#ofc he wasn't going to marry her because that would mean she would be his wife and for japanese men (and men in general)

[witchandhuntress]

Sjhdfhfh, AND FJFJFGÑÑ, djhfjhgf, I have so much to say,

"He could have written ich1hime into something that developed slowly over time that maybe could have at least made sense and delved into something organic"->, and yes, bc it was the same with naruhina and narusaku, they had to make a whole movie it WASN'T even written by the author to justify that ship, and I have been a Naruto fan for years I know for sure Kishimoto didn't even like naruhina, hell I'm sure he didn't even like Hinata, he allowed that ship only bc the (male) fans wanted it.

"I really think that the only reason Ich1hime ended up together is because Ich1go is the male hero lead and the "appropriate" love interest in Kubo's head was a woman who fit the "ideal" woman to start a family with and that's where Or1hime fits the bill. She's the typical ideal shy and submissive Japanese girl" -> Same for Naruto, he ended up with Hinata because the same reasons she's the ideal male otaku loser waifu that and bc of tits obviusly.

"Also, you would think that male authors who put so much work into their male leads would develop the romantic bonds and individual character of whatever female love interest they plan to pair up the precious male hero" -> That's what kills me, at least for Naruto I can say he shared deep bonds with Sakura and Sasuke but Kishimoto killed them when he went for the naruhina route. As a reader I think that's very unsatisfying.

"And when you have a story where you can actually see the male author write such a beautiful deep relationship between two opposite sex characters without bullshit gender roles and then go ahead and make one pairing (involving one of the main characters) that fits patriarchal gender roles cannon ??!!!" -> Honestly same, 50% of the time I thought maybe Kishi was going for the yaoi route and that was okay for me, I would have liked the NaruSaku route too but I guess that didn't fit the heterosexual/misogynists needs from the male dominated fandom, because: a) yaoi and b) Sakura didn't fill the role of typical waifu either.

I unironically think Tite Kubo is a misogynist for making Or1hime and Ich1go end up together.

And I'm not just saying this because ichiruki is my OTP but it's because the fact that this man knows how to write romance and ichiruki's bond is top notch even when you compare it to actual shoujo pairings - he could have written ich1hime into something that developed slowly over time that maybe could have at least made sense and delved into something organic, but till the very end they felt like awkward acquaintances. The gap in closeness between Ich1ruki ('more than friends less than lovers') vs the cannon Ich1hime ship bond is quite frankly jarring like there is seriously no competition. Now renj1ruk1a, while I'm not enthusiastic about, at least had something to it but again, comparing Ich1go's and Ruk1a's relationships with other people aside from the one that they have with each other, Ich1go's and Or1hime's relationship is hands down one of the most lackluster in the show. Heck, Ich1go even had a more dynamic relationship with Ury*u, Chad and even T4tsuki for god's sake.

I really think that the only reason Ich1hime ended up together is because Ich1go is the male hero lead and the "appropriate" love interest in Kubo's head was a woman who fit the "ideal" woman to start a family with and that's where Or1hime fits the bill. She's the typical ideal shy and submissive Japanese girl ( not to mention the ridiculous breast size) who is motherly and completely smitten and devoted with the male lead and I guess Kubo thought that was peak heterosexual romance as opposed to the duo with the sun and moon symbolism and moving 'she stopped the rain' 'i wonder if i can keep up with the speed of the world without you' poetry.

Also, you would think that male authors who put so much work into their male leads would develop the romantic bonds and individual character of whatever female love interest they plan to pair up the precious male hero but NOPE - they often don't do that and it's where you can clearly see men's misogyny and how little women matter to them.

And when you have a story where you can actually see the male author write such a beautiful deep relationship between two opposite sex characters without bullshit gender roles and then go ahead and make one pairing (involving one of the main characters) that fits patriarchal gender roles cannon ??!!! - in the same fucking story where you can directly compare them - it's the misogyny I'm afraid.

[two-white-butterflies]

gave you all my best me's (ii)

Description: Aemond tries to figure out if his feelings are real. A revelation sends this house of cards crumbling down.

Pairing: (past! jacaerys velaryon/reader), aemond targaryen/reader

PART ONE ||

Aemond takes a nervous bite of his mini-Oreos. It's been a week since he introduced you to his family, and all his relatives have been sending him kind messages. However, his father has refused to return all of his calls. Nothing new, he muses.

"Are you okay, hun?" You sit beside him, and the sofa slightly shifts to accommodate your shared weight. "Yeah," he responds reluctantly. He doesn't exactly know how to feel. He sometimes looks at you and thinks about turning this relationship into a real thing, but then, he remembers your conversation with Jacaerys on the balcony...

Everything has been so blurry and difficult lately.

What if Jacaerys suddenly calls, and you pick up, and everything returns to where you left it off?

"It's just been a tough couple of weeks," he reasons.

But he knows that the feelings that thump inside of his ribcage are far too complex to explain. "Do you want to talk about it?" You asked, and he shakes his head.

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nameofficial posted to her story!

caption: with mr lover lover 😎 song: Boombastic by Shaggy

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YOU are you aight you been pushing me away lately :((

AEMOND TARGARYEN I'm a little busy with work We're releasing a new phone this month

YOU does this have something to do with the jacaerys thing?

AEMOND TARGARYEN Ofc not xx I respect you It's not like we have a 'real' relationship

seen.

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Your eyebrows merged together in fury.

It's not like we have a 'real' relationship.

You continued to stare at his message. Actually, you were glaring at your phone - until it suddenly fell on your face.

"Shit," you cursed. "Fuck," you continued.

The fact that Aemond wasn't entirely lying pierced your heart. Your feelings for him have blossomed these past few months, you didn't need a verbal reminder that this was all contractual. That he only chose to be pretend married to you because it meant inheriting his father's fortune. You are not important to him.

Thanks for the reminder, Aemond.

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You were pleasantly surprised when Alicent invited you for a cup of tea. Aemond told you that his mother kept to herself, she only talked to people inside her small circle. You remember that the only thing that she acknowledged you with were small smiles and nods, but it's good that she's finally warming up to you.

I mean...you are going to be her pretend daughter-in-law.

"I am sure that you are not unfamiliar with the way our family conducts our business," Alicent begins the conversation, taking a leisurely sip of her tea. "- it's a new age, but some of our members are still stuck in the past." She gives you a thin-lipped smile.

What was she going to say next? She voted for Hillary Clinton in the last election. "- especially my husband. He is a traditional man. Before we got married, I was in my third year of medical school. I wanted to be a pediatrician, but he gave me an ultimatum, told me it was either him or being a pedia, and I chose him." She speaks with regret.

"Pardon?" You raised an eyebrow, unaware of where this conversation was leading. "My husband knows there are charges against you by the Spanish Government, which is easy to fix, but there is a stain on your reputation. You are not the kind of woman that he finds worthy of being a member of our family. He will not allow your wedding to pull through, and if it happens, Aemond stands to inherit nothing." Alicent explains with a deep breath.

You wanted to tell her that you were no longer here for the money, but Aemond would want the inheritance, right?

Alicent reaches for her handbag, dropping an envelope of cash to cover the bill for this tea party. She reaches for your hand, holding it with both of hers. "Please stay away from my son," she begs. "- you can find another husband, but I cannot find another him." Alicent pleads, not wanting her son to fall in his ranks in society.

Reputation means everything to people like them.

"Yes, of course." You forced yourself to agree.

It's what Aemond wants.

"Please don't mention this to him. I love him, but he doesn't love me enough to abandon you." You took a deep breath. She reaches for her handbag again, writing you a check for millions of dollars but you shake your head.

"- he'll have kids in the future with a woman that isn't me, but someone that you think is proper enough for him. You won't even remember my name by then. I don't need money, Mrs. Targaryen. I'm happy to have been here." You removed your engagement ring, placing it on the table.

"Thank you," she looks up with a sad smile.

"Thank you too," you answered, leaving without looking back.

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AEMOND TARGARYEN Where are you? I bought some pad thai

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AEMOND TARGARYEN Are you still there?

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AEMOND TARGARYEN My mom told me I'm sorry Let's talk

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YOU MISSED A CALL FROM AEMOND TARGARYEN. (39)

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(ONE YEAR LATER)

WHY DID Y/N L/N DISAPPEAR?

It has been one year since singer Y/N L/N was last seen wandering around New York City. Thirteen months ago, MTV announced that her engagement with tech-CEO Aemond Targaryen had broken off. A close friend alleges that their breakup was amicable, and the couple were just heading towards different paths in life.

A year ago, Y/N L/N deactivated her social media accounts.

Six months ago, all charges by the Spanish government against her were dropped, citing that it was a third-party accounting firm that caused the mismanagement of funds. L/N was let go with a minor fine. It has been radio silence for quite some time now, but according to a few insiders, the singer is seen roaming NYC once more...

Why did she disappear? And why is she back?

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nameofficial: i stayed there.... THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME AND @luciechurchill!! @taylorswift. i love you so much ❤️

liked by 2,128,321 others

>comments

taylorswift: I'm so glad you enjoyed the era's tour 💙💙💙💙💙 - nameofficial: twas absolute cinema 🤯

Y/NSUPPORT: SHE'S BACK !!! and she's paid her taxes 🇪🇸

BigBlueEyes6: Y/N stays the queen of the revolution 🇪🇸 bella ciao bella ciao bella ciao ciao ciao 👺

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replies:

sexybaliye: I HAVE BEEF WITH HIM BECAUSE HE TOOK HER THIRD ALBUM AWAY FROM US 😭 MY ASS WILL FOREVER MOURN LOVER - applepie59: BYE...Karma by TS is Lover in a diff font - sexybaliye: Albums that will never be released LOL

hauntedasshome8: I'm not heartbroken....also me: Y/N L/N

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nameofficial: I love the crowd in Nashville. I'm so happy to be opening the ERA'S TOUR by @taylorswift. ❤️

liked by 1,329,921 others

>comments

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"How long are you going to keep attending the concerts?" Aegon sits on one of the ottomans. He gives his brother a lazy smile before callously lighting his cigarette - knowing that he wouldn't get into trouble because his grandfather owned the hotel. "Why are you so curious about it?" Aemond rolls his eyes.

"I find it kind of weird that you leave after the opener," Aegon comments. "- don't you want to talk to her?" Aegon inquires.

"She looks fine," Aemond breathes. He doesn't want to ruin your quit life just because he dreams of being in your arms again. If you've moved on, then he has no choice but to follow in your footsteps.

"I've been analyzing her note changes," Aegon puffs.

"You pay attention to that?" Aemond raises an eyebrow.

Aegon chuckles annoyingly, as if he was your biggest fan. "When she says lay on the horn, there's a slight change in her voice, which probably means that it haunts her." He quotes your lyrics. "- in one of the surprise songs, she looked really sad when singing about the snow globe spinning round and round." Aegon continues his analysis.

He looks at Aemond again, who is looking at him with a strange stare. "Men are so stupid," Aegon stands up - he rolls his eyes before leaving the room and slamming the door loudly.

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Aemond continues to watch you from the front row, he's already memorized your routine by now. He takes a sip of the beer that Aegon smuggled inside, and everyone cheers around him - seeing your faint figure begin to march towards the front stage.

"This song is going to be a part of my third studio album, I figured that I should share it with all of you first." You smile, strumming your guitar. "The apartment we won't share. I wonder what sad wife lives there." You begin your song. "Have the windows deciphered her stares? Do the bricks in the walls know to hide the affairs?" You walked around.

Freezing once you see him.

Aemond Targaryen in the flesh.

"The dog we won't have is now one I would not choose. The daughter we won't raise still waits for you." You walked past him. You could attend a million interviews after this and swear to god that you're not over him, but you'd be lying. Because you still love him. You still love all the ways that he'd massage your scalp.

"The girl I won't be is the one that's yours. I hope you shortly find what you long for." You glanced at him again. Seeing him feels like getting electrocuted. It makes you happy but at the same time really, really sad because you know that he doesn't feel the same way. "A year and some change. Isn't it strange?" You looked at him.

One word and you'll come running back to him.

"I'm sure she's beautiful and sweet." You continued strumming your guitar. "But you're the only thing I need," you change the lyrics, your voice beginning to fade in the background.

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Aemond nervously bounces his legs, and a few security guards escort him backstage - and now he's waiting for you to finish your last song. He fidgets with the engagement ring inside his palms. It's a family heirloom, a ring that Alicent gave him that came from his grandmother, Alerie.

"Aemond," you say with a reluctant voice. "Y/N," He breathes, wrapping you in a warm embrace.

"What are you doing here?" You questioned, taking in the sight of him. "Let's get back together, please," he begged, offering you the ring that was inside of his palms. "What are you talking about? I thought that wasn't part of the deal, your dad won't leave you anything." You stared deep into his eyes.

"I love you," he confesses.

"The day that you left, I wanted to tell you." He adds.

"I only left because I thought that you didn't feel the same way," your frown deepened.

A chuckle escapes your mouth, truly in disbelief at how the tides shifted in your favor.

He drops on one knee.

"Marry me," he says.

"Of course," you agree.

Meeting his lips with fiery passion.

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nameofficial: I take this magnetic force of a man to be my LOVER.

liked by 3,812,923 others

>comments

bananalols: ok what happened to hello, how are you?

helaenatargaryen: Congratulations sis and bro!! 🧡

Nour192: UMM THIS IS SO UNEXPECTED...

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aemondtargaryensapphires: Happy wedding.

liked by 123,182 others

>comments

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nameofficial: I'm so happy to make it with you ❤️

liked by 3,239,192 others

>comments

imthatbitch2: Congrats, we didn't even know that u were engaged lols

HundredBoys82: What ever makes u happy...boo?

ColossalTitan: MRS LOVER LOVER

@glame @xcinnamonmalfoyx @winxchesters @yentroucnagol @mxxny-lupin @mxtantrights @urmomsgirlfriend1 @kravitzwhore @sweethoneyblossom1 @introverbatim @flrboyd @sumsumcooluser @rebstrg @bladestark @ninihrtss @julczimozart @narahwolfqueen16

REQUESTS FOR THE BONUS FLUFF PARTS ARE AVAILABLE just send them on my inbox!!

[getaapologist]

The Tension and the Terror..............Part VIII

Pairing: Emperor Geta x OFC (extremely loosely, character is named but otherwise not described besides hair length in a later part)

Summary: Geta makes a declaration of love. It isn't received well, through no fault of his own.

Warnings: violence, implication of SA (did not occur), 18+ only.

Word Count: 3.4k

Part 8 of 15

[ Part VII ]

Series Masterlist

A/N: This is a bit more foundation work. I also didn't name Letha's brother (or any of her family) so you can picture whoever you want. I almost took all this out, I wasn't sure it fit everything I've written up to now, but I hope it works for you.

Raptio is literally "taking," but it's used to reference the abduction of women, to be used/enslaved or married against their will. The obvious implication there is SA, but I am not including that aspect here because it's just not needed. Being kidnapped is enough, surely. I don't know if it was really a punishable crime, but I sure hope so. It is in this version of events, anyway. The next two parts will pretty much be all Geta. Thanks for your patience!

Letha had beaten both Emperors to breakfast that morning, despite spending extra time in choosing a dress from the assortment delivered to her rooms the prior day. The anticipation of seeing Geta again drew her out of bed early. She took advantage of the quiet to actually eat a reasonable meal, only interrupted as she pushed the small plate away. 

“My brother dismissed all his concubines this morning. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?” Caracalla wasn’t really asking. He already knew she had something to do with it. Still, the news shocked her. She thought of Lyra, regretting her words. She hoped nothing awful had happened.

“I didn’t ask him to–”

“Of course you didn’t. You can’t tell us to do anything,” he sighed, pulling out his usual chair and plopping down in it. “Just thought you’d like to know.”

Letha took it for the kindness it was. “Thank you, Caracalla.”

He reached out and picked through the fruit, mischief lighting his eyes up. “So does this mean you two are fucking?”

She nearly choked. “N-No,” she responded, recovering, face on fire.

Caracalla giggled. She avoided looking over at him, instead choosing to study the elaborate craftsmanship of the table. It was a nice table, she thought, desperately trying to not think about Geta.

The chair beside Letha was pulled out and the man himself sank into it, a sly smile already on his face as he busied himself with adjusting his robes. He was all made up, ready for the day. Bright, shining, like Apollo. 

He leaned over, invading Letha’s space. “Did you get enough to eat?” he asked quietly.

“Yes,” she assured him. She was nervous to meet his eyes again after the way she left him. She was relieved he didn’t seem upset with her, quite the opposite. 

Protective?

“How is your shoulder?”

“Better,” she answered. 

She noticed Caracalla watching his brother intently. She followed his gaze, surprised to see the dark maroon already lining his eyes. She expected to see the tired, fresh-from-bed version of Geta. This was… It was nice. 

“You sure look pretty for the senators, brother,” Caracalla teased.

Geta looked down to Letha, his gaze soft for once. “It’s not for them.” The smile returned. Her face probably felt hot to the touch. She almost pressed her own hand to her face to check. 

“Why do I even have to go?” Caracalla whined, slumping in his chair. “Can’t you tend to them by yourself?”

Geta looked over at his brother, his smile growing. “It’s our duty.” He picked up an apple and took a bite, his pleasant mood almost infectious. 

“I’ve never seen you so eager to fulfill our duty,” Caracalla grumbled. 

“You must get ready, ‘Calla,” Geta requested, his tone gentle. “It shouldn’t be a long meeting. Then you can have your games.” Another bite of the apple.

Geta was always so sweet to his brother. Letha couldn’t come up with a better word for it. Taking the sting out of responsibilities, soothing his panic and fear, distracting him with life’s pleasures to ease his mood. He tolerated his teasing, even when his patience had run out for all others. Caracalla was exempt from Geta’s poor moods. He only ever received a tiny fraction of Geta’s ire when his mouth got away from him and he seemed on the verge of revealing something in other company that Geta wished to remain private. 

And Caracalla intuitively understood his brother’s shifting moods and their cause, not usually having to ask him what was wrong, what might be bothering him. Perhaps all that time seated beside his brother he became a good study. 

“At least Letha will keep me company,” Caracalla smiled.

“The senators might balk at her presence,” Geta admitted.

“Since when do you care?”

“I don’t,” Geta claimed, glancing down at Letha. “She can come if she wants to.”

“Is she not here for my protection?” Caracalla asked, seemingly concerned.

“I’ve arranged for Tegula’s best man to remain at your side, at all times,” Geta explained, gesturing to a lightly armored man standing in the corner of the room, tucked in among the columns as if he was trying to be inconspicuous. “This is Ancus.”

Caracalla looked over at the man. Then back to his brother, to Letha. To Geta again. “But I don’t want Ancus, I want Letha,” Caracalla complained, something in his tone veering towards true agitation.

“She’s still healing, ‘Calla,” Geta explained. “She will be near, but I would feel better if Ancus stayed with you too, at least until we figure out who’s responsible for these attacks.”

“You just want her for yourself!” Caracalla accused, standing from his chair. Geta mirrored his movement, albeit much more slowly.

“Caracalla, I—” he paused, adopting a more gentle tone before continuing, “I will not keep her from you. She can do as she pleases. I just need to know that you are safe.”

His words seemed to soothe him enough, but Letha worried that this would not be the last of this conversation. Caracalla skulked off, and Ancus followed after him silently. 

Geta sank back into his chair with a sigh, his mood no longer nearly as pleasant.

“I will spend time with him today,” Letha offered, broaching the silence. 

He leaned his head back, his head turning in her direction lazily, a smirk appearing. “Not too much, I hope.”

“As much as is necessary to preserve his good temper,” she answered, the pressure of his warm eyes on her jump-starting that heat again, as if she were back in the gardens again, frozen beneath his stare.

“Oh, but then I’d never see you, Letha,” he teased, moving closer, “and I have more to offer you.”

“More?” She couldn’t help her eyes falling to his lips.

She jumped in her seat as his fingers found the skin along the inside of her leg, just past her knee, too close for where they were, in the middle of the dining hall. She quickly pressed her hands to his, trapping it against her skin. He squeezed.

He leaned over further, his lips finding her ear. “Just something for you to consider today, when you’re… deciding how to allocate your time.” His teasing was back in full force. He drew back, taking another bite of the apple, his stare unwavering as he chewed.

Letha could only watch him right back, thoughts boiling until her legs stopped shaking and she could stand.

Letha understood Caracalla’s complaints about having to meet with the Senators almost immediately. She could feel their eyes on her as soon as she stepped into the room, following behind the twins as they made their way over to their thrones, side by side. 

“A chair,” Geta summoned, pointing to the space beside his seat.

“By me, brother,” Caracalla insisted. 

Geta frowned, but relented.

Letha was sure to reach down and brush the hand gripping the arm of his seat with her fingers as she passed around the chairs, a consolation to try to keep him jovial. She took a seat as instructed, body turned in towards Caracalla in the presence of so many strangers, with clear distaste in their expressions for her unconventional presence.

“Caesars, forgive me, but what is this woman doing here? This is hardly the place for a dalliance—”

Geta rose, the speed of it startling some, Letha included. “She is a lady, and you will address her as such,” he corrected, standing before the bravest of the Senators. A display of power, of confidence. Of ego. “That lady is the reason your Emperors still stand and breathe. I believe you owe her an apology.”

He was incensed. Part of Letha almost felt bad for the Senator cowering before Geta, all his fury and splendor making him appear very much like a god. It shouldn’t have been so thrilling to see, but Letha couldn’t help herself.

“I am sorry, my lady,” he spoke, his eyes on Geta. His fear was palpable. 

Caracalla giggled beside her. “It’s not usually this entertaining.”

A few more moments of lording over the senator and Geta stepped back, slightly more composed. “What do you need of us today?” Geta finally asked, sinking back into his seat.

An older senator stood, stepping into the middle of the room, drawing Geta’s gaze. “There was a question of increasing your personal guard’s wages, Caesars?”

“Yes,” another stood, “We do have questions as to the… necessity of this. It is a steep price.”

Geta frowned. “Is our safety not worth the extra expense? We’ve had two attacks in as many days.”

“Well, perhaps if you did not hold such lavish dinner parties every night, the costs could go towards this increase you desire.”

“Senator Gracchus,” Geta smiled, standing. “I will remind you that we have not yet found the person responsible for bribing the Praetorian. Someone wishes us dead.”

Letha froze up in her seat. Yes, someone did. But they were looking in the wrong place. 

“The sum recovered was far too large for an average citizen to come up with,” Geta explained, circling the senator. All others had backed off, allowing all of Geta’s displeasure to focus in on Gracchus. “Should I have you interrogated? Or will you pay Tegula’s men what they are owed?”

A moment longer was all it took before Gracchus wavered, relenting. “They shall have it, Emperor.” A chorus of similar responses sounded throughout the room.

“Very good,” Geta praised, moving past the senator and reclaiming his seat. “What else?”

The doors at the back of the room opened and a tall, hulking figure clad in dark armor and a red cape strode in, bowing before the emperors before rising to his full height. The garish line across the side of his head still looked like it burned, the flesh vividly red around the line. The cut ear.

Letha recognized him immediately. She shrank in her seat, drawing Caracalla’s eye. A flash of her brother’s bruised and bloody face had her squeezing her eyes shut. It wasn’t enough, the image wouldn’t leave.

“Emperor Geta, Emperor Caracalla,” the general greeted. “I have come to report on my men.” He did not spare a glance to Letha. Either he mistook her for another of their concubines, or did not spend enough time in the Senate chambers to know how unusual her presence was. 

“General Plautianus,” Geta greeted. His eyes raked over the violent wound. “What of them?”

“Regrettably, they cannot seem to be contained,” Thraex interjected, eyes on the General as he got to his feet. “They drink the city dry and commit acts of violence upon its citizens. A brawl in a brothel just yesterday required a hefty discretionary payment to appease the owner so he didn’t ban the entire army.”

“They need to be sent away,” Gracchus agreed. “They are bored, and their victories have given them a feeling of entitlement to the city’s offerings.”

Oh, that sounds quite familiar, Letha frowned. So as long as it isn’t taking place in Rome, that’s what matters, she thought bitterly, sinking back into her memories and tuning out the rest of the conversation. 

“Your God-Emperors are cowards,” Letha’s brother spoke, his lip split, his brow leaking blood. His eye socket looked broken, his skin beginning to darken around his eye. 

“You should hold your tongue,” General Plautianus spat, stepping past the man crumpled against the wall. Another soldier knelt beside him, gripping the cloth covering his shoulders tightly, keeping him upright.

“You Romans can’t take a joke,” he laughed. It devolved into a coughing fit not long after, his hands going to his ribs as he grimaced.

Letha looked up, worry filling her as she waited for her brother to recover, desperately trying to figure out how to help him, how to get them out of this mess.

“You should stop talking before you choke on your blood,” another soldier threatened.

“You’d have to hit me a bit harder for that,” he grunted, clearly nursing a broken rib.

“Brother, please!” Letha pleaded, begging for him to be silent. Him egging on their captors would ruin their chances of surviving this night. 

The sound of the harsh slap cut through the room, almost echoing. For a moment Letha couldn’t feel her face at all. Then it all flooded in at once, tears welling, clouding her vision.

She could hear her brother shouting, the soldiers joining in. She tried to ignore the way her cheek stung, too concerned for her brother’s welfare to care about her own. It was one blow versus the great many he’d suffered at their hands already. 

They were holding him down against the wall, it took two of them now. The General stood before her, his hand still outstretched from the slap, though his eyes were cast over his shoulder at her brother as he spouted insulting, angry words.

“You are lucky you’re considered one of Rome’s subjects now,” the General spoke, returning his attention to Letha. “Your dear father pleaded for your safety, and I can think of none better to secure it than me.”

Letha understood his intent, the implication of his words. It was nothing new. It was all men ever did. She couldn’t be dragged to Rome. She refused. As her brother drew his attention once more, his protests much more spirited, she saw only one opportunity to save herself from that future. 

She reached forward and drew the sword from its hilt on his belt, the sound of it drawing all attention to her. It was heavier than she was used to, the blade much wider. Still, she didn’t waste a moment, swinging it recklessly at the General’s head. It drew blood, but the recoil of it hitting his thick skull forced it out of her hands. He roared, his hands moving to cover the red line leaking blood down the side of his head. 

Letha felt the stabbing point of a gladius at her back, the soldier’s boot forcing her flat onto the floor. She wondered if it had drawn blood, it felt quite sharp even through the dress. Even if she had just signed her own death warrant, that would be preferable to the alternative.

Plautianus hissed as he cupped his ear, reaching down for his discarded sword. He used it to tilt her face up, forcing her to see the wound she’d created. “You’ll pay for that,” he assured her.

“Please, just leave her alone,” her brother pleaded. “It was stupid, she shouldn’t have done it, but don’t hurt her.”

His words stung. He was right, it was incredibly stupid of her, but she had to do something–

“No, no–”

The blade had left her chin without her realizing it. It was embedded in her brother’s throat. She screamed.

“Letha,” Caracalla whispered, a hand pressing against her cheek, drawing her back to the present. “Are you alright?” She jumped, crashing out of the vivid memory. He moved his hand down to squeeze hers. “Do you want something to drink?”

She shook her head, eyes landing on Plautianus. He wore the very same armor as that day. 

He is the monster.

“I will think on it,” Geta answered, dismissing the senators. “General, I would like to speak with you, if you have the time.” He wasn’t really asking.

Plautianus nodded, clasping his hands together in front of him, watching the senators as they trickled out of the room. As his eyes scanned the room, they finally landed on her. There was a flicker of recognition in his eyes and he reflexively reached up for the side of his head, to the scar there. He said nothing of it, instead returning his attention to his smiling Emperor.

“Letha,” Geta called out, reaching an arm out for her to join him. Her stomach sank like a stone. “Come on,” he urged, as if he were coaxing a small child into a room full of strangers. As if it were shyness keeping her in her seat. But he didn’t know. How could he know?

She stood on shaky legs and released Caracalla’s hand to walk over, trying to keep her eyes on Geta so she didn’t fall into a state of panic. Even though months had passed, it was now so fresh in her mind, as if it had happened only days ago. She felt ill.

Geta was concerned, but he hid it well. He wrapped an arm around her waist and returned his attention to the General. 

“I’d like to introduce you to Letha,” Geta spoke, looking down at Letha with something close to love in his eyes. Perhaps she was imagining it to save herself from the reality of what was unfolding.

“I don’t believe you two have met, unless… Well, have you?” Geta prodded, all pretense falling away. 

Letha felt herself suck in a deep breath at the realization. Geta knew. How much, she couldn’t say. But he knew of their meeting, likely how she was brought to Rome. How she was purchased by Macrinus. From Macrinus himself, she thought. It would explain their new closeness. What else had Macrinus shared?

General Plautianus seemed just as caught off guard. He looked like he wasn’t sure if he ought to lie, or admit to his crime. 

“I’ll take that as a yes,” Geta frowned. “Ancus,” he muttered, signaling for him to approach. 

Ancus moved swiftly behind the General, pressing his boot into the back of Plautianus’s knee to force him onto the marble, his hands gripping the pauldrons to keep the General still.

“Raptio,” Geta spat, “is a crime, General. Just in case you’ve forgotten.”

The sound of a sword being drawn sent shivers of revulsion down Letha’s spine. The tremors that Geta had stilled with his hand at her lower back resumed. The General looked truly frightened. It didn’t fill Letha with any amount of satisfaction. She was just as scared as he was.

Geta raised the General’s sword high so he could inspect the edge, trying to determine its sharpness. He pressed the blade to the spot just above the chestplate, letting the tip bite through the cloth covering the base of his throat before turning to Letha, ignoring the General altogether.

“Should he be killed?”

Letha could see now the warnings she’d been given. Geta was deadly. He was clever and vengeful and violent. But he hid it well. So well. Much better than Caracalla. Seeing the senators scared to defy him, the way his General seemed scared of his whims, she should’ve been scared of him too. 

But it was never directed at her. And even now, it was being done in service of her desires, her wants. She felt… honored. He was offering her a gift. A declaration of love if looked at in the right light. 

She felt her own love for him beginning to bud, but her memories were too distracting in the moment, keeping her expression empty, her body trembling. If they were somewhere else, she might have taken the time to explain, so he’d understand she wasn’t spurning him intentionally, she just couldn’t get a handle on her own mind.

“Emperor!” Plautianus lifted his hands up from his waist, his plea desperate. “T-This is improper.” 

Geta glowered down at him, his eyes narrowed. 

“She attacked us,” he tried to explain. Ancus kept his knees pressed to the floor.

“Quiet!” Geta ordered, glaring at the General. He returned his eyes to Letha’s, his gaze softening immediately.

In that moment all Letha could do was stand there and try to keep her tears at bay. 

Was this the same sword used on her brother?

Geta was patient, reading into the way she shook slightly, a bead of sweat falling down over her temple. She was terrified. Perhaps now wasn’t the best time. He could drag him out again later on, when she felt more up to it.

“It seems Justicia has saved you today, Plautianus. Find solace in your cell.”

The sword was silently returned to Ancus and as soon as it left Geta’s hand he brought her back in close, whisking her away from the scene and over to the golden thrones. 

“Brother?” Caracalla asked, clearly confused.

“I will explain later,” Geta spoke, his eyes focused on Letha. His hands found her cheeks, attempting to soothe her. “I should not have sprung that upon you,” he realized. 

“I-I do not think–I think I should lie down,” she confessed, a tear spilling down her cheek. She could see the heartbreak plain in Geta’s eyes. “I’m sorry, I don’t think I can attend the games today, I don’t feel well.”

“It’s fine,” Geta assured her, smoothing her hair out of her face. “I should have warned you.”

She couldn’t say anything more, couldn’t offer some placating remark to soothe his mood. She needed calm and quiet, and she wouldn’t get that from the arena. She hoped he understood that.

[ Part IX ]

[bradshawssugarbaby]

So happy that you got 500 Followers!

For the celebration I'd like to request Jake and 🍧

Pretty please 🙏

Thank you! ofc nonny, one pregnancy prompt + Jake coming right up!

You glared at Jake as he poured himself a coffee, your eyes practically burning a hole through him as you stared stoically. Jake frowned at you, setting his mug down on the counter before holding his arms out in surrender.

"What I do now, Angel?"

"You know exactly what you did, Seresin."

"Ooh, last name, huh?" Jake tapped his chin with his finger for a moment as he thought, looking as though he was trying to piece together whatever event he triggered that upset you. Finally, he frowned and shook his head. "Nope, I've got nothin', Sugar. What did I do?"

"You flirted with another girl last night, in front of me!" You shouted, shaking your head.

Your anger bubbled over when Jake laughed at your accusation, shaking his head in disbelief as he looked at you.

"You're joking, right?" He asked, waiting for you to start laughing. When he realized you were serious, he shook his head and sighed. "I wasn't flirting with anyone, Honey. I wouldn't do that to you."

"Well, you did last night."

"Well then, I didn't mean to! Sometimes people just think I'm flirting with how I talk. I wasn't doing it intentionally or nothin'. Half the time people probably think I'm in love with Rooster or somethin' with the way I talk to him!"

You huffed a sigh and shook your head as you grabbed your car keys off the table. Jake looked at you in surprise, shaking his head quickly as he watched you get ready to leave. "Where are you going?"

"I'm going to go get some things for my baby's nursery."

"Well, we both made that baby."

"Don't remind me!" you snapped, shaking your head at him, "You may have pitched in but the rest of this group project has been pretty one sided."

"Hey! I try my best, Darlin', it's not my fault I can't grow the kid myself."

"You could be a little more supportive though."

"Supportive?" Jake sputtered and shook his head vehemently, "Hon, I've done nothing but be supportive. All this is because you think I was flirting with some girl at the bar last night?"

"I watched you laughing and talking to her! It's the same way you did with me when we met!"

Suddenly, Jake shook his head and laughed to himself, sighing as he realized exactly what was happening.

"You mean the girl in the Navy fatigues?"

"Yeah, her," you pouted, nodding your head as you looked at him, waiting for an explanation.

"Baby, that girl is a girl I grew up with when I was a kid. She just transferred to North Island. I've known her since I was three."

"Oh, great, so she knows you better than I do too. Why don't you and her just go run away together or something?" You responded sarcastically, refusing to admit you might be going overboard.

"Well, her wife might not appreciate that. Don't think mine would either."

"Her what?

"I'm uh, not her type, Sugar. You'd have better luck getting her to come home with you than I would. In fact, she was telling me how pretty my wife was, and I thanked her, and told her that my wife is beautiful, and I'm very lucky."

"You did? Really?"

"Mhmm." Jake nodded and laughed as he shook his head, "The laughing you saw? Her telling me she was surprised I found someone tolerant enough to marry my dumbass."

You laughed awkwardly at the misunderstanding, nodding slowly as you realized your hormones may have clouded your judgement a little. Jake wrapped his arms around you gently, holding you close as he rested one of his hands on your baby bump. He leaned down to kiss your nose and smiled.

"You're the only girl for me, you know that. You and my little cowgirl in there."

"I told you, it might be a boy," you started before Jake shook his head and grinned, tapping the side of his head.

"Nah, I'm telling you. I've got a fifth sense for this sorta thing. It's a girl."

"You mean sixth sense, right?"

"Whatever," he said, waving his hand dismissively with a grin, "Point is, I'm almost positive we're having a girl. Now, am I forgiven? Or do I have to get all mushy and shit and start gushing about how much I love you, should I call Rooster up and find out the name of that florist he uses whenever he's in the doghouse and order you the biggest bouquet I can get?"

"You're forgiven. I'm sorry," you nodded slowly before your lips curled up into a grin. "But I'll gladly take flowers and you gushing over how much you love me."

"Anything for my girls."

join in my 500 follower celebration here!

[katoska]

Theory why Betelgeuse left Lydia's side to "go to the little boys' room" and took over for Richard at his booth for a bit:

Yes, he could have dealt with Jeremy without playing dress-up and taking over Richard's job, and didn't have to enable Richy to get a little more family time in the process. They could have saved Astrid just fine without that, so it seems unnecessary, for him to do that. OOC, even. Except

2) Richard wouldn't owe Betelgeuse a big favor for said taking over of his job and enabling the extra family time with Lydia and Astrid. Also, ofc, for saving his daughter from trading places with Jeremy. Betelgeuse did all that at great cost to himself: A Code 699 violation (see screenshot of transcript from reddit below) gets you extra time working as a civil servant, it gets your topside privileges revoked, and it voids any marriage you entered into, so his contract for payment from/marriage to Lydia was meaningless (well, if it had been a marriage certificate rather than just an agreement to get married in the future. and if he'd actually signed it. and then possibly only if he'd signed it before entering the Netherworld so there'd be a marriage TO void, rather than... not signing it at all... *sigh* he totally burned that half-signed and not-yet-binding contract himself bc he understood she wasn't ready to marry him yet, is what I'm saying, but I digress).

1) Lydia wouldn't have gotten closure for her ex's death without it. Closure which she sorely needed, because the fact that Richard's body was never found plus her seeming inability to see his ghost (Richard: "I know you two can't see me, but I check in on you all the time") add up to her having been in denial of his death. She couldn't see his ghost because she really really did not want to see proof that he was dead. So now she gets to move on from him. Which is very convenient for B. Especially as Richard is unlikely to be able to visit her anytime soon even now that Lydia has accepted his death and should be able to see him again, but I'm getting to that.

Still 2): Anyway, B doesn't do favors. He does business. If people are allowed to take over for others at their jobs in the afterlife, but those jobs are also a form of punishment where you have to "do time" at them for a specific duration, then those work hours are a currency that you can give away or trade. You can, if you find someone who is willing, get someone to do your time for you (hell, you can even get a naive Breather to trade their actual Life for your afterlife existence).

So yeah, I don't think Betelgeuse took over Richard's booth just out of the goodness of his heart. I think they made a deal, one that means that B will be topside again much sooner than the Deetz' will expect so he can get back to trying to seduce Richard's ex (hey, Richard always supported lost causes, so... 😆), while Richard will be stuck at work, unable to visit the Living for a long and unspecified amount of time. Not that his family's gonna notice, bc they never used to see him visit them, anyway.

And yeah, according to someone from reddit who decyphered that page in the Handbook, there's a bit about how the Deceased who violated Code 699 has to cease Trading, if applicable.

But I think that only goes for post-conviction of the crime, not as an automatic consequence of the crime, as B was also still able to visit the Living World to attempt the church wedding. Which, actually, is yet more evidence that this latest marriage attempt was more for the sake of declaring his feelings and testing the waters (and showing off, and getting rid at the competition) than him trying to actually get, and stay, married. Cause the church wedding would have been voided by a conviction, too.

Anyway, that's my theory on B's incredibly considerate, and therefore incredibly suspicious, detour to Richard's booth and letting Richard have his heroic moment.

And tbf, Lydia and Astrid are Richard's family. So it wouldn't even be unreasonable to expect Richard to pay for the legal trouble B got into from saving them. Like, I'm sure he'd have done it anyway, but if B can pass on that buck then ofc he's gonna.

[sunnyie-eve]

16 | Explaining

Series: Unexpected

Paring: (Matt Sturniolo x OFC Brock!) (Chris Sturniolo x OFC Brock!)

Word Count: 1.2k

Warnings: none

| MASTERLIST |

"Good Morning Campers, welcome back to Cut The Cameras Podcast. It's your favorite host Nick Sturniolo." Nick starts off.

"Matt's here, hello everyone."

"Hey Matt, you look good in your retro sweater today." Chris speaks up.

"Retro?" Dani looks at Matt's sweater. She didn't consider it retro.

"Thank you." Matt takes the compliment.

"Yeah, that's very vintage. I think it looks it." Chris says.

"Okay." Matt nods his head not caring all that much.

"Where did you get it? New? Brand new?" Nick asks him, "Did you buy it brand new?" Nick asks more so Matt shh's him.

"He got that vintage I know he did." Chris smiles.

"Brand new." Nick says again.

"Why are y'all so obsessed with a sweater?" Dani asks so confused and lost.

"Matt did you buy it or someone else?" Chris asks him, "Why is it a secret?"

"We're just curious." Nick adds.

"I did," Matt answers.

"Did you pick it because you liked it or was it because someone else might like it?" Chris asks bugging Matt and even Dani.

"Dani liked it." Matt says in a mono tone.

"I said he would look good in it because he likes blue and it would make his eyes pop more. Plus he wanted a sweater." Dani speaks up explaining.

"I'll tell you one thing. I wasn't the first person to wear it." Matt tells the guys then looks at Dani,

"Was I really?" She asks surprised since she thought he had already wore it by the time she wore it.

"Yeah because you were cold." He tells her.

"You had the AC set so low." She pleads her case to him.

"Yeah, but I had so many things and you picked this to wear." He tells her making her jaw drop.

"I didn't pick it! You handed it to me and said you can put this on." She sits up to correct him.

"What? I did not."

"You are such a liar." She laughs at him.

"I'm not listening."

"So much bickering." Chris shakes his head at the two.

"Yep." Nick agrees, "Such an old married couple."

"Whatever, what's our next topic?" Dani asks them, "Also yes, hello, Dani's here." She smiles/

"And Chris too." He adds.

"Here we go... Dani, people want to know why must you make yourself part of our group?" Nick reads off of his phone.

"Not this shit again." Chris huffs, "We already went over this!"

"For on, I'm not trying to be part of the group." Dani starts off, "You guys ask if I want to be apart of things. Like originally, I wasn't going to be on the podcast today. But the three of you asked me to so that's why I'm here."

"I've read that some people try their best to make you stop showing up in things." Chris looks for it on his phone. "I feel like they forget you're used to some hate by being in Sam and Colby videos."

"Especially when they started getting big." Dani states remembering back.

"Like they hated that you were Colby's sister." Chris adds, "It's not like you had a choice in that."

"It's because they didn't believe I was his sister. They thought it was a lie and I was just some girl who liked him and he had a small thing for me."

"That's so weird and uncomfortable for the two of you." Nick makes a face feeling bad.

"Oh, it was super weird. Seeing edits of people shipping you with your brother." Dani shakes her head, "I also grew up with unnecessary hate so you can't scare me off." She adds for the viewers.

"Give it up." Matt speaks up making Nick laugh.

"Like I said last time, she's staying." Chris tells the viewers.

"Oh, I've also been called jobless since I don't have my own place yet." Dani adds laughing.

"You're part of a modeling company..." Matt looks at her.

"It's a very unique company that's very diverse." Nick adds.

"The shortest model is 4'7 and the tallest is 6'10. We have from a size zero to 7X and up. They also let us come up with designs for the clothing brand. I mean, you have to work your way up to get you own line in the brand, which I'm almost there." Dani explains smiling proud of herself.

"You also have that little thing on the side that's in the works." Nick adds.

"That too. It's still a secret." She agrees, "Oh, off topic slightly! And I'm sorry if it makes you guys uncomfortable, but I'm gonna make this clear for some people out there. You know who you are... My boobs are not fake! People think I paid for them. No, I'm just a 4'11 girl with DDs and a descent nice ass, which also isn't fake." Dani looks straight into the cameras, "I'm sorry but I gotta make that clear."

"Trust her!" Nick gets loud with wide eyes, "They're real."

"Nick..." Matt looks at him.

"We were playing around and if they were fake... They would've popped." Nick laughs while Matt and Chris just look at him.

"His elbow landed so hard on my boob I cried it hurt so bad." Dani gives more context to what happened.

"Is that when she didn't talk to you for a whole day?" Chris thinks back.

"Yes,"

"He kept apologizing for the whole day." Matt remembers.

"She was so upset." Nick chuckles feeling bad.

"Let my elbow land hard on you nuts. Then you would understand and ignore me too."

After the podcast while Dani was in her Chris pokes his head into her room, "You busy?" He asks her.

"Nope, just listing to music while I type. What up?" She turns to face him as he comes into her room.

"Nothing just bored." He takes a seat on her bed.

"So you came to bug me?" She laughs at him.

"Well, Nick is editing and Matt is playing Fortnite so..." He messes with his hands, "Do you wanna go out?" He asks, "I mean like to the mall and stuff?" He adds quickly.

"I knew what you meant Chris." She can't help but laugh at him as he looked embarrassed, "But yeah I wanna go."

"Great, I'm gonna go get my stuff." He rushes out to go to his room while she gets ready to go.

When she was gone she walks to Matt's room since he was the closest, "Hey," She pokes her head in so he looks over at her, "Chris and I are heading out. We'll be back later."

"Okay, have fun." He gives her a thumbs up, "Wait, where are you guys going?" He asks before she closes the door.

"He wants to go to the mall so I'm taking him." She leaves as Chris comes up his stairs ready to go.

"That's a cute shirt. New?" Chris asks as they get in her car.

"Thanks and yes. Matt bought it for me. Like how I said said the sweater would look on him he did the same with this shirt for me." She explains starting the car so Chris just nods his head.

"He knew exactly what he was doing picking that shirt..." Chris thinks to himself glancing over at her. It was a cherry print buckle lace up cami top that hugged her curves perfectly as she matched it with a jean skirt.

[sidekick-hero]

(steddie | explicit | wc: 2.6k | cw: open ending, mention of Eddie/OMC, short Steve/OFC scene| tags: frat boy steve, modern au, fuckbuddies, not really unrequited love | AO3)

Written for @steddielovemonth, prompt: Love is being terrified but not letting that stop you from taking the leap

Steve screwed up, no way around it. Fucked up big time.

In his defense, he didn't know that Eddie was in love with him. How could he have known? For all intents and purposes, they were just two horny guys hooking up. Having fun, blowing off steam.

For Steve, it had just been some harmless fucking around with the pretty guy who sells weed at the Sigma Chi parties.

At least, that's how it started.

They met at the very first Sigma Chi party he attended after his initiation. Eddie had been making the rounds, trading goods for money, and Jason, the current vice president and right hand to their president Billy Hargrove, had told Steve to try some, the freak sold good shit. It was the only reason he was allowed to enter the Sigma Chi house in the first place.

Steve, who had vowed to make a good impression and earn the respect of his brothers, did as he was told, even though he knew what his father would say about him smoking pot. But he also thinks his father would approve if it helped Steve's chances of moving up in the chapter faster. His father was president of Sigma Chi when he was in college, and Steve knows that he expects Steve to follow in his footsteps.

It's rare that Steve's father even acknowledges Steve outside of snide remarks and orders, but the day Steve told him during their weekly Sunday family dinner after church that he had successfully completed his pledge and would become a Sigma Chi brother, his father had patted him on the back and said, "Well done, son."

He's been chasing that high ever since, and he won't stop until he's president himself. Maybe then his father will look at him with the same pride and affection he's seen other fathers show their sons. He can be as good as they are, even better. He will prove himself.

None of his plans had included Eddie Munson.

It wasn't like Steve hadn't fooled around with other guys, a quick handjob in the shower after practice, or that one time Tommy had gotten down on his knees for Steve after one too many beers by Steve's pool. None of those times counted, though, because Steve might not be as straight as everyone thought he was, but that didn't mean he was going to act on his desires once he was out of school and ready to take on his responsibilities as a man.

He would graduate with a degree in business, just like his father.

He would become president of his chapter of Sigma Chi, just like his father.

And he would marry a pretty girl with a respectable family and good connections, just like his father.

All of these plans took a back seat in his mind the moment Steve saw Eddie on his knees for one of his brothers. As he watched Eddie suck and lick Patrick's cock like it was a popsicle in the middle of summer, he was frozen in place, his eyes and mouth wide open. The look on Eddie's face was what got to Steve the most, completely blissed out, his eyes closed as drool and pre-cum dripped down his chin.

No girl had ever looked like that while blowing Steve.

Tommy hadn't looked like that either.

In that moment he knew he needed Eddie to look like that for Steve.

That's how it started, really. The next time Eddie was at one of their mixers, Steve couldn't look away, his eyes fixed on Eddie's full lips curled around the haughty grin he always wore when dealing with members of the chapter. The girl he'd been making out with just seconds before only got his attention back when she started kneading him through his jeans, and he told himself that's why his dick twitched in anticipation every time he saw Eddie from now on.

He took her to his room and made her come twice before sinking into her, only able to come himself when he thought of Eddie's brown eyes blinking up at him before closing in utter bliss as Steve fed his cock into his waiting mouth.

Afterwards, he walked her to her dorm because he's still a gentleman. He told himself he wasn't disappointed when Eddie was already gone by the time they made their way through the party, which was already on the wane by then.

She told him she had fun and that maybe they could do this again, to which Steve agreed easily, already knowing that they wouldn’t. He kissed her goodnight and waited until she was safe inside before he walked back to the house, deep in his thoughts. That’s why he didn’t even notice the dark figure waiting for him on their porch.

“You’re quite the gentleman, aren’t you, Harrington? Making her scream and then walking her home? Didn’t think a proper frat boy would do either, to be honest.”

Eddie emerged from the shadows, the light streaming out from the window casting a faint glow on his high cheekbones and round nose. His dark brown eyes seemed bottomless, their depths illuminated with a reddish hue as they reflected the glimmering tip of his joint.

“I don’t see why that's any of your business, Munson. You're overstaying your welcome here. We don’t need any more party favors. Piss off.”

Eddie clicked his tongue in mock disappointment.

"I don't think so. I have a feeling that I have left a customer unsatisfied. Isn't that right, big boy?"

Without Steve noticing, too caught up in everything that was going on, Eddie had come close enough for Steve to feel the warmth of his body against the crisp fall air.

Swallowing audibly, Steve willed his body to take a step back, only to have Eddie follow him until he felt the railing dig into his backside.

"I have no idea..." he stammered, his heart pounding in his chest and blood rushing through his body. To his abject horror, he felt his cock hardening in his jeans.

As if sensing this, Eddie moved even closer so that he could slip his leg between Steve's, his thigh pressed firmly against the bulge at the front of Steve's pants.

"Oh, but I think you do, Stevie. That," and he rubbed his thigh along the straining length of Steve's cock in a delicious drag that had him moaning before he could stop himself, "tells me you know what I'm talking about."

Eddie then started to move his leg, pushing up and basically forcing Steve to ride his thigh. At least that's what Steve told himself, he had no choice but to buck his hips and rub against the offered leg like he was in heat.

"I saw you. When you watched me blow Pat." Steve wants to be horrified, but his cock twitches again at the memory, even as he mentally scoffs at Eddie calling the guy 'Pat' like they're pals. "And I noticed the way you were watching me tonight. You're a naughty boy, aren't you? Did you think about me on my knees for you while you were fucking her, huh?"

Like an out of body experience, Steve had felt his hips pick up speed, those dirty, humiliating words spoken in Eddie's deep, slightly patronizing voice pushing buttons he didn't even know he had. He was close, just rubbing one out on a guy's leg on the front porch of their chapter house, where one of his brothers could walk in on them at any moment.

In that moment, he hated Eddie.

He also wanted to kiss him, so he grabbed the front of Eddie's shirt and pulled him in, biting his lips until they opened for his tongue. It was the safest way to muffle his moans when he came in his pants a few minutes later.

After that it became a habit and three months later fucking Eddie was as much a part of his life as going to church with his parents on Sunday.

And that was fine, he had become well versed in the art of compartmentalizing. A word he had learned from Robin, who sat next to him in his elective psych class and had become something of a friend. Not close enough to confide in yet, but someone with whom he could be a version of himself that he liked a lot more than Sigma Chi brother Steve.

But then Eddie had to go and change the script of their hookups.

It usually went like this: Steve would text Eddie, usually a simple "wanna fuck?" to which Eddie would almost always reply "sure" within five minutes. He'd come over to Eddie's because he couldn't risk one of his brothers finding out, so his room was off-limits, and Eddie would be waiting for him with lube and condoms ready next to the bed. At least Steve liked to think they were there for him.

He hadn't seen Eddie with any other guys since they started to hook up. Not that that would have been a problem, but it was just safer, Steve thought, that's why he liked that thought so much.

They would fuck, Steve would ask if he could take a shower, to which Eddie would always say yes, and then join him under the hot spray for another round. Then Steve would leave until the next time.

Only one day, Eddie had begun to change their routine. He had offered Steve something to eat afterward, claiming he had some pizza left over and asking if Steve was hungry. Which he was, they had been at it for two hours, and he didn't have much to eat for lunch anyway. So they sat on Eddie's bed, still naked, and ate pizza.

It became a habit.

It led to Steve staying longer and longer at Eddie's. Sharing a meal became eating while watching a movie on Eddie's laptop. And then, a few weeks later, after a particularly grueling week, Steve fell asleep while watching Friday the 13th. He woke up tucked into Eddie's side on the bed, a blanket thrown over them, and Eddie snoring softly next to him.

Steve watched him sleep for a long time before he silently slipped out of bed and into the night.

Another thing that had changed in the months they'd been together was the way they fucked. They had quickly worked their way up from hand jobs and blow jobs, and the first time Steve had sunk into Eddie's tight heat, Eddie on his hands and knees urging him on, he knew he would crave that particular feeling for the rest of his straight married life.

They never fucked face-to-face.

Until they did.

It had been Eddie who had pinned Steve down on the bed, back against the headboard, staring up at Eddie as the man coated Steve's hard cock with lube. He had thrown his legs over Steve's and sat on his lap, slowly sinking down onto Steve. It had been maddening. It had been so good that Steve had seen stars, so overwhelmed with pleasure that he had bitten Eddie's shoulder to keep himself from crying out.

Soon, face-to-face had become their new routine.

It was the beginning of the end.

The last time Steve had had Eddie like this, Steve had been on his back with Eddie between his legs, thrusting so deep into him that Steve thought he could feel him in his throat. The weight of Eddie on top of him didn't feel suffocating, it felt grounding. Safe.

Eddie had begun to feel grounding and safe, and Steve didn't know what to do with it, so he just wrapped his legs around Eddie's narrow waist to spur him on.

The way Eddie held him felt different, almost tender, even as he started to fuck him harder, finally fucking him like he meant it. Their chests were pressed together and Eddie's hand gripped Steve's shoulders for leverage while Steve clawed at Eddie's back as he flew higher and higher. One of his hands slid down Eddie's back and grabbed his ass to pull him further in, as if there was any way Eddie could go any deeper.

They both came within seconds of each other, their bodies shaking from the pleasure that was still coursing through them, and Steve never felt better.

At least until Eddie lifted his head and looked down at him and said with wonder in his voice, "God, I love you.”

It was as if he blacked out, someone else taking over his body as he pushed Eddie off of him, scrambling to get up and get dressed as he yelled, "No, no, no, no!"

"Steve?" Eddie had asked, his larger-than-life persona reduced to something small and breakable. "I know we haven't talked about it, but I thought... you can't tell me there's nothing between us but two guys fucking. Not anymore."

And he was right, that was the problem.

Everything Steve had worked so hard for and he almost threw it all away by falling for someone his friends or parents would never approve of. He just couldn't do it, it was too much to ask of him. Even for Eddie.

"There's nothing between us but two guys fucking. I'm sorry you caught feelings, Munson, but that's not my problem."

"'Sorry you caught feelings'? Are you kidding me?"

"I don't know what you want me to say. Maybe stay away from the house for a while and sell your shit somewhere else, yeah? Don't make it harder on yourself."

Steve walked out before he could see Eddie's reaction to his words, but he did as Steve asked and stayed away.

He should be happy, after all, he had dodged a bullet. Patrick might like to get his rocks off with another guy once in a while, but Patrick was no president material. Patrick was no Harrington.

So why was Steve holed up in his room while his brothers downstairs were celebrating the end of the semester like there was no tomorrow?

Because Steve screwed up, no way around it. Fucked up big time.

He fell in love with Eddie Munson.

Steve could have Eddie with him, in this bed, right now, if he hadn't pushed him away out of fear. And now, five weeks later, Eddie was going out with a guy Steve hadn't seen before. He'd seen them kissing outside the cafeteria, in broad daylight, with people milling around. No one had given a shit about it. No one but Steve, who had felt the pain of his heart squeezing in his chest. Squeezing his nose to hold back the tears, he rushed to the nearest bathroom and pressed his burning face against the cool tiles.

What was he supposed to do now?

Steve knew what he wanted to do. He wanted to leave that house that had felt more like a jail to him and go over to Eddie’s, climb into his bed, and let himself be held. There, in the safety of Eddie’s arms and the cover of the night, he could have told Eddie that he might love him, too. Steve could have admitted that he was scared, terrified even, and Eddie… Eddie would probably have teased him. He could almost have heard his voice, asking Steve, “And you were letting that stop you?” like the thought was laughable.

Maybe it was. Maybe it should have been.

Steve didn’t know. He hated that he didn’t know what would have happened if he hadn’t let it stop him.

Maybe some things were worth taking a leap and trusting that someone would catch you.

Before he could have let his fear stop him, he pushed himself off his bed and put on his shoes.

Maybe it was time to try to be the man he wanted to be, not the man his father wanted him to be. And that man was in love with Eddie Munson and willing to take a leap for him.

He just hoped Eddie would catch him on the other side.

[overtaken-stream]

This is just a random idea, not very likely to happen but with all the King having a little daughter asks I got "ideas". Honestly imagine reader finding out she's pregnant and no matter how much she loves king, in the end if he were to find out she's pregnant with him that means the chances of her exploring the world are 0%, since it's most likely King will keep them somewhere near him in Wano.

After finding out about pregnancy, let's say the reader used her "position" aka people seeing her often with King and realizing what they were to get aboard the ship. I don't think the chances are high because I do believe that someone would inform King about your whereabouts and he would fly to get you lol

With the slim chance you made it out of the Wano somehow, years have passed and you have given birth to a daughter who looks exactly like her dad, including his lunarian traits, the reader has no choice but to shield her daughter from the world and cover he true identity.

I believe that eventually this would bring attention to Big Mom pirates, who ended up taking you alongside your daughter. Big Mom bears no interest in reader, only her half lunarian daughter but the little girl protests so much when they threaten to separate her from her that Big Mom ends up marrying you off to one of her children just to keep the little girl quiet. Big Mom does plan on ending you once the daughter is independent.

Now, news travel fast around and once King is informed about Big Mom missing only 2 races instead of 3, he really isn't aware its his child.

Somehow I believe that Big Mom still asked King to join her crew but added the part about how "A father shouldn't leave his daughter alone." I won't elaborate much on his reaction, I love angst and the idea that King gained something finally and it got taken away from him breaks me. + The little girl holding onto Katakuri's pants (just an example for our "husband") and she calls Katakuri papa and is confused what does a man looking like her want from her (King)

Can't have him being happy, all the favourite characters have to suffer <3

Omg, the angst and drama.

The chances of the reader escaping Kaido's hold are very very slim, but let me add an alternate ending to this.

Imagine that The Beast Pirates, mainly King, placed an underground bounty on her (unaware of the pregnancy). The very act of escaping brought numerous obstacles and bounty hunters that were nearly impossible to evade. Surviving under these circumstances must have been incredibly challenging for any pregnant woman, but the reader's experience was the sole reason she managed to stay alive for 10 months. When the reader deemed an island safe, she gave birth on some island in the New World. This situation strongly reminds me of Rouge D. Portgas – a mother doing whatever it takes to protect her child.

That was until one of Big Mom's Officers showed up (probably one who was after Reader's bounty), In her weakened state, she fell prisoner to them. After discovering the newborn, the circumstances became complicated once the officer informed their mother. Big Mom uncovered the baby, who, mind you, would cry hysterically every time somebody who wasn't reader touched her. She deemed the child important, but not Reader. However, Big Mom was forced to comply and let her stay for the baby's sake. To be honest, she would NEVER waste her son Katakuri's talents and race on a normal human. Her main goal is to get the daughter on her side as soon as possible, be it through manipulation, threats to the reader's safety, brainwashing, or using just her biological mother as a weak point."

In any case, she would end up with Reader's daughter completely under her control and Reader getting handed over to the Beast Pirates (If they manage to survive the Straw Hats ofc + Big Mom probably fed lies to the daughter to convince her to let the Reader go) with King having no knowledge of his family, Reader will end up telling him at some point for her daughter's safety and the rest is history.

[dzdv]

Lonestar Finale

MY SHAYLA! DON'T LEAVE ME!!!

Okay so I know everyone and their mothers hates Owen, and I get it if he ain't the character for you and how he just has to be central to everything (he is the protagonist of the show, unlike not really having one in the OG show), BUT I do love him and TK so them being together when the meteor landed hit me right in my feels. I feel like they've well and truly lost the true connection they had in season 1, which would be fine with all the plot that has happened but the characters talk about it like they are back to normal even though the scenes they have prove that wrong. Also ofc bro wasn't going to die, are you kidding? It's Owen Strand.

I love Tommy but I feel like making her live for a happy ending is kind of a cop out. I mean, I'm happy she's alive but sometimes you need that bittersweet feeling, you know? Giving her the whole cancer arc and seeing Charles just to go 'nah she's fine' is crazy to me. If they knew they wanted her alive at the end, they should have wrote a better character arc for her season instead of giving us another cancer scare.

I'm not even gonna talk about Mateo's deportation stuff because it genuinely feels like such a minority character cop out to go 'OF COURSE THEY ARE GONNA HAVE A DEPORTATION SCARE'. Sure, I think it's important to have representation of such an important and scary thing that happens to real people, but it should have been for an episode and not just a random arc to give to Mateo. Not every mexican character has to have a deportation scare. (also literally having this during the scariest time for people in america with the ICE raids is just insane to me)

Nancy was my paramedic captain queen. Honestly don't know much of what she did because I feel like the writers don't care about her story and just how she ties into everyone else's story.

I'm so very very very happy that Judd became captain because he deserves it and I love him to bits. Having Grace not here was just a stab to the heart but if the actress didn't wanna come back, then there isn't much we can do but headcanon. Also where the fuck was Wyatt like half the season? I haven't heard anything about him.

I'm gonna be honest, I don't even know anything about Paul and Marjan from this season other than Marjan getting married which seems insane to me after the whole decades old fiance thing. I think Paul had like a rookie or something he was training?

Tarlos my Tarlos. I love Carlos angst. I love TK Strand. I love the finale of them and Jonah being a family unit. I will have a better run down when I can actually watch the show myself instead of reading articles and tiktoks, but I feel like they lacked alot of 'we are married and even though Carlos is losing his shit, we are happy together'. I think everyone immediately knew when the problem with adopting Jonah came that TK was gonna quit his job. There was absolutely no way Carlos becomes a Texas Ranger like his Dad and avenges his father's death only for him to quit to be a father (something that yes, he eventually wants, but doesn't want it as badly as TK does).

THE METEOR. I DO NOT CARE FOR YOUR APOCALYPTIC JUMPSCARE. I DO NOT CARE FOR THE METEOR. There are 10 billion other things they could do but they decided to do 'BYE BYE TEXAS- oh wait nah, you're fine.'

I'm sad this season's script was shit. I'm sad that everything was rushed because of the cancellation. I'm sad Lonestar is ending because I love most of the characters. Will this still be a comfort show for me because I've gained an appreciation for gay firefighters? Of course. Do I want the 126 (totally didn't accidentally write 118 here . . .) to do everything ever and be happy for the end of time? Absolutely. Do I wave Owen Strand off to go suck his own dick in New York with a smile? With the glee of seeing your enemy eat shit.

All and all, I will miss this show. And I hope we get to see the actors thrive in either reprise roles in spin-offs and the OG show or completely new places. The chemistry of the cast is undeniable and I'm so sad to see them part but I look forward to their futures.

[thelioncourts]

newsreader s3 thoughts below (saving my ramblings about sam for the last part so scroll there if you don't want to see complaining until then)

oh, newsreader. how did you fall so far?

newsreader s3 was littered with bad writing on almost every front, writing so bad that the show seemed to forget exactly what it is/was at its heart. running through the basics, every single character's story arc suffered this season, and not suffered in a 'oh they were going through it' (even though they were) but in a regression or complete lack of growth on every front.

dennis - don't have any personal investment in this guy, but we've seen him for two seasons working under lindsay's thumb, wanting and fighting for the leadership position he feels he deserves, and he does get it, but s3 doesn't show us any of how he really got there. he has no solo scenes or even any meaningful interactions leading to him getting that position that it feels unearned in a lot of ways, unearned by the story.

rob - once again, a character I didn't ever really care about YET still a character that has had a prominent story in the first two seasons. rob felt like an afterthought to every story in s3, didn't seem to have shown any growth since getting married, ready to become a father, becoming a father, etc. it felt lacking and as though his entire first two seasons were meaningless to the guy we meet this season.

helen's tv crew - I know, and understand, that helen isn't at news at six anymore so she ofc has a new crew, but there seemed to be a strange amount of focus on them. we are in the final season of a show and we do not know, and in turn do not care about, these people. and we didn't really gain anything in spending a lot of time with them. outside of the random man declaring his love for helen and the show cancellation mess, etc. no one actually did anything for her storyline (and the man declaring his love for her felt out of the blue but whatever)

the newsroom/office - yes, the setting is a character and it felt like we weren't spending near as much time actually reporting in the newsrooms or seeing the news stuff in the office. so much of dale and helen is centered in how much they both are dedicated to their work, and s1 and s2 focused on that so so much so to shift from that in s3 seems like a drastic change and a loss of character development

geoff - killing geoff walters offscreen in favor of writing kay more storyline was a huge mistake. idk if robert taylor just wasn't coming back or what, but if they simply didn't bring him back......wow that was a Choice. if he chose not to come back, I can think of several other storylines they could have given the walters that would have been so much more compelling and in character/show some growth than whatever we had to witness in s3.

noelene - by no means does noelene have to solely girlboss her way through the 1980s, but she was lacking in scenes which in turn had it feeling as though nothing had actually been accomplished in her relationship with rob which in turn also had it feeling as though the only point of her story was to point out to her husband that he can be racist and misogynistic even if he's in love with her.

nick - our recurring male escort character, oh boy. theoretically, nick could have been a really compelling story. but to do that, we needed to see how dale got to this point - risking getting caught after all of his freakouts about his sexuality in the first two seasons - because it feels very out of character for dale to have a male escort on speed dial and if I'm supposed to actually look at their relationship, I need to know a little about this guy/how this dynamic with dale was built/etc. instead it was like 'oh btw the most closeted guy on the planet has a male escort he sees super regularly byeeee'

tim - sticking with dale and men, let's talk about tim. obviously love tim, missed him a lot in s2, but honestly I think the show either needed to keep him entirely away from s3 OR needed to give us some basic closure with him and dale and show us more of tim's life. it felt like he was just thrown in to satisfy the daletim fans (which, yes, I do qualify there some ofc) and they were like 'okay, did our job'

lindsay - lindsay has always been one note and that's worked in terms of antagonism, but I would have liked to have seen more when he saw dale was really gunning for him. yes, he threatened him and whatever, but lindsay is so used to getting things his way, I wish we could have seen how insane he would be when feeling backed into a corner

evelyn - the walters storyline should have been more centered on her and should have either shown her snapping after the loss of her husband and kay having to grow up, step up, and perhaps take them away from all the stuff that reminds them of him and go somewhere new, especially because his time at news at six ended so badly, etc. OR showing kay struggling with the loss of her father and falling back into addiction and evelyn and her finally having a real heart to heart about all the ways they've hurt each other and realizing they're all they have left in the world, rebuilding that mom/daughter relationship...but alas

kay - alright let's get into it. it felt as though so much of the writing suffered because they were trying to write an unnecessary storyline for kay walters. not only did kay display no growth or add anything to dale's actual storyline, but what she did do was highlight the weakest parts in the writing. wdym that helen - who has witnessed firsthand kay's manipulation and addiction - is seemingly fine with kay and dale and doesn't tell dale any of this about kay? wdym that we spend sooo much time with kay and dale when so much of s1 and s2 is about dale struggling with his sexuality and we could have used that time to, idk, NOT push dale's queerness to the side in favor of a straight relationship no one has any investment in? wdym I had to watch kay on my screen instead of helen? just an unnecessary and forced character who took precious and needed time away from other storylines that needed more exploration.

helen - darling angel sent from heaven, helen definitely had the best s3 storytelling out of all the characters and, of course, anna torv is the most stunningly amazing actor. I feel like I do need to watch s3 again before I make too many statements about helen, but she really is everything. such a dynamic character, full of so much passion and life and emotion and talent. my true only criticisms involving helen are what I said above re: her not telling dale about kay, but mostly a writing issue regarding dale and helen that I will elaborate on below

and, of course, dale - dale dale dale. loml. I was soooo confused about a lot about him during s3. the daddy dom thing, the escort, the kay bullshit, the constant verge of a psychotic breakdown. I do understand aspects of a lot of those things, but it wasn't done well. that being said the finale almost made it all worth it, and sam. well. I'll elaborate on all of this below as I talk about specific issues with the writing choices and then gush about sam reid but.

so to clarify, all my criticisms of dale in particular have zerooooo to do with sam's acting. in fact, sam did so much with so little in those first few episodes that I'm floored by the talent, as per usual. the way that he is so unafraid to be ugly, to put all of himself out there for the sake of authenticity, to give us every emotion in its full capacity, and to do so so effortlessly.....and his physicality as an actor continues to be unmatched, it's truly something I'm always left in awe after seeing and it felt as though he was tuned in to the nth degree when filming s3. he's just so so so dynamic and beautiful and talented and I feel like we are really witnessing greatness in a way that almost does not exist on the screen anymore. that finale is masterclass, it sets the nerve alight, it's everything. he digs in sooo deep and emerges to give performances that very few actors could ever hope to accomplish at all in their careers. it's an honor to see, truly, and I wish so much that he had better material to work with throughout this whole season.

and the season, at its core, struggled because the writers seemed to forget this was the helendale show. helen not seeing dale wasn't okay until the car crash felt like a drastic and unrealistic regression in their relationship, their conversation in 3x1 about careers and missing one another and relationship status was so beautiful and then felt pointless with how quickly and unnecessarily he moved to kay. the scenes they were together were by far the best scenes of the whole season and those scenes were severely lacking. instead I had to watch the really bad line deliveries kay attempted in scenes with dale, see his totally unexplored and unexplained relationship with nick, and be left wanting for far more than we saw.

anyway. sam reid, ily forever, actor of all time. newsreader....I miss the strength of s1 and am sad we, obviously, won't ever return to that. dale jennings, I hope you find happiness in your future. I'll miss you forever.

[lunarhobbits]

misc sweeney hcs

(disclaimer. i am new-ish here and have no idea how popular/prevalent any of these are go easy on me ok. also a lot of these are dadben related wh o o p s)

i've seen some variance of if this is canon in fics and stuff but i really do like the idea of the barkers also living above the pie shop in addition to the barbershop being there. similar situation w the pie shop/lovett living quarters. ig it's just easier to picture in my head then????

(p sure the b*rton film confirms smth like this but i'm ignoring it bc i don't like that guy. this idea is mine now)

part of the reason i like this so much is it means that benjamin barker had all the more time to have lovely moments with lucy and johanna when he wasn't busy with clients

(this also makes sweeney returning there without them all the more painful. if he sits and doesn't do anything then he's flooded by memories of the life he had in those same walls fifteen years ago. like no wonder sweeney's so bent out of shape by being forced to wait for the judge and the beadle to come to him)

johanna had only JUST started walking when ben was transported. he was so excited and happy and loved to try and assist her, encouraging her to take steps holding his hands. chattering away about her with any customer that would listen, perhaps even showing her off ("look at my jo! she's such a fine girl!" "i'm sure she is, mr. barker, but could you please finish shaving me?")

he bought johanna a little lacy bonnet when she was a week old. she didn't need something so fancy at such a young age, and lucy had already sewn her a few bonnets months prior. it wasn't the most sound financial decision he ever made. but oh, his girl just had to have it, and it's a little big, she could grow into it! (lucy admits she looks very cute with it on, even though she says johanna doesn't need it)

(the bonnet is left forgotten in a drawer somewhere for years, until sweeney opens that particular drawer and finds it gathering dust upon his return. he feels sick seeing it, reminding him again how much he missed. then he puts it back and refuses to give it any mind.)

nellie lovett was infuriated by lucy barker in that way that you can't quite pinpoint why you're mad other than they're "too perfect" or "too pretty" or something. ofc there was the fact she was married to ben, but i think there was a little "get out of my school" energy going on there too

idk exactly how lucy ended up on the street (or in bedlam, as lovett says in the finale) but i do think that nellie was, sadly, at least complicit in inaction to stop this from happening (if not having thrown her out herself)

anthony is the sweetest dude around and genuinely loves johanna. doesn't matter that he barely knows her when he says he'd marry her, he knows that he's going to be happy as long as she is

johanna loves him too, and she's surprised by it. not because of anything to do with anthony, but because she's felt so little real love in her life (that she can remember). it's a wonderful and frightening rush looking at him, sometimes, but then he squeezes her hand, or does something silly, or even just sneezes or clears his throat and she's brought back down to reality, in a good way. that anthony is real, and human like her. she doesn't have to "earn" his love by being utterly perfect.

they get out of london basically as soon as they can, just wanting to leave it all behind, at least for a while

it took a little time and arguing but anthony did end up getting a good sum of money from the judge's death, through johanna's inheritance going to her husband (him). they immediately used this money to finance travel. they both love to travel, anthony promising to show her the beauty of the world that, still, cannot rival her in his eyes

this is all i got that's coherent rn really lol. anyway here you go sweeney todd fans who liked/reblogged my post haha @demonbarberofbeepbeep @captains-clever-goose @little-lovett @fabulousairpirate @funnygirlthatbelle

[clockworkbee]

you're losing me was going through jude's head when cardan exiled her btw

More like, for both of them? I mean, for Jude obviously, in the time between TWK and QoN but both of them throughout QoN as well...?

We thought a cure would come through in time, now, I fear it won't

like that line speaks for itself??? She spent (who knows how much) time thinking for a way around Cardan's words and even when she did, she was just so mad at herself for falling for his trick that she thought it wasn't enough, fearing it wasn't going to solve anything.

Now, I just sit in the dark and wonder if it's time Do I throw out everything we built or keep it?

all of this fits how Jude felt during the time between twk and qon but oh, that last line? Imagine Cardan thinking the stuff he wrote in his letters, thinking she doesn't want to come back anymore because after all he told her about himself, she might have 'placed' her ambition in the mortal world, wondering if he should throw out everything they built or keep it after she's dealt the final blow ? (Because he doesn't know she's not getting the letters, only thinks she chose not to respond!) </3

I'm getting tired even for a phoenix Always risin' from the ashes Mendin' all her gashes You might just have dealt the final blow

not only that, later in qon when Cardan says you never break and Jude feels like she's barely keeping it together?

I sent you signals and bit my nails down to the quick

That's Cardan at the end of twk and later when writing those letters, btw 😭💔 he was so sure she'd get it and be impressed and then he was just panicking, writing her all those letters, not knowing she wasn't receiving them, only that she was choosing not to respond or return.

And the air is thick with loss and indecision I know my pain is such an imposition

I mean, Jude's pov after the ending of twk, sure, but also Cardan's pov when she was captured by the Undersea? Cardan's pov again, when she wouldn't respond or come back? Cardan's pov again when she's taken by Madoc? And then Jude's pov again when Cardan leaves her after confessing his love, then turns into a giant serpent leaving her to act as the Queen and with all the authority and power she'd been wanting for so long??? (I'm not crying!)

Now, you're runnin' down the hallway And you know what they all say "You don't know what you got until it's gone"

Come on, it's both of them! Both of them knowing what it feels like having lost one another?

And all I did was bleed as I tried to be the bravest soldier

alright, that's both of them again, and quite literally, it hurts. Jude bled and bled and bled, and Cardan turned into a serpent + got his head cut off, just for the sake of being done with that prophecy and his and Jude's home!

Fighting in only your army, frontlines, don't you ignore me

It really hits when you think that Jude fought half the time thinking of it as her home and in QoN, not only Cardan's kingdom, but also hers, and Cardan was there addressing her as his Queen but just being a simple faerie boy for her, her Cardan!!! But ofc. it's Jude coz being at the frontline, being the one to free him of the curse and all that?? ❤️💔

And I wouldn't marry me either A pathological people pleaser Who only wanted you to see her

Is that just Jude or Cardan as well? They both wanted to be seen and they both saw eachother and understood eachother best.

And I'm fadin', thinkin' "Do something, babe, say something" (Say something)

Jude at the end of twk and Cardan afterwards...

"Lose something, babe, risk something" (You're losin' me) "Choose something, babe, I got nothing" (I got nothing) "To believe, unless you're choosin' me"

that's literally Jude before cutting off the serpent's head because she'd rather lose him than keep him bound, she'd rather risk it all, she'd rather choose him to be free, she'd rather have nothing at all, if only she gets him back, if only he chooses her (which he did)!!! *Screaming!*

That was pretty long but omg, thanks for that ask. The moment I heard the song, I was all about them in my head and if not for you, I never would have put it into a post 🥺

[hergrandplan]

Hey hey Nina 💜,

Favourite yr character apart from Wilmon and why? Favourite non wilmon scene?

Wanna share something about a wip ?

Hi Sophia💜

My favorite YR character apart from Wilmon has to be Felice. I mean... she's a badass! I love her honesty, that despite being afraid of the backlash she knew she would get, she spoke the truth in those interviews in season 3, that she was honest about what happened at initiation. And I love her arch! I think, out of every single character, her development is the best. From going to a pretty shallow girl who straightened her hair every day to look 'pretty' (also because she was taught to believe curls aren't pretty) and who only cared about marrying someone rich and well-off (which she did! she was honest to Wille about liking him more because he was a prince, and ofc the whole relationship with August, and that one comment in e1 about August's kids not being princes), to someone who finally found true beauty in herself and in her curls, and realized what was good for her and what wasn't.

And I think that's why my favorite non-Wilmon scene is also with her. I actually have two, and both are with Sara as well. One is in s3e6 at the party, where she tells Sara about how Sara made her realize she was beautiful (like damn. okay lesbians), but also where Sara talks about how sometimes there's more important things than romantic love! And how love for yourself and your friends can be equally as important and good and even better!

And there's the scene at the end, where Felice chooses to go with Sara and not to New York. It's very privileged to be like "sure New York can wait", but I just love it. She chose what was right for her, and that was to stay in Sweden. And I'm just so damn proud of my girl.

And regarding a WIP... I'm trying to not share as much about WIPs this year, not until they're like, stories that I'm 100% certain I'll post, but I guess I can share a little something from waht is undoubtedly the funniest concept I have ever worked on:

Simon didn’t know what he expected to happen, but he definitely hadn’t expected a loud alarm to start blasting through the house. He reached up his hands to cover his ears, but it stopped up as soon as it started, leaving Simon standing confused in the living room. Then, before he could dwell on that, there was the sound of a turning door knob, and the front door opened. Simon hadn’t really thought about what the other guy might look like. He never really had a type, though he always was a sucker for pretty eyes and blond hair. But, if he did have a type, it’d definitely be the guy who just walked in.

If anyone remembers, this is the Reality TV show au that I started writing for whatever reason. Idt I'll finish it but it is kind of funny to work on.

Thank you for asking!

Ask me anything! (YR/Omar/fic/whatever you want)

[yogorlhilanne]

BREAKING MY SILENCE

I'll probably make this on Twitter also, though I doubt it'll really attract (on both Tumblr and Twitter) many people but OH MY FUCKING GOD. THIS NEEDS TO BE SAID.

I know OTHER people have probably talked about this (or maybe not)— plus the Harry Potter fandom is probably dead at this point or maybe still thriving somehow in ways I don't really know but LILY FUCKING EVANS MADE THE WORST DECISION POSSIBLE AFTER ENDING HER AND SEVERUS' FRIENDSHIP.

Look, she was like practically a minor character yet was kinda important to the plot but honestly she deserved to be with someone better than James Potter. No hate or dumb reasons are gonna be thrown at Lily but girlie was dumb as fuck entirely for having a kid with her friends bully who made his school life HELL.

It's been on my mind the more I think about Severus' past and James and Sirius bullying.

I genuinely like Sirius as a character but bro cannot be bullying Snape, like sweetheart we know your an inbred rich child but that doesn't mean you should bully someone who's the LITERAL opposite of you. (expect for neglect and abuse)

James was a fucking jock.

LISTEN & IMAGINE. A friend of yours who you've know for maybe about 6 years calls you the worst insult ever, in a fit of rage, you break the friendship and ofc, leave. That's genuinely completely understandable to one who has common sense.

BUT THEN, after that, you go on to marry your ex friends bully that HAS MADE YOUR EX FRIENDS SCHOOL LIFE MISERABLE AND SHITTY.

Sure it's COMPLETELY understandable how Lily can be mad at Severus for calling her a "Mudblood" because that's a canonical slur against muggle-borns, really, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN SHE HAD TO MARRY SEVERUS' BULLY WHO BULLIED HIM RELENTLESSLY, and that's so fucked up in many ways. And YES. As far as I'm concerned, Lily seemed to only like James because:

He wasn't strongly associated with the dark arts

Wasn't associated with future death eaters/followers of Voldemort

I don't think it's confirmed how long James and Sirius had been bullying Snape but it makes me SOOOO fucking livid that like... HOW THE FUCK DO YOU ACTUALLY LIKE A CHARACTER IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THEIR FLAWS AND HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS? (*Cough Cough* James and Sirius "fans" *COUGH*)

If I'm being 100% honest, I've never seen anyone say "James/Sirius is better than Snape" ever and not even ONCE in my lifetime being in the Harry Potter fandom.

There's really not much on Snape's past during his school years but in all honesty, Lily Evans was dumb as fuck for dating her friends bully like okay, MAYBE James and Sirius did take accountability at one point and confessed to Lily. JUST MAYBE. But I don't remember nor heard anyone saying that was true nor JK Rowling saying anything about them taking accountability.

AND I DON'T THINK THEY EVEN APOLOGIZED TO SNAPE EITHER. (Maybe regretted it but that's not taking accountability for one's actions, perhaps Remus did but never heard anyone saying that was true either because it's probably just a headcannon and Remus probably didn't even bully Snape at all)

Lily Evans... I love you and all and I don't hate you... You just disappointed me.

LIKE IF I WERE IN LILY'S SHOES I WOULDN'T GET TOGETHER WITH JAMES BECAUSE MY FRIEND HAS ALREADY LIVED A HARD LIFE AT HOME, (she probably didn't know but I would've ask Snape what his home life was and would've saved him unlike Lily) AND JUST BECAUSE SNAPE WASN'T RICH NOR GOOD LOOKING DOESN'T MEAN YOU GET A FUCKING PRIVILEGE TO BULL HIM. OR JUST BECAUSE HE FUCKING EXISTED.

Also I get that Lily was mainly mad at Severus because of his Slytherin friends and that he called her a "Mudblood" BUT IGNORING THE FACT HE GOT BULLIED RELENTLESSLY, NEARLY DIED TO A "prank", LIVED IN AN ABUSIVE HOUSEHOLD (she didn't knew that but imma just put it there anyways) AND THAT HE HAD HOPED THAT HOGWARTS WOULD HAVE MADE HIS LIFE BETTER BUT IT GOT DESTROYED, IS UTTERLY DISAPPOINTING AND FLABBERGASTING TO ME.

No hate to people who genuinely ship James and Lily (love the fanarts) but Lily deserved better than that. Perhaps she also knew about the werewolf incident but if I were her I would've BITCH SLAPPED Sirius to remind him of being inbred and stupid as fuck BECAUSE WHAT????

A prank—as far as I acknowledge, shouldn't put someone's life in DANGER and in a LIFE OR DEATH situation SIRIUS 'INBRED' BLACK.

I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYONE YET TALKING ABOUT THIS AND SHITTING ON LILY (for being flawed ofc yet dumb as shit). Lily in general is a good person but she had flaws that needed to be talked about and HERE I AM.

James & Sirius bullying was ignorant and really unjustifiable, Peter and Remus should've known better but I don't ENTIRELY blame them but they should've known fucking better. Lily WAS understandable up until she got together with James and I kinda wanna bitch slap her right now.

Honestly if I were Lily, I genuinely would've gotten together with Snape and ACTUALLY helped him like any person with COMMON SENSE would do.

And to end it off with a cherry on top. James and Sirius bullying Snape should be talked about more and we should shit on them for their flaws yet ignorance actions that they didn't even try to take any single OUNCE of accountability for. Just because you learned from your bullying mistakes and "becoming a more mature and better person" isn't justifiable and shows your blind fucking ignorance to your affects of bullying to other people you dumb dipshit fucker.

(Will possibly edit this again but I'll post this now bc it's been in my drafts for some time and it NEEDS to be sent out rn)

[manfred-volkarin]

cannot stop thinking about what a fucked up childhood Rachel had like

as a toddler, fled with her family from Lothering/The Fifth Blight

moved to the worst city in the world for baby apostates (she wasn't a mage YET when they arrived, but they started her EARLY on learning to recognize/avoid templars without drawing their suspicion just in case)

experienced debilitating migraines for months on end during early puberty. everyone keeps expecting this to lead to her setting the curtains on fire or turning the bed to ice or whatever but no. it's just godawful migraines and an uncanny ability to know where people are (except dwarves) (it is also unreliable in crowded areas)

finally cast an actual fucking spell. by accident. in the market. luckily this is after her father has already saved the city from qunari invasion so most of the witnesses steadfastly pull a "didn't see shit" attitude

her dad's weird boyfriend who lives in her house and treats her so STRANGELY (because he has no idea how to act around this free mage kid. completely insane concept to him) starts teaching her magic (and so does her dad's dalish friend. and her dad ofc). if anything, this makes him treat her even more distantly

her dad's weird fucking boyfriend blows up a chantry and the 3 of them + the dog have to flee the city.

fled back to ferelden during the time before/beginning of the mage rebellion. FOR THREE YEARS until the conclave. everyone is fucking miserable btw. no one wants to be on the road, dodging templars, trying to teach a young mage magic without getting caught, etc. and like. idk what was going through justice/anders thoughts at this point but i doubt it was optimistic.

but the conclave. maybe something will come of tha- oh never mind it blew up and now there's a hole in the sky and now they're dodging demons AND templars AND mages that have gone nuts and started attacking everyone for some fucking reason (and trying to help refugees because that's who they ARE)

the inquisition recruits the mages as equal allies. nobody knows what this means for apostates

corypheus shows his silly face and varric summons hawke to skyhold. anders and rachel try to blend into denerim so he'll know where to find them. it is still so awkward between them. it's been YEARS- this is a serious relationship-he still doesn't know how to talk to her-he feels like he ruined her childhood but it was necessary-she just wants her dad to be happy-some waitress makes a crack about her having her father's...eye-she snorts and says he's not her dad-she'd call him stepdad or pop if they ever bothered to get married but

i think at this point something breaks a little in anders because that man was raised in a circle and circle mages don't get to be parents and maybe now he's realizing that's something he wants and she's...giving him an in? surely he's misinterpreting this he should definitely ask for clarity-

oh sorry nevermind we're just going to be interrupted by royal guards and a whole-ass warden commander storming into the tavern because of course someone in fucking DENERIM recognized anders ya bunch of boobs

It Is Awkward

Rachel ends up on a first-name basis with the Prince-Consort of Ferelden.

the Hero of Ferelden starts trying to teach her how to shape-shift (shhh he's not a mage shut up don't tell anyone). she gets about as far as turning the fingers of one hand into feathers when her dad returns from the western approach

side-bar: Hawke nervously gives his hero/idol a letter from Loghain to pass onto Anora. a "if you're reading this i'm dead" type of letter. not the sort of exchange one wants to have with one's idol. alas.

the little group heads north to give word/due dilligence to weisshaupt? less sure on this part. still don't know why on earth hawke would feel obligated to do that

leliana is made divine. circles are repealed. mage freedom now? huh????

varric becomes viscount of kirkwall and in no uncertain terms makes it 100% clear to everyone that the Champion of Kirkwall is STILL the Champion and if he wants to come home he can. Blondie can come too. If he must. Fine.

go stark-raving mad being cooped up in a city after all that time on the road. people keep looking at her like they expect her to blow up a chantry too. or kill an arishok. or do some other patently insane thing. parents (bc she's officially treating anders like a stepdad at this point. finally. they bonded while waiting for hawke. yay) notice and summon isabela who recruits her into the Lords of Fortune.

she has a great time! isabela keeps subtly and not so subtly hinting that she's finally not living with her parents so maybe she'd like to finally try dating and sex? just sex? kiss someone for maker's sake? (she's a very supportive friend/aunt/mentor ok)

that goes tits up thanks to a corrupt noble selling dangerous artifacts to venatori. she gets carted off with uncle varric.

"has anyone told merrill we're hunting the dread wolf? can i tell her?"

[saiilorstars]

Ch. 32: The Waiting Game

Fandom: Harry Potter (Hogwarts years 1-7) Pairing: Draco x OFC

taglist: @ocappreciationtag @arrthurpendragon @anotherunreadblog @maaaaarveeeeel @stareyedplanet @foxesandmagic @kmc1989

​​​​Story Masterlist // Romina’s Masterlist

Fanfic • Ao3 • Wattpad

If you’d like to be a part of this OC’s work/edits, let me know!

Book 4:

Romina held her tongue until the moment she got back home. Then, she let it all out. She had a lot of time to digest Rolf's confession on the train ride home and it helped her sort some of her feelings out. The truth of the matter is that she was angry. She was so, so angry.

As soon as she was home, she told her aunt and uncle everything. Needless to say, Sage and Lyonel were in a state of shock. It was clear to Romina that they never expected her to find out, and that just made her even angrier.

"So what, you expected me to live in the dark about this my whole life?" Her dark eyes shifted between the two adults incredulously. "Seriously?"

"I didn't know they had a child," Lyonel said, though it sounded like he was speaking to Sage rather than their expectant niece.

"We never really looked back..." Sage said, meeting Romina's gaze. "Sweetheart, we're sorry—"

"Are you?" Romina cut in sharply. "Because it sounds like you were never going to tell me! It looks like you were intending on lying to me for the rest of my life! How dare you!"

"Romina, watch your tone," warned Lyonel.

"My tone?" Romina was once again incredulous. "Are you kidding me!? You're going to reprimand me about my tone when I just told you that I know that I have a bloody cousin, grandparents, aunts and uncles!? My tone is what worries you right now!?"

"Romina, let's try to calm down," Sage said and moved towards Romina. The girl took the same steps back from her aunt. "Romina, please—"

"NO! According to Rolf and his family, you guys took me away from them! You never told me about them! You didn't let them see me!"

"I had to, Romina! You were in danger!" snapped Lyonel. "After the war, the ministry wasn't exactly giving our family much consideration!"

"But later you could have said something!" Romina argued. "You could have shown me pictures of them! You could have told me about them! It would've made a huge difference in my life knowing that I had another part of a family who weren't evil!"

"I couldn't trust anyone but myself and your aunt and I am not sorry about that!"

"What your uncle means is that we didn't know who we could trust after the war," Sage cut in just as Romina was about to shout again. "A lot of families claimed that they were under the imperius curse and that's why they did whatever the Dark Lord demanded."

"But you knew that Rolf's father wasn't part of that, none of his family was except for my mother!" Romina exclaimed.

"Romina, I couldn't trust anybody. I hardly knew them at that time!" Lyonel said. "Caplan and Elora weren't exactly all for family reunions. They got married without even telling us first!"

"You could have told me," Romina insisted. "Especially when I started Hogwarts."

"We didn't know that Elora's brother had a son," Lyonel repeated, "We don't know anything about them, actually. When we made the decision to leave the wizarding community, we followed through to every extent. We cut off all ties."

"Knowing that one day I would step into it," Romina frowned. "And that's when you should have told me. 'You have grandparents. You have an aunt and an uncle. You have more family'. But you didn't. You let me believe that the only family I had were Death Eater parents. You thought that would be the best for me. To let me wallow with that burden. You have no idea what it's done to me. This whole year—" she swallowed hard, pushing down the tears she felt stinging in her eyes. "This whole year, I've had the worst thoughts about myself."

"Romina...you should have told us," Sage said with a lamenting sigh. "I knew something was wrong...you can always tell us if there's something wrong."

"Like you guys did?" Romina crossed her arms. "You didn't even bother telling them about me — how I was doing, where I was. They didn't know about me until I started Hogwarts and Rolf told them! My grandparents — they've been writing to Dumbledore about me, asking about me! It sounds like they actually want me and...I think I want to see them too."

"What?" Lyonel looked like he had heard the craziest thing in the world. It just made Romina more adamant about her idea.

"I want to meet them. I want to meet my grandmother, my grandfather...I want to see them."

"Absolutely not!" Lyonel started shaking his head. "That's not happening!"

"Lyonel—"

"And why not!?" Romina went over her aunt's voice, glaring at her uncle.

"Because I said so!"

"Oh!" Romina brought a hand to her chest. "As long as it's bloody fair!"

"I said to watch your voice—"

"I DON'T WANT TO!" Romina screamed. "I HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO MEET THE ONLY FAMILY I HAVE LEFT!"

"ROMINA—"

Romina didn't stick around to hear more as she ran towards the stairs, leaving her uncle to call after her. She did not come back down for days. Sage would try to coax her out for meals and resorted to just leaving the food outside her door.

The more that Romina thought about the situation, the stronger she felt about her decision. She had every right to meet her family, at least to ask the questions burning in her mind. How could they not allow something she had a right to? So, in the next days, she thought about her options. And she came up with a simple one, albeit a little out there.

Rolf,

I'm not going to lie, I didn't really see myself writing to you this early into break. It's been hard deciding if I'm upset or not with you, but I'm starting to look at the bigger picture here. I told my aunt and uncle about you, and what you told me. They weren't happy, unsurprisingly. My uncle is taking it the worst. He especially hated when I told him that I wanted to meet our grandparents. He's really against it.

If you were serious about, well, being cousins...help me out here. I truthfully don't know what I'm going to do if I get face to face with our grandparents but I feel like I at least deserve the opportunity to be there. I want to see them.

Romina.

Romina was nerve wrecked for the following days waiting for Rolf's response. She started wondering if she made a mistake writing to him. What if she'd pissed him off the last time they talked? Luckily, her thoughts didn't get too far from her because Rolf wrote back.

Dear Romina,

I hope you don't get mad but I told my parents about this. I think they're talking about it with grandma and grandpa right now. They told me to stay in my room. Don't worry, they'll figure it out. It's different now that you want to come. I think before they left all this alone because they didn't want to overwhelm you. Aren't they lucky I'm around?

Romina had actually laughed at that part. It almost felt like nothing had changed between them and they were just friends again. Your cousins, she soon remembered. Only now it didn't feel as shocking as it had before. Now she felt glee realizing there was someone else she could talk to, and someone her own age!

Just hang tight, Romina. We'll make this work, I promise. Keep writing to me and I'll do my best from over here. Or just write for the sake of writing too. I'd like to get to know you more, if that's alright. I know your birthday's coming around in July! Mine's in March! Guess that makes me older than you!

- Rolf

Romina found solace in his letter. If he could be lighthearted and funny, then maybe things weren't all that bad. She didn't have to be so bitter because at the end of the day, she had a cousin and nobody could take that away from her. She would just have to get smarter about getting to meet the rest of her family.

~ 0 ~

Later that afternoon, Arden was in Romina's bedroom listening to everything that had happened since they returned from school. Arden was shocked that she had found out just now. She was impressed that Romina managed to keep it all under wraps.

"Seems like this year you became an expert at hiding your emotions," she gave Romina a sharp glance. "No more of that, alright?"

Romina waved her off with a dismissive hand. "Just focus! I've been trying to come up with a way to meet my grandparents. I have so many questions and they're the only one who can answer. Merlin knows aunt Sage and uncle Lyonel are very tight lipped about the families."

"Okay, so how are we going to do that?"

"We?"

"Well, you don't think you're going to do it alone, are you? Sign me up!" Arden exclaimed. Romina chuckled. "Bet we can get Harry to help us too! Does he know?"

Romina shook her head. "You're the first I've told. Well, there was also Draco but he just happened to be there."

"And he hasn't said anything yet?" Arden snorted. "Did you have to pay him millions for that?"

"No, I just asked him not to say anything until I was ready."

"Seriously?" Arden said, unconvinced. "Must have caught him on a good day then. I didn't even know he could have those."

Romina laughed. "Okay, back to the point here. I gotta meet them, Arden. I have so many things I want to ask..."

"I bet you do," Arden mused on the list Romina probably had somewhere with questions. "Well hey, why don't we see if Harry can come with us to the parlor and we can talk about all this stuff. Maybe he'll have some ideas."

Romina liked the idea. She hadn't been out since the first day they got back from Hogwarts. As far as she knew, her going out privileges hadn't been revoked and her uncle was working. Aunt Sage was softer and was trying to be the mediator between the two. So, the girls left the room and hurried down the stairs.

"Where are you headed?" Sage called from the kitchen as they crossed the living room.

"To the parlor with Harry!" Romina promptly said. "I can go there, right?"

Arden blinked at the sudden edge in Romina's tone. Even more surprising was that Sage didn't say anything about it. They were out of the house in less than a minute.

"Wow, thought you'd be grounded for sure there!" Arden said as they headed to Harry's.

"Aunt Sage is trying to keep the peace and it's frankly annoying," Romina admitted. "I wish she would just step in already and help out. She knows as much as I do that I should get to meet my other family."

They soon arrived at the Dursley residence and knocked on the front door. Dudley opened up and at the sight of the girls, he whimpered and shut the door on them.

"Uh, okay?" Arden raised an eyebrow at the closed door. "What the hell was that about?"

Romina snickered. She'd forgotten that Sirius had encouraged Harry to use his identity to scare the Dursleys into giving him more freedom and treating him better. Clearly, Harry had taken Sirius' word. She wished she could tell Arden about it but nobody was supposed to know the truth about Sirius Black, at least for the time being.

After knocking a few more times, Harry opened the door next. "Hey Rom!" he greeted. "Hey Arden! What's going on?"

"We were heading to the parlor, wanna come?" Romina said. "Or do you gotta ask for permission?"

"Nope!" Harry said with a pleasant grin. "Let's go!" He stepped out and shut the door without telling the Dursleys anything.

"What had Dudley in such a twist?" Arden asked once they were heading down the block. "He didn't even insult us today. Is he alright?"

"Ooh, he's doing just fine," Harry's grin grew wider as he glanced at Romina.

They reached the parlor soon enough and got their usual orders after greeting the owners. Since they were gone for most of the year, they only really came to the parlor during summer. Once they were sitting together, Romina told Harry about Rolf and the Scamanders.

"Woah, Rom, that's...that's big..." Harry felt bad not having something better to say. Luckily, Romina didn't seem to mind as she just nodded and agreed with him.

She glumly stuck her spoon into her ice cream. "And so, I'm stuck waiting to see if uncle Lyonel will realize that I have every right to meet my other family."

Like Arden, Harry was sure that Lyonel eventually would. "If they went to the extent of keeping you away from the wizarding society for your own good, they'll realize that meeting your family is also for your own good. Especially if what you said about them being war heroes was true."

"I really wish I had that much faith like you two," Romina said with a heavy sigh. "This year has been challenging enough."

Arden snorted. "I'll say. Sometimes, I wish I was just in a regular school. I mean at least there, I could avoid Pansy Parkinson and her jabs."

"Don't ever let Parkinson make you wish you weren't a witch," Romina promptly said. "Plus, not everyone's bad."

Arden shrugged. "Yeah, I guess."

Harry smiled at the pair. "You come over to the Gryffindor tower whenever you're that bothered, Arden."

"Oh, wouldn't that be nice," she mused. "But I don't think anybody would want me there. They barely want Romina in there and you guys love her."

"It's the prejudices they have against Slytherins," Romina sighed, very much tired of those prejudices.

"I mean, Rom, a lot of them have pretty much earned that," Harry remarked.

"A handful, Harry," Romina corrected. "I have met many people who are just there to study."

"Yeah," Arden said, "Just because you and Draco have an arch enemy relationship doesn't mean we're all the same."

Harry raised a hand to stop her from talking again. "Like you and Parkinson, I would like to avoid any conversation where Malfoy's mentioned."

Arden laughed. "Fair enough."

Romina shook her head at them both. She ate more of her ice cream, getting several brain freezes in the process, until she realized she had just stress-ate it all.

"Boy, I would not want to see you with some Fire Whiskey," Arden said when Romina pushed her ice cream glass to the side.

"Rom," Harry reached over the table for Romina's hand, "It's going to work out. I know it will."

Romina managed to smile. If Harry, who had gone through so much crap, believed in it then maybe she should too. "Thanks," she said and he patted her hand. "Since I've been locked in my room this whole — my choice, by the way —" she added as Harry gave her a look, "I started digging around the Scamander name. They seem pretty cool. They weren't kidding about being war heroes. They fought in some war before You-Know-Who's time. And they fought alongside Dumbledore."

"Wait, so he knew about your family too?" Harry blinked a few times.

"And he didn't say anything either," Romina said bitterly. "But anyways, my grandfather wrote one of our textbooks 'Fantastic Beasts and where to Find them'."

"No way—he wrote that!?" Harry paused just as he was about to have another spoonful of ice cream. Romina nodded proudly. "And Rolf never bragged about that? Wow, he really is one of the good ones."

Romina rolled her eyes at him. ""My grandmother started a fashion designing company—The Gejéls? My aunt is also part of it."

"Oooh!" Arden beamed at the idea. "Hot couture?"

Romina laughed. "Wizard's edition."

"Gotta say, that name sounds familiar, though..." But Arden couldn't quite put her finger on it yet. Romina, however, had figured it out a while ago.

"It's because that's Daphne favorite brand of robes."

"Ooooh, you're right!" Arden snapped her fingers. Daphne had countless magazines about the brand and she always boasted that it was the only brand she ever bought. "It's French! Hey, you're French, Romina."

"Half, but yeah," Romina nodded. "I've been digging through more and it's amazing, really. Rolf's dad is part of the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures department."

"Ooh, was he in on the execution of Buckbeak, then?" Arden said.

"Almost execution," Harry was happy to remind them.

"Right," Arden thanked him for the reminder. "Lucky guy!"

"Mhm..." Harry started eating his ice cream again, exchanging a brief glance with Romina who was busy smirking.

They continued to eat their ice cream until they were all done. In the meantime, they tried helping Romina out with her problems but a lot of them involved them having her go back to her aunt and uncle to talk again. Romina didn't feel sure enough of herself to have a conversation without yelling again. At the very least, Harry suggested that she write directly to her grandparents asking for help. Romina said she would think about that.

The sun was setting when they started heading back home. Harry had started talking about some plans that Ron was making for the summer.

"Ron's mentioned that the Quidditch World Cup is this year. He's inviting us to go. Think it should be interesting."

"The what?" Arden raised an eyebrow at him. Harry shrugged. Like her, he still had some things to learn about the wizarding world.

"It's like their version of the FIFA cup," Romina explained, surprising them with her knowledge. "Unlike you two, I did have some knowledge of the wizarding world, alright? It's a huge Quidditch game."

"Oh, sounds boring," Arden promptly said then glanced at Harry skeptically. "You think the Dursleys would even let you go to that?"

"Oh, I think they will," Harry said, sharing a knowing smile with Romina.

"I'm sure you'll have fun," Romina told him. "I don't know if my uncle would let me step out of the house right now."

"It's next month, who knows how things will be by then!" Harry said, bumping shoulders with her. "C'mon, Hermione said she would go. And Ginny's going too. It won't be just us boys."

Romina shrugged. It was a possibility.

"Arden, you sure you don't want to come?" Harry soon asked the brunette girl.

Arden scrunched her face. "Eh, to be honest, the only reason I watch Quidditch games is to just follow the school spirit, you know? I think this summer I'm going to focus on my violin lessons."

"Can you ask Ms. Vallow if she still has any open spots for the summer session?" Romina startled Arden with the question.

"What? Seriously?" Arden gaped. "You want to do violin lessons again?"

Romina nodded sheepishly. "I figure I might as well try to do some of that normal stuff to help me, you know, get better?"

Arden beamed. She promised Romina that she would do everything in her power to get an open spot for her. She almost lost it when Romina suggested maybe they look up a few dance classes. It was led by the same teacher.

They parted ways in front of the girls' homes and when Romina stepped inside her house, she was surprised to find her uncle home. He usually worked late. Sage was also with him in the living room. It looked like they were waiting for her.

"I told aunt Sage where I was going," Romina said as she closed the door behind her.

"You're not in trouble, dear," Sage said and motioned Romina to join them.

"Really? Cos it kind of feels like it..." she mumbled. While her aunt and uncle sat on the long couch, she took the lone couch chair.

"Romina, I want you to be perfectly honest with us here," Lyonel said, his voice implying that there would be no chance if she were to fail and lie, "Have you been writing to Abigail and Newt?"

"What?" Romina blinked a few times until the names struck. "My grandparents? No, I haven't, why?" Lyonel held a piece of parchment out to Romina. Confused, she reached over for it and saw it was a letter.

Bonjour Lyonel and Sage Oswell,

I know it has been many years since we last saw each other but I believe this is very important. We have been informed that our granddaughter Romina has expressed interest in meeting us. You can understand that this changes everything. Romina was a baby the last time we discussed this but now it is neither up to you nor us. She is the one who gets to decide and if you do not abide by her decision, I will be forced to seek legal assistance with the Ministry.

Please do not misunderstand, I know you have taken very good care of my granddaughter and I understand why it was that you took her, but now she is ready to know more about her family. She deserves to know more of the truth. Do not deny her please. Romina would be safe while she visited, and you are more than welcome to accompany her. We do not seek to take her away from you but rather we would like the same privilege you have had having her in your life.

Please, let's discuss,

Abigail Scamander

Romina couldn't find her breath for a moment after reading the letter. She went over the letter twice more, appreciating her grandmother's handwriting. It was so elegant, so...French. And she was writing on her behalf.

When Romina looked up at Lyonel and Sage, she realized they were waiting for her confession. "What — I didn't write to them!" She tossed the letter back at them and crossed her arms.

"Did you write to anyone else, sweetheart?" Sage said. Romina felt bad watching her have to pick up the letter she threw.

"Well..." she sighed, "Yeah, I wrote to Rolf."

Lyonel groaned. "I knew it—!"

"I just told him what was going on!" Romina exclaimed and frowned. "And you shouldn't get mad. I'm not asking for something impossible! You heard my grandmother, I have every right to meet them!"

"Oh for God's sake, you don't even know her!"

Romina slammed her hands on the couch armrests as she jumped from her seat. "Because you never told me about them! I don't understand how you can be angry that I want to meet part of my family!? Like — I just don't get it! What do you intend? For me to stay alone or what?"

"Romina, we just...we don't want you to get hurt..." Sage said, glancing at her husband for some help, "We have done everything we can to keep you—"

"Shielded," Romina finished for her. "I'm going to let you in on a little secret: it hasn't worked. This whole past year, I have spent it trying to look anything but Elora and Caplan. I learned how to do transfiguration on my hair just to make myself look different!"

"You did what!?" Lyonel gaped and, like her, had jumped up from the couch.

"Because I hate where I come from, alright!? And now I have the opportunity to meet people like you" — Romina gestured at them — "who are everything that my bloody parents aren't! Please don't take that from me!" She ran into Lyonel and threw her arms around him, begging him to let her go. "Please, I just want to meet them! Just for a day, please!"

Lyonel and Sage looked at each other while Romina continued to beg. In the end, hearing her almost breaking down got the best of them...and their guilt. They did what they did for her, to protect her. Everything they did in the past had always been in the name of protecting their niece. But it seemed like today, they were the ones hurting her.

"I suppose maybe we could..." Lyonel trailed off as he met Sage's gaze again. She was nodding at him. It was the right thing to do. So, with a big breath, Lyonel finally agreed to get in contact with the Scamanders.

Romina immediately pulled away from her uncle to look up at him, her eyes wide as could be. "You mean it?" Lyonel nodded, and when Romina looked over at her aunt, so was she. "I'll-I'll get to see them? I can visit them?"

"We'd have to arrange it but...I guess so," Lyonel said, "If it's what you really want—"

"Yes, yes!" Romina exclaimed. "It's definitely what I want! Yes! Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!" She hugged him excitedly and then reached for her aunt to pull her into the hug. "Thank you so much!"

A/N:

Book 4 is where all the real fun and drama start and these coming chapters are one of my favorites. I loved, loved, fantastic beasts and I'm still so bitter that the movie series was cancelled.