#twas a great movie besides this

[thesamesunset]

i watched top gun: maverick for the plot

the plot:

[fibula-rasa]

Christmas Films of a Century Past

(updated!)

For some reason, I thought it would be a good idea to watch somewhere 50-60 Christmas and Christmas-adjacent silent films from before 1920 to put together a playlist for you all. 

I chose these as a representative selection. My general criteria were:

Christmas should be central to the story

The plot should be novel to a modern viewer or something a modern viewer would be surprised to see so early on film 

The list on the whole should have a variety of settings and narrative structures

Here’s a direct link to the YouTube playlist, if you want to watch them all in one go. (They are all shorter than feature length!)

Two quick presentation notes: 

Some of the videos have music and some don’t, so you may want to check your volume level. 

The intertitles for some of these films are not in English, so be sure you have captions turned on for English translations.

READ ON BELOW!

1. Santa Claus (1898) (UK)

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Directed by George Albert Smith 

Short and sweet, this film sees children put to bed by their nanny on Christmas Eve and Santa Claus coming down the chimbley to fill their dutifully hung stockings. Director G.A. Smith used his own patented technique of double exposure to show Santa’s arrival without cutting away from the children’s room. Santa Claus might not pack the punch of a Méliès trick film, but it’s a fun novelty and is purportedly the first appearance of Santa Claus on film.

2. The Little Match Seller (1902) (UK)

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Directed by James Williamson 

This one’s a quick but effective adaptation of the Hans Christian Anderson tragedy featuring impressively well-coordinated superimpositions.

3. The Christmas Angel (1904) (FR)

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Directed by George Méliès for Star Film Company

The Christmas Angel follows an impoverished girl driven into the city to beg on a snowy winter night. First she’s chased away from a church by more seasoned beggars; then she’s thrown out of a poultry seller and harassed by police. On the verge of falling asleep in the snow, a rag-and-bone man rouses her and offers her help. Later, the girl passes out beside a road but is luckily spotted by a wealthy couple on a car ride. When they learn of her plight, they bring her home along with food and gifts. 

Though not as fantastical as some of Méliès’ more famous works, The Christmas Angel is still highly stylized (and stylish) and features special effects that are photographed beautifully. It’s also worth noting that the version of the film included here is the American cut. The original French cut, titled Détresse et Charité (Distress and Charity), did not include the sequence with the wealthy couple and instead ends with the girl dying in the snow. 

4. The Night Before Christmas (1905) (US)

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Directed by Edwin S. Porter for Edison Manufacturing Company

This is the first time the poem “Twas the Night Before Christmas” was put on film. Loosely following the poem, we see Santa Claus prepare for his yearly trek while a middle-class family prepares for his visit. When Santa heads out, we are treated to an extended panning sequence with a fully painted backdrop for a mini Santa and his reindeer to glide across. When Santa arrives at the family home, he chaotically dumps presents and decorations around their living room and makes a large, decorated tree appear out of thin air. (Across many of the movies I watched to put this post together, this seems to be a favored scenario for the jolly fat man around this time—and it’s delightful.) The family then wakes to find their gifts and the film closes with Santa directly wishing us a Merry Christmas. 

5. A Little Girl Who Did Not Believe in Santa Claus (1907) (US)

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Directed by J. Searle Dawley and Edwin S. Porter for Edison Manufacturing Company

Even at the risk of this list being too Edison heavy, I couldn’t leave this great short out. While walking with his mother, a rich little boy encounters a poor little girl alone in the cold. They take her home to play and warm up. When the boy learns that the girl doesn’t believe in Santa because apparently Santa doesn’t visit poor children, he hatches a scheme. On Christmas Eve, the boy holds a stake out near the fireplace and takes Santa hostage, tying him up and holding him at gunpoint. The boy then forces Santa to visit the girl—going so far as shimmying down the chimney himself to let Santa in the front door. When the girl wakes up to a beautifully decorated tree, new toys, and a full stocking, she can finally believe in Santa Claus. While I’m generally not so into stories about supposedly benevolent rich people, I do love the implications this story has on how Santa Claus works and I also find the means with which the boy gets his way hilarious.

6. Il Natale di Cretinetti / Foolshead’s Christmas (1909) (IT)

[& Come fu che l’ingordigia rovino il Natale di Cretinetti / How Greediness Spoilt Foolshead’s Christmas (1910) & Il Natale di Cretinetti (1911)]

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Directed by Andre Deed for Itala Film

This entry is a three-for, which I hope you’ll excuse, but I couldn’t decide which Cretinetti Christmas to share! Cretinetti, the comedic persona of filmmaker Andre Deed, is an absolute agent of chaos. 

In the 1909 film, Cretinetti attempts to bring a tree home for a Christmas party. The destruction escalates wildly, culminating in an entire building falling to pieces. 

If you can believe it, the stakes are even higher in the 1910 film, when Cretinetti can’t resist sneaking out of bed on Christmas Eve to snack on the candy decorating the tree. When Santa sees what Cretinetti has done, he chides him and takes him back to his workshop—which is apparently in heaven. Destruction ensues. Cretinetti then proceeds to cause havoc for Saint Peter, annoying god so much that he calls the devil to come get Cretinetti. Cretinetti is then chased to hell where demons try to cook him alive. Thankfully, spoiler alert, it was all a bad dream and he wakes up on Christmas morning with a terrible stomach ache. 

The 1911 film returns to localized chaos. Cretinetti has a run-in with a mail carrier and his Christmas packages get mixed up with one of the carrier’s parcels. The parcel contains three bottles of ether which then begin to emit gasses in the middle of the family Christmas party. 

I wasn’t familiar with Cretinetti before reviewing films for this list, but I’m definitely going to seek out more of Deed’s movies. Each of these films had well-executed chaotic slapstick; over-the-top in all the right ways.

7. Making Christmas Crackers (1910) (UK)

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Produced by Cricks & Martin Films for Clarke, Nickolls, & Coombs Confectionery

To start, if you’re not sure what a Christmas cracker is, it’s a colorfully decorated paper tube that makes a cracking noise as you pull it open. Inside the tube is a paper hat, a joke, and/or a small toy. It’s a traditional part of UK Christmas celebrations.

This short starts as a documentary of the workers at Clarke, Nickolls, & Coombs constructing the crackers. It’s a fun thought that as early as 1910, people were interested in watching how mass-produced consumer goods were made. It’s also fun to see these skilled workers ply their trade so deftly (even though wages and working conditions were likely less than ideal). The film ends with a family celebrating around a Christmas tree topped with a functional giant cracker.

8. A Christmas Carol (1910) (US)

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Directed by J. Searle Dawley for Edison Films Manufacturing Company

There are so so so many film adaptations of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol made before 1920 that it was hard to choose which one to include on this list. In the end I chose this 1910 version for its economy of storytelling, fluid use of special effects, and for Marc McDermott’s great performance as Scrooge.

9. Broncho Billy’s Christmas Dinner (1911) (US)

[letterboxd | imdb]

Directed by Gilbert M. Anderson (Broncho Billy) for The Essanay Film Manufacturing Company

Gilbert M. Anderson was an incredibly prolific and popular filmmaker and star of early American film, particularly in his role as Broncho Billy. As was typical for Anderson, he’s pulling triple duty on Broncho Billy’s Christmas Dinner as the star, director, and producer. The film features a simple and heartwarming story. 

On Christmas, Billy comes across a young woman in peril as her horses got startled and are now pulling her cart along wildly. Billy manages to wrangle the horses and in gratitude she invites him to Christmas dinner at her parents’ home. Unfortunately, her father happens to be the sheriff. But, all is well, as it turns out that Broncho Billy’s been given a pardon and the sheriff welcomes him to the table gladly. 

The enduring appeal of outlaws or criminals getting into the Christmas spirit is fascinating to me and it’s cool to see such an early instance of the story!

10. Le Noel de la princesse / The Little Princess’s XMas Gift (1911) (FR)

[letterboxd | imdb]

Produced by Société G��nérale des Cinématographes Éclipse

In all honesty, this is the least Christmassy (but also probably most christian-y) of all the films I included here, but its style and novelty stood out. The sets, costuming, and production design are lush. It might also be one of the weirdest Christmas stories I’ve even encountered.

After Lord Othberg passes away, the conniving Otto plans to assassinate the baby prince in order to inherit the lordship himself. He poisons the baby, but the princess prays for her baby brother to come back to life as her Christmas gift. An angel appears to her and they summon Jesus, who resurrects her baby brother. Of course, they then place the revivified baby in the castle’s nativity scene, to the joy of all but Otto.

11. Ida’s Christmas (1912) (US)

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Directed by Van Dyke Brooke for Vitagraph Company of America

With a more classic Christmassy story, Ida’s Christmas tells us of a family who are facing hard times. Ida (played by a very small Dolores Costello) has her eyes on a pricey doll. Meanwhile, her mother seeks out employment with a wealthy family. The matriarch of the wealthy family overhears Ida’s wish and decides to buy the doll for her as a surprise. Later, Ida is distraught to find that the doll has been purchased but comes across a wallet that someone has dropped. She considers taking the money, but chases down the owner instead. The old man gives her some reward money for returning the wallet. Ida rushes to see if she can buy the doll, but has second thoughts when she thinks about how much her family could use the money. She arrives home with the money just in time for a Santa-esque old man to show up bearing packages and an assurance that the wealthy family has work for her father. The film ends with the family celebrating an unexpectedly Merry Christmas. 

It’s a sweet story that hits so many beats of what we now consider traditional Christmas tales.

12. Рождество обитателей леса / The Insect’s Christmas (1913) (RU)

[letterboxd | imdb]

Directed by Władysław Starewicz for Khanzhonkov

Fair warning, if you thought The Princess’s XMas Gift was odd, you might need to ready yourself for this one. Stop-motion virtuoso Władysław Starewicz (Ladislas Starevich) spins a tale about a tiny ornament of Santa/Ded Moroz coming to life on Christmas and going out into the wild to bring Christmas joy to creatures small and smaller, including a frog and a ladybug. Starewicz’s animation is as impeccable as ever and the short is imaginative and quirky.

Honorable Mention:

Dance of the Seasons (1900)

Christmas Dream (1900)

Christmas Eve (1913)

A Christmas Carol (1914)

Snow White (1916)

A Winter Straw Ride (1906)

[t-nd-rfoot]

'Twas a Top Gun Christmas // Happy Holidays 🎄

A very merry Dagger-style Christmas

Characters Everyone...like...everyone

Theme Fluff

Warning/s Christmas (for those who don't celebrate); cliche Christmas activities (presents, snowballs, the whole shebang); comedic rhyming dialogue from Maverick for the sake of the poem

Word Count 711

Note By the time this goes up, it will be Christmas my time! Just wanted to add a fun Top Gun twist to a Christmas classic! Written in Amelia's POV just because I love the idea of her being a bystander to all the Dagger shenanigans 😌 Merry Christmas and happy holidays!

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, Beside pictures of people who flew in the air.

Fast asleep in the cabin was the said naval squadron Of pilots and wizzos hailing from Top Gun.

The long hours before were properly spent Preparing for tomorrow's holiday fest.

Wreaths and streamers adorned the rooms, Shiny and colorful under the light of the moon.

Aromas, too, wafted from the kitchen nearby, Of turkey, potatoes, and various pies.

And gifts of all kinds were strewn under the tree, Paper bags and wrapped boxes—there were at least seventy!

Hours ticked by till the the sun slowly rose Accompanied by a light flurry of snow.

And one man from upstairs woke up with a kick; 'Twas the leader of the pack, Captain Maverick.

His footsteps thundered as he made his way down And woke up the others with whistles and shouts:

"Now, Iceman! Now, Fanboy! Now, Rooster and Payback! On, Phoenix! On, Bob! Coyote and Hangman! On your feet! Rise and shine! Get out of bed! There's no time to lose, We've a long day ahead!"

With sleep in their eyes, mouths wide as they yawned, The aviators awakened one by one.

All of them gathered in the great living room To prepare for the chaos that was about to ensue.

Next to come down were me and mom, Penny, With Ice’s Sarah and the younger Kazansky's.

Five other Daggers joined in on the mix: Omaha, Harvard, Yale, Halo, and Fritz.

Hondo and Cyclone came up from Miramar; Even Warlock and Hammer had sent their regards.

All donned in our sweaters with fun Christmas patterns, We exchanged presents amid laughter and chatter.

Some sneaky pilots crept into the kitchen To steal Sarah’s cookies, hot and fresh from the oven.

Coyote and Fritz sprinkled theirs with handfuls of sweets With every shade of red, white, and green!

Had we not taken their plate away, They probably would have eaten the whole cookie buffet.

Halo and Phoenix, on the other hand, were proud Of their elaborately decorated gingerbread house.

Decked out in chocolate, candy canes, and licorice sticks All held together with marshmallow icing.

Fanboy and Bob…let’s just say tried their best, Judging from their candy pile of a mess.

Meanwhile outside, the kids took turns being dragged Around in their sleds by Omaha and Hangman.

And as always, the competitive Harvard and Yale Built forts that outdid each other’s in scale.

Payback split everyone in teams of young versus old. “Careful what you wish for!” Maverick taunted, shouting out in the cold.

And just like the battles they encountered in flight, Powdered spheres whizzed through the air in a snowball dogfight!

Even Cyclone and Ice played from their seats, Keeping Hondo company as he “refereed.”

In the end, the outnumbered youngsters lost 6-10 So then began the contest on who could build the best snowman.

Rooster won by a mile; it wasn’t hard to choose His baby Snow Bradley next to Snow Carol and Snow Goose.

The sky had turned dark when the group came back in Just in time for dinner to begin!

The table was set with garlands and candles Amid placemats and napkins with festive flannels.

A picture-perfect meal! It was truly a scene Straight out of a movie or a bedtime dream.

There was enough food to feed a whole army— Well, navy—but you know what I mean.

We all found ourselves gathered ‘round the fire, Mom’s special eggnog and cocoa in the mugs of each flier.

By the warmth of the flames, each one fell asleep To Sinatra’s ‘I’ll Be Home For Christmas (If Only In My Dreams).’

The first man up, and the last man down, Maverick took one last look around.

All around were his people—his family and friends Who he spent this glorious day with 'til its glorious end.

He put out the fire, and turned off the music Creeping 'round the house as quiet as Saint Nick.

But I heard him whisper ‘fore he left my sight, “Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"

Please reblog if you enjoyed this! Feedback in comments are also highly appreciated!

• • • • •

GIF midnightinparis | tumblr

Disclaimer  I do not own Top Gun: Maverick or any of its characters. Please do not copy my work or translate without my permission.

[erins-quinn]

“about the blogger” meme

thanks for the tag @currymanganese @cruciomione and @ashluvsu4ever (some tagged sydneys-adamu but that’s still me!! lol) this is late as hell but y’all are real cool! 🩷

star sign: scorpio! as far as all that other stuff like rising and moon and sun I’m not sure.

favorite holiday: I don’t have one but I’d have to say christmas for the food

last meal: chicken soup bc winter slapped me in the face now I’m sick

current favorite musician: don’t have one! I kinda hate music

last music listened to: “I know the end” by phoebe bridgers. doesn’t help my I hate music stance but that song is great so what I will do is put that song and just that song on repeat for months and not even touch anything else. I’ve also been listening to the parade revival bcr for months now.

last movie watched: blue beetle I think? and that was kind of a while ago. but great film! a lot better than I was expecting.

last tv show watched: besides just putting stuff on for noise im gonna say jury duty. an incredible watch you should consider if you haven’t already.

last book/fic finished: it was sydcarmy but I can’t remember the title. but it’s about their first fight in the cross over between whatevership and relationship and carmen gets sick and I’m also sick so!!

last book/fic abandoned: I mean I don’t read books, so that’s abandonment all on its own and if I abandon fics im not gonna publicize that lol.

currently reading: … not a book. and honestly idk basically besides re reading I’m currently reading most sydcarmy wips. I haven’t read for a different fandom since june lmao.

last thing researched for art/writing/hyper-fixation: I think “how to make a crochet coaster” I’m thinking about starting to sell and of course idk how to go about it but I figure actually making shit is a good start? who knows.

favorite online fandom memory: this isn’t a “fandom” per se (say? idk) but back in 2020-2021 I used to spend a lot of time on twitch and I got really attached to this one guy and his community. anyways I called a pop tart and a toaster strudel the same thing and got positively annihilated by the chat. twas very funny.

favorite old fandom you wish would drag you back in/have a resurgence: hmmm idk. for the sake of not having the same answer twice I’d say maybe cobra kai. I really miss loving that show and the ship I was attached to had meta that reminds me of sydcarmy. when the engagement was high it was really fun and if people suddenly decided to start caring again I’d go right back.

favorite thing you enjoy that never had an active or big “fandom” but you wish it did: american vandal!!! it’s less that I want it to have a big fandom because really who wants that and more I just wanted to know the show was appreciated, which it wasn’t :(

tempting project you’re trying to reign in/don’t have time for: I was almost roped into embroidery and punch needling and then I had to actually consider the fact that there’s no way I could commit to that. maybe one day tho.

if u see this pretend I tagged you and do it! :)

[thebibliomancer]

Essential Avengers: Avengers #271: BREAKAWAY!

September, 1986

The Black Knight!

The Wasp!

Paladin!

--- Versus ---

Grey Gargoyle!

Yellowjacket!

Screaming Mimi!

Place Your Bets!

Huh! This is a good month for Avengers facing weird threesomes. Uh, three person villain teams.

But Screaming Mimi, Grey Gargoyle, and Yellowjacket are a very different grouping than Quantum, Halflife, and Zzzax!

For one, I imagine that none of these three are going to get beat in like five seconds like Zzzax did. For another, if there’s a theme here its indecipherable.

Anyway.

Pertinent last times in Avengers: the Wasp went on vacation to avoid an awkward conversation with Starfox (mood.) where she met a guy called Paladin and they hit it off. He couldn’t come back to New York to be her boytoy because he had his own career but they made vague plans to get together again.

Namor joined the Avengers, tried to not be angry at everything, partially succeeded. When word got out about him being an Avenger, it caused a public opinion split between those who remember all the times Namor flooded or invaded New York and those who remember him punching Nazis and his stints of grumpy heroism. Then he got sued for property damage. He demanded that the trial should take place as soon as possible but then got dragged off because of Atlantis drama.

Moonstone escaped jail and tried to stir up trouble by pretending to be a widow. She passed up several obvious escape opportunities once shit hit the fan so wound up getting exploded by Black Knight and captured. But the police that took her away were actually Absorbing Man and Titania, with an exciting new opportunity for her.

Also, Hercules has been chafing under Wasp’s leadership. Partially because of sexism. Not a great look.

That brings us to this:

I’m sure Wasp sometimes feels that managing a superhero team is like dealing with extremely muscular, dumb babies.

Black Knight explains the thing from last time with Byrrah coming from Atlantis to tell Namor that Attuma had taken over the city. And Namor rushing off declaring This Is Something He Has To Do Himself.

Wasp: “Oh, fine! I can’t believe Namor would just up and leave like that! What was he thinking of?”

Hercules: “‘Twas nothing wrong with the Sub-Mariner’s thinking! Facing Attuma alone is a point of honor! But then, I shouldn’t expect a woman to understand such things!”

Wasp: “What?!? I’ll have you know I understand honor perfectly well, Hercules -- but that’s not the point! It’ll take Namor days to reach Atlantis under his own power... we could have flown him there in a matter of minutes! Maybe you’d have thought of that, if you had something between your ears besides muscles!”

And she pokes him emphatically in the pecs.

He gets mad at her disrespect, she gets mad at his disrespect and Black Knight yells at Hercules to please not smash the chairwoman.

Hercules gets mad, squishes the rest of his snacking grapes, and stomps off.

Wasp tells Black Knight to let Hercules go cool off because he’s the one who’s out of line.

Black Knight: “But what if he doesn’t cool off? What if he doesn’t come back?!”

Wasp: “Then we’ll deal with it! All right?”

-and she too stomps off-

Black Knight, glumly: “Yeah, sure.”

Dane had to wait all of these years to join the Avengers, he shows up and Vision tries to become the internet and take over the world. But maybe things will settle down after that but NOPE! The government is withdrawing their support, the roster is a powder keg, and two of the stronger dudes have walked off to deal with personal stuff.

The secret though is that the Avengers are always about this level of dramatic. You’ll never not have any drama, Dane. You want a boring team go back in time and join the original the Champions.

Heck, things get soap opera but hard when you take primary focus on the Avengers, apparently.

Plus side, it got you an extended cameo in a movie so its not all bad.

Meanwhile, Hercules.

He’s walking down the streets of New York New York fuming “all my former wives together were not as demanding as the Wasp!” and that he’s considering ditching the Avengers and going home to Olympus because screw mortals and their folly.

When what does he encounter but a situation requiring stupid, brute force.

A MacRay Moving truck trailer has tipped over in the street due to a Subaru cutting it off. Nobody was hurt but the street is blocked.

Enter Hercules who has nothing better to do.

He confirms that the truck isn’t filled with breakables, spits on his hands, and sets the truck upright.

The driver only belatedly realizing that this isn’t just a random guy dressed the same as Hercules, it’s the actual Hercules!

Driver: “Lissen, my boss woulda taken this outta my pay! Lemme at least buy you a drink!”

Hercules: “Well, there be hope for mankind after all! Lead on, my friend!”

How very Hercules of Hercules.

Meanwhile, Wasp. Getting chauffeured and also still fuming about Hercules and Namor.

Wasp: Namor couldn’t have picked a worse time to play the ‘lone Avenger’! Just yesterday, he made such a big deal about going to court to face the insurance consortium that’s suing him for two billion. ‘Shouldn’t expect a woman to understand such things!’ Ohhh!

She’s so irritated that when a silent alarm trips at her Sutton Place apartment, she decides to handle it herself because “right now, I would welcome an excuse to hand somebody his head!”

Annnnnnd it’s Paladin.

Hi, Paladin!

His last job came with a big bonus so he’s decided to treat himself to spending time with Wasp.

So took the liberty of breaking into her home. But he brought champagne so that’s almost like being a good, uninvited guest.

From her angry expression, he deduces she’s angry but she says she’s not angry at him! She’s just got a lot of things going on and even though she’s glad to see him, it’s hard to just switch off that emotion.

He offers to listen to her woes which, hey, that’s like the bare minimum of a relationship but its good for him to hit that bare minimum.

Maybe this relationship can exist outside the carefree vacation mindset.

Wasp: “Believe me, you don’t want to hear about it! Lately things have been so chaotic --!”

Phone: BRR-RING

Wasp: “See what I mean? That’s probably more bad news!”

Oof, you should de-stress, Wasp. That’s a very negative attitude.

But she cheers up after receiving the phone call - evidently good news - and asks Paladin to escort her to a fun trip to Passaic County Jail.

MEANWHILE AGAIN, this book has a number of subplots, doesn’t it?

But meanwhile, the New York FBI offices.

Captain Marvel just comes in to Agent Derek Freeman’s office as a lightbeam because she’s as much a security threat as Kitty Pryde is in terms of just going wherever she feels like.

Anyway, it does him a startle.

And it’s not getting old.

I love when Monica alarms people by just appearing somewhere.

Anyway, Monica has come for information. And since the Avengers are still in the doghouse with their government information sources, Monica decides she’ll ask Agent Freeman. They’ve worked together a few times plus he seems like a cool guy who’ll bend the rules.

Which he agrees is the case.

With the Avengers’ losing their government information sources, Captain Marvel only heard about Moonstone escaping police custody from the radio. Because the Avengers get so much of their information from the news.

Derek confirms that Moonstone escaped custody and that it looks like she had super-powered help. AND - because it doesn’t rain but pours - its part of a recent pattern of other super-criminals breaking out of jail in recent weeks.

Grey Gargoyle, Whirlwind, and Mister Hyde have all been broken out of jail.

Agent Derek feels like this is being masterminded by someone but who and for what purpose escapes him.

It didn’t help that there was a recent string of murders of at-large criminals that confused the issue. Thanks, the Scourge of the Underworld. Ya jerk.

Monica asks Derek to keep her posted if he learns more. Which he’d be glad to. And not in exchange but - he asks her to dinner, basically. Which she’d be glad to, as soon as she has free time.

Captain Marvel: “I’m sort of tied up through next week, though. But after that... maybe you’ll keep me in mind?”

Agent Freeman: “Oh, I surely will!”

Agent Freeman thoughts: It’d be might hard not to keep a woman like that in mind! Gonna be a long time until next week.

Captain Marvel thoughts: What a nice invitation! Derek is so polite... so intelligent... so gorgeous! This could be a very long week!

They both have it bad for each other.

Captain Marvel nyooms back to Avengers Mansion and finds Black Knight shooting his sword with a science gun.

As one does.

Its not just for the hell of it though. Dane is trying to explore that new power his extremely cursed sword demonstrated.

It can slice through most things, it can deflect most energy but if its angled just right, it can absorb energy too.

And Dane can’t figure out whether its because the sword is made of some bullshit space metal or whether its because of all the spells Merlin put on it.

Captain Marvel: “Does that bother you?”

Black Knight: “A little! I’m the only scientist on Earth -- who has a magic sword!”

But since Monica came to him for help with her own powers, Dane puts the sword to the side for now to talk the electromagnetic spectrum.

He doesn’t know how much help he can provide since she seems to have mastered said entire electromagnetic spectrum.

So Monica narrows down her concern.

Sure, she can become x-rays and cosmic rays. And high energy radiation is useful for zipping through things but they’re too dangerous to use around people.

Black Knight: “Ever heard of neutrinos? They’re safer than mother’s milk!”

Captain Marvel: “I’ve heard of neutrons.”

Black Knight: “Neutrinos are different. They’re massless particles that can go through anything and everything! I think that if you learn to ‘tune’ yourself properly, you can become neutrinos. We’ll find out if that’s possible by testing you against the largest close neutrino source... the sun!”

God, I love superhero comics.

‘You should learn about neutrinos by going to... THE SUN.’

Anyway.

Elsewhere, later, in New Jersey.

Wasp and Paladin have gone to Passaic County Jail because they’re holding New Yellowjacket Rita DeMara.

Remember her?

She stole Hank Pym’s Yellowjacket outfit from Avengers Mansion, gave it a makeover, and then made the mistake of trying to rob Hank’s old lab at Janet’s house? And Janet thumped her good and gave her existential fright?

Anyway, Janet doesn’t know about the initial theft so wants to know from Rita where she got her Yellowjacket suit.

Rita snarks that she made it herself and then says she won’t say anything without a lawyer present.

And then her lawyer presents and declares it OUTRAGE that superheroes were interrogating his client without the presence of counsel.

Wasp immediately rips off lawyer’s lawyer goatee.

Not because she hates it when she doesn’t get to violate someone’s civil liberties. But because she recognizes the lawyer.

He’s not a lawyer at all!

He’s Gray Gargoyle! Foreshadowed as being at large earlier in the issue!

Also, Screaming Mimi!

... Uh... She was a superpowered wrestler, I think? But she’s big into supervillainy now.

Mimi says her scream should incapacitate an average person for 15 to 30 minutes so the two villains get to work.

They tear away their tear-away clothes to reveal their costumes. Mimi grabs Rita. And Gray Gargoyle decides that what he definitely should do is stone Paladin just so people go ‘wow the Gray Gargoyle has definitely been here.’

But Paladin jumps up and kicks Gray Gargoyle through the door. His head is fuzzy from Screaming Mimi’s scream but he’s not down.

Paladin decides he should press his advantage against Gray Gargoyle, while cautioning himself that Gray Gargoyle is stronger than he appears.

... Shortly before getting punched through the wall.

Womp womp.

Meanwhile, Mimi tries to rouse Rita and take her away, ha ha, but Wasp also isn’t as incapacitated as advertised either.

As about an ankle-high Wasp, she grabs Screaming Mimi and trips her. But Screaming Mimi screams as she falls.

And this time, the scream knocks Wasp out.

Things aren’t going well.

BUT, NINETY THREE MILLIONS MILES AWAY, Captain Marvel vibes in the Sun’s chromosphere.

She feels something that she thinks might be neutrinos and assumes a form that may be that.

Back at Avengers Mansion, the transmission is breaking up - probably because she’s transmitting RIGHT NEXT TO THE SUN.

Black Knight tries to ask her what’s going on but then realizes a fun science fact.

It takes eight minutes for a message to get to the sun. It would take eight minutes for a message to get back. It’s going to be sixteen minutes before he even knows if she heard him.

And he’s worried that she sounded strange while she was vibing on neutrinos and worried that if anything goes wrong, there’s no way to help her. BECAUSE SHE’S 93 MILLION MILES AWAY AND RIGHT NEXT TO THE SUN.

He gets distracted from that though because it turns out that Wasp managed to activate her emergency beacon, calling for reinforcements.

Since Black Knight is the only one at the mansion right then, he tries to contact the other Avengers.

Hercules doesn’t answer because he accidentally damages his radio transceiver while arm wrestling five sailors at the same time in a bar.

Captain America answers but he’s several hours away, biking around on his motorcycle.

Cap suggests that Black Knight contact Captain Marvel because she’s the fastest. But Black Knight is frustrated because of that eight minute delay each way if he tried to contact her, IF he managed to get through, and IF she isn’t just zoning out by the sun and doesn’t answer.

Black Knight: “No word from Herc, either! And in the meantime, lord knows what sort of trouble the Wasp is in! I may be her only hope! But if Captain Marvel should need help, and I’m not here...!”

Not sure what you’d do even if she did need help. Do you have a spaceship ready to go?

Anyway.

Back at the prison, Wasp regains consciousness after being Mimi’d.

Apparently to keep her out of the way, the villains put a wastebasket on top of her. Then Gray Gargoyle turned it to stone.

She just blasts a hole through it. Her Wasp sting yadda yadda small house.

Paladin is more incapacitated.

Gray Gargoyle pinned him under a filing cabinet and then turned it to stone.

He tells Wasp to go on ahead without him because the villains only have a couple minutes head start.

Wow, she wasn’t knocked out very long at all.

Gray Gargoyle actually complains about it, as the villains are getaway driving.

Gray Gargoyle: “You said they’d be out at least 15 minutes!”

Screaming Mimi: “I said the ‘average person’ ... neither of them was average!”

Fair point, fair point.

Anyway, despite the head start and driving a car, Wasp catches up to them and blows out a tire so they’ll crash into an overpass.

Okay, to be fair, they crash into an overpass because Gray Gargoyle had no confidence in Mimi’s ability to handle a flat, grabbed the wheel, and accidentally swerved into the overpass.

Gray Gargoyle complains that he didn’t just turn her to stone while she was passed out at the jail and y’know that’s a good point.

This firm clutching of the villain ball is on you, dude.

You put a stone trash can over her!

Wasp isn’t sure if she can actually beat Gray Gargoyle by herself when she’s still woozy from getting Mimi’d twice but she does her Waspish best, flying just out of reach and being really distracting.

Inside the overturned van, Rita DeMara wakes up surprised she’s in her Yellowjacket costume. She also is surprised that a radio starts calling for Mimi and Gray Gargoyle.

When she answers the radio, telling radio person that Mimi got knocked unconscious and Gray Gargoyle is chasing the Wasp, the radio person tells her that the important thing is that she ditch the other two and escape.

Back at the fight, Gray Gargoyle rips up a tree to try to swat Wasp with it. For irony reasons, probably.

But Black Knight shows up on his atomic steed, cuts the tree in half and then cuts it in half in a different way when Gray Gargoyle tries to throw it at him.

Gray Gargoyle: “Only one Avenger comes to your aid, Wasp? What a pity... for both of you!”

Black Knight: “If this is the best attack you can muster, Gargoyle, you should save your pity for yourself!”

Burn.

Like a smart guy, Gray Gargoyle decides to grab the Ebony Blade and turn it into stone so he can break it just to be a dick.

The Ebony Blade doesn’t like that too much so it turns Gray Gargoyle into not-stone.

It can do that. It’s incredibly enchanted and alarmingly cursed.

Also, I think the inker changed on this page specifically? Because the inking definitely did. The inks feel heavier than on the preceding or succeeding page.

There’s not an inker listed on the creative credits so I don’t know.

Oh, but here’s something!

This Marvel Unlimited version of the book has an extra page at the end, explaining that some of the stoned people in the prison and unstoned Gray Gargoyle were miscolored in the original printing.

It’s apparently been fixed for this version.

Anyway, as happens whenever Gray Gargoyle suddenly unstones, someone pops him in the jaw and knocks him out. When he’s not stone, man cannot take a punch.

At this point, Paladin shows up, having freed himself from that stone desk and I guess run down the road and found the crashed van. He has Screaming Mimi bound and gagged but reports that Rita DeMara Yellowjacket escaped in the confusion.

Which just confuses Black Knight because he has no idea who Paladin is or that there was a new Yellowjacket.

AND THEN, Captain Marvel shows up.

Black Knight asks if she’s alright but Monica is just confused what he’s talking about.

Wasp catches up Black Knight and Captain Marvel with the plot and introduces Paladin to them.

Which frees Black Knight to be quietly jealous.

Simmer down, Dane.

Sure, Wasp is a great person but you’ll be in a love triangle in a couple years. That’s... something?

Several days later, Black Knight and Captain America are discussing the jailbreak.

Gray Gargoyle and Screaming Mimi have refused to give any information on why they broke Rita Yellowjacket out of jail or whether its connected to the other supervillain jailbreaks.

Captain America: “I don’t like this, Dane. Those escapees are dangerous enough individually -- if they should band together, they’d conceivably have power enough to throw the world into chaos. I’m going to check with some of my friends in the intelligence community and see if we can learn any more about this.”

Black Knight: “While you’re at it, Cap, could you maybe run a check on this Paladin -- ?”

Cap: ‘Dane, I’m trying to foreshadow here. Give it a rest on the jealousy.’

But their conversation is interrupted by an emergency transmission from Namor McKenzie.

TURNS OUT that running off on his own because This Is Something He Has To Do Himself... was a bad idea!

He tried to liberate Atlantis single-handedly and got forced off by Attuma’s men.

Namor: “It pains me to admit this, but I cannot best them alone. I must have the help of the Avengers -- or an innocent woman may die!”

I’m glad you can swallow your pride and ask for help.

But I’m still going to mock you for running off half-cocked.

Do you realize that if you had just accepted Black Knight’s offer of help, this whole thing would have been wrapped up already? Idiot.

Follow @essential-avengers​ because Namor is lucky he’s handsome because he’s a bit dumb. Like and reblog if you think his head is looking particularly quadrilateral today.

[therealvalkyrie]

Painter’s Hands and Guatemalan Coffee: Part 4

the ackerman influence

Pairing/setting: Levi Ackerman x Female!Reader, modern!college!AU

Summary: When you catch your idiot boyfriend cheating, your grumpy roommate is there to pick up the pieces and watch your back as you toe a carefully drawn line in the metaphorical sand.  

Word Count: 3.5k

Warnings: consumption of alcohol and weed products, intoxication, swearing, pretty dang fluffy

AN: SURPRISE BITCHES it’s out tonight!! An infinite thank you belongs to my beloved @ghostlightprincess for her keen eye for editing and swoon-worthy compliments and encouragements. Seriously, this chapter is dedicated entirely to her. I hope y’all enjoy!! I hope y’all appreciate the love I gave Sasha this chapter because........reasons. Pleease feel free to come scream/squeal/chat in my DMs or askbox! In love with you all<3 ~valkyrie

(read part 3 here)

“Here, thisun ‘sblue!” Hange slurs as she passes you yet another shot glass with Greek letters etched on the side.

“Mmm, I like blue,” you giggle, then clink your shot with hers before you both tip your heads back to pour the liquor down your throats. It tastes inexplicably like turquoise, and you laugh loudly over the thumping dance music in approval. 

The poor freshman charged with staffing the drinks table eyes the pair of you skeptically. “Maybe you two should slow down, you seem like you’ve had enough—”

You round on him, offense written across your face. He’s definitely right, but you aren’t exactly gonna let some pimply, snot-nosed teen tell you how to drink. “Woah, Nelly, this ain’t cocktail hour, this is fuckin’ Greek row an’ I won’t have your judgment,” you waggle a finger in his general direction for emphasis, “harsh my vibe.”

“You tell ‘em, girlfriend,” Hange approves vaguely, hanging off your shoulder.

The freshman holds his hands up in defeat, amused. “No judgment.”

You nod once. 

“C’mon, Han, let’s see if we can find the snacks.”

“Pleeeeeeease…”

You turn away from the drinks table to do just that, angling towards where you remember the kitchen to be — honestly, this frat is huge — and set off through the crowd. Hange trails after you, fingers tangled with yours like they have been all night, yammering on about something you can’t be bothered to follow.

“‘Scuse us, comin’ through, on a mission!” You push past jostling bodies until you reach the far wall and lean against it for the last leg of your epic journey to the fluorescent lights of the kitchen.

Someone calls your name and you look up through squinted eyes to see Sasha leaned up against the counter by the fridge, bowl of chips in her arms and dab pen tucked behind her ear. She’s dressed casually, sweatpants and DIY cropped t-shirt contrasting your jeans and flashy top.

“Sasha! My love! My dearest, sweetest darling!” You stretch your arms wide towards her, Hange jolting forward where you’re connected. “We come in search of snacks.”

Sasha laughs and lazily deposits her bowl on the counter, stepping forward to stabilize you both with a hand on your shoulder. “You’ve come to the right place, my friends.”

She steers you both to sit at the island, wedging you between the only other two people in the kitchen. You vaguely recognize them as soccer players on the university team: a shaggy-haired brunette and a tall blonde. Sasha passes you her dab pen before ambling over to the pantry. You take a hit, then pass it to Hange, who’s looking much better now that she’s sitting down.

“Sash, these your friends?” the blonde asks, peering down at you through red-rimmed hazel eyes. You pluck the pen out of Hange’s limp grasp and offer it to him in greeting, along with a drunk smile. He takes it and grins back.

“Yep,” Sasha confirms with half her body still stuck into the pantry. “It’s the mad scientist one and the architect.”

“Almost architect,” you correct. “Not official until I have my degree! Although, I will agree, Han’s a mad scientist.” You poke her in the side and she swats you away with an eye roll.

“Oh,” the brunette soccer player pipes up from Hange’s other side, now looking at you curiously as well. He’s also high, startling green eyes hooded and posture relaxed. “So you’re Braun’s ex.”

You hide your shudder of distaste by turning back to take a drag off the pen. “Please don’t tell me that’s all I’m known for,” you sigh out with a cloud of smoke.

“Eren, don’t be an ass.” Sasha finally returns with a box of chocolate pretzels and a bag of hot Cheetos. “Pick your poison, hot stuff,” she offers each in turn. You ponder for a second, then reach for the Cheetos. “That’s Eren—” she points to the brunette, who raises a lazy hand “—and that’s Jean—” the blonde reaches for the pretzels. Sasha makes an offended noise and cradles them to her chest.

You introduce both yourself and Hange while Sasha plays defense against Jean’s long reach.

“Sorry,” Eren apologizes to you, leaning over Hange to grab some Cheetos. “I heard what he did to you. Really shitty.” His tone is casual, but the way he’s practically pinning you in place with his eyes makes you twitch.

“Puh-lease,” Hange pulls out the word, long and sarcastic. “‘Twas more than shitty, what that douche did. I’d’ve wrung him out to dry, but she didn’t—”

You cut her off with a sharp poke to her side. “Drop it, Han, I don’t wanna think about it.”

“But— ooh!” She’s sufficiently distracted when you shove your food in front of her face.

“Sorry,” Eren apologizes again.

“S’okay,” you sigh and take another drag, then hold the pen out to him in a peace offering. He smiles slowly and takes it.

“You guys staying over? There’s plenty of room in the basement, and friends of Sasha’s are always welcome.” It’s Jean who offers, returning to his seat beside you with a singular pretzel for his trouble.

“Hmm, might be nice,” Hange muses, but you’re already shaking your head.

“Thank you, but my roommate’d probably have a conniption if I wasn’t home in the morning.”

Hange actually snorts at this, then starts coughing violently because of the hot Cheeto dust suddenly up her nose. You pat her back in mild concern.

“What, they got a stick up their ass or something?” Eren asks.

“Or something. Levi’s just protective.”

“Levi?” Eren’s eyes are suddenly wide, almost fearful. “Levi Ackerman?”

“Yeah.” Your tone edges on defensive. “Why?”

He takes a hit and shrugs before answering. “He’s just my foster sister’s cousin. Interesting family.”

“Oh, you mean Mikasa?” You didn’t know exactly how they were related, but she’d helped Levi move in and it had struck you how eerily similar they were in disposition.

“Yeah, Mikasa. She’s around here somewhere…” As though by magic, he turns to look over his shoulder just as Mikasa and another blonde boy you don’t recognize mosey in from the hallway. She’s leaning down to catch his soft words and he’s talking with his hands, stalling as his eyes light on the little group in the kitchen.

“Oh, hey guys,” he greets. 

“Armiiiin,” Eren greets with a genuine smile. “Come meet some new friends.”

The pair rounds the kitchen island, Armin allowing Eren to pull him in by the arm and Mikasa going to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Sasha. 

“I know you,” Hange pipes up, tilting her head to observe Armin. “You’re in the sophomore biochem class I TA for. Arlert, right?”

Armin ducks his head in a nod. “Yep. Professor LaBelle is a wonder, I had a great time this semester.”

“She is, isn’t she?” Hange’s grin is almost slipping to the dangerous side of intrigued. “I graded your final paper, by the way, and just between us, you set the grade curve.”

He blushes red but his eyes shine with something akin to satisfaction. “Really? That’s a relief, it was a bear to write.”

Eren leans back behind Hange to gesture to you, looking across the kitchen at his foster sister. “Mikasa, this is—”

“—Levi’s roommate,” they say at the same time.

“I know.” Her dark eyes regard you interestedly. “Hi, again,” she greets, saying your name even though she’s maybe heard it once in her life.

“Hi!” You give a small wave.

“What, uh, what,” Jean clears his throat and you look up at him to catch a blush staining across his cheeks and nose. He’s looking at Mikasa. “What’re you guys up to in the basement?”

“We were just going to start a movie, Connie’s setting up the projector,” Mikasa says, eyes flicking from you to Eren. “Wanted to see if you guys wanted to join.”

Jean stands suddenly, his stool rocking from the force of it. “Y-yeah, we’ll join!” Sasha hides a snicker behind her hand.

Eren stands, too, between Armin and Hange, who are still chatting. He looks down at you and says your name like a question. “You coming?”

You find yourself shaking your head again. “I’m so crossed, I think if I even look at a couch I’ll fall asleep. And I, uh,” you yawn, slipping your phone out of a back pocket to check the time. 12:11 AM. “I should be getting home.”

It’s earlier than when you would normally call it quits, but suddenly all you can think about is going home and falling into Levi’s clean, soft-smelling sheets. Plus, it’s the Saturday preceding finals week and tonight was only meant to blow off steam between intense days of studying.

“You stayin’?” You bump Hange with your shoulder, and she looks around at you with wide eyes as though she forgot you were there.

“Hmm?”

“You stayin’ for the movie?”

“We’re watching It: Chapter Two,” Armin supplies, eyes crinkled in excitement.

Hange’s eyes grow impossibly wider behind her glasses and she grabs your elbow a little too hard. “You wouldn’t mind, right? I’ve been meaning to watch it.”

You smile and shake your head. “Wouldn’t mind at all. You stay, I’ll call an Uber.”

The whole group starts migrating in the lazy way drunk and high people do: Mikasa helps Sasha with the snacks; Eren and Jean grab canned drinks from the fridge; Armin and Hange gravitate towards the door, talking fast with words you’ve never heard before. You stay sitting at the island, tapping away at your phone to order a car.

When you stand to find the front door, your high hits you from behind like a fuckin’ baseball bat and you sway dangerously. You whistle through your teeth, low and soft, planting a hand on the counter. Sasha looks over at you in concern, her arms full.

“You okay, babe?”

“Yeah, I just… what is in that dab pen?”

She laughs, head tilting back. “Good shit, right? Got that one new last week.”

“For real…” you trail off, getting your bearings.

“Here,” Mikasa starts, piling even more food into Sasha’s arms, “I’ll walk you out. Levi would skin me if he knew I didn’t make sure your driver’s not an ax murderer.”

Normally, you’d protest, but the room really is starting to spin.

“Okay,” you sigh and allow her to hook your arm through hers. She’s surprisingly solid, and you find yourself leaning heavily into her. “How’re you still sober?”

“I don’t drink or smoke,” she answers, gently pushing past Armin standing in the doorway. “Doesn’t affect me, anyway, so it’d just be a waste of money.”

“Huh,” you grunt, then twist to wave to the group. “Night, everyone.”

A replying chorus of “goodnight” chases you and Mikasa through the dark foyer littered with drunken party-goers. 

“Oh, wait,” she pauses with a hand on the doorknob. “Did you bring a jacket?”

“Oh,” you wrinkle your nose and think back to getting ready in the afternoon. It had been unseasonably warm and your coat didn’t match your outfit. “No, I didn’t bring one.”

Mikasa gives you an odd look and deposits you by the door. “I’ll be right back.”

Your body feels light as you lean back, tucking your hands into your armpits so they don’t float away. Your eye catches on movement in the dark shadows by the staircase and you squint, trying to see who’s there. It takes a second, but you eventually make out a pair of people, well… making out. They’re completely absorbed in each other, bodies impossibly close and you giggle quietly to yourself before your stomach rolls. No, don’t think about… too late.

You shut your eyes tight and turn away from the couple to lean sideways against the wall. The image is too similar, too gut-punchingly familiar.

“Didn’t mean what? Didn’t mean to stick your tongue down my best friend’s throat? Didn’t mean to practically fuck your best friend’s girlfriend in public?”

The biting words and stuttered apologies are still rolling around in your head when Mikasa comes back, thick puffer coat in hand. She hands it to you and you mutter a subdued “thanks,” twitching to dislodge the dull pain that’s settled in your ribs.

“It’s Eren’s, but he won’t mind. He doesn’t wear this one a lot, and you can just give it back next time we see you.”

“Right,” you nod, head moving a little too easily as you slip your arms in and fumble with the zipper. The faux fur around the hood tickles your face as Mikasa flips it up over your head. She’s clearly experienced in the art of taking care of intoxicated people.

Outside, you’re grateful you bundled up because the temperature has dropped significantly since the afternoon. Chilly December wind bites at your face and you bury your hands in coat pockets to save them from the same fate. Your fingers brush against something cold and metallic, and before you know it you’re pulling out a fistful of crumby objects: a super plus tampon, the packaging split down the side; two “for her pleasure” condoms; and, inexplicably, a Hot Wheels matchbox car. An ugly snort escapes your nose and Mikasa looks over at you in alarm. You raise up your fist and she chuckles through her nose as well. Squinting in the dim light of a flickering streetlamp, you find the expiration date on the condoms to be several months ago, so you lean over to a convenient trash can and toss both them and the tampon. The matchbox car returns to the pocket. Who knows, maybe Eren’ll miss it if it’s gone.

Mikasa doesn’t look affected by the cold, only winding her red scarf more securely around her neck as you both quietly wait on the sidewalk for your Uber. A quick glance at the app tells you that it’s three minutes away.

“Are you and Levi close?” You find yourself asking into the night sounds of Greek Row on a Saturday night.

You almost think she doesn’t hear you over the sound of a group spilling out of a neighboring sorority, but then she answers.

“Not particularly. We didn’t grow up together and only connected because of Uncle Kenny a couple years ago.” Her tone is light and casual as she talks about her family, as though you should know who Uncle Kenny is. Should I know who Uncle Kenny is?

“Oh,” is all you can think to say.

“We may not be close,” she starts again, eyeing you closely, “but I think we’re very similar. And I can tell he cares a lot about you.”

“Oh. Right.” Your palms are suddenly sweaty in your pockets.

“He may not show it,” her tone is careful, “But he does.”

You smile faintly and kick your boot against the curb. “He does show it, in his own way. He’s been really good to me.” Somehow, it’s easy to talk about this to Mikasa, even when you get all stuttery and weird having an identical conversation with Hange. Maybe it’s the drugs and alcohol, or maybe it’s because there’s not a hint of judgment in Mikasa’s eyes. Either way, it feels good to speak your feelings into the world.

“Good.” She nods and follows your gaze to where you’re still scuffing the curb. “Some unsolicited advice for you: if you ever want anything besides mutual pining to come out of it, you need to be really obvious. Or make the first move outright.”

This makes you stutter and wring your hands, she just puts it so bluntly. “R-right, the first move…. Oh, I think that’s my car.”

“What’s the license plate number we’re looking for?”

You read it out from the app while Mikasa steps to the back of the blue sedan that just pulled up. She nods, confirming it’s the same, then circles to the driver’s side window, which is cracked open.

“Hi,” you greet the driver, a blonde woman in her late twenties, and confirm her name matches the one in the app before sliding into the back seat. Mikasa leans down to murmur something to her and she nods, glancing back at you in the rearview mirror.

“G’night, Mikasa,” you call out the window. “Thanks for everything. And tell Eren thanks for the jacket.”

She waves as the car pulls away. You settle into the quiet hum of the car and let your mind wander. 

Mutual pining. Make the first move outright….

—

“Mikasa texted me,” Levi says by way of greeting as you stumble out of the car and thank your driver. He’s leaning on a lamp post outside your apartment building when your Uber pulls up, jacket and boots pulled on over flannel pajamas. 

“Levi, stand ominously on the sidewalk often?” you ask, dragging out his name long and sing-song.

“Only for you, kid.” He loops an arm around your waist and steers you towards the entryway

“Not a kid,” you grumble, masking the stutter of your heart at his usual pet name for you. Somewhere in the last couple of weeks, it’s gained a weightier significance, at least to you. It’s endearing and a little distancing and charged all at once and it makes your head spin as you climb the stairs up to your floor.

At your door, Levi unlocks it while you drift slowly in a circle next to him, trying to expend the sudden nervous energy you’ve gained in his presence.

The first move, first move, first move… Mutual pining. Mutual.

“What are you muttering about?”

You hadn’t realized you were thinking out loud.

“Nothing,” you say quickly and pass through the door he’s holding open for you. Your momentum carries you farther than you mean to go, and he catches you by the elbow, reeling you back to the coat rack by the door.

“Whose jacket is that?” He shrugs off his own and eyes the faux fur around your face skeptically.

You fumble with the zipper for a second before he sighs and reaches for it himself, stepping into your space. His face is so close to yours you can feel his breath ghosting over your collarbone as he unzips the jacket.

“Eren’s,” you finally answer. “Look.” You pull the matchbox car out of its pocket and show it to Levi with a wide grin. He stares at it for a second, then the tiniest smile twitches onto his lips.

“He’s a weird kid.” It’s almost fond, with an undertone of exasperation.

“You know him?”

“Yeah, he’s in the art department, too. Graphic design major, marketing minor. I TAed his freshman seminar last year.” Levi slips the coat off your shoulders as he speaks, then hangs it by the loop next to his. 

“Ah, that makes sense,” you muse, wandering farther into the apartment. “He looked terrified when I mentioned you. What’d you do to those poor freshmen?”

“Nothing they didn’t deserve.”

“...ominous,” you hiss, your eyes wide as you let him gently push you into your room. The nervous energy hasn’t quite been expended, and you find your hands wringing with it. Suddenly, you’re rambling about your night as he sits you down on your bed among the laundry that’s taken residence there in its disuse. The stupid song they played at the first frat; Sasha’s excellent food; the blue mystery shot.

“It tasted like turquoise, I swear, Levi! It was like magic!” Your eyes are wide, insistent as you lean forward into his space.

“How does something taste like turquoise?” He ducks his head to avoid your face, fingers untying the knotted laces of your boots.

“You’re the artist, you tell me.”

“I don’t eat my paint.”

“Not even once? Not gonna lie, your paint looks very tasty, sometimes…”

“Are you always this annoying when you’re high?” He tugs the second boot off your foot as you let yourself fall back onto your bed.

“Come on, you love me,” you crow to the ceiling. Mutual pining.

Levi mutters something under his breath.

“What?”

“Nothing. Where do you keep your pajamas?” He stands and looks around your room.

“Middle drawer, left side,” you direct, lazily motioning to your dresser with an arm. Your eyes flutter shut as you listen to Levi pick his way across the floor and slide the drawer open.

Normally, you can get yourself in bed after a night out just fine. Normally, you slip into the apartment making as little noise as possible, and fall into bed without Levi even waking up. But it feels nice to have his steady hands on you when it feels like your organs might start floating apart at any second. It’s anchoring and reassuring and you can feel the safety of being near him lulling you into a doze.

Come on, you love me.

You shoot up to sitting, mind whirling and chest tight. “L-Levi?”

“What.”

“D-do…” Do you love me? “Do you think I’m pretty?” It feels petty in your mouth and you immediately regret the words, but it would be worse to try and take them back, so you just bite your lip and look down at the floor.

A hand plops onto the top of your head. Levi’s gray eyes meet yours, soft with something you can’t describe, when he tilts your head up. He’s quiet for a moment, then reaches his other hand to thumb your bottom lip out from between your teeth.

“I think you’re very pretty.”

--

(read part 5 here)

[httpsgfg]

thank you vicki & sandra @loverofmines for tagging me 💕

tagging @wheniminouterspace @redrattlers @rebelwith0utacause @bandsanitizer @escapesos @calumthoodshands @michaelownsmyheart @himbocalum

name/nickname: mili, mils, mimi but no one really calls me that besides family

gender: female

star sign: virgo

height: 169cm which is approximately 5′7" i think?

time: 10.30pm ish

birthday: sept 22

favorite band(s): nothing but thieves (duh), 5sos, paramore, all time low, p!atd, yonaka, badflower, cleopatrick, friday pilots club, flyte, giant rooks, inhaler, enter shikari........too many

favorite solo artist: hayley williams, maggie rogers, mitski, meg myers, phoebe bridgers, julien baker, florence, sam fender, tom odell, hozier....

song stuck in my head: 1000 names by stereo honey

last movie: do documentaries count? if so it was bbc’s inside the bell jar bc i worship sylvia plath and cry about her at least once a month; last regular film i rewatched recently was about time

last show: behind her eyes //twas a hate watch for sure

when did i make this blog: aug 2020

what i post: i’m great at clicking reblog, yelling in the tags, and hyping up my talented mutuals

the last thing i googled: non-fungible token (nft)

other blogs: had one for tv shows but it’s inactive; i occasionally go back to my first one @milisanthrope 

do i get asks: surprisingly yeah sometimes<3

why i chose this url: even tho sgfg is not my fav album it sure has a soft spot in my heart idk i thought it was clever to incorporate it into the url address itself

following: 143

followers: far too many

average hours of sleep: wish i knew; 5 ish?

lucky number: 3

instruments: i played piano for like 2 months lol rip

what am i wearing rn: lavander pjs.......very on brand 

dream trip: as if travelling didn’t make me anxious before,, i said amsterdam at one point so sure why not

favorite foods: actually snacks? like chips. technically potatoes in any shape or form. i am a child

nationality: serbian

favorite song: of all time? idk sorry by nbt probably

last book read: tiny short story special edition of my purple scented novel by ian mcewan

top three fictional universes: hmm pass i suddenly can’t pick any

favorite color: lilac/lavender

[hazem4y]

✰ 𝖳𝗂𝗇𝗍𝗂𝗇 ✰ | 𝗜𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿

𝗖 𝗛 𝗔 𝗣 𝗧 𝗘 𝗥 𝗢 𝗡 𝗘 - 𝖨𝗇 𝗐𝗁𝗂𝖼𝗁 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖻𝗈𝗒 𝗋𝖾𝗉𝗈𝗋𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝗋𝗈𝗉𝖾𝗌 𝗁𝗂𝗆𝗌𝖾𝗅𝖿 𝗂𝗇𝗍𝗈 𝗍𝗋𝗈𝗎𝖻𝗅𝖾.

Summary:  Delilah, a girl whom grew up around crime , has an unlikely run-through with the infamous Belgian reporter, Tintin. Being assigned to lead him astray from her bosses drug cartel, she ponders everything she's grown around; wondering if she can break free from her filthy past and her unsavoury 'habits.'

Featuring greasy, gelled-up mafia bosses and the small, quaint Italian coast/countryside, this book has everything a stereotypical Mafia book has, with some classic elements from Hérge's 'Tintin!'

Warnings: Mild drug references (Opiates,) Gun reference in like, one sentence. 

Taglist: @another-her​ @cc-bitz​ @ofmarlinspike​ @augustinremi @cheesecake-crisis (If you want out or in please let me know !!)

Wattpad link here!!

Please show your support by notes n’ reblogs !! I’m so sorry, I’m vv insecure about my writing and need re-assurance 24/7 :,)))

...

"Increased use of Opiates in Belgium concerns citizens!"

The recent spike of opium usage has concerned locals as the increase of drug usage had been theorised to link to the increase of crime. Authorities say it may be due to an unknown criminal organisation, which has thought to be terrorising citizens and forcing authorities to enforce curfew rules, which in turn has enraged regulars of Belgium night life, and caused major profit cuts to clubs, bars and other places frequented at night.

"These damn curfew rules are costing me euros, and making me lose valuable customers!" Says local bar-owner, Hugo.

Other night-life goers have commented on their evident dislike of the curfew, although many elderly citizens have been thankful for the new rules; as it ensures the 'safety of each and every citizen from this awful drug craze.' Quotes Police-man, Thompson. (Which is not to be confused with his relative, Thomson.)

So far, the said organisation leaders have not been caught, nor identified, and Police investigations have failed to gather a lead on the case. Reporter, Tintin, famous for finding Red Rackham's Treasure and busting Salaad's drug cartel, has made no comment on the current situation, and has yet to reach out for further investigation.

...

"An increase in Opiate usage linked to crime? What an Interesting coincidence, isn't it?" The White, wiry-haired mutt yapped in reply, as the Ginger-haired boy pondered the article; Hand on his chin, his eyebrows knitted together causing his forehead to crease,

The young reporter thought for awhile longer, until he made a connection to prior events, re-animating his frown in a cartoon-esque manner, "Why, It's- just like when we busted...Allan and his goons!"

A cup of bitter-sweet tea on a weekend shopping trip with the familiar chill of Brussels wind was quite a juxtaposition to the rush of travelling countries for the next story. Even though they satisfied the boys wanderlust, Tintin enjoyed the quiet interludes from his adventures. But, once more, it had to be interrupted by some interloper.

"I guess our little break will have to be cut short! So soon too..."

...

"It seems our little 'scheme' has made its way into the papers..." A tall, buff figure sitting at the head of the table declared. The scars on his face were highlighted under the fluorine lights as well as the unsightly manner his face was scrunched in; his expression emitting his enraged state.

"Do you realise what this means?" He paused, abruptly throwing himself off his chair, jabbing a calloused finger into the page, "This means that nosy reporter and his friends will interfere quite soon..."

'Find him, befriend him, kill him-Whatever you need to do! Just bring him to us, dead or alive...Then maybe, we could do something about your past.'

...

Delilah stretched her limbs, letting out a long-winded yawn as her gaze stayed fixed on the ginger-haired figure; his eyes fixed on the Sunday paper in his hands, "Nothin' so far..." She muttered, the tapping of her pencil on her note-pad filled with words acting like a white-noise along with the regular chatter that filled the room.

With no means of entertainment, (Although Delilah enjoyed people-watching, sometimes her patience ran thin.) she skimmed through her pages of notes, which recorded any important information.

"Alright boy, I think it's time we head to the market. Maybe we'll see the Thom(p)sons like last time!"

Welp, that was her cue.

Judging by the hefty crowd walking around the cobbled streets, it was the perfect time to make her escape. She threw on a well-loved hat and coat, and slung a leather messenger bag on her shoulder, before slipping away; her body clad in well-worn items, her beige-hued Trench-coat and a patterned Paperboy hat inconspicuous against the males pushing her against the flow of the crowd.

...

Every so often, every Sunday morning, the town square's grey-coloured cobble is filled up with the colourful hues of the shopkeep's canopy tents; the square being filled with various people, the familiar banter of negotiation, and smells of fresh produce and food. Somewhere in the throng of coats and hats, (that protected the wearers from the frigid weather.) the infamous reporter stood, examining a shopkeep's repertoire of Bric-a-Brac,

"The markets sure are busier than usual!" His voice raised slightly over the blaring chatter. 'Twas like nobody knew of personal space; Each man arm to arm, shunning the impatient who shoved the bodies aside. As boot-clad feet came in contact with the stone, the white canine beside Tintin let out a yelp; as a foot trampled on his stubby tail.

The perpetrators eyes were wide in offence, mouth open ready to sling curses at the sound, "W-why you bone-headed nimrod, watch where you're-"

With all the ruckus happening near-by, the quiff-haired boy turned around, expression melded into one of pleasant surprise, "Captain!"

The boy's voice seemed to catch the individuals attention, prompting them to turn around, "Aye-Tintin?! Pleasant surprise seeing you, lad! 'Specially here-I mean, I never see you doing any sort of leisure!"

"Actually..." He paused. Nothing good would come of a crowd like this, "I-just decided to enjoy such leisure time! By doing some...'Sunday shopping.'" He winked, his hand slipping out of his coat pocket to hand the captain a slightly crinkled and haphazardly torn article.

The captain let out a long 'Oh' as he shoved the paper back into his pocket, picking up their 'casual' conversation, "Well, I hope you find something interesting-There's a lot of ol' treasures 'round these parts y'know."

"I hope I do too! I wonder if we'll run into Thompson and Thomson..." A smug smirk crept on his face as they continued to converse in their 'secret language.' Time seemed to lose track of itself as the duo slung words towards each other-

Actually, is seemed as if the entire market halted action; Silence rolling across the crowd.

A shrill, blood-curdling scream. Hang on, A scream?

The extreme vocal strain seemed to trigger the crowd into a panic, the hushed chatter and shifting eyes of the crowd attempting to stay alert of danger.

The reporter attempted to stand on the tip of his toes to gain leverage over his height, but the crowd smothered any chance for a look of the conflict, "Do you have any clue what's going on? I can't see-"

He squinted as he leaned on the gentlemen next to him, earning some unsavoury looks, "Hang on I-Thundering Typhoons!"

As convenient as it was, the crowd sort of parted a second, it seems as if everyone wanted to watch the conflict; and nobody was going to help?

This time the dispute was clear to Tintin, causing great discomfort and anger to surge through his tiny frame.

The male, his appearance displaying outwardly his feelings of anger, began to dash towards the trouble, his person a blur "Take care of Snowy and watch for my whereabouts," He ceased for a second, chucking a handgun that was previously concealed in his pocket to Captain Haddock's general direction, "And take this-!"

...

Author's Section.

Hello !! Welcome to the First chapter of my story !! This took me awhile to write, as I was working out the best format so that your experience will flow well. I wanted the transitions from chapter and scene to be as smooth as a fountain pen on paper, so I hope you all enjoy.

As the synopsis says, this story will include elements from every stereotypical mafia movie, plus classic elements from Hèrge's ' Tintin.'

I'm not going to spill much but there will also might be a little bit of romantic elements. Nothing that distracts from the wonderful plot, of course, that would make me a terrible writer, but just some wholesome stuff. (We will not be sinning, because I am not defiling my childhood-)

Anyhow, I hope you stay with me and this series !! (And I hope I can finish it too...)

Be warned, quality goes down from here...I feel like I did terrible on the other chapters but that's just me...

I also might change the story name too, I’m taking recommendations as well! I don’t know what to name it...

Much love,

-Hayleigh

[ahxiang]

10 Dramas I Liked This Year

thank you to @hunginggrapes for tagging me! idk if this means dramas that i watched this year or that came out this year, so i decided to do the latter and only include completed ones! also, these are in no particular order. alright, here we go!

1. 30sai Made Dotei Dato Mahotsukai Ni Narerurashii

okay, i'm already making an exception to my completed 2020 dramas rule, abdkdgsk. but cherry magic ends tomorrow so close enough!! i love this drama, it has easily become my favorite one (and that's a very hard thing for me to decide, i'm hella indecisive). it's the perfect combination of fantasy and reality, with really good themes, fantastic acting, and high quality writing. it's one of the few bl dramas with no problematic elements and that actually depicts healthy relationships! i hold so much love for it.

2. I Told Sunset About You

what can i say about this one besides Wow. it was absolutely amazing. the characterization was fantastic, i felt like all the characters, even the minor ones, were complex and well thought out. itsay was also very artistic, the cinematography and locations were very impressive, as well as the acting. it felt so incredibly authentic and wonderfully portrayed some aspects of the queer experience.

3. Gaya Sa Pelikula

this one is very much on the same level as itsay in terms of authenticity, writing, production, and portrayal of the queer experience. juan miguel severo is an amazing playwright, jp habac is a great director, and pangpang are great actors. the fact that queer people worked on it was really apparent. it made me feel seen and seemed to tell me that everything was okay. the central message of the series was “we deserve a great love story”, along with other life experiences sometimes robbed from queer people. i recommend this show to everyone i can and talk about it a lot. it holds a very special place in my heart.

4. Oxygen

y’all know i love oxygen, especially sologui. so much so that i changed my url to sologui during its run. the fact that both protagonists were equally interested in each other from the start and were both very kind was a really nice and, quite frankly, refreshing thing to see. i also really liked that there was none of that “but we’re two men” “i don’t like men, i like him” bullshit. it was a very sweet show and a weekly serotonin boost i looked forward to.

5. 2gether / Still 2gether

i mean, obviously i have to include 2gether. it was so good! i weirdly don’t remember much from 2gether in detail, so i’m going to talk about still 2gether. it was so domestic and so sweet and everything i love. sarawatine are a very cute couple, especially since brightwin have great chemistry. it felt very warm and it made me laugh and smile the whole time. 2gether/still2gether honestly changed me and my standards for shows. and it’s the reason why i joined this fandom. i had seen many asian dramas and bls, but it wasn’t until 2gether that i got into the community around them.

6. My Engineer

some say that having four couples is too much, but i loved it! i was so invested in all of the storylines and thoroughly enjoyed them all. the romance was very sweet and it impressed me with how they handled some things, like the episode where they unlearn heteronormative relationship roles. i also really liked how focused on friendship this drama was. i am a huge fan of found family and my engineer did that very well. i especially liked how the two friend groups merged together and had so much complexity. my engineer twas *chef’s kiss*

7. Why R U

dang, i can not believe this was this year. seems so long ago. what to say about why r u? saifahzon were very cute, their interactions were very tender. as for torfight, wrow. i’m an ace lesbian so their scenes were a Bit Much for me, but i can’t deny that they were iconic as hell. their chemistry and tension was very well done. 

8. YYY

oh, this crackhead show. i love it very much. it’s very funny and makes no sense and has a wonderful found family theme. i really don’t know what else to say about it because it’s so wild and i honestly don’t really know what i watched, abdkfgs. i just know that it’s very good and made me feel v happy.

9. Where Your Eyes Linger / Mr. Heart / Wish You

yes, these are three shows. but they’re made by the same people, all very short, and really just cut up movies. each one has something different that i like, so i don’t really know which one i enjoyed the best. wyel had great cinematography and a very compelling story. mr. heart was heartwarming (pun intended) and sweet. and wish you so far is also sweet and has a great soundtrack. i really enjoyed them, even if they were short and a bit weirdly paced. (the pacing is a lot better if you watch them as movies)

10. Gameboys / Hello, Stranger

sorry to group more shows together, but these two are very similar and i can’t decide which one i enjoyed more. they were both filmed mostly remotely during lockdown, which was so impressive. despite this, the production value was pretty good. the plotlines weren’t anything extraordinary, but they were very cute and very well executed. the acting was great, especially considering it was all over video calls! the soundtracks are also really good, i really liked the arrangement of kahit na along sabihin ng iba that jc and tony sang together. i’ve been listening to it on repeat all day.

so those were the 10 dramas i liked this year! i hope i did this tag right, abdkdg. i’ll tag @phukao @asianmelodrama @khaotungthanawat @sirksj @vihokratanas sorry if y’all have been tagged already! <3

[spoookymuulders]

you make my heart beat like the rain

read it on ao3 here total word count: 43,551 chapter word count: 3,132 WARNINGS: DISCUSSIONS OF ABUSE

chapter 12. right down santa claus lane. in which not a creature stirs.. not even a mouse.

 Christmas Eve

           Callie is glad to see that opening a present on Christmas Eve seems to be a universal thing, and not just something exclusive to her family. She’d come to the B&B early in the afternoon to make cookies and cocoa and watch a ton of Christmas movies, and now she’s perched on the couch beside Hotch, grinning at him and Jack in their matching pajamas - it’s kind of the cutest thing she’s ever seen.

           “Hey, buddy.” Hotch says suddenly, gesturing for Jack to come over. He does so, leaning against his father as Hotch whispers in his ear for a moment, then runs out of the room. Callie can hear him thundering up the stairs, and she glances at Hotch, raising a brow. “You didn’t think he was gonna be the only one who gets to open a present tonight, did you?”

           Before she can answer, Jack is running back into the room with a messily-wrapped package in his arms. He dumps it into Callie’s lap, beaming up at her.

           “I helped wrap it!” He says proudly. Callie laughs softly, leaning down to kiss his cheek before opening the gift. The sight of a soft black top and plaid flannel pajama pants gives her pause, and she looks up to see both Hotchner boys grinning at her. “It’s matching ‘jamas, like me and dad!”

           “Jack was right, Cal. You’re part of the family.” Hotch says gently as Callie pulls the pajamas out of their box. “Only makes sense for you to match, too.” Callie can feel tears burning behind her eyes, and she wipes at them quickly, laughing softly when Jack throws his arms around her. She hugs him tightly, pressing a kiss to his hair before Hotch pushes her off the couch gently with the instruction to go change.

           When she returns a few minutes later, changed into the pajamas and grinning broadly, the Hotchners cheer and gesture for her to join them on the couch. She settles beside Hotch, tucking herself into his side as Jack rips open his Christmas Eve present. He gasps when he pulls out the boxed Percy Jackson set Callie picked out and she grins at him, gathering him into her lap.

           “Remember I told you about these ones?” She says, pulling the first book out of the box gently. “It’s about a kid who goes to a camp for the children of Greek gods and goddesses.”

           “Yeah!” Jack crows, grinning up at her. They flip through the book for a few minutes before Jack turns and hugs her tightly. “Thanks, Callie.”

           “Merry Christmas, bug.” She hums, squeezing him gently. He grins up at her again, and three pairs of eyes fall on the clock when it chimes nine o’clock. Jack busies himself with putting his books on the coffee table while Hotch grabs their copy of The Night Before Christmas from the mantle. Settling back in Callie’s lap, Jack tucks his head under her chin as she scoots closer to Hotch. Hotch settles an arm around Callie’s shoulders and kisses her hair lightly as he flips the book open, clearing his throat quietly.

           “‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring..”

           “ Not even a mouse! ” Jack says brightly.

****

           School was a half day today - since it’s Christmas Eve, of course - and Zoe had opted to wear one of her favorite Christmas dresses. Spencer admires the way it brushes against her knees as she stands on her toes to hang a strand of garland around the fireplace. They’ve spent all afternoon prepping for the Christmas party tomorrow, making sure all the decorations are up and a bunch of the food is ready. Dave is, of course, doing all the actual cooking, but Zoe and Spencer have had a blast getting groceries as well as making cookies and snacks and other desserts.

           Basil tumbles around Zoe’s feet as she spins on her toes, and she laughs softly, leaning down to scoop him up. She cuddles him against her chest, stroking between his ears gently with one finger as she dances with him and hums along to the music floating from the speaker on the mantle. Looking up, she catches Spencer’s eye as he hovers in the doorway and grins at him, wiggling her fingers. He laughs softly and pads into the room, leaning down to kiss her cheek gently.

           “Everything looks great.” He says, and Zoe nods, smiling up at him.

           “I haven’t been to a Christmas party in years.” She muses, leaning against his chest. Spencer hums, toying with the ends of Zoe’s hair gently.

           “Well, you know how the song goes.” He says as she steps away to set Basil free on the floor. The kitten trots over to his (much too large for a kitten of his size) bed and flops onto it, purring happily as Zoe turns back around and Spencer pulls her against his chest. “Parties for hosting, marshmallows for toasting, caroling out in the snow.”

           “Oh, of course.” Zoe says seriously, draping her arms around Spencer’s neck. “Don’t forget about the scary ghost stories and tales of the glories from Christmases long, long ago.”

           “How could I possibly?” Spencer asks, and when Zoe giggles, his heart jumps into his throat. Leaning down, he catches her lips and kisses her softly, slowly. She hums, smiling against his mouth and allowing him to pull her that much closer. When they break the kiss, she hums happily, swaying slowly as Bing Crosby begins to croon from the speaker.

           They lapse into a comfortable, familiar silence as they dance around the living room slowly, holding each other as close as they can. Spencer’s fingers brush along Zoe’s spine gently and she closes her eyes, resting her cheek to his shoulder.

           “Why does he want presents on the tree?” Spencer asks quietly as the song comes to a close, and Zoe presses her face to his chest, bursting into giggles. “It’s a serious question! Most Christmas presents are too big to go on a tree! Presents under the tree would make more sense, or by the tree!”

           Zoe keeps giggling, shaking her head as she looks up. Spencer smiles tenderly at the look in her eyes and dips his head enough for her to lean up and kiss his nose.

           “You’re somethin’ else, you know that?” She giggles. He hums and shrugs.

           “It’s been said.”

****

           Jack has been tucked into bed and promised that Christmas morning will be here before he knows it. With a kiss on the head from each of his grownups, he’d burrowed into his blanket and fallen asleep almost instantly.

           “I’ve never seen a kid fall asleep that fast on Christmas Eve.” Callie says with a soft laugh as she pads into the bedroom. Hotch is already perched on his side of the bed and he nods, chuckling.

           “He’s nothing if not efficient.” He muses. Callie laughs again and crawls into bed beside Hotch, tucking herself into his side. He settles an arm around her and presses a kiss to her hair, humming softly. “Thanks for being here.” Callie looks up at him, smiling softly, and winds an arm around his waist, leaning up to kiss him tenderly.

           “Thanks for inviting me.” She hums, settling against his chest. Hotch hums, brushing his fingers along her shoulder slowly for a moment.

           “I have a Christmas Eve present for you.” He says suddenly. Callie blinks, looking up at him.

           “I didn’t get you one.” She says, pouting. “I mean - I got you a present, but I didn’t know if you guys did Christmas Eve presents, so I didn’t-”

           “Callie, it’s okay.” He tells her, laughing softly. He shifts away and digs into the drawer on his nightstand for a moment before turning back to her and holding out a small square box. Chewing at her lip, Callie shifts to face him and takes the box slowly. She brushes her fingers over the ribbon on the box for a moment before untying it gently and pulling the top off.

           Inside, sitting on a bed of deep green tissue paper sits a gleaming silver key. She inhales softly and takes it out delicately, setting the box aside and looking up at Hotch with shining eyes.

           “Aaron..” She breathes.

           “It’s a key for the B&B.” He tells her softly. She swallows thickly, brushing her fingers over the bumps and grooves for a moment. “I figured.. You’re over here often enough, you might as well have a key.” Callie laughs unsteadily and throws her arms around Hotch’s neck, kissing him soundly. He laughs softly against her mouth and brushes her cheek with his knuckles when they break apart.

           “Thank you.” She whispers. He smiles softly, leaning down to kiss her again.

           “And - y’know, you haven’t really slept at your place since Thanksgiving.” He says softly after a moment, brushing his fingers through her hair gently. “And you already have a couple drawers of things here, so.. You could just bring the rest of your things over. If you wanted.” Callie sits back at that, surveying the dark-haired man before her.

           “Mr. Hotchner. Are you asking me to move in with you?” She asks, her tone half playful.

           “As a matter of fact, Miss Williams, I am.” He says. Callie bites her lip and shifts into Hotch’s lap carefully, cupping his cheeks as he speaks. “Jack and I talked about it already. Callie, we’d love to have you move in.” Unable to help the smile that overtakes her cheeks, Callie leans down and kisses Hotch gently, a whispered okay slipping past her lips as she does.

****

           Luke and Ellie have been doing a Christmas movie binge every year since Luke first moved to Callahan and they first met, and this year is no different. They’re continuing their binge tonight - or at least, they were until Luke started kissing at Ellie’s neck and she shifted into his lap twenty minutes ago.

           Ellie is vaguely aware of the movie continuing to play behind her, but as Luke drags kisses down the side of her neck, she can’t bring herself to care. She gasps softly as his teeth graze against her skin, and when her fingers curl in his hair and she tugs gently, she can feel a groan rumble through his chest. She pulls back suddenly, breathless, and Luke flops back against the couch, pupils blown wide as he watches her. Reaching up, she cups his cheeks and brushes her fingers over them slowly before drawing her hands away.

           I want you to come with me when I get my implants. She signs. Luke blinks at her twice, surprised, then smiles tenderly and lifts his own hands from her waist.

           You do?

           There’s no one else I’d rather have with me. He can see that there’s more she wants to say, so he waits, brushing his fingers along the hem of her shirt gently before she continues. And I want your voice to be the first one I hear.

           He comes so close, then. So close to telling her he loves her - but they haven’t even been together a month, and even if he’s loved her since the minute he saw her, he doesn’t know if she’s ready to hear it. So he pulls her close again, takes her face in his hands and kisses her. He pours all the warmth and tenderness and love that he possibly can into the kiss, humming softly when she winds her arms around his neck and presses against him. He breaks the kiss after a moment to drop his hands to her waist and wrap his arms around her back, hugging her tightly.

           And when he presses his face to her shoulder and whispers that he loves her and she feels his breath tickle against her neck, she thinks nothing of it. But then again, neither does he when she does the same thing.

****

           Zoe is, Spencer has learned, a fairly restful sleeper for the most part. Of course, she shifts and tosses and turns now and then, but up until now he’s never heard her talk in her sleep. But as he’s padding back into the bedroom after putting a few last-minute presents under the tree, Zoe is shifting onto her side, her brow furrowed as her fingers curl in the blanket and she mumbles incoherently.

           He hovers at the door for a moment, watching with a small smile - he likes the way her brow furrows when she’s deep in thought, and seeing it while she’s asleep feels almost intimate. His smile drops when he realizes that whatever it is she’s dreaming about is beginning to distress her. She’s mumbling in her sleep and he has to strain a little to hear her, padding further into the room.

           He realizes after a moment that whatever it is she’s dreaming about isn’t just distressing her - it’s frightening her. Badly, judging by the way her movements and voice are becoming more and more frantic. He climbs onto the bed carefully, noting the way she tenses, and when he reaches out to touch her arm, she jerks awake with a shriek and scrambles away from him so quickly she falls off the bed.

           Eyes wide, Spencer stares for a moment as Zoe presses herself against the wall, her blue eyes frantic and searching. Sliding off the bed, he hurries around to crouch beside her, making sure he’s in her line of sight before he reaches out.

           “Hey, hey.” He breathes, swallowing when her eyes land on him. His fingers settle against her arm delicately and whatever dam she’s been building and hiding behind breaks. Zoe bursts into tears and Spencer, surprised, just stares for a moment before gathering her into his arms. “Hey you’re okay, you’re safe. I’ve got you, Zo, you’re okay.”

           She curls into him, seeming smaller than ever before, and Spencer shifts carefully to lean against the wall, cuddling her against his chest and pressing the softest, gentlest kisses to the crown of her head. He whispers gentle reassurances to her, rubbing her back in big, slow circles the way JJ had taught him to do with Henry a year or so ago. Eventually, he can feel Zoe calming down, her sobs turning to stuttered breaths and the occasional hiccup. She relaxes little by little, and when he feels her fingers twisting in the neckline of his shirt absentmindedly, he knows she’s come back to him. Tipping his head down, he brushes a hand down her back slowly.

           “Are you okay?” He asks softly. Zoe sniffles in response, hunching her shoulders for a moment before mumbling out an apology. Spencer shakes his head quickly. “Hey, no. There’s nothing to be sorry for, okay? Do you wanna talk about it?”

           She’s quiet for so long that if it weren’t for her shuddering inhales now and then, he would think she’d fallen back asleep. Eventually, though, she speaks, her voice barely above a whisper.

           “I left my boyfriend when I moved here.”

           Spencer waits patiently, reaching up delicately to tuck a lock of hair behind Zoe’s ear. He wipes a tear away, moving slowly so as not to frighten her again.

           “His name is Josh. We were together for three years.” She continues quietly, “A month and a half after we got together, he - I was making dinner, and I spilled something, and he just.. Lost it. That was the first time he hit me.”

           “Zoe..” Spencer breathes, her name catching in his throat. His heart breaks at the way she talks about this - so casually, like it’s something everybody’s dealt with. She barrels on before he can say anything else.

           “Back in July, he pushed me down the stairs. ‘S why I had the cast on when I moved here. And then the day before I moved here, I found an engagement ring. He was gonna propose and I knew - I knew I’d be too scared to say no when he did, and then I’d be.. I’d be stuck with him forever. Or until he killed me.” She pauses, sucking in an unsteady breath and sniffling. “I’d already had my video interview with Strauss, but I accepted the job offer that night, and then the next day while he was at work, I packed up all my stuff and I left.”

           Spencer, for once in his life, is rendered speechless. He’d had a general idea of why Zoe had moved to Callahan - her quiet, drunken confession the night he’d driven her home from girls night had given him some information, but she hasn’t said anything else about it since then. And hearing her openly admit it is entirely different from guessing at it. His heart breaks for her as she sniffles and curls her fingers in his shirt carefully. He’s not sure what to say - what can he say? - so he holds her closer instead, hugs her as tight as he can without hurting her. They sit together in silence for a few minutes, Zoe slowly calming down and catching her breath before Spencer speaks again.

           “Why don’t we go back to bed?” He murmurs, nodding when she does. He shifts to set Zoe on her feet, standing and following her back to the bed. She crawls in and burrows down on her side, pulling the blanket to her chin and tucking herself against his chest when he settles beside her. He brushes his hand along her back slowly and she closes her eyes, focusing on her breathing for a few minutes.

           “I trust you.” She says suddenly, her voice soft and hoarse. Spencer blinks, glancing down to find Zoe’s blue eyes watery and focused on his. She reaches up, her fingers brushing against his jaw lightly, and he tips his head down just so to press a kiss to them gently. “I meant what I said on Thanksgiving. You make me feel safe.” Spencer smiles softly, lifting a hand to curl his fingers around Zoe’s wrist gently.

           “I meant what I said, too.” He murmurs, looking down at her. “I won’t let anyone hurt you.” She shifts her hand to settle against his cheek, her thumb brushing along it gently, and he turns his head to kiss her palm. She settles closer and they lapse into silence once more. He thinks she’s fallen asleep when she speaks again.

           “I hocked the ring. I used some of it for gas money to get here. It felt right.” She tells him, and he’s so surprised that he laughs quietly. The sound of his laughter makes Zoe laugh as well, and Spencer feels his heart lift at the sound. They both have their baggage, he muses, but who says they have to carry it alone?

[fibula-rasa]

12 Christmas Films of a Century Past

For some reason, I thought it would be a good idea to watch somewhere around 50 Christmas and Christmas-adjacent silent films from before 1920 to put together a playlist for you all. So, I hope you enjoy!

I chose these twelve as a representative selection. My general criteria were:

Christmas should be central to the story

The plot should be novel to a modern viewer or something a modern viewer would be surprised to see so early on film

The list on the whole should have a variety of settings and narrative structures

Here’s a direct link to the YouTube playlist if you want to watch them all in one go. (They are all shorter than feature length!)

Two quick presentation notes: 1. Some of the videos have music and some don’t, so you may want to check your volume level. 2. The intertitles for some of these films are not in English, so be sure you have captions turned on for English translations.

See the whole list BELOW THE JUMP!

1. Santa Claus (1898) (UK)

Directed by George Albert Smith

Short and sweet, this film sees children put to bed by their nanny on Christmas Eve and Santa Claus coming down the chimbley to fill their dutifully hung stockings. Director G.A. Smith used his own patented technique of double exposure to show Santa’s arrival without cutting away from the children’s room. Santa Claus might not pack the punch of a Méliès trick film, but it’s a fun novelty and is purportedly the first appearance of Santa Claus on film.

2. The Little Match Seller (1902) (UK)

Directed by James Williamson

This one’s quick but effective adaptation of the Hans Christian Anderson tragedy featuring impressively well-coordinated superimpositions.

3. The Christmas Angel (1904) (FR)

Directed by George Méliès for Star Film Company

The Christmas Angel follows an impoverished girl driven into the city to beg on a snowy winter night. First she’s chased away from a church by more seasoned beggars; then she’s thrown out of a poultry seller and harassed by police. On the verge of falling asleep in the snow, a rag-and-bone man rouses her and offers her help. Later, the girl passes out beside a road but is luckily spotted by a wealthy couple on a car ride. When they learn of her plight, they bring her home along with food and gifts.

Though not as fantastical as some of Méliès’ more famous works, The Christmas Angel is still highly stylized (and stylish) and features special effects that photograph beautifully. It’s also worth noting that the version of the film included here is the American cut. The original French cut, titled Détresse et Charité (Distress and Charity), did not include the sequence with the wealthy couple and instead ends with the girl dying in the snow.

4. The Night Before Christmas (1905) (US)

Directed by Edwin S. Porter for Edison Manufacturing Company

This is the first time the poem “Twas the Night Before Christmas” was put on film. Loosely following the poem, we see Santa Claus prepare for his yearly trek while a middle-class family prepares for his visit. When Santa heads out, we are treated to an extended panning sequence with a fully painted backdrop for a mini Santa and his reindeer to glide across. When Santa arrives at the family home, he chaotically dumps presents and decorations around their living room and makes a large, decorated tree appear out of thin air. (Across many of the movies I watched to put this post together, this seems to be a favored scenario for the jolly fat man around this time–and it’s delightful.) The family then wakes to find their gifts and the film closes with Santa directly wishing us a Merry Christmas.

5. A Little Girl Who Did Not Believe in Santa Claus (1907) (US)

Directed by J. Searle Dawley and Edwin S. Porter for Edison Manufacturing Company

Even at the risk of this list being too Edison heavy, I couldn’t leave this great short out. While walking with his mother, a rich little boy encounters a poor little girl alone in the cold. They take her home to play and warm up. When the boy learns that the girl doesn’t believe in Santa because apparently Santa doesn’t visit poor children, he hatches a scheme. On Christmas Eve, the boy has a stake out near the fireplace and takes Santa hostage, tying him up and holding him at gunpoint. The boy then forces Santa to visit the girl–going so far as shimmying down the chimney himself to let Santa in the front door. When the girl wakes up to a beautifully decorated tree, new toys, and a full stocking, she can finally believe in Santa Claus. While I’m generally not so into stories about supposedly benevolent rich people, I do love the implications this story has on how Santa Claus works and I also find the means with which the boy gets his way hilarious.

6. Il Natale di Cretinetti / Foolshead’s Christmas (1909) (IT)

and Come fu che l’ingordigia rovino il Natale di Cretinetti / How Greediness Spoilt Foolshead’s Christmas (1910)

and Il Natale di Cretinetti (1911)

Directed by Andre Deed for Itala Film

This entry is a three-for, which I hope you’ll excuse, but I couldn’t decide which Cretinetti Christmas to share! Cretinetti, the comedic persona of filmmaker Andre Deed, is an absolute agent of chaos.

In the 1909 film, Cretinetti attempts to bring a tree home for a Christmas party. The destruction escalates wildly, culminating in an entire building falling to pieces.

If you can believe it, the stakes are even higher in the 1910 film, when Cretinetti can’t resist sneaking out of bed on Christmas Eve to snack on the candy decorating the tree. When Santa sees what Cretinetti has done, he chides him and takes him back to his workshop, which is apparently in heaven. Destruction ensues. Cretinetti then proceeds to cause havoc for Saint Peter, annoying god so much that he calls the devil to come get Cretinetti. Cretinetti is then chased to hell where demons try to cook him alive. Thankfully, spoiler alert, it was all a bad dream and he wakes up on Christmas morning with a terrible stomach ache.

The 1911 film returns to localized chaos. Cretinetti has a run-in with a mail carrier and his Christmas packages get mixed up with one of the carrier’s parcels. The parcel contains three bottles of ether which then begin to emit gasses in the middle of the family Christmas party.

I wasn’t familiar with Cretinetti before reviewing films for this list, but I’m definitely going to seek out more of Deed’s movies. Each of these films had well-executed chaotic slapstick; over-the-top in all the right ways.

7. Making Christmas Crackers (1910) (UK)

Produced by Cricks & Martin Films for Clarke, Nickolls, & Coombs Confectionery

To start, if you’re not sure what a Christmas cracker is, it’s a colorfully decorated paper tube that makes a cracking noise as you pull it open. Inside the tube is a paper hat, a joke, and/or a small toy. It’s a traditional part of UK Christmas celebrations.

This short starts as a documentary of the workers at Clarke, Nickolls, & Coombs constructing the crackers. It’s a fun thought that as early as 1910, people were interested in watching how mass-produced consumer goods were made. It’s also fun to see these skilled workers ply their trade so deftly (even though I’m sure wages and working conditions were less than ideal). The film ends with a family celebrating around a Christmas tree topped with a functional giant cracker.

8. A Christmas Carol (1910) (US)

Directed by J. Searle Dawley for Edison Films Manufacturing Company

There are so so so many film adaptations of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol made before 1920 that it was hard to choose which one to include on this list. In the end I chose this 1910 version for its economy of storytelling, fluid use of special effects, and for Marc McDermott’s great performance as Scrooge.

9. Broncho Billy’s Christmas Dinner (1911) (US)

Directed by Gilbert M. Anderson (Broncho Billy) for The Essanay Film Manufacturing Company

Gilbert M. Anderson was an incredibly prolific and popular filmmaker and star of early American film, particularly in his role as Broncho Billy. As was typical for Anderson, he’s pulling triple duty on Broncho Billy’s Christmas Dinner as the star, director, and producer. The film features a simple and heartwarming story.

On Christmas, Billy comes across a young woman in peril as her horses got startled and are now pulling her cart along wildly. Billy manages to wrangle the horses and in gratitude she invites him to Christmas dinner at her parents’ home. Unfortunately, her father happens to be the sheriff. But, all is well, as it turns out that Broncho Billy’s been given a pardon and the sheriff welcomes him to the table gladly.

The enduring appeal of outlaws or criminals getting into the Christmas spirit is fascinating to me and it’s cool to see such an early instance of the story!

10. Le Noel de la princesse / The Little Princess’s XMas Gift (1911) (FR)

Produced by Société Générale des Cinématographes Éclipse

In all honesty, this is the least Christmassy of all the films I included here, but its style and novelty stood out. The sets, costuming, and production design are lush. It might also be one of the weirdest Christmas stories I’ve even encountered.

After Lord Othberg passes away, the conniving Otto plans to assassinate the baby prince in order to inherit the lordship himself. He poisons the baby, but the princess prays for her baby brother to come back to life as her Christmas gift. An angel appears to her and they summon Jesus, who resurrects her baby brother. Of course, they then place the revivified baby in the castle’s nativity scene, to the joy of all but Otto.

11. Ida’s Christmas (1912) (US)

Directed by Van Dyke Brooke for Vitagraph Company of America

With a more classic Christmassy story, Ida’s Christmas tells us of a family who are facing hard times. Ida (played by a very small Dolores Costello) has her eyes on a pricey doll. Meanwhile, her mother seeks out employment with a wealthy family. The matriarch of the wealthy family overhears Ida’s wish and decides to buy the doll for her as a surprise. Later, Ida is distraught to find that the doll has been purchased but comes across a wallet that someone has dropped. She considers taking the money, but chases down the owner instead. The old man gives her some reward money for returning the wallet. Ida rushes to see if she can buy the doll, but has second thoughts when she thinks about how much her family could use the money. She arrives home with the money just in time for a Santa-esque old man to show up bearing packages and an assurance that the wealthy family has work for her father. The film ends with the family celebrating an unexpectedly Merry Christmas.

It’s a sweet story that hits so many beats of what we now consider traditional Christmas tales.

12. Rozhdestvo obitateley lesa / The Insect’s Christmas (1913) (RU)

Directed by Władysław Starewicz for Khanzhonkov

Fair warning, if you thought The Princess’s XMas Gift was odd, you might need to ready yourself for this one. Stop-motion virtuoso Władysław Starewicz (Ladislas Starevich) spins a tale about a tiny ornament of Santa/Ded Moroz coming to life on Christmas and going out into the wild to bring Christmas joy to creatures small and smaller, including a frog and a ladybug. Starewicz’s animation is as impeccable as ever and the short is imaginative and quirky.

[theitalianalchemist]

Brothers

A/N: This was based off of the song Brothers by Vic Mignogna, some lyrics are changed to fit though. And thank you to CornyBird on AO3 for beta reading this. Hope you like it!

CW(mostly at the start): Nightmare, blood mention, knife, and very light cutting

~ "Are you ready, Remus?" Roman asked him as they stood next to a transmutation circle. Remus nodded back at him. "Alright, just like in the show," he gently pressed a knife into his finger and handed it off to his brother, who did the same thing. They watched as a couple drops of blood fell into the pile of ashes of what used to be King Creativity. "We can get him back now," Remus clapped his hands and jumped in place excitedly. "Yeah!" Roman was excited too, they both missed their friend.

~ The twins knelt down next to the circle and placed their hands on it. Nodding to each other, they activated it. Golden, almost electric lights jumped out of the circle before swirling around them in a beautiful array of lights.

~ Suddenly, everything darkened to a glowing, blood red. "Ro, what's happening?" Remus asked.

~"I-I don't know," Roman whispered. He looked at Remus and screeched as his brother started to glow and dissipate. "NO!"

~ "Ro-ro! Help!" Roman tried to reach for Remus but he disappeared before their hands could connect.

~ He screamed again, but this time from the pain that wracked his body. Without looking down he knew his leg was gone. He did say "exactly like the show," before. Roman didn't even want to look at the monstrosity that became of their father. It took a moment but Roman grabbed something, a mirror, drew a binding seal on the back, and activated it before everything went white.

~ Roman woke up in a cold sweat, tears streaming down his face. It took several minutes before he was able to calm down and check his clock.

3:30am

~ It was mocking him at this point, every time he had that nightmare he'd wake up at the same. Exact. Time.

~ "Looks like another sleepless night for me," Roman murmured while getting out of bed to change his sweaty sheets, again. He took great care not to look at the mirror laying on his bedside table, he knew it didn't work, the seal looked fine but the mirror itself was shattered. Now all it was was a broken memory of Remus.

~ The others have kept trying to help through the loss and nightmares that started five years ago. He had them rather frequently at first, but with everyone's support Roman had them less and less. The nightmares stopped about a year ago and he hasn't had any, well, any about that, until tonight.

~ Roman shook his head to get his thoughts away from that place, and thought of what Patton told him, "If you ever need help you can come and talk to any of us." He was definitely going to take up that offer right now, but first a shower, he did not like how he was feeling physically.

~ Half an hour later he was standing outside Patton's door, mirror in hand, and in his onesie compared to his usual attire, it helped comfort him on nights like this. Pat's door was always slightly open to show that they could just walk in if the parental side was needed. Ro quietly slipped in and sat down on the floor next to the bed. He jumped a little as a hand landed on his shoulder.

~ "Hey, Ro, is everything alright?" Patton yawned.

~ "It came back," he responded, "the nightmare."

~ Patton instantly got out of bed and pulled Roman into a hug. "Oh, kiddo, I'm sorry," he whispered. He ran a hand through the creative side's hair as he cried. "I know how much that nightmare hurts," Patton consoled him while slowly reaching for the mirror, "it'll be okay, especially if you let us help you more."

~ Roman tensed before leaning away and breaking out of Patton's hug. "No…" he shook his head, "NO!! No..! No, I'm not breaking the seal! It's the last I have of him..."

~ "I know it feels like that, kiddo, but there's been something we've been trying to tell you," the father figure stated, "we ca-"

~ Roman tore out of the room before Patton could finish, in fear of what he was going to say. He ran to the imagination, it was the only place left where he couldn't be told that Remus wasn't coming back. Upon entering, colors swirled around him until he was standing atop a balcony looking out towards a forest.

~ "I'm so sorry, Remus, I wish there was a way to free you without completely losing you," he was crying again, "I know we teased, bickered, and played pranks on each other but I still loved you." He didn't know what to do at this point except something that helped get his feelings out. Roman set the mirror face up on a table and quietly started to sing.

How can I repay you, brother mine?

How can I expect you to forgive?

Clinging to the past, I shed our blood.

And shattered your chance to live.

~ The tears were still streaming down his face but his voice grew stronger.

Though I knew the laws, I paid no heed.

How can I return your wasted breath?

What I did not know has cost you dear,

For there is no cure for death.

~ It was the first time Roman sang this specific song aloud but he'd memorized the lyrics long ago.

Beautiful father, soft and sweet,

Once you were gone we were not complete.

Back through the years we reached for you,

Alas 'twas not meant to be.

~ The mirror started to glow beside him but Ro was too wrapped up in his mind to notice it. His tears had stopped flowing, as he'd cried them all out.

And how can I make amends?

For all that I took from you?

I led you with hopeless dreams,

My brother, I was a fool.

~ Roman hummed the melody that played after the chorus as the glow from the mirror grew stronger. Another voice soon rang out to continue the song.

Don't cry for the past now, brother mine.

Neither you nor I are free from blame.

Nothing can erase the things we did,

For the path we took was the same.

~ It was Remus that was singing! Roman looked at the mirror and saw his brother's face for the first time in almost two years - he wanted to grab the mirror but was too scared that if it was moved they'd be separated again. As Remus sang the next verse, Ro happily hummed the melody.

Beautiful father, soft and sweet,

Once you were gone we were not complete.

Back through the years we reached for you,

Alas 'twas not meant to be.

~ Remus had tears streaming down his face as well although it was hard to see through the cracks in the glass. It hurt him to purposefully separate himself to try to get Roman to break the seal, but he forgot how stubborn his twin could be.

My dreams made me blind and mute.

I long to return to that time.

I followed without a word,

My brother, the fault is mine.

~ The brothers were both smiling at this point and sang the last verse together.

So where do we go from here?

And how to forget and forgive?

What's gone is forever lost.

Now all we can do is live.

~ The final note rang out and everything was quiet for a few minutes. "Why?" Roman finally asked, "If you could've talked to me all this time why didn't you?"

~ "I was trying to get you to break the seal," Remus told him, "I thought that if I broke the mirror you would try to get me out but you're as stubborn as ever, Ro-ro."

~ "What are you saying?" Roman sniffed and wiped away the tear tracks on his face

~ "I'm saying that I would've been back already if you would have let the others finish what they were saying before running away," Remus's voice was flat, "Patton may have been formed physically after us but he knows more about the subconscious than we give him credit for."

~ "How was Padre formed after us?"

~ "Because if it wasn't for you two I wouldn't be here physically," a voice answered from behind. Roman turned around to see everyone else standing behind him. Patton looked around and sighed, "It's been nearly a decade since I've been back here."

~ "Roman, you need to trust us," Virgil yawned, "Patton wouldn't keep suggesting breaking it if he knew you would lose Remus."

~ "He's correct," Logan continued, "Patton gained his physical form after all of us so it's logical that he would know more about what happens in the subconscious." Roman's body shook as Logan spoke.

~ "Kiddo," Patton pulled him into a hug, "please, do this for him."

~ Roman hugged him back and cried for the umpteenth time that night. He was shaking so badly it was hard to calm down, but after a few minutes he was able to turn the mirror around and scratch a small section of the seal. There was a burst of green light and a loud cackle as the mirror shattered completely.

~ "You did the right thing, Princey," Virgil placed a hand on the creative side's shoulder.

~ Now all we can do is wait for Remus to appear again in the Commons, right?" he asked hopefully. His body released the tension it was holding, making him shiver in Patton's arms because he was both scared for Remus and freezing from being out in the cold for so long.

~ "That is correct, Roman, it will take at least a week to complete, but he will come back," Logan informed him.

~ "C'mon, Sir Sing-A-Lot, let's go to the Commons and have a Disney movie marathon," the nickname got a chuckle out of Roman, "we'll set up a pillow fort as well." Roman nodded, finally starting to heal after all these years.

~ They all made their way to the Commons and set up the fort. Roman picked out the first movie, and the sides fell into a cuddle pile, Roman in the middle, Patton and Logan on both sides of him, Virgil on Patton's other side. It wasn't long until Virgil was sleeping again and Roman soon followed him into dreamland. Patton smiled at the two, happy that Ro finally let go of the mirror and Virgil was actually getting some sleep.

~ "Patton." the mentioned side looked over at Logan, a sign for him to continue, "I believe it's time to tell Roman about his and Remus's friends."

~ "We will, Lo-lo, but let's give him a few days first, that's a lotta info to give after something as stressful as this," Morality replied before asking, "wait, I thought you didn't have any of his memories?"

~ "I don't have any of C's memories like you do with Alec, but I do know that I have his form," Logic looked at the clock with a sigh. "We should be getting to bed as well, we need our rest to help Thomas." Patton nodded and relaxed between the creative and anxious sides while Logan did the same on Princey's other side. The two said good night and drifted off into sleep.

[roseskiesandbutterflies]

Killer Queen - Chapter 9: Coming Soon

Summary: Arabella Ruth White is the fifth member of the Marauders. And life at Hogwarts certainly isn’t easy. Especially when you have alcohol, relationships, unhealthy music obsessions, a fake stage persona, weird ass friends with weird ass problems and actual school all thrown into the equation. (This story is also on Wattpad and AO3 of the same name. I will always update on Wattpad first.)

Warning(s): none that I can see

Taglist: @bhmay @briarrose26 @bijoukitty ask to be on my taglist!

Inspired by: A Night At The Opera, various Marauders headcanons I’ve seen on Pinterest, this quarantine business, The Boy Who Killed God by @sirius-black-killed-god on AO3, All The Young Dudes by MsKingBean89 on AO3

Word count: 4.3k+ (holy shit)

A/N: I beg of you follow Ruth's advice on how to handle a record because some people do it Wrong. Don't be one of those people, please. Somehow, she's 16 now which is weird, but not that weird seen as she is literally a figment of my own imagination. This chapter is over 4000 words long which makes it the longest thing I've ever written.

I’m thinking about changing the point of view again. I’m currently in first but I might change it to third. First is good for funny scenes like in this chapter, but it’s not ideal for the deeper stuff I have planned later. Yes, I have a plot. Shock horror. But we shall wait and see on that one. If I do change it, I won’t edit the previous chapters to fit it because I really can’t be bothered.

Everyone, please stay safe because of what's going on and stay optimistic and occupied. For example, I'll have more time to write! It's a scary time but it will pass, like everything does at some point. OK I've gotten too philosophical. I shall stop now. This chapter is sponsored by me calling Dr Brian Harold May 'Clog Man'. This chapter title comes from Queen's 1980 album, 'The Game'.

“Good morning, peasants!” I declared as I quite literally swept into Transfiguration that morning, a crown perched precariously atop of my head, my robe billowing behind me. My dearest courtiers trailed along in my wake, begrudgingly carrying my belongings. How generous of them, I thought to myself, as if they had had any say in the matter in the first place. My loyal subjects celebrated my entrance and I gracefully sat down in my assigned seat, feet on the table, chair tipped back at precisely the right angle. I didn’t want to fall and get a concussion, now did I? Especially not on that day of all days.

Now you may wonder what on Gaia’s green earth I am on about, you may begin to question my sanity, you may finally start to piece the clues together and realise I am in fact, a total nutter. About time you did, if I’m completely honest with you, darling. However, like most of my shenanigans, the reason for all this was a well-founded one, if I did say so myself. For Twas my birthday, my sixteenth birthday to be precise, and that meant I got to be queen for a day. Not as long as I would like but hey ho, it was better than nothing. I had all the time in the world to take over the world so being queen could wait for now. Even better than this temporary monarchy, becoming sixteen came with plenty of hobbies I could now I enjoy legally, such as having sex, smoking and drinking wine in a restaurant. As if the law had stopped me before. Following the law is for the weak and my mother did not raise me to be anything of the sort.

Now as a queen such as myself, it is my regal responsibility to keep up appearances, which, to put it simply, meant to look pretty damn fabulous at all times. Hence why I was sporting a magnificent golden crown enchanted to stay on my head for the whole day and matching robe-cloak-thing. You know what I’m on about. Personally, I was rather pleased with my attire. Unfortunately, the same could not be said for one Minerva McGonagall.

An exasperated sigh from the front of the classroom was reluctantly followed by, “White, dare I ask why you are not in proper uniform?” she gestured vaguely at my majestic outfit.

“It would certainly be rather daring of you, professor,” I replied, without missing a beat. A classic raised eyebrow went my way, so I let out a sigh of my own before saying, “Tis my sixteenth birthday, dearest Minnie. If I have to attend lessons on such an occasion, then I must be allowed to dress appropriately.”

“And you consider a crown half as big as yourself to be appropriate for school?” her wonderfully Scottish voice quipped back.

“Why of course ma’am, you see it’s what I like to call my thinking cap,” I grinned broadly at her before joining a giggling Sirius who had gone to great lengths to keep it all in.

But nothing in this godforsaken world, and I do not say that lightly, could have prepared me for Minnie’s response: “Then perhaps it will do you some good.” She turned to the blackboard behind her to begin the lesson I had partly succeeded in delaying.

I, on the other hand, wasn’t doing so well. I clutched at my chest as if I’d been shot, and believe me it felt like I had been, and dramatically fell into the arms of James, as he was the unfortunate soul who sat next to me. I weakly reached up to touch his face as they do in the muggle movies, made a mental note to remind him to fucking shave and heaved out, “Jamie, I won’t last much longer but there’s something I need to tell you.”

“What, my darling? What is it?” he asked, faithfully going along with my foolish antics as always, the poor sod.

“I…love…” I whispered before going limp in his arms as if I was dead.

“Ruth, my love, no!” he hugged my ‘corpse’ while sobbing rather profoundly.

Sirius leapt to his feet (I had to open my eyes slightly for this bit) and declared, “What do you mean ‘my love’? Ruth has been the love of my life since I first laid eyes on her!”

“You foul fiend! Ruth was the second reason for my very existence after Evans, thank you very much!” James too jumped up, leaving me to flop onto the stone floor with an ungraceful ‘ugh’. I could sense Lily’s annoyance from the other side of the classroom.

James and Sirius both grabbed their wands, pointed them at one another, but instead of cursing each other, they used them like fencing swords. Just before Sirius could ‘stab’ James, I myself jumped up and cried, “Wait!” at the same time Minnie yelled, “Enough!”

Naturally, we took no notice of this.

Both boys turned to look at me, only for me to say, “I don’t love either of you. I love Remus!” I pointed at the boy in question who in turn smirked his classic smirk.

He opened his mouth to speak only to be interrupted by an infuriated Minnie, “I said enough! Sit down, all three of you or it’s detention for a week!” Now I was pretty sure she was only letting us off because she was well aware that if I was given detention on my birthday, I would certainly not go. I’d like to think it was because she loved us dearly, but my mother didn’t raise me to be a liar either. Considering the circumstances, a.k.a. my huge fucking party I had planned for later on, I did what I almost never did.

I sat down.

Not without a snarky “ooooooooh” of course.

Naturally, Minnie wasn’t all that impressed with my reply, “Evans, swap seats with White, please.”

Naturally, I wasn’t all that impressed with her reply either, “Professor, are you seriously going to move me on my birthday?”

“That is correct.”

“Miss, that’s not fair, I haven’t even done anything that bad, we’re all in one piece, aren’t we? Besides, why is it only me that’s getting moved, what’s up with that?”

“You’re not the only one I’m moving, I’m also moving Evans, am I not?” she snapped, not at all pleased with my outburst, “Now please move seats, you are disrupting my lesson.”

I pouted like a little child on the naughty step, grabbed my stuff together and plonked myself where Lily had been sitting, next to a girl who had only started in September, from Greece or Italy or somewhere. I suddenly realised Lily was now sitting next to James, so I felt the need to apologise, “Sorry, Lily!”, I said in a similar manner to a kid who was forced to say sorry to their sibling after hitting them. She just shot me a reproachful look which had me fearing for my life for a second, before turning to the lesson that could finally begin.

Obviously, I wasn’t exactly keen to take part in the lesson, so I opted for attempting to get to know my new desk partner, “You’re the new girl, right?”

I was met with a blank stare and confusion from both parties until something clicked for me: if she had just moved here from another country then she probably didn’t speak much English.

Well shit.

I tried again, simplifying my language but hopefully not sounding too patronising, “Are you new?”

The poor girl still strongly resembled a deer in headlights but nodded, “Yes?”

“What’s your name, darling?” I was determined to get to know this girl, she seemed nice enough and, knowing from experience what it felt like to be the new kid, I felt a strange urge to help her.

She cocked her head to the side in confusion, now looking like an owl of some sort. It was at this point where I gave up and just waved her off, “Don’t worry.” If Minnie was as adamant about me staying in this seat as I suspected, I’d have plenty of time later to try and talk to this girl. Maybe when she knew a bit more English. Or maybe I could teach her some? Well saying that I’m not sure how good of a teacher I would actually be. I’d probably be more of a nuisance than a help.

The rest of the school day carried on in a similar fashion, with the usual jokes played out in a more dramatic manner than usual. Fine by me. The end of lessons couldn’t come soon enough but at last, they were over. Meaning I could finally, finally, open my damn presents.

Well, I say presents, but me being the impatient bastard that I am, I actually opened most of them that morning at breakfast. Which involved about a year’s supply of chocolate, a 10-pack of condoms and no less than three boxes of tea from various posh shops in London. And a hell of a lot of magical alcohol, which was far better than the muggle stuff, but we don’t talk about that. There was only one present left and that was the one from the woman who birthed me. I realise that I have led you under false pretences of sentiment towards my dear mother, and while I do in fact over her greatly, this is not the case. It was actually because our family owl, Bob (don’t ask me why he’s called fucking Bob, Rhea named him), is quite possibly slower than a bloody snail and took the whole day to fly from Cromer to Scotland.

I ran up the stairs to the boys’ dormitory, which is saying something considering I don’t run for anything, and there it was, laying on what was basically my bed when Kingsley wasn’t around, wrapped in shining gold paper, my birthday present. Instantly I got a huge sense of déjà vu, as I knew exactly what it was.

A vinyl record.

Because what else do I do with my spare time these days?

I carefully picked it up, observing it in the stream of November sunlight coming from the window. Judging from the size and weight of it, it was definitely an album, my excitement increasing tenfold. I opened it as carefully as possible to discover that it was indeed Queen’s new album. Their iconic crest was printed on the front in a loud colour scheme of orange and pink. The title was written in black cursive: ‘A Night At The Opera’. The whole thing, though relatively simple in its design, screamed regalness.

I was so mesmerised by it that I didn’t even see the envelope on the bed until I very nearly sat on it. My mum’s familiar handwriting addressed me on the front of it and inside was a card with the most gorgeous watercolour print of the Cromer Pier which had me missing it terribly. I opened it to read what she had written and I couldn’t wipe the grin off of my face.

To Ruth,

Happy birthday, darling! It’s hard to believe you’re 16 now, I still see you as my gorgeous baby girl! I know I can’t see you on your special day, but half term is less than a month away – you’ll be home before we know it!

I’m so proud of you and everything you’ve done, and we all love you very much. Have a wonderful day with your friends!

Lots of love,

Mum, Rhea and Luke xxx

P.S. Don’t tell Mum but I got you a sort of magical cactus from Diagon Alley but I’ll give it to you when you come back – Rhea

P.P.S What Rhea forgot to tell you is that the cactus was my idea, I just didn’t have any pocket money left after going to the sweet shop - Luke

I smiled at the message and at my siblings’ additions at the bottom and found myself missing them more than I anticipated. I put on my bedside table, next to the magical photo us the boys and me which never failed to make me laugh. It was of us knee-deep in the Great Lake, around the July of our third year. James had his back to the camera but still showed his face and his lopsided grin; he was carrying Sirius over his shoulder like a fireman, the latter of which was showing his middle finger to the camera as best he could. Peter was mid-fall in front of them, just seconds before face-planting the water. Remus was to the right of them, trying his best to avoid getting wet from Peter’s inevitable splash, his face all screwed up in an attempt to protect his eyes. I was trying to hoist myself up onto Remus’s shoulders, which wouldn’t have been so difficult if he wasn’t so fucking tall, even at 14 he was a giant. The photo was magical, so we were all moving around as we had been at the time. I was lucky enough to have caught the exact moment I pulled my wand out and cast the aguamenti charm, aiming at everyone’s head but more importantly, James and Sirius’s hair. The photo was an endless cycle of me jumping up, casting the spell and being chased around by everyone before going back to our original positions.

I reluctantly turned away from the treasured photo, picked up the album and turned to run to the Room Of Requirement so I could listen to the artistry I held in my undeserving hands. Somehow, my close good friends beat me to it; there they stood in the doorway, carrying my dear record player between them with wide grins on their faces, not altogether dissimilar from the one James sported in the photograph.

I wondered for a second how the vinyl got itself onto my bed, and how the boys knew they had to get my record player, but then I realised my mother must have told them in advance. She may have been a Hufflepuff, but I do sometimes think she would have made a fine Slytherin. Surprise kids, I don’t have a prejudice against the entirety of Slytherin house, just the ones who are, quite frankly, dickheads. Not my fault if that’s the majority of them.

They popped my dear baby on the floor and sat down various surfaces: the floor, their beds, Remus’s lap (*cough cough* Sirius *cough cough*). I ever-so-carefully removed the vinyl from its sleeve and placed it onto the turntable, only touching the outermost edges so as to not get grease into the grooves of the record. Now, I can’t be ruining it already.

“I hope you know we love you enough to carry that thing all the way here,” Sirius whined, mopping non-existent sweat from his forehead using’s Remus’s poor jumper. The audacity he had to refer to my precious record player as ‘that thing’. I didn’t hit him, which is very unlike me, but I refused to sink to his level. Twat.

“Thank you darling but I think, in the midst of wanting to show off your varying levels of strength, you all forgot you could simply levitate my baby here,” I flopped onto Remus’s bed (by far the cleanest one) as Peter repeatedly smacked James with a pillow, “What did I say, James? What did I fucking say?”

Poor James just groaned at him to stop, arms up in a quite frankly pathetic bid to protect himself. He looked at me helplessly, but I just shook my head with a cheeky smirk on my face, “Nope, you got yourself into this mess, I’m not getting involved.”

Sirius, on the other hand, was laughing so much that Remus had to move him from lying against his chest to having his head in his lap to prevent him from hurting himself. I was half-convinced that Sirius was in fact having a heart attack but at this point, I was not nearly drunk enough to put up with his bullshit. Oh yeah, forgot to mention we each took a shot after breakfast seen as it’s my birthday, only increasing our chances of getting alcohol poisoning within the next weekend or so. But let’s be honest, I’m only using my birthday as an excuse to drink more alcohol at eight o’clock in the morning.

A few more smacks and one case of concussion later, we had all calmed down enough for me to play my goddamn record. Suspense hung in the air as the tiny crackles of an unused record sounded, followed by a crescendo of lightning-fast piano. Definitely not what I expected from a song entitled ‘Death On Two Legs (Dedicated To…)’, until Brian’s slightly menacing guitar burst through the speakers. The rest of the carried on in a similar fashion, fancy piano and angry guitar combined with lyrics I could only describe as savage. I made a mental note to look at the enclosed lyrics later on to see what exactly Freddie was singing, as even for my standards it was rather mean. I also couldn’t help but wonder who this was dedicated to and what they had done for Freddie to sing about them in such a manner. Must be quite the dickhead. Maybe someone like Snivellus. You can’t get much worse than Snivellus.

The next song was called ‘Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon’ and I couldn’t help but giggle throughout it. It felt very vintage, the singing was distorted somewhat, but it seemed more as if they were taking the mick out of the genre. It was a little thing, hardly a couple of minutes long, and soon transitioned to ‘I’m In Love With My Car’, which I distinctly remembered from the B-side of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’. That song will never fail to make me laugh. How a man can be so attached to his car, I’ll never know.

Those comedic masterpieces were followed by ‘You’re My Best Friend’, which I fell in love with within the first five seconds. The adorable little piano, the adorable little lyrics, the adorable little bass, okay I could go on like this for hours, but the point is that I loved this song and would gladly be its friend, were it a person. Yeah, I may have been a tad tipsy, might have had something to do with the shots we took between lessons on top of the one at breakfast. I had wanted to maintain a state of slight tipsiness throughout the day. Moving swiftly on.

‘39’ was next, and it was safe to say that I wasn’t expecting any of it. At first, the guitar made me chuckle, then the realisation that it was just vocals, guitar and fucking tambourine, and then the fact that it was almost certainly a county song about space. Brian was singing, of course it was Brian, and I seemed to have forgotten how talented a singer he actually is. And a songwriter because let’s be real, there is no way in hell that anyone in the band apart from Clog Man wrote this.

‘Sweet Lady’ came after that, which contrasted ‘39’ so much that it basically gave me whiplash. To be honest, I should have seen that coming seeing as that was how Queen seemed to work, a heavy rock song followed by something completely different and so on and so on. You’d think you’d grow tired of constantly changing styles but somehow Queen pulled it off magnificently, as they did with pretty much anything they set their minds to. I wasn’t quite sure what to make of it, don’t get me wrong it was a cool song, just not quite my cup of tea. I felt a little bit guilty about not liking it, but I forced myself to remember that I didn’t have to like every song on the album in order to be a fan.

‘Seaside Rendezvous’ was the next song and the last one on side A. I found it very quirky and much more to my liking. I could easily imagine myself going for a stroll down the beach back at home while humming this. And potentially dancing to it down the pier. Although I would look quite the crackhead as no one else would be able to hear it; but since when did I care about looking like a twat? I was already friends with plenty of twats, I stopped caring years ago. Somewhere in the middle of the song, there was a part that sounded like an orchestra of some kind, but I could tell Roger had something to do with the woodwind section, which led to some rather interesting images in my mind. Make of that what you will. The tap-dancing part made me laugh because I highly doubted that any of them could actually tap dance, leading to me wondering how to the fuck they did that. My brain also thought it was necessary to conjure up some cursed images of Brian tap-dancing in his clogs. Fucking hell, what was wrong with me?

As quickly and carefully as I could, I flipped the record onto the B-side, which started off with ‘The Prophet’s Song’. I was so naïve to think that ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ was long; this bad boy was all of eight minutes and basically a musical on its own, worthy of the likes of the West End or Broadway. The absolute artistry of the lyrics and the music quickly made it one of my favourites so far, which was saying something as I loved the whole damn album anyway. There was a good couple of minutes of straight acapella, mainly just countless overdubs of Freddie singing ‘no I know’ at various different pitches; then Roger and Brian joining in for a chorus of ‘la la la la la’. It was strangely creepy, and I had yet to figure out if that was their intention.

That then flowed almost seamlessly into ‘Love Of My Life’, a melancholic ballad that was as beautiful as it was sad. It didn’t take me long to work out that it was a harp rather than an acoustic guitar, I grinned at the mental images of Brian learning the harp for the sake of this one song. Surely if he’d known how to play it all along, he would have shown off his musical prowess much earlier.

Naturally, the next song flipped this whole vibe that had just been created on its head. ‘Good Company’ was its name and it involved a whole band created solely by Brian’s guitar. It seemed funny to me, but I didn’t know why. A bit like with ‘Sweet Lady’, I wasn’t all too sure if I like it or not. I did notice Brian singing again; it was nice to hear his voice on the record more, not to diss Freddie or Roger in any way, shape or form. Now I wanted to hear John sing and we would be good to go.

The last proper song on the album was, of course, the absolute masterpiece (or as Sirius liked to call it, ‘an utter fucking bop’) that was ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’. Considering the sheer amount of times we’ve listened to the record since it came out, it wasn’t all that surprising that we knew all the words off by heart. This was including playing all five minutes and fifty-five seconds of it while James was in the shower, so he didn’t spend hours in there and use up all the hot water. The rule was that he had to be out by the time the song had ended, or we would send Lily the picture we had of him with his hair all wet. And he would die before he consented to such a thing. Trust me, it’s not a particularly flattering look on him. I had to remind them to resist the urge to jump around when the rock bit came on, you know what I’m on about, so as to not damage the vinyl already.

The last track was a guitar rendition of ‘God Save The Queen’, which was outrageous as it was excessive. Just layers upon layers of guitar, I would forever be impressed by Brian’s skills. Sirius, however, was still moaning over his restricted movement.

“But why can’t we jump? It’s so much more fun that headbanging alone,” Sirius whined like the petulant child that he was. I had to give him at least some credit, he may have an impressive amount of muggle knowledge, but he was still a pureblood and a Black at that. He could be so naïve sometimes.

“Darling you have to understand that it’s a sensitive little thing. If you jump, so will the vinyl, which will scratch it and it will jump at awkward times,” I explained, to which I was met with blank stares as if I was speaking in bloody Welsh. I sighed, perhaps a little more dramatically than necessary but if that doesn’t some up my whole life then I don’t know what does, and tried again, “Like with my Sheer Heart Attack record? Where it jumps during Brighton Rock and Killer Queen?”

“Ohhhh,” understanding washed over his and James’s faces because let’s be honest, if you think Sirius is oblivious then clearly, you’ve never met James.

“Yes, ohhhh,” I repeated, taking the mick out of the stupid buggers. Hey, it’s my birthday, I’m allowed to do whatever I want.

Which reminded me of the party I had planned for later. Well, I say party, it was going to be more of a ball than anything. A birthday ball, if you will. What can I say, I have a flair for the dramatics, sue me.

[thisisbookland]

My Decade in Books

I know this is a tag but I decided to just do this one on my own (Sorry if you’ve tagged me and I missed it!)

Anyway, I’m going to go year by year and list the books that best defined that year for me. I didn’t start tracking books until 2017 though, so before that is mostly going to be me guessing that I was saying the right books haha. 

2010

I remember I hated reading before sixth grade, so I didn’t really read in 2010. I do remember my teacher in 4th grade reading The Percy Jackson series to us every day in prep for the movie coming out, so I’d say that that series was important for me at that time. 

2011

I don’t remember reading any books this year honestly. I know I read part of Anne Frank’s diary though, because it was in our classroom library. Though I don’t remember why I picked it up at all and I don’t remember if I finished it. I hadn’t quite found my love of reading yet. 

2012

Of course, on my birthday in 6th grade I got my Kindle and that’s where I really began to read and I read through books like they were water somehow. (And no, I do not quite do that anymore). I’d say there were two series that majorly impacted my reading this year. Those would be all the Warrior Cat series books out at the time, and the Hunger Games. 

I found the WC series because of my Kindle actually, and I think I read them literally because there were cats on the cover and I loved (and still love) cats. I think these books took over half my life until I was heading in to highschool, and at the same time I don’t think I ever talked about them with anyone I knew at school because I was afraid of getting bullied. Go figure.

The Hunger Games series became important to me because my teacher in 6th grade read the books to us every Friday or something, and we all really enjoyed them. However some students mother was angry that the books were being read to us and we were forced to stop by our principle. My class sort of threw up a protest over it but it never went anywhere, and most of us just decided to get the books one way or another and read them ourselves. 

2013-2015

I’m honestly not quite sure what books I read during what year in this time. I know I read the Twilight series in about four days during either the later part of 6th grade or 7th grade. (Twas a bad idea). I know I started reading a lot of weird YA series with one of my aunts that I probably shouldn’t have read but nobody stopped me. (And honestly, I’d like to re-read one of those series). I know I read through The Mortal Instruments series, Percy Jackson, and Harry Potter too, ect. But there aren’t many books outside of school books that stood out. I’d say this was my big slump before I started reading for fun again. (And considering I went into middle school in 2013 and then high school in 2014, it makes sense, because my homework increased and I got reading fatigue). 

2016

I’d say that the book I most remember reading was The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. It’s the book I remember reading that got me back into wanting to read, and I finished it in about two days. I don’t have much else to say, I reread the book a second time and I still enjoyed it well enough but I can’t say I’d read it a third time. Though it was interesting and it’s also what made me want to start reading The Iliad, which I have not finished yet haha.

2017

Now is where I started tracking books for real. I had four books I had to read during the summer before senior year of high school and boy I struggled with them. It was when I started my blog and my goodreads account! Which is great because now I can look at lists of books haha. There were quite a few books that I’d say defined that year. 

First I’d say It, because I really pushed myself to finish that damn book before the movie came out. Then I gave up and saw the movie, and then I finished the book afterwards. (Which is surprising, because usually I can’t finish a book if I’ve seen the movie recently.) I enjoyed it more for the coming of age aspect, with the kids sitting around acting like kids, than anything else honestly.

And then I’d say The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas was another book that defined that year. It was a really good book but also important to show the effects of police brutality/racism and how awful it is for victims and their friends, family, and community, I don’t know if I have much else to say about the book though, it just made me angry.

Some honorable mentions I don’t feel like writing too much about - They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera. Bone Gap by Laura Ruby. Ari and Dante by Benjamin Alire Saenz.

2018

This was when I read a lot more. I logged a lot of books I read for class which boosted my read count but hey, I did read them so. 

I’d say Ramona Blue by Julie Murphy was one book that was pretty important to me. It was about a girl coming to terms with her bisexuality, and well - I’m bi so I did enjoy that one haha. I read quite a few books but Ramona Blue is the one that sticks out the most for 2018. A couple others I really enjoyed were historic fiction like The Alice Network by Kate Quinn and All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. But mostly I spent 2018 graduating high school and settling in to college, so I didn’t read as much for myself as I had wanted to. 

2019

Well.. here’s the part where I admit I spent a major part of the last year of the decade re-reading Warrior Cats. I got curious about what happened after what I last read and had a free link to read the books so, I took advantage of it. So while I did read I think almost 70 books, 60 something of them were Warrior Cats books. (They’re quite easy to get through). 

But, BESIDES WC I read some other fun novels and graphic novels! I read The Prince and the Dressmaker which a friend of mine loaned to me, and I later bought the graphic novel myself. It was a very good one that had a happy ending -- perfect for the end of the school year stress of finals. I also read Six of Crows, which I really enjoyed and I am looking forward to reading the second book, and perhaps the other series that Leigh Bardugo has written. 

For the next decade I’m looking forward to all the books I’ll find and read, and hopefully by the end of it I’ll still be reading and enjoying books!

I’m not tagging anyone, if you wanna do this just go for it!

[popculturebuffet]

Top 8 Worst Christmas Episodes

Happy Holidays everybody! If your wondering where i’ve been.. i’ve been a combination of swamped with holiday activity, and just plain activity, and procastinating on getting content out for this blog.. but i’m kicking myself to actually get in gear. And I can’t think of a better reason than the holidays.  I love this time of year, while it can be physically and financially exhausting, people can act like rabid wildebeasts in stores, and there’s no end of jackasses who refuse to accept that Christmas isn’t the only holiday in town and that it’s perfectly fine if people want to you know, celebrate something else. But beneath it all is heart: giving gifts to people you love out of the kindness of your heart, beautiful decorations put up with care and holiday warmth, people freezing their asses off for charity everywhere.. there’s a lot of good done and a lot of good underneath.  And part of that good is Christmas Episodes. I do love me a good holiday episode and there’s been plenty of great Christmas epsidoes with a few Hannkuah and Kwanza ones thrown in. But for the mountain of presents of episodes, that we will get to, there’s also a small pile of cole that’s become sentient and stalks me every holiday season.. my meataphor may of gotten off track but the point is out of the VAST majority of good to decent holiday episdoeds there’s a handful I just.. flat out hate. ones that either miss the point, are unecessarily cruel and not nearly funny enough about it, or ones that are simply bad episodes of their show that happen to be christmasy. SO let us unwrap the pauly shore of christmas gifts, these are my 8 most hated christmas episodes.. and this is just episodes of ongoing shows, not specials (Though the episode being longer than usual is fine). Otherwise number one would be that time Chewy’s family killed time while his wife’s dad masturbated. As for why 8, my lists on this blog will vary based on need and I could only find 8 I TRULY loathed.. I didn’t want to pad the bottom of the list with mediocre episodes... only the cream of the crap and my christmas fury here. Now that’s out of the way, let’s ho ho go.  P.S. No the brooklyn nine nine episode is not on the list, I just love tha timage and felt it fit. 

8. The Finster Who Stole Christmas (All Grown Up)  This is by far the tamest on the list. I don’t hate All Grown Up. It is a confused shows (with early middle schoolers acting like high schoolers and what not), but it’s just medicore at worst outside of a few episodes. This one though.. is just bleh.  Chucky\ finds a tree on the street that’s perfect, wanting to have a memorable christmas for once. HE takes it home, thinking it’s abandoned, and it’s instead thought to be stolen and we spend a whole epsidoe watching a fucking 12 year old slowly be consumed by guilt.. I hate these kinds of plots. it’s one thing if the character genuinely fucked up or you mine some humor out of it, but it’s a nother when a character genuinely made a mistake and is instead internally tourtured. All the kid wanted was a tree.. he was kind of an idiot but the amount of vitrol over someone TAKING A TREE OFF THE STREET THA TWAS UNMARKED AND YOU DIDN’T TAKE INSIDE. is baffling.

7. Merry Christmas Mordecai (Regular Show) I do like Regular Show. While i’ve latched on to other shows far more, I still enjoyed the show and was a huge fan of it for some time.. this is the episode that killed that. The reason it’s lower is as an episode, it’s only the last two minutes or so that’s truly terrible, but GOD I hate this episode with every fiber of my being.. .the arc would get MUCH worse, but this did kick it off and turn me off the show for some time, though I did come back by the final season so there’s that.  The plot is simple: Mordecai is nervous because his ex Margret will be at the same party he’ll be with his new girlfriend CJ. Things go fine, it’s awkard but whatever.. and then he has a flashback.. and KISSES HIS EX , PASSOINATLEY AS SEEN ABOVE, in FRONT of his new girlfriend. The hero of our show, who was kinda shitty early on but that was ironed out by this point, cheated... and ruined a relationship I happened to really like. The problems of this arc are deep, vast and will require their own article some day, but yeah.. this one scene ruins the episode and set off one of the worst romantic plot tumors i’ve seen in a show and is so nonesnical , yes I get getting swept up in old emotions but you still cheated dum dum, I can’t help but put the whole episode here. It’s like a tootsie pop but the center is somehow full of bees: sure you enjoyed it but the amount of beestings in your mouth will make you hate the experince anyway. That said I will leave this clusterfuck on this blessed image because fuck if it can take it away from me. 

Thank god they didn’t ruin these two for me. 

6. Doug’s Christmas Story (Doug (Nickleodeon Run)

Only 90′s kids will rue the day this episode was born. Doug was mostly a bland and forgetable show.. but this episode is just unspeakably depressing. The premise is Doug’s dog, porkchop, saves local rich kid Bebe from thin ice, she thought he bit him.. and doug’s dog gets put on trial and SENTENCED TO DEATH AT THE POUND. Despite the fact the thin ice sign is clearly there, and this is a GROSS over reaction to a leg injury that wasn’t even caused by the biting. Porkchop knocked her down he didn’t tear off her leg or something.. the ep is lower because it IS well voice acted, but good acting only makes it that much more heartwrenching and makes me question WHY THIS for the christmas story. It’s not a TERRIBLE idea for a story, but for an episode your going to play every year ,epseically for a young network such as nick who only had three shows to start and thus would need this in rotation for some time, WHY would anyone think “Dog gets sentenced to murder for doing something good” , even if it turns around in the ending, is something people would want to SEE every year. Just a poorly written tear jerker that , while thankfully far away from my own nieces where it can’t scar them for life, will likely never leave my memory. 

5. Stump Day (Star vs the Forces of Evil) Oh god this one.. while the top 4 are far worse, this one is still ungodly aggravating. It DOES have a good joke at the begining.  Kid: Uncle River can you tell us the story of stump day? River: (Jovially) Ha ha ha, you don’t tell me what to do! (Tells story anyway) But after that... ti’s the story of Marco throwing Star a birthday party on Stump Day, Mewni’s christmas. As someone who has a birthday near a holiday, if not on one, I do sympathize. All your present days and celebration are crammed into one tight period. Marco means well and gathers all her friends, and her boyfriend tom.. and star flips out not wanting to piss off the stump. So far no bad... Marco meant well but didn’t know how much she cared, Even though Tom warned him I do get star being unpredictable and thus taking the shot anyway.. then he INSISITS on having the party anyway, and has the fucking BALLS to call tom a bad boyfriend when tom eventually calls him out on wanting to keep it going. Especially since Marco COULD’VE just made it into a holiday party to make her happy without sending everyone home. But no he had to be a selfish, entitled dick weed. While tom DOES lunge at marco after Marco calls him a bad boyfriend, Marco again went FAR out of linea nd insulted his own friend because he’s jealous Tom’s with star, and he’s not. ANd then a stump attacks... and then TOM’S forced to apologize. For attacking marco, yeaht hat’s fair but for being a bad boyfriend? No... Marco was the dick and he basically wins anyway despite agian, a simple solution being right there. Let’s move on. 

4. Road to the North Pole (Family Guy) Oh boy this one.. this was at the tale end of my watching Family Guy, before “Quagmire’s Dad” out and out pissed me off enough to finally leave, being you know a transphobic mess i’ll defintley talk about in the future, but this was close: An uncomfortable, unfunny christmas special that starts with Quagmire being overly hostile to Brian for a mistake he couldn’t have possibly known about and continues into a trip to the North Pole where the elves have become deformed due to industralization and Santa is deathly ill and Stewie and Brian have to convince people to ask for less to save him.  The IDEA here is not bad, and after this and the doug entries I want to make something clear: dark, twisted, messed up... these are not bad things for a christmas special to be. Futrama’s two christmas episodes , and to a lesser extent it’s one holdiay episode, are really funny and this trinity’s going to war from the movie is a holiday staple to me. 

See that’s some good all inclusive holiday hilarity that’s patently messed up.. and a emotinal holiday story with some dark themes? also works... King of the HIll had a whole episode where bill was sucidial before taking on the persona of his ex wife that was damn good, having some humor while still having a fairly depressing story with a solid emotional core. You CAN be dark , subversive.. but you have to have a point. Doug was bad because it leaned too far into the misery and that’s what ultimatley hobbles this episode too. You have to have SOMETHING to make people invested besides holding a gun to their dog’s head or KILLING SANTA.  This ep has a godo concept, santa having to industralize to keep up and slowly growing exausted or sick from it.. it’s not bad at all.. but the ep takes it too far and dosen’t have enough emotion to it to brign us back from the brink. It’s especially galling since family guy had DONE a christmas episode in it’s earlier, better seasons, that was far better than this, so while I don’t fault them for wanting to do a second one I DO fault them for doing it so poorly and wasting a potetinally tearjerking and well done concept on a crappy meanspirited wasted hour of my life.. because oh yes, this was an hourlong special. Ho ho hum. 

3. Miracle on Evergreen Terrace (The Simpsons) This one MEANS well but just ends up misrable. The premise isnt’ TERRIBLE: Bart burns down the christmas decorations, fakes a robbery and then feels really guilty as the family is helped by those around them. The issue is when Bart is found out, while his family is furious the town ALL shuns the simpsons with pure hatred, and later robs their house and leaves them with nothing. It’s not an episode i have TONS to say on like those above and bellow, it’s just miserable... and like I ranted about before black comedy can work but this took it too far: most of the simpsons did nothing wrong and bart was throughly punished with his heavy amount of guilt. The show already did “Bart feel sbad after doing something awful at christmas time” FAR BETTER in “Marge not be proud” which, while one I don’t really watch because it is hard to watch at times, is still excellent and Is hard to watch for the RIGHT reasons instead of just being mean spirited. Now from mean spirited to .. I dont’ even know with this one.

2.. Mrs. Wakefield (King of the HIll) What a shock, ANOTHER show I really like that had a terrible episode. No really most of these shows I liked at some point. That includes the top 2, King of the Hill, especially towards the end, had some really bad ones, and a really REALLY weird one that played out like a psyological horror film and ended with a mentally damaged man turned into sausage, yes really, and this one is no exception.  Mrs. Wakefield is the story of an old woman who grew up in the hills house.. and wants to die there...  just stay until she dies. I get being lonely during the holidays, which is the given reason why she’s really doing this she’s cripplilngly alone: being alone sucks. I know this, I understand this.. but it still dosen’t mean you can die in someone’s house. That’s a traumatlizing pile of stuff your foisting on people you barely know and Hank keeps getting vialnized for throwing her out by the neighbors.. for NOT WANTING SOMEONE TO DIE IN HIS HOUSE. And later it gets to the point where she’s playing hider in the house and hiding in there trying to die.. what COULD be kinda funny in a twisted way just ends up being creepy. And again this episode had what was essentially a horror story about Luann marrying an older man who slowly moldeed her into the mascot for his company, chased her and peggy around in a pig mask, then got cured of his psychosis just in time to end up as sausage. And yes that was a real thing that happened. They probably shouldn’t do horror but they can do it but here it’s just dumb. Also for those curious while I haven’t seen it hider in the house is a film i’ve heard of about a man who lives in the walls of a house and stalks the suburban family that moves in to no one’s shock, it stars gary busey. I would also not be suprised if that was his life right now. But busey aside, this episode is terrible and like family guy after it and simpsons before it, King of The Hil lhad several stellar holiday episodes and as I mentioned made suicide and devloping a split personality into comedy while still keeping the drama so this.. this is inexcusable. Speaking of inexusable

1. A Robot for All Seasons (My Life as a Teenage Robot) Oh my aching head this one.... yeah this one somehow COMBINES problems from above with it’s own bundle. It has the tonal issues most of these have, being far too bleak without any real effort to back it up.. but it also makes the ENTIRE CAST into dickheads Minus our hero and her semi-stalker Sheldon.  The basic premise is Jenny, our teenage robot, gets kidnapped and taken over by a miserable boy who has her ruin christmas and every other holiday and then wake up with no memory of her being BRAINSWAHSED into it. The IDEA isn’t bad... it’s a dark cirumstnace but it’s a good premise for a half hour special and would have her on the run with her friends trying to help her after beliving she couldn’t do it right? Well... as I said, ENTIRE CAST: Brad, Tuck, HER OWN FUCKING MOTHER all apparently belivie jenny just snapped and did this all on her own, despite you know mountains of super villians. No one came looking for her, no one thought she was acting weird, no one cared. her mother is outright working on the next model.. it’d be okay if they were supsicious or if they wondered why or if ANY OF THEM besides sheldon had looked for her or done anything or if the bad guy had had her act like this was her idea.. but no she just acts massively out of character by ruining lives for a full year, and no one is suspcious and by the end all is forgiven for both the antagnoist and the assholes, even though the assholes all abandoned their best friend/daughter instead of trying to figure out what’s wrong and the angagonist, kid or no kid STOLE A YEAR OF JENNY’S LIFE AND NEARLY RUINED THE REST OF IT. And I know she’s a robot, she is immortal etc.. but she wants to be normal. she lost a year of high school, a year of friends and nearly lost everything.. and yet is just supposed to FORGET that? or that again everyone around her minus her stalker gave up on her? Fuck that, fuck this and... have a happy holidays.  The holidays are more than this pile of garbage and I will be back sometime before the 25th to celebrate the best rather than the worst, to spread joy rather than headaches.. but I do hope if you had to endure any of these that this helped you like it helped me. Have a wonderful holiday time and i’ll see you soon. 

[isitgintimeyet]

The Ties That Bind

AO3

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Thanks for reading!

Thanks to @mo-nighean-rouge for the beta and support

Chapter 23: A Meddling Matriach

I have more than once observed to Lady Catherine that her charming daughter seemed born to be a duchess, and that the most elevated rank, instead of giving her consequence, would be adorned by her. — These are the kind of little things which please her ladyship, and it is a sort of attention which I conceive myself peculiarly bound to pay. - Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

The Glasgow office of Fraser and Sons Distillery was located in a solid nineteenth century building, originally designed to showcase the wealth of some Victorian industrialist. There was still an old-fashioned feel to the rooms, even with the state-of-the-art technology housed within.

Jamie’s office was no different. The generous proportions of the room were accentuated by the large pieces of furniture. Dark wooden bookshelves lined one wall. The enormous desk was of the same wood, commanding the centre of the room and two large bottle-green leather chairs were against another wall next to a tall cupboard and side table. The furniture had obviously been in place for many years but it didn’t look old or battered, merely as though it belonged. There were newer additions to the office: a coffee machine in the corner, a large screen on the desk, wireless speaker on the windowsill, but to John, as he looked around waiting for Jamie to return, it always reminded him of an Edwardian gentleman’s club or, at least how he imagined one to be. John knew that in the cupboard next to him there would be several bottles of whisky and Edinburgh crystal glasses. The only things missing from the picture were a haze of cigar smoke and the quiet murmur of elderly gentlemen.

John moved over to the shelves behind Jamie’s desk. He recognised many of the photos, the collection built up over the past couple of years since Jamie took up his current position in the company. There were a few new photos that he had not seen before. A black and white posed portrait of Ian and Jenny with the two children and a formal photo of Jamie and Claire dressed up for Angus’ wedding.

The third photo was a candid close up of Claire, obviously surprised by a sudden gust of wind, laughing as her curls flew around her face, her hands ineffectually trying to calm her hair. John was struck by her sheer...no, not beauty… Claire was beautiful, no doubt, but then so was Geneva… it was, John realised, her vitality, her warmth, her charm. Hard as it was for John to admit, he could see why Jamie was so in love.

“That’s a grand picture, is it no’?”

John had been concentrating so intently on the picture of Claire that he hadn’t heard Jamie enter the office.

“‘Twas taken at Lallybroch the other week. She had been chasin’ Wee Jamie round the garden and I jes’ snapped her.”

John returned the photo to the shelf and joined Jamie on the leather seats, declining the whisky that was offered.

“So,” Jamie continued. “Now ye’ve met Claire, what do ye think? Ye can see why she’s the one?”

“She is pretty special. It was great to meet her.”

“Ye must come round for dinner some night soon.”

“That’d be great… wait, you’re not planning to cook are you? Hopefully, Claire can cook?”

Jamie laughed at his perceived shortcomings. “Aye, weel, a wee bit more than me. She does a mean lasagne.”

“Sounds like she's a keeper.”

“She definitely is and, er, the thing is...er…” Jamie appeared flustered. “John, ye mustna tell anyone this, naybody at all. I want tae marry her. I mean it. This is no’ some fancy. I want tae be wi’ her all the time.”

John was not surprised at this pronouncement, but was unsure of the reason for Jamie’s hesitancy. Based on his observation of Claire and Jamie together, he did not, for one minute, believe that Jamie’s feelings were not returned in full.

“So, have you decided how you’re going to pop the question? Great romantic gesture planned?”

“That’s the thing.” Jamie ran his hands through his ginger curls, forcing them on end. John longed to reach out and straighten them but common sense prevailed and he focussed on the topic in hand.

“I’m no’ goin’ tae propose. No’ jes’ yet anyways. I want tae, but wi’ all that’s goin’ on at the moment, the engagement would get lost in all the other noise. Nah, when I do it, I want the focus tae be on Claire. And I dinna want her tae think I’m doing it tae make meself feel less guilty about the bairn. I want her to ken that I’m doin’ it for the right reasons. Plus there is one more thing…”

“Geneva, I’m guessing.” John knew where this conversation was heading.

Jamie forced a weak smile. Unconsciously, his fingers tapped against his leg. “Aye, Geneva. I do need tae think about how it’d look. Geneva could play the part o’ the wee wronged woman. She’d be all over it, with me as the bastard who dumped a pregnant woman and Claire as a homewrecker. The fact there never was a home tae wreck, she wouldna even consider.”

Having known Geneva for several years, John had no doubt at all. However, he did have deeper concerns than this potential movie-of-the-week scenario. “Jamie,” he began tentatively. “Please, think about this, I’m not an expert in family law, but I can give you the name of a good lawyer who is. Is it not worth consulting him now, find out exactly where you stand, get it all sorted?”

“John, I ken ye’re tryin’ to help but I dinna think we need that. Geneva has her faults, but she wouldna deprive a bairn of its father, if that’s what ye’re thinkin’. And if I have tae tread careful round her for the next few months, that’s what I’ll do. It’ll all work out, ye’ll see. And who knows, mebbe this time next year we’ll be planning a wedding at Lallybroch.”

*************

This time, Jamie made sure there were no last-minute problems. He gave himself extra time for the journey to the hospital, the drinks holder in the car was full of change. Claire, he knew, was in theatre, so there would be no chance of an unscheduled meeting with Geneva.

He actually arrived at the ultrasound reception before Geneva with plenty of time to spare. The selection of waiting room magazines and leaflets didn’t exactly inspire him. He bypassed the ‘Postnatal care of your Perineum’ leaflet, although he did pocket a couple of breastfeeding leaflets for Geneva. He settled down with his phone to wait. A message appeared from Claire wishing him luck. For the scan, he presumed, although, of course, it may have been luck in handling Geneva.

Finally, Geneva arrived. She was still not giving in to pregnancy comfort, dressed today in black spike high-heeled shoes and a figure-hugging dress. Jamie was conscious of eyes, both judging and admiring, following her as she made her way over to him. He wasn't quite sure how that dress would work with the scan - she would perhaps have to take it off, or was that what she had planned?

She kissed him briefly on the cheek and sat beside him, crossing her long, tanned legs. The toe of her patent shoe lightly nudged his shin.

“Are you excited?” she asked, resting her hand on his jacket sleeve. “About finding out the sex, I mean?”

“Are we findin’ out, then?” Jamie shifted in his seat, dislodging her hand. “We havena talked about it. Can we no’ discuss it? Do ye no’ want a surprise?”

“We’re talking about it now, aren’t we?”

“Nah, we’re no’ talkin’ about it… we’re talkin’ about the fact that ye already made the decision. And ye dinna even ask fer ma opinion at all.” Jamie spoke in a whisper, aware that other people in the waiting room were bored and keen for some entertainment.

Geneva lowered her voice a fraction. “My body, my baby, my choice. Besides I need to know to decide on a colour palette for the nursery, and then there’s the printing for the baby shower invitations that Isobel is sorting out... and do you think we should have a gender reveal for family and friends?”

Jamie folded his arms across his chest. “No’ sure why ye ask me. Ye do what ye want. But, let me be clear, I will no’ be hostin’ any parties wi’ ye, gender reveal or no’, nor attendin’ and neither will my family.  I’ve already told ye plainly that there is no ‘we’ and never will be…dinna be thinkin’ I will change ma mind on this.”

“Geneva Dunsany, room three please.”

Silently they gathered their belongings and headed into the ultrasound.

*************

Jamie sat in his car, breathing deeply, trying to stop trembling. Leaning over, he fumbled in the glovebox, pulled out a tissue and ran it across his eyes, trying to process calmly the events of the last thirty minutes.

The first realisation was that Geneva, despite the conversation they had when they last met, hadn’t given up trying to create a ‘Jamie and Geneva’ relationship. She wasn’t stupid but obviously thought that if she pushed hard enough she would get her own way… again. And her own way did not consider his opinions at all.

The second was that she would use any opportunity, including an antenatal appointment, to achieve it. Her knowing glance to Jamie as she pulled her dress up, briefly revealing her black lace panties before the sonographer modestly placed a sheet across her hips confirmed as much.

So far, so predictable.

But the third realisation struck him like a thunderbolt. When he heard the whooshing heartbeat and then the sonographer saying “Good positioning, I can see… it’s a boy,” Jamie absolutely realised that he was going to be a father and he felt a sudden rush of love for that little, blurry, slightly alien image on the screen. And, as much as he smiled at Geneva and offered celebratory words, there was only one person he wanted to share it with.

Jamie checked the time as he pressed the redial button on his phone. Hopefully, the theatre session would not have overrun.

“Claire, Sassenach, are ye around? Can I come and see ye? It’s a boy, Claire. I’m havin’ a son.”

***********

Jamie had a quiet evening in ahead of him. Claire had decreed tonight to be a girls’ night, which meant the opportunity to catch up with Geillis and a couple of other friends. With Frank, she had felt herself slowly becoming alienated from them all. Fortunately the friendships were strong enough to withstand Frank’s isolationist tactics, but Claire was not going to let history repeat itself, no matter how wonderful the man.

And by now, Jamie thought as he idly flicked through the television channels, they would probably be on their second bottle of wine and comparing notes about their respective partners’ faults. Weel, they'll have plenty tae talk about there wi’ me!

The sound of the doorbell roused him from his contemplations, its frequent buzzing conveying a sense of urgency, if not panic. Jamie rushed to open the front door, expecting some emergency to be awaiting him in the door step. It was much worse.

Geneva's mother stood on the doorstep. She had, in her youth, been considered pretty, if not beautiful. Qualities which had attracted and held onto the wealthy landowner William Dunsany. Her prettiness had, over the years, transformed into a hard, majestic facade. Her only link to her glorious youth was the beauty of her much beloved daughter Geneva, who greatly resembled her and who she had always indulged without question. Isobel, who took after her father, had been more of a disappointment.

“Good evening, Louisa. Do ye want tae come in then?” Jamie was taken aback by her appearance at his door but chose to remain polite to minimise the unpleasantness that he presumed was about to head his way.

Without a word, Louisa brushed past Jamie and made her way into the living room.

Settling herself in the middle of the sofa, she began her speech. “You can be at no loss, James, to understand why I’ve come here this evening. Your own conscience must tell you. I believe in frankness, so I’m not going to beat about the bush.”

Jamie’s face assumed a passive air. He decided to let Geneva’s mother have her say without interruption.

“I’m here to remind you of your responsibility towards my daughter. You can’t think to leave her to do everything on her own.”

Jamie’s hands curled into fists, his nails digging into the palms, but still he remained silent.

“Geneva deserves a partner in this, you have an obligation to her. And what about the baby, my grandson? He deserves two parents, needs to be brought up in a normal family. Now...” Her tone softened, as if she was offering him a gift, a solution to his predicament. “Now, I’ve heard you have started a new relationship, and I’m sure she is very nice but you’ve not known her that long and  it would be easier to make the break now than let it run on and hurt her more with a messy split. And remember, you have a history with Geneva.”

Louisa looked round the room. ”At least you’ve had the sense not to let her move in with you. That makes it easier.”

“Her name is Claire, and I’ll thank ye not tae bring her into this. I dinna mean tae upset ye but even if Claire wasna around, Geneva and I wouldna be together, bairn or no’. I agree, this laddie needs two parents and that he will have. I will do my share and when he is a wee bit older and able tae leave his mam, I will look after him here too. We can sort out the arrangements.”

Jamie’s voice was calm and level, in direct contrast to the feelings building up inside him. He was trying to remain fair to Louisa, who, he assumed, was doing what she had always done - made sure Geneva got what Geneva wanted, whether it be the latest toy, another pet… or him.

“I’m no’ goin’ tae explain the reasons why Geneva and I are no’ and willna be together. That’s between her and me. I have said I will support her and I will, I promise ye that, but only as the father of the bairn. And I willna be giving Claire up, I can assure ye. If ye think ye can come here into ma home and make me change ma mind on this, well ye will have had yerself a wasted journey.”

Louisa stood up and moved closer to Jamie. “You have no regard, then, for the

feelings of my daughter? What she must be going through?”

“Louisa, I have nothing further tae sa tae ye. I have told ye the truth. I will not be moved on this. And I resent the fact that ye think ye can tell me what I should or shouldna do. This is no’ all ma fault, so dinna be acting like I’m some sort of … of...”Jamie felt his self control start to slip, his voice beginning to rise in anger. “... evil seducer. I willna change ma mind, no matter what ye say. And ye can go and tell that tae yer daughter too.” “Very well.” Louisa headed to the door, not waiting for Jamie to stand up. “I just hope this woman of yours is worth it.”

And with that she flounced out of his house, slamming the front door behind her.