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lupismaris · 4 years ago

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Summertime, And The Livin’s Easy- a black sails fic prompt fill

this became incredibly long so instead of just posting it with the ask i’ve made it’s own post

@themelonface asks- For the fic prompts (if you're still taking them), silverflint talking about children. Can be AU, can be set during or after canon. I just have a feeling Miranda never wanted any, Thomas was too wrapped up in the fight for equality to need anything more than cats, but maybe James would have wanted kids in another life.

HERE MY DARLING HAVE THE FIRST OF hopefully TWO PROMPT FILLS because i want to write a post canon ficlet for this ask as well.

but for now have modern au silverflint (and hamilton at the end) and the discussion of children 💕

cw for mentions of child abuse and shitastic fathers!!! but theres nothing graphic mentioned or shown.

***

It was the hazy space between what would have been brunch on a weekend and the corporate lunch time rush and the start of cocktail hour on every other day when half the bars in Brooklyn Heights hadn’t actually opened their doors yet and those that had were serving sandwiches and day drinking friendly cocktails.

The Walrus was one of the latter.

Silver slid off his bar stool as the last member of the aforementioned lunch rush stepped out the door and leaned against the polished bar top with a bright grin. “How you holding up, honey?” Muldoon rolled his eyes. “Please, a corpse could make an aperol spritz.” “I doubt a corpse could make that many of them that quickly.” “Flattery might work on other men,” Muldoon said, as he always did, with a wag of his tattooed finger and a smile fighting to show on his face. “But it will not work on me.” “Are you sure? Cause you were pretty sexy with those martinis. Remind me why its always vodka?” “Your boyfriend has told you that a dozen times already, I know it for a fact, you shit.” “Okay but maybe I wanna hear you explain it. Again,” Silver said, propping his chin on his hands and putting on his best Cheshire smile, throwing in a slight batting of the lashes just for Muldoon’s sake. They played this game every time Silver wasted away a few hours at the bar, which he was starting to do more and more often. He’d joke with Flint that it was only out of boredom, but in truth, he felt safe there, nestled in the corner with his laptop or acting as an honorary member of the staff when they needed some help. He didn’t want to dwell too much on it, on why he felt so safe there or why after so many years he was once again feeling so painfully devoted to the same group of men who’d despite everything, seen him through hell. Muldoon sighed, his hands making quick work of filling the high powered steam dishwasher under the counter. He pushed it closed with his hip and looked up at Silver, finally cracking a smile. “Do you want to help me run bar for a bit, love? While it’s quiet?”

Silver was behind the bar before Muldoon could even consider changing his mind. He did pause to duck into the kitchen quickly, where the two line cooks- Randal and Dooley- were working on their mise en place and Vane was wedged into the alley doorway with a cigarette in his mouth, recovering from the lunch rush. His long hair was carefully tied up in a braided bun and covered in a bandanna, ears lined as always with half a dozen hoops a piece. “Why do you look like you just ate a canary?” Vane asked around his smoke. “No reason. Where’s the Captain?” Vane nodded to the walk in pantry where Flint was likely checking stock counts, “he’s in a mood again.” “When isn’t he? When he’s done tell him to come up to the bar I’ve got a surprise,” Silver said, still wearing that grin, and Vane laughed with a nod, going back to watching the alley behind the bar. “Alright come on you flirt-” Muldoon called, and Silver quickly washed his hands and snagged one of the spare aprons Hal kept behind the bar. It wasn’t like he didn’t know how to make a cocktail, he played bartender for house parties all the time. But there was something different about learning to do it properly, from Muldoon who clearly took great pride in it, and in a place that was quickly becoming a second home to him. An hour in, and several successful cocktails later, Muldoon allowed Silver to help him actually fill orders for the few customers they got, though it wasn’t many. Flint still had not resurfaced from the kitchen, and so Silver kept his focus on the recipes Muldoon had him run through- proper martinis and Manhattans, Mojitos and mules, mezcal margs and all the things you could do with the collection of Amaros and aperitifs behind the bar. The customers were students on their way home from morning classes, morning shifters heading home or stopping for some food before the evening shift at their second job started, regulars who stopped in for lunch because no one made a cuban quite as well as their kitchen did. And then the door chimed and Silver looked up with his customary smile and greeting ready, waiting to see where the guests might seat themselves- the host wouldn’t be in till four when the official dinner service started- and found himself staring at, well, children. Six of them, all too young to be in a bar unsupervised even before happy hour but probably even too young to be wandering around Brooklyn by themselves as it was. The older two definitely had the hardened older sibling with “semi absent if not entirely absent parents” look around them, Silver knew that look far too well, though whether the four younger kids were siblings or just under their care he couldn’t be sure. All of them were wearing some variation of public school uniform which Silver recognized from the public school a few blocks away. “Hey Nicki,” Muldoon said with a wave, and one of the older kids with short messy dark hair and equally dark eyes waved back. Silver looked at Muldoon quickly with raised brows. “Do me a favor go find Flint, okay? Tell him the kids are up front.” Silver just nodded, watching as Nicki and the other older kid shepherded the younger kids into the big corner booth closest to the bar without being told to, and slipped into the kitchen. Vane was at the prep table, knife in hand and making quick work of a cut of meat. He didn’t look up when he heard the door swing open but tilted his head expectantly. “Flint?” Sliver asked. “Smoke break, should be about done. Said he was coming up to see you in a minute.” Silver threw open the back alley door and there was Flint, propped up against the wall with a beaten up paperback on his knee and a forgotten cigarette in his hand. He looked up at him with a frown. “Hey whats wrong? You set the bar on fire with a flaming mojito or something?” he said, wearing a rare teasing smile. “Not yet but theres like, half a kindergarten class upfront.” Flint blinked, looked at his watch, and swore, “shit they must’ve let out early cause of the heat.” “Darling, what in the hell are you talking about.” Flint stubbed out the cigarette and tossed it in the ashtray by the door, kissing the top of Silver’s head as he passed. “I’ll explain in a minute- Vane! Leave the dinner service I need you on the meal kits with me-” “Already started on them,” Vane said, waving the knife idly as he portioned the meat into rather exact ready to cook portions. Flint nodded and washed his hands. “Dooley wheres those sandwiches I told you to fix-” “Here boss.” “Silver,” Flint loaded up six plates of sandwiches onto two serving trays and passed the lighter of the two to Silver. “Take one of these out with me ‘kay?” Silver nodded and balanced the tray on his shoulder, following Flint out of the kitchen. The bar was still mostly empty, Muldoon hanging out at the corner of the bar closest to the kids, making them each a Shirley Temple and passing Nicki a pitcher of water for them to share. Normally, Silver would’ve made some smart ass remark about how apparently it was normally for a bunch of kids to just turn up at the bar for lunch but something about this felt different and something in the set of Flint’s shoulders told him to stay quiet. “Let me guess the AirCon crap out again?” Flint asked upon reaching the table. “Or did one of you sabotage it to get out early?” The younger kids all started talking at once, bursts of loud excitement at seeing Flint, and the food, all wanting to explain why they had been let out of school a little bit early that day. Nicki and the other older kid, Sola, helped distribute the plates of food with smiles and nods of thanks while Flint listened intently to the kids’ rambling and incoherent explanations. Once the young-ins were distracted by the sandwiches, Nicki offered a more coherent explanation. “Yeah they said the AC’s gonna be out till tomorrow with the heat, so they’re closing school till Monday,” he said. “Three day weekend I guess, without the extra homework since the teachers didn’t have time to prepare for any.” “Nice. Gonna meet your friends at the bridge park tomorrow? You mentioned wanting to get your kick flips more polished.” Nicki shook his head, looking bitter about it. “Can’t, busted up my front bearings and wheels on a ride home last week, won’t be able to afford to fix it for a bit. S’fine though, got chores to do.” Flint nodded, leaning back against the bar with his arms lazily crossed over his middle. “Do me a solid and bring the board by tomorrow okay? I think one of my guys might have some spare parts they’re not using.” Silver felt something in him break a little at the way the boy’s face lit up at Flint’s words. Or maybe it was at the ease with which Flint handled the kids, the openness he showed them, listening to how their days had gone, if only in brief, listening to their problems, which to them seemed world ending- Sola’s internet was out for the weekend, so she’d be at the library doing homework on Friday and probably most of the weekend when she wasn’t helping at her aunt’s salon, the little ones would all be shuttled to various relatives until Monday until they went back to school and Sola and Nicki, or another of the older kids in their building would take charge of them again. One of the younger kids was staring at Silver, her sandwich half held to her mouth. Just staring, bright brown eyes fixed on him in that quizzical way that children possessed that always made Silver feel transparent. Flint noticed and followed her gaze with an amused grin, waving for Silver to come over to join them instead of hiding behind the bar with Muldoon. Silver looked at him wide eyed for a moment, then at the kids, specifically the little girl who was staring him down like a gunslinger, and then back at Flint, who just reached for him. Damn the bastard, he knew that was all it ever took. Silver came over and let Flint pull him in under his arm, feeling like a bug under the microscope in a science class he never attended but had heard about from other people. “You have pretty hair,” the little girl said. She was missing her two front teeth and Silver wanted to melt. “Thank you. You have big eyes.” “Yeah. They see a lot,” She said nodding solemnly. Silver could feel Flint shifting with the effort it took not to laugh. “They’re a pretty color. They remind me of this stone called tiger’s eye,” Silver continued. He could see Nicki giving Flint a look, though he didn’t know what Flint was doing in response. The little girl tilted her head. “Whats that?” So Silver pulled out his phone and showed her, which lead to a short lesson in gemstones that mostly amounted to excited cries of “oh shiny” and “I’d steal that one” which did Silver’s heart good. “This is Silver, a friend of mine who just moved back to town. He’s helping out round here. So he and I are gonna go fix your take away bags,” Flint said, once the momentary fascination in gemstones had faded and the kids were once again fixed on their plates. “Sola, you and Nicki just let Muldoon know if you guys need anything, or stick your head in the kitchen and yell okay? We’ll hear you. C’mon Silver.” If Silver had hoped for an explanation, he didn’t get one. Once he and Flint crossed the threshold back into the kitchen there was work to be done- Randal and Dooley handled the orders brought to them from the waitstaff while Flint and Vane, with Silver doing whatever Flint told him to, made quick work of assembling meal kit after meal kit from dishes both on and off the bar’s menu. Everything was boxed up and taped shut, paired with pre-typed instructions on how to cook the meals and how many servings each would make, and tucked into sturdy double layered brown bags that would hopefully survive a trip across the neighborhood. As they were finishing twenty minutes later, Hal’s voice could be heard through the window behind the bar, which answered Silver’s most pressing question- did he know that Flint was just running a school cafeteria out of the bar? Apparently yes, and apparently the kids were just as excited, if not more so, to see “Uncle” Hal. Because of course they called him Uncle Hal, why wouldn’t they. God, Silver was going to have to book a fucking dentist appointment for all the tooth rot the sweetness of this was giving him. He helped Flint carry out the bags of food, Vane insisting the kids would be too scared of him while Flint argued that Vane was just scared of the kids, and Silver watched as Hal and Flint got the bags labeled for each child and into a push cart that Sola promised to bring back the next day when she passed on her way to her Aunt’s salon. He then did his very best not to pass away on the spot as each kid, even Nicki and Sola, hugged Hal goodbye. Flint had crouched down to say good by to the little ones, accepting their clumsy hugs, reminding them to be careful walking home, and asking them to recite the bar’s phone number for him just in case (though Silver was sure they probably had cellphones, even if they were elementary schoolers), before he stood and gave Nicki and Sola each a one armed hug and watched them shepherd the group outside again. “Only group today?” Hal asked and Silver thought his voice sounded a bit heavy. “So far. Powers out at their school though, likely a couple others’ll come by later. Want me to call around to the other bars and see if they’ve heard anything?” “Yeah call the food bank and the closest shelter too for me, see if we can’t drop off our end of night supply to them this weekend.” Later, several more hours of food prep and three more groups of wary looking kids who all seemed completely unafraid of Flint and his crew, plus a Thursday night dinner rush, and Silver finally got his explanation. He also thought he should have gotten the nobel prize for being able to keep his mouth shut for as long as he did. “So are we gonna talk about it?” Flint was sitting on the floor in front of him, half asleep already between his thighs, as Silver combed his hair. They had taken home food from the bar and shared a six pack between them on the deck, Thomas held up at a Client dinner where he was no doubt being wined and dined and bored to absolute tears. They had treated themselves then to a hot bath, with the jets, and were now just wasting time with the kind of nonsexual intimacy that Silver had learned he craved with Flint, waiting for Thomas to join them so they could all manage a good nights sleep. “Talk about what?” Flint asked, his voice a heady rumble. “The kids. And why they knew to just wander into a bar on a Thursday,” Silver said, keeping his voice gentle. He coated his hands in more product and worked it into the shaved sides and back of Flint’s head, massaging his scalp as he went. “Why you and Hal and the rest of the crew seemed completely unphased by it.” Flint hummed lowly, nearly a purr as he leaned into Silver’s touch. They’d settled into the bedroom Thomas and Flint shared, like they did most nights since it had the nicest adjoining bathroom and all the obnoxiously nice hair and skin care products. Silver sat in the old plush armchair, bundled up in a robe while Flint, naked and content to air dry, leaned into him, a picture of ginger hair, rich freckles, and well loved tattoos on a soft strong figure. If Silver hadn’t been so distracted by the day, he’d have been more appreciative. “S’not that big a deal. Lots of families round here with young kids, can’t keep an eye on them between working two or three jobs, haven’t got money for babysitters or relatives to watch ‘em, or enough to cover food for the week, especially when the public schools can’t feed em. You start to notice which kids it is, when they pass by, which schools they go to, which blocks.” “In Brooklyn Heights?” “They don’t live in this neighborhood, Silver, you know that, not all of Brooklyn has been gentrified to shit by the developers. Hell walk a few blocks east towards the tech school and you’ll find a lot of them. Or south towards Bayridge. Anyway, the groups you met today are all right from Downtown Brooklyn, they go to school nearby you’ve seen them.” “Yeah I just… I dunno, you see so much of the multi-million dollar condos I guess you forget thats not all theres is.” “Nicki lives with his mom, his dad walked out and she’s working two jobs to keep the one bedroom they share over on Jay street. He’s only thirteen but he tried getting a job with me washing dishes last summer, I turned him down, sent him home with some food for his trouble,” Flint continued. Silver smiled, he could picture the scrappy dark haired boy trying to square up with Flint, trying to convince him he was old enough to legally work. “Let me guess he wasn’t the first.” “Won’t be the last either. If they aren’t working for the family to earn some extra money or to cut back on hiring expenses they’re looking for shifts somewhere to pick up the slack. They’re losing out on being kids all because the rent keeps going up and there ain’t shit else to do about it other than leave. And a lot of them can’t even afford to do that.” There was a familiar grit to Flint’s voice, the old bitter salt that meant someone had touched a nerve. It scared other people, but Silver knew it just meant Flint was, for the moment, being vulnerable with him. “Were you Nicki once? Trying to bully your way into work?” Silver asked softly. He reached for the comb again and sectioned off a part of Flint’s hair to start working with. Flint was quiet a moment. “Yeah. Yeah worked the docks a bit as a boy, most kids did it to earn pocket money or to help out with the bills.” “Which was it for you?” “Granddad only had his pension. And he spent that on booze. So whatever I earned at the docks helping the fishermen, or from pickpocketing, that was what bought food. Kept the lights on, shit like that. I told you once, that I met Henessy that way, picking his pocket.” Silver laughed softly. “I do remember. You technically succeeded, didn’t you?” “Mm, he only caught me cause someone snitched. Broke that fuckers nose real good I’ll tell you.” They were quiet for a moment, Silver combing Flint’s hair with impossible care, working his fingers through any knots he found, before following with product and conditioner, Flint grew heavier and heavier against him, warm and soft and his. “So you and Hal decided to do something, the way you always do?” Silver asked. “Hm? Oh yeah- city isn’t doin’ much, food banks and schools are already over run, and when school holidays hit, they can barely keep up demand for kids who need free meals. So we got a few other bars involved, met with some schools and the food banks and sent out some notices and just- started feeding people. I mean thats why Hal wanted to open the bar you know? You feed people and you give them everything. You feed them and they’ll do the rest. So thats what we did. In a week or two when the schools are out for the summer we’ll have a couple trucks that’ll make deliveries, so the kids don’t have to come to the bar.” Silver hummed and kissed his temple. “You’re sweet.” “Am not.” “You’ll let me help, right? Prep the meals and stuff?” Flint tipped his head back to look up at him. “You want to?” “Yeah. This altruistic thing is new to me, as is the cooking for fun thing but… it matters, to you, any idiot can see that. And I want to be part of it.” Silver smiled and leaned down to kiss him best he could. He could feel Flint smiling into the upside down kiss. “You’re really good with them too, you know, which please don’t take this the wrong way, I did not expect,” he added when he pulled back. “What with the kids?” “Yeah.” “Oh no offense taken I have no idea how it happened. They just aren’t afraid of me for some reason. I fully expected them to be, mind. I used to think I had the kind of face that would make babies and small children cry but apparently they just, I dunno, think I’m alright.” “They trust you, thats a big deal for kids. Especially ones who have clearly been let down by other adults. I mean you also talk to them like they’re just tiny adults which probably helps.” “They’re gonna be adults one day, might as well treat them with dignity well before they realize they should be fighting for it, you know?” Silver smiled softly, “Sometimes I don’t think you realize how magnificent you are, you bastard.” Flint didn’t say anything, just blindly reached for Sliver’s hands so he could pull him closer. So silver set aside the comb and rested his chin on the top of Flint’s head, wrapping his arms around him and holding tight to his weathered, tattooed hands. “You were good with them too, once you stopped being scared of them,” Flint offered. “Kids scare me, I’ve never spent enough time around them to learn how to make them happy. They’re so easy to hurt, so easy to damage. And extremely durable, extremely resilient but… I dunno… Just never trusted myself and never had the opportunity to do more than amuse them for a few minutes at a time before vanishing into thin air like Santa Claus.” “Well, you’ll have plenty of practice at the bar. I still think you were good with them. Little Sylvie likes you at least.” “Not as much as they love you.” Silver thought a moment. “Hey…” “Hm?” “Have… Have you and Thomas ever talked about kids?” It was a heavy question, one that might have been too much too soon and a part of Silver wished he hadn’t asked it. But there had been such a softness in Flint’s face when he’d spoken to the children, a kindness and a focus in his attention that meant he’d put time and effort into his actions, into making sure what he was doing was what the kids needed in that moment. It wasn’t just an adult slumming it with the neighborhood kids cause he had nothing better to do, it was almost, dare Silver think it, Paternal in nature. Paternal and the dread Captain Flint being used in the same sentence had not been something Silver had ever considered as possible, and yet- And yet it was, and it had piqued the old curiosity. Flint was quiet again, though he didn’t pull away or let go of Silvers hands, so Silver trusted that he hadn’t upset him. Silver held him tightly, turning his head to rest his cheek on Flint’s hair and wait patiently for him to speak. “Its complicated, pup.” “You don’t have to tell me. I was just curious. I never thought of you as a dad until today but now I’m… I won’t lie a part of me is still thinking about it.” There was a soft shuddering sound and Silver felt Flint shift in his arms, curling tighter in on himself for a moment before trying to settle again. Silver held tight, pressing his face into his hair. It took another moment or two, and several deep breaths, but Flint eventually spoke. “Thomas and Miranda were expected to have children when they married,” he said lowly, “all wealthy families expect heirs. But Miranda didn’t want to go through pregnancy and Thomas wasn’t sure if he could sire so they found ways of putting it off and focusing on Thomas’ political career. Thomas… he wanted to save the world, I’m sure for a while he thought he couldn’t allow himself thoughts of a future until that was done.” Silver hummed. That did sound like Thomas. Even now, with the chip on his shoulder and the somewhat colder view of the world, he still seemed to think he could save it. Silver wasn’t about to point out that Flint still seemed to think the same way. “And after everything I dunno I guess it just took so much time to remember how to be living, breathing people again, that children were never part of the consideration,” Flint said with a shrug. There was a weight to his voice, an emptiness that had Silver frowning slightly in surprise. “How can you care for a child when you’ve only just come back to life? When you’ve only just found reason to stay alive? It- Any child we brought into our lives would have been at risk, back then for certain, though I’m not sure a child would be better off now and besides with how much we work its not like-” “James,” Silver said softly, lifting his head, “you’re rambling.” Flint went still in his arms, still as if waiting for the lash that he knew would never come, but waited for all the same. The readiness with which Flint expected violence broke something in Silver, just as much as it felt like a mirror, smudged and smoky and cracked with age. “Is this your way of saying you want to be a father, but the thought of it terrifies you?” Silver asked. “The things I’ve done,” Flint said in a rough voice, “The stains my hands have carried- I’d see them every time I held my child. That’s my fear, I think. That I’d see them, and that violence would stain them as well.” He paused. Silver held him, hiding his own face. It was easier, they had learned, to talk about such things like this, with Flint’s back to Silver, their faces just hidden enough to give the illusion of control. How many secrets had they shared like this? Silver was losing count. “I was raised by a drunken old sailor and a bastard of a navy man who brought nothing but ruin- what could I ever give a child, John?” Flint asked, his hands white knuckle tight on Silver’s, his eyes the deep green of the sea, ghostly and far away. “What could I give them but that same ruin?” And what could Silver say in the face of that? So he said nothing, just nodded and kissed Flints throat until the tension in his shoulders softened and Flint settled back against Silver’s body to rest, weary and still haunted, but at least no longer at knife point in his own home. Silver went back to brushing his hair, singing softly to him as he worked, until Thomas came home and they were able to find more pleasant ways to spend their evening than discussing the sins of one’s father. They didn’t talk about the possibility of children again, not for the whole of the summer. They helped the food banks and the neighborhood families as best they could through the summer, made sure whatever kids stopped by the bar or the kitchen door in the alley left with something to eat, on the house. Thomas made sure checks were written to the shelters and the food banks that needed them, that the families that needed childcare could get it free of charge. They got through the summer, and the conversation never arose again. Silver just kept the thought of Flint holding a bright eyed child that sometimes looked like Thomas’ kid, and sometimes looked like his own, locked away safely in his heart and didn’t examine it too closely. Then Idelle had her baby in August. In October they held a two month belated baby shower for her at The Walrus, so the crew could meet little Wesley Ira Featherstone and his father, bless him, could cry with his crew mates about how proud he was while Idelle had her first stiff drink in over a year. Rackham was there, of course, as the boy’s God father (Silver was delighted by the idea because Rackham was absolutely as terrified by the concept as he was as honored) and Wesley took to him as well as any two month old possibly could. But when it came to crying babies, Rackham didn’t know what to do, and Hal the God Father to all and obvious baby whisperer was back in the kitchen unable to assist. And so Thomas and Silver watched as Flint, who seemed to be acting without really thinking about what he was doing (outside of scolding Rackham who was himself on the verge of tears) scooped up the baby and promptly rocked him calm within moments. “How did you-” Rackham stared at him in shock. “If you didn’t fuckin panic all the time then he wouldn’a started crying,” Flint growled at him, which Wesley found hilarious, if the slew of gurgling giggles was anything to go by. Silver watched, feeling his face split into a ridiculous smile, as Flint refused to give the baby back to Rackham until he’d sobered up, and instead let Idelle tie a sling around his chest to tuck Wesley into, so he could still fix drinks and use his hands while keeping the baby safe. “Sure you don’t want me to take him back?” she asked, Max watching with an amused smile. “You’ll have plenty of him soon, I got ‘im. Just give Rackham a 101 on how to actually hold a baby.” Silver leaned into Thomas as they watched Flint from their seats at the bar, humming as Thomas’ arm went around him automatically, pulling him close into his side. He looked up, curious to see what Thomas thought of his husband suddenly so at home with a child. He didn’t know what he had been expecting, but whatever it was, it wasn’t what he saw. Thomas’s face had gone soft, from the crows feet around his eyes to the laughter lines around his mouth, which parted in the gentlest shape of awe Silver might have ever seen on the man, as if he’d realized something he’d never considered before. His shoulders were rounded, leaning forward against the bar, hand fidgeting against the polished bartop as if desperate to reach out for his husband. Silver could feel the arm he hand around his shoulder tensing with the need to act. They watched as Flint moved behind the bar, one hand resting where Wesley’s head was under the sling, rocking him gently as he fetched fresh beers for himself and for Hal. Silver was watching his face, watching the way his lips were moving, as if he were talking to the baby, but he was just too far away to hear what he was saying. “He’s singing,” came Thomas’ voice suddenly, almost lost to the noise of the bar. “What?” “He’s singing,” Thomas said again, nodding to his husband. “Padstow Farewell, he sings it to me sometimes when I have nightmares, I’d know the lyrics on his lips even in the grave.” Silver smiled softly. “He sang it to me when I was recovering from my leg. I didn’t know it could be a lullaby.” “Neither did I but…” “But now-” “Yeah.” Silver reached for Thomas’ other hand and kissed his knuckles, leaning into him further. Thomas held him impossibly tight, resting his cheek on his hair. There’d be more to talk about in the morning, tomorrow, the day after, next week, next month, next year. And there was a dizzying sense of joy in that, the same kind of joy that came from watching Flint carrying the future in his worn and weathered hands.

#my fic #jamie's fic prompt fills #black sails #black sails fic #black sails modern au #silverflinthamilton #silverflint #james flint #john silver #thomas hamilton #@themelonface #muldoon #hal gates #charles vane #i had a lot of feelings writing this one y'all just so many feelings all over the plave holy shit!!!!

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knoepfchen · 3 years ago

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Tagged by @bewires (it's been forever since i've done one of these, but clearly the end of year has me in the mood for reflection)

Tagging: @raedear, @devouring-time, @regina-del-cielo, @chinchillinator, @werebearbearbar, @emjee, @sixth-light and anyone who would like to do it, ofc :)

How many works do you have on AO3? 33

What's your total AO3 word count? 449,572 (of which, yes, over half was written in the last 1.5 years)

How many fandoms have you written for and what are they? My AO3 says 7 but that's only because I keep orphaning older works I'm unhappy with 😅 should be like 10!

They are: The Old Guard, The Raven Cycle, Harry Potter, Merlin, James Bond, The Witcher, In The Flesh and technically also Love, Actually

Are there any new fandoms you want to write for? No, I'm a one fandom at a time kinda gal 😁 (I can barely balance fic with original fiction, but yeah if there was anything I wanted to "get into" it would probably be... my novel draft from last year or two years ago)

What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

and you smiled, because you knew. (TOG)

we that are true lovers run into strange capers (TOG)

Oh, the Irony (TRC)

The Voice of Experience (TOG, co-written with @werebearbearbar)

"I assume you don't mind sharing?" (TRC)

Which of your fics do you want more attention for? i'm not sure if there's a good answer here that's not something along the lines of "all of them, duh," or the other extreme, which is "it still boggles my mind that people are responding to the things i'm putting out there at all."

...but then again, i'd bet everyone who's written more than one fic for the same fandom knows that it tends to be the small, silly, throw-away idea fics that seem to get a lot more kudos and comments than expected, and the longer ones with meatier concepts that take tons and tons more work often don't get reactions in proportion to that.

so in that vein, a fic i worked hard on that i wish had more kudos is if you do take a thief , but at the same time, it had a really loyal readership and people left amazing comments that made my day whenever i updated, so anything else i put here would sound like an unreasonable complaint ♥️

Do you respond to comments, why or why not? I try to! ...but when i write one-shots, i'm actually sort of mentally done with them and i find it difficult to respond to comments because i then go back and forth thinking about what i've written and doubt whether i should have posted it (even if it's the nicest comment ever!). that's why i'm more likely to respond to comments on WIPs - at least there I feel like I can still fix it 😅

What sorts of things do you normally write? Very silly AUs based on social media posts, if I'm being honest

What's the fic you've written with the angstiest ending? I keep saying I don't write angst, but that's a lie - I wrote an interpretation/canon retelling of the events leading up to Quynh being thrown into the sea, and there is nothing happy about the ending to that fic.

What's a fic that pushed you out of your comfort zone? The fic I spoke about above - I didn't know anything about the setting, I'd never written fighting scenes before, and I'm basically addicted to happy endings, none of which this fic had. Without @avaniesque it would have been one big mess <3

Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you've written? Apparently I do! I've just recently written a The Old Guard x Love, Actually crossover, because the idea that Chiwetel Eijofor's character in each film (Copley and Peter, respectively) tickled me. I think I did a good job, although yes, it means I had to fridge Keira Knightley 😅

I've also written a Hogwarts AU for In the Flesh, but that kind of thing doesn't really count as a crossver anymore, does it?

Have you ever had a fic translated? Not to my knowledge - but I have translated other people's Merlin and 00Q fics in the past!

Have you ever co-written a fic before? Yep - my Big Bang from earlier this year was a co-written piece with @werebearbearbar ♥️

What's a WIP that you want to finish but don't think you ever will? Not sure there are any - some are bit more slow going, sure, but I haven't given up on any yet.

What are you currently working on? I guess I might as well admit to it - I've now started the radio fic 😂

What are your writing strengths? I think I'm funny (sue me), a decent plotter, and relentless in giving fics fully-fleshed out secondary characters that are a joy for my mains to bounce off of.

What are your writing weaknesses? Because I envision most of my stories like a TV series, I don't always do a lot of "showing" when it comes to my characters' emotions - it's dialogue or nothing, usually.

Also, English is still only my second language so sometimes my phrasing is awkward and my scenes and sentences drag on and on while I try to make my point - I've been trying to write neater for literal years.

What was the first fandom you wrote for? Most recent? If we're counting school projects, then Looking for Alaska was the first, and most recent, of course, The Old Guard

What's your favorite fic you've written? if you do take a thief - it was a lot of fun!

What fic are you most proud of? Ever so often, I try to write about a slightly bigger topic than my usual borderline crack AUs. It can be a bit hit and miss, but I've been very touched by the response I've gotten to if i'd have lived longer. I wasn't sure if the issue I was trying to touch on, that kind of not having anything against children but not wanting them for yourself, would come across. I'm glad that some people felt seen in the end result.

#tag games

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hb-writes · 4 years ago

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A Little Raven

Written in response to Hauntober prompt #15: Raven.

Summary: From the Little Lady Blinder universe! A chat between sisters-in-law followed by a chat between Lizzie and Tommy. This is a bit long and self-indulgent and might not be particularly consistent with canon but oh well. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Characters Featured: Lizzie Shelby, Clara Shelby (Shelby!Sister), Tommy Shelby

—–

“Frances said you wanted me first?”

Lizzie turned from the window, allowing the passage of a brief smile as she glanced at her sister-in-law. Like her husband, Lizzie still saw a couple of kids when she looked at Clara and Finn, still saw the little girl who passed her time with books and papers while sitting on the stoop at Watery Lane, still saw the boy with a keen eye for mischief and a disposition towards unsanctioned sweets. She supposed those visions still held true. None of them were so different to be unrecognizable through the years. Some traits endured the transition to adulthood, no matter what transpired in the interim.

Clara stripped out of her coat, placing it over the back of the chair before following Lizzie’s gaze out to the yard where Ruby and Charles played with the nanny, their squeals and laughter sharp and clear through the pane of the closed window.

Clara sat in one of the armchairs, pulling her feet up and working on untying her boot laces while she waited. She was used to the reticent moments, used to people taking their time in revealing why she’d been summoned somewhere in the first place. She found it a pleasant change for Lizzie to be inviting her to the drawing-room for a visit rather than Tommy summoning her to his office for one of his chats, even if her sister-in-law was very clearly preoccupied.

The thud of Clara’s shoes hitting the floor as she slipped them off her feet pulled Lizzie’s eyes towards her for a moment before she settled them on the girl’s discarded boots, understated but still expensive, something Tommy had probably paid for.

Lizzie wasn’t ignoring her on purpose, Clara knew that. She was just distracted, caught up in her own thoughts, turning something over in her mind. Clara just wasn’t certain how she fit into those thoughts.

“Lizzie?” Clara said.

“Mmm?” Lizzie hummed, finally fixing her eyes on Clara.

“You did ask for me, right?” Clara said.

“I suppose you’d prefer to go be with the children,” Lizzie mused. “Or to go say hello to your brother?”

“Is he home already?” Clara asked, glancing down at the small watch on her wrist as she adjusted the clock face. It was barely past five.

Lizzie scoffed, gave a single shake of her head. Tommy was eternally late in coming home, and habitually premature in leaving it.

“Well, that leaves more time for us to catch up, then,” Clara offered, absently kneading the arch of her foot. “I came home to be with all of you, Lizzie.”

“Right, all of us,” Lizzie answered, sitting down in an adjacent armchair. “When’s the last time you saw all of us here, Clara? When’s the last time he graced us with his presence at a decent hour?”

It was the previous Sunday, Clara remembered, and he’d come out of his office just before dinner, played with Charles and Ruby a bit before eating with Clara, Lizzie, and the kids, but Clara had the feeling Lizzie didn’t want to be reminded of that.

“Did you talk to him?” Clara asked.

Lizzie took a deep breath and nearly gagged, feeling as though she wouldn’t be able to stop herself from conjuring up the contents of her latest meal, the sick feeling in her stomach beyond the typical bout of morning sickness, more of a nauseating dread which had settled in the pit of her stomach.

The last time she’d been here, in this condition, Lizzie had been optimistic. Nearly five years later, she felt anything but. And despite all the strength she’d decided on summoning, despite deciding to stay, to accept Tommy and his faults, to balance her head against her heart, she hadn’t planned on this as a part of the deal.

‘A little you and me,’ she’d offered Tommy when she’d told him of the first baby growing inside of her, a smile on her face, a bit of hope in her heart.

She had little hope this time, little positivity about the life prospects for yet another child of Thomas Shelby, a little boy nonetheless, a little raven-haired boy who would have his parents’ blue eyes, his father’s strong jaw, the unmistakable markings of a Shelby.

If Tommy had kept all of his promises, if he’d done right and put a proper stop to the sport for anyone named Shelby. If he’d kept Finn and Clara away from the life, Lizzie might have thought differently. She might have felt nothing but happiness at the prospect of another child with a little tuft of raven hair and bright blue eyes, but in half a decade, Tommy had dealt her plenty of empty assurances.

She feared enough for the children already. Her Ruby was a different child around her father, a bit nervous, a bit quiet. The girl didn’t know the same Tommy that Clara and Finn knew, nor the father Charlie had had for a time, at least while he was young.

This baby would never know that version of Tommy either, not really. Her children would spend their lives distant from the man they called dad, and there was part of Lizzie that didn’t think it to be a terrible thing.

Clara reached out to clasp Lizzie’s hand. “Lizz--”

“Polly says it’s a boy.”

“Oh,” Clara answered, pulling her hand back. “That’s--”

Lizzie cleared her throat and continued. “A little raven-haired boy named James.” She opened her cigarette case, placed the fag between her lips. “Jamie,” she added. “And no, I haven’t told your brother.”

Clara frowned. She was tired of holding the secret she’d accidentally overheard when Lizzie confided in Polly. She was tired of pretending with her brother, tired of avoiding him. It wasn’t easy work, withholding information from him because, despite the best of Clara’s efforts, Tommy possessed an uncanny ability to know when his sister was keeping something from him.

“He loves being a father, Lizzie. He’ll be--”

“Happy?” she suggested. “I’m less worried about your brother being happy than I am worried for all of you kids.”

“All of us?”

Lizzie lit the cigarette, puffing before she pointed it at Clara.

“Yes, you and Finn are included.”

“There’s nothing to worry about, Lizzie.”

“Right, with Finn running around getting himself shot and you--”

“What about me?”

“Neither one of you kids has a healthy sense of self-preservation, always pushing when you haven’t a need, and you’ve passed it right on to those two. Maybe it’s in the blood, an inherited recklessness that--”

“Is that really what you’re worried about? That I’ve taught the kids to stand up for themselves and I’ll teach the baby the same?” Clara asked.

Lizzie glanced out the window again, the things she was truly scared about swirling in her mind while she watched Ruby and Charles holding hands as they went round in circles.

“It’s a bad omen, a raven,” she said.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Clara answered. “A baby can’t be a bad omen.”

Lizzie was beginning to believe that the Shelby name was a curse and that despite her husband’s promises, not one of the kids would live a life unmarred by it, not Finn, not Clara, not Charles nor Ruby, and not the unborn son growing in her womb. And despite knowing Thomas Shelby loved the children, she feared what she already knew to be true, that loving a person wasn’t always enough.

These days, Tommy’s moments of softness were harder to come by. The types of moments Clara held on to when her brother was difficult, the moments that reminded her through the tough spots that he did much of what he did out of love, for protection or survival. Lizzie didn’t know her children would have that, didn’t know that a raven-haired boy looking just like his father could ever garner as much care as he’d deserve from the man, enough of the affection that he would need to someday to get through the tough spots.

“He’s not how he once was with you,” Lizzie said.

“He’s not been like that for a long while, Lizzie, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t love them.”

“I know he loves them, loves all of you, but I worry someday they won’t have memories enough to forgive him as you do.”

“I don’t forgive him because of the memories, Lizzie,” Clara answered. “I forgive him because he’s nearly my father and because I know he cares for me as much as I care for him. Ruby and Charles know that. Jamie will, too.”

Clara joined Lizzie on the couch. “And regardless, you care for us all well enough whether that fool joins us for dinner or not.”

Lizzie set her cigarette down in the tray and accepted Clara’s offered hug, allowing herself to release a breath of relief with the girl in her arms.

“Well, that may be, but it doesn’t settle my nerves about you and Finn,” Lizzie said as she pulled away.

Clara rolled her eyes. “You’ve not--”

“Glad I’m not the only one concerned.”

Clara glanced at her watch again before looking at Tommy where he stood by the door. “You’ve actually come early?”

He nodded. “Someone had Adam make it very clear in my diary that I was meant to be home at a respectable hour today.”

Clara hummed, feigning an impressed surprise, as though she hadn’t begged Tommy’s personal secretary at the commons to adjust his schedule to accommodate him being back in Warwickshire so early on a Friday evening.

“Right. I think I’ll leave you two and go say hello to Charlie and Ruby while we wait on Finn,” Clara offered, slipping past Tommy on her way to the door.

“Forgetting something, Clara?”

Clara turned back to him, snatching the forgotten boots from his outstretched hand.

“When our brother gets in, we can have a talk about your excursion in London on Tuesday evening, eh?”

Clara sighed. “I think we’re a bit old for a lecture, Tommy. It was nothing.”

“Seems like you two idiots’ll never be too old for a lecture,” he answered. “But go on. Go see the kids. I’m sure they’ve been asking after you all day.”

Tommy watched his sister leave before taking the seat beside his wife. “Now, while we wait for Finn, you and I can have a talk about that baby you’ve got growing inside you, eh Lizzie?”

Lizzie scoffed. "Polly told you then? Or was it Clara?”

Tommy shook his head. Of course, his sister knew. He cleared his throat.

“It was actually you, Lizzie,” he said, taking her hand in his. “Been eating honey on everything. Last time you did that was when you were pregnant with our Ruby.”

Lizzie nodded, looked out at the kids again, saw Clara had joined Ruby and Charles, and the three of them were laughing like a set of maniacs as they ran about the lawn.

“You’re worried,” Tommy offered, guiding his wife’s face to his. “Let me into that head of yours, Lizzie.”

She leaned into his touch as he cupped her cheek, allowed herself that comfort.

“To clear it out?” she mumbled.

Tommy nodded. “To clear it out. Just like we agreed.”

Lizzie placed her hand on top of his.

“Ruby’ll be asking after another sister.”

“Well, she’ll be disappointed then,” Lizzie answered. “It’s a boy.”

Tommy nodded. There was a time when he thought it mattered, back when boys became blinders and girls were considered liabilities but Tommy had stopped thinking that way, started thinking that Lizzie was right. And Grace had been right. There was only one way to keep them all safe.

“Either way,” he answered. “Another little you and me, eh?”

Lizzie nodded and Tommy pulled his eyes away at the approaching footsteps and laughter as Ruby and Charlie piled into the room.

“Daddy! Daddy!”

“And what have you lot been up to, eh?” Tommy asked, pulling Ruby into his lap as Charlie came to sit beside them.

“We’ve been playing, daddy!” Ruby said.

“Dad, Aunt Clara said she and Uncle Finn are ready for a shouting at whenever you are,” Charlie said. “They went to your office.”

Tommy shook his head, glanced quickly at Lizzie before he looked back to his boy.

“What are you going to shout at them for, daddy?” Ruby asked, turning her head to look up at him.

“Don’t you worry about that, sweetheart,” Tommy answered.

“He’s gonna shout because they’ve been naughty,” Charles said to his sister.

“Don’t shout very much, daddy,” Ruby answered. “It’ll ruin our supper.”

“I’m not going to shout. We’re just going to have a talk about them setting a better example for you kids.”

“And then we’ll have supper?” Ruby asked.

“Then supper, Ruby,” he said. “I had Frances ask chef to make a special honey cake for dessert.”

“For mummy?” Ruby asked. “Mummy loves honey cake.”

“And for your baby brother,” Lizzie answered, pulling Ruby’s hand to rest on her stomach. “The one growing in my belly.”

-----

Read more Little Lady Blinder stories here.

#Hauntober #peaky blinders #peaky blinders fanfic #lizzie shelby #tommy shelby #Shelby!Sister #little lady blinder #clara shelby #lizzie stark #ruby shelby #charles shelby #tommy x lizzie

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actualbird · 3 years ago

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I read as much as I could and I just can't believe how accurate you are in your analysis! This comes from a person with a bachelor's film degree, with specialisation in scriptwriting and script editing, so when I say you're absolutely incredible in your writing I even have some authority to say that as a fact! 😂❤️ (Vyn's "I have two degrees" moment is living in my head rent free). You're the only one blog on Tumblr I have notifications on for and genuinely get excited when you post!

I'm not sure if you mentioned this but I think the hardest part about their relationship would be how impulsive Marius is, while Luke always takes a step back and thinks it through, planning things ahead. I can easily imagine them arguing quite a bit because of this. But hey, that's just my opinion 🤷‍♀️

P.S. I sent like an ask a few days back (might even be weeks at this point) and you haven't responded to it? If Tumblr ate it, I can resent it, if you need more time to answer it just please say so, because I've got a few asks get lost in the Tumblr void in the past! ❤️🌺

wahhh, hibiscus!!! you are so sweet!!! (つ﹏<)･ﾟ｡

im....ridiculously glad that u both enjoy my analyses and find them accurate, ESPECIALLY, given ur background omg. im mostly just going crazy at canon information with a shovel, digging DEEP into what we have to answer burning questions i have in my mind. what i end up finding isnt Absolute or The Perfect Answer, but i do like sharing what i get at the end, along with the deranged digging process of how i got there, HAHA

OHHHH MAN YEAH THAT IS VERY INTERESTING!!!! i agree with ur opinion very much!!! marius, while he is smart and does think ahead, is much more impulsive than luke who has planned for probably every single worst case scenario possible KJBKSJFG. DEFINITELY, this is an argument point for them, because neither of them are like....wrong

there are times where going with the flow is more suitable. same way that there are times where being prepared is more suitable.

i actually explore marius' impulsivity in my one marluke fanfic "making out with your bro for fun and for profit" where marius just does or says SO MANY THINGS without thinking and then luke busts into the room and says HEY! CONSEQUENCES, ASSHOLE!

also, oh my god, did you read my mind?? because for ch4 of my other marluke fic "got james bond as a bodyguard over here, lucky me", i was planning for another go of marius doing things without thinking and luke going HEY! CONSEQUENCES!!! but this time....much angrier. like, it's gonna be a whole Argument. capital A. im very excited to write and post it >:3c

but huh, now this is making me think that i want to write something where marius is actually in the right zone. where overpreparing gets luke into trouble and it's marius' turn to get his ass. That's Equality!

EDIT: THO, i do think that, by virtue of being in a relationship with each other, theyll learn to balance each other out. they wont drastically change, itll just be like....luke doesnt worry as much about every detail, marius takes a few more moments to think something through. a relationship, among other things, is about putting in work to make all parties better. a relationship is always, always about growth.

(also!!! i havent gotten an ask from you lately!! the last thing you sent me was a submission screencap from the RRG puzzle which i havent posted bc kjfbgkj im tryna figure out how to fix my submissions. i think ur ask did indeed get eaten by tumblr omg. i'd love to see it, if u could resend!!)

hope you have a nice day :DDD

#hibiscus!anon #asks #my inbox may be a mess but i still have eyes

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tempoaryblogformightyjensblog · 4 years ago

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After a Longass time, I'm gonna make a response post to a post from @itsclydebitches. Not sure if I'll acknowledge All

Of it, but still..

1.Thats, the opposite of what the First episode shows, the first episode shows that the Military presence in Mantle dosent really do anything to actually help them with the Grimm. With it even being joked about as usual for the Military by Nora. The next episode also states that wasn't even the reason James had for it. It was to handle the 'eventual' Panick.

2.This and the recurring point of this later on is something I kinda want to address, because it's sort of what I was trying to say in My ask but I should go into more detail.

The point is basically that If James was shady for what he did, then So is Ruby for being willing to work with him for that long...I kinda want to mix this with a different Criticism I heard. That Ruby not trusting Ironwood was horrible and ungrateful because of all the good stuff James had done and how sympathetic and well meaning he was. The issue is that they are both 2 halves of the picture that ignore the other half, wich was what the heroes actual response was.

Him being sympathetic, clearly just trying to help and all the Good stuff he was doing is why they are willing to work with him and help with things. But Ruby didn't like his shadier actions either, wich is why she didn't trust him completely. And also? ""Nora dosent agree...But Ruby, the leader, does. She pushed Ironwood to finish Amity somwhow", that....isnt What happens, we see After Nora yells at James, ruby walks up to him and tells him more calmly that his actions, his management of Mantle and such were only helping Salem and it's what was making it easy for Salem to frame him. And earlier on we saw her with the other protags suggest working with Robyn. That's not 'Reaping the benefits of his actions even if they don't like them', that's not liking some of his actions but still trying to Understand him, and hope to reason or talk him down. Basically...Well it's a display that the other charachterization for Ruby, that she was a judgmental child who considered anyone who went beyond her standard of perfection to be Evil, isn't true. She tries to help and Understand James because she knows despite his flaws he is trying to do good, she tries to reach out to him and get him to see his actions were flawed.

Hell, the Jobs they were actually given were jobs where they could actually help soften the consequences of James actions, like Ren and Nora guarding the wall. the Robyn thing was a direct display that they weren't just doing anything James asked or were perfectly fine with his morally ambiguous actions. When ordered to attack a Huntress who was just trying to help, they instead went against his orders and even tried to actually fix things in a better way.

3.This is a few different issues, I'll start by saying that, that wasn't Ozpins problem in the Previous Volume, Some fans and some of the Heroes in there Angrier times think that, But the big thing was basically that Ozpin wasn't trusting anyone With that Info, that's what separates it from Rubies situation with James, Ruby wasn't trusting James because he actually did have many traits that made him look untrustworthy. And...well Finishing Amity and the plan is not pointless even with Salems immorality. Ruby dosent 'Know' That her being immortal means that the whole plan is pointless for 2 reasons, 1 is that she never had the mindset that it made it all pointless, she was actually distinctly against that when the others thought that under the Apathies influence, and makes her stance clear later, that Salem being Unkillable doesn't mean she's unstoppable. And 2, she dosent 'Know' that because....Its not true. Even if they can't directly kill her like James is planning...Were explicitly, directly told in Salems first actual appearance in the show that Humanity United was a threat and that was why she was going to ensure she divided them. Not to mention that...It isn't even all about the plan? It's made clear that global communications being down was a really bad thing and fixing that alone would help.

4.Im just gonna address one point here...It was not 'The Majority of Mantle' Being taken, were told that they were not even close to being done evacuating.

5.Basically what I said at 2, But to also state, James wasn't an Unambiguous Bad guy in Volume 7, He was in the Wrong In Volume 7, but he wasn't meant to be a Villain yet. The point of James charachter is basically he's someone who meant well but was highly flawed and made bad decisions, and instead of growing from his mistakes, he doubled down on them and let his flaws consume him. I'll get to it more later, but, that doesn't mean he was always evil or meant to be, Also...Jaunes license was given to him by James but, he was not part of the Military being fused with Huntsman, especially by this point. And with Winters words in her and James fight, I have my own issues with that fight or Winters Arc, but I don't think that point holds up either because we weren't meant to see Winter as unambiguously a good guy in Volume 7. Her words in there fight was after she had changed, that dosent mean we're supposed to believe she was a hero while working under James. It just means her POV changed after leaving him, now she wasn't following her programming of being blindly obedient anymore. Penny called out Winter for her being willing to follow through with euthanizing the Winter Maiden, Marrow calls her out in Volume 8 asking the Weiss question.

6.Well, to answer the questions there, were told in episode 5 what the recources were. Clover says how they were taking 'Construction resources', were told this again by Penny in the Car ride, wich makes total sense. They are changing Amity so that it could serve as a shuttle, so needing Construction stuff makes sense. While we may not be told how much power James had explicitly, they do give us a decent idea, that he had way more then he should. It's said in the Council meeting that they set in Checks and balances to keep him from overstepping with his seats, and that he basically just Ignored them to pull the actions he did in Volume 7. And Watts gives us both one Major decision that shows James flaws and gives a Clue as to part of the reasons Mantle was crappy as it was, saying how James updated most of the code in Atlas after the fall of Beacon, but 'As Usual' None was updated in Mantle. Aside from showing a...Truly Spectacularly callous move on James part, it also gives a big clue as to part of the reason Mantle is as crappy as it is, That Atlas and James basically treat Mantle like an afterthought and neglects changing things there to make things better, resulting in the City's state that we see. And, I imagine that being surveillanced and patrolled almost constantly wouldn't be ideal, and it's established by Winters line in that first episode that not cooperating with Personal was a punishable offense. I think you also....Picked a really bad example with Rhodes, if anything, Rhodes is probably a perfect demonstration of why being complacent or loyal to a system is bad for Huntsmen. I think if he would have loved to help Cinder more, it's just that he was loyal to the System and wasn't doing anything to upset the status quo despite knowing it was wrong. If issues like that existed, then it makes James specialist program, wich is specifically supposed to be Huntsmen trained to be loyal to the system, an even worse idea. Also I sort of feel like the bits at the end are sort of a false equivalency. I explained Ozpin amd Rhodes but also...Well for one, while we don't see portals line up in those specific areas, the plan was to have Jaune explain what was going on with everyone. And Qrow, Marrow and Robyn were still taking in the other Ace ops,they knew the plan so they would likely just head over to the nearest portal after, and...Maria and Pietro weren't there. And in James case, it wasn't just him 'saving who he could', it's that he could have tried to do more but didn't because he didn't want to risk it, and as Volume 8 showed, they really did have lots of time to evacuate people and could have found a way to Launch Amity. And...Well in his case there's the little fact that, as his Convo with Oscar makes explicit, James plan involved leaving the rest of Mankind To the dust and at Salems mercy.

There are problems with RWBY, but I don't think it's shoddily written, partially because I don't really find it 'particularly' flawed and think the good far outweighs the bad. And you know what? To some degree, I agree. I do think there's a weird bias towards authority in the FNDM, but maybe alot of fans are too dismissive of criticism, I do think to some degree we should acknowledge the RWDE and such aren't all right wingers and there's now a Vocal part of it that are on the left or members of minority groups. I don't agree with a ton of the things they say, and think most of it dosent hold up, but instead of just dismissing, perhaps it's better to look at things in detail and give proper arguments agaisnt them. So I won't treat you like an idiot, I'm going to give a full rundown on why I don't feel like it holds up under analytical scrutiny.

For one, while it doesn't have those specific issues like in the real world, I don't agree with this Criticism because I feel it is the one that sort of ignores the worldbuilding and what's been shown or said about the Military and the world itself and not the show, It sort of feels like people just bring up the basic concepts that would seem reasonable and ignore how the show executes certain things. For one, the military was a leftover from a time when they were meant to fight against other humans, It was something an Authoritarian state held over after its defeat and reformation, James and the Military helped Jac as he turned the SDC into the horrific corporate empire it is, Covordin shows that Nationalism is indeed a bit thing and that there were high ranking officers who were fully comfortable with the possiblity of just waging war on the other Kingdoms again. And then there's the specialist program, I've seen people sort of distill it to its very basics to make it seem more reasonable, describing it as just stuff like Huntsmen having rules and such, when the show displays it being way more screwed up then that. It literally involves indoctrinating people as students, were shown Elm reprimand the protagonists saying how they don't need to think about Orders just follow them. As both Volumes show, the culture of the program is deeply screwed up and unhealthy for them, were shown how they taught stuff like repressing your emotions and how deeply unhealthy it is for them.

And...Furthermore? If we're judging by how things are In Universe with the show the world built...James way of doing things is, completely absurd. I already dislike Cynical 'This is the REAL world 'Types IRL. But....In the world James is in, his strategy is just....

He lives in a world where negativity causes monster attacks and the villains whole Shtick is manipulating narratives to cause disarray and ensuring people stay divided. James strategy involved closing off Atlas from the rest of Remnant after they were framed for causing the Fall of Beacon, never bothering to clear there name when sleet and Camilla say he could easily do so, he dismisses both his image across the Globe and in Atlas, and dismisses what the people of Mantle want and the stuff his actions currently cause, all as Neccesary sacrifices when that's all completely insane and Relies on basically ignoring absolutely everything about the situation they are in and how there enemy works, wich again, Ruby points out, that he was actively playing into Salems hands and making it easier for her.

I think it's a decent display of the Tunnel Vision James has, he's prepared for the negativity of the END result of his plan and made preparations for it, but he...Basically ignores the consequences his actions are having right now and how that will affect his ends.

Overall...I think the issue is that James is not meant to be the Bad guy through Volume 7, and I feel like its not that the show 'contradicts' it's pure black and white take on things, it's just that it wasn't there to begin with. Whenever a Major flaw Ironwood had from the start is brought up, it's claimed that it means he was supposed to be 'Always evil'(admitedly some fans as well), when it dosent, it just means his flaws and darker aspects were always there and he didn't jump off the slippery slope instantly like some claim.

Were meant to sympathize with James, understand him, ECT. We're meant to want to see him get better, to be escatic when he does almost get better.

Overall, I don't agree with the idea that James was a reasonable charachter who was bastardized, the show set him up as flawed pretty well already, he's sympathetic because he's designed to be sympathetic. He's not potrayed as a Villain through 7 because he wasn't meant to be til the end.

Also...Well, even if you still felt that him 'Just' abandoning Mantle was still just morally gray...That isn't dropped in V8, it's bascially dropped not 2 episodes later. Where not only does he shoot Oscar but Oscar pointed out not only was he abandoning Mantle, but abandoning the rest of Mankind. Wich James just responds calling it an 'excellant philosophical point'.

#rwby #rwby volume 8 #rwby volume 7 #Anti-RWDE #I can finally sleep now...#itsclydebitchsz

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thetranquilteal · 4 years ago

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The Vintage Calendar [AO3] by @thetranquilteal

With the ending of her contract with the UK Armed Forces, all Claire Beauchamp wants for Christmas is to enjoy a quiet holiday in Scotland with her long-term boyfriend Frank Randall. While visiting with close friends, however, Claire is gifted with a vintage advent calendar that sets her life on a path she never expected... one that leads to Northern Badgers star, James Fraser.

Modern Day AU loosely based on the Netflix Christmas movie ‘The Holiday Calendar’. New chapter posted every day!

Day 1: Candy Cane

Claire wrapped her dressing gown around her a little tighter as she shuffled across the living space to the kitchenette, early morning light guiding the way. She placed the kettle on the stove and set about preparing tea, her cold hands fumbling with the canister.

“Still cold, love?” Frank came up behind her and rubbed his hands up and down her arms gently, trying to generate some heat.

“Yes,” she admitted with a light laugh as she wrapped her dressing gown around her a little tighter still. Mrs Baird’s Bed and Breakfast was quaint and in an ideal location, in the very centre of Inverness, but it was not as warm and cosy as she would have liked. “I just can’t seem to shake it.”

“Here,” he took the spoon out of her hand and guided her out of the way, “let me finish the tea. You go and sit by the fire.”

“Thank you,” she kissed him on the cheek and made her way around the couch towards the purple armchair that had caught her eye the moment they entered their accommodation. She paused, though, when the vintage calendar caught her eye.

“Frank?” Claire called.

“Hmm?”

“Did you open this?”

“Open what, darling?”

“The calendar that Mrs. Graham gave us.”

“No, I haven’t had the chance to have a closer look yet. Is there there something for today, then?”

“Yes,” Claire’s brow furrowed as she reached out and picked up the little figurine sitting in the already open doorway. “It’s a little candy cane.”

The sun had long since set by the time Claire wandered the streets of downtown Inverness looking for somewhere to stop for a warm drink. Sparkling lights and Christmas decorations adorned each side and muffled festive tunes could be heard from many of the doorways she passed. She couldn’t bring herself to walk through any of them however, the lights seemingly too bright and vibe feeling too thick, and instead kept walking, taking turns here and there looking for somewhere a little more quiet to spend her evening without Frank.

It had been a productive day, first studying various heavy tomes with the Reverend at the Manse and then a few hours spent at the local library looking over what Claire considered to be mounds of papers brought to them by the librarian, a large eyed woman with thick glasses, all too happy to deliver more than they could possibly read to their table along with what seemed to be a never ending cup of candy canes. It was there Frank had discovered a new lead, a handwritten note suggesting some rituals performed during yuletide centuries ago had a deeper and more intricate history than previously believed. Seeing the light spark in his eyes, Claire had encouraged him to continue his research and told him not to worry about their plan to spend the evening together - they had a whole month in town and one evening spent apart wouldn’t ruin anything after all.

The streets got darker and Claire subsequently got calmer, slowing her walk to a much more casual stroll, a warm looking restaurant now set in her sights. Suddenly a door opened to her left and a group of people flowed out, merriment evident in their faces if not their voices, each carrying boxes of what looked to be homemade Christmas decorations. She instinctively moved to the side to get out of the way, just barely dodging a stray oversized candy cane to the head and waited patiently in the entrance of an alleyway for them to pass.

“Druid!”

Claire jumped and turned to find an older man standing in an unassuming doorway staring at her. He was dressed in a shirt and kilt that had certainly seen better days and she looked around quickly to make sure that he was, in fact, looking at her before responding. “I’m sorry, what?”

“Druid!" The man repeated, waving for her to come in. "Ach, come on lass! I cannae stand here waiting for ye all night. Come in before ye attract attention!”

“I don’t-”

Obviously frustrated by her hesitation, the man grabbed her hand and pulled her inside, his touch surprisingly gentle for a man so seemingly agitated.

She stumbled slightly but regained her balance in time to watch the man leave her just as quickly as he had found her to join a group of men huddled on one side of the establishment. She pushed her indignation aside for a moment to look around and - found a very ordinary tavern. It made sense that she hadn’t noticed this place herself, she thought. It was free from glitz, glamour and - perhaps most significantly - any holiday glitter. Overall, it was rather dark and grungy with lanterns and fireplaces providing a warmth she hadn’t experienced all day.

Determined to remain calm after such an undignified entrance, she squared her shoulders and walked up to the bar, raising a hand to attract the attention of the barkeep.

“Local cider, please.”

The man nodded and Claire settled herself on a stool and, feeling less conspicuous, took her time studying her surroundings more closely. Individuals and small groups were scattered here and there, their collective chatter on par with the music playing through speakers overhead.

She accepted her drink and handed over the required amount of cash. She took a sip and smiled at the taste. 'Life was too short to not enjoy the drink in your hand' as her old Commanding Officer used to say. Half way through her drink the group of men huddled by one of the open fireplaces caught her attention again when a pained grunt travelled across the room.

Just ignore it, Beauchamp. Enjoy your drink, Beauchamp, she thought to herself and for a moment she managed to do just that. Until she couldn’t stand it any longer. "Dammit, Beauchamp."

Claire got up, drink still in hand, and made her way over, their discussion becoming clearer with every step.

“Well, what if I-”

“-I dinnae need yer help!”

“Ye cannae-”

“-one phone call-”

“For the love of-”

There, amongst five or so men, each talking over the top of one another, was a young red haired man sitting on a chair cradling his arm. So busy arguing amongst themselves, they barely noticed her presence.

“It��s fine-”

“-force the joint back, myself.”

“Don’t you dare!” Without thinking, Claire pushed through to stand in front of the injured man. “Stand aside at once!”

“What??”

“Stand aside, she says!”

“Here,” she turned to the loud and overly short bearded man closest to her and handed him her glass. “Hold this.”

“Hold this, she says!”

Claire tuned out the discussion around them and focused on the task at hand.

“Now, what’s happened?”

“Ugh,” the patient grunted as he shifted in his seat, “landed on the ice wrong. Cannae lift my arm without it hurtin’.”

“How long ago?”

“An hour mayhap.”

Claire nodded in understanding and reached out a hand. “May I?”

The man looked at her for a long moment before taking a swig from a glass on the table and visibility gritting his teeth in anticipation. He nodded his consent.

“Do you have a history of instability in this shoulder?” She asked as she palpated the area gently.

“I’ve dislocated it once before,” he admitted with a grimace.

“Or twice,” a gruff and somewhat familiar voice added in, the man responsible for... introducing her to this pub, she suspected.

“Or twice,” her patient reluctantly admitted. “But no’ in a long while.”

“Hmmm… you really ought to see a doctor. Are there any clinics open this time of night?” When he didn’t answer she turned to look at the other men who in turn were equally nonvocal and completely unhelpful. “No? Well, it looks to me like you’ve suffered from shoulder subluxation - a partial dislocation, that is - and it’s fixed itself already. So long as you keep your arm immobile and make sure to rest, I don’t see why you can’t wait to see your doctor tomorrow.” Decision made, Claire stood up and turned to the others. “Fetch me a long piece of cloth or a belt. And some ice from the bar.”

"Fetch me, she says!”

“Ach, shut up ye drunk eejit and do as the lady says,” a tall, bald headed man with a thick grey beard Claire hadn’t noticed before came forward, his authority evident in how quickly the so-called ‘drunk eejit’ complied.

Requests quickly in hand, she turned back to her waiting patient and went about efficiently setting his arm in a sling, the young man following her movements closely.

“Taking a guess you’ve done this before?”

“I’m a nurse,” Claire shared as she pulled the knot tight.

“Aye, you work at the hospital? I havenae seen ye there before.”

“No, not that kind of nurse,” Claire chuckled at Jamie’s confused look and handed him the ice pack before clarifying. “An Army Nurse. But now I have to say I'm curious. Do you frequent the hospital often, Mr…?”

“Fraser," he paused as if waiting for something. A particular reaction from her perhaps? "But you can call me Jamie.”

“Claire,” she reciprocated with a smile. “Under normal circumstances I would offer to shake your hand but considering your current predicament I must advise against it and instead remind you to keep the ice on your shoulder for no longer than 15 to 20 minutes at a time. Do you have a physical therapist?”

“Aye, he does,” the bald headed man came forward once again, a hand on Jamie’s good shoulder. “And I’ll make sure he sees them on the morrow.”

“Wonderful,” Claire nodded with pleasure and turned back to Jamie, hands planted firmly on her hips. “Now, I believe you owe me a drink.”

A/N: Candy canes. Candy canes everywhere! From here we diverge from canon-adjacent and take a path that is much more Hallmark. // Are you looking forward to seeing what figurine will be waiting for Claire tomorrow?

#the vintage calendar #outlander #fan fiction #christmas #modern day au #day 1 #jamie x claire #rated: hallmark

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veliseraptor · 4 years ago

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Top 10 Xue Yang ships?

oh man. do I really have ten? when I say I’ll read anything I don’t know that that means I actually ship everything. I went through this and would say I ended up with seven and a half actual ships and four other “on the verge of” ships.

1. Xue Yang/Xiao Xingchen. I mean, this was the original one that came out of left field and hit me like an eighteen wheeler and I’m still dying about it! Like, ships that were Designed Specifically With Me In Mind for 500, it’s this one, I’m still...I’d be mad about it if I weren’t so happy about it. It’s terrible, it’s beautiful, there’s so much...going on there, so much to dig into, this terrible balance of tenderness and care and terrible horrible no good very bad and it’s just all. Mmm. Delicious.

The misery of it all! The enemies-to-lovers of it all! I suffer. I love it.

2. Song Lan/Xue Yang/Xiao Xingchen. This one came along slightly later but I am truly in love with it also?? Like, it just makes me very happy. And I’m so deeply invested in Yi City fix its and mine tend to end up very Xiao Xingchen Has Two Hands and Can Have Two Boyfriends If He Wants and the fact that both his boyfriends would...kind of do anything for him, particularly at that point in canon, if things panned out right...I mean, I’m writing a whole fic off that premise that’s currently inching up on 70k. There’s just...such a good blend of dynamics here. Possibly my most OT3 I’ve ever OT3′d.

3. Xue Yang/Song Lan. I love, as I said recently, hatesex and proxyfucking, and Xue Yang/Song Lan has prime possibilities for both. And also potential for them to develop feelings and be really mad about it, which is also a thing that I love.

4. Wei Wuxian/Xue Yang. Xue Yang deserves to get dicked down by his necromancy idol and Wei Wuxian deserves to get to fuck someone up a little and I just think they could have a good time together, even if it was only for a one-night-stand that Wei Wuxian really regrets in the morning and Xue Yang is going to use for masturbation fodder for the rest of his goddamn life.

5. Jin Guangyao/Xue Yang. Power plays! Fucking around with dominance and control! A unique personal understanding of each other in a way pretty much no one else has! Xue Yang’s casual disregard for Jin Guangyao’s boundaries such that Jin Guangyao can set aside his need to always have control of every situation ever! Jin Guangyao’s ability and willingness to fuck Xue Yang up but not in an overtly violent way which is actually generally even better! Stepping all over each other’s “is this a kink of a trigger?” “yes” areas! There’s so much to love about it and it is so much fun to write. I just love their dynamic so much. Honestly after Xuexiao and Songxuexiao this is probably my top Xue Yang pairing.

6. Jiang Yanli/Xue Yang. I mean obviously this is primarily because of The Fic but also...as with the below I have I think kind of a weakness for Xue Yang gravitating toward Nice people and just kind of. Deciding they’re his actually, and also a weakness for Jiang Yanli going just a little bit feral, and those two things combined...idk I have only really read the one fic but I would read more of it, and I’d write one myself except I feel like that fic kind of did what I’d want to do, but better than I could.

7. Qin Su/Xue Yang. This is mostly @ectoplasm-james‘s fault because of one specific post but I stand by it for some of the same reasons as above, and they were in Jinlintai at the same time while he was working for Jin Guangyao so it could happen! And it would be a lot of fun for them to have some kind of thing, but you know what could make it even more fun is

7a. Qin Su/Jin Guangyao/Xue Yang. I have no idea what it would look like but purely in concept I think I’d be into it. It’d be messy as hell. Xue Yang would be so hyped. I think the person here who is least sure about this is probably, honestly, Jin Guangyao.

Would it ever happen? Probably not! But you didn’t ask me about plausibility.

A thing I have considered but would ship under very specific circumstances I haven’t seen written yet: Xue Yang/Mo Xuanyu, Xue Yang/Su She.

A thing I have read and enjoyed but wouldn’t say I quite ship, though I’m probably close: Lan Wangji/Xue Yang.

A thing I am waffling around considering but will have to see how the fic I’m writing of it goes: Wen Qing/Xue Yang.

#anonymous #conversating #xue yang #the sad queer cultivators show #i wouldn't say this is a QUALITY post

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queerofthedagger · 4 years ago

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001: tomarry or harry/regulus bc 👀

Thank you for the ask!! ❤️ I -- kind of want to do both (basically, I’m just really bad at making choices,) so... I just. Do that.

when I started shipping it:

Regulus/Harry: I think about two years ago, and it was either through a tumblr post or a discord conversation.

Tomarry: When I got back into HP, I started with reading Drarry fanfiction, which got me into Slytherin!Harry and Dark!Harry, which got me to parental Voldemort, which got me to Tomarry. I think that was around four years ago (oh god... 😂)

my thoughts:

Regulus/Harry: Actually, they have more in common than one would think, and are just different enough to also balance each other out. Harry pushes Regulus, and Regulus grounds Harry. Harry is reckless where Regulus thinks things through, and where Regulus overthinks, Harry acts. Harry has some serious Slytherin-tendencies, and Regulus some Gryffindor ones. They just... fit way too well for not appearing in canon at the same time.

Tomarry: Basically soulmates, but like. Fucked up. This is where I go when I want some real good enemies-to-lovers, and god; the parallels; the angst; the struggle. I love them.

what makes me happy about them:

Regulus/Harry: They get each other, like, they truly know what expectations and duty mean, and how it’s a double-edged sword. They’re also a reprieve for each other for exactly that reason.

Tomarry: the snark, the tension, the way Harry is the only one Tom actually considers an equal, no matter how reluctantly. How utterly they clash while also being so, so similar.

what makes me sad about them:

Regulus/Harry: from a writer pov - the hassle to get them into the same timeline. 😂 Generally - they both went through so much shit, it can go either really well or really badly.

Tomarry: I mean - this is rarely a happy ship, and if it is, it comes at a huge cost. Everything about them is complicated and messed up, and sometimes, I just want them to be happy.

things done in fanfic that annoys me:

Regulus/Harry: if Regulus’ past and the conflict that comes with it isn’t really addressed, as well as when Harry is the golden saviour who saves poor Regulus. He has enough people to save already.

Tomarry: Harry being a pushover or whiny, turning dark without an actual path of corruption and struggle; Tom turning into a model citizen through the power of love... There’s a lot.

things I look for in fanfic:

Regulus/Harry: fix its and redemption and character/relationship development. I like when they grow together without becoming dependent on each other.

Tomarry: All the angst of their history, their opposing sides, the effect on other relationships, the guilt, and all the while not being able to give it up either. Yeah.

who I’d be comfortable them ending up with, if not each other:

Regulus: James, Lily, Barty Harry: Draco, Luna, Sirius, Hermione & Ron... I can ship him with a lot of people tbh. Tom: another candidate for my “can only ship him with one person” tbh. Though recently people made efforts to convince me of Sirius/Voldemort and I can? Kind of see it?

my happily ever after for them:

Regulus/Harry: they sort out their trauma and live a life between friends, quidditch, and travelling

Tomarry: Some kind of compromise in which neither gives themself up for the other, but they can live with each other and hold on to that. It depends a lot on the AU and circumstances, and sometimes it just doesn’t work out happily.

who is the big spoon/little spoon:

Regulus/Harry: they switch a lot, but often they just end up sprawled each on their own side of the bed.

Tomarry: Not that he’d ever admit it, and it would take a lot of trust, but Tom’s the little spoon. Not taking criticism on this one.

what is their favourite non-sexual activity:

Regulus/Harry: Seeker matches. Huh boy.

Tomarry: Duelling, actually. I think they’d love it.

send me a character/ship and I’ll tell you what I think

#answered ask #tomarry #regulus black/harry potter #agendertonks

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chdarling-tle · 4 years ago

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Hi!! I recently started and finished TLE: Howling Nights and I have so many feelings 😭😭 (also sorry for weird spacing... on the tumblr app and idk how to fix)

To start, thank you so much for dedicating so much time and energy to this series. Your writing style, especially with the switching perspectives, makes the story feel so authentic. I don’t say this lightly, but story is so iconic and essentially canon. There are loads of other fics out there that are beloved and well-written. But the thing I love most about TLE is how you’ve chosen to characterize the Marauders, Lily, and Snape (but I won’t talk about him here). I love how you portray James as sensitive, caring, and righteous yet young, naive, and cocky. And for Sirius, I feel like you’ve struck the perfect balance between the troubled, tormented, pure blood pariah and the careless, blazé, fun-loving troublemaker who deep down struggles to reconcile the two. For Remus, I love reading his chapters because he’s such a delicate soul grappling with where he fits in the world. Such a great dimension you add to the story. All in all, I can tell you put in so much effort to understand and accurately depict each character in TLE and it shows.

As for the Jily, this is some of the best, if not best canon James/Lily dynamic I’ve ever read. Truly. They’re like two little magnets that just can’t seem to stay away for too long. I love that they just kinda watch each other and coexist for most of 5th year. That both seem to realize they stare for just a little too long and, even worse, that it unsettles them. I love how James can’t even place why he likes her... that he just does and it’s something he’s just succumbed to. Although their interactions were more confrontational than not, I liked how clear you made it that Lily did not hate James, and James wasn’t overly infatuated with Lily. Plus, their little tiffs seemed like less to do with them not liking one another and more to do with feeling almost as equals (in talent and cheekiness) and would push the boundaries they otherwise wouldn’t. There’s so much room for James and Lily’s personal and relationship development and you’re just the person to do them justice. Ugh I could go on and on for hours tbh.

I know I’m missing a lot in between since I’m reviewing a full book in 1 review, but I wanted to specifically acknowledge that I love the liberties you take throughout the book. While there maybe stuff on Pottermore that I haven’t read, from what I remember, we know very little about animagi. But you’re so creative and I loved reading about the Marauders working to transform into animagi, despite the lack of resources available. So clever!

Anyway, thanks again and I eagerly await for TLE: Dark Marks!!!

ok I’ve just been staring at this message like 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺

This is so incredibly lovely, I’m honestly kind of speechless haha. I’m starting to wonder if I have some sort of bat signal that I accidentally activate that beams like “CHLOË IS SAD” or something out into the tumblr sky because this message was so perfectly timed to both make me feel so much better (😭❤️) and also make me a tiny bit weepy (in a nice way!).

Thank you so much for such kind and supportive words. I am extremely touched and at the moment a wee bit inarticulate so please forgive me for that. 😅 It means so much to hear that the characterization spoke to you and I love love loved all your comments about Lily and James’s relationship — the image of them as two little magnets that just can’t stay away is just perfect. 😍

I’m incredibly honored by your faith in me and I hope I can indeed do them justice in book two!! Thank you for reading and I can’t wait to share more ❤️❤️❤️❤️

#ch answers #translation of my rambling response: 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭#thank you #TLE

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gothjorts · 5 years ago

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what would you do if we all died tomorrow?

lowkey this is from @girlwithacrown‘s pride month prompts (coming out) but i went off the rails a bit

Their last OWL was tomorrow. As to the recommendation of Professor McGonagall, they decided to relax beside the Black Lake, enjoying the summer sun. It was early June. The Scottish Highlands were just warming up to a mild twenty degrees Celsius. The nights were short, the days were long and sunny. The evening sun cast the grounds in a soft warm glow. It made the boys’ skin have a tint of honey and gold.

That same sun hit his eyes and made them glitter like precious emeralds. That same sun made the freckles come alive on his scarred cheeks. An air of innocence surrounded him in that moment. And in that moment, oh, how in that very second, Sirius “Padfoot” Orion Black realised he was in love. He was deeply in love. He had been for years

It was that type of love you don’t notice. You fall so slowly that, until that one moment of realisation, you are completely unaware of your emotions. Then you notice how you love the way he badly sings along to muggle songs; pulls his slightly itchy knitted jumpers over his hands when he’s cold, making him look so small when he stands at six foot two inches. The way he sleeps, eats, thinks, blinks, drinks, smiles. That beautiful smile. That one he gave Sirius on the lakes’ rocky shore.

The owner of the smile was untying his shoelaces, removing his socks and school uniform cardigan. He looked at Sirius, grinned, “You won’t join us Pads?” before he rolled up his trousers, fixing them in place with a quick spell at his knee.

Sirius shook his head and watched his friend skip down to James, who was already shirtless and splashing water at Peter, who’s pale Irish skin was slowly getting sunburnt.

“That’s not like you, Black, to sit back while your friends have fun,” an observer commented.

“Well,” Sirius turned to them, “Evans, you are a redhead, so you should understand I don’t want to get sunburnt like Monsieur Wormtail.”

“I don’t believe you,” Lily Evans was correct. Sirius didn’t want to take to the water with the rest of the Marauders. He dreaded his sudden feelings. What if, he acted on them and he rejected him. Lily walked over to him. He shuffled over so she could sit on the part of his robe, “You know I won’t judge you.”

“Promise me Evans,” Lily noted that Sirius had never looked more anxious before, “I mean it, I’ll get worse than the cruciatus if Walburga finds out.”

“Promise, I wont even tell the girls.”

“Okay,” he exhaled, remembering every precious moment leading to the words he was about to speak, “I’m gay, and in love,” he looked away from Evans, to his friends, knee deep in the water.

“With Remus?” Lily smiled up at him as he brushed a loose dark strand out of his eyes, “Don’t look surprised. Remus and I are good friends too, we talk a lot. Sometimes, about you. Its not my place to say anything more but, Sirius, be brave.”

Sirius looked once again at Peter, Remus and James in the lake. Allons-y, he thought. He took of his shale blazer, slipped off his red tie, kicked his shoes and pulled his socks off. Securing his trousers at his knees and slipping his hair into a wand knot, he jogged down the pebbles. The sunshine beamed on his olive skin and he felt a cool splash of water over his feet. He joined his friends, admiring the view of the hills and castle in the distance.

The water the boys were splashing glittered. Peter conjured a small ball of water and with a flick of his wand sent it flying to James’ head. His frizzy curls flopped over his face and glasses. He cursed under his breath, laughing, he ran back to the makeshift robe picnic blanket. Peter sent another two splashes to Remus and Sirius before running to James accompanied with Remus’ “Bloody Hell Wormtail!”

They stood in the water for some time, the slow ripples glinted past their ankles. The breeze played with their hair, making loose strands dance around. Sirius gazed at the sky. The clouds had turned from a cotton white to a silky gold, the sun balanced on the peak of a far-off mountain. Remus followed the horizon. Green hills, a small farm, a yellow field or two, a dark evergreen forest, the mountains, Hogwarts castle. His eyes finally fell on Sirius Black. His hair half pulled back but floating in the winds. His grey eyes were focused on something. Remus knew he was focusing; his eyes were squinted, and he nibbled at his lip. Remus knew all of Sirius’ quirks. He tried to follow Sirius’ line of sight. He was looking at the refraction of the sunlight in the water.

Feeling mischievous, Remus kicked the water, soaking Padfoot’s left leg. He yelped and drew his wand. Remus’ eyes widened as if to say Try me. Sirius sent a wave of water over the younger, soaking him from head to toe then fixed his wand back in his hair. They laughed. Remus loved seeing him laugh.

The first time he saw Sirius genuinely laugh was in second year. His thirteenth birthday. The day wasn’t that great to begin with. November weather for Scotland was grey and miserable. It had rained all week, and the third of November was no different. The stone slab floors were slippery. James ran around a corner, to catch them up after breakfast, and skidded on a wet tile slid right into one of the Slytherin beaters. He picked James up by the shoulders and swung to the left, placed him down and walked on. Sirius, who had been rather quiet earlier that day erupted with laughter. He thought he fell a little bit in love with him then.

His genuine smile made Remus slowly fall for him every time he saw it. He loved his attitude, the way he was fascinated with muggle trends, bands and things. He loved the way he insisted on carrying his Canon L2 everywhere taking pictures on muggle film with bad exposure and a grainy ISO. Slowly, he fell for his yellow shoelaces, his ever-growing hair, his eyes that glimmered like opals, his handwriting, every little detail.

Remus always remembered the way that smiled was etched into his features. It was there today. He looked down at his soaked shirt. He began to unbutton it gingerly, his fingers slipping. Sirius waded over. He took the dripping cotton into his own fingers. He began to unhook the small white buttons; Remus’ hands moved to undo the buttons on his cuffs. Sirius gently pulled the shirt off Remus’ back. He admired his faint muscles, the deep scars and few moles that peppered his pale chest. The shorter pulled his wand from his hair, letting dark strands fall onto his face and past his shoulders. Wingardium Leviosa and he sent the shirt over to James and Peter to dry. A blush covered Remus’ face. Sirius’ eyes kept darting in different directions, embarrassment rising through him.

“Our last exam tomorrow,” Remus said finally, “nervous?”

“Nah,” Sirius shook his head, “but it has some sort of end of the world feel to it I can’t explain it, but it just does. What would you do if we all died tomorrow?”

“Easy, tell the world my secret.”

“That you’re a werewolf?” Sirius lowered his voice.

“That I’m Bisexual. Rather be known for being a raging queer than a half breed.”

“I respect that, Moony.”

“Thanks. Go on, what would you do if we all died tomorrow?”

“If I grew the balls to do it. Tell you I am in love with you,” He said it so casually without thinking. He clapped a hand over his mouth and his eyes widened in shock. Merde.

Remus took a step closer to Sirius, he towered over him. He ran a scarred hand through Sirius’ hair. Sirius shuffled over a pebble. The water lapped at their ankles. The sunset cast the grounds in a pink haze. It was like a scene from a dream. Remus rested his hand on Sirius’ shoulder, “You mean that, right? So, are you gay?”

Sirius nodded twice; his eyes were brimming with tears. He was scared and vulnerable. Remus stroked his cheek, placed a hand on his nape, leaned in to kiss him there and then, as if they would die tomorrow.

#wolfstar #wolfstar fic #wolfstar headcanon #remus x sirius #remus #remus lupin #sirius #sirius black #marauders #lily evans #marauders era #marauders fic #harry potter #bad late night writing #hp pride month

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ginnyzero · 5 years ago

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Completely Harmless Ch. 32

Completely Harmless An SSO SilverGlade Re-imagining Story (Or Fix it Fan Salt fic) By Ginny O.

When Lily and her friends wanted to buy horses and were directed to the Silverglade Manor and its myriad of problems, they didn’t expect to start a revolution. They were just a bunch a stable girls. Completely harmless. Right?

A/N: Things are only canon if I say they’re canon. Pre-Saving the Moorland Stables compliant for the most part. Posted in its entirety on my website. Posted in 2000 to 4000 word bits here. Rated T for Swearing Word Count 177,577

Chapter Thirty-Two Meeting JoJo Siwa! Rainbow-adical!

At lunch, the Baroness approached Lily. “Who is Jojo Siwa?” She asked after complimenting them on the cloud display in the stable. (She found it elegant and impactful.)

“She’s a pop singer who’s headlining the festivities in Moorland. She’s from the United States,” Lily told her. “Her songs are on J-Tube.”

The baroness tilted her head and slightly pursed her lips. “I would like to meet her. Invite her to dine with me tonight. I doubt she’ll have time once the festivities start. All of you are invited.”

Lily blinked. “I, yes, I’ll do that. Thank you, Baroness Silverglade.”

The Baroness smiled softly and left.

“I, um,” Lily looked at all the other girls. “Is she even in Jorvik yet?”

“She’s staying at Fort Pinta Inn,” one of the girl’s said. “She had the choice between that and Silverglade. The festival stand is halfway between pretty much. I think she’s hanging out at the Disco?” She checked her phone and Jorvikgram. “Yeah, she’s at the disco.”

“Then, um,” Lily finished her lunch and looked at her outfit. She didn’t think she wanted to see Jojo looking like this, not to invite her to see the Baroness over dinner! “I better change.”

“Right. You want to make a good impression.”

“I’m the Baroness’ lady,” Lily said mock seriously.

They giggled.

“And we’ll start on the balloons.”

“And get the bunting on the paddock.”

“And we’re going to put the little clouds and hearts through the Silver Glade track and all the trees on the side of the road across the bridge and towards Silverglade Village.”

“And the ones in the grape fields. Balloons too.”

“Get the fences. Can’t forget the fences.”

“Because you never know who is going to take a ride through the fields during the festivities.”

Lily just nodded.

“We’ve got this under control, boss.” Pauline grinned at her.

“You represent our stable!” Regina shook her fist in front of her face.

“This isn’t pokemon!” Several of them yelled at her.

Lily retreated as Regina started arguing that the stable was like a gym. She looked over her clothes and decided on the midriff baring Baroness bow blouse in lavender and grape with her pair of white baroness capri pants and silverglade clan sneakers in lavender with the mulberry stripe. It was a good balance between showing appreciation for Jojo Siwa (bow blouse) and pride in her club. On a whim, she kept the sparkly bow in her hair.

She took the transport to Fort Pinta and left her horse at the stable. She had to smile because the farmer’s cart near the stable had changed their awning for one with rainbow stripes. And well, the girls in Fort Pinta had the same ideas they had had on how to use the decorations around the stable area and in the huge courtyard with the fountain.

Saffi and Selma mobbed her before she got halfway across the courtyard to gush at her about wearing the bow and how great it looked.

Lily grinned. “Thanks. I think it’s fetching.” She touched it briefly. “We have a lot of girls interested in supporting Jojo over the next week.”

Saffi and Selma squealed. “Girl power!”

“Girl power,” Lily agreed with a grin and bumped their knuckles.

Her outfit changed was all for the good. Jojo was on the disco balcony, not quite looking bored. “Oh, you’re awesome!” She shouted and pointed at Lily.

Lily posed and pointed back. “No! You’re awesome!”

Jojo laughed.

Lily sauntered over to her. She held out her hand. “Lily, President of the Silver Drakes Riding Club.”

Jojo smacked it. “Jojo Siwa! But, err, you probably know that.” She tugged Lily closer. “Selfie!” She said holding up her phone and snapping a pic of both of them. She let Lily go after.

Lily grinned. “I do. I follow Jorvikgram like everyone else.”

Jojo waved her phone. “You’re part of my jorvikgram story now!” She said as she posted the picture.

“I’ll be sure to download it,” Lily promised. “My Club is looking forward to coming to watch the show.”

“Radical!” Jojo looked excited. Her eyes darted back and forth. “You want a dance lesson first. Just so you can be on the edge of coolness.”

“Sure,” Lily agreed.

Jojo led her through some of her signature moves. “You’ve got it!”

Lily laughed. “I’ll teach the other girls and we’ll do a show.”

“Maybe if you’re good enough you can get up behind me and be my, like, back up dancers.”

“That’d be great.” Lily wrinkled her nose. To her, Jojo seemed a bit lonely. It had to be tough being alone on Jorvik. “Say, I have an invite for you. Actually, it’s not an invite. It’s more like an order to appear. Baroness Silverglade wants you to join her for dinner. It’s kind of like,” Lily paused. “Okay, not the mayor, since the mayor of this town is a pony, but more like the President of the area asking. She owns a lot of land around here and she wants to know more about you.” Lily made finger guns at Jojo.

Jojo’s eyes widened. “Really. Um, wow.”

“I don’t think you’re really getting the option to refuse.”

“What should I wear?”

“Well, the Baroness likes roses and purple. If you have a nice dress, tonight would be the time.”

“I have, like, the perfect thing! This is going to be so cool. What is she like?”

“Ice queen, but she does have a soft heart. She cares a lot about this area and her people. I hope you like Greek food. If you don’t, um, Antonia, her chef, makes this apple smothered pork chop that’s to die for, not literally, but it’s delicious.”

“I am down with the Greek food.” Jojo fiddled with her sequin dress. “Um, Lily, I’m supposed to go meet someone named Loretta at this festival site. But the only transportation they have around here is horses.”

“Haven’t been on them much?”

“Not really. Come with.”

“Absolutely,” Lily agreed without reservation. She should check on what the Bobcat girls were doing for decorating the area anyways. One never knew with Loretta. “I think Tan is a mega Siwa fan. She’s Loretta’s right hand girl. If it’s not right, Tan will get it fixed. Come on, you can meet my horse, and we’ll find you a nice pony.”

“A pony?”

“They aren’t so far from the ground,” Lily winked. She actually liked Jojo. She didn’t want to intimidate her like she’d intimidated James.

Jojo relaxed slightly. “Sweet.”

They went to the stable and after making sure Jojo met Mayor Peanut, who through James, had greetings for her. She took selfies with him. Lily introduced Jojo to her horse. More pictures of Lily and the horse together mostly. And then, they found her a nice steady Jorvik Starter Pony to ride. Jojo took a self of her and the horse together.

On the ride, Jojo was full of questions about how long Lily had been in Jorvik and was it all so rural and did she like it and so on and so forth. Lily answered freely enough. She didn’t mind telling Jojo about herself. She made it a point to point out special things about the parade route. The Bobcat Girls and the Ponies had worked the rainbow and sequin streamers into the ivy, and put rainbow sequin swag bunting and the big bows both inside and outside of the archways. There were huge bunches of ombre rainbow balloons too.

On the fences, they’d put more bows, and swags of sequin bunting, and bracketed the places where they ended with balloons. At the base of the fence post, they’d put the lanterns. Lily took a picture and texted it to one of the girls.

Jojo bounced in the seat of her saddle and took pictures. Her fingers flew over the keys as she captioned them.

“On it!” She got a response to her text from Regina.

Tan met them as they entered the site, jumping up and down and waving. She was ecstatic to point out the decorations.

At the festival site, there was more of the same, lots of sequin swag bunting, lots of bows, tons of balloons. One of the carts with a rainbow awning had set up to sell merchandise. They had set up a photo wall with both pastel and bright color rainbow curtains behind it but they were all sequins. There were bows and gold beads too.

Jojo insisted on doing several selfies and included both of them.

Tan gestured at a tent with a rainbow awning.

“For the friendship bracelets and to make the bows,” Tan explained.

They’d left a large empty area in front of the stands.

“So everyone can dance,” Tan said as to why all the benches were further back. “We’re having our rainbow swirl sugar cookies and milk. The Farmer’s Market is just over the fence so we thought it’d be too much to have food.”

Jojo’s eyes widened. “There’s a farmer’s market.”

“Sure, it’s free for anyone to go to,” Lily said. “If you want to check it out.”

“Do I ever!”

Tan jumped in. “I can take you if you want! Linda sent over these program flyers for the craft tent with a map so everyone knows where to go.” She jogged off and came back. “Here. I hope you get some time to go to all the festivities between sets.”

Jojo read it over. “This is so awesome. I can’t believe you’re doing this much stuff. I’ll definitely have to get around. I don’t know if I’ll have time to see the other performers though. Bummer.”

“There’s a charm bracelet in it for you if you do,” Tan said. “I’ll come with you and we can collect the charms together.”

Jojo grinned. “I’m sure Selma and Saffi would like to come too. This will be great.”

Lily nodded at Jojo. “Well, I need to check in with Loretta then. You two have fun at the Farmer’s Market and I’ll see you tonight at dinner. I’ll make sure Godfrey comes to pick you up.”

“Godfrey?”

“The butler.”

“Butler. Got it.” Jojo nodded. She grinned at Lily. “Thanks for taking the time to come with me.”

“She’s renting a pony from Fort Pinta stables,” Lily said to Tan.

“I thought it looked like one of theirs. I mean, though, why would you be out to see the Welshies on South Hoof yet. Though you really got to do it. Have you ever ridden with a wild horse herd? It’s so totes amazing!” Tan beamed at Jojo.

Jojo looked a bit leery. “I’m down,” she said trying to be game.

Lily took off. “Dinner’s at six,” she called over her shoulder.

Lily rode down to Moorland Stable proper. There were tons of camper wearing Jojo bows and they grinned at hers pointing at their heads. Lily gave them a thumbs up.

They gave her thumbs up back.

Lily was quite relieved to see that the Bobcat girls had managed to use the rainbow decorations instead of the pink ones. She stopped by Julie next to one of the entrance gates. “Any problems?”

“Conrad won’t let us decorate the forge. We’re going to do it anyways,” Julie eyed her nails. “Do you think I should do a rainbow manicure? That’s the thing right?”

“If you want, maybe one gold nail, to be hip,” Lily advised. It wasn’t that the Bobcat Girls were bad people. They were just a bit vapid and shallow.

“I better wait until I don’t have any chores left to do.” Julie sighed. “We haven’t been able to recruit anyone else. They all want to run off and form new clubs.” She glowered at Lily.

“Viva la revolution.” Lily said blandly. She tipped an imaginary hat to Julie and trotted around the stable to check on Loretta.

Loretta widened her eyes at her. “You will not believe all the trouble putting up these decorations has caused. Josh is refusing to talk to me after I put hearts on his poles.”

“Poor baby,” Lily said. “It looks nice.”

She looked towards the Pole Bending track. Josh knelt next to his poles with his hat knocked back and a roll of tape meticulously taping down each heart. She wasn’t getting involved. Nope. Let Josh and Loretta sort it out between them.

“And I told him that it’s Rainbow Week. Unless the skulls were painted like rainbows, they had to go. Now he’s threatening to leave Moorland. I don’t know what his problem is? This is Rainbow Week and it has to go off perfectly. Tan’s so busy setting up the festival site making sure it’s perfect for Jojo that I’m not sure she’s going to get the parade outfits done in time.”

“Jojo seems pleased with the site.”

“Something’s going right then,” Loretta huffed. “I don’t know why she decided to come up with new parade outfits, last years were fine. I mean, they’re black with black.”

“I thought they were nice. They had the black vest with the black capris, right?”

“Yeah, but no, ‘the power of friendship compels me’ or something. I told her that it better not be anything like Daxton’s rainbow vest. It had better be fashionable or I’m not wearing it.”

“It can get rather loud very quickly,” Lily agreed. “That was the danger in the decorations too.”

Loretta wrinkled her nose. “That might be the first thing we’ve ever agreed on.”

“Well, as long as Tan hasn’t taken them apart, you still have last years if hers turn out to be not fashionable.”

“True,” Loretta chewed her lip.

Things looked under control enough. Lily rode through the stable area to check out all the different decorations. She breathed a sigh of relief. No one had tried to sneak the pink things in at all. A quick tour through the other courtyard revealed their photo wall set up in front of Moorland’s distinctive camp office.

Lily took the transport back to the winery and directly into some teasing about her adventures with Jojo.

“As Tan says, don’t be jelly,” Lily rolled her eyes. “Jojo’s an enthusiastic and sweet girl.”

They all giggled.

“You’ll meet her soon enough for dinner,” Lily sighed. “And you can get your selfies with her then.”

“I think we’re about done,” Pauline said.

“It looks great,” Lily said. There were bunches of balloons everywhere to fill up space. It really made the whole thing come together and not look tacked on. “Where is everyone else?”

“Decorating the pavilion and setting up our photo wall,” Pauline said. “We’ve got the supplies for the crafts locked up in the tack room right now. I think we can lock them up in the arena overnight.”

“That sounds like a good plan.”

“Make it so,” Pauline said and texted it out.

Lily rolled her eyes. “While you’re making me out like Captain Picard, Number One. Tell everyone to dress nicely for dinner. Dresses.”

Pauline nodded. “We better rotate shower time.”

Lily decided she better inspect everything. She wanted to have a good report for the Baroness.

Jojo Siwa slid out of the car in front of the huge Greek style manor and looked around, her eyes huge in her face. She smoothed her skirt.

Lily darted forward to greet her. “Jojo, glad you came.”

“You didn’t say it was so fancy,” Jojo whispered.

“Baroness implies fancy,” Lily implied. “You look great.” And Jojo did. She’d put an ombre purple sequin bow in her hair which was thankfully down instead of her signature ponytail. The top of her dress had a huge blown out rose done in smaller sequins on it. It covered her entire chest. The skirt was a darker purple large sequins and the sleeves matched the skirt. Her ballerina flats had bows on them too. Fortunately, only the bows had sequins.

Lily didn’t know what the Baroness felt about sequins. It didn’t matter. Jojo looked decent.

“You look nice too.”

Lily glanced down at her Winery Rose Evening dress. She didn’t think the white color made it any less formal but it matched Pauline’s lace dress she’d bought at the Jorvik Shopping mall color wise. “Francezka Ironsaddle, big Jorvik designer. She did all our outfits. The Silver Rose opens tomorrow,” Lily gestured at the building almost hidden now behind the trees in the reflecting pool. “Well, not all of our dresses, Francezka only designed three and it is difficult to find nice dresses here on Jorvik.” Lily tucked her arm around Jojo’s and led her up the stairs. “Try not to let her intimidate you.”

“Too late,” Jojo said.

The girls were waiting inside beaming brightly. Lily made introductions and Jojo kindly did pictures with all of them.

“Okay, phones away,” Lily said once they were done. “And on silent!”

They all tucked phones away.

Godfrey opened the doors of the dining room promptly at six. The Baroness stood up to greet them at the head of the table. There was gleaming crystal glasses, elegant china, and more silver flatware than most of them had ever seen.

Lily introduced Jojo to the Baroness.

“Ms. Siwa, please, take a seat on my right.” And a glance at Lily had Lily seated at her left. Linda sat next to Lily. In fact, everyone who worked at the Manor and even Anastasia and Aaron were in attendance. The girls took up the middle of the long table while Aaron ruled the other end with his sister. (Anastasia’s dog had its own chair.)

The Baroness asked Jojo about herself as the soup course came out, the lemon chicken soup Lily noted. Jojo was happy to talk about herself, her music and the messages she tried to sing about friendship, being kind, and supporting each other, and her v-log. Though Linda had to interrupt to tell the Baroness what a V-Log was.

“A visual diary for the public, how, interesting,” the Baroness said politely.

Pauline sat next to Jojo and with low voice prompts managed to get her to talk about Jorvik and meeting the Jorvik Starter Ponies and since Jojo phrased everything enthusiastically (like they figured she would) the Baroness didn’t get offended over anything. Jojo loved Silverglade Castle and raved about the food she’d had at the Farmer’s Market.

Anastasia managed to slip in a question about Jojo’s fashion style.

Lily had no idea what the Baroness was hoping to learn or Anastasia for that matter.

After one of Aaron’s sundaes, it was time for Jojo to leave.

The Baroness walked her out to Godfrey’s car. “Ms. Siwa, it’s a pleasure to see young people in this day with such passion and enthusiasm for what they do. You appear quite genuine rather than being an act. You’re always welcome to back to my part of Jorvik.”

Jojo brightened. “Thank you!” She gasped and got in the car.

Godfrey smiled at his employer nodding in approval before he got in the driver’s seat and took Jojo back to Fort Pinta.

Lily concluded that probably couldn’t have gone any better.

FOR THE ACCOMPANYING IMAGES PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE MY WATERMARK AND CONTACT INFORMATION. THANK YOU. I get it. Some of you might get excited and want to see this stuff in the game, especially the clothes, tack, and pets. However, the only way I want to see this in the game is if I get paid for it. If I see it in the game and I’m not paid for it, there will be hell to pay. You think I’m salty. I’d be angry. Personally, I’m not going to send this info to SSO. If you do, leave my contact information there! Don’t give them any excuses to steal.

Now, I’ll know you haven’t read this note if you leave me comments about how ‘salty’ I am about the game and if I hate it so much I should do something else. I am doing something else. It’s called Mystic Riders MMORPG Project. Mystic Riders however is a very baby phase game. You can check out our plans on the game dev blog. (Skills, Factions, Professions, Crafting, Mini-Games, 25+ horse breeds!) If you know anyone who would be interested and has money or contacts about game making, direct them to the blog.

#star stable #star stable online #sso #fan fic #jorvik reimagined #star stable salt #silverglade reimagined #many nods to ruth westside #completely harmless

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marvelmando · 5 years ago

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tempest [p.parker x o.c.] - nine

notes: posting is my way of procrastinating doing my anthro homework. on a completely different note, i dyed my hair purple. ...it’s been an eventful couple of days, to say the least.

contains: swearing, canon-typical violence

pairing: peter parker + fem! o.c.

word count: 3.6k

previous chapter next chapter tempest masterlist

MARIN WOKE UP THE NEXT AFTERNOON DETERMINED TO FIND A SOLUTION TO HER PROBLEM.

The first thing she did was chug down two full glasses of water. Then, feeling much more energized, she left to go to the kitchen. If she was going to do some detective work, she was going to need a lot of brain food.

After snacking, she made her way to an unoccupied computer. She wasn't entirely sure what she planned on finding, but she figured research was the best first step.

Distantly, she recalled the buzz surrounding Midtown's homecoming, and that it was supposed to be that night. She pulled up the school's website, scouring any information on Peter or Spider-Man. Most of the results were about the incident at D.C., which was no help to her. Peter was only mentioned once or twice, but only for things like the band or Decathlon team, and those articles were dated for the previous year.

Exiting out of that website, she tapped lightly against the desk out of habit, trying to think of what to search. After searching up the Vulture, the only articles she found were recounts of the ferry incident, or about the actual bird. None of them revealed anything Marin didn't already know.

Frustrated, she searched up Tony Stark and sorted the page from most recent to last. After scrolling for a minute through headlines discussing everything from Iron Man to his relationship with Pepper Potts, one article caught her eye.

STARK TOWER RELOCATING? OR IS IRON MAN GOING BROKE AFTER SIGNING SOKOVIA ACCORDS?

Marin clicked on it, skimming through. They were relocating the Avenger's tower? With a quick search on Tony's old bodyguard, Marin found Happy Hogan's cellphone number. She jotted it down on a nearby piece of paper and ran to the landline.

She dialed in the number and waited for Happy to pick up.

"Hello?" A gruff voice said on the fourth ring.

"Hi, um, is this Happy Hogan?" Marin chewed on her lip.

"Yes, who's this?" He sounded cross. "And how'd you get my number?"

"Um, Google, sir." She answered. "And I'm... my name's M—Liz, I'm Peter's girlfriend? I know he works for Mr. Stark, and I was calling to check up on him." Marin nearly used her name but realized that Tony had probably told Happy about the crazy mutant that corrupted his protégé.

"Shouldn't he be at school?"

"Yes, and I checked his apartment, and he's not there, so the Tower was the first place I thought to call, since he's always at the internship, anyway."

"Well, actually," Happy's voice pulled away, mumbling something that Marin couldn't distinguish. "Peter lost the internship. Aren't you supposed to know that? As his girlfriend?"

"He... didn't tell me?" Marin winced, both at the terrible lie she'd got caught in and the realization that Peter lost the internship. Of course, she thought, he would lose it too, along with his suit. It only made sense, and Marin cursed herself for not thinking of it before. "But he still might be there, and I'm worried. Are you guys busy? Would you mind if I stopped by to take a quick look?"

"Sorry, kid, moving day's today, and we can't have any more teenagers running around with all this dangerous stuff out."

"Moving? Moving where? And what stuff?"

"Upstate—does Peter tell you anything? And what we're moving is classified, I'm afraid."

Marin laughed. She didn't expect Happy to let her, but she was getting all the information she needed. "Oh, okay. Thanks anyway."

"No problem, kid. Hope he turns up." Happy said. "Hey, be careful with that! That suit costs more than you and I combined!"

Marin heard him say the last part before he hung up. Slumping into a nearby chair, Marin grabbed the paper and jotted down everything she knew.

After a minute of staring down at her notes, her eyes went wide. "Oh, shit." She muttered to herself, grabbing the paper and running off to find Lucy.

+++

"So... you think he's gonna steal from Stark?"

"Think about it—remember how I said that the Vulture guy was more likely to keep dealing than stay low? This is the perfect opportunity for him, Lucy. All of this expensive, high-quality tech in one place, practically begging to be stolen by just the guy crazy enough to even attempt it. He did it before, in Maryland, and he's desperate. He's gonna make one final big move, and this is it."

"That... makes a lot of sense, to be honest." Lucy conceded with a grimace, and James looked ready to concur.

"I know." Marin panted, running a nervous hand through her hair. "Now I just gotta warn—"

"Marin, Lucy, and James—see me in my office, now." Demanded Charles' voice. The three mutants exchanged a similar, panicked look.

"Nuts."

+++

Marin frantically watched the sunset through Charles' office window. Homecoming would be starting only a couple hours from then, which also meant that so was moving day.

"What the hell were you three thinking!" Logan hollered at them. "Stealing the jet in the middle of the night and taking off to god-knows-where—"

"Queens," Marin interjected.

"I don't care!" He snapped. "And you two!" He addressed Lucy and James. Lucy looked slightly bored, while James did have the decency to look ashamed. "I can see this one pulling a stupid stunt like this, but you two know better than to stoop to her level."

Marin frowned deeply. "Hey!" Logan glared at her, and she cowed back.

"You three were extremely reckless and irresponsible, not to mention putting yourselves at risk by traveling unaccompanied." Charles shook his head at them, his forehead creased with disappointment. "What do you have to say for yourselves?"

"I was fixing a mistake that you made, Professor." Marin leveled a look at the man, whose eyes widened at her tones. She figured that if there was ever a time to take one final stand, it was now, and she might as well go all-out. That, and she was buzzing with adrenaline, making her braver than she really was. "My friend was told your lie about my past, and I had to go and explain to him why you were wrong about me killing my parents."

Marin took a deep breath. "You all might as well know that my father drowned my mother, and committed suicide by electrocution. Just so we're all being clear, here." Charles' face softened with sympathy. She found that it was much easier to say now that she'd already told Peter, even if the words burned her throat on the way out. "I went to Queens to tell Spider-Man my story and to right your wrongs, as well as right my own. Lucy and James were kind enough to join me, but they are not responsible for my decision in any way. I would've gone with or without them, but I'm grateful that they wanted to help me still." She sent them a quick smile.

"But my friends in Queens are in danger—those weapon dealers are planning a heist to infiltrate the transportation of extremely valuable and dangerous item to the new Avengers headquarters upstate." She explained, but Charles's frown returned.

"That is unfortunate, Marin, but it is not our responsibility to stop them."

"You're wrong, Professor." Marin crossed her arms. "It is my responsibility to help my friend, to help Spider-Man stop this guy from making dangerous weapons and selling them to people on the streets. I will not let him go alone, not when I know for certain that I can help." She stared him down, tilting her chin up defiantly. "No matter what you say, I will go help him. You'd have to knock me out and chain me up to stop me. And I can assure you, it won't be easy—or clean."

Charles stared at her wearily as he considered her claims. "All right."

Marin blinked. "All right?"

He nodded. "Yes, all right. I admit that I'm growing a bit fond of this steadfast side of yours—even if the delivery was slightly disrespectful."

Marin smiled sheepishly. "Sorry,"

"You may go help your friend, but it will be up to Lucy and James to decide whether or not they want to accompany you on your mission, and to what extent. You are apparently capable of piloting the jet by yourselves. If you must do this, Marin, that is fine, but I will not jeopardize the lives of any unwilling participants. This mission is yours and yours alone."

Marin sat up straighter. "I've got this in the bag, Charles."

+++

Marin, James, and Lucy were on the jet, speeding towards Queens when a call came through. A face popped up on the jet's screen, and Marin was relieved to see that it belonged to Ned.

"Marin!" He cried, looking exasperated. "Thank god you picked up, Happy hung up on me right away, and—"

"Ned, what's wrong?" Marin interrupted his rambling. Ned was wearing an earpiece, and his bowtie was undone, hanging around the collar of his blue dress shirt.

"It's the Vulture! He's—"

"—hijacking the Tower's transport, I figured it out!" Marin nodded.

"We know! And he's also Liz's dad!" Ned pressed, typing away frantically at a keyboard out of Marin's line of sight. Her eyes widened dramatically.

"What?!" Marin shrieked, causing James and Lucy to flick their gazes to her nervously.

"Yeah! Peter's going after him right now—stole Flash's car and everything!"

So much for keeping Peter's identity a secret. "Ned, that's great, but where is he?" Marin jostled on her feet as she clutched to the backs of Lucy and James' chairs for balance. "Send us the location, we're almost near Queens!"

"Toomes is at an old industrial building in Brooklyn—tenth and forty-third avenue." Ned informed them. "You'd better hurry, Peter got there a couple minutes ago."

Marin nodded, and James plugged in the new location. "We'll be there soon!" And with that, she terminated the call. Glancing at the map, Marin noted that they were just flying over Manhattan. "Get me in low—I'm gonna jump."

James nodded, beginning the sequence to open the jet's ramp.

"Where do you want us to meet?" Lucy asked, maneuvering the yoke so that the jet was skimming the water of the East River. Marin summoned her energy, the jet bathed in a blue glow.

"I'll call for you," She steadied her feet, preparing to jump. "I can take it from here. Thanks for your help, guys."

Marin never thought she'd ever be able to jump out of a moving plane, but feeling the comfortable embrace of the blue energy support her, she soared confidently through the air.

She caught sight of the warehouse, and even from that distance, Marin could distinctly hear the crashes of metal on cement coming from inside the building.

She watched in horror as the front side of the warehouse collapsed, concrete chunks of the walls and roof raining down on top of Peter.

"No!" Marin cried, landing to the side of the warehouse roughly. The Vulture appeared from out of the alley on the other side, looking extremely pleased with himself. Then he looked in Marin's direction, and she darted to hide behind a large pile of debris before he could notice her presence. She would have plenty of opportunities to take him down later—but now, she had to get Peter to safety.

She didn't move until she heard the mechanical swooping of Toomes' wings fade into the distance. Moving around the rubble, Marin heard Peter's grunts and cries for help.

"Hello?!" He called out, desperate and in pain. "Hello!" Marin's heart cracked. "Please, hey! Hey, please, I'm down here—I'm down here! I'm stuck, I'm stuck—I can't move! I can't—!" He sobbed, breaking off with a series of heavily panting breaths.

For some reason, Marin couldn't move. She couldn't speak—her throat was contracting around her tongue, and her mouth refused to open. A memory flashed through her head, something that Peter had said the night before: I'm not Spider-Man without that suit. All I am is a stupid teenager who can climb walls and flip around. I'm no one if I'm not Spider-Man.

You're not no one—you're Peter Parker, she'd responded. Standing there, listening to Peter desperate calls for help, something clicked inside her.

Marin had wanted to be a hero since she was six and watched as her mother died, helpless, in the hands of her husband—Marin had wanted to be a superhero since she was twelve and watched a group of the bravest people she'd ever seen fight to save the world from an army of aliens. All she'd ever wanted was to save people when they couldn't save themselves.

And yet, she couldn't help Peter. But it was because she knew him, even after just two weeks, she knew the kid from Queens—the nerd, the hero, the selflessly kind boy who just didn't believe in himself. But she believed in him. She knew that he didn't need that suit to be Spider-Man, the superhero. She was beginning to realize that sometimes, you are the only person that can save yourself.

"Come on, Peter." He was chanting, bringing Marin out of her thoughts. "Come on, Spider-Man. Come on, Spider-Man. Come on, Spider-Man. Come on, Spider-Man!"

She watched in awe as the rubble shifted, and Peter's body emerged. He saved himself.

"Peter!" Her voice returned, and she sprinted to help him escape the concrete. Peter fell into her, leaning heavily against her. "Oh Peter," Marin supported his weight as best as she could while he fought to catch his breath. "You're okay... you're safe now."

His breathing wobbled, but he wasn't crying. He lifted himself from her arms and bent to retrieve the mask that was lying in a small puddle of water. Reaching to touch it, Marin drew out all of the water soaking in the fibers like she did the night he fell into the lake and pushed the mask back to him.

Peter looked like he was about to say something, but she saw something else had caught his eye. Looking above her head, Marin turned to follow his gaze.

It was Toomes, perched on top of a nearby billboard, watching the sky.

"C'mon," Peter pulled his mask back on, as Toomes prepared for takeoff. "You can still fly, right?"

Marin nodded, calling the energy forward. "I'll be right behind you."

Peter took off sprinting to catch Toomes before he launched. He vaulted onto the billboard, taking a running start and attaching a web to the Vulture's wings. In the distance, Marin noticed a large plane emerge from the Stark Tower, and once in the air, the panels changed to reflect the clouds above it. She recognized the technology as similar to the kind installed in the Institute's jet.

Marin didn't want the Vulture to spot her—which could have been easy, as even donned completely in jeans, a shirt, and jacket, she still glowed bright enough to catch someone's eye.

She kept far out of Toomes' possible peripherals, watching as Spider-Man flailed in the air behind him. The Vulture tilted and rocketed straight upwards, disappearing through a dense layer of clouds.

"Nuts," Marin muttered to herself, pushing her body faster.

A voice crackled to life in her ear. "Marin!" It was Lucy. "What's the update?"

"Spider-Man and Vulture are catching a flight, and I'm chasing after them."

"What?!"

"Bad guy's hijacking the Tower's camouflaged plane and we're going to stop him!" Marin huffed, growing impatient. Lucy said something, but Marin wasn't listening. She broke through the clouds and saw Toomes' wings sealing themselves to the bottom of the jet, Spider-Man clinging on behind him.

Now that she didn't have to worry about Toomes seeing her, she flew as fast as she could to catch up to Peter, who looked like he was struggling to stay stuck to the plane's exterior. He tried shooting a web forward, but the wind pushed it back. He lost his grip and momentarily went flying, but Marin pushed his body back onto the plane.

"Need a hand?" Marin shouted to Peter over the wind.

"I got it!" Hand moving over hand, Peter crawled his way to the wings.

Suddenly, Marin felt her head go fuzzy, her eyes blurring dangerously. The blue surrounding her faded ever so slightly, causing Marin to drop a few feet in the air.

"Marin!" Peter yelled to her, at the same time as a small drone popped out of the Vulture's wings. "You good?!"

"Yeah!" Marin shook her head, trying to snap out of the daze she was in. She found it incredible her powers had lasted this long already, but she felt herself beginning to lose control. They needed to stop the Vulture soon.

She heard Peter groan as he tried to pry the wings from the plane, and she floated over to help him. Changing tactics, Peter began kicking at the wings, until they finally jolted out of place. Over the rush of the wind, Marin heard a faint alarm sounding from inside the plane. Looking back, she saw Peter's hand braced on the plane's camera—the one that recorded the view of the exterior as a template for the cloaking technology.

"Peter!" Marin shouted, throwing a hand out to warn him. "The camera! He knows we're here!"

"What—" Suddenly, the wings fell out from underneath the plane, and Marin noticed the glowing green points that told her Toomes had attached himself to his wings again. Nuts.

Peter lost his footing, holding onto the plane with just his hands. Once he got his feet back on the metal, he crawled up the side of the plane. "Just a typical homecoming—ergh!—on the outside of an invisible jet—agh!—fighting my girlfriend's dad!"

Marin's eyes went wide. "'Girlfriend'?!"

"Duck!" Peter screamed, ignoring her protest. Marin dropped in the air just in time for the Vulture to soar right above her, the tip of his wing scraping alongside the panels of the jet where Peter's head used to be a second ago.

As he tried to fly away, Peter attached a web to Toomes, and then one to the plane, stopping him in midair. Then, both webs snapped and Peter flew right toward the engine.

"Peter!" Marin hurried to catch him as he shot web fluid into the turbine and keeping the motor from chewing him up.

"I can't believe that worked!" He cried hysterically, but the propeller dislodged from the shell, sending Peter flying back with it.

Moving instinctively, Marin reached out with her hands, and grabbed the propeller with a blanket of energy, suspending it in the air beside the wing.

"Whoa!" Peter exclaimed. "I didn't know you could do that!"

"Neither did I!" Marin's shout trembled from the exertion, her arms wobbling as she tried desperately to keep the engine in her grasp. Once Peter had climbed onto the wing, Marin released the energy trapping the propeller. They moved together to the top of the plane.

Glancing back, Marin saw the Vulture flying straight at them. "Behind you!"

They dropped to the plane, narrowly avoiding him. But Peter rolled, near the remaining engine that was now caught on fire.

Marin moved toward Peter, only to be clipped on the arm by Vulture's metal talons. She shrieked in pain, losing her grip on her energy. She briefly flew back but was caught by Peter's web on her good arm.

The Vulture jumped his was to Peter, his wings surrounding him like an impending omen of death. Marin got a hold of her powers again, lashing out at the Vulture with a bright blue burst of energy. He easily dodged it, attacking the web that held Spider-Man to the plane. Peter flew back, but Marin caught him.

Toomes seemed to realize that they were too stubborn to let him win and instead abandoned them to hack at the top of the plane. "I'm not going home empty-handed!" She heard him holler.

Marin suddenly realized that the plane was dropping in altitude. "Oh, my god!" Peter cried out next to her, and following his gaze, Marin gasped. The plane had broken through the clouds, giving her a view of the city they were plummeting toward.

Peter shot a web at the right wing and Marin crouched onto the exterior, forming a sheet up energy underneath the belly of the plane. Spider-Man pulled up on the web as hard as he could, aiming the nose of the plane toward the Atlantic, and away from Staten Island. Marin screamed with the effort of keeping the jet as level as she could, and watched as they approached Coney Island.

Peter's web snapped, and Marin felt the energy drain from her. Unfortunately, this also meant that she lost her ability to fly, sending her slamming back into the side of one of the engines. "No!" Peter called, and grabbed her hand with a web from his left wrist, as he held onto the plane with his right.

The beach grew closer and closer, and the plane jerked as the right wing hit one of the rides and crashed into the sand. Marin and Peter screamed as they were tossed through the air, trying desperately to cling onto the plane.

With a mighty snap, Peter lost his grip on the wing as the web holding Marin broke, hurling them right into the sand, and they tumbled violently down the length of the beach.

The red and orange glow of fire was the last thing Marin saw before her vision went completely black.

taglist

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