#like how the producer brought back his dad to keep him from leaving

[pigeons-with-jello]

okay the Spiral and the Eye both are good options here because hes LITERALLY being watched by millions of people every single day. He does go crazy sort of, with everything he ever has known being an illusion though, so the Spiral has us there. Really, I think it could go either way, or possibly both as Fears do canonically work together for a good meal.

Guys what entity do we think Truman Burbank would be an avatar of

I’m thinking Spiral

Do we agree

[ssahotchnerr]

👉🏼👈🏼 is it ok to request a fic where jack starts trying to take care of the reader the way he sees his dad does? like maybe hotch is away from a case and reader gets sick or sad or idk, so jack takes it upon himself to be there for reader? like maybe he even starts referring reader with the same pet name hotch calls her? tysm!

like dad does

aw 🥹 cw; fem!reader, established relationship, mentions of sickness, fluff <3

you awoke with a gentle start; a trail of cold water trickling down the side of your face, pooling vaguely in your ear.

likewise, a more concrete sensation was set on your forehead - a cold compress. most likely a washcloth, and one that hadn't been wrung out too much at that.

but it was relieving, a delightful contrast from your burning forehead.

"oops," a small mumble came directly from your left ear, as well as a soft exhale of a breath. "sorry."

"jack?" you muttered, rather drowsily. you forced your eyes open, finding jack's sweet, concerned face beside you. "what're you doing?"

"i'm taking care of you." he explained softly, his tone so nonchalant as if it were the most obvious and simplest thing in the world. he reached forward, adjusting the top of the blanket that was draped overtop you. "like dad does. he put the washcloth on you yesterday, you 'member?"

he was right; you were on day two, maybe three? of a nasty bout of the flu. quite honestly you didn't know what day it was, they all blurred together, and your scattered sleep schedule didn't help. you offered him a nod.

"thank you." you gave him a small, closed mouth smile. if it weren't for the germs, you'd reach out to touch his cheek. you sat up a bit from your position in bed, your voice hoarse. "where is your dad?"

"a meeting."

your eyebrows furrowed, the facial movement burning your sinuses. "he's home?"

jack nodded, "he's in his office, but he said it might take a long time. so that's why i'm helping you feel better."

his face brightened a bit, as if a realization struck him. he reached into his pant's pocket, retrieving a few cough drops he had shoved in there, dropping them onto your blanket covered chest.

"i'm sorry i can't make you soup." jack apologized, solemnly as his shoulders dropped. "but i'm not allowed to use the stove."

your face softened, the weak smile resurfacing. "that's okay bud, don't worry. you can help dad make some later when he's done, how 'bout that?"

he nodded enthusiastically, before hoisting himself onto your bed.

"hey no no no, i wouldn't," you protested gently, your heart also melting at his action. "i don't want you getting my germs."

"if i get sick i get sick." that's the same thing aaron had said, multiple times, when he insisted on getting into bed with you earlier. jack scooted somewhat close, staying mainly on his father's side of the bed.

"and if i get sick, i don't need to go to school."

you laughed softly, but finding yourself too weak to argue, you did the only thing you could - go right back to sleep.

it was restless; you were in and out of slumber, and could roughly process jack getting up here and there - solely due to the distant sensation of the washcloth leaving and returning to your forehead, dampened once more.

and once aaron's meeting had ceased, he went in to check on you, and was pleasantly surprised, and touched, to see jack accompanying you.

you were out, with jack diligently watching over, while also keeping himself busy - his sketchbook and colored pencils were scattered amongst the bed.

"how's it going?" aaron asked him from the doorway, the door producing a sharp creak as he pushed it forward a tad.

"good. i brought cough drops, the washcloth, and made sure she got lots of rest. just like you did." jack continued to draw as he spoke, before his head shot right up. "can we make soup?"

"sure buddy," aaron nodded, a tinge of pride pulling at his heart. he tilted his head towards the hallway, and jack immediately scrambled off the bed. "c'mon."

[celestemona]

𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐊𝐀𝐄𝐃𝐄𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐀 𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐍 𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐄𝐒 𝐔𝐏 𝐎𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐈𝐍

a when they're dads au series.

pairing: dad & husband! kaedehara kazuha x fem! reader

cw: established relationship, you and kazuha are married and have children. original characters. domestic and parenting universe. quick mention of pregnant reader. slightly ooc to fit the plot. fluff and not beta read.

reblogs and comments are appreciated ♡

part i. | part ii.

Considering Kaedehara Kazuha’s reputation for his mild personality and free spirit, it was difficult for most to imagine the wandering samurai ever pausing his travels, let alone settling into the routines of a homely life.

So you can imagine the shock among fishing and sailing communities throughout Teyvat when whispers began to circulate—not only had Kazuha settled down, but he had also married and started a family.

At first, no one believed it. Surely, it must be some sort of prank.

That was until Captain Beidou, her cheeks flushed with rum, produced a photo to prove the rumors true. The image captured Kazuha’s wedding—a modest yet joyous celebration held by the Crux Fleet on a secluded island in Inazuma. In the photo, Kazuha gazed at you with such unmistakable love that it silenced all doubts.

As the night went on, barrels of rum and beer loosened Beidou’s tongue, and soon, she was regaling curious listeners with tales of your love story. She described how you quite literally fell from the sky into Kazuha’s arms, how your relationship blossomed, endured challenges, and culminated in a heartfelt proposal. She recounted how the two of you decided to rebuild the Kaedehara Clan together, leaving behind the open sea for a life that was quieter—but no less meaningful.

“Oh, and did I mention?” Beidou added with a mischievous grin. “They have three kids now!”

The crowd’s shock was palpable, their wide eyes demanding further details. Beidou, never one to shy away from a good story, obliged.

For Kazuha, this new chapter in his life was one he never thought possible. His teenage years had left him with deep scars, his relationship with his father fraught with tension and misunderstanding. Back at the time, leaving the Kaedehara estate had felt like his only option.

But time and distance had brought healing, and when Kazuha returned to his ancestral home with you by his side, he was overwhelmed not by sorrow, but by a sense of belonging. The estate, once a source of pain, now brimmed with warmth and life, thanks to you and the laughter of your three children.

Kiyomi, your middle child and only daughter is the heart of the family’s liveliness. With her extroverted and mischievous personality, she kept everyone on their toes. Neither you nor Kazuha knew where she had inherited such a fiery temperament, but her boundless energy often left you with gray hairs and Kazuha with an amused smile.

As the only girl in the family, Kiyomi was undoubtedly spoiled by her father, who adored her unconditionally. Her beauty was a perfect blend of your features and Kazuha’s, but what truly set her apart was her kind and stubborn heart.

Your eldest son, Kazumi, was the embodiment of his father. With his relaxed demeanor and serene smile, he was often mistaken for a younger Kazuha. However, Kazumi carried a deep sense of responsibility as the eldest sibling, always keeping a watchful eye on Kiyomi and Haruki.

At the age of ten, Kazumi had already begun learning the Isshin Art from Kazuha. Though he mastered its techniques with ease, he preferred to follow his own path rather than dedicate himself entirely to bladesmithing.

Last but not least, your youngest, Haruki, was the family’s surprise blessing. Born on an autumn morning, he arrived into the world fragile and unwell. Those early months were filled with sleepless nights and anxious hearts, but with the help of friends—including Beidou, Traveler, and even Yae Miko—Haruki eventually grew into a healthy and vibrant child.

Unlike his siblings, who were often found running around the estate, Haruki was introspective and studious. From a young age, he displayed an insatiable curiosity, devouring books and scrolls that even scholars would find daunting.

When asked about his new life, Kazuha often reflected on how vastly different it was from the one he had once envisioned. There was always something to worry about, the days rarely deviated from routine, and the call of the open road still stirred within him from time to time.

Yet, as he watched you and the children, he knew he wouldn’t trade this life for anything. The love he shared with you, the joy of raising a family, and the warmth of a home filled with laughter and belonging—this was the greatest adventure of all.

For Kazuha, every day with you was a journey worth taking, and there was no horizon more beautiful than the one he shared with you by his side.

.

.

a/n: i must confess that i have this plot on my drafts for almost two years now but i’ve never found will enough on myself to sit down and write it. nevertheless, i’m thankful for my mind to remind me of this plot and make me re-write new ideas.

those who knows me, or not, must’ve know that i really do love parenting, domestic and pregnancy universe so not so often i caught myself writing about it. it’s so relaxing and enjoyable to picture these guys as dad idk.

i hope you’ve liked it so far. i would like to share more about this headcanon in the future, so let me know if you want to learn more about the kaedehara clan. thank you so much, bye!

[letmerideitchris]

𐬺𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟑𐬺

summary: Chris Matt and Nick get a new videographer, she is funny, smart and pretty, basically everything Chris could ever want in a girl. Chris finds it impossible not to fall for her…

Warnings: pregnancy(?)

wc: 705

𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟏, 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟐

Chris is still sitting on the couch; his stomach and head was in too much pain to move to his bed. Chris looked more pale than usual, which made complete sense now that he is going to be a dad, he had only just turned 21. Matt is sitting on the other end of the couch in case Chris needs his company. Not a word has been spoken out of any of their mouths since nick went to go get y/n, it's been 2 hours, and they still haven't come back to the house. Matt turns his head to Chris to see if he's shut his eyes, he hasn't, matt doesn't even think he's seen him blink. As more time passes, Chris is creating more and more problems in his head, only the most negative things are passing through. I don't know how much more he can take before he literally explodes. Chris finally shut his eyes, suddenly they opened back wider than they've been this whole time. He jumps up. Matt and him both lock eyes. Keys are screwing into the door. Chris doesn't know if he should be scared of what nick is going to say or scared that he has brought her back to the house.  

Chris' heart drops as he hears two sets of shoes coming up the stairs. He sees nicks head peer over the wall near the staircase, he didn't come alone. There she is, right by nick, makeup smudged, terrible posture, and still crying. “Chris please can you go down to your room, y/n needs to rest on the couch” nick says with evident stress. No words leave Chris's mouth, he sits up and stretches the pain out his stomach then stands up on his unstable legs, y/n and Nick are still paused on the stairs, before Chris walks downstairs he approaches y/n, exchanges the slightest smile, then continues to walk down to his room.  

Chris is in his bed, and all of a sudden doesn't feel so sad after smiling at y/n, it was a sense of relief, that maybe this could work out. He can finally get some sleep that he will need because he knows that it is going to be a big day tomorrow. He is going to have to speak to y/n at some point, in the end she is carrying his child. Three knocks from the door wake Chris up, “uhh who is it”, y/n peeps her head from behind the door “hi, it's just me, could I maybe come in?” He's in such a state that he can't even produce any words, so he just nods and waves her in. He sits up and brushes his fingers through his hair, she takes a seat on the end of the bed. “Chris I'm sorry I ran out like that it wasn't fair by me; it just didn't seem like you were going to stick by me through the whole pregnancy thi-” “why would you think that? I know I may not be ready and prepared to be a dad, but I know youre probably not ready to be a mum, so how would it be fair for me to leave you in the dirt like that?” Chris says shuffling closer to y/n. “Chris, you don't realize how comforting that is to hear.” Y/n says feeling like a weight has been lifted off her shoulders. “I really want things to work out between us, and I know we haven't known each other for that long but since I have decided to keep the baby, I think it is important for us to get to know each other a bit more before heading into a serious relationship.” Chris gently takes y/n’s hand in his own and looks into her eyes “I couldn't agree more”. Chris leans in her direction and she quickly melts into his embrace, like she had been waiting for his comfort for an eternity. “Thank you, Chris, really”  

Chris and y/n took the next few months leading up to the birth of baby Saylor slowly, Chris decided to propose to y/n 5 months after Saylor was conceived. They're now living a happy life in Boston not far from Chris’s parents' house. 

sorry for how long this took for me to release!! but hope you enjoy our conclusion to the videographer fiction, thanks for all the love 😘💕

credits to @bernardsbendystraws for dividers

taglist:

@chrissturnsss @sophand4n4 @chrispycremedonut

@clairesrose @sturnsmad @riggysworld

@victoryouactuallydidthis @itasmallworld

@trevorsgodmother @sturnobsessedwh0re @sturninsworld

@mattsturnioloshands @sweetshuga @madisturni

@sofia-is-a-sturniolo-triplet-fan

[twstfanblog]

(Little scene from Manhwa H (that's the one I'm on 🤣) @st4rz666

Little bit of the inner thoughts of Crewel. Kind of a bad dad, but like...nah I got nothing to defend him 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Also random OC name drop. He will appear in a lot of fics once I actually get around to him showing up.)

Divus hummed, eyeglasses on while he worked on a jacket he had gotten the idea for around lunch. While he adored his daughter, having her out of the house was a blessing. He and Dire didn't have to pretend to be in love and they could separate to do their own hobbies (or whatever one would call the nefarious deeds Dire got up to when no one was watching him). In the calm, quiet of the duchy, hand stitching in embroidery on a meter long tailcoat was just what Divus needed to unwind.

He held in a sigh when a servant announced to him that Yuu had returned from the Ashengrotto home. His puppy wasn't ready nor interested enough in embroidery to allow him to work on it, so into his work closet the jacket went. Once his office was cleared up, he waited patiently, knowing his daughter's first stop when coming home was to rush to him for a hug.

Hearing the door of his office open, he smiles seeing his puppy poke her adorable little head in, "Hello, my puppy! How was your-AH! WHO IS THAT!?"

Yuu beamed as she dragged a rag of child into the room. White and black hair that was stringy, a potato sack of a dress, and a dirty gaunt face with large bag heavy eyes, "Her name is Yu! She's my new friend!" She smiled to the child, giggling as she tried to smile back though clearly nervous.

Divus tried to hold in his sounds of...it was cruel, but disgust. He didn't like children, that was a fact he always knew about himself. He was lucky that when he was expected to produce an heir for the Crowley line, he at least found Yuu to be CUTE when she was born. A pleasing child was so much easier to learn to love than...whatever she had brought in.

He hums, stepping closer and eyeing the child, "Well...what family does she come from? I couldn't think of a noble house that'd allow their children to walk around as such..."

Yu wrung and pulled at her dress hem, mumbling her family's name under her breath.

"Speak up. I can't hear you."

She tried again, her nerves building under Divus's cold, calculating gaze. Voice trembling and soft, barely louder than before, "I...I'm Yu-"

"Speak!"

"Papa! You're scaring my friend! Knock it off!"

Trust his puppy to have a bark just as big as her bite.

Divus glanced at his daughter, a lecture on 'inside voices' dying on his tongue once he noticed the other child's expression.

Hollow eyes that held a flicker of hope, skinny hands gripping onto the soft flesh of his child's arm like it was a life line. The willingness to stand in her shadow for protection.

Admiration.

"..."Divus hummed, looking the child over once again before coming to a conclusion. Yuu could use a 'Yes-Girl'; someone to be on her side simply out of admiration. And with the proper care, this child could become a beauty in her own right. Divus would just have to add her into Yuu's beauty routines.

He smiles, kneeling before the two girls and pinching their cheeks, "Papa is so sorry, puppy. He'll be nicer to your friend. In fact, how does a sleepover sound? Your little friend can get a nice bath, a meal, and pick some of your pajamas to borrow for the night.

Both of the girl's eyes widen, beaming at Divus before Yuu cheers, "Thank you, Papa! I'm gonna show Yu my room so we can play! Call us when dinner is ready!"

Divus keeps his smile, waving at the two girls leaving his office before his expression drops into mild annoyance, "Of course my puppy manages to find a 'Robert' of her own..." he sighs, shaking his head and walking to his desk to open his sketch book to a new page, "I fear she'll be such a popular child..."

Divus was a social climber, a feat that he sacrificed his family name for. He sacrificed plenty to get where he was today, Robert's affections and friendship one of many. As he sketched, he wondered just how dear his child would become to this poor lost pup she had brought into their house...

[chibinasuu]

Aaaahhh I’m so nervous but everyone, please meet my One Piece OC, Iruka (Ruka)!!

I can’t draw to save my life, so off to Picrew I went! (credits to yujiMelon and Kanahani)

Iruka is 22 years old (post-time-skip) and is the Chef of the Heart Pirates. She’s also the Chief Strategist, helping and consulting her Captain, Trafalgar Law, in making plans for missions and figuring out the crew’s next moves. She is childhood friends with Sanji, who eventually becomes her love interest.

Iruka (イルカ) means dolphin, keeping with the fun theme of the Heart Pirates’ aquatic animal names 🐬

Ruka has pale skin, icy-blue eyes, and long silver-white hair. She likes to braid her hair and try out different hairstyles, but her signature look is just let-down hair with two small braids, on either side of her face. She also likes gathering all of her hair into one big fishtail braid down her back whenever she needs to get it out of her face while cooking, fighting, doing chores, exercising, etc. She doesn’t like the Heart Pirates’ white boiler suit because it clashes with her hair, so Law gave her an orange one like Bepo's. 

She’s not particularly skilled in combat – her true skills lie in strategizing. But if she has to fight, she uses a pair of daggers, because they have the closest feel to her kitchen knives, which she's very skilled with. She's ambidextrous, so she's equally adept in fighting with both hands.

Personality-wise, she's very shy with new people, but once she opens up to someone, they're usually surprised at how chatty she actually is. She can be quite blunt with her words, so sometimes she becomes unintentionally funny... or sometimes unintentionally hurtful too. She's always very apologetic whenever she ended up hurting someone with her words, though.

[Ruka's (probably-too-detailed) backstory below the cut. Warning: heavy spoilers for Whole Cake Island!!]

Ruka's mother died when she was born, so she lived with her father at Germa Kingdom, where he worked as a cook. That was where she met Sanji, and they bonded over their love for cooking. They often snuck into the kitchen at nights, making a mess while experimenting with different recipes, but usually ended up getting caught and reprimanded by Ruka's dad.

When Sanji was proclaimed “dead” by Vinsmoke Judge, Ruka was devastated at losing her only friend. She also lost her passion for cooking because it reminded her too much of her dear friend. Her father couldn’t bear to see his baby girl become a shell of herself and decided to get her as far away from Germa as possible, in hopes that she would gradually heal by not being associated with the place anymore. 

Ruka’s dad handled ingredients procurement for the kitchen, so he was friendly with the merchant who came by every few weeks to deliver some produce. Just before Germa crossed over to the East Blue, he asked the merchant to sneak Ruka away on his ship and send her to Swallow Island to live with her grandma. Sadly, he couldn’t go with her due to his binding employment with Germa.

Ruka eventually rediscovered her love for cooking through her grandma, who taught her all sorts of North Blue specialties. 

At Swallow Island, she met and befriended Law, Penguin, Shachi, and Bepo. At first, the boys wouldn’t let her into their pirate crew because they were very protective of her and didn’t want her to get caught in dangerous situations. However, after they recruited more members and gained notoriety in the North, they decided to return to Swallow and pick Ruka up before entering the Grand Line because they couldn’t bear to leave her behind (though they claimed they only brought her along for her cooking). She has been a part of the Heart Pirates ever since.

A few years later, she saw Sanji's wanted poster, but was very doubtful that it was her Sanji due to that awful drawing of him. It wasn't until Sabaody Archipelago that she got reunited with him and found out that her Sanji was indeed still alive all this time!

And that's Iruka (so far)!! Please be nice to her <3

She's still a baby OC, so I still have much to tell about her, but feel free to ask questions! That would definitely help me with her character development :)

disclaimer: i don’t know many one piece OCs aside from my mutuals’ so if by any chance my OC has similarities in name, physical appearance, or backstory with other OCs, please understand that it’s purely coincidental and not intentional 

[thal-ent]

Since my partners are doing the same, my OCs and their relationship with fire moment (from any of the universes I write for)

The flames never left my charred body. I'm lucky to even be able to move as much as I do, to have the scars barely visible on my skin. Yet I fight with it, see it devour the corpses of creatures less resistant than I am.

The flames scare me, and I know it is exactly what she sees as I face a scared eight year old. The boy in my arms is probably nine, at the latest, and he's holding onto my burned body.

I hear her cackle, her satisfaction. And I know she fears fire more than I do.

I aim. I shoot.

When she screams, the fire illuminates the tears burning my cheeks.

It's coming down. All around me, it's falling to pieces, and it's by my own will.

My hand is unsuable, even if I wanted I could not avoid the painful death that awaits me in drowning. Yet, for now, it's fire that surrounds me.

It's a shame, none of them died from it. I planned that for one of the victims. It would be such despair, to burn because of what you love, wouldn't it ?

I sigh, as my robot catches onto the flammes. She shot me, when I took her hand. She did, not the man right next to her. Truly, I do not know how those two even managed it. Maybe I underestimated the Hope she brought to the empty shell.

My hand hurts, as the flammes lick my feet.

A flame is something dangerous. It is not conscious, it is not with any will or thoughs, it is your fault for getting burnt.

I secure my gloves and work outfit before getting the glass. It turns red like the fire underneath it, I make it spin and grab my tools.

Fire is a tool, something to be careful with just as much as any other thing in my workshop. I see though it, like the glass it allows me to bend and shape, but what I see is distorted and I can't believe it for sure.

It only rises, after all.

She makes me love fire.

Fire and Light, sisters in a way, bringers of many things. Yet she's my lover, and I adore how her skins glows with her powers, how her eyes shine when they look onto the light she produces.

She's fire incarnate, more than any goddess wearing that name. She's Freedom, she's beauty. She's dangerous and so, so warm under my hands when I touch her, when I hold her.

Her touch lights me up, teaches me a warmth no other ever gave me. I hope my light, as cold as it may be, teaches her and shows her my love and devotion to her.

I know mom hates fire. Like she hates butterflies or my parents in law. I know why she hates all those things, she told me when I got old enough.

I'm not sure I understand really why. She never gave details about the pain in her back, about the swirls of skin that dad loves to kiss when they think I can't see them. I dont say that. I know she wouldn't be able to explain to me enough.

Fire hurts, yes. But I dont understand why it's something to be feared.

A fire is light up, a single torch for four men. It's a simple patrol, we're not supposed to fight tonight. The creatures are always easier to deal with in summer, when they can't be sure if the sun is really gone for good.

Mihail directs us, waves the torch too close to the leaves for my taste so I take the wood from his hands with the one that can whistand heat. He looks at me with fear, like he forgot I can even do that. I'm still a better hunter than him, and the fire of hatred shines in his eyes for a second before he lets go.

I dont speak, just move forward and avoid the branches and trees too close. A wildfire would be the worst thing to happen, far worse than fighting, and even the teen that's barely my brother's age knows it. I hear him whisper to Mihail, wondering why he lets me disrespect him. The old bag of bones does not awnser, plants seeds of doubts in the youth's by doing so.

They told me Ion is the new instructor, with uncle's retirement. I hope for him he's ready to burn the thorns of fear and hatred to the ground, and to tell the idiots to keep their torches lower.

I stop and listen, and the kid almost bumps into me. I stop him from falling with my right hand, and my eyes must be scarier than any flames because he does not make a sound.

I see a boar pass us and resume my pace.

The crack of the fire next to me does not warm me, and I find myself missing my home, missing hair sharing that color. But for now, I have to stay cold, and walk through the ashes of this place.

[xxsp3llb0undxx]

Memories of us

Joel Miller x Reader [2.9k]

Summary - September 26, 2003. The day the world ended, both physically and metaphorically. Joel Miller lost a piece of him that day, now what was he supposed to do?

WARNINGS: USUAL VIOLENCE ,, BLOOD ,, GORE ,, DEATH ,, PURE AND UTTER HEART WRENCHING SADNESS ,, AGE GAP (READER IS MID 20s)

Please do not repost my work to other sites or claim as your own, this is purely written from my imagination and from the help of the series. All rights of the main storyline goes to the writers and producers of The Last Of Us.

MASTERLIST TLOU

Today was Joel's birthday, like always he didn't want anyone making a fuss about it. Just because he was a year older didn't mean he had to celebrate getting closer to his death date. What he didn't realise though, was his daughter Sarah and his new found lover, Y/n, had decided to surprise him with breakfast.

The noise of pots and pans clashing against each other stirred Joel awake, of all days he woke up before his alarm it just had to be his birthday. Joel pulled himself out of bed and went to get changed, he had work to do today and he knew Tommy was gonna be on his ass all day if he was late.

Making his way downstairs, he heard soft chatter in the kitchen. The sound of his two girls brought a smile to his face, god he was so lucky to have them in his life. Once he entered the kitchen, the scene in front of him made him stare in awe. Sarah and Y/n were wearing matching aprons, egg shells spread across the counter. The two girls were giggling about god know what but the sight in front of Joel made his heart swarm with warmth.

Sarah was the first to notice her dad stood near the dining table, she ran over to him and tackled the older male into a hug. "Happy birthday! How old are you now?" Joel could hear the slight sarcasm lacing her words as she asked him the question. He put a hand over his chest and pulled the most exaggerated shocked expression he could do. "You don't know how old I am?" Laughter erupted from the pair, gaining the attention of the younger woman, who was surprisingly still whisking the eggs.

Y/n turned towards the culprits making so much noise, a soft smile etched on her lips. Her hair was pulled back into a low ponytail, egg yolk smeared across her apron. Y/n made her way over to Joel, her arms wrapped themselves around his neck as she pulled her body flush against his own. A light kiss placed against his lips made Joel feel giddy, he felt young again whenever she was around him.

Once everyone had settled down, Y/n continued to make breakfast. A cup of coffee was placed beside the stove where she was frying the eggs. She turned to look at her partner and gave him a light peck on the cheek as a way to show her gratitude. Once the food was done, Y/n started to plate it up and hand them out to Sarah and Joel. She made sure to keep some for Tommy when he came round to get Joel before they headed to work together.

The trio were sat at the dining table, Y/n zoning in and out of the conversation Joel and Sarah were having. The front door slamming shook her out of her trance, Tommy, Joel's younger brother, greeted the family as he walked over to the kitchen. "Where's my food? Did you guys forget about me?" Joel rolled his eyes at his younger brother, he knew his brother was joking but siblings could be annoying sometimes.

Y/n pointed towards the fridge, the scrambled eggs were definitely cold by now but it beats them being left on the counter for anything to happen to them. Tommy nodded at the young woman, mumbling a soft thank you. He contemplated heating them up or to just eat them the way they were, he decided on the latter. Once everyone had finished eating, they all got ready to leave the house. Joel and Tommy got in the truck, preparing to get to work early; not without Joel getting his goodbye kiss from Y/n though, the scene made Tommy and Sarah cringe.

Y/n was on her way back from work, driving towards Sarah's school to pick her up. The two girls had made a plan to go to the watchmaker in downtown Texas to get Joel's watch repaired. He kept it in the top draw of his dresser, it was left untouched for a long time and Sarah and Y/n thought it would be sentimental to get it fixed for him and gift it back as if it were brand new.

Sarah hopped into the passenger seat once Y/n had pulled up. The sound of jets up above shot through the clear sky, Y/n stalled for a second before putting the car in drive. The trip to downtown Texas was longer than usual, traffic seemed to swarm both lanes as the two girls tried to make it to the watchmakers before they closed.

Once they had arrived, Y/n put the car in park and then shut it off. Sarah was the first to get out as she manoeuvred her way to the store, the older female slowly following behind. Everything was going well, the watch was almost repaired when the store owners wife, or so Y/n thought, came rushing out from the back panicking about closing the store early and for the two girls to leave and go home because it wasn't safe. The store owner wrapped everything up as fast as he could, the watch now repaired and tucked safely into a grey box.

Once they had left the store, the door slammed shut and the 'closed' sign now on full display. Y/n shook her head as she unlocked the car for the both of them to get in, things were feeling too odd today and she knew it was upsetting Sarah. The drive back home wasn't as bad as they thought it would be, the traffic had lightened up and they were able to get home safely and without any delays.

Sarah was on the couch watching the TV as Y/n was making dinner, spaghetti and meatballs. She knew it wasn't much but there was barely anything in the house to cook up because Joel forgot to buy the groceries, again. The sound of the front door opening and closing made the young woman jump, she wasn't expecting Joel back this early. Y/n could hear the chatter of Sarah and her father in the living room, she didn't know what she would do with them.

Sarah had fallen asleep on the couch after the trio had eaten dinner and decided to watch a movie, the one Sarah had borrowed from the Adler's a couple days ago. Joel's phone started to ring, he shot an apologetic look at Y/n, she proceeded to wave him off as she went to pick Sarah up to bring her to bed. Once she had tucked the young girl into bed, she made her way downstairs only to be met with Joel putting his boots back on. "What did Tommy do this time?" Y/n knew it had to be something he did, Joel would always get a call at the same time each week and it would be Tommy on the other end.

The look of guilt swimming in Joel's deep brown eyes said the words he couldn't pull himself to say right now, with a sigh Y/n pulled the older male in for a hug and told him to be safe and to make it back home soon. He pecked her lips and then left the house, god if only he knew the world was about to turn to shit.

An hour had passed by and no sign of Joel or Tommy yet, the streets were quite and dark, it was like the whole world had turned the lights off. A bang from the window made Y/n jump, she slowly stepped towards the noise and checked what it was. She saw the Adler's dog Mercy stood on the lawn, the fur on his back pinned straight up, his eyes darting back and forth from the darkness of the street. Y/n went outside and called Mercy over to bring him back to his owners, but he had other plans, Mercy somehow freed himself from his collar and bolted behind the houses.

A shiver ran down Y/n's spine as a low growl like noise sounded from the Adlers house. Without warning, the door slams wide open and Alexandra Adler comes running full speed in Y/n's direction. Lucky she saw it coming from a mile off and started running as fast as she could back into Joel's house. She slammed the door shut and locked it, placing one of the dining chairs under the handle. Y/n shot straight for the stairs and ran into Sarah's room, closing the door behind her as she tried her best to compose herself.

The young Miller was still soundlessly asleep, curled up under her comforter. Y/n shook the girl awake, a finger against her lips signalling Sarah to be quiet. Panic swarmed her eyes, she was scared; of course she was, Joel wasn't here and the only other person with her was a child who was panicking for her life. The mother she always wished to be, kicked in. She held Sarah's face in her hands, the tears already cascading down the young girls cheeks, it broke Y/n's heart; she was not going to let anything happen to Sarah as long as she was here.

Y/n picked up the lamp that was situated on Sarah's bedside table, she turned to the crying girl and hugged her close, she didn't know if this would be the last time she would ever hold her, but what she knew was she would do anything to protect her from any harm. Y/n opened the bedroom door slowly, peaking her head out to check if the coast was clear. She could no longer hear Mrs Adler throwing her body against the front door, that's what probably scared her the most.

Y/n made her way to the top of the stairs and what was waiting at the bottom made a scream rip through the eerily quite house. The old woman's head snapped up and stared Y/n dead in the eyes, a screech sounded from the woman as she descended the stairs. Y/n was thrown to the floor with a thud, Mrs Adler on top of her clawing at her arms. The lamp, which was once in Y/n's hands, was thrown in front of Sarah's bedroom door, Y/n knew if she didn't do something soon she would meet her end. With all her strength, she pulled her legs up to her chest and kicked Mrs Adler off of her, throwing the older woman's body halfway down the stairs.

Rushing over to the lamp she lifted it up just in time for Mrs Adler to get up and run at her head on, and in one swift movement she smashed the porcelain base of the lamp against the old woman's head. She fell down to the floor with a shriek, her body spasming. Hit after hit, every blow to the frail woman's head made blood splatter against Y/n's face and the walls surrounding the pair.

The sound of a truck pulling up in front of the house broke Y/n out of her trance. Sarah had come out of her room mere seconds after Mrs Adler was finally 'dead'. The two girls walked down the stairs, hand in hand as Joel came rushing in, panic evident on his face. The front door was wide open, the door frame splintering. Once his eyes locked on his two girls, he ran over to them, tears pricking his eyes. Joel knew this wasn't the time to do this but he needed to make sure they were both okay and unharmed.

Sarah was unscathed, she was perfectly fine other than obviously being traumatised for the rest of her life. Y/n on the other hand, was covered in scratches and blood, her eyes were glazed; like she wanted to cry but couldn't find the energy to do so. He brought them both to the truck, where Tommy was waiting with his rifle. Y/n and Sarah were sat in the back, Joel in the passenger seat. Sarah was rambling on about something Y/n couldn't hear, it was as if she was trapped underwater, her hearing flowing in and out of tune. She could only make out one thing and that was Tommy saying "We need to get out of here."

Minutes felt like hours as the group drove down roads trying to find an exit, everything was either blocked off or rammed with traffic. Tommy took the roads into the town, hoping he could find a better way through. Before anyone could register what was happening, a plane literally dropped from the sky, it was encased in flames and wasn't slowing down. Tommy tried to out run it but instead, the truck totalled; the windshield shattering at the impact of the truck's roof hitting the ground. Smoke started pouring from the hood, Joel had blood smeared from the wound on his head and Sarah's leg was pulled into an awkward position, hopefully nothing was broken.

The group got out the truck, Joel, Sarah and Y/n on one side and Tommy on the other; he was trapped over there. "Don't worry, I'll find a way round and I'll catch up to you guys." With that said they went their separate ways. Sarah was having difficulty walking so Joel picked her up in his arms and started heading down an alley, when they made it out onto the other side, they had unintentionally blocked themselves in with those virus riddled people. The trio tried to be as quiet as possible but apparently that wasn't enough, one of them noticed the group and screeched in their direction.

Joel looked around, trying to find a way out of the alley, he noticed there was a door behind him and lucky it was unlocked. The trio ran through the diner, Y/n, who was behind Joel and Sarah, pulled down anything she could see to try and buy them more time. After what felt like forever, Joel finally found a door to which he was hoping would lead them outside and as far away as possible from this thing.

Once they were outside again, they just kept running but that thing wouldn't give up, it was trailing right behind Y/n. A gun shot ripped through the air and the body of the thing chasing them fell to the ground, blood seeping from the wound in it's head. A man dressed in all black stood out in the open by a truck, he was holding a gun in his hands, his grip tight on it. "Are any of you infected?" His voice was shaky, the barrel of the gun aiming at the trio in front of him.

Joel set Sarah down and pushed her behind him, Y/n stood right beside the pair. With his hands raised just above his head, he took a small step forward as he spoke. "No, sir. We're not infected." The man radioed in, probably speaking to his supervisor. Are you sure, sir? Okay, sir. Yes, sir. The barrel of his gun pointed back at the trio, small whimpers sounding from Sarah. "We're not infected. We're not infected. Please we're not infected." Joel kept repeating. Y/n pushed Sarah down the small hill beside them just before he started shooting. Joel jumped out the way, pulling Y/n with him. He thought they were all fine, that none of the bullets hit them.

The soldier walked over to the ditch and got ready to shoot again but before he had the chance, he was shot in the head. Tommy walked over from the shadows, Joel greeting him and asking him where he was. A blood curdling scream pulled the Miller brothers attentions back to Y/n and Sarah. Tears streamed down Sarah's face, there was blood on her hands. Joel ran over to her, checking her for any injuries but she was fine. He looked over at Y/n and saw her shirt, more like his shirt, stained with blood; too much blood.

Joel was frozen in place, he didn't know what do to. Y/n reached into her bag slung across her body and dug out the grey box from earlier, handing it over to Joel with a small card attached to it. "Happy birthday, cowboy." In a matter of second of wishing Joel a happy birthday, Y/n went limp, her skin sickly pale and sweaty. Joel cradled her body in his arms, screams and cries ripping through his throat. How could he not have noticed her get hit? How can he live with himself now? Tommy had to drag him away from her body, blood stained his clothes and skin. He wished he could just lay there with her forever and forget that today ever existed, but he knew he had to fight, to survive. He picked Sarah up again, he had to protect her now, he couldn't let anything happen to his baby girl now that Y/n was gone.

[ncisladaily]

NCIS: Los Angeles wrapped its 14-season run on CBS with a finale all about what the title suggested: new beginnings. But that being said, not everything was wrapped up in a nice little bow.

After all, the last scene of the finale featured two of the agents reuniting with a former team member and her recruits for a mission to rescue one of their own. A couple multi-episode arcs were left unresolved. Agents had started to look to the future in the final episodes, and it’s possible not everyone stays with NCIS in the future. One is even going to be recurring on another show in the NCIS franchise next season.

Will Sam, Callen, Nell, and her team rescue Hetty?

Last we heard, Hetty (Linda Hunt) was in Syria. But it’s to Morocco that Nell (Renée Felice Smith) summons Sam (LL Cool J) and Callen (Chris O’Donnell) as she stages a rescue mission, with a couple familiar faces (Peter Cambor’s Nate and Erik Palladino’s Sabatino). “If we knew we had another season and Linda had been available, we probably would’ve gone to rescue Hetty and wound up in trouble and then had to have resolve that in the next season,” executive producer R. Scott Gemmill told TV Insider.

How much of a threat is Kessler still to Kensi?

Kessler (Frank Military) made it clear that he wanted to kill Kensi (Daniela Ruah) and that threat very much remains out there. “I imagine we would’ve finally brought him to justice,” Gemmill said. With Kensi pregnant and her and Deeks’ (Eric Christian Olsen) family growing, we can’t help but think that another season would’ve seen at least one of them in some serious danger.

Will the Body Stitchers case ever be resolved?

The Body Stitchers case is easily the most disturbing one of the entire series — and those responsible (including a member of the FBI!) for piecing together victims and leaving them in grotesque displays remain free. Since they stepped back from the spotlight last we saw them, it’s also easy to imagine them popping up elsewhere, meaning the threat isn’t just to Los Angeles and the agents on the case. But given how long they’ve evaded authorities thus far, we can’t help but worry about how much longer they could keep operating — and going dormant for a period clearly isn’t a problem — before the case is closed.

What will the team look like going forward?

I could see Sam going into the private sector or Callen. I think all our characters love what they do. I could see Kensi staying with NCIS and Deeks becoming a stay-at-home dad. I think he would be quite content to do that for a while. Fatima [Medalion Rahimi] and Rountree [Caleb Castille] would probably stay with the team and be upgraded to the higher echelon of the team. And then I could see Kilbride [Gerald McRaney] retiring, especially if Sam and Callen moved on. Hetty, I think, will do this until her dying breath,” Gemmill said while pondering the team’s future. With Sam spending time on Hawai’i, that could impact what the future holds for him after that.

Will any of the agents suffer any long-term effects from injuries sustained on the job?

The team has been through a lot over the years, with multiple members tortured and hospitalized. And Gemmill noted that the storyline involving Sam and his father (who has Alzheimer’s) “was for Sam a little bit of not a wake-up call but a glimpse into possibly his own future because of the things our guys go through. There’s no way that they don’t have sort of long-term health effects in terms of the number of times they’ve been knocked out or suffered a concussion from an explosion. So it was a little bit of foreshadowing in terms of Sam, in terms of what he might be faced with in his future as well.” Might at least one of them be forced out of the field as a result versus making the choice to leave the agency on their own accord?

Will Sam’s appearances on Hawai’i reveal much about the team or any of these questions?

LL Cool J made a cameo in the NCIS: Hawai’i Season 2 finale. After, it was announced he’ll be recurring in Season 3. How much will Sam’s time with the Hawai’i team reveal anything about the LA agents? Will we find out if Hetty is rescued (and if so, how)? Will we, depending on how long Sam is around and when he shows up, find out if Kensi and Deeks have a boy or girl? Will we hear what’s going on at the Office of Special Projects (OSP) while Sam is on the island? Is Sam even going to be planning to return to work there?

Will anyone else show up on NCIS or Hawai'i?

Thanks to the three-show crossover in January, the door is open for any of the OSP agents to be called in for a reason to one of the other shows in the franchise after previously working with the other two teams.

[plasticdazed]

Midnight Melodies

In which 2D has a normal night, tw talk of addiction and pills and such I mean it’s 2D

The moon hung low in the sky, casting a somber glow over Kong Studios. It was another restless night for 2D. He lay in his bed, the covers pulled tightly around him as if seeking solace from the world outside. His eyes, heavy with exhaustion, stared blankly at the ceiling, and his thoughts wandered back to a time when life had been simpler, before the darkness engulfed him.

Memories of that fateful night flooded his mind – the night when everything changed. The accident had left him broken, both physically and emotionally, a puppet of fate's cruel design. Murdoc's reckless driving had shattered his body, leaving him with constant headaches and body pains. The relentless pain was the monster that haunted him, and the painkillers were his refuge, albeit a dangerous one.

As the night wore on, 2D's fingers trembled as he reached for the pill bottle on his nightstand. He hesitated, staring at the label, well-aware of the vicious cycle he was trapped in. He knew the pills only offered temporary relief, and yet, the temptation to escape the agony that held him hostage was too powerful to resist.

He swallowed two pills dry, chasing them down with a sip of water, hoping they would grant him some semblance of peace. But, as always, they offered little respite. He closed his eyes, trying to conjure images of happier days, but the shadows of pain and guilt loomed larger, engulfing him in an all-encompassing darkness.

2D's insomnia was relentless, just like the remorse that gnawed at him. The nights stretched on endlessly, making him feel isolated from the world around him. The members of Gorillaz, his friends, tried to understand, but the chasm between them seemed insurmountable.

Tossing and turning, 2D finally decided to leave the suffocating confines of his room. He stumbled towards the studio, a place that had once been a sanctuary for creativity but now felt like a prison. The dim lights welcomed him like old friends, illuminating the instruments that held so many memories.

He sat at the piano, his fingers moving gently across the keys, producing haunting melodies that mirrored his inner turmoil. Music was his outlet, the only way he could communicate the depths of his anguish without uttering a single word. As the notes filled the air, they carried the weight of his pain, each chord a cry for help that went unheard.

Time passed unnoticed as 2D lost himself in the music, pouring his heart and soul into every note. But no matter how skillfully he played, the pain remained, unyielding and cold. Tears welled up in his eyes, blurring the keys as his fingers faltered.

He longed for a way out, a glimmer of hope in the bleak landscape of his life. But the darkness seemed infinite, and he was a mere speck adrift in its vast expanse. The music faded into silence, and 2D's fragile heart sank further into despair.

With heavy footsteps, he returned to his room, the weight of his existence crushing him like an anchor pulling him beneath the surface. The night stretched on, an eternity of torment, as he clung to a fragile hope that the next dawn would bring relief.

In the early hours of the morning, as the first rays of sunlight painted the sky, 2D finally succumbed to exhaustion. He drifted into a fitful slumber, dreams haunted by memories of better days, of laughter and camaraderie with his bandmates, his mom & dad, even homework that seemed impossible.

The night had taken its toll once more, leaving 2D trapped in a cycle of despair. The painkiller addiction, the insomnia, the memories – they all conspired to keep him imprisoned in a world devoid of happiness.

And so, the sun rose on another day, but for 2D, it brought no reprieve. Only the promise of another night, where the darkness and devastation awaited him once again.

[canichangemyblogname]

A collection of some of my favorite tags so far:

By @bucksboobs

9-1-1 is usually fairly heavy-handed in its telling of moral lessons. It's not a show that is hard to grasp, but people fall into one of two traps: making the show more complex (see: clothing color theory) than it is or complaining because the show doesn't approach moral resolution like a Disney Channel TV show. Y'know... something like: "Sorry I snapped at you earlier; I'm still upset over Dad leaving and took it out on you." << NO. As the featured poster said, Tommy is not going to come right out and say, "I was rude and insecure because I was closeted, and I utilized the privileges at my disposal, like being a man and white, to shield myself from homophobia." That's not going to happen, partly because it doesn't make good dialogue and partly because even those people who recognize these things don't really speak like that unless it's an academic setting. Like... that'd be something someone would write in an essay about identity in the closet, not say in casual conversation. But Tommy may say some variation of "I was insecure and afraid, and that brought out the worst in me," because he *does* say things like that, see: the conversation about how working under Gerrard did not make him a better person.

By @elizaisthetruehero

500%. I don't know how many times I want to scream from the rooftops, "YOU ARE NOT THE TARGET AUDIENCE." You know who is part of the target audience? My 80-year-old grandfather. He was one of the first coaches for a girl's high school team in the US following the introduction of Title IX. He believed in those girls and he aspired to train them to be able to keep up with any other team out there. I was his eldest granddaughter for most of my childhood, as well as the only grandchild willing to help him around the farm when his back got bad. I did a lot of heavy lifting, carrying, and pulling for him. He's aware that people a-f-a-b are plenty capable. But you know what he said to me about 9-1-1? "It's real cool they've got a lady fireman on the show. I never thought whether there are lady firemen." << That's the GA.

I feel like a lot of people don't remember what it was like in '05. That's not an excuse; it's an explanation. My grandfather was 62 in '05, around the same age Brian Earl Thompson (the man who plays Vincent Gerrard) is now. He was working in '05 when the country was in the midst of several huge cultural shifts, including many regarding LGBTQ+ rights. Even by 2010, things had improved, even if marginally so. The GA lived through these shifts.

So, not only does the GA remember working under those "old" conditions, but they also remember the changes characters like Hen, Athena, and Chim led. They remember the introduction of DEI programs. They remember the reaction their colleagues had to broader inclusion. Hell, maybe they had a less-than-stellar reaction. Some members of the GA have maybe come around, or maybe they've decided to stake everything on the past. I reckon that most members of the GA understand that not everyone is the same person their whole life and that 20 years makes a hell of a difference in who a person is.

Related to this point are the next tags I'm featuring:

By @unfuckablebogtroll

Another 500%. Hen and Chim have undeniably been a positive influence on the 118 and the work culture there. It's almost like... allowing deviation from a "norm" and empathy for beliefs or practices differing from or conflicting with one's own leads to... conditions that allow people to thrive. A diverse perspective is also crucial when it comes to saving lives. One's upbringing may provide them with more tact and understanding in certain circumstances that may be absent from others. It's important if we want to build an empathetic society.

There's a reason Gerrard is returning NOW, in 2024, as opposed to 2018 when the show aired. 1.) The character probably didn't exist in the writers' and producers' minds in 2018, but 2.) we are in the midst of another political, right-wing pushback to an inclusive and diverse society. There is a reactionary "anti-woke" movement sweeping through the US, led primarily by men like Gerrard who don't like the changes they've witnessed in schools or the workplace. The difference is? The landscape is very different now than nearly 20 YEARS AGO. Black people, immigrants, queer people, people of different religious and cultural backgrounds, etc... are far more common in the general workplace than in '05. These programs have worked, and they have filled every corner of the workplace with incredibly competent, capable people from varying backgrounds. We're now seeing very effective attempts to claw this back.

Stories do not exist in a vacuum. Gerrard doesn't just highlight how conditions and people have changed in the last 20 years, but who hasn't and why. This isn't the same 118, even if it is the same Gerrard.

By @disasterbisafespace

It would! Because you can grow and change, but that doesn't mean the people you hurt have an obligation to forgive you or let you into their lives. It seems Hen and Chim are both willing to break bread with him, so it would be interesting if they brought someone in to provide that example. Maybe an excuse to bring back Gino Anthony Pesi?

That's just fanon hope... nothing tangible.

I do want to add to a separate point about forgiveness:

It is clear who the fandom is willing to forgive and extend grace to and who they aren't. For example, they've been far more willing to extend Shannon grace for "mistakes" as a mother than Athena. They're also far more willing to extend Eddie grace for cheating on Marisol than Hen on Karen. They're more willing to extend Buck grace for his anger than Chim. They're more willing to forgive Bobby for the people he hurts when he's hurting than Tommy.

I've seen fans do a 180 on how they talk about Buck and his anger and rejection sensitivity following his coming out. @evansboyfriend can confirm that I got an anon who claimed that Buck having a crush on a man has made him more violent, re: Basketball game.

By @hiriaeth

Sir, a second "sassy" has hit the fandom.

Actually, no. The shippers in the 911 fandom who primarily complain about Tommy and his past don't actually care about Tommy's past or his actions that contributed to the previous toxic workplace environment and harassment at the 118. Not everything is about a fucking ship, believe it or not, yet the only time they bring up his behavior is in relation to shipping. And because the only time they bring up a valid critique of Tommy's character is during shipping "discourse," I'm convinced it's not brought forth in good faith. Finding a way to tie everything to a ship—especially things like racism and misogyny—is cheap and tasteless. Not everything is about "shipping;" shut up about the shipping.

I don't think they actually want to discuss how white queers contribute to the marginalization of others, including other queer people, by weaponizing the patriarchy and/or white supremacy in their favor because so many of them are fellow white queers themselves. They don't care about how Tommy inadvertently, because of his past, provides a realistic portrayal of how white queers divide or hurt the larger community because of an inability to find solidarity with people of a different background, culture, or race (especially if it would "inconvenience" them or if it does not directly benefit them, like Chim saving Tommy's life). White people would rather choose misery and isolation over standing with or up for non-white people. White people are generally not willing to put in the work to build community; they'd rather contribute to the system or fly under the radar to avoid being shunned by the structures they, and the Ol' Boys Club, benefit from, like white supremacy or the patriarchy. Most white queers would rather be complaisant, complacent, and complicit. It's the white queer's adherence to oppressive systems that divide the community, not people's calls to tear those systems down. And it's only the white queer who can change their perspective on this.

Tommy only has himself to blame for his jealousy and alienation from a supportive and familial community, and only he can take the steps to ameliorate the situation. Tommy was an absolute fucking dick to Chim and Hen, and that has had long-term consequences on his life. Only he can correct for his behavior. He contributed to a toxic work environment, referring to Chim as a Chinese takeout delivery man, actively participating in Chim's hazing, and telling Chim that he did not like the man (mostly because he didn't know him). He would later call Hen "bitchy," and the men of the 118 would leave the "domestic work" to her as they did Chim, actively contributing to her hazing. He did not (verbally) stand up for her, iced her out, and also contributed to a homophobic work culture that made same-sex attraction the butt of jokes. He contributed to this toxic culture to fly under the radar, and that directly hurt people he should have extended a hand to.

Unfortunately for most of the fandom, this is, ultimately, a show that loves stories about redemption and resolution. And there is actual, explicit (meaning, non-subtextual) evidence that Tommy has put in some work to remedy what he did and who he was (including being able to 1.] own up to his past actions, 2.] understand how he hurt others, 3.] recognize why he did what he did and how that it is an explanation, not an excuse, and 4.] begin to make amends or rectify the situation, like reporting Gerrard and changing his mind about Hen and Chim). Hen and Chim would not have invited him for drinks regularly if they thought he was "irredeemable." The 118 would not have thrown him a going away party if they disliked him. Chim would not call in favors from Tommy on more than one occasion or even describe him as "so cool" if they weren't—well—cool. Eddie wouldn't enjoy ring-side fights and basketball games with Tommy if he didn't enjoy the man's company. Tommy also clearly refers to the type of man he was in the past tense, implying change over time. It can be argued that he has not put in enough work, but that's not what's being argued. We're getting bad faith arguments that Hen, Chim, and Eddie hate Tommy or bad faith arguments where Tommy's past actions are only brought forth as some sort of "gotcha" when a fan prefers canon representation over homophobic fan fiction tropes. You don't have to like Tommy, but making up non-textual reasons to dislike him is absurd.

Tommy, as a character in a narrative, provides a lesson for the general audience (GA), the majority of whom are white. It's not just important to see queer people on screen; it's important to see white people learn and change and admit they were wrong. It's also important that the show—well—shows the GA that whiteness and man-ness affect people's perception, position, and treatment. Tommy isn't just a gay man; he is a white gay man, and this has had a direct impact on how he navigates the world and how the world interacts with him. Gerrard treats men like Sal and Tommy differently than men like Chim or women like Hen, and staying in Gerrard's good graces—like the good graces of oppressive power structures—requires one to conform to a very narrow definition of a "real man," like being straight, white, palatable (like... not kinky, not risqué, not queer, all the things the fandom seems to actually hate Tommy for), and not helping oust regressive figures from positions of authority for the way they treat your coworkers. The audience got to see how Tommy went from being the prodigal son to being openly mocked by men like Gerrard. And it's important to show the GA that someone can and will be happier if they go against the grain and that admiration from men like Gerrard means very little in the grand scheme. Tommy is happier now after having been "rebuked" by men like Gerrard than he was when he strove for their praise and acceptance.

It's also important to show that men like Gerrard and his beliefs belong in the past, even though they exist in the present. This is a network TV show. A non-zero number of men like Gerrard catch this show weekly. It is still important to show that Gerrard is not the "type" of man anyone should aspire to be. His beliefs and actions are not commendable, and the show is very heavy-handed about this. The show is going to once again compare Gerrard ("bad captain") and Bobby ("good captain") to show how Bobby has created a good legacy at the 118. It began this parallel with Bobby Begins Again, continued to reinforce Bobby's good legacy in Buck's coma arc, and then revisited how Bobby has had a positive influence on the lives of the 118 in his season 7 montage. Now, the show is going to compare and contrast him and Gerrard to reinforce how important Bobby is to those around him. The show will also continue its inadvertent parallels between Buck and Tommy, showing how Buck is a different man under similar circumstances because he has had good influences (re: Bobby, Hen, and Chim) in his life. Buck and Eddie's relationship was shaping up to be very similar to Tommy and Chim's relationship: oppositional because of one-sided disregard and dislike, but it didn't because they had a good influence: Bobby (given the rather... fucked timeline, Tommy was likely newer to the 118 when Chim joined and, like Buck, his hostility and posturing were also likely influenced by insecurity and a desire to secure his position at the table).

Most unfortunately for many, the show is also going to show how Tommy has changed due to the same influences (re: Bobby, Hen, and Chim). They wouldn't have re-introduced both Tommy and Gerrard and mentioned their dynamic on more than one occasion if they weren't going to do something with that. Season 7 set up Tommy's upcoming arc very nicely. He knows the man he was, he knows the man who shaped him into that, and he knows how and why that was wrong. We'll get Tommy confronting his obvious daddy issues, jealousy, and desire for community (and why he didn't get a family-like dynamic at the 118, re: Gerrard *and* Tommy's own behavior). Tommy has been explicit about this, literally telling Buck that he envies the relationship the people at the 118 have and mentioning that he was not a good person, and this played a part in why he didn't have the same rapport.

9-1-1 is not a perfect show, but it does reflect some of the positive changes of our time. It's important to see representations of comp-het—like Buck, Tommy, and Michael—and how it negatively impacts people's character or relationships, and then how they—the character—can amend that. It's important to see stories that depict how silence is complicity and how refusing to be silent—as Hen refused to be—makes change and changes minds. It's important that the show reminds the audience that Hen is a black lesbian and that this has impacted how people see her and treat her, but that she is just as capable, if not more so. This includes men like Chim. Because I see nearly none of the people who "critique" Tommy in the name of "shipping" ever bring up how Chim has leaned on the patriarchy for support and a position at the table. He may have been the kindest to Hen, but he was by no means normal about women. And it is important to see how non-white men benefit from the patriarchy even as they are victimized by white supremacy. It's also important that the show shows the GA that non-white men are not affected by white supremacy equally, as Michael and Harry have had discussions about blackness and police brutality, a conversation that Chim is never going to have to have with his children, but that doesn't mean that Chim won't have to one day have a discussion with Jee-Yun about how and why some people treat her differently.

But the fandom approaches everything in a very... Catholic way. They don't approach this from the view that people can change and should be pushed to change; rather, they shun people like they've been marked by original sin. The structures we live under have deeply affected each and every one of our worldviews. "You are not immune to the propaganda" includes your personal philosophies and ideologies as well as the things you were taught since you were a child, consciously and "subconsciously." But, people would rather condemn everyone else as "irredeemable" than look critically at their own behavior out of fear of being "one of the bad ones." They'd rather *not* accept the fact that everyone has learning and changing to do as that would reflect upon them, too. This leads to being very resistant to being told that you're mistaken, you've hurt others, or that your behavior and beliefs contribute to repressive, dangerous, or toxic ideas (and we've seen a lot of that; y'all do not create safe online spaces). This leads to a lack of personal change as well as a lack of change at the interpersonal level because rather than teach or challenge, they stick up their nose and turn the other way. "Their barbaric bigotry; my enlightened neglect."

So, really, they've learned nothing from a character like Tommy.

[lemonmeringues]

"Nasal septum in midline" is a statement that I, as a clerk, an intern, and a resident, has used and abused for so long...written in my PE reports just for the heck of it. But now, i would never think the same of it again.

Context story: a few weeks ago, mama called me in a panic 'cause she thinks there's something wrong with daddy. So i interviewed my dad and it seemed he is having a sensation of wanting to expectorate phlegm but couldn't until he was vomiting saliva. As someone with COPD, i deemed it part of his symptomatology to be constantly producing secretions but nevertheless, i advised for an ENT consult just to make sure there's no mass or obstruction in his throat.

So fast forward yesterday, Aug 30, dad was seen by his ENT and a diagnostic nasal endoscopy was done which revealed findings of allergic rhinitis and a deviated septum with associated septal spur on the right. So the scope wasn't able to pass through beyond the nose and he was scheduled for laryngoscopy next month. I've longed suspected that my dad has AR so what piqued my interest was the deviated septum. I am no ENT but I know how a nasal septum can be deviated so I jokingly asked my dad if he was punched in the nose before to which he solemnly answered that indeed he was and that he had a justifying story for it. I know for a fact that as a child my dad was involved in childhood brawls typical among boys and the kind of story you reminisce proudly with your sons, counting how many teeth you knocked out of another kid etc. but daddy did not look like someone who had received a strong blow in the face to actually break his nose. He was handsome and my mom and I would always be envious of his long, pointy nose.

So after he recounted his doctor's appointment, he recounted the story of how back when he just graduated from college in 1986, he and his older brothers were drinking and when he asked permission to leave with his friends, one of his older brothers did not approve and the other older brother started beating him, landing some blows on his face. He lost consciousness for 3 days and was brought to a public hospital wherein apparently he had blood coming out from all holes in his head but no imaging was done and only supportive management was given during his admission. They just waited for him to regain consciousness. He was discharged about 2 weeks after in which he immediately went to review for his boards the following month. As i digested this story, I thanked God silently for keeping my dad alive and allowing him to grow old without suffering any neurological damage, for making him a dad, for giving him milestones at work, for allowing him to be physically active, and retire eventually but still moving like someone who was still in his prime.

After dad finished his story, he handed the phone over to my mama cause he was just finishing his dinner. I screen-captured one moment in our convo when she was mulling over how she pitied daddy for that experience and how he must be traumatized to be beaten by his own brothers. And then she concluded that indeed, daddy was a good man for despite that experience he still had utmost respect and love for his brothers even after they passed from this world. I tried to throw out a joke because I was starting to get weepy about how my mama was showing her sadness for what happened to daddy when he was young when she herself did not have better circumstances when she was young (due to poverty, not that she was beaten or physically abused). Just knowing how these two care for each other and the devotion they have to their family makes me understand how they lasted for more than 3 decades now and makes me want to really give the world to them 🥺. After 5 kids, a house, several properties, and professions in their own fields some may say that they have had a fulfilled life and I agree but more than all of those things, I think being people who have shown their child how to be as filial, as forgiving, persevering, and loyal is the best legacy they could ever achieve while they are still living this world. Love them to bits!

*I have to finish this write up cause I cant stop bawling my eyes out 🥹.

[tomorrowedblog]

Friday Releases for December 8

Friday is the busiest day of the week for new releases, so we've decided to collect them all in one place. Friday Releases for December 8 include Poor Things, Leave The World Behind, The Boy And The Heron, and more.

Poor Things

Poor Things, the new movie from Yorgos Lanthimos, is out today.

From filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos and producer Emma Stone comes the incredible tale and fantastical evolution of Bella Baxter (Stone), a young woman brought back to life by the brilliant and unorthodox scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe). Under Baxter’s protection, Bella is eager to learn. Hungry for the worldliness she is lacking, Bella runs off with Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo), a slick and debauched lawyer, on a whirlwind adventure across the continents. Free from the prejudices of her times, Bella grows steadfast in her purpose to stand for equality and liberation.

Leave The World Behind

Leave The World Behind, the new movie from Sam Esmail, is out today.

A family’s getaway to a luxurious rental home takes an ominous turn when a cyberattack knocks out their devices — and two strangers appear at their door.

The Boy And The Heron

The Boy And The Heron, the new movie from Hayao Miyazaki, is out today.

A young boy named Mahito yearning for his mother ventures into a world shared by the living and the dead.

There, death comes to an end, and life finds a new beginning.

A semi-autobiographical fantasy about life, death, and creation, in tribute to friendship, from the mind of Hayao Miyazaki.

Eileen

Eileen, the new movie from William Oldroyd, is out today.

Set during a bitter 1964 Massachusetts winter, young secretary Eileen becomes enchanted by the glamorous new counselor at the prison where she works. Their budding friendship takes a twisted turn when Rebecca reveals a dark secret — throwing Eileen onto a sinister path.

A Creature Was Stirring

A Creature Was Stirring, the new movie from Damien LeVeck, is out today.

Faith (Chrissy Metz) keeps her troubled teenage daughter on a tightly controlled but illicit pill regimen in order to ward off a terrifying affliction. But after a Christmas burglary, their dark family secret may finally be exposed.

Fast Charlie

Fast Charlie, the new movie from Phillip Noyce, is out today.

Charlie Swift is a fixer with a problem: the target he’s whacked is missing his head and the only way Charlie will be paid is if the body can be identified. Enter Marcie Kramer, the victim’s ex-wife and a woman with all the skills Charlie needs.

Lord of Misrule

Lord of Misrule, the new movie from William Brent Bell, is out today.

Directed by William Brent Bell, LORD OF MISRULE follows Rebecca Holland (Tuppence Middleton), who has recently taken over as priest of a small town. When her young daughter Grace (Evie Templeton) goes missing at the local harvest festival, a desperate search begins. The closer they edge towards finding Grace, the more secrets emerge from the town’s dark past. Soon, Rebecca must decide just how much she is willing to sacrifice to rescue her daughter from the grip of evil.

Merry Little Batman

Merry Little Batman, the new movie from Mike Roth, is out today.

This Christmas, Damian Wayne wants to be a Super Hero like his dad—the one and only Batman. When Damian is left home alone while Batman takes on Gotham’s worst Super-Villains on Christmas Eve, he stumbles upon a villainous plot to steal Christmas and leaps at the chance to save the day.

Culprits

Culprits, the new TV series from J Blakeson, is out today.

Three years ago, Joe was recruited by notorious British criminal Dianne Harewood to join her crew and take part in a high-stakes crime – one that promised to make Joe rich and provide him with a brand-new life. And now, his dangerous past is about to catch up with him. When a killer starts targeting the crew behind the crime, Joe realizes that the only way to keep his family safe is to return to London, make contact with his old gang, and track down Dianne.

[brunchable]

My Girl [Oneshot] || Single Dad!Doctor Strange × Child!Reader

Word count: 2.7K. Summary: Stephenlearning to be a Dad after disappearing for five years. Requested by @justmewoo (I hope you like it) Themes: Wholesomeness, Fluff. Single Dad Stephen A/N: I used some funny scenes from 'Life as we know it' and 'Game Plan'

Wong and Stephen were outside in front of a childcare centre. "So while I was gone... you had a kid?" he asked Wong with a perplexed expression on his face and his arms folded, not knowing what to expect.

Wong's lips turned up into the tiniest, almost imperceptible hint of a grin as he said "To be clear, while you were gone. You had a kid. Surprise! You are now a father."

The grin that had been on Stephen's face evaporated, "What do you mean I had a kid? How?"

"Don't make me explain how children are produced, Strange. You are the expert since you created your own!" When Wong heard the bells ring, he took a pause and said, "Oh, here she comes."

You raced towards Wong with a huge smile on your face, shouting out to him as 'Dad' since he had essentially brought you up all by himself. Wong took you in his arms, spun you around in the air, and said to the man, "Daddy, look what I made today."

You presented Wong with a painted sketch that depicted the two of you doing morning Tai Chi exercises in the Kamar-Taj. When Wong wanted to take a closer look at the drawing, he had to tilt his head back and squint his eyes "Wow, that is very impressive looking. You have made me seem to be 10 years younger."

"Don't be silly," you giggled, "I made sure to make you seem exactly the same."

Stephen sneaked a glance at the artwork and snorted after seeing what it was.

"The apple doesn't fall very far from the tree." Wong murmured for a while before swallowing hard and cleared his throat, “Anyway, (Y/N), I want you to meet Stephen, he’s your actual Father.”

You looked at Stephen warily and hugged Wong, “No, you’re my Dad.” you pouted and wrapped your little arms around his neck, hiding your face against the crook of his neck.

It might’ve been the first time meeting you but Stephen felt a pang in his chest when you didn’t want to refer to him as your ‘Father’. Stephen wasn't exactly the warmest and friendliest guy in the whole wide world, to put it mildly. He was a full-time Master of the Mystic Arts, and as such, he kept himself imprisoned behind closed doors the whole day. Stephen was a loner due to his single status, his aloofness, and his egotism. He did not eat enough and he wanted to be by himself. He was hardly able to take care of his own physical being, so adding a second member to the family was much more than he could bear at the time.

It took one month for Stephen to finally get you into a bath without you having to throw a tantrum and getting him wet in the process, four to get you to eat his attempt at cooking, and six to finally get you to sleep in the same room as him and eight when you finally seem to stay calm every Wong tries to leave to do his duties. When Wong isn’t around to help him out, his cloak was the one he trusted to keep an eye on you—and you ended up preferring the garment’s company more than his, since Cloak always plays tea parties with you.

Another month passed and your separation anxiety with Wong eased gradually. You often sought comfort in Stephen's bed for protection from your terrifying nightmares. The presence of another person in his bed caused the Doctor endless nights of uneasy sleep since he was not used to it. After waiting another month, Stephen caved in and conceded that it was OK for you to share his bed with him on a nightly basis.  Finally, it was the present day.

"Strange! Strange!" your voice squeaked from behind him. Stephen chose to ignore you and go on with his task, continuing to hammer away fiercely at the computer. You were persistent in your attempts to get Stephen's attention, and the older man made a clicking sound with his tongue as his line of thought became derailed.

"Tch." He let out a low groan as you roughly pulled his purple hood backwards. He showed his fangs while snapping his head in the direction of the obnoxious and little runt, "What do you want?"

Perhaps he was too harsh. No, he was certain that it was just due to the fact that you were a crybaby child. What a frustrating situation. You cried out in an uncontrollable manner, burying your face in your sleeves in order to hide your tears from him. Stephen rolled his eyes and then shifted his attention back to his task. Aren't you supposed to just let children scream themselves to the point where they pass out? He was certain that he had read it in some book.

Flashback

Wong’s ears perked up when he heard your wailing upstairs, “She's up. She's up.” Him and Stephen rushed up to make their presence known.

“Okay, honey. Hey, we’re just downstairs.” Wong walked up to your bed and sat on the edge of your bed in Stephen’s room.

“Hey. Hey. Look at the sleepyhead,” Stephen cooed from behind Wong.

“Come here.” Wong waved his hand to urge you to come closer to him.

“No. no. don't pick her up.” Stephen pulled Wong to get up from your bed and you began crying again.

“Why?”

“Because she needs to learn how to self-soothe.”

“She needs to what?” Wong scowled at Stephen, now he was telling him how to parent?

“Self-soothe? Soothe herself?” Stephen replied, he’s been reading books on how to be a Dad and the topic of self-soothing came up, “I just read it, Wong. It's important.”

“Okay. . .how about we just give it a minute?” Wong suggested, concerned that you might lose your voice if this keeps going, “Everything's okay. Happy, happy girl.” Wong said in a baby voice.

“You know what? Let's just sing a song,” Stephen shrugged, he and Wong nodded at each other for validation.

“Alright, We'll sing a song. . .”

Stephen slightly flailed his hands in from of him, trying to squeeze his brain for a song, “Uhhh. . . Theee wheels on the bus go round and round,”

“Round and round,” Wong joined in.

“Round and round, the wheels on the bus go round and round, all through the town,” Both men sang in unison but only made your cry worse.

The two of them kept bouncing not knowing the lyrics that came after, “The– er. . .uh. . . I don't know,” Wong blinks.

“And then Keanu Reeves saves the bus,” Stephen kept singing, referring to the actor’s movie.

Wong scrunches his eyebrows but sings along anyway, “Saves the bus, saves the bus.”

“And then Keanu Reeves saves the bus. . . And then . . . he dies?”

“That's all I got,” Wong shook his head.

“Does he die? I don't know,” 

“Okay. Maybe she's just hungry.”

▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎

"H-hungwi, Strange...." You hiccuped. Slamming his hands on his desk, Stephen ruffled his already messy hair in frustration. How much could a kid possibly eat?! He swore you ate more than he did. Noting the way you watched him with wide, fearful eyes and the way your bottom lip trembled like a kicked puppy, Stephen sighed once more. He couldn't cook to save his life.

No matter what you did, he could never seem to fully gain Stephen's attention. You were lonely. You missed going on walks in the park, playing, and much more. The only thing you really learned through your stay with the older male was to be quiet and read. Your reading level was high for your age. It was the only thing Stephen praised you for. He even gifted you some books when you ran out of materials to read. Sitting on the couch, you brooded. You were hungry. The grumbling emitting from your stomach told you so. Maybe you could figure out how to cook for yourself. If only Wong was around more to teach you… you couldn't deny how horribly lonely you felt without him this Sanctum.

“Alright, kid, I got you a happy meal.” Stephen walked in the living room to find Cloak patting your back, trying to cheer you up after Stephen snapped at you. 

Cloak noticed Stephen and shook its head disapprovingly. He could almost feel the piece of garment glaring at him for upsetting you.

Stephen sauntered towards you and sat on the coffee table, he inwardly smiled, finding the little pout you got very cute. He opened the box and pulled a pink llama toy and shook it in front of you.

You crossed your arms and turned your little body away from him. You heard him sigh, he was trying to maintain his patience this time, not wanting to upset you or make you cry, “What do you want? You said you’re hungry, so I got you chicken nuggets.”

“I want to go outside. To the park.” 

“Outside?” Stephen nodded, “Okay, will you eat if we go outside?” 

You quietly nodded your head, still refusing to look at the man.

“Alright, let’s go.”

▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎

Stephen takes you to the park, carrying the box of happy meal on the left, your hand on the right. Cloak held your hand as well, leaving you in between it and Stephen. It was hard not to receive weird looks each time someone walks past, it’s not everyday they see the Cloak of Levitation.

Instead of walking, you were skipping and Stephen somehow found it fascinating how your mood changed completely—almost as if you forgot that he even snapped at you. As you came closer towards the playground, you gasped, seeing Peter in his Spider-man suit in the distance surrounded by other kids. 

You pulled your hands away and attempted to run from Stephen but he caught you before you could go, “Hey, Hey. Where do you think you’re going?”

“It’s Peter! I have to go!” You pull your hand but Stephen refuses to let go.

“You have to eat first, that’s the deal!” Stephen said firmly, however, your lips began to quiver again.

“I want to go now!” You replied to him and stomped your feet. 

Stephen clenched his teeth, “Alright fine! But don’t complain if the nuggets get cold.” 

He lets go of your arm and you immediately run towards Spider-man, screaming his made-up name instead of the real one. Cloak hung itself on Stephen’s shoulders now that you’re gone to play. Peter, knowing your voice, he noticed you instantly and greeted you.

“Hey kiddo! Long time no see!” Peter crouched down and performed the handshake that he taught you.  Stephen watched at how Peter interacted with you and kind of felt envious at how easy he makes it seem like. He threw his head back and sighed heavily. Maybe he should try and learn how to make balloon animals?

“Hey Stephen!” Peter approached him and took the seat next to him.

Stephen straightened up, “Hey Kid.” 

“Still not getting along that well with (Y/N)?” Peter asked, “You know, maybe you should get her to meet Morgan, they’re the same age.”

Stephen shrugged, “I’m not really close with Pepper.” 

“I am, well. . . sort of.” 

“How do you do it?” Stephen asked the younger lad.

“Do what?”

“Being so great with kids?” 

Peter played with his thumb, thinking whether it was appropriate to say what he thinks, “Well. . . I guess it’s because I’m not serious all the time?” 

“I am not serious all the time.” Stephen defensively replied. 

“Have you played house with her?”

“No.”

“Tea Party? Dolls?” 

“No and no.”

“See! You need to adjust to her interests as well, not just her adjusting to yours.” Peter advised and it got Stephen thinking. . . he does barely spend time with you when at home. You kind of just do your own separate thing, “You need to make as many good memories with her to remember you by.” 

“I guess you’re right.” Stephen shrugged.

“I am right.” Peter commented. Stephen looked to the direction of the playground to look for you and when he couldn’t see any sign of you, he started to panic. Stephen got up suddenly, startling Peter, “What? What’s wrong?”

“(Y/N). . . where did you last leave her?” Stephen asked, “I can’t see her.”

“I left her by the slide—” Peter couldn’t finish his sentence since Stephen already ran towards the playground shouting your name. Peter then webbed himself up on a gazebo for a wider view on the vicinity.

“(Y/N)!!” Stephen shouted, “Excuse me, have you seen a little girl with dark hair? Carrying a pink llama toy?” He asked one of the mothers nearby, who shook her head. Stephen brushed his hair back, he could feel the pounding of his heart, inside his head.

He felt a mix of emotions right now, he didn’t know whether to get angry first or panic, clearly listening to him was least of your concerns.

“(Y/N)!!” Peter shouted from above the gazebo.

Stephen ran into the wooded area close to the playground, “(Y/N)!!”

“DADDY!!” You shrieked when you heard Stephen’s voice.

“(Y/N)?! Stay put!! I’m coming to get you.” Stephen followed the sound of your crying. 

“Stephen! She fell in the small ditch.” Peter yelled out as he swung through the trees, “I’ll get her!” Peter went ahead to grab you out. Stephen followed shortly after and when Peter set you down on the ground, you immediately fell into the comfort of Stephen’s arms. 

“Daddy!!!” 

“Thanks Peter—(Y/N) are you okay? Are you hurt?” Stephen held your small head in his hands, examining for any cuts or abrasions. He wiped your tears away when he found none and kissed your forehead as the sense of relief splashed over him like cold water, “How did you end up there?”

“I was helping chase another kid’s ball.” You looked down, expecting him to get angry at you, “I’m sorry for making you worry.”

“It’s okay, Daddy’s not mad—just don’t get out of my sight without letting me know first okay?” Stephen couldn’t help but smile, it was the first time you’d ever called him that. 

You sniffled and nodded your head.

“That’s my girl.” Stephen chuckled and lightly pinched your nose, “Let’s go home. Peter, you want to join us for dinner?” 

“Wait, are you serious?” Peter asked excitedly, “Sure!”

▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎

“Alright butterfly, time to go to sleep.” Stephen called you into bed and you obediently stopped playing with dolls with Cloak, to run into Stephen’s bed in your pyjamas. 

“Can you tell me a bedtime story Daddy?” You asked as you scoot inside the thick blanket. 

Stephen placed his arms around you, bringing you in closer to him, “A bedtime story?” 

“Yes, please.”

“Um. . . okay,” Stephen cleared his throat, “The Big Bad Wolf blew down the Granny's house. . . and uh. . . ate the Goldilocks and then there was something about the porridge. The end. Good night.” 

Stephen turned to look at you and chuckled, “What? What’s with that face?” 

“A bedtime story is supposed to make you feel peaceful. I’ll show you~”

Stephen sighed, “Fine. Fine. I'm going to listen to this one time, then that's it. Then you go to sleep. Do you understand me?”

“Mhm!” You nodded, “Once upon a time there was a princess and she had a lot of beautiful dresses. She had a pink dress, a red dress, a blue dress, a green dress, a purple dress, an orange dress, a yellow dress—”

“I get it, I get it—A lot of dresses, a lot of colours. So what?” Stephen urged you to continue and you scowled at him.

“So each dress had a secret power. The pink dress, which had pink sparkles all over it, could make her fly. And the blue dress, which had blue sparkles all over it, could make her tiny. And the green dress which had green sparkles all over it, could make her sleep.” You smiled and looked up at Stephen who seemed to have dosed off while you took the time to tell him a bedtime story. 

“Cloaky!” You whispered and the cloak went over to your assistance, “Can you please turn off the lamp?” The cloak gave you a salute and flew towards the lamp on Stephen’s side as you nestled yourself in his arm to prepared to sleep.

TAGS: @elicheel @sherlux @stanny-uwu @frostandflamesfanfic @justsomecreaturewandering @soiopathicdetectivekid @fan-of-fic @gaitwae @shit-post-things @seasonofthenerd @patbrdac @evelynrosestuff @singhfae @severuined @mischiefmanaged71 @farfromjustordinary @spideyyhoe @lovecleastrange @samisubi @mochuchi @faithinhome @ohchoices @junkertown-princess @sigyncevans @giorgiblog17 @dragonqueen89 @the-royal-petals @hiddlechive @peachypie97 @ghost-lantern @sleutherclaw @the-mouse27 @zelspktr @bobateadaydreams @lykaonimagines @valbensherstep @strangeobsessed @calsjack @strangeions @crowleyspett @goldencherriess @jyessaminereads @fandom-lover-4 @tis-vereon @rbymoon @winsteria @allie131313

[obsidiancreates]

Out Of The Shadows and Into The Neon (Part 4)

(I don't know how 5 year olds talk. When I was five I was a verbose little shit who talked like I was 10 and regularly blew adults away with my articulate nature so I can't even use myself as a reference. Apologies if it's unrealistic.)

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"Unc'a Casey Unc'a Casey!" Mikey runs as fast as his little 5 year old legs will carry him. "Did you bring my favorite?"

Casey Jr looks around the lair and, from the bottom of the pile of boxes, produces one small pizza. "Don't tell your dad," he whispers, passing the monstrosity of jelly beans, anchovies, cheese, garlic, and whatever else he could interpret from the child's messy handwritten note.

Mikey squeals happily and takes the box, and before Casey Jr can straighten back up from the crouch Mikey hops up and gives his uncle a kiss on the cheek. He runs away giggling, holding the box high above his head!

"Why does Mikey get extra?"

"Ah!" Casey startles, almost dropping the boxes as he whirls around and comes face-to-face (well, face to wall on his part and face to knee on the child's) with a wide-eyed Donnie Jr.

"Because his makes you guys sick, remember?" Casey says, setting the boxes on the kitchen counter. "You won't tell your dads I brought it, right?"

"Maaaaybe." Donnie grins, the gap from his recently lost tooth making the impish nature of the grin even more adorable. "Dad said I can't have any more soda today."

Casey Jr scans the kitchen and listens for any signs of being watched. He slinks over to the fridge and carefully opens it, pulling out a bottle of soda. He pours half of it into a cup with a lid, and keeps the other half in his hands. "You're as devious as your dad."

"Thank you!" Donnie chirps, both for the soda and the 'compliment'. He walks away happily sipping.

"I'm gonna tell."

Casey's shoulders slump. He turns around and, yes, there he is. Raph Jr stands behind him, arms crossed and frowning with narrowed eyes, every bit the tiny imitation of his father. Well, minus the spikes and the size.

"Okay, okay. What do you want now?"

"Mikey took my markers."

"How about I buy you some new ones for my next visit?"

"I want the big pack. With lots of colors!"

"The biggest one I can find."

The frown turns into a smile. "Thank you!"

When Raph leaves Casey finally turns to dish up the pizza-

And is met with Leo Jr on the countertop, a piece in his hand and a bite already taken out. He freezes, looking at his uncle with wide eyes.

"Don't tell your dad about my giving in to your brothers, and we're even," Casey whispers.

Leo nods seriously and finishes off his slice. He carefully hops down onto a stool, and then onto the floor, and runs away.

Casey sighs. Finally. He gets out the plates and-

"So, Mr Fun Uncle is keeping secrets!" Splinter walks over with a smug chuckle. "My silence does not come cheap."

"How about when I pick up Raph's markers, I get you some more hair ties?"

"And fabric softener!"

"Deal."

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"I don't know what your dad is talking about," Cass says, swirling the wine in her glass. "Five is more than old enough to begin training!"

"Dad says he doesn't want us growing up like weapons," Raph grumbles, kicking his toy truck. "But we're not babies!"

"You aren't. I remember when you were babies, it was adorable but disgusting! Here." Cass sets her glass aside. "Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello! Gather up!"

The other three tots come over, Mikey literally bouncing through the play room and Leo walking calmly but curiously as Donnie covers his head. Just in case.

"Your four are now official Brownie Clan members!" She slaps a stick onto each of their tiny round plastrons. The sticker is bigger than their fists. "Which means you are now officially allowed to begin training with me!"

"Um, aren't the Brownies girls?" Donnie picks at the sticker.

"Gender is a construct! Anyone can join our organization, as long as they understand that the world domination plans could be reinstated at any moment!"

"Wait, really?" Leo gapes at her. "But Daddy says-"

"I help fight bad guys, yes! But honestly if things keep going the way that are in politics I'm going to lose it, so."

All four tots nods solemnly, even though they have no clue what she means.

"Now, to the Brownie Clan Headquarters!"

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"Awww, that's nice." Raphie shows the note to his brothers. "Cass took the boys out to make some friends!"

Leon snatches the letter and reads it over himself, mouth pinched. "Our Cass? The one who treats Childhood Innocence like a battle opponent?"

"She's doing better!" Angelo scolds, grabbing the note to read himself. "Awww, she's even going to show them some education stuff! That's great, you know, I've been worrying about being able to teach them enough, even with Dee's lesson plans-"

"Give that to me now." Donald grabs it away and scans it. "Hmm. She didn't say where they're going."

"She wouldn't put them in danger, though, we know this." Raphie begins picking up the toys from around the playroom. "Besides! She left her wine here, so we know she's putting away the Wine Aunt persona for now!"

"Mmm, true..."

"Wait." Leon holds his arms out. "If she's not using the Wine Aunt persona right now, which one is she using? Because as far as I'm aware she's only got two, Wine Aunt and Badass Warrior."

"Not quite true, there's also-" Donald's face falls. "Oh god."

"What, what am I- oh. Oh, no." Angelo shakes his head.

"What? What's Raph missing?"

"Raphie, buddy. besides Aunt and Warrior, what else does Cass do in her free time?"

"Uh... run a baked goods business? ... Oh, oh, no, she wouldn't!"

His brothers all give him A Look.

"Okay, she totally would," he admits. He pulls out his phone. "April? Yeah, we're coming to pick you up in the tank. Yeah, we're pretty sure Cassandra took the boys to The Brownie Clan. Of course we're gonna scold her, that's why I called you! Tell Barry we're picking him up too just in case, we know how vicious those little girls can get."

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"Why are we in the beginner class?" Raph whines, sloppily copying Cass's movements as she goes through the katas.

"Because you're beginners!" Cass snaps without any fire, just Intense Aunt-ly Love. "Have you ever been a ninja, Raph?"

"We sneak snacks all the time," Mikey announces loudly. His brothers all stare in betrayal, and he laughs and tucks his head into his shell.

"And I'm proud of you for your skill in stealth," Cass says, "But this is different! A ninja is an assassin, a warrior of just as much ferocity and cunning as they are of stealth and precision! Once you master these skills, then you may begin adding in as much chaotic brute force as you wish!"

"I'm gonna be just like Dad," Raph declares, abandoning the katas to pretend to stab at enemies with imaginary sai. "I'm gonna be big and strong and smash every bad guy I see! And I'll be so good at it they'll never hit my brothers!"

"Well I'm gonna be the coolest ninja ever!" Mikey makes a commendable attempt at a high kick, still smiling even as he falls onto his butt. "I'm gonna do all the coolest flips and I'm gonna dance and fight at the same time because I'm just that good!"

"I'm gonna build stuff," Donnie declares, grinning. "Just like my dad! But I'm gonna build stuff like-like go-karts and um, and wings! I'm gonna make all of us cool wings!" He stops his forms to hold his arms around and run around the room in a circle, much to the annoyance (and for some, delight) of the newly-joined Brownie Scouts.

Mikey gasps, eyes wide and brimming with awe as he watches his brother. "Like my superhero I drew!"

"Yeah!"

"Well I'm gonna be the best ninja ever," Leo says firmly, slowly copying Cass's movements as precisely as he can. "I'm gonna get even better than Dad, so when he stops being a ninja like grandpa he knows everyone will be okay and we'll always be safe."

"All very admirable goals. The passion your four have reminds me of myself at your age," Cass sniffles, wiping some proud tears from her eyes. Then she stomps her foot. "But you won't be able to do any of that if you don't pay attention!"

Mikey squeaks and scrambles back into position. Donnie snaps his arms back to his side and hurries back into his spot, trying for a nervous smile at his aunt to get out of the Imagined Trouble. Raph rolls his little eyes, something he picked up from watch his dad and Leon, or sometimes Donald and, well, anyone. But mostly Leon. But he gets back into position too.

"You four have some of the finest warriors I've ever known in your family," Cass says in a softer voice. "But they became warriors like that through terrible trials. They're hoping you never have to say the same."

"But they beat the really bad guys," Donnie says, wobbling a little but managing to finish the movement. "And we met Hypno once, when Auntie April took us to the park! He's a dad now too!"

"Yeah! All he did the whole time was argue with the little worm guy about if they should get ice cream or not after!"

"He's still dangerous," Cass warns. "Yes, he's a big softie, but underestimating your opponent is always a mistake! You need to stay focused, serious, and always be aware of your-!"

"Hey Cass?" comes a drawling overly casual voice. Cass freezes up, a bead of sweat rolling down her temple.

"... Surroundings."

"I told you she wouldn't have them sparring!" Angelo runs over and scoops Mikey up. "Let me see you- quit squirming! If you keep squirming I'm handing you over to Dr. Tickles MD!"

"Not Dr Tickles!" Mikey wails like it's the world's worst fate.

"Cass," Leon drawls again, sauntering over as Brownie Initiates scramble out of the way. "What'd we say about training the boys?"

Cass's mouth remains shut tight as Leon gives her his most terrifying laid-back smile.

"Not until they're old enough to reach chapter books. Remember?"

"But that's not fair," Donnie pipes up as he's lifted up by his own dad. "I can read chapter books already! And-and Mikey might not be able to until he's old!"

"Hey!"

"You have dys- dysle-"

"Then you have to wait until you can pronounce 'dyslexia'," Donald decides, examining his son for any hint of actual contact training. "And you know Uncle Leon isn't being literal, he means around eight to ten years of age."

"But we wanna be ninjas now!" Raph whines, kicking and waving his arms in the start of a tantrum as Raphie scoops him up with one hand. "We're big kids, we wanna be ninjas! We can sneak around and-and I'm already way tougher than human kids my age!"

Leo looks up at his dad. "We wanna be like you," he says, eyes watering and lip wobbling. "You guys are heroes."

Leon looks down, and his expression softens. He kneels down and sighs. "I know, kiddo." He picks Leo up and puts him on his shoulder, nodding at April and Draxum to continue the lecture at Cass. April cracks her neck and Draxum puts on his best Protective Grandpa posture as they drag Cass to the corner of the classroom.

"Why can't we?" Leo asks, hugging his dad's head. "I wanna protect you. I get scared when you go fight."

"Hey, I know how it feels." Leon looks at his brothers as they carry their own sons to the Turtle Tank. "I still can't watch them go out to fights without me without having some scary thoughts. But you're just a kid, Leo."

"So were you. Papa said so."

"He wasn't actually training us back then, though. We didn't start taking it seriously until we were teens."

"I don't wanna wait that long!"

"You won't, trust me. But you'll still wait a little longer. Being a kid is good, Leo. Don't rush to grow up. You'll wish you'd been one longer once you grow up."

"... Fine." Leo leans against his dad's head. "But don't be mad at Auntie Cass."

"We're not mad. We're just reminding her."

"Auntie April isn't gonna kick her butt?"

"No, no she's not."

"And Papa Barry isn't gonna make her into goo?"

"Not on my watch."

"... Okay."

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

Donnie sticks his tongue out as he draws.

"I know we should be training by now!" Raph grumps, eyes still puffy from his tantrum on the way home. "Dad is wrong!"

"But-but our dads know everything," Mikey says, sniffling a little himself. Once Raph had started scream-crying, Mikey had started crying, which had set Donnie off, which had overwhelmed Leo and set him off...

"Well, not this," Raph pouts.

"Ha!" Donnie sits up, proud of himself. "Look!"

His brothers gather around him and stare at the drawings in awe.

They're messy and wobbly and very much drawn by a child, but they're also clear enough: they're little diagrams of the katas Cass had shown them.

"You remember them?" Leo whispers, looking at his brother.

Donnie nods, eyes closed with pride. "I'm the smartest, so I remembered them!"

"But-but what if we get in trouble?" Mikey whispers, looking around.

"They won't know!" Donnie slaps the drawings. "We can hide these! Um- there!" Donnie slips the drawings in a small crack between the short bookshelf and the wall. "Now they're a secret!"

Raph looks at Leo. "You won't tell, right?" He leans closer to his brother. "You wanna be a ninja too."

Leo nods. "But we gotta be sneaky," he reminds them. "Only when our dads are gone! And-and when Papa is too! Both of them! And Auntie April! Just when Auntie Cass or Uncle Casey are here!"

"Unc'a," Mikey corrects. Raph rolls his eyes at him.

"Only you still say 'Unc'a'."

"It's cuter! You get away with more."

"Ooooh." Raph's eyes widen. "That's smart! You're the smart one now!"

"Yay!"

"Hey!"

Leo sneaks one of the drawings back out as his brothers wrestle.

Being a kid is fun.

So... imagine how much fun being a ninja kid will be!

[huggybug]

the interview with quinn’s son was so cute!!! what do you think it would be like when jack and luke have kids and allllll the cousins are at the all star game? jack recreating his breakaway challenge with his own kid?? I’d imagine quinn’s son is old enough to be the little ring leader and is trying to stop his cousins from derailing the whole skills comp while jack and luke’s kids are just wreaking havoc (just like their fathers lmao) 😭😭 and ofc it’s just the dads on the ice to look after them so there’s a lot of “oh shit is that one of the kids we brought” “HEY WHATSYOURNAME HUGHES GET BACK TO THE BENCH RIGHT NOW” also I’m just imagining all the bro’s friends having to help babysit like z and cole and brady all being assigned a kid to watch bc there’s so many and the mamas are just enjoying watching their partners suffer a little and drinking margs in the box w queen ellen

okok i told myself i wasn’t going to write a whole lot for this but… i got a little carried away

also i was gonna wait and put this with dilf day but i wanna post it now so i’m just gonna tag it as dilf day so let’s ignore that it’s sunday today and i’m posting ok? ok.

kinda part one

they’d be like ‘uh where do you think you’re going??’ when the moms all leave with ellen

i feel like luke would be freaking out because he’s still maybe new to the whole dad thing and maybe it’s also his first asg so it’s just making him nervous

there’s gotta be like at least 6 or 7 kids between the three of them

quinn probably has 3 and then jack maybe 2 or 3 also and luke either 1 or 2 but luke’s are super young still

jack’s breakaway challenge would quite literally steal the show like it already was a big deal but if it was with his kid??? unimaginable also bonus points if he somehow included him (3 generations of hughes boys!!! the media would go wild)

quinn’s kids would be ranging from 12-7 maybe like around that age so they’d try to keep their younger cousins in line but it’s also so exciting to be down on the ice with their dad!! so they get a little wild too

also aside from being with their dad, obviously their uncles are there AND their bonus uncles (that’s what i call my aunts/uncles if i’m not actually related idk) so it’s just like the best day ever for them because the only time that rlly happens is the summer when everyone is together

you know how in the tkachuk blurbs (if you don’t you should rlly go read them) that brady’s kids are the wild children? yeah, that’s jacks kids

they’re not misbehaved… they’re just rambunctious

also ok maybe there’s just a ton of kids between all the players so before the game or maybe in between skills comps there’s time for the kids to go out and skate

so the boys all take one kid out obviously with their friends helping (maybe z, cole, matthew, brady, owen power, or matty beniers idk use ur imagination who u want to be there)

and during this skate, they’re just chasing all the kids around and the moms are up with ellen laughing at how stressed they all seem whenever they’re shown on the jumbotron

it’s a whole production when it’s time for them to get off the ice: jack and luke are probably like frantically trying to get their kids off the ice while z and cole stand there and they’re like ‘uh is that one of our kids or someone else’s??’

maybe z grabs a megaphone and just announces that all hughes children have to leave the ice

and then during quinn and luke’s comp ALL the cousins are screaming their heads off cheering for their dad or uncle, whoever it may be

the entire hughes family probably gets more screen time than anything else because the media is obsessed with them

and you already know the tiktok girlies are going crazy at them (and all the bonus uncles) with the kids and edits are being produced at record speed

i feel like z would be such a good uncle for jacks kids specifically! especially because they don’t get to see him lots since he lives so far and the ducks rarely come to nj although z does try to visit whenever he’s in new york

and going off that thought, the only redeemable thought about brady tkachuk in my mind is that he’d be really sweet with quinn’s kids but that’s all i’m saying (matthew would be like next level adorable with them because he’s just a rlly good dad)

idk if you saw but the kids (i don’t remember their dad) that went around the locker room and collected like 15 signed sticks? yeah that’d be all the hughes children

and maybe quinn’s oldest kid would just be obsessed with a player like for example nate mac and he’s just like star struck so quinn has to go talk to nate with him (and nate is a sweetheart and gives him a signed stick)

oh gosh and let’s just say this asg was in vegas, the kids would go absolutely crazy on the strip. only cause it’s fun! it’s vacation! but they love it. they go to sugar factory after the skills comp of course with the bonus uncles tagging along and it’s so chaotic the kids are just inhaling everything sugary in sight and then after they’re bouncing off the walls

z and cole chasing the kids through the hallways of the hotel. that’s all.

ellen would get all the brothers and wives and all the kids grouped together in the locker room for a group picture (and then another w the bonus uncles of course) and it would literally flood all social medias

OH MY WORD I HAVENT EVEN GOTTEN TO THE INTERVIEWS

okay they’d set up like a panel for the hughes brothers because duhhh need that media!!

i feel like the kids would just be moving at all times… like switching chairs or giggling at each other and the brothers are trying to focus and actually answer the questions so that they can leave faster but the kids are superrrr distracting

oh! and they’d ask the older kids who their favourite players are and then when they answered someone other than their dad or uncles, the reporters would like rip into the boys a bit but only playfully and they would just laugh it off

omg and maybe they’d do cute pictures with their kids like during the media day or they’d get them all for a group interview (maybe even with the moms as well) and they’d play a game like most likely to or something

ok this is much much longer than i originally intended but i could probably keep going so i’m just gonna end it here<3

and if i get a singular ask wanting more… i will absolutely oblige