#she’s like why can’t you walk them instead of letting them in the yard

[golden-girl-daisy]

How do y’all deal with a neighbor that hates your dog? I’ve lived in a double for a few years and one of the newest people that moved in hates Honey with a passion. Honey barked once in the backyard this morning around six when someone she’s never met went into a neighboring backyard to smoke a cigarette. I brought her in as soon as she started barking but this new neighbor texted me vitriol about how she can never sleep because Honey barks occasionally and that I shouldn’t use our shared backyard (the reason I moved to this place). I’ve never had a single neighbor complain about her before and the most she barks is like three separate barks throughout the night but l can almost always get her back in and quiet before she barks twice in a row. Leia can’t sleep through the night without going out but this neighbor expects them not to go out at all between 10pm and 10am.

[f1smutwriter]

so excited to see that youre willing to write about so many drivers i feel like a lot of them do not get enough love. anywhooo maybe arthur x pierres younger sister, where everyone always thought they’d get together and pierre was always just like “no. not gonna happen” but it definitely happened anyway 😩 ly pookie definitely wont be my last time requesting 💁‍♀️

|𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲 (𝐚𝐥𝟏𝟐)

Arthur Leclerc x little!Gasly reader

Summary: Little Leclerc and Little Gasly aren’t so little anymore. They end up showing each other their true feelings but how would their brothers react

Warning: nothing just me ugly crying while writing this

Notes: Stop girl thank you so much. I do feel like a lot of the drivers get unappreciated. I love your energy and yes please request more would love to hear your ideas ♡︎

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April 9, 2005

“Look at them both, they’re so cute” Pascale said to mine and Pierre’s mom as they see me and Arthur in the front yard riding bikes together when our older brothers are at karting practice with our dads.

“I feel like those two are gonna get together in the future” My mom said to Pascale while smiling on the front porch drinking tea together. “Arthur you can’t do that you have to go straight no zigzag” I told Arthur the rules again to our game we were playing. “petit lapin that wasn’t part of the rules” he told me while still going in zigzags. “Thur play fair, and y/n that wasn’t in the rules” Enzo said making sure we didn’t argue anymore making Arthur stop and me pouting.

“Look at her pout” Pascale said to my mom pointing at my pout on my face. “Watch he’s gonna feel bad” Pascale laughed softly and without a heart beat Arthur came to me and said sorry. “I’m sorry petit lapin I won’t zigzag anymore” He said to me while holding my hand making me laugh a little.

When I see my dad’s car in the drive way I run to it wanting to see my older brother and Charles. Once they got out the car they had their bags in their hands making me help them. “Soleil it’s too heavy for you” Pierre said to me before kissing my head making me pout because I wanted to help. I skip over to my dad and jump into his arms “Papa I won racing with Arthur” I said to my dad while Arthur is talking with my brother and Arthur “I let her win” he whispered to them loud enough for me to hear.

“Hey no you didn’t I won fair and square” I say pouting at him not liking that he said he let me win. “Okay, okay I’m sorry you won fair and square” He said telling my little five year old self before I skipped to my mom and Pascale. “She could barely reach the petals so Enzo gave her a push” he laughed before going to me and the mom’s. “Maman can I have some water” I asked my mom when she put me on her lap. “Go ask your brother mon amour” she told me softly before kissing my head softly. Instead of asking my brother I skip to Arthur. “Thur can you help me get water” I asked with my puppy dog eyes that got him every time. Without a second to waste he gets up and walks with me to the kitchen.

“Soleil why didn’t you ask me” Pierre called out from the porch stair where him and Charles were talking. “Because Thur does it better” I shouted back before going back to Arthur. “I hope you know she has a crush on my brother” Charles said chuckling to Pierre who was an upset. “No she doesn’t, she’s not allowed to have crushes anytime soon” Pierre said a bit angrily not liking the idea of his little sister having a crush.

“Sorry buddy but she does” Our mom said while chuckling softly while sipping a bit of her tea. All of a sudden they hear my giggles from the kitchen, they all look inside and see me on Arthur’s back as he spins me around a bit. “Told ya” Charles chuckled before making Pierre roll his eyes staring at his little sister and his best friends little brother.

October 14, 2010

“Thur where are you” I call out from outside his room. When he didn’t answer I went to Charles room. “Cha have you seen Thur I have his present but he’s not opening his door” I asked holding his birthday present in my hand. “Yeah he told me to tell you to go in the tree house” Charles said while doing his hair. “Thank you cha” I giggled before running to the tree house hearing Arthur.

“Thur” I sang from the bottom of the tree house before giggling when I see him stick his head out. “petit lapin what are you doing here” he asked me looking confused on why I was at the house so early. “Got you a present that I want you to open in private” I said softly before climbing the ladder to the tree house. He just smile at me helping me up the last step before looking at the present in my hand. “You didn’t have to petit lapin I don’t expect anything” he whispered softly to me holding my hand still.

“Here open” I squealed excitedly giving him the present. He just smiled at my reaction before opening it and seeing a red bracelet. “I know your favorite color is red because of Ferrari so I made you a red bracelet, so that one day when you become a Ferrari driver you have a perfect bracelet” I explain before looking at him. “Do you like it” I asked him before feeling him pull me into a hug. “I love it Mon petit lapin” he whispered softly into my ear making me smile before hugging him back.

“Love you Thur” I whispered to him softly. “I love you too Mon petit lapin” he whispered back to me before we get called down by Charles and Pierre. We get down and Pierre sees the red bracelet on Arthur’s wrist. “She spent all day and night making that for you” he whispered to Arthur before looking at his little sister who was laughing with Charles about something stupid Charles had said. “Really” Arthur mumbled not believing that his petit lapin did that for him. On that very day he realized he was gonna be friends with her forever.

February 14, 2016

“No Thur it’s embarrassing everyone has a valentine but me” I mumbled against my pillow as he just chuckled rubbing my back. “Come on petit lapin, it’s not that bad” he laughed making me groan loudly in my pillow. “It is bad because even you have a date” I grumbled looking at him holding the teddy bear that he got me at the fair. “Your fifteen do you really need a valentine” he says to me softy rubbing my leg to make me feel better.

“You act like you’re so much older then me” I say smiled before looking at him with a bigger smile. “Go have fun your girl is probably waiting for you” I encouraged him to go have fun while holding my bear. “You sure because I don’t have to go” he asked me groan. “Yes go don’t be miserable here with me go have fun on your date Thur” I reassured him before I see him get up and walk out the door to go get ready for his date.

I sigh going into the kitchen and getting by all the good snacks we had. My mom just comes and sees me confused “what’s wrong Mon amour” she asked me seeing me get the good snacks. “No Valentine equals a very sad day maman” I said with a sad smile trying to lighten up the mood. “It’s okay Mon amour there will be many men lined up for you soon” she reassured me kissing my head before going back upstairs.

A few hours I hear the doorbell, then I hear my mom call me down stairs. “Y/n it’s for you amour” she called for me from the door. I groaned getting with my big pajama pants and Pierre’s hoodie that i never gave back going down stairs. “Who is it” I asked from the stairs before going to the door seeing Arthur with a big box of chocolate chips cookies along with white and pink tulips. “Wow look at you she’s gonna love it” I said softly with a smile before fixing his glasses that I loved on him. “Do you like it” he asked me with a smile as I fix his glasses. “Of course I do and she will too” I replied before looking at the beautiful flowers again.

“Well then my girl here are your favorite flowers and since you hate chocolate and can’t be normal whatsoever here is your cookies with chocolate that make no sense” he says to me giving me the flowers and cookies. “Thur what are you doing” I asked him holding the flowers and cookies. “Y/n Gasly, my petit lapin will you do me such an honor of being my Valentine” he questioned making me look up at him with a huge smile on your face. “Are you being serious right now” I asked almost about to cry from the sweet gesture.

“Actually now that I think about it I asked the wrong Gasly” he grinned at me making my eyes roll automatically. “Your stupid Leclerc” I said before hugging him wrapping my arms around his neck. “Not as stupid as you Gasly” he whispered to me wrapping his arms around my waist. My mom and dad just looking at us with awe on their faces when Arthur did all that for me. “I got more stuff in the car like food from your favorite restaurant, your favorite drink and everything else Mon petit lapin” he said softly kissing my head making me look up at him with the biggest smile on my face.

That was the day I realized I was in love with Arthur Leclerc.

November 18, 2023

Me and Arthur are walking down the strip of Las Vegas for the very first time. “This is Las Vegas, don’t really get the hype” Arthur laughed while walking around and looking at all the buildings. “Well Las Vegas is about gambling and drinking so” I giggled swinging our hands back and forth. “Yeah my pockets are done for the day” he told me before we walk in the lobby of our hotel. “Wanna go bother Pierre and Charles” I asked him with a slight smile on my face making him chuckle. “Let’s go” he says dragging me to the poker game they were playing with the other f1 drivers

“Hey tripod” I say to my brother before kissing his cheek and placing my head on his shoulder. “Soleil go bother someone else like max he’s winning right now” he whispered to me so no one else heard him. “No he scares me” I whispered back making him laugh and me just giggle. “Just go please and I’ll buy you sushi tomorrow” he offered making me going over to max placing my chin on his shoulder. “Max verstappen what are you doing on this fine evening” I say before he looks at me making me smile big and bright.

“Trying to ignore a certain Gasly” he says back with the same smile making me laugh. “Okay, okay I’m sorry please forgive me” I said before going to Arthur and sitting next to him at the booth where the rest of the drivers were. “I just realized is little Leclerc and Little Gasly dating” Max Fewtrell asked Lando who was drinking his drink. “Yeah they’ve been dating for like a while now, I think their childhood sweetheart.

“Wanna go back up and order room service” Arthur asked me while rubbing my thigh softly. “Always” I whispered before getting up off him and going to the elevators. “I still can’t believe you still have this” I say holding his hand and pointing at the red bracelet I made on his twelfth birthday. “A very special girl made it for me” he whispered softly to me before we walk to the room. “Yeah how special is she” I asked softly still holding his hand.

“Well she’s really special, the day she made me this was the day I fell in love with her” he says to me softly making me stop in my tracks. “W-what” I stuttered softly not believing the words that came out of his mouth. “I said the day she made me this was the day I fell in love with her, even though it was my twelfth birthday and she was 10 I fell hard” he whispered softly to me making me tear up.

“Please tell me you’re not joking, because if you are imma die Leclerc” I ranted fast making him look at me with his smile. “Never Mon petit lapin” he said before holding my face and kissing me. I kiss him back the guy I’ve loved for the past eleven years. The boy I had a crush on at five years old. I was kissing him I was finally kissing him.

He pulled away putting his forehead on mine. “I love you so much Mon petit lapin” he says while he tucks a piece of my hair behind my ear. “I love you so much more Thur” I say back tearing up happy tears now that I finally had the love of my life in my arms. He kissed me the man that I’ve been in love with for eleven years counting finally kissed me.

———

March 6 2024

“Gosh this feels so surreal” Charles said fixing Pierre’s and his bow ties in the back room. “I know I mean I always knew they were gonna end up together but wow it doesn’t feel real” Pierre said softly tearing up realizing his little sister his Soleil was gonna get married. He hugs Charles tearing up in his shoulder as Charles tears up with him.

“Oh come on I can’t have my best men cry on me” Arthur says before hugging them both softly laughing at the two. “Bunch of cry babies” he teased them before Pierre pulls away. “Hey my baby sister is gonna be a Leclerc let me have my moment” Pierre told him before wiping away his tears and looking at Arthur. My dad calls for Arthur telling him it’s time. “Promise me you’ll take care of her” Pierre said looking at him with a smile.

“I promise” Arthur said back before hugging him quickly making his way down to the doors where everyone is. They open the door for him and he walks down the aisle first seeing everyone he loves is there. His mom, my mom, all our friends and family. He makes it down to where the priest is taking his spot before all the maid of honors and best men walked down with each other. After then were the flower girls spreading white and pink tulip petals. After them I come in with my arm entangled with my dad’s as he tears up and tells me how much he loves me. He walks me down to my spot in front of Arthur where he mouths to me with tears in his eyes how beautiful I was.

The priest starts the reception not hearing anything but just staring at Arthur with so much love in my eyes showing him I couldn’t wait to be his forever. “Do you y/n, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to live together in matrimony, to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, in sorrow and in joy, to have and to hold, from this day forward, as long as you both shall live” the priest says to me making me squeeze his hands a bit making sure he knows I will first. “I do” I say softly while looking into Arthur’s eyes.

“And Do you Arthur, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to live together in matrimony, to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, in sorrow and in joy, to have and to hold, from this day forward, as long as you both shall live” the priest asked Arthur making him squeeze my hand like I did to him. “I do” he said back to me making a smile pop up on my face along with tears. I turn around and grab the wedding band from Kika and he turns around to grab it from Pierre. I slide it on his ring finger as he slides his on mine.

“I know pronounce you husband and wife, Arthur you may now kiss your bride” he said making Arthur grab me and kiss me softly. Feeling the feeling I’ve had in my body for eleven years slowly come back. I kissed him back before pulling away as everyone is clapping for us. I grab his hand and we both walk down the aisle hand in hand going to the car to go to our honeymoon. I kiss him one last time before kissing and hugging everyone good bye before I get in the car where Arthur is waiting for me. “So Mrs. Leclerc Gasly where would you like to go first” Arthur asked me as he puts the car in drive.

“Anywhere you are Mr. Leclerc Gasly” I said before rolling down our windows and driving off wherever we will go. Only we know that and that’s only for us to know.

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Notes: I’m not crying you are. I know you asked me something so little but I just had to make it um how do you say it. ✨extra✨ which made the story a masterpiece. I did this scene twice because I forgot to save it and I left and everything went with me sooo. I really hope you like it and more story’s coming soon.

[avoxrising]

The Feral One • Ch 10

Finnick x Y/N

Series Masterlist Link

I don’t know if I’ll have time to post tomorrow so I’m posting an extra chapter tonight. Sorry in advance for this one…

Content Warnings - Death, violence, mayhem, people get captured

After you calmed down, Finnick carried you down to the beach to spend the afternoon with the rest of the group. They all kept their distance but you were too exhausted to try anything. You ended up sleeping for the first real time in the arena.

You were asleep for so long, you woke up to find a fresh bandage on your arm and some bread from District 3 being split amongst the group. Finnick brought you some bread and water as he sat down to watch the sunset with you.

You can’t talk anymore, not even to him. It’s like your voice has run dry and nothing will come out. You don’t even know what you would say though. He seems content enough to just sit in silence with you.

Nighttime falls and the group makes the trip up to the tree again. Finnick lets you walk in front of him but he has to help you at some of the steep parts. You fight the urge to claw at him every time he touches you, despite the fact you are telling yourself that he is safe. He wouldn’t hurt you.

At the tree, Finnick helps Beetee with the wire. You sit down close by, waiting for something bad to happen. The game makers haven’t had a death in awhile.

You emerge from your thoughts as Beetee hands the spool of wire to Katniss and Johanna, instructing them to take it down to the water.

“I’m going to go with them as guard,” Peeta states.

“No,” Beetee states. “You’re too slow.”

They continue to argue a bit before Peeta relents and let’s Katniss go with Johanna. Splitting them up must be part of the plan.

They don’t question why Beetee doesn’t split you up from Finnick. He’s the only one who can control you. None of them want to go anywhere with you if he isn’t tagging along.

Finnick and Beetee are whispering to each other, putting you and Peeta on edge. What are they planning? They seem to come to a consensus when the wire goes slack. Someone must have cut it.

“Stay with her,” Finnick tells Peeta. “I’ll go find them.”

Peeta goes to protest but Finnick has already bolted off into the jungle.

“Do you think they’re ok?” he asks you.

You shake your head no.

Moments later you hear a zap and see Beetee sprawled out in the grass. He must have made contact with the force field. There’s a cut on his arm that you didn’t notice before. When did that happen?

Seeing Beetee, Peeta quickly takes off towards where the girls went, scared that you’ll be set off at any moment. A cannon goes off and all you can hope is that it wasn’t Finnick.

You can hear people yelling and screaming. People must be fighting. You’re too exposed here.

You make your decision, you have to hide before you go rogue. Bolting into the trees, you look for one that would be easy to climb. You find one a few minutes later but quickly realize that you can’t climb it with one arm. Instead, you huddle down at the base of it, hoping people will go towards the fighting and not you.

It’s minutes later when you hear the loudest boom you think you’ve ever heard in your life. Finnick is screaming for you but it must be a trap. Why would he want you to go close to the explosion?

Pieces of the arena fall from the sky and you realize this must be the plan Finnick was talking about. He must be calling you to the pickup point.

At this revelation, you start running towards him, colliding with someone in the process.

“Where’s Katniss?” an out of breath Peeta asks you. You point towards the explosion, guessing that’s where she is headed.

Peeta makes it two yards before a dart flies into his neck and sends him to the ground. You want to scream but are cut off by a sharp pain in your neck, followed by darkness.

You wake up to a white room, the cuffs digging into the bandaged cut on your wrist. The smell of this place is recognizable. You must be in a capital hospital.

The door to your room clicks open and Snow approaches with his guards.

“Miss Y/L/N,” he states. “I’m disappointed to see that not much has changed since the last time I saw you.”

You glare at him, which only makes him smile.

“Tell me what you know about the plan,” he commands. You shake your head. You really don’t know much.

Snow furrows his brows and a sudden pain flashes through you.

“Miss Y/L/N,” he states. “You know how much I value honestly. Tell me what you know about the plan.” You shake your head again and feel another pulse of pain, darkness creeping in at the corners of your vision.

“I see you’ve decided to be difficult again,” Snow chuckles. “Very well. Plan B it is.”

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[freesia-writes]

Ch 26: Confrontation

Master List ~~ Previous Chapter ~~ WC: 2.2k

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Song: “Already Gone” by Sleeping At Last (Cover)

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The afternoon was beginning to lose its battle against evening as Hunter wove his way through the trees, his gut protesting each step along the familiar path. His mind was racing so quickly that he was utterly lost in it all, instead trying to simply focus on where he was going rather than what he would do when we got there. He pushed up the sleeves of his flannel shirt, then pulled them back down, then tugged at the waistband of his brown pants. As the sound of the sea grew louder, he emerged from the densely wooded forest into the meadows that sloped toward the cliffs above the ocean. The rickety white fence greeted him with its crooked posts grinning in a cruel smile, and he pulled the gate open with more force than he intended, stalking toward the cottage and trudging right up to the front door.

He knocked, three hard blows that sounded as angry as he felt. 

No response. 

He listened intently for any trace of motion or sound within. 

Nothing. 

He turned abruptly and walked around the side of the house, scanning the backyard and garden until his eyes settled on her form, bent over some vegetable plants as she pulled weeds without a care in the world.

Without a care in the world.

Hunter took a deep breath, setting his jaw with deliberation to avoid letting his emotions get the best of him. Strategy, he reminded himself. Everything came down to strategy. There was no point in abandoning reason, no matter how relentlessly the pain churned his stomach. He approached slowly, making a point to step on some dry twigs to announce his presence. Lyra stood up, shifting the basket on her arm as she glanced around the yard. Her brown hair was in a loose braid, her soft form covered by a rather shapeless cream-colored dress with a long brown cardigan on top. 

Then she saw him. 

The basket almost slipped from her elbow, but she caught it with a white-knuckled grip as she stared at him, mouth falling open slightly as a myriad of emotions flashed across her face. Hunter was surprised to see how they mimicked his own, and the sheer amount of thoughts and feelings attacking all at once created a sudden wave of nausea. He came within a few paces of her and stopped, keeping a healthy distance between them as his hands fidgeted at his side before he stopped them with tightly-crossed arms. 

“What are you doing here?” he growled, a million critical thoughts besieging him immediately at his question.

“I live here,” Lyra pointed out, eyebrows drawing together. “But you’ve got a lot of nerve just tromping right into my backyard… after what you did.” Her anger felt brittle, a thin veil over the sadness that threatened to spill out along with the tears in her eyes.

“What I did?” Hunter echoed, dropping his arms to his side as he stared at her in disbelief. “What I did?! That’s rich. Why didn’t you just turn me in from the start? Why drag me to some other planet? Why just me, and not all of us?” The questions were flowing freely now, and his frustration at his own lack of control made it all feel that much worse. “You call it in and then disappear, like a coward… Couldn’t stand to watch the consequences of your own actions?” 

“What?” came her dumbfounded retort, and the shock in her eyes gave him pause before the dragon in his chest rose again. 

“Now you’re going to play dumb?” he challenged, relishing her flicker of hurt before charging onward. “Came back to finish the job and you’re still pretending like you don’t know what’s going on?”

“Hunter, you left me!” she exclaimed, eyes glistening. “I cared for you, let you in… And you turned around and sold me out without even knowing all the facts!”

“Sold you out…” 

“Were you just waiting all along until you could get both of us? How long did you know?”

“About what?” he challenged, anger and hurt battling for center stage as he stared at her beneath hard brows.

“Never mind. I can’t believe you’re turning this around on me,” Lyra said, voice cracking with emotion. She turned away, shoulders hunched in despair as she quickly wiped her eyes. 

“Are they coming here next?” Hunter continued, taking a step closer.

“Who?” she asked, whirling back to face him. 

“Whoever you thought you could make a quick buck from,” he muttered, fighting back the lump rising in his throat, furious at its mere existence. “Is that why you came back? The Empire isn’t very forgiving when you don’t deliver. Must have been a real bummer that I got away, eh?” 

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she said, face contorted with despair. “I came back to the hotel to find it swarming with Imperials. They were looking for us. They knew I was there. Breslin, too. I heard one of them say ‘they’ll be back, he said so.’ What does that sound like to you?” 

He took a breath, mouth open and mind racing, but the words didn’t come, so he snapped his jaw shut, pressing his lips together in a thin line as he stared at her. The complete impassivity on his face hurt her more than his sharp words ever could, and Lyra turned away again, throwing her basket on the ground nearby. Hunter’s brows furrowed more deeply, and he rubbed his face with a hand before starting again. 

“You’re a traitor to the Republic,” he said quietly, every word laced with vitriol. “It’s not my fault they found you – you probably gave yourself away trying to turn me in.” 

“Turn you in for what?!” she yelled, kicking the basket before whirling back to face him.

“Why are you still pretending to be innocent? That you don’t know?” Hunter said, voice rising to match hers. All sense of strategy had flown out the window, and he found himself wanting to hurt her, to exact revenge for every single moment she’d tricked him into thinking he could be happy. “That we’re clones, wanted by the Empire, harboring fugitives, on the run?” Each inflection was a verbal stab, but instead of any kind of dark revelation at being exposed, Lyra’s expression grew increasingly shocked with each admission. 

“Clones…?” she repeated, face scrunched in disbelief. Her befuddlement seemed so authentic that Hunter was beginning to feel as though he were the crazy one. But what other explanation was there? He continued to glare, emanating rage and indignation as he watched her like a hawk, scrambling to make sense of the conflicting information from her words and the events that had transpired. 

“Why else would the Empire have called an entire squadron on our hotel room, right after you conveniently disappeared? After you…” his voice broke, and he swallowed hard. “After you kissed me on the forehead and said you were sorry. Sorry for what?” The pain was threatening to overtake the anger, but he clenched his fists at his sides.

“Sorry for keeping things from you,” she whispered, tears spilling down her cheeks now. Her resolve was melting by the second, chipping away at his own fortified defenses. “About my past… About Breslin… The truth about all that had happened. I thought I could leave it behind.” 

Hunter took a deep breath, glowering at her as though it could drive the answers out into the open. It didn’t. The two of them stood in the garden, each one rooted in angry confusion and insulting misunderstanding. Lyra was slowly wilting, unable to look at him. When the discomfort grew to an unbearable pressure, she began to speak, exhaling her story in miserable resignation. 

“I thought I was working for a simple political office on Coruscant. But I found out they were doing some weird experiments. Totally unethical and downright cruel… something about cloning or DNA stripping… I tried to expose it; I gathered some evidence and took it above my boss’s head. I thought I was doing the right thing… But I went to the wrong people. They were in on it too.” 

She stopped, grief overtaking her for a moment as she sniffed, looking to the sky and willing the tears to stop. Hunter waited, motionless. 

“So they threw me in prison to make sure I wouldn’t talk anymore, spun some story about how I was a traitor, and the Republic became the Empire overnight. I’d given Breslin the evidence and made escape plans for her with a friend before they took me away. I was in jail for weeks, and I started to see how other inmates would just vanish without a trial or anything… So when some shady pirate dressed as a guard came by and offered me a chance to get out and disappear, I took it.”

Now it was she who paused for a shuddering breath and wiped her eyes again, still unable to meet his gaze. 

“I tried to find Breslin, but her transport had been attacked. Our friend was killed, and I had no idea where she ended up. The pirate conned me out of almost everything I had, talked me into some ‘deluxe package��� to keep me safe. Turns out it was a load of Bantha fodder – a pile of cheap weapons and explosives. What was I supposed to do with that? But he found a safe place for me to live, and I was able to get some long-range communications equipment so I could keep looking for her.”

“What, so you could get the evidence back?” 

“No,” Lyra said, finally looking up at him in offense. “Because Breslin is my daughter.”

Hunter stared wordlessly. 

“I had her when I was young and dumb. We almost grew up together. Then all of this happened. I felt horrible for dragging her into it. I never should have given it to her. I put her in danger too. And then I lost her… for years,” her voice cracked, and she clamped her mouth shut, turning away as her shoulders shook with irrepressible grief. “I would change a million things about it if I could. So many stupid decisions. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

Seconds ticked by. 

“Apparently, Breslin settled down on Keytoll,” Lyra continued, lifting her chin to the horizon. “She changed her name to Neon, shaved her head… Made some friends, got a good job in data encryption. When she dug into the evidence I’d given her, she realized it was nothing she wanted to be caught up in, so she hid it and moved on. Claimed that her hobby was playing around with radios, technology, and communicators while she tried to reach me. But we hadn’t had time to set up any kind of code or whatnot. She was the smart one who broadcast a message with some childhood memories disguised as an audioholo that I picked up. Anyway… I found her… I thought we could come back here and be safe… just live simple lives without the constant fear of looking over our shoulders…”

Hunter hated how much that same yearning resonated deeply with him. 

“I don’t know how they found us, if it wasn’t you,” she said softly, turning back to face him with a scrutinizing expression. “We hid on Keytoll for the last few months, came up with a plan. Well, Breslin did. She had some contact that turned out to be the same pirate who helped me escape from prison. He had quite a... bold... personality. Tried to con us again, but she was smart enough to catch it. So with his help, we faked our deaths, published it to the right sources… Then I came back here in the hopes of moving on once and for all.”

“And Breslin?”

“Somewhere safe.”

“More secrets?” His eyes narrowed.

“Why would I tell you?” Lyra retorted, her anger returning. 

He remained silent, the deep hurt of betrayal and loss of trust muddied by the utter confusion and sheer overload of information. 

“Besides,” she continued, advancing on him now. “What’s all this about you? You’re a clone? A fugitive?” 

Hunter shifted on his feet, furious at himself for having revealed his hand in a moment of recklessness. He still wasn’t sure what to believe anymore. It sounded like a plausible story, but he’d been so shamefully fooled by her entire facade that it could be yet another cover-up, a ploy to let his guard down again for whatever else she needed. Perhaps she wanted to protect her own place of safety by taking him elsewhere for capture. He shook his head, rattling the thoughts out of the way, and met her gaze. Two pairs of brown eyes locked in hurt and outrage. 

“There’s all kinds of stories out there. Same as you… Lies of the Empire to get rid of any opposition.”

“Oh, now you’re gonna be vague?”

“Yes.”

They stared at each other. 

Lyra looked down at her basket, its contents strewn across the ground, then wrapped her arms around herself as though barely holding it together. She glanced back up to him with a single, profound look. 

“Take care, Hunter.” 

And with that, she turned toward the house, picking her way through the garden beds with slow, defeated steps. Hunter’s eyes darted back and forth across the ground in front of him, lips twitching, then he crossed his arms again. 

“Just giving up and running away?” he called after her, despising every word as it came out. 

Lyra stopped, head hanging low, and he watched her shoulders slump beneath the weight of his cruel accusation. She began to turn, but hesitated, tightened her arms around herself, and continued into the house, disappearing inside without a backward glance. 

.

Song: A Great Big World & Christina Aguilera – Say Something Lyrics | Genius Lyrics

.

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[milfsloverblog]

Life Eternal (part 2)

Can you see me longing for you forever?

Larissa Weems x former student fem!reader

A/N: Thank you to anyone who enjoyed the first chapter and asked for more! Still inspired by some of my life events. Title again from one of my fav Ghost song (you should really listen to it, just for some more angst).

TW: alcohol consumption

You have no idea how long the two of you stayed in each other’s arms, Larissa’s body gently swaying as she rubbed soothing circles on your back. You didn’t want to let go and it seemed like she didn’t either.

“We should go back outside.” Larissa eventually said but made no move to pull away from you.

Just one more minute, please.

“We should.” You agreed and reluctantly let go of the tall woman.

“Let me take a good look at you, it’s been so long.” Larissa said as her hand cupped your cheek to lift your head.

It took all of your strength not to close your eyes and nuzzle your face in her palm, instead letting your eyes roam on her face like hers did on yours. You loved everything about her. From her sapphire eyes to the dent on the tip of her nose to the scar that slashed through her lip.

“You haven’t changed at all.” You said when your eyes locked with hers again. You are still the most beautiful woman in the world.

“You have. You’ve grown into a beautiful young woman.” Larissa smiled and her hand dropped back to the side of her body, making you miss its warmth instantly.

There was a moment of silence between the two of you that lasted until Larissa eventually moved toward the door.

“Perhaps afterward we could visit the Weathervane for a hot chocolate? I would love to catch up and hear about all those adventures you’ve been on during those five years. Do you still like it with whipped cream and cinnamon?” Larissa offered, half turning to look at you.

I can’t. I can’t spend the evening with you as if I had never left. I can’t bare the thought of opening up to you. I can not let you build a nest inside my heart again, Larissa.

And there it was again, that look of expectancy in her eyes. Why did she keep hoping all those years, couldn’t she just forget about you like you had tried so hard to do about her? Had she even tried at all?

“I think I could use something stronger.” Was all you could answer. You should have said no, but you couldn’t disappoint her.

“Of course, I know a nice place downtown. I will take us there once everyone is gone.” Larissa gave a nod and opened the door, waiting for you to walk out of her office.

You were back in the yard in a few long strides, taking deep breaths of fresh air hoping it would ease the loud ringing in your ears.

You had no choice but to make small talk to a few people from your past when Enid grabbed your arms and dragged you to one of the tables. It seemed like everyone had settled into their life. Most had a nice job, were in a steady relationship and some were even married. As you found out, none of them were madly in love with a woman twice their age.

From time to time you’d look around the yard, hoping to catch a glimpse of Larissa’s tall figure, only for your heart to skip a beat each time your eyes met.

“Promise me you’ll call more often!” Enid said as she gave you a tight goodbye hug.

“I promise I’ll try.” You nodded, catching Wednesday smirking at your answer.

What a strange couple they made, you thought as they walked away into the parking lot. Opposite attracts. At least you hoped that was true, that might give you a chance with-

“Well, it looks like everyone is gone.” Larissa’s voice snapped you out of your thoughts. “You can wait by the car, darling, I just need to fetch my keys.”

You were surprised to see that she was still driving that old minivan, surely that thing should have been sent to the scrapyard a long time ago.

Larissa turned on the engine which in turn turned on the radio, Lovesong by The Cure instantly filling the car. Larissa moved to turn it off but you quickly grabbed her arm to prevent her from doing so.

“Is it still your favourite?” She asked and you answered with a nod. Of course it was. It was the song Larissa used to introduce you to her favourite band.

Whenever I'm alone with you
You make me feel like I am home again
Whenever I'm alone with you
You make me feel like I am whole again

You looked through the window and bit on the inside of your cheeks. Everything about this song reminded you of her.

“Whenever I’m alone with you, you make me feel like I am young again.” Larissa softly sang along to the lyrics. “Whenever I’m alone with you, you make me feel like I am fun again.”

Her fingers gently drummed on the steering wheel and your eyes drifted to her face, your heart swelling with yearning when you barely audibly whispered the next lyrics.

However far away
I will always love you
However long I stay
I will always love you

You sighed in relief when the song came to an end and Larissa parked the car outside the bar.

“I’ve been here a couple of times, it’s very cosy and usually not too noisy.” She said as she pulled the door to let you in.

The place was dimly lit, people sat in booths with seating made out of leather and velvet. There were mouldings on the ceiling and the wooden walls were covered in framed artwork. It felt chic, expensive and, you dared to think, a little romantic.

“Have a seat, darling.” Larissa said, her hand on the small of your back gently pushing you towards an empty booth.

“Do you remember the first time I had alcohol?” You asked her once you had settled down and the waiter had taken your order - a bottle of red, which Larissa picked, and an antipasti board to share.

“If I remember?” Larissa laughed and shook her head a little at the memory. “I felt guilty for weeks!”

It had been on your eighteenth birthday. The two of you had shared a glass of rosé and a piece of cheesecake that she’d bought from the Weathervane for the occasion. She’d made you swear that you wouldn’t tell anyone she had let you sip on her wine.

“Good thing I’m legally allowed to drink now, then.” You grinned when the waiter poured you a glass.

You weren’t sure wether it was a good thing or not, actually. Alcohol had a tendency to loosen your tongue, you had found out through the years, and you usually weren’t what they called a “happy” kind of drunk.

“To friendship that lasts, even after years apart!” Larissa smiled, raising her glass.

“To friendship.” You nodded and clinked your glass against hers. You would need more than wine if she used the word friendship again.

“So,” Larissa put her glass down after taking a sip. “Tell me everything, I want to know everything that you’ve done since graduating.”

So you told her. You told her about going to university and failing. Picking up another course only to realise mid-year that you didn’t like it. Twice. How you struggled to find your place, how nothing ever seemed to be distracting enough.

“What did you need to be distracted from?” Larissa suddenly cut you off, her chin resting on her hand as she listened to you.

You. I needed to be distracted from your memory. I needed to find something, anything to replace you. But to no avail. The heart wants what it wants, and mine wanted you, it still does.

“Who knows?” You shrugged and thanked the waiter who had just placed the food on the table.

“And now? Have you found what you were looking for?” Larissa asked, worry painted on her features. “I could always help if you need anything. You were a brilliant student, I’m sure I could find you a nice job if you let me give a couple of phone calls.”

Have I found what I was looking for?

“I go from job to job. It’s not as bad as it sounds. It gives me the opportunity to try many, many things.” You picked an olive from the board and popped it in your mouth, washing it down with a few sips of wine.

That’s when you noticed them, the two women sitting together in the booth at the back of the bar. One as young as you and the other one closer to Larissa’s age. They could have been mistaken for a mother and her daughter if it wasn’t for the fact that they had chosen to sit next to each other rather than one on each side of the table.

“Are you with me?” Larissa waved her hand in front of your face, your eyes immediately snapping back to hers.

She poured you another glass as well as one for herself and started talking again. You tried your best to listen to what she was saying, you really did, but after a few seconds, your attention was back on the two women across the room.

There they were, their hands gently intertwined, sharing soft laughters and stolen glances. Their connection was palpable, their love radiating like an aura around them. A pang of longing coursed through your body. How badly you yearned for something like this.

“Is everything alright?” Larissa’s hand was on yours now, her eyes searching for yours. “Why are you crying? You know that you can tell me anything.”

“Crying?” You repeated, your free hand moving to wipe your cheeks. When had tears started rolling down your face?

“Fuck, I can’t do this.” You said before emptying your glass and getting on your feet. You grabbed your jacket and pulled a few bills from its pocket, enough to pay for both Larissa and yourself.

“Wait-“ You heard the tall woman say but you were already on your way to the door.

Hot tears flooded your cheeks as you walked down the street, ignoring the tall woman calling your name a few feet behind you.

“For heaven’s sake!” Larissa grabbed your arm and yanked you back. “What is wrong with you?!”

“What is wrong with me?!” You laughed, tears still falling from your eyes. You needed to get away from her before your loosened tongue started saying things that you could never take back. “I’m going back to Nevermore, getting in my car and leaving this hell hole. Forever this time.”

If your words hurt Larissa, she didn’t let it show. Choosing instead to cup your face ever so gently. You had tried hating her, but how could you?

“Let me take you to a hotel. You will have a good night of sleep and we’ll talk in the morning. How does that sound?” She offered, her thumb caressing your cheek.

You silently nodded in agreement and Larissa pushed a small smile, her arm wrapping around your shoulder as she walked with you to the nearest hotel.

She took care of everything, booking the best room available and even paying for it. Asking the front desk to wake you up at nine the next morning.

“There you go.” She pushed the door to your room open and followed you inside. It was way too luxurious but you said nothing, grateful for everything she was still doing for you.

“Well, I should go back to Nevermore now.” Larissa said, hands clasped in front of her.

“Thank you.” It came out of your mouth as a whisper and you couldn’t help but wrap your arms around the tall woman again.

You held her close and tight as if it was the last time you would ever have the chance to hug her. And she held you back as close and as tight as you did as if it was the last time she would get the chance to hug you.

“No more tears.” She said when she eventually pulled away, holding onto your chin to look into your eyes. “There always is a solution, my darling, I promise. Whatever is bothering you now, we will find a way to fix it, together.”

Together. Surely that would fix you, you and her together.

Larissa’s lips pressed a soft kiss to your forehead before she wished you goodnight, reminding you to drink plenty of water to avoid a headache in the morning.

As soon as she was out of the room, you started sobbing again. You couldn’t help it, you had to get all of these feelings out or you would go crazy.

You fell asleep that night clutching onto the pair of leather gloves that Larissa had gifted you, holding them close against your chest hoping they would somehow soothe your aching heart.

————————————————————————

Tag list: @enchantressb @kimiinou

[razorblade180]

Clashing Feelings

With another day of training ready to wear out March’s muscles, the girl gladly took her time walking into the court yard. It was strength day with Yunli and that meant figurative and literal heavy lifting. To prolong meeting her master in Aurum Alley, she had told Yunli she had conventionally forgotten her blades; allowing her to walk back.

As March walked to the bench where they rested, her eyes honed in on Yanqing lying flat in the grass. An instinct took over and she ran over to find him completely conscious.

March:Master Ya- oh… you’re awake. Good! That’s good.

Yanqing:Forgot your swords?

March:You could say that. Master Yunli gave me an ear full. Uhh, why are you on the ground?

Yanqing:I’m organizing my very, very jumbled thoughts.

March:So you won’t be observing today with-

Yanqing:Pass

March:…Master Yunli really bothers you, doesn’t she?

Yanqing:She’s just so…annoying! Her remarks never let up! And don’t get me started on her attitude! I know I shouldn’t pay her any mind and yet…agh! *sits up* I’m not stupid! I’m well aware of my flaws in swordplay and I don’t need her pointing them out all the time. I mean would it kill her comment on my effort at least once!?

March:You want her to compliment you?

Yanqing:*red*That’s…not what I said! Not like her opinions should matter to begin with. I know I’m trying and so does the General; and yet…tsk! Why do I know her acknowledgement matters to me!? I-

March:Is this your first time having a crush?

The silence was loud. The boy pouted and sulked as he turned his head away.

Yanqing:That doesn’t properly describe the situation. Do you really think being around a girl my age would throw me out of sorts. Cut me some slack! I’m aware Yunli is a capable sword master. Frankly, she’s incredibly skilled. It’s hard not to admire that.

March:Yanqing, that’s still a crush.

Yanqing:Fine! *throws hands up* I have a crush on Yunli! Are you happy now!?

March:Haha, aww. Chin up okay? It’s perfectly normal for someone your age. Even adults get crushes; I’ve had my fair share. Unlike you though, I get along with them.

Yanqing:How so?

March:Well…*blushing* Let’s just say there’s a lot of truth opportunities to get to know each other on a deep level.

Yanqing:So what would you do in my situation.

March:Umm hehe, let’s not tackle it from that angle. If it’s advice you want then I think it’s better to let yourself feel everything you’re feeling. It’s confusing but important.

Yanqing:Are you saying I should say something to her?

March:Oh Aeons no! Somehow I feel like that would turn into another sword match.

Yanqing:That’s…an accurate assessment. *lays back down*

March:All I mean is don’t try do or act in ways that reject those feelings. No running from her or saying things you don’t actually mean. Believe me, it’s embarrassing. As for acknowledgement, I can’t say if this is her thought process, but whenever Dan Heng or Mr. Yang are strict with me I know it’s because they believe I can do better. You’re the young prodigy and lieutenant of General Jing Yuan. There’s no way she doesn’t think you’re not talented. Believe in yourself more instead of the flaws.

Yanqing:..I can try. Thanks, seriously.

March:See? Talking and feeling the emotions is so much better!

Yanqing:This conversation remains private.

March:Who do you take me for!? Not only am I good student, but a quality friend and trustworthy girl. It’s not cute to spill secrets.

Yanqing:Heh, I’ll take your word for it. But as for a good student…maybe say that when you aren’t late for a session.

March:gasp You’re right! I gotta go! Bye master!

She grabbed her blades and ran off. Hopefully Yunli wouldn’t be too mad. March expected the courtyard and immediately stopped did in her tracks when her head looked left. Right outside the entrance, Yunli leaned against the stone archway. Her arms were crossed and her face a mixture of pensive and pouty. She locked eyes silently before standing up properly and walking back to the alley. March quietly followed clos behind.

March:Sooooooo, what brings you back over here?

Yunli:Oh I don’t know. Perhaps it was student taking exceptionally long for unknown reasons? Next time, don’t drag your feet longer than someone’s patience.

March:H-How long were you waiting there?

Yunli:Long enough.

March:(I’m so sorry Yanqing!!!) Then-

Yunli:If you’re asking for my thoughts then don’t bother. Nothing much to say. Only a moron would gain such a mess of thoughts in the short time of a few weeks.

March:Hey. Don’t you think that’s a bit too mean to-

March stopped herself short. It wasn’t instant, but her master’s ears gradually began to become a dark red that was hard not to notice. She couldn’t help but smile.

March:Ah~ fair enough. I guess it’s a little moronic, but nonetheless sweet. Hehehe.

Yunli:I’m doubling your weight today.

March:Yes ma’am! Let’s both do our best!

Yunli:Hush!

[lamportb]

The stitch up

Finally have a minute to re watch episode 4. Rambling below

Love Fagin and Jack covered in viscera in Gaines’ carriage with his wife. “My colleague and I were burying a cadaver” A+ excuse Jack, totally explains why you aren’t wearing pants.

I didn’t notice just how clear it is that Lady Jane is the real governor of the colony. Don’t love her as an obstacle to true love, but I Stan a powerful smart lady.

Hetty is a queen. “All right! Time to check your rose bushes” while she makes the rounds in the brothel, then single handedly loads Rotty in a cart to haul her to the hospital. Also ignores Sneed and gets Jack when it’s clear the first surgery didn’t work.

When Belle goes to observe the surgery Sneed suggests that the surgical theatre is too gory for her and that she should read to the patients instead “some of them can barely read”. Cue pointed look at Jack. I didn’t pick up on this the first time.

Belle also tells Jack that her father paid for Sneed’s medical training! Talk about having connections.

Jack is soooo baby soft when Belle offers to help him. His eyes change. It’s perfection.

despite hating Jack, Sneed still defends him when Gaines is looking for reasons to arrest him. More reason I love that pompous git.

Seriously, there’s not a filler scene anywhere in this series.

Gaines trashes Jack’s room and threatens him with handing and/or flogging to death. Jack has JUST had this very hopeful conversation with Belle and here he is on his bed holding the trampled remains of his signature top hat - the Dodge dilemma. How can he hang it up permanently, and does he want to?

“sniffly Sneed” 😂

dodger hat back on when sneaking around the governor’s yard to find Belle. “We don’t pay for cadavers. We just… borrow them”

11 o’clock cadaver date is the hottest thing Belle has ever heard.

I love Tim and I love how he loves Red.

Fanny is so excited by the idea that Sneed’s medical knowledge will make him a good lover. Yeah…

Jack the savant surgeon - eyes closed in concentration. Lovely.

Jack is illiterate clue 2: he is so unsettled at the idea of being found out he just nopes himself right out of the situation and leaves Belle in the operating theatre at presumably midnight or later. Lol.

“the white ghost who’s close to his grave” should be my new tag for Fagin

Red is so fucking cool

Feels like a very deliberate choice for Belle to let her hair down when she joins Jack in the surgery. Maybe because of the conversation with Fanny about going for it? (Finding love with Sneed?). Also how did Belle know to be there? Tim says they can do the second surgery because Sneed left the hospital. Did Jack just have her hiding on standby? Was it a coincidence? I don’t care - she looks gorgeous.

lots has already been mentioned about the Hetty/Jack/Belle situation but I appreciate the framing of this scene with the three of them - both women assisting in their own way, and both necessary to Jack’s success.

Belle seems genuinely taken aback when Jack is so abrupt with her when the surgery starts, but her relief when she helps him in the end and he smiles at her is so sweet. She is basking in that smile - I don’t think I realized how fast she fell for him. (Of course they start arguing about publication and the moment passes)

“I shall be turned around as a curiosity” - some more insight into Jack’s insecurities.

Lady Jane: “Have you been alone with the surgeon?” Belle: “There’s always another body in the room” 😂

What time is this dinner starting? 2pm? It’s so bright!

love Sneed and the prof arriving in a carriage while Jack walks up in his Navy uniform.

Note to self: research the siege of Sevastopol.

Ah! Jack describes his time as a naval surgeon as “nothing more than butchery” to Lady Jane. Those words sting all the more when she uses them against him later.

Fanny and Belle are both terrible at flirting. Belle can’t stop interrupting to talk up Jack and Fanny can’t stop staring. “I love soup”

I also love how Jack is SO UNCOMFORTABLE with Belle praising him at the table. She’s not lying, but her embellishments are so unnerving to him. “Really, it’s nothing” - but she just. Can’t. Stop.

Jack really is trying. He takes responsibility for Fagin not knowing what the plan is. He tries to fit in. Seems a bit harsh to snap at Belle but she was terrible at reading his cues - like this is her surgical theatre and he has to defer to her expertise. It’s too vulnerable for him.

“I AM rare!” Have i mentioned how much I love the ladies in this show??

Jack’s little voice crack when he blurts out “I CAN read!” And then a little softer “I can read, just not very well”

All her talk of teams and partnerships - she really did bet on him. All in.

”You can take the boy out of East London but you really shouldn’t”

”Belle will never speak to me again” right before taking Fagin’s share of the money and heading to the card table

whew! Gold star if you got this far.

[bcolfanfic]

Hi! Just wondering if you have any headcanons for Josie and Rosie’s daughter? I think that’s such a fun ship and would love to hear any of your thoughts about them.

babies <3 josie is the longer hair- if any of y’all need a refresher in young vets au josie is the bucks, naomi is rosie’s kiddo that he adopted as a single dad. (though she’s also later adopted by his partner aiden that he gets w later down the line) s/o to @swifty-fox who this was developed with. we have created. so much young vets au next gen lore.

sweet girls

well. kinda. josie is a bit of a terror there for a minute.

she is bucky’s after all (: i think ive said before that while obv they both love both their kids, josie Is bucky and micah Is gale.

has had a lot of girlfriends and situationships and what have you

naomi. has- not.

knows she’s gay, is very gender non conforming just. rizzless like her father (sorry rosie)

is buddies with josie and has kinda had a littleee crush on her since they were kids but. always got the sense that josie thought she was too Cool for her.

why would she want some dweeby gnc girl a couple years younger than her when clearly she can get any pretty girl she wants <\3 ugh naomi baby.

they become a closer when naomi goes away for college bc she. struggles to make friends for a minute and josie texts her to check in and they just start talking more from there.

naomi does meet /someone/ at college and. this girl is not very nice but ahhh we cannot stop her your first gay relationship being toxic as shit is a baby gay canon event.

brings her to the big memorial day weekend reunion get together with everyone in wyoming and josie immediately does not like this girl lmfao.

surely that means nothing (:

everything kinda blows up bc josie goes into the house for something, and naomi’s little girlfriend follows her and tries to hit on her. which naomi walks in on.

and ugh god love naomi she thinks josie was the one that ‘started it’ and they just start going at it. naomi following her back out of the house yelling at her that she can have whoever she wants why can’t she let her have one thing. josie yelling at her that she didn’t do anything- her little girlfriend is a slimy little weasel, nothing good comes from latching onto the first person to pay attention to you.

draws the attention of. everyone in the yard lmfao. bucky and rosie and aiden have to run over and break it up before someone gets smacked.

josie all pouty and frustrated off with bucky and aiden rambling about how she didn’t do anything, naomi is such a good girl, she hates that her little girlfriend is so awful bc naomi doesn’t deserve that.

naomi off w rosie and curt crying because she feels like she’s just never going to be happy <\3 even her own *girlfriend* wants josie instead of her, and she gets it bc josie is perfect but. feels so stupid and broken.

eventually when everyone’s heads are cooler josie all awkward asks naomi if she wants to go on a drive to get away from everyone for a bit. get fast food or something.

and naomi is like 😐🙁 i guess

josie gets like five minutes down the road before pulling over under a tree and naomi is like ??? is something wrong with your car i thought we were getting food ???

and josie just. looks at her for a long few seconds before unbuckling and reaching across the console and kissing that girl good.

naomi kisses her back but then yanks away like she’s been burned bc. shock.

kinda immediately throws up walls nudging her off telling her she doesn’t want her pity over her own girlfriend not wanting her.

don’t do that to me jos, please

sweet josie. a terror but a good girl at heart like bucky. just sighs and tells her she’s wanted to do that since before she brought that little jerk around.

naomi still pushes back just 🫤 i don’t buy that. picking at her nails looking at her lap. tells her she can have anyone she wants she sure as shit doesn’t want /her/. all your girlfriends are gorgeous i know what your type is.

(naomi has. a lot of insecurity around the gender non confirming stuff bless her sweet heart. rosie and aiden are such good dads about it. her best friends <3.)

but josie does want her. she really does <3

tells her that. kisses her again. they end up in the backseat of josie’s falling apart car for an hour and make all the guys giggle like little girls when they rock back up to the bucks house like flushed little baby deer.

micah pushed naomi’s little POS girlfriend into the lake

[scapingthebottomofthebarrel]

Potions Mix Up (Neville Longbottom x Reader)

The request: In Potions class, the Reader accidentally brew a love potion, but instead of it working on someone else, it reveals Neville's hidden feelings for the Reader

You sit ramrod straight in your seat as Snape slowly makes his way around the classroom handing back your latest assignment. You’ve always done alright in potions, but Snape never gets any less unnerving. You hold your breath as he sets the scroll down in front of you. You decide not to check your grade until you’re in the safety of your dorm. The second the bell rings your out of your seat and make your way to the nearest court yard to breathe some fresh air after all that time in the dungeons.

“Will Snape ever not be terrifying?” You friend sighs from her spot next to you on the grass. You let out a small grunt and flip back onto the ground

“Thank Merlin we’re done and it’s Friday.” You say happily.

“Yeah, and it’s a Hogsmeade weekend!” She cheers. “What do you think yo-“ she cuts herself off with a gasp as a tall body topples over and lands directly on top of you. The wind is knocked out of your lungs and you let out a squeak. The person immediately scrambles off of you.

“I am so sorry!” A voice that you’d recognize anywhere rushes out.

“It’s alright Neville. No harm no foul.” You say with a wide smile. Neville Longbottom has got the be the sweetest boy you’ve ever met. Since you were made partners in charms last year you two had grown incredibly close.

“Seamus pushed me.” He says just loud enough that the other boy who was laughing like a mad man with Dean over on a bench would hear.

“Now why on earth would he do that?” You say just as loud.

“Cause our darling Neville was waxing poetic about-“ a look you didn’t think Neville could give crossed his face and Seamus instantly shut up.

“I’ll uhh I’ll send you umm later.” Neville says as he stand up and gives you a nervous smile.

Once the three of them are out of earshot your friend gives you the same smile all your friends do after you interact with Neville. “Promise me a good seat at your wedding.” Is all she says before standing up. “Come on, we need to go turn in our extra credit to Flitwick before we forget.” You can’t help the small smile on your face as you follow her back into the castle.

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

Monday rolls around far too fast and you find yourself back in potions class. Snape is explaining the importance of carefully examining your ingredients to get the potion right. You diligently take notes out of fear of your professor. “Alright. Now, go to your cauldrons and start the potion on page 376.” Snape says flatly before turning away and walking to his desk. Everyone quickly gets to work. Your partner goes to get the ingredients while you prepare the cauldron.

After two hours you find yourself looking at a potion that is most definitely not the assignment. “I don’t know how you did it, you seemingly followed the instructions but with the wrong ingredients and ended up with amortentia.” Snap says with the faintest hint of surprise in his voice. Your face feels hot under the stares of your classmates. Note to self, never let you or partner get the ingredients again. Snape shakes his head and mutters under his breath as he walks away.

“I’ve done far worse. At least you have a functioning potion.” Neville says coming to stand next to you. You give him a small smile.

“Wanna smell it?” You joke. Neville looks nervous but shrugs and takes a sniff. His expression goes flat and the tips of his ears turn red. “You ok Neville?” You ask curious as to what smell is causing this reaction.

“I’m fine.” He squeaks out before returning to his seat.

Your friend makes eye contact with you from their seat two tables away and mouths “Mrs. Longbottom.” All you can do is blush and look away.

Before Snape can take the potions at the end of class you and your friends sniff it. You’re not sure why you did it as you already knew what it would smell like. As you leave the dungeon you and your friends are discussing what you smelled.

“You know what we should do?” One of your friends says excitedly. “We should give some to George Weasley. I know how cute you think he is and I’ve seen him looking at you.” As you roll your eyes getting ready to tell your friend to knock it off you hear a thud behind you. You all turn around to see Neville frantically trying to pick his things up

“You guys go ahead.” You tell your friends before going and helping Neville collect his things off the ground.

“Umm th-thank you.” He mumbles out.

“Of course.” You give him a soft smile as you hand him a book. “So…you never said what the potion sme-“

“You’re not really going to use it on George are you?” He asks in what seems to be a moment of courage. “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to eavesdrop it’s just well I umm-“ You decide to put Neville out of his misery and shake your head.

“My friends are just being ridiculous. We would never do that. Besides, they already know who I like.” You give Neville a meaningful look as if you’re trying to communicate with him telepathically.

“Oh. Right. Of course. Thanks for the help.” He’s practically running away before you can say anything else. You heave a sigh before picking up your own bag and going to find your friends.

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

You’re sitting at lunch the next day when you feel a tap on your shoulder and your friends look ready to explode. When you turn to see who it is you’re treated by the extremely red face of Neville. All he does is hand you a small box before speed walking away to a cheering Seamus and Dean.

“Open it! Open it!” Your friends whisper scream at you. You slowly take the lid off the box and inside is a small plant and a note.

I’m not sure I could say this to your face so I hope this will suffice. I can’t stay quiet anymore. The thought of you trying to go out with George Weasley made me sick to my stomach. Not because George is a bad guy, but because I want to be the one to take you out. Would you go out with me?

All your friends begin cooing and awwing.

“They would love you!” One of them shouts at Neville. He looks startled and looks to you for confirmation. You nod a blushing mess and smile broadly. Seamus and Dean start shaking him and letting out their own cheers.

[waynes-multiverse]

On The Beach

Pairing: Dean Winchester x F!Reader

Summary: A few moons ago, on a hunt like any other, Dean unexpectedly met a girl who not only spun his head around in the blink of a literal eye but also made the brave hunter face some of his biggest fears to date.

Warnings: light language (very tame for me), a bit of emotional angst & grumpy Dean, fluff ❄️

Word Count: 3.1k

A/N: Another day, another fic to a Swift song 🙃 The first draft had a very dark, unhappy ending, but I couldn’t bring myself to hurt those two precious babes, so enjoy some pure fluff, my loves! 💚🌌 Inspired by: Snow On The Beach by Taylor Swift ft. Lana Del Rey

Dean Winchester Masterlist || Main Masterlist

It’s a night like any other as Y/N closes down her flower shop in the small coastal town. She stores away a few leftover arrangements, counts the cash in the register, organizes the ribbons by color and width, and waters and prunes all the remaining plants in the greenhouse.

The winter weather ravages outside, bringing freezing December winds with the usual salty sea breeze as she smells the arriving snow in the air, the first one this season, and wraps her coat a little tighter around her body, snuggling her cheeks into her cozy wool scarf. It’s already black as night, the crescent moon standing high above the ocean, when she locks the shop behind her and starts her usual walk home, her house only four blocks up the road.

The street lamps pale in comparison to the cheerily decorated yards and roofs of her neighbors before the headlights of a classic black car blind her periphery as it passes by her, soon disappearing with a rumble around the corner again.

“Brrr, it’s freezing cold, man,” Dean grumbles into his jacket and removes his palms from the steering wheel for a second. He cups them around his mouth to warm them with his hot breath before turning the heat up in the Impala even more.

“I’m fine,” Sam nonchalantly shrugs next to him in a fucking t-shirt. He removed the flannel an hour ago and discarded it on the backseat.

“Yeah, ‘cause you’re not human. Freak,” Dean scoffs under his breath and shakes his head, making the younger Winchester chuckle. “Why did you drag me all the way to Rhode Island in the middle of December, man? We could be at home in the bunker, slurping egg nog and watching Die Hard instead of freezing our asses off. Stupid haunted lighthouse…”

“Dude! Can you stop complaining for five seconds, maybe? You’ve been grumpy since we passed Philly. What’s up with you?” Sam throws him a concerned puppy dog look, which only annoys Dean more.

“Nothing, I’m fine. I just hate the beach and the cold and lighthouses–,” Dean mutters, his fingers turning blue around the steering wheel.

Sam’s head snaps to him with a creased brow, “Lighthouses?”

“–and the ocean…”

“Yeah, uh, that usually comes with the beach and the lighthouses, Dean,” the younger Winchester laughs, amused.  

“Yeah, whatever, man,” Dean lets out a deep sigh, his brow woven into a permanent scowl at this point. “What’s the address of the girl that witnessed the last death again?”

“Uh, Y/N Y/L/N. Lives at 302 Maplewood Street,” Sam reads from the neatly organized files in his lap. “Just take a left at the next corner.”

“Great,” Dean mumbles dreadfully and makes a left turn onto the target street.

No matter how hard he rummages through the depths of his soul, the hunter can’t quite pin down his recent moodiness. It’s a feeling of dread, sadness, and anger that just bubbles up in his chest at random times and overtakes his whole body and mind before it disintegrates into thin air again like the ghosts he hunts. And maybe after all this time and all the wars and all the pain, it should be no surprise that he feels a little haunted, too.

Well, let’s be honest. He’s fucking cursed.

The melancholy comes and goes like the ocean waves. It almost seems natural. The ebb and flow of a restless life on the road, the possibility of dying every goddamn day, or worse, the fear of ending up completely alone. I Am Legend is his goddamn nightmare.

A hunter’s life is emotionally abusive, so no wonder he constantly feels down on his luck. Especially on holidays like Christmas, when it’s supposed to be all about joy, love, and family. Not even the jolly twinkling lights of the merrily decorated houses around him can cheer up his gloom as he taps his calloused and beaten knuckles on yet another front door to ruin someone’s life. What is his job even?

Hi, Dean Winchester – professional life-ruiner, cold-blooded killer, and ghostbuster extraordinaire. Pleased to meet you. May I interest you in something horrifying that most likely will cost your life or at least give you intense nightmares you never wished you had?

As the red door of the small stone house, adorned with a beautiful pine wreath, opens, however, a stunning young woman greets him with a blinding smile. Dean’s breath hitches as he stops in his tracks, heart, sense, and time halting with him.

And for the first time in what feels like forever, which for sure as hell is too long, his lips unfreeze and curl into a genuine smile, warmth filling and replacing the empty coldness in his ribcage that has dwelled there for a lifetime.

Y/N watches her boot prints in the sand fade away with the next wave, a pocketful of stars twinkling above her head. She closes her eyes and makes a wish upon the next shooting star, her heart filling with a longing that wraps around her soul like the emerald northern lights she used to see on fishing trips with her father. Green is the color of hope, and green is all she sees, even on dark nights with her eyes closed.

The phone in her coat pocket vibrates and disturbs her trance. Her eyelids flutter open with a smile and a heartbeat full of faith. Sometimes wishes do come true.

“Hey, sweetheart,” Dean chimes through the speaker as soon as she presses the phone to her cold ear under the beanie, the warm, familiar timbre of his deep voice melting her heart like the wax of a burning candle.

“Hey, I miss you. How’s the hunt? Are you and Sam okay?“

Whenever he calls, it’s always the same first question – “Are you alright?”. Because whenever he leaves, she’s always worried, can’t sleep and eat until she knows the answer. So, she takes midnight walks up and down the beach until the phone rings again and soothes the ache in her chest. The impossibility of wanting him right next to her each and every day until her dying breath rips her apart at the seams sometimes, her heart needing more stitches than it should.

Right around a year ago, the Winchester brothers stood on her doorstep like the Christmas present she didn’t ask for. They changed her life in a blink of an eye, made it more magical and simultaneously more horrifying, too. She helped them with a ghost case in town, an old local myth surrounding the rundown lighthouse. Dean heroically saved her life. Then, she moronically saved his and Sam’s. The older hunter yelled at her until he didn’t. Until she kissed him. Until she clasped his freezing palm and led him to the beach. Until she held him till his breathing calmed with the ocean, and they talked till the morning sun came with the first fall of snow.

She hasn’t been the same ever since that night. Neither has he.

“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me,” he assures her with a warm chuckle, causing her heart to leap across states in search of him. “Hunt is over. Sam’s finishing up. What are you up to? Are you out for a walk?”

“Yeah, I’m down at the beach like usual,” she sighs, drawing a pouting line in the sand with the tip of her shoe.

“Figured. It’s a nice night out,” he says, and hearing the casual smile in his voice, she has a hard time keeping the scowl on her face alive as she imagines his cute freckle-dusted dimples.

“Would be nicer if you were here,” she notes hopelessly hopeful before her gaze lifts to the moon over the horizon, her brow furrowing. “Wait… How do you know that? Did you check the weather?”

“Sure did,” it sounds behind her as clear as the star-filled sky above her. Her heart drops, jolts, rejoices at the sight of the hunter that so shamelessly stole it as he stands before her – tall, strong, and gorgeous smile included, like a scene from a romantic movie.

“Oh my God, Dean!”

The beam that lights up her face when she recognizes him reminds the hunter of the picture that hangs on her living room wall – the one that shows her winning smile at her eighth-grade baking contest. A blazing warmth spreads through his chest, his chapped lips not able to deny her a smile, albeit his torn heart and broken mind still don’t fully understand how a gorgeous girl like her could even miss him at all.

The phone in her hand then drops into the wet sand as she falls into his embrace, almost taking both of them down before Dean’s strong arms catch her and steady their feet on the forgiving ground. As soon as she lifts her face from his chest, her sparkling eyes bore into his as her arms unravel from his neck, hands traveling to his scruffy cheeks. Needily, she clasps them and feels their blushed warmth, fingernails denting his skin as she drags his lips to hers in a breathtaking kiss, tongues mingling between teeth.

“Air,” Dean chokes out with a chuckling cough as he pulls back from her, his hot breath still ghosting over her swollen lips as his palms grip her waist tightly and keep her locked in his arms. “I’ve missed you, too, sweetheart,” he assures her with a gentle peck on her forehead and lifts his hand to her face, caressing the soft flush in her cheek as a warm smile curves on his lips. “It’s been too long.”

“Forty-two days,” she reminds him, and Dean loves and hates it all at once that she misses him so goddamn much she always counts the days since she’s last seen him. And while Y/N surely misses him to the moon and back, Dean can guarantee that he misses her infinitely more. “How did you get here so fast? This morning you said you were still in New Mexico.”

“Yeah, well, couldn’t wait a whole day’s drive to see you, so I flew here,” he shrugs coolly but can’t help the grin rising on his cheeks.

“I’m sorry, you what? You took an actual plane? But you hate flying,” she points out with an adorably knitted brow. Dean never technically admitted he was afraid of flying, always told her he didn’t particularly care for it, not wanting to seem like a wuss. “Sam even once said it scares the bejeezus out of you.”

That little…

“Yup, flight was awful, thanks for asking,” Dean quips with an insecurity-overshadowing, too-cool-for-his-own-good grin while he mentally notes down to hit his younger brother over the head later. And as his pine-green eyes soak up her sunshine with a greedy need for happiness, his heart relishes in her love.

Until it doesn’t. Until it feels too goddamn selfish.

The last time he saw Y/N, she told him that she loved him. Loved him. Him. Even after forty-two days, it still hasn’t sunk in. How could it? It sounds insane. More insane than monsters and God’s plan. More insane than his entire life story itself.

Naturally, the hunter couldn’t say anything back. It felt surreal, like a dream he wasn’t supposed to have. It didn’t feel like it was his to take. She didn’t feel like she was his. The shock took his whole body hostage, afraid admitting it would curse her love for him and twist it somehow. Not that she even wanted or expected an answer from him. She already knew everything there was to know – about him, about his life. So, she simply said she wanted him to know that there was someone out there in this big, wide world that loved him and thought of him every day. That’s it.

What’s he supposed to do with that, huh?

But when the hunter left her for the millionth time this year, the real torture began. He could deal with physical pain easily, even thrived in it. He could be torn apart and ripped to shreds a billion times, and he still wouldn’t care. Emotional torture, however, was a different story. He couldn’t take the overthinking, the sleepless nights, the helplessness, the anxiety in his heart, or the choked air in his lungs whenever he thought about her, which was always. She was a constant in his soul, a complex math equation that allowed no variables. She never went anywhere.

She was there when he snuck with Sam through the halls of yet another abandoned warehouse on the hunt for a few vamps. She was there when he thought about doing something stupid and reckless to play the hero instead of doing the smart and right thing. She was there when he washed off the blood in the motel room shower, thinking how he didn’t want to break her heart by not answering her next phone call. She was there when he couldn’t close his eyes at night and stared at the ceiling, imagining how his little brother would have to break the news of his death to her.

And eventually, after forty-two days of torture, of heartache, of longing, the hunter broke. He couldn’t do it anymore.

It gnawed on his heart that he never said it back. Because she deserves to hear it. Because living and breathing without her seem useless. Because having hopes and dreams is worthless if she’s not in any of them. Because she’s the best fucking thing that ever happened to him. Because what the hell is he even fighting for if it’s not all for her. Because all the pros outweigh the biggest con. Because it’s goddamn true.

Dean loves her, too.

As he holds tightly onto her, he breathes into the feeling of having her in his arms, of her head buried deep in his chest, of her arms securely wrapped around his torso. He feels the love for him radiating from her body, feels the safety she offers him, and feels their hearts melting into one through layers of fabric, skin, flesh, and bones. Embracing her is the most magical and otherworldly experience. It’s mind-blowing that he now has someone that he can touch, someone he can drive towards, someone he can see with his own eyes while he’s goddamn awake.

Perhaps, love is not supposed to feel real. It’s intangible, indescribable, and inexplicable, and if you applied all the criteria of reality, love shouldn’t exist at all. But as the first snowflake grazes his cheek, he opens his eyes and watches more white stars falling from the sky and covering the sandy beach under a soft blanket. And suddenly, love comes down all around him like the snow itself.

It’s not some weird, beautiful, unobtainable, and unmaintainable dream. It’s here. It’s now. And it’s her.

“I love you.”

His confession comes out in a blurb that almost could be mistaken for a glitch in his impenetrable matrix. On top of that, he also mumbled it into her hair, but who cares? It has left his heart and definitely reached her ears as Y/N lifts her head from his warm chest, gaze wandering up till it meets his own. He swallows, nerves getting the best of him, which wasn’t a lot, to begin with. And then, her pink lips curve into an amused smile.

“I know.”

He stumps, his eyebrows quirking together so much it almost provokes a headache, which causes her to giggle. “How?”

She locks her arms around his neck and grins, “Guess your actions speak louder than your words, Winchester. Besides, you took a plane for me, even though you almost pooped your pants.”

“I did not almost p–”

His protest is left unfinished, stopped by her lips crashing against his, and he can’t help but toss every clever comeback out the window and kiss her back. There’s another giggle when he hesitantly draws back from her mouth, his thumb caressing the glow in her dimple as he places another peck on her hairline.

“Sweetheart, you know what happens when you kiss me like that.” Well, maybe he still had one clever comeback in reserve.

“Uh-huh,” she laughs cheekily and tip-toes up enough for another kiss on his lips. “I love you, too.”

Dean playfully rolls his eyes and pecks the tip of her cold nose. As if being cute is going to save her tonight. “So what you’re saying is, I worried and went nuts for nothin’ over the last few weeks?”

Y/N shrugs her shoulders, and he would’ve almost bought into her innocence if it weren’t for that little mischievous smile on her lips. “I told you back then you didn’t have to say it.”

He nods and purses his lips. “Yeah, well, some things shouldn’t be left unsaid, y’know?”

And when she gives him another heartwarming smile, it sends him to another planet. His fluster returns because what else is there left to say? He hasn’t exactly planned past this moment, hasn’t even dreamed he’d get this far.

“So, uhm, what’s next? I figured we could go to that maple farm in Vermont you’re always telling me about. Or, uhm, maybe drive north till we see the-, uh, the aurora bor-, uh, thingy.”

“Borealis,” she helps him along, biting her lips very hard to suppress the grin.

“Yup, that. We could see that,” he suggests with the eagerness and excitement of a little boy who found a Lego set under the tree.

“Slow down, tiger,” she chuckles, her fingers playing with the lapels of his jacket. “First, tell me how long I get you for this time before you plan all our time in bed away.”

“Well, uh…” He clears the lump in his throat, and she must’ve noticed his nervousness, because not even a second later, she interlaces her fingers with his and gives him the reassurance he needs to continue. “For-, uhm, forever.”

“What?” His reply has even taken Little-Miss-Know-It-All by surprise as she shakes her confused head for clarity and blinks at him.

“Yeah, uhm, we can talk about the details later, but… I’m all yours now,” Dean smiles and is relieved when she mirrors it before his hand reaches back to scratch his neck. “I mean, for as long as you’ll have me and let me stay with you at least.”

“Well, guess it’s forever then,” Y/N replies, tongue-in-cheek. “How about some hot cocoa and cheesy Christmas movies first before we make vacation plans over a super greasy breakfast tomorrow, huh?”

“A woman after my own heart,” the hunter beams and preciously kisses her temple. He interlaces his fingers with hers before leading them home through the glistening white sand, the snow falling down around them.

To think I almost killed her... 🤣  --> ALTERNATE ENDING

Everything Jensen Tag: @extraterrestriali @this-is-me19 @writercole @awkward-and-indecisive @eevvvaa @imherefordeanandbones @dean-winchester-is-a-warrior @jassackles @maggiegirl17 @perpetualabsurdity @deandreamernp @roseblue373 @lyarr24 @deanwanddamons @deanwithscissors @flamencodiva @chriszgirl92 @lhymer1995 @wittyboldsoul @djs8891 @snowlovespie @b3autyfuldisast3r @recoveringpastaaddict @ladysparkles78​ @muhahaha303 @mimaria420​

Dean Tag: @parinarain​ @hobby27​

[eyeslikewatercoolers]

Reminders of Her -Sashnetra (Part 2/3)

From the poll I posted a couple days ago, this is now going to be split into three parts instead of two! Here's part one if you missed it.

Thank you to @puppywritesthings for being my temporary beta for this chapter

read on ao3

Sasha didn’t see Anetra in class for the first few weeks. Instead, a tall blonde named Marcia brought Jace to and from class. Sasha assumed that Marcia was Jace’s other parent, while Anetra would be busy with work and unable to take him. 

At the end of the class, all the parents lined up in the studio behind their respective children. Sasha held a stack of papers and placed them on the fold-out table her teaching assistant had set up. 

“We’re having our photographer come in next week and take pictures for our programming. So I need parents to sign these releases so he can take pictures of the kids,” she explained as the parents started filling out their paperwork.

Except for Marcia and Jace, they stayed put where they both stood. Jace looked up at Marcia, and they shrugged “I’ll talk to her about it. Maybe she’ll let us take it home for your mom to sign.”  they said to reassure him. 

Sasha walked over to them with a copy of the release in her hand, “Did you not want to sign this? If not, it’s not going to upset me or anything.” she said.

“Oh, I would love to, but I can’t. I’m not a parent or guardian,” they explained. They looked at Jace, “Why don’t you wait in the lobby while I talk to your teacher?” 

Jace nodded, “Okay, Auntie Marsh.” he said before walking out of the studio to sit on the bench near the door. 

Marcia turned their attention back to Sasha, “Anetra has been a single mom since Jace was born. We’ve been close friends for years, and I’m just trying to help her whenever I can.” they explained. 

“Really? I didn’t know that.” Sasha said, her tone softening. She’s seen single parents struggle to balance everything outside the dance classes. “Could she come in any other time? I’d love to tell her how well her son is doing in class.” she smiled, glancing at the curly-haired boy in the lobby. 

Marcia nodded, but their eyes seemed apprehensive. “I can ask her tonight, no problem.”

As Sasha greeted parents and kids coming in for the pre-ballet class, she felt her heartbeat quicken when she saw Anetra walk in alongside Marcia and Jace. She hoped that this might mean she would get to see Anetra more often.

“You needed me to sign something?” Anetra asked her, eyes looking anywhere except in Sasha’s.

“I do. Would you like to stay for the rest of the class to watch? I’m sure Jace would love to show you what he’s learned.”

Anetra took a deep breath, “Of course I can.”

During the class, Sasha stole glances toward the observation room to seek any look she could get at Anetra. She noticed that Anetra’s eyes never left Jace during the class. Towards the end, she and Marcia looked at each other, and both smiled at the woman enjoying watching her son dance.

Sasha just remembered about the photographer in the studio with them when it was time for the group class photos. Once the children were allowed to break apart from being lined up for the posed group photo, they ran to their parents. 

Anetra was kneeling as Jace ran into her open arms, “You did so good, J. I’m proud of you.” she said as she ran a hand through his curls. 

“Do you think she’ll come back next week?” Sasha asked Marcia quietly as they both stood a few yards away.

“I don’t think she would ever want to miss seeing her son so happy in your class.”

Anetra returned during the following week’s class without Marcia this time. She even kept coming to class with just her and Jace. 

Sasha continued to sneak glances at Anetra’s astounding facial expressions during class. It was the only time that Sasha saw her face change from her usual bored expression when talking to the other dance moms.

A few weeks into her seeing Anetra during classes, parent volunteer opportunities opened up for the season. Parents of older children already in the studio signed up immediately for the ‘good’ spots (like selling T-shirts and organizing bake sales). 

This meant the only spots left were the more mundane tasks, like organizing the music library and measuring for costume sizes. But Sasha was pleasantly surprised that Anetra’s name was first (and only) on helping Sasha organize the costume closet. 

Anetra came into the studio in the late morning on a weekday when there were no classes. She arrived alone, the first time Sasha had seen her without anyone else. 

“You didn’t bring your son?” she asked Anetra as she led her to the costume closet in the back of the building. 

“No, I dropped him off at my dad and stepmom’s house earlier. He loves going over there, they spoil him every time they see him.” Anetra said with a slight smile. 

After about an hour of creating a plan to organize the closet, the two women found themselves in light conversation as they worked.

“What do you do for work?” Sasha asked from the corner of the costume closet that she was working on. She showed Anetra how everything got organized by style, size, and color. 

“I’m a medical coder for a neurologist's office,” Anetra said as she folded tights from her side of the room.  “It’s boring, but it pays the bills.” she shrugged. 

“How did you get into doing that job?” Sasha asked. If she was being honest, Sasha had no idea what a medical coder was, but at least she could try to make conversation about it. 

Anetra softly sighed as she moved the pile of tights into the storage box. “It was never my original plan. I was training to be a professional in taekwondo, but then when I found out I was pregnant, I had to throw away that plan.”

Sasha moved to sit closer to Anetra, placing spare hangers on the rack. “That must have been a hard decision to make.”

Anetra nodded, “At first it was. But I’m really lucky I had Marcia my dad and stepmom, and my other friends to help me out.” she said with a small smile. “I didn’t want to believe this when I was 21, but Jace is the best thing to happen to me.” 

Sasha gave her a warm smile, “He is a special kid.” 

“Even if he looks nothing like me.” Anetra laughed, as the two continued to work and chat throughout the rest of the afternoon.

Cleaning the costume closet soon became Sasha’s favorite chore to do in the studio. It wasn’t because it was something that she liked doing, but it was the only time she could spend with just her and Anetra. 

But the closet was nearly fully organized after a few weeks of Anetra coming to the studio alone to help on various days. Despite being great for the closet, Sasha still wanted to spend time with her. 

As she waited for Anetra to arrive to help do the last-minute touch-ups on the closet, Sasha was racking her brain for another volunteer opportunity for her and Anetra to do together. 

“When’s the last time we waxed the floors?” Sasha asked out loud as Kylie was doing computer work from the other side of the small office. 

“You know we have a guy that comes in to do that,” Kylie responded without looking away from the screen. 

Sasha thought for a moment, “Well, what about-” before she was cut off by the blonde turning around. 

“You know you can hang out with her outside of here, right?” Kylie suggested and ignored the look of shock that Sasha gave her. “I’ve seen you two in that dusty old closet, it’s okay if you want to be friends or something more with her.” 

“Something more? What do you mean by that?” she asked but heard the electric bell on the lobby door chime. “She’s here, I gotta go,” Sasha said before bolting out of the office. 

After a few short hours of finishing the costume closet, Sasha and Anetra stood in the doorway, admiring their hard work. Even if Sasha knew it would look trashed again in about six months. 

“I’ll see you in class next week, okay? I’m glad I could help you out with this.” Anetra smiled and started to turn to walk back down the hallway. 

“Wait a moment,” she said and saw the younger woman turn around. “Are you free on Saturday?” she asked, trying not to not choke on her nerves. 

Anetra looked surprised, “Oh, was there something I missed from the calendar you gave us? I thought the recital practice was the week after next.” 

“It still is, don’t worry,” Sasha reassured her. “I meant just you and me this Saturday.”

“As in, like a date?” Anetra asked for clarification. 

Sasha nodded after a moment. She didn’t plan for it to be called a date, but maybe being something more could be a good thing for them. “Yes, like a date.”

“Let me find a babysitter first, then yes.” 

Sasha only had a couple of small dates with Anetra before the recital season kept her busy. But after the winter recital was over and the pre-ballet class finished its last session before the small in-class celebration, Sasha’s attention flew back to Anetra. 

The two had met with each other at least once a week. Sometimes they would be with each other’s friends, other times it would just be the two of them alone. 

Sasha enjoyed spending time with her new friend but noticed something was slightly off about Anetra. 

“I need a favor from you.” Sasha walked swiftly into the studio office, sitting in the rolling chair opposite Kylie. The computer screen showed the edited pictures in a programming book from a few months before.  

“Yes?” 

“Do you find it weird if a woman in her twenties doesn’t have social media?” Sasha asked. 

She tried asking Anetra for her Instagram (or any social media), but the younger woman would change the subject. She couldn’t ask Marcia or any of Anetra’s other friends since she didn’t feel that close to them yet. 

“Depends, is it your new little date friend?” Kylie asked with a lifted eyebrow, already knowing the answer.

“Yes, it’s Anetra. But I looked up her name on everything, and I can’t find her.” Sasha said as she watched Kylie type on her phone for a moment.  

“Found her.” The blonde said as she turned her phone screen to Sasha to show the Instagram profile. 

She squinted at the screen, looking at the username, “But I tried that one.” she sighed, pulling out her phone to check again. 

Kylie tilted her head, holding out her hand for Sasha to pass her the cell phone “Let me try something.”

“Okay, but I don’t think that-”

“You blocked her.”

“What? Why would I block her when I have never met her before?” 

Kylie shrugged, passing back the phone, “No idea. But I unblocked her for you.” 

“Thanks, I appreciate it.” She smiled as she pressed the follow button, before scrolling deep into Anetra’s profile. 

Soon she was looking at a picture of a younger Anetra, in a taekwondo uniform, with bright red hair.

The image of the younger woman with cherry red hair stayed in her mind for the rest of the day, wondering where this sense of familiarity came from.

Had she and Anetra met before?

[alittlextrathatway]

Line: "Could end in burning flames or paradise." Location: backyard

Let's go AU again. This time a REAL departure.

***

A magazine is thrown down on the bar top next to Matt. He skims it just enough to read the cover. It's a tabloid. One of those that claims to have inside sources but never does.

CASEY TO RETIRE AT END OF CURRENT SEASON.

"Looks like you're out, old man."

He rolls his eyes and slides the magazine away, a dry grin on his face as he stares down at his whiskey. "We're the exact same age. If I'm retiring so are you, Severide."

"Yeah, but I'm not the face of the franchise," Kelly says, grabbing Matt's chin and smushing his cheeks. "I mean look at this face. They're all obsessed with it."

Matt shoves his best friend and teammate away. "Get off me, jackass."

"Oh, come on, we won! Why are you sitting at the bar brooding like a sad sack of shit?"

He glances over at the rest of his team, celebrating their win with their partners and spouses. Even Kelly's wife is here, partying with them in their coach's backyard, and she's a professional soccer player with her own team to lead.

"I'm trying not to be a downer. You all have people to share our success with, you should enjoy it."

"Whatever, man," Kelly says with a scoff as he grabs Matt's whiskey glass and holds it away from him. "You have us. We're not just a team. We're a family. Come on. Donna invited the new Team Doc. She's commanded you show your face and be polite."

"I'm always polite. It's you Donna needs to worry about. Will you gimme my damn drink back?"

Severide laughs in his Captain's face and hands him back the glass. "You're polite unless you're in a mood like the one you're in tonight."

Donna Boden spots them and waves them over. "Boys, come and say hi."

They cross the yard, toward their head coach and his wife. This backyard is more a special event space than a backyard. Donna had it landscaped specially for team gatherings and it includes a pool, a bar, and an outdoor kitchen. They're invited over a lot.

The closer they get, the better a look Matt gets at the new Assistant Team Doctor. His feet hesitate, causing Severide to bump into his back. "Maybe I should take that whiskey back," Kelly snipes with a crooked smirk. "You alright?"

When Boden said they were getting a new team doctor Matt just assumed the organization would hire another older guy full of dad jokes and football trivia. But no. That's not who he finds waiting to meet them. Instead, it's a woman. A young blonde woman in a blue wrap dress and matching heels. Her smile and laughing blue eyes stun him, keeping his feet glued to the ground.

"Casey?" Kelly asks, shoving him lightly. "You gonna walk or am I leaving you here?"

He shakes himself, forcing his eyes away from the woman’s face. “I’m walking. Just gimme a second.”

He knocks back the rest of his whiskey, leaving the glass on a nearby table. With that out of the way, he shoves his hands in his pockets and finally continues forward. He has no idea what to do with his hands so best to just hide them away. It’s a good plan until Donna goes in for a hug and he can’t refuse without being rude.

“How’s my favorite quarterback in the league?” Donna asks.

He chuckles as he steps out of the hug. “I’m good. Working hard, staying focused.”

“Well, it’s working. Keep it up,” she encourages before passing him to hug Kelly as well. They nod at Boden instead of going in to hug him or shake his hand. “Guys,” Donna starts, walking over to the new doctor and putting an arm around her shoulders. “Have you met Sylvie Brett? She’s our new Assistant Team Medical Doctor.”

“No,” Severide says, reaching forward to shake her hand. “Not yet. Welcome to the team.”

“Thank you,” she tells him, smiling politely. “I’m officially a traitor to my family but I’m happy to be here.”

Kelly laughs. “Not a Chicago fan?”

“I’m from Indiana, so…”

“Yeah, say no more. I understand.” Kelly pats Matt on the back, hard enough to send him jolting forward. That’s what happens when one of the toughest tight ends in football, claps a hand against you with no warning. “And this guy is our Quarterback and captain, Matt Casey.”

She holds her hand out to him as well. Matt stares at it for a long series of seconds, knowing full well his hand is clammy. Why the hell does this woman make him so clumsy and nervous? He discretely tries to wipe his hand on his pants before putting his hand in hers. The minute their fingers touch, tingles shoot up and down his arm. What the fuck is happening?

“Nice to meet you,” Sylvie says before nervously biting the inside of her bottom lip, drawing his stare toward her mouth.

For a moment he pictures biting that bottom lip for himself, but then he realizes he looks like a creep -- continuing to squeeze her hand while staring at her lips. “Yeah, you too. We’re glad to have you.” He lets go of her hand, even if everything in him rebels against the action, and steps back.

“It’ll be nice to have someone with more of a bedside manner than Abrams,” Kelly jokes, referencing Sylvie’s boss and their Head Physician.

“Oh, him?” Sylvie says, waving a hand dismissively. “He’s all bark, no bite. We’ve worked together before. I can handle him.”

“Well, now that we’ve made introductions,” Donna says. “We need to go see to our other guests and check in on the caterers.” She turns to Sylvie with a concerned glance. “Are you okay here?”

“Yes, I’ll be fine. Please do what you need to do,” Sylvie assures her. “I’m sure these guys won’t mind showing me around.”

Boden and Donna leave, hand in hand. Just as they leave, Stella shouts for Kelly from her seat by the fire pit. “Sorry,” he says, shaking Sylvie’s hand one more time. “When the wife calls, I go. If I stand her up then I’m in deep shit.”

Sylvie chuckles and nods. “I understand. Casey and I can manage.”

Can they? He asks himself. He hasn’t managed to pull himself together long enough to say more than a couple of sentences. “Uh, yeah, we’re good. Go spend time with Kidd. She flies out tomorrow.” They watch Severide walk away in silence before Matt motions ahead of him, allowing Sylvie to walk first. “How about we start with a tour? Donna’s really worked hard to make this place feel like a family space for us.”

“I can tell,” she says, looking over toward the small garden and outdoor eating area. “It’s beautiful.”

Not nearly as beautiful as she is, not that he can tell her that.

“So, what brings you to Chicago if you’re an Indiana girl?” He asks.

She blushes and looks down on the ground, suddenly interested in their feet as they walk. “Well, it was either move or let my ex make my professional life a nightmare. I chose to move.” She pauses, eyes wide in shock. “I don’t know why I told you that.”

“Your ex sounds like a class act,” Matt comments sarcastically.

“Yeah, Harrison was a real winner,” she scoffs with a roll of her eyes. “But I’m here now, thanks to Dr. Abrams recommendation, and I can’t wait to get started. I’m excited for new challenges.” There’s a beat where her eyes scan over the length of him and then intentionally look away. “New people, places.”

“You’re gonna love Chicago,” he promises. “It’s my favorite city.”

“Favorite of all time?” She asks, grinning teasingly.

“Of all time in the whole world.”

“Wow, well, my expectations are officially high.”

“If you want,” he offers, shoving his hands in his pockets again. “I could show you around. Give you the official Matt Casey approved tour. I gotta make sure we clear those expectations I set, after all.”

“That sounds wonderful,” she agrees, demurely tucking her hair behind her ears. “We should make it happen.”

“Yeah?”

“Yes, for sure.”

The smile at each other and twin flirtatious gazes meet.

He can’t help but admire the way the color in her cheeks extends down her neck, turning her creamy fair skin a pretty shade of pink. He wants to trail kisses over that path of pink and see where it leads.

Damn, it’s been a long time since he’s had it this bad so fast. He went from depressed and moping in his loneliness to giddy and smitten. The whiplash has his head spinning. Or maybe that’s just Sylvie sending his head spinning.

Something big is starting tonight. He can feel it.

He doesn’t know how it will all end up, but he reckons there’s two options.

Burning flames or happily committed paradise.

He’s willing to roll the dice. He hopes Sylvie is too.

[changingplumbob]

Pancake Household: Chapter 9, Part 1

Time to check in with the Pancakes stack!

Nicknames: Bob = Sleek, Eliza = Jumble

Brindleton Bay in autumn, the best world/season combo or so I’ve been told. We start with Ginger chasing her tail and Bob and Eliza  waking up.

Eliza: You ready for tonight?

Bob: Tonight?

Eliza: The dinner party Sleek

Bob: I remember we were having one I just didn’t remember it was tonight. Let me just call in work

Eliza: I could always cook

She looks at him but can only keep her face composed for a few seconds before laughing at her own joke.

Bob: *laughs* Let’s not burn the house down Jumble

Since we’ve last visited the youngest Pancake, Fergus, has been diagnosed with ADHD. He wants to see if he can manage without medication for the moment which makes Eliza a little nervous now and then.

Fergus: Morning dad, morning mother. Is Emi still coming for dinner

Eliza: Her and her parents, as well as Onyx’s friend Carson and his parents

Fergus: Just remember you have to call her Artemisia because you’re normal, I get to call her Emi because I’m her friend

Eliza: *quietly* Thank the watcher our eldest picked a simple name

Bob: You’re telling me

Bob stands and pulls Eliza up to kiss her on the cheek. He’s hoping they’ll have a daughter soon.

Onyx: Good morning everyone. Dad, mother, I couldn’t help but notice we still have a horse shaped hole in our lawn

Fergus: Did you dig up the yard?

Onyx: It’s an expression *switches to talking to Eliza* because I’m an A student mother

Eliza: Must be the only grade A student in detention

Onyx: It was one detention! Everyone gets at least one detention

Eliza: I didn’t

Bob: It’s not the detention that’s a problem. Your mother and I are concerned about how you’d manage taking care of a horse on top of your school and cheerleading responsibilities

Onyx: I’d fit it in. Please mother, I’m sad I don’t have a horse

Eliza: How about a test then

Onyx: A test?

Eliza: You take over walking Ginger for a while and if you can manage that we can talk about a horse again

Onyx: Deal. My dog walking skills will be legendary

The table bursts into laughter at this response.

Eliza: Oh I do love your confidence honey

Bob: Of course we’re lucky we can afford Ginger

Eliza: Bob…

Bob: For a while there my books weren’t doing so good

Onyx: They weren’t?

Bob: The first critic, what did he say Jumble?

Eliza: *sternly* Bob

Bob: That it was expensive toilet paper

Onyx: Oh my watcher! That’s awful! Is that why we had to move? Do we owe the mob money? Will they kill us in our sleep

Bob: What?

Clearly surprised that this new has upset Onyx, Bob turns to his wife to signal for help. Good thing she’s already prepared.

Eliza: It was a long time ago and we got through it. We may not be rolling in simoleons like some other families but we’re certainly in no danger of losing Ginger or the house

Bob: You’ll see Onyx, we’ll be… good?

Eliza: Thank you Bob, that was very convincing

Bob: *laughs* Thank the watcher charisma levels can’t go backwards

Onyx: I just have to do my homework mother then I’ll walk Ginger, you’ll see, I’ll have loads of time

Bob and Eliza watch their kids hurry off to get their homework out the way, Eliza feeling proud, Bob wondering if he should have added more onions to the breakfast quiche.

Settling onto the workout machine Bob thinks it’s a good time to do a short livestream, he still can’t believe he has fans, but he’ll have to get more for promotion.

Bob: Hey viewers. I’m having a dinner party tonight and I’m getting ready by exercising early! Remember to do your warmup stretches and add the weight you lift gradually. So my kid is 14 and I’m wondering… is it safe to let them in my kitchen? Let’s do a poll!

Inside in their room Onyx is oblivious to their responsibility being debated online, focusing instead on finishing their homework correctly. It would probably be easier if Eliza hadn’t picked now to vacuum but with visitors coming she will not be accepting dust bunnies today!

After completing his own homework assignment Fergus sets about doing the laundry. He checks all the pockets and gets it in the machine. Just as he sets it to go Onyx comes out for their cheer practice.

Onyx: Did you just do the washing

Fergus: It’s only right, we have guests coming and mother can’t do all the chores

Onyx: Suppose

Fergus: Plus if I do it you’ll have time to walk Ginger

Onyx: That’s nice of you, thanks-

Their words are interrupted by Fergus having chosen the porch as the best place to practice dramatics! Onyx shrugs and carries on their own practice, may as well practice not being distracted by random noises.

Livestream finished Bob heads inside to start prep for the dinner party. It’s here he realises he has a fridge full of batter but no dough, oops.

Bob: Hey, Jumble?

Eliza: Library! Doing chess!

Bob: Oh. Turns out I have to wait some time for the dough to mix together. I was wondering if I could persuade you to join me in bed for our own mixing

Eliza: *smiles* ask me nicely

Of course they do end up in bed and spend far longer mixing together than is required for the dough.

Previous (Romero) ... Next

[kelpiemomma]

The screaming had lasted for hours.

Not screaming like someone was dying; Ingo would have intervened if that were the case.

In some ways, the argument he could almost hear was worse.

The twins had come round with Cori and Razz, picking up Akari and Rei and taking them out for ice cream when it had started. Ingo had asked Davis about it who had, reasonably, looked uncomfortable.

"Dizzy loves our brother, she really, really does. But she... takes his lifestyle personally. They're very similar like that." Davis had responded quietly. "It's an old argument with no end. This happens- not normally in front of the kids, so Khan had us take them out of the house when she started winding up, and Cor asked if we could grab Akari for ice cream and..."

Ingo had let them go, sitting at home and listening. He couldn't hear the words but he could hear the tone. How angry Dizzy was, how it would go quiet and then there would be another outburst. Only a handful of times did Khan raise his voice in return at his sister, but never for very long. Ingo couldn't remember having any arguments like that with Emmet. He didn't remember their childhood, but the memories he had recovered of their teenage years and before his accident... he didn't think he and his twin had ever been quite so volatile.

Then again, there had been no signs of this sort of conflict between the oldest siblings either. If he wasn't hearing it, he'd never have thought they'd fight like this. Given the lack of interference from the rest of the neighborhood he wagered Davis was right, and that the best way to deal with this storm was simply to ride it out.

When the argument finally ended he was standing by his window that looked into his neighbor's front yard, worried. Dizzy stormed out with Khan following quickly behind. Ingo had never seen him look so... small. It was hardly a word one would associate with the young man, given his height and stature, and yet it was the only word Ingo could think of to describe him.

He watched as Khan reached for his sister, only for her to turn and slap his hand away.

“Why can’t you even try, you self-sacrificing bastard? You never even try!”

She stomped down the sidewalk, slamming the door to her car shut before turning it on and pulling out at a decidedly unsafe speed. Ingo watched as Khan stared after her, shoulders still slumped, before he put a hand up to his face and turned to walk back into his home.

Maybe it would be better to leave well enough alone, to pretend he hadn’t overheard… _that,_ but Khan was… well. Khan was his friend. Things may have been shaky to start with between them, but they had smoothed out. Khan knew about Ingo’s amnesia and never once judged him for it. Now, Ingo knew about… this.

Still. He hesitated before walking out of his own home and down the sidewalk to his neighbor’s, glancing around at the rest of the homes on the street. Blinds were slowly opening, curious eyes peeking through to see what still stood in the wake of the hurricane argument. The door to Khan’s home was unlocked when he tried the handle and Ingo slowly opened the door.

“Khan?” He called out.

There was a sniffling sound, a familiar hitch of breath.

“Yeah?” Khan’s voice was thick and low when he replied. “What’s up, need something fixed?”

“No, I…” Ingo shut the door behind him. The house was in one piece. For all the screaming and noise it appeared that nothing had been broken. The argument may have sounded violent but nobody had gotten physical. “I heard what happened and I was wondering if you were… alright.”

“Oh, you… you heard that?” Khan hadn’t come out to find him and so Ingo continued towards his voice instead. “Well,  yeah. They could probably hear that on the moon.”

“Possibly. I was unaware that Dizzy’s volume could rival my own.”

Khan was sat in the kitchen, slouched down in one of the chairs he’d built by hand. A byproduct of one of the many jobs he’d taken to keep his siblings fed, homed, and safe. He still looked, to Ingo’s dismay, small. Defeated. Deflated of all life.

“Yeah, she’s got some pipes on her. Always has. About burst my eardrums when she was a toddler, the way she’d howl when she threw a fit.”

One hand was rubbing at his face and his shoulders were still shaking intermittently. Ingo paused, uncertain, before he rested a hand on Khan’s shoulder.

“I don’t know what happened, but if you’d like to talk about it… or if you’d prefer, I can leave?”

Khan was silent long enough that Ingo prepared to straighten up, head out the door, and pretend this had never happened.

Khan leaned forward, rubbed his eyes again, and shook his head.

“You can stay,” he said quietly, and Ingo pretended he didn’t see the tears falling onto the floor, “it’s fine. You can stay.”

[rrcenic]

ineffable husbands playlist - post-season two (an angsty list with the lyrics that remind me of them)

STORY OF US - taylor swift (i used to think one day we'd tell the story of us // how we met and the sparks flew instantly // and people would say, "theyre the lucky ones" // i used to know my place was a spot next to you // now im searching the room for an empty seat // cause lately i don't even know what page you're on // oh, a simple complication // miscommunications lead to fall out // so many things that i wish you knew // so many walls up i can't break through)

ITS OVER, ISNT IT? - from steven universe (it’s over, isn’t it, isn’t it, isn’t it over? // you won, and she chose you, and she loved you and she’s gone // it’s over, isn’t it, why can’t i move on?)

SAY YES TO HEAVAN - lana del ray (if you go, i’ll stay // you come back, i’ll be right here // like a barge at sea // in the storm, i stay clear // cause i’ve got my mind on you // i’ve got my mind on you // say yes to heaven // say yes to me // say yes to heaven // say yes to me)

FLOWERS - original broadway cast of hadestown (dreams are sweet until they're not // men are kind until they aren't // flowers bloom until they rot and fall apart // is anybody listening? // i open my mouth and nothing comes out // nothing, nothing gonna wake me now // flowers, i remember fields of flowers, soft beneath my heels // walking in the sun // i remember someone, someone by my side // turned his face to mine // and then i turned away // into the shade)

DRIVERS LICENSE - olivia rodrigo (red lights, stop signs // i still see your face in the white cars, front yards // can’t drive past the places we used to go to // cause i still fuckin' love you, babe // sidewalks we crossed // i still hear your voice in the traffic, we're laughing // over all the noise // god, im so blue, know we're through // but i still fuckin' love you, babe)

TV - billie eilish (i don't wanna talk right now // i just wanna watch tv // i’ll stay in the pool and drown // so i don't have to watch you leave)

TAKE ME TO CHURCH - hozier (take me to church // i’ll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies // i’ll tell you my sins so you can sharpen your knife // offer me that deathless death // good god, let me give you my life)

STAY WITH ME - sam smith (oh won’t you stay with me // cause you’re all i need // this ain’t love, it’s clear to see // but darlin stay with me)

SOMEONE LIKE YOU - adele (never mind, i’ll find someone like you // i wish nothing but the best for you, too // don’t forget me, i beg // i remember you said, sometimes it lasts in love, sometimes hurts instead)

WHEN SHE LOVED ME - sarah mclachlan (when somebody loved me // everything was beautiful // every hour we spent together // lives within my heart // and when she was lonely // i was there to comfort her // and i knew that she loved me // so the years went by // i stayed the same // but she began to drift away // i was left alone // still, i waited for the day // when she'd say, i will always love you)

HIDDEN IN THE SAND - tally hall (when you had to bid adieu // said you’d never love anew // i wondered if i could hold it and fall in love with it too // you told me to buy a pony but all i wanted was you)

I CANT HANDLE CHANGE - roar (nothing i do is ever good // nothing i do is ever good enough // nothing i do is ever good // i can’t help but repeat myself// i know it’s not your fault // but lately i begin to shake for no reason at all)

TALKING TO THE MOON - bruno mars (i know you’re somewhere out there, somewhere far away // i want you back // i want you back // cause every night, im talking to the moon // still trying to get to you // in hopes you're on the other side talking to me too // or am i a fool who sits alone talking to the moon?)

LOVE OF MY LIFE - queen (because what kind of ineffable husbands playlist would it be without queen?) (love of my life, you've hurt me // you’ve broken my heart, and now you leave me // love of my life, can't you see? // bring it back, bring it back, don't take it away from me // because you don't know what it means to me)

[viva-la-whump]

Febuwhump Day 13

@febuwhump

And now we're back with Thrawn!

“YOU WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO GET HURT”

Thalias winced as the doctor started stitching up the cuts on her back. She heard a sharp,  yet quiet intake of breath as the man standing off to the side had felt that prick of pain, too. Her mouth tugged into a small, lopsided smirk.

“I’m alright, detective. I promise.”

“You weren’t supposed to get hurt,” Thrawn said, taking a step forward.

“I knew the risks when I agreed to the assignment. I think I can consider myself lucky that this was all I walked away with. Those poor women…”

Detective Thrawn had come up with a plan to try and catch the  Ripper. It was dangerous and nearly reckless, but almost all good plans were, and Thalias hadn’t seen Thrawn come up with a bad plan yet. So that's why she’d readily volunteered to pose as a prostitute to try and catch the homicidal maniac before he could strike again.

Except, he had struck. And he had struck hard.

Somehow he had figured out Thalias wasn’t a real prostitute and had decided to punish Scotland Yard for this offense. So, instead of killing just one girl like he normally did, he killed four. And on top of that, he’d attacked Thalias from behind, knocking her out before she could even get a glimpse of him, and carved one word into her back: THRAWN.

“Besides, I should be the one apologizing. I must have done or said something to tip him off. If I’d done a better job–”

“No,” Thrawn said firmly, stopping her and closing the distance between them. Thalias wished she wasn’t lying prone and could look at his face, but he seemed to sense that and knelt down so they were eye to eye. “You mustn't blame yourself, Thalias. Those actions were his and his alone. And if blame must be placed elsewhere, then it is at my feet. It was my plan and I am your superior officer. I take full responsibility for what happens to my people and those  under my protection.”

She stared at him, seeing the conviction on his face and the apology in his eyes. He always meant exactly what he said. Thalias had known a lot of people in her life like that. In fact, she wasn't sure she’d met any. That was one of the things that made Thrawn such a good man, and an excellent leader. And friend.

Thalias winced again when the doctor gave too strong a tug on one of her sutures. She closed her eyes against the pain, but then opened them in surprise when she felt Thrawn’s hand squeeze her’s. She gave a small smile of gratitude and squeezed right back.

They stayed like that as the doctor finished and then Thrawn left the room to give her privacy as she dressed in clean clothes.

“I’m sending you on leave for the time being,” he informed her when he reentered the room. “Not only to give your wounds time to heal, but I suspect the Ripper will be keeping an eye on you now, perhaps go so far as to…finish the job. I do not intend to place you in that danger or to provide him with another victim.”

“But where will I stay? I can’t stay here if he’s watching me, and that will put Che’ri in danger, too.”

“I’ve already sent word to my sister, Borika. She and her husband live several days’ ride north of the city and have agreed to let both you and your sister stay with them.”

Thalias’ jaw draped open. “I couldn’t impose on them!” she explained. But Thrawn held up a hand to stall any further protests, a wry smile playing on his lips.

“On the contrary, she seemed rather eager for the chance to meet you. No doubt she wishes to interrogate you about me.”

“What? But why? You’re her brother.” If anything,  Thalias should be the one interrogating her about Thrawn, not the other way around…and she most certainly intended to. Thrawn’s smile turned almost sheepish.

“I do not write as often as she would like. She worries, like any older sister would.”

Thalias understood that completely, as he knew she would.

“My lips are sealed, sir.”

“I’m afraid that won’t do you any good.” A weary, yet slightly proud look crossed his face. “She has a gift for divining the truth through even the most well crafted lie. Even your silence will speak volumes. No. Feel free to tell her whatever she wishes to know. It will help ease her mind and even a younger brother should not torture his sister too much.”

A smile blossomed on Thalias’ face.

“Yes, sir.”