#reading some of the interviews .. gosh hes had it so awful i wish only the best for him in his life rn

[aq2003]

christopher eccleston do you know that i would die for you (1 2)

[eggrestes]

ladrien fic recs!

there are SO MANY amazing ladrien fics i cant possibly cover them all but here are a few!

(all the ratings used are ao3 ratings)

((this is a very long post!))

FLUFF

Of Ivy and Sunlight by cyanise [ T, 1509 words, 1/1 ]

When Adrien takes to wandering the streets of Paris in ungodly hours, Ladybug has no choice but to keep an eye on him. Still, things are bound to get a little out of hand between two overloaded teenagers with a lot of love and not enough self-control. 

a lovely post-chat blanc fic :’) it has a great flow and is just soft and so sweet and it’s just perfect. gosh i cannot really say more other than read it!!! also almost all of their other stuff is also ladrien so do check it out!

This can't be happening by PlaPla [ T,  6,467 words, 1/2 ]

Ladybug is unsure whether accompanying Adrien to a gala as his not-date is the best or worst thing that has ever happened to her. But when their table mates turn out to be none other than her long time friends Alya and Nino and with Adrien acting weirder and weirder she finds herself with bigger worries than an unrequited crush.

a djwifi/ladrien double date? hit me up! i love identity shenanigans, ball dancing, ladrien, and djwifi and this is a perfect mix for me. i know it’s incomplete but it doesn’t end in a cliff-hanger really, the part 2 is just a promise of more so it doesn’t feel incomplete! PlaPla also has a short oneshot of ladrien going for a motorcycle ride.

Falling again by emsylcatac [ M,  4,506 words, 2 Works ]

They had been dancing around each other for a while now, and while fifteen year old Adrien would have been ecstatic at the idea of dating Ladybug in secret, twenty-two year old Adrien knew better. But Ladybug wasn’t making it easy. It was like… she, too, was falling for him. And that surprisingly enough, she didn’t mind.

* * *

Or Adrien trying (and failing) to keep things professional between him and Ladybug when the two of them partner up for a mission. Older AU

things are a little steamy~ here (don’t worry, it’s only implied it’s very mild and closer to a T rating than the M) but it’s a great mature take on their dynamics! emsy has more ladrien one-shots in her collection of one-shots!

i'd love to go on a date with you by sae_what  [ G,  6,480 words, 1/1 ]

Once it had been falsely announced throughout Paris that Adrien and Ladybug are in a relationship, Ladybug pays him a visit to turn him down gently.

Only, she doesn’t. And instead, she has a formal dinner date. With Adrien. At 8 pm. Tonight.

LADYBUG IN A SUIT!! aaaaaaaaaaaaaa. okay but for real it’s so sweet and also??? they are on a date!!! a rooftop date!! (too man exclamation marks oops)

Always Welcome by  chatonne-rousse [ T, 1,683 words, 1/1 ]

Ladybug knows that Adrien's window is always open for her to swing by and stop in, whether for video games or a chat or, like tonight, for soft kisses and sweet nothings.

He loves these visits. His girlfriend is always welcome. Always. (Especially for kisses.)

Written for Ladrien June, day 8: bluebell eyes.

established relationship, pre-reveal ladrien. there is something very home-y about this fic and it’s all about the comfort and quiet that i adore about it!

Five Times Gabriel Agreste Caught Ladybug in His Son’s Bedroom (and the One Time He Caught Chat Noir) by agrestenoir [ T,  1,923 words, 1/1]

Gabriel Agreste keeps finding Ladybug in his son's bedroom. As a super villain and father, this will not stand.

this crack fic is... honestly so hilarious. it’s all through gabrie-i-am-trying-to-parent-and-failing-a-lot-agreste’s POV so it is so much ridiculous! 

an uncurtain discovery by  Missnoodles [ T, 4,684 words, 1/1 ]

When he returns from school on Wednesday afternoon, Adrien discovers the darkness in his own home. He struggles to come to terms with it. To his utter mortification and delight, Ladybug is nearby to rescue him.

(He does not discover that his father is supervillain. That will happen on a different Wednesday.)

Adrien is being a cat and gets tangled in the curtains on his window and it’s utterly ridiculous. all the bug and the cat tendencies make it funnier and adrien’s inner monologue is just a cherry on top!

secret valentine by a_miiraculer [ T,  12,245 words, 1/1 ]

this is the moment that we will come alive brace yourself for love sweet love, secret love

If Adrien had known that getting himself stuck in a tree would end like this, he would've gotten himself stuck sooner.

A drabble series.

i just,,,, don’t have words for how much i love it! it’s ridiculous, it’s cute, it’s funny, it’s whole-some and just ladrien. the writer also has a M rated multi-chapter ladrien kissing (no the M is very much real here) and a heroic adrien and ladybug one-shot too! 

Those Benevolent Stars by peachcitt [ G,  23,696 words, 3/3 ]

“Will you come back?”

She looked up at the deep blue sky, as if she could somehow find the answer there. “I shouldn’t,” she said, shaking her head and looking back at him. But the stars were still there, caught in her eyes, and Adrien persisted.

“But will you?”

or

adrien meets his soulmate, a thief who calls herself ladybug. he falls for her, but she seems determined to maintain a space between them.

oh my god this au.... just no words!! it’s poetry and it’s tender and it’s about the yearning and just!!! perfect :’). Her current ongoing ladrien june fic is also akin to this (and the fic i linked before it) so do check it out too! (literally check out all of their works it’s so beautiful)

Flowers on the Window Sill by LNC [ G,  2,144 words, 1/1 ]

The first time Ladybug saw him, really saw him, the universe stopped.

this fic feels like poetry and it’s so lovely. LNC is always short and direct but it always hits right in the feels while also being hilarious. Her  other ladrien works are just as good and i highly recommend going through them because it fulfills all of the ladrien needs (along with Reiaji)

whatever a sun will always sing is you by komorebirei [ T,  32,980 words, 37/37 ]

“I didn't think you'd actually... do anything," Adrien admitted, cheeks prickling with warmth. "I-I mean, I never expected... I didn't know you watched my interviews.” That definitely wasn’t how he'd imagined confessing to Ladybug.

“Of course I do!” Ladybug squeaked. “Uhh, that is…” She looked down at her hands, nervously turning her yo-yo over, over and over. “Maybe you’re not the only one with a crush.”

(After an unexpected confession, Ladybug and Adrien start dating in secret. A progressive character- and relationship-study quilted from drabbles, with the intention of digging treasure out of the cove that is Ladrien. Written using kashimalin-fanfiction's kiss writing prompts from Tumblr.)

it does such an excellent job at exploring this dynamic along with the characters. it’s such a sweet fic, each chapter short and fun!

ANGST

whose woods these are (I think I know.) by  Reiaji [ T,  105,000 words, 25/25 ]

Four years after his future turns to cinders, Adrien is a servant in the house he was meant to inherit. Disowned by his father and abused by his stepmother, his days are filled with drudgery until he meets a masked huntress in the forest behind his father's chateau.

As his friendship with Ladybug turns to first love, he dreams of a future spent at her side.

Then, on the eve of the Princess's masquerade, he meets his guardian—and is granted a wish.

[Ladrien Cinderella AU]

Warnings: Child abuse, Graphic depiction of violence

this is absolutely gorgeous. it has so many troupes and so many amazing character arc and great build up and everything just flows so well. it left me in awe for weeks and i just. want to experience reading it for the first time again. look at this gorgeous art inspired by this! {and you have to read  leonard bernstein too because LETTERS and LADRIEN and YEARNING}

i would do it again (oh, a thousand times) by bugabisous [ T, 2,266 words, 1/1 ]

Knowing you can bring someone back doesn’t mean you’re free of the pain of seeing them disappear before your eyes. He can’t imagine he’ll be able to look at her directly without replaying every horrifying moment when he felt her slip away in a puff of smoke.

When it happens once again, he already knows he’ll be trying again. He just can’t give up.

it expands on adrien’s feelings in the episode desperada (my beloved <3) and it is just ouch. such great angst, such great potential. the kind of tragedy that it offers is unusual for ml (it gets only rivaled by chat blanc tbh). to rival this angst bugabisous also has a fluffy one-shot :)

when the world gets too heavy (put it on my back) by Taliax [ T, 4,720 words, 1/1 ]

Chat Noir isn't allowed to cry over his father. But even when he's just Adrien, Ladybug won't abandon him.

Hawkmoth reveal hurt/comfort + Ladrien

the plagg and adrien bond written is just perfect, and oh this hits right in the feels :’) it hurts all in the right way. tali also has so many other ladrien works in all genres too

By Your Side by omniousunflower [ T, 4,361 words, 1/1 ]

(Angry and alone, Adrien waits on top of the Eiffel Tower for his lady.)

“So, how did my kitty get stranded up here?” Ladybug asks.

Groaning, Adrien pulls his knees toward his chest and presses his face against them. “Because he’s stupid and impulsive.”

“Chasing pigeons, then?”

“No.” Shame burns in Adrien’s veins, white-hot now that Ladybug is here to witness his stupidity. “I threw my Miraculous, and Plagg wouldn’t get it for me.”

post-hawkmoth defeat, and adrien is not doing well at all. i am cheating because it is post reveal, pre relationship but it’s still ladrien. this fic is a roller coater of emotions, starting from a slightly crack scenario to a cute, awkward, hopeful ending.  More Than You Know is another of sunny’s angsty ladrien work!

Breaking The Rules (AKA The Ladrien Fistfight) by ThisKwamiNeeds_aNap [ T, 8,714 words, 1/1 ]

Marinette may or may not be dying, but she’s still going to do her best to fix every single problem in the world. She’s not expecting Adrien to be the one who tries to stop her. (Takes place immediately after Kwami Buster)

Warnings: panic attack, broken bones, PTSD. please read the tags!

*slaps this fic* this fic can fit in so much angst. it just?? left me in PAIN oof. it says ‘ladrien fistfight’ on the lid but nooo there is marinette is just having a freak out and it’s all so much??!! and it’s not just marinette there is adrien too and chloe and alya and- wow it’s amazing. love it so much it fills up my angst needs :’)

so that’s it for now! my personal commentary isn’t impressive nor does it do justice to the fic but i still hope you read a few of these!! happy reading!!

[hidden-behind-the-fourth-wall]

Teenage Fantasy

Pairing: Henry Cavill x F!Reader

Warnings: Language, Smut, NSFW guys! Henry Cavill being a flirt

Summary: Your day couldn’t get any worse. Your plane was late, baggage lost, your phone dead and you get lost. But thankfully a hot stranger decides to help you out and make the night of this awful day a little bit better.

A/N: I am slowly coming back from my writer’s block so please be patient with me. @idjitmonkey​ I thought you make like it :) Comments and reblogs always welcomed. Please do not use my work without my concent!

I got lost in who wanted to be tagged in what, so please send me a message or an ask and I’ll make a list <3

TAGS are opened

Lost, in every sense of the word, you exhaled heavily and stared down at your phone, cursing its fading battery with the last of your patience. Somehow, you’d managed to lose your way entirely in this sprawling maze of London’s side streets, unsure if the problem was your sense of direction or if the universe itself had conspired against you today.

The day had spiraled into a comedy of errors from the start. First, your plane arrived late; then, your luggage was misplaced—thankfully retrieved but not without a healthy dose of panic—and now, you were lost with a dying phone. Perfect. All you craved was the comfort of a warm bed, some wings or onion rings, and maybe even a cold beer to unwind.

But, as luck would have it, the usually bustling streets were empty, an oddity for London. It felt surreal, a scene out of a strange dream. You glanced around, hoping to spot someone—anyone—to ask for directions. The city lights flickered coldly through the mist, and your breath made soft clouds in the chill night air. But no, there was no one. Not a soul in sight.

“Oh, and let’s not forget,” you muttered darkly to yourself, “that my phone is now completely dead. Brilliant.” The universe must really hate you.

You scanned your options. Either you could keep walking in blind hope of stumbling upon a bar or shop where someone might help, or you could double back, tracing your steps like some lost traveler in a fairy tale. Neither option seemed appealing.

“You look lost!” A low voice cut through the silence behind you, sending a jolt up your spine. Startled, you dropped your backpack and spun around, eyes wide. A stranger stood a few feet away, holding up his hands as if to say, "Easy there." He chuckled and, with a friendly nod, picked up your backpack from the snowy sidewalk, brushing off a bit of frost. “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you. Just noticed you looking at your dead phone for quite a while and thought you could use some help.”

Relief washed over you, even as embarrassment tinted your cheeks. “Yeah, my battery died just as I realized I had no idea where I was,” you confessed, scratching the back of your head and feeling thoroughly defeated. You handed him the crumpled piece of paper with your hotel address, and he glanced at it, nodding.

“Ah, classic London move.” He chuckled, gesturing to the quiet street around you. “Have you tried asking for directions?”

You threw him a withering look, then gestured dramatically to the empty street around you. “Oh, why didn’t I think of that sooner?” you said, turning in a slow circle. “I’m not an idiot, you know! Just... a little... lost.”

He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused, and then shrugged with an awkward grin, biting his lip in a way that softened the sharp lines of his face. “Okay, okay, fair point. Sorry, that was a dumb question.” His tone was warm, disarming even, and for the first time all day, you felt a spark of genuine kindness.

You took a deep breath, calming yourself. “No, no, I’m the one who’s sorry. It’s been a rough day, and you’re out here, trying to help a complete stranger who’s acting like a brat.”

He shook his head, still smiling. “No worries, really. How about this: let’s grab a drink, and I’ll call you a cab to your hotel afterward?”

For a moment, you hesitated. The offer sounded like a dream, but he was still a stranger. On the other hand, you really needed that drink—a beer or two, maybe even five.

“Promise me you’re not a serial killer or something?” you asked, your tone half-serious. There was a beat of silence before he burst out laughing, the sound booming in the empty street, warm and infectious.

“Promise,” he said, eyes twinkling with mischief. “I just bought this coat, and bloodstains are murder to clean.”

That did it; you laughed too, nerves melting away as he sent you a playful wink and started leading the way down the street.

“Good to know,” you replied with a smirk. “I could probably tell you a trick for that, but... I’ll save it for when we’re in a crowded place.”

He laughed again, his steps sure as he guided you. And as you followed him into the misty night, you couldn’t help but notice his easy confidence, his casual humor—and, well, the fact that he was incredibly handsome didn’t hurt. London hadn’t been kind to you today, but maybe—just maybe—it was saving the best for last.

***

“Oh my gosh, he’s adorable!” you squealed, eyes glued to the screen of Henry’s phone. The pub he’d led you to was, ironically, just around the corner, and you’d slipped inside with relief, eager to charge your phone and settle in. Henry—now that he had a name—had taken the opportunity to buy you a drink, and after the first round, you’d ordered some onion rings that were already on their second bowl.

Somewhere between the frosty walk and the cozy warmth of the pub, the conversation had drifted to dogs. You confessed your dream of adopting one, and he’d shared stories of his best friend, Kal, showing you photos and videos with a pride that bordered on parental. In every picture, you could see the bond they shared, and you found yourself smiling as you scrolled through the gallery, Henry watching your reactions with a soft grin.

“He’s the best dog ever,” he said, eyes warm as you laughed at a video of Kal practically dancing at the sight of his leash.

“I’ll bet he is!” you agreed, handing his phone back when you noticed some personal photos without Kal. You wanted to respect his privacy, even as curiosity tugged at the edge of your mind. “I hope if I ever move, I’ll finally get the chance to have a dog like that. My landlord’s, well…” you sighed, taking a sip of your beer.

“A total dick?” Henry quipped, smirking, and you chuckled, nodding. “So, what brings you to London?” he asked, a genuine interest brightening his eyes.

“Job interview, actually. I got an offer to teach as a lecturer on World War II at the university here.”

His eyebrows rose. “Impressive. You don’t look old enough to be a professor,” he teased, his smirk deepening.

“Oh, so now you’re throwing compliments into the mix?” you countered, narrowing your eyes with a playful grin. He shrugged, grinning as he finished his Guinness, and gestured toward your nearly empty glass. You nodded, feeling that thrill of spontaneity. The interview wasn’t until 4 PM tomorrow, after all, and who was to say you couldn’t flirt a little with an attractive stranger who had a brain, a sense of humor, and a way of making you laugh?

“Thanks,” you murmured as the waiter brought another beer. You watched Henry’s gaze drift toward the nearly empty bowl of onion rings with a kind of wistful yearning.

“My trainer will kill me if I order another round of these,” he sighed, though his eyes betrayed a craving for more. You grinned, waving down the waiter to bring another.

“If you hear of any sudden tragedies at the local gym, just know they were entirely your fault,” he joked, shaking his head with mock disapproval.

“Life’s too short to say no to good beer and onion rings,” you declared, taking a sip as his eyes flickered with amusement.

“You’re one of a kind,” he said softly, and the sound of your name from his lips sent a thrill down your spine. The good, dangerous kind of thrill—the kind you shouldn’t be feeling for someone you met a couple of hours ago.

“Oh? Missing the insult this time?” You raised an eyebrow, feigning disappointment, which only made him laugh. “But tell me, Henry…” You leaned in, lowering your voice to match the intimacy of his tone. “Why am I one of a kind?”

He tilted his head thoughtfully, as if assessing you anew. “Most women I meet are so focused on keeping a perfect figure that they wouldn’t touch a second bowl of onion rings. Here you are, though, on your third.” He leaned in, his tone teasing but appreciative. “If you tell me you watch soccer, I might just have to marry you.”

You grinned, ready to play along. “Better get that ring, then, because I do enjoy some football in my life.” His eyes rolled in amusement at your playful correction from “soccer” to “football.” “Although…” You feigned a thoughtful expression, glancing sideways at him. “Did you just call me fat?”

The shock that washed over his face was priceless; he looked like a fish out of water, and you managed to keep a straight face for all of ten seconds before doubling over in laughter.

“You had me worried there!” he exclaimed, breaking into a laugh himself.

“Oh, that was worth it,” you replied, laying a hand on his thigh with a confidence that surprised even you. His gaze followed your touch, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly as he looked back up, eyes darkening with interest. “Relax,” you said, stifling a grin. “I know I’m not a supermodel. But life’s too short to miss out on good food and even better company.”

He was watching you closely now, and in a low, almost reverent tone, he whispered, “You’re perfect. Really one of a kind.”

Your usual, cautious self might have pulled away. But tonight had been long, and Henry’s presence had shifted the night into something entirely unexpected. It had been a miserable day—until now. Every girl needs a good night once in a while, and something about this man told you he knew exactly how to make that happen.

“I think,” you murmured, leaning back with a coy smile, “I’d like some whiskey.”

Henry’s eyes flashed with delight as he moved just a little closer, close enough to make your heart skip. “I’ve got just the thing back at my place,” he murmured, his voice a deep, quiet invitation that you had no intention of refusing. He straightened with a soft sigh of satisfaction, whispering, “Absolutely perfect,” as if to himself.

You unplugged your phone, slipping it into your bag as he watched, his gaze thoughtful and intense.

He called your name softly, his voice gentle but uncertain, “if I’ve completely misread—”

“We should pay, don’t you think?” You flashed him a wink, enjoying the flicker of surprise that lit up his face. He let out a long, slow breath, his relief apparent.

“In that case,” he grinned, standing up and shaking his head with mock indignation, “there’s no way I’m letting you pay a single penny.”

You reached up to give him a quick peck, a gesture of thanks that made him freeze momentarily, his breath hitching. When you stepped back, he murmured a quiet “fuck” under his breath, a crooked smile spreading across his face.

There was no longer any trace of your earlier frustration, no bitterness from the day’s disasters. All that remained was a quiet thrill, a heart-pounding anticipation as you slipped your coat on, your laughter mingling with his as you prepared to step out into the night.

***

You stood in the middle of his living room, gazing around his "flat," as he modestly called it. It was enormous. Just this living room alone was nearly the size of your entire last apartment, and the thought made you swallow hard. As you were about to comment on the place, a sudden scratching sound caught your attention. You turned to investigate, only to be tackled by a ball of fur that sent you sprawling onto the floor.

Laughter erupted from you as a warm, wet tongue made its way all over your face.

“Kal, get off!” you heard Henry’s voice, and when you opened your eyes, he was standing over you, holding the dog by its collar. “I’m so sorry. I forgot to close his door before you came in… Are you okay?” He reached out to help you up, but you only shook your head and knelt in front of the dog, still laughing.

“Are you kidding? This is the best welcome I’ve ever had!” You beamed at Kal, who was looking up at you with a happy expression. “Aren’t you just the cutest? Yes, you are!” You didn’t care if you sounded ridiculous. Dogs were amazing, and if someone didn’t get that, they didn’t need to be in your life.

“Here,” Henry said, offering you a glass of Scotch as you stood up, smiling quietly as you took it. “Not many girls give him that much attention.” He gave you a knowing smile, his gaze lingering on your lips. You raised an eyebrow and stepped a little closer, pushing aside any notion of personal space.

“Oh, is someone jealous?” Your free hand landed on his chest, admiring the hard lines of his torso. Was this man perfect?

“And what if I am?” His husky voice made your thighs clench involuntarily. His darkened eyes held yours as your hand began to drift downward, stopping at his belt. Without a word, you brushed lower, your fingers reaching exactly where you hoped they would. He exhaled a quiet groan, finishing his drink in one gulp as he closed his eyes, savoring your touch. You quickly downed your own Scotch, handing him the empty glass before sinking to your knees, undoing his belt and jeans.

He raised an eyebrow in surprise but didn’t stop you, his gaze darkening as you tugged down his boxers, releasing him.He was already hardening, and you couldn’t help but admire him, taking in the sight with a small, satisfied smile. He was impressive, thick, and his skin warm under your touch. Slowly, you let your tongue glide along his length, starting at the base and moving upward in a deliberate, lingering stroke, savoring the taste of him. His fingers tangled in your hair as a quiet curse escaped his lips, his body tense under your touch.

“Holy fuck,” he breathed, voice strained as you took him into your mouth, inch by inch, adjusting to his size. You began to move, creating a steady rhythm, hollowing your cheeks as you worked him slowly, thoroughly, your tongue swirling around him. His breathing grew heavier, punctuated by deep groans, and you could feel him throbbing against your tongue.You closed your eyes, letting yourself get lost in the moment, the sounds of his quiet gasps and groans, the way his hands tightened in your hair as you took him deeper. You could taste the salty hint of his arousal as you teased him, flicking your tongue over his sensitive tip.

“Sweetheart, you’re driving me insane,” he rasped, his fingers urging you forward, but then he pulled back suddenly, his chest heaving as he looked down at you with a smirk, flushed and breathless.“Damn, if you keep that up, this will end way too soon,” he murmured, voice rough with desire. He helped you to your feet, pulling you close and meeting your lips with a fiery, passionate kiss.

He pulled you close, his breathing still unsteady as he murmured, “You’re… incredible.” There was a rasp to his voice that made a thrill run down your spine. “God, I haven’t felt this good in ages.”

Before you could react, he swept you up into his arms, tossing you effortlessly over his shoulder with a mischievous grin. You let out a surprised laugh as he carried you through the hall, his hand resting possessively on the back of your thigh. When he reached his bedroom, he laid you down on the bed, lowering himself over you, his face close enough for you to feel the warmth of his breath.

“Now, sweetheart,” he whispered, his gaze dark with intent, “let me make you forget about your day.”

Slowly, he unbuttoned his shirt, revealing a chest carved with hard, tempting lines. His muscles flexed under smooth, tanned skin, and a light dusting of chest hair made your pulse quicken. You hadn’t expected to be this captivated by every detail of him.

“See something you like?” His smirk was lazy, knowing, as he braced himself on his arms, caging you in beneath him. For the first time, you noticed a warm brown fleck in his deep blue eyes, adding to their intensity.

“Actually,” you replied, your cheeks flushing, “you’ve got this adorable brown patch in your left eye.”

He stilled, one eyebrow lifting in surprise, before he chuckled. “Adorable, huh? No one’s ever called it that.”

You felt your cheeks redden even more, but you managed to shrug with a teasing grin. “Well, I like being the first.”

A spark flickered in his eyes, and suddenly, he buried his face in the crook of your neck, his laughter a warm rumble against your skin. You joined in, the sound of your laughter mixing with his, filling the room with an intimacy you hadn’t expected. You’d never felt so at ease, so completely yourself with anyone before.

“Thank God I decided to take that walk tonight,” he murmured, his lips finding a sensitive spot on your neck, sending a shiver through you. His kisses were warm and deliberate, and when he grazed your skin with his teeth, a gasp slipped from your lips.

“You’re one of a kind,” you whispered, and he responded by nipping the skin below your ear, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth as he noticed the way you trembled.

“Oh, you’ll pay for that,” you teased, your eyes gleaming.

He chuckled, shaking his head. “I don’t even want to imagine what the media would say if they saw a hickey on me.”

Your brow furrowed, and you looked up at him, genuinely confused. “What do you mean?”

He looked at you, bemusement flickering across his face. “Wait—you really don’t know who I am?”

Panic momentarily gripped you. “Please tell me you’re not some politician…” The idea made you laugh nervously, only for him to burst into a deep, hearty laugh, his whole body shaking with amusement.

When he could finally breathe again, he shook his head, wiping a tear from his eye. “My fault for not introducing myself,” he said with a grin, reaching out his hand. “Henry Cavill.”

The name took a second to sink in, and then your eyes widened in disbelief. “Oh, shit! You’re the Witcher!”

The surprise on his face was genuine—clearly, he’d expected “Superman” to be the reveal.

“Oh, this is too perfect,” you laughed, pulling him close and kissing him fiercely. “Guess I’m about to make my teenage fantasy come true.” You guided him down onto the bed, straddling his hips, a satisfied smile crossing your face as you felt his hardness beneath you.

"Your teenage fantasy?" His large hands grasp your hips possessively, his eyes smoldering with desire as he looks up at you. You take a shuddering breath as his hands move up your thighs, igniting a fire within you. In a trance-like state, you stand and slowly peel off your clothes, revealing your body to him like a sacrificial offering. He sits back and gazes up at you, his Adonis-like figure making you weak in the knees.

His large hands gripped your hips possessively, sending shivers of anticipation through your body. Without hesitation, you stood up and began to undress in front of him, your eyes locking onto his as you revealed more and more skin. Straddling him, you captured his lips eagerly, feeling the power and strength of the Adonis beneath you.

"I was a geeky kid," you admitted between kisses, "always lost in books, especially fantasies." Your voice trailed off as he started to nibble on your neck, causing you to moan with pleasure. "My grandma gave me Sapkowski's books once and let's just say...a 16-year-old boy alone with a book about a brooding, sword-wielding hero...well, it definitely led to some fantasies." You couldn't help but nip at his chest, relishing in the way he groaned and shifted beneath you.

"Tell me you didn't actually get laid because of The Witcher," he chuckled, looking up at you with a seductive smirk. You returned the look, trailing your tongue down his abdomen until you reached his throbbing cock.

"Oh no," you grinned wickedly, "not directly from the book itself...but my teenage brain certainly created some steamy scenarios." He shook his head in amusement before suddenly flipping you over so that he towered over you once again. The blue in his eyes had disappeared now, replaced by pure desire. Oh God, this was going to be intense.

"You're such a tease," he growled against your skin as he nipped at your sensitive nipple. Your body trembled with anticipation as he pushed a single finger inside your slick, wet pussy. A gasp escaped your lips and you could feel yourself clenching around his digit. "Fuck, you're tight," he growled, adding another finger and twisting them in a way that hit just the right spot. Your moans grew louder and more desperate as he continued to pleasure you, promising to fuck you into oblivion tonight. And as his skilled fingers worked their magic, you screamed his name in ecstasy, feeling like you were seeing stars.

"That's it, baby," he murmured, his voice dripping with desire. "I'll be your new fantasy." You begged him not to stop, your body writhing with pleasure until finally, the knot inside of you broke and you reached an explosive climax unlike any before.

"If that's what you can do with just your fingers, I can only imagine how good it will be when we're finally together," you breathed heavily as he kissed you softly on the lips. Your hands and legs wrapped tightly around him, pulling him closer as you desperately wanted to feel him inside of you.

"Condom?" His voice was low and raspy, matching your own. You couldn't believe how easily he had brought you to this state with just his fingers. How could any other man compare? But now was not the time for those thoughts. "Give me that," you demanded, taking the foil from him and opening it with your teeth. Straddling him between your thighs, you smirked up at him before smoothly sliding the condom onto his hard cock.

"Fuck!" He groaned when your mouth left his member. "You’re really fucky hot!" You chuckled and slowly lowered yourself onto him, feeling every inch of him filling you up.

"Can I ride you, Henry?" Your words caused his cock to twitch and you couldn't help but giggle at his reaction.

"You little minx," he joked, before thrusting into you with one swift motion. You cried out and fell onto his chest, trying to muffle the sound of your pleasure. "Fuck, baby, you're so tight," he said with a hint of fear in his voice. "Please tell me..."

"Relax," you laughed breathlessly and kissed him softly. "It's just been a while... two years, to be precise."

"I'm sorry." He whispered against your skin, kissing your shoulders gently as if making up for any discomfort he may have caused. "I didn't mean to hurt you. I'll go slow." But you shook your head and moved up only to lay back down, showing him that you were ready for him to continue their passionate night.

"I'm not a fragile doll, Henry. I won't break under your weight. You may be bigger than anyone else I've been with, but I can handle it." A wicked grin spreads across your face as he looks down at you, entranced by the beauty and confidence emanating from you. "After all, you did promise to fuck me brainless." With that, he thrusts into you with such force that it knocks the breath out of you. The pain is temporary, quickly replaced by waves of pleasure crashing over you.

"Get on your knees. I want to see that perfect ass while I fuck you," he commands, his tone sending shivers down your spine. You eagerly comply, savoring every second of his domination over you. He wastes no time in impaling you again, his grip bruising your hips as he pounds into you with an animalistic ferocity. But none of it matters as long as he continues to bring you closer and closer to the edge.

"Yes, baby, come for me. Squeeze my dick!" He groans out in approval as your walls clench around him for the second time tonight. Your body trembles and shakes with each powerful release, completely surrendering to him.

"One more, baby. Give me one more," he pleads, his words pushing you over the edge once again. You can feel yourself squirting and moaning uncontrollably, lost in a whirlwind of ecstasy and pleasure.

"F*ck!" He curses as he empties himself inside the condom before slowly pulling out of you. You collapse onto the pillows, too spent to move or speak. But when he returns with a wet towel and gently cleans up the evidence of your passion, you can't help but smile at his tenderness amidst all his roughness.

"I don't think I've ever made a woman squirt like that before," he admits with a hint of pride in his voice. The thought only intensifies the warm and fuzzy feeling in your chest.

"I really, really like being your first," you whisper, snuggling into his chest as he invites you to rest on top of him. The steady rhythm of his beating heart lulls you into a peaceful slumber, completely content in this moment with him.

***

You glanced at your vibrating phone and couldn’t help but smile. When you’d woken up that morning, Henry was still asleep. Knowing it was just a one-night stand, you decided to slip out early to avoid any awkwardness. Still, you’d felt compelled to leave a note, letting him know how much you’d enjoyed the night and reassuring him that the media would never find out. You left him your number, just in case he wanted to call. You’d written that you didn’t expect anything, but you’d be open to seeing him again.

You really hadn’t expected anything, so his little text made your day even brighter.

“How was the interview?” - H.C.

“I’ll be staying in London a bit longer,” you replied, happy both for the text and the news about your next job.

“I know some good places to eat if you’re not too tired.”

Your heart skipped a beat, and you couldn’t help but smile at the idea of spending more time with him.

“How about we order pizza and watch Netflix at yours?”

“Netflix and chill? Yeah, I’m in. See you soon, baby!”

[redrosesartcabin]

Self indulgent series: Part 2.1

Life: Part 1

(Kenji x female reader, authors perspective) (the reader is a singer) (also: Some angst in here. I dunno why, but I just love writing some angst with fluff endings xD)

“So, let me get this straight”, the interviewer said, bewildered by the story the singer and songwriter Red Rose had brought up, “you met your now husband, Kenji Kon no less, on Jurassic World as one of the kids who got stranded for five months?”

“That’s correct”, she said. She had answered that very question a million times, but she couldn’t fault them for it: It was an unbelievable story (though she started to wonder how not everyone was aware by now that she was one of the teens back than).

“It was in December of 2015. I was thirteen years old and exited to be one of the first teens to visit Camp Cretaceous. I have to admit, I wasn’t and still am not, maybe even less than before, the biggest fan of dinosaurs. I’m not particularly interested in facts about them, but I definitely was interested in seeing some Dino action! So when I won first place at the talent show of my school-“

“Unsurprisingly”, the interviewer interluded at which the audience gave a collective chuckle.

“-I was still very excited about going to Jurassic World. My parents never wanted to go and in retrospect I can understand why. But you know: I was a naïve thirteen-year-old and didn’t think much about the consequences of the past. What happened at Jurassic Park you know? I was convinced Jurassic World was different and all worked out. Boy was I wrong! We all know it now! But at least I can say that I got, besides trauma, lifelong friends and my amazing husband out of it”

“That definitely can’t be disputed”, the interviewer agreed. Red Rose found him quite pleasant. Although he was a chatterbox, he was still very respectful and didn’t poke too much into the Jurassic World story: Although she was, for the most part, over the trauma, it was still a work in progress and it’s not a time she always remembers fondly. On most days she remembers the good moments she had with her newfound friends there, but sometimes she could feel the adrenaline rush through her as she thought of dinosaurs trying to eat her and her fellow campers. She saw flashes of sharp teeth and could feel hot, stinking breath and hear growls drawing shivers down her spine.  Red Rose liked to focus on the human part of the experience, so she preferred being able to tell the tale of Jurassic World the way she wanted without being asked too much…

 “So, Kon helped you reach fame if I remember correctly?”, he asked.

“Definitely! Though, I mean: I was able to do most of what I’m doing. Teaching myself how to use certain programs. I taught myself how to sing and I’ve always written my own stuff…But I certainly wasn’t good at marketing myself or making myself grow.

Kenji and I became boyfriend and girlfriend when I was sixteen and he was eighteen. That same year we went on vacations for three weeks in the Caribbean’s. And “, she let out a laugh. The camera closed up on her and caught a smile and a glance that looked so touched by love anyone could feel how much she adored her spouse, “I remember how we went on the private part of the beach Kenjis father had purchased. I sat down on a hammock and a guitar and just started improvising and singing. Little did I know my boyfriend -gosh that sounds weird to say now- was filming me. He put it up on Instagram, and he already had quite a following back then, so it gained quite some attention. Though not necessarily because it was a nice scenery or any of that: But because people genuinely liked how I sing and the melody I had come up with. And well… it got wild from there. People soon requested I make my own Instagram page for making music.

A year later I was asked if I would like to produce some music and well… then my career started”

“That’s honestly such a cool and sweet story. Though how about an even sweeter reunion? Please welcome: Kenji Kon”

Red Rose got up from her seat with a wild jump, not as the eccentric, elegant yet kind of crazy minded artist, but as y/n Kon. As the wife who hadn’t seen her husband in person for a month because of the production of yet another movie starring him as the protagonist.

The crowd clapped in awe of him, as fans. She wanted to clap because her heart was clapping too. Her heart was dancing a tango inside of chest as though she was seeing her middle school crush in the hallway. His dark eyes, ridden with depth met her y/e.c. ones and all they could read in each other’s eyes was happiness and love.

This happened within miliseconds, but it passed by in slow motion for her, so she perceived herself running towards him with calm. For the rest of the world however she was perceived as looking like a golden retriever who had missed his owner whilst they were at work and were ready to play.

It was adorable. It was downright touching how the couple met each other halfway and gave each other a long, passionate yet gentle kiss (so that it wouldn’t be too inappropriate for life TV).

“Not to be giddy, but you really are a couple to die for”, the interviewer said. The audience half chuckled half yelled in agreement. She felt her cheeks blush in a deep dark shade of red and heard her husband chuckle in embarrassment. She looked down to her and whispered “Hello love”

 Kenji had, unsurprisingly, had found joy in being actor. Being dramatic and showing his face on camera all the time? Perfect!

And he honest to god was a great actor. Though it did get annoying from time to time that he was casted as either the pretty faced villain or the charming, perfect love interest. Sometimes he was even both.

Y/n didn’t like to admit it, but she was quite jealous at the beginning when she saw him kiss other men and women on screen. It took a big fight for her to admit that.

She wasn’t proud of that fight at all. She had been, without wanting to, been very critical of her then fiancé (it was about six months before they got married). She would call him several times a day when he was on set of a particularly spicy rom com and observe his socials every couple of minutes. Y/n remembers her friends teasing her about it in the beginning and then eventually scold her. “Don’t you trust him?”, they had asked and she had answered, “I do….”, and they knew she was telling the truth, yet there was more behind it.

Kenji soon caught up and noticed her strange clinginess.

“What is up with you, Y/N? You know I have work to do! You can’t call me that often on set!”, he had yelled when the topic came up. He had been visiting for the weekend before he would go back on set.

“Why not? Can a girl not talk to her fiancé?”, she had asked with a sharp undertone

“Of course, you can darling. But twenty times a day is simply too much!”, he argued, yet he tried keeping his tone softer.

“I don’t call that often”, she pouted

“Oh YES you do!”, he put his phone out and showed her the times she had called just the other day. She counted about thirty, “I was nice with that number!”

“And? So what? You can just put your phone on silent”

“Yes, of course I can. This isn’t about solving the notification issue it’s about solving your trust issues towards me. Why don’t you trust me?”, as he asked the question his anger had subsided and genuine hurt showed in his eyes in his voice, “you monitor me like I’m an inmate”

“I…”, she was only able to say, her throat suddenly seemed dry, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to… I…”, she couldn’t find the right words to explain it. It hurt too much to admit. She thought she had been over that thought pattern a long time ago, but it had returned to her.

“What? What have I done to deserve this?”, he asked, “Why are you even with me, if who I am disturbs you so much?”

And that… that sentence had hurt her more than that ugly thing inside of her she hadn’t wanted to face.

“You fool!”, she screamed in fury as the sentence he had uttered stung, her eyes filling with endless tears, “How could you ever think you disturb me? You are the most beautiful, wonderful human being I know, inside and out. And on top of that you are incredibly kindhearted. And that’s why I’m like this… I don’t want to lose you. And it’s not that I don’t trust you: I highly doubt you’d ever cheat on anyone. You are too kind for that. But I fear… I feared when you are together with all these good-looking actors you might not find me enough anymore. I know it’s stupid, but you see: The past haunted me again. When I was called fat. When I was called not-good-enough. When I read social media comments saying you’re out of my league and I don’t deserve you. Ugly words that ate me up inside when I was a child and young teen. I thought I was past that but I…I…”, now the tears were too many and her words died with hiccups. She felt his form surround her in a hug that felt so warm and yet sharp as knifes. She loved his touch but felt guilty for not opening up about this sooner. She had never wanted to be like this, but alas she had been too much of a coward to burden him or herself with this.

“Love”, he whispered after comforting her for a couple of minutes, “Look at me”

She lifted her head. Her eyes were red and puffy, her lips were dark pink, and tears had run streaks across her cheeks. It broke Kenji to have hurt her so deeply, yet he also knew that it wasn’t his fault. It was however his responsibility, to clear this up once and for all.

“Love listen”, he started, “I completely understand your jealousy. But we’ve been together for almost ten years and in all that time, I’ve never encountered a woman more incredible, deeply fascinating and intrinsically beautiful as you. No acted kiss could bring me away from you, no sexy actor could keep my mind from ever wishing for more than to be by your side. I’ve been by your side for almost six years: What should change now?

The monster from your past is, as already stated: Past. Their words were untrue. These people were in pain themselves when they caused you pain. You were a target to unleash the inner turmoil of others. It’s no excuse but it is the explanation. Those who feel they must hurt others are those who seek the most attention and power because they’d be devoid of having a self. I should know: I used to be similar to that. And I had my phase of jealousy as well, you know?”

“Really?”, y/n managed to ask

“Oh yes! I was in rage every time I heard you talk about any of your guy friends back in high school. Difference is I could hide it better because we were apart a lot of the time. I feared you would find someone who had more of a personality than me. I was no longer sure looks would cut it”

“Gosh love”, she answered, her voice love drunken, “you burst of personality. You aren’t just a pretty boy or well… pretty man. You have so much spirit and energy to give to the world. You are the definition of happiness and sunshine. And on top of that you are an incredibly talented man with so much to show. You wield the human mind and emotions so well you can convert yourself to be something other than yourself convincingly-”

“See?”, he asked, “and just like you love me like that and see all that good I sometimes don’t recognize, I see it in you… I always love you”

“I love you too. I’m sorry”

“Don’t be sorry. I’m so happy we had this talk. It was much needed”

“Yeah”, she hummed as her lips almost touched his and within seconds the couple found themselves passionately kissing

Ever since then they hadn’t had any of these kinds of self-worth problems. They’d say I love you on a daily basis and gave each other compliments whenever they could.

One thing the fans found especially cute was that, without fail, Red Rose would comment on each of Kenji’s selfies and comment “hey gorgeous, you single?” and he’d answer every single time, “Sure Sugar. Meet me at seven on your favorite street-corner”

One time they took a picture of each other on a nice-looking street corner. Kenji had called the picture “finally found the street corner. Been waiting to meet this lady for a while, apparently her name is ‘your wife’, which is peculiar but otherwise she seems nice”.

The picture even went viral and became one of the all-time favorite celebrity pictures of 2026.

  After the talk-show they flew back in his helicopter.

They were in New York city and y/n looked at the city landscape with a fascinated gaze as she observed the flickering lights of the big apple.

Kenji looked at her with eyes shining almost as bright. He loved her love for everything new she sees. He had noticed that the first time she had seen the watering hole. He wasn’t really interested in her that way yet. He was fifteen and she thirteen, that makes quite a difference at this age. But still he couldn’t but smile as she looked at the dinosaurs with big eyes. And he loved that she hadn’t lost that spark, even as she got older, even as they came together and grew and changed together.

Y/n noticed his gaze and shifted hers to look at him.

‘What a beautiful man. I’ve missed him so’ she thought to herself.

“I missed you”, he said as though he had read her mind just now. Maybe he had. They had been together for so long they were often able to read each other’s subtle shifts in expression. Quite a beautiful thing.

“I missed you too”, she simply answered, “did you plan this talk show surprise?”

“Yes and no”, he admitted, “I was meeting up with Donavan O’Connor, the director of the ‘Elaine, the one?’ series. When calling Donavan, he told me had been to talking to Ray (the interviewer) and he was casually pointing out the funny coincidence you were meeting up for and mention the funny coincidence, that you’d have an interview with him that same day I come to the city and well… needless to say I called Ray and arranged things... I just had to. Couldn’t miss the opportunity to surprise my beautiful wife”

She smiled at that. A shy and flattered smile that reminded Kenji of when they were teens.

 They landed on the roof of a nice-looking hotel. They had decided to stay the night here in New York before travelling back to Ireland… yes: Yes Ireland.

Most celebrities lived in L.A., but Kenji and y/n had preferred living a bit apart in an old mansion near the coast of south Ireland, close to the northern border. Although Kenji was a people person, he didn’t like the dishonesty and lying in the industry and wanted to get away from that with his wife who thought the same.

Besides: It was a beautiful country.

As they entered the room, they felt peace and happiness as well as a certain kind of tension arise.

Needless to say, there was another kind of reuinion going on that night...

(Sorry about that short ending, I had to heavily edit that ‘cause it originally was a... well... non Pg scene xD)

[stranger-who-writes-fiction]

Now that the initial shock has worn off--mostly--I feel like I can ramble about the Supergirl comic news in a more coherent fashion.

Under a cut because there’s a good chance it’ll be long. XD 

So yeah! Tom King, writing Supergirl. Wild!

As I mentioned in my previous post, I’ve been jokingly entertaining the notion that King’s teased ‘Super’ project would actually be a Supergirl thing, but I always assumed that if it was, in fact, a Supergirl thing, it would be in the vein of Mister Miracle or Strange Adventures--a prestige, out-of-continuity take, possibly featuring an older Kara, from pre-crisis continuity. Maybe interrogating the whole, ‘her most famous story features her death’ thing. 

I never expected mainline, in-continuity, teenage Kara from him. 

As I said, wild!

Wild, because King is like. A HUGE name in comics, and his wheelhouse is primarily Sad Dads. He’s also known for making really controversial, polarizing decisions WRT characterization of fan-favorite characters. (See: Wally in HiC, Batman in Batman, etc.) 

So, like. I get that immediate ‘What?! Oh no!’

...But also...

He’s written Superman: Up in the Sky, which, barring one particular issue, is an extremely good Superman story.

(The whole premise of Up in the Sky is that Superman leaves earth to rescue an orphan girl who’s been kidnapped by aliens. The issue that’s a bit ‘yikes’ features Clark trying to reach Lois from deep space, and he can’t, so he’s imagining that something terrible has happened to her. That, I feel, is a perfectly fine, in-character reaction, and an idea worth exploring. HOWEVER, in execution, it ends up being Lois dying in several different, awful ways on-panel, which...yeah. Kinda Yikes! I can’t remember if it was terribly graphic but, still. I don’t think it needed to be seen, you know?)

So aside from that misstep? A really good Superman story.

(On the topic of King and Lois, I frequently cite his story in Action Comics 1000 as an example of a writer just being like, ‘screw it, Lois is alive 4 billion years in the future, and still with Clark.’ So I give him props for that.) 

Back to Up in the Sky--King’s referenced that in describing Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, so. That’s mostly a positive!

The ‘Tom King’ thing also starts to make more sense once you look at like, the money/sales side of things. I’ve already seen a bunch of tweets from people who are like, ‘I’ve never read a Supergirl comic before but I’m gonna get this because you’re writing it!’

Yeah. I see you, DC. I see you. XD

We’ll probably never know the behind the scenes stuff, but I gotta wonder if this wasn’t so much DC choosing King as King wanting to do this, and DC letting him.

Another valid criticism/concern I’ve seen mentioned: Another dude writing Supergirl!

Which...yeah! Kinda crummy! Would be nice to see a woman write Supergirl for more than, you know. Three issues.

(Side note, though: personally I do not ascribe to the ‘only men can write men, women write women’ thing. That’s kind of a separate topic, but I mention it here because I don’t automatically assume that a book will be better/worse based on the gender of the person writing/drawing/etc.)

(For instance! Bennett just churned out one of the worst Supergirl comics I’ve ever read so...it’s equality! Anyone can write an awful Supergirl story!)

Speaking of Bennett...

The solicit text...kinda sounds like Future State 2.0, which...

Is not promising.

It’s really weird, IMO, that DC is like...letting such similar premises happen back-to-back? 

A lot of DC books are incorporating stuff from Future State but this isn’t so much, ‘teasing out plot threads’ as like. Just doing it over again. XD

I mean. Worst thing that can happen is we get another ‘dead in the backyard with the dog.’

(I’m intensely curious about the DC editorial situation, like. Which pitch came first? Was the Future State Superwoman book always going to happen, what with FS being built from the ruins of 5G or whatever? Did King come up with his stuff at the same time FS was being developed? The world may never know...)

Given that this is King’s next big thing...kinda hoping we get some press coverage and interviews. I wanna get a better sense of like...where he’s coming from. 

Also, it means absolutely nothing re: the book, but I appreciate that King used a gif from the show to respond to some well-wishes on twitter. Specifically, the ‘thumbs up’ gif from one of the season blooper reels. Good choice, sir. 

Okay, enough about King. Let’s talk about the ONE SUREFIRE THING ON THIS BOOK.

BILQUIS. EVELY.

Wait, I take that back. TWO SUREFIRE THINGS:

BILQUIS EVELY, AND MAT LOPES!!!!!

Gosh this book is gonna be so pretty.

Like, just look at this:

Now I know what you’re thinking, you’re thinking: that looks stunning. BUT WAIT!

BOOM. LOOKIT THOSE COLORRRSSSSS! 

Guh, it looks so GOOOOOOD. And it’s just the cover.

(I'm ignoring the sword because I need more info before jumping to conclusions, but as some sharp-eyed folks have noticed, that *might* be a red sun which*might* mean a de-powered Kara, in which case the sword could be used in self-defense. Also, give me a Super wielding a sword over a gun any dang day.)

Evely drew an AMAZING Silver Age Kara back in Sugar & Spike and had a pretty stellar run on Wonder Woman.

Fun fact I just learned from a few interviews she shared recently! Supergirl is the character that got her into superhero comics, and when Giffen was writing Sugar & Spike, he asked if there were any characters she wanted to draw specifically. She said Supergirl, so Giffen made sure she showed up in one of the issues. :D

Also from those interviews: She’s excited about the book, and enjoys working with King. It was harder to figure out the art talk in said interviews (I was using Google translate) but I think...she was saying that there’s some specific influences that folks will pick up on when the book comes out? 

Also, when asked to tease anything about the book she just said Mat Lopes colors and stars.

WOOOOO, pretty space backgrounds, yay!

It cannot be overstated, how pretty this book is going to be. 

Evely’s a little similar to Sauvage in that they both have like...an almost fairytale quality? To some of their work?

(Evely just did a Batman: Black and White story that was quite literally a fairytale.)

But Evely, I think, has a little more range, particularly in the area of expression/acting.  

And Lopes knows how to make her work shine. 

Who knows about the writing though. XD On the one hand, the bar for bad Supergirl comics is so incredibly low, but also.

...Future State.

*shudders*

TL;DR: I refuse to let myself get excited for the story side of this because you could make an IHOP-size omelet, with all the egg on my face from my Future State hopes, but if nothing else: EVELY. DRAWING. SUPER. GIRL. *wild muppet flailing* 

[with-all-my-heart-arwen]

The Scare

A/N:  An AU fic about Arthur and Gwen and a possible life changing event.

The sun is bright as it filters in from the wide curtainless windows.  The office continues to buzz with busyness and life seems to move right along despite the turmoil Gwen is feeling inside.  She sighs heavily as she packs her meager belongings into a cardboard box.  She’d had the desk for three weeks and now her dream internship was at an end.  She was only standing up for herself, something her father taught her, and now she feels as if she’s being punished for not allowing a client to talk down to her.

She can feel the eyes of the other office occupants as they glance her way, some with sympathy and some with a good riddance smirk.  Her choice of vocation is competitive and she has already mired her path to success.  The realization of loss is heavy and stifling. She tosses the last few items into the box, grabs her purse and exits with her head held high.  Once she’s in her car, the tears start to stream down her cheeks and she can’t muster the energy to start the vehicle and drive away. She reaches for her mobile and taps the last number called.

He answers hurriedly. “Hey.  I’m kind of busy at the moment.  Can I ring you back?”

She is so choked up she can barely talk.  “Ar….Arthur…..”

“Guinevere….what’s wrong? What’s happened?”  He asks anxiously, noticing her difficulty to speak.

“I….I need you.”

“It’s fine.  Tell me where you are and I’ll come to you,” he offers.

“Can you…..meet me at the park?  By the fountain?’  She asks.

“I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”

Twenty minutes later, they are walking hand in hand as Gwen relays the incident with the client and then her boss and her subsequent firing.

“I thought for sure she’d speak up for me or at least see my side of things.  She completely threw me under the bus and told me I should have never spoken to a client in that manner.”  She pauses as she looks her boyfriend in the eye.  “I wasn’t cross with her like she was with me but I wanted her to know I would not tolerate being talked to like I was an imbecile.  How was that wrong?”

“It wasn’t wrong at all.” He shakes his head.  “Maybe you can speak with Isabel again, explain yourself….”

“You want me to grovel after the way she treated me?  She didn’t have to fire me you know.  This was an isolated incident.  Maybe I didn’t handle it as I should have.  Maybe I should have allowed the client to speak to me the way she did.”

“No.  You weren’t wrong for standing up for yourself.  I just hate to see you so miserable.”

“Well you’d better get used to it.  I can’t afford my flat now so I guess I’ll go back to Reading with dear old dad.  That means an hour commute each day for school, add in the wear and tear on the car and it all equals misery in my book.” She stops walking and drops his hand. “Oh Arthur what am I going to do?”

She feels awful asking her boyfriend of six months for answers but she is desperate.  Her life here was starting to come together nicely and now she appears to be backtracking.  It’s not fair.

He steps in and hugs her tightly.  “It will be fine.  I promise.” He places his hands on either side of her face.  “Why not start plans for your own business?”

“Are you forgetting I have one more year of uni?  No one’s going to take a graduating senior seriously.  I have to have that degree in hand.  Not to mention a bit of experience under my belt,” she reminds him.

“Ok.  Well this will leave you more time to devote to your studies. You may even finish early,” he suggests.

“Did I fail to mention my other problem?”  She lets out a soft breath.  “I need to complete an internship to get all my credits to graduate.  I’ve clearly mucked that up now.”  Her voice breaks on the last word and Arthur cringes, wishing he could take it all away.

“Let’s solve at least one of these problems.  Move in with me.  That way you won’t be back with your dad, you won’t have to drive so far, and I’ll cook breakfast each morning.”

Gwen smiles and wipes her tears.  “Eggs and toast?”

“Only the best for you.”

“Oh Arthur please be serious.  I really need some answers here.”

He frowns.  “Who says I’m not serious?”

“I couldn’t do that. I mean, it’s too soon.  We’ve only been dating for a few months.  What would everyone think?”

“Who cares what others think?  I understand this would be a big step for us but….I’m ready.”

“Ready?  Ready for what exactly?”

“Guinevere….I love you. Moving in together is a big commitment and I want that…..with you.”

“I…..I love you too Arthur but I don’t want you to feel obligated just because I’m having a bit of bad luck,” she states.

“This is not about your incident today.  This is about two people in love….taking the next step.”

She looks at him for a few seconds, recognizing his seriousness.  “Well, since you put it that way…..”

They laugh and she loops an arm through one of his as they exit the park.

Two months later

Gwen has ensconced herself into Arthur’s living quarters seamlessly.  He made good on his promise to prepare her breakfast every morning, she attended her classes during the day, he worked until six most evenings and she usually had dinner prepared for them once he was home.  Their lives merged almost perfectly.  The only thing she hadn’t accomplished was securing another internship and she had to have that in place within the next few weeks in order to complete her graduation requirements.

She’d be lying if she said she wasn’t a bit stressed over it but she had a couple of prospects and she was just waiting for an interview.   She puts the finishing touches on tonight’s dinner and goes over a couple of assignments while she waits for Arthur to arrive.  She smiles when she hears the lock turn on the door and the love of her life enters their home.  He walks over to her and plants a sweet kiss on her lips.

“Sorry I’m late.  My father is really bad at knowing when to call it quits.”  He sets his keys in a bowl on the coffee table and moves towards the stairs.  “I’m going up to change. Be right back.”

That night was like so many others they’ve had.  Discussing their days, current events, news from friends, etc.  They spend an hour or so on their devices, checking emails, work obligations, school assignments and then they take a long hot shower together that ends with sensual lovemaking in his oversized king bed.

The next day, Gwen is seated at the coffee shop near her school with friends.

“Where’s Jessica?” She wonders.  

“Sick with cramps. She has them something awful.  I feel sorry for her,” Dreena answers.

The others continue their conversation but Gwen is stuck on the word cramps.  It automatically brings to mind her monthly cycle and she realizes she hasn’t gotten it yet.  She quickly thinks back to last month and knows she should’ve had her period by now. She takes out her mobile and pulls up the calendar to figure out just how late she is.  She gasps and tries not to panic as her heart rate increases with the thought of what could be causing her late period.

“Gwen are you ok?” Eugenia asks.

“Yeah….I…..yes I just remembered an assignment that’s due.  I really need to go.  I’ll see you guys later.”  She grabs her belongings and makes a beeline for her car.  She picks up her mobile several times to ring Arthur but she’s not sure what she would say, so she drives home and waits for him.  She can’t even think about eating she is so consumed with her thoughts.

The clock reads 7:30 and she scoffs as she thinks, ‘of all nights for him to be late’.  He did send a text earlier but she thought late would be 6:30 or 7.  At this rate, he could be even later and she knows she will be out of her mind in only a few more minutes.  She grabs her shoes and rushes down the stairs ready to snatch up her keys and drive to the nearest drug store.

Arthur walks through the door looking a bit disheveled.  “Hi love. Sorry I’m so late.  Merlin actually closed a deal and we had to celebrate.”

Gwen stands silently, looking at him.

“Are you ok?”  He asks.

“I’m late.”

“Late for what?”

“I mean…..I’m late.���

Her boyfriend’s eyebrows go up in surprise as his mouth forms a silent ‘oh’.  “Have you taken a test?  Do you know?”

She shakes her head. “No.”

He nods slowly. “Okay.  Okay….well let’s uh…..let’s get a test.”

“A test?”  She agrees.  “Yes we should get a test.”

They take his car and drive a few minutes away to a nearby drug store.  The entire time Gwen is racking her brain trying to think of how this could have happened if it has actually happened.  She and Arthur were careful.  They used condoms and she was on the pill although she was a bit forgetful from time to time.  Surely that wouldn’t result in a pregnancy?

She places the test on the counter to purchase it only to have Arthur drop a big box of condoms right next to it.  She gives him an annoyed look and remains silent as he retrieves some cash from his wallet and purchases their items.

The silence between them continues on the ride home, her mind still racing as she makes a beeline for the bathroom upstairs.  He follows at a slower pace and sits on the bed quietly.  He checks his watch, wondering how long this would take.  He stands quickly as he hears the door open. She holds a white device in her hand and shakes her head.

“It says I’m not pregnant.”

Arthur lets out a loud ‘Woo!’  He claps his hands together, then scrubs his face with them, releasing a relieved breath. “That was close.”  He walks toward her and places his hands on her shoulders. “Gosh I feel like we dodged a bullet.”

Gwen scoffs.  “I didn’t know you’d be quite so relieved.”

Arthur scoffs back. “Well aren’t you?”

“Yes…….and……no,” she answers.

“What?  What does that mean?”

“I don’t know.  The thought of being pregnant terrified me but now that I know I’m not…..I guess I’m just a bit disappointed,” she admits.

“Disappointed? Guinevere, we are not ready for a child. You haven’t graduated uni and I’ve just started a leadership role in my father’s company.  The last thing we need is a baby.”

“I know that Arthur. Don’t you think I know that?  You just…..you’ve just made me feel like a child with me would be the last thing you’d want.  If two people love each other, isn’t it natural that they’d want children together?”

“Children?  We’ve never even discussed children.  You’ve never expressed a desire to have any and to be honest I haven’t given it much thought.  All I know is that I’m not ready to change nappies and be up all hours of the night with a screaming infant.”

“You make it sound so dismal and I think it’s one of the most beautiful things in the world,” she answers softly.

“I’m sure it is beautiful for those who plan it and want it.  I’m not saying we won’t have kids but it’s just not something that should happen now,” he offers.

“So you’re saying you wouldn’t mind having kids with me?”

He takes his time answering her.  For some reason becoming a father is something that terrifies him.  His mother died giving birth to him and his father never truly got over her death. He’s not sure he can put the woman he loves in the same predicament.  “Can we please discuss this later?  I’m feeling a little drained right now.”

“Arthur…..I need to know. I love you but if you don’t see a future for us……..”

“What are you talking about? We had a scare Guinevere.  We’re ok now and we know to be more cautious in future.”

“But if we don’t want the same things then how can we stay together?”

“There’s no urgency here. How about we revisit this in another…….five years?”

Five years?  She watches dumbfounded as Arthur removes his jacket and tie and leaves the room.

That night, Arthur pulled her into his arms and held her closely.  The previous scare and conversation lingered in the room but they didn’t discuss it any further.  Gwen was surprised by her feelings and Arthur’s admission.  She replayed the conversation in her head again and again, her thoughts keeping her awake long into the early morning hours.

Two weeks later

“Arthur, I need to talk to you,” Gwen expresses as they place their dinner plates in the sink.

He nods.  “I know what it’s about and I haven’t changed my mind.”

“So are you admitting there is no future for us…..that we want different things?”

“No, of course not. I’m just saying we aren’t ready to be parents.  Don’t you agree?”  He wonders.

“Yes but…..if we’re going to have a future together, shouldn’t we discuss the things we want and expect when it comes to family?”

“It’s not a conversation we have to have right now.  We have plenty of time,” Arthur reminds her.

Gwen accepts that as his reluctance to discuss a future therefore he must not want a future that includes her and what she wants.  This only added to the stress she was experiencing which resulted in a late period. She realizes she needs to relieve some of that stress so her decision was the right one. “Well, I’ve accepted an internship.”

Arthur smiles, relieved to change the subject.  “That’s great!”

“In France.”

Her lover falters. “Wh…what?  In France?  Why?”

“I need to get serious about this, Arthur.  I scratched France off my list because I couldn’t bear being away from you but if I truly want to graduate and if I truly want the experience, I need to accept the opportunities granted to me.”

“So you’re leaving just like that?”

“It’s for 6 weeks and I’ve been approved to complete my courses online for that duration.  It’s all going to work out.”

“But what about us?”

“You’ve made it clear that we should concentrate on our careers right now and I’ve decided that you’re right.”

“Are you dumping me?” He doesn’t give her time to answer as he steps to her and lifts her chin to look directly into her eyes.  “I love you.”  He swallows nervously.  “If this is about a baby….then….we’ll have one.  I’ll give you whatever you want.”

“I love you too but I think some time apart is what we need now.  I don’t want you to do something you don’t want to do.”

“Great coz I don’t want this.  I want you to stay.”

“I want you to take this time to consider what you truly want.  If you don’t see yourself as a father in a couple of years then we want different things, Arthur, and we shouldn’t be together if our expectations don’t coincide.”

He motions to say more but Gwen crushes her lips to his, pushing her tongue into his mouth and wrapping her arms around his neck.  She pushes her body against his and gasps as Arthur pulls back.

“Guinevere, we need to talk about this.”

“I leave in two days, Arthur.  I want to spend that time wrapped in your arms.”  Not another word is spoken as they resume their kiss and move into their bedroom.

The next few weeks are torturous for the both of them but they contend by keeping busy, Arthur in his new position at his father’s company and Gwen with her thriving internship. They talk on the phone daily, send each other text messages and emails and the 6 weeks are done before they realize it.

Gwen can barely contain her excitement as she presses the garage opener and parks her car beside Arthur’s.  She leaves her bags in the boot as she hurriedly unlocks the door and enters their home.  Arthur stands by the kitchen counter and she races to him, jumping into his arms and hugging him tightly.  His arms snake around her waist and he kisses her neck soundly.

“I missed you so much,” she gasps then kisses him gently.

“I missed you too.”

“Arthur, I want to apologize.  I did a lot of thinking while I was away but I couldn’t say this over the phone or in an email.  I was wrong to make you feel like you had to tell me exactly what you wanted for your future.  We have time and I hope you can forgive me.  I wasn’t very understanding and I don’t want to lose you.  I love you with all my heart.”

He smiles.  “I want to apologize too.  I allowed my knowledge of what happened to my parents to cloud my judgment about my own future.  I will admit that I don’t know what the future holds for us but as long as I’m with you I don’t care.  I love you, Guinevere, more than anything.”

They kiss passionately, their love for one another more evident and stronger than ever.  She grabs his hand and leads his towards the stairs.

“I’ve dreamt about you almost every night for 6 weeks.  I hope you’re prepared to remain in bed for the next few days.”

Arthur laughs as they climb the stairs together, enter their bedroom, close the door and start to disrobe before falling onto the bed where they make love slowly and intensely.

[sherrybaby14]

Prove Yourself

Prompt: Oh gosh, that blow job gif! Now I’m just imagining Dark!Bucky coming over to talk business with Dark!Tony and Tony asking Bucky if he wants a blow job while they talk, and when Bucky says yes. Tony tells you to be a good girl and give Bucky what he wants.

Pairing:  Bucky x You x Tony

Warnings:  Hmmm…maybe dub-con (I mean, read the prompt).  Also you’re a prostitute. Smut. BJ

A/N:  The gif was a Deadwood gif, but I am setting this as a mob AU

Words: 2500 (I don’t know how to drabble).

The sounds of the club were muffled by the door.  You were eager to go out and work the floor, but for now you waited in the Boss’ office.   The room looked impressive, a large desk with a giant mahogany chair and then two low seated chairs with a coffee table.  You imagined the artwork hanging in here was worth more than anything you had ever owned.  

You squirmed in your skin tight little black dress.  It was low cut and you were concerned your breasts were going to spill out if you took too deep a breath and barely covered the top of your thighs.  The black stilettos were the only other item of clothing you had on, if shoes counted as clothing.  

The door opened and your heart almost jumped out of your chest. Could you do this?  Sell yourself?  It wasn’t exactly the street corner, but there were still some ethical hang ups on your mind.  When you saw it was Natasha the adrenaline rushed out of your body.  

“Relax.”  Natasha walked over to you.  “Tonight is a test run. Prove to Tony how good you are and he will hire you and trust me, it’s a sweet gig.”  

“I think my dress it too small.”  You put a hand to your stomach and breathed in.  

“You look perfect.”  She gave you a reassuring smile.

It was easy for her to say that though. She was the madam of the operation and thus dressed in far less revealing clothing.  Natasha screamed management.  

“Where’s the confidence you displayed in your interview.”  She put her hands on your shoulders.  

You opened your mouth to respond when the door to the room opened.  Natasha spun her head and your jaw almost hit the ground when the man himself walked in.  You knew how dangerous he was, hell everyone knew he pretty much ran the city.  But seeing him in person, dressed to the nines in a suit, it filled you with awe.  

“Hey Nat.  This the new girl?”  Tony walked into his office.  His eyes scanned you up and down. “Very nice.”  

“Mr. Stark.”  You held out your hand. “I’m eager to show you my abilities.”  

A smile spread across his face as his eyes were glued to your chest.  

“I’m eager to check them out Miss, but unfortunately business calls.”  He twisted your hand and placed a kiss on your knuckles that sent a chill through your spine.  

“Mr. Barnes.”  Natasha’s voice made you look to the doorway.

James “Bucky” Barnes leaned against the frame.  They called him the Sergeant. You’d seen his picture before too, he was part of the Brooklyn mob.  He’d made a few headlines, but you never expected to see him here.  Weren’t they rivals?  

“Bring her back in when we’re done.”  Tony snapped his fingers at the other man, who strolled into the office.  

Natasha wrapped her arm around you and pulled you close, almost making you stumble in the heels.  

“You’re staring,” she whispered through gritted teeth and you dropped your gaze as she led you to the door.  

“Sorry,” you whispered back.  

“It’s alright Doll.”  Bucky’s voice made your nerves go on edge.  “I don’t mind the eyes on me.”  

Embarrassment flooded your veins.  You wanted to leave the room and never come back.  Maybe you weren’t cut out for this life.  

You were almost to the door when Tony spoke again.

“Wait.”  

Natasha spun both of you around.    

“As a show of good faith,” Tony spoke to Bucky. “You want a blow job while we talk?”  

A flash of heat came over you and saliva started to pool in your mouth.  The thought of sucking that beautiful man’s cock excited you like never before.  Change of mind, this was the life you were meant for.  

“Sure.”  Bucky took a seat at one of the low chairs.

“Wait for me outside.”  Natasha dropped her arm.  

Disappointment came now.  Of course they were talking about Natasha.  Tony didn’t even know what you were capable of, why would they let you suck off a VIP?  

“I want to try the new girl.”  Bucky clapped his hands. “If you don’t mind?”  

He wasn’t asking you, his eyes were on Tony.  For some reason that made you even hotter.  

“Be my guest.”  Tony sat in the other low chair.  “You will have to deliver me a report on her skills.”  

“Here’s your chance.” Natasha held out her hands, signaling for you to walk over.  

She winked at you, obviously aware of the eagerness you were feeling.

You took a step, but you weren’t used to the get up and almost fell out of your heel as your ankle wobbled.  

“She must be new.”  Bucky raised an eyebrow.  

Confidence.  That was what Nat mentioned.  You through your shoulders back and stepped out of the shoes.  You dropped to your knees and you noticed Tony started to smile.

“And full of surprises.”  He moved his jaw from side to side.  

You didn’t speak as you put your hands on the floor and started to crawl toward them.  The top of your dress was threatening to give and you almost wished it would.  Each motion forward your dress hiked up your hips and you were certain Natasha could see your ass and pussy, but then you heard the door click and realize she had left you all alone with these men.  

This wasn’t you, crawling toward two strangers, ready to blow one of them.  It was a better version.  One you hoped you could pull off.

With every slide of your legs you could feel the dampness growing.  How were you this excited this soon?  Why question it.  You were going to prove yourself, join the ranks of Tony Stark’s mafia, fuck these hot dangerous men and get paid for it.  You were practically drooling by the time you reached Bucky.  

You looked up at him through hooded lashes as your hands went to his belt.  He did not look away as you opened the buckle.  You felt for the button and undid his fly.   He lifted his hips and slid down his boxers and the top of his pants.  

To your surprise there wasn’t much prep work needed as he was already rock hard.  But then your eyes went wide at the monster in front of your face.  You realized it was going to take some work to get that down your throat.  

“That’s a good reaction.”  He reached out and pinched your cheek.  “Think you can handle me?”  

You didn’t know how to respond.  Honestly?  Which was uncertainty.  Or confident?  Like Nat advised.  

SPANK!  

“Eek!”  You jumped forward as a hand came down on your ass.  

It stung and you turned to see your potential employer glaring down at you.

“Be a good girl and give the man what he wants.”  Tony’s expression hardened.  

You gave a nod and turned your attentions back to Barnes.  

You dipped your head and went to the base of his shaft, making sure you had enough saliva on your tongue you ran it up the entire length and then took the tip into your mouth.  You lightly sucked and flicked your tongue over his head, wanting to let the saliva pool.  

“Back to business.”  Tony’s voice would not distract you from your mission.  “Why should I be interested in setting this deal?”  

“It’s a win win for all parties.”  Bucky wasn’t even paying attention to you.  

It sent a strange wave of jealousy through you, like his attention should be on you.  You brought your hand up and cupped his balls, lightly tugging them.  

“Ahhh.”  Bucky let out a weird noise.  “I mean, umm..there’s money to be MADE.”

He accentuated the word “made” right when you started to lower your head, taking more of him into your mouth as you forced your jaw to relax.  A surge of power ran over you,  maybe you could keep his attention.  

“Details?”  Tony stood up behind you, but you didn’t stop forcing Bucky down your mouth.  “I’m making a drink.  You want one?”  

“Yeah.”  A hand came to the back of your head and nails ran lightly across your scalp.  “I’ll take a drink.”

He tasted like man, tough and strong with a bit of salt mixed in, of course that was from the precum.  You let out a moan as he pushed your head deeper.  

“Fuck.”  Bucky let out a hiss.

You continued to swallow him, trying to lap at his shaft and suck lightly while your hand tugged at his balls.  

“She that good?”  Tony asked from across the room.  

“She knows her way around a blow job.”  Bucky relaxed the pressure on your head.  “When she moaned it was a new feeling for me, her mouth sort of vibrates.”  

It was wrong, but you loved the way they were talking about you, like you weren’t even in the room.  But more so you loved hearing the praise.  You relaxed your jaw further and took a deep breath through your nose before taking more of him, fighting past the gag reflex and burning in the back of your throat.  

“Damn.”  Bucky’s hips shifted as he fisted your hair.  “I’d say she has some skills.”  

“Well there is some business to discuss.”  Tony’s voice told you he was behind you again.  “Are you going to be able to keep talking?”  

“Ummm, yeah.”  There was the sound of two glasses clinking.  

You didn’t like that one bit.  His answer should have been no.  You knew better than to give too much too soon, but you had enough spit on his cock you could move faster, so you slowly picked up the pace, making sure to keep your tongue pressed hard against the bottom of his dick.  

“You were saying?”  There was an annoyance to Tony’s voice.  

That made you hotter.  Was he annoyed it wasn’t his cock you were sucking?  Or was he mad that Bucky wasn’t paying enough attention?  Either one suited you.  

“That money is going to get made.” Bucky sounded too clear.

You gave a harder tug on his balls and sucked down, lightly scraping your teeth against him.  

“FUCK!”  His hand returned to your head, pushing it down.  

“What’s the trade?”  Tony ignored Bucky’s outburst.  You were selfish, wanting the conversation back on you.

“Fifty fifty.”  Bucky relaxed his grip, but you didn’t lift your head.  

You could take him deep like this on your own and wanted to prove it.  His cock was getting even harder in your mouth.  

“No.” The sound of Tony swirling his ice cubes echoed across the walls.  “Sixty forty.”

“Fifty fifty is fair.”  Bucky was still paying too much attention for your liking.  

You started going even faster, bobbing your head and breathing through your nose.  Taking him deeper and deeper with each movement.  

He let out a groan and you’d never been more proud of yourself.  You increased your speed again, savoring the taste of the man as you took him down.  

“She is really good.”  His hands were still in your hair, but he wasn’t guiding you, more like holding on for dear life. “This might be the best hummer of my life.”  

You moaned at the acknowledgment and got another wince out of Bucky.  It made you move even faster, deeper, harder.  You started to think about how his cum was going to taste.  You were going to drink every drop of it.  

The fantasy and need were taking over as Bucky grew harder.  He was close to cumming and you wanted to take him over the edge.  

Another set of fingers was on your head and suddenly your neck was snapped back.  You cried out as your mouth was empty, but then you looked up to see Bucky with the same shocked look.  

“Sixty forty of you walk out of here with the biggest blue balls of your life.”  Tony’s mouth was right next to your ear.

You realized your chest was heaving and you looked at Bucky who looked pained and desperate.  

“Fine.”  He waved his hands in the air.  “Sixty forty.”  

Tony let go of your hair and you fell forward, catching yourself on Bucky’s knees.  You sighed in contentment, wasting no time taking his cock in your mouth.  

“You said you like it when she moans?”  Tony pushed up the back of your dress, leaving you completely exposed.  “Let’s see if we can help that along?”

A finger slid into your soaking pussy and you squealed in satisfaction, not realizing how empty you’d been feeling.  

“Oh shit.”  Bucky put his hand on the back of your head again, but there was no guidance.  “Keep doing that.”

You didn’t know if he was talking to Tony whose finger was sliding in and out of you with ease or you who was bobbing away on his cock again.  

“I’ll do you one better.”  There was the sound of a finger popping out of a mouth.  “This will really get her going.”  

Wet pressure was applied to your throbbing clit and you fell forward as an inhuman noise left your mouth.  You’d finally taken Bucky all the way, but any sort of burn in your throat was shadowed by the rubbing on your pearl.  

“Holy shit.”  Bucky groaned.

You managed to pick yourself back up again, half choking on him as you tried to slide your mouth up and down his cock and buck your pussy against Tony’s hands.  His skills were masterful and you were so eager to cum.  You started whimpering, unsure which part of your body needed more of your control.  

“FUCK!”  Bucky yanked your head down all the way and you felt him spasm, shooting his load straight down.  

Tony pressed down hard and you tried to shriek as the orgasm spread through your body.  But your mouth was too stuffed and you couldn’t even breathe, let alone cry out.  But you didn’t care if you ever had oxygen again as long as there were more climaxes like that in your future.

Bucky’s hand left your head and you lifted off of him, drooling and coughing as Tony continued to slowly rub your pussy until his fingers vanished.  You slumped over to your side on the edge of Bucky’s chair trying to collect yourself.  

“Are you going to hire her?”  Bucky pet your head.  “Because if not I’ll take her to our joint right now.”

“No.” Tony sounded stern.  

Disappointment flooded you and you wondered what you had done wrong as you turned your head to look up at your would-be-boss.  

Tony locked eyes with you and brought his finger to his lips, it was glistening with your juices as he pressed it into his mouth.   The visual sent a small aftershock through you.

“She’s going in my personal collection.”  He gave you a soft smile. “My use, and those I chose, only.”  

Your heart was about to pound through your chest at his declaration.  

“Now get out of here so I can enjoy my new girl in private.”  Tony’s eyes never left yours as Bucky stood up from the chair.  

You didn’t know where your life was headed, hell you didn’t know where your night was headed, but both looked good.  

[tavi-hayes]

side fic two ~ finally, a nice One

((I should probably be working on that foundation thing for the next challenge, but here is another side fic instead oops. let me introduce to you: nice and friendly tavi! thank you anna @hugo-stanton​ for the wonderful rp! if you decide to read this, then enjooooy! also please ignore any spelling or grammar errors...))

“Listen, I really don’t…”

Carla doesn’t let me finish my sentence, “we said you were going to help, the photographer is expecting you.” With that she hands me the dress I’m supposed to be wearing today. “You have no choice but to go.

Urgh. I really do not want to spend my day with some weird, old photographer who is just going to snap at me to do as he says. No thank you, I didn’t feel like being anyone’s puppet today. I’d rather spend the day in the library again, surrounded by law books I didn’t understand.

But unfortunately, I had learned that going against my maids was not a clever thing to do.

So, I sigh and reluctantly put the dress on.

Then I notice the shoes, oh hell no. I open my mouth to say anything, but Carla just gives me the angry eye. I quickly close my mouth again.

“The photographer is waiting for you in the gardens,” Carla says as she opens the door, “and you should hurry, you have 5 minutes.”

I let out a big sigh as I push myself to my feet.

Am I looking forward to this? No.

Am I going to go anyway? I don’t really have a choice. If I don’t voluntarily go, Carla will just drag me there. So, I’d rather keep my dignity intact and walk myself.

Am I going to complain every minute of the process? A 100% yes.

Walking down the stairs, in heels, and trying to hurry, is not a great combination.

But I manage to make it to the ground floor with falling, so that is worth something.

A staff member opens the door leading to the gardens. The sunlight is blindingly bright again today, not something I was getting used to.

In the gardens, Carla had said. Not a good description when the gardens are as big as 50 football fields together.

Where is that guy?

After walking around for at least 10 minutes, I finally spot someone in the distance.

That must be him then.

Wait.

Are my eyes deceiving me?

I was expecting some old, creepy, bald, wrinkled man. But the person waiting for me looks nothing like that at all.

At least I hope he is waiting for. Maybe there is an old, creepy, bald, wrinkled man here out somewhere.

Before I can do so much as stop staring, the other person looks up and smiles at me. “Octavia?”

I don’t know what surprises me more, the fact that he smiles at me or that he knows my name. Or maybe it’s both things.

“Uh yeah hi,” I get out as I continue walking over in his direction. As a way of greeting I wave, something I normally never do. I don’t know why I’m suddenly doing it now. “You must be the photography guy, right?”

He nods and smiles again. I can’t help but compare him to the prince. When was the last time he had smiled in my direction, deliberately or not? Well definitely not during that awful date. No I think the last time, and the only time, had been during that interview. And how many weeks ago was that?

The guy is holding out his hand, “I’m Hugo.”

Finally a normal person around here, someone who accepts a handshake. I take his hand and shake it, “hi nice to meet you.” I feel relieved I don’t have to curtsy, a skill I still hadn’t mastered.

“Thanks for doing this for me,” he says nodding towards the flowers.

“Oh yeah no problem,” I refrain from saying this photography thing hadn’t been my activity of choice, or that I wouldn’t even be here if it hadn’t been for my maids. Instead I look around the garden, perhaps I should spend less time inside the palace and more time exploring the grounds surrounding it. “This is such a beautiful spot,” I say before turning back to Hugo, “what exactly do you want me to do?”

“Yeah,” he says, nodding, “it’s great for photos.” His head turns into a different direction. “Do you like flowers?”

I try to follow his gaze, eventually landing on some pretty roses. A bee is flying straight towards them. “I do actually,” I say, nodding my head, “they can really make a garden come to life. And not just with their colours, but also because of the bees and butterflies and all the other insects.”

“Perfect, then let's start there.”

Oh. Oh. He meant like in photos. And I’m just blurting out my opinion. Tavi pay attention, will you?

I do notice Hugo’s head motioning me to follow. As I do just that, I decide to ask, “so are you like a professional photographer?”

He shakes his head now, “Gosh, I wish. But there really isn't a big demand for One photographers.”

I don’t understand his sentence, “one photographers?”

“Arin is my cousin.”

Oh. He meant One as in the caste, not the number. That makes sense.

What doesn’t make sense is the family tie between this guy and the prince. First, I didn’t recognize the prince’s ex-fiancée and now there is his cousin. I wonder if the other girls do know all this stuff.

“Shouldn't people like hire you for your skills instead of your caste?” I’m very aware of how messed up things are in this country. It happened all the time to my band. Now clubs would much rather book some D-lister Two, than Fives with more talent and who would perform for way less money. Life sucks. I just wasn’t aware the higher castes also suffered from this.

“Maybe one day Illéa will work like that, but for right now photography can only be a hobby,” Hugo turns back in my direction, “are you ready?”

I can’t help but comment on that first part, “I’m sorry, we can only hope for that day to come soon,” and I’m not just saying that for me, or for this One photographer. No this was a national problem, someone should do something about it. If only there was a prince who would just open his eyes to everything wrong here.

Remembering he also asked if I was ready, I quickly add, “yes, now what do you need me to do?”

“Move a little to the right?” as he is saying that he touches my shoulder, gently pushing me in that direction.

Hugo lifts his camera up and looks at it, “hmmm tilt your head up a little?”

I usually don’t do too well with orders, but for once I listen and do as I’m told, “like this?”

He smiles and nods, “perfect”. The prince appears in my memories again. If he was just a little bit like this guy, my stay at the palace would become a billion times easier.

I try to stay as still as possible, not wanting to move and ruin a picture. I also don’t know if I’m allowed to talk. Maybe that will only take Hugo’s attention away? So I decide to remain silent.

For a little while there are only the clicks of his camera, but then he asks, “so, which province are you from, Octavia?”

“Oh please call me Tavi,” I move slightly to get in a more comfortable position. My leg is starting to cramp from standing still. The feeling doesn’t go away immediately, so I move my leg a bit more until it all feels perfectly normal again. “I’m from Denbeigh.”

“Tavi... I like that,” he says before taking a couple steps to the side, telling me to look in the direction of his camera again.

Because it doesn’t sound as nice as Princess Octavia? Or Queen Octavia? The prince’s words echo in my head. No, I still hadn’t forgotten that statement. A shiver runs down my spine.

Pushing those ugly words away, I try to focus on the photographer again. As he is crouching down, he says, “Denbeigh's nice, do you miss it?”

“I don't necessarily miss the province, but I do miss my family and friends.” Every night when I’m in bed, alone with my thought, the feeling of longing crashes down on me. We do have a telephone chat often, but that’s just not the same. I miss being around them all. To make sure I don’t break down right this second, I try to direction of the conversation away from the missing part. “Question what am I supposed to with my arms?”

It’s an honest question. I have no clue what I’m doing here, just trying to roll with it.

I’m nothing like the other girls here, which is not a bad thing. But they all act so natural in front of the camera. They could all pass as models. I’m sure they would nail this photo thing too.

Hugo nods at me, “I'm sorry about that- but they should be able to come visit at some point I think,” then he drops his camera a little bit, his eyes peering at, the camera no longer in front of his face. “You can cross them if you like, putting your hands on your arms.”

I nod my head a little and follow his directions, crossing my arms in front of me. Something he said earlier caught my attention, “you mentioned Denbeigh being nice, have you visited it?”

“I've been to Winnipeg before, last summer actually. I did a trip through Illéa and stopped in each province.”

“That sounds so cool,” I wish I could say I had been on a trip just as interesting but coming here to the palace had been the first time I left my province. It’s quite sad actually, I haven’t seen anything in this country. “What did you think of Winnipeg? It's a wonderful city, right?”

His smile grows even bigger, “it’s beautiful.”

“I know right?” I chuckle a little bit, “though I might be biased.”

“You’re from Winnipeg?” he tilts his head to the side.

“Correct,” I say, nodding my head a little, “it’s my hometown.”

Living in Winnipeg has always been great. The city is simply gorgeous with its buildings and the river going right through it. Plus the nightlife was also pretty good, always something to do there. And if you don’t like the city life, it literally takes 15 minutes by car to be completely surrounded by Denbeigh’s nature.

“Oh, wow! You must love living there. I know I would.”

“I do love it yeah. You must go there in the winter, when there is snow everywhere and then when the sun rises in the morning,” pfft, “it's just gorgeous.”

The first sunrays of the day would illuminate the untouched snow. Saying it was gorgeous was a bit of an understatement. It was simply magical.

The weather also caused a lot of problems. Not to mention the need to clear to snow away in front of our house. But the glittering snow in the morning was worth all the troubles.

“Maybe you could show me around. It's always so much better with a local friend around.”

What is this? Am I making a friend?

Wow, well done Tavi.

“I will definitely keep you up on that,” I smile at Hugo, who is not taking pictures anymore I suddenly realize.

As he looks back at me again, he asks, “do you want to go over by the pond?”

It’s not like I’m the expert here, so I just nod my head and try to catch up with him as he starts walking away.

“So, how do you like the palace so far?”

“Uhm,” a sudden breeze of wind blows some curls in my face. Thank god I have splendid eyelid reflexes. The strand of hair bounces in front of my closed left eye before I push it back to where it came from. It also gave me some time to think of an appropriate answer to his question, “it is really big and there are a lot of rooms. I still get lost at times.”

“But sometimes you can find the best things when you think you're lost.” I notice Hugo’s fingers fidgeting with some thing on his camera. I have no clue what that thing is for or what he is even doing, but the act could my attention.

That sentence should be printed on a shirt, or better on one of those tote bags everyone seems to have. Could make some money with this. “That is such a wise thing to say, but I completely agree with you.” I nod my head a little. “Though it is also nice if you can actually get to your destination.” And reach it in time instead of arriving 30 minutes late…

Hugo smiles again, and I can’t help but notice how it just lights up his face. His voice goes a little softer, “and between you and me there's a lot of fun things to discover in the palace.”

“Maybe you can show me around,” I’m interrupted by a bee flying just in front of my face, but once it’s on its way again to the next flower filled with nectar, I quickly add, “if you ever have time for that of course.” Because obviously some people actually have important things to do.

“Yeah, maybe not today, but I'll be around over the next couple weeks.”

“Of course, also don't feel forced please,” I say before looking towards the pond we just reached. The sunlight is reflecting on the water, there are waterlilies in different colours, dragonflies resting on the leaves. “Oh this is pretty.” It looks like something out of a fairy tale.

“I'm serious, I'd love to, Tavi.” I look back just in time to see his smile. “Why don't you go sit on that rock over there and I can get a couple more shots.”

I turn my head to see which rock he’s talking about. It’s not hard to miss, given there’s only one big enough to sit on. The front half of it is still resting on the grassy ground, but the back side has a water border. Knowing myself and how clumsy I can sometimes be, I carefully walk towards it. I definitely don’t feel like taking a dive right now, despite it being another warm day.

Once I have positioned myself on the rock, and I’m sure I won’t fall into the water, I try to smooth the wrinkles in my dress. That action causes me to wobble a little, I quickly bring my hands down so I can support myself.

“You’re doing great,” Hugo tells me from behind his camera, “just relax. The rock won't bite.”

“Oh, it won't?” I chuckle softly, “that is good to know.”

It’s not going to bite you, you know? I had said to the prince examining a paintball mask. He had responded with an I know, which had only reminded me once again that it was not possible to be in a conversation with him.

Why is he in my head anyway? He does not have the right to be there.

I push the memories back to where they came from. Locked behind the wall, safe for any prying eyes.

Perhaps I should live more in the here and now, instead of in the memories of some awful events. Maybe that would be better for me.

I try to relax a little, exactly what Hugo said. Flipping my hair over my other shoulder I ask, “since when have you been into photography?”

Seeing people talk about the things they were passionate about always made me very happy. Just as it made me happy to talk about the things I love, music for example. And I had noticed the sparkle in Hugo’s eyes every time he said something about photography.

“Since I was a teenager at least,” he says, smiling fondly, “my aunt got me into it though, so really since forever.”

“Oh that is cute,” just like my own parents got me into music, it makes me smile a little. “How did you learn how to do it? With workshops? Or did you figure it out on your own?”

I’m very aware of the fact that photography looks way easier than it actually is. Taking pictures with my friends was already a struggle, especially when the lighting wasn’t ideal. And we took photos with our phones. But those real cameras had like a billion buttons. I don’t think I would ever understand what to do to take the perfect photo.

“Mostly on my own. My aunt showed me what she knew and from there I've learned from books and such,” he says as he moves himself to a different spot. I can here the click of pictures being taken. “What about you? What do you do back home?”

“That is impressive, really!” A breeze of wind blows another curl in my face. This time it bounces against my nose. I move my hand upwards and try to tuck the loose curl behind my ear, away from my face. Right then I hear more camera clicks. “Besides working in a music store, I’m also part of a band.”

“So, you're a musician? That's wonderful. I'm sure everyone back home must be missing you.” Hugo says as he puts his camera down.

That makes me snort a little, “I'm sure they're enjoying all the quietness now that they still can.” For I could be send home any minute and then they will have to deal with me and my music again. Before arriving here, I had expected to be send home in the first round of eliminations. But the unlikely thing happened and now I’m still here for whatever reason.

“Why? You don't seem too loud.”

“Our house is quite noisy,” I try to explain, “so if I’m practicing in my bedroom, you're able to enjoy it in like every other room.” And I’m pretty sure our neighbours can hear it too, even though they’ve never complained about it before.

I stretch my back a little. Sitting on a rock was not comfortable in the slightest, it would be nice if there was something to lean against. But what do I expect, it’s a rock.

When Hugo looks up at me, he’s smiling, “I don't think I could ever complain about that.”

“Wait until you're exposed to it all the time, you're going to long for some silence.” Earplugs seem to help.

Hugo has made his way over to me and is now holding out his camera to show me a photo. I lean slightly forward to get a better view. It’s the picture where I’m pushing some hair out of my face.

I know it’s me, but I don’t recognize myself.

Nothing like the person staring back at me in the reflection of the prince’s car. That girl had looked like a mess.

But this girl, here in that photo, she looks so carefree and happy. Alive.

“Oh wow, dude you're talented!” I can’t believe that’s me.

When I look up, Hugo is shaking his head, “that has nothing to do with me. It was all the model.”

“Oh shut up, I've never looked anything like that before.” I point to the photo, “Look you don't even see my double chin.”

That makes him laugh, “I'm a photographer- not a wizard. That's all you.”

“I won’t believe that,” I shake my head a little for emphasis, “you obviously are a wizard for taking such a photo. Can I see another one?”

He laughs a bit more, such a joyous sound, “sure.” He does something on his camera, and then shows me a photo taken by the roses. “See, that's not me, Tavi.”

“How?” I can’t stop staring at the photo, how is this even possible? “I will say it again, you are talented. Look at the sharpness of that photo, and the sunlight and the shadows.” The entire setting and angle really make my face stand out. In a good way.

“All I did was point and shoot. You did all the hard work.”

As I look back up again, away from the photo, I roll my eyes and say, “I bet you can even make a garbage bag look pretty,” before hopping down from the rock. I try to wipe any dust off it, without being too obvious.

“Maybe, but a garbage bag wouldn't make anywhere near as good of company as you.”

That makes me chuckle, what a compliment. “Thanks, I’m glad to hear you think my company is better than that of a garbage bag.”

“Significantly better,” he chuckles as well.

“You're great company too,” I say as my eyes follow a dragonfly flying buying. It’s searing through the air, just above the water surface of the pond. Eventually it lands on the leaf of a water plant, casually chilling in the sun. “Do you need any more photos?”

My gaze travels onwards to land on Hugo, who’s looking at his watch. “Maybe another day?”

“Okay cool,” I say, nodding my head. I should probably get out of the sun, I don’t want to get a sunburn. Plus I’m already feeling fairly hot. Going inside to a cooler room sounds like a great plan to me. “Are you also going back to the palace or are you staying here?”

“I actually need to get headed back. Let me walk you?”

“Yes sure,” I smile a little. My foot starts to wobble as I take a first step. The ground is very uneven here, with little rocks stuck in the ground everywhere. Why did my maids make me wear heels today? I should have insisted on wearing flats. At least they provided more balance on a bumpy ground.

I focus my attention on the floor, trying to place my feet in such a way that I won’t stumble and fall flat on my face.

Hugo must have noticed because he holds out his hand to me, “I’ve got you.”

I appreciate the gesture and gladly take his hand, whilst mumbling a thank you. “So what is your favourite thing to photograph? People?”

The rest of the way back to the palace we talk some more about photography and my band. He even says he’d love to hear some of our music.

It’s so nice to finally meet someone who is genuinely interested in what I have to say.

Once we reach the doors, I notice there are no staff members around this time. Being the independent woman that I am, I quickly open the door myself and hold it open.

I don’t need a man to open any doors for me, I’m perfectly capable of doing that myself.

Apparently it surprises Hugo because he lets out a surprised oh.

Once he is inside and I’m inside, I carefully close the door. It looks like the windows would break if the door is shut too harshly.

Hugo smiles at me, “I guess I'll see you around? We can take a stop in the music room when I give you your tour.”

“Sure,” I nod my head but only a little, trying to hide how much I’m actually looking forward to it. “It was nice to meet you,” I say with a smile. A smile, I now realize, that has appeared on my face many times since the moment I met the guy standing in front of me.

“It was nice to meet you too, Tavi,” he says as he takes a small step back, “thanks for letting me take photos you.”

“Of course, it was nothing.” With that we part ways.

As I’m going upstairs, back to my bedroom, I realize this photography thing had been so much more fun than I had expected beforehand. Maybe I should listen to my maids more often.

[mistydacat]

Cursed || A Felinette Story || Chapter 1

Who would've thought that a seemingly ordinary Thursday afternoon, a letter would arrive in the mail that would change their life?

Marinette sure didn't.

So she was surprised when her parents called her down from her room, claiming that a letter had arrived in the mail for her.

At first, she was confused. It couldn't be from any of her friends; they could just text her. Who would send her a letter?

It must be something super important. Marinette thought to herself. People were only sent letters these days if it was an invitation to some sort of fancy event. Though, she supposed schools sent out letters sometimes as well.

Marinette tried to rack her brain for anything she could have done that would have been worth sending a letter home for, but came up with nothing. Maybe Lila had come up with another lie to get her into trouble again? However, she hadn't been in school for a while, so that didn't make sense.

But one look at her parents' faces destroyed that theory, much to her relief. They were smiling at her.

So now, she was back to confused. Instead of further dwelling on it and jumping to conclusions, like she usually did, Marinette decided to just ask.

"A letter? Who is it from?"

"Do you know that art school that's not too far from here? Lycée D'Arts en Hausse?" Her mother asked.

"Yeah?" Marinette responded, unsure of where this was going.

Her dad handed her the letter with her name printed on it. A similar envelope lay on the counter, opened. She could just make out her parents' names on it from where she was standing.

She opened up hers and began reading. 

Miss Marinette Dupain-Cheng,

We, Lycée D'Arts en Hausse's talent scouts, have found the exceptional work you have done as a designer. We have seen the world-renowned rock star, Jagged Stone's new album cover, and the Pigeon Feather hat you skillfully created for a recent Gabriel fashion show. We have unanimously agreed that your talent is something we would happily accept at this school.

Attached to this letter is a pamphlet that features some of the many things Lycee D'Arts en Hausse offers to its design students.

If you think that this school is fit for you, you can send an email to lyceedartsenhausse@gedsb.fr so we can book you an interview and start the school transferring process.

Sincerely,

Lycée D'Arts en Hausse

Marinette jaw dropped.

"No way," she breathed out, looking wide-eyed at her parents.

"It's your choice if you go or not, of course. I know you'll probably miss your friends, but you can always meet up with them on weekends and after school. You could even arrange to spend your lunch hour with them if you'd really like to," her mother said, offering her a comforting smile.

"This could be an excellent opportunity for you to get a head start in the fashion industry." Her father butted in.

Marinette, still in shock, could only nod at her parents. She was still trying to process what was happening. 

She weighed the pros and cons. On the plus side, her dad was right, this would be a great opportunity. She could go to class with other young designers like her and have a professional teacher. She would probably learn things that she wouldn't have been able to teach herself!

But, on the downside, she was moving to a new school. At her new school, she could get away from Chloe and Lila, although they don't really bother her as much as they used to. She didn't know anyone there, and, unlike what would happen if she transferred at the beginning of the year, she would be the only new student. People had already established their friend groups. What if no one wanted to talk to her? Or worse, what if there was someone ever more awful than Chloe and Lila? What would she do then?

"Marinette?"

Marinette blinked back into reality, created by her parents' worried faces.

"Sorry, I'm just... taking it all in, I guess."

Their expressions relaxed. "You can take a few days to think it over if you'd like. This is a big decision." Her mother comforted.

"Thanks, Maman. Thanks, Papa." She kissed both her parents' cheeks. "I love you both so much."

"We love you too, sweetie." Her mother smiled.

»»————- ⚜ ————-««

Marinette went up to her room. She felt that she needed to ask Tikki for her opinion, then she would video call Alya and ask for her advice.

"I'm so happy for you, Marinette!" Tikki beamed.

"Do you think I should go?" Marinette asked her.

"It would be a pretty significant change for you, but not necessarily a bad one! Think of all the new experiences you'll go through!" The kwami of creation cheered.

Marinette sighed. "I don't know. I guess I'm just..."

"Nervous?" Tikki finished for her.

She nodded.

"You have to go through changes in your life, Marinette. It's inevitable. But it makes you a stronger person." Tikki assured her.

"You're right." The young designer smiled at her. "I'm still gonna call Alya and ask for her opinion, though."

Tikki nodded. "Go ahead!"

Marinette unlocked her phone and texted Alya.

ThatOneDesigner: Hey, I need to talk to you about this super important thing.

Alya responded quickly.

ThatOneLadyblogger:???

ThatOneLadyblogger: What is it??????

ThatOneDesigner: Can I call you?

ThatOneDesigner: Sure.

Marinette hit the call button and watched as Alya's face filled the screen after she accepted.

"Hey girl, what's up?" Asked Alya.

"So... I don't know how to say this, but..." Marinette started.

"But what?"

"There's this super awesome arts school that liked my work and offered me a spot there in design!" She blurted out quickly.

Alya gasped. "Oh my gosh, Girl! That's so awesome! I'm super excited for you! Did you respond to them yet? Do you know when you're gonna start? I'm soo jealous! Oh my gosh, tell me everything!"

Marinette smiled at her best friend's reaction. How could she ever have thought she would react otherwise?

She quickly filled Alya in on all the details she knew of.

"-So, I called you to ask for your opinion." Marinette finished.

"Girl, there is no way I am letting you pass up this opportunity! Do you really have a reason not to go?" Alya told her.

Marinette pursed her lips. "Well, I was scared of what you'd think. I didn't want it to seem like I was abandoning you."

Alya let out a fake gasp. "How dare you think so lowly of me!" She yelled dramatically, striking a classic 'woe-is-me' pose. "What kind of best friend would I be if I wasn't extremely over-supportive of you going to this school? Marinette, you should be ashamed! Ashamed, I tell you!"

Both girls simultaneously burst into a fit of giggles, which then erupted into roaring laughter. They didn't stop until they were struggling to breathe, tears forming in the corners of their eyes.

Things always seemed a hundred times funnier when they came out of the mouths of your best friends.

"You know what would totally be awesome?" Alya began after (mostly) recovering from their laugh attack. "You should definitely introduce me, Nino, and Adrien to any new friends you make at your school. That way, we could have one giant friend group! Also, I'll need to run a background check and approve of all your new friends. I don't want you to befriend anyone that could potentially hurt you."

Marinette laughed. "Alya, I don't even know if I'll make any new friends."

"There is no way anyone could meet you and not instantly want to be your best friend. Literally, our whole class loves you, except Chloe, but I don't think she loves anybody. You'll make tons of new friends."

"Alya, you know what? I think I'm gonna go."

Alya squealed. "I knew I could convince you! But you have to call us every day and have lunch with us at least once a week. Also, if you're not busy, we have to meet up on weekends."

Marinette rolled her eyes playfully. "Obviously. Those are all given."

"I can't believe you're gonna go to a fancy art school!"

"Why do I feel like you're more excited about this than I am?" Marinette teased. 

"That's because I am. Overly-supportive best friend, remember?"

Marinette laughed again. Talking to Alya had really hyped her up for the move.

"I've gotta go help my mom with some stuff. See you tomorrow?"

Marinette nodded, giving her friend a little wave. "Bye!"

"Byeeee!" Alya blew a kiss at the screen, then hung up.

»»————- ⚜ ————-««

The next few days went by rather quickly. Marinette had come home from school on Friday and told her parents that she had made her decision. The next thing she did was send an email to the school telling them that she was interested in enrolling. They sent their response back rather quickly and scheduled an appointment for her, which she attended a few days later.

They mostly just gave her a tour of the building and introduced her to some potential teachers. She met the principal, Mme. Ambroise, who had seemed to be a very kind woman who genuinely cared for each one of her students.

A week later was her last day at her current school, Collège Françoise Dupont, and boy was it emotional. 

Her classmates gathered around her, offering their goodbyes and wishing her good luck. Some have even brought gifts. Rose had handed her friendship bracelet with her name on it, and a quick glance showed that the entire girl squad had one as well.

Mylene, Rose, Juleka, and Ivan had also gotten Luka to help them make her a song that she downloaded and vowed to listen to on her first day. Nino had also made a few remixes of it, so she had a variety.

Nathanial had drawn a portrait of her as a half-phoenix, to represent rebirth and starting over.

Alya had gotten her a set of brand new charcoal pencils, and Adrien had gotten her the prettiest sketchbook she had ever seen. It had the Eiffel Tower on it, which he said was because he had heard her say it inspired her. He and Alya had thought that since she would be starting at a new school, she should have some new supplies to really start off fresh. 

The gifts really touched her heart, and when it was time to hug everyone and say their last goodbyes, half the class was almost in tears.

»»————- ⚜ ————-««

Marinette was very tempted to collapse onto her bed the second she got home and contemplate her entire life, but she needed to get her things ready for the next day.

She emptied her backpack of all the workbooks and papers from her old school, but then she decided to dump everything else out so she could clean her bag. There were a lot of crumpled up papers and even if you stray pencils.

Once she was done, she put in her pencil case and a few other supplies, along with the new sketchbook and pencils she had gotten.

When Marinette was done, she realized how much spare time she had since she didn't have any homework to do, and decided to clean her room. Tomorrow was a new beginning, why not start off with a tidy bedroom?

She cleaned up and put away some stray fabrics, yarn, and thread. She also took the time to hang up the art Nathanial had given her.

Marinette stared at her walls, hesitating. Should she take the pictures of Adrien down? 

This was supposed to be the start of a new era for her, right? Adrien didn't seem to have returned any of her affections, so maybe she should move on?

No, what was she thinking!? Just because she was moving to a new school doesn't mean she was giving up!

But at the same time, what if she met someone else? Adrien was clearly uninterested, maybe she was thinking these thoughts because she had already partially moved on. She had even gotten over her stutter. 

Marinette's hand hovered over one of the pictures, then she shook her head. She would just wait and see if her feelings changed the next time she saw him.

»»————- ⚜ ————-««

Marinette spent the rest of her day helping her parents in the bakery and working on a leather skirt. She didn't usually work with leather, as it was one of the more finicky materials to sew, so she was getting some practice in.

Marinette went to sleep early that night, grateful that Hawkmoth had decided not to release an akuma that night. She hoped that maybe tomorrow she'd actually get to school on time. »»————- ⚜ ————-«« 

Cursed Masterlist

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mistydacat Masterlist

[saruma-aki]

Well, I would like to say I thought this through before dragging this post back up after having posted it way back when ST2 was new and fresh out of the proverbial womb, but, the harsh truth is, I did not. Honestly, I have been ignoring the existence of this post since its conception because the amount of popularity it garnered was mainly negative (no shock there; this is, after all, tumblr) and I had more important things to stress over than what someone interpreted from a line in a show that will fade into obscurity in a couple of years. However, the most recent reblog caught my eye because someone actually wrote something under it—and not just under someone else’s words, but the original post, which I had not seen in a while.

Obviously, what they said did not make me very happy. Otherwise, what is the actual point of making this post?

Here is the thing, the “tea” or however you want to call it—everything they said is way out of line.

I will be the first, the very first (no one is beating me to that spot) to admit that the original post was just a little bit tone deaf. It did not really discuss the topic or why it is that I felt like I did or Dacre’s own opinion. It was just a couple of screenshots from an article that made me feel better about where I stood on the whole debate—and I wanted to share it. I don’t know why. Maybe to just not feel crazy in the midst of that drama? Who can say? However, I will be the first to say that the post is wholly inadequate in explaining anything of note.

I was not exactly surprised when people took to it with raised hackles, even if I really never conceived it would reach close to five hundred notes by the time I got the guts to address it again (and I know that five hundred, 5-0-0, doesn’t really seem like a lot, but considering that I thought maybe one person would pay attention to it, it’s basically the equivalent of a million in my eyes).

But, you know what? I’m tired. I’m stressed. I’m slowly dying. Let’s finally addres this. Because this reblog, this most recent reblog, really bothered me. And I know, trust me when I say I know, that it seems simple and of no need for concern, and I’m sure the few people who are actually bothering to read through this are thinking, “Why on earth did they not just talk to this person instead of making a long post?” But, here’s the thing with this whole shebang: I’m tired, and this person isn’t alone in their opinion. What made this one stand out is how they phrased their belief.

I’ve had to listen to people gripe about how this post “proves there’s no such thing as POC solidarity”, and they’re absolutely right because Native American woman are being slaughtered and raped and abused every day, and Native Americans are represented less that one percent of the time (<1%) ) in film and media (and the few, very rare, times they are it is with an abundance of racism and stereotypes piled onto them), and yet I don’t see black people, with their sixteen percent (16%) representation score raising much of a fuss. (This is not a call out or something. I get it. Get your own representation and rights before helping out anyone else. It makes sense, in a way—I’m not judging. But maybe don’t come at people with that when you’re part of the issue.) I have had to listen to people assume my race, ethnicity, political leaning because of this post, and, honestly, I’m just a wee bit tired of it.

I have four things I really want to say with this post, in response to everyone, but especially in response to this one reblog:

1) I am a proud person of color. I am a proud descendant of African slaves. I am a proud descendant of Taino natives. I am a proud member of the Latino community. I am a proud non-white individual who experiences racism on a daily basis.

I experience racism meant for black people. I experience racism meant for Latinos. I experience xenophobia meant for Middle Easterners and Asians. I experience racism meant for Middle Easterners. I experience racism meant for Indians. I experience Islamophobia meant for Muslims. I have been told they should “build a wall” to keep me out. I have been told that the KKK should pay me a visit. I have been called a terrorist. I have had people dance in crude imitations of Indian traditional dance to my face while laughing. I have experienced all of this and more.

I have been a victim of racism, classism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia, etc., from both POCs and white people, straight and gays, natives and immigrants.

Do not presume to know my race and my experiences just because my opinion does not coincide with yours. Quite frankly, don’t do that to anyone. You do not know anyone’s life story, especially over the Internet. Do not assume otherwise. Do not delude yourself into a false confidence and assurance of your own moral superiority when you know nothing of the people you are attacking. It is easy to hide behind a screen, and I am not here to tell you to not talk about what you wish and what you can and cannot talk about and direct at people. I merely suggest you stick to the information readily accessible, not mere assumptions based on your own prejudices. It reveals more about you than the person you are belittling.

2) Billy never saw Max and Dustin together like he did Max and Lucas. Billy never saw Dustin upsetting Max like he did Lucas. Billy never sees Max and Dustin in any capacity like he does Max and Lucas.

This is not a justification. This is not an excuse. This is a mere statement of fact. Whether or not you believe Billy is racist or abusive or whatever, the bottom line is the same. Billy doesn’t witness Max with Dustin like he does Lucas. Honestly, I’m fairly certain Billy never even sees Dustin and Max together at all. Think Billy is racist or don’t, but it doesn’t change this very basic fact. It’s not a situation of “why didn’t he” when every iteration can be debunked by simply understanding that this wasn’t information he was privy to ever. “Why didn’t he?” Because he didn’t know.

3) I don’t take the word of the Duffers on anything. Let’s make that perfectly clear. And this is not some personal dislike or something. This is born from experience. I have sat in the writer’s chair; I have sat in the director’s chair; I have sat in the actor’s chair. You know what I have learned? The writer provides the skeleton, the director gives it movement, the actor gives it life. The job of an actor is solely to understand the character. That, ladies and gentlemen and the general populace, is the secret of acting.

What the writers provide is just the guidelines for the actor. The understanding the actor develops can evolve into a different interpretation than the writer or director had, and it has the potential to be more profound.

The other two reasons I don’t take the word of the Duffers on this is: A) had it not been for Dacre, the Duffers would have been subject to critique on lazy writing moreso than they are already because Billy’s depth and complexity, especially the jarring scene we all remember, came from Dacre—Dacre wanted a villain with a reason if he was going to play Billy and he pushed for it (which says a lot about him and how skilled of an actor he is—understanding that experience and trauma shapes us and forms us into what we are and that we are not static beings, so there should be no such thing as a static character) and that makes Dacre’s opinion a lot heftier than the Duffers’ already——B) Dacre originally did think Billy was racist. Isn’t that a kicker? Dacre remarks in interviews that when he read the script at first, he thought, “Oh, no, gosh, he’s racist on top of all of this?” And he stayed with that mentality for a bit. It was only as he delved deeper into the character and understood Billy more as a person instead of the two dimensional villain he’s set up as that he changed his mind and came to the conclusion that he doesn’t think Billy’s racist.

He put in the work.

The Duffers went in with a throwaway line and labeled the character as racist. They wanted a human villain, someone for people to hate, someone to pit against our heroes, against Steve. They wanted to make him awful and static and to have him do what Steve’s character couldn’t and stay the asshole the audience could hate.

Dacre didn’t fall prey to that mentality. He searched for the human in the label “human villain” that the Duffers wanted and found a much more complex character than the Duffers even considered. Because of this, Dacre’s opinion carries far more weight than the Duffer Brothers’.

And, ultimately, most importantly—the main reason I wanted to make this post, to defend the original post this is born from even though I’ve stated my stance on this issue in a separate post in much clearer terms—the real reason I made the original post to begin with even if I never talked about it:

4) People who immediately assume racism instead of ignorance, racist instead of ignorant, are part of the problem, not the solution.

This really bears no explanation. You cannot change what you believe is irreversible. You cannot educate what you believe is closed off. You cannot help that which you’ve condemned.

I do my utmost to live my life by this. Ignorance before condemnation, always, always, always. The majority of the time it is a lack of education on the subject and a lack of personal experience that leads to such grave misunderstandings. Give a person the chance to learn and to be taught and to redeem themselves, and most of them will. It takes time and patience and a boatload of energy and perseverance, but you get there through understanding and the willingness to help out—by giving them the chance everyone else is denying them.

You cannot help those which you’ve condemned. In life and in fiction, until proven repeatedly over and over again when intervention is applied, I like to adopt the philosophy that people are ignorant before they are racist, before they are a sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, etc., etc.

I’m not saying it’s a popular philosophy (because it’s not), and I’m not saying it’s right (because maybe it isn’t), but it’s my philosophy. And knowing where Billy comes from, what he’s been through, who his father is, what his home life is like, I elect to believe in my philosophy and in my understanding of the human mind, and I don’t think he’s racist. I can definitely see how he might be construed as such, and I don’t belittle those who see it that way, but I stand by my original observation (however ineloquently stated) that I, in my own personal opinion, don’t believe Billy is racist.

And, ultimately, I just want people to accept that. I’m not denying the possibility. I’m not uninformed. I’m not some white, cisgender, hesterosexual man sitting behind his computer screen agreeing with a white actor because it makes me feel more comfortable in myself and my own experiences. I am a proud POC, a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, a writer, an actor, a director, and a human being. I see where you all are coming from—I hear you; I read what you write. I get it. But can you get me? Can you understand where I am coming from? Can you stop with the misinformation and the moral superiority complex? Life is too short to live like this. I know that it’s Tumblr. I know being superior is the bread and butter of this site. But, honestly, guys, let me get cheesy for a second, let me get real, because you guys clearly need to hear this:

Be willing to understand and to learn. You will get so much further in life. You cannot help that which you’ve condemned, guys. And you really can’t. You can’t change what you believe is irreversible. You can’t teach that which you believe is unwilling to learn. Give people a chance, and they might just surprise you.

Gosh, I hope this cleared some things. I doubt many of you made it to the end if you even got past the beginning, but I sure feel better after writing this. Take care. Bless. I’ll see you on the other side of the war.

[latchingontoallofyou]

DWTS Premier- day after live blog

Since I didn’t watch last night, I promised to give my “Live blog” as I watched today. If you care to read what I thought, feel free. 

Opening number:

Starting with an interview, this is odd. Really, let’s play the Hannah is single from the get go. I love Kel so much! Whoa, that mirrorball opening this was trippy. I love when the pros open the dancing. Oh, Tom and Erin, I’ve missed you! I really hate this lets not say who they are dancing with and make everyone come in by themselves. They should never do that again. This is quite the process to get started. I think I like the set. It’s very shiny.

This judges twist: I’m guessing they get to save a dancer. Que the eye roll.

Hannah: This is the most of the Bachelor/ Bachelorette I’ve ever seen. That was the most unenthusiastic hello ever. Gosh I love Alan so much! She smiles a lot. I don’t like her costume. She was off timing with her arms a few times. Her movements just seem slow and small. The moves she knows, she hits sharply though. Not bad for the first dance. I think they could go on to do well. Let’s not play the showmance and I’ll be good with them staying for a while.

7,7,6

Kel: I freakin love Kel! Always have. Bringing good burger, love it! I love the reaction. I’m also glad she has someone I like again. Sliding down his tongue. I kinda love their costumes. Opps, missed hands twice in a row. So serious faced. Is he chewing gum? That wasn’t great but I still enjoyed it. I’m looking forward to more from them. Stay around long Witney and Kel! He is really listening to the judges. I like that. And man, those gems on Witney’s lips have to be uncomfortable.

6,5,5

HEY BOBBY! Love that man’s smile!

Kate: I never watched the office…. Pasha, a new cutie. Nice dimples on him. That was the shortest segment. Weird opening to the dance. She almost forgot to take off her costume. She struggled at the beginning. She seems to be almost slipping around on the floor. She’s did well in some spot, struggled through others. I think she’ll do well as the weeks go on. I love that the judges complimented Pasha too. One thing about costumes, why is she in blue and he’s in red? They just don’t really go…

5,5,5

I just love how everyone keeps mentioning that it’s been a year. Maybe they’ll learn and not do that again.

Lamar: I heard this one was bad… Don’t know him. Nice slow clap Peta. She shoots, she scores! He makes her look so tiny and she’s really not that tiny. Oh boy. I like his costume. Oh, so slow! He arms aren’t bad. Those kicks lol. He’s leg don’t need to be flexible for basketball. I mean, it really wasn’t great but knowing what the scores were, I didn’t think it was that bad. Poor guy looks horrified. Carrie Ann, good for you for being kind and really complimenting him. He did the best with what he could.

5,3,3 (Way too harsh!)

Bobby Bones! (If only I could write it like it say it) I’ve missed him on my TV.

Lauren: She’s so sweet and I love her already. I don’t even like country music. But like, why Gleb! Anyone but Gleb! He’s my least favorite male pro. Maybe she’ll take him though. Wow, go girl! She hung right in there with the ladies. She’s acting the part and doing the steps so well too! Weird song for her but it works. That was so short! She did great though! I can’t wait to see more of her. Very well choreographed Gleb.

7,6,6

I saw Kym and MumI!

Christy/ Sailor: Poor Christy! So sad for her but so happy her daughter could replace her. Such a sweet simple meeting. Ah, her excitement over the song. So cute! Aw, Val! He’s so distraught. So amazing that Sailor took over. She’s so beautiful nit like in a normal looking person type way. They are so sweet to each other.  Oh she looks so gorgeopis! Three days and she dances like this! Wow. She’s going to thrive as the season goes on. She’s really jolding her own. And she looks like she is having the time of her life! I love it! I think I’m the most excited for them so far. I loved that she went to her Mom at the beginning of the dance and then the kiss and cry after. Amazing job. Lol, she looks taller than Val. Could just be the hair.

Wow, the worst break the doctor had ever seen. Poor girl! She should have a sling on to hold it elevated!

6,6,6 (I would have liked a 7 or two. I thought it was better than Hannah)

Karamo: Never watched this show either but I think I want to… just need some time… He just looks like so much fun! I am so glad he got Jenna! They are going to be so fun to watch together, like Jenna and Adam. That was the shortest video again. Kill it you two. Haha, there is the camera mess up. So embarrassing for whoever that was. They are killing this, and they just look so good. He’s having a blast! That was so fun! He did really well too. They could do really well too. Can’t wait to see more of them, without the camera mess up.

6,5,6

And I already want to tell Len to shut up! Remember, they are just learning to dance. How can you expect them to have every piece perfect already! You trained for years so you don’t know how hard this is for them so shut up and stop being so grumpy. Yes, idealistically, the dancers need to be able to do all things but why be so angry week one when the can’t? Ok, end of rant, for now at least. Back to the show.

Ray: He’s handsome and he just looks like a good man. He looks so happy to see Cheryl. It’s so sweet.  I always have mixed feelings when she comes back but I’m glad she did. Um. Nice little solo there. Those facials were creepy. He danced better on his own but he’s hanging in there. Stand up a little more Ray. Ok, yea, that was kind of creepy but that may have been thanks to the song… Not my favorite but not horrible. He seemed to be having so much fun. Good for him.

5,5,5

Mary: She’s beautiful! 75  and a half… I love it! What a personality. She is so sassy and she’s gonna be so fun! I love how he said, “you got some good rhythm” and she just goes “I’m black” lol. Brandon, love you too. We get to see so much of personality in the video. He’s leading her so well and she looks so elegant. She’s moving well. He arms could be a bit sharper bit She did well. They are so fun. Carrie Ann is being so sweet, and Len can’t stand it. Lol, Len saying they are the same age and she asks him if he’s 75 and a half and he’s just speechless!

6,5,6 (I love how excited she is about her scores. You can tell she is loving every part of being here)

Ally: She’s so tiny. There was no doubt she’d get Sasha (eye roll) Love her brutal honesty about not being flexible. Where was the package. Nice solo to start but that was girl group dance moves. She has a lot of energy, but Sasha brings that out in all of his partners. I’m not even sure what this dance is supposed to be. Oh, she missed timing and spacing towards the end there. Sasha’s fighting Len already. Len, I actually agree with you for once tonight. More like a Beyoncé dance, not ballroom. No real connect to them at all for me. Sasha has a pink snakeskin jacket, lol

5,5,6

Oh, I just saw Andrew East, but I didn’t see Shawn. I knew they were both there thanks to Instagram.

Sean: I have no feeling about him other than I wish he would have got someone else besides Lindsay because I just love her so much and I don’t want her to go out early like I expect him to. Not sure who I would want him to have otherwise. Maybe Cheryl (sorry Cheryl). Having trump say to vote for you probably isn’t going to help him… pre preschool level dancer lol, oh Linds. That shirt is just awful! He really is bad! He put effort in. This is kind of scary! I still love you anyway Lindsay. At least he seems like he had fun. Bruno couldn’t even talk about the dance. He was stuck on the bongo playing. I really don’t need him to go on past next week. Best comment from Carrie Ann “You were off beat most of the dance” love it!

4,4,4 (how did that get 4s and Lamar got two 3s?)

I love that no one has to go up those awful steps after their dance for interviews. So much better. And maybe we’ll get cool videos from the pros and stars from there.

James: Yes for brunette Emma! I hope she keeps her hair brunette. It breaks up all the blonde. I have no clue who he is either but he’s handsome. Oh my gosh, his kids are so adorable! All those blonde curls. Emma’s reaction is priceless. They are going to be a fun partnership too. Um, best solo part of the night. She looks gorgeous! Strong frame James. Sharna said that he reminds her of her James, and I agree. She just looks almost like a natural. Wow! That was just awesome. He’s definitely a front runner.

7,7,7

Overall, it was a good premiere. I still miss Sharna and Artem. I miss seeing their beautiful faces. I’m happy the good band is back. One of the band members has Sharna’s hair…I like the new ballroom layout. They are going to be a fun cast. I think Sean might go home at the end of next week but maybe Lamar. I’m ok with either.

I missed live blogging with you all last night, but I will be back to it next Monday, Lord willing. In the meantime, here to actually getting pictures and videos throughout the week.

[thexsisters]

2017

A lot has happened in 2017 for me. I started the year out getting incredibly sick and I had my first ever foot injury without being in any kind of sports. Haha. The month of January was awful. Let me tell you. But some of you know. Because you were there for me.

A few months speeding up to March and something really scary happened to my grandpa. Something that I wasn’t sure he could come back from. You guys helped me. Some of you more than others but what matters was that some of you reached out. Even if it was just once and only for a few minutes. Lord knows you all have your own lives too.

My grandpa is now nearly back to the way he was. It’s our miracle of 2017 for sure. I then went to the beach for the first time ever in May and it was a blast! I can’t wait to go to a different beach next year. As long as I don’t see any sharks because for real I may live in Ohio but sharks are my greatest fear, okay???

August started out as one of the most thrilling months of 2017 but within a week it became the worst month of 2017. I had been waiting to move out for so long and when I finally got my chance, I was played and lied to. Like usual. I think on some level I’m cursed. For reals. But anyway, August sucked. But you guys were there. You were. You got me through it.

2017 was also the year I finally learned what all the hype was about this group called BTS. I knew they were popular but I was just so hooked on VIXX that I wasn’t really ready to listen to anything else. And then I came back from my beach vacation in May and the Billboard awards was on. I was like “Oh cool! Kpop is making us proud with that BTS group!” And that was all it took for me to become a baby Army~

In the process of getting sucked into the fandom, I have met so many wonderful people! Army is a fandom that, like many, have good apples and bad apples. But I’m one of the lucky ones that have met nothing but good apples~ I’m very fortunate for that. Thank you. From the bottom of my heart. You guys put up with my Jungkook spams and BTS trash posts in general. Haha!

Thank you

@grxnadxs

Chrissy. My adorable turtle with the cute shell~ Sometimes I imagine us just chilling in your shell while you tell me about things like your book cause I’m a huge fangirl, okay? But not just your book, I often imagine us talking about life and how I wish I could do more for you as a friend. If I could tattoo any quote to your body, it would be the famous quote by Christopher Robin. “You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” You fight so many battles in your life. And even when you don’t always win those battles, you never give up the war. That takes real bravery, strength, and smarts. Gosh Chrissy. You’re one of the smartest girls I know. But I also know how anxiety has it’s way of clouding those smarts. Turning us into mumbling stumbling sheep who’ve lost our way. But this year you’ve kicked some major butt, okay? You got a job! You stared your enemies in the eye and you said “F*** you.” You went to that job fair, you got that interview, and you got that job. THE Chrissy that I know can do anything she sets her mind to got a job! I’m so proud of you, girl. This is our second Christmas as friends and you’re forever one of my best friends. There are still many battles to be fought, but let’s fight them together, okay?

@fluorvte

Laura. My skanky skank. The Sushi Mama. Sadly I did not get to spend as much of 2017 with you as I would have liked. Being what I believe is 6 hours apart makes things difficult, I know. But of course we always make it work. Bless you and Chrissy for throwing me that birthday party. You guys know how much I loved our AIM chats. Sadly AIM is a thing of the past now. But at least we have the memories in our head and our hearts. That birthday party meant so much to me. You made time out of your busy life for me. That means so much. I miss you. It’s probably selfish of me to say but it’s true. I try to be okay with it. I know you’re busy. But you’ll always be my owl that watches over me. You’re still sitting on my desk with Chrissy. I have those stuffed turtle and snow owl on my desk at work. So that I have you guys with me always~ No matter how often we don’t talk, I know you’re always with me. Thanks for being such an amazing friend and an amazing writer. You never fail to blow me away with your writing.

@intoyxurheart

Where do I even start with you? Aigoo. So much has happened that it feels like we’ve known each other for years. In fact it feels so long ago that I barely remember how we first started talking. Isn’t that awful? Haha. But I do indeed remember me approaching you first. I had been checking the people who were following me but had yet to actually approach me. So I thought I’d hit you up with an instant message here on tumblr. And that’s all it took. Here we are now. Several months later and we have so many ships and it makes me feel fuzzy. You, Chrissy, and one other person are the only ones who put up with all my crazy ideas and I’ll never be able to thank you enough for putting up with that because I know my imagination can get pretty wild and out there. You are most certainly my blessing from 2017. Being strong for me so that I can be strong for my friends and family. I can’t tell you enough how precious you are. Don’t let anyone tell you any different because my opinion is the only one that matters. Haha! Let’s have many more Christmases together, okay?

@hyohyorp

Oh sweet pea I’m so sorry. 2017 wasn’t good to us and I’m so very sorry for that. Things happened and I was still trying to find my way with how I wanted to rp male muses and you were my guinea pig most of the time. But you really stuck by me. And I just want you to know how appreciative I am of you and all your endless patience with me. Our time zones make rping live really difficult but you put up with it anyway. I’m so proud of you for making your multimuse blog. I bet you’re having a blast, right? heehee It’s so good to see you having a blast and enjoying yourself. I knew you’d love it. And hopefully 2018 will be full of fun moments for Taekwoon and Hyosung~

@gcholdtrops

I’m squealing and flailing cause like I don’t even know where to start, okay??? You’ve grown to be one of my idols. I’ll never forget how our story first started. The first chapter was honestly me watching you pop up on my list of recommendations provided by tumblr. I’d click your blog and instantly start sweating because like um hello. You’re totally above me and like I just didn’t think I’d ever be able to be worthy of your writing. Like I totally believed I wasn’t worth being in your ring of writers. Everything about you is amazing and I just couldn’t. Too chicken. Couldn’t do it. But one day I got the fuzzy dice to finally approach you. And I’m glad I did. Because here I am. And I’m still such a fangirl, okay? You’re always going to be my idol. I’ll never forget that first meme reply. I remember reading it over and over again on my lunch hours at work. Smiling like an idiot and being floored every time I read it. Our cuties are so naughty and cute and gosh I ship it hard core. Seulgi isn’t naughty in her other ships but dang she channels her inner BoA when she’s with her handsome composer.~ Let’s always be rp partners, Army, and most importantly friends.

@butlersrus

Waaah~ I know we don’t talk much out of character but from what I’ve seen, you’re absolutely precious! In fact I know so little that I don’t even know if you’re male or female so I do apologize. But this is about the people who’ve touched my life and been there for me this year and you’re one of them. Whether I know anything about you or not. And you deserve to be recognized. Much like with the cutie mentioned above you, I kept watching your blog pop up in my list of recommendations. Sooo many times I’d click your blog and nibble my nails nervously because like dang what if you thought I was weird or something. Like what if our muses weren’t compatible. But wow was I wrong. Like I die a fangirl’s death every time I see Seulgi with Shownu because I keep trying to blow on the sails of the ship. Willing it to sail all around the Caribbean. Haha! I love shipping and I’m terrible at slow burning ships because I just want it to happen now. I want them to kiss now! Haha! Thank you for making my days brighter with our rping. I always have a pleasant morning because there’s a cute reply from Shownu waiting for me in my IM on tumblr. It’s a wonderful start to my morning routine. Let me tell you~ Thank you. For everything. Let’s continue to be rp partners and even friends. I’m glad I got the guts to approach you. Hopefully you are just as happy~

@abxavterno

Cutie! Thank you so much for expressing concern over my icky eczema condition. Honestly if I were to bandage all my other patches of eczema, I would literally look like a mummy. There’s one big reason I dislike winter weather and this would be it. Dry skin. But don’t worry, I just gotta make it to at least like March or April and I think it’ll settle down and clear up. Till next time. OTL Anyway! Thank you so much for sticking around. I know there for awhile we’d have mun conversations and you’d share your worries with me. I still really value that and appreciate that. You’re so sweet and I feel like I can approach you any time. You’re a good person. I hope you know that. And gaaaah. Our muses are so cute! I don’t know if it’ll ever be an official ship but I definitely ship shy Seulgi with sexy Eros. I like the rp relationship we have. We’ve had a few threads and even though a lot of them haven’t worked out, that’s not stopped us from trying new pairings and plots. I like that~ I can appreciate and admire that. Thank you. You’ve made 2017 very enjoyable. Let’s keep at it!

@terniox

Sobs sobs sobs. I miss youuuuu. You were one of the first few people to pick me up when life around me was ending as I knew it. You were one of the first few people to help me dip my toes into the idea of being multiverse. I still only really had Tiffany at the time but I wanted her to have other verses. And you dived right in with me. Our ship is the longest lasting ship on this blog and it’s always going to be special to me. I hope you’re well. I really do because I know I don’t see or hear from you as often. But you’re still important to me. So you deserve your spot here with all these other wonderful people. Because you will forever be wonderful to me in my book. Let’s continue to be amazing friends no matter how far apart life tries to keep us, okay? Heehee~

@viiifates

Hellooooo~ Another one of those cuties who I don’t really talk to out of character but you’re still so wonderful to rp with! I like our plot. I honestly don’t know much about mafia plots no matter how many BTS mafia fanfics I read but haha! I promise I’m still having a blast no matter what. I have always wanted to dip my toes in the type of plot we have going on so it’s a joy and an honor to be able to rp that with you. I like how rping is casual and enjoyable while still being thrilling all at the same time. Thanks for putting up with my tumblr IM rping style that I’ve seemed to take quite a liking to lately. It’s so convenient and it’s still just as fun! You’re a wonderful rp partner and I hope we can also be good friends too!

@darksideofseoul

Ah sweetie pie! Thank you so much for being such a wonderful, understanding sweetheart. I was kinda sorta losing it and going out of my mind with panic the last time we spoke and I do apologize. I probably seemed so irrational. Apparently that’s what happens when eczema, stress, and coming down with a killer migraine falls upon you within two weeks’ time. I really do enjoy all our little threads we have going on. I’m glad we didn’t give up. BoA and Donghae are sooooo OTP material. heehee~ She’ll die if he ever proposes. haha! Thank you so much for being a wonderful rp partner. But not just for what you do within the rp community, but also what you do outside of it. You risk your life every day and I will always admire that. Stay strong and be safe out there, okay?

@dashdasxorphans

My fellow Ohioan! Congratulations on your wedding! I bet it was absolutely beautiful and hopefully you had lots of fun on your honeymoon~ Thank you so much for rping with me. I know it’s not something that happens often but I still enjoy every second of it. I never take it for granted. Your Leo was one of this blog’s first verses when it was still just Tiffany. Our muses have been through a lot and came a long way. I’ll always treasure the memories between our muses on this blog. You helped me learn what it was like to be multiverse so that I could one day become more confident in what I was doing as a writer and a mun behind the muse. Thank you. You’re wonderful and I hope you’re doing well!

@luminxscent

Sweet pea! I miss you bunches and I hope you’re doing well. I’ll never forget all that you’ve done for me. You were there when I was in so much pain. You managed to stay neutral while helping me piece myself and BoA back together. You know how much that means to me? When I was so sick that I could have physically puked. You were there. You were there. And I know we’ve had our ups and downs. But I think that’s what makes some of the greatest friendships. The strongest friendships. We always manage to gravitate back to each other. Through thick and thin. Thank you. I keep my pink haired Hongbin photo card at my desk and every time I look at it, I think of you. You gave me so many gifts and I wish I could give it back to you doubled! Please take care and never forget that you can always come to me to talk about anything~

@paperhecrts

New cutie friend person! Heehee~ You’re already turning into a partner who’s gonna fly with any idea I throw at you. I can tell. Thank you for embracing those crazy ideas and shipping with me from day one. Literally. Like I can tell we’ve got great chemistry as writers and I sure do hope I don’t annoy you with my out of character messages in tumblr IM. I get awfully paranoid when I realize that tumblr might not be sending my messages through. Seulgi and Baekhyun are just such OTP material and I’m excited for Tiffany and Jaebum. I love the rocky, unstable aspects of our two ships so far. It’s fresh and new and doesn’t scare me because I know in the end it’ll be okay for them~ I’m excited to see where they go in 2018!

@hvllelujah

Sweetheart! I sure hope you’re taking care of yourself. Color in a Hello Kitty coloring book for me, okay? Heehee~ I miss you and I really truly do hope you’re doing well. I know the last time we talked, you were getting life figured out which honestly is a full time job in itself. Remember, any time you wanna talk or need someone to just listen, I’m here. Our rping hasn’t exactly been a thing and once upon a time it really upset me but I’ve tried to grow up and be a big girl about things like that. Especially now that I’m gaining perspective and know how hard it is to keep up when all you wanna do is focus on other things. I’m sorry I ever made things difficult for you. I hope you can forgive me. I just really loved your writing and I wanted to be a part of it. But having matured over time, I really do hope you’re taking care of yourself and doing what’s best for you~ You be good, okay? Heehee.

@xvrwxrld

Whines I hope you’re taking care of yourself, sweet pea. You know how much I worry about you. Overworking yourself or living in conditions less than healthy. Stay warm this winter. I wish I could mail you a bunch of blankets. My grandmother made me a ton that I could give you. We’ve had our fun moments though, haven’t we? Time and schedules always seem to get in our way of rping. But I’ll never forget what you told me not too long ago. How you enjoyed my muses and thought they were wonderful. That’ll always mean a lot to me and I still blush like an idiot over it. I often worry that my girls are too....out there and weird. Haha. So thank you for taking the time to admire each one of them. I’ll always treasure that. One day we’ll get to plot and rp. I don’t know when, but it’s gonna happen. Count on it!

@avtvmnwings

I miss you, dear. I hope you’re okay and enjoying life~ Hopefully life is treating you well. It’s been awhile since we last spoke but I still think about you and I still try to watch over you from afar. We’ve had a lot of fun and exciting rps though, ne? You’re a great writer and I don’t ever want you forgetting that. Our out of character conversations were always enjoyable and heartfelt. I treasure those moments because you were able to open up to me and I appreciate that. More than you’ll know. You take care of yourself, okay? Be good and stay strong. You’re doing a wonderful job. Heehee~

[blschaos3000-blog]

Its 12:25 pm cloudy/humid/16

  Welcome to 8 Questions with…..

  One of the best things I like doing this series is just how randomly these interviews come together. Some interviews come after weeks or months of just casually talking with the person I am hoping to chat with and some interviews,like the one with our guest Cedric Gegel,happen after swapping 10 tweets.    Of course when that tweet is about someone beating cancer’s ass,you just know I am all about talking with anyone who does that and that is how I met Cedric. We exchanged about 10 tweets and I just knew I wanted to know interview Cedric about his career as an actor and director.    I’m so happy that Cedric agreed to chat because he has a lot to share and I really think you’re going to really enjoy his story and since there is a lot that Cedric has to share….let me get out of the way and let Cedric answer his 8 Questions………

    Please introduce yourself and tell us about your most current project.

Hi! My name is Cedric Gegel, and I am an actor, screenwriter, and director, currently based in Philadelphia, PA and working wherever the films take me. I’ve got a couple of films on the docket as an actor that are coming up, but as a director and writer, I’m kind of involved in a few projects. The most exciting one is a drama coming up titled To A God Unknown (or The Color I Feel), which is an in-depth character study on mental health, the impact religion can have on it, and how relationships can play into how we heal. It’s a very personal project that is really invigorating for me, but it’s definitely heavy. I’m also currently working through about seven other concepts for films at varying stages of completion – for some, scripts have been started, for others, the only thing I have is a logline. It’s kind of an exciting time right now in that regard.

How have you been handling the pandemic? How have you kept yourself busy?

   It’s been a struggle. Before the pandemic, I could always go to a park to get my thinking done or plan out my stories or reevaluate characters. The mind is where all films begin, and it is where all films are formed, so it needs to be engaged at all levels of the creative process. One of my peers said recently that directors need to be self-reflective, and I think that’s really true. So, unfortunately, with a lot of public spaces closed or not really functioning as a viable creative space, that’s been a bit of a struggle. I did learn to take and enjoy walks, which began as twenty minute exercises and eventually became an hour or longer as I re-learned how to engage my mental self. Obviously, I can’t really go to coffee shops at the moment, which is unfortunate because I like being able to go to a coffee shop and force myself to write. That said, it’s a lot cheaper to not go to coffee shops! Plus, I’ve tried to wean myself off of coffee during the pandemic. I was drinking three to four cups a day before this, and now I’m down to one or two a week. To really answer your question, it’s been hard to focus. I think that the world has been a bit exhausting as of late, and it’s important that we focus on that, but from a purely creative perspective, it’s been difficult to zero in and focus. I think there’s a mild responsibility on creators to make things that are life-giving and uplifting, at least to an extent and insofar as it serves the story. It has to be honest. Maybe I’m speaking more about myself there – I feel like the films I feel compelled to make during this time are films that lead to hope more than anything, but without being fake about it, and that’s difficult right now.    That said, I did start a podcast where I interview fellow actors and writers and directors and composers and who knows what else, so that’s been really fun, and I have learned a lot from it. I’ve spent some time re-learning acting technique and getting back to basics, read some screenwriting textbooks, directed a virtual production of Edward III, recorded some scenes with other actors over Zoom, and other stuff, so I’ve been trying to stay engaged and active with my creative self. I think that’s really important.

 You just received news that you are a cancer survivor! Can you share with us a little about your ordeal? How do you feel when you don’t see people mask up for Covid-19? 

Oh gosh. Yeah. What a journey. I was diagnosed in 2015, just a few weeks after officially “starting” my acting career and literal days after the end of my sophomore year of college. I had epithelioid hemangioendothelioma, more simply described as being blood vessel cancer. It’s pretty rare, and mine happened to be in my left elbow. We discussed a variety of options, including surgeries, chemo, radiation, amputation, and just doing nothing. In the end, given how much damage was already occurring, we decided on a combination of surgeries and radiation therapy, which was going to (hopefully) allow me to keep my arm.    To be blunt, it was quite a painful and miserable process, and I underwent an enormous amount of personal change that summer. I became much more quiet and introverted. I lived by myself and had to work several jobs to be able to pay for everything. It was a bit brutal at times. I also really engaged my faith at that time. I’m a devout Christian, but an experience like that really starts to challenge your perspective and beliefs. My relationship with God changed enormously. I think my faith became a much deeper, more rooted, and more confused thing. The more I learned, the less that made sense, and the more fluid and wondrous God became. Then I started engaging more with the books of James and Ecclesiastes in the Bible, and learned that this process is a really healthy thing. That’s what really kept me going.  As of last Monday, I found out that I no longer need to be followed by a doctor. No more cancer check-ups! After four surgeries (initial biopsy, elbow scope, installation of a plate and six screws, and removal of a screw that was bending inside the elbow, which is incredibly painful and I do not recommend), dozens of days of radiation therapy, and years of careful work to learn the “new normal” of my body, they do not think the cancer will come back. I still have to do physical therapy and deal with daily chronic pain, but, as I recently realized, as much as the pain in my elbow hurts, I should be thankful that I have an arm to begin with.  I get really frustrated when I see people not wearing masks. My cancer makes me a bit more susceptible, but it’s really my blood disorder (I’m a walking bag of medical fun) that makes me angry. I’m on blood thinners because my blood clots really fast – I’ve had two or three deep vein blood clots in my life so far, and I’m only 25, along with several superficial clots – and I don’t understand why people can’t just put on a mask. Just wear it around other people. Not everything is about you. Care about other people, grow up, and do your part. Your selfishness is killing people and it’s awful to watch. Not to mention, a lot of the people that think masks are “oppression” – and we don’t have time to unpack all of that ridiculousness – are the same people claiming that the economy needs to reopen. Well, folks, I don’t want to have to go back to basics here, but is it not obvious? If the economy reopens and you don’t wear a mask, more people are going to die, and we will likely get a second wave. It’s called cause-and-effect. It’s not all that difficult.     I want things to reopen too. I had several films get cancelled because of this, and many have lost their funding. I haven’t been on set in forever, and voice acting is great, but there’s just not enough happening at this moment in time. What I am not willing to do is see people die because I wanted to go play professional dress-up in front of a camera. We need to be careful here. Wear masks, encourage social distancing. It’s not hard. It’s really not.

 How did you get your start in the acting world?

I was very blessed to have parents and siblings with an appreciation for the art. From a very young age, I can remember my father telling me about certain things actors and singers were doing and why. I remember my mother reading stories to us and using character voices, and encouraging us as we got older to read fantasy books and use our imaginations. We didn’t have many TV channels growing up, so the vast majority of my childhood was spent with my nose in a book or playing outside with my siblings, Salon, Tori, and Austin. They’re all very different and very intelligent and very creative, and I think we all benefited from that combination of reading and adventuring in the small woods behind our house or playing in the backyard. My father is also a very funny character actor, and my mother has this genuine warmth about her, and I think both of them impacted me in that way.     My parents put us in dance classes when we were very young, and I got to study jazz and lyrical (among other things, but those were my main focus). I always found that I was interested in the “why” of the dance instead of the “how,” which I think shows that I was leaning more into acting from that point. My older sister, Tori, was a really lovely ballerina, which I wish I had studied, but watching her and her peers perform taught me a lot about nonverbal characters. My twin sister, Salon, ended up getting a degree in dance from Bowling Green State University, and her approach to choreography and performance is really character-driven. My younger brother, Austin, is brilliant with accents and comedic timing. There must’ve been something in the food Mom and Dad used to feed us.      Anyway, acting. My freshman year of high school, our choir director announced that they were doing Fiddler on the Roof. My parents decided to show us this movie. I wasn’t put off by it being older, since we had grown up on DVDs of The Andy Griffith Show and Gomer Pyle USMC and I Love Lucy, and I had loved movies like The Sound of Music. I watched the movie and knew I wanted to be a part of the show. I was cast as Nachum the Beggar and a Russian Soldier, and I had the time of my life. At the same time, I started in show choir at the high school, which is a choir that sings and dances and competes around the area. Throughout high school, I did all the musicals (Joseph Buquet in Phantom of the Opera, my first lead role as Captain von Trapp in The Sound of Music, and Prince Dauntless in Once Upon a Mattress) and did show choir, competing in competitions across Ohio and Indiana, and I think we went to West Virginia – maybe Kentucky too? Lots of places.     I loved acting, but knew it wasn’t a “sure thing” as a career, so I decided to go to college for business. After a few weeks, I changed to education, and then, after much urging from both the theatre faculty and the education faculty, I changed my major to Theatre Studies and decided to do the thing. I was lucky that Capital University allowed non-theatre majors to do plays, so I had the opportunity to be on stage early in my first year there and discover that my passion for acting could actually be a lifelong endeavor.

 You attended Capitol University in Ohio…..what was your experience there like?  In your opinion,is a formal acting education better than a practical one? What do you think you got from college  that you wouldn’t have gotten without attending school?

   I loved Capital University. I still love it. It’s a place where I was challenged and inspired. I think the very fact that my education professors were willing to push me and tell me that, even though they thought I would make a good teacher, I needed to be an actor. They were right, but I needed to hear it from people I trusted. I needed to know that it was okay to take that risk.    I absolutely, in no way, unequivocally feel that a practical education is, in every way, superior to a formal one. That does not mean that a formal education is bad, and I would advocate for combining the two, but let’s be honest: if I’m boarding a plane flying from NYC to Berlin, do I want a pilot that has gone through four years of school and knows everything but has never flown, or do I want the self-taught pilot that’s been flying from NYC to Berlin every day for four years without incident?     Again, I don’t mean to say that a formal education is bad. It’s not. Mine was enormously influential. I would not have a career if it were not for Dr. Bill Kennedy, Dr. Dan Heaton, Dr. Sharon Croft, Jeff Gress, and the late Mark Baker at Capital. The thing that was so wonderful about Capital was that I was taught theory – I learned aspects of Stanislavski and Strasberg and Chekhov, but I also got to learn the Kennedy method from Dr. Kennedy. I learned what I would call the Heaton method from Dr. Heaton. I developed what one might call the Gegel method, if one was bored enough to do so, which is a combination of the things that work for me. Not every strategy and theory works for everyone.    At Capital, there was no strict dogma that was forced down my throat. I was given the opportunity to study and learn and steal what I felt would work for me. Then, it was up to me to implement it. If I hadn’t engaged with Shakespeare on an academic level, if I hadn’t learned directing and scenic design and lighting and magic from those professors, I wouldn’t be where I am. None of that is to say that I couldn’t have picked up on those things from a practical career. I think it comes down to the individual.    To someone that is considering a formal education, I would just encourage them to look at schools and find a place that works for you as a human. Capital isn’t strictly an acting school. Most of the Theatre Studies majors weren’t necessarily there to be actors. As a result, I had this weird and eclectic group of well-spoken theatre nerds that thought differently than me and that made me a better actor. If you can’t afford school or don’t want to take those years to focus on academics, then be prepared to hustle every day. Capital was essential to my development of a network that I could work in.   I guess, to summarize: Acting is a physical, practical career. You can only truly learn acting by acting. Because of that, the practical education will always be superior. But I do not regret my formal education, and I do not believe I would have a career without it. For me, the educational foundation allowed me to explore the practicality of it. It’s up to the individual.    Oh, and if you are considering a formal education… check out Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. It’s a great place.

   From an actor’s point of view,why are short films so important?     What was your experience like on your first film,”Fracture”?

    That’s a great question. Short films can almost feel like internships for an actor. They’re a chance to explore physicality and choices on a smaller scale, and to create a character arc in a short amount of time. They’re a great training ground, and a really great chance to meet and connect with other actors and with filmmakers. They can also be amazing professional experiences, and they give you a great deal of footage for an acting reel that can help you land a feature film or an agent or anything like that.     My first film, Fracture, was definitely an interesting experience. I think we filmed it during my second year of college. The cinematographer, Dan Stemen, was in a play with me, and asked me if I wanted to be in this short film they were shooting on campus. I knew the director, Alex Caperton, and was game to try it. I had never even studied film acting before, and it was a brutal crash course in consistency between takes and being more subtle for the camera and all of the stuff that any basic technique book would tell you.    Let that detail how important short films are, though. That cinematographer, Dan? He was the cinematographer of my feature film, Cadia: The World Within. He’s one of my best friends to this day. He’s since placed at several festivals and even won a regional EMMY Award for his lighting and camerawork. I’m blessed to know him and have had the chance to work with him so early in my career. This industry is all about the connections you make. Dan’s one of the best.

 What three things do you like most about films?     What three things do you like about live theater?     If given a choice,would you rather star in a revival of a known hit play or tackle a new original play and why?

Wow. Okay. Tough one there.

Three things I like most about films:

1. It’s a deeply intricate process to watch unfold, and to see everyone doing their jobs as part of the system is really beautiful in a fragile sort of way. You have to trust each person to do their jobs and do them well.

2. It’s so wildly specific. The coffee mug has to be moved by a centimeter so that the light hits it right. Your eye has to look in the eye of your scene partner that is closest to the camera so that your face is more fully framed. You have exactly forty-five minutes to shoot a whole scene before sunset and the light is gone. It’s so intense and I love it.

3. It’s a bit more immersive than theatre tends to be. Scene is in a forest? You’re likely filming in a forest. Scene in a school? You’re filming in a school. It’s very in-the-moment and it’s cool to actually be in that space.

Theatre:

1. The danger. If you forget a line in front of a live audience, no one is calling cut. There’s no resetting the lights and going again. You have to figure it out. You’d better hit your mark for the spotlight and remember your lyrics for the big end-of-act-one closer, or the entire audience will make fun of you at intermission.

2. Theatre tends to have a very family feel to it. In film, you often meet a co-star on the day you film a scene with them. In theatre, there are weeks of rehearsals and time and laughter. You get to know everyone and have these little inside jokes and find the right moments on stage. It’s a very tight-knit group, which makes it really sad when the run ends and the show is over.

3. It feels like you are a part of history. Film is amazing and has a rich history, but theatre has been around for thousands of years. Hamlet has been moving audiences to tears for hundreds of years. Antigone has been frustrating audiences for thousands. Hamilton has been stunning audiences for, like, five years – but to be fair, it feels like centuries. Storytelling is the oldest form of communication among humans, and carrying on that tradition in front of a live audience is a really special experience.    As for the last question, that’s easy: I’d rather play Jean Valjean in a revival of Les Mis. It’s my favorite musical and my dream role. Other than that, I’d be happy to do either, but if given the chance, that’s the answer.

 How do you like directing and what has surprised you most in sliding behind the camera?  How do you approach a directing job versus an acting role?

   Another great question. I love directing. I love the unified vision and watching that which is in my mind became a real, tangible thing. I think the thing that surprised me is that I don’t have to know everything. That’s what the team is for. I learned that lesson pretty hard on my first film, Cadia. I put too much pressure on myself. The job is to direct, not dictate. You have to give freedom to your team to create and craft in their own ways, and trust the artists you’ve hired.    I’ve directed a bit for theatre, and I’ve enjoyed it, but directing for film is a whole different beast. You’ve got to fight with the weather, the locations, and, most of all, the budget. It’s a really draining thing, and you really have to love it. The worst and best moments come when things fall apart, and everyone looks to you for an answer. You either give one or you make one up. There is no one else to look to. That’s a very scary and powerful moment, but if you’ve built a good team, it’s a moment that can change your film for the better. Approaching a directing job is entirely different. With acting, it’s a very narrow focus. I make my choices, and once they put me in costume and I get on set, the magic happens and it’s lovely. In directing, there are so many minute details to keep track of. It takes a great deal of work ahead of time to plan the shots and lighting and everything you need. I learned a lot on my first film that I can’t wait to implement on this next project. Mistakes made are lessons learned, and I’m very proud of the film we made. I’m just very excited to get better.

 Tell us about your biggest project to date,”Cadia: The World Within”. How did this project come together?      How much influence did C.S. Lewis have in your screenplay? How did Corbin Bernsen get involved with your film?

   Yeah! Cadia: The World Within is a really crazy story, and I’m honestly still shocked that it ever happened. I wrote it for three triplets, Keegan, Carly, and Tanner Sells, who I met during a production of The Addams Family Musical. I was young and naive and thought making the movie would be simple – we’d just do a goofy little thing and learn something and move on. Eventually, I realized the story could be something special, and with the help of a great deal of people more clever and capable than I, we built the project. CS Lewis definitely had an enormous impact. I’m a huge Narnia fan (Netflix, if you read this, I’m available for your adaptation). I think Lewis and JK Rowling and JRR Tolkein and Chris Paolini (Chris, if you’re reading this, let’s talk about Eragon, because you deserve a good adaptation) wielded significant impact over this story. Not just their fantasy work, either – their ability to weave spirituality and morality and create interesting characters was something I learned a lot from.  A friend I met during a production of Hamlet, Zach Throne, offered his help in mounting the project, and we formed our company, Just a Skosh Productions LLC, which was the official version of the production company Dan Stemen (the aforementioned DP) and I had been operating under during the previous years as we honed our work on short films. Zach and I began to raise money through investors and donations, using our personal and film networks. It was a grind and it was really, really trying, but we did it.    Eventually, the conversation turned to casting. I loved Psych and so loved Corbin Bernsen, but we certainly didn’t think that was realistic. That said, you’re a fool if you don’t try, so try we did. We made an offer and sent the screenplay, Corbin’s manager said he’s get back to us, and the next day, we learned that Corbin was in. I was floored. He’s such a gifted actor and a really genuinely kind person, and I’m really grateful to know him. He’s got some really exciting stuff in the works and I can’t wait to see what he comes out with. We were blessed to have him on this production, and he was really, really amazing in his work with the triplets and with the awesome Dillon Perry, who was another one of our leads. Corbin’s such a professional, but he’s also so down-to-earth. We were, obviously, also quite blessed to bring in James Phelps, who played Fred Weasley in the Harry Potter films. He’s incredibly gifted as an actor, and he’s a really chill, funny person. He brings so much charisma and charm to his role, and I’m really glad to have gotten to know him, too. He’s one of the good guys in this industry, and I’m so grateful to have gotten to work with him and get to know him.  We also managed to bring in some other great actors. John Wells, whom I had done a TV pilot with, signed on as Elza, and he was perfect for the part. Nicky Buggs, who appeared in Secret Life of Bees, does a wonderful job as Alice. Rick Montgomery Jr gives a really honest, understated, lovely performance as Shiloh. We were really lucky with the whole cast. I don’t think there’s a single one of them that can’t go stride-for-stride on any film set.

 Do you feel Hollywood exploits the faith based movie genre? 

That’s a complex question. I don’t, no – but I do feel like the faith-based movie genre can sometimes exploit themselves. As someone who is a devout Christian, it really bothers me to watch Christian filmmakers and fans victimize themselves when people don’t like their movies. It often has less to do with their religious beliefs, and more to do with the simple concept that some of these movies just aren’t good. These same critics are lambasting secular films for the same reason. Poor writing, bad acting, unrealistic dialogue – people don’t like those in movies, no matter the beliefs or genre.   I don’t think it’s exploitation to make money off of films. The Erwin brothers and the Kendricks brothers are making their films for their audiences, and for the films they are trying to make, they’re making them well. They’re making them with good intentions and with sound camera work and lighting and people enjoy them. In my opinion, they are, for the most part, making sermons, mostly for Christian audiences, and that is okay. You can’t tell me that Spotlight, which is a brilliant film, wasn’t, in some ways, a sermon of its own. It was a sermon – maybe even a dissertation? – about the corruption of the Church and the moral and legal decay that occurred. That’s an important story to tell, but it was still a specific story with a specific goal. There are more mainstream films that are still deeply Christian in nature.     The Book of Eli. The Chronicles of Narnia. Blade Runner. The list goes on. There are different ways to approach that aspect of spirituality, and Christian films can tend to run the spectrum of being more of a sermon to being more of a general film with spiritual influence. I’ve seen other projects – most recently, I watched Unorthodox on Netflix, as well as Greenleaf (my wife was watching them, and I tangentially absorbed them) that deal with spiritual and religious realities in a different way. I don’t inherently see any as more or less valid. It seems like a deeply personal preference.    I do think that some of the criticism of Christian films is pretty off-base – the critics aren’t exactly understanding what they films are trying to do. You don’t go see My Little Pony and write a bad review when it isn’t The Shawshank Redemption. The Hunger Games isn’t about to be Little Women.They’re different films. Different genres. Some of these films are more about the message than the film, and that is okay. I wasn’t trying to win an Oscar with Cadia, I was trying to make a message of hope and love. It’s not the best screenplay in the world. It wasn’t supposed to be. Some of these films are labelled as “emotionally manipulative” and “trying to push religion,” and I’m, like, yeah. Of course they are. All films are trying to push something. I do think some critics get upset about the religion specifically, and I do think that is unfair. You have to evaluate the goal of the art and see it for what it is. Maybe, after you do that, the movie is still bad, and that’s entirely acceptable.    I think it’s tough. It’s unfair to give a bad review to a movie just because you disagree with it’s messaging. You have to evaluate the art on the merit of the argument they make and how well they make it. I think it’s silly when I read reviews that say things like, “[Insert filmmaker here] was clearly trying to push their own belief system.” Yeah. Duh. Of course they were. Films are personal. Joker probably reflects some element of Todd Phillips’ truth. 1917 and Parasite both touched on the truths and beliefs of Sam Mendes and Bong Joon Ho. Queen of Katwe contains some part of Mira Nair’s understanding of the world around her.     I don’t see why we can’t give religion the same reign. I absolutely understand condemning a film due to bigotry and hatred, but you’ll really rarely see a major religious film from a significant studio that is encroaching on that. Making a claim that Jesus Christ is the savior isn’t bigotry. As a Christian, I don’t mind watching films where they claim Jesus is only human, or that Islam is the truth, or that God is just a big imaginary friend in the sky. It’s just a different belief system. It’s art. Accept it and move on.    It’s really very nuanced. Yes, Hollywood is willing to make films that play on the fears and anxieties of certain people, and that’s morally problematic; on the other hand, some filmmakers I know are unwilling or unable to acknowledge that their films have deep flaws. Both are problematic. I just don’t see Hollywood as being the big, bad agent of Satan that many of my peers seem to. I see Hollywood as being the business part of show business. Christian films make money, so they make Christian films. People drink coffee, so Keurig makes coffee makers. The world continues to go around the sun. That’s the way our society is structured.

You are at an audition and a fellow actor who is also trying for the same role as you asks for your help. Are you helping them or not and why?

   Of course. No debate. I’ll help them in a heartbeat, and I’d hope they do the same. Casting isn’t up to me to begin with. We should all be supporting each other to begin with. I remember auditioning for The Little Mermaid. I did all my work as best as I could, and I sang the song as well as I could, and I think I did a good job. I did the best job I could.  Then Jordan Young started singing and he blew me out of the water. I knew I had lost the part. I found him after the audition and congratulated him. We became friends, and we still support one another. I’ve even sent auditions to friends and they’ve beaten me for the part. It’s not a competition. Casting is going to cast the actor that they want, and the only thing we can control is our own performance. Anyone who answers otherwise to this question is a sad excuse for an actor and should get out of the industry now. That’s a toxic attitude and it’s problematic.

 How did you meet your wife and how do the two of you balance your personal life and professional one? 

    We met in college in a Public Relations class at Capital. Became friends and started dating. We started dating my junior year and got engaged at the end of my senior year. We got married the summer after, a few weeks after she graduated. Since then, we’ve moved to Philadelphia, where she’s begun her studies at seminary to become a pastor in the ELCA. A lot of balancing our lives is understanding the weirdness of what we do – she is going to be shepherding churches and be with people during their dying moments and counsel people through the hardest moments of their lives, and I leave for days/weeks/months on a job and pretend to be someone else and sometimes work fifteen hour days in the sun and all the other things. Which also describes being a spy. That would be cool too, I guess.

  It takes balance. I told her when we first started dating that my career is weird and that it would just have to be accepted, and we’ve since had the same discussion about hers. It’s an adventure.    Our personal lives are pretty simple. We like to cook. We like to watch shows and movies together. We just finished Avatar: The Last Airbender. We play a lot of Call of Duty. We play a lot of board games. It’s a simple life, to quote Rogue One.

The cheetah and I are flying over to watch you shoot your latest film but we are a day early and now you are stuck playing tour guide,what are we doing?   

Ooh. I’m going to answer this for two cities: my Philly/NYC work, and my directing work back in Columbus, which I where I prefer to shoot my films.

Philly/NYC: We’re definitely hitting up the Liberty Bell and Constitution Center, because they’re just plain neat. Then we’ll stroll through Love Park and probably head to the Rocky Steps. If we’ve got time, we’ll do a quick hike at the Wissahickon and enjoy the forest there, maybe even spot some river otters. Then we’ll grab a cheese steak (I haven’t had one since I moved here, so I’ll be a tourist with you) and maybe try to catch a play at the Arden or the Walnut Street Theatre.

If I’m filming in NYC, we’ll keep it simple. Walk through Central Park, grab some bubble tea, then people watch for as long as we can before we grab tacos at Oaxaca Taqueria in Hell’s Kitchen. Chill day.

If we’re in Columbus, we’re going to run the obstacle course at the Scioto Audubon, grab a light snack at Stauf’s Coffee, and explore the thirty-two room labyrinthian bookstore known as the legendary Book Loft. Then we’ll maybe catch an afternoon game with the Columbus Clippers before grabbing a coffee at the Roosevelt Coffeehouse, dinner at Schmidt’s Sausage Haus or The Thurman Cafe, and then see the Actors’ Theatre of Columbus do some Shakespeare in the park. That’ll be a fun day.

  I like to thank Cedric for taking the time in giving us a top level interview. I enjoyed getting to know Cedric through his words and have nothing but respect for him and his vision. We’re looking forward to seeing Cedric’s work both in front and behind the camera. Of course we’re also praying for Cedric and his bionic arm to stay healthy as well!!

You can follow Cedric’s career via his Social Media.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Cedric’s IMDb page

 Cedric’s Podcast: You can find it here and on Spotify

Cedric’s Twitter

Cedric’s Instagram page

Cedric’s Facebook page

Cedric’s YouTube Channel

Cedric’s personal website

Feel free to drop a comment below!! 8 Questions with……….actor/director Cedric Gegel Its 12:25 pm cloudy/humid/16 Welcome to 8 Questions with.....   One of the best things I like doing this series is just how randomly these interviews come together.

[psicygni]

It's 2022 in the Another Shot universe. What are McCoy, and Harold (ok, fine, Spock) and Jim and Nyota up to? :)

OH GOSH are you truly ready, my friend??

(for you kids in the back who want to follow along, read it here!)

Post that phone call at the end (spoiler alert, they talked for 2 hours up until the flight attendant was leaning over McCoy telling him to shut his damn phone off, sir, thank you (whatever, the fact he and spock were still talking helped him forget he was about to fly in the air) (spock was freezing in that park and both wanted to die and also to never hang up)), they had a very tenuous and sassy relationship of snark-filled texts that came in waves of either a bunch in the course of a single day or nothing for a week… a week they each spent convinced the other one had grown bored, moved on, met someone, etc etc, with lots of checking their phone even though they knew nothing was there, and forlornly scrolling back through previous texts and attempting to figure out a suitably casual message to send that properly conveyed: I want to spend my entire day talking to you but I don’t actually want you to know that.

McCoy is utterly sure Spock is banging several dozen dudes (he’s not).  Spock is utterly sure McCoy has found someone - anyone - better than him and as is only reasonable, has moved on to fairer pastures (he hasn’t).  Both of them are entirely frustrated they can’t even begin to forget about the handful of hours they spent together over the course of two days and torture themselves by continuing to keep in contact instead of cutting ties like they tell themselves they should.  Do they talk on the phone?  Maybe.  If they do, do their conversations last for hours? Definitely.  Is it more intensely personal than most conversations they have with anyone else in their life? You bet your butt it is.  Does it happen often?  Not nearly as often as either of them would be down for.  Is the entire conversation 90% sarcasm? 99% would be more accurate.

Queue: McCoy moving to SF, as we all knew he would.  Things that happen include:

Waiting until awkwardly the last minute to let Spock know he’s heading out there

Interviewing for jobs during which Spock attempts (and fails) to not ogle McCoy in a suit

They have no idea where they stand with each other and solve their feelings of discomfort by both being enormous assholes who throw lingering stares across the room

McCoy finds a job.  Then, he finds a place to live (let’s have him staying with Jim for the interim because he’s not quite able to ask Spock if he can bang his brains out crash with him).  He’s convinced himself that Spock is definitely getting some on the reg. and doesn’t want McCoy in the picture.  Spock’s sure that if McCoy wanted anything with him, he’d have said literally anything to indicate that.

(In the meantime while they are busy getting in their own way, things that occur are 1) Spock finds out McCoy is not just a doctor but he’s a Doctor and kind of a Big Deal in the medicine world (which I know nothing about so just nod along with me here) and hospitals are falling over themselves to have him which makes everything so much worse for Spock because um, can you say hot single doctor?? 2) McCoy finds out that everyone joking about Spock being a genius is not a joke at all and is uncomfortable in the pants region every time Spock starts talking, 3) they spend an Unfortunate Amount of Time together because both are determined to be absolutely and utterly casual and are both winning their private game of caring less and what better way to do that than be absolutely blasé that the other one is hanging around).

And then, of course, their carefully constructed ~thing~ crashes and burns and if it’s weird I have so many head canons for my own story I don’t want to know it, because the thing that happens is: innocuous hang out of the entire gang at McCoy’s (are they helping him move? New couch? Something like that? Maybe.), Jim orders pizza, filches Spock’s wallet to pay for it, and of course doesn’t hand it back, so several hours later, the scene is: mccoy finding spocko’s wallet, Spock elsewhere in the city patting his pockets and very logically cursing Jim Kirk, and McCoy texting him to come back and get it ONLY TO REALIZE that he could have just dropped it at the cafe in the morning, and Spock literally jetting back across the city slowly realizing the same thing. Spock protests he didn’t mean to leave it behind. McCoy is too busy trying to be super casual about the fact that they’re actually alone. together. in private. 

They talk. They snark. They flirt. They bang. The end. 

Just kidding, defo not the end. They have a several month adventure in poor communication but excellent sex, in which they spend copious amounts of time together but never quite manage to talk about what they’re really doing even though clearly, to anyone except these two dumb butts, they’re in love and dating. There are late night talks, early morning talks, half living out of each other’s apartments, shared food in fridges, fights about who gets the left over take out food, Spock making coffee for mccoy at all hour of the night and day due to his complicated work schedule at the hospital, mccoy bumming around the cafe waiting for Spock to get off work finally, cooking together, stealing each other’s socks, and mccoy declaring Spock had better get a bigger couch because seriously Spock, find somewhere for your knee to be that isn’t jabbing into my knee. 

And then at some point they get over themselves.  How?  Unclear.  Possibilities include

A discussion about condom use, STIs, and if you’re not bumping uglies with anyone else, and if I’m not… then we could get tested… and stop using condoms… and if we continued to not take any rolls in the hay with anyone other than each other we could continue to not use condoms… and then it’d be like we’re exclusive… and committed… right. k. logical, probably.

Spock gets hit by a car.  I don’t know why I have to be so dramatic about everything.  But, still.  McCoy working in the ER.  Spock biking around the city to his heart’s content.  It’s such prime fodder for someone bursting in (chapel, let’s be real, it’s chapel) and yelling ‘mccoy your boyfriend’s here!’ and he’s all ‘hahah i don’t have a boyfriend! that guy? who i kind of love? he’s not, gosh, he’s not my boyfriend, we only are practically living together hahaha what no, no no no’ and then 180s it when he realizes it’s actual Spock and there’s obviously an entire hurt/comfort fic in here and McCoy is Distraught at the thought of losing Spock and Spock is like oh my god I’m fine ok sure let’s hug oh ok this is nice

Then, they finally really date.  

They have one terrible fight in which McCoy is on Spock’s case to get a Real Job because he could do literally anything with that brain of his and pouring coffee? Really? Which sounds an unfortunate amount like Sarek and Spock is like wow, you’re a huge asshole which only confirms mccoy’s greatest fear that anything good in his life he’ll end up ruining, while meanwhile Spock managed to not hear McCoy wishing the best for him and all he can get out of his life, but that McCoy doesn’t think he’s good enough.  There’s an awful spell of time in which they are on the outs and are sure the other is about to break up with them - or worse, they should be the one to end it because the other can do so much better - only to have a sassy and tearful reunion.

And then they move in together and it’s the first place that’s felt like home for either of them in approximately forever and they buy a fantastic mattress after spending three weeks arguing about which one to get, the actual end, goodbye.

Jim and Nyota are in love.  Except Jim is the only one who can admit it to himself.  Nyota is still trying to sort out that stomach thing she gets around him and is Horrified that it might be what she thinks it is.  They spend entirely too much time together cause their best friends are constantly making out with each other’s faces.  Nyota knows Jim is into her and is slowly realizing that maybe, just maybe, if she doesn’t come around to the idea of him and her, he’s not going to stick around forever waiting, so her life is edging precipitously closer to a reality in which she actually does something about Jim Kirk and she’s terrified and exasperated at the fact that of literally anyone she could be with, her dumb boss is the only one she could possibly see herself with and both hates that fact and is learning to be ok with it.

Demora works at the cafe all through high school.  She’s constantly mortified by the antics of the grownups around her.

The actual end.  

[archivesdiveronarpg]

Congratulations, RONI! You’ve been accepted for the role of CIRCE with the approved faceclaim change to AARON YAN. Roni, what else is there to say except that your applications are always, always inspiring? You grasped Cinead’s voice so perfectly I got chills the more I read of your writing. From their cryptic, coy interview answers to the perfectly pivotal moments you captured in your para sample, you’ve demonstrated that the awe they inspire is, while terrifying at times, subtle in its potency. I especially loved the bit about their hoarding, and that they named their beloved crows! Congratulations - I’m so excited to see Cinead grace our dash! Please read over the checklist and send in your blog within 24 hours.

                                                                             WELCOME TO THE MOB.

Out of Character

Alias | Roni

Age | 21

Preferred Pronouns | she/her

Activity Level | I’m attending uni this year, and it’s not too difficult at the moment. I have a lighter course due to dropping a class, yet the ones remaining are still rigorous. So while I am on Tumblr during my free time, it’s hard to gauge when my free time will be. However, I would probably rate myself a seven out of ten on weekdays and a eight out of ten on most weekends, depending on how many replies I have/the length of my replies.

Timezone | EST

Permission | yes, you have my permission to publish this application!

Added note | I am turning this in with ten minutes to go before the submit closes, so I apologize for any grammatical/spelling errors!

In Character

Character | Circe // Cinead Tsai (with a fc change to aaron yan please?)

What drew you to this character? | like i’ve said before, i love playing neutral characters, as i love the dynamic neutral characters have with everyone. and reading through the witches, i was pulled to each of them, for their demeanors are absolutely wonderful and enticing. yet i kept returning to cinead. there is something so enticing about them, in the contrast they hold among their siblings, and the aura they possess within verona. they and their siblings hold a level of control among a city belonging to such an old feud; essentially, they all can hold their own. and with cinead, they can hold their own with that flare of indifference; mallory is the heat of a flame, hea a cool breeze that comforts and stings, and cinead is the cold chill that never truly leaves your bones. and that chill permeates throughout verona, and gosh, i would love to roleplay that if accepted.

What is a future plot idea you have in mind for the character?

( plan i ) there is something elusive to cinead about both matthias and hugo. they spark their interest unlike so many others, and it doesn’t escape their notice how different they are. of course, if they were similar, perhaps neither would capture his eye. the urge to test them, to push them past their breaking points, is a nagging notion that refuses to release them. oh, there are more important things in their lives that requires their attention —- and yet, their thoughts will drift to one of them more often than not. perhaps they want to see them burn. perhaps they want to touch their lives in ways they will never dream of. not even they know for sure what they truly desire of them. they are willing to discover it, though, and they will push and pull the strings to attain it.

( plan ii ) their siblings are their lifeblood. whatever true happiness they experience, whatever contentment they derive from this life, it all begins and ends with mallory, hea, and themselves. the three of them —- cinead cannot imagine what life would be if one of them disappeared from their lives. and yet, they dance on the edge between gods and mortals, and despite their confidence in the fact that of everyone in verona, they cannot die, there is a sliver of doubt. that inkling that, yes, they are mortals like those who surround them, and they all will die with a soft exhale. cinead does not wish for their bond to each other to break, nor does he wish for any of their deaths —- and yet, what will happen if either were to occur? what would happen if that sliver of doubt turns into the heartbreaking reality? how would verona explode after that?

( plan iii ) what would happen if someone forced their hand, and their reaction essentially caused them to choose a side? whether they wanted to side with any group is beyond the point; the action has marked them. how would that challenge their siblings? how would that impact the world they’ve slowly built? how would that change the stance they’ve all adopted for years? i want their would shaken, completely disturbed, and that could very well be the best way to disrupt what they have held close.

In Depth

What is your favorite place in Verona?

A raised brow, a flicker of a smirk. Humorous, really, that their time is being wasted on questions and words when their answers usually depend on actions. Their mind flits from the room to what the city is like that day. It’s as if their sight is linked to that of their crows —- there, the dark lady, a foreboding place of uneasiness, even for them and their siblings. the cathedral in the distance, tall and grand and antagonizing like always. The Capital Library, where knowledge should be a safe haven for many, and yet, it’s only for a select few. The roads and alleyways, the bodies littering the ground, the desolate wailing as their tears mix with the river —–

They blink. They are in a room, and the person is waiting with bated breath.

“I’ll share a secret with you,” they finally whisper, and, oh, the spark of excitement and wariness is exactly what they wanted to witness. The two of them lean forward at the same time.

This time, the smallest of smiles instead of a flicker. “Sometimes, us witches need an escape. Sometimes, we use our own rooms at the Hotel Emelia. It’s relaxing, quiet, little space for the wars that rage these streets.

“And it is the best place to share secrets. And if any spill from our doors — especially our own, especially mine if I even were to share — the consequences are just as quiet, just as relaxing for some.”

As the being leans back, lips pressed thin, Cinead’s smile grows inch by inch.

What does your typical day look like?

“I’m the one who greets you in the morning, depending on where you are,” they answer, smooth and effortless. “My siblings don’t tend to rise with the sun, but I enjoy sipping coffee as the sun rises. It’s a beautiful masterpiece, just like the ones at our museum.

“Every day I work — on different things than my siblings, of course, though we do share duties from time to time. Have to, if we want anything we touch to run smoothly and successfully. And then, perhaps on a particularly good day, you can find me at the Tempest Lounge.”

A tilt of the head, then, another flicker of a smirk. “Were you wondering, by chance, what my work entails? If it includes anything unusual?”

        ( —- a flock of crows, gold coins slipping through fingers, a soft note of warning —- )

“I assure you, whatever you suspect it is —- well, my work depends on it, don’t you think?”

What are your thoughts on the war between the Capulets and the Montagues?

They cannot help the scoff that escapes. The other is startled, unsure of how to react, and Cinead rolls their eyes. “Their war is suffocating. Their war is damaging. Their war is ruination. And that is what the city needs, in some sense. One cannot know peace without war; that is how we thrive, that is how we remain alive. The thought of something better being so close amidst chaos —- that brings people together.”

A hum burns the back of their throat. The sound is choppy, something unnatural coming from them. “It is true art of the human life, is it not? This devastation, this cry for revenge, this begging for peace. It’s beautiful and entertaining, a brilliant show to witness.”

Their gaze locks with the other, and the other sucks in a harsh breath. Another smile blossoms across their face, and, oh, they feel how absolutely crushing it is. “Are you not entertained yourself?”

In-Character Para Sample: (unfortunately, this isn’t as long as i planned it to be, so hopefully the snippets allow enough insight!)

Imagine a single being, born with eyes closed, and yet saw the world as it was: darkness. Imagine that being opening their eyes to witness light, and yet know they were not led astray. Imagine still how that being grew, with light surrounding them, trying to convince their soul that darkness did not exist, that salvation existed for them and everyone.

Imagine the being seeing a crow in the distance, black as night, existing as truth.

Know it was a call of reckoning; know it was the first curse and blessing bestowed on the earth the being walked.

It is Cinead’s origin; it is Cinead’s truth.

****

They return to the orphanage with less than they left; some of their belongings had burned in the house fire, and some the foster family denied them. Cinead had left the latter matter alone; there was nothing of importance, and they believed the family had suffered enough.

And if they hadn’t, the cycle of fate would. That, of anything, would always remain despite the passage of time.

Mallory and Hea did not notice their return. Thirteen and twelve, they still remained in the corner by themselves, quiet and thriving all at once. It was something Cinead had longed for while away.

Hea is the first to notice their entrance. Their fingers brush Mallory’s, and the youngest whips their head to the door. Both stand, both glide across the floor, and both surround Cinead with silent questions, slow nods as silent answers are given.

Hea’s warmth embraces them, and a beat passes Cinead’s arms wrap around the other. “I’m sorry the foster family did not work,” they say, and their voice lacks the genuine lilt they usually possess.

Cinead nods. “Me too,” they reply, and their tone exposes the lie they do not care to hide.

They are home. And they are not sorry.

****

"Pitiful.”

It is the only word they offer to the air, and neither Mallory or Hea are surprised. They all stand upon the roof of the Hotel, the image of the dead stamped in the back of their minds. The cycle is anew with the arrival of new players, and it was something the two warring families did not expect. Though what is worse, is the three of them could not foresee the change in its entirety.

In the moment, Cinead does not know who the label is directed for.

Still, change is a card one wants on their side; while inevitable, the consequences can be controlled.

A deep breath, a slow exhale. “It seems we are in need of a wider scope.”

Mallory huffs, arms crossed in annoyance. “We are in need of the unexpected, Cinead. Just as these Spades possess.”

“And we will possess it once more, you two. A mere blip is all this is,” Hea says, their voice soft as the breeze kissing their cheeks.

“A mere blip is a beat of a butterfly’s wings, Hea. I do not intend for us to be caught in the impending tornado.” Licking their lips, Cinead takes a step away from the lights and the screams that still echo the night. “Do not lose sight of what is important. Our lives could burn at the same time as theirs.”

This time, Mallory rolls their eyes, their hand trailing up Cinead’s arms to rest on their shoulder. “This eldest sibling act isn’t a good look on you, Cinead. Especially if you begin acting like a toddler who lost a board game.”

“Please, do you see me stomping my foot Mallory?” Cinead says as Hea’s chuckle resounds behind them.

Once silence embraces them once more, Hea whispers, “We will not forget as long you don’t, Cinead.”

They all stare to the bright lights of a city that is truly theirs (for how can this city belong to any meaningless humans?), and Cinead sucks the dark world into their lungs.

“I will not forget.”

Extras:

~ color palette

~ quotes

“you are the one everyone fears: the monster in the closet, the witch at the stake – the devil, falling. all of this is because they cannot understand you. they fear you like they fear death; instinctively. do not mind them, for death is a kind god: the sweetest sleep, the darkness from which life is born.”

“hope is going to kill you and it wont be a pretty death. sorry.”

“it’s quiet and you feel serene you splay your fingers against the water and you sink lower and lower just enough to breathe”

“We learn that the heart is the same size as the fist but we keep forgetting they don’t have the same functions.”

~ headcanons

cinead’s crows are their delight and joy. while many have been seen flying above where they walk ( a true sign of a blessing and a curse ), there have been three by his side for many, many years. once upon a time, the flicker of the thought in naming them after themselves and their siblings highly amused them to the point of almost following through. instead, in order to avoid confusion for the rest of their lives, they settled on different names. tempest, the strong-willed and loudest of the three, one, emelia, the quiet, elusive darling, and twelfth, the one who delivers the most trinkets. creative names, no?

they dabble in makeup, more for the aesthetic than for a true passion. eyeliner designs decorate their eyes, their temples, whatever they decide to settle upon that day. they appear as a run-way model most days; however, if they ever need to blend, they will easily wipe away the designs with no regret.

they tend to hoard items they believe to be interesting, or items that twelfth has brought to their attention. the collection isn’t organized as it should be, and their room is messy because of it. their siblings tease cinead is truly a crow’s counterpart, and they aren’t sure whether they take the remark as a compliment or not.

they take their coffee with one cream and half a sugar cube. they would rather wake in the morning with little bitterness, but not too much sweetness either.

they rather adore the museum; is was their desire to fill the museum with mostly baroque designs, as the era and style enraptures them. though they understand they cannot control those who kiss the statues, they will certainly complain about the marks left behind.

[hos18greenhouse]

Exit Interview - Trevor

Brett - You brought her in. She tossed you out. You had words with her once the eviction results were revealed. What's your current feeling on QuilLynn?

Trevor - She’s a bitch.

Brett - We'll explore that further. But first, you had just a few minutes to determine which HouseGuest would be returning between JD, Zakriah, and QuilLynn. What factors contributed to you selecting QuilLynn?

Trevor - I didn’t want to bring back someone who would just be a floater to one of my targets which is how I saw JD and Zak. I brought in Quilynn because I thought she would have an open mind. Unfortunately that was all too true.

Brett - QuilLynn established Ruthie as a target to you and you attempted to reason why there were better options out there. Do you feel your assertiveness to protect Ruthie pushed QuilLynn to her act of betrayal?

Trevor - Apparently?  Quilynn was upset that I didn’t immediately reveal all of my current relationships and alliances to her the moment she entered the house. Once I told her that I would fight for Ruthie to stay her brain must have short circuited and decided that’s a good reason to get rid of me even though I was one of maybe two people in the house on her side.

Brett - From an objective standpoint, rate the move to backdoor you. Was it smart? Who did it benefit? Who did it hurt?

Trevor - It was smart in the grand scheme of things because I was one of if not the biggest threat in the house. It would have been smart for someone like Scott or Linus or Ciere who I would have targeted had I stayed. It was not smart for Quilynn.  

Brett - Why wasn't it smart for her? Where do you see her game going?

Trevor - I think that only Trixie and I were truly on her side in the house.  She made this move because it was flashy and it wasn’t the flashy move everyone wanted her to make.   She has the benefit of being good at comps but if she doesn’t win out she’s going to be put back in her grave shortly.

Brett - Had you won HOH this round, who would your nominations have been? Had you survived this eviction, who would your nominations have been had you won the next HOH?

Trevor - I would have nominated Scott and Ciere had I won this round. Had Ruthie gone home and I survived I would have nominated Quilynn and Trixie if I won next round.

Brett - Part of your strategy in the game as been to antagonize your targets. First, Aaron & Liam. Then Ci'ere. You were even voted Villain of the Season. What was the thought process behind your strategy of antagonism and how do you feel it served you?

Trevor - I think if you have a clear enemy or target it only helps you.  Other people will have a better idea of how you treat people that you aren’t with and feel closer to you because of it. I think it worked out quite well for me.

Brett - Who is playing the best game? Who is playing the worst game? Who are you rooting for? And who will be having this chat with me in 5 days when they join you and the others in the Jury Greenhouse?

Trevor - I guess trixie is playing the best game? She hasn’t really done shit but she’s pretty much well liked.  Roxy is playing the worst game because she is dead weight (sorry roxy). I’m rooting for Ruthie obvs.  And I hope to god Quilynn goes next. I see that as a definite possibility.

Brett - In the event that you were the HouseGuest evicted, your HouseGuests have left some goodbye messages for you. Let's take a look.

Ci'ere - Aw, Trevor, my best frienemy in the house! I have to admit that I’ve actually been growing quite fond of you in the past couple of weeks. When you asked me about working together, I was lowkey all for it and it sucks that we weren’t able to move on that. I feel really bad that you gave someone another life in this game and they caused your downfall IN THE SAME WEEK. :( You’re a good player though and I’m glad that I got the chance to get to know you better (penguinkiss)

Julia - fuck so close :( im.sorry u had to go this way rip

Linus - Hey man, I wish this didn't happen. When I talked to Scott he said he was voting you even after you proposed the 3 person alliance. Good game man, I'm sorry the returnee twist fucked you over.

Trixie - Hey Trevor, so I have some thoughts. If you’re seeing this, I’m sure you’re pretty upset. I’m really sorry for how things turned out, but I think it was because people saw you as a big threat and you were really close to Ruthie. I really did want to work with you, but you were always super hard to read and I didn’t know how close you are to some people in this house, so I always felt I had to be on my toes when talking to you in case information got back. I really did not expect this veto’s outcome to end up like this, I hope you have no hard feelings I honestly feel pretty awful right now.

Scott - Gosh I so want to reward you for your honesty to me and vote to save you, but I just can't because honestly this is still a game and this is the best move - but I'll just have you know I respect the hell out of you. Ultimately I don't think anyone is truly with Ruthie at this point, from what I hear everyone is either voting for her or out to get her later, I think she's been exposed and her overall danger has been minimized. So this is what I have to do. I'm really sorry this doesn't feel good.

QuilLynn - I did you extremely dirty this week and I'm sorry for that. I didn't have the intention of doing this at all, but the final nail in the coffin was when Roxy told me she wouldn't vote out Ruthie over Ci'ere, I knew I didn't have the votes to make what I wanted to happen actually happen and had to fall back on this totally fucked up plan B. I am SO grateful to you for bringing me back and wish I could have stayed loyal to you, but when I felt like I was being lied to and used I knew that I should just look out for my own game first. I completely understand that you're going to be mad at me for this and there is no way I can blame you for that, but this is just a game and I hope eventually you'll see the strategy behind the decision and like at least not want to murder me anymore. Ruthie - Ci’ere would be proud of the length of this. I  can’t believe I’m about to actually cry over a game for the first time! I have had such a fun time playing with you, and having someone here I could 100% trust! I always want to have a close number one in games and I think you are one of the closest allies I’ve ever had. I’m so glad that we got to play a game together and that we got to know one another. I’m going to miss talking crap about everyone else with you- how ci’ere writes books but only answers every couple of days... although I’m now to the point where I don’t answer him quick either..., how scott always says the weirdest things that don’t make any sense and makes him sound like he’s mocking us..., how Linus is a sneaky ass rat and so on and so forth. I could tell you EVERYTHING and know that it wouldn’t go anywhere. We played off our closeness SO WELL! If you go I will send you Quillynn as soon as I possibly can, and if I go and can talk Brett, Keegan and Tate into still sending this to you I will. She is such a BITCH (yes I said it) for nominating you AFTER you brought her back in for a second chance. WHO THE HECK DOES THAT?  She has lost my respect and my jury vote. I have had SO much fun and if they ask to bring us back for all stars we should both agree because NAME A BETTER DUO THAN US THIS GAME? Thanks so much for everything, whether you stay or go I don’t want to see you again (unless for another buyback) until the very end when whichever of us stays gets crowned as the winner! It’s been fun and I love you, thanks for making this such a great experience, I will miss you!

Brett - Any final thoughts?

Trevor - I love Ruthie! I’m pissed that all 5 of these fakes came to me saying they’re going to keep me when they didn’t need to do that. I think Linus and Ci'ere are in a good spot as the middle players.  Idk. It’s a pathetic way to end. Thanks hosts for inviting me to play and being awesome and not judging me :D