#should i tag this as riptide? maybe later

[wasyago]

question

what is the chip/igneous ship name? in mantis' list its "stoneflame", but um.... i don't like stoneflame.............. i saw some people use "flint and steel" which is a sick name honestly, so if nothing comes out of this then I'll use it too, BUT. but. what if something more fire/lava related?

fire opal (a real existing gem, found in volcanos, chip has fire magic, igneous is a black opal)? molten lava? amber embers (igneous' sword is made of amber, embers for fire/lava theme)? lavafall? red-hot something? i really like "red-hot" but can't figure out what to put after it... im not great with names, but. thoughts?

there's probably like, 3 people who ship igneous/chip so idk who im talking to, but still

[creativekha0s]

Liv Morgan x Rhea Ripley oneshot! I totally meant to get this written earlier in the week after Wrestlemania actually happened, but a week later isn’t so bad. Enjoy! I love making these two find their way back to each other 🥰

———————————————————————

WRESTLEMANIA XL NIGHT 1

Later that night…

Rhea Ripley defeats Becky Lynch with two Riptides at the grandest stage of them all and her dominant reign as Raw Women’s Champion continues on. Through the curtain she was celebrated by her Judgement Day companions and later on, Charlotte Flair. Once she was allowed a moment to herself, she walked on through the backstage area with a smile on her face and her championship belt on her shoulder.

“Hey Rhea, wait up!” Another one of the horsewomen, Bayley, says and jogs to catch up with her. “Hey champ, congratulations!”

“Thanks Bay. I’ve got faith in you to win your championship tomorrow night.” Rhea says with a dashing smile on her lips.

“Hey, thanks. Listen I’m not sure if I should tell you this but….you haven’t seen Liv yet, have you?” Rhea shakes her head confusingly. “You didn’t hear this from me then. We were all watching your match back here on the monitors just having a good time, getting into the match and everything and then when you pinned Becky….I don’t know, man. One second Liv is clapping with us and the next I see a fresh set of tears down her face. Then she disappeared to her locker room I presume.”

Rhea sighs and looks down to the floor before running a hand through her hair unsure of what emotions to feel right now. She’s completely ecstatic from her match with Becky and still riding her high from it and now she can’t help but to feel a small knot of guilt in her stomach.

“Is she still here then?”

Bayley nods her head. “Door is locked and she wouldn’t open up not even for me.” She lets out a small sigh. “Listen I know it’s not my place, you’re on an adrenaline rush, I get it. Just check on her before you leave, okay?” She sees Rhea contemplate with her request and Bayley gives her arm a playful shove. “Hey come on, you owe me. If I chose you to face instead of Iyo, maybe you wouldn’t have that belt on your shoulder right now.”

“Ha ha, hugger. In your dreams.” The two exchange a final smile before Bayley moves along to head back to the monitors while Rhea struggles with a choice of heading to her own locker room or checking on her once former best friend, tag team partner….someone who she once loved. Walking back towards the locker rooms gave Rhea a bit longer to form a decision. When she got to her own locker room she quickly went over to her travel bag and began digging through it until she found what she was looking for.

Rhea grabbed her championship belt and exited her locker room to make her way towards the locker room belonging to Liv Morgan. Her hand grabbed the handle and twisted to find the door was really locked, from the clutch of her other hand she sighed and revealed a key that Liv gave her long ago, pushing it to the keyhole and unlocking the door to head inside and locking the door behind her.

“Livvy?”

Rhea asked quietly when she didn’t see the blonde around. It was quiet but tense, the television set she had was playing the 6 Pack Ladder Match for the Tag Team Championships as it happened live on a low volume. Then she heard a quiet sniffle and an exaggerated sigh from the around the corner, that’s when Liv Morgan appeared carefully wiping her eyes with a tissue and stopping dead in her tracks when she saw Rhea Ripley standing in front of her in her own locker room.

When the mini heart attack subsided in her chest, Liv wasn’t too surprised to see Rhea here. Someone must’ve seen her wipe away tears and leave the monitors and figured it must’ve been Nattie or Bayley. And the door was locked but Rhea had a key as Liv had one for Rhea’s door as well.

“Hey…champ. Congratulations on the match, you were amazing.” Liv wiped under her eyes again.

“Yeah, thanks.” Rhea slid her title belt off of her shoulder and set it down on a chair, looking at a half broken Liv Morgan in front of her. “Do you want small talk? Bayley said you locked yourself in here. And you’re crying.”

“Fuckin’ Bayley.” Liv muttered under her breath and crossed her arms. “Let’s catch up another time. This is your big night, your big win, you should go celebrate it. Don’t worry about me.”

“You’re not giving me a choice on that last bit.” Rhea shrugged her shoulders and closed the distance a little between them. “Just talk to me, Livvy. What’s going on?” Liv couldn’t fight away the fresh set of tears that formed in her eyes, she was just deep down glad that Rhea was someone who has already seen her completely vulnerable. “Come here.” Rhea pulled Liv into a tight hug without having to struggle to like last time.

Liv silently cried into Rhea’s shoulder as the Aussie gently stroked at her back to help calm her down. It was only for a few minutes but Rhea was willing to take as long as she needed.

“Am I good enough?” Liv spoke after some silence and pulled her body back just enough to look Rhea into her eyes. “Be honest with me. I came up short on not one, but two Rumble matches back to back, I don’t have a match at Wrestlemania this year, I lost my best friend but more importantly…..” Liv stopped short before finishing her sentence and noticed that Rhea’s gaze never left hers. “I’m not good enough for you anymore either.”

“Liv, come on…”

“I’m so….so fucking happy for you, Rhea. You’ve accomplished so much and you’re not slowing down anytime soon. I’m so proud of you, it’s just…” Liv goes to find another tissue for her tears but Rhea grabs her wrist to stop her. “I’m not jealous, okay? You deserve everything. I’m-“ Rhea leads Liv over to the couch and sits them both down.

“I’m terrified, Liv.” Rhea says sadly with a light chuckle. “Right now I feel like I’m sitting well above the world right now and we both know that means the only way out is back down.” After swallowing her pride, Rhea smiles and adverts her eyes back to the blonde. “Absolutely, Liv Morgan, you’re good enough if not better than anything that’s in front of you. One of the biggest reasons I’m going as hard as I can is because I’m inspired by you and your ‘never quit’ attitude. The reason I’m here is because of you. I mean, you beat Ronda Rousey. Twice. You’re the first to ever do that.”

Liv blushed and had to look away no matter how much she desperately wanted to get lost in Rhea’s eyes. It wasn’t the answer she was expecting to get but the sudden warm feeling that felt in her chest made her spirits start to skyrocket.

“It can’t just be because of me. You’re a wonder of the world all on your own.” Liv sported a tiny smile on her lips. “But hearing that from our Women’s Champion does feel pretty good.”

The two chuckled and Rhea made the move to inch her body closer to Liv’s, the blonde’s heart fluttering more in her chest.

“You will always be good enough for me, Livvy. I’d be lying if I didn’t that I’ve been thinking about us lately…..what we had together…..” The Aussie tucks a few strands of hair behind her ears. “I’m sorry things have gotten rocky between us.” Her hand finds Liv’s hand and subtly strokes the top of it with her thumb. “Maybe we can find our way back again.”

“That’s so much hope to give me in my current headspace.” Liv chuckled and held her hand tighter. “I’d like that. A lot. I miss us.”

“I miss us too.” Rhea chuckled with a big genuine smile on her face. “And not just because it gets lonely at the top. I really miss us and I wouldn’t mind working on making some things up to you, like getting your confidence back. I know you got it.”

“Proving I’m good enough to myself, by myself, hasn’t been easy.” Liv sighed and gave Rhea a hug. “I don’t want to keep you from the rest of your night, you should go celebrate and catch the other matches.”

“I do have the press conference to get ready for, yeah.” Rhea sighed and tightened her arms around Liv’s body.

“Is it okay if I kiss you?” Liv asked suddenly but Rhea found it adorable that she asked for permission out of nowhere.

Pulling back, Rhea smiled and nodded her head while admiring Liv Morgan in a light she hasn’t seen in almost two years. If there was one weakness in her career, it was her. Something about a 5 foot 3 blonde who shared her passion for wrestling and beyond she couldn’t dare keep turning away from, not after an incredible night like tonight. With the most confidence she’s had all night, Liv slowly captured Rhea’s lips for a kiss that made them both feel whole again, as if they were both home with each other again.

Until her press conference had to start, Rhea stayed with Liv in her locker room all night together, cuddled up on her locker room couch, peppering sweet kisses to the side of Liv’s head and her cheek as they watched together the rest of the matches Wrestlemania Night 1 had to offer.

[butchriptide]

genuinely really frustrating that people will like. choose to accept the age mistake made in assassin as canon for deathbringer when it actively contradicts older material. like. sorry idk if this is me being unfair here but genuinely like. why would you think it's intentional when deathbringer is described in main series as maybe a year or two older than glory at most, and can canonically not be any older than 9 due to stated timeline facts in the main series.

like. I get not liking glorybringer, i really do. no ship is for everyone. hell, even if assassin specifically makes you feel weird about it, so be it, to each their own. i can undertsnad that too. and yes, the glorybringer fans who think the age gap are canon are also in the wrong. they're being really gross, i don't think it's necessary to disclaim that, that feels given, but like... that only comes to my point still of like, i really don't understand taking a spin-off as canon over the main series. i don't really understand prioritizing later content as canon as opposed to the main work over spin-off as canon. why should a spin-off take jurisdiction just cuz it's newer? i feel like the older the canon is, the more likely it is the newer stuff will make mistakes. to me, in the case of a contradiction, the main series should be taken to? a spin-off is meant to supplement the main series, so shouldn't it only supplement canon that doesn't contradict?

like also, i get being frustrated it isn't fixed, but also. like. i obviously have not worked with a publisher before, but if I was writing for fucking scholastic books, no matter how well fucking beloved my series was, I don't know if I could risk being like "hey. can you pull my books from shelves and e-stores for me so that I can edit one line?" Like. I really don't think there's any reality in which I can make a corporation agree to that kind of thing, no matter what that one line may fuck up about my main story. like it's not even the only mistake she makes in the winglets. she calls deathbringer a rainwing in the flip book, but we're not hailing that as canon in retrospect, right? I don't know. I think it's unfair to presume that she's choosing not to fix it as opposed to it being an improbable to downright impossible thing to ask of a publisher. like yes tui is an incredibly successful author but i really don't know if we can presume she has that much actual sway on her publisher.

it's just really exhausting as a deathbringer enjoyer to feel like if I want to talk about and enjoy his character, and yes, that includes context given in the assassin winglet once you ignore the timeline error, i feel like I constantlyyy have to be saying "yes I think the timeline error is an error. no i don't think deathbringer is 13." like. every time i bring him up. i'm a riptide fan I'm used to it but also it's sooooo tiring to go into a character tag for a guy i like and be swamped with hatred for him and it's so much worse for deathbringer than riptide because in the deathbringer tag I have to deal with being actively accused of excusing gross shit for liking him instead of people just saying that my blorbo is boring.

[katytheinspiredworkaholic]

WIP Wednesday

Title: Extraordinary

Pairings: HotchReid (more to come)

Summary: League of Extraordinary Gentleman/Vampire AU;

Within the FBI there is a specialized team full of an elite selection of people. Unique individuals with very particular skill sets. And their job is to take the unusual cases: the ones that need to not only be solved, but are undetermined if the unsub is human, or something else entirely.

In a world filled with Vampires, non-human creatures, and subspecies unknown, there is only enough information to have them vaguely regulated. Rules that are so easily, and violently broken, all while hidden in plain sight among the unsuspecting public. Unrivaled for eons.

That’s where the BAU comes in.

Official Posting Date: October 2021

Links: (Masterpost) (Snippet 01) (Snippet 02) (Snippet 03) (Snippet 04)

(TW/CW: dead body/crime scene, blood and bite wounds talked about in detail, hypnosis/compelling someone to do something against their will, overall discussion of murder (basically what we see in every episode of the show))

(the story so far/what you need to know for this clip at least: Absolutely nothing you don’t already know, this is legit from the first chapter. Hotch is a Vampire (although the LEOs don’t really know that), Rossi is a priest, Morgan is so empathetically telepathic he can touch the auras in the air, and Reid is Reid. I know I’ve been giving you the juicy HotchReid stuff but here have some case stuff too, to see what you’re in for with the plot and everything. This is FIRST DRAFT so it’s terribly unpolished, first part is generalized POV (hence the more professional titles) and the second is within the team dynamics so they get more familiar. idk my first drafts are messy and indecisive, enjoy anyway. 💕)

–

They approach the body and Rainer shoos away his pestering, hovering officers and --- winces once again at the sight of the bloodied woman. “This is the third body in two days; a jogger found her about 6 am. Coroner says she thinks she’s been dead for about 6 hours; killed in the middle of the night, just like the others.” 

“Closer to five hours, I think,” Dr. Reid says, crouching down to look closer. All long legs and his gun looking too big on his belt next to his FBI badge. “Could still be within the Witching Hour, though.”

“Do you have accurate time of death estimates for the other two bodies?” Agent Morgan adds on, already picking up the train of thought Dr. Reid has started on. The detective pulls out an old-school flip notebook book and looks through it before answering.

“3:15am the first night, 9:30pm last night and now this.”

“Well that rules out hex, sacrifice, and spell gone wrong,” he concludes, as the other agents surround the body to inspect it from all angles. “So what are we thinking?”

“It’s a frenzied bite,” Agent Hotchner points out, looking from where he stands and not having to get as close as Dr. Reid to inspect it accurately. His eyesight is better than any microscope. “Shows multiple entries, it couldn’t get a good enough hold to rip her throat. Or she struggled, so it wasn’t strong enough to keep her pinned down.”

“The boys think it’s a Vamp,” Detective Rainer points out. “Maybe a baby one, still learning the ropes?”

“Vampire changes are regulated and no sire would allow whoever they turned to do this,” Agent Hotchner says, a colder flint to his voice that matches the way his dark stare cuts up to the detective. “No one has been turned in the United States in the past twelve years.”

“It’s not a Vampire bite,” Dr. Reid agrees, putting on latex gloves to further inspect the body and test the bite radius. “And it’s not a werewolf bite, either.”

“...Werewolf?” the detective says with a winded sound, eyes wide and looking to the three agents who didn’t even blink at the word. “There’s -- there’s such thing as werewolves?” 

“Detective, I think you should let my team and I work, we will come to you with our findings and then help you track down your killer.” Agent Hotchner doesn’t leave room for argument, his dark brown eyes looking pitch black in the early morning light, and Detective Rainer… suddenly feels the overwhelming urge to walk away. Like he can’t breathe if he doesn’t comply; he fights it, tries to fight it, and feels his will crumble beneath him like a sand bank giving way under his feet. He turns, even that small gesture lessening the pressure crushing his chest, and takes a step away from the group, air swept into his lungs like a riptide. He makes a hasty retreat after that, winded as if he just ran up a flight of stairs and the sweet taste of oxygen being his only reprieve. He doesn’t know what happened, and wouldn’t upon further inspection until much, much later.

-

“That wasn’t very nice, Hotch,” Rossi points out with a look of glib reprimand towards their team leader. “I thought compelling feeble minded beat cops was for those who have no skills to avoid it.”

“My patience was running thin, and we need to move faster on this case before our unsub kills again. He’s escalating.” That much is obvious, by the timeline alone, but Father Rossi still gives him a side-ways glance that says he finds far too much amusement in the undead’s antics. “Reid, are you sure it’s not a werewolf bite? It would explain the lack of control and precision.”

“I’m sure,” Reid says with finality, and no one makes a mention on why. He had done more research than any human possibly could in the past few months on werewolf transformation and the after effects of attacks. With what happened to one of their former agents mere months ago, no one doubted his newly learned expertise. “It’s also not a shifter, or a ghoul. We can rule out ghost and poltergeist as well, no residue or temperature shifts.” 

“Demon possession?” Morgan asks, looking to Rossi just as he does his customary Sign of the Cross at the mere mention. Can’t help the gesture, after his own past experiences. Giving anything the power of a name, even arbitrary, can be a dangerous thing. 

“We can’t rule it out,” he admits. “The teeth marks are human, someone possessed would still have a hard time biting that deep and doing that much damage. Cannibalism is only reserved for the amusements of level three demons, however they aren’t usually powerful enough to reach the mortal plane or take possession of someone’s body. They would need help.” 

“You really think someone would weaponize a demon like that?” 

“We’ve seen people do worse things, as has history, but I’d like to hope it wouldn’t happen in my lifetime.” 

“We need more information,” Hotch concludes, arms crossed and watching as Reid stands up and removes the blood stained gloves. “Morgan,” his gaze cuts to the tall man in his deep blue suit. “Can you walk the scene, tell us what you see?”

“Not with this many people around,” Morgan shakes his head, eyes glancing to every person within a twenty foot radius. “Too many readings, the aura field here looks like an oil spill. The only thing I can latch onto is…” his gaze is back on the ground, hovering over the dead woman, who would have no aura to speak of at all and therefore a blank canvas. He replaces Reid’s space, crouching down to touch the air over the bite wound. Fingers spread wide, less than a foot from her but not touching, palm suddenly curving as if over an invisible shoulder, the place where someone had once been not so long ago. It could have been the coroner, or the crime scene photographer, but with it being so close to the body -- chances were it was the unsub.

“They were crouched down, half on the ground, no… human thoughts that I can hear,” he says, closing his eyes and letting his hand glide through the air a little more, following the curve of someone’s spine and up their neck, resting where the head would be. “They have a fever burning them up, hot as a furnace--” he keeps his hand there too long, suddenly jerks it back as if it had physically burned him, then stands up again. Shaking off the aura reading still sticking to his fingers and the forefront of his mind. “Sound like anything you’ve heard of, pretty boy?” 

Reid shakes his head, sharing a glance with Father Rossi. “We might have to go through some of your demonology books.” The older man grins wide.

“You just want to get your hands on them, at this rate you’ll have them memorized by next week.” 

“Dave --” Hotch says slow, a reprimand of his own.

“Fine, fine, I’ll have Garcia send us some scans. If the Vatican knew I was putting a book like that in his hands they’d strip me of all my titles.”

“Didn’t they already do that?” Morgan teases with a grin.

“Ex-communicated. I got to keep the dog collar, the honorifics, bless the holy water, you know -- the party tricks.” 

–

((if you want to be apart of the taglist just hit me up via comment, reblog tag, DMs or asks 💕))

[hookedonapirate]

Summary: The Jones brothers are polar opposites. Liam's the safe and honorable one, straight-laced and straight as an arrow. The good son.

Killian's the dangerous one, the bad boy with tats, leather jackets, a motorcycle and a questionable past.

The only things they have in common are panty-melting sea-blue eyes, the flat they share in Storybrooke and a rare blood type.

Oh, and apparently their taste in women.

Or rather, one woman.

Feisty.

Blonde.

Gorgeous.

Green-eyed Goddess.

Killian saw her first, but she chose his brother—the nice guy over the playboy. And even though she’s dating his brother, it doesn't make him want her any less. If that's not bad enough, she moves in with them and he has to pretend he's not completely in love with her. His life could not get any worse…

Until Liam dies in a tragic motorcycle accident.

Leaving each of them with one half of a broken heart.

Now Killian and Emma are left helping each other pick up the pieces.

Just as they're beginning to learn how to live in their new reality, another riptide pulls them further into the deep end when she finds out she's pregnant with Liam's baby.

Notes: So I made this post on Tumblr the other day, and then this fic happened. If you haven't seen the tags, please read them before starting this story or becoming invested because it’s very angsty. First of all, this starts out as Swan Jewel? I don't know what their ship name is or if there is an official name, but yes, Liam and Emma are in a relationship in the beginning, and I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. If you're not comfortable with that, I highly encourage you to hit the back button.

Thank you @ultraluckycatnd​ for looking it over!

This story was inspired by Baby Mine by Kennedy Fox, and I loved the book so much and thought it was very much underrated. I’ve wanted to write a fic like this for a long time now because it’s one of my favorite tropes, but after I read that book, I just had to write my own take. Also, I made this post about a Baby Yodarita drink last year when it was trending and since the beginning of this story starts one year prior, 2019 and since Killian is a bartender, it was a perfect way to include the prompt.

The title comes from the lyrics of the song, Lay By Me by Ruben. The particular line goes like this:

"I hope you know through the rising tide That I'll be here and you can lay by my side"

If you've never heard it, I recommend giving it a listen. It's an amazing song and very fitting for this story.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFJbLzEtoZw

P.S. In case you're unable to read the shoulder tattoo in the picture above and are wondering what it says—

"There is no happiness without tears

No life without death

And no true love without heartbreak"

Rated: Explicit for smut (including sexual fantasies, masturbation, implied and detailed sex, etc.) and language (lots of F-bombs).

Also available on: AO3 FF.N

Chapter 1

“Late again?” Liam chides when Ruby waltzes into work as if everything is completely normal. As if she’s not an hour late for her shift. 

  For the third time that week.

  She gives him an apologetic smile, but Killian knows she’s not actually sorry. 

  He’s just wondering who she was with this time.

  “Won't happen again, boss.”

  “Damn right it won’t. This is your third warning. Next time, there will be a write-up,” he admonishes.

  Frustration creases her forehead. “Geez, would you just chill? My car broke down.”

  Liam crosses his arms, narrowing his eyes at her. “So, you mean to tell me your car has broken down three times this week?” he asks, holding up three fingers. “And on either of these occasions, you couldn’t pick up the phone and give me a heads up? Did your phone break, too?”

  She flashes him a look as though the answer to his question is obvious. “I told you my car’s a piece of junk. And I tried to call, but no one answered.”

  Killian fights off a laugh, knowing for a fact Ruby is bluffing. At least about calling tonight, since the phone hadn’t rung in the past hour. But he could easily check to see if she’d called on the other two days on the bar phone’s caller i.d. to find out for sure if he really wanted to. 

   “So get a new car. Don’t you make enough from your tips and the hourly wage I pay you?”

  “I make enough from my tips,” she replies with a sarcastic smirk, “but I have more important things to buy.”

  Liam rolls his eyes. “Like what? More six-inch heels, low-cut tops and short skirts?”

  Ruby lets out an exasperated sigh. “How do you think I get good tips—by dressing like a Catholic schoolgirl?” She twists her lips and presses the back of her long, red-painted fingernail to her chin, pondering her own words for a second. “On second thought, that actually might bring in even more tips. Besides, you should be paying for my work clothes. Maybe then I could afford a new car.”

  Liam scoffs. “You want me to pay for your outfits?” He shakes his head. “I don’t think so.”

  Ruby's eyes widen, as though she’s shocked he declined her request. “Why not? Can’t you claim them as a work expense?”

  He nods. “Alright, fine. But if I’m paying for your work attire, then I’m choosing what you wear. Sound good to you?” he asks, knowing damn well she’ll never go for it.

  Unsurprisingly, she shakes her head. “Absolutely not. I ain’t wearing no damn polo shirt and black slacks. I like my low-cut tops and short skirts, thank you very much.”

  Liam sighs and cups his forehead in his hand to indicate she’s giving him a headache as he turns around and walks toward his office. “Just get to work, Ruby.”

  She wraps her apron around her waist and mimics his words in a mocking tone, “Just get to work, Ruby.”

  “I heard that!” Liam hollers.

  “I could be already serving customers if it weren’t for my pain in the ass boss riding me every two goddamn seconds!” she shouts, hoping he heard that too.

  Killian chuckles to himself as he rings up a customer for his drinks and hands him the change.

  “That dude seriously needs to get laid,” Ruby huffs. “Maybe then he’d back off a little.”

  “Ha! I doubt it,” Killian comments before taking another drink order.

  Ruby heads to the dining area to wait on customers. She knows Killian’s not wrong to doubt Liam’s ability to show a little mercy. He’s worked for his brother for two years, longer than anyone has ever been able to stand working for him, and he’s never once seen Liam be lenient, not even to his own brother. He runs a tight ship, and Killian doesn’t see that ever changing. Liam has owned this bar for five years and takes his job very seriously. 

  Killian’s just glad he only has to work here for another six months. Or at least that’s the plan. He’s about to graduate from Storybrooke University and get his degree in engineering. As much as he enjoys working for his brother, or rather listening to his coworkers complain about his brother behind Liam’s back, he doesn’t plan on spending his entire life making drinks.

  Liam emerges from his office an hour later and announces he has to take off for a while to run some errands. Killian’s confused because this is Liam’s night to manage the bar. He dedicates the majority of his other time performing administrative tasks during the week.

  “What errands do you have to run on a Friday night?” Killian asks, his words laced with suspicion.

  “Just some errands I promised someone I’d take care of. You’re in charge while I’m gone.” He pulls on his jacket and leaves Killian behind the bar with a confused expression on his face, wondering what his brother is up to. 

  Killian brushes off the thought, deciding to further question him later.

  Liam heads out the door, but not before scolding Ruby for sitting down at a table full of rowdy men, chatting (and not about the menu). She may be into women, but she flirts with customers regardless of their gender for the tips. 

  Ruby curses under her breath and gets up, moving to her next table to jot down orders.

  ~*~

  Emma sighs as Mary Margaret grabs her hand and pulls her into The Captain's Rum. Or more like, drags her in kicking and screaming. She doesn’t wish to be at this bar any more than she wanted to be at the last two. But her sister-in-law insists on the outlandish idea Emma’s going to find Mr. Perfect tonight. Or somehow get over her asshole of an ex-boyfriend after one night of drinking.

  And even though it's been two months since she left Neal and his thieving and cheating ass, and as much as she wants to get over him, Emma knows it’s not gonna happen for a while. At least not tonight.

  And yet, here she is.

  One night of drinking can’t hurt, she supposes. One night of forgetting everything. Of numbing her pain. Or so she keeps telling herself, but that could be the alcohol she’s already imbibed at the other two bars speaking.

  “So, how’s it going tonight, Rubes?” Mary Margaret asks the cocktail server once they’re seated at a booth. 

  Apparently, they know each other.

  “Well, no one's tried to manhandle me yet, so it's a start.” The tall brunette with red streaks in her hair leans over the table and murmurs, “Not a great start, but it's a start.”

  Mary Margaret rolls her eyes and laughs as she gestures at Emma. “Rubes, this is my sister-in-law, Emma. She just moved here from New York.”

  Looking at Emma, Ruby grins and sticks out her hand. “Hi! Nice to meet you!”

  Emma gives her a polite smile and shakes her hand. “Likewise.”

  When Ruby brings the chips and cheese Mary Margaret ordered, she places them on the table along with two empty plates. Before arriving here, Mary Margaret decided they would put some food in their bellies before they added more alcohol so they wouldn't get too drunk too fast and have to head home early. Well, that was Mary Margaret’s idea at least. Emma would much rather be home in the comfort of her bedroom watching Netflix. Or rather, her brother’s and sister-in-law's guestroom they so graciously let her sleep in until she gets her own place. 

  “Enjoy, ladies.”

  “Sure will,” Mary Margaret beams as Ruby leaves their table. She sips on some water as she scans the bar. Probably for potential suitors she can hook her sister-in-law up with, Emma surmises. “What about him? He's cute,” Mary Margaret remarks, her eyes trained on someone behind her. 

  Emma looks over her shoulder and arches a brow. “He’s cute if you’re sixteen. He looks way too young.”

  “Well, he’s drinking, so he must be at least twenty-one,” Mary Margaret points out.

  “He looks sixteen, and sorry, I don’t date children.”

  “Emma, he’s not a child, probably a college student. And you act like you’re so old just because you already graduated. You’re twenty-two,” Mary Margaret points out like she’s jealous and wishes to be so young again. But she's only a few years older—the same age as David.

  Emma groans. “No, thanks.” Her last boyfriend was immature enough as it was, and he was ten years her senior. “So, tell me, how are you and my brother getting along?” Emma asks, attempting to change the subject and get her sister-in-law to avert her attention from the college boys across the room. “Sick of each other yet?”

  Mary Margaret whips her head around and scowls. “Of course not. Why would you ask such a thing?”

  Emma laughs and raises her hands in defense. “Because I knew it was the only thing that would get your attention.”

  Guilt and apology flicker in Mary Margaret’s eyes. “Sorry, Emma.” She lays her palms on the table. “David and I are just worried about you, that’s all.”

  Emma sighs, frustration creasing her forehead. “I’m fine, I promise. Neal was an ass, and honestly, him cheating on me was a good thing. I needed the wake-up call, okay? I was blinded by love. But now that we're over, I can move on with my life. That’s why I let you talk me into bar hopping.”

  A slow, hopeful smile spreads across her lips. “I know, and I’m so happy you got out of that relationship, Emma. David and I both are.”

  Emma laughs. “I know. When I landed on your door stoop, we both had to stop him from driving all the way to New York to kick Neal's ass.”

  Mary Margaret nods. “True. He’s very protective of you.”

  Emma rolls her eyes. “I know. It’s both a blessing and a curse.” She takes a sip of water as she scans the bar. It’s the first time she’s been to The Captain's Rum, and everyone is so unfamiliar to her. New York is a huge place, especially compared to Storybrooke, but in this bar, it feels like she‘s back in New York. She swears everyone in Storybrooke is here.

  Ruby returns to their table to sit and chat. And steal some of their chips, double-dipping them in the cheese. Emma fights off the urge to laugh at this as her eyes wander past Ruby’s shoulder. 

  Huge mistake.

  The group at the bar counter disperses, revealing the most gorgeous sight she's ever seen.

  Holy. Fucking. Hell. 

  She loses a breath when she sees what she can only describe as a fine specimen. 

  Good Lord.

  Handsome features and such a delicious smile to accompany his perfect face as he chats with a male patron at the bar, she finds herself licking her lips.

  “What about him?” Emma manages when she’s able to find the words in her throat. 

  Mary Margaret’s eyes light up before she even looks to see who Emma is staring so unabashedly at. “Who?!” She and Ruby both turn their heads, their eyes following the path of Emma’s gaze until they land on the target.

  “You mean the bartender?” Mary Margaret asks, though, to Emma’s surprise, she doesn’t seem very excited; more like disappointed.

  Emma tears her gaze away from the bartender, as much as she doesn’t want to. But she couldn’t breathe when she looked at him and she needed to come up for air. “Yeah, why not?” 

  “Why not what?” Ruby asks as she looks at Emma, curiosity flashing in her big hazel eyes. “Because if you’re asking ‘why not jump his bones,’ then I can’t think of one good reason.”

  “Ruby, don’t encourage her,” Mary Margaret chides with a glare.

  Ruby frowns, confusion etched in her features. “Why not?”

  “Because… Killian is a player. Emma just broke up with her player of a boyfriend a couple of months ago. She doesn't need another one in her life.”

  “Um, excuse me, I’m right here,” Emma groans wryly. “And I’m perfectly capable of making my own decisions.”

  “She’s not wrong though,” Ruby remarks. “He is a player. But a fucking hot player. Between the two of us, we’ve conquered all the women of Storybrooke.”

  Emma lifts a brow. “Does that mean what I think it means?”

  “Yep. Probably even some of the same women,” she winks, her words bearing no shame or remorse.

  “Ruby, would you stop? Besides, neither of you have conquered me,” Mary Margaret points out with air quotes.

  Ruby rolls her eyes. “Of course not. Prince Charming had already parked his car in your garage long ago.” She reverts her eyes to Emma. “If you’re looking for a relationship, he’s definitely not for you…” she leans over toward Emma, speaking softly, “but if you’re looking for a hookup to get over that cheating ex of yours, then he’s absolutely perfect for that. He’ll give you an orgasm sooooo hard, you’ll forget all about that scumbag. Then he’ll do it over and over again until he knows you won’t be able to walk for weeks.” Ruby grins wide. “Hell, you’ll forget your own fucking name for weeks.”

  Emma gulps, having to recover from the images Ruby implanted in her mind of the man on the other side of the bar. Once she recovers, she furrows her brows at the conclusions she’s drawn from Ruby’s graphic depictions of what a night with the handsome, dark-haired bartender would be like. “How would you know? Have you two—”

  Ruby laughs as though Emma just said the funniest thing she’s ever heard in her life. “Oh Gaaaaawwwwd, no! I don’t swing that way, honey,” she says, rising and waving off Emma’s words with a flick of her hand. “But I’ve seen the number Killian’s done on his conquests. People talk, especially the drunk, horny females who enter the bar. Plus, as I said, he’s my competition, so I have to know what he's working with… if you know what I mean,” she says with a wink.

  “Yeah, I got it,” Emma groans as Ruby saunters away. Why do all the hot guys have to be players? 

  It’s just her luck.

  Emma turns to catch another look at him. 

  God, he’s gorgeous. 

  Dark, wild hair, stubble on his chin and cheeks, and a fantastic body based on what she can see from her vantage point.

  “Emma! Don’t even think about it! That man’s trouble and you know David would never approve,” Mary Margaret explains, pulling Emma from her trance.

  She turns her head, glaring at her sister-in-law. “David is not my father. And besides, I’m a grown-ass woman! He can’t tell me who I can or cannot date.”

  Mary Margaret gives her a motherly look. “I know, sweetie, but this man doesn’t date women, he fucks them and then sends them packing. David only wants to protect you from guys like him.”

  “I don’t need his protection, okay? Or yours. I’m perfectly capable of looking out for myself.” Emma stands from her seat, and she’s not sure if it’s because of the alcohol still brewing in her system, or because her sister-law has expressed disapproval from both her and David, making this man seem like a forbidden, sinful dessert she’s dying to get a taste of, even though she’ll pay for it later. But right now she doesn't give a fuck. 

  She sucks in a breath and strides across the bar, ignoring Mary Margaret’s pleas and warnings.

  Her eyes are fixed on him like a magnet. He’s wearing a black v-neck that fits him like a glove and shows off a provocative amount of chest hair, his tight, firm muscles bulging as he wipes down the bar counter. His muscles aren’t inhumanly large, just big enough for her to imagine him picking her up and easily carrying her to his bedroom like she weighs nothing. Emma can feel her panties grow wet just from watching him work. 

  But even though she doesn’t wish to be told who to be with, she knows she should heed her sister-in-law’s warnings.

  What would one night of fun hurt, though? She’s spent too much time holed up in her New York apartment, wallowing in self-pity and heartache after Neal hurt her. She hasn’t been with anyone since then. And maybe she’s not looking to dive into a serious relationship right now. Or ever. Maybe she just wants to blow off some steam. And this man looks like he can handle such a task. She’s more than willing to find out. 

  Emma approaches the bar and stands in front of him, placing her hands on the counter. 

  “What can I get you, lass?”

  Well, fuck me sideways.

  He has a British accent too?

  She knows she should run for her life, but before she can talk herself out of it, he looks up from his task, and she feels like her feet are glued to the floor. 

  Ho-ly hell.

  He’s even more gorgeous up close.

  His arms are inked with tattoos she so badly wants to trace with her fingers, and his striking blue eyes sparkle as he stares at her, his smile showing off a set of pearly white teeth.

  Well shit.

  She couldn’t run away if she wanted to.

  ~*~

  Killian had been running back and forth behind the bar for hours, ringing up bar patrons, making drinks and engaging in small talk. It’s a typical Friday night at The Captain’s Rum; the place is normally busy on the weekends, especially since the bar is only a stone’s throw away from the university, and tonight is no exception. It’s crowded and loud, couples are dancing, and the women are scantily clad in either tiny dresses or short tops and skirts. As he’s grabbing beers and making cocktails, the bar continues to fill and grow louder. 

  He hands off drinks to a couple before moving on to the next customer. 

  “Hey Jones, can I get two Blue Ribbons?” his good mate, Robin, calls over the blaring music. 

  Killian chuckles and grabs the desired beers, popping off the caps before handing them over. “Taking it easy tonight?” he asks, leaning against the counter and gripping the edge of it with both hands.

  “Aye. Regina doesn’t like the hard stuff. She’s more of a wine person.”

  “Ah, I see.” Killian nods; he can definitely see that about Regina. He doesn't want to say this to one of his best mates, but the lass can be a little stuck up and quite bossy at times. She makes Robin happy though, so he keeps his mouth shut.

  He chats with him for a few minutes, finally getting a few minutes of reprieve. As Robin heads back to his girlfriend, Killian takes the opportunity to wipe down the bar top. But before he’s finished, someone approaches the counter. His eyes are still trained on his task, but he can’t miss the long blonde hair, pink lace and fantastic cleavage, seeing as the view is directly in front of him. “What can I get you, lass?” he asks, throwing on his most charming grin as he lifts his head.

  His smile is cemented on his face the second he looks up.

  Killian’s accustomed to seeing pretty women entering his brother’s bar and parading around in clothes that barely cover their essential parts.

  Yet nothing in the world could’ve prepared him for the woman standing in front of him on the other side of the bar counter.

  No, not woman. 

  Goddess.

  Emerald green eyes, soft pink lips curved into a shy smile, smooth creamy skin, long golden hair cascading over her shoulders.

  Good. 

  God.

  She’s breathtaking.

  Stunning.

  “What would you recommend?” she asks in a teasing tone.

  Fuck.

  Her voice is that of an angel’s. Pure and sweet and innocent.

  She looks like everything he doesn’t deserve but wants every... fucking... part of.

  “Uh… I um…” he stutters, scratching nervously behind his ear. He can’t form a cohesive sentence as he looks into those hypnotizing eyes. He wants to get lost in them, drown in them. “What are you… what are you in the mood for, love?” he finally musters, adding another one of his signature grins. “I can make you anything your heart desires.” What he wants to say is, “I can give you anything your heart desires,” but even that may not be true. As gorgeous as she is, he’s afraid he wouldn’t be the man she deserves. He’s never been the guy women like to take home to their parents, anyway. He’s the guy chicks like to have around for a good time before they eventually settle into a serious relationship with Mr. Perfect. He’s definitely no Mr. Perfect, more like a Good Luck Chuck, but at the moment, he feels like he could be fucking Superman for this woman. And he's only exchanged a few words with her so far.

  She arches a brow and it’s literally the most adorable and sexiest thing he’s ever witnessed in his life. “Anything?” He senses a challenge in her tone. 

  “Try me,” he encourages.

  She bites her bottom lip in thought.

  He lied. Now that’s the most adorable and sexiest thing he’s ever witnessed.

  “What if I said I wanted a Baby Yodarita?”

  He arches a brow, very much intrigued. “A Baby Yodarita? Never heard of it.”

  She laughs and the sound is music to his ears. “That's because I made up the name. But I figure it would be a green drink that looks like baby Yoda.”

  “So, I take it you’re a Star Wars fan?”

  “Are you a bartender?” 

  Just as he answers like it’s the most obvious thing in the world, since he’s behind the bar serving drinks, he catches her drift and flashes a smirk.

  Could this woman be any hotter? And yes, as he’s asking this question in his head, he’s picturing Chandler Bing and the way he would say it, emphasizing the word be. Gods, he hates that he knows that about Friends. He hates that he actually likes that show.

  “You don't really have to be a Star Wars fan to be a baby Yoda fan though. He's so cute, he's trending on the internet, haven't you seen?”

  He chuckles. “Aye, who hasn't?” 

  She plants her hand on her hip, donning a sultry smirk. “So, are you up for the task, or not?”

  He licks his lips and leans over the bar counter, his eyes locked with hers. He wants to ask her if she fell from heaven. Or if he just died and went to heaven. But he has a feeling cheesy lines wouldn't work on a woman like her. “I'm afraid you'll have to be more specific as to what task you’re referring to, love.” But who the fuck is he kidding? There is nothing he could do for her he would consider a task. 

  Only a pleasure.

  Blush paints her cheeks and she leans over, meeting him halfway until her face is mere inches from his. “I have a few in mind… but how ‘bout that drink, first?” 

  Bloody. Fuck-ing. Hell.

  Her voice is a mixture of sweet and seductive. He doesn’t know how she manages to pull off a combination like that. His eyes drop to her lips and he’s seriously considering kissing the holy fuck out of her over the bar counter, audience be damned. He almost groans just thinking about her soft, luscious looking lips pressed against his, but he swallows the sound before it leaves his throat.

  He lifts his eyes to hers. “Sit tight, sweetheart.” 

  “Okay,” she says with a smile and takes a seat on a barstool. “Oh, and a Cosmo for my sister-in-law.”

  “Coming right up.” It takes every ounce of strength within him to pull away, but somehow he does. 

  He has to take slow, deep breaths to peel his mind from the fantasies he’s already having of him and the blonde temptress watching him intently as he prepares her drink. 

  ~*~

  Emma snorts. She honestly didn’t think he would actually take her seriously. She was only kidding around. But he took her very seriously and eagerly accepted her challenge. And he did an amazing job.

  She stares at the green drink in amusement, impressed, to say the least. He brought it to her in a margarita glass with two lime wedges sticking out like ears. The stem is wrapped in a napkin tied with twine and clearly made to look like Baby Yoda’s coat. And there's a cocktail stick tucked into the twine like a sword. 

  “Well? How did I do?” he asks, eagerly seeking her answer.

  “It's so cute,” she comments honestly. “It looks great, but does it taste as good as it looks?” As she asks that question, she’s looking up into his gorgeous eyes. And she can’t deny she’s wondering the same about him. 

  Does he taste as good as he looks? 

  Before she brings the glass to her lips, he puts up a finger to stop her. 

  “Hold on.” He grabs a toothpick and stabs two cherries, one on each end, before sticking it into the drink, giving the baby Yoda a pair of eyes. “For the finishing touch,” he smirks.

  After she stops laughing, she takes a hesitant drink. Once she takes the first sip, her face sours and she blinks a few times as she swallows. “Wow, that’s strong.” She arches her brow, pinning him with an accusatory stare. “Are you trying to get me drunk?”

  He chuckles. “Aye, isn't that the intention?” 

  She nods and grins. “This will certainly do the trick.” She rises from the stool and reaches into her back pocket, pulling out her phone case wallet, which holds her phone and money. “How much?” she asks, pulling out some cash.

  He waves off her offer. “The drinks are on me,” he says with a wink.

  “Are you sure? I don't wanna get you in trouble.”

  “Trust me, I won't get in trouble.”

  Taking his word for it, she tucks the cash into her wallet. “Thanks for the drinks, Killian.”

  He arches a sultry brow, making her heart skip a beat. “So, you’ve heard of me, but I have yet to learn your name?”

  She laughs and points at the name embroidered into his shirt. “Yours is right there.”

  “Oh, that,” he chuckles, a light blush tinting his cheeks as he peers down and brushes his fingers over the letters. “My boss insists we have our names displayed on our shirts.”

  “Well, your boss sounds like a pain in the ass.”

  “He is, but I only have to work here for another six months. I’m graduating from SBU in the Spring.”

  She nods as a group of people approach the counter beside her. She glances over at them and shifts her gaze back to him, wishing he had more time to chat, but she knows he has to work. “It's Emma,” she makes sure to tell him before the counter becomes too overcrowded. “My name,” she clarifies, in case that wasn't obvious.

  “It’s nice to meet you, Emma,” he says sweetly, reaching over to shake her hand. When she slips her palm into his, she can feel the sparks from his touch, but instead of shaking her hand, he brings it to his lips and kisses the back of it.

  Oh, God.

  This man’s lips on her skin feel like heaven and sin. She has to clench her thighs to stop the throbbing she feels between her legs.

  Fuck.

  She feels the loss when she pulls her hand away and sees the loss written all over his face. “Well, I should um… I should get back to my sister-in-law,” she stammers after learning how to form words again.

  He scratches behind his ear and opens his mouth to speak before closing it again like he’s nervous about something. “Of course, love.”

  Emma swallows thickly and lingers a bit, patiently waiting for him to say what’s on his mind. 

  He must sense she's waiting for him because as she grabs the drinks and starts to back away from the counter, his voice stops her. “Emma?”

  Good Lord, she loves the way her name slides off his tongue.

  She cocks a brow, hoping he's about to ask for her number. Praying he does. “Yes?”

  “I um… can you come back here before you leave? Say in an hour when it slows down a bit? I’d love to chat with you some more,” he says sincerely.

  Emma purses her lips like she has to mull over his question. The offer is extremely tempting. But she has something else in mind other than talking. Something involving his hands all over her body and her legs wrapped around his hips as he's plunging into her. 

  And you know what? Fuck it.

  She’s sure whatever he has in mind is exactly what she has in mind. Or at least, close to it. “Sure.”

  His eyes widen in excitement and surprise, as though he wasn't actually expecting her to say yes. “Really?”

  She flashes him her sexiest grin. “Yeah, why not? I’ll see you in an hour.”

  “See you then, love. Enjoy your drink. May the booze be with you.” 

  She snorts and backs away from the counter, holding up her glass in salute before taking a sip. Their eyes are still locked before she turns around.

  As she walks away, she cranes her neck to see him still watching her, even as he's serving other customers. She winks at him and has the pleasure of witnessing that adorable pink blush coloring his cheeks and the smirk on his lips before she faces forward and heads back to Mary Margaret. 

  She’s not looking forward to the lecture her sister-in-law is about to give her, but honestly, she doesn't care. She's looking forward to returning to the hot bartender, hoping to go back to his bedroom. Or the restroom. Either will do, really. As long as she gets to have him.

  After Mary Margaret is done chewing Emma out and reminding her of what a player Killian is, and after she finally realizes Emma is going to do what she wants, regardless of what anyone says, they are able to have some fun. 

  Ruby keeps the drinks coming, and soon they’re tipsy enough to get up and dance among the crowd of gyrating bodies already on the dance floor. Emma glances over at the counter every now and then, and every other time, she catches Killian staring at her, sending shivers down her spine. And every time he tosses her one of his cheeky smiles, her stomach flutters with butterflies. 

  Emma's thankful Mary Margaret is plastered enough to let loose and not give her any shit because she has no idea what Mary Margaret would do if Emma told her she's going back to talk to Killian. Though she has a feeling if Mary Margaret were sober, she'd do anything in her power to make sure Emma stayed away from him. 

  When the time finally comes, they order an Uber, which takes much longer than expected. She helps Mary Margaret into the backseat and tells her she's staying for a bit longer and will catch another Uber when she's ready to leave. She doesn't dare mention Killian's name, or that she plans on leaving with him, for fear Mary Margaret will blabber to her brother. Because then he'll come marching into the bar on his white horse to find his sister with the bartender and embarrass the hell out of her.

  Mary Margaret's too drunk and in no shape to talk her out of anything, so Emma’s able to escape, knowing her brother will take care of his wife when she gets home. 

  Emma quickly shoots David a text to let him know his wife had a few too many drinks and is on her way home in an Uber and that Emma decided to stay a little longer but will be home soon. Which is a lie. 

  She hopes. 

  Before the Uber drives away, Emma slips her phone into her pocket before heading back into the bar. She's fifteen minutes late, but it's not like Killian can go anywhere. He’s the bartender.

  Once inside, she takes a deep breath and tucks some hair behind her ears, a smile playing along her lips as she makes her way to the bar counter. She has no idea what exactly will happen once she reaches him, but with a face as gorgeous as his, she’s pretty sure she would let him do anything he wanted to.

  She’s also pretty sure he could help Emma get over her ex. As they say, the best way to get over someone is to get under someone else. And that’s exactly what she plans on doing.

  As Emma nears the counter and spots Killian, the beaming smile on her face immediately falls flat.

  And her heart sinks.

  A busty blonde is standing at the bar, her hand running up and down Killian’s arm, her fingers tracing his tattoos. The woman is sitting on a barstool at the opposite side of the counter in a low-cut top that leaves absolutely nothing to the imagination, and a skirt so short and tight it looks like it's been painted on. Killian’s standing in front of her, so his back is to Emma as he gives his full attention to the other blonde. It's almost time for last call, so it's now much quieter in the bar, and she's close enough to be able to hear their conversation.

  “What can I get you, love?”

  “A Tequila.”

  “Tequilas are trouble,” he says matter-of-factly.

  She moves in closer, biting her smile. “So am I,” she taunts.

  “I’m fully aware,” he replies with a chuckle. He tries to move, probably to make her Tequila, but she grabs his arm, forcing him to stay. Though, forcing is a bit of an overstatement; Killian doesn't seem to be putting up much of a fight. “Would you like a snack, too?”

  Mischief dances in her eyes as she licks her lips, ogling him like he’s the snack. “I’m looking at it, honey.”

  Emma feels like she's going to be sick. 

  The woman leans in and bites his ear and then pulls away slightly. “Last weekend was incredible. Can’t stop thinking about having my legs wrapped around you,” she giggles.

  Jealousy stabs Emma’s gut and disappointment shoots through her like a lightning bolt, bringing her back to reality.

  Mary Margaret and Ruby were totally right. 

  He’s a player. 

  Unable to listen to them for another second, Emma spins on her heels and dashes out the door so fast, she almost tramples over some guys heading in at the last minute. 

  She should’ve listened to the warnings, but she was too blinded by the attraction she felt for Killian. 

  God, she’s a fucking idiot. 

  Why does she always fall for the dangerous guys? The ones who are bad for her? Why can’t she just find a nice guy for once? Someone safe. Someone who won’t stomp on her heart and discard it like trash without batting an eye.

  She pushes open the door, tears stinging her eyes as she runs outside into the bitter, chilly night, hoping the Uber driver hasn’t taken off yet. But it's wishful thinking because she can't think of a reason why he wouldn't have left by now.

  ��Ooof.”

  The air rushes from her lungs as she slams into a tall, solid mass. 

  Hands are gripping her arms to keep her from falling as apologies leave her lips. “Sorry.” She looks up at the man towering over her, Emma's eyes connecting with soft blue ones, which are full of apology. 

  He flashes a warm smile, his lips framed by a light brown scruff.

  “I’m the one who should be sorry, lass. I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going.” 

  Shit.

  He has an accent too? 

  What’s with all the accents in this town? She’s noticed a lot of the locals here weren’t actually born here. Or the States. She didn’t realize how much she liked men with foreign accents until tonight.

  This man continues to apologize, but he doesn’t sound very sorry. At least not for crashing into her. “I was distracted,” he says with a smirk, giving Emma the impression she was what he was distracted by.

  Emma tears herself from the trance she’s in and glances at the side of the road, where the Uber once was. “Shit,” she curses under her breath.

  “Are you okay?” he asks in genuine concern.

  “Yeah, it’s just… my ride has already left. And I’m too drunk to drive home,” she sighs.

  Before the man can respond, his phone chimes from his jacket. “Excuse me,” he says apologetically, pulling out the device. He studies whatever’s on the screen with a worried expression, then looks up at her, his mouth slightly agape.

  “Everything okay?” she asks with an arched brow, starting to shiver as a frigid wind sweeps around her.

  “Um, yeah.” He glances at his phone again before lifting his gaze. “You wouldn’t happen to be Emma, would you?”

  She freezes and just stares at him, not knowing how to answer that. Or rather, why she should answer that.

  What the hell? 

  She's never seen this man before in her life, so how does he know her name? 

  Her heart pounds and she wants to run, but she's afraid she’s not sober enough for that at the moment. “How do you know my name?”

  He appears to be hesitant as he holds up his phone, showing her his screen.

  Emma takes it in her hands so she can get a better look.

  Her eyes widen when she sees a text from a Nolan.

  Nolan, as in her brother? Who else with the last name, Nolan, lives with a Mary Margaret and an Emma?

  Nolan: I just received a text from Emma. She sent Mary Margaret home in an Uber and is at your bar. Can you make sure she gets home all right?

  Her blood sizzles as she rereads the message. Then she reads the texts before it, a couple in particular sticking out like sore thumbs.

  Nolan: So… I have a huge favor to ask.

  Me: Sure, what’s up, mate?

  Nolan: The wife and sister are going to the Rabbit Hole tonight. Emma just moved here from New York after a terrible break-up and Mary Margaret is determined to hook her up with someone.

  Nolan: Think you have time to get away from work and keep an eye on my sister, make sure she doesn’t find any trouble? 

  What the actual fuck?

  Why is her brother having this man spy on her?

  Emma turns around and pulls back the hand still holding the phone, about to toss the damn thing.

  “Whoa, whoa, whoa, don’t shoot the messenger, love,” he pleads. “I need my phone.”

  The endearment makes her shiver. Killian had called her love, too.

  She spins around to glare at the stranger. “David’s using you to spy on me?” she demands firmly.

  He holds up his hands in surrender. “I didn’t want to, lass, I promise, but I would’ve felt terrible if I said no and then, later on, found out something bad happened to you. I promise, I was only helping a friend and looking out for you.”

  Emma sighs and hands his phone back, knowing he’s telling the truth. She saw his responses to David’s texts and gathered he didn’t wish to put his nose where it didn’t belong or to stir up any trouble. “David always has been good at persuading people,” she grumbles.

  “Aye, especially when it comes to protecting the ones he loves,” he winks. 

  “Even so, he has no business spying on me!” she states louder than intended.

  “I wholeheartedly agree,” he states adamantly, making sure to express how much he was against this whole idea, to begin with.

  Emma crosses her arms over her chest, wondering how she never saw him at the Rabbit Hole when she was there. “So, you spied on me at the Rabbit Hole?”

  He shakes his head. “No, I didn’t get the chance to. By the time I got there, you and Mary Margaret were already gone.”

  Emma shakes her head and rolls her eyes at the thought of her own brother asking someone to spy on her. But she’s not surprised. “Brothers are so annoying,” she grumbles.

  He chuckles, and the deep, hearty sound warms her heart a little, despite the chill in the air. “Agreed.”

  She arches her brow, as though to ask him to expand on why.

  “I have one of those, too. So I get it.”

  Emma’s features soften, a small smile pulling at her lips. “Older or younger?”

  “Younger. He can be quite the ponce sometimes, but at the end of the day, I’d lay down my life for him.”

  “I usually feel the same about David… and then he goes and pulls something like this,” Emma remarks bitterly.

  “I take it he does this a lot?”

  “He did when we were younger. But then I moved to New York and he came here, so we didn’t see each other very much.”

  “Ah, I see.”

  Another gust of wind makes her shiver and has him removing his jacket and offering it to her. Even though she’s already wearing one.

  “May I?”

  She cocks a brow. “Won’t you be cold?”

  He shrugs. “I rarely get cold.”

  She gives him a soft nod. He looks like he’d be the type of man who knows how to stay warm, and therefore knows how to keep a woman warm. He has those big, strong arms and broad shoulders, and he’s very tall. She could picture herself being buried in his warmth, but maybe because she's currently freezing her ass off. “Thanks,” she murmurs when he goes behind her and drapes the jacket over her shoulders. 

  “It’s my pleasure, love.” When he’s standing in front of her again, he sticks out his hand. “The name’s Liam.”

  Emma smiles and slips her palm in his. 

  She was right. He is warm. Very warm. “I think David’s mentioned your name a few times.”

  “Probably not as much as he talks about you. In fact, I feel like I already know you,” he chuckles as they break the handshake.

  “Hopefully, he had good things to say?” She almost groans at the idea of David spewing a bunch of embarrassing stories about her from when she was a kid.

  “Aye. Very good things… well, mostly,” he admits. “But who doesn’t have at least a complaint or two about their siblings?”

  She nods in agreement. “True. I complain about him all the time.”

  He grins big and wide. “I don’t doubt that.” When his smile fades a little, he scratches his head as he looks at her, hesitant to form the next words he wants to say. “Well, uh… seeing as it’s,” he checks his watch, “almost two o’clock and not getting any warmer out here, how about I give you a ride home?”

  Emma twists her lips in thought. Normally she wouldn’t even think twice about rejecting a ride from a stranger, but there’s something about this guy that tells her he’s not a serial killer or rapist. There’s something pure about him, a vast contrast to the bartender inside. That guy screamed danger and sin, but this man standing before her gives off completely different vibes. He has a warm personality, which is very refreshing, and he has honest eyes. Besides, she may not be able to stand her brother and his antics sometimes, but he's always had good taste in friends. And if David trusts Liam enough to keep tabs on his sister, then he must be trustworthy.

  So with a feeble smile, she finally answers. “Okay.”

Tagging people who have shown interest. Let me know if you would like to be added. @itsfabianadocarmo​ @resident-of-storybrooke @onceuponaprincessworld @viajandosinalas @teamhook​ @captainswan-shipper88 @jamif @katielovesstarcrossedlovers @uhthreeyuh @lfh1226-linda @babyyouremyqueen @sthonour @julesep3026 @fairytalewhispersinmyheart @andiirivera @wefoundloveunderthelight @wickedsw4n @eleveneitherway @eherron14 @ouatpost @transparentclodsludgeweasel

[sebbytrash]

Through His Eyes - Part Sixteen

Summary - Bucky arrives at the compound to start afresh but you and him have a somewhat colorful past, colorful being that you met him once before as The Winter Soldier and it did not go well. New beginnings, yeah? If you can learn to forgive.

Pairing - Eventual Bucky x Reader

Warnings -   Unrealistic expectations of best friends

A/N - I’m sorry. Trust me. 

Through His Eyes Masterlist

“Ow. Shit.” Bucky’s voice pierces that blissful sleep bubble you were in with a pop. “What the fuck?” 

“It’s too early for you to be this loud.” You open one and eye and half peer at him, find his face a lot closer than you expect.

“Why is there a gun under your pillow?” He asks, holding it up for you to see like maybe you didn’t know it was there, a stowaway in the night. 

“Put Bob back, he’s been in my bed a lot longer than you have.” You grumble and roll over, pull the covers up over your ears in the hopes you will find sleep again.

“You sleep with a gun under your pillow? Here?” He asks again, incredulous and he has a point, you know this. 

“I have issues, sue me.” You answer carelessly, sleep already beckoning and it’s only when he goes silent beside you that you think about what you just said and turn back to face him, “I had these issues before you came along, believe me.” 

You take the gun from him and place it on your nightstand, slip your fingers around his wrist and tug him back down beside you, distract him from those dark thoughts with your lips and mouth. 

When he leaves, you find the paper bag sitting exactly where he left it. Was it meant for you? Curiosity gets the better of you and so you open it, find your heart beating strangely in your chest when you see your favorite cookie waiting at the bottom. You try and fail to remember when you might have told him, wonder if he plucked the thought directly from your head along with the beats from your chest. 

It goes like that, weeks pass in a blur as you ignore all common sense and take solace in these moments with Bucky. Usually a nightmare or a mission has you at his door, no longer knocking and simply slipping inside like you dared to belong, never longer than a few days in between. 

The days are filled with sidelong glances and lingering touches. If anyone notices, they say nothing, not even Sam who knows exactly what those touches mean. You think of the Soldier even less now, nightmares consisting of everything and nothing, missions and faces but nothing of that time spent behind the green door. You are filled more everyday with cautious hope, the other shoe still waiting to drop but it gets closer to the ground with every minute, the impact of the fall lessening with each full nights sleep.  

You are making yourself breakfast one morning, humming along to the song stuck on repeat in your head as you do when Sam takes a seat.

“Well, good morning, sunshine.” He says, smiles enough to show all his teeth, “Someone’s in a good mood.” 

“Hmm...am I?” You tease, toss him a piece of bacon from the stack, “Or am I always this delightful?”

“Do I have to answer that?” He ducks back out of reach with a laugh when you try to shove him. You turn back to the eggs in the pan, sprinkling in some cajun spices and Sam watches quietly, a small smile on his face as he takes in the relaxed droop of your shoulders and shining eyes. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen you eat a real breakfast, you know. That sorry excuse for coffee not included.” 

“Some of us like to taste the caffeine, alright?” You smirk at him, show him your teeth again like it’s normal to feel so happy about eggs and bacon. Maybe it is, you think, as you pop another piece into your mouth and hum. 

“I assume you never ended things with Bucky?” He asks like he already knows, watches your face like he's watching for the answer instead of listening. 

You sign, make a small noise of admission, “It’s not like that, though.”

“What’s it like, then?”

“I don’t know, a distraction?” 

He doesn’t say anything for the longest time, simply sits and watches you avoid his gaze and stir your eggs into a paste in the pan, his face mild like spring sunshine. 

“You know, I wouldn’t have chosen him for you. Not because he’s a bad guy or anything, he’s not, but I wouldn’t have chosen this complicated path for you, not after everything you’ve endured.” You look at him then, find him watching without reproach and instead something else, “But, I like this look for you.” 

“What look?” You ask, curious but also a little afraid.

“Happy.”

Sam words haunt you for the rest of the day, leave you distracted during training with Steve, so much so that you take a particularly nasty hit to the face, one you should have easily avoided. You have to remind him of that several times over as he apologises for the fifth time. 

“I’m so sorry, Y/N.” 

“Don’t be, it’s on me. I wasn’t paying attention.” You say, gingerly touching your cheekbone to assess the damage. It didn’t feel broken, at least, which was good considering it was a super soldier on the other end of it. 

“Are you okay?” Steve asks, his eyes so full of concern.

“I’m fine, Steve, don’t worry. I’ve taken worse hits.” You smile and then wince at the sharp pain that follows it.

“No, not that. Are you okay? I haven’t seen you distracted like that for a while?” You hate that look in his eyes, the one that he created just for you. 

“Hey.” You say softly, step up close and lay a hand on his arm, “I’m ok. I promise.” 

“It’s just that lately you’ve been…” He trails off like he isn’t sure how to finish that sentence, “uh, you again.” 

“I feel like me again.” You admit, smiling softly, letting the truth of the statement chase away some of that marrow deep doubt. 

Later, in your room, you think about both conversations again. You think about the last few months, and then closer still, the last few weeks. Are you happy? Has it been that long since you truly were, that you can no longer recognise it? Maybe you aren’t there yet, but you consider, for the first time, that perhaps you were on your way. There’s a few more miles to go along the road, but yes, happiness might be for you after all. 

When you find yourself slipping quietly inside Bucky’s room that night, there’s no nightmare to blame or mission to burn off. There’s just you and the miles you’ve already walked, a newness to your steps and your smile. Bucky turns when you enter, even though you know you never made a sound, is pulled towards you by those invisible strings you both seem to carry.

He doesn’t notice the smile or match it with his own, his face is instead several things at once and yet, furious the most.

“What happened?” He asks quietly, fingering cupping your face in that gentle way of his and tipping your head back to get a better look, his actions so entirely at odds with his expression. You are struck by how different the furious face is, how so unafraid of it you are. 

“Oh shit, I forgot. Does it look bad?” You say suddenly, remembering the earlier hit you took and smiling a little at why you forgot. He doesn’t answer and so you add, “It was an accident, during training, my own fault. I’m OK.” 

“Your own fault?” He repeats more than he asks, still unable to take his eyes from your face long enough to meet your eyes.

“Yeah, I was distracted.” You explain, and then smile again, catch his eyes with this one and watch him relax in response.

“You seem awfully happy about it.” He smiles back at you now, hand still cupping your face and you turn enough to drag your lips over the inside of his wrist, watch his eyes roll around in the tenderness of it.

“Lets call it cathartic.” He laughs, light enough to float in the air around you, bubbled moments like drifting gold. 

Everything is different and yet nothing is different, he’s still looking at you that way he so often does, his ocean eyes reflecting all the stars within their depths and you feel it, that inexplicable pull, the riptide carrying you away. When you drift off to sleep, it’s not the usual sation and sweaty sheets, no, this time it's softly, held within Bucky’s arms, the TV still on with some forgotten movie playing. 

It’s exactly what you didn’t know you wanted. 

It was fragile, this feeling. 

Breakable. 

The screams wake you.

TAGS:  @manawhaat @theashhole @captainrogerss @higherfurtherfasterbby  @peculiar-persephone  @captain-rogers-beard @chrisevansnco @howlingbarnes @poealsobucky @samingtonwilson @vintagevalentinexx @abovethesmokestacks @imhereforbvcky @avengerofyourheart  @carriefish-er @stormy-thomas @danijimenezv   @angelicthor   @betheboo55 @palaiasaurus64 @raxacoricofallapatoriuspotter @johnmurphys-sass @katbird787    @sexyvixen7 @jobean12-blog  @justreadingfics @justareader @smoothdogsgirl @theliarone @aikibriarrose @timeladylaurel @badassbakers @earinafae @tardis-is-mine​ @httpmcrvel​ @bucky2-0​ @mocking-rain​ @sociallyimpairedme​ @jezzula​ @bless-my-demons​ @ign-is​ @indominusregina​ @-supernatural-coffee-llama​ @alwayshave-faith​ @itsonlysarah​  @shifutheshihtzu​ @mizzzpink​ @yknott81​ @haven-in-writing​ @xtina2191​ @reniescarlett​ @notsoprettykitty​ @wickedwerewolf​ @ayeputita​ @tori-medusa-belongs-to-bucky​  @tatalopes23​ @pineapplebooboo​ @mizzezm​ @thefridgeismybestie​ @memory-of-a-goldfish​ @supernatural-girl97​ @standing-onthe-edge​ @ruinerofcheese​ @mysweetcookie99​

[realtacuardach]

Thanks, @jhalya!

If you get this, answer with three random things about yourself and send this to the last seven blogs in your notifications– Anonymously or not! Let’s get to know the person behind the blog! ⚘

1. I got sent to the principals office in high school because of an editorial I wrote.

This is not nearly as interesting as it might sound. I was riding home from a UIL Regional competition when I started talking to one of the guys from the Journalism team who worked on the school paper. Somehow, we got on the point that anybody could write editorials, not just the newspaper staff. For no reason beyond "why not?" I decided to write an editorial on the categories that we'd vote on at the end of the year (stuff like "Most Popular," "Best Dressed," etc) and how superficial they were, and how we should pick more varied categories. I sent it in, and barely a week later I got a phone call from the Journalism guy, giving me a heads-up that I was going to get called by the principal. She was very sweet, but very very old-fashioned and Old School, and the system would not be bucked. So...that was a thing.

2. I found out in college that I was really good at balancing things on my head, and that became a thing.

Maybe I have decent posture to compensate for being short, maybe I have a flat head. But I found out I was really good at balancing stuff on my head and would just start doing it casually. It came to a head (*rimshot*) when I balanced small soda bottles on my head when sitting at the back of my grad school class, and was quietly informed that wasn't professional. And then one day, balancing things came up in a video we were watching, and everyone turned almost as one to look back at me. Called. Out.

Still do it sometimes, though. 😂

3. I rescued my sister from a riptide when we were kids, and I barely remember it.

She remembers it better than I do, I actually forgot I did this until she reminded me. We were on vacation, and she got caught in a riptide. Because I was apparently sure that I was a highly invincible chunky teenager, I swam out to get her, in a direction that was against all common sense if you know how riptides work. Obviously, we didn't drown, but apparently our dad was ticked that I was swimming out there, because he didn't know about the rip tide...I'm bummed I only vaguely remember this.

Tagging: @obiyuki-beebs @claudeng80 @jj-carstairs

[omgjasminesimone]

Mouth to mouth

A/N: Getting over the flu at home, so I have time to write this quick Logan x MC RoD crew AU ficlet. 

Word Count: 900

“You should just talk to her.” Ximena advises, when Logan’s eyes wander over to the lifeguard station for the 20th time. And they’ve only been at the beach for around 20 minutes. 

“Talk to who?” Logan plays dumb. 

Colt scoffs. “You’re not fooling anybody. We all know the only reason you keep suggesting we go to the beach is because you have a massive crush on the lifeguard.”

“I don’t.” Logan insists. No one believes him. 

“Come on Logan, you can’t even swim. There’s literally no other reason to come here if you didn’t just want to ogle the lifeguard. I get it, she’s pretty. If I was your age, and straight, I’d be interested in her too.” Toby replies. 

“I’m not interested in her. I’m interested in learning to swim. Sitting on the sand is a halfway step towards getting in the water.” Logan pushes back. He doesn’t know why he’s denying his obvious crush with such vehemence. Maybe it’s just that he doesn’t like people being in his business. Especially with this silly crush that nothing will even come out of since he can’t even make himself talk to her. 

Logan isn’t shy, normally. He flirts with the girls at the sideshow all the time, with much success. He’s not sure what it is about this straight edge part-time lifeguard that has him so off kilter. But it’s getting bad. He hasn’t been able to stop thinking about her since he spotted her last month at the lifeguard tower as he watched the sunset from his car in the parking lot. 

“Well, if you really want to learn to swim, there’s no time like the present.” Mona challenges. 

Shit. Logan has a fear of large open bodies of water. But he can’t back down now, not without admitting he was only here to stare at the lifeguard. And if he admits that, the crew will make him talk to her. And then he’ll make a fool out of himself, stammering over his words, and he’ll have to die from his embarrassment. 

He tries to decide what death would be worse. Drowning, or dying from embarrassment. 

“Fine. No time like the present.” Logan decides he’d rather drown. 

Mona gets up, grabbing her boogie board so Logan will have something buoyant to hold onto. Logan reluctantly follows her into the water, fiddling with his spark plug necklace, a nervous habit of his. 

“Okay, so it’s pretty easy. Just hold on to the boogie board, and kick your feet.” Mona instructs. She pulls the board as he does what she says. “That’s pretty good Logan. Now pull one arm through the water.” He does. “And the other.” He can do that too. 

“Okay great, now let go of the boogie board and do both arms.” Mona suggests. 

“You don’t think that’s a pretty big jump?” Logan complains. 

“Sink or swim kid.” Mona insists. 

Logan sighs, but attempts. Just as he lets go, a massive wave crashes over him and Mona, separating them, He quickly starts to sink. And then he panics. He searches for the ground, but they’re out pretty deep. He frantically searches for Mona, or the boogie board, but comes up empty handed. 

Fuck, he’s going to drown in front of the pretty lifeguard. 

He hears the shrill sound of a whistle, and moments later he can fuzzily make out someone in a red swimsuit paddling towards him. 

He tries to hold his breath until she can get to him, but it’s already been a few minutes. He gulps, taking in salty ocean water. He feels himself losing consciousness. The last thing he sees is the red suit getting closer. 

...

..

“Stand back, I need some room!” Ellie yells when his friends starts to crowd around when she drags the teenage boy to shore. 

“Is he dead?” The teen with black hair asks. He sounds oddly unconcerned. 

Ellie ignores him, plugging the unconscious boy’s nose and sealing her mouth over his, giving two long rescue breaths. She then goes to chest compressions, counting out 30 before giving two more breaths. 

“Come on.” Ellie murmurs, cycling back to the chest compressions. 

Four compressions in, the boy coughs, spitting up salt water. Ellie smiles, turning him onto his side as he continues to cough out water. 

“Phew Logan, you really scared us there.” His friend with the neck tattoo chastises, looking relieved to see Logan moving again. 

“Sorry.” Logan wheezes out. 

“Fuck Mona, you almost killed him.” The tall woman says as Mona approaches the group, dragging her boogie board from the water. 

“Sorry Logan. Didn’t see that wave coming. Knocked me back several feet, and then I got stuck in some riptide.” Mona apologizes. 

“If you can’t swim, you really shouldn’t be out in the water without a life vest.” Ellie chastises. 

Logan rolls onto his back, staring up at her. Ellie can’t help but blush a little at his intense perusal. Her gaze drifts down to his well defined abs briefly, before moving back up to his face. 

He smiles at her, surprisingly shyly. Ellie finds it very endearing. “Thank you. You saved my life.” He says softly. 

“Well, it’s my job.” Ellie replies simply. 

“Man Logan, I almost think you purposely tried to drown just so she would give you mouth to mouth resuscitation. Your crush on her is out of control.” Colt teases, making sure to say it loudly enough that everyone hears.  

tags: @choicesarehard​ @brightpinkpeppercorn​ @desiree-0816​

[monstrouswrites]

ABC Tag

Thanks @aspire2bu this took awhile but was interesting haha!

Age: 20

Birthplace: Memphis, TN

Current time: 8:20 pm

Drink you had last: Water, gotta stay hydrated.

Easiest person to talk to: My best bro Ray, he's really understanding and also doesn't hate my jokes entirely lol

Favorite Songs: Guillotine by Jon Bellion, I'm Still Here by John Rzeznik, Phoenix / Sunshine Riptide by Fall Out Boy, Sunflower by Post Malone & Swae Lee, Ballad of Mona Lisa by Panic! at the Disco, Crave by Waterparks

Grossest memory: Mini corn dogs haunt me.

Horror yes or horror no: Maybe? I rarely watch horror or read it because I thought I was a wuss, but I've read/watched a few now and been fine?

In love: I thought I was. Who knows anymore heh.

Jealous of people: Not really, no. I'm usually just inspired and determined to be more productive & learn more.

Kids of your own someday: Yes, would love to adopt first.

Love at first sight or should I walk by again: Conversation at first sight, love maybe later, haha.

Middle name: Grace

Number of siblings: 1 younger brother, he's 17. 18 in March.

One wish: That my loved ones could be comfortable and happy.

Person you last called: Sarah (friend-ex-friend again ha)

Questions you’re always asked: Are you ok? You look tired! lol

Random fact about you: I was on a juggling team in elementary school and got on tv?

Song you sang last: I'm Still Here by John Rzeznik

Time you woke up: 11:30 am, but I stayed up till 4:30 am.

Underwear color: Blue, I think?

Vacation destination: Back to Spain, please! Or Egypt.

Worst habit:

aXolotls: adorable

Your favorite food: Mom's or Basque cooking

Zodiac sign: Leo

@scripturient-manipulator @quiescentwriting @alixismad @yuyuwrites good luck <3 can’t wait to get to know you!

[anxiety-trademark]

The week in review:

Raw 11/16 NXT 11/18 NXT UK 11/19 Smackdown 11/20 Survivor Series 11/22

Raw:

Appreciate Lana providing logic to the creation of this match.

“Is this a Disney movie” lmao.

Honestly Shayna works better as a henchman than as a final boss.

Love Lana’s theme btw.

rip Mandy.

Ugly kick by Asuka. Not a compliment.

hahaha Lana tagged herself into the match while Shayna had Asuka in the clutch. hahahahah.

“You suck, get out” rofl.

Asuka you’re trash for not saving Lana. Truly.

“I’m actually really proud of you, you showed a lot of courage tonight.” Nia is funny. A bitch and a bully, sure, but funny.

There’s number 9. rip.

First of all, Dana’s shaky interview was going really well, and I wish they had let her finish it cuz god knows she needs the practice.

Second, WHY IS MIA YIM ATTACKING DANA OF ALL PEOPLE?

I’m not sorry, I shamelessly love Bray and Alexa together, goodbye.

“Your word is... jackass” lmaooo why is he even doing a spelling bee to prep for this match.

rip Rambling Rabbit for the 38th time.

What makes him being killed so damn demented is not only the way he exhibits agony and suffering as he dies, but the way they STAND BY LAUGHING UNCONTROLLABLY. This is the definition of sociopathy.

“Bullseye!” “More like... Rabbit’s heart!” *continues laughing hysterically* jfc.

Really love how Alexa puts her hand beneath her chin and then waves. That goes along with her characteristics developed since the fairy gimmick in nxt back in 2014/2015, to the cosplaying mean girl in 2016/2017/2018, to the babyface in 2019/2020. Also adds another layer with her gloves. Love that.

Nikki’s wandering around looking for Alexa, when clearly she should be looking for the Firefly Funhouse. I suggest asking Seth or Randy.

“Friends never give up on each other,” they also don’t give each other ultimatums cuz that’s toxic af, but okay.

She keeps running her mouth about Fiend and I can already see Alexa demolishing her for it.

LOVE the cohesion in going from one segment to the other as Sarah runs around looking for an interview. Fitting since that’s obviously her job, but it went together smoothly. They really come off as tmz lol.

I appreciate how Miz doesn’t want to fuck with Bray cuz he knows Bray will just torment his family lol. I also appreciate his reasoning because he’s a true opportunist. he doesn’t want to exhaust himself with this match cuz he might cash in later.

Love Alexa’s remixed theme, it’s jarring af. Walking red flag btw.

Oh nooo Nikki what are you doinggg.

I’m not a fan of how Nikki sold this interaction. Didn’t feel natural at all.

OH SHIT the sound of that slap, oof.

Oh my god I love how Bray came out and glared at Nikki. FANTASTIC. Absolute gold. Then he just smiles at Alexa as she takes his arm to escort him to the ring.

And the way the camera focuses back on Miz and Morrison... Miz’s face... I can’t, this is tremendous tbh. What a great story to run throughout this week’s Raw.

lmfao the way Alexa stuck her head between the ropes to scare Morrison. Ugh this pairing is easily my favorite thing in wwe rn.

Interesting, so Bray protects her. A fair duo.

I will never not cringe at watching people pretend to break someone’s neck by twisting it to the side. If I was a wrestler, that’s a move I would NEVER allow to be done to me.

On the plus side, Alexa took out Morrison and he sold it really fucking well. On the negative, it seems that distracted Bray as he’s more concerned for her well being now.

Oh my god the way Alexa reappears from behind the barricade. Creepy as shit.

Love watching her “balance” on the barricade considering she was one hell of a gymnast in her day.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m all for watching Lacey progress in the ring, cuz I think her character work is just fantastic, but holy shit what a downgrade going from Mandy and Dana to Lacey and Peyton.

Why is she excited? Why is it exciting to fight Sasha? Maybe Asuka should’ve taken that match a bit more seriously, considering the outcome. But I’m jumping ahead of myself.

“No one is ready for Asuka,” except for Charlotte, Becky, Shayna, Alexa, Sasha...

I do appreciate how Lacey isn’t scared of anyone while Peyton is wary of literally everyone. That’s good. Nia has a point though, y’all could’ve used Mandy. I guess it doesn’t matter though, considering the outcome. Jumping ahead of myself again.

“Worst idea since Quibi” lmao shots fired.

*Bonus* Peyton/Lacey online exclusive: they vibe real well off script. Peyton made points saying she can’t wait to teach Lacey how to be on a team. That’s valid cuz Lacey is NOT much of a team player. Points to Lacey though, she’s funny as hell.

Highlight: Alexa Bliss

---

NXT:

Awesome hearing War Pigs during that Shotzi promo. Is that the official theme song for War Games? If so, baller to wwe for shelling that cash out.

I’m guessing Shotzi was fixing her tank? Was that the premise? Regardless, the setting was different and interesting.

I really like the fencing around nxt’s ringside. Fits with the grungy “indie” feel.

God I’m gonna have to watch Candice defeat Kayden and Kacy aren’t I?

Indi bought the Garganos a flat screen tv? :/ mk. What does she have to gain? Johnny was an AWFUL champion and Candice has never even held gold. What is she hoping to accomplish?

“Indi is gaining one of the best mentors in the nxt locker room” lmao WHAT.

omg Kacy and Kayden are so fucking entertaining, I feel like I say this every time I watch them. All tag teams need to TAKE. NOTES. Look at that cohesion and teamwork. Whew.

Hold on don’t try to retcon Tegan as leaving Candice’s side. I hate Tegan even more than I hate Candice, and she was a shite friend to Dakota by proxy of being a spineless dweeb, but do not try to paint Candice as the victim in her feud with Tegan.

I know nothing about the Dakota/Candice friendship but I’d go ahead and blame Dakota since she’s hella douchey lmao.

Imagine thinking Indi is an upgrade from Dakota. Commentary is super funny and distracting tonight lmao.

Was that not a flatliner? Sure looked like an intended flatliner.

So Kacy attempts to kill herself in the process of taking out Indi and none of the cameras caught it? :/ we still using interns looking for college credits in production? Is that what’s happening??

Vic is kind of an awful commentator in his actual calls. “Nice suplex, almost a brainbuster” better hope that was a brainbuster cuz if not, that was the saddest fucking suplex I’ve ever seen in my life.

So Kacy almost kills herself using offense against Indi and Indi was coherent first? Ugh anyway.

Why do we have to listen to Ember speak every week? What a terrible idea.

So now she’s gonna be nxt’s savior by getting rid of Dakota and Raquel? Oh for fuck’s sake.

Why does she have fucking soda tabs on her gear still.

Why is she teaming with Toni. I THOUGHT THEY WERE HEELS. Seriously, am I the dumb one? Am I the one who needs their hand held? Has Ember not been acting like a heel since she returned? Am I the only one confused about Toni’s alignment??

“We’ve fallen victim to the numbers game” WHEN have you fallen victim to the numbers game, Toni? WHO WROTE THIS.

I know nxt wants me to give a shit about Ember and Toni, but good luck making me care about anyone down there more than Dakota or Rhea.

I would really appreciate it if Dakota was moved up to the MR without actually showing any dissention from Raquel.

Dakota calls a lot of matches, I’ve noticed. Pro shit.

Toni’s German suplexes are amazing if she’s actually never hurt anyone, cuz MAN they look gnarly af.

Gorgeous tornado ddt by Ember. Nice speed, great handling by Raquel.

Don’t Dakota and Toni have quite the history? From UK?

Today in wrestling commentary: Vic cannot tell the difference between left and right.

Whoa I just noticed Dakota isn’t wearing her knee brace. That’s kind of monumental, right? Isn’t that a big deal? I feel like that’s a big deal.

Honestly I might like Toni more than Ember. She comes off as a lot more likable since her move to nxt.

Oh Christ I gotta see Candice again. 

Hi why isn’t this main eventing? Do Rhea fucking Ripley and Io fucking Shirai not deserve it?? For real???

Hate it when refs hold the title up crooked. Noob.

Holy shit Io’s speed is TOP. TIER. Whew.

And then slips on the turnbuckle, sad. Could’ve been worse, could’ve been a Shotzi wipeout (and that’s what I’m gonna call it from now on)

What Io has in speed, Rhea has in strength, these are the facts.

Why did Vic cut Beth off by saying exactly what she was in the middle of saying? Vic’s losing a lot of points tonight tbh.

oof gnarly German suplex off the second rope by Io.

Oh my, Rhea’s ear is covered in blood. Must have punctured her ear with an earring. Rough. I say this as someone who has her fair share of piercings: it BOGGLES MY MIND why any of these women wrestle with their piercings in lmao. No ma’am.

Brutal match, whew.

Rhea wiped her own blood on her face.

There are some aprons spots with Rhea obviously waiting around that needed some work.

Rhea can sell, certainly, but her screaming is way too dramatic at times. Most notably at wm in the empty arena, but this match is a close second. Almost borders on annoying.

Niiice Rhea adding a nice vortex spin on the tail end of her cloverleaf submission. Points. Keep that.

Oh that Riptide attempt countered into an armbar by Io. BEAUTIFUL.

I liked that. Io goes for the 619 in the middle rope, Rhea ducks. Io goes for the 619 on the lower rope, Rhea dodges. Io strikes her a couple times, Rhea falls to the opposite side of the ring and Io proceeds to hit the 619. Good stuff.

Lol Io’s smiling at Rhea kicking out of the missile dropkick.

Nice flip off of Rhea’s clothesline but I’m not a fan of Io landing her moonsault on her feet. That’s not really her M.O.

Fucking spiked Rhea with a ddt by countering the Riptide again. That’s a solid champion, has her opponent completely scouted.

Beautiful sunset flip powerbomb through the ropes with Rhea landing through a table. Would’ve been cool if Rhea had let go right away, though.

In kf, I give points to Rhea for dragging herself from the rubble just to eat a clean pin. Great match.

Highlight: Io vs Rhea

---

NXT UK:

Wow robbing me of KLR’s entrance. Guess Piper is officially the heel.

Quit calling her a “new” Piper Niven. A slight aggression is hardly “new”

BE CAREFUL WITH KLR’S SNAZZY COAT.

Y’all got tape out? Have we learned nothing from Bayley/Sasha hiac?

CHUCKED A FUCKING RING BELL INTO PIPER’S HEAD LMAO

Ugh headbutt that takes everyone out. Tsk.

Ric who? Charlotte’s dad??

Who do I gotta pay to see KLR vs Becky Lynch in an extreme match?!

KLR rolls away after that fisherman buster on the outside. Smart points.

Alright listen I’m on KLR’s side but WHY IS JINNY OUT HERE

Lol smacked Piper with a ‘no entry’ sign. Haha.

And Piper broke a sign over KLR’s head, followed by puns from the commentators.

rip random guitar.

Match doesn’t have any creative spots really, but they sure know how to utilize random objects.

BRO YOU CAN’T TAKE A STEEL PIPE TO HER KNEE ON CONCRETE, THAT’S HELLA RUDE. KLR lit a fire under Piper’s ass and Piper’s trying to retire her as thanks. Super, super rude.

Fuck her up fam, I don’t even feel bad.

??? Did KLR even land through the table or did she just land straight onto the fucking concrete? Jesus Christ man. No, she didn’t, she slid into the second table and just ate the floor. Oh my god. IS SHE OKAY??

Highlight: That vicious ending gained KLR a lot of respect in my eyes

---

Smackdown:

Imagine being surprised that Adam chose the longest reigning SD women’s champion as his team captain. Granted she’s probably despised by everyone, but she’s got the pedigree, come on now.

Look how good Bayley looks. Whew.

“You know what time it is? Bayley time.” she’s so annoying rofl.

Wow riveting stuff, I have zero comments about this 2 min match tbh.

Go stand in the ring with your damn captain, Bianca.

Lmao Bayley allergic to hugs now. Character progression.

It’s quite the team I’m ngl. I just wish we could’ve wrapped up this Sasha/Bayley shit like... months ago so we could enjoy captain Bayley for a bit longer. Gonna burn through this in one damn episode. It’s a bummer.

*Bonus* Nattie’s online exclusive: “I sailed through some rough waters [...] I’m smart, I’m sexy, I’m funny, I’m rich” She is funny, I will give her that.

We’re getting Asuka/Sasha face to face? For real? Okay.

Cute, Sasha’s smile toward Asuka actually looked genuine. I miss when Sasha seemed genuine. It’s like Bayley killed that part of her.

“Michael are you forgetting what time it is?” BAYLEY TI-- “It is boss time, baby!” welp my mistake.

I’ve played Asuka’s dialogue to Sasha 3x and I still have no idea what she was saying because of her ridiculous fucking dancing and animation. I’m tired. Bayley come take her title.

Omg now she’s doing “you can’t see me” SHE ACCOMPLISHES NOTHING I absolutely despise her being champion.

Actually she is ready for Asuka, and I’m gonna take great joy in watching her win this Sunday. Sasha is hella unlikeable until the moment that bell rings, then she’s a god. Is what it is.

Booo Sasha was actually doing good on the mic, how dare you ruin that, Carmella.

Asuka is awful. Even Becky and Ronda fought off common enemies once upon a time. Asuka helps legit N O B O D Y. Awful champion.

Highlight: Captain Bayley

---

Survivor Series:

Love Sasha’s gear.

Asuka kicked out at one, quick everyone cry about her selling. Oh wait she’s not Charlotte, my bad.

Beautiful attempt at an armbar by Sasha, whew.

Sasha is so good at this whole wrestling thing lol.

Nice pop up from that backstabber.

Right and in contrast, Asuka is an amazing striker.

Oh a codebreaker to Sasha as she dangles from the second rope. Gorgeous move.

Ahhhh the blue haired god got the job done. I knew she’d win but it’s so gratifying to see.

Not much to say about the match. The spots weren’t brutal or super creative/innovative, but it had GREAT back and forth and really showcased their chemistry in technical wrestling. Also might very well have been the best match they’ve had yet, seemed pretty short though. Still, an enjoyable watch. Good for Sasha.

Lol the disdain in Nia’s face as she looks at Lana.

Look, Bayley’s arm band says ‘captain’ so she’s the captain.

Love seeing how creative people get with their gear at Survivor Series, as opposed to just throwing a damn brand shirt on. Looking at you, 2016.

One thing I’ve learned about Bayley is if she calls you sister, she genuinely likes you behind the scenes. So glad to see Lacey is in her good graces.

Omg Lacey learned how to do a kip up, everybody clap.

Love how the light shines off of Nattie’s gear. Got rainbows popping.

Squatting while stalling a suplex, and synchronized kip ups. Bianca and Nattie are fun.

“Bayley and the great Becky Lynch,” Oh shit, peep that RESPECT we’re putting on her name now? She gets ‘the great’?? wwe finally seeing her on the same level as ‘the great’ Charlotte Flair??? I am shook. Good for her, fucking deserved (also poor Bayley rofl)

Lana tags herself in again lmao. Nia 5 seconds from killing her. Look, Lana tries. Let her try.

I can’t breathe. she been put in timeout.

(referring to a move by Peyton) “I give that a perfect 10“ PPPFFFFTTTT

What a bump by Bayley; a suplex off the top rope onto the entire roster on the outside, and what a great locker room leader to be checking on everyone IMMEDIATELY as if she didn’t just fucking take a massive bump. Also poor Lana standing over there watching the fun lol.

Now I already knew Peyton pinned Bayley cuz of the outrage by Bayley fans who deemed her “buried” afterward, but I think it was a poor decision to have Peyton get that pin. Peyton sucks, not sorry. Have Lacey get that pin before Peyton. Actually, have Lana get that pin before Peyton.

Not sure what Nattie was going for with that submission to Peyton, but she improvised real quick. So points.

Doesn’t Nattie usually wear wrist guards? Awkward seeing her without them.

Goes for a sharpshooter on a woman who’s not even active rn. I’m removing her points lmao.

I legit never get to see Bianca’s 450 splash and you know what? Fuck y’all.

Well Bianca’s a great partner to do a Spanish Fly with so, good on Lacey.

That’s an interesting elimination. Ruby would’ve pinned Shayna as she had rolled back and reversed the Clutch, but the ref was distracted by Nia. By the time he started counting, Ruby had passed out. Interesting.

Crucifix Bomb by Liv eliminates Lacey, fucking dope.

Having Bianca as the last survivor on her team is great for Bianca. This is a compliment from management.

BEAUTIFUL catch by Shayna into the Clutch. Wow that was nice.

Ah we redoing the spot from their Takeover match, IE my introduction to Bianca. Solid.

Oh this is good. Bianca passed out from the Clutch while on the ropes so Shayna was disqualified. Nia drug Bianca out of the ring to put her through the announce table and they started brawling until they were both counted out. 

Again, I knew Lana was the sole survivor but seeing it happen is fucking hilarious. Nice protection for Bianca though, and seeing Nia this pissed off is so cathartic.

Highlight: Bianca was the real standout imo

---

*Survivor Series shined the brightest as we had both a great technical match, and a fun, entertaining multiwoman match filled with shenanigans. If that’s a cop out, then I’ll give it to NXT this week. 

[copperbadge]

Hi Internet Dad, feel free not to answer if this ask is too depressing, but I've got an existential melon-scratcher for you: with all the Awful Things going on in the world (and the US specifically), do you have any advice on how to keep from becoming hopeless? Because I've been struggling a lot with how to even go about my day-to-day when all I can think about are the horrors that I see in the news. I'm desperately trying to believe that things will get better, but it's hard to believe. Help?

I think this is easier for some people than for others. Compartmentalization can be learned, but some people also do it very naturally while others don’t. So it’s tough to offer advice on how to separate the personal life you have to live from your membership in a society that feels like it’s crumbling around us. 

I was re-reading an old post I made recently which I think relates to this. I have a really tough time with sadness. Some people, most people, can process sadness and rebound -- listen to a sad song and then be fine, watch a tragic movie and come out okay, have a good cry and feel cleansed -- but often I have only two levels, “not sad” and “nothing but sad”. So I don’t read books or watch movies where the main character dies, I don’t read fic tagged “unhappy ending” or “major character death”, I don’t watch sad real life stories (much; depends on how well I feel like I can cope with it on any given day). Because unlike most people, it will still be affecting me days later, and that makes it tough to function.  

There are a lot of coping mechanisms for the terrible news in the world around us. The one I favor is not watching the news. What news I get, I read, rather than watch, because I can control my consumption, I can stop and do something else for a little while, and I can look up counterpoints while I’m still on the original article. I have a deal with my parents that they, news junkies, don’t get to watch certain news stories while I’m home -- if Trump is on the TV, for example, the deal is we mute it, and I tolerate the rest of the news that they’re constantly watching. 

You can also look up inspirational stories, I’m pretty sure there are websites dedicated to happy news like people rescuing babies from riptides and such. Or you can resolve that every time you feel like you’re drowning in the horror, you do one thing to help fix the world, like calling your senator or scheduling to go to a protest or giving a dollar to a charity, and then you’re allowed to go back to your actual life. 

Also, and I want you to really listen to this: “it’s hard to believe things will get better” is a huge flag to me because it’s something people with depression say A LOT. The struggle you’re dealing with doesn’t have to apply to you personally for it to be a personal problem. If you are having trouble functioning in your personal life because of the outside world, that can still be depression. So you should consider this, do a little self-examination, and maybe speak to a doctor or a therapist about how you’re feeling. They can help you sort out whether this is just “maybe I’m watching too much news” or whether you have a chemical imbalance going on in your brain. 

It is a tough time we live in. So you are certainly not alone in struggling with this. But if you’re struggling this much, I hope you can find some ways to climb out of that a little, because I think the world is still worth hoping for.

[adamcoled]

onsra pt. 2 | kenny omega | adam cole

kenny omega x reader, adam cole x reader

 pt. 1

Summary: Long distance relationships are tough, but maybe it’s not the distance that gets in the way.

A/N: I managed to get this up just a day after part one! I’m shocked, really. I also managed to end this how I wanted to in just two parts, meaning no third part, but I hope this makes up for that anyway! Per request, tagging: @daintymissdevitt

A night that had begun with my inability to sleep was ending just the same way; it’s quite funny how everything does, indeed, come full circle. Those walks were meant to rid my mind of troublesome thoughts, but this time, it only gave me even more to think about. All I’d known to do when my overthinking habit kicked in was shoot Adam a text, my metaphorical melatonin, and since that wasn’t exactly an option right now, I had to rely on my own abilities. At some point, my mind had run its course, finally giving into my desperate wish for sleep.

Quick, irate pounding on my door wasn’t my ideal way of waking up, but there was no way I could ignore the harshness of the knocks. Each second I let pass by only seemed to make the visitor louder, and with an annoyed groan, I hopped out of bed and yanked the door open, failing to even check the peephole.

“What?!” I exclaimed.

Right before me, still dressed in his outfit from the previous night’s events, was Adam, combing his hand through his hair as if he hadn’t just been banging on my door like a madman. “You never texted me when you actually got back,” he said simply. 

I shrugged, seeing as it had no importance now, anyway. Here I was, in my hotel room, safe and sound, albeit mildly irritated by the man in front of me. “Well, I’m fine. You can leave now.”

“Listen,” he growled, “You’re the one who said we can’t do this, not me. I offered to forget it, why can’t you do the same and let it go?" 

"Because, Adam!” I snapped, “You don’t get to confess something like that and get mad at me for being a little confused.”

The heavy rise and fall of his chest and shoulders told me he was getting fed up with the situation quickly; he’d intended to move past it as if nothing really did happen, hoping I would do the same and things would go back to normal. Now, Adam was no idiot; he had to have known that just wouldn’t work. It couldn’t work. “Then what the hell do you suggest, Y/N?” he demanded, his tone increasing little by little. 

That was a question even I didn’t have the answer to, one so profound that the answer could potentially change everything we’d built up. “I don’t know,” I sighed, admitting defeat. But that didn’t mean his proposed solution was any better than my absolute uncertainty. I walked back over to my bed, leaving the door open as a silent invitation for Adam to follow me. He did, sitting down beside me and placing a comforting hand on my thigh. 

“Alright, then let’s talk. I’ll start- I meant it.” My eyebrows furrowed, not sure exactly what he was referring to. Well, I knew full well what he was referring to, I just pretended I didn’t. It was much easier to pretend these days. Now, he was tracing odd shapes and patterns on my thigh, half-smiling once I tensed beneath his touch.

He sighed, a wretched sound of frustration and sheer exhaustion. “I know I shouldn’t. Hell, Kenny’s my brother. But you’re just somethin’ else,” he shook his head, “You’re just so special. So talented, so smart, so confident…”

The space between us was getting smaller and smaller, until there was no possible way we could get any closer. His warm breath left the sensitive skin of my neck begging to be touched by the same lips I’d kissed only hours before.  

“So beautiful,” he finished, pushing me to the bed as his mouth was on mine once more. This time, it was all tongue and passion. There was no holding back, no second guessing. He’d released my lips for a brief second, pulling back to examine the look on my face. I nodded, and that was all it took. 

I wish I could say I felt some regret as he kissed all over my body and touched places that’d only been touched by Kenny for years, but all I felt was the overwhelming desire to be completely enraptured by the beautiful man above me.

The guilt settled in afterwards, but for all the wrong reasons. I only felt guilty that I didn’t feel guilty.

My mind had gone blank. Here I was, in bed with Adam by my side, completely unbeknownst to Kenny, who should have been on my mind the entire time. When Adam’s hand snuck beneath my back and pulled me a little closer, I realized the gravity of the situation and the fact that we still had a schedule to attend to. 

“Adam,” I mumbled, almost wishing he didn’t hear me so we could stay like this a little longer. The muffled hum was a sure sign that he did, in fact, hear me, however. “We have things to do.”

“I already did the number one thing on my list,” he lifted his head, grinning at me lopsidedly. 

I gasped, a feigned reaction to his less-than-subtle teasing. “Are you saying I’m a thing now?" 

”‘Course not. Didn’t I make it clear you’re so much more than that just now?“

"I guess so,” I smiled half-heartedly, “We really have to talk about this. Later. But right now, you need to go to your room and get dressed.” I pulled him out of bed and playfully pushed him towards the door, the laugh he released sounding like everything good in the world.

Once the door was shut, a division created between Adam and I, my heart and my mind, I pressed against it, letting out breaths I didn’t know I was holding. Time had fast-forwarded, leaving me in a position where I was utterly clueless on what, exactly, just happened. The thing that scared me the most? I didn’t regret it.

As much as I’d like to say that was the first and last time that happened, it wasn’t; it might of been the first, but it sure as hell wasn’t the last. We’d discussed the state of our undefined relationship, since it was clear it exceeded the friendship boundaries, but neither of us could explain it straightforwardly. I’d said many times that Kenny was still a huge part of me, my feelings of saudade only dissipating when I was with Adam. That was just a simple fact, an undeniable truth Adam was forced to face. But, just as I had a repeated mantra, so did he. His was along the lines of, “I know you’re still in love with him, but I just need you to know that this means everything to me.” It was no secret that I was putting us both in tumultuous disarray, and it was no secret that I felt so awful about it. I couldn’t come to terms with the mess I was in, and Adam was no longer just a lousy crush, I owed him that much. Even so, I couldn’t accept any form of official relationship with him, not when my heart wasn’t fully devoted to him; he deserved so much more than that. 

I had hoped he would be less keen on me once he realized what a confused mess I truly was, but, even though I erased any chance of there being an “us” anytime soon, he assured he was in for the long-run. He actually seemed almost offended at my acceptance if he were to abandon me- “Is that what you think I’ll do to you?”

Quite frankly, no. I knew he would never, ever do that to me because Adam was too perfect to be real in every single aspect, but I at least could try to ease his troubles.

So here we were. A strange, unexplainable relationship that wasn’t exactly a mutual satisfaction, but a mutual agreement; Adam wanted something more, I just wanted time. And time is exactly what I got until a simple text revealed perhaps things were about to get ten times more confusing.

“Can we talk?”

Of course, it had to be from Kenny. After months of little to no talking, he finally decides to make an appearance, just when I was nearly getting somewhere with the moving on battle (Maybe that was a lie, maybe not.) I initially typed out an icy reply, an immature way to display my irritation, though my ever-present soft spot for him led me to quickly deleting it and opting for a more gentle approach. “About what?” would do, surely. 

“About us.”

The scariest thing of all was that, at one point, all Kenny had to do to have me back was say the word; now, however, I’d have too much thinking to do, too tough of a decision to make. Someone was destined for heartbreak no matter what I chose, the thought alone breaking my own heart. 

Kenny and I had a chemistry I’d once considered unattainable, a distant dream. Having it in my grasp and then ripped away hurt more than anything, and I’d be a fool not to take the chance at gaining it all back. Naturally, I agreed and we arranged a convenient time to talk; this wasn’t going to be a ten minute chat, that’d be a travesty to us both. This had to be an opportunity to make up for countless months of separation.

When my phone finally rang, I’d answered much too quickly. A rookie mistake, answering before the second ring even came, my impatience proving traitorous yet again.

“Kenny,” I breathed, anticipating the voice I’d come to love. I’d much rather have this conversation in person, where I could read his face, understand his thoughts, feel his warmth, although this would have to do.

He was silent for a moment, more than likely choosing his upcoming words carefully. He was so intelligent in that way, in every way. “Hey. How are you?” Things were quickly becoming nothing more than a friendly chat you’d have with a neighbor. This was meant to be a reunion, a riptide of emotions threatening to pull me under- only I’d drown in my own tears. And yet even so, I went along with it.

“I’m…good,” I concluded, deciding there was no reason to discuss the hidden undertones that told me otherwise, “How are you?”

“I’m alright. I miss you,” he sighed, an abrupt confession I was not expecting in the slightest. Just seconds ago, I’d been practically begging to cut to the chase, but now, I just wanted a rewind option.

The silence on both ends was discomforting, neither one of us having the words to say. Or maybe we just didn’t want to say them. I had an inkling that the latter was probably the case for Kenny.

“I miss you, too.”

It wasn’t a lie. Of course I missed him, but I had terrible ways of going about it. A relieved sigh left his lips, echoing his fear that I wouldn’t say it back. “I know we haven’t talked very much, if at all. I’ll take some responsibility, but it wasn’t just a one-way street,” he noted.

“I know, Kenny. I’m sorry for that, really.”

“Yeah, me too. But,” he agreed, “We were both caught up in chaotic parts of our careers. I think we could make this work now, you and me.”

My breath hitched in my throat, my nails becoming victims of my nervous biting habit. “Kenny…”

“You don’t agree,” he said plainly, not asking, rather stating it, as if he already assumed I wouldn’t be willing to try again. 

“It’s not that. I can’t go through that pain all over again, if things don’t work out,” I admitted, my weakness belittling me. 

The common theme of silence took over once again, the only noises being the heavy breaths he expelled. I’d hoped my breathing wasn’t as loud as his, because if so, he definitely could tell how anxious I truly was. “Don’t you think I was hurt, too? Letting you go was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever had to do,” he confessed, a twinge of anger lacing his voice. 

Sadly, it wasn’t just that that left me apprehensive about attempting our relationship again. I’d built up something with Adam, what I wasn’t exactly sure, but I couldn’t be cruel enough to destroy it as if it meant nothing. “Well, what do you want to do? Act as if nothing ever happened?" 

"Not at all. Something happened, and I’ve regretted it ever since. I just want to know that you’re willing to try.”

Trying was simple. Trying seemed simple. I could try, and that still gave me plenty of time to make important decisions. I nodded, as if he could see me, before confirming that I’d put in the same effort as him. Once the call ended, I threw myself onto my bed, half-expecting Adam to be next to me. I couldn’t tell if I was disappointed or relieved he wasn’t.

This “trying” Kenny spoke of included the same components of our past relationship- daily conversations, Skype dates, FaceTime calls. Meanwhile, I’d slowed things down with Adam, telling him I needed a break from whatever we had to think. A half-truth I felt terrible for concocting.

The truth of it was that I had done more thinking than usual. I couldn’t help but notice the feeling of utmost adoration I felt when talking to Kenny had simmered down quite a bit. And at the same time, it only grew with Adam. That was sign number one.

Sign number two came about when I admitted, in a hushed, fearful, guilty voice the ground I was making with Kenny to Adam. 

“So that’s why you’ve been so distant lately,” Adam connected, a sad smile exposing how he truly felt. 

“Yeah…I just didn’t know how to tell you.”

He closed the space between us, placing his hands on either side of my head, pressing a few kisses to top of my head. “Is that what you want?”

I didn’t have a good enough answer, but I had to provide him with something. No more lies, or half-truths, or just downright dismissal. “I…don’t know,” I said honestly, my voice failing me a bit. 

“I just want you to be happy, you know.”

Just like that, I knew. Adam would suppress his own happiness if it meant I’d get my own. He would give up what we had built, the nights full of quiet love proclamations, the Disney dates, the dream he talked about so frequently. He’d give it all up for me. 

Kenny and I had something absolutely real. That wasn’t a façade, not in the slightest. I’d imagined spending the rest of my life with him, but if I had learned one thing over this past year, it’s that life will always fall victim to change. Things weren’t the same and I wasn’t sure they ever would be again; the two years we had were unmatchable, the peak of our relationship. I could do a lot of things, but holding on to something that needed to be let go wasn’t one of them.

I was confused for far too long when the answer was right in front of me the entire time. I was at war with my own thoughts when in reality, I knew. I found so much comfort in Adam because he was just my person. He had endless words of solace and support, too much selflessness within him, and more love for me than I could ever fathom or ever deserve. And all he wanted in return? For me to be happy.

And I’d found out long ago that I couldn’t be anything but happy when I was with him.

It was so simple that it was hard. For too long, I’d been used to difficult choices and pure mayhem. Now that it was clear to me what I had to do, I found my hands shaking as I pressed the button to call Kenny. No prior warning, just a random call that I felt had to be done as soon as possible. All I had to do was confess everything and hope that he’d forgive me, and Adam, in time. Those two didn’t deserve to be at odds with each other because of me, one of my biggest fears of them all. 

“Hello?” Kenny answered, the confusion that more than likely had his eyebrows furrowed and nose scrunched up evident. 

“Hey, Kenny,” I started, “Sorry this is so sudden. I just really, really need to talk to you.”

The soft sound of sheets rustling took over his end- shit, he was probably in bed, either asleep or close to it. I had forgotten about timezones in my haste.

“Alright?” he questioned, sounding notably more alert, “What is it?”

I exhaled loudly, stalling for even just a second. One second farther from creating a potential war zone. “Kenny, I know we were trying to fix things. But I don’t think that’s possible…Being with you made for two of the best years of my life, honestly,” I paused, “And I really do love you. But not like I used to, not like a year ago.”

I stopped for a second, anticipating some kind of response from him- nothing. I took that as my liberty to keep going. “Kenny, I fell in love with Adam.”

It probably wasn’t the best way to go about things, though I had no clue if there was any good way to say it. 

“I should have known,” he sighed, most likely blaming himself or feeling like an idiot, or maybe both. It was an awful feeling knowing I had caused it. “It didn’t feel the same from the start. You always seemed a little off.”

I should have known he would pick up on my habitual inattentiveness; he knew me better than anyone, after all. But had he heard the last thing I said? He didn’t seem to address it at all.

“Yeah, I feel like shit knowing my ex-girlfriend and one of my best friends went behind my back. But what can you do? Things weren’t going well for us and you found someone else. It happens,” he said simply, so simply it seemed like it didn’t affect him at all. And maybe it hadn’t, but that would have hurt more than anything else. 

“Are you just trying to make it easier for yourself?” I wondered aloud, my voice softer and overtaken with sympathy.

“Maybe,” he agreed, “There’s no way I’m losing you both. It’s gonna hurt a lot, for a long time. But I’ll get used to it, I have to. No use in dwelling on something that’ll never happen, right?”

His calmness threw me off the most. I could deal with arguing or yelling, but this was simply beyond me; I’d expected calamity and instead received a godsend. The way he was so accepting and matter-of-fact about it all pained me even more. His only solution was to “get used to it.” Even if it meant seeing the two of us together and letting our relationship become nothing but a thing of the past. 

We said only a few more words, him stating he needed sleep more than ever. With even shakier hands than before, I ended the call and all chances of a future with Kenny, calling up Adam instead this time.

“Adam?” I half-asked once he picked up almost immediately, “Can you come over?”

He didn’t ask why, he didn’t ask any questions; he came over just as I asked, a very Adam thing to do. Considering he had a key to my apartment, I didn’t even flinch when the door opened and footsteps could be heard coming to my bedroom quickly.

“You called?” he grinned, the smile I could never shake from my mind. I had never appreciated it enough before, until I finally saw it much more often and realized just how radiant it truly is. It was the quickest supplement of happiness in this world, his smile. I made sure to tell him that once or twice, (or maybe many, many more times) hoping he’d heed my advice and stay smiling forever.  

“That I did,” I smiled in return, patting the space next to me on my bed. Rather than taking off his shoes and snuggling right under the blankets with me like he usually would, he sat on the side of the bed. Since I’d told him all about the situation with Kenny, he’d paid more attention to his actions and attempted to keep them at bay. “I told Kenny about us.”

His eyes opened wide in shock, eyebrows shooting up. “You did what?”

“He’s not mad at you, don’t worry,” I reassured, “At least, not really…I don’t know what he feels, honestly. He took it well but of course he’s more than likely a little pissed.”

“Why would you tell him that? I told you I would leave it alone,” he said lowly.

“Because I’m tired of not knowing what I want. I’m tired of leading people on and letting people down. I know what I want, Adam,” I whispered, sitting up and turning his head towards me, “I want you.”

“You serious?”

“Always.”

Adam must’ve been a firm believer in the phrase “actions speak louder than words,” because when he captured my lips in a kiss more intense and more passionate than any of the others, I’d heard more than I ever could have through words. I’d heard his silent plea to stay by his side, his gratitude for this moment, his elation at how things had panned out. And I certainly heard the repeated “I love you"s mumbled against my skin and throughout brief moments of paused liplock. 

For once, I could return them and be absolutely certain of their sincerity.  

"Say it again,” he begged, mouth pressed against my neck.

“I love you, Adam,” I let out breathlessly.

“I’ll never get enough of that,” he beamed. 

If that’s what it took to make sure that smile was always around, I’d tell him it every single damn minute. That I was sure of.

[thisiswhatwereupagainst]

Random Things You Should Know About the Brotherhood in the Comics

Fun fact, there’s been more than one Brotherhood of Mutants, and not all of them were led by Magneto. He wasn't even in all of them! There's a lengthy list of members, some more widely-known than others, these are just some fun facts about a few of the more well-known members.

- Toad has one of the worst backgrounds in the Brotherhood. He was abandoned as a baby by his parents, probably due to his appearance, and grew up in an orphanage where he was bullied and tormented by the other children for the same reason. Toad is actually very intelligent in the comics (he's an expert with machinery!) but due to his shyness and learning disabilities as a child, he was considered to be mentally disabled. I'm not sure what specific learning disabilities he's stated to have had though. I'd really like to know though, so tell me if you do! Between this and the bullying, he dropped out of school at an early age.

He was later recruited by Magneto, and they developed an abusive relationship. Not romantic, mind you, but besides that the dynamics were the same. Toad believed that Magneto cared for him and became dependent on him, while Magneto physically battered him and verbally belittled him. Read more about it HERE

I like Magneto, but people who think Magneto is a good man aside from his villainy need to take a good look at how he treats his followers. He abuses all of them, including Wanda and Pietro, but Toad got it the absolute worst and actually has a form of Battered Spousal Syndrome as a result.

- Pyro and Avalanche are super duper best bro-friends in the comics and I love it so much. Also, while they may or may not actually be lovers, depending on how you want to interpret it (I generally see them as friends), they were used to metaphorically represent gay lovers in THIS issue.

- Pyro is not an aggressive fire-obsessed nutjob like in Evolution or the movies. He's not angry, he's not insane, he's not a pyromaniac. He's a very nice, normal dude who just also happens to be a fire-controlling super-villain. Besides terrorism, he's also an author who writes Gothic romance novels. I'm not making this up, it's canon and it's terrific and I love it so much.

- Pyro's first name in the comics is St. John, not just John like the movies. It's pronounced Sinjin, I think. He's Australian, maybe it's a more normal name there? Also, speaking of him being Australian, his buddy Avalanche is an immigrant from the Greek island of Crete, and Toad is from England, specifically York.

- Pyro once saved a group of children from a T-rex

- Daredevil once tricked the Blob into getting jealous that Pyro always got the girls on their Freedom Force missions so that the two of them would fight with each other, suggesting Pyro is probably a ladies man ;D

- Once, when Pyro thought he was going to die, he held Mystique's hand and said "Worse ways to go, than with friends" ;A;

- But Pyro did NOT in fact die then. His death would come later. He contracted the Legacy Virus, and his last act alive was saving the life of Senator Kelly, a man he'd once tried to assassinate. The strain of this good deed was too much on Pyro's weakened body, and he passed away with a plea to Senator Kelly to change things for the better. Kelly promised that he would, and he kept his word, changing his anti-mutant stance and working towards improving mutant/human relations instead. Sadly, this led to Kelly being assassinated by a human who felt he'd turned traitor.

- Just as Pyro was made American in the movies, Avalanche and Toad were made American in the cartoons.

- Toad's real name is Mortimer Toynbee in the comics, and Avalanche is Dominikos Ioannis Petrakis. In X-Men: Evolution, they were re-named Todd Tolansky and Lance Alvers, probably to make them easier for children to pronounce. Alias that the comics Avalanche has used include Dominic Janos Petros, Jon Bloom, Dominic Szilard, and Nick.

- Avalanche enjoys gardening and establishes a bar under the name "Nick" to get away from his life of crime.

- One of the Red Skull's S-Men claims to be Avalanche's daughter. Her name is Dancing Water and she's basically a woman made of water who has squid tentacles for legs. She can reshape her body at all, spray blasts of water from her hands, control any nearby water, and teleport via water. As far as I know, it's unknown if her claims of being his daughter are true, who her mother is, what her history is, and why she wants to help the Red Skull destroy mutants.

- Fred "Blob" Dukes is fat because of his mutation, and the X-Men make fun of his weight ALL THE TIME. Making fun of someone for being fat is pretty bad, but there are some X-Men for whom I can still see it as in-character, they're not all the nicest people. But making fun of someone for how their physical mutation effects them? I'd think they'd ALL know better than that. If it's not okay to do to Nightcrawler, it's not ok to do to Blob!

- Blob eating a lot is frequently a gag too and haha I get it, fat people are gluttons, real nice Marvel. Besides that being a cruel stereotype in a series supposed to be a statement AGAINST bigotry, let's go back to the fact that THIS IS BLOB'S MUTATION. He is going to be this size no matter what. And a bigger person or animal needs MORE CALORIES. That's why a bear eats more than a chihuahua! He is eating a lot because guess what, he would probably DIE if he did not, it's basic biology, but it's made into a joke at his expense by the narrative itself. It's so messed up.

- Blob has a super duper best friendship with Unus the Untouchable, they are mega bros and it is so sweet and it is made even sweeter by the fact that Blob is frankly a HUGE JERK (no pun intended) to everyone else. But Unus is his BFF!! Read more about their Brotp HERE!

- Lesser known female Brotherhood members: Lorelei, Phantazia, Mastermind (Martinique Jason), and Astra. When Magneto abandoned his second Brotherhood and they became the Resistants instead, a woman named Mist Mistress joined them, and Spiral joined Mystique's Brotherhood when they became Freedom Force. The more well-known female Brotherhood members are, of course, Mystique, Destiny, Rogue, and the Scarlet Witch. See a post on Lorelei HERE and on Phantazia’s tag HERE for more about these ladies!

- While Mystique has consistently been portrayed as Magneto's subordinate in the movies, this has NEVER been the case in the comics. In fact, they have never even worked together until VERY recently. In the comics, they both led different Brotherhoods, and Mystique was the LEADER of hers, not anyone's second-in-command. In fact, up until recently, she and Magneto barely even crossed paths; the only time I'm aware of them even meeting was in the 1980s when she arrested him at a Holocaust memorial (this was when she and her Brotherhood were working for the government as "Freedom Force" in return for being pardoned for their crimes) So, needless to say, they do NOT have the same relationship depicted in the movies! Currently, they're both X-men and serving on the same team. Yeah, weird.

-Sabretooth is on the same X-Men team that Mystique and Magneto are, but contrary to the first X-Men film, I don't think he's ever been a Brotherhood member. I could be wrong though. But considering Sabes led the massacre of the Morlocks, I have a hunch not...by the way, Riptide was part of that too, he's sure as hell not a Brotherhood guy in the comics. Magneto HATES the Marauders!

- Ah, ok, I checked TV tropes on Sabes: "Something of an associate to Mystique's Brotherhood, as he was never affiliated with the team's present-day incarnation, but was shown in a flashback as joining up with an earlier iteration, even declaring himself their leader before being betrayed and handed over to the authorities by Mystique the next morning. He also worked for Exodus's Brotherhood, and is usually affiliated with the Brotherhood in adaptations."

-As mentioned, Mystique was NEVER  subordinate to Magneto, she led her own independent Brotherhood as LEADER...and at her side was Destiny, aka Irene Adler. Implied to be the woman who inspired the Sherlock Holmes character of the same name (with the equal implication Mystique inspired Sherlock himself...hey, she's Raven DarkHOLME) Destiny was a blind mutant who could see visions of the future. She was also Mystique's lover. Yup. They could not be explicitly referred to as such during the 1980s due to the Comics Code, but Claremont did everything he could to convey to the readers they were couple. They lived together, were affectionate with each other, and even raised a child together...none other than Rogue of the X-Men! In fact, his original plan was that Destiny would be Nightcrawler's mother and Mystique would be his FATHER, having impregnated Destiny in male form, but of course Marvel wouldn't let him get away with that. He also managed to sneakily slide in characters referring to Destiny as "Mystique's leman"---an antiquated word for "lover" obscure enough to slip by editors.

It used to be a common trope in media to use same-sex desires and relationships for villains as a way to emphasize their wickedness. For instance, a movie would never allow a hero to do such a thing, but it could be suggested with villains because it cast homosexuality in a negative light, as something bad people do to show how bad they are, like showing them kicking puppies. Claremont, however, went the opposite route. He used Mystique's tenderness with Destiny to humanize her instead, using their relationship to show a capacity for goodness in Mystique rather than play up how evil she was. They were depicted as loving and normal together, not depraved and decadent and bizarre. They were downright domestic.

While Claremont did have a notable fascination with lesbians, as shown by his use of sexy evil women who would pursue young heroines with a thinly-veiled subtext of sexual creepiness, he didn't fetishize Mystique and Destiny at all. He could have made Destiny a hot leather-clad young dominatrix like Selene or Emma Frost, but she's actually an elderly woman. Neither she nor her relationship with Mystique are ever sexualized. There are some f/f scenes in the X-Men series where you can imagine Claremont wrote it with one hand, but there's never anything like that between these two. Speaking of Destiny being old, she and Mystique were together FOR LIFE. They met during the 1800s when Destiny was much younger, and while they do seem to have had sexual relationships with men during their time together (as evident by both of them having children and grandchildren) their true loves were always each other. Destiny aged slower than an average person, but she did get old, and yet Mystique still stayed with her even though she remained young and I just love them so much. Destiny eventually met her end not by old age, but at the hands of Legion, Xavier's son.

Also, sorry to turn this into a personal soapbox but I have to here: Tumblr is all about "uwu LGBT representation uwuuu" but don't actually give a fuck about an actual canon woman/woman couple, even though tumblr's X-fandom collectively threw a fucking SHITFIT over Cherik not being made canon in DOFP and each of them having a girlfriend/wife and it being the worst most homophobic thing ever and the women in question getting bashed despite them being involved with these same women in canon...but Azazel gets to totally replace Destiny, who is nowhere to be seen in the movies, and fandom doesn't make a PEEP. Fandom is cool with that. In fact, they love Azazel and love drawing him in a happy heteronormative family with Mystique. Tumblr likes to be “uwu support LGBT representation uwuuu” but they give absolutely no fucks about Mystique's bisexuality and Destiny's very existence being erased. I've seen so much fucking Azazel/Mystique/Kurt fanart, but I don't even see much of Destiny even in COMICS fanart.

I get that it's an AU, it's not the comics, but it just leaves such a bad taste of hypocrisy in my mouth considering how tumblr X-fandom AS A WHOLE flipped out about Erik and Charles having relationships with Magda and Moira instead of each other in DOFP , even though they had relationships with those women in canon and, despite all subtext, have never been confirmed as a canon same-sex couple like Mystique and Destiny have. But people were ready to go to WAR for them. But two women who are a CONFIRMED CANON QUEER COUPLE? Who cares, right? Seriously, if it's not hot young cis white men, NO ONE CARES, even when it's a case of a REAL CONFIRMED CANON queer character (two, in fact!) being erased in the films. They had a lifelong relationship together, they raised a child together, they have all these affectionate moments...there is so much Mystique and Destiny stuff in canon, and Claremont WANTED to put in more and wasn't allowed.

And now that we're in a time period where that could be allowed, I think it's a fucking TRAVESTY that this wasn't put in the movies to make up for what wasn't let into the comics, to finally let them be “out” while Destiny was still alive. But it's even bigger travesty to me that tumblr not only ignores this, it endorses the heterosexual ship that replaces it, and then pats itself on the back for being “progressive” when it comes to shipping two DUDES (especially if they can shit on women in the process---there was a LOT of bashing Moira and Magda both in fandom when DOFP came out). Seriously, I swear the reason some people are into slash is just because there's not any EW GROSS GIRLS in it.

Sorry I had to get salty but this really bothers me. Mystique's bisexual and had a lifelong relationship with another woman in which they raised a child together and the movies not only erase that, movie fandom just accepts it while patting themselves on the back about being progressive because they have fanon m/m ships.