#tyler and esme series

[chickensarentcheap]

🌹🌹🌹 anndd one more 🌹!!

Thank you! Sorry it took so long. It's been the worst week of my life.

“Mumma said if kids drink coffee, they won’t grow and end up short forever.”

“Is that what happened to her?  She must have drunk twelve cups a day.”

“Daddy! That’s mean!”

“It’s true, through. She stopped growing when she was twelve. If that.”

“I won’t tell her you said that.”

“That’s why you’re my favourite.  You don’t tattle."

****

@watermeezer @youflickedtooharddamnit @mrsmungus @kmc1989 @alisbackalleybbq @asirensrage @residentdormouse @ninjasawakenedmystar @bardic-tales @karimac @secretaryunpaid

[fanficanatic-tw]

{For @chickensarentcheap}

Happy Holidays and Happy New year ❤️

<Having the pleasure of reading some of Tyler and Esme's journey was a delight. I'm excited to read more and see where you take them ☺️>

Taglist: @arrthurpendragon @ocappreciation @darknightfrombeyond @foxesandmagic @eddysocs

[munstysmind]

It’s officially Christmas here in Australia!!

Merry Christmas @chickensarentcheap

I hope you like your @occreatorexchange gift for Tyler and Esme 🙂

[karimac]

@chickensarentcheap, did Esme do this when she was pregnant with any of her children? I bet Tyler couldn’t resist!

[chickensarentcheap]

One of Esme's main pet peeves is who she calls 'the thirsty bitches'. The ones that despite being ignored, always are trying to get her husband's attention. Whether it be on the school yard when he goes to pick up the kids, at the grocery store, when he's coaching their soccer or football games. He's even torn up phone numbers right in front of them, so they get the hint.

When she gets extra annoyed or he pisses her off, Esme always tells him "I'll pack your shit and they can come and get you. But I bet in less than a week, they'll be calling and begging me to take your ass back."

LOL

@watermeezer @youflickedtooharddamnit @secretaryunpaid @bardic-tales @kmc1989 and everyone else of course.

[chickensarentcheap]

Esme for the Short Ask List About Love: #2, 10 and 15!

Thank you so much! ❤️❤️❤️

@watermeezer @bardic-tales @creators-club @youflickedtooharddamnit @secretaryunpaid @kmc1989 @karimac @ninjasawakenedmystar @asirensrage @residentdormouse @mrsmungus @alisbackalleybbq

Is your OC at all romantic themselves? Or is romance something they expect others to perform for their benefit?

While Esme isn't a fan of grand and elaborate gestures, Esme's brand of romance is much quieter and more quaint. Personal. The kids have talked about the things she has done; making sure he takes his meds, keeping his doctors' appointments organized, writing cute little messages on sticky notes and then leaving them all over the house for him to find.

Does your OC have a type? Have they ever been surprised by their feelings for someone who doesn’t fit this?

While during her teenage years, her choices of crushes and boyfriends (and girlfriends) all differed from one another, as she got older she found herself drawn to the same kind of personality. Someone with a dry, sarcastic sense of humour, someone who was in a position of authority (members of the military and police organizations. And they all shared the same physical trait: extremely tall. Although Tyler is much taller and bigger than both her ex-husband and a police officer she dated in NYC.

Is your OC easy to love? If not, then what are the barriers?

Tyler has said before that it was extremely easy (even for me, the emotionally damaged and traumatized type with addiction issues, that Esme teasingly calls 'the big, bad mercenary man') to fall in love with Esme. She is outgoing and bubbly and has a joy for life (and sees the good and the beautiful in it and the people around her) that not even the hardest of times stripped her of.

But...

He also admits that she's not the easiest person to live with at times. She struggles with depression and anxiety (and likely PTSD) and has extremely low self esteem and can be neurotic. But he loves her and is completely devoted to her and would burn the world to the ground for her.

[chickensarentcheap]

I've got three chapters on the go and the muse is being an asshole. I need the escape writing gives me, damn it!

Anyhow...

From a chapter about the first sexy time in Dhaka...

"I won't be able to stop."

"I won't want you to."

@youflickedtooharddamnit @secretaryunpaid @watermeezer @kmc1989 @alisbackalleybbq @ninjasawakenedmystar @asirensrage @vixenofcourse @residentdormouse @mrsmungus @bardic-tales @creators-club

[chickensarentcheap]

I'm trying to think who has both seen the first movie and has been following my fics for a long time, but my brain is mush so I'm just going to tag whoever lol

@youflickedtooharddamnit @secretaryunpaid @ninjasawakenedmystar @alisbackalleybbq @asirensrage @kmc1989 @bardic-tales @creators-club

This pic always reminds me of when Tyler and Esme first met. This could very well BE that moment; when he spied this tiny, seemingly innocent and meek brunette out on his front porch, spoiling his dog.

And how, when she sensed him staring at her, she glanced over at him and he gave a small, rather sheepish grin/smirk and then looked away.

[chickensarentcheap]

Last Line Game

I was nominated by the lovely and talented @illegalcerebral. The rules are to tag as many people as words you post. I don't know that many writers to tag, but here's my contribution. Put as many lines as you want. I'm not your mom.

She’d wounded him deeply; remaining silent about her whereabouts and keeping the existence of his child a secret. Only resurfacing when she needed something from him;  possessing the audacity to ask -despite the damage she’d caused- that he once again put his own life on the line to protect hers.   And though an outright refusal would have devastated her, it would have been understandable. After all, he’d already nearly paid the ultimate price for her once.  And in the end, had been left with nothing but a handful of scars and a broken heart to show for it.

Tagging: @mrsmungus @asirensrage @ninjasawakenedmystar @residentdormouse @navybrat817 @watermeezer @creators-club (for some reason it won't let me tag your main blog. Silly tumblr) @themaradwrites @ninjasawakenedmystar @darknightfrombeyond

Also tagging some Tyler and Esme peeps: @kmc1989 @alisbackalleybbq @tragiclyhip @youflickedtooharddamnit

[chickensarentcheap]

The muse has been struggling for a while. I mean, as in MONTHS. A mix of chronic pain and crippling fatigue, horrible confidence issues, and now this grief that haunts me and shows up when I least expect it.

But I know @tragiclyhip would hate it if I quit altogether. So, I persist.

Just the start of some cute dialogue. Enough to warm the muse up (hopefully)

@youflickedtooharddamnit @watermeezer @bardic-tales @creators-club @kmc1989 @ninjasawakenedmystar @mrsmungus @asirensrage @residentdormouse @alisbackalleybbq @darknightfrombeyond @secretaryunpaid

“Did you check on her?”

“Of course.  I’ve been doing it a couple of times a night since she was just a tiny thing.  She’s my baby.  Not to mention I’m a bit of a worrywart.’

“Just a bit?”

“Okay, so sometimes I do go a little overboard.”

“That’s the understatement of the century.”

“You should see her up there; just dead to the world and snoring away. Something else she gets from her dad.” 

“I don’t snore.”  

“The hell you don’t.   I bet it’s going to really bad tonight.  Always is when you’ve had an extra busy day.  She kept you on your toes, huh?”

“I usually pride myself on my stamina, but that kid of yours…”

Esme grins. “So that’s how it’s going to be?  She’ll solely mine whenever she does something you don’t like?”

“Makes sense.  Who do you think she gets all the problematic shit from?”

[chickensarentcheap]

Esme for the 'Another one of those OC Question Memes' ask game! #2, 7, 16 anndd 19!

Thank you so much! Some I answered in a previous post, so I just did the next number instead :)

@youflickedtooharddamnit @watermeezer @bardic-tales @creators-club @mrsmungus @alisbackalleybbq @ninjasawakenedmystar @secretaryunpaid @asirensrage @residentdormouse @kmc1989 @karimac

2) Do they believe in soulmates?

Esme used to laugh at anyone who talked about things like that. Especially after her first marriage fell apart and she swore she'd stay single for the rest of her life. Then she met Tyler and everything changed. She believes in soulmates now.

8) Have they ever broken any bones? If yes, how?

She broke her nose rough housing with her brother Kyle when they were kids. And busted a couple of ribs and a wrist while working for the High Table and getting a little too close to the dirty and bloody aspects of the job.

16) What is something about them that people would not expect by looking at them?

No one ever expects Esme to have held the job that she did within the mercenary world. She seems like the cute little girl next door; sweet and bubbly, sometimes appearing a little 'flighty' even. But she's extremely intelligent and very good her job; weaseling her way into peoples' lives and getting her to trust them with their deepest and darkest secrets, and then passing that information along to Nik and her mercenaries.

20) How would a close friend whose known them a long time describe them?

They would say that she's fiercely loyal and devoted to those closest to her. She's trustworthy and compassionate, but not afraid hand out a little 'tough love' if it is warranted. She's outspoken and assertive and extremely protective of Tyler and their children. A lot tougher and stronger than she appears to. be.

[chickensarentcheap]

Trying to get the muse going!

Especially for you @tragiclyhip because you mentioned this scene earlier

@youflickedtooharddamnit @secretaryunpaid @bardic-tales @watermeezer @kmc1989 @alisbackalleybbq @asirensrage @mrsmungus @residentdormouse @karimac

She stands at a section break wall that surrounds the lighthouse. Her palms flat against the cement and her shawl across the middle of her back; hooked around her elbows to keep it in place. And he smiles as notices the way the sunlight captures the natural red highlights in her hair and how the brilliant rays reflect off the water; causing her to squint her eyes and crinkle her nose.

There’s something pure about both the expression and her in that moment; completely oblivious to everything going on around her. Heels lifting out of her sandals as she stands on her tiptoes to see over the barrier into the water; hopeful to catch sight of the numerous turtles and other sea life known to frequent the area. Never losing her interest or excitement in seeing Australia’s various creatures and the abundance of scenery; always squealing and giggling when a friendly kangaroo or quokka eats out of her hand and forever taken back by stunning sunsets that paint the sky with vivid shades of orange, purple and pink.

She possesses a childlike enthusiasm when it comes to her surroundings; six years of living Down Under yet never tiring of those road trips along the coast or the little vacations up to The Kimberley or the visits into the big cities. Remaining in awe that this is actually her life; far beyond anything that she could have ever imagined or even thought possible. Everything she’s been through -in the past twelve and a half years and throughout her entire life- and she’s still so full of life; cheerful and optimistic and remaining a bubbly and welcoming social butterfly.

Even on the hardest of days -when he only gets out of bed because he knows his family needs him to- she never fails to make him smile. The lighthearted and loving teasing and the way she stands behind his chair and rubs his shoulders or combs her fingers through his hair; lightly gripping the strands and tipping his head back so she can press kisses along the bridge of his nose. Sending him memes and links to videos even if they’re sitting across from each other out on the deck; the way she chews on her bottom lip and her eyes sparkle with anticipation as she waits for his reaction. Always finding ways to maintain physical contact with him; her foot on top of his or their knees touching under the dinner table, pausing on her way past him as he stands at the kitchen sink; running her palms across his shoulders and down his back and then continuing on her way. Reaching over to take his hand as they sit together on the couch; never saying a word and her attention never wavering from whatever book or magazine she’s immersed in. Always aware of when he needs that contact with her, yet knowing he’ll never ask for it or seek it for himself; never calling attention to it and more often that not, making it seem as if SHE’S the one craving it.

“Tyler!” She calls to him now; that excitement in her voice and that little bounce of her heels reminding him so much of Addie. And she once more pushes herself up onto her tiptoes, eyes wide as she points to the water below with one hand and waves him over with the other. “It’s huge! You have to see this one! Come see it! Hurry!”

With a bemused grin he joins her; a palm settling on the small of her back as he peers down into the water.

“See it?!” She enthusiastically tugs at the side of his t-shirt; once more happily bouncing up and down on her heels.

He sees so much of Addie in her at that moment; the glitter of contentment in her eyes, the excited flush to her cheeks, the way her top teeth dig into her bottom lip. And the brief glimpse of childlike exuberance and innocence makes him think of the little girl she’d once been. Full of light and love and sheltered from her mother’s emotional abuse and torment by a father that adored her; his first daughter after a string of rowdy boys. He’d felt it when Millie had been born; the shift from boy dad to girl dad. He’d only had Austin for six years and had spent a lot of time away on tours in the Middle East, but he’d grown accustomed to superhero and sports themed apparel and little baseball caps and high top sneakers. He’d already started coaching soccer and t-ball; Austin a naturally gifted athlete from the time he was old enough to walk. Already into rough housing and climbing trees and jumping into mud puddles; his mother often finding worms and snails and various sized rocks in the pockets of his pants and shirts.

Even though he’d known he was having a daughter and had spent three months fretting over being a failure as a ‘girl dad’, he hadn’t truly felt like one until they’d placed that minutes old baby in his arms. Brand new and all smooth, pink skin and blond hair and impossibly long fingers and toes and slender feet. Her crying immediately ceasing when he’d gathered her tight into his chest; all of her fingers curling around one of his as she gazed up at him with piercing blue eyes. It all hit him at once; the reality that he was a father again -despite believing he never would be- after losing his son and how close he’d come to never even knowing of his daughter’s existence, never mind actually meeting and holding her. His second chance suddenly so clear and so real and all in one room. His tiny yet phenomenally strong and resilient wife exhausted after going through thirty-six hours of labour and now their little girl; wrapped tightly and securely in a pink and blue striped blanket. Her eyes never wavering from his as a nurse tugged a knitted cap onto her head. And in that moment, he’d cried like he’d never cried before. All of the anguish and the regret and the guilt he’d been building up since his son’s death finally coming to a head; mingling with the overwhelming love and adoration and complete awe that he felt for the two women in his life.

He’d become softer that day. Kinder. Gentler. After that his fears of being a girl dad ceased and he easily and effortlessly took to the role. Growing accustomed to the amount of pink in one closet and the amount of frilly socks and tights in one dresser drawer; his large, calloused fingers mastering the buttons on tiny dresses and no longer fumbling with impossibly small hair clips and headbands. He knows what Esme’s father had felt like in that moment he’d held her so many years ago; that softness and tenderness and the ferocious need to protect at all costs that doesn’t normally come with sons. And when he thinks about how all that love had disappeared the moment her dad had taken his last breath, his heart aches for her; a teenage girl suddenly left without her ‘person’ and the only adult that had ever shown her any love and attention.

“What kind is it??” she asks, effectively snapping him back to the ‘here and now’.

“It’s a sea turtle.”

“I know THAT. But what KIND of sea turtle? Can you tell? By looking at its head? Or its shell? You’re usually good at these things. At anything to do with animals. Not a snapper is it?”

“Not with that tail and that head. Looks like a Loggerhead. He IS a big one.”

“Take a picture of it! We can look it up on google on the way home. We can show Addie when she gets home from school. She’ll be so jealous.”

“I feel like I’m with Addie right now,” he teases, and slips his phone from the side pocket of his cargos; snapping a pic of the turtle before turning the camera on his wife. Catching her just as she turns and looks up at him; eyes slightly narrowed in the sun, wayward strands of hair blowing across her face, and a gentle smile curving her lips. So natural and beautiful; nothing but sun kissed skin and messy hair and pure contentment on her face.

“You’re not supposed to take pictures of me!” she scolds, giving him a playful shove and attempting to snatch the phone from his hand. Flashing a pout and dramatically stomping her feet each time he easily evades her; shooting him a glare when he holds the cell above his head. “That’s no fair!” She cries, as she perches on her tiptoes; one hand on his chest to steady herself as the other frantically -and vainly- tries to come in contact with the object being kept from her. “Unfair height advantage! You’re playing dirty!”

“Sweetheart, I can get way more dirty than this and you know it.”

“We’re not talking about THAT. I know how dirty your mind and actions can be. Just give me the phone! This isn’t fair! You’re a full foot taller than I am!”

“A foot and two inches, actually. What are you going to do about it? Besides, all is fair in love and war.”

“You’re supposed to be taking pictures of the turtle. Or of the scenery. Of something beautiful.”

“That’s EXACTLY what I was doing. Taking a picture of the most beautiful thing here.”

She finally relents; a brilliant, broad smile spreading from ear to ear and a slight blush creeping into her cheeks. Even after twelve and half years she finds it hard; accepting a compliment that’s one hundred percent genuine and said with the utmost love and adoration. A long lasting side effect of years spent suffering through her mother’s verbal abuse; constant insults and words of degradation that in doubt led Esme to make some of the bad choices she was notorious for in the past. Mark being the biggest one; ignoring the red flags because she’d thought she was in love and then staying despite the abuse but he’d successfully convinced her no one else would ever want her.

[chickensarentcheap]

🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹 Please and Thank you 😍 💖💖💜😘

Thank YOU <3 <3 <3

“She was in your underwear drawer this morning,” Esme says.  “I left it open because I was putting laundry away and…”

“You let her sleep on my underwear?”

“Bea rules the roost, okay? She sleeps where she wants, when she wants.  And besides, what’s the issue? It’s not like you actually wear the damn things.”

“I wear them.”

She stares at him pointedly, cup poised against her lips.

“Okay, so maybe not ninety-eight percent of the time.”

“She probably misses us,” Millie continues to fret.  “She was gone for a long time and now she’s probably worried she’s never going to see us again!  I hope she doesn’t think we’re never coming back.”

“I promised her we’d be home later,” Esme assured her. “I even gave her extra treats and a little bowl of milk. Trust me; she knows we didn’t abandon her.”

“Still, I feel bad.  That she couldn’t come with us.  And do family stuff.”

***

@bardic-tales @watermeezer @kmc1989 @mrsmungus @alisbackalleybbq @secretaryunpaid @karimac @ninjasawakenedmystar @asirensrage @residentdormouse

[chickensarentcheap]

Sending hugs always!

[17] What is their biggest struggle that no one around them is able to understand or believe?

Please and thank you!

Sending hugs right back! <3

I would say that it's her battle with her self confidence. She's so outgoing and so bubbly, that it's hard to believe that she has this near crippling anxiety when it comes to feeling as if she's not good enough. She has a wonderful life; a beautiful home in a beautiful place, she's a mother, she has a hot man that practically worships the ground she walks in and it's completely faithful and devoted to her. Yet she struggles with not feeling smart or pretty or worthy enough. Which doesn't seem like something someone that looks and acts like Esme would have an issue with.

@youflickedtooharddamnit @secretaryunpaid @bardic-tales @creators-club @alisbackalleybbq @kmc1989 @karimac @asirensrage @residentdormouse @mrsmungus @ninjasawakenedmystar @vixenofcourse

[chickensarentcheap]

Trying to get my muse flowing once again. It’s what @tragiclyhip would want. She was a massive fan of my writing and adored Tyler and Esme and would be so disappointed if I abandoned everything.

What do you think guys? Find some OTP questions? OC questions? I’m hoping to answering random questions about Tyler and Esme or Esme herself. I need something to just get myself going.

[chickensarentcheap]

All the odd numbers from the purple OC questionair thing for Esme 🤗💜

Thank you so much! I have been so lazy today and it's taking me forever to answer things lol

How easy/hard is it to make them angry? Do they show their anger or hide it?

Esme has a shockingly high threshold when it comes to what irritates her to the point of considering herself angry. She used to have a hair trigger temper; the slightest perceived offence had her lashing out and wanting to hurt someone as much as she thought they were hurting her. As she's matured, she's calmed down lol. But if someone dare talks shit about Tyler after all he's been through or they're a threat to her marriage or to her children, she goes pretty feral. She's not afraid of speaking her mind and putting people in their place. Something Tyler found out very early on. Not even the 'big, bad, mercenary man' (as she calls him lol) intimidates little Esme.

3. Do they have any pet peeves?

Oh, yes. LOL. When people are taking too long in front of her at the ATM (doing all their damn banking lol) and when they don't put their shopping carts back. Also, when sand gets tracked through the house. It drives her insane lol

5. At what stage of their life were they the happiest?

I would say where she is currently is in the main series. She's living the domestic and 'normal' life she longer for for years. She has a beautiful home in Australia, she owns a bookstore (childhood dream), she's enjoying being a wife and a mother. She's reached a state of contentment and comfort :)

7. At a bar, are they more likely to buy a drink for someone or have someone buy her a drink?

I don't think she's ever had to purchase her own drinks a day in her life, never mind buy them for someone else lol

9. Do they have any experiences/memories they'd like to forget?

Other than the extremely bloody and scary moments on the bridge in Dhaka, definitely her entire first marriage. It was a nightmare. Her ex husband was a monster.

11. Do they have a type that they're attracted to?

Physically speaking, no. None of the people she has been with look remotely alike, aside from all being over a certain height. She likes them tall lol. But personality wise, she's drawn to men that are 'in charge' or come from a position of power. Men in uniform, especially. Her ex husband was her superior officer, she dated a homicide detective in NYC, and she married Tyler who was Australian special forces and he his mercenary work. But he's by the far the tallest and biggest she's ever been with. And she's a wee little thing lol

13. Do they have any tattoos? If not, would they ever consider getting one?

Esme has several tattoos. All different themes. Including a massive peacock that has it's tail and some of his body across her back and then stretches over her ribs and up her stomach and between her breasts, the head on the middle of her collarbone.

14. What is their dream house like?

I actually have a picture lol

17. How good are they at picking gifts for others?

Esme is very good at pay attention to what people enjoy and the things they love, and chooses gifts that she knows would bring them joy :)

19 . How would a stranger they just met describe them?

Sunshine. They would say she's sunshine. That she's very warm and welcoming and bubbly. And LOVES to talk lol

@youflickedtooharddamnit @secretaryunpaid @watermeezer @kmc1989 @mrsmungus @bardic-tales @vixenofcourse @creators-club @asirensrage @residentdormouse @ninjasawakenedmystar @alisbackalleybbq