#my poor bb john

[breathing-in-waves]

Umm, I don't know how y'all are feeling about season 4 so far but, uh.. I'm not loving this one.

[stormbornspawn]

This is torture - you realize this is torture? And I love it so much. Continue.

Just let them have one more night together for the love of god!!

let's just kill ourselves... we should just kill ourselves idk...

[shortpplfedup]

Only Friends Character Rankings Pre-Air

Jojo, Ninew, Ninepinta and Vivienne have now presented their stable of hoes to us, y'all have chosen your fighters, and I am gnawing on concrete in anticipation of August 12. Since I'm gonna be doing weekly character rankings, I wanted to set up a pre-air Clown Checkpoint so I can look back later and see how wrong I was. Until that YouTube premiere countdown hits zero, we know exactly nothing, but I'm ready to predict whose gay wrongs I will most support! Here we go!

1. Nick

I just want you to love only me!

Audience ranking: 6

Ever since Mark Pakin showed up in that pilot trailer scheming and sex-taping, Nick has been MY DUDE. I want him to be the most manclown character of all time. I want him to be DESPERATE AND PATHETIC for Boston's dick. ANSWER EVERY BOOTY CALL NICK, I BELIEVE IN YOU. HE WANTS YOU TO DO A THREESOME? NO PROBLEM, WHATEVER YOU WANT BABE. I want Nick to call his bestie (Sand?) crying because Boston came over at 3:02 a.m. and left at 4:37 a.m. and 15 minutes of that was him taking a post-coital shower. I want crying and begging and clinging and devious acts. Khun Pakin has the chops to make my dreams come alive, make it happen boo!

2. Mew

My type is pretty simple. I'm not a picky kind of guy.

Audience ranking: 4

Right up until time of posting I thought my #2 seed would be Boston, but something is telling me that when it comes to manipulation and making grown men cry, Mew will emerge the champion. Something in this butter-wouldn't-melt expression is telling me this man is the true demon from hell whereas Boston is merely a top-tier-yet-still-garden-variety slut. Him shit-kicking Boston into the pool and then jumping in himself to finish the job is the kinda deranged shit I respect immensely. Kill them all Mew. You deserve.

3. Boston

You should be glad to be my favourite.

Audience ranking: 5

I may have called this man a garden variety slut, but I love a good slut though! Especially one who will lend his toys to help out a friend. And then almost instantly regret it. And then cause chaos and problems for himself as a result. And then make it everybody else's chaos and problems. Basically, I expect Boston's job to be throwing hole around Bangkok and ruining lives, and I expect him to do it WELL, and I expect him to do it in the sluttiest rent boy outfits I've ever seen.

4. Ray

You think my life will be better with you? It's only fucking going down to hell.

Audience ranking: 3

Speaking of chaos and problems, OUR BI DISASTER IS HERE GUYS! Bisexual? Bipolar? Why not both? The trailer is letting us know from jump that Ray is A Mess With Money and happy to use that money to buy himself some company, but also not able to keep those lines from getting blurred. I’m expecting this character to make me fall in love with him but also want to strangle him, Teh Krittikorn Saetun-style, so expect this ranking to go up until he is somehow my fave.

5. Sand

Friends don't charge friends. Besides, you should save your money for a shrink.

Audience ranking: 2

First Kanaphan’s job at GMMTV is to rip our hearts out roughly twice a year, and he’s right on schedule. It seems like Sand never learned not to fall for poor little rich boys, so we will all have to suffer with him. Honestly his ranking is this low right now because I see these guitars and microphones and I want no part of them. There is a short list of GMMTV boys allowed to sing at me and as much as I love First he is not on it. Ditch the microphone and bring back the baseball bat bb, I’m ready to see you bust some heads, kneecaps, car windows, whatever in pursuit of your love.

6. Top

When I take aim, I never miss.

Audience ranking: 7

Ah yes, the hoe-turned-seeming-housewife who’s actually still hoeing. The village bike. The community top. Boston basically turns him out and he’s not only fine with it, he falls for the john. Delicious. I desire his ruin like I’ve desired nothing before in media.

7. Everybody we don’t know nothing about yet (Yo, Nam/Syrup, Nes, Lesbian!Nonnie, A Wild Papang, various and assorted surprise guests I’m pretty sure we’re getting)

Friends don't do this to each other.

Audience ranking: 1 (combined score)

We await the tea on all the side characters, but the casting is superb, and I’m ready to see how high in the rankings they can climb.

LET THE MESS COMMENCE!

[starsfic]

Summaries:

Red Son is a prince. Which means that he can break curses that can only be undone by kisses from royalty. But it's weird that the Dragon Girl and Noodle Boy keep getting cursed like that...

AU: Red Son, the son of a poor noble family, is ordered by King Long to marry his daughter, her dragon heritage twisted and malformed to make her into a hideous monster. She demands a wedding, but three princes have already been eaten.

AU: One day, Prince Red Son loses a tool in a deep woods. A monkey offers to find it for him...if Red agrees to let him live with him in the palace.

Shermie always knew Stan was Stanford and kept it a secret for him because he honestly preferred Stan over Ford.

AU: Brozone is brought together at the request of Poppy King in order to play at her wedding reception as sort of a band reunion. Yes, it’s awkward with all of them having their own lives now- John Dory having lived out in the woods of the Rockies for decades, Bruce having a family in Hawaii, Clay being Viva’s best friend and co-owner of her golf course, Floyd trying to train the teenage wannabe stars Velvet and Veneer as their manager and BB nowhere to be found- but the last three are excited to reunite and play together, see their old haunts, plus its good money. Shame Poppy couldn’t find Baby Branch in her internet stalking to find them… Until he walks into the meeting to discuss the playlist as Poppy’s groom.

AU where Macaque hears Wukong has a successor, something that's gonna be announced soon, takes one look at this new monkey kid, and goes "My kid now."

A fic where it seems that Spicynoodles and their children are having dinner. Just a cute, fluffy family fic. Of course nothing's off! Everything is fine! Red is with his family. Dark Red.

Azure Lion is sent to investigate a thief and finds a beautiful king instead. In a rare burst of instinct, Sun Wukong is courtnapped and taken to Heaven.

Sabine and PIF are sisters and the Dupain-Chengs (plus Alya) are invited to Spicynoodles' wedding to mend bridges. Much confusion from Marinette and Tom (who assumed that Sabine was from a mafia family, not a runaway goddess family).

Lila Rossi has a history of issues, including a lawsuit by Long Xiaojiao for stalking and harassment. When Lila reappears on the Ladyblog, Xiaojiao decides to step in and help the poor kid running the blog before Lila tries the same stuff. Kinda inspired by the Ali section in this.

[exhausted-think-bucket]

Understanding Lennon/McCartney vol:2 The Breakup is killing me:

The Get Back sessions footage is so painful to watch: I've never been a fan of the John/Yoko dynamic, I just haven't, and I'm not saying the band's problems are her fault, but damn if she didn't pour all the gasoline she could get her hands on into a fire that might have simmered and died down if she hadn't been in the picture.

Paul looks constantly on the verge of tears, George-quiet-Beatle-Harisson actually looks angry and done with everything, and poor Ringo. My bb is truly a child of divorce.

John Winston Lennon, you beautiful idiot.

[ageless-aislynn]

I so dearly wish I could GIF these first 2 season 2 Halo eps but in lieu of that, have my random jumble of thoughts:

SPOILERS, NATURALLY (or spoolrrs since Ais and touch typing on her tablet go together like an Elite and singing karaoke 😋)

Ackerson is deffo evil because he said "ONI" properly one time then spelled it out all the rest. My dudes, the classic Halo: Reach level is NOT "Oh En Eye Sword Base" it is "Oh Nee Sword Base." Enough said. If I saw nothing else from him in these eps, I'd know he was eeevil. 🤷😉

Kai let the red grow out/wash out of her hair. I'm conflicted but she's still mah beautiful bb grl.

Pelletless Vannak was so fun and I approve of his animal documentary obsession, lol!

Sweet mother of pearl, Riz sold me on how much pain she was in, poor bb. 😭 I liked Louis and hope he'll be around in further eps.

I paused the second ep towards the end as soon as Chief said Visegrad relay to blurt out "The Covenant is on Reach!" And then Chief said the line, eee! (I love all Halo games but Reach is my jaaaam, man. 😉 )

Okay, I loved seeing the marines interact with the Spartans and that dinner with Chief and Perez and her family hit a few surefire tropes that had me kicking my feet and squeeing with heart eyes. Of course, I ship it, need you even ask? Ya girl's a fool for love, lol! But again, it was fascinating to see Chief out of his Mjolnir, interacting with Perez and her family. "You're very large." "Yes, ma'am." Which may not be exactly correct but that was the gist and I looooved it!

John and his Cortana stand-in hit me HARD in the feels. 😭

The fact that Ackerson has Cortana in her stunted form locked up in the basement made me raaaaage. I wonder if we're not going to get s1 Cortana back and this will essentially be the Weapon? Could be why they changed her face/appearance, I guess? Her appearance obviously changes through all of the games, true, but I have to say I currently prefer her s1 look more. I'm sure I'll get used to it, though. I want her to remember John, however, so when they meet again, it's a proper reunion. I wonder if they're going to have her be in his helmet ala the game version now or will they make it so that she has to be put back in his head to stabilize him or something? 🤔

I don't know how Makee survived but I can't wait to see how it works out!

I was so happy to see a new Spartan team in Cobalt but their ribbing of Silver, especially saying they have feeeeeelings now and all that didn't make sense to me because THEY were showing waaay more emotion, IMO. I mean, are they not Spartan IIs with emotion dampening pellets themselves or did I miss something?

I get why Chief was pushing Riz so hard because of his fear Silver wouldn't be ready for the upcoming fight but DANG, Chief, she's not going to be great in a fight if she's dead! 💀

One day, I will GIF all of the shirtless scenes. *fist thump* 😇

Lastly, they got the rights to THE THEME, YEAHHHHH, BABY!!!

Okay, enough for now from me. What did you think? Fav moments, ??? moments or the like? 💖💖💖

[lady-of-the-silver-lakeatron]

Bridgerton Season 3 Episode 4 Initial Reactions

At last I am done and I can live in peace!

He brought a plant for her to enjoy indoors! This is the way to introduce a partner to your interests!

No Portia do not meddle leave the poor people alone.

Lady Arnold really said boy I do not need you to be cute I need you in bed bahahah

They're training a cute Pomeranian tricks!

"With much practice anything is possible" has the same energy as "Through incredible amounts of violence anything is possible"

OMG the caller isnt the Lord Samadani but best boy John!! Not Eloise hiding!

Francesca looks ready to eat him up!!

He is an Earl y'all! He's above a Viscount but below a Marquess! Like damn!

This scene is giving "woman on first date feels like she could spend whole life in uncomfortable silence with this man".

All these yappers are so confused about how happy they are/ Let them simply vibe within their auras!

John you're so good mannered! Best boy right here.

Penelope's dress looks like a princess dress it has a purple mist of fabric 10/10.

Portia stop perpetuating these ideas. No wonder your kids didn't know how to have sex!

You cannot make me feel bad for Cressida, nooo, stop

Okay Debling is such a green flag he doesn't belittle her interests and makes them equal to his own!

Ooh flirting by proxy!

Colin being so confused and horny that he goes back to have sex about it rather than discuss it. What a healthy strategy.

The Kilmarten's being reserved sounds just like the right place for "I don't like attention" Fran

Fran really expressing herself here!

"No I am not interested in him" bb girl your skirts are on fire

This Eloise- Cressida meeting is giving forbidden lesbian romance.

Lord Cowper can leave out of a window.

Not the 19th century frat boy speak -.-

Colin doesn't kiss and tell, good boy.

Portia stop thinking of yourself for once!

I know Portia is self-centered but she is right that Security is very important. This is an era where upper class ladies are kept from even learning how to cook and do basic house chores so without husbands this is a hard life to have.

Colin Angst!

Violet having an honest discussion about Colin's people pleasing nature is A+ parenting.

Violet you minx telling him about Penelope's potential engagement. She said I want a ginger daughter in law.

Queen Charlotte's wig! Girly you are wearing litcheral art!

Violet is nervous for the drama!

Flirting with Lady Danbury's brother and getting the lore!

The widowers moment was so emotional and beautiful I’m glad she has someone to chat with.

Lady Danbury what past life is haunting you??

Omg the lighting, the location, the framing, the outfits. This Eloise-Cressida scene looks like a romantic scene. Give me a lesbian love story you cowards!!

Give us a rebellious Romeo-Juliet story here. It would be a nice reward.

RIP Cressida you are about to be infodumped.

They speak in silence swoon.

John! I told y'all he is best boy he got her gift engaged with Fran’s special interest.

Fran said I have found my husband why waste time here any longer byees.

"She is not drinking the lemonade" was delivered with so much concern lol.

These two are actually a fun seeming couple,  more of the Featherington couples!

Bad SexEd strikes again!

Colin: out of my way gay boys I'm about to get it!

He cut into the dance! The way everyone is watching this!

Debling is asking all of the right questions! He is speaking in fax I am so sorry Pen but marrying a man while pining for another is not right missy.

This was the politest break up.

Francesca looks so happy.

Carriage scene

I did not write much as the scene was quite captivating but damn' this was such a long episode how was it 2 hours long?

Also Local man finger fucks long time friend in carriage and decides they must be married at once.

Okay finally done editing these! Hope you enjoyed! I feel I must now re-read romancing Mr. Bridgerton while waiting for part II.

Nicola really gave such an amazing performance in the carriage scene because I could feel her apprehension, shock, fear, worry, excitement, and desperation the entire time. It was chefs kiss. Same to Luke hats off to him for giving some of the most memorable moments.

I think this episode tried to fix the Bridgerton issue where they have too many speaking scenes on after another like in the Season 2 finale so I am liking the pacing and such! I hope y'all have fun.

[aprillikesthings]

The next episode itself is a two-parter, and I think that rather than split them up I will just watch through, which might mean I have to reblog this post multiple times.

Finishing out season four!

s4, eps 12&13 Destiny

Usual reminder: this is a REwatch and there’s spoilers ahoy, I make a lot of bad jokes (some of which are Adult In Nature), I reference other cartoons, I make random asides.

(also, this time specifically, I had some alcohol)

Tbh? it's a lot like watching things like this with me in person aaahahaha I always want to pause and infodump shit -_-

lol Emily is destroying Shadow Weaver's garden

Emily acts like Mal the cat does sometimes. WHAT IS IN YOUR MOUTH you are not supposed to have that! Get out of there!

UGGGH

it's easy to forget how BIG Scorpia is??

LOLOL oh my god I went downstairs for like an hour and a half talking to my partners about the most random shit and then playing with the cat and also: I've had most of a can of wine.

One of these:

YEAH (that's a huge image)

so if these get weird: blame the wine I guess

oh also @corpseauthority and I picked out fake fur and minky fabric for the ears and tail of my Catra cosplay :D :D :D I'M SO EXCITED

OKAY BACK TO SHE-RA

the only thing better than Scorpia's "huh?" is Shadow Weaver's flat "what"

Shadow Weaver: no we need the other princesses Glimmer: well they're gone but-- Scorpia, Shadow Weaver, and Emily: WAIT, WHAT???

AND THEN

okay but is the guard telling you this Double Trouble

ROLL INTRO

that thing was not meant to hold four humans and a horse with wings

why are you SNIFFING HIM

Entrapta: "I don't know you" Micah: "Yes, you do. You stole my food." Entrapta: "OH YEAH! It was delicious :D"

oh god Adora's like "....but are you okay? we came here to find you 🥺"

and she's like YEAH I'M GREAT

"each more deadly than the next??? it's PARADISE"

I love her so much oh my godddd

Bow: "We're here to rescue you" Entrapta: "didn't I just rescue YOU?"

Bow mentions Hordak and Entrapta pulls her little new bug-eye mask down :(

Adora: so hey we uhhhhhhhh really need your help due to a terrible secret of the First Ones that nobody but us knows

"WHy didn't you say so???"

well that's a callback to s1 ep1

THERE SHE IS!! MY BABY 😍 I LOVE HER SO MUCH

nooo

anyway Kyle, Rogelio, and Lonnie come in and Catra's like OH UHHH so...what's happening

Lonnie: "we just got back from conquering another Rebel town" Kyle: ":D You should've seen us!! It was all:"

and then he kicks Scorpia's old locker, with the drawings on it, and Catra gets mad

Ironically the degree to which Catra is UPSET is making me ship them harder lol

bb you need a break you are getting feral

Man Lonnie has her number lol. "What is wrong with you? We're winning! Even you should be happy."

god I love when she's this deranged

she slams poor Lonnie against a locker

john cena dot gif

but also OH DO THEY REMIND YOU OF WHO YOU USED TO BE? HMM? what you really wanted??? what actually gave you something like joy or contentment????? are you trying to just erase any part of you capable of feeling good?????????

Kyle is RIGHT

The cinematic parallels between Catra and Glimmer in this episode ("forget my friends I'M IN CHARGE HERE and YOU NEED TO FOLLOW ORDERS") are *chef's kiss*

Catra realizing this isn't what she actually wants: part ....a lot

STOP REMINDING ME I HAVE FEELINGS!!

The other three leave, she yanks the drawings off Scorpia's old locker, then THUMPs her head on it. And then Double Trouble shows up!

okay wait tho the way she pauses and then thumps her head on it is so funny I wish I could gif it, it's so cat-like and also Very Emo

I don't think this is supposed to be funny but it IS and I cannot stop rewinding and laughing. I blame the wine.

THONK

help i've rewatched it like five times now

okay

lol right??

Me, when I was info-dumping my own fic at myself: is it weird to imagine these two banging??? Me now: nope

Double Trouble: "Apologies for the delay, kitten. I got ...held up...in Bright Moon"

Anyway they give a little speech about how the Princesses keep fighting and She-Ra is away

NO SHIT, SHERLOCK

(now THERE's an old fandom reference ahahaha)

"We can't let them return to the Fright Zone!" TOO FUCKING LATE

YOU STOLE HER GARNET YOU WOULD THINK SO

Anyway they argue about the possibility of Glimmer taking Scorpia back to the Fright Zone

GOD I HATE IT WHEN SHE'S RIGHT UGGGHHHH

lolol I am. like. less than ten minutes into the FIRST OF TWO EPISODES and i've hit the image limit.

[jariktig]

Hello there :3 for the ask game:

clouds - describe one of your favorite dreams?

sapphos - favorite poet?watermelon - do films ever make you cry? [If yes, which ones?]

sapphos - favorite poet?

Clouds - is hard, because I don't remember many of my dreams and those I do are largely either nightmares or anxiety dreams. Of the few that buck that trend:

(a) one from my early childhood, in which I could fly, and was enjoying it immensely; I still remember the joyous freedom of having a Whole Other Dimension to move in. I was prone to sleepwalking at the time, so I'm told that particular one terrified my poor mother by making me climb onto the rail at the very top of the stairs...

(b) more recently I dreamed that I was playing bridge with best-beloved as a partner, only somehow the pack had acquired four more suits (all called after vegetables, for some reason known only to my subconscious). And bb and I had not discussed anything about how our bidding system should work under these new conditions, and I bid 14 potatoes all the same. The lovely thing about it was the feeling of absolute confidence that he would know what I meant, and this would be a good board...

Sapphos (so good you put it in twice, so here are two answers) - I have been very fond of John Donne for a long time, and more recently Offspring did a project on Grace Nichols and I very much took to her work too. I should read a wider range of poetry in general.

Watermelon - I don't cry a lot at media in general, so no. Waiting with interest to see if TF One will break that particular duck.

[shipaholic]

Episode 2: “The Clue” / “A Companion To Owls”

Good Omens 2 Episode 2 liveblog! Beware spoilers!!

- Crowley is such a troll in this opening scene. I've come around on the beard/glasses combo. He looks like a wisecracking talking Disney goat.

---

- Jon Hamm’s impression of Buddy Holly is amazing. “Ah-hey, ah-hey-hey” yes give me those weird, grandpa-like hiccups.

---

- I can hear a fly during the zoom in on sleeping Crowley in the Bentley... does Beez have one spy in the bookshop and one on Crowley at all times?

- Hmmm, Shax tells Crowley right away about Heaven detecting the miracle. That could be evidence for my Beelzebub theory, I guess...? Beez wants Crowley kept informed about the danger, so that he’ll continue to keep Gabriel safe, but they get to keep up plausible deniability with Shax and the other demons that they’re only threatening Crowley.

- Poor Shax. Crowley’s bullying her.

- LOL are all the other demons afraid of driving at high speeds? (See: Hastur.) All he had to do to get rid of Shax was rev the engine.

---

- I like Maggie, but she’s a little clingy with Aziraphale. You’d think the euphoria of having 8 months of overdue rent forgiven would have lasted longer than 24 hours. On the other hand, her encyclopaedic knowledge of music history is really cool.

- Aziraphale conducting every time he sings Everyday is the cutest thing ever.

---

- Crowley orders Talisker! I assume John Finnemore insisted.

- OMG, Mr. Brown is holding a newspaper with THEE headline in it about the Nebraska woman who taught her duck to play the accordion.

- “Get humans wet, and staring into each others’ eyes. Vavoom.” I. I don’t think Crowley knows where babies come from either.

- THAT JANE AUSTEN LORE. AND CROWLEY DISAPPROVES?? SHE SOUNDS AWESOME

---

- Aziraphale is so hesitant when he says he doesn’t think God wants to kill Job’s children, and so utterly certain when he says he knows Crowley doesn’t want to. He already has more faith in Crowley’s mercy than God’s. 😭

- THE UNBELIEVABLE LEVELS OF SASS

- OK Ty Tennant is very funny

- Both the older kids treating Aziraphale like a waiter is hilarious actually, as is Jemima wanting to be a blue lizard and Crowley obliging

- I’ve been jossed a bunch already this season, but the biggest shock to my system by far is Crowley tempting Aziraphale into enjoying human food. I genuinely assumed Aziraphale has been nibbling on whatever was around to nibble on since he was first deployed on Earth. It took him a millennia and a half to try barbeque?? Poor deprived bb

- Whoever wrote that post about Aziraphale discovering honey and tearing into a beehive like an especially feral Winnie The Pooh, I hope they’re patting themself on the back right now.

- I am more into the sight of Michael Sheen falling onto an entire ox corpse like a starving werewolf than I am comfortable with, but fine, I guess this is who I am now.

- ALL I’M SAYING IS, Crowley and Aziraphale’s first kiss had better go EXACTLY like this.

---

- I’m here for hungover Crowley wobbling across the sand.

- I suspect this minisode is difficult to follow for any viewers who didn’t swot up on the Book of Job a fortnight or so ago, like I assume we all did.

- Michael is the only angel in this scene who possesses more than a single braincell, but they’re all clearly thick as can be. The only people thicker than them are Job and Ennon, who are somehow even worse at lying than Aziraphale and Crowley.

- Crowley has such immense fucking panache this entire episode. I do love him and his terrible beard.

---

- That little tongue in cheek thing Aziraphale does on “investigation” - he cannot get any cuter now. it’s literally impossible. please.

- Crowley slapped his hand omg

---

- Oh god, the conversation on the bench... Aziraphale is in actual tears, and Crowley is so wry and gentle and reassuring, even while delivering words that are, taken on their own, a stark form of comfort. He’s just a calm presence while Aziraphale experiences shrimp emotions on the other side of the bench. I can’t even speak about Aziraphale, honestly, but I’ll give it a shot... he is so brave and scared 😭😭😭 Hell?? He really thought he belonged in Hell? Crowley was absolutely right to gently laugh at a notion that ridiculous (and awful) (and then again, Crowley also used to be a sweet little curly-headed bunny of an angel, and look at the unspeakable thing that happened to him). There’s that little moment where Crowley says he’s not going to tell anyone, and asks Aziraphale if he’s going to tell anyone, and Aziraphale gives this little ashamed headshake, like he’s realising for the first time that he’s not, he’s willing to lie (by omission) about this too. And then he glances at the sky, as if verifying that God isn’t going to send down a thunderbolt, and realises that he’s actually safe. There aren’t going to be any consequences; he’s going to get away with it. And that’s almost worse, the idea that he doesn’t live in a world with clearly defined rules, and he truly can’t predict what God thinks, or what she is going to do. She spoke directly to Job, but she’s a closed book to Aziraphale.

---

- The ending credits are on fire so far this season.

---

Right, um, next up, an episode I haven’t already seen. asdhkagsd.

[sasaofastora]

Tag Game for Historical Simblrs!

Thank you @antiquatedplumbobs for the tag!

1. What has been your favorite time period to play in or which one are you most excited for?

So far the 1900s and the 1930s have been my favourites. For the 1900s I just loved Evie so much, and the whole period just felt really peaceful. Then for the 30s, Harry and Maisie were just too cute and it was so nice to have a story the was a little more wholesome after the chaos I put the poor Finch’s through in the 20s. I’m very excited for the 40s! Spoiler alert, I’m already there in gameplay, and I’m so happy. I mainly studied ww2 history at university so it’s fun to be in a period I’m very familiar with. Also just aesthetically I’m excited for the 80s and 90s because that’s my jam. 

2. Do you have a favorite piece of historical cc? (CAS or BB)

I think the last time I did these questions I said the Edwardian dress from @gilded-ghosts’s Stately Set and honestly I think that’s still true. I just love it a lot. However I also want to shout out the Langtree Updo by @twentiethcenturysims because it is just perfect for those Gibson Girl looks. 

3. Who is your favorite sim currently?

It’s my boy John Finch. I’m really worried for him since obviously soon he’ll have to go to war, but I just love that dorky little mechanic. I do also really love Ruth though, who we will be seeing more of for sure. She’s just too cute to deal with. 

4. What is your favorite world?

San Myshuno forever. Definitely going to need to find a reason for the Finch’s to move there one day- maybe in the 70s? Feels like it could fit that vibe really well. 

5. Are you more gameplay or story focused?

Bit of both! I have a general idea of what sort of things I want to deal with in each decade as it comes, so I’ll sort of steer the gameplay into those directions, but then often the gameplay will in turn steer the story. This is sort of why I prefer to do smaller story posts- it just matches more with the way I play. 

6. Do you like to play with pets in your historical saves?

Yes! The Finch family has had several dogs by now, I’m certain they’ll get a cat at some point. Pets to me always just make the house feel cozier 

7. What’s your biggest immersion breaking pet peeve with the game?

Well I was going to say when sims from other worlds appear in places it wouldn’t make sense for them to be in, but luckily just today @aheathen-conceivably brought this mod to my attention which I installed almost immediately. 

8. What’s your favorite in-game historical item? (CAS or BB)

Again I think I’m repeating myself from last time, but the radiator from the Vampires GP. It’s a little thing but I love it and just makes historical builds look better. 

9. What would you like to see as a new pack or asset to the game?

Bands please!!! The music career annoys me to no end- it’s so limited in it’s scope! Actually honestly just more careers in general I would really like. 

10. What pack do you think is invaluable as a historical simmer?

I’m jumping on the bandwagon and saying Cottage Living because I mean, just look at it. But also Get Together for Windenburg and Vampires for some very good items. 

11. Do you have a favorite mod to enhance historical gameplay?

I do now, and it’s that Home Regions mod! I also have one called “no more phone stuff” that I’ve had installed forever not sure where from, and it’s very handy. It doesn’t stop sims pulling out their phones all together, but at least no one is playing Blicblock in the middle of the Great Depression. 

12. What’s your ideal family size for playing?

Any where from 2-4. More than that and I start to get overwhelmed.

13. Do you use poses?

Yuuuuuuup, tons of them. Kind of want to learn how to make my own but haven’t had the time. 

14. Do you use any overrides in your game?

No I had one glitch really badly once and now I’m kind of scared of them lol.

15. Do you, or did you, play off-the-grid during your game?

I tried briefly at the start of the 1890s and it was just really frustrating. They really should be able to do more things even if they don’t have power. 

16. What lifespan do you play on?

Normal!  Finally settled on a setting. 

17. What inspired you to start playing a historically?

As I said I was a history student and I have always been a huge sims fan, so when I found out about the Decades Challenge I felt like I had to try it. I was hooked pretty much instantly.

Thanks again for tagging me, this was fun! I’m going to tag @alainas-sims, @applesaucesims, @jenplayssims, @sims-half-crazy, @sims-through-the-decades, and @simadelics. 

[whatsarasaid]

9 People to Get to Know Better

Tagged by the always lovely @lordbhreanna.

1. Three ships: In general, you can just say the word 'partners' and my ears will perk up like a German shepherd who's just heard a slice of American cheese crinkle open, but here are three that my AO3 history says I've read in the past six months.

(Answers below the cut because this got long).

Jyn Erso/Cassian Andor (Star Wars): War refugees finding purpose in self-sacrifice to higher ideals. Brief comfort in each other while facing the horrors. Reading into the unsaid. This one is funny because it's had a lot of longevity for me although it's never lived in the hyperfixation category. The only time I like Star Wars is when it leaves the Jedi hocus-pocus and nostalgia references behind, which means Rogue One and Andor are my personal pinnacle of SW.

Simon "Ghost" Riley/John "Soap" MacTavish (COD): Similar to above, although the military propaganda bois here have less nobility in their cause. You know, it's that— “You want to be brothers-in-arms, to have him to yourself […] to be shipwrecked together, [to] perform valiant deeds to earn his admiration, to save him from certain death, to die for him — to die in his arms, like a Spartan, kissed once on the lips […] or just run his errands in the meanwhile. You want him to know what cannot be spoken, and to make the perfect reply, in the same language.” (Stoppard, The Invention of Love) Safe to say, my definition of romance includes camaraderie, devotion, banter, and gritted teeth. Also, the pro of one-dimensional video game characters is that fic writers can fill in the blanks with whatever they want, and this ship has some crazy-talented authors who flesh them out excessively well.

Peter Parker/Wade Wilson (Marvel Comics/Sony): This is my lazily-popping-Ritz crackers-into-my-mouth ship, although I'm very fussy with which fics I read from it. It's wild and irreverent and dysfunctional, but the heart wants what it wants, and sometimes, it wants the sassy vigilante who's experienced a lifetime of grief to get caught in tête-à-têtes with an unfiltered mercenary who can't die.

2. First ever ship: Probably Zelda/Link (Legend of Zelda). Ocarina of Time told me to go rescue the princess, and my kid-self went, "Yeah, let's go get my girl. We're in love, bb."

3. Last song: Vampire Empire by Big Thief.

4. Last film: Poor Things. A willful and visually extravagant satire that made me cry once, flinch constantly, and laugh scornfully throughout. It fearlessly addressed the many ways men attempt to control women in general and their sexuality in particular. It felt like watching a novel, which is difficult to do, and the triumphant ending was a nice reward.

5. Currently reading: The Self Under Siege by Firestone, Firestone, and Catlett and Exhalation by Ted Chiang. Both are excellent and have tight, elegant writing styles that uphold their even better— although very different—content. I picked up This is How You Lose the Time War by El-Mohtar and Gladstone from the library recently, too. Why yes, that is too many books to be reading at once, thanks for noticing.

6. Currently watching: Nothing at the moment. The last thing I watched was season two of The Bear.

7. Currently consuming: Black coffee.

8. Currently craving: BBQ pork buns and guava curd doughnuts from the long-closed Asian-Portuguese fusion bakery that used to be a couple of blocks from me. RIP RIP RIP. Craving never to be slaked.

Tagging: @her-satanic-majesty @primewritessmut @periodically-puzzled @elenafisher-wong and, of course, anyone who wants to participate and make it nine for me. Tell me what you're into these days.

[gayoxygen]

I turn to my bodyguard, who’s staring at me, red-faced. “John. Have you—“

He immediately leaves the room.

Xander clears his throat, loud. Shakes his head. Says, “Wow. I mean, really, are you trying to kill the guy?"

"What?"

Xander is looking at me like I'm an idiot.

"You can't just go around all 'Oh, John, look at me, look at how sexy I am in my new outfit and bat your eyelashes-“

"Bat my eyelashes?" I balk at him. “What are you talking about? I'm not batting my eyelashes at him! And this outfit is not much different from what I usually wear.”

Xander grunts. Shrugs and says, “Yeah, well, it looks different."

"You're crazy."

"I am just saying," he puts his hands up in mock surrender, “that if I were him? And you were the girl I liked? And you were walking around looking like that, and I couldn't touch you?" He looks away. Shrugs again. “I am just saying I do not envy the poor bastard."

"Are you-“ I swallow down my surprise, “You’re not trying to get with me, are you ?”

Xander snorts, chokes on his laughter. "Listen, Amy," he says through another laugh, "I'm not blind, okay? On a purely physical level? Yeah, you're pretty sexy—and those outfits you wear all the time don’t hurt. But you are definitely not my type, even without all the psycho stuff.”

Maxine takes a look at me, her eyes widen, “You’re even prettier in real life.” She says.

My entire body feels tight all of a sudden, “In real life ?”

“Indeed !” She exclaims, “I watched your ice skating videos.”

I nod, careful to keep my face neutral, “I see.” I’m not sure what else to say, “Thank you.”

BB - Cassandra POV

I squint, feeling like my mouth might swallow itself and I think it must be the poison but it’s not; it’s Amy, so pretty, so pretty standing in front of me, her hands around a man’s limp neck and then she drops him to the ground, then scoops me up.

You’re so strong and so pretty I mumble, so strong and I want to be like you, I say to her

And she says shhh and tells me to be still, tells me I’ll be fine and carries me away.

[ageless-aislynn]

Aislynn's Rumble Jumble of Random Thinky Thoughts on Halo s2 ep 5 "Aleria."

Spoilers, natch. 😉

I was holding out a little bit of hope, especially given that Riz went back for Vannak, that we were going to get some sort of last minute reprieve to save the big fellow. Sadly, no. 😭

John's guilt that Riz went back for Vannak's body because he had been pushing her so hard was understandable but I don't believe that was the whole story, if it was even a part of it at all. I think she went back for him because because he was one of them and they don't leave one of their own behind. More than that, she went back for him because she loves him. Call it the love for a brother, for a comrade, a friend who has been at her side since they were children, she loved him. Of course, you're also welcome to call it romantic as well, you know how I support my fellow shippers 117% at all times 😇 (she says, as if she hasn't totally written Vannak/Riz shippy fic 😂😉)

Poor John, of all the trauma he's been through, this has been by far the worst of it all: he's been abandoned by the UNSC, he's lost his armor, he's lost his identity as Master Chief, he's lost Reach, has lost Cortana, lost Admiral Keyes, lost Kai, lost Vannak and then now Riz. That moment when he tells her she's all he has left just about broke my heart. When she hugged him, he did a brilliant job, IMO, of showing how for a moment, he just wanted to close his eyes and collapse onto her, then pride makes him withdraw and try to pull a facade together like it doesn't matter. *sniffle*

I obviously hope this isn't the last we see of Riz but, at the same time, I'm happy for her. She deserves some peace after the terrifying amount of physical and emotional violence she's been through. Just seeing her smiling at the end made my heart feel a little better. Love you, Riz. I hope we see you again having a great life, bb, you deserve it. 💖

Okay, so I was NOT expecting Laera to go all Negan with a barbed wire bat. 😮 But was it satisfying to watch the quiet menace growing larger and larger, while that shopkeeper dude clearly realized that he would've been better off taking a beating from Soren? Yes, that was very satisfying, indeed, lol! And why I wasn't expecting the UNSC to have taken Kessler is beyond me because of COURSE they know about him (Halsey called him by name, after all) and of COURSE they're going to want a son of a Spartan. Will any of Soren's enhancements have been passed down genetically? Will Kessler be more likely to survive the process if they put him through it? Will they not even have to put him through it at all? I would imagine they have a lot of questions they'd like answered. And Laera and her bat would be very happy to answer them all, I'd imagine... 🥊😠🥊😉

Now, the three most important things about the scenes with Makee, Cortana and not!Thel!Arbiter whom I shall try to now call Var 'Gatanai since that's his name:

I still don't care for Cortana's makeover. 🤷‍♀️I liked the bit of camaraderie between her and Makee, especially with Makee's line about what happens when a useful thing loses its use. I see a forced alliance in their future, if not an actual friendship.

I still keep staring at Makee's eyebrows, wondering if they're more blonde because she dyed them or is it from whatever she went through to bring her back to life after last season. Yes, this is the important thing to keep worrying about. 🙄😜

I had to struggle so hard not to loudly exclaim, "ARE YOU BLINDED BY ITS MAJESTY?" when Cortana showed Var the Halo lands Makee and John frolicked through in season 1. 😇😂😉

And fourth place runner up, I didn't get as many shippy vibes this week between Makee and Var, whom I can call by his name or by not!Thel!Arbiter but not just "the Arbiter" because I'm a card-carrying member of the Fangirls of Arbiter Thel 'Vadam Fan Club and I'm not going to risk losing my membership. 😂😉

My bb boi. *draws sparkly hearts everywhere* 💖💖💖😉

I'm of two minds about them pretty obviously giving Var the Arbiter storyline here. However, if they would've called the character Thel 'Vadam(ee) but not had him voiced by Keith David? Um, HERESY. I don't say that sort of thing often when it comes to new adaptations but, c'mon, he IS the Arbiter when it comes to voices and considering that Thel would be CGI or whatever they're using to create Var and the other Elites, it's not the same sort of prospect as I've heard other people say, that they should've dubbed Steve Downes' voice over Pablo Schreiber's. (Yes, I saw that pop up a couple of times in the earlier days.) I mean, clearly Steve Downes IS Master Chief when it comes to the games but dubbing a live action actor is never going to look smooth, IMO.

Anyway, I think this means we won't be meeting Thel in this series, since his storyline is currently going along without him. 🤷‍♀️

Now to see what's in store for us next week. I am both looking forward to and dreading Kai and John's inevitable reunion. He's going to feel utterly betrayed, I'd think, and as I've said before, if she's not utterly devastated by Vannak's death and feeling guilty over not being there when Silver Team needed her... I'm going to have to super-duper fix that with fic. *nodnods* 😜😉

PS - Am I writing something utterly fluffy for Vannak right now? OF COURSE I am! C'mon, Vannak, jump in the AU Party Warthog, where you'll always be safe and happy!

[lady-of-the-silver-lakeatron]

Bridgerton Season 3 Episode 3 Initial Reactions

No one asked, but here it is late as per usual.

Not Colin having a harlequin novel style wet dream in 1815? And he is supposed to be a rake??

"My entire thoughts consumed by our kiss"- like we must admit the boy needed 1 (one) kiss and he has gone off into the stratosphere.

Nicola is killing her acting like I am getting into this!

Hyacinth going for Colin's jugular unintentionally 10/10 moment.

“Penelope is quite fortunate to have you as a friend” "Yes an acquaintance". Boy bye.

Not the Queen literally hand picking men for Fran and throwing them away.

Featherington scenes are now just a comedic and terrifying window into how terrible sex education was during this time. I shall refer to them as SexEd the Featherinton way.

Omg Eloise-Pen confrontation! I swear they are so down bad for each other "you can come in... for books if you like". GIRLLLLLLS just bust out some alcohol and talk this out!

Colin and Pen meeting after their scandalous kiss try not to be awkward challenge.

"I assure you nothing of the kind will ever happen again." Penelope bb girl I think this man is besotted and is ready to be on the ground kneeling to have the chance for THAT to happen again.

Every line said here is acted with the utmost panic and adorable awkwardness.

Lord Debling! Interesting love interest has arrived.

Be gone Cressida do not hurt this sweet man with your childish games.

Omg this blue dress on Pen? Is it supposed to be showing that she is leaning to the Bridgerton blue pallet? O.O

Poor Francesca having to suffer another match by the queen.

Violet "because it is easier " may sound harsh but I too would be worried on who this girl would chose with the attitude she has had so far.

Omg MRS. and MR.Mondreitch came to stunt on all these hoes

Benedict panicking to avoid the debutants by socializing with Lady Danbury pfft

Also why is he running so hard from this cute girl? Just announce you are not searching for a wife this season and simply help your sisters!!??  

Ooh Penelope x Debling conversation. They are bantering!!

Never would I have been happy to hear a man say I don't read except when he says "I don't read Lady Whistledown"

Y'all he is being so kind and is clearly into our girl. Giving her all this confidence.

Colin is also being JEALOUS

That's right Eloise tell her Pen can fight dirty.

Okay something to get onto is the "most importantly my choice" for Cressida. Is it really a choice if you are being steered to the man?  

Ah more SexEd the Featherington way I am cackling.

I hope they do something with the Featherinton girl's husbands because they seem very clueless and jolly all the time and to be comedic relief but I know there is something.

Ooh is Pen wearing blue brocade for her dress? While Colin is thirsting over her?

A note on Colin, sir you are in public control yourself!

Okay Lord Debling and Cressida relating on wanting to be away from family is something.

The look of betrayal form Pen to Eloise after she helps Cressida- P:"How dare you" E:"I know I'm sorry "

Is the inheritance of the Kent title story line going to involve social commentary on the constraints of high society and socioeconomic commentary?

I fear we can already see who Benedict will be involved with this season.

Lord Samardagni no hate respectfully but you are not John Stirling.

Violet living vicariously through her kids love lives, mood.

"I love grass" is the new "I hate sand"

Colin being Jelous af at Pen talking to a man when she is literally fighting for her life is a hilarious parallel.

Prudence's husband being down bad and an utter simp for her is cute. But why is Prudence so awkward? I want to explore this (mainly because this man has Kenergy)

Yes, Colin spring into action and save Pen!

Points to the Debling for jumping after Pen!

I am not endeared but Cressida is actually so unhinged and funny

I'm so sorry but I cannot listen seriously to Cheap Thrills after the 2010s tumblr fandom era. Nope.

"No" - Portia Featherington 1815, so rich ppl

Gasp not wearing clothes more than once!

Okay the costume designers are killing it but what in the balloon sleeve monstrosity.

Eloise it’s okay I would run away from marriage talk too.

Francesca: I want a little peace Local Man: I want like 8 kids in fact we need more

OMG Lady Danbury Brother!! What backstory is there? He must be the foreboding visitor. Also, Lady Violet were you flirting?

Fran meeting an appreciator of the quiet!! Is this him?

Do you see her face? She is so shook and excited. That is truly the spark of love!

Benedict getting himself a cougar? A widow? Okay let him have a little treat.

Luke T when they give you a glow up the world will not be prepared like he already looks like that what more can they do??!!

As a middle-class person it is wild how they disdain any form of work, even working to run a respectable business. This is wild.

Colin is simping so hard he keeps longingly staring at Pen. Also Pen's fits  they are blue!!

OMG Penelope's little speech to Debling is so cute and sincere.

Debling is so sweet look how happy he is that he got to know the real Penelope.

Totally forgot he just abandoned Cressida. I know she is sad but I cannot take her seriously with these sleaves.

"The best foundation for great love is friendship" bro how did you know this beforehand, and you didn't once in three years consider "hmmm ... maybe?"

Lord this scene he looks like a man starved. The mutual longing the pining. Oh tasty little treat for sure.

Honestly Colin deserves getting cockblocked let that boy suffer.

SexEd the Featherington way? Like damn that was quick okay.

Yess suffer my boy PII.

This was a fun episode. I will say I'm a bit confused what Benedict's arc will be he seems to get sidelined often and not have that deep of a ploy point. The Kent inheritance story line is starting to make sense, the introduction for it is building up. But most importantly Penelope slowly wearing blue gowns that become lighter in tone!! Ahhh. This is cinema right here. Okay onto the next.

[theshelbyslimited]

WELCOME BACK ANGEL JAMIE 🤍 I MISSED YOU + YOUR WONDERFUL WORK SO MUCH.

“Look - I know this sort of thing would have been more fun with Pol or Esme- and you probably miss your mum a lot these days. Lots of changes and whatnot.” “But - well, I enjoyed this. I don’t mind being around for this stuff. I wouldn't have liked you more as a boy or anything like that” MY HEART. I think this meant a lot to Y/N and I know it must've taken a lot for Tommy to say bc he's not someone to usually be open and vulnerable 😭

“There really isn't a boy, if there was John is the last person I would ask. One time he picked me up from school, years ago, and a boy, Tim Weatherby, had waved to me. He ran his car into the back of his parent's car three times before driving off.” JOHN BOY 😅 poor timmy was just simply waving his school friend goodbye for the day, no need to try and run him + his parents off the road 🙈

this was so beautiful and I always love the sentimental touch that your fics have bc it makes them that much more heartwarming to read. LOTS OF LOVE TO YOU BB ❤️

Please can I have a Tommy x daughter fluffy fic where as her mums died she asks him to come with her to try on ballgowns with her and he doesn’t like a few for different reasons but he gets emotional when she finds the perfect one

Hey Anon,

Hope this does it justice - this request got me in the feels. Thanks for waiting. <3

Warnings: Teen drama, mentions of funerals and death - peaky related stuff

There were a lot of things you kept to yourself when it came to your father. Most of which Esme and Polly would wrangle out of you and give you advice for. 

You were close with each other the same way you suspected other fathers and daughters were. He was there to comfort you in his own way (mostly just holding you tightly) when you needed him, he gave you books to read and would try to remember to ask you questions about how you enjoyed them. 

He was away a lot for business but he always called you before bed to ask how your day was. Some moments when he’d drank to much you saw the pain in his eyes when he looked at you, a spitting image of your mother but with his eyes. 

You adored him, and rarely ever asked him for difficult things knowing he was always stressed. 

“Awe, you miss us, don't you? Next time we go you’ll be old enough to tag along. An extra week won't kill you darling.” Esme’s voice rang out over the phone and your stomach sank. You were in a proper situation now. You said your goodbyes but didn't tell her why her taking an extra week's vacation with Pol was a problem for you. 

You lit a cigarette and slid down the kitchen wall. They would be home the day of the big charity ball, not the type of event you could get a dress for the morning of. They must have forgotten that they’d promised to take you when they got back. You didn't blame them, this was the one time they got away from kids and the business.

You could ask… Lizzie? She hung around the family, worked for your dad, and seemed nice enough to you when you came by the office. She’d probably be able to help you.

You needed a backup plan, Linda still hadn’t forgiven you for an outburst you’d had at dinner a few weeks ago, but maybe John would help you? 

You thought about getting ready with Esme he’d always tell her what looked good. Well, mostly how he enjoyed the way it looked on her, but still Esme always looked very happy with his commentary. 

You got up and flicked your cigarette out the window before going to ask for a ride to the office.

You showed up and Lizzie greeted you with a large smile. 

“Here to see your dad are you?” 

“Well, I was actually - I -” The words got caught in your throat, she was far too pretty. Thinking of her seeing your awkward body in dresses made you shrink away. “Have you seen Uncle John?” You said quickly. 

“Should be in his office.” She gave you a look and you thanked her. You knocked on the door and his voice called out. 

“Hey kiddo,” he said looking up from a mess of papers. “Your da’s got me right tangled in this stupid paperwork. Give him a kick in the shin when you see him next will ya.” 

“Sure.” You laughed. “Guess you're pretty busy then?” 

“Be lucky if we survive another week with the hens gone.” He sighed, there was no way he’d be out of this mess any time soon, but maybe he could just tell you what to wear.

“What erm- What types of things does Esme wear that you like?” He looked confused by the question. 

“Trying to impress a lad then? Odd person to come to for advice on that.” He scratched the back of his head but before you could fix what you said he’d already carried on.

“Look if he doesn't like you as you are then there's no point in going after him. Gal’s seem to think we care about all the fuss when really - we’re going to see eve-” 

“What are you doing, love?” Your father's voice called from the doorway. Happier than ever to see him you sprang up from your seat and moved to give him a hug. Jarred by what you figured John was implying you decided to just pluck up the courage to ask him to go. 

“Get that shit done John, needs to be out by tomorrow morning,” John swore at him and you followed your father out of the room his arm steering you into his office. 

“What did you need from John?” He asked moving behind his desk. 

“Well, I didn't want to bother you.” 

“Trust me, love if it's worth asking, it’s not worthy of Johns's advice.” 

“Ah, well, I need a dress for the ball.” You stated, and he gave you a curious look. “Um, well it's my first time really going, for the dinner and dancing and everything.” You coughed awkwardly. For a moment you hoped that he would just understand where this was going and tell you he’d help you, but you looked at his face and knew he was lost as ever. 

“SO” you said a little too loudly. “I erm - need to get a proper dress, Polly and Esme said they would take me but they won't be back in time.” 

You brought your gaze from the wallpaper once more to still see him still looking confused. 

“You can have any dress you want, just give me the receipt.” He shrugged. 

‘No- I erm. I just- need someone to go with me.” You confessed sounding irritated. “I don't know what looks good - I’m not good at that type of stuff. John always tells Esme what he thinks about her dresses when we get ready so I figured he would be a good person to ask.” 

“I’ll take you.” He said uncomfortably. “We can go after-” He looked down at his schedule. “Can it wait till after dinner?” 

“Oh, yeah - thanks” 

“No problem,” He said with a nod looking only slightly put off. 

“I’ll head back to the house -” 

“I’ll grab you at 7” 

You gave him a nod and then left the office saying bye to Lizzie. 

Dinner was nice, you rarely ever went out to eat. You rambled on about a book you were reading and your dad followed along. Eventually, you started to tuck into your meal and he sighed. 

“So there's a boy then?” He asked looking pained.

“No?” You said startled with a mouth full of mashed potatoes. 

“No?” Tommy repeated looking at you with the look he gave when he felt you were lying. As a kid, you thought he had superpowers and could see in your mind. 

“No” You shook your head grabbing your glass of water. 

“John mentioned -” 

“He didn't understand what I was asking. Don't need to be interested in a boy just because I don't want to show up in front of all those people wearing something embarrassing.” You said defensively, face flushing. 

Tommy let out a hum and finished the last of his drink. Your last comment seemed to put him off even more. 

You finished up dinner and then headed to a fancy-looking shop. The sign on the door said closed but you followed behind your dad as he pushed the door open. 

The lady barely took notice of you as she shook your dad's hand, ensuring she would take care of anything he needs. You resisted the urge to roll your eyes as she touched his arm. 

He turned to you “alright free rein of the place, go pick some out that you like. I’ll start on this side.” 

You almost wanted to laugh as if it was a joke but your father moved passed the woman and started on the far wall. She looked over your body and began pointing out some to try on. 

You thought about her suggestions and said you would try them to be polite. If you turned up looking like a frosted cupcake Esme would never let you hear the end of it. 

You moved to the long dresses and found a nice dark red one. It was a shimmery fabric but it was dark enough that it wouldn't bring too much attention. You had a feeling that it was the right one, but with the lower neckline you felt it might be a fight to take it home. You decided it was worth it and asked the woman to take it to the dressing room for you. 

You found another few that you liked well enough, all of them were black and made of various materials. 

You met back up with your dad in the lounge and saw him sipping another glass of amber liquid, a cigarette in his hand. He met your gaze and held his hands up in mock surrender.

“Wasnt much help out in the field but it’s only because I have faith in your abilities.” 

You gave him a smile, happy to see him in better spirits. You put the first one on and hated it immediately. It was much too tight and it would be impossible to dance in. 

“Not very practical.” You waddled out and you watched him point back to the dressing room sternly. “Alrighty then,” you murmured feeling embarrassed. 

You tried the cupcake one on next and fought to work up the courage to walk out in it. You struggled to get it through the doorway and your father actually laughed. 

A proper healthy loud laugh that was contagious. 

“I feel like Esme would take the piss for ages if I wore this.” You looked yourself over in the mirror.

“Not just Esme. Didn’t think it would be possible to make you look anything less than gorgeous. In that line of thinking it might not be so bad after all. Don’t want this mystery boy enjoying himself too much.” 

“Dad!” You snapped before fighting back into the dressing room. “There is no boy.” 

“If you say so.” 

You wore one of the black ones next. You walked out feeling comfortable, you thought the black would go with any jewelry and looked classy. 

You looked at your dad and his face twisted slightly. 

“No black.” His tone of voice took you off guard.

“Why not? You’ll be wearing black?” you asked trying not to get worked up. 

“No black.” He said firmly and you knew better than to challenge him when he sounded like that. 

You went back into the room. 

“Ah - that leaves one left.” 

“Give it a go,” he called back.  

You pulled on the red one and loved it instantly. It was grown up, hugging you in all the right spots without showing too much skin. The color made your blue eyes seem electric. 

You liked it so much you didn't want to show it. What if he hated it as much as the black dress? Or thought it was stupid like the pink one. 

You took a deep breath and called out. “Don’t be mean.” Then stepped out. 

You looked at the mirror avoiding your father. It looked even better in the lighting. Eventually, the silence was too much. 

You watched him take the dress in and thought you saw tears in his eyes. You wanted to run back and hide. Why was he being so weird? Even if there was a boy, it’s not uncommon at this age. Heck, most of Esme’s sisters were married by 16. 

“That’s the one eh?” He finally said looking at you.

“Yeah. Think I look grown up, but not to - erm-  showy” 

“Grown up, is one way to put it.” He finished his drink and smiled at you. “I think you look lovely. Your mother has a necklace that will match with the color” He said softly. “-if you want to wear it.” He added hurriedly. For a long time, he thought her things might have been cursed, until one day he came home from a very long trip and said it was him that was cursed. You shivered remembering that night. You always avoided touching her things, her room untouched but not forgotten. 

“I would really like that.” You said feeling emotional, you realized that the panic was about wanting to look nice, but some of it was anger that your mother was not there to help you. “Did she wear this color then?” 

“Always red.” He nodded. 

“Ah - well, I can see why.” You looked back in the mirror. 

“Look - I know this sort of thing would have been more fun with Pol or Esme- and you probably miss your mum a lot these days. Lots of changes and whatnot.” He waved his hand uncomfortably. “But - well, I enjoyed this. I don’t mind being around for this stuff. I wouldn't have liked you more as a boy or anything like that” He cleared his throat. 

Tears started to spill over something you hadn't even realized you were worried about. 

“I love you.” You said. Felt strange standing on a platform saying it down to him as a saleswoman was probably judging them from the shadows somewhere. 

“Love you too.” 

On the ride home you both made jokes about different things, Arthur and John weren't very good at taking over for Pol and Esme and you enjoyed your dad’s commentary about trying to keep the place running. 

When things quieted down you finally felt that you needed to end this boy nonsense. 

“Dad?” You asked wondering how he kept the car straight while fumbling with getting a cigarette out and lighting it. 

“Yeah?” 

“There really isn't a boy, if there was John is the last person I would ask. One time he picked me up from school, years ago, and a boy, Tim Weatherby, had waved to me. He ran his car into the back of his parent's car three times before driving off.” 

You watched your father let out another laugh. “Always classy.” 

“I’d tell you first obviously. Esme would get too excited, and Pol would worry.” 

“And what would I do then Eh?” He asked raising an eyebrow.

“Probably meet him and scare his pants off.” You answered honestly. 

“That’s a good thing then?”

“Obviously. If he comes back it's because he really likes me.” 

__________________________________

EXTRA - Tommy's POV 

Watching her walk out in a black dress made the fleeting moments of humor leave him. He sort of saw her in the gown but his mind flashed back to that scared little girl all dressed in black.

“No black.” He said slightly out of control of the feelings biting into him. 

“Why not? You’ll be wearing black?” He could see that you wanted to argue but he couldn't stand to see you in that dress any longer.  

“No black.” He said firmly and you looked a bit deflated before retreating back to the dressing room. His mind pulled him back to that day. You attached firmly to his side, dressed in all black. The way you tried so hard to behave, tucking your face into his neck to cry as they lit the vardo on fire. How you even tried to hit Polly when she tried to take you from him. How you would panic if he was out of your sight for more than a few minutes. 

No black. He ran his fingers through his hair. 

The next dress hurt nearly as bad. Tears he had not cried in years welled up in his eyes as he looked at you taking in your body in the mirror. 

So much like your mother, the style of the dress, the color. You were going to be an adult in a blink of an eye. Only small traces of that little girl left in your features. Now there would be boys and time left with it being just the two of you would start to slip away.  

He thought the dress was much too showy, you didn't understand that yet though. Considering you would be standing next to him the whole night he figured it would be alright. You could pair it with your mother's jewelry and he could get Pol to convince you to wear it with a shall or something.  

Eventually, your eyes looked at him for approval and he felt guilty for snapping at you. There was a very evident look of self-consciousness on your features. He wished it came more naturally to him. 

“That’s the one, eh?” He said and enjoyed the way your eyes lit up. He may not be the best dad, but he would try hard to spend the last time he had with you. Find things to do with you, before you became busy with the rest of the world.