#ma'am youre husband isn't that great

[valeriesolanasapologist]

Trish is right, and she should say it. Louder.

[chaosandmarigolds]

Dad!Simon who insisted you go on the vacation, because of course he can handle his baby girl and his six year old (almost six, but Ollie rounds up)

Simon who knew he had it in the bag....

for about two hours

Simon who made bagels for dinner; wassss this close 🤏to making Ollie eat dirt because WHAT DO YOU MEAN you don't like bagels now you were begging for them in the store!

Simon who made it about forty hours before he gave him and called Johnny

Simon who had no idea why Ollie was being so gosh darn annoying

Simon who had previously made a bet with Price that he wouldn't need help so therefore he would rather die than call Price even though Ollie idolizes his 'grandfather'

''s Johnny, missed ya but leave a message at the lil' beep."

"John MacTavish I swear to god if you don' call me back in ten minutes I will personally post thos' pictures of ya in Afgan."

two minutes later-

"ya know that's a real low blow-"

"I need you to take Oliver to th' park- Tessie isn't goin to sleep with him 'roun."

"Call the capn, he's closer to ya."

"I will not do that."

"Ugh, fine- lemme tell my girl then'll be there in twenty."

Simon who told Oliver to behave for his uncle and then happily sent them away- which finally he would be able to put the exhausted newborn to sleep

Simon was finally able to doze off on the sofa, the baby happily snoozing away on his chest and everything seemed perfect with the world

"MISTER RILEY UNCLE JOHNNY IS IS-HES-" The thundering slam of the door being swung open not only woke up Simon but the baby who aptly began to sob to the sudden change of pace, Oliver however did not care "UNCLE JOHNNY SUCKS."

Uncle Johnny told Ollie not to kick the ball into the river

Simon who is flabbergasted because even Johnny looked shook to his core, sure they had been at the park for about five hours but like-???

John MacTavish...brought down .... by Simon's six year old

Simon who, after ten minutes of the baby screaming for their mother and refusing to take their bottle with disgruntled wails of pain and Ollie so tired he can't think straight so he's also a sobbing and angry disaster and Johnny's just standing there by the door waiting for answers and everything is so loud-

"Capn?"

"Oh! Hi, sweetheart," John's wife answered the landline and he could hear her voice call for her husband, "Hi, how are you and lil' ones?"

Simon looked at Ollie who was currently in time out for stealing his sisters binkie for the tenth time, "Not great."

"O-"

"Simon." Price's voice cut in and it took about five seconds to get everything account for, "Ya already called Johnny right?"

"Yessir."

"Did you try Kyle?"

"No sir, he's on his honeymoon."

'"Ah-that's right, that's right."

Silence

"Sir I would like your help."

"Ha! Knew it! Alrighty, missus and I'll be there in...i dunno- you boys hungry? She made that-honey whatcha make?" indistinct conversation, "Ma'am said it didn't matter, she'll bring it anyway. Forty minutes?"

Simon looked at Johnny, who was on 'keep ollie in said time out' picking up the kid whenever he would try and run off. "Can you make it twenty, sir?"

Simon and Johnny who, out of habit, stood at attention as soon at the captain let himself into the house

Simon who looked a bit worse for wear, even with his non existant sleep scheulde in the military he had never looked so fatigued

Simon who had the baby out of his arms by Price's wife within two minutes of them being there

Simon who loves his son, he loves him (internal mantra) but he is making him look bad to his captain so the little twerp better get his act together.

"Riley."

"Yessir."

"How long is your block?"

"Two kilometers around."

"Two laps."

faltering silence through the house, Simon stared at the captain as he helped Ollie tie his sneakers by the door. The silence did mean Tessie had finally fallen asleep but he was- "I'm sorry?"

"Two laps, you, Johnny, and Oliver." Price looked to the kid, who looked more angry at the world than anything else, "Go. Dinner will be ready when you get back."

Simon was about to argue but Ollie beat him to it, "I don't want to run."

"You don't want to run?"

Oliver seemed a bit taken back, "No. So I'm not going to."

"Okay. You can clean the entire house- including your sisters nappy's, for a week, yeah?"

A pause.

"Fine, i'll go on the stupid run."

Simon who might as well be walking with the pace Oliver chose to keep

Johnny who took off sprinting because lord knew that man was starving and Mrs. Price's food was heaven on earth

Simon who sat down on the side of the road when the little guy was out of breath

Simon that mostly ran in silence until Ollie broke it

"Why did mom leave?"

huh?

"What?"

"Mom she-she just...she left us, wh-"

"Whoa-whoa whoa, mum didn't leave-mum didn't leave us wh-whoa, Olls," he had collapsed to his knee when the boy started to speak just to look at him in the eyes and he tried to read the boys expression, "Mum would never leave you, she loves you so much."

"Then where did she go?? Why didn't she say goodbye?"

"She's with her friends, and her flight left 'fore you woke up, Olls. Laddie, she wouldn't leave you."

Simon who had called you, even though there was time difference as everyone was sitting down to eat dinner

"oh...wow the gang's back together," You grumble as you rub your eyes, having been dead asleep, only for the camera angle to change suddenly and it was just a close up angle of your son's face, "Hi baby."

"Mom guess what Uncle Johnny did."

"EY, LET'S NOT TELL YER MOM BOUT THAT."

"Hey mom?" The boy was easily distracted and then looked down at the phone again.

"Yeah baby?"

"Never go on away again, dad said so."

You stay silent for a moment, blinking, because in all three years you and Simon had been together Ollie had never referred to him as 'dad' or anything remotely close. "Your...right, yeah-I'm pretty bored here anyway."

Simon, who was fine with you going on little getaways just not anymore how dare you try and leave him alone

"You sure it's okay if I stay a few more days?"

With a short laugh he looks over the living room, where Johnny and Olls were fast asleep watching some cartoon he didn't know the name of while John and His wife had chosen to stay in the guest room for the night. It would hell if you stayed for a few more days.

"Of course, luv, I got the boys an' Tessie needs to learn who they are anyway."

"I guess. Okay, the ride is here. I love you."

"I love you more."

(annnnway that's it <333 any comments you wanna leave or anything like that makes my day!)

[navstuffs]

Traffic stop

Pairing: Rookie!Leon Kennedy x BustyF!Reader

Summary: Your sports bra malfunctions during a traffic stop with a shy rookie cop.

Warnings: au obvs, happens in raccoon city, wrote with a busty reader in mind but anyone can read it, shy!leon, accidental exposure, suggestive themes, speeding (DRIVE SAFE PEOPLE!!)

Author's Notes: kudos to my husband for giving me the idea/title. if anyone would like to write a smut version of this, i also wouldn't mind, just let me know! i do have another plan for re2 leon in works cause he is my baby. hope you enjoy your reading!

my leon's masterlist | part 2

It is still hot, you think as you exit the gym after an exhausting leg day. You decide to wear your sports bra while driving home since your car's air conditioner has not worked since you bought it. You always think you will have money to fix it or even buy a new car, but you must work with what you have now.

You sigh, throwing your bag and your shirt on the backseat. The pain in your legs will only worsen, so you decide to drive fast to get home, shower, and relax. And oh, yes, hope the wind provides some sort of comfort on your face. Placing your sunglasses in your eyes, you start going, mentally praying you wouldn't see any cop.

But of course, this isn't your lucky day.

Not even ten minutes on the road, the sound of the siren from a car of Raccoon City P.D. is behind you. You groan an audible no, asking mentally what you did to deserve this.

"Perfect. Great," Your murmur.

You pull into a nearby parking lot, take the paperwork from the glove compartment and throw it in the passenger seat, the air already getting stagnant inside the car, making you sweat.

Your eyes roam to the rearview mirror, wondering where the heck that cop was, when you notice the zipper of your sports bra is half open. You attempt to zip it, but it immediately unzips it again, leaving half of your cleavage exposed. You think it doesn't look bad, so you leave it alone. It is not like you were driving topless anyway.

With droplets of sweat on your forehead, you see the cop coming out in your driver-side mirror. Finally, you think as he takes his sweet time to get to you. He looks young. He seems to take a breath before walking to your car, pulling his pants up and his other hand on his gun, and even someone who doesn't understand anything about cops would know this guy is a rookie.

He approaches slowly and carefully, analyzing your old car, and when he finally stops by your window, the first thing you catch is a pair of innocent blue eyes. Staring right at you.

"Good afternoon, ma'am." You read the name tag Leon Kennedy as his eyes go from your face to your sports bra half open. Officer Leon probably has a great view since your car is on the lower side. He gulps, you don't know if nervousness or something else, then stares directly above your head.

"Afternoon."

"Do you know how fast you were going?" Oh, this one is definitely a rookie, with his voice still showing some nervousness.

"Yeap, I know."

You really don't want to prolong this more than it should, and the way Leon Kennedy seems to stare everywhere except you proves he wants the same.

"Look. I was just trying to get home. Just issue the ticket, and I will be on my way. I will behave, I promise."

That clearly sounded more seductive than you meant to be. You don't judge yourself as a woman who could get out of a ticket by flirting; honestly, you didn't care at this moment. Your whole body is getting sweaty and sticky, with a few drops of sweat coming down from your neck, and your legs are literally pulsating with pain. It is worth trying.

And just for the right timing, you feel a single drop of sweat coming down from your neck to your cleavage. Leon Kennedy's blue eyes follow the trail until the drop disappears inside your bra top, and he gulps, licking his lips.

Well, you may be one of those women who can get away from a ticket by flirting.

"License and breas— I mean, car registration, please."

Leon thanks mentally you don't seem to hear his mispronunciation. You grunt, impatience, turning to grab your documents for Leon. When you turn back at him to hand them, your zipper finally gives up, opening it up completely. It is a nice feeling at first, the same feeling you have from having your boobs released after a long day.

For a moment, you both don't move, too mortified. Officer Leon Kennedy is now staring, really staring, at your boobs. He doesn't even attempt to look away, his face entirely red as a tomato. Your immediate reaction is to try to close the zipper, but it seems it had enough. Leon finally turns around, mumbling an apology.

"I am sorry, I am so sorry, Officer!" You groan as you give up on zipping, going for the shirt under your bag in the back seat. 

"It-it is fine!" Leon rushes to say, his voice going high a few tones. If this wasn't embarrassing as it was, you would have laughed at the poor rookie's reaction. But now, great, you were probably going to be arrested for public indecency. You finally find a towel, a medium one, that might work. You cover yourself as best as you can.

After Leon gives you a few moments of privacy, he turns back to face you, and you know, by the expression on his face, you are doomed. You were probably getting arrested for trying to seduce a cop-out of a ticket. 

"You can go, ma'am."

"What? Like that?" You wonder before stopping yourself.

"Well, y-yeah. I can see you have much bigger problems to deal with it. Have a good day."

Leon gives you one good final look, a strange glow in his eyes. It seems he wants to say something else, but the moment passes. Leon gives you a slight smirk, his face still red, and walks back to his car.

You watch Leon drive away, your gazes somewhat crossing before he disappears into traffic. You sigh, the external heat forgotten, hoping this isn't your last encounter with Leon Kennedy.

[disco-archetypes]

YOU - "Ma'am, I am a renowned private investigator, a paragon of law and a specialist in all things criminal."

KIM KITSURAGI - The lieutenant shoots you a sideways glance. "And I am his private partner, John... Shao. Together we run the pre-eminent spousal surveillance firm in Revachol."

YOU - "We are truly private in our partnership."

KIM KITSURAGI - "Once we've caught our client's spouse *in flagrante delicto*, we blackmail them and pocket the money ourselves, because that's what private investigators do. Now, I see that *you* are a married woman..."

RHETORIC - Some penetrating sarcasm from your colleague there.

PLAISANCE - "What nonsense are you two going on about? This is not relevant at all. And besides," her lip curls in disgust, "*my* husband would never do such a thing. We are proper people."

YOU - "Mind your manners, John. This isn't the great Shao Empire, where you can talk about sex stuff so openly!"

PLAISANCE - "This is preposterous, a waste of my time and of no help to anyone." She looks displeased.

KIM KITSURAGI - "Our sincere apologies, ma'am. No more nonsense. We're offering to assist you with your troubles, *pro bono*." Despite his apologies, there's a twinge of amusement in the lieutenant's eye.

[muxshwriting]

blessed to be

Violet Bridgerton x maid!reader

summary: as her maid, you can't help but grow close to the Bridgerton matriarch || word count: 1293 || masterlist

REQUESTED: can you please make a Violet Bridgerton x maid fanfic?? I'm literally so hungry for some Violet fanfics.

Violet Bridgerton needed a new lady’s maid. Her previous maid was getting married and would be released from the household to start her own with her new husband. Therefore, Violet was in need of a new lady’s maid to aid her, leaving the troublesome task to her loyal housekeeper.

A week later, Mrs Wilson approached the drawing room with a woman following behind her. "This is your new lady’s maid Ma’am." She announced.

The woman behind her lowered her head and offered a small smile. Violet returned her smile, introducing herself and learning your name. "I'm sure you'll do splendidly in this household. Mrs Wilson will tend to your needs and show you your duties."

"Yes Ma'am." You hesitated as you turned to leave. "Thank you."

As you settled into your duty, you couldn't help but be grateful for your fortunate position. Yes, you were a maid but you were a maid to one of the wealthiest families in the ton, a family that had (at least) a basic respect for their staff and took care of them. Most importantly, Violet cared. The matriarch would ask your opinion on fabrics and hairstyles and jewellery before deciding.

"What about the emeralds with this dress for Eloise?" Violet softly asked, holding a blush coloured dress.

You scrunched your eyebrows in concentration, weighing up the combination. "Perhaps something less colourful for Eloise? Something like crystal or quartz, perhaps white sapphires. She doesn't wish to stand out by wearing something like emeralds." You suggest, hurriedly adding the honorific at the end, "Ma'am."

Violet thinks for a second before nodding handing the dress back to you to hang up, reaching for a diamond necklace to compare. "I quite agree. Eloise will appreciate your concern." She paused for a moment, "I appreciate your concern."

"Just helping however I can Ma'am."

It was a quiet day where Violet was sitting in the drawing room with her embroidery, and had requested you to join her. You never had time to learn the special embroidery stitches, learning the basics to sew patches into clothing and fix tears. Instead, you carried a few napkins that had sprouted holes, working on them as Violet embroidered.

"Why did you never marry?" Violet began the conversation. The two of you had discussed the topic before, but not the why.

You stuttered out a response. "Having a husband never appealed to me Ma'am. I'm very fortunate that I don't have to marry. I got to focus on my studies, teaching all the local children how to read and write and calculate simple sums. It's not a brilliant education but it's something that quite a few children never get to learn."

Violet smiled. "Perhaps you could finally persuade Hyacinth that her education is important then."

"Nothing will change Miss Hyacinth's mind once she has set it. I'm sure the Governess you employ will do a brilliant job with her education." You laughed slightly. "Besides, I couldn't leave you to-" You cut yourself off, suddenly embarrassed at what you're saying.

Violet isn't bothered. Without looking up from her stitching, she silently reached over a hand to hold yours. Both of you ceased your work, enjoying the silence and comfort of each other's company.

"You're very dear to me Y/N." Violet said quietly, also seeming embarrassed at her own words. "You mean a great deal to the family as well." She was stumbling for the right words to say, dancing around the main subject.

"I feel very fondly of you to Violet." The woman lightly gasped as you said her name gently. You spoke her name, not her title, not ma'am, not mistress. You had called her Violet. Her reaction had you second guessing everything you had ever done as you bundled your napkins into your arms and stood, pulling your hand from hers. "My apologies Ma'am. I shall be in the servant quarters." Your eyes were trained to the ground, inspecting the dust on your shoes. "If you need me for anything, I am simply a call away."

You had just broken one of the biggest class rules of society. Never ever address a person of higher standing by their name. You show respect, you use their title or honorifics, never their name alone and certainly not their first name. By doing so, you were equivocating yourself with her family or her lover.

And you were not either of those things. You couldn't possibly be.

You kept your distance from Violet thereafter, performed your duties perfectly. You never spoke out of turn, offered your opinion only when it was asked for and didn't add any more detail than your mistress required. Violet had an tinge of pity in her eyes whenever she looked at you now and it made your blood boil. You did not need her pity, why was she offering you pity?

In her own mind, Violet was scheming. You thought you were in trouble, that you had overstepped. But Violet wished you would overstep more. She did not mind that you used her name, it stirred a feeling inside of her she had never experienced before, certainly not with another woman. She wanted that feeling to return.

The glowing, pulsing warmth that came when you used her name, when she held your hand. The shivers that tumbled down her spine and sizzled into darkness and dread when you had pulled away. She didn't know what was happening to her, she had never considered anything like this before.

Violet Bridgerton was a mother, she cared for her children above her own needs and desires, right? She had done so for over a decade. But what was stopping her from pursuing her own desires? Anthony was married, there was new Viscountess to herd the Bridgerton debutantes through the marriage mart. Violet could relax, she could breath.

Most importantly, she could chase that consuming feeling she felt when she was with you.

Violet had cornered you in her bedchambers after getting dressed, asking to speak with for a moment. You kept your head down, terrified that you would lose what you had started to cherish, this family and her.

"I don't know how to say what I want to say correctly." She began.

Your eyebrows furrowed as the conversation led down a vastly different path than what you had thought.

"But I cannot remain silent." She continued, taking a deep breath and wringing her hands together. "There is a feeling, deep in my chest, whenever I am with you. It is like a string pulling me towards you and filling my heart with warmth and love and-"

"The feeling like you cannot breath when they are not near. The world seems to slow and mysteries make sense..." You trail off with uncertainty after interrupting her, trying to help her find the words.

"Do you feel it?" Violet had taken a step toward you, her hands hovering by her side, begging to reach out and hold yours.

Silently, you indulge her, reaching forward and taking her hands in yours. Instantly, it's like there is a weight that had been lifted. "This feeling is why I could never marry." You whisper to her, sharing your secret. "There has never been a man to make me feel this way."

Violet sighed. "It was different with Edmund. He was my everything, possessing my every thought and corrupting my mind. He was the air that we breathed, when he- When he died, I locked that feeling away, never wanting to be hurt that way again. I continued to live for the sake of my children, teaching them that love is worth all the pain it might bring."

"I don't want to hurt you."

"You don't hurt me my dear." She confessed. "You heal me."

the request is finally here!!! I've got a few others in my inbox rn and I promise I'm getting to them. I just got back from a stunning cruise around the mediterranean so am just settling back into my work routine for the summer x

[peachymilkandcream]

My Husband, My Monster|Part 1|William Afton x Wife!Reader

(A/N: So this is the fandom that won the poll! I'll try and keep these and Break Me Slowly regular, but still feel free to give me requests for both in my inbox, I do oneshots and headcanons as well as I'll answer your questions and comments! (Please just read the rules first) I think I have a general timeline and idea of the lore [It's FNAF lore it's complicated as fuck] so I'm going with my best guess on things. Hope you guys enjoy!)

WARNINGS: noncon, dubcon, power imbalance, age difference, manipulation, mind breaking, yandere themes, yandere behaviours, domestic violence, misogyny, violence, William's a warning himself, etc.

=============================================

Who knew that a bit of twisted words and cash made all of your problems go away? William had struggled to stay open with Henry Emily's company showing such strides in mechanical technology. He was still wearing homemade cloth suits while his rival had dancing puppets that children adored. His dreams and ideas were being stolen right out from under him in his eyes, rolling in mountains of debt and the threat of closing down looming over his head. They were his characters, his dream, his business idea, and the bastard had to steal it and make it better. Even though he had bought William out of debt all those years back, it didn't change the sting of defeat when the two businesses merged.

Now he didn't regret it, Fredbear's Family Diner was just starting out but it was already projected to be a success. His characters took centre stage and had never been more alive, delighting young and old alike, his legacy started now.

Which is when he noticed the girl sitting at a table with her friend, they were giggling and laughing together over some inside joke. William had always had a soft spot for pretty girls, his more reckless years spent taking what women offered him freely, now he didn't have the time.

However for this girl he might just be able to make the time.

Casually he walks over, pretending to just be passing by, when he spies the job application she's filling out on the table and catching snippets of their conversation.

"I'm just saying, you're not going to have time for school while getting even a part time job." The friend was saying this, a slightly concerned expression on her face. "And now offence, you're not the brightest bulb, you need all the time to study that you can get."

"Well thanks." She mutters, giggling slightly. "But I can't afford college with my situation now. Mom and Dad agreed to pay for most of it, but-" She hesitates with a blush. "I want the full college experience."

"Ooh~" Her friend seems intrigued. "My best friend finally loosing her innocence? Scandalous."

She scoffs. "Look I just haven't found the right guy yet, it'll happen when it happens."

At this William can't help but interject. "Excuse me, I couldn't help but glance over your shoulder and see you're applying for a job here."

She meets his eyes, and man was he a sucker for a pretty face. "Yeah I am, are you a manager here?"

He chuckles a little. "No actually, I'm the owner." While co-owner was technically true he liked to tell people he owned it solely to give himself an ego boost. "If you wanted, I could do the interview right here."

"Wait really?"

"Actually, she's fine, thanks, she's going to get a job with my mom or something. Come on let's go-" Her friend slides out of the booth, trying to drag the woman with her.

"Well I'm going to be brutally honest with you here ma'am, for a girl your age your options are going to be extremely limited. And even though the pay isn't great it's a great experience."

She stops, considering his words before waving off her friend. "Go ahead, I think I'll still fill it out, never hurts."

"If you'd like I can interview you right now, save some time."

"Oh wow that would be awesome-"

"Seriously? Listen, this guy gives me a weird feeling, let's just go okay? And I'll find you something better." The friend again reaches for her to come along, but the girl refuses.

"I'm serious, go on and I'll tell you how it went later."

With a huff her friend leaves, a clearly annoyed expression evident on her face.

William regains his composure before sitting across from her. "So, a job. Tell me what you can do." He crosses his hands on the table in front of her, a smile easily coming to his face.

"Well, I was thinking I would be a good server, I'm good with people, especially kids, and I love to clean. I can cook pretty well too but I think something at this scale would be too much for me." She laughs a little, clearly trying to ease a little nervousness.

He joins in on her laughter, hoping to make her comfortable around him, since that's what he wanted. "I suppose that's fair. Out of curiosity, why is it you want this job?" She was hired already, that he knew, a pretty face with a nice ass? What more could you want from an employee?

"Well I'm in college, and I want to be able to afford just some extras to really experience that life before it's too late."

"College?" He feigns interest, in his opinion all she was doing was wasting her most fertile years and her money. If she's halfway decent at any of her qualifications then she'd easily find a rich enough man like him, pop out a few kids and have a truly fulfilling life. "Can I ask what for?"

"Psychology, the human mind has always fascinated me."

"Oh yes definitely." He suppresses an eye roll, even more of a useless degree, maybe he could help this girl from throwing her life away because she thinks deep thoughts will make her money. "Then I should ask for your class schedule for hours."

"Right, I always keep it with me because I'm always forgetting." She giggles again, pulling it out of her purse and handing it to him. "I cannot work these times but anything else I'm there."

Wanting these hours to know when not to schedule this girl was the last thing on William's mind. "Well I'll do what I can, but it's not that easy, you have to be flexible in the real world."

"Of course, I understand that sir."

"William, call me William. My grandfather was sir and my father was Mr. Afton, so I'm just William." He flashes another smile, coaxing one from her lips as well.

"Alright, William." She tests his name out on her tongue with a soft smile and a subtle blush, the poor girl clearly hasn't been within five feet of a man before.

"Now Miss, have you had any work experience prior to this?"

"No, I haven't, this sounds entitled but I've never really had the need to up until now?"

"There's nothing wrong with that, although I'll need to teach you the proper dynamic between employee and employer. But I trust that won't be a problem, right?"

"Not at all sir-er-William. I'm more than happy to learn."

"Good, all you need to know is that I'm your friend, but I have authority over you so you need to follow what I say without question."

"Why without question?"

Oh she was so naive. "Insubordination, it's grounds with which you can be fired. So best not to stray too far towards that right?" He winks.

"Absolutely-" She shivers slightly.

"Then if that's it..." He draws the moment out for it to seem authentic. "Welcome to Fredbear's Family Diner and we're happy to have you on the team." He extends a hand to shake, which she grasps eagerly, her rows of white teeth on full display.

"Oh thank you so much! When do I start?"

"We'll have you start next week, let's say, Monday."

"That's perfect, that's so perfect-" She glances at the door. "I really should go, I think I've pissed her off enough as it is, thank you for your time." She shakes his hand and hurries out the door.

"Oh trust me, don't worry about it." He watches her go, a small smile coming to his face.

This was just the beginning.

[zablife]

Michael's Wedding Gift

Requested by @peakyswritings for my 2K celebration An Evening at Arrow House. Warning: This is a dark fic 💀

A/N: For added effect play "A Heart Made of Yarn" by Franz Gordon while reading.

The new Mrs. Shelby nuzzled her cheek against the course hairs of Tommy's chest, eyelids shut tight to keep in the tears that threatened to overspill. Her breath caught in her throat as she whispered, "I don't understand why he isn't allowed to come to the party?"

Tommy moved to sit up in bed and his wife scrambled to find a place at his side. What had she done that was so wrong, inviting his cousin inside for tea when he arrived unannounced? He was the only relative to congratulate them in the month they'd been married.

As Tommy caught sight of the tear rolling down his wife's cheek, he softened. "If I'd known you wanted him here, he would have been invited, but Michael is going back to Boston in the morning. It couldn't be helped," he answered, brushing the tear away with the pad of his thumb. A deep chuckle rose from inside his chest as he asked, "What's so special about Michael anyhow? We're expecting at least fifty other guests who will be more than happy to coo at your gorgeous gown from Paris."

Mrs. Shelby sniffled as she replied, "It's not that. He was kind to me," she recalled, thinking of Michael's warm, brown eyes and unassuming nature which made her feel at ease around him. She learned that he was relatively new to the family business which gave them something to bond over. He wasn't brash, but shy and quiet like her and the kinship they forged was something she held dear despite the short time spent together.

"There will be other parties, love," Tommy assured her with a kiss to the top of her head. She held to that promise, dreading the evening before them because she understood the Shelbys could be an unforgiving lot.

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

As Mrs. Shelby greeted the arriving guests, she shifted nervously in her high heels and nuzzled closer to her husband's side. Despite the warm summer evening, there was a distinct chill radiating from the glacial stares of Tommy's friends and family. Apparently, not one found her worthy of the great Thomas Shelby, MP OBE. Sensing his wife's nervousness, Tommy gave her hand a gentle squeeze and she willed herself not to give up so soon.

As she turned to accept a glass of champagne from a passing waiter, she locked eyes with Tommy's man Isaiah. He swaggered toward her purposefully as he deposited a key into her hand.

"What's this?" she asked with a tilt of her head.

"A wedding gift, compliments of Mr. Michael Gray," he said with a bow.

"A car?" she asked incredulously.

"You must have made quite an impression," Isaiah remarked.

"I wouldn't say that, but he was understanding of my situation," Mrs. Shelby replied, staring at the key which sat heavy in her palm.

"Whatever you say, ma'am," Isaiah agreed, turning his back to her.

"Isaiah, wait. I was wondering something," she asked with genuine concern. A thought had been plaguing her mind since tea. She hadn't wanted to make Tommy's cousin self conscious asking about his obvious limp, but she couldn't reconcile it seeing that Michael was far too young to be a war veteran. "I was hoping you might know what happened to Michael's leg?"

Isaiah's eyebrow twitched with a hint of mischief and he bowed his head to whisper, "Reckon Tommy don't want you to know, but his cousin's a nutter. Blew up the wishing well in his village with dynamite when he was a boy and got caught in the explosion."

Mrs. Shelby's hand flew to her mouth in panic. Surely the man she'd been speaking with a day earlier wasn't capable of such things. "My God," was all she could utter.

Isaiah gave a nod as guests filed past them, unaware of Mrs. Shelby's distress as he continued the grizzly tale. "That's not all. He got a taste for it after that. Set fire to the little farmhouse where he lived and the family who took him in burnt in their beds," he said, lips curling into a wicked sneer, delighted by the reaction he received.

Then he added one last threat for good measure. “Stay on his good side, Mrs. Shelby. Perhaps convince your husband to bring him back from his exile in America? Michael wasn’t pleased about that,” he said ominously.

Mrs. Shelby felt her heart racing and palms sweating as she looked around wildly for Tommy. As she spied him coming closer, she grabbed for him with trembling hands, a way to anchor herself in a sea of confusion and terror.

"There's my lovely wife," he beamed. "Are you feeling alright?" he asked seeing her ashen face.

"Can we go?" she begged, desperate to be rid of the unpleasant company. "There's something I'd like to show you," she said, holding up the key.

"Of course," Tommy replied, placing an arm securely around her waist.

"Michael's given us a wedding gift," Mrs. Shelby announced, gesturing toward a beautiful new Bentley parked in the drive. "What do you make of that?"

"It's a very nice automobile," Tommy conceded through clenched teeth, shoving his hands into his pockets hastily. "Shall we join our guests now?" he urged, turning to leave.

"Tommy, is Michael...dangerous?" his wife called to him, his foot frozen on the top stair. Before she had time to dissuade herself, she ran to him and confided everything Isaiah told her.

"People like to make up stories because Michael was away for many years, but it's nothing more than idle gossip,” he explained with a wave of his hand.

"Tommy, I must insist you take this seriously. Tell me you haven’t sent Michael to Boston to punish him. That he has no reason to quarrel with you,” his wife urged, voice bordering on hysteria.

Tommy's hands clasped her face between his large palms, icy blue irises fixating on hers in a hypnotizing stare as he promised, “Of course not, it’s only business," he swore. "Do you believe me?"

She nodded slowly, placing a hand over his. Her Tommy wouldn't lie or make false promises. She had complete faith and trust in her husband in that moment. She took his arm as he offered it out to her and walked confidently into dinner, knowing he would protect her from harm.

It would be the last time she was seen alive. The next morning as she placed the key in the ignition of her shiny new automobile, the engine suddenly exploded, tearing and twisting the metal into an unrecognizable ball of flame. As the smoke billowed up to the heavens, Tommy raced to the wreckage, finding a note on his doorstep left by his embittered cousin.

"Congratulations, Tommy. I understand why you eloped with this beautiful creature and left us all to fend for ourselves. Tell me, has she ever looked more lovely than she does now?"

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

Tag List:

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[thebettermoon]

Chapter 1 : Runaway bride

Eiser Grayan x BlackChubbyReader

Warning : Very minor mentions racism , fat-phobia and bullying

Chp2▪︎》 Masterlist

Eiser had no interest in someone known not to meet the standards of high society, someone who operated in the shadows and wasn't a great "look" for him.

The plan had been for Younger Sister Serena to fit perfectly, but since her strong rejection of the idea, you were the next best thing to gain control of the hotel.

That fateful morning, your wedding day, the day he would whisk you away to "love" him. You bolted!

You managed to sneak around the courthouse, but guards blocked every exit. You followed your trail as you ran into the gardens, a last-ditch attempt. The walls were tall, but manageable. You gathered your dress and discarded your expensive shoes. Walking through a freshly watered flower bed, you realized you needed a head start. The weathered stone walls were perfect to climb, but too tall to scale in under a minute. Considering she had been gone for over an hour now and I am sure your family has probably been able to break the toilet door down to see in their horror she had jumped out the window.

You readied yourself, pushed down your nerves, and calmed yourself. You just needed to push hard to get halfway.

"Is there a problem, ma'am? Why are you here?"

No, no, no, no, no, no, NO, NO!!

You were so close. Now some guard with a condescending tone thinks he can stop you by snooping around in others' business.

You turned around to confront the guard trying to get him to leave, but you were instead shocked. He wore an all-white suit with gold accessories, was tall, a good foot or two taller, with pale pearl skin, jet-black hair, and a blank expression, but most striking were his piercing blue eyes. It didn't take an idiot to know all that equaled to a Grayson, aka my future husband if I don't start moving.

"I think you got it wrong, sir. I am just a maid." Your voice creaked as you slowly walked backwards, but he followed you.

"A maid in the very expensive wedding dress I paid for and not on my wife, that's a new one." A deep chuckle came before he leaned in so close, his breath was fanning you.

His expression was blank but still intimidating as if he couldn't care less if you were was killed on the spot.

"I understand you're scared, but this is not the way you confront this reality that we are getting married." Eiser leaned back to show his full height, giving some much-needed space.

"I am scared too, but seeing you try to run up a wall at just the thought of marrying me is making me feel wayyyyy better." Eiser cracked a wide smile and leaned back to let out a deep laugh. He smiled... Is this man a Grayson or an imposter?

In my state of shock, Eiser walked around to get my shoes, cleaning the dirt off and came to kneel in front of me. He touched my ankle with his icy fingers, snapping me back to reality.

"I was able to convince everyone to let me search alone for you, but they are going to come after me too. If they see you like this, they are going to know what happened. Good thing the dress isn't a mess at all."

He lifted up my feet and slipped my feet gently into the heels. He unintentionally sneaked a hand up my thigh to steady me after going to the next foot. My skin shivered as he squeezed it slightly. I don't know what is happening and how he is so nice. Every time I heard of the Graysons, it was anything but human, know one of them were on their knees to someone like me...

He stands up yet again. He eyes analyse with a pleasing look at his work untill he met my eyes. Sieltly reassuring me this is fine and... i beleve him. I know that if he can be this understanding and comfort maybe their is a chance to be close in anyways that 2 people in a contract marriage can be but still need

"I know this is scary. Marriage will always will be like that and with a stranger it is even worse but..." He takes out his hand , urging to take "when I first saw you I knew that I was willing to make it work and I hope i am of worthy of your the time , space , mind and... body to make it work" He takes

My breath was caught in my thoart. What was happening? This man was being eerily so nice to me but at the other hand having someone so willing to work this tough from the start and to make it more bearable from the start made we feel less scared about this.

I take his hand , showing him my willingness to trust him but still now shakening the feeling that this is wrong

Chp2 ▪︎》

[autumn-foxfire]

As I was writing this I realised, weird it is. I like Aoko and so I like her mom but this chapter in hindsight was trying to overexplain.

Spoilers

So the new Magic Kaito chapter is similar in small ways to that birthday chapter. It's Midoriko's 40th birthday and Nakamori is a no show though he went to great lengths to book a table at a fancy restaurant for the three of them according to Aoko. Aoko exclaims for the first time in front of her mom about Kaito Kid who has no idea who that is and despite being hyperobservant she keeps misremembering the phrase Kaito Kid. Theres a meta joke that makes no sense in-universe where Ke says she thought Aoko's mom died since she hasn't seen her in forever. Aoko and her mom barely get to talk on most days because mom being the district prosecutor goes to work early(after making breakfast and a packed lunch for Aoko, Ginzo and sometimes Kaito) and comes home after Aoko's gone to sleep and her being extremely workaholic and sleep deprived she sleeps whole day on her holidays. And because she and the inspector fought a lot over work early in their marriage they made a pact to not talk about work at home at all(one assumes they do talk or communicate although this chapter...). She has seen some news clips of Kaito Kid and thought he was some circus act(Ma'am...your husband features in most of those clips) and at once rattles off a list of offences he should have been charged with. And asks why he hasn't been arrested yet😅. But most importantly she is determined to put him in jail because he made her Gin-chan miss his birthday dinner (if only you knew about the last 20 years...). And thereafter she starts concocting a Conan style plan with Aoko's help while Kaito is a bit scared of the challenge because she once figured out the mechanism to baby Kaito's magic trick easily.

(As for Nakamori I get the feeling that the later him, especially the one in Conan, changed somewhere. The early him was quite like Kogoro in all the drinking and womanizing and antics. In that sense Magic Kaito's continuity is a bit off(not to mention it used to be 1990 and now it's set in the era of smartphones) but poor Aoko has two parents obsessed about their work.

He overexplained because he knows he hasn't set up her mom being in the picture at all and is trying to course correct. However he also wants them to have a healthy relationship, something that just isn't possible with the set up he went with. If he really needed her mom to exist, why couldn't she have been working overseas to explain her absence? Or be estranged from her family and use these chapters to reunite the family unit?

It's a weird choice and I think it's just a good example of his poor writing choices at times.

[cherrycola27]

To Hec and Back

Pairing: Hangman x Reader (Call Sign Hecate)

Warnings: Language, childhood trauma, physical violence.

Previous Part Next Part

...........................................

Part 7

"What if they don't like me when they meet me in person, Jake?" You asked him as he drove you from the airport to his family ranch. It had been a month since Jake had proposed to you, and you both had time off to finally come to Texas and meet his family in person.

"My parents already love you. My younger sister is going to love you too." He assures you as he pats your thigh.

"What about your older sister and her husband?" You ask him.

Jake sighs. "Bryan is a great guy. How he puts up with Savannah, I will never know. I can't wait for you to meet their kids, though. Carter and Sloan are the coolest." Jake smiles. "I'm sure I will get along great with your niece and nephew." You smile back at him.

"Our niece and nephew Hec." He corrects you while tracing his thumb over your engagement ring.

Mr. and Mrs. Seresin or Elaine and JT, as they have insisted you call them, hug both of you as you come in. Their house is spectacular. It's bigger than one you could have ever dreamed of. You knew Jake came from money, but it wasn't something that he openly advertised.

The afternoon is spent with his mom and his younger sister Charlotte, or Charli, talking your ears off. You didn't mind it, though. You didn't have this growing up, and it was nice.

Everyone seemed to be in a good mood until Savannah came. Her husband Bryan greeted you warmly but was sure he had met you before. You told him you must have one of those faces.

Carter, Jake's five year old nephew and Sloan, his three year old niece, were so happy to see their uncle again.

"Carter, Sloan, I want you to meet someone. This Y/N, she flys big planes like Uncle Jake, and I'm going to marry her." He tells them. Sloan climbs up to you, with wide eyes. "You fwy the big pwanes?"She asks, you. "I sure do." You smile at her.

"Do you fly as good as Uncle Jake?" Carter asks, climbing up on your lap beside his sister.

"Better." You say causing everyone to laugh.

"So if you are going to marry Uncle Jake, does that make you Aunt Y/N? Like Aunt Charli?" Carter asks. He's pretty smart to be so young. "I guess it does." You tell him. Savannah shoots you a dirty look.

"Hi Aunty Y/N," Sloan squeals. "She isn't your aunt yet." Savannah snaps, grabbing her.

"Wow, Sav, way to kill the mood." Charli scoffs.

"Well, I'm just saying. You've been dating her what? Six months JJ, and now you're engaged? Why the rush? Did you get her pregnant?" Savannah asks with ice in her voice.

"Sav!" Charli and Elaine scold her had the same time.

"No, Savannah, she isn't pregnant. We love each other and aren't afraid to go after what we want." Jake defends you as you press closer to his side.

"And what kind of call sign is Hecate? Isn't she like a witch or something?" Savannah continues to berate you.

"Actually, in Greek mythology, she's known as a touch barer, a bringer of light in darkness." You try to tell her. You wish you could change her mind, but you can already tell that Savannah had made up her mind about you.

"Well I for one, think it's lovely, different, inspiring." Elaine states.

"Now, Hecate, darling, I'm not sure what you and JJ have planned for the wedding, bur you're more than welcome to get married here on the ranch, or we can fly out to San Diego if that's what you prefer." Elaine smiles at you.

"Thank you, we haven't talked about it much." You tell her.

"Well, I would love it if I could have your mother's phone number so I could talk to her about some details!" Elaine says.

Your shoulders drop. Jake feels you stiffen beside him.

"Oh, I'm sorry, that—that one be possible." You swallow thickly.

"Oh, darling, has she passed?" Elaine softens.

"No ma'am. I—I don't know who she is. I grew up in the system. Spent my whole life being bounced around between foster care and group homes. That's why I joined the Navy. I wanted some stability." You hang your head at the confession.

Jake rubs soothing circles on your back. He knows how hard it is for you to talk about your childhood.

"Well," Elaine says, taking your hand. "You might not have had a family then, but you have one now."

"Absolutely, honey." JT, Jake's father, agrees.

"Wow! Way to go JJ, you picked a charity case for a bride!" Savannah scoffs. "How do you know she isn't with you for your money."

"I—I'm not, I would never—" You try to defend yourself. Jake stands up and turns to face her, but before he can open his mouth, Charli stands up in front of her sister.

"Savannah, if you could just not be a a bitch for like five minutes that would be great. I get that you think you're better than everyone else and that the five years before Jake was born were the best years of your life, but damn! Give the girl a break. Not everyone grew up as fortunate as we were!" Charli tells her.

"Your sister is exactly right, Savannah. You should be happy for your brother." Their father states

"Exactly. You should be happy he has found a wonderful woman." Their mom finishes.

"I'm just a concerned big sister watching out for her baby brother. Don't you get that JJ?" Savannah whines.

"I'm thirty years old, I don't need you to baby me." Jake deadpans.

"All I'm saying is before you walk down the aisle, make sure she signs a pre-nup." Savannah shoots back.

"Just like how you made Bryan?" Jake grits.

"Bryan didn't have to sign one because he's with me for love." Savannah tells him.

"He definitely isn't with you for your personality." Charli snickers.

"Bryan, it's late. We need to get home and put the kids to bed." Savannah huffs before turning on her heel to leave. Bryan tells everyone good night and ushers his children to leave.

"Bye Nana, bye PopPop, bye Aunt Charli, bye Uncle Jake, bye Aunt Hecate!" Carter calls before leaving.

When you hear the door shut, you take a deep breath.

"Don't listen to Savannah, she'll come around. She's always been the difficult one." JT tells you.

"What dad is trying to say is, Savannah is a bitch." Charli laughs.

"Charlotte Grace!" Her mother scolds. "It's true, mom, and you know it." Jake laughs.

"Well, it's getting late, and I'm sure the two of you want to rest after traveling today. We've converted your old room into a guest room JJ, dear. There should be towels and everything you need up there." Elaine informs you.

"Thanks, Mom. Goodnight." Jake tells them as he leads to two of you upstairs.

"Goodnight, everyone!" You call down the stairs.

Once the two of you are inside the safety of the guest room, you sigh. "That could have gone better." You tell Jake.

"Hec, baby, Mom, Dad, Charli, and the kids love you. That's all I care about. Savannah has a stick up her ass. I promise she will be better at brunch on Sunday because our grandmother will be there. Savannah has always been a better person around her." Jake says as he beings to undress.

"Care to join me in the shower?" He wags his eyebrows at you.

"Just a shower, we aren't doing any funny business under your parents' roof." You tell him.

"Might have to sneak you out to the barn or the back of the truck I rented. Can't go two weeks without having my best girl." Jake whispers against your ear before whisking you into the bathroom.

Saturday is spent shopping and getting mani-pedis with Elaine and Charli, Jake, and his father spend the day taking care of a few things on the ranch. You all meet up for dinner and you finally start to feel like one of them.

You're hopeful for Sunday.

You made sure to put on the new dress Elaine and Charli helped you pick out yesterday. You've done simple hair and makeup and have a bright smile on your face.

Jake's grandmother Dorothea, or Grammy Seresin, as she insisted, is one of the sweetest women you have ever met. She fawns over your engagement ring as she tells you about the ring that the smaller diamonds in it came from. She pinches Jake's cheeks and tells him what a good job he has done.

Grammy Seresin doesn't leave your side, something that doesn't go unnoticed by Savannah. She's clenching her mimosa glass so hard that it could shatter.

Everyone is talking about wedding plans and brunch is going well until Savannah speaks.

"You know JJ, speaking of wedding plans, you won't have to hire any entertainment for your bachelor party." She beings.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Jake questions her. There's no way Savannah could know... is there? He thinks.

"I mean, why would you pay for it when apparently, you're already getting it for free." Savannah continues. She smirks, looking from Jake to you. Your heart drops.

"Savannah, don't." Jake warns her.

"Don't what, JJ? Tell everyone that you're marrying a stripper?" She says, with venom in her voice.

"Savannah Marie!" Elaine shouts, "How dare you say something like that about her!"

You shrink into your seat. You can feel the tears forming in the corner of your eyes.

"I'm only telling the truth, Mother." Savannah drawls out. "Remember how Bryan said that she looked familiar? It's because she was an 'entertainer' at his bachelor party!" Savannah shouts.

"Jake, is this— is this true?" Elaine asks, looking from you to him.

"Yes, Ma'am." You choke out. "Like I told you, I grew up in the system. When I first joined the Navy, I needed a way to support myself. Dancing helped me when no one else would. Later, I did it because I enjoyed it. I stopped after Jake and I became serious." You confess with tears streaming down your cheeks.

Everyone is silent for a moment before Savannah starts laughing.

"Wow! JJ! You sure know how to pick them. You're marrying a whore! You—" Savannah doesn't get to say anything else because Charli jumps up from her chair and slaps her across the face.

Shouting breaks out among the family. You can hear Jake defending you.

It's all too much. Everyone is too busy to notice you slip out of the dining room and up the stairs.

You quickly grab your things and the keys to Jake's rental. You slink into the garage, unnoticed. Everyone is still too busy fighting. You start up the truck and head down the drive.

You aren't sure where you are going, but you can't stay here.

You were a fool to think that this would work, that you could fit in with these people.

It takes everyone a full thirty minutes to calm down. Savannah had been kicked out of the house. Jake's parents and grandmother assure him that they fully support his decision to marry you because they love you and how happy you make him.

Jake is the first to notice you aren't in the dining room anymore.

He searches the first floor and can't find you. Soon, he, Elaine, and Charli are checking the house for you. JT goes to search the patio and backyard. You're nowhere to be found.

Jake runs up to the guest room. Your things are gone.

He comes back downstairs to the living room with tears in his eyes.

He has something in his hand. He sits down on the couch and places it on the coffee table. The only thing you left behind:

Your engagement ring.

Eeeekkk, I hope yall enjoyed this chapter and the drama! I lured you back in with the spice, just to paralyze you once again!

Tag List: @pisupsala @shanimallina87 @luckyladycreator2 @mak-32 @katieshook02 @samhapner6 @rosiahills22 @thedroneranger @roosterforme @youlightmeupfinn @withahappyrefrain @arson-tm @sebsxphia @potato-girl99981 @caitsymichelle13 @lillyrosenight @callsign-hummingbird @inky-sun @writeroutoftime @afterglowsb-tch13 @heyoimjordy @phoenixssugarbaby @hypatia93 @bradshawseresinbabe @je-suis-prest-rachel @teacupsandtopgun @boringusername3 @starlightstories @daggerspare-standingby @utterlyhopeful-fics @talkfastromance4 @fighterpilothoe @t-nd-rfoot @phoenix1388 @abaker74 @peppizzathief @gigisimsonmars @emorychase @wannabeschyulersister @greatszu @shawnsblue @angelbabyange @sadpetalsstuff @softmullet @cowboybarbie @shewritesfiction13 @sweetlittlegingy @rogersbarnesxx

[pennzance]

"Madam President, a quick question?"

"Sure, Bob. What is it?"

"I heard your granddaughter broke her wrist. How is she?"

"Ah, well, Bob, on the record you know I don't discuss my family much. Off the record, she's fine. In a cast up past her elbow, but fine."

"Didn't she break her wrist earlier this year?"

"Yeah, back in March. She broke the other one this time."

"Wow. Kids, huh?"

"Yes, kids. They get into situations like this all on their own. Isn't it great that we live in a world where children can be children and get casts and break the occasional bone without it being the subject of some outlandish conspiracy theory that makes my daughter-in-law out to be some sort of monstrous she-demon who beats her children and drinks their tears to keep herself young and capable of having just, like, ALL of the abortions her non-existant government healthcare can provide as she sleeps around on her husband, MY SON, totally under my nose despite the fact that the CIA answers to me and I would absolutely know because I have obviously tasked that organization with watching every single American on the planet and policing them for, and I goddamn quote, 'wrong think'?"

"You saw the Enquirer, I take it ma'am?"

"Nice to see your lesson on sarcasm stuck, Bob."

[twentydaysofdrabbles]

The Concierge Is Confronted (Part 39)

The presence of a Harbinger in the City rightfully puts the Manager on edge. The call for a Global Meeting is put on ice temporarily, even though the news coming from New York begins to worsen.

John Wick - missing. The Bowery King - dethroned and presumably dead. And Winston Scott and the Hotel - in the High Table's crosshairs for daring to stand against them.

It seems Casablanca has not been spared either, though the High Table has not come for Sofia Al-azwar's head yet.

"We must be careful not to draw their attention," the Manager whispers to you one morning as you prepare the missives to be sent out. "But we can only wait so long."

You look at the missives, penned in your hand and looking like ordinary accounts and invoices. Forged, of course, to look nothing like a call for a Global Meeting. You have become very good at that, despite how long it takes you to make each one, despite the pain in your hands afterwards that makes it hard to even twitch your fingers.

"Is a distraction needed?" you ask her, still folding the letters into their envelopes.

She looks at you. At first with curiosity, then with a knowing smile. "The Monster Family."

You press aching fingers to the lip of the envelope, sealing it. "The Carta have made themselves a very tempting target." You're sure neither Toriel nor her former husband have forgotten them, least of all Sans.

"So they have," the Manager purrs, leaning close to gather the missives that you've already folded and sealed. "I think you'll find a convenient messenger to pass that message on, yes?"

A pause. You look at her dead in the eyes as you hand the last envelope to her. "If you're referring to Sans--"

She titters behind the missives, waving them to fan her face. "Why! That your mind turns immediately to him is rather interesting, my Heart~"

Oh, the urge to throw your hands in the air is great.

"But no." She spares you the indignity of such a gesture. "I think that's Mister Papyrus coming up the stairs."

What. You step away from her desk to peer out the window, reflexively standing so you wouldn't be seen from outside. Indeed, that's the Great and Terrible Papyrus taking the front steps in long, easy strides, his car being driven away by a valet. The scowl fixed upon his face doesn't look any different than usual, but there's just something in the way that he's moving that seems...out of place.

"Shall I go greet him, ma'am?"

She smiles at you. You don't like that smile. Like she knows something you don't. "You definitely should," she purrs, neatening the envelopes in her hand. "Leave these to me, my Heart. Go enjoy yourself."

What.

You narrow your eyes at her, only to have her smile innocently at you. Fine. With an incline of your head, you stride out of her office and make it down to the lobby. You'll find out soon enough.

At your counter, a receptionist is busy conversing with a scowling Papyrus.

"I'm looking for the Concierge," he growls down at your relief receptionist, who does a good job of remaining stalwart in the face of his fanged scowl.

"The Concierge is currently away, sir. If you would make yourself comfortable, I will alert the Concierge to your presence."

"No need," you say evenly as you round the corner. Papyrus seems to brighten up a little as you come into view, or as far as he can anyway, considering the way his face is permanently fixed into a glower. "Mister Papyrus, how can I help?"

Your relief receptionist slinks away the moment you give them the go ahead. You imagine dealing with an ornery Papyrus wouldn't be a fun experience.

The towering skeleton monster glares down at you, his hands folded behind his back. "I wish to speak to you."

You blink up at him.

"Alone."

You look around. For the time of day, the lobby is practically empty save for a bellboy carting some luggage around.

Papyrus sighs in aggravation. "In private," he bites out.

Well, isn't that odd. You tilt your head as best you can, considering that you're looking up at the tall man. "Certainly." The Lounge would be a good place. "If you would follow me."

The Lounge hasn't changed from the last time you led a skeleton monster here. It hasn't been that long, perhaps a few months, but it seems little in the grand scheme of things. Particularly for you, when the days seem to meld into one another.

Papyrus drifts to the other side of the room as you close the doors behind you to ensure no sound escapes. By habit alone, you move behind the counter of the little bar, hands clasped in front of your belly. "Would you like a drink, Mister Papyrus?"

The towering skeleton stops. Spins around on his heel. And bites out, "I SAW WHAT YOU DID WITH MY LAZY, GOOD FOR NOTHING BROTHER."

A blink. A slow tilt of your head. "Oh?" The memory of that night springs to mind. The smell of damp asphalt along with cherry smoke and mustard, the heavy taste of magic. A red glow bouncing off a brick wall marred by claw marks. Soft moans and a loud caterwaul, a baritone voice begging you.

Papyrus pauses for a moment. Waiting for something.

You don't give it to him.

He grits his teeth and paces like a caged tiger. "SAY SOMETHING."

Hmm. "And I saw you."

The bright crimson glow of magic engulfs Papyrus' entire angular face. In perhaps a very uncharacteristic display of emotion, Papyrus sputters and throws his head back in shock at your words. "YOU--HOW DID YOU--"

Did he not notice you looking at him at the very end? You distinctly recall turning your head to facilitate that. "Your blush was very...bright." Something else was very bright, too.

Papyrus staggers back into the wall, clutching at his chest like it were pearls. "THAT IS--" Then he coughs, clears his throat, and rallies himself. Or tries to. The blush on his face is still bright as ever. "IT IS COMPLETELY...COMPLETELY..." Oh, the blush seems to grow brighter, his eye lights going slightly fuzzy around the edges. "SALACIOUS. PERVERTED. VULGAR. UTTERLY SHAMELESS--IN A DIRTY, FILTHY ALLEY OF ALL PLACES--"

A smug smile tugs at the corner of your lips and sheer will keeps them down to a polite one instead. But the warming of your dead, even eyes cannot be missed. "And yet, you were watching for quite a while. Weren't you, Mister Papyrus?"

The little 'eep' that comes out from him shouldn't be as adorable as it is. Tall, built, menacing Papyrus turned into this outraged, scandalised man who has to lean against the wall to stop himself from...you don't really know what. But he does have his back pressed against the wall, his skeletal hand clutching at his vest.

You tilt your head to the side. "Was it not you?"

Now you've got him backed into a corner. As far as you know, Papyrus isn't the sort of man to lie. Or enjoy lying.

So he just sputters and waves his hands around. Eventually, he growls and clenches his fists, snarling, "FINE. IT WAS ME. THERE, IS THAT WHAT YOU WANTED?!"

Hmm, that's a battle won.

"I want to know why you stayed," you say evenly, taking a bottle of Papyrus's favourite drink from the shelf and pouring him a glass. "Why you watched."

Oh, there goes a supernova of a blush on his face again. You let forth a little chuckle and slide the glass forward, motioning with a gloved hand to the seat before you. "Mister Papyrus. Have a seat."

Like a dejected puppy, the skeleton monster pushes off the wall and stomps over to the barstool in front of you. He sits as petulantly as one could, slamming his fists on either side of the offered drink. The glower on his face is only eclipsed by the furious blush turning his skull into a red light bulb. And is that--ah, he sits too quickly for you to verify that it is indeed the beginnings of a tent in his trousers.

"Have a sip," you start, waving to the glass.

Though he glares at you, Papyrus nevertheless takes the glass in his hand and raises it to his fanged maw.

Oh, this is going to be interesting. Very interesting indeed.

[thebibliomancer]

Essential Avengers: Avengers West Coast #50: RETURN of the HERO

November, 1989

I'm sure that someone was asking for this but I couldn't guess who.

Look.

The thing about the robot Human Torch is that he's just less interesting than Johnny Storm human Human Torch.

Marvel brings back Jim Hammond a lot but he never sticks around because he's just not super interesting.

But its pretty blatantly obvious that John Byrne wants him back, given how he's taken a crowbar to Vision's character to justify it and has had Captain America and Namor start talking unprompted about how cool it would be if robot Human Torch came back.

So, it's happening.

You really want this, John Byrne, so lets see how it plays out.

Last times in Avengers West Coast: a lot. Scarlet Witch got kidnapped by a Texas college and stuffed full of ooze until she went evil. The ooze was defeated by the Great Lakes Avengers but Wanda still has the mutant supremacy memories it jammed in her and she's not sure how it may affect her.

Also, some lady was teased as coming to the Avengers on robot Human Torch related business and now she's here.

That subplot progressed a lot more quickly than I thought it would.

If it was Englehart still, we'd be looking at four teases before she ever got anywhere.

Because John Byrne hates me personally, there's a two-page spread of the Avengers West Coast all eyeing the lady with varying amounts of suspicion and sympathy. And weirding them all out, US Agent who speaks to the woman with patience and empathy.

US Agent: "All right now, ma'am, calm down. Take it easy. The Avengers were created to help people in distress. But you've got to tell us your story slowly... clearly..."

I'm honestly surprised US Agent is in the book. He just seemed to disappear after Tigra hit on him.

The woman explains that she is Ann Raymond, widow of Thomas Raymond, aka Toro, aka the robot Human Torch's partner/sidekick.

Toro is dead. He died during a battle between Namor and the Mad Thinker.

Namor came and told Mrs Raymond himself. And she believed it until she heard the news that Vision wasn't made out of Human Torch.

(Again: Why did you announce that to the press, the Avengers??)

Wanda gets immediately hostile when Mrs Raymond mentions the Vision/Human Torch thing. I presume she's sick of this subplot by this point.

Scarlet Witch: "Calm myself? How can I calm myself when the whole world has gone completely insane?! Isn't it bad enough that I've had to see my husband dismantled... his mind erased... isn't it bad enough that a group trying to use me to find a way to possess all the other mutants on Earth used the Vision's condition as their avenue of approach to lure me into their clutches... Now this madwoman wants to implicate the Vision in the death of her husband?"

Wonder Man tries to tell Wanda to calm down but she tells him to fuck off. Well, not literally. They're not going to say fuck in Avengers. But that's the tone of her jerking away when he puts a hand on her shoulder.

Wanda was ready to just wash her hands of the Avengers after the Absolom College Ooze Incident. They got her to stay by promising to actually try to help Vision.

But the Avengers still don't seem to really care as far as Wanda can tell and are letting this new thing distract them.

In fairness, does this require the whole team? Do you need to be here listening to Mrs Raymond, Hank Pym?

Wanda stomps off, threatening to actually quit for realsies. Wasp starts to go after her but Vision stops her. Its his job as husband to tend to Wanda's emotional needs. He has no idea how to do that because emotions are DATA NOT FOUND but its his duty so he's going to go be adjacent to her anyway!

Aww?

Anyway, Hank Pym, who definitely doesn't need to be here for this, prompts Mrs Raymond to tell her story.

So... flashbacks. Or new information.

In indeterminate amount of time ago, Thomas Raymond, Toro, hears that the Human Torch was killed when the Fantastic Four were around.

Now, right off the bat this is weird. I'm pretty sure that the Human Torch was already dead, having blown himself up in a desert, and was found and resurrected by the Mad Thinker who tried to use him to destroy the Fantastic Four.

Wouldn't Thomas' reaction be more like 'holy crap, the robot Human Torch came back to life and died like ten minutes later? Weird!'

Thomas goes to the robot Human Torch's funeral (I thought the FF just left him to not-rot in a cave?) to pay his respects but the funeral is obviously a trap. Because one: there's no superheroes there. And two: the Mad Thinker buys Thomas a drugged coffee and drugs him with it.

The Mad Thinker used Toro's flame powers in a scheme with Egghead and the Puppet Master to black out all the power in America.

Toro was brainwashed into thinking he was the original Human Torch and sent to attack Namor. Namor brought him to his senses and Toro decided, despite having a loving wife, to sacrifice himself to push the Mad Thinker's escape rocket into a volcano.

The Mad Thinker, of course, walked that off. Making the whole thing pretty dumb.

Mrs Raymond didn't know all that. She just went looking for Thomas when he didn't return from the funeral.

She couldn't find him and only found that the cemetery named in the funeral announcement was not in active use so he couldn't have attended a funeral there.

So she went home and bam there's Namor.

Namor and Mrs Raymond compared notes and that's how she had the whole story for this flashback exposition.

The Wasp reiterates that the Fantastic Four just left the original Human Torch's body lying where they left it because he may have been the first Marvel hero and a famous Nazi puncher but as far as Reed Richards was concerned, he wasn't a real person.

Anyway, the Human Torch's body was supposedly found by Ultron to retrofit into being the Vision. But that's all retconned now so who knows.

The reason why this is relevant is that Mrs Raymond was hoping that the Toro that died stupidly pushing a rocket into a volcano wasn't actually Toro but the Human Torch.

I mean, he was brainwashed into thinking he was the Human Torch so why not just have him be the real guy? Wouldn't that be simpler?

Hank Pym concedes that if the Mad Thinker brought the Human Torch back to life once, he'd probably be able to do it again. And then he could have brainwashed him into thinking he was Toro who had been brainwashed into thinking he was the Human Torch.

Whoa, it stopped being simpler.

Hank points out that even if the Toro that died was actually Jim Hammond, that doesn't really answer where the hell Thomas Raymond has been for years.

Mrs Raymond begs Hank to help her find out what happened to her husband (pretty sure he cannonballed into a volcano) and Hank agrees to try.

So while Wasp leads Mrs Raymond to a guest room to get some rest, Hank makes some calls to the Avengers East Coast Island.

Namor (still hanging around after the Lava Men and Negative Zone stuff, I guess) confirms Mrs Raymond's story. Insofar as Namor fighting a fiery dude who claimed to be the Human Torch but then claimed to be Toro.

The exiled Prince of Abslantis says that his memory may not be reliable due to all the amnesia he's been through but he was pretty sure the dude who claimed to be Toro was Toro. And the fact that Thomas Raymond went missing after Toro dove into a volcano does seem to confirm that.

Lotta talking in this comic.

Have the West Coast Avengers West Coast done any superheroing since Byrne took over?

Now, granted, helping this lady get closure is pretty super-heroic but it doesn't feel like the Avengers West Coast are a superhero team anymore. 90% of what they've dealt with in the Byrne run has been Wanda Vision drama. And when they're not dealing with that, they're just sitting around.

Meanwhile, the Avengers East Coast keep going on wacky adventures. And even the Great Lakes Avengers are up to more than the Avengers West Coast are.

If the Avengers West Coast were going off on missions and adventures, they may have noticed Tigra being weird before the situation deteriorated and came to Hank shrinking her down and putting her in a terrarium.

Oh, by the way, he put her in a terrarium.

Consistent with Hank's problem solving ethic lately, he doesn't seem to have any real urgency to do anything about this.

She attacked him so he shrank her. He needed to put her somewhere while he figured out what to do with her so he put her in a terrarium. And he doesn't actually want to look after her so he rigged it with a bunch of alarms.

Hank mentions that Tigra's cat aspect is in ascendency and US Agent nods and says that explains all the cat-like behavior he observed that nobody else did.

Wonder Man: "? You know about this? Why didn't you tell anyone?" US Agent: "I was busy. Watch your tone, Williams. I don't have to explain myself to you. I answer only to the United State government." Wonder Man: "Guess again, Stripes! You're an Avenger now! We didn't want you, but to avoid further government interference in our business, we've been forced to take you. And you are gonna learn that being an Avenger means being responsible to all the other members! We don't even know where you are half the time!" US Agent: "Where I am is on your need-to-know list only when you can see me, Wonder Man! The rest of the time you don't have the security clearance to know any more than I chose to tell you. And I chose to tell you nothing!"

US Agent isn't just not a team player, he's functionally not even on the team.

He just lives in the same place as they do but he's coming and going as he pleases and doesn't really interact with the Avengers.

Wonder Man is about ready to deck US Agent in the schnozz which I, at least, would enjoy but Wasp breaks up the fight.

Since Wasp got Mrs Raymond settled, Hank goes to talk to Wanda and Vision and tells them that if Jim Hammond was buried at that funeral it pretty much completely disproves the idea that Vision was ever Human Torch.

Vision is game to pursuing the lead but he is confused because more needs to be retconned. See, he was recognized as the Torch by a Sentinel and by the ghost of the original Torch.

What does that meeeeeean?

Hank suggests that the Sentinel was just mistaken because its primary function is to find mutants, not identify androids.

As for that Ghost Human Torch... well, that's suspect isn't it? The Ghost Human Torch was in the Legion of the Unliving with Ghost Wonder Man, before Wonder Man was retconned to have been in a kind of stasis, not dead. Plus, Immortus was involved. He seems to be involved a lot.

Hank wonders aloud why Immortus would have gone to such length to make Vision think he was the Human Torch.

Immortus happens to be watching on his time monitors.

Immortus: "You are only now beginning to see the culmination of a plan set in motion long, long ago. A plan which, when it achieves fruition, will make Immortus truly that which I have always claimed to be... THE ABSOLUTE MASTER OF TIME ITSELF!"

Yes but do you have a TARDIS?

Meanwhile, at the Anvil Pictures offices, Martin Preston, studio boss, is lurking in his office musing how everything he's done up to this point has been fruitless. But being trapped in Mephisto's realm has made things clear to him.

Martin Preston: "Let the Avengers count the hours of their last days! When next we meet, it will be MASTER PANDEMONIUM who is triumphant!"

Oh, hey, this guy.

I knew he was in show-biz but I thought he was an actor. He runs a big movie company? Good for him. Shame about all the cursed future knowledge I have.

Also, he looks different than last we saw him. And his powers seem to be different. While gloating to no one that he'll beat up the Avengers, he turns his arm into a demon arm.

But Master Pandemonium turns his arms into whole-ass demons. An entire demon pulled out of his sleeve like a very impressive magic show.

Turning his arm demon-y but not turning it into an entire demon that just pops off and goes to do its thing just isn't as goofy. I cannot approve of it.

Later, the Avengers West Coast land in Pleasantville. Hank Pym goes to talk to the mayor to get permission to exhume the Human Torch.

The mayor is having difficulty with this request because he doesn't even know where to start to approve exhuming a grave that doesn't exist on record for a cemetery that closed thirty years before the grave that doesn't exist was dug there.

Meanwhile, Wasp, Wonder Man, Vision, and Scarlet Witch preemptively find the Human Torch's grave.

And, yeah, the gravestone says Human Torch instead of Jim Hammon.

Vision decides to intangible into the coffin to check if Jim Hammond, Human Torch, really is buried here.

Wasp and Wonder Man find this distasteful. To just intrude on someone's grave like that...

But Vision is able to report a body that looks like Jim Hammond and hasn't decomposed the way a meat body would.

Wanda asks, okay so there's a Human Torch-looking guy buried here. So, what? What are we going to do about it?

Wonder Man says they have to wait for Hank to get permission to exhume the grave.

Scarlet Witch: "The Scarlet Witch will not be bound by human bureaucracy!"

Then she blows up the grave.

Okay, okay.

The explosion is more like a streak of flame erupting into the skies. Wonder Man flies off to see if that is the Human Torch.

Also, Wasp takes note of Wanda specifying human bureaucracy.

Meanwhile again, back at the Avengers West Coast Compound.

Lauren Timm, Billy and Tommy's governess, has lost the children. Again. She didn't tell Wanda when it happened the first time because Wanda has obtained a reputation for firing governesses at the drop of a hat and dammit Lauren needs this job!

While she's looking for Billy and Tommy, the skies suddenly goes dark and Agatha Harkness appears at the door, announcing that she's here to help with "your most difficult charges..."

Hi, Agatha. Didn't you die?

Oh, well, never keeps you down long.

Back over at the A-plot, if a plot is what you could call it, Wonder Man chases down the robot Human Torch.

He yells to the very confused robot man that he's a friend and wants to help him so the Torch stops and is like a friend, neat.

The robot Human Torch hasn't heard of the Avengers. He's barely heard of the Fantastic Four, remembering them simply as "four people with fantastic powers" from his last stint at being alive.

But he comes back with Wonder Man.

It seems like there could be an awkward moment introducing the Human Torch to the Vision, what with all the maybe history that might be between them.

But the Vision doesn't have the emotional capacity to have robo-angst (which makes him the worst Vision. Robo-angst is Vision's thing!) and nobody gives a shit about Wanda giving the Human Torch the stink-eye for existing.

Nobody gives a shit about Wanda is this run's thing.

The Torch feels like he knows Vision, which makes their maybe history even more confusing based on what we currently know.

And Hank Pym decides to Explain It All. Back at the Avengers West Coast Compound.

FOR SOME REASON, HE STARTS WITH NOVA.

No, not the space one. Er, I mean, not THAT space one, with the helmet. Frankie Raye. Who was Johnny Storm Human Torch's girlfriend with a dark secret and the dark secret turned out to be that she had fire power. And then she went into space to date Galactus.

INCREDIBLY WEIRD CHARACTER ARC.

Anyway, Frankie told the Fantastic Four that Professor Horton was her step-father. Creator of the robot Human Torch Professor Horton. And he was downright miffed when the human Human Torch started his career.

Horton took Frankie to a warehouse to show her all his robot Human Torch creating aparatus and then Frankie spilled chemicals all over herself.

Somehow the chemicals set her on fire without hurting her and she became a female Human Torch but she went by Nova. And then she went off to go mack on Galactus.

Wanda asks the very pertinent question of what the fuck this has to do with anything.

So Hank says his best guesstimate er scientific theory is that Ultron made Vision out of the leftover Human Torch creating molds and chemicals. And that's why that Sentinel identified Vision as being the same age as the Torch AND why Hank himself recognized parts of Vision as World War 2 vintage AND that's why Vision seems familiar to the real, true, actual, no foolin' robot Human Torch.

Vision was made out of Human Torch spare parts!

IT ALL MAKES SENSE!

Except for the part where Professor Horton claimed that Vision wasn't his work. And you'd think he'd recognize the components if they were just shit from his warehouse.

BUT OTHER THAN THAT IT ALL MAKES SENSE SHUT UP.

I'll give the retcon this much.

It TRIES to thread the needle between leaving robot Human Torch available to be brought back and still having Vision's origin Human Torch adjacent.

I think. That if the set-up had been framed differently, it would be less aggravating.

If instead of hammering in that all of Vision's backstory was lies and having Professor Horton show up to point at Vision and go 'the fuck is this??', if the Human Torch's resurrection was what prompted the questions into Vision's origin. That I think would go over better.

Anyway, Wasp declares this retcon is stupendous and very believable. And gives Hank a congratulatory kiss, which he reacts to by abashedly protesting "Ja-a-an...!"

You two are too old to be acting like high school sweeties. And too divorced.

Anyway again, Wasp predicted that this would somehow end in the Human Torch's resurrection. I DON'T KNOW HOW. WASP JUST KNOWS.

SHE MADE JIM HAMMOND ROBOT HUMAN TORCH A COSTUME.

JUST IN CASE.

My theory is that she looked at the roster box on the cover and saw the Human Torch there.

Because he is.

Resurrected and included in the roster box on the cover. Foregone conclusion.

Wasp invites him to the Avengers, without really asking him if he wants to be. He does want to be but what an assumption. He might want to spend some time getting used to the modern world or looking for old friends. Maybe look into Professor Horton.

But Wasp knows things. She saw the roster box. He's gonna be on the team.

US Agent seconds the sentiment and turns it into an actual invite and Jim Hammond accepts.

He even gets an echo of Vision crying and pretending he's not when he was invited to join, all those issues ago.

I was prepared to give credit for the subtle allusion except on the next page Wasp makes it a blatant reference.

Wasp: "Hey, don't go all macho on us now, Torch! This is the 80's! Men are allowed to show their emotions now. Why... I guess you'd say even an android can cry!"

Stop trying to make you not my favorite character, Wasp.

... Oh my god. In the panel where Wasp says the thing, Hank and Jim are standing right next to each other and they're the same person.

-points accusingly- SAME FACE SYNDROME.

Brave artistic choice to put these two people on the same team when you can't tell them apart except by clothes.

Jim Hammond doesn't get to enjoy the warm fuzzies of joining a superhero team again because they're interrupted by the sound of someone circling the building overhead.

After months away from the team due to that whole awkward international criminal thing,

Yay!

This is getting to be a pretty big superhero team for a team that doesn't do anything.

US Agent, Wonder Man, Wasp, Dr Hank Pym, Scarlet Witch, Vision, Robot Human Torch, Tigra, maybe Iron Man.

Maybe the reason they haven't been doing anything is because crime, all of crime, looked at that lineup and went 'no thank you.'

Anyway.

Bringing back the Human Torch is pretty blatantly what Byrne wanted to do all along. The path to get there was painful and badly written. The path to get it done was the same.

I mean, one of the oldest heroes in Marvel and he's resurrected because Wanda blows up his grave in a fit of pique? That's his grand return? Sheesh.

Still, I'm trying to be open-minded. I want to see how Jim fits in with the team. How he interacts, who he meshes and clashes with.

Wanda seems pissed at his existence. Surely that will lead to good material.

Is Iron Man rejoining the team? I hope so. I like Iron Man. I want to see him walk into the situation that the Avengers West Coast are in and react like 'i was gone maybe ten minutes!'

Follow @essential-avengers because I said so. Or because you want to. Like, reblog, comment, juggle. Things you can do.

[sallysgrancanwrite]

Chapter Nine

Over the next weeks Michael seemed like he had changed. Chloe wasn't all battered and bruised anymore. However, they were learning that abuse can be emotional too. Chloe really started to look down on herself. One morning she announced she was cutting her hair. All her beautiful hair off!

"Why on earth would you do that?” said Beth and Edith simultaneously.

"Michael says my hair should be short. Long hair isn't in style anymore. Maybe he's right." She said , looking into the coffee in her cup.

"Well I don't care what he says, you look great and everyone knows it except that moron. And if he doesn't like it why is he dating you? He needs to stop trying to change you," Beth said.

Edith chimed in, "You're not still on that crazy grapefruit diet of his are you? You are plenty thin enough. Stop starving yourself.”

"I quit that. It made me sick after a while." Chloe said.

"Hey,” said Bob, “why don't we all go do some sight-seeing up in the mountaiin area today. Take some drinks and food and make a day of walking the paths up there. What do ya say ladies?”

They all nodded. It would be good for all of them.

“Let's get some food and drinks ready girls," said Edith.

They wrapped up some cold fried chicken, some fruit, veggies and of course some of Edith's famous oatmeal raisin cookies. They also grabbed some water for the walking and soda for later.

"Bob looks like we're ready. Got the rifle ready just in case we run into something ornery?" Edith asked.

"Yes ma'am I sure do. Everything is ready. Let's go ladies."

As they pulled out and drove down the street Chloe saw that car parked again. The windows were tinted so you couldn't see who was driving. It bothered her. As they left town she never saw them but about 15 miles out of town they caught up.

"Bob, do you see that vehicle behind us? It's been at the house at night watching but leaves when I see them and now they are following us. Who are they?"

"Let's find out.” Bob said.

He pulled over and the car pulled over. Bob walked back there and they talked a few minutes but you couldn't hear them. Bob got back into the car.

"Chloe,” Bob said, "you need to go back and speak to the person in the car. They would like to speak with you."

"Who is it?" Chloe asked

"Just go talk to them." Bob said

Chloe sat for a time not wanting to because she was a bit frightened and wanted to know who it was. But finally she opened her door and slowly walked back to the other car.

The person asked, “Could you get in the passenger side please?"

Chloe hesitated but finally walked around to the other side of the car and got in. The person in the seat was wearing something over their face. To hide their identity? Chloe wondered. Finally Chloe spoke.

"Why do you cover your face? I want to know who you are and why you are following us." She stated.

The person sat motionless for a time and then said in a rough voice, “My name is Hope and I don't think you can handle what's under this veil. No one can so I keep myself hidden from the world so as to not scare anyone."

"You would be surprised what I can handle." Chloe said. What happened to you?" She asked

"I was burned over most of my body. I was started on fire and left to burn."

Chloe gasped. “Who would do that?"

"You would be shocked if I told you. Do you really want to know? Because I'm not sure you'll believe me."

"If it is someone I know tell me. Tell me now!" Chloe yelled.

"Very well. It was Michael, my ex husband, your boyfriend. Do you believe me??"

"Let me see. Let me see what you say he did."

She too the veil slowly off, shaking in fear. She had never shown anyone. She was hideous. She finally mustered the courage and took the veil completely off. Chloe just stared in horror. She couldn't even scream. There were eyes but no eyelids. She only had two small holes to breathe from and a small opening to speak from. The fire had done damage to her throat that's why she had such a rough voice. She had little openings from which to hear from and she had to wear a wig for hair. It was the worst thing Chloe had ever seen. She quickly put her veil back on.

"The Dr's are going to start reconstructive surgery soon,” she said. "So I won't always be hideous."

"You're not." Chloe said. “You're beautiful and very brave and courageous to show me and talk to me. I have however, gotten Michael into therapy and he is doing wonderful."

Hope looked at her and said, "So he doesn't hit you or go into rages anymore?"

"Well he can get upset, but who doesn't, but no he doesn't hit anymore." Chloe stated.

"Listen,” Hope said, “I'm here for one reason. To tell you to get away from this man. He will at some point try to kill you. I don't care how much therapy you've had. I've said my piece now I'll let you go."

Chloe just sat in utter silence. That wasn't the Michael she knew. He wouldn't kill someone. "Would he?" She thought

She finally came to and opened the car door.

"Hope, I'm am so sorry for what happened to you. I really am." She shut the door and walked away.

She could not tell Edith or Beth or there would be no Michael in her life. They would see to it. She didn't know how much Bob knew but she'd have to find out.

As she got back in Beth had fifty questions.

"It was no one, just an old friend who wasn't sure where exactly I lived."

"What friend?” Beth asked

"Someone I met the summer I was a camp counselor.”

An hour later they reached a part they could park and later picnic. They grabbed only there water and Bob grabbed the rifle. It was the perfect t day to be out in nature. Fall was here and the trees had changed colors to yellow,oranges and reds. It was beautiful. Chloe did bring her phone as did everyone in case of emergency so they were taking some wonderful pictures. They got some wildlife shots from a distance. They turned out great. They came across the waterfalls where there were steps to walk down and then behind the waterfalls. It was amazing. It was such a fun day. They were all glad they came. They hiked back to the car and found a spot to sit and have some lunch before driving back.

"Y'all want to go to some flea markets?" Bob asked.

"I want to look for some stuff I need to finish my craft projects for the holiday craft fair." He said.

"We're always game for a flea market. Beth and I are fixing up toys for needy children sat Christmas. Maybe we'll find good newer ones there." Chloe said.

"And I just go to buy stuff,” giggled Edith.

They all laughed. Chloe thought back to the conversation with Hope. How unhappy do you have to be to start someone on fire? Was that the fire that killed his parents? In the house he's rebuilding? Now she wanted to know more.

On Monday, as promised Michael showed up for lunch.

"Hey honey, you going on break soon or later?" He asked

"I can go right now. It's pretty slow. If it gets busy I'll get back up and help Beth."

"The house is almost completely done, except furnishings. You want help with that? I'm not good with that."

"Sure, I'd love to. I love decorating! Just tell me when."

"Great, in the next few days we can start."

Beth watched them and just knew, sooner or later Michael would start the abuse all over again and she was going to have to beat the crap out of him. See how he likes it.

[rainboq]

I rubbed the bridge of my nose, my eyes flicking over the list of complaint that cascaded down off my desk, across my office, and into the hall where paralegals and junior lawyers had to hop over it. Why she insisted on using scrolls instead of A4 was beyond you, but she was also a special client. "This is... a lot of complaints."

"Most of it is infidelity." Hera nodded, although it was hard to look at her directly.

Why a Greek goddess was in my office, asking for a divorce in the United States was kind of beyond me, but clearly she needed something. "Ma'am, you don't really need to submit these complaints to a judge, we're in a no-fault divorce state."

"So you can help me?"

"I want to help you." I said, some of the things described in the document made my eyes water. What was that about turning himself into a goose? "I'm just not sure this is the right jurisdiction, where did you file for your marriage, in Greece?"

"We didn't exactly file anything, this was before your kind could read and write."

My temples throbbed at that. A contract so old it literally predated human literacy, great. Wonderful. Standing was going to be such an easy thing to prove, never mind authority over the matter. "Okay, right. So there really isn't any jurisdiction that would have authority over this. The Greeks might try and claim it but I doubt they'd uphold the marriage anyways."

"None still living at any rate." Hera shrugged, seeming totally unbothered by the idea.

"Who officiated the wedding, anyone?"

"I can't remember if it was Hades or Poseidon, but it was one of our brothers."

"Right," I groaned inwardly, massaging the bridge of my nose, "There's also the whole... incest thing. I'm not sure this marriage would even be considered legally valid in the first place, you're siblings, there's no physical record of the marriage contract, only the verbal one, and your memory on that is... old."

"But perfect." Hera snapped in a voice so powerful that I flinched in my chair. "I remember our contract exactly, but my hopefully soon to be former husband refuses to respect it. He can plead senile all he wants, but I know he knows. I'm not sure if he just delights in annoying me or if he's simply that lustful."

"I don't think it really matters, the question is if we can get a judge to play a long, and possibly the State Department." I leaned back in my chair, tapping a finger against my chin. "But I'll tell you what. I'll take this case and we're gonna get you out of this marriage."

I had to close my eyes, her smile was so bright that it might have been blinding and I really didn't want to take that chance. "Excellent. If this works, you might have more clients too, I'm told Persephone wants her own freedom."

You are a divorce lawyer, the best in your field. You have just received word that you will representing the Greek goddess Hera in her divorce from Zeus.

[thebettermoon]

Eister X BlackChubbyReader

Disclaimer: This is just an insert for the first chapter. I will drop this chapter soon and more.

Trigger: mentions of racism, fat shaming & bullying

The full chapter is out !!!

Chapter 1

Eiser had no interest in someone who was known not to be up to the standards of high society, someone who did her best in the shadows and was known not to be a great "look" for him.

It was planned to be with Younger Sister Serena. She would be the perfect fit, but since her strong rejection of the idea, you were the next best thing to get him in control of the hotel.

So that fateful morning, your wedding, the day he will whisk you away to "love" him. You bolt out of there!

You just can't. The world has already been cruel. They couldn't respect the curves on your body, the pigment of your skin, and the identity you wake up with. What would a stranger, especially a stranger from the Grayson family, feel? You didn't want to wait to see.

You were able to sneak around the courthouse, but there were guards at every exit. You held your trail as you ran into the gardens as your last-ditch attempt. The walls were a bit tall but nothing you haven't done before. You bunched up your dress and threw your very expensive shoes to the side. You walked through the freshly watered flower bed and realized you needed a head start. The eroding stone walls were perfect to climb but a little bit too tall to do under a minute. Considering she had been gone for over an hour now and I am sure your family has probably been able to break the toilet door down to see in their horror she had jumped out the window.

You readied a stance, pushed all your nerves down, and calmed yourself. She needed to push hard so she could get halfway.

"Is there a problem, ma'am? Why are you here?"

No, no, no, no, no, no, NO, NO!!

I was so close. Now some guard with such a condescending tone thinks he can stop me by snooping around in others' business.

You turn around to confront the guard trying to get him to leave, but you are instead shocked. He was wearing an all-white suit with gold accessories, was tall, a good foot or two taller, with pale pearl skin, jet-black hair, and a blank expression, but most jarring was his piercing blue eyes. It didn't take an idiot to know all that equaled to a Grayson, aka my future husband if I don't start moving.

"I think you got it wrong, sir. I am just a maid." Your voice creaked as you slowly walked backwards, but he followed you.

"A maid in the very expensive wedding dress I paid for and not on my wife, that's a new one." A deep chuckle came before he leaned in so close, his breath was fanning you.

His expression was blank but still intimidating as if he couldn't care less if I was killed on the spot.

"I understand you're scared, but this is not the way you confront this reality that we are getting married." Eiser leaned back to show his full height, giving some much-needed space.

"I am scared too, but seeing you try to run up a wall at just the thought of marrying me is making me feel wayyyyy better." Eiser cracked a wide smile and leaned back to let out a deep laugh. He smiled... Is this man a Grayson or an imposter?

In my state of shock, Eiser walked around to get my shoes, cleaning the dirt off and came to kneel in front of me. He touched my ankle with his icy fingers, snapping me back to reality.

"I was able to convince everyone to let me search alone for you, but they are going to come after me too. If they see you like this, they are going to know what happened. Good thing the dress isn't a mess at all."

He lifted up my feet and slipped my feet gently into the heels. He unintentionally sneaked a hand up my thigh to steady me after going to the next foot. My skin shivered as he squeezed it slightly. I don't know what is happening and how he is so nice. Every time I heard of the Graysons, it was anything but human, know one of them were on their knees to someone like me...