#right from the get go robert opening up to aaron

[bobbie-robron]

No, well I’m gonna tell you anyway cos I’m not having you, a thief, coming here and judging me.

Bonus:

20-Nov-2014

[jqmalikhsgib]

quest

four

when the team finally arrived they immediately asked to see you. aaron wanted to speak with you alone but emily advised against it. you were going through too much right now. she knew the last thing you needed was to see aaron.

emily and rossi went instead. when they saw you they gave you a sad smile.

“how you doing kiddo?”

you shake your head and sniffle. you haven’t seen rossi in awhile. missing the rest of aaron’s team, it was nice seeing someone who felt like family.

“it’s so good to see you guys! you know i didn’t do this, right?”

��we know yn. we’ve found some very good information. we have a feeling that—”

“my father did it. i know.”

they looked at you confused. not knowing you knew everything.

“i—i can tell you guys everything but i haven’t eaten or had anything to drink in twenty-four hours.”

both emily and rossi were pissed. no matter what the circumstances are you never keep a suspect hungry or thirsty for that long.

“we’ll be right back.”

they head back to the team and spot a few officers. glaring at them, emily immediately starts to yell.

“what the hell is wrong with you!”

“excuse me?!”

“she hasn’t eaten or had water in over twenty four hours?!”

“what?” aaron looks at the officer angrily.

“listen, how we get a confession is our business. she’s guilty and continues to lie. once she confesses we will give her food and water!”

“bring her out! emily, you know what to get her? we’re gonna talk to her ourselves.”

“you can’t do that!”

“i can do what i damn well please.”

here they were. face to face after two years of being apart. two years of aaron not knowing you were back in texas. two years of him not knowing you were pregnant before you left. two years of not knowing the three kids you raised alone.

aaron didn’t know what to say. obviously he wanted to talk to you. wanted to know why you wouldn’t even allow him to explain.

but he needed to get you out of this jailhouse and back to your kids.

aaron waited until you finished your food before he asked any questions.

“are you ready?”

you reluctantly nod. you knew he knew everything. scared of how he would react when all of this was over.

“start from the beginning. how do you know robert kelp?”

you sigh. grabbing a napkin and wiping your hands.

“five months ago he came to me. i was working my shift in the back and he asked for me specifically. we talked about what his style was but he wasn’t really present in the conversation. he ended up buying something, tipping me one hundred dollars, and leaving and came back everyday doing the same thing,”

“did he say anything else to you?” emily made herself known.

“not until three weeks after the first visit. he finally opened up to me about his long lost love. telling me how they met, fell in love, and wanted to get married,”

“what did he tell you happened?”

“he had to leave to fight for his country. he told me the two of them would write letters to each other. but after about three months she stopped writing. he was nervous until he got a letter from her. she apparently was pregnant and lost the baby.”

“did he say what she specifically wrote in the letter?”

you shook your head. “no! but i do know he stated that the writing felt off. it was definitely her handwriting but it was messier than usual. like she was nervous to write it. he just assumed it was because of how heartbroken she was losing a child.”

“how long before he told you everything?”

“two months of knowing him he finally told me. he told me that he had found out that the woman he loved was kidnapped. at first i thought he was just trying to tell a really dark joke. but the more he said the worse it got. he told me that her name was sarah. and the father wasn’t her father after all. he was actually one of the kidnappers. she was locked up for her entire pregnancy. when she finally had the baby she was forced to raise the child with—with. aaron i—i can’t say it, god!”

“it’s okay yn. take your time. just take a deep breath, okay?” emily grabs your hand. you nod before proceeding.

“she was forced to raise the child with a darius y/l/n, my father.”

“what did you do after that?”

“i called him a stalker! i said there was no way my father was a criminal! my parents loved each other. but the more i thought about my parents relationship, the more it all clicked. my dad had other kids, obviously, my older siblings. i never met their mothers though, ever! when i brought it up my father just shrugged it off. he’d get angry when i continued to ask. my mother would always flinch and run to me. it was like she was protecting me from getting hurt. when we got older my siblings wouldn’t come around! they refused to be around our father. i never understood. sure, daddy wasn’t exactly soft spoken, and he did punish us a lot for doing something so small, but overall he gave us anything we wanted, kissed us goodnight, and loved us unconditionally.”

“is there anything else you noticed about your mom and dad?”

“yeah! mom was a bit weird about her family. i asked and over the years she would just remember less and less. almost like she was forgetting her past.”

“what did you do when you finally realized things were a bit odd?”

“i went to roberts house. he gave me his address just in case i needed to talk. we discussed everything. he eventually had a private doctor come in and do a dna test. when the results came it in fact stated that robert kelp was my biological father. i didn’t know how to feel. i knew i had to go to my mom! but i didn’t know how to approach the situation.”

“when you did how did she take it?”

“she laughed. she told me there was no possible way that this man was my father. she told me the only man she’s ever been with was my dad!”

“classic case of stockholm syndrome. did your mother say anything else?”

“no! i kept telling her that results don’t lie but she kept shutting me down! eventually she got angry and told me to stop bringing it up. it was all lies and darius was my father. i guess that was the last straw because i got a call from robert. he told me that someone had been following him. he told me to meet him at his house later that night. he stated he had to leave town for a bit but he needed to tell me something important.”

“when you got there what happened?”

“i saw him on the floor. he had been stabbed repeatedly, barely holding on. he kept saying father, father, father. i—i assumed he was telling me it was my father who did this. i know you told me never to touch the weapon on the body but, aaron the knife was in the side of his neck. he was in pain and was already dying. i—i just couldn’t leave him like that. im sorry! im so sorry.”

“hey! none of that. listen, you did what you thought was right. we’re gonna get you out of here, alright? get you back home to your ki—to your family!”

you nod. aaron and emily both walk right out. they head towards the team.

“i have a feeling what he wanted to tell her.”

“what is it?”

“baby girl, i got you on speaker. tell them what you found out!”

“robert was dying!”

“what?”

“i found his medical records. it turns out that he was diagnosed with liver cancer.”

“so, what does that mean?”

“it means robert knew about yn for a while. when he was diagnosed he must have wanted to meet her before he died. that night she went there he was gonna say goodbye because it’ll be the last time he’ll ever see her.” emily states.

“and seeing as he had no other family, he most likely left everything to yn and sarah,” reid continues.

“which is all the evidence the police needed to be certain yn committed this crime. she was at the crime scene, fingerprints on the knife, and she was in his will.”

“but darius committed this crime? come on guys. the man is pure genius. he kept sarah trapped for thirty-six years. he knows he’d get caught. and he wouldn’t want any of this to unfold on him or yn.” derek states

aaron thinks until it clicks. “father, father, father!”

“what?”

“robert repeated those words to yn before dying. father, father, father. he knew who the killer was. the same man who told robert sarah died.”

“one of the captors!”

“penelope! i need you to find everyone that darius knows. he’d most likely be in his seventies. he’d be very healthy for his age and most likely served in the military!”

“on it sir!”

“lets get yn home to her kids!”

taglist:

@ivebeenthearchersstuff @shergoretzxx @slut4ethan @rosiehale23

[sugdenlovesdingle]

So...when is Ryan Hawley rejoining Emmerdale? We need a Robron Reunion soon right? Seb is growing up without his Dads, Aaron is stuck in the village and Robert is stuck on the IoW! Of course, when Robert and Aaron come face to face, they will not see eye to eye. So, what would you prefer? A massive blow up like Chrissie and Robert causing havoc in the village or a slow burn like before the 2018 reunion - but obviously with a sane, Maxine written SL? If RWRB fans can manifest a sequel into reality, 911 Buddie fans have the Buckley-Diaz family within reach, we can dream about a Robron wedding in Las Vegas right? 😝😂

lol I don't think buddie fans are really the best example here.

but yes, he's done the guest parts on other shows, he's done voice over work, he's made two kids - time to go back!

Though Maxine isn't a writer on emmerdale anymore (something about rats and sinking ships) but since we're fully 🤡🤡🤡 here maybe she'll do a guest ep for a special occasion!

Like Aaron being shifty for weeks, secret phone calls and texts, snapping at Vinny when he tries to look at his screen. Telling him it's none of his business when he asks what he's hiding. And then one random tuesday he'll announce he's going away for a couple of days and no, he won't tell where to.

And then we get Aaron getting in his car and adjusting the mirrors For Reasons and we see he has one of those picture key chain thingies hanging from his rear-view mirror with their wedding pic with Seb in it and he drives away (this would actually work with the bts pic Danny posted where he's filming with/in Aaron's car!). And there's a few shots of him driving until he pulls up to a random house somewhere. He parks his car and gets out, walks up to the house and rings the doorbell, a person we don't know opens the door. "Hi Aaron. He's waiting for you."

Aaron goes in and we see a little boy watching tv and clutching a giraffe plushie, and a packed backpack next to him.

The person tries to get the kid's attention but he's focused on the tv and they sort of apologise to Aaron who just shrugs and sits down next to him.

"Hey mate, what are you watching?"

And the boy quickly looks at him and smiles and then starts telling him all about the thing he's watching.

And Aaron just lets him ramble and just has this *fond* look in his eyes the whole time.

*some other stuff happens, tom is still abusing belle, everyone is miserable*

When we come back to Aaron and the boy, the show he was watching has ended and he's sitting next to Aaron who has his arm around him.

"So are you ready to go home?"

the boy nods and we see a shot of the person who let Aaron in smiling at the two of them.

"Alright, lets go then. Go say bye."

The boy walks up to the person and says bye and they bend down to hug him.

"Bye Sebastian, it's been a pleasure having you here but I'm sure you'll be very happy back with your dads again."

*gasp* *shock* The boy is Seb!

They leave and we see Aaron strap Seb into a car seat and triple check all of the straps and buckles until he's satisfied and he gets behind the wheel and starts the car.

He tells Seb to wave at the person as they drive away and we see them round the corner and disappear from view.

Then there's some more shots of Aaron driving but it's notably a very different road/route than before and we see him maybe check google maps on his phone a lot, indicating that he doesn't know the road where they're going.

It's implied they've been on road a long time and they stop at a mcdonalds or something to get something to eat and Seb gets to play in the ballpit for a while.

Aaron is still on his phone A LOT and texting someone until his phone rings in his hand. He answers in typical Aaron style with a few one word answers and then hangs up, and tells Seb they have to go again.

When they get into the car he tells Seb it's only short drive now and we see them drive to a bus station and pull over.

Aaron smiles at something in front of them and gets out of the car, standing by the door, not quite believing his eyes.

"You took your time." someone out of view tells him and he laughs.

"Shut up and get over here you."

And we see him stepping away from the car, walking towards someone, and when the other person is within reach, he grabs a suit jacket and the camera focuses on his hands - fists balled into the fabric.

"I've missed you mister Dingle."

And the camera *FINALLY* pans up and we see Robert half smiling, half crying, pulling back a little to REALLY look at Aaron.

And he cups his face and wipes away a stray tear with his thumb.

"I missed you too mister Sugden"

*credits roll, the nation rejoices, all is right in the world again, robron are reunited*

[renamusing]

just watched today's hour long ep and im leaving my thoughts below:

putting aside the fact that the current writers can be complete nonsensical idiots most of the time, there is something pretty suspicious about this whole rebecca plot twist.

first, why kill her if ross says they had split up for a while before she died? if this twist was only to serve ross's comeback story, then they had no need to kill rebecca at all. ross said today that after they split, rebecca had already moved to bristol with seb to stay with her aunt so that would have been that. ross would still have been stupid enough to get into illegal fighting and other criminal activities on his own without the added grief of her death.

second, people are panicking because robert apparently signed the papers so seb could stay with this supposed aunt of rebecca. im sorry, but what else did you expect robert to do? since the moment he went to prison, robert made it a priority to sever himself from aaron. he handed himself in so aaron could have a life of his own, and seb a dad he could one day be proud of, instead of a father on the run for the rest of his life. so i don't believe robert would EVER put seb on aaron if he could avoid it. can you imagine, robert thinking aaron has settled somewhere with a guy living a life of his own just how robert wished, only for robert to saddle him with his kid? yes, for us fans, that wouldn't be selfish because we know aaron would be great with seb, however, the prospect brings up so many questions to me personally, like does robert even know liv died? does he know aaron went to live in italy for a time? does he know aaron came back? we can't even trust victoria to have told robert anything because according to ross victoria hasn't been in contact with robert recently! she hasn't even been in contact with bex and seb, for years! even aaron said they didn't get in touch because they thought rebecca, ross and seb were "happy". which brings me to my third point.

according to today's episode, rebecca died around 3 months ago. who also showed up just around that time? john sugden. im not trying to build a conspiracy theory here—could john's army medic past allow him to perform surgeries in liverpool?? lmao im kidding—what i mean is (and correct me if im wrong), this seems like the time the "new stories" overseen by iain macleod started kicking in. which means they had to cover plot holes from past stories in the least limiting way possible, especially considering the show wouldn't want to spoil robert's return (if ryan does come back) or the fact he isn't coming back at all.

so we don't know if rebecca died before or after victoria called robert to tell him about john like she said she would. we don't know if it was robert who decided not to mention bex's death to vic, or if vic even spoke to robert at all after meeting john.

what im more and more certain of, though, is that seb will play a big part in the story going forward. his predicament as an orphan could:

give vic a plot - because why didn't her brother trust her with his son? could it be because robert thought she already had her hands full with her own kid? or did he think seb would be happier and more comfortable with people he already knew and was familiar with? now that vic's dismal plot with jacob is done, i can see her trying to get some offscreen visiting rights with the bristol auntie, or, in the best case scenario, onscreen seb visits.

give aaron a plot - unfortunately another one that involves john, because being a father is something that aaron always wanted and, depending on who writes this sl, it could have him opening up to john about his and robert's surrogacy attempts. i don't mind it at all, because if robert comes back it will be much juicier if aaron and john are as settled as possible (good luck with that nonexistent chemistry lol), yet i refuse to watch those two bring up seb. period.

an emergency exit to ross - michael parr's interviews have been vague at best. he has talked about doing a short stint and not knowing what the future holds for his character, so if seb doesn't return in the foreseeable, he could well be the reason ross goes away again.

speed up robert's release - yes, robert signed the papers for seb to stay with his aunt in bristol, but i don't doubt he has thought about attempting a new appeal so he could be with his son. legal matters take time and with the lee/luke plot loophole from a few years back, it would only be a case of waiting for ryan to be available.

this seems to be the gist of it to me so far. but i have to mention the one thing that stood out to me today and which i really enjoyed was how calm aaron was through everything except the one moment ross threw the 'slept with his brother' comment in his face. i need 10 more of those, ross. keep them coming!

[scrapyardboyfriends]

Well that was...something. Haha.

When I got to the almost kiss scene, I honestly just burst out laughing? Is this supposed to be working for us or Aaron? Cause it's...not. Aaron was right when he said John needed to work on his routine because again that was straight out of Nate's least sexy ever affair with Moira playbook.

Just..."because you know why we're both still here" is somehow a lot better than "I know what you want" which feels like Nate's "you know you want me".

Like if I were Aaron, I would have laughed in his face at that embarrassment of flirting. I would have been like "mate, does that ever actually work for you?" Except that I guess it did in their forced first meeting.

Besides the obvious, I'm just really struggling with the convoluted, contrived way they've set this all up.

It reminds me of the Ben thing too, just automatically putting this weird romantic/sexual framing on it before it has a chance to reach that place on its own.

Just like, imagine instead of his hook up app, Aaron decided to go to whatever gay bar is in Hotten these days and try and meet someone and John showed up looking to get a drink while in town for his mother's funeral. We see them meet, chat a little, maybe actually see some natural banter/chemistry and then they leave and sure, hook up in his dumb van. And then Eric's car is still in the shop because I don't know, Mack went out as Aaron's wing man, per Vic's request, and got into work too late to fix it, so he encourages Vic to drive Eric to the funeral.

Then at least they met without the explicit trappings of a hook up where it was pretty anonymous and barely had an exchange before it was like "oh well we were supposed to have sex so let's have sex".

Could also have had Aaron just run into him on the side of the road and generously helped him fix his car enough to get it to the nearest garage where oh look, he meets Vic. But they could have been flirting while he was fixing the van and then kissed and ended up having sex in the van.

Just like...anything other than this nonsense where they have this super contrived hostility based on such a nonsensical plot point of John driving off with Aaron's stuff for no reason.

And then I might buy that Aaron would actually still have some attraction to him despite everything and a scene like today might have worked better for me??

I just don't know how believable it is that Aaron is attracted enough to John that he would go there based on that kind of pitiful flirting after all of this other nonsense, after he knows this is Robert's secret gay half brother and all of those feelings came up.

Sigh...

The Mack and Aaron friendship stuff is still fun, aside from the fact that this little war they have with John is so baseless and yes, their actions are super immature. But I still like the trio of the two of them and Vic interacting. Tiny slivers of silver lining.

Also...John is just an asshole. I just don't know what issue they have with bringing in likable characters. At least Robert was a smooth talking charmer to mask his inner turmoil. John could be making the village fall in love with him with his charisma while hiding secret pain. I'd like that kind of character a lot more than angry guy.

I feel like the only people that like John so far fall into five categories: 1. Robert antis who will like any non Robert Aaron ship 2. People who just hate Aaron and/or Mack and enjoy a character who also hates them 3. Sugden fans desperate for scraps 4. People who find the actor attractive 5. And people who think this is all leading to a Robert return

I'm only really approaching number 3 and he's too annoying for me to care yet and I'd like 5 to be true but I refuse to get my hopes up because I still feel like this is all happening because Ryan said no. I think it's just going to be a terrible, flat enemies to lovers story where John's sad sad military past will come out and Aaron will end up comforting him and getting him to open up and then they'll suddenly be couple with very little relationship development. Even with Robert mentions, I don't feel like this is leading to a return or to any kind of Aaron revelation that he still loves Robert and therefore doesn't want to be with his secret gay half brother.

I'd love to be wrong but...

[thevegandarkelf]

Finding Myself, Finding You: Chapter Six

Masterlist

AO3 link

Story is 18+ for mature content/themes, minors do not interact please

TW/CWs for this story--implied/referenced past rape, canonical violence, non-canonical violence, blood, gore, referenced past suicide, swearing, surgery, excessive drinking, nightmares, panic attacks, mention of scars, vomiting, amputation, medical procedures, non-con medical procedures, referenced past medical torture, referenced past drugging, attempted sexual assault, panic attacks, mental health struggles, referenced sibling death, referenced parent death

Each chapter will have its own TW/CWs listed

This story, Lydia Vector, her family & bestie (c) me, TheVeganDarkElf

TWD & its characters (c) AMC & Robert Kirkman, the writer of the comic series

TW/CWs for this chapter--swearing, alcohol consumption (nothing excessive but maybe they get a little tipsy), brief mention of blood/medical stuff, joking about getting someone drunk

Word count: 2.6k

For the most part, the ride back was silent. I stared out the window, overthinking about everything I had said to Daryl over and over again. I wasn’t sure what had changed, but the silence was comfortable this time. Just before we got back, he finally spoke up.

“Why do ya go by Vector?”

“Hmm?” His lovely voice pulled me from my dissociation.

“Ya name. Why do ya go by Vector?”

I thought for a moment about what to say. No one had ever asked me why I never went by my first name. It was still a rather sore subject, not gonna lie, but I didn’t want to shut him down from conversation now that he was seemingly starting to open up. I thought of what to say as I went.

“Well…Vector is who I am now. I’ve, uh…had to do some things that past me can’t handle. Thus, Vector was born.” I stopped for a moment and took a deep breath before continuing “Me before used to sing in the shower, wear sundresses, dance in the street, pick flowers on walks, smile with my teeth out…shit like that. Haven’t done any of that in God knows how long.”

We pulled around to the front gate, and Daryl made some kind of signal out his window to indicate it was us. He parked around the front, where the car was before, and jumped out and around to the back. I followed suit, him saying something about going out hunting with one of the other guys shortly.

“Hey Daryl?” He set the boxes that he had grabbed down and turned his gaze to meet mine. I gave him a soft smile. “Thanks for asking. No one’s ever bothered to ask me about that before.” He simply nodded and went back to what he was doing. I heard footsteps running up behind me, so I turned to see Maggie practically running into me.

“Eric’s looking for you,” she said. The tone in her voice didn’t indicate there was any kind of urgency, but given that someone was looking for the doctor, and that this person was the partner of the person who likely needed medical attention most, I had reason to be concerned.

I turned to Daryl. ”Do you want help before I go?”

“Nah,” he scoffed, using his hand to make a “shoo, go away” motion, “go on, doc.” I turned and walked off with Maggie in the direction of Eric and Aaron’s place.

“Hey, Rosita and I are getting together tonight. Michonne’s got Judith duty, so we’re gonna keep her company. You should come.” Excitement built up in my chest at the thought of possibly having a group of girlfriends again. "We’re gonna chat, get wine-drunk, maybe talk a little too intimately about our gentleman callers. It’ll be fun.”

“That sounds awesome. Yeah, I’ll for sure be there,” I replied, “and uh, Maggie…thank you again. For everything you’ve done for me since I got here.” I stopped her and gave her a hug. “You’re a good friend.”

“It’s not a problem, really. Us gals gotta stick together, right?”

“Damn straight. Wait, I have something to show you.” I dropped my bag to the ground and dug into it, pulling out the two small boxes of tampons I managed to find. "Look what the hell I found!” She grabbed the boxes from me, flipping them around until she realized what they were.

“Damn, this stuff’s like gold around here,” Maggie laughed.

“That’s what I said,” I replied, chuckling and taking the boxes back from her, shoving them back into my bag.

“Anyway, Rosita and I will stop and get you on our way to Michonne and Rick’s.” I smiled in response, and she walked off, myself continuing over to Eric and Aaron’s. Eric was sitting on the steps of their front porch, reading a novel of some sort.

“You were looking for me?” I asked him. He tilted his head up from his book and practically leaped up when he saw me. I was impressed with the speed at which he brought himself to his feet.

“Aaron said he needed to see you when you got back,” Eric explained, opening the door for me and letting me in in front of him, “he didn’t say why.” I unzipped my boots and kicked them off, leaving them by the front door. He sounded worried, as any partner would.

“Well, hopefully, it’s not too bad then,” I reassured, “you wait here, and I’ll come get you if he asks. Y’know, doctor-patient confidentiality and whatnot.” He nodded and stepped back out onto the porch, closing the door behind him. I tried to remember what sorts of medications I grabbed on my run, in case I needed to access them quickly.

I knocked softly on the door and announced myself before entering. “Hey Aaron, it’s Vector.” I stepped in, and he was laying in the same spot on the bed I’d left him in. I didn’t immediately notice and bleeding from his leg, no discoloration in his face or arms, no rashes I could see, and he wasn’t making any kind of face to indicate that he was in immense pain. In fact, he was smirking. “You needed me?” He giggled and gestured for me to sit down on the floor next to him.

“Nah, I just wanted to know how your run with Daryl went.” I felt my eyes rolling so hard, I could practically see the inside of my skull. I let out an exasperated sigh.

“Dude,” I huffed, “you cannot scare me like that. And Eric. He was really concerned something was wrong.”

“Yeah, not my best move. But you said not to tell anyone. How else was I supposed to get you here?”

“Oh, I don’t know, ask,” I sassed, “but anyway, do you want to know or not?” He nodded, and I plopped myself down cross-legged on the floor next to the bed.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I spent probably half an hour with Aaron, explaining how the run went and me overthinking and over-analyzing every single little thing that both of us said and did. Afterwards, I went and reassured Eric that everything was fine without giving away any info about Aaron having lied to get me there.

I came back to an empty house, so I figured Daryl was out hunting. Not knowing how long I’d have to myself, I took the time to do some cleaning up. It wasn’t terrible in there, but to sum it up nicely, you could tell a man lived there alone until yesterday. I had to borrow cleaning supplies from Carol after not being able to find any around the house.

“I’m glad you’re here. Someone’s gotta keep that place clean,” she joked.

I had retrieved some produce and herbs from the garden, which felt like such a treat. Being able to pick fresh produce after so long was like a dream. I used them to make soup for dinner, which I made a larger batch of to leave some for Daryl. I knew I wasn’t obligated to cook for both of us, but I enjoyed making food for other people. While it cooled, I took a quick shower, as I didn’t have to wash my hair this time, and changed into a workout set I had brought with me, consisting of a pair of black spandex shorts and a black sports bra that was more built like a crop top. To kill time until my new friends came, I sat down next to the window in my room and opened it up to allow the breeze in.

I folded my arms and rested them on the windowsill, resting my chin on them. I could see some of the other residents of Alexandria, whom I didn’t know very well, and Carol working out in the garden. The sun was going to start going down soon, and I wondered if Daryl was going to be back before it got dark. Sure, he was a strong guy, and he could clearly take care of himself, but I felt more comfortable knowing he was safe inside the walls.

A bright little butterfly came over and joined me, fluttering around my head. I slowly put my hand out, sticking my index finger out on the off chance that they would land on me. Surprisingly, and lucky for me, they gracefully landed on the padding of my finger.

“Hi my sweet,” I whispered as to not scare them. As a kid, I had a fascination with butterflies, moths, any pollinators really. When my mom wasn’t being the best family law attorney around, she was in her garden, tending to her flowers. She made sure to teach my siblings and me the importance of the local pollinators. Butterflies, bees, hummingbirds…they all made me think of her. “Aren’t you just the most stunning creature I’ve ever seen?”

They stood on my finger for a bit, sometimes adjusting their footing and flapping their wings softly, as if to show off their bright hues. All I could think about was how much my mom would love this. She’d be gushing quietly, tiptoeing over to retrieve her phone to snap a picture.

I had an idea, and I slowly began to lift my hand toward my face. I closed my eyes as to not intimidate them with my large peepers and brought my finger to the tip of my nose. I felt their little legs moving around, and they made their way onto my nose. I smiled, keeping it small so I didn’t hit their wings with my cheeks. They continued moving their wings occasionally, and I did feel them tickle my face a couple of times, which made me giggle softly.

I felt them turn their body around to face back out the window. I lifted my index finger back to my nose, and they scuttled back across to it. “Thank you, sweetheart.” I gently put my hand out the window, and with that, they gave a few more beats of their wings before flying away. If I believed differently, I would’ve thought that was my mother coming to greet me. But I didn’t believe in any of that stuff.

I sat there for a few moments, watching them fly away off toward the community garden. I hoped they would grace the other residents with their presence as they had graced mine. I shifted myself around to get up, and I saw Daryl leaning in the door frame, arms crossed, watching me. I almost had a heart attack from being startled.

“Jesus Christ!” I yelped, falling back onto the window, “how long have you been standing there? You scared the shit out of me. I didn’t even hear you come in.” He didn’t acknowledge my question, or anything else I said, in his response.

“Maggie ’n Rosita are here for ya.”

“Oh, sick.” I got up and slid past him, our arms brushing as I went by. That moment felt like forever, the moment that my skin met his, and it gave me goosebumps and nearly had me tongue-tied as I tried to talk. “I, uh, made dinner. It shouldn’t be scalding now. You’re welcome to whatever you want of it.” He looked like he wasn’t sure how to respond to that.

“Thanks,” was all he said. He kept his position in the door frame, arms still crossed. I scurried down the stairs to my boots and quickly put them on, opening the door to see my friends. I turned back to Daryl.

“See ya later.” I gave him a smile before closing the door and following Maggie and Rosita. They were looking at each other, the looks on their faces communicating things they weren’t saying out loud.

Michonne answered the door with Judith in her arms, and she seemed excited to have the company. Her face was beaming. I figured this was something these three did often, got together and just had girl time. I hadn’t had girl time in years.

“What are Rick and Carl up to tonight?” I asked, propping myself up on one of the bar stools next to Michonne. Judith was giggling and babbling, looking around at the rest of us with the fascination only babies possessed.

“I don’t know, father and son target practice or some shit,” Michonne explained, “said Glenn and some of the other guys were gonna join.”

“I’m gonna pour myself a glass,” Rosita said, walking into the kitchen, “rest of you want one?” Michonne and Maggie giggled and nodded. “Vector?” I fidgeted a little in my seat.

“I don’t know. I don’t think Alexandria’s only medical professional should be drinking. Plus, I’m a bit of a lightweight.”

“Oh come on, this is what we’re here for,” Maggie exclaimed, “to drink a little too much and act like everything hasn’t gone to shit.”

“You’re here now. It’s safe. You can relax a little bit,” Michonne assured.

“Ok, but just one,” I replied, “If I drink too much, I’ll start saying things I don’t wanna.” The three exchanged glances and smirked.

“We’re gettin’ her drunk, right?” Michonne said to them, smiling.

“Oh yeah,” Rosita laughed, followed by Maggie’s “absolutely.” I rolled my eyes and accepted the glass Rosita held out to me. I wasn’t much of a red wine drinker, but with how much of a lightweight I was, wine was the safest option.

The evening turned into a gossip session. They asked me a lot of questions about my life before this, and I theirs, and what got me interested in being a doctor. I got to hear way too many details about the sex lives of Maggie & Glenn and Rick & Michonne. Maggie made a comment about something Glenn liked, and I nearly spat my drink out.

“I’m going to try to forget about that,” I laughed.

Minutes turned into hours, and I was eventually two glasses deep, despite my initial protest of only one. Michonne attempted to hand me a third. I was already tipsy, but like Michonne said, I could relax a little bit. I would start being a serious community member tomorrow.

“What about you, Vector? How are you getting on with everyone?”

“Everyone here’s been wonderful. Y’all are so kind. I can tell that people here really care about each other. Thanks again for letting me stay,” I said, holding my glass up as if I was giving a toast.

“Anyone here particularly wonderful?” Maggie asked, chuckling. I bit my bottom lip. I knew what she was asking, but I hoped feigning ignorance would change the subject.

“What do you mean?”

“Is there anyone you’re interested in…romantically or otherwise?” I couldn’t say I didn’t try.

“Well, seeing how many of the men here are taken, the options are limited.”

“That doesn’t answer my question.” She eyed me as I took another sip of my wine. "If we guess it right, will you tell us?” I swirled the drink in my hand, my heart rate picking up as my anxiety spiked.

“Again, the options are limited, you’d eventually get it right, so I guess yeah, go for it.” They squealed like a group of girls in high school and started naming off the male residents, all of which I either said no or shook my head to.

“Does that just leave Daryl? No…is it Daryl?” Michonne asked. I could feel myself starting to turn red, and their faces began to light up at the realization that they had got it right. I averted my gaze from the group. They were squealing like a bunch of high-school girls. Rosita practically jumped out of her chair.

“You’re blushing so hard right now!” she yelled, pointing at me.

“I have got to figure out how to stop doing that,” I mumbled to myself.

[beautifulhigh]

20 Questions aka. Oversharing on the Internet version 92840938. Plus one?

Thank you for for tagging me @welcometololaland. Even though I suck at tag games and answering asks...

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

77.

2. What’s your total AO3 word count?

952,168. Pretty sure the next fic is going to top the million mark when (if) it finally goes up.

3. What fandoms do you write for?

At the moment? 911: Lone Star & Red White and Royal Blue

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

Every nation ought to have a right to provide for its own happiness (RWRB). My newest fic and clearly posted at the right time to ride the wave!

Tell all the truth but tell it slant, Success in circuit lies (Lone Star) My post-Sadie fic. I really liked getting to play about with the narrative structure in this one

The tender things are those we fold away (Lone Star) Only Fans fic, my beloved.

But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep (Lone Star) My first Tarlos fic. Written before Gwyn's sudden death and she had a starring role at the start of it. And then I did something similar with Gabriel for my last one. I swear I will never heavily feature any recurring character again.

Want (Emmerdale) Come back to the Dales, Hawley you coward.

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

I respond to 99% of them - hard to come up with a response to a comment that you know someone just cuts and pastes onto all fics they read. (I am grateful for all comments but still...) You took the time to read and leave me a comment, I'm going to acknowledge that.

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

I'm going to go with Rumours (Emmerdale) for this. Because while they both die at the end (no reference intended to the book!) there is a whole life for Aaron and Robert before that moment comes.

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

I think most of them? It's all varying degrees of happiness because it depends what has happened to them in the meantime. But it all comes out in the wash.

8. Do you get hate on fics?

I once wrote a fic in which I had characters explain why they couldn't take a particular course of action, and I had comments like "this is stupid, why don't they just do x?" which says more about their lack of reading skills. Other than that, not really.

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

I do, but it's more about the feels than the actions.

10. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written?

I've never written one, simply because it feels a little too much like crossing the streams. Unless they are canonically in the same 'verse my muse refuses to even consider it. She's a sucker for rules like that.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not that I know of.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Someone translated a Glee fic of mine into Russian (I think? It was a cyrillic language, I remember that) but I am always open to it!

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

I did a dual narrative fic once and that was great fun.

14. What’s your all time favorite ship?

Don't make me choose between my babies. I can't.

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

I have a Tarlos WiP and a Firstprince WiP and I want to finish them both.

16. What are your writing strengths?

I plan. I have pages and pages of planning and research and scribbled lines of dialogue and prose. I know exactly where I'm going with my stories and so the ending always pulls together the strands in the story. There are always hints and clues as to where I'm going, you just gotta pay attention.

(It's OK if you don't. It's rare someone comments on what is supposed to be a throwaway line and wonder why it's in there. Hint: it's because it's not throwaway.)

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

More of a weakness for me I think - but consistency. I am a feast or famine writer. I knock out a fic in a week (Only Fans) or I have to drag it kicking and screaming from its coccoon of bedsheets (bank fic)

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

If I need to do it then I am putting out pleas on Tumblr for a native speaker to translate the line for me

19. First fandom you wrote for?

"...I plead the 5th."

^ what she said

20. Favourite fic you’ve written?

Don't make me choose between my babies.

I am super later to this so open tag!

[endless-oc-creations]

Excuse me for butting in but you and that rude anon are wrong for using Google to define sexuality. Wade is pansexual. In the comic book series and TV Show, Rick Grimes is depicted by the original creators as canonically straight and devoted to his wife. All his love interests are women. Daryl Dixon is more ambiguous but the creators and actor said previously that Daryl is meant to be asexual and a virgin, and they loved that. Peeta is defined as heterosexual by the way Suzanne depicted him. We have to go by the original creators intentions. Jesus and Aaron are canonically gay in the comic books where there was little LBGTB rep at the time. If someone straightened them out like I have seen some writers do for Jesus just so to pair them with their SI, then it's depressing. But this is fanfiction and ultimately you're not harming anyone. I think what is harmful is people like you and anon trying to justify sexuality with Googling articles that are just the creation of some hack but appear to back up your headcanons. You can easily respect the original creator's depiction but create your own fanfiction suiting your own tastes. I am saying this because I have friends who are heavy into Rick and Michonne and they go by official lore how devoted he is to a straight POC woman. They are a hetero pairing. It's odd to see people arguing he isn't when it's right there according to them. People can change his sexuality without trying to make out it's actually canon. But if you wish to make Rick a poly pairings with two men, then you can but there is a difference between canon and headcanons. I would advise anons to just move on and block. You can either agree or disagree with me but don't let it spoil your creating

First off anon, thank you for coming into my inbox and being at least polite with your ask. I wanna express that I don't mean to harm you or anyone with what I replied. I'm not forcing sexualities onto anyone and I was just using the research from articles I found from Google to make a point to that rude anon that you can't just assume that a character is straight.

I think it's important to research some things in a response if someone is trying to say "You can't do this because this character isn't this x, y and z, etc." If you get what I'm trying to say.

For example, how would you know about Daryl Dixon being ambiguous and that " the creators and actor said previously that Daryl is meant to be asexual and a virgin"? If you didn't google or seen an article based off an interview or just the interview itself?" So that is all I was doing. I was putting the links to articles.

On December 1, 2014 an article came out with an interview with Robert Kirkman, the creator of The Walking Dead, on the show Talking Dead, that"...Daryl Dixon is straight." The article is linked here.

BUT! On Mar 5, 2015, "The Walking Dead" Star Norman Reedus, who plays Daryl Dixon, gave a conan interview. (I added the link to the video interview) Where he weighed in on the possibility of his character, Daryl Dixon, being gay.

“If that’s the story they gave me, I would rock that story. I’m not afraid of it,” Reedus said. (The Varity article with more of that interview is here. )

So even though Kirkman stated that Daryl "is straight" the possibility is still open.

What I think is just a little hurtful is that you just assumed I am like that rude anon trying to "justify sexualities". That anon said they googled these characters and that they were straight. Without any information to back them up on it. I googled as well but came back with articles that had articles containing the information I stated. So some of the articles wasn't just some hack, they came with examples. Some from 'canon' itself.

Also, I looked into this after reading your message, but I couldn't find one article backing up your claim that Peeta is defined as heterosexual by the way Suzanne Collins depicted him.

I am a HUGE multi-shipper. I have too many ships that I love and adore. Some are canon, some are not. One pairing that's canon that I love is in fact Rick and Michonne, I absolutely love the way those two are devoted to one another and would do anything for each other and their family. But, I also ship Rick x Daryl for fun, I know they will NEVER be canon but it's fun to read fanfictions and watch fanvids with those two.

So please just don't assume that I am trying to take away from canon relationships when I create ocs for canon characters that are already in a relationship.

So I agree with you Anon, when you said "this is fanfiction and ultimately you're not harming anyone." It is something I whole heartedly agree with and think it is so so important. I make my characters for fun and I like thinking about their dynamics with other canon characters or in that particular world.

I hope this makes sense.

[bricksxbooks]

LEGO Masters at Comic-Con

LEGO Masters returned to San Diego Comic-Con International (SDCC) in 2024, and I was there! "LEGO Masters: Back Behind the Brick" was Friday, July 26 at 4:30 PM (PT) in Room 6BCF. This was the second year in a row LEGO Masters had a program at SDCC.

*THE HIGHLIGHTS*

Season 5 confirmed!

Most likely this fall!

Also a new Holiday Bricktacular!

Will has a mustache now!

Read on for more details (but no pictures, sorry; call me old-fashioned, but I prefer to experience things in the moment, rather than photograph them... plus the photography rules at SDCC can be pretty strict!).

PANEL BASICS

First off, the 2024 program was in a much larger room than the inaugural 2023 program. Like, soooooo much larger. I was very proud of my fellow LEGO fans for showing up and proving to SDCC that we wanted more (and more, and more) LEGO content in the future.

The 2023 panel was headlined by Brickmaster Amy. In 2024 we got Brickmaster Jamie, because... drumroll... Amy had a baby!!! Big cheers from the crowd. You'll be pleased to hear that both Brickmaster Amy and Jamie are just as delightful in person as they are on the show. They are genuinely friendly, open, and pleasant human beings. Sometimes you get celebrities who are clearly there due to contractual obligations and have no interest in the SDCC experience whatsoever, which is a bummer when attendees have been waiting in line for hours and hours to get in the room (not to mention, looking forward to the experience for several months). Amy and Jamie clearly love and appreciate the LEGO community and want to support us!

The 2024 panel was moderated by Krystle Starr, who participated in Season 1 of LEGO Masters US and went on to win LEGO Masters: Celebrity Holiday Bricktacular as well as LEGO Masters AU: Australia vs. The World. The other panelists were two producers from the show, plus Christopher from the Season 4-winning duo of "Christopher and Robert," aka The Villains.

BIG ANNOUNCEMENTS

LEGO Masters Season 5 confirmed (for this fall?): We got to see a teaser trailer, which confirmed the season and also teased some of the challenges (yes, there's plenty of smashing and exploding). The trailer also revealed Will has a mustache now. It's... something. What the trailer did not reveal was date of the season debut, only that it was part of the 2024-2025 season; however, one of the challenges gave a big hint as to the debut date...

Wicked challenge: OK, so this might only be a big announcement for me, but I was absolutely thrilled to see that one of the challenges is going to be Wicked themed. I love musicals. I love Wicked. I absolutely adored the Wicked Brickified trailer. I can't wait to see part one of the movie on November 22. Speaking of which, although they didn't announce a release date for Season 5, it's pretty safe to assume it will be premiering during the Fall 2024 season. Along with the movie on November 22, LEGO has also not-quite announced the official Wicked sets are dropping October 1. It would make sense for Season 5 to happen during the Fall 2024 season so the challenge coincides with these two events. That's my best detective work right there.

LEGO Masters: Celebrity Holiday Bricktacular also confirmed: they showed a trailer and announced the participants. Sophia Bush, Eric McCormack, Holly Robinson Peete, and Lil Rel Howery will pair up with former LEGO Masters contestants Christine Blandino (Season 3), Stephen Joo (Season 3), Aaron Newman (Season 1), and Corey D. Samuels (Season 1).

Robert and Christopher's set reveal: as part of their Season 4 winner prize package, Robert and Christopher got to see their championship build turned into an actual LEGO set. Christopher showed a couple of early prototypes from the development process, and then showed us the final set, which was also on display at the LEGO booth (and is available for pre-order, shipping August 1). In an adorable full-circle moment, it was revealed that Boone, part of the second place team from Season 1 and now an official LEGO employee, was one of the designers for this set. Goals!

FUN FACTS

LEGO Masters is now in production in 18 countries.

There's approximately 10 million bricks in the LEGO Masters Brick Pit.

Christopher (unofficially) has the largest private LEGO set collection in the world. I say "unofficially" because he is currently in the process of submitting the evidence to Guinness World Records, which requires him to take and submit a picture of every single set... and considering he has OVER 9,000, it is taking him a hot second to finish his application (the current record holder has 6,005 sets).

Christopher wants to turn his enormous collection into a LEGO history museum.

Evil Will wasn't in Season 4 because Villain Christopher defeated him and locked him in his LEGO room [this was Christopher's answer when a small child asked where Evil Will went during Q&A].

Thanks for reading! Hit the bricks :)

*All included links are for reference and informational purposes only. I am not affiliated with LEGO or LEGO Masters in any way and do not earn any commissions, etc. from my posts.

[lovethesagefan]

LEGEND

Since retiring, and it has been 3 years, I have hence discovered that I have become a legend. When George Washington died, he was proclaimed "First in War, First in Peace, First in the hearts of his countrymen." Washington was a legend. When he could have become a dictator, he chose to step away from power. The man cannot be touched.    Lincoln, the Rail Splitter, is no longer a man. He is like Washington and in his death, ascended into a god-like status. If politics were a religion, Lincoln would be one of its saints. The man could do no wrong, but history tells us the opposite. He violated the Constitution when it served his purpose. He opposed slavery but he truly did not believe it total equality for blacks and white and then only black males who served in the Union Army had earned that right.    There are others who we mythized and overlooked their faults to placed them on their pedestal. Growing up, I had the great General Robert E. Lee, the "Marble Man" provided a guide to how I should conduct myself, though he was a slave owner and fault to continue to keep my ancestors in chains.    These people were all legends, but they became legends after they died. Few legends are recognized in their lifetime. Bob Hope, Johnny Carson, Duke Ellington, Hank Aaron, etc.  These people of sports and entertainment were recognized by their peers and the public as being the one above all others in their field.  There were legends in their own time.    I say this because tonight I think I have become a "legend in my own time." 

Tonight, was NCHS' open house. Back in the day we called orientation. Open House would come later. Well Dr. Lambert asked me to come. Why I decided to go, I will never know. But I went. I was filled with euphoria from all my former colleagues who were glad to see me and asked me if I was coming back to work. I just retired. People d0 not go back to work...or do they? But when people who came on board after I left started to show signs that I had left a mark on NCHS, then I knew I had become a legend.    My department has kept my name alive. My presence encouraged them that I may return like a forgotten talisman to help the department. I have become a legend.    But being a legend is hard. Lincoln, Washington, MLK, etc all had flaws though they are legends. Sometimes a legend cannot or is afraid to let the flaws show lest they are knocked off their pedestal. However for a couple of hours, this legend felt so good. It was like a drug. Dr. Lambert needs teachers, especially in US History. The intoxication of the drug I felt tonight almost had me signing the contract. I was saved by a meeting she needed to have with her APs.    I sorta committed to go over to the school on Day 1. I tell myself, she wants me there to sorta "spy" and report problems or how things can be done better. Why she trusts me, I  will never know. I don't know anything. I just know how I would do things. I don't have any offical dogma or pedagogy to back up my reasons. But I said I would, like tonight, I will get up and go. 

  Tomorrow is a workday. I should probably stay away. If I go, I will be able to impart pearls of wisdom where needed. I may be given a problem and can offer a solution.   But like a moth to the flame, I may get myself out of bed just to go  to be with my people in the place that causes me anxiety also a place that people see me possibly in a way I cannot see...they see me as a legend.      

[bobbie-robron]

Robron Fanfiction Recommendations (May-2024)

The below were recommended on Twitter during May 2024.

Love Me Blind (2019) 25.1K words, exploring_in_space

When Aaron was 17, he fell in love with Robert, his soulmate, over the summer. But then Chrissie found them and they split. Now, ten years later, Aaron is moving in with boyfriend Ed (a ‘comfortable’ relationship) into the Mill while Robert (not completely happy but happy enough) is a single father to Sebastian. When the two meet up again at a machinery convention, it doesn’t take long before Aaron initiates an affair while keeping Robert in the dark that he’s still very much still involved in all manner with his boyfriend. Oh, did I forget to mention that Aaron’s lapse in paying attention lead him to believe Sebastian is a dog? Something’s got to give and who will lose in the end?

All Over Again (2016) 4.5K words, Miss_Romance_Lover

It’s post-SSW2016 and the lads made it through alright but Aaron has a seizure while in hospital and now has lost a full year of his life. That means he doesn’t recall opening up about the vile one, his sister being back in his life and, most importantly, that he and Robert were happy and living together. As Chas and Robert are there to support Aaron as his memories gradually begin to return, in the end it’s about Aaron falling for Robert who he is now.

Skins and Torrents (2019) 20.0K words, Illgetmerope

Aaron left the village not only to escape the Dingle name but to be close to the ocean… becoming a fisherman. He keeps to himself and pretty much is on his own but then a freckled seal starts to stay very close when he’s out on his boat to retrieve his catches and begins to enjoy seeing the animal. Soon after, a freckled blonde shows up with eyes for Aaron and there is a connection. But when Robert disappears after their night together, all good feelings are gone. Oh, there’s this legends about selkies that Sarah tells Aaron but he brushes it off until he realizes there may be truth in it after all…

Behind the Bar (2015) 3.2K words, robronsugsy

Diane and Doug have plans to go out and Chas is feeling under the weather. What shall become of the bar for the evening? Well… Robert volunteers himself and Aaron to cover for them! How will they do I wonder 🤔?

May to December (2017) 23.6K words, Activeimagination

Hell year was a disaster and hard to watch, if at all, most times. Here, we get a different take of the lads’ breakup but with major differences. There is no OTT ad nauseam plotting by Robert, Doc Dulliard does not exist and Chas/Liv aren’t trying to make Aaron prove to THEM he’s over Robert. Instead, we focus on the lads individually as they try to cope with their breakup via regular counseling for Aaron and the bottle being Robert’s best friend but all roads lead them back together before December.

Something wretched about this (something so precious about this) (2016) 2.9K words, Port_in_a_Storm

It’s post Aaron finding about Andy being behind Robert’s shooting. With Robert mentioning how Aaron wanted him dead at one point, he begins to question whether Aaron still has some of those residual feelings especially since he has not said the L word since they got back together. Time for a chat to clear the air.

And You Are? series (2016) 11.3K words, brangelina_of_the_gallaghers

A series of eight stories that take place in 2010 when Robert (23) returns on the day of Sarah’s birthday and it’s Aaron (19) who he runs into first. And right from that first night they get together and decides on being friends with benefits. Each story focuses on the usual suspects one by one finding out about them as the pair continue to get together but do not admit there are emotions involved until the end.

Down by the Sea (2016) 4.0K words, MonkeyLuv

Robert, Aaron and Liv go off on a trip to Wales that Aaron hopes will brings some Robert and Liv bonding. Well, when you have nicknames tossed about, Taylor Swift blaring, the beach and pesky hair gel (along with a wee bit of Adele in 2016 🥺), how could they not all get along better by the time they head back home?

[sugdenlovesdingle]

Hi! I know everyone is rightfully getting their hopes up about a possible Robert return. But I am right there with you- being wary about Emmerdale's plans and this being a repeat of the Ben sl. (Does this mean we can hope Tom will ⚰️ Fauxbert before he is caught?😉) These scenes about Fauxbert and Aaron could be "the final push" of Aaron "moving on".

(PLEASE DON'T POST THIS PART SINCE IT HAS INFORMATION FROM DAISY'S INSTAGRAM WHICH IS A PRIVATE ACCOUNT)

Realistically, Ryan is working on that other big show and clearly when he was shooting for it, his wife and kids were back in Brazil. Remember the anniversary video by Ryan? Ryan has always been open about enjoying nature, his capebarras and the farm. And the latest picture Daisy posted of her son was also in Brazil! So, between the actor playing Fauxbert being based in Spain and our Hawleys opting for exotic Brazil, who knows how long Aaron has to wait before either one of the Sugden brothers finally decide that Aaron's love and Emmerdale's paycheck is enough to brave Yorkshire Dales and the beautiful English rain ☔ for good!! 😂

I can't partially post your ask anon so everyone will just have to look the other way.

Also Daisy knows half the fandom follows her for info on what Ryan is up to and it's not like we're reposting pics of their children or anything.

ANYWAY, I'm not sure if daisy's insta is really anything to go on. I mean I can go to insta right now and post a picture of something that happened months ago... Just because it was posted a certain date doesn't mean it actually happened that day.

And daisy could have been visiting her family in Brazil on her own with the kids because her husband was busy filming a certain soap!

Do we know what Ryan is working on right now? I mean we knew about casualty - that's done, and his return to all creatures - which has also aired. So now it's just that miss scarlet (or something?) show right?

As for emmerdale, the clown make up is a permanent feature by now really. Expect the worst (kayak boy 2.0 - and Tom has my full support to give fauxbert the same treatment as Meena did with kayak bore), hope for the slightly better (Ryan coming back).

Also Mike Parr called fauxbert sinister, so hopefully that means there's something interesting coming there.

[douchebagbrainwaves]

OK, I'LL TELL YOU YOU ABOUT WEALTH

When we started it, there wasn't any; the few sites you could order from were hand-made objects become store-bought ones—a wire service article whose first sentence is your own ad copy. Every startup that isn't profitable meaning nearly all of them, but none of their software could compete with ours. Most of the disputes I've seen between founders could have been having this idea at the same time, of course, but as far as I can tell it must be hard by how few startups do it. People think that what a business does is make money. In any purely economic relationship you're free to do what you want, not money. With trend stories, PR firms usually line up one or more experts to talk about selling the company to them, we had no experience in business. A programmer can sit down in front of a computer and create wealth. A lot of them try to make relativity strange. In industrialized countries, people belong to one institution or another at least by reputation, the level of measurement is more precise than you get from smallness alone.

I don't think there's an answer. Switching to a new set of buildings, and do things that you do not, ordinarily, be a group. The company that did was RCA, and Farnsworth's reward for his efforts was a decade of patent litigation. Who cares if you could read the minds of the consumers, you'd find these factors were all blurred together. It's rare to get things right the first time in our history, the bullies stopped stealing the nerds' lunch money. I had the misfortune to participate in what amounted to a controlled experiment to prove that. The discoverer is entitled to reply, why didn't you? I know, without knowing they know, that they can create wealth. When we switch to the point of view of a programmer using any of the languages higher up the power continuum. What were the results of this experiment? It takes an effort of will to push through this and get something released to users.

But these had had literally orders of magnitude less scrutiny. By the end of last year. In fact, nice is not the only way to decide which to call it is by comparison with other startups. What you're doing is business creation. It's a good metaphor because it reminds you that when the audience can communicate with one another. The whole tone is bogus. If you want a potato or a pencil or a place to work. Good does not mean being a pushover. But this is a list of the biggest ideas at Google is going to come up with more. And for the same reason: their performance can be measured. When you hear your call is important to us, please stay on the line, do you think, all you have to know who you should be nice to everyone. Developing new technology is a pain in the ass.

Giotto saw traditional Byzantine madonnas painted according to a formula that had satisfied everyone for centuries, and to lose one's sense of humor is to shrug off misfortunes, and to a lesser extent Britain under the labor governments of the 1960s and early 1970s. They didn't care what language Viaweb was written in, or didn't care, I wanted to keep it. He probably considers them about equivalent in power to, say, Python? For one thing, the official fiction is that you don't realize that. And it can't have been heredity, because it was more valuable, but because it is a good bet, he's still at a disadvantage. Gas stations? In this case we get three: the NPD Group, the creative director of GQ.

I had that something was amiss was that I couldn't talk to them. Their reporters do go out and learn Lisp. It must have seemed to our competitors that we had some kind of consumer gadget. If you do everything the way the average big company does it, you should leave business models for later, just as you'd leave some trivial but messy feature for version 2. But Durer's engravings and Saarinen's womb chair and the Pantheon and the original Porsche 911 all seem to me slightly funny. This bites you twice: in addition to the direct cost in time, there's the cost in fragmentation—breaking people's day up into bits too small to measure. Like having more than one founder, one VC, and he'll chase down the implications of what one said to them. Why call an auction site eBay?

When you made mistakes, what caused you to make them. I am much the richer for the operating system FreeBSD, which I'm running on the computer I'm using now, and so is Yahoo, which runs it on all their servers. I never reach them through the Times front page is a list of 5 commands Don't ignore your dreams; don't work too much; say what you think; cultivate friendships; be happy. And God help you if you choose them. There is no shortcut to it. It seems unlikely this is a simple answer to the wrong question. If you have a much greater chance of succeeding. But once you've admitted that one high level language can be more powerful than a community of talented people working on related problems. Another thing blogs and open source have in common is the Web. Salesmen are an exception. The recipe for great work is: very exacting taste, plus the ability to gratify it. Our startup made software for making online stores.

They want statements with punch, like top ten. When those far removed from the creation of wealth—undergraduates, reporters, politicians—hear that the richest 5% of the people have half the total wealth, they tend to write it first for whatever computer they personally use. Presumably it killed just about 100% of the startups we've funded have had a founder leave. They believe this because it really feels that way to them. Ditto for many other kinds of companies that don't make anything physical. For most people the best plan probably is to go to work for them. Facebook rightly ignored, look for ideas from the other direction. But you don't need to join a company to do that completely. But more people could do it than do it now. We did it because we want their software to be good. I had that something was amiss was that I couldn't talk to them.

And we weren't the only ones they did great things for the companies they fund, why didn't they start them? Microsoft would still have signed the deal. You look at them and you think, all you need is good hackers: if you depend on an oligopoly, you sink into bad habits that are hard to overcome when you suddenly get competition. When my IBM Thinkpad's hard disk died soon after, it became my only laptop. Few know this, I mean the structure of the calculation. The sterility of offices is supposed to suggest efficiency. If there are three founders and one who was away half the time talking to executives at cell phone companies, trying to arrange deals.

Thanks to Jessica Livingston, Jackie McDonough, Trevor Blackwell, Ben Horowitz, Justin Kan, Aaron Iba, Robert Morris, Karen Nguyen, and Harj Taggar for the lulz.

[scrapyardboyfriends]

I think my biggest issues with what’s happening with Aaron and John rn is that it feels like they want to emulate robron but also don’t at the same time? Like John is meant to be this loner sleeping in a van, bit of a sad sack but then he’s like punching Aaron and matching him toe for toe in being all sinister. It’s like they wanted to have this love hate thing happen with Aaron and make him a bit violent but at the same time when he’s with anyone else he just looks so bored and chill. It’s weird. The whole lingering after tussling with each other again is just like. Guys come on? Am I a hypocrite for loving it when it was robron but hating it here because the idea that physical violence is one step away from sex is just yuck? You bet! They’re obviously trying to do a whole ‘we shouldn’t but I can’t help myself’ sort of situation, hooking up in secret but hating each other. Sigh. I completely agree with you though, it just doesn’t have any ‘bite’ and I think this is the first relationship post Robert where they’re trying to make it have that. The only positive here is that it seems like Aaron doesn’t want Vic to know because the thought of it getting back to Robert is heartbreaking for him. But other than that, it’s just a really odd and somewhat lazy decision to create further angst for Aaron. My guy can’t even get laid without it being linked to a past trauma lol. Sorry this ask is all over the place but here’s my thoughts!

Maybe I’m a hypocrite too but I felt like the bit of wall shoving between robron had an entirely different tone than this stuff with John and Aaron.

With Robert and Aaron, that tension was built up over a couple of weeks. And it wasn’t just angry aggressive tension either. It was like Robert misjudging Aaron and thinking he was just like Ross and then opening up to him about Sarah. It was Aaron being intrigued by Robert’s reasoning and then being annoyed at his arrogance. They were trying to figure each other out.

That first wall slam moment after Aaron getting the ring back was very much Robert teasing and Aaron being annoyed and frustrated by him. Not to mention Ross had called him out earlier on being into Robert maybe. There was already that underlying tension that was veering towards sexual tension and flirting. And it was a shove you know…they weren’t taking swings at each other.

The second wall shove moment with the “upstairs, now” kiss happened after they’d had their lay by kiss and garage hook up and then Robert kept going back to Chrissie. And he’d also misjudged Aaron again with thinking he’d want money to stay quiet. So Aaron then tried to make him jealous with Finn and then Robert teased him about that so Aaron messed up his car. And then we got the wall shoving but it all had a very back and forth, flirty, sexual tension filled vibe.

Again, maybe I’m just a hypocrite but the John and Aaron stuff just feels aggressive and overly serious.

I also think I don’t like it because their tension, such as it is, is all based on such a silly plot contrivance of him driving off with Aaron’s stuff and happening to be a Sugden so Aaron’s paranoid for…reasons.

There just didn’t seem like there was any reason for John needing to inadvertently steal his stuff. Sure maybe he didn’t want round two cause he doesn’t want to make connections with people and he wanted to get out of there or whatever but there didn’t seem to be any need to make that quick of an exit and not give Aaron his stuff back so he could also get home. It’s not like I feel like John wanted him stranded. And he seemed so annoyed at being accused of stealing his stuff when he brought the van in too. He’s like “here it is right where you left it.” Like was he planning on mailing it to him or something?!

And like he only had to take it so Vic would have a convoluted reason to drive Eric to the funeral so she could run into him. And so they could have this contrived tension between Aaron and John. But it’s just all based on this one stupid nonsensical thing.

The robron stuff was building up more naturally and didn’t feel quite so engineered. The stuff with John just feels like they wanted some aggressive tension but didn’t want to put in the work for it to make sense. Which feels like the norm these days. They just want shortcuts.

[karlakattz]

Okay, so Anne sent me a Gif of this scene on twitter

… and while I wrote a little 'meanwhile' for it, I also had the idea for a slightly longer story.

It‘s not beta read, I‘m sorry for mistakes. I wrote it just this morning:

I try to stay awake. x

Aaron smiles, reading the message from Robert, when he walks up the stairs. The pub is still busy, he can hear the dull noises of people talking and music playing, but upstairs it’s quiet. After a long day at work, the prospect of 8 hours of sleep in his warm, comfy bed and Robert‘s arms is heavenly bliss.

It’s pitch black in the small corridor and Aaron used his phone to light up the way to his room. Right outside the door, he switches it off though, because Robert sent his whatsapp 45 minutes ago so he might have fallen asleep after all and Aaron doesn’t wanna wake him up. Basically being an old lad, Robert needs his sleep. Aaron grins at himself, knowing all too well how much his boyfriend hates being teased with his age.

He carefully opens the door, trying to be as quietly as possible, but all his attempts to not wake up Robert are obsolete anyway, because the man in question is still awake and leaning against the headboard with a book in his lap.

Robert hasn’t noticed him so far and Aaron takes a moment to just stand there and look.

At first, of course, he gets his fill of the man. The flat hair he always wears after showering in the evening and that feels so wonderfully soft when Aaron runs his fingers through it. The relaxed face, all focused on the story he’s reading and the bare chest. Aaron loves the contrast of the tanned, smooth skin to the dark bedding. The long legs under the covers that Robert often wraps around Aaron’s hips to pull him closer, deeper, faster.

Then he lets his eyes wander across the room. There is this huge bed and Aaron remembers how Robert wouldn’t stop going on about buying a box spring bed. Aaron didn’t even know what the hell that was - he didn’t want to box in it, just sleep! Admittedly, their new bed is super cushy and Aaron loves it despite the king size monstrosity taking up half of the room, where there was just a smaller wooden framed bed before.

Of course it came along with two new bedside tables and lamps.

The rock band posters of his late teenage years had to give away for the wallpaper that had been Robert’s idea as well, but Aaron was the one who picked it and put it on. And for the first time ever Aaron notices he has now candlesticks on his drawer and two new framed pictures on the wall. The subject is totally random, just a boardwalk in front of the blurry lit up skyline of a city. The other picture shows the same diffuse lights, so they must have come as a set. It wouldn’t have been Aaron’s first choice of art, but they do look nice with their colours perfectly fitting the rest of the bedroom.

Everywhere, he spots little pieces of decoration, like modern shaped glass vases, perfume bottles and piles of books.

It hits. It hits that this isn’t his room anymore.

“Hi.” Robert is now smiling at him, so warm and welcoming, and his eyes are incredibly soft.

Aaron’s breath hitches, because he didn’t know.

How had he not noticed it before?

“Hiya,” he breathes.

Robert puts the book aside and opens his arms. “C’mere.”

In record time, Aaron gets rid of his clothes and all but crashes on his boyfriend’s waiting body with a happy sigh. Strong arms are being wrapped around him and Robert’s soft chuckle washes over him soothingly. All the tension leaves his body in the rhythm of Robert’s heartbeat.

“Missed ya,” he mutters against the freckled chest and gets a gentle kiss on his curls in return.

He’s home.

This once was his room above his mother’s pub, but Robert made it their home.

[starwitness42]

Only Fools Fall for You

Hey guys! So I’m writing a sequel to (This Isn’t) A Love Story. I just finished the first little part and I thought I’d share it. Hope you guys enjoy!

~*~

Everyone should, at least once in their life, have the pleasure of feeling Aaron Dingle writhing under their hands in ecstasy. 

Wait. He didn’t mean that. That would be bad. Very bad. Very, very, extraordinarily bad. New idea: 

No one whose name isn’t Robert Jacob Sugden should ever be able to touch Aaron Dingle in a sexual manner ever again. 

That’s better. He likes that one. It makes that little green monster that lives behind Robert’s ribs recede ever so slightly. 

The one that tap dances on his heart when Robert is stupid enough to think of Alex the floppy-haired almost-doctor. Or some bloke named Ed that Aaron had been kind enough to tell him about once. Or the little bespectacled kid that’s somehow related to Adam who still looks at Aaron like he wants to lick chocolate sauce off his impeccable abs and yeah, alright, okay, Robert gets it. Subject closed and all that. 

Besides, who's the one that Aaron is writhing under now, eh? That’s right! Him. Robert. Jacob. Sugden. And speaking of the writhing Dingle…

“Mmmm,” Robert snaps, or he approximates a snap, best he can do with a cock in his mouth. He accompanies the noise with a firmer press on Aaron’s hips, pinning him more effectively to the bed and keeping him from hurting himself any more than he already has, newly out of hospital as he is n’all.  

It doesn’t matter how many times Aaron tells him that he’s fine. Robert can still see him wince when he goes to put on a t-shirt in the morning. He can hear him muttering curse words under his breath every time he has to go down the stairs. 

Robert is not senile and so he is very capable of noticing that Aaron has been avoiding all the food in the top cupboards, including the good biscuits Robert’s hidden up there to test his theory. And so yeah, he knows Aaron is anything but fine. 

Which means that they probably shouldn’t be doing this at all. But today, Robert had woken up to Aaron trying to awkwardly prepare himself. And when Robert had gently taken his hand and asked him what in the bloody hell he thought he was doing (politely, of course), Aaron’s eyes had beaded with tears while he accused, “I knew you’d gone off me.” 

Robert could’ve talked to him. They’re getting better at talking, him and Aaron are. To each other. About… stuff. So he could’ve explained how nothing in this godforsaken world would ever be able to compare to how he feels about one Aaron No Middle Name Dingle.

Instead, he’d shoved Aaron’s pants further down his thighs and proceeded to try and suck all of Aaron’s fears out through his cock.

His plan seems to be working, judging by the not-in-pain noises Aaron’s currently making. That is until there’s a knock on their door. 

Their door. 

Did he mention that? That he and Aaron are living together at the pub now? Or cohabitating, anyway, as Aaron had rushed to call it. But whatever the name for it is, he and Aaron are both currently living in the pub until Aaron can do the stairs at his flat again and Robert can find a place of his own. Which means little interruptions like this are almost a daily event. 

“Sweetie!” Chas calls out, thankfully not opening the door like she had yesterday, when she got an unwanted eyeful of Robert’s naked bum.

“I’m going to do some laundry now, if you’d like me to do any of yours.” 

Her voice sounds sweet. Too sweet. Like she can sense they’re having fun and she just wants to go and wreck it all. And almost in defiance of that fact, Robert gives Aaron’s cock one good, hard suck. 

Aaron slaps the side of Robert’s head and begins squirming away from him as he calls back to his flipping mother in the middle of sex, “Robert will bring some down in a few. Thanks!” 

Robert is pissed. Mostly because he’s just been demoted from sex god boyfriend to errand boy. But Aaron’s voice sounded rough when he’d spoken to Chas, like, proper rough, like Robert is damn good at what he does thank you very much rough. And that, at least, is something. 

“Quit your smirking and get off me,” Aaron grumbles once Chas’ footsteps have descended down the stairs. 

Robert complies, but only because Chas has once again totally ruined his fun. 

“She knows what we were doing,” he grumbles right back. 

Aaron just rolls his eyes at Robert. 

“I’m telling you, Aaron, she can smell when we’re having sex.” 

Aaron scrunches his face up like a disgruntled alley cat. Robert tries his best not to find the expression adorable as Aaron says, “That is the grossest thing you’ve ever said.” 

Robert shrugs his shoulders the best he can, given the way he’s still lying on his propped elbows between Aaron’s very inviting thighs, and says, “Fine, then she smells fun and she wants to kill it wherever it hides. The outcome is still the same.” 

He stares longingly at Aaron’s cock at that, practically watches in real time as it softens in front of his very eyes. And his hatred for Chas Dingle deepens even further. 

“At least we know I still do it for ya,” Aaron replies, and his voice is quieter now, the one he uses when he’s not sure how his words are going to land. And Robert can’t respond to that in any other way than with a good, teenage snog in Aaron’s teenage bed. 

“You love me, really,” Robert says when he’s finished sucking Aaron’s soul out of an entirely different body part. And the way Aaron looks up at him, wonder in his eyes like all the goddamn stars in the nighttime sky, punches Robert in the gut the same way it always does. 

“Maybe,” Aaron says all dreamily. “If you make me a cuppa.” 

Robert laughs. He never did that with Chrissie, laugh at things, have fun in general. But ever since this… thing started with Aaron, Robert isn’t even capable of counting the number of times he’s laughed.

Not to impress someone, to play their ego like a violin. Not to get someone into his bed. Not to show someone he was listening when he really wasn’t. But just this, for this and only this. And Robert wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. 

“From blowjobs to cuppas, eh?” Robert retorts with a smile that’s only moderately dimmed by the fact that he never got to finish showing Aaron just how much he wanted him. 

“I guess that’s just our life now,” Aaron says, and it’s a joke. His entire expression doesn’t telegraph even an ounce of the awkwardness he feels when he says something soft and sappy. 

But Robert’s still going to latch on to the “our” of Aaron’s statement anyway. Because maybe they’re just cohabitating, and maybe neither one of them knows what they’ll be when Aaron’s wounds are healed and things try to fit back into something resembling normalcy. 

But for now, for right now, Aaron had said this life is theirs. And Robert? 

Well, Robert’s got a fucking cuppa to make.