#let’s call them Sam and Casey

[consumerofshorthomies]

what if we start shipping ships?

[prismatica-the-strange]

American Honey 🐝💛 | Don't Mind the Static, it's Automatic

This isn't exactly what I would call 'well written' as I'm just skipping through the first movie to get the ship introduction down. I also don't really know any terminology for things so...

Picrew | Showstopper by TobyMac | Dividers by @saradika-graphics

Bee isn't quite sure where they're going, but Sam seems excited to get there.

They pull up outside an apartment building and Sam lays on the horn a few times. A few minutes later a girl comes out and when she gets closer he realizes she's a lot cuter than the other humans he's seen.

He gets a little nervous as she steps around, appraising him.

"Shit Witwicky," She chuckles, leaning on her arms in the open window, "Picked a pretty thing didn't you?"

He startles and his horn goes off in a short burst, scaring all of them.

"It's got some kinks but I think it's great!" Sam grins, "I just wanted to come show off and say thanks for the five hundred bucks you gave me for my birthday."

"Ah, it's no problem kid," She pats his door, "How's it handle?"

"You wanna take her for a spin? You would know better than me."

"Lemme go grab a jacket and I might just take you up on that,"

She runs back inside and comes back with a red leather jacket, a pair of heart sunglasses, and a denim backpack.

His radio blares to life, "Oh see that girl! - I'll be your Honeybee!"

"What's with the radio?" She asks, opening the driver's side door, "Move."

Sam fumbles with a tape she tosses at him before looking at it confused.

"You just gonna stare at it or you gonna put it in, Witwicky?"

"Maybe I don't want to infect my car with your bad taste?"

"You wouldn't know good music if it bit you in the ass, put the damn tape in," She scoffs, throwing him in reverse and taking off.

"You know, maybe you don't have any other friends 'cause you're too bossy- would you slow down?"

They go back and forth for a while until they hit the dirt roads then the girl lays on the gas, laughing when Sam gets scared.

"Casey- CASEY fuck!" He screams, grabbing onto whatever he can reach when they take a hard turn, kicking up a cloud of dirt behind them, "Case, it's my car. Don't break it- I just got it!"

"Don't be a pussy, Sam!"

They catch air time when they crest a small hill and Bee's shrills of approval are drowned out by the music and his engine.

After a while, they drift to a stop at a lookout over the city.

Sam kicks open the passenger side door and storms around the hood, throwing open the driver's side, and yanking her out of the seat.

"I am never letting you drive my car again!"

"Calm down, kiddo," She shrugs him off and hops up to sit on his hood, "She runs fine and she'll keep running fine, breathe."

"And let's not forget I paid for an eighth of this car, Sammy."

"No," He argues, leaning next to her, "You gave me a present. I could have done anything with that money."

"Yeah, whatever LadiesMan... You have any luck with that Mikayla chick yet?"

"No, not yet- wait! Mikayla- shit!" He pulls her off the hood and shoves her toward the passenger side, "I was gonna go drive to the lake and-"

"Hey, stop pushing! If I get in, please don't tell me how you plan on wooing her, okay?"

She's at her friend Erik's the next night and finds herself far too high to drive. So, like the responsible adult she is, she decides to walk two blocks alone at night to crash at the Witwicky place instead.

But as soon as she sneaks past the gate she freezes at the sight of a bunch of giant robots all over his lawn.

"S-s-s-sam!" She can't get her voice past a loud whisper but it's enough to get their attention.

"We have an infiltrator. Shall I disbatch?" One asks, pointing some kind of canon at her.

A smaller one steps in front of her, waving its hands discouragingly at the other.

"Bumblebee, do you know this human?" The biggest asks and the yellow one glances back at her and nods its head.

She's about to book it back to Erik's when the yellow one transforms into a bright new Camero, the radio switching between stations.

"Oh, see that girl - I'll be your honeybee!" It plays softly and a spark of recognition is visible in her eyes. The driver's side door opens, "Get in - I'll explain later."

She hesitates, still considering running, but then the radio plays, "C'mon - Showstopper!"

"I am way too high for this," She mutters, getting in the car.

The big one signals for the group to fall back. 'Fall back' to where she doesn't know, but she doesn't get to ask before she lets out a terrified squeak when one of them walks into the powerlines and falls into the neighbor's garden.

"Calm down - it's alright! - Breathe, breathe, just breathe."

She nods and takes a deep breath, and he finds the way she still grips the seat adorable.

They can all hear Sam's parents yelling and he feels bad scaring her, but he has to turn back from his alt form to hide, quickly shuffling her onto the patio next to him where she won't be seen.

In the confusion of it all, she's left there and she hurries inside, giving his parents some bullshit excuse of her car having a flat nearby and her phone being dead.

"What the fuck is with your car, Witwicky?" She whisper-shouts at him in the kitchen, "What? You're hanging out with Jaegers now?"

"I can't- I can't do this right now. I just-" He digs through his bag, "I need you two to distract my parents while I sneak this out to them, okay?"

"I'm Mikayla," The girl on the other side of him says, offering a hand.

"Oh you're Mikayla," She almost exclaims, eyes wide, "I'm Casey, but people call me CC."

The three of them pile out of the kitchen to one Agent Simmons hassling his parents and Casey is swept up with them in their unmarked black government car, but not before she wriggles out of the grip of one of Simmon's men and decks him for being to rough. She goes down hard when he hits her back and is pretty out of it for a good part of the ride.

By the time they get Bee from the Sector 7 goons, Casey has been properly caught up and, thanks to Sam's quick thinking, her assault officially never happened.

It isn't until after they get their hands on the Cube does Bee really look at his human charges. Casey's left cheek has a large, dark bruise where the agent had hit her and he is pissed.

He chirps at her and tries to use his finger to tilt her face up to look at it better, "God help - the motherfucker who - did this."

"H-hey!" She chuckles awkwardly, pushing his hand away, "I'm all good. We've got bigger things to worry about."

The drive to LA is longer and more treacherous than anyone involved would like and Case has the hardest time not freaking out during her anxiety attack

Everyone is shocked, including her, when she becomes one of the most level-headed person there when the whole place turns into a warzone.

When Lenox sends Sam off alone to get the cube out, she insists on going with him, going as far as taking a gun from a soldier who no longer needs it.

She may not be his real big sister, but she's fiercely protective of him.

She ends up crashing through three floors when Megatron knocks Sam off and the fight is done by the time she hobbles back down to ground level.

Everyone tries to get back to normal after.

Casey and Bee end up getting a lot closer and even sneak out for late-night drives together.

That is until her great-aunt dies and leaves her vast estate on the East Coast to her and she moves.

But I'm sure fate has more in store for them.

[wisdomfish]

The Babel that is 'AI'

The foreman of the Babel project likely shared Sam Altman’s guiding conviction that “all real, sustainable human progress comes from scientific and technological progress” because he was overseeing the use of technological advances giving rise (literally) to ancient towers known as ziggurats throughout the region. The Babel story of Genesis 11 is paradigmatic, representing humanity’s effort by wit, muscle, administration, and, yes, technology to build a mighty kingdom opposed to God that protects and puffs-up (“make a name,” as the story says) the kingdom of man.

The means of achieving these twin goals (protection and pride) are sharply contrasted in the story that follows Babel. When God calls Abram in Genesis 12, he promises the same things (a name and protection/blessing) to Abram, but in a very different manner. If Babel is a project built from the ground-up through human toil, God’s kingdom will be built from the top-down by grace. Babel typifies humanity’s rebellion against God, an effort to acquire dominance, glory, security, and a kingdom apart from the Creator.

Here’s the important point: the Scriptures indicate that demonic forces operate on a parallel yet interconnected track with human forces. These demonic ties don’t just play a supportive role to human attempts at self-glory, but are fundamental to the project of building an empire apart from God. Paul hints at this in his words to a persecuted church; he reminds them that they do not battle against “flesh and blood,” but against the “rulers,” “authorities,” and “cosmic powers” of darkness (Ephesians 6:12)....

It is striking that when it comes to most of our AI fears, deception is the common denominator. In academic settings, concerns abound as to how the technology might be used by students to deceive their teachers into thinking AI generated work was student generated. Similar worries can be found in creative enterprises like music, visual arts, and writing. And let’s not forget that one of Sydney’s “dark fantasies” is to spread misinformation. Whether it’s misinformation, deepfakes, AI-generated work presented as one’s own, a faux romance with AI, deception is the common thread. The fingerprints of the “Father of Lies” seem to be all over the technology.

Seen from a spiritual frame, as Kingsnorth urges us to, it is not difficult to view the AI enterprise, with its Babel-like aspirations, as the latest attempt to usher a new iteration of the kingdom of man. Just like forces of darkness were behind the building of these ancient kingdoms, these same forces of darkness work behind the “wires,” “electric pulses,” “touchscreens” and “headsets” shaping AI, a case bolstered by the deceit and falsehood often tied to the technology.

This is not to say that there is not a way for the technology to move forward in a manner aligned with the City of God, but thus far Big Tech (collectively) seems quite content to operate from a position of self-interest and self-gain, values prized by both the City of Man and the cosmic powers of darkness.

~ Casey Shutt

[tllgrrl]

7th Inning Stretch by @tllgrrl aka Nefertiri Jones

Sarah Wilson/James “Bucky” Barnes | 5K Words | Ch 1: SFW Fade to Black. Ch 2: NSFW Spicy.

Summary: Sarah and Bucky enjoy their day off, beating the heat at home on the sofa, watching the ballgame.

Summer + Baseball + Waltzing + Ice(?) = Shenanigans!

* * * * * * * * *

Chapter 1 - Take Me Out

Where: Southern Louisiana.

When: Summertime. Baseball Season.

Late afternoon at the Wilson-Barnes home. It’s not just hot and humid. It’s steamy, and rain is in the forecast. It hasn’t started yet, but it’s on its way.

Sam’s visiting for a few days, and to keep two bored tween boys from going stir crazy he offered to take his nephews to the movies, pizza, and then for a mini-shopping spree at Crescent City Comics in NOLA, so Sarah and Bucky, both in lightweight cotton shorts and tank tops, are lazing on the sofa, enjoying a quiet day off…and air conditioning.

Like in many older buildings and houses in Southern Louisiana, opening windows and/or doors and letting the air flow through was “air conditioning” in the generations-old Wilson house.

To make it more effective, some window units were installed in the living room and the bedrooms, including Bucky’s bedroom/office in the attic.

Having Stark Industries and WakandaTech available did have its perks. Low profile, high-efficiency and environmentally friendly A/C was one of them.

But sometimes, open windows and good screens were fine. Especially after sundown.

Bucky got the small ice chest out of the garage, filled it with ice, a couple of bottles of beer and 2 bottles of water. Sarah laid out some snacks, including a few of Bucky’s favorite granola bars, on the coffee table.

He’s watching the L.A. Dodgers (the “Brooklyn” Dodgers, as he sometimes calls them) play the New York Mets while he rubs her feet with his warm right hand.

She’s enjoying the hell out of the pampering, while reading the novelization of the Bridgerton spinoff, Queen Charlotte.

He knows about the popular TV series and enjoys the way she tries to keep a cool demeanor at what she and her friends call “the juicy parts” of the book.

He can hear her when she says under her breath, “Well, alright now…” or “Mmm-hmm…”

And he took particular note when she covered her mouth, whispered “Giiiiirl?! Yesss…” and her toes curled in his hand.

He planned to try and get her to read whatever that part was aloud to him later.

“It’s almost time,” he informs her, releasing her foot and rubbing his left hand, still cool from holding a cold beer, on her legs.

“Mmmm…that’s nice.” she sighs as she lightly kneads his thigh with her heels. “Time for what?”

“7th Inning Stretch…”

“…You know the song, right? Take me me out���“

“To the ball game? Everybody knows that song.”

“Yeah, the chorus part of it. Did you know there are verses?”

She laid the book down on the coffee table next to the bowl of roasted peanuts, snagged a little cube of ice and rubbed it on her wrists, her neck and her collarbone.

His eyes caught a drop of water from the ice making its way from the hollow at the base of her throat, down her chest, rolling into her cleavage.

For a second he considered going in after it. With his mouth and tongue. Instead, he gave her another piece of ice and popped one into his own mouth, crunched it, then taking her hand slowly kissed up her arm, from the pulse point of her wrist, watching her eyes slightly widen as she grins.

"Is that right..." she murmured, getting a little lost because it felt like every time his cold mouth landed on her warm skin, all of her attention, her focus, was drawn to that spot on her body.

And he saw her thighs press together just a little when he reached the inside of her elbow, kissed it and then rubbed his bearded cheek on it, making her hiss and pull away but just a little because the cold followed by the warmth made her want more.

“Verses? That song has verses? Lay it on me, Sinatra.”

“Okay, it goes something like,

Katie Casey was baseball mad,

had the fever and had it bad.

Just to root for the hometown crew,

Every sou—that’s a penny—Katie blew…”

“Really! That’s how it starts?”

“Yeah. Learned it from my Pa. There was another version later about a girl named Nellie Kelly.”

“Anyway," she ruffled his hair, and lightly raking her nails on his scalp, she watched his eyelids start to flutter. "I’ve never heard the intro before. My baseball knowledge isn’t very deep. Daddy’d sometimes watch depending on who was playing, and you know about Sam and his football. I’m into whatever the boys are into, but I don’t know a lot about baseball.”

“My Ma loved baseball. Prob’ly more’n Pa. She’d listen to games on the radio doin' housework, or makin’ dinner, and during the 7th Inning Stretch she’d grab me and Becca, turn the radio up, and we’d all three of us dance around in the living room. God, in the summertime it’d be so hot, but we didn’t care.

Sometimes if I had a little bit o’ money left from a job, when the ice wagon came around I’d run downstairs and get us snow cones.

Man, when that ice hit your mouth…it was like heaven. I’ll never forget…”

Sarah saw that soft smile and look of almost wonderment he sometimes gets when an old formerly-lost memory resurfaces.

‘Well, anyway,” he offered, rising from the couch, taking her hand and leading her to the middle of the room, “I’ll be more than happy to be your private baseball tutor.”

“Private tutor, huh?”

“Mmm-hmmm. May I?”

She nodded, he placed her right hand on his shoulder, took her left hand, and pulled her nearer.

“When you’re watching the boys’ team play, you want to be the parent who knows exactly what they’re yelling at the ump for.”

“Well, I thank you in advance, Professor Barnes.

So when do my lessons start?”

“Now. Do you waltz?”

“Waltz? A little. Not much occasion to, but I can waltz with a good partner.”

“You’re in good hands. Trust me. Okay…”

He raised the volume on the TV, tossed the remote onto the couch, and they began to dance as the announcer sings:

🎶Take me out to the ballgame,

Take me out to the crowd…🎶

“Say! Not bad, young whippersnapper!”

“Thank you!”

🎶Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack…🎶

“Who taught you?”

“Daddy. And mama taught Sam.”

“Sam? Your brother Sam? Sam Wilson can waltz?”

🎶Root, root, root for the home team,

If they don’t win it’s a shame…🎶

“Oh, yeah! Social Dancing was definitely part of our Home Training. But not Soul Train dancing. You learned popular dances from friends, and from the TV.

I mean Fox Trot, Swing, and Waltz. Like your Mama taught you, our Mama and Daddy taught us…just like you’re gonna teach Cass and AJ.”

“You want me to teach them.“

“Mmm-hmm. They're already learning baseball fundamentals from you. You can show them basic partner dancing steps, and they can practice leading with me.”

“I thought you wanted them to like me!”

“It’ll be fun! I promise.”

“Mind if I hold you to that?”

The song continues and the crowd on the TV sang as Sarah and Bucky find themselves slow dancing.

Whenever they dance past the AC unit, they linger, feeling the cool air as it hits the light veil of sweat that has settled on their skin.

It’s Southern Louisiana. In the Summer, it’s always there.

She grew up with it.

He’s gotten used to it and actually loves it because he’d had enough freezing in his life to never want to be cold again unless necessary.

She places her hand on the back of his neck and feels him inhale, rub his cheek on her temple, then he lightly kisses her there.

The back of his left hand slides down her shoulder, then his fingers slowly run from just behind her ear, down the side of her throat.

The sensors in that hand know her skin intimately now.

He remembers the first time she took his hand, the first time he touched her arm, her cheek, her bottom lip. Her...

He lightly kisses the side of her neck, her ear, while softly humming the song, pulling giggles from her.

Her hands roam up and down his back, gently kneading the muscles there, pulling another deep inhale and sigh from him.

🎶Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack…🎶

His mouth travels to her cheek, then to her mouth.

🎶I don’t care if I ever come back.🎶

They get lost in the kiss, and when they finally do come back…

“Well, now. Tell me, Professor Barnes, do they still call a kiss like that getting to First Base?”

“I believe they do, Ms. Wilson.”

“I wonder if you can make it to Home Plate.”

“Not if I can, sweetness, but how many times.”

“Oh, really now,” she huffs, pulling away before he can go in for another scorching kiss, and heading toward the stairs.

He watches her ascend and when she looks back at him over her shoulder, she sees that “got an idea” look he gets when he gets the kind of “ideas” that get her pulled into a hideaway someplace at least semi-private for some good old-fashioned grownup shenanigans.

“The truck windows are still down,” he grins. “I’ll be right up.“

As if on cue, the wind kicks up a bit, and then there’s the sound of rain beginning to fall.

{*ping*}

They both glance over at his phone on the end table, then at each other, and she starts to prepare herself for the words that’ll mean he has to get dressed, grab that ever-ready Backpack and board a QuinJet that’s miraculously showed up in the front yard.

(Dammit. Here it comes: “HQ called—blah blah blah. The boys and I are headed back home. Wheels up in 2 hours—blah blah blah. Sorry Buck.”)

Bucky picks the phone up, reads the message, and breathes a sigh of relief.

“It’s from Sam. He says, raining cats and dogs up here...storm’s headed your way...boys are knocked out and so am I...crashing at safe house...see you guys in the morning. Don’t get distracted and forget to roll up windows on that old truck, White Panther? Distracted?!” Bucky says to his phone. “I don’t get distracted, Samuel!”

For a few seconds, Sarah watches with amusement as he fusses at the phone, then she turns and continues up the stairs.

“Don’t take too long rolling up those windows, Lover,” she teases. “It’s the top of the 7th.

Batter up.”

* * * * * * * * * *

Chapter 2: Rounding The Bases on AO3 (Rated E)

Originally published for the 2023 SarahBucky Summer event.

Thanks for reading! (Or re-reading!)

[alexmeeksmartin]

red right hand

pairing: (kinda) ghostface ethan landry x gn reader, slight chad meeks-martin x gn reader

synopsis: the one where an oblivious y/n receives a call from ghostface. of course, chaos, fighting, and bloodshed ensues.

a/n: this one is obviously very inspired by casey becker, cici cooper, and tara carpenter’s various phone call sequences with ghostface throughout the franchise. does involve a good bit of violence and also the reader kinda being an idiot !

wc: 2.2k

it’s late and you’re in your new york city apartment, getting ready for a chill night in while your roommate, anika, is at her girlfriend, mindy’s apartment for date night. you had tried to make plans with your friend, ethan, but to nobody’s surprise he was spending the night studying. chad, like ethan, was also busy but instead with football practice, but he said he’d call you later. tara and sam were making dinner just the two of them. so, there you were, left all on your own, and bored out of your mind.

you’re about to settle onto the sofa for the night, thinking you could probably fit in a movie before chad calls, when the landline rings in the kitchen. you contemplate answering it, finding it odd that someone would be calling at this hour, but curiosity bests your doubts and you pick it up anyway.

“hello, y/n speaking.” you answer with a neutral tone.

“hello.” a raspy voice whispers back from the other end of the line. sounds kinda sexy, you think to yourself.

“who is this?” you ask.

“who’s this?” the voice repeats back to you.

“you called me.” you say with a slight laugh.

“i suppose so. what are you doing currently?” the voice questions, still at a whisper. you debate on whether or not to answer, but think to yourself that you’ve got nothing else to entertain you. could it hurt? no.

“i was just about to watch a movie. you?”

“me too. i was about to watch a scary movie. do you like scary movies?” the voice asks.

“yes, i do! in fact, i was about to do the same. it’s like we’re all synced up.” you laugh.

“what’s your favourite scary movie?”

“well, certainly not stab. the first few were good, but the series went to shit after stab 4. i quite like the halloween franchise. big fan of the strangers as well. how about you, mystery man?” you answer, an inquisitive tone in your voice.

“more of a friday the 13th man, myself. although, i do quite enjoy the stab movies. i guess they hit close to home.” he responds.

“oh, are you from woodsboro? that’s cool, i’ve got a couple of friends from there.”

“not woodsboro, but near enough. what scary movie are you about to watch?”

“i was thinking a classic. maybe texas chainsaw massacre or the original halloween. something along those lines.” you explain.

“laurie strode always made a great final girl, it’s a shame her friends had to die first.” something was starting to feel off, but you couldn’t put your finger on it just yet. so, like any stupid person would, you stayed on the phone. “what about you? do you think you can make it to the finale, or are you a victim of the villain? a traumatised hero or a body in the third act bloodbath?”

“i think i’m survivor material. i’ve got enough brains on me, i feel. either that or i’d be the iconic killer.” you laugh.

“hmm, interesting. i pinned you more as the cici cooper type.”

“cici cooper?”

“stab 2. she answers the phone while home alone, only to become a victim of ghostface.”

you let out a light laugh, starting to feel slightly uncomfortable.

“only joking, of course. i think you’ve got the guts and bravado to be a leading character, a nancy thompson, sally hardesty. maybe even a sidney prescott.”

“aw, are you flirting with me, mystery man?” you tease.

“maybe, maybe not. would you like it if i was flirting with you?”

“i mean, i don’t think i’d mind. if your looks match up with the appeal of your voice then i’d be more than interested.” you say boldly, the confidence of not being face-to-face egging you on.

the voice chuckles. “so, you’re a fan of my voice?”

“yeah. got a sexy aura to it, totally my thing.” you continue, playing with a knife from your block while standing in the kitchen.

“do you happen to be in a relationship?”

you debate how to respond. you weren’t, but you’d also be lying if you didn’t acknowledge that you and chad had some sort of thing going. but you guys weren’t officially together, and probably wouldn’t ever be. again, could it really hurt?

“nope. never too late to change that, though.”

“sounds interesting. maybe we should plan a date.” the voice replies.

“ooh, that’d be fun. i always wanted to do blind dating.” you say, a smirk crawling across your face.

“what about tonight?”

“bit late, is it not? it’s like, 9:30.”

“well, you look stunning tonight, though i’d maybe have worn some more red. thought i might as well ask.”

“oh, thank you-“ you cut yourself off, having processed what was just said to you. “wait, how do you know what i’m wearing?”

“what was your name again?” the voice asks you.

“why?” you ask, fear starting to creep into your voice.

“i wanna know who’s apartment i’m in.”

you feel your skin crawl and a cold shiver shoot up your spine as soon as those words enter your ear.

“that’s not fucking funny. i’m hanging up now-“ you say, your voice trembling with fright at this stage.

“hang up and i’ll carve you like a fucking pumpkin!” the voice says, still in a whisper-like yell.

“good one, with halloween coming up and all. screw you.” you say, feigning confidence.

“nice comeback, y/n. maybe i’ll spare you and wait for anika to come home, and gut her in the middle of your living room. maybe i’ll find chad on his way home from practice and make a spectacle of him on the football field.” you pull out your phone and start messaging your group chat with tara, chad, ethan, mindy, and anika, warning them that someone is making threats. “maybe i’ll make a surprise appearance for tara and sam. or maybe i’ll crash ethan’s night in.”

“if you hurt them i’ll-“

“you’ll what, y/n? hurt me? punish me? kill me? you won’t do any of that, because you’re in my scary movie now, y/n.”

“you’re a fucking psycho. i don’t know if this is some sick fucking joke of yours, but either way you are disgusting.”

“the only disgusting thing tonight will be when anika returns home to find your intestines spilled across the floor and your blood splattered on the walls, y/n.”

“fuck you!” you yell through the phone at this lunatic.

“no, fuck you, y/n! it’s people like you who deserve to die. ready to whore yourself out to some stranger on a whim all because you were bored on a night in.”

“you piece of shit. go fuck yourself.” you say before finally hanging up. that was it, you were leaving. whether it was some stupid fucker joking around or an actual murderer, you weren’t going to stick around and find out. you stormed into the kitchen and grabbed a knife before making your way to the front door.

as soon as you turn the corner to the hallway, you see a shadowy figure standing there. you let out a gasp, notifying the figure of your presence. he turns around, showing you his ghostface mask, and you let out a scream. he tilts his head at you.

you’re frozen with fear until your instincts kick in. you hold up your knife, “stay the fuck back!”

“come on, y/n. i thought we were going on a date.” ghostface says, beginning to eerily step towards you.

“i’m serious! i will use this fucking knife!” you yell at the masked intruder.

“why don’t you put the knife down and come give me a kiss.”

he charges at you and before you can use your knife, he grabs your wrist and stabs you in the shoulder. you let out a blood-curdling screech before using your other arm to punch him across the face.

you start to run, but ghostface isn’t far behind at all. he stalks you, knife in hand. he lunges at you, but you duck out of the way and go behind the dinner table. you were truly fucked now, stuck between the table and the wall.

“i knew you would look good with a little more red.” ghostface says as you look on, petrified.

“fuck you.” you respond.

you make a run for the side of the table, but ghostface makes it before you do and slashes you across your arm. you retreat back behind the table, but now use all of your remaining strength to shove the table into ghostface, knocking him to the floor. you take your chance and sprint to the bathroom, locking yourself in.

you lean against the door, sliding down it until you reach the floor, letting out sobs of agony and fear. you were losing blood. a lot of it. what once was a white t-shirt was now almost all stained is a deep red, and your arm was covered in streaks of blood too. how long had he been in your apartment? had he been watching you all night? you frantically send messages to your friends, knowing that mindy’s place and where chad was doing practice are only five minutes away from you and anika’s place. just as your plead for help is delivered to your friends, your phone rings.

unknown number.

you pick up.

“leave me alone!” you desperately scream into your phone. you were an innocent. you’re not from woodsboro, you just happen to be friends with some people who are.

“not just yet, y/n. our date night isn’t quite finished.” ghostface replies.

“why are you doing this?!”

“your woodsboro friends deserve punishment.”

“i didn’t do anything! leave me out of whatever sick vendetta you have, you motherfucker!”

that’s when your neighbour knocked on your door.

“hey, i heard screaming, everything alright in there?” you hear his voice, muffled through the walls, shouting out for you.

“maybe i’ll send my message through him instead.” ghostface threatens.

“no, no, don’t hurt him! you don’t need to hurt him!” you plead with the killer, not wanting any more blood to be spilled.

“too late. i’ve already made my mind up.”

you quickly unlock the bathroom door and sprint out, reaching the hallway to your front door. ghostface opens it and drags your neighbour inside, slamming the door behind him.

ghostface covers your neighbour’s mouth before slitting his throat and throwing him the floor.

you let out a mixture of a sob and a scream before ghostface runs at you, tackling you into the armchair behind you and sending you both to the hardwood floor.

you get to your feet as quick as possible, but so does ghostface. he grabs you and then chucks you onto your glass coffee table, making you crash into it. you lay in the shattered and jagged glass around you as ghostface looms over you. ghostface stabs you in your calf, but your instinct comes in as you utilise your other leg to kick his arm away and then send another boot to his stomach.

you haphazardly pull yourself to your feet and pick up a vase, chucking it at ghostface before standing in front of your dining table. the vase seems to barely do anything, and ghostface just sprints up to your couch and uses it as a launch point to jump on you.

however, at the last possible moment, you throw yourself to the ground, allowing ghostface to smash through the table. ghostface lie: there lifeless down the middle of the split wooden table, and you know the best thing to do now is run.

the adrenaline is starting to wear off as you once more drag yourself to your feet, in constant agony from the pain induced by the stab wounds in your leg, shoulder, arm, and all the shards of glass stuck in your back. you stumble down the hallway, but trip over your neighbours body. again, you struggle to get back up. but you do so, feeling your calf sear with pain, pushing through it and getting to the door. you unlock it, and take a step outside, seeing anika, mindy, and chad turning at the end of your hall, relief filling you. your nightmare was over.

but suddenly you’re dragged back into the apartment.

the door is locked again.

and you’re being pinned against the wall.

you shriek as the knife enters your stomach, trying to shove ghostface off, but he slams you against the wall again and then chucks you to the floor. you hear your friends slamming against your door, and frantic shouting between them about anika finding her keys.

all this while ghostface gets on top of you, and begins stabbing again. brutal stabs to your midsection, the only noise your mind can focus on being the knife entering and exiting you and the squelch of blood. you let out ferocious and terrifying screeches, but to no avail.

then it all stops. you can’t feel anymore of the pain as ghostface stands and wipes the blood from his knife, giving himself a red right hand before he makes a beeline for the window, heading out the fire escape.

the door crashes down, and your friends rush straight to you. you can see their worried facial expressions and hear their rushed words, but none of it is registering.

chad begins to carry you out as you feel the blood starting to reach your mouth, coughing it up. you think anika is on the phone to the 911, but you’re not sure. she’s in tears, screaming about needing help while mindy runs ahead. the last thing you see before it all goes black is chad’s face, hearing him trail off with reassurance, “it’s all gonna be fine, we’re gonna get you help. you’re fine, we’re fine…”

and then it’s over.

a/n: i really enjoyed writing this and i hope you enjoyed reading it too! thinking of maybe making a part two to this where the reader survives, but i also think it does well as a stand-alone where the reader dies. the violence was so much fun to write, i can’t wait to write ghostface again !

[thebunnylord]

Which engines are on Santa’s naughty and nice list

Thomas: Naughty, threw his snowplow in a tree somehow

Edward: Nice, did extra jobs and helped Gordon up the hill

Henry: nice, stopped to let a deer cross the tracks

Gordon: naughty, got stuck on the hill

James: naughty, refused to pull a goods train

Percy: nice, pulled the mail trains on time

Toby: nice, helped out at the quarry

Duck: nice, ran his branchline smoothly

Donald: nice, plowed all the lines

Douglas: nice, plowed all the lines with his brother

Oliver: naughty, threatened the trucks with violence

Toad: nice, stopped a runaway

Bill: naughty, existed

Ben: naughty, existed

BoCo: nice, kept Bill and Ben in line

Diesel: naughty, harassed Duck

Annie: nice, kept thomas in line

Clarabel: nice, gave a smooth ride

Salty: naughty, swears like a sailor

Cranky: naughty, dropped several heavy crates that were labeled as fragile

Porter: nice, kept the dockyards well shunted

Skarloey: nice, was polite to the passengers

Rheneas: nice, stopped at the crossings to let pedestrians go by

Sir Handel: Naughty, fell asleep during work

Peter Sam: nice, said hello to everyone

Luke: nice, got all his work done at the quarry early

Duncan: naughty, cussed a passengers out and called them a !!!^%$#@!! !!!&&^%%!!! !!!*&^^!! In morse code

Duke: nice, took charge for a day and did a good job

Victor: nice, kept the works all organized

Emily: naughty, bossed the other engines around

Daisy: naughty, was too lazy to do any work

Henrietta: nice, gave good advice to people

Hiro: nice, pulled all his goods trains on time and well

Casey: ????, his intentions were good but it backfired completely on him

Whirligig: Naughty, Told Casey something that isn’t true and now he believes it

[fyeahcompetentwomen]

Submissions so far!

Have a new mosaic header, with the women who were submitted so far, and a list, grouped by show/movie etc., under the readmore!

Don't worry; if your champion isn't in here, you can still submit them via this form, until April 30th!

I chose these pictures based on the following ranked criteria:

included/linked in the submission OR

actual still from the movie/show/whatever, rather than a promo shot or fan art etc. AND

showing them in a characteristic and/or competent situation

for the characters Deanna Troi, Dr. Beverly Crusher and Seven of Nine, I decided to go with their most recent appearances in ST:PIC

If by any chance I chose NOT a still/screenshot, but your manip of the same, please let me know if you'd like me to take it down/replace it, or keep it and credit you!

Ally McBeal (TV show): Ally McBeal

Better Call Saul (TV show): Kim Wexler

CSI (TV show): Catherine Willows

DC (franchise): Alex Danvers DC (franchise): Sara Lance DC (franchise): Zari Tarazi

Doctor Who (TV show): River Song Doctor Who (TV show): Sarah Jane Smith

Drawtectives (Youtube show): Jancy True

The Expanse (TV show): Camina Drummer The Expanse (TV show): Chrisjen Avasarala

Greys Anatomy (TV show): Dr. Addison Montgomery

Harry Potter (franchise): Fleur Delacour

Holby City (TV show): Dr. Bernie Wolfe

House of the Dragon (TV show): Rhaenys Targaryen

Jane Doe books (book series): Jane Doe

Leverage (TV show): Parker Leverage (TV show): Sophie Devereaux Leverage: Redemption (TV show): Breanna Casey

The Librarians (TV show): Eve Baird

Little Witch Academia (TV show): Amanda O'Neill

Lupin III (TV show): Fujiko Mine

Marvel (franchise): Melinda May

Once Upon a Time (TV show): Regina Mills

The Owl House (TV show): Eda Clawthorne

Person of Interest (TV show): Sameen Shaw

Pokémon (franchise): Cynthia Pokémon (franchise): Iris Pokémon (franchise): Nemona

Rizzoli and Isles (TV show): Dr. Maura Isles

Sanctuary (TV show): Dr. Helen Magnus

The Sandman (TV & Comics): Death of the Endless

Sonic the Hedgehog (franchise): Amy Rose

Star Trek (franchise): B'Elanna Torres Star Trek (franchise): Deanna Troi Star Trek (franchise): Dr. Beverly Crusher Star Trek (franchise): Erica Ortegas Star Trek (franchise): Jadzia Dax Star Trek (franchise): Kathryn Janeway Star Trek (franchise): Seven of Nine

Star Wars (franchise): Ahsoka Tano

Stargate (franchise): Samantha "Sam" Carter

Tomb Raider (franchise): Lara Croft

Warehouse 13 (TV show): Claudia Donovan Warehouse 13 (TV show): Helena George Wells Warehouse 13 (TV show): Myka Bering

The X-Files (TV show): Dana Scully

Xena Warrior Princess (TV show): Xena

(please stay civil in the notes: no bashing anyone, no matter who, or where they're from!)

[autisticwriterblog]

Fandom 50 Post 17

My fifteenth piece of Alan Wake 2 meta. This one is about Initiation 8.

Initiation 8: Zane’s Film

What happened in this chapter?

Once he leaves the TV studio, Alan resumes his plan to visit Zane so Zane can hopefully point him toward a murder site. When he investigates Zane’s room at the hotel, Alan finds it empty except for a projector pointing at the wall.

Turning it on, he watches a video of himself and Zane; Alan holds Zane at gunpoint, whilst a bloodied Zane is tied to a chair. As Alan threatens to shoot him, Zane explains that Alan had stopped writing, so when Scratch showed up and offered to write, Zane jumped at the chance to escape the Dark Place. But when they were finished, Scratch took Return and abandoned him. Alan says that the manuscript and Scratch are still in the Dark Place, and Zane says that Alan can catch him—and when Alan finds him, Zane wants Alan to kill him with no hesitation. After Zane mentions a murder site in his cinema, the footage starts to flicker, grins appearing and disappearing from Alan and Zane’s faces as they swap places and then back again in a very confusing way, which results in Alan shooting Zane through the head. He takes a ticket for Nightless Night from Zane’s shirt pocket—and the footage ends.

After watching the confusing video, Alan leaves the hotel. Noticing the bright lights in the distance, Alan heads towards them. Eventually, he locates the cinema, using the ticket to grant him access. He progresses through the cinema, using the plot board to change his surroundings as he encounters echoes of Casey investigating the Cult of the Word. On one memorable occasion, Alan uses his lamp to light the lamp being held by an image of Zane on the film screen, which is yet another example of the meta weirdness this game does so well.

Zane’s lamp shines light on the wall and reveals a door, letting Alan explore the alley outside the cinema. As he learns more about the cult, Alan climbs up the building, finding himself on the rooftop of the huge cinema. On the roof, Alan learns about the cult’s Grandmaster from a cultist who kills himself in front of Casey in an echo, which should allow Alan to reach the projection booth of the cinema.

Back inside, Alan heads to the projection booth. To get there, Alan interacts with a door on the screen in the cinema, which takes him to another location. Inside, he finds himself in another endlessly looping location, like back at the subway tunnel and hotel. Each time he goes through the loop, Alan hears Casey shouting at the cult, losing his mind more and more with each loop. At one point, Alan comes across a man wearing a deer mask and tied to a chair. The man speaks with a Finnish accent and bears a striking resemblance to the actor called Sam Lake who Alan met at Door’s show. He keeps telling Alan not to stab him with a knife, and when Alan goes to locate the knife, the man escapes and runs away.

Finally, Alan reaches the projection booth, where he finds the corpses of two police officers strung up, one with a moose skull on his head. When Alan approaches, the moose head disappears, and Alan sees another vision of Saga Anderson. He tells Saga that he wrote her into the story as the hero, and even with communication difficulties, it’s clear that Saga isn’t happy about her family being involved in the story.

Once again, Parliament Tower appears outside.

My Thoughts

On the way to the hotel, you can listen to an echo where Casey describes Zane as “an esoteric bohemian with a hard-on for acts of cruelty performed in the name of occult nonsense” which made me laugh the first time I heard it. Both because it’s such a Casey thing to say, but also because I love the way James McCaffrey delivered the line.

Another thing that made me laugh is if you hang around after watching the film in Zane’s room long enough to see the video start again and Zane come back to life because he was only acting being dead—and Alan’s reaction is a hilariously delivered, “What the fuck?” which I imagine summed up the confusion a lot of players felt.

The first time I played this chapter, I remember getting lost and not knowing what to do to progress the chapter, which made me frustrated and soured it for me. But I’ve replayed the game three more times since then, and once I didn’t get myself lost (which is very much an issue with my sense of direction rather than game design, because I get lost in basically everything I play—and real life) I grew to love this chapter. The cinema has such a cool atmosphere and a creepy aesthetic at the same time, and going into the theatre and seeing all those shadows just hanging around in there terrified me.

The whole story going on with the characters in the echoes found throughout the chapter is really interesting. The police officers – who have the same voice actors as Mulligan and Thornton but totally aren’t them – have been dumping bodies for the cult to work their way into their ranks, whilst a cultist – who, again, isn’t Ilmo Koskela despite having the same voice – who’s being pursued by Casey eventually takes his own life because his ‘role’ in the cult is done. The Cult of the Word is clearly a real cult, dangerous and not caring for the lives of its members, as opposed to the Cult of the Tree in the real world, which is just a clever marketing campaign by Ilmo to keep people away from the lake. Interestingly, Ilmo is the leader of the Cult of the Tree (well, joint leader with Jaakko), but in the Dark Place, his counterpart in the Cult of the Word isn’t in charge, instead just a member who would kill himself because the cult no longer needs him. I can certainly see why @koskela-knights was fascinated enough by this whole topic to write his Echoverse series.

[irish-urn]

As one does, I've been thinking about Dasey lately (what else do I do? Absolutely nothing) and how utterly unhinged they are for each other.

They've never really admitted their feelings in the canon of the show (because the writers are cowards) but they're just insane. Constantly. And I love that for them, truly, but how did either of them ever have a relationship?

I get the Sam thing, because Sam is a pacifist and a little bit of a coward and there's Casey and Derek's giving the all clear so Sam doesn't want to step on any toes. Casey has never had a problem with it, it's why she pursued the man (well that and it pissed off Derek and that's always a plus, he's so entertaining when he's pissy and staring at her like that), but they call it off because Casey just doesn't feel enough.

(please ignore, much like the writers, that Casey feels too much for Derek consistently throughout the show.)

Her next serious boyfriend is Max, who definitely makes sense as a guy Casey would date. He's enough of a douche, while also being attractive (ig, I don't see it) and Derek hates him. Being captain of the football team gives her an existential crisis because she completely changes herself for him, but Max is popular and the opposite of Derek. Max is supposed to be Prince Charming! But he pisses her off because he just doesn't understand. He doesn't even try to get her fucked up relationship with Derek, because he just sees it as insane and Casey being neurotic, because he doesn't get that no matter how annoying and insane Derek's being (like thinking he can fight The Fridge, what the fuck is he thinking?! Even Derek has more sense than that), she's going to fight to the death for him. Max just doesn't get it. And in the end, they break up because they're fundamentally incompatible. Max can't accept Casey, flaws and all, because he doesn't want the flaws.

(please ignore that Derek accepts all of Casey's flaws from the moment they meet, and as much as he pesters her about them, he very clearly appreciates them all like the writers did.)

And then there's fucking Truman. Not one of the better presidents or love interests. His introduction being rating women is definitely a sign he's fundamentally wrong for Casey and just her excuse to rebel, because he's not even that cute. He's just there and a "bad boy" and Casey wants to rebel a little. Truman is an ass and the worst and an obviously terrible person and partner, but she loves him because she sees the good in him. Even after he makes out with her cousin, which. Casey's a better person than me; I never would've spoken to either of them. When they break up, it's because Casey respects herself again.

(please ignore that Truman is a manifestation of all of Casey's worst fears about Derek, that he's all of his worst traits brought to life, that he parallels him in a weird number of ways for it to be normal like the writers did.)

Jesse is just there. He's boring, he's got a shaved head and facial hair for some reason, he can dance. Theoretically, this is Casey's Prince Charming. A boring, normal guy. Except they obviously don't work out because the man has no personality or spine. Throughout VWD, he just lets Derek do his thing, which is probably the only reason they last at all.

(please ignore that Jesse is literally designed to be the opposite of Derek, someone who's boring and living by a plan and that Casey should end up with logically but who it's clear she doesn't feel passion with like the writers did.)

Peter, arguably Casey's worst choice, is the absent husband who we know nothing about. Except that he plays hockey and lives like he's 15. Now, I have lots of headcanons about that, but Peter specifically seems to be someone that Casey doesn't want to talk about. There's no passion, there's exhaustion because he's not there.

(please ignore that Peter is Derek on the surface, in college, but he's nothing like him at the core of it because Derek sees Casey struggling and moves in without a second thought like the writers did.)

And then there's Derek's love interests. Kendra, who definitely was someone he only dated for status who liked him more than he ever liked her (which is truly tragic, because I love Kendra so dearly). She's supposed to be perfect for him, and on the surface, she is, but there's nothing deeper. That relationship was less intimate than most of Derek's friendships. Kendra bored him because she never challenged him on anything, she never really made him feel alive.

(please ignore that, for better or worse, Casey has always made Derek feel too much and too strongly and been there, in the front of his mind, since they met, like the writers did.)

Sally is sweet and kind and challenges Derek and forces him to deal with his emotions. She's everything that's theoretically perfect for Derek, but for whatever reason, what he feels for her is clearly never the strongest force in his life. He loves Sally, more than he's ever loved someone romantically, but I think they both know, even as the relationship is happening, it's not forever. Derek's always on his best behavior, trying to prove himself and Sally, I think she knew this was fun and young but not permanent.

(please ignore that Derek refuses to try and be anyone other than himself, whatever version he is that day, to Casey, that she's always the strongest force in his life no matter how much he loves Sally, like the writers did.)

Truly. With their behavior, how did either of them ever get into a relationship? And not canonically fall in love, have three kids, get married and live somewhere together surrounded by Casey's library (which, yes, Derek, was a necessity), the pond out back that Derek can play hockey on in the winter with the kids (well, except their son, who ironically refuses to play hockey. It's the greatest bane of Derek's life) even though Casey has 911 on standby the entire time, the basement that has somehow been turned into a half man cave half game room that is constantly full of teenage boys arguing over such things as the best Jane Austen adaptation and whether or not burping the alphabet is sophisticated, the old office (before Casey's library was finished) that the girls have turned into a sitting room, covered in whatever chaotic projects they're involved in (this week it's a robot and a skirt. Casey refuses to question it), and their entire family surrounding them? Truly, how is that not the canon of Life With Derek?

(writing this might actually make me write the fic where they have three kids and a domestic life. goddammit. I fully blame you.)

Do you mean to tell me that there are people out there who DON'T think about Dasey every day? Honestly, sounds fake.

Listen: I have been thinking about Dasey so much this week that I started and am already half-done another fic that I'm hoping to finish in the next few days when I SHOULD be writing a paper for school.

So first of all: yes to your thoughts. And to add to them: do you ever think about how utterly terrifying it must be to have these feelings? I mean, basic emotions are bad enough, but imagine having huge, fiery, irrational feelings for your STEP-SIBLING. Who is, by all accounts, the absolute worst.

And I know you and I have been very respectfully screaming at each other about Derek's self-esteem issues, but can we talk about how Casey's terrible choice in guys is a reflection of HER idea of her worth??? Like, I always understood why she liked Sam -- for all that he is passive, he's NICE and sweet and respects her (I don't think he's that cute, but attraction is irrational anyways). Max probably has a lot to do with Casey wanting to be seen as more than a keener and a grub. And Truman, well. We all know what Truman is.

(A+ analysis on Jesse too, btw)

The thing that gets me is Casey taking Truman back and Derek asking Emily out, because we as viewers are pretty sure it's the writers going, "Oh snap, we can't have Derek and Casey going to ANOTHER prom together. Once is a funny accident, two is a pattern." But if we remove the writers, what do we get? We get a Derek and a Casey who are equally as afraid to end up going to senior prom together, so afraid that Derek asks out Emily, who he has never shown interest in before, Casey takes BACK Truman, and then Casey wraps a bow of "same difference" around it just to finish it off.

They're. Both. So. Scared.

ALSO, we can scream about LWL, but I am a very vain person who thinks of her kick at the darkness series as more canon than that movie, as much as I enjoyed that movie, but we CAN scream about Derek and Casey as parents and how bruised they both are and how that movie just proved how much they need each other.

OR we can scream about Dasey's children and how I know all four of them and their lives and their very chaotic and loving household, and Derek's three girls who adore him and have him wrapped around their fingers, and Casey's little boy who everyone thought would be just like Derek because he LOOKS just like him, but he's a keener and clumsy and such a McDonald it makes Derek's chest hurt with how much he loves them. We can talk about dance sessions in the kitchen, about guitars and music sheets that don't stay in the music room, about video game tournaments and blanket forts when there's bad weather or a hard day at school or work; about stay-at-home Derek after he retires from hockey and how the basement becomes his hobby room (because once the kids are in school, he gets BORED, okay???) (Don't worry, I know where he ends up; it's in podcasting with Marti), about baking weekends with Casey, and family grocery trips.

Yes. Let's.

[putonmyfavoriteshow]

Life With Luca thoughts/reactions

WOW, I really enjoyed that way more than I expected to!

OK, so timeline wise the math isn't really mathing for me lmao. Like how do they both have 14 yr olds and Simon being in college already?? The show only ended in 2009/2010 which was 13/14 years ago?? What year is it in this universe??? They both had children the year they went off to college lmao??

But I'm happy to ignore logic since I actually enjoyed the newbies a lot.

I liked that Luca/Skylar weren't just a repeat Casey/Derek dynamic and weren't rivals who full on hated each other but just grew up differently and had some jealousy/hostility toward the other because of that, but actually were a lot sweeter together during more serious moments. I think their personalities perfectly reflected how they were raised - Luca is a bit of a rebel, but he's very much Casey's son, he's trained in First Aid! and has a granola bar in his pocket at all times, albeit stale AF, and takes care of his siblings even if he can be lazy about it sometimes. Skylar is more mature minded but she has the freedom of Derek's parenting so she's not nearly as high strung as Casey is, but she is more organized and put together to make up for Derek's lackadaisical way of living.

I LOVED SIMON!!! He was easily my favorite new character. I can't believe I went from forgetting he even existing to absolutely adoring him. He was so lovable and silly and he must have such a wild childhood being the Venturi-McDonald baby, I would love more backstory on him!

Molly/Kai were adorable and the perfect little chaotic kiddos to round out the ensemble :3

George/Nora - although I wasn't as invested in them, their relationship is so adorable and they're just as dorky and sweet as they were in the series.

The random jewelry heist B-plot was so random, but kinda funny. I'm down for some chaotic hijinx, and I love how it ended with that theif falling through the ceiling XD

The return of Lassiter and Sam were great. It would've been great to see any of the show regulars honestly but I'm glad we got some. I think the return of D-Rock really got me. When they started singing the song I had tears in my eyes. And Ralph as a surgeon was such a great way to explain his absense lmao.

I missed Edwin/Lizzie/Marti. I think that was my only real let down with the movie. They didn't need to be in the whole thing but even a video call would have been nice :/

Career-wise I'm glad they went with Derek as a rock star and Casey as a lawyer. Even though Derek was the hockey guy, seeing him roam around as a rock star with his daughter really just fits his vibe. And I'm so glad the movie course corrected VWD Casey because I was never a fan of her dropping out of college to dance in NY like ?? sure Casey loves to dance but she loves to use her big brain even more!!! Plus fighting for justice?? THAT'S SO CASEY DASEY!!! So it was taboo then, I feel like it's even more taboo now, but had you lived it you would get it! These two always had way too much tension and never quite fell into a sibling-like relationship. They were insanely obsessed with each other making everyone around them uncomfortable, so they were destined to be messed up soulmates <3 It may be an ick for some and that's valid, but for me they'll always be "the exception the the rule" ;) Also Ashley and Mike were always pushing the limit on them, they knew what they were doing! Ok, so now that that's out of the way, I knew that we weren't going to get canon Dasey out of this, but I'm so glad the writers delivered on giving us some great Dasey content regardless. The fact that both Skylar's mom and Casey's hockey husband were both entirely absent and no love interest was given was wise. We basically got to see Derek and Casey play house and be the married vibes that they are which is honestly what us hardcore LWD/Dasey fans want anyway. Mike & Ash didn't miss a beat! That was really Casey and Derek back on my screen and it made me really emotional <3 Maybe the movie didn't have a whole lot of just them, since their children were the focal point but the way it ended, it just made me want more and feel like we were being set up for ...possible canon Dasey? But even if not canon, I think that if the show does get picked up, we can get so much fun Dasey content from it to build from anyway (canon is overrated sometimes lbr) Plus I genuinely enjoy seeing Derek and Casey in parental roles so that would be awesome. And SIMON MORE SIMON PLEASE!!!! <3

[deluweil]

In response to that article (US weekly) that is circulating out there,

1. I love that they agree that Buck and Eddie should just get together.

2. KR and TM are either idiots or liars.

Why do you ask? 

Because as someone who spent her life chasing tv shows containing good best friends relationship (be it m/f m/m or f/f) and brotherly relationships, this, whatever the writers and the showrunners created here in 9-1-1 with Buck and Eddie is far beyond best friends by mid s3 and was way past brotherly bond somewhere between that grocery store love spat to the kitchen scene to the romantic coded shooting scene in 4x13 (and that’s when both guys were “dating”).

I can give examples going on for miles and make endless comparisons (we have NCIS LA Callen and Sam, Chicago Fire Casey and Severide, Station 19 had Gibson and Miller, and while unbelievably controversial Steve and Danny in H50 were indeed brotherly based relationship because it had all the markers of that relationship that outweighed the old married couple routine.)

They are all brotherly/best friend oriented relationships, where the word “brother” was used regularly, they each had their roommates era - that we got to watch on tv and not covid enforced quarantine era off screen.

We had hugs aplenty, a lot of teasing and beer talks, relationship talks, double dates (even chenford been to one before they finally got together.), marriage, uncle titles being bestowed, bff-ing with the best friend’s significant other and oh so many things that color a relationship in platonic colors. 

Now let’s take those and compare them to Buck and Eddie’s relationship. 

We got three hugs in 3 episodes, and that’s in S2 2x18, S3 3x01, and 3x06. 

We haven’t seen proper beer hangout that didn’t involve black eyes since S3 on Albert’s birthday.

No relationship talks, unless it was to make sure the other side was agreeing that the other should break up with their significant other. (Eddie in 5x03, Buck in 5x18)

Neither one of them even got close to marriage (after Shannon died, I mean. And even she knew it wasn’t working with Eddie anymore.)

Buck is Christopher’s and Eddie’ Buck (”His Buck”) - but he is uncle Buck to Jee-Yun.

Buck only interacted with Ana twice and that was when he saw her (but didn’t talk to her) when she brought Christopher to the firehouse in 5x02, and the other time was when she called him to tell him Eddie’s awake.

And we have the famous dinner where Taylor didn’t eat but tried to be friendly along with Eddie for Buck in the Diaz household. But other than that Eddie had no desire to interact with her unless he absolutely had to.

Last but not least, all the pairs I named up there uttered the words “I love you” at least once. It was said easily, and "thanks for saving me" was said out loud, too. 

- Buck and Eddie, going into S6 not once uttered the words. And Eddie thanked Bobby for saving his life, but not once has he thanked Buck - at least not that we saw. (Not in 4x14, not in 5x14 - Buck saved Eddie so many times, but we never see any deep conversation or even a light hearted one that expressed “thank you for saving my ass out there”)

I can go on, but I think my point is made.

Please for the love of god get these two together, they’d be wasted on anybody else at this point. - Manifest with me ✨✨✨

[winchestergirl2]

July Reading Recs

To show some love and appreciation to all the amazing writers here on tumblr, here are all the fantastic fics I've read this month. 💖

Many of these fics and blogs are 18+ only, and NSFW please heed the author's individual fic warnings and requests regarding no minors. I am not responsible for your media consumption.

2023 Reading Rec List

The Boys

Soldier Boy

Break Me Down Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 |Part 16 | @zepskies

Authors Summary: You’re a private investigator by trade, but now you happily sit at a desk — leading a surveillance team at Supe Affairs. After managing to end Homelander in New York, Soldier Boy escapes custody. You are recruited for the manhunt, joining Butcher’s team.

Truly, you joined the S.A. for the right reasons. But after you become his accidental hostage, Soldier Boy will break down every single one of them…

Supernatural

Dean Winchester

God Bless America @rizlowwritessortof

Escape Chapter 55 | Chapter 56 | Chapter 57 @soaringeag1e

Authors Summary:  A serial killer is reeking havoc around Lawrence, Kansas, and Detective Dean Winchester is getting really sick of finding more and more bodies. But one day, he gets a call about another victim. But instead of the location of another body, he gets news that this one escaped the hell of this mans actions.

Sam Winchester

Told You So @there-must-be-a-lock

If We Must (Sequel to Told You So) @there-must-be-a-lock

Untitled Sam Winchester drabble @supernaturalfreewill

Untitled Sam Winchester drabble @supernaturalfreewill

Young Winchesters (no pairings)

Safe When The Darkness Falls @dean-winchester-is-a-warrior

Authors Summary: Dean vows to never let anything hurt Sammy again.

Chicago Fire

Matt Casey

It's Just A Dance @taliaaurora

Could have been avoided @deanstead

Authors Summary: When Y/N clashes with the acting squad lieutenant who’s covering Kelly, things get just a little out of hand.

All In A Day @deanstead

Authors Summary: Y/N's brothers find out by chance who she's dating. Later that day, an incident with a patient sends all three of them rushing to check on her.

Walker

Cordell Walker

Putting The Past To Rest @idreamofplaid

Authors Summary: Walker is finally beginning to come to terms with his past because the reader is someone he wants in his future.

Big Sky

Beau Arlen

Didn't Mean To Stay @zepskies

Authors Summary: After three months, you ask Beau to make it clear. Is he serious about this relationship, or are you two just passing time?

[twwpress]

Weekly Press Briefing #63: September 3rd - September 9th

Welcome back to the Weekly Press Briefing, where we bring you highlights from The West Wing fandom each week, including new fics, ongoing challenges, and more! This briefing covers all things posted from September 3 - September 9, 2023! Did we miss something? Let us know; you can find our contact info at the bottom of this briefing! 

Challenges/Prompts:

The following is a roundup of open challenges/prompts. Do you have a challenge or event you’d like us to promote? Be sure to get in touch with us! Contact info is at the bottom of this briefing.

@callixton is hosting The West Wing Pride Week (@twwpride here on tumblr) September 17 - 23. More details here! 

Photos/Videos:

Here’s what was posted from September 3 - September 9:

Amy Landecker posted photos of herself and Brad hanging out poolside with their friends Samantha Ronson and Cassandra Grey. 

Mary McCormack posted photos of their family dropping her daughter Margaret off at college, along with a birthday wish for her 19th birthday. 

Donna Moss Daily: September 3 | September 4 | September 5 | September 6 | September 7 | September 8 | September 9

Daily Josh Lyman:  September 3 | September 4 | September 5 | September 6 | September 7 | September 8 | September 9

No Context BWhit:  September 3 | September 4 | September 5 | September 6 | September 7 | September 8 | September 9

@twwarchive:  September 3 | September 4 | September 5 | September 6 | September 7 | September 8 | September 9

@bestofcjtoby:  September 4 | September 5 | September 8

Edits/Artwork:

#donnamoss x #joshlyman: and if you think i don’t miss you every day by @carolshathways [VIDEO EDIT]

Editors’ Choice: 

Get those pencils sharpened and grab your sweater because SCHOOL IS BACK IN SESSION. One of our first newsletters featured some of our favorite school-related fics, and we thought this week was the perfect time to do another round-up of school-themed fics with back-to-school vibes that we missed then or that have been written since then. We’re sure we missed some great ones, so as always feel free to reblog/retweet with more of your own faves!

days by jazzjo | Rated G | C.J. Cregg/Donna Moss | Complete |  decisions are made by those who show up (to class) or, moka pots, rye bread, and first day jitters

Back To School by Jennifer Glimpse 20 [archived by westwingfanfictioncentral_archivist]  | Rated T | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | Complete | Donna heads back to school. . . with a little help from Josh.

AP Gov by park_all_covered_with_cheese (Sports Night Crossover) | Rated G | Sam Seaborn/Original Female Character(s), Josh Lyman/Donna Moss, Danny Concannon/C. J. Cregg, Casey McCall/Dan Rydell, Mandy Hampton/Josh Lyman, C. J. Cregg/Simon Donovan, Andrea Wyatt/Toby Ziegler, Amy Gardner/Josh Lyman, Casey McCall/Lisa McCall | Complete |  "Alyssa Leah Nelson was exactly one day, one minute, and thirty-two seconds old when she met Joshua Lyman (who was two months, three days, four hours, forty minutes, and seventeen seconds, though no one’s counting) for the first time. He poked her. She looked back at him, determined, and didn’t cry. They’ve been inseparable ever since." High school is high school. And every single one of our faves had to go there at one point. And every single one of them dated, and had friends, and had drama because of course they did. And, of course, were obsessive about politics

mine is yours and yours is mine (there is no divide) by rearviewmirror  | Rated T | C.J. Cregg/Donna Moss | Complete |  jed steals leo's clothes, and leo finally calls him out on it.

absolutely smitten (never let you go) by JessBakesCakes for fairwinds09 | Rated G | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | Complete | Josh feels all the air whoosh out of his lungs when he sees the teacher standing on the other side of the door. She looks at the group standing outside her door, puzzled for a moment, until her blue eyes lock with Josh’s. Her blonde hair is tucked neatly behind her ears, and pumpkin earrings dangle from her earlobes. She’s wearing a copper-colored fall sweater, adorned with leaves around the collar that match her bulletin board. Her ID badge dangles from her neck, one of those ink pens in a bright, funky color clipped to her lanyard. “Miss Moss,” CJ says. “This is Mr. Lyman from the high school."

the first thing we do by fiery_one_18 | Rated T | Ainsley Hayes/Sam Seaborn, Josh Lyman/Donna Moss, C. J. Cregg/Kate Harper | In Progress |  The days were getting shorter, the nights were getting colder, and he had begun to partake in his seasonal sweater collection. Which could only mean one thing in his still-quite-young life: the season of Mock Trial was officially upon Sam Seaborn. … Sam’s tunnel vision hadn’t quite cleared enough to pay attention to who Mr. McGarry was talking to, but he sort of had to pay attention when the bearer of the distinctly Southern drawl walked right by, snapping him out of whatever rage coma his mind had placed him in. And Sam definitely knew he was back and wide awake when a long blonde ponytail with a purposeful stride sat down right in front of him in what appeared to be her new seat. Josh’s seat, actually. Not that she seemed to realize that; it made sense— she was probably a… transfer. Oh fuck no. Fuck no. Fuck no. Fuck— “Hi, I’m Ainsley,” Ponytail turned around, blue eyes piercing the very depths of his fucking soul. “What’s your name?” … Welcome to Landingham Academy’s 20th Annual Mock Trial Season!

Stick around for our reblog coming momentarily with this week's new fics and chapter updates!!

[nancywheeeler]

agghhh so many intriguing titles in your wip list! you know that i would have absolutely HAD to go with golden boy but i see that one’s been answered already (but i certainly would not complain if you had more you wanted to share!)… how about i know you better than you fake it?

for you casey, i will absolutely share a little more of golden boy. of our favorite boys, of course:

Walking again, slow and steady not winning any races, Colin asked, “So, what else are you afraid of?” Jamie balked. “No way, mate, it’s your turn.” “That’s hard.” Colin frowned, the expression sobering. “I feel like all I am is afraid, constantly.” “Afraid of what?” “The usual stuff, I guess.” Colin shrugged, stilted. “Never winning a Slam. Going on a losing streak so bad I fall out of the Top 50. And…” He broke off, his face turning away from Jamie. To the long strip of beach, he said, “I guess now, with everyone talking about how much better I’m doing, I’m scared it’s a fluke. And that even if I do find a way to beat you or Sam, or—it’ll be because you’ve had a bad match, not because I’m just good enough to beat you, like at your best.” Jamie opened his mouth, closed it again, unsure what to say. The gulf between their experiences never seemed as unbridgeable as it did now. Sure, he had felt demoralized before and like he had not played to the best of his abilities, but he had never walked away from a match he had won with a niggling feeling he hadn’t earned it. Luck was the fair weather friend of other players. Jamie had won the loyalty of destiny a very long time ago.

and "i know you better than you fake it" is a stranger things fic i started last summer (like i remember writing snatches of it on the beach lmao) that takes place between seasons one and two, basically exploring what if steve's shit wasn't so together and he started self-medicating to help with that. who, i wonder, would he be going to for that...

He had taken off back down the path when Harrington called after him, “Hey!” Right where Eddie had left him, standing unmoored in the clearing, Harrington was staring at his purchase with an unaccountable amount of anxiety. “This shit can help me sleep…right?” An involuntary shiver ran down his spine at the desperation leaking through Harrington’s voice. Eddie shrugged stiffly, disturbed at the fact it was Harrington who had gotten under his skin. “I dunno, man. It works for some people.” Never for him personally, but that was none of Harrington’s business. Softer than intended, he added, “Another knock upside the head might help.” To his surprise, Harrington let out a strained laugh, nothing like what keyed Eddie’s eardrums around the halls. See, he stood firm in the belief that almost every time Harrington laughed, it was fake. He forced it, not that anyone else noticed, but Eddie and his finely-tuned inner ear did. It would have been embarrassing enough to find the drivel leaking from Hagan’s pie hole legitimately funny, but knowing the jokes were bogus and forcing a laugh anyway? Of all the things Eddie had to resent Harrington for, that knife sunk in the deepest. Because it meant Harrington saw through Hagan and Perkins’ crap, but still rolled around in the shit with them anyway. Eddie didn’t know what to do with it, the sound of Harrington’s real laugh.

[fllagellant]

ok sending u two!! :] 4 for andromeda and 9 for the trilogy (and whatever characters ur thinking of, if you want)

THIRTEEN SONGS COMING FRESH OFF THE GRILL !! Due to how long this will be I will put this under a read more ! Also I will be skipping any songs from the OSTs for the games bc . That feels like Cheating

Andromeda first …

1. Runaway - Tyto Grey

“But if you give me your Heart,

I’ll give you Mine.”

PEEBEE SONG . Specifically a Peeb in the beginnings of a romance . This song makes me think of her + Sara due to the singer calling their lover a ‘ Goddess ‘ but .. anything can be gender neutral if you want it to be . A song about someone wanting to run away , make a big name for themself before they can’ t , but not wanting to do it alone . It’ s not worth it alone . It’ s only meaningful if their lover and muse is with them . Idk man this is VERY Peeble to me . Definitely picturing a Remtech ruin confession for this song < 33

2. Pomok naka Poktoinskwes ( Casey MQ Remix ) - Jeremy Dutcher

MUSIC OF THE FUTURE . I can hear this playing in bars and nightclubs across the Initiatives many settlements . This is what Reyes hums while he works and what Sloane has playing when she’ s getting ready in the morning . This is what SAM has on shuffle in the Pathfinder’ s quarters and this is what Gil plays during long repairs . This is what bartenders dance to and what gets people moving . This is one of the first songs the Angara hear . They feel a connection to the chanting and the beat of it all . Yeah < 3

3. It’s Called: Freefall -Rainbow Kitten Surprise

“You could let it All Go, you could let it All Go

It’s Called: Freefall. It’s Called: Freefall.”

Ohhh god Vetra song . Vetra before she fully commits to the Initiative . Vetra still holding onto Milky Way contacts . People she cannot rely on but can talk to . People who do not care about her , but push her to join anyways . Vetra trying to get help without getting it . Vetra . This is her trying to talk to her contacts and getting nowhere but being told to just do it . This is her final bit of hesitation before she joins them . This is her in-between . Her final days with her Milky Way contacts who won’ t be following her

4. Honey in the Hair - Blackbird Raum

“I’m just walking in Circles…

I see the Lines in Chalk on the Ground.”

Not normally a band I listen to and think “ sci - fi ! “ but that is the point isn’ t it ! Early games vibes for me . The crew altogether but facing this mass responsibility . From the failing colonies to the dominating threat , from the political catch up they have to play to the political importance they’ ve gained all at once . The weirdness of it . The strange whimsy that comes with it . The feeling of going nowhere but knowing it’ s all changing . Knowing they’ ll be doing something so far out from what they originally planned to do , and having a strange sort of almost peace about it

Okok Trilogy time < 3

1. After Dark - Mr. Kitty

“Your lips were Soft like Winter,

In your Passion, I was Lost.”

STARTING OFF STRONG HUH . Me3 love confession . Literally fits any and all romance I think . I think this hit more harder for me3 only romances since the song is about that desperate yearning and wanting to confess before it’ s impossible to . This song is for all romances but I think it belongs to Femshep/Traynor and Mshep/Cortez a bit more . Also hurts a bit more when it’ s with Shepard and a character that cannot be romance bc it’ s like .. they never got that confession . That closure . There’ s something about the desperation and just needing to let the other person know . Even if they do not reciprocate . Just so they know you loved them . You always loved them .

2. Alien Blues - Vunderbar

“I try to tell you what I Think

And play it off like it’s a Joke.”

Hmm Joker : ) . The barely contained bitterness and the constant back and forth . Knowing he’ s ostracized and making jokes about it , but still being upset with it . Wondering what he could do differently but knowing it won’ t matter . Guilt with who he is , how he sees himself . Fits no matter what era of his life he is in . A farmboy . A pilot in training who isn’ t respected . A pilot with no ship . A man at the end of the world . A man mad after everything . A man who deserves to have a bit of bitterness

3. Come As You Are - Nirvana

“As I want you to Be

As a Trend, As a Friend,

As a known Memoria.”

Nirvana just feels like a band James would listen to , so it’ s hard not to connect him to their songs . This makes me thing of a younger James , at least a James before ME2 . He’ s struggling . He doesn’ t fully know what he wants to be or how he sees the people around him . He already has a streak for being less than cautious with himself . He doesn’ t know who will be there the next day , who he might have to leave behind . He can keep the memories , everyone can be kept in a memory . But he still needs to find how they fit in while they still know each other .

4. Sisters - The Halluci Nation

MORE MUSIC OF THE FUTURE . This is the type of song Jack would blast from her little hidey hole on a good day . Music that is illegally downloaded and shared around the Normandy . Glyph would play this to get the party more rowdy I think . A song to get people on their feel and MOVING . Someone DEFINITELY listens to this while in combat . Do I have a definitive answer ? No . Can I picture everyone listening to this on the battlefield ? Yes and I cannot narrow it down just yet . Get on your moccasins big boy we got a Reaper to take down

5. Repeat After Me - KONGOS

“So hard to leave what I've defended,

So hard to separate what's blended.”

Indoctrinated characters RISE ‼️‼️ this song is about religious / catholic guilt so be careful if you listen ! But I can definitely take this and apply it to Saren + Benezia very easily . Characters who have moments of clarity and knowing what the Reapers are doing to them , but not having enough power anymore to fully pull away . Too many ifs , too many maybes , too many nights spent hearing the whispers of the Reapers . Repeating their words while having that voice in the back of their heads questioning and wondering if they can still get away from all this . Just knowing what is happening to you but not being able to stop it and the realizations of your condition so few and far in between

6. Cluster - Slipknot

“So Cut, Cut, Cut me up

And Fuck, Fuck, Fuck me up.”

Combat theme . Everyone at the end of their ropes , the candle that was burned at both ends , the final push to tip them over . Angry with where they are , how they ended up there . How everything could have been simpler , how things could have been prepared for . The sort of anger that makes it hard to focus right , the kind of anger that numbs pain , the kind of pain that pushes further and further . I think Javik would fucking LOOOVE Slipknot but that is a different discussion . Idk man everyone has their limits and I think everyone deserves to got a bit batshit rage off the walls violence on the field after seeing the Horrors they have . Just for fun . Maybe for shits and giggles

( i have officially lost audio link rights here . uh Oh )

7. Curl - Jack Stauber

“When you turn the Master Key,

You’re Higher than a Star!”

Ohhh Crew bonding . Teasing each other . Hanging out together . Going on brief shore-leaves together . Reminding each other to try and live a bit . Remember the happy moments that they get , and not to let them go . It’ s them reminding each other they can still live , they are still alive and they’ re allowed to live . Take joy in the now , find joy in the now . Live now , even if it is hard . Even if it is difficult . Help each other find whatever joy they can , make sure they do not feel guilt for the joy . Giving each other something to look forward to , after everything is over . They’ ve always cares for each other , it’ s time to show it . Now that it matters more than ever

8. Fireworks - The Tragically Hip

“Complete with the Grip of Artificial Chaos,

And believing in the Country of Me and You.”

Oh hello Mr. Kaidan alenko . How are you . This song is so loudly Canadian it is hard to not picture him . This makes me think of Kaidan and his LI postwar . Learning how to live , navigating normalcy . Becoming more civilian than solider , after everything is over . Since I have my own personal biases I AM picturing Joker and Kaidan specifically . It doesn’ t help I believe that the Moreaus came from Manitoba . So it’ s both of them , going back to Canada . Settling down again , falling into a rhythm with each other . Just relearning what it means to be people after everything . Also the bit about seeing fireworks in the distance . Yes . Far enough away the sound is muted or just not there . Just watching the lights . Kaidan and his LI . Finding normalcy < 3

9. Gronlandic Edit - of Montreal

“I guess it would be Nice, to give my heart to a God,

But which one, which one do I Choose?”

Something about funky little beats and the tone of this song make me picture that blue archeologist . In between ME1 and ME2 . Those strange two years . Being a recluse , trying to figure out how to live again . She has to learn how to reach out to people , find her drive again . She’ s willing to stagnate , but that doesn’ t mean she should . And she knows that . Liara can have her struggles and weird girl moments anytime she wants . Because this song definitely is that . Liara lives in a state of limbo for six months and this was playing on loop the whole time . She’ s just feeling a little funny don’ t worry ( maybe you should worry )

[tllgrrl]

7th Inning Stretch by @tllgrrl aka Nefertiri Jones

@sarahbuckybingo Summer Prompt Fest 2023 - Week 5: “Beat The Heat”

Pairing - Sarah Wilson x James “Bucky” Barnes

Rating- Part 1: T (Tumblr & AO3) / Part 2: M (A03)

Summary: Sarah + Bucky + Summer + Baseball + Waltzing + Ice(?) = Shenanigans

* * * * * * * * *

Part 1: “Take me out…”

Steamy.

It’s not just a hot and humid Day Off Monday. By now, the sun’s almost set, but it still feels like a sauna outside.

Rain is in the forecast. It hasn’t started yet, but it’s on its way.

Sam’s visiting for a few days, so to keep two bored tween boys from going stir crazy he offers to take his nephews to the movies and then a mini-shopping spree at Crescent City Comics in NOLA, so Sarah and Bucky are lazing on the sofa, both in lightweight cotton shorts and tank tops.

The way most of the old homes in the area are built, opening windows and/or doors and letting the air flow through was the way “air conditioning” worked in the generations-old Wilson house.

Because both Sam and Bucky had cutting edge tech connections via Stark Industries and WakandaTech, low-profile, high-efficiency and environmentally friendly A/C was also a way the house was kept comfortable via window units installed in the living room and the bedrooms, including Bucky’s bedroom/office in the attic.

But tonight, after sundown, open windows and good screens worked perfectly well.

Bucky got the small ice chest out of the storage closet, filled it with ice, a couple of bottles of beer and 2 bottles of water, and Sarah laid out some snacks, including a few of his favorite granola bars, on the coffee table..

He’s watching the L.A. Dodgers (the “Brooklyn” Dodgers, as he sometimes calls them) play the New York Mets while he rubs her feet with his warm right hand.

She’s enjoying the hell out of the pampering, while reading the novelization of the Bridgerton TV show spinoff, Queen Charlotte.

He knows what she’s reading and enjoys the way she tries to keep a cool demeanor at the juicy parts.

He can hear her when she says under her breath, “Well, alright now…” or “Mmm…” And he took particular note when she covered her mouth, whispered “Giiiirrrrl, yessss…” and her toes curled in his hand.

He planned to try and get her to read whatever that part was aloud to him later.

“It’s almost time,” he informs her, releasing her foot and rubbing his left hand, still cool from holding a cold beer, on her legs.

“Mmmm…that’s nice.” she sighs as she lightly kneads his thigh with her heels. “Time for what?”

“7th Inning Stretch. You know the song, right? Take me me out—“

“To the ball game? Everybody knows that song.”

“Yeah, the chorus part of it, but do you know the verses?”

She lays the book down on the coffee table next to the bowl of roasted peanuts, snags a little cube of ice and rubs it on her wrists, her neck and her collarbone.

He watches a drop of water from the ice make its way from the dimple at the base of her throat, down her chest and roll into her cleavage.

For a second he contemplates going after that drop with his mouth, his tongue.

Instead, he gives her another piece of ice and pops some into his own mouth, crunches it, then takes her hand and plants cool kisses on the inside of her arm from the pulse point on her wrist to the crook of her elbow, all the while taking note of her reaction.

“Is that right?” She she murmurs, getting a little lost because it feels like every time his cold mouth lands on her warm skin, all of her attention, her focus, is drawn to that spot on her body.

And he sees her thighs clench just a little when he reaches the inside of her elbow, kisses it and then rubs his bearded cheek on it, making her hiss and pull away but just a little because the cold followed by the warmth makes her want more.

“Verses? That song has verses? Lay it on me, Sinatra.”

“Okay, it goes something like,

🎶Katie Casey was baseball mad, had the fever and had it bad.

Just to root for the hometown crew,

Every sou—that’s a penny—Katie blew…🎶”

“Really! That’s how it starts?”

“Yeah. Learned it from my Pa. There’s even this other version about a girl named Nellie Kelly.”

“Anyway….” she ruffles his hair and lightly raking her nails on his scalp, she watches his eyelids start to flutter. “I’ve never heard the intro before. My baseball knowledge isn’t deep. Daddy’d sometimes watch depending on who was playing, and you know about Sam and his football. I’m into whatever the boys are into, but I don’t know a lot about baseball.”

“My Ma loved baseball. Prob’ly more’n Pa. She’d listen to games on the radio doing' housework, or makin’ dinner, and during the 7th Inning Stretch she’d grab me and Becca, turn the radio up, and we’d all three of us dance around in the living room. God, in the summertime it’d be so hot, but we didn’t care.

Sometimes if I had a little bit o’ money left from a job, when the ice wagon came around I’d run downstairs and get us snow cones.

Man, when that ice hit your mouth…it was like heaven. I’ll never forget…”

Sarah sees that soft smile and look of almost wonderment he sometimes gets when an old formerly lost memory resurfaces.

‘Well, anyway…” He stood up, taking her hand and leading her to the middle of the room, “I’ll be more than happy to be your private baseball tutor.”

“Private tutor, huh?”

“Mmm-hmmm. May I?”

She nods, he places her right hand on his shoulder, takes her left hand, and pulls her nearer.

“When you’re watching the boys’ team play, you want to be the parent who actually knows what they’re yelling at the ump for.”

“Well, I thank you in advance, Professor Barnes. So when do my lessons start?”

“Now. Do you waltz?”

“Waltz? A little. Not much occasion to, but I can waltz with a good partner.”

“You’re in good hands. Trust me. Okay…”

He raises the TV volume, tosses the remote onto the couch, takes her hand, and they begin as the announcer sings:

🎶Take me out to the ballgame,

Take me out to the crowd…🎶

“Say! Not bad, young whippersnapper!”

“Thank you!”

🎶Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack…🎶

“Who taught you?”

“Daddy. And mama taught Sam.”

“Sam? Your brother Sam? Sam Wilson can waltz?”

🎶Root, root, root for the home team,

If they don’t win it’s a shame…🎶

“Oh, yeah! Social Dancing was definitely part of our Home Training. But not Soul Train dancing. I mean Fox Trot, Swing, and Waltz. Like your Mama taught you, our Mama and Daddy taught us…like you’re gonna teach Cass and AJ.”

“ You want me to teach them how to—“

“Mmm-hmm. You’re already teaching them baseball fundamentals. You can show them the basics steps, and they can practice leading with me.”

“I thought you wanted them to like me!”

“It’ll be fun! I promise.”

“Mind if I hold you to that?”

The song continues and the crowd on the TV sings as Sarah and Bucky find themselves slow dancing.

Whenever they dance past the AC unit, they linger, feeling the cool air as it hits the light veil of sweat that has settled on their skin.

It’s Southern Louisiana. In the Summer, it’s always there.

She grew up with it.

He’s gotten used to it and actually loves it because he’d had enough freezing in his life to never want to be cold again unless necessary.

She feels the back of Bucky’s left hand run down her shoulder, then his fingers slowly slide from just behind her ear, down the side of her throat.

The sensors in that hand know her skin intimately now.

He remembers the first time she took his hand, the first time he touched her arm, her cheek, her bottom lip…her…

He lightly kisses the side of her neck, her ear, while softly humming the song, pulling giggles from her. Her hands roam up and down his back, then gently kneading the muscles at the back of his neck, pulling a deep inhale and sigh from him.

🎶Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack…🎶

His mouth travels from to her cheek, then to her mouth.

🎶I don’t care if I ever come back.🎶

They get lost in the kiss, and when they finally do come back…

“Well, now. Tell me, Professor Barnes, do they still call a kiss like that getting to First Base?”

“I believe they do, Ms. Wilson.”

“I wonder if you can make it to Home Plate.”

“Not if I can, sweetness, but how many times I can.”

“Oh, really now,” she huffs, pulling away before he can go in for another scorching kiss, and heading toward the stairs.

He watches her ascend and when she looks back at him over her shoulder, she sees that “got an idea grin” he gets when he gets the kind of “ideas” that end up with them someplace at least semi-private for some quick “necking” as he’d call it.

“The truck windows are still down,” he grins. “I’ll be right up.“

As if on cue, the wind kicks up a bit, and then there’s the sound of rain beginning to fall.

{*ping*}

They both glance over at his phone on the end table, then at each other, and she starts to prepare herself for the words that’ll mean he has to get dressed, grab that ever-ready Backpack and board a QuinJet that’s miraculously showed up in the front yard.

(Dammit. Here it comes: “HQ called—blah blah blah. The boys and I are headed back home. Wheels up in 2 hours—blah blah blah. Sorry Buck.”)

Bucky goes over to the phone, picks it up, reads the message, and breathes a sigh of relief.

“It’s from Sam. He says: raining cats and dogs up here. Storm’s headed your way. Boys are knocked out and so am I. Crashing at safehouse. See you guys in the morning. Don’t get distracted and forget to roll up windows on that old truck, White Panther.”

“Distracted?!” Bucky says to his phone. “I don’t get distracted, Samuel!”

Sarah watches for a few seconds as he fusses at the phone, then she turns and continues heading up the stairs.

“Don’t take too long rolling up those windows, Lover,” she teases over her shoulder. “It’s the top of the 7th. Batter up.”

Part 2: Rounding the Bases will be posted on AO3.

* * * * * * * *

NOTES: Between WIPs and Work. I swear, Part 2 will drop before this week’s ending deadline. The version on AO3 will be tighter. And there might be a moodboard added here.

* * * * * * * * * *

SarahBucky Summer Prompt Fest 2023:

Week 1 - “Cookout” Wilson Cookout Playlist

Week 3 - “Cass & AJ Wilson” Formal Introduction

Week 5 - “Beat The Heat” 7th Inning Stretch

Thanks for reading!