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megalony · 5 years ago

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Black heart- Part 4

Here is the latest part of my murderer! Ben Hardy series which has gained lovely feedback already, I hope you all like this part.

Taglist: @lunaticspoem @butlegendsneverdie @langdonzvoid @jennyggggrrr @rogmeddows @radiob-l-a-hblah @rogertaylorsbitontheside @chlobo6 @rogertaylors-lipgloss @sj-thefan @omgitsearly @luckytrashgooprebel @scarsout @deaky-with-a-c @killer-queen-ofrhye @bluutac @vousmemanqueez @jonesyaddiction @rogahs-drowse @milanosaurus @httpfandxms @saint-hardy @7-seas-of-fat-bottomed-girls

Summary: (Y/n) knows being with Ben isn’t the best idea but she loves him and they have a daughter together. But when Ben takes things too far, (Y/n) tries to take their daughter and leave… but Ben isn’t giving them up so easily.

Series masterlist

Enjoy.

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A subtle trembling began to course through his body as he tried to push his tall, skinny frame into the small sharp corner at the end of the short hallway. The secluded corner just in front of the cupboard wasn't much good for his frame but it was enough to hide him away from the door on his other side so he wasn't going to be spotted.

Why was he doing this?

If he got caught with his ear near the door trying to pry in on the conversation that was taking place he would get more than his fair share of punches or punishments for listening in on the bosses private talks. But Gwilym had to know what was happening. He needed to know if Callum was going to break and start talking or if he was good enough to hold his nerve and take whatever punishment Ben was going to give him.

It had been two weeks since Ben had started punishing everyone and one person got hurt every day without fail. No one could give him any substantial evidence that would calm him down and stop the punishments for a day or more. Joe now had a broken nose and three broken ribs but he had said nothing because he was never going to betray (Y/n) like that. Gwilym wondered sometimes if Joe's loyalty and protectiveness over (Y/n) was because he actually loved her, but it didn't really matter. Joe was making sure (Y/n) and Rory were okay and right now no one had love on their minds, survival was the thing on all of their minds.

But Gwilym knew that Callum was weak. He quaked in his boots the moment any kind of talk of punishments was brought up. The thought of being punched made him pale and the one time Callum had been punished he almost tried to leave the business because of it.

Callum was one of the few guys who had noticed Gwilym and Joe talking quietly in corners or leaving without being told to or without saying where they were going. He also knew that both of them were close to (Y/n) and therefore he didn't believe she would have gone without telling them or without them helping her to leave. Now that it was his turn to be punished or to give up any information he might have, Gwilym simple knew that Callum was going to say something or he was going to make something up in order to try and preserve himself and save his skin.

Tipping his head back against the corner he was trying to squish himself into, Gwilym snapped his eyes closed as he held his breath to try and calm down his raging breathing. He could feel his heart pounding against his ribs and pulsing in every blood vessel in his body and he hated it. He hated feeling his heartbeat in his mouth and the blood rushing in his ears making him feel dizzy and unbalanced.

He had to listen in because he needed the upper hand here. If Callum squealed and told on him and Joe, Gwilym would need to find Joe and they would have to work out a plan quickly before Ben found them and tried to break them. If he found out two of his most favoured workers had gone behind his back and had hidden his girlfriend and daughter from him then Ben would go ballistic.

"I- I don't know anything I swear." Callum's trembling, slightly high pitched voice quietly found its way to Gwilym's ears and sun louder over the sound of his heartbeat.

Gwilym was close enough that he could even hear Ben tutting in either disappointment or disproval as he clearly thought Callum must know something. Callum was going to break, it was very evident that he was too weak to even take a punch, he wasn't going to last and Gwilym and Joe were going to be in trouble.

"Maybe this will make you rethink your answer." Ben's deep, velvety voice sent shivers running along the base of Gwilym's neck and spine. It was a tone that sounded so condescending, so cruel yet so sweet like all his badness was coated in heaps of sugar to make it bearable.

When a resounding crack resounded through the walls and shook through Gwilym's body, he pressed a hand to his mouth to smother any gasp or cry or trembling breath that could be heard and give away his position. He wanted to be hidden here, he didn't want to be found out but waiting and listening like this, being a witness to this was not something he liked. It made him wonder why he ever got into this business in the first place. You had to be hard to work for Ben, you had to be unforgiving and cold and able to fire a gun and take a life if you needed to.

Right now, Gwilym didn't feel unforgiving or cold or able to kill, he felt fear, regret and a great worry for his safety and his life.

As soon as another sound resembling a broken bone flooded through the corridor, Callum's unforgiving scream followed through with a sob that was cracked and broken through a hiccup. Gwilym could feel those broken bones like they were his own but he hadn't been given a punishment yet, but if Callum ratted on him, he would get more than he bargained for.

"Lee a-and M...Mazello."

Gwilym's chest shook violently as he had to swallow harshly and hold his breath again to stop himself from screaming in agony. Why would Callum do that? They worked together, they shouldn't rat each other out like that even if Ben was the boss. They should protect one another because Gwilym and Joe hadn't done this to spite Ben they did it to help (Y/n) and everyone knew and liked her. They knew she didn't deserve to be hurt the way she did but Callum was saving his own skin without thinking of her or anyone else.

"What about them?" There was a sceptical tone in Ben's voice as Gwilym could just picture the boss turning his head to the side with narrowed, piercing green eyes. He could see Ben shaking his head with a shark tooth grin, getting his fist ready for another punch.

"They k-know where she is. Take h... ugh... take her supplies, it's where they go w-when they clock off."

He'd done it. He had successfully condemned Joe and Gwilym to save himself but Callum didn't know Ben. He didn't know that despite getting the information he wanted from the beginning, Ben wasn't simply going to let Callum walk away from this now. He was going to beat the living daylights out of him for withholding this information for so long and Callum would be lucky to walk out of that room when Ben was finished.

"How do you know that?" Ben couldn't simply take his word for it, he had to have some sort of evidence or a good hunch as to how he knew this. If he was just speculating random bullshit Ben couldn't take it seriously and someone else was going to have to get hurt.

"They t-turn off GPS when they g-go... Lee didn't even c... check (Y/n)'s accounts like y-you asked."

"Just what I needed to hear. Too bad you waited too long to tell me."

Gwilym found himself sliding down the walls forming the corner he was leaning against until he was sat on the floor with his knees puncturing into his bubbling stomach. His eyes snapped closed as he kept both hands pressed to his mouth at the shrill cries that Callum was releasing as he got the rest of his punishment that Ben clearly thought he deserved. If he was doing this to Callum, what on Earth was he going to do to Gwilym and Joe?

His body came over in a cold sweat but he felt like his skin was burning to the touch. He could see the blood draining from his skin which was turning ghostly pale as he felt like he was going to be sick. He snapped his mouth shut when he felt his throat tensing like he was going to gag or throw up.

He and Joe were in deep trouble now, they were on Ben's hit list because now Ben was going to look into this and realise that Gwilym didn't in fact check (Y/n)'s bank accounts or her bank statements like he had asked because he already knew what was happening. Gwilym had helped to shift her money to offshore accounts and then back through to new ones in London so the trace was almost unfindable in order for (Y/n) to have her money that Ben wouldn't be able to find and it had been so easy to do.

That was a big hint that Gwilym had helped (Y/n) escape or in the very least, he had helped her after realising she had escaped and it meant he had some kind of contact with her.

Gwilym didn't want to die but Ben was going to bury him for this when all they had done was help someone who had been abused who also had a baby to protect. They had helped her, Ben shouldn't hurt them when he knew they had kept (Y/n) safe so far even if they had kept her hidden from him.

He didn't know how long he had sat on the floor contemplating his life and what he could do, but Gwilym knew he had to move the moment he heard Ben mumbling something to Callum that was unhearable. Gwilym didn't have the nerve or the energy to try and bolt it down the corridor without being heard or seen.

Shuffling himself onto his hands and knees, he resorted to quickly but quietly open the door to the storage cupboard that could barely fit a mouse, let alone a person. He crawled into the cramped space and pulled the door ajar so he had the ability to breathe without feeling like he was going to suffocate. He made his body as small as possible, pressing his hands over his mouth just as he heard the office door opening.

What was he going to do now?

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"Get in the car." Gwilym's voice was no more than a huffed whisper that floated away on the wind but his tone was clear despite the lack of volume. His hand latched around Joe's upper bicep like a viper, his fingers were teeth that punctured into the other man's skin to stop him from trying to veer away from him or struggle and make a scene out of this. As quick as anything, he spun Joe around so he was no longer heading towards the building and was now walking back in the direction he had just come from.

Gwilym's head ticked from side to side to make sure no one was watching or about as he dragged Joe along with him, trying to stop it from looking like Joe was being forced somewhere. They walked briskly along the carpark to get to his car but Joe's head was turned to face his coworker, his eyes wide and mouth agape as he didn't know what was happening.

Joe's arm was slightly pushed upwards and his body was slouching forward from tripping over his own feet. He had literally just arrived at the club to start his shift, why the Hell was Gwilym trying to drag him somewhere else?

A gasp escaped his lips when he was thrown into the passenger side of the car, his arms encasing to his chest when the door slammed shut to prevent him from getting out again. Gwilym rounded the car and got in the driver's side and started the car within a second of sitting himself down.

Joe suddenly felt like he was being kidnapped.

But his confusion became worse when he watched as Gwilym drive them out of the staff carpark, but he parked up around the next corner. He hadn't even driven around the block, he had turned a corner and parked on the opposite side of the road.

"What the fuck?" Joe turned in his seat to face Gwilym when he turned the engine off and pressed his head back into the headrest, trying to calm himself down but it wasn't working very well.

"You go into the club now and Ben will pounce on you. Callum squealed, he's onto us."

Gwilym couldn't talk to Joe at the club because there were people always hanging around and there were cameras. They were at risk of looking suspicious if they were caught on tape huddling together talking in hushed voices in quiet corners. Where he had parked up now there were no security cameras on the other buildings and they were in a car, they were safe to talk without being seen or heard and they needed to come up with a plan.

"Shit." Was all that Joe could find himself saying.

"Yeah, shit. Joe we have to do something now, if Ben finds us he won't stop until we break or we die, we have to move (Y/n) now or cover our tracks and leave her in the lurch which I know you won't do."

There was no choice anymore, if they wanted (Y/n) to be safe they had to get her and Rory somewhere out of London so they would be safe and they had to lay low for a while and stop all contact with her until it was safe. Or they left her where she was and broke all connections and made sure they were safe and protected themselves. But neither of them could just abandon (Y/n) and Rory like that because it wasn't fair.

"We can't move them now, she isn't well enough, Ben still had high security everywhere, if they go out they will be seen and caught. We'll just have to say Callum lied-"

"You know Ben won't take that as an answer, we have to do something now."

"Alright, fine." Joe huffed, tipping his head back as he ran his calloused fingers through his hair. "We... we'll get them both out of here tomorrow morning. We'll arrange everything tonight and go tell her and she'll be gone by morning." They had done this to (Y/n), they had put her and Rory in that apartment and promised to look after them and keep them safe. They couldn't try and save their own skins now and even though (Y/n) wasn't fully recovered or well enough, they had to help her and that meant getting her out of here.

They would have to do it quickly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This wasn't a good idea.

He could already sense the regret and the guilt swelling up in his chest like a balloon being filled with helium and expanding his ribcage to the extent that his ribs were going to break or pop out of his chest. It was suffocating his lungs and deflating them making it harder for him to gain a proper breath.

He could hear Joe talking to (Y/n) in the other room, trying to console her and tell her that everything was going to be alright when all of them knew that it was highly unlikely that things were going to turn out in their favour.

But Joe wouldn't agree with what Gwilym was going to do if he told him. He himself knew that this wasn't the best idea but it was something that could help everyone, even if it would break (Y/n)'s heart into pieces. But he knew she couldn't get away now if they went through with the plan Joe had come up with. What Gwilym was going to do would help them with the plan and (Y/n) and it would make things a little bit easier. It would keep Ben off their backs for a little bit longer and make him less of a revengeful machine that was stuck on trying to hurt everyone.

Gwilym took a very deep breath that didn't seem to fill his lungs up very much as he clenched his hands into fists at his sides. This might not be what everyone wanted and it might not be the best thing in the world or even the right choice to make. But Gwilym knew it was the only thing that he could do to ensure (Y/n)'s safety.

Even if it meant breaking her heart.

#ben hardy #ben x reader #ben hardy imagine #dad! ben #imagine #borhap #murderer! ben #joe mazzello #gwilym lee #black heart

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basketcase1880 · 5 years ago

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Shipping Spring 2020

Yet again, I’ve been a bit lax in answering these tags, but honestly I do have an excuse: I’m a nurse. So thanks @gatergirl for the tag.

SIX SHIPS YOU’RE INTO RIGHT NOW 1. Ballum (Eastenders) 2. Spuffy (Buffy) 3. Sterek (Teen Wolf) 4. Literati (Gilmore Girls) 5. Sherlolly (Sherlock) 6. Jackie/Robbie (Taggart)

THREE SHIPS YOU LIKED, BUT DON’T ANYMORE 7. Rory/Dean (Gilmore Girls) 8. Nick/Greg (CSI) 9. Spirk (Star Trek)

THREE SHIPS YOU NEVER LIKED 10. Rory/Logan (Gilmore Girls) 11. Wincest (Supernatural) 12. Eggsy/Tilde (Kingsman)

TWO SHIPS YOU’RE CURIOUS ABOUT, BUT DON’T ACTUALLY SHIP 13. Drarry (Harry Potter) 14. Hartwin (Kingsman)

QUESTIONS

1. Why do you dislike 11 so much? They’re brothers, they shouldn’t be shipped.

2. Who is someone you know that ships 14? @gatergirl

3. What would be your ideal scenario for couple 3? Just for them to be canon. Jeff baited us with Stiles’ sexuality from the start, especially when it came to Derek, so we deserve Sterek.

4. Which is your favourite moment for 1? Callum signing ‘I love you’ in response to Ben’s “I love you”

5. How long have you been following 5? For this one I know the exact date: January 1st 2014 when we had the kiss during Anderson’s theory of how Sherlock faked his death.

6. What’s the story with 8? What made you stop liking them/caring? The series ended, they were never canon, and so the fandom kinda died.

7. You have the power to make one ship non-existent, choose from 10 or 12. Goodbye Rory/Logan. He was never the right fit for Rory. And that way we wouldn’t have to worry about his (possibly) being the baby daddy from the series finale cliffhanger.

8. Which ship do you prefer; 2 or 4? I’d have to go with 2. Spuffy was my original ship. I first discovered fanficiton around 2008 when I was searching the internet for pictures of them, and they were my first foray into writing.

9. What interests you about 14? I like Colin Firth. I like Taron Egerton. I like their individual portrayals of gay men, so, maybe I’ll like them together...

10. Why did you stop liking 7? Rory is better off with Jess, but other than that, Dean cheated on his wife with Rory and took Rory’s virginity at the same time. That ship just didn’t work out at all.

11. Did your waning interest in 9 kill your interest in the fandom? I’d say so. I have all three of the new films, but I’ve still to watch Star Trek: Beyond. However, there is also the fact that I don’t want to admit the fact that Anton Yelchin won’t be in any more films after Beyond, so, my waning interest cannot be completely at fault.

12. What’s a song that reminds you of 5? Let Her Go by Passenger. Sherlock only really came to realise his feelings for Molly after he found out she was engaged to Tom and then when he thought Eurus was going to blow Molly up did he realise he loved her.

13. If you could have any of these couples double date, who would it be? Maybe Spuffy and Sterek. That way they can trade notes on their own supernatural goings on and how California seems to have it all: the Hellmouth and the Nemeton.

14. Have 2 kissed yet? Oh, yeah, they certainly brought the house down once...

15. Did 4 have a happy ending? If the show hasn’t ended yet, do you think a happy ending is likely? Nope, but they deserve their happy ending. The series ended with the iconic line “Mom, I’m pregnant...” but we were given a number of possible baby daddies [see Q. 7] If Rory and Jess were to get their happy ending, Jess would be the only possible dad.

16. What would make you start shipping 13? I’m almost there. I just need to make the final jump into the fanfiction because they weren’t canon in the books/films. I’ve seen some really good fanart and incorrect quotes.

17. If only one could happen, what would you prefer, 1 or 2? Ballum, after the upbringing these boys had, they deserve the love and happiness being with each other brings.

18. You have the power to decide the fate of 10. What happens to them? Logan would be married off to some socialite trophy wife that his dad approves of, and Rory would be with Jess [see Q 15].

19. Which of these ships do you love the most? They all have their own appeals, but at the moment, Ballum is the most active, so probably Ballum

Tag: @fandoms-are-my-air you’re up next (and anyone else who wants to do this)

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whump-it · 5 years ago

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@pepperonyscience he's definitely talking to Alyaa here isn't he! Oh yeah, can't pass up the tape one!

#rory linden #rory crying #oc rory #rory is worried about his callum #oc alyaa

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haurchefantblog · 5 years ago

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Some Mor Backstory

Name: Mor Coronach

Meaning of name: Mor=great one, Coronach=a funeral song

Origin of name: Mor’s mother had a faint beat of the echo, and saw the possible path that Mor could follow and decided to name her appropriately. Their last name comes from her father, a long line of Ala Mhigan fighters, several of whom were originally members of the Fists of Rhalgr. Essentially legend told that if you were planning to go against this family, you had better prepare your funeral song in advance.

Age: 27

Gender/pronoun preference: woman/she/her

Orientation: Pansexual

Species: Hyur

Nationality: Ala Mhigan/Ishgardian DUAL CITIZENSHIP BAYBEE

Ethnicity: Highlander ???

Birth date: 32nd Sun of the 5th Umbral Moon, 1550 Sixth Astral Era

Birth place: The Peaks, Ala Mhigo

Current residence: Nomadic, but has a home in Mist, close to her family’s farm in Lower La Noscea. Also has a standing apartment shared with her sister in Ishgard, which she considers a second home after the events of Heavensward take place. She tends to spend more time in the latter.

Describe their dwelling/house: Her spaces are designed with rustic decor and lots of plants and lights and glowing crystals.

Occupation: Main job is Monk. But also Dark Knight and Dancer

Title/Rank: Warrior of Light, Of the Silver Fuller,

Immortal Flames, Second Flame Lieutenant

Hobbies/Pastimes:

Mor loves dancing, mostly because dances tended to go with community gatherings in celebration and always had happy memories, and it grew into a great fondness of dancing for her in general. She swims as a second nature since living in Lower La Noscea. She also enjoys cooking, and storytelling. She has a good sense of humor but not a lot of people tend to joke with her because of who she is/how she looks (very large and serious). She’s not much of a reader/writer but she loves listening to stories/legends and passing on stories to others. In general she seems to enjoy activities that can be shared.

Motivations: Originally, Mor’s motivation to be an adventurer was to learn more about being a monk, connect with that part of her family’s history, while making money to send to her family in La Noscea. The echo had been with Mor since early childhood, and kind of guided her on the path to Ul’dah, and ultimately the path of the Warrior of Light. As time progresses, while she does still work to keep her family (and Eorzea) safe from primals and the empire, she also essentially begins to feel obligated to fill the role she’s had thrust upon her. Ultimately, in her heart, she just wants to do what is good and what is right to the best of her ability.

Cautious (1)-Reckless(10): 7

Selfless(1)-Self-serving(10): 2

Generous(1)-Greedy(10): 2

Driven by Emotion (1)-Logic(10): 5

Friendly(1)-Unfriendly(10): 1

Trusting(1)-Suspicious(10): 4

Naive(1)-Wise(10): 3

Faith(1)-Reason(10): 6

Moral Alignment (thus far): Neutral Good

Family: Mor comes from a large family of Hyur and Roegadyn. Her mother is pure Highlander Hyur (Ala Mhigan), and her father is Ala Mhigan as well but is half Hyur (mother), half Roegadyn (father). He was the middle son of 5 brothers, all of whom live in La Noscea due to connections with the Sea Wolf clan in the area through their father. Before traveling to Ul’dah, Mor lived with the youngest of her uncles and his Sea Wolf wife in their large farm in Lower La Noscea.

Birth order/Siblings: Mor eldest, 27, (half from different father) Aodh, 19 and (half from different father) Rory, 12

Mother: Rowena (would be 47 years, but is deceased)

Father: Dagr (would be 52 years, but is deceased)

Hometown: Small settlement in the Peaks at Ala Mhigo

Childhood:

Mor was only a 2 year old when the Civil War erupted in Ala Mhigo. Her parents were immediately embroiled in the resistance to push back against the King of Ruin and his forces. Her father died shortly after the beginning of the civil war, and her mother pulled back activities to less aggressive forms of resistance to keep her daughter safe. When Mor was seven, the Garlean Empire invaded Ala Mhigo and her Mother made a move closer to the Gridanian border to make for a quick escape if necessary. While during the day, she worked as a seamstress, she continued lending her support to the Resistance at night, despite her pregnancy soon after the Garlean occupation. Eventually she had another child. Mor was actually very well known to the Resistance for bringing them messages and she was beloved by friends of her father and protected by them. She was known as a Daughter of the Resistance.

Past failures they would be embarrassed to have people know about and why:

She doesn’t really get embarrassed over her failures, because she tends to learn from them. To be honest most of the failures she sees are with the Scions, with the Crystal Braves, being unable to save anyone. She’s not embarrassed, just heartbroken.

Biggest role model: Her uncle Callum. When he found out she was left alone with her two younger siblings in Ala Mhigo, he immediately began arranging to have their family moved to a safer location, with some of their Roegadyn relatives in La Noscea. He and his wife were nothing but open with Mor and her siblings, despite the fact that her siblings weren’t their blood. Though Mor was already grown, he raised the three of them as his own children and gave them a fresh start at a peaceful life. She learned her spirit of generosity and the majority of her sense of humor from him.

Adult life:

Mor spent her entire adult life looking after her siblings, worrying about them, trying to do her best to be a positive influence in their lives. She spent most of this time on a farm with her family, learning to read and write at a much later age than her siblings, and never truly getting the hang of it with all the confusing Eorzean letters. She was mostly happy and tried to pass on kindness to others. Her entire life, however, she felt the Echo stirring deep within her. Don’t do that, it would urge, somewhere deep in her chest, or Look over there, it told her, brushing her ear to turn her head. She mostly ignored it, her family was her priority. But when Aodh was old enough to watch after Rory, and Rory was old enough not to really need two older nagging sisters on top of their aunt and uncle, Mor finally decided to heed the sensation of the Echo, and follow in the footsteps she had been meant to walk in since she could remember. She was going to become a Monk.

#mor coronach #warrior of light

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nodustollcns-blog · 7 years ago

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Continued from (x)

➳What was there to say? Never did Callum ever expect to be able to love someone so truly, so unselfishly. Never did Callum expect to love someone so much that he would literally rather die than see them suffer. Never did Callum expect to be able to love someone in the way they deserved after the way he grew up. He had been a damaged kid; a childhood filled with neglect and bruises and pity over love. His mother looked at him with guilt and resentment; he looked so much like his father who had abandoned them. How was Callum to know what love was? How was he even to know how to love at all? And, yet, here he was. Here he was, standing in a house he had only spent a few hours in over a year ago, with Robo and all their friends’ right beside him. He stood in this house once, after only meeting Fiona a few hours prior, and helped her make a shelter here. She had only just arrived with Robo. He’ll never forget being greeted by Robo in that hotel hallway, all the while Fiona finding them, almost terrified to even look, just in case Callum hurt him. If someone had told Callum that he was about to propose to that same girl from the hallway a year and a half later, he would have never believed them. He was never meant to love, he had always said, and here he was. He was surrounded by friends and f a m i l y, all of whom Callum had come to respect and love. Callum didn’t have a proper family growing up, not until his later years, but these group of people had become his sanctuary. They didn’t need to be blood and they didn’t need to have known each other their whole lives; these were selfless people that found respect in each other to call each other f r i e n d s. It was bigger and better than anything Callum could have ever imagined. The only thing missing was Finn; if he could see Callum now, he would have surely been a blubbering mess in the corner of the room. Olivia probably would have rolled her eyes, Rory probably would have been trying to hide an amused smirk ( or she would have been crying alongside him ) and Marissa would have probably offered him a napkin to wipe away the tears. It would have made this all the more perfect but, truthfully, Callum knew he was there. Callum was mentally placing Finn beside him and that was truthfully all he needed. Rory, Marissa, Alexi, and Olivia had already done so much for Callum and Fiona and it only seemed fitting to get their help in setting it all up. Never did he expect them to do so much but, again, this had become a family in its own, odd, apocalyptic way.

Excerpt by @cosancstra & @marissa-cartwright

➳Much of the place’s appearance was good enough for the time being, Marissa and Rory busy with fixing most of it to fit their expectations. Hopefully, Callum’s as well. Rory groaned as she adjusted the vase again, “I don’t have a protractor to adjust this to a perfect ninety-degree angle, Marissa.” Marissa chuckled softly, “It’s okay! It’s gonna be fine.” She moved it slightly to the left. “Do you think that’s at a ninety-degree angle? It does, right?” She looked over at Rory nervously yet with reassurance. Rory shrugged and took a step back, raising a palm in the air. “I think so… either way, I don’t think Callum would be that mad if not everything is that perfect.” She raised her brows at Marissa playfully. Marissa nodded, following in step with Rory. “Yeah. It’s not like they’re gonna look at every little thing. It looks fine! Now, onto the next thing on the list!” She looked own at the folded piece of palate she had seeing that they still needed to place flowers around the room, among other things. Rory smiled with understanding as she stood on her toes to look at the palate: What’s the next thing? Please don’t tell me it’s hanging up any more stuff ‘cause my butt kinda hurts after falling from that chair earlier. Marissa laughed, shaking her head. “I don’t think there’s anything else we need to hang. We’ve got the lights, small flowers intertwined within the lights, and the small stars we found hanging from above. Now we can work with the other flowers we got! WE can make bouquets or flower crowns! What would Fiona like…?” Rory’s eyes widened at the mention of flower crowns, “Oh, we should’ve asked Delilah! Or Kat, they know a lot about flowers but I think she’ll like anything remotely pretty! Which, that also reminds me, I have friendship bracelets! I have one for Callum and Fiona, I’ll make another for the whole squad! You, me, Olivia and… and the other dude… I don’t know his name…? Do you know who he is? Marissa grinned. “That’s wonderful, Rory! I bet Fiona and Callum will love them.” She shrugged lightly. “I think his name is Alexi… I’m not sure. He seems rather kind, I’ve seen him occasionally with Fiona, but we’ve never talked.” Rory narrowed her eyes, “Hm… I guess. I’m kind of scared to talk to him. But you know, anyone Fiona’s friends with is good with me. Like you!” She smiled at Marissa then walked to find more items from the bag of stolen goods from numerous visited art stores. “You know, speaking of Fiona… I am SO stoked to see what her reaction would be? Do you thin she’ll cry?” Marissa smiled, her cheeks tinting a light pink. “Thanks, Rory. You’re too kind! I’m really happy to be doing this with you!” She shrugged, scrunching her eyebrows together in concentration. “I’m not sure. Fiona doesn’t seem like the type to cry, but then again I think she’s gonna be SOO happy that she might! I just know that Fiona’s gonna be really happy about all this! She deserves it, y’know. Her and Callum have been together for awhile and absolutely love each other! Rory nodded. “I think by the time Christmas rolls around, I would’ve known them for nearly a year… that’s… that’s really cool isn’t it? You’re right though! They’ve been through so much together and I’m so happy for them. What about you, Marissa? Who’s the Callum to your Fiona?” Marissa smiled, her cheeks darkening with embarrassment. “Well, uh, it’s Fiona and Callum’s day so wouldn’t it be weird to talk about another relationship on their special day?” She rambled awkwardly, nervously fiddling with the flower in her hand. Rory noticed as she held the vase with caution on her way back to the other. “I think it’s only the right time, you know? I bet you do.” She nudged her lightly. “Fiona and Callum are going to be the highlight of every non-existent new story for the rest of their life and we can only compete for that once in a while, you know? They’re like… the untouchable Disney queen and king. We can only be princesses and princes… Or in MY case? A peasant…” She laughed, though there was a tinge of sadness in them. “But that’s fine! WE get to decorate!” Marissa rolled her eyes slightly, a small laugh leaving her lips. “It’s a bit complicated, but that’s what all relationships in the apocalypse are.” She watched Rory, listening to the girl. “I can see that. But there’s nothing wrong with them being like a Disney Queen and King. You’re not a peasant, Rory! You’re a 100% a princess!” Rory understood, nodding almost too solemnly for such a happy occasion. “I know. But it’s not like we can’t be blamed for trying to bring some happiness in our lives, right? I wish I had that too but all I am is worried… even now. Like, it sounds bad… to already be thinking of what wrong could happen… but…” She shook her head, offered the vase for Marissa’s flowers. “Can I be like… the badass version of TInkerbell? She’s not really a Disney princess but still.” Marissa nodded ecstatically, accepting the case and placing several flowers into to. “You can be whatever you want, Rory. You actually remind me of Tinkerbell. You’re very compassionate and badass!” Rory giggled, carefully placing the vase of flowers at a nearby table. “Aw, really? Well, if anything, you remind ME of Belle! Okay, so, going back to your list - what else do we have to do? Do you know what time they’ll get here?” Marissa blushed, quickly looking down at her list and her watch. “Hmm, we don’t have a lot left, just a little touch ups and such. We’ve got about 15 minutes left before they should be here, so we’re doing really good on time!” Rory smiled affectionately, knowing now isn’t the time to be a teasing child. “Fifteen minutes? What can we do in that time? Ooh, hold on!” She grabbed her backpack and started looking through it. “You can help me with the bracelets!” Marissa walked up to Rory and peered into her bag, “Are you sure? I don’t want to mess them up or anything.” Rory scoffed softly, shaking her head. “The only way you can ruin it is by NOT participating. I’ll even teach you.” She brought out the materials and the bracelet she already finished for Marissa, motioning for her hand. “Come on, let me tie this one around yours. Fuck — I haven’t been excited like these in a while!” Marissa grinned, bringing her wrist towards Rory. “Thank you so much, Rory! It’s gorgeous! I haven’t been this hyped after the outbreak in a long time either. It’s weird in a way, y’know? Like we’ve all gotten used to dealing with walkers and raiders. This is a nice change.” Rory tied the bracelet around Marissa’s wrist carefully, “You’re so very welcome! I like to think that this is what keeps me from losing my mind and all - you know, like a little distresser Do you… do you think Fiona and Callum will like it? They’re similar but in different colours, if that helps?” Marissa nodded, her smile widening. “Of course they will love it! I bet they’ll never take it off!” Rory gasped as a sudden realization came to her, “Oh my god! Does Callum have a ring with him? Because if he doesn’t… what if they made these as their wedding bands? Wouldn’t that be cool?” She looked through her bag, looking up expectantly at Marissa. “What does your list say on candles? I may… or may not have stolen too much of them.” Marissa chuckled, looking down at her list. “Well, I don’t have candles on her but I think this place could defiantly use some. Maybe three? Like spaced out around the room?” Rory held the large candles in her hands to show Marissa, “Will these be okay? Do you think it’ll set the romantic vibe or whatever? But sure!” She walked around the room, placing the candles and standing back to observe them. “Is that good? Do I gotta turn it at a twenty degree angle or something?” She smiled. Marissa laughed, shaking her head. She placed the candle Rory gave her delicately on a shelf. “I don’t think so, Rory. I think it looks romantic as hell! It looks absolutely gorgeous in here. We’ve done an amazing job!” She raised her hand for a high five. Rory giggled, giving Marissa a way too overjoyed high five. “I’m literally about to burst with excitement, I could SCREAM. Do you think I could do that?… Or maybe not… what if it attracts more walkers?” Marissa chuckled, “Maybe not scream, but you can totally squeal quietly. We don’t want Fiona to hear if she’s on her way and we don’t want to attract walkers.” Rory ran to the windows all of a sudden, watching the outside world for a while. “I hope she brought Robo along — I miss that doggo… I wish I had one! Oh, wouldn’t that be sweet? But yeah, you’re right. You know, after she says yes — ‘cause deep in my heart, I know she will — we could totally like, snack on some saltine crackers that sneaked away from the capitol. A little celebration feast.” Marissa smiled lightly, nodding in agreement. “I know she’s gonna say yes, without a doubt! That’d be great, Rory. It sounds absolutely adorable!” If fifteen minutes hadn’t passed by and neither of them saw the figures outside the window, they would’ve spent the next few on reorganizing everything that they saw was adjusted just a little to the left or right. Blame it on their excitement, Marissa and Rory were two of the many who have looked forward to this event for the longest time.

Excerpt from @deadsculs

This was the hardest battle he ever fought. And he had fought some hard ones in his life. But not smiling at Callum, fighting the grin that wanted to break across his face as he watch the other man looking through the window of the house had to be the hardest. It was odd, to be holding back a smile when there was a trail of bodies leading up to the house that they had killed for the second time, the air thick with the rotten stench of corpses. Callum finally looked back at him and nodded that they could go in and clear it. Alexi lost the battle and permitted himself to smile at his fellow campmate before he spoke. “I am glad you are doing this finally.” Callum smiled back at him, clapping a hand on his shoulder. “You were? Seems like everyone was waiting for this.” A short laugh escaped the other man as they walked up onto the porch of the house. “Two that I could see inside.” Alexi didn’t reply, concentrating on picking the lock in the front door. They still wanted to keep the door securable, but they needed the house cleared before anything could happen. Once the door creaked open, they were rushing in the living room, picking their targets, working as the smooth team they had become since they had met in the Atlas. They had known each other for a long while. He, Fiona, and Callum had been a small unit that survived the death of one camp and the establishment of another. Alexi had watched the couple’s relationship grow and change, become one of the strongest bonds he had seen in Cheyenne. He had seen the worry radiating from Fiona when Callum was shot and when he was kidnapped. He could only imagine the worry from Callum when he was being held by those cannibals. If anything was shown in those hard times for the couple it was an unfailing devotion towards each other. Alexi had first suspected this would be the end goal after seeing Fiona sleepily stumble out of the projector room one morning, with the most content smile on her face only to be tugged back inside by Callum to soft laughter from the pair. That was the sort of affection he had seen in his parents, so it seemed fitting, that Callum and Fiona should get married. He thumped on the wall with the end of his machete, waiting for any lagging behind undead to pop out of their hiding holes, as he turned to Callum again. “I am just happy you are happy. Both of you.” “Thanks, this means a lot to me that you’re helping — watch out.” The warning was spoken low and soft, Callum was confident that he would handle the undead girl stumbling down the hall. A quick slice with his weapon and another body dropped to the floor. “You are welcome. Want to clear the rest?” Callum nodded and they pulled out flashlights, walking through the house and opening doors and closets to make sure there weren’t any hidden away. The task was accomplished in relative silence, quick and efficient. That was the way of things between him and Callum, they didn’t feel the need to talk constantly. Once the house was cleared, they set to the job of hauling out the bodies into the backyard. Once again, they stood in the living room, surveying the mess. “Marissa is cleaning this, correct? Along with Rory?” Callum nodded at his question, and they proceeded to the front door. There, Alexi caught sight of what he was hoping to see. Keys hanging on a front hall rack, which to his surprise, where nicely labelled. Plucking the one with front door on it’s head from the rack he gave it Callum. “Congratulations.”

xxxx--

As soon as Fiona entered, Callum could feel the nerves sprouting in his belly. It wasn’t that he thought she’d refuse his proposal but he couldn’t believe he even thought of this happening to begin with. Like he said – he had never thought life would allow him to love like this. This kind of love didn’t even seem possible; it was a love in movies or in Hollywood scripts that were far too planned and fake to be real. He understood it now; he understood what people called soul mates. He didn’t care whether it was real or not but why and how the world brought Callum and Fiona together was something Callum would vow to appreciate for the rest of his days. He extended his hands out to Fiona, hoping she’d meet him by the fireplace. “This isn’t the Atlas.” He started, “But this is where I got to spend time with you alone for the first time. Being here scared me because I knew from the moment I met you that you were..different. I knew I’d spend days thinking about you, even if I never saw you again. And then you showed up at the Atlas.” He smiled, glancing quickly at Alexi before returning his gaze to Fiona. “Everything happened so fast, Fiona. I knew inviting you to stay in my room was a bit ballsy..” He chuckled lightly, his gaze falling to the floor sheepishly. “But I thought – if I got to see you again and you happened to be moving into where I lived, I just..didn’t want to see you go. I held you at an arm’s distance away but I just couldn’t stop myself from getting closer to you. You were amazing and smart and beautiful and everything I could have ever dreamed of but…you didn’t know me. You didn’t know what happened to me and I knew I was making you believe in an illusion. Then I told you and I never thought you’d stay, not after hearing all of it.” He gathered her hands in his, his hands trembling as he held hers. “But you did stay. Not only did you stay but you loved me harder for it. Never in a million years did I think anyone would love me after all of that, especially not my dream girl. I love you so much. Everything we’ve been through,” He sighed, finding his voice breaking and the threat of tears stinging his eyes. “We’ve only just gotten better because of it. I’ve only ever grown up in a house that crumbled at even the slightest bit of stress. Here we are, battling it all, and my love for you only gets more and more intense. It’s mind-blowing to me that I ever had to live that way.” “You taught me more than you could ever realize. I’m rambling, I know.” He chuckled, bringing her fingers to his lips before dropping his right hand to retrieve a small string from his pocket. Attached was a ring; one he had scavenged only a few months prior. As soon as Callum decided to propose, he spent weeks searching for the perfect ring. It was found in the center of the city, in an old jewelry box hidden away in a sock drawer. “I’ve known I wanted to marry you since the day I kissed you. Since the day I told you everything. Since the day I got shot. I just needed some help.” He turned to look at everyone; the widest grin on his face at each one of them. He got down to one knee, laughing lightly as he did so clumsily ( he had never been a graceful giant ). “Fiona Aviva Channing, will you marry me?”

#honestly thank you everyone for helping me with this <3 #I love you all #and OMG #its happened!!!#OUR LITTLE BABIES #IM DYING #this was written last year so things are a little outdated butttttttt ;) !!!!!!

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whump-it · 5 years ago

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@pepperonyscience oh crikey! He wants Callum to do so well and Callum is always so unsure of himself. But I tell you what... he's going to be the most amazing doctor!

#rory is worried about his callum

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whump-it · 4 years ago

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Rory’s Audit; Part 1

@haro-whumps @grizzlie70 @castielamigos-whump-side-blog @iaminamoodymoodtoday @burtlederp @my-whumpy-little-heart @moose-teeth @pepperonyscience @faewhump @crowned-avery @whump-tr0pes @spookyboywhump @finder-of-rings @liliability @whumpfigure @girlwithacoolcat @tears-and-lilies @inpainandsuffering @whumpfigure @whumppsychology @ashintheairlikesnow

The Collection Box had been quiet again just recently. The usual ebb and flow of the seasons. It was normal. It happened ever year without fail. But Rory still felt a little nervous about the impending visit from his boss. They hadn’t had much cause to interact often since Rory had started working for the Programme. Mr Newman spent most of his time at the Locality Facility, only rarely stopping by to clap Rory on the shoulder and tell him that he “ran a tight ship”. And then he was gone again for months on end. It was partly why Rory had become so organised in the first place; there was no one there to help him or tell him what to do so he kept rigorous notes, took excellent care of the Locality Box, and kept the equipment in top notch condition, always replacing it before it really needed it.

Rory loved his job and he felt as sure as he could that he was good at it. His BP were always calm and content. His Selectors often sent thank you cards or photos of themselves with their BP over the years. Not all of them did but a good enough amount did to reassure him that the system was helping a huge amount of people. And it paid for him to be able to keep a roof over his head. Bills paid on time. Food bought. A little to go aside into savings every few months.

All in all, a visit from his boss, especially one preceded by a gruff sounding and very short phone call was a concern. He both loved, and needed his job.

So in the few hours prior to the visit he had spent time cleaning everything. Making his Collection Box into the best damn box that the world had ever seen. He vacuumed. He dusted. He damp dusted. He swept. He had one BP in who was taking the chance to have a midday sleep after Rory had checked that they were comfortable and full, not needing the toilet or not feeling unwell. He apologised for all of the noise that he was making and tried to keep it down now that they were sleeping.

“Boss man coming in or something?” they’d joked at him.

“Actually yes,” Rory had said. The BP had frowned.

“Don’t look so nervous,” they had said. “I’ll tell them how good it is here.”

The memory of the little exchange had kept the edge off Rory’s panic for most of the morning, until the knock at his door came and caused an uncomfortable leap up in his heart, thudding in his chest. He rubbed his palms down the legs of his trousers in an attempt at not having sweaty palms in time to shake his boss’s hand. It certainly made turning the doorknob to his office door into an easier task.

“Mr Newman,” Rory said, a smile on his lips that didn’t quite meet his eyes as he tried to inject a light hearted tone to his voice. “Good to see you again.” He shifted back out of the way of the door before remembering that he had meant to shake hands. He stuck his hand out as Mr Newman walked through the door, effectively slapping his boss in the stomach as he did so. Mr Newman stopped at the slap of Rory’s hand and looked down at the offending appendage. Rory winced and slowly brought his hand back to his own side.

“Sorry,” he said. “Awkward.” He could feel his face heating up as Mr Newman stood and regarded him with one eyebrow raised as he sighed. “Ok, come on in!” Mr Newman walked past him, and Rory shut the door, wincing and muttering to himself to stop being such an idiot before straightening up, tugging his hand through his hair, fixing his smile back on his face and going to sit at his desk.

"Look," Mr Newman said, sitting down and waving a hand impatiently at Rory, hurrying him up. "I'll keep this simple. We need to run an audit; you need to run an audit. State ordered. No wiggle room."

"Ok?" Rory said, leaning back then sitting forward. Awkward. Uncertain.

"Don't play the idiot," Mr Newman snapped. "The rumour mill's been working up to this and there's no way that even you, isolated as you've made yourself out here, there's no way that you haven't heard anything." Rory held his nerve. Held his silence. He wanted more certainty from his boss. Mr Newman sighed and crossed one leg over the other, ankle to knee. “The young BP, Rory. Some girl has come out saying that she was kept and abused by some drug lord, drug baron. Whatever. Look, they should’ve sent her down with him but somehow she got off all the charges. It was her money he was using.”

“Well,” Rory said, the tiniest hint of a shake to his voice. A fraction of nerves amongst the knowledge that what he was about to say was going to be right. “It was his money once she was Selected so, technically, she had no control over what he did.”

“So you have heard,”

“Well....”

“Stop saying ‘well’ all the time,”

“I’ve heard,” Rory said. His inner monologue had been aching over the rumours. Pining. The scabbed-over wound that Callum Morrow’s appearance and subsequent Selection had left was fresh and bleeding again. But with only a rumour to go on, he had set it to one side. And burned and ached. But he had put it to the back of his mind, stamped it down. Callum was fine. Callum was happy. His Selector checked out. It was one rumour.

“We, apparently, can’t “go on turning a blind eye” anymore. Or so the Givernment are saying. Some internet forum or some other rubbish. I don’t know. But people are starting to kick up trouble. Not the BP I may add. The girl has gone quiet. No other BP are whining. But the powers that be don’t like how it looks. We’ll come out of it fine. But I need you to do that audit. And I want to see the results first. Got it?”

“Got it,” Rory muttered. The voice in his head kept getting louder. Callum Callum Callum. A scar that had suddenly stopped healing. Sutures tearing out. Mr Newman glared at him.

“You better have “got it”,” he said, as he stood and turned his back on Rory, walked to the door. “How long is this likely to take?”

“Um,” Rory mentally shook himself. Callum Callum Callum. Be ok. Be ok. “Not long. I only have one under twenty five ever come through here. Don’t ever get any under about forty actually.”

“So...?” Mr Newman flapped one hand at him, the other already turning the doorknob.

“Give me a week,” Rory said. “I keep good records.” His attention was already wandering further and further from his boss and drifting to his laptop and his filing cabinet. His data sticks and his photographs. He heard Mr Newman’s terse goodbye but not the words. The banging shut of the door jolted his attention to the buzzing silence of the room around him. “Fuck.” He hissed the word out into the room, pulling at his hair, rubbing at his face. Dashing away at tears that he had not realised were even beginning to gather. He felt pulled in too many different directions. There was too much to do and too many places to start. He snatched up a piece of paper and started to write. He needed a list. A plan. A way to channel his thoughts so that they wouldn’t get away from him. He needed to produce an audit. Please his boss. Keep the only source of money that he had.

He needed Callum to be ok. More than all of those things, he needed Callum to be ok.

The list grew. It flowed out from his pen. He forced himself to write alowly and neatly. Mistakes could not be a part of this. And rushing wouldn’t achieve anything. The very first thing on his list read ’look after current BP’. He took a deep breath in and out, and carried on. ‘Laptop’, ‘data stick 3ii’, ‘file copy Callum Morrow’, ‘file copy Hayden Reeve’. He wrote down the websites and databases that would hold the answers to the questions that he was forming and solidifying in his mind. ‘Postal Service’, ‘GIS’, ‘MapReader’.

At the very bottom he wrote ‘You’ve got one week to get him’.

#The collection box #collection box #oc rory #oc Rory Linden #oc mr newman #oc hayden reeve #oc master hayden #oc Callum #oc Callum Morrow #rory linden international man of disaster #Rory loves Callum #oh rory #rory is a quiet disaster #rory is worried about his callum

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thisdaynews · 5 years ago

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Scottish Cup: Hamilton v Rangers - team news & build-up

New Post has been published on https://thebiafrastar.com/scottish-cup-hamilton-v-rangers-team-news-build-up/

Scottish Cup: Hamilton v Rangers - team news & build-up

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You need one to watch live TV on any channel or device, and BBC programmes on iPlayer. It’s the law.

Find out more

Live Reporting

By Martin Watt

All times stated are UK

Posted at 16:1016:10

goal

GOAL Albion Rovers 3-1 Brechin City

Daniel Scally

Posted at 16:0916:09

goal

GOAL Stranraer 1-1 Raith Rovers

Ryan Stevenson (pen)

Posted at 16:0616:06

goal

GOAL Elgin City 3-0 Cove Rangers

Rory MacEwan

Posted at 16:0516:05

goal

GOAL Albion Rovers 2-1 Brechin City

Declan Byrne

Posted at 16:0316:03

KICK-OFF

Second-half action? Go on then…

Posted at 15:5915:59

League Two half-time scores

BBCCopyright: BBC

Posted at 15:5815:58

Championship half-time scores

BBCCopyright: BBC

Posted at 15:5715:57

League One half-time scores

BBCCopyright: BBC

Posted at 15:5515:55

Barisic injury worry for Rangers

FT: Hamilton Academical 1-4 Rangers

Left-back Borna Barisic is a doubt for Wednesday’s Premiership trip to Kilmarnock after the Croatian was forced off with a hip complaint in the second half of today’s win at Hamilton.

“We don’t think it’s a major concern but he’s one that we’re going to have to try and do our best to get out there on Wednesday because he’s so important for us,” said boss Steven Gerrard.

Posted at 15:5515:55

‘Wind the only winner’

HT: Aberdeen 0-0 Kilmarnock

No goals, no real chances, the wind is the only winner after a disappointing opening 45 minutes at Pittodrie.

Posted at 15:5315:53

Scottish Cup half-time scores

BBCCopyright: BBC

Posted at 15:5015:50

HALF-TIME St Mirren 0-1 Motherwell

Despite the challenging conditions, it’s been a really entertaining game in Paisley.

Ilkay Durmus hit the post inside the first five minutes, while Alex Jakubiak and Jon Obika also came close for the hosts.

But Motherwell have had a bit more quality in the final third, and though Mark O’Hara’s goal was a rebound, they probably just about deserve the lead at the break.

SNSCopyright: SNS

Mark O’Hara celebrates putting Motherwell aheadImage caption: Mark O’Hara celebrates putting Motherwell ahead

Posted at 15:4915:49

HALF-TIME Aberdeen 0-0 Kilmarnock

It has been a poor half of football at Pittodrie, where chances have been at a premium.

Aberdeen have had several opportunities to cross from corners, free-kicks, and from the wings where they’ve found space, but every time the delivery has been inaccurate – most likely due to the windy conditions.

Kilmarnock look comfortable, despite the home side now enjoying the lion’s share of possession.

It is almost 500 minutes of football since the Dons found the net, and they look no closer so far.

SNSCopyright: SNS

Aberdeen look no closer to breaking their run of four and a half games without a goalImage caption: Aberdeen look no closer to breaking their run of four and a half games without a goal

Posted at 15:4815:48

HALF-TIME Inverness CT 0-0 Livingston

Well, let’s hope the wind sweeps in some entertainment in the second half. The Inverness striker Miles Storey has looked the most likely player to break the deadlock, having one shot blocked on the goalline and knocking one on over the Livi bar.

Livi lost 2-0 to Ross County during the week – they’ll be hoping they’re not heading south again this evening with nothing to show for their efforts.

Posted at 15:4715:47

HALF-TIME Ayr United 1-2 St Johnstone

St Johnstone have the advantage at the break but they’ve had to work for it in Ayrshire.

Aaron Drinan raised home hopes of another Scottish Premiership scalp after knocking Ross County out of the tournament last month but Aaron Muirhead’s own goal followed by his red card and Callum Hendry’s header has put Saints in control.

SNSCopyright: SNS

Posted at 15:4515:45

GREAT SAVE!

St Mirren 0-1 Motherwell

Another good stop from Vaclav Hladky, after Chris Long makes space on the edge of the box before firing towards the near post. The resulting corner comes to nothing.

Posted at 15:4415:44

Gerrard had to ‘rattle cages’

FT: Hamilton Academical 1-4 Rangers

Rangers manager Steven Gerrardhad to “rattle a few cages” at half-time as his team eventually swept Hamilton Academical aside earlier today.

Dogged Accies fought back from a goal down to hold Rangers until the final quarter. Three strikes eventually secured a 4-1 victory and passage to the Scottish Cup quarter-finals for Gerrard’s men.

“I was very disappointed in us defensively in the first half,” the manager told Rangers TV. “I had to address that at half-time and rattle a few cages and get them switched on and focused and in the right place defensively.

“Once we did that, we played some nice stuff, created a lot of chances and scored some really impressive goals.”

SNSCopyright: SNS

Posted at 15:4315:43

‘Bizarre first half’ at Ayr

Ayr United 1-2 St Johnstone

Chick Young

BBC Scotland pundit on Sportsound

Quote Message: This has turned. Ayr United look a bit deflated. It’s been a bizarre first half – all action

This has turned. Ayr United look a bit deflated. It’s been a bizarre first half – all action

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Was St Johnstone’s equaliser an Aaron Muirhead own goal or a Callum Hendry goal?Image caption: Was St Johnstone’s equaliser an Aaron Muirhead own goal or a Callum Hendry goal?

Posted at 15:4215:42

goal

GOAL Albion Rovers 1-1 Brechin City

Declan Byrne

Posted at 15:3915:39

goal

GOAL Stranraer 0-1 Raith Rovers

Joh Baird

#build-up #Rangers

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footyplusau · 7 years ago

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Danger signs: What your club should look out for

THERE are plenty of things that can wreck a club’s season. Danger signs that, if they are not heeded, can put finals completely out of the question.

Our writers take a close look at the problems for each club that are keeping coaches and players awake at night – the on-field and off-field issues that need a quick fix … or a long-term solution.

Stop Rory Sloane and you stop the Crows. Sloane averaged 29.5 possessions per game in the club’s six straight wins to start the season. But he’s since dropped off to 14.5 disposals in the past two games, with North Melbourne and Melbourne applying an old-fashioned tag to limit his input. The Crows have struggled to right the ship when things don’t go their way. They conceded 10 straight goals in an incredible first quarter against the Kangaroos, before the Demons booted nine in a row (and 15 of the last 18 of the game) to overturn a 28-point deficit. Along with shutting down Sloane, the Kangaroos and Demons successfully closed off the corridor to the Crows. Instead of going down the wings and keeping possession, the Crows persisted going through the middle at every opportunity, leading to intercept marks and turnovers. Away from their issues on the field, the biggest concern is the fact defender Jake Lever and forward Mitch McGovern are unsigned for next season. Lever wants to wait until the collective bargaining agreement is sorted before agreeing to a new deal, while McGovern’s focus is returning from a hamstring injury. – Lee Gaskin

While there’s been a lot of noticeable improvement during the first eight games of Chris Fagan’s era (conceding two goals fewer a game, and the development of Harris Andrews, Eric Hipwood and Ben Keays among them), the Lions’ inability to stop opposition momentum is alarming. In every game this season, they have conceded a string of goals that has (aside from round one against Gold Coast) cost them a chance to win. Eight straight from Essendon, seven from the Western Bulldogs, six from St Kilda and five from Hawthorn – all at times in matches where the Lions had a chance to win. They’re a young team and maintaining four quarters of consistent effort is going to be difficult, but usually the problems stem from the loss of contested ball. Since the opening two rounds, the Lions have lost that count by 21, 21, 27, 19, one and 17 respectively. There’s not much experience on the list, but most of it comes from the midfield, and that part of the ground has to arrest the momentum shifts when they start to occur. – Michael Whiting

The Blues are performing better than most pundits predicted at the start of the season, but there is plenty of room for improvement. Their backline has developed into a solid unit and the midfield, while lacking some depth, possesses plenty of class. The problem remains forward of centre, where much of the responsibility rests on the broad shoulders of big Levi Casboult. Under the expert tutelage of kicking coach Saverio Rocca, Casboult has improved his conversion to be the club’s leading goalkicker after eight rounds with 13, one ahead of Matthew Wright, who topped the goalkicking last season. Teenagers Jacob Weitering and Jack Silvagni are still learning their craft, while key playmaker Patrick Cripps could become a weapon in attack if he can improve his kicking for goal. Off the field, Carlton is seeking to secure at least 50,000 members and is well on the way with 46,755 signed at the moment. Supporters should be encouraged by the development of the team, particularly the Blues’ exciting batch of youngsters, which makes them an attractive proposition going forward. – Howard Kotton

The young Blues are getting their chance and thriving under Brendon Bolton. Picture: AFL Photos

The Pies’ two main problems this season revolve around a key aspect of the game: kicking. Their star-studded midfield generates ample possession, clearances (+4.25) and inside 50s (+4.4) but their good work has too often been ruined by poor decision-making or shoddy delivery, or both. It doesn’t help that Collingwood lacks a genuine key forward, with the enormously talented Darcy Moore still in development mode, so too raw American Mason Cox, while Jesse White and his unfulfilled talent are again out of favour. The next part of the equation is conversion – an area in which the Pies have failed miserably. In the last-gasp loss to Greater Wester Sydney last round, Collingwood scored more goals than points for the first time this season. They have fired just one fewer scoring shot than their opponents but have kicked themselves out of tight games against the Dogs, Tigers, Saints and Bombers, the chief culprit being leading goalkicker Alex Fasolo (12.16). Exacerbating the forward issues, injury-prone Ben Reid has suffered another soft-tissue injury, which again raises questions about the 27-year-old’s durability. Looming large over it all is the future of coach Nathan Buckley, who is in the last year of his contract and is logically believed to require a final-eight finish to save his job after missing the finals for the past three years. All hope is not yet lost but Buckley faces an uphill battle. – Ben Collins

From a game-style point of view, the Bombers are really struggling to get the ball inside 50. They are ranked 16th in the competition for inside 50 entries, and have lost the inside 50 count in every one of their games so far this season. It is fortunate their forward line has been able to score far better this season than recent years, in contrast to previous seasons when they could get the ball inside 50 but couldn’t convert. From a personnel perspective, Essendon’s list has an odd demographic, thanks mainly to the disastrous fallout of the supplements saga. More youth needs to go through the midfield as the season wears on, particularly as Jobe Watson, Brent Stanton, Heath Hocking and Ben Howlett are among the senior players out of contract at the end of the season and yet to strike form in 2017. The Bombers won’t want to shed too much experience or depth at once, so managing that situation is something they’ll need to be careful about when the end of the season draws closer. – Callum Twomey

Fremantle’s biggest concern is the welfare of troubled star Harley Bennell, who is struggling to deal with his latest calf setback. Bennell was intoxicated and asked to leave a flight from Melbourne to the Gold Coast last month while he was on leave from the club, and hit the headlines again for his unusual behaviour at Peel Thunder’s game on Saturday, which included pulling cousin Traye away from the three-quarter time huddle. Fremantle fined him $10,000 ($5000 of which was suspended for 12 months) and the 24-year-old has been challenged to gather himself and “reboot” by coach Ross Lyon. On the field, the Dockers deserve plenty of credit for their never-say-die attitude, coming from behind in all five wins and recovering from an 0-2 start to be on the verge of breaking into the top eight. However, at some point, Fremantle’s struggles to hit the scoreboard in the first half could come back to bite. Before last round, the Dockers were averaging the lowest score (29.7 points) in the competition to half-time and, despite being in front by five points, only booted 5.6 up until the long break against Richmond last Sunday. – Travis King

Harley Bennell remains a long way off playing senior football for Freo. Picture: AFL Photos

The Cats had been pulling wins from nowhere in 2017 through a combination of luck, individual brilliance and old-fashioned determination but three losses in a row have brought to the public’s attention the concerns Chris Scott has expressed all season. The main concern is the opposition’s ability to beat Geelong on the spread from a contest, with the Cats way down for uncontested possessions, uncontested marks and tackle differential, meaning they are not closing space, with leg speed more of an issue than attitude. The Cats will remain fighting for a long time because it’s in their DNA, but the fact is after three premierships and an unbelievable run of success, the system has dragged them back to the field. They have tried to trade their way out of trouble but it’s left their list with a few A-graders in Joel Selwood and Patrick Dangerfield, some ageing champions in Andrew Mackie and Tom Lonergan, and a bunch of players such as Nakia Cockatoo and Brandan Parfitt still a year or two away. The biggest dilemma is not their coaching but their talent acquisition strategy in the next five years. – Peter Ryan

Prior to the season, many experts had lauded the Suns’ young spine as one of the best in the competition. But eight rounds in, and there’s question marks popping up everywhere for Gold Coast’s tall timber. Perhaps most worryingly is co-captain Steven May‘s lingering contract. May said prior to the season he was in no rush to extend his stay, and as the year drags on, the Suns get more nervous. His defensive sidekick Rory Thompson is tremendously talented, but like so many times previously has succumbed to injury in 2016, most recently making the trip to China only to withdraw with hamstring tightness in the warm up. Sam Day is out for the year with a horrific dislocated hip, so who knows how he’ll return, while perhaps the least of the long-term worries – but a headache at the moment – is the poor form of ‘Two Metre Peter’ Wright. The spine isn’t the only concern at Metricon Stadium as the Suns continue to yo-yo from week to week. They were horrible against the Giants in round two, brilliant against Hawthorn a week later, equally impressive against Geelong in round seven and then pitiful seven days later against Port Adelaide. None of this is helping alleviate the pressure on coach Rodney Eade, who is out of contract at season’s end and desperate to push for finals. – Michael Whiting

Much has been made of the amount of talent on the Giants’ list, but a shocking injury list means the club will be tested severely over the next two months. It started in the pre-season when gun recruit Brett Deledio suffered another calf issue, and the former Tiger still hasn’t played a game, and probably won’t until after the bye. Long-term ankle injuries to hard nuts Stephen Coniglio and Ryan Griffen has limited them five games collectively, and while Jacob Hopper stepped up his role onball, a broken finger added him to the rehab group. Draftee Will Setterfield (ankle, 5-7 weeks) and Tendai Mzungu (hamstring, 4-6 weeks) haven’t been able to get a run at it and would have been valuable backups. The GWS backline has also been hit hard, with Matt Buntine and Adam Kennedy done for the year with knee reconstructions, and Nick Haynes still eight weeks away after hurting a hamstring tendon. A two-game suspension for club champion Toby Greene didn’t help matters, but the positive is that the Giants are 6-2 and in second spot on the ladder. – Adam Curley

Nick Haynes is just one of a number of GWS defenders on the injury list. Picture: AFL Photos

Hawthorn’s injury list has slipped into dangerous territory – both in length and quality. Medium-term injuries to Cyril Rioli, Ben Stratton and James Frawley have the potential to leave the Hawks floundering and a finals appearance this year – already only a slim chance given the tardy start to the season – would now seem an impossibility. With three first-choice defenders – Frawley, Stratton and Grant Birchall out of the side – Hawthorn’s defensive depth will be tested like never before. It is a relatively new world for the Hawks. Many of the newer of the club’s 72,000 members are so used to the team being successful and it will be interesting to see whether the fans keep coming to games. Last Saturday’s game against the Brisbane Lions attracted the third-smallest crowd yet to Launceston. – Ashley Browne

Melbourne’s inconsistency within games continues to be a hindrance as it aims to make the finals for the first time since 2006. The 4-4 Demons have won 19 quarters for the season, the equal-fourth most in the AFL. Yet, in every one of the club’s four losses – to Geelong, Fremantle, Richmond and Hawthorn – a distinct drop-off in a particular quarter has played its part in the result. The Demons allowed the Cats to kick 40 points in the final quarter in round three, the Dockers to score 46 points in the third term in round four, the Tigers to kick 35 points in the fourth quarter in round five and the Hawks to score 34 points in the first term in round six. There have been contributing factors in those lapses, especially the loss of All Australian Max Gawn against Geelong and back-up big man Jake Spencer against Richmond, however it underlines the work Melbourne still has to do to be regarded as a finals contender. Despite being a combined -104 in the hit-out category over the past three weeks without a recognised ruckman, the Demons’ in-form midfielders have been able to successfully adapt to life without Gawn and Spencer and the club is a combined +27 in clearances over that span. – Ben Guthrie

Cam Pedersen is holding up his end for the Demons in the ruck. Picture: AFL Photos

Ben Brown‘s transformation into one of the competition’s most prolific forwards has presented an unusual problem – the Kangaroos’ overwhelming reliance on him. Brown carried a heavy burden in Jarrad Waite’s extended absence this year, with his North teammates targeting him a whopping 40 per cent of the time. They were targeted a combined 53 per cent of the time in their two matches together in 2017, and 43 per cent in the past two years. Waite returns from suspension on Sunday, after missing the Swans loss, where usual defenders Lachie Hansen and Sam Durdin were swung forward to help Brown. Drew Petrie‘s departure from Arden St at the end of last season, plus Lindsay Thomas‘ form woes, have created an interesting dynamic behind Brown and Waite. Mason Wood and Taylor Garner came back this season from torrid recent injury runs – although Garner (hamstring) has missed the past fortnight – to display their marking prowess. But the trust clearly isn’t quite there. Majak Daw was a popular target (18 per cent) in games Waite missed since last year, but injury and form issues have kept him to one AFL appearance in the first eight rounds. 2015 first-round pick Ben McKay is being groomed as Brown’s long-term partner-in-crime, while Nick Larkey is showing promising signs in the VFL. – Marc McGowan

One of the only knocks on the Power is they haven’t beaten a top-eight side this season. The Power were far too strong for Sydney (15th), Fremantle (ninth), Carlton (13th), the Brisbane Lions (18th) and Gold Coast (12th), but fell short against the top three sides on the ladder – Adelaide, Greater Western Sydney and West Coast. That adds extra importance to the Power’s next game after the bye when they take on fifth-placed Geelong at Simonds Stadium in round 10. Now that their historic trip to China has been completed, the Power can get to the business of re-signing several of their off-contract contingent. In total, 17 players on their senior list are out of contract at the end of this season. That includes midfield star Brad Ebert, key defender Jack Hombsch, half-back flanker Jasper Pittard and utilities Jackson Trengove and Justin Westhoff. – Lee Gaskin

There have been warning signs for the Tigers stretching back to their 13-point win against Melbourne in round five. That was their last win, but they won just one quarter and have now won only four of their past 16. So what has changed? There has been a definite drop off in their rapid ball movement, falling from eighth in mark/play-on percentage in the first four rounds to 17th across rounds five to eight. That, and the lack of multiple tall targets in attack, has seen them struggle to get quality inside 50s. In the last four rounds they rank 18th for inside 50 kick retention (44 per cent) and 18th for scores per inside 50 (40 per cent). The loss of Ben Griffiths (concussion) is hurting, with the lack of an in-form replacement leaving too much on the shoulders of Jack Riewoldt and the smaller forwards. In the midfield, the Tigers have been comprehensively beaten in the contest, ranking 16th for contested possession differential (-10.8) in the past month. With injuries to Reece Conca (foot) and Nick Vlastuin (shoulder), among others, depth is also being tested at Tigerland and turnovers are becoming more common. Perhaps the biggest warning sign, as losses mount, is the fact that free agent Dustin Martin has not re-signed. – Nathan Schmook

The Saints have had a terrific run with injuries since the start of 2016 but their depth will be tested now. They have covered David Armitage’s absence well but losing Jimmy Webster to a broken right hand could be a bigger blow. The potential replacements – including Shane Savage, Daniel McKenzie and Bailey Rice – are unlikely to be able to replace Webster’s blend of toughness and accurate kicking. Meanwhile, Josh Bruce’s form as the primary target in attack hasn’t been stellar. He’s picked up seven disposals in each of the past two weeks and while he has kicked at least one goal in every game this season, Bruce has yet to show the form that saw him kick 50 majors in 2015. Back then, the former Giant snuck under the radar with Nick Riewoldt considered the primary threat. Riewoldt has looked hampered for the past couple of weeks by a right knee injury suffered in round one but the Saints are performing well despite his diminished output. Meanwhile, keeping Paddy McCartin happy while he languishes in the VFL poses a challenge. – Dinny Navaratnam

The Saints may struggle to cover tough defender Jimmy Webster. Picture: AFL Photos

Few would have predicted such a fall from grace for Sydney, and while they have missed some key personnel like Jarrad McVeigh, Isaac Heeney, Dane Rampe and Kurt Tippett at stages, their problems were more to do with the lack of ‘Swans footy’ being played. John Longmire’s star-studded midfield lost their hard hats early in the year and as a result the team plummeted down the rankings in contested possessions (first to ninth), clearances (second to 12th), and stoppages (second to eighth) compared to last year. Josh Kennedy (27.9 possessions per game, down from 31.5 in 2016), Dan Hannebery (24.8 from 30.8), and to a lesser extent Luke Parker (25.6 from 26.9) were all down on their output, but things are finally on the up, with Parker (66 touches and three goals), Hannebery (59 and two) and Kennedy (57 and two) back in form over the past fortnight, and it’s no coincidence the Swans have won both games easily. Rampe’s broken arm has also cost Sydney their status as the rebound 50 kings, dropping them from first to seventh in the rankings, with the League’s second be-t rebounder in 2016 playing just one game this season. – Adam Curley

Alarm bells were ringing after the round-five horror show against Hawthorn at the MCG when critics lined up to savage the Eagles’ perceived lack of toughness around the ball. But it has been a strong response from Adam Simpson’s men, who smashed Fremantle at the contest in the Western Derby, held on for a gritty win over Port on the road and then more than matched the Bulldogs’ hardness to notch three straight wins and move into third spot on the ladder. Intent has been the Eagles’ focus and they have delivered on that front, but the next issue for Simpson to solve is how to feed a hungry forward line. West Coast is ranked 13th for inside 50s, has lost the supply battle in three of the past four games (-38 differential) and had to rely on a rock-solid backline to hold on late against the Power and Bulldogs. It’s an unsustainable way to keep winning, especially if the Eagles’ forwards have an off day in front of goal – as spearhead Josh Kennedy did in booting 3.6 against the Dogs. From a glass half-full perspective, it’s positive the Eagles keep banking victories, but they aren’t getting carried away as they search for their best football. – Travis King

While the reigning premiers sit eighth with a respectable 5-3 record after the first eight rounds, they are yet to the hit the form of last September. Injuries have played a part in the sputtering start to 2017, but so has the Dogs’ inability to hit the scoreboard from ample opportunities. It plagued them for much of last season, but they managed to get it right when it counted most. The kicking efficiency going inside 50 of their prime movers has contributed to the scoring woes, with Jack Macrae (30 per cent), Lachie Hunter (31 per cent) Tom Liberatore (33 per cent) and Luke Dahlhaus (36 per cent) well below the AFL average of 50.4 per cent. Even gun playmaker Marcus Bontempelli is below standard at 47.1 per cent. Out of the regular ‘delivery men’, only Norm Smith medalist Jason Johannisen hits the mark more often than not at 59.1 per cent of the time. – Ryan Davidson

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whump-it · 4 years ago

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Dream; Callum Remembers

@haro-whumps @grizzlie70 @castielamigos-whump-side-blog @iaminamoodymoodtoday @burtlederp @untilthepainstarts @my-whumpy-little-heart @moose-teeth @pepperonyscience @faewhump @slaintetowhump @whump-tr0pes @spookyboywhump @finder-of-rings @liliability @whumpfigure @girlwithacoolcat @tears-and-lilies

I don't think there's any CW's here. This is Callum at the very very very start of his healing with Rory. I made myself cry writing the part after the dream.

Callum stood in his room and held on to his teddy tightly in one hand. He squeezed its matted and crusted paw tighter each time that he heard a noise from beyond the closed door. A clatter or a tap running. A mutter of something that he couldn't quite make out. He knew that if he stood here for long enough in someone else's room, wearing someone else's clothes, that Rory would eventually come and get him. He always did.

Callum both anticipated and dreaded it each and every morning.

Everything was strange and new and every morning the only thing that felt right was the fact that his teddy was near him. His first thought every day was that Master Hayden didn't know where he was and that was unbearable. Unthinkable. It was painfully wrong. He woke to a bone deep and aching fear that no amount of atonement could make up for this absence. And then the feeling ebbed. The desperate ache to run in any direction because that would surely bring him closer to his Master leeched away.

Slowly he remembered what Rory had been telling him every day. That Master Hayden wasn't going to get him. That he was safe.

That what had been done to him had been wrong.

Remembering it wasn't the same as believing it. But it was close enough for now.

Callum took a breath in, closed his eyes, held it, and then released it. While he did so, he tucked one of his teddy's paws into the back pocket of the jeans that Rory had leant him. Today they were going to go and buy him his own clothes. Even wearing the jeans and jumper that Rory had leant him as well felt strange after three years in shorts. Sometimes in nothing at all. He was still all too aware of the touch of the cloth on his arms and legs but he had taken to curling Rory's big blue cable knit jumper around himself so much that Rory had laughed and said that he needed one of his own. And so the shopping trip had become set in stone whilst the jumper became an all encompassing safety net that could cover and embrace and shelter.

It smelled good too. It smelled of a flicker of a memory that he had no access to but he knew that it was nice. He wanted to remember and that shocked him.

With his teddy safe and the jumper on for yet another day, Callum forced himself to the bedroom door and opened it in one rapid movement, determined to be out before Rory had to come and get him. He was getting clothes. He had an idea of a memory. He wanted to get himself out of his room on his own. With one more deep breath in and released back out, he forced himself across the room and out. He found Rory in the kitchen, clattering about and putting away the washing up from the night before.

“Oh!” Rory jumped when he caught sight of Callum out the corner of his eye. “You’re up. I didn’t...I mean I was going to do this last night. I really was. Time just kinda...” Rory wafted one hand around, a spatula clutched in it, dripping water on to the floor. Callum smiled small, just a tiny hint. It was still too early and he was still too unsure if this was ok. If it was an ok thing to do, to laugh at Rory for not cleaning up. To be apologised to instead of being the one doing the apologising. Rory trailed off and scratched at the back of his neck, grimacing at the water that he'd forgotten was still on his hand. "You're so much better than I am at tidy. I'm working on it. I'm a work in progress!" Callum shuffled a little where he stood, words a little caught up in his throat. His heart told him in an instant that he should tell Rory that he was a perfect work of art just the way that he was. His brain dammed up the flow and stopped it behind a concrete wall of nervousness and years old pain. Years in which honesty might well be the best policy, but in which it hurt and bled and broke him.

“What should I...should I...umm...” Callum shuffled a little closer to Rory, a little closer to his energy and warmth and that something that was pulling at him to be just that bit nearer. That bit more within an invisible aura. Rory put the spatula down and Callum shifted unconsciously closer again. No implement meant less chance of pain and although he had received nothing but kindness and compassion here, surely it could all come to a swift and agonising end. But his body and his mind and that strange pull moved him closer and closer to Rory until he was close enough to feel arms come up and around him, drawing him into Rory’s chest.

They stood and breathed in and out. Breathed one another for a long moment. And Callum held on, held on and let himself turn away from doubt and press up into the certainty that always ebbed back into his brain each day. It took a little less time every day.

"Big day today huh?" Rory mumbled into the curls at the base of Callum's neck before pulling back. Callum smiled again, shy and flushing pink at the pleasure of doing something for himself but also at the terror of it.

"Yeah," Callum whispered the word before clearing his throat to try again. "You...umm... will you stay with me? Near me I mean. I don't...I can't pay..."

"Sweetheart, I'm paying."

"I uh... no I...I...I know I don't have anything. I meant I've forgotten. How things work. In shops. No. That's not quite it. It's more.. " he took a deep and slightly shaky breath in. "I'm nervous." Gently and slowly, Rory pulled back and away from him.

"I'll be right with you."

With the washing up done, breakfast eaten, and the promise of support safely tucked away, they left the apartment. Rory glanced nervously at their neighbour's front door as they passed, speeding up a little as he went. Callum wanted to ask but he didn't dare upset the balance on such a big and nerve wracking day. Through the course of the day, all of his energy and focus stayed on shopping and on Rory. On staying close and always keeping him in his line of sight. And it had been more tiring and harder than he'd anticipated. They had agreed that he didn't need to use the changing rooms, preferring instead to hide himself away from the glaring lights and mirrors. Preferring instead to hold clothes up to his body and look to Rory for approval. He found himself instinctively drawn to blue tones, following in line with his love of Rory's blue jumper. Of blue butterflies. On the way home, when Rory spotted a beautiful blue velvet trunk with black leather and studded corners and ducked into the shop to buy it and present it to him, he had cried. Tears of joy and exhaustion. Of nervousness and panic. It had a catch and a tiny padlock and it was in his control when that lock could be unlocked. It was overwhelming.

Rory held him tightly in the street while he sobbed his heart out. Then he told him that there was no way he was cooking for them. Not after such a busy and big day. Callum nodded into Rory's shoulder and let himself be led home, hand in hand, to take-out and Netflix and a vodka for Rory before he collapsed, tired and unsteady and asleep before his head hit the pillow.

A knock at the door and he giggled. The sound had a familiarity to it. It rolled over him and he thought that maybe his eyes flickered open. Or shut. But Rory was there and he had food and drink with him.

"I'm not breaking the rules," Rory said. Laughed. "It only says I have to feed you."

Warm.

Content.

Rory was everything.

"I could stay," Callum breathed out. Wrists cuffed. His space, his box, he felt safe. "I want to be here forever."

"Eat," Rory raised a fork of food to Callum's lips. "And stay. Don't go. Don't go."

Laughter, laughter, food and drink and security.

And home.

"I don't think I was meant to leave," Callum said, stood outside the Locality. No cars. No sound. He laughed out loud when a blue butterfly landed on Rory's nose.

Rory sneezed.

Callum woke with a jolt that sent his teddy tumbling out of his bed. It hit the floor and he tipped himself out after it, snatching it up and hugging it to his chest.

That was the memory that Rory's jumper had been picking and picking at. That was what caught his breath and stole it away when he hadn't known why.

He scrambled up from the floor in a messy hurry, tumbling from hands to feet in a lurch towards the door. Grabbed at the handle and wrenched it down, letting it slip from his grip and spring back up with a bang. There was no way that he could get out of the room fast enough. His steps, which were usually so measured and careful from years of trying not to trip over his chained and cuffed ankles, paid no heed to their locked-up history. He stopped himself at Rory's door, not wanting to slam through out and frighten him. He pushed the handle softly, gently, his measured and careful entry into Rory's room a complete contrast to the cluttered way that he had excited his own. Every moment closer to him felt like gravity. It had its own speed. Its own time.

The door hushed over the carpet, announcing his arrival on his behalf. The sound woke Rory and he blinked into the darkness, picked out Callum's silhouette, and pushed himself blearily onto one elbow.

"Is everything ok?" Rory asked, his voice husky and sleep laden. "Do you need something?"

Callum walked to the side of the bed closest to him and the door, the side that Rory didn't sleep on incase he needed to come in on the rare nights that he tried to sleep in his own bed, and knelt on the mattress. The pressure of his weight tipped Rory closer to him. Tipped him closer to Rory.

The motion was easy. A slide deeper into one another's orbit. Gravity again and on their side as though the universe knew what to do. Rory reached out a hand, not to stop himself from rolling but to touch Callum. To bring him contact.

"Are you ok?" Rory whispered, asking again.

"You fed me," Callum said. Rory blinked up at him. "In the box. You got in with me and fed me didn't you. Didn't you. I can't have got that wrong because I just remembered it in a dream and I get it. I got it. I...I get it..." Rory shifted up and closer to Callum, letting the covers drop and pool around them. He climbed his hands up Callum's sides to his shoulders, listening as he moved. Not daring to interrupt quite yet.

"...I remember it. I know why... why... things... the familiarity of it all. The feeling...safe... and..."

"And you," Rory whispered the words next to Callum's lips and pushed himself cheek to cheek.

"And you," Callum echoed. He raised his hands, encircled the warm skin and gentle press of the other half of his entire existence. "I was never meant to leave you," Rory hiccuped into the crook of Callum's neck, where the scars around his throat melted into nothing but smooth skin.

"I think about it a lot," he murmured, muffled by Callum's neck and new-found certainty. Almost silenced by the dam of love and adoration that caught up in his throat when he tried to speak.

"I want to think about it a lot too," Callum held on tighter. "It's been there for so long and I don't want to forget it again. I don't want to forget you again. Please don't let me forget you again."

Rory pulled at him, pulled him down into the warmth of the covers and his embrace. Pulled him into safety. Held him down and pressed against him so tightly that if he could have, then he would have made their very atoms bind together so securely that nothing would split them apart again.

"I'm so so sorry that I let you go," he said.

"No sorry's. None. Not now. Not when I feel like I've found you again. Pl...please? No sorry's?"

"I love you," Rory said, louder this time. Callum stilled where he lay, pressed up so firmly against his very life. Rory held his breath. Waited to feel regret once again, feel it's awful fingers crawling up his body from toes to scalp where it could wrap him up and suffocate him.

"I love you," Callum said. Firmly. "I love you."

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whump-it · 4 years ago

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38 from the last ask game for Rory and Callum? And Brenda if you feel like it?

@pepperonyscience loved this ask!!! Thank you so much!

38. What memory do they revisit most often?

Callum: Callum revisits his rules. They're deeply ingrained in him. They controlled everything he did in captivity and they influence everything he does with freedom. He tries to let go of the ones that don't specifically relate to Hayden. But they're there. All the time. Telling him that he knows full well that he's being a pathetic wretch who can't even make up for it now he's got no Master.

Rory: Rory struggles hugely with the bombardment of "what-ifs". So to stop himself obsessing over the things that didn't happen but could have oh so easily gone wrong, he tries really hard to force a good memory into his consciousness by sheer will. The one that he usually goes for is the time that Callum asked him to tie him up. To restrain him like he used to when he was his BP. To take away what Hayden did to him and make it theirs again. It's a memory that sits up against finding Callum in that basement so he doesn't have to force his brain in a hugely different direction to get to it. And it's more easily accessible because it's book-ended. They'd done it before, then they did it again, and in doing so, it neutralised when Hayden did it by squashing him in the middle of all of their love. They snuffed out that part by sheer adoration for one another.

Brenda: Brenda likes to think back to the time when Tony got up the courage to ask her out. She was afraid he'd say no if she asked him but she could've sworn she'd see him look her way more than if he just wanted to be friends. So she'd started that rumour that she was leaving town. And Tony came up to her. "Are you really leaving?" he'd asked her. "Not if there's something to stay for," she'd said. "Would you stay for me? If I asked? Would you stay?" She'd cried and said yes and that was that!

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whump-it · 5 years ago

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A Teddy, A Sink, A Kiss.

TW for mentions of blood and past abuse. Also, have a mystery plot point...oooooooh!

Tag team!

@haro-whumps @grizzlie70 @castielamigos-whump-side-blog @comfortforthepain @shameless-whumper @iaminamoodymoodtoday @kawaiiloverofanimu @burtlederp @untilthepainstarts @my-whumpy-little-heart @moose-teeth @pepperonyscience @faewhump @saphemme @slaintetowhump

When Rory had asked if he was sure Callum had nodded before he could change his mind. Had said that he wanted to take Haz when he went into hospital and that he wanted Haz to be in bed with him when he woke up. Callum simply couldn't cope with the idea of another person who was meant to be helping him telling that his teddy was disgusting. A health hazard. Something to be avoided.

He hadn't spoken since. He had stood and watched Rory fill the sink in the bathroom with warm water. Not too hot, he'd said, comfortable for Haz. He had gripped tightly to Haz when Rory had turned to him and passed him the bar of soap. He had walked slowly past him, taking his place in front of the sink, his hands trembling a little while Rory stepped aside to give him room. He must have whimpered or sniffed or whined because the room felt too big. The freedom he had was like a vacuum, rushing away from him and leaving him breathless. It should have felt good. It should be everything that he wanted. Everything that he needed. Instead it left him winded.

Rory must have heard him because the very next second, he was pressed bodily up against Callum's back. Head to toe, flush against him, his cheek rubbing back and for over Callum's shoulder blade, his arms around Callum's too-thin frame to hold him tightly. Rory did nothing else. Said nothing. Didn't move except to continue to press his face into Callum's shoulder blade over and over.

More than anything, Callum wanted to be told what to do. Ordered into something. Forced to do and be what someone else decided but he knew that Rory wasn't going to give him what Hayden had. And he knew it was for the best. So while Rory held him, and the water cooled slightly, and a tear slid down one of his cheeks, Callum dipped Haz gently into the sink, then back out. Water ran from the teddy's fur back into the sink, staining it with swirls of rusted red and almost transparent brown.

Another tear ran down, another dip of Haz into the water. This time Callum held his teddy in the water, kept it there until the blood and mud did more than just mingle with the water. They escaped the fibres, the fur, the history that was built in to each strand. They diluted and became less than their parts. They became a part of a perfection that had always seemed too far away. They looked like courage. Rory let go with one arm to empty the sink, refill it, murmur into Callum's ear that Haz needed clean and fresh water. Callum held his teddy up out of the way then lowered it back in as Rory's arm went back around his middle. He pushed Haz around and around in the water until it became too dirty again, until it needed changing again.

When the sink was emptied a second time, when Rory had freed one of his hands to help Callum, he didn't fill it back up. Callum watched Rory's hand slowly hold on to his own, felt Rory's chin resting so so gently on his shoulder. Let himself be guided so that Haz was under the running tap. Callum listened as Rory spoke softly to tell him to let the water run away. Let the water go. Let it all disappear. Callum nodded, tears blurring his vision, dripping into the sink to disappear along with the mud and blood, the terror and fear, the proof of his forced atonement.

Gently, both of Callum's hands on Haz, one of Rory's hands on Callum's, they squeezed the excess water out and turned the tap off. In the buzzing silence of the bathroom Callum turned in the space of Rory's arms, Haz pressed in between them and soaking through their clothes.

One dry hand on his right cheek. One wet hand on his left cheek. Held carefully between his past and his present, guided gently into his future with kind touches. And a kiss that started on his forehead and travelled across his eyes. Moved down the slope of his nose. Brushed over the cupid's bow of his top lip. Pressed to the corners of his mouth, first one and then the other until it reached the middle where he pressed back, reciprocated the motion then let his head drop down to Rory's shoulder.

It would be ok. It was all going to be ok because when his freedom threw itself too wide open, when there was no pain to centre him, there was Rory who had all the gentlest ways to guide him.

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whump-it · 5 years ago

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Callum’s Nightmare

TW for nightmare with exaggerated flashbacks.

Tag team!

It had been a good evening. A really really good evening. Callum had insisted again on cooking while Rory had done his usual trick of hovering around until it was clear that he was in the way before he'd gone and found something for them to watch after they'd eaten. Which they'd done at the dining table. Before bringing Callum home Rory had almost always eaten food from a tray on his lap, or directly out of its container. And always in front of the tv. But Callum looked so happy and proud to be eating at a table that Rory always ate there now.

Except now, Rory was lying awake in bed watching Callum who had started to sigh through his nose and furrow his brow and twitch. He had started to whimper in his throat and give just the tiniest shake of his head from time to time. And despite the fact that something was clearly on his mind and wanted to come out, he never opened his mouth.

As was so often the case, Callum turned, shifted, rolled to his front and drew his arms behind himself to hold his wrists together before settling into the position. It seemed to have the desired effect and he quieted. Rory only realised that he had been frowning himself when Callum settled, the ache of the muscles in his jaw and across his forehead a reminder to relax.

He blinked through the darkness that was alleviated only by the night light that Callum had brought into the room with him, needing to be certain that Callum was ok before he closed his eyes and let himself drift off.

Stupid slow boy.

A whimper.

Open your mouth, wretch. You don't deserve to be my pet.

A shake of the head.

Go on, bite on your muzzle. Didn't I tell you when you got here? I'll weld this on.

Shaking, shaking, shaking.

Last thing on your list little creature. Remember?

A scream behind closed lips.

Rory shot up in bed, the noise that Callum was making having scared him so much that he was shaking with nerves. He scrambled for the bedside lamp, trembling fingers fluffing the motion until finally, finally he got the light on and could see what was happening.

Callum was caught up, twisted in his multitude of blankets with his hands pressed firmly into the small of his back. One blanket had wrapped itself across the lower half of his face and he was close-mouthed bellowing, sweating and kicking. Rolling and trapped in the bedding and in his head. In his dream. In his nightmare.

"Cal!" Rory shouted at him, grabbing at the blankets and trying to prise them free. "Cal wake up, wake up you're ok!"

Callum struggled beneath Rory's hands, eyes still firmly shut, teeth clamped tightly together with noises that sounded more animal than human. Rory pulled and pulled at the blankets, freeing Callum inch by slow inch.

"Come on bud," Rory muttered through gritted teeth as he worked his way through the layers that were keeping Callum down. He was panicking beneath Rory's hands, still with his mouth shut, still making noises.

With a final heaving yank on the last blanket trapping him in, Rory got at him, pressing his hands to each side of Callum's face. As soon as he did so, Callum's eyes opened and his hands flew from behind his back to grab at Rory's wrists. He opened his mouth and shouted in panic and tried to twist away, his eyes not focusing on any one thing. Rory kept hold of his face, maintained the even and steady pressure of his palms to Callum's cheeks and leaned in to touch his forehead to Callum's sweat-slick brow.

"Sweetheart it's ok, it's ok, it's ok," Rory whispered it over and over, continuing until Callum stopped shouting. Until he stopped twisting and kicking. Until his eyes finally locked on to Rory's, up so close that he could barely see them properly. His trembling carried on, wracking through his muscles one shudder at a time while his breathing slowly, so very slowly, came back under his control.

Rory held on. He didn't let go. He pressed his presence and his reassurances into Callum's skin with his hands. He pressed his care to Callum's mouth with his lips. He pressed his security to Callum's mind with his whispers. He pressed and pressed until Callum's muscles relaxed. Until his eyes flickered shut and open then shut.

And he held on until morning.

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