#my greatest crimes are neglecting the relationship when I didn't know it was a relationship

[microcosmiclymbic]

Feeling most hopeful about 🍄 and I's long term relationship since all this chaos began.

However also feeling a little bamboozled that it was never communicated to me what kind of relationship I was getting myself into.

I'm not so sure I'd have agreed to us being partners if I'd have known he wanted something more than casual. I just don't have the capacity (or interest) in doing the labor of building out a proper relationship structure with him at this point in my life

But now I must because it feels like the only healthy way forward. Or something.

[nekrosdolly]

Wesker surviving RE5. Taking a good while to recover. When he final tracks Chris many years later he sees a young woman with Chris. Obviously not Chris' wife.

Chris got a daughter. And Wesker knows how to truely break him now.

Poor girl, she gets hit on by a super hot dude not knowing that he is her dads biggest enemy

listen... this would go fucking crazy... 18+

cw; afab!reader, creep!wesker, reader is 21-ish and wesker is... *gulps*... 61, dad!chris isn't the best dad, i'm projecting big time with this one guys sorry, takes place circa re8, reader is in college, no use of y/n, chris is the kind of alcoholic dad that you don't want your boyfriend to meet because you are, in fact, embarrassed of him, wesker drives a lincoln mkz zephyr.

you look like your dad but prettier. softer, sweeter features than your father's own. your eyes are paralyzingly innocent, and he can't help himself when he lays eyes on you. you're younger than albert by a concerning amount of years, but thanks to your dad's unintentional neglect during your childhood, you've got some issues.

your father never told you about wesker- or anything relating to his line of work. how foolish of chris to not take such precautions with his daughter. you never bothered to ask, either, as you felt some sort of resentment towards your dad in your teenage years. everything he did pissed you off, especially when he was trying to bond. so of course you decided to date someone just as old, if not older than your dad, just to piss him off in return.

that's when you stumbled across wesker. he was handsome for his age, though he looks much younger and you're not sure why. the sunglasses thing confused you, though he'd told you once when you had first started talking that he has light-sensitive eyes. you, being so trusting of this nice, older man who made you feel wanted, believed him and every little thing he ever told you. he'd make you feel so warm inside, and it didn't take long for you to fall for him.

he'd made a show of falling for you, too, to keep you under his thumb. you were the type to flee at the first sign of abandonment; he couldn't have that.

your dad was shocked when you told him you'd found a boyfriend. thanks to your strained relationship, you'd hardly talked to him after leaving for college, which he blamed himself for. it had only worsened between the two of you after your mother left.

and now, at dinner, your dad thinks it's the greatest idea in the world talk about your beloved.

"so," your father starts as he saws through thick-cut steak with a serrated knife, cutting you off a piece, "this boyfriend of yours, when am i meeting him?"

"you want to meet my boyfriend?" you cock an eyebrow at your father, though he doesn't meet your gaze. his own is fixed to the bit of steak he's setting on your plate beside some vegetables.

"well, yeah. must be pretty serious if you told me about him." chris finally looks at you, setting his silverware down. you swallow.

"i don't know, dad."

"what, are you embarrassed of me?"

"i didn't say that, don't put words in my mouth." you stuff a piece of sauteed cauliflower in your mouth as chris sighs inwardly. for the next ten minutes, there's no sound except silverware clinking against your plates and your father's jaw popping here and there.

neither of you can take much more of the awkward silence.

chris clears his throat and leans back in his chair, "listen, i just want to make sure you're dating a good guy, okay?"

"yeah, sure." the bitterness and slight annoyance in your voice is hard to hide. you don't bother.

"is that a crime? wanting to look out for my kid?" he crosses his arms over his chest, getting a little defensive.

"don't you think it's a little late to play dad of the year? i'm not a child, i don't need you to look out for me."

"i know you're not a child-"

"then just stop." you're standing up from your chair, "stop trying to be a bigger part of my life. stop acting like you care. stop."

"fine, you want to be an ungrateful brat?" your dad stands up too, "then get out. take your shit and leave, or shut the hell up."

you don't really have anywhere else to go, so you slink back into your chair and reluctantly finish your food. with all the money your dad gets from his job, he's paying your tuition.

your dad downs the whiskey in his glass and gathers his dishes, leaving you to sit in silence at the dinner table.

-

your father lets the boyfriend thing go until you bring it up to him again, this time on your own.

when you bring it up to albert, he's delighted.

"i'd be honored," he tells you as he leans down to kiss your cheek, he's confident about this, which puts you at ease because you know your father isn't going to take this very well.

-

you're dressed your best, as is albert, who's got his hand on your lower back protectively. he can sense your nerves- uroboros didn't completely burn out of his system- as if they were his own, and he kisses your head as you unlock the front door. based on the black jeep in the driveway, beside albert's zephyr, your father is home. you open the door, and in a flash, you're pushed out of the way.

you didn't expect your father to have a loaded gun aimed at your boyfriend so quickly, if at all. a deep laugh sounds from albert.

"oh, chris..."

[mediaevalmusereads]

Too Wanton to Wed. By Erica Ridley. 2019 (originally published 2012).

Rating: 4/5 stars

Genre: historical romance

Series: Gothic Love Stories #4

Summary: Violet Whitechapel committed an unspeakable crime to save a child. To escape the hangman’s noose, she takes refuge in a crumbling abbey with secrets darker than her own. When its master offers her a temporary post, Violet cannot say no. Just as she begins to see him in a new light, her past catches up to her and endangers them all…

Alistair Waldegrave keeps his daughter imprisoned in the black heart of his Gothic abbey. As he searches for a cure to the disease the villagers call demonic, his new governess brings much needed light into their lives. But how can the passion between them survive the darkness encroaching from outside their sheltered walls?

***Full review below.***

CONTENT WARNINGS: rape threat, violence, arson, explicit sexual content, child injury/endangerment, death in childbirth

OVERVIEW: Continuing on with Ridley's Gothic Love Stories series. I have to admit: this one had me hooked. I'm a sucker for found family stories as well as stories about lonely little girls finally finding companionship and love. So this one was going to appeal to me no matter what. Throw in the boarded up medieval abbey and the creepy underground tunnels and you've got a book that I will like, even though it has its flaws. So, because this appealed to several of my particular interests, this book gets 4 stars from me.

WRITING: I don't have much to say about Ridley's prose that I haven't said about it in my previous reviews for this series. Once again, the prose is quick and sharp, and it's about what you'd expect of the romance genre (in a good way - it knows its audience).

PLOT: The non-romance plot of this book follows Violet Whitechapel, an art instructor at a charity school for orphaned girls. When the school is intended to be closed and the new proprietor tries to take advantage of one of the students, Violet comes to her aid, only to make a profoundly powerful enemy. Violet flees and finds herself at Waldegrave Abbey, an abandoned abbey wherein lives a man and his daughter with a peculiar ailment. Mr. Waldegrave offers Violet shelter in exchange for her services as a governess, but how long can Violet stay hidden and is there a bigger threat within the abbey walls?

Part of why I had so much fun with this book was the atmosphere. The boarded up old abbey is exactly the setting that gets my gears going, and the underground passageways and catacombs were just an added bonus. The eerie setting made the mood oppressive and threatening, and I was pleased that the mood remained appropriate even after Violet begins to feel somewhat at home there.

I also loved the relationship between Violet and Lillian Waldegrave. Lillian is violent and acts out due to her loneliness and isolation, and watching Violet connect with her and transform her into a happy child was enough to make me love this book. I'm a sucker for these types of stories, and more than once, Lillian's growth pulled at my heartstrings.

I do think, however, that some of the plot felt a tad overfull. I could have done without the superstitious villagers - they really didn't add much to the story, and their role towards the end of the book just felt thrown in for drama.

CHARACTERS: Violet, our heroine, is sympathetic in part because of her past surviving on the streets but also because we see how genuine and kind-hearted she is towards children. I loved that she didn't allow her past to make her hard, but neither was is insignificant; she does have some trouble trusting people and is always prepared to flee. Her interactions with Lillian were my favorite and her good intentions won me over very quickly.

Alistair, our hero, is fairly interesting in that his greatest strengths also constitute his greatest flaws. He's a devoted and selfless father, but in being so, he often neglects spending time with his daughter in his obsessive work for a cure for their ailments. He also tends to put people on pedestals and hold them to impossible standards (which causes problems) and is overprotective to the point where he causes more harm than good. Because his flaws were so interesting, I enjoyed watching him loosen up and finally be able to connect with his household.

Lillian, Alistair's daughter, is quite endearing. It's easy to feel for her because it's clear from the beginning that she's not a brat - she's a child who is lonely, isolated, and despairs for her future. I loved watching her open up and gradually become a happy child, finding her passions and reasons for living despite being so restricted.

The Waldegrave staff was also quite endearing in that they were fiercely loyal and, once they learned to trust Violet, accepted her into their ranks with no hesitation. The staff really did feel like part of the household, and though not "family," they didn't feel like mere employees or servants either.

ROMANCE: The romance between Violet and Alistair had its ups and downs. On the one hand, I liked watching Alistair work through his flaws, especially when it came to his relationship with Violet. I also liked that they challenged each other and Violet was firmly on Lillians's side before she was on Alistair's.

However, I do think Violet and Alistair have too many conflicts to the point where things felt tedious. I know a couple must face a series of challenges over the course of a book, so I'm not complaining that this book isn't fluffy. Rather, the two have so many fights where they have to apologize to one another that I felt like the conflict was cyclical. I could have done with less of that in favor of a deeper focus on some of the main conflicts that feed into the themes of the larger narrative.

TL;DR: Too Wanton to Wed is memorable for the touching relationship between the heroine and the hero's daughter as well as for the setting and atmosphere. Though the romance felt a little cyclical, I enjoyed the story of a family coming together and of a little girl feeling loved so much that I can overlook the more tedious plot elements.

[messengerofmechs]

OHOHOH Gear, Package, Crown and Family for Castor and Crow?

Ooooooo thanks for the ask :)

⚙️ GEAR - what are your ocs thoughts on science & art? which do they give more importance to? how much value do they place on each?

Pollux is basically a huge museum. There's a lot of emphasis on creation and curating and a lot of value is placed on art. Neither Castor or Crow were directly involved with the museums and exhibits but they were definitely part of their jobs.

Science isn't neglected, but it's not the ideal. Crow definitely values the forensic sciences, and Castor is mainly concerned about what new technologies could do for Pollux on a large scale.

📦 PACKAGE - what are some "most likely to..." that can apply to them?

I think this refers to like those things in high-school yearbooks? That's how I'll answer anyway.

Crow - Most likely to start a true crime podcast. Most likely to be in your vents at 3 am.

Castor - Most likely to embark of a quest for bloody revenge. Most likely to master the stoic thousand yard stare despite really needing a good cry.

👑 CROWN - what does your oc want to be remembered as? why?

Crow has dreams of being a big-name detective some day, but they're rapidly being eclipsed with, you know. Everything. Guy's in survival mode, he doesn't know what his future is going to be like and that terrifies him.

Castor didn't want to be remembered as Pollux's greatest speaker ever, but she wanted to be a good one. Now, she really doesn't want to be the last one. If she's going to be the speaker that failed she's also going to be the speaker that sets it right.

👪 FAMILY - what is their family like? what is your ocs relationship to them? does your oc have any siblings?

Augh going right for the jugular. And also right into to a big gaping hole in my charactizarions. I guess there has to be loved ones left behind when Pollux fell.

I definitely envision that the Ciztens onboard the Dirge have banded together into a support group, despite only being acquaintances or strangers beforehand. (Fun fact Crow and Midnight Luxury Channel have beef, one of Crow's first assignments was a scandal involving MLC.)

Castor's remains a bit distant from them however, every time she sees them the guilt starts.

Aether and Castor had a frequent working relationship beforehand, with Aether in charge of managing Pollux's own prized collection/exhibit of alien vehicles. Aether is the only one out of the surviors to have known Castor personally before everything went to shit.

Castor had a command staff that she was quite close with, but they were divided up in trying to manage the crisis and subsequently put completely out of reach. There was the speaker before Castor that trained her, who she also holds a deep respect for.

And of course, Pollux itself, who Castor fears for most of all.

Crow has his mentors who pulled him from the well, along with his old squad on the police force, all of whom he misses terribly.

[sugaspaws]

They don't know about us

Bangchan x reader

Fluff, angst?¿

Months after that night, you guys were still together which was quite amazing, but the only thing that sucked was the fact that you had to keep your relationship a secret.

That meant not being able to see him whenever you wanted, public meetings were a no-no, and the fear that the stays and the agency would not approuve of you both.

Today, you were supposed to meet him at your house but as time passed, he still wasn't her and would not answer any of your texts nor calls, you ended up falling sleep on the couch clutching your phone as if your life depended on it.

Near midnight, you woke up due to a sound coming from the kitchen and a slight " oh shit-"..

You quickly got up grabbing your pillow in case it was a murderer, not the greatest weapon but still worked.

You found it that it was your boyfriend looking for something to eat in your own fridge.

You growled before throwing your pillow at him and going to your room.

You couldn't help but be mad at him, after all he was late and pretty sure he completly forgot about the "date".

As you were tossing around in your bed, you head his soft voice calling your name, you rolled your eyes before biting your lip not wanting to answer.

The bed dipped beside you before you felt arms grabbing your waist and pulling you toward him before putting his head against your back.

" Angel, are you mad at me..? What's wrong..?"

He asked tone filled with worry but his question was met with silence, in fact you were just overthinking, even if the logical part of your brain was telling you that you chose this life, that he loved you no matter what, that he was just busy..but the fact that you will forever be the second thing in his life, that work always was before you..was just terrifying.

You laid there before finally turning to face him..

" When will I finally be an official thing in your life mh..?"

" What do you mean? You are an official thing in my life dumbo, you are my girlfriend!"

He said before snorting lightly but he quickly composed himself when he saw that you were dead serious.

" Secret girlfriend, no one knows about us..and I feel as if I will still be in the shadows for the rest of this..I don't want to hide, I want to be free to be able to breathe when I'm with you..after all love isn't a crime right..? So why? Why do I keep finding myself lonely everytime..?!"

She yelled without noticing the tears that were forming in her eyes and soon they were falling as if they were endless.

The boy found himself speechless and a little bit guilty too, after all he was neglecting the only person that thought him the meaning of love.

He quietly whipped her tears before holding her tight..

"I'm sorry sweetheart..I didn't know you felt this way..but we will get through this toghether.."

She kept sniffing before falling asleep in his arms, but the boy couldn't sleep?

He was too busy being on his phone.

He loved her and she loved him, and that was the only thing that mattered.

[heroicadventurists]

Tom King-Detective Comics 1000

Tom King offered a fun insight into the Batfamily. This actually gives me hope that he will reconcile the family by the end of his Batman run. Here are my top 10 takeaways

#10-Ace has a mask to hide his identity but Cass and Alfred don't

Come on Cass and Alfred, you both know better. At least Ace knows the importance of maintaining secrecy. In the words of Madeye Moody "constant vigilance".

#9-This story takes place after Red Hood # 25

Jason worries about being kicked out of the family after what he did. One can assume he is talking about shooting the Penguin (although with Jason it could be anything). Costume aside, it's good to see him interacting with the entire family after that fiasco. Him and Duke have good comedic chemistry and seemed to be paired together a lot in this issue.

# 8-Tim and Steph are going strong

I love Stephanie's flirtiness while Tim is trying to be serious. Maybe Time likes it too 😉She's a firecracker and is great for Tim ❤

# 7-The only way out of the Batfamily is death

Family is family and the only way out of this family is death. Another takeaway from this panel is that Dick also makes jokes about his death. It's dark and twisted but at least it's not a Jason Todd exclusive.

Be careful Duke

# 6-Dick is the 12th Greatest Detective in the Batfamily

I'm sure this was a grossly, over exaggerated comment from Damian; but entertaining none the less. Even Ace is a better detective than Dick.

#5-Jason doesn't want to be kicked out of the family

As tough as Jason tries to be, belonging to the batfamily is important to him.

#4-Dick is proud of his time as Batman

Even if Dick didn't initially want the responsibility (and burden) of being Batman, he is proud of his time as the Caped Crusader and is a great replacement when Bruce is unable to wear the cowl. @bat-lings said something I really liked: "Dick knows not to get caught up in the ideal & takes on the cowl while being wary of the darkness." I couldn't agree more.

#3-Babs has an issue with Kate being Batwoman while she's Batgirl

I was actually very happy this was addressed in a comic book. I like Kate as a character but I believe that the Batwoman mantle should have went to Barbara because of her extensive history in the batfamily. Barbara has been in the comics for 52 years and has proven to be one of the most loyal and capable members of the batfamily. She is easily on the same level of importance as Dick. Even though she can't be Batwoman, a new code name would be very welcome. And to answer Kate's question, yes Barbara has been to war. Barbara fights a war on crime every night in Gotham, risking her life and the lives of her loved ones.

# 2-Dick and Damian bonding

It was so nice to see them finally reconnecting on page. It's a shame DC neglects this relationship.

# 1-The Batfamily is Bruce's saving grace

Bruce may have lost his first family in the most tragic and devastating way possible, but he has built a new family who would follow him to hell and back (literally). Bruce has never been alone, even when he felt alone. His family has saved him from himself and that is the most beautiful takeaway from the Tom King story.