#the hotel dupont

[demospectator]

“Jewish Balloon Man” c. 1896 – 1906. Photograph by Arnold Genthe (from the collection of the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division). Two Chinese men and a child inspect the offerings from a balloon seller at the northwest corner of the intersection of Dupont and Jackson streets, just outside the Globe Hotel.

Balloon Men of Old Chinatown

In the 21st century, online research is more likely to produce a plethora of entries about a Chinese spy balloon rather than the balloon sellers of pre-1906 Chinatown. Nevertheless, the photographic images of the non-Chinese balloon and toy vendors remain worthy of examination and consideration.

Toy balloon vendors plying their wares in old Chinatown, in addition to the storefronts of non-Chinese owned or operated businesses, provided a modest counter-narrative to the perception that the neighborhood represented an entirely foreign enclave. Historian Jack Tchen has written that "[s]everal white novelty peddlers on Dupont Street sold to tourists visiting Chinatown and the Barbary Coast. In contrast to the the often antagonistic relations between the Chinese and the irish and Italians, little conflict occurred between Jews and Chinese. Reportedly, two German Jewish brothers, known as the 'Sa Ling Brothers,' ran a store on Dupont Street and even spoke fluent Cantonese."

Even a notorious exoticist as Arnold Genthe, who went to great lengths to crop or scratch out non-Chinese figures and businesses from his photos of old Chinatown, could not resist taking his own photographs of balloon sellers catering to the whimsy of the 1,000 to 2,0000 children who lived in old Chinatown by the turn of the 20th century.

Buying Balloons or “The balloon man” c. 1897. Photograph by Arnold Genthe (from the collections of the California Historical Society and the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division). In this wider angle shot, a balloon seller working in Chinatown shows his wares to two boys and four girls. Based on the children’s attire (especially the headdresses worn by the girls), the photo was probably taken around the New Year holidays when children were seen walking freely around the neighborhood.

“The Balloon Man” c. 1897. Photograph by Arnold Genthe (from the collections of the California Historical Society and the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division).

The California Historical Society’s Director of Exhibitions, Erin Garcia, wrote about CHS’ copy of Genthe’s published print of his photo, The Balloon Man, as follows:

“In The Balloon Man, one of many photographs by Arnold Genthe (1869–1942) in the California Historical Society’s collection, we find ourselves transported to San Francisco’s Chinatown at the dawn of the twentieth century on a holiday. Children dressed in finery and group of men gather on a street corner around a balloon seller. Floating near their heads are three shiny orbs, rendered with a metallic luster on the gelatin silver photographic paper. The image is strangely dark and moody despite the festive subject matter and this piques my interest. The children should be delighted, but we cannot see their faces. The somber tone continues throughout the composition with the children surrounded by a mass of men in dark clothing. The balloon vendor is so darkly printed in his black coat and hat that he is practically indistinguishable from the background. All we see of his bouquet of balloons are the two attached to his stick; the rest hover above, beyond the frame of the photograph. We are not permitted to see the spectacle nor the reaction of those watching it. Instead Genthe wants us to focus on the children, in their bright clothing, like lights shining amid an indistinct darkness."

A child and a balloon man, c. 1889. Photographer unknown (taken in the manner of Sam Cheney Partridge?) from the Jesse B. Cook collection at The Bancroft Library. A third identifiable balloon seller working in Chinatown shows his wares to a boy

The Balloon Man” c. 1896 – 1906. Photograph by Arnold Genthe (from the collection of the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division). Genthe's close-up print of a wider angle image. Two Chinese men and a child inspect the offerings from a balloon seller at the northwest corner of the intersection of Dupont and Jackson streets, just outside the Globe Hotel. The residential hotel would gain notoriety as the location where the first case of bubonic plague would be diagnosed in 1900.

One can only speculate how language barriers and cultural differences might have made communication more difficult, but the wonder of a rubber balloon to a child probably transcended such barriers for the sale.

Two girls and a boy speak with a balloon seller, no date. Photographer unknown (from a private collection). The façade seen in the background in the left was probably the entrance and second floor balcony of the Yoot Hong Low restaurant at 810 Clay Street. The vague outline of cable car tracks appears on the cobblestone street seen behind the girl at left.

“Two Girls with Balloons” c. 1900. Photograph by Arnold Genthe (from the collection of the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division). The girls seen bringing home their balloons are probably attired for, and during, the Chinese New Year holiday. The older girl is wearing Qing-era platform shoes intended to emulate the walking style of a bound-foot woman.

“The Toy-Balloon Man” c. 1896. Illustration by Theodore Wores for his magazine article, “Children of Chinatown in San Francisco.”

Artist Theodore Wores wrote for the magazine St. Nicholas, vol. 23, no. 7 (May 1896) about New Year’s time and balloons as follows:

“About the time of the Chinese New Year Chinese children are particularly favored, and the fond fathers deny them nothing. The little ones always appear to be well provided with pocket-money to buy toys and candies. “As a result, not only the Chinese shopkeepers, but peddlers of other races, reap a rich harvest about this time by selling toys and novelties. The seller of toy-balloons seems very popular, and is surrounded by boys and girls eager to buy the fascinating rubber globes.”

A detail from the photo “Returning Home” c. 1896-1906. Photograph by Arnold Genthe (from the collection of the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division). The father and daughter holding a balloon are walking west up the hill on the 800-block of Clay Street.

After the devastating 1906 earthquake and subsequent reconstruction of San Francisco's Chinatown, balloon sellers made a pleasant return to the streets, perhaps symbolizing resilience and continuity. Their reappearance undoubtedly conveyed a sense of familiarity and nostalgia, reminding the returned families of joyous moments, past and those to come, on the streets of old Chinatown.

A mother and four children examine the wares of a balloon and toy peddler at a corner of Grant Avenue, c. 1910. Photographer unknown (from a private collection).

The presence of non-Chinese balloon sellers in pre-1906 San Francisco Chinatown added an extra layer of diversity and charm to the community. Their presence represented the intermingling of cultures, fostering a sense of curiosity and wonder among residents and visitors alike. Thanks to the pioneer photographers of the old neighborhood, balloon sellers became part of the vibrant visual tapestry of old Chinatown, offering to a new generation perhaps a glimpse of the broader world beyond Chinatown's segregated borders and introducing a new form of entertainment.

“Balloon Man of Chinatown San Francisco 1904.” Oil painting by Mian Situ. Arnold Genthe's "Jewish Balloon Man" photo taken at the northwest corner of Dupont and Jackson streets (including the architectural detail of the old Globe Hotel at the top-center of the image), served as the inspiration for this work by modern artist Situ.

[hotelbooking]

Dupont Motels Dupont Motels are located in Petone, less than 15 minutes’ drive from the Wellington city centre. The property features a barbecue area, guest laundry facilities and a children’s playground. All Dupont rooms come with a fully equipped kitchen and ironing facilities. Each room includes flat-screen satellite TV, a CD player and a DVD player with free movies. Jackson Street, famous for its dining and shopping, is just a 10-minute walk from Dupont Petone. The Korokoro Recreation Reserve is 4 minutes’ drive away. The renowned Te Papa Tongarewa Museum is a 15-minute drive.

[greatevent89]

Hotels in Dupont Circle

Located in one of the capital's most vibrant neighborhoods, The Dupont Circle Hotel offers an unparalleled luxury experience. With accolades like the 2023 Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards, we are more than just a hotel in Washington D.C.

We are not just another hotel in Washington D.C. Our prime location near Ford Theatre and the John F. Kennedy Center makes us a top choice for both leisure and business travelers.

[sayruq]

NAHLA AL-ARIAN HAS been living a nightmare for the past seven months, watching from afar as Israel carries out its scorched-earth war against her ancestral homeland in the Gaza Strip. Like many Palestinian Americans, the 63-year-old retired fourth-grade teacher from Tampa Bay, Florida, has endured seven months of a steady trickle of WhatsApp messages about the deaths of her relatives. “You see, my father’s family is originally from Gaza, so they are a big family. And they are not only in Gaza City, but also in Deir al Balah and Khan Younis, other parts,” Al-Arian told me. Recently, the trickle of horrors became a flood: “It started with like 27, and then we lost count until I received this message from my relative who said at least 200 had died.” The catastrophe was the backdrop for Al-Arian’s visit last week to Columbia University in New York City. Al-Arian has five children, four of whom are journalists or filmmakers. On April 25, two of her daughters, Laila and Lama, both award-winning TV journalists, visited the encampment established by Columbia students to oppose the war in Gaza. Laila, an executive producer at Al Jazeera English with Emmys and a George Polk Award to her name, is a graduate of Columbia’s journalism school. Lama was the recipient of the prestigious 2021 Alfred I. duPont–Columbia Award for her reporting for Vice News on the 2020 explosion at the port of Beirut. The two sisters traveled to Columbia as journalists to see the campus, and Nahla joined them. “Of course, I tagged along. You know, why would I sit at the hotel by myself? And I wanted to really see those kids. I felt so down,” she said. “I was crying every day for Gaza, for the children being killed, for the women, the destruction of my father’s city, so I wanted to feel better, you know, to see those kids. I heard a lot about them, how smart they are, how organized, you know? So I said, let’s go along with you. So I went.” Nahla Al-Arian was on the campus for less than an hour. She sat and listened to part of a teach-in, and shared some hummus with her daughters and some students. Then she left, feeling a glimmer of hope that people — at least these students — actually cared about the suffering and deaths being inflicted on her family in Gaza. “I didn’t teach them anything. They are the ones who taught me. They are the ones who gave me hope,” she recalled. “I felt much better when I went there because I felt those kids are really very well informed, very well educated. They are the conscience of America. They care about the Palestinian people who they never saw or got to meet.” Her husband posted a picture of Nahla, sitting on the lawn at the tent city erected by the student protesters, on his Twitter feed. “My wife Nahla in solidarity with the brave and very determined Columbia University students,” he wrote. Nahla left New York, inspired by her visit to Columbia, and returned to Virginia to spend time with her grandchildren. A few days later, that one tweet by her husband would thrust Nahla Al-Arian into the center of a spurious narrative promoted by the mayor of New York City and major media outlets. She became the exemplar of the dangerous “outside agitator” who was training the students at Columbia. It was Nahla’s presence, according to Mayor Eric Adams, that was the “tipping point” in his decision to authorize the military-style raids on the campus.

On February 20, 2003, Nahla’s husband, Sami Al-Arian, a professor at the University of South Florida, was arrested and indicted on 53 counts of supporting the armed resistance group Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The PIJ had been designated by the U.S. government as a terrorist organization, and the charges against Al-Arian could have put him in prison for multiple life sentences, plus 225 years. It was a centerpiece case of the George W. Bush administration’s domestic “war on terror.” When John Ashcroft, Bush’s notorious attorney general, announced the indictment, he described the Florida-based scholar as “the North American leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Sami Al-Arian.” Among the charges against him was conspiracy to kill or maim persons abroad, specifically in Israel, yet the prosecutors openly admitted Al-Arian had no connection to any violence. He was a well-known and deeply respected figure in the Tampa community, where he and Nahla raised their family. He was also, like many fellow Palestinians, a tenacious critic of U.S. support for Israel and of the burgeoning “global war on terror.” His arrest came just days before the U.S. invaded Iraq, a war Al-Arian was publicly opposed to. The Al-Arian case was, at its core, a political attack waged by Bush’s Justice Department as part of a wider assault on the rights of Muslims in the U.S. The government launched a campaign, echoed in media outlets, to portray Al-Arian as a terror leader at a time when the Bush administration was ratcheting up its so-called global war on terror abroad, and when Muslims in the U.S. were being subjected to harassment, surveillance, and abuse. The legal case against Al-Arian was flimsy, and prosecutors largely sought to portray his protected First Amendment speech and charitable activities as terrorism. The trial against Al-Arian, a legal permanent resident in the U.S., did not go well for federal prosecutors. In December 2005, following a six-month trial, a jury acquitted him on eight of the most serious counts and deadlocked 10-2 in favor of acquittal on the other nine. The judge made clear he was not pleased with this outcome, and the prosecutors were intent on relitigating the case. Al-Arian had spent two years in jail already without any conviction and was staring down the prospect of years more. In the face of this reality and the toll the trial against him had taken on his family, Al-Arian agreed to take a plea deal. In 2006, he pleaded guilty to one count of providing nonviolent support to people the government alleged were affiliated with the PIJ. As part of the deal, Al-Arian would serve a short sentence and, with his residency revoked, get an expedited deportation. At no point during the government’s trial against Al-Arian did the prosecution provide evidence he was connected to any acts of violence. For the next eight years following his release from prison in 2008, Al-Arian was kept under house arrest and effectively subjected to prosecutorial harassment as the government sought to place him in what his lawyers characterized as a judicial trap by compelling him to testify in a separate case. His defense lawyers alleged the federal prosecutor in the case, who had a penchant for pursuing high-profile, political cases, held an anti-Palestinian bias. Amnesty International raised concerns that Al-Arian had been abused in prison and he faced the prospect of yet another lengthy, costly court battle. The saga would stretch on for several more years before prosecutors ended the case and Al-Arian was deported from the United States.

“This case remains one of the most troubling chapters in this nation’s crackdown after 9-11,” Al-Arian’s lawyer, Jonathan Turley, wrote in 2014 when the case was officially dropped. “Despite the jury verdict and the agreement reached to allow Dr. Al-Arian to leave the country, the Justice Department continued to fight for his incarceration and for a trial in this case. It will remain one of the most disturbing cases of my career in terms of the actions taken by our government.” That federal prosecutors approved Al-Arian’s plea deal gave a clear indication that the U.S. government knew Al-Arian was not an actual terrorist, terrorist facilitator, or any kind of threat; the Bush administration, after all, was not in the habit of letting suspected terrorists walk. Al-Arian and his family have always maintained his innocence and say that he was being targeted for his political beliefs and activism on behalf of Palestinians. He resisted the deal, Nahla Al-Arian said. “He didn’t even want to accept it. He wanted to move on with another trial,” Nahla said. “But because of our pressure on him, let’s just get done with it [because] in the end, we’re going leave anyway. So that’s why.” Sami and Nahla Al-Arian now live in Turkey. Sami is not allowed to visit his children and grandchildren stateside, but Nahla visits often.

[cosmichymns]

Not beta read. All spelling errors are mine. On AO3.

When Two Halves Split

You and Emily walked into your shared high rise DuPont Circle apartment after landing back in Quantico about 50 minutes ago with used go-bags that got dropped unceremoniously by the front door. You were tired, sore, embarrassed, and still felt dirty. You could sense Emily was tense, with worry still etched in every line of her face.

You hadn’t meant to be so careless but over the past year, since Emily had become Unit Section Chief, it had been sinisterly creeping up on you. It started with little things like volunteering for more physical roles along the likes of Morgan and Alvez. Your strength had never been an issue. Then it graduated to losing your cool with the local police force much easier than your normally calm and collected temperament usually allowed. Within the past six months it had escalated to charging into potentially dangerous buildings without waiting for backup or clearing scenes. It had gotten to the point that even Rossi, your more physically and emotionally reckless boss, had to pull you aside a few times.

“Can I run you a shower, love?” The low timbre of Emily’s voice rolled through your body, causing you to snap out of your reverie.

Without looking to her, you shook your head while making your way to the kitchen for a glass of wine. You poured two glasses but leaned against the counter, facing Emily, taking a few sips before walking to your wife and handing her the other glass. She accepted it, took a small sip, and continued to study you.

“Thank you,” she murmured, holding the glass with two hands and allowing her fingers to tap along the side. “Just let me help you wash your hair. There’s still a but of dirt in your hair.” You let her run a cool hand through your loose auburn curls, proving her point as a small clump fell to your shoulder.

Dirt. The dirt was everywhere but that’s what happens when an unsub attempts to bury you alive and then when you struggle, shoots the disturbed earth, grazing the side of your deltoid. It still stung. Thankfully it only needed a few stitches. Just another scar for the book, you had thought as Alvez’s hands dug you out of the earth. JJ had called Emily right away, as she always did when you inevitably made a shit choice, and your wife arrived halfway across the country in record time.

You sighed, giving in and knowing she was right with a small forced smile. “Yeah, I’d like that.”

Emily let her hand carefully run from your hair, over your good shoulder, down your arms until she found your hand, and fingers interlaced. She led you across the stylish yet homey apartment to the en-suite master bathroom. She sipped her wine as she turned on the tap and her fingers tested the temperature. You stood there awkwardly, watching her as she bent over to test it again.

“Do you need help, hmm?” Emily asked, setting down her now empty glass and turning to you. She made no move until you answered.

“Please?” You answered, suddenly feeling overwhelmingly needy and small.

Emily hummed quietly in response as she took your glass and started to delicately unbuttoned your shirt. You looked down, watching her recently picked at fingers remove layer by filthy layer. You instantly felt a pang of guilt at the sight of her pale, long digits. They looked fresh and not filled scabbed over and knew you were the cause. You sighed again and closed your eyes to avoid seeing the damage you caused.

Before you knew it, you were both under the spray of hot water. The bathroom lights were dimmed, a few candles lit along the windowsill, and Emily had secured a waterproof bandage over your stitched up muscle. Her hands were dotingly massaging your scalp with your favorite peony scented shampoo. Your hands clung tightly to her shapely waist, letting her care for you.

You had missed her physical presence of this last case, as well as the past four others. You missed sharing a hotel room for as many hours as the team could spare before getting up to do it all over again. JJ had offered to share a room while you but you had declined politely each time.

“Y/n?” Emily questioned softly, the inflection sounding like it wasn’t the first time she had quietly called your name. “Sweet girl?” Her fingers so gently lifted your chin up so your eyes met.

“Yes? I’m sorry… I was just…” you let your explanation trail off. She already knew.

“Sit for me?” Her fingers were carding through your clean, wet hair, coaxing you into the present.

“I think I’m done.”

“Y/n, please humor me.”

“Emily, I just want to…”

“Sit.”

The assertive tone in her voice sent a shiver down your spine, your body knowing what it meant. You looked up at her, immediately searching her face for any type of annoyance, and finding none. Knowing it was a 50/50 shot, your subconscious chose defiance as you set your jaw. She raised a greying eyebrow, a silent warning. You knew she always made good on punishments regarding your bratty behavior.

You stifled a huff, never broke eye contact, and slowly took your time sitting down in the tub, which you didn’t realize was now half full of steaming water. You had no idea why you were challenging her over the most minuscule things, especially when she was only trying to help. Trying your wife at this juncture was in no way an intelligent choice. Saying nothing, Emily held your gaze for a few moments more than necessary while standing tall above you then sat behind you, pulling you to her bare chest.

Over the course of ten minutes you sink into her embrace, melting your body into hers, as she gently kisses under your ear and partially down your neck. The kisses aren’t insistent or pushy. They’re soothing and full of affection. Unexpectedly, your eyes start to burn and fill with scorching tears of embarrassment and confusion. She shushes you tenderly as you turn your head to the side, visualizing her out of one blurry eye. She brings a hand up and rests it above a breast, anchoring your body to hers. She kisses along your cheekbone up to the corner of your eye as angry tears finally give way.

“Oh, my sweet love,” Emily murmurs with a quiet devotion.

Emily doesn’t attempt to dispel your tears. She doesn’t downplay or ignore them. She also doesn’t try to rationalize them. You lean your face into the crook of her warm neck as you close your eyes, trying to assuage your emotions. Emily gently runs her free hand over your good arm patiently.

“I don’t know why.” You say softly once your breathing has evened out.

“Why what, love?”

“Why I’m so… so reckless. So stupid. It’s just gotten worse and… thoughtless. Impetuous. That’s not who I am but…” You shake your head roughly, pulling yourself from the mold your body has made against her. She lets you.

“Hmmm…” Emily just hums, leaning her head against the edge of the deep clawfoot tub but keeping eye contact with you.

“I don’t want anything dangerous to happen to me but it almost always does because I’m so… untethered.”

“And why is that, do you think?”

You turn in the tub to face Emily, your legs finding their way around her hips and behind her back. She pulls you into her lap, hands on your waist. The dim flickers of the candle throw dancing shadows across her face. You try not to look to closely at her ever deepening worry lines, some which you know for a fact you have caused. You run a thumb tenderly back and forth along the fine crows feet lines that extend from the corner of her eyes like a burst of sunlight. She smiles, dimples popping, at your loving gesture.

“It hasn’t been the same for a while.”

“Since I’ve become Section Chief?” she ventures.

You think on it for a moment. “Actually, yes.” You looked at her questioningly but she doesn’t elaborate, just studies you carefully. “I know you’re only a phone call away and in most cases you and Garcia are a reliable, steady stream through our ear pieces but…” You pause. “It’s not the same.”

Emily nods encouragingly, her brows furrowing slightly as your thumb slows to a stop. She thinks she knows where you’re going with this because it’s something that she’s keenly aware of on her end.

“I miss your presence,” you continue. “Your physical presence. We used to be paired together so often when you were a field agent… but this is by no means your fault.” You added the last part quickly. “I just feel a bit…”

“Unstable.” Emily finishes the sentence knowingly, chewing on the inside of her cheek and letting her dark eyes drift to the ceiling.

“Mmhmm”, you hum in acquiescence. “I don’t want you to feel bad or guilty or like you caused this because in no means-“ You cup your hands around both cheeks, gently tilting her head down to meet your eyes. “-your fault in the least. I need you to understand that. I feel so silly for acting out subconsciously like a petulant teenager whose frontal lobe isn’t fully formed. At least they have an excuse.”

Emily is silent for a moment, as if she’s not sure she should say what she’s thinking. You don’t push but instead run you thumbs delicately over her high and sharp bone structure. Without realizing it, your eyes have dropped to her lips while you lick yours in anticipation of her voice. She notices right off the bat and smiles sweetly, leaning forward and placing a chaste kiss on your lips as you sigh.

“I’ve asked JJ to watch over you more but that doesn’t appeared to have helped much,” Emily finally says.

“And I’ve asked Garcia about you…”

At this you both share a quiet laugh. Everything about this woman is addicting. Her lips, her eyes, her laugh…

“I can’t have you hurting yourself because you miss me though, Y/n. It’s not fair to either of us or the team. Can you honestly say you can get this under control?”

You sigh again, sliding down her body just a touch so you’re able to rest your head on her chest, right under her chin. She extends her neck back a bit, giving you more room to get comfortable. You run your pruned fingers down her strong, lightly muscled arm, worrying your bottom lip with your teeth.

“It’s never on purpose. Like I don’t plan to go into the field and fuck around and find out with an unsub. It’s hard to control my environment and without a doubt count on the rest of the team like I did with you. I never thought I would become this needy, clingy partner. I had always despised and even looked down on it… but feeling your warm skin on mine, your strong heartbeat in my ear…” You take a shaky breath, your eyes starting to burn again. Nothing you’re saying feels like it’s making the least bit of sense. “It is the epitome of everything. You’re everything. I was spoiled to work with you as much as I did and I need to realize it can’t always be like that. I have to-“ You scrunch up your nose. “-share you.”

You feel Emily stifle a small giggle underneath you and rub her own pruned fingers along your spine and over your hips. She was waiting for an answer.

“I’ll… I’ll talk to Employee Health, I suppose but I feel like I would be able to work through it on my own.”

The second the sentence slipped from your mouth your light eyes met her dark ones, assessing and reassessing. “We can try whatever you want to, my love. I’ve been considering making my presence more known in the field as well. I didn’t realize how much I would miss it. And miss you too.”

The two of you relaxed in the expensive bath for a few more minutes before drying off, redressing with Emily checking your injury, and wandered into the bedroom. Once the both of you were settled and cuddling in bed, your head once again on Emily’s chest and your injured shoulder facing the ceiling, your eyes drift slowly closed.

“We still have yet to talk about that little defiant stunt in the bathroom…” Emily’s low voice broke the comfortable silence with a tinge of playfulness.

‘Oh no…’, you thought

[muddyorbsblr]

feels like mine pt1

See my full list of works here!

Summary: You wake up in a bed that isn't your own, living a life that seems to be pulled straight out of your wildest dreams

Pairing: Tom Hiddleston x Reader

Word Count: 2.4k

Warnings: 18+ | mentions of death; slight gaslighting (?) [let me know if I missed anything!]

Things to be aware of: everything is not what it seems; twist at the end

Your eyes squinted to adjust to the brightness of your bedroom awash with the morning sun. Looks like Mother Nature chose to be a little too chipper this morning and tried to blind you with its rays shining straight into your room.

You rose from your bed, your hands flopping on to the ultra soft comforter that sunk beneath the pressure.

Weird, you thought to yourself. I don't remember checking in to a hotel, and God knows my bed isn't this soft. You slowly sat up, rubbing the sleep out of your eyes and alarm bells immediately ringing loud in your head when you looked down at the pristine white sheets.

"This isn't my bed," you said aloud, hopping down from the mattress and assessing your body, ensuring that you were free to move and your limbs weren't tied down in some capacity keeping you captive in what would have been a bizarrely cozy looking prison. You assessed your clothes next; mainly to see if you were even wearing any, your brows shooting to your hairline when your hands touched a lush satiny fabric covering your curves. "These aren't my clothes."

You rushed over to a mirror situated on a door that you assumed was a closet, your confusion growing by the second when you saw that the reflection looking back at you was…yourself. Exactly as you were last night before you went to bed, only clad in a navy blue nightie that looked like it cost over a week's pay. And wearing a ring that probably cost your soul.

The items on the nightstand by the side of the bed you'd woken up on raised even more questions. A black leather-bound journal with a gold 'H' pressed on the spine, a fountain pen, a laptop, a tablet, and a Kindle Oasis. An almost exact match to the items on the nightstand that you knew by heart, but each item was a more luxurious variant. For one, you wouldn't in your right mind ever buy yourself a Kindle Oasis. Or an S.T. Duponte fountain pen.

On the opposite nightstand were a stack of papers bound together with brass fasteners and a pair of reading glasses with a grade that moderately blurred your vision when you held it close to your eyes. You decided against looking at the contents of the book-bound papers in case there was anything confidential you weren't meant to glimpse in its contents.

You checked on the door next, seeing if it was locked from the outside. It wasn't.

You stepped out of the bedroom, assessing your surroundings to find any semblance of information that would tell you where you were and why you were here, only to grumble out of sheer frustration, "This isn't my apartment." To start with, apartments didn't have stairs. And your place didn't have nearly this much windows.

"Did I…shift?" Your voice softly echoed off the walls, staring in disbelief at the framed picture before you. Your hair and makeup impeccably done, a flower tiara delicately put in place at the top of your head, clad in a downright whimsical wedding dress and smiling brilliantly at the groom whose back was turned to the camera, your only hint at who he was being broad shoulders and brown slightly curly hair.

The unmistakable sound of vegetables being cut led you down the stairs and into the kitchen, desperately hoping it would lead you to who your mystery husband was and maybe start making some sense of this downright crazy predicament.

But catching a glimpse of the well over 6-foot lean frame dressed a white button-down shirt tucked into black dress pants that put a way too familiar butt on proud display had you itching to wake up because this was most definitely a concerningly vivid dream.

That is definitely not my husband.

No way on God's green Earth were you married to Tom Hiddleston. This just went from bizarre to downright impossible.

"Good morning, sweetheart," he greeted you in that low timbre that had your knees buckling, setting aside his task at hand and removing his apron before walking over to you.

"Hi…" you answered him, voice wavering. Before you could speak another word, he framed your face in his hands, thumbs softly running across your cheekbones, and then pressing a delicate kiss to your lips. "What're you--"

"We finished filming early," he answered, words murmured against your lips. "I caught an earlier flight so I could see you sooner. Oh I've missed you so much." He pressed his lips to yours again. "My darling wife."

Okay, I definitely shifted. This body you may have woken up in had your face, and probably your maiden name…but this wasn't your life. You were occupying space meant for someone else. Another Y/N.

"Tom, I think I have to--"

"Whatever it is can wait." He kissed you again, this time he pressed against you a little harder, your heart beating wildly in your chest when you felt a light, tentative lick to your bottom lip. "Just let me hold you a little while longer." He wrapped his arm around the small of your back, cradling your head with his other hand as he buried his face into the crook of your neck, sighing in contentment.

You knew you were seconds away from abandoning all your plans to try and get him to listen when he started pressing numerous open-mouthed kisses along your neck, your whole body growing weak when he started nipping and licking at the skin. "Please it's important. I don't think I'm supposed to be--"

The feel of him groaning into your skin made your knees give out, making him hold you tighter against him. He walked you backwards until your back pressed against the wall, your breathing labored as he kissed along the expanse of skin exposed to him by your negligee.

When his kisses started traveling south and he pressed his lips to the swell of your breast, you knew you had to get your words out before you gave in and let him have his way with you, however far that may be. "I'm not supposed to be here," you blurted out, pressing your palms to his shoulders and inwardly cursing at yourself for making him stop. "I know that I might sound like I'm not making any sense but…I think I shifted realities…? It's bizarre to me because I never actually succeeded until now but the point is--"

"Sweetheart, slow down." He began to rub his hands up and down your arms, calming you down some within seconds and once again making you question this reality. And how he knew what to do when you began to ramble and spiral in your own thoughts. "You say you're not supposed to be here. Where do you think you should be? Tell me what you know and perhaps I can help from there."

"My name is Y/N Y/L/N, and I'm a software engineer in the middle of a career shift. Last night I went to sleep in a one bedroom apartment in Anaheim. I was no one to you. At most a faceless name that sings your praises online. Definitely not…" You waved your hand in a sweeping gesture across your surroundings. "This," you finished, your breath hitching in the back of your throat when you caught sight of his expression, eyes shining with tears that were seconds away from falling down his cheeks.

"What a bleak life," he breathed out, pressing his lips to your forehead as he pulled you into an embrace. "I can't imagine having to live in a world where I didn't know you. Didn't love you." He kissed your temple. "Thank God it was just a dream."

"A dr--A dream?" you sputtered, confusion overcoming your thoughts. Surely it wasn't that simple. That easily explained. You could remember in vivid detail the code you worked on last night, the bumpy bus ride on the way back to your apartment. The last story you read written by your friends online before you finally laid your head on your pillow and succumbed to an exhausted slumber.

Something about Tom's character on The Hollow Crown and barn sex before he was to face off against the Dauphin of France.

"Yes, my love. Nothing but an awful vivid dream," he reassured you, soothing you with the low velvety tone of his voice, partnered with the kisses he was softly peppering all over your face before stopping at the corner of your mouth. "Your name is Y/N Hiddleston. We've been together for five years, and you gave me the unique honor of becoming your husband less than a year ago. You were a software engineer amidst a career change when I met you all those years ago, and you've come so far since then. You have amazed me at every turn, and it's been a privilege to witness all that you've done. And all that you will continue to do." He captured your lips in a tender kiss, making you melt into his arms as you crossed your hands behind his neck, allowing him to pull you closer. "You just need a few minutes to readjust after waking up. Everything will come back to you soon enough. And any details that don't return to you I'll happily fill those blanks in."

It was almost like the protests that remained in your mind got muffled at his assurances. He spoke about you with such conviction and fondness and love that it made it sound beyond reproach. All that remained was the faintest murmur of doubt that you quickly recognized as those few hours of disbelief you would go through after waking up from a particularly vivid dream, much like those ones you had back in college where you mourned the loss of your best friend and you internally panicked for hours until he walked into the classroom looking every bit as alive as he had the day before.

"Just a dream…" You tested the words on your tongue, the explanation steadily becoming more and more palatable than your initial theory of successfully shifting. Your eyes met Tom's again. "Sorry I…kinda freaked out back there--"

He pressed a delicate kiss to your lips to stop you. "There's no need for apologies, sweetheart. You were disoriented, and I'm grateful you confided in me that you were instead of holding it all in." He brushed the tip of his nose against yours, the gesture bringing a smile to your face and causing a small giggle to escape your lips. "How about you head back upstairs and get ready for the day, and I'll finish whipping up breakfast?"

"That…sounds like a good idea," you agreed, unable to keep the smile off your face even as he kissed you again. "I'll go take a shower and then…I'll be back down here in twenty minutes?"

Tom loosened his hold on you, hands smoothing down your sides before he took a step back so you could make your way up the stairs. Before you passed him, he took your hand in his to call your attention again, bringing it up to his lips to press a kiss to each of your knuckles. "I love you," he whispered against your skin.

"I love you, too," you said back, biting your lip as you gave him a smile before heading back up the stairs, your doubts calmed and your panic from earlier subsiding, allowing you to simply look around the house and appreciate the beauty and joy that your life granted you in stark contrast to last night's dream.

Just as you stepped on to the top landing of the stairs, a flash of green glinted at the corner of Tom's eye, diverting his attention to the visitor in the kitchen.

"She is a perceptive one, your mortal," Loki mused, staring down at the ingredients on the cutting board. "A part of her recognizes that she is no longer within her universe. That part could linger…fester, even. Are you truly certain you wish to continue down this path? To risk her finding out the truth and resenting you from stealing her away from her life--"

"What's the alternative, then?" Tom snapped, gripping the countertop so hard his knuckles were going white, hot tears finally falling from his eyes. "Go on the rest of my days without my wife? Let her go back to a world where she said it herself, she's no one to me?"

Loki let out a sigh, taking a few steps towards the door to the patio, the tension and frustration evident in his stance. "She did not deserve the life she was designed for, on that I do agree. But it will take time for her to fully acclimate to this new universe, if you truly wish to keep her here. And you must accept that no matter what you do, she may never fully fill the space that your late wife left behind."

Tom's eyes burned with more tears, indignation and grief making his heart ache even worse at the memory of you -- that is, the you that he lost not even three days ago. "I know that," he said through gritted teeth. "What of the people who heard news of her passing? The people on set who saw me when I got the call? They're going to ask her questions when they see her alive and well. Questions she won't be able to answer."

The god simply waved a hand dismissively. "Simple memory spell. Their recollection of events will simply be altered wherein they recall you receiving a call and you needed to leave and halt production to ensure her safety, not see to her funeral. Her record at the hospital has been expunged. Any and all evidence that suggests that the Y/N Hiddleston of his universe is no longer with us has ceased to exist."

"Thank you," he choked out, walking up to the god and extending a hand.

"Of course. You deserved not the life you'd planned with your wife taken so violently." Loki took your husband's hand in a firm shake. "Now, I know it may not be my place to tell you what you should be doing at this moment. But from where I stand, you have just been reunited with your wife. If you're open to suggestions, I would recommend putting the apron down, going upstairs, and simply enjoying the life that has been returned to you. Breakfast can wait."

With those words, Loki disappeared in a flash of green right as Tom turned around and headed up the stairs in your direction, heeding the god's advice.

A/N: Something tells me that when I told y'all there's a Centrum Ad Hiddles story coming your way, y'all probably didn't expect this…and to be honest I didn't think I was even gonna make a Centrum Ad Hiddles story, let alone one that took this direction. 😳👀 I hope you like it though, slightly dark twist and all 😅💖

‘everything’ taglist: @simplyholl @loopsisloops @unlucky-number-13 @imalovernotahater @coldnique @loz-3 @huntress-artemiss @salempoe @vickie5446 @athalialaufeyson @lokiprompts @kats72 @kikster606 @evelyn-kingsley @lokixryss @thomase1 @mischief2sarawr @peaches1958 @lovingchoices14 @lunarnights95 @goblingirlsarah @iamlokisgloriouspurpose @creationsbyme @maple-seed @mjsthrillernp @ladyofthestayingpower @mygfloki @sititran @glitterylokislut @ozymdias @fictive-sl0th @lovelysizzlingbluebird @lokidbadguy @mochie85 @silverfire475 @joyful-enchantress @elizabethmidnight2017 @holdmytesseract @smolvenger @lokidokieokie @superficialdomina @anukulee @kmc1989

Hiddles taglist: @spooky1980

[aloeverified]

au where marinette's parents own a small, struggling, but community-loved bakery outside of paris. she works after school and on weekends since her parents can't currently afford to hire any other employees, but she enjoys getting to know everyone in her neighborhood and uses her tip money to fund her sewing projects.

as the end of her junior high days approach, marinette is encouraged by her parents to apply to her dream high school, françoise dupont lycée of the arts, as a fashion student. she doesn't expect to actually get accepted, but knows her parents are right when they say there's no hurt in trying. after submitting her online store portfolio, where she does commissions and launches small projects like accessories, she receives feedback that the school board was beyond impressed with her work and would like to offer her a full-ride scholarship.

although it's hard for her to part from her parents for the first time in her life, they refuse to let her turn down the opportunity and practically pack her bags for her. after a very long and painful goodbye with lots of promises to call every single day, marinette leaves for paris.

she meets alya, her roommate and first friend at her new school. she's the daughter of a successful chef and is a promising journalist and creative writing student, she and marinette share many of their core subjects not relating to their majors.

marinette also meets chloé, the daughter of the mayor of france and alya's life-long enemy. the two go way back, with alya's mother being an old friend of chloe's father and having worked at his hotel restaurant before. the hate each other, and by association, chloé hates marinette — especially after finding out marinette is a fellow fashion major whose work scored much higher than her own.

then she meets adrien. adrien is a fellow fashion and modeling student who was eagerly accepted into the school despite his very late application. however, the principal was thrilled at the idea of having such a beloved model joining the student body, and didn't want to deal with chloé's threats of action if adrien was denied, so he was accepted with open arms.

adrien didn't exactly choose his majors, but rather just went along with what was expected of him. he already had a successful modeling career, so he took the classes despite there being little he didn't already know and have mastered. he was encouraged to join fashion classes as well, both by adults who assumed he was going to take after his father and by his best friend who wanted to spend as much time with him as possible.

adrien is easily impressed with just about every design marinette crafts and marinette admits it's a bit endearing the way adrien struggles to figure out where the sewing machine's on switch is. his father is equally impressed, if not even more so, and marinette is asked to become a paid intern upon winning a contest judged by gabriel agreste.

not to mention the kind old man she befriends, an older chinese man who owns a tea shop in petite asie. marinette admits to feeling a bit alienated without her mother, worried her classmates will look at her funny for cooking guangxi rice in the dorm kitchen or having late night gossip sessions on the phone in mandarin. he tells marinette she will always have a friend while in paris and that she's more connected to the city than she thinks.

eventually, marinette even finds herself befriending almost all of her classmates, and even one of her classmate's brothers. juleka couffaine is a modeling major and a fellow scholarship student, something she and marinette bond over. luka is just as sweet as his sister, and almost as quiet if you ignore his constant humming and guitar strumming.

he also applied to be a music major at françoise dupont, but was rejected. after a year of struggling and being bullied in public school, he dropped out to focus on working and supporting his family — taking some of the burden away from his single mother and making sure juleka never has to go without. throughout the course of their relationship, marinette is eventually able to discover the ridiculous reasons why luka wasn't accepted and encourages him to go back to school, as well as accept that he can't support his family if he doesn't let them support him as well (a lesson she also had to learn).

[fabseg-creator]

Miraculous rewriting: Chloenette AU (Prologue)

This is a Chloenette image and it exists in two versions (left: Normal version; right: lipstickprint/post-kiss version).

I think about an AU that diverges from the canon (Miraculous but Chloé is one of Marinette's love interests (alongside with Adrien and Luka and Zoé)).

Season 1 rewrite

Season 2 rewrite

Season 3 rewrite

The Story and its changes:

Prologue/Before the Season 1:

Marinette and Chloé are childhood friends.

Chloé is still a bully. She keeps her rude tone (Chloé being Chloé) towards the Miraclass but with a moderate level (drastically less bully than her canon counterpart during the pre-Queen Bee period (Season 1-2) and the Derision flashback).

Chloé commits some bad actions against random teens for fun (roasting language, pranks, school expellement threats) but she makes these at the low level, She is a "semi-bully".

Identically to canon, Sabine is still worried about Marinette and sees Chloé as a bad influence on her daughter. She calls Soqueline for care/protect Marinette.

Effectively, Soqueline knows Chloé is a problematic case at the Françoise Dupont school.

Soqueline wants to get Marinette away from Chloé for bring the former to the good path (even if Marinette is globally preserved from the Chloé's bullying if it was a little bit of).

Marinette has issues with her mother when Chloé is the subject of the conversation. Meanwhile, Sabine respects Marinette's choices.

Chloé is attracted by both Marinette and Adrien (Sorry, Sabrina ! 🤷‍♂️).

Following the next years (prior to the Season 1), Chloé develops a crush to Marinette and she gradually expresses that with her own manner. But Marinette misunderstands her. She just believes the "bully" is joking.

Marinette already knows Adrien but only from Chloé's words.

Adrien hears about Marinette but she never met before (because of the education his father imposes to him)

Chloé sees Sabrina as her associate (not yet equal friend but not sidekick).

Marinette is aware Chloé has a questionable behavior but she continues to hang out with her. She is hoping the blondie can be improved into a good girl.

At the classroom, Marinette seats with Chloé. But she switches places with Sabrina, her second friend (a more normal girl than Chloé in the beginning). That depends of Chloé's decisions.

In the beginning, Marinette's and Sabrina's relationship is a normal/classical friendship (not besties but equal).

In this universe, Marinette has no reasons to run away from Chloé because they are already "friends". So, she doesn't need any protection and she hasn't any interest to Kim. She just considers him as an ordinary trustful friend.

In this AU, the events of Marinette's flashback from Derision (5.14) never happened too (no trauma).

But Marinette will eventually suffer a love incident: It will happen at the Grand Hôtel when she finally accepts Chloé's feelings. The date will be supposed to be an experimentation for Marinette. It would be perfect for the two girls until someone comes to mess it all.

The person who will ruin the Chloenette will be not Sabrina, neither Kim (who dates with Ondine), neither Audrey (Chloé's mom who is still at New York in this moment) or neither Adrien (who is mourning his mother's "death"). It will be Socqueline.

Socqueline will have decided to secretly follow Marinette in mission of protecting her after she will have seen her to enter to the Grand Hotel (Chloé's home). Worried, she will come to thé Chloé's bedroom and she will surprise the two girls kissing each other on the bed (interupting them).

That will be enough for Marinette. Ashamed by the situation, Marinette will become mad, upset and angry towards Socqueline because of her overprotective behavior. It would have enough. And a infuriated Chloé will yell both Marinette and Socqueline to go out of here.

Marinette will eventually end up her friendship with Socqueline next to the incident. The latter will be sad and remorseful after the incident.

The last day of school, Chloé will announce to Marinette she breaks up considering the idea of romance between them as a ridiculous "mistake". By circumstance, the incident has affected the two girls. 💔

Marinette becomes the protagonist we know as in Canon.

Chloé remains the classical bully from the show. Despite she is still attracted on Marinette, she represses her feelings by turning her interest to Adrien.

End of the Prologue.

Bonus: Extended (sorry for the design of teenage people but it was fast)

From left to right:

Socqueline silently objects the cursed odd ship. She is resigned to respect Marinette's feelings.

Sabrina is heartbroken. She just wanted to confess her love to Chloé since the previous years but Chloé always didn't have cared about.

Zoé feels like troubled and sad about seeing her love interest and her half-sister dating each other. She is supposed to confess to Marinette.

Adrien feels like ignored while he sees his love pretendants making their date. In this AU, he can be used to be single. Plagg is hidden behind his holder's back.

Alya is confused. Her best friend dates her "bully".

Lila Cerise discretly watches the scene from afar with a sadistical gratification. She is planning to ruin the Chloenette couple for enact revenge for her exposure as "Lila Rossi". What girl do Cerise could destroy her life first (Marinette or Chloé) ? Or what girl do Cerise could seduce first ? (attempted Cerisette plan) 😈

The basis for this post:

[hlkproductions]

behold, the hazbin oc i forgot to post here after debuting her on twitter! Vixen Dupont is a vaudeville performer of the roaring 20's who, after dying in a tragic electrical fire in the studio she worked out of with her fellow dancers, learned that she and the girls had been condemned to hell on hot wheels for what none of them could justifiably conceive the cause. Eventually, she took the initiative to seek out a means of making an after-living for herself and her friends, dabbling in the rising popularity of the Pride Ring's exclusively sinner based entertainment scene. Through a number of unfortunate events and charity courtesy of a friendship with Hell's newest creepy crawly, The Radio Demon, Vixen shook herself free of her exploitative career and went on to build her own business in another Overlord's territory. The Silk Paw, a club for the weary soul longing for times gone by and a touch of softness after the inferno, is her current pride and joy. Her relations with Alastor remain purely speculation to the public at large, and for a decade or so managed to die down. His return to the spotlight now turns the rumor mill once more, and the hotel he sees fit to busy himself with becomes an interest of his old friend's to the point that Vixen decides it would be profitable for all parties if she became a sponsor of Princess Charlie's endeavors.

[luvly-writer]

XOXO💋

Ch. 1: They Don’t Need an Introduction

-•-

Tim Drake x Reader

Fic + Social Media Au

Warnings: none

Series: Ongoing

Author’s note:The last 3 or so chapter of Oh Cara Mia will be coming this winter break. University really is kicking my ass. You may be wondering why i’m posting the new story and the answer is to keep you guys on your toes. I am so excited for this new series and before everything I do want to apologize for a few things. Out of all the boys, Tim is the least I and familiar with so I will be trying to do my absolute best to bring him to justice. Hope you all enjoy this new series!

Please feel free to reblog and comment. I love hearing what you all have to say about the stories I bring you.

Taglist: Since it’s a new story, I will be needing you all to let me know if you would like your be added to the taglist.

Masterlist:

-•-

Youngest of 2 sisters

Bitch with a good heart

Old money

way too intelligent for her own good

plays tennis // tennis partner is Clara

normally is the scandal fixer

ambitious

future CMO to Vanderbilt Hotels

Model

goes to the tennis court for the cute fits and guys

can range from dumb blonde to evil mastermind

walked from VS Angels

Main Scandal creator

New Money and owns it

heart of gold, but her morals are flexible

think Crazy Rich Asians

Gossip Queen

Unhinged

Heiress to Dupont Desings

Only Child

Spoiled but not a brat

Fun Aunt energy

Old money

[mcheang]

I have a prompt idea! So a rich kid transfers into DuPont who is the son of the prime minister or something. He can be bratty like Chloe and deceitful like Lila. The first thing he does is put Chloe in her place since her dad can’t do anything to him and exposes Lila as the liar she is with the help from his connections.But here’s the kicker, he has a massive crush on Marinette. But she has a massive crush on Adrien, someone he looks down on. Cue jealousy and retribution. Basically Adrien gaining an antagonist of his own because if he can have FOUR girls getting into a cat fight of her (two of whom are nasty bullies) then Marinette can have her own evil love interest. Bonus points if he is beginning to endear to Marinette after standing up to her bullies.

Remy Gusteau

Can you guess where I got his name? But I imagine him to look like Draco Malfoy if he has to keep saying “My father….” Lol

Your prompt is the first in a long while that has given my that old flair of imagination :D Thank you. Also, for anyone else who wants to send me a prompt, note I have not watched the latest season yet as I am waiting for all episodes to air first. So no spoilers please.

The only reason Remy even agreed to go to Paris after the rise of Hawkmoth was because it was the capital of gastronomy.

Even so, he refused to stay as a guest at the Le Grand Paris. There is no way he is staying in the same hotel as that bully Chloe. Honestly why Ladybug even let her remain a hero after she purposefully endangered a train full of Parisians is beyond him. And ever since he saw her purposefully sabotage a cooking show, he has been asking his father why her father was even still mayor if he could not even raise his daughter properly.

Even so, the mayor personally welcomed Remy at the airport.

Mayor: my daughter attends Dupont too, she can be your tour guide.

Remy: I certainly hope she learned to improve her personality. It doesn’t look good on France if the mayor of our capital has a bully for a daughter.

The mayor paled at the threat. “Of course she has improved. Why else would Ladybug give her a miraculous again?”

Remy: I guess we’ll see.

Later that night, Andre begged his daughter to be on her best behavior because otherwise, it might cost him his job.

Naturally Chloe was appalled. She started to protest when even her mother agreed with Andre. “It would never do for my darling to lose his job. All Chloe has to do is act nice in front of the prime minister’s boy, right? That’s easy to do. Chloe, if you can’t handle even this much, ask your sister for advice.”

The next day Chloe went out of her way to greet Remy and did not even give Sabrina orders…only to be ignored by Remy.

Ugh. Who did he think he is?

Sabrina: Um, the prime minister’s son?

The only seat left available was next to Ivan, right in front of Lila.

As Caline told Remy that Marinette would be his tour guide, Lila volunteered instead.

Lila: Oh, I can do it. As the ambassador’s daughter, I’m sure Marinette would has a lot to do anyway.

Marinette scowled at Lila. And she wasn’t the only one.

Remy himself was not happy. He recognised Marinette because of her parents and uncle. He had actually been looking forward to discuss recipes with her. Why did that nobody have to butt in?

Well that nobody was Lila, and clearly she never heard of personal space. For someone supposed to be giving a tour of the classrooms and teachers, she sure talked a lot about herself instead.

Don’t tell him that everybody actually indulged her like this?

Later that day, after class ended, he asked Caline why she does not try reining in Lila’s tall tales.

Caline: Lila has a special disease. She didn’t want her classmates to see her differently because of it.

Remy stared cooly at this dumb woman. “Hmm. Do you know something, I’ve heard the other students tell me I was in the akuma class. I thought perhaps it might be due to Chloe but perhaps you have something to do with it too. I wonder if I should ask my father to bring an inspector here.”

Caline: If you think it’s needed. I have only ever encouraged my students to forgive each other.

Remy: right, which is why you never told your class they were being lied to by Lila and denied them the chance to forgive her.

True to his word, Remy did bring an inspector around, and was he thorough! Marinette’s previous expulsion case was brought up and both Damocles and Caline were fired for mishandling the case. Remy even forced them to apologize to Marinette. Some, including Adrien, might protest this was harsh, but Remy drily pointed out that Caline’s method of forgiving bullies without punishing them was called enabling. Did she expect them to forgive Hawkmoth too? And Damocles is not supposed to turn school property into some cheap owl cave, nor punish the school for Chloe’s misdeeds. They were like children in the bodies of adults.

Oh, and Lila was exposed too. She had to confess her special ability to the whole school, outing her as someone who likes to tell tall tales.

Understandably, akumas appeared. Curiously though, they never got much chance to cause chaos. Mainly because the no-nonsense inspector and Remy struck them in the head once the transformation had finished, giving them no time to react, and proceeded to keep hitting them till they passed out.

Everyone stared at them.

Remy: What? The miraculous cure will fix everything.

And Remy finally got to discuss baking with Marinette! He just didn’t understand why she was so fixated on Adrien Agreste. The model reminded Remy of Caline, always about forgiving bullies. Spoken like someone who has never been bullied himself!

He just has to help Marinette see that Adrien isn’t worth her time. Some planned situations to show how useless the boy is. Good thing he has the mayor’s daughter at his beck and call. And he just knows she is dying to be mean again.

[something-tofightfor]

The Truth Is Out There: Masterlist

Summary: Despite an immediate attraction between you and your team's newest member Marcus Pike, it's never gone past a couple dates and a few kisses that are permanently seared into your memory.

The two of you are friends, and though you're resigned to things remaining that way because of his romantic history, you can't help the way you feel - or the way your emotions flare with his every mention of that past.

But when things spiral out of control faster than you can keep up with thanks to a new case, you find that you're not the only one that's been keeping something important to yourself.

Warnings: Sex Pollen (with a twist), no use of Y/N, female reader insert, Reader works for the FBI in art restoration/conservation, reader has a nickname that is used often by Marcus, in this house we cannot stand Teresa and Jane and that is reflected in this.

Chapter titles taken from X-Files episode titles

Chapters containing explicit content marked with **

Status: COMPLETE

Word Count: 35.4k

Unrequited (3.2k)

Surfside Tacos (Dupont)

One Breath (4.3k)

The Truth (3.6k)

This Is Not Happening (2.7k)

The main room in the hotel suite

Three Words** (5.5k)

The blue couch by the window

Bedroom #1

Soft Light** (2.8k)

Sleepless** (5.9k)

The bathroom

The second bedroom (adjoining suite)

Closure (7.4k)

[meduarts]

Managing Life (Part 1/?)

Summary: Marinette has been Audrey Bourgeois' secretary ever since she voiced out her dream of having her own business. Audrey thinks that she should learn more about the nooks and crannies of running a fashion business. However, fate has other plans for her, and honestly, what can our resident guardian could do to counter fate?

Disclaimer: I do not own MLB or DCU. A/N: It has been quite a while since I write fanfiction. I hope this is good enough for now!

Taglist: @timinette-is-best, @peach-blueberry-pie, @tinybrie, @taewinterbear95, @its-maemain, @flyhighdreamer, @kokoroluna (Tell me if you want to be a part of the taglist!)

<Next Chapter>

‐---------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Mme Bourgeois, I have booked the flight to Gotham and arranged your stay at their best suite in Wayne Hotel for 7 days in Gotham during the Gala week."

Marinette reported her progress with polite professionalism like she always uses during this private meeting with her boss, Audrey Bourgeois the CEO of Style Queen. It has been over 5 years since the fall of Hawkmoth and the ex-Parisian hero had hung up her superhero costume and continued her life as usual.

Sure it took some trips to therapy sessions and many breakdowns after that fateful encounter, but like always our hero picked herself back up, brushed the dust, and took another step toward the future. The year when Hawkmoth was defeated was her last year at Dupont. It was a somewhat bittersweet graduation present if she was being honest. When she graduated from Dupont, she did so without even mending her relationship with her classmates.

She left Dupont without looking back, her classmate decided that the girl who can weave words so sweet is a better gem than Marinette and Marinette gave them her answer by letting them go.

After that, she went to IFA and graduated early with honors. While going to fashion school, Chloe successfully roped her to have an internship under the Style Queen. Which landed her a permanent secretary position and is working under Audrey as an apprentice as of today.

"Magnifique! I can always count on you Marinette! Did you make sure that your own accommodation is planned perfectly as well?"

"Naturally, Mme Bourgeois."

Audrey nodded, pleased at how competent Marinette is. "Excellent news, darling. Do you have your dress ready?"

Marinette went quiet and averted her gaze from her boss. Audrey frowned at her changed behavior and sighed heavily. "You do know that you are coming with me, right Marinette?"

Marinette kept quiet.

"Marinette," Audrey called with a pointed tone. Her apprentice fidgets one of her tics when she got found out doing something she wasn't supposed to do.

"Marinette, you know what this Gala meant, yes?"

"A Charity gala, Madame?"

Audrey laughed her signature condescending laugh and waved her gloved hand. "Cease your joking, Marinette! It is a chance for you to spread your wings! Make more connections! You understand why I'll take you with me, non?"

"To make sure your dress stays perfect, Madame?" Marinette snarked playfully.

"Hmm, that is true, yes. But! Aside from that, I want to brag you of course!"

Marinette tilted her head in confusion. Her lips formed a cute pout as her eyes narrowed in confusion. "Brag me, Madame?"

Audrey raised from her leather seat and walked towards the window behind her white marbled desk. "Yes! Marinette, you are an amazing aspiring designer, an amazing secretary and I have nothing to teach you any more about fashion because you soaked it all up like a sponge."

Marinette stayed quiet during her boss' tirade, though her mind began to swirl in a whirlwind of mess. What did she mean she didn't have anything to teach her anymore? She still has a long way to go! It's not her time to spread her wings! She was sure she'll plummet when the first problem occurs in her business! Not to mention, she knew that her design isn't up to par yet to other professional designers for her to build a business.

Sure she has celebrity clients here and there and whenever she opens out her website for the commission the list would be full in no time. However, comparing herself with Style Queen or even the now-dead Agreste Brand, she still has a long way to go.

"Marinette Dupain-Cheng cease those self-deprecating thoughts that I know you're thinking right now! Honestly! I have raised you to have self-confidence but it seems that your biggest enemy is yourself!"

Tell me about it, Marinette scoffed internally but stopped her train of thought nonetheless. The young woman raised her head and look at her boss with a pensive look and Audrey gave her a rare soft smile.

"Marinette, you are a great designer, your business though it is small, will grow quickly. I have nothing more to teach you, it's time for you to find a new mentor. Spread your wings, embark new horizon, non?" Audrey spread her hands as a grand gesture, she then winked at Marinette to add a little bit of effect. "Think about it."

"Understood, Mme Bourgeois." Giggled Marinette merrily. Audrey chuckled and clapped her hands. "I'll inform you of my decision, tomorrow morning."

Audrey claps her hand with a victorious smile, "Magnifique! Now! I require-"

"Your special brew coffee and your sweet snacks for the break and the latest fashion magazine as well as your mani-pedis private appointment," Marinette replied immediately with a sardonic smile. Her boss smirked and winked at her and Marinette excused herself from the office.

Once the huge doors of the office closed she let her shoulder slump and exhaled heavily. Her heart was heavy at the thought of leaving Style Queen, she loves her job, though it isn't actually a full-time designing job, she made a good amount of money and the working hours didn't clash with her time to finish her client's commission, so all in all a win-win situation.

However, deep down she knew that Audrey was right, she had hit a point where she could grow no further here. Her design flourished through the years and more celebrities approached her privately to purchase her designs, but honestly, she doesn't know what to do next. Audrey had told her in order to build a big fashion business she would need a mentor that dabbled in a business empire and sadly enough though her network is vast none of them are from a flourishing business empire.

Marinette reached her personal desk and slumped on her seat while massaging her temple. She could feel a prod from her breast pocket and looked down to see her faithful friend peering up at her with their big eyes. Marinette gave Tikki an encouraging small smile.

"It's alright, Tikki, I'll manage." She whispered quietly at her. Even though this particular floor is only inhabited by her office and the big boss, she could never be too safe.

"I know, Marinette. I just figured you need a pat, that's all." Tikki giggled sweetly at her chosen.

"Thank you, Tikki. It definitely gave me a boost." She chuckled and tickled Tikki's soft head with her finger. She took a deep breath and decided to shelve the thought about her growing business aside, she had work to do. She popped her knuckles and straightened her back.

First thing first, the mani-pedis private appointment.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Marinette finished her work a little later than the normal 5 o'clock, there's a lot of work to be done as the Style Queen's assistant. But she didn't complain, it made her busy so she doesn't have to wallow in depression and anxiety that had always waited for her in the corner.

She gathered her things meticulously, made sure that Tikki is safely tucked in her bucket bag that she had made herself, and left the building to go home. Her penthouse wasn't far from where she worked, so it had been a pleasant quiet walk home.

Once she arrived home she let Tikki out of her bag and went to a room that she named, 'The Kwami Abode'. It was one of the more spacious rooms with a large window facing the Eiffel tower, in the middle of the room stood a glowing tree, the whole tree branches and trunk were white with shimmering iridescent purple and blue, and the leaves were crystal it formed a dome covering the egg-shaped Miracle box on the top of the tree trunk, hanging by the branches were different color pods there were 19 in total for all the Kwamis and each pod was decorated for their personal preference.

The room was painted a soft lilac color and it has layers upon layers of protective magic. Once Marinette had bought herself a place to live using her own commission money and her pay as Style Queen's secretary, she made sure to reserve a room for the Kwamis. She doesn't want them to be cooped up in the Miracle Box, so using her magic she created the trees and pods so that the Kwami could lounge around in peace.

Tikki was delighted that her chosen held such great magic and the other Kwamis were equally delighted that their guardian is thoughtful enough to build them a proper place to stay in.

Marinette smiles as Tikki gave her a small kiss on her cheek and flew to her pod, from one of the pods Pollen flew out and let out an excited squeal.

"The Grand Guardian Is Back!!!" The Bee kwami immediately zoomed toward Marinette and gave her cheek a hug.

Hearing Pollen's excited squeal the other kwamis namely, Trixx, Barkk, and Duusu flew out from their respective pods and swarmed Marinette with hugs of their own. The young Guardian smiled warmly at their excited greetings and left the Kwami Abode to start on dinner.

While making the Kwami's dinner, she was lost in thought again about her future. So lost that she almost chopped her fingers but thankfully Plagg stopped her by nudging her palm with his head. Marinette blinked a few times and her eyes locked at Plagg's electric green. The Black Cat God gave her a look.

"What's going on in your head, kitten?"

Marinette set aside the knife she was holding and let out a deep sigh, "It's nothing, Plagg. I'm just being ridiculous."

"Utterly ridiculous?" Plagg snarked with a shit-eating grin.

Marinette scoffed and rolled her eyes.

"I'm serious though, pigtails, what's going on? You wanna have a therapy session with your favorite kwami again?"

"Oh come on, Plagg. I haven't been wearing pigtails in years! You've gotta find a more creative nickname than that. You're losing your touch. Also, my favorite Kwami happens to be Wayzz." She winked as Plagg gave a betrayed gasp.

"How dare you, pigtails! I raised you from when you were just a lovesick kitten! Taught you everything you know about mischief and chaos! And this is how you pay me??? Betrayal?? Favoritism???" He wailed dramatically.

Marinette laughed out loud, holding the kitchen counter so she wouldn't fall. Plagg grinned as he watched his precious kitten laugh freely, it doesn't happen too often, not nowadays at least. Marinette had closed herself off from any potential friendship because of the trauma she had from her former classmate. Her only friends, namely Kagami, Luka, and Chloe, didn't see each other as often as they'd like. But they tried at least.

"Anyways, don't try changing the subject, kitten. What's wrong?" Plagg asked again. Marinette stopped her laugh and smiled weakly at Plagg.

"I'm not getting out of this conversation, am I?"

"Nope, kitty cat! C'mon, y'know you can confide your worries to dear old Plagg!"

Marinette snorts and rolled her eyes before huffing silently. "It's about my future. Audrey told me that I might need to find another mentor since she doesn't have anything to teach me anymore. It's a great opportunity but I'm content with what I have!"

Plagg hummed and floats closer to Marinette. "You're scared of change, aren't you?"

Marinette holds her shoulder and hunched forward while biting her lips anxiously. "Maybe...Okay... Yeah, I'm scared. It's just... I think she wants me to leave France and I'm just..."

"Not ready?"

The former ladybug nodded meekly at that. Plagg reached out to touch her cheeks. "Listen to me, Bugs. I know how scary it is to get out of your comfort zone, but I can feel you restless. You are a true Holder, A True Soul even! I can tell that your creative soul is dying to leave this place. Paris is safe now, it has been safe for 5 years, and you made sure of that. The people had their time to move on forward. But you? This might be your chance to do so."

"But what about, you guys?"

"What? You think we're going to hate leaving Paris? Kitten, you are the Great Grand Guardian of the Miraculous. Where you go we follow. Besides, I think I speak for all of my siblings that we just want you to be happy."

"Plagg is right my Queen! You made sure we live in comfort and we also want the same for you!"

"You've done so much for us and it's time for you to be a little selfish, who knows maybe you'll meet the love of your life out there!" Duusu exclaimed excitedly.

"Besides, your power has improved greatly, Grand Guardian. I think making another 'Kwami's Abode' in your new residence wherever you will be would be an easy task. We believe in you." Wayzz added as he joined the conversation.

Marinette felt tears prickling from her eyes, she sniffed and looked up at the Kwamis around her. "Thank you. Thank you so much." She whispered.

Her heart settled for the first time in a few years, no lingering anxiety as her decision was made. Perhaps, the Wayne Gala would lead her to a better life, a new exciting adventure, a place where she could finally call home.

"Well, it looks like we're all going to take a trip to Gotham."

TBC

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

<Next Chapter>

[toxinellebug]

Shadybug/ClawNoir supporting character Headcanons

Jagged Stone? More like Jared Smith. He wanted to be a rockin musician, but his type of music is banned by the Supreme so his career never took off. Instead, he ended up marrying his girlfriend, Nannette Couffaine, after accidentally knocking her up with twins, released his pet crocodile into the Seine, got an apartment, and works a regular job that he HATES. But, he secretly still tries to record music and sells it on the black market where it has become somewhat popular in the indie underground, but if he were caught he would go to prison for sure. It’s not a happy marriage but he does what he has to. His kids last names are hyphenated Couffaine-Smith.

No houseboat, and without Royalties from music labels, neither Juleka or Luka could afford to go to Francois Dupont

Penny works as an assistant for Bob Roth and HATES IT. The man is a sexist slave driver, but this business is brutal.

Nadja Chamack is not a news anchor. You can’t be a single mother AND have a career that takes up so much of your time. As a result, Marinette has never had to babysit Manon.

Lila wants to challenge Chloe’s position as queen of the school, but there are no lies about charity work, only lies of what powerful and famous connections she has.

Adrien is not interested in being friendly with Lila, and definitely not going to help her with schoolwork. But he is still the ultimate trophy and key to winning popularity in Lila’s eyes, so she is determined to “win him over”, even though he finds her almost as annoying as Chloe, but Chloe he is stuck with due to her mom’s working relationship with his dad.

Gabriel doesn’t trust Lila one bit.

The sad and negative emotions he is forced to sense due to the power of the Butterfly brooch cause him distress, and he often has to excuse himself due to “headaches” from overworking, as a creative’s work is never done… But he is always listening for the emotions of people crying out for justice, for help, for people who wish they had the power to help.

Andre Glacier is still the Sweetheart’s ice-cream maker, but Sweetheart’s ice-cream is just a special menu item that you can request. Otherwise he has a scheduled route and serves the ice-cream that customers ask for.

Alya’s dad wishes the zoo could focus more on animal enrichment and larger enclosures but they don’t have the budget for such “unnecessary extravagences”.

Mr. Haprel hopes to make it as a famous Mime one day so he can be rich enough to afford to send his daughter, Mylene, to the school he works at as a janitor.

Everyone avoids Ivan.

Thomas Astruc never made it as a famous director, rather, the Supreme favored his University Rival, Andre Bourgeois, who also owns the Le Grande Paris Hotel.

Gina and Roland Dupain are not divorced/separated per say… Gina was sent to prison for civil disobedience. That’s why Tom is a doormat and just goes along with whatever discipline Sabine decides on because he doesn’t want his precious little girl to end up a criminal like her grandmother.

Sabine does not teach an inkpainting class on the weekend or practice tai chi or feng shui.

The walls of Marinette’s home are not pink, they are a boring beige that she hates.

The Agreste Manor is not a sterile, black and white modern decor dungeon. It is a prism of color, function, form, beauty and nature with nods to antiquity and the whimsical. Adrien HATES it. All color and light left this world when his mother died. The art in his house mocks his pain.

There is no school blog for Nathaniel to post his art on… But Marc ended up in that class instead of Marinette. (So did Mireille) He’s still too shy to admit he’s a writer. And even more shy to admit he has a crush on Nathaniel, so all he can do is watch the boy quietly. Rose thinks it’s a romantic tragedy and wants to play matchmaker. Alex thinks it’d be a disaster waiting to happen.

There is no Prince Ali who gives toys to sick kids in hospitals.

There is nothing as frivolous as videogame tournaments, so Max devotes all his spare time to his hobby of robotics and developing an AI… but developing an artificial intelligence is frowned upon. Luckily, Alya can keep a secret… that is, if Max is willing to spare some of his time to helping her havkninto the dark web to research conspiracy theories.

Wayhem is obseesed with Adrien, who can’t stand crazy fanatics and won’t lose any sleep if the Gorilla tackles the scrawny boy to the ground.

After much convincing, bullsh**ing, and bribes, Gabriel is able to host his derby hat design competition at Francois Dupont, (and hopefully, modelling his classmate’s creations will be a bonding point for Adrien to make a new friend) Rose sees it as an opportunity to tries to get Marc and Nathaniel to work with her to create a hat, hoping sparks will fly between them.

Even if Marinette WANTED to enter a stupid contest involving that spoiled, stuck-up Agreste boy, which she DOESN’T, her mother won’t allow it because sewing and doodling outfits is a distraction from her schoolwork.

Chloe still cheats.

But Shadybug discreetly sabotages the fashion show the winning hat is supposed to feature in.

Nathalie never became Gabriel’s assistant or even acquaintance. Instead, she is in charge of the department of the Louvre that archives and locks away all “banned” art and artifacts (aka anything related to Miraculous holders)

Alex thinks she’s creepy and hates how she coldly bosses around her dad.

Audrey is the same as ever, with the exception that she recognizes that her younger daughter Zoe has some talent, and wants Andre to find a movie part for her to play, and ignores Chloe’s bitter jealousy which causes her to lash out at others even nastier than in Ladybug and Cat Noir’s universe.

Nino is treated rudely and ignored by Adrien. Adrien would never agree to play a role in Nino’s movie and even accuses Nino of trying to use Adrien’s celebrity status to give himself an unfair advantage in the student movie competition.

Adrien doesn’t have time for stupid group projects or after school activities. But not because he has a full schedule since this Universe’s Gabriel is a decent father who does not demand perfection and give a 14 year old a burdensome schedule… It’s because outside of fencing and modeling, Adrien plans to spend his time planning out which sections of the city he’s going to take his anger out on that night.

Gabriel never forgot his roots as the son of a fry-cook, and occasionally tries to cook comfort food (NOT PANCAKES) for Adrien, who insists he’s not hungry or that junk is bad for his skin/weight, which has Gavriel worried about Adrien developing body dysphoria and eating disorders… These worries are put to rest when he finds out Adrien has suddenly developed a sweet tooth for baked goods. Therefore he has no qualms about his son frequenting the local bakery so often because a growing boy needs to eat and a treat is good for the spirit.

He wishes he could be more honest with Adrien, but he knows that it would destroy his son if he ever found out that the sickness that took his mother’s life was caused by his creation… He’s also not sure what kind of trauma Adrien would have to the fact he’s not human.

Gabriel also doesn’t want Adrien in danger. Gabriel wants to create a better world for his son to live in, a world where he and everyone else can be free! Where people can throve without stepping over others, and the poor don’t have to suffer. Where people have rights to love freely and express opinions without fear. A world where people help one another.

Gabriel would never use the rings to control Adrien, instead, he keeps them locked away in a safe, and plans to give them to Adrien someday when he is an adult and less likrly to misplace them because if they were to fall into the wrong hands, Gabriel shudders to think of what would become of Adrien.

Audrey still has a low key crush on Gabriel which makes him cringe but he still acts polite to keep up working relations, and he also pities his friend Andre, trapped in a one-sided marriage and bullied by his daughter and his wife.

[strwbrryhtl]

Blessed are the Meek that Seek Absolution - Chapter 2

Arthur sat in his hotel room of the Blackwater Saloon and stared at the wall, his breathing heavy after he had one of the girls working the washrooms sew his shoulder shut. The girl didn’t seem to mind, she kept talking about things she had going on for her around town as she dug the needle and string into Arthur’s flesh. He was a natural born listener and the girls talking helped to distract from the pain of his shoulder being fixed.  

He knew he should eat something, but there was a feeling in his stomach that was gnawing at him and the idea of putting anything into his body made that feeling churn his stomach like butter. He was feeling broken, his body aching and his soul feeling broken. Too much had happened to him in the last few months to even make him think about getting better. He had left the men who raised him, saying he needed space after what had happened to his family. They knew, they knew Arthur would come back to them once he was healed. But Arthur didn’t know how long it would take for him to heal.  

How do you heal when your family was murdered? When innocent lives are ripped from the earth too soon? Reaching over to his satchel, he pulled out an envelope and pressed the paper to his nose. It still smelled like her house, of fresh flowers and spring air. He kept the letter pressed to his face for a few minutes before pulling it away and opening the letter inside.  

Dear Arthur, 

Isaac is so excited to see you for his birthday next week. I bought him some books at the general store, he likes them more for the pictures. He’s taken an interest in animals recently and you’d be proud of how kind he is to everything he sees in nature. Hopefully you still have Boadicea, Isaac would love to learn how to ride.  

The money you sent has been helpful, hopefully soon we can move to a town that is safer. All of us, not just Isaac and myself. I hope you’re able to come be a father, Arthur. I think we’d all like that. 

We’ll see you soon, safe travels, 

Love Eliza and Isaac. 

Arthur stared at her handwriting, how his sons name was written in her cursive and how excited she was to become a family. A real family, something they both had wanted. But that letter was three months old now, his son didn’t get the chance to turn five years old and Eliza never had the chance to move to a safer town.  

All Arthur Morgan could think about was finding and killing the bastards who ripped his family away from him, all for ten lousy dollars that he had sent so his son could have new clothes.  

“Mr. Callahan, you want some dinner?” An older woman’s voice called out and Arthur sighed as he got his shirt on and went to the door. “We’re serving roast beef tonight, renters get first take.” 

“I’ll be down shortly ma’am,” he said and smiled at the woman and grabbed her arm gently as she went to walk down the stairs. “Can you tell me about some of the people in town?” 

The woman looked at him with her eyebrow raised, turning to face him. “Which people?” 

“This girl helped me at the general store and put my purchase on her account, DuPont something?” 

“Oh Claudia DuPont, lovely girl,” the woman said and her eyes softened. “Her father is William, he works in construction and has lumberyards all over this part of the country. Shipped the poor girl off to a boarding school in New York when her mother died about ten years ago,” she sighed and shook her head. “Claudia is nice though, if you ever meet her father don’t let his presence dissuade you about Claudia, she’s more like her mother was than her father thankfully,” she said and pat Arthur on the arm before going downstairs.  

Arthur watched the woman leave and he turned to go back into his room. Claudia’s father worked in construction and had multiple lumber yards around the country was something he could at least report back to Dutch and Colm, it would help get the two of them off his back for awhile while he was trying to grieve. He didn’t want to admit that he was part of the group of men going around and robbing the rich businessmen, but if it put extra money in his pocket it didn’t bother him that much. He went to the desk in the corner of the room and quickly wrote out what he learned about Claudia’s father before addressing the letter to Tacitus Kilgore. The letter always ended up where it needed to be, and Arthur knew the job was done when he went to get a paper a few days later.  

Going downstairs, he left the letter with the barkeep and sat down at a table in the corner, rubbing his shoulder as he watched the life of the saloon around him. Men were either winning or losing money at an alarming rate, girls were walking around asking if anyone wanted company. Once his food came, Arthur stayed in his place and watched the bar life around him, politely declining anyone who came to join him and he instead focused on the food in front of him and the pain in his shoulder.  

He couldn’t believe how stupid he was to get stabbed. The lie he told Claudia wasn’t a complete lie. He did fall off his horse, he just happened to be chased by someone trying to steal her. He was better in gun fights anyways and was just thankful that he was able to reach for any sort of weapon in time. Looking out the window, he watched Boadicea across the street, eating some sort of feed that the stable provided for her. That horse was one of the last things he had in life that made him happy, she had been with him through thick and thin and he couldn’t imagine what he would do without her.  

“Mr. Callahan, you have a letter,” one of the girls said as she came to clear Arthur’s plate and he thanked her quietly, reading over the handwriting that he quickly recognized as Hosea’s. 

Going to be brief, Arthur. Dutch and Colm are no longer on terms. I know before there was barely good terms but now it’s turning into a possible war. Dutch killed Colm’s brother, accidentally he claims, and now Colm is going to try and run all the jobs we were going to. 

Stay safe and avoid any O’Driscoll members that may be floating around in Blackwater. There’s going to be a raid at the pier when a few of the poker ferry's come in. Join in if you want but know that those men are against us now.  

H.M. 

Arthur sighed as he read over Hosea’s quickly scratched out letter and he shoved it into his pant pocket as he stood up.  

Maybe a raid at the pier would help get his mind off his grief.  

Tag List:

@photo1030 @lunawolfclaw

A03 Link

[artzychic27]

Lila de la Cruz is stuck in a hellhole

Just a random songfic I thought of while religiously listening to MilkyyMelodies' Hazbin Hotel songs

Lila slowly opens her eyes and immediately, she's got a skullache. "Ugh!" She looks around and finds herself in some alley. In no time, she gets back on her feet when she feels something wet against her back. She looks down at her once pristine orange dress, now stained with... She doesn't even know what. "What the?" She looks up and sees boy with deer-like features. He tilts his head and takes a step closer. His eyes narrow until they widen in realization. "Lila Porter?" "Ugh! Get away from me, freak!" Lila screams, pushing him aside with a little more force than necessary so he hits the back of his head against the wall. It's not like anyone was around to see that. And if he goes crying, her adoring fans will come flocking... To... Her side...

"Where the hell am I?" She finally wonders. And how did she get here?

Grabbing her hat off the ground and giving it a proper dusting, she makes her way toward the fortress-like version of her school. A sign near the entrance that reads, 'DuPont Reform Academy' doesn't tell her much, but when she goes inside, it begins to make sense.

This place sickens me to the core There's glass on the floor and the people smell like trash

She swore she saw Myléne with... Tentacles?! She looks like that sea witch Ondine is always crying about.

Mylenesula does a double take when she sees the skeleton and immediately pulls out her phone to text Ivan Oogie. It's really hard to ignore, freaks and creep galore Man, this place is really wack

The skeleton shoves past the other... Versions? of her schoolmates, uncaring, and only wanting to get some answers from someone with magic!

Lila shoves this school's version of Simon to the side, hearing him spout some religious nonsense until she manages to ignore him. She continues on her way, unaware of the strange looks Minister O'Connor and Doctor Cabello are giving her. Even the shadow witch's own shadow is gobsmacked. The good guys all suffer here It seems pretty clear that this place is worse than death

She stands by and watches as Alya- donning a black dress with what looks like some Incan flare- throws a bottle with a pink fluid at an unsuspecting student, turning the girl into a rat. Next to her in a top hat with realistic fox ears and a tail is Nino, laughing at the student's misfortune before looking at Alya as if she raised the sun.

... Now how she would have gone about it, but to each their own. With a cruel smirk, she kicks the rat aside, making sure to use the pointy part of her heel before continuing her way through the courtyard.

YzAlya and Honest Nino stare after her, their jaws dropping in unison. The sorceress stares at the potion bottle attached to her belt to see if it's leaking.

Jafardrien in his snake form gets ready to pounce on the transformed student, but his slit eyes glance over at Lila, and his fang-filled maw drops. I'm sickened right to my corе, standin' on Hell's floor And the peoplе smell like trash

"Díos, this sucks," Lila de la Cruz murmurs, walking around yet another broken potions bottle no one seem to have picked up for weeks if the disintegrated section of the floor has anything to say about it. What a hellhole Despite being a skeleton, her senses still work, and right now- "Ugh, what even is that smell?!"

In this hellhole?

She gets her answer when she turns around and immediately regrets it when she sees fur-covered versions of Alix and Ismael hunched over what can only be a... Carcas. Somehow she gags, and they hear her. Seeing her pearly white bones, they go to pounce, only for her to remove her arm and smack them both with it before storming off.

Recovering first, IsmaScar is about to run after her and rip one of those bones off for himself, only for Alix Khan to hold an arm out in front of him. With a shaky hand, she points, and IsmaScar doesn't know what has her so startled until he sees it. That is a skinless Lila Porter he's looking at. He's too confused to even think about eating her.

Full of misery! How could this be? What forces sent me? To this hellhole? I've looked everywhere, that fairy bitch should be near!

Cosettewether drops her phone and her gaze continues to follow what can only be Lila. She taps Princess Zoé on the shoulder, and before she can say anything, she takes the blonde's chin and turns her toward the skeleton. The Princess blinks to make sure she's seeing things correctly before pulling out her phone to text the others She better get me out of here! Out this hellhole! What a hellhole, in this hellhole

Hearing a yelp, she turns to the direction of the sound and sees a trio consisting of a dual-haired Marinette, a Sabrina with a ton of makeup, and a Chloé who is much sharply dressed standing over a student on the floor and picking up her belongings while crying. Her, um... Lips, curl into a grin before she bursts into laughter and points at the unfortunate girl, catching the other three off guard.

Lila de la Cruz even goes so far as to kick the student's phone away, and as luck would have it, it slides beneath the boot of a student in armored boots, cracking the screen beyond repair.

The three fashionable villains watch her go with varying expressions- Shock, awe, etc. Madame Sabrina adjusts her glasses, sure she must be seeing things.

Bet my fans miss me at FPA, begging me to return and stay Greatest idol that they had! I can do what I want now, things they don't allow Maybe Hell is not so bad

The way Lila sees it, the bad guys run this place. None of the teachers have done a damn thing to stop all that she's seen so far. At that lousy prep school, she can get detention just for not "being a good example," whatever the hell that means. But here? She's been needing an outlet other than music.

No chumps for fans to appease Heros are on their knees, bested by villainous plans! In here where they have no rules, everyone is cruel Think I could become a fan!

... Oh, she just has to. Besides, no rules, apparently.

The musician strides over and snatches a black and blue guitar with raven decals from a student who bares a resemblance to Luka only... Slightly more attractive, she notices. Before the leather-wearing verison of the Prince can say anything and before the Kagami with black sclera can put a sword through her, she plays an impressive riff that catches the attention of everyone in the courtyard.

DiabLuka's look of fury melts into disbelief, then mesmirization, and then something akin to respect. He puts a hand on Kagami Yu's shoulder to stop her before throwing up the goats and headbangs

What a hellhole In this hellhole

Just for laughs, she trips a student on her way upstairs. Obnoxious laughter follows coming from none other than this world's Kim, who looks ready for the hunt. By his side is Ondine, staring at him with nothing but sickening admiration rather than laughing until her gaze drifts to Lila.

While Kimton is still laughing at the student, LeOndine turns his head toward Lila's retreating figure, and his jaw drops.

It's a perfect fit, I'm no hypocrite But I do love this pit, what a hellhole

What really catches her attention are the crowns on top of the heads of the alternate versions of Nathaniel, Marc, and Rose. With them is a horned version of Juleka, but even without a crown, she still has this almost regal aura. Marc, Nathaniel, and Juleka were never ones to flaunt their royal status back at DuPont Prep- a real waste if you ask her. Here, they're all practically letting everyone know they reign supreme. I might stick around, climb the ranks Be the new Queen of Song in town in this hellhole!

She casually strolls past the villains with a dark smirk that has King Nathaniel dropping his tea cup. King Marc blinks a few times while Queen Rose Candy snaps a picture on her phone to send to the others. Juleficent looks at her staff, wondering if she's been casting spells in her sleep again.

Stopping, Lila de la Cruz leans over the railing and looks down at the courtyard from the mezzanine... Soon it'll all be hers'. What a hellhole, in this hellhole

Without even thinking- because, hello! She's already dead- She climbs on top of the railing and leaps, landing perfectly on top of the marble fountain in the middle of the courtyard with nothing breaking. She plays an acid guitar solo that draws the villainous version of her schoolmates toward her. DiabLuka's loud cheering gets them into a frenzy and they scream and cheer her on.

MimRore's grin never leaves her face as her eyes roll into the back of her head and she passes out in Mireides' arms. Using the snakes under his burlap-skin as fingers, Ivan Oogie manages to throw up the goats.

Maxdrome uses his drone to record the spectacle watch again alter- for scientific purposes and so he can enjoy the small concert over and over again.

Nothing is off limits, I'm so with it! And I'm gonna have some fun! Things good guys prohibit, done in minutes! Yeah, my life has just begun!

Jeanatoa, sitting on Sheriff Austin's shoulder, screams her name. Next to them, Lacey Gothel with stars in her eyes looks like a deranged fan wanting to get a lock of their favorite singer's hair.

Reshma Hook throws her pearl necklace the skeletal singer's way, a clear sign of respect as the pirtate would never part with her bounty.

The second Lila de la Cruz climbs down, she's surrounded by Mari De Vil, Chloé Tremaine, and Madame Sabrina, all wearing matching grins as they practically drag her to Mari De Vil's dorm room. There, they proceed to get her out of her clothes stained by the fall and get her into something new and quite stylish she might add.

The red fabric would make things easier if she had to get... Physical when getting inspiration for her music. I'll be a Queen rulin', in no time, baby No orders from anyone! Nothing is off limits, I'm so with it And I'm gonna have some fun

When classes start and she arrives, she's met with a bit of a warm welcome from her fellow villains, their chatter overlapping whatever Mme. Bustier is even saying. Something about being welcoming to their new temporary student until they can find the real Lila.

Speaking truthfully, just look at me I'm finally living free in this hellhole

Oh, like she's leaving this place, and she doubts her new classmates want this Lila Porter chick back. Whatever loser was hanging here before can have those do-gooders back at DuPont Prep. I've got all I need, everything's fine with me Rule over fools with ease, what a hellhole

Making her way to the back, she slides into her seat next to King Nathaniel who shoots her a wide smile that's fitting for the Mad King.

'I can do whatever I want here!' She thinks to herself and leans back in her seat as the pathetic fairy tries to get everyone to pay attention to the lesson. 'I guess this could be fun after all!'

@msweebyness @imsparky2002