#like that includes Piper too but DAMN that would suck

[4-lemurs-in-a-trench-coat]

Thinking of the absolute tragedy that is Leo and Jason

[queenjunothegreat]

Oookie dokie! Back for day two of trying to finish up these prompts! I've been blabbering about how much I love Dryssa recently, so I decided to put my money where my mouth is! It's not EXACTLY the prompt or story I would have picked to explore with them, but I still had fun, so I hope you do, too!

So, here is Ao3 Collection Day Thirteen: Enemies to Lovers

Drew struggled valiantly to keep her cheeks from turning scarlet, but she doubted she was doing all that well. “How… much of that did you hear?” Nyssa observed her for a moment, but Drew couldn’t help but notice that the usual hostility in her eyes was notably absent. Then, a little smile played at the corner of her lips. “I don’t think you really want me to answer that.” Drew sucked her teeth for a moment, her face pulling down in a scowl in an attempt to mask her embarrassment. “Interesting. In that case, please excuse me. I must abdicate the throne to Piper and prepare to live out my days as a hermit in the woods. With any luck, one of the wolves will eat me before winter falls.” Nyssa actually let out a loud, boisterous laugh before she clapped her hand to her mouth. Drew felt like her head was spinning. In the nearly two years that she’d known Nyssa, not once had she ever heard the other girl laugh, much less at something Drew had said. Her laugh was a bright and brassy sound, similar to a slightly out of tune trumpet, and Drew found herself absolutely enchanted by it. *** Drew and Nyssa mend burned bridges at a ball Ao3 Anniversary Collections Day thirteen: Enemies to Lovers

Drew’s gaze swept across the ballroom again, eyebrows furrowing in irritation. The ball had started nearly two hours ago, and all of the guests should have been here by now, including–

“She’s not gonna show up.”

Drew whirled around to see Piper grinning up at her. At twelve years old, Piper was mischievous and clever and too damn perceptive for her own damn good. She was also annoying. 

“What are you talking about?” Drew grit out, reminding herself that as a princess she was not allowed to chase down her little sister and throw her in the river. Not in front of all their guests at least. 

“I’m talking about Nys-sa,” Piper said, sing-songing the girl’s name. “Who else would I be talking about?”

“And what makes you think she’s not coming?”

“I asked Leo, duh,” Piper scoffed. “He said she told their dad she refused to go. Besides, even if she did show up, she’s not gonna talk to you. She hates you, remember?”

Drew felt a vein throb in her forehead at the reminder. For all her skills and attributes, Drew often failed at first impressions and Nyssa Barrera was a prime example of that. Their initial meeting had gone about as poorly as possible, and Nyssa had made every effort to ensure that Drew never got the chance to remove her foot from where she’d so thoroughly inserted it in her own mouth. “Shut up, you don’t know anything.”

“I know that you’re gonna die a lonely old hag because every time you fall in love you manage to run them off!”

Drew grit her teeth so hard the grinding sound rang loud in her ears. “I’m going to kill you when we’re done here,” she hissed. “I’m gonna strangle you and then I’m gonna hang out the front window of the highest tower so everyone will know what happens to annoying little brats.”

Piper didn’t seem remotely phased, she just grinned wider. “You can’t catch me,” she taunted. “You’re too old and slow and busy drooling over girls who don’t even like you.”

“Why don’t you go find your stupid little friends and play your stupid little games and get the hell away from me?” Drew suggested. “I’m pretty sure I saw Thalia, so Jason’s bound to be around here somewhere. I don’t know where Leo is and I don’t care. I hope he doesn't show up, just to make you miserable.”

“No, Leo’s here,” Piper informed her brightly, her grin curling up like a snake’s.

“Yeah? Where is he?”

“He’s standing right behind you with his sister.”

Drew felt all the blood rush out of her face and she once again spun around on her heel. If she kept this up, she was going to ruin the intricate hairstyle she’d been given. 

Sure enough, Leo Valdez was standing right in front of her, grinning just the same as Piper. “Hiya, Drew.”

“Leo, why don’t you and Piper go find something to do?” Nyssa suggested, her voice even and cold as frozen glass. “Something away from here?”

“Can do,” Leo agreed easily. “Come on, Pipes. Hero Boy is stuck talking to Octavian and I think he’s gonna die if we don’t save him.”

“Coming!” Piper chirped, and within a moment, they’d both disappeared into the crowd.

That just left Drew and Nyssa standing together in silence.

Drew struggled valiantly to keep her cheeks from turning scarlet, but she doubted she was doing all that well. “How… much of that did you hear?”

Nyssa observed her for a moment, but Drew couldn’t help but notice that the usual hostility in her eyes was notably absent. Then, a little smile played at the corner of her lips. “I don’t think you really want me to answer that.”

Drew sucked her teeth for a moment, her face pulling down in a scowl in an attempt to mask her embarrassment. “Interesting. In that case, please excuse me. I must abdicate the throne to Piper and prepare to live out my days as a hermit in the woods. With any luck, one of the wolves will eat me before winter falls.”

Nyssa actually let out a loud, boisterous laugh before she clapped her hand to her mouth. Drew felt like her head was spinning. In the nearly two years that she’d known Nyssa, not once had she ever heard the other girl laugh, much less at something Drew had said. Her laugh was a bright and brassy sound, similar to a slightly out of tune trumpet, and Drew found herself absolutely enchanted by it, even if she felt her cheeks turn a shade darker. 

“I must say, I’m surprised,” Nyssa finally commented. “The great Drew Tanaka felled by some meaningless taunts by her own sister? I thought you were too quick for something like that.”

“It wasn’t her taunts that did me in, it was knowing her audience,” Drew admitted, refusing to look Nyssa in the eye. 

Nyssa was quiet for a moment before she finally said, “Well, if it makes you feel any better, her taunts will bring you no quarrel from me.”

Drew stiffened before she squinted at Nyssa suspiciously. “Really>’

“Really,” Nyssa confirmed.

“Well. That’s– That’s good, I suppose,” Drew said haltingly. “I doubt it would do either of us much good to have you hate me more than you already do.”

Nyssa chewed her bottom lip for a moment. “I suppose you’re not wrong about that.”

Drew refrained from staring down at her toes or fleeing the conversation to go wail about the injustices of romance into her pillow like a banshee. Instead, she looked around the room again at all the people laughing and dancing together. At all the dresses shimmering in the light and swishing around with every twirl. Then she glanced back at Nyssa. She wore a mix of orange and red like the rest of her family, and the color contrasted her dark hair and eyes in a way that made Drew’s heart sing. Drew swallowed thickly. She supposed there wouldn’t be a better time to pluck up her courage than right now, seeing as she had so little to lose. It’s not like things could get any worse between them, at any rate.

“Ask me to dance,” Drew said, trying to sound demanding instead of desperate.

Nyssa actually looked around to see if anyone had approached them before she furrowed her brows at Drew. “Are you talking to me?”

“Yes, obviously. Who else would I be talking to?” Drew snapped. Then Nyssa arched her eyebrows and Drew darted her gaze away. “Please?”

Nyssa hummed softly, and Drew really thought she’d be left alone there, waiting for an invitation to dance that would never come. But then a big, calloused hand was offered to her, palm up, and Drew lifted her head to see Nyssa smiling at her, cheeks a shade or two darker than before. “Drew Tanaka, may I have this dance?”

Drew thought for a second that she’d do something embarrassing like cry or burst into song, but instead she smiled, and took the hand. “Gladly.”

[phoebehalliwell]

what are your thoughts on thruples? cause I keep thinking about Paige/Henry/Coop, especially with Henry and Coop's epic bromance in the comics

ooh that could be very interesting. personally, i'm game for throuples (tho i will say i Hate the word throuple i think it sounds gross just like you know moist or something so i usually just say "poly relationship") but i do kind have beef when it's like. like you know the meme "it doesn't have to be like this [blank] has two hands"? funny meme i do like it but i hate when a poly relationship is just kinda an excuse to merge two couples rather than something that like emerges as distinct relationships between all three parties. like bella edward and jacob as a couple like. shure because bella loves edward and bella loves jacob but jacob and edward really don't like have anything there it's more like roommates who share a girlfriend rather than a poly relationship. one piece of media that i think really did it well was siren on freeform which i highly recommend the first two seasons it kinda goes off the rails s3 and then was cancelled but the first two season it really spends time fleshing out all aspects of the relationships between ben, ryn, & maddie and it also actually goes canon which is lit 🤙🤙

but basically. if i were to do a paige/henry/coop, i think i would start with specifically a paige/coop bromance introduce henry into the mix & let it blossom from there so like. as previously stated. i think each leg of the triangle here needs to be strong n steady on its own so um underneath the cut is i believe a record breaking 6.6k

rip richard but we'll say richard also died in this au rip. and then, of course, kyle also died. idk if he's a whitelighter or not but the point is paige has this weight on her chest like god i can't save these people i can't save the people i love ouch everything hurts

& that's when coop shows up!

and we'll have his introduction plot be a fusion of heartbreak city and the magic hour where coop's got this relationship and it's perfect they're so in love but there's this demonic interference and it's gonna kill one or both of them so he busts down the charmed ones' door like hi you guys are protectors of the innocent right well i have some innocents in dire need of protection

to which this duty gets turfed to paige because piper idk has work and phoebe has a date and phoebe's like i can cancel it to help! and coop's like what no the whole reason i'm here is love go go find love paige can totally handle this

and paige is like :| because she really doesn't want this gig and coop's explaining it all to her how this love is going to be broken up by a magical death unless they stop it and paige is like okay look here coop let's not get our expectations up to high because in my experience almost all relationships end in a magical death and coop’s like !!!

and immediately does like a cupid reading on her and paige is trying to bat him away like ew no i do not need any love guru-ing right now okay let’s just fix your thing and then you can leave okay

and coop’s like no don’t you see? this is fate, the fact that it’s you and me on this, it means i’m meant to be here, i’m meant to help you find love

and paige is like uh no it means piper’s a mother of two and phoebe’s on a date while i am the tragic spinstress of magic school (which is still under her charge just bc it is we didn’t abandon it)

and coop’s like nope. it’s fate. and paige rolls her eyes and coop’s like come on, like you don’t believe in fate and paige is like actually i don’t! and coop just smiles at her bc he knows she’s lying and paige knows she knows he’s lying and she tries to sneer at him but it’s just insanely half hearted bc to be honest her heart kinda skipped a beat with that smile but no

absolutely not

dude, all she gets is cursed love, and now a cupid?

she can’t go through all that she can’t fight for love only to watch him die no she’s gonna ignore it he’s not that cute anyways oh fuck he totally is but whatever!!! doesn’t matter

so blah blah blah paige and coop save the day including one moment where idk there’s an explosion or something they have to dodge something hide for attackers something where they get thrown up against a wall faces inches apart from each other breathing heavy undeniably a moment which they both Immediately break because wooooah that is a little too much chemistry!! better act like that never happened

and you know next episode or whatever coop’s like okay let’s find you love!! and paige is like not now i’m at work and coop’s like in an alleyway and paige is like i need to look after my charge and then after that i need to grade papers and after that i need to order cauldrons and after that-

and coop’s like find love?

and paige is like no. i need to.... but um she forgot the rest of her list

and coop’s like find love excellent sounds great!

and paige is like anyone ever tell you you’re really annoying and coop’s like nope i’m a cupid :0)

and blah blah blah they’re arguing and something something w paige’s charge and paige is like i gotta go talk to him but coop holds her back because wait who’s that approaching him and paige is like fuck that must be his parole officer bc idk he’s doing something that is obviously breaking parole and paige is like aaaaaaa what do we do and then it’s a henry face reveal and both paige and coop are like woah.

but then paige is storming off trying to like try to fight henry and henry’s like what the fuck is this?? and coop’s running up like hi i’m also here and speed’s like i-cannot stress this enough-do not know any of these people and coop’s like you don’t know us yet and paige is like you can’t do this speed’s a good kid and speed’s like yeah!!

and henry’s like he was so very obviously breaking parole and paige is like he’s a kid and henry’s like a kid who’s been to juvie!! twice!!! and who should know the damn rules by now

and paige is like look something something clever talk bargaining whatever puts something of her own at stake and henry’s like you’re really gonna risk it all on this kid and paige is like yes. he’s destined for greatness. and speed is like yeah!! and henry’s like fine. whatever. but when the other shoe drops, you know like i’m gonna cash in whatever wager paige made here

& he leaves

and speed’s like thanks also who are you and idk we get a paige monologue something full of love and spirit and coop’s also there still and speed’s listening to this monologue kinda like um okay bc honestly? just met her five minutes ago this is kind of a lot but coop’s listening to this monologue like wow😍

so idk speed leaves and coop’s like hey so do you pick a fight with all the guy’s you find attractive and paige is like what

and coop’s like well i’m just saying you know with richard with kyle with me and now with henry i’m kinda sensing a pattern there

and paige is like did you just include yourself on that list and coop’s like i mean yeah duh

and paige kinda wants to argue back but her blush is giving her away so it’s best just to change the subject so what you think i should be going for the parole officer?

and coop’s like yes! didn’t you feel it there was a spark there passion energy something that with the help of yours truly can easily turn into love and paige is like yeah no. absolutely not.

and coop’s like come on why not he was hot and paige is like yeah well if he’s so hot why don’t you date him and coop pauses like hmm like genuinely consider and paige is like don’t do that

and coop’s like why not and paige is torn between don’t date him because i actually did feel that spark and i do kinda like him and also don’t date him because if you’re gonna date anyone it should be me but both those are too embarrassing to say out loud to her cupid so instead she just says conflict of interest

and we flash forward to later idk when the point is speed is doing graffiti on public property but not just like stupid pointing a spray can at something la la la like proper graffiti like an artform but as it is unfortunately public property that is Illegal so it breaks parole

so idk henry’s there and busts him and paige senses speed’s in trouble so she shows up and henry’s like good you’re here. i’m not actually gonna cash in the thing that you wagered because that’d be unfair, because i know the kid, i know that he always let’s you down and speed’s like hey man

but paige is looking up at the wall and she’s like don’t you get it and henry’s like ...no and paige is like it’s art. it’s a release, it’s a coping mechanism and speed’s like idk that’s all sounding a little bit pretentious for a bit of graffiti and paige is like you can’t arrest him for this and henry’s like it’s literally illegal. & i already let him walk once what part of this aren’t you getting

and then there’s like a. idk cop radio thing i don’t know how police work that’s talking about how whatever gang speed used to run with just robbed some place but they’re hot on their tail bc their getaway driver sucks and henry’s looking at speed bc speed Is the getaway driver hence the name and henry’s like how come you aren’t driving that car huh

and speed just shrugs and henry’s like no how come you’re not driving that car what you swap out one crime for another you’re getting busted either way and speed like shrugs 

and paige is like he’s creating art instead and henry’s like did they approach you to drive the getaway car and speed shrugs and henry’s did they approach you to drive the getaway car and speeds like yes man they did i said no and henry looks up at the art

and it’s some super nail on the head craving freedom thing a bird breaking free from a cage type shit and it’s gorgeous

and henry looks at paige like what are you, huh

and paige is like freelance guardian angel

and henry just uncuffs speed and speed’s like what are you doing and henry’s like go. next time you do this find a wall that isn’t public property

and speed can’t help it he kinda smiles n runs off and henry just looks at paige bc what the hell has this girl gotten into him bc normally he’s just got such a concrete shell but she’s smiling at him like he just made the right choice and he’s really gotta fight the urge to smile back. what the fuck

so he says something stupid and leaves

and later paige is doing something when boom coop is here invading her personal bubble bc that’s become their new mode of communication is there are one thousand empty chairs and coop is seated in one paige will walk over and sit on that same chair that’s how they operate bc again there’s this sense of longing for one another and they both know they can’t go for it so instead they just opt for this intense intimacy passed off as friendship

and paige is like met the parole officer again and coop’s like oh henry mitchell? and paige is like how do u know his full name and coop’s like did my research<3 and they’re talking blah blah blah idk and it’s both how to land a date with this guy and also heavy flirting at the same time. and then like phoebe walks into the room and they snap apart like magnets with the same polarity i think?? been a while since the fifth grade and their language just becomes so much more stifled

to which phoebe is vaguely aware and this is a change but we as the audience are super aware it’s a change meaning that their constant flirty banter is a choice on both parts they are both very consciously doing this

and then i don’t know there’s something bigger going on in the main plot which has been building and the main villain needs something magical from each type of being so a cupid’s next on the grocery list so idk coop is either out minding his own business getting coffee or he’s out on reconnaissance on henry when all of a sudden he’s attacked!! by idk an arrow seems convenient honestly we should do a bow and arrow an homage to in original cupid iconography

and henry’s in proximity and sees this and idk maybe they’re somewhere where there aren’t that many people just so you know u can be attacked by a bow and arrow and henry’s like what the fuck!??!?! running over to help him and he vague recognizes him as the angel’s friend but is mainly like holy shit did you just get shot with a bow and arrow and henry’s like i’ll call an ambulance i’ll drive u to the hospital

and coop’s like no no uhh can’t go with the whole i am actually a magical being i exist in no databases and also have no money so instead goes with the i have no health insurance and henry’s like hmm. fuck.

so the next thing you know coop’s on henry’s couch and henry’s doing rudimentary first aid and coop’s really trying to hobble away because if he can just get to paige she can heal this because she unlocked that power in like s5 or s6 in a more natural progression but henry’s not letting him leave because dude you have an arrow in your chest

and now we’re doing the hurt comfort schtick with the meaningful glances and also coop is shirtless bc well you know Arrow In Chest and he’s also in henry’s apartment which is offering a very weird sense of intimacy

and there’s also this kind of banter going because coop’s like no i’m fine i can leave this is fine and henry’s like dude. please let me at least try to help you and after that you can walk right out of here and go repuncture your lung. but just. while you’re. let me do what i can

and coop’s like okay because like. well i mean a) gotta keep up appearances like he’s mortal and b) henry’s kinda fine so sure he can play doctor what’s the worse that can happen

and henry’s like okay we gotta get this arrow out of you so um. any ideas on how to do that? and coops like yeah break off the feathered part and then pull the rest through

and henry’s just like yeah? you have experience with this? and coop’s like once or twice and henry’s like what do you do?

and coop’s like ... relationship therapist

and henry’s like are relationship therapists frequently attacked by archers and coop’s like yeah more often than you’d think 

and henry removed the arrow and the actual point stabby bit of the arrow is shaped like a heart just for funsies bc it’s for cupids but henry’s looking at this like relationship therapist hunting arrow??

anyways. henry is pressing some bandages against coop’s chest to staunch the bleeding and there’s a Moment there to which henry kinda falters because woah gay thoughts?? and the pressure lightens but then o shit i’m lightening the pressure don’t do that!! so he pushes hard and coop’s like aa!! and henry’s like fuck jesus and coop just kinda laughs like i guess you don’t patch up arrow wounds that frequently and henry’s like yeah actually you’re my first!!

something something something coop’s patched up and henry gives him once of his shirts because coop’s shirt had to be cut off him bc of the arrow and we get one of the classic how to i look / starstruck moments because hell yeah we do

and blah blah blah blah blah blah blah coop makes it home and paige is like where in god’s name did u get that shirt bc it looks nothing like what coop would wear in fact in kinda reminds her of

believe it or not, henry

hot parole officer henry?

the one and only

and paige is like you slept with him??? and coop’s like close. i was shot with an arrow and he patched me up

and paige is like !!! because you know main plot evil all this that coop takes off henry’s shirt so paige can see the wound and heal it and she’s looking at henry’s handiwork and it really is the old college try but that man is not a medic so now paige is laying her hand on coop’s bare chest and phoebe walks in and immediately turns on a heel like i’ll give you guys some space!!

and paige is like no it’s fine i’m healing him he was shot main plot and phoebe’s like oh

and then later phoebe’s talking with paige like okay you and coop tho. bc like. ik ik healing or whatever. but like. 👀👀.

and tbh paige has been waiting for this because she really needs to unpack bc like i know!! because coop and i have this thing and it’s a great thing but it like can’t be a thing it’s a forbidden thing but i want it to be a thing but at the same time there’s this other guy and i can’t get him off my mind and i’m worried i’m just viewing him as a safer alternative instead of coop but like. idk he was just my backup i feel like i would be more lukewarm about it. but i’m not. like. i’m really not i kind wish i was because i don’t know if i can do a relationship again especially because he’s mortal like i can’t have someone i care for die again so maybe it’s safer just to keep what i have with coop or maybe even to explore that further? and keep henry safe? but like this and that and this and that

and phoebe’s like buzzing because it’s been a while since she’s had such an interesting love mess to tinker with so the first thing she does is go to coop just to see what she can sus out there Meanwhile paige is with speed where you ask? p3. well, outside of it

speed is painting the side of the club with this amazing artwork and clearly there’s this vein of magic running through it with certain symbols all that and he’s using paintcans and paige has her paintbrush and is adding smaller pieces as well

and she’s like hey where’d you get like that idea or thing idea because they’re all like. runes or magical somethings or others and speeds like idk. saw it in a dream maybe.

and henry rolls up because he stopped at the manor looking for paige and piper directed him here and he’s just like. like he sees this amazing work and it’s a big heart full moment and paige and speed finish up and speed adds his little signature at the bottom and leaves and henry says he’s proud of him and speed acts like he doesn’t care but he does

so henry’s like hey how’s your friend and paige is like coop? yeah, no he’s totally fine and henry’s like really???

and paige is like yeah no um. my brother in law! is an army medic. so um. he was able to. yeah : ) which isn’t technically a lie because leo was he’s just also kinda frozen in a block of ice now so whoops

and henry’s like that’s good but the real reason he’s her it to like thank paige for you know like. seeing the light like maybe henry has become too bitter and jaded so it’s good to know that there are freelance guardian angels out there keeping the balance and you know watching out for these kids so thank you for just like. being a good person.

and he also looks at her art and he’s like this your coping mechanism and paige is like yeah [tragic backstory swap time!!] and both paige and henry kinda realize how they’re like almost mirrors to each other and henry kisses her and paige kisses him back but then stops because she likes him too much which means he’s gonna die

so she’s like sry i gotta go and henry’s like oh :\ because um. well. whoops. because like. god he so rarely goes out on a limb like that and for one moment there it felt like it was all gonna align like he wasn’t gonna get ditched but paige’s green punchbuggy is already peeling out of the lot so guess not

so phoebe’s determined that coop is indeed in love with paige so all that needs is a little nudging okay she’s on mission time to go

and then next thing you know paige is storming in all in a tizzy because she kissed henry and coop’s like this is great news and paige is like no this is bad news! and coop’s like ???

and paige is like no you don’t understand it’s like i’m cursed because whenever i love someone whenever i truly love someone they die and that kiss....... it was..... i can’t have henry die

and coop is like on full cupid mode idk a cupid monologue blah blah blah love <3 and it kind of heals paige both in a sense that it quells her worries but also in a sense that being around coop always seems to make her feel better like she just feels warmer feels safer when he’s around so um. she should probably. figure something out about that. esp in regards to henry. right?

anyways. coop for some reason or another runs into henry again (call it fate) and henry’s like hey r u okay? and coop’s like yeah : ) ! and thank you, by the way, for um patching me up and stuff and henry’s like yeah no problem but um look can i ask you a favor and coop’s like sure

and henry’s like you’re a relationship therapist right and coop’s like yeah 99% sure he knows where this is going and henry’s like like family and relationship counselling and coop’s now only like 40% sure he knows where this is going and he’s like sure and henry’s like great okay so um i’ve got this parolee who [plot background story idk there needs to be some familial healing something or other] is there like. anyway you can help out with that

and coop’s like totally!! and henry’s like oh thank god because like. therapy expensive.

and now we get another one of those moments like seeing someone in their element henry sees coop as he goes basically full cupid but rather than romantic love it’s familial and henry’s like in awe and he’s also kind like wow okay i’d totally make out with that guy like right now but like. like he just kissed paige. and he knows coop and paige are friends. so like. like he can’t do that right? is that too weird?

so family therapy a success and like as established forging bonds of love strengthens cupids so coop’s like word you know if you ever need this on a more regular basis and henry’s like i promise you’re gonna regret offering that and coop’s like not a chance and henry’s like i really have like nothing to pay you with and coop’s like you make these kids lives better. i don’t need payment and henry looks over and gets is Own aha moment of oh i do have a purpose and also i love my job type thing

but. there is another task at hand. because like. are you and paige?? like??

and coop’s like me and paige??? and he’s about to say no because no they’re not but now he’s thinking about it and they are kinda more than they are not but henry’s not asking about the minutiae of it so now henry’s just watching him go on this face journey before going why do you ask : ) and henry’s like no nothing i just thought like well i don’t know what i thought

and coop’s like haha yeah well you know it’s um. haha yeah! you know how it is. i mean. paige is amazing and henry’s like yeah she really is and coop’s like yeah and like she’s just got all this love in her heart and henry’s like i know!! and she’s so smart like you should see what she’s done with speed she got him this place where he can put up his own art and like blah blah blah and at this point it is just coop and henry praising paige to each other for about five minutes before they kinda realize what’s going on and they’re like hmm. well this is kinda weird. cuz now we both kinda sound in love with her.

and coop’s like listen. i know paige really likes you. like a lot

and henry’s like woah i’m gonna stop you there because um. like. i mean i don’t wanna sound weird but like. like we did kiss and then she kinda just ran off and i mean literally ran hopped into her car drove away type thing so. i don’t really think so. so :\

and coop’s like no i mean like okay yeah that did happen but dude you’ve gotta understand she’s had so much loss and henry’s like no i know she told be about her parents and coop’s voice gets real low leans in because this is Top Secret information and he’s like it goes beyond that and henry’s like what and coop’s like her past two boyfriends both died. one from a heart attack, the other was hit by a car (well, no richard was not hit by a car but when all the magic inside you fucks you up that bad evidently the wreck that’s left kinda looks like you were hit by a semi. ouch) and coop’s like so paige kinda just. thinks she’s cursed.

and henry’s like oh. because my god. that’s a lot to process. and that like. like makes so much sense because like if that happened to him he really wouldn’t be able to date again hell that did not happen to him and he’s already barely able to date bc of how afraid he is of getting hurt

but coop’s out here like henry it’s not you like i promise she really likes you i mean you’re a good man and you’re brave and you’re passionate and like you’re hot, obviously and coop theoretically starts complimenting henry from paige’s point of view but then it very clearly starts to dissolve into coop’s pov and we’re still riding that chemical high of the In Your Element passion henry has for coop added onto the good person bonus of yes i’ll continue to help you with this endeavor for literally no benefit and now he’s just rattling off compliments to henry and henry’s just like oh jeez 😳😳🥰

and there’s just like. the briefest moment of henry’s eyes darting down to coop’s lips and coop’s daze is kinda broken and he realizes that he’s just been telling henry how foioine he is to his face and there’s a moment spellbound lookin into each others eyes like damn this is kinda gay & then they’re making out

and then henry’s like ohhh my god what am i doing what have i done oh know because you’re paige’s friend you like paige and i kissed her earlier today and now i’m oh my god this is a bad idea right? this is a bad idea?

and coop’s thinking on it because like okay he has been trying to pair paige and henry together a) because they’d be cute together and she clearly likes him but also b) because he really likes her and he can’t be with her bc he’s a cupid so at least if she’s with someone else who she loves he can be happy knowing she’s happy. but now he’s here with henry and he shouldn’t be because Again he’s trying to pair paige with henry and he can’t be with henry bc as previously stated cupids can’t actually have relationships but he shouldn’t even be thinking that because henry isn’t for him but even if he was which he isn’t it wouldn’t work because he’s a cupid so um. yeah. this is a bad idea

yeah

yeah

no they’re makin out again.

anyways. l8r at p3 someone else who owns a local business sees the art on the wall outside and is like yo who did that because i would totally pay them to do idk my food truck or something and piper’s like i’ll tell u exactly who did that

so idk i think legally since speed’s a minor and a parolee henry has to be involved in the job getting process actually wait speed just turned 18. idk what any of this means but we’ll say henry needs to be there so piper gave paige the food truck guys digits and paige passes on the news to speed and henry and like. paige shows up at henry’s office to be like good news!!

and to level with you henry thought that like. after making out with coop maybe his feeling for paige would dissipate like maybe he was secretly gay this whole time and paige was just a safe route to project those feeling but paige comes in with this smile that puts the goddamn stars to shame and henry’s like nope!! still in love with her!!

and paige is like okay because like this is all set you know like this could even lead to a career in art for speed like and henry’s like yes absolutely but now that the initial glow of that has worn off they’re both kinda remembering that the last time they saw each other they kissed and then paige bolted so yeah they should probably address that

and paige is like look i want to apologize for just kind of. running out the other day. that really wasn’t. it wasn’t right and i know this sounds dumb but it really wasn’t about you i’m just i’ve been in this weird place and i do like you henry like i really do so i don’t want you to think 

and henry’s like i feel like i kind of apologize too because i kinda made out with your friend and paige pauses because like she really has no friends well i guess besides coop but like there’s and henry tacks on coop to clarify and paige just snorts laughing

like she has no idea why that’s so funny but it just kinda is like. what!!

and henry’s like yeah but it was like. it’s. he really likes you paige he really does care for you i mean i really care for you too and henry’s kind of playing both sides here because he does like. really like paige. and that’s why he wants her to be happy and it’s her choice who she feels who she’d be most happy with whether that’s hm or coop because honestly coop is p amazing henry wouldn’t be burnt losing to him because coop is a great guy and paige is just watching him ramble smiling and henry realizes he doesn’t know what he’s saying anymore so he just kind of trails off and gets kind of lost in paige’s smile because like. wow : )

and paige is just kind of there processing that information because um wow who could have seen this coming and honestly she’s still not over coop kissing henry that’s just so unbelievable entertaining to her she’s so gonna hafta prod coop about it later because dude what?? what? bro. bro. bro. like. like the two guys she’s in love with kissed like bro what!!!! lmao she would pay money to see that how tf did that happen. she would have loved to have been there. that’s insane. she really wished she was there. like. really wished she was there. hmm. should she stew on that a little more?

and henry’s like. this is awkward. i’m sorry. i don’t want things to be weird between us. and paige is like henry i think things have been weird between us since i first picked an argument with you in an alleyway. and henry’s like true!! and they’re laughing and there’s a beat and henry’s like i think i fell in love with you in that moment. and paige is like yeah?

and henry’s just. i mean like. look at her <3 but like. she deserves. like she deserves the best there is and he’s just some guy like some jaded hardass who lives in a crappy apartment and who always forgets how to do the right thing it seems not to mention all his fucking baggage like. she deserves better. 

and paige sees him kinda retreat and like she kind of pulls out of the moment too because she loves henry she does but like that fear that he’s gonna die is still there and she wants to fight it she just doesn’t know if she can but like. she really really does like him.

and now they’re both standing there again another moment turned to dust in the wind now they’re just two people standing there incredibly normal about it yep just two people nope paige is kissing henry ope okay yep they’re making out and boom someone’s knocking on henry’s office door o quick act natural because hi henry heard you needed like the legal paperwork because speed’s getting a job here you go and henry’s like 👍 thank you very obviously flushed and his coworker is like. what the fuck is going on in that office. but like. doesn’t really care enough to find the answer to that question.

so paige is like you should come to p3 l8r tonight to like celebrate speed getting a job blah blah blah blah and henry’s like i will be there

so later paige is getting dolled up in a fire outfit just adding the final touches when coop shows up bc phoebe said you needed to see me? (with phoebe’s strategy fully being in mind that paige looks hella fly right now but also is still in the manor an area paige and coop have kind of curated as their space also like once she goes to p3 it’s simply too loud too crowded to have a heart to heart like what is about to happen here which she would listen all unfold but piper unfortunately dragged her away to help with the boys but i’m sure it’s all going well)

and paige is like ....nope. and coop’s like ah. well. you look great. going to see henry? which he asks that question like he’s walking on very thin ice and paige is like yeah and i gotta say i can’t believe you kissed henry before you ever kissed me and coop just laughs like well!!

and paige is laughing too but there’s this undercurrent of you still haven’t kissed me :/ and coop’s like i take it henry told you and paige is like yep. and then made a very convincing campaign in your favor on how you’re evidently in love with me and you’re probably my better option, he loves me, too, but just can’t seem to hold a candle to you

and coop’s laughing and he’s like that sounds like something henry’d say, he’s really. he’s got a lot of love he just doesn’t seem to think he’s worth it.

and paige is like you think he’s worth it though

and coop’s like i do. you think he’s worth it too. and paige is like i do.

and there’s a moment of stillness because what the fuck are any of them doing and paige is like we can’t keep doing this. and coop’s like gonna hafta be a bit more specific there because i think i’ve broken more rules than i can count in the past 24 hours. and paige is wanna make that one more and coop’s like !? and then paige kisses him and coop’s like okay now’s the time where i would really love some clarification

and paige is like. well. i had to kiss you, right? and coop’s like sure? and paige is like because i’ve wanted to for the longest time because i keep pretending like i’m not in love with you because well you know you know me better than almost anyone else but like. i also love henry. and so i had to kiss you. as a test.

and coop’s like ...did i pass?

and paige is like that wasn’t the test and coop’s like what was and paige is like i don’t know. to see where my love is. to see if i love you or if i love henry or if it’s all just infatuation and relfections distorting how i feel and coop’s like okay. so... what’s the answer?

and paige is like i love henry. but then she kisses coop again and is like but i think i love you, too. and they’re doing that thing where they lack bubble space when they talk i mean paige’s head is basically on his chest and coop’s hands are on her waist and coop’s like okay. so where do you want to go from here.

because he’s a cupid you know his top priority is love in its purest form so if like paige’s love for henry like outweighs her love for him he will pretend not to be crushed and move on like he will. he’s saying he’ll do anything in the name of love but really he’ll just do anything for paige.

and paige is like i think you should kiss henry again and coop laughs and he’s like don’t joke about that because complete candor i totally would he is... amazing

and paige is like yeah, i know, and i’m not joking and it kind of clicks for coop like !! polyromanticism!!

anyways. paige And coop go to p3 and henry’s there and sees paige And coop and he’s like uh oh oh no because if paige chose coop like he’s happy for them he really is except he’s also kind of not because then he kind of loses paige And coop and um. that’s kind of a two hit KO. but wait!! that is not the case! what’s this??

anyways. quirky hijinks of sorts when phoebe sees that paige came home with henry and she’s like damn. my plan failed. and the next morning piper’s like i see ur plan worked and phoebe’s like yeah no need to rub it in and piper’s like ??? dude paige totally hooked up with coop last night and phoebe’s like no?? that was the other guy that was henry

and piper’s like that was definitely coop?? and phoebe’s like piper not every tall man with dark hair looks the same and piper’s like no shit do you think i don’t know what coop looks like he practically lives here and phoebe’s like yeah that’s how i know the guy paige brought home w her was Not Coop and piper’s like do you need new glasses and phoebe’s like shut up i’m right and piper’s like no ur not!!

and later that day they’re like. all brewing a potion in the attic and like while we have you here...... did you hook up with henry or coop last night and phoebe’s like because piper thought it was coop when i very clearly saw henry and piper’s like yeah phoebe hasn’t been sleeping well lately i think she’s started seeing things so go ahead prove me right and paige is just laughing like okay so i guess i gotta introduce u guys to my 2 boyfriends

[twdmusicboxmystery]

The S11 Trailer - Analysis

Okay, let’s talk about the trailer. I’ll go through what I’m seeing shot by shot, and then focus on a couple of things that really stood out to me.

We start with Negan and Father Gabriel, with Negan looking distressed. FG asks him what’s wrong, and he says, “bad memories.” FG says, “of what?” We don’t hear Negan’s answer in the trailer.

Then we see the windmill in Alexandria, followed by horses running by Kelly and (I think) Magna. I think the horses will end up being important, as we see them again later. And this is really interesting. Take a moment to remember Buttons from S5, and I’ll come back to this.

Next, we see what I originally thought were overgrown street signs. But when I lightened this picture, I realized they’re not outdoor street signs. They’re indoor ones. Almost like the kind of thing you’d see at a massive mall or market or airport, directing you where to go. East Market. The “East” is jumping out at me as well.

Then we see Negan with a flashlight and other things in the underground tunnels from the sneak peek.

We see Daryl staring out over what I first thought as a mural. But when I lightened it, he’s really just looking down at a scene below him. If you look closely, below him on the left is a tank. So, at the end of 10x22, Carol said they were going to visit an old military base Daryl had found. I’m assuming this is it.

We see Judith, and then Daryl with mud on his face. This may be important. Keep this in mind. It looks a little like he’s covered himself either in red mud or perhaps walker guts.

Then we see various scenes of people fighting walkers and one person (we don’t see who) being bitten by one.

Then we see Negan dragging Maggie backward while she yells, “no!” I’ve mentioned this recently, but this is really interesting to me. It’s a nearly identical replay of Maggie being held back at the end of AOW (8x16) because Rick declared that Negan would live. Except this time, it’s Negan holding Maggie back from something else. The dynamic has changed. So, it makes me very curious to find out what he’s dragging her back from. It’s almost like he's trying to protect her.

There’s more fighting with walkers, and scenes from the underground subway tunnels. Most of these scenes are fast and it’s nearly impossible to tell exactly who is doing what or what’s going on.

This is also where we hear Daryl say, “I don’t leave anybody behind. Ever.” Because of Beth, we’re definitely side-eyeing that. In a way, it just proves that something happened to make Daryl believe Beth was dead and couldn’t be buried. This is him affirming that he would never have left her behind otherwise.

Then we see Kelly and Magna talking, and Kelly looking at a note that seems to have been written by Connie. It says, “Trapped with the dead. Walked with them for days. No light. No food. Little water.” Yeah, I’m kind of side-eyeing that note. It’s strange that Connie would write it and leave it but be nowhere around when Kelly finds it. (However, based on stuff we see later in the trailer, she does seem to have been kidnapped or taken prisoner.)

But more than that, the note feels thematic. Being trapped with the dead feels like a Beth thing. Walking with the dead is something we’ve seen a lot on the show. Michonne and her pets. The Whisperers, of course. Plenty of examples. And then the “no light, no food, no water” goes well with the drought and famine themes we’ve seen a lot. One of the most notable examples being in 5x10. I’m just saying.

Then more fighting with walkers, and we get the scene where Aaron says, “so you’re going to fight ghosts?” Followed by a teary-eyed Carol saying, “This is a path you don’t want to go down.”

My fellow theorists and I have discussed these a lot and who both Aaron and Carol might be talking to. I think there’s a good possibility that both may be Daryl. I’ve talked before about the possibility of him hearing something of Rick or Rick’s voice and wanting to go find him, but no one else believing him or that Rick is a live. Possibly questioning Daryl’s sanity. Both would go well with that idea.

Of course, that may be a little too convenient. Some people have suggested Carol might be talking to Maggie and trying to keep her from revenge on Negan. Or these could be secondary characters we won’t even care about overly much. No way to know.

Next, we see a person in a mask, with Dog standing near them, apparently watching Daryl. This is one scene that got our fandom very hyped up. I do have some things to say about it, so I’ll come back to it at the end.

We see lots of people running through the woods, a sickle hitting a tree. (I think it’s safe to assume that the sickle is a weapon/symbol of the Reapers.) And then a line of people in masks walking forward aggressively. Again, I’m assuming these are the Reapers. We’ve been told the trailer is misleading, so it may prove untrue, but I think it’s what we’re supposed to assume here.

We see more fighting and houses being broken into. Ezekiel fighting in a house and Eugene with bloodstains on his shirt. Then someone bound and hooded being dragged backward down a dark hallway. I’m thinking that’s Eugene.

Then we get a quick flash of what looks like feminine eyes behind a hood. These are what people assume could be Beth or Leah. And yes, they could be either. We do later see Maggie taking a skin mask off, so I think they could be her as well. It’s so quick, it’s pretty much impossible to identify them for sure.

The next scene is a super-tragic one. I’m pretty sure Dog is dying, guys. We hear what sounds like Dog whining in pain, as dogs do, and see a knife flash. Then Daryl turns around and screams, “no!” From descriptions of the episode, it sounds to me like Dog gets separated from the group and Daryl goes looking for him alone.

Some of us have wondered if this is when Daryl will “see” Leah again. When he’s on his own and it’s just him and her and Dog. That would, once again, suggest her being something only he can see. Just conjecture on our part as we really have no idea how things will play out, but it’s an idea we’ve batted around.

Anyway, it doesn’t look to me like Dog is going to survive. And while that SUCKS (poor Dog, poor Daryl ☹) because Dog is the embodiment of the Sirius symbolism, it does make a certain amount of sense that they might kill him before Beth reappears.

The other big deal about this is that it’s a clear parallel template to Beth. If Dog = Beth, she gets separated from group, Daryl goes searching for her, found her, but she apparently didn’t survive, dying right in front of him. (Or so he understands.) It kind of looks like the exact same thing will happen with Dog.

We then see a blood-covered knife hit the wall just under a frightened-looking Connie’s nose. She seems to be a captive or prisoner somewhere, and clearly her life is in danger. We also hear FG telling someone not to be scared and see what I assume is a Commonwealth soldier in an orange suit.

We also see a very decomposed walker tied to a tree. We’ve seen that pose a few times, and my mind always goes to the blond girl tied to the tree that Aaron and Daryl find in 5x15. So, chances are this will be very symbolic.

Then we see Daryl in front of some burning shipping containers, staring out at people. It’s not clear if the people he’s look at are members of TF, or perhaps enemies, but he doesn’t exactly look carefree.

Remember that in 10x17, he and Maggie and their group stayed in these same kinds of containers. Jadis also kept Rick in a similar once back in S8, so it’s a theme that’s been building.

We then here FG say, “God isn’t here anymore.” We see what looks like a walker but it’s crawling forward in a super creepy fashion, looking almost like a demon. Most walkers don’t move that way unless injured, so it makes me question whether this is a walker or a human pretending to be one.

We also see someone hung upside down by their ankles from an overhead pipe. I’m reminded of the Librarian guy in 6x16/7x01 who was hung over the bridge. Again, it’s just a theme we’ve seen before, but hard to interpret because the trailer gives us so little context.

More from the underground tunnels including what looks like it couple be corpses stuck in dried cement. And we hear an interesting line. “This a damn death march and you’re the pied piper.” So, Pied Piper theme. Something else we’ve seen a lot.

Then we see Connie and Virgil running through rooms. Now, I’d assumed that when Virgil found her, he took her somewhere or took her captive. I guess I didn’t really trust him even after Michonne sort of came to and assumed he was kind of a bad guy. But based on this, it could be that both were taken captive after he found her. They both seem to be running and trying to escape.

We see Maggie lighting a flare inside a subway train. Then, in quick succession, more masked eyes, Maggie looking distressed, and then someone’s fingers slipping from a handgrip, as though they’re trying not to fall but not falling anyway.

Then we see Maggie walking first through a parking lot and then some kind of defunct mall near an escalator. She says, “I lost something. And I don’t think it’s a bad thing that I did.” 

And then we see what I think is Maggie and Negan helping someone who is injured. Because we only see the backs of their heads, it’s hard to tell for sure. But I think the two on the outside are Maggie and Negan. I can’t tell who they’re helping. It doesn’t look like Daryl or Carol, but beyond that, I could say. If you look to the right, you can see department store mannequins, so this still seems to be in the mall.

Things speed up again and we see lots of people in masks, what looks like walkers invading Alexandria, Carol hugging Magna (forgiveness for Connie, perhaps?), people wielding weapons and running different places, etc.

We then see a bunch more of the underground tunnels stuff. People killing walkers in trains and such. We hear Negan say, “this only works if we trust each other.” And then Daryl says, “if you say trust him, I’ll trust him.” No idea who Negan’s line is directed to, as it’s just a voice over here. Chances are Daryl is talking about Negan, but again, no way to be sure.

Then Maggie says, “The woman who lived is not the one standing here now, so keep pushing me Negan. Please.”  When she says the final word, “please” we see her pointing a gun at someone with Daryl standing behind her.

A couple of things here. This is where we see her take off a skin mask, but that’s in daylight in the woods, so clearly, it’s a different scene than the subway with her and Daryl. What I’ll say is that, to me, this line from her feels very stilted, which means it may be spliced together. Remember back in the S5 trailer when it sounded like Gareth wanted to take Eugene to Washington to cure the virus, but in the show, he never said anything remotely close to that? The words really were his, but they just took lines of his dialogue and spliced them together. It was very misleading. I feel like this line from Maggie may be the same way. No way to be sure. I could be wrong. But it just sounds unnatural to me, like different parts of her dialogue have been spliced together. And who knows if the person she’s pointing the gun at is even Negan. We can’t see them.

I’m just saying, take it with a grain of salt.

Then we see the TWD logo. But it’s not over, yet. We see a coda, which is Eugene at the Commonwealth. We see a happy little “welcome to the Commonwealth” promo video, followed by lots of darkness and drama around Eugene.

Why is this important? Beth was the coda of the S5 trailer. For S6, it was Sherry and Dwight capturing Daryl in 6x06, which was replete with Beth symbolism. In the S7 trailer, it was Tara finding Oceanside. I could go on but, while Beth clearly wasn’t in any of the seasons after S5, the codas to the trailers tend to deal with symbolism or storylines that we’ve tied to her in HUGE ways. And we already believe she’ll probably come through Eugene’s story line when we, the viewers, first see her. So, it’s significant that they used Eugene, rather than any other character, as the coda.

I also noticed that in the CW promo vid, we see things like a mall or department store and a train station. Those are the same kinds of places we see Maggie and Daryl and the others exploring, except where they are everything is dark, defunct and overgrown, where in the CW video it all looks happy and functional and vibrant.

Not sure what that means. Are they meant to be the same places? Is there just a duality theme going on here? Are the Reapers and the Commonwealth connected somehow? We just don’t know, but it’s interesting.

I also notice behind the narrator is a monument with the words “The Great War” on them. Practically, the monument is probably referencing WWI, which was often called The Great War at the time it was happening, because it was the first worldwide war up until that point.

But I have no doubt that this monument is purposely placed by the writers and foreshadows the big, coming war, that we won’t truly see until the spinoff.

Okay, that’s pretty much it, but let me go back to that scene with the masked person and Dog staring at Daryl.

I think most people are assuming that it’s Daryl in the foreground (and I concur) and therefore the person watching him, who Dog is so comfortable standing beside, must be Leah. And it’s possible that that’s true. But keep in mind that, especially when Daryl isn’t around, Dog is equally comfortable with Connie and Carol. So, we just can’t know for sure who this is in the mask. I even think it could possibly be Daryl himself. I know that probably doesn’t make any sense to you but let me explain.

The angles and clarity of this shot are very suspicious to me. Let’s start with the angles. Clearly this is meant to be someone Daryl doesn’t see, but he feels he’s being watched, which is why he takes out his knife. But if you look at the angles, he’d only have to turn his head a fraction of an inch to see this person, so why doesn’t he? It just doesn’t feel like realistic positioning for the vibe they’re going for.

Secondly, the line between the right side (Daryl in the foreground) and the left side (Dog and the masked figure) looks a bit blurry and indistinct to me. And there’s a brown pole running down the center of the frame. At first glance, it seems to be a tree trunk, but if you look at it, it’s way too smooth and symmetrical to be one. I think it’s a metal pole. And what would that be doing in the middle of the forest?

Why am I telling you this? Just to show why I don’t think this is a “real” shot from the shot. Could Daryl be hallucinating? Sure. That’s one possibility. But I really wonder if this is just two different shots spliced together to create a creepy vibe for the trailer. So, one is the masked person standing next to Dog, and the other is Daryl in the foreground. And they’ve been put together with a computer.

That’s why I think the hooded figure itself could be Daryl. @wdway pointed out that this hooded figure wears a large knife very close to the center line of their body, and we’ve seen both Beth and Daryl do that in past seasons. Plus, remember that scene from the beginning of the trailer I told you to remember, where Daryl has either red mud or walker guts all over his face? I’m wondering if he’s just taken off a mask there. It would also explain Dog standing so calmly beside him.

And of course I could be totally wrong as well. Maybe it IS a masked person watching him. Maybe it IS Leah. There’s just no way to tell for certain. I guess my point is just to take everything with a grain of salt. We’ve been told this trailer is very misleading, and there’s absolutely no confirmation of who any of the masked people or random eyes are. Just keep that in mind.

Oh, I also said I’d come back to the horses. I didn’t write down exactly where, but at one point, we get a shot of Maggie walking up on dead horses. So, they’ll clearly play a role this season. Maybe it’s a matter of TF seeing some wild horses, and then finding them dead, and realizing this means there are bad people around. 

But remember there was a dead horse near Princess and Eugene’s group last season when they walked through the field of landmines. So, it’s something that’s been foreshadowed. And I can’t help but wonder if clear back in S5, Buttons might be a foreshadow of what’s about to happen in S11. Especially if it leads to Beth, which we think it will, I’m gonna say it was. But of course we’ll have to wait and see what that’s all about. 

Okay, I think that’s all I have for the trailer. Thoughts?

[bonesgadh]

My thoughts on the final season of Orange is the New Black:

Obviously, some heavy spoilers below:

If you ask me, Piper’s storyline outside Litchfield was, for the most part, a complete waste of time. Instead of having her getting stoned with her brother or going to that pointless retreat, why didn’t they have her doing something productive like helping other former inmates or writing her book?

Speaking of the book, I’m high-key disappointed they gave the memoir storyline to Judy fucking King. Call me cheesy but I was looking forward to the show ending with Piper writing her book just like she said she would in season 6. Such a missed opportunity.

I really, really wanted Taystee to be cleared of Piscatella’s murder. I don’t understand why they gave so much importance to Suzanne writting what really happened and Taystee showing the text to her lawyer if it wasn’t going to make a difference in the end. Chekhov’s gun, anyone?

I’m so relieved she didn’t kill herself. I guess as long as there’s life there’s hope fucking Cindy will confess the truth and justice will be served. In the meantime, I was happy Taystee found a new meaning to her life and decided to help other inmates have a better shot at rebuilding their lives after prison.

Daddy’s death caught me by surprise. That said, I didn’t notice her absence at all for the reminder of the season. I guess she was a one-hit wonder character.

I have the feeling they had no idea what to do with Frieda so they just had her do weird stuff like accumulating trash. 

Thank Christ they got rid of Badison so early in the season. Cringiest, most annoying character in the history of television.

Aleida is so stupid lmao. I get she wanted to protect her daughter from that pedophile but she fucked up. I was rooting for her to rebuild her life and I was disappointed at her.

I liked Suzanne coming to terms with her sentence and being more comfortable around people and making new friends. It’s what she deserves.

Why is Cesar out of jail? Didn’t Aleida say he was supposed to stay there until he was an old man?

So Yadriel isn’t Pepa’s biological father?

Shani, man. Her relationship with Nicky was so cute and you could tell she was different from Nicky’s other flings. She didn’t act like a stallion around her, she was sweet and considerate with her and her backstory was very sad. I’m pissed they weren’t endgame because they made such a good couple.

There was no need to kill off Lorna’s baby. That was unnecessary roughness.

What happened to Maritza left me devastated. That final sequence of her getting into the plane and all the other women who were deported as well slowly disappearing until there was no one left gave me fucking chills. It was tough to watch but it had to be done to make a point of how a good portion of the immigrants who get deported are young adults who have never lived anywhere else besides the US, but still they are not considered citizens.

I absolutely adore Fig. Her character development was one of the best in the show. Also I LOVE HER RELATIONSHIP WITH CAPUTO OMG.

Piper’s sister-in-law is annoying af. I bet she is one of those anti-vaccinations freaks.

Alex looked so damn hot in her flashback oh my god. 

Goodall is adorable! For real, what a gorgeous baby.

I was not expecting CO Fischer to make a comeback.

Healy is still a piece of shit.

I can understand why Piper developed feelings for Zelda. She represented the potential life she could lead now that she was a free woman, the opportunity to start over and leave prison behind (like Sophia advised her to). However, there wasn’t anything exciting about being with her, it was way too safe and that’s the exact opposite of what she had with Alex. 

Polly is even more annoying than she was before but Larry didn’t get on my nerves this time around, which surprised me. Maybe because his little prep talk is what pushed Piper to follow Alex to Ohio or maybe it was the nostalgia. Idk, but they brought him back in a nice way.

I felt really bad for Vinnie. He wasn’t only grieving for his son but he also had to see Lorna fall into that complete state of denial.

Sophia’s comeback was everything. She looked like a goddess and she seemed so happy and in control of her life. I thought we wouldn’t see her again after she got released from prison but I’m glad they managed to bring her back even for a couple of scenes.

Totally random statement but Piper looked very attractive at the benefit gala and the morning after. I don’t know if it was the hair or the way they did her eyes but she was smoking hot.

Danielle Brooks is the best actress in the show. Don’t @ me.

McCullough is the archetype of the psycho ex. I legit thought she was going to shoot Piper when she confronted her at her house.

Alex knows Piper so damn well. She is aware of the fact that Piper tends to run away from stuff when things get complicated and her choosing to have an affair with McCullough was her way to try to protect herself. Then again, I really thought they had moved on from that phase. 

Fig lying about being pregnant to help that woman get an abortion was such a strong moment. Also her calling out the double-standard of the guard who was opposed to the woman aborting but wanted her to get deported? Legends only.

Lorna is such a racist but I can’t bring myself to dislike her. If anything I’ve always felt a bit sorry for her.

Linda is such a bitch.

Tamika was the only warden who actually cared about making a difference. I’m sad she got fired because of something that wasn’t even her fault but her good deeds made a profound impact.

McCullough is so damn unstable but I can’t blame her for developing such strong feelings for Alex. She’s quite irresistible.

Alex acting all unattached and cold as she was breaking up with Piper was painful to watch. I knew it wasn’t real but for a hot second I thought that was it for them. 

The ICE storyline was out-of-this-world amazing. So powerful and brilliantly done, quintessential OITNB.

If you had told me six years ago I would cry like a baby with Pennsatucky’s death I would have laughed at you.

But for real, POOR PENNSATUCKY. I’m sorry she had to die for Taystee to stay alive.

Because of the ‘a fan-favorite character dies in the final episode to mark the end of the show’ trope I had the feeling they were going to kill either Red, Alex or Taystee. I was legit surprised when the final death was revealed to be Pennsatucky.

That Poussey flashback had me in tears.

Alex and Nicky’s goodbye scene was so sweet and I love they talked about eventually reuniting. They were my brotp.

What Larry told Piper when she visited him at his place was very interesting. When Piper told him she loved Alex he told her he believed her, but that he also thought she loved what Alex represented. I believe that was true at some point—well, for most of the series—and, unconsciously, Piper believed that as well. But, if anything, what they went through in season 7 helped Piper realize she did want to be with Alex. The extra limb analogy was amazing and I don’t think Jenji could have picked a better way to explain their relationship.

Hellman is the new warden? Gross.

My favorite part about the old inmates’ cameos was that they were shown doing the same stuff they did in Litchfield: Boo being tired of everyone’s bullshit, Yoga giving the mandala talk to new inmates, Gina feeling exasperated and Norma calming her down, Watson running and Alison checking her time, Angie and Leanne being stupid, Brook mooning over stuff.

I only missed two characters making a cameo: Sister Ingalls and Miss Claudette. I know most fans wanted to see Bennett again but fuck that coward.

Also wtf happened to Bayley? I kinda wanted to know.

Karla’s story broke my heart. I’m glad they included her character because her story is the story of millions of immigrants that are separated from their children, forced to return to their home countries and endure harsh conditions while trying to make their way back to the US.

Blanca really went out there and said “fuck it” to the american dream, didn’t she? In my opinion she had the best ending out of all the characters. I’m so happy she reunited with Diablo and is ready to live her life with him at last. My girl deserved it.

Maria’s storyline was so ‘meh’. It was way too similar to her season 6 storyline.

My mom Gloria had the second best ending. I was afraid they were going to punish her because of the phone thing but thankfully asshole Luschek finally did something right. I was rooting for her to have a happy ending and I’m glad she got it.

Also was that little girl living with Gloria and her kids her granddaughter? Because she was definitely younger than her sons but Gloria’s flashback stated her daughters are older, so I’m confused.

I really need to know if Aleida killed Daya. I hate it was left so open.

Flaca choosing to help immigrants was so sweet. I bet one of the reasons she did it was to stop them from suffering Maritza’s fate.

Fig and Caputo are adopting!

Cindy did not deserve a good ending after she ruined Taystee’s life. That made me so angry. I was really hoping she would confess the truth.

In the end, McCullough made Alex a favor by having her transferred to Ohio. She went back to minimum security, she was with friends and people she knew and far away from all the crap in max.

What happened to Red and Lorna was devastating. Red losing her identity and her memory was so tragic because of what a badass she was. Also I knew Lorna would lose it after her son’s death but it was heartbreaking. They deserved better.

It sucks balls Nicky lost every person who was important to her but despite that I liked her ending because, even though she suffered heartbreak after heartbreak, she found a way to keep herself sober and now she will help others the way Red helped her. It was the best way she could honor her.

Despite literally everyone around Piper advising her to leave Alex behind and forget about her (from her parole officer to her dad to Larry to Sophia) the fact that she chose to follow Alex to Ohio was a pleasant surprise to me. It showed her growth and how much she really wanted to be with Alex, and that she was not a mistake in her life but her life. I was never a Vauseman shipper but even I knew they had to be endgame, any other ending wouldn’t have made any sense. I feel bad for the shippers because it was a very tough season for them but love prevailed, so congrats.

I didn’t catch the Piper Kerman cameo until I saw someone mentioned it on twitter. That was so cool! Also I don’t know if this was intentional but I liked the visual parallel between Larry Smith & Piper and Piper Kerman & Alex. Larry waited for Piper for as long as she was in jail and never abandoned her, so I choose to believe Kenji and Co. are hinting at Piper doing the same thing for Alex.

It was a good decision to show us a glimpse of Piper’s new life. She has a stable job, a new home, she is studying about criminal law and using her time in a productive way, and also she looks happier than we ever saw her.

In conclusion, I liked the season very much. Orange is one of my favorite shows and I think they ended it in a very nice way. It was very well executed and, unlike other final seasons I have watched over the years, it never felt rushed to me. It was the best season in at least a couple of years and I’m in love with the series finale, I stand by my original statement that it is the best one I have ever seen.

I give it a solid B+, four-out-of-five stars, 8.5 out of 10.

Orange forever, indeed.

[popculturebuffet]

The Color of Friendship Review (Commissioned by WeirdKev27): A World of People

Happy Black History Month! Another day, another comission from longtime supporter of the blog Weird Kev and like a good chunk of his-non duck asks, he asked me for something outside my usual wheelhouse. In the past this has meant an episode of the short lived fox show whoops in which we found out how Santa dealt with the end of the world, didn’t know how doors worked, and interacted with some characters so thin you could remake the episode with just Mick Foley in a santa suit and carboard cutouts playing the characters lines and it’d be about the same, and earlier this month Sorry Wrong Meeting, an episode of a sitcom i’d never seen an episode of the Jeffersons about the KKK. So unsuprisingly his big comission for Black History Month was the 2000 Disney Channel Original Movie, The Color of Friendship. 

I couldn’t find much on the making of the film, which dosen’t entirely suprise me as at the time this came out, Disney was releasing around 10 a year and whlie that stopped shortly, it still was a whopping 6 a year for some time, ocasionally more ocasionaly less, slowly dwindling down to the two of year we have now. Though it’s still an ongoing concern and has been since the channel started in 83, closing in on 40 years ago, so it’s still impressive Disney hasn’t just outright phased them out. Then again the popular ones make them a lot of money and some like High School Musical and the Descendants Trilogies have broken out so big they’ve lead to spinoff books, tv series in the latter’s case, and all that stuff making them money hand over fist. So making some cheap movies that MIGHT end up making them rich and usually star people that are already on shows they have or were at one point is a no loose proposition, especially now they add an extra release to the Disney Plus callender twice a year. And while the library has it’s gaps and i’ve griped about them enough.. I will say it’s stil la damn good library and it’s nice to be able to watch a film like this, as the dvd was LONG out of print and likely horribly expensive, and while renting it was an option, it would’ve chipped into what I got commissioned for the film. Still would’ve done it it just would’ve sucked to loose money on the deal, if only two bucks, for something I had no control over. Still would do that over adding it onto the comission fee. Point is stuff that’s not been easy to get for some time is now just a few clicks or taps of the remote away, and having the VAST majority of disney’s long and storied history from theatrical to dcom to weird tv oddities like.. this thing

I don’t know what Fuzzbucket is, and frankly I don’t want to know.. I mean I will for a comission or something but i’m not going to go out of my way to find out what that thing is and if it can give me scabies through a telvision screen despite being fictional and proabably long dead. At least I tell myself it’s long dead so ic an sleep at night without worrying about that thing breaking into my house and watchnig me while I sleep changing “SOON JACOB, SOON”. So yeah while you’ll hear me complain about the gaps in DIsney Plus’ library a lot on this blog. 

I will give credit where it’s due, and what is on there is pretty expansive and now includes the Muppet Show, which I give them full credit for as that probably took a LOT of work and money to make happen. Plus WandaVision is fucking fantastic, especially now i’m finally all caught up. 

But while as I said I couldn’t find much on the making of the film I did find a bit on it’s inspiration: It was inspried by a short story wrtten by Piper Dellums, a writer, poet and activist, and daughter of Ron Dellums. Dellums is a notable congressman who fought against apartheid and constantly fought for a bill to divest from South Africa, something that SHOCKINGLY, Ronald Regan tried to veto because he was a racist disney anamatronic what did you expect, and all in all seemed pretty awesome. He sued Bush SR to try and prevent Desert Storm, in his earliest days in office had an exibit near his phsyical office of vietnam war crimes to try and hold them acountable and in general seems to be a fascenating, hardworking man who constantly and religiously fought for the people and against war. 

The story was a real life account of the Piper’s experince housing a South African Student, Marie, who the Delums Family expected to be black.. but turned out ot be white. During Apartheid, south africas racist as hell and horrifying goverment system of segregation that wasn’t abolished till the 90′s. As expected she was racist, but as a proudct of the horribly racist country she came from and much like with her fictional counterpart in this film, slowly grew to realize how fucked up her homeland was and by the time she went back, became an activist She and Piper were very close but her story ends tragically as eventually Piper stopped hearing from her after she was arrested and despite attempts to talk to her.. it was clear by the silence, and by the fact Piper visited South Africa post-aparthied to help and likely would’ve seen her.. that she was likely quitely killed by the state. But her story thankfully lives on, so join me under the cut to see how a 20 year old disney movie aired during black history month handles this difficult real life story, racisim and the 70′s. 

The Cast: Quick bit about the cast since I usually do this for first episodes of an animated show and wish i’d done so for my other film reviews so far. Though to keep things simple, i’m only doing the main four cast members, especailly since frankly outside of Mahree’s parents the rest are more supporting roles that don’t have a lot of screen time and in hte case of the south african embassy workers, are just there to be racist card board cutout villians.  Piper, who keeps her name from real life is played by Shadia Simmons, who eventually retired from acting to become a High School and Acting Teacher. During her career she was in a bunch of Disney Channel Original Movies, including the first two Zenon Movies, and was in a major role in a bunch of live action childrens shows: I Was A Sizth Grade Alien, Strange Days at Blake Holsely High, and Life with Derek, the only one of which i’ve seen and even then barely so I can’t comment on the rest of her work. Simmons does a decent job in the film, and does shine in the more dramtic scenes, not the best part of it but certainly not bad at all. 

Lindsay Haun plays Mahree, and had more of an acting career after this one, having a small recurring role on True Blood as Hadley, while also directing some smaller films. Haun is easily one of the two highlights of the movie and the best of the two main tween actresses by a mile. More on that in a bit. 

Next we have Carl Fucking Lumbly as Congressman Ron Dellums. Carl has had a long and storied career and the fucking is because of what I best know him from: Playing the Martian Manhunter Jon Jonzz on Justice League. And let me not undersell it: his version of Jon is waht made me LOVE the character, still do to this day, being the first time I encountered any version of Jon and the one I still love the most, a stoic man who tries to adapt to a world he feels he can never be a part of, adding shades to his stitled demeanour to show off his emtitons and in general being the heart and soul of what made this verison work and made me love the character with his performance. He’s done other stuff too including Cagney and Lacey, Doctor Sleepand what have you.. but he’ll always be Jonn to me and that’s not a bad thing in the slightest. Unsuprisingly he’s the other standout here. 

Finally we have Penny Johnson as Ron’s wife and Piper’s Mother Roscoe,  who played Captain Sisko’s love intrest on Deep Space 9 and was one of the leads on castle. Haven’t seen either of those but she does seem awesome and does a terrific job here. 

Moving on to the film itself.. it’s really fantastic. It has some awkwardness and goofy bollocks as you’d expect from a disney channel original movie in 2000, but it handles a really heavy subject, race relations, gracefully and clearly with the goal of educating an audience with a lot of white kids in it about race. So I can praise what it does right i’m going to be handling the parts that are a bit wobbly first so I can get to the good stuff

Awkwardness and Goofy Bollocks:

First the out and out criticism: The films TV Movie roots show in places, as this film lacks the polish these films would have later this decade, with the film barely having an opening title sequence and just sorta throwing you in, though to their credit it does open with the utterly awesome Back in Love Again, because 70′s. 

That slaps and that’s an undeniable fact. What’s also an undenaible fact is the film dosen’t try the hardest to be very 70′s in it’s sets and what not, though it does do it a little with the clothes and that not being the case with Mahree is intentional, as her family while wealthy is from another culture and one literally and metaphorically behind the times. 

I will also say Shadia Simmons is a decent actress, but is mildly weak in comparison to the other 3 in the leads, but its more the result of putting a pretty standard child sitcom actress up against two experinced actors who know what their doing and one whose about as experinced as her, but simply has a LOT to work with and goes above and beyond. It’s less that she’s bad and more that she’s simply not as good as what’s around her, and in general I tend to go easier on child actors since it’s not an easy job for a grown adult much less a teenager, it’s very pressurey and there’s a reason a LOT of them bottom out as they get older or retire all together. 

I will say though that Piper’s brothers are awful and I feel are only there because she actually had brothers. The actors try, i’m not pinning this on them but writing wise their just two little shits who contirbute ntohing of value to any scene their in, being generally way to young to get into the heavy topic at hand, and mostly being there for unfunny shneanigans. They aren’t in the film too much otherwise they might’ve ruined it for me, but if Shadia struggles a bit agianst sttronge perofrmances imagine who younger actors with the stage direction “Be the bane of my existence” and you’ll MAYBE see the problem. 

The film also loves cheesy time passing montages, including an actual factual shopping montage, easily the goofiest, but it’s something you’d expect from a dcom and helps lighten the mood. That’s a running theme outside the brothers there really isn’t anything too silly.. until the last act.  See in the last act, the film tackles the real life death of Steve Biko, a South African activist against apartheid who was captured by the state and very transparently murdered in jail. with the government claming he killed himself which no one bought because why would they, and it sparked riots worldwide and finally got the US to take Apartheid seriously according to the film. Though as I mentioned earlier Regan did not in case you thought the republican party being terrible and deeply racist was a brand new thing. It was not. Guys like Tucker Carlson and Former President Trump are a symptom, not the disease.. though they certainly look and feel like some form of plauge. Point is Mahree is breifly taken by the embassy.. whose staff who take her feel like the Disney Channel Original Movie form of Nazi’s. The heavy accents, the way they compose themselves... I half expect an elderly indiana jones to show up to whip the piss out of them. And dont’ get me wrong, the only diffrence between these pricks and a nazi is the fact they don’t call themselves nazis, this isn’t a nuanced horrifying racist to be scared of but a saturday morning cartoon version. 

While  white supremacists in real life can be cartoonishly evil, again see trump and carlson, it does kind of undercut the seriousness and nuance of things to have your villians be cold, cackling cutouts who are 5 seconds away from saying “You are part of the rebel alliance and a traitor take her away” to our heroine, especailly since Mahree’s reaction to being taken away and confusion at everything and at being treated like a prisoner by her own people are very painful and very well acted.   I do get showing them as monsters, because they were, but given Mahree’s father who as a south african police man was DEFINTELY ONE and even outside his racisim doubts and downtalks his own daughter, still feels like an actual person, if not a GOOD person, they could’ve done better and did in the same film. 

But that stuff aside.. I really can’t find much that’s honestly that silly or bad and as you can tell what little I did was more a product of being a tv movie. So now i’ve got the negatives out of the way

This Film Is Pretty Good: It truly is, for a lot of reasons. But the biggest is the nuance. It could’ve been easy to just have Maree as some racist kid needing to learn a lesson who was openly cruel and easy to jeer at.. but the film went iwth the reality: that she was instead an extremley privlaged and insulated girl who simply NEVER knew better. To her her very racist and segregated world is just the way the world worked for her and she dosen’t even consider when the Dellums come to pick her up minus Ron these aren’t servants and her own servant’s words fall on deaf ears, as the poor woman tries to make it clear how miserable her life is and how much she deseprately wants this child to do better. Marhee is never actively malicious even when, due to the shock of her all black host family, she baricades herself in Piper’s room. It’s obnoxious sure and CERTAINLY hurtful and the film makes no bones about it and Piper rightfully calls her out on it. The film dosen’t let her get away with any intetnional racisim like that and after Piper calls her out, she realizes she’s been selifsh and makes a genuine effort. And even then the film makes a good choice in not making it an easy road to realization. Mahree makes a genuine effort in the first place not because of any big revelation or anything, but because she simply hears her dad in her head telling her she’d give up after a week and that, coupled with Piper’s words, makes her see herself as a selfish brat. Even after she’s floored by a mall where black and white people stand side by side aand casually talks about horrors like ID Cards like i’ts a GOOD thing, because that’s what she’s been taught by her dad. That black people are happy being told where they can and can’t go when no they weren’t they simply had no chocie in the matter. And while we do see early on when an asshole at a restraunt assaults a waiter for an accident that Mahree clearly isn’t okay with the more horrifying side of things, she still dosen’t quite grasp WHY that happened, simply that it’s something that does reguarly she dosen’t like. It’s excellently, and unsuprisingly called back when they visit an ice cream place in the states and something similar happens.. but the guy takes it in stride, even ordering a sundae, to Maree’s confusion. 

It’s what makes the film work and all the more striking: As Roscoe makes clear to Ron, whose admant about nto having a racist in the house, this is not her fault. While the film makes it clear Mahree’s behavior at first was not okay and her prejudiece is not okay, it also makes it VERY clear she’s a product of a terrible system and terrible parenting from people who choose to benneift from the system instead of challenge it. She’s only like this because she hasn’t had a reason to ever think diffrent and just took her parents at face value and no mater the country, this is something that sadly happens far too often: Someone hating a group or thinking discrimination is okay because that’s how they were taught and that’s all they’ve known and the only way to change that is to challenge that opinon and try to get them to have some empathy and see the other way and as this film shows it’s a struggle.. and at the end of the day while the Dellums make a concentrated effort, Maree is the one who has to realize what her parents taught her is bad and her country is inherently flawed and NEEDS to change, just like ours did, and STILL badly needs to. 

And that’s where the nuance kicks in as the good congressman is understandable in not wanting a racist in his house... but his wife is equally right that Maree is not some easy symbol of his hatred towards south africa, but a girl who grew up knowing nothing more than the fucked up system, and eventually he comes around, realizing , especially after she apologizes for him even thinking she’d use a racial slur on piper after a very powerful conversation with the two and piper accidently saying she used the South African N Word, almost accidently getting her friend thrown out, that she simply hasn’t been outside her shell and gently guides her to keep reading roots, even letting her take it with her if she wants back home. The film shows the full pain of the situation  but also shows change is posisble. Again it’s not easy, Mahree has a panic attack waiting in an almost all black line in school and it’s shown to be as horrible a thought as it is., but she DOES change and it comes off as real, as someone realizing the system they grew up with is broken and needs to be fixed and she can’t just sit back and let it. 

What makes this happen, besides the aformentioned kidnapping by saturday morning cartoon racists, is Piper confronting her after a friend from south africa forces Piper to acccept that while her and Mahree are friends, Mahree might not seee her as equal and Piper in turn in a heated argument and easily Simmons best performance of the film, that things are broken and wrong and that her “firend”, her nanny/servant back home, is not happy. It leaves Mahree crying and Ron telling her the honest truth: Change was, and again still is but this was 2000 and while we should’ve had this talk disney channel wasn’t ready for it, needed to make things better here.. and tha’ts what south african’s doing> Fighting for equal rights at last. It’s some powerful, heavy as hell stuff you woudln’t expect from a line of movie that also include a robot house, before that was an actual thing, a merMAN dad MerMan, a boy slowly turning into a leprechaun, and at least two diffrent movies centering around wacky kidnappings. It’s a nuanced and hard look at race, as hard as late 90′s jsut turned into the 2000′s disney could get mind, aimed at kids and the film, whiel stilted really has my utter praise. It’s genuinely moving, well acted and teaches a valuable message that while not eveyrone can change.. it dosen’t hurt to try and help them, as well as the equal message that change start with YOU. someone has to WANT to be better and learn and actually let other people in to help them. And I wont’ lie and say this is the most naunced or subtle film.. at time’s it’s about as subtle as a ralph wiggum throught he window

But sometimes you don’t need to be. It also taught kids about apartheid, not me as I barely saw the film, but many learned of something ghoulsih that had barely ended at the time of the film’s release, something I only learned about as a teen via bloom county and a diffrent world, which has an utterly awesome apartheid episode “A World Alike”. Seriously check it out if you have prime, as it shows that america isn’t the only country with a deep history of ingraned racisim. And was it an easy way to have an anti racisim narriative without fully confronting america’s own racist history? Yup. Just.. yup. Can I blame Disney Channel for it when they clearly, while equipped to tackle racisim, weren’t ready to tackle something that dense or heavy, and while Proud Family later would there’s a diffrence between a 20 minute one off episode of a cartoon and 90 minutes of film? Yeah. For what it is and for what the time period is, I applaud this film taking on such a heavy topic with grace. Some goofyiness here and there yes and some lack of subtly.. but still grace. For what it is is, it’s pretty good and i hope to show it to my nieces one day soon. It has i’ts heart in the right place and thus has a place in my heart. See you next rainbow. 

[eeveevie]

Salvation is a Last Minute Business (10/18)

Chapter 10: Your Head Always Loses

Madelyn returns to the New England Medical Center, and coordinates with Sergeant Danny Sullivan to keep Nick safe while the hunt for Eddie Winter continues. After delivering heart-breaking news to her partner, she travels to the state house to speak with Hancock and MacCready in the hopes they may have a lead. Later, while mourning their loved ones in a downtown church, Madelyn learns a new truth about Deacon.

“When your head says one thing and your whole life says another, your head always loses.” - Frank McCloud as played by Humphrey Bogart (Key Largo, 1948)

[read on Ao3] x  [chapter masterpost]

April 14th, 1958

By the time Madelyn and Deacon reached the New England Medical Center, the entire plaza had been barricaded, swarms of police vehicles surrounding the building while uniformed officers patrolled the perimeter, denying entry to anyone without hospital authorization. Local newshounds had crowded the emergency bay as well, clamoring for an interview with passing investigators and doctors. The chaos was more than Madelyn anticipated, the police attendance more abundant than she’d seen in recent months. The Boston Police department had been slow to respond to the increase in crime; disappearances, kidnappings and murders, most, if not all related to the gangland fight for territory. Rampant corruption had everything to do with their indifference—nearly the entire city had been bought out by Eddie Winter. She had every right to be suspicious of their presence, unsure of who to trust.

Piper had instructed them to enter through the side entrance, but Madelyn wasn’t convinced they’d be let through. Even if she managed to push forth some charm and use her credentials from the District Attorney’s office, it wasn’t a guarantee. The two circled the crowd, looking for a way forward. While Madelyn scanned the sea of people for a familiar face, she couldn’t help but glance to Deacon, who was uncharacteristically keeping his distance a few paces behind. He had donned his black wig and shielded his eyes, hiding any trace of the man she’d seen in her bed when she awoke just a few hours prior. For all the times he’d shown her comfort in the past, he wouldn’t touch her now, hadn’t done so since she roused from fainting.

The usually chatty Railroad agent was quiet now too, hardly speaking a word as they traveled from her apartment to downtown. Combined with the grief of Jenny’s death, Nick’s fate, and Winter’s whereabouts, Madelyn couldn’t make room in her heart for the turmoil their rift caused her. Separated by a few inches, it might as well have been miles with how her chest was aching. She clenched her fist, nails biting into her palms so she wouldn’t be tempted to reach out to him, desperate as she was to feel his hand in hers.

As they approached the entrance, a police officer predictably held them back with an outstretched hand, silently deferring to the throng of reporters. Madelyn dug through her purse for her identification, but the cop would not take the paper documentation, or give it a second glance.

“My partner is Nick Valentine, he’s a patient here. Jennifer Lands is—” she hesitated—was—and found her voice again. “Please, you have to let us through.”

The officer shook his head. “Ma’am, this is a secure scene. We’ve had enough loonies try and make their way into the E.R. this morning, we don’t need another one.”

He turned away, dismissing her in full. If she wasn’t frustrated before, she was now. Before she could argue or suggest that Deacon make himself useful and distract the guard so she could slip inside, another person came rushing towards them with enthusiasm. The man was shorter than her, and looked fresh out of college, baby-faced without a hint of stubble. He stuck out his arm, correcting his stance when he realized he’d shoved his notepad in her direction instead.

“Buster Connolly with the Boston Bugle,” he greeted in a rushed voice, as if his press credentials weren’t pinned to his coat. “Did you say you were with Nick Valentine? I could’ve sworn I recognized you! You’re the broad he’s always with, right?”

Beside her, Deacon bristled, but remained silent. She smiled politely, used to the microaggressions based on her gender that almost always erased her career accomplishments. Did anybody remember she was a lawyer anymore? Judging by how young Mr. Connolly was, his mishap was forgivable. Still, she was wary of his sudden interest and refrained from greeting him in kind—the Boston Bugle had its own problems with corruption when it came to covering Eddie Winter’s crimes.

Buster anxiously glanced to his notes. “Can you confirm the validity of the rumors that Eddie Winter was shot and injured sometime within the last forty-eight hours, and that there is currently a manhunt underway to locate him?”

Madelyn maintained composure, even as the memory came back in full force, flashes of Winter taunting her as he crushed her windpipe until she found the strength to fight back. Regret gripped at her with vice-like talons—if her aim had been deadlier, Buster wouldn’t be asking her these questions. If she’d had the nerve to kill him when she had the chance, Jenny would be alive.

“No comment,” Deacon answered for her, and she nearly flinched when his hand rested softly on the small of her back.

The young reporter frowned, flipping through more pages. “I have been tracking leads and rumors all across town, following the Valentine Detective Agency’s progress. Seems to me you’re the only ones that give a damn. There’s way more than what the police and media are telling us, but the higher-ups won’t let me publish anything on a whim.”

“I don’t have the same freedoms as that Public Occurrences paper does,” he lamented, practically staring at her in a similar way Dogmeat would when begging for table-scraps. “You gotta help me out. Is what they’re saying true? Is Eddie Winter behind everything that’s gone wrong in Boston?”

Piper’s voice echoed in her mind—freedom of the press—and she nodded.

“Yes,” she responded. “Yes, its all true.”

Buster scrambled to a fresh page, eager to write down the details, but he wouldn’t get a chance. The officer at the side entrance turned to face them again, pointing at her and Deacon.

“Miss Hardy was it?” he questioned, sheepishly. “I’ve been instructed to let you by. Sergeant Sullivan is inside waiting. He’s should be at the nurse’s station.” He instructed, pulling back one of the barricades so they could step through. “I uh…sorry about before.”

She nodded. “Thank you.”

Just as Madelyn stepped through the doorway, she looked back to Buster, who was observing the entire exchange from the sidewalk. “Write the article.”

The inside of the hospital was just as bustling as it had been outside, nurses and doctors scrambling to work around the cops and detectives crowding the halls. Last night the emergency room had been a ghost town, but today almost every bay was occupied with freshly injured. In the center of it all, Sergeant Danny Sullivan stood, directing his men to different areas of the building and reading over reports passed to him by passing officers.  

“What the hell happened?” Deacon muttered, surveying the mayhem.

Madelyn wondered the same, moving to where the Chief Sergeant was dismissing the last of his force. “…and send an extra squad to city hall. Don’t know if the bastard is brazened enough to attack the mayor, but after this…”  

Sullivan rubbed at his jaw, deep in thought before performing a double-take in Madelyn’s direction. Instantly, his expression transformed into one of deep sorrow—a look she was all too familiar with. She wasn’t about to dismiss his sympathy, however, regardless of how new their alliance was.

“Miss Hardy,” he sighed, with a small shake of his head. “I didn’t think we’d be seeing each other again so soon, under such…grim circumstances.” His eyes flickered to where Deacon stood to her left, his hand still pressed against her back. “Is this your…?”

Sullivan’s subtle suggestion made Deacon drop his arm to the side, and she straightened, sucking in a breath so she wouldn’t overreact. In the past, he would’ve jumped at the opportunity to joke about being her significant other. Given the situation, it hardly seemed appropriate now. Nevertheless, the loss of contact left her cold. She steadied her resolve, knowing it was not the time to worry about her tumultuous feelings for the man.

“Sergeant Sullivan,” she greeted with a small gesture. “This is Deacon. I may have mentioned his work with the agency.”

“What is it that you do, exactly?” Sullivan asked, light eyes studying him carefully from head to toe as they shook hands.  

Deacon offered a small shrug, a glimmer of his usual self shining through. “That’s a need to know basis.”

Madelyn redirected the conversation, needing answers to the questions burning in her mind. “What happened?” she asked, voice breaking as she fought back a sudden wave of emotion.

Sullivan released a long sigh. “What we gathered from witness reports is that a group of Winter’s men attacked the hospital just before daybreak. They took hostages, including Miss Lands. A police force showed up, but it was a mix of his pocketed men and straight cops. All hell broke loose as soon as I arrived on scene.”

He pointed to the various medical bays. “We’ve got a few downed officers, two nurses, and one of Eddie’s,” he swallowed, the grim expression returning. “One fatality.”

Jenny.

Madelyn nodded, shifting her gaze to a far corner where the lights were dimmed, curtains drawn tight to prevent entry. Outside, two heavily armed officers stood guard, giving the appearance they were protecting a priceless set of jewels rather than a corpse. Jennifer Lands was precious, however, deserving of such safeguarding. The guilt threatened to suffocate Madelyn as she thought—if only Jenny had been under such careful protection when she was alive.

“Where’s Nick?” she barely managed to ask.

“Safe. He woke up an hour ago,” he explained with a deep frown. “He doesn’t know about…” Sullivan shifted uncomfortably. “He’s under the impression we’re here because it was a failed attack on his life.”

“Are you sure it wasn’t?” Madelyn countered.

“Until Winter is caught, I don’t think any of us are safe,” he responded. The sergeant further contemplated her question, fingers tapping at his chin. “I’d like to move him to a new, secure location, but I’m not sure if he’ll agree.”

At least Sullivan understood who he was working with. Nick wasn’t conscious when she’d set up their arrangement, and even before the Eddie Winter case, had never gotten along with the sergeant or Boston’s finest. Considering he was awaking to a new reality in which Eddie Winter was still free and his fiancé was dead, Madelyn wasn’t sure how her partner would react.

“I’ll talk to him,” she said, realizing she’d be the one to tell him about Jenny’s fate—a heavy burden, but it wouldn’t be right if the news came from anyone else.

Sergeant Sullivan escorted the two around the nurse’s station to the opposite side of the emergency bay, to the farthest room with a door. The blinds in the window had been drawn shut, either to stop bystanders from peeking in, or to prevent Nick from seeing more than necessary. A well-dressed detective stood guard, nodding to his superior as they approached. On the other side of the door, a body stood from the row of waiting-room chairs.

“Blue?”

Madelyn didn’t hesitate to embrace Piper as her friend rushed towards over, arms wrapping around her in a tight circle. The usually sarcastic and chipper reporter was now sobbing, face burrowed in the fabric of her friend’s coat. Madelyn consoled her, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill over—if she lost poise now, she’d never be able to face Nick.

“It all happened so fast,” Piper’s muffled voice whispered by her ear. “Jenny—she, she’d stepped out for only a minute and the next thing I knew, Winter’s men were attacking. I shouldn’t have let her out of sight—”

Madelyn hushed her, wanting to take away the blame. If anyone was responsible, it was her—for letting Eddie Winter escape and live out his revenge plot fantasies. Nobody else deserved to shoulder the weight of that blame. Piper slowly pulled away, rubbing at her eyes before releasing a shaky breath. She regarded the two men standing astride with mild discontent but quickly refocused on Madelyn.

“I couldn’t tell Nick,” she spoke, the devastation and exhaustion clear. “He was too delirious, wanting an update on Winter, asking about you…” Piper pursed her lips, preventing herself from weeping once more. “Asking for Jenny.”

There was no stopping the tears now, hazing her vision as she blinked them away so they’d slide down her cheeks. With a small nod, she moved to open Nick’s door, but Piper stopped her, turning her away for one last hushed exchange of words.

“Did—did something happen between you and Deacon?” she asked, glancing over her friend’s shoulder to where he was standing out of earshot with Sergeant Sullivan. Was it that obvious? Madelyn didn’t have the time to explain it was more of a non-event that was causing the palpable tension in the air.

She frowned, wiping the tears from her cheeks. “Not now.”

For once, Piper didn’t dig for more information. The two exchanged one last solemn look before Madelyn slowly let herself into the hospital room. The fluorescent lighting wasn’t as harsh in the small space, but the smell of antiseptic tickled her nose. Nick was propped up in the bed, the thick swath of bandages visible through his gown. He was still connected to an IV, and judging by the way his head rolled, they were keeping his pain managed.

“Hey doll,” he rasped, the green of his eyes dull when they slid open to look at her in the doorway. “Why all the tears?” his lips pulled to the side in some semblance of a smirk. “I’ve never felt better.”  

God—she choked back a sob—she was going to break his heart, and her own in the process. Hesitantly, she approached and stood next to the bed, gasping when his hand reached out grasp hers. Her knees were trembling—hell, her whole body was shaking with the overwhelming anxiety of what she had to say. Nick’s eyebrows furrowed, sensing there was something wrong. He studied her face, eyes lingering across the bruises around her neck. But she shook her head, preventing him from speaking.

“Nick,” she gripped his hand tighter, bracing herself to that spot. “I—I’m so sorry—”

He was perplexed. “What? What for?”

Madelyn didn’t miss a beat. “Jenny.”

It was all she needed to say.

Nick squeezed her hand hard—reactionary—and then simply let go. She watched his face, the clench of his jaw as the realization set in. Their eyes met, silently confirming the horrible truth—Jenny, his Jenny was dead. Madelyn had never seen Nick cry, but there was a first time for everything. Silent, as they streamed down his face and left tracks on his skin. She hadn’t known what to expect, but somehow, the subdued reaction was all the more unnerving—like his soul had departed, leaving behind an empty shell.

Then, he asked the inevitable. “Where is Winter?”

Unable to hide the truth from him, she answered honestly. “I don’t know.”  

Nick recoiled, expression swiftly shifting as the anger bubbled to the surface. “What do you mean, you don’t know?”

“I—” Madelyn gaped, stumbling over what to say. “I shot him.”

She left out the details in-between, even though the marks on her skin were clear as day. She continued, struggling to stay in check—quickly spiraling when it wasn’t fair to Nick, who had every right to his emotions.

“I had to help save you,” she explained, tentatively resting her hand against his arm. “He—he got away.”

“He should be dead!” Nick barked, tearing away from her.

Madelyn flinched at the sound of his voice, echoing through the room. She couldn’t deny him the rage, however—he was right—and it was her fault. No explanation or apologies would ever suffice for the grief she’d caused. Nick started to shift from the bed, blinded by his fury.

“I’m going to find that bastard and blow his brains out!”

The door to the hospital room swung open, two nurses shooing Madelyn away as they practically pushed Nick back into the bed, one deftly administering a sedative that had him complacent within moments, and unconscious the next. Piper and Sullivan stood in the doorway, watching intently, parting to make room for her exit. She nearly collapsed in the closest chair but knew she couldn’t succumb to the darkness yet.

“Do you have any leads on Winter’s possible location?” she asked, surprising the two with her demeanor.

“Miss Hardy, I’ve got the rest of my best men working this, and officers on loan from Salem and Nahant combing the city,” he explained, trying to set her at ease. “You don’t need to do the legwork anymore.”

“Yes,” she argued, glancing to Piper who understood the determination and remorse she was carrying. “Yes I do.”

The reporter nodded at the sergeant. “We have our own resources. Our own informants. Blue just might turn up something your best men can’t.”

Sullivan relented with a long sigh. “Please, at least take a police escort—”

“No,” she protested, flicking her gaze to where Deacon was leaning against the opposite wall, expression unreadable as ever. That is, until she spoke, and his lips twisted into a frown. “I need to do this alone.”

The group said nothing, though she wondered if any of them truly agreed with her sentiment. Regardless, she had a plan, and needed to follow through with it.

“I’ve placed my faith in you Danny,” she said, glancing back into Nick’s room with a solemn expression. The sergeant silently nodded, understanding her meaning. “Don’t make me question that choice.”

The Old State House used to be the seat of Massachusetts government, until the New State House was built to replace it, standing tall for over a century. While Mayor McDonough occupied the new building and city hall, the Old State House doubled as a museum and John Hancock’s base of operations. One of the last places of refuge in Scollay Square, the mayor’s brother had built a reputation for himself as a trusted member of society. Still a somewhat shady character—you wouldn’t want to double-cross him—but he took care of his own. Fed the hungry, ran grassroot campaigns for the underprivileged, and was currently running a fierce campaign in an effort to kick the older McDonough from office. While Madelyn had limited run-ins with the man in the past, she knew he was somebody she could trust. Especially when it came to helping Nick and hunting down Eddie Winter.

Of the people, for the people—she regarded the red banner strung from the overhead balcony before entering the building, noting the sign that directed her upstairs if she was looking for ‘the offices of Mr. Hancock’. On the second story landing, she was greeted by a familiar face, though his actions were troublesome.

“Robert?”

MacCready grimaced at the formal use of his name, briefly pausing in his pacing to regard her as he took a long drag of his cigarette. He had never quite looked his age, but right now, he looked even worse for wear.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, glancing around. “Is everything okay?”

“I should be asking you that,” he responded, shaking his head. “Heard what happened at the hospital. To Nick,” he frowned, stopping to frown. “To Jenny.”

“But Eddie Winter is still out there? And here I am, a rat that helped you guys chase him down!” he continued, rushing through his words as he smoked through one cigarette and lit another. “I could be next!”

Madelyn sighed, wringing her hands together as she listened to the fear in his voice. Sullivan had made a similar notion—nobody was safe. As long as Eddie Winter remained free, anybody could be his next victim. She was about to offer her sympathy when the door behind him creaked open, revealing Hancock.

“Look who it is,” he greeted with an easy grin. By his side, a young boy was holding his hand, nervously hiding behind the trail of his red coat. “Did I mention how your pacing is scaring the kid?”

MacCready straightened, flicking his half-smoked cigarette to the ground, snubbing it out with his boot. “Sorry.”

“You ask me to babysit, and this is the thanks I get?” Hancock softly laughed, encouraging the young boy to step out from behind him. He crossed over to the mercenary, gripping his hand instead, switching his curious gaze towards Madelyn.

“This is Duncan, my son,” MacCready explained. “Can you say hi to the pretty lady?”

She smiled, maybe for the first time that day as Duncan waved his little fingers in her direction. “Hello.”

Hancock noticed her disposition and waved her over to his office. “Okay, the grownups are going to chat now,” he teased, earning an eyeroll from MacCready. “Bye-bye Duncan!”

“Bye-bye, John,” the little boy responded. “Bye-bye, pretty lady.”

Hancock hovered his arm around her waist as he led her inside, gesturing her to sit in the large, leather chair before his desk. Instead of sitting in his chair, he leaned against the sturdy oak, and crossed his arms.

“First, I want to offer my condolences,” he said, lips twisting into a grimace. “I know Nicky and I aren’t close, but it ain’t right what they did to Jenny.”

Madelyn nodded, twisting her fingers into the fabric of her dress. “That’s why I’m here, actually.”

“What, for sympathy?” Hancock smirked.

“No,” she furrowed her brows, remembering how difficult the man could be. “For help. Eddie Winter. He’s still out there. I want to know if you know anything, if you’ve heard anything.”

Hancock’s eyebrows jumped up in surprise, but he relaxed. “That’s a big ask, sister. But I’m happy to oblige. Winter is no friend of mine.”

“There were rumors that the police knew Eddie was planning on going after Valentine and Jenny, but it seemed so outrageous that nobody wanted to believe he’s be so brazen to go after a civilian.”

Madelyn knew there was truth to that based on the holotape with Eddie Winter’s vague threat. To hear there was more behind his recorded warnings, that the police knew—she was horrified. Though, it explained why so many corrupt officers showed up at New England Medical Center, only to cornered by Sullivan and his team. Jenny’s death, it seemed, was inevitable.

���I’m going to say something controversial, but hey, its kind of my shtick,” Hancock shrugged. “Did you ever stop to think Jenny was allowed to die, so they’d have something concrete to go after Winter for? This city doesn’t give a shit about mobsters being offed. But a beautiful, innocent dame?”

He cocked his head to the side, raising his hands. “Talk of the town.”

Her gut reaction was to stand and punch the blonde man’s grin off of his face. Reason and sensibility held her back as she thought about what he was suggesting. One person came to mind.

“Do you know anybody at the Boston Bugle?”

“Why?”

Madelyn shifted in her seat. “If we can’t find Winter the old-fashioned way, it’s time to lure him out. Scare him out with what we know. Piper’s tried with her smear campaigns, but it isn’t enough.”

Hancock nodded, understanding where she was heading. “Yeah, I got connections. And if they aren’t willing, I can be…persuasive.”

She stood, grasping his hand in a firm handshake. Surprisingly, the man pulled her into a loose hug, patting her affectionately on the back. When he pulled away, there was a subdued smile pulling at his lips.

“Whatever you need, sister.”

It was late by the time Madelyn left the Old State House, and common sense told her it was best to head home. Yet, she refused a ride from Hancock and neglected to share a cab with MacCready, insisting she would be fine on her own as she wandered aimlessly down the sidewalk. Walking alone in the dead of night in Boston Common—any rational person would call her crazy. Maybe she had a death wish. Or maybe, she was hoping Eddie Winter would surprise her from some dark alleyway and she’d get a second chance at taking him down. Realistically, though, she wasn’t sure if she’d be capable even if with a new opportunity for revenge. That belonged to Nick, and Nick alone.

Madelyn headed west, lingering for a long moment by the park gates. She hadn’t been there since early January, and before then, she had avoided the area ever since Nate’s murder. Instead of drifting towards the spot in the street where she’d lost a part of herself years ago, she stared down at the strip of red brick that signified the Freedom Trail. She studied the bronze plate, frowning at the red paint that had faded over time.

“Dame like you shouldn’t be out this late.”

Deacon. She twisted around to find him leaned against the nearest streetlight, hands tucked deep into his coat pockets. It mirrored their first—second—meeting, albeit the tone and dynamic between them had changed significantly since that cold, snowy night. Even so, she was glad to see him, heart a nervous pitter-patter in her chest when she thought about the circumstances keeping them apart.

“Nice to know you’re still following me around,” she responded lightheartedly, offering a small smile.

He approached—careful measured steps before he was standing in front of her with a similar, hesitant expression. “Of course,” he replied. “Someone’s got to.”

“Come on,” he said next, raising his arm to silently encourage her to link elbows.

Madelyn reciprocated, savoring the sensation, unsure of how long the physical contact would last. They had crossed an unspoken boundary—almost kissed—and now, she feared their bond would never be the same. It was selfish of her to want more, how greedy she felt to have his hands on her body, but it wasn’t meant to be. For now, she’d take what little comfort she could get.

She didn’t ask him where they were going as he led them further away from Boston Common, closer to Trinity Plaza and the library. It wasn’t until they circled the street corner and paused that she realized his intended destination—Trinity Church. The tall building, with its exquisite arches and stonework, stained glass windows shimmering in the moonlight stood as a sanctuary in the center of the Back Bay district. A beacon of hope to many, but to Madelyn, the sight made her anxious.

“Come on,” Deacon encouraged again, gently tugging her along when her feet didn’t budge from the sidewalk. She steadied herself, gripping his arm tight as she moved. If this is where he wanted to go, then she could find the resolve to follow.

Inside, the church was devoid of congregants, the lone priest silently acknowledging the two as they passed through the corridor and between the many rows of pews. Deacon led her towards the front corner of the expansive building, their footsteps echoing off the vaulted ceiling as they went. He stopped before the small dais of burning votive candles and shifted his arm to gently hold her hand. Growing up in a devoutly Catholic home, she was more than familiar with their intended use, and figured Deacon shared a similar upbringing—with all his biblical references and insistence on Railroad safehouse locations being abandoned churches, she’d be surprised if that turned out to be another one of his lies. She was only confused as to why he’d brought them there now. Madelyn couldn’t remember the last time she’d prayed, let alone in a church, and she hadn’t lit a candle for someone since Nate’s funeral. The memory had her trembling, squeezing Deacon’s hand so she wouldn’t collapse to the floor in a fit of tears.

“Remember when I said it couldn’t get much worse?” Madelyn recalled, swallowing the lump in her throat as she watched the flickering flames. “I’m afraid I was lying.”

“I do it all the time,” he responded with a cynic, half-smile and then reached out for a loose taper, passing one to her free hand. She dipped the end into the flame before passing it along to a new candle, watching as the wick ignited.

“For Nick,” she whispered, repeating the action for another name, the prayer silent in her mind. “For Jenny,” her voice wavered as she thought about how fresh that grief was. Some wounds never healed. Her vision was hazy with tears when she spoke again, lighting one last candle. “For Nate.”

Deacon’s grip on her hand tightened and she glanced to him, watching intently as he mimicked her movements, lighting his own candle. She figured that lone flame signified all the Railroad lives that had been lost—friends and colleagues that he couldn’t protect—like High Rise, or Henry.

He sighed. “For Barbara.”

Madelyn stared at his profile, unable to respond. An overwhelming sense of curiosity was begging her to ask—but she remained silent, releasing a shaky breath only when she realized she’d been holding it in. He turned his head, ever so slightly, and she knew he was looking at her through the darkened shades. She could feel the rapid beat of his pulse along his wrist, terrified he would pull away. But he stayed perfect still, just watching her.

“I’m a liar,” he suddenly spoke, not in the usual teasing manner he admitted to. This was anguish—regret. “Everybody knows it. I make no secret of it. Because the truth is, I’m a fraud. To my core.”

She didn’t know what to say, baffled at where this sorrow was coming from. Then again, maybe the events of the last few days, weeks and months had finally caught up to Deacon, and she had been the catalyst. Pushing him too far by asking too much of him, revealing too much of his true self. As if she didn’t have enough regrets.

“When I was young—God, how long ago now—I was…” he winced, eyebrows knitting together. “I was scum. Violent—”

Madelyn interjected. “We all make mistakes.”

“These weren’t just mistakes,” he protested. “You have no idea what I did.”

She gave him the chance to explain, and he did, continuing with a heavy sigh.

“Freshman year at Massachusetts Bay, I ran with a gang,” he started. “This was when all the crime families still had their footholds in Boston, and the Gunners had their fair share of crime statistics. We were the University Point Deathclaws—sounds cliché, but we were ruthless. Terrorized South Boston and Quincy just as much as those Gunner bastards.”

“Were you really that bad?” she asked, chest tightening. Madelyn wasn’t sure if it was in fear of the truth, or sadness that he’d held this back from her for so long.

“Worse,” Deacon muttered, turning away. “We kept egging each other on. Started with some property damage, graduated to some beat downs. Then, inevitably, a murder.”

Madelyn refrained from reacting, even though her heart was racing—so loud, she could hear it pounding in her ears. He had to be selling her another one of his lies, but there was a certain level of sincerity in his tone that told her otherwise. It was all true. He didn’t say anything for a long time, fingers twitching in her grasp, unable to look in her direction.

“Believe me when I say I didn’t know what they had planned to do that night until I was called up to help dispose of the body. That was enough for me,” his jaw tightened. “It was his eyes. Those eyes haunt me.”

Deacon continued, the burning candles reflecting off his shades. “As soon as I was able, I turned my brothers in, turned witness for the prosecution, and walked away scot free. It wasn’t fair, but back then, I only cared about getting as far away from the Deathclaws as possible. I broke all contact, transferred to D.C. and moved on with my life.”

“Then one day I found someone,” he said, pausing to release an uneven breath. “She saw something in me I didn’t know was there. Barbara, well, she was…She just was. I didn’t deserve her, but I married her all the same.”

Madelyn swallowed down the pain that burned at her throat, unable to ignore the way her stomach twisted into knots. Another woman—a woman who had loved him, and who he had loved in return. She cursed at the jealous thoughts running through her mind, knowing she had no right to them. Not when she had experienced a similar past—a profound love that had slipped through her fingers, lost forever.

“We were trying for kids,” he admitted, digging the knife in further—but he had no way of knowing that she and Nate had similar plans before his death. “Being with her made me feel like the whole world had a chance. She could do that to people.”

It was incredibly difficult to force herself to speak, to sound genuine. “She sounds special.”

“She was,” he responded. “The Claws found out about where I was, came to get their revenge. There was…blood.”

“I—I’m so sorry,” her breath left her in a strangled gasp. Even though she could infer the answer, she had to ask. “They…they killed her?”

Deacon glanced her way. “Yes.”

“I don’t remember much clearly after that. I know I killed most of them—self-defense maybe, but I must’ve made a big impression. The Railroad made contact, helped me disappear. They were sympathetic, seeing I’d just lost my wife. And, well, what I did afterwards.”

“I had no idea,” she murmured, shellshocked by his confession. He’d killed—found the revenge she’d been denied after losing a beloved—she wasn’t sure if she should be terrified of him, or in awe.

“Nobody does,” Deacon replied, nearly broken. Her heart leapt at the realization—she was the only one that knew. “I don’t even know why I lie anymore. But I can’t tell the truth. Everyone—Tom, Dez, Carrington, you…” he trailed off with a despondent sigh. “They deserve to be in the Railroad. I don’t. I’m everything wrong with this whole fucking Commonwealth, just as bad as Winter’s men who’ve been murdering and corrupting the city.”

“Charmer, you’re—” He squeezed her hand like it was the only thing keeping him rooted to that spot. “I don’t deserve—”

The words died on his tongue, leaving her to speculate what he couldn’t say. Madelyn always knew they were two sides to the same coin but didn’t realize how alike their pasts were. They had walked mirrored paths to end up in that exact moment, clasped hand-in-hand like two converging souls finding their way back to one another. Nothing had ever left her so confused, yet so full of clarity at the same time, every past flicker of emotion she’d held for him validated in one single moment. Fate had brought them together—a cruel fate—but fate nonetheless, and Madelyn didn’t want to let go.

“Why tell me the truth now?” she asked, barely above a whisper.

Deacon’s response was an action—simple enough—the gentle swipe of his thumb across her fingers, over the spot where she should’ve been wearing her wedding ring. She understood immediately, thinking back to the shared moment in her apartment and his hesitation to kiss her. But now, he’d lowered his emotional guard, let her beyond the walls where no one had been in years. He needed her to accept him for who he was—not just devoid of his disguises and gimmicks—but without the lies and stories. All the flaws, the mistakes—he needed her to understand he was still seeking atonement for the past.

So was she.

Madelyn caught him off guard when she turned towards him, gently tugging on his hand so he’d face her properly. He stared at her expectantly, lips parted as if he had something to say. Their conversation still weighed heavily on her mind—she wanted to kiss him, but there was still too much grief consuming her heart. Without saying another word, she wrapped her arms around his torso, pressing her face against his shoulder as she hugged him, hoping it would be enough. Instantly, his arms enveloped her, tucking her tight against his chest as he rested his chin on her head. Wrapped in the warmth of his embrace, she felt at peace, listening to the pounding of his heart.

“I’m in your corner, Deacon,” she said, quietly mumbling the words into his shoulder, echoing a sentiment he’d shared with her before. “I’m with you, till the bitter end.”

[fridays--child]

A Lesson in Vulnerability

Was going for smut, ended up with the feels. Please enjoy(?) another rough, unedited post, including baby's first lemon in a decade.

Prompt “Of course deacon has a lot of disguises. One for each personality.”

Rating: 18+

“I’ve never met someone who has so many clothes. Except, you know, me.”

Galatea huffed a laugh. “What, you’re not the only one that has a different disguise for each personality?”

Meeting her eyes through their reflections distorted by the cracked full length mirror, Deacon placed his hand over his heart.

“You wound me. But seriously, did you swipe a whole Fallon’s store?”

Rolling her eyes at him, Galatea responded, “Is that where you got yours from?”

Deacon had never met a person who could transform herself quite like Galatea, who could change her whole being to attract or deflect attention as needed. With her hair up and under a hat, shoulders slumped in a man’s shirt and slacks, she was utterly unremarkable. Just another grimy wastelander, trying to eke a living before the rads, raiders, or bigots dug you an early grave. With a little lipstick and dark curls around her face, she was a bombshell come to life, a pre-war Aphrodite in a wiggle dress and heels. A magnet with a dimmer switch, pushing and pulling those in her wake. A human chameleon, no face change needed.

If he could choose a favourite (and he knew he had no right to), he’d probably say this incarnation was his. In her tiny green Goodneighbor apartment, with her shoes and jeans kicked off, analysing every item in her wardrobe before lovingly folding them, packing the chosen items into their shared duffle bag. She had kicked her shoes and jeans off as soon as she walked in the door, her makeup nearly worn off from the days travel back north. Even after a two week sabbatical, the closest thing to R&R he could offer, she still cackled with a nervous energy, a soft but increasing hum indistinguishable to those who didn’t know her.

It felt almost domestic, a wink of his long-forgotten earlier life. A false intimacy between two liars and secret keepers, ignoring the gulf that still existed between them despite the stings and firefights and sex.

But if he was about to put both of them in just stupid amounts of danger, he would take it greedily.

Galatea scrunched her nose at an old fisherman’s sweater, throwing into the bag before picking up a modest evening dress. She whistled at Deacon to pause shaving the two week’s growth from his face, holding it up to his mirrored eyeline.

“Do you think Mags would like this? Or is it not,” Galatea mimed a triangle from her collarbones to sternum, “enough?”

“Probably a little conservative for her.”

“All good, I’ll send it to Piper then. Unless,” she smirked, “you were planning to gender bend again next time you face swap?”

He snickered at her, bringing the straight razor back to his jaw. “‘Fraid I don’t have the decolletage for that doll, I’d never do it justice. Why, would you like that?”

She shrugged nonchalantly. “It wouldn’t be my first rodeo with a woman.”

Temporarily stunned, Deacon gulped as the blood left his head and headed south, earning a dirty barked laugh from Galatea.

“Oh, now you’ve nicked yourself, you degenerate. Mind out of the gutter.”

She threw him a face cloth from across the room, before dragging one of the two dining chairs across the room to the small basin and mirror before straddling it backwards. Pushing her two long braids towards her back, she looked up at the older man expectedly.

“Go on then.”

“Beg pardon?” She kept staring. “If you’re after a steam and shave, you might be knocking on the door. I gotta tell ya, if that’s your stubble, you’ve gotta teach me how to get such a close shave.”

For the first time in the months they worked together, Galatea’s voice wobbled.

“Cut my hair please.”

Deacon frowned down at her. “Are you sure?” When she nodded, he added, “why are you so nervous? I’ve seen you destroy coursers and super mutants practically laughing.”

Huffing slightly, she undid the buttons of her shirt. For a minute, he was momentarily lost for words. He had always been aware of the mottled skin that ran from the edge of the left-hand  edge of her jaw down. Had wondered once or twice if the reason she always wore a high neck or scarf was to hide it, perhaps selfishly wondering if it made her too recognisable to go undercover with him. Each button she undid revealed a greater expanse of burnt flesh, melting into the soft cognac of her untouched skin and disappearing underneath the worn bra she wore. Galatea’s eyes flicked down to it.

“Well, there’s no use hiding it now, and it’s not like I’ll have time to do this mop.”

Deacon nodded, gulping. “Where, ah.. How long do you want it?”

“Whatever, so long as I can still tie it back.”

Flicking open the mounted first aid kit, he grabbed out the rusted scissors, before carefully lining up the two plaits and snipping them in line with her scarred chin. Galatea’s eyes dropped to her lap, murmuring.

“I can’t believe you convinced me to infiltrate the Brotherhood of Steel.”

Deacon scoffed, fervently lining up the dark layers of her locks to make sure they’re even.

“I can’t believe Des thought we were the ones to do it.”

“Mmm. I mean, are you even able to still pass the fitness test, old man?”

Deacon pulled a face in the mirror, moving around to tame the waves around her face. “Careful with the guy whose cutting your hair, sweetheart.” Galatea gently slapped his arm in response.

“I swear to God, if you give me a hack job and I need to get a buzz cut, I will utter your recall code.”

A slightly awkward, but common silence fell between them. Deacon cleared his throat, pushing the edges of her shirt down her shoulders so he could blow off the stray hairs around her neck.

“I, uh,  was wondering what you had hiding under there. Got to admit, slightly disappointed it wasn’t the Death Bunnies chest piece I was imagining.”

Galatea choked a hint of a laugh, betrayed by the wobble of her voice, pretty mouth hiding behind her fist.

“Trust me, even this,” she motioned to her chest, “would be preferable to tattoo Deak.”

Resting his hands on her neck, he gave her hair a final appraisal, catching the tremble as she swallowed. Meeting her glassy eyes in the mirror, he lifted her head up to meet his.

“Hey, what’s wrong? Don’t tell me you’re offended about the Death Bunnies tattoo. I told ya, I’m happy to be matchies if you are.”

She didn’t answer, shaking her head.

“Is it about this?”

“It’s stupid,” she muttered, shaking her head once more. “I should be used to it by now, but it still bothers me. It’s a reminder that this is real, and that I can’t go back.”

Staring into his glasses, she added, “Do you ever cling to the old parts of yourself, Deak?”

Galatea had a habit of getting of close, of nearly drawing the parts of him he kept buried deep to the surface. A pandora’s box of ugly truths that would mark him as a sinner even to the faithless. He could offer no words of comfort without incinerating them both.

So when she leaned into the fire, he responded with igniting the only common ground they both held.

Sliding one hand to trace her jaw, the other hand’s finger tips traced the edges where her smooth skin turned rough. These fingers were replaced with his lips, chaste at first before her breath hitched. He mouthed at her neck, wishing his tongue and teeth could heal the residual sting. She rolled her neck at his touch, lips catching the hand on her jaw and sucking the fingers there.

Deacon knelt in front of her, continuing his ministrations down her breasts and abs, roughly pulling at her shirt and bra to continue his pilgrimage along the mottled cognac. Galatea melted in the chair, sliding forward as he lifted her hips to pull off the unneeded garments, along with her faded, once pretty underwear. He ran a thumb down along her heat, and the egotist inside him cheered at the wet dripping from her lips.

“Spread your legs for me,” he growled, nipping at the strong thighs. “I want you to watch yourself.”

It was an undeserved gift to watch this woman above him, undulating and moaning as he mouthed her cunt. Something only fitting for a man with a less blasphemous tongue than his. But they both worshipped at the altar of liars and cheats, and if there was one good deed within his power that could push him towards redemption, this would be it. To grant Galatea a taste of heaven, despite the purgatory she had wandered for years.

Jesus, he was getting sentimental in his old age.

Deacon fucked his tongue into her, lapping hungrily at the soft pink folds. She seldom came when he was inside her (something she assured him occurred with all previous partners), but her thighs shook around his shoulders, and damn it if he wasn’t going to try. He slipped one thick finger in, then a second, searching and crooking as he doubled his attention on her clit.

Galatea swore incoherently, a rambling rant of “ Deacon, fuck, Deacon!” as she gripped the arms of the chair. A broken sob ripped through her chest, and she slumped against him, roughly pushing him away while her breathing laboured. He could feel wet salty tears against his neck, and he held her face in his hands.

“Hey hey hey, shh. Galatea, it’s okay, okay? It’s okay.” He kissed her gently. “Was it too much?”

She nodded slowly, consciously trying to control her breathing.

“Just got a bit overstimulated. Give me a sec?” He nodded. He had been a tender man once, attentive, and he allowed the ghost of that man kiss her softly, letting her taste herself. She licked herself off his mouth, reaching towards his glasses as they bumped against the bridge of her nose.

“Take them off for me, Deak.”

A secret for a secret, a fair trade. He hesitated for a second, then let her remove them, her dark eyes analysing his face with the same intensity she held whenever she faced a new problem. It was a bit like staring into the sun. He wished it would burn him until there was nothing left but ash.

“Huh.”

“What?”

“Pretty. I wouldn’t have guessed your eyes were blue.”

He groaned, silencing her compliment with a kiss before resting his forehead on hers.

“You were so fucking close.”

“I know.”

“You taste so fucking good. Tell me what you want. Anything.”

She kissed him again, hungrily, small hands gripping this throat. They could count on one hand the times he had kissed her before this, even if he had lost count of the times they had slept together before this. He moaned into her mouth, resulting in a breathless chuckle.

“I want you to fuck me.”

Deacon lifted her up roughly, carrying her to the bed. He was an older man, sore, with a crink in his back and knees that throbbed every time it rained. And yet, he bargained, he would take this small act of self-flagellation for the sweet prize it held. A little death, and, more importantly, his best agent at her best.

She giggled at his involuntary grunt of pain, and shooed the small calico kitten off of her bed Deacon stumbled towards. Pushing him back towards the pillows at the head, she straddled him. He felt thick, hot and throbbing beneath her, and distracted hands pulled off his jeans whilst he ripped his holey white t-shirt off. Licking her palm, she pumped him slowly, before lowering herself onto his cock and hissing at that sting. Even if she was no longer 210 years untouched, she still savoured the stretch, the feeling of him filling her. Deacon growled, gripping her hips and fighting the urge to fuck up into her. Grabbing her wrists in one hand, he moved them from where they covered her chest to grip the metal bed frame.

“No more hiding.” He used the other to roll her hips against his, steadying the jerky rhythm she was finding and meeting her thrust for thrust.

Galatea picked up her pace, rising and sinking, punctuating each snap of her hips with a breathy moan. Deacon busied his mouth on her chest, sucking and nipping at her full chest, tracing the small inked shapes and initials that littered over her ribs and arms. Galatea rode him wildly, intimately, containing none of the usual composure she usually held, even in their most perverse moments. He mouthed the S.A.M, italicised in black on her wrist, desperately trying to ignore the lick of fire in his filling his belly, racing Galatea to their release. She huffed desperately, ungracefully, as his fingers traced haphazard shapes around the bud between her thighs.

“Deaks, Deacon , I’m so close. So close.”

“I know baby, fuck. What do you need.”

She sobbed. “My name, please. Say it. My real one.”

Her cunt contracted around his cock, impossibly tight and deliciously hot, and he fucked up desperately into her, crushing her bodily to his chest. He could feel that familiar pull, stretching and teetering on the edge, and he sunk his teeth into her neck, bruising the unharmed side of her through

“Jesus, Gene. Imogene . I’m gonna, shit, I’m going to come!”

Galatea unravelled around him, sobbing, splendid and terrible in her climax. Deacon pushed her off him, letting her fall against the mattress and pumping himself as he spilled over his stomach and her thighs. He fell back against the mattress, breathing heavily, as his partner’s slowly steadied. Pushing the hair off from her face, he met her eyes, before wrapping a lazy arm low along her back. His muscles burned, and he longed to sleep. When was the last time he slept in a bed?

“You okay?”

Galatea nodded. “Yes.”

“Mmm.”

A beat of silence, then. “Deacon?”

“Mhmm?”

“Thanks.”

“S’all good.” He yawned, stretching his spare arm above his head. “Thanks for letting me see you naked.”

Gene slapped his aching abs. “Shut up and go to sleep.”

[ilcaeryx]

Tenacity: Chapter 10 - Kingpin [Bakugou Katsuki/Reader]

SUMMARY: You should not have challenged Katsuki to a snowball fight. What did you expect? To win? LUL 

TAGS: Bakugou Katsuki/Reader, reader-insert, comfort, soft, fluff, romance, reader being a crazy bitch, snowball fight, cheesy

NOTES: Part of the Tenacity reader-insert compilation! I had fun writing this.

Taking a shortcut through the still and untouched forest sucked, Katsuki veering off from your usual route into it without a word. Like a baby duck struggling after mama duck, you followed his literal footsteps. You bounced from leg to leg, fitting your boot inside the larger imprints he left behind. Snow had fallen during the night, evident by everything being covered in white powder. It could have been the secret palace of a drug lord, snow adorning the branches and dead vegetation causing gentle billows beneath the matte glow.

“Do we have to walk through the snow? We could’ve taken the normal way,” you complained, glaring down at your burning thighs. Even with Katsuki paving the way, it was quite the workout.

“Why are you complaining?” Katsuki said, white breath trailing after him as if he were a dragon exhaling smoke. He shuffled through the thick snow layer with powerful strides and arms reinforcing the motions. “You’re not the one plowing the way.”

His dumb answer fired you up. In short succession, you trampled into the indentations until he was half a step ahead. You smacked his behind with whatever force you could muster, the glove softening the slap. “I don’t care, you brute. This is a workout routine I did not want.”

Katsuki had the nerve to send you an indignant glare over his shoulder, nose bridge scrunched. “Don’t follow next time then, dumbass.”

“You know that’s not an option.”

If he went somewhere, you’d tread in his footsteps regardless of where you would end up. Whether he knew this or not, you would never let him out of sight. As long as his back was visible, you’d keep moving towards it.

“Everything’s a choice, quit bitching.” Katsuki grasped a low-hanging branch obstructing the way and bent it to the side as he continued onwards. He waited until you were past it to release it, branch swooping to its original position. Without breaking a sweat, he kept going.

Your lungs sparkled with pain, every inhalation bringing raw, crispy air through your airways. You hid your mouth and nose beneath your winter jacket’s collar, alleviating the pain by breathing out hot air.

Katsuki hadn’t noticed that you had stopped, so you scooped up snow and hardened it between your fingerless mittens into a nice ball. Aiming carefully, you threw it and hit him square between the shoulders. It left traces of white on his black double-breasted jacket. He stopped in his tracks and ditched his hands into his pockets.

“Stop walking so fast,” you said, voice muffled behind cloth. “I’m about to die.”

He turned around, his cheeks reddened from the cold. “Power through it.”

You bent down and created yet another snowball, padding it within your palms.

“If you throw that, I’ll return the favour,” Katsuki warned, eyebrows shooting up in a quick display of aggression.

Yeah, yeah… Whatever you say, blondie. You’re bluffing, you thought. He genuinely did use everything at his disposal whenever he felt someone challenged him, including you, so you could be on thin ice depending on his mood.

“Your aim is trash,” you outright stated in a matter-of-fact tone, deadpanning through the cockiness inside you.

Once he started moving towards you, you instantly regretted everything and screamed, because his full-toothed grin and low posture exuded confidence.

Fuck this shit, he was going to kick your ass to outer space. You backtracked your footsteps in a frantic dash, ducking beneath branches and sliding across icy parts.

“Why are you running?” he bellowed. “I’m gonna fucking destroy you! Die!”

His taunts caused your screaming to increase in pitch and you didn’t turn around to see whether it amused him or not. This game made you feel thrill and actual fear.

“Fight, Y/N! Fight me, you coward!”

“NO!” Your screaming caught in your throat as your body jerked backwards, reflexes trying to keep you upright. You flailed around and hit the ground, fall broken by your thick jacket.

The crunchiness of footsteps ceased and a pair appeared in your field of view. Katsuki slid down onto his knees and snatched your hands, joining them behind your back in an automatic, trained movement.

“Gotcha.” 

“I’m sorry!” you pleaded through your nervous laughter, thrashing your arms against his solid grip. It didn’t hurt but you wouldn’t get away without his approval.

“I’m sure you are.”

The pressure from your wrists eased and you drew your arms forward, pressure replaced by him collapsing his upper body over your back, your bodies forming a T. You groaned when he put one elbow on your lower back. Your breathing was somewhat constrained.

“Heavy!” you complained, clumsily hitting him with an open hand on his side.

Katsuki barked out a laugh. “Should’ve thought of that before you hit me with a snowball, lightweight.”

You heard him dig around in the snow behind you. His glove presented a handful in front of you and you attempted to shield your exposed neckline with your arms.

“Sucker,” he said and forced his hand between your chest-bone and shirt, snow spreading across your chest and into your bra. You shrieked in surprise from the cold and you instinctively brought your hands up to dig out the snow. That earned you another fistful in the nape, Katsuki pressing it down between your shoulder blades, the snow absolutely burning against your warm skin. He didn’t relent as you struggled beneath him, howling and shrieking. At last he rubbed snow all over your hair. When he felt like he’d had enough retribution, he pushed himself off you, breathing suddenly a simple task.

“It burns,” you said, throwing off your gloves to remove whatever snow hadn’t melted. “You got snow into my bra, Katsuki.”

He settled down again, his knees digging into the ground.

“Next time, I hope you’ll think twice before trying being a jackass,” he said, roughly brushing snow away from your hair. 

You crawled up into sitting position, sneering at him. He scoffed at you, scooting closer.

Katsuki flicked his index and middle fingers in an inward motion, his gloves making the movement seem graceless. “Sit up, Y/N. I’ll get it out for you.”

You bent your head towards him and he untangled the snow clumps from your messy hair. Soon the water was absorbed by your clothes and your hair gathered into a terrible looking mess.

“It’s unfair that I can’t fight you on equal terms,” you said, trying to comb your hair with numb fingers.

“That’s what everyone says.”

You opened your mouth in mock surprise, drawing your brows together. “Such hubris.”

Katsuki lowered himself onto his back, contemplating the sky above.

“One day I’ll let you win,” he said and shut his eyes. “That’s what you want, isn’t it?”

“I don’t want your pity win.” You gave up on your hair with a sigh. Once you got home, you’d have to brush it properly or it’d be a bitch to untangle later. 

“That’s a good attitude.”

“I get enough pity from everyone else by dating you, so I don’t need any from you.”

You squealed when he thrashed up towards you and clamped his teeth on your thigh, delicately biting down. He let go, resting his cheek against you. It was impossible to resist giving his hair a few light tugs.

“Pity, huh?” he said and rested a hand on your opposite thigh. “The peasants can say all they want. In the end, I’m the one who got the girl. They can stay salty for all I care.”

“If I had by chance ended up with someone else, would I have been a peasant too?”

“Don’t kid yourself.” Katsuki’s hands slid around your waist, joining together behind your back. “That would never have happened. I’m the only one that can handle you; you’re too damn crazy for just about anyone else.”

Your body bloomed in pangs of heat, your chest and the pit of your stomach aching in a pleasant way. Hoping he wouldn’t see your giddy smile, you brushed some snow off his back. “Same goes for you.”

“Damn right, baby.”

Your waist protested when he released you and you felt like this moment had passed by too fast. The wet cloth rubbed uncomfortably against your skin as you also got up. “I’m cold.”

Katsuki eyed your front, snow lodged everywhere. 

Yes, that was all you, you napkin, you commented inside your head.

“You should head back home,” he said, grasping your cheek with his fingers and tugging gently. Reluctantly, he added, “I’ll get the stuff we need myself.”

“I told you before, I’m not going anywhere without you.”

His face became blank, an empty mirage reflecting your own serious one. For some reason, you perceived glow of admiration in his eyes.

“Yeah,” he said, his voice slightly thicker than before, “I know.”

I hope you all enjoyed it, please like and/or reblog if you did!

I listened to Baby Don't Stop by NCT U while writing the draft, which worked tbh, and Pied Piper by BTS during the re-write.

[sillylittlewritings0]

Leaving Normal

Bucky Barnes x reader

• Peter Quil x reader (platonic)

-ENDGAME SPOILERS

-Go no further if you have not seen Endgame and don’t want it to be spoiled

Warnings: Angst but only for a second/ mentions of sex and kind of smutty but nothing R rated

Y/n lost Bucky in the snap, and during the final battle, finally got him back by her side. Now they are trying to pick up the pieces of the aftermath, together.

———————————————————————

*flashback*

Struggling to get back up after being knocked down countless times by the Titan, you look up toward Steve. His eyes are fierce, yet fearful at the same time. He straps on his broken shield, a bad omen it seemed, and held his hand out for me to take. You grasped his hand as he pulled you up to your feet. The two of you looked at each other, and nodded. Steve was right, this was the fight of your lives, and with Thanos’s approaching army, it seemed like it would be your last. You both knew going in to this, the odds would be against your side, heavily. One thing for certain, is if you couldn’t protect the Earth and its people, you will damn sure avenge it. You readied your weapons and held a fighting stance to get ready to attack. As you did, you said what you thought would be your final thoughts. ‘Bucky, I love you. See you soon.’

“Wait!” Steve held you back, as he held his communications closely to his ear. Confused, you were about to ask him what the hell was going on, when T’Challa and Shuri appeared out of an orange portal, along with Okoye by their side. With them came all of the Wakandan tribes and their armies, emerging and ready to fight. You were in such disbelief and awe, as more and more orange portals opened up all around us, as everyone we thought were dead came back to us, and more we did not know yet. Tears in your eyes and a swelling in your heart as you saw all your family, old friends and new, surround us and ready to stand together. You suddenly remembered Bucky, and froze. Does this mean all who disappeared have returned?

You turned around and ran, scanning the large crowd looking for him. As you pushed yourself past the others, you ran into Wanda.

“Oh Wanda, you’re back!” you said overjoyed and wrapped her into a tight hug.

She smiled and returned my hug back, “I missed you so much. We’ll have to catch up later, Thanos has something to pay for” she let you go, and let her powers take over. But not before she turned around to look at you and say, “he’s back a little farther.”

You thanked her, and continued your search. Finally, you stumbled upon him, his back toward you, as you gazed upon his beautiful brown long locks. He had just taken down a monster from Thanos’s army, and turned around as soon as you walked up beside him. You both had about 7 feet of distance between you, as you stared at him, in disbelief. He finally took a step forward.

“Ya gonna come give me some love, or just keep standin there, doll?”He said smirking.

You ran up and jumped into his arms, wrapping my legs around his torso, and sobbed.

“Hey there, sweet girl. I’m back.” Bucky said, as he soothingly stroked your hair and kissed the side of your head.

You continued bawling, “oh god, I missed you so much, Buck. You have no idea how long it’s been-I-I love you so much.”

He started tearing up, and smiled. “I take it that it was longer for you than me, but anytime apart from you is too damn long. I love you too doll, thanks for fighting for me and the rest of us.”

You smiled at him and kissed the hand he was cradling your face in. “I never gave up, I’ll always fight for you and be right here by your side.”

He pulled you in for a hug, and then held your face closer to finally press his lips against yours. Five years. It had been five years since you felt his soft lips on yours once again. You wanted to cry again, and savor the moment, but soon remembered the battle still taking place.

You put our reunion on pause, and took on the rest of the attack side by side, like you were always meant to be.

*Shortly after the battle*

You wiped away all the grime, blood, dirt, and fresh tears away from my face. You couldn’t bear to see Peter and Piper mourning over the death of Tony. You felt your own face wet with tears over the man who saved the universe. Tony has always been there for everyone, and you knew all he ever wanted to do was protect all the people he loved and the everyone else on Earth. It broke you, knowing that he left the love of his life, and little girl behind. He died a hero, no less, but the loss was greater than any other. You sat down on the ruins, Bucky wrapping his arms around me as you cried.

He kissed your cheek and squeezed you tight. “I’m so sorry, y/n. All of you, that didn’t give up hope, sacrificed, and did your part to save us and the whole goddamn universe, you’re the true heroes. That sure as hell includes Stark.”

You wiped my tears, and sniffed. “You gave me a reason to fight for the good of all. We all did, Buck. It just breaks my heart that Tony had to give up his reasons to win the fight. The world and team is never going to be the same without him.” You quietly cried more as he continued to hold me.

All you wanted to do was stay wrapped up in his arms, and never leave again. Hold him close, and whisper how much he means to you, in case he disappears again. But as we held each other, you looked up and saw Quill standing behind you and Bucky. You looked up toward Bucky. “Hey, I’ll be right back. I have an old friend I need to catch up with.” He gave a small smile, nodded, and gave you one last quick peck on the lips. You stood up and walked over to Quill.

You both embraced each other for a second before telling one another your sides of where you were and what happened to you in the snap. He informed you that he was a victim to it, alongside Drax and Mantis. You felt tears well into my eyes as he described what became of Gamora. You knew what they meant to each other, and it broke your heart to know he lost someone he loved again. You informed him of the five years it took to finally get everything in motion for the plan to work, and how risky it was going back in time to retrieve the stones.

“You’re a real life saver, you know that? I wouldn’t even be here if it wasn’t for you and your fellow teammates, what’s it called, Avengers? That what that guy in the getup called it?” Quill said jokingly.

You smirked at his ability to still find humor in horrible situations. “Yea, we’re the Avengers. It was a team effort, thank you for dropping in at the right moment, I literally thought I was going to die. As far as I’m concerned, we’re all Avengers now” you said nudging his shoulder lightly.

He shook his head in approval, “Hmm, that means I can add Avenger alongside Guardian of the Galaxy to my resume now” Quill said as he chuckled. But you sensed a heavy sadness weighing in on him.

You looked him up and down. “What’s going on with you, Quill?”

He paused for a moment, frowned and said, “Technically, Gamora is alive now but...”

You closed your eyes and nodded. The inter crossing of different timelines in quantum physics causes different timelines to be able to meet. You sighed and walked closer to him, “she’s not your Gamora, is she?”

Quill started to tear up. “She doesn’t know who I am, y/n. All those memories and moments we shared, gone. I thought if there was ever a chance to win this battle that I might somehow find her again, but... I still lost her.”

“I’m so sorry Quill” You embraced him into a hug.“But you still have a chance. She can be the Gamora you once knew, this one just hasn’t met you yet. In a way, you get to fall in love all over again.” You mentioned the silver lining in it.

He scoffed, “yea cause I’m sure after hitting me in the nuts, she’s totally ready for all my boyish charm and flirting.”

“Come on, no one can resist the charms of the likes of Peter Quill” You said playfully pushing him.

He smiled sadly, “yea, I’m sure you’re right. Just sucks all those moments are gone and forgotten.”

You pursed your lips, tears sliding down your face. “I understand, Peter. We all lost important people to too. I’m not sure how I can even go on without Natasha and Tony. She is one of the biggest reasons we were able to win, and we were so close. Now that she’s gone I... I feel so lost. And Tony, he had so much on the line but he still did it. We were all a big family, and now it will never be the same as it was before.”

Quill wrapped you into a long hug. “I’m so sorry for your loss. I fought alongside Tony when we tried taking down Thanos on Titan. He was so brave and brilliant, I am proud to have known and fought along side that guy, not once but twice.”

You and Quill stood side by side, watching all the survivors and studied the ruins from the fight. As I stood by Quill, you looked over to Bucky, who was talking to Steve and Sam. He gave you a smile, and gazed back at you with a heartfelt look. Quill noticed this look you two shared with one another.

“Anyone you want to introduce to me?” Quill said smirking.

You rolled your eyes playfully at him. “Yea of course, but later. I think we all need some time to adjust for a second.”

*Present*

You began to stir as you start to wake up. Glancing at the clock, it read 6:17 am. This is about the same time you keep waking up for the past few weeks. Mostly to call Quill, and due to time in space being so wacky, of course it was ass early on your end. You two agreed to call and video chat at least once a week. Ever since the battle, you sensed such sadness in him. You knew that you got lucky with getting your loved ones back, but still, you knew not everyone else did. Quill being one of them. The time with the Guardians were some of the best times in your life. They were the ones to bring you to Earth and find the Avengers, where you met your family, and of course, Bucky. You got a lot to thank them for. Of course you got especially close with Quill, due to your shared love of old music. You felt so awful for him since the last stand against Thanos and losing Gamora again, since you saw the beginnings of the love between Quill and Gamora blossom. You felt lucky to have witnessed the loving banter between them all, you could tell they were a family. So you know how much the snap must have scarred them. Quill has lost so much, they all have. The least you can do, is to be there as an old friend.

Before you got up, you glance down at the warm body in the bed next to you. Bucky. Your Bucky, sleeping peacefully. His long gorgeous hair strewn about on his pillow, with his head turned facing you as he snores quietly. The first week after the battle, it felt so strange. Not because everyone came back from the dead, but because things are so different now. That first week felt like being in a sort of strange limbo. But after that first week of adjusting, and finding a new place for an Avengers facility, things slowly got back to some kind of normal. Normal being that you and Buck could not keep your hands off each other. Five years is a long time to be without the love of your life. Everyone finally had to give you two an entire wing floor to ourselves because they kept walking in on both of you celebrating victory, well... everywhere and anywhere. It was so good to have him back to yourself. Feel his touches and kisses, his skin against yours, and to know that he is really and truly back. That it isn’t a sad nightmare, from the years before. You kiss his head softly, and rise from the bed.

You set up the communications device for a video call in the office room of our wing, and dial Quill’s current coordinates. Finally getting an answer the 3rd ring, and it was Rocket.

“Hey! Whattya know, it’s little Y/N! Looking for doofus?” He asked. You laugh and shake your head, “Hey Rocket, it’s great to see you too! Yea I am, is he in?”

“Is that Y/N? I’m here! I’m coming” You hear the voice of Quill in the background alongside loud crashes of him tripping over things. You say a quick hello to the rest of the gang, Mantis, Drax, Groot, Nebula, and the newest edition of Thor. It was great to see him taking the next step after the final battle. Finally, Quill appeared on screen.

“Bout time! Been waiting for awhile now for this call” Quill teasingly said. You scoff playfully, “My bad Pete, time is a little different here when you’re light years away.”

He laughed, and settled in a seat comfortably. “Alright kiddo, I finally got some down time. Shoot!” 

You rolled your eyes at his nickname. “You know we’re only a year apart right? Whatever, let’s get down to serious business!” you say clasping your hands together. Pulling out your phone, you make sure it connects to the blue tooth speaker and pull up a playlist. “Now, I know your fondness and love for 70′s music,” you begin. 

“A bond we both share” Quill said smugly. 

“Right, but I think it’s high and time to get a little caught up, because man, are you missing out on some underrated 80′s gems” you say, as the shuffled playlist started the song, Out of Touch by Hall & Oates. 

Peter began nodding his head, enjoying the beat and rhythm of the tune. Which soon turned into dancing, that you soon find yourself joining in with him. It was nice, to be able to just catch up and have fun and enjoyment with an old and longtime friend. It was a process, the start of finding the way back to normal. With Tony’s death and Steve’s retirement, normal seemed like such a long shot feeling that would never return. But it’s moments like these with Quill that help coax normal back into your life, and everyone else’s. 

So it became routine. At least once a week, or sometimes once every two weeks with Quill’s schedule as a Guardian, you would try to find time for these moments. Music moments for musical buddies, as he dubbed it. Even going as far to make Quill a send able playlist of the new music you are showing him. It truly was therapeutic for the both of you. Quill is truly one of your dearest friends, he means the world to you. You couldn’t wait for the right day to finally introduce him to Bucky.

*2 months later* 

Three weeks had passed since Quill was able to call. It worried you initially, but you were a part of the Guardians of the Galaxy for a brief moment. so you knew there was nothing they couldn’t handle. Still, you couldn’t help but worry for old friends. 

As you had them on your mind, you were also trying to relax on the couch with Bucky, for some quality time. The two of you were cuddled into each other, on the comfy couch, enjoying a movie together. There was finally a routine and normalcy between the two of you. In the first few weeks, it was the fresh shock of him coming back to you, which was only hours of rough and raw sex. Just to feel, actually feel him and knowing he was here with you again. After the shock wore off, it was the reality that settled in. Bucky was gone for five years. You had aged five years ahead of him while he was gone. You had to live for five years in a world without him. 

He notices your furrowed brow, and nudges you. “What’s troubling that beautiful mind of yours, darlin’?”

You jokingly frown and inform him. “Just thinking about how I actually aged and got super old as you were gone.”

Bucky gave his hearty laugh and kisses my hair. “Y/N, doll, I hope you know your five years still don’t got nothing on me.”

“Yea, but you still got your looks, Sargent.” You grumble. 

“Oh doll, you don’t look a day over 50″ he says with a sly grin. 

You softly and playfully smack his arm. He kisses your lips in return, and what starts as a small peck, deepens quickly. You twist your fingers into his long brown locks, as he pulls you onto his lap, while slipping his tongue in my mouth, which you gratefully grant him access to. You give a small hum of pleasure, as he begins to grind you down onto his crotch. He gives a small moan, and puts his hands on your hips to deepen his thrusts. The hot and heavy makeout session was about to escalate further, when the communication beacon signal turned on. Quill was finally calling. 

“God, as much as I want this to continue, you said, trying to not give in to the kissing and sucking Bucky was doing on your neck, do you mind if we take a 20 minute break? I gotta call to take.” 

Bucky smiles a devious smile. “Are you sure you want to postpone this? You can always call this Quail person back” he said as he continues to grind on my clothed groin. 

You frown at his hostility. He knows Quill’s name, you mentioned him before. “First of all, his name is Peter Quill, and second of all, it will just be 20 minutes tops, I swear. When I come back, I swear I will make it worth your while” You promise and wink at him before getting up from his lap. 

Bucky sighs in annoyance as you get up to answer Quill’s call. “Always run to that boyfriend’s beck and call, s’ept mine” he mumbles sourly. 

You stop in your tracks, before turning around. “What? Buck, you can’t be serious.”

He crosses his arms. “Just seems like he can get your time of day whenever he wants, and more often than not, I am put on the back burner for him.” 

Sighing, you turn to walk toward the beacon and shut the signal off. You would have to call Quill back later. After the signal turned off, you go to sit back on the couch with Bucky. 

“It really sounds like we need to talk. Do you want to go first? Tell me what’s been going on in your beautiful mind, Buck.” 

He gave a half grin, and puts his hand on your thigh. “Look Y/N, the last thing I want to be is controlling of you. Hell, I’d know you’d kick my ass if I tried to dictate who you can and can not talk to, man or woman. But this Quill guy, I barley know em’. Fought alongside the guy and I barley know him. But all the calls, the dancing and laughing, I know you know him well. I guess I just can’t help but feel jealous is all.” 

You sympathetically gaze at him, and put your hand on his that rested on your thigh. “That’s where my fault in this comes in. I should have told you Bucky, my history with Quill goes a long way back. Now, I just need you to listen for this part, can you do that for me please?” 

Bucky nodded and lovingly squeezes your thigh.

You turn to him and began your story. “You know how I mentioned I am originally from Earth, but lived in space with Quill, for the majority of my life?”

“Yes, of course. With the blue guy, and the thieven’ with Quill and all of em’.  You don’t forget a beautiful gal being from space, kind of” he says jokingly. 

You laugh and continue. “ The blue guy is Yondu, and yes, well, I also knew Quill here on Earth too. Our mothers were best friends, and in turn we became best friends too. I was born the year right after him, and then we were pretty much inseparable. He leaned on me a lot when his mom started to get sick, and I have always been there for him, and he has for me too. Then the night she died, I was there with him. I ran after him when he ran away, and that was when the both of us were abducted from our home here on Earth. Thus started our new lives together as thieves with the Ravengers. Soon after breaking from them and finding our other friends, Drax, Gamora, Rocket, Groot, Mantis, and Nebula, we formed our little outcast family of the guardians of the galaxy. Then you know the rest, I got separated in battle from them, and found myself here on Earth where I found Steve and The Avengers, which during that time was when he and Tony were fighting. Then that’s about where we first met, as you know.” 

Bucky looks you intensely in the eyes. “I didn’t know you two were childhood friends, I’m so sorry doll. I didn’t mean to be such a jackass.”

You kiss his cheek, and stroke his hair. “It’s okay Buck, I should have told you, But you also need to come to me if you’re ever feeling jealous or unsure, You can come to me for anything.” 

“Yes doll, of course” Bucky says. 

“The reason why I am so adamant on having these calls with Quill when I can, is because not only do I miss him and value the normalcy of our friendships in the aftermath of the battle, but because he lost someone he loved, except he can’t get her back.” You sadly remark. 

“What do you mean he can’t get her back? I thought the snap brought everyone bac-” Bucky began, but you cut him off. 

“Quill’s girl, Gamora, she was murdered by Thanos, not dusted. The way he killed her, it was irreversible. But with the time travel we did to bring everyone back, that time’s Gamora IS still alive, but she is not the Gamora we knew. All the memories she shared with Quill, with me, and the rest of them, they never happened. This Gamora doesn't know us, and I’m not sure if she wants to.”

You begin to tear up. “I watched them fall in love, Buck. I watched them fall for each other more and more each day. I saw as their stubborn big ego selves be too scared and unsure of their love for one another, and neither one of them admitting it till it was too late. We got lucky, Buck. We got our happy ending, and if Quill can’t find a way back to his, then maybe all the lame dancing and catching up with him can substitute as his till he finds what he needs.”

Bucky pulls me into a tight hug. “No need to explain anymore doll, I understand. I know the importance of being there for a true friend. Quill isn’t just your friend Y/N, he is your family. The same way Steve and Sam are mine. You’re right, we both did get so lucky in the end. I’m going to start appreciatin it more. I love you, darlin’.”

You smile into his hug. “I love you too, James.”

As you both stay there, and hold one another, the beacon begins to ring again. 

Bucky smiles at me. “I’ll let you get to it. Don’t leave him waitin too much longer.”

An idea pops into your head, before you go to answer it. “Say Buck, why don’t you come along? I think it’s high time my best guy meets one of the most important people in my life.”

He nods and smiles. “I would be honored, doll.” 

You hold out your hand to him, and he takes it as you two make your way to the communication device. You finally pick up on the 4th ring.

“Hey! There you are! You had me worried there for a second. I’m sorry I took awhile to call, its been a crazy three weeks and I can’t wait to tell you all about it- oh! Is this him?” Quill rambles on before noticing Bucky next to you. 

You giggle, and intertwine your fingers with Bucky’s. “Yea, Pete. This is my guy, and I think now is the right time for you two to finally meet.”

“About time Y/N! She goes on and on about you all the time, but here we are finally face to face, well as close as we can. Peter Quill is the name, or Star-lord to some, but nice to meet you, man” he introduces himself to Bucky.

You groan at his excessive need to be called his superhero name, and Bucky laughs. “James Buchanan Barnes, Mr. Quill. You can call me, Bucky” he introduced himself to Quill. 

“Oh c’mon now, Quill is fine. Anything really, for taking good care of my dear and oldest friend here. Emphasis on the old part” Peter joked. 

“Quill!” you yell. 

Bucky gives a deep laugh. “Same to you Quill, thank you for taking care of her for so long. I appreciate everything you have done for her.”

Quill smiles at the both of you. “I mean yea sure, she’s family to me and all of us. It’s nice to see she still has a great family down there on Earth, you two look really good together.”

You notice that he sadly looks down at your intertwined fingers, and realize he was probably thinking of Gamora.

Bucky took notice of his sad mood, and put the effort to change the subject. “So, now that we’ve met officially, got any embarrassing stories about Y/N and her days in space?” 

Quill lightens up at this prospect. “Oh man where do I begin! Maybe all the times she nearly got kidnapped during our days still as Ravengers, or how she threw a frickin hairbrush at an intergalactic giant alien monster- or hey, does she ever happen to still wear those Pac-Man feetie pajamas? I swear she wore them well after childhood.”

“Quill, I swear I’ll kill you!” you jokingly yell, as Bucky laughs hard at our bickering. As embarrassing as it was, you still feel your heart swell at the prospect of two of the people you care most for in this world finally met and got along. Normal was finally returning.  

     “       

[leupagus]

more musician AU nonsense

Here’s more of the Schitt Records AU because I just want 100K of Patrick trolling David at every opportunity, no matter how wildly inappropriate. (These kinds of auctions exist and they are just as weird and off-putting as you’d imagine. Rich people and fundraisers, I could tell you STORIES.)

*

There are so many worst parts about having to manage Patrick Brewer — his constant need for tea, his little half-smile that David still has no idea if it’s laughing at him or with him, the absent-minded guitar strumming while David’s trying to have a conversation — but this might be the worst worst part, which is that Patrick in a tux looks fucking edible.

David grits his teeth and says, “So, it’s very important that you not screw this up, all right? You go out there, say hi to the very nice, extremely rich people who are going to bid on you, you play the single with the correct amount of wistful yearning—“

Patrick’s eyebrows go up at that but David’s teeth are probably audibly creaking by now and he wisely stays silent. They’re backstage, which is nothing new, but instead of a concert hall or a music venue they’re in a tiny ballroom at the Hazelton, where a few dozen donors are doing what donors do, which is make up truly ridiculous excuses to give money to causes. The various items up for auction include a Ming vase and that Wu-Tang album that finally got released from the FBI. Patrick is being raffled off as the grand prize.

“—and then they bid, and then I schedule you to have dinner with whatever lucky lady or gentleman has purchased your affections for an evening.”

“Okay, could we make this sound less… prostitute-y?” Patrick says, fussing at the headstock of his guitar.

“Welcome to the music industry,” David huffs. He wants to straighten Patrick’s bowtie, put his hands on his shoulders and tell him to relax. This is awful.

“And when you say ‘extremely rich,’” Patrick says, the question not quite there.

“I mean some of them could probably buy the entire town you grew up in.”

Patrick cocks his head. “So richer than your family was?”

“No,” David says, firm and trying to scowl but failing. Most reminders of what the Rose family had been were painful, or enraging, because they either came from curious idiots or smug assholes. But Patrick talks about it like it’s…just part of the past. Something that happened.

“Well, I guess it’s good you got me at such a bargain price,” Patrick says, just as the very chipper auctioneer announces him.

“Hello, ‘Apollo,’ then shut the hell up,” David hisses as Patrick makes to go out there.

Instead of meekly agreeing, Patrick just smiles some more. “Get out on the floor,” he whispers back. “You know I can’t concentrate if I’m worried you’re going to tackle me from stage left any second.”

David clenches his fists and imagines throwing him off a balcony, or possibly sucking him off on a balcony. It’s hard to say which is more tempting. “Fine,” he says. “Go.”

“You first,” Patrick says, gesturing to the door which will lead to a hallway which will lead to another door at the back of the ballroom, because Patrick is the world biggest dickhead. David spins on his heel and marches out, wanting desperately to slam the door behind him; instead he closes it gently and proceeds to run into a small army of waiters swarming the hall. Apparently it’s the cheese course.

He manages to get to the ballroom entrance after nearly getting beaned with a trayfull of brie; a very security guard is gazing absently at the stage. David is about to show him his pass when he finally hears it.

“—How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now For twenty brave men all fishermen who Would make for him the Antelope's crew God damn them all! I was told We'd cruise the seas for American gold We'd fire no guns, shed no tears But I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier The last of Barrett's Privateers!”

“Oh my fucking God, that fucking asshole,” David screams very, very quietly. The security guard notices him.

“You know Patrick Brewer?” he asks, looking mildly impressed, which is the first time a security guard has ever looked mildly impressed at him, but David’s too busy having an aneurysm to appreciate it.

“I was his manager up until about five seconds ago,” David says, waving his badge.

The security guard shrugs. “They seem to be into it.”

David takes a moment away from his defenestration plan to notice: Patrick isn’t singing so much as he’s leading the entire roomful of bankers and lawyers and movers and shakers into the next verse. There’s a lot of stomping to the beat, although it’s a bit off-tempo. “How is this happening,” David mutters.

“Didn’t think rich people knew Stan Rogers,” the security guard admits.

“I’m pretty sure they revoke your citizenship if you don’t know the words to this song,” David says, because it’s true. He’d lived nearly his whole life in New York or Long Island or Maui before, the entire expanse of Canada nothing more than a reason to use a different passport when he was feeling whimsical, but he still feels a gut impulse to join in as the room roars into the verse about the slutty Yankee ship. Instead he installs himself along the back wall, filching a glass of wine and trying not to break it in rage as Patrick finally hits the final chorus and — goddamn that fucking pied piper, what the fuck — the entire room lurches to their feet, cheering and clapping and red-faced with patriotism. “Every goddamn time,” he mutters.

The bidding is — brisk, he thinks is the right word; a surprising number of people hang on while the price goes from the introductory to the interesting. David’s already trying to work out a tasteful way to phrase how high the bidding went in a press release without making it sordid, although there’s a stunning woman in her 40s with a gleam in her eye who he suspects might try for a little sordid if she wins. David glances up to where the auctioneer is buzzing around Patrick the way she’d been buzzing around the Ming vase; Patrick is starting to look nervous again. The bidding has gone from interesting to extravagant, just like David had hoped.

Before, he could have come in here and named a price so ludicrous that it would have shut the whole room up, ended the party and gotten him what he wanted, and now he just stands here with a drink and a knot in his stomach, planning to brag about how much money other people spent. He should go back to the backstage area and wait for this to be over, so that when Patrick wraps up he can kill him for singing Barrett’s fucking Privateers instead of his single and maybe pin him up against a wall.

The bidding’s now mainly between the stunning woman and a cute guy about Patrick’s age with a shy smile that’s at odds with the way his paddle keeps going up. David wonders about the ethics of putting in some bids, just to nudge up the price a little more. With only two left it’s risky, but a late entry can get people panicking and nobody in this room knows who he is; he could bump the price up another twenty or thirty easily, and Patrick would see him and wonder what the fuck he was doing, and David could smile and put in a bid and—

“Sold!” the hammer comes down and there’s some polite clapping; shy-smile guy won and Patrick makes his way down the steps to shake hands with the guy. David will need to get his name and information so they can arrange the dinner, make sure he isn’t some really sweet-looking serial killer or anything. But Patrick’s already done, working his way through the crowd with exchanges and selfies. He’s getting better at that, the hold-still-and-smile pause that Alexis had drilled into him. He could be good at this, good at being wanted and rich and worth a whole lot of money for just one night. David had never been good at any of it.

“Before you kill me,” Patrick says as he gets close enough, “I’d like to say—“

“Are you actually going to apologize? Because that would be a first,” David says, trying so hard to be furious, but Patrick’s smiling with his stupid guitar slung across his back like he’s some troubadour from a romance novel, he’s already pulled off his bowtie and undone his collar like David had known he would, and people are hovering on the periphery trying to get his attention but he’s ignoring them all to grin at him, unrepentant and joyful.

“David,” he says, stepping closer and grabbing at his wine glass, which David relinquishes without too much protest, “You should never apologize for Stan Rogers.” And he gulps down the rest of the wine and sets it on the nearest table. “Shall we?”

The security guard gives him a thumbs-up as they pass.

[wildwandererdreamer]

Crave and Collide by Piper Lawson Book Review

Date Finished Reading: January 13th, 2022

4.5 Black Ghost Knifefish Stars!

Holy smokes! I read this duet super quick, and unbeknownst to me, the second book was coming out just a day after I finished the first book! Perfect timing. 

Piper Lawson is a new to me author. In this duet (soon-to-be trilogy) she sucked me into Crave from the very first page. I picked up Crave because the age gap and forbidden love story appealed to me. Oh boy did I sign up for one wild ride and spicy romance! Crave is an excellent set up for what happens in Collide, which continues the forbidden love story of Sawyer and Olivia.

Sawyer and Olivia's romance was freaking off the charts! And talk about SPICY - I hope you like lots of sex because this book has plenty of it and then some! I admit it was a little too spicy for me (covers eyes) but I did love their sneaky rendezvous in the supply closet and everywhere else haha. Olivia is a student and Sawyer is her professor. Although, when they met at a club Olivia had no idea that Sawyer would be her sexy professor who would claim her heart. They try to stay away from one another, but their connection is too deep. So, eventually, they cave – consequences be damned!

We’re surrounded by the very people we’ve tried to hide from. I’m a butterfly trapped in a box, a panicked display. If any onlooker could feel how fast my heart is kicking against my ribs, they’d know this is more than it looks like. – Olivia

Because every second I spent with her feels like a magic I never let myself believe in. She’s sweet and innocent and smart and brave. I wanted to possess her, to prove there was more to life than she knew. But once I had her, I was the one possessed. – Sawyer

Sawyer is a wild man who's untamed and Olivia feels trapped by her parents and society’s expectations of who they expect her to be. Together, Sawyer and Olivia help one another grow. Olivia wants to believe that there is more to life than following someone else’s rules. And, even though he’s in denial, Sawyer wants to be loved for who he is. You’ll have to see how it all pans out, and whether these two get their act together.

She’s half done up, half wild. She wears a nearly white dress, like a damned angel. And I’m the devil who made her fall.

Sawyer is a broken man who doesn’t think he’s good enough, but Olivia doesn’t think that’s true. But poor Sawyer feels like he’s damaged goods, and because he believes that he and Olivia have a hard time coming together emotionally, despite their connection. Olivia was partially to blame for this too. There were times I was so frustrated – I just wanted them to tell one another how they felt! So, do they tell one another? You’ll have to read it to find out!

Her body is mine. Her heart, she keeps. It’s a lie.

Throughout Crave and Collide, I also love how Sawyer encourages Olivia to follow her dreams. He pushes her to reach for the stars (their group literally has the name Stars in it), and it’s cool when she and her team came up with quite the ocean robot project. It was fun learning about the black ghost knifefish and Olivia's history with Sawyer's father. This book also reveals more about Sawyer’s past as an orphan. Some of Sawyer’s traits remind me of my boyfriend in that he wants Olivia to become all that she’s meant to be. My boyfriend was a big influence on the person I am today (we met when I was 22 and I’m now 36), and we too have a significant age gap. Hence my draw to age-gap romances! I hated the cliffhanger – it was a good cliffhanger, but I want moooore! It was also unexpected, although, I was so engrossed in the story I didn’t really take the time to guess the ending. Can it be March already?! Piper Lawson also included some fun artist music mentions, like Taylor Swift (Taylor’s Version haha) and Ed Sheeran which I thought was fun. In closing, I love this quote so so much:

Maybe there’s something to it. Darkness begets light. Ugliness reveals beauty. Cruelty shows us the gift of kindness.

[blueboxesandtrafficcones]

All I Want for Christmas is You (Naked) - Chapter 1

This is for @chiaroscuroverse for @dwsecretsanta!  Chapter 1/12, all posted between now and Christmas.  (Hi!!!)

The wonderfully brilliant cheerleader @stupidsatsuma was my beta for this, so many thanks!

Masterlist

It’s 9xRose, and fair warning; this is super smutty/nsfw.  It’s basically all smut and just enough plot for them to be smutty if different places.  (So, @dwsmutfest)

Tagging @timepetalsprompts for multiple bingo squares:

Eccleston - smirking, nudity, sexy lounging Piper - Vintage fashion

And @doctorroseprompts because this is a bedsharing/fake relationship, only they’re in a real relationship pretending to Jackie it’s fake but someone else assumes (rightly) they’re together so they’re pretending to pretend to be together, and get put in a shared room.  Follow?

Without further ado:

“Surely this can’t be proper, Signore.”  The sweet, innocent blonde blushed even as she allowed him to lead her to his bedroom.

He chuckled in response, a dark sound that sent a forbidden fire rushing through her veins.

“It’s not.  Do you want to go back?  Back to proper society, back to waiting for a boring, unsatisfying marriage?  Or do you want me to show you what it could be like?”

Pausing in the hallway, he gently traced a finger from her brow to her neckline, then lower to swipe against one nipple, leaving his latest soon-to-be-conquest shivering in delight.

“No, Signore Casanova. I want this.”  Despite the redness staining her cheeks, the girl’s eyes were bright and eager, her bosom heaving in the low-cut dress making his mouth go dry with desire.

“Then you shall have it.” Sweeping her into his arms, he kicked open the bedroom door as she shrieked with surprise and laughter.

In a few long strides they were beside the bed, and he allowed her to slide down his body until her feet touched the ground.

“Final chance, signorina. Run now, or I shall ruin you for your future husband.”

Wide eyes stared up at him before a shy smile crossed her face.  “I am yours, signore, to do with as you please.”

Satisfied with her consent, he spun her around to immediately attack the lacing on the gown, pressing open-mouthed kisses to her neck as he went.  Soon enough the dress was puddled around her feet and she stood before him in only a shift, sighing at the kisses he rained on her as she reached one hand back to cup his head, her own tilted to give him better access.

Lightly rutting against her bum, he wrapped one arm around her waist to stroke her stomach through the shift as he slowly removed it from her shoulders, butterfly kisses moving it down and out of the way.

Every so often she would shift restlessly, grinding against him, and he would catch a hint of the musk announcing she was growing ready for him.

Eventually he had her bare before him, and he took a few long moments to admire the view and how far her blush had traveled before nudging her back to sit on the edge of the bed.

Kneeling before her, he used his shoulders to force his way between her thighs, though she spread for him willingly.  Pausing, he took a deep breath to savor her natural aroma.

He started with her ankles, kissing a trail up one foot then the other, paying special attention to the inside of each knee, enjoying each little sigh and moan she gave at his ministrations.

Finally, when her scent was overpowering and her chest heaving; when she was leaning back with one hand to brace herself, the other cradling the back of his head, encouraging him closer; then he leaned in with intent.

Rubbing his nose along her inner thighs, he teased her for long minutes, alternating between soft kisses and nuzzles until he could resist no longer.  

He brought his mouth to her curls, tongue sliding out eagerly to taste her, unable to think over the sounds of his own pulse ringing in his ears, when –

“You have got to be fucking kidding me.”

Rose roughly pushed his head away knocking him onto his arse, and he blinked in a stupor as he watched her scramble across the bed towards her nightstand.

Confused and trying to redirect enough blood flow to his brain to process the interruption, the Doctor slowly realized the ringing in his ears had actually been the ringing of her mobile; she was now flat on her stomach across the bed, talking to her mother.

Disappointed at their game being interrupted and more than uncomfortable in his jeans, he rose to his feet and stripped naked, all the while staring at Rose’s pert bum.

Deciding that the one minute and forty-eight seconds she’d spoken with Jackie were enough and eager to get back to their activities, he crawled onto the bed.  Stretching himself over her, he lay so that his chest rested against her back and his cock slipped between her thighs, pressing against her warmth.

Continuing to chat with her mother, Rose shot him a glare even as she slid back into him, letting him settle snug against her.  Stifling his groan in her shoulder, he rutted, losing himself in the pleasure until he heard Rose utter the damning words, “Sounds good, Mum, see you tomorrow.”

The Doctor froze, horrified, even as she disconnected the call and stretched to put the mobile on her nightstand.

“Where were we?”  She purred, snaking a hand behind her to grab his bum, pulling him closer.

Instead, he lifted himself slightly off of her, encouraging her to turn over.

She was smiling, but once she was settled on her back beneath him and caught sight of his expression, her own fell.

“What is it?  What’s wrong?”

He simply raised a sardonic eyebrow, glancing meaningfully from her to her mobile and back.

“Oh.”  Sheepish, she wrapped her arms around his neck, encouraging him to rest his weight on her.

After a moment, he complied, and they let out soft moans when they were fully skin to skin.  Hips snug against each other, he pressed up on his forearms to be able to see her face.

“’See you tomorrow?’” The Doctor quoted, and Rose flushed for a very different reason than their intimate position.

“It’s Christmas – for her, I mean – and she wants us to come by for a few days.”

“Us?”  He didn’t miss the pronoun, despite the way she was gently rolling her hips up against him.

“Mmhmm.”  Lightly scraping her fingernails along his back, she sucked an earlobe into her mouth, pleased at the full body shudder the move elicited.

“Why?  Why me?”  Unable to stop himself, he began rocking his hips down in time to meet hers, head falling forward even as he reached for her thigh, encouraging it to wrap around his waist.

“Cause, she wants to include you.  Be polite, all that.”  Rose’s eyes fought to stay open as she got lost in the rhythm they were starting, with him sliding along her just so.

“No,” he grunted, hips picking up their pace, now rutting against her again in earnest.

“Oh, yeah,” she cried softly, though even she didn’t know if it was in response to his argument, or the way pleasure was sparking in her veins.

“Rose, please.”  He didn’t know what he was begging for, mind going hazy as he got lost in her.

“Make – guh – make you a deal.  Whoever – fuck – comes first wins?”  She panted in his ear, reaching down to join them, unable to wait any longer, their game long forgotten.

“Deal,” he rasped, before giving a groan as he slid home.

Not five minutes later, Rose’s howl sounding moments before his own, he managed to think that even though he’d lost, at the moment, they’d both more than won.

Rolling onto his back and tugging her astride him, he laughed, voice husky with pleasure. “Best two out of three?”

The way she slid him back inside was more than enough reply, but she answered anyway.

“Fuck.  Yes.”

-

Rose woke slowly, luxuriating in the pleasure still thrumming through her veins, loving the way her hips and thighs ached.  Finally opening her eyes, her heart fell when the Doctor’s side of the bed was empty, sheets cool to the touch.

Disappointed but unsurprised, she sat up on her elbows only to find him waiting in front of her, propped on his forearms between her legs.

“Hi.”

“Hello.”  He leaned down to press a kiss to the inside of her right thigh.

“How are you?”  She watched with bated breath as he continued to lay soft, openmouthed kisses along the insides of her legs, never straying too far north.

“All right.  Sleep well?”  He licked the underside of her knee, smirking at the almost immediate flood of pheromones as her leg slid down the bed.

“Yeah.”  Distracted, Rose watched eagerly, but he seemed determined to ignore where she ached for him.  Propping herself up a little higher, she looked down the length of him, taking in the unimpeded view of his toned back, arse, and legs.

“Like what you see?” He teased, the strengthening scent of her clue enough for anyone, let alone his superior Time Lord senses.

“’S brilliant.  Like the front too, though,” she shot back, one hand dropping to idly rub his head.

He smirked before rewarding her with a quick dart of his tongue between her folds.

“Shit,” she panted, hips chasing the sensation.

“So, I was thinking today I could take you to Sloatania II.  They make the best cinnamon apple-” He started.

Rose scowled, realizing his plan.  Gently pushing on his forehead, she scooted back to sit upright against the headboard.

“No,” she told him firmly.

Giving his most charming grin, he merely moved up the bed himself, running his fingers over her legs as he made his case.

“Rose, you didn’t let me finish.  I was saying, they make-”

“Yes, and that sounds lovely for our next trip, but today, and for the next several days, we are going to spend them in London, with Mum, as requested.”

He pretended to consider the idea as he ran his fingertip along her folds, occasionally dipping up to circle her clit.  Her hips jerked at the sensation, and there was a fresh flood of pheromones, but her frown didn’t budge.

“Doctor.”

“Can’t we just stay here in bed?”  He complained, teasing her opening.

“No, I promised Mum. It’s Christmas.”

“Time machine, Rose.” He told her smugly, slipping just the tip of his finger inside.  “We could stay here in bed for a month, and it’ll still be Christmas.”

His thumb brushed her clit, and the combined sensation suitably distracted her, but only for a moment.

“I know it’s a time machine, but I promised.  It’s important to her, and to me.  Remember, last Christmas for her, I’d been missing almost a year.”  Rose played her ace, and the Doctor pouted.

“Are you implying I won’t be able to get you there?”  His finger went deeper, picking up in tempo.

“Please, Doctor, I can’t take the chance,” she told him, pleading eyes contradicting how she was thrusting against his fingers.

“What all’s involved in this?”  He asked, resigned to his fate.

“Dunno, Mum said she had a surprise involving cousin Mo and her new boyfriend, but that’s all.”

“And I’m expected to participate?”  The disgust was clear in his voice, and she could practically hear him muttering about domestics.

“Yes.  It’s a couple days, Doctor.  Do it for me?”  When he still didn’t look convinced, she sweetened the deal.  “I promise to make it worth your while – in whatever way you choose.”

He did perk up at that, rewarding her with another swipe of his thumb across her throbbing clit. “Meaning?”

“Just that, whatever you choose.  Anything from sitting through a boring lecture, or a never ending play, to, bloody hell I don’t know, bending me over the kitchen table?  Ours, to be clear, not Mum’s.  Or maybe me on my knees in the console room?”

That got a positive reaction as his eyes slid shut and he gave a deep, longing groan, clearly picturing it.  She could feel him throbbing against her calf in excitement.

“Fine.  But I decide when we’re even, yeah?”  He eventually managed, and Rose beamed at him.

“So long as I can have a cushion for my knees,” she agreed cheerfully before unceremoniously shoving him off to the side so he landed on his back.

“What, are we going now?” He sounded so horrified she burst into giggles.

“Not yet.  I just thought, since you’re so against this, a little preview of your reward might help,” Rose flirted as she settled over his groin.

“Yeah, that seems fair,” he agreed wide eyed, watching with undisguised delight as her mouth sank onto him.

It was a long time before they were ready to go to Jackie’s.

[daddyconfessions]

daddy’s journal 3/16/16

daddy’s journal 3/8

Thursday Mar 2nd Bubbles hit me up today around 9am and told me she couldn’t make it. She’d gone out with Piper and had stayed out too late. Her and Piper had been hanging out a lot. I guess that explained all the drunk texts she’d sent the other night. I couldn’t be bothered though. I was busy looking at job ads.

I had a lot on my mind. The more I looked at jobs the more I realized I desperately needed to get in with some recruiters if I wanted to improve my chances. I hit up Firecracker to let her know I was free. She told me she couldn’t make it and had plans to volunteer somewhere. About an hour later she asked if she could have extra money. Something about needing to buy a ticket for a trip with her friends. I told her it was cool. Then a couple of hours after that, she texted me again to tell me she was having a weird discharge and needed to go to the doc and get it checked out.

I asked if she had a STD.  That didn’t go over well. We got into an argument, mostly her calling me out for thinking of her that way as well as her making it very clear no one was hitting the kitty uncovered.  She stopped texting me suddenly. I figured she was mad so I left it alone.  I had always used a condom so I wasn’t really too worried. Still she was acting weird af.

Napoleon came into my office not too long after that. We had a brief discussion about the next meeting with the Russian’s as well as the Board of Directors meeting next week. He seemed jovial with me, not at all like a guy who wanted me gone. Maybe I was just being paranoid about my job. Still when he left, I got up and cleaned my office some more. Tomorrow could be the big day.

Later that evening, I went home and spent about an hour with the family before I poured myself some Crown Royal and coke, grabbed a Cohiba and went out on the front porch. Nothing clears the mind like a little crown and coke and some of Cuba’s finest.  I was feeling sporty after that. My mind was clear. FC was tripping. Bubbles cancelling left and right.  What’s a SD to do? Time to get online.

I played around on CL for kicks. I didn’t expect much. Usually sugardaddy posts get deleted within the first hour of being posted. But I came up with a snazzy title that would pass cursory inspection and posted it. Then I got back on SA, paid for my membership. Then I logged into SD.com and looked around. I toyed with the idea of going to this bar known for being a sugarbabe hook up spot. But I needed to get a bit prepared for that so I passed. Truthfully, I can’t handle another SB but the way FC and Bubbles are going, it’ll be over soon.

While I was playing around, FC got back to me telling me she didn’t have any STDs and then launched into some long tirade about the doc saying her body was going through changes, hormonal and what not, and reacting to the weight gain she’d had as well as her period being out of sync. I apologized for insinuating she might’ve had something. She told me she needed a break to let things clear up. It all sounded suspicious to me. But in the absence of more info, I had to go along with it.

Friday Mar 4th The big day. My office is clean af. If I get sliced all I needed to do is grab some pics and a bag and I’m out.

10am. 11am. Noon. Nothing. 1pm. Still nothing.

I get  text from FC saying her period finally started. I didn’t even respond. I’m starting feel like I’m in a chess game.

2pm. I realized my boss had gone home for the day. Guess I wasn’t getting fired after all. I get a text from Bubbles. Hadn’t thought much about our date that day. I took a Lamar Odom and an hour later I was heading out the door to meet her. Can’t believe I overreacted like that about my job. Guess my paranoia got the better of me. But Bubbles hadn’t cancelled again so not a bad end to the week. It dawned on me that I hadn’t had any kitty all week.

When I got to the restaurant Bubbles had already gotten the table/booth. I like that shit. Most SBs will be late. Or if they get there first they’ll stay in the car until you arrive or wait in the sitting area. No way their getting a table and you ain’t there. Not Bubbles. I liked her style.  The way the booth was made it sat sideways so you could see the whole restaurant. We sat back and people watched while we sipped our drinks, ate and kissed. Bubbles doesn’t have any problem with PDA. We must have tongued each other down several times throughout the early dinner. Sharing the sweet taste of our drinks on each others lips and tongue. Several other tables kept looking over at us. It was kind of fun. Wild. Definitely a thrill. An elderly couple kept looking over too. Not in disgust more out of curiosity. Bubbles is a pretty girl. She’s skinny as a toothpick but she’s pretty af. The old heads were probably wondering why an old scrub like me was getting that young kitty….$$$$

Bubbles kept checking her phone. She apologized. Told me her son had a fever from some shots he’d just gotten and she was constantly checking on him. I honestly keep forgetting she has a 6 month old. You’d never know she had a newborn the way she looked. She doesn’t have a stretch mark on her body. Her stomach was flat as a board. I asked Bubbles about the other night with her girlfriend. She and Piper had gone out with some rich record exec. You’d probably know him or one of his artists if I mentioned them. Pipers the type that can’t handle her alcohol though so when she got drunk she started fighting with everyone including Bubbles. Bubbles was trying to calm her down and talk sense into her. Piper hadn’t backed down, got mad at Bubbles and took her phone and threw it across the room, shattering the screen. Some other stuff happened including Piper cursing out some of the security guards and other guys at the table. The big Exec told security to throw her out but they didn’t want Bubbles to go. They wanted her pretty little ass to stay. Bubbles couldn’t let her friend be outside, drunk, by  herself so she went with her even though the entourage wanted her to say. They took uber to get there and hate to wait until another Uber to come which was almost an hour later.

I took the opportunity to bring up some serious concerns. “I’m don’t know if I can compete with your circle of friends,” I told her. “You’re hanging out with rich dudes. Famous and shit. Not to mention they know other famous people. Money aside, I couldn’t come close to that kind of lifestyle.” She touched my hand and pursed her lips. “Oh babe its not like that. Those guys aren’t my type. I’m not into the thugged out, gold chain wearing, baggy pants type of guys. These guys got tats everywhere and they treat girls like shit. Besides, just because they have money doesn’t mean they’re going to be doing anything for you. I keep telling Piper that. They just want some pussy and when their done with you you’re gone.”

“Well I was just wanting to bring it up,” I said. Truth is I’m tired. In the old days a bloke could shell out some cash and have a good time with a girl. Spoil her to death and not worry about all the drama the sugarbowl has now. But now its mad drama and all this unnecessary competition. Not to mention all the games both SBs and SDs try to do to each other. Its enough to drive a man crazy. I told her what I was thinking and added, “I know hanging with Piper gets you into the inner circle and all that. But from my past experiences, its tiring competing with celebrities. Not to mention the lifestyle they have to offer. It gives me a headache just thinking about it.”

She shook her head. “No. Piper’s just a groupie. She’s my girl but I gotta be honest. Besides, since I’m not doing anything when we go out its getting harder and harder to hang with her. I’m like the 3rd wheel. And all of these guys don’t give a shit about her. They even hit on me in front of her and she just laughs it off. Honestly, I’m sort of getting tired of it but Piper’s my girl. And she knows people that knows people. If we ever needed to get into a club, backstage at a concert, all we have to do is ask her.”

“The benefits of being a groupie,” I said. We both laughed. She put her hand on my thigh and rubbed it. “But really babe, you don’t have anything to worry about. I already have my lover.” She lifted her glass and said, “To us.” I lifted mine and we clicked glasses. Then we kissed again, the sweet taste of the drinks on our lips made the kisses that much sweeter.

We talked a bit more about Piper, celebs and our situation. Suddenly, Bart was hard as a rock. The Lamar Odom’s had kicked in. I was ready to fuck.  

From there we headed to the hotel. Lots of kissing and tonging before we moved to the bed. I couldn’t wait to lick the kitty. But she stopped me. Told me she was still spotting. Damn. Can a Daddy get a break this week? WTF?  I couldn’t even hit it. She decided to just give me fellatio. I’d love to blog about how I licked the kitty. Sucked the clit. But no. No fun filled evening of me trying to get inside that tight kitty. She gave me brains, but I wasn’t that into it tbh. I wanted some kitty.  “I’m sorry baby,” she said, stopping, my tip less than an inch from those pretty lips. “I’m not usually this bad of a fuck. Its just that I haven’t been that active…” Poor girl had to work hard to get ol Bart to cum. And when I came it was nothing spectacular. I can’t say she did  a bad job…more like I was just wanting more that evening.

“I’m sorry. I promise I’m not this bad…” she kept saying. She said two more times and then, “I promise I’m not usually this lousy. I switched BC and its got my body all weird. That’s why I’m spotting.” For a minute I was thinking her and Firecracker were collaborating. “I’m sorry if I keep cancelling. It’s just hard with my work, my son and my friends.” The look on Bubbles face was of pure worry. I could tell she really felt like she was disappointing me. I told her to relax. I was patient. Low key I suspected a threesome was in my future. The thought alone of a 3 way was enough to make even the most impatient man wait. Then she promised things would be better tomorrow. But that would never happen….

Saturday Mar 5th By noon Bubbles cancelled again. Her son was still running a fever and she didn’t feel right leaving him again. It was cool. She was probably still spotting. I also had several messages from my CL ad and some hits of SA. I’d forgotten I had even been playing around on the sites.

No point in wasting a perfectly good Saturday afternoon : ) I poured myself some more Crown & Coke, sat down in my office and I spent the afternoon talking to some POTs. The stuff from CL was admittedly just garbage. Mostly girls looking to catch a date. The only hopeful one was this mid 40’s chick. She was kind of liking the fact that I was so young. Her last SD was in his mid 50s so she was interested in seeing how this would turn out. She was ready to meet to. Said she was going out with the girls and wondered if I could meet her at the bar. Old cougar. I call her Tigress. I declined to meet though. I wasn’t really sure if I wanted to go that route. Old chicks be on something else. And, its been awhile since I was involved with someone over 30.

Sunday Mar 6th FC texted me and she felt like things were over. I took that as an indication she wanted to end things. She told me she felt guilty the last few weeks. That was right around the time I’d bought her a new Louis bag. I recalled she had been shocked I had bought it. She was happy too but I could see something in her eyes that something was wrong. Now it all made sense. She felt like she hadn’t deserved it. “I just don’t feel like I can give you everything you want,” she said.

The funny thing this all I ever really wanted was her. It was never something complicated.

But I was tired. Whatever was going on with her had taken its toll on me. I figured she had a new SD or a new fuckboy. Either way it was probably best to end things. I cared for Firecracker but I wouldn’t be a fool for her. Not with so much other kitty around me. She told me she wanted to remain friends and that if I wanted to have lunch or sex one day then to hit her up. We sort of ended it right there.

I was sad. I even posted this journal entry just to vent. She was my princess and now she was gone….

The week was off to a fucked up start.

[radreactions]

What are some sexual fantasies/thoughts that the companions would have about Sole? ;)

Cait – She often fantasises about going down on Sole while they’re asleep. Something about them completely not knowing and totally not expecting it and instead being completely at her mercy gets her going quicker than anything. She’s almost tempted to do it each time they camp out and she’s left on first watch.

Curie – All the sweet little synth fantasises is enjoying Sole in a slow, passionate, sexy session where she can feel everything, including that captivating body of theirs on top of her own. In her own. She often gets goosebumps and a shiver of anticipation up her spine when she thinks too hard about it so she tries to lock those thoughts away until she’s alone.

Danse – He secretly fantasises about taking Sole rough and hard on Maxson’s desk while he’s watching the Paladin stake the ultimate claim on them. Something about the thought of watching the Elder’s scowl deepen in jealousy as Danse fucks Sole nice and deep doe’s things to him….

Deacon – Changing his face, his hair and his name and ‘accidentally’ stumbling across Sole and seducing them in a night of body wreaking passion is by far his most intense fantasy about them yet. It’s probably because he can go back to them the next day after restoring his face like nothing happened, but secretly he’ll know and Sole will be none the wiser.

Gage – He fantasises about being ridden and sucked off by Sole in front of every damn raider and trader in Nuka World, like he was a damn King and Sole’s one and only living sex-toy. Admittedly, thinking about it during the wrong time has nearly gotten the smug smirk on his face slapped off by Sole themselves, considering it was during a very serious discussion with the Disciples.

Hancock – The Mayor’s been by Sole’s side for a while now and already knows they have a brilliant personality and would be a-fucking-mazing in bed. But what about getting them on Jet and proceeding to go at it like radrabbits? Now that is something that keeps his thoughts occupied, a grin on his face and his pants rather tight when left alone.

MacCready – Ever since he accidentally stumbled upon that dirty magazine back in DC, his fantasies have always involved leather, lace and little bit of chain that he just knows Sole would look absolutely killer in considering they look smokin’ hot in everything else. His part in it changes from time to time, but he knows whatever the heck they’d want him to do while dressed like that is exactly what he’d do in a heartbeat.

Nick Valentine – The old detective’s a stickler for the tamer imaginings, mostly revolving around those stolen moments in the quiet of the night when they’re free to be as and dirty and as naughty as they want with each other.

Piper Wright – She really really really really likes the thought of Sole and her dressing up and doing a little bit of role playing. Whether it’s Blue as Grognak and her as the Mistress of Mystery, or Blue as a cop and Piper as a really bad reporter in nothing but her scarf and handcuffs. Generally she tries not to think about this too much because she goes as red as a tato, but her only other distraction most times is that lovely blue butt of theirs that she’s preeeeetty sure they know she stares at. A lot.

Preston Garvey – He’s noticed that Sole looks damn good in the General’s uniform, especially with the matching hat too which of course gave way to some very…interesting fantasies of his that keeps his mind occupied while they roam together. His favourite scenario by far is he and Sole sweaty and panting and going at it on the bed in the General’s quarters while wrapped in the Minuteman flag.

X6-88 – His fantasy is admittedly quite vanilla, but basically he just wants to take them on every damn surface that’s near them in every position possible because he wants all of them in every feasible way. With as many witnesses as possible too. He also secretly likes the thought that he’d be Sole’s personal love machine. Literally.

[luvambrylayn]

Broken Hearts (1)

Characters: AJ Styles and OFC

Warnings: NSFW, Sexual Content, Angst, Fantasy Smut

Short Summary: Taking place in late January 2016, the OFC, who is recovering from a bad break up, has worked in NXT for two years when she is brought up to the Main Roster. However, she shows a disliking towards AJ Styles, who is going through a divorce, who has made his debut in WWE.

Word Count: 3,294

Other Great Blogs to Check Out: @llowkeys, @wwe-smutfics, @wrasslesmut, @laochbaineann, @thatonegirloncealways, @wwesmutdonedirtcheap, @crowleysqueenofhell, and @thephenomenonalkingofthebrogues

Okay, I’m trying something new, with this story potentially having a second part to it. Let me know what you guys think.

Monday Night After Royal Rumble 2016

Mia Stone's POV

I stand in front of a mirror in my own personal locker room. It is supposed to be a surprise that I am debuting. I had to be here an hour before everyone else in order to get settled. This included getting new attire, and being talked to about what was happening on the show.

Now, I was studying myself in the mirror. I wore an indigo brassiere with royal purple streamers with a gray sports bra underneath. I also had black lettering with a gold outline that said "STONE" across my breasts. I was kind of glad for this. It drew attention away from my cleavage.

While I was was confident and satisfied with my looks, this did not mean I was willing to put my boobs on display to the entire world every Monday and Thursday. I usually wore long black tights, but I guess not anymore now that I was on the main roster.

My new pants were shorts that were black with gold trim. Along the hip was "STONE" in Royal Purple. I guess I was satisfied with my look. I had been in need of a new look. After all that had happened over the past few weeks, I guess I was in need of a new life.

Despite this, I still felt the need for a security blanket. I look through my things and find my gray cashmere robe. This is perfect. I throw it over myself. It still showcased my attire but hid a significant amount of skin.

A few hours later, and Raw has started. After The Authority's celebration, Renee appears on screen and welcomes AJ Styles. I roll my eyes at the pop this man gets. AJ just makes his debut at the Royal Rumble and now everyone acts as if he deserves a damn title shot.

The more I thought about the whole damn thing, the more it upset me. I have been part of this company for two years. I felt anger boiling through my blood. I was tired of people just coming in and taking what's not there's.

It just proved what I had always thought. All I am to everyone is an expendable, useless piece of shit. I feel tears forming in my eyes. Ever since my boyfriend had cheated on me, I have been contemplating who I am. I felt lost. I have felt broken.

I must have started walking without noticing because now I am out of my Locker Room and watching AJ and Chris Jericho talk to each other up close. Ever since everything happened, sometimes I end up so lost in thought I almost black out from real life. It kind of worried me, but I merely shake my head to clear it and watch as the interview ends.

AJ walks my way. I walk his way as well and shoulder him. This guy needed to know his place. He looks at me in shock. "I'm sorry Ma'am, I didn't mean to hurt you or nothing." He apologizes while also looking around in embarrassment. I chuckle menacingly.

"It's fine. But you know what really upsets me? The fact that you just think you can walk in here and strut as if you own the place don't you?" I sneer. His eyes widen in shock for a second. As if he felt sorry for me. I didn't need him feeling sorry for me.

"Well, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you." He apologizes. I roll my eyes and walk around him. This guy obviously doesn't care who he hurts. He just walks in and debuts before I do on the main roster. Already gets a name drop from The Authority. It pissed me off.

"Just maybe think about the fact that some of us have been here for two years and are just now getting thrown a bone." I spit. He nods his head and smiles at me in disbelief. In my head I can tell I've succeeded in lifting the veil and getting rid of the Southern Hospitality facade.

"Well, you know, I've probably been wrestling since before you were in Grade School Darling. So maybe think about that." He points out. I laugh. I narrow my eyes. Looks like the little Cowboy was finally growing a spine.

"Oh, so you're admitting that you're a has-been?" I mock. He smiles. Up close, you could see the age on his face. He didn't look old, just a little worn out. Then again, this business tends to wear people out every now and then.

"Just as long as you're admitting that you're a newbie." He retorts. I narrow my eyes at him and swing at his face. He blocks my strike with a forearm. I look into his blue eyes in shock. I look around and see that we drew a crowd. I look back at him, mischief beamed through his eyes. He was amused. He thought this whole encounter was a joke.

I drop my arm as he gives me a cocky smile followed by a wink. I scoff and walk away. I didn't need to deal with this guy. When I get to my locker room, I turn a monitor on and see that AJ's match is on. I was still unbelievably upset about how he basically made me look stupid in front of everyone.

He thought that I was just a little girl he could ridicule like that. He thought that I could be turned into some kind of joke. He would pay for this, if nothing else. AJ Styles would see what it's like when you cross me.

I have let people walk all over me for far too long. This little bird was about to spread her wings.

AJ's POV

I am walking through the hallways backstage after my match. I look around and see faces that I've seen before, yet I feel all alone. I knew that this was a risk when I signed, but now that it is real, it just feels empty.

What was really stuck in my head, however, was what that woman said to me earlier. Don't get me wrong, she was a bit excessive when it came to her complaints, but I did see some merit in her argument.

I mean, she started with WWE two years ago and hear I come and debut at the Royal Rumble. Her dream of being on Raw was delayed for two years while I did it in a day. Then again, I've given 18 years of my life to wrestling. I didn't have much time left.

She, on the other hand, still seemed to have a lot more time left. Though, I guess I shouldn't judge. She may have sacrificed a lot for this company. But hell, everyone in this building has had to make sacrifices. I lost my wife. I didn't lose her to deal with this woman's temper tantrums.

Noise from a television monitor tears me from my thoughts. I look to the monitor and see the woman make her entrance. Her music was fun yet seemed to command respect. I bet it would be nice to know this version of her.

The nameplate appears, "Mia Stone". I smile. Stone fit her to a tee. The crowd begins to cheer NXT. She rolls her eyes before putting the microphone up to her lips.

"Yes, cheer for your beloved NXT, because now that I've moved on, I'm sure that ship will sink very soon." She sneers. The crowd boos, some look on in shock. I'm guessing at one point she was a fan favorite.

One thing's for sure, she knew how to draw heat. She merely laughs in dismissal of their disapproval. "Look, I'm sorry. I know it sucks that that I've left NXT, but I needed to move on. Don't blame NXT because I grew too big for it." She fakes ignorance. I chuckle. She was a piece of work. I hear a woman clear her throat behind me.

"AJ?" I turn and see my new boss, Stephanie McMahon. Her arms are crossed and she has a concerned look on her face. My heart drops. I hoped I was not about to be reprimanded. "You are not in trouble." She assures me as if reading my mind. I nod.

"Okay, how can I help you?" I ask. She sighs, what she was about to say was either difficult, or uncomfortable. Either way, I was not looking forward to this conversation.

"We received some complaints from your co-workers about an argument you had with Mia." She begins. I take a deep breath. This mess. I nod, I suppose it was time to pay the piper.

"Yes. She disagreed with the fact that I debuted on the main roster before her. It was just a simple argument." I try my best to downsize the entire thing. For both Mia and me. Stephanie chuckles.

"That isn't what we heard. We were informed that their was some name calling exchanged between the both of you." Stephanie reminds me. I wasn't trying to lie about that, I had just simply forgotten.

"Oh yes. I'm sorry I forgot. Yes, there were some insults that we both said. Like I said, she didn't appreciate the fact that I debuted before she did. She felt that I'm getting special treatment." I explain. Stephanie nods.

"Well, we like for problems between our workers to be handled in the ring. However, since that is not something that can be allowed in your case. I have decided that instead, you two won't be leaving the building until you learn to get along." Stephanie decides. My eyes widen in shock.

"Okay, I'll be here." I assure her. Stephanie smiles and leaves. Mia would kill me. If she kept up her attitude, I would end up killing her. Either way one of ends up dead.

I go to the locker room, shower, and pack my stuff. I keep my head down and don't make an effort to talk to anyone as I go to catering. Both because I was not looking forward to tonight, but also because I did not see a friendly face in this room.

I was all by myself, no wife, no family, no friends, just enemies. Welcome to the WWE AJ.

Mia's POV

I've just gotten backstage after working my first promo on the main roster. I had never been a heel before in my entire career. It was so much fun. After my promo I had a squash match with Summer Rae. I was so happy that I won my Raw debut.

Though I had to admit, it sucked that I had my Raw debut against a jobber like Summer. Meanwhile Mr. Phenomenal got to go up against Y2J, one of the best in the business. I shake my head. Enough thinking about him Mia, just try to avoid him the rest of the night.

"Mia?" I turn and see Stephanie. I hope I wasn't in any trouble. I smile at her, a smile she returns weakly. I begin to frown. I guess I am in trouble.

"Hello Ms. McMahon, can I help you with anything?" I ask, attempting to sound nonchalant. Ms. McMahon sighs. I close my eyes and roll my eyes. Great!

"Well, it has come to my attention that you had an altercation with AJ Styles. I don't want to hear about who was right, who was wrong, I just want to nip this in the bud. I will not have you or AJ arguing. So I've arranged for you and AJ to discuss this matter together. I hope you guys become the best of friends soon because I would hate to get rid of one of you." She explains. I am utterly speechless.

I didn't want to talk with AJ, it wasn't fair. Stephanie leaves while I walk miserably to my locker room. Before I make it, I see Becky and sigh. "Beck, have you seen Styles?" I ask. She points to catering.

"Over there Mia." She says. I nod and hug her.

"Thanks." I say before walking to catering. AJ is sitting with his phone in hand. I sigh and walk over to him. He greets me with a half-assed smile.

"He-" He begins.

"Listen." I cut off. "I know we need to talk. But, I need to shower and stuff so just give me twenty minutes." I conclude. He nods and lets me go. I get to the locker room and walk into the shower area. It takes me a while to get the perfect temperature, but I do and after the water is running nicely I get in and allow everything to wash away.

The warm water feels so good on my body as I begin to relax and clean myself. The water also feels very good on my entrance. Before I know it, my fingers make their way down to my pink lips and begin to tickle the outer folds.

As I begin to open myself up, a bit of water that flows over my womanhood works it's way inside. I moan softly. I begin to go harder, faster. I wasn't thinking about anything in particular, just about how long it's been since I got some.

I begin to rub myself with one hand, while beginning to tug on my pink buds with the other. Suddenly, AJ begins to appear in my head. His eyes, so blue it was as if you were looking at the sky. That smile, that made you want to drop your panties as soon as he flashed it in your direction. His muscles, thick and powerful. The abs, toned and ripped. Finally, there was the happy trail that started from his chest and traveled down to that big bulge in his tights. The bulge that suggested he was talented in other places besides the ring.

He was a catch. Though I hated to admit it, AJ was a sexy man. And the fact that he showed me any kind of attention was amazing within itself.

He began to flash into my mind more. This time with him laying me down on a bed. Him kneeling over me with his undoubtedly large cock out. Him forcing it down my throat. Slapping me if I used teeth. Making me his bitch. Of course, he would only do that because I have asked him too. God what was wrong with me. He now began to eat me out. It felt as if his tongue was made specifically to pleasure a woman. His tongue had to be skilled from years of "experience".

Only after he had warmed me up would he even think about inserting himself inside. I am sure that was just the type of lover AJ was. As he begins to work himself inside me his lips are pressed up against my ear. Making sure that I am enjoying myself. Fuck. Even in my head he is a great guy. I bunch four of my fingers together in an attempt to mimic the girth of AJ's length.

Jesus I imagine him being the best fuck anyone could ask for. The pressure had been building up inside me for some time now. This is odd as I am usually unable to orgasm through just masturbation. I decided to slow down. That was until I thought about AJ and I having hate sex. Oh the heat of it. The two of us trying to one up the other in terms of pleasure. Of course it was a toss up of who would win.

Then again. AJ is much more giving. At this thought, I explode. "Oh fuck AJ give it to me!" I shout as my juices start mingling with the water flowing down my leg. I hop out and grab a towel. I begin to pat myself dry. I can't help but feel embarrassed. I work with  number of hot sexy men, and the few orgasms I have had were rarely from thinking about my fellow coworkers before. And none as intense as that. I'm sure it's just because he was the last man I saw. I'm sure it's nothing.

AJ's POV

I watched Mia, feeling guilty. I had waited more than twenty minutes, but started to think that perhaps she had skipped out on me. I went to her locker room looking for her. That was where I found her, rubbing her beautiful pussy. I found himself rock hard in my jeans. I felt as though I should leave or announce my presence. Or offer to join. Ever since my wife left, I had been so lonely and had been unable to connect with anyone. However, I had felt something with Mia that reminded me of what I felt with my wife almost twenty years prior.

I felt challenged by my ex. That is exactly what I felt by Mia. Challenged. While Mia still needed a better attitude, her body was flawless. At least, to me it was. I watched as the clear water flowed from her brunette hair onto her shoulders. From her shoulders onto her breasts. Her breasts down her stomach. The water flowed over her womanhood. I wanted to take her right then and there.

Her stomach began to contract, as mine did when I was about to climax. She was getting ready to cum. Her juices started to flow down her leg. "Oh fuck AJ give it to me!" She cries out. My eyes widen as I realize that it was me she was masturbating about. Part of me had to wonder just what sexual scenarios she had conjured up. She began to get ready to exit the shower so I made my get away.

I was still hard as a rock. I needed to take care of this damn thing quick. I hurried to a bathroom and entered a stall. I undid my fly and pull out my cock. I began to stroke myself. I smiled at the thought of Mia masturbating. The fact that she had inserted four of her digits into herself. She didn't come close to matching how big I was. Part of me wanted to show her.

I would have to go to Church after this. I just felt as if I had violated her. I shook my head to clear it of these thoughts. Now, the only images filling my head were of her beautiful body bouncing up and down on my dick. Her screaming my name. I wanted to hear her scream my name again. Like she had when she came. God I needed my hands to explore every curve and every inch of her form. I needed her.

As it had been a while since I last had sex, cum began to shoot out of me like an unmanned fire house. A bead of sweat ran down my forehead as I closed my eyes and bit my lip to keep any sounds from escaping. I ripped off a piece of tissue paper and wiped the rest off of my hand and flushed it. I made sure my hands were clean before returning to catering.

There she was. Her brown hair sitting in a chair waiting for me. Only I should be sitting in that chair, with her bent over my leg. Me spanking her. My cock began to harden again. I ahook my head and took a seat. "So, you ready to talk?" I asked. She shrugged.

"Whatever let's get this over with." She said, her attitude was back. I can't help but smile. While she said she hated me, her body said otherwise. Maybe this could be the start of a great friendship.