#not the last time i’ve had to say this about mccoy

[doctor-mccoys-sanity]

Watching Star Trek TOS spending all my time staring at Bones when he’s onscreen and I can’t tell if it was an acting choice for McCoy to check out every attractive woman in front of him or if it was just Deforest Kelley🥲

Also I love lesbian uhura, whenever there’s other women she just spends her time admiring them and i love it.

[exoticb-utters]

Hello!

So I saw that your requests were open, and would like to ask for a Hank McCoy (Wolverine and the X-Men) x Reader short story, if that isn't too much trouble. If that's not on the table, I'm sorry for bothering you.

YES OFC, I haven’t been writing much, and instead, I’ve been posting a lot more art so it’s about time I get back in touch with my roots 🙏🏽 (sorry this took me forever omg) pls enjoy 😘

Confessions

Hank x Mutant Reader Word Count: 2.7k Words

Mutant Power: Water Manipulation

You’ve been a member of the X-men for the last 3 years. Yes, that’s almost 3 years you’ve had a crush on Henry McCoy. 

I mean, how could you not? He was so sweet, and always put aside time for you whenever you needed it. He’s also, like, insanely hot…

While you do have a huge soft spot for Hank, everyone had given you a warm welcome when you joined of course, this team was your family. More of a family than your parents; who called you a freak for doing ‘tricks’ with their drinks.

You’d make frequent trips to the lab, knowing all too well there would be a big blue hermit waiting for you. As you did this, Hank could never bring himself to admit the embarrassing fact- but your frequent visits were the highlights of his day.

The rest of the team were amazing family to him of course, but no one checked in or visited Hank as often as you did.

Most of the time anyone usually ever came down was if they needed something; nothing this personal. It was new, but it was nice for a change. 

Your jokes with him never got old, and your smile that came with it could only make it better. The willingness you had to sit around and let him rant about the latest experiment that had him losing sleep, to even offer a hand with whatever he was struggling with. Your innocent praises glorifying how smart he was had him hiding his growing blush by looking behind a microscope. 

“I’m afraid blue blushes too, my dear…” He would joke, causing you to smile and chuckle. Ugh who loves a hot, funny nerd. You’d chuckle to yourself. 

Oh who was he kidding, Hank was head over heels. While he tries to use his brain to rationally sugar coat things, he knew he was helpless. 

Your attention to detail was incredible, you somehow remember all of his favorite things without fail. You were just so…thoughtful. 

He couldn’t help but feel a bit selfish, wanting more than your visits down to his lab, the long talks, your presence. He was going crazy.

Then, every night you’d find yourself laying awake in your thoughts, knowing he couldn’t possibly feel the same.

You’d never put your friendship on the line for something so…selfish. 

The thought ate away at your conscious, the numbing sound of your fan tuned out by your busy mind. You sigh, rolling over to your side while pulling your blanket with you. 

You don’t know why you were like this.

You and Hank are…friends. Which is fine- even though it hurts. You are fine with it, and you’ve been fine for the past 3 years.

…for the most part anyway. 

♡ ♡ ♡

You were now hanging out with Hank in his lab, legs dangling over the edge as you talked to each other. Something about a new opera showing happening in town.

Suddenly, you hear Xavier telepathically call for the rest of the X-Men to meet him in the control room, suited up. Must be a mission.

You were informed the Jaggernaut had escaped custody, again.

All X-Men that were on stand-by were now assigned on this task. The team consisted of you, Hank, Cyclops, Jean, Wolverine, Nightcrawler, and of course Storm. Stacked team if you say so yourself.

Everyone was in the Blackbird with the sole goal of neutralizing the Jaggernaut before he caused severe harm. 

Cyclops was put in charge, giving direct orders as he looked to you and Ororo. “I need you and Storm to direct him towards us, we need to keep him separated from civilians. Meaning I need a tall wall of water, Storm you freeze it making sure he won’t be able to get through.” 

You both looked to one another with nod. Scott then turns around to Hank who was piloting the jet. “Hank you go with them and watch from above and make sure things don’t get to out of hand. If they do we need your strength to counter-attack.” 

Hank replies with a “on it” before tilting the jet to left, bringing the stealth instrument closer to the designated location. 

“Logan you’re taking the wheel while those three get dropped down. Everyone else is with me.” Scott said finally while Hank clicked some buttons before switching with Logan. The bottom hatch of the plane opened up, allowing you, Storm, and Beast to exit. 

Storm flew to her position in the air, leaving you and Hank free falling towards the ground. Hank turned to look at you expectantly, blue hair blowing wildly in the wind. 

“Yeah, yeah, I got it.” You chuckle. You outstretched your arms towards a nearby pond you spotted earlier. Pulling your hands back to your chest in a stream-like manner, a large funnel of water shot out towards you and Hank. 

You grabbed Hank’s arm as the funnel reached you, changing the water into a shape similar to a slide with your free hand. You surfed down the water, holding onto Hank making sure he kept up- and knowing him, it was also preventing him from falling off.

As you neared the ground, you spun the water into a wide spiral to slow down your momentum for an easy landing. 

“I’m still impressed you can do that with your hands.” Hank comments as you reach the ground, earning an amused huff from you. “Well it took some practice,” You trail off, your eyes now looking at his crazy wind blown hair. 

“Actually, I’m more impressed your hair can take that shape…” You snort, biting on ur fist to hold in your laugh. It looked like he had an insane cowlick…well, maybe if the cow had 4 tongues.

“…what?” He said before quickly bringing up a hand to his hair. While he was busy fixing his crazed hair, you spot Storm flying over.

“I’ve located the Juggernaut, he’s down the street!” She briefly informs you before taking off, flying further down the street. 

“Right right, back to business.” You say, waving an arm around yourself to recollect your water. Hank takes off, leaping after Ororo as you ride your stream of water. 

You hear loud commotion around your surroundings the further you went, hopefully you arrived in time. You spot the Juggernaut on the street, wildly flipping cars as if he were in a mad rampage. One was now launched and flying in midair- towards you, specifically.  

You expertly weave around it, spinning upside down in doing so. Before he can flip anymore cars you jump, using all surrounding water to form a wall as Scott instructed. 

You hear a crack of thunder overhead as you land, the air chilling and the clouds growing darker. With a strong gust of wind, the walls you made froze over. You see Storm fly into view along with the rest of the X-Men behind you.

Beast jumps onto a light post, swinging on the end before propelling himself onto the large wall of ice.

The Juggernaut’s actions were now solely limited to facing the X-Men head on. Realizing this, he began charging with full force towards the rest of the team.

“Get his helmet off!!” Cyclops orders before bringing two fingers to his visor, firing off his laser beams.

Night Crawler bamfs around the brute, landing on his shoulders for brief moments, attempting to unlatch the dome.

You shape your water into a whip, ready to attack if the villain closes in. You see Storm raise her hands, calling down thunder as lightning begins to target the Jaggernaut.

You even see Jean pressing her temple with two fingers, using her telepathy with the other outstretched hand to slow down the pursuer.

He wavered just barely under her prowess, the strong bolts only slowing him down slightly before Wolverine decides it’s time he steps in.

With a growl, Logan leaps towards him with his adimantium claws extended before being swatted away by the Juggernaut’s large hand.

Not a moment later he grabs onto Nightcrawler and tosses him aside as well, throwing him on top of Wolverine.

The X-Men were losing options, and fast.

You had to do something.

You swing your water whip from underneath the Juggernaught before quickly whipping it back against his head, effectively tripping him and causing him to topple toward.

Before he could regain his footing completely, you call back all your water to blast him with as much force as you could muster.

And…It was working! He was regressing in distance.

…Until he took a step.

And then another.

And another.

It wasn't long before he began fully charging toward you.

Your concentrated expression quickly fell to one filled with fear and disbelief. “Watch out!” You heard Jean, Scott, and Cyclops warn in unison.

Their cries were all in vain, a large hand splashing out of the water had taken hold of your face. You felt your feet lift off the ground as you were directly dangling in the air, at the mercy of an unstoppable force. In this position, the Jaggernaught could easily crush your skull if he so pleased.

“I will find Xavier. And I will make him pay.” The brute speaks as his grip on your head steadily tightens, your chest burning as you screamed in sheer horror at the increasing pressure.

From above, Hank was almost hesitant to give away his position as the others before you attacked- he knew they could hold their own. But watching you face the Juggernaught head-on…Seeing how your life was in such jeopardy, hearing your screams, Hank had no second thoughts about intervening and saving you.

With a distant roar, you hear Beast come down on the Juggernaut. He releases you, but at the cost of you falling; and of course- hitting your head on the pavement.

Your head began pounding, ears ringing as the corners of your vision grew fuzzy with dark spots. All you could see was a flurry of blue viciously wrestling with a large brownish blob. More figures rushed into the picture before a redhead precluded your vision, concern written all over her face.

“Stay with me! Don’t close your eyes and just listen to my voice…“ Her words began to fade out as the black dots in your vision clouded the world around you.

Your head rolled to the side, your closing eyes finding the blue figure before your heavy eyelids inevitably shut.

Hank.

♡ ♡ ♡

You slowly awoke to a steady beeping of a monitor nearby, your eyes softly fluttering open. Looking up to the ceiling, you recognized it as the flat cement ceiling of Hank’s Lab.

Before you could get up, you felt the intense throbbing pain coming from the back of your head. Had you really hit your head that hard?

Well if it had knocked you clean out it must’ve been…

“You’re awake!” You hear a familiar voice call out to your right. It wasn’t long before a blue face came into view, blocking the blinding glare of the overhead fluorescent lights.

“How are you feeling?!?” Your vision slowly focused in on the figure in front of you. “Good…I think.” You slowly sit up, rubbing the back of your head tenderly.

You notice you had an IV inserted into your right forearm. Without another thought you removed it, ready to go…to wherever you were needed.

“Woah, there- you should slow down it’s been…a bit and you're still recovering.” Hank warns, grabbing your wrist to keep you from moving any further.

You looked to his face…he was worried??? “Hank, I’m fine! See?” You said reassuringly; though, Hank himself didn’t find himself too convinced.

“Hey, what are you so worried about?” You ask, brows drawn together hoping to get a straight answer out of him.

He was worried about you, obviously. You suffered several traumatic head injuries within a short span of time! If you had not been a mutant…he didn’t even want to think of the possible outcomes of that situation.

Hank sighed heavily, organizing his racing thoughts. “I thought I’d lost you.” He managed to drag out.

Huh?

Scared??

That he lost...YOU?!?

“Hank, I think I’ve suffered greater injuries. You should know this.” You say with a small laugh before quickly stopping, his solemn expression instantly killing your attempt to lighten the mood.

His large hands grab your wrists firmly. “You have been out for a month.” His words shook you, so much so that you found yourself shaking your head in disbelief.

You hadn’t been out for longer than a day, right?

Hank must’ve sensed your reluctancy to believe your current situation because he started again. “You suffered several fractures to your skull, luckily, nothing broken or opposing threats to your brain. Unfortunately the stress your skull took on added with the hard contact of the ground practically split your head open.” He explained, running a hand down his tired face.

You hadn’t realized this had happened. “But I’m…I’m okay now, aren’t I?” You ask hesitantly, raising a hand up carefully to the back of your head. You felt stitches, running up the back of your head. Your stomach dropped.

“I performed an emergency medical procedure…which I won’t go into details with you so soon…” He sighed heavily once again, plopping down in his wheeled office chair.

“I hadn’t realized…” You quietly trailed off while fidgeting with your fingers out of nervous habit.

Hadn’t realized what? How bad the situation was? How worried the other X-Men must be? How much Hank went through to make sure you were well?!?

“Please, it isn’t your fault. If anything, this situation has made me realize something…” Now it was Hank’s turn to dramatically pause, his head in his large, blue hands.

“What? What is it?” You ask nervously, fearing your health was in critical condition at this point.

He grabbed you by the shoulders once again, looking into your eyes deeply, “Because…because I fear I’m falling in love with you.”

You stared in utter shock. Had you heard him correctly? He feels the same way?!?

“I-I want to come home to you, to kiss you like it’s been eons since I last saw your face. I need you safe, I don’t know how I’ll live with myself if you aren’t-” You didn’t need to hear anymore. 

You grabbed him by his lab coat, pulling him into you as your lips pressed together in a flurry of passion.

He held onto you, hungrily chasing after your lips as he poured all the love he’d helplessly held in for so long.

Your hands slowly slid up his broad chest and towards his neck, finding themselves tangled in his soft hair. “Hank” You sighed against his lips, the kiss ripping all oxygen from your lungs and leaving you breathless in the process.

He groans into your mouth in response, his tongue running against your bottom lip, silently begging for access.

Your heated ‘session’ was abruptly cut short by the lab door sliding open. Hank shot up, nearly taking a tumble trying to remove himself from you- to avoid any suspicion of…previous actions of course.

Though, the scene didn’t look too convincing; seeing how Hank’s glasses laid crooked on his face and his hair was well tussled. You had to cover your giggle at his appearance.

It was Morph, Cyclops, and Logan. They all start laughing, causing the rest of the X-men to come in, groaning in defeat.

“Woah, woah- were all of you just standing outside the door?!?” Hank exclaimed.

“Pay up, daddy’s waiting.” Logan holds out a hand expectantly towards the other X-Men, a smirk displayed across his face while completely ignoring Hank.

“I knew I should’ve bet with Logan.” Rogue mumbles, fishing out money from her pockets along with the rest of the team.

Oh yes. This was only the beginning of a long, beautiful (and heavily teased) relationship with Hank.

I hope you enjoyed this cute little one-shot! ;)

If you want more like this or want something written, please hit up my ask box! Requests are always open 💕 Until next time🫡🫡

-Mae

[librababe99]

Kinktober Day Seven: Hank McCoy

Hank McCoy (Beast) x Female Reader | Cunnilingus |

Tags: MDNI, 18+ ONLY, SMUT, Oral (F receiving)

Summary: Hank McCoy, brilliant scientist and X-Men member, has always maintained a professional demeanor—until his new lab assistant, you, begins to stir feelings he can no longer suppress.

wc: 1.1K

A/N: So I had written two versions of this...Hank in his human form and the other as beast. I know this is probably a "hear me out" moment but y'all hear me out!!

| Day six | | Kinktober Masterlist | | Day Eight |

The soft hum of machinery filled the air of the lab deep within the X-Mansion, where shelves lined with vials and beakers glowed faintly under the sterile light. Hank McCoy, though commonly known as Beast, was in his human form tonight. His towering, muscular frame leaned over the desk, his sharp blue eyes focused intently on the latest research data scrolling across his screen. Even in human form, he moved with remarkable grace, his large hands deftly handling the delicate instruments.

At the other end of the room, you were cataloging a series of mutant gene samples. It had been several months since you had joined the team as Hank’s lab assistant, your sharp intellect and quiet focus catching his attention almost immediately. Over the late-night work sessions, you’d both come to know each other well—your shared passion for science, your philosophical debates that lasted hours, and the comfortable rhythm that had settled between you.

But there was something else beneath the surface. You felt it every time Hank’s deep, gentle voice filled the room, a soothing sound that never failed to pull at something deep inside you. Or the way his gaze would linger, longer than it should, whenever you worked in silence together. The tension was there, simmering between you both, growing stronger with each passing day. Every accidental touch—his fingers brushing against yours when you passed him a tool—sent a spark through you that you couldn’t ignore. The quiet moments where his presence, even in his human form, filled the space between you, making it feel smaller, more intimate.

Tonight, the air in the lab felt heavier than usual, thick with unspoken words and feelings neither of you had dared to voice. The clock ticked closer to midnight, and the mansion was silent, save for the occasional creak in the walls. You looked up from your work, watching Hank’s silhouette illuminated by the soft glow of his monitor. His broad shoulders hunched over, his shirt stretching across his back as he typed away.

"Is everything okay?" you asked softly, breaking the quiet.

Hank looked up from his work, his intelligent eyes locking with yours across the room. For a moment, he said nothing, simply studying you with that deep, intense gaze that always made your heart flutter. Then, slowly, he stood, his tall form moving toward you with a deliberate grace that made your pulse quicken. The air between you thickened with anticipation, though you couldn’t yet name why.

“There’s something I’ve been meaning to say,” he began, his voice low, laced with an honesty you hadn’t heard before. He took a step closer, his large hand resting on the edge of the table near yours. “But I’ve struggled to find the right words."

You swallowed, feeling your heart race as his presence seemed to fill the room. He was close now, too close. His scent, warm and familiar, wrapped around you as he spoke, the deep timbre of his voice pulling you in.

"Over the past few months, I've realized just how much you mean to me. Not just as a colleague… but as someone I care about more than I should."

Your breath caught in your throat, a warmth spreading through your chest as his words sank in. You opened your mouth to respond, but Hank’s hand brushed against yours on the table, and the touch sent a shiver up your spine. His eyes darkened slightly, his pupils dilating as the tension between you two snapped into sharp focus.

"I've tried to ignore it, tried to remain professional, but…" he trailed off, his thumb grazing your hand gently, the simple contact electrifying your skin. "I can’t anymore."

Your body hummed with a mixture of desire and uncertainty. Slowly, you stood, turning to face him fully. His gaze bore into yours, his tall frame towering over you, yet the way he looked at you was anything but intimidating. It was raw, honest, filled with a desire he had been holding back for far too long.

"I feel the same," you whispered, the words spilling from your lips before you could stop them.

Hank’s breath hitched at your confession. For a moment, time seemed to stand still, the air between you crackling with the weight of what you both knew was about to happen. Then, in one swift, decisive movement, Hank closed the distance between you, his lips capturing yours in a kiss that was both gentle and full of unrestrained passion.

His hands, large and warm, cradled your face as his lips moved against yours, tender yet demanding. You melted into him, your body pressing against his, the heat of him searing through your clothes. You tangled your fingers in his dark, unruly hair, pulling him closer as the kiss deepened, the quiet lab around you forgotten in the flood of desire that overwhelmed you both.

When you finally broke apart, both of you gasping for air, Hank’s forehead rested against yours, his breath heavy, his voice rough with need. "I want to show you," he whispered, his lips brushing against your temple, "just how much you mean to me."

Your heart raced as his hands slid down your sides, his touch firm but reverent, sending a pulse of heat straight to your core. Slowly, he sank to his knees before you, his gaze never leaving yours, his large hands holding your hips as though you were the most precious thing in the world.

“Hank…” you whispered, your voice shaky, unsure of what to expect.

But his hands were already moving, undoing the button of your pants with practiced ease. His fingers brushed against your skin as he slid them down your legs, his eyes darkening with desire as he took in the sight of you, vulnerable and exposed before him.

“I’ve wanted this for so long,” Hank murmured, his breath ghosting over your thigh as he pressed a kiss to your skin, his lips soft and reverent. “To taste you… to make you feel good.”

Your body trembled at his words, the sheer need in his voice sending a flood of warmth through you. Slowly, Hank’s hands parted your thighs, his eyes filled with a quiet intensity that made your heart pound. And then, without warning, his mouth was on you.

A gasp tore from your lips as his tongue slid against you, warm and insistent, his movements slow and deliberate, each stroke of his tongue sending waves of pleasure coursing through your body. You tangled your fingers in his hair, gripping it tightly as he worked, the pleasure building with each passing second.

His hands gripped your thighs, holding you steady as your legs trembled beneath his touch. Every sound that escaped your lips, every gasp and moan, seemed to spur him on, his growls of approval vibrating against your sensitive skin, driving you closer to the edge.

“Hank…” you gasped, your body tightening with anticipation, your breath coming in short, desperate bursts. But he didn’t stop, his tongue sucking and swirling your clit with a precision only he could possess, pushing you higher and higher until—

Your climax hit you like a tidal wave, your body trembling as pleasure crashed over you. Hank continued, drawing out every last bit of pleasure he could, his tongue relentless until you were a quivering mess, gasping for breath.

Finally, when you were spent, he pulled back, his lips glistening with your release, his eyes filled with satisfaction and tenderness as he rose to his feet. He pulled you into his arms, his embrace strong yet gentle, his breath still heavy against your ear.

“You’re everything to me,” he whispered, his voice soft as he held you close. “And I’ll never stop showing you that.”

You rested your head against his chest, feeling the steady thrum of his heartbeat beneath your cheek, knowing that Hank had just shown you, in the most intimate way possible, just how much you truly meant to him.

Taglist: @roguespinach @lovemaildumpsterfire @nyxoneiros @omgurhot @5soscrack @superstar-lover863-blog @Therealnekomari @ahreumnim @iloved1lfs0

[su-whisterfield]

Nightcrawler Week day seven, free choice, so it’s slash, of course, as I’ve been slashing Kurt/Logan since 1980.

Light, short, mostly safe for work, hurt comfort, following on from Wolverine 1 by Saladin Ahmed and Martín Cóccolo.

Family Affairs.

He jerks out from deep sleep with a gasp and a string of German obscenities.

“Hey, hey,” I reach out to him in the dim light. “It’s okay, Elf, it’s okay.”

A couple of deep breaths. “Ja, ja, okay, I’m okay.” Except he’s shaking an’ he’s clearly ain’t okay. He settles down again, head on my chest, I keep my arm around him.

I know what trauma looks like, been there done that, most recently at the hands of someone I thought was a friend; not sure I’ll ever want to around McCoy ever again, not sure I’ll ever trust him again or trust myself not to end him.

“Want to talk about it, about her?” He’s quiet for a while, I can tell by his breathing that he’s still awake. Bad enough to be betrayed, used, abused by a friend, but Margali fuckin’ Szardos is his fuckin’ mother. Foster mother, splitting hairs, mother enough to count. How could she? She didn’t just turn her son into a monster (this gentle man who so values his humanity), she sold him to Orchis, to the goddam enemy. Bitch. She been on a slippery slope for years now, well, next time she shows her horned head, it’s going to be the last. She ain’t gonna hurt him anymore.

He sighs and sits up. “Sorry.”

“You ain’t got nothing to say sorry for, Elf.”

“I woke you,” he knows I don’t sleep well.

“Nah, I was awake,” I was thinking about the Mounties that Silas slaughtered. An’ the hunter. An’ my pack. All dead, because of me. But he doesn’t need that right now. I hold my arms open and he gets the hint and lies down again.

See, I know my lad, know him well, he don’t bottle up shit like most of us. Wears his heart on his sleeve, always has done. And he cares, cares about all of us, his team, his people, those Mounties, Dave the hunter, even my pack.

But what his mom did to him, it’s eating him up, that’s what the nightmares are about, and he needs to talk it through.

So he talks, I listen. He cries, I hold him. He talks some more.

He came up into the mountains to find me, because our people need me, but he needs me too.

Then he tells me about Mystique and Destiny.

“Yer joshin’ me!?”

“Nein,” he’s smiling, I can hear it in his voice. “She is my papa, not my mutter.”

I let that wash over me for a while. They’re a nasty pair, Raven an’ Irene, made all the worse whenever they’re together. They make the lives of everyone around them miserable and neither him nor their adoptive daughter, Anna Marie, our Rogue, owe them anything.

“You sure?”

He raises his head from my chest, the dressing is shocking white against the blue. “It is her truth, at least for now, whether it stays the truth, I don’t know.” He trusts her no more than I do. Good.

“How?” I’m having real trouble getting my head around this. “What about what’s his name? Aster?”

“Azerael.”

“Yeah, him. Asterisk.” I’m doing it deliberately now, mangling the name and he’s letting me, the mischief is back in his golden eyes, the smile not just for show.

“You could ask her?” He is well aware of Raven’s history with me. No, no thank you, I’ve had enough of that toxic bitch to last a lifetime. I give him a hard stare. “I mean, you and her were…” he continues, waves his hand for emphasis, he really doesn’t want to say it. Neither do I. “I’m sure she’d love to tell you how she uses men for their… genetic potential .” Little shit is openly smirking now.

“Hey,” I scowl. Time to get off that particular subject. “I thought I told ya’, Misfit. No one laughs at The Wolverine.”

He bows his head and blows a raspberry on my shoulder. He’s been laughing at me all these years, showing no sign of stopping now. I hope he never does.

[scotianostra]

Happy Birthday Scottish actor John (Hunter) Bell born 20th October 1997 in Paisley.

John got his first break in acting when he was eight years old through a Blue Peter competition to be in Doctor Who. He was a huge Doctor Who fan at the time and was doing drama classes, so when his parents heard about the competition, they entered him and he ended up winning. fellow Paisley actor David Tennant! And before anyone corrects me I know Tennant was born in Bathgate, but he moved to Paisley and was educated there!

Without that part in Doctor Who, John says he may not have pursued acting as a career. In fact, he nearly gave up on it altogether as a teenager.

In March 2008, he was the lead singing boy in a promotional trailer for the BBC 1 talent show ‘I’d Do Anything’, since then he has had some great acting roles, the most high profile must have been when he portrayed Bain, son of Bard the Bowman in two of the three epic Hobbit films. He also put in an appearance as Young Spud in T2 Trainspotting.

His TV work, for a 25 year old, is quite extensive, as well as Dr Who other shows have included Life of Riley, Tracey Beaker Returns, Hatfield & McCoys and Into the Badlands.

Of course young John is arguably most well known to the audience of the hit Starz show Outlander.

From season three onward he has been a recurring character, Jamie’s nephew, i.e “Young” Ian Murray, I enjoyed seeing him return to the fold, complete with Mohawk in the last season of the show.

In January 2022 John began his theatrical career in the a one-man show, The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me at Wimbledons New Theatre. John commented at the time;

“It was an opportunity to play somebody gay, and I’d never done that before in my career, even though I am gay. On Outlander, I’m playing a straight character, a guy who’s very different to me, so it was nice".

In a recent interview John admited that 2 weeks before his Young Ian audition he was ready to give up acting. Opening up to Flip Your Wig, Bell explained: “I’ve been in acting since I was eight so I’ve done a lot of big things that have had huge impacts.

“But there was a moment in my career when I was about 16,17, when you’re trying to make that transition from a child to an adult actor, that I wasn’t getting any work.

“I thought I was going to have to give everything up.

“I was ready to go to university and do something else so Outlander came about two, three weeks before I was supposed to start university and I got the audition and I got it.”

According to his IMDb profile, Bell also has another project in the works called The Man In The Box, a drama currently in production.

[denimbex1986]

'...Mr. Arnold is tempted into the ball by a Doctor Who Annual and is playing the theme in the music shop scene – are you a fan of Doctor Who in real life? And what was it like making those jokes and references in front of the Tenth Doctor David Tennant?

“I’ve always dipped in and out of Doctor Who over the years since Sylvestor McCoy, who was doing it when I first became aware of it when I was growing up. Even if you’re not a fan it’s one of those shows you can’t really get away from, so doing that particular scene in front of David was really fun, and of course Douglas had directed Doctor Who as well. Apart from the amusing situation of two supposed Doctor Who fans talking about Doctor Who without realising they’re in the company of a Doctor Who, I also seem to remember Michael being the one to suggest that he would deliver his “due to problems at the BBC” line directly to David.

Oh, and I think it was actually my idea to grab the annual off the harpsichord before joining the queue behind Crowley at the end of the ballroom scene (which we’d shot weeks earlier at this point). When we were blocking it out and rehearsing I knew I had to leave my position and get to the front for my “surrender the angle” line, and then later it just felt like I wouldn’t leave without the annual so I ran back through everyone to grab it. Nobody seemed to have a problem with me doing that so I just carried on doing it when we shot it! I do remember it being a fun set with Douglas and the team being very open to suggestions.”

How did you balance filming both Good Omens and BBC Ghosts at the same time?

“Luckily both shows were a joy to work on, and everyone seems to know about both of them. We were shooting them in early 2022 and I also had a little part in an ITV drama called ‘Stonehouse’, starring Matthew Macfadyen. I usually never know when I’m working next so to have three great TV jobs at once was very unusual. There was all this date juggling and I actually almost had to turn down Ghosts due to clashes. Luckily both shows had to move some dates so it worked out. But yes, I spent two weeks up in Scotland shooting all that Good Omens ballroom stuff, then I came back down to London to do Ghosts, knowing I’d be back up to shoot my scenes in the music shop in a couple of weeks. Now, when I found out who was playing my wife in Ghosts I couldn’t believe it: Caroline Sheen – Michael Sheen’s cousin! She was amazing and that was another great set in general. I say “set”, but it’s all filmed in that house which surprised me. I’d worked with Kiell [Smith-Bynoe] and Jim [Howick] before, and Charlotte [Ritchie] was in the Good Omens radio play a few years ago and a big fan of the book. Charlotte’s very musical of course and we got talking about my folding keyboard I had for practising my Good Omens stuff, and she ended up setting it up in the house for us to have a play on!

Now, when we’d shot all our internal scenes there was this big storm forecast, and our external scenes were scheduled for the day of the storm, so that had to be moved into the next week. It meant I ended up shooting those scenes outside the house, then going straight back up to Scotland to shoot the Good Omens music shop scene the next day! When I mentioned to Michael I’d just worked with Caroline he said “ooh she’s in Ghosts is she!” and revealed that she’d texted him about me which was rather surreal. Then later after the Ghosts wrap party Kiell gave me a part in his Channel 4 Blap, so at the time I felt like I was killing it career wise, but the industry quietened a bit after that and my workload eased off over the year so I was in my overdraft by November.”

What are your plans for the future – can we expect to see you in something else soon?

“This year, after a bit of a quiet start, I was very fortunate to work on a Disney+ show called Rivals which stars… David Tennant! I think I’m allowed to say my character is called Brian, and I shot five episodes so that was another really amazing job, and great to work with David again (I told him he must be my good luck charm, although I hope he’s not sick of me). That should be out at some point in late 2024. Other than that I’ve filmed a few other bits I presume will be out next year, one of which is called Truelove on Channel 4 which actually looks really good. That starts early January. Of course now Season 3 of Good Omens has been greenlit, I would love Neil and the gang to have me back on that… but I can only keep my fingers crossed!”

[hummingbird-of-light]

In Our Favor

Part 371

McCoy

The flight back from the chalet to the palace was quick and McCoy barely had time to think about flying before they were on the ground again. A quick drive and he and Scotty were dropping their bags in their room. They spent the rest of the day relaxing and lounging around in their favorite places.

The next morning after breakfast, Spock, Sarek, and Amanda arrived back at the palace with Jim.

“I want to know everything!” he exclaimed as he hugged the four younger people. “And then of course I want to do some baking!” He said the last bit to Francine as he hurried to hug her.

Francine laughed. “Of course we will. But we still have a week lad.”

Soon enough Jim had led McCoy and Scotty, Robbie and Leah, and Spock away to chat and catch up.

“How on earth did you get caught in an avalanche?” Jim demanded once they were all sitting and settled.

Spock must have seen a look on their faces. “Perhaps, ashayam, they would not like to think about it.”

But Leah waved a hand to dismiss the thought. “Father had it— well Dr. Boyce had it looked into for Father. The management at the hill changed hands a few years back and in the desire for profit, cut corners.”

“That does not seem very Georgiaren,” Spock frowned.

“Right?” McCoy agreed. “The new company was a group from off planet.”

“Bet they're in for it now,” Jim said with a grin. “They’re lucky no one was killed, but you two getting caught in it?” Jim shook his head ruefully as he glanced from McCoy to Leah.

“They have been shut down for the time being until they are in compliance again,” Leah said. “The labor minister is taking it extra seriously.”

“Of course he is,” Jim agreed. “Can’t let bad things happen to the future queen.”

McCoy saw his sister glance quickly at Robbie.

“Or her future husband,” Leah said.

“Yeah,” Jim agreed. He blinked suddenly. “Wait, what?”

Leah held up her hand with the ring.

“Congratulations princess, Robbie,” said Spock with a touch of a smile on his lips.

“What?!” Jim cried out again. He was on his feet and across to Leah to look at the ring. “When did you ask?” He looked at Robbie.

Robbie blushed lightly.

“When we were trapped in the avalanche.”

“Of course you did!” Jim laughed. “I get to be ‘man of honor,’ right?” he asked Leah with a grin.

“Uh, I’m right here,” McCoy said with his own grin.

Jim waved a dismissive hand at him. “Why have her boring old brother, when she can have Starfleet’s future best captain?”

“And here I thought a trip to Vulcan might humble ye a wee bit,” Scotty laughed.

“Pretty sure it’s my opinion that matters,” Leah said to Jim with a roll of her eyes.

“Wherever I am, you say the word and I’ll be here,” Jim grinned. “When is it going to be anyway?” He finally walked back to his seat by Spock.

“Not for a few years probably,” Robbie said. “I’ve got to finish school and we’ve got so much more to learn.”

“But waiting won’t be hard with you here,” Leah said, taking Robbie’s hand and squeezing.

“Eww,” said McCoy with a chuckle. “How was Vulcan?” he asked, turning to Spock.

Part 372

Robbie

It was nice to be back in the palace. Especially with Jim and Spock there too. Robbie had missed his friends very much and he knew that he would miss them again as soon as Scotty and the others had to go back to the academy.

Leah seemed to notice that something was on the young Scotsman's mind when they came into their room after a day together with the others and sat down on the sofa, which was in a corner.

"What's the matter, darling? You look so thoughtful." Leah tenderly ran her fingers through Robbie's hair and he sighed heavily.

"It's just... I've been thinking about what our wedding will be like."

That made Leah raise an eyebrow and she tilted her head.

"Oh wow, I didn't expect the thought of our wedding to make you look so depressed," she said and Robbie shook his head quickly.

"Nae, nae. It's not like that. I cannae imagine anything better than marrying ye, but I wonder if it can all work out the way we dream it will. Monty, Leonard... all of our friends will probably be in space when the day finally comes and who knows when they'll get close to Earth again. I don't want to wait forever until we can finally get married."

Leah's features softened and she smiled.

"Oh Robbie, you just worry way too much. It's all going to work out. And it's going to be beautiful. The best day of our lives." She gave her fiancé a kiss before continuing. "And if it really does look like our loved ones will be sitting in a spaceship exploring the universe during the ceremony, then we'll just get married beforehand. Completely private. Just us and our family and closest friends. That will be our real wedding. All the official stuff will just be a formality."

That made Robbie smile, too, and he leaned his head against Leah's, snuggling into her.

"Aye. Ye're right. I really shouldn't worry so much, eh?"

"Exactly. Instead you should be massaging your beloved fiancée. My shoulders are all tense and only your strong hands can help."

Robbie giggled.

"Well then... let me be a good fiancé and take care of ye."

Leah was right. He shouldn't worry too much. All that mattered was living in the moment.

Robbie was up early the next morning. Instead of staying in bed, he decided to leave a message for Leah and then go for a walk outside.

The weather was cool but pleasant and Robbie enjoyed clearing his head.

However, he was surprised to find that he wasn't walking through the palace gardens alone.

The Scotsman heard footsteps behind him, but even before he could turn around, a hand clapped on his shoulder.

"Robbie, good morning!"

"Oh, good morning, Jim. What are ye doing out here so early?"

Without much ado, Jim looked down at himself and drew attention to the jogging suit he was wearing. Robbie nodded understandingly.

They started moving and walked on.

"You'd better tell me what you're doing out here."

In response, the young Scotsman just shrugged his shoulders.

"I couldn't sleep anymore."

"Okay, okay, I see..." Jim nodded and was silent for a moment before continuing. "And why is that? What's going on? Tell your good old friend Jim."

And Robbie did. He told Jim about the conversation with Granddad. He told him about his worries that Scotty and everyone else might be gone when the wedding took place.

And Jim just listened to him. Yes... he could be a real chatterbox sometimes, but at the important moments he knew how to keep quiet.

Only when Robbie had finished did the blond bring him to a halt and speak up again.

"Now listen to me, Robbie. I want you to ignore the future. I don't want you to worry about things that might happen. And not about things that have happened. I want you to live every day like it's your last. Live your life, love your fiancée and make the most of every minute." Jim swallowed hard and blinked rapidly. "If... if there's one thing my father's death has taught me, it's that you never know what's coming. You can only make the best of every moment. Worry and anxiety won't get you anywhere."

For a moment, Robbie just looked at Jim, then hugged him tightly. He knew they both needed it.

"Thanks, Jim."

[sethcohnn]

For anyone with no patience, here are the captions of Jeronica in Riverdale 7x17:

WARNING: Spoilers for tonight’s episode

23

00:01:02,818 --> 00:01:05,121

So, how do you wanna do this?

24

00:01:05,155 --> 00:01:08,058

Wanna go in first

and I mosey on in

30 seconds later?

25

00:01:09,259 --> 00:01:10,492

Absolutely not.

26

00:01:10,526 --> 00:01:12,661

Veronica Lodge's signature

color may be purple,

27

00:01:12,695 --> 00:01:14,197

but she is no shrinking violet.

28

00:01:15,031 --> 00:01:16,199

So, come on.

29

00:01:16,232 --> 00:01:18,935

Let's give these cubes

something juicy to goss about.

30

00:01:18,969 --> 00:01:20,869

["Come On" playing]

—------------------------------------------------------

44

00:01:51,767 --> 00:01:53,003

Wowza.

45

00:01:53,036 --> 00:01:54,770

I've never had so many

peepers on me at one time.

46

00:01:54,803 --> 00:01:56,373

Well, if it's any consolation,

47

00:01:56,406 --> 00:01:57,873

I haven't gotten

this much attention

48

00:01:57,907 --> 00:02:00,243

since I arrived to school

wearing my sexy witch costume.

49

00:02:03,712 --> 00:02:05,382

Sexy witch costume?

50

00:02:05,415 --> 00:02:06,916

Jughead Jones.

51

00:02:06,950 --> 00:02:10,153

Do you have a thing

for sexy teen witches?

52

00:02:10,186 --> 00:02:11,388

Well, yes.

53

00:02:11,421 --> 00:02:12,621

[chuckling] Yes, I do.

54

00:02:12,654 --> 00:02:14,623

But I also know a boss idea

when I hear one,

55

00:02:14,656 --> 00:02:17,093

and sexy teen witch

is a very boss idea.

56

00:02:17,127 --> 00:02:20,863

Hmm. Well, glad to have

inspired something.

57

00:02:22,598 --> 00:02:23,799

Catch you later, alligator.

—----------------------------------------------

142

00:06:34,883 --> 00:06:35,918

[Veronica] <i>I have to tell you,</i>

143

00:06:35,952 --> 00:06:39,022

this is the bee's knees,

Jughead.

144

00:06:39,055 --> 00:06:40,890

I didn't realize

you could draw too.

145

00:06:40,923 --> 00:06:42,692

[Jughead] Well,

I'm no Ethel Muggs,

146

00:06:42,725 --> 00:06:46,262

but I think this brain egg

could be the thing

to save Pep Comics.

147

00:06:46,296 --> 00:06:48,965

Mr. Fieldstone is looking

for a fresh breakout character

148

00:06:48,998 --> 00:06:51,234

to get past the code

and bring in new readership,

149

00:06:51,267 --> 00:06:54,704

and I think it's

Veronica the Teenage Witch.

150

00:06:54,737 --> 00:06:56,205

[footsteps approaching]

151

00:06:56,239 --> 00:06:58,341

Veronica, you're not

gonna believe who's here.

152

00:07:00,677 --> 00:07:03,279

Miss Josie McCoy.

—------------------------------------

333

00:15:59,916 --> 00:16:02,919

[Veronica] <i>Veronica</i>

<i>The Teenage Witch</i>

<i>is too sexy, you say?</i>

334

00:16:02,953 --> 00:16:04,887

I mean, he's not wrong.

335

00:16:04,921 --> 00:16:07,157

I am cut from the same cloth

as Veronica Lake

336

00:16:07,190 --> 00:16:11,727

and therefore,

too provocative for

those feeble-minded censors.

337

00:16:11,760 --> 00:16:13,395

It's their loss.

338

00:16:13,429 --> 00:16:15,531

On top of which,

I have to figure out

a new name,

339

00:16:16,266 --> 00:16:18,068

something more magical.

340

00:16:18,101 --> 00:16:22,538

Hey, did you happen to see

that Audrey Hepburn picture

that came out last year?

341

00:16:22,571 --> 00:16:24,640

Her character had

a superb name in that.

342

00:16:26,309 --> 00:16:27,877

What was that movie

called again?

343

00:16:27,911 --> 00:16:29,212

<i>Sabrina.</i>

344

00:16:29,246 --> 00:16:30,679

Audrey played

the title character.

345

00:16:30,713 --> 00:16:31,747

Sabrina.

346

00:16:31,780 --> 00:16:32,815

Yeah.

347

00:16:34,251 --> 00:16:36,086

Yeah, that could be the ticket.

348

00:16:42,758 --> 00:16:47,330

"In the bloom of Eden's garden,

the first transgression.

349

00:16:47,364 --> 00:16:50,466

A simple apple,

Eve learned her lesson.

350

00:16:52,601 --> 00:16:55,537

Different garden,

same temptation.

351

00:16:57,439 --> 00:17:00,809

A young man

seeking an education.

352

00:17:05,315 --> 00:17:07,951

A teacher's pupil

brings her apples,

353

00:17:07,984 --> 00:17:10,653

and sinful thoughts

with which he grapples.

354

00:17:10,686 --> 00:17:14,124

While she teaches,

he sits through classes

355

00:17:14,157 --> 00:17:15,691

wondering how she looks

356

00:17:17,093 --> 00:17:18,194

without those glasses."

—--------------------------------------------------

590

00:31:42,125 --> 00:31:44,227

[Veronica] <i>I'm so</i>

<i>sorry, Jughead.</i>

591

00:31:44,261 --> 00:31:46,897

Sabrina The Teenage Witch

is a brilliant idea,

592

00:31:46,930 --> 00:31:49,331

and I'm not just saying that

because I inspired her.

593

00:31:49,365 --> 00:31:50,733

She's just ahead of her time.

594

00:31:52,969 --> 00:31:54,703

Give it a few years.

595

00:31:54,737 --> 00:31:58,507

Let the hysteria die down

and there will be

no stopping her.

596

00:31:58,541 --> 00:32:03,213

I just feel like Pep Comics

is sinking in quicksand.

597

00:32:03,246 --> 00:32:05,148

Listen, if you're down

in the mouth

598

00:32:05,182 --> 00:32:06,983

and not in the mood

for a premier,

599

00:32:07,017 --> 00:32:08,484

I'd completely understand.

600

00:32:08,517 --> 00:32:10,386

Are you kidding?

This is probably

the only chance

601

00:32:10,419 --> 00:32:13,756

I'll ever be invited

to a Hollywood premiere.

I'm not going to miss it.

602

00:32:13,789 --> 00:32:15,324

-The only thing is--

-You don't have a suit.

603

00:32:16,725 --> 00:32:18,929

I barely have any clothes

without an S on them.

604

00:32:18,962 --> 00:32:22,132

I thought we might

run into this predicament.

605

00:32:22,165 --> 00:32:27,103

So I may or may not have taken

some precautionary measures.

606

00:32:28,337 --> 00:32:31,908

Tailored exactly

to your measurements.

607

00:32:31,942 --> 00:32:36,246

I think you'll find nothing but

the best for my flutter bum.

608

00:32:36,279 --> 00:32:37,379

Yowza.

609

00:32:40,016 --> 00:32:42,118

Are you absolutely sure

you're not a teenage witch?

—-----------------------------------------------

[dolamrothianlady]

Bouquets (part four)

Leonard McCoy x Reader 591 words

---

Another flower, but this time there's something else as well.

---

Hyacinth (your loveliness charms me)

For the first time since all of this flower business started you received a message from Jim about said gifts. Usually he dodged your questions or was "too busy" to really chat (an absolute lie - that man could multitask like no other), but when you came home one afternoon you found not only a pot of hyacinths but a message on your machine.

“Hey,” Jim started, sounding strangely muffled; almost like he was calling you from inside a closet. “Look, I’m going to give you a hint, one hint, and that��s all you’re getting from me, alright? I’m not gonna come out and tell you who’s doing this; number one cause these messages you’re leaving me are hilarious, and yeah I’ve definitely been playing them for him, and number two cause I promised I wouldn’t. Just...look, you work in a library. Maybe tomorrow you browse the gardening section. Pick up a book on flowers. Have a flick through and see what flowers can convey. That’s all you’re getting from me. This call never happened.”

Well. This was getting interesting. You’d always found flower meanings fascinating, but given that you chose your blooms solely on looks and how you were feeling at the time you never really gave it much thought. You were going to go to work early tomorrow, blow through all the books in the gardening section, and get to the bottom of this. You had a plan. Of course it wouldn’t help with figuring out who was doing it but you’d at least be able to work out what they were trying to express to you. And maybe, if you were brave enough, you’d be able to send a message of your own.

You got to the library a whole hour and a half before your shift, and after dumping your bag in your locker made your way to the gardening section. Most of it was unhelpful; what to grow where, plants native to the area, how to grow this and that. But, tucked away in a corner, you found an old book of flower meanings, complete with illustrations. You couldn’t be sure this was the one that your mysterious admirer was using, and you weren’t going to go and check the previous borrowers in the system cause that would be cheating, but you had a feeling you were onto something.

After making your way out of the stacks you hid away in the breakroom, spending the last half hour before your shift going through the book and figuring out what was being said to you. To say you were surprised would be the understatement of the century, and by the time you’d checked out all the flowers you’d gotten you were incredibly flustered. Whoever he was, he knew you, and knew you well. You most definitely knew him as well, and you could forgive him his shyness. The ongoing gesture was the sweetest thing to have ever happened to you, and you had to let him know that you were onto his secret messages. Another quick flick through the book gave you an idea how to proceed, and you made a mental note to change your route home so that you could pick something up.

Of course you had to let Jim know that you’d cottoned onto the messages.

“Jim, I figured it out!” This time you were the one whispering, huddled in the corner of the room. “I’m very flustered, not real coherent right now, but I’m gonna leave him a message of my own tonight.”

[thesconesyard]

Where the West Begins

26. Vaquero

“Honey behaving over there?” McCoy asked. He and Robbie were riding into town. Scotty and the others were getting ready to brand the young cattle and that was one task McCoy avoided as best he could.

“Aye, she’s a sweet horse.”

“That she is,” McCoy agreed. He himself was riding Pepper, knowing that a spirited horse like her was a bit much for a newcomer like Robbie.

Robbie had been on the ranch for nearly a month. He got on well with everyone, as alike to his brother in that as anything. He was helpful and happy. Scotty too was extra jolly since Robbie had arrived. McCoy would be happy he had written that letter for the rest of his life.

“You sure you don’t want to help with the branding?” McCoy asked with a sly grin on his face.

Robbie tried to hide a grimace. McCoy had noted a few times when Robbie had not appeared to enjoy the work on the ranch. But McCoy couldn’t blame him. Coming so far from another country, to a land very unlike where he was from, to work he’d never thought of doing before; to McCoy it made sense if the man was uncomfortable at times.

“Do ye?” Robbie asked in turn.

“No thank you,” McCoy laughed. “I know Monty says that Spock is a wonder with the animals, but I just can’t bear to hear them cry out.”

“But patients cry out,” Robbie said.

“Not to me,” McCoy said quietly. “Not anymore.”

“Ye fixed up Pavel last week; why not still practice?” Robbie asked.

McCoy sighed softly. “Helping on the ranch is enough,” he replied quietly.

“Oh.” Realization crossed Robbie’s face. “That’s something I shouldn’t ask isn’t it?”

McCoy gave a slight nod. He liked his partner’s brother very much, but he wasn’t comfortable enough to spill his own story.

The first stop in town was the post office.

“Hello Dr. McCoy,” the clerk greeted him. “Everyone’s letters?”

“Yes sir,” McCoy smiled back.

“Give me just a moment,” the clerk said, and he disappeared into a back room.

McCoy stepped over to read notices on the wall and Robbie followed.

“Never know who might try to show up on the ranch,” McCoy chuckled humorlessly.

“Here you are doctor.” The clerk returned with a small pile tied with brown string. “You know for a moment I thought you were Mr. Scott sir,” the clerk said to Robbie. “He’s not been in for a while.”

“I am Mr. Scott,” Robbie grinned. “Just not the one ye know. I’m his brother.”

“Oh! Well! How about that!” said the clerk. He was an older man and adjusted his glasses to peer at Robbie more closely. “Well you look just like him. Have a good day gentlemen!”

“Thanks. You too,” McCoy said. He and Robbie left the office.

“This is a nice wee town,” said Robbie as they stopped on the walk outside the post office. McCoy tucked the letters into a pocket, then looked up and down the street.

“It really is,” McCoy agreed. “I’ve got to get some things from Dr. M’Benga and then what say we stop for a drink at Gaila’s? Kill some more time so they can really be done with the branding?”

“Lead the way!” Robbie smiled.

“This is more like it!” Robbie said as they settled at a table in Gaila’s saloon. McCoy smiled and took a sip from his drink.

Robbie looked at him nervously. “I- I don’t think I’m cut out for life on a ranch like all of ye.”

“Some people aren’t,” McCoy said evenly, waiting to see what Robbie was going to say.

“And I don’t want to hurt Monty— I don’t want him to think I’m leaving him.”

“What are you thinking?” McCoy asked. He set his glass down and looked at the Scotsman.

Robbie sighed. “I worked in stores back home. I didn’t work in fields or barns or with cattle like ye. There was a sign in yer post office there looking for help.”

“So you’d stay here?”

“Aye, but would Monty be hurt? I think he wants me to stay there.”

McCoy sat back and thought. “I think he would understand,” he said slowly. “Would you prefer to live here in town?”

“Maybe,” Robbie shrugged. “It’s still so small compared to Aberdeen, but I feel so little on the ranch.”

McCoy nodded. “Then you’ll have to be honest with him.”

“Aye,” Robbie agreed quietly.

[arysbruv]

I didn’t mean it

Warnings and whatnots: ANGST. I love hate myself some Dadneto angst. I might do a part 2 but depends on the responses I get from this one.

People don’t expect that the Magneto was related to Peter Maximoff. They weren’t alike. Peter was a rambunctious kid who ran on impulse, while Magneto was a methodical man who thought through his actions. Even Peter himself was surprised at the revelation. He wasn’t sure that his father would quite believe him. Who would?

“Peter!”

Peter jolts up, looking up to see Erik staring daggers into him. 

After everything, Erik decided to take up on his old friend’s offer. He stayed at the mansion, becoming the resident physic teacher. Much to Peter’s dismay. Peter wanted nothing more but to be as far as possible from him. Yet, for a man who can practically run anywhere, he never seemed to be able to run away from Erik. It started messing up his sleep schedule. He couldn’t sleep thinking about Erik and all the possible reactions to Peter telling him about their relationship. Would he be pissed? Overjoyed? Disgusted? He wouldn’t be surprised if Erik didn’t want to accept it. Erik didn’t seem to take any interest in him anyway. Peter was a handful and he was sure Erik didn’t want someone like him as a son. Still, he didn’t want to cause Erik to leave. Erik was loved by many in the mansion. It would be unfair for Peter to just shoo him away.

“Yes sir?” Peter asks uncertainly. He looks around, realising people were snickering at him. It was the third time this week he had fallen asleep in Erik’s class. Erik raises his eyebrow expectantly. Peter wanted nothing more but to run away.

The bell rings.

Peter sighs in relief as Erik announces that class was dismissed and that they were free to go. He quickly packs his things up. 

“Not you Peter. I would like to have a word with you.”

Peter stands frozen, staring at his chemistry textbook. He didn’t dare raise his head, even when the last person left the class; leaving Erik and Peter alone in the room. Peter glances at the door. He could run out in time.  

“If you’re thinking of running off, I’ve bolted the door shut.” 

Peter stares in disbelief at Erik Lehnsherr. Erik’s face was unreadable.

“I’m… I’m sorry sir but I… I have to get to the lab,” Peter says. 

“Sit down Peter. I’ll tell Professor McCoy you’ll be a bit late.”

Peter obeys hesitantly. Erik pulls a chair and sits in front of the silver-haired boy.

“Is everything alright Peter?” He asks. His voice surprisingly soft. Peter gulps.

“I’m fine,” Peter answers, faking a smile.

“Don’t lie to me Mr. Maximoff.”

“I’m not-“ 

“Peter I’ve seen your grades for physics from before my time here. They were amazing. Yet when I’m here, your grades have dropped. You’ve fallen asleep in my class thrice already, and that’s only this week.”

Peter gulps. How the hell was he going to say that he couldn’t focus due to the fact he was too busy worrying about what Erik would think of him? He glances at the window. He could jump from it, it wouldn’t be the first time. If he ran from the door and jumped, with his superspeed, he would be fine.

“Ever since i’ve gotten here, you have been avoiding me. You rarely talk to me after class and don’t think I don’t notice you immediately changing your route when you see me.” 

“I-”

“You see me as a murderer don’t you?” 

“No! No, of course not!” Peter shouts, surprising both himself and Erik.

“Don’t lie to me!” Erik answers back. “Why else would you avoid me like the plague!”

“That doesn’t matter! You can’t just assume what I think!” 

Peter didn’t know where this anger came from. It was some deep and hidden fury that laid siege in his heart. It was like a dragon that had slumbered peacefully in him but had been awoken abruptly. 

“I saved your life back there in the Pentagon! Did you forget that!”

“Oh come on we all know Charles and the others were the one who managed to convince you!”

“CAN YOU STOP MAKING ASSUMPTIONS!” The voice rings around the empty classroom. Peter clenches his fist, staring defiantly at Erik. Erik’s eyes widen, not expecting the sudden outrage coming from the young boy.

“Peter I-“

“NO- WHY DO YOU KEEP ASSUMING HOW I FEEL? I KEEP AVOIDING YOU? YOU NEVER TRY AND TALK TO ME. I’VE FALLEN ASLEEP SO MANY TIMES IN YOUR CLASS AND YET THIS IS THE FIRST TIME YOU’VE ASKED ME WHY!”

“I… Peter what-“

“AND THATS ONLY BECAUSE OF CHARLES. I KNOW WHAT YOU CALL ME. A RAMBUNCTIOUS KID WHO RUNS ON IMPULSE!” 

Erik’s eyes widen. How had he heard that? He remembered that conversation. He was talking to Charles in the garden. He didn’t know how but the topic of Peter Maximoff started. He didn’t know that Peter had heard that. He didn’t even mean it in a bad way. He liked the fact Peter was like that. It reminded him of his younger self. Was that why he felt a random gush of wind pass through the both of them after he had said that?

“I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHY MY MOM DECIDED TO FALL FOR YOU! YOU’RE A TOTAL JERK!”

Peter didn’t realise the hot tears that had started to escape his eyes. He quickly gathers up his belongings. He slings his bag over his shoulder before walking his way to the door, tears rolling down his face. Erik was left speechless, opening the bolted door for Peter wordlessly.

Peter’s mom had fallen for him? Is that why he hadn’t been focusing in class? But how? He had never met the woman before? Hadn’t he? 

[darkness-and-books]

The Things We Do For The Fleet

Chapter Eleven: An Evening To Forget

💙Eventual Leonard McCoy x fem!reader💙

⚠️: talking with mouth full (does it need to be a warning? Maybe not, but it bothers me 🤢)

word count: 1,681

<-Previous-Next->

As Y/N entered Miles’ quarters she was greeted by the smell of something quite burnt, but not hot.

“I made spaghetti for dinner and a cake for dessert,” Miles said, standing a bit straighter and beaming, Y/N just smiled politely and tried not to say anything about whatever had scorched.

“Sounds delightful,” Y/N complimented as she took a seat at the dining table. She looked around the place to find it all rather sort of cluttered and in disarray.

I’m sure Leonard knows how to cook, though I’m not sure why I think that, Y/N found herself zoning out until a plate of… interesting looking spaghetti was set in front of her.

“Oh thank you,” She lilted as she sat up straighter to take a good look at the plate. It doesn’t look… terrible, Y/N tried to reason herself into taking her first bite. She swirled some of the spaghetti onto her fork, steeling her nerves, Y/N got it over with and took her first bite.

“Mmm,” Y/N smiled widely, overcompensating for the feeling of bile rising in the back of her throat at the strange aftertaste.

“You like?” Miles asked with a proud smile as he ate his own. Does he think this is what spaghetti is supposed to taste like?!?, Y/N couldn’t help but think in a small state of shock.

“Oh, yeah, this is great,” She falsely assured Miles.

“Then do you wanna take the leftovers, these are honestly sometimes even better the next day,” Miles offered as he shovelled more food into his mouth.

“Oh no, I couldn’t that would be too kind,” Y/N tried desperately to worm her way out of wasting so much food without sounding impolite.

“No, I insist, it’s the least I could do,” Miles pushed, “It’s really fine, I can make more for myself anytime,” he tried to reassure her.

“Well, if you insist,” She smiled kindly at him and tried not to picture herself throwing away such a large amount of leftovers.

“Good, I’m glad,” Miles said as he finished off the last of his own plate, meanwhile Y/N was still looking at most of her’s.

She quickly did her best to down the rest. Y/N smiled brightly at Miles as she swallowed the last bites of her food.

“Did you want more?” He asked as he served himself out another helping.

“Oh no, I couldn’t eat another bite.” Y/N said as she put a hand over her chest.

“Then I guess you’ll have to take your cake along with you too,” Miles said as he looked back into the kitchen at the cake he had evidently made.

It now occurred to Y/N that they just ate all of dinner together and still hadn’t said anything actually meaningful to each other.

“So,” Y/N began, “Do you like working in the medbay?” She asked, trying to stir up some kind of interesting conversation.

“Oh, yeah, it’s really nice to help people, even if it’s really just my job to remind people of their regular check ups,” Miles answered her through a mouthful of food.

Oh, good, see-food, Y/N thought as she smiled as nicely as possible while trying to un-pinch her brows.

“What about you, what do you do?” Miles asked with a hand over his mouth as he tried not to choke on his food.

“I uh, I work in botany,” Y/N answered quite simply as she tried to look anywhere but at the man across the table who seemed to rather enjoy displaying his food as he ate it.

“Do you enjoy doing that?” Miles asked without any food in his mouth this time.

“It’s very quiet, I like the plants. Although it’s really a shame because I’ve never really been able to keep plants alive for very long,” Y/N smiled softly to herself. I wonder if Len can keep plants, probably not, but maybe, she found herself inexplicably thinking, she shook the thought away and looked back to Miles.

Leonard sat in his little corner of the couch very nearly dozing off as he attempted to continue reading.

“Maybe it’s best if I give up on this for now,” He said to himself and put the book down on the coffee table before he could ruin the pages by sleeping on them.

He looked up to check the time, it was only 9:00. Leonard got up and stretched out while looking up at the clock still. He really had thought about going to bed, but for some reason found himself pacing around before going back to the book instead.

It wasn’t too long before the door slid open and revealed Y/N, looking exhausted and holding a large container. Leonard opened his mouth to speak, but Y/N put a finger to her lips before letting the door close behind her.

Once the door closed all the way Y/N looked at him and nodded. Leonard looked over at the clock, “It’s not even ten o’clock yet, what kind of a date was that?” Leonard asked with a raised eyebrow.

By nine o’clock they had run out of, quite honestly, meaningless things to say to each other and by 9:30 they were standing in front of Y/N’s door again.

“I had a really nice time this evening,” Miles said as he looked down at Y/N with that certain glimmer in his eyes, one Y/N was all too familiar with, one that friends had described to her time and time again.

He’s kidding, right?, she couldn’t but think as Miles leaned in, this evening had not been Y/N’s version of ideal.

“I had a nice time too,” Y/N smiled lightly.

“Good,” Miles said as he finally leaned down all the way to kiss her.

His lips met hers, Y/N couldn’t help but feel disappointed, it wasn’t by any means a bad kiss, it just most certainly wasn’t the kiss. It wasn’t the one in movies with the sparks and the fireworks and the music coming to a swell. This was just dull contact, Y/N pulled away and licked her lips.

“I’ll call you tomorrow or something,” Miles offered with a smile as he continued gazing down at her in a haze.

“Okay,” Y/N said, almost certain that she did not intend to answer that call.

“Well, umm, goodnight,” Y/N said as she turned away to enter her quarters.

Leonard was sitting on the couch with the same book he had when she left. He opened his mouth to speak, but she motioned for him not to say anything yet. Once the door slid closed she nodded to Leonard and made her way into the kitchen.

“It’s not even ten o’clock yet, what kind of a date was that?” Leonard asked as he stood to see what exactly Y/N was carrying. “And what have you got there anyhow?” He asked, eying the tupperware.

“A bad one and you don’t want any,” Y/N said, her usual charming glee had seeped out of her person at this hour it had seemed.

She turned away and opened up the garbage can, tossing the whole box in without a second thought.

“That bad huh?” Leonard asked as he watched the lid on the garbage bin close again.

“That bad and worse,” She said as she plopped down on the couch. Leonard came to sit down next to her, taking her legs into his lap.

Y/N looked to him briefly with a blush painting her cheeks as warmth filled her body. She felt giddy, this was what she thought she was meant to feel when Miles kissed her and all Leonard had done was touch her legs.

“You wanna talk about it or would you rather not relive the evening?” Leonard asked lightly as he began taking off Y/N’s shoes and gently pressing his fingers into her ankles.

“Sums up to bad cook and see-food,” she pointed at her mouth as she said the latter, opting to avoid talking about the kiss, “And he quite honestly wasn’t all that interesting, nice just maybe not my type if I even have one,” Y/N explained, she could feel herself flush with embarrassment when she realised that she had said too much.

“Well, that just means you’ll have to try again,” Leonard said as he looked over to her to see that she was paying attention.

“I guess you’re right,” Y/N agreed, looking down at the floor, “but for now I’d like to sleep,” she whispered as she looked up at Leonard.

“Sounds good to me,” he said and gently patted her leg, indicating that she should move them now.

She quickly pulled her legs away and went to put on her pyjamas. When Y/N came out of the bathroom Leonard had already settled into his side of the bed. Y/N stood silently in the doorway for a moment.

Leonard saw her out of the corner of his eyes, he turned his head to look at her fully, “If you changed your mind I can always go sleep on the couch,” he said as he began peeling the cover back.

“Oh no, that’s fine,” Y/N said and got into her side of the bed.

As Y/N tried to settle herself on the very edge of the bed, Leonard studied her motions for a bit before he spoke up, “Ya know you’re allowed to take up space in your own bed,” he said and took a leap. 

Reaching for Y/N’s wrist, he pulled her closer to the middle of the bed. “Oh,” Y/N started, “You’re very warm,” she commented, she could feel the heat radiating from his body even once he retracted his hand.

“Eh, I run a little on the warm side,” He said, rolling to face away and turn out the light. “Night,” Leonard said from within the darkness.

“Goodnight,” Y/N replied before she got comfortable again.

I don’t know anymore!! I’m writing it and I’m like “do they kiss yet?!?” Wrote this and went “Nooooo!”

[swimmingwolf59]

ur twit moot stanzasfic here uhhh how about spones trying to cook together for breakfast or smth but they keep arguing over proper techniques for cooking. the food burns and theyre like oops lets go to a cafe and get brunch i guess LOL

I’m sure there were better things for them to argue about than this, but for some reason when I read this prompt the first thing that popped into my head was that scene in b99 when Boyle is teaching Holt how to cook and gets super offended when Holt just dumps the salt in LOL.

This prompt was a lot of fun to work on, thanks so much! This will be the last fic for my 100th fic on ao3 celebration. Thank you all so much for your support! 🙏

-

“…What the hell are you doing?”

Spock turns to see McCoy standing behind him wearing nothing but his briefs, his hair stuck up every which way. Last night had been an accident, but one that Spock is finding very hard to regret. Especially since it was the third such accident in a series of accidents that have started becoming something Spock enjoys very much. It had not been logical for him to pin McCoy against the wall that first time, or for McCoy to kiss him, or for Spock to kiss him back, or for anything else that happened afterward.

But after this third time…it’s starting to feel illogical to keep calling them accidents.

Spock takes in McCoy’s mostly naked form, and then raises an eyebrow. “I am making an omelette.”

“No, no, I know that,” McCoy snaps, waving his hand around as he stomps up to the stove. “I meant what are you doing with that salt?”

“I am adding it to the—”

“You can’t just dump it in from the container! You have to put it in your hand first, and then add it pinch by pinch, otherwise—”

“I will not soil the meal by touching it with my bare hands,” Spock says firmly, suppressing a sudden flare of frustration. “I thought that making someone a meal usually evoked gratitude, not criticism.”

McCoy flares up slightly. “I am gratified, I’m just trying to help you prepare it better—!”

“Just because you have a preferred method of adding salt to a dish does not mean it is objectively ‘better’.”

“You really don’t think I can do anything right, do you? What about last night, huh? I had you beneath me gasping like a—”

“That is hardly relevant,” Spock interrupts, failing to control his blush. “Since I have never seen you cook before, I am unaware of your skill when it comes to cooking. However, I do know that your method of adding salt is inefficient.”

McCoy’s face reddens, and Spock mentally prepares himself as he takes a huge breath. “Inefficient? I’ll have you know that method has been in my family for generations—!”

The eggs end up burning beyond repair. Spock doesn’t speak to McCoy for an entire day afterward.

Two mornings after the burned egg incident, McCoy sheepishly steps into Spock’s lab. It’s early in the morning, and Spock shouldn’t have worked all night, but he sometimes finds it easier to suppress negative emotions when he’s entirely engaged in something else, rather than resting. He petulantly doesn’t recognize McCoy’s presence as he walks up beside him, instead keeping his attention focused on the asteroid dust sample beneath his microscope.

“I…wanted to apologize, Spock,” McCoy says quietly.

Spock jots down an observation and then, finally, glances up at him.

“I know you were just trying to do something nice for me,” he continues. He taps his knuckles on Spock’s lab bench, likely a nervous habit. “I, uh, tend to get touchy about cooking.”

Spock raises an eyebrow. “Obviously.”

McCoy blushes and taps his knuckles again. “Well anyway, it was atrocious behavior, especially towards someone I’ve…really come to care a lot about.”

Spock looks away, failing to suppress another blush. They’ve never discussed it, but perhaps the ‘accidents’ were never truly accidents at all. He supposes it was illogical to even tell himself that they were.

Spock straightens from his lab bench and meets McCoy’s eyes. “You mean a great deal to me as well, Leonard. I apologize for calling your salt applying method inefficient.”

“…Hell, I deserved it.” McCoy smiles and then jerks his head back slightly. “Come on, Spock. Let’s get breakfast in the mess hall. I promise I won’t complain if the eggs are too salty.”

Allowing himself a small smile, Spock puts away his experiment. As he follows McCoy out the door, he brushes his fingers against McCoy’s wrist, letting him know that all is forgiven.

[emilynightshade89]

OC Interviews

Tagged by @wretched-mischief  ! :D

Wendy McCoy (Daybreakers):

Name?

Wendy Jessamy McCoy

Are you single?

No. I am not. 

Are you happy?

Considering what we’ve all been through these past years? ...  I’d say that I personally have reached a good place where i can for sure say that I’m happy.  

Are you angry?

Angry? No. 

Are your parents still married?

My mother was when she passed. To our stepdad though, my mom remarried after divorcing my biological father, but we don’t talk about him often. 

Birthplace?

Seattle, Washington

Hair color?

Light Brown

Eye color?

Chocolate Brown? Or just Brown.  

Birthday?

March 21st 

Mood?

Great! So far.

Gender?

Female.

Summer or winter?

Summer, although i feel often that i could overheat. 

Morning or afternoon?

Afternoon. I’m not a morning person unless i need to be for some reason. I’m also a night owl. 

EIGHT THINGS ABOUT YOUR LOVE LIFE

Are you in love?

Currently, yes!

Who ended your last relationship?

My father...Joseph. He had been bitten and turned into a vampire while serving time in prison. He had found my mother’s address and well...murdered everyone who was there, including my previous fiancee Laverne Bree. 

Have you ever broken someone’s heart?

Uhhh in high school yeah. He was the lead singer we got for a band i tried to start up with an old friend of mine back then. He wasn’t a bad kid, i was just uninterested at the time. 

Are you afraid of commitments?

No. Not at all. 

Have you hugged someone within the last week?

Yes! My son Matthew hugged me before he left for school and my husband Lionel just after he had stolen a bite of my toast this morning before he left to work. *laughs* 

Have you ever had a secret admirer?

Not that i know of? Perhaps the band singer after i found out he had been crushing on me for months, but he didn’t really keep it secret so... No? 

Have you ever broken your own heart?

Hmmn... Yes. When i found out my brother Jeremy was alive i was bitten in an attack. After i had turned i had to leave him and Lionel to make sure Fowler didn’t find our colony and i did it without knowing if i’d just be killed or used against them. It was hard in the moment because i knew that Lionel had a way to cure me, but i also didn’t know if i’d end up hurting my brother or anyone else before it could be done.    

SIX CHOICES

Love or lust?

Love! 

Lemonade or iced tea?

Iced Tea. 

Cats or dogs?

Both! *laughs* I’ve had both cats and dogs and i love both of them so i can’t really decide. 

A few best friends or many regular friends?

Many isn’t too bad but i think i’d prefer only a few best friends. My closests ones are Gavin and the rest of my old troop because over the years spent together in hiding and building the colony, it really feels like we’ve become more like family over time. 

Wild night out or romantic night in?

Oh man... Romantic night in! It just feels nice that Lionel and i can stay in without doing anything that’s wild and be able to just talk openly with each other and just be us together. 

Day or night?

Night. I’ll stay up often if i have something i want to do or need to finish.    

FOUR HAVE YOU EVERS

Been caught sneaking out?

A few times actually, by my mother thank God. Most the time it was just to hang out with friends and if i told her that she’d sometimes let me go.   

Fallen down/up the stairs?

Yeah! My brother Jeremy laughed at me when i tripped going upstairs once. 

Wanted something/someone so badly it hurt?

Jeez Luis, *laughs* yeah... My first hard crush was Laverne, but at the time i was also questioning things about myself that i later came to accept but God... She was so beautiful, and smart and funny, and i felt like myself around her. I was, to say the least, beyond happy when i found out that she had felt the same for me...  

Wanted to disappear?

Absolutely, yes... The way my father changed during my youth... I really did feel like i had disappeared from his life. Like it didn’t matter what happened to us at all it was suddenly all about him that mattered. His effect on me afterwards though had me in a position where he was all anyone ever knew about me when my mom moved us after the divorce. Especially in school, and i had wanted to disappear from that so that i could get people to see the real me... Nowadays that’s changed thank God but sometimes the feeling does creep back and i just want to hide if i become overwhelmed or have begun to think too much about the things that have troubled me. 

FOUR PREFERENCES

Smile or eyes?

Oh no, both! I’m sorry! *laughs* I just love a good face and that includes the smile and the eyes and fortunately Lionel has both! 

Shorter or taller?

Have you seen me walk into a room? Taller! I know i’m a little lady so i certainly don’t mind a partner that is taller! 

Intelligence or attraction?

Hmn. Both. *laughs and shakes her head* I feel like i’m failing a test! I like both in a partner, i do! *sighs* I like someone who not only looks attractive but is also intelligent enough to have a conversation with that is engaging to both of us. Someone who can stimulate a good conversation and look good doing it.  

Hook-up or relationship?

Relationships, for sure. Hook-ups are fun though! I know i had a few in college but never while in a relationship that’s a no for me. Once i’m taken that’s it.  

FAMILY

Do you and your family get along?

Before the outbreak, i would say things got better between all of us once Jospeh was out of the picture. My parents’ divorce was a longtime coming and my brother was too young to understand some bits, but we always got along with each other when mom was home from her job at the hospital. Once it was just the three of us, we felt like we could breathe and truly become a family, then Travis met mom i admit it kinda threw a wrench into our troop because he was a stranger then and i wasn’t sure if he was a good man who would treat my mom the way she deserved, be able to give my brother the father figure he needed or if he was just going to turn into another possibly more dangerous Joseph. It took time with Travis to feel that he really was a good man and that he cared sincerely about my mom and all of us and to be honest i know i was difficult to get along with at the time because i was also just getting over some serious issues too, but i love him. I love my family so despite the fact that some of them aren’t around anymore, but I have my brother and his girlfriend and my nieces and i also have my family to and i could never have asked for a more better family to get along with. 

Would you say you have a “messed up life”?

Not “life” personally, but definitely a challenging one. My childhood was one thing though...but i’ts not something i’d let define my whole entire life by. 

Have you ever run away from home?

I’ve wanted to, before the divorce, but i always guilted myself out of it for fear of leaving my mother and brother behind. Also, where would i go? I was about 12 anyway.

Have you ever gotten kicked out?

No. Joseph didn’t get the chance, and my mother would never unless it was because of something I had horribly messed up on.  

FRIENDS

Do you secretly hate one of your friends?

Of course not! 

Do you consider all of your friends good friends?

Yes, they’re good people and even when we argue we are always there for each other. 

Who is your best friend?

Other than Lionel i would say Ed, Audrey and Parker Hayes. Gavin’s too much of an older brother to me but i would still consider him to be my best friend as well.

Who knows everything about you?

My mother... If not her, then its Lionel Cormac for sure. 

[nicsnort]

Trial by Fire (part 55)

A Nightcrawler/Fem!OC romance, drama, and mystery fanfic, with lots of Quicksilver thrown in for fun and even more drama.

Intro (with link to full Ao3 story) First Previous

Bedelia was not ashamed to admit that the next morning she had a bit of a breakdown when Trance walked into the dining room, hale and healthy, halfway through breakfast. She had grabbed Kurt with wide-staring eyes, her hands shaking. And that seemed to please Trance. The mutant gave a sarcastic wave with a smirk as she sat down next to Dr. McCoy - at least that’s how Bedelia saw her movements. 

Kurt didn’t like it one bit. There had to be a sort of prank going on. He loathed it even more when he saw Bedelia crumble and felt her shaking hand grasp his. It caused a sharp ache in him that he didn’t like and a feeling he hadn’t expected. It would take him most of the day to identify it, but he would label it as being powerless. 

With a regretful expression, Xavier came over to speak with them. “It seems that the Brotherhood rescued a mutant with healing powers during one of their Genosha breakouts,” he told Bedelia in a calming voice, “My apologies but it seems that our timeline has been moved up drastically.”

It didn’t take a genius to realize how this healing mutant had gotten through their security: Azazel. Kurt, not for the first time, wondered how he shared half his DNA with that monster. He almost wished they hadn’t gotten a peaceful night’s rest if this had been the trade-off. 

Bedelia had been unable to finish her food and left breakfast soon after. As was her habit, Bedelia coped by throwing herself into her work. Yesterday she had gotten halfway through writing about the budding mutant/superhero tourism industry in New York City and today, she finished it...then nearly finished the article on the mutant bar if it wasn’t for the fact she wanted to interview the women who owned it Bedelia probably would have. The puff pieces were easier to write than her hard-hitting investigative journalism but it was still an impressive amount of work.

While Bedelia worked, Kurt read, got them food, and he thought. He thought a lot more than he read, actually. How could he focus on words when the woman who he had just fully, completely, and really met might be...taken away? No. No, he wouldn’t let that happen. The Professor couldn’t let that happen either, not with Essex, not with...everything. It was far too dangerous for Bedelia to be with the Brotherhood. And if the X-men, or just Kurt, had to hide her, then he would. After all, was he not the fairy prince? And what sort of prince, fae or otherwise, would he be if he let the lady who had stolen his heart be put in harm’s way?

Kurt stayed in the room with her most of the time, only leaving to get food or something to entertain himself with. It wasn’t until dinner that Bedelia really looked up from her laptop. “I’m sorry,” she told him, closing the computer. “Here it might be our last day of...I don’t know but I’ve been working all day...they’ll be here soon, won’t they? I wasted the day…”

Before Kurt knew it, the day had flown by. At Bedelia’s clicking of the computer shutting, he blinked and looked over. He hadn’t moved a single page of his book. “You did not waste the day, fraulein.” He said confidently and reassuringly. “You coped with a nasty surprise. I am not sure I could have done better, as I have been, admittedly, steeped in my own worries as well. But fear not...today is not the last day of anything...except, perhaps, waiting in suspense.” 

And once again, he showed himself as too perfect. With his words, the guilt that she had felt vanished, but so did much of the fear and uncertainty she felt. Bedelia breathed out a long breath and nodded. “That is a better way of thinking of it. Ripping that bandaid off, as they would say.”

Getting up, Bedelia stretched, her back and shoulders popping satisfactorily. She took a few steps, walking around Kurt’s chair. Leaning over the back, she looked at his book. It was in German. Of course, it was. “I don’t know what will happen but thank you for everything so far. You’ll be there, right? And if something bad happens you’ll take me away again?”

"This isn't the end, kobold...but yes, I will take you away before anything can happen. I have faith in the Professor, and he will not allow you to be taken by the Brotherhood." He genuinely did believe it too. He closed his book and stood, turning to her as his limbs stretched and popped. He leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. 

Bedelia’s eyes slid closed when he kissed her on her forehead. A moment of peace. Another sigh escaped her. “Thank you,” she told him, opening her eyes. “It is strange for me to feel so powerless and have to rely on others, but with you, it is better...it feels like I’ve known you for a long time.” Taking his hand, they began to walk to dinner. To spend more time together, a small hint of normalcy in the walk.

In his office, Xavier was mentally communicating with Frost. The members that the Brotherhood would be bringing were to be kept small. Magneto, Frost, Quicksilver, and Azazel. They were not coming to the school grounds but fields nearby. Truly neutral ground. The X-men would bring Xavier, Hank, Ororo, Rogue, and Kurt. Of course, Bedelia and Trance would also come with the X-men. Once Trance rejoined with the Brotherhood it would be evenly sided. Neither leader expected a fight to break out but was not going to disadvantage themselves if one did. They would meet after sunset, at 8:30 pm.

Xavier communicated this with all the X-men knowing that Hank and Kurt would tell the guests. With that, he headed to dinner. Down in the dining hall, Hank was making a plate for himself when he heard the message. He kept nearby Trance, while she was here as a guest and it was unlikely she would do anything rash the students were wary of her. A Brotherhood member. “The meeting is set for 8:30 pm,” he told her once they sat at the table, “two and half hours.”

When they walked in, Kurt spotted Trance in the same spot and guided Bedelia down the way on the same side, limiting the chance of the two looking at each other. Bedelia’s hand squeezed Kurt’s at the sight of Trance. Two and a half hours. It was likely she wouldn’t be able to eat much, but at least she had some time to prepare mentally. A part of her was telling herself to go and pack her bags, to make sure that she had everything ready to...run? In case she had to leave? She wondered if Quicksilver would bring her bag, that had her good jeans in it, she’d hate to lose them. But better her jeans, than her life.

Over the course of the next half an hour or so, Bedelia managed to eat a small chicken breast, a small portion of roasted carrots, and half a dinner roll. It wasn’t much but any more and she thought she would be in danger of vomiting from nerves. The mantra of ‘everything will be okay’ kept running through her mind. Luckily Rogue and Kitty sat across from them and began to ask Bedelia about her past work with homeless mutants. It took her mind off what was coming at the very least.

Finally, the table began to clear. An hour and a half left. “Can we go for a walk,” she asked Kurt. “I need something to distract me for at least an hour.”

The silence of their walk was broken occasionally by light talking. The weather, places they’ve been to, and the food they like. Though Bedelia didn’t want to make hard plans, they did discuss going to the mutant bar Bedelia was writing about...and going for that walk in central park. It was a good walk. And over far too soon. As they made their way back to the manor to get into the Blackbird, they ran into Trance and Hank stepping out of one of the sitting rooms.

“Oh, Kurt, Miss Hayes,” Hank greeted, “heading to the hanger?”

Kurt stilled in his walk, keeping to be just a bit ahead of Bedelia as if to shield her. As if he could hide her away from the world, from the Brotherhood. That didn’t mean he wouldn’t try. “Ja, given that it is almost time, we would limit our tour to the indoors…”

Trance said nothing, merely watching the pair. Hank immediately sensed the tense tone of Kurt, so unlike his usual self. The protective manor in which Kurt guarded Bedelia made him smile slightly. He recalled how Kurt had behaved after first meeting the woman - he had been on cloud nine. Hopefully, after this meeting, the couple could return to such a state of bliss.

“Of course, we were heading that way as well. We will see you down there.” Hank began to walk towards the elevator. It was painfully awkward, but luckily the other couple had another way down. 

Bedelia squeezed Kurt’s hand and whispered, “can you just…” she mimicked the noise of his teleporting.

Kurt couldn’t help but smile at Bedelia’s noise. “ That is how I sound?” He teased, hoping to loosen the tension in her shoulders just a bit. “Sounds like a car smashing into a train.” He took her hand tightly and teleported, obliging her. Within a moment, they were downstairs, away from the elevator and closer to the hanger.

“I didn’t do that badly,” she complained though with the smile that Kurt had hoped for. Once they were in the jet, the couple sat in the seats that they had before. Upfront and away from where Trance and Hank would sit, hopefully. Xavier was in the pilot’s position, and behind Kurt and Bedelia were Rogue and Storm.

______

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[bullfrogjoy]

Bullfrog Joy

February 2, 2024

Good Morning! It’s Ground Hog’s Day! I thought about writing the same paragraph over and over to see if it would turn out any different the next time around.

Good Morning! It’s Ground Hog’s Day! I thought about writing the same paragraph over and over to see if it would turn out any different the next time around.

OK, that was my attempt at humor. If you never watched the movie Groundhog Day with Bill Murray, it makes no sense! I believe he had to learn something about himself before he could get out of the repeating loop of Ground Hog’s Day. Here’s to a joyful Ground Hog’s Day to you. See what you can learn! (He hasn’t seen his shadow in Illinois yet. Maybe there’s hope for an early spring! My flowers are popping up if that’s any indication.

My joy this week was one of those sweet sorrows I have talked about. I got to attend the funeral of a woman who lived to be 96 years old. That is amazing. This woman was amazing. Beth McCoy was not famous or rich or a winner of any special awards. She was a mom, a grandma, a great grandma, and a great, great grandma, and she loved Jesus.

It was interesting to observe the people that attended the funeral. Remember, she was 96 years old. Who would be around that would know her? Of course her family was there. She had three daughters, and several of the classmates of those daughters were there to pay their respects to the mother of their friend. Her neighbors were there. A couple of those neighbors were elementary students who came to say good-by. Then there were the community members and friends, who themselves were old, some schoolmates of hers, some who worked with her from years gone by. Each had a story to tell. I could “see” the quiet conversations going on around me. What a tribute from our community.

My friends, how do you tell a person you love them? The family said that Beth very rarely said the words, “I love you.” When they told her “I love you, Grandma,” she would answer, “OK!” That was her love language. It was also in the boxes of jello and mac and cheese and socks they got from her at Christmas time. It was in the flowers she tended and the garden she shared. It was in the jobs she did, jobs that many people would never do, to keep the family fed. It wasn’t until near the end that Grandma Beth could respond with the words. I write it a lot but don’t say it very often. The grandsons say it every time they talk to me! What about you?

Here’s another question for you. What songs do you want to have played at your funeral? The last song at this memorial was.…. “When the Saints Go Marching In.” A toe tapper? You bet. A freedom song? You bet? A joyful song? You bet. A funeral song? Well…Yessirree, it is now! I never thought of that for a funeral closer, but how fitting. What a great picture of saints going to see Jesus. And there goes Beth to be with the other saints who are already there.

What joy, my friends, to pay tribute to such a “good gal.” The sun shone that morning for only a few minutes, right after we sang about the saints marching in.

I really had a lot of joys to write about this week. I finished a great book called The Last Green Valley about a Ukrainian family who escaped Stalin’s reign at the end of WWII. They just kept trusting God and putting one foot in front of the other. Great story about a real family. I had lunch at the new Chinese place in Monmouth with friends I’ve had for over 50 years. I am about to hire a young electrician who was once one of my students. I am so proud.

Life is good, my friends. I wish you joy this coming week, and I pray that you know someone like Grandma Beth who has taught you about Jesus. Joy to you my friends. Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea. Joy to you and me.