#melinda may: let me speak

[an-inky-fingered-lass]

Since you reblogged the fic backstory post, I'd love to hear some backstory about either Melinda May: Let Me Speak or get out my machete and battle with time once again!

hi!!! aah i'm so sorry it's taken me so long to get to this, it has been ever-present in my brain but i just have not managed to sit down and get to it until now.

ooh, both fun, and both have the potential to get super long oh no... argh it's hard to pick. let's go with Let Me Speak for this one, mostly because i am absolutely failing to recall how any of get out my machete actually came about at this moment! gonna have to think on that...

okay, where do I start. Let Me Speak is fun because i honestly think i went about it in the most unhinged way possible — i hadn't watched any of AoS while it aired (except for like a snippet of one random probably rerun episode in a hotel room once — the only things i remember about it is it probably featured fitzsimmons?? and it was dubbed in thai, which trust me is not how you wanna watch ANYTHING that wasn't originally in the language XD). I was a mcu gal way before that but somehow never had any more than passing interest in Shield until i got bored one day and randomly watched some compilation on youtube — best of melinda may or something like that? there was the scene with daisy in season 3 i think, the your powers aren't what made you an agent- i did scene. and then i saw the infamous i love you speech from s5, and it was so much of what i'd been trying to articulate in my writing for years. i'd mostly been writing original fiction before that, with a main character i still love dearly, and may was basically HER EXACT DOUBLE, backstory, archetype, and broad-strokes-of-character-arc wise. except, you know, arguably written better, because i was and am still very much figuring out what i am doing lol. but it was just an instant WHAT IS THIS I NEED TO KNOW MORE. and i proceeded to pick apart all seven seasons of agents of shield, absolutely hell-bent on getting a grasp of this specific character's arc and story. there are still some storylines and bits of pieces of AoS i'm still slightly foggy on honestly, mostly because i flat-out skipped them in that initial hyperfocused binge and i just forgot to go back. *facepalms* it's really embarrassing actually. but i ended up falling in love with so many elements of the show along the way, even with my spotty, very biased watching. I'm still hoping to go and get through some arcs properly from beginning to end like a sane person, one of these days XD.

but anyway, i honestly can't remember what i had in mind for the project in the beginning, except for some vague strokes of wanting to write a tribute to may's general character arc and journey. i'd just come across dirgewithoutmusic's works (the amazing @/ink-splotch) at the time and i was AMAZED - the character-focused, analytical, empathic and transformative way she writes was unlike anything i'd ever seen. it was so intuitive to me in a way nothing else i'd ever read was, and i'd just never realized that was something one could do. i was (and still am) just absolutely determined to put everything i had into this thing i'd decided to do, just in the hopes of someday creating something so beautiful.

and then it turned into...... a whole thing. (it was gonna be QUICK. it took me TWO YEARS.) i started with early sketches of part one and then spent a lot of time with part two, because i had the clearest idea of where it would go. and then realized part one was too short and wasn't providing any of the context and background it needed to give part two any impact, and so went back and reworked it from scratch, only to arrive back at part two again and decide i didn't fully like the direction i'd initially taken it. so i rewrote that from scratch too, in many parts at least TWICE, before landing on my (by that point ancient) sketches for part three and sighing a lot before basically redoing it too. whiiiiiich.... is probably how i ended up with a deleted drafts doc that is very nearly the length of the final draft. oops.

what i find interesting about what Let Me Speak is that the parts of may's canonical story arc that are most important to me.... didn't actually end up making it in. her relationship with daisy and the way it grows throughout the series, robin (and everything about that storyline), the reclamation of the cavalry name at the end... all of these and more are the reason the study exists; in the beginning, i figured i'd end up incorporating it all, and then it just turned into a story of its own.

a lot of the themes and ideas are ones i was determined to build the story around from the beginning, and some just kind of presented themselves as i was writing. a couple (aka like half of part three XD) started as quandaries that i had to find a way to resolve. at some point i knew it was going to end just before the show began (there was supposed to be a post-series Academy epilogue that miiiiiight still make a late appearance someday....) and i did a lot of questioning about why i was putting so many words to a.... pre-story? but i think by the end one of the biggest points to the story is that it matters who you are. it matters what made you who you are, because you matter. agents of shield told an incredible story, but it wasn't a whole story, because the only whole stories are our actual lives, i think. one of my favorite things about fanfiction is the way we fill in those gaps with things that make those intrinsically incomplete stories a little more real, with tragedy and detail and mundanity and quiet, personal victory, and all the things that make up life. there's something so human and in that, and i think it's beautiful. with a little more time i think i'll get to the point where im really truly proud of the damn thing (i love it dearly, but at the moment every time i look back on Let Me Speak i just see either some absolutely mortifying typos i DIDN'T CATCH or all the things i wish i did differently), but in the meantime even with the rollercoaster ride it was, i love that i spent so much time with a project that comes down to a reminder that every part of the story is important. because our lives are important, and tragedy and regret and the wonderful things and terrible things and the tiny, seemingly unimportant details of living every day don't ever change that.

[an-inky-fingered-lass]

I'M YEARS LATE BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THESE!

AOS Meta Posts

While there’s definitely more stuff in my aos meta tag, these are the posts I put a lot of fact-checking and editing work into to make sure they were reader-friendly could be used as a canon-checking resource rather than scanning through the show. 

The timeline for Coulson and May and some of their likely potential backstory options is HERE

MCU S.H.I.E.L.D.’s different ranking systems are HERE

Coulson’s character journey relating to scifi and bodyhorror as genres is HERE

Coulson and choices surrounding teminal illness is HERE

Andrew Garner’s likely timeline and backstory is HERE

Both timeline options for Mack’s backstory are HERE

Agent Sousa’s likely experiences with his injury and prosthetic are HERE

[nonokoko13]

SPOILERS SXF CHAPTER 93 ❗❗❗

So, chapter 93. Starting with Anya scores...

THAT'S MY GIRL!!!! CONGRATULATIONS BABY!!! 🎉🎊🥳

(Let's take a moment to appreciate what a good and supportive friend Becky is too 💖)

As I expected Anya passed classical language (with a huge improvement!) but in the large, tedious walk on Hell that is school not everyone can get exceptional grades in every subject unless you're a Desmond apparently and Anya, as many people who preceded her and will come after her, failed math.

I have seen many people make theories about how certain older student who we shall discuss next could be her tutor. However, my theory is that she will receive help from Bill in the future

It makes more sense: both already know each other, Anya has more chances of Bill accepting or suggesting to help her than the-one-I-shall-name-later and overall Bill seems more communicative and better at socialising and explaining himself. Let's not forget he received a stella in math after all. So for me Bill seems like the most plausible option (maybe we will get jealous Damian with this friendship?)

Back at the Forgers residence the Authens pay a visit to congratulate Anya as well. When I read Sigmund's sentence about how rewarding is to have a payment for your hard work my mind automatically thought "But sometimes no matter how hard you try you don't get a reward. Sometimes the result is just not worth the effort" (I think many people has a canon event that reveals them that, specially when you're in highschool, middle school or college)

And right after thinking that he agreed with me lol. My mind really anticipates things before finishing a panel

Speaking of hard work and grades, I'm taking this chance to give my opinion: a system based on giving stars to those who have the highest grades while those who fail face the possibility of being expelled is awful. Not getting a star and comparing yourself to your peers already make horrors to your self esteem, imagine a child getting expelled for repeatedly fail a exam that may not be adapted to their needs (or getting many tonitrus for things your teachers disapprove of you but you didn't know it was wrong or for something about yourself you cannot control. For example a kid with ADHD unintentionally interrupting someone, disconnecting in the middle of a conversation or making noise with their leg when they stay still for too long. No need to go as far as talking about neurodivergent kids, look at that chapter where Anya got a tonitrus for not having a handkerchief. Who the fuck is punished for that when you're an adult anyway)

Enough of that, back to the chapter. Let's talk about what hyped me the most: Demetrius finally appearing on screen!

We already had crumbs of him before. Given Damian inferiority complex when comparing himself to him when he had talked about school and Twilight noticing his exams barely had any mistakes back in the chapter where Daybreak was welcomed to this world, him being a exceptional student when it comes to academics isn't surprising in the least.

Many say he's ugly and exactly like his father but I disagree. Donovan looks like a goddamn Frankenstein if Frankenstein was ugly, Demetrius take after his dead eyes look but he's pretty like Melinda. Not conventionally pretty like Damian or Melinda but kinda pretty. Like a zombie with sleep deprivation but in an endearing way. It's not his fault he's built like a Tim Burton or Don't Starve Together character... anyway I'm sure his appearance can grow up on you, hopefully (;´ ▾ `)

About the theories regarding this panel

It may be true something's going on, maybe he was really experimented on... But I can't stop thinking he was in that very moment "No thoughts, head empty" mode

I mean, he looks like a walking corpse in dire need of a proper nap, can you blame him if his thoughts are mainly focused on studies when Donovan probably spent time with him only for the sake of producing a good grades, not independent thinking machine as his heir? "He watch him study all the time."

I don't think it was necessary for a tragic incident to change Donovan and made him distant from his family. I suspect he has always been like that, perhaps even before having Demetrius, so it was less a traumatic big event and more the exhausting everyday life Demetrius has been having as far as he remembers of being supervised by his father in order to be the best at school and everything that turned him into the probably burnt out teenager he is.

Same with Melinda, being married to somebody you might not have even loved when you first got together, a man who doesn't try to understand others or seem capable of caring for anyone, a man who is not precisely publicly known for his kindness (remember Millie and Yor's boss when Donovan was brought up?)... Being married to that kind of person for years and then having kids with that person and have to keep being related to them for at least until your kids graduate sound like a miserable life indeed

The Desmond have a common theme going around that is understanding the world around them, or rather the lack of it. I can say for sure that Demetrius feeling overwhelmed simply with a bunch of kids and thinking he can't understand people have its roots in Donovan

• For Donovan is his narrow minded belief that nobody can't understand — therefore neither trust — each other because people is different; and as long as that phrase of "two people can't think the same" lives to the reality it finds itself in reaching a common ground is impossible.

• Donovan influenced Demetrius. Perhaps Demetrius doesn't share his father belief and that's not why he can't understand others, maybe it is because he was possibly deprived of a normal childhood where he could socialise with others of his age without his father expectations onto him.

Many academic gifted children reach a part of their lives where their habit is to think inside the box of "Good grades is all I'm good at or all I should care about; good grades = doing fine; it's all about what you can prove to those who expect something from you, not what you can prove to yourself to make you feel satisfied and happy".

When people who raised you condition you to act, live and think the way they wanted you to do is difficult to break and separate yourself from that. Plus he's going through the middle school phase, from personal experience that makes you x10 times angsty and complicated to understand yourself, much less everyone else.

• With Damian it is less discussed and pointed out because he's been able to have a relatively normal —if anything very neglected — childhood up to this point. He has friends, he acts like a kid of his age, his life doesn't revolve around his grades all the time... But that's the bare minimum of what a good childhood should be like.

It may be because of his age, but he doesn't see the bigger picture of his family. He can't see what is wrong with them (yet) because in his eyes nothing is wrong. Sure, he feels lonely and works hard for his dad to notice him, but that happens in many families right? He's not even in denial, he doesn't phantom the idea that what his family is, how they behave towards each other or towards him, isn't normal.

Don't make me start with how his future plans is following Donovan's footsteps in politics because he's trying that hard to approach him. He works hard at school because in his mind being like Demetrius or how he believes Donovan wants him to be would bring them closer, receive an understanding relationship from his dad when we know there might not be genuine affection between them from Donovan's side to start with.

He's teaching himself that love is conditioned by your "worth" or by whether you get to the expectations your loved ones have. That reminds me of what Sigmund told Anya because it sounds like a foretelling of Damian's life: [...] And one day you'll experience the frustration of realizing that hard work is not always rewarded. He doesn't many things and his age may explain it but it doesn't justify, if he continues thinking like that he'll have his hopes crushed and may turn out like Demetrius.

• As for Melinda, is difficult to talk about the point she stands in the understanding theme. Unlike her family she does seem able to understand people, perhaps because she wasn't raised like her kids have been. She's aware that her husband party made a lot of damage to their country, she seems aware and attentive to what surrounds her.

I don't think she cannot be understanding or perceptive, I think it's the other way around: the people she's surrounded by cannot understand her. Neither Yor, Anya, Damian, surely Demetrius and Donovan neither, her "friends" of the association she's in... Not even us can't understand the reason why she's so conflictive about Damian yet.

In just one appearance Donovan made his belief clear, thus giving us an idea of what type of feelings he has towards Damian. We can get so much of his character as a person with one chapter, but Melinda has appeared more than him and her true self is unknown. Donovan is reserved in a physical way, he isolates himself by not going outside and socialising, but he's not against the idea of explaining a stranger his stance in life. Melinda surrounds herself of people and listens to them but she keeps to herself.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to see more of Demetrius and the Desmonds. Hope we get more screen time of them, unless Endo has decided to drop such episode only to give us a one-shot chapter next and not elaborate further before introducing a complete different arc 💦

Although with what we have I'm already bought and entertained enough. Our favorite family is great but hooray for secondary characters being given depth and spotlight in this manga 🥳

See you next chapter reaction! If I made another one after other 25 full moons. I'm probably forgetting to talk about something...Oh well

[forevercaroline]

Tagging @austennerdita2533, @crazychicke, @rachelemmaharper, @ack46, @storm-pirate, @i-believe-in-melinda-may, and @gh-0-stcup for helping me with Darla question. @paigemarie007 @karinanic @mydarlingklaus

Spike opens the door of his DeSoto and he puts his hand out for Drusilla to take. Once she is out of the car, she looks around and in her quiet voice says, “Angel.”

He looks over at her. He didn't feel Angel around but maybe her sense is stronger because he turned her. “He’s here too? I’m getting us something to eat.”

She leans into him and says dreamily,“I’m a princess.”

“That you are.”

Before he can say anything else,Drusilla leaves And he knows exactly where she is going. She thought she smelt her precious Angel. He just worries about her. She hasn’t been the same since Prague. Spike smells blood and fear and it’s Intoxicating. He follows the smell to Hemery High School. As he is walking up to the school he looks back and swears he faintly smells Angel. But the blood is more potent in the gym where Lothos is feeding from a blonde teenage girl in a white dress.

When Lothos sees Spike he drops the girl and she hits the gym floor with a thud, “Spike! It’s been awhile.How are you?”

Spike shrugs his shoulders as he looks around and notices that everyone here is already dead. It's disappointing. “Good, kinda hungry.”

“Welcome to my buffet. You’re welcome to have anyone.”

As Spike looks around his eyes come across the blonde in the white dress she is still alive and looking up at him with pleading eyes. Her beauty is astonishing. He’s never seen someone so beautiful. She’s glowing so much that the poet in him wants to use the word effulgent. He feels horrible for this thought but she might be more beautiful than his dark princess. The way her green eyes have locked on to his and there’s so much emotion there but there’s also a will to live. He can’t let a beauty like this die and rot.

He bends down to the young woman and puts his arm under her neck to bring her to a sitting position. He asks her the same thing Drusilla asked him over a hundred years ago. “Do you want to walk worlds the others can’t begin to imagine?”

She can’t speak, blood has begun to pool in her throat, so she nods her head. And Spike's demon comes out and he licks the holes left by Lothos, healing them up. He sinks his fangs into the other side of her neck, drawing the little bit of blood she has left. It tastes different but familiar. He hears her heart slowing down even more and on the last beat he pulls his fangs out.

He takes one of his fingernails and makes a slice at his neck then brings the limp girl to his neck. He softly says. “Drink luv and come join the world.”

Barely alive she musters all the strength she has and sinks her human teeth into his neck and drinks his blood. She can’t believe it, it's so gross but she can’t stop.

After a couple mouthfuls she dies in his arms.

[https-maxine-stuff]

Chapter 5.

Vampire empire

𓆩♱𓆪

I'll always be here.

I'll always watch him suck blood out of Koriand'r's neck.

I'll always see how she'll look at me with those big green eyes, and I'll always know how I'll never be able to save her.

My Bestfriend.

My Kori.

He released her neck as he smiled turning to me. "My beautiful, bird." He cooed cupping my face kissing me gently, I could taste the metallic taste on my tongue as he pulled away.

Kori had to look happy, but the moment he left she broke down. "Kori.." I said softly as I crawled off the bed and towards her. She cried into my chest as the blood slipped down her chest.

"I don't mean to cry." She whispered.

"You can cry,," I held her closer and closed my eyes as I let her cry into my arms. It felt nice to be next to her, to feel her warmth, her presence, I pulled away and cupped her face. "How long has he been...?"

"Since a few weeks prior to his reveal.." she sniffled. "I wouldn't turn, due to my.. alien nature." She whispered. "My blood allows him- No any one of those things to walk in the sun, touch holy water, hold a cross." She hissed.

"Oh my.." I looked down.

Both of us tensed up as we could hear him coming back, I quickly made my way back to the bed as she wiped away her tears.

"My beautiful, girls." He smiled as he entered. "Seems so glum in here.." he frowned. "I don't like glum."

I had to hold back a few words, as I smiled tightly. "You're the only one who feels glum."

He met my eyes. "Kori you may go now," he turned to her slightly. She quickly got up and left the room. "What did she tell you?" He turned back to me.

"Nothing."

"I don't believe that." He gripped my chin. "What did she tell you?" He hissed.

"Take a guess." I hissed back. I didn't like how he looked at me, I didn't like the anger in his eyes, his hand wrapped around my throat as he pinned me to the bed.

"Don't get cocky now," he hissed, licking his teeth. My face must've said something to get him to get somehow angrier.

"Let me go," I gasped lightly as I clawed at his wrists. He released my neck as he stared at him.

"Don't get too cocky." He hissed as he turned and left me alone in the room. I rubbed my throat slightly.

⛧☾༺♰༻☽⛧

Vampire Empire

⛧☾༺♰༻☽⛧

He returned hours later, I had been fed at-least twice with the basics that I need to live, nothing fancy just some chicken, peas and water. A bland meal really, but I can't complain because I'm eating better than billions of humans right now, at least at Kandor I had a good selection.

He looked at me. "I'm sorry for earlier." I didn't respond as I picked at my nails, and skin. Suddenly my throat felt tight and I had no idea why.

"Lucia.." I looked away, but that didn't stop his hand from grasping my chin as he forced me to look at him. "Lucia." His tone more stern.

"What?" I mumbled.

"I said I was sorry."

"Yeah? I don't forgive you."

"Lucia don't be like this." He muttered underneath his breath.

"I don't get to be angry?" I hissed. "I don't get to be hurt? How long had you'd been hiding you were a vampire from me? How long did I sleep in the same bed as a blood sucking monster?" I felt angry tears trailed down my face.

"I wasn't a monster before this and you know that!" He hissed. "I didn't ask for this! I didn't-" his voice began to break as tears seemed to slip down his cheeks. His hand grasping onto the bed post as he tired to compose himself.

"Dick.."

"I didn't ask for this.. I didn't want this.. I had to keep telling myself 'they were already dead.'" His voice breaking more as he cried. "I couldn't bring myself to kill her.."

"To kill who?" I whispered.

"Melinda.. I couldn't kill her.. even-" he sniffled. "Even if she lured me there, she was still my sister." My face contorted into one of sadness as I realized.

"Was it the morning she had called, asking you to come with her?" He nodded his head softly. "if I had been there-" I tried to speak but he cut me off.

"But you weren't! You weren't there." He hissed, his chin wobbled as his own anger and emotions betrayed him. "You weren't there.. when I needed you.." I watched his brows furrow as tears began to slip down his cheeks.

"Dick.." I cupped his face as he sobbed into my chest. "if I had been there." he looked at me, the burning anger in his eyes flickering down to a sadness.

"We both would've died that night." he whispered cupping my face. "couldn't lose both myself and you that night." He whispered, his head buried in my chest. "Who would've fed, Haley?" He mumbled as he cried.

My hands found a home on-top of his head. "You should've let me go with you.." I whispered. "I would've been able to save us both.." I sniffled.

"No you wouldn't have," he laughed sadly. "I'm sorry.." he murmured. "I'm so sorry.."

⋆｡‧₊°꧁ ༺𓆩❦︎𓆪༻ ꧂‧₊˚.⋆

I remember that morning.

I remember it all too well.

"Nnngwhyyy." I woke up to the sound of his whining, as he answered the phone, poor Haley had too, I slipped my arms over his back and chest as I cuddled up to him.

Haley got in between us as she began to lick his face awake I had to get up because lord a dog moving around isn't great for trying to sleep. "Dick i— OH GOD YOU'RE NOT ALONE ARE YOU?" The voice on the other side of the phone howled.

"As it happens, I'm with beautiful creatures, one has brown eyes the other has big eyes, glossy hair.."

"It's the dog and Lucia isn't it?"

"Yep." He rubbed the sleep from his eyes as he wrapped an arm around me. "What's up, Melinda? Everything okay?" I listened to the conversation half awake.

I only really woke up when he got up from the bed, I groaned in response as he left.

"Dick.." I whined.

"One minute baby," he cooed to me as he kept talking to Melinda. He came back over to the bed, tugging a white shirt onto himself as he kissed my cheek.

"I gotta go, Melinda needs me for some protection."

"Protection?" I mumbled as I wrapped my arms around his neck. "Nooo.." I muttered. "Stay.. in bed, or take me with you."

"As much as I'd love to bring you, I can't.. tensions with this certain group is getting bad, needs me to help mediate."

"..fine.. don't die or something?" I couldn't push away this gut feeling in my stomach, it didn't sit right with me.

"I won't, I swear." He gave me a gentle kiss before he got up. "I love you, little bird." He smiled as he left the room.

If only I had known.

If only.

I remember going to patrol later that night, something still felt off, I could remember the smell of metallic fill my lungs when I had got home. He was on the couch patching himself up.

"Dick? Baby- what- what happened?" I had this look of horror on my face, he turned to me and smiled weakly.

"Killed some vampires, I'm okay though." He sighed, I took a seat next to him, letting him fall into my arms. "Missed you.." he mumbled against my chest.

"Oh baby.. you're home now.." I ran a hand through his hair, letting him fall asleep on my chest.

[knut-rocketman]

Pleasantview Ancestors Hunger Games : Day 2, part 3

Even Nighat is bored. Nothing's happening. (Oh, but I am seeing quite a lot of flies there... If we get death by flies, that would be cool.)

Meanwhile, the Fruit Punch gang is realising that perhaps the key to solving their hunger is not drinking juice, as the Sea Of Red Cups expands.

Melinda : "I'M HUNGRY!!" Betty : "She doesn't know I'm even hungrier." Omar : "All this juice is not good for my bladder need."

Hunger starts to spread quickly, as many find themselves so hungry that the only thing they can do is stand in place and repeatedly complain about how hungry they are instead of eating.

Irma and Sef, in perfect unison : "I need food!! In my mouth!!" Jeff and PT7, in perfect unison : "HUNGRY!" Michael : [chillin]

The kitchen is right to their left, by the way. You can see the wall. And speaking of, let's see what's going on in the kitchen.

Yep, more people than plates. As expected.

Cornelia : "Well, isn't this a nice meal, my friends?" [is not friends with a single person at the table] Benazir : "Ooh, the way that young woman is holding that empty plate... Quite attractive!" Gretle : "Ew, I don't want this ugly woman getting this food. I'm taking it away." Bob Sr. : "HUNGRY!!!"

Bob. You are right next to the fridge. Grab a bag of cookies instead of complaining.

Bob : "I'm sitting at the table?"

I meant your- nevermind. Let's go to another table.

Gretle, didn't you just steal some food from Jocasta? Why did you make a serving of Froot Loops?

Gretle : "It's all for me." Bella : "Why is there one in front of me too, then?" Gretle : "It's all for me and you." Bella : "Sweet." Nighat : [starving to death as she sleeps in an empty plate]

Meanwhile, Mariana practices her axe throwing. Betty and Susan are too busy thinking about the smell to get out of the way.

Mariana : "Darn, almost had them."

You were aiming for them?

Mariana : "My aim isn't that good."

Take solace in the fact that you hit the target instead.

Well now, what is this? Nestor is tickling Cornel-

Irma : "I'M SO UNBELIEVABLY HUNGRY!!!!"

Irma, it's been three hours. You haven't moved. You're right next to the kitchen. GO GET A SNACK AND GET OUT OF THE FRAME. Anyway, back to Nesto-

WHAT THE- Our first fight?! Between Nestor and... Delilah Dreamer?! What on earth?!

Delilah : "I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST YOU IN PARTICULAR BUT MY ASPIRATION IS IN THE RED!"

Understandable. Her husband did die. Well, this is going to be a 50/50 on who wins this fight, since they both don't have any skill points.

PT7 : "I SWEAR I WILL EAT THE LOSER OF THIS FIGHT"

As the fight continues, the crowd takes sides. Dalmar is concerned for his... daughter-in-law?

Dalmar : "It'd be a shame if this cool hat was lost so soon in the competition!"

...or not.

Bob and Mama : "GO HAT GUY!" Betty and Mariana : "GO LADY ATTACKING HAT GUY!" Gunther : "If you lose, Nestor, may I get your hat?"

You know what, sure, I guess. Where are the other Calientes, by the way?

Flamenco : "Hey, Ma. Is the food good?" Dulcinea : "Yup."

I don't think they know yet.

Nighat : [has an empty hunger motive and a full energy motive yet refuses to wake up]

[themculibrary]

Worried Masterlist

A Fast but Steady Heartbeat (ao3) - spooderboyandtincan N/R, 1k

Summary: Peter, Tony and Rhodey are enjoying their afternoon at a restaurant until the building and their food explodes.

Bright Eyes (ao3) - NotEvenCloseToStraight clint/tony T, 3k

Summary: After being hurt in a fight, Tony ends up temporarily blind and tries to hide it from the team so they don’t worry.

Clint is the only one to notice, and an honest conversation between the two about exactly how much Tony matters to the team leads to unexpected kisses.

Bloom in a Garden of Love (ao3) - hopelessly_me bucky/clint T, 5k

Summary: Bucky's holding on to a weird secret- for some reason he keeps coughing up rose petals. He thinks maybe he can hide it until events take a terrifying turn.

By Your Side (ao3) - SerendipityRed (SerendipityBlue) G, 3k

Summary: After Peter is forced to lift the fallen building after homecoming, he has to deal with the aftermath of the injuries that he’s received.

Peter Parker being the stubborn bean that he is, doesn’t tell anyone.

But the injuries are revealed after an accident in the lab.

Enter protective Tony, Steve, Bucky, Thor, Bruce, and Loki.

can you save my heavy dirt soul? (ao3) - streetlight_skeletons steve/bucky N/R, 1k

Summary: Bucky can't breathe and they won't shut up

Casualty of war (ao3) - wolfypuppypiles M, 22k

Summary: Peter got knocked down in Civil War, but when Tony went to check on the baby Avenger, he realized he was more badly hurt than first realized.

There wasn't meant to be any casualties, but there always is in war.

Elevator Freeway (ao3) - awesomesockes, whumphoarder T, 1k

Summary: Delirious and bleeding out from a gunshot wound, Peter struggles to describe his location to a very worried Tony.

Five Bullets And Nineteen Hours (ao3) - thefatedthoughtofyou sam/bucky G, 2k

Summary: Bucky gets hurt, badly, protecting Sam on a mission.

Hey Mr Stark, I'm Trapped Under A Building (ao3) - Kryi T, 1k

Summary: Peter's on evacuation duty, he was trying to get as many people out of the building as fast as possible. But something happens and he slips into unconsciousness.

Safe and Sound (ao3) - onthesandsofdreams pepper/tony T, 1k

Summary: She feels off kilter, unsure for the first time in a very long time. She should go. She should go downstairs, let Tony know that she was going home (or the office) and leave. But, she finds that she doesn’t want to, he has just returned and it doesn’t take a genius to know that he has suffered. That thing in his chest speaks louder than anything Tony might say.

Scream out loud like never before (ao3) - Carlet phil/melinda M, 33k

Summary: From philindaprompts on Tumblr: "Ward never really got his hands on May to 'make' her pay for breaking his larynx, chasing him down, Agent 33, etc."

Mid season 3, minus the whole Hive thing. Ward kidnaps and tortures May with the intent of making her pay for his suffering, proving that not even the infamous Melinda May was indestructible.

Taking Care of... (ao3) - orphan_account G, 6k

Summary: It's time for the obligatory sick/comfort fic!

Chapter 1: Rhodey is sick but don't worry, his best friend Tony is there to take care of him.

Chapter 2: Tony is sick but don't worry, his best friend Rhodey is there to take care of him.

Thank the Watchmaker (ao3) - ThatMadHatter clint/phil T, 11k (WIP)

Summary: “Natasha. Barton’s been compromised.” Phil’s voice did not hitch slightly at the word compromised. He was fucking Agent Phil Coulson. His voice did not betray emotion. Even when telling his boyfriend’s best friend that said boyfriend was compromised.

Or the one where Phil and Clint are together before The Avengers and the author rewrites things with that in mind.

you heal me like the light of day (ao3) - searchingforstars T, 9k

Summary: or, Peter tries to hide a stab wound and an infection-fuelled fever is never any fun. Also, it turns out that Beck is still lurking in Peter's mind much more than anyone realised.

You're Not Alone (You Have Us) (ao3) - Rascalisafatcat clint/phil, pepper/tony T, 2k

Summary: When his daughter gets sick with the flu Coulson leaves a debrief to go take care of her, the Avengers soon find out and they come to his rescue.

[wickedwretch]

Hello and welcome to this Pinned Post. My name— or rather my Alias is Beale. This (side)blog was created specifically so that I could try and find some one or multiple roleplay partners. It’s nothing fancy, so hopefully you can look past that. If you’ve come here you’re interested in some 1 on 1 roleplay with me, which is super cash money. But first, let’s get down to brass tacks.

You may be be asking, “Beale, why not just make a roleplay blog?” Tumblr roleplay has become way too focused on aesthetic for me and having to make each post pretty just takes the fun out of it. And if your posts aren’t pretty, people are less likely to interact with you. And frankly, I don’t have the time to log on from a computer to do all the work it takes to reply. I enjoy having the muse pages and such, but I just don’t have the time for it. (As much as I miss some aspects of it) So my solution is discord. I can reply to threads from my phone, and it just makes life easier. Now to the bullet points.

I’m Old™️, so I ask that you are of age if we interact. Especially if smut is involved. Though truthfully, 90 percent of the time I’d prefer the scene fade to black so to speak, but every once in a while I’ll write it out.

I have a full time job. I work 40+ hrs a week. I also have ADD, depression and anxiety and sometimes that makes replies slow. So bear with me. Sometimes I’m fast and sometimes I’m slower than smoke off shit, there is no in between.

I truthfully don’t have a lot of triggers, so I’m always open to most plots. Communication is important and if there’s something I’m doing that you’re not comfortable with, please don’t hesitate to say something! I’m here to have fun, not cause upset. I ask that you give me that same courtesy.

I’d prefer if you were semi-literate, though I totally understand if English is not your first language. Replies do not ever have to match lengths, just as long as I have enough to work with! (:

I’m oc friendly (I have a few myself!) and fandom friendly. I’ll list the fandoms below and the characters I’m willing to write.

MCU: Wanda Maximoff, Kate Bishop, Yelena Belova.

Pitch Perfect: Beca Mitchell, Aubrey Posen, Stacie Conrad, Emily Junk.

Charmed: Piper Halliwell, P.J Halliwell, Melinda Halliwell, Henry Mitchell Jr.

American Horror Story: Misty Day, Nora Montgomery, Sister Mary Eunice, an OC.

Grey’s Anatomy: I’ve written a few main ogs, but mostly I just have next gen ocs.

Then I have a handful of fandomless ocs that I’d be happy to list for you.

I ship my characters with chemistry, but most of the time I do fxf or occasionally fxm (mostly because I don’t have a lot of male characters lmao)

Plots of all kinds are welcome!

If after all of this you’re interested, shoot me a message here with your rules/guidelines and if we click, I can drop my discord! Thanks for taking the time to read!

I hope you have a fantastic day/night and I look forward to hopefully writing with you!

-Beale

[talkingpointsusa]

Steven Crowder makes really dumb arguments against feminism, argues that disaster relief isn’t the governments responsibility, and accidentally advocates for raising taxes

So, I’ve managed to avoid covering Steven Crowder thus far in my career debunking right-wing media. However, I figured it was finally time to add him to the pantheon of idiots that we talk about here on the blog….lord help us.

Steven’s show is mindblowingly dumb. He’s basically that one guy who nobody liked in high school who thought that saying brazenly offensive stuff made him “cool and edgy”. Unfortunately Steven isn’t that, he’s just embarrassing. This episode of his show in particular is extraordinary embarrassing.

So the beginning of Steven’s show is always just nonsense so we’re just going to skip to the main theme of the episode: women, am I right?

05:38, Steven Crowder: “It’s the year of the woman and when I say this I mean the year of the weak woman. Feminists are weak women. Melinda Gates, billionaire sure, weak woman. It’s not you, we’re not talking about you. I think we’re at the point now where you understand that we’re speaking in generalities and about these specific women. And uh, good women out there, do you think that - do you think no vagina no opinion or would you like some guys to step in as allies here because you’re not able to clear out — clean out — is it clear out or clean out your own ranks?”

Oh boy, I’m sure Melinda Gates is all broken up that Steven Crowder called her weak.

So, Steven’s whole argument is that he doesn’t hate women…just so long as they agree with all of his misogynistic ideas and never step out of line ever and even then they’re bad because they can’t “clean out their own ranks” and thus men have to step in. If you think that Steven sounds like a cartoon character version of an asshole conservative that’s because he is.

07:51, Steven Crowder: “Speaking of rape, this professor at the University of Kansas who now is apparently on leave, so this isn’t necessarily a new clip but some of you may have missed this. I want to touch on — everything that this professor at the University of Kansas says is wrong. Warning there’s a death threat.”

Phillip Lowcock (Professor who is the subject of the clip): “Guys are smarter than girls you’ve got some serious problems. It’s what frustrates me, there are going to be some males in our society that will refuse to vote for a potential female president because they don’t think females are smart enough to be president. We could line all those guys up and shoot them, they clearly don’t understand the way the world works.”

Steven Crowder: “Not you, you can’t touch your toes”

Phillip Lowcock: “Did I say that? Scratch that from the recording, I don’t want the dean hearing I said that.”

So this is a story that alt-right shit-slinger LibsOfTikTok broke concerning a professor at the University of Kansas who was dismissed for “making a highly inappropriate comment in his classroom suggesting violence against individuals for their personal views.” While I personally think that he probably shouldn’t have said what he said, it’s pretty clear that he was using a figure of speech and wasn’t threatening violence. He even chuckles in the video when he says “scratch that from the recording”. It’s clear that he’s making a joke and I think that the right-wing circus around it is an absolute farce.

Isn’t Steven Crowder supposed to be a free speech warrior? He regularly whines about how YouTube is being mean to him when they demonetize him for spreading hate against minority groups. He should be really against this guy getting fired for simply using a turn of phrase. But I guess a little internal consistency is too much to expect from these goons.

Also, let’s not pretend that guys like Steven Crowder and LibsOfTikTok don’t incite violence all the time. I discussed LibsOfTikTok’s ties to violent threats when I broke down an interview she gave with Taylor Lorenz but to summarize, she’s been responsible for a lot of bomb threats. Alex Jones, one of Steven Crowders close associates who regularly appears in Mug Club branding, regularly declares that his enemies should be hung.

The right threatens violence against their political enemies all the time so this pearl clutching over a professor using a sort of inappropriate turn of phrase is more than a little disingenuous.

Also, not for nothing but the comedy aspect of Steven’s show also sucks ass. What exactly is that joke about Lowcock not being able to touch his toes supposed to mean? Since when did being able to touch your toes have any bearing on understanding how the world works? For a comedic rebuttal to be funny, it needs to make sense while also addressing the argument being presented by the opposing side. Not being able to touch your toes doesn’t impact your ability to understand how the world works so this joke doesn’t make any sense.

This whole show is just a farce. The “facts” that Steven cites are misrepresented at best and completely made up at worst, the jokes are the same stuff you’d expect to hear a fifth grader say, and the actual arguments fall apart the minute you think about them for more than eleven seconds.

08:44, Steven Crowder: “This is the lazy strawmanning you see from the left.”

Lazy strawmanning? You mean like making judgement call about an entire political ideology based on an edgy joke some professor made? That kind of lazy strawmanning?

08:54, Steven Crowder: “There are some men who won’t vote for a woman because they think that uh — that guys are smarter than girls. Nope, that’s not why. There are some men, and a lot of women too by the way according to the polls, that are concerned about voting for someone completely unqualified solely because they are a woman.”

Ah, so the reason people won’t vote for Harris is not because she’s a woman it’s…because she’s a woman but we threw the word “unqualified” in there to make the argument sound smarter.

Also, name Trump’s qualifications, go on. Before being elected president, Trump was a real estate developer and reality TV star. The skills that are required for that job don’t really translate into leading a country.

Steven then says this and undercuts his entire argument.

09:12, Steven Crowder: “We don’t actually think that women are less intelligent than men, I don’t know a single guy that thinks that. I know that most men believe that, as a general rule, women are more emotional and reactive and we would be concerned if someone in a position of leadership reflexively responding in a way that would be a liability for the country.”

Said the man proudly producing propaganda for a candidate who throws temper tantrums over MSNBC segments.

Saying that women are incapable of decision making because they’re too emotional is still saying that women are less intelligent than men, your just packaging it in a way that you think makes you sound less like a sexist dick (mission failed by the way).

Also, this talking point about women being more emotional has been debunked multiple times. For instance, the journal Scientific Reports did a study investigating this claim and found that it was completely false. From a press release about the study, quote:

"We also didn't find meaningful differences between the groups of women, making clear that emotional highs and lows are due to many influences — not only hormones,"

In short, in this clip Steven managed to be wrong in about a dozen different ways. It takes effort to be this much of a dumbass.

A lot of this show is just Steven and his co-hosts just telling dumb jokes to eachother. Here’s a particularly incomprehensible one.

10:15, Steven Crowder: “He sounds like how fat guys talk”

“He sounds like how fat guys talk”. So you mean to say that he sounds like a fat guy? (Also this is just gross but still, really dumb phrasing).

Boy howdy, I wonder why this genius failed at standup.

11:08, Steven Crowder: “It’s the strawman that they do. It’s like, ah look, the reason they won’t vote for women is because these dummies think that women are stupider than guys. But that’s not true though. If you want to address the concern that a lot of women have and yeah, I would say a majority of men have, it’s about the emotional response that we tend to see among most women, not all women in positions of leadership. That’s a legitimate concern, if you want to say that that’s stupid and present some data that’s one thing but to say ‘well you just think that women are stupid’, I don’t know a single man who thinks that women are stupid, I don’t.”

Still saying that women are stupid Steven. By removing agency and the ability to make decisions from women by calling them “emotional”, you are demeaning their intelligence and essentially infantilizing them.

Also, that argument is stupid and I have cited data to prove it. This claim about women being more emotional than men has been the subject of several studies and all of them have found that it’s simply not true.

Anyway, we move on from this clip of the professor and start discussing Hurricane Milton and Steven has a point about the left. For context, Steven just played a clip of Bill Nye speaking on MSNBC about how climate change played a role in the magnitude of the hurricane.

16:00, Steven Crowder: “Well hold on a second, there are people there who are dying and are without power. Maybe before they talk about some international accord where if everybody played ball because everybody in every nation is inherently altruistic and certainly their leaders, maybe you could focus on getting them water, getting them energy, maybe you could focus on helping your fellow citizen. This is the ultimate problem right with the leftists, is the government is the charity. This is why statistically they are not charitable people. The left doesn’t take it upon themselves to help their neighbors, the government does it.”

I don’t even understand what Steven’s argument is supposed to be here.

Is he arguing for mandatory donation to hurricane relief efforts, because in practice that would be a form of raised taxation which isn’t conservative at all. I’m not sure what Steven thinks taxes are because that’s how your average person pays for disaster relief. Does he want to increase that? Because again, that’s not very conservative.

Is he suggesting some sort of draft system where citizens mandatorily have to help out in the event of a disaster? Because your average citizen doesn’t have the level of training that a first responder does and would be more of a hindrance than a help.

What Steven is essentially saying here is that we shouldn’t have to rely on the government for disaster relief because that would make it a charity…which is a bad thing I guess? I don’t see how you’d make the alternative work without really high taxes and even then the government would still be doing the disaster relief. It’s amazing how Steven can manage to be so dumb that he can accidentally argue against one of the huge pillars of his own ideology and get it wrong in a way that doesn’t make sense from both sides. It’s an eight year olds view of the world.

17:06, Steven Crowder: “By the way, don’t know if you know this that Joe Biden was the least charitable public servant ever.”

Gerald Morgan (co-host): “Gave used underwear at one time. Tighty whiteys.”

Steven Crowder: “Gave less than 0.1% to charity. Isn’t it nice to have a worldview where as long as you support — you say the right things echoing the sentiment that we can have a giant centralized government that can be Santa Claus, it’s not incumbent upon me to actually help my fellow man. That’s why it’s an evil ideology.”

Keep in mind that this is the same guy who was whinging about strawman arguments.

No citation for that stat or claim at all so I had to track it down and shocker, Steven is playing a really dishonest game here.

The stats that Steven is using here are from a 2008 article about how the Bidens gave an average of $369 to charity. Their high point was $995 in 2007 (or 0.3% of their income) and their low point was $120 in 1999 (or 0.1% of their income).

For starters, this was during the 90’s and early 2000’s. This was long before Biden was president and even before he was vice president. When Steven and his crew call him the “least generous public servant ever”, they’re obviously implying that these numbers are from his tenure as president and that’s simply not the case, they’re so old that they’re not even from when he was vice-president! It was from one year and he got the less than part wrong, it was just 0.1%. There are valid criticisms about Biden, don’t take this as some passionate defense of him. However, the complaints that I have about Biden are based in the real world and complaining about a donation he made during the Clinton Administration is monumentally idiotic.

Secondly, while Biden’s donation certainly seems pretty miserly at face value it should be noted that Steven’s candidate Donald Trump has committed charity fraud and has barely given to charity himself. Very generous of Donald. While Biden was kind of miserly back in the 90’s, it’s a little disingenuous to complain about that from one side of your mouth and then praise the guy who stole from charity with the other side.

Finally, I couldn’t find any evidence that Biden is the “least charitable public servant ever”. Even Steven’s ancient article that he didn’t bother to cite wasn’t claiming that.

Steven plays a weird skit of him and his co-host Josh Firestine dressed as old school newsboys because this is theoretically a comedy show in the same way that a rusted out chassis rotting in a junkyard is theoretically a car.

After that, Steven to complain about abortion. He plays a montage of clips about abortion from cable news shows and decides to try and formulate an argument. It ends up becoming an “I’m a divorced dad who wants to force people to stay married” thing.

22:52, Steven Crowder: “So, Melinda Gates, let’s get into this, we’re talking about abortion. Melinda Gates has now committed a billion dollars of her ex husbands money to promote abortion.”

Steven actually did cite a source for this one, unfortunately he didn’t read it. If he did he would have read this line:

“About $200 million (£157m) will go to organisations fighting for gender and reproductive rights in the US.”

So no, she hasn’t contributed one billion to promoting abortion. Thats actually a small part of the overall fund ostensibly devoted to advancing women’s rights across the globe.

Steven then goes off about Melinda and Bill’s divorce and I realized then and there that the only thing I care less about than celebrity relationship gossip is billionaire relationship gossip. It’s dumb, it’s built off a faulty premise (namely that the billion is exclusively going towards promoting abortion), and we aren’t covering it.

Conclusion:

This was my first time subjecting myself to Steven Crowder and oh my god was it painful. Stevens an awful comedian, an even more terrible political analyst, and his show should be painfully dumb to anyone who isn’t completely indoctrinated.

The whole discussion around the professor in Kansas doesn’t make sense, especially if you know about how much Steven pretends to care about freedom of speech. It’s transparently just an excuse for Steven to be a misogynistic asshole. His hurricane coverage is so dumb that it barely event warrants mentioning.

It’s pretty clear that Stevens show is just a half-baked excuse to present warmed over bigotry in lieu of actual arguments in the hope that he can get his audience angry enough to maybe buy one of his novelty coffee mugs. Did I mention how much I think that this guy sucks?

I probably will debunk his show a little more often in the future since I want this blog to be a comprehensive snapshot of the American right-wing media and how it’s built on nothing but lies and racism but man the pure undistilled shittiness of Stevens show doesn’t make it easy.

Anyway, I’m going to do something more productive and enjoyable like taking a bath in fire ants or practicing my cactus juggling skills. Cheers, Happy Indigenous Peoples Day to all the Americans in the chat, and I’ll see you in the next one

Original Video:

Steven Crowder. “How Feminist Politics Are Destroying America along with Hurricane Milton.” Rumble, 10 Oct. 2024.

[the-silver-peahen-residence]

So how are the officers now or do they speak to Mr. Henderson about the inmates?

((Hi there hope your well. I think I can let them tell you themselves. Just one moment. And a note: Some of the officers like Melinda and Yuuka are still officers but this is before they got corrupted like some others. The one ask you saw was after Melinda was corrupted and joined Jinx and her gang. Just to point that out. Oh, and a few belong to @demon-blood-youths & @lovelyxhorrors ))

Silver butterfly mun/Peahen mom

'So I take it you all are getting used to your inmates?'

The officers were quiet listening to the video since it was a meeting. Some of them were quiet or muttering to themselves and others just remaining quiet.

"As you all know, I got word that the ones your watching are going to be still under your watchful eye. I take it your doing well on that?" Mr. Henderson asked.

"Yes sir. We are still keeping a eye on them or who we are assigned to. For now, we have......been busy doing just that." Officer Terry said with Officer Davion nodding.

"Good good. I know some of you are still doing your best in this but..as I warned don't let them fool you. The ones you are watching are very smart but I know you can handle them." He sees officer Nakano quiet along with officer Niguredou who was silent herself.

"I'm sure we will sir.." Officer Oxford said even if he was worried about his little sister who was in this prison. She was fine but didn't hear from her yet.

The six claw officers were listening and watching the video call but officer bakugo was lost in though wondering why the heck Ink was that tricky. Just why?

"But just know if you have trouble your more than welcome to have them swtiched or just taken to a more personal lesson near your offices. I trust you guys will not fail me?"

"No sir.." the officers said.

"Good. Meeting is adjourned. You may head back to your stations." he said before the video ended. However, everyone was quiet wondering about this. As for Mr. Henderson, he sighed looking at the list but he then looks ahead.

"I hope you all can forgive me. I can only trust you all with them...even if some would fall to them or their corruption. He knew he also gave the inmates who was more in charge more power so whatever happens he would be told of it.

~~~~~~~Back at the Prison~~~~~~~

"That was a short meeting. Though, what do we do? He knows who is here but..it tells a lot." Officer Ryunosuke sighed thinking of his own.

"I don't know..I take it is going to be a pain in the ass." Officer Nakahara said with his arms behind his head with the officer hat.

"You seriously are a idiot you know." Officer Junichiro said bored.

"The hell you say!?" Chuya said only to get hit on the head by Gin. "OW!"

"Cut it out. As we were told, we have jobs to do so focus already." She said while looking to the members. "Besides, you all got your charges remember?" she said even seeing Officer Willie be silent.

"...She's got a point. For now, our main mission is to be sure our charges don't misbehave." he said knowing of his own.

"Though, is their word of some of the officers coming back to our side?" Gin asked him.

"No. Most of them have been falling but we don't know who else.....for now, we will just keep moving on till then.." he said seeing that most would be silent. However they keep walking knowing of their jobs. Back at it for them.

"Though, I heard that some of the officers like officer Brooks fallen but she seems okay." Gin said.

"Brooks? You mean Melinda? No, I thought she was fine. She seems to be.." Ryu said seeing her quiet but Melinda was speaking with Yuuka about something.

"No, it was said she might already have fallen thanks to that Jackal. We don't know though...." Chuuya said.

"..And you got proof?" Willie said.

"No...just a feeling." he said back.

"Hmmmmm....It's just a thought though." he said.

"..........."

'Or maybe I'm wrong. It was said that some officers were starting to fall but..we don't know who. It can be anyone.' Willie thought to himself.

"But again, lets get back to our posts..we have to keep the peace here you know." Gin said as the officers break to head to their locations for some. For now, it was a quiet moment. However, after a bit Melinda was quiet but she was looking at a book while she was hiding a hickey on her shoulder. Was she hiding something as the others?

"Hey officer Brooks? You okay?"

She blinks to look seeing officer Hashimoto who sits down worried.

"I'm fine...don't worry. I wonder if your good too?" she asked.

"I'm....okay. I was just checking to see if you were okay." he said.

"I'm okay..." she said looking down but he wonders if something was wrong. Was it due to the....no, it couldn't be. He didn't know but he wouldn't question it. It was her business but he did hear about her charge and who he was. Someone able to speak to whoever he wanted..did he do that to her?

"........"

"Uhhh you okay Kisho?" she asked to him snapping out of it.

"Oh right yeah I'm alright sorry about that." he said laughing as she tilts her head to smile but laugh a little.

"I was just being sure is a..all...glad to see your okay." she said as he nods to agree. "Anyway, I better get to my post...see you later Kisho." she said walking off as he waves bye to her.

The other inmates were chatting and talking but one was seeing that only to lower his fork but Ink noticed.

"See one you want Jaron?" she asked.

"Already did...though, I might have to break her a bit more...." he said.

"Ehh I'm sure you will.." Maggie said with arms crossed. The other DBT kept eating but remains quiet while knowing or guessing some of them were already thinking of some ideas. And it seems Jaron was too. Though, that's for another time. Like tonight. But for now, he will remain quiet till then.

'Oh my poor little lung dragon..you seem to need another lesson..' Jaron thought but eats again.

[an-inky-fingered-lass]

From the very beginning, up until the point we meet her in canon: a character study of Melinda May. A story that clings stubbornly to hope, and considers what it means to be a hero.

PART TWO: The Aftermath of Bahrain.

Coulson turned up at the checkout line with a tiny container of soup and an entire baguette, entirely too cheery about it. An old, somewhat hypocritical argument about nutrient intake still sprung to mind like breathing, but May couldn’t bring herself to start it. Coulson’s sideways glances kept getting more and more pointed. “If there’s anything,” he said later, earnestly, because they’d agreed a long time ago that saying certain things right out and sounding stupid was infinitely preferable to wasting both their time beating around the bush. “I know you have a thing, with being anything other than okay, but I…” “You have a savior complex,” May told him. She shifted the paper bag in her arms and wiped a rain-dampened palm off on her jeans, scowling at him. “Really? We’re doing this right now?” He sighed. “You’re not on your own.” May rolled her eyes. “Clearly.” “I’m here,” Coulson said, because he wasn’t done with the pointed, obvious statements yet, apparently. May didn't answer.

Read more on ao3.

[daydreamingnightscreaming]

October Prompt #9 - Ravens

The witch sat on the porch one early morning, sleep was not well to her. Her cottage was small, cozy, enough space for her to cook, practice spells and potions, and not feel like she was overly cramped. The outside was caked in moss, mushrooms, vines, and her yard was acres of forest with a lake near by. She wrapped her arms around her middle as she stared off into space. "You aren't listening to me at all, are you?"

The witch jumped and turned to the raven sitting on it's perch, "I am so sorry, Melinda, how rude of me", the witch bowed her head to the bird.

"Are you sure you're alright? You didn't sleep again, did you?" The bird tilted it's head.

The witch sighed, "No, and yes that makes three nights in a row, I can't keep my mind from racing."

"Over the man you saw the other night?"

Melinda didn't even need to open her mouth for the witch to hear her. As her familiar, they could speak telepathically, though the witch preferred to use her voice to respond.

The witch blushed, "He was beautiful, wasn't he?"

"Aye, but we've secluded ourselves for so many reasons, do you think it'd be safe to have a man, human for that matter, near us?"

"He doesn't need to know what we are, Mel. What do you think, should we have some fun?" The witch patted the birds head gently.

"Aye, alright. I'm staying close by just in case though", Melinda bobbed her head up and down.

With a snap of her fingers, the greenery caked cottage flourished in flowers and bright colors, the witches outfit changed into a long sleeved and warm dress with her shawl around her shoulders. Her beauty redefined and her hair curly and down to her waist.

She lifted her foraging basket and smiled, "Let's go get us a man, Melinda."

Melinda cawed in agreement and followed along as the witch made her way into the village market.

The moment she stepped foot into the market, the entire village noticed her. Whispers of her beauty and pale skin, no one even noticed it was the same young witch who distanced herself many years ago. She lifted up apples, smelled bread, and as she was about to look at some pumpkins she bumped into a chest.

"Aye! I am so sorry!" that's when his blue eyes caught her golden ones. There he was, the man she saw snooping around the forest a few weeks ago, the one her mind couldn't stop thinking about.

He stared at her, mouth agape, "Oh, I am so sorry m'lady!" He couldn't stop staring, "my, miss, you are absolutely stunning." he surprised himself by speaking his mind aloud, "I-I, please forgive me, how forward of me ma'am," he took her hand and kissed it, "M'name is Phillip."

The witch blushed and couldn't hold back a smile and giggle, "Hello, Phillip, my name is Esther."

"May I help you with your errands today, Esther?" Philip smiled.

"That would be lovely, sir, thank you", Esther perked up.

The two spent the day talking, laughing, and simply enjoying each other. Philip carried her overflowing basket, filled with her necessities and goodies. They made their way back to her cottage and she thanked him for his kindness.

"You have made this day so wonderful, dear Philip."

He seemed to get lost in her eyes every chance he could get, "Aye, anything for a beautiful woman such as yourself."

After a moment of staring into each others eyes, with casual glances down to each others lips, "Would you like to come inside? I could make us something to eat?" Esther suggested.

"Oh, uh, I would love that," Philip agreed.

Making their way inside, Esther made sure to make it seem such as a simple sweet cottage. Her spell made the inside bright with colors and inviting. Philip took a seat as Esther started gathering everything she needed, filling her cauldron - I mean, very large pot - with water, lighting the fire, and started chopping veggies.

Philip couldn't take his eyes off of her. He was seeing stars every time he was near her, any time he lightly touched her hand, got an inhale of her scent. She was perfect.

Esther glanced over and caught him staring, blushing, she continued to prep her veggies. Philip then stood, made his way into the kitchen, grabbed her by the waist, spun her around, and kissed her feverishly. Esther squeaked in surprise but soon gave into the kiss, it was messy, wet kisses, tongues fighting for dominance, hair being pulled, lips being bitten and then Philip took a step back. His skin was pale, his lips turning blue, he couldn't breathe. He looked at her with pleading eyes for help. All she did was stand there and watch him as he collapsed to the floor to his death. That's when rustling feathers caught Esther's attention.

"Well that didn't last as long as the previous one," Melinda stood on Philips dead body.

"The last one was a gentleman, until he wasn't. Philip's mother should have taught him, you don't kiss a woman on the first date. Especially in her own home, even then, stranger danger? Please", the witch snapped her fingers and everything went back to normal, "has your family eaten today?"

Melinda shook her head.

"Aye, give me a bit and let me get this going."

After about an hour of cooking the witch sat at her porch once again, eating her stew. Melinda flew up on her perch, blood on her beak, "Thank you, my friend."

"Aye, Melinda, I'm glad I have you to lean on after every heart break," both the witch and Melinda burst out laughing, "Now go on, I don't want the smell of rotting flesh out here in the morning."

Melinda flew over to her family, who were pecking and swallowing pieces whole of Philips flesh.

[dracimexidae]

Story of my life is getting painfully attached to fictional ladies who deserve so much better from not only the story but also the narrative

[momentofch-aos]

Here’s my proposal: a fic but it’s just a regular Shield employee’s POV of the team. Someone who works in accounting. Or like admin. A receptionist.

Someone who knows what the agency does but is just befuddled by the chaos that is our agents.

Mack is a good boss. Despite being the director of the whole agency, when he had chance he stops by their office, asks how they’re doing about their personal lives, their families or hobbies, remembering specific things about each person before sometimes asking for a report or something he needs. Very approachable boss, all round good guy. But he commands respect as well and there are stories about his heroics and him busting through doors with his shotgun axe.

Yo-yo seems to bounce between offices, popping in to ask mission based questions or if they’d seen Davis or Piper when she has lost track of the bickering pair. (The two of them can be heard coming down the corridor arguing about something ridiculous every time they are on the base).

When Agent May arrives it is usually built up to be a big deal. There are still whispers about the Cavalry even now and she now runs the Academy so if often bring new recruits around for the first time. She is said to slip in and out of the main base mainly unnoticed to avoid a fuss, but occasionally on an early morning or late night, Agent Melinda May can be seen strolling around the base towards the Directors office or with Piper as they discuss a mission brief. Occasionally she can be found in a quiet corner comforting an agent who’s emotions are affected by a mission (whether it went right or wrong), her senses dialled in to protecting the mental health of agents new and old. When she calls the office, it can be slightly nerve wracking but she asks direct questions and isn’t harsh if you have to go away and find the answer for her. Her voicemail message is “This is May. Let me know.”

It’s normally a louder experience when Daisy Johnson is on base. The legendary Quake is respected and almost feared by the younger agents but this office worker knows that Daisy is far from scary. She’s chatty and bubbly and looks you in the eye when you speak to her. If you even briefly mention that you’re having a computer issues, she’ll grab your keyboard and take over your desk to fix it for you. She definitely lives up to her reputation of an powerful strong woman, but others are surprised to see the softer, joking side of Daisy like the sibling banter between her and the director.

More often than not she’s accompanied by Agent Sousa most day. He’s more traditional. He’s respectful and kind, asks for things politely and doesn’t want to inconvenience people, despite sometimes struggling with technology and no one quite knows why. A common occurrence is to see Daisy and her sister Kora walking past, normally arguing about something in a way only siblings do, with Sousa trailing behind them pinching the bridge of his nose or rolling his eyes at the bickering pair.

One evening in the depths of winter, they could have sworn they saw someone who looked like Agent Coulson at the end of a corridor talking to someone out of the corner of their eye. But when they looked back, the corridor was empty. And Agent Coulson was dead. His plaque hung in the briefing room, his legacy memorialised on the wall. His name had been given to the academy for the same reason. But that night our office worker could have sworn that they saw a replica of him, wearing his suit and tie in the dim light of the hall. They don’t think it’s improbable that they’re seeing things after staring at their report for so long.

But at the end of the day, this is Shield…

[sweeter-innocence-fics]

Learn To Love Again - Chapter Thirteen: Spanking

Pairing: Pietro Maximoff x Reader

Work Summary: You have a hard time letting go. Pietro helps you out. An exploration of kink with Pietro Maximoff. Each chapter from chapter 2 onwards will be a different kink.

Chapter Summary: You just want to relax, but SHIELD has other plans for you.

Series Masterlist

Rating: Explicit

Word Count: 4258

Read on AO3.

Masterlists.

Taglist: @ifilwtmfc @mcximffs @xlucyintheskywithdiamondsx @lanemarvels @maddieisbored @marrigold-2002 @kathrinchek @mrs-kai-anderson

Taglist info.

Previous Chapter

Notes: Sorry it's been ages, I moved house and then it was my birthday and it's just been one thing after the other. Hopefully you enjoy this chapter.

Also I went back and made some edits to a couple of previous chapters to explicit state that Giyera is the telekinetic Hydra agent.

Warnings: spanking, sex as a coping mechanism, minor character death, blood, injury, violence, electrocution

---

There was a movie playing in the background, but you hardly noticed it. You and Pietro were sprawled across one of the sofas in the common room. Your head was in his lap.

He was playing with your hair, smoothing his strong fingers across your scalp, and you were getting drowsy. You drifted in and out of an easy, comfortable sleep.

“Oh, Pietro. Sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude.” Vision’s voice cut across your slumber. You turned your head and snuggled deeper into Pietro’s embrace, silently listening.

Vision had evidently made to leave, because Pietro said, “Vision. Wait.”

“Uh… Yes?”

“I just… I just wanted to say…” You could feel the tension in Pietro’s legs. What had got him so worked up? “I may not understand your relationship with my sister, but… You make her happy. That’s all that matters.”

There was a moment of silence. Pietro seemed to be holding his breath.

“Thank you, Pietro,” said Vision. “That means a lot.”

Your boyfriend cleared his throat awkwardly. “You saved Y/N’s life. If you hadn’t caught her…”

“I was just doing what anyone would’ve done in that situation.”

“Still. You saved her when I couldn’t. My world could’ve ended that day, but it didn’t, because of you. Thank you.”

“I… really appreciate that, Pietro.”

The room fell silent again when Vision left. Once you were sure you were alone, you grabbed Pietro’s hand, which had been stroking your hair behind your ear.

“Proud of you,” you whispered.

“Prinţesă… You’re awake…” He sounded vaguely amused. You opened your eyes and stared up at him.

“What gave it away?”

He squeezed your hand. “Do you want to go to bed?”

“It’s been nice to hang around outside my bedroom for a while. But yeah, I’m pretty exhausted.”

“We could sleep in my room?” Pietro offered. “My sheets are freshly laundered.” His tone was playful.

“Well in that case, how could I refuse an offer like that?” You grinned at him.

With his arm around your waist, he helped you to your feet. The two of you had made it almost to the bottom of the stairs when a voice rang out.

“Ms Y/L/N?”

Pietro turned his head to look behind you, and you followed suit. There was a woman in a tight black jumpsuit. She flashed her SHIELD credentials.

“Agent Melinda May,” she said. “Agent Coulson needs to speak with you.”

You frowned. “About what?”

“That’s classified. Please come with me.”

“I don’t…” you trailed off, looking at Pietro for help. Your shoulder was aching, and it was making your head cloudy.

“Can this wait? She is injured,” he said, picking up the hint you’d dropped.

Agent May’s expression was neutral, but you thought you saw the muscle in her jaw tighten. “I’m afraid not.”

*

Reluctantly, Pietro had agreed to wait outside. As you followed Agent May into an office, you could feel his eyes on you.

Inside, Agent Coulson was leaning against the desk, but he straightened up when you walked in.

“Ms Y/L/N,” he greeted, holding out his hand for you to shake. There was an awkward exchange where you had to put out your good hand and he switched hands, realising his mistake.

The two of you weren’t alone in the room. There were several military officials that you didn’t recognise, but from their uniforms you could tell they were high ranking.

“Please, take a seat,” said Coulson. You accepted gratefully but nervously. You were still feeling physically pretty weak. “First off, I need you to understand that I wouldn’t ask this of you unless it was strictly necessary. In fact-”

“Can we cut to the chase, please?” Your bullet wound felt hot and itchy. You really needed to lie down.

He frowned. “We need you to speak with Giyera.”

“What?”

“He’s sitting on some very important intel. He won’t give us anything, but he said he’d be willing to negotiate with you.”

“Me? Why me?” You glanced around the room. Agent May and the military officials all met your gaze, but none of them responded.

Coulson sighed. “We think he’s just trying to cling to a feeling of power. He knows he has very little left going for him. We think he’s angry about Pietro bringing him in, and this is his way of getting revenge. But I can promise you that we won’t let anything happen to you. He’s locked up and there will be a barrier between you, as well as security to protect you.”

You clenched your jaw tight. “… what would I have to find out?”

*

“What happened? What did they want?” Pietro was there as soon as you were through the door.

You were being swept along by several SHIELD agents, who were blocking him from getting close to you.

“I’ll explain later,” you said, grimacing at him.

“What?” Pietro looked distressed.

“Please just trust me on this, okay? I love you.”

Before he could respond, you had been led through a set of doors and they had slammed behind you. Pietro stared after you, unsure what to think. He turned on his heel and ran back up to living quarters.

He knocked hard on his sister’s bedroom door, to no avail. When he tried the handle, he found the room unlocked, but empty.

With his stomach twisting itself in knots, he ran back downstairs.

There was someone at the foot of the stairs. Pietro tried to stop, but only managed to slow enough to reduce the force of the collision.

If it had been anyone but Steve Rogers, they probably would’ve both fallen down, but as it was, Steve only stumbled back, grabbing hold of Pietro.

“Oof,” he said, clutching his stomach.

“Sorry,” said Pietro, stepping back away from him.

As soon as he caught his breath, Steve looked at him with concern in his eyes. “Are you alright?”

“Have you seen Wanda?”

“I think she went out with Vision. What’s wrong?”

Pietro was breathing hard. He was on the brink of hyperventilating when Steve put a hand on his shoulder.

As Pietro stumbled through an explanation of what had happened, his tongue felt like lead. His grasp of the English language felt weaker, groping for words that were just out of reach. More than anything, he was trying to convey the nervousness he’d seen in your eyes. Thankfully, Steve seemed to get the gist.

“Where did they take her?” he asked.

“I think they were going to the basement.”

“Alright, let’s go.”

With Steve at his side, Pietro headed back down the way he’d come. There was a collection of offices, interrogation rooms, cells and other miscellaneous areas in the basement of the compound. Pietro hadn’t been down there much, but Steve seemed to know his way around.

“Phil,” Steve called out, and up ahead, Agent Coulson turned around.

“Captain Rogers,” said Coulson, looking surprised.

“Where’s Y/N?”

Coulson’s eyes flickered from Steve to Pietro and back. “She’s doing some consulting for us. Highly classified.”

Pietro drew himself up to his full height, glaring at Coulson. “Where is she?”

Coulson sighed. “Like I said, highly classified.”

Pietro glared at him, fists clenched, but Steve stepped forward first. “Phil, Y/N isn’t cleared for duty. She can barely walk unassisted. If you’re potentially jeopardising her safety-”

“She’s perfectly safe, I can promise you that,” said Coulson.

“Then why are you being so sketchy?” asked Pietro, frowning. “Why all the cloak and dagger?”

“Phil, please,” said Steve imploringly. “You can understand Pietro’s concerns. Y/N barely made it out of that last mission alive. Please just tell us where she is.”

Coulson’s eyes flickered between the two men. Grimacing, he said, “She’s interrogating Giyera.”

“What?” Pietro’s hands clenched into fists at his side. “He almost killed her.”

Coulson held up his hands placatingly. “Which is why we’ve taken precautions to ensure her safety this time.” Pietro was seeing red. Steve placing himself between them was the only thing stopping him from launching himself at Coulson. “Come on. I’ll show you.”

Pietro followed stiffly as he was led into a side room. It was dark, and one wall was taken up but a two-way mirror.

On the other side of the glass, you sat at a table across from Giyera. The two of you were alone.

“Why is there no one guarding her?” Pietro burst out. “She can’t fight, she’s hurt.”

Calmly, Coulson raised a hand. “There’s a force field across the centre of the room.”

Sure enough, when he looked closer, Pietro could see the way the air shimmered a pale blue. It was subtle, but it was there.

“She’s going to be fine, Pietro,” said Coulson, as reassuringly as he could.

Hesitantly, Pietro looked at Steve, who rubbed the back of his neck uncertainly. “It looks as though they’ve taken precautions to-”

Steve didn’t get to finish his sentence, as there was a loud crack, and they were plunged into darkness.

*

A few minutes earlier, you were led into an interrogation room. Giyera was already waiting for you.

Although you’d been assured that you were safe – as well as the forcefield, Giyera’s powers were dampened by his restraints – you wanted more than anything to just get out of here.

You were exhausted. Pain had that effect on you. It had been hard to focus while they were briefing you, and you were barely hanging on now.

Giyera, in spite of the bruises on his face and neck, looked smug. You tried not to look at him.

“I’ve been told you know the location of several HYDRA assets that-”

“What, no pleasantries?” Giyera interrupted, smirking.

“I’m here to find out what you know, not to wine and dine you,” you said coldly. “Now, can we please-”

“Your loving boyfriend really did a number on me.” His eyes glinted dangerously. “Excuse me if I’m not completely forthcoming.”

“You asked for me.” Exasperated, you made to stand up, but Giyera put up a hand.

“Let’s not be hasty. I just want you to know where I’m coming from,” he said. You stared at him, silently. “I’m just here to look in the eyes of my biggest mistake.”

“What?” you snapped. The pain in your shoulder meant that your patience was wearing thin.

“If I hadn’t tried to kill you, I wouldn’t be here. Your boyfriend saw to that.”

“If you don’t have anything interesting to say-”

“I saw him, you know. Back before he was a superhero. I watched his transformation.” Your mouth opened but no words came out. He took that as an invitation to continue. “Your precious Pietro isn’t the person you think he is. He’s done things you couldn’t imagine.”

There was a tingling in your fingers. It was taking all of your willpower to keep your anger inside.

“The world was safer when he was locked up in that cell. In fact-”

“I’m not here to talk about Pietro,” you said. “If you’re not going to give me anything on current HYDRA assets-”

Giyera’s smile changed, morphing into something sadistic and disturbing. “Come on now. I’m only just getting started. Pietro and his sister joined HYDRA to get to Tony Stark, and they didn’t care who they hurt in getting to him. Do you really think he’s changed? How can you be sure you’re not just another stepping stone in his quest?”

“If Pietro wanted Tony dead, he’d be dead. He’s had plenty of opportunities.” Your fingers were trembling. There was a buzzing just below the surface of your skin, begging to be let out. Giyera smiled again, and you cursed yourself for letting yourself be drawn into the conversation. “Can we get back to-”

“You’re awfully naive. HYDRA plucked out whatever humanity he had and set him on a war path. You know how they did that? For starters, they locked him in a tiny room. The poor boy couldn’t control his powers, he kept slamming into the walls…”

As Giyera continued to describe the torture Pietro had endured under HYDRA, your blood began to boil. Anger bubbled just below the surface, and your skin felt hot.

“Enough!” you shouted. Unbidden, a bolt of electricity burst from your fingertips, slamming into the forcefield between you. The room went black.

For a moment, there was utter silence. You hesitated to breathe.

The next moment, you wished you had, because the sound of metal being torn apart ripped through the air, and then strong hands wrapped around your throat.

You fell backwards off your chair and Giyera’s entire weight came down on top of you, crushing you. You clawed at his hands, but they didn’t budge.

Instinctively, you threw your hands out and grabbed at his face. Electricity surged through your fingers, and his grip on your neck slackened. You took a desperate gasp of air as his body went limp on top of you.

The door behind you was thrown open. A narrow shaft of light illuminated Giyera’s face. His eyes were open, unseeing, and blood was seeping from his tear ducts.

He was dead.

A panicked cry escaped your lips as you tried to push him off you, but all the strength had gone out of you.

In the darkness, you could feel someone pulling him away from you. Firm hands on your back lifted you up and then wrapped around your waist, pulling you to your feet.

“No, don’t…” you whimpered, throwing an elbow back to try and free yourself. You had no idea what they’d do to you now.

The person behind you let out a pained grunt as your elbow connected with their sternum, and their grip loosened.

“Prinţesă, it’s me,” came Pietro’s voice, right next to your ear. “I have you.”

Your legs felt like jelly. It took everything in you not to just collapse into his arms. Other people were talking, but you couldn’t make out what they were saying.

“Piet,” you breathed. “I killed him.”

Pietro pulled you closer, hugging you from behind. “He deserved it,” he murmured. “I’m getting you out of here.”

You closed your eyes and let him pull you away. The world spun around you as Pietro ran. His arms were firmly around your waist but you still couldn’t stop trembling.

Before you knew it, you were standing in your bedroom. Pietro didn’t move, still holding you upright.

You took a deep breath for the first since you’d accidentally short circuited the forcefield. Gently, Pietro tipped your head to the side to examine your neck.

“That’s going to bruise,” he said softly. “He hurt you.”

“I killed him,” you said dully. Your head was starting to ache.

“He would’ve killed you if you hadn’t got to him first,” he murmured, squeezing your waist. “Can you stand?”

“Yeah…”

Pietro let go of you, and then a blue blur bounced around the room. You could only stare as a suitcase appeared on your bed and filled with your clothes.

“Piet?”

“We have to get out of here,” he said, appearing in front of you suddenly. “I’m not going to leave you to their mercy. I know a place, a safehouse that only me and Wanda know about. We’ll go there, get away from everything.”

“Piet…” you breathed. Even when he was standing still, he was vibrating so much that his edges were blurry. “We can’t run away from this.”

“Yes, we can!” he snapped, loud enough to make you flinch. “He was a valuable prisoner! Who knows what SHIELD will do to you? I can’t take that chance.”

You grabbed the front of shirt and pulled him into you. “Piet. Look at me, please.” After a moment of staring at the floor, he looked in your eyes. You cupped his cheek. “SHIELD isn’t HYDRA. They’re not going to hurt me for this.”

Pietro stared at you. His chest began to rise and fall less roughly. His arms came up to wrap around your waist.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured. “I just can’t stand the thought of losing you.”

“You won’t lose me,” you promised. You took a deep breath. “Giyera told me some of things HYDRA did to you. I’m so sorry.” Pietro stiffened in your arms. “You don’t have to tell me anything, but please just know that I’m here. I love you.”

He leant into you and rested his chin on your shoulder. “I love you too, prinţesă.”

His body was warm and hard against yours. He smelt faintly of sweat and aftershave. Like a ton of bricks, it hit that you wanted him desperately, right now.

You buried your fingers into his curls and tilted his head back. He looked at you questioningly, but seemed to get the message when you started pressing kisses to his neck.

“Prinţesă…” His breath hitched as you nipped at his skin. “Is now the time?”

“I need you,” you whined, trying to grind against him.

He slid his hand down the front of your sweatpants and cupped you through your panties. “Fuck. You’re so wet for me, prinţesă.”

You grabbed his wrist and pressed your pussy against his hand. “Need you,” you mumbled between neck kisses. “Want you so bad.”

“Where do you want me?”

“Spank me,” you pleaded. You didn’t know where the words were coming from, but suddenly they were tumbling from your mouth. “I want you to put me over your lap and spank me.”

“Are you sure?” Pietro looked dubious. “You’re still injured.”

“I can take it. Please.”

He hesitated for a second, and then nodded. “Take your clothes off,” he said in a low voice that sent a shiver down your spine. You didn’t need to be told twice.

As he sat down on the edge of the bed, he beckoned you over. Naked, you lay down across his lap. His fingertips traced the shape of your spine, making you shiver under his touch.

He delivered a sudden, sharp slap to your ass, and you let out a low moan. It was still falling more on the side of pleasure than pain, and you needed more.

“Harder,” you begged, and he complied, spanking you hard enough to bring tears to your eyes.

He smoothed a hand over your buttocks affectionately, but that stung too.

“More,” you gasped. “Please, baby, I need more.” Your whole body was taut, bracing for another slap which never came. Instead, he rested his hand on your ass, gently caressing the skin there.

“Y/N,” said Pietro. His voice sounded serious. “Are you trying to get me to punish you for… for what happened downstairs?”

“What? No, of course not,” you said, far too quickly. You didn’t want to be punished, you just wanted him to hurt you.

“Y/N, my love…” His strong arms wrapped around your waist, pulling you upright. “Look at me, please.”

Reluctantly, you met his gaze. It felt as though his eyes were staring right into you.

“You know I’d do anything for you, right?” he asked. You nodded. “Anything. I’d follow you anywhere. But I can’t do this. I won’t hurt you like this. I won’t punish you for something you think you did wrong.”

You blinked, and then tears were streaming down your face. Pietro murmured your name, and then pulled you into him. You buried your face into his neck, struggling to breathe.

“I- I wasn’t- I wasn’t trying to make you punish me,” you choked out. “I just want to hurt. You’re the only person I trust to hurt me the right way.”

He stroked your hair tenderly. “Another time, I will spank as much and as hard as you want. Not tonight. Tonight, I want to make love to you. Is that alright?”

You exhaled shakily. “Please.”

“Please what?”

“Please make love to me.”

He pulled back to look you in the eyes and then kissed you softly on the lips. Your eyelids fluttered closed as you wrapped your arms around his neck.

“Is your shoulder hurting?”

“A little,” you admitted. “It’s been off and on.”

Carefully, and uncharacteristically slowly, Pietro hooked his arms under you and stood up, holding you bridal style. He laid you back against the pillows, and began to kiss your neck again.

You grasped at his shirt, and he pulled it off over his head in one swift motion. You watched admiringly as he pulled down his trousers and underwear, his thick cock springing free.

“Piet,” you said softly, holding your arms out to him. He climbed on top of you and kissed you again, slowly, tenderly. You started to giggle against his lips.

“What?” he asked, smiling down at you.

“I didn’t know you had it in you to go this slow.” You grinned at him.

He cupped your breast with one hand. “I want to take my time with you.”

You let your legs fall open, wrapping them loosely around his hips. “I need you inside me Pietro.”

His fingers found the wetness between your legs, spreading you open for him. He pressed one finger inside you, and you groaned softly in frustration.

“I’m ready, Piet. Please.”

“Always so impatient, prinţesă,” he said, smirking.

“I’m addicted to your cock,” you said, pushing a lock of hair out of his eyes and enjoying the way his face darkened with lust.

He guided the blunt head of his cock against your entrance, and pushed inside you. He swore under his breath as you clenched around him.

“Piet,” you whimpered, and he seemed to know exactly what you needed.

Positioning his face directly above yours so he could look in your eyes, he began to thrust into you. The wet slapping of skin on skin was the only sound in the room. You clung to him, staring up into those gorgeous blue eyes.

Just as his thrusts were speeding up, the pressure of his cock inside you pushing you towards the edge, there was a harsh knocking on your door. Pietro grunted in frustration.

“Don’t stop,” you whispered. “Please don’t stop.”

He did as you asked. He kept fucking you even as the knocking outside became more insistent.

“You’re so good to me, Piet,” you said softly. “You always make me feel so fucking good.”

A strangled gasp fell from his lips, and you felt him cumming inside you. His fingers brushed against your clit, trying to get you off too, but Steve’s muffled voice came through the door.

“Y/N? Pietro?”

You swore quietly. Pietro’s fingers were still making hesitant movements over your clit, so you grabbed his wrist and pulled it away.

“But you didn’t-”

“Next time. We should answer the door.”

Pietro grimaced. “Okay.”

In a blur, he was wearing a t-shirt and boxers. You had the strange sensation of him cleaning you up at superspeed, and the next thing you knew you were wearing one of his shirts and pair of shorts, the cum that had been dripping out of you hastily wiped away. You sat on the edge of the bed while Pietro answered the door.

“What do you want?” he asked immediately. Through the gap in the door, you made eye contact with Steve. He grimaced.

“Fury wants to see you. He’s going to send some SHIELD agents up, but I got here first.” Pietro stood with his legs apart, centre of gravity low in a defensive stance.

“You’re not taking her,” said Pietro, glaring at Steve.

Steve frowned. “I have no intention of taking anyone anywhere,” he said. “But if you don’t come down and speak to Fury, he’ll get his lackies to bring you to him.”

Cautiously, you got to your feet and moved over to the door. Pietro was standing in front of you still, which was a comfort, although you knew Steve wouldn’t hurt you.

“Am I in trouble?” you asked.

Steve opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by the arrival of Natasha. She pushed past both Steve and Pietro and put both hands on your shoulders. Pietro looked as though he was going to intervene, but she gave him a stern look, and he stepped back.

“Are you hurt?” she asked, taking in the bruises on your neck.

“Giyera tried to kill me. Again.”

She scrunched up her face in annoyance. “There’s no way they can punish you for killing him. It was self-defence, and SHIELD fucked up by putting you in that position in the first place. I think they just want to cover their asses now. Nothing is going to happen.”

Nat was one of the people you trusted most in the world. Pietro may have always had your best interests at heart, but he was inexperienced and hot-headed. If Nat thought you were going to be fine, you believed her.

“But what if it does?” asked Pietro.

“We won’t let anything happen,” said Nat, exchanging a look with Steve. He nodded at her.

“Okay,” you said. “Let me put some more clothes on.”

*

When you and Pietro stepped out of your bedroom, fully dressed in clothing appropriate for meeting with Nick Fury, it wasn’t just Nat and Steve waiting for you. Wanda peeled away from Vision and threw her arms around you. You hugged her back, feeling slightly off-balance.

“If they try to hurt you in any way, I will trap them in a hellscape within their own minds,” she whispered in your ear.

“Thanks, Wanda,” you said, dazed. You looked around, and saw that Tony and Clint had also joined your entourage.

At the end of the corridor, a group of SHIELD agents were waiting.

“Come on,” you said, squeezing Pietro’s hand. “Let’s go.”

Next Chapter: Hot Tub Sex

[likea-black-widow-baby]

003 melinda may

Ehehehehehhe YES

How I feel about this character:

I could put it into words, but that essay would be longer than any meta piece I’ve ever written. Meta, fic, and art are a deep love language for me, so all the art I’ve made about May should speak for itself. We all like to joke, but let’s be honest: consistent character writing is not Marvel’s strongest suit. May, and most of AoS, are the exception. She is astonishing. I feel like I can’t write more because if I did I would keep writing and wouldn’t stop.

Any/all the people I ship romantically with this character:

Andrew and Coulson. Within their canon dynamics and timelines. Wouldn’t change a thing (before season five).

My favorite non-romantic relationship for this character:

Cannot choose between her mother/daughter relationship with Daisy and the Bus Kids and her solid platonic relationships between her and the rest of the team. If I had to choose on those, Bobbi and Yo-Yo.

My unpopular opinion about this character:

She wouldn’t forgive Daisy for abandoning the team immediately. I wouldn’t say this is unpopular, but there seems to be a melding of understanding and forgiveness that occurs when people talk about MayDaisy in season 4. Yes, Daisy’s journey directly parallels May’s, but just because May understands and mourns that does not mean she would forgive her for leaving. Honestly, it’s more interesting and true to her character that she doesn’t. She’s barely forgiven herself for the time she took after her own Bahrain. Do we think she could forgive Daisy? Well, not immediately. Her journey towards forgiving Daisy and ultimately herself add so much to her character and her relationship with Daisy.

One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon:

Uhhh I wish she wasn’t glossed over and mostly ignored for all of season 7, but I only re-watch seasons 1-4 so... more MayDaisy moments, I think. It’s very like them for their relationship to be inferred rather than in focus, but I still want more than what we got. Book_Freak on AO3 if you’re out there, I am madly in love with you.

Also what Arwen said. Let her say fuck.