#th: meredith

[bonivers]

saw an edit of an ep when she was a vampire (? not questioning it) and i need her…… save me.

save me lana lang save me

[dpr-stay]

The Power of Old Ladies | RK

Roy Kent x Reader

Warnings: I wrote this like two years ago and haven't read over it, Did anyone say OOC!?, ignore how many times i start a sentence with ‘you’, I’ve only watched season 1. also swears, lots of swears.

WC: ~2.3k

Hiya Barbies, i just wanted this out of the drafts. read warnings btdubs. not edited and not proud!!

With a sigh, you turned and opened the car door, walking down the driveway to the entrance of Meredith’s house. Meredith was friends with the lovely lady, Doris, you were hired to look after after she’d lost most of her mobility. After a number of nasty falls and spells in hospital her family had decided that she needed a carer, and you were hired.

A condition that came with your hiring was that Doris, as part of her family's efforts for her to be more social, had to spend some time per week with her friends doing whatever she wanted to. You weren’t about to object, and were more than happy to be her chauffer back and from her girl’s nights. 

Well, what used to be their girls nights. 

You knocked three times on the door, hearing the TV inside go from blaring to slightly-less-blaring before the door opened and there stood Roy, the unlikely, good looking, addition to the girls’ yoga nights.

He smirked as he surveyed you, leaning against the doorway and crossing his arms. 

“You here to rid Doris of her good time?” He questioned loudly, a protesting uproar coming from another room in the house. You chuckled in response and stepped past him into the house.

“I could stay for a little longer I suppose.” You relented and his smirk turned more genuine as he pushed off the wall. He closed the door and started walking in the direction of all the noise. 

“Is she having fun?” You asked as you followed him.

“A ball.” He replied flatly, as though referencing something you wouldn’t get. You shrugged in response as you turned the corner to see Doris on a couch surrounded by her mates, shrieking as a contestant fulfilled a task on Love Island. 

“I wish I could have as good a time as them.” You sighed, shaking your head as they screamed. A scoff came from beside you.

“I could treat you to a much better time.” 

It was weird, the first time Roy had opened the door to you, he was very cold, his stare penetrating deep into your soul. This was probably because of your incredibly startled reaction, you having to explain through stutters that Doris hadn’t told you that a guy was joining them. 

He had merely grunted before calling for Doris, the muscles in his neck highlighted as he turned and in his arm as he clutched the doorframe. Was it really your fault for suspecting something was up when he’d turned back around to look at you? No normal guy that attractive would spend his evenings with a bunch of older ladies doing yoga and watching reality shows. 

When Doris had rolled her way over to the door, you’d watched him lift her up with ease, your jaw dropping as you watched him pick up her wheelchair and lift her down the lip of the frame. He said goodbye to Doris with a gruff fondness before making eye-contact with you and grunting again. 

When the door had shut, you’d taken a second to deeply breathe before turning to the smirking older lady. You didn’t know the door hadn’t been closed fully before you’d started to tease Doris for hiring a stripper. Doris had laughed, but hadn’t corrected you.

The next time he’d opened the door, his face was a bit more relaxed though it was still cold. You barely noticed the imperceptible change, only truly noticing it after he’d turned back from calling for Doris, catching you mid-stare.

He’d cleared his throat, making you drag your attention from the lines of his neck to look at his eyes, your face flushing as a knowing glint reflected in his eyes. You waited for him to say something but he remained silent for a few seconds, making you squirm a little before finally speaking.

“I’m not a stripper, by the way.” His face was pretty much devoid of motion apart from the concealed humour in his eyes. You gasped at his words, knowing he’d overheard you teasing Doris.

“I’m so sorry, I’ve just never seen you before!” You tried to excuse but he brushed you off by extending a hand.

“I’m Roy.” He said and you looked at his hand before shaking it, replying back with a smile and your name. He’d had no discernable reaction aside from the relaxing you’d mentioned earlier. 

It had taken Roy a while to warm up to you, your brief interactions not exactly providing ample time to get to know someone, but he’d eventually accepted you into the fold of the women he’d slowly begun to watch reality tv with.

You’d only have time to come in and watch with them when you were early, something you had been trying to do more, if only to have more time with Roy. As you’d spend more time with Roy, his mask would slowly begin to melt and he’d start slightly teasing (at least you thought it was teasing) you, such as right now. 

However, when he’d tease you, you were able to tease him back.

You turned to him, eyebrows raised after registering his words. He glanced at you from the side of his eyes. 

“Oh fuck off, you know that’s not what I meant.” You grinned at his response.

“Oh do I now, Roy?” He rolled his eyes and pushed your shoulder as he passed you, reaching the couch and sitting down in front of it.

You followed and placed your hands on either of Doris’ shoulders. She squealed again, jumping as her hands came to your shoulders and you laughed.

“It’s just me, Doris dearest. How are you feeling?” You inquired, leaning forward as she turned around.

“I’m feeling like a spring chicken right now. Look at those abs!!” She cried and pointed to the TV where a young man was practically naked aside from his speedos and grinding on a palm tree. You scrunched your face as you watched. Doris turned back to you and caught your face.

“You don’t like it!?!??” She almost screamed, drawing every person in the room's attention to you. You stuttered as you tried to think of a response.

“W-well it’s just that-“

“Do you think he’s ugly!??” Was fired at you from Meredith.

“Well no-“ You started, spluttering.

“Is he too short for you?!?” Maureen shouted from her spot further down the couch

“I don’t really care-“ You grimaced.

“Do you prefer your men older?” Came calmly from Roy, silencing everyone in the room. You whipped your head to him, your eyes as wide as saucers. Then the room burst into whispers as the ladies turned to each other, still looking at you both.

He smirked from his place on the floor as he watched your bewildered expression. You schooled your expression into something less affronted and spluttered, trying to find a way to reply.

“I suppose you’ll have to find out the hard way Roy.” You said, trying to retain your composure and unfortunately aware of how weak that comeback was. The noise level of the gossipers rose at your showing. 

Roy rolled his eyes at your dramatics before he scoffed and stood up, walking in front of Doris and giving her a hand up. You grabbed her wheelchair from a cupboard outside the room and guided it to the side of the couch as Roy helped lower her into it.

Soon Doris was comfortably seated and watching the rest of Love Island, and you were standing awkwardly beside Roy, both of you watching the TV. You thought for a moment before leaning sideways, invading his personal space, to begin speaking.

“I still can’t believe you spend two of your week nights watching love island and, what is it, Lust Conquers All?” He snorted at both your statement and the girls on TV shielding their eyes from a guy's poor attempt at the worm.

“I have nothing fucking better to do.” He replied monotonously and you scoffed.

“Sureee. You enjoy nothing about this.” You said sarcastically, creating a cross with your arms. He rolled his eyes and nodded.

“You know,” you smirked. “If you hate doing this so much, I could treat you to a much better night.” 

This caused him to start, jerking forward before whipping his head to you. You smiled at the unusual display before he scowled.

“Don’t joke about shit like that.” He shook his head and turned back to the tv.

“I’m not joking Roy.” You replied and turned back to you. He took a minute before pausing to scrutinize your face, searching for something. After a second it was apparent he didn’t find it because he nodded.

“Sure, when’s your next free night?” You drew back shocked and he instantly went on the defense.

“I just told you to not fucking joke about this shit.” He said quietly, trying to not let the gossips hear.

“I’m not joking, I just thought you’d say no!” You defended yourself and he opened his mouth to speak.

“If you thought you were going to get rejected, why'd you even ask?” He asked, skeptically. 

“You miss 100% of the chances you don’t take!!” You exclaimed, shoving your hands out in front of you in emphasis. You were met with a reception of shushes from the ladies in front of you, a sort of ceremony happening on the screen. Scrunching your face at their dramatics, you turned back to Roy who was looking at you with a flat expression. A raised eyebrow clued him in to start speaking.

“You just reminded me of someone who I’d never like to fucking think about while looking at you.” He uttered and you shook your head, disbelief covering your features. He sighed before speaking.

“Would you like to go out at some point?” He asked quietly and you immediately nodded. He sighed again, this time in relief and shot you a rare, genuine smile. That had you reeling, unused to the man expressing emotions through smiles. You normally had to decode his eyes and eyebrows.

“I’ll text you.” You said and he nodded, both of you turning back to the TV with degrees of smiles on your faces. The show played out for a bit before eventually ending, you both content to stand beside each other. 

The ladies in front of you started chatting about the episode, you joining in when you had something to share and Roy occasionally lobbying insults to specific people which had the group cheering.

At some point, Doris had leaned back to give you a look which you had learnt was her ‘I’m tired, take me home’ look and you’d nodded, walking to her and making an excuse for the other women, not allowing Doris to be swayed by their attempts to get her to stay.

Roy had followed you as you wheeled Doris to the door, ignoring the increasingly dramatic ways the women were all shouting goodbye to each other over your head, instead letting an easy smile cover your face.

You’d eventually made it to the doorframe before stepping back to open the door, Roy swooping in and picking Doris and her wheelchair up before moving past you. You got a good look at his arms as he did this, the muscles straining in them. 

Was this on purpose? After tonight, you weren’t quite sure.

He put Doris down on the driveway, going as far to wheel her to your car as you closed the door to Meredith’s house with a loud ‘goodbye’ that resulted in more salutations being screamed your way.

You met Roy as he walked back to the house, making eye contact with each other before he leaned in to whisper in your ear. You held your breath as you felt his exhales grazing your neck.

“You do have my number, right?” He slowly whispered and you then slowly deflated, realising you did not, in fact, have his phone number. 

You shook your head and he drew back, one of his eyebrows raised. You met his look with a guilty one, your shoulder beginning to bunch up near your head in a shrug. He just shook his head before holding his hand out.

You, albeit confusedly, placed your hand in his and he sighed before hitting it away. You brought your hand to your chest, holding it as though it burned, and he muttered “Phone” before you realised what he wanted.

Whoops.

You quickly reached into your pockets and dug out your phone. After unlocking it you gave it to Roy who quickly created a contact and put his number in, handing it back to you and watching as you registered the fact that you hadn’t known his last-name til that second.

Your eyebrows furrowed. Roy Kent. Where’d you heard that before?

“Your last name is Kent. I feel like I’ve heard that somewhere before, should I know you from somewhere?” You asked after a second and his eyebrows shot up, his jaw dropping. Dam, that’s probably the most emotion you’ve seen displayed on his face, even more than the smile he had earlier. You were winning tonight.

He blinked for a second, rearing his back before continuing to blink as though he was confused. He eventually shook his head and coughed.

“Uhm, no?” He said and you nodded. Oh well, must’ve been someone else.

“Oh. Well, I’ll text you about when I'm free.” You finally said and Roy nodded slowly before clearing his throat again.

“Yeah, sounds good.” He spoke in his low voice and you nodded, turned around, and began to load Doris in the car. Roy stood watching you as you made your way to the drivers side, hesitantly returning the wave you gave him which was strange.

As soon as you’d turned the street Doris had burst into laughter, but refused to tell you why.

bam bam bam baybee tell me if you liked it or not, gonna go post on ao3

[glxybld-mustdie]

That’s it I spent the last 10 minutes looking at stories and I gathered this informations:

1. GERARD. IS. SO. CUTE. he’s my girlfriend and I love him so much (@the-sun-personified sorry hun ily too but understand me on this)

2. MIKEY WAS ON STAGE WHILE FOB PLAYED AND HE WAS SCREAMING THNKS FR TH MMRS THAT SONG IS OBVIOUSLY ABOUT HIM

3. THANK YOU MEREDITH I REALLY NEEDED SOME ANDY CONTENT TODAY (also love the fob bracelet she has I’m gonna copy it so bad)

4. FRANKIEROPICSSS DESERVES AN AWARD I WANNA KISS THEM ON THE FOREHEAD FOR ALL THE FRANK CONTENT FROM THE FEST

5. FOB POSTED PICS AND THEYRE COOL GO CHECK YALL

6. THEY ALL LOOK SO HOT IM GONNA CRY MYSELF TO SLEEP TONIGHT THANK YOU

alright I think that’s it thank you for coming to my rant

[vigilskeep]

oh, anders sounds pretty angry when saying the irving line. it's one of those few that sounds esp kind of sincerely hurt, i suppose, you know, the same way he gets riled up in some of his dialogue where he drops the jokey demeanor fpr a moment. which is interesting in general considering how irving described to treat him in thedas info book, like asking the templars to go easier on the boy but then regretting going soft him. and all anders has to say in return is that he hated him, and means it

i think it makes sense to me that anders would genuinely hate irving and it also makes me want to eat drywall so here’s some thoughts on that

being a first enchanter is probably the most privileged position in a circle and it’s also the worst job you could ever have. you’re leader and advocate of the mages. to the templars, you’re the voice of opposition and discord. to the mages, you’re the guy who works closest to the templars, deciding to make compromises, agreeing to make certain mages tranquil, overseeing harrowings, and placating the rebellious. and if you don’t balance this, all those people under your care are going to die

in many ways, irving and greagoir are the intended ideal of a first enchanter and knight-commander. world of thedas vol2 says: “it is a surprise to many that irving often credits knight-commander greagoir for his success as first enchanter. [...] though their friendship was never entirely without conflict, mutual respect and understanding resulted in a working partnership rarely seen in the circle leadership.” (i consider the first part a veiled joke at greagoir’s expense but that’s my very specific irving characterisation lmao.) in the mage origin, irving and greagoir are constantly arguing, but the very fact that irving can do that on the regular while visibly appearing on a fairly even footing is a mark of the respect he holds. it’s a rlly different energy to, say, meredith and orsino’s arguments. likewise, greagoir’s trust in irving during broken circle is phenomenal: he straight up will not annul his demon-infested circle if his first enchanter says it’s alright.

so the trust irving holds with the templars saves the circle. it also makes kinloch hold one of the most lenient circles in southern thedas—yes, it’s still a circle, it’s horrible, but the freedoms that some of the senior enchanters have are insane. you do not win that kind of trust from the templars without concessions. you do not win it, for example, without being the kind of first enchanter who does things like lure apprentices into blood magic and then hand over anyone willing to try it to the templars. it doesn’t surprise me that every part of irving’s behaviour reads as treachery to anders, the guy who said, “i will not stand by and watch while you treat all mages as criminals while those who would lead us bow to their templar jailers!” (emphasis mine, directed at orsino during the last straw.) it’s not in anders’ nature to be particularly charitable to those who collaborate with the circle. the trust irving holds with greagoir puts them visibly on the same team

irving cared about anders. he “took pity on the tearful boy”, he was “endeared” by his friendliness and charm, he “looked upon anders with sympathy”. he told the templars to be kinder to him, and he even made efforts to arrange time outdoors for him and the other apprentices. he worries about anders after karl is taken to the gallows, telling him that even a first enchanter might no longer be able to protect him if he tries anything, implying he has been protecting him all this time, and overall it’s heavily heavily implied that if it hadn’t been for irving’s influence anders would be tranquil or dead. so where’s “i hated that bastard” coming from? because from anders’ perspective, i think even all this still reads like cowardice and treachery. when you’re twelve years old and crying and missing home and you get dragged to someone’s office after your escape attempt, it looks like they have all the power, and all irving ever did with it was cave to the templars to get his meagre little liberties and tell everyone there was no other way. i also don’t doubt that anders deeply resents the idea that he should have to be grateful to anyone for the above. grateful for the privilege of his life? for being allowed not to have his very emotions stolen from him? for a supervised day under the sun if he’s well-behaved? perhaps next he can write them all thank you letters for his hands, since they didn’t cut them off. maybe after that he can pay the rent he owes for the cell he was in solitary confinement in

to anders, i think even everything good irving managed to do for the mages under his care, they’re all placating measures, designed to keep them just comfortable enough in their cages not to break the bars. that’s not necessarily a kindness to the mages, not in the eyes of the guy who came to the conclusion that there can be no compromise, there can be no peace. i don’t think those thoughts are as ummm coherent during awakening—you’re getting them in the simplistic rebellious form of “i hated that bastard” for a reason, it reads like a leftover from a teenage grudge against a teacher (which it also is!), and oversll i think it’s more personal and complicated than all this political reading because irving was so much a part of his life—but they’re there. as a last point on real hatred from anders, i think it’s worth saying that irving was probably aware of and somewhat complicit in things like karl being transferred and anders’ solitary confinement, not to mention presiding over their harrowings and being involved in the making tranquil of surely many people that anders knew. like those are compromises irving made and was probably present for, regardless of whether you think he had any real choices

this is so long but i love thinking abt both characters so much. i’ll leave it there. as usual just thinking out loud, open to discussion etc

[cosmicanemoia]

Kiss and Romance

Amelia Shepherd x Reader

Love Me Till You Leave Me part 7

Even though you're the one who asked Amelia out on a date, it was Amelia's idea to have dinner on a fancy restaurant.

It wasn't your kind of date, though it wasn't your first time having a date in a fancy restaurant. Amelia just assumed this is your usual scene cause you have friends who are doctors. A father who's a high-ranking officer. An ex who was in Boston for a Catherine Fox Award Ceremony. Amelia can't be blamed. You were friends and surrounded by rich people.

During your date, you found out that Amelia have four blood siblings, and she is the youngest of them and two chosen sisters. She has a kid named Scout, whom she co-parent with Link and Owen. She had a brother who was a neurosurgeon who died because someone failed to do a CT scan or burr holes. Three sisters whose name you don't remember because she didn't talk about them with much enthusiasm as she did her brother. She talked about Meredith and Maggie, and you can tell how much she care about them because she talked about them with warmth and gentleness in her voice.

Amelia, on the other hand, found out that you only have one sister. And that you came from a Conservative and religious family, and that you're the black sheep. She thinks that's one thing you have in common except you're better than her, you don't think that, but she knows it. She also found out that you don't stay in the same place for a long time, meaning that you move around a lot. That made her frown a little to herself.

You're now about to have the dessert, but you excuse yourself for a minute and go to the bathroom, amelia followed seconds after without you knowing.

When you come out of the stalls after you pee, you see her washing her hands. You washed your hands too. Right after you dried them, Amelia stops in front of you, which stops you in your tracks. She leaned in to smell you. "You always smell so good. What is your secret?"It's just th--" she cuts you off before you finish your sentence saying, "No. Don't tell me." You chuckled and walked forward, causing Amelia's back to be pushed against the wall. You put your hands on the wall, trapping Amelia, then you lean down, your neck is right in front of her lips, you moved closer, the skin of your neck almost meets her lips. "Here, let me help you," you said. Amelia inhaled as deep as she could inhaling your scent that she had grown to love. Before she exhaled, you moved your face to face hers, so you could kiss her. The kiss is your dessert. You move your hand that was on the wall to cup her face, and you move your other hand down to her waist.

You both were so lost in the moment that no one noticed the phone had rang three times, but you were pulled out of the clouds by a loud banging in the door, someone yelling to hurry up. You pull out from the kiss, and Amelia tries to chase your lips, still wanting for more, but you put your forehead to hers, and you both laugh.

Amelia got another call. This time, she's able to answer it. She's needed in the hospital for an actual emergency this time. You tell her it's okay and give her a quick kiss and push her to go. "Take care, Ames. I had a really good time!" You shouted at her. She gives you a flying kiss and waves at you, shouting, "Me too! Smell you later!"

Amelia went right home after she tended to the emergency and fell asleep right away, with a smile on her face. You wake up later than usual, not because you were tired from last night but because you were so at peace and you were more comfortable than ever.

A couple of days later, you went knocking at Amelia's door. You know she's home because you asked your friend who happens to be her boss, when will she have free time.

"Who the hell is knocking at my door this early in the morning?" She shouted, but it was muffled by the door, so you didn't hear it clearly. When Amelia opened the door, you could see the frustration in her face, but it quickly went away when she realised it was you. "Ames. Good morning! Is this a bad time?" I can co-" "No. No, no. It's fine. What are you doing here? Is everything okay?" Amelia cuts you off. You replied, "Yes, everything is fine. I just want you to come with me. Like on a date, DATE. Since you took me to a fancy restaurant, it's only fair of me to take you somewhere." Amelia asked you to come in and wait for her while she gets ready.

Amelia doesn't have any idea where you're taking her. You don't too, you just got up and decided to take her out on a date.

Your first stop is in your favourite food track. You ordered your favourite food, and you asked Amelia what she wanted. Once you got your food you both sat down at the table, you make jokes, and make each other laugh out loud which turn the heads of some curious people, but you both didn't care if the others are annoyed by your laughter, and you only cared about making each other laugh.

When you finished eating, you rested for a while before heading off to your next destination.

You were aboard the ferry admiring the view. Amelia looks back at the city inhaling the smell of the sea. "What a beautiful view," she said. "So beautiful!" You said while looking at her who was still looking at the city from afar, when she turns to look at you, you turn to look at the waters and let out a small, contended smile.

Moments later. You asked if you could hug her, to which she agreed. Your arms are around her, holding her tightly, your chest pressed against the back of her head. The wind blowing your hair and the sun kissing your skin. It wasn't cold, it wasn't very warm, it was just right, it was cozy.

When the ferry ride was over, you took her hand and dragged her around just sightseeing. You called a taxi and ride till you get to the space needle. Once you get there, it was time for lunch. Once lunch was over and you both had rested, you asked for the check and paid the bill, leaving a generous tip.

You stand up from your seat and hold your hand out for Amelia to take and ask her, "may I have this dance?" Amelia took your hand, she nodded confused, then stood up and said,"But there's no music. " You reached down in your pocket, took your phone out, and your earpods. You walked to the observation deck. You put one of the earpods to her ear and one to yours. You slowed dance for hours.

Amelia felt as if all of her hurt and problems had melted away. She thought to herself that she would want to be at that moment forever, but all things passed, so she engraved this memory to her brain.

Both of your arms are now wrapped around each other, swaying your bodies back and forth. Amelia let out a contented sigh, then chuckles a little before she say "you sure know how to sweep a woman off of her feet." You give her a soft laugh and replied "only the best for the best woman" "I bet you say that to all the ladies" she said sarcastically "only to the woman whom I think deserves it." You replied, sarcasm present in your tone.

You spend the whole day with each other. Not just the day, you also spend the whole night with each other. ;)

[dr-futbol-blog]

Duet, Pt. 13

Next, we find McKay fiddling with some crystals back at the hangar wearing a robe over his hospital gown With Cadman no longer fighting him for control, his brain seems to function well enough to have solved the problem and he insists that they execute his plan immediately, without further trials. And it's notable that he is trying to act like Sheppard here, to trust his intuition and not think too much about what he's about to do and what all could go wrong. Sometimes, you just got to take the plunge. If Sheppard has learned to slow down and think things through from McKay, McKay has seen the benefits of spontaneity from having spent time with Sheppard.

As he makes himself ready to go through with it, we get to listen in on more (semi-)private conversation between McKay and Cadman:

Cadman: Rodney. McKay: Don't try to talk me out of this, I may very well listen. Cadman: I was just gonna say thanks. McKay: Well, you're welcome. I can honestly say that the entire experience has been very... About time!

Again we're left negative space here to fill in what ever we think McKay was about to say. Very educational? Very interesting? Or, if he were honest, very distressing? Very harrowing? Very torturous? Unique? What ever it has been, he sure is glad it's about to be over.

What ever he was about to say, he is interrupted by the arrival of Beckett, Weir and Sheppard, the latter of whom walks right up into his personal space. McKay tells them "About time!" meaning that he had expected them to come and may even have requested that they come because if this is going to be his final moment, he wants the people closest to him to be there. It is also possible he had simply expected Beckett to go and find Weir and Sheppard for the occasion. Regardless, Sheppard steps forward with his hand raised and he actually puts the hand between McKay and the machine, not intending to let him do anything rash. Sheppard references the mice, Rodney, the mice--and it's likely he is not referring to the burnt mice we saw him look at on screen but to the later test conducted by Zelenka, the very latest batch of dead mice, as Sheppard has definitely been keeping tabs on what has been happening in the hangar:

Sheppard: Hold on, Rodney! I thought all the mice died? McKay: Well, what are we, mice or men? Weir: Are you sure about this? McKay: Absolutely, yes.

This is probably the most important line in the entire episode, the key to how we are meant to interpret it. Mice or men, he says, jokingly. He's referring to the lab mice, obviously, just having quipped to Zelenka that he has no time for him to round up new mice for testing, but he is also making a reference. Now, the saying of whether one is "a man or a mouse," something or nothing, is very old but it's notable that McKay uses the plural form here, men or mice. Based on his name McKay has some Gaelic or Celtic ancestry (Scottish, Irish, Welsh) and given that (very likely) his father had given him the name Meredith, which we admittedly only learn about later, he was also probably proud of his roots. Hence, McKay had likely learned the poem of the national poet of Scotland, Robert Burns, To a Mouse already in his childhood. The poem is famous for the (translated) line(s), "The best-laid schemes of mice and men / go oft awry" or "The best-laid plans of mice and men / often go awry". But while he may well be familiar with the poem, as a reference it makes little sense in this particular moment since he is not expecting his schemes to go awry but is indeed wishing that this were not the case.

There are of course a whole bunch of places where McKay may have learned the phrase. In the form of of a question, "Are we mice or are we men?" it's found in a famous Dr. Seuss comic commenting on WW II and the isolationist politics of the US before entering the theatre. With regards to McKay in particular it's interesting that the phrase here pertains to courage. Mice are timid and man is courageous in the comparison. It is taking a jab at the perceived lack of courage which would work in the context but is still an unlikely point of reference for McKay.

It's also featured in the cartoon An American Tail from 1986 about a young mouse trying to find his way back to his family. While not impossible, it's an unlikely source for his reference as he would have been an odd age to be watching cartoons.

While it isn't found in the form of a question, the comparison of mice and men is most famous from the John Steinbeck novel Of Mice and Men, which is named after the poem. The novel is about love and sacrifice and of broken dreams, and famously contains a lot of homoerotic subtext. In fact, the two main characters George and Lennie have frequently been interpreted as lovers even though it is never explicitly stated in the text given it's publication in 1937. The book is something McKay may have read in school and even if he had never read a page of it, the title is known by most North American people, it is a shared cultural reference for McKay and Sheppard. While there is symbolism in the book, the comparison of mice and men in the title is rather self-explanatory. You are either a man or you are a mouse, and it is the choices one makes that defines this. And we see McKay in particular make the choice of not to be the mouse time and time again.

But what is really interesting is that the structure of the entire episode seems to hark back to the Steinbeck novel. We find the story beats of the narrative in the episode and given that it is a "duet," we find them there twice. Now, because Lennie is famously big and strong and kind of dangerous, it's especially easy to read Ronon as some kind of narrative mirror for him, particularly as he is not a "chatty fellow," as Weir points out. We have no reason to think that Ronon is a dumb, lumbering oaf of a man but he certainly is dangerous. Now, in the novel George tells Lennie what to do and that is basically what we find Sheppard doing the entire episode. He tells Ronon what to do and Ronon does it, and he also tries to contain Ronon's violence as he takes down a woman. Many of the story beats are there and it's also easy to see Sheppard as George, smarter than he looks.

But at the same time, Cadman tells McKay what to do throughout the episode, is in control of him and attempts to educate him in the ways of the world. And although neither Ronon nor McKay kill a woman, McKay also takes a woman down by dipping her, and he personally certainly seemed to want to turn her down. McKay and Katie talk before the incident where Ronon and Teyla have a chat after their incident, as the narratives run in reverse to one another with the mid-point roughly where Sheppard and McKay have a talk in the hallway during which McKay essentially calls Sheppard a man (cool) and himself a mouse (not cool, fine). Is it a stretch to interpret McKay as Lennie? Let me point out the fact that Sheppard very much does shoot McKay in the episode.

The description of George shooting Lennie is real interesting in this regard:

And George raised the gun and steadied it, and he brought the muzzle of it close to the back of Lennie’s head. The hand shook violently, but his face set and his hand steadied. He pulled the trigger. The crash of the shot rolled up the hills and rolled down again. Lennie jarred, and then settled slowly forward to the sand, and he lay without quivering.

Because Sheppard did very much shoot McKay at the beginning of the episode, steadying his gun and everything:

It's almost as if though they had taken that very famous description and translated it into an alien landscape with Lennie (containing McKay) as the dart. And this, along with their search parties in the forest, happens at the beginning of the episode because they are running the narrative of the book in reverse order. The book ends here where the episode begins, and this is true especially for Sheppard-George. For McKay-Lennie, the story starts with him and Cadman being driven out of town (the lab) and ends with him being shot and taken down by the wraith beam. For Sheppard-George, the story ends with Aunt Clara (Weir) making Ronon (Lennie) his responsibility. And this what makes it a duet. The same narrative, the plot of Of Mice and Men is told in the episode twice at the same time, from back to front and from front to back with (primary) George and (primary) Lennie meeting in the middle in a chiastic arrangement:

Why do it like this? There seems to be a lampshade on why to do it like this in the novel itself:

Lennie reached for a face card and studied it, then turned it upside down and studied it. "Both ends the same," he said. "George, why is it both end's the same?" "I don't know," said George. "That's jus' the way they make 'em."

Cadman is secondary George to McKay's Lennie and Ronon is secondary Lennie to Sheppard's George. McKay says "What are we, mice or men?" placing both himself and Sheppard in the context of the novel. While in the duet they have their own separate stories, it really is the same story. Sheppard is George and McKay is Lennie.

But why is this even important? As mentioned, there's a lot of subtext in the book. There's heavy subtext. Even though it is never explicitly mentioned, it is extremely easy to read George and Lennie as lovers:

George lay back on the sand and crossed his hands under his head, and Lennie imitated him, raising his head to see whether he were doing it right. "God, you’re a lot of trouble," said George. "I could get along so easy and so nice if I didn’t have you on my tail. I could live so easy and maybe have a girl." For a moment Lennie lay quiet, and then he said hopefully, "We gonna work on a ranch, George." "Awright. You got that. But we’re gonna sleep here because I got a reason."

The fact that it has subtext is however not the important part. It's the fact that the story pertains to unattainable, broken dreams and sacrifices done out of love. That is precisely where Sheppard and McKay are at this point in the narrative. We actually saw Sheppard's broken dreams in his eyes as he looked at a (possibly) newly wed couple of Weir's office earlier. We watch McKay live through his nightmare. We can tell that both men long for the other. They ache for each other.

Furthermore, the novel is about loneliness and human connection, and in this Sheppard and McKay definitely reflect the characters. They were both lonely and alone before they met each other and then suddenly, they weren't. The way George describes them in the book might just as well describe Sheppard and McKay:

George’s voice became deeper. He repeated his words rhythmically as though he had said them many times before. "Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don’t belong no place. They come to a ranch an’ work up a stake and then they go inta town and blow their stake, and the first thing you know they’re poundin’ their tail on some other ranch. They ain’t got nothing to look ahead to." Lennie was delighted. "That’s it - that’s it. Now tell how it is with us." George went on. "With us it ain’t like that. We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us. We don’t have to sit in no bar room blowin’ our jack jus’ because we got no place else to go. If them other guys gets in jail they can rot for all anybody gives a damn. But not us." Lennie broke in. "But not us! An’ why? Because… because I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you, and that’s why."

And that's why.

Now, we see Sheppard's face initially as he rushes in to remind McKay about the dead mice but after McKay says that he's going to go through with it regardless, we see close-up shots of the concerned faces of both Beckett and Weir, but once more we don't get to see Sheppard's face in this moment. And it's very noticeable that McKay himself is trying to avoid looking Sheppard in the eye the whole time that they are here.

And this is the same old story between the two of them: McKay does not want Sheppard to read the uncertainty and fear he is actually feeling in this moment right off of his face and he foolishly thinks that as long as he doesn't look at Sheppard, he won't know. But we don't get to see Sheppard's reaction because McKay is too afraid to look at Sheppard's reaction. He told Cadman not to try to talk him out of this earlier because he just might listen, and he knows that if he just saw his own fear reflected on Sheppard's face, he might not be able to go through with this. It's not that he doesn't want to look, it's that he can't.

Part of it is fear of what he might see in his eyes, or what he might not see in his eyes that he hopes would still be there. But part of it is also guilt. McKay had been hurt by Sheppard making the decision to take off to the hive alone and without him where he would have been perfectly willing to die with him. Dying with Sheppard was infinitely preferable to all the innumerable ways to die cold and alone that he foresees in his future. But now he was here, getting ready to do something potentially leading to his death where Sheppard wouldn't be able to join him. And while he was doing this partially in service of another (to save Cadman's life) he was also doing this to save his own hide, so this was not a selfless act by any means. He felt like a hypocrite, and he just wasn't ready to see that reflected in the way Sheppard would look at him. And furthermore, Cadman herself is one of the reasons we have seen McKay avoid looking directly at Sheppard during this whole ordeal. Cadman told him that she felt how nervous and anxious McKay was when he was talking with Katie Brown, and he's been trying to avoid her getting any kind of reading on him near Sheppard by simply not looking at the man at all when they are in proximity. It's really quite noticeable how much he avoids looking at Sheppard during these scenes.

But notice that here, Sheppard has placed himself between the wraith machine and McKay. He has once more put his own body between McKay and the danger. It is again, like so many times before, obscured by the camera angles, the way the shots are framed, but it's very much what is happening here, and it's probable that McKay does not even realize it's taking place. And yet Sheppard's instinct is to put himself between McKay and the barrel of a gun, in front of McKay so that he might take the bullet on his behalf. We see Sheppard do this again and again for McKay, and only for him. And it's not a conscious decision, he doesn't think when he does it. He does it because he does not know how to do otherwise. He shields McKay with his own body because he values him more than he does his own life. He protects McKay with his body because that is what love drives him to do. These men are not friends. Because despite what people seem to think, Sheppard does not have a death wish and we have also seen many times that he has not done this for his friends.

And yet, it meant a lot to McKay that he had come. Sheppard was here even though it probably wasn't easy for him. And he knew that there would be no goodbyes. There would never be goodbyes between the two of them. What ever followed the end of life, he was certain that they would catch each other on the other side. But as much as he tries to not look at Sheppard, he does have to see him however briefly. His eyes flicker to Sheppard just as he steps in front of the machine and that is all that he will allow himself. That minute moment that is gone in the blink of an eye. Sheppard, for his part, seems to have to hold himself back by his own hand gripping his hip. We have seen him hold himself back before and and it is this, holding himself back, that gives him such an odd pose. His free hand also seems to want to rise to reach out for McKay out of its own volition so he presses it against his thigh to keep it down. Because the thing is, McKay does not have to look him in the eye for him to be able to read everything off of his face. Sheppard can easily see the terror McKay is trying to keep at bay, and his instinct upon seeing this is very much to reach out to him.

Note that Sheppard's head also turns to follow McKay as he steps in front of the machine, comes to a halt and then suddenly continues on to look at Weir (again without turning his body toward her, only turning his head). The reasons for this can only be that he either felt like he couldn't or shouldn't be looking at McKay, or wanted confirmation from Weir that this was the right thing to do, that this is something they should allow McKay to do. He exchanges a glance with Weir, and let's remember that by this time Sheppard knows that Weir knows how he feels about McKay. Weir saw how devastated he was when he thought McKay had been killed. Weir had to talk him down from a metaphoric ledge then, and it is something Sheppard is ever thankful to her for. So he is looking at her for reassurance, to give him strength to be able to witness this. Standing helpless by the sideline, Sheppard is terrified and he is looking at her to keep himself grounded.

As for McKay, as freaked out as he is, he still takes the time to try to reassure Cadman, to make the experience less frightening for her. While he is often occupied by his own thoughts and is frequently tactless, McKay does care a lot about other people. He doesn't necessarily know how to express it, but he has a big heart and he tries to take care of the people in his life just like he probably had to take care of his little sister when they were children. And so, while he has no goodbyes for Cadman either, his final thoughts are not about himself and his own fear, they are in service of another:

McKay: Just ... give me a second. Well, Laura, it's been... unique. Cadman: To say the least! McKay: Good luck to us both, right?

Having no way of appreciating the depth of the sacrifice McKay is making here for her, stepping in front of the machine not knowing he will survive the experience and allowing himself to look at the man that he loves for barely the span of the flicker of an eye, Cadman decides she has something that she needs to try out before they go through with this. And man, it's a doozy.

Continued in Pt. 14

[jomiddlemarch]

That it alone is high fantastical

“Oh, Mother, you’ll never guess! You’ll never guess in century of guessing!” Rilla cried out, sounding so much as she had as a little girl, for a moment, Anne could convince herself the War had never happened and that somewhere in Rainbow Valley, Walter sat writing a crown of sonnets in his leather-bound journal, his face dappled by the light, back braced against the bole of a birch tree, his grey eyes unfocused as he searched for his next word.

There was still a white stone in the graveyard. Shirley was in Toronto, having refused (albeit politely) to return to Glen St. Mary, much to Susan’s dismay, and Jem walked with a pronounced limp, his uneven gait announcing him as much as Mary’s voice.

There was a mystery there, Jem and Mary Vance, but Anne couldn’t see any way through it and Gilbert, lying beside her in bed, both of them tired but sleepless, told her not to try. Jem had seemed less removed, less falsely cheerful lately, and had begun talking about the medical course again, perhaps a specialty in obstetrics, a hospital practice. As far away from men dying in battle as he can get, Gilbert had observed and Anne had recalled Joyce’s little face, white as a mayflower blossom, and held her tongue.

Rilla, remarkably, given her exuberant entrance, had done the same in the absence of Anne’s response. Miss Oliver had left Ingleside some weeks ago, so there was no one to suggest Rilla either elaborate or calm herself, as her likeness to a whistling copper tea-kettle was increasingly pronounced.

“If I’ll never guess, dear, you must tell me,” Anne said. It was a relief that Rilla could still be the young girl she ought to be, for all that she wore Ken Ford’s diamond ring on her finger and was capable of a brisk, warm matronliness when it came to raising Jims, now reserved for the writing of letters to his new British stepmother and clucking over the missives she received.

“Faith Meredith has eloped!”

Anne did admit to herself she would never have guessed that, because for all her imagination, she wouldn’t have guessed something impossible.

“But, Rilla, Jem is with your father today, doing the Lowbridge rounds. Susan and I packed a lunch with plenty of pie for Dad and some of that flapjack Jem took to after being in England,” Anne said. He’d been in hospital in England, recovering from the injuries he’d sustained at the Front, in the prison camp, during his escape, none of which was spoken of. Only flapjack and stewed tea and how no cook in England was a patch on Susan and that you may tie to, uttered with some semblance of his old roguish humor.

“I didn’t say she married Jem, Mother!” Rilla exclaimed. Her cheeks were pink and her eyes were bright. She had a look of Gilbert at his most delighted about him, an expression Anne remembered from their childhood. Anne opened her mouth to speak but Rilla interrupted.

“It’s Bertie Shakespeare Drew! Faith Meredith is Mrs. Bertie Shakespeare!” Rilla said.

If Anne hadn’t already been sitting down, she would have, suddenly and gracelessly. As it was, the shirt she’d been mending fell from her lap.

“That’s—why, Rilla, are you sure?”

“I heard it directly from Mary Vance,” Rilla said, lifting a hand to stop Anne from speaking. “And Miss Cornelia Bryant. You know Miss Cornelia has no taste for gossip. Miss Cornelia’d heard it from Mrs. Meredith—”

“Poor Rosemary,” Anne said, before she could stop herself.

“Why poor Rosemary? I suppose they thought Faith and Jem would make a go of it, at least, perhaps Reverend Meredith and Mrs. Meredith did, but the War’s done funny things to people and Faith and Jem, they just didn’t fit any longer,” Rilla said. Sometimes, Anne felt Rilla reminded her of someone she couldn’t name and realized her youngest daughter spoke with the wisdom Anne’s own mother might have had. Plenty of folks in the Glen would find such a thought eerie, but Anne was comforted, for all that she ought to be the one offering a thoughtful explanation rather than receiving it.

“I suppose I meant the surprise, an elopement—”

“They must not have wanted to wait. Or were afraid someone would try to talk them out of it. Bertie’s mother maybe,” Rilla said.

Rosemary or her father, Anne thought. Jem, if he’d been given the chance, perhaps. Perhaps not, if Rilla was correct.

“Bertie Shakespeare Drew,” Anne said. “I remember when he was born. He’s just Jem’s age.”

“He’s not much like you remember him, Mother. He’s all tall and stalwart now and they say he’s going in for engineering, that he learned quite a bit in France, found he had a talent for that sort of thing. And his ears don’t stick out quite so much anymore,” Rilla said.

“There’re more things on heav’n and earth,” Anne said, mangling the quote a bit, fairly certain Rilla would not correct her. “D’you suppose Faith calls him Bertie? Or his full name—it’s quite a mouthful.”

Queenly Faith Meredith, the undisputed beauty of Glen St. Mary, who had a sense of humor but also a sense of herself as beyond any teasing, now to be Mrs. Bertie Shakespeare Drew. Anne smiled to herself and thought how Mary Vance would find a way to make Jem grin over it all. She’s lucky to get him, Mary would say, reversing the order the Glen would have assumed, and Mary, canny and unexpectedly kind, would have the right of it, perhaps.

Susan would be quite outraged and the pastry of her next pie might suffer for it, but Gilbert had always taken an unchristian glee in Susan’s outrage and wouldn’t mind the pastry being a bit heavier. It was still the best piecrust on Prince Edward Island, now that Mrs. Rachel Lynde was no longer living to give Susan a run for her money.

“Miss Cornelia said Faith was heard to call him Will, when she spoke to her parents. It’s after Shakespeare of course, and because he was so determined they marry,” Rilla said. 

“And because Faith wanted to,” Anne said. She wasn’t sure if she meant the elopement or the name, but it was all of a piece.

“Miss Cornelia said they’d gone to New York for their honeymoon and she hoped Faith didn’t come back with a bunch of silly Yankee airs but Mary and I didn’t think that was likely,” Rilla said, sitting down beside Anne, picking up the shirt and starting to sew.

“She didn’t come back from England any different, after all,” Rilla said.

“Except that she didn’t marry your brother,” Anne replied.

“D’you know, Mother, even without the War, I don’t think they’d ever have gone through with it, Faith and Jem,” Rilla said. “It was, how shall I put it, like a childhood fairy tale, the honorable knight and the maiden fair, all sorts of adventures they had in Rainbow Valley. They were always going to grow up. We all were.”

Not Walter, Anne’s heart said. Not Joyce.

“I’m glad of Ken’s name, anyway. And don’t worry, I wouldn’t elope for anything. I want our families around us, as many as we can get, even if we have to wait. We’re rather good at that,” Rilla said. She’d finished the one shirt and picked up another. She peered at it, frowned. “I can’t think what Dad does to his clothes—”

“I’ve made up a thousand stories to try to explain that and I still don’t think I’ve figured it out,” Anne said. “Some things, my darling girl, are beyond explanation.”

This one's for @freyafrida because I didn't manage to squeeze Faith/Bertie Shakespeare into my Jem/Mary fic...

[catierambles]

Blood Moon Ch.25

The current coursing through his body burned away the last of the wolfsbane and the wolf burst out of his skin before he was even completely alert. He was immediately shoved out of wherever he had been and he looked around, seeing the people above him behind wire fencing, cheering and jeering, shouting wordlessly. Sy had been shifting almost every night since his first therapy session, so he was himself and not the beast as he looked around. It was a pit of some kind, a dirt floor rough against the pads of his feet.

Movement to his left caught his attention and he dodged as another wolf rushed him, snarling, the cheering getting louder. It swiped at him and he dodged again, moving around them, their moves easily telegraphed. They were smaller than he was, slimmer, their fur a russet brown instead of black like his. They were quick, though, and pain ripped through his chest as their claws connected, tearing open his skin, the volume of those watching increasing again.

His opponent relied on their speed, thinking his size made him slow. They tried to tackle him and he grabbed them, pulling them in and moving behind them, wrapping one arm around their throat and the other around the back of their head. They bucked against him, but he locked his legs around their ribs, bringing them both to the floor.

1...2...3...

It takes nine seconds to render someone unconscious from a chokehold.

4...5...6...

Them still struggling to get free would only hasten it, burning up what little oxygen was still getting to the brain.

7...8...

They went limp and he relaxed his hold, but didn’t let go. He knew the moment they were awake again after a few seconds, their body stiffening.

Stay still. He said, knowing they would hear them, pitching it so only they would. I don’t wanna hurt you. Play possum. A moment of hesitation where he thought they would resume the fight before they relaxed again, going limp. He let go, releasing them and leaving them on the floor. A sharp pain in his side had him looking down and he saw the dart sticking out of his skin. Sy barely had time to pull it out before everything went dark again.

Jack and Denise along with Mike and Jake sat in her living room, Pete and Brian having given them a rundown of what was happening. Jack had insisted that a police report be filed, but when Annalisa told them that Sy had been given to a werewolf fighting ring run by a vampire, he acquiesced. No one would believe them and it would be dismissed as ravings. Ethan was already in contact with the private investigator she had on retainer, digging up where they could have taken him. She hadn’t told Sy’s parents that the other woman in the house had helped Eugene, just that she was Merediths’ mother. They had been pleased to meet her and once Annalisa reassured them that everything was being done that could be at that time, they started trading stories of when Mike and Meredith were little, much to their embarrassment.

It helped keep their minds off of what was happening.

“Oh, we stayed in Paris until after the Civil War was over before joining Lady Caulfield here.” Sweeney said.

“How old were you when ya had’er?” Jack asked.

“I was Turned in 1840 when I was twenty-three, had Merry a couple years later.”

“Still a baby yourself.” Jack said and she shrugged.

“There were women at that time younger than I was who already had several children.” She said.

“A friend of mine still overseas let me know Eugene had fathered a child,” Annalisa said, “And I extended the offer for them to join the coven.”

“Lady Caulfield—Annie, I—about Eugene—”

“It’s the past, Elizabeth.” She said, “I’m over it and so should you be.”

“Were you and the fuckhead still together when he got Sweeney knocked up?” Jake asked.

“Heavens no.” Annalisa said, “I had dropped him decades ago by that point.”

“You said he rabbited, yeah?” Jack asked and she nodded. “Got a plan how to find’im?”

“Once Sy is back home and safe, I’ll put the word out. There are a few covens in the area that he might try to request asylum from, but I don’t think he will stay local. I already had contacts in the State Department and Homeland Security put a flag on all the passports under names I’ve known him to have. He tries to leave the country, I’ll know.”

“You got contacts in Homeland Security.” Brian said and she nodded. “Ethan said you got connections, didn’t think it went that high up.”

“When you’ve been around for as long as I have, you can see whose careers have potential in their chosen field.” She said, “I owe them both a bottle of top-shelf scotch and invitations to the wedding, but nothing I can’t handle.”

“You ask a lot of favors?” Pete asked.

“Goodness no.” She said with a snort, “I don’t take advantage of our friendships like that.”

“It’s why they have no problem helping her when she does ask.” Ethan said from his seat in a wing-back chair by the fireplace.

“Okay!” Meredith said suddenly and they all looked at her, “I have to bring up the elephant in the room.”

“Meredith.” Annalisa said.

“Annie, I have to.” She said, “Mike and I agreed that when he turns twenty-five, I’m going to Turn him.” She said it a rush and they blinked at her before Annalisa let out a huff of a laugh. Not the elephant she was worried about.

“So in a few months.” Denise said and she nodded.

“It’s how old I was when that part of my genetics kicked in and—well we wanted to be the same age, kind of, and—”

“So I have a few months before my baby is—”

“Mom, I’m still going to be me.” Mike said, “Just—like Sy said, something extra.”

“Do you have to?” Denise asked.

“Mike is my Tovaras.” Meredith said, “He’s literally my other half. If I didn’t and he died, so would I. Eventually.”

“And I want this.” Mike said, “Merry and I are forever, and I want to be with her forever, not just for my lifetime.”

“Forever is an eternity, but over in the blink of an eye.” Annalisa said and shrugged when they gave her a questioning look. “I was contemplating Turning Sy before I found out he was a wolf.”

“Annie.” Jack said and she looked at him, “I know you’re workin’ on gettin’im home, you ain’t sittin’ idle, but...how you dealin’ with this, sweetheart?”

“Breaking down won’t help anything.”

“I know that.” He said, “But you can’t keep it buried. We’re here for you, babe, you don’t gotta be strong for our sake.”

“I’m just....” She stopped, “I’m scared. I’m terrified that at any moment I’ll feel him die and I—I can’t—” Ethan moved to get up from his seat, but Jack beat him to it, crossing the room and pulling her out of the chair and into a hug.

“We’re your family, sweety.” He said, “You don’t gotta put on a brave face for us.”

“I’m terrified, but I’m also so. Fucking. Angry.” She said, returning his embrace. “I believed the shit that was shoveled. If Pete hadn’t told us about Sy’s dyslexia, I would have kept believing it. I wouldn’t have known what had happened, or that he was in trouble, or what Eugene had been doing to line his pockets. I’m furious, at Eugene and at myself.”

“You’ll get’im home.” Jack said, rubbing her back soothingly. “I’m learnin’ more about you every minute, so I know you’ll get’im home, and I know you’ll hold that asshole accountable.”

[drghostwrite]

Code Black

Pairing: Addison Montgomery x reader

Summary: Addison has a really bad day at work and comes home to reader for comfort. This is straight fluff with some angst I guess if you squint maybe.

TW: mental breakdown, miscarriage, abandonment.

******************************************************** “Rapid response all teams to emergency bay! Rapid response, all teams to emergency bay.” The loud speakers sounded. Bailey rushed towards the bay interns only steps behind trying to tie on yellow paper gowns. Outside she watched as four ambulances rolled in Hunt taking one, Kepner the other, she commanded interns left and right, Meredith came out with Callie close behind, with a shared look they each took a patient.

“24 year old female, involved in highway pile up, assessed on scene, mostly minor injuries but large head laceration and compound fracture of left leg.” One of the paramedics gave report to Bailey as she pulled her inside. She watched the girl trying to fight passing out but she watched as her eyes fluttered, she started the exam and saw the girl trying to whisper something, leaning in closer she understood.

“Someone page Dr. Montgomery, NOW!” She yelled to the other nurses and doctors standing around, watching them scramble.

baby, the girl whispered, my baby.

———pov change———

Addison pulled up the driveway to your shared house and saw the lights still on, pulling her from what she thought was just a bad dream. She walked inside and saw you were no where to be found, she set her things down and walked into the dinning room but you weren’t there, transitioning to the kitchen and yet you still weren’t there.

“Y/N” she called but no response, “Y/N, babe I’m home.” She called out and that’s when she heard it you were in the living room down the hall. She walked in and saw you typing away on your keyboard, probably dealing with another client or patient, you also worked at the hospital but you were a lawyer that dealt with physicians and patients on the docs behalf so it was no surprise to see you working late on your laptop, legs stretched out in your sweats with hair pulled up and your blue light glasses on, she chuckled when she saw her Yale sweatshirt that you wore and the focused look you had in your face . She kicked off her shoes and walked in she quickly slid onto the couch, where you had your legs outstretched, you felt the warmth and looked up being met by the gorgeous redhead.

“Hey babe I didn’t hear you come in.” You said kissing her lips and moving to set your laptop down, she didn’t say anything, she carefully laid down between your legs placing her head on your chest like a little kid wanting their mom. “Everything okay, rough day?”

You felt her nod against you and ran skilled fingers through her soft hair, she closed her eyes focusing on your heartbeat and before you knew it she was asleep. You smiled as you continued playing with her hair and you pulled the blanket down over the two of you, listening to the soft sighs she let out as she laid exhausted in front of you.

two hours later… you opened you eyes quickly as you heard your wife frantically call your name, you felt her still laying against our chest and wondered why she was calling but you quickly realized she was having a nightmare.

“Addi, baby, wake up…” you shook her slightly, “Addison, love wake up you’re safe.”

she jolted against you before realizing that you were still holding her, wrapping your arms tighter around her and running a hand soothingly up and down her back.

“You’re okay, you’re safe.” You repeated to her as she laid against you.

“Y/N”

“what is it?”

“I… I just… oh never mind, you wouldn’t understand.” She started to sit up.

“what, what do you mean?”

“nothing… it’s nothing, just forget about it.”

“Addison talk to me.”

“why so you can pretend it’s fine and carry on with life.”

“wh…what are you taking about.” You sat sideways looking at her but she wouldn’t meet your eyes.

“it’s nothing.” She squeezed her eyes closed and rubbed the wrinkles in between her eyebrows.

“baby, did something happen today?”

“yea something happened, a multi car pile up, I lost a mom and baby today…”

“Addison…”

“Stop cause you’re gonna tell me that it’s all okay and it’s not, the idiots that cause it walk away with scratches but my patient just trying to get by in life and have her baby dies how is that fair, tell me.”

“okay…”

“I’m sorry I just can’t do this, I can’t, today was a lot.”

“Addi… Love, look at me.” She looked at you and you saw the tiredness and stress in her eyes. “I can’t tell you it will all be okay and I can’t do much to prove it to you, you’re right it’s not fair… but you don’t have to deal with it alone.”

She looked at you relief seemed to seep into her features. You grabbed her hand and lifted yours showing off you ring and running your thumb over hers.

“do you see this?” She studdied the ring on your finger. “This right here isn’t just a pretty band with some diamonds, it’s a promise, a promise that I made the day I put this one on your finger,” you ran you thumb over hers again, “I not only made a promise to love and protect you but to help you along the way, I made a vow that I would walk through your darkest moments with you.” “Y/N, what did I do to deserve you?”

“Nothing, love, you deserve everything I can give to you and more.”

you leaned forward and pulled her in for a kiss resting your foreheads together, “I promise you that it will be okay and I will do everything in my power to make it that way, and I don't care what bigshots or corporations I have to take down while I'm at it.”

[training4theapocalypse]

A Nest of Vipers Ch5. (Cormac McLaggen x Original Female Character - Slytherin)

Rating: Explicit 18+

Word Count: 4.6K

Warnings / Tags: ANGST, Tragic romance

Summary: If her brother is brave enough to ask one of the Gryffindors to Slughorn's Christmas party, surely Una can work up the courage to do the same? Or has Sabine been right all along?

A/N: No smut in this chapter just some angst and everyone being cagey with their feelings lol. Also this diverges from the canon timeline just a little - Katie Bell isn’t cursed by the necklace until after Christmas.

Join my tag list: @countlambula, @ratsys, @aweidlich, @navs-bhat, @stainedpomegranatelips, @chiaraanatra, @xxvelvetxxxx, @ohnoitsrosie, @dracosisteer, @daisydark, @intense-sneezing, @lipstickandloveletters, @ichorai, @marmie-noir (let me know if you want removed at any point - if you're only interested in specific stories or even if you are finding this tag annoying 🖤)

Chapter 5: Suffocate

A winter chill was in the air as Una and Graham Montague walked up the steps to the owlery, their shoes crunching on frosty fallen leaves on the stone staircase. Una wrinkled her nose when Graham opened the door at the top of the tower and they were greeted with the stench of owl droppings and hay.

“I’ve been laying the groundwork and dropping some serious hints that I need a new broom for Christmas,” said Graham as he tied their letters to one of the school tawny owls who was sticking its leg out in a serious, professional sort of way.

“I can’t believe this is the first time you’ve written to them all term,” said Una. This was typical of Graham. He was their golden boy - what did it matter to their parents if he didn’t write for months? Their beloved Quidditch Captain son who could do no wrong. Una, on the other hand, had to constantly fight for their approval. 

She knew she should probably resent him for it, and yet…

“What am I going to write about? I’m not brilliant like you. I’ve not done anything worth writing about.”

There it was. Even if her parents didn’t give a damn, her little brother was always so proud of her. And he let her know it. She loved him more than anything. Although Sabine and Meredith were a close second. And, if she was being honest, third respectively.

“They’d love to hear from you, Graham. They’d want to know that your panic attacks have gotten much better lately.” Graham frowned and pretended to busy himself with the fastenings on the letters. “And Father would be really pleased that Slughorn invited you to his Christmas party after doing so well in Potions.”

“Oh, so you just send them a list of achievements every other week? Sure - that’s nothing to do with trying to get a good Christmas present.”

“Well,” smirked Una leaning against the window sill. “I’m not saying it doesn’t help.”

“Right, off you go then,” Graham told the owl who ruffled its feathers against the icy breeze, spread its wings and took flight across the Hogwarts grounds, carrying the siblings’ letters. They stood for a moment watching the silhouette of the owl disappearing into the sky across the lake.

“So, who are you going to the party with?” asked Una, looking up at him and thinking of his fellow Slytherin sixth years. As much as she didn’t like to think about her brother’s dating life, she would rather he wasn’t going out with someone who was a simpering pushover like Pansy Parkinson or a knucklehead like Millicent Bullstrode.

“Eh, I dunno…” He said, pushing a gloved hand back through his auburn hair. “I was thinking maybe Katie Bell?”

“What?” She knew that name from her lessons.

“She’s in the year above me.” He cleared his throat. 

Una blinked a few times as his hazel eyes, so similar to her own, refused to meet hers.

“Yeah, I know she is because that’s my year, you dolt. But she’s in Gryffindor.”

“Oh, don’t you start too. It’s a different house, not another planet.”

“Your friends giving you a hard time then?”

He snorted. “Like you wouldn’t believe.”

“And it doesn’t… bother you?”

“What? That she’s a Gryffindor?”

“No, that Draco and the others are giving you a hard time.”

“Yeah, well, what are they gonna do about it?” He drew himself up to his full height. He was tall - even taller than his friends Crabbe and Goyle - she supposed they were probably too intimidated by him to try and put a stop to it.

“Well… good for you,” said Una. 

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. I like that you don’t care what they think.”

“What about you?” he asked, pulling his scarf tighter against the cold air coming through the giant open windows.

“It’s fine by me, I don’t care who you go out with.” That wasn’t strictly true but it was better than him dating one of the Slytherin sixth years who were always sucking up to her, Sabine and Meredith.

“I meant who are you going with?”

“Oh.” Una and Blaise had already arranged to go with each other as friends. That way she could sneak off with McLaggen and he could attempt to get to know Ginny Weasley better, despite Una’s contempt for the latter. “Blaise.”

“What?!” His exclamation startled her slightly. “Una, you can’t go with Blaise.”

“Who are you to tell me who I can’t -”

“Not like that. Una, please. I’m begging you. Don’t go with Blaise.”

She was taken aback by this. Blaise was in Slytherin. By all accounts, he was a perfectly suitable match for her. “Why not?”

“Because he’s my mate. I mean, I can put up with them slagging me off for who I go out with but I don’t want to hear about Blaise with his hands all over my -” He pretended to retch. “I can’t have my sister going out with -” He retched again. “one of my friends.”

She frowned.

“Don’t give me that look. I mean…” He looked out the window again with a pained expression. “I suppose if you really like him, I could make peace with it. As long as y’know, you don’t start snogging each other in front of me.”

“It’s not that we like each other. It’s just that neither of us had anyone else to go with,” said Una carefully.

“Come off it.” Graham rolled his eyes and walked over to the owlery door. “I mean - they reign it in in front of me because they know I’d kill them - but I know from my mates that you’re not that ugly. I’m sure you’d have your choice of poor, unwitting souls. Like a dementor.”

“Oh ha-ha. It’s more of a quality problem than a quantity one - have you seen the trolls in our common room?”

“Well, maybe you should broaden your horizons. I’m not saying you have to go out with a Gryffindor but people in other houses exist, you know.”

Una sighed heavily as the owlery door shut behind her. She couldn’t believe she was taking dating advice from her brother - and what’s more, he was right. 

“What’s that sigh for?”

“I wish I could be like you. Sabine and Meredith would kill me if I went with someone from Gryffindor. The three of us have a reputation to protect.”

“What does a reputation mean, really? What other people think of you? Maybe they’re not good friends if they care more about what other people think than being happy.” They paused at the bottom of the stairs. “I’m serious, Una. Fuck them. Go out with who you like… As long as it’s not Blaise or Draco.” He paused for a moment and (as if to make sure he was covering all his bases) added. “Or Crabbe, Goyle or Theo.”

Una laughed but as they walked back to the castle she couldn’t help but think about how complicated this was becoming. Why couldn’t things just be simple? Surely she could just be honest with her friends and go with who she really liked.

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

Una, Sabine and Meredith sat in front of the fire in the Slytherin common room. The atmosphere was stiff like they were the only three mourners at a very poorly attended funeral. Una had to remind herself that they weren’t actually grieving, that she had simply broken the news she was going to Slughorn’s party with Cormac McLaggen. 

“I can’t believe you’d do this to my brother either,” Sabine sniped, breaking the silence. “Who’s he supposed to go with now?”

“The party is almost two weeks away. Blaise has plenty of time to find another date. Besides, Graham doesn’t want me to go with one of his friends.” 

“I think,” Sabine said coolly. “I think you should find somewhere else to sit.”

Una snorted in disbelief. “Sab, come on-” 

“Don’t ‘Sab’ me. I’m not having you cosying up with the Gryffindors all day and then coming crawling back to us. We stick together. The three of us. And only us.”

“You can’t be serious.” Sabine only raised a perfectly manicured eyebrow in response and continued to look into the fire, the light bouncing off her high, dark cheekbones as she stared stonily. “Doesn’t Meredith get a say?” Una scoffed and looked at Meredith who was attempting to make herself as small as she could in her leather armchair. “Well?”

“I agree with Sabine,” Meredith said quietly.

“Unbelievable.” Una stood up and her temper rose with it. “Are you really going to be that spineless, Meredith?” Meredith simply looked at her shoes. “And you,” she turned her glare to Sabine. “You only want me to go out with someone you can keep a close eye on.”

“I know what’s good for you.”

“What’s good for you, you mean. You’d rather the three of us were single than Meredith or I had a boyfriend before you.”

“You bitch,” hissed Sabine and Una knew she had touched a nerve. Sabine might have experience but Una knew her inside out. Sabine had never had a boyfriend for more than a few weeks. 

Cormac’s earlier teasing of Una swam to the forefront of her mind: ‘It was easy to pretend you didn’t exist since you have such a terrible personality’

If Una had a terrible personality, Sabine’s was diabolical.

Sabine pressed on. “It’s nothing to do with who I am or aren’t dating. You know for a fact that you going out with a Gryffindor ruins the whole dynamic.”

“The dynamic?” Una laughed so shrilly that Pansy Parkinson and her friends looked over from their seats at the window alcove. “What dynamic is that? The one where you’re in charge and Meredith and I go along with whatever you say?”

“No, the dynamic where we don’t have the same kind of power when one of us splits off from the group to chum up with those blundering idiots in Gryffindor.”

“Then don’t split us up. It’s you who’s making a big deal about me asking Cormac to some party!”

It was Sabine’s turn to laugh. “Wait, hold on a second. He hasn’t even asked you yet?”

“So? What does it matter if he hasn’t?”

“I saw him scowling at you in Snape’s lesson the other day when you asked about the Cruciatus Curse. He doesn’t even like you. Sure, maybe he’s trying to fuck you but there’s no way he actually wants to date you.”

It was a knife in Una’s stomach. Sabine knew Una just as well as Una knew her. She had an intimate knowledge of Una’s deepest insecurities and her attempt to wound her was working.

“Well, maybe I don’t care if that’s what he wants.”

Sabine laughed again and it stung like venom in the wound. “As if. You’re going to catch feelings.”

“You really think I’m that easily manipulated?”

“Actually I do, Una. Because without us, what are you? A goody-two-shoes virgin and a loser.”

Una knew arguing back was only giving Sabine more ammunition but she couldn’t help it. The smug smirk on Sabine’s face told her that Sabine knew just how deeply she’d cut her. “He doesn’t care who my friends are. He likes me.”

“He likes the idea of fucking you. Wait until he finds out you’ve got as much experience as a twelve-year-old.”

Una could feel tears welling in her eyes and she was furious with her own emotions for betraying her. She wanted to tell them that actually, she did have experience. And that Cormac didn’t even mind when she didn’t. “He’s not like that.”

“They’re all like that,” Sabine said seriously. She held out her pinky finger. Their special signal. “Last chance, Una.” When she looked at Una her expression softened. “I just worry about you.”

Una looked at the pinky finger extended in front of her but didn’t link it. “You’re wrong.”

“I don’t want you to prove me right. Don’t ask him.”

“Why not?”

Una gave Meredith one last pleading look but Meredith just shook her head.

“If you make a fool of yourself it looks bad for all of us.”

Sabine pressed her pinky right into Una’s breastbone. 

“I’m not a fool. And you’re a bad friend if you don’t want me to be happy.”

“You’d be happier without getting involved with him,” said Sabine. “I swear, Una. You’re setting yourself up to get hurt.”

Una thought hard. Thought about when Cormac told her he wanted to bend her over and fuck her like the mean little bully she was. Thought about the way he was as keen as she was to keep it a secret.

She barely knew him. He barely knew her. And maybe Sabine was right - what he did know he didn’t seem to like. Even if he did want to fuck her.

And asking him to Slughorn’s Christmas party would probably end in rejection and hurt.

She looked down at the pinky pressed into her sternum and locked her own around it. Sabine squeezed it with satisfaction.

“You’re right. I - I don’t know what I was thinking.”

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

As the Gryffindor Quidditch Team made their way back to the common room, Cormac McLaggen and Katie Bell lingered at the back of the group with their brooms slung over their shoulders.

“What a waste of time,” he groaned. 

“Cheer up. You’re still technically on the team,” said Katie.

“Technically, yes. But in actuality that means spending a perfectly good Saturday afternoon sitting on the sidelines watching Weasley make an arse of himself.” Cormac grumbled as he adjusted his broom. He was in a bad mood and what was worse was that he still hadn’t found a date for Slughorn’s Party.

He knew why he was putting it off and resented himself for it. He had sort of hoped that after spending the evening in the Prefects’ bathroom with Una a few weeks ago that maybe - just maybe - she’d have a change of heart about not wanting to be seen with him anywhere.

But that wasn’t looking likely.

For the past couple of weeks, their only contact had consisted of sitting too closely in Transfiguration when they could get away with it and discreet brushes of their fingers when they passed in the corridor. Just last week he had dared to squeeze a handful of her backside as he walked by her in the Great Hall which she had met with a scathing look and the tiniest jerk of her head towards Sabine and Meredith. 

Then, he hadn’t expected his heart to sink the way it did when she’d told him casually in Transfiguration that she was going to Slughorn’s with Blaise Zabini. Cormac thought they were well suited - both Slytherins, slight and statuesque. He felt like a lumbering giant when he walked past Blaise the next day.

He needed a date. And fast.

“Katie, you don’t fancy going to Slughorn’s Party with me, do you?”

Katie stopped in her tracks. “What?”

“Just as friends, I mean.”

“Thank God,” she laughed and they resumed their ascent of the moving staircase.

“Alright, don’t sound too relieved or anything.”

“You know what I mean.”

“No, I do. I just thought that since you’re not going you might -“

“I am too going,” said Katie defensively.

“What? You’re going to Slughorn’s?” asked Cormac. “You never told me that.”

“I don’t tell you everything,” Katie said. “But yeah, I’m going with the Slytherin Quidditch Captain. Graham.”

Cormac furrowed his brow. “Wait -”

“Una Montague’s brother,” she reminded him.

“What? Why’d you say it like that? I barely know her.”

It was easy to forget Graham and Una were siblings. They were different, that was for sure. Graham was taller, broader and with much hairier arms than Una - not that Cormac was complaining that they didn’t share those traits. 

Katie looked at him blankly. “Because you mentioned you sit next to her Transfiguration?”

“Oh. Yeah. Right.” 

“He’s kind of sweet, actually,” said Katie quickly. “Not as bad as the rest.”

His memory was jogged by this. “Hold on, didn’t he grab your head instead of the quaffle during a match once?”

To Cormac’s surprise, Katie gave him a girlish smile that he’d never seen before. “That’s what he said when he asked me to Slughorn’s Party. He said he wanted to make it up to me. ‘Baubles’,” she added, pushing through the portrait of the Fat Lady and stepping over the threshold of the common room.

“I dunno, Katie. Carmichael warned me about him,” he said.

“What’s going on?” said Katie. “First you’re getting defensive when I mentioned Una and now you’re telling me Carmichael is warning you about her brother. Why?”

“Nothing’s going on,” Cormac insisted, thinking about Una’s scalding look when he tried to touch her when she was near the other Vipers. She’d be furious if he told anyone about them. So furious, she probably wouldn’t want to have sex with him - and he was determined to at least do that again, even if they weren’t going to the party together.

“Are you into her?”

“No, Katie. I just sit next to her in one class.” He did trust Katie but he was becoming extremely conscious of the fact they were having this conversation in the busy common room where anyone could overhear.

“Is this why you haven’t asked anyone to Slughorn’s? Are you trying to work up the courage to ask her or something?”

“No. And she’s going with Zabini anyway.”

“Sabine?”

“Blaise.”

“Hmm… you seem to know an awful lot about who she’s going with for someone who isn’t interested.”

“It just came up in Transfiguration.”

“How did it come up?”

He dragged his hand down his face in exasperation. Katie could be so infuriatingly tenacious. “It just did. Let it go.”

“So you’re not going alone in the hopes she ditches Blaise for you?”

“No! I just asked you didn’t I?”

“As a friend.”

“Yeah, because Slughorn’s Christmas party is only two days away and I still don’t have anyone to go with.”

“Cormac?” said a voice from behind them. Katie and Cormac whipped around to see Hermione Granger standing with a book under her arm. “Sorry, I couldn’t help overhearing. Did you say you were looking for a date for Slughorn’s party?”

Now, this was interesting. Hermione was pretty, he supposed, even if she did look slightly stressed out and frazzled right now. But she had never shown the slightest interest in him before, in fact, it was quite the opposite when he had made eyes at her during Slug Club.

“Yes,” said Cormac with relief. He was proving Katie wrong before her eyes. “Are you? Do you want to go together?”

Hermione nodded. He wondered if this would make Una jealous. Hermione was, after all, a shoo-in to be Una’s successor as Head Girl. And she had gone to the Yule Ball with Viktor Krum - that had to mean something, right?

“You mean like, as a date though, right? Not as friends?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Oh, I would love to go with you as a date, Cormac,” she replied very loudly, looking over his shoulder at the rest of the Quidditch team heading to their dormitories and tucking her bushy hair behind her ear.

“Excellent,” said Cormac, clapping Hermione on the shoulder and walking backwards towards the boys’ dormitory. “You’ll wear something hot though, right?”

“Cormac!” said Katie, aghast.

“What?” asked Cormac. He was thinking about how Una would mock him if he turned up with a date who clearly didn’t look like she’d made any effort to be there with him. But judging from Katie’s horrified expression, he’d said the wrong thing. “I just meant, y’know, at the Yule Ball - you looked great. I’m looking forward to seeing you dressed up again.”

“Ignore him,” said Katie, rolling her eyes as Hermione looked offended. Cormac shrugged and turned to go upstairs.

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

In the last Transfiguration lesson before the end of term, Professor McGonagall seemed to have let her hair down slightly and had allowed the seventh-years to spend their lesson practising whatever they wanted. And so, Cormac continued his attempts to silently master the Avis spell while Una sat in front of a mirror, transfiguring her eyebrows into different colours.

“You know, I might keep them like this for Slughorn’s party tomorrow night,” said Una, admiring her emerald green eyebrows in the mirror. “They match my dress.” 

Cormac turned in his seat to face her as she smirked at him expectantly.

“Blaise would love that, I’m sure.” 

“He won’t care.”

“Nice to know he’s not superficial. That’s a good quality to have in a boyfriend.”

Una snorted. “What are you on about?”

“Well… you’ve barely spoken to me since you told me you were going to Slughorn’s with Blaise.”

“That’s not -” Una hesitated before continuing. “That’s not why I haven’t been speaking to you. Sabine and Meredith are sort of… on my case.”

“They’ve always been on your case.”

“More than usual.” Una held up her mirror to her face and pointed her wand at her eyebrows. Cormac had a feeling she was hiding her face so she wouldn’t need to look at him. “I told them I was thinking about asking you.”

“You - you did? What did they say?”

“Oh they were really supportive,” said Una sarcastically, as they both watched her eyebrows resume their usual colour. “Asked if you had any friends for them too - do you think Carmichael would be interested?”

Cormac put down his wand. “What did they really say?”

“It didn’t go down well. But -” Una pursed her lips thoughtfully. “- does it matter what they think?”

“To me? No.”

“Should we, then? Go together, I mean? I know it’s only tomorrow but Blaise won’t care. We’re just going as friends.”

Friends? Shit. 

“Una, I can’t. I’ve said I’d go with someone else - I can’t ditch her the day before.”

“Who?”

“Hermione Granger,” he said and Una scoffed. “What’s wrong with that?”

“Well, you were trying to hit on her at the dinner party a couple of weeks ago, so, what, you’re dating her?”

“How was I supposed to know you were going with Blaise as friends?”

She looked at him incredulously. “I thought that was the plan? We’d find someone else to go with and we’d sneak off somewhere together later?”

“We can still do that,” he said, feeling a little desperate now his plan was backfiring.

“Cormac, I’m not…” She sighed. “I’m not gonna be some bit on the side for you while you’re actively dating. You can’t have it both ways.”

That was exceptionally unfair. “Me? Una, I’m doing this at your request. You want to keep it a secret. You want to go to the party with someone else. It’s you who can’t have it both ways.”

He was expecting a venomous argument but she just looked disappointed. Which was worse.

“You’re right. I’m sorry.”

He certainly hadn’t expected her to apologise. He felt his defences drop.

“Come on, Unes. I’m not dating her. I was scrambling for a last-second date and she overheard. That’s all it is.”

“And what’s this?” asked Una. “Like… between us?”

“What do you want it to be?” He tilted his head. “Una, I like you a lot but if you’re that worried about Sabine and Meredith, we can keep it a secret. I don’t care.”

“You like me? You never told me that.”

“Didn’t I?”

“No. You said you didn’t dislike me.”

“That’s the same thing.”

“Even though Carmichael says I’m evil?”

Cormac grinned. “Well, you are evil. I’m just into it.” He didn't really think Una was evil. A little mean with a twisted sense of humour, sure, but she had a soft side that most people didn't realise existed. He couldn't ever imagine her purposefully harming someone.

She laughed at this for a second then her expression shifted slightly. “And you don’t care that I’ve got about as much experience as a twelve-year-old?”

“Well, that’s not true anymore, is it?” He shrugged his shoulders. “And it’s great, actually. It’s the one thing I’m better at than you.”

“Shut up,” she said, although she looked relieved. It was oddly adorable. Usually so quick-witted and sneering, it was nice when she let him peer behind the curtain and see that she had real, human emotions.

“You’re gonna need a lot of practice to catch up,” he said with a cocky grin, and he was glad when she hit his shoulder because he knew it meant she wasn’t upset with him anymore.

The bell rang and Cormac and Una filed out of the class behind the others. 

“I’ll see you tomorrow then?” he asked and she nodded. Then Una did something she’d never done before. She stood on her tiptoes in the busy corridor and kissed his cheek.

“See you later,” Una said and off she went, giving him a quick smile over her shoulder before disappearing through a hidden passageway behind a tapestry.

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

After Arithmancy, Una went along the second-floor corridor to the nearest bathroom. It was cold and dank in here - she knew why Filch avoided cleaning this one. She looked at her reflection in the streaky mirror as she dried her hands. She too usually steered clear of this bathroom if she could because - 

“I know something you don’t know,” sang Moaning Myrtle, rising from the air above the stall behind her. Una glanced her out of the corner of her eye in the mirror as she pulled out her lipgloss.

“Oh, I’m sure there are plenty of things I don’t know, Myrtle. How to scare away every boy in school, for instance?”

“Funny you should say that… Did you know that boy you’re seeing is taking someone else to the Christmas party?”

“Oh, no,” said Una mockingly applying her lipgloss. “What a terrible shock.”

“I heard Hermione Granger and Ginny Weasley talking all about it in here.”

“Did you now?” said Una, feigning disinterest as she pouted at herself and fixed her hair.

“Yes, although she’s not looking forward to it. He sounds awful. I can see why you’re both interested in each other.”

Una smirked at her own reflection. Good. She was glad Hermione wasn’t particularly keen on their date.

Myrtle continued. “I overheard them talking about what a chauvinist he is. Apparently, he told her to wear something sexy to the party. Can you believe it?”

Una’s smirk faltered as the pit of her stomach dropped. She tried to recover quickly by pressing her lips together but from the gleeful expression on Myrtle’s face, she’d seen it. Myrtle floated over to sit on the sink next to her but Una kept her eyes firmly on her own reflection.

“Said he was really looking forward to seeing her all dressed up. Gosh, he must really like her.”

Una carefully put her lipgloss back in her bag. So much for ‘only asking Hermione because she overheard’. So Cormac McLaggen was a liar - plain and simple. And Sabine was right. By putting herself out there and telling him how she felt, she had only set herself up to get hurt.

“Is that why you told me not to tell anyone? Are you sleeping with someone else’s boyfriend?” asked Myrtle in a would-be innocent voice.

Una pulled out her wand and pointed it at Myrtle’s throat. “Langlock!” she spat and watched Myrle’s eyes bulge as her tongue rolled back down her throat. “Engorgio!”

Myrtle clutched her throat as her tongue swelled up.

“Now, if you were alive, you’d suffocate,” whispered Una, watching Myrtle’s ghostly face turn less and less opaque. Her neck bulged as her tongue continued to grow. “But what happens if a dead person chokes on their own tongue, I wonder?”

Una didn’t bother to find out. She turned around and strode out of the bathroom, her heels clicking across the wet stone floor as Myrle gagged behind her. 

Chapter 6: Slughorn's Party

[miraluking-respectfully]

what she says: i'm fine

what she means: it's Iesei. it's fucking IESEI, i-e-s-e-i, YAY-say, it isn't LEI-sei, with an L. i know this because all killik hive names are palindromes and they all start and end with vowels, the SAME vowel, this is extremely consistent through the entire game and also supplemental material. except in this ONE instance. and i know it isn't an exception, because the captioning for that cutscene spells it right; but both Vanessa Marshall AND Ifan Meredith get it wrong, so that means they either both read that uppercase "I" as a lowercase "L" or else one or both of them asked and whoever directed them during those recording sessions gave them the wrong answer. it drives me fucking insane because HOW did nobody CATCH this, THE HIVES ARE ALL PALINDROMES, WHO FUCKING PERMITTED TH

[cynicalone94]

Fanfiction Master List

Hey guys,

I've been a whump fan since I was a kid. My primary mode of expression is through writing fanfiction.

Most of my work is in the Chicago PD fandom with Jay Halstead as my number one target. I also write fiction here and there for Marvel, Brooklyn 99, and 9-1-1 Lone Star.

Chicago PD

I Don't Have Any Beneficiaries Anyway

Alternate Ending to 2x03 Weigh Station. When Jay fails to get the upper hand and is traded for Alex Price, the team scrambles to find him before its too late.

Just Another Day

Jay gets hurt during a raid. So just another day for the Intelligence Unit.

Rather Take a Bullet Than Get a Flu Shot

Friendly teasing goes too far. And just why does Jay hate needles so much?

Cost of Doing Business

A trip to Med to meet his brother for lunch becomes more dangerous than Jay had anticipated.

He's My Brother

Will knows about the death of Roy Walton and the cover up and he's not happy with his brother's new wife.

Living Donation

With his daughter's life on the line, a rich businessman makes a risky decision. But did he make the right choice?

Your Boy Tough

An annual taser recertification course brings up bad memories for Jay.

In The Wind

In a dense forest, sometimes even ten feet is too far.

I'd Rather Stay At Work

Jay actually admits he's sick. It doesn't go well.

Imbalance of Power

Sometimes the easiest way to make someone talk is to give them the upper hand.

Sacrifices

How do you judge whether a sacrifice is "worth it"?

Where He Should Be Safe

A sixteen part series of Jay having a bad time in places where he should be able to feel safe.

The Past Has a Price

When someone from Jay's past returns to take Will hostage, will the brothers make it out of this one alive?

Guilty Until Proven Innocent

Tag to 2x20 The Number of Rats. Gregory Yates becomes aware that Will Halstead is being questioned and sees an opportunity to shift the blame. **Update 11/19 Tags and warnings have been updated to include rape/noncon elements. It's kind of implied with the Tag to 2x20 but better safe than sorry. There's nothing explicit in this story but it is mentioned.

Upstead One Shots

A series of oneshots featuring Upstead and their beautiful family.

Up-Hill

Tag to my story In The Name of Justice. They might not be on the best terms but when Jay has a panic attack, Will can still find a way to bring him home. Pre-series.

Repaid in Kind

Tag to 9x13 Still Water. After Dylan was arrested, they thought all that was left to combat was Hailey's guilt over not saving Lisa. Turns out there was more.

Tripwire

Pre-series story from Jay's days in Afghanistan. Tag to Guilty Until Proven Innocent. How did Jay recognize the sound of the tripwire in time to dive out of the way?

What's Your Verdict?

The final day in court to wrap up a case that Intelligence has invested so much in takes a surprising turn. Hailey is put in a difficult position and every choice that she makes can only hurt her husband more.

Witness Tampering

The mundane lead up to a trial suddenly becomes a race against time when Hailey's husband is kidnapped to keep her from testifying. Will they find Jay in time? Or will a dangerous criminal evade justice yet again?

Chrysalis

An on the job injury changes Jay's life forever and he struggles to navigate the aftermath.

I Don't Know Me

Jay (at least that's what she said his name was) wakes up after a serious head injury with no memory of who he is or what happened to him. He's relieved when a woman shows up, telling him his name and claiming to be his wife. Finally, someone to fill in the blanks and answer some questions. Only… something about Meredith doesn't seem quite right and he isn't sure he can trust her. But what other choice does he have?

Friends in Strange Places

Jay is taken hostage by drug dealers when a sting goes sideways. But when they find out that his name isn't Ryan Clarke things take an interesting turn.

Missed Opportunities

Have you ever watched an episode of Chicago PD and been disappointed that Jay wasn't more seriously hurt? Well then you're a monster but you're also in the right place because so am I. Alternate episode endings focused on the idea of increasing Jay Halstead Whump.

Childhood Secrets

When Jay learns that the man who molested him as a child is out of prison and that two of the man's other victims have been brutally raped and murdered since his release, he's pretty sure it's not a coincidence. But will he survive long enough to prove it?

Missing PTSD Moments

Missing moments from the show where the events taking place really should have triggered Jay's PTSD. Starting with the ambush from the opening of Forty-Caliber Bread Crumb.

Stigma

When a minor on the job injury opens a can of worms, how will the team handle the revelation that one of their own has been trapped in an abusive relationship? And that another member of the team isn't the person they thought she was. NOTE: This story might be difficult for Erin Lindsey lovers. Please know that I do not hate her, nor do I think she was abusive to Jay, she just fits with the plot that I've come up with.

9-1-1 Lone Star

Burner Phone

Someone from TK's past arrives in Austin to make amends. But is everything as it seems?

Making Him Jealous

When Sadie Beck escapes from prison, she finds another crazy way to get the relationship with Owen that she thinks fate has promised her, making him jealous. Will Carlos survive her latest strategy?

Miscellaneous

Thanksgiving - Brooklyn 99

Jake gets hurt when he and Amy's fathers are fighting, adding injury to insult. Tag to "Two Turkeys"

First Impressions - Marvel

Bruce Banner gets to meet Tony's new intern.

[msommers]

3, 11, 24, 28, and 42 for riya, ellana and meredith!

MUAH!! a smooch directly on the nose tyty // random dnd questions

3) How would your PC describe themselves?

RIYA — depends on the day. some days you'll get the “bewitching and stunningly bold, with a lovely dash of dazzling intelligence beneath the charm. and, dare i say, the most alluring and sultry mage the grey wardens have ever had the pleasure of recruiting” ego response that's incredibly hammed up for humor, and recently we’ve unlocked the chance to receive a vibe of “i am the most pathetic Clairmont to ever walk Thedas. let the fucking demons take me next time.” because she's at her wit’s end, dramatic as all hell, and incapable of finding an in-between. 

ELLANA — i’ve come to the conclusion she’s one of those ridiculously humble girlies. it’s ridiculous because you can look at a list of all the insane deeds she’s done with the inquisition and then she’ll say shit like “oh, i’m just a woman doing her best to encourage peace and unity along my given path.” and it’s like ok. shut your mouth and acknowledge the miracle-worthy things you’ve accomplished while still maintaining your gentle spirit or else i’ll slap you.

MEREDITH — during the origins era she’s the type to try and stick to the obvious basics and then derail into soapboxing just a little bit. you know, like state her name and titles > list her efforts and accomplishments > define her current goals > start spiraling into “and i have been vilified by the loathsome usurpers attempting to take control of our kingdom. they slaughtered their way into stealing my birthright and then treat the people of Ferelden like cattle to slaughter or trade on a whim, and i wILL NOT ALLOW TH-” [insert 10 minute righteous rant that maybe only half the people in the room wanted]. did she describe any part of her personality? nope, but you can sure as hell figure it out through that 15 minute speech.

11) How does your PC show affection?

RIYA — as brashly as she approaches everything else tbh, girly has no shame. a lot of it is through blatant flirtation because that often makes people feel good from the attention and compliments, which is usually her goal through expressing affection. after that it’s mostly physical touch, though it’s in her favored displays rather than asking/adjusting to what others like (she’ll change if they talk to her about it but the default is w/e she vibes with), ie: kisses to cheeks, linking arms while walking or standing beside someone, leaning into/against them while sat together, taking their hands and squeezing them (idly giving them a kiss to the back of the hand if they’re fairly close), etc etc. tbh she’s open to just giving a full-on kiss if the person she’s giving affection to is on the same wavelength as her with it not having to be a romantic thing lmao. also!!! gift giving. that’s a pretty prominent one from the rich girl.

ELLANA — her bread and butter is affection through physical touch. every way it can be done?? it’s on her roster. unlike the slut wizard above, Ellana pays close attention to how people want to receive the touch and adjusts accordingly. she’s also big on acts of service to show people how she cares deeply enough for them that she notes things she can do for them to bring them happiness or simply lighten their workload. gift giving but it’s flowers 90% of the time, hope you enjoy floral scents. if she has the time then she likes to bake for people 🥰

MEREDITH — casual and gentle touches, ie: touching their cheek or elbow, briefly clasping hands, hand to their lower back to guide them somewhere, etc etc. likes to give personalized gifts that vary in size and effort, but always display that she's thinking about the person and cares (her go-tos are arranging for their favorite dish(es) to be served in a personal meal, and gifting them whatever they'd last mentioned wanting/needing), they usually come with a little parchment card that has a message written in her hand. with those she's closest to, giving hugs is a favorite. 

24) If your PC found a book that detailed their whole life, from birth to whatever death they’ll have, would they read it and why?

RIYA — she could probably get out a joke or two about reading the book if it had sections dedicated to her sexual endeavors or favorite social events she’s attended, but she'd be far too scared to actually open the thing. the thought of seeing what else she's gonna have to go through in the blight and then how she'll die is terrifying enough, but there's also the potential she reads that she dies like a week later and she'd simply rather not know that, thanks. she's going to fry the book with a lighting bolt now actually. 

ELLANA — torn on this one, but i'm leaning towards yes. she develops a bit of an irrational obsession with the idea that she'll be in historical accounts and spirals thinking about the details that they'll forget or likely erase, so i think she'd probably be drawn towards looking at anything that claims to detail her actions. i also think Ellana would have the opposite instinct of Riya and would want to know of her death so that she'd be aware of how much time she has left to do her work. 

MEREDITH — she'd overthink the pros and cons of it for so long that whatever friend she has nearby will just take the thing and toss it into the nearest fireplace to end her suffering lmao

28) When your PCs want comfort, what do they seek out?

it's the way you've made me realize that i haven't truly considered what Ellana OR Meredith find comfort in. i'm a failure of an oc mother. for them all i'm gonna rule out just going to partners because that's a given. 

RIYA — it was Bastian for several years due to how close they always were, and she still finds herself searching for him on first instinct tbh. she had a specific person for so long that she now defaults to seeking out people for comfort, usually the nearest friendly face(s) that she believes can bring her support or a well-needed distraction. if the platonic solutions fail, she's just gonna go find somebody to fuck and pray that works 🤷‍♀️

ELLANA — i’m thinking that she tries to search for the familiar, which in her case would be things related to the dalish. wrapping a blanket made by her mother around her shoulders, reciting proverbs from her keeper and hahren, baking/cooking herself something they'd always have during travels, etc etc. helps to reconnect her to the roots that she constantly worries she's being torn too far away from. she also seeks out the company of loved ones and friends, sometimes that's enough to help. 

MEREDITH — the ideal would be a nice fire to sit by with a cozy blanket, her mabari, and one of her embroidery projects. it all helps tremendously to calm her and the time spent on something that requires her attention to do properly aids in resetting her focus, the comfort found in relaxing her mind and body. i think comfort from others isn't something she instinctively searches for, but she's fortunately filled her circle with many folk who do the engaging for her and they provide comfort through their support and care. 

42) Who is your PC’s favorite NPC(s) and why?

RIYA — setting my own bias aside and not counting her family members bc that's too easy,,,,probably Lucin. she loves that he matches her energy without hesitation, shares and indulges her finding comfort in material things, and that he shows so much respect for boss lady Satine (smth smth reminds her of the men she's been surrounded by her whole life, feels familiar having that respects-women-wholeheartedly vibe around). top reason he's the fave tho comes from their conversation way back in session 4 where Lucin confirmed that he genuinely believes in the heroism of the wardens and that there's good to be found in them, because that's the exact kind of influence Riya needs in these early warden days as she's struggling with every aspect of her new life. she's losing it with each day that he's not there to influence her but that's probably fine, whatevs. (honorary mentions: leroux, babette. i miss you babes i'm incredibly biased in my love for you idgaf) 

ELLANA — banning inner circle options bc too easy: Briala! Ellana’s a little obsessed with her tbh. the woman is so brave and remarkably intelligent, and Ellana greatly appreciates how direct she can be amongst the droves of people who hide their intentions behind deception or an excessive amount of honeyed words. they also share the familiarity with bearing the weight of countless people relying on them and could have some helpful chats about it. it goes without saying that Ellana’s admiration and respect for Briala’s efforts to aiding the elves is boundless and she swears herself as an ally, promising her aid in whatever capacity is allowed.

MEREDITH — it’s been too long since i did a fully playthrough of the game but i think i recall Teagan being up there on her list of faves. he was outspoken against Loghain which immediately made him bestie material, he’s practical and brave, and dedicated his all to protecting redcliffe during its hour of need which is something that little miss “this kingdom is in my blood and i was born to protect it” admired greatly. there’s also smth to the idea that she’d probably already know him from attending landsmeets and other nobility gatherings, but clearly meeting in the middle of a civil war and growing blight did a lot more for their bonding lmao. i remember thinking that she’d likely turn to him rather than his brother as an aide after taking the throne, so i’ll just trust that old vibe check. maybe i’ll actually return to my replay soon but who knows (honorary mentions: nathaniel, sigrun. i did not expect how much she'd admire the two of them while replaying the dlc last month, they really snuck up on my ass)

[centrally-unplanned]

I recently re-read Lost at Sea, the first truly-published work of Bryan Lee O’Malley (author of Scott Pilgrim), which is one of my favourite short-form comics. It's a re-read inspired by all my FLCL work; I commented before about the ways in which our main girl Raleigh is a distaff-Mamimi. I definitely still see it; she is what I am now referring to as a “Sadamoto Poet Girl”, those people who express their feelings in waves of metaphors they never truly clarify:

It helps that Raleigh is a teenager; it makes sure that any risk she might have of becoming pretentious is buried by how pathetically lost she is. She also may not be rocking any of the emo drip of the time but she has full depression vibes where it counts:

That mask you're wearing is bleeding black from overuse, frikkin hardcore Raleigh. This is definitely a teen angst book but I am highlighting the peaks here, a bunch of its silly chatter with her new roadtrip friends. She isn’t haughtily looking down on a world she knows is useless; she just has no clue, yet, how to make it useful. A key trait for the Sadamoto Poet Girl; their ambiguity of expression is how they cope with the ambiguity of how to relate to their own existence.

Which I think is what makes them work, both for me and in general; the actual ‘plot’ of Lost at Sea is that Raleigh has just meet up with her online older boyfriend for the first time, it went amazingly, and then he (probably) broke up with her and she has no clue how to deal. That is very concrete, and could be very basic - but by making the entirety of Raleigh’s emotional spectrum abstract and confused, the singular plot event becomes a drop in the ocean of her generalized ennui. This is a short story, and to make an impact it needs to be efficient in its expression. Abstraction is, ironically, very good at that; with no singular concrete meaning an abstract idea can hold a dozen simultaneously. Raleigh feels very real in a few short pages due to how much ground her in-her-head narration covers, without it being didactic.

Beyond being a proto-Mamami, though, what I was struck by was how similar she is to another Ash-favourite: Mara from Perfect Tides, a visual novel by webcomic artist turned game developer Meredith Gran (that, coincidentally, Bryan Lee O’Malley playtested as they are comic-artist friends). To start, how terminally online Raleigh is did not sink in for me the first time reading this, which is Mara’s defining trait in Perfect Tides; it's not as big in Lost at Sea, but her estrangement from her physical reality due to the superiority of the virtual is readily apparent. There are these two scenes in both stories that hit directly on that beat (“this place” being their writing forum in PT):

They share other traits too - both of them, being women online in the 2000’s, are fiction writers, and being fiction writing alt girls they both live incredibly in their own heads. I have talked already about how Raleigh does that; Mara has this great way of having an idealized version of *everything* that could be that she constantly holds reality up to. There is this moment in PT where Mara smokes a cigarette for the first time, and is shocked to find it is not an effortless habit:

The author in her playthrough cackles during this scene, and describes it as “some real foreshadowing”, and it absolutely is - Mara can never glimpse reality cleanly because her abstractions about reality constantly interfere. Raleigh is more self-aware, but equally cursed by her own hallucinations.

They also just cannot handle the few moments they break through their walls of awkwardness and socially “succeed”:

Mara hilariously abandons the entirety of her emo identity and thinks she has finally Found Her Tribe until the next time some inanity triggers her spiraling self-doubt, while Raleigh is mature enough to know it's not gonna last; but they both experience the same assault from the idea of social acceptance. They are both downstream of their anxieties, if that makes sense - they build castles of rationalizations in their heads in order to defend against the emotions that beset them from elsewhere. Its why the “poet girl” vibes work - they are (generally desperate) attempts at self-understanding as much as self-expression.

I enjoy typologies, and all of this is me saying that within these characters I see a type, and I see causal linkages to the context of said type. The way a girl in the 2000’s would build an identity out of forum posts and metaphors, because society ~sucks~ but she can build an alternative online, in writing, in her head, a place for the alts and weirdos. But the very limitations that attracted those weirdos in the first place also snap back to prevent that new world from being a full substitute. Reality always wins. That identity exists today, for sure, but there is something of the time and place, of the era, that cohered this identity with a specificity I see in stories (or even people) that capture it. It's structural, and the structure has changed. In things like FLCL I see it, but you see the differences too - how the structures of Japan & the US (and Canada, Raleigh represent) intersect and how they don’t. My kind of gap moe, I guess.

Though, side note: something Raleigh and Mara do not share is that Raleigh, typical for an alt-indie 2000’s teen girl protagonist, is effortlessly pretty:

I will credit the comic, ‘effortlessly’ is overselling it - another of the petty normalities that breaks through her emo shell is how she has favorite dresses and brought them to look hot for her boyfriend. Still, the 2000’s era reeks through here; audiences wanted hot leads, even indie audiences. Mara meanwhile is a full 2020’s girl in her squat, pallid normality; the relatability privileged over the aspirational. Her story may take place in the year 2000, but it's still written for today.

[lichniche]

Necromancer Tournament

i got sick so im extending the submission period! the 15th is the new deadline!

to reiterate, here are the rules:

im not gonna define necromancy, if youre not sure if somebody qualifies submit em anyway and i will either decide or if im unfamiliar or unsure too we will hold a prelim poll

submit as many people as you want but only submit each person once

real people allowed lmao ?? but i hold veto power

no ocs (sorry)

submit to the ask box! one per ask preferable!

PLEASE INCLUDE THE NAME OF THE MEDIA THEY ARE FROM

all polls will be tagged #necromancy tournament and #tournament poll and all non-poll but still tournament relevant stuff will be tagged #tournament stuff

all polls will run for one week

NOW

here are the current submissions!

anyone in orange has been submitted by multiple people

anyone not in the no category or the maybe category is guaranteed a spot unless someone raises an objection, the orange highlighting is just informative

if you are familiar with the source material and want to dispute any of these please do. if you have an opinion on anyone in the maybe column and whether they deserve to be included please share

Magic the Gathering:

Liliana Vess

Gisa Cecani

Lim-Dûl

Ratadrabik

Elder Scrolls:

Vastarie (Elder Scrolls Online)

Mannimarco (Elder Scrolls Online)

The Untamed / MDZS

Wei Wuxian

Xue Yang

The Bible:

Jesus Christ

The Witch of Endor

Dungeons & Dragons

Acererak

Azalin Rex

Vecna

World of Warcraft:

Arthas Menethil

Kel'Thuzad

The Adventure Zone

Barry Bluejeans

Lup

Abhorsen

Chlorr of the Mask

Sabriel

Guild Wars

Zhaitan

Trahearne

Palawa Joko

Marjory Delaqua

Skulduggery PLeasant

Solomon Wreath

Lord Vile

Misc:

Henry (Fire Emblem Awakening

Ned (Pushing Daisies)

Aesop Carl (Identity V)

Xykon (The Order of the Stick)

Rasputin (real life/Don Bluth Cartoon)

Edward and Alphonse Elric (Fullmetal Alchemist)

Dorian Pavus (Dragon Age)

Nico di Angelo (Percy Jackson)

Suzie Costello (Torchwood)

Herbert West (Reanimator)

Lewis Bernavelt (The House With A Clock In Its Walls)

Neferpitou (Hunter x Hunter)

Roger de Camden (Vampire: The Masquerade)

Joshua (The World Ends with You)

Pisces Jealnet (The Wandering Inn webnovel)

Malistaire Drake (Wizard101)

Mary (Trash of the Count's Family)

Delilah Briarwood (Critical Role)

Shang Tsung (Mortal Kombat)

Kotaro Tatsumi (Zombieland Saga)

Licorice Cookie (Cookie Run)

Wasp (Archivist Wasp)

Soren Baltimore (Camp Here & There podcast)

Wendell and Wild (Wendell & Wild)

Orochimaru (Naruto)

Amors (Death and the Maiden webcomic)

The Lich (Adventure Time)

Zanbar Bone (Fighting Fantasy)

Snap & Jacks (Snapdragon graphic novel by Kat Leyh)

Santa Claus (Puppet History ? real life ? its unclear)

Watcher (DeadEndia) (comics)

Ty Blackthorn (Shadowhunters)

Dr Hix (Discworld)

Maybe:

Steven Universe

Rose Quartz (Steven Universe)

Maya Fey (Ace Attorney)

Victor Frankenstein (Frankenstein)

Sauron (Lord of the Rings)

Takuto Maruki (Persona 5 Royal)

Claudia (The Dragon Prince)

Bart Simpson (The Simpsons)

Norman (Paranorman)

The Marionette (fnaf)

Merrin Meredith (Septimus Heap)

Uni (Katekyo Hitman Reborn)

Bermuda von Veckenschtein (Katekyo Hitman Reborn)

No:

The Doctor (Doctor Who)

The Master (Doctor Who)

Harry Dresden (The Dresden Files) (decided by vote)

The Locked Tomb:

Harrowhark Nonagesimus

Palamedes Sextus

Coronabeth Tridentarius*****

Ianthe Tridentarius

John Gaius

if you are familiar with the source material and want to dispute any of these please do. if you have an opinion on anyone in the maybe column and whether they deserve to be included please share

here are my personal submissions (with duplicates included- if a submission is orange it was submitted by multiple of YOU, i did not take my own list into account)

Johannes Cabal (Johannes Cabal: The Necromancer)

Grimora, Scrybe of the Dead (Inscryption)

Militsa Gnosis (Skulduggery Pleasant)

Lord Vile (Skulduggery Pleasant)

Samhain Corvus LaCroix (Hold Me Closer, Necromancer)

Dorian Pavus (Dragon Age)

Henry (Fire Emblem Awakening)

The Necromancer (West of Loathing)

Novice Necromancer (Skyrim)

Xenia of the Autumn (Lovestruck: Reigning Passions)

Sabriel (Abhorson)

[ynscrazylife]

WHO I WRITE FOR

* will be continuously updated

— 9-1-1

Athena Grant, Bobby Nash, Eddie Diaz, Evan Buckley, Henrietta Wilson, Howie Han, Maddie Buckley, May Grant

— Bridgerton

Anthony Bridgerton, Benedict Bridgerton, Bridgerton Family, Colin Bridgerton, Cressida Cowper, Eloise Bridgerton, Francesca Bridgerton, Simon Basset

— DC/Arrowverse

Alex Danvers, Bruce Wayne, Clark Kent, Kara Danvers, Lena Luthor, Selina Kyle

— Call of Duty

Alejandro Vargas, Alex Keller, Farah Karim, John Price, Johnny MacTavrish, Kate Laswell, Kyle Garrick, Simon Riley

— Criminal Minds

Aaron Hotchner, David Rossi, Derek Morgan, Elle Greenaway, Emily Prentiss, Jennifer Jareau, Luke Alvez, Matt Simmons, Penelope Garcia, Spencer Reid, Will LaMontagne

— Game of Thrones/HOTD

Aemond Targaryen, Alicent Hightower, Brienne of Tarth, Cersei Lannister, Criston Cole, Daemond Targaryen, Harwin Strong, Helaena Targaryen, Jamie Lannister, Jon Snow, Margaery Tyrell, Rhaenyra Targaryen, Robb Stark, Sansa Stark, Theon Greyjoy

— Grey’s Anatomy/Station 19

Addison Montgomery, Alex Karev, Amelia Shepherd, Andrew DeLuca, Andy Herrera, April Kepner, Atticus Lincoln, Arizona Robbins, Ben Warren, Callie Torres, Carina DeLuca, Dean Miller, Derek Shepherd, Izzie Stevens, Jack Gibson, Jackson Avery, Jo Wilson, Lexie Grey, Lucas Ripley, Mark Sloan, Maya Bishop, Meredith Grey, Monica Beltran, Nathan Riggs, Owen Hunt, Teddy Altman, Victoria Hughes

— Harry Potter

Bill Weasley, Cedric Diggory, Fleur Delacour, Ginny Weasley, James Potter, Lily Evans, Marlene McKinnon, Nymphadora Tonks, Remus Lupin, Sirius Black

— Marvel/Spiderverse

Agatha Harkness, Bruce Banner, Bucky Barnes, Bobbi Morse, Carol Danvers, Clint Barton, Gamora, Kate Bishop, Loki, Maria Hill, Mary Jane Watson, Melina Vostokoff, Miguel O’Hara, Monica Rambeau, Natasha Romanoff, Peter B. Parker, Peter Parker (AG), Peter Parker (TH), Peter Quill, Pietro Maximoff, Sam Wilson, Scott Lang, Sharon Carter, Spider-Noir, Stephen Strange, Steve Rogers, Sylvie, Thena, Thor, Tony Stark, Wanda Maximoff, Yelena Belova

— Star Wars

Anakin Skywalker, Han Solo, Leia Organa, Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Padmè Amidala, Poe Dameron, Rey

— Stranger Things

Eddie Munson, Chrissy Cunningham, Jonathan Byers, Nancy Wheeler, Robin Buckley, Steve Harrington

— Superntural

Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester

— The Bear

Carmy Berzatto, Natalie Berzatto, Richie Jerimovich

— The Hunger Games

Cinna, Effie Trinket, Finnick Odair, Gale Hawthorne, Haymitch Abernathy, Johanna Mason, Katinss Everdeen, Peeta Mellark

— The Rookie

Angela Lopez, Aaron Thorsen, Bailey Nune, Jackson West, John Nolan, Lucy Chen, Nyla Harper, Tim Bradford, Wesley Evers

— The Vampire Diaries

Caroline Forbes, Damon Salvatore, Elijah Mikaelson, Enzo St. John, Hayley Marshall, Klaus Mikaelson, Kol Mikaelson, Rebekah Mikaelson, Stefan Salvatore, Tyler Lockwood

— Top Gun

Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw, Jake “Hangman” Seresin, Natasha “Phoenix” Trace, Nick “Goose” Bradshaw, Penny Benjamin, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell