#oc: harper donovan

[home-on-the-wastes]

Culture Shock (3/?)

Butch is out of Vault 101 less than twenty-four hours before he finds himself in trouble. A familiar face is there to assist, but it allows Butch to see just how much his old bullying victim has changed since his initial foray into the Capital Wasteland. See Part 1 for additional tags and author’s notes. Part 1 // 2 // 3 // ?

Being left on his own, Butch had more time to think about his current situation. While waiting for Harper, he felt more and more unsettled while sitting at the bar of the saloon. Call it intuition, but something was obviously wrong–not with him, but with Harper.

At first, Butch wondered if it was because Amata didn’t let Harper stay in the vault. Butch couldn’t imagine why Harper would want to go back. From the way Harper handled the uprising in Vault 101, the raiders, and then getting Butch to Megaton, he was probably tearing it up in the Wasteland, raising hell.

Butch hated how surprised he was at this new, irrefutable fact. It made perfect sense. After all, Harper had been living out in the Wasteland since his glorious, almost legendary exit on the coattails of his father’s lab coat. The people in Megaton treated Harper with mild reverence–and at one point, when Butch went outside to look over the town, he spotted not one, but two people run up to hand Harper caps, ammo, or some food they scrounged up.

Harper had changed a lot, but not too much. That same respectful, blank smile as thanks, too polite to turn them away. He caught Butch’s eye and looked away quickly, brushing some hair out of his face as he stomped up one of the walkways and ducked into another precariously perched building.

It was weird, seeing the sky–but it was even weirder just seeing Harper running around like everything was normal.

Finally, near the evening, he dropped a handful of supplies in a rucksack at Butch’s feet in the bar, filled with food, medical supplies, and stimpacks. 

“I ain’t a charity case,” Butch said, but Harper just rolled his eyes.

“I know you’re not, but you’re going to need it, and unless you start drinking like a fish, you’re not going to have enough to get things for a little while. You might want to get outfitted for some armor, too, depending on where you’re going.”

“I heard there’s a bigger town, Rivet City,” Butch said. He had asked a few of the settlers for some suggestions.

“Rivet City’s not bad. More people, better walls, more opportunities. If you head there and folks give you trouble, talk to Harkness. He owes me, so as long as you don’t do something stupid, he can help get you settled or at least direct you to the right people. Hey, Gob, can I have a beer?”

“Comin’ right up.”

Someone else walked into the saloon and slammed the door. Harper flinched so hard that he nearly dropped the caps that he was trying to count out. He shook his head and grit his teeth, trying to wear off the nerves as he started counting again.

But Harper was morose. Any instance of biting wit or attitude was gone. Butch stared off into space, listening to the radio, contemplating this change. Some guy who called himself Three Dog made annoying noises and then went on about a public service announcement, and then the news. He went on about something called the Enclave and flying ships and shock troops–that all sounded like it was out of a comic book.

“—and that crazy kid from Vault 101.”

“Gob?” asked Harper. “Can we turn off the radio?”

Gob set down the beer and frowned at the radio, going to turn the knob, but not before Three Dog finished his broadcast. 

“No sign of the kid’s father, though. Here’s hoping James is okay—”

The saloon went quiet as Gob cut the broadcast off. Gob went to say something, then glanced a Butch, and opted not to. Instead, he passed Harper the beer, and then gently reached out a wrinkled, withered hand. He squeezed Harper’s hand, Harper forced a smile that looked more like a grimace, and then Gob left Harper and Butch to their awkward silence.

Butch had many questions, but one suddenly took center stage. Where was Harper’s dad? 

Pretending to look at the label on his drink, Butch was too nervous to bring it up, at first. Still riding the euphoria of the raider fight and retreat to Megaton, the mild reminder that Harper could and might kill him was terrifying. He wondered if he was going to step out of Gob’s Saloon then bam, his brains splattered on the congruent metal because Harper remembered all the times Butch teased him, beat him up, made his life hell because Butch had been bored and angry about his lot in life. Their relationship had always been mildly antagonistic.

But, they had grown up together. They could talk about these things, couldn’t they?

“Pretty cool that you’re on the radio,” said Butch. “So you found your dad and everything?”

Harper gave the slightest nod. Butch waited for Harper to explain what had happened, but he didn’t. Another minute passed, and then another. Butch went to speak again but barely got a word out before Harper started shaking, a near full-body tremble. Then he downed the beer in a few more gulps.

Butch signaled for two more drinks. Gob passed Butch a beer, and Harper a bottle of water. Butch waited for Harper to say something, but he didn’t touch the drink, didn’t even react.

“I mean…they mentioned your dad by name on the radio. He is okay, isn’t he?” asked Butch. 

Harper took a deep breath, reached for the water, and then, without any warning whatsoever, started weeping right in front of everyone. He tried to hide it, wiping his eyes and nose on his sleeve, but he couldn’t stop, and folks were staring. Big, watery tears streamed down his cheeks as he stared at the water bottle, thumbing the label written in blue ink.

“Hey,” Butch said, unsure how to fix the situation. “What…what the fuck happened?”

“Just–shut up, Butch,” Harper snapped. It would have been threatening, if it weren’t for all the tears. “It’s over. Dad’s gone. Not everyone knows yet but…but I’m….I’m all alone. Again.” Another sob built up, and Harper tried to shove it down, giving his voice a wet, gurgling sort of quality.

A pit settled in Butch’s stomach. He didn’t know what to say. Butch was terrified when his mom was attacked by the radroaches the day Harper left the vault. Sure, he didn’t see eye to eye with his mom–especially after the whole problem with the Overseer–but she was still his mom. He loved her; it would’ve hurt so bad if she had died then, and he was a bit relieved that she stayed in the vault, where she’d be safer than out in the Wasteland.

But that was the thing. Harper had left everything behind to find his dad, the one parent who was still alive. That one shred of hope, just gone–and now the vault was closed to him, too.

Butch swallowed a lump in his throat. “Harper, I–”

Harper turned and stalked off, hands balled into fists so tight that his nails cut into his calloused palms. Little half-circles of blood pooled where the nails dug in. “I don’t want to hear it, Butch. Just…” He took a deep breath. “Don’t.” Then he shoved the door open and stepped outside.

The rest of the saloon fell into an awkward lull. Gob scooped up the water and wiped down the counter. After a reputable amount of time passed, he shyly asked, “Want anything else?”

“Yeah,” Butch replied, not listening. “How about another beer? Put it on Harper’s tab.”

Harper didn’t see Butch off from Megaton. Butch didn’t expect him to–he left without a word, early the next morning. The residents of the shanty town were giving him somewhat of a cold shoulder, anyway, so after he took stock of his food, and ammo, and got his directions sorted, he took off. Maybe they would cross paths again–maybe they wouldn’t.

Butch pretended it didn’t bother him.

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[rosesnink]

The Viscountess, Chapter 1: Primadonna Girl

A/N: I finally publish some other stuff! Whew! This chapter will be a rollercoaster, indeed. Hope you guys enjoy it! 

Summary: Nicole settles in London, Anne makes some friends and finally talk about who Alaric Donovan was once. 

Word Count: 5519 

It was the first day of school and Nicole was packing everything for Anne. She was already dressed with a light brown hair that matched her leather boots and her hat. She knelt down to kiss her and walked towards the bus station, where the bus would pick her up.

“Don’t worry, honey. I’m sure someone will want to sit with you. Look at your pretty face!” She beamed and her daughter smiled.

When the bus came, she kissed her mother goodbye and went up, showing the driver her card and noticed that everyone was staring at her. She gave them a polite smile and headed to find a new seat. Some girls whispered while the boys watched her intently and she blushed crimson. The only boys she has interacted with was her younger cousins Edmund and Matthew, Uncle Harry’s boys. A blonde girl with pretty blue eyes waved at her and motioned her to sit with them. She did and the girl talked “You must be the new girl. I’m Liz and these are my friends Jenna, Josie, Tamara and Jean. You are…?”.

“Anne” She mumbled shyly.

“How cute, she’s shy!” Josie beamed. Then she cleared her throat “No offense though. I said it in a good way”.

“I love your hair!” Jean commented.

“That young woman is your mom? She’s so pretty!”.

“I bet her father is even more handsome”.

“MY FATHER IS DEAD!” She snapped of all sudden, almost jolting.

The other girls looked at her, and well, the whole bus. She blushed violently as she hid her head. Liz squeezed her hand “I’m sorry we overwhelmed you like that. We just wanted to get to know you”.

“I know. I guess I am…”.

“A bit introverted? Don’t worry, we get it. We don’t have to talk, just listen to music. You like Beyoncé?”.

“Yes, but I am more into Madonna” She smiled, finally a topic that she liked.

“Guess we can mix up their best hits”.

A few days before…

Nicole stood there for a second before clearing her throat and extending her hand “I guess it’s a pleasure to meet you”.

He broke off his trance as he shook hands with her “It is nice to meet you, indeed”.

They both stared for a moment before clearing their throats and sitting on opposite sides. Bart looked intently, analysing the situation before Hamid spoke up, saving them from the awkwardness created “Well, Nicole, tell us about you! What part of England are you from?”.

“I was actually born in here, in London. Both my parents raised me in here, but I moved all over England when I met my boyfriend, who years after became my husband, Alaric”.

“Oh! You’re… married” Luke commented, his expression sour.

“I’m a widow, actually. My Alaric died when Anne was 2. Car accident, said the police” She commented, a familiar pain on her chest. Everyone went silent before Annabelle placed her hand on hers and said

“I’m sorry for your loss, honey. If you wanna talk about it…”.

“Oh, I don’t want to bother you…”.

“You don’t” Ernest said, surprising the whole table “We won’t judge you, Nicole. If you wish to speak about it, I assure you that we will listen”.

“Sinclaire is right. It’s okay to talk about your feelings. The more you talk about it, the easier the pain becomes, or that is what my therapist says” Hamid tried to cheer her up.

“It’s… I haven’t talked about him since the funeral. And it was 6 years ago”.

“Take your time, love. You have a few hours until you pick up your little girl again” Yusuf encouraged.

She nodded as she started to talk “I was so young when I married him. I was only 19 and so excited to live a married life worthy of a princess’ tale. He was a good husband, so doting and dedicated, and later an even better father” She chuckled “A year later, I found out I was pregnant. It was perfect. In that moment, we had almost a decade together behind us. He was so excited when I told him we’d have a girl. He always wanted to have a daughter, because he grew up with only men in his life and was kind of tired of them. We decided, after months of arguments, to call her Anne, like Anne Boleyn. After all, this controversial queen united us in a project together in the uni. When he had to get back to work, I had to literally kick him out of the house, because he refused to leave his little princess!” Everyone chuckled “But soon, reality hit me like a truck. His abusive mother claimed a part in his life, even if she loathed me and the child. She destroyed him, made us move towns even after Anne was diagnosed… Then, a year later, he died. Unfairly and because some… drunk didn’t have responsibility in the road! He—” She inhaled “He was about to tell me something important. Life-changing, perhaps. But I’ll never know. Since then, I moved back to London and tried to be my own woman and make my own name rather than Alaric’s widow. It wasn’t easy. It’s still difficult. But my… our Anne is worth everything. I tried to give her all my love so she doesn’t even notice she needs a father, and we’re fine. We are. I miss him everyday and there’s no day I don’t wish he were here, but I know he’d want me to live my life. To be strong, independent and brave, even if some nights I’m fucking terrified” She sobbed on that last one as Annabelle and Bart comforted her.

“Hey, for what is worth, you’re still here, you have a job and your daughter is in the best school she could ask for, with people who understand her. I can tell he’s proud of you. You’ve been very strong and did an outstanding job with your little girl” Hamid beamed.

“Thank you… for the company, the food and listening to a poor woman like me. Really”.

“You needn’t thank us. We wanted you at this table with all of it and get to know you. Thank you for opening up to us” Said Luke.

She nodded as she wiped the tears off her face and smiled weakly at the so nice group. They stood there, in an actually comfortable silence before Sinclaire spoke up, directly at Nicole “If I may offer advice as a father of a young girl, it’s that you tell her about her father. Who he was. How much he loved you and your daughter. Kids are curious by nature, just as insatiable of information and new answers and adventures. They seek all the truths of the world, even if us adults are scared of finding out. Your daughter is in that age of having a mental image of her parents, thinking that they were soulmates. Even if it hurts, she deserves to know who is her missing progenitor. There’s nothing wrong of showing your emotions to them, for they’re still too pure to judge you. They are capable of loving everyone, even the worst kind of people, even if sometimes we’re not worthy of their unconditional love. And I always try to let know my daughter how much I love her, even without her mother so present in her life”.

She looked at him with a softened expression “I will think about this. Thank you for the advice”.

He nodded, their eyes connecting before they both looked away, flushing pink and paying attention elsewhere.

They spent the rest of the time talking about many stupid things and even she got to know more about her new friends: Bart and Yusuf were parents of an adopted boy, Miran, a refugee orphan who lost his parents to the jihadists and went to Anne’s class. Luke was a mechanic who was childless, but happy and complete. Annabelle was an aspiring artist and was looking forward having a child of her own. Nicole offered her to advise her with kids and provide her all the things she would’ve loved to know when she was pregnant herself. And Hamid was a diplomat who loved travelling around and was now in England in some business. She soon discovered that he knew her father, the Earl of Edgewater and Sinclaire was one of his associates and closest friend. She couldn’t believe it!

As if it were magic, she got a call from her father. She giggled as she put the phone in hands-free.

“Hello, Nicole! Do I get you busy?” He asked and she muffled a giggle.

“Nope. You get me in a perfect time. Guess who’s with me. Say hello, guys!”.

“Hello, Mr. Foredale! Hamid Osmanoglu here!” Hamid saluted.

“Ernest here. How are you doing, old friend?”.

“I-I-I-I” he sounded astonished “Nicole, how did you meet them? What is happening?” He was in shock.

“A common friend introduced them to their group. Some of them work in Anne’s new school and others are in the neighbourhood” She explained.

It was silent for a moment before her father barked a laugh!

“Oh, god, and here I was, hoping to introduce you to them myself! You’re taking good care of my daughter, nay?” he asked, a bit teasing.

“Of course, my lord”.

“Your daughter is an absolute delight to have!” Hamid winked at her and she rolled her eyes.

“Credit that to her mother. She inherited her charm” He beamed.

“So, what is going on, Father? Everything okay at Edgewater?” Nicole asked.

“Everything is fine. I just wanted to tell you that I’d love to have little Anne for the weekend, if it’s alright. And one more thing! Briar heard that you’re back in London and wants to meet you. I’ll send you her number”.

“I’ve missed that mess of a girl. Anything else?”.

“No. Enjoy your day, honey. I’ve gotta go to work. Bye, everyone!”.

She hung up as she looked for a small moment to her new friends before bursting into a fit of laughter, feeling so light and young, she forgot she was about to be 30 in a month’s time. Everyone looked at her as she shook her head, sighing.

“What is that laugh about?”.

“I never felt so… young in years” She said, a beaming smile on her face.

After class, Anne and Nicole were taking a walk when someone screeched her name. She turned around and saw her: brown skin, blue eyes, her hair into a bun and with a girl younger than Anne: Briar. Her Briar.

“Nicole! NICOLE DONOVAN!!!” She screamed at the top of her lungs.

Nicole smiled and squealed as she lunged forward her friend, hugging each other so hard they fell on the floor, giggling while the girls covered their eyes, now embarrassed by their respective mother’s actions. The women squealed as they kissed each other on the cheek and hugged each other hard.

“Girl, look at you! You don’t seem to have 29 years!”.

“Um, can we talk about the fact that you still look like you’re 22? What is your secret?!”.

“I made a deal with Satan” She winked.

Both women laughed as their kids sighed, knowing what would come up now.

“We haven’t seen you since—”.

“I know. But let’s not talk about it. How have you been?” She asked, a broad smile on her face. She truly missed Briar.

“Amazing, especially since my baby girl was born. Right, Liz?” She beamed at her daughter.

The little girl gave a familiar resemblance: bright blonde hair, piercing blue eyes, pink cheeks and full lips “Hi.” She greeted timidly.

“She reminds me of—”.

“Your brother Edmund? Oh, I know. He is the father.”

“He what?!”.

Anne squeezed her arm in reminder that they were in the middle of the street. Nicole flushed, leading her friend and her daughter somewhere safer to talk. They found their favourite park and sat there, taking in the information. Nicole took a deep breath “How did this happen? How long? Is this the reason of why you never called me?”.

“Yes, well… I was still embarrassed by the pact we made long ago and when I found out I was pregnant and made my calculus… I couldn’t believe it. I told him and you were… Liz, why don’t you go play that awesome game Daddy taught you with cousin Anne?” Both girls nodded as they ran towards the trees, giggling. Briar sighed “Well, you were in a bad place with Alaric, Anne was a delicate toddler… I thought you didn’t have time.”

Nicole pouted as she took her friend’s hands in hers and said earnestly “No matter what, I will always have time for you, I will always be there and accept you, okay?”.

Briar nodded as she hugged her tightly, leaving Nicole breathless, but she didn’t mind. They separated and Briar said “Great. Because when I found out you and Anne were back in London, I couldn’t believe it! Your father was ecstatic with the news and told everyone tipsy over a dinner of his. Besides, there’s a motive why I wanted you here, this year, this day, now more than ever.”

“What is it? Tell me!”.

Briar bit her lip and giggled “Edmund and I are getting married!” Both women squealed “And you will be my Maid of Honour! It’s not a suggestion, it’s an order. You, Nicole Maria Donovan, will walk me down the aisle even if I have to drag your big ass over the chapel!” She jabbed playfully her red gel nail on her chest. Nicole giggled before squealing and hugging her best friend.

“I’m so happy for you, Bri. You haven’t been this happy since you lost your virginity at the age of 15 with Jackson Daniels.” She teased as Briar feigned offence and smacked her shoulder. Both women laughed again, gaining the attention of their princesses “Now, I need to know: how is Edmund as a father?”.

“Oh, so cute and yet awkward. If Elizabeth is giggling with some boy he asks her if she’s in love with him and he is so messy! But he’s a great father, awkwardness and all.”

“I’m glad to hear that, because if he’s not, I’ll hire a paid assassin.” Nicole teased again.

“So, how does the single mom life treat you?” Briar asked, nosy as ever.

Nicole frowned and sighed “It’s tough. I’m still getting used on not waking up with someone beside me or being kissed and held...”.

Briar’s eyes twinkled “And do you ever get laid?”.

“Briar!” Nicole scolded her.

“Come on! You’re a widow who I recall was sexually active and rather good. Did you ever got laid after Alaric?”.

Nicole bit her lip, sighing as she weighed if to tell her or not… and flushed as she nodded, stuttering “It-it was just once! I was so lonely and in need of some love… So, I saw this cute guy who just turned 21… he taught Hispanic Literature and oh boy.” Both women cackled loudly, making some elderly women whisper annoyed “But after that, never again. I felt like I was insulting Alaric. It had only been five months and I was spiralling, it was never a good idea.”

“…Did you enjoy it, though?”.

“Briar, for the love of God!” Nicole shrieked. Then, she approached her flushed “But we might had five rounds then. There, happy?!” She pushed her friend as she screamed in victory and chanted I Knew It.

“Mom! Stop being so clingy!” Lizzy whined.

“Talk to me again like that and I’ll ground you, young woman!”.

Nicole and Anne laughed as the afternoon passed by and they both observed that it was about to start raining. Nicole led the women to her house, just a few miles away of the park.

“Wait, you also have a house in London!”.

“Yeah, since I started college!”.

They both giggled as they stopped on her door, the rain dripping rather violently and she threw the door wide open, gathering the group inside. The women giggled as she sent both girls to take a shower and leave the adults to talk. Briar seemed still different, a bit paler and dizzy. When Nicole mentioned her some bacon, she knew it.

“Come, I’ll show you my room.”

“Why, I’m flattered but I’m married.” Briar teased.

Nicole laughed loudly as they both stumbled and Nicole lent her some of her clothes she hadn’t used for years now. Probably since high school. As Briar undressed her chest, she also observed how delicate she was with her breasts, now a bit bigger due to pregnancy and Nicole knew what to do. She went to the bathroom and caught the test and the small bottle and handed it to Briar. She sighed after a minute of silence “I guess I cannot hide anything from someone who used to be pregnant, eh? How did you still have these anyways?”.

“A token. To remind myself of that night.”

Briar sighed as she went to the bathroom and did the whole process. Nicole awaited, even when little Lizzy was nosy, she told her not to put too much pressure in her.

Briar emerged from the bathroom. She took a deep breath and saw the result “Oh my God!”.

On Sunday morning, little Anne was already trotting all over the house, giggling as she played with her imaginary friends and her beloved dolls. She remembered that afternoon at the bar she now frequented on her free time

“So… how are you settling on London so far?” Annabelle asked while sipping her tea.

“I’m good so far! I haven’t been here since 2009.”

“Wait, you say you haven’t stepped a foot on London for eleven years?!” Bart gasped.

“Well… I can hardly blame her. This town can be overwhelming and problematic. I still remember when my ex-wife insisted on completing her pregnancy anywhere but London.” Ernest defended Nicole.

“So that’s why Isabelle was born in the hospital of Calais?” Yusuf asked.

He nodded. Annabelle whispered to her that since she opened up about her husband, Ernest was more open about his ex-wife, the former French model of Vogue Roselyn D’Oleur, now Mrs. Richards, Ernest’s fatal enemy.

“Ernest, if it’s not too much to ask… may I see a photo of your girl?” Nicole asked sheepishly.

Ernest nodded with a beaming smile. For what she’s heard, he was a very devoted father and adored his little girl “Here. This one is my Isabelle, although I call her Izzy.”

Nicole studied her before breaking into a smile “This is the girl that defended Anne when some wankers mocked her disability!” She beamed.

Ernest chuckled, amused “Yes, well, Isabelle has a sense of justice. I had to get her out of trouble because she’d always get into fights with bullies. She inherited that from my father.”

“She’s very lovely, and that nose is so adorable!” She flushed pink “Crap, that made sense in my head.”

Ernest gave her a small, reassuring smile “Don’t worry, everyone says the same. I admit she got her mother’s beauty features.”

There was some shadow on his face, like remembering his ex-wife meant pain and she decided to move the subject to London again “So, I haven’t seen much of London and it’s been a decade since I was even there. What do you recommend me to see with Anne?”.

Hamid beamed “I’ve been visiting London for almost already twelve years and I believe myself bold enough to know it as well as a local. Maybe I can give you and your delightful girl a tour to places I am sure she’d enjoy.” He offered.

“That’s so kind and sweet of you, but, isn’t it Parliament season?”.

Hamid chuckled “I am sure these old men can wait some minutes.”

“We don’t really want to bother you…”.

“Please! It’d be my greatest honour to show you and your little girl the beauty of the city. Surely you wouldn’t break my heart by rejecting my proposal?”.

Nicole froze for a few moments. She was sure the man would be delighted by Anne’s company, but this was the first time in years she’d be alone with a man since Alaric died. Not for sex like other times, but in a personal way. In a deep way. She swallowed, mulling over her options and smiled, trying to hide her insecurities “Sure, I’d love to. Especially if it involves Anne seeing a bit of the city she’ll grow up.”

Hamid seemed to perceive her fears and placed a hand on her shoulder “Nicole, I was simply suggesting it. You don’t have to accept if you still don’t feel comfortable, you know? There’s nothing wrong with grief. I will wait for when you’re truly ready, we have a whole year before us.”

She released the ball of tension on her shoulders and frowned “It’s just… I need to speak it to Anne. She is used to be with me only and since she’s an only child the ‘sharing’ things isn’t her forte and her disability… it’s something I must know if she’s comfortable with or not.”

“Don’t worry, Nicole. I will await your answer and please, take the time you need. I understand how difficult is for an autist to change the routine.”

“Thank you for understanding. Many people will sigh and say ‘Autism Sucks’ instead of understanding that this is something we both live with.”

Hamid nodded, then broke into a broad grin “Until then, may I buy you a drink? You look like you could use it.”

It was today. Today was officially Alaric’s birthday. Every day, since he died, Nicole would ask her father to take care of Anne while she brought half a factory of ice-cream, chocolate and whipped cream while she watched his tapes from 1985 to a year before he died. She’d cry a river and regret not giving Anne the father she deserved to have. The closest thing to a father she had was her grandfather, but he was getting old and his time was up. There were things he couldn’t do due to his old age and her uncles had to intervene.

But today she wouldn’t get through it alone. She called Anne, who was watching Doraemon and sat her on her lap.

“What is it, Mama?” She asked, a bit concerned on her mum’s saddened face “Why are you sad?”.

“Because today…” She swallowed hard “today is your father’s birthday.”

Anne looked at him quizzically “How old would he be?”.

Nicole smiled weakly “Thirty-four.”

“You never talk about Dad with me. Why today?”.

“Because, beanie, it’s time you learn about who he was. Who was Alaric Donovan, what kind of father he was and wanted to be for you, his passions, his failures… I want you to meet your Dad earnestly.”

Anne didn’t need to say more before she hugged her mom and asked her to bring some sweets she bought for them both and even some homemade cookies. They sat in front of the TV and an image from December 1995 appeared. Nicole smiled, remembering that night very well. It was a family reunion and Nicole was 5 while Alaric was 8.

“Look, Mum, how huge your friend’s tree is!”.

A man chuckled before his camera pointed at him. Her father, Vincent, looking younger and beaming “Thank you, Alaric, but that is all my beloved Mary’s work.”

“Look, that’s grandfather!” Anne beamed “He’s not grey and old!”.

“Your grandfather was known to be immensely handsome and admired by all the girls in the country.”

“So grandfather was some kind of Casanova?” Anne asked, making Nicole laugh.

“Alaric, turn off that demonic thing! Dinner is served!” His mother scolded him. Nicole grimaced at the woman.

“That’s grandma.”

“One sec, mom, I want to film something really quick!”.

“I said leave the camera, boy!” The father grabbed the camera and the image went grey.

“That is my other grandpa?” Anne asked.

“Sadly, he is.”

“He’s, um…”.

“A jerk? Yeah, he is.” Nicole played with Anne’s locks “That was the night your dad and I met for the first time. At the time I was young, your age in fact and we talked a lot during that night until bedtime.”

“There’s more?” Anne asked.

Nicole nodded and pointed at the screen with the title March 2005. On screen, an 18 years-old Alaric started to explain while his friend sang a song aloud on his old car how he’d ask Nicole to be his girlfriend with her favourite chocolates and song with an enormous cassette of the year.

“That’s the thing you listened to music?” Anne asked, wide-eyed.

Nicole nodded, laughing “Yeah! The millennium barely started, so we weren’t as advanced as we are now. We had a long, long way.”

They both observed how Alaric’s friend recorded how he played with the big cassette her favourite song, sk8r boy by Avril Lavigne. A young Nicole observed from the window wide-eyed and with the mouth on the floor how he asked her to be his girlfriend. Nicole squealed and in a short moment later, she was running towards Alaric and he hugged her, lifting her up and spinning her around, making her giggle. Anne giggled “Dad was such a romantic!”.

Nicole beamed “Yeah, he was. A hopeless romantic.” She gasped at the date: July of 2007 “This is our trip to France! I was 17 and your father was 20. I still remember kissing him on the Eiffel Tower.”

“That’s gross and romantic at the same time.” Anne commented, grimacing. Nicole giggled.

“One day, you will fall in love and will understand what it feels like.”

“Eww, no thank you.”

Nicole laughed while they observed how Alaric filmed a still young Nicole gasping at the views and giggling, stopping to make photos with a massive camera and showing it to Alaric. Later, it showed a dinner of them both on a restaurant buffet, Nicole laughing while filming Alaric struggling to eat the escargots. Anne giggled at seeing her father struggling with some snails and commented how clumsy he was. The tape ended with him sending flying the said escargot to a rather big lady who before she started to yell at them, they quickly turned off the camera. Anne and Nicole laughed at the comical scene.

“How did you even sleep that night?! That lady seemed pissed.”

“We got banished from the restaurant for a day and we had to eat at McDonald’s. It was too embarrassing to come back there and it was the first time I saw your father so flustered!”.

“Poor dad.”

“I’m sure he’d be laughing with us while he comments what he was feeling in that moment.”

“He seemed funny!”.

“He had his moments as a comedian, yes.”

They kept watching some of the tapes, sometimes in Edgewater, sometimes on his house, singing carols in Christmas or carpooling at the car, pranking on the neighbours and going on dates of that year.

Finally, they got on Nicole’s most awaited tape: May 2010.

It was sunny, a perfect day. Alaric and Nicole walked hand on hand through the streets of Bath when Alaric stopped her.

“Nicole, I love you.” Nicole was wide eyed “For the moment I saw you, I was enthralled by you and I had eyes for no other. I know we are young, maybe too young, but I want you in my life. I want to travel with you, be your Earl, your king and maybe, if you’re up to it, be the father of your children.” He dropped on one knee in that blossoming park and showed a ring, a promise of his unyielding love “Nicole Foredale-Mills, will you marry me?”.

Nicole started to cry of emotion, screaming yes over and over and kissed him, everyone on the park clapping as her father appeared, a beaming smile on his face and hugging her and then Alaric. Her grandmother, who died seven years ago now, beamed as she started to plan the wedding, how long they’d be engaged and how it’d be celebrated.

Nicole seized her opportunity to fish the album and showed Anne her wedding photos. She was wearing one of the most expensive wedding dresses, princess size. The tailor was Ana De Luca and it was glittery and off shoulders. It was held in the same chapel Princess Diana got married and the Queen of England was there. Anne went crazy when she told her that her grandmother was friends with the Queen and every noble of England attended to see the young viscountess get married to a humble man. It was an emotive wedding where the vows were for tearing up and her father looked regal. Nicole showed her a photo of the Queen Elizabeth congratulating the newlyweds personally and the slow dance.

A few months later, on March 2011, Nicole held Anne on her arms, small, chubby and sleepy. While Grandpa Vincent recorded everything while Nicole passed baby Anne to a teary Alaric, who cried silently while watching her move her body and yawn “My baby girl. I love her so much already. You’re gonna be so loved, beanie. I promise I will be the greatest dad for you, honeybun.”

Nicole teared up at the part and Anne asked why they cried.

“Because we were so happy over you being brought to the world and you were simply perfect. You are perfect and he loved you so much.” Anne hugged her and saw the rest of the videos:

Alaric playing and teasing baby Anne, clapping and beaming when Anne accomplished something and dressing her up like a 1500s baby… Anne payed attention to it, commenting about it and even giggling every time she threw him food to his face. He was always such a great dad…

“Mom… do you think he’d love me even if I am who I am?”.

“Oh honey… he adored you! You were his everything and he would’ve given everything to make you feel good with yourself. He loved being your father.”

Anne yawned, signal that it was time to go to sleep. She quickly put her to sleep, kissing her goodnight and went upstairs, where in her box there was a letter to an 18 years old Anne. She opened it and started to read it.

To my princess Anne,

Today is your second birthday and I couldn’t be happier. But I am afraid this one will be our last birthday together.

I’ve made a discovery that it could ruin us entirely. I have this aggressive cancer that is killing me slowly. The doctors say that when you’re probably eight, I’ll die slowly and painfully. I have fought in vain to seek a solution, but there is no way back. I don’t want you to grow up with a sick father. I want you to remember me as I was and I am sure that your mother will do a great job with that. And by then, I will be a faint memory of yours, which is probably for the best.

I don’t want to be a burden to you, my beautiful princess. I was supposed to take care of you, not upside down. I know you may think of me a coward, do it. I will not blame you. But this is the only way. Maybe you’re better off without me. Maybe it’s for the best. I don’t know, but you will have all you want. And remember me, my girl, because as long as you remember who I am, I am not entirely dead and everything I have done and lived for isn’t in vain.

I have written down everything in the copy of your birth certificate that I want you and your mom to do once I am gone. If I die now, your mother will inherit my money and will be elegible to be a noblewoman again. I want you to have the best of the best, even if that means me being gone.

This doesn’t mean that I don’t love you, beanie, because I do. I love you so much I think it might kill me. Your mother is my heart and you’re my greatest love and weakness. That is why I must do right by you.

So promise me this: promise me that when we reunite, you will have amazing stories to tell. Make art, stories. Have incredible adventures. Find love. And always be your unapologetically yourself. Because every time you do, you show the best in me.

One more thing: tell your mom that I still wait for that song she made for me.

Love you forever,

Your father.

Nicole’s world stopped. She fell on her knees as she unconsciously called that person her heart knew it’d ease her pain. With her trembling hands, she pressed the button call and the voice answered “Nicole?”.

“I—I know it’s late and you must be tired, but I could use your company right now.”

“…Tell me what you need.”

[hyperion-moonbabe-art3mis]

Master Lists

*An updated master list to make it more streamline* 

Sorry for all the  long list and all the loopholes but hoping the other lists fill up soon so they’re not so empty

Let me know if any of the shows/movies i’d write for interest you

OG Master (No longer updated)

Secret Santa Master Lists

2020

2022

The 100 

The Vampire Diaries 

Series: Caught In Between (Tag: TVDCIB) || Niklaus Mikaelson x OC

Will write for:

- Damon Salvatore

Movie Nights (Request)

- Stefan Salvatore - Elena Gilbert - Jeremy Gilbert - Tyler Lockwood - Matt Donovan - Kai Parker - Katerina/Katherine Petrova

The Originals

Series: Under A New Moon (Tag: TOUNM) || Niklaus Mikaelson x OC || Sequel to Caught In Between

- Niklaus Mikaelson - Elijah Mikaelson - Rebekah Mikaelson - Kol Mikaelson - Freya Mikaelson - Marcel Gerard - Davina Claire -Haley Marshall -Mikaelson Family

Trouble in Paradise (The Originals x MCU crossover) (Request)

Divergent

*Have not read books, all fics will be based off of movie*

(Mini) Series: The Distance Between Us  || Eric Coulter x OC

-Beatice/Tris Prior -Tobias Eaton/Four

Unspoken Love (Request)

-Eric Coulter

Comfort Songs (Request)

-Christina

Shadow and Bone

*In the process of reading first book...Unsure if I will write, but open to any requests* *I did watch the show*

- Alina Starkov -Malyen Oretsev -Kaz Brekker -Inej Ghafa -Jesper Fahey -Six of Crows Gang -General Kirigan/Darkling -Nina Zenik -Genya Safin

Those Grey Eyes (Request)

Just an Assistant  (Request)

Outer Banks

- JJ Maybank

Untitled  JJ piece 

- John B. Routledge - Pope Heyward -Kiara Carrera -Sarah Cameron

Julie and the Phantoms

-Luke Patterson

Songwriting

Big Break (Request) 

-Julie Molina -Alex Mercer -Reggie Peters -The Gang

Sleepover! (Request)

Arrowverse

Arrow

- Oliver Queen/Green Arrow - Thea Queen/Speedy - Roy Harper/Arsenal - Felicity Smoak/Overwatch - Laurel Lance/Black Canary - Team Arrow

The Flash

- Barry Allen/The Flash - Iris West-Allen - Caitlin Snow/Killer Frost - Wally West/Kid Flash - Team Flash

Supergirl

- Kara Danvers/Supergirl - Alex Danvers

Love Above All (Request)

- Lena Luthor - Mon-El

DC’s Legends of Tomorrow

- Sara Lance/White Canary (Arrow) - Ray Palmer/The Atom (Arrow) - Zari Tomaz - John Constantine - Rip Hunter - Nora Dahrk - Team Legends

Agents of Shield

Will write for:

- Phil Coulson - Melinda May

More than One Savior (Request)

- Daisy “Skye” Johnson/Quake

Out of Control Sway (Request)

- Jemma Simmons - Leo Fitz - Grant Ward

Marvel Cinematic Universe

*not my edit*

Please ask who i’d write for; there are too many characters to list

-Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier

Trouble in Paradise (The Originals x MCU crossover) (Request)

The Magicians

Will write for:

- Julia Wicker - Eliot Waugh - Margo Hanson - Alice Quinn - Quentin Coldwater - Fen - Todd

[calpalirwin]

High

Summary: Anon request- I wish you would write a fic where: the reader and cal would be good together but they for some reason (anxiety, money insecurity, commitment to the lifestyle, one's good for the other but the other isn't good for the one, etc.) can't date each other. So when Cal asks her out it's a really teary eyed no and then High gets written.

A/N: Gave it a slight tweak, but the premise is still more or less the same.

Content: Greaser!Cal and Soc!OC

Word Count: 2.1k

And away and away we go!

__

“For our poetry unit, you will be paired up and tasked with making your own poetry,” Mrs. Donovan told the class.

Elizabeth’s eyes flickered over to Sarah and they shared a smile. In the back, Calum and Michael were sharing a similar look.

“Now, before you get too excited, I will be picking your partners,” Mrs. Donovan continued as the class groaned in disappointment. She began to rattle off the names, alphabetically, and Elizabeth let out a sigh of relief. Her and Sarah’s names were close together on the call sheet. Surely they wo- “Harper and Hood.” Elizabeth’s heart sank. She had forgotten about Calum’s last name being smack dab in between her’s and Sarah’s. Elizabeth turned in her seat to look back at the boy, who was already rolling his brown eyes. Keep going, Elizabeth thought, maybe you’ll find a brain back there. She looked disdainfully over at her friend who was already whispering excitedly with her own partner. At least one of them would get out of this project with their dignity…

~~~

When the bell rang, signalling the end of the day, Elizabeth expected Calum to bolt for the door like he always did, making it near impossible for her to make contact with him to discuss their project. Which is why she was staying behind to ask if there was any way for her to do the project on her own. So when Calum approached the teacher’s desk before she could, she stilled by her desk, before willing her feet to move her to stand beside her apparent partner. “Mrs. Donovan,” Calum’s voice was a low hiss as he started to protest.

Mrs. Donovan looked at the pair over the rim of her glasses: the boy’s anger apparent in the way his entire body was rigid, like a coil ready to spring, the girl trying to match his coldness with her own lifeless stare. “Did you have a question regarding the project?”

“With all due respect, Mrs. Donovan, but I would like to do the project myself,” Elizabeth spoke up.

“Mr. Hood, do you share Miss Harper’s sentiments?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Well, much like the world of writing, the world of poetry is meant to challenge. It’s very design is to push the boundaries of what we think and what we feel. So, consider yourselves challenged.”

Elizabeth bit her tongue. “Yes ma’am.”

“How poetic…” Calum muttered sarcastically under his breath.

“Did you say something, Mr. Hood?” Mrs. Donovan asked, daring him to repeat himself.

“No, ma’am,” Calum was quick to reply, flashing a grin. “Can’t wait for you to see what we come up with. Miss Harper?” Elizabeth’s name was laced with sardonic respect as he held the door to the classroom for her.

Elizabeth busied herself with ripping a piece of paper out of her notebook while Calum debated ramming his fist into the row of lockers. He settled for giving it one good, angry kick. “How mature,” Elizabeth noted with an eye roll before stuffing the scrap of paper in his hand.

“What’s this?” he asked, smoothing out the creases to look at the address written in a calligraphic loop.

“My address, you dimwit. We can work on the weekends. Share that with anyone and I’ll…” she paused to think of a worthy enough threat that would make him think twice before he dared double-cross her. Instead she found herself trying not to drown in his hypnotizing gaze. Her tongue poked out to wet at her lips.

“You’ll what, princess? Call Daddy? Gimme a break…”

His tone snapped her out of her admiration. “I don’t like this anymore than you do, Hood. So just shut up, and do what I say.” She tapped on her address. “3 o’ clock. Saturday. Bring ideas. Don’t you dare be late.”

“You think I’m stupid enough to come to your side of town? Nuh-uh. Fat chance of that happening, sweetheart. I ain’t got a death wish.”

“And what’s your proposal on where we work? Your side of town?”

“Matter of fact, yes.”

“Pfft! Are you insane, or just stupid?”

“Look, it makes the most sense. Any mutual part of town, and we’ll both catch heat. I end up in your part of town, and I’m a dead man walking. I can handle myself in a fight, but I don’t much fancy the idea of getting jumped by the gang of pretty boys every day for the next month. Because, contrary to popular belief, it’s you Socs who instigate shit. Us greasers just fight to protect our own. So nobody on my side of town is gonna so much as breathe on ya. Ergo, the safest place for us both is my place.”

She hated that his logic made sense. The greaser girls would sneer at her in the streets of town and in the hallways at school for being spotted with Calum, but it would be no more than the way they had always sneered at her. Calum, on the other hand, had a target on his back every time he crossed the imaginary line running through town, a target only more apparent if he was spotted with her, school assignment be damned. And as much as she wanted to do this project on her own, she didn’t want the reason to be because her partner was constantly busted up. Because even though she had seen Calum fight, and the type of damage he could deal out, she knew the Socs wouldn’t fight fair. And as much disdain as she held for the boy, she didn’t wish him harm. “Fine. Write your address on the back of mine then.”

Instead of pulling out a pen, he turned and started walking down the hall. “You comin’?” he called over his shoulder.

She muttered a few unladylike words under her breath before stalking after him. The sooner she got this project done, the better.

~~~

Elizabeth wasn’t sure what she expected as she stepped over the imaginary boundary line that ran through town, maybe for the air to change and a gang of greasers to come creeping out of the nonexistent shadows. “Expecting the boogeyman to come out and get ya?” Calum scoffed, noting the way she drew her light jacket tighter around herself. “Relax. Remember what I said earlier? No one’s gonna so much as breathe on ya.”

She rolled her eyes, but let her sweater fall open. “Because I’m a girl?”

He blinked, uncertain what her being a girl had to do with any of this greaser/soc war. “No. Because I’m not gonna let anybody lay a hand on you.”

“And why would you do a stupid thing like that?”

“Because all this,” he gestured around them, “is in your head.” His fingers tapped against his temple in an all-knowing manner, like he was above the arbitrary societal norms that plagued their lives.

“If it’s all in my head, then why are you going through such lengths to protect us both? Why not do this at my home, or in the library?”

“I may not buy into this crap, but I ain’t got a death wish neither. I’ll stick to my side until I can blow this deadbeat town that looks at me sideways because my address says South before it ‘stead o’ North.”

“Then say that then. Admit you’re just doing this to look after yourself. Don’t hide behind the fake nobility that you’re doing this for me, because that doesn’t make you the hero.”

“Who said I wanted to be your hero anyway?”

“Who said I wanted to be protected?” she shot back.

He chuckled, a throaty rumble of approval of the chip on her shoulder.

~~~

For the next few weeks, when Elizabeth left her English class, she found Calum waiting for her. Together, they would make their trek across the school yard to his side of town, which she was quick to realize was no different than hers. 

His home may have been a modest one, but it wasn’t run down by any means. And there was always a snack waiting on the kitchen counter, before his mother, a sweet lady who’s disposition matched her name perfectly, whisked into view with the promise of dinner in the fridge that Calum just needed to heat up before she was dashing out the door to her night shift as a nurse.

For the most part, they passed the time they worked together in silence, the only sounds being the scratch of a pen on paper, or the rustling of a notebook as they shared their ideas with the other. 

On more than one occasion, Elizabeth would glance over at Calum, watching the way his eyebrows pulled together and his tongue poked out of his mouth as he scribbled in concentration. The pen would tap irritatingly at the rings on his notebook before the piece of paper got ripped and he crumpled it up in his fist, sighing in aggravation.

One such piece flew into her face, startling her. “You’re staring,” Calum chuckled.

“Was not,” she muttered, ducking her head down as her cheeks flushed. 

He chuckled louder, crossing his hands behind his head. “S’okay. I know I’m hot.”

“Yeah, your temper maybe…”

“Right, cuz what could a girl like you ever see in a boy like me, huh? Your mama would faint, and dear ole daddy would have me arrested for corrupting his lil girl, right?” The words left a bitter taste in his mouth.

“I thought you didn’t buy into this… crap, was it?”

“I don’t.”

“Could’ve fooled me…”

“Hey!” he snapped darkly, his hands slamming down on the table. “Let’s get one thing straight, me being smart enough to play by this town’s rules doesn’t mean for one second that I don’t see them for what they are: a load of shit. So go ahead, and think of me as a coward. Or that I’m just some lowlife who’s no good for you. Cuz I don’t give a damn what you, or what anyone else thinks of me, alright?! Cuz God knows when the tables are turned I don’t waste a single thought on any of you!”

A few weeks ago the angry storm in his eyes, the flare of his nostrils, and the way the muscles in his arms flexed dangerously would have her scared and shaking. But it was hard to be intimidated by the boy who smiled warmly at his mother before kissing the woman’s cheek hello, like it was his favorite part of his day. She knew she should be afraid of him, of everything he represented. She was supposed to. That’s what her world had taught her to think. But sitting in his kitchen, he was just another boy. A boy with the rotten luck of living on the wrong side of town, but a boy all the same. “I’m not afraid of you, Calum.”

“You should be.”

“Playing by their rules only reinforces to them that they won.”

“Then let me take you out to the movies.”

“What?!”

“Yeah… that’s what I thought.”

~~~

“Alright, Miss Harper, Mr. Hood, which one of you will be presenting your poem?”

“Elizabeth is,” Calum answered, thrusting a paper towards the girl. Calum had decided that for her on a scoffed reasoning of “Yeah, so I can look like a girl? No thanks, sweetheart. You do it.” The problem was, the poem in Elizabeth’s shaking hands wasn’t one she remembered them writing. 

“Today I called to tell you that I’m changing, but I don’t think you have enough respect to see me try,” she started to speak the foreign words aloud. “I need to stop letting me down.” The more she read, the more she was certain that this was an open-letter from Calum to herself. When she forced herself to say “I know I’ll never meet your expectations, but the picture you paint of me looks better in your mind,” she could almost hate him for making her present something so personal. “I hope you think of me highly, when you’re with someone else.”

~~~

“Calum!” she yelled out after him as he swiftly crossed the schoolyard, his poem clutched in her fist as she waved it in his direction. 

“Hmm?” he asked, thumbs going under his backpack straps as he turned to face her.

“What the hell is this?!” she demanded, pushing the paper into his chest. 

“Our assignment,” he told her. 

“Don’t play dumb with me, Hood. This wasn’t any of the ideas we worked on.”

“I know.”

“Well?!”

“Poetry is meant to challenge, remember?” His breath was hot on her skin as he leaned down to whisper the words in her ear. 

“Oh, what a load of crap! So you challenged yourself to write about how the world’s never gonna give you a fair shot? Please, you could do that in your sleep!”

“I wasn’t challenging myself, sweetheart.”

“Oh, I get it now. You’re insane and stupid!”

“3 o’ clock. Saturday. Movies. Don’t you dare be late.”

__

Tag List

@frontmanash​ @goeatsomelife​ @flameraine​ @here-for-the-uproars​ @cxddlyash​ @1-irwin-94​ @sparkling-calm​ @tea4sykes​ @youngblood199456​ @5-seconds-of-obsession​ @gosh-im-short​ @aquarius-hood1996​ @talkfastromance4​ @itjustkindahappenedreally​ @philthepegacorn​ @boomerash​

[foxesandmagic]

OCs This Month (March)

Just a list of all the OCs that I’ve seen and have captured my interest this month through other’s aesthetics, questions and the likes.

@kendelias: Original OCs - The Hardy Boys.

@cassercole: Marvel OC Q; Marvel OC Jane.

@fiercefray: Shadow and Bone OCs Katia, Dasha, Ragnar and Andrea.

@kenobi-jinn: Star Wars OC Valencia.

@unexpectedmischief: Mamoru and Suzi.

@annibunnysworld: The Umbrella Academy OC Joy; Teen Wolf OCs Riley and Marlow.

@billy--hargroves: Chandler siblings; Carrie.

@hiddentyrell: Marvel OC Karolina.

@catharticallysarcastic: Original OCs Raiden, Niko and Leda.

@twofacedharveydent: Gotham OC.

@farrradays: Original OCs - Thornes & Roses; original OC Arthur.

@raging-violets: Narnia OC Brielle; Spiderman OC Dawn; The Flash OC Cadence; The Flash OC Averey; The Flash OC Charlie.

@randomestfandoms-ocs: Original OC Aela; Jurassic World OC Adelyn; Gallagher Girls OC Kayla; Jumanji OCs Gia/Malia; Teen Wolf OC Luna; Stranger Things OC Lennon; Riverdale OC Ruby.

@aliverse: Marvel OC; Harry Potter OC Auriella.

@hughstheforcelou: Riverdale OC Bones.

@dancing-with-the-devil-series: OCs Thomas, Aislin, Kasey and Simon.

@theseowleyes: I Am Not Okay With This OC Rory.

@starcrossedjedis: Marvel OC Mila.

@curious-kittens-ocs: Harry Potter OCs Skylar and Sebastian; Gotham OC Riley.

@notxjustxstories: Kaia; Keona; OC Helena.

@ahoy-scoops-troop: Courtney.

@randomfandomingwrites: Teen Wolf OC Remy.

@susiesamurai: IT OC.

@newthomally: Star Wars OC; Star Wars OC Bre.

@malice1329: Arrow OC Natalee; Marvel OC Abigail.

@musiciatee: Teen Wolf OC Annie.

@anotherunreadblog: Locke and Key OC Lizbeth; 6 Underground OC Zero.

@lonley-full-of-secrets: Riverdale OC Poppy.

@emiliachrstine: Star Wars OC; Star Wars OC Naya; OC Elena; Marvel OC Madison; The Mandalorian OCs Amreen and Tate.

@hogwarts-is-my-wonderland: Karen; The Flash fanfiction.

@iceandwaterfairytail: The Originals OC Christine.

@whctsherncme: Teen Wolf OC Kyle.

@abbysarcane: Marvel OC Alex.

@amongwriters: Original OC.

@yourpalmoony: Stranger Things OC Julia.

@papergirlverse: Legends of Tomorrow OC Alexandra; Legends of Tomorrow OC Fitz; Doctor Who OCs Melpomene and Declan; Marvel OCs Rebecca and Erin; Arrow OC Donovan.

@perfectlystiles: Multiple DC OCs; Harry Potter OC Aurora; Legends of Tomorrow OC Davina.

@kcnobls: The Mandalorian OC Jinjara; OCs David & Shelley.

@thecaillic: Melinoe.

@jewelswrites-ish: The Originals OC Juliet.

@freedomqueenlove: Teen Wolf OC Diana.

@darknightfrombeyond: A Discovery of Witches OC Simone.

@ocfairygodmother: A Good Place OCs Genesis and Ryan.

@mun-dxne: Legacies OC Faith.

@harleyquinnzelz: Buffy OCs Rose and Effie.

@moustache-bonnet: Spiderman OC Adi.

@solem-lunam-amet: Star Wars OC Kvesta.

@a-song-of-quill-and-feather: Harry Potter OC Cassiopeia.

@sgtbuckyybarnes: Peaky Blinders OC Stella; Marvel OC Harper.

@whctsherncme: OC Levi.

@prophecy-grrl: From Dusk Till Dawn OC Claire; Titans OC Annabel; Marvel OC Poppy; Spiderman OC Mischa; Star Wars OC Nyxeris.

@agb-random: The Flash OC Lillian; Legends of Tomorrow OC Amir.

@eclecticsloths: OCs Jamie and Charlotte.

@missunderstoodxoxo: The Walking Dead OC Molly.

@poe-tato-dameron: Star Wars OC Demo.

@drbobbimorse: Star Wars OC Niobe.

@pearlselegancies: Teen Wolf OC Izzy.

@squirrelstone: Descendants OC Willow.

@thesolotwins: Star Wars OC Padme.

@moirei: Torchwood OC Maeve.

@booksbeneaththebed: OC Felix.

[wipbigbang]

Art Claims Round 2

Second round, same as the first, only better. We got some stories claimed this past week, but we still have about 92 that are up for grabs and need some wonderful artists. In this round, you can definitely take two stories at a time. If you'd like to claim two stories, please wait until you get an email confirming your first claim, then fill out the form again for a second claim. Everybody spread the word! Grab your artist friends, stuff them in a potato sack, and drag them here kicking and screaming if you have to! This year, art claims are working a little differently than in years past. We are using a google form to streamline things, which should make things easier both for you as participants and us mods. To claim a story, the form requires email, check in ID, and the identifying number of your first choice of story. Putting your top three choices is best in case your first or second has already been chosen. Please be sure you've read the FAQ before claiming.

Click here to claim a story.

Stories are listed by fandom in alphabetical order and then by the story name, with a number identifying that story (for our records). Stories are first come, first serve. I'll update the post as stories are claimed. Official posting dates begin on July 27th. Once all stories are claimed and all artists/authors have been notified, I will put up a sign-up sheet so authors and artists can choose their posting dates.

Authors, if something is wrong with the info for your stories, please let me know ASAP here or via email at wipbigbang@gmail.com.

See all fandoms in a google doc.

A Song of Ice and Fire #1 Story Title: Pairings, Characters: Ned Stark/Cersei Lannister Rating: Explicit | E Warnings: No Warnings apply Summary: Ned Stark and Cersei Lannister are made to marry after the Rebellion ends Angel the Series/Buffy the Vampire Slayer #41 Story Title: Like Stone Pairings, Characters: Connor, Dawn Summers, Buffy Summers, Angel, Wesley Wyndham-Pryce (and pretty much the complete cast), not shippy fic but there is Angel/Buffy and Connor/Dawn) Rating: Mature | M Warnings: Graphic Violence Summary: Twenty years after the battle with the First and the aftermath of Jasmine’s reign, life still isn’t easy for Buffy and Angel and their friends and family. Connor has been on the outside of his father’s life for years and isn’t particularly happy to be brought back in when Dawn shows up in L.A. with a case that requires his attention. But that is just the beginning of the badness threatening to swallow them all whole. Arrow

#3 Story Title: No Regrets: A Love Unexpected Pairings, Characters: Oliver Queen/Roy Harper Rating: Explicit | E Warnings: No Warnings apply Summary: An A/B/O love story. Roy learns that he’s not a beta like he always thought and has to cope with starting to have omega heats. Due to circumstances, and latent affection, alpha Oliver agrees to help Roy through his first. They unexpectedly bond during that first time, and the successive chapters each explore another aspect of the couple coping with their relationship: a heat coming on suddenly while Oliver is out of town, and Oliver going into rut while they’re in public, finishing up with a softer chapter of some romance and switching, ending on a hopeful note. Lots of feels and smut. Batman #4 Story Title: Scenes From a Gotham Romance Pairings, Characters: Bruce Wayne/Selina Kyle Rating: Explicit | E Warnings: No Warnings apply Summary: Bruce finally pops the question to Selina and she accepts. Slowly, they begin building a family together. BBC Sherlock #6 Story Title: ...And All The Men And Women Merely Players Pairings, Characters: Sherlock Holmes/Molly Hooper, Mycroft Holmes/Greg Lestrade, Mary Morstan/John Watson, Eurus Holmes/Jim Moriarty; Sherlock Holmes, Mycroft Holmes, Molly Hooper, Greg Lestrade, John Watson, Mary Morstan, Anthea, Janine, Eurus Holmes, Jim Moriarty, Original Child Character(s), Mummy Holmes, Siger Holmes Rating: Mature | M Warnings: No Warnings apply Summary: Mycroft Holmes is not-so-subtly trying to make sure there's a reconciliation between his youngest sibling Sherlock and his ex-wife, Molly Hooper, by forcing them to work together on a theatre project. But it isn't all smooth sailing when his and Sherlock's sister comes back from the States with a boyfriend who is the devil incarnate...and all hell is about to break loose. #7 Story Title: A Boon For You, A Boon For Me Pairings, Characters: Mycroft Holmes/Molly Hooper; Molly Hooper, Mycroft Holmes, Sherlock Holmes, Eurus Holmes, James Moriarty, Siger Holmes, Mummy Holmes Rating: General | G Warnings: No Warnings apply Summary: When Molly saves the life of a fairy prince, she’s given the chance to ask for whatever her heart most desires, and since what she wants to do most is help others, she’s given the ability to grant boons by the prince’s eldest brother. Little does she imagine such a simple and generous wish will change her life forever... #8 Story Title: A Merry Christmas After All Pairings, Characters: Mycroft Holmes/Sally Donovan; Sally Donovan, Mycroft Holmes, Anthea, brief appearance by Sherlock Holmes and Molly Hooper Rating: Teen | T Warnings: No Warnings apply Summary: Sally and Mycroft make an arrangement to have a pretend relationship together, culminating in a spectacular break-up at a destination wedding in Hawaii. But what they intend to have happen doesn't go according to plan when pesky feelings decide to get involved. #9 Story Title: A Study In Pink Pairings, Characters: Eventual Sherlock Holmes/Mary Morstan (though not in this story), fake!“John Watson”/Mary Morstan and Sherlock Holmes/Molly Hooper one-sided infatuation; Mary Morstan, Mike Stamford, Molly Hooper, Sherlock Holmes, Greg Lestrade, the cabbie, OCs Rating: Teen | T Warnings: No Warnings apply Summary: Rosamund Mary Watson had never expected to set foot in London again, but she finds herself in need of employment and a better flat. Enter her old professor Mike Stamford, who tells her about the man who will change her life forever... #10 Story Title: All The Little Signs Pairings, Characters: Eventual Sherlock Holmes/Molly Hooper, John Watson/Mary Morstan, past Tom/Molly Hooper, one-sided Greg Lestrade/Molly Hooper; Sherlock Holmes, Molly Hooper, John Watson, Mary Morstan, Greg Lestrade, Mrs. Hudson, others TBD Rating: General | G Warnings: No Warnings apply Summary: The repercussions from Sherlock’s faked death did more than just affect his relationships with his friends, Sherlock realizes when Molly loses her position at St. Bart’s for falsifying medical documents and loses her fiancé in the process. While Molly gets her life sorted out and decides what she wants Sherlock does the same, but is it too late when he decides what he wants in his life is Molly? #11 Story Title: As Long As You Love Me Truly Pairings, Characters: Sherlock Holmes/Molly Hooper; Molly Hooper, Mrs. Hudson, Greg Lestrade, Philip Anderson, Sherlock Holmes, John Watson, Sally Donovan, Henry Knight, Irene Adler Rating: General | G Warnings: No Warnings apply Summary: All Molly Hooper wants to do is get her big break on the London stage. She might have a chance when she's asked to be the lead in one of the most anticipated productions on the West End, and by the star himself, Sherlock Holmes. But things don't exactly go according to the plan she had in her head of how she would become a well known actress, and as time goes on she needs to figure out whether she wants fame or whether she wants something more fulfilling. #12 Story Title: Desperate Times Call For Desperate Measures Pairings, Characters: Sherlock Holmes/Molly Hooper, Mycroft Holmes/Anthea, Mr. & Mrs. Holmes, OC pairings; Sherlock Holmes, Molly Hooper, Mycroft HOlmes, Anthea, Mummy HOlmes, Siger Holmes, OC Holmes Brother, assorted OFCs and OMCs Rating: Teen | T Warnings: No Warnings apply Summary: It all begins with an invitation to Mycroft's wedding to his PA and seven days at a resort in Jamaica, with the assumption that Molly pretends to be his girlfriend that his mother might be under the impression that he's going to propose to sooner rather than later. It ends up being so much more than that... #13 Story Title: Ever Changing, Ever Growing Pairings, Characters: Sherlock Holmes/Molly Hooper, background Mycroft Holmes/OC and John Watson/Mary Morstan Rating: Explicit | E Warnings: Major Character Death Summary: They make the arrangement to present what society wants from them to the world as husband and wife, but childhood friends Sherlock Holmes and Margaret Hooper agree that their lives are their own. But with the death of Sherlock's brother and an unexpected scandal, their marriage of convenience is shaken. Will their friendship remain intact as their marriage falls apart, or will they decide that it is in their best interest to make this a true marriage between partners instead? #14 Story Title: It Can Be As Real As You Or I Pairings, Characters: Sherlock Holmes/Molly Hooper with background John Watson/Mary Morstan and Janine Hawkins/OMC; Sherlock Holmes, Molly Hooper, Mary Morstan, Janine Hawkins, Kitty Reilly, OCs Rating: Teen | T Warnings: No Warnings apply Summary: At the very beginning of a case to help Janine, it comes out that the very eligible and spectacular stud in the bedroom Sherlock Holmes has married local specialist registrar, Dr. Molly Hooper. Which would be fine and all, except it's a fake marriage...that Sherlock wants to make real by the end of the case. But Kitty Riley's constant hounding of him throughout the case, turning every tidbit she hears (always out of context) into tabloid fodder, is going to make that virtually impossible, he fears...though he might very well be surprised himself. #15 Story Title: It Takes The Whole Of London Pairings, Characters: Background John Watson/Mary Morstan and mentioned fake!Sherlock Holmes/Janine, but generally no pairings; Molly Hooper, Mary Morstan, John Watson, Tom, Meena, Greg Lestrade, Sally Donovan, Mike Stamford, Sherlock Holmes, OCs Rating: Teen | T Warnings: Original character death offscreen Summary: When one of Molly's best friends and her husband die in a car accident, Molly finds herself the guardian of their six-month-old daughter, and in an instant her entire life changes, and she comes to find solace in the fact that there is truth in the old adage"it takes a village"when she finds herself raising Maya on her own. #16 Story Title: Jam Session Pairings, Characters: Sherlock Holmes/Molly Hooper with background Mycroft Holmes/Sally Donovan and John Watson/Mary Morstan; Molly Hooper, Mary Morstan, Sally Donovan, Sherlock Holmes, Mycroft Holmes. Jim Moriarty, John Watson Rating: Teen | T Warnings: No Warnings apply Summary: Molly Hooper is known for making some of the best baked goods in all of England, and no one knows what her secret is. Her most popular dish is her Jam Tartlets, and it’s a recipe she shares with absolutely no one, not even those who work in her shop. When a new resident arrives in the village, an apiarist named Sherlock Holmes, they begin an exchange: some of her special jams in exchange for his honey. But what starts as a simple trade of sweet foodstuffs becomes so much more when Molly’s shop is broken into and ransacked by someone looking for the secret recipe. #17 Story Title: Like Night And Day Pairings, Characters: Sherlock Holmes/Molly Hooper, background John Watson/Mary Morstan; Molly Hooper, Sally Donovan, Sherlock Holmes, John Watson, Mary Morstan, Meena, Mike Stamford Rating: Mature | M Warnings: Illegal drug use, drug overdose and withdrawal symptoms Summary: Molly loves Sherlock, she does, but one night when Sherlock makes a decision that nearly costs him his life, she knows she can't be his caretaker anymore without dragging herself down too. Trying to make a clean break of things, she leaves the university they attend together and goes to the States to finish medical school and put it all behind her. But after graduation, Fate has other ideas... #18 Story Title: My Chosen Queen, To Rule By My Side Pairings, Characters: Sherlock Holmes/Molly Hooper; Molly Hooper, Hooper OCs, Sherlock Holmes, James Moriarty, other OCs Rating: Teen | T Warnings: No Warnings apply Summary: Ten years ago, Molly Hooper got lost in the forest near her brother's cottage trying to find her niece. She found the girl as well as an injured man who was more than he seemed. Now, Molly's niece is missing again and so Molly ventures into the forest once more to find her, with decidedly different results this time. #19 Story Title: Neither Living Dead Nor Fully Living Pairings, Characters: Sebastian Moran/Molly Hooper, past Sebastian Moran/James Moriarty and James Moriarty/Molly Hooper; Sebastian Moran, Molly Hooper, Sherlock Holmes, OCs Rating: Explicit | E Warnings: Major Character Death, Character death is temporary, as character is turned into a vampire Summary: When Sebastian Moran inherits a building, a business and a servant from James Moriarty, he tries to live as normal a life as he can. But when Molly Hooper does the unthinkable and falls in love with him, he finds himself fighting a battle he'd never imagined he'd be in. #21 Story Title: Nothing's Changed That Matters Pairings, Characters: Sherlock Holmes/Molly Hooper, past Mycroft Holmes/Anthea; Sherlock Holmes. Molly Hooper, John Watson, Eurus Holmes, Greg Lestrade Rating: Teen | T Warnings: Major Character Death Summary: When Sherlock comes to Molly in Oxford ten years after their divorce with a favour to ask, she agrees to help. While a lot has changed some things remain very much the same...including the love that Sherlock and Molly once shared. #22 Story Title: Old Books & New Flames Pairings, Characters: Sebastian Moran/Molly Hooper, Greg Lestrade/Sally Donovan, John Watson/Mary Morstan; Molly Hooper, Sebastian Moran, Mary Morstan, Sally Donovan, Greg Lestrade, John Watson, Jim Moriarty Rating: Explicit | E Warnings: No Warnings apply Summary: When Sebastian Moran asks local bookstore owner Molly Hooper for a job, all he wants is a second chance to live the life he should have been living before prison. What Molly gets is more than a loyal employee and good friend. What she ends up with is what she had always wanted her entire life: happiness. #23 Story Title: Pawns On The Board, Flies On The Web Pairings, Characters: Mycroft Holmes/Anthea, Sherlock Holmes/Molly Hooper; Anthea, Sherlock Holmes, Molly Hooper, Mycroft Holmes, Elizabeth Smallwood, Greg Lestrade, Sebastian Moran Rating: Teen | T Warnings: Violence, OC character death Summary: When an American politician is murdered and deposited in Mycroft’s office, it’s Sebastian Moran’s sign that he is done allowing Mycroft and Sherlock their little game at dismantling Moriarty’s organization. But with Sherlock having returned to London, albeit not in time to stop the plot from being put into motion, Moran’s ploy may not be as effective as he hopes it to be, not with Mycroft, Sherlock, Anthea, Molly and others working hard to stop him in his tracks. #24 Story Title: Rectifying Past Mistakes Pairings, Characters: Sherlock Holmes/Mary Morstan; Sherlock Holmes, Mycroft Holmes, Anthea, Mary Morstan, John Watson, Mrs. Hudson, Molly Hooper, Greg Lestrade, Sebastian Moran Rating: Teen | T Warnings: No Warnings apply Summary: When Mycroft gets Sherlock out of Serbia, he drops a bombshell on him he isn't quite prepared for: after years of being gone out of his life, Sherlock's ex-wife Elizabeth has reappeared, under the name Mary Morstan. While he was off taking care of Moriarty's mess she was protecting those he cared about and helping his brother, for reasons, he finds, that she is keeping close to the vest. But when they're forced to stay in close quarters at Baker Street both secrets and old wounds come to light and, perhaps, things might turn out for the best after all. #25 Story Title: The Babe On The Doorstep Pairings, Characters: Mycroft Holmes/Anthea; Mycroft Holmes, Anthea, Greg Lestrade, OCs Rating: General | G Warnings: Child Abandonment Summary: One morning an infant is left on Mycroft’s doorstep with a note, signed by a woman named Laura. As Mycroft tries to find out who would entrust a child into his care he slowly opens his heart to the infant and lets the other people in his life that he’s kept at arms length in more, bit by bit. #26 Story Title: The Cursed Dragon Pairings, Characters: Sebastian Moran/Molly Hooper, forced engagement between Charles Augustus Magnussen/Mrs. Hooper; Margaret Hooper, Mrs. Hooper, Charles Augustus Magnussen, Mary Morstan, Sally Donovan, Irene Adler, Meena, OCs Rating: Teen | T Warnings: Major Character Death Summary: On the eve of Princess Molly's twenty-fifth birthday, a dragon comes to lay waste to her kingdom. Eventually, a lottery is set up to give the dragon a virgin sacrifice, but when Molly stumbles onto a wicked scheme by the royal advisor Magnussen, she finds herself picked as the next sacrifice and kept from telling the truth to her mother. Prepared to fight the dragon on her own if need be, she is taken to a remote part of her kingdom by the dragon...who is not quite what he seems. #28 Story Title: The Head Knows What The Heart Wants Pairings, Characters: Sebastian Moran/Molly Hooper, background John Watson/Mary Morstan; Sebastian Moran, Molly Hooper, Sherlock Holmes, Mary Morstan, Mycroft Holmes, Eurus Holmes, OCs Rating: Explicit | E Warnings: Mild violence Summary: After the revelation that there had been some plotting between Moriarty and Eurus before his death, Sebastian Moran had decided to do whatever it took to keep Molly safe...even if that meant ruining whatever the results of his ex-lover's collusion with the Holmes sister were. But after enough time had gone by, things changed, and that was when Eurus decided to strike. That was when Sebastian couldn't deny the truth any longer: Molly Hooper had become the most important person in his life...and he would do whatever it took to make sure she was safe. #29 Story Title: The Pesky Virginity Issue Pairings, Characters: Sherlock Holmes/Molly Hooper, John Watson/Mary Morstan, past Tom/Molly Hooper; Molly Hooper, Mary Morstan, John Watson, Sherlock Holmes, Tom, OCs Rating: Explicit | E Warnings: No Warnings apply Summary: After Molly's engagement ends she decides she wants to rid herself of her virginity since that was a major cause of the dissolution of her relationship with her ex. When her friend Mary suggests she knows the perfect person, things don't go quite according to any sort of plan she may have had in her head...but it has a pleasantly surprising result nonetheless. #30 Story Title: To Live Again Pairings, Characters: Pre-Mycroft Holmes/Mary Morstan, background Sherlock Holmes/Molly Hooper, past John Watson/Mary Morstan;Mary Morstan, Mycroft Holmes, Molly Hooper Rating: General | G Warnings: No Warnings apply Summary: After the events at the aquarium which leaves most of the world thinking Mary Watson is dead, Mary deals with conflicting feelings and moving on in the wake of knowing her marriage is, for all intents and purposes, over. #31 Story Title: What Could Have Been, What Will Be In Its Stead Pairings, Characters: Mycroft Holmes/Molly Hooper, past Sherlock Holmes/Molly Hooper, mentioned Anthea/Kate and Mr & Mrs. Holmes; Mycroft Holmes, Molly Hooper, Siger Holmes, Mummy Holmes, Greg Lestrade, Anthea, OCs Rating: Teen | T Warnings: Major Character Death Summary: When Sherlock dies, he leaves behind a woman he planned to marry and a child he did not know about. Mycroft is determined to take care of them both in his brother's stead, but nothing is ever as easy as one plans. That is the true Holmes legacy. BBC Sherlock/Doctor Who #32 Story Title: The Detective And The Hound Pairings, Characters: Sherlock Holmes/Amy Pond, background John Watson/Lorna Bucket; Sherlock Holmes, John Watson, Amy Pond, Henry Knight; other Sherlock characters in"The Hounds of Baskerville" Rating: Teen | T Warnings: Unconcensual drug use Summary: Sherlock and John get given a case from Henry Knight, who believes his father was killed years prior by a hound in the moors. But what starts as a much needed break from the tedium that Sherlock is experiencing turns into a case that has him questioning many things and feeling something he has not felt in a long time: the type of fear that leaves you with a chill in your bones. #33 Story Title: When In University Pairings, Characters: Sherlock Holmes/Amy Pond; Amy Po/nd, Sherlock Holmes, Aunt Sharon, Mummy Holmes, Mycroft Holmes, Mrs. Hudson, Rory Williams Rating: Explicit | E Warnings: No Warnings apply Summary: Sherlock Holmes was a jerk the first time she met him. She had no idea how much he was going to grow on her as time went on... BBC Sherlock/Marvel Cinematic Universe #34 Story Title: A Potential Loophole To Exploit Pairings, Characters: Thor Odinson/Jane Foster, Sherlock Holmes/Molly Hooper, implied Loki Laufeyson/Darcy Lewis, Phil Coulson/Melinda May, Antoine Triplett/Daisy Johnson, Jemma Simmons/Leo Fitz and Clint Barton/Natasha Romanoff; Thor Odinson, Loki Laufeyson, Frigga, Phil Coulson, Molly Hooper, Sherlock Holmes, Mycroft Holmes, Tony Stark, Clint Barton, Jane Foster, Melinda May, Jemma Simmons, Leo Fitz, Antoine Triplett, Daisy Johnson, Darcy Lewis, Sif, Heimdall, OCs Rating: General | G Warnings: No Warnings apply Summary: After Thor and Loki leave a meeting with their mother, they start to talk about what can be done to stave off the foretold arrival of their sister, Hela, and begin to make plans. #35 Story Title: Playing The Game: Act II – Knights & Knowledge, Romance & Regret Pairings, Characters: Sherlock Holmes/Molly Hooper, implied Clint Barton/Natasha Romanoff and pre Phil Coulson/Melinda May, Leo Fitz/Jemma Simmons and Antoine Triplett/Skye | Daisy Johnson; Molly Hooper, Sherlock Holmes, Phil Coulson, Mary Morstan, Natasha Romanoff, Clint Barton, Melinda May, Skye | Daisy Johnson, Leo Fitz, Jemma Simmons, Antoine Triplett Rating: Teen | T Warnings: No Warnings apply Summary: After tracking down Phil Coulson and his team, Molly and the others join him on their hunt for Grant Ward so that Molly can get retribution for Victoria’s death and Nat and Clint can further Fury’s assignment to help deal with all of the escapees from the Fridge. But as things get more complicated with the appearance of the Diviner and all the entails, Molly begins to wonder if she will ever get her end goal of Ward disappearing in a deep dark hole where no one can find him. #36 Story Title: The Forgotten Wife Pairings, Characters: Stephen/Molly, past Stephen/Christine, eventual past Tom/Molly; Stephen Strange, Molly Hooper, Wong, Christine Palmer, Baron Mordo, Tom Rating: General | G Warnings: No Warnings apply Summary: Fifteen years ago, to fulfill the dying wish of someone who inspired him, Stephen Strange married Molly Hooper on a whim. And then life happened. A life full of many different things for both of them. But when Molly turns up at the Sanctum Santorum demanding an annulment so she can marry her fiancee, it presents an entire situation where neither of them have any idea how to approach a marriage that they aren't sure they want to end as they get to know each other better. BBC Sherlock/Midsomer Murders #37 Story Title: Every English Village Has Its Secrets Pairings, Characters: Past/Unrequited Mycroft Holmes/Gregory Lestrade, Tom Barnaby/Joyce Barnaby, Sally Donovan/OMC; Greg Lestrade, Sally Donovan, Mycroft Holmes, Tom Barnaby, Gavin Troy, OCs Rating: Teen | T Warnings: Summary: When Greg and Sally get called to Midsomer County for a case, right from the start Greg knows it will be a headache when Mycroft offers him lodging (so long as he's alright with his former lover being his housemate for his time there), and it doesn't get much better when he meets DCI Tom Barnaby and immediately their Detective Sergeants take an instant dislike to each other when Sally arrives the next evening. And that isn't even getting into the actual case itself and all the secrets hidden in the village of Elverton-cum-Latterley... BBC Sherlock/Star Trek: AOS #38 Story Title: Serendipity & Coincidence Pairings, Characters: Leonard McCoy/Molly Hooper, background Jim Kirk/Carol Marcus and Spock/Nyota Uhura; Leonard McCoy, Molly Hooper, Jim Kirk, Carol Marcus, Spock, Nyota Uhura, Joanna McCoy, OCs Rating: Explicit | E Warnings: No Warnings apply Summary: Bones knows one thing: he likes Dr. Molly Hooper and doesn't want his friendship with her to change...even if the voice in the back of his head says he'd like more than just a friendship with the female Starfleet officer. But a dare from Jim leads to more than he had expected and certainly more than he wanted...or could ever have hoped for. Black Sails #39 Story Title: a tide of hope Pairings, Characters: Abigail Ashe/Billy Bones Rating: Mature | M Warnings: mild violence Summary: "My point being, unless my crew decides that they don’t want to give me up for dead, and if what you say is true and no one will come looking for you, then we are very much stranded on this island.” Abigail Ashe awakens to find herself shipwrecked on an island. However, she is not alone. Abigail Ashe/Billy Bones, post season 3. Boku No Hero Academia/Star Vs the Forces of Evil #40 Story Title: Princess' guide (title may be subject to change) Pairings, Characters: Star Butterfly/Tenya Iida Rating: General | G Warnings: No Warnings apply Summary: A Sequel to 'An Earthling's Guide to Dealing with Mewberty' Star was serious when she offered to take Iida on a multidimensional adventure as a thank you for helping her get through Mewberty, and after hearing about the Hero Killer's capture, and Iida's own encounter with Stain, Star is more sure than anything else, that her friend could use some uncomplicated fun. Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Hellblazer #42 Story Title: Insert Hell Pun Here Pairings, Characters: Rupert Giles & John Constantine, Willow Rosenburg/Tara Maclay, Xander Harris/Anya Jenkins, implied John Constantine/Spike Rating: Teen | T Warnings: No Warnings apply Summary: Giles thought he'd never see John Constantine again. But when John turns up at the Magic Box looking for help, it brings back some memories Giles would much rather forget. Some sins you don't get absolution for. Code Geass #43 Story Title: World Enough and Time Pairings, Characters: Suzaku/Lelouch and Gino/Kallen (both minor) Rating: Teen | T Warnings: Graphic Violence Summary: Six months after Ragnarok, all Kallen wants to do is protect the people she loves, even if it means betraying everything in her heart to serve a Britannian prince. Suzaku wants to reverse a mistake he made but would never take back. Euphemia is willing to risk everything of herself in order to be a better person and find a cure. And Lelouch... Lelouch wants to make the world safe for his little sister, even if it means destroying everything in his path. (The AU where the royal family controls the elements through music instead of Geass, and the Ragnarok Connection united the living and dead... by bringing back the dead.) Critical Role Campaign One/Dragon Age Origins (Awakening) #44 Story Title: TBA Pairings, Characters: Vax'ildan/Keyleth; Vax'ildan, Percy, Vex'alia, Scanlan, Keyleth, M!Mahariel, probably others from both canons, Grey Wardens from Awakening Rating: No Rating Warnings: Chooses not to use Warnings Summary: Merging of the two canons, but mainly in the Dragon Age setting with some Critical Role characters. Vox Machina finds the ancient thaig containing the tomb of the Raven Queen's champion, but in the process Vax'ildan is infected with the Blight. Only Loral Mahariel, hero of Ferelden, can save Vax's life -- but will he be willing to pay the price? Crossing Lines/Grey's Anatomy/Hawaii Five-0/Marvel Cinematic Universe/The Sentinel/S.W.A.T. #45 Story Title: This is our sanctuary Pairings, Characters: Steve Rogers/Bucky Barnes/Tony Stark, Clint Barton/James Street, Natasha Romanov/Sam Wilson, Ellie Defont-Bogard/Sebastian Berger Rating: Mature | M Warnings: Graphic Violence Summary: Clint Barton and Jim Street have been together for about a month as Guide and Sentinel when Jimmy's mom is released from prison. Clint wants Jimmy to have nothing to do with his emotionally abusive, Hydra mother. But Jimmy feels he owes Karen Street too much to abandon her, and Clint loves Jimmy too much to break his Sentinel's heart. So despite Clint's misgivings, they go to Los Angeles to visit her. The idea is to spend a couple hours with Karen and then hopefully never see her again. But what not even Jimmy realizes is how much Karen hates Clint for being Jimmy's Guide instead of her. Or how far she'll go to get her son back. Because Karen Street will do anything to get her son back. The problem is, Clint and Jimmy might not survive it. CSI: NY #46 Story Title: Twist Of Fate Pairings, Characters: Don Flack, Jr./Jessica Angell; Don Flack, Jr., Jessica Angell, Mac Taylor, Stella Bonasera, Lindsay Monroe, Danny Messer, Samantha Flack, Don Flack Sr., Sheldon Hawkes, Adam Ross Rating: General | G Warnings: No Warnings apply Summary: What if Jessica had a very good reason for not escorting Connor Dunbrook's kid to trial? What might have been? CSI: NY/Law & Order #47 Story Title: Theraputic Pairings, Characters: Eventual Danny Messer/Lindsay Monroe; Danny Messer, Mac Taylor, Emil Skoda, Don Flack Jr., Lindsay Monroe, Lennie Briscoe Rating: Teen | T Warnings: Major Character Death, Character deaths are in the past, but they were characters from CSI: NY Danny knew Summary: In Danny's eyes, the hits just keep on coming...though this particular hit may turn out all right in the end. Daredevil #48 Story Title: Pairings, Characters: Brett Maloney Rating: Teen | T Warnings: No Warnings apply Summary: Brett Maloney has no magic. He is not magic and he likes it that way because it means that magic is not his proble- Oh who is he kidding. It's totally his problem. Especially since this latest serial killer case he's sticking his nose into has magic written all over it and he's the best cop to investigate. Now to catch this guy before he targets another Hell's Kitchen witch like Foggy... DC Extended Universe #49 Story Title: Pairings, Characters: Dick Grayson Rating: Mature | M Warnings: Graphic Violence Summary: After Superman dies, Dick Grayson reconnects with his father Doctor Who/St. Trinian's #51 Story Title: Adventures In Unexpected Places Pairings, Characters: Rory Williams/Amy Pond; Amy Pond, Camilla Fritton, Kelly Jones, Eleventh Doctor, Rory Williams, Mels Zucker Rating: General | G Warnings: No Warnings apply Summary: After being sent to the worst school in the whole of England, Amy meets up with the man whose fault it is that she’s there, and things go vastly more differently than anyone expected. Dragon Age #52 Story Title: loves to learn, love to burn Pairings, Characters: fenris/f!hawke, carver hawke & f!hawke, Rating: Mature | M Warnings: Graphic Violence, there's an implication that a character might consider suicide (from a different character's perspective): there are no mentions of suicidal ideation expressed as such. haven't decided if i'll keep that in or not but it is currently in one of the snippets. Summary: pictures at an exhibition sort of thing about what we don't see from a fenris rivalmance from playing da2. if you're not a total music nerd then I guess i'd describe it as scenes loosely arranged around a central plot of a rocky romance, and of finding family- broadly following the chronology of the game. also explores how carver and marianne hawke deal with the changes to their family (losing bethany and their mom, etc). Football RPF #54 Story Title: It's A Long Way Up When You Hit the Ground Pairings, Characters: Christian Eriksen/Vincent Janssen Rating: Mature | M Warnings: No Warnings Apply Summary: Vincent's future is still uncertain, but rather than dwell on it, all he wants to do is welcome Christian home from the World Cup and find a few moments of bliss in each other's company before the world comes along and sweeps them away again. Christian, however, isn't making things at all easy, and Vincent starts wondering if maybe he has other ideas. A story about moving in, uncertainty, finding true friendships, and questioning everything about your past, present, and future. Gilmore Girls #55 Story Title: The Thing He Carried Pairings, Characters: Rory Gilmore/Jess Mariano and Luke Danes/Lorelai Gilmore Rating: Teen | T Warnings: No Warnings apply, Minor violence Summary: This story is based on a post on Tumblr pertaining to what if Jess did not go to California. It is also based on 'The Things That He Carried' by Tim O'Brien, who also wrote an episode of 'This Is Us'. It's about growth and acceptance. it's about love and relationships. It's about rising above adversity. Glee #56 Story Title: Merry and Bright Pairings, Characters: Blaine Anderson/Kurt Hummel Rating: Teen | T Warnings: No Warnings apply Summary: Kurt's built his life to cut out all feelings. The cute singer that comes into the Lima Bean every Thursday night breaks that idea. Guardian #57 Story Title: As Winter Fades Pairings, Characters: Zhao Yunlan/Shen Wei Rating: Explicit | E Warnings: dub-con Summary: Zhao Yunlan is a proud omega, but when he gets thrust back into Old Haixing, his life depends on impersonating alpha Kunlun. Then he meets Shen Wei and it all goes to hell. Hannibal #59 Story Title: The Art of Her Mind Pairings, Characters: Hannibal Lecter/Will Graham, Aralie/Travis Rating: Explicit | E Warnings: Graphic Violence, Depiction of drug use Summary: A young girl was accused of murdering her entire family, but one clever psychologist got her to serve a five year sentence at a mental institution. The day she is released from the hospital, Aralie has to adjust to life beyond her past. Aralie finds that when her anxiety becomes to much she occupies her mind with sketching the world around her and losing herself in ballet. Harry Potter #61 Story Title: Lionhearted Girl Pairings, Characters: Regulus Black/Severus Snape (minor), no other pairings at this time, but future Female!Harry Potter/Neville Longbottom Rating: Teen | T Warnings: No Warnings apply, Forced Amnesia Summary: Roswitha Artemis Black had gone from orphan to heiress to daughter in remarkably short time frame, like a dream come true. Now starting her first year of Hogwarts, she faces challenges she is certain regular first years don't have to deal with -- like the castle talking to her and demanding she find and evict an artifact deep beneath the stone floors. Or how whispers of another girl, nameed Heather Potter, stir some strange dream within her. #62 Story Title: Pairings, Characters: OMC/Pansy Parkinson, Harry Potter/Draco Malfoy Rating: Warnings: Summary: Evan Potter grew up knowing two things were true: that he was the Boy Who Lived, and that because of that, it wasn't safe for his squib brother Harry to live in the magical world. He'd be an easy target for any angry Death Eater who wanted revenge. No matter how badly he wants to be an ordinary kid with an ordinary brother, his life is never going to work that way. Then it turns out that Harry isn't a squib after all. And when Evan follows him into Slytherin to protect him... well, maybe his life isn't as set in stone as he'd always thought it would be. Hetalia #63 Story Title: From Spacious Skies, To Perilous Fight Pairings, Characters: America (Hetalia); Canada (Hetalia); Germany (Hetalia); North Italy (Hetalia); England (Hetalia); France (Hetalia); Molossia (Hetalia); Additional micronations Rating: Mature | M Warnings: Graphic Violence, Invasive Medical Procedures Summary: America’s explosive appearance on the national stage sent ripples of shock throughout the world. As he grapples to find his place as the Personification of the United State of America, dark forces begin to stir once more. Sequel to"In Need of Representation". James Bond #64 Story Title: GoldenEye Interrupted Pairings, Characters: James Bond/Alec Trevelyan Rating: General | G Warnings: No Warnings apply, Canon-Typical Violence Summary: James Bond meets up with his partner, Alec Trevelyan, to complete a mission — destroy a chemical weapons facility. When he finds Alec, he quickly discovers there’s something else going on. Following his instincts, he talks to Alec, leading the pair to realize they have two different sets of orders. The two partners know that if they had followed their separate orders, they might both have been killed. Now, they will carry out James’ orders to destroy the facility, and then they will go hunting. There’s a mole in MI6, and they’re just the Double O’s to catch him. #65 Story Title: My Partner the Car Pairings, Characters: James Bond/Alec Trevelyan/Q Rating: General | G Warnings: No Warnings apply, Canon-Typical Violence Summary: James Bond's partner, Alec Trevelyan, recently died. When he goes to pick up Alec's old car, he discovers there's more to the Jaguar than he realized, and that Alec wasn't as dead as everyone thought. With the assistance of MI6's Quartermaster, James has to find Alec's body, and somehow return Alec's spirit to his body. It might be an impossible task for some, but not for MI6's best Double O's. Law & Order #66 Story Title: a moment of transition Pairings, Characters: Mike Logan/Elizabeth Olivet; Mike Logan (Chris Noth), Elizabeth Olivet (Carolyn McCormick), Caroline Olivet (I'm picturing Madeline Zima), Lucas de Motigny (OC, I'm picturing Tom Sturridge) Rating: Mature | M Warnings: No Warnings apply Summary: Caroline Olivet starts her first semester at Yale. Les Miserables #67 Story Title: We’ll take a cup of kindness, yet Pairings, Characters: Minor/Background relationships. Grantaire, Enjolras, Courfeyrac, Combeferre, Joly, Musichetta, Bossuet, Bahorel, Bahorel’s laughing mistress, Feuilly, Jean"Jehan"Pouvoir, Eponine Thenardier, Marius Pontmercy; Cosette; Gavroche Rating: Teen | T Warnings: No Warnings apply, Alcohol, mentions of marijuana, Summary: They’re having some sort of winter holiday… thing. She’s never quite sure what to call these gatherings. They're not religious, and they’re not meetings; they have regular meetings and this is not one. But, it’s not quite a party, either. It could be if they decided on a theme or reason, beyond"its cold and we’re all busy and everyone else is getting together, so let’s eat food and enjoy each other."So, it’s a thing. That works right? They’re having a December Thing. In which R discovers Enjolras can cook, Cosette tricks Gavroche into eating vegetables, Bossuet both forgets and wins at White Elephant, and having close friends is just generally awesome. Marvel Cinematic Universe #70 Story Title: it's in the past we can make this leap Pairings, Characters: Characters: Clint Barton, Steve Rogers, Peggy Carter, a few OCs, some Howard Stark, Colonel Phillips, Daniel Sousa, and Angie Martinelli. Pairings: Mostly gen, with minor Steve/Peggy, minor Clint/Natasha Rating: Teen | T Warnings: No Warnings apply Summary: After a mission goes horribly wrong, the Avengers end up separated and scattered in time. Clint joins forces with someone unexpected while Steve meets a kid who’s in way over his head. They both try not to completely screw up history. #71 Story Title: till human voices wake us Pairings, Characters: Steve Rogers/Tony Stark, Clint Barton, James"Bucky"Barnes, James"Rhodey"Rhodes, Rating: Mature | M Warnings: Chooses not to use Warnings Summary: Tony is called out on a rescue mission. Things deteriorate from there. [post-Civil War sort-of fix-it reconciliation fic, de-aging (kid!Steve), action/adventure, ensemble, eventual Steve/Tony] #73 Story Title: Whoops, I slipped Pairings, Characters: Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, Clint Barton, and the rest of the Avengers in more of a supporting role Rating: General | G Warnings: No Warnings apply Summary: There's an explosion in the labs and Tony Stark finds himself in the body of a 3 or 4 year old. Unfortunately, his adult brain is calibrated for an adult body and all of the connections are scrambled, so he's in a bit a pickle. It's hard to let your teammates know that you're capable of rational thought when you can't even figure out how to operate the controls that enable you to walk and talk. #74 Story Title: Pairings, Characters: Matt Murdock & Peter Parker; Peter Parker & Tony Stark Rating: Teen | T Warnings: No Warnings apply Summary: Matt never liked Tony Stark until he met Peter Parker. Now... now he HATES him. But he's not going to be the one to start a fight. End it yes, but there's no way he'll risk Peter's anger by starting it. And what does Stark mean, Peter's missing? Marvel Cinematic Universe/Torchwood #75 Story Title: The Stars Lead Me to You Pairings, Characters: James 'Bucky' Barnes/Ianto Jones, Natasha Romanoff/Toshiko Sato, Steve Rogers/Tony Stark, Thor/Loki, Clint Barton/Phil Coulson Rating: Teen | T Warnings: MPREG, Miscarriage, a/o/b Summary: A person can only take so much being someone's second or in Ianto Jones case third or even fourth choice but still he stays with Jack because he loves him until the case with the Space Whale cost him the child he didn't know he was carrying, unable to watch Jack fawn over Gwen anymore Ianto decides to leave. Seeking out his father Phil Coulson advice Ianto ends up becoming the second handler to the Avengers and finds himself growing closer to the former Winter Soldier Bucky, who seems to know him from another time and many just find happiness with him. Once Upon A Time #77 Story Title: The Stowaways Pairings, Characters: Ruby/Belle, Killian/Emma Rating: Teen | T Warnings: No Warnings apply Summary: On a much needed vacation, Emma and Killian find that they are not alone on the Jolly Roger. Original Works #78 Story Title: Taking Over Pairings, Characters: Original Male Character/Orc, Original Male Character/Original Male Character Rating: Explicit | E Warnings: Graphic Violence, Major Character Death, Chooses not to use Warnings, Past abusive relationship, PWP that grew plot, Summary: The King is dead, long live the King... As king's consort, Teyrin had never expected any strife. Then the orcs attacked. Now Teyrin has found himself torn between two world: rebellion against the new King of Athary is brewing in Neith. However, stuck at the castle, Teyrin finds himself falling in love not just with the Orckish culture, but with their king as well. As the consequences get more dire, Teyrin finds the stakes increasing. It's no longer just his life that hangs in the balance. #79 Story Title: The Naked Legion Pairings, Characters: Original Male Character/Original Male Character Rating: Explicit | E Warnings: Graphic Violence, Tentacle sex, ovipositioning, inflation, symbiotes Summary: Rio's husband Shen has joined the Bio-Armor Division of the Stellar Marines, those who bond with a symbiote to gain living armor in order to fight powerful extraterrestrial threats. Six months after Shen, Rio is now ready to go through the intense bonding process with his own symbiote and join his husband in the Naked Legion so they can make a difference in the fight against the cruel and uncaring Krellians... Peaky Blinders #80 Story Title: A Battle Joined Pairings, Characters: Esme Shelby/Tommy Shelby Rating: No Rating Warnings: Chooses not to use Warnings Summary: "Your wife is gone, Tommy. Does it matter how?" A sprawling tale of family and deceit, love and regret, anchored by Esme and Tommy's complicated arranged marriage. Primeval (BBC) #81 Story Title: untitled role reversal fic Pairings, Characters: Nick/Stephen, Ensemble Rating: Explicit | E Warnings: No Warnings apply Summary: Nick emerges from an anomaly into a world where Stephen is still alive . . . and Nick is the person who betrayed the team by siding with Helen. Nick doesn't know if he could return to his own 'verse even if he wanted to, but finds that Stephen is reason enough to make him want to stay in this one. At first Nick is distrusted, especially by Claudia. Nick helps the ARC by pointing out the differences between his world and this one and helping them try to figure out what Helen's up to. Eventually he is allowed back on the team; this time with Stephen as the team leader. Connor and Abby welcome Nick back with open arms (even if he isn't ~their Nick) and the four of them hang out together as a team and as friends. Nick and Stephen rekindle their friendship and grow even closer until they admit that the relationship they want is far different from the one they had before. (If you're familiar with Primeval, this fic was started for the role reversal square for trope_bingo.) Star Trek: AOS #82 Story Title: The Paths We Take, Glittering And Entwined Pairings, Characters: James Kirk/Spock, Leonard McCoy/Christine Chapel, may be other ships; Spock, James Kirk, Leonard McCoy, Christine Chapel, Nyota Uhura, other characters TBD Rating: Teen | T Warnings: Drug use; drug withdrawals Summary: When Captain Spock is assigned captainship of the USS Enterprise, he thinks it will be nothing more than a chance to improve upon his last post...until he finds himself in the same room with Ensign James T. Kirk. They find themselves both on the receiving end of a mental link that they now share, which brings complications for them both: for Spock, it is how to remain unattached in the face of a crisis and for Kirk it is how to keep the secret he is keeping from both his captain and his best friend. But in the face of a threat that could bring about the end of the Federation as they know it, perhaps this link is the best thing for both of them in the end. Star Trek: DS9 #83 Story Title: Shared Burden Pairings, Characters: Keiko O'Brien/Kira Nerys, Keiko O'Brien/Miles O'Brien Rating: Explicit | E Warnings: Pregnancy, description of injuries, infidelity Summary: After Keiko is injured, her unborn child is transferred to Major Kira to finish its gestation. The O’Briens invite Kira to stay with them while she is pregnant with their child, but she and Keiko share more than one burden. The attraction that existed previously now blooms to something far more serious and complicated. Star Trek: TOS #84 Story Title: Day Of The Cypok Pairings, Characters: Pavel Chekov/Irina Galliulin Rating: Mature | M Warnings: No Warnings apply Summary: Pavel Chekov experiences his own version of Groundhog Day--aboard his new command, USS Integer. Star Wars #85 Story Title: a million lightyears away (from you) Pairings, Characters: Kylo Ren/Armitage Hux Rating: Explicit | E Warnings: Chooses not to use Warnings, canon typical violence, injury recovery, developing relationships Summary: Following Crait, Hux takes a medical leave, to recover from his injuries. Supreme Leader Kylo Ren does not approve. #86 Story Title: Cinnamon Sugar Pairings, Characters: Finn/Rey Rating: Teen | T Warnings: No Warnings apply Summary: Rey is a pretzel stand worker hoping to go to Republic University right across the way when she meets a handsome student, Finn... #87 Story Title: Out to Sea Pairings, Characters: Kylo Ren/Hux Rating: Teen | T Warnings: No Warnings apply Summary: A hundred years ago, a lord's son was lured to the sea by a mermaid and was never seen again. Now a mermaid has appeared once more, and she seems to have her sights set on Kylo. As the mermaid promises Kylo a better life under the sea but can he trust her? If what she is saying is true, then Kylo needs to decide between paradise and his family. Based off the book"Forbidden Sea." #88 Story Title: Pivotal moments (working title) Pairings, Characters: Luke Skywalker/Han Solo Rating: Teen | T Warnings: No Warnings apply Summary: Han wasn't used to looking at life through its pivotal moments #89 Story Title: Still un-named Pairings, Characters: Armitage Hux/Kylo Ren Rating: Explicit | E Warnings: No Warnings apply Summary: Kylo Amidala is the drag queen who keeps getting arrested by Hux nearly every week. #90 Story Title: Strike True Pairings, Characters: Kylo Ren/Armitage hux Rating: Explicit | E Warnings: Chooses not to use Warnings Summary: Seducing the new Supreme Leader is the best course of action, Hux decides, both for the order and for his own personal safety. #91 Story Title: Pairings, Characters: Anakin Skywalker/Padme Naberrie, Obi-Wan Kenobi Rating: Warnings: Summary: There haven't been any more major changes in Obi-Wan's life in the months since Anakin and Padme's not-so-secret marriage (and pregnancy) became public. He's almost let himself become optimistic since Dooku's death: all they have to do is stop Grievous and the war will be over for good - and, after this amount of time, the Council can't possibly change their minds about allowing Anakin to be a married Jedi. Everything's going to work out the way he wants it. Life, of course, is never that simple. Star Wars Legends, X-Wing series #92 Story Title: Just Like That, Everything Changes Pairings, Characters: Wes Janson/Derek"Hobbie"Klivian, Wedge Antilles, Tycho Celchu, minor characters Rating: General | G Warnings: No Warnings apply Summary: After years of being"just friends", an imminent separation forces Wes and Hobbie to finally accept their feelings for the other, and in time, they may even admit this to each other. Supernatural #93 Story Title: Angel of the Morning Pairings, Characters: Gabriel/Christa(OFC) Rating: Explicit | E Warnings: Chooses not to use Warnings Summary: slightly inspired by the Juice Newton song of the same name. sequel to Invisible Touch (OC Edition). Things don't go as planned for our golden-eyed Archangel (do they ever?) Not every human has an Angel as a soulmate, but every Angel has a human as a theirs. Will Christa be able to accept the truth when she finds out just how deep the bond between her and Gabriel goes? Or will she reject him forever? Can true love really conquer all? #94 Story Title: Minus One Pairings, Characters: Jody Mills Rating: Teen | T Warnings: No Warnings apply Summary: When Dean turns up on Jody's doorstep, injured and minus Sam, she and Bobby have to work out what happened in order to save both Winchesters. #96 Story Title: surrender feels safe Pairings, Characters: Gabriel/Sam Winchester Rating: Explicit | E Warnings: No Warnings apply Summary: Sam just lost his job. And no, it wasn’t his fault or his employer’s. This isn’t the best of times for small enterprises in Detroit. He is also a week away from being evicted from his apartment and nobody seems to want to employ him. But let’s take a step back and think about the mysterious job offer he receives on the night he becomes unemployed. With no options left, he gives it a try. He doesn’t expect to throw his new employer’s world off-kilter, forge an unexpected friendship with the oldest being in creation and be swept off his feet along with all of it (not necessarily in that order). Things just happen, right? Right. Supernatural RPF #97 Story Title: Spies, Suits and Alpha's Pairings, Characters: Jensen Ackles/Jared Padalecki Rating: Mature | M Warnings: Minor original character death, a/o/b, attempted rape (not by either J's), alpha!Jensen, omega!Jared Summary: J2 version of Kingsman. Jensen Ackles made it his mission to look after his fallen partner's family, especially his omega son Jared, promising Jared he would always be there for him. When Jared's step father attempts to claim him Jared runs and calls Jensen for help as a Kingsman Legacy Jared's world is changed as he proves that just because he is an omega he is as good as any alpha and deserves his spot. Transformers Generation One #98 Story Title: Pairings, Characters: Prowl & Barricade, Prowl & Bluestreak, Prowl & Bluestreak & Barricade, Prowl/Starscream, Prowl/Jazz, Codicil, First Aid, Lifeline, Nightstalker, Accord, Trailbreaker, Crosscut, Pulse, Incidental OCs Rating: Teen | T Warnings: No Warnings apply, Chooses not to use Warnings Summary: Prowl, a young single parent, manages raising his creation, the demands of his own neglectful former guardian, and seeks to enter into a relationship. TVXQ #99 Story Title: Digital Stockholm Pairings, Characters: Jung Yunho/Shim Changmin Rating: Explicit | E Warnings: mentions of suicide, stress induced anxiety, depression symptoms Summary: Yunho has no idea why there are concerning videos of Changmin on his laptop, but it might just unhinge the volatile and complicated relationship he’s maintained with Changmin for the last decade. Set at the end of 2014, a psycho-dramatic get-together fic. Vampire Hunter D #100 Story Title: Delivery Pairings, Characters: D, Left Hand, Necessary OCs Rating: Teen | T Warnings: Chooses not to use Warnings Summary: Vampire Hunter D has his most difficult bounty yet...taking care of a six month old child across the Frontier! Voltron: Legendary Defender #101 Story Title: An Inconvenient Attachment Pairings, Characters: Keith/Pidge | Katie Holt, Ryan Kinkade/James Griffin (mentioned), past Pidge | Katie Holt/Original Male character, Pidge | Katie Holt Shiro (Voltron) Keith (Voltron) Iverson (Voltron) James Griffin (Voltron) Ryan Kinkade Rating: Explicit | E Warnings: No Warnings apply, Trans Female Pidge | Katie Holt, Accidental Voyeurism, Summary: In the aftermath of the failed Kerberos mission, Katie Holt descended into despair. No amount of skill would give her the information she wanted, especially after being banned from Garrison property by Commander Iverson. Thus there was only one solution in her mind. She had to infiltrate the Galaxy Garrison, to be close to the source and enable her to find what she needed to find to know the fate of her father and brother. Getting in was the easy part. Being able to stay? That was a little harder. Remaining unattached so she could focus entirely on finding her family? That was the hardest part, harder than she ever could expect after years of being brushed aside. #103 Story Title: home is just another word Pairings, Characters: Keith Kogane/Lance McClain Rating: Teen | T Warnings: No Warnings apply Summary: When Lance and Allura break up, it’s quiet. Keith doesn’t understand why that bothers him so much. OR: after a kinder, gentler season eight, Keith and Lance go on a road trip, and Keith doesn't have any reference points for the ways he's starting to feel. #104 Story Title: show me what you're made of Pairings, Characters: Pidge | Katie Holt/Original Male Character, Pidge | Katie Holt/Ryou Shirogane, Pidge| Katie Holt, Ryou Shirogane Rating: Explicit | E Warnings: Underage Drinking, Dubcon, Implied/Referenced Self-Harm, Ryou is Shiro's twin brother, Trans female Pidge, Transphobia, trans slurs Summary: Katie Holt, graduate student at the Taylor-Keaton Institute of Technology, was proud of the work that her father and brother did at the Galaxy Garrison. Even knowing they were going to be gone for several months at the least going the furthest any manned mission had gone, filled her more with pride than with dread. Months passed, and then days passed without word from Matt. And then she saw the news. And her world crumbled apart. (A story in five parts about mourning, denial, and coming into adulthood by throwing oneself in the deep end and struggling to stay afloat.) Watch Dogs (Video Games) #105 Story Title: Hurricane Pairings, Characters: Aiden Pearce/Jordi Chin, Marcus Holloway/Wrench (Watch Dogs) Rating: Mature | M Warnings: Graphic Violence Summary: People keep going missing in downtown San Francisco, including a member of DedSec. When Marcus and the rest of the gang start to investigate, their mission runs face first into one that Aiden Pearce is involved in too—but this time, close and personal instead of from behind the safety of a camera and a drone. When all of that piles on top of a job Jordi Chin's on, Marcus begins to wonder if he's pissed off any unloving gods recently.

[ao3feed-doctorwho]

In Between Worlds

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/3bkqhmp

by Vicky19

Elena Gilbert's life changed forever when she was eight years old, no one knew what or the changes that happened in Elena's life because she kept up the appearances.

But what happens when Mystic Falls gang and she get whisked away into a place where Elena's identities stop being held separate?

What will she do? What will Mystic Falls think of her now? And what is this about aliens, time travel and Death Wave?

Words: 15431, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: The Vampire Diaries (TV), The Vampire Diaries & Related Fandoms, The 100 (TV), Doctor Who (2005), Doctor Who & Related Fandoms

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death

Categories: F/F, F/M, Gen, M/M, Multi

Characters: Elena Gilbert, Damon Salvatore, Stefan Salvatore, Caroline Forbes, Tyler Lockwood, Klaus Mikaelson, Alaric Saltzman, Jeremy Gilbert, Rebekah Mikaelson, Bonnie Bennett, Tenth Doctor, Eleventh Doctor, Twelfth Doctor, Thirteenth Doctor, OCs, Clarke Griffin, Lincoln (The 100), Bellamy Blake, Octavia Blake, Raven Reyes, John Murphy (The 100), Emori (The 100), Harper McIntyre, Owen Harper, Jack Harkness, Ianto Jones, Monty Green, Matt Donovan, Rose Tyler | Bad Wolf, Clara Oswin Oswald, Echo (The 100), Echo Clara Oswin Oswald, Katherine Pierce, Nadia Petrova, Various Vampire Diaries Universe Character(s), Various Doctor Who & Related Fandoms Characters, Various the 100 characters

Relationships: Elena Gilbert/OC, Elena Gilbert & Katherine Pierce, Elena Gilbert & Original Male Character(s), Elena Gilbert & Jeremy Gilbert, Elena Gilbert & Jeremy Gilbert & Alaric Saltzman, Elena Gilbert & Nadia Petrova, Bonnie Bennett & Caroline Forbes & Elena Gilbert

Additional Tags: Time Travel, Multiverse, Destruction of Earth, Children of Time, Council Of Earth, Vampires, Hybrids, Aliens, Witches, Werewolves, Crossovers & Fandom Fusions, BAMF Elena Gilbert

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/3bkqhmp

[kpssmithwrites]

A Fallout character dump! I’ve been sitting on a few of these for a little while, but I just finished the last one earlier today. I really like the Fallout series--it’s loads of fun and really good to unwind with when you’re stressed about something.

Colored doodle is my FO3 Lone Wanderer, Harper Donovan, before she got booted out into the Capital Wasteland unceremoniously after her father’s departure. After everything’s done she’s a lot scruffier looking and more battle scarred but fresh-faced new wasteland is always fun.

Orange sketches are my FO4 Sole Survivor, Tallahassee Mulligan. The summer outfit in game was always super cute so when I tried to draw a full body shot it went with that.

Blue sketch is an unnamed FO4 OC, who I’ve just dubbed the “Mirelurk Researcher.” I went into a bit of a research/biology tirade about the geneaolgy of mirelurks, and all of that sort of went into one character who probably researches them for a living and spends way too much time at Power Noodles in Diamond City. For the record: no, She does not speak Japanese. She just likes to talk to Takahashi because he’s the only one who’ll listen to her sometimes.

[ao3feed-the100]

In Between Worlds

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/3bkqhmp

by Vicky19

Elena Gilbert's life changed forever when she was eight years old, no one knew what or the changes that happened in Elena's life because she kept up the appearances.

But what happens when Mystic Falls gang and she get whisked away into a place where Elena's identities stop being held separate?

What will she do? What will Mystic Falls think of her now? And what is this about aliens, time travel and Death Wave?

Words: 15431, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: The Vampire Diaries (TV), The Vampire Diaries & Related Fandoms, The 100 (TV), Doctor Who (2005), Doctor Who & Related Fandoms

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death

Categories: F/F, F/M, Gen, M/M, Multi

Characters: Elena Gilbert, Damon Salvatore, Stefan Salvatore, Caroline Forbes, Tyler Lockwood, Klaus Mikaelson, Alaric Saltzman, Jeremy Gilbert, Rebekah Mikaelson, Bonnie Bennett, Tenth Doctor, Eleventh Doctor, Twelfth Doctor, Thirteenth Doctor, OCs, Clarke Griffin, Lincoln (The 100), Bellamy Blake, Octavia Blake, Raven Reyes, John Murphy (The 100), Emori (The 100), Harper McIntyre, Owen Harper, Jack Harkness, Ianto Jones, Monty Green, Matt Donovan, Rose Tyler | Bad Wolf, Clara Oswin Oswald, Echo (The 100), Echo Clara Oswin Oswald, Katherine Pierce, Nadia Petrova, Various Vampire Diaries Universe Character(s), Various Doctor Who & Related Fandoms Characters, Various the 100 characters

Relationships: Elena Gilbert/OC, Elena Gilbert & Katherine Pierce, Elena Gilbert & Original Male Character(s), Elena Gilbert & Jeremy Gilbert, Elena Gilbert & Jeremy Gilbert & Alaric Saltzman, Elena Gilbert & Nadia Petrova, Bonnie Bennett & Caroline Forbes & Elena Gilbert

Additional Tags: Time Travel, Multiverse, Destruction of Earth, Children of Time, Council Of Earth, Vampires, Hybrids, Aliens, Witches, Werewolves, Crossovers & Fandom Fusions, BAMF Elena Gilbert

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/3bkqhmp

[home-on-the-wastes]

Culture Shock (2/?)

Butch is out of Vault 101 less than twenty-four hours before he finds himself in trouble. A familiar face is there to assist, but it allows Butch to see just how much his old bullying victim has changed since his initial foray into the Capital Wasteland. See Part 1 for additional tags and author's notes. Part 1 // 2 // ?

The town–Megaton, Butch learned–wasn’t far from Vault 101. It was just as well, as the doctor there, a surly guy by the name of Church, said that Butch managed to bust not only his leg but a couple of ribs, too. The guy stabbed Butch twice–once in the leg, once right underneath one of his ribs–and said, “Nothing some stimpacks and a bit of rest won’t fix. Now get the hell outta my clinic.”

“Good to see you too, Doc,” Harper replied with fake cheerfulness. He escorted Butch outside and back into the center of Megaton, the atomic bomb sitting quietly in a pool of its own filth. People were staring at Butch like he had grown a second pair of hands, but several nodded at Harper in greeting or maybe even out of respect.

“There really isn’t a hotel around here for you,” Harper said, hands on his hips, worrying his lower lip as he thought. “Gob’s place has a room for rent, though. They’ve got food, and drink too. We could stop by the Brass Lantern, but it’s usually pretty crowded. You hungry?”

“Starvin’.”

“Near death will do that to you. Follow me.”

Harper pointed out a few other places as they climbed a makeshift ramp, like the general store, a church, and the Brass Lantern, another option to eat. But Harper brought him to the highest point in town, letting him take in the view of the ingenuity and desperation of the people here before they entered and sat down at the bar.

Following Harper’s cue, Butch had the decency not to scream at or ask rude questions of the bartender. When he shot Harper a look, Harper quietly said, "He's a ghoul, don't stare." Then Harper ordered two beers for them and some questionable meat kabobs. Harper broke away at one point to talk to a pretty woman smoking a cigarette in the corner in quiet, hushed tones while the bartending ghoul watched on.

Harper came back, looking noticeably frazzled. “You have a room for a couple of days. Nova can show you to it in a bit.”

Butch eyed Nova. “She’s a looker, isn’t she?”

“Can it,” Harper grumbled. “She’s not interested.”

“Oh, lemme take a guess–the great Harper Donovan got shot down?”

“No,” Harper replied, ears starting to turn red. He devoured his kebab in record time. “Just leave her alone. She’s a nice lady.”

“She’s a nice lady,” Butch mimicked in a falsetto. “What are you, four?”

Harper shot Butch a look that made Butch’s pulse stutter. Harper looked…genuinely angry, his expression a scowl that was well-practiced and familiar. But now, after Harper fucked up those raiders with ease, Butch realized that Harper could possibly kill him.

He wasn’t sure how to feel about it. Butch filed that away for something to figure out later.

The two fell into a quiet lull, the chatter of the saloon comforting. Occasionally the ghoul, Gob, came over and checked in on them or fiddled with the radio. They cycled through a couple of songs and an additional kebab each. Then, as Butch drew his lighter to have a smoke, he spoke again.

“Hey, nosebleed. Your hair’s gettin’ kinda long.”

Harper shifted uncomfortably in the metal chair, slowly nursing his beer. “Is it?”

Butch scoffed, watching the ratty, dark brown hair start to trail over Harper’s shoulder. Butch mindlessly tried the lighter, the spark failing once or twice. Harper had a weird mullet situation going on. “Any longer and folks’ll think you’re a girl. I can cut it for ya--at a discount, of course.”

“No!” Harper’s explanation was sharp enough to draw the eyes of some of the saloon patrons. Harper glanced at Gob nervously and took another sip of beer. “No, no,” he added, softer. “It’s fine.” He slipped off his baseball cap. Butch marveled at the cap, wondering how old that thing was. It looked just like the one Harper got for his tenth birthday. There was no way it was the same one, but Harper handled it with such tender care it was enough to make Butch doubt his initial assumption. He kept watching Harper tuck his near-shoulder-length hair into it. It stuck out at awkward angles.

“Now, that just looks trashy,” Butch pointed out.

“Maybe I don’t want to cut my hair.” Harper shifted uncomfortably, his knapsack sliding a bit off his shoulders. “I like it just the way it is.”

“Just looks ugly, that’s all I’m sayin’,” replied Butch, but he shrugged. He finally got the lighter working, and he lit a cigarette. After taking a long drag, he glanced at Harper. “Smoke?”

“Nah.”

“Wuss.”

Harper flinched, and Butch felt a little bad about it. Not enough to apologize, though. It was funny, seeing Harper swing wildly between Wasteland badass and nerdy poindexter who didn’t dare to stand up to him in the vault openly. Harper put some caps on the counter. “His food and drink are on me, okay, Gob?” He turned back to Butch. “I’ve got a place near the gate. Take a day or so to settle, gear up. Then if you want, I can give you a few pointers on where to go.”

“You heading out already?” asked Butch, trying to mask his disappointment.

Harper nodded. “Got some things to take care of. Stay out of trouble, got it?”

“Scout’s honor,” Butch said sarcastically, but he did make a note not to cause any trouble. The barkeeper and the old man with the big gun were freaking him out. Then, offhandedly, he added, “You too, yeah?”

Harper snorted. “No promises.”

<< Previous | Next (TBD) >>

[reblogthiscrapkay]

The non psychology one. All of the questions

Assuming you mean this. Associating my OCs with these.

Light sleeper - Deb

Has non stop puns - I was tempted to say Helena but she deals in euphemism more so. Julien.

Will cut you if you hurt their loved ones - Gosh, most of them.

Has a dysfunctional family - Aiden

Likes rock music - Pat and Diana (more classic rock). Theo and Aaron (more metal).

Will give you the middle finger - Diana

Is a sweet angel - Steph

Can kill you with a pencil - Helena

Looks sweet but will murder you in cold blood - Carrie, I guess.

Looks like they will murder you but is a sweetheart - Julie

Will eat everything if they could - Julie, currently on a diet but very self controlled.

Wants to run away from everything - Rhea

Knows random facts about everything - Amalia

Owns a motorcycle - Aaron

Is book smart - Heph and also Aiden really.

Is naïve - Steph gives more of the naive vibe but the actual most naive about interpersonal stuff is probably Amalia.

Would steal a penguin from the zoo - Deb

Has very exaggerated facial expressions - Steph

Likes Harry Potter - Theo

To solve other peoples problems, they say to murder the problem - Um, Aiden’s dad

Is a nervous wreck - Steph, Aiden

Likes dragons - Henry, but he won’t admit it. Theo will admit it.

Will laugh as they kill you - Aaron, if it’s a video game (and maybe real life too, yikes).

Would bake a cake for a friend who is sad - Harper (also, Steph who learned it from her)

Is the comforting one - This skill runs in Steph’s family.

Acts like they don’t care, but do - Pat

Loves children - Charlie

Gets lost easily - Donovan

Likes to work out - Henry, Trinity

Will send meme in the group chat - Donovan

Knows every song ever - Pat

Likes socks - Erik

Can’t sleep without something special - I don’t know

Has a sweet tooth - Steph

Has amazing hair - Vanessa. Also, Aiden comes from an amazing hair family

[rosesnink]

My choice for Throwback Fics of the week! ☺️💕 @choicesficwriterscreations

The Viscountess, Chapter 1: Primadonna Girl

A/N: I finally publish some other stuff! Whew! This chapter will be a rollercoaster, indeed. Hope you guys enjoy it! 

Summary: Nicole settles in London, Anne makes some friends and finally talk about who Alaric Donovan was once. 

Word Count: 5519 

It was the first day of school and Nicole was packing everything for Anne. She was already dressed with a light brown hair that matched her leather boots and her hat. She knelt down to kiss her and walked towards the bus station, where the bus would pick her up.

“Don’t worry, honey. I’m sure someone will want to sit with you. Look at your pretty face!” She beamed and her daughter smiled.

When the bus came, she kissed her mother goodbye and went up, showing the driver her card and noticed that everyone was staring at her. She gave them a polite smile and headed to find a new seat. Some girls whispered while the boys watched her intently and she blushed crimson. The only boys she has interacted with was her younger cousins Edmund and Matthew, Uncle Harry’s boys. A blonde girl with pretty blue eyes waved at her and motioned her to sit with them. She did and the girl talked “You must be the new girl. I’m Liz and these are my friends Jenna, Josie, Tamara and Jean. You are…?”.

“Anne” She mumbled shyly.

“How cute, she’s shy!” Josie beamed. Then she cleared her throat “No offense though. I said it in a good way”.

“I love your hair!” Jean commented.

“That young woman is your mom? She’s so pretty!”.

“I bet her father is even more handsome”.

“MY FATHER IS DEAD!” She snapped of all sudden, almost jolting.

Keep reading

[home-on-the-wastes]

Culture Shock (1/?)

Butch is out of Vault 101 less than twenty-four hours before he finds himself in trouble. A familiar face is there to assist, but it allows Butch to see just how much his old bullying victim has changed since his initial foray into the Capital Wasteland. Characters: Harper Donovan (Lone Wanderer), Butch DeLoria, Megaton residents Tags: Canon-Typical Violence, Canonical Character Death (Mentioned), Developing Friendships, Grief/Mourning, Raiders, Megaton, Bonding, Survivor Guilt, Closeted Character, Angst, Good Karma Lone Wanderer Author's Note: Harper Donovan, my Lone Wanderer, is transgender. This is before her transition, and since it's from Butch's perspective, he refers to Harper using he/him pronouns. Part 1 // 2 // ?

Butch had shit luck to meet some of the weirdest people in the Capital Wasteland mere hours after leaving Vault 101. He thought he had a pretty good idea of what to expect: a place that was lawless, merciless, every man for himself. But, at the same time, it was supposed to be ripe with opportunity.

Turns out, it was primarily an opportunity to get shot at because the first group of people he ran into wanted to kill him.

Butch had followed signs of life after leaving Vault 101 with ease, coming across an absolutely leveled neighborhood that only really registered as one thanks to the few comics they had in the vault.

He wasn’t the only one who flocked towards the remnants of history. There were weird, roaming groups of people that skulked about, and he could get behind skulking. Creeping up to investigate, taking cover behind bits of wood and drywall, Butch marveled at the ingenuity of their armor–repurposed tires, metal plating–but the bloodthirsty look in their eyes kept him focused. 

Butch knew he wasn’t the stealthiest of people, but he didn’t expect to be caught that fast.

“Hey!” one of them barked–a guy with a mohawk and leather armor that had to be more for show than practicality since it covered very little of him. His buddy, a bald guy with a rifle, took a shot at Butch, narrowly missing his head as he ducked back down behind a wall.

With limited ammo and options, Butch made a break for some of the rocky cliff sides lining part of the beat-up road. He scrambled up one of the outcroppings to be met with one or two more lunatics. 

“Crap,” he hissed between gritted teeth. “Crap, shit, fuck–”

A shot rang out as a bullet grazed his hand. Instinctively, Butch dropped the 10mm, and before he could grab it, another warning shot landed at his feet. He froze, hands awkwardly in the air in a surrendering position–if they would allow that.

“Gotcha!” A scantily clad blonde woman with severed hands on her belt gleefully approached, face pretty but cruel. “Aww, isn’t he cute? Maybe we can keep ‘em.”

“Nah, the boss just wants caps and gear,” replied another, a large man with bulging muscles. He turned a sledgehammer in his hands, dried blood crusted on the edge. Butch couldn’t see the guy’s expression past the welding mask. “Might as well bash his brains in quick. Hold still.”

“Whoa, whoa, I don’t have any caps,” Butch insisted, glancing back the way he came. A handful of other raiders–including the initial two who started the chase–kept close, coming around the sides of the short cliff. Butch backed up, his feet near the edge again, nowhere to run. “I don’t have anything, all right?”

“Got a jacket,” mused the woman with the hands. “And a gun. And such pretty, pretty fingers. Never worked a day in your life, did you?”

Butch recoiled and instinctively brought his hands closer to his chest. His initial pursuers laughed like they were in on an inside joke.

“Maybe we can have some fun with him before we steal his shit,” offered Mohawk. The way he looked Butch up and down gave Butch the creeps more than any radroach. “That school’s not far from here–”

The guy didn’t get a chance to finish his sentence. A pop silenced him, words still forming as he slipped forward in a pool of his own blood, the right half of his skull now missing.

Another pop rang out. The bald man in leather shorts lost an eye and crumpled to the ground, firearm clattering uselessly against the dirt and rocks. Butch instinctively crouched, unsure of where the shot came from. He saw a dot of a quick-moving figure charging down the hill from the south, far away. A third shot landed between the remaining raiders, their numbers dwindling in seconds.

“Fuck, scatter!” shouted the woman, only for a chunk to be taken out of her neck by a well-aimed shot at the jugular. 

The man in front of Butch, still heaving the sledgehammer, whirled around. As he roared and reached for something on his belt, he let the sledgehammer carry its momentum, knocking Butch on his ass. He chucked something away from them, at the figure who was definitely advancing and then turned back to Butch.

An explosion went off somewhere in the distance. Butch rolled, narrowly missing the hammer delivering a blow to his face. He grabbed the dropped 10mm pistol and rolled again, unloading the round into the guy. The man crumpled while Butch jumped to his feet. “Hell yeah–”

There was a short burst of fire from one of the raiders, narrowly missing Butch’s feet. He jumped back, the soles of his boots barely getting any good traction on the small cliff face–

–and then Butch fell to the ground, a good ten feet below. Something cracked, knocking the breath from him. He could still hear shouting and gunfire as he tried to get his bearings. He still felt his fingers and toes and could move his limbs, but everything hurt so bad he could barely think. 

Butch tried to get his bearings, to see if he could move. Any time he twisted his right leg, pain shot up his spine. His lungs burned with every breath, short, punctuating things to keep him alive and to keep him from crying out. He didn’t know where his pistol went, but he still felt his switchblade in his pocket. Butch managed to grab the handle and start to try and crawl out of the rocks, knife at the ready for anything.

Then there was a looming shape over him, and Butch screamed at the top of his lungs, swinging at the raider with his switchblade. The raider jumped back, raised up his hands–and stepped away?

“Butch, calm down! You’re all right, you’re all right–fuck’s sake, Butch, just–fucking listen to me!”

Butch went still and quiet, dumbfounded. “Harper?”

“Fucking hell,” Harper continued, crawling over a few fallen rocks to get to Butch. Harper never raised his voice in the vault, but now it came out like a command. “Sit tight. I’m going to get you out of there, okay?”

“What do you–” Butch yelped again, this time in pain, as Harper grabbed him by the ankles and dragged him further into the open air. The slew of profanities he spouted out was only rivaled by Harper’s calming, reassuring statements, just reminding Butch that he was going to be okay.

“Did you fall off the cliff?”

“No,” lied Butch.

“You’ve been out of the Vault less than twenty four hours.” Harper shook his head and rifled through his knapsack. “Fucking Christ, Butch, you could’ve been killed.”

It gave Butch a moment to marvel at him. The vault gear Harper had slipped into during the issue in Vault 101 was gone, and now he wore dedicated, well-maintained combat armor. It was a scruffy green with a four-leaf clover and two swords on the chest over the heart. Other details had been added, including what looked like a carved ‘101’ on the shoulder and a small blue ribbon tied near one of the various pouches around the belt. “Listen, you’re lucky I was passing by.”

“What, you my guardian angel now?” asked Butch, hissing as Harper gently turned his leg. “Fucking fuck that hurts–”

“I don’t have a lot of medical supplies, so you’re just going to have to stick with me for a little, got it?” Harper looked around. “C’mon, give me your arm.” 

Butch, senses dulling due to the pain by the minute, nodded and allowed himself to be manhandled as Harper threw Butch’s arm over his shoulders and slowly started leading him down the road. 

“Where we goin’?”

“Megaton–now shut up, you’re heavy and I can’t walk, talk, and carry you all at the same time…”

Next >>

[home-on-the-wastes]

Tattoo

Harper has ideas, Butch has thoughts.

“What about a tattoo?” Harper smiled cheekily, leaning next to him and grabbing his wrist. She straightened out his arm like she was ready to take a pen to his skin immediately but drew it with her finger instead. “Y’know, a tunnel snake just wrapping around right here. Up from the elbow, all the way around your biceps, and head right on the shoulder, fangs bared.”

Butch’s skin tingled at the touch, and his blood rushed in two directions at once. He didn’t know how to respond. Then, the moment passed, and Harper pulled away, sliding off the sofa to get them each a drink, calling to Charon that dinner would be ready soon.

That night at Gob’s, Butch dreamed of Harper, her auburn hair splayed out on one of those off-colored pillows, her hands running down his skin, that tingle all over. He woke up right before the sun rose with a whole new problem, his heart beating too fast, just feeling too hot, just too overwhelmed.

“Fuck,” he said, only for someone next to his room to hit the metal sheet wall and tell him to keep it down.

[home-on-the-wastes]

Hair Care (2/2)

Harper and Butch meet up post-Project Purity. Part 1 // 2

Butch didn’t know what to do–people crying had never been something he knew how to deal with. Harper didn’t care–she continued to sob, her entire body heaving. After a split second of absolute panic, Butch started to compartmentalize the situation. Harper had been through a death-defying mission. The one thing she cared about–besides the dog and Charon, of course–was completely ruined. Or, maybe all these tears were saved up from even before all of this: having to leave the vault, losing her dad, finding herself, nearly dying, only having a childhood bully for comfort.

Butch figured a hug would be too much, and maybe even a little weird. He used to harass her, beat her up, even gave her a slightly crooked nose; it made his stomach flip flop at the thought of holding her. Like her skin would bruise just by the mere touch from him.

So, Butch got up and brought her some water in a chipped glass, and a rag for her to blow her nose on. She took the cup and drank deep from it, thankfully stopping her tears, though the rag took a beating as she mopped up snot. Now she looked sick, tired, and her skin was all blotchy. Charon was going to kill him.

“God, it’s so stupid.” Harper sniffed. “I mean–I could’ve died! People did die, and–and all I can do is cry about the fact that I lost my hair!”

It was definitely more about the hair, but Butch followed her lead. “To be fair, it’s a hell of an injustice. God took nearly everything of yours and now he has the balls to try and take your gorgeous ‘do? What a bastard.”

“It didn’t even have the decency to fall out properly!”

“I don’t think the hair gets to decide how it falls out, Harp, otherwise old folks would tell it to thin out even or something.”

“I mean, I guess…” She held out the glass. “More water? I’m fuckin’ thirsty.”

Butch nodded and did just that. It took Harper a little while longer to calm down, and as she did, Butch got to thinking. When she finally settled on cradling the empty cup like a lifeline, Butch carefully reached out and turned Harper’s chin towards him. She let him, eyes red and glassy, and when he let go, she kept facing him. Finally, she tried to smile, even if it looked a bit pained. “What is it, Butch?”

“I could cut it,” offered Butch. “Or, not even cut it, but style what you got. Old man Washington has some preserved magazines from before the war, and they got these gals with some scarf wrapped around their head and it looks real nice. You got enough hair that with enough stylin’ it’d look good until the rest grew back, and it’d keep your head safe from sunburn.”

Harper furrowed her brows. “How much?”

“On the house,” Butch replied. “C’mon. You got fresh water for the entire Capital Wastes, nearly died for it. I think I can afford to give you a haircut for free.”

<< Previous

[home-on-the-wastes]

Characters react to…the Vault-Tec rep! 📋 ✏️

Shout out to my partner who asked this question; I had a lot to say about it.

Harper wouldn't really pay him much mind other than the fact that he's a pre-war ghoul. Maybe chat with him about having experience that didn't really apply to the Wasteland or the Commonwealth (Harper was originally penned to be the vault's chaplain, and he has sales experience. Both feel pretty useless in the Capital Wastes and the Commonwealth, respectively).

Pen just treats him like some guy! She’s less about bonding over the past and more about just hearing his stories. Pen's main thing is listening to folks and empathizing with them, and she has experience with really old ghouls due to Raul (and, to an extent, Dean). She’d buy him a drink, probably cheer him up, and not leave until he was laughing and in higher spirits.

Murk finds him boring and unrelatable--not in a mean way but in an adult that a teenager has no interest in being chummy with. She does feel a little bad about his circumstance, but he's still alive, so what's the problem? Sir, it was two hundred and ten years ago, move on. Find a therapist. C'mon, dude, we all have problems.

Tallahassee, God, she doesn’t know what to do or say. She’s...distant but still polite, especially since he clocks on who she is immediately. She feels awful that she survived and he became a ghoul, a reminder that despite all the shit that she's going through, others had it worse when the bombs fell. It wouldn't be until much later that she'd start interacting with him properly. She'd still keep him at arm's length but try to help him. After all, if it wasn't for his insistence about getting her family signed up for the vault, she wouldn't even be here.

Nate hears about him beforehand, sidles up to him, and goes, “Sir, have I got an opportunity for you." He tries to help this guy. He's very task-oriented, and approaches the problem like, "Okay you're depressed? Let's get you a job! Sales experience, you say? How about you set up a store!" He comes back and checks in on him periodically, just to see how he's doing. Is definitely on a first-name basis with the Vault-Tec rep.