#threads ( bree brown )

[janatm]

thread five title || BRAKE

tagging: Jake Puckerman & Bree Brown

date & time: Friday May 23, 2025 @ around 7:00 pm

location: An adult Arcade in LA

warnings: none!

summary:

word count: 0000

BREE BROWN

It had been a couple of weeks since their last fight, break up, issue, whatever you wanted to call it. The realization that their previous relationship hadn't really been what they'd built it up to be had hit her hard. While it took a lot of working herself up, she did manage to bring all of it up in her therapy sessions. It stuck with her that she didn't really know that much about Jake. It felt like she knew him too well sometimes, but basic things, she just didn't know. Maybe that's why she challenged herself to think of a date idea that he would like, based on what she does know about him. They had to start somewhere. It took her a couple of weeks to find something, but in the meantime she did reach out to him, just to talk. To ask him how he was doing, what he was up to. She even broke her own routine to work out with him. It had actually been fun, and she confirmed that she did, genuinely, enjoy his company. It made her feel more confident about asking him out, something she had absolutely never done before. But she figured, he would have taken her out before if she had allowed it. So, the least she could do was try and make that up to him by making the first move. Her therapist agreed. Given that she knew he liked computers, video games and competition, she had narrowed it down to paintball and laser tag. But ultimately, laser tag felt a bit more her friendly. I mean, little kids played laser tag so how hard could it be? Plus, she wanted the date to be something she thought he would like but that she could also enjoy. Her therapist pointed out that, that was kind of the point. In her defense, she'd never been on an actual date, but she was learning. After she texted her ex to ask when he was free, she told him she had an outing for them planned and to wear comfortable dark clothes and shoes. She figured he would assume whatever it was would be something bougie, and she found she was actually excited to see how he reacted to everything. This was probably this most dressed down she had ever been in public. Even her make up was giving natural beauty and she was wearing sneakers and leggings. It wasn't so much about Jake seeing her like this, it was everyone else but for the first time, she didn't really care. That might change if there a headline tomorrow about her letting herself go or something but for now, she was excited and as they approached Jake's place, she texted him that they were outside. Unsure of what to do, she remembered what her therapist said, what would you want him to do? So, she got out of the car and went to his side of the car, to open the door and while she thought maybe that was too literal, it was still a nice gesture. As she waited for him, she felt... nervous but in a good way. 

JAKE PUCKERMAN

If someone had told Jake that one encounter with his ex where she had to see him with another woman was all it would take for her to step up and offer the kind of attention other women were freely giving him, he would've been sure it was bullshit. He hadn't even expected anything he'd said the last time he saw her to have resonated with her, so her sending texts to check in and just communicate in general had been puzzling at first. He wasn't used to it, and part of him assumed it wasn't genuine — it was just something she heard him say other women were doing, so she was forcing it. But as the weeks went on and she became consistent with it, and then even joined him for a gym workout, he could tell she was doing it because she'd valued what he'd said and was trying. But it was her suggesting an outing that truly threw him for a loop. Her saying it was casual let him know that it wasn't some posh ass thing, thankfully, so he just settled for jeans, a plain old Versace tee, and a pair of sneakers. It would have been Eva approved, so that meant it was good enough, he decided. Once Bree's text came through, he tucked his wallet into his pocket and headed down to the parking lot, and he was surprised to see her waiting by the door, and on the other side, no less. "What are you doing?" He questioned curiously, but the more he glanced around the more evident it was that this was Bree's attempt at doing the date thing. "I'm not getting in before you." Jake insisted as he stepped closer to her, putting a hand on the small of her back as he gently guided her into the backseat, and then he climbed in after her. "Where we going? And you know I hate surprises, so just tell me now." He pleaded as he shut the door.

BREE BROWN

Not entirely sure how to answer because she wasn't super sure what she was doing. All she knew was on dates you open doors and pay. And from her understanding, in today's times, she asked him out so that was her responsibility, but she could be wrong about that. Either way, she let him guide her back in the car, and she scooted to her side and once Jake was in she almost rolled her eyes at him immediately asking where they were going. But as soon as he shut his door, her driver let them know they would be arriving in about eight minutes. Looking over at him, she had hoped they could get to the location before he asked, but she was honestly surprised he'd waited until now to ask. "It's an adult arcade. It has an arcade, go karts, something called cosmic bowling, I'm not sure how that differs from regular bowling, and laser tag, which is what we're going there for. And I think what makes it adult is the addition of alcohol and explicit lyrics, based on their Instagram." She explained. "And I opted to go in the afternoon in case you wanted to do more than laser tag. When we get there they'll give us wrist bands that will allow us to go anywhere in the facility and a points card. Everything we do there can earn us points where we can trade in for prizes or food. From the reviews it seems it's a, better DnB. I wasn't sure what that was but apparently it stands for Dave and Buster's, which is like an adult Chuckie Cheese. And I think we get three drinks included with the wrist band." Reaching into her purse, she took out her phone to bring up her confirmation 'ticket', to confirm she'd given him all the relevant information. Looking at him again, she noticed he looked good. Not that he didn't usually but generally she's too annoyed at him to actually appreciate his style. "Are you wearing Versace?" She asked, already knowing the answer. "You look good." She said with a smile.

JAKE PUCKERMAN

Given that Jake wasn't used to this, he had to ask what was going on. He didn't know what Bree was up to nowadays, considering that she had been acting differently since their last showdown, so he was mostly trying to make sure that he wasn't walking into some kind of stupid trap. So as the driver took off and she started rambling off the plan, he tried to let her get through as much of the brochure a she could before he started laughing. Not just any laugh either, but a bubbly one, as he found it rather cute that she'd basically memorized all of the information from the website or whatever. "First of all, I'm both surprised and offended that you have never heard of Dave & Busters. That's insane. Also, cosmic bowling is cool, and it reminds me of a rave, kinda. They cut the main lights out and instead, it's like the neon lights and lasers, things glow in the dark, and they play loud upbeat music. I've only done it once, while drunk, but it was fun." He nodded. "But what also makes it an adult experience is that there's usually no one under 21 allowed. Thankfully." Jake hummed, and it wasn't that he didn't like kids, it was just that this sort of thing was a lot more fun with alcohol and no whiny kids. At Bree's compliment, he shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. "You do know that Eva pimped out my closet, right?" He still didn't care about designers and whatnot, even now that he had money, but Eva had pretty much tossed out most of his old wardrobe. "But thank you. And you look...like the Bree that only I used to see." He pointed out. "You look beautiful."

BREE BROWN

At the sound of his laugh, she had a millisecond of panic that she hadn't picked a good date activity. And was about to be mad at him laughing in her face about it. But then he started talking and it was clear he was just amused the she didn't know what Dave and Buster's was. Which, how would she? That definitely wouldn't have been an approved place for her to be seen, but then again neither would this adult arcade place. And even if they had landed some paid deal with them, she wouldn't have been allowed to wear leggings and sneakers. But tonight, there would be no cameras and she could just have some undocumented fun. Well, maybe she would take a couple of pictures, just for her camera roll. She supposed it made sense that there would be no kids, probably for the best and definitely made her feel more comfortable about drinking in general. Nodding she put her phone back in her purse. "I assumed she would, nothing in your closet had a singular brand name she would have approved of." She laughed a little. "But the style is still you, regardless. Just now they're high quality pieces instead of articles of clothing." Smiling at him returning her compliment. She had to admit that his ability to make her feel worthy no matter what had been one of his most attractive features. "Thank you, but you might not think that after i kick your ass in laser tag." She said with a smile. Before she knew it they were at their destination and her driver was opening the door for them. Leaving her purse in the car, she just brough her phone which had some cash and her cards hidden in the case. As they walked in they were greeted by a very chipper young woman who quickly went over the different areas of the building. Since Bree had pre-paid for the 'elite package' the employee gave them their wristbands and point cards and explained their their first three drinks were free and they just swiped their points cards any time they drank. At the end, they could get pries and pay the rest of their bill for any food and drinks they get. Once she walked away, Bree looked up at Jake. "So do you want to do laser tag first, or get a drink and some food?" She asked, the restaurant right in front of them.

JAKE PUCKERMAN

Jake rolled his eyes playfully when Bree too dissed his former clothing choices, just like Eva had done the second she'd taken one gander through that old wardrobe. Honestly, he had known from her first day that Eva was a perfect fit to be running Bree's PR, as well as those two being friends in general. By now, most of the stuff they said about his former choices, clothing and everything else, just echoed each other, and it made sense that him and his brother (and Ali that one time he knew about) were so captivated by them. "Not everyone grew up like you two, and I personally liked my 'articles of clothing' before. This one plain ass Versace shirt, which is just a black tee that had a designer label ironed onto it, should not even remotely cost over $300. This fancy stuff is a scam." He insisted, and it truly was, but it was the lifestyle he was apart of now, so he had to get used to it. His ex assuming she'd kick his ass at laser tag was hilarious, especially since he was sure she had never played before, unlike him. Letting the employee ramble as he looked around, he wasn't even paying any attention as he was already mapping out how their time here was about to unfold. Once they were left alone and Bree spoke, Jake took her hand and led her over to the restaurant, opting to sit right at the bar. "I ate a little earlier so I'm not hungry right now, but I do need a drink. But if you need to grab a bite to eat first, that's cool." He stated as he hopped into an empty barstool, his hand still holding onto his ex's. "And since I know what you're up to now, we might as well use this time at the bar to knock out the basics, and I'll start. What's your favorite food, and your drink of choice when you go out? Mine are easy. I don't have one favorite when it comes to food — I'll eat anything as long as someone who knows how to season it cooks it, and the drink depends. If I'm just at home or with my siblings, it's beer. But when I go out with the boys, it's whiskey all day." He shrugged.

BREE BROWN

To be fair, Jake wasn't wrong about designers being a scam, generally speaking, but Versace was an entry level designer. Anyone could buy Versace, Gucci or Coach. One day she would introduce him to true high end labels that you needed wealth to access. She let him lead her toward the bar, smiling a little to herself at how casually he reached for her hand like it wasn't lost on her that it was the first time she allowed him to do that in a non orchestrated setting. It didn’t feel tense or performative, just easy. Comfortable. And it surprised her how much she liked that. She slid onto the barstool beside him, crossing one leg over the other as he started with a question that, at first, felt oddly simple, but she realized was actually kind of important. No one had ever really asked her that, not in a way that felt like they really cared about the answer. Opting to pass on the food, she had eaten at home, something healthy and energizing, figuring she could end the day with fatty diner food from this place. "You eating pretty much anything sounds accurate. But I didn't think your drink changed based on who you were with. I'm not family or one of your boys, so is their a third drink of choice when you're out on a date?" She asked a bit playfully. Not really expecting an answer. "Is it sad to admit I've only eaten my favorite food once?" She laughed, a little embarrassed. "But it's BBQ ribs, extra sauce. But there's no... clean way to eat those and they're fatty and not exactly a healthy choice. But I don't think I've ever eaten anything better. Except maybe a king crab seafood boil, with a lot of garlic butter. A worth it $200 every time." Again it wasn't a meal she ate often, it required a bib and gloves for god sake, and a cup of butter was anything but healthy but she'd usually do it for her birthday. "For drinks, anything with tequila, especially a tequila sunrise or a margarita. But Margarita's are for partying with the girls. Tequila sunrise is  appropriate for any occasion." She answered. "When you're stressed what do you do to decompress and if you could only tell me one thing about yourself what would it be? For me, when I'm stressed I take a bath with a bottle of red wine and watch something funny like Abbott Elementary. And if I could only tell you one thing about myself I would tell you..." She trailed off, thinking about what to say. "You're going to have to answer first I need more time to think," She said with a smile. Truthfully, she just didn't want to get too deep so she was relying on Jake to set the tone.

JAKE PUCKERMAN

Jake hadn't exactly thought about how he switched drinks depending on who he was with, but in hindsight, it usually just depended on the setting mostly. But he certainly hadn't thought about whether it changed on a date until Bree asked, and considering that's what they were on right now, it was a damn good question. "In my defense, Puck has a teenager at home so whenever he cooks, we keep it light with beer. Same with when I'm just at home chilling, beer is just like an adult kool-aid to sip on. But ain't no NFL players going out and ordering beer. I had never even heard of a drink called a Godfather until recently, and hadn't touched any Cognac before, so I just got into whiskey like that." He shrugged, and it was a bit of a change from his old life, but he wasn't complaining. "For a date, maybe a whiskey neat or a gin & tonic." Listening to Bree's response, he was sure that he was a bit shocked to hear her confess to such, and it wasn't an expected answer, so he had to let that sink in until the bartender came over. He ordered the whiskey neat for himself and a tequila sunrise for Bree, because she did just admit that it fit any occasion, before raising a brow. "I didn't expect you to get down like that, but now that I know you do, my brother is an amazing cook — and even better on the grill. I told him we had talked about you meeting Maya, before all the other drama anyway, and he said you could come over for dinner. I could get him to make you some ribs, and there'd be no cameras or paps around so we could all be as messy and unhealthy as we wanted." He offered, and personally that was how Jake liked his barbecue, so why not? As it was Bree's turn to toss out questions, he certainly hadn't expected it to be the two she tossed out, and he was glad she answered first because the man needed time to think those over. Adding her answers to memory, he was glad the bartender quickly came back with their drinks, and he took a long swig of his before humming. "Guided meditation when I'm stressed. I mean, sometimes I just work out, but I've gotten into the meditation instead lately and that helps. But uh..okay, truthfully, I don't like the fame or the popularity or whatever that comes from being a baller, or even a nepo baby. The money's nice, people wanting to meet me and shit is cool — but I was social before all of this anyway. I've always liked meeting people and interacting with folks, but I preferred it happening organically, and when people didn't know me as anything other than the Jake they met on campus, at a normal lame ass party, or even on just riding raggedy dirt bikes in some seedy area. I ain't need all this extra shit to catch a vibe with folks, and I liked it better when I had to work and prove myself to get shit, you know?"

BREE BROWN

While she had never been much of a whiskey girl herself, she did know that most people come into money and their taste in liquor got bougie. There was a lot of status in what alcohols you had in your liquor cabinet and wine cellar. Her parents had the best of it all and she was pretty sure she had never seen them drink a single bottle. Just another thing that was for show. "What's Kool-Aid?" She asked, but let out a laugh almost immediately after. "My grandmother use to make the blue Kool-Aid for me as a kid, with a bag of sugar and everything." Her mom had hated it and that was probably why her grandma gave it to her. "She use to say it would give her super powers and the sugar rush had a five year old me thinking it was true." Was this the first time she'd mentioned her grandmother to Jake? Was this the first non upsetting story she'd ever shared of her childhood? It felt like she held them close so no one could take them but sharing that, didn't feel like losing it but keeping it alive. As she finished answering, the bartender arrived and she damn near kicked her feet giggling as Jake ordered drinks for them. It was really hitting her that she had never experienced a date and as odd as it sounded, it was nice, doing it for the first time with her ex. The casual offer to have her over for dinner with his brother and niece, made her smile. "That sounds like fun and I can get all of the necessary groceries. Just tell Puck to send me a list of exactly what he needs or a picture of the receipts so I can send him what he needs. I'd offer to bring a dish but the only thing I know how to do properly in a kitchen is pour a glass of wine." And she was dead serious about that. She didn't even know what the different between and oven and a range was. As her drink was placed in front of her, she watched Jake drink from his waiting to see what he'd say. Okay, guided meditation was not what she had been expecting. Honestly, she thought he might say sex or video games, so it looked like they both had some surprise answers. However his answer the second question didn't surprise her as much. He hadn't grown up in this world. "No, not really, but that's because I grew up with people recognizing me before I could even tie my shoes. So I'm never had to work or prove myself to get much of anything except respect.But I don't think I like the fame either. I'm just good at it, if that's even possible. But it's a performance and it is exhausting. My life has come with a lot of privillage but maybe even more pressure. All I really want is to walk into a room and just exist without having to live up to some idea a stranger has of me." It was the first time she had ever said, out loud, that she didn't actually love the fame. Even now she kind of wanted to add that she was grateful but she hoped Jake would know that without her having to say it.

JAKE PUCKERMAN

Jake was about to have his flabbers gasted when Bree initially asked what kool-aid was, but when she laughed and started explaining that she did in fact know what it was, he had to shake his head. He hadn’t known if bougie rich folks knew about it, so at least Bree’s grandmother did in fact introduce her to it. “In grandma’s defense, it did give you the power to run at full speed and have more energy than usual, so she didn’t lie.” He laughed. “But now that I know you know what it is, you and Maya are getting introduced to bebops.” He made a mental note to be sure he added it to the list for this family dinner they were planning. He wasn’t even the least bit surprised when Bree instantly started offering to pay or reimburse Puck for the groceries. She didn’t like to show up empty handed, and since she would be the guest of honor, of course she’d want to step up and do the heavy lifting. But once he downed the rest of his drink and motioned the bartender over with a refill, Jake quickly shook his head. “Lemme stop you right there. Puck is not allowing you to pay for anything when you’re the guest. My brother is a whole ass gentleman, and he would never accept letting you pay for anything. You’re bringing stuff for Maya so that’s enough, but if you feel like you need to bring something else, bring wine or beer, or both. That’s it.” He’d take care of the groceries and whatever else Puck needed to do the cooking, but he already knew that his brother would shut down Bree doing any more than just maybe bringing a beverage, so it was best that cleared that up now. Letting the bartender refill his glass, Jake was slightly surprised to hear Bree start echoing his feelings about fame and whatnot. He knew she’d hated the way her brand or image or whatever had been handled before Eva stepped in, but he hadn’t expected her to dislike it, especially when she seemed to put it before everything else. Sipping on his whiskey as he let her continue, he had several things he wanted to say, several things he could say and that she probably needed to hear, but Jake had learned a long time ago that most of it went in one ear and out the other. Talking to her was always a feat when it pertained to this, and he still didn't understand why she kept going along with all of this. "Not to sound like an asshole or anything, but have you ever considered just not performing?" He questioned curiously. "You can be grateful for the life your parents and the social media stuff has given you, but you're allowed to say fuck it and be yourself without it coming across as you're ungrateful. I mean, that momtok group keeps coming up on my TikTok fyp, and they got a whole tv show from being bad mormons and being swingers. Why the hell should you keep pretending when they're being awarded for being religious whores? Same with the Kardashians or Jenners or whatever. One shitty, low budget sex tape spawned the whole family a career, so why can't you just be yourself?"

BREE BROWN

"Grandma never lies. I do believe it gave me super powers. It probably still would." She laughed before taking another sip of her drink. Furrowing her brow, she half thought he was messing with her. "What in the world is a bebop and what does it have to do with Kool-Aid?" She asked, knowing he probably wouldn't tell her and she'd have to wait until they made this bbq dinner happen. Although she could look it up but she's not even sure what to search to get the right thing to pop up. The only thing she could even remotely think of was a type of old people music. But that has nothing to do with Kool-Aid. Her train of thought being interrupted by Jake telling her Puck wouldn't accept her offer to pay, she almost protested. However, she could agree to bring the drinks. At least it was something, she could show up with nothing, that's rude. "Okay, I will be in charge of the drinks. What kind of liquor does your brother like? It is the bare minimum that I bring him a gift and an expensive bottle of liquor is always appreciated in my experience. And what is your favorite non alcoholic drink. You can't just drink beer all night." Also she just wanted to know. While she didn't cook, she was a good host and liked to have her favorite people's favorite drinks in her fridge and a bottle of their preferred body wash. And apparently Jake was classified as one of her favorite people. As she finished revealing her truth, she reached for her drink again and good thing too. As it seemed Jake had at least one hard hitting question in him. As he continued talking, Bree finished her drink and motioned the bartender for another.  Bree didn’t answer right away. She just stared at her glass for a moment, weighing every emotion that tried to push its way forward. When she did finally speak, her voice was quieter. "In short, yes. Many many times I have considered, even threatened to quit. But it's never felt like a real option. In my house your name wasn't just your name, it was your brand and it represented the whole family. And any mistake you made was a headline." Tracing the rim of her glass with her pointer finger, pushing the little straw along, she sighed. "The truth is, I don't know how to leave without feeling like I'm disappointing everyone. Including myself." She looked at him, finding the ability to smile just a little. "But I'm working on it." It was all she could offer for now, she really didn't need to get into her therapy journey right now. So she raised her glass, "A toast, to our first date." And this time her smile was big and genuine.

JAKE PUCKERMAN

Honestly, Bree not knowing what a bebop was shouldn't have made him laugh, but he supposed that maybe she did know and rich people just called it something else. "It's basically a popsicle, but in Alabama, the ladies in the hood who sold food out their houses used to make a killing by selling bebops. They'd fill mini foam or solo cups with kool-aid, freeze it, and then flip it so it was like a popsicle in a cup. Now imagine all of the neighborhood kids running around in the heat all day, and their moms and grandmas telling them that they can't keep running back and forth in the house for a drink all day. Those ladies used to sell bebops for a quarter, so each kid would spend a dollar or two on just bebops." He laughed. It was clever really, and he hopes those women were living damn good lives now. As she asked about his brother's favorite liquor, he shrugged. "Bourbon or Cognac, I think, but my brother ain't the expensive liquor type. That man built his house from the ground up by himself, all he needs is a regular 6-pack from a convenience store." Jake pointed out, though he was sure Bree wouldn't listen so she'd just have to pick something herself, which might be for the best anyway. "My fav non-liquor is Dr. Pepper, but baby girl, I can drink beer at a barbecue all day. Did it all the time as a teen." He bragged. It was probably another nod to how horrible of a mother Tatum was, but that was rather evident now. Watching as his ex seemed to hesitate in answering his question, he was about to tell her she didn't have to answer it until she did. Again, he didn't understand the pressure or why shit like that mattered so much, but Jake just listened anyway, letting her get it all out before watching her raise her glass. "Mhm, cheers to our first date." He hummed, lightly tapping her glass with his own before he downed the rest of his whiskey. "For the record, you're not in the Brown household anymore. You have your own place, so make your own rules." Jake suggested, and honestly, it was time she did that, after all. "Maybe you didn't have the option before, or know how to quit before, but you do have Eva in your corner now. If anyone can help you navigate the change, it's the retired beauty influencer that's running our PR." Sitting his glass back down, he took his wallet out and laid a crisp Benjamin on the bar before pushing himself up. Since the barstools moved, he shifted Bree's until he was forcing her to face him now, and then he gently cradled one of her cheeks in his hand. "You doing what you want, and what makes you happy, won't disappoint anyone except your parents, but you're a grown woman now. A smart, beautiful, grown ass woman who deserves to let the world see her for who she truly is." Jake stated before leaning in and kissing Bree's other cheek. "And just so we're clear, in our house, your name — which I'm assuming you'll hyphenate as Brown-Puckerman — will just be your name. No strings, no expectations, no brand depending on it. I promise you that, baby girl."

BREE BROWN

The moment Jake started explaining what a bebop was, and Bree could envision it, but truthfully she had never seen a styrofoam cup popsicle. In fact, popsicles weren't really something she was permitted to eat. According to her mother there was no 'proper' way to eat them. But as Jake smiled recounting, she imagined a young Jake and Ali, running around with the neighborhood kids, change in their pockets, colorful frozen treats in their hands, giant smiles on their faces, and she thought it was how childhood should be. Filled with community and sugar. "The wealthy believe eating anything off of a stick is very unbecoming. We had sorbet, sorbetto and gelato. Although, I did have, what I think is called, shaved ice in Hawaii once when I was young." She knew it wasn't the same thing, but it was as close as she could get. Even her grandmother hadn't made anything bebop like for her. As Jake spoke about his brother, she hadn't been surprised until he mentioned that Puck built his house. That was impressive and somehow felt like it said a lot about the man. While it wasn't often she felt, intimidated, she could tell how much his siblings meant to Jake and she just wanted to make a good impression. While she wouldn't be gifting a six pack of CVS beer, she would keep in mind that a three thousand dollar bottle of bourbon was probably a bit too much. Her thoughts of putting together a 'bourbon basket' were interrupted by him answering her question and when she was about to mention the sugar content he hit her with a 'baby girl' and she had always rolled her eyes when anyone had called her that in the past. But ever since the first time her ex had called her that she would just smile as her heartbeat felt like it was fluttering.  "Okay bougie on a budget for your brother and Dr. Pepper for you." For a moment she wondered if they had met as teens, maybe gone to the same middle or high school if he would have liked her. Or if she would have liked him, she bet he was womanizeer back then. As the tone shifted to something more serious, she sipped on her drink after the toast. His words, while not revolutionary, hit like they were and that truth settled in her chest, heavy. He made it sound so simple, like she could just choose herself and not have to explain it to anyone. But she supposed that's what true freedom was. Choosing yourself, even when no one else gets it. Slightly surprised by his sudden closeness, she let him turn her barstool to face him and didn't flinch or move away when she felt his hand cradled her cheek. Instead, she just looked at him as he spoke. And with each word any doubt or anxiety she had about them just melted away. As he kissed her cheek, she sighed in contentment and knew he was her person. Then he just had to keep talking and now she didn't have any idea what to say to that. So she stood up, finished her drink and processed the implication of marriage he just proposed. "You know it's pretty bold of you to talk about marriage on a first date. I'm not made at it though. I might need to workshop Brown-Puckerman, it's not my favorite." She teased, smiling, her hand grabbing his. "So are you ready to be a gentleman and let me win laser tag?"

JAKE PUCKERMAN

Jake was sure that his jaw dropped and his brows remained knitted together as Bree explained what uptight rich people had instead of popsicles, which all sounded weird and disgusting. Well, aside from the shaved ice, but of course she'd only have it in Hawaii. "I don't know what the difference is in what all you just said, but now that we're apparently doing the date thing, I'm gonna introduce you to everything the non-wealthy experience and love." He promised, and he truly would, since he wouldn't mind revisiting a ton of stuff he loved as a kid/teen, and he'd get to share them with Bree, Puck, and Maya, so it was a win win. He nodded when he seemed to have talked her off the high end liquor ledge, thankfully, and he was just glad he wouldn't have to keep pushing it. This wasn't going to be some fancy barbecue, it was simply going to just be a small family thing, and that didn't require anything super expensive. For a first official date, one could have assumed that they were getting far too deep with the conversation, but they were past the early stages either way so this was just...backtracking and getting to know one another the way they should have done before. As Bree finally seemed to stop fighting him on the bullshit he spewed, Jake couldn't help but smile in satisfaction. Normally, she would have quickly shot down his marriage proclamation, or reminded him that they weren't even together right now because of his actions, so it seemed like a slight step in the right direction now. He rolled his eyes playfully at her words, but let her take his hand anyway. "You can always keep Bree Brown professionally, and just be Bree Puckerman at home." He offered before he started to lead the way over to laser tag. "You don't even know how to play, and we won't be the only ones in there, so how am I gonna help you?" Jake teased as they headed in. Luckily there were some other adults waiting and not any kids, so he pulled his ex over to where the remaining vests were. "I could tell you how to play, but there's a video that's gonna play to describe it." He insisted as she dropped his hand from Bree's to grab one of the vests, going to put it around her. "There's no teams in here. Everybody gets their own points based on how many people they shoot, so you're just gonna have to either find a good spot to hide and shoot from, or be quick as you run around and shoot." He laughed, grabbing his own vest and getting it on just as the demonstration video started. He took care of entering their names in, choosing to go with their initials (the future married ones, of course) as he made sure they were good to go. The video only lasted for a little over a minute, and then he was facing Bree again. "You got all that, or do I need to literally tell you how you should play?"

BREE BROWN

Bree couldn't hold back a bright laugh at Jake's facial reaction to her snooty ice cream adjacent desserts. Truthfully, even she wasn't sure what the difference between sorbet and sorbetto was. "I think one of them is dairy and the other two aren't or two of them are dairy and one isn't. Honestly, I'm not sure, my favorite was the shaved ice." She smiled. "I'm very curious to see what you grew up loving and I promise to be open minded, although I have to draw the line at cheese in a can." Dairy wasn't exactly on her list of approved foods, and while she could probably handle a pizza or a burger, there was no way her digestive system was equipped to handle cheese whiz. At his surname suggestion, she actually found herself thinking about it as they made their way to the laser tag area. Bree Puckerman did have a nice ring to it. Listening to him explain the concept of this game, because he was right. She had looked up a couple of videos but she had no idea what she was doing, so she found herself listening very intently to him. She let him lead her to the vests, her body brushing slightly against his as he helped her into one of the vests. Something about the casual intimacy of the moment, caught her off guard but in a good way. It was the first time she'd ever experienced non sexual itimacy in a romanic dynamic. While she could appreciate that, where Jake was concerned, that was almost entirely her own fault, she had just realized, even outside of Jake, long before Jake even, intimacy was a sexual thing exclusively. Making her think that's just the way it was but she found herself glad to be proven wrong. Once her vest was on, and he kept talking she wasn't overwhelmed or feeling the need to perform. All she wanted was to not come in last and maybe shoot Jake one time. Normally, she'd feel the need to win even if it is a game she has never played before. But as her ex gave her a couple of strategies with a laugh, all she could do was smile and give him a quick, "Got it." As the demonstration video started, her eyes were glued to the screen, determined to get as much information as she could. She'd have complained about the short length of the video if it hadn't been for her catching the nicknames he'd punched in for them. JP and BP.  And while a month ago that would have had her spiraling, now it just felt reassuring. He really liked her, enough to allude to marriage pretty casually. His voice brought her back and she looked from the screen back to Jake. "No, no, I'm a genius and a fast learner. I plan on giving you a run for your money in there." She said playfully. Soon, they were being led into a dark blacklit room. "Here I thought you might glow in the dark." She teased as the announcer to them they has 30 seconds and everyone else scattered. "Good luck, Puckerman." She said as she went to find a good hiding place.

JAKE PUCKERMAN

Jake wasn't surprised that Bree hardly knew the difference in whatever bougie food food she'd been given, but it didn't sound good either way so he'd be passing on that in favor for what he knew. But that the mention of cheese in a can, he frowned. "Like that old easy cheese stuff? That's white people shit — and even Tatum ain't that white, so her kids definitely aren't either." He knew exactly what she was referring to, but he had never tried that shit because it just screamed weird, so he wouldn't be introducing her to that. He just couldn't say the same for what Maya might introduce her to, since he had no idea how to keep up with the trends of these kids now and he couldn't be blamed if that was something they were currently digging. While getting her into the vest and giving out instructions, he hadn't exactly been thinking about it being a romantic moment of intimacy, or even any sort of intimacy at all — he only saw this as being something he hadn't expected to be doing with his ex. He hadn't even imagined that she'd be up for something like this, and he was just busy living in the moment, which was still foreign when it came to them, but he was already ecstatic about it. Once they were let in, he watched the others scramble, noting where some of them were headed before she smirked down at Bree. He could have let her know about the vests glowing once the game started, but she'd figure it out on her own. "You too, Mrs. Puckerman." He teased as he watched her take off. Now Jake, he had played this game too many times, and he wasn't a punk so he wasn't hiding. Instead, he stood right in the middle of the two-story playing field, his gun in position and ready as the timer kept ticking. Given that Bree was probably the least experienced one in here, he was going to help reduce some points for the other players. As soon as the timer ran out, he didn't even move, letting the others start fleeing before he started lighting them up one by one. Luckily he was in the perfect place with obstructions on either side of him, so he alternated between ducking and shooting his lasers as the others tried (and failed) to outdo him. Inching towards Bree, he didn't even aim at her when he could make out her form in the dark lights. "You want my help earning some points?" He questioned, keeping an eye out and shooting at someone trying to sneak up on them before realizing her needed a recharge. "You can hide behind me and do the shooting so I'll get hit instead of you. Well, you'll have to watch your back, but I dan cover your front."

BREE BROWN

Glad to know that cheese in a can was weird, even to Jake, Bree did have a particular palette. Or she always thought she did, but truthfully she just never ate at places that were less than $150 a plate. But then again that was kind of true for her life as a whole. If it wasn't expensive and on trend she just wasn't exposed to it and if she did happen upon it, before she could even form a sense of curiosity about it, someone had been there to tell her it wasn't good enough for her. And she just never really questioned it, instead she'd turn her nose up at it and look down on it. It wasn't her best quality, but now she was in a dark room, wearing a vest thousands of people had probably worn before her, crouched down in a little nook waiting for a timer to countdown so she could shoot other adults with a laser gun. So, it seems safe to say, she's working on it. As the timer finished, she was surprised to see her vest light up and her lasers make a sound like they were starting up. Immediately someone shot her and she realized she wasn't covered on all sides. The vest lit up red for a second and then went dark. It gave her enough time to move before her vest and guns lit back up and this time she was able to shoot a couple of people. It was actually a lot of fun and way more active than she was originally anticipating. She had been in the zone when she heard a voice she didn't yet recognize and she jumped just a little and without thinking shot one of her laser's at him. "Oh my God!" she whisper yelled as she realized who it was. As he shot someone else, she was already using him as a shield as he was suggesting it. To be fair, he was clearly good at this okay, and she could use all the help she could get. But there was something very sweet about him being willing to lose points just so she could get a few. Looking up at him, she smiled, "That's very sweet of you, but I've got this. I've only been hit like, six times and I've definitely gotten more than six hits on everyone else." She said. This game had a learning curve, and she was in the middle of it and at her core she was a student who loved to learn. Seeing someone round the corner she shot them before they could shoot Jake, "But we do seem to make a good team so why don't we watch each other's backs and take home the gold and silver?" She put her hand out for him to shake, to seal their alliance.

JAKE PUCKERMAN

Jake still couldn't believe that Bree had agreed to this, or that she seemed to be playing, and learning the ropes, but he was sure that this might have been the first time he'd ever actually seen her just let go of everything else and have fun. Real fun. He couldn't even be mad at her shooting at him, since he wasn't that invested in winning anyway, not now that Bree seemed to be enjoying it, and even in the dark he found this to be the cutest she'd ever been. She hadn't even complained once about wearing a vest that countless people had worn, holding a laser many people had touched, and even breathing the same air as people who probably didn't wash their hands and probably weren't vaccinated. He would have never thought to even ask her to come to anything like this if she hadn't planned it herself, so there was that. At her suggestion, Jake just shook his head as he felt the small hand being held out to him. Tapping her hand with his laser, Jake leaned in and kissed Bree's lips softly. "Deal. Now let's go, James Bond." He teased before spinning back around, and he instantly caught sight of someone else's laser and immediately shot at them. "I've got our front, you take the back." He stated before he slowly started moving forward again, already knowing the best places to hide and duck between to make sure they were gonna win this. Apparently their opponents figured out they were teaming up now and before he knew it, he could see vests and lasers everywhere so he just went back to shooting every vest he could. "Let's go, babe!" He beamed, firing another shot off as they kept moving. The only thing he hated about laser tag was how hard it was to tell who was winning, yet he just kept leading Bree around the playing field and firing at everyone he could until the final buzzer went off and the lights came back on. "If we lost, I'm fighting." He joked, taking Bree's hand and leading her back out, and he immediately went to check the scoreboard. "Just so we're clear, I didn't let you win." Jake pointed out, motioning to the BP in first place, and the JP right below it with one less point. "You technically won that one fair and square, but because I'm a gentleman, I'll accept it. This time. Next time we play, you're on your own, Mrs. Puckerman." Shrugging, Jake took Bree's gun and vest off first before doing the same with his own, returning them back to their rightful places before he faced Bree again. "As the winner, do you want to pick what we do next? Or do you want me to just decide because if you do, cosmic bowling would be my choice."

BREE BROWN

Slightly surprised by the kiss, she was still quick to return it, on instinct. An affectionate smile spreading across her face as he agreed with a little teasing. Listening to his instructions, she let him handle the front and she made sure to cover their back. Moving with him, pointing her laser at the flash of a vest in the distance and within in a few minutes it was obvious everyone else caught on to their alliance. Sudddenly everyone was on them and where she would normally have been stressed or even annoyed at the pressure to perform, she heard Jake's encouragement and his general energy and it influenced her own mood. It might sound dramatic but this might be the most fun she's ever had. More than that it might be the first time she actually had real true and genuine fun at all. Firing off shots and moving in tandem with Jake through the course, she had no idea what the score was and she found she didn't even care. Through the sweat, the mini workout and the quick on your feet thinking required to move like they were, she really had no doubt they were coming out on top and she found herself randomly smiling. When the game ended and the lights came back up, she didn't take her phone out to fix her hair or blot her face, instead she just laughed as her ex threatened to fight and let him lead her out of the room. Looking at the score she did a little victory dance as Jake made it clear he didn't let her win, which she didn't need him to tell her. She was killing it in there, literally. "I know you didn't let me win. I'm just a laser tag prodigy." She said flipping her ponytail and dusting off her shoulders. With a exhale she let him take her gear off before accepting a couple of, 'good game's, from people. As he was taking his own gear off, she did smooth her shirt out a bit. "Although, I will admit, you definitely helped me achieve greatness so we can do cosmic bowling next. However, I've only bowled once and it was more of a photo op for one of my mom's charity's then a fun family outing, so you might have to show me how exactly to get the weighted ball down the lane without bumpers and the ramp thing." It was her long winded way of admitting she'd never actually throw a bowling ball. Which, she is now realizing, is yet another staple activity she wasn't exposed to. It was becoming very clear to her that she might be well travelled but she is not as knowledgeable as she originally thought.

JAKE PUCKERMAN

Jake rolled his eyes playfully as Bree insisted that she was some sort of prodigy, because of course she'd say that. "You're a quick learner, and you had a bodyguard. Let's not go overboard, babe." He teased, and they both knew that if he hadn't sacrificed himself, he would have been in first place. Smiling and nodding at the praise, he was sure he saw one of the ladies snap a photo of them, which only meant one thing: she was a fan, and their date night was about to plastered all over social media. Great. The fake dates were fine, since Eva usually catered them to be publicity stunts so people could gawk over them, but he didn't want their first real date to be interrupted by annoying ass fans. Focusing back on his ex when she agreed to bowling, while also informing him that she clearly didn't know how to bowl, it was actually the perfect cover. "Baby girl, you know you don't have to take the long route every single time you need to explain that your bougie ass family didn't do anything fun, right? Just flat out lead with it." Jake winked before taking Bree's hand and making a beeline for the shoe rental. Given that he at least knew her shoe size, Jake told the attendant their sizes and then grabbed the shoes with his free hand, got them a lane, and then tugged his ex to the cosmic bowling area. If Bree didn't understand it before, she sure as hell could see why it was called such now, and why some people would prefer it over regular bowling. he led them all the way to their lane before finally freeing Bree's hand as he flopped down onto the seating. "I know the idea of wearing shoes other people wear probably grosses you out, but we can throw your socks away afterwards." He teased as he kicked his sneakers off and slipped the hideous bowling shoes on. "Now, get yours on while I find a ball for your small hands." Jake teased, hopping up to go over to the nearest rack. He tested his own fingers into two to pick out the right one, and then just guestimated which ball would work for Bree's hands and carried them over. "Test this one." He stated once he'd loaded them into the ball guard thingy. "The pink one, obviously. If it doesn't fit, we'll go up a size, but I think this one might be right." Or so he hoped, anyway, but for now, he grabbed the tablet and started to enter their names into the game. "And while you do that, you can tell me what other hobbies you have besides the social media stuff, and being a math nerd." He teased.

BREE BROWN

"I will keep that in mind." She said playfully. Again, she let Jake lead the way, this time to a surprisingly brightly colored counter where the shoes apparently lived. Arguably the ugliest shoes she had ever seen and on top of that, they're used and the vest was one thing but shoes?! This was truly going to be a test of her commitment to just have fun and not think too much. According to her therapist, not everything has to be perfect to be worth it. So, as her ex led her to, what she assumed, was their lane, she was actually kind of mesmerized by the neon lights and the music and the general vibe of cosmic bowling. Sitting down next to Jake, she was glad he knew her well enough to know she was absolutely struggling with the idea of putting these ugly used shoes on her feet. She was even more glad at his suggestion to simply throw her socks away after this. Nodding in agreement, she laughed at his comment as he walked away. After a few moments she had the shoes on and truthfully, she was pretty proud of herself for doing it with zero verbal complaints. Surely that was growth. As she saw Jake returning with a couple of shiny balls in his hands, she stood up and had to admit, she did like that it was pink. Looking around she got the gist of how to test it out. Picking it up, it felt like a good weight for her and while normally she would have scoffed at putting her perfectly manicured nails anywhere near a bowling ball, she did it anyway. I mean, she's come this far, she can't give up now. So she stuck her fingers in the mysterious holes and then held it up to her chest like she saw other people doing around them. It felt comfortable considering. "I was a cheerleader, nationally ranked, although I guess that's not a hobby." She had to think for a second, putting her ball back on the ball holder situation. "I like to dance, I enjoy reading, especially filthy romance novels and horseback riding." Truthfully, there was a massive list of things she wanted to try. "But the list of things I want to see if I'm into is much longer. I've bever been on a roller coaster, and I want to swim with dolphins and learn how to drive." Looking over his shoulder at the tablet she saw their names, and she looked up at the screen above their lane to see their names there too. "What about you? Besides football and video games what are you into?" She asked, genuinely curious.

JAKE PUCKERMAN

Watching Bree test the ball out, and without complaining, Jake was sure that this was the longest they had ever gone in a public place without even one line of sass or repugnance, and he was sure that this was the version of his ex he was used to — just outside of the bedroom. He was sure that he'd been yearning for this exact thing since he'd met her, and although it was long overdue, he was just grateful that it was finally happening. As Bree posed with the ball and started answering his question, he found one of his brows piquing as he processed this new information. He knew about the cheerleading thing, since it tied into that weird ass family he couldn't stand, but the rest? He would have guessed the dancing thing since it seemed like it went hand in hand with the cheerleading thing, but the others were somehow oddly specific and not anything he would have expected Bree to be into. "When you say 'filthy romance novels' are you talking about something like 50 Shades or whatever? Or those books that have like those cheesy beefed up male models on the cover?" Jake didn't think he'd ever touched a book that wasn't for school so he didn't know much about that sort of stuff, but he'd seen those cheese books in Wal-Mart and recalled some kids in class arguing about the 50 Shades ordeal before. Definitely not anything he wanted to deep dive into himself, but he wanted to know what Bree liked, he supposed. "You know you're rich enough to start making your way down that list, right? But if you want, we can take a friends and family trip to Disney sometime soon and knock the rollercoaster thing off. I can also teach you how to drive." He offered, at least so she couldn't say that he didn't, and he would follow through if that's what she wanted. As she flipped his question on him, Jake picked up her bowling ball again. "I like playing all sports, or even trying new ones. I like to get new tattoos just because. I love going to the gym, obviously, but I also kind of like the different classes I've heard about since coming to LA. Puppy and goat yoga or whatever might be my new favorite way to exercise." He chuckled. "I've also been trying water activities lately. I like to fuck around with my sister's music stuff sometimes when I want to annoy her. And, most importantly, I like being a taste tester for people when they cook or bake something." maybe that wasn't a hobby but close enough, Jake decided as he started walking towards the lane. "Come here. I'll teach you how to bowl." He stated, holding his free hand out to Bree.

BREE BROWN

Laughing at Jake's question, she nodded. "Exactly like 50 Shades of Grey. I have a rather extensive collection, even a few limited edition releases. I would say it's a guilty pleasure but I feel no guilt." She shrugged. At least she didn't anymore, if it's something she enjoys and it's not hurting other or herself what was there to feel guilty about? She also couldn't help but smile, because he didn't say 'ew' or look at her like she was a weirdo for liking her spicy stories. Not that she expected him to, per se, but a part of her was wondering if they could actually get through an entire night without a single argument. While this would have been a dumb topic to fight over, they had absolutely fought over equally as dumb topics, so she couldn't put it past them. At the mention of a friends and family trip, her smile only grew and she had to bite the inside of her cheek to stop. "A friends and family trip could be fun, especially if we charter a private jet, because we have to go to the one in Orlando, it's the better one, so Ive been told. Maybe Eva or even my brother's would want to join." She said more to herself, her mind already planning. "As for you teaching me how to drive-" She paused. "You are a good driver, learning from you seems like a good idea." Turthfully, she was just happy he offered because she did actually want him to teach her. Even if it did end up being a bad idea, she still wanted to try and see how it goes. "I would appreciate you teaching me." She admitted, her smile returning. Listening as he answered, she was glad to know that, for the most part, nothing shocked her, his hobbie's and interests made sense for him. Except she had to admit, the yoga and the potential musical ability did surprise her. Although, she supposed it shouldn't, given who his father was. "I did not think you would be a yoga guy. And when you say you mess around with your sister's music stuff, does that mean you sing? or play an instrument? or create beats?" Honestly, Jake really didn't need to be musical, he had more than enough going for him to make him attractive and talented, the idea that he could also sing or play an instrument was just too much. "And water activities, like sailing or crew?" Saying it out loud even she could hear how bougie that sounded. The last one felt like less of a hobby and more like common sense. She's never quite understood why people think she should learn how to cook when there are people who have dedicated their lives to cooking for others. Surely it makes more sense to pay a professional for that. Placing her hand in his, she followed him out onto the lane, the shoes surprisingly forgotten and a smile on her face. "Yes, please do, because I feel as though using bumpers at 26 is slightly embarrassing." She said with a laugh.

JAKE PUCKERMAN

Jake decided to make a note about her little books, since he'd have to look into it the next time he was at her place and then they could circle back to it, but at least he knew about that now. And maybe he hadn't expected her to be so open to a friends and family trip right away, but when she jumped right on board, he nodded and decided that was a good way to keep merging their lives together. After all, she was going to be his wife one day, so why not? "I still don't get the difference between the Disneys, but I've never been to either one so I guess it doesn't matter. But sure, yeah, we can see who all wants to join." Registering the way she paused on the driving thing, he let it go once she relented and decided that she did want him to teach her. "Just let me know when you're ready, and I've got you." One of the perks of growing up in Alabama had been learning how to drive even before he was 16, so Jake was relatively positive that he could have her driving in no time. When Bree questioned his response about his interests, he found himself laughing at her rambling, which was pretty cute. "I didn't think I'd be into yoga either, but it's not bad. As for the music stuff, I can play the guitar a little bit, but singing or creating beats? Not at all. I'm not tryna be a mini Gabe or nothing though." He clarified. "What the hell is crew? I just meant that I've tried surfing, paddle boarding, kayaking, and that water skiing thing. The white guys on the team are into anything involving the water, so I've even gotten a taste of partying on a yacht and it's not so bad." He never thought he'd be saying that, but things changed when you lived in LA and had money now. As his ex took his hand and they reached the line, he smiled at her comment as he positioned her in front of him. "You know things are only embarrassing if you take it that way, right?" He questioned, though he knew Bree wouldn't agree. Taking one of Bree's hands, Jake put her fingers into the ball as he passed it over. "I'll help guide you, but all you've gotta do is bring it back, then swing it forward and let go of the ball. Make sure you swing it back forward with just enough power, and try to aim straight for the middle pin." Jake explained as he moved both of his hands to Bree's waist, holding her body against his own as his other hand gently gripped her elbow. "I'm ready when you are."

BREE BROWN

It maybe seemed silly, but it was rare for Bree to take a trip she actually enjoyed. Not because she didn't visit beautiful places but usually everything was so planned and specific, down to what she wore, who she was with and where she was seen. It was like clocking into work and stepping out of line or taking the smallest of risks was just never worth it. Much like this date, it would likely be the first trip that wasn't an elaborate photo op. And she found she was more than happy that Jake would be with her, because if nothing else, she knew he would help balance her out. Just like he was tonight. "Then maybe we can go to Disneyland at a later date and see the differences first hand." She tried to sound at least somewhat casual, but she knew it meant something that she was actually comfortable making future plans with him. It seemed she had finally accepted that she wanted her ex to be a part of her future. A somewhat scary thought, but in this moment, it didn't feel it. Nodding at him confirming he'd be her driving instructor and then listening as he clarified mostly his music ability and she now was imagining him sitting somewhere, guitar in hand just messing around and it was such a warm visual, she hoped she'd get to see it in reality one day. At the mention of Crew, she sometimes forgot certain sports only existed in certain tax brackets. "It's rowing, usually teams of four or eight compete at regattas." That was the short of it because she was sure he didn't want to know the ins and outs of Crew. "I went paddleboarding once. I learned very quickly that I should have prioritized learning how to swim first, but I have since learned how to swim and I'm not half bad according to my instructor." She said proudly. She kept in mind the idea of a yacht party, that seemed like something they could definitely have fun with, might make a good birthday celebration. Plus her family rarely found much use for either of their yachts. As he moved her into position, she had to disagree with his sentiment and as she was about to say just that, his hand was on hers, guiding her fingers where they needed to go. She listening intently as he explained the position and movement to get this ball down the lane. The feel of his hands on her waist and his body pressed against her back, she took in a deep breath, focusing on the task at hand. Nodding to indicate she was ready, she swung her arm back then forward, letting go of the ball and aiming right down the middle like she was instructed. It didn't knock down every pin but a few went down and she was excited. Jumping and letting out a little yelp, she turned around and looked up at Jake with a smile. When she saw her ball pop up out of the corner of her eye, she left her ex's side to grab her ball. "Okay, move, I'm doing this one alone." She said, focused but she did blow him a little kiss as she walked back up to the lane.

JAKE PUCKERMAN

"So two Disney trips, just to judge the separate parks? I'm in." Jake nodded, deciding that he wasn't going to question it much since she'd change her mind if he did. They were planning future things to do together, and without Eva scheduling it for them, so apparently tonight was full of progress, which was a pretty good thing, as far as he was concerned. As she tried to explain rowing, he realized that some things weren’t even basic terms, considering that he didn’t have a clue what the hell a regatta was. “Yeah, I’ll leave the crew or whatever to you bougie rich people. Just playing around with the other stuff is more my lane.” He nodded. “If you want, you can come to the beach with me and the guys next time we go. I’m not really good at paddle boarding, but it’s the attempting it part that’s fun.” Or that was how Jake saw it, anyway. Maybe Bree would feel the same way if she tried it away from the cameras and whatnot, so it was worth offering. As she let him guide her into rolling her first ball, he tried not to focus too much on the fact that Bree was allowing him to hold her, to be somewhat intimate in helping her bowl, and even he was a little surprised that she managed to knock down a few of the pins. He smiled at her excitement over it, figuring he might as well let her have this achievement without making any jokes. “That was good, babe.” He teased as she gave her a little clap of appreciation. “You just needed someone to show you how it was done.” Shrugging as she went for her ball and opted to do it herself, this time, Jake nodded as he stepped out of her way. “Now that you can handle it, you’re on your own this time, and I’m not going easy on you. So how about we order some wings or something, get another drink, and see who can get the higher score?” He suggested with a smirk. “And if you’re not scared, we can even make it interesting and turn this into a bet. Whoever gets the higher score gets…whatever they want from the other?”

BREE BROWN

Nodding, because of course that was exactly what she was suggesting and she was glad he wasn't going to fight her on it. It also gave her a warm feeling she wasn't exactly accustomed to but she thinks it might be what genuine happiness feels like. The feeling only grew as Jake invited her to join him the next time him and his team go to the beach. That felt like a step in the right direction. I mean, she hadn't exactly officially met his team yet. They'd been around a couple times when they went out but that had been scheduled appearances and was more like work than anything else, and they'd been there that night at the club, but obviously he wasn't introducing her to them. It really shouldn't feel like this big of a deal but she wanted his friends to like her, just like he wanted his family to like her. She just needed to not put too much pressure on herself to be what she thinks they'll want her to be. "I do like the beach and it would be nice to meet some of the guys on the team." She said like she was just now considering this. With her first official bowling throw under her belt and some praise for Jake she was primed to overestimate her bowling abilities. Which is 100% the reason she agreed to a bet with her whole chest, because she truly believed she had a shot at victory with her measley four pins. Putting her ball down for a second she shook her ex's hand. "Scared? I'm a natural." She said confidently. "You've got yourself a deal." She said with a smile, before letting his hand go and picking her ball back up to bowl, hitting another three pins, which she was incredibly proud of until it was Jake's turn, and let's just say immediately she was humbled and by the time they were half way through she had accepted defeat and was just looking to break 100, which she did not achieve but she did manage one spare and she argued that despite what the screen said, she she have gotten at least 35 points for that. Even though she was, arguable, not good at all at bowling, she was having a good time, smiling and laughing and cheering Jake on like they weren't suppose to be competing. I mean, she tried to watch what he did to learn but she found herself getting distracted by how hot he looked with his focused face and bowling stance. Not something she had anticipated but when the game was officially over, she figured to had to try and squeeze a win out. So she walked up to her date, and put her arms around his neck and gave him her best pleading eyes. "How about we go with golf scoring and the lowest number wins?" She asked batting her eyelashes, knowing damn well there was no way he'd go for it.

[mattsweethrt]

pleaseeee do a fic with slow morning sex with chris

「 morning sex ᵎᵎ 」

smut, p in v, unprotected sex, cursing, pet names

you softly stirred awake at the soft sounds of birds chirping outside, early morning sunshine dancing across you and your boyfriends shared bed. you glanced to your nightstand, your alarm clock reading a little after seven am. sighing heavily, you nuzzled into chris’ embrace, trying to let sleep overtake you once more.

at your movements, chris hummed softly, his arms wrapping around you while he buried his face into your hair. “morning sweetheart,” he whispered softly, planting kisses on your scalp, “you sleep okay?”

you nodded, your face in his chest as you inhaled his scent. “i missed you,” you mumbled quietly.

he laughed, his voice still laced with sleep. he continued to press feather light kisses to your head, trailing down across your forehead and to your cheek. “y’missed me? i was with you all night.”

you giggled as his lips and messy hair tickled your skin. “doesn’t matter, still missed you.”

he pulled away for a moment, admiring your sleepy state. he leaned in, placing a soft kiss to your mouth, his lips slotting between yours. he hummed lowly before pulling back. “i missed you too.”

a grin spread across your lips, leaning back in to press your lips to his again. chris let out a low groan, arms snaking down around your waist as he pulled you closer, repositioning himself to be on top of you.

the kisses began to grow more heated and sloppy, chris’ tongue slipping into your mouth as you let out a sigh.

“i know, baby, i know,” chris murmured, his lips puffy and red. his hands slipped down between your bodies, pulling your panties down, his fingers dipping into your wetness. “i got you, just relax, okay?”

you nodded, chris freeing himself from his plaid pj pants. his cock sprung up, already oozing with precum.

“someone’s excited,” you joked quietly as chris began to stroke himself, lining up with your entrance.

“jus’ missed my girl is all,” he replied with a lopsided grin as he slowly pushed himself in. your walls squeezed around his length, the both of you moaning lowly at the feeling.

he buried his face in the crook of your neck, placing sloppy kisses to your exposed collarbone while he bottomed out. “fuckk baby, you’re so tight f’me.”

your arms were around his neck in an instant, holding him close to you as your fingers threaded through his brown curls.

chris slowly began to move in and out, his hips moving against yours in a rhythmic pattern. with every thrust, your pussy clenched around him as it dripped with your arousal. the feeling was euphoric, chris’ dick deep inside you as his mouth moved against your skin, whispering soft praises into it.

“you’re so beautiful,” he murmured as his lips found yours, “could spend all day in bed with you.”

he continued his motions and praises, talking you through your orgasm at it crashed down over you. he wasn’t too far behind, giving a few more thrusts before coming deep inside of you, collapsing onto your chest.

he whined softly as he pulled out, a mix of both of your cum dripping out onto the sheets beneath you.

“i’ll make you a deal,” he said softly, “you clean the sheets and i’ll cook breakfast?”

“you’re gonna burn whatever you make,” you giggled, playfully pushing his arm as he hovered above you.

he leaned down, grinning while pressing a kiss to the corner of your mouth. “that’s a yes then?”

bree’s corner ⸝⸝⸝ sorry if the ending was rushed i forgot to finish this when i started it yesterday and wanted to post tonight ! i need lazy sex with him so bad it’s not even funny

[little-peril-stories]

The Prince of Thieves: As Good as Gold, and Better: Part II

Contains: annoying children; annoying men; social pressure to kiss under the mistletoe

Previous | TPOT Masterlist | Next | Read on Ao3 instead

Word count: 4000 || Approx reading time: 17 mins

Easier to understand if you've read Are You Nobody, Too?

As Good as Gold, and Better: Part II

Teaser: I can feel a gaze burning into my back, but when I turn, Henry is distracted, talking to one of his idiot friends. Sure I’m going to find Colette watching me from over her book, I glance to the corner. It’s not a stare of deep, coffee-coloured brown that’s on me, though, but a hazel-eyed one instead.

Bree

The deal is thus: one more round of preparatory Christmas baking to keep our patrons well-fed and smiling on Christmas Day, and then I am permitted to join the hullabaloo out on the floor, where everyone is busy decorating the tree Will, Jamie, Geoff, and Allan brought inside. (Well, if the way they barrelled through the door is to be believed, the former three did the hauling of the actual tree, and Allan was the one who ended up carrying all their stuff, including Will’s coat that he oh-so-wisely doffed despite the cold wind and the snow.)

I make it out of the kitchen to see Stella loudly warning the children staying at the inn that no one is to put any candles on the tree branches, and just because the fancy trees owned by rich families and royalty bear gleaming, brightly lit flames does not mean that she has to do the same. How would we all like it, she barks, if the entire inn caught fire and we were all thrown out in the snow for our own safety in the dead of night?

Even Celeste doesn’t try to stem Stella’s tirade; none of us, as it turns out, wants to burn to death on Christmas Eve, and no one puts up a fight on the matter.

“Ah, here’s Lucy now,” Celeste says, waving me over. “These lovely little lads and lasses are going to make us some beautiful ornaments to hang upon the tree. Isn’t that right, children?” She points to the table, now strewn with all the coloured paper, scissors, needles and thread, and other decorating paraphernalia.

An excitable chorus of agreement swells around us, making me smile until Celeste finishes, “And Miss Lucy’s here to keep an eye on you and help you, all right?”

Across the room, Victoria, who’s obviously listening, presses her hand to her mouth in genuine pity as mine drops open.

“How wonderful,” I manage to say. The first barrage of little hands is already tugging at my skirt.

Celeste smiles sympathetically—not quite sympathetically enough to take over the task herself, though, of course. I suppose someone does need to ensure things are running smoothly around the inn and she is perhaps a bit old to be minding little ones…but still.

“I’ll be around if you need me,” she says, which does not offer me much comfort. “Don’t let the really young ones touch the scissors or the needles.”

“You’re responsible for wiping their tears and cleaning up the blood if you do,” Stella says, whizzing past with a broom and disappearing again.

Great.

As I’m about to let myself fall into self-pity looking at the crowd of children—every single one vying for my attention—and wonder where all their parents are, I notice that a blue-eyed gaze is watching me from across the room.

“What?” I mouth impatiently. I don’t have time for Henry’s nonsense on a good day—certainly not when I’m going to spend the next two hours stringing dried apples and popcorn into garlands, or folding paper into stars and flowers while being shrieked at by a horde of children.

Instead of trying to answer through all the chaos, he just holds something up into the air.

Oh, he’s lucky I’m not anywhere close to him right now, because I am holding a very sharp pair of scissors and he ought to be very, very grateful I can’t drive them right into his hand.

Dangling from his hand: a bouquet of greenery tied in a red ribbon. Soft green leaves, thin stalks, and brilliant, round berries as white as the snow that coats the ground outside.

“Absolutely not,” I shout across the room, forgetting myself, and he flashes me that asshole grin of his. “Get it out of here!”

Colette, who is pretending to read Dickens while she coolly observes the pandemonium from the corner where she’s sitting with the others, notices me yelling and follows my gaze to Henry Bailey and his goddamn sprigs of mistletoe. Her eyebrows move upwards.

Unfortunately, the bombardment of, “Miss Lucy! Miss Lucy!” grows to be too much then, and now I have to actually be grateful to be surrounded by all the little Christmas goblins who need to me to do everything for them, because as long as I’m being climbed on by five-year-olds, Henry can’t get anywhere near me with his stupid plant or his stupid mouth.

“All right,” I say, clapping my hands in a weak attempt to look like I know how to command the attention of children. “Shall we begin?”

I can feel a gaze burning into my back, but when I turn, Henry is distracted, talking to one of his idiot friends. Sure I’m going to find Colette watching me from over her book, I glance to the corner. It’s not a stare of deep, coffee-coloured brown that’s on me, though, but a hazel-eyed one instead.

 One kid ends up on the floor and makes me yelp when she crawls right under my skirt, between my legs, all rosy-cheeked and giggling.

“Right! No, thank you!” I tug her to her feet and catch Victoria leaning against the wall, giggling helplessly at my plight. She’s supposed to be untangling the existing garlands, I think, and she’s got part of one hanging over her shoulder, but apparently my suffering is an endless well of amusement. Maybe this was her duty last year, before I was hired, and she is sympathetic but relieved to be free of it. Maybe this is some sort of rite of passage I need to survive. Somehow.

I take the little girl by the hand and guide her to the table. “What about a star?” I ask her uncertainly. “Does that sound fun?”

She gives some sort of incoherent babbling in response and reaches for the coloured paper and a pencil. With her attention on that, I can move on to the next squealing child.

There are a few older kids, thank goodness, that I pass some of the duties to, getting them to cut paper snowflakes and stars for the younger ones while I thread needles and fold paper into roses. Well…try to.

“Hey. Let us help.”

It’s so loud in here, I almost miss it. Maybe I did miss the first few times they said it, because Colette just elbows her way in and sits down, directing Will to do the same on the other side of me.

“Let me fold,” she says, not-at-all-subtly biting back a laugh and taking my sorry attempt at paper foliage right out of my hands. “You do the other stuff.”

Well. If she wants to suffer through that, I’m not going to take the opportunity away from her. I’ll happily relinquish that responsibility.

“I can do this,” Will says, picking up one of the threaded needles. He must be able to read the question in my raised eyebrows, because he says, “Hey! It’s not that hard. And I can sew. Sort of. Now. Kind of.”

Next to me, Colette snorts.

“It’s not real sewing, anyway, though, is it?” He’s going a little red, but the look on his face is earnest.

I pluck the needle from his hand. “I think I have a better idea.”

I’ll take care of making the garlands with the “help” of some of the little ones. He can be the one to lift them up and stand them on chairs sturdily enough that they don’t fall and break their necks or knock over anything that might shatter while they add their decorations to the tree.

“Brave,” Colette murmurs once we’ve set him doing that, “but pretty smart.”

“Brave?” I repeat, wincing. How is this needle so dull? This is the eighth time I’ve accidentally stabbed myself trying to string popcorn.

She nods toward Will. “Well, smart to have him do that so you don’t have to do all the heavy lifting.”

She grins conspiratorially, and I can’t help but match it. “Was it that obvious?”

“No. I just know you’re clever. Like me.” She laughs. “And brave to trust him with—well, with anything.”

My answer slips out so fast, I’ve said it before I’ve even thought it through. The words just fall out. “Of course I trust him. I trust him with my—”

The needle bites into my finger again, and I stop, hissing and checking for blood.

Still smiling, she concentrates on her folding and twisting and doesn’t give an answer.

For a few minutes, anyway.

“And Goldilocks?” She nods across the room, and I peer out through the chaos, trying to find who she means. “You trust him?”

It takes me a moment to realize who she’s talking about: a grinning, loud-mouthed figure who’s got Stella’s glare on him as well as mine and Colette’s.

Goldilocks. She’s calling Henry Goldilocks. I almost fall off my chair, giggling and silently resolving to bring the name into our next practice session to see what he says.

“Oh, he’s harmless,” I tell her when I can speak again. “I mean, he’s shameless. A ridiculous flirt.”

“You don’t say,” she says drily.

I bite my lip. Sounds like he’s tried at least a little to get her attention, too, albeit unsuccessfully. “Yeah. He’s an idiot. But he knows it, at least. And he’s all right when you get to know him. Just…irritating.”

“Are you actually friends with him?” she asks, incredulous.

“I suppose so,” I say, thinking of a bruise I’ve got on my hip from our last morning session that I still need to pay him back for.

“So you trust him, too.”

Trust him? I must, considering all the times I’ve put my bodily well-being in his hands. “Well, I suppose I trust him enough.” I shoot a dirty look his way, though, at the reminder of what new instrument of annoyance he’s brought into the inn. “I wasn’t expecting the mistletoe, though.”

“Want me to set him straight for you?”

A funny thing happens deep behind my ribcage at her words. “No…no, I can handle him. I promise.” At this, I almost want to cry, although I expect it would look strange to see me weeping into a bowl of dried oranges and popcorn just because she offered to get Henry to lay off and quit bothering me. Because maybe Colette, even just a bit, sort of cares. “But I appreciate it. Really.”

“Just say the word,” she says, leaning over a paper carnation. “He looks like he’d be fun to smack around if he stepped out of line.”

“He is,” I joke back without thinking.

Colette’s head snaps back up.

“I mean…” Shit. “You know. Telling him to back off. And stuff.”

I don’t know why I’m keeping the lessons a secret from her. I’m pretty sure she knows how to fight. She probably wouldn’t think it strange. But I find my gaze pulled to another figure in the room, all freckles and flailing elbows and big grins, and I have to wonder what he’d think if she went and told him. Not that it matters, of course. It doesn’t. But still. I wonder. Just a little.

Colette gives me a look that says she knows very well what it looks like when people are keeping secrets, but she doesn’t press the matter.

After a cursory look at the little ones to make sure no one has a sharp tool who shouldn’t have one, and no one’s crying, fighting, or making more of a mess than expected, I put my attention back on Will. I didn’t really know what I was doing when I told him to help the children put their ornaments on the tree, but he’s doing a splendid job, so much that I almost want to let my hands fall still so I can keep watching him. He’s got this great silly smile on his face every time he kneels down to talk to one of them, and even though they’re so much smaller, none of them seem the slightest bit frightened. One of the little girls—of course, it’s the one with personal space issues, the one who crawled under my legs earlier—even leaps into his arms out of sheer excitement to put her messily drawn star as high upon the tree as she can reach.

As she stretches her arm and hangs it near the top, Will looks over here too, and I’m caught staring.

Stupidly, I wave at him, not sure what else to do since it’s too late to look away, and he grins, holding my gaze with those sparkling eyes for a few extra moments before he has to bring the girl back down to the ground.

“You all right?” Colette asks lightly, and I realize one of my hands has come to rest over my heart, which is pounding in a most unseemly and ridiculous way.

“Yes,” I say quickly, reaching for another slice of dried orange. “I’m just getting tired. It’s been a busy day.”

She gives me that look again.

“I didn’t know Will liked kids,” I say.

She glances over at him, a little smile on her lips. “Why wouldn’t he? He’s nothing but a big kid himself.”

And to be fair, he seems to be having the time of his life, bouncing around and making them “fly” a little when they ask for it and laughing at the same silly things they all find amusing. “I guess you’re right.”

“Of course I’m right,” she says, and she winks.

I don’t expect there will be any Christmas gifts under that tree for me tomorrow, but, even so, it sure feels like I’ve got something else, something that can’t be wrapped up in a box and ribbon. Something I didn’t have before.

And like mulled wine, warm and comforting and steeped in spices that taste like home, gratitude spills over me—for smiles and company and maybe, just maybe, newly forged friendship.

***

The other three have been hiding out in the corner for through most of the decorating, but when it comes time to crown the tree with the star, Stella takes one look around the room and lands a stare on Geoff. “You. Get over here.”

There’s only a split second of him staring back at her in surprise, and then, at the sound of Colette bursting into laughter, and at the unbudging resolution in Stella’s voice, he rises and crosses the room.

“Wow,” says one of the children, practically bug-eyed. “He’s tall.”

“I know,” Celeste says with a laugh. “That’s why we need him.”

The little girl from before, who seems to have finally found her harried-looking mother, bursts away and darts toward Geoff. “Can I do it? Please? Please? Please?”

Geoff stands helplessly, clearly not knowing what to do while she dances around him, pleading to be the one to put the star on the top of the tree. A glance at Will shows that he’s almost toppled to the floor, shaking with silent laughter, and another at Jamie shows that he has his arms crossed and is merely watching with a smile. He doesn’t notice me staring, but gives Geoff an encouraging nod.

“That okay?” Geoff asks the girl’s mother, voice low but uncertain, almost nervous.

She looks him up and down, obviously wary of his gruffness and his ridiculous height, but the daughter is clinging to his hands now, jumping up and down, and the mother has no choice but to say, “Well, all right then. If you’ll—um—if you’ll be careful.”

The girl squeals with delight as Celeste hands her the star and Geoff lifts her into the air, no step-ladder needed.

“Perfect,” Celeste says when the star is glinting atop the tree, and after Geoff has taken a moment to straighten it from the slightly drunken posture it was left in by the girl. Even Stella looks genuinely happy. She doesn’t bat Celeste’s hands away when they come to rest upon her—one on her shoulder, the other with fingers entwined with hers.

I peek back at the others, curious to see their reactions to the loveliness of the tree they chose, adorned and glittering. Will’s grinning, although for some reason he glances a few times at the clock; Jamie looks content; Allan is distracted by tending to someone’s kid who got a pine needle stick under his fingernail; Geoff is trying to slink back to Jamie’s side without being noticed; and Colette’s given up her reading ruse entirely, now openly watching Stella and Celeste with undisguised interest. It’s clear from how she’s always watching everything that goes on around here that her old habits from being IA’s information-gatherer are taking their sweet time to fade away.

“Hey, Miss Lucy.”

And, of course, now there’s this voice interrupting my thoughts.

“Yes, Mr. Bailey? What can I do for you?” Turning around brings me face to face with his red waistcoat, and I tilt my head up to frown at him, suspicious. “Where is it?”

“Where’s what?” he asked, all innocence.

“You know what.” I cross my arms. “Your damn mistletoe.”

“What damn mistletoe?”

“Henry.”

He flashes me that stupid, stupid grin. “You mean this?”

All around us, the older kids burst into cries, giggles, and oohs when he pulls it from behind his back and dangles it over my head. The younger ones don’t seem to know what it means, but buoyed by the infuriating enthusiasm of their older siblings, they join in on the excited squalling.

“We had a deal,” I say, trying to keep smiling for the sake of these goddamn children and no one else.

“Ah, yeah. We did. I recall.” But he’s still smirking. “This, though. It’s a Christmas tradition! Nothing more. And you don’t want to spit in the face of tradition, do you?”

“I hate you,” I say through gritted teeth.

He laughs, damn him. “No, you don’t.”

The kids are all shrieking now, like they’ve never seen mistletoe before, which cannot possibly be true. With my face burning, I step a little closer, aiming for his foot with mine. He dodges at the last second.

“You gotta try a little harder than that,” he says with a wink.

“Is that a challenge?”

I can’t control the way my eyes peer back, just for a second. It’s Colette who catches my eye; she has somehow commandeered Geoff away from Jamie, but she’s not looking at him while she talks. Like everyone else in this stupid inn, she’s watching Henry taunt me with those stupid fucking berries over my head.

With a sigh, I step forward and plant the most chaste kiss I can possibly manage on Henry’s cheek, this time landing a stomp on his toes.

“I’m going to make you pay for this,” I hiss in his ear.

Even though I’m sure his foot hurts, his eyes are still sparkling. “Darling, I’m counting on it.”

No one notices me trampling his toes or whispering threats, of course; the kids are all too busy losing their minds, along with someone else. Throwing his head back, laughing his ass off, Henry lets out a victorious whoop, then kisses me in matching chasteness on my cheek, and it’s only because he doesn’t try to steal a real kiss that I don’t sock him right in the stomach and show off all he’s taught me in front of everyone.

My heart’s pounding, I realize when he pulls away, but it has nothing to do with Henry’s lips against my cheek.

Victoria, looking sulkier than she did before, tries to nudge through the crowd, and I grab her hand. “Hey! Look!” I cry dramatically. “Mistletoe!”

And I switch places with her, so she’s now standing with Henry instead of me, and she’s giving me a look of pure joy, all sullenness instantly banished, and Henry’s rolling his eyes but also seeming to say, Well, may as well, and he kisses her, too, making her squeal and eliciting a round of cheers from his friends.

“Merry Christmas, you annoying bastard,” I say, quietly enough that no one can hear me—it wouldn’t do to scandalize the children, after all—but maybe, with any luck, he’ll read my lips and get the hint.

I glance at the corner, where Colette is clutching Geoff’s arm and suppressing a laugh with her lips squeezed together. Jamie’s stone faced. Allan looks confused.

Will is gone.

***

I don’t think my feet have ever hurt so much. This is the thought that keeps repeating in my head as I stumble upstairs to mine and Victoria’s room. Actually, it’s just my room tonight, because after she finished work, she departed to spend the night with her family so she can wake up with them on Christmas morning. I asked her once why she lives here with Stella and Celeste if her family’s not that far away, and she just said they lived too far out of town that the journey every day wouldn’t have been worthwhile. I figured I’d just take her word for it, but if I had a choice between living with Stella and not, well…

I’m almost up the stairs when a familiar voice breaks through the quiet.

“Will, are you even listening?”

Seems that when he disappeared earlier, he just came straight back up here.

“Mmm hmm,” he responds, or that’s what it sounds like, anyway. It’s quiet, almost inaudible, and unmistakably the voice of a man who is not listening at all.

Another voice. Jamie’s. Faintly concerned and quieter than Colette’s. “I guess none of us are getting any sleep tonight, huh?”

“You can do whatever you want,” Will mumbles back. “It’s not finished.”

“Looks finished.” That one’s Geoff, all rumble and thinly disguised amusement.

“Well, it’s not.”

Eavesdropping is wrong, but my curiosity burns a little. Well, a lot. Not finished what? Is “it” the reason he ran off, away from the mistletoe and the tree and the Henry Bailey debacle? Did he even see any of that?

Not that I care, of course.

“I still think you should listen,” says Colette. “I’m going to keep going now.”

“Okay,” he grumbles. “Hurry up, then.”

A soft grunt and the faintest thud make me wonder if she didn’t throw a pillow right at his head.

“‘And yet I should have dearly liked, I own,’” Colette reads after Will’s cursing has died down, “‘to have touched her lips; to have questioned her, that she might have opened them; to have looked upon the lashes of her downcast eyes, and never raised a blush; to have let loose waves of hair, an inch of which would be a keepsake beyond price: in short, I should have liked, I do confess, to have had the lightest licence of a child, and yet to have been man enough to know its value.’”

There’s a moment of silence as she pauses, a silence that seems to contain every possible emotion, breathless and urgent, as it rolls through the air.

Then…

“You’re a goddamn busybody, Colette.” It’s not Will who tells her off, even though he was the one whose attention was being requested; it’s Jamie. “I know what you’re—”

But someone’s laughing—no, more than one person. At least two. Colette, for sure, and if my ears don’t deceive me, Geoff.

“What are you so worked up about? I’m just reading. It’s right here! Look.” I can only assume she’s pointing to her page. “He didn’t hear a damn word, anyway.”

And it certainly seems like it; there’s not even a hint of a reaction from Will, except for, “The hell is so funny?”

“If it’s worth anything,” Allan’s voice says, “I’m not sure I’m comprehending, either.”

Colette says, “Oh, you’re both hopeless. Never let it be said that I didn’t at least try,” and then she’s back to reading A Christmas Carol and there’s nothing interesting left to listen in on except for Dickens’ beautiful prose.

I back away from their door, guilt already swarming all over me about the eavesdropping but warring with the strangest feeling, fuzzy and muddled to say the least, that there were two people meant to hear that passage, and while one of them did not, the other, quite possibly, heard it loud and clear as the tolling bells of midnight, heralding the arrival of Christmas Day.

Previous | TPOT Masterlist | Next

[multifairyus]

Hobie and Grandma Brown Headcannons

Shout out to @brown-spider for their recent post on Hobie’s family and Grandma headcannon. These are questions that need answers and it’s been stewing in my mind so here goes my first contribution to the fandom:

I personally headcannon Hobie to be Jamaican British. The silly reason is cuz Bree Runway's ATM works with it, the interesting reason is him knowing/speaking Patois to a select few of the resistance members...the language was made in resistance, so it makes sense to me thematically?

Anyway his Grandma (or another older woman he is protective of but I want him to have familial community) is somewhere relatively safe in his universe. And he stops by to drop off groceries, check in and get a plate since she couldn't eat it all himself and he's still too skinny!

I like the idea that Grandma is aware and accepting of his alternative look. Maybe one of the few from his family/culture who does.

If she's SUPER cool then she deffo made him one of those crochet crop tops oh what a SLAY??

Imagine him swinging in a fight with the Arachkids in summer or something in a punk crochet fit?! "oh this? Grahhny made it for me. She even put a 'lil spider in there too. Special innit??" And he is just CHEESING

Though, I do also like the idea of Hobie taking out a few of his piercings when he goes to see her, out of respect. Mans does not do authority, or consistency, or respectability politics….but that's his Grandma mate!! She’d have a heart attack if she saw all that, what do you want from him?!

(Side note on alternative Hobie accessories… Hobie with glasses, reading some Audrey Lorde..? Just thought I'd drop that gem for the fan artists to consider)

But he more so “tones down” his look cuz doesn't want his sharp edges and lose ends of his get up to mess with the litter of fiber arts works she has in her tiny flat.

As a punk Hobie's no stranger to DIY and crafting. Wouldn't be surprised if the rebellious attitude was handed down alongside the thread and needles.

I think him having an ongoing project he works on with her with her like a quilt would be SO sweet 🥹 The telly droning about the “Spider-Punk' fellow but neither of them listening, just absorbed in their work and the other's company ❤️

[breelandwalker]

Hello Bree!

Any advice how to dispose of my babies first haircut hair safely? I am afraid to do something and accidentally curse them 😩

Many thanks 😊

The good news is that curses don't happen by accident. They require deliberation and a certain amount of OOMPH to make them happen. You're not going to accidentally curse your child by tossing some swept-up hair into the trash instead of putting it into a keepsake envelope or suchlike.

That being said, I would recommend keeping a few curls if you'd like, as a memento or in case you'd like to use them for healing or protection magic later on. Generally speaking, I'd advise against burning or flushing the hair, since those are commonly-used disposal methods for baneful spells. Doing so wouldn't be an automatic curse, but I can't imagine it would be helpful.

When I was a kid, my mother used to put my hair trimmings out into our backyard, especially in the spring and summer, for the birds to use in making their nests. I found at least one or two nests in our neighborhood every year that contained little threads of honey-brown and I was always pleased to think that my cast-off hair was helping to keep the little baby birds warm.

Nowadays, if I don't keep my trimmings for gardening or magical reasons, I generally let them sit for a few days and then toss them with the garbage. There's no tradition or rule I know of that requires trimmings to sit before being discarded, that's just a personal preference. To me, it feels like it gives my essence some time to leave.

In mundane spheres, hair is swept up and discarded all the time in salons and barber shops, and to the best of my knowledge, no one has ever been accidentally cursed by this practice. So you should be fine.

Blessings on your sweet little one and I hope this helps!

[ser-rctslcyer]

them showering your face with kisses to wake you up.

with the ranger? 🥺

Title: Euphonic

Pairing: Aragorn x Transmasc! Elf! Reader

Word Count: 536

Request: 68. them showering your face with kisses to wake you up. 

Warnings: Domestic Fluff, Pre-Canon

A/N: For you my love <33 Also the translations may not be fully correct but shhhh 

Translations:  melethel - sweetheart | hannon allen - thank you | meleth nîn - my love |

You were faintly lucid as your dreamt. 

You could tell your body was asleep, as everything around you felt like an endless silk blanket you could float in. It was cozy, pleasant even, as your thoughts threaded into fantasies of adventure and you felt like you could drift in forever. Rest like this didn’t come often in your line of work, so it was refreshing to have a chance like this. 

It wasn’t until soft nudging that you began to awake from your slumber. Your brows knitted as you struggled to discern what was brushing against you at first; until you felt the faint breath fan over your face. Your brain slowly becomes conscious of the feather-like kisses being placed over your face. They were tender, pressed gently over your eyelid, and trailed over your cheek, to the corner of your lips. Sighing in contentment, your ears perked at the sound of your name being repeated delicately over and over again. It was melodic, bleeding into your slumber yet at the same time luring you awake. A sense of warmth washed over you at the disembodied voice chanting your name; fondness and safety wrapping itself around your heart. The voice grew louder yet remained supple, and suddenly only one face came to mind. 

Aragorn. 

“Melethel,” he whispered, dragging his lips tenderly over your jaw; another myriad of kisses followed suit. A small gasp escaped past your lips, your eyes opening to dark brown strands and sky blue gently looking at you. 

“You need to get up,” he murmured, trailing his hand over your side. You grumbled weakly, bumping your nose against his cheek and he hummed delightfully back. He sat up straight and you looked at him, upon all his glory. His cloak already draw taunt over him, and his swords were already pulled over his shoulder. 

“How do you believe I want to get up when you spoil me like this, hm?” you yawned, chest leaping at his quiet laughter.

“For the promise of more spoiling later,” he grinned, cupping your cheek.

“But why can’t I have it now?” you pouted, and he leaned down to press his lips to your temple.

“Because there are things to do and I wish for my husband to accompany me,” he clarified, before kissing you sweetly. A soft whine left you as he pulled away, a pride smile on his face.

“You are lucky you’re so convincing.”

“Hannon allen.”

He stood up, extending his hand out to help you to your feet. You both worked in tandem to fold up the bedroll you shared before you went off to get dressed.

“Doing a two weeks journey is three days,” you spoke as you fastened your belt, putting your knives through the hoops, “so absurd.”

“Shadows stretch their reach far beyond the crevasses of the dark. The faster we get there the better,” he explained, helping you onto your horse. 

“I know, I know.”

“I will make it up to you,” he promised, patting your leg before hopping onto his own horse. 

“You always do,” you smiled before the two walked to the edge of the forest, the open hills greeting you. “To Bree then?”

“To Bree, meleth nîn.”

[nellie-elizabeth]

Outlander: The Happiest Place on Earth (7x02)

Dang, I'm honestly incredibly surprised about some stuff in this episode!

Cons:

As an overall note, this episode just felt incredibly crowded with incident. The fact that the episode in which we learn the end of the Christie storyline, with Allan telling his story and meeting his fateful end, is also the episode in which Brianna and Roger have a baby, discover Mandy's health problem, and leave, and is the episode where we meet adult William for the first time, and is the episode with the fire that's been built up for several seasons... it's just so much to happen all at once! I feel like especially the start of the episode with Allan, coupled with last week's revelations from Tom Christie, all belong to an earlier plot thread that really should have been resolved separately from the Brianna and Roger leaving story, and the Wendigo Donner/fire story.

Mainly, I'm surprised that Roger and Bree are actually going into the future at all, with their kids. That whole plot development in the books is incredibly important, but I thought after they hinted at it and then bailed back last season, they were just going to skip over it entirely. A lot of plot happens in these books, I wouldn't have been surprised if they'd given this whole thing a pass. I am excited to see how it plays out, I guess, but it does make the fact that they decided to go and then changed their minds before, kind of ridiculous.

A couple of small complaints that I keep making... the voiceover still feels clunky in some places, and the actress playing Brianna is an undeniably weak point in terms of performance. There were moments where she did well this episode, but other moments where she felt stilted and out of place.

As a last complaint, part of this is that it's been a while since I've read some of the books, but the whole circumstances around the fire just felt messy and out of the blue? At first we had Wendigo showing up demanding gemstones with his gang of reprobates, but then suddenly Mrs. Bug is involved and shouting about the gold? It was incoherent and strange and made for a shocking episode end, but maybe too shocking, given everything else going on beforehand.

Pros:

I will say though, despite the somewhat muddied ending, I do think Wendigo Donner is a fascinating figure. I loved the sinister nature of his presence in the house, and when Claire told Jamie his name, and Jamie immediately lunged for him, furious, having heard of his involvement with the Browns... that was good stuff.

In all, I did think all the sappy stuff with Bree, Roger, Claire, and Jamie and the kids worked really well. First we get to see Claire and Jamie so excited about their new granddaughter, each telling her what they'll teach her as she grows older - Claire will teach her medicine, Jamie will teach her to ride a horse. And then when it's revealed she has a heart condition, the dawning realization that the one thing they have left to offer her is a way back to the 20th century... it really is heartbreaking. The goodbye moments had everything. Super cheesy declarations of affection and lasting love from everybody. Jamie saying he's proud of Roger Mac. Bree telling her dad about Disneyland and saying that he's magical to her. Jamie and Claire embracing their grandson and telling him goodbye. It was a real tearjerker all around.

And I really loved the aftermath with Jamie and Claire too, that sense of life going on, but the weight of their grief hitting them so seriously. Jamie says a line straight from the book about how he will try and go on for Claire's sake, but for his own, he would not. They have been permanently separated from their family, and it's a real tragedy for them all to grapple with. The scene where Claire goes kind of frantic and jumps Jamie, but then breaks down and cries as they contemplate all the people they've lost... that really got to me.

Despite feeling weird as a pacing thing, I did think that the Allan Christie reveal was well-acted and written, the visceral disgust on Claire's face was very clear. And Ian's decision to kill Allan felt so true to his character and what we know of all he's been through. Ian is a character I love from the books but I feel a little less connected to in his show version, but the scene of him and Claire burying Allan together felt like a really strong moment for him.

I've saved the Lord John and William stuff for last, because of course I have. We only get one brief scene with William so far, so it's a little too soon to tell what to think of him, but I love that Brianna just can't stop smiling like a loon when meeting her older brother for the first (and only, as far as she knows) time. And Lord John being so pleased to see her, but also being baffled by her rather forward suggestion that they tell the Ninth Earl of Ellesmere the truth about his parentage, was really funny.

And then of course pardon me while I go on way too long about that John and Jamie scene because my goodness. I don't know how to explain the difference between the vibes here and in the books, because it's hard to pin it down... in some ways I enjoy John a lot more as a character from the books, just because we don't get to spend enough time with him on the show to fully appreciate his nuance, but on the other hand, what we do see of him on the show, I do enjoy a lot. In the books, the vibe between these two men is very complicated. Jamie feels a deep gratitude and affection for John because he has raised William, and he is also aware of John's feelings for him, and so does his best to be respectful and kind while also not being false to his own feelings on the matter. In the show, I swear to god, the vibe is like... they're wistful exes who still love each other but know their love can never be. It's so insane to me that in this scene they're calling each other by first names, and gently regretting that the war must put them at odds, and John placing the gem into Jamie's hands and curling his fingers over his palm... that's romance, okay?

It's so funny because I don't even ship them, I just think it's fascinating that the show has decided to lean in really hard on the idea of there being this fraught, extra tension to this relationship, that these two men love each other in a way that is in some ways indefinable. They essentially share the love of a parent for their child, in William, which positions them as having a partnership all their own. It's such a fascinating dynamic and I can't think of another fictional relationship that I feel this way about. I don't want Jamie to have romantic/sexual feelings for John, but I want him to have... "you are my co-parent and you're such a good dad to our child" thoughts about him, which he canonically does, kind of? Like, John making that joke about "we should be discussing suitable wives for William, not suitable regiments." You should, John? Why on earth would Jamie Fraser actually be involved in those discussions? It's so funny.

And such a tragic, beautiful moment. It happens via letter in the books, Jamie telling John that they must sever all ties. So I was very pleased to see it happen in person here. The lingering shots on both men's faces after they've parted, thinking it likely to be for the very last time... man, in whatever form it takes, Jamie Fraser and Lord John Grey love each other very deeply, and I'm very into it.

That's where I'll stop for now. I was pretty legitimately surprised at Bree and Roger taking off into the future, and I can't wait to see how that plays out in the coming weeks!

8/10

[countrymusiclover]

28 - A Cowboy Kinda Life

Part 29

Country Rancher

Tags @whateverthecostner @rosie-posie08 @kaycejdutton @kayceduttonn @kcloveswrestling @the-morning-star-falls @kaymudd @artoldfartsandunicornhearts @hcwthewestwaswcn

Tying my hair in a braid falling down my back, I tugged on the reins of my horse feeling the wind blowing through my hair. Closing my eyes I lean back on my horse sighing in relief at this feeling of being so free. I haven't felt such freedom since we were spending our time at the summer camp. This feeling I want to hold onto for as long as possible. Dismounting my horse the tent flap gets opened revealing my husband who gave me a small smile. "Hey baby, I woke up and you were gone."

"It's fine Kayce. I just went out for a morning ride." I replied, tucking hair behind my ear wrapping my arms around his neck.

He rested his hands on my hips tugging me closer to his chest, smirking playfully. I mirror his expression knowing it would only lead to something reckless in the cowboy way. "I wanna show you somethin' while the kids are still asleep on their saddles."

Climbing back on my horse I followed him through the treeline where we rode for a little ways finding a rock ledge that reveals a huge clearing of a beautiful open field of orange and yellow. Slowly dropping off my horse Kayce tugged me down to sit beside him. He wrapped his arms around my waist kissing the crown of my head. "This spot brings me back to our summer honeymoon...I think we're getting back to that darling."

"I'd have to disagree." I teased, lifting my head to glance up into his brown eyes.

He squeezes me lightly, nuzzling his nose against mine getting my smile to grow. "Is that so. Tell me Mrs. Dutton, what exactly am I missing?"

Gently pushing him onto his back on the ground I hold myself up with my hands on either side of him. "Well we didn't really have a honeymoon since your father called us. So I think we deserve a re-do. Because I love our children, but we have four little ones and they take a lot out of me." I sighed with my hair falling in front of my eyes.

Kayce reached up tucking it behind my ear chuckling up at me rolling us over so I was the one on my back. "Oh I think I can do a re-do right here. With the woman that I love laying in the most beautiful scenery on earth.." He leans down pressing his lips onto mine where I immediately kiss him back.

Wrapping my arms and legs around him he puts his weight down on me deepening the kiss. One of my hands reaches up, knocking his black cowboy hat off his head threading my fingers into his brown curls. When I tugged on them he released a moan making me break the kiss for a split second. "Slow down cowboy. We've got time..."

"I don't want to wait Y/n. We have to live everyday to the fullest." He said in a raspy voice pressing his lips onto mine making me moan, twisting my fingers into his curls. We got so caught up in one another that we almost didn't hear the sound of another horse coming our way.

"Mom, Dad?" Bree's voice filled the air making us break away seeing her holding her younger sister on her horse staring at us slightly confused and embarrassed. "Are you two...you know?" She punched a fist into the air, blushing.

Kayce doesn't dare look me in the eye while I attempted to sit up pulling leaves out of my hair blushing myself. Everytime I look at my daughter I still see her as the eleven year old who wanted to play ranch with her grandfather and stuff her face with warm briscets. "Um - maybe. What do you need, honey?"

"Grandpa said to come find you. It's time to herd the cattle." She replied, clicking her tongue signaling her horse to go on its way back to the others.

Kayce flopped down on his black beside me running a hand down his face chuckling at me softly. Turning my head in his direction I hold myself up by my right elbow shaking my head at him. "Sometimes I wish she didn't grow up and just kept playing with ponies."

"Hey, look at it this way. She clearly knows what we were about to do. So you might not have to have the talk." He threw his hand in the air until I playfully shoved him hearing him start laughing at me.

We got back on our horses and everything actually went pretty well in regards to herding the cattle. John said he actually didn't think the whole thing would go as fast as it did. Carter, Bree and Tate were all settled up under the same tree for the night. Dallas and Elsa were running around playing roping with each other. "Got ya sissy!" He cheered making his sister trip falling on her knees getting some mud on her clothes.

"Eat dirt." She threw some dirt in his direction, sticking her tongue out. Dallas dropped his rope tackling her further into the dirt playfully wrestling with her.

Glancing over my shoulder I tilted my head up. I warned them before they both started whining over who was right. "Hey, you two. Cut it out or I'll make you go to bed early tonight!"

"Fine momma." Elsa smiled, shoving him off.

Dallas crossed his arms over his chest pushing hair out of his face. "She started it."

"He tripped me!" She started.

Dallas fought back, rising on his toes trying to be taller than her. "Tattle tail!"

Kayce came over crossing his arms over his chest glaring towards the twins backing me up. "Listen to your mother. There will be no fighting on this trip." The twins finally stopped running over to go hang out with Lioyd who wanted to show them something about his horse.

Removing my hat I leaned my back against the tree seeing the sun starting to set off in the distance of the mountains. Laying my hat on my lap Kayce wrapped his arms around me after pulling out a blanket we brought. One for the kids and the other for us to share. Turning over to face him I laid my head in the crook of his neck hearing him whisper in my ear. "I love you, Y/n. I always will. I just want you to know that in case I don't say it enough."

"I love you too Kayc, always have and always will." I mumbled under my sleepy breath snuggling into his cuddly embrace.

The next morning I didn't get woken up easily instead Kayce was shaking me awake mumbling something about a cowboy dead. Rubbing my eyes I quickly got to my feet following the direction he was leading me to find his father sitting beside the older cowboy named Emmett who had joined us on the journey. The branding was happening today and I had to bet his wife would be there. "Oh my gosh. John I, how did this happen?" Dropping down on a knee before the two cowboys Kayce and I both removed our hats in the process.

"He cuddled up on his saddle with that blanket. And we laid underneath the stars..." He took a long pause for a breath staring into my eyes. "He never opened his eyes when I came to wake him up...I couldn't have imagined a better way to go."

Wiping some tears away I watched Kayce climb back on his horse and put his head back on his head, eyeing his father. "Best way to go for a cowboy."

"Best way for anyone to go." I replied climbing back on my horse with everyone riding back to the ranch. Once we got back John immediately rushed to Emmett's wife right as I saw the camera crew focusing on them. "Oh no they don't!"

I attempted to run forward and scold them for filming such a sad moment but Kayce snagged my wrist holding me back with a warning glance. "We don't need to get involved. If they make it turn bad my dad will take care of it. Let's get something to eat." Nodding in agreement I watched John embrace the crying woman in a tight hug

Once we had gotten something to eat Kayce took the kids to get them some food too since they were busy playing a few minutes ago. Walking through the crowd of people I noticed Ryan leaning against the fence post then he climbed to sit on it to get a better view of the Abby girl who was performing on stage. "She's got you bad huh Ryan?"

"Huh - what are you talking about?" He turned his head in my direction , blushing a little.

I started laughing a little at him climbing up and sitting beside him on the fence watching everyone dancing to her song. "I've since that look on Kayce when he stares at me sometimes. The look that says you want them so bad you're just not sure you can manage it."

"The only thing I can't manage right now is...how am I supposed to get that girl on the dance floor when she's the one on stage?" He slumped his shoulders as Walker came our direction.

Jumping from the post he tipped his hat to me smiling. "Y/n, what can I do for you?"

"Actually it's for Ryan." I pointed my index finger towards the stage showing him Abby.

He nodded simply moving through the crowd before I offered my hand to Ryan. "Come on, cowboy. I'll lead you to her." He placed his hands in mine. Our hands intertwined with his other hand on my waist spinning us through the crowd.

My hair flies around as we kicked up some dust dancing in the crowd of people until I felt someone tap my shoulder. "You mind if I get a turn?" Abbu asked seeing that Walker was now on stage playing.

"It would be rude if I said no. Have fun you two." I tipped my hat at the pair moving through the crowd. Leaning my back into the fence post I scanned the crowd smiling at an event like this. Twirling my wedding ring on my finger I knew my mother in law would have loved this.

Foosteps broke through the crowd before I heard someone clear their throat making me focus my attention on my father in law. "Care for a dance, Y/n?"

'Oh John. Normally I wouldn't ask this but why aren't you asking Summer?" I smiled tucking hair behind my ear gently.

He extended his hand and I placed my hand in his letting my father in law lead me out onto the dance floor. "I asked her and she said no. So I thought I should ask my daughter in law. Plus your husband is over there dancing."

"Oh that's adorable." I chuckled following the direction towards the barn seeing him twirling Elsa and Dallas each underneath his arm.

John twirled me out and back into his chest intertwining our hands together. I always pictured him as being a good father in law and he hasn't let me down yet. "I am glad I can still lead a girl to the dance floor but I'll let someone else cut in."

"I enjoyed our time, John." I smiled feeling familiar arms wrapping around my waist from behind. John tipped his black hat to us before I spun around in those arms seeing my husband. Kayce intertwined my right hand while my other hand rests on his shoulder. He put one hand on my waist while we simply swayed side to side with Abby softly sang a song. Breaking a good end to the cowboy weekend.

Comments really appreciated ❤️

[panlight]

That interview infuriates me. Meyer admits that people might be upset but plows through anyway. It's only when creating a WHITE community that she even tries to be respectful and even then she just uses the real place regardless. And I bet anything that she didn't ask any Quileutes what THEY thought about Meyer using their real tribe as a plot device.

It's like she's almost there. She almost gets that making up the history of the "real life people of La Push" is worse than the other two things, because she has that "most especially" qualifier there. Like some tiny part of her realizes that it's worse to re-write an already marginalized people's history and use it in a work that generates a lot of profit for you.

As someone else said in the notes, the other two are just places. There are countless books set in cities and towns all over the world. It's whatever. Using an actual, specific, REAL, living group of marginalized people (the Quileutes) and re-writing their whole mythology, their whole history, and othering them by making them genetic werewolves is entirely different.

And this was while she was writing New Moon where instead of being like "whoops! I shouldn't have done that. Maybe I should reach out to the Quileute people? Ask for their advice on how to portray them respectfully? Give them some of the profits?" she just doubles down and makes them even more central characters, kills off Harry Clearwater and doesn't follow through with that thread at all (it's an Indigenous character dying so Edward can misunderstand and think it's Bella's funeral), invents the whole imprinting nightmare, just, ahhhhhhh.

I get it. Twilight was based on a dream and she was just writing it for herself. No one was supposed to ever see it but her mom, her sister and herself. But you'd think once the books WERE being published that someone would be like "um, guys?" at some point. I mean apparently her agent or editor or someone LOVED Jacob and encouraged her to make him a bigger character and it never came up like "hey are we representing these people respectfully?" And while using the Quileutes the way she did at all is problematic, Twilight is the least offensive of the bunch. It gets worse with each additional book. Jacob's just a sweet kid telling a story even HE doesn't think is true in the first one. The really harmful stuff that plays on Magical Indian tropes, as well as "wild" and "sexually aggressive" brown men comes later. She was aware at the very least that the "real life people of La Push" might find it "irritating," but instead of changing course she went all in on it, and to this day (as far as I know) SM hasn't done anything to compensate. A dollar from each sale of the Bree Tanner book went to the Red Cross, so it's not as if SM is opposed to the concept.

Anyway, https://mthg.org/ . I donated again the other day, and I encourage anyone who is in a financial position to do so to, well, do so. Also, we all know Amazon is . . . not great . . . but if you DO shop there, you can shop at smile.amazon.com and choose Quileute Tribal School as your charity and they will receive a tiny donation when you buy things.

[kissofthemuses]

MORGAN

FULL NAME: Morgan Rowlands SPECIES: witch OCCUPATION: student/healer/holistic healer FANDOM: Sweep

       PHYSICAL

FACECLAIM: Troian Bellisario                        Katharine Mcphee PRONOUNS: she/her AGE: 17/18, 34 BIRTHDATE: November 23 HAIR: brown EYES: brown HEIGHT: 5'7″ ORIENTATION: demisexual, heteromantic

         RELATIONSHIPS

MOTHER: Mary Grace Rowlands (Adoptive), Meave Riordan (birth- deceased) FATHER: Sean Rowlands (adoptive), Ciaran Macewan (birth) Siblings: Mary Kathleen Rowlands (adoptive), Killian MacEwan (half-brother), Kyle MacEwan (half-brother), Iona MacEwan (half-sister)

       PERSONALITY

MBTI:   ENFP-T   / “Campaigner” ALIGNMENT: lawful good TEMPERAMENT: sanguine ENNEAGRAM: type 2

Morgan is a kind soul with a desire to heal anyone who is in any kind of pain. But, she's shy and, often, self-depricating; she doesn't have low self esteem but, she doesn't see herself as anything special. Actually, much of her life, she felt like she didn't quite fit in with her family. She's generally a studious person with a thirst for knowledge for those things that interested her.

She's been accused, on many occasions, of not being able to see the 'big picture'. And that's true because she tends to focus on what's affecting her and those around her, in the moment. That's not to say she's selfish, she just doesn't really have the ability to step back and examing the situation as a whole. Especially because she is so emotionally driven. Much of the time, she lets her heart rule her head, and this has gotten her into a lot of trouble. She's also extremely stubborn, and, once she sets her mind to something, she will pursue it until it's very end (unless something drastic happens to change her course).

   OTHER

POWERS: Pyrokenisis, shapeshifting (animal forms, mainly a wolf), scrying, spell creation and casting. LIKES: reading, divination, tea-making, karaoke, research, traveling, sharing what she’s learned, dancing by herself, warm cookies DISLIKES: feeling weak, fire, sleep paralysis, injustice, bullying, being alone, her own heart,

       TAGS

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           BACKSTORY

Morgan Rowlands was born on November 23rd, to Maeve Riordan and Ciaran MacEwan. Though her mother's partner Angus Bramson believed he was her father, a belief Maeve did not correct. Fearing attack by Ciaran, Maeve and Angus gave her up for adoption when she was around 8 months old. Soon after, Ciaran killed them by locking them up in a building and setting it on fire.

She then was adopted by Mary Grace and Sean Rowlands. two years later, her parents had a biological daughter named Mary Kathleen Rowlands. When Morgan was 8, her parents nicknamed her Molly, after they learned of the death of her biological mother and presumed father. Though the Rowlands did not fully understand the exact circumstances of Maeve and Angus's death, they were aware that real magick was somehow involved, and they hoped the nickname would deflect anyone who wished her harm

Morgan lived in Widow's Vale, New York and was a high-school junior when she was introduced to Wicca by Cal Blaire (the new boy in town). The two developed an emotional relationship which only grew stronger when Morgan discovered her heritage, powers, and family origins.

It wasn't long until a Seeker from the International Council of Witches showed up in Widow's Vale to stop Cal and his mother, Selene Belltower, from performing dark magick. Not fully understanding the situation, and completely taken by Cal, Morgan almost killed Hunter while trying to protect Cal. However, Cal's intentions to get Morgan to join the dark side soon became apparent, and Morgan refused him. Cal, apparently, fully realized his feelings for her and tried to "save her" by killing her. He locked her in a hidden, magic room behind his poolhouse and set it on fire. Morgan escaped death thanks to Hunter, and her best friends Bree and Robbie.

This was the start of Morgan's trust in Hunter and, slowly, she found herself falling for him. With his help, Morgan learned more of her heritage and powers. It is with him that she found her birth father, Ciaran MacEwan, a powerful black witch. At Hunter's behest, Morgan got close to her father so that Hunter can bind Ciaran's magic and render him unable to harm anyone else ever again. Part of her hated to do it, but, she knew it was the right thing to do. 

           VERSES

SPELLBOUND (MAIN)

Morgan has graduated high school and is now starting college. She continues to study and practice magic, growing ever stronger in her powers.Pre-witched | Tag Morgan is your typical high school junior, trying to navigate school, friends, family, and life.

IT'S ALL GREEK TO ME (PJO AU)

Morgan is a daughter of Hecate, residing at Camp Half Blood during the summer and with her adopted parents the rest of the year.

TEEN WITCH (TEEN WOLF AU)

After Cal tried to burn her alive, Morgan's family decide that moving would keep her safe. Unbeknown to them, they're drawn to Beacon Hills, where even greater powers await. Morgan is a high school senior, still dealing with the emotional trauma while adjusting to a new town and school.

SOMETHING WITCHY THIS WAY COMES (HARRY POTTER AU)

INFO POST

Morgan is a supposed Muggle-born Gryffindor. Unknown to her still is that she was adopted by muggles, but her birth parents were pure-bloods. Her mother was a gifted healer and her father is an infamous Dark Wizard who murdered her birth mother and step-father. After leaving Hogwarts, Morgan become a rather noted healer, who had a reputation for being especially kind to those on the fringes of wizarding society. (Single ship with newromanticmuses's Remus)

DARK MAGICK (EVIL AU)

FULL CIRCLE (OLDER AU)

After find out about her family's dark legacy and meeting her father, one of the darkest of them all, Morgan gave into that side of her. A black witch now, Morgan is out only for herself. After the death of her beloved Hunter, Morgan can't seem to settle down. In her thirties, she moves about, continually searching for something can't quite name or find- peace.

[thegoldenyearsrp]

                                   𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐔𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐎 𝐃𝐄 𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐈𝐃𝐀𝐃

publicado el día 27 de marzo de 2021.

→ 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐬.

Ninguna pendiente.

→ 𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐞𝐧 𝐞𝐥 𝐛𝐮𝐳𝐨́𝐧.

Ninguna pendiente.

→ 𝐜𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐬 𝐞𝐧 𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚.

Ninguna pendiente.

→ 𝐡𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐬.

Andromeda Tonks, Darcy Brown, Minerva MacMillan, Daisy Hookum, Molly Weasley, James Potter, Bellatrix Lestrange, Corban Yaxley, Michael Bones, Emmeline Vance, Grace Fitzgerald, Remus Lupin — 28 de marzo / semi hiatus.

Severus Snape & Natasha Selwyn — 1 de abril / semi hiatus.

→ 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐞́𝐧 𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐬.

Dane Higgs.

→ 𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐨 𝐝𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐝.

Mary MacDonald.

Penelope Goldstein.

Zoe Nettles.

→ 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐬.

Alecto Carrow (inactividad).

Andrea Prewett (inactividad).

Baptiste Travers (inactividad).

Benjy Fenwick (inactividad).

Bertram Aubrey (inactividad).

Edric Brown (inactividad).

Ellie Dowson (inactividad).

Frank Longbottom (inactividad).

Gilderoy Lockhart (inactividad).

Gladys Gudgeon (inactividad).

Ivan Davies (inactividad).

Jacob Davies (inactividad).

Jason Denbright (inactividad).

Lily Potter (inactividad).

Ludo Bagman (inactividad).

Rabastan Lestrange (inactividad).

Sirius Black (inactividad).

Zabrina Davies (inactividad).

Zephyr Parkinson (inactividad).

→ 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐣𝐞𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐬.

Alecto Carrow.

Andrea Prewett.

Baptiste Travers.

Benjy Fenwick.

Bertram Aubrey. 

Edric Brown.

Ellie Dowson.

Frank Longbottom. 

Gilderoy Lockhart.

Gladys Gudgeon.

Ivan Davies. 

Jacob Davies.

Jason Denbright.

Lily Potter.

Ludo Bagman.

Rabastan Lestrange.

Sirius Black.

Zabrina Davies.

Zephyr Parkinson.

→ 𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐬.

Alfie Enoch.

Asa Butterfield.

Bree Kish.

Charlie Gillespie.

Dacre Montgomery.

Daniel Sharman.

Dev Patel.

Emma Mackey.

Jorge Lopez.

Kaylee Bryant.

Lili Reinhart.

Lana Condor.

Louriza Tronco.

Michael Evans Behling.

Nick Robinson.

Owen Joyner.

Jane Levy.

Reece King.

Thomas Brodie-Sangster.

𝐏𝐎𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐈𝐎́𝐍

orden del fénix.

Alice Longbottom (Florence Pugh).

Benjy Fenwick (Nick Robinson).

Dorcas Meadowes (Kristine Froseth).

Edgar Bones (Joe Alwyn).

Emmeline Vance (Ryan Destiny).

Fabian Prewett (Maxence Danet Fauvel).

Frank Longbottom (Dev Patel).

Gideon Prewett (Björn Mosten).

James Potter (Brenton Thwaites).

Peter Pettigrew (Michelangelo Fortuzzi).

Remus Lupin (Charlie Heaton).

Sirius Black (Charlie Gillespie).

mortifagos.

Alecto Carrow (Emma Mackey).

Amycus Carrow (Freddy Carter).

Barty Crouch Jr. (Bright Vachirawit).

Bellatrix Lestrange (Diana Silvers).

Corban Yaxley (Arón Piper).

Rabastan Lestrange (Michael Evans Behling).

Severus Snape (Avan Jogia).

cíviles.

Agatha Figg (Phoebe Dynevor).

Alastair Montague (Lorenzo Zurzolo).

Alyssa Abbott (Kim Jiwoo).

Amelia Bones (Merritt Patterson).

Andrea Prewett (Jane Levy).

Andromeda Tonks (Katherine Langford).

Aurora Rowle (Lily Collins).

Baptiste Travers (Daniel Sharman).

Bertram Aubrey (Asa Butterfield).

Brigitte Delacour (Meg Donnelly).

Cassia Clearwater (Danielle Rose Russell).

Daisy Hookum (Eleanor Tomlinson).

Dane Higgs (Alex Fitzalan).

Danny Wood (Jeong Jaehyun).

Darcy Brown (Nicola Coughlan).

Doris Purkiss (Abigail Cowen).

Edric Brown (Alfie Enoch).

Ellie Dowson (Kaylee Bryant).

Gilderoy Lockhart (Dacre Montgomery).

Gladys Gudgeon (Lana Condor).

Glenda Chittock (Elle Fanning).

Grace Fitzgerald (Kathryn Newton).

Hestia Jones (Nana Komatsu).

Isolde Higgs (Sydney Sweeney).

Ivan Davies (Thomas Brodie-Sangster).

Jacob Davies (Owen Joyner).

Jason Denbright (Reece King).

Jonathan Nott (Tyler Young).

Kenta Akiyama (Nakamoto Yuta).

Lorcan d’Eath (Harry Styles).

Lucy Karoonda Wood (Josefine Frida Pettersen).

Ludo Bagman (Jorge Lopez).

Mafalda Hopkirk (Geraldine Viswanathan).

Mary MacDonald (Bae Suzy).

Michael Bones (Nicholas Hoult).

Mina Lima (Moon Gayoung).

Minerva MacMillan (Laura Harrier).

Molly Weasley (Karen Gillan).

Narcissa Malfoy (Sasha Luss).

Natasha Selwyn (Anya Chalotra).

Penelope Goldstein (Madelaine Petsch).

Rosalind Bungs (Freya Mavor).

Scarlett Travers (Halston Sage).

Ted Tonks (Dylan Sprouse).

Tiberius McLaggen (Zethphan Smith Gneist).

Zabrina Davies (Lili Rinhart).

Zephyr Parkinson (Louriza Tronco).

Zoe Nettles (Kat McNamara).

TOTAL: 68 personajes ocupados.

¡Buenas a todes, pequeñes! Aquí dejamos el recuento de la semana. Recuerden que nos encontramos en la ambientación de varios eventos y es plausible abrir starters y threads dentro de los mismos. Si cuentan con un starter abierto, por favor no lo dejen inactivo, he observado y me han comentado que algunes usuaries no tienen threads por contestar dada la falta de respuesta a los starters. Cualquier error que lleguen a notar, no duden en comunicarse con nosotras. ¡Saludos y cuídense mucho!

𝒂𝒅𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒊𝒐́𝒏.

[janatm]

thread four title || BRAKE

tagging: Jake Puckerman & Bree Brown

date & time: Friday April 25, 2025 @ around 10:00 pm

location: A club in LA

warnings: none!

summary:

word count: 4,114

BREE BROWN

It had been a long couple of weeks since her brunch with Eva. That night had been a huge party night for Jake because of the draft and of course he'd been photographed getting lap dances from strippers. Which, naturally, her parents had seen and felt compelled to show up, unannounced, at her place. She had to spend days defending her 'relationship' with Jake and his overall character, while being constantly reminded that he had cheated on her before so it would only be easier for him to do it again. Especially, since she'd allowed him to do it the first time. Of course they viewed her getting cheated on as her fault. By the end of their invasion, she was starting to believe it herself, which had her finding a therapist immediately. Then, her parents must have complained to her brother because both of them showed up, unannounced, at her door too. While the did tell her it wasn't her fault she got cheated on and it wouldn't be her fault if he did it again, they did ask for season passes. So she threw a shoe at them and they showed up randomly over the next week with food. Then of course there was everything else she was expected to do in a day, in heels and a full beat. Honestly, she had been way too exhausted to talk to Jake about discretion. Plus, she was annoyed at him, which had her irritated with herself because he can do whatever and whoever he wants. Needless to say, she had no interest in this Tik Tok creator event tonight and she had no intention of going. She wanted to take a bath and pretend she was somewhere else. But then her mom kept sending her articles and videos and Tik Toks of all the things people were saying about Jake's draft night excursion, and it pissed her off. Because, the only narrative she was sharing was the one that said Bree was dumb and stupid for taking a cheater back and essentially saying she deserves to get cheated on again or that no one will have sympathy when Jake steps out on her again. It made it impossible for her to get any peace in her own home. So, at the last minute she decided to go to the party. Put her phone on do not disturb and maybe try to have some fun with a few Tik Tok friends. Dressed to impress, she got to the party and it was actually fun. She was laughing and socializing, even had a couple cute drinks. After about an hour, she excused herself, trying to find somewhere quiet to just recharge for a few. Opening a door and stepping inside, closing it as she turned to see the rest of the room. She realized she wasn't alone, and she almost apologized and left, but then she recognized them both. Jake and a popular Tik Toker that Bree definitely knew, and who definitely knew Bree. Before Bree had a chance to say anything, the woman spoke. "Wow Bree, you really keep him on a short leash." Taking in a breath she held back an eye roll. "If that were true, he wouldn't be in a private room with you." Honestly, she just wanted to leave becaue the last thing she was trying to do tonight was fight the temu version of herself for a man that isn't even really her man.

JAKE PUCKERMAN

After his talk with his sister, Jake had pretty much decided to just have some fun. Bree had him unblocked, but only to send schedules and discuss PR stuff — it was never about them or anything outside of their fake relationship, so he had taken a step back. Repeating how he felt, his apology, the explanation, all of it had been exhausting, but especially when all he got in response was Bree repeating that she needed time, she was blocking him, she wasn't doing this or that with him, etc. Yes, he wanted her back, but at this point he didn't even know if it were an option anymore, so he was chilling. With all of the draft stuff going, the buzz around the NFL and the players had been high. While he hadn't known that draft night would go down like it had, waking up to the TMZ bullshit already being covered and watered down by Eva had left him rather smug. After all, it was just a bunch of ballers having fun at a strip club, and with the draft being drawn out over a few nights, it was also a repeat thing. Jake hadn't been into all of this before, but he was having fun and enjoying himself. His DMs had also been on fire lately, but he'd only been focused on this TikTok chick Leilani. She was gorgeous, and she said she wasn't looking for anything serious so he'd taken her out to a private dinner first, which then turned into them hanging out and playing video games, and just getting to know one another. When some creator event popped up, him and a few of his teammates decided to come with Leilani and her friends as their plus ones. It was cool at first, and he'd even agreed to do a few with some of the creators, mostly so Maya could see them and gush later, but then Leilani wanted to get a little privacy for a bit so he obliged. They hadn't even been in the room long before the door opened up, and his eyes widened when he saw Bree. He couldn't even get a word in before his date did, and then Bree clapped back and Jake groaned. "I ain't on nobody's leash." He clarified as he stood up. "Lani, give us a minute." He demanded, and she could tell that he clearly wasn't asking so she just nodded and headed out. Now alone, Jake sighed. "If you're about to chew me out, can we do it on another night? When we're not in public and I'm not with my boys?" He asked. "Besides, I didn't know you were coming tonight. Don't you hate most of these events?"

BREE BROWN

It had only taken her therapist one session to sus out her not so latent anger issues. So as Leilani left, Bree remembered the cliche advice to breathe through it. Cliche, but effective, none the less. The worst part was, she was his type. An accomplished baddie. Which made her feel insecure, which in turn made her mad. But she just kept breathing. It was nice to hear his voice, even if it did already sound tired of her. "I actually came in here to be alone for a few minutes. I've been here for over an hour and I needed a quick little recharge." She had no idea why she was explaining herself to him. "I didn't follow you two in here." She further clarified. This was so awkward, she really wanted to yell at him and call him an asshole because, of course, he was hooking up with someone she knew. It was hard not to assume he'd done that on purpose, found someone like her but better. But then maybe she was nothing like Bree and that was the appeal, and she wasn't sure if that was better or worse. "I'm not going to 'chew you out', as you put it, but as someone who was born into this and who's own reputation is effected by your actions, I will say that it's likely dozens of people have seen you and her here, several probably even saw you two come in here. Leilani loves a good story time. All it would take is one video of her talking about hooking up with or dating a pro football player for people to connect the dots." Finding it harder to hold her anger back, she took a couple more breaths before looking at him again. "Discretion and NDA's. You need to give her an NDA and make sure it's backdated to whenever you first hooked up. Eva can help you with that." This was too hard and quite frankly the exact opposite of what she wanted to be doing tonight. "Or you can deslove this entire PR relationship, so you can be free to do whatever and whoever you like, if that's what you want." God, there was a lot she wasn't saying and it was starting to boil to the surface and all she could think was how pissed she was, how she felt unwanted, how he was probably annoyed that she was even there. How he probably wished she was Leilani. She wanted to cry, which again, just made her mad. Which made her want to go back out to the party, find one of his more notable teammates and sleep with him. "Why her?" She had not meant to ask that out loud. If she were someone else she would have slapped her hand over her mouth.

JAKE PUCKERMAN

Jake was surprised that Bree was offering up an actual explanation for why she was in here, but he hadn't even remotely assumed she'd followed them. "Relax, I'm not accusing you of anything." He pointed out. The last thing they needed right now was to fight about anything, let alone the idea of Bree Brown being on some stalker shit. That would never happen anyway, but he knew he sure as hell wouldn't have been worth the trouble regardless. Letting out a small sigh of relief when Bree insisted that she wasn't here to chew him out, he was about to just suggest they pretend this hadn't happened right now and deal with it later, in the privacy of one of their places until she continued, which only seemed to annoy him. Of course she was about to school him on some shit he didn't care about. He knew about NDAs and how shit spread when someone was on social media with loose lips, but he had worked all of that out with Lani, so there had been no need for all of that. But at the mention of their little PR arrangement, he couldn't help but chuckle. Of course she'd go there. At this point, he needed to take a few moments to get his own train of thought together, so he let her finish before taking his seat again. "She's a friend, Bree. We hang out, play video games together, go out and do fun shit — I'm not gonna make a friend sign some stupid NDA. Besides, she's trying to make her crusty ass white boy jealous so she ain't gonna go talking out the side of her neck about us." Jake insisted. "For the record, I didn't know you two knew each other like that. She slid in my DMs, we talked, decided to hang out. Not everything I do is about you, you know?" That wasn't entirely true, but whatever. "You only talk to me when it's about business, so what do you want? Should I just never talk to any other woman? Be a fucking hermit? You can't just expect me to sit home and wait for you to wanna use me whenever it suits you, Bree. I have feelings and needs and shit too, you know?"

BREE BROWN

Almost laughing at him sharing that Leilani had slid in his DMs. Of course she had, as far as she knew he was a taken man. Taken by someone she knew, and she still DM-ed him and that was the kind of person Jake wanted to spend his time with. Then he went and pointed out the obvious and Bree almost laughed again. There is no way he genuinely thinks, she think anything he does has to do with her. If he was thinking about her like that then he never would have been in this room with another woman in the first damn place. Okay, now she did laugh, well it was more of a scoff because he had clearly lost his mind. "I'm using you?" she pointed at him for even more emphasis. "Using you or what exactly? Clout? Already had it. Sex? Companionship? Conversation? Because from where I'm standing, you definitely want those things. Just not from me. And you must think I am the dumbest woman alive if you think I believe, for one singular second that you had zero plans to sleep with Leilani. Like are you seriously trying to tell me you just brought her into this private room for a quick sidebar?" Well, she had been doing well with the whole not getting mad thing, but she didn't appreciate being accused of using him. And yes, when she has time to cool down she's going to realize that what she should have done was ask what made him think she was using him and why. In fact, there's a part of her that already realizes that, but she's only a week into therapy, so sue her for not having all the tools in her toolbox yet.

JAKE PUCKERMAN

Jake wasn't sure if it was Bree laughing or the fact that they were having to do this again that set him off, but now he was just as annoyed or frustrated or whatever as she seemed to be. God forbid the man have hobbies and female companions that weren't her, right? Ass she tried to break down just how she wasn't using him, all he could think about was how much he could use a glass of bourbon right now. And maybe a cigar, anything to try and calm him down. He didn't owe her anything, especially not with the way she constantly reminded him that they weren't together anymore and she wasn't ready to consider moving forward, so why was she even reacting like this? Once she finished, he stood back up and walked over to her, standing right in front of her as he glared at her. "Trust me, we all know you don't need to use me for anything except the one thing you can't get from every fucking loser you try to bring home." He pointed out, and no matter how many times Bree tried to pretend otherwise, it wasn't just his massive ego talking here. "If it's not about the PR stuff, you don't talk to me or respond to any of my calls and texts until it's late and you need to be fucked right. If you would actually stop fighting me, and your own damn feelings, you would see that I do want those things from you, Bree. You're the one who keeps shutting me down so yeah, I'm getting it from somewhere else now." Jake shrugged nonchalantly. "I didn't come back here with Lani to have sex though. I'm not stupid, even if you repeatedly try to insist that I am. Her and her prick of an ex just got into it at the bar, so I dragged her back here simply to calm her down before they ended up going viral on TikTok airing out each other's dirty laundry. For once, maybe stop thinking the absolute worst about me and let me be a decent human being for five minutes." 

BREE BROWN

There was something about Jake being in her face and being so smug about what he thinks she needs him for, that had smoke coming out of her ears. How dare he imply she couldn't have it just as good with somebody else? "You're not the God of Sex, Jake." There was a time she would have said he was but not when he's being an ass. "And how am I suppose to know you want anything more than sex from me when I can't even walk into a room without you sighing in annoyance, like you wish I was anybody else?!" That was specific to this current moment but it had pissed her off, so he was going to know about it, apparently. "And you were getting it from somewhere else when we were together, that's why we're in this situation in the first place. This situation being, my inability to trust you to not break my heart again!" She was getting a little too loud and a little to close to him so she turned away from him and took a few steps to put some space between them. The truth was, she wouldn't be in here fighting with him if she didn't want to find a way back to him, to them. It was clear he didn't know that and she was too scared to tell him. "I have my mom showing up and blaming me for you cheating, I have her sending me article after article, video after video of people saying it'll be on me if you cheat again because I let you get away with it the first time. Meanwhile everyone loves you and your honesty. And I have to sit here, alone hearing over and over again how I'm the problem. I don't even get to be upset or hurt about you cheating on me because apparently it's my fault it happened." She threw her hands up, exasperated. "I don't want Eva telling me how thirsty every women in America is for you. I don't want to wake up to pictures of a strippers ass on your crotch. I don't want to find you in a private room with someone else. So, yes, I want you to beg and grovel because it isn't fair that I have to fix what you broke!" Finally, she ran out of steam and before she knew it she felt her eyes welling up. Refusing to cry right now, she lightly patted around her eyes as not to disturb her make up. "I don't want to feel like I have to compete for you."

JAKE PUCKERMAN

"Never said I was." Jake quickly clarified, and he hadn't, but he did know for a fact that no one pleased Bree like he did. In fact, she was pretty goddamn hard to please, in and out of bed, so excuse him for being smug about the fact that if nothing else, he was damn good at pleasing his ex in bed. He was about to answer her first question but before he could, she started in on a whole tangent of repeating the same shit that lead to the aforementioned issue of him seeking things elsewhere, and he was already over it. How many times could they have the same fight without anything changing, or worse, without making matters worse? He wasn't sure, but he was exhausted of this. Letting her finish again, he was done catering to just what she needed from him so she simply shook his head. "You can't compete for a spot that's been yours since we met, but I'm not groveling anymore." His tone was much softer this time, yet still stern enough that she knew he was serious. "I want you to be upset and hurt or whatever that I fucked up. I've given you the space to let you sit in your feelings, I've let you ask questions and I've given you every truthful answer to explain why I did it. I've apologized, and I've asked what you need from me to move forward. You're the one who can't, or won't, tell me what we do from here so no, I'm not gonna keep begging you to meet me halfway here just to get blocked or treated like a piece of shit for one mistake." Jake exhaled another deep breath as he debated continuing, and then he just decided he had nothing else to lose at this point. "Why Leilani? Why the random bitch I cheated with and never saw again? Part of the reason why we're in this situation is because you won't just admit that I'm not good enough for you and this stupid lifestyle you care so much about. Even now. Do you even know what hobbies I have outside of football and fooling around with coding? Do you know what I like to do on dates, both romantically and platonically?" Jake knew the answer was that she didn't, but he still gave her a brief moment to let the questions sink in before he chuckled dryly. "We were never a real couple except in one of our bedrooms. I only know pieces of the real you because you let your guard down after sex. Before, you couldn't be seen out in public with me so I couldn't take you on dates, and now you just don't let me do anything except fuck you when you say so. I can't spend time with you outside of our places unless it's work related, yet you don't want me doing anything with anyone else even when you can't decide what to do about us. What's there to even grovel or 'compete' for at this point?"

BREE BROWN

It was good that Bree wasn't at level ten anymore. She had calmed and it seemed, based on Jake's tone he was too. But there was something else about his tone that had her a bit on edge. Like there was no fight left in his tone, just honesty and as he spoke she just felt herself grow more and more exhausted. Not at him, just at their situation, at herself even. It was a lot to take in and she had never been very efficient when it came to processing and understading her feelings and what to do about them. Usually she would get made and just keep pushing buttons until she hit the one that would make the other person storm away. But, one, Jake could easily match her energy if he wanted to so there was no point and two, and more importantly she didn't want to make him storm off. She didn't want him to be mad at her or disappointed or whatever this was currently. She wanted to fix things, which is why, even when he mentioned other women, she didn't snap at him or even make a face, she just listened and tried to really hear him for once. She did wince a bit when he said he wasn't good enough or her, because she genuinely didn't think that. There was no way she would ever commit to someone for any amount of time, let a lone a year, if she thought they weren't on her level. The truth was she had always known he was even if she clearly hadn't managed to show it. When has asked her if she knew, what essentially were very basic things, about him, she didn't even attempt to rack her brain. She knew she didn't know the answers. Now she wondered if he knew those things about her, and there was no way he could know because she'd never shown him. The more he talked the more she saw what he was saying. Even though things had changed, nothing had really changed. She finally understood the phrase, the more things change the more they stay the same. He spent the last almost two years wanting to be close to her and she spent the last two years keeping him at an arms length. Now she was going to cry because he was tired of it? That anger was started to bubble up again, but this time it was at herself. Pushing that down, she let him finish, wanting to say the right thing. Fix it, but she didn't know how. She didn't even know if she could. "I-" she tried, but nothing was coming out. There were too many thoughts and she didn't want to just say anything, she wanted to say the right thing. So she just closed her mouth and looked at him for a moment, before smoothing her hands down over her skirt, and raking her fingers through her hair to make sure she was picture perfect again. "I heard you, I just don't know what to say right now. So, I'm going to leave, the party and I'll send Leilani back in here." It wasn't a test and her tone was genuine and almost soft. The words I'm sorry, were right there but they got caught in he throat. "Maybe you can slavage your night." She turned to leave taking a few steps before stopping to look at him again. "I'll text you." It wasn't much but it was the first time she said she's reach out for no reason and she felt like maybe that was something.

[upthewitchypunx]

What would You put in a beginner's witch kit?

It was inevitable that someone would ask me this, right? I’m assuming this is for someone interested in my style of secular witchcraft?

I was gonna break this into two, like a dip-the-toe-in-the-water kit and then a larger kit, but I’ll just got with the whole thing:

A copy of my zine Brainscan #33 DIY Witchery (an exploration of secular witchcraft) this pretty music explains my personal trajectory, philosophy, politics, and punk in my witchcraft.

Natural Witchery by Ellen Dugan

DIY Magic by Anthony Alvarado

Grove Daughter Witchery by Bree NicGarran

The Art of War by Sun Tzu

Equal Rites by Terry Prachett (and a list of all the other witch books in the Disc World series)

Modern Tarot (book) by Michelle Tea

a simple Rider Waite Colman Smith tarot deck

a link to this Rune Soup blog post about sigils

a notebook and pen

a hand written correspondence list of items that can be found in your spice cabinet and weeds found around town

Then in a big swing top mason jar I would put all this stuff:

a few smaller jars

A pen

a sharpie marker

fabric scraps

those scissors that are one piece of metal that have a loop on the back

a bunch of embroidery thread in various colors

thread and needle

sticker paper

bit of broken mirror

some rocks from my own collection: amethyst, quartz points, obsidian, smokey quarts, and whatever other stones that seem to want to go on that adventure with my friend

chime candles in white, black, red, blue, green, purple and brown

at least 3 candle holders for chime candles

a bunch of tealights

ink, maybe a simple pen that uses ink, but ink is pretty helpful as it is

oils: the mercury retrograde protection oil I make, black pepper, sage, cinnamon, clove, lemon, dragonsblood, lavender

incense: frankincense & myrrh, clove, and a few blends that I enjoy

a big piece of black cloth

some earthenware dishes

some tweezers

a sprig of rosemary and a sprig of lemonbalm from my yard

and whatever strange stuff makes itself present on the way to give my buddy this bundle of stuff: washers, literal forks found in the road, acorns, leaves, twigs, etc.

I think that is it for the ultimate witchy gift set I would I would give a friend.

Edited to add a $20 gift card to a thrift shop!

[madstone015]

Fic: Without Me

If you are offended by Emily, Aubrey, Chloe or Beca being together in various pairings, don’t read this.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/16692565/chapters/39148210

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Emily looked at the marquee as it scrolled slowly. There was slight disbelief in her mind as she read “Beca Mitchell June 3rd with Special Guest Young Sparrow with DJ Dragon Nuts and Cyn’d Rose.” She sent a sad look in Chloe’s direction and received the same in return. The brunette threaded her fingers with Chloe’s to hold her hand and provided a gentle squeeze. “I’m proud of Beca… And Cynthia Rose.” Emily finally broke the silence. Chloe nodded and pulled Emily close giving her a soft kiss on the lips.

The silence settled between them again. They had their roles helping Beca build a career. Emily had written all her songs and Chloe had been Beca’s manager while Beca was starting out. The three of them traveled together, visiting the Bella’s across the country. Couch surfing to avoid hotels, going to gigs at every state fair, bigger festivals, raves and even put up a tent at Burning Man. The three of them moved to LA at Beca request. Emily was fine with it, she could write songs anywhere. Chloe was ok with it but hesitant not wanting Beca to get caught up in Hollywood glamour once she mad it big. Fortunately, Beca finally caught a big break. Unfortunately, she hit the door running. Any venue, collab, EP offers, anything and everything she took it on. Slowly, she stopped coming home. That was almost four years ago. Now, her third tour was ending in LA for her third CD launch.

They made it home with In-n-Out and some new clothes from the mall. A beat had been playing in Chloe’s head for hours. A series of sounds in the mall caught her attention. To get it out of her head she played it on the piano. She popped a fry into her mouth with a smile before she sipped her drink. Looking at Emily, seeing how her lover hunched over a pad of paper with a pen in her hand scribbling lyrics out like it was as easy as breathing, was Chloe’s favorite thing to watch.

Emily had heard Chloe’s little melody on the piano and now it was on repeat in her head. All the time spent with Beca, playing with soundboards and mixing various songs, she could layer tracks in her head without ever touching an instrument. She envied Chloe and Aubrey's abilities with instruments. Em bobbed her head a bit, thought a moment and scribbled words down. Tell me how’s it feel sittin’ up there, Feelin so high but too far away to hold me.

Chloe had her hand in more than enough of Beca’s music after that fateful day when Beca proclaimed she was into ‘this stuff’. Seeing how remixes fell into place after the night in the pool the girls finally came together. She teased the piano keys. She sat in one of the two seats in front of the instrument. It made her almost uncomfortable without Beca beside her. Another french fry remedied that for now. She flicked the piano setting to be drums and played a little with a beat.

Emily furrowed her brows and scratched out a line she wrote after the first, You don’t have to say just what you did, I already know. She was nodding and tapping her foot to Chloe’s beat. She looked at the redhead fondly. This was how it worked, the missing element was Beca. Beca was the one who rearranged lyrics, layered the tracks, put it all together and played *their* music at the festivals. She thought back to when it was just the three of them on the open road between gigs. Beca’s face buried in the laptop while Emily wrote lyrics and Chloe drove tapping out some new little beat in her head. When Beca’s depression got too much they’d find a hotel and remind her just how much she was loved. Found you when your heart was broke. She scribbled in a new part of the page, I said I’d catch you if you fall. And if they laugh, then fuck’m all! She smiled sadly at the memory of the USO riff off and how she had to cheer Aubrey, Chloe and Beca all up.

In fact… Chloe looked like she could use some cheering up. Emily took Chloe’s hand and pulled her close threading her hand into those luscious red locks. Chloe bit her lip looking up into Emily’s eyes as she rocked up to kiss her. Emily picked her up and carried her to the bedroom. It earned her a genuine giggle from the core of Chloe's body.

Soon Chloe was naked under the exotic beauty who was kissing down her body reminding her just how much she loved Emily's attention. She was gasping and shivering under Emily’s long fingers and expert tongue. Pulling Emily up with a lengthy passionate kiss to roll them over and eagerly return the favor.

As they lay curled up together they didn’t mention the missing person in their relationship but the lyrics still bouncing around her head Emily whispered, “If I write a song… will you duet with me?” Chloe didn’t look up just continued to trace Emily’s collarbone gently, “Of course I would.” Truth be told they hadn’t sung since Beca left, they both missed it. “That is a really good idea sweetie.” Chloe grinned up at Emily’s megawatt smile and they rolled right back into making love to one another.

Emily smiled down at Chloe, running her fingers through her hair slowly. She watched the redhead nuzzle into her hip and hug her thigh tighter. She thought back on all the times Chloe had been by Beca’s side, through depression, issues with Beca’s father, the unknowns of Beca’s mother. Just running from the demons in your mind, Then I took yours and made ‘em mine, I didn’t notice 'cause my love was blind. She scribbled on her notepad. She quietly worried if this was all taking a much harder toll on the angel laying against her. Knowing full well Beca was Chloe’s soul mate, she wondered if she was enough to fill the void. I got you off your knees, Put you right back on your feet, Just so you can take advantage of me. She sighed and cuddled Chloe wondering why these feelings were resurfacing after this long.

By morning Chloe woke up to Emily hugging her so securely she could barely breathe, but she loved every second of it. There was security in being held this tight, being loved so much that a sleeping body knows to latch on. She looked over the features on Emily’s face and smiled to herself. She worried that this beautiful woman’s idol, her hero just abandon them for a career in music, but she expected this day to come. Chloe felt so much love for Emily, they really didn’t need Beca. That the longer Beca was gone, the less it all hurt and the more she was able to give the young lover.

Her phone chimed quietly and without a thought, she picked it up to put it on silent. She caught Aubrey’s name and “I’m at your-” under it. Flicking open the message, a smile slowly appeared across her face.

“Babygirl…” Chloe gently nuzzled Emily, kissing her awake enough for Emily to pull her on top and moan. With a giggle, the redhead nuzzled her young love and smiled brightly, “Guess who is here…”

Emily knew better than to say Beca, “Umm… Santa?”

Chloe whispered in her ear, “Aubrey” and Emily body vibrated under her with a deep moan. Chloe looked down at the browned eyed beauty curiously, “Oh really?”

Chuckling the brunette shrugged, “I just had a really good dream about her…” She bit her lip peeking at Chloe, “I’ve had a crush on her since we met. You all had my attention.”

“Wow, I don’t know what to say…” Chloe smiled fondly, “She and I were a thing before…” feeling Emily’s lips on hers stopped whatever sadness may have started.

Emily murmured, “We haven’t seen Aubrey in ages. When she left to be a doula I really didn’t expect her to go to a different country.”

There was a quiet knock on the door when Emily opened it. Aubrey’s eyes took in the younger woman and simply dropped her bag to wrap her in a hug. She knew, they all knew, how Beca abandon everyone. Cynthia Rose didn’t abandon them or Denise the way Beca did. CR made sure Denise was included in everything, even written into every contract. Aubrey closed her eyes when she felt Emily tear up, “Shhhh Babygirl, I’m here.”

Emily hugged on tighter, “I've missed you so much.” Her voice was laced with so many memories, good and sad. The moments they shared during the USO tour, Aubrey's encouragement to keep writing, the night they spent together just after the tour, before she ran away to be a doula and before Beca and Chloe asked her to be with them. They all had a history together in one way or another. A very finely woven web of love, affection, and abandonment. Emily and Chloe were the only two who stuck together through everything, refusing to abandon the other. She squeezed Aubrey and whispered, “Please don’t leave again…”

Chloe leaned against the doorway smiling fondly. Aubrey, ever the sweetest woman on earth the moment someone fell apart in her arms. Walking up she leaned up kissing Aubrey on the lips and hugged Emily from behind while running her fingers over Aubrey’s forearms. “It's really good to see you Bree." When she felt Emily relax fully they broke apart. "C’mon ladies, let’s go inside.”

Emily grabbed Aubrey’s big bag, Chloe her smaller one, leaving Aubrey to close the door. The girls seemed to just blindly walk by Beca’s in-house studio. Aubrey saw the layers of dust on everything and watched the two women set her things in the hall.

She had seen the house enough through facetime to know where most of their things were. Heading to the kitchen she poured them each a glass of water and chuckled when Emily nuzzled up to her on one side, Chloe to the other. She kissed both women affectionately and moved them to sit down at the dining table.

To say the situation was complicated was untrue. Aubrey wanted to come back to the States, and they offered to house her. None of them expected the greeting to be like this but it was welcomed. Aubrey was hesitant when she saw Emily’s lyric pad in the middle of the table. She slid it closer, “I’m glad you started songwriting again… you are so amazing at it, Emily.” The younger woman blushed. It caused Aubrey to smile softly. Her eyes shifted to Chloe, “How are things going?”

Chloe gulped and twitched her nose slightly, “It’s been a long time. I think things still… sting for us in rare moments.” Emily gave a confirming nod. “But… 3 years is a long time. We’ve kinda taken the hint.” Tahitian blue eyes looked up from her glass to watch the blonde, “Emily and I love each other unconditionally. Maybe a moment or two... feel… incomplete but we are happy with or without her.”

Aubrey nodded, “Good. You two are gorgeous together. I’m actually jealous of both of you. I’ll be honest, I was always jealous of her. Probably why I was always so hard on her.” She blushed a little and hid behind her glass. That got Chloe to smile reminiscing about Beca’s first year in the Bella’s.

Aubrey gulped though, she was unsettled, she hummed to herself a moment before offering, “I feel I'm the reason she’s not here anymore…” That caught both Emily and Chloe’s attention. Shit. “Let me rephrase that… what I mean to say, you three were a deadly combination. I knew a music exec, sent him to see her last show, told him you were a package deal… I guess he didn’t see it that way. For that, I’m so sorry. Not that it’s any consolation… she shut me out as well.”

The brunette eased the lyric pad over to herself while listening to Aubrey and Chloe chit chat a little. Her mind was too full to really let any of their words sink in. With Aubrey’s admission, more lyrics flowed through her. You know I’m the one who put you up there, name in the sky. Does it ever get lonely? She looked outside, zoning out a little. Thinking you could live without me. She looked back at the pad. It wasn’t much, more heavy-handed scratch marks in word form than flowing lyrics. She sighed and shoved the pad away zoning back into their conversation.

The blonde looked between the two lovers and finally requested, “Let’s go somewhere.” She knew full well they needed to get out of that house, away from the ghost of Beca. Emily looked at Chloe as if for permission, to which Chloe nodded, “Of course. How could I deny either of you.” They all smiled and headed out the door.

Emily climbed in the back of the car, “Are we still going over to Jessley’s tonight?”

Aubrey laughed, “They are close by too?”

Chloe smiled at the blonde, "Yeah, it's really nice having them close." She turned to Emily, “Of course we are. We can take turns sitting out a hand so Aubrey can play too.” Reaching back to rub Emily’s thigh, making the younger woman smile fondly and kiss her cheek.

Aubrey chuckled, “What do you guys play?”

Emily shrugged, “Trump sometimes Gin. I always play with Ashley and we always win too.”  There was a pause, “And we play Mario Kart…”

Smirking Aubrey glanced at Chloe, who nodded, “It’s true… I think Jessica and I get too heart eyed watching them get so excited to pay any attention, by that time math is out the window.”

Chloe felt like she could finally take a deep breath. She didn’t even realize how freeing it felt to have Aubrey around.

Aubrey didn’t have a destination in mind, she made sure she had Emily’s notepad and snacks for all of them. Eventually, she drove them to a strip of the beach that rarely had visitors. It was too rocky to get to the sand with any sort of chair or surfboard under their arm. For them, the spot would be perfect. Helping each other felt a little like the team building exercise making all three of them laugh and giggle through it. Aubrey pulled them both in for a tender kiss. The kiss made both women smile a little brighter. This is how it’s supposed to be.

They lounged a bit. Emily got antsy though and took off her shoes to go run around the shallow surf.

Aubrey looked at Chloe, “Are you two really ok?”

Chloe squinted a little looking up at the sun then down at Emily with a small smile, “We make it. Like I said before, we love each other more than anyone could ever love another. I just have a sinking feeling we both hope the other is good enough? If that makes sense. Like I’m sure she wonders if she is good enough to fill her place and Beca’s… and I feel the same for her.”

Humming in understand Aubrey nodded, “I can understand that. Have you tried to contact her?”

“I don’t think we realized what was happening until one day… she just stopped coming home. We did try contacting her but she always claimed she was busy. We both deleted our social media because she was everywhere, new songs, interviews, people fawning over her. People were posting old pictures and tagging all of us. Paparazzi harassed us for a while but that died down after she stopped coming home.” Chloe shook her head sitting up clapping the sand off her palms, “I get it… the lifestyle is intoxicating. I wonder if she’s lonely. If she remembers what real love, not lust, feels like.”

Aubrey scooted herself behind Chloe and wrapped her arms around her. She loved letting the redhead lean back against her. Silently, she scolded herself for not being around the last 4 years. She was sorry she wasn’t around to pick up the pieces. Looking up she could see Emily’s closed mouth smile spread across her face, it was the sweetest thing she ever laid eyes on. “I think we’re being watched…”

Chloe peaked and Emily looked down instantly kicking wet sand off her foot as the water rushed away from her. The redhead smiled bright, “Appears so… She’s so gorgeous."

To Aubrey, Chloe was the definition of love and enthusiasm with sunshine for a smile and the clearest blue sky for eyes. To her, Emily was the definition of sunshine but had become slightly somber after Barden, much more down to earth. She knew Emily was just the right balance for both Beca and Chloe so she never offered to be part of the relationship. Instead, she ran away to forget them.

“So are you… you bother are amazingly gorgeous.” Aubrey kissed the side of Chloe’s head. She let out a breath and closed her eyes, she was glad neither of them could see her expression, “If she came back… would you accept her?” She watched as the vein in Chloe’s neck pounded blood like a jackhammer.

“I… I don’t know. 3 years is a long time to be asking for forgiveness.” Chloe sighed, “I think Emily and I would have to have a real discussion about it. Beca will be in town in a few days… it’s her last tour date. We didn’t go to her last 2 concerts, it just hurt too much. Yet she still sends front row tickets… backstage passes, a limo. I don’t get it.”

Aubrey held Chloe tighter, “Wow…"

Emily wandered up to them, a smile still on her face. Emily lowered herself down to straddle Chloe’s lap which also meant straddling Aubrey’s. Her fingers slide cradled the back of both their heads while she captured Aubrey in a lengthy, gentle but meaningful kiss. She hugged Chloe's head to her upper chest to listen to her heartbeat. They all knew Chloe lived for that deep rhythmic thud in someone’s chest when they were excited, happy or just plain sexual. Somehow it gave Chloe life.

Aubrey knew Emily was Chloe’s heartbeat. Emily sent her pictures of Chloe, ear over her heart, sound asleep.

They went to Ashley and Jessica’s. Aubrey was welcomed with open arms. The two women loved their old captain, no matter if she remembered their names back then or not. There was an elephant in the room though, the real question wad who all was going to Beca and CR’s concert? If anyone. Admirably, Ash and Jess went to everything Bella related. Babysitting Bella for Stacie and Flo, even taking them all out to dinner. Meeting Lily for random gigs. Hosting smaller get-togethers for all the local Bella’s to hang out. None of them could blame the couple. They were all laughs and giggles by the time the wine started flowing. Emily and Ashley were all playful pouts when Aubrey and Jessica beat the snot out of them, then Aubrey and Chloe took a turn doing it. They received kisses to mend the wounds and the brunettes made up for it in Mario Karts.

Once home Emily curled up on the couch with her lyric pad and started writing again. She was zoned, leaving Chloe and Aubrey to each other again. Aubrey nodded to the couch, and Chloe curled up on Emily’s left. The blonde rummaged around the kitchen to find ice cream and three spoons. She plopped down on Emily’s right. Both of them giggled as the brunette mindlessly took a scoop of ice cream and nibbled at it while her pencil drew words across the page. The excitement of the day made Chloe fall asleep quickly. She snored quietly against Emily’s shoulder. The brunette smiled lovingly at her, “She’s so perfect Bree… Am I good enough for her?”

Aubrey gave her the warmest smiles and pulled the side of Emily’s head toward her whispering, “You are perfect for her Em, never doubt it for a moment. She loves you more than anything in the world.” She ran her fingers through long wavy brunette locks slowly until Emily yawned. She watched as Emily scooped Chloe up in her arms and noticed Emily’s eyes flicked from Chloe to her then to the bedroom. Aubrey didn’t need the offer twice.

Emily carefully pulled off Chloe’s clothes and put on her pj shirt and shorts then carefully laid her in the middle of the bed. Moved to her dresser to change into her own shirt and shorts. Passing Aubrey in the hallway, she gave the blonde’s hand a gentle squeeze and a gentle peck on the lips. She walked around to double check the locks on the doors and windows then came back to the bedroom. She slid in on Chloe’s right and smiled when the redhead instantly clung to her, finding her favorite place for a pillow, square over Emily’s heart.

Aubrey's heart skipped a few beats. She did not expect to see Chloe cling to Emily. “That is the most precious thing in the world,” Aubrey whispered to Emily.

The younger of them smile sleepily, “She’s my everything.” They both yawned and chuckled at the action.

The blonde slid up behind Chloe and hugged both the women she’s always adored nice and tight. She felt Chloe sigh happily.

The few days passed and life was good. The tiny cloud that seemed to loom over Chloe and Emily had been lifted. Aubrey’s presence made them all feel balanced. They dusted off all of the studio equipment and both women smiled as Emily's excitement grew.

Emily got to work recording while Chloe played with the various sounds again to get a good rhythm going. Emily even invited Aubrey in on it, something about their voices simply sounded perfect together.

Like clockwork, a driver showed up and there was a knock on the door. 3 passes held out in front of him. Aubrey looked blankly at the roadie holding up the badges who was looking back at her with an equally less than enthusiastic expression. Aubrey stepped out and closed the door behind her, “Does Beca actually want us there?”

The roadie looked confused, “I’d guess, yeah.”

“Do you know who these ladies are? The ones you come here every year to give passes to.” Aubrey asked. When he lowered the passes and shook his head

She sighed, “I figured. Do you know who Chloe and Emily are?”

His eyes shot open, “THE Chloe and Emily?! The pair that Beca is with? Oh my god, she never shuts up about how amazing they are! How she owes them everything! Holy crap, I had no idea. I wish I knew that before I got here! Now I just feel like an asshole.”

“…is with…?” Aubrey perked a brow, “And I’m Aubrey.”

“Dude!” She could already tell this roadie was a Californian or hung with Beca too much. He stammered, “Wait, YOU?! You got her the final gig that brought her to the big leagues. Not even DJ Khalid could manage what your guy did for her. Man, she talks about the three of you, like, hourly on the dot.”

“…Dude.” She cleared her throat, hating the way that word tasted on her lips. Even when it was said sarcastically. “I don’t know if you are trying to be extra cordial or if you are being genuine but I have serious doubts Beca is talking, let alone missing, any of us that much.”

He looked confused.

Aubrey shook her head, “I’ll let Emily and Chloe know you are here…  and I will let you know if we want to go. Give me a moment.”

She went back inside and pressed the door closed with her back. Emily was in the living room with an iPod in one hand, apparently on full blast because Aubrey could hear it clearly from 15 feet away. It faded and repeated again, it was the song the three of them made together. She watched Emily’s head bob side to side as one hand moved to the words she was lip syncing.

Chloe rounded the corner to ask Aubrey something when she saw the look in Aubrey’s eyes, “It’s today isn’t it…” She just closed her eyes and sighed. She didn’t know if she had the strength to support them all today. The song had taken a lot out of her even if it did feel good to sing again. She knew Emily wanted to go just to give Beca the cd. If she had her way, she’d just give the cd to Denise for CR to give to Beca. Her eyes moved to Emily who was deep into the song, likely still in editing mode. The song was flawless and made a few cds which Emily had clutched in her hand. She walked up to Emily, leaned up kissing her softly, “Do you want to go?”

Emily paused the song, “It’s today?” Chloe gave her a confirming nod sending her mind spiraling. “If it’s ok with you guys… We can just slide this on stage or backstage and leave… But she needs to hear this.” She stood a little more determined. Watching both the blonde and redhead nod, they headed out the door.

The roadie blushed deep red, “This way ladies… feel free to have anything in the minibar in the limo. I promise tonight is Beca’s treat.”

Through the night none of them seemed to be thrilled about any of it… Dinner was paid for, though Beca wasn’t present. They were showed backstage, again, Beca wasn’t present. Emily did manage to slip the cd into the player when the roadie wasn’t looking.

They were escorted to seats front and center. They got waves and sung to by Young Sparrow and Cynthia Rose quite often. Admittedly, watching their friends perform was exciting. When Beca was set to hit the stage though, they held hands and breathes. It would be the first time in 3 years they laid eyes on Beca. They knew that Beca wouldn’t be able to see them anyway, even if there were big blue arrows on the stage pointing directly to them. The lights too blinding, music too numbing and excitement too breathtaking.

They held their breaths through most of Beca’s performance, it was flawless and beautiful, true music to their ears as it always had been. She even performed Freedom with Cynthia Rose with a dedication to the three of them. After Beca disappeared, the lights around the stadium eased on slowly and the lights on stage clicked off they looked at one another in silence. It was a visual debate, seeing how distraught or comfortable each other was. Chloe was the first to speak up, “Can we go home… I don’t want to go backstage.” Emily nodded, both looked at Aubrey who smiled calmly and nodded, “Of course.”

The roadie made sure they got to the limo safely, and to their front door once home. Emily scrunched her nose and handed him the spare cd, “I put one in the cd player in her room… but we need her to hear this. Please make sure she does.” He hugged it to his chest and nodded frantically, “Anything for you, Mrs. Emily Beale.”

She smiled hearing her full name and hugged him, “Thank you.”

He held up the cd and jogged back to the limo. It soon disappeared into the night.

They stayed up a few more hours, unwinding and talking adoringly about seeing Young Sparrow and CR perform, how the show actually was enjoyable.

A knock on the door made them all jump, Aubrey got up walking to the front door. She was flanked by Chloe and Emily. When she opened the door, it was the last person they expected. The person they looked at looked distraught, deeply depressed, tears rolling down their face.

Emily whispered harshly, Aubrey said curiously, Chloe let out a strangled word, in unison. “Beca…?”

[nellie-elizabeth]

Outlander: Never My Love (5x12)

I... Have... Issues.

Cons:

I don't want to blame the show-runners too much for the story-line with Claire, as it is lifted straight from the books. But do you know what occurred to me as I was watching this? The rape was actually completely unnecessary to the story. Like - seriously. Change nothing else. Show Claire being beaten and bloody and tied up, and it's awful and it's hard to watch and the performance is raw and honest and all that jazz.

But why rape? Why rape again? We've already had a story-line about Jamie being raped, and a story-line about Brianna being raped. At some point it's just torture porn. And the fact that she is sexually assaulted makes Jamie and the other men's journey feel like this really gross macho revenge fantasy. Again, I know this is all lifted straight from the books. And let me tell ya - it's one of my least favorite things in the books, too.

They added in this interesting thing where Claire is fantasizing about a happy life in the twentieth century with all her family around her, at Thanksgiving. So we keep cutting between Claire tied up and crying in the forest, and these happy idyllic snapshots, of Jocasta and Murtagh, Ian in a uniform, Marsali and Fergus and their kids, Claire and Jamie happy together. There were things about this idea that I liked, but I had two big problems, as well.

For one thing, the thought that the fantasy Claire escapes to is of the future, of her own time, is... really sad, isn't it? It's not poignant, it's just depressing, to think that while Claire fantasizes about Jamie and the rest of her eighteenth century family, she longs for the trappings and safety of a twentieth century existence. That's not the sense I've gotten from her character at all, that she's still missing her old life. It felt really awkward and out of place.

And secondly, why did Brianna and Roger and Jemmy die in this little fantasy escape of Claire's? I guess it has something to do with the pain she feels at not thinking she'll ever see Bree and Roger again, but it felt out of place in the fantasies, which in turn felt out of place in the scenes.

Speaking of Brianna and Roger... I already felt like last week's goodbyes with them were really tepid and unmotivated. I didn't understand why they were leaving at that exact moment. In the book, as I said, there was a very clear reason for their departure. But here, they go through the stones, and end up back where they started. Ian is startled to see them, and it turns out that when Brianna and Roger thought of home, it took them back to where they started, because the Ridge is home to them now.

Ugh. Barf. That's... way too cheesy for my taste, I'm sorry to say. And it makes last week's weirdly underwhelming goodbye... even more underwhelming. After all of that, the Mackenzies are just content to stay in the past? And it just made the plot more confusing, because this final episode wasn't about them, and their choice to stay after all. It was about rescuing Claire from Lionel Brown. So Roger shows up, Jamie is glad to see the family, but there's no time to really process it - Roger is coming along on the mission to save Claire. Why not change it up, so that Roger and Bree decide to leave, but before they can set off, the attack happens and they have to stay because Claire was taken? Then they could have a talk, after it's all over, about how they don't want to leave while things are so uncertain, and maybe they don't want to leave at all.

This season's timeline is very disjointed to me. We just saw Marsali give birth to her baby girl, right, but now she's pregnant and showing again? When was it that months passed without my noticing? Did anyone else feel some whiplash with all of that?

I'll finish off this "cons" section by circling back to a complaint I already made last week, which is that this did not feel like the natural culmination to a season of television. The Browns were barely characters, the whole subplot about Claire being Dr. Rawlings was hardly a thing. This was a season about Bonnet, about Roger almost dying (and oh boy that didn't get very much screen-time did it?), it was a season about the War of Regulation. This attack on Claire feels like it came out of nowhere and only existed to make something dramatic happen in the finale.

Pros:

Okay so I didn't actually despise this episode, despite my litany of complaints about it.

To start with, while I had some problems with the revenge fantasy aspect of Claire's rescue, I did think the fight choreography was really good and conveyed the brutality of the violence being committed. That's something Outlander very often gets right. The image of Ian and Fergus looking down on Claire as Jamie kneels beside her, so much compassion and honor for their mother-figure... that was really powerful. And Roger taking a life, the significance of that, and the way he confessed it to Brianna in the dark... all of that left quite an impact. I also love how seriously Jamie takes Claire's oath as a doctor, that she will do no harm. It's a great moment from the books that was borrowed here, where Jamie says that Claire cannot kill for herself - "it is I who kills for her."

While I question the whole point of the twentieth century fantasy stuff, it was still fun to see everyone in more modern, recognizable clothing and hair-styles. Very much of the '60's, but still. It was strange to see Marsali with the long straightened hair, and Jocasta and Claire with their conservative shortened styles. Seeing Ian and Jamie in modern garb was legitimately disconcerting, which goes to show how wonderful this show is at total immersion. The setting and time period is very solidly 1760's, and I get totally swept up in that to the point where it was really fascinating and kind of fun to see them all in this different setting.

I'll go ahead and say that Caitriona Balfe did a great job with her performance. It was hard to watch the torture porn but I did appreciate her dedication to Claire's experience, and she did a great job with some frankly clunky dialogue when she was listing all the trauma she's experienced and talking about how she won't be broken by this.

The real show-stealer of the night, though? Marsali. This is the best thing that the show-runners have changed from the book to the show. Placing Marsali in the position as Claire's protege, giving her more personal agency and more to do outside of being a wife and a mother, paying off the difficult beginning of her relationship with Claire. All of this is top-notch stuff. When Claire comes back after Jamie rescues her, we see her and Brianna embrace, and that's sweet or whatever, but I felt so much more when I saw Marsali approach, with her face all bruised, to embrace Claire. They weathered the attack together.

And then Marsali killing Lionel Brown... chills. When she said "I've taken no such oath," and then Jamie finds her and she's freaking out about killing him, asking if she'll go to Hell. There was just so much going on in that performance, so many layers to what was happening, and I was totally spell-bound.

I try not to harp on and on too much about the books vs. the show, but in this case I want to praise the show for taking out a part of the book that I hate, which is Jamie being worried that Claire might be pregnant from one of her rapists, and wanting to have sex with her right away so he can have plausible deniability that he might be the father. I am just... grateful that they didn't include this aspect in the show. It's gross. I don't want to deal with it.

In place of that we see Claire grieving what has happened to her, we see her telling Lionel Brown: "I will do you no harm," we see her breaking down but finding inner strength, and we see her curled up in the arms of her husband, taking strength from him. I really wish this story hadn't happened like this in the show, but I did appreciate the care and attention given to the aftermath.

So there you have it. This season was... disjointed at best. I really do wonder if season six will be the end of Outlander. It would make a certain amount of sense, given how many of the plot threads from the books have been excised/shortened into a more streamlined format for the show. Unfortunately, I feel like there were a lot of misses this season, and I hope they can come back with something stronger in the future!

6.5/10

[krismusings]

HELLO! And welcome to my mess of a blog. This is mostly just for my musings, but because I also do a lot of discord roleplay, I would like to list my rules, and active muses here as well.

About me OOC:

Name: (Kris)tin

Age: 32

Timezone: EST

I am obsessed with Harry Styles, Austin Butler, Dua Lipa, Avan Jogia, and other pretty people that I excessively post about, so if you don’t like any of my faceclaims, I would suggest not following my mental breakdown tumblr journey.

I roleplay on discord now because tumblr sucks, and I also like the privacy of being able to reply as I can, or have time. I am not someone who is able to always reply at a speedy pace every day. Sometimes I can crank out several replies one after another when I have muse - but keep in mind I do have a life, and a lot of threads, and severe carpal tunnel. I will do my very besty best!

RULES:

1. Don’t pressure me, guilt me for replies, or take anything personal. I’m a pretty chill partner, just be patient and I in turn of course will be patient with you!

2. Please no short one sentence replies. I put a lot of thought into my replies, a lot of inner dialogue and painting the scene. I don’t expect writing perfection, or exact length matching, but I do want something to work off of.

3. If we haven’t roleplayed before, and you’re open to new writing, just message me and introduce yourself. Maybe give some writing examples, and I’ll exchange with you as well - just to make sure we’re compatible!

4. Smut is perfectly fine with me, I write a lot of it, but I also enjoy a balance! If you’re not comfortable with writing smut though, I’m prob not the best partner for you. I’m a heathen. 😂

5. I do not have any banned faceclaims, but I do have a few I’ve had bad experiences with, or may not particularly care for in real life. I’ll let you know if I’m uncomfortable with a certain FC.

6. I do use discord only now, it’s just easier to keep everything organized. Please be familiar with the format and understanding of my preference! I can still use gifs there as well, but they’re not required.

7. Have fun and love you 🥺

MUSE BIOS:

(way more to come, just lazy adding bios lol)