#not just for this game. for the KEEP. it's feeling doable lads
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danielnelsen · 1 year ago
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one more down, nearly there..!
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catcze · 3 years ago
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catte, do you use thoma as a shielder? cos i’ve been playing him and his shield isn’t really that…strong? or do you have any tips to make him stronger haha i’m stumped honestly
Over the past few days, I've mainly been testing damage-dealing roles on him (currently im using him as a main phys dps bc pretty animations go brrr) tho I've tried out his shield a little bit!!
im putting this under the cut bc I usually end up rambling when it comes to character builds and team comps akjsndas I'm sorry in advanced if it's a bit too much info HAHA feel free to follow up if you have questions or smthn akjsdnas <333
ok so yeah, I'm ngl the shield from his E alone is, like, alright right? like it does its job in keeping you shielded and stuff. All things considered, in terms of base damage absorption, his shield is I think stronger or just as strong as Diona's, though it's a bit shorter in duration (in comparison to her max-length shield.) Obvi if you're comparing his shield to Zhongli's shield–– well, basically no other shield in the game is as strong as Zhongli's E HAHAHA
However, an important thing to remember is that Thoma's shield works a little differently from Diona's and Zhongli's in the sense that both his E and his Q grant him a blazing barrier (his shield) and that his main potential as a shielder comes out when you learn how to time his rotations just right to keep uptime on that shield. Because his blazing barriers refresh their duration and their remaining damage absorption get stacked when he gains a new shield (whether it be through his burst or his skill) it's important to remember the timing of these when you play him as a shielder. Not to mention this shield refresh also increases your shield strength with his passive. So his shield is one that benefits mainly from being up constantly, since that increases its damage absorption. (side note tho but do remember that his Q shield's solo dmg absorption is lower than his E soo––)
So for a shield-centric thoma you're going to want to start off with his E to gain the shield, then refresh and reinforce it with his Q, and then use his E again to refresh the shield again when it's off cooldown, then rinse and repeat the cycle. It's... a bit of a tight rotation, given his long cooldowns and the eight second durations for his shields, but from what I've been trying out that's, like, one of the more effective ways to play him as a shielder. (made a little easier by his cons but, like, assuming I'm talking abt a c0, it's doable but it's a tight rotation imo.)
Ok, so since his burst is a really big part of his kit, and it's energy cost is fucking insane at 80, and as a shielder, you're not going to be putting him on-field for very long (and his e doesn't give him a lot of energy and also has a fucking insane ass cooldown) in order to keep his Q usable as soon as its off it's cooldown, you're going to need energy recharge on this lad. And I mean motherfucking energy recharge. As an on-field DPS, i mainly play him with upwards of 180 ER, which is okay because he's catching the particles himself, but when you play him off-field he's gonna need more. Like, 200 and up more, depending on your own playstyle, if he's C4 or not (bc of the 15 energy refund) the weapon you use on him and his team comp. Ive tried him on a full HP build w/ black tassel right and although it strengthens his shield pretty well, if you're using him primarily as a shielder the lack of ER is going to fuck you up and leave your team unshielded for several seconds. So you also want to build ER on him as much as you do with HP, in order to make the most out of that 'shield refresh' mechanic he's got going on. Also, like, 4pcs tenacity isn't super viable on him due to his E skill cooldown. As far as i'm aware, 4pcs Noblesse is his best in slot at the moment if you don't already have someone who uses it on your team. But in a pinch, Tenacity + Emblem is pretty solid too I think (in theory–– I don't have any good tenacity pieces to try out HAHA) since it helps with the ER and with the damage absorption.
That's abt all I know for a shield-focused Thoma tho–– do keep in mind I haven't been playing him much as a shield bot bc from the start i've always intended to make him a dps unit, so I'm not sure how accurate my own observations are, so take this with a grain of salt !! I recommend looking through other resources too, such as yt. Sorry if it's a little long or if i didn't explain correctly akjsdsa Hope it helps out somehow though! <333
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Soulmate September - Day 12
Day 12 - You meet your soulmate in your dreams every night.
Pairing(s): Romantic Remile, Romantic Moceit, Romantic Dukexiety, Past Romantic Dukeceit
TWs: sexual language, mentions of childbirth, Remus being Remus, swearing
--
Emile Picani knew something was up with his soulmate.
Their link, as almost all did, formed when they were twelve. And right off the bat, when his soulmate kept flitting in and out of sight, he knew their first meeting would be interesting. Emile had sat up from his dream bed to see a young boy with raven hair that shone a dazzling blue in the light, and pale skin adorned with freckles that stood out like stars in the night sky. 
So sue him, Emile was going through a poetic phase. 
He’d walked over to start up the conversation, “Soulmate! Do you, how do? My name’s-”
Was as far as he got before the boy disappeared. At first, Emile panicked; what happened?! Did his soulmate hate him on sight and wake up-
Oh, there he is.
The boy reappeared, taking in Emile as he looked him up and down with his mocha coloured eyes, “Oh, you’re still here, babes. Cool.”
Huh. Interesting response, but Emile trusted in fate, extending a hand again, “As I was saying before you got spirited away, I’m Emile Picani! What’s your name?”
“Nice Ghibli reference. I’m Remy Duke,”, he yawned, reaching for Emile’s hand lazily, “Nice to meet you. So like, you’re my soulmate? I’m like, not just dreaming?”
Emile shook his head, “Nope! It’s really me! I hope you’re not disappointed- Ah, sorry, my pops says I shouldn’t say stuff like that-”
“He’s right, you shouldn’t.”, was the blunt response he got.
Sensing that he might’ve made his soulmate uncomfortable, Remy elaborated, “My ren says you should totes avoid negative thinking. Like, if you keep thinking you’re disappointing me, you’re only gonna like, reinforce that idea. And being that anxious is not a good look on you, sweetie.”
Emile wasn’t sure what to think, but the advice made him feel… really happy, actually. His soulmate cares! He went to thank him, but Remy had disappeared again. Dang. Emile waited until Remy returned, humming to himself when he heard his soulmate’s voice again,
“Whoa, you like Steven Universe?”
Emile’s smile glistened with delight that Remy had recognised the tune of Independant Together, “Yeah! Who’s your favourite character!? Mine’s Steven!! But if I had to pick a gem, I’d say Spinel’s my new favourite!” 
Remy rolled his eyes, but Emile read the gesture as a fond one, “Cool.” . He figured his soulmate wouldn’t answer further but then Remy continued, “I like Buck Dewey. He’s totes underrated. As for the gems, like, there’s no question babes. Garnet’s the best.”
Thankfully, Remy was able to stay for the rest of the night until the two of them realised it’d be morning soon.
“Oh, before you go, maybe we should find out where we both live! That way we can-”
Remy shook his head, “Nah babes. Let’s make this fun. It’s like, way too boring if we make things THAT easy.”. He noted how upset Emile looked and took pity, “Tell you what babes, how about every time we meet, we both get one yes or no question. Make it a game. First one to guess where the other lives wins.”
Emile smiled, mirroring Remy’s playful one, “Alright then! Can I go first?”
“As long as you’re quick babes.”
“Oh, right!”, Emile cleared his throat, “Are you in the US?”
With a dramatic, yet monotone sigh, Remy retorted, “Unfortunately-”
“Remyyyy!”, Emile chuckled, “You’re breaking your own rule. It’s yes or no, silly!”
Remy rolled his eyes, but the sigh he gave had nothing but fondness, “Alright, alright. Yes.”. He stretched his arms, “Same question to you babes, you stuck in this crapsack of a country too?”
“Yes.”, Emile answered, “Unfortunately.”
The chuckle he got back from Remy left him with a smile on his face as he awoke that morning. Emile wasted no time in brushing his teeth and heading to breakfast with a spring in his step to tell his fathers the great news. 
--
Unknowingly just a few miles away, another young lad awoke and dragged himself lazily down the stairs where his father and ren were having one of their early morning romantic tension arguments.
“The knife’s the pussy option, Virge!”, his father Remus had chided, shoving a handful of trix into his mouth with his bare hand, “Knives don’t do shit!”
Remy’s ren, Virgil, massaged their temples in frustration. Going by the shade of their face being somewhere between embarrassed tomato and devil’s asscrack crimson, Remy figured they’d been on this tangent for the last hour or so.
“What the FUCK do you mean ‘knives don’t do shit’?! It’s a fucking KNIFE, dipshit! What the fuck is a spoon gonna do!?”
Virgil yanked the cereal from Remus and began pouring him a proper bowl, to which the messy man scoffed, “Virge, you’re not thinking about the bigger picture!”
“What bigger picture?! We’re talking about which would be best in a casual alleyway fight, right?! Just bring a goddamn knife!”
Ah. 
Context. 
Gotta love it.
Remy walked undetected past the two of them to go digging in the hall closet dryer for his favourite shirt while his father made his case.
“That’s predictable, babe! You’re not thinking about the psychology of it, Virge!”, Remus protested, “Look, any bozo can grab a knife, big deal! Your chances of being intimidating with that alone are, what, four in ten?!”, he bullshitted, gesticulating wildly as he picked up a spoon, wielding it like a cutlass, “But if you pick a spoon!? Thats like saying “Hey I’m fuckin’ crazy”!! I’m not gonna go up against the mother fucker that picks a spoon! You know how crazy that looks!?”
“Very much so, yeah.”, Virgil deadpanned, making direct eye contact with Remus who returned that glare with a wink.
“Careful, last time you gave me that look, we had to start buying baby clothes.”
Virgil scoffed, but it was hard to hide the exhausted smirk they bore, “Oh fuck you. Take your cereal and sit down.”
Remus did neither of those things, instead wrapping his arms around Virgil’s waist and pulling them closer, “I mean, if you wanna-“
“Like, maybe we can keep the horny out of the kitchen?”, Remy piped up, watching his ren damn near leap out of their skin while his father burst into laughter.
“No promises!”, Remus jested, taking the bowl of cereal Virgil had made for him and downing it like he was chugging cheap beer at a frat party. Virgil sighed in exhaustion but gestured for Remy to have a seat at the table, “So, how’d your first soulmate dream go, Rem? Did you get a name?”
Remy slung himself into his usual seat at the table, “Yeah. His name’s Emile Picani.”
The immediate silence was palpable for a second, even Remus didn’t dare make a sound when Virgil spoke up, “Remus, wasn’t your ex’s name Janus Picani?”
Remy hadn’t seen his father in a flight or fight situation like this before; sure there was this one time in WalMart, but he didn’t have a melon baller, two packs of toilet paper, and a plunger at hand like that time. Instead, his father was armed only with a banana he had snatched from the fruit bowl and taken a bite of. With the peel still on. Speaking with his mouth full and earning a disgusted eye roll from his partner, Remus finally managed to offer a response.
--
“It’s probably not the same guy.”
Janus Picani unknowingly echoed his ex boyfriend under his breath, inaudible to his son. 
Of all the names Emile could’ve given, why’d the surname have to be Duke? He had never told his husband Patton about the whole ex-boyfriend thing; Janus thought it best no one ever knew lest he be judged harshly. Sure, he’d never exactly cared what others thought - and many did share his opinion that holding off ANY romantic or sexual activity until you met your soulmate wasn’t always entirely healthy or doable - but the idea of Patton possibly being let down or upset by the news…
Janus didn’t want to think about it. No, he wouldn’t entertain the thought. After all, he had breakfast to make, fried eggs to watch over, toast to be ready to butter when it popped up.
Besides, Duke was probably a common surname, right? 
Probably. 
Maybe.. 
Hopefully.
“Did Remy tell you where he lives, sweetie? We can always drive you over to meet him after school if it’s close enough!”, Patton chirped excitedly from the seat next to his son, unknowingly setting Janus even more on edge. 
Please say he’s across the country. Please say he’s in another state. Please say he’s ANYWHERE but close by-
“Oh, we’re making a game of it!”
Janus’ curiosity peaked, but his anxiety remained on hold just in case.
“Every time we meet, we get to ask one yes or no question, then whoever guesses the other’s location first wins! Isn’t that exciting!?”
His enthusiasm was contagious. Patton was practically bouncing in his chair, “Oh that’s so cute!! It’s just like a romcom!”, he began, then corrected, “Oh, unless you’re both platonic, don’t worry kiddo, that’s fine too-”
“Thanks popstar, but I um,”, Emile flushed a little, hiding in his pastel yellow cardigan, “I really like him. I know it’s dumb ‘cause we only just met but… but he’s so cool!”
Janus listened in on his son’s adorable recounting of the encounter; how the two had talked about cartoons for hours, and the oddity of Remy flickering back and forth from the soulscape at first. The curiosity in Janus won out as he finished cooking their breakfast and brought their plates to the table. 
“He sounds like a lovely young man,”, Janus led with, hoping to at least quell some of his fears, “Do we get to know what he looks like, perhaps?”
Patton gasped excitedly, “Yessss!! Then if we pass him on the street, we can say hello!”
Thankful for Patton’s backup, if not for the same reasons, Janus nodded and Emile enthusiastically took out his notebook to start trying to draw his soulmate from memory,
“Well, he’s got really gorgeous eyes! And lots of freckles!-”
His pencils were almost combusting at the sheer speed Emile was working up the more he got excited about his soulmate. His fathers both unknowingly thought back to his adoption; he’d been so shy at first, barely able to look either of them in the eye, but after just a couple of weeks being allowed to express himself creatively in ways he hadn’t been able to do before with his birth parents, Emile had grown into the same excitable young lad they were watching right that second. Wordlessly, Patton slid his hands into Janus’ hold, who sweetly returned the loving gesture with a soft lacing of their fingers together. 
They were inches from leaning in for a kiss momentarily before Emile excitedly announced that he was done, “This is him! Isn’t he the coolest?!”
Janus scanned the drawing, noting both his son’s artistic talent and feeling a small burst of relief. The kid didn’t resemble Remus at all. For now at least he could sleep easy knowing he wouldn’t have to face his ex again.
--
Janus ate his words three months later.
Emile and Remy had continued to meet within their dreams, playing their guessing game as always until, thanks to Patton’s help, he managed to guess close enough to Remy’s location. True to his word, Remy had given Emile the address and lo and behold, they were only a couple of miles away from each other.
Janus couldn’t say he wasn’t happy for them, he was thrilled in fact. However, as he stood at the front door of Remy’s parents house staring at the face of his ex boyfriend, he couldn’t deny the urge he had to run away immediately. The moment of silence was unbearable. Perhaps he could pretend he didn’t know- “Well shit, it IS you, Snake Face!”
Nevermind.
Janus resisted the urge to scratch at the eczema that adorned the left half of his face, clearing his throat, “It’s good to see you too, Remus.”
Patton and Emile were shocked by the revelation, while Virgil and Remy were entirely unphased. Though Remy was certainly more preoccupied by his soulmate.
Emile was so much cuter in person; his jade green eyes, his honey skin, the cute puff of purple hair, the dorkiest Disney themed sweater Remy had ever seen. It took him a second to realise he was staring too long and blocking the door.
“Oh, uh, come in or whatever, babes.”
He reached out to lead his soulmate into the house, followed by a gaggle of awkward parents.
“So, Jan, darling,”, Patton piped up, “How do you and um-“
“Remus!”, the man grinned.
“You and Remus know each other?”
Janus was about to answer with a well crafted lie when Remus beat him to the punch, “Oh! Dee’s my ex!”
The immediate silence that followed from all six occupants of the house was so much worse than Janus had anticipated. Emile sported an expression of shock, and he didn’t want to hazard seeing Patton’s face. Seeing how disappointed he’d be that he’d lied to him-
“Oh! Well that was ….. Un-ex-pected!”, Patton punned, earning mostly groans but a hearty chuckle from Remus. Janus looked over to his husband, stunned to note that he didn’t seem angry. Perhaps he’d been worried over nothing after all. 
Virgil was first to speak up as they offered the others a seat on the sofa while Remy and Emile were excused to go play video games while the adults talked.
“So I take it you didn’t tell your..“, Remus stalled, hoping Patton would fill in the pieces.
“Husband.”
“Husband,”, Remus began, “that we used to hardcore date back in the day?”
Janus felt his stomach lurch as Patton shifted beside him; neither farther away nor closer to him. Perhaps that made it much worse. 
“In my defense, Remus, we both knew it wasn’t exactly anything serious-”
Okay, maybe that wasn’t the best thing to say. It was brief, but Janus noted the flash of disappointment in Remus’ eyes. Not exactly that of a hopeful ex lover realising they didn’t have a second chance, mind you. More so someone who clearly had wanted a close friendship, or at least SOME kind of meaningful relationship with the man he’d grown close to. 
Man, Janus felt like such a bastard.
“Apologies, Remus. I didn’t mean to sound so harsh-“
“It’s fine, Snake ‘n’ Flake,”, Okay maybe Janus didn’t feel too bad, “I mean, it stings a little but whatever. We both found our soulmates, so who cares about what we got up to on campus-”
Patton cleared his throat politely, but firmly, “Sorry to interrupt but um, Virgil, was it? How long had you known about it?”
Janus knew that expression; Patton’s “I want to know how much of a fool I’ve been” face was unmistakable. Maybe he was mad at Janus after all.
Virgil snorted, playing with their hoodie strings in a stimming gesture, “Dude, his opening line when we met was “I hope you don’t mind that this ass has some mileage on it.”. Remus doesn’t do subtlety.”
Maybe if Janus wished hard enough the floor would eat him alive. Patton gave a quiet, thoughtful nod and the conversation diverted unexpectedly after that. Not that Janus wasn’t relieved, but the way Patton seemed to pivot so quickly into another topic felt all too much like he was avoiding the whole thing. Janus may be a coward, but seeing his husband try to act like the information wasn’t hurting him was so much worse. He dug his phone out of his pocket and feigned surprise,
“... Would you excuse me, I have a missed business call, it won’t take a second.”
Virgil and Remus watched him go, Patton giving him the smallest nod in acknowledgement for now as the conversation swerved back into more parenting talk. 
Janus wasn’t sure how long Patton would give it before he came out to the front porch to talk; they’d had the system in place ever since they realised Emile would get curious and listen into their conversations sometimes. Missed business calls for Janus, another long catch up with his Aunt Patty for Patton. Both were code phrases for the same thing: we need to talk.
Patton had given it five minutes before he’d come to check in on Janus. The quietness of the surrounding neighbourhood let them indulge in the tinkling from an obviously homemade wind chime dangling above the porch.
“..... I was afraid you’d be disappointed in me.”, came Janus’ quiet admission under the warm sun rays that tickled his already partially dry skin, “Or worse. That you wouldn’t want me if I told you-”
“That’s ridiculous, Jan.”
Patton rarely interrupted anyone - purely out of politeness and the goodness of his heart - but he wouldn’t stand to hear his husband of eight years talk about himself that way, “If you keep talking bad about yourself I’m going to physically fight you.”
There was no bite to his words, but more a firm tone that settled Janus’ nerves somewhat.
“I suppose, but still. I understand that you’re most likely upset with me. I lied to you. And admittedly to Remus as well, but that’s-”
“I’m not upset.”
Pat gently caressed Janus’ rough cheek, paying his skin condition no mind as he reassured him, “I am a little disappointed.”, there’s the fatherly tone, “But none of this would ever be enough to make me leave you or anything if that’s what you were worried about. You’re stuck with me.”. Patton shot Janus a sunshine smile and the cutest blep he’d ever seen, to which the latter felt his heart positively melt, “And you’re stuck with a snake boy.”
The way Patton laughed ignited his bones and sent every nerve ending in his body soaring on high. By Gods, he loved him. Of course, Janus knew he loved Patton since they’d first met in their dreams - both being rather late to establish their connection at their early 20s - from the moment he’d laid eyes on him and heard the words, “Hey there! I’m sorry it took so long to meet you! I guess I was .... Patton-Pending!”. 
“Seriously, where’re all there snake jokes slithering their way out of?”
Janus held in a snort-laugh, “Ah, I used to own a pet snake in college. She escaped the first night I stayed in the dorms and caused a minor lockdown. Once I got her back, the nickname got spread around like wildfire thanks to Remus calling me Snake Face affectionately for months.”
Janus’ sigh screamed exhaustion, but his tone spoke of fondness. Patton chuckled sweetly, “At least he didn’t mean it in a mean way. Otherwise he’d be hiss-tory if I got a hold of him!”
Goddammit, Janus was weak for his husband’s awful puns. Stifling the belly laugh that wanted to break out of him in favour of a curt snort of amusement, “I can take care of myself, fangs you very much.”. Their mutual punning session went back and forth until a knock at the door behind them reminded the two that they weren’t at home. Virgil’s voice came from the other side of the door, 
“You both alright out there?”
Patton quickly called back, “Yep! We’ll be right back in a second!”
“Cool, I’m making hot cocoa, just lemme know how you like it once you’re done.”
Janus sighed and stood up. He already began to feel tense again, but Patton gently rose and took hold of his hands, 
“You should apologise to him, y’know. Remus, I mean.”, Patton clarified, “I know you noticed.”
Patton didn’t clarify further, he knew Janus knew what he meant. The way Remus had covered up how much what he’d said before hurt. Besides, he already had something to apologise to the eccentric trash rat for anyway so..
“I know. Can you keep Virgil company for me in the meantime?”
Patton nodded enthusiastically, “Of course! They promised to show me their tattoos later anyway!”
Janus wasn’t surprised his husband was enthralled by something so artsy, chuckling softly to himself as he and Patton rejoined the others only to walk in on the Dukes rather intensely making out just shy of the kitchen island. Patton averted his eyes while Janus rolled his and just cleared his throat undeterred. 
“I do hope we’re not interrupting anything.”
Just like this morning, Virgil nearly leapt out of their skin and embarrassedly ushered Remus out of the kitchen. Patton decided to swap in and help Virgil prep the drinks, while Janus sat with Remus in the living room once again.
“I owe you an apology, Remus.”, Janus took a deep breath in, “Actually, I owe you two.“
He hazarded a look at Remus, anticipating perhaps shock or surprise, but instead the human embodiment of a muscle cramp was trying to sit upside down on the sofa next to Janus. If he were honest, Janus was more disappointed in himself for not assuming Remus would be the same mangey gremlin he’d been used to.
“You’re aware I’m attempting to be serious?”
“Yep.”
“And you’re going to continue sitting like that?”
“Yeah.”
“Are you aware that talking to you is like attempting to win a game of “But Why?” with a three year old?” 
“Mhm!”
Janus massaged his temples and Remus, thankfully, relented. He didn’t remove himself from the seat and sit like a human being, he simply flicked Janus in the side.
“You act like I’m a bitch to talk to, but fucking hell, cutting the umbilical cord was less taxing than this.”
The snarky remark did get a chortle out of Janus, “Ah, then Remy’s..?“
“Yep! Fresh outta my insides!”, Remus cackled. Janus rolled his eyes. 
“Charming.”
“Nah, that’s my brother, I’m more….. the Demented type.”
“I’m aware,”, Janus retorted, “I remember having to drag you across campus to get your stomach pumped after the Everything Cocktail you downed at the annual Halloween Party.”
Remus let out a barking laugh and nearly slid off the sofa, “In my defense, the hot sauce, caramel, chicken strip, coffee, shrimp, marinara sauce, peanut butter, and six spoons of… was it horseradish or mayo?”
“Horseradish.”, Janus shuddered.
“That’s the bitch.”, Remus continued, “They weren’t so bad. The celery was what fucking sucked ass. And the carrots.”
Ah, the nostalgia. 
Granted, the trip down memory lane was the most wonderful mix of chaotic and bumpy, but the longer he took to address the issue, the worse Janus felt. He must’ve let his expression slip because Remus immediately stopped his rambling and finally let out a tired exhale,
“Listen, if what you said earlier is still eating at you like a piranha in your gut, then it’s fine. Really. I mean sure, it sucked cactus dick knowing you didn’t feel as serious about us as I did at the time, but-”
“It wasn’t true.”, Janus cut in, “What I’d said. I was trying to soften the impact, I suppose. You did and still honestly do mean a lot to me, Remus.”
There’s the shock he’d expected. Remus’ eyes were trained fully on Janus, waiting for a sign of deceit, but thankfully, he detected nothing.
“Huh. Cool.”
It was pretty lackluster, but Janus could tell Remus was glad. At least for now.
“Actually, I wouldn’t get too comfortable yet, I have another apology to issue. Or, I suppose, another lie to set right.”
Oh boy. Janus inhaled, he’d gotten this far. No backing out now.
“When we broke up, I told you it was simply because I didn’t want to date you anymore. Then the week after, my soulmate miraculously appeared in my dreams. But that was a two faced lie.”
Remus cocked his head to the side, wincing while he tried to shuffle around and get comfy due to his gravity defying seating arrangement.
“So…. what happened for real?”
Janus sighed, “.... The week before we broke up, I met him in my dreams. Patton just appeared, and I fell in love instantly. I… I felt awful. Like I was cheating on both of you-”
“Jan-”
“Please, Remus, let me finish.”
Remus sighed, crossing his arms, which looked rather comical when upside down.
“I know you and I always said there’d be no shame if the connection eventually happened to emerge, yet when I saw him there for the first time I just-”
“You felt guilty anyway.”
It was Janus’ turn to be surprised as Remus finally rolled off of the sofa to climb back on and sit… less like a cryptid.
“Same thing happened the first time I saw Virgil.”
Remus snickered at the further shocked expression Janus sported.
“Yeah, I know. Me, King Garbage, Lord of the Thots, no brains or remorse…. feeling guilty. But I get it. It’s really different the first time you see ‘em. Either way, you shouldn’t feel bad for feeling worried or being scared, Snake Face. Although it does hurt like a skewered ballsack that you lied to me about it though. So..”
In retaliation for such a heinous crime, Remus reached over and grabbed Janus’ fancy lil hat, and with a practiced ease that had his ex both enraged and astonished, ring tossed the thing through the small opening in the window, landing it in the small decorative bird bath just outside.
“...... Remus Duke, before I beat the everloving shit out of you for old times sakes,”, Janus uttered lowley, threatening but with a familiar fondness that reminded Remus of their days causing havoc on campus and speed bullshitting essays like it was their birthright, “I want you to know that that little stunt was incredibly impressive...”
--
Upstairs, oblivious to the conversation and scuffle their fathers were enthralled in, Remy and Emile had mostly been playing games, watching cartoons and chatting away together. They’d just put on some Adventure Time when Emile looked over at Remy, noting he was falling asleep. Emile considered trying to do the same to surprise him in their dream space when Remy jolted back awake.
“Oh shit, how long was I out babes?”
Emile shook his head, “Not long. Does… that happen often?”
“Like, all the time. My sleep cycle is a roulette wheel, I’m sure of it.”, Remy lamented, shuffling closer to Emile on the edge of the bed, carefully not to knock over his laptop.
“Do you think our parents are getting along? I’m gonna like, throw hands if they ruin things with their adult bullshit.”
Emile shyly shuffled closer, leaning his head upon Remy’s, who savoured the feel of the slightly taller boy’s coiled hair against his forehead. Downstairs, Emile could hear a scuffle alongside his Papa’s worried attempts to calm down whatever was happening, and began to recognise Virgil’s annoyed interjections. He wasn’t too distressed however; his father’s upbeat tone and what sounded like Remus’ maniacal cackle assured him there was probably nothing to be worried about.
“Something tells me they’re getting along just fine.”, Emile smiled brightly at Remy, “How about one more episode then we can go check?”
----
Hoooly shit this took ages.
I promise I’m workin to catch up, I’m gonna do this or die tryin’!! For small clarifications:
- Virgil is NB/Agender and uses They/Them
- Remus is a Trans Man and uses He/Him
I didn’t specify much for the other characters purely because I could see them being anywhere on the gender spectrum, they can be whatever you prefer to read them as.
I really dunno how well this one read if I’m honest, it just kept branching from cute Remile focused fic to Families’ First Meeting kinda thing???
@tsshipmonth2020
Taglist: @somehow-i-got-an-account   @cateye-glasses   @fandomsofrandom 
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punkscowardschampions · 3 years ago
Text
Ruby & Cosmo
Ruby: Dying to know is every date colour coded? ❤️
Cosmo: Oh, God 😅 How unintentionally cringe
Cosmo: That sums up how well it went, sadly
Ruby: the quick reply had me thinking you were back early or answering in the middle of dinner
Cosmo: 🤫
Cosmo: I’d never!
Cosmo: It was a favour and I think that showed
Cosmo: She’s my cousin’s friend and just got dumped, sweet girl but perhaps not ready to be great company
Ruby: explains the 🌹
Cosmo: Not very personal or too basic?
Ruby: a nice try if it was your first date ever but I know it’s not
Cosmo: Thank God I didn’t get another bouquet 😏
Cosmo: They weren’t buy one get one free though, before you say
Ruby: they looked expensive
Ruby: she would’ve felt guilty throwing them back in your face
Cosmo: I told you I weren’t texting under the table, why would she need to?
Ruby: you told me why, they’re impersonal & basic
Ruby: & heartbreak makes you unhinged
Cosmo: I wouldn’t call her unhinged
Cosmo: at least not to her face, right
Ruby: 😅
Ruby: or your cousin’s
Ruby: Are you staying out in town or going home to change?
Cosmo: I don’t fancy showing up in the club in this
Cosmo: never mind hearing what my friends would have to say
Cosmo: What are you up to?
Ruby: the VIP area has seen worse, you don’t look like you raided the Gucci sale rail, eyes closed
Ruby: & your friends have worn worse, but I won’t say it to their faces
Ruby: I’m waiting for my own friends to be done making their own questionable outfit choices as usual
Cosmo: Careful, that was almost a compliment and not just a drag of the lads
Cosmo: not undeserved on their end but what did I do to make you decide to be nice to me?
Cosmo: besides entertain you with my dating woes whilst they redo their makeup, again
Ruby: You know how to dress, it’s a fact
Ruby: & I didn’t decide to be nice, it just happened
Cosmo: Not that you’re not usually nice in general
Cosmo: but here I am, feeling special, like 💖🤩
Cosmo: It’s also a fact, though not an impressive one, that I’m not lame enough to go in for that negging bullshit, so whatever I end up doing, calling you a bitch ain’t on the agenda
Ruby: there you were down in the dumps about your disaster date, I thought I’d try to help
Ruby: I wouldn’t, it only works for Mason when everyone’s too busy watching his feet move to care about his mouth & that’s not the audience you’ve got atm
Cosmo: I think I’ll survive
Cosmo: but I appreciate it
Cosmo: I’ve seen him get in trouble for his mouth plenty of times on the pitch
Cosmo: but referees aren’t ones to be sweet-talked so…
Ruby: your expensive roses are wasted on them 🥀
Cosmo: That is the real tragedy 💔
Cosmo: I reckon 🍷 could work on your dad though, whaddya think?
Ruby: aren’t we beyond bribes? I thought we were
Cosmo: You don’t have to go up for contract renewals
Cosmo: but I was joking, so don’t tell him he’s on a promise there
Ruby: oh yeah, it’s a joke you being worried you won’t get renewed
Ruby: he doesn’t shut up about you after a few 🍷’s with your dad
Cosmo: Sorry you’ve had to witness/hear that
Cosmo: can’t help my case
Ruby: it wouldn’t be realistic to entertain you or let you entertain me if he wasn’t on board
Cosmo: No?
Ruby: secrecy & sneaking around would be impossible unless we could both drop what we were doing at a moment’s notice, which we can’t
Cosmo: True
Cosmo: Neither of us has the time for that
Ruby: or the anonymity
Cosmo: You aren’t wrong
Ruby: 💖🤩 back at me?
Ruby: you’re being agreeable, above & beyond the Sunday roast standard you set when everyone was listening in
Cosmo: Agreeable from you I can take
Cosmo: I didn’t know any of you guys were going to be there, so if I wasn’t on top form
Cosmo: I’d love to have a second chance to do it better, of course
Cosmo: Somewhere more exciting than family dinner
Cosmo: and no impersonal and basic 🌹s
Ruby: I’d love to skip the club tonight, it stopped being exciting forever ago
Ruby: there’s your chance
Cosmo: Alright
Cosmo: I’ll make something happen and I’ll send you the place and the dress code
Ruby: pastel colours wash me out
Cosmo: What kind of place would be pastels only? 🤔
Ruby: [name drop somewhere boujee that you’ve been probably with your mum and godmother lol]
Ruby: you wasted the ❤️ on the wrong girl 💔
Cosmo: She wasn’t wearing red
Ruby: it was never going to work out
Cosmo: That might be for the best
Ruby: tbd
Ruby: but I’m not feeling like I’ll cry or talk about any of my exes so it’ll be better for you
Cosmo: And for you
Cosmo: not that you’re letting me be impressive with a bar that low but you know
Ruby: you’ll get over or under it if you want to
Cosmo: If I couldn’t rise to the occasion your dad definitely wouldn’t stand for it
Ruby: I won’t either
Cosmo: tbd
Cosmo: I heard
Ruby: another girl has beat me to denying you everything, I have no choice but to switch it up to keep things interesting
Cosmo: Has hard-to-get worked since the days of negging?
Cosmo: You’ve got all the choices, and no need to play any sort of game with me
Cosmo: Let’s have a good time
Ruby: it might have worked for people who want a different reputation than I do
Ruby: that’d wash me out too, the whole projection of intense cold bitch energy
Ruby: a good time is more doable
Cosmo: It wouldn’t get you very far, I understand
Cosmo: We all have to be some type of way to get to where we need to be
Ruby: yeah & talent has to be backed up with 😁✨
Cosmo: A winning personality, of course
Ruby: if I don’t have that both of my parents & coach are going to lose it, definitely
Cosmo: Well, you don’t need to worry about that, from my perspective
Ruby: from my POV neither of us will be worrying until the alarm wakes us early tomorrow & it’ll be too late to stress it by then
Ruby: the good time’ll have already happened
Cosmo: I’ll drink to that
Cosmo: [something that’s between the restaurant moment we just took Savannah to and the normal clubs they would go to, idk what that would look like, like a club that’s a bit sassier than the beyond standard ones footballers and WAGs would hang in]
Cosmo: but I won’t start without you, like
Ruby: not counting the 🍷 if the 🍝 soaked it up
Ruby: but what do you want me to wear? 🧡💛💚💙💜🖤🤍🤎
Cosmo: ❤️ off the table then
Ruby: the bar hasn’t fallen through the floor, I’m not okaying you wearing the outfit you chose for her & me dressing to match it
Cosmo: 😅 I’ve gone home but alright
Cosmo: I want to see what you come up with, actually
Cosmo: I’ll show you I’ve got better than the jumper, don’t worry
Ruby: I’ll do better than a roast with the fam, talk about a low bar
Cosmo: I think you’re probably incapable of looking bad
Ruby: try keeping me up all night & you’ll see
Cosmo: I won’t be the first or the last to show up to practice feeling less than 💯 … are all the other ice skaters perfect 😇s?
Ruby: I’m not giving any details of who isn’t, you’re a date down tonight as is, I’m not getting ditched for someone even more 😈
Cosmo: About how that looks
Cosmo: ‘cos I know
Cosmo: We aren’t going to post anything are we?
Cosmo: I’m not looking to add to the poor girl’s 💔 and I know it’s a dick move to not even wait ‘til tomorrow
Ruby: 📵
Ruby: getting into a fight with your cousin over me is even more Romeo & Juliet than sneaking around behind my dad’s back, we all know how it ended
Ruby: drama in the routine is fine but off the ice it’s not cute
Cosmo: Drama on the pitch depends how you feel about diving
Cosmo: but I appreciate that
Ruby: how I feel about diving depends how much my brother has got to me & I want to get him back for it
Cosmo: 🟥 or 🟨 depending on the day
Ruby: 🟥 usually
Cosmo: I feel that
Cosmo: about my own, usually, not necessarily yours but I can see the how and why there too
Ruby: yours made an impression, not at all good
Cosmo: That’s his speciality
Ruby: 😬 brothers bring the mood down when they’re ours
Cosmo: Neither of them’s invited
Ruby: it’ll make a change not to see mine out
Cosmo: That’s unlucky
Ruby: but you’re on to a winner with the location, congrats
Cosmo: I had a good feeling
Ruby: I’ve got one too
Cosmo: 💖🤩
Ruby: a compliment to last until I get there
Cosmo: tbd 👋
Ruby: ❤️
Cosmo: [so obviously this night is gonna go better than the awkward date, though that’s not hard soz Savannah, but also a step above the standard club moment of every weekend hence we stay out longer than we usually do when we’ve got an early start tomorrow]
Ruby: [and equally as obviously if you found enough to talk about when you were around all your annoying relatives for that roast I’m not worried about you struggling for a convo tonight, you’re both cute and have things in common and there’s clearly a vibe]
Cosmo: [I don’t think anything needs to happen tonight but it’s obvious you like each other ‘cos you could both be bothered to show and do this]
Ruby: [agreed it feels legit to who you both are and your priorities to wanna take things a bit slower than that, like it’s clearly unlike her already to do this when you were literally on a date earlier and staying out later than planned is also something neither of you do a lot so]
Cosmo: [yes, we’re not that kind of boy, not saying you’ve never slept with anyone obvs lmao but we’re not a different gal every weekend energy at all]
Ruby: [likewise neither calling this gal a nun or a slag but I doubt she's been out with that many people cos of a) her busy schedule and b) the lowkey famous dad and brother thing that would make some lads wanna try it on for that reason]
Cosmo: [exactly dr phil, you wanna skip to the AM of it all?]
Ruby: [absolutely boo]
Cosmo: 🟥 or 🟨 for keeping you out past your bedtime then?
Ruby: Are you willing to take credit or am I blaming a messy friend’s man troubles?
Cosmo: That depends
Cosmo: we would have to find a friend we’d mutually not mind throwing under the bus and I’m not sure if my brain is capable rn
Ruby: it wouldn’t be taxing to mine to think up someone believable, if you’re keen to show up to my door with 💐 & fool my dad that it’s the first move you’ve made
Ruby: for rep’s sake
Cosmo: The 💔 is all around
Cosmo: a hangover will have you feeling that way
Cosmo: are YOU keen for me to show up at your door with 💐s, that’s the real question here
Ruby: I’ll start getting hangovers when I’m old, it’s a scare tactic before, not a real thing
Ruby: impressing my dad doesn’t necessarily impress me
Cosmo: 😂
Cosmo: That’s alright, I already have impressed him, so it’s definitely not my intention here
Ruby: let’s hear what your intentions are
Cosmo: Now you’re bragging about how un-hungover you are
Cosmo: How about you let me set up a second date and we can talk about it then?
Ruby: a brag would have a selfie attached, I was reassuring you I’m not suffering mild alcohol poisoning like most of our friends
Ruby: a second date for when?
Cosmo: I’m pleased to hear it
Cosmo: it doesn’t make for a pretty sight
Cosmo: [pisstakey shot of some of the lads dying in the changing room or wherever like ew lol]
Cosmo: Send me your calendar and I’ll see?
Ruby: 😬 lovely [but send him something similar of the girls obvs and then your calendar of course, I’m cackling because what if the only time they can both do is tonight so that looks really extra when you’re both not]
Cosmo: They’d kill us for that 😏
Cosmo: [we so could, lmao okay]
Cosmo: Well, it looks like either we double down and go for tonight or we give it a rain check and see in a couple weeks 🤔
Ruby: tonight works for me but it’s you who’d be doing the work to think of somewhere else with wow factor
Cosmo: Undefeated with two wins sounds a lot better than one
Ruby: yeah & I don’t want to talk about weeks on the bench
Cosmo: Be a bit of a dirty tactic to put the blame on you for not going out with me tonight if I get benched but
Cosmo: If it works I’m not above it
Cosmo: So, what kind of place are you looking to avoid tonight?
Ruby: do we need to avoid anywhere or flash photography? your cousin & the girl they forced you to date can’t stay mad forever
Cosmo: No, we don’t have to
Ruby: 💖🤩
Cosmo: Understood
Cosmo: I’ll get back to you
Ruby: 🚫🍷🥃🍸🍹 can be tonight’s rule if you need a break
Cosmo: I don’t
Cosmo: I just needed to know what you want to do, and now I do and I’m thinking
Ruby: I know you don’t need it to have or be fun, me either hopefully
Cosmo: I think you’re fun
Cosmo: and it’s definitely tragic if you have to rely on something like that, that’s not me
Ruby: it’s nobody I know or would count as worth knowing
Cosmo: Totally
Cosmo: Okay, I’m going on the pitch, send you deets later
Ruby: don’t mess up or I’m going to cancel tonight & I don’t want to so that’ll be us both in bad moods 😘
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shireness-says · 6 years ago
Text
If I Could See Your Face Once More (4/6)
Summary: This time, there’s no celebration at Granny’s when the latest crisis has been resolved. Instead, they’re left to deal with the body of Killian Jones. A 5B canon divergence where Killian dies in Camelot, never becoming a Dark One. Rated T for language. Also on AO3. ~8.3K. Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3
A/N: I’m sorry for what’s about to happen. I promise I’ll fix it.
Thanks to @snidgetsafan for beta-ing, even if she’s mad at me, and to @csmarchmadness for getting me posting this in the first place. I’ll have the 5th chapter up as soon as I finish it.
Tagging: @thejollyroger-writer, @profdanglaisstuff, @captainsjedi, @ultraluckycatnd, @superchocovian, @snowbellewells, @killianjones4ever82, @wellhellotragic, @ohmakemeahercules, @let-it-raines, @lifeinahole27. Shoot me a message if you want to be added to the list!
Thanks for reading - let me know what you think!
Seeing Hades standing in the library, threatening the boy Killian views as a son, is the stuff of nightmares. Killian so distinctly remembers every blow, every cut, every bruise inflicted upon him in the god’s cavernous lair; he remembers, despite Hades’ suave exterior, exactly how furious he got when Killian refused to beg for mercy. It makes Killian’s blood run even colder within his dead veins to see that same… demon masquerading as man anywhere near Henry.
Hades mentioned a proposition, but Killian isn’t interested. “We’re not interested in deals, tyrant,” he growls back.
The god only hums though, like he’s got a secret. It just might worry Killian even more than the deal itself. “Are you sure? You might think differently once you have all the information. Reconsider, if you will.” Hades rolls his eyes as Belle pulls Henry further behind her across the room. “Honestly, you’ve got to stop that. What, you think I’m going to smite the kid down? Not my style.”
“What aren’t you telling us?” David demands, ignoring their enemy’s flat attempt at reassurance. Killian’s wondering the same thing - Emma’s father has always just been a bit more blunt about things. Not one for banter, that one.
“I’m sure you’ve discovered my lovely gift already? The personalized headstones? I’ve always been one for that personal touch, you know.” Hades, on the other hand, prefers to yammer away, in love with theatrics and the sound of his own voice. Killian would much rather he just get to the bloody point. “As time’s gone by, though, I’ve really found myself thinking I just didn’t do quite enough. I mean, you’ve got a child with you! How rude of me not to cater to the youth!”
“You didn’t,” Regina growls, as realization slowly dawns on all of them. Oh, gods. Killian feels sick to his stomach.
“Oh, but I did,” Hades confirms, smiling that slimy grin at the collected crowd as Belle instinctively holds Henry tighter. “Like I said: I don’t need to do any of that messy smiting business. Not when I can just add dear Henry’s name to one of those monuments. Neater, don’t you think?”
“You son of a bitch,” Killian spits. Only Emma’s tight grip on his hand and Liam throwing a cautionary arm across his chest keeps him from throwing himself at Hades, and he can spot the same blazing rage in everyone’s eyes. “I’ll kill you, I swear I will, you demon.”
“Good luck with that,” Hades replies, rolling his eyes. “We can either go that route - which won’t work, by the way, in case you’ve haven’t forgotten our lovely little interlude on my home turf before - or you can listen to my proposition.”
“We’re listening,” Liam says, casting a warning look in Killian’s direction. Hear him out, he’s silently saying. Know what you’re up against.
“The way I see it, you’ve got something I want, and I’ve got something you want. So, just give me the Olympian Crystal, and I’ll be happy to wipe all those headstones clean. Hell, I’ll even throw in a portal to get you all home in, say,” he makes a great show of looking at an oversized watch, “two hours.”
It’s a good deal, Killian knows. There had always been some uncertainty around how they would escape the Underworld once they had found a way to revive him, and now that Henry has been tossed into this mess… well, that’s non-negotiable. Henry’s safety, the safety of both his children comes before anything else. Killian would gladly throttle Hades with his bare hands, but not at Henry’s expense.
Emma’s always been an all-or-nothing type of woman, however. “And Killian?” she demands.
“Well, I can’t let a soul that’s rightfully mine just waltz out of here, you know. It’s just not good for business. I think I’ve been more than generous,” the god protests.
Emma looks like she’s about to snap and turn down the deal, but Killian interrupts before she gets the chance. “Give us a moment to talk.”
“Oh, of course. Important decisions, I understand. I’ll just be over here,” Hades says, poofing himself into one of the library chairs. Showoff. With their threat sedately seated to the side, crossing his legs in a deceptively casual manner, Belle and Henry take this moment to dart across the room to where everyone else is standing. Killian draws Henry into his arms just as soon as he’s close enough. The poor lad looks pale and worried, and all Killian wants is to alleviate that concern as much as he can.
(It also might be one of the last times Killian holds his boy if they take this deal like he thinks they should, but Killian is trying not to think about that yet.)
“You can’t seriously be thinking about taking Hades’ deal,” Emma hisses. “We are not leaving without you.”
“I’m more than thinking about it; I’ve made my decision. Emma, love, we’ve got to take his deal, it’s the only way,” he begs.
“I refuse to accept that. We came down here to save you, Killian, and I don’t intend to give up.”
“Emma, please,” he begs. “I love you, and I want to come home with you more than anything, but things have changed. It’s been bad enough to have your name on one of those tombstones, but Henry’s… I can’t live with myself, knowing that he’s trapped down here when there was another way to make sure you’re all safe. Henry’s safety has to be non-negotiable.” Killian looks around for support, desperate for any backup.
He finds it in an unexpected place. “He’s right, Emma,” Snow, the queen of hope herself, says softly. “We don’t have a plan for getting out of here, not really, and we definitely don’t have a way to remove our names from the headstones. This would solve both. I know you don’t want to leave Killian behind - none of us do, sweetheart. But you have to think of Henry, and the baby, and what’s best for them.”
“If we accept this, though… we give up our chance to save Killian,” Emma whispers, tears pooling at the bottom of her eyes and starting to slip down her cheeks. Killian can’t help but reach out to catch those tears; it’d be working against every instinct he possesses to deny that impulse to try and ease her pain.
“Actually,” Belle cuts in, “that might not be strictly true.” All eyes turn her direction, by turns curious and hopeful. “Henry and I think we found another way. I don’t want to say anything with Hades right over there but… we think there’s another way.”
“And it’s doable in that 2 hour window?” Robin asks.
“I believe so.”
“There’s really no question then, my love,” Killian says, just for Emma. Privately, he’s less hopeful about this last chance, but he can’t say that now, when his love is looking for any excuse to refuse the bargain. “Accept Hades’ deal. It’ll all work out, somehow.”
“I love you,” she says with a wobbly smile.
“And I you, my Swan.”
It feels like one of the ridiculous sports games Dave once forced him to watch as they uncluster from their tight huddle again. If not for the circumstances, it might almost make Killian laugh. But the circumstances are what they are, and it’s impossible to really embrace the humor when they’re about to possibly go bargain his resurrection away.
“So if we give you the stupid Crystal, you’ll let us go?” Emma demands, grasping Killian’s hand and refusing to let go. “Names cleared, one portal, no loopholes?”
“No loopholes,” Hades promises. The bastard even has the gall to look insulted at the implication he’d play anything but fair. “I’m a deity of my word, you know. I’ll even toss in a couple extra minutes to say goodbye, free of charge, just so the expiration lands on a nice neat quarter hour. Give me the Crystal, and the portal will open at 8:15pm.”
Emma still hesitates. Killian can understand that; even if they both know what must happen, putting that officially into motion is still hard. He squeezes her hand - in solidarity, in encouragement, in love, in everything else, and with a final nod, Emma finally takes the plunge.
“We’ll take your deal, then.”
“Excellent,” Hades grins, even such a happy gesture dripping with ooze on him. “I’ll take my prize, then.”
After a last pause, Emma reluctantly hands the Crystal over. In Hades’ hands, it briefly glows as if suddenly activated before becoming just a hunk of rock again. Killian tries to comfort himself with the fact that maybe that glow means they wouldn’t have been able to use the Crystal after all, even if it was still in their possession; it doesn’t work very well. The god waves his other hand in an almost dismissive gesture once he has the crystal, and what feels like a ripple of power chases through the room. That must have been him removing the headstones; Killian sure hopes so, otherwise they’re all doubly screwed.
“Pleasure doing business with you,” quips Hades. “Your portal will open an hour before in the cemetery and close at 8:15 on the dot, no transfers, no take backs, only one small carry-on allowed, take only pictures, leave only footprints, yada yada yada. Have a nice life.” And with another hand gesture, he disappears in a puff of red-tinged smoke.
“Well that was excessive,” Regina comments dryly. That might be the understatement of the year. “Now, Henry, what did you and Belle discover?”
“We think we figured out where the ambrosia bush is!” Henry bursts out, the excitement of his accomplishment practically seeping from his pores.
“Well done, lad!” congratulates Killian, slinging an affectionate arm around his boy’s shoulders.
“Not to be the skeptical one here, because I really do hope you have, but what makes you think you’ve discovered the ambrosia bush, Henry?” Robin asks. He truly doesn’t mean it as a criticism, Killian knows; Robin is just a practical sort, a man who likes having a plan before he rushes into a situation, unlike so many of these other heroes Killian’s thrown his lot in with.
Belle smiles though, as if to reassure Robin that no offense has been taken. “Well, we started thinking about all the places here in the Underworld and back in Storybrooke that are really significant. Like how Hades’ lair and the River of Souls are beneath the library. There were places we ruled out easily, like the diner or the well or Regina’s crypt, but then —”
“The mines!” Henry interrupts, before apologizing sheepishly to Belle. “We just thought… you know, the fairy dust comes from the mines. That’s, like, one of the town’s sources of magic. So we got to thinking… what if they’re hiding some other natural magic?”
“There are some curious stories about the mines,” Liam adds thoughtfully. “People have been known to go in and not come back out. It stands to reason.”
“We looked at the maps, and found a dead-end tunnel,” Belle continues. “There was also a mention in one of the books about some odd mechanisms in one of the tunnels. We think perhaps it’s some sort of door.”
“Perhaps to a secret, fabled plant,” Killian finishes. “Brilliant, lass.” It’s a long shot, certainly, but it’s also the best lead they have - especially when they’ve got a two hour time limit and no other options.
“Okay, so Killian and I will go see about the ambrosia, while the rest of you collect our things. And, you know, the baby and Zelena. We’ll meet you in the cemetery.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Emma’s father asks. “You two going off on your own like that?”
“Maybe it’s not, but someone needs to keep an eye on Henry, and I remember how tightly you stuffed those backpacks when we came down in the first place. We’ll be fine,” Emma replies.
“Are you sure?” Snow cuts in. “Your father or I would be happy to come with you —”
“It’s fine, Mom. Seriously, we’ll meet you by Regina’s crypt when we’re done.”
Somehow, she manages to convince Snow to leave and follow Regina and Robin out. Before Henry trails along after, Killian pulls him into a tight embrace.
“I’m proud of you, my boy,” he whispers into Henry’s hair. Gods willing, the ambrosia will be exactly where Henry and Belle think it is, will be the answer to all their prayers, but Killian’s not taking any chances. If worst comes to worst, and this is the last time he sees Henry, Killian wants to imprint every detail into his very soul.
“Thanks,” Henry mumbles back, before pulling back with determination glinting in his eyes. “It’s going to work, you know. It has to.”
“Ah, well of course it will if the Truest Believer decrees it so,” Killian smiles back, forcing all of his worry down to give Henry this moment. “Now, why don’t you go ask that brother of mine about the time he sent us all chasing after a sea monster?”
Henry happily leaps off to catch up to where Liam waits at the door. Catching his brother’s eye, they exchange nods. Liam will keep an eye on the lad, make sure he doesn’t run off into any foolhardy side quests.
“A sea monster?” Emma asks at his side, her tone somewhere between confusion and amusement.
“A particularly clever dolphin, as it turns out,” he explains. “At the time Liam was absolutely convinced we had discovered some mystical new creature. Blatantly abused his new power as captain to go chasing the bloody thing. You didn’t want your parents’ assistance?” he volleys back.
“I mostly wasn’t in the mood for some dramatic hope speech,” Emma admits. “Or Dad trying to, like, fight the door. Or something. I love them, but if time is of the essence or whatever you’d say…”
“I understand completely,” Killian chuckles. “We’ve always made a good team, you and I.” And they have - right from the beginning, even before the romance and the second chances and the deep, undying love, they’d always worked more effectively together than any other way. It should have been a sign, right there back on the beanstalk; Killian is only glad he embraced it before it was too late.
The trek from the library to the mine entrance is quicker than Killian expected, just down to the end of Main Street before walking down a wooded path. It’s probably overreacting to try and help Emma over and around every minor obstacle in their way - roots and stones and the like - but he does anyways, trying to infuse his love and concerned affection into every touch. If the way Emma smiles even as she rolls her eyes is any indication, she knows that already, has accepted it. Now is the time to hover, anyways; as much as Killian tries not to think about how these could be their last minutes together, it proves impossible to entirely banish that pesky little whispering voice from his head. Instead, he caters to the voice by trying to memorize every little detail of her hands - the little spots of dry skin between her fingers and the half-formed calluses where her fingers and palm meet and the odd little scar further down her palm that he knows is from a childhood tumble on rough gravel, not to mention the very specific way she likes to weave their fingers together (her pinky on the outside, always on the outside, or she’ll untangle them just to rearrange them the way she likes). He loves every part of her - every silly little detail that seems so frivolous and unimportant to anyone else but is everything to him.
(She’s everything to him. Gods, he hopes this works, because he’s tried an afterlife without her already and could barely stand it. He doesn’t know what he’ll do, if this doesn’t work.)
The mines themselves are a dark series of tunnels carved into what must have been an existing cave that mostly remind Killian of why he’s glad to be a man of the seas. Even with the electrical switch flipped to switch on a rickety, buzzing series of bulbs, the atmosphere is cloying and claustrophobic, every surface rough from where the tunnels were hewn directly from the stone.
“Careful, love,” he cautions, carefully making his way down ahead of her to test for uneven ground.
Her returning eye roll is less affectionate this time. “I’ve been down to the mines before, Killian,” she reminds him. “Remember how I slayed a dragon? I’m fine.”
The words are rather undermined by a subsequent stumble, making Killian huff in fond exasperation. Bloody stubborn woman. At least it’s an excuse to draw Emma in close against his side - for safekeeping and for comfort.
“I don’t know how you think you’ll be able to handle the map like this,” she grumbles as Killian’s fingers begin stroking gently along her side, just in that place between her bony hip and the soft curve of the Bean.
“Simple. I’ll let you hold it instead,” he replies, only half jokingly. Time is of the essence, but handling the map seems like such a waste when he could be imprinting the feel of her skin between every ridge of his fingertips.
“Smartass,” she mutters with a smile playing at the corners of her mouth.
It’s the easiest thing in the world, even facing such a terrifying uncertainty, to drop a soft kiss on the side of Emma’s head. “And you love me for it.”
“I do,” she sighs dramatically, before stretching to kiss the back ridge of his jaw in turn. It’s always been one of her favorite spots when it’s just the two of them. Killian pulls Emma even closer against his side as she does so, closing his eyes to better savor the moment.
(It’s not the last, it’s not the last, it can’t possibly be the last… but what if it is? What if he’s forced to live off the memory of her soft lips against the corner of his jaw for the rest of eternity?)
The darkness and close quarters of the mine become no less cloying the deeper they travel, and Killian finds himself clinging to Emma not just for her own safety, but to impart a sense of security to himself as well. In the cave-like environment, the only constants are her warmth against his side and the rocky path they walk along continuously sloping downwards. The map proves to be a blessing as tunnels split again and again, creating a confusion of passageways they’d never have been able to navigate without Henry and Belle’s careful charting. Eventually, the bulbs run out when they get too deep into the maze of the mine, replaced instead by torches, somewhat reminiscent of his and Emma’s little adventure to the past and to Regina’s dungeons. By some miracle, Killian finds a bar matchbook in one of his jacket’s pockets, keeping Emma from having to use her magic. She’s grown more confident again in its use, and more convinced the worst of her exhaustion spells are over, but Killian is decidedly less persuaded. He’d never forgive himself if something happened to his love and the Bean all the way down here. Emma may roll her eyes at the way he frantically starts patting at pockets until he finds the matches, but it really does make him feel better about the situation. Once one is lit, it’s just a matter of continuing to light wall torches along the rest of their way as necessary until they reach the end of their journey through the mines.
Their path finally leads to an elevator, of all things. The walls are even closer down here, barely excavated, and as they squeeze past a last outcropping before the chamber widens for the elevator doors, it’s easy for Killian to understand how this isn’t common knowledge. It’s not something anyone would stumble across on accident by any means. Curiously, he notes that the elevator itself looks an awful lot like the one in the library, both down here and up above in the real world. It’s obvious that contrary to appearances, there is some greater design to this place, even if just in the initial structure.
Killian has some mild concern about the stability of the car, but when he cautiously steps a foot in and allows his weight to shift onto the metal platform, it holds without issue, barely shifting at his weight. Reassured as to the safety of the conveyance, he can finally reach back for Emma. “Milady?” he offers with a smile as he extends a hand back in her direction. It’s such a small thing, but so worth it for the laugh Emma emits as she grasps his hand and boards the elevator car. He’ll do anything to hear that laugh.
“I hope you know how to work this thing,” she jokes, “because I sure as hell don’t.”
It’s easy enough to operate, as things turn out. Though there is a hand crank attached to one wall, the car begins its descent as soon as the cage gate is closed, eliminating the need for any effort on their part. That’s a relief, frankly - Killian’s not sure how well he would have been able to turn the crank with just his one hand, and allowing Emma to do it herself is far out of the question, at least if Killian has any say in it. It feels like the ride downwards takes forever, despite the surprisingly rapid speed, but they pass it in silence, Killian choosing to express himself in the soft rub of his thumb against the back of Emma’s hand as they descend rather than with words.
It’s damn near impossible to see more than a foot beyond their faces when the elevator opens, even with the torch held aloft, but as he and Emma begin lighting the other torches conveniently spread along the walls, he’s pleased to discover that they’re in a wide open space. The persistent feeling of dread still niggles within his empty chest, but the greater space at least helps abate the feeling that the entire world is collapsing in on him, ready to crush him and Emma deep within the earth. A massive set of doors dominates one side of the doors, covered
with intricate metalwork; the lack of evident hinges would suggest that the portal opens inwards, away from the chamber they currently inhabit, but when Killian experimentally presses against the panels, he’s met with resistance. From the feel of things, the door is barred from the opposite side. He shouldn’t be surprised, really; if the contents of the inner chamber are as powerful as they’re rumored to be, a plant with the power to restore life back to the dead,  it would stand to reason that there would be some challenge or test to acquire it.
Perhaps that’s where the other device in the room comes in - a set of scales upon a circular table, this one with words in a foreign script encircling the edge.
“Of course it can’t be in plain English,” Emma mutters, frowning ferociously at the inscription. When Killian gets closer though, something triggers in his head - half-remembered lessons from long ago.
“Only a heart filled with true love may pass,” he recites, the translation springing to his tongue more quickly than he anticipated.
“You can read… whatever that is?” Emma asks, raising a questioning eyebrow. He’s always liked to think she picked that up from him.
“Ancient Greek,” he clarifies. “You’d be surprised what they teach you in the Royal Navy.”
“Show-off,” she teases back affectionately. He hadn’t translated the words just to impress her, but as with everything in his life - afterlife? once, always, forever - it’s a lovely little side effect, the way her eyes widen in surprise and appreciation and she smiles like she’s proud of him. He loves that smile; he’d do a lot of things to see that smile. “Ok, well if that’s the case…” she trails off, before shaking out her hands and exhaling a heavy breath. He’s seen that body language before; it usually means she’s trying to ramp herself up to perform some massive feat of magic.
“Hold on a moment, love, what exactly are you doing?” he asks as gently as he can, attempting to disguise the naked alarm in his voice.
Emma just looks at him oddly. “What do you think I’m doing?”
“Honestly, darling, I’m not at all sure. Humor a man.”
“Only a heart filled with true love may pass. We need a heart. So, you know,” she waves a hand around, “I’ve got to extract mine real quick.”
“Absolutely not,” Killian protests. With the baby at stake, and Emma’s own exhaustion… absolutely not. There’s no way in hell he’ll allow it, no pun intended.
Emma just rolls her eyes in response. In other circumstances, Killian might find the gesture a little endearing in how quintessentially her it is, but this isn’t one of those moments. “Ok, well, what’s your idea, then? Because last I checked, you don’t have one right now.”
“That doesn’t mean you should just… reach in your chest and yank your own out!” he fires back. “There’s got to be another way.”
“What, with —” Emma checks the watch on her wrist, “sixty-five minutes left?” She fixes Killian with a pointed look, a what’s your brilliant idea, genius? look, until Killian finally sighs out his defeat. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.”
“I still don’t like it, Emma,” he replies more quietly. “I don’t want to put you in harm’s way any further than I already have, not to mention the babe. And I don’t...” He pauses, trying to collect all his worried thoughts into something resembling sense. “I believe we’re true love, and I certainly hope we are, but we can’t know that, Emma. What happens if we’re wrong? How do you know that this won’t all blow up in our faces?”
“I don’t,” she replies simply. “I just have to have faith that it will be fine,” Emma explains, turning to face Killian and grasping his hand. “See?” And without any further ado, she plunges her other hand into her own chest, wincing slightly as her hand disappears to the wrist. It’s all of Killian’s worst nightmares come to life, watching the woman he loves wince in pain as her heart is dislodged from its home beneath her breastbone. Even if he knows, consciously, that Emma’s in no real peril, that she’s removing such a vital organ herself, it brings back horrible memories of Milah’s death and sends panic rippling through his veins. Desperately, Killian tries to remind himself of the gentleness with which she held his own heart after the debacle with Gold and the Spell of Shattered Sight; surely, she’d treat her own heart with the same gentleness she’d granted his.
(Then again, she did also all but slam his heart back into his chest immediately afterwards. ‘Like a bandaid’, his arse; he’s still positive that the gesture was Emma’s own little revenge for all the worry he put her through, not that he can argue if it’s true.)
Emma seems blissfully unaware of the way the ghost of his heart has climbed into Killian’s throat, extracting her hand again with her jewel-red organ beating within her grasp. “See? Fine.”
He has to give her that, honestly; Emma isn’t even winded, and as nervous as it makes Killian to see his love’s heart outside of where it belongs in her chest, he has to say that it’s beautiful. Unlike his own heart, streaked through with dark wisps of all the terrible things he’s done in his long life, Emma’s is a brilliant crimson, mesmerizing to watch. He can just see the way it gently pulses within her palm, visibly calmer than anything he can muster at the moment.
Emma must notice the fascination with which he watches the beating muscle within her hands, as she holds her heart out to him. What symbolism. “Here, you take it,” she offers, practically shocking Killian out of his boots.
“Oh no, I couldn’t —” he tries to protest, but Emma’s always been a stubborn one, and before he knows it she’s grabbing his hand and tipping the pumping muscle into it. He cradles it against his chest on instinct, making sure to keep his hook arm far, far away; the last thing they need is for him to accidentally nick her heart as he tries to hold it. It’s precious, after all, and so small and fragile; as Killian cradles the organ to his body, there’s a passing, hysterical thought that if he actually makes it out of the Underworld, this kind of careful handling might be good practice for the Bean. He’s sure there’s panic in his eyes as he meets Emma’s gaze, but she just smiles back as if to calm him back down.
“I trust you,” she says simply, as if they’re not the biggest words in the world. Sure, he’s known on a certain level that she does indeed trust him, between the Wicked Witch and Camelot and I’m going to choose to see the best in you, but it’s another thing to hear the words. She loves him, too, and the thought of that alone is enough to make Killian giddy, but love and trust are so often wildly different things, especially where his love is concerned; it leaves him a little bit in awe, knowing that he’s somehow earned it.
Maybe he’s overthinking things, though, as Emma just stands there expectantly as he’s bowled over by emotion. “You gonna put it on the scales?” she asks, jolting Killian into motion.
“As you wish.” He hadn’t known the significance of those words when he’d first told her that what feels like an eternity ago in Neverland, but after several movie nights in those blissful six weeks of peace, he does now. Now, when he says the words, he means them most emphatically: I love you, I love you, I love you. She knows it, too, if the way she smiles just that little bit wider as he passes is any indication. That’s just as it should be; his Swan deserves to hear every iteration of those words, every day.
At the scales themselves, he tips her heart onto the unweighted side ever so carefully before standing back to watch and wait - for what, he’s not sure. For the doors to open, he supposes. It all seems so simple, though, and as the doors stay stubbornly closed, Killian wonders if this is the other shoe dropping, or if that’s yet to come.
Emma’s brows furrow in confusion. Killian can just see on her face that she’s already decided it’s impossible their love isn’t true, even as his own stomach plummets with the proof in front of them. “What the hell?” she mutters, stepping back towards the scales herself.
And that’s when it all really goes to hell.
Emma’s barely taken a step when she suddenly cries out in pain, hunching over and clutching at her chest as she gasps desperately for breath.
“Emma, what’s wrong?” he asks helplessly. “What’s wrong? Are you alright? Love, tell me.” She’s obviously not alright, and they’re such stupid words, but they’re all he can come up with in the moment, too worried to pay much attention to sense.
“My… heart…” she manages to gasp out, reaching for the organ only to cry out again, seemingly struck by another attack.
Even in his panic, it’s easy enough to connect the dots that the scale is somehow doing this to Emma, putting her in indescribably pain - Gods, maybe even killing her if he doesn’t do something right this moment. He doesn’t think twice before moving to snatch her heart back to the relative safety of his grasp - Emma, at least, seems to think it’s safe there, even if Killian is less sure of that. He’s hasn’t even finished taking his first step in that direction, however, when he’s stopped by a column of fire, the flames surrounding him and trapping him within their hold. If he feels the flames on his extremities, it’s easily dwarfed by the burning pain that feel like it’s engulfing him from the inside, eating into his soul and heart and everything that makes him him. He should be strong, suffer through it so Emma doesn’t have to add concern for him onto her own pain, but he can’t help the cry that slips out.
“Killian!” she gasps, her eyes widening with an even greater panic than before.
“Get your heart, Emma,” he pleads. There’s something in those same eyes that makes him think she’ll do something drastic to save him at her own expense, and that just can’t stand. She may not think so, but he’s the expendable one here - it’s crucial that she live, that their babe live, even if he’s charred to a crisp right here where he stands. “Emma, get your heart! Your heart!”
He can see her shifting her gaze back and forth between the scales and himself, even as the flames leap higher and send another burst of unbearable pain through his entire being. Killian preoccupies himself praying to any god that will take pity on him that Emma will dive for her heart, save herself. It’s just two steps; at this point, he doesn’t even care if they never open the doors and reach the fabled ambrosia, as long as Emma’s okay. That’s all that matters - all that’s ever mattered, and if she’ll just take those steps, it’ll all be okay —
Instead, another body plows into him, knocking them both over. By some miracle, Killian manages to cushion her fall with his entire body. He could just shake her for choosing him over herself, his stubborn lass, but somehow the fact remains that the flames have disappeared and Emma’s chest only heaves with the exertion, not a slow suffocation.
“Are you alright, love?” he asks again, holding her tight to his body with his hooked arm as his hand combs gently through her hair.
“I’m okay. What about you?”
He laughs a little at that, Emma’s inability to focus on the danger she herself was in for her worry over him. “Aye, love, I’m alright. I’m just fine.” Killian takes a moment just to smile at her, awed by everything she is, before he turns more serious. “You saved me.” He shouldn’t be surprised by that really; she’s been saving him in every conceivable way, ever since that very first moment when she pulled him from beneath a pile of corpses and showed him there were still things in the world worth believing in. Still, the knowledge that she saved him, the unworthy pirate, continues to take his breath away.
“Of course I did,” Emma replies, her voice mildly chiding even as he can see her eyes sweep over his face as if she’s reassuring herself that he’s there.
“You shouldn’t have.”
“But I did,” she reminds him. “I love you.” Simple as that. Like that’s all the explanation needed, and maybe it is.
“And I you,” he echoes, the truth pulled from deep within his soul. “More than I’ll ever have the words to express.” As he draws her into a gentle kiss, something to reassure them both that they’re both still here, still fighting, they almost miss the heavy noise of the doors opening.
Almost.
Emma twists her head to the sign at the sound. “Was that…” she trails off, like she’s afraid to jinx it.
“Aye,” Killian breathes out in response. The proof is right in front of them, after all, the doors having opened to reveal a curved hallway already lit by torches.
“But how…”
“Only a heart filled with true love may pass,” Killian recites back. The meaning of those words is only now starting to really sink in; the doors opened for them, so that means they’re true love, something he hadn’t even dared dream might be true. It nearly brings tears to his eyes, and he can’t help but let the awe leak into his voice. “You did it, love.”
“I guess so,” she agrees, still staring at the door in mild bewilderment. “But… how?”
“You chose me. That was the test.” Killian is kind of reasoning through it as he speaks, but that has to be it. That’s what makes sense. “You could have gone for your heart - should have, probably, but… you chose me. You chose me.” The words will never stop amazing him. Gods, true love.
Emma’s smile is a tender as he’s ever seen it as she strokes along his cheek. “Of course I did, babe,” she says once again. “There was never any question. We’re a team, remember? You and me. Giving up or leaving you like that was never an option.”
Killian sits up suddenly, unable to wait any longer to kiss Emma, his love, his true love. There’s a sweetness to the way their lips meet that’s almost reminiscent of the kiss that started this all, out on Granny’s patio after their time travel adventure. There’s no time to deepen it and turn this into a longer or more passionate encounter - not that this is the place for it, anyways, here on the dusty and rocky floor - but it had just proved impossible not to seal this moment with a kiss.
When they finally separate again, it’s only to rest their foreheads together, still breathing in the same air. Unfortunately, there’s no more time to spare. “Are you ready, my love?” He asks, still somewhat breathless.
“Anything with you,” Emma promises right back, gripping onto his lapels for just a moment longer before they both move to stand up.
It’s hard not to set off down the hewn passageway with something approaching giddiness when Emma’s hand is enveloped within his own and a hope he had almost given up on bouncing around in his still-stopped heart. No matter how many times he’d sworn not to get his hopes up, tried to remind himself this was likely the end of everything, he can’t help it. They’re true love, a fact that bears repeating over and over again. their child will be another product of true love, and it nearly makes him giggle like a child to think about how he or she will be a baby born of true love to a mother that’s herself born of her parents true love. It’s the most delightful and ridiculous statement he’s ever contemplated.
All that hope and wonder, unfortunately, only makes the great fall all the harsher when they both turn the corner to see nothing but an obviously dead bush.
“No,” Emma whispers, her voice the auditory equivalent of whatever this sinking feeling in Killian’s stomach is. “No, there must be something.”
There’s not, though. The bush is just a gnarled mess of branches, no leaves, no flowers, no fruit, even if it’s surrounded by a prettier little golden fence than Killian’s seen in even the most ornate palace gardens. No, the ambrosia plant is clearly, unmistakably dead.
His Emma is a stubborn one, though, and has some of her mother’s unshakable hope - even if she doesn’t like admitting to it. She’s already pulled away from Killian, releasing his hand to stride over to the plant and start rooting around the edges of its soil bed, looking for Gods-only-know-what.
“There’s got to be something left,” she mutters, not quite under her breath in her desperation as she frantically searches. “Leaves or seeds or… something. Why aren’t you looking?” she demands abruptly, that panic back in her eyes again.
“There’s nothing to find, love,” Killian tries to tell her gently, even as his own heart is breaking. This is it; this is how their great search ends.
“Ok, well, if there’s nothing on this plant, there’s got to be another one, right?” she asks, more of that frenzy creeping into her voice as she stands back up and brushes her soil-covered hands off on her jeans. “There’s another plant, we’ve just got to find it.”
“Where, love?” he all but begs, voice breaking on the endearment. “Look around you. There’s nowhere else another ambrosia bush would be hiding.” That much is painfully obvious to him. The chamber surrounding the bush, their last great hope, is perfectly circular and perfectly stone and gravel, the only other organic matter the dried straw fueling the ensorcelled torches. It’s only by a feat of magic, he’s sure, that the perfect circle of soil exists for the plant in the first place; there’s simply no other spot in the cavern that could support life. Emma may look all she likes, but as much as Killian wishes otherwise, she’ll never find anything. It’s just not possible.
Emma huffs in frustration, but it’s so easy for him to see the panic underneath it, especially with the way her eyes dart back and forth as if searching for another answer. “Ok, then, we try the heart split again. Now that my name isn’t on one of those fucking headstones anymore, there shouldn’t be a problem. It could still work.” Even as her hand starts moving towards her chest in a motion Killian hopes never to see again in his life - or afterlife, as it were - she sounds doubtful. And for good reason, too.
“No, love, it won’t,” he says as gently as he can.
“Why the hell not? It worked for my parents. You’ve seen David, he’s totally fine. We didn’t even know anything during the whole Wicked Witch debacle until they got their memories back.”
“Yes, but your father was dead for… not even two minutes. Barely longer than the time it took to split your mother’s heart. It’s been months since I died, love, almost four of them,” Killian reminds her, sending his own dead heart plummeting into his boots in the process.
“There’s a preservation spell over your body, though,” she argues right back, picking up momentum. “It’s not like you’re… rotting away, or something.” The very idea of that is enough to make both of them wince.
“That doesn’t mean anything, unfortunately. You and I have both read the storybook, love; we’ve both seen what happened to Regina’s love, how poorly that turned out. He almost hurt Henry, and I won’t put any of you in danger, especially not from my hand. I won’t, love.”
“But we’re true love,” she insists. “Shouldn’t that make all the difference?”
Before Killian can even contemplate his response, the chamber around them starts rumbling, bits of sediment and small pebbles dislodging and raining down on both their heads. Hades must have opened the portal; the disturbance is too similar to what happened when Zelena arrived in the underworld for it to be anything else. The force up above shakes this whole realm to its very foundations, and Killian’s suddenly even more desperate to get Emma as far away from all this as possible - preferably out of this accursed in-between world all together. It’ll break his heart to say goodbye, but her safety, and that of Henry and the baby, is more important than any pain he might be feeling.
“We’ve got to get out of here, back to the surface, love,” he urges, half a plan forming in his mind as he ushers her reluctantly back towards the stone hallway. If he can just get her to the elevator… “It’s not safe.”
Emma casts a look back around the empty, dead chamber, but there’s no denying that he’s right, as larger chunks of stone start dislodging from the ceiling and tumbling down.
The shaking had settled somewhat by the time they reach the elevator, but Killian still hurries Emma on board. There’s not much time left, after all - a few minutes less than an hour, if his timepiece is correct - and Emma will need every second she can get to make her way back through the tunnels, up to the surface, and over to the cemetery before the portal closes. Emma thankfully goes without complaint, even leading at turns, sensing the urgency of this all.
That is, she goes without complaint until Killian steps back off the metal conveyance.
Her eyebrows furrow in confusion at that. “What are you doing, babe? You said it yourself, we’ve got to go. No time to dawdle, or however you’d phrase it.” The corners of her lips even twitch upwards for moment; she clearly has no idea what he’s planning to do, and it sends another stab of guilt through his body.
Killian swallows heavily in a last effort to muster the courage to follow through on this. “I’m not coming with you, love,” he reveals softly, sadly.
That brings the frown back to her face and the panic back to her eyes. “No, that’s not right,” she argues. “You said —”
“I know what I said darling, that we were both getting out of here, but I lied.” He shakes his head in shame. “I’m sorry. I know I said I’d never do that to you, but I had to get you out of that chamber somehow. You’ve got to get to that portal.”
“Not without you,” she declares, stepping back towards Killian with fire in her eyes. There’s tears forming there too, though. “There’s still time, we can still figure something out—”
“No, we can’t. We’ve tried everything, love. This was our last last chance. And if we have to say goodbye… well, I’d rather it was down here, just the two of us. More privacy,” he tries to joke. It doesn’t work.
“But I’m not ready,” Emma pleads. “It’s not enough time.”
“It’s more time than you and I were ever meant to have,” he reminds her. “And I’m so grateful for that. If you hadn’t come down to try and rescue me, I would have never known about our child. I would have never seen you again. Even if your efforts didn’t work to resurrect me, how can I regret a single moment of that borrowed time? Even if we have to part?”
“But I want you there. I want you to meet the baby, and be a father to Henry, and grow old with me.”
“That’s just not in the cards for us, my love,” he replies, voice breaking in the middle. Damn it all, he’s crying too, and he was supposed to hold himself together to try and make this easier. “But I have faith that you and Henry will remember me, and tell our son or daughter all about their father. Especially how much I’ve loved them, from the moment I knew they existed.”
Emma nods, ducking her head for a moment as if to collect herself. “I don’t know how to say goodbye,” she admits.
“Then don’t,” he suggests. “This won’t be forever, just for now. Just for the moment.” A very long now and a very long moment, without any guarantee that he’s done enough to await Emma in a better place, he doesn’t say. “Promise me, though, that you won’t let my death keep you from a happy ending. You’ve still got so much life ahead of you, love. Let yourself be happy in it. I’ve been so proud to see you break down some of your walls; don’t build them back up just because I’m gone. Promise me that.”
“I promise,” she vows with tears in her eyes. “But you have to swear to me that you’ll move on with Liam, that you won’t wait here for me. Don’t let us be your unfinished business.”
“I promise.” He’s not sure it’s one he can keep, but he’ll try his very best.
There’s no more excuses to wait any longer, and Killian carefully helps Emma back into the elevator, reaching up for the gate. Emma stops him before he can close it though, reaching through the bars to frame his face with both her hands.
“I love you, Killian Jones,” she declares, one last time, with tears streaming down her face.
“And I love you, my Swan.”
Their final kiss is slow and gentle, a kiss meant to soak into his very bones and linger with him for all the many years to come. Killian makes sure to stroke along her cheek and through her hair, hoping to engrain the sensations into his brain so he may never forget. This is their one last time, their final goodbye, and it seems crucial that he catalog every moment.
All too soon, the kiss has so end, though, and with one last moment spend resting his forehead against her own, he draws the gate to clang shut. The elevator car lurches to life as soon as he does, slowly making its way upwards, and Killian quickly moves to tangle his fingers with Emma’s own. He doesn’t intend to let go until he absolutely has to. Seeing Emma shake with quiet sobs as the car pulls away, he moves on instinct, drawing her hand to his mouth for a kiss - one, two, three times before she’s carried out of his reach, in a last ditch effort to show his love exactly how precious she is.
And then she’s gone, leaving Killian to his misery at the bottom of the mine.
———
Liam comes to collect him some indeterminate amount of time later, after the shaking finally subsides.
It doesn’t matter though. Nothing does anymore.
She’s gone.
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katzenflocken · 6 years ago
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LA Times
I went to a Halloween party in October and I wrote down my experience in my phone.
A month or so ago I had made the decision that I wanted to attend a Halloween event and ultimately I decided on scream in Edmonton. I had bought the pre-sale ticket without actually knowing who was playing since there was no lineup details but this didn't concern me because I just wanted to go have fun and listen to some jams with cool people. I had calculated the cost of bus and hotel and came up to roughly 700 for a comfortable trip with all the best food/mixed drinks at the show. I had already had my own party favors so this was one of the reasons why I wanted to keep it local in Alberta. But then the lineup got released and I only seen one artist that was potentially going to be "okay" after listening to their SoundCloud. I was feeling very on the fence and on top of that, the party only went until 2am which was making it real hard to justify a long boring ass bus ride for a short night of mostly lame edm music. (No offense to the edm enthusiasts out there)
After some Olympic tier mental gymnastics of being so sure I wanted to go to Scream, I got curious and went to the handy dandy Resident Advisor and looked at shows in Alberta then Vancouver, even Toronto. I didn't see any events I was interested in and I left it at that. Then I got the brilliant and brave idea to possibly venture outside our borders, and a few clicks later I stumbled upon louisahhh's upcoming events and noticed she was playing a show along with boys noize and tbh, it was a no brainer. I had to make this happen. After a few calculations, it was literally going to cost the same as going to Edmonton (600 cdn) but with more spending money required in American. So naturally it was 💯 percent the logical choice. The event was called Minimal Effort which was an all techno show with 4 stages. Like holy shit! This event was most definitely calling my name.
I had told family and a few friends and some them ask me why? I've already vacationed once or twice this year so why a third time? I really don't know why, there is no reason. I just like doing these things. It is true that given the current situation, I better to avoid these such things. but the idea of letting someone's words prevent me from doing something so fun and exciting yet so doable drives me mad. In fact this very idea is what makes it so evident that I am in control of my life. I create the reality I live in and why should I let others shape it for me with manipulating opinions. I would argue I am not living to die, I am dying to live. Personally I don't think it's very odd or strange to do exactly what you put your mind to, so it is in such a context that I wanted to make this trip. I hope people see what I do and feel encouraged or empowered. If I can do it you can too. But everyone isnt me and is open to their own opinion.
So my passport is lightly damaged, a few months after I got it I washed it lol whoops. I've been using it since without incident and it expires pretty quick in early 2019 so I felt confident I will make it on the plane and I did! I flew air Canada btw and their service was very meh. There was also some meean turbulence, other than that it was boring. Planes suck ass and I can't sleep on them. I had bought a roaming plan so I can text and use Google maps like a real Traveller. This was the best decision of the whole trip actually, so get ur phones working guys!
Upon landing I was very nervous because I literally didn't want to pay a lot of money to get downtown where my hostel was. But I asked this Tony hawk looking guy he gave me the rundown and to take the skyaway bus which was like 9 dollars. Hella life saver! I got downtown and got Subway spicy chicken wrap at Union station. Now I taxi'd to my hostel... It was near or in the ghetto. When the man dropped me off it was dark and these yuuuge dogs were jumping at me from the other side of the fence, confirming my suspicion that this is in fact the ghetto. I find the property next door and these dudes are smoking outside, I got their attention and they said to go upstairs and talk to "Champaign". In my head I instantly thought a black drug dealer... But then I was greeted by a slim easy going japanese dude with a samurai ponytail who spoke poor English but still had a friendly vibe. Turns out he is the cook/caretaker. I came on the night they had a dinner party that they hold once a month. Pay 10 dollars and you can eat the food that he was cooking. Champaign cooked for a army and I felt like an asshole because I literally came with a belly full of Subway. I had a few snacks and met the other Traveller's/Tennant's that were residing here. In that exact moment I felt like this is exactly where I needed to be. I was not alone and I was amongst other human beings like myself and we were all brought together by an unknown force all so Champaign can go to bed we knowing no one went to bed hungry. I actually passed out after midnight. Kinda lame but tbh I was wiped out from that hectic almost frantic trip to this hostel. The toppest compliment I give to any hotel/hostel is that this place had the best mattress, apparently they were italian (I asked lol).
Saturday (party day). My goal in the afternoon was to adventure and have a decent meal but it was getting off to a slow start due to me not figuring out where I wanted to go. I was recommended business district and looked up reviews but it was all meh. I want that yummy and probably unhealthy local food locations. The guy also said to take an Uber. Which I was like uhhhhhh iduno man... Maybe. Then as I was just getting ready to leave, this korean guy named Sam asked where I was going and he said "you should check out Korea Town, it's dope!!" And I looked up places and he said "no go here!" And I was like okay. Then he said he'll come with me and show me around after he finishes the laundry. Like a good lad I waited and in between he looked at me and whispered "hey do you do... Stuff" and there are a lot of implications there lol so I had to ask like what? And he pulled a little baggie and my reply was "yeah I like stuff" then did it and the kid lit up like a Christmas tree. He was mad hype folding the towels and then him and Champaign blazed downstairs.
One of the most fascinating yet mundane happenings was that I installed Uber on my phone. While those guys were blasting off I went ahead and gave the Uber a good historic first whirl. Little did I know my life was about to change in that exact moment. In 2 minutes after selecting where I wanted to go the driver was there. Holy shit! The cool part was that I only paid 8 dollars to go to the opposite side of the downtown. I wish I can expand on what I did, but tbh all we did was just walk and talk. It was great because it made me feel more immersed in to the city. Kind of like you had to be there type of experience. Then it was food time, he pointed out a Korean joint and I got a meal and he didn't order anything and then like 10 sides came and then 6 more little plates for the main dish. I told Sam he can have some because this is absurd. As we were eating, I slowly gazed around the place and everyone was just a little bit chubby. Sam told me Koreans don't waste their shit and eat as much as possible... Plus it's America lol. After eating like an animal and totally ruining my white shirt we went to get smokes and the line at 711 was almost way too long. Sam pointed out that everyone was powerballin' it... Then upon paying for the smokes and soda I said "one Powerball please". I had caved in and joined the race. We took an Uber back and the driver was a Mexican mom. She was cute in a grandma kind of way and we talked about there should be a "good news" radio because it's so scary listening to the radio. We laughed and laughed some more while Sam had fell into a Korean BBQ coma.
We get back to the hostel, Sam goes back to work and I have about an hour to get ready/nap before the party. Sam asked if I needed party favors and I took him up on his offer, because I hate asking at parties because it's so sketchy. At this point of the trip I realized everything is going 110% right. Sometimes I feel like I am just lucky because I always find myself in surprising situations and that now it's almost normal to me. My body and mind was totes ready to party, then I almost forget... I have stickers!!! I always have some in my bag and I grabbed at least 50 of them. People always love that shit, plus it makes everything more fun by adding another layer to the party... Lol get it? Layer?!? Aaanyways the one girl showed me how to work the door lock, basically it's an app that registers my phone to the deadbolt... What a game changer! Technology huh?! What a cool place! Then the Uber came and took like 4 dollars to get there, I think I can get used to this LA lifestyle if I ever had the chance. The dude dropped me off and I was proper nervous, made sure to hide my shit good and have my ID, ticket and game face ready because there was like 8 security in front... Also I am a pretty nervous person in general, I may seem cool and collected on the outside but on the inside I am a scared little shaking Chihuahua barking internally.
So I finally made it! All my hard work payed off! The weird thing was the guy didn't even look at my ticket, just my ID. Any Yahoo off the street could have walked in. Butt fuck it, I am here and that's all that matters. Imediately I get a beer... 8 dollars. The shit I put up with tbh, the price I pay for fun is worth it but my goodness is it painful. I wander around the theatre and it is nicely large and open. Not hot!! Can you believe that? The other stages weren't bad, too much to take it all in tbh. I settled at the main stage which was the first one you sent me when you walk in. The first artist playing was a chick, she played some good jam actually so I quite enjoyed her set. The only thing that led me to believe she doesn't actually make music and only is a DJ, was that every track she played I knew. Which is expected from shows like this but she didn't play anything "original", it's not a bad thing but if I was to critique her I'd be disappointed because I am the type of person to be wowed and I like to seek new material. I went for a smoke and met this couple dressed and Vegeta and Bulma, hella rad. They were cool, totally forget their names tho. Met this Mexican dude too who was a little short had crazy contact lenses and had a friendly chat. he was rolling which was cool because I wish I was, I even asked him but he was fresh out. The party started picking up too and louisahhh's set was about to play and I am 3 beers deep so I gotta step up my game. And guess what!? It's Modelo time homie!! Met a dude in a headdress and took a pic with him to piss off other people who are against that bullshit, as long as they are respectful about it I think it's awesome... so @ those who are trying to be offended on purpose, fuck you. Went to the bathroom and dropped my Modelo and the worker watched me do it and didn't say anything and swept it up. I went back to get another normal beer because the Modelo was 9 dollars. They mind as well get the lube ready because they are already fucking me dry. I had run out of party favors at this point because I only had a little but that's not why I am here so I accept that fact and I am just glad to be here. The dancefloor was sticky but as more spills happened it was less annoying and more people came, it made it more bearable lol if that makes sense. The sound was definitely worse at the front of the stage so I found that sweet spot 15 feet back in the zone where the speakers were pointed. 7/10 audio, it's no pk system but hey I don't mind too much! Louisahhh was stepping in and she had a super neat outfit going kind of future/madmax like. Her hair was excellent if I might add. I've always wanted to catch her set but never had the chance until now. I could say it was what I expected, which was basically the same set I've heard her play on other sets I heard from her. It's not a negative but mental gymnastics aside she could have spiced it up some more by playing new shit, like I said. I am just glad to be there.
After louisahhh played her set Boys Noize had stepped in and he opened up with that one song he always does lately lol I forget the name but let me tell you, my body was ready! The "wares" I had bought off Sam at the hostel were already used up but I didn't need any, my body was tingling from the energy in the room. I met the maddest group of lads in the crowd and I gave them a handful of stickers to help me distribute. They loved it! I was also doing "rogue" work by slapping stickers on people without them knowing. The funniest ones were the Dealer and Wasted stickers. The lazers and lights in this place were magnificent. Production was nearly top notch 7.8/10. it's a theatre but they used it as well as they could. I want to describe this experience more but going to a party is the purest chaos you can experience. It almost can't be explained, only witnessed. I honestly love being social at these events. In real life I can be very shy or unwilling to exchange or talk with others. It pains me really, I just love people and I want to make genuine friends but I feel so reluctant to meet new faces because I don't really click that well with others. I know that I am unique and sometimes strange, I am sometimes don't give a fuck but I tend to be antisocial because of paranoia that other people won't like me when they get to know the real me. When I attend rave parties, I tend to feel more free and open because I know the people in attendance are also there for the same reason I am. Obviously this may or may not be a healthy life style but it is very fulfilling in a very emotional way. I may not have that many real life friends but when on the dancefloor everyone is my friends lol that sounds like the gayest shit ever but it's true. Anyways party is still bumping and it's 6 am and I am wiped out, boys Noize played some of the best tracks I heard at awakenings I noticed. Kind of the same shit really. But it was LA so more mainstream crowd. I leave the club and it was so fucking foggy outside, like a horror movie. 2spooky4me. I hit up Uber like 4 blocks away because it was just too crazy in the front of the theatre. I got this younger driver about my age and we talked about McDonald's lol she was fun then I get back to the hostel hungry as fuck. Eated bread and smonked some herb and hit the hay.
Next morning I hung out in the common area. Watched friends and watched Champagne die from smoking weed lol he was my favorite. Cool hostel tbh very home like. I had few hours to myself before my flight so I decided I wanted to go to little Tokyo. I had to say goodbye to the hostel, the guys downstairs gave me a donut lol and I got into the Uber. The guy talked about the dodgers game like I actually give a heck about sports. He dropped me off at the entrance of Little Tokyo. This was actually the most wholesome part of my trip. The first sight of the Japanese style outside mall was kind of exhilarating because LA is mostly just the same everywhere. The buildings and decorations were very refreshing and it was a feast for the eyes. Such beauty. As I continue to explore the small but busy space I feel this feeling of wonder and excitement, it made me feel less hungover if I am being honest. The world I was seeing in that moment was powerfully moving and rich with happiness. I wanted to stay forever. In the centre there was an open space where an older Asian man in a scooter and an array of instrument s in front of him. He had a little sampler Casio and hi hats and maracas. It was like a scene out of the movies where you see those cute moments because he was playing to this couple from China that were standing in front of him and you can hear them talking to the Man in between singing lol, they gave him money to play that song from toy story "skies of blue" or whatever it's called and then at the end he pulled out the maracas and hit them on the cymbals with style. I filmed a little bit of it actually. I ended up eating sushi and chicken katsu outside on the deck and just enjoyed the experience. Alone. Fucking sad actually that I couldn't share my emotion with someone else but I really enjoyed the place. I shop in the anime store and gift shop, got a few things for friends and family then had to rush to the airport. I got to Union station and shuttle to the airport right on time. Slightly early since the flight changed to a later time. I walked around and had some beer and wings then got on the plane. Nice cozy airport experience. My dad picked me up and he was working in siksika that week so I slept in his trailer. It was cold as shit and I was late for work the next day like nothing ever happened lol. Just a quick weekend trip, no big deal. Travelling is so so so much fun, I want others to read or see my adventures and feel somewhat inspired to take more risks and go on their own adventures. Its good to open your eyes and free yourself of your surroundings, especially on the reserve. There's a world out there and there's more to life than the bullshit drama that happens here. I look at the world in wonder and amazement, I know it's a sick and sometimes dangerous place but I make it my world by appreciating it for what it is. Everything is kind of all right. Sometimes I wish I didn't exist but I don't want to die either, doing these things remind me that life can be great so I hope I don't come off braggy or I am acting "too good". I make minimum wage yet I still do all this cool stuff. It's not hard to do, just literally set your mind go and do it . I chase my dreams while others think "what if" lol but yeah do more fun shit guys!!!!
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hardblazesong · 8 years ago
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Noir Nocturne Part 1 Chapter 8 It’s the Nearness of You
“I do a bit Father. Is it necessary for a position there?” Claire answered while placing yet another sandwich on Jamie’s plate and taking up her own.
“Well, it can’t hurt as there are many Spanish speakers in that neighborhood. Ah, time for you two to follow the Sister.” Father McDaniel pointed at Jamie and Dougal when Murtagh and Angus came back in looking flushed and carrying large bundles. “I would recommend a bit of bathing before you outfit yourselves, with apologies if that seems unkind, but you’ll be finding that there is a different standard now when it comes to personal hygiene. I’ll call the guard at the construction site and tell him you’re coming and that you’ll be needing access to a sink.”
He wiggled his brows at Claire and pushed away from the table. “I trust you can explain to them how to wear the items, as I know the Sister won’t have. I’ll get those maps ready now too while you make some food packs to take with you. The boarding house will be providing an evening meal, but you will have to make due for the rest of the day. Fortunately, there are plenty of vendors in trucks and on corners in that neighborhood.” he said as he went back to the alcove.
Claire was starting to feel that this situation might not be as horrible as it could have been. The men were simply taking in what they were seeing and being told and not reacting with hostility. She knew they weren’t stupid and hoped they could be counted upon to adapt quickly.
She was being put in a somewhat awkward position having to take the lead however. Yet another unreal aspect in her opinion. The good thing was that she simply did not have time to think about the likely fall out that was sure to come from it. The bad thing was that men generally didn’t take kindly to it even in the Thirties and Forties. She would have to be careful how she brought them along as she sorted it out for herself.
She put all other thoughts of her own strange predicament on a back burner for now. Getting them fed, watered, and bedded down, ready to face the next day was doable, so that is what she would do. There would be time to help them confront their own grief and longing for the past, something she was very familiar with as a Nurse in a World War that hadn’t even occurred yet. Beyond mind boggling this fore and back knowledge. Perhaps there was a way to use that knowledge to their advantage? She would have to think about it later. She was tired, emotionally and physically and not prepared to delve any deeper into what she felt.
She wrapped the food in wax paper, delighting in seeing it again. Precut bread, prepackaged condiments, brown paper bags, things she hadn’t even realized she had missed and yet found herself grinning stupidly over. The very thought of a hot bath with running water and washing her hair were enough to bring tears to her eyes again.
“Can I help you Mistress Claire?” Angus said moving to her side at the counter, surprising her into nearly dropping the mustard jar. “Easy Lass. We’re no in any danger that I ken. You’ll be telling us more about this place aye?”
“You just startled me Angus. No, I’m done with this, but thank you for asking. Yes, we are going to have to walk a couple more miles tonight, so you can question me all you like then.” She said while trying to signal to Murtagh to come and collect him so she wasn’t forced to keep repeating herself over what one of them heard that the others hadn’t.  
Father McDaniel returned and put the maps on the table along with what looked to Claire to be twenty American dollars in one dollar bills. “Mrs. Fraser, I know you probably aren’t familiar with our currency but this will help cover the costs of food, haircuts and bus fare, along with two rooms at the boarding house. You can pay me back when you are able, so don’t make a fuss now. Just remember to call me around ten a.m. so that I know you got there.”
He then took the next ten minutes explaining American money to the three of them. Claire didn’t correct him about the fact that she did know how the cash worked here. She’d been in poker games with Yanks in France, a fact she felt comfortable not sharing. It was just pleasant to sit and listen to his lovely Irish lilt and let him chatter on while having more tea. “Be tucking that away now Mrs. You understand that there are desperate people about now and you won’t be wanting to be letting them know that you have anything they need.”
Jamie and Dougal returned in time to see Claire hug the Priest and hear her sniff loudly and mumble into his shoulder “Oh Father, I do not know how to thank you enough for your kindness.” He patted her soundly on the back and said “There there, it will be alright you know. Now go along and pick out a pretty dress or two with the Sister. Gentlemen let’s have another nip while we wait.”
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She was amazed by the collection of clothing items in the basement but supposed she shouldn’t be surprised. People donated whatever they had to give even during the Depression. The fact that they had blindly lucked into this Priest and parish hadn’t escaped her either. Nearby Hollywood had money and work when nowhere else seemed to.
There would be employment for the men and herself because the Priest would see to it. She didn’t know why he was so accepting but she thanked all the stars above that he was. What’s more, she trusted him instinctively. She hadn’t had much of a religious background but knew enough to know that whatever she would ask of him in the days to come, he would try to help.
She picked out a lady’s suit in a brown cotton that had a cream blouse, along with a matching hat, shoes and handbag. They seemed appropriate for presenting herself at the clinic.  She also picked a belted printed frock dress, sunhat, raincoat, nightgown, bra, stockings, slip and underwear to complete her two outfits. It amused her to think about wearing them all again.
Sister Mary Margaret handed her a kit bag to fill with soap, shampoo, five toothbrushes, toothpaste, a hairbrush and comb set, two straight razors, a can of shaving cream, and even ladies’ menstruation products. She hadn’t said a word as Claire took care of this business, just stood by the steps to the basement, quietly observing.
“Don’t forget to grab five towels and washcloths too dear. Mrs. Barnett will expect you to be providing those. She’s quite a good cook but you’ll have to do your own laundry there. Here is your blanket Father said to give you as well. I hope someday you will come to tell me how five actors came to be in such straights in the middle of the night on our Lord’s doorstep.” She finally said, not unkindly.
“I am not sure it’s a story that you would much like Sister, but we are grateful that we found you.” Claire said while bundling everything but the kit bag in the blanket. “Would you send my husband down to help me carry this please?”
“No need, I’ll help you take it up. I need to clear up the kitchen or the Housekeeper will have a bit of a tantrum in the morning I suspect. You’ll be on your way now, if you please, Father needs his rest.” Taking hold of one side she began backing across the room and up the steps pulling Claire with her.
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They set out not too long after Claire reappeared and Jamie was glad for it. He was feeling too many things at once, a sensation he thoroughly disliked. He knew the road ahead was a long one that he felt in no way prepared for. He was a laird, farmer, soldier and outlaw and even those things felt like they might not be enough here.
He knew in his heart of hearts that he was intelligent and adaptable but he also knew that he wasn’t perfect. He wanted to be though, for her. She was becoming all he’d ever dreamed of or hoped for before they arrived here. Having her, holding her close in the few days and two blessed nights from the wedding was beyond anything he could have possibly imagined it to be. He desperately did not want to lose that now.
She was carrying a bag that she wouldn’t let him take, although she did let him put her bundle on his back. It was laughable really. She said it would be too much for him to carry. It was things like that that just made him love her more. Beyond her beauty and her wit, she was kind but she could be so fierce when crossed. What kind of mother would she be?
“Jamie, JAMIE where’s yer heid lad?” Murtagh called back to him on the strangely paved road they were walking. “What’s this road made of Claire? Are there bricks under it?” he heard Dougal ask her. He hadn’t realized he’d dropped back a bit from the others and spent the next couple of minutes repositioning himself at her side. She’d been telling them about all kinds of different things for the entire walk.
“It’s asphalt Dougal, a kind of tar that is hardpacked so that Automobiles, a form of horseless carriage, can travel on it. We should see one of them soon. We are nearing the place where they are building the theater. See, here’s the map the Father gave me. He called ahead on the telephone so that the guard there would let us in the fence. That’s a gadget that you can talk into and people who have one far away can hear you and speak back to you. I will show you how later tomorrow at the boarding house.”
“What’s a boarding house then? Is that like a tavern with rooms?” Angus interjected.
“Why is a guard guarding a building site and what’s the fence for?” Murtagh said before she could answer.
Jamie looked down at her face in the moonlight, trying to gage if battering her with questions was bothering her or if she was tiring from the walk. “Sassenach, you don’t have to talk all the way there. They can wait. The questions will no be goin anywhere.”
“I know Jamie, it’s just easier to tell you things when we are all together like this. I am just about worn out though. So, if you Gentlemen don’t mind, let’s save more questions for when we have camped please. Let me do the talking to the guard as well if you would.”
“Aye lass, rest yourself. We dinna need to ken everything all at once.” Dougal said.
Jamie did not like that. Not one bit. It wasn’t Dougal’s place to say it to her, it was his. He could see there might be trouble coming there. It was no surprise to him that his Uncle might make a play for her attentions, especially now. Dougal wasn’t known for his fidelity to his wife or any woman, but Claire was his wife now and he had no intention of sharing her overmuch with anyone, ever.
They arrived at their destination for the night after a long walk through the shaded countryside. The site was enormous. He could see down into a hollow over the hill they were standing on. There were stone benches built in a half circle all the way around and down the hillside with aisles leading to an unfinished looking area he took to be the stage. They walked down the center aisle to the bottom.
“This is fencing now. It’s called chain-link, like armor, same principle actually.” Claire said.
There was a doorway cut in it and Jamie could see a man standing on the other side. His free hand crept towards his dagger without his having to think about it.
“Father McDaniel says as I’m to let ya in and show ya where you can do a bit of washing up. He says you’ll be leaving when I do in the morning. Don’t be touching nothin’ but what’s I tells ya and we’ll all get along just grand.” Said the Guard. “Follow me.”
Jamie wanted to study the man further because he’d never seen anything like him of course. The clothes were familiar but odd, like everything else. His accent was unplaceable as well. Claire prevented anyone from saying anything and stepped through the door and after him before Jaime could hold her back.
They went down another flight of steps that led under the stage into a large area that only had two walls finished with packed dirt on one side and a low opening to the woods on the other. There wasn’t much light to see by anymore either. The guard led them across the room and pulled on a string hanging above and a light came on, showing them another doorway on the right-hand wall. “In there’s a bathroom. Don’t be making a mess. Leave this light on too so I won’t be stepping on ya when I come back down in here in a few hours.” With that he turned and headed back up the steps, leaving them alone.
“That’s a lightbulb, it’s on an electrical line, don’t touch it. Jamie come in here with me please. You lot spread out your blankets and wait for Jamie to come get you.” Claire said taking Jamie’s arm and leading him into the bathroom after he dropped his pack and hers near its door.
“Alone at last.” She laughed, hugging him hard after she found another light to turn on somehow. He didn’t care what she was laughing about, just that she was holding onto him so tightly.
“Well Sassenach is that is all it takes to get you in my arms, I’ll go back out there and cut all their throats right now.” He laughed along with her, half meaning it.
“You’ll do no such thing. You are only in here so I can show you what a toilet is and how to use the sink. Then you will bring each one of them in here and show them what’s what. I refuse to do it. I’ll set up our bedding while you are about it and then we can discuss your bloodthirstiness.” She let go and reached up to caress his face with both hands as she said this, laughing even harder.
“So, that is a chamber pot, that flushes, called a toilet. You do your business, then pull on the cord up by that box above it to flush the waste away. This sink has hot and cold running water, you turn these, called taps, to make the water flow and shut off again. I don’t know about you, but I could certainly use that toilet right about now. Be a gentleman and turn your back while I do so. I have supplies for washing up in the bag I kept with me. Do you want to do that now or in the morning?”
She did not seem embarrassed by this bit of education and he busied himself with the sink so as not to let her see that he was a bit. It wasn’t the familiarity of it, but the nearness of her in the telling. He’d seen public bathing and “toilets” buildings in France so he didn’t find it shocking, only the flushing part.
“I can wait Claire. If yer not finding me odorous?” He was too used to his own scent and she smelled like horses, grass and honey to him along with herbs and something else sweet that he always associated with her.
She came up behind him and hugged him again, leaning her head on his back. “Oh Jamie, really I love how you smell. I am not sure what it will be like without the horse scent but I am reasonably sure I’ll like that too.” She then stepped to the door and went out leaving him to have a moment or two in peace.
He promptly stepped out and called the men to the doorway. Be damned if he was going to do this one at a time. “Right. Watch me and learn.” He then showed off the sink and took a piss in the toilet, being sure to pull the cord after. “Any questions?” and he stepped out and headed straight for where Claire was spreading one of the blankets and sorting out the contents of it.
She’d separated them off across the room from the other three blankets he saw, close to the fresh air at the back. It made his heart skip a beat and then begin to race. Would she let him touch her here with the other men so near? Surely not, he tried to settle himself down before speaking. “Sassenach? I dinna ken if I should set a guard or no? We dinna need a fire it’s that warm and I think we’ll no be bothered here. What do ye think?”
“I think we’d be arrested if any of you light a fire under this stage. No, none of you need stay up and watch. We will be fine here. Take your boots off Jamie, we’ll use your kilt as a pillow. Just tell the others to bed down first.” She said as she unpacked the other blanket. She was sorting the clothes into a pile when he went back to the men.
“Dougal, Claire says we needna set a watch and we’ll no be needing a fire. Get yer rest man. You two as well.” He gave them each a stern look, patted Murtagh on the shoulder and hurried back to her, unbuckling his weapons and belt as he did so.
“Sassenach do you need help with your laces again?” was all he could force out from his throat quietly because he could not stop thinking about touching her. He seriously considered for a moment whether or not the wanting might drive him mad someday. He would take his chances. He seated himself in front of her, pulling off his boots.
“Yes please Jamie, I can’t tell you how happy I am that I won’t have to wear a wretched coreset again after today.” She sighed as he carefully started with the front panel on her dress, blocking her from view with his broad width. He lifted the dress off her, barely breathing. She turned and presented the laces of the said corset to him.
“Why won’t you?” he asked while trying to control his trembling fingers.
“Because women don’t wear them now, or odd bumpy things under their dresses to make their hips look wider. Just wait until morning, you’ll see.”
He heard her, as if from a distance the moment she was in nothing but her shift. He unwrapped his kilt and handed it to her while she settled under the second blanket. She did make a pillow of sorts out of it and smiled as she lay down her head upon it. “Do come to bed Jamie. We’ve another long day ahead of us tomorrow.”
He wanted nothing more in this world or the next than to gather her back into his arms and stroke her tenderly, but he still wasn’t sure she’d permit it, and he knew she was tired. He would just have to wait and see if she wanted him as badly he decided as he lay down next to her and covered them both up.
“Can I kiss you Claire?” he whispered as he reached out his hand nearest her to touch her hip.
She rolled to her side and took his arm from between them and placed it over her head and about her shoulders. “I may have to throttle you if you don’t” she whispered back in his ear, setting off a small series of explosions in his blood that he felt all the way to his toes.
That was all the encouragement he needed. He rolled to face her and pulled her in closer while running his other hand over the outside of her thigh from the knee, across her arse and up to the small of her back. He began to kiss her softly while turning her under him but his need was so great he could not take his time about it.
“Will you have me Claire?” he said when he felt her begin to respond to his touch and the solidness of his arousal. She had been stroking his back and side with one hand but moved her hand lower to caress the length of him through his shirt.
“Only if we can be quiet about this.” She said between further kisses. It took nearly everything in him not to groan at that. He concentrated on his breathing and hers as he slid his hand back down and around to under her shift and onto the wet heat of her center. He truly wanted to pleasure her but did not think they could be quiet about it. So, he pressed her head to his chest with his other hand and slid a knee between her thighs while whispering soothing nothings into her ear.
“Sssh than mo nighean donne” he said as he pushed himself into her and began to rock her gently. He wanted to make this last forever but knew that was foolish to hope for. He breathed into her hair as he felt the tide begin to roll through him. The heat of her consuming him inch by inch until he would surely erupt into flame along with her. “Oh holy God Claire what you do to me…”
She grasped his shoulders and pushed her hips up from the floor while biting into his chest and he lost any sense of control he had. He simply let her take him away and into herself until she shuddered and clenched even tighter around him and then he let go, collapsing upon her chest and coming near to a sob as he did so.
“Sleep now husband. Tomorrow there will be a bed again.” She said softly as she pushed him back and curled up into him, kissing the side of his face and stroking his chest.
He did not even have time to kiss her again before he fell into a dreamless sleep at her side.
TO BE CONTINUED
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fmlfpl · 6 years ago
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Lineup Lamentations - GW10
Our Transfers, Captains, and Starting 11s for the week.
WALSH
TRANSFERS:
OUT: AK47 aka Kamara aka ded fuck
IN: Ings
Am rolling my other free transfer again as per.
I spent a while deliberating on which midfielder to punt on in place of Billing until a good pal of mine turned my attention to Kamara's completely fucked spot on my team. First transfer spent on a forward for me this season coming in GW10 is pretty fucked, but here we are. I had enough money in the bank to bump AK up, and Ings feels like an incomparably better pick than any midfield punt around his price. At least he's the danger man and shoots a lot even if most of said shots don't find their way into the netting. Well maybe the side netting, but no FPL points for that.
It improves my depth and overall squad so it seems like a fine move. I'm not in love with Ings but I like him more than Jimenez at this point. He shoots more and I think he's just a better player from what I've seen out of Jimenez so far. I'm not really totally convinced about this move but seems like it could be reasonable. We'll see.
GK:
Alisson Beck goes again. Fantastic pick great job by me one of the few things I've done well this season was sticking him in my GW1 side. Doesn't hit the save point threshold basically ever but the cleans are flowing and having a good GK while not wasting transfers back there has been nice.
DEF:
I'm sticking with Trenty the Trentboy again. I suddenly have reasonable cover on the bench (Jonny) so I didn't want to fuck with him..yet. If he is on the bench again this weekend, though, I think the eye of Sauron (like that Harry Potter reference, Alon?) will firmly be at the wee boy.
Mendy goes again not much to say there. Great guy great pick and very glad I held him.
Irish Spaniel Alves aka Matthew Doherty gets his second run out in my squadron after his obligatory initial blank in my team. He's a good guy and I have faith. Wolves with the poo performance against Watford last weekend but think they will bounce back. I am benching Jonny, for what it's worth. It's a fine fixture, don't get me wrong, but I'd rather start the new striker lad with a nice home fixture rather than double investment on an away clean at the Amex. Might get Jonny in off the bench anyway with Trent and Haz who knows.
MID:
On that note, hopefully the Haz "injury" is just a bit of fuck but we'll see. They didn't make up injuries for him to miss out on previous Europa League games so it might be something. Either way it sounds like the most minor possible injury of life so he obviously goes nowhere from my team.
Dilva finally made good on his absurd underlying stats this past GW with a couple of dimes. Thanks bro. Really easy fixture for City this weekend so hopefully he keeps banging and maintains his hot form.
Mo sticks in the squadron obv. Not much to say about that.
And finally, no neck Frayzuh gets another run out again a shit team where he'll probably blank again. Can't wait.
FWD:
Three up top for the first time this season for my team. Feels just like old times. Kun and Arnie my familiar friends will keep being friends for the time being. Hoping / praying to all fucks that Kun rested midweek means he might actually not get subbed on Monday for the first time of his life. Tbd.
Dings gets Rafa at home. Really don't have a good read on this one. Normally I'd expect it to be just the most stodgy shitfest 0-0ish type game ever but realistically both of these teams desperately needs three points so maybe it won't be the worst thing ever? Probably will still be the worst thing ever and I can assure you I will watch zero minutes and zero seconds of this game.
BENCH:
Jonny / Billing / Wan
CAP:
Mo. Easy Mo. Lovely Mo. Go get 'em tiger.
ALON
TRANSFERS:
OUT: n/a
IN: n/a
No wildcard here. And no transfers?
I don’t know man. I guess this is my version of impotence...
Lineup is good this week, seems silly to WC away a good lineup.
I don’t know. I’m a lost boy.
GK:
Rui tries to get more then 1 point away to Brighton. I’m double Wolves defense so I’m hoping that Brighton won’t have Murray or Gross and that’s their by far two main threats soooo I duno.. very doable clean / cleanable do.
DEF:
5 stack defense triangle lineup this week.
My other Wolfman is Doherty. Go get me a double digit haul you wingback fuck.
Double barrel Liverpool fullbacks as usual with Robbo and Trent. Robbo will eventually get rested right he just has to? And Trent off of back to back non-starts... who the fuck knows what goes down here... the rumors are that it’s gonna be the same lineup as UCL midweek and some people (hi Rai and George) are saving their moves until Liverpool lineup is announced roughly 30 seconds before the FPL deadline and maybe that’s a smart thing but I just gotta hope they both start and if they start I expect lots of points. That’s just how it goes. If only I had a good bench to cover my ass :\...
Last two defenders are my double Chelsea in Marcos A. and Daveeeeeed Luiz barely holding onto their spots but alas away Burnley and home Palace are very very good fixtures. Just gotta hope for some attacking points and a lucky clean or cleans. Every Chelsea clean feels lucky. Who knows... Getting rid of Alonso is also the CLASSIC FPL mistake where he’s just gonna finish the season on like 180ish points and be top 2-3 defender no surprises etc etc... we’ll see...
MID:
Same three amigos in midfield going for me in big Mo, big dick Dilv, and eye-test merchant Rachel Maddow Maddo.
Some good guys with good fixtures. Treat me.
FWD:
Kun and Laca going again.
Kun who knows between 45 and 90 minutes.. what would you set the over/under at if you’re a bookmaker? 65 maybe? I’ll bet the under unfortunately... I guess there’s a chance that Spurs keep it close and so Kun stays on but that seems silly to me.
Laca’s purple patch seems to be slowing down to a halt. The underlying stats weren’t ever reeeeeeally there but he’s a fantastic striker so he makes the best of the 2-3 chances he gets. But also Arsenal’s upcoming fixture run is pretty tough so I don’t feel great going forward with Laca. I don’t expect him to return value but that’s just me so he’s looking to be transferred out soon.
BENCH:
Few all-stars here in Billing / Kamara / Ward
CAP:
Easy Mo. Mo is life. <3333
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punkscowardschampions · 6 years ago
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Jimmy & Janis
Planning a romantic weekend away
Jimmy: Gracie came at me earlier. There was mistletoe up and I near fully hit the floor 😎 Jimmy: Hold fire though. She only wanted to tell me to convince you of summat. Pretty sure you already know what it is Janis: Erm...Father Christmas is really real? That her weave isn't from dead Brazilian hookers? Janis: Enlighten me or I'll tell her she's got a holiday free pass on you 😈 Jimmy: Double date. Need I say more 😡 Janis: FUCK. I DIDN'T THINK IT'D ACTUALLY HAPPEN. Janis: How far does she expect the season of goodwill to extend, like? Already got some poor cunt being a charitable home for her arse so she don't freeze Janis: Single tear. Janis: Question is, can we make it worth it enough for us to endure that shite? Hmm Jimmy: I almost got my arse to church so it wouldn't. Shoulda sucked off that priest when he asked. Too late? Jimmy: You better get me a top notch pressie, baby 😏 Janis: You know you ain't on the nice list 😉 Janis: So, Santa might be dissing but you'll be getting something extra special from me Janis: As for God, and his holly jolly perverted following, I reckon we're both shit out of 🍀 there, no matter how good our head game is, such is life Janis: Grah, I hear she does shoutouts now...want that 'influencer' clout, baby? Not double entendre my end but might be for GracieGuru 🙊😂 Jimmy: what the fuck we going to do then? No way I'm hanging with her and her latest 'boo boy' Jimmy: Even if I was getting paid, which is likely since she just loves common grounds Janis: Preaching to the choir, dickhead, ain't my idea of a good time either, or hers let's be fucking real. She just wants to dry-hump a slab of boy in front of you on the off chance that really gets you going for her Janis: You wouldn't call her brainy, bless Janis: Idk, don't worry about it, Jim. Just avoid her/the flat whites like the plague and I'll have to literally run away like I'm an angsty 12 year old so we can't be located, even with friend finder or whatever they stalk each other with Janis: Oooh! Just call me brains, we should pretend to have a romantic weekend away planned, that'll send her over the edge, that is her everything goals Janis: Like I said, I can hide from a hoe Jimmy: I knew there was a reason I kept you about Jimmy: Let's do it though. Easier to take than fake the 'gram Jimmy: Any ideas? 🤔 Jimmy: Most of my boltholes are far from yours and not very enviable for that crowd #it'sgrimupnorth Janis: Yeah, why do you tbh? Janis: Now its clear my sister has got no respect for anyone on her hunt for dick/self-esteem Janis: She's hoping its a twofer like Janis: I don't know if I can stand you for that long, darling Janis: But I SUPPOSE your the lesser of two evils here 😉 Jimmy: It's love 💕 Jimmy: Come on, it'll be a laff. I'll get the beers in Jimmy: You can try harder to beat me at darts and pool Janis: As far as the adoring fans/salty haterz are concerned Janis: and that's all that matters Janis: bitch i don't have to try! 😤 you put me off last time with ur mooning 😍 Janis: we don't need to convince the old fellas in the boozer Jimmy: Fuck off I was getting practice in! Jimmy: If you're ready to fake a break up say the word but until then, it takes a lot of work to give you the puppy dog eyes. I'm not Twix Janis: Sure you was 😂 Janis: N'awwh but you do it so well! Janis: Audition for the School play whilst ur at it, soft lad Jimmy: I do enough fake snogging without signing myself up for that bollocks Jimmy: You coming away with me then or not? Jimmy: You know your sister'll be in again nagging before shift's end Janis: Well, when you put it like that Janis: 😒 Janis: I ain't got nothing better to do, and I certainly ain't third wheeling her fake date Janis: My grandparents got a place down skerries Janis: we can crash there Jimmy: How many rooms they got? My dad's working so I'll have to bring the ramble with Jimmy: #goals I know Janis: Fucking hell, my pissing sister! She owes you more than she's spending on coffee for the hassle she's causing Janis: If you really can't, don't worry, I'll sort her. She'll be unbearable when she finds out it was all for a laugh but it was at her expense so how much of a mug can she actually make me feel? 😑 Janis: That said, there's 3 rooms, its only a caravan don't get excited but the kids would probably be buzzin', it is pretty nice down there Janis: I'll even let you have the double bed to yourself Janis: ol Janis: l Jimmy: It'll stop them nagging me about going somewhere other than the park that'll do me Jimmy: Cass talks big but she isn't even really so doable Jimmy: Don't be getting any ideas though 😍😉 my brother hasn't slept well since we moved. I'll be sharing that double like it or not Jimmy: What a way to spend my first proper time off since I started #blessed Janis: Yeah, fish and chips on the beach even tho its fucking baltic, chasing Twix will keep 'em warm, you'll earn major big brother points as well as bae ones Janis: What a mighty fine man Janis: Same here, Cass. Shh about it though Janis: Like you said, it'll be a laugh, we can make it one Janis: You'd really rather be making pinkity drinkidies or whatever the fuck they are? Jimmy: Nope. But your 1st romantic break usually is. Any talent there is in all grans playing bingo? Jimmy: Be nice to get something off the 'gram 💋 Janis: I ain't been since I was about 9 Janis: I wasn't after bitches then and I ain't now Janis: I wish you luck, 2 kids hanging on your arm and a woman back home, like Janis: Does it for some. Jimmy: I'd do some talking first to get things clear I'm not tall Tammy 😂 Jimmy: Bet you were a right cute kid, weren't you? Aww Janis: Again, have fun explaining that one, mate. I'd struggle with the concept and I'm in on it. Janis: Adorable. What happened? Jimmy: Shut up you know what you look like, mate Janis: A butch lezza? Janis: So I've been told 👍 Jimmy: That's not what they are saying anymore. Check my comments sometime. The lads are gagging for you now Janis: Goody gumdrops. Janis: I'll leave my knickers at the door, like Jimmy: You could like. I've been waiting for you to drop me as your fake bf since this whole thing started Janis: I'm not interested in any of them. Janis: Would your world be set alight by Aaron O'Reilly from form? Janis: If you wanna cop off with some of your fans don't let me stop you Jimmy: You aren't. They're not my type anymore than Aaron's yours. I'm just saying you take a crackin pic and I should know since I'm the one takin 'em. So you don't need to spout that crap. They're just jealous of how much of a butch lezza you aren't Janis: Alright. Well, you're not half bad at taking snaps, and not in the bullshit way every hoe thinks they know their angles and magic lighting these days, you're actually decent. Janis: It don't feel like crap when Janis: blah, meant to delete that, ignore it Jimmy: 🤐 Jimmy: Wanna help me with my art project while we're away then? Kill all the birds (hopefully not with my flash) Jimmy: I'll owe you again Janis: I won't even joke on you for being a swot 🤓🤞 Janis: What've you got planned? Jimmy: I haven't had any time to think yet beyond film being the medium but Jimmy: #workinprogress Jimmy: with a muse like you m'dear how could I go wrong 💕 Janis: 😜 Janis: just so you know, i ain't bringing any homework but put my name or yours, yeah? 😘 not even in art but might count for something Janis: clue me in tho, brainiac, what do the kiddos like? i'll get 'em something Jimmy: Rookie mistake mate, art's an easy A Jimmy: They'll take anything covered in sugar. Can't say I'll love you for it when they crash mid journey though Janis: Only 'cos you're good at it. With my genes I should be but I can barely draw a stickman. Janis: I'll stick with double sports, sports science and science 👌 Janis: I'll keep sweets in stock for bribery, goes without sayin'! Different pocket to Twix' fish treats, though Janis: I'll have a look down town Jimmy: 😂 did you see that article doin the rounds about the mum who bought her kid a cat's advent calendar Janis: 😂 Yes! Shame catnip don't work like on us like it does cats, that kid would be pingin' Janis: Might get meself some, like Jimmy: What gets dogs off their heads? I'll keep Twix well clear Jimmy: She's high enough on your 😍 Janis: I don't know, actually...telling them they're good bois? Janis: Works for you boo 😘 Jimmy: I prefer being called a very bad boy 😎 Janis: You clown 😂 Janis: Good to know, suppose. Dirty weekend away though it ain't Jimmy: what our fans don't know won't break their jealous hearts Jimmy: you coming in for your freebies today or shall I do a delivery your way once Grace is home? 😉 Janis: Kick it really cliche and be my sexy delivery boy Janis: Try and bring something with sausage in so I can come at you with the quality porn writing Jimmy: Live your fantasies as well as your sister's if you want, my name tag says Jonathon today Janis: Ooh, spicing it up with some roleplay like we're middle-aged okay Janis: How boring are you that you've picked a name so similar to your own...this is why we've hit a dry patch, Jimothy! Jimmy: What would you seriously pick? Janis: For you? Janis: Who's a fittie... Janis: Anthony Joshua could get it Janis: You don't want to be in the play but reckon you can stretch to that? Jimmy: Next time I lose my name tag I'll insist on that. For the bae 💕 Jimmy: About as close as I'll get I think Janis: Who do you want? Janis: I wanna know your type Janis: Bar Tall Tammy Jimmy: Your sister obviously Janis: Fuck off, not even funny Janis: If that were true, you know where she lives bitch, I ain't stopping ya, she's practically shoe-horning you in 🤢 Jimmy: I meant the fit older one 😉 Janis: Ohhh Janis: Still, do one 🖕 I'm not pretending to be my sister you freak Jimmy: That's one pretense too far. Got it 😂 Janis: Yeah, in this hypothetical you've really shit the bed, pal. Jimmy: I only half read that because #customers and thought you called me shit in bed mate Janis: well... 😏 Jimmy: I fake rocked your world Janis Cavante! 😂 Janis: you know we faked it so i didn't have to fake it 💅 Jimmy: Aaron O'Reilly's walking through the door want me to slip him your number and end this? 😝 Janis: I will murder you. Janis: also he might think your trying to set up a threeway for YOUR benefit, so if you wanna take over the gay rumours that bad, go for it 💋🍆 Jimmy: I've seen you with a pool cue I think I'm safe Jimmy: Give a shit. At least I actually am butch Janis: Psh, you're all show no grow Janis: We're arm wrestling, then you'll see Jimmy: 💪 I'll beat you at that too then, shall I? 🏆 Janis: Bring it on. I won't make you cry too hard, save face in front of the kiddos. Janis: 'Let' them kick your arse too 😜 Jimmy: Try it, baby girl 😝 Jimmy: Cass probs could no lie. Scrappy af that one Janis: Good girl 👍 Janis: Gotta keep you in check Jimmy: Doubt you'll be calling her that when she's shadowed you all weekend Jimmy: She loves you. Who knows why? Janis: I keep telling you I'm a delight Janis: Has this...how long has it been? Month, 2? Of SHEER BLISS taught you nothing Janis: Ruuuuude. Jimmy: Nope. I'm with Team Bobby. You're a gross meanie Jimmy: As all girls are 😂 Janis: Well I'm winning Bobby 'round this weekend by hook or by crook Janis: then you can please yourself, billy no mates Janis: Team Janis 💪 Jimmy: Every bro knows you can't be friends with your girl Jimmy: DUH Janis: Oh yeah, all straight couples HATE each other and that's #goals Janis: If I can't be chatting shit on you, how will I get to talk about you constantly to my gals? Janis: Singing your praises? I THINK NOT Jimmy: Speaking of, Gracie and co are back on the premise that Tall Tammy left her....something. I wasn't listening. Should I break the news we won't be here for date night or do you want to do the honors Janis: Dignity? That's long gone, honey. Janis: Ooh, lemme do it, you're coming round with the sausage anyway Janis: We can do it together baby Jimmy: awhhh Jimmy: I've hidden the mistletoe but she can see the top of the highest counters!! I'm on borrowed time what do I do? Janis: Headbutt her in the teeth Janis: 'Accidentally' Janis: Can't help being a normal-sized human Jimmy: #customerservice Jimmy: then recommend her our chewy cookies 😂 Janis: You can see why I'm not trying to be your work wifey too, yeah? 😂 Janis: If you can convince any of those girls to break their diet, I'll be impressed Janis: Don't count if they go vom in the bogs after tho Jimmy: Gracie might be on her way already. One of her posse asked what you were getting me for Christmas and I didn't hold back Janis: Oh no, am I about to get slut-shamed? 😲 Janis: Or, heaven forfend, tips Janis: I will die Jimmy: Damn I didn't think of that. Sorry Janis: Its cool Janis: She's all mouth anyway, not in a beneficial to the cause way Janis: Be interesting hearing what she thinks you want, keep ya posted lol Jimmy: 🙌 Can't wait Janis: that's what you're meant to say about my present! Jimmy: I did, swear 🤞 Janis: what do you actually want Jimmy: Don't worry about it Janis: Oh, is it? If I'm not fucking your brains out you're not interested Janis: Fine then, save my reddies. 👍 Jimmy: That's what I was thinking. Stage a break up before 🎄 for max drama and min spends Janis: Cool. If you wanna. Janis: Just don't tell everyone you chucked me 'cos I wouldn't give it up. Already a frigit. Janis: What's the story then? Jimmy: Obviously not. We've been hooking up for ages got to keep it #goals Jimmy: I don't know haven't thought that far ahead it just makes sense to get out before gifting Janis: Yeah. Fair. Janis: Think on and let me know Jimmy: You too. We can brainstorm at the weekend. Nothing but time then Jimmy: Can't break up right after the break though Janis: Would look sus, yeah. Janis: Maybe I'll whup you one too many times, your fragile male ego can't hack it, eh? Jimmy: Grace'd be smug 😩 Jimmy: Can't even fake that, babe Jimmy: Nobody'd believe the story Janis: She's gonna be regardless Janis: I got the shitty end of the stick here like but ain't nowt we can do about it now Janis: 🙄 Jimmy: No we're goals we just burned too bright that's all 😂 Jimmy: You've got way more time served with me than she does any of her boos she doesn't win Janis: Mhmm. Calm down, Icarus. Sure you'll be comparing some other bint on a balcony to the sun in no time. 😘 Janis: Suppose so. Least hers are real, if not short-lived, and, well, shit. Janis: She won't know the difference anyway Jimmy: There's nobody like you 💕 Jimmy: Exactly I'm not going to tell her we weren't real Janis: Bullshit 💕 Janis: True enough, I'll take it. Jimmy: Shit gotta go the boss is back Jimmy: Love you 💕 Janis: Love you too, Jonathon 💕
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fmlfpl · 6 years ago
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Lineup Lamentations - GW8
Our Transfers, Captains, and Starting 11s for the week.
WALSH
TRANSFERS:
OUT: Robbo
IN: Trent
I have two frees and am floating one. If I didn't have three pool I prob would've done Mendy to Trent instead of Robbo but as things stand I'm just doing this switch to put money in the bank and will reassess later.
As sexual as Robbo is I do not believe him to be worth 1m more than Trent. Trent's stats have underratedly been a bit poo lately but he's still got the upside with some free kicks and set pieces and such. Did give a lot of thought to Gomez..prob a bit too much thought..but in the end just went with Trenty. Still have Dilva to Raz in the back of my mind after the international break...but we'll get there in due time.
GK:
Alisson goes. Yuck.
DEF:
I still have Mendy. Lol at me. Gonna stick him in the team since he's basically OOP when he does play...but will prob get Jonny off the bench.
Starting Wan this week gonna back the boys at home this weekend for a clean. Meh.
Shaw gets another run out home against Rafa and his players. Prob will concede because fuck life but really shouldn't do. 1-0 must be on the cards. Come on United.
Finally I will start new friend Trent. Feels bad but whatever. Wee Trent lad get in.
MID:
Haz and Mo go again. Couple of good guys. Obv not panicking on Mo as shouted ad nauseam on the pod feel fine with him in any home match and even better looking at the upcoming fixture run for Livp.
Best player in my team for the past two weeks since I transferred him in, no neck fuckface Ryan Frayzuh gets his 3rd of 5 games in my side. Wonder if he'll get 1 point, 2 points, or 3 points. We'll find out together.
Last guy is Dilv. Doesn't feel like a great Dilv game but what am I gonna do. Maybe he'll still be having the midweek feels and bag something. Or maybe he'll add on to his 20 chances created on the season while maintaining 0 assists. Probably that.
FWD:
Broken record dot com Kun and Arnie. Just a couple of absolute lads who have been pretty deece this season. Nothing to say or see here. They are fit so they go again.
BENCH:
Jonny / Billing / Kamara
CAP:
Gotta be Haz. Don't really know how I feel about it but we'll see. No other options really so I didn't have to spend a ton of time deliberating / torturing myself over it this week. At least it will give me some hope after a horrible Saturday that he may save my life on Sunday. Rested Thursday for their Europa game with just a cameo and while I wish this fixture was at home, Soton are still Soton. Hopefully it's just a destructive display of destruction, the land at St. Mary's is razed, and replaced with a blue garden of Eden.
ALON
TRANSFERS:
OUT: N/A
IN: N/A
As discussed on pod I have lots of moves that I want to make that require money and flexibility and all that shit so I’m saving this week and maybe I’ll make three transfers next week for a -4.
Eyeing up Haz (obviously), maybe a move for Kamara, DDG out, shit like that. Stay tuned.
GK:
Disgusted to have to keep starting this diabolical piece of shit called David de Gea but alas here we are. Fuck all of me.
Go Rafa.
DEF:
Double Chelsea returns for me with a nice little fixture on the docket away to Southampton... I’m sure Luiz and Alonso and Chels will concede their patented one huge chance per match but hopefully it falls to Redmond or Shlong or some other piece of fuck on Soton and not Dings or Chaz Austin. Fingers crossed that...
Double Liverpool in back to back nightmare fixtures isn’t ideal for fantasy points but they’re still the best defense in the league and have a ridiculous record at home. Both Robbo and Trent always shouts for attacking returns regardless of fixture (that Shaq chance against Chelsea grrrrrr!!!) and hey in Pep’s first season LFC kept City at arm’s length at home to a 1-0... As a Liverpool supporter though after that terrible performance away to Napoli I’m pretty worried. Team is tired and sluggish right now... Gotta get up for it -- huge fucking match.
Lastly I’m back to rolling out 5 dudes and Wan-B is home to Wolves so that’s okkkkkkk not greeaaaatttt but it’s fiiiiiiinnnneeee. Wolves aren’t too prolific it’s definitely doable / cleanable. Let’s just do it Palace. Fuck it and do it.
MID:
Mo goes again. Haters gonna hate whatever I’m sick of defending him. He’s the best.
Daveeeeed big dong Daveed in the house should be starting in their first choice 11 in the biggest match of the year so far. And he’s feeling good after that UCL match winner what a fucking legend god Daveed is I love him... though if he keeps his giant cock in his pants this week vs. Liverpool that would be totally fine with me.
Mr. Consistent James Rachel Maddow Maddison get the fuck in there. Preseason crush christens himself into my team with an assist like the little tick merchant / eye-test merchant that he is. He’s such a little fucker I love him.
FWD:
Kun and Laca go again.
Kun at this point is so highly owned it doesn’t really matter but Laca is still a genius gem of a differential with the peachiest of plummiest fixtures ready to FUCK. So are we ready to fuck? Let’s fuck.
BENCH:
Ward / Billing / Kamara
CAP:
No surprise I’m wet for Laca in this moment. Against Fulham is the dream fixture and he has a hatty waiting for him around the corner fresh off a monster performance vs. Watford where he probably should’ve triple returned. He’s ready to fuckkkkkkkking go let’s GOOOoooooooo!!!!!
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fmlfpl · 6 years ago
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Lineup Lamentations - GW4
Our Transfers, Captains, and Starting 11s for the week.
WALSH
TRANSFERS:
OUT: Eyes of the bug and Mommy Sakho
IN: Daveed and Jonny Castro Otto 
:( Time to fire off Ozil out. I still love him and still think he's a good pick, but with two frees it's time to shake up the dressing room. There was much deliberation this week for me and it was a difficult move to make.
Realistically if we all knew Kevin would be out for months Dilva would probably have been in a lot a lot of teams. He's just looked great, on direct frees now, and he's just a better pick than Ozil at the same price in this moment end of. Fixtures are insane for them and having three City instead of two feels nice. I expect Pep to ride Dilv while Kevin is out and with all these tidy home games incoming he looks a great option not to mention tidy diff.
After taking Ozil's .2 price drops on the chin and up the bum I needed to find money. Sakho out doesn't feel great, but, I somewhat insanely prefer to hold Shaw given the presence of Wannybiz in my team. Shaw has been terrific and although it appears that United are collapsing, they still have quality in the side and good fixtures. Shaw could be a long term hold and I don't wanna drop him just yet. Palace have 3 good clean shouts incoming and then fairly bad fixtures for cleans for quite a while. Having 2x with no Tomkins in the back line seems quite bad.
Otto has looked immense this season and I quite like the player. He's playing wingback and is quality. He also dropped to 4.4 so hey not bad. Wolves I still back to find their wits and they rotate decently with Palace for the next 6ish GWs so he kinda picked himself. Pains me to say goodbye to Mom but I have a mom in real life so I'll have to make do with just the one instead of the glutton of riches that were two.
GK:
Alisson Becker just continues to tot along. Classic my wife telling me to get him over Ederson just the gift that keeps on giving. Three cleans on the bounce and up against a Vardy-less Leicester....let's make it four my son.
DEF:
Robbo and Mendy go. Ho hum.
Shaw is thrown back out there at Turf Moor. Shitty ass Burnley just got knocked out of Europe so they will probably be good options for cleans again soon until they hit 40 points but they should be a bit poo on Sunday. Or at least, that's what I'm hoping. United are also a bit poo but maybe they are a firmer grade of poo to watery poo from Burnley and they outclass them. Clean seems reasonable.
Finally, Wannybiz gets his first run out for my team this GW. Home Soton is as good as you can hope for and even without Tomkins a clean feels somewhat doable. Kill for a clean.
MID:
Old friend, great friend, elephant trunk Dilv is back. Good guy to have for City's nice little run hopefully points flow.
Mo goes, ho hum again.
Eriksen repaid my patience with the assist last week which immediately made me feel calmer about holding him. Lots clamoring for Hazard, and he may be a different kettle of fish under Sarri, but Eriksen just still consistently good ticker of points. At Watford isn't GREAT but isn't that bad. Go on Christian.
Last guy to go is Ladro. Got the obligatory blank in the GW I bought him out of the way so he's allowed to get points now. Home Bournemouth seems like a 4 goal game to me so hopefully Ladro is in there with some puntos.
FWD:
Same two friends Kun and Arnie.
Arnie news was very nice and he's just a great guy. Two great fixtures before a tough run at which point I will reassess. Kun is love and Kun is life. Will prob destroy Newc because he's the best.
CAP:
Sticking on Mo. The boy hasn't blanked all season and "should" have probably double returned each game to boot. He's not firing on all cylinders and still returning for fun. Leicester with the slab of heads doesn't scare me even though they have been playing good defense this season so far. Still fancy Livp to go in there and dismantle them. Kun is a shout, obviously, and home Newc is a better fixture than at Leic but Mo is Mo. Twisting around cap is not what I'm trying to do this early in the season and Mo has been extremely consistent to date. Sticking with the Egyptian King.
ALON
TRANSFERS:
OUT: N/A
IN: N/A
“All our unhappiness comes from our inability to sit on our free transfers.” - Pascal (not Gross).
I don’t know, pulling out a quote from a French philosopher felt a fine thing to do as I try to not overreact and appreciate the fact that I spent basically 24 hours a day for a month tinkering with my GW1 team for reasons and feelings......... On thinking about my perspective move or moves for this week I kept coming back to the conclusion that I just don’t know yet.
Keeping Ozil is certainly risky --- but he could also very easily pan out and I back Arsenal attack.
Keeping de Gea seems silly when I have a City spot available --- also a de Gea clean / saves / BAPs would be incredibly unsurprising against relegation fodder Burnley. And I may want to use that city spot on Daveeeeeed Silva instead of Ederson.
Keeping Bavies after an 8 minute cameo is not ideal --- but I expect him to start and be good at attacking as usual. They’ll need Rose’s pace vs. Liverpool next match because if Bavies starts he will be shredded alive.
I don’t know - just talking here... Really what I’m trying to say is that I just don’t know yet. I’m off to a fine start, not especially great, but very far from bad, and I’m gonna roll out the boys one last time before an international break and then I’ll see what’s up. With two frees I’ll have maximum flexibility and then take it from there.
GK:
Alright DDG and Manchester United... are you complete trash or can you keep a clean for once in your fucking lives? We’ll see I guess.
DEF:
5 men now and forever.
Mendy home to Newcastle should be as bankable a clean as you can imagine. Hopefully no one with pace on Newcastle runs at Mendy like Adama Traore did so we don’t have to watch Mendy run scared for his actual life and it’s just a nice easy day with some assists on top.
Robbo and Trent delightful double should be in for a big time clean shout as well, fourth consecutive. Leicester are obviously Mahrez-less but also Vardy-less because he’s still on the suspension. Puel teams have given Klopp’s Liverpool tough matches before but tough in the sense that they defend deep and offer literally nothing going forward. Should be 4/4 cleans from my boys.
Bavies is a fuck. Almost 100% his last week in my side so hopefully can see it out with points. But away to Watford is not an easy task and they look pretty good thus far. Not having lettuce hands in goal is a slight boost though :)...
Lastly the murdering drunk driving lunatic from Spain with no upper lip goes again. Double digit hauls for fun from the lad, go get another Alonso.
MID:
Mo Salah, Mo Salah. Of course.
Lukaaaash Moura gets in there. What a feeling when a punt comes off I feel so alive in this moment. Good guy should be playing OOP striker again vs. Watford and do the business. There will be space, and where there is not space there will be bad defenders.
Lastly I have Cairney in. Interesting little psychological move here because Cairney is both dead and red flagged. He will 100% not play and that’s why he’s in there. I’m making the 3000 IQ play and lighting a fire under Ozil’s big bright mantis ass. He thinks he can just illness over here illness over there and I’m not gonna do anything about it well he’s wrong - that is not the type of team I’m running. Hopefully when you read lambs Mesut, this really gets the blood pumping. Mesut will sub in off my bench.
FWD:
Kun obvvvvvvv Kun legend.
Arnie fit is a good feeling. Home Wolves pretty good fixture too I expect him to get in there as he does. Go on Arnie.
CAP:
All week / all life I was on captain Mo... Listening to “The Friday Show” from The Anfield Wrap reminded me how much of a pain in Klopp’s ass Puel teams have been though.
I toyed with the idea of Kun but really it just did not feel good to me. Newc and Rafa are a good bus, Kun can get rotated any match. I could not care less what his history vs. Newcastle is I just don’t feel good about it...
In Puel’s one season at Southampton, Liverpool didn’t score one goal against them in FOUR matches (two legs of a cup)... I had to go back and do my research and shit and yeah I watched some old highlights and had some bad flashbacks etc etc... But then you dig a little deeper and statistically completely dominant performances especially the last one. And then when we played Puel’s Leicester last season yeah it was a “tough match” had to grind out the win but only felt that way because Salah missed two sitters... LFC still went on to win the game and Salah still went on to brace. He had 6 shots and 2.08xG that match. Fuck Puel back to Gringotts let’s fucking go it’s on MOOOOOOOoooooooo.
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fmlfpl · 8 years ago
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Lineup Lamentations - GW29
Our Transfers, Captains, and Starting 11s.
The latest ever lineup lambs in the history of lambs. Alon here, and it’s 2:15 AM while I’m beginning to piece this together. Sorry to all who didn’t get to see this in time, but hey better late then never. Was a weird / busy day for me so couldn’t get it going in the morning, alas, here we are. Enjoy.
WALSH
Transfers:
OUT: Fuckface#1 and Fuckface#2.......aka Brunt and Baines
IN (For -4 Points): Tony V and Hector the Bell
After about one million thoughts of other things to do I decided to go with what I shouted on the pod and hit for Valencia and Bellerin. I decided that removing two pieces of actual dead weight shit felt most important even though I spent time looking at Coutinho's spot long and hard. I decided to sort my defense out in one swoop so I can turn my full attention further up the pitch on attack in weeks to come. I flirted with getting a Spud defender instead, but in the end wanted to get this pair and go with a little bit of a differential with Bell. Not the "smart" or "safe" move but fuck it. I want to get players I like. The extra double gameweek for each of them certainly was a factor as well. Hopefully I get the hit back and end up neutral on it from them straight away.
GK: TOM you fucking piece of shit. No points since GW23 and he's up against my beloved Defoe. I don't even know what I want anymore.
DEF: New lads (Valencia + Bellerin) come in and join Marcos A. Feeling great about the defense for the first time in a really long time. Not getting 0-1 point out of Baines and Brunt moving forward will be great. Hoping for a trio of cleans out of this lot and I think it is very doable. Maybe a cheeky attacking return too? Hopefully Boro don't get new manager bounce and United aren't tired after Europe. West Brom and Stoke are on the beach so they feel like good clean shouts...kill for some points out of defense. 
MID: Double Pool mid remains in tact with Mane and Phil. Phil is almost certainly playing in his farewell game for my squadron as I feel like he needs to turn into Alexis pretty soon / before the next game. Hopefully they put in a good performance against City as they normally do. Sigmund most steady and solid love of my life is going nowhere until I WC probably. Finally Barkers ledge stays for Hull. Hopefully he backs up his double assist game with more puntos.
FWD: Bookaku old reliable goes with Defoe and Kun. If I don't get any Defoe points this weekend I don't know what life is anymore. Kun idk he keeps getting chances but keeps fucking them all up. Hopefully he runs through the sieve that is Liverpool defense who haven't kept a clean in like 3 months and destroys. 
CAP: Lukaku. Not much thought here..gonna go with him in another home banker. Hull have been playing better but they still aren't keeping cleans on the road. Without owning Alexis I don't see another option even close. Hopefully he bangs in a double return again.
ALON
Transfers:
OUT: KDB
IN: Alexis
I kept it pretty passive and reserved this week with just one free transfer instead of the shit I was talking about on the pod -8 or above... Don’t get me wrong my team is awful and there are a ton of guys that I would remove instantly if say I popped my wildcard but I decided not to WC and also not to freak out. I remembered that my GW27+28 was a net rise of ~30k places and while guys like Baines, I hope dies, he’s still home Hull and supposedly fit so why am I gonna be dumb and take a -4 there for example. Snodgrass also seems fit and while he’s terrible, the guys that I was flirting with bringing in either had bad fixtures or were too expensive to fuck up my future prospects. Just doing one move and not taking a hit feels kind of like a differential so I’m happy to stay calm and tit myself for GW29 and then go into the international break with a more clear idea of how drastically I want my team to change in the coming weeks and if maybe I do need to pop WC before GW36 (where we’re both projecting using it at this point).
Alexis I still consider the best player in FPL and I’m overjoyed to own him in this moment with this fixture. Arsenal have had their annual European facial at the hands of a superpower and now will go back to thrashing shitty ass teams and fighting for fourth place. I’m ready for the ride.
GK: Young Pickford goes for me I love this little shit. Home Burnley is terrific (though I have Barnes, and they have been scoring) at worst he’ll rack up some saves and probably be between 3-7 points which is a nice thing to expect.
DEF: I’m sort of embarrassed to even put my defenders on paper in this moment because ew they’re legitimately disgusting. Alonso I’m sure is putting in a transfer request away from my horrible squad because he’s so many classes above but hey he’s under contract whatever fuck you. Baines goes for me again YAY!!!! And lastly I’m fucking the world and starting Matip AWAY AT MANCHESTER CITY (why am I doing this) because honestly starting Robertson away at Everton or Fed Fernandez away at Bournemouth feels worse. It just does I can’t really explain it so I will not try to. Matip is gonna get me a goal in a Liverpool ass fuck job on City so whatever ;) ;) ;)...
MID: New boy Alexis definitely feels nice. An old friend when times were better and simpler for me and my squadron. Welcome back mate. Raz Sterling kept his place in my side through blank fuckfest and while the fixtures are awful (I also have Kun) they’re still the top attacking side in the league easily (Liverpool a close second I guess) and can put 3+ up against anyone. Or they can just blank against Stoke like fucking losers. Can’t wait to find out. Mane keeps his place and naturally will go off away at a top side because Liverpool are fucked up like that. And lastly I have Snoddy in there. Apparently he’s fit so what do I know he’ll probably be benched and play 30′ or something terrible and just be a joke but ya never know. I wanted a Soton guy or maybe Pedro but as I said above in the transfers section it either fucked up my team structure because of funds (Pedro) or felt stupid to take a hit for because of fixture (Southampton away at Spurs so a likely blank).
FWD: Aforementioned legend Kun still an explosive festival of fuck I still love him. And honestly at this point Yaya is losing a biiiiiiit of his nailedness so maybe Kun will find himself back on pens at some point as they make their late season push.... TBD! Also aforementioned is Smashley Barnes who has very quietly done a bit of a job for me and goes against the by far worst team in the league Sundy so if there’s ever a week in his fucking life to get me some surprise double return or something maybe it’s this week... And lastly Big Rom. We all have him. He’s just the steady reliable fuck that we’ve always wanted him to be. That is just a reality now so yep, go on.
CAP: As I said on the pod, Alexis. Don’t know if he’ll start up top or out wide but either way against actual giant pieces of turd West Brom he imght be the best captaincy option. And even if he starts out wide we’ve seen it happen so many times this year Giroud gets subbed, Alexi goes up top, and sticks it in. Because he’s boss. A little bit of a differential cap from me, maybe I can sneak a green arrow... please?
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