#thank you jame for hard carrying this project!

[bts-trans]

Namjoon consistently analyzes the world around him and interprets his experiences through lyrics for the world to connect and theorise within their own lives 🤓 To celebrate his birthday, the team shares their interpretations of RM's words as if they are Namjooning through a museum of his discoveries 🖼

#HappyNamjoonDay #HappyBirthdayRM #OurRightPlaceRM #OurHeavenRM #LostInNamjoon

[mischiefinbloom]

Heyy could you do a Regulus Black x fem reader? Maybe a sunshine and grumpy dynamic? I’m in love with your writing

hi, lovely! thank youu for the request! you're making me blusshhh 🤗🤗 hope you enjoy it! ᡣ𐭩

୧ ‧₊˚ little miss sunshine

₊⊹ summary: at hogwarts, you and regulus black struggle with unspoken feelings, while your brother james watches closely. as emotions and fears collide, will you both find a way to face the shadows of the past and the uncertainty of the future?

₊⊹ pairing: regulus black x reader, no use of y/n

₊⊹ warnings: reader is james's sister, regulus is a little coward who struggles to confront his own feelings, and overprotective james (and sirius). i think that's it!

₊⊹ author's note: i HATE that tumblr doesn't let me use my cute dividers because of photo limits!! ugh, improve, tumblr!

hogwarts was especially cold that november afternoon. the winds seemed to cut through the castle's stone walls, carrying with them a sense of urgency no one could quite explain. you were walking through the corridors of the third floor, your steps echoing in harmony with your distracted thoughts. the dim light of the torches cast dancing shadows on the walls, but for you, it was just another ordinary afternoon in a place that, despite its magic, no longer seemed so mysterious.

it was when you turned a corner that you saw him up close for the first time. regulus black, leaning against the stone wall as if he were carrying the weight of the entire world on his shoulders. his impeccable posture, the perfectly tailored slytherin uniform, and that distant gaze... he looked like a painting, but not the warm or inviting kind. regulus had the kind of beauty that intimidated, the kind of presence that made anyone hesitate before saying something.

but you weren’t just anyone.

when you saw him there, with an expression as lost as it was impenetrable, you felt an almost natural urge to break that silence. that’s when you noticed he was holding a piece of parchment in his hands, his fingers tense, as if he was on the verge of crumpling it completely.

"need help?” you asked, your voice gentle but clear enough to make it hard for him to ignore.

he lifted his eyes slowly, as though weighing every word he might say. “no.” the response was short, almost rude, but there was something in his tone that didn’t quite match the disdain he seemed to want to project.

you could have walked away, could have simply continued on your way and left regulus with his problems, but there was something about him that sparked your curiosity. not because he was a black, nor because he was james’s best friend’s younger brother, but because, no matter how hard he tried to appear untouchable, regulus black seemed deeply human.

“alright,” you replied with a slight smile, not insisting but also not hiding the calmness you carried with you. "if you ever need anything, just let me know!"

there were no more words between you in that moment. regulus stayed where he was, and you continued on your way. but somehow, that brief encounter seemed to plant a seed that only time could reveal.

it was only the next morning that coincidence—or perhaps destiny, as poets might say—decided to cross your paths again. ending charms class, professor flitwick announced that regulus black would need a tutor. his performance, though acceptable in some areas, was below expectations in advanced spellwork. and to your surprise, yours was the name the professor called for the task.

“you have the patience and talent to help, miss potter,” he said, his voice gentle but firm. “and I believe mr. black could learn a lot from you.”

regulus didn’t say a word. he merely maintained his impassive expression as you nodded.

ᯓᡣ𐭩

the first meetings between you were, to say the least, tense. regulus seemed determined not to make anything easy. he answered your questions with monosyllables, avoided looking directly at you, and rarely stayed longer than necessary.

"you know, if you actually paid attention, you'd improve quicker," you commented once, trying to break the uncomfortable silence as he attempted to execute a basic transfiguration spell.

he didn’t reply immediately. his eyes were fixed on his wand, his jaw clenched. when he finally spoke, his voice came out low and controlled. "I don’t need your help for this."

you just smiled, used to the walls he tried to build around himself. "then why are you here?"

he didn’t answer.

ᯓᡣ𐭩

as the weeks passed, something began to shift. though regulus still maintained his facade of indifference, you noticed small cracks in his armor. he no longer complained as much when he made mistakes and, occasionally, allowed his frustration to show instead of hiding behind silence. in an especially memorable moment, he let out an almost imperceptible 'thank you' after you corrected his posture during a complicated spell.

it was like watching a puzzle slowly come together, piece by piece.

but for regulus, it was more complicated than it seemed. he was used to distrusting everyone, to seeing kindness as a means to an end. but you... you were different. there were no ulterior motives in your gestures, no hidden judgments in your words. and that unsettled him.

ᯓᡣ𐭩

the days at hogwarts were always hectic, but you knew you couldn’t escape your older brother’s relentless curiosity for long. james had a particular talent for noticing any change in you, even when it was something you weren’t entirely sure how to put into words. that afternoon, while you were reviewing your notes in the gryffindor common room, he approached with the subtlety of a mountain troll.

"you’ve been spending a lot of time outside the tower lately." the statement wasn’t exactly a question but an invitation for explanations. james sank into the armchair beside you, his eyes gleaming with a mix of concern and mischief only he could muster.

"can’t I study in peace now?" you retorted, trying to hide your smile.

"study?" he raised his eyebrows dramatically. "I know it’s not that. lily mentioned you’ve been spending a lot of time in the library. and you know who else has been there?" he paused for dramatic effect. "regulus black."

the name lingered in the air like a spark about to ignite a fire. you didn’t lift your eyes from the parchment, but you felt james’s piercing gaze.

"professor flitwick asked me to help him with charms, james," you finally responded, keeping your tone calm. "that’s all."

"that’s all?" he repeated, leaning forward as if hoping to extract some hidden truth. "I can’t believe you’re actually wasting your time on him. he’s a black. you know what that means, don’t you?"

you raised your eyes to meet his, and there was something steady in your gaze that made james hesitate for a moment. "I know very well who he is, james. but maybe you don’t."

he frowned, clearly uncomfortable with the idea that you might be defending regulus. "what’s that supposed to mean?"

"it means you can’t judge someone just by their last name, even if that someone is your best friend’s brother or part of a family that’s done terrible things. regulus isn’t perfect, but neither is anyone else. he’s... more complicated than he seems."

james was silent for a moment, the words weighing heavier than usual. finally, he sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. "I just don’t want you to get hurt."

you smiled softly, touching his arm. "I know. but trust me, james. I know what I’m doing."

despite the confident tone in your voice, you knew that trust was still something you were building—for yourself as much as for james. because, even as you tried to see past regulus’s barriers, you weren’t entirely sure if he would ever let you through them.

ᯓᡣ𐭩

the next morning, you walked through the halls of hogwarts with a stack of books balanced in your arms, feeling the weight not just of the paper, but of a thought you couldn’t shake: regulus black. no matter how much you tried to convince yourself he was just a student struggling with charms, there was something about him that made you want to know more. it wasn’t just curiosity; it was a persistent feeling that he carried something he’d never shared with anyone.

when you arrived at the library, there he was, sitting at the same table as always, his expression alternating between focus and frustration. regulus had a habit of running his fingers through his hair when he was irritated, and at that moment, he looked like he was on the verge of pulling it all out.

you approached quietly, placing the books on the table. he looked up, clearly surprised by your arrival, but quickly returned to his guarded posture.

"I brought some things that might help," you said with a light smile, motioning to the books.

"you didn’t have to go through the trouble," he replied, his voice low and slightly rough.

"I wanted to. and frankly, it looks like you need it," you countered, pulling out a chair beside him.

he didn’t respond immediately, just watched as you opened one of the books and started flipping through it. there was something unsettling about the way you seemed so comfortable sitting beside him, as if the walls he’d built around himself meant nothing to you.

"have you always been like this?" he asked suddenly, his voice almost a whisper.

you looked up, confused. "like what?"

"so... persistent."

the comment caught him off guard as much as it did you. he quickly averted his gaze, as though regretting having said something so personal.

"I don’t know if it’s persistence," you replied after a moment, with a calm smile. "but I think I like to believe no one is impossible to reach."

he let out a dry, humorless laugh. "then you believe wrong."

"I don’t think so." you tilted your head, trying to catch his gaze. "you might be reserved, regulus, but that doesn’t mean you’re impossible to understand."

for a moment, he was silent, as if processing your words. then he turned his attention back to the open book, his shoulders tense.

"if you’re so determined to understand me, you might want to reconsider. it’s not always worth it."

"that’s something I get to decide," you said gently, but your determination was unmistakable.

ᯓᡣ𐭩

the nights at hogwarts often invited quiet reflection, but the gryffindor common room rarely adhered to that rule. on that particular evening, you sat near the hearth, reviewing notes while james and sirius engaged in a game of wizard’s chess, their concentration so intense that the pieces almost seemed to sweat with the effort.

“so, how’s it going with the little black?” sirius asked suddenly, his eyes never straying from the board.

james sighed heavily, crossing his arms. “don’t start, sirius.”

“what?” sirius responded, raising his hands in mock innocence. “I just find it curious that my adorable little sister is spending so much time with regulus, of all people.”

“he’s not as bad as you two make him out to be,” you replied, not looking up from your parchment.

james shot you a wary look. “he’s a black. that’s all you need to know.”

“you know that’s not fair,” you said, finally meeting his gaze. “sirius is a black, and look where he is now. regulus is different. he just... didn’t get the same chance to choose.”

“maybe he doesn’t want to choose,” james retorted, though his voice lacked its usual conviction.

“or maybe he’s waiting for someone to show him that it’s possible,” you responded calmly.

sirius let out a soft laugh, but there was no humor in it. “good luck with that. regulus has always been good at pretending he doesn’t need anyone.”

“maybe he needs someone more than he lets on,” you said, returning to your notes, though your thoughts were far from them.

james and sirius continued their banter, but your mind was elsewhere, lingering on regulus—the way he kept everyone at arm's length, how he seemed so adept at hiding his true feelings. you didn’t know why it mattered to you so much, but you were certain you wouldn’t give up.

ᯓᡣ𐭩

the days that followed brought small but noticeable progress. regulus remained his usual guarded self, but there was a shift in his demeanor, as though he was slowly becoming accustomed to your presence. perhaps it was the way you never faltered in the face of his cold indifference, or how you remained determined to treat him with kindness despite his sharp responses.

on a particularly overcast afternoon, you found regulus in the library, as you often did. he was hunched over a parchment, his quill moving with meticulous care, as though he were trying to will the ink into perfection.

“hey, regulus,” you greeted, setting your own books down on the table and taking a seat beside him.

he didn’t answer right away, but his eyes flicked toward you briefly before returning to his work.

“if it’s another book about charms, you can save yourself the trouble,” he said, his voice flat and detached.

you let out a soft laugh. “actually, no. I thought we could try something a bit more practical today.”

he raised an eyebrow, finally turning his gaze toward you. “practical how?”

“like actually casting spells, instead of just studying them.” you tilted your head, a playful smile tugging at your lips. “unless, of course, you’re afraid of making mistakes in front of me.”

“I don’t make mistakes,” he replied automatically, but a faint flush crept into his cheeks, betraying him.

you suppressed a laugh, picking up your wand. “great. then show me the levitation charm.”

he hesitated for a moment, as though weighing the worth of indulging you. but, to your surprise, regulus drew his own wand and murmured the incantation. the feather in front of him lifted a few inches before tumbling back onto the parchment.

you said nothing at first, simply raised your wand and repeated the charm, making the feather float and spin gracefully in the air. when you glanced at regulus, you noticed the frown on his face, his dissatisfaction with himself palpable.

“it wasn’t bad,” you said sincerely. “you just need to relax a little more. spells work better when you’re not so tense.”

“I'm not tense,” he retorted, though there was a hint of irritation in his voice.

you smiled, leaning slightly forward. “if you weren’t, you would have nailed it on the first try.”

he shot a look in your direction, but this time, something was different. a faint, almost imperceptible curve tugged at the corner of his mouth, as if he were trying not to smile.

ᯓᡣ𐭩

as the weeks unfolded, the dynamic between you and regulus gradually shifted, becoming almost comfortable. he remained distant, but there were moments when the ice between you seemed to crack, revealing fleeting glimpses of vulnerability that he couldn't fully conceal from you.

on one particularly cold evening, you found him once again in the library. this time, he was alone, devoid of books or scrolls, simply staring into the emptiness before him.

"is everything alright?" you inquired, sitting beside him without waiting for an invitation.

he took a moment before responding, his gaze fixed on an invisible point in the distance. when he finally spoke, his voice was quiet, tinged with uncertainty.

"sometimes, I wonder what I'm doing here," he confessed, not meeting your eyes.

you furrowed your brow in confusion. "at hogwarts?"

"no," he replied, his voice soft. "here. with you." he turned to face you, and there was something in his expression that made your heart tighten. "I don't know why you care so much. no one ever has."

his words struck you unexpectedly, and you could see the vulnerability in his eyes. regulus wasn't accustomed to acknowledging his weaknesses, not even to himself.

"perhaps because I see something in you that you don't see," you answered gently.

he let out a short, bitter laugh, shaking his head in disbelief. "you're fooling yourself."

"maybe," you conceded, but there was an unwavering determination in your voice that made him pause. "but that doesn't mean I'm wrong."

for a moment, neither of you spoke, the silence between you both more profound than any words could express. then, regulus broke the stillness, his gaze shifting away, his expression retreating once more into its familiar mask of indifference.

"you're infuriatingly persistent," he murmured, though there was a trace of warmth in his tone that hadn't been there before.

"and you," you replied with a soft smile, "are infuriatingly stubborn."

for an instant, you could have sworn you saw the faintest curve of a smile tug at the corners of his lips before he concealed it once more beneath his habitual mask.

ᯓᡣ𐭩

the following days were a careful dance between maintaining your friendship with regulus and balancing the constant concern from james. you felt the weight of each conversation, each glance from your brother, as though he were trying to decipher whether your intentions were truly safe. james never directly told you to stay away, but the worry in his eyes spoke louder than any words.

on the other hand, regulus seemed increasingly uncomfortable with the growing closeness between you two. he continued attending your meetings in the library, but his posture was more tense, his comments shorter, and his once-guarded glances were now aimed anywhere but at you.

one afternoon, while reviewing charms, you decided to finally confront him about his growing distance.

"regulus," you began, your voice soft but firm, "what’s going on?"

he didn’t look at you immediately, his eyes fixed on the parchment in front of him. when he finally spoke, his voice was cold, almost cutting.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about."

"you know exactly what I mean." you crossed your arms, leaning slightly forward. "you've been avoiding me, regulus. you can hardly look at me."

he finally lifted his eyes, but what you saw there wasn’t anger or coldness; it was fear.

"I'm not avoiding you," he said, but the lack of conviction in his voice betrayed him.

you sighed, shaking your head. "you can lie to yourself, but not to me."

he closed his eyes for a moment, breathing deeply before meeting your gaze again. "maybe it’s better this way. maybe I should just stay away."

his words hit you like a punch, but you didn’t retreat. "why? what have I done to deserve this?"

he hesitated, the internal struggle clearly written on his face. "it’s not you... it’s me."

"that’s a ridiculous excuse, regulus." your voice trembled slightly, but you kept it steady. "you’ve been pushing me away because you're afraid. afraid to open up, afraid to care."

"and what if I am?" he shot back, his voice finally rising. "what if I’m afraid? because that’s what you do. you come into my life, break down all my barriers, and I don’t know how to deal with that!"

the silence that followed was deafening. you could see the vulnerability in his eyes, the confession torn from him like it was too painful to say.

"I never wanted to hurt you," you said, softly but with the strength needed to reach his heart.

he turned his gaze away, his shoulders slumping slightly. "I don’t know how to be... this. how to be someone who deserves you."

"you don’t need to be perfect, regulus. you just need to be you."

he looked at you again, and for a moment, it seemed like he was about to say something more. but then he closed off, muttering something inaudible before quickly standing up and leaving the library, leaving you alone with the weight of the conversation.

ᯓᡣ𐭩

later that evening, you found james in the common room. he was laughing at something sirius had said, but when he saw you, his expression changed instantly.

"what’s wrong?" he asked, rising to approach you.

you hesitated for a moment before collapsing onto the couch next to him, the words spilling out in a rush. you told him about regulus, about his hesitant confession, and the fear that seemed to control him.

james stayed silent as he listened, his jaw clenched and his brows furrowed. when you finished, he ran a hand through his hair, clearly struggling with his own emotions.

"I don’t like this, you know? you and him. I don’t think it’s a good idea."

"I know," you said, tired. "but I care about him, james. and I think he cares about me too, even if he’s too afraid to admit it."

james let out a long, heavy sigh, shaking his head. "you know, sometimes you’re just as stubborn as I am."

you smiled faintly but didn’t say anything, waiting for him to continue.

"if you really believe he’s worth it, then go ahead. but if he hurts you..." james stopped, his expression darkening. "he’s going to have to deal with me."

you nodded, touched by your brother’s protectiveness, even if he didn’t fully approve of your choices.

ᯓᡣ𐭩

the library was nearly empty, the sun sinking low on the horizon, casting long shadows between the shelves. you found him sitting at the same table as always, but something was different. regulus appeared drained, his shoulders slumped, his hands gripping the parchment in front of him as though it were the only thing anchoring him to reality.

you approached slowly, the sound of your footsteps the only break in the quiet. he didn’t lift his head until you were seated, his eyes meeting yours with a mixture of guilt and resignation.

"I didn’t think I’d see you here anymore," he said, breaking the silence, but not the tension that lingered between you.

he didn’t meet your gaze, his fingers tapping on the parchment. "I didn’t plan to come."

you waited, sensing there was more beneath his words. regulus black never did anything without a reason, and something in his expression suggested he was teetering on the edge of something deeper.

"I don’t know how to start," he admitted, finally looking at you again. his eyes were darker than usual, heavy with something he couldn’t share.

"then don’t start. just say it," you encouraged gently, your voice soft but firm, urging him to break down the walls he had built.

he let out a short, humorless laugh, the sound hollow in the stillness of the library. "you make it sound so easy."

"because it is, regulus. you just have to be honest."

he shook his head, his lips pressed into a tight line. "honesty isn’t something I was taught to value. I was raised to lie, manipulate, hide. and now... now, I don’t even know who I am anymore."

the words hit you like a blow, and you could feel the raw pain in his voice. but you didn’t pull away, didn’t flinch at the vulnerability he was offering, however painful it was for him.

"maybe it’s time to find out, regulus. maybe it’s time to stop being who they want you to be and start being who you really are."

he closed his eyes, his shoulders trembling slightly as though he were fighting something inside. "I tried to push you away because I thought it would be better that way. I thought if i didn’t care, I couldn’t hurt you. but the more I push away, the more I realize that... I can’t. I can’t forget you."

the words came out with such intensity that they almost stole the breath from your lungs. you knew regulus had feelings for you, but hearing it directly from his lips, laden with so much pain and hesitation, was overwhelming.

"why do you think you’d hurt me?" you asked, leaning forward slightly, as if you could bridge the emotional gap he’d created.

"because it’s what I do," he replied, his voice low and rough. "everything I touch shatters. my family, my brother, my future... everything. I’m not someone who deserves... this."

"this what?" you pressed, your voice breaking slightly. "reg, tell me. be honest."

he hesitated, his eyes locking onto yours with a kind of unbearable intensity. "you. I don’t deserve you."

the silence that followed was suffocating. you could feel the weight of his words, the pain behind them, and above all, the fear that regulus carried with him like a shattered shield.

"don’t you see?" you whispered, trying to keep your voice steady. "I chose you. with all your imperfections, your fears, your insecurities. I chose you because I see who you really are, and that’s more than enough for me."

he laughed again, but this time, there was something broken in the sound. "and what if I can’t live up to that? what if I fail you, just like I failed everyone else?"

you moved closer, reaching out to touch his hand. he hesitated, but didn’t pull away, his eyes locked on the gentle touch of your fingers.

"then fail," you said, your voice full of emotion. "fail as many times as it takes. but stop hiding, regulus. stop pushing me away, because I’m not going anywhere."

he finally broke, his shoulders slumping as a tremulous sigh escaped his lips. "I’m so scared..."

"I know," you replied, squeezing his hand gently. "but you don’t have to face it alone."

and in that moment, something shifted. it wasn’t a dramatic break or a sudden revelation, but a quiet understanding that passed between you. regulus was still broken, still battling his own demons, but for the first time, he was allowing you to help him carry the weight.

when he finally looked up at you again, there was a new determination in his eyes. a glimmer of hope that, though small, was enough to begin with.

"I don’t know how to do this, I..." he admitted.

"then let’s figure it out together," you said, and for the first time, he didn’t pull away.

the touch of his hand on yours felt like the only bridge between fear and desire, between pain and hope. regulus was vulnerable, more exposed than he had ever allowed himself to be, and you could feel the fragility in every ounce of courage he was trying to summon.

he didn’t pull away, didn’t shy away from the touch, and for the first time, something inside him seemed to give way. the look he gave you, full of insecurity, was also a silent plea. "don’t let me go."

without a word, you leaned in slightly, your face only inches from his. the rhythm of your hearts seemed to align, as though the world around you had faded away, leaving only the two of you in that moment of pure vulnerability.

regulus’s breathing was uneven, as though the weight of his own uncertainty was choking him, but there was something in his eyes—something deep and desperate—that made you hesitate for no longer. your gaze dropped to his lips, the same lips that were so close, yet so far away, like a promise that had never been kept.

he swallowed hard, his eyes flickering between your lips and your eyes, the tension in the air almost palpable. you could see the inner struggle on his face, the battle between the fear of surrendering and the desire to finally give in to what you both knew was inevitable.

"I’m not sure if..." he started to say, but his words trailed off as you, gently and softly, pressed your lips to his.

the kiss was tentative at first, a light touch, as though you both were testing the boundaries of what was safe. but soon, the tenderness grew into something more urgent, more profound. regulus, hesitant at first, began to surrender to the kiss, his fingers tightening around yours, and the kiss deepened, as if every movement was an attempt to unravel the knots of fear that had bound him for so long.

the taste of his kiss was both familiar and new—a blend of frustration and yearning, of insecurity and hope. it was as if, in surrendering to you, he was allowing himself, for the first time, to be more than the expectations placed on him. more than the mistakes of his past.

regulus’s hands, once tense and restrained, now moved with greater confidence, his expression, once closed and distant, now open in quiet surrender. he pulled you closer, as if to reassure himself that you were there, that you weren’t leaving, and you gave yourself to him with the same intensity, meeting his desire and his fear with the same certainty.

when you finally parted, your breath was heavy, ragged, and the world seemed to pause for a moment. regulus kept his eyes closed for a beat, as if allowing himself to feel that moment completely, before opening them and looking at you with something that, for the first time, was pure.

"I don’t... I don’t know what this means," he murmured, his voice trembling.

you smiled softly, your fingers brushing his face gently. "we don’t need to know right now, regulus. we’ll figure it out together."

and, for the first time, he didn’t pull away, didn’t try to protect himself. the insecurity was still there, but there was something new—an inkling that maybe, just maybe, the fear was no longer stronger than the connection beginning to grow between you.

[will80sbyers]

Do you still have the list of movies that inspired ST4? I had a picture of it but I lost it and I haven't been able to find it since. Please and thank you in advance.

Yep!

Long post warning lol

300

2001: A Space Odyssey

47 Meters Down: Uncaged

12 Monkeys

28 Days Later

13th Warrior

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective

Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls

Altered States

Amelie

American Sniper

Analyze This

Annihilation

Aristocats

Armageddon

Assassins Creed

Avengers: Age of Ultron

Arrival

Almost Famous

Batman Begins

Batman V. Superman

Basket Case

Battle at Big Rock

Beauty and the Beast

Beetlejuice

Behind Enemy Lines

Beverly Hills Cop

Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey

Billy Madison

Black Cauldron

Black Swan

Boondock Saints

Borat

Bram Stoker’s Dracula

Burn After Reading

Broken Arrow

Blade Runner

C.H.U.D

Con Air

Cast Away

Congo

Constantine

Children of Men

Cabin in the Woods

Crank

Casablanca

Carrie

Crimson Tide

Clueless

Dukes of Hazzard

Don’t Breathe

Death to Smoochy

Doom

Dark Knight

Dogma

Deep Blue Sea

Dreamcatcher

Drop Dead Fred

Die Hard

Die Hard 2

Die Hard 3

Don’s Plum

Dances with Wolves

Dumb and Dumber

Edward Scissorhands

Enter the Void

Ex Machina

Event Horizon

Emma (2020)

Forrest Gump

Fargo

Fisher King

Full Metal Jacket

Ferris Bueller

Fallen

Fugitive

Ghost

Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Ghostbusters

Good Fellas

Girl Interrupted

Godzilla: King of the Monsters

Get Out

Good Will Hunting

Hackers

High Fidelity

Hellraiser 1

Hellraiser 2

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Hidden

High School Musical

Hurt Locker

Heat

Hunger Games

Highlander

Hell or High Water

Home Alone

I am Legend

It’s a Wonderful Life

In Cold Blood

Inception

I am a Fugitive from Chain Gang

Inside Out

Island of Doctor Moreau

It Follows

Interview with a Vampire

Inner Space

Into the Spiderverse

Independence Day

Jupiter Ascending

John Carter of Mars

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

James Bond (All Movies)

Julie

Karate Kid

Knives Out

Kingsmen

Little Miss Sunshine

Labyrinth

Long Kiss Goodnight

Lost Boys

Leon: The Professional

Let the Right One In

Little Women (1994)

Mad Max: Fury Road

Magnolia

Men in Black

Mimic

Matrix

Misery

My Cousin Vinny

Mystic River

Minority Report

Mr. and Mrs. Smith

Neverending Story

Never Been Kissed

No Country for Old Men

Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors

North by Northwest

Open Water

Orange County

Oceans 8

Oceans 11

Oceans 12

One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest

Ordinary People

Paddington 2

Platoon

Pulp Fiction

Papillon

Pan’s Labyrinth

Pineapple Express

Peter Pan

Princess Bride

Paradise Lost

Primal Fear

Prisoners

Peter Jackson’s King Kong

Reservoir Dogs

Ravenous

Rushmore

Road Warrior

Rogue One

Reality Bites

Raider of the Lost Ark

Red Dragon

Robocop

Shooter

Sky High

Swingers

Sword in the Stone

Step Up 2

Spy Kids

Saving Private Ryan

Shape of Water

Swept Away

Star Wars: Return of the Jedi

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

Superbad

Society

Swordfish

Stoker

Splice

Silence of the Lambs

Source Code

Sicario

Se7en

Starship Troopers

Scrooged

Splash

Silver Bullet

Speed

The Visit

The Italian Job

The Mask of Zorro

True Lies

The Blair Witch Project

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

Tangled

The Craft

The Guest

The Devil’s Advocate

The Graduate

The Prestige

The Rock

Titanic

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

The Fly

Tombstone

The Mummy

The Guardian

The Goofy Movie

The Peanut Butter Solution

Toy Story 4

The Ring

The Crazies

The Mist

The Revenant

The Perfect Storm

The Shining

Terminator 2

The Truman Show

Temple of Doom

The Cell

To Kill a Mockingbird

Timeline

The Good Son

The Orphan

The Birdcage

The Green Mile

The Raid

The Cider House Rules

The Lighthouse

The Book of Henry

The A-Team

The Crow

The Terminal

Thor Ragnarok

Twister

The Descent

The Birds

Total Recall

The Natural

The Fifth Element

True Romance

Terminator: Dark Fate

The Hobbit Trilogy

Unforgiven

Unbreakable

Unleashed

Very Bad Things

Wayne’s World

What Women Want

War Dogs

Wedding Crashers

What’s Eating Gilbert Grape

Welcome to the Dollhouse

Welcome to Marwen

Wet Hot American Summer

What Lies Beneath

What Dreams May Come

War Games

Who Framed Roger Rabbit

Weird Science

Willow

Wizard of Oz

Wanted

Young Sherlock Holmes

You’ve Got Mail

Zodiac

Zoolander

[allisonreader]

Here is my fairly early Christmas Inklings Challenge story. I honestly didn't expect to have a story done so quickly, though it's not the idea that I started with.

@inklings-challenge

A little background on this story so that if you haven't read anything in my The Hidden Royals realm, you won't be lost.

This story is told entirely from the perspective of Beth Wood (which isn't her full name). Beth is actually Elizabeth Ravenswood, wife to Theodore Ravenswood (going by Theo Wood) who is the crown prince of an island nation called Windsmere. (A secondary world, not a place fit into our own.)

They're both currently living in a different island nation called Shadowfen in secret exile after a tyrant named Roland killed all Theodore's family and took over as king. Theo and Beth were only able to escape thanks to a servant who snuck them out at the first sign of danger.

So the pair are raising their children in Shadowfen. They end up with three children, Thomas (Tom/Tommy who was conceived in Windsmere but was born in Shadowfen), a lost baby, Patricia (the middle child and only surviving girl), James (the youngest, whom is later kidnapped by one of Roland's men/spies), and the two babies who also didn't survive, many years apart.

Then here are a couple of links to the related stories.

The Hidden Royals; The Spark

The Hidden Royals "Master List"

Now the actual story.

Christmas Dress Tradition

All of her little family was home safe and sound, snug in their little cottage.

Theo would be off from guard duty the next couple of days before having to go back. Her babies were both asleep, although the one she was carrying was being rather active as she worked on Patricia's dress.

She had been working on it after Thomas and Patricia had gone to sleep for the last couple of months already. Patricia was probably too young yet to fully appreciate the work going into this dress. But she wanted her little girl to have a pretty dress.

One that wasn’t as plain as her regular day to day wear. A dress that could truly be considered her best dress. She had even made the dress in a way that she could let out the seams and hem as Patricia grew. And if the new baby was a girl, she could wear it too.

Part of what was taking so long to make the dress was the embroidery she was adding to it. As long as it was ready for Christmas was all she wanted.

…

As the years went on and her three children grew, it had become a tradition for her to make some sort of pretty dress for Patricia to open and wear on Christmas.

Neither her dear Tommy, nor James cared much about what they wore, while Theo mostly wore a Shadefenian guard uniform. Something that she never thought that she would get used to seeing him in and always made her heart ache with the reason of why he wore the foreign uniform.

So, she continued on with her project of making a pretty new dress for Patricia who would be delighted by opening it on Christmas.

…

Patricia was 16 when she started to help with the dress.

It had been a hard year for her. She had fallen rather ill near the time where she normally started to work on the dress.

At first she hadn’t realized that she was pregnant again, having thought those days were long past, but the pregnancy had ended without a living baby. Her third child buried, born far too soon to survive and leaving her both physically ill and heartsick.

Patricia, seeing her pain, decided that they would both work on her dress. It wouldn’t be a surprise like it had previous years, but she appreciated working with her daughter.

Never did she expect that on Christmas Patricia would surprise her with a dress of her own.

It was the prettiest dress that she had owned since she and Theo had fled Windsmere.

From then on Patricia and her would work on a dress for each other together. It made the loss of another child an easier burden to bear.

…

The first year back had been in Windsmere had been hectic.

Removing a tyrant king from power whom had kidnapped her youngest son and had killed her husband’s family was no light task. There was so much to do and put back into place that Christmas had nearly been forgotten about, dress making had been put on the back burner and forgotten about as they as a family got settled in a new home.

It was only the year after when Patricia came into her room with material for a new dress that she had remembered about it again. So much had happened and Patricia herself was pregnant with her first now; but together again, they worked on new dresses for each other.

Laughing as the dressmakers scolded them for doing so.

They just invited the women to join them and encouraged them to make something for their own loved ones. Adding to their tradition from there.

[lnsfawwi]

Winterbaron Thunderbolts blurb

Zemo has spent a lot of time reflecting his feelings for Bucky. when he first learned about the Winter Soldier, Hydra's most formidable secret weapon, he was stuck between disgusted by what's been done to him and general apathy. brainwashed or not, Bucky used his superhuman skills to kill many many people. But after their little adventure, he realizes Bucky isn't that. he isn't one of THEM, Avengers or Nazis alike.

Zemo's grown not just sympathetic but also fond of Bucky as partners in crime. That makes him uncomfortable. He spent YEARS resenting superheroes, hunting them, killing them, killing that sense of superiority they so casually project. But here he is, working with Bucky again, and can't keep his eyes off him.

Bucky is a natural leader, he takes care of his team even tho his contempt for certain people (including himself) is palpable, a brilliant strategist and even a better fighter, he is competent and...attractive.

Zemo tries to play his little mind game but Bucky isn't at all receptive. but that's ok, hatred is a strong enough emotion that may very well carry over to his ultimate demise. bucky won't be able to forget him that easily. Zemo isnt trying to be a 'hero', sacrificing himself for this assorted bunch, he just isn't trying so hard to stay alive.

Bucky notices that, from experience perhaps. Bucky keeps an eye on him in battle. in the middle of a shootout, Bucky drags him to security and shouts at him, 'stop letting your death wish get in the way!' or something like that.

'I'm touched, James, caring the life of someone like me.'

'I don't care if you're dead.'Bucky says as he takes out a guy by calculating the ricochet trajectory on the fly. 'you are just in my way.'

that's probably true. Zemo shrugs, sitting on the ground, fully confident that Bucky can handle the situation for both of them. 'I've been thinking...'

'shoot first, think later, socrates.'

'I've been thinking.' Zemo shoots somewhere blindly and keeps talking, 'we'd make great pair.'

Bucky stares at him as if he's grown another head. or lost the only one he had.

'you see, James, no one knows you better than I do, I'm perhaps the only one who GETS why you are the way you are. And you know me, sort of. we've come to a truce, the past is in the past...'

'I don't share your kinship, Zemo. Now be useful!'

so he makes himself useful, tho he is still talking. talking, yeah, but without referring to the most painfully obvious and unsettling fact. 'what I'm suggesting is mutually beneficial. I have connections and information you need, and you have one less bad guy to worry about.'

'I don't have to worry about you if you're in prison.'

'but I'm not there, am I?'

as the mission progress, Zemo offers help, shuts John up when necessary (Bucky smirks when he does that), and stays close to Bucky. yelena isn't blind, but she thinks Zemo has external motive and gives him the shovel talk.

'that's lovely. now, do you think James would prefer a new modified gun or customed knife? I know he is partial to the SiG but I see room for improvement. you know what, I'll get both. thank you for indulging me, Yelena.'

yelena: ok gay🙄

more fighting ensued, Bucky eventually uses the knife Zemo got him. some part of Bucky just breaks, that line that's been constantly pushed by Zemo is broken at that moment in a sense that Bucky acknowledges Zemo being in his tiny circle of 'allies' is already a truth. Zemo has been his ally longer than he's willing to admit. Bucky wants to believe they are different that's why he pushes Zemo away, only then does he realize accepting Zemo doesn't mean they're the same, it's just that they are compatible in certain situations. and Zemo is not exactly unpleasant to be around, sometimes.

after the mission, yelena suggests they go for a drink, Zemo suggests they go to that fancy place none of them would otherwise be allowed in. It's classy and degenerate at the same time.

while others disappear into the dance floor, Zemo sits down next to Bucky and asks if he could buy him a drink.

'will you back off if I said no?'

'I'm hurt, James. after all this time, you should know I don't take pleasure in forcing people into things they don't want.'

Bucky kinda laughs and lets Zemo buy him a fancy whisky. 'what do you want, Zemo?'

'I already told you what I want. partnership.'

Bucky downs the alcohol in one go and glances at him. 'is that all?'

Zemo is frankly surprised by Bucky's response but who is he to pass the opportunity? 'I usually go on a date or two before moving on to other things, but I suppose I can make an exception.'

and things get a little heated from there.

[beefromanoff]

Project Mockingbird Ch. 5

summary: Natasha and Bruce have different ideas on how to help Charlotte. Natasha's way wins.

pairing: Bucky Barnes x OC

author's note: let me know what you think! thanks for reading, xox!

tag list: @bangtanxberm (let me know if you want to be added <3)

chapter list

_________________________________________________________

Sunlight filtered through the tinted windows, casting delicate shadows across the sterile white walls of the hospital wing. Charlotte blinked, the soft hum of machinery and distant chatter gradually pulling her back to consciousness. The events of the previous day flooded her mind, the endless battery of tests and experiments, the barrage of questions from Dr. Banner and Tony Stark, the scabs around her wrists from the restraints she’d thrashed into. 

Still not the worst place I’ve woken up. 

Her eyes flicked to the state-of-the-art equipment surrounding her. Tubes and monitors blinked with clinical precision, their data feeding into sleek screens that could display a myriad of complex graphs and charts. Even with all the screens dark, all the tubes and wires hanging limp off of them, the environment made her skin crawl.  She was acutely aware of the high-tech lab setting, a stark contrast to the comfort of her own room in the compound. 

One night. I only got to enjoy it for one night before all this shit caught up with me. 

Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath, attempting to steady her racing thoughts. They found the problem. She reminded herself, her fingers absently tracing the edge of the crisp hospital sheet. They’re the best scientists in the world. How hard can it really be to fix if we found the problem in one day?

After hours and hours of testing, scanning, and an ultimate hail-mary experiment with the man himself -- they’d discovered that her violent aversion to James Barnes was linked to certain olfactory triggers. The implications of this breakthrough raced through her mind. She remembered fragments of her time with HYDRA, but the conditioning had taken place so early, so long ago. It was the first thing they did to her. That was one of the bigger question marks she had about what was done to her. 

As she stirred in the hospital bed, she anticipated their return, eager to get started so she could get the hell out of here. She longed for the day when she could walk around the compound, or the world, without the looming dread of her own actions. Yet, beneath the anticipation lingered a sliver of apprehension, a fear of the unknown. What if this doesn’t work? What if they screwed me up too much?

With a sigh, she shifted her gaze to the ceiling. Despite her fears, she clung to the possibility of a future unburdened by the shackles of her conditioning. 

In the daze of her worry, the room's atmosphere shifted from anticipation to warmth. The door slid open, and in walked Natasha, her arms laden with an impressive assortment of breakfast items. Behind her, a younger brunette who Charlotte recognized as Peter Parker, carried an impressive tower of pancakes, while Steve balanced a tray stacked with an array of pastries.

"Surprise!" Natasha announced, plopping down on the foot of the bed.

Charlotte couldn't help but smile, the knot of tension in her chest loosening at the heartfelt gesture and friendly faces. "Wow, you weren’t kidding.”

“We don’t joke about food around here.” 

With practiced efficiency, they transformed her hospital bed into a makeshift banquet table, the three of them pulling chairs up beside the bed. The room was soon filled with the mouthwatering aroma of freshly brewed coffee, the sweet scent of syrup, and the comforting richness of pastries. All sterile scents had long since been forgotten.

Whether their plan was to distract her or they were just a naturally chatty group, Charlotte didn’t know nor care. As she picked apart the biggest blueberry muffin she’d ever seen, Peter launched into yet another story about his college life. 

“I told him, sir, please - I was literally stopping a bank from being robbed, he still wouldn’t let me retake the test! I mean come on, it’s art history. Who even decided that art history was a necessary college course! He’s just out to get me, I swear.” He paused to take a gulp of orange juice. 

Natasha laughed and reached for the last piece of bacon. “No good deed goes unpunished.” 

The conversation was easy, the trio clearly comfortable with each other. Charlotte was perfectly content to sit back and listen, savoring one of the few meals that was actually close to satiating her endless appetite. 

Just as Peter opened his mouth to speak again, the door slid open. A disheveled Dr. Banner, stood holding a tablet, looking like he hadn’t slept at all since she saw him last. "Hi, good morning, I uh, think I've found a solution," he announced, his voice carrying a note of cautious optimism. “Is that coffee?” 

Charlotte's heart skipped a beat. Hope surged within her, mingling with a thread of trepidation. Steve poured Bruce a cup of coffee which he graciously accepted. 

With a deep breath, she nodded, her voice steady despite feeling the exact opposite on the inside. "Let's do it. Whatever you think." 

“Okay, I’ve run through this every way I can imagine, making sure I’m considering everything. All in all, it seems like a simple fix. I mean, it makes sense, if we look at the timeline of…well, it wouldn’t exactly have been advanced technology they used. So it seems incredibly simple, but for the time, it would have been a massive breakthrough,” He was careful with his words, trying to avoid anything too callous, despite his obvious excitement about the discovery. 

The sterile white walls of the room seemed to close in on Charlotte as she listened to Dr. Banner's explanation. His voice felt distant, overshadowed by the memories of past experiments and the cold, clinical environment of laboratories she had desperately tried to forget. Her eyes must have glazed over as she fought against the rising panic in her chest as the words surgery and minimally invasive floated through her stupor.

"I understand your concerns, Charlotte," Bruce said gently, his eyes filled with empathy. "But this procedure is straightforward. It'll be quick, and you won't feel a thing. We'll make sure you're comfortable and safe the entire time."

Steve placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Bruce is right," he said, his tone steady and calming. "We're here for you. This will be over before you know it. You’re in great hands here.” 

Despite Steve's comforting words, anxiety clawed at Charlotte's chest. The very idea of another medical procedure triggered a visceral reaction, a surge of fear rooted deep in her past traumas. Just as panic threatened to overwhelm her, Natasha spoke, her piercing eyes locked onto Charlotte's.

"Do you trust me?" Natasha asked, her voice calm, but there was an intensity in her gaze that demanded an honest answer.

Charlotte met her eyes, finding solidarity in the closest thing she had to a friend. She nodded slowly. "I do," she replied, her voice a whisper.

“Peter, move the food.” 

He cocked an eyebrow, but immediately gathered the few trays left on the bed and relocated them to a table in the corner of the room.

Without warning, Natasha's hand shot out, the heel of her palm colliding with Charlotte's nose in a swift, controlled motion. Pain exploded through Charlotte's face, and her head snapped back, shock and confusion flooding her senses. Blood gushed from her nose, hot and sticky.

In the stunned silence that followed, Charlotte felt a strange sensation, like a fence around her mind had been torn down. Once the initial shock subsided, Charlotte let out a disbelieving laugh, the metallic taste of blood on her tongue. 

"Thank you," she said to Natasha, her eyes shimmering with tears, only half from the blow. "That was…preferable."

“I figured.” Nat winked, squeezing her shoulder. I knew I liked her. 

“Well, could you at least let me clean it up a bit?” Bruce winced, handing her a wad of tissues and squinting to examine the damage. Charlotte tilted her head back and applied pressure, blood immediately soaking and reducing them to a soggy, crimson mess. 

“Hang on,” Her voice came out thick as a result of her mangled nose. Cupping it on either side, Charlotte took a deep breath and yanked. The crunch of the reset made all three men grimace, with Peter gasping as he covered his face. “Okay, I think I did that right. It’s been a while.” 

She noticed their horrified looks as she wiped a trail of blood off her upper lip. “What, you’ve never had to reset a broken nose before?”

“We uh, usually leave that part to the professionals.” Steve gave a grim smile. 

“Well, in my experience, the professionals only care about functionality, and you can still fight with a broken nose. Call me high maintenance, but I prefer my nose to be somewhat straight. So I picked up that little party trick.”  

Even Natasha’s eyes softened, just for a moment. The nonchalance with which she spoke about her past was unnerving. It begged the question of what horrors she’d experienced that she couldn’t talk about, if these kinds of remarks seemed to roll off her tongue as easily as a story about her breakfast. 

When Bruce had cleaned her up, insisting on packing her nose with cotton so it would heal correctly, the group left her alone to change into a spare Stark Industries sweatshirt that had been left in the lab. 

Meanwhile, Steve strode out of the building to find Bucky. He located him in the training area, his expression focused as he sparred with Sam. Steve approached the ring, his voice carrying a note of urgency. "Bucky, we need you in the lab. It's important."

Curiosity flickered in Bucky's eyes as he lowered his hands from their defensive posture. 

“It’s Charlotte. Bruce thinks he broke the conditioning.” 

When they’d returned to the medical wing, they paused before turning down the hall to her room, waiting for a signal. As an added precaution, Charlotte had insisted on being restrained again, although she didn’t argue when they said the IV would be unnecessary this time. Wrist strapped down, electrodes taped to her head and chest, and the glowing model of her brain projected in the corner of the room, she nodded to Dr. Banner. 

“Alright, Steve, we’re good to go. Come on in, Buck.” 

Charlotte sucked in a deep breath, aware that her heart beat was quickening by the pounding in her ears and the beeping on the monitor. She heard the methodical footsteps again, approaching her open doorway. Finally, he turned the corner. 

He was as tall as Steve, slightly stockier. His dark hair had been tied back in a tiny ponytail, and the ring of sweat around the collar of his gray shirt told her he had come from a workout. His shoulders were slightly rounded, tense, as though he could spring into action at a moment’s notice. The way he stood, his left side was slightly hidden from view. Despite the shadow, the metallic glint of his arm caught her eye. Vibranium. Very painful when it hits you. Another unwelcome memory came knocking in her mind as Steve followed his friend in the room. 

Everyone seemed to hold their breath. Dr. Banner, anxiously checking all the readings. Nat and Peter, hovering quietly in the corner of the room. Bucky and Charlotte as they locked eyes, far from the first time. 

How many times have I seen those eyes, this face, and yet I don’t think we’ve ever actually met. Not really. Not when we’re us. 

"Charlotte, this is James Bucky Barnes," Steve stepped forward, smiling softly. "Bucky, meet Charlotte Rossi."

Bucky nodded, a tight lipped smile on his face. "Nice to meet you, Charlotte."

Charlotte blushed, a reaction she hadn’t prepared for in the absence of her violent rampage. "Hi. I, uh, I'm sorry for how I acted…before," She paused, hoping he’d know she wasn’t just talking about the past two days.

“Don’t mention it.” His eyes crinkled in the corners. “Seriously.” 

Bruce's eyes widened with amazement as he studied the data on his screen. "It worked!" he exclaimed, frantically pointing at the hologram, still glowing gold. He turned and embraced the closest person to him, who was a bewildered looking Peter. "We did it!"

Peter, still in a state of shock, smiled as Bruce set him back on the ground. "Didn’t doubt it for a second, Dr. Banner!”

“WOO! Yes! Oh, sorry - “ Bruce had raised his hand to high-five Charlotte before realizing her wrists were still strapped to the bed. “Let me just…okay, there you go!” He hugged her as soon as he released the second restraint, catching her by surprise. 

“Oh!” She stiffened instinctively, but relaxed her shoulders to welcome his excited gesture. “Thank you, Dr. Banner…Bruce, seriously!” 

“Alright, let’s not land her back in here for crushing chest wounds.” Steve chuckled, putting a hand on Bruce’s shoulder. 

“Ah, yes, sorry! It’s just that these things, getting a breakthrough, gah! It just gets me so jazzed.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Man, I love science.” 

Bucky couldn't help but let a small smile slip through. He extended a hand toward Charlotte, his eyes reflecting a mix of relief lingering reservations. "Congratulations. This is one of the good days."

She put her hand in his and he squeezed it, quick and light, before letting go. One of the good days. The words may have seemed vague and ambiguous to everyone else, but they hit home for her. When decades of your life had been lost to a string of one bad day after the next, the good ones really stuck out. Especially when dealing with an inordinate amount of trauma, sometimes the bad days persisted even in the good times. They were unavoidable. 

But today was one of the good ones. 

Natasha, clearly not one for the touchy feely part, spoke up. "Well, now that you're officially not a threat to the lives of those in this room, I say we celebrate."

Peter nodded eagerly, looking at Steve who shrugged. “Yeah, sure, why not. Training will be there tomorrow.” 

“Yes! I love off days, I feel like we never do anything fun anymore.” Peter pumped his fist before noticing Steve’s raised eyebrow. “I mean, not that training isn’t fun, I love training. I could train all day. You know what? I think I’ll do extra training tomorr -”

“Hush,” Natasha put her hand over his mouth. “Here’s what we’re gonna do. Steve, tell the recruits they’re working out on their own today. Finish their assigned routines and then take the afternoon off. Peter, get the football, the speaker, and the big blanket. Bruce, finish whatever report you’re itching to write about this and then log off for the day. Buck, go take a shower. You smell like sweat socks. Meet us by the lake in an hour.” 

“And where are you guys going?” Steve raised an eyebrow, gesturing to both women. 

Natasha grinned and started removing electrodes from the brunette, one by one. 

“To get Charlotte the hell out of here.” 

A little over an hour later, they traipsed down a paved path to the lake. Natasha carried a picnic basket full of snacks and drinks, although they were at most two hundred yards from the main cafeteria building. The sound of music grew louder as they approached the dock. Peter had laid out a large, thick blanket across the wooden boards, a portable speaker weighing down one of the corners. 

Steve stood talking to Bucky, who’s hair was still wet from the shower. The back of his sweatshirt was decorated with pinpricks of water. The sound of shoes on the dock made them pause their conversation and turn. 

“Long time no see.” Natasha thrust the picnic basket into Steve’s hands, grinning. “Barnes, you smell much better.” 

“Feeling the love, Nat.” He rolled his eyes, hanging back as Steve followed her to the end of the dock. Charlotte hesitated, still a little reserved with her newfound mental autonomy. “Hey.” 

“Hi,” She smiled, wincing as her nose crinkled. “Ow.” 

“That looks awful.” He frowned. 

“Now I’m feeling the love.” Charlotte narrowed her eyes, teasing. 

“No, I mean - shit. I meant it looks painful.” 

“I’m kidding. I avoided any and all mirrors on the way here. It always looks worse than it is.”

“Well, I know from experience that Nat doesn’t pull her punches, so I’m sure it didn’t tickle.” He offered a half smile, brows furrowed with concern. 

“Guess I better get my mind off of it.” She pursed her lips, feeling more herself now that she didn’t fear her own actions. Bucky’s eyes scanned her face, she couldn’t tell if he was assessing the injury or really looking at her for the first time. She swore she saw his eyes linger on her mouth for just a fraction of a second. 

“Guess so.” 

Hours later, the sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm glow across the Compound. It was a perfect fall day, the air crisp, the lake sparkling under the sunlight. Truly unbeatable, especially for their day of celebration. They’d spent the afternoon talking, letting Charlotte get to know them. Although she seemed comfortable enough, Natasha had discreetly reminded them that it was still her first week in an unfamiliar place with perfect strangers. Over stories, snacks and general shit-shooting, they’d become a little further from strangers and a little closer to friends. 

Just a little. 

Sitting on the edge of the dock, their legs dangling over the water, Steve grinned at Peter. "Hey, Parker, you thinking what I’m thinking?" He held up the football.

Peter leapt up, landing in a crouch. "Always, Cap."

"Go long!" Steve called, his voice echoing across the water.

In a swift movement, he hurled the football with a strength that only a super-soldier possessed. It soared through the air, a perfect spiral against the backdrop of the clear sky.

Peter grinned as he launched himself into the air, shooting a web across the lake to a massive tree. He swung gracefully over the lake, his eyes locked on the football. With a perfectly timed web-shoot, he snatched it from the air, the impact making a satisfying thud against his palm.

"Nice catch, kid!" Sam called out, standing. “Damn, I knew I should have brought the wings.” He paused. “Yeah, I’ll be right back.” 

Bucky walked to the edge of the dock, mock flexing his biceps. "You're not the only one with a half decent throwing arm, old man."

Steve chuckled, his competitive spirit ignited. "Let's see what you've got, Buck."

Peter dropped back on the dock with a soft thud. Charlotte and Natasha were sprawled across the blanket, leaning back on their elbows. They exchanged an amused glance at the show of testosterone. 

Holding his hand out for the football, Bucky strode to the edge of the dock. He shot Steve an arrogant look before turning and hurling the football. It cut through the air, disappearing almost instantly. 

“Oh, shit!” Peter stumbled over his feet as he leapt to chase after the football. 

“I got it!” A gust of wind blew through across the dock, ruffling everyone’s hair. Looking up, Charlotte saw Sam soaring across the lake towards Peter and the long-disappeared football. 

“Dammit, Bruce never came out here, did he?” Natasha narrowed her eyebrows. “Oh well, his loss.” 

“Okay, you had a head start.” Peter protested as he dropped back on the dock beside Sam, who held the football like a trophy. 

“Whatever stops the tears, kid.” 

The friendly competition between super soldiers intensified over the next hour, each determined to outdo the other. 

“Alright, I think I’m warmed up now.” Bucky's blue eyes looked mischievous as he glanced back at the girls, a teasing smirk playing on his lips before he released the football with all his strength.

The ball sailed through the air, Sam and Peter taking off after it. Sam got there faster, but Peter's acrobatic finesse won the day. He caught the football mid-air, swinging back to the dock where he immediately collapsed on his back. "I tap out, guys! I need a break."

Natasha smirked. "Getting old, Spidey?"

Peter feigned offense, panting dramatically. "Not all of us are super soldiers!"

Chuckling, Steve clapped a hand on Peter's shoulder. "Good job, Pete. You earned the break."

"I must be getting soft, letting the kid beat me." Sam shook his head, landing beside them.

“Alright, this pissing contest was getting old anyways.” Natasha stood to her feet. “I’m thinking pizza and shitty action movies for the next phase of our day off. Yes?” 

“Yes,” Charlotte joined her. “I’m starving.” 

They packed up and headed back for their building, Nat making a point to linger at the back of the group. She raised an eyebrow at Bucky. "If I didn't know any better, Barnes, I'd say you were trying to impress our newest addition."

Bucky rolled his eyes. “Don’t do this.” 

“Do what?” She mocked innocence. 

“Try to play matchmaker, like always.”

“She’s pretty.” 

“Yeah, sure, she’s pretty.” He gave her a dirty look. “But she was also hell bent on ripping my head off until, oh yeah, this morning.” 

Natasha shrugged. “That was then.” 

Groaning, Bucky shook his head. “I think she’s got more on her mind than finding a date to the prom.” 

“Hm, prom sounds like fun. Maybe we should have one here.” She winked. 

“You’re impossible.” 

[international-sunrise]

god its me again, with lookism spoilers below the cut

the way everyone gathered with their respective rescues like they're a stray cat or this month's grocery shop is just way too funny y'all but the way jinsung arrived with johan in tow and was immediately like "dude why does it looks like hyungseok was trying to rescue jaeyeol and not the other way around????? why is he knock knock knocking on heavens door???????? what the fuck did you do to him???????????" and hyungseok was like "i promise you there's a very good reason for this :D" smiley emoji and all and jinsung is just "don't????? change the subject????? you almost killed him?????????????" just left me cackling for five minutes straight thanks jinsung i knew i could trust you

jihan walking in carrying jibeom and hudson in a carrier after alexander was deadass carrying both jake and samuel is peak comedy. the devil works hard and alexander works harder. if you're an a/c unit i'm your fan. number one samuel stan can't compare can't compete we aint shit compared to alexander.

also it's funny for me to think that while hyungseok was beating the shit out of everyone, himself included, everyone else was like trying to think about how to transport the rescues. jihan being the bright patootie he is brought a bed, work smarter not harder. alexander decided to brute-force it. jinsung used the bro-style-carry. vasco is now carrying lil hyungseok like he's a cat he just rescued out of a fire. these guys all share one single braincell and its bouncing like that old dvd logo. i hope that reference lands somewhere.

now what's important here.

i think this chapter pretty much confirmed that nº1 is, in fact, made up of parts and scraps of other generation kings. i mean this is pretty obvious but i guess it'll be confirmed in a couple more episodes and we'll have to be like -pretends to be shocked-, i think it will be more impressive if nº1 is not, as a matter of fact, made up of parts and scraps from the 0 gen and is instead made up of several random people and then enhanced by drugs. why do i say this? well usually the first is not the best, specially with experiments, and i really dont think they would have wanted to waste precious parts in order to make something that wouldn't work, so it could be very possible that nº1 is actually the first working prototype of what the workers first affiliate was trying to replicate.

and what were they trying to replicate you ask?

why, hyungseok's fake body, of course.

my working theory is as follows:

i think it's very likely that nº1 is an experiment that is being made behind charles back, by the workers first affiliate, because back in the day he somehow found a way, alongside jinyoung, to recreate the perfect super-soldier, and went around playing the world's worst puzzle and stealing pieces from others with the help of james lee, and now won't rely that information to workers so that they can get mass produced. however it seems like eugene doesn't know about the two bodies, or at least hasn't found a way to confirm it (maybe, hear me out, maybe if ptj hadn't killed jiho off! the shrimp the felony commiter the only one crazy enough to come up with that possibility! then eugene would already know and this plot would be so much far ahead!), therefore it remains as a possibility that he heard about some kind of super-soldier project and tried to find out who was behind it because super-soldiers are very high on the list of what evil little dudes do on their free time, and that's how he stumbled upon jinyoung.

jinyoung however, probably wasn't the entire brain behind the operation. that's why nº1 looks... that way. it's very possible that the other half of the operation was... hear me out: hyungseok's dad, who was supposedly killed by jinyoung.

i dont really think that it was james lee, because he's supposed to be the figthing genius, the one-man-army, the one going to the hardware store to collect the parts and pieces of their little fucked up science fair experiment that might or might not violate the geneva convention (is the geneva convention a thing in the ptj-verse i dont think it is...). i also don't think it was charles, because while he's behind the interconnected webs, that's kinda not in the same ballpark as human experimentation, that's like management vs the kitchen, have you seen management inside the kitchen like actually working? no, that's my point. gapryong was too busy trying to become the president in order to also be trying to bring back prometheus 2: electric boogaloo. which leaves us jinyoung, a farmacologist, and hyungseok's dad, occupation unknown but with ties to jinyoung, and was apparently killed by him as well.

even if jinyoung didn't actively murder him, you know what mom park said? he died sick. who in lookism would have the very specific knowledge to prescribe drugs that would worsen someone's condition instead of making it better, and also be in a position of trust in order to make it work, thus killing hyungseok's dad while making it seem like he simply fell ill?

oh yeah its coming all together.

i also find it extremely funny that, in a way, hyungseok did manage to both unite and dismantle the four major crews. all of the groups are dismantled, inactive, on the run or were absorbed by workers, and now three of the original crew leaders alongside samuel as a representative form a temporary alliance. "not even the four major crews-" bitch sit down didn't you read the big deal arc and the hostel arc, the power of trauma compels you -gets blasted-

also johan being like "ew cant believe i gotta fight alongside you people" kid you've been working with Jake for months now what on earth are you talking about did you also get your memory temporarily erased by the drugs. will anyone else forget about some important part of the plot-- put your hand down jake.

what you thought i wouldnt mention the emotional whiplash it gave me to have hyungseok suddenly remembering the friend he just beat up. JAEYEOL IT'S ME YA BOY bitch you left him about to board the first train without stopovers to the left of christ's throne a foot on the gutter and the other on the grave, wipe out those damn tears and get his ass outta there stop crying it's not the time stop kissing in the foreground

[twoidiotwriters1]

Until The Very End -(WITS Sequel)

A/N: There is something so perfect about Merry in my head, I haven't been able to write another couple as utopian as them -Danny

Words: 2,310

Masterlist

Previous chapter // Next chapter

2010—2011

"That's not how dragons throw fires!" Emmeline squealed.

Harry looked up at the tree branch where his daughter was hanging and scowled. "Lin, I can't spit out fire, unless you want me to not talk ever again."

The toddler scrunched up her nose in the same way her mother used to when she was little. "Not that, daddy! I mean your head!"

Harry's confusion increased. "What do you mean?"

"Dragons don't raise their heads when they throw fire," Regulus walked out into the garden carrying James on one arm, the toddler was stuffing his face with biscuits. "They press to the ground, 'cause their targets are smaller than them."

It was the summer prior to Reg's fourth year at Hogwarts, and he was spending most of his free time at the Potter's house. He helped Mel and Harry with the kids when they were at work. Today, however, is Harry's thirtieth birthday.

Everyone had promised to pay a visit and celebrate together, but Mel was on the verge of getting her obscurial treatment project greenlit, so she was working even more than when she was researching for the werewolf cure, which leaves Reg and Harry to interact in a way they hadn't been able to in a long time.

"So I take your lessons with Hagrid are going well?" Harry grinned.

"They're my favourite! Apart from Charms, of course," Reg admitted, sneakily handing a biscuit to Emmeline as he approached her tree.

"Heard you're on your way to become the Captain of the duelling club," Harry raised a brow. "That's amazing, Mel is really proud of you."

"Yeah, mum is too. Says my dad was a good dueller."

"He was the best, he and my dad," Harry confirmed, then added quietly so Emmeline couldn't hear him. "Took advantage of it when they were younger, you know, in case that McLaggen kid tries to get the best of you."

Reg laughed. Whenever he did this, it kind of sounded like a bark. He had no way of knowing he inherited it from Sirius, but those who knew his father picked up on it as soon as they heard it.

"Dad!" Jamie swung his wooden sword around. "Matty and Lily woke up!"

They stayed silent for a second, the cries of Harry's younger children coming to them right away.

"Thank you, Jamie—Don't know how he does it, he's got super hearing," Harry chuckled, getting up from under the tree. "I'll go."

"No, no," Reg stopped him, putting James down and going back to the kitchen's entrance. "It's your birthday, let me do it."

"Looking after my kids isn't something I enjoy avoiding, you know?" Harry mused. 

"I know," the boy smirked. "But I rather deal with those two than the twins."

"Daddy, I'm stuck," Emmeline groaned in perfect timing, hanging upside down above her father's head. 

Mel fell on her bed groaning, absently rubbing her backside. "I'm starting to understand Fred a little, you know? Every family reunion we attend nowadays is packed with children..."

She rolled over and groaned again, so tired she couldn't bring herself to start changing into her night clothes.

"Am I allowed to ask how was work, or will you kill me if I bring it up tonight?" Harry teased her.

Mel glanced at him with the shadow of a smile. "You're a lost cause, Harry James Potter."

"Full name treatment?" He raised his brow. "What did I do?"

Mel pushed herself up to a sitting position. "Three whole decades and not a single one has been enjoyed at a proper pace, you just don't know how to relax, do you?"

"That's rich coming from you," he retorted, kicking off his shoes and crawling to her side.

"I'm a hard worker, that's different," Mel responded, kicking off her own shoes while he got closer. "I'd argue that I at least respect my birthdays."

"Mel, it's time you accept that my way of enjoying life is different from yours, that's all."

The woman eyed him sceptically. "Please, do elaborate."

"I don't enjoy my job, not exactly. I find it gratifying, that I catch dark wizards before they can do real damage, before they can ruin the world we built for our kids. Which brings me..." he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her in. "To you."

"Me?"

"I know I ask you about work a lot," he continued happily. "But if I'm honest, I don't care about your job. You could be a stay-at-home parent and I would still ask about your day, 'cause it's my favourite part of our life together."

Mel frowned. "Really?"

"When we were twelve," he explained, casually helping Mel out of her robes. "I realized that life didn't feel right without your squeaky ramblings buzzing over my ear every day."

"Hey," Mel hit his chest, laughing. "Rude!"

"I'm going somewhere with this, let me finish!" He pressed, catching her wrist before she could push him away.

"Get on with it, then!"

"Well, then we started to spend more time apart, and when the bad times came... part of my comfort was knowing that I'd be the one who would die and not you, a life without your ramblings was a life not worth living."

Mel stared at him, her throat tightening against her will. "Harry..." she whispered. "Don't say that."

He kissed her palm. "I've always admired you for the way you handled everything. I saw it in your eyes that night, Mel, you had come to terms with it," he sighed. "I could never. I would've kept my promise 'til the last moments of the war, but not a moment after."

She spoke quietly, lovingly brushing his hair back. "You say that now 'cause you know you'll never have to do that, but just like you told me, you would've found someone else too."

Harry shook his head, pushing himself up and reaching for one of his shirts so Mel could change into it. "Like I'd be capable of forgetting that easily..."

"I wouldn't be forgetting..."

"My point is..." the man tossed the discarded clothes out of the bed and dressed his wife with gentle hands. "Hearing about your work it's a daily reminder that I'm living my dreams."

"Having a dull life was your dream?" Mel teased him.

"A life with you is never dull," Harry shrugged, then smirked. "Though I wouldn't hate it if you buy me a Quidditch team for Christmas."

"I'm sorry, sir, can you repeat that?"

"Mel, I never repeat myself, let alone when I know I've been heard," Mr Greengrass stated.

"If you wish to retire, I understand," she continued, still not able to breathe right. "But risking to sound rude, Mr Greengrass... Have you lost your mind?"

The man showed a big smile—the first one since she'd met him—and spoke in a bemused tone. "Miss Dumbledore, you are quite rude," he looked at her pointedly. "But only with yourself."

Mel sputtered out a reply and stopped, looking at him wide-eyed. "You just offered me your position in the Department of Mysteries, what am I supposed to do?"

The man looked away as if pondering her question. "Well, I'd start by moving the stuff from your desk to mine."

Mel laughed—with incredulity—and shook her head. "With all due respect, sir, there are Unspeakables here with more years of experience—"

"Other Unspeakables," he interrupted her, "lack your integrity, your intelligence, and your commitment to our cause. I've known, for twelve years now, that your heart is stronger than your magic, which is a good thing in our line of work. What we do here isn't just tinkering with ancient powers, and you..."

Mr Greengrass stood up and placed both hands on his desk, eyes shining.

"You care about making existence a beautiful experience for all kinds. You're the change the department so desperately needs."

Before Mel could argue, the old man raised a hand to stop her and brushed it off.

"Save it. I'm an old man, holding to my position any longer would rot the whole place. Better step out before I lose my good streak," he chuckled. "Do you know, out of all the good work I've done during my entire career, the one thing people bring out the most is your hiring?"

Mel laughed, feeling lots of gratitude. "I don't know what to say..."

"Say yes," he sighed, going back to his seat. "Some people might not like this, but no one with a good head on their shoulders would question your promotion, not after all you've done in the last decade."

"What about Erick Flint?" Mel questioned. "He's my equal in all the ways that matter. He ought to be considered for the spot too."

"Oh, he was," the man raised a brow. "Unfortunately for you, Mrs Dumbledore, he threatened to quit if I didn't choose you as my successor. But between you and I," he lowered his voice. "I know he's quitting anyway."

Mel smiled. Erick was planning to open a shop with Anne in Diagon Alley, but she thought that maybe he would reconsider if Mr Greengrass offered him his position. However, not even the chance to boss Mel around was enough to distract him from his own projects. 

Worse yet, now he'd be able to say he heroically rejected a job so Mel could get it, and he would definitely be insufferable about it for the rest of their lives.

Mel sat on her desk quietly, she could feel Erick's eyes on her, but she ignored him the whole time until their lunch hour.

"You're coming?" She asked, getting up from her chair.

Erick jumped out of his seat and hastily grabbed his stuff. "Yeah."

Mel conversed with him about everything except Mr Greengrass, and she was having a great time torturing him, seeing his expression get tenser the more she stalled. 

They found Ron, Hermione and Harry eating in the corner of their favourite cafeteria. Mel approached them and Erick followed, almost vibrating with expectation.

"Did you know Reggie won the duelling match last Tuesday?" She asked the whole group.

A stream of compliments and cheers came after that, from all except Erick, who loudly dragged his chair back and pushed his plate away. "Come on, Mel, spit it out!"

The group of friends stared at him in shock, but Mel started cackling.

"What's up with you two?" Ron frowned.

"Nothing, just Erick being his usual nosy self," Mel mused.

"I'm your best friend!" He argued.

"Oh, so that's what you want me to say?" Mel raised a brow, still laughing. "You want me to tell the others how generous you are, Prince? Like I don't know you weren't going to take the job in the first place!"

"Did you take it?" Erick asked eagerly.

"Two things," Ron intervened, lifting his fork and pointing it at Erick. "I'm Mel's best friend, you git. Second," he pointed his fork at Mel. "If you don't explain what's going on before the hour ends, I'll force-feed you veritaserum."

"Ron don't go around saying that!" Hermione scolded him. "What would people think if they heard an Auror threatening to misuse their resources?"

"They would think he's an idiot, trying to force-feed Mel Dumbledore anything," Harry responded with a grin. Then he turned his attention back to Mel and Erick. "So what's going on, then?"

"Mel got offered the position of Head of our department."

"What!"

"Are you joking?"

"What?" Harry looked at his wife in surprise. "And what did you say?"

Mel kicked Erick's leg under the table. "He's getting ahead of things! Mr Greengrass is retiring, yes, and he said he would like me to take his spot, but—"

Ron lifted his fork again, now with a carrot in it, to shut her up. "No buts! You're taking it!"

Mel was aghast. "I can't be the Head of the department!"

"So you could be Head Auror at nineteen but you can't be Head Unspeakable at thirty?" Erick taunted her. "I thought you'd grown out of being exasperating..."

"She takes breaks more often than before, but she hasn't quit it," Hermione joined his teasing. "Mel, this is silly, you deserve the position."

Mel fidgeted with her wand, sinking into her chair. "Being Head Auror was easy 'cause it wasn't so different from what I'd been doing back then... this is not the same."

"You'll get to review all projects, of each room in the Department of Mysteries," Erick counted. "Mel, this has been your dream since you were fifteen."

"But you're quitting this year," she frowns. "What if I discover that I hate the position? What if it turns out to be restraining, or I lose my mind a little like my uncle and—"

"You can change the rules, if they don't work there's no reason to keep them," Harry argued. "You told me that when I took your place. But after all you've been through, I doubt you'll be like Dumbledore, mostly 'cause you've learned from past mistakes, his and yours."

Mel heaved a sigh, running a hand through her hair. "A higher rank means less free time, less chances to go out and enjoy the kids..."

"I'll keep an eye on you, we all will," Harry assured her. "If you overdo it, we'll let you know. As Head Auror I'll be in the same meetings as you, I'll see you more often this way, like old times, don't you miss that?"

"I see you every day at home, so not really."

Erick and Ron snorted and laughed. Harry pouted a little. "Sometimes I wonder if you married me out of pity."

"Give it a try, Mel," Hermione patted her hand encouragingly. "We'll be right here if it doesn't work."

"I can always employ you as my secretary if you get fired," Erick joked.

Mel glared at him in annoyance and flicked his nose. "You should quit already."

"Ouch!" He turned back to Harry while rubbing his nose. "You know, sometimes I wonder if she's my friend out of obligation, too."

"Well, anyway, I hope you take the job," Hermione concluded. "You deserve it, and we're all supportive—it's great news."

Harry looked at her trying to convey all the sincerity and love he was feeling. "Whatever comes out of it, we'll manage."

Mel only smiled in response, stealing a piece of chicken from Ron's plate.

"Oh, and just to clarify," Hermione added, looking at Erick and Ron. "I'm Mel's best friend."

Next Chapter ->

Taglist.

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[pbandjesse]

Very sorry that my post didn't get posted on time last night. I was ridiculously tired and had forgotten it in my drafts. Thank you to my mom for pointing that out. It's fixed now.

I felt really really miserable today. Thankfully I am feeling a lot better now but today was really horrible for me. I felt horrible. It was super super hot. I was feeling uncomfortable and puffy in the face and bad. It didn't help that I was just so tired.

I went to sleep before James even came to bed. I had texted them to ask for my weighted blanket and was asleep before they got it. I did wake up enough to notice that the blanket was on me but I was out really quickly after that.

I woke up before the sun and got a drink and accidentally knocked my phone between the wall and the bed. I couldn't get to it and would have to wait until the morning. It didn't matter but I knew the alarm going off would scare me.

Thankfully when James woke up I was able to then move the bed a bit and get my phone before falling back asleep. So it was not super consistent sleep and my dreams were upsetting and I didn't wake up in a great space.

James tried to make me feel better. They packed me a breakfast and some snacks. I would pack the Mac and cheese I got on Saturday. Gave me hugs and kisses and sent me off on time. The plan was for me to stay at camp all week so we have extra kisses. I did not end up staying at camp but it was still a nice way to start the day.

I went to camp and had an alright drive. I got there a few minutes after 8 and was frustrated at how warm it already was. I was feeling uncomfortable but I was trying to remain positive. It was a loosing battle.

James had put my sewing machines in the car so I had to set those up. I did not get a chance to double check that they were working probably yesterday but thankfully they set up easy. I did feel frustrated when SarahMarie asked if I could help her carry water jugs to the back of stockade but I just couldn't. I didn't have time. I had basically no rest today. It was go go go.

And the heat did not help. In the art building and surrounding area it wasn't so bad. But man. It would only get worse everywhere else. Leaving my building felt really really bad.

And I was just so busy. Doing teddy bears is a fun but wildly time consuming project. And I didn't realize how difficult it was going to be to make the tiny bears. The campers would struggle hardcore and we were getting some really silly outcomes. I also made the call that we weren't going to flip them. I just didn't think they would work because of how they were cut. So they look a bit silly but it was still fun to do.

It was sweet when one of the boys told me they were excited that they got to make their bear on Monday so they got to have more time with them. It was so cute.

I had handed out number cards so people knew when it was their turn and that was such a good move. One of the counselors made me feel really nice when he made a fuss about how organized I always was. How I always knew what they were doing when they got there and I had a plan and it made me feel really good. Like I know I'm doing a good job but hearing this guy who is so stoic and I respect say that meant a lot to me.

Especially when I was having such a hard day.

Callie had come through in the morning and asked if she could carry one of my large bears around. I had brought them as an example but I was like actually yes. I'm glad it's getting cuddled.

I didn't go to lunch. Instead I went to the office to microwave my Mac and cheese. But when I went to get my earbuds from my backpack I realized I had forgotten all of my purse contents that I usually transfer over to my camp backpack. No hand sanitizer. No lotion. Not wallet. Not earbuds. I was so bummed. I felt so stupid.

And like it isn't a huge deal. I keep my ID in my phone case. But I just felt really dumb and was so out of sorts I just walked to our cabin to lay down. I needed to be horizontal and in the AC.

The laying down helped. But I just became more and more upset. I did not want to sleep there. I wanted to go home. I wanted to have a cabin for daytime cool downs and the option to sleep over but I was feeling guilty about it too. About not being there for Callie. I want to hang out with her! But I also just. Feel so sad. I feel so miserable inside. I want to be home. I want to come back to our house and it be my little sanctuary. I feel resentment about the heat and the anxiety I am feeling around camp this year. Like we are in week 4! I shouldn't be feeling like this. Thankfully I have a vacation next week.

Speaking about this vacation. James would help get me checked in and scanned my passport for the app. I would buy my two packages I wanted to make the trip nicer for me. Specifically the soda package and the Internet package. I figure I'm not paying for the cruise so if I want this it isn't a huge deal. And I think it will make me feel better to have access to messaging James and doing my post and being able to watch videos and just feel connected. I don't want to be on TikTok much but I do want the option when we are just chilling. Even if it's not a need, it will make me feel better.

And I needed that. While I was sitting doing that research the alarms started going off. There was an emergency drill and we all needed to go to the field. I grabbed my sunglasses and water and walked down to be with the rest of specialty staff.

We were missing at least 2 groups which is not great. Like yeah it's a drill. But you don't continue to do a bathroom run for your whole group. Hustle down here.

It was basically the hottest part of the day and I was really struggling in the sun. I'm sure everyone was. And because of the drill my last day camp group, group 1, missed the first half hout. So they would not have time to sew. Instead they would decorate a bear and I would sew them together and deliver them later. Kenny was in this group and kept asking if it was done yet but I was not even working on theirs yet. There were three groups ahead of there's to finish! But I would get them all done. Mainly during my last program.

I felt bad not hanging out with Bontkirchen but they are pretty self sufficient. They wanted to put beads in their hair and do henna and make bracelets. Love it. So they were out back doing that while I was inside sewing. Periodically they would come in to ask for a material and I would give them what I had. I felt bad but I just needed to finish this sewing ASAP.

I was falling apart though. Alexi got on the walkie to let us know the heat index was 107 and we needed to stay cool best we could. I had planned on going swimming but I didn't think I could stay. I needed to go home.

Once I was done sewing everything together I texted Callie that I felt really bad but I had to leave. She said she's not upset with me. But I still feel bad. Guilty. But I needed to go home.

It was a rough drive. I let James know that I was coming home and they made a comment about changing their plans (they were going to trivia with Joel) and I melted down. I started crying. I didn't want them to change their plans. I want people to stop doing that. I wanted to be alone. And I felt like I was coming off mean in texts telling them I wanted to be alone. So I called them and was crying and driving and I just wanted to go home.

They would help me calm down. They understood I wasn't being mean. And they would let me be alone to decompress. And everything would be okay.

I would get stuck in some traffic. But once I was through that we would say goodbye and I would drive the last 15 minutes home list ring to a podcast and trying to not cry anymore.

When I got home I noticed that the business on corner that has been getting demoed has a fence around it. Which usually means the whole building is coming down. Which is neat! But also that made our street loose like 5 parking spaces. So that's not great! But we will have to figure that out going forward.

I did get a spot though and James was waiting for me on the steps. I didn't need anything to come inside so I was just happy to see them.

We would hang out inside. I would go take a shower first. Pet the animals. And then cuddle on the couch with James until it was time for them to leave for trivia. They made me a tomato sandwich. Things were slowly feeling less horrible.

Being alone for a few hours helped a ton. I would tidy the living room and put things away. I fixed some things and finished clearing out the wardrobe in the studio. It's getting moved upstairs to the guest room. Eventually. But I was happy to get that cleared.

I would spend some time upstairs going through my packing pile for the cruise. My new duffle bag is supposed to be here tomorrow. But I am still not positive what bag/bags I will be using for this trip. But I feel pretty secure about what I'm bringing and what outfits are for what days. It was nice to hang out and fold things.

I also got to interact with Crabcake for a little. He was climbing and digging and hanging out in his water. Just being a cutie.

Sweetp was being good today too. And I was just happy to be around my animals.

I got in bed to write this. And James got home right as I started writing. They had a tough bike ride back. Getting very winded at the end there. But they are hydrated and showered now and we are going to start winding down for sleep.

Tomorrow I hope is a better day. Maybe I'll stay over. Maybe I'll swim. I'm not making any promises either way. I just want to feel okay. Whatever that means for me.

I hope you all have a good night. Take care of yourself. Wash your hands. I love you all. Goodnight!

[blackoctober-blog]

Hi. This Horror-blog78 and this is my new side blog I made for my project called Black October. I just wanted to say that all my work will appear here and all the updates will also appear here.

Well what else can I say. Just thank you all for supporting me and enjoying my work. I swear I really work hard on this project and I really enjoy it.

So be welcomed to first Black October blog i made 😊.

Also I would like to thank @angel-lopes2000 for her hard work on this project. So it's our blog and project from now on. Go check out her blog because it's great. She writes great Carrie stories 🤗💕.

Still my original blog is here: @horror-blog-78

My other blogs:

@horror-blog-78

@pals-house-blog

@shark-blog-stuff

@spaceprojectsblog

@bloodychristmasblog

@monster-highblog

@applefield-bizzare-murder

@that-70-blog

@loveandhealing-comfortblog

@evildeadblog

@dr-house-blog

@horrorblogafterhours

🍁Black October Masterlist🍁

✍️Characters designs✍️

🩸Black October🍁

Art 🎨

Suzanne boyfriend design

My characters:

🍁Suzanne Jones🍁

Suzanne Jones headcanons

More Suzanne headcanons because i can and i want

Suzanne Jones moodboard

🩸Alex Grove🩸

Alex Grove past

Alex possession

☯Jill Bradley☯

☯Jill Bradley headcanons☯

☯Jill Bradley moodboard☯

🎀Rose Smith🎀

🎀Rose Smith headcanons🎀

🎀Rose Smith moodboard🎀

🎻James Carter🎻

James Carter moodboard

💕James and Suzanne fluffy scenarios💕

Suzanne and James day off

🍪 Cookies 🍪

💕Shopping hours🛍

⛱️ Beach 💕

💕Sweet autumn time🍁

💕Horror movies🩸

💕 Relax session with Suzanne and James💕

James and Suzanne romantic date

💕Black October alternative universe💕

💕Trip to the aquarium🦈

James taking care of sick Suzanne

Black October 2004

Black October 2004 characters

Hospital scene

She's gone

Old school scene

Cemetery visit

[dustedmagazine]

Henry Kaiser — Mahalo Nui (Metalanguage)

John Fahey was 27 years old when he recorded Requia. While parts of it play as a sincere ceremony of remembrance for people who meant something to him, it was nonetheless the work of an ornery young man. That provenance showed, especially on the spectacularly trollish, side-long musique concrete composition, “Requiem For Molly.” Henry Kaiser knows all about Fahey, guitars experimental music, and Requia in particular. He’s recorded a couple albums of his own using that title, and posed for one of them in a visual homage to Fahey’s record. But Kaiser’s also managed to live a longer life than Fahey, very different but no less astounding. He has been able to carry on a career as a boundary-straddling guitarist who gets to play whatever he wants with pretty much whoever he wants and also to work as a research diver with a specialty in under-ice video work.

Several tracks from this projectstarted out as a COVID-era project, when Kaiser included among the regular YouTube videos that he posted from lockdown with shout-outs to recently passed musicians, such as Steffen Basho-Junghans and David Lindley. Over time, the partings tend to proliferate. Kaiser found himself with ten mostly-solo tracks that shared two criteria: they memorialized fellow travelers who adventured with him upon or under the ice, or who made music, films or musical instruments; and they continued Kaiser’s decades-long determination to do more with the guitar than it previously had been able to do. These became Mahalo Nui.

Born in 1951, Kaiser has now lived long enough to know loss in ways that Fahey could not when he recorded Requia in 1967. Across its two sides, Fahey dug deep into sorrow and respect, and also let fly some ill-focused antagonism. You’ll some sorrow on Mahalo Nui, particularly on the sole non-solo performance, a slide guitar trio in honor of David Lindley. But you’ll hear a lot more joy and gratitude; the album’s title translates from Hawaiian as Thank You Very Much. “Hard Time Killin’ Spoonful Requiem For Paul Hostetter” mashes up Derek Bailey and Skip James gestures with more glee than rue; perhaps Kaiser assembled the performances from licks that the late luthier loved? The glistening tones and complex timbres of “Antarctic Requiem For Liz Sutter & Bija Sass,” which is named after two of his fellow Antarctic travelers, evoke a state of drifting wonder and weightless solace.

In 1990, I caught a Kaiser solo concert and came away as impressed with the looming height of his effects rack as I was with his music. He’s never been afraid to indulge the possibilities of technology and technique, and there have certainly been times when they have gotten the better of him. That never happens on Mahalo Nui. The occasions when he foregrounds technical interventions, such as the school of psychedelic blurs on “Mysterious Requiem For Paul Plimley” and the real-time combination of scything slide guitar and MIDI-controlled piano notes on “Some Of The Great Ancestors Inside My Guitar,” pay off real musical dividends. This record makes a strong case for both the technical and emotional aspects of Kaiser’s art. One caveat for those who prefer physical formats; if you go to Kaiser’s Bandcamp page, this title is only offered as a download. However, it is also available as a CD if you’re willing to search a bit.

Bill Meyer

[piotrekperezdesigner]

Today I received the great news of having been selected as the winner in the Global Footwear Awards, GFA in the #AthleticSport category, for my technical sports project focused on soccer, -Evolution Cup 23- carried out in my previous international company Joma Sport.

It is an honor to receive this design award Global Footwear Awards, GFA , is more than a recognition of my work in my previous company it is the culmination of hours of dedication, effort, and passion for what I do. At this moment, I want to express my sincere thanks to everyone who has made this achievement possible. To all my colleagues in the design, product, and production team who made the completion of this work possible. This award not only represents an individual achievement but also serves as a reminder of the importance of working together, learning from each other, and pursuing excellence with passion and dedication. I am grateful for this honor and excited about what the future holds for me in the exciting world of design now at AWWG This award propels me to surpass my own limits, to explore new possibilities, and to continue growing as a designer Pepe Jeans London.

I want to express my gratitude to the event organizers for providing a platform that celebrates creativity and talent in footwear design. I also thank the judges for their hard work and for recognizing the aesthetic and functional value of my work at Joma Sport.

Among the esteemed jury panel are renowned personalities such as Felipe Fiallo, Founder & Creative Director of Felipe Fiallo S.R.L.S, who, after working for Ferragamo and creating concepts for Stella McCartney and adidas Maker Lab, is now focused on luxury sneakers and footwear. Jury member Sissi Johnson, an MBA professor and Founder of SelfSells, has had her work featured by Forbes, CNN, The New York Times, Vogue, and the V&A Museum. Sean Williams a well-respected NYC-based sneaker lover for over 37 years, serves as a sneaker industry consultant to brands worldwide and is a co-founder of the SOLEcial Studies sneaker industry education program... Jazerai Allen - Lord is a multihyphenate creative with deep roots in sneaker culture. She work with brands as New Balance, Nike, Reebok. Richard Kuchinsky, Founder and Owner of The Directive Collective, Joining these luminaries are Robbie Fuller, Creative Director at Anta Group, James Lee Thompson, the innovative strategist from On, Oronzo De Matteis 奥龍佐马蒂斯🇮🇹, the visionary behind OROORO BRAND LUXURY, Ann Williams, Co-Founder and Footwear Design Director at Schwilliamz Creative Consultants, and Mary Norton, the Luxury Accessories Design Director/Specialist at Savannah College of Art and Design

Again, thank you all for this incredible honor.

More information is available at: https://lnkd.in/dy_g839U https://lnkd.in/d_dY9jSw

JOMA SPORT, S.A. Season_ FW23

Photo Credit: Joma Sport, S.A

Project Type_ New Upper

Product Management_ Maite Torrijos

Product Development_ Daniel Álvarez

Product Design / Colour and Material_ P. Pérez

[changingplumbob]

New Goth Household: Chapter 3, Part 4

It's time for Milton to turn 6 and become a proper child, I shall miss his little face 😭 We take a quick trip to the humor and hijinks festival, Joey prepares for his first day of real work

Marta: Buenos dias carino

Keira: You okay? You seemed restless last night

Marta: Just a few bad dreams

Keira: Was he in them

Marta: He’s only ever in the bad ones. Gertrude why are you up here

Keira: I think she’s trying to establish territory

Marta: I got to get to work, I’ll see you later, te amo

Keira: Bye, love you to

James: I can’t believe I forgot to make the cake

Alexander: Sweets you were busy with the grand meal yesterday

James: I know but Milton deserves a good birthday

Alexander: I still can’t believe Father Winter wouldn’t give him anything

James: I got so mad, needed cat time. Don’t you have a project you should be working on

Alexander: Not losing your memory yet I see

James: Go love. I have this under control

Once the cake is sorted James gives Hamlet some snuggles and the two become companions! Gertrude is aloof so winning her over will take longer. The doorbell rings and Cassandra is here!

James: No kids

Cassandra: They  were in grumpy moods this morning, I decided that if they were here they’d only ruin Milton’s day

The adults sit and talk in the library until Milton emerges for the day. He needed a long sleep after Father Winter was the biggest bully around screw that guy.

Milton: Cassandra!

Cassandra: Hey little brother. You ready to age up

Alexander carries Milton to the freshly baked cake.

Alexander: Okay buddy, let’s blow them out

Milton: Can I has help

Alexander: We can do it together. Three, two, one The two Goth boys blow the candles out and Milton laughs in delight. He is put down, spins it out, and…

Six year old Milton is here! Is it just me or is it hard to find younger kid clothes in cas? Like most of them seem good for preteens but maybe it’s just me. Back to Milton, he has spun the geek trait. I swear it was not my choice despite the poll. He also has the slumber party animal aspiration and is a 1 star celeb? It must be from Mortimer dying as a 5 star celeb.

Black joins yellow and orange as his favourite colours. He rolled liking photography, telling jokes and talking about hobbies. Alexander and James got him some voidcritters.

Keira: Happy birthday

Milton: Thanks, what did you get me

Keira: Oh I haven’t-

Milton: Joking!

Alexander: I think your comedic timing needs some work

Hamlet: *meows* no kidding

The household, minus James who needs a nap after working out, head to the humor and hijinks festival.

Joey: Oi, there’s Morgan

Keira: The one who cheated on me, thank you for pointing her out

Joey: What if, and hear me out, I woohoo her. Like a revenge woohoo on your behalf. I need to get my count up

Keira: *sighs* You know she’s a lesbian right Joey

Joey: Wouldn’t be the first lesbian to sleep with a dude

Keira: Knock yourself out but I’m telling you, you’ll just make a fool of yourself. I'm going to catch up with Marta

Joey: Hey hottie, nice to see you

Morgan: Is it? And since when do you call me hottie

Joey: Oh you know, couldn’t do it when you were dating my friend but I do love redheads. And you in that leather, damn girl

Morgan: *laughs*

Joey: You know, I’m actually a celebrity now. Starting down that path to roll in the fortunes. You could always roll with me if you know what I mean

Morgan: I have some idea

Joey: So what do you say? I’m sure there’s a woohoo spot somewhere here

Morgan: Yikes. You know I’m gay right

Joey: Well yeah but-

Morgan: So keep your pixel parts in your pants and away from me. Unless you’ve suddenly sprouted a vagina, I’m not interested

Morgan turns and walks off.

Joey: I'm not saying I'm a woman but you know Morgan, not all women have vaginas!

He looks over to his housemates who all seem to be having a good time. Figuring they’ll be happy here for a bit he decides to head home and see if Rita is still good for coming over.

Rita is indeed still keen to come over for Joey’s standard collection picture (I have a bad memory so this is just the best way for me to keep track of his count, he's not a complete sleeze, he doesn't score them or any creepy ick). Of course the photo session soon turns into something else as the two take advantage of having more space than the inside of a nightclub bathroom.

When the rest of the household returned from the festival James had finished being critically tired. Milton went straight up to bed while James and Marta chatted as Keira and Alexander finished off their homework. When all was done, everyone of consenting age in the household got lucky that night.

Joey: Thanks for coming so quickly

Tuesday: It’s 5am, you better have a good reason for needing this

(actually Tuesday was the one who contacted Joey requesting a hook up but I changed it around for story purposes)

Joey: My new job starts today and I really don’t want to get in any woohoo entanglements with coworkers. That’s just opening myself up to future harassment lawsuits when I make it big

Tuesday: Okay but I’ve got stuff to do to, so we better play in the shower

Joey: A new location, I’m up for that!

Marta: Really Gertrude? Every morning

Gertrude: *meows* This never gets old

When Marta sits down to have her early breakfast she sees a new face across the table

Marta: Oh hi, I’m Marta

Tuesday: Damn, you’re cute. I’m Tuesday

Marta: Right, Joey’s woohoo buddy. I was thinking it was odd a hook up would stay the night

Tuesday: *laughs* I didn’t, he just needed some unwinding this morning. You know, if you ever need unwinding-

Marta: Thank you but I’m happily taken

Joey: Shower done, teeth brushed, breakfast-

Hamlet: *scoffs*

Joey: Really bro? At least let me get a plate

Tuesday: If you do that, I guarantee it lasts longer

Joey: Are you talking woohoo tips without me

Keira eats her breakfast quietly while Tuesday tells Marta all about various girl on girl woohoo techniques. She really wished she could just disappear from this conversation.

Joey: Wish I could do that

Tuesday: Don’t be ridiculous, you love throwing your pixel parts around

Joey: That’s... not untrue

James: For the love of- Gertrude, did you tip the trash out again? Hamlet you have got to stop eating it

Joey: My first real job, wish me luck dudes

James: Are you wearing a pressed suit

Joey: No because it’s not the 1800s

James: Kids and your “fashion” these days

Joey: Trust me James, if I show up in a suit people wouldn’t believe I want to be a tech bro

Keira has a day without classes, and is all up to date on her homework and exam prep. She heads off to Sulani and spends some time snorkelling among the reefs. She does love how all the fish seem to have their own patterns. She’s thinking marine biology could be a good field to get in to.

After some time she seeks out deeper waters and purchases some dive gear. For now she can afford a rebreather, a dive knife and an underwater camera. Heading below the surface she enjoys seeing bigger creatures, as well as more variety. She manages to capture a photo for her wall. It may be normal quality but she thinks it’s beautiful.

As she swims she thinks. Tuesday was so open and candid about her woohoo life. Marta seemed interested in what she had to say to. Maybe she is a prude if she doesn’t like discussing her woohoo life with anyone but Marta. But does Marta mind that? She knows Marta is naturally curious, so are they properly compatible?

Keira decides to go meet Marta at the end of her shift and suggests they talk.

Marta: Are you all right carino, you look upset

Keira: It’s just Tuesday. She was saying such explicit things and I worry I’m not adventurous enough for you

Marta: Surely you’re interested in how to increase our pleasure

Keira: Well sure but I'd rather have those discussions with just you

Marta: We didn't discuss what you and I do, did we? Our woohoo life is our business carino, I wouldn’t go sharing it like that

Keira: But you talked about the other women you’ve been with. I’m worried I’m not doing enough

Marta: Listen to me carino, and hear me. Te amo, I love you

Keira: Yeah

Marta: That is making the woohoo we share the best woohoo I’ve had. I trust you. Maybe we haven’t launched into the range of positions that exist but every time I’m with you, you leave me satisfied

Keira: Sorry for overreacting

Marta: Remember what I said, communication is important. I’d rather we talk through our worries instead of boxing them up

Keira: Our worries?

Marta: I... I saw him today

Previous Part ... Next Part

[i-hope-youre-hopeful]

On Apocalyptic Meteorological events and other little oddities

A few days ago I saw a total solar eclipse. It was only one of the surreal and impossible to process moments I’ve had this week. The sky grew dark and the air got cold and the wind picked up and the world seemed as if it stopped moving to look at what was happening. People all over stood outside and stared up at the sky and birds congregated in trees and street lights around the park came on in the middle of the day. This is what it was like when you died wasn’t it? The world grew dark and cold for a moment. We all felt dark and cold for a moment. But then the sun came back out and the dead rose and the birds started flying again and the street lights turned off in the park and everything was different. How funny that a moment in a shadow feels like the world is ending. How foolish to think we are special because we witnessed something that happens all the time where we don’t bother to look. How small to be human. How strange to be anything at all.

Your creation is incredible and awe inspiring and beautiful and wonderful. Thank you for this opportunity. Thank you for this world.

Today I took my exit exam for school. I am officially allowed to graduate. I scored in the 95th percentile nationally, I think. I’m not 100% sure but I think that’s really good! I told my mom but she didn’t really care. She did a good job at responding as excitedly as she could, but she doesn’t feel much of anything positive lately. It’s not her fault, but I was kind of bummed because I felt so excited when I left the testing center and it dissipated so quickly when I told her. I didn’t tell Hunter because I didn’t want him to feel like I was bragging, or feel dumber because of what a know-it-all I am. I might tell my friends, I don’t know. It’s hard to know what to tell who. I did tell my dad though, and he said he was proud of me and that he was continually impressed with my abilities. My dad fails me just like all humans fail each other, but he really is one of the best people in my life at making me feel loved.

Tonight I’ve been having a hard time pushing away feelings of fear toward losing my parents. I love them terribly, and if I lose them I just feel like I won’t be able to go on. I know I’ll be okay, I always am, you always make sure I am. But days like today make me scared of the day when I can’t just text my dad and tell him about my good grade or pop over to my mom’s with Starbucks for a quick lunch before I head to Hunter’s. It makes me cherish this time I’m in even though it’s hard, and while I yearn for things to be better I fear for a future when they are not the same anymore. Thank you for giving me my family. Help me cherish them without holding them too tightly. Help me have peace in knowing I’ll have them exactly as long as I’m supposed to.

Graduating is real now. I’m really graduating from college. I’m really ending my time as a student, a role I’ve had most of my life. In a few days my cap and gown will arrive. A few days after that I will leave for Chicago to present my last research project with Dr. Drouin’s lab. A few days after that I will attend my very last lectures and take my final exams. I will hit “submit” on my last assignments, and say goodbye to my classmates for the last time. The next week I will walk through a sea of other graduates in a huge echoey room and hear everyone talk about what an accomplishment this is, even though I don’t feel like I did anything anyone else couldn’t do. And then a new chapter begins and an old one ends. I will start working at the Mirro Center, and start planning for my next steps to grad school, and start feeling that familiar unfamiliarity of a new place and new people. Everything that will be easy eventually will be hard first. I will carry a heaviness in my heart and a lump in my throat even as I feel accomplished and excited. So it goes.

I met James in real life the other day. He’s real! I’m real! We met in Plymouth and it was so surreal. We got drinks at a plant cafe, walked through the park, walked all over town, toured a museum, got lunch at a bar and grill, walked some more, went through an antique shop, drove to Kroger, and then I drove back to town and spent the evening with Hunter and Rachel and Kyle and John and Lily. It was a beautiful perfect spring day and we explored a tiny town which is one of my favorite things to do. It felt like spending time with anyone really. Like being with Rachel or Carissa. It felt nice and easy and happy. He questioned why I stopped in the middle of the grass and it made me realize he’s never known that I always look for four leaf clovers. He’s never had to know before now. i realized how I take for granted that my friends know things about me. Hunter always waits patiently while I hunt for clovers, and usually he helps me look. I love that he knows me. I got to see all the little mannerisms that I didn’t know James had and he got to see mine. I can’t believe I’ve known him nearly four years. What a blessing to have a friend.

It’s been beautiful outside lately. It’s my favorite season now. April brings me a feeling of refreshment and clarity and joy that no other time of year knows how to match. Of course there is the constant stress of being constantly busy and the unrelenting anxiety of things nearing an end, but that’s just how it be sometimes. It has been warm and sunny lately, and the plants are starting to grow colorful and the animals are starting to wake up and the world is coming back to life and so am I. I didn’t know if I would make it to another spring. I always do. I don’t know why I always feel like I’ll never survive. Thank you for the warm weather. For the sunshine. For life and rebirth.

[awesomerextyphoon]

In From the Cold

Summary: Bucky comes home with little friend he found on a cold winter night. 

Pairing: Bucky x Black Female Reader 

Rating: 16/Teen

Word Count 1.2K

A/N: Some of the words are in Igbo with translation. Thanks to @mrsmischief209​ for the beta!

Back to Masterlist

“I hope Bucky gets back soon. The food’s getting cold,” your worried eyes spied the clock as thick flurries of snow blanketed the ground. 

“Don’t worry Mommy!” your daughter, Obioma, reassured you from the dinner table, “Daddy will be back soon! We aren’t being chased by bad men anymore!” 

“I know, I know Oma Nwam (dear),” you murmured as you kissed your daughter’s forehead, “It’s just that I worry.” 

And who could blame you? 

Ever since you met James three years ago, people have been after you. 

It started when you wanted to go to Trader Joe’s for movie snacks. You wanted to reward yourself for a grueling week of work and for picking up your co-workers slack again. The bright red of the store sign graced your skin when you heard a blast. 

The vestiges of HYDRA was looking for their Winter Soldier and they were done being tactful. 

Everything was a flurry of reds, oranges, yellows, and black as people ran for shelter. You almost vomited when you saw a man get sliced in half by falling debris. 

You plummeted to the ground after get the wind knocked out of you by the frantic crowd of panicked civilians. Closing your eyes in defeat, you waited for Death’s sweet embrace. But it never came. Instead, strong arms carried you to safety. 

You were saved by an angel who insists on being called otherwise. Though he did accept your offer to bum off your couch for a few days. 

Soon you realized that the Adonis who saved you was the one and only Bucky Barnes. You giggled at his bashful expression when you called him out on it. Here’s a man who battled against Captain America on equal footing, but couldn’t look you in the eye at a small question. 

It didn’t take long for the two of you to become friends in between running from HYDRA, Secret US Government Organizations, and assholes who wanted his vibranium arm. 

–––––

The first kiss came as an accident. 

You were watching Lily & Stitch and Bucky was having a moment connecting to Stitch and you to Lilo. 

Bucky turned to you and wondered,“Do you think…I could change? Become a better person?”

You frowned at the tears welling up in his eyes. Here was a man who was nearly abandoned as POW experiment by his nation in during WW2 before being saved by his friend. A man who then was mind raped for nearly TWENTY YEARS until those fucking dobbers got their ‘fist’. A man who was trapped in his own mind for decades committing unspeakable crimes against humanity and the planet for the powers who wanted to ‘guide the people’. A man who never got to say goodbye to his loved ones robbed of nearly every chance to find peace. 

A man who despite everything he’s been through, he still wants do good and protect others. 

“Bucky, you are so much more than what HYDRA made you. You’re my angel,” you declared as you went in to kiss him on the cheek. 

––––

It took about two months of Sam and Nat ribbing both of you for being idiots to start dating. Barely two dates in and Steve caught you making out in the car like a couple of horny teenagers. 

Sam got a picture of it and sent it to Natasha. 

You gave birth to Obioma eight months later. 

A few months after giving birth to your beautiful baby girl, the US Gov’t finally backed off when Nat threatened to dump info on several redacted projects to the public. 

For the first time in nearly a century, Bucky was at peace. 

Then your daughter started walking at five months and talking at seven. Plus she crushed a hard plastic toy in her chubby little hands which caused your anxiety to spike for a bout two seconds before remembering Nat strong-armed the US Gov’t into getting off your backs.

––––

“Mommy! Mommy!” Obioma exclaimed, running to the front door, “Daddy’s home!” 

“Hello sunshine!”, Bucky picked up his adorable daughter,” How was your day?” 

“I went to Aunty Nat’s place for playtime and to make cookies! Then I went to Uncle Bruce for studying and met his cousin Jennifer!” 

“You met his cousin Jennifer? What was she like?”

“She’s really nice and fun! Plus, she taught me how to get out of taking a quiz!” Obioma jumped out her Nnam’s (dad’s) embrace bouncing up and down with unrestrained glee. 

“What did she say?” 

“She said to get Auntie Nat-“ 

“She said to get Nat to talk to Bruce in a closet.” You interrupted not wanting a repeat of this afternoon. You had a quick sidebar with cousin Jen. 

“Huh.” 

“Hey Daddy, what’s in your jacket?” Obioma stopped jumping long enough to notice the small lump near the top Bucky’s jacket. 

“Well sunshine,” Bucky knelt in front of the toddler,”This little one,” He slowly unzipped his jacket,”was lost and decided to give our family a chance.” 

Bucky unfurled his large hands to reveal,”Is that a snowball, Daddy?” 

“No Oma,” you giggled,”It’s a kitten.” 

You didn’t know what to make of the next few minutes. Your little Oma backed away from Bucky, afraid of hurting the kitten. 

No doubt she’s heard some of the slander peddled by sad, pathetic mothers with way too much time on their hands. 

She took on step out to your husband and the pure white ball of fur terrified of hurting the little ball of fur. 

“It’s okay, Sunshine,”Bucky coaxed with an outstretched hand,”Come and say Hello.” 

Obioma carefully stretched out her chubby little hand to pet the tiny kitty. 

Her eyes widened with joy when the tiny feline crept into her hands. You were able to sneak in a pic for Nat.

“Where did you find her James?”

Bucky pulled the kitten and his Sunshine into his arms,“I was walking home when a heard a ruckus a few blocks away. Turns out some punks ganged up on this little one.” 

“Oh no! Poor Kitty!” Obioma exclaimed with tears threatening to fall from her eyes. 

“I know, sunshine,”Bucky mumbled into her forehead wiping away her tears, “But this little one was so brave! She refused to back down, but she needed a little help. So I walked up to them and they ran off. Then she ran up to my shoulder like a tree, or a mountain.”

“A mountain?” 

“Yes, Sunshine. Poor little kitty was scared. Probably the first time anyone’s helped her.”

“Can she stay with us, Daddy?” 

Bucky flashed you his ‘playful DILF smile’, “I dunno. It’s gonna be a lot of responsibility taking care of her.”

“Pwlease!” Your daughter flashed the Puppy Dog Eyes and Pout guaranteeing her victory. Both of you have a hard time saying no to her as it is. 

“Alright, Oma,” Bucky passed your daughter to you awaiting arms,”What do you want to call our travel little kitty?” 

“Um, Auntie Nat talked about the Awlps at story time. Mommy, what was the word she used?” 

“Alpine, Nwam.” 

“Alpine!” 

“Alpine it is!” Bucky declared before rubbing his nose against Obioma’s.

“Well, now that we have welcomed our newest member to the family, let’s go eat. The food’s getting cold.” 

“Yay!” Obioma ran to the dining room. 

–––

“My kind angel saved a kitty this evening. That deserves a reward,”You whispered leaning to kiss Bucky only for you to jerk your head , “But, you didn’t call and we were so worried.” 

“I’m sorry, sweetheart.” 

“I know, I know. I wonder how I’ll reward you?” 

Bucky chuckled and kissed your neck,”I’ll think of something.” 

[myveryownfanfiction]

Requested by: @icehooligan

Request:

Hi there! I think this might be a little weird request, but I hope it will turn out to be something useful or worth to write! I don't have a specific character in mind, but definitely James Spader, if you feel like it could suit one of his characters you also write for, totally feel free to go with it. I was thinking about a rather comforting story where y/n is going through a hard burnout and feels kind of hopeless and unmotivated. Thank you forward for your answer!

18+ MINORS AND THOSE WITHOUT AGE IN BIO DNI

YOU WILL BE BLOCKED

AN: hope you are feeling a bit better and this story helps! My inbox is always open for Spader. Hope this is good as I’m dealing with my own burnout with writing at the moment.

warnings: burnout, lack of motivation, Steff smoking weed and trying to get reader to as well

I let out a groan as I fell onto the couch in the living room. I could hear soft footsteps padding into the room from the office. There was a soft ‘hmm’ from above me.

“Rough day?” I groaned and Steff chuckled. “Alright. Worse than that. What’s wrong?” I felt my legs get picked up and then put into his lap as Steff sat down.

“I feel burned out. Like no matter what I do, what decision I make, no ideas come to me.” I groaned out into the couch cushions. “There’s a deadline for a new project. It’s next week. Everyone has to bring something to the table. But I have nothing to contribute.” I rolled over finally and looked at Steff. He was slowly drawing circles on my thigh.

“You won’t like my suggestion.” I narrowed my eyes at him. “Either one of them.” I draped an arm over my eyes and waved a hand to let him know he could continue. “First, and this is the adult one, use something that you had before that never went through. It’s not giving up and it will allow you something to present.” I peeked at him from over my arm.

“second?” I asked, eye brow raised.

“Oh you know the second.” He smirked at me before laying over me to press a kiss to my lips. I shoved him off me.

“Steff! Get off!” He laughed as he sat up and pulled me with him.

“That’s another option.” I shoved his shoulder again before leaning forward and pressing my face into his neck.

“No Steff.” His hand made its way to my shoulder and gently worked at the tense muscles. “Now be serious. What’s your other suggestion?” Steff pressed a kiss to my temple and stood up, maneuvering me so he could carry me bridal style into his office. He set me down in his chair before walking over to the small box sitting on the book shelf.

“We could always get lit.” He turned around with a white piece of paper and a small baggie in his hand. I shook my head.

“Steff, we’ve talked about this. I can’t. If they ask me to take a drug test and I fail, they can fire me. No questions asked.” Steff pouted.

“hey I’m trying to help you here.” He pointed out, setting the material on the desk and starting to roll his own joint. “If you don’t want to fine. But I’m going to. And then, maybe just maybe I’ll have a better suggestion for you.” Steff raised an eyebrow, waiting for me to make a decision.

“I can’t. Go ahead though. I’m going to take a nap.” I rubbed my eyes as I got up and made my way to our bedroom. I could hear Steff let out a sigh of relief as he took his first drag. It wasn’t long before I dropped of. I was woken up a few hours later by the bed dipping. A gentle kiss was pressed to my cheek as I got wrapped up in Steff’s arms.

“You awake?” I shifted in his arms so we were face to face. “Ah. You are.” A kiss was pressed to my nose. “I’m sorry for earlier. I know we have that conversation every time. It’s the only way I know to deal with it. I’m working on it.” I nodded as I ran a hand through Steff’s hair. His eyes closed as I gently tugged through some knots that had formed at the ends. “Tell me what I can do to help. I’ll do it. Just tell me what it is you need.”

“I don’t know.” I sighed out as I tucked my head under his chin. “That’s part of the problem. If I know what was causing this, I’d try to stop it already.” I felt Steff kiss the top of my head.

“It’s alright. You’ll figure something out. And if you don’t, I’ll come up with something. We’re in this together right?” I nodded as I tightened my grip on him.