LOL "ezekiel jones? THE ezekiel jones?" exactly like "parker? THE parker?"

well thats why thieves are in magical society ig! santas brother is canonically running the bank of thieves. okay

ezekiel was literally robin hood. and i like that he knows he's lucky and supports people who just didn't have that luck. also him talking about stealing as an art (which he's alluded to before), he really does simply have a passion.

"it has been my experience that behind every egotistical blowhard, there is a petulant, scared little boy"

ezekiel ultimately saying that his mum didnt just teach him greed but also very much generosity & kindness <3 idk family is complicated, people are complicated.

LMAO my very first thought was "wasn't it facing the other way?"

[we-are-inevitable]

may i know everything ever abt Jack and Crutchie's friendship in the frat au?? im so interested in it all it's hard to decide what to ask really so infodump away

oh my god yes.

okay so the thing about this jack and C: they don’t know each other at all beforehand. which is wild from my other fics, bc in every single universe ever, jack and charlie are destined to be brothers, right?? but in this one they aren’t!!! not yet!!!

so they meet in chapter 1 when jack goes to the coffee shop that crutchie was recently hired at, and ive always imagined that crutchie can make friends with a fucking wall, so of course he gets on with jack- and it helps that crutchie recognizes jack as oscar’s roommate. n e ways i think for a bit, their “friendship” is just that- little conversations while jack gets his coffee and charlie sits at the counter, until jack and davey get closer and he realizes— oh. charlie is one of davey’s best friends. and as jack is integrated into the group, i feel like him and charlie get SO much closer- and here’s how im imagining the different friendship dynamics:

jack and charlie: twin brothers. they give each other hell, they joke around and prank each other and argue like crazy, but they get on like a house on fire and there’s no denying it. it’s like theyve always known each other, have never been away from each other, have never not had each other.

jack and kath: best friends. they tell each other everything and have some mutual understanding of each other- they both have ties to greek life, after all- and they really focus their energy on supporting each other through the difficult situations.

jack and racetrack: older brother, younger brother. jack takes race under his wing and feels protective of him, but doesn’t realize that race does the exact same thing. as they get closer and closer they both learn more and more from each other and sure, maybe there’s tension and arguments and strife, but at the end of the day they love each other.

jack and albert/jack and spot: mirror images. they all three work hard to be the best they can and be the pillars keeping everyone else from falling down, so they help each other take a load off. they aren’t as close as they could be, but you don’t have to be close to understand each other. jack and spot have similar backgrounds, so she helps him put things into words and he helps her realize she doesn’t have to be the one calling all the shots all the time. jack and albert are scrappy in the same ways, fighting tooth and nail to have some sort of reputation, and they help each other calm down.

jack and davey: the different sides of the same coin, the opposites in every room, the red and blue, the fire and water, all the dumb cliche shit. they’re much more similar than anyone would ever guess and it gets them into trouble, but it also brings them closer, and they may have their differences but i’ll be damned if they don’t make it work.

i know this was just supposed to be about jack and crutchie but FUCKKKK i love jack having FRIENDS and jack having PEOPLE and crutchie. crutchie is his main man. u don’t understand they are SOULMATES!!!!!!!!!

[jackmkelly]

the fact that pulitzer had 7 kids in real life and only katherine made it into the musical is actually kind of wild. shes supposed to have a toddler brother at the time of the strike. so much lost potential like kath struggling knowing how her dad treats here and wishing she could do more to make sure her little siblings dont have to constantly feel the way she does.

[secretsofthewilde]

Thinking about how after the ending of Wentworth Vera is the only person to know that Joan not only escaped but also saved her life as she did so. How this final moment must have reframed their recent interactions for Vera, making her realize that the two of them had changed one another in more ways than they had realized. Even if they never see each other again from now on, they will be changed irrevocably because of their time together.

Throughout each one of their interactions that season, Vera was aggressive and lashing out at Joan even when it was cruel and went against who she was to do so. If Joan wouldn't be the cruel woman Vera once knew her to be, then she would try to provoke her into becoming that woman again, but in doing so it really just showed that Vera had become the thing she said she'd never be - like Governor Ferguson. Her actions towards Joan/Kath in the final season are emotionally charged in a similar way to when Joan believed that Vera had betrayed her in season 3 and had become paranoid and acted rashly with little concern to others, with the justification that it was all for the "greater good" and that she knew best.

Despite everyone around her and all the evidence suggesting that Joan really was harmless as Kath at the start of season 8, Vera refuses to believe that the woman who had such an impact on her life has gone and is paranoid that she will end up hurt/betrayed if she believes in Kath. This paranoia and stubbornness then leads her to act cruelly towards Kath because she justifies how she is acting as being for the "greater good" of everyone by punishing Joan for her past actions - despite the fact that it's not really Joan she's punishing in those moments. And it's these actions (ordering the spitbag in particular) that cause Joan's memories to return and therefore unleash the monster back into her life.

Vera had taken over the antagonistic role that was once Joan's in their relationship, emulating the authoritative and self-righteous character of her past mentor-and-friend-turned-enemy. And as she took on that role, Joan became the one with little power or control in their relationship, deferring meekly to Vera as her superior in the prison hierarchy. Someone raised to believe that emotions are a weakness was having to recognise and process that not only did she have strong emotions, but that these emotions were brought on because of Vera. Throughout their interactions in the season, Joan is incredibly earnest towards Vera and shows a great level of concern and care for her even if at first she doesn't understand it herself. It is through seeing and talking to Vera again that Joan learns to put others before herself - something that was once Vera's biggest weakness (before she met Joan), has now become a sign of positive growth for Joan.

That's not to say that Vera wasn't still the caring and loving woman we've seen throughout the show or that Joan didn't still engage and desire cruel/violent behaviours , but rather that over the course of their relationship they drew strength from the others weaknesses. Despite any claim of hatred for one another by the final episode, it's impossible to hide just how much the two have changed through knowing one another.

As Joan walks away from Vera and into the distance at the end of the final episode, the symbiotic nature of their relationship comes to an end, but the two of them will be forever changed from knowing one another.

[meditativedeer]

winter rules

I haven't written a list like this in a long time, so I'll do it differently now. these are the things I love today. the title of this is misleading - there's only really one rule - keep loving

my girlfriend

wearing a long sleeve under a big t shirt

soup

running my hands through her hair, feeling the warmth of her head when she lies on top of me

kath and kim

paddington

celine sciamma

cats

the smell of the bread factory on my way to the climbing gym

patterned socks

hiking

my eyebrow piercing

waking up in the night and pulling her closer

turning the car heating the whole way up

the cinema

taking notes

having Sunday off

new backpack

county mayo

doing everyday things with her

charity shop denim

the Vietnamese coffee shop

cauliflower and broccoli

Adrianne lenker

the smell of the launderette on my way to uni

deleting instagram

speaking irish podcast

the mourne mountains

buying cds

learning to play new board games

silver earrings

having long hair

a little life

long bus journeys

Manchester

London

biscuits

earl grey tea with oat milk

hot showers

freshly trimmed fringe

waking up early

going to sleep early

cast iron

buying gifts

rice pudding