#this is an old one but oh boy was I going through it back then

[justcallmedom31]

Ig it's Storytime with Dom now @not-so-local-lesbian lol Where do I begin. Hm. I really don't know how to start but basically, two bandits broke into my family home last week, and now i'm recovering from trauma 👍 Now for the long story. For context first. My grandparents built a home here where I live, that's in the Philippines. Locals call it, the Engineer's House, for the sole fact that my late grandfather was a mechanical engineer, who designed and built the home himself before he passed away 8 years ago. There's swimming pool, a pond, a farm, and a lot of mango trees. 80 Mango Trees to be exact. Quite proud of them heh. I am set to inherit the land in a couple years or so. I forgot how large the lot is exactly, but it's enough to fit a couple basketball courts within heh. Last week, two bandits broke into it. Thank gosh, my family and I weren't there at the time, as we were in Quezon City, hanging out with my two aunts from Australia who were visiting. How did we know the broke in? They were caught by my mother's CCTV she installed in the living room. At 2:28 AM, my mother was notified by the motion sensor, to which thankfully she was awake at the time, talking with one of my aunts. At first she thought it was a spider, but upon closer look. There was a man going down the stairs. She originally thought it was ghost, but looked closer to find that they were indeed, bandits. Two Bandits. their faces were covered. So, my mum panicked, and my aunt. my other aunt woke up to the panics, and also panicked herself. I woke up around the time they realized two people broke in, and rushed to call our relatives who lived nearby. Thankfully, we managed to wake up one of my aunts who lived in the same barangay (that's sorta like a village ig). Her husband went in with a flashlight which managed to scare away the bandits. and boy, was it a mess inside. And yeah, that's what happened. My family had to pack to drive all the way there to investigate what happened and clean up the mess inside. While we drove, which took 6 hours, the police were notified of the incident and investigated the crime. I won't go into too much detail from what happened when we arrived, but from what I could tell of investigating it myself, the two bandits were spying on the home from the mango trees outside. around late night, they made their way in over the fence, and up to the third floor balcony, through which is where they broke in. they searched through everything on the second floor. Only thing they could find that looked valuable was my late great-grandmother's bag of old coins and a few bags. When my relatives scared em, the only thing they managed to steal was two. fucking. bags. TWO. BAGS. OUT OF EVERYTHING IN THE HOUSE. OUT OF THE VASES AND TECH. THEY ONLY MANAGED TO STEAL TWO FUCKING BAGS. I'M NOT BLOODY JOKINGG what's even funnier, is when they were inside our home, they fucking drank water in the kitchen and even popped out some of the ice, and wine. Oh yeah, and they also saw the cctv and managed to take it out, but THEY DROPPED IT OUTSIDE THE HOME. ALONG WITH THE BAG OF COINS LIKE WHAT?? HOW STUPID CAN YOU BE?? The coins date back all the way to 1972, so i understand they can't really be used... BUT LIKE, THEY STILL HAVE VALUE??? WHY WWOULD YOU DROP SO MUCH ON THE GROUND?? WHY THE HELL WOULD YOU DROP EVERYTHING??? It's a good thing at least, that they dropped them. BUT WHYYY???? AND ALSO GET THIS. THEY LEFT THEIR FUCKING TOOLS INSIDE. EVERYTHING. AND THEIR FINGERPRINTS. AND SANDALS. AND EVEN HOODIES. THEY'RE SO STUPID LMAOO So, yeah, there's my story. it was really traumatizing knowing i could have been there that day. and. i could have died. Because they had weapons when they broke in. the weapons were discovered to have been hidden under the bed. But yeah anyways, theres storytime for today. i'm going to be fine too dw, i can walk it off :PP

[writtendaydreamm]

Allergies and Accidents

Summary: Y/n and Langdon's son has an allergic reaction at school and is rushed to the ER

Author's note: There are not enough Langdon fics on here so I tried my hand at it with this little scenario that came to mind. I have no medical knowledge so please don't expect accuracy with the medical details lol but I tried my best with ChatGPT.

1:03 PM

McKay noticed Y/n immediately. Familiar faces are always the easiest to spot here - they’re the ones you never want to see. She came through the entrance frantic and pale faced, trying to squeeze through the mess of people packed into that waiting room tighter than sardines in a can.

“Alright guys, do a round and make sure no one’s dying before they get into a bed,” McKay instructed the row of interns following behind her like little ducklings.

Making a beeline to y/n, she eyed her up and down assessing for any possible injuries. No visible cuts or wounds. No signs of trauma or pain. Other than the obvious fact the poor girl was about to have a full blown panic attack, she looked fine. 

“Cass! Oh thank god,” Y/n exclaimed, grabbing onto McKay earnestly. She had a vice grip and was not letting go until she got some answers. 

“What’s going on, are you alright? What are you doing here?” 

“It’s not me,” Y/n said, holding back a sob. “It’s Theo.”

12:31 PM

Typing up his report on the college kid with pancreatitis in South 12, Robby settled into a chair. He thought to himself it must’ve been his lucky day. He barely got a chance to use the restroom let alone a chance to sit down. It was almost unheard of. 

The thought alone must’ve jinxed him as Dana called out for him the second he got comfortable. He gave her a tired look over his glasses thinking, what now. 

“EMS rolling in with a 6 year old male. Anaphylaxis. Low BP, dropping O2.”

“ETA?”

As if on cue the automatic doors slid open for two first responders wheeling in a young boy. He was wheezing, gasping for air. Jumping into action, Robby, Perlah, along with 2 interns opened up a room as the EMS gave their report. 

“Six year old male, Theo Langdon. Severe anaphylaxis, failed EpiPen at school.”

The name caught Robby off guard. No, it couldn’t be. Eyes dropping down to get a better look at the boy as they transferred him from the stretcher onto the bed, Robby’s jaw went slack. Perlah who had come to the same realization looked at him wide-eyed in shock. 

“Alright, we’ll take it from here, thanks guys,” Robby dismissed the responders before addressing their new patient. 

“Hey bud, it’s Dr. Robby. I know you're struggling right now, but we’ve got you, okay.” Pressing his fingers along the boy’s throat assessing the swelling and looking for signs of a possible tracheal deviation. No deviation yet which was good, no need for immediate intubation. Using his stethoscope against Theo’s chest and throat, he listened closely for stridor and absent breath sounds. “Get him on continuous pulse ox, full cardiac monitoring. O2 status?”

“88% on 15L non-rebreather,” Perlah replied, adjusting the mask on the boy’s face. 

“I do not want to intubate if possible, but if it drops below 85%, we have no choice. Get RSI meds ready in case we lose the airway.” 

Pointing at one of the interns, Whitaker, Robby ordered him to step out, find Dr. Langdon and keep him away from this room by any means necessary. The intern hesitated, clearly confused by the request, and honestly a bit offended that he was the one to be sent off over the other intern. Gathering what guts he had, Whitaker spoke up.

“Dr. Robby, I’d really prefer to stay-”

“And I’d prefer that Dr. Langdon not walk in and see his son like this,” Robby countered without a beat. 

A flash of understanding spread across Whitakers face as he rushed out of the room to do as instructed. Robby spared a quick glance out the doors watching the young intern weave his way through the bustle of the ER floor in search of said doctor. No matter how long you’ve been on the job or how much trauma and gore you’ve dealt with, nothing will ever compare to the sickening feeling of seeing a loved one here. And the last thing they needed in this room was another Langdon in distress. 

Wrapping his stethoscope back around his neck, Robby stood up determination setting in. He was not going to let anything happen to Theo. Not in his ER. They needed to open his airways and stabilize him fast.

“Nebulized racemic epinephrine stat.”

12:40 PM

Walking back to the nurses station, Dr. Langdon was feeling quite pleased with himself. 

A woman had been rushed in with a ruptured spleen and internal bleeding after a bad car crash. Distended abdomen, severe blood loss, BP dangerously low and on the decline. She was losing too much blood too fast. She was going to crash. She wouldn’t have made it to the OR if he hadn’t acted as fast as he had to stop the bleeding and relieve the abdominal pressure.

“The peritoneal lavage. The IV vasopressor. That was really quick thinking. I mean you didn’t even hesitate,” Mel thought out loud, joining him at the counter. “I’d never seen that much internal bleeding managed outside the OR before.”

“Yeah?” chucked dryly, “Well, get used to it.”

Only half listening now as Mel rambled on, he pulled out his phone and in an instant whatever high he was on after working on that patient was brought crashing down seeing his notifications.

15 missed calls, all from Y/n.

“Well do you think she’s gonna make it? In the OR I mean?” Mel asked, oblivious to the fact the man beside her was on the verge of mentally spiraling. 

“Um, it's in their hands now,” he answered absently, gesturing over to the OR as he walked off leaving Mel to swallow whatever she was about to say next. 

He didn’t mean to be rude, but whatever Y/n was calling about had to be something urgent. 15 missed calls. She never called him during his shifts. She’d text if she needed to tell him something. But even then sparingly and about little things, like needing to grab eggs and milk on his way home, or to update him that she and the kids got home safe. She never called. Not unless something serious was happening. His mind raced with the worst case scenarios as he paced down the hallway, phone pressed tight against his ear. Maybe she got into an accident again - she was always getting into little accidents and incidents. Or maybe she was having car trouble? But they’d just gotten both their cars serviced and paid a pretty penny for it too. Was it the kids? God he hoped it wasn’t one of the kids. 

“Hello, Frank?”

“Hey baby, sorry I missed your calls. I had this patient crashing and-” 

She didn’t give him any time to finish, cutting straight to the chase. 

“Theo was rushed to the ER.”

12:49

“Vitals,” Langdon demanded, bursting into the room pushing right past Whitaker.

Really? Robby looked at Whitaker who could only shrug apologetically. He had tried his best to keep Langdon away, but the poor intern was no match for the senior resident who just moments ago had threatened to lay him out on the ER floor if he didn’t move out of his way. And Whitaker knew by the look in Langdon’s eyes, he was dead serious. 

“You can’t be in here Langdon,” Robby shook his head, adjusting the ventilator settings, tweaking Theo’s oxygen flow.

“The hell I can’t,” Langdon bit back, moving towards his son. But Whitaker held his arms out, trying to block him from getting any further into the room. 

“I swear if you don’t get your hands off me, you’ll be in a bed next,” Langdon said through gritted teeth.

“Do not threaten my interns,” Robby warned pointedly.

But the words fell on deaf ears as Langdon continued, asking how Theo’s airways are looking? If he’s getting enough steroid coverage. If they checked for biphasic anaphylaxis.

“You’re not his doctor right now,” Robby said, beginning to lose his patience, “You’re his dad. And you need to step out if you can’t control yourself.” 

Langdon threw his head back in frustration. He was both for crying out loud. He was Theo’s dad and a doctor. And he’d be damned if he didn’t use his skills and knowledge to ensure the best treatment for his son. He was about to protest again when suddenly the machine's steady beeping began to go off, the alarms spiking. A cold panic coursed through Langdon’s entire body as that dreaded high pitched beeping filled the room. 

“You need to push fluids faster. He's in distributive shock,” Langdon stressed from the foot of the bed watching the monitor show Theo’s BP dropping. 

Robby cursed under his breath, adjusting the IV line. Although there were no rules against having family members in the room while patients were being treated, at times like this Robby really wished there were. Dealing with overbearing parents in the room was one thing, but an overbearing parent that happened to be a doctor as well was another. 

“Fluids are running. Normal saline wide open. We can handle this.”

“He’s not responding fast enough,” Langdon pushed, “If this is progressing into refractory shock, you need to start the pressors now.”

Perlah turned to Robby, “Do you want to escalate to vasopressors?”

“Get the vasopressin push ready, but hold for my call,” he shot a sharp look at Langdon having had enough of him trying to control the room, “Don’t wanna jump the gun. We’re not panicking here.”

“Not panicking? My son could code, and you’re not panicking?”

“That’s it. Out. Now,” he snapped, raising his voice to meet Langdon’s.

“No,” he doubled down.

“Then I will have you forcibly removed and written up for insubordination.” 

“Robby, please. That’s my son,” Langdon pleaded, running his hands through his hair, trying not to get a grip.

“And we’ve got him,” Robby assured. “Now, go. Let us do our jobs. Go.”

With a sharp exhale, and one final look at his son, Langdon turned to leave pulling his phone out to call Y/n. 

1:07 PM

Following McKay through the double doors into the ER, Y/n gripped the strap of her shoulder bag tightly. She was putting on a brave face, but the worry in her chest grew heavier and heavier with each step. McKay tried her best to soothe the poor mother, but being a mother herself, she knew there was nothing she could possibly say to make Y/n feel any better about this situation. 

Langdon, who had been pacing outside of Theo’s room, closed the distance between them the moment he saw her. Without a word, he wrapped his arms around her into a tight hug. Y/n let out a deep sigh, melting into him. Her heart that had been beating like a jackhammer was calmed by the the comfort of his presence and the warmth of his embrace. Pulling back to take a look at Theo, she couldn’t see a thing. The room’s curtains had been drawn.

“How is he,” she asked looking up at him, brows furrowed tightly together, worry etched across her face

Langdon had never seen her look so helpless before. She’s the strongest woman he knows - juggling a fulltime job of her own all while taking care of the kids and picking up the slack at home whenever he was late or working overtime. Even with her plate piled high, she was always composed, always cool under pressure. But all of that composure and coolness had flown out the car window as she sped from work to the hospital after getting that terrible phone call from their son's school. Before him now she was just a mother, scared and worried sick. 

It was a good thing Y/n hadn’t gotten here any earlier than she had, that she didn’t have to see Theo struggling like Langdon had. Admittedly, he lost himself a bit back in the room seeing Theo like that. He knew looking down at her now he needed to keep it together. He could not give her any reason to stress or worry any more than she already was. Every other day of the week, she was his rock, their family’s rock. For once, he needed to be hers. He took a breath choosing his next words carefully. 

“He’s gonna be alright,” Langdon said, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead. 

She listened as he went on trying his best to assure her of just that, telling her that Robby was taking good care of Theo. That he’s in good hands. That they see kids come through with anaphylaxis all the time. That he'll be okay. And though he sounded confident, Y/n knew him better than that. She had the sense that he was trying to convince her of all that just as much as he was trying to convince himself.

Taking a seat on one of the nearby chairs, Y/n shook her head in confusion. They’d taken every measure they could think of to ensure something like this would never happen. They’d informed his teacher of the allergy, and sent out letters to the parents in his class informing them as well. And even in the case he did consume anything with nuts, they always sent him off with an EpiPen and always ensured that it was still effective. 

“I don’t understand. The school said they’d given him his EpiPen.”

“It’s not foolproof babe,” Langdon sighed, running a hand over his face.

It was unfortunate but true. While potentially life saving, EpiPens are not 100% effective if not properly administered. They could’ve taken it out too early or maybe misfire, he explained. 

“So you’re telling me this was what? Some sort of user error?” Y/n scoffed at the irony. It just goes to show no matter what you do or how prepared you are, you can’t control what happens out there. As hard as you try, you can’t protect your kids from everything. 

“The better question is what idiot parent brought treats for the kids and didn’t bother checking for allergies,” Langdon said, growing upset at the thought. It was clearly stated in their parent handbook, all treats must accommodate any allergies and tolerances. Otherwise, don’t bring any. How stupid, careless, and dangerous. “You know, I bet it was those fucking Fultons. They don’t know how to follow basic instructions.”

About to go off on a tirade about the Fultons - whom he could not stand, for multiple reasons, but most recently because the father had cut Langdon off during morning drop off the other week - when the curtains pulled open.

Y/n stood up moving closer, getting her first look at Theo since she’s been here. He was lying still, eyes closed with an oxygen mask on his face, an IV still in his arm. Langdon placed a hand on her back, in part to comfort her and to ground himself, as a wave of relief washed over him seeing Theo stable and out of critical danger. 

Robby stepped out to speak to them. He and Langdon locked eyes, a silent understanding passing between them. Any of the tension they had in that room was eased and forgotten. As a father of sorts himself, Robby knew where Langdon was coming from. 

“Is he okay? Is he awake? Can he talk?” Y/n asked, the words just flowing out of her mouth as Langdon’s rubbed her back. 

“He’s okay. He’s breathing on his own now, still on oxygen, but his vitals are holding steady” Robby assured her, before turning to Landon who looked at him expectantly, “His airway swelling has gone down significantly. No sign of biphasic reaction-”

“Residual bronchospasm? Signs of delayed reaction?” Langond interjected before he could even finish. Robby shook his head, more amused than annoyed. 

“This thoroughness,” Robby said sarcastically, patting Langdon’s chest with the clipboard teasingly, “is why he’s one of my best residents.”

The pair chuckled, both knowing full well how Langdon can be sometimes. Robby went on, letting them know that they’re keeping a close eye on Theo, watching out for any secondary complications. His lungs sound clear and O2 are improving but they’re keeping him in the PICU overnight to make sure he’s in the clear. 

“Can we see him now?” Y/n asked.

“Yeah. Of course. He’s still under some sedation, but should be up soon,” he told her, gently guiding her into the room.

1:30 PM

Theo had come-to for a little, just enough for Y/n and Langdon to let him know he's okay now, that they’re here with him, before his heavy lids closed again, falling back asleep. His little body surely exhausted after all it had just gone through. 

Sat on either side of their son, Y/n and Langdon watched over him quietly. His gaze wandering over to his wife, he could see the toll this had taken on her. It was the middle of the day but her eyes looked worn, and hollowed like she'd pulled an all-nighter. And her lips, that were always smiling and laughing, were pressed into a tight frown. Her brows knit together so tight, the 11 lines on her forehead looked more like 1,111. The stress of your loved one being in the ER will do that to you. Weigh you down, wear you out, and age you a year in an hour. He sees it all the time. But he hated seeing it on his wife.

“He takes after you y’know,” Langdon started. 

She perked up a bit at the sweet sentiment thinking maybe he was referring to their physical resemblance, or maybe the similarities in their personalities, or the little quirks Theo picked up from her. But when he said that she and Theo were both accident-prone, her mouth fell open at the jab.

“That’s not funny Frank,” Y/n rolled her eyes, chastising him.

“Oh come on, it's a little funny,” Langdon continued to joke, seeing her straight face start to crack. “I mean, god forbid, but if I'm not wrong Theo only needs one more ER visit to tie with you.”

She hated that he was making light of such a thing, but what she hated more was the smile she was fighting to hold in. She shook her head trying to fight back her own laugh but just couldn’t do it, not once she heard his. It felt good to laugh, even if it was hushed and contained as they tried not to wake Theo. She needed this. He needed it too. They both needed something to lighten the mood, to let out the long breath they’d both been holding in. 

“No but seriously, take that back. Theo and I are not accident-prone,” she pointed out as their laughter died down. 

Langdon nodded, agreeing that it wasn’t right to say Theo was accident-prone. His visits to the ER were never his fault. The first time was when he was just a baby for a fever that wouldn't go down. The next was a couple years later when he was a toddler for an allergic reaction as they hadn’t yet figured out he was allergic to certain types of nuts. And today, well, he wound up here thanks to some other kid’s parents' negligent disregard for the health and safety of all the kids in Theo’s 1st grade class.

Y/n, on the other hand, she definitely was. 

“I am not,” she fought back, arms crossed, unwilling to admit to this.

“Babe, really?” Langdon asked, brows raised.

“Maybe I’m a little clumsy,” Y/n admitted reluctantly, “But I wouldn’t say accident-prone.”

Langdon scoffed. “Y/n, we literally met in the ER because you were in an accident.” 

It was his third year of med school doing his rotation in Emergency Medicine. At this point he had already intended on pursuing Emergency Medicine and all of the hands-on experience he was getting only solidified that. It was the end of his shift but two buses had just come through - one from a car crash with two non critical patients and the other a factory worker coming in after a gruesome work related accident. Of course, he’d decided to stay hoping to get in on the much more exciting case with the factory worker. But by fate or dumb luck, whatever you wanted to call it, he wound up with Y/n’s case instead - cue their meet-cute. 

“Then 4 weeks after that you ended up in the ER again,” he added now counting on his fingers for dramatic effect. “Then there was the time you fell trying that new-”

She interjected with "ah," holding up a hand to stop him from going any further. She did not need to be reminded of that particularly embarrassing incident he was about to bring up. She got the point.

“But hey, if you didn’t get into those accidents we never would’ve met. Never would’ve dated, got married, had our kids,” he said genuinely, his voice softening as he brushed a gentle hand over Theo’s head. 

With fond memories of their time together, of how they ended up where they are now playing through both their heads, the air in the room felt lighter and so did the weight on their shoulders. A comfortable silence filled the room and for a moment, everything seemed to settle down when Y/n gasped suddenly.

“Shit, what time is it,” she asked, rummaging through her purse.

Jolted by her sudden outburst, Langdon hurriedly pulled out his phone for the time. 1:42.

Y/n let out a groan. She'd been in such a panic when she arrived, she couldn’t be bothered to waste another minute in the hospital’s parking structure going aisle to aisle hunting for a parking spot. So instead she haphazardly parked in the 30-minute parking stall for pick-ups and drop-offs. Y/n moved to get up but Langdon said he’ll take care of it. 

“Are you sure,” Y/n asked, as he took the keys from her hands. Truthfully, she was glad he offered, not wanting to leave Theo's side just yet in case he woke up again.

“Yeah, you stay. Need some fresh air anyway," he said massaging her shoulders for a second, before leaning down to joke into her ear, "Besides, all this talk of you getting into accidents, I don’t really feel like letting you get behind the wheel right now."

"Asshole," Y/n muttered, shoving him away playfully but not before he could press a sweet kiss against the side of her head. 

Watching as he left, she chuckled to herself. Maybe being accident-prone had its perks.  

[funnyjb]

Salt Air

———————————————————————-

June 2023

Your favorite time of the year other than football season was summer. The time you could spend a whole day in your swimsuit listening to music and having no care in the world. No work. No waking up at 6am. None.

Every year ever since you were a little girl you have always joined your best friend and his family in Seaside, Florida. One of your favorite trips in the whole entire world.

Joe, your best friend was not one for going out much or even taking trips but since it was the offseason and he always looked forward to coming to seaside, even more excited to have you there with him. He always was happy to relax and take the Salt air in.

The drive from the airport to the house was peaceful. You usually have your mom and dad with you but this summer they decided to take a month long trip around Europe. Seems pretty nice to you. They invited you to tag along but you couldn’t wait to come to Seaside and wanted to have some time for yourself so you nicely declined.

As the uber drove closer and closer memories kept coming back. You saw the small little gas station where when you and joe were only 10 years old had to stop to get bandages because you fell off your bike. Or when you passed by the beach which you couldn’t wait to go to soon enough where it was your first time getting drunk at a party/ bonfire.

You laughed to yourself thinking back on those memories.

As the car stopped in front of the blue wood house with hydrangeas in the front and white shutters you took a deep breath. It felt like home. Your second home.

Just as you opened the car door to get out the house door swag open.

“Y/n!”- Ben and Leo

Ben and Leo are Joe’s nephews who you have known ever since they were born. Now they are 10 years old. And even have a two year old sister.

“Hi boys!”- you

You give them a big hug

“Finally you made it. It was getting boring here.”-Ben

“Oh, don’t say that! I bet it has been lots of fun.”- you

“Y/n! So good to see you, sweetie”- Robin gave you a hug

“So good to see you too, missed you guys.”- you

You’ve been working so much lately and with no football you’ve barely even seen the burrows. You have only seen joe only a couple of times because he has also been busy with offseason.

The rest of the family came out to greet you. Cousins, aunts, uncles, and joes sweet grandparents.

Then joe appeared.

His hair longer than usual.

He had a boyish grin and his cheeks grew a little pink.

You wrapped him in a big hug.

“Hi, Joey.”- you smile

“Hi. I missed you.”- Joe smiled

“I missed you too. You look tan and your hair got long.”- you rub your fingers through his hair for a second

Joe chuckled

“Yeah, it’s offseason, who cares.”- Joe

You laugh

“Let’s get you inside, y/n.”- Jimmy

You nod as joe grabs your bag

“Thanks.”- you say to joe

The family leads you inside. Still the same old place. Family pictures hung up on the walls even a few including you and your family and even just one of you and Joe as kids.

“So, jamie and Daniel and their families are staying at the house next door. It will just be you, joe, Jimmy and I along with grandma and grandpa.”- Robin

“Sounds good!”- you

Robin opens the door to your room.

You take a moment to take it all in. The same as you left it.

The blue and white striped wallpaper. The old vintage dresser and closet. Your bed with floral fabric. And all your stuffed animals and even some clothes that still fit from when you were a kid in college.

“Feels nice to be back, huh.”- joe

You smile

“Oh yeah!”- you

Joe hopped on your bad as you started to unpack.

“So, we have dinner tonight but I’m hoping before dinner when you’re done with unpacking we can head down to the beach for a few.”-joe

“Sounds great! Should be done in a couple.”- you look over at him

“Ok, see you downstairs.”- joe

Joe looks at you for a moment then heads out.

………………………………………………………………………..

“Joe!”- You

“Come on!”- Joe

Joe intertwined his hand with yours leading you down the sandy stairs outside and onto the beach

You both stood there taking the scene in.

“Ready?”- Joe

You nod

You both drop your towels and run in

You screaming and laughing as the cold salt water hits you.

Your royal blue fluorescent bikini shining in the sunlight. A bikini that doesn’t show a lot but still has a pop.

Joe wearing in swim shorts with blue and pink flowers clung to his thighs.

“Come in deeper, y/n/n.”- Joe

“No, I’m ok right here.”- you

“No, I think you should come on deeper.”- Joe

“No.”- you

“Yes.”- joe

“No.”- you

“Fine then.”- joe

Joe comes closer to you.

“Joey, don’t you dare.”- you

“Too late.”- joe

Joe picks you up. He holds you in his arm bridal style.

“Joe! Put me down!”- You

He runs back into the deeper part and brings you both down fully under.

You come back up gasping for air as you pull your hair back.

Joe already came back up

“I hate you.”- you

“Admit it. It’s nicer over here.”- joe

You stare a him

Joe chuckled

“You look pretty.”- joe

You stare at him for a moment. Joe rarely compliments you. Honestly rarely compliments anyone. Except for his mom and his teammates.

“Thanks, Joey.”- you

It sent a flutter through you.

He really thought that? Joey, our joe. He thought I looked pretty.

Then you felt something touch your foot.

“Ahh-!”- you

You swim away and get close to joe

Joe was laughing

“Are you ok?”- Joe said still holding in a laugh

“Joey, I swear something touched me.”- you say looking down into the water trying to find a carb or maybe even a shark

“Y/n, nothings going to hurt you.”- Joe

Just as you turned your back to him for a second, joe has an idea.

He closes the area between you and runs his fingers down your back like something is crawling

You let out another scream

Joe burst out laughing

“JOE! You’re a jerk. That wasn’t funny.”- You

“Com’on y/n, it was a little funny. Besides it was just me.”- joe

You splash water into his face

“Oh, now it’s on.”- joe

He splashed water into your face then got a hold of you

You wrap your arms around his neck

You look at each other for a moment. And for that moment you felt a spark.

Joe cleared his throat

“Ready to head back in?”- Joe

“Yeah, yeah.”- you

You start to swim through the water till you reach the hot sand and head back in to get ready for dinner.

After two hours everyone is ready. The rest of the family came over to have some quick drinks and appetizers before dinner.

Your dress was a long summer pink dress with a v-neck. Your hair was blow dried and long with a few light strands.

You looked at yourself in the mirror.

Your makeup was perfect. Not bold. Not crazy. But clean and simple.

You grabbed your cute sandal platforms and headed downstairs.

As you walked down the stairs Joe’s youngest niece was playing on playing on the steps with her dolls

“Oh! Hi Anna. What are you doing?”- You

“Playing mermaids!”- Anna

You laugh

“Want to come downstairs with me and play?”- you

Anna shot up

“Yes!”- Anna

You grabbed her dolls and held her hand down the stairs

As you walked down the last step everyone turned towards you

“I hope I’m not the last one done.”- you

“Oh, please. Robin is still getting ready. No rush.”- Jimmy

“Anna! Have you been playing with aunty y/n?”- Daniel

Anna nodded

“She’s ma favorite.”- Anna said reaching up for you to pick her up

“What? Not me?”- Joe

You laugh

“You’re not as cool as me, Joey.”- you

“Ouch.”- joe said

You roll your eyes.

“Everyone ready?”- Robin

Everyone nodded

“You look beautiful, Robin.”- you

“Aw, thank you sweetie! Woah! And look at you. You look gorgeous.”- Robin

You smile and thank her.

…………………………………………………………………….

After dinner everyone was full and exhausted. Except for you and joe.

As you two walked in the house joe turned to you

“Want to take a night walk? Like we used to.”- joe

“I would love that!”- you

Joe smiled

He turned to his family

“We will be back. Going to go for a walk along the beach.”- joe

“Ok! Don’t be out too late.”- Robin

“We won’t!”- you

You two close the door behind you and take the stairs to the beach

“She still acts like we are 12 years old.”- Joe

“She’s your mom. Looking out for us.”- you

Joe gave you a stare

“Jeez, sorry.”- you say throwing your hands up then laughing

The sand hits your feet as you take off your shoes and hold them.

Joe let’s put a sigh

“How’ve you been?”- Joe

You look at him

“Been good. Working hard. A little stressed but I’m glad to be here. Be here with the family. With you.”- you

“Good.”- Joe

“You?”- you

“Good. Excited for the next season, but glad to be here. Happy you made it. Take my mind off things.”- Joe

You nod

Then silence. Not bad silence. Not awkward. Just silence.

“You look pretty tonight. You always do.”- Joe

He just stared down at his feet. Obviously having socks on.

“Thanks. You look nice. You always do.”- you smile

Joe gives you a smirk

“I saw what you did there.”- Joe

You both laugh

“I…want to talk to you about something.”- Joe

“Uh oh.”- you

Joe chuckled

“No..no. It’s nothing bad. Actually, you can decide that.”- Joe

You nod

Joe stops in his tracks

“You know when you get butterflies in your stomach whenever you see someone you like or when they are around you?”- Joe

“Yeah?”- You

“Well, I get butterflies. I get them a lot. Because I like this girl. I have for a very long time. And every single time I’m around her I catch myself feeling butterflies.”- Joe

“Oh! That’s great, Joey. What’s she like?”- You

“She’s sweet. Probably one of the sweetest people I know. She’s caring. She honestly cares so much for people I don’t know if she stops and even takes care of herself. She will brighten up any room she walks into. I know when I have a shitty day at work I can call her and it will make my days better because of just hearing her voice. She’s funny too. Even when she’s not trying to be. And she’s a hard worker. She prides herself on her work. And I love her.”- Joe

You were speechless

“Wow…um. I’m really happy for you, joe. Who’s the lucky lady?”- you

Joe pauses for a moment

“…you.”- Joe

Your mind went blank

“What?”- You

“You, y/n.”- Joe

“That’s a nice joke, Joey.”- you

“Y/n, I’m being serious.”- Joe

You could tell he had his serious face on

“Joe… are you actually serious? Me? Nothings special about me.”- You

“Stop saying that, y/n! I hate when you say that. You’re the most beautiful girl I know. All the things I said. I meant it. All of it.”- Joe

“I…I don’t know what to say.”- you

Joe took a deep breath

“I..just had to get that off my chest. It’s ok if you don’t feel the same way.”- Joe

“Joe, I do feel the same way.”- You

Joe starts walking away

“Don’t just be saying that to make me feel better. It’s ok if you don’t.”- Joe

“Well, I thought you said you knew me for a long time, so I would think you should know when I’m telling the truth.”- You

Joe keeps walking

“I love you. I love you, Joe burrow.”- You

Joe stops.

“What?”- Joe

“I have loved you ever since you said hi to me at that playground and never left my side. I have always loved you, Joesph. I have loved you when you were just a back up quarterback and had probably the lowest confidence in the world. I have loved you ever since you held that heisman trophy up in New York City. And I have loved you ever since then. Ever since we were eight years old.”- You

Joe runs up to you and crashes he lips against yours

Your breath hitches

“I guess we’re even.”- Joe

You laugh

“Yeah.”- you

“Want to go back home?”- Joe

You nod while intertwining her hand in his and turning back around.

It was almost midnight. The only light in the house was the lamp next to the couch.

“Want to watch SpongeBob?”- Joe

You chuckle

“Sure.”- you

You two plop down on the coach as joe grabs the remote to turn it on.

He lowers the volume and switched the channel.

He puts his arm around your back and his hand resting on your shoulder tracing circles.

You guys didn’t notice you feel asleep until the next morning.

Robin and Jimmy both wake up and head to the kitchen.

“Today I think we should pack food and go-”- Robin stops in her tracks

There you two are. Sound asleep. Your head rests on joes chest as his arm snakes around your waist.

“Oh my god! Jimmy, look.”- Robin whispered

“What?Oh my!”- Jimmy

They stare at you guys for a moment.

“What’s going on?”-Jamie walks into the house.

“Shh.”- robin

Jamie eyes go towards the couch

“Well, look what happened here. I knew they would always end up together.”- Jamie

“Are you sure they look…together? They always have been cuddly and they like to hug.”- Robin

Your eyes begin to open from the soft conversation you hear. Just as joe starts to.

Your head lift up

“Well- oh good morning!”- Robin

“Hi…”- you

“How did you guys sleep?”- Jamie

Joe stares at him

“Umm, good. I guess we didn’t make it to bed.”- You laugh

“Well, we are leaving in around an hour. How about you two wash up and have some coffee before we go.”- Robin

Joe and yourself nod

Joe gets up and extends his hand out to you to lace your fingers with his.

You laugh to yourself

Joe kisses your head

“Woah-woah! What’s going on here?”- Jamie

You both laugh

“Are you guys together?”- Jimmy

You both nod

“Oh my god!”- Robin smiles big and claps her hands

“I’m so happy for you two. I knew it would happen. I just knew it.”- Robin

“Thank you!”- you

You hug her

“I’m going to get in the shower. I’ll be down soon.”- You

You turn around and give joe a kiss on the cheek and head upstairs

Joe smiles to himself

“I’ll see you guys in a few.”- Joe then heads up

Jamie waits till joe leaves to say something

“So, when do you think wedding is?”- Jamie

———————————————————————

[saiintvalentiine]

star-bright

Summary: Parrot is a lesser dragon who's looking for a wishing star to turn himself into a true dragon.

Notes: this is. hm. kinda weird even for me i think. if you've read requiescat, this premise is actually familiar to you, and you'll realize immediately how this is gonna end. unedited and hastily written to get it out of my system. divider.

Word count: 1,406

1 am

There's a clean impact crater in the field about three yards all around. There's a clear drag line through the grass heading north, where skyscrapers shine and the city coughs up smoke. It tapers off, but it's not hard to imagine that such a sight would be tempting to a falling wish.

Parrot has a wish to cash in, and stardust is easy to track.

2 am

Cities around here never sleep. It's part of Parrot's problem. He can't protect everything he wants, everyone he wants when he's this weak in a world this wide. Smoke billows out of the corners of his mouth, unthinking, unhappy, wings inert and senses dampened.

This wishing star is what will let him become what he was always meant to become.

He's been waiting to see one fall. They look like shooting stars, and there are plenty of those around, but a dragon can tell the difference. Even to a lesser one like him, they look brighter, tempting, more promising than the average star.

The trail this star has left behind is bright, sweet, lilac-tinted and sparkling. It weaves in and out of bars and tourist traps, between the bustling crowds and haggling merchants. Parrot is following, but just barely. It's trying to hide.

It knows its time is limited and is trying to extend it. How unfortunate for it that Parrot is the one who's going to find it.

3 am

The wishing star is eating a hot dog. Parrot is stunned when he finally catches up to it and it's at a hotdog stand. He honestly—

“ ‘s really good,” the star praises, smiling at the vendor.

“Can't believe you've never had a hotdog,” the vendor says wistfully.

“Crazy huh?”

The star finishes its meal, wiping its hands on a napkin. Its hair is dark with thin streaks of white, eyes violet and charming, and its skin deathly pale. It looks just like the old texts describe them— ethereal, impossible to look away from, delicious.

“There's a cart down that way that sells kebabs. You tell ‘em Vic sent ya, they'll make you my favorite.”

The star bounces up, brightens, and says, “I will! Thank you!”

“You have a safe night now,” the vendor calls out as the star walks off with a wave.

Parrot goes to follow, only to get his arm grabbed by the vendor.

“What's your problem?” Parrot snaps, shrugging out of his grip, the star getting further and further away.

“You leave that boy alone you fuckin’ pest, y’hear me?”

Parrot is— what the actual hell? He stares at the vendor, too baffled to respond for a moment.

“Don't think I didn't see you standin’ there leering,” the vendor continues. “It’s creeps like you makin’ this place impossible to live in. Fuck off.”

Oh god, this guy thinks Parrot is creeping on the star.

“I'm not doing anything wrong,” Parrot sputters out, stepping back and bumping into a passer-by. “I'm— I'm leaving!”

“Good riddance!”

Parrot scrambles off, flustered. He holds off on following the star’s trail until he's far out of the vendor’s sight.

4 am

It takes a little while longer, and Parrot spends way too long red in the face about it, but he eventually catches up to the wishing star again. This time, it's at a bar, which Parrot is deeply annoyed by. It's loud and smelly in here, but the irritated smoke that rises from his nose blends in with the eight people he sees smoking in here, so it's not all bad.

The star looks too sweet sitting at the bar. It's wearing a soft grey sweater and black slacks, with mismatched black and white boots. Despite that, the bartender is pouring it a drink with a big grin.

“This one has Midori in it,” she says over the music.

“Midori,” the star echoes. “Sounds delicious.”

“Oh it is!”

The star drinks from a cup with bright green liquid in it, and suddenly Parrot wonders how it's paying for this. Do stars descend with cash on hand? He's contemplating this as he edges closer and closer, shoulders being brushed here and there by other patrons. Someone brushes behind the star, and it turns at the resulting hasty apology. Parrot can tell the second it spots him in the corner of its vision— a hitched breath and a heavy hand slapping a wad of bills on the bartop are all Parrot gets before the star runs. It weaves so easily between people, like it's wafer thin, and the bartender yells after it. Parrot darts after it, tries to snatch its arm but fails as it bursts out of the bar and into the street.

Fine. If it wants to do this the hard way, Parrot isn't afraid of some hard work.

5 am

The goddamn star is still running and Parrot is running out of time. Wishing star luck piles up around it as it tries to escape, as it crashes into the arms of a wolf hybrid and a cat hybrid who accidentally block Parrot’s path, then it’s whisked a few feet away by a strange suit-wearing enderman when they trip into each other, then a different cat hybrid falls onto Parrot in a series of convoluted accidents that are only possible in fiction— at least Parrot thought they were only possible in fiction.

It doesn’t matter. Luck won’t be enough. Parrot will guarantee that.

6 am

Parrot finally catches the star. It’s racing back to the field it fell into, maybe trying to make it to the woods opposite of the city in an attempt to lose track of Parrot. But he’s sick of this game and he has to make this wish before dawn if he’s going to become who he was always meant to be, and that’s what pushes him to finally tackle the star down. Felled, it tries to scramble away, but Parrot catches its wrists between his talons and pins its squirming body down.

“Let go of me,” the star wheezes, ring-adorned fingers spasming wildly. “Let go of me!”

“Not until I get my wish,” Parrot snaps, breathing heavy, voice shot. He squeezes his hands and the star makes a choked noise.

“No, no no no, I’ll die if you do that, I’ll die!”

“I know that.”

“And you’re okay with that?!”

The star squirms, turning on its side to look up at Parrot. Its face is streaked with sweat and tears and dirt, but no blood; Parrot is sure these things don’t have mortal blood to bleed anyway, but he’s a little surprised it didn’t hurt itself on the way down. It just looks dirty now. Soiled.

“Fulfilling a wish costs the blood of the lamb.”

It tries again to wrench away from Parrot, but it won’t be able to get free. What Parrot wants is too much, too wide—

“I have a name, I’m a person,” the star begs. “I’m Wifies, I like— I like the color purple, I like Midori— at least, I think I do, I need more time, I could—”

“You are a wishing star, you aren’t a person! This is the point, getting caught and dying to a wish is the point of your existence!”

“Says who!” Wifies head drops down, voice wavering and wet. “Says who, the lesser dragons who use us? Of course you all think that’s all we’re good for! That’s what keeps you as lesser. If you can’t take it with your own hands, you’ll steal it from us.”

Wifies is heaving, pearlescent in the moonlight, and Parrot hates him.

“I have tried everything!” Parrot can’t control the way his voice rises, the way his mouth gets hot, the way his useless wings twitch on his back. “Everything to become better!”

“And you’ll kill me for it, because you’re a failure!”

“I wish,” Parrot is seeing red, he’s got to be precise with this, has to ignore the shuddering sobs beneath him. “I wish to become a true dragon.”

7 am

Parrot greets the dawn alone, no body, no heat, nothing beneath him.

He sits on his knees alone as the stars in the sky taper away to the sunlight. His wings unfurl to their full length, healthy and heavy, and he feels the potency in his throat, not just heat but flame flicking, flicking, flicking away in his gut. There isn’t even residue on his hands left.

Parrot greets the dawn alone.

[rogue-durin-16]

HEAD-TO-HEAD (part XII/?)

Summary: Joe thought she was pretty. Had he just said that, things might have been different for them. Maybe they wouldn't have gone head-to-head at each other for three years like it was a contest.

Pairing: Joseph Liebgott x Reader

Genre: angst splattered with fluff/rivals to lovers

Tags:

Head-to-head: @derersketnoget @ladystardustfromarss @lanadelray1989 @chanshugsaretherapy @hoddystark @sxalbatf @aliciax3 @jetjuliette @luvrottt @fromjupitertocentauri

Band Of Brothers: @fernando-jpg @chubbypotatoepie @tvserie-s-world @clumsy-wonderland @lordndsaviorwinters @lanadelray1989 @chanshugsaretherapy @hoddystark

Permanent taglist: @randomparanoid @karlthecat15722 @thebutchersdaughtersblog @amourtentiaa @comfort-reads

Warnings: language, warfare, smoking

A/N: going through the 'Replacements' timeline like it's nobody's business (bc honestly it is nobody's business how little I like this episode).

Head-to-head masterlist

Band of Brothers masterlist

Rogue-durin-16 masterlist

The drop had been clean—clear skies, open fields, and not a single German trooper in sight. A miracle only suitable for a Sunday morning.

The only problem was the rain of equipment crashing down around us. Helmets, bags, loose gear that had slipped free mid-air. The simplicity of the jump was balanced by the need to move fast before something took us out from above.

I had just unclipped my chute when I caught movement to my left—a replacement, tangled in his risers, struggling to free himself.

I was on him in a second, dropping to my knees, my hands working quick. "Okay, stop. You're just tightening the knot—" I twisted one of the straps loose, untangled his arm; the tension snapped free.

The boy exhaled in relief, shaking his head. "Thanks, Sarge. I thought I was about to be a sitting duck." He glanced up at the sky. "Or at least a very flat one."

I snorted, sitting back on my heels. "You’re fine. C'mon."

I was midway through pushing up to my feet, a helping hand offered to the private who was lying on the soil, when someone yanked my arm so hard it wrenched a sharp gasp out of me, dragging me roughly two feet away.

The replacement was still laughing when the crack of something heavy smacking into the dirt cut through the air. A stray helmet, half-buried in the spot where I had just been kneeling.

My stomach clenched. It took a second longer than it should have to process.

Joe's voice snapped me back, his grip still tight around my bicep.

"Who has to keep her head straight now, huh?"

Twenty-four Hours Earlier

I was double-checking the chinstrap of one of the new kids was tight enough when I heard him.

"Heard mail boy kissed you goodbye." Joe was strolling past, his chute already strapped on, looking like he had all the time in the world. Like he hadn't been thrown out of a plane a dozen times before and was just here for the entertainment. "Wasn't he— how did he put it? 'an old friend'?"

"He is an old friend."

"You got a horrible habit of kissing your friends." I didn't give him the satisfaction of a reaction, so he kept pushing. "You liked it?"

I gave the kid a dismissing pat and turned to meet Joe's eyes. He was sizing me up, waiting for a response.

"Slept tight before the big jump?" I asked instead, low enough for just him to hear. If the rumor of my kiss had ran around fast, the rumor of Joe's night with Lorna had spread like wildfire.

Joe paused mid-step. "Oh, real tight." His smirk grew.

I hated the way he said it. Hated the way he held my gaze when he did, like he was daring me to ask for details. Like he wanted me to. I didn't bite.

I adjusted my harness, brushing past him as I did. "Keep your head straight, Liebgott."

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

I yanked free, my pulse still playing catch-up.

"Jesus, alright, mother hen." I shot back, rolling my shoulder in an attempt to shake off the moment as quick as it had happened. My eyes flickered to his. "Thank you."

"That's new." It was meant as a quip, but it held an undertone of candidness. "Don't get pancaked on Day One." He added, giving my sleeve a tug —'move'— before jogging out of the clearing.

I soon did the same, joining the regrouped Company out of the drop zone. Our slow, careful advance gave me time to take a proper look around.

A different land, different tactics, different faces. It was nothing like Normandy. One could only hope it wasn't as bad.

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

JOE'S P. O. V.

The last thing we had expected was being met with an outward celebration, too overwhelming to navigate, too easy to get sucked into.

I kept my helmet tucked under my arm, fingers tapping against the metal as we moved through the joyful streets of Eindhoven. Men shook our hands, clapped us on the back, pulled us into bars before we could protest. Kids ran between our legs, bright-eyed and laughing. The women made sure every man in Easy Company got at least one kiss before the 506th finished clearing the town.

I reciprocated the enthusiasm, but I kept an eye out, too. The crowds were dense, the noise almost deafening; the Germans couldn't be far, and nothing this good lasted for long.

Still, the only signs of the war going on outside were two snipers who didn't stand a chance and a tank driving with us through the streets. There worse ways to kill time than enjoying the attention when it came.

No one was holding back, to the officers' dismay. Luz hoisted a kid onto his shoulders; Toye and Guarnere accepted drinks from an older man who damn near had tears in his eyes; Malarkey had three girls hanging off his arm, and so on.

Y/n was no different. She was smiling, easy and carefree. A couple of little girls jumped around her; she knelt down to stand eye to eye with them, her helmet coming off. They spoke animatedly in a language we didn't understand, but Y/n nodded along nonetheless.

The youngest one tucked a flower behind her ear, earning mocking hoots from Grant and Ramirez that she ignored in favor of the children.

My mind wondered before I could stop it —a bad habit that had been occuring often lately—, was this how she acted in the real world?

If we'd met in a place like this, instead of at Toccoa—if I'd seen her first in a bar, or a coffee shop, or walking down some city street in the middle of summer—would things have been any different?

Nonsense. I lived in San Francisco; she was born and raised in Norfolk. In civilian life, our paths would have never crossed.

Still, I watched her for a moment longer and tried not to imagine her in one of those bright dresses my sisters always fussed over, down Columbus Avenue, with heels clicking on the pavement instead of paratrooper boots stomping onto bloody gravel.

A woman grabbed me by the collar, kissed me full on the mouth. I smirked against her lips, let her have her moment before pulling away.

No use thinking about things that would never happen.

READER'S P. O. V.

The laughter, the music, the clinking of glasses, the wildflower tucked behind my ear—it all felt like something out of a dream. Certainly not what we had expected when the C-47s dropped us into occupied Holland, but no one complained. The love was mind-blowing in a way that made my chest feel warm instead of tight. A reminder of why we were fighting this war in the first place.

My gaze drifted across the street.

Joe stood in the outer circle of the town's square, a Dutch woman's hands curled into the flaps of his jacket, pulling him down for a kiss.

He smirked into it. Of course he did.

I didn't realize how much the moment cut through me until I looked away and felt like I had touched something too hot that left me scorched.

We all got kisses, and he wouldn't be an exception.

Against better judgement, I stared again. His arm snaked around the woman's middle for less than a minute, but it still made her giddy.

I tilted my head, unwillingly thoughtful. Joe was... charming. In his own way. Wasn't he? Not the kind of guy who throve on being smooth or polished, but the kind that got what he wanted when he wanted. He wasn't for everyone, at least not on the long run, but he didn't seem to mind either.

Was he like this outside of war? Did he move this easily from woman to woman back in San Francisco? Did he grin into kisses, pull away with that same careless ease, switch from one moment to the next like it didn't matter?

Did any of it ever matter?

Stop.

It didn't matter.

If we had met before all of this, before the uniforms, the blood and the suffering—would have I liked him at all? With the cocky attitude and his crooked grin; the way he moved through a room like he belonged there, the dark humor and tactless manners.

No.

Not that he would have noticed me. Ever.

Stop it.

The only reason he ever approached me at Toccoa—if one could label it as 'approaching'— was because I was the only woman in the company. Half the guys shot their shot at some point, not because I was pretty, but because I was the only option.

There we go.

It wasn't a new thought, but it left an old bitterness in my mouth.

The celebration felt different now.

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

With my back on the Dutch soil and my eyes to the still clear nightsky, the high grass swallowed me whole. The sound of the bombs reducing Eindhoven to ashes made the ground shake beneath me.

Should have figured the celebrations wouldn't last. I tried to focus on the softly exhaled smoke curling over my head; tried to push down the creeping thought of the little girls who had tucked the flower behind my ear.

Should have figured Joe would be right; it would have been a miracle for the operation to be successful, considering the Brits planned it.

The silvergrass cracked under someone's careful boots, stopping right by my shoulder.

"You holding up alright?" My gaze found Malarkey's silhouette standing over me, expectant.

I sighed, flicking the ashes off what was left of my cigarette. "They're bombing the town."

"They are." The ginger puffed out a tired grunt when he sat down beside me. "Bill told me Hoob left with a couple replacements."

"they're not gonna find him." I replied, eyes fixed on the stub between my fingers. "You got another one?"

Malarkey reached into his pocket, pulling out a crumpled pack. As he handed me one, he stared through his lashes, gauging my reaction to him saying, "Thought you stole cigarettes exclusively from Lieb these days."

A cheap bait. Unfazed, I sat up and took the cigarette, rolling it between my fingers. "He switched to Chesterfields. I hate those."

"Right." Malarkey allowed me a minute of silence whilst lighting my cigarette. Then, "I'm gonna ask."

"I don't like that tone."

"I swear on my ma's life" Don crossed his heart. "this'll stay between you and me."

With a quirked brow, I took a drag of my new cigarette. "I feel like I'm about to knock your teeth out."

It was meant as a joke. A joke that didn't land, by the serious expression on my friend's face.

"You feel something for Joe?" His voice was hushed, his upper body slouched on my direction.

"What?" No.

"For Liebgott." He clarified. "You feel something for him?"

"Where did that even come from?"

He stared straight into me, trying to dig out a reply he wouldn't find. "I could give you about a million reasons why I'm asking."

No, I don't. You're imagining things.

I settled for a flat "If you say so."

"Y/n, c'mon."

I held his gaze for an instant, and because I couldn't hide from Don, I gave him something. "I can't do this in the middle of a war," Maybe not what he was looking for, but not a lie either. "I gotta keep my mind where I need it."

Malarkey studied me for a beat and said, "He likes you, you know?"

He said it like it was an undeniable fact; like it was a simple, absolute truth; like he knew he was right.

"He doesn't like me, Don." I snorted, focusing more on the cigarette than on the conversation. "He wants to fuck me." My back searched the ground again, so I settled with a soft sigh. "I'm not stupid. I know what he's doing."

Malarkey chuckled, half confused, half concerned. "And what's he doing?"

"He's playing chase."

And you're- what?" He teared a straw and softly hit my face with it. "Playing hard to get?"

"I'm playing hard to kill. And you should too," I smacked his hand away, which only seemed to amuse him. "instead of gossiping like an old lady." I inhaled the smoke from my almost forgotten cigarette. "Your grandma would be proud, you're doing an excellent job at not minding your own business."

There was no bite behind my words, and my friend knew it. My lazy smile gave me away.

An easy silence settled among the two of us. The bombings had stopped, and the only noise dragged to our ears by the wind were the whispered voices of our company-mates.

"You're not gonna tell me, are you?" Malarkey wasn't asking— it'd be stupid to ask a question you damn well know the answer to.

I tilted my chin up, blinking with fake cluelessness a couple of times. "Tell you what?"

Don breathed out a laugh, shaking his head at my inquiry. "Alright." He muttered, and laid down beside me.

We stayed like that until the earth felt like cotton and the rustle of the grass turned into a lullaby. Thankfully, sleep found us quick, and I didn't have time to think about Malarkey's question.

[couch-potato28]

Imagine being a Blue Lock manager! ⚽️

VERSION VII.

(a/n: apologies apologies for ghosting everyone, I’m back fr so please don’t hate, I love you and thxxx for reading it 🫶❤️)

Warning-none

wc: 1.2 k

ALSO: @ttheggrimrreaper 🔥

——————

FROM THE PROLOGUE:

“Congratulations L/N Y/N! Based on your results, you've earned your place in Blue Lock as the manager of player number…

…33, Otoya Eita.”

The screen displayed your newly assigned player along with some of his basic information, but the whispering of the girls behind you made it hard to concentrate.

“I think I’ve seen him somewhere before” one said, turning to the others as they seemed to agree with the girl, inspecting the boy with a dark streak in his hair. Is he famous? Before you could turn around to ask them, somewhere among the back, a loud voice cut through the crowd.

“THAT’S MY EX BOYFRIEND!” she shouted, recognizing her old lover.

“Wait, wha—“ you didn’t even have time to react, because of your friend who pushed you through the exit door, muttering “Hurry, everyone’s staring, and I think someone is about to be attacked” as she closed the door behind you, leaving you dumbfounded.

Imagine being a ninja’s descendant, Otoya Eita’s manager.

——————

Otoya Eita, who you got to know is a famous name among the participants in the facility, at least 10 of them apparently having been in a relationship with the boy, before he texted them a quick goodbye saying he had to leave for a soccer program. Not to mention, how the moment you stepped onto the field and said his name out loud, a shadow immediately popped up next to you, his white hair with a green streak in the middle, confirming the identity of who you were trying to find.

“Let me guess, you’re Otoya…?” you said, extending your hand while taking a step back—he was a little too close for your liking.

“Yup, pretty girl. And you are…?” he asked, not even sparing a second to take your hand, complimenting how soft it is.

“Y/N. L/N Y/N, your new manager. Pleasure to meet you.”

“The pleasure is all mine.”

——————

•Otoya, who is not so discreet about the fact he finds you attractive, flirting being one of the first things he does at 8 in the morning. He’s handsome, but you immediately turn him down, ‘cause no way you’re losing your job over a scandal.

•The rejection is still sour in his mouth, but he actually stops since you made it crystal clear that you unfortunately don’t want to do anything with him. Professionalism is a must and you’ll make sure to teach him that as well.

•He’s super chill, but can’t stick to schedules to save his life, and you will probably need a leash, because he tends to randomly disappear for 5 minutes or half an hour.

•Frequently mixes up his to-do tasks for the day, resulting in him texting you to ask for instructions—you will never catch him panicking.

•Otoya during matches is effortlessly skilled, his movements fast like a shadow showcasing a relaxed play style. However during practices it’s inevitable not to listen to his whining.

•“Do I really need to do this?” “I’m already doing good, my favorite manager so why the stress?”

•Takes training half-heartedly, does the drills, and simply stops when he thinks he did enough. Oh wait, you compared him to Karasu? Suddenly he jumps back onto his feet, showing you why he’s the best player you could ever get.

•Otoya, who NEVER arrives to practice on time, making the whole team wait for him to slowly walk onto the field with a quick “sorry, sorry.” The reason? He was chatting with players at the other end of the building without noticing the time.

•His favorite hobby is teasing you, but if anyone even attempts to badmouth you, he turns into this personal bodyguard. Beware, because someone is going to get hurt on the field.

•“He tripped on his own, I don’t know what you mean Y/N-chan.”

•The cause of trouble, the reason for drama, and the biggest supporter of random fights in the facility. A deflated ball? Someone’s missing shorts? He’s behind all of them.

•You two are practically known for getting called into Anri’s office at least once a month and sometimes you even get to visit Ego-san too.

•Otoya, who pulls out his flirting techniques despite your rejection whenever he’s in trouble, hoping you forgive him—does not work and he has to endure a loooong scolding.

•Overall, Otoya is not that hard to handle, though some effort is needed. His laid-back personality is a great part of your job, and if you pick out his pickles during meal time there’s nothing to worry about.

——————

AFTER THE U20 MATCH…

•Otoya’s fanbase becomes 10x larger, going from local girls admiring his face to international fans sliding into his DMs, making edits of him, or just straight up asking him out on their social media accounts. And the worst of all?

•The moment he gets an official account, he responds to most of them making your head ache from the amount of calls and messages sent from the pr team, because what do you mean he almost leaked his own number—

•Looking at the positive (and less stressful) side, he’s quick to adapt to his new team, forming a close bond with Bachira. The two of them are like two peas in a pod and the amount of chaos you have to handle doubles.

•Tutoring Otoya is like babysitting. You have 2 minutes to convince him and make the Spanish language entertaining before he’s distracted with his pen’s spinning. Only option left is to watch films, cartoons and listen to music which works surprisingly effective.

•If you’re feeling sad or insecure as his manager, perhaps his fans have taken it too far, he will try his best to make you smile. Instead of words, his actions speak for themselves, when he sits down next to you, handing you a drink while he starts to talk about whatever comes to his mind.

•Perfect at distracting you from your thoughts and when he tells you about a badly went date making you chuckle, he feels like he has scored the final goal to the biggest match of his life.

•You two can bicker a lot, but when an actual argument happens (rare occurrence) he surprisingly apologizes first. Doesn’t like to hold a grudge against you, thinking he can’t make you leave him as well. As a peace treaty, he will make you a personalized playlist.

•When you’re busy or stressed or both, he’ll leave a message or a funny scribble in your notebook that says something like,

Manager-chan, respectfully… go touch some grass. XO, ninja.

•To be honest, the only thing Otoya has ever been loyal to is soccer, but after months of working together he has grown quite fond of you, demanding a hug on a daily basis.

•DOES NOT tolerate other players hitting on you, but can’t say anything, because he literally did the same thing the first time you met. It’s not jealousy, he convinces himself after a particular player occupies your attention. It’s not jealousy…right?

[plasticflowersinahistorycemetery]

❤︎ first meeting ❤︎

❤︎ Sam x Goldie ❤︎

Warnings: language, moderate fluff.

Word Count: 1,390

It happened on a Tuesday.

The kind of day that smelled like heat and dust and paper left out in the sun too long.

Sam was leaving the library with a dog-eared copy of Mythology and Modern Symbolism, flannel sleeves rolled up to his elbows, eyes half-lidded from the weight of the world or maybe just from the heat. He was tired in the way only hunters get tired—bones aching, soul quieter than usual. And for once, he had nothing to chase. No sigils. No blood. Just silence and the smell of old books.

Then you crashed into him.

Literally.

An orange Vespa came careening around the corner like a comet dipped in glitter and bad decisions. There was a scream—yours, unfiltered and bright—and before Sam could do anything, you hit the curb and launched straight into his leg with enough force to knock him off balance.

He hit the sidewalk with a grunt. His book skidded across the concrete. And your juice box—some kind of sticky orange concoction—exploded across his chest like a goddamn war wound.

For a moment, all he could hear was ringing. Then—

“Oh my GOD, I am so sorry, oh my God, I swear I checked for pedestrians, but then I saw a squirrel and I think I panicked and you—shit, your leg, is your leg broken? Can you move it? Oh no, did I just destroy your flannel? Wait, are you bleeding?!”

Your words spilled out like marbles on tile—chaotic, bright, real. You were crouching beside him, hair wild under a butterfly-covered helmet, hands fluttering around like you weren’t sure where to land. You smelled like clove and orange peel and the kind of cinnamon that reminded him of holidays he hadn’t celebrated in years.

Sam blinked.

You were laughing.

Not cruelly. Not nervously. Just… laughing. Because it was funny. Because you lived in moments like this—messy and loud and ridiculous. And for the first time in what felt like years, Sam felt the corners of his mouth twitch upward.

You froze. “Wait. Was that a smile? Book boy smiles?”

And just like that, you named him.

You helped him up, brushing juice off his shirt with napkins you had stuffed in every pocket of your jacket. Glitter fell out too. Of course it did. You looked like a walking sunbeam with the attention span of a sparkler.

“Seriously, are you okay?” You asked, softer this time. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I was just—I dunno. I felt lucky today.”

Sam stared at you.

Sticky, breathless, and barefoot on the sidewalk because you’d kicked your sandals off mid-apology. You had freckles like constellations and a juice box in your back pocket like it belonged there. You were absurd. And impossible. And something in his chest gave the smallest, sharpest ache.

He said the only thing that came to mind.

“…You always hit people with your Vespa when you feel lucky?”

You grinned, eyes bright. “Only the cute ones.”

And that was it. That was the moment. The exact second the world tilted and never righted itself again.

You were halfway through another apology—something about buying him a new flannel or a juice box to make up for the spill—when you gasped, checked your phone, and immediately went pale.

“Oh noooo, I’m late,” you groaned, hopping from foot to foot like you could undo time just by bouncing. “Like, so late. I have to—ugh, I have to go, but—”

You reached into your jacket, rummaging past what had to be at least four melted candies and something that may have once been a lip balm, and pulled out a crumpled napkin. With a Sharpie pulled from somewhere, you scribbled a number—looping, bubbly, a tiny heart over the i in your name—and pressed it into his chest.

“Call me, book boy,” you said, breathless and laughing, already backing toward your Vespa. “Don’t make me hunt you down. I’m weirdly good at that.”

Then you were gone. Orange Vespa peeling away like a comet again, ponytail flying, laughter echoing down the street.

And Sam just… stood there. Sticky shirt. Book forgotten. Fingers curled around a napkin that still smelled faintly of cinnamon and citrus.

He didn’t text right away. He told himself he wouldn’t. He’d already typed “Hey, it’s Sam” twice and deleted it.

Dean was elbows-deep in the Impala when Sam walked past him for the third time, napkin still in his hand.

“You pacing or nesting?” Dean asked without looking up.

Sam scowled. “Neither.”

“Uh-huh.”

Ten minutes later, he caved.

Sam: What are you doing tomorrow? You: I’m busy. You: But I’m free right now. You?

Sam stared at the screen. He didn’t think. He just moved.

You were waiting outside the same library. Now barefoot again—why were you always barefoot?—with your Vespa leaned against the bike rack and a half-eaten popsicle in your hand.

“Hey, stranger,” you said when you saw him. “Back for round two?”

Sam chuckled softly, rubbing the back of his neck. “Didn’t think you’d actually come back.”

“I said I was lucky today,” you grinned. “Maybe you’re part of that.”

You motioned to a sun-warmed bench near the steps. The sky was sliding into sunset—burnt peach and marmalade hues that somehow made your orange sticker-covered helmet look poetic instead of absurd.

“So,” you said as you sat cross-legged, popsicle dripping down your wrist, “what were you reading when I tragically ended your peaceful afternoon?”

He hesitated. Most people didn’t ask. And when they did, they didn’t really care.

“…Mythology and Modern Symbolism,” he said.

Your eyes actually lit up. “Ooh, like gods and monsters and stuff? That’s so cool. Are you, like, studying it? Or do you just like weird, ancient metaphors for trauma?”

Sam blinked.

“…Bit of both.”

You nodded sagely, sucking the last of your popsicle. “I love that.”

You meant it. And Sam could feel that in his bones.

You didn’t ask him to explain further. You didn’t make a joke. You just… listened. Smiled at him like the sun was inside you. Like he was something warm and worth smiling at.

Then—just as he was beginning to find words again—you gasped, slapped his arm, and pointed wildly toward the patch of clover beside the bench.

“Look at that beauty!”

A butterfly. Small, pale blue, fluttering like a quiet little miracle through the grass. You lit up. Whole-body, childlike wonder kind of lit up. Knees pulled to your chest, chin in your hands, eyes glowing.

Sam turned to watch the butterfly too, but he wasn’t really looking at it. He was looking at you. He filed it away—something quiet, secret, just for him.

You like butterflies.

He’d learn the names of every single one just to make you look like that again.

You were still watching the butterfly like it had personally blessed your day when Sam said, quiet but curious:

“Is your name really Goldie?”

You looked over, eyes lazy-lidded and amused. “You think I’d fake being named Goldie?”

He tilted his head. “You crashed into me on a Vespa and fed me a napkin with your number on it. It’s not that wild a theory.”

You grinned. “Fair. But yeah. It’s my real name. Fucking... Goldie Bloom, believe it or not.”

He smiled. “Sounds made up.”

You stuck out your tongue. “And Sam is so grounded in realism?”

He gave a soft laugh—quiet, deep, the kind of sound you wanted to bottle.

“What, you don’t believe me now?” He asked.

You squinted at him like you were solving a puzzle. “Mmmm. You look like a Sam. All broody and tall and probably too polite to ever tell a lie.”

“…Wow,” he muttered, lips twitching. “You really just called me out like that, huh?”

“You’re lucky I’m charming.”

“You’re lucky I don’t sue you for vehicular assault.”

You gasped, mock-horrified. “You liked getting run over, admit it.”

Sam shook his head, trying not to smile wider. “I think you’re insane.”

“Only on Tuesdays,” you shot back, nudging his knee with yours.

Silence settled again—comfortable, warm. The sun had dipped lower, slanting across your shoulders like it was showing off. The light made your hair look honey-soaked, made your freckles glow, made you look…

Like that sunset.

That’s what Sam thought, anyway, as he looked at you while you watched the sky.

You looked like something he hadn’t let himself believe in for a long time. Colour. Wonder. Light. Something fleeting, soft, and entirely unafraid.

You turned your head toward him just then, like you felt him watching. Like you knew exactly what you were doing.

“So…” you said, voice low, teasing. “You gonna ask me out, book boy? Or do I have to run you over again to seal the deal?”

Sam snorted. “You’re crazy.”

“You’re intrigued.”

He didn’t deny it.

And beside you, the sky bled orange.

A/N: Here's our lovely, clumsy ball of summer sunshine. Goldie is an absolute babe and I'm so in love with her. This will end up being 18+! at some point. Sammy's gonna get a run for his money with this one. She's so not his usual type, she's gonna be challenging... but we love to see it. I hope you guys like her as much as I do. Sweet, short little intro. And I'll see you on the next one, which, I'll be honest... is already nearly written because I'm SUPER excited to write Butcher!!!! All the love.

@mostlymarvelgirl @losers-clvb @lunaleah @itshellfire @drakulana @nevercameraready <3

[12amintoronto]

𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 ... omar marmoush x reader 📰🤎

"some things just make sense... and one of those is you and i." - hayley williams

──────────────────────

wc: 2.4k

synopsis: while embarking on your career as a journalist, you are arranged to interview omar marmoush - the boy who was your first love years ago, now a rising football star. even after years apart, feelings still lingering about, you know... and he knows... this is what's meant to be.

contents: fluff, sfw, female journalist reader, other journalist oc who is your bff, flirting, reunited with the first boyfriend you ever had awww, omar's charm is out of this world!!

notes: this is 2 requests turned 1 fic 🩵🩵 this was so adorable to write i hope you guys like 🥹 tagged: @football-lovergirl

──────────────────────

you were an absolute natural at your job, but there was a particular element about your next mission that had you feeling all sorts.

you paced about your room, phone in hand, the night before you were about to be faced with one of the people who was the main reason for one of the sweetest times in your life.

"y/n... this is huge! just breathe... compose yourself..." your fellow journalist friend, diana, reassured to you over the facetime call that you shared with her.

years ago as you attended university in germany as you'd been accepted into the journalism program you'd had your eyes on for a good bit...

had university also brought to you plans aside from schoolwork, but for a taste of love which you had first been fed when you were doing fieldwork alongside wolfsburg ii.

there at that football club, was an egyptian boy that you'd caught glances from as you sat on the sidelines jotting in your memo book. the glances started out as from time... to frequent... to a calibre where coach would have to snap at omar to stay focused during training, which you found increasingly cute.

it turned into something sweet. the hearts and arrows with "omar + y/n" written faintly in the margins of your memo book became a reality.

it was with that boy from wolfsburg ii you shared your first kiss with... your first date with... a myriad of joyful and emotional moments as one would have with their first love.

but after nearly a year, home called you back... and the demand of omar's football career began to grow. "maybe this was just to see what love's like," you thought to yourself the first few nights after being away from him. you both went on about your respective lives—it wasn't a bad breakup like you'd seen your friends go through... which you were so grateful for, and are.

and now, you were going to see him again—as you'd been blessed the opportunity to interview that same 18 year old egyptian boy... now a 26 year old man. omar marmoush... who now plays for one of the biggest clubs in all of european football, manchester city.

"hellooo? you still there y/n?" diana's voice sounded over the phone.

you snapped out of the reverie, shaking your head. "yeah—i was just thinking...

...yeah. i'm... i'll be ready. this will go nicely."

"oh i'm sure it will. i was there with you when you got word that you'd be interviewing him. you were all blushy~" diana teased.

"oh stop~" you said, the sarcasm quite evident.

you didn't want the teasing to stop. the thoughts of possibilities between you and your first ever love years after it had been.

it had been once. and you sat in wonder, in bouts for those years after deciding to live your respective lives on one's own to keep up with the demands of academia and football. "could we try again?" was a question that had never gone away.

you always managed to brush it off because you were focused on your grind in academics as was he in football... seemingly.

"this is going to be such a beautiful reunion, y/n." diana continued. "i can already hear omar and his voice going on about how 'you're all grown up.'"

you sat on the edge of the bed and sighed contentedly as she said that... smiling as you looking out to the skyline from your room, the city lights contrasting the near black sky calming. it radiated hope in a way.

diana chimed again. "i'm rooting for you, babes. get some sleep for tomorrow's interview, okay? i'll pick you up."

you smiled. classic diana, bearing burdens of her loved ones.

"love you, di," you sighed.

"love you, babes. see ya~"

──────────────────────

that next evening after an ecstatic city win, it was time you had come face to face with that boy, now the all-grown-up international who had scored a hattrick in a span of just fourteen minutes versus newcastle. you were in awe yourself as you watched from the box way up with diana - who shook you gently by the shoulders from time - "oooh, someone's gonna be all prideful when he's coming off the pitch."

it was like that, in a way. omar - cocky, yet still so humble about it. walking with gratitude as he carried the match ball underneath one arm as he went to hug his teammates and staff postmatch.

it was the same "proud of myself" sort of smirk that you could always remember him giving when he'd achieved just about anything.

but his entire expression faded into something softer as he was coming through the tunnel and into the very area where you stood, mic in hand in front of that backdrop that all postgame interviews occur in front of.

"it's... her." omar whispered to himself, quiet enough he could barely even hear himself over the clamour surrounding as he approached you, even his walk becoming humbler.

it was a sweet greeting omar gave you... the kind kiss on each cheek that one would greet a loved one from family with, and you could both tell from each other's tender smiles shared that there was so much you guys wanted to talk about and catch up on that had little to nothing to do with the match that had just wrapped up.

though you both stood on business - as you stood in front of that backdrop, mic in hand... you readied yourself to speak for the masses on that camera, as did he. you skimmed your interview questions just once more in your mind before all had gone live.

and there was diana off-camera working the rest of the medias, right in front of you and omar. giggling... making a heart with her hand that she could hold up to her eye to keep you two within the frame of the shape her hands curved into.

you tensed and felt your cheeks tinge with heat and blush. in your peripheral vision, you could see omar. noticing your colleague's teasing. he smiled to himself and looked down... giving a silent chuckle.

and then he looked at you, his gaze still soft. giving a kind and gentle nod - one that let you know he was ready to speak. ready for the cameras to get rolling.

you were done for - it was for certain you couldn't live down the remnants of your subtle, rarely-surfacing, yet steadfast crush on your first ever boyfriend, omar marmoush.

──────────────────────

"gosh, the whole world must think i'm a fool. i must be so rosy right now." you thought to yourself in your head after that hell of an interview.

well, it had gone nicely, looking at it from an outsider's perspective. you asked all the right questions, and omar gave all the right answers, singing his praises to all the positive forces that he knew accoladed to this brilliant hattrick in his professional career. his confidence mixed with humility was moving...

...and your elegance was unmatched. not like you were sure of it at first due to how many feelings you have been feeling inside and still are, but as soon as the cameras cut after that one exceptional take of an interview, diana came to you, with the most excited grin on her face, nudging you teasingly...

"you did beautifully, girl. gonna go take care of some more media stuff around... text me when you're ready to head back home. i got you." diana reassured, hugging you quickly though affectionately before she scurried off, giving an exaggerated wink to you.

you found it hard to believe her... for as you were interviewing omar, you were unable to read your own demeanor. for the heart hands she was giving and the pouts she gave you whenever omar shot that charming smile right your way... you weren't so sure you were that composed during the interview.

"agh- sorry about my friend! she's... just being silly. i love her though..." you sighed. omar stepped closer to you, facing you, the smile on his face bigger and sweeter than ever.

"awh, she just cares about you..." omar started.

"...wow. y/n. it's really you. is it?"

"i am thinking the same thing you are, omar..." you sighed.

your eyes met omar's... like... for good, this time. not locked into an interview... but just naturally sharing eye contact. it made you feel warm inside. those dark brown eyes that shone when he was thinking of or looking at something... or more so someone he loves was bringing back memories of teenage you. teenage you two.

he held that awestruck gaze upon you for a second longer, but it broke just as you were about to speak.

"whewwww!! marmoushhh..." city's famous striker none other than erling haaland, chimed in as he walked past, in the direction of the club dressing room, accompanied by winger savinho who whistled at the sight of you two. "shooters shoot, marmoush..!"

and both you and omar were left with your lips parted, in quite a bit of disbelief...

...could that mean there's something you don't know? something you don't know about omar's feelings... could they be there..?

the way he sighed softly, almost adorable - no, very adorable... let you know something.

"ahhhh... sorry. well... i guess it may make you feel better than you aren't the only one being teased by the ones you work with~" omar said, clearly a little more humbled.

"but wow..." he continued.

"you...

...you've blossomed, y/n."

"omarrr... look at you! from second division wolfsburg... to here. man city. you're a star."

he laughed softly, giving you that up-down look that made you blush even more than you already were.

"it's been so long." you sighed.

"it has... i just- wow..." he murmured, in such disbelief.

you could notice a twinkle in his eyes. not like he even had to mention it... because to omar... you are beautiful. he couldn't believe it. you, his first girlfriend... now interviewing him as he's a player for one of the most well known first tier clubs in all of the lands. he still saw the same sweet girl who was always jotting her fieldnotes at his training sessions...

...only now was he graced the moment in time to take in you now.

not just a... but the beautiful young woman doing journalism, who he only has fond memories of from when you two hung out while living life in germany.

you were taken by surprise as you felt a touch at your hand... his large fingers delicately clasping your hand into his hold. his look was full of sincerity.

"we have so much to catch each other up on, y/n." omar confessed. "just... let me know the day that works best for you."

were the sparks really flying again?

the familiar butterflies flitting about in your stomach gave you that inner feeling of deja vu. you'd been here before. not physically here relative to the etihad... but you'd been here, given this feeling by omar from something he's said that made your heart skip a beat.

"i'd... really like that, omar." you agreed, not even needing to think twice about it. "i'm not on the same number that i was while in germany years back, of course... but i've got you~"

you unclasped your purse that was slung over your shoulder, and reached and felt just what you were looking for. you always kept just a few of your business cards on hand... though just as you looked up with the card in hand... omar's hands were busy.

his match ball on the ground, him slipping out of his postmatch jacket... hands tugging at his jersey which he slipped with ease over his head, off of his body. his eyes caught onto your business card as he was about to hand his matchworn jersey to you. your gazes met one another's again, eliciting a giggle from both of you.

"hehe, for me?" you blushed, eyes darting between omar's charming expression and his match jersey in hand, outstretched for you to take... which you did. and he smiled, as he used that same hand that once help his jersey out to you to take the business card gently from your fingers, in between his own... examining it with a smile before his eyes met yours again.

"all for you, dear. and thank you for this~" omar said, holding onto your business card with your contact inscribed in it as if it was something precious...

...for it was. a reminder that the first girl he'd ever fallen in love with had come this far in life. and all that he felt for you was beginning to resurface just like that... as it was for you... and boy, at this point was it difficult for both you and omar to hide.

"y/n... it's so lovely to see you again, you know that?"

"it is, omar. life's so cool like that, eh? we're just, i don't know... here! face to face, after all this time." you agreed with a smile.

his smile was so charming that the feeling of having to look away before you turned completely beet red had come over you for the first time in a long time.

"yes y/n... and after all this time, we're going to be seeing so much more of each other...

...i promise you."

as if anyone around could actually see it, but you were certain that your heart was warmed like nothing else in the world had ever done to you after omar avowed that to you.

he still looked at you like you were the only girl that was to ever exist. right there, post interview at the etihad, one day after seven years of not having seen each other.

this moment let you know, as you and omar kept up that innocent gaze for one another...

...nothing's changed.

that subtle, rarely-surfacing, yet steadfast crush that you brushed off as silly was not so silly anymore... for it was not only a certainty you had about him... but him, for you.

after all this time... he's still into you... as are you.

[glamorous-egoist]

Episode 13 under the cut…

I surprisingly laughed quite a bit but it was mainly due to Whitaker, because sweetie what are you doing? An IO into the poor clown? Poor guy, but every one gets an IO 😊. My boy please. The tembleque comment? Good to know he likes coconut! Honestly he’s doing his best. I also like that he’s been asking patients if they saw the shooter.

Speaking of doing their best Mel, she’s really pushing through despite being so overstimulated and being pulled in so many directions. Her trying to help the catatonic patient as well, like it’s really bothering her, because she clearly gets it. I hope she has a moment later to collect herself.

Santos pulling that insane save… while again the risky moves piss me off, I’m glad it paid off and she got a win from Abbott. Makes me wonder if Abbott comes back if they can pair them, she and him fit together in terms of mentor and mentee as he’s kind like her it seems. She’s really remained cool as a cucumber and it’s impressive as she’s heading into hour 12 of the shift. I still don’t love her character, but again credit where credit is due.

Rounding out Team Mel, Samira with the save on the hippie. The absolute shocked faces on the interns as she drilled into the guy’s temple, I did laugh, but what a cool move. Also she’s just great checking on people, trying to help, I want more of her story next season.

Abbott, oh my god Abbott and his magical bag of Inspector Gadget devices, this guy has everything and honestly I love it. The crike with the kit? That was great, and then followed by “we don’t have the budget” it really do be like that sometimes. Again I would love him and Santos together as mentor and mentee I think she could benefit from someone like that.

Saved the best for last Robby and the Pedes room crash out which is now filled not only with Robby’s ghosts but the literal ghosts of every one who keeps dying in there. Jesus Christ someone save Robby, because that man is on a way trip to hell today. Again this my favorite Noah Wyle, absolutely losing it as the ER is crashing down around him, this man is amazing and I would like to get him an Emmy and a Golden Globe and whatever else he earned it.

But Christ do I love the old man crying… anyway today is probably the worst day of Robby’s life not only is his balancing his grief from Adamson this man has had FOUR people die on him, Langdon and the drugs, Collins and her admission about the abortion, thinking Jake died to Jake with the gut punch, to trying to be supportive, Dana get socked in the face and of course David… like it’s 7pm this man has had 12 hours of absolute torture, I’m amazed it took this long for the crash out and through it all he has tried his damn best, god my poor tortured old man.

Some honorable mentions:

David isn’t the shooter it seems? So that begs the question whodunit? I have no clue, but I kind of like that it wasn’t David.

Also WHERE IS MYRNA?

Langdon is being shut out, Jesus man stop staring at Robby he’s too busy battling every demon in hell, you’re not getting a word in.

Dana is tired, please let her go home, please let my girl rest.

McKay just said fuck it and drilled the ankle monitor, honestly girl I don’t blame you because what the fuck. Also her poor kid, just a mess all around, hope the grandparents arrive soon.

Dr. Javadi is obnoxious, just what the hell was that comment? Yes go back to the OR shoo shoo. Victoria is fine, I like Victoria her mom? Not so much.

See you next week then?

[pankowcrumbs]

Another baby girl X Dad Harry Styles

MasterList

Harry Styles Masterlist

The living room was a mess of toys, coloring books, and snack crumbs basically, an everyday sight in the Styles household. Hattie, five years old and full of energy, sat cross-legged on the floor, scribbling furiously with her crayons. Felix, two years old, was beside her, stacking blocks in a precarious tower while Finn Felix's Twin, toddled around with one of Harry’s beanies pulled over his face, bumping into furniture and giggling every time he fell over.

Harry and I exchanged amused glances before settling onto the couch. It was time.

“Alright, everyone,” I called, clapping my hands together. “Daddy and I have something really exciting to tell you.”

Felix immediately abandoned his block tower, his wide brown eyes lighting up. “dog?!”

I laughed. “No, not a dog.”

“Are we going to Disneyland?” Hattie asked hopefully.

Harry chuckled. “Not Disneyland either.”

Finn, still blinded by the beanie, tripped over his own feet and plopped onto his bottom. He blinked up at us and declared, “Juice?”

I reached for his sippy cup and handed it to him, trying not to laugh. “Not juice, baby.”

Hattie huffed, crossing her arms. “Okay, then what is it?”

Harry took a deep breath, his dimples deepening as he grinned. “Mummy’s got a baby in her belly.”

Silence.

Then

Hattie’s mouth dropped open. “WHAT?”

Felix’s eyebrows scrunched together. “right now?” He looked at my stomach, suspicious. “Where?”

Finn, oblivious to the importance of the announcement, happily sucked on his juice.

“Yes, right now,” I said, placing a hand on my belly. “The baby is growing inside me, and in a few months, you’re going to have a new little brother or sister.”

Hattie gasped, her hands flying to her cheeks. “I’M GONNA BE A BIG SISTER AGAIN?!”

Felix narrowed his eyes. “brother or sister?”

Harry nodded. “Yep.”

Felix let out a groan and flopped onto the floor dramatically. “No sister”

Hattie whipped her head toward him, scandalized. “Excuse me?!”

Harry bit his lip, trying not to laugh. “What’s wrong with another girl, buddy?”

Felix huffed, folding his arms. "Bossy.”

Hattie gasped even louder, pointing an accusing finger at him. “Take that back!”

Felix stuck his tongue out at her.

Harry sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Oh, this is going well.”

Meanwhile, Finn had crawled onto my lap, pressing his tiny hands against my stomach. “Baby?” he asked curiously.

I smiled, brushing his curls back. “Yeah, sweetheart. There’s a baby in there.”

His face lit up. “Baby juice?”

I blinked. “What?”

Harry snorted, rubbing his eyes. “No, Finn, not juice.”

Finn frowned in confusion, then shrugged and went back to sipping his drink like he had far more important things to worry about.

Hattie finally recovered from Felix’s insult, her excitement returning tenfold. “I don’t care what it is. I’m gonna help Mummy with everything changing nappies, feeding it, dressing it up in cute outfits"

A few weeks later, we all gathered in the backyard to find out whether baby number four was going to be a boy or a girl. Hattie was practically bouncing with excitement, while Felix and Finn stood with their arms crossed, already looking unimpressed.

“brother,” Felix muttered.

Finn nodded seriously. “No girls.”

Hattie shot them both a glare. “You two are so rude.”

Harry placed a hand on my back, whispering, “Ready?”

I nodded, taking a deep breath before lifting the confetti popper. “Alright, guys! Count us down!”

Hattie led the charge. “Three…two…ONE!”

With a loud pop, pink confetti exploded into the air, raining down on all of us.

Hattie screamed in delight. “IT’S A GIRL! I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT!” She jumped up and down, clapping her hands. “I’M GETTING A BABY SISTER!”

Felix let out a groan so dramatic it could’ve won him an Oscar. “No”

Finn, catching on to his older brother’s despair, threw his hands in the air. “Oh no!”

Harry burst out laughing, ruffling Felix’s hair. “Oh, come on, bud. You’ll love her.”

Felix crossed his arms. “No”

I kneeled down, cupping his little face. “I promise, once she’s here, you’re going to be the best big brother ever. She’s going to love you so much.”

“Fine." Felix grumbled, but I caught the little smile tugging at his lips.

Meanwhile, Finn had started running in circles, shouting, “More girls! More girls!” as if he had suddenly embraced his fate.

Harry wrapped an arm around me, pressing a kiss to my temple. “Another little girl,” he murmured. “Lucky me.”

I leaned into him, watching as our children bickered, laughed, and played in the pink confetti. “Lucky us.”

And just like that, our family was growing again one more little heartbeat, one more little voice, and a whole lot more love.

The hospital room was quiet, save for the gentle hum of monitors and the soft breaths of our newborn daughter curled up in my arms. She was so tiny, her delicate fingers barely bigger than the tip of my pinky, her lips pursed as she slept peacefully against my chest. My heart felt impossibly full.

Harry sat beside me on the bed, one hand resting on my knee, the other gently tracing along the baby's soft cheek. His eyes were red-rimmed, exhaustion clinging to his features, but his smile was radiant.

“You are incredible,” he whispered for what felt like the hundredth time. He leaned forward, pressing a kiss to my forehead, then one to our daughter’s. “I’m so proud of you, love.”

I let out a tired laugh. “You keep saying that.”

“Because it’s true.” He squeezed my hand. “You brought another perfect little person into the world. I don’t know how you do it, but you amaze me every single time.”

Before I could reply, there was a soft knock on the door, and then Anne peeked her head inside. Her eyes were already misty. “Can we come in?”

Harry and I shared a glance before he stood, practically bouncing with excitement. “Of course! Come meet our girl.”

The door pushed open, and in tumbled Hattie, her blonde curls wild from excitement, followed by Anne, who was carrying one twin on each hip Finn in one arm, Felix in the other.

Hattie skidded to a stop, eyes as wide as saucers when she spotted the baby in my arms. “Is that her?” she gasped, her little hands clutched to her chest.

I nodded. “Come say hello.”

Hattie tiptoed closer like she was approaching something sacred. “She’s so tiny,” she whispered, awestruck.

Felix, still in Anne’s arms, peered down at the baby with a deep frown. “She’s not doin’ anything.”

Harry laughed, taking Felix from Anne. “That’s because she’s a newborn, buddy. She mostly sleeps.”

Finn, now reaching for me from Anne’s other arm, pouted. “Mummy.”

Anne kissed his cheek before setting him down, and he toddled over to me, his chubby hands gripping the blanket covering the baby. “Baby?”

“Yep,” I said, shifting the blanket slightly so he could get a better look.

Finn stared at her for a long moment before looking back up at me. “She…asleep?”

“Yep, she’s sleeping.”

��Boring,” Felix declared, leaning against Harry with a huff.

Anne burst out laughing. “Oh, Felix, you are your father’s son.”

Harry feigned offense. “Oi! I was very interested in my baby sister when she was born.”

Anne raised an eyebrow. “You poked Gemma’s nose and then fell asleep.”

I stifled a giggle, and Harry sighed dramatically. “Right, well, at least one of my kids is excited.” He turned to Hattie, who was still staring at the baby like she had just discovered magic.

“Do you want to hold her?” I asked gently.

Hattie gasped. “Me?”

I nodded. “Come sit with me.”

Hattie scrambled onto the bed, practically vibrating with excitement as I helped place the tiny baby into her arms. Her face immediately melted into a look of pure adoration.

“Hi, baby,” she whispered. “I’m your big sister. I’m gonna take care of you forever.”

Harry placed a hand over his heart. “Oh, my God, my actual heart.”

Felix peeked over, his skepticism unwavering. “She’s still not doin’ anything.”

Finn, clearly having decided that being a big brother wasn’t all that exciting, toddled back to Anne and held up his arms. “Nana.”

Anne scooped him up, kissing the top of his head. “Alright, little one.” She then turned her attention to me, her gaze soft and full of emotion. “Oh, sweetheart.” Her voice wobbled slightly. “She’s just beautiful.”

I smiled. “Thank you.”

Anne walked over to me and leaned down, pressing a warm kiss to my forehead. “I am so proud of you,” she whispered, her voice thick with love. “You’ve built such a beautiful family, and I know how much work it takes. You’re an incredible mother.”

Tears pricked at my eyes. “I had a good example to follow.”

Anne let out a teary laugh and cupped my cheek for a moment before turning to Harry. She barely had to say anything before he pulled her into a tight hug.

“Another little girl,” Anne murmured against his shoulder. “You’re so lucky, Harry.”

“I know,” he said, squeezing her tighter. “I really, really know.”

I watched them, my heart swelling with gratitude. Seeing Harry with his mum, feeling the overwhelming love in the room, I knew just how lucky I was too.

“Alright,” Anne sniffled, pulling away and wiping her eyes. “What’s this little angel’s name?”

Harry and I exchanged a look, and then he smiled, reaching down to brush his fingers over the baby’s tiny hand. “Her name is Mabel.”

Hattie beamed. “I love it!”

Felix crossed his arms. “Hmph. ‘Kay.”

Harry smirked. “That’s the highest level of approval you’re getting from him.”

Finn, who had been nestled against Anne, suddenly perked up. “Mabel?”

I grinned. “That’s right, baby. Her name is Mabel.”

Finn looked at her, then back at us, then at Anne. “Cookie?”

We all burst into laughter, and Anne shook her head, smiling. “Oh, darling, you are your father’s son too.”

Harry held Felix a little closer, looking down at his newborn daughter, then at our little chaotic bunch. “Bloody hell, we’ve got four kids.”

I laughed, resting my head against his shoulder. “Yeah. We do.”

[11queensupreme11]

ASJDJDHDDHD I TOTALLY FUCKING FORGOT APOLLOOO I'm sorry king 💔 I didn't mean to throw shade but the shade kinda eclipsed ur whole existence I did not remember you existed 😔💔 the favouritism is so real with me. At least Percy loves you 💞 Not me tho I would drawn the line at the nymph harem and your habit of putting humans through horrors via doomed dick. Ty for having him Percy, now nobody else has to. Our Queen making sacrifices for us every day..

ALSO YES!! THE BEELCY KIDS ASK WAS ALSO ME!!! I forgor my new designation bc I was so sleep deprived 😭😭 but I'm so glad you recognised me!!

(ALSO added comedy for the dimension hopping demon spawn, but I feel like even if she wouldn't let it slip intentionally bc she doesn't want to minimise their inter-dimensionnal war crimes and shit, depending on the timing some of the kids would be having what amounts to a toddlers temper tantrum to her because of how fast the gods age. So she just distracted lying drops the bomb that "anyway I'm really sorry but he's only five so I'm hoping he'll maybe grow out of it with lots of special attention and guidance" and the universe inhabitants are just like??? THAT EVIL MF IS FIVE?? MY UNIVERSE IS HANGING ONTO A THREAD BC A TECHNICAL TODDLER BE BEEFING WITH US??? That or they're looking at her like she's crazy like 'lady.. this mf is NOT five do you see the DEVIOUS way he's looking at me when you turn your back...'

Also all I can say is RIP if any of them end up on Penacony. One of the kids would end up either murdering or making a pet out of that Death entity or whatever that shish kebab'd Firefly and Sunday would be having an aneurism because they're shattering his influence and ruining all his plans. Unless he gets lucky and its Cu's daughters (or maybe the Apollo kids depending on how well-behaved and non myrdery they are) that end up there, they'd probably be the most well-behaved and have a blast!!! Until their daddy shows up and then the planet is under threat for sure, they better hope he's too focused on his daughters to think about the implications of a planet that encourages them to experience all their dreams 😭 especially if his brain cells start putting in work and he figures. Dreams coming true. Hmm I wonder if my hopeless romantic daughters might've been imagining 👹 B O Y S 👹

Circumstances would go so differently depending on which kids end up where... God forbid this is all happening synonymously.. One of the Beelcy kids is going around swallowing plants because they were hungry and they looked like good snacks or smthn (and Beel is too distracted flexing on Ruan Mei or smthn like pshh you call THAT a SWARM? Watch this im gonna end your whole career and many species) and Cu's daughters are innocently frolicking somewhere and too innocent to consider that they're putting whatever planet they're on in danger just by being there even if they're being the goodest of girls 😔 bc daddy's a 👹 menace 👹 (If they do end up on Pencacony they'd probably be besties with Robin if she's still around there and not on tour or smthn. Sunday better keep his distance tho lest they get.. too attached... and start thinking 'wow!! A bestie AND a perfect Disney prince for a boyfriend HUSBAND!! This is great 🥰' Daddy would NOT approve)

💫

(from 💫 anon)

that entire first paragraph 😭😭😭 "Ty for having him Percy, now nobody else has to" DAMN YOU'RE KILLING HIM WHAT DID HE DO TO YOU LMAO 😭😭😭 our poor boy (i'm just kidding, flame him harder 👹)

also you're right percy WOULD just casually drop the bomb that the being(s) destroying their universe is just a wittle baby five year old

percy: pls help me find my babies 🥺

and then the babies in question are these psychos:

💀💀💀 she'd be 1000% serious too, cuz those literally ARE just babies to her ahshadfv hdvb 😭

AND CÚ CHULAINN'S DAUGHTERS IN PENACONY ASHFGHWGV

percy probably finds them all there first and they excitedly tell her all about the super cool dreamscape and she's like "oh what the heck, sure. i'll try it out, i can use a vacation!" so she joins them into the dreamscape while her husband's out losing his shit looking for them 😭😭😭😭

anyway, you know how you gotta fall asleep in the dream pool thingy to enter the dreamscape properly?????

imagine poor cú chulainn getting into the reverie hotel and finding his daughters and wife all knocked out in different rooms inside this weird pool thingy not waking up and he just fucking LOSES IT. HIS BABIES ARE UNCONSCIOUS HIS WIFE IS UNCONSCIOUS WTF IS HAPPENING. WHO DID THIS TO HIS FAMILY. CEARBHALL'S ASS IS GROUNDED

when in actuality, they're all having the time of their lives in the golden hour ashfahfv 😭😭😭😭😭

and then he eventually learns about what's going on and then loses it again BECAUSE WHAT IF THEY'RE TALKING TO 👹BOYS👹?! WHAT IF OTHER 👹MEN👹 ARE DROOLING OVER HIS WIFE???? WHERE'S THAT IDIOT SON OF HIS, HE SHOULD'VE STOPPED THIS 👹👹👹👹👹👹👹

also, i love the differences between the percy babies 😭😭😭😭

the sécy daughters in the hsr verse (except maybe luisne tbh 💀):

meanwhile some of the other percy babies 💀:

[welisentandwedontjudge]

Disclaimers: They are adults. This is an Alternative-Universe. Wendy barely knows them as she think they are weird.

—

A blood-curdling scream echoed through the apartment. 

It wasn’t just any ordinary scream—not the kind Robbie was used to at least. And Robbie has heard Dipper scream plenty of times. But this? This scream was different. It was gut-wrenching and bone-chilling; it was the kind that was reserved exclusively for witnessing a murder or, worse, stubbing your pinky toe on the corner of a coffee table.

Robbie didn’t think twice. He took off running down the hall faster than he ever thought was possible, socks skidding against the hardwood floor, nearly face planting as he rounded the corner. His heart was pounding. Was it a ghost? Or maybe one of those nightmare-inducing creatures his boyfriend likes to chase around?

But when he reached the bathroom, he found Dipper frozen in place, staring into the open doorway.

“What?!” Robbie demanded, scanning for potential danger. “What happened?”

Dipper silently raised his trembling hand and pointed into the bathroom.

Robbie followed his gaze, expecting something horrific.

Instead his eyes meet something worse…something more dangerous than any creature Dipper had ever fought.

A spider.

Not just any spider, a huge spider. Robbie had no clue what kind of spider it was, but, boy, it was pure nightmare fuel. It was so big Robbie was sure it could work a 9-5 and file taxes.

Robbie immediately took a step back. “Yeah, sorry, Pinecone. I’m out.”

“But—but you are taller!” Dipper hissed, looking over at Robbie with what could almost be considered betrayal, but in reality was a sorry excuse for manipulation that would not work on Robbie. Again. Huge spider. Nope.

“The fuck does height have to do with attempted murder?! Have you seen the size of that thing?!” Robbie shot back. “You are smarter; figure it out.”

“Goddamnit, Robbie.” Dipper muttered, turning back to the open bathroom. His body tensed.

“Robbie?”

“I already told you, I’m not going anywhere near that thing.”

“No, babe. It’s gone.”

“What?!”

Robbie’s stomach dropped. He looked over Dipper’s shoulder, and sure enough, yup. It was gone. He quickly reached over Dipper, closing the door with more force than necessary. It was almost a reflex.

“If it is gone,” Dipper started slowly as if solving a particularly hard puzzle. “Then it means… oh my god. Is somewhere else in the apartment.”

Well, that was it. They couldn’t live here anymore. The spider had won.

“Okay,” Robbie said, early calm, placing a hand on Dipper’s waist, steering him away from the now-closed door. “This is the plan. We grab the essentials, and we leave.”

Dipper nodded, “Good idea; it can keep the lease.”

—

Wendy should have kept the food container. They were plastic; they wouldn’t miss it, she was sure.

But she was new in town, and she had to play nice with her nice and very welcoming weird neighbors. She didn’t need bad blood between them, especially over plastic containers. And well, they weren’t that bad—just… odd. Running around at odd hours and sneaking around weirdly shaped bags. Not like human-shape bags, she didn’t think they were murdered, but those shapes were not normal. So, yeah, her neighbors were strange, and also—kind of cute. Like an old married couple that bickered about anything and everything but were always there for each other.

That being said… They were still weird.

She should’ve turned on her heels and walked back into her apartment, containers and playing nice be damned, after hearing that bone-chilling scream. Instead, because she was also clearly not normal, she knocked on their door.

The moment it swung open, she took an instant step back, surprised at the quickness of answering the door. There was no way they were desperate for these containers, right?

Her neighbors stood in the doorway—pale, frantic, and looking like they’d prepared for the apocalypse—staring at her with wide, desperate eyes.

“Woah!” She said, raising an eyebrow. “Where’s the fire?”

“Wendy! Hello!” Dipper greeted her, closing the door behind him, his eyes nervously darting around. “Sorry, you caught us at a bad time.”

“Oh? Taking a trip?”

“Actually, we are moving out.” Robbie informed her, balancing two backpacks on his back and a third one on his arm. “Spider.”

Wendy blinked. “Uh—what?”

“It belongs to the spider now,” Robbie said grimly, shaking his head, like that alone could explain the whole situation.

“… What?”

She looked between them, as if doing so would grant her the answer she was looking for. Instead, all she saw was that they were dead serious.

What the hell had she walked into?

“Okay,” she finally said slowly. “So… let me get this straight, just to make sure I have all this correctly. You guys—two grown men—are abandoning your entire apartment because of a—what? A spider?”

“Yes,” Dipper nodded, dead serious.

“Absolutely,” Robbie didn’t even look ashamed.

Wendy blinked, at a loss for words. God—they were so weird. Then she sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. She was going to regret this, she was sure.

“Alright, wussies. Show me where ‘the big scary spider’ was.”

Robbie and Dipper exchanged worried looks. Then, with the hesitation usually reserved for leading someone to a crime scene, they turned and cracked their apartment door open slowly, as if scouting for danger.

Wendy pushed past them and turned to look at them when they didn’t follow. “Where?”

“Bathroom, down the hallway to your left.” Robbie peered inside before stepping in, closely followed by Dipper.

Wendy didn’t wait for them; when she cracked the bathroom door open and peered inside, she saw nothing.

There was no spider.

“There’s nothing here.”

“It was there,” Dipper insisted. “It was huge. Like genetically modified—“

“Like, ‘probably has a mortgage,’ huge.” Robbie interrupted.

“—And then it kind of just—disappeared.” Dipper finished.

Wendy gave them a flat look. “Right. Well, let’s just look for it.”

Dipper and Robbie exchanged looks, and Wendy just groaned. Yep, she was already regretting her decision to help.

“Fine, I’ll look for it. Move, babies. “

Wendy glanced around, being silently followed by her weird neighbors from a safe distance, of course. She glanced around, checking walls, the ceiling, and behind curtains. All while grumbling to herself something about hunting them if she got bitten. As a last resort, she bent down to inspect the floor—

—and there it was.

The spider sat, big and unmoving, at a corner, partially hidden by the shadow of the sink cabinet.

Huh. Well, Wendy would give them that. It was actually a pretty big spider.

Not ‘burn the apartment down big’ but she could see why these two morons lost their minds over it.

She stood and looked around, grabbing an empty cup from the sink and trapping the spider with it. After a few shouts, she was handed a piece of paper, and she expertly slid it under the rim. Then, standing up, she turned around and held the cup proudly.

“Is this the reason you two were ready to forfeit your security deposit?”

Dipper visibly shuddered. Robbie took a step back, hands raised defensively.

“That’s a monster.” Robbie muttered.

Wendy rolled her eyes, already walking away. “You guys are pathetic. Try not to call 9-1-1 while I’m gone.”

Dipper and Robbie visibly sagged with relief when Wendy exited their apartment with the horrific creature.

“We need to get the apartment sprayed. Immediately.”

“Obviously.” Dipper agreed, already grabbing his phone to google companies near them.

Nobody is the bug killer of this relationship they both hide out on the couch and call up Wendy to deal with the damn thing

[foxeyesky]

Nearly one year later,

and the veil between past and present has never felt so thin. The days have grown darker and colder, just like they did last November and every November before. I've no choice but to remember that tomorrow will be one year since the last time we ate together, the last time we held each other, the last time you kissed me, the last time we felt right.

The days that followed were restless with uneasy texts and merciless calls that broke my heart. Just eight days later, you walked out of my apartment and out of my life.

Nearly one year later, never further away from the moment I'm living in now. But here, sitting on the same couch in the same living room in the same evening light, shedding the same tears, it's as if the door just closed behind you.

e.k.

[spacegirlsgang]

DBD x Met Gala (1/4): Edwin Payne and Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination (2018)

[ace-malarky]

Happy Blorbo Blursday!

No question today, just give us a ramble about a character you don't usually get a chance to ramble about!

Beloved, I have so many characters I have never rambled about but also ok we're doing side characters with Relevance now so it's Drassa's turn

by the time of any story we see her in, she's a retired adventurer, well respected if distant member of society, definitely nobility if a bit strange, and

of course

our boy Jasper's mother

(and also the character I played in the game that spawned them both. No I don't know why Jasper then got the limelight but it's better this way because I can just allude to all of Drassa's stuff rather than having to write it)

Except! no one knows she is Jasper's mother because she is Unwed and Respectable and Surely Drassa Would Never so he's obviously just like. a foster child or a distant relative's because she is so Sweet and Noble, of course she would Help Out to give him a good start in life

but anyway. She starts life as like. almost a normal kid, actually! She's friendly, she has a family! There's no tragic backstory here, she's just kinda bored with it all. She just has a hankering for something more and, being stubborn and unwilling to listen to people telling her to cool her jets and also No, she just strikes out with whatever group is going and learns fast how to fake everything. She isn't a fighter but my god can she talk her way into and out of everything! In a world of elves and orcs and lizardfolk where they haven't quite forgotten that humans are only so many generations out of being colonisers, with no access to the magic of the world, she's got to be smart about it and she is. She moonlights as a thief for a little bit (this is how she meets her main party/friends) but rather than stealth, her strategy is to act like she owns the place and not give anyone an opening to suggest that she doesn't

Her main party/friends are a lizardfolk & elf couple who have their own enemies-to-lovers arc already sorted by the time they meet Drassa, and they become very ride-or-die in the... ten or so years that they hang out together. despite claiming that they themselves are retired at that point. they couldn't resist Drassa's charm either

I am still somewhat hazy on how she meets Jasper's dad. it was probably just for a good time! Jasper definitely wasn't planned! (and had she known about the curse, she probably wouldn't have gone there but my god she would have liked to have known before it all explosively comes to light)

but when she realises she's pregnant, she figures she's got to make sure the kid isn't like. caught in the little circle of enemies she's getting known by? So she enlists her friends to help her get off world (fraud is committed), sets herself up as Rich Aristocrat (crimes are committed, but politely), and settles herself in for a life of refined ease. There is absolutely never a moment where she goes "ha this kid is going to be someone else's problem I'm too busy" she just fully adapts to being a single parent

but ok yes, she's looking after a kid and settling into her place in society with her big house and her garden and the servants that she pays to help out when she has to, and as Jasper grows up she finds she's just. she's missing it all! She wasn't aiming for retirement this early, but she's got a kid, man, and by god is he going to grow up in safety and with the freedom to get into whatever the fuck he wants!

so she might still be doing some light facilitating and blackmail and information gathering on the side. Oh I need to write in her and Nuvian knowing each other, that's a necessity. You know she's working with our travelling crime merchant! He's definitely fencing stuff for her!

and she doesn't exactly keep this quiet from Jasper & Llinos but I think they're definitely mostly laboring under the idea that she's retired (or at least only still has like the vaguest of historic links to it all), so when they come back to find that her past has come back to bite, they're a little surprised to find that she's holding her own in whatever form the fight has taken haha

Tamhas and Tadhg do not know any of it, and this is for everyone's safety. It's bad enough that they wriggled their way into crime as it is, but at least it's where Drassa can keep an eye on them. This is why they panic when they realise that Drassa is in trouble, and like while she appreciates the back up it was not entirely necessary! She'd got herself out of tighter fixes before and she'll do it again

[lizardho]

Before I knew I was bisexual I was just insanely dramatic and weird around guys I liked. I had a crush on this guy in my ward - he was older than me, he played bagpipes and had a cheerful dog and an old Volkswagen bus that he worked on all the time. He also had nice scruff and unnaturally attractive hands and a good sense of humor, so I was like FULLY smitten.

I talked about him a lot and about how he was just so dang COOL, dang it, because he was so frickin’ cool. And I really liked him. I thought he was funny and smart and interesting and cool and fascinating and a bunch of other weird feelings I barely had the attention span to think about (I think my ADHD may have prevented me from coming out for a while tbh).

One day, I’m like 14-15, his dad is called to be my Sunday School teacher. His dad is this ex-military hardass with a chip on his shoulder for absolutely no reason and unattainable standards for his children. He spent most of Sunday School talking shit about his eldest boy and how he was rebellious and didn’t listen to him and how that was going to make him a bad adult and a bad son forever. How his son was too lazy and unmotivated to be successful because he didn’t listen to his advice on how to read the scriptures. He complained about how our generation was too weak to do things right and that our generation would surely be the one that brought the world’s downfall because of our laziness and sin.

And like, first of all, that guy can already go fuck himself for that. To clarify, that’s already stupid. BUT. He was talking about the man I had uncomfortable dreams about at least once a month. I couldn’t stand it. I’d get so mad I’d go home shaking sometimes because how fucking DARE he insult his hardworking stunning son by calling him lazy? For not reading the Bible the way his dad wants? When he’s already spending his time learning bagpipes? And fixing cars? And being cool? And cute? Who the fuck even cares if he uses the footnotes in the Book of Mormon? Who gives a rotten rat’s ass if he doesn’t use the scripture study manual his dad uses? He’s so cool he doesn’t even need it? So fuck off?

And eventually I got fucking Sick Of It and decided to mutiny. And by mutiny, I mean skip class. I’d just not go. And after a bit, adults started noticing and bugging me about it. At first, this was put off by small talk and excuses, but as my absence from Sunday School became more well-known, my excuses began to be rejected.

“Oh, Lizard, why aren’t you in class?” Uhm idk because my Sunday School teacher is mean to his kid and that makes me so mad wtf do you want from me? 🫠🤔

“Where’s your class, I’ll go with you!” Oh no ty I’d rather peel my own eyes than have my taste in men critiqued tyty 🩷

“Lizard, you should go to class, I’m sure they miss you!” And I miss the innocent days where my stomach didn’t hurt when a cool boy I knew was being belittled but unfortunately for us both those days are LONG gone and all that’s left is a budding psychosexual clusterfuck that will render me almost fully incapable of functioning for the better part of a decade so Bye Bye, sister Smith 🙂‍↕️

It had gotten to the point that ward leadership was involved. I was being approached by members of the Young Men’s presidency and the Bishopric to try and make me to back to class. They were telling me God had told them to find me and instruct me on my rebelliousness. This is where I implemented my secret weapon - women. Mormons are weird as hell about a lot of things, but especially about women. And I was GREAT with women. So to combat the leadership’s attention, I started helping women.

Our ward had a lot of new moms with babies who were, as babies tend to be, fussy. But for Mormon women the church is often their only social outlet, so they try to power through as long as they can even if it means enduring the exhausting ordeal of taking care of a fussy baby at church.

For what it’s worth, I have a lot of sway with babies. I got baby street cred. Me and babies have a rapport. I have always known this. I have always loved this. And in this crucial gay time in my faggot life my baby mind powers came in clutch - Every time I saw a member of the bishopric getting close, or a young men’s leader giving me side-eye, I’d start walking slowly towards class, passing by relief society. I’d wait until a mom’s baby had gotten too fussy and needed to leave the room, and I’d swoop in like a knight. “Oh, don’t you worry sister, I’ll bounce him a bit. You go back and hang out with your friends in class. You deserve a break.”

If it was a diaper change or something they’d tell me no. But if it was just some good old-fashioned baby fusses, I mean, they’d be moved almost to tears. They just got their social time back AND a free babysitter who is renowned as the Baby Whisperer. And because I was holding a baby as a favor for someone else, I of course could not reasonably be bothered to return to class.

So just like that, I was out of everyone’s sights. This went on for about a month before the straw that broke the camel’s back, which was that without my class participation the classes were quiet and awkward. I’d often take the brunt of Sunday school lectures by answering questions impulsively and over explaining myself enough that the clock could run out without anyone needing to do or say much. My absence meant everyone else was getting hit with the full unpleasantness of this guy’s bullshit. And so slowly, one-by-one, I had a group of about 8 kids on baby-holding duty. These new moms were so overjoyed, they and their husbands were both so actively in our corner that now chastising us was untenable. Now we had bargaining power. So the Bishopric approached us, confused beyond confused and uncomfortable beyond uncomfortable, and said,

“What’s it gonna take to get you back to class?”

The POWER I possessed in that moment was addictive. By being kind to the women of the ward and ignoring the Mormon de facto Rule of Law of following rules en-masse so the rule breakers feel left out, there were now so many people breaking ranks that we had effectively enacted a church boy labor strike. And they crumbled so fast it was almost like we had swayed God himself to our cause.

“I want brother assholedad gone. He sucks at teaching.”

I didn’t even have to say it. One of my rebels said it for me. I just nodded sagely and said “Yes, his class is not edifying. It’s better to not go and hold babies.”

And just like that, with a snap of my limp-wristed, Christ-wounding, bottom-brained fingers my faggot will was enacted. God’s revelation that brother shitdad was his chosen Sunday school teacher flipped on a dime. Suddenly brother shitdad was asked to be an usher and the fun dad of another one of my crushes was called in to teach us. I still stayed to hold babies a lot, but the rest of the class returned and all was well again.

Although I didn’t recognize it then, I think that was a formative moment for me in a lot of ways. I learned that being really persistently annoying will get me what I want from authority eventually. I learned that God’s will can be swayed by going in strike. I learned that ignoring men’s made up authority forces them to level with you as a person. I learned that caring for women, especially vulnerable women, can make a whole world happier. I learned that letting women rest can help them feel more love for the things that matter in their life. I learned that social bonds make everyone stronger and happier. And I learned that loving others in a gay way can change the world.

Be gayer. Read Terry Pratchett. I love y’all 💕