#unexpected highlander mention

[katamaricule]

Hey, a few weeks ago you explained Mystic Nine: Qing Shan Hai Tang to me and enlightened me about it being available with subs. Just wanted to thank you again for that! My sister and I finally got around to watching it last night, and now we're ten episodes deep into the 2016 Mystic Nine drama lol...

So far I am reserving overall judgement, but there's something very compelling about it all even though I'm still confused (and tbh the movie's pacing and CGI were terrible, but Zhu Zanjin was indeed as beautiful the second time through XD). This is also my first Republican-era drama, so it's a whole new world of costume design and geopolitical struggle!

I'm so glad! I'm glad you enjoyed it, and I'm glad the Mystic Nine got its weird little hooks in you.

I feel such warmth toward the Mystic Nine. For all its many, many flaws, it has several charming aspects that make it way more compelling than it has any right to be. It occupies the same place in my heart that, say, Highlander does: cheaply produced, chronically overacted, embarrassingly paced, full of questionable pop music choices, forbidden by circumstances from being as gay as it should be -- but damn if I'm not shoveling popcorn into my mouth as I devour episodes one after another.

Is William Chan a better actor than Adrian Paul? Now there's a pop culture debate that like thirty people in the whole world could have!

[within-your-eyes-if]

Within Your Eyes Intro Post

DEMO [Last Updated June 22nd, 2024]

You are a Warden, a monster hunter who has come to the Kingdom of Auris which has become the forefront runner in it’s acceptance of magic and supernatural alike within the West Highlands. But when strange happenstances occur, you are called upon not just because of skill, but also because of your condition. A condition you’ve lied about for last 12 years.

Unearth the secrets that magic holds as a new form is discovered.

Befriend or romance those who attempt to worm through the cracks of the mask you wear. Or will you fight to keep them at arms length?

Regardless of where your journey takes you, your feathered friend will be at your side. As he always has been.

This story will be 18+ for the following reasons:

Explicit and erotic intimate scenes

Death, including of a child

Violence, blood and gore

Thoughts of suicide

Mentions of suicide

Self harm

Explicit language

Mental trauma

Horror elements

Feelings of being watched

NOTE: Your character will be pretending to have a disability (blindness), not because of a disorder but out of self preservation.

This list may be updated.

You are running away from your past. As you take a this new job, you're forced to confront it. What vices do you use to cope? Will you learn to rely on others or will your raven be your only source of comfort? Will you feel guilty for your lies? Yours will be a journey of self-forgiveness, or maybe you'll only fall deeper into despair.

Play as a man, woman, or non-binary. Gay, straight, or bi.

Plenty of customization options from physical appearance to clothes.

Φ Admos de Le Wren ─ Male | Draconian | Second-Born

Admos, the Dragon Lord of Auris, ascended to the throne following a devastating conflict with his father, bypassing his older brother's claim. This decision deepened the rift among his siblings. As he enters his fifth year as sovereign, Admos grapples with guilt and uncertainty about his role in the family's discord. Will you help him find clarity or fuel his doubts?

Φ Lyth/Lyari de Le Wren ─ Gender Selectable | Draconian | Tenth-Born

Ly took on the role of Viceroy/Vicereine in Auris and became their brother Admos's Right Hand, playing a vital part in the kingdom's recovery after a conflict with their father. However, an incident they triggered over a year and a half ago almost led to another war, casting doubt on their suitability for their position and their aid to their brother. Will you help Ly grapple with their past actions and uncertainties about their role as Viceroy/Vicereine, or will their internal conflicts remain unresolved?

Φ Leese/Lea van Laere ─ Gender Selectable | Human | Vampire

Born into nobility, Lee's life as the child of prominent figures in Lenia took an unexpected turn when they were turned into a vampire. Forced to leave their home, Lee now wrestles with their new identity, desperately seeking meaning in their existence and if it's worth maintaining.

Is Lee a monster consumed by instinct, or can you help them reclaim their humanity?

Φ Xiang Xiaowen/Xiaodan ─ Gender Selectable | Human

Xiao, an ambassador dispatched to Auris to aid the Dragon Lord in Council matters, fought hard to secure their role. Serving as an unofficial advisor, they frequently share insights to assist Admos. Yet their unwavering dedication to obtaining this position hints at a deeper motivation. Perhaps they will reveal it to you.

Φ Gabriel Duarte ─ Gender Selectable | Human

Assigned to you as an assistant of sorts, the recently knighted guard is searching for their place within the Order. Perhaps their new mission will set them on a path for glory, or sink them beneath the turmoils it takes to obtain.

Φ Hestia ─ She/They | Elf? | Witch

Even the most kind have their secrets.

Φ ???

Poly Routes: Lyth/Lyari and Gabriel | Leese/Lea and Gabriel | Xiaowen/Xiaodan and Hestia

Love Triangle: Admos and ???

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FAQ

Romance Information Post

Ko-Fi

Tumblr Asks are disabled for the time being.

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WYE will always be free with chapters released once they are finished.

This is a planned trilogy.

Thank you for reading and for your support! ♥

[unconventional-lawnchair]

Stray {Blurb}

Postwar!Remus Lupin x Muggle!Reader

Summery: After drifting aimlessly and struggling with the aftermath of war, Remus finds an unexpected ally in a compassionate woman who sees beyond his scars. Through her unwavering kindness and the simple life, Remus maybe he deserves the similar things in life.

Wc:3860

Cw: Use of {Y/N}, fem reader, self doubt, mentions of major character death, financial insecurity, drifting, self indulgent.

Remus Lupin never really believed in rock bottom. Everytime he thought he'd hit it he would fall harder and deeper than he ever thought possible.

After the war there was a long period of time he was drifting. Not necessarily liking the idea of staying in one place too long, not that he could if he tried. Most of the highlands were packed with nosey wizards and witches, his paranoia getting the best of him every time someone asked a bit too many questions, and then it was on to the next town.

It didn't help that no one was enthusiastic about hiring him after learning of his special requirements. He couldn't hold down a job let alone a stable place to stay, staying in the rougher bits of London and Scotland, too busy wallowing in grief to truly feel sorry for his situation.

His full moons were the worst of it. Without James, Peter, and Sirius, Moony reverted back to its most volatile form. His mental state didn't help much either. He had grown comfortable, complacent, with the nurture his friends provided him those nights. So much so he forgot what it was like to have battered and bruised skin. What the scars on his body felt like.

Everything was back to his normal.

Well, not everything. This was the first time he's woken up to the sight of a gun barrel in his face. His body throbbing and his leg caught in a snare. If he looked just past the barrel, he could see glimmering eyes. Fear. He was used to that look.

Though, he could argue he should be the fearful one, considering his lack of dress and immobile position. Bleeding and scared, with a women he's never seen before saying something his ringing ears couldn't quite comprehend.

Soon, his blood loss and blurry eyes made him unable to stay awake. The last thing he saw was a large white dog coming up to sniff his face.

~~~

It was soft, everywhere he turned. Like he was being held in a cloud, he was sure she must have shot him.

When his eyes opened he was greeted with a dim room. It was small, a cream off white with floral designs, it looked like his mother’s, truthfully. He tried to shift his leg only to notice a sizable weight, looking down to see a large white cattle dog, he couldn't quite place the breed immediately, but the moment he shifted it seemed to wake up. Staring at him in his very soul.

The large beast gave a low and steady grumble before he gave a few barks, something he didn't quite know how to place. He just sunk back into the soft plush bedding, giving a low sigh. “Bloody hell..” He mumbled and closed his eyes.

He was still in pain, a lot of it, and he could feel the throb of his injuries pulsing through his body. But there was also a strange sense of comfort in the softness of the bed and the warmth of the room. Even the soft smell of Shea butter and thick wool. It had been so long since he had felt anything remotely close to comfort that it almost seemed foreign to him. He almost convinced himself to fall right back asleep, screw the consequences.

The dog continued to bark, and soon after, Remus heard the soft patter of footsteps approaching. His instincts kicked in, and he tried to sit up, but his body protested vehemently. Leaving him to prop pathetically on his elbows.

As the door creaked open, he came to the conclusion that he was most certainly dead. And he guessed the muggles were right about God. Why else in Merlin’s name would an angel be stepping into this room? With a tray of food, no less.

Like that, the barking stopped. The dog satisfied he notified his master in time.

The woman who had been holding the gun stood in the doorway, looking significantly less threatening now. She had a cautious yet gentle expression, her eyes scanning Remus with a mix of curiosity and concern. Retracing his now bandaged chest and bruised skin, clicking her tongue before she walked over. Setting the tray down and picking up two pill bottles from the side of the bed.

"You're awake.” She assessed softly, her voice carrying a lilting accent that Remus recognized to be Scottish. "I wasn't sure if you'd make it through the night.”

Remus tried to respond, but his throat was dry and his voice came out as a weak croak. She poured a glass of water from the tray and handed it to him, with three pills in her palm.

He didn't think twice before he took them, his concern for his life had far since left his mind. He just felt.. safe.

As the cool water soothed his parched throat, Remus couldn't help but wonder who this woman was and why she was helping him. He hadn't known genuine kindness from anyone since he entered the war- everyone was a suspect until proven otherwise. He glanced around the room, taking in the subtle details- the worn but clean furniture, the soft light filtering through the curtains, and the faint smell of herbs mingling with the scent of the shea butter that he could now conclude came from you.

"Thank you.” He managed to say, his voice still weak but sincere. "For... everything."

The woman gave a small smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "You're welcome. My name is {Y/N}." She hesitated for a moment before adding, "You're lucky I found you when I did. The Highlands aren't exactly the safest place for someone to be..” She gestured vaguely. “What were you up to? Naked forest dancing?”

Remus let out a weak, humorless chuckle at your comment. Despite the situation, he couldn't help but appreciate your attempt to lighten the mood. His muscles protested every small movement, but he managed to shift slightly, trying to get more comfortable.

"Something like that. I'm Remus.” He muttered, his voice still hoarse. He didn't dare dream of expressing the full length of his woes; the full moon, the transformation, the uncontrollable rage and pain. It was too much to burden you with, not to mention the rapid fire excuses he'd have to come up with. Still, he still felt horrid for lying, especially to someone as kind as you.

You seemed to sense his reluctance and didn't press further. Instead, you busied herself with adjusting the pillows behind his back, making sure he was as comfortable as possible. "Well, whatever it was, you're safe now.” You muttered gently. "You need rest and time to heal. Those pills should help with the pain and prevent any infection."

Remus nodded, grateful for your understanding. "Thank you, {Y/N}.” He repeated, feeling a warmth spread through him that had nothing to do with the cozy room or the medication. "I don't know how to repay you for this."

You waved off his gratitude with a dismissive huff before walking over to set up the simple bowl of oatmeal and apple slices you had managed in the kitchen.

��Seriously, I don't have much but-”

“Your money's no good here, I fear.” You remarked calmly and turned to face him as you handed him the bowl carefully, wrapped in an oven mitt so he wouldn't burn himself. “But your body is.”

Remus blinked, taken aback by the statement. He opened his mouth to respond, but you quickly clarified, sensing his alarm.

"Not in that way.” You quickly corrected with a soft laugh, the first sign of genuine amusement he'd seen from you. "I meant, it's coming up on winter. Once you get better, if you'd like to repay me, there are holes in the barn that need to be patched. There is wood to be collected, there is always work.”

Relief washed over him, and he nodded slowly, understanding the exchange you were offering. That was something he could do. Easily. "I can do that.” His voice was still weak but filled with sincerity. "I'm more than willing to help out."

You smiled, this time a bit more genuinely. "Good. We'll worry about that when you're back on your feet. For now, just focus on getting better." You placed the bowl of oatmeal and apple slices on his lap. "Eat up, you'll need your strength."

Remus took the bowl, feeling a deep sense of,, peace. It had been so long since anyone had shown him patience and kindness this real. He spooned some of the oatmeal into his mouth, savoring the warmth and simple flavor. It was raw. Something unfiltered and unprocessed. You had made these from scratch, while it wasn't impressive, it made the gesture all the more real to him.

As he ate, you busied yourself around the room, tidying up and making sure everything was in order. The large white dog, now lying by the foot of the bed, watched him with curious eyes.

"What’s his name?" Remus asked, nodding towards the dog.

"That's Hugo.” You hummed, a fond smile tugging at your lips. "He's a good boy. A fine worker, too. Found him as a pup wandering near the woods. Much like you, I suppose."

Remus chuckled softly, though it hurt his chest a bit. "Well, I'm glad he found his way to you. And I'm glad I did too."

You paused for a moment, looking at him with a studying looking in your eyes. "We all need a bit of help sometimes.” You said quietly. "No shame in that."

Remus nodded, feeling a lump form in his throat. For the first time in a long while, he felt a glimmer of hope. The care you had shown him was a balm to his weary soul, and he couldn't help but feel that perhaps, just maybe, things could get better from here.

As he finished his meal, he felt a wave of exhaustion washing over him again. The combination of the medication and the warm food was making it difficult to keep his eyes open. You seemed to notice and gently took the empty bowl from his hands.

"You should rest.” You said softly, but stern, placing the bowl back on the tray. "Sleep will help you heal faster."

Remus nodded, unable to argue with common sense. As he settled back into the pillows, he felt the soft weight of Hugo shifting in a commando crawl up to his side, offering him a sense of security and companionship. His heavy head resting on his chest.

"Thank you, {Y/N}, Hugo.” He murmured one last time, his voice trailing off as sleep began to claim him.

You watched as his eyes closed, a small smile playing on your lips. "You're welcome, Remus," you whispered, turning to leave the room. "Rest well."

As Remus drifted off into a deep, healing sleep, he couldn't help but feel that maybe, just maybe, he had found a place where he could finally stop destroying himself and start rebuilding.

~~~

The days turned into weeks, and Remus slowly but surely regained his strength. Each day, he marveled at the patience and empathy you and Hugo showed him. It was a simple life, far removed from the chaos and pain of his past, but it was exactly what he needed.

You never pried into his past, never asked questions, never pushed past what you needed to know in the moment. You hardly even acknowledged the night he showed up on your property. Instead, you offered gentle conversation, warm meals, and a quiet companionship that Remus found deeply comforting. In return, he began to help around the property as he had promised. Fixing the holes in the barn, chopping wood for the winter, and tending to any task you needed of him.

It was symbiotic. You got the help you needed, and he felt like he was contributing to something meaningful without the threat of being chased away.

As the weeks turned into a month, the next full moon loomed. Even as his irritation grew and his stomach sank with dread, you never said a word. You filled his plate, kept him busy with work on your land, and didn't question him when he took a stroll into the woods on the night of the full moon. Though you were a bit baffled when Hugo went with him.

That morning, you were on the porch waiting for him. You said nothing about his tattered clothes and suitcase, just welcomed him home with a warm smile.

It was more than he ever thought he'd deserve. You reminded him of nectar in the mornings and like fine wine most nights. As sweet as honey but as deep and rich as the most ancient oak, your presence grounded him in ways he hadn't thought possible. Each day with you was a melody, a harmony that soothed the tempest within him. He found himself looking forward to your soft laughter, the way your eyes sparkled with unspoken thoughts, and the gentle touch of your hand as you handed him a steaming cup of tea.

Your kindness wasn't just a balm for his physical wounds; it seeped into the deepest recesses of his heart, mending the fractures that years of pain and loss had wrought. He couldn't pinpoint the exact moment it happened, but somewhere between your shared meals and quiet evenings by the fireplace, he realized he was falling in love with you.

It wasn't a whirlwind or a blaze; it was a slow, steady burn that warmed him from the inside out. He cherished the simplicity of your life together, the unspoken understanding that passed between you, and the way Hugo seemed to understand it all, lying at your feet as if guarding this fragile, precious thing you were building together.

In those quiet moments, when the world outside seemed a distant memory, Remus realized he had found something he never thought possible: a home, a sanctuary, and he didn't dare hope for more.

Even as you sat on the small couch, in the simple living room. Knees tucked to your chest as you continued to fight with yourself.

“Writer's block?” He prodded as he walked over, sitting down in front of you. Your eyes flickered up to his, your expression still holding slight irritation. “You've been looking at that page for ages.”

“I have ideas.” You argued, looking back down at your pages with a huff. “Just not sure.. how to work them together.”

“Isn't that supposed to be the fun part?” He teased softly and that earned a playful glare form you. He flicked his hands up in defense, slowly smirking.

You managed a soft laugh, your irritation melting away under his gentle look. "Easy for you to say, you're not the one staring at a blank page.” You challenged, but there was no real bite to your words.

Remus leaned closer, peering at your notes with genuine curiosity. "Maybe you should write something else. Just for today. Heard it's supposed to help, yeah?”

You sighed, but there was a hint of a smile on your lips. "Alright, Mr. Lupin, what do you suggest I write about?"

“Maybe your affinity for strays?” He teased and that earned a belly laugh from you.

“Do you hear him, Hugo? He just called you a stray.” You smirked and Hugo gave a huff and a long sigh from were he laid on the floor by Remus’s feet.

“I meant the both of us, really.” He muttered, eyes drifting away. But he knew you knew that already. You would do anything to make him think he wasn't burdening you, but self doubt was his biggest flaw.

Your eyes softened that way that made him feel his stomach turn. Then, your lips turned upward, eyes sparking with amusement. “You make it sound like a talent.” You hummed before you leaned in a bit. “But I wouldn't call you a stray, Remus. You're no more a stray then Hugo.”

Remus felt his mouth go dry as he stared down at you, his heart pounding with an intensity that made his ribs feel bruised. The way your eyes seemed to look straight through him, seeing every hidden part of his soul, left him feeling exposed, yet desperate for the intimacy of it all. The air between you crackled with a palpable tension, each second stretching out as his expression turned thoughtful.

He watched as you slowly reached out, your fingers trembling slightly as they brushed against his arm. The contact sent a shiver down his spine, and he couldn't help but lean into your touch, his breath hitching.

“I mean it, Remus.” You whispered, your voice barely audible but the loudest thing he's ever heard.

He swallowed hard, his eyes never leaving yours as he nodded, inching closer. The space between you seemed to shrink and expand all at once, his movements hesitant yet driven by an undeniable force he couldn't fully understand.

“Yeah?” He whispered, his voice raw and almost pleading, his vulnerability never felt more purposeful.

“Yeah.” You affirmed without a moment's hesitation, your grip on his arm tightening as if to anchor him to your reality. A reality he wanted to understand more then anything. Your gentle loving reality, one that fooled him again and again into safeties he didn't think he deserved. “You're home, Remus.”

The words hung in the air, a lifeline he desperately needed. The tension between you reached a breaking point as you tilted your head. Every so slightly, your eyes lingering on his lips.

It wasn't long before his lips were on yours, not giving himself time to second guess it all. It was patient. It was sweet. It was ancient and timeless and yet as new as the flowers that were blooming just outside the door. Winter had come and gone and yet here he was, still demanding more of you. As he moved in closer, you felt the book fall against the ground. Not that you minded, it freed up your hands to slide along his chest.

He continued to test the waters, his hand coming up to cup your cheek and deepen the kiss. Affection you reciprocated easily. Just as hungry for it as he was. He couldn't find himself wondering if he should think it through. He didn't have much of a choice, the way your hands traveled up to his hair, the way you shifted your legs to make room for him.

“You're home, Remus.” You whispered again, much softer, in between the ever heating kisses. He pushed you fully on your back, his lips traveling the bare skin of your neck. His breath was warm against your skin, each kiss igniting a fire that spread through your veins. The words you had spoken echoed in his mind, grounding him in the moment, making everything feel more real and more impossible to resist. He whispered your name, a reverent prayer, as his hands explored the contours of your body, committing every inch to memory.

Your fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer, as if afraid he might disappear if you let go. The urgency of your kisses matched his own, a silent agreement that this was right were you both belonged.

~~~

The next morning, you woke up in your bed. Remus was hugging you from behind, his nose buried in your neck and still sound asleep.

The morning light filtered softly through the curtains, casting a gentle glow over the room. You felt the warmth of Remus's body against yours, his steady breathing a comforting rhythm that lulled you into a delightful peace. For a moment, you simply lay there, savoring the feeling of being so intimately connected to someone who had come to mean so much to you. Your heart ached with affection, selfishly hoping he'd wake up so you could stare into his lovely eyes again.

You shifted slightly, careful not to wake him despite yourself, and turned to gaze at his sleeping face. There was a peaceful calm there that you hadn't seen before, a loveliness that spoke of a man who had finally found a measure of peace. It made your heart swell with a mixture of love and protectiveness.

As if sensing your gaze, Remus stirred, his eyes slowly fluttering open. When he saw you looking at him, a soft smile curved his lips, and he tightened his hold on you, pulling you closer. Your eyes indulged in his own like it was sin.

"Good morning.” He murmured, his voice still thick with sleep.

"Good morning.” You whispered, your own smile mirroring his. "Did you sleep well?"

"Better than I have in years.” He admitted, his eyes searching yours for any sign of regret or hesitation. Finding none, he leaned in to press a gentle kiss to your forehead. "Thank you, {Y/N}."

"For what?" You asked, absolutely melting as he continued to trail kisses from your temple to your neck.

"For everything.” He sighed, his eyes filled with a depth of emotion that took your breath away. "For giving me a place to heal, for your patience, and for... well, for last night." He cheeked.

Your cheeks flushed at the memory of the previous night, but you couldn't help but smile, playfully glaring at him. "I should be the one thanking you, Remus. You've brought something into my life that I didn't even realize I was missing."

He looked at you with a mixture of surprise and gratitude, his fingers gently tracing the contours of your face. "I'm not easy.” He whispered.

“I've always been one for a challenge, Remus.” You whispered as he leaned down to bury his face into your neck. “Unfortunately, I find falling for you quite easy.”

He chuckled, the base in his voice bringing a shiver to your spine. “... I'm a lot of work.”

“You earn your keep, Remus.” You whispered softly and he slowly began to let his hands slip up to your waist, lowering himself to draw lazy kisses along your chest.

“You'll tire of me. When you know me.” He urged and you closed your eyes blissfully.

“Wouldn't dream of it.”

“You'll-” Before he could finish and fall deeper into his own self doubt, you covered his mouth. Cupping his jaw to pull him into another kiss. One he returned with full earnestness.

You broke the kiss and stared up at him with your doe eyes he almost caved.

“I'll love you, Remus. I do. I will. I'm not going to give up that easily,” You huffed. “No matter how much convincing you try to do.”

He stared at you a moment longer, leaning in and running his lips along yours. “It's rotten work.”

“I've never shied away from work.” You whispered and pulled him close. Letting him hide away from the world in your room. “I'm never going to shy away from you.”

Remus sighed deeply, the weight of his doubts lifting as he whispered, "Then I'll never let you go."

And in that shared promise, they found a peace that neither had ever dared to hope for.

[itacats]

2 Lines Means Positive (mini-series)

FT: Soap x reader

Warnings: pregnancy, mention(s) of not being good parents, please let me know if anything else should be here!🙏

A/N: I had so much fun putting this together, and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. I’m already bubbling with ideas for the next one—so stay tuned!

SUM: Soap MacTavish, a soldier accustomed to chaos, finds himself facing an unexpected, life-altering revelation. In the quiet sanctuary of his Highland home, far from the battlefields, you share news that shifts his world.

Simon Riley John Price Gaz Garrick

The Weight of a New Dawn

The steady Highland rain drummed softly against the windows of Soap MacTavish’s cottage, an inviting refuge at the end of a winding path that disappeared into the mist-covered hills. It was a modest home, tucked away from the noise and chaos that had defined his life for so long. From the outside, it seemed unassuming, a quiet shelter under the watchful gaze of the Scottish Highlands. But inside, it was a different world—a place brimming with warmth, softened by years of laughter and shared dreams, a sanctuary Soap had never thought he’d know.

The day had stretched lazily, and as evening fell, the last traces of sunlight streamed through the window, casting a golden glow across the living room. It was the sort of light that softened the edges of everything it touched, bringing a fleeting peace to anyone who let it linger. The fire crackled softly in the hearth, casting dancing shadows that mingled with the light. Soap had once known nothing but conflict and survival, but here, with you nestled beside him, those memories seemed distant, their edges dulled by the present comfort of domesticity.

Tonight, Soap felt himself surrender to the gentle cadence of this life you’d built together. He had come to cherish these evenings, the quiet hum of your voices filling the spaces once hollowed by his past. He listened to your laugh as it wove through the stillness, a sound that cut through the darkness with a sweetness he still wasn’t used to. Wrapped in the simplicity of your togetherness, Soap felt like he was learning to live again, far from the shouts and thunder of battlefields.

In the midst of the laughter, a comfortable silence settled over you both, punctuated only by the fire’s soft crackle. Lost in his thoughts, Soap stared into the flames, unaware that the energy in the room had subtly shifted, thickening like the storm clouds gathering outside. Then you reached for his hand, breaking his reverie. The warmth of your touch startled him, grounding him in a moment that felt suddenly fragile and new.

“John?” you whispered, a slight tremor threading through your voice. Soap turned to meet your gaze, the flickering light illuminating the depth of emotion in your eyes. There was a gravity in the way you looked at him, as though the words that lingered on your lips carried the weight of worlds.

“Aye, love?” he replied, a gentle smile coaxing away the faint tension building in his chest. His hand tightened around yours, a silent reassurance.

You drew in a deep breath, and for a heartbeat, time seemed to still. He felt it too—the charged anticipation, as if every second was brimming with meaning. Then you spoke, the words pouring out with both joy and trepidation.

“I have something to tell you,” you began, voice barely a whisper. Soap could see it now, the spark of hope in your eyes, dancing like a light he wanted to hold onto.

His heart thudded as he searched your face. “Go on, love,” he murmured, his own pulse quickening as he braced himself for your words.

“I’m pregnant.” The words hung there, suspended in the stillness, carrying the weight of a promise, a future. Soap felt himself fall into the quiet as the realization washed over him—a silence louder than any battle he’d faced.

For an instant, the world around him vanished. His mind spun, caught in a whirlwind of emotions that clashed with the ferocity of clashing swords. Duty, fear, a deep-seated joy—all these emotions swirled together in a torrent he struggled to name. He had been prepared for ambushes, prepared for danger at every turn, but this? This was something else entirely, a journey without a map, an uncharted territory that filled him with a thrill he had rarely felt.

He tightened his fingers around yours, his thumb tracing gentle circles as he processed the enormity of your words. “You… you’re serious, then?” he managed, his voice rough with disbelief and hope. He searched your face, his expression softening as he took in the shy smile that lit up your features.

“I am. I took the test this morning.” Your voice softened, a blend of excitement and apprehension. “It’s so sudden, I know. And I’m scared too, John. I don’t know if I’m ready, if we’re ready.”

Soap studied your face, his hands rising to cradle it gently, his fingers tracing the curve of your jaw. “Scared? Aye, love, I understand. I’ve fought through more hell than I’d care to remember, but this—this is different.” He paused, his words brimming with a love that felt raw and vulnerable. “There’s no mission briefing, no strategy for this one, is there?”

You let out a shaky laugh, a tear glistening in your eye. “Not for this, John. There’s no training, no certainty.” Your voice was barely a whisper, blending into the quiet warmth of the room. “What if… what if I’m not good enough? What if neither of us are?”

A tender smile tugged at his lips, his own fears dissolving as he saw the strength in you, even as you trembled. “Love, I’ve faced death more times than I can count. Every time I’ve made it out, it’s been to build a life worth living. And now, now we’ve got a chance to create something even greater—a family.” He pulled you closer, his voice breaking as the enormity of it all settled in his chest. “I’m here. With you. I’m all in.”

Relief washed over you, and Soap felt the weight of your emotions melt into him, easing the tension that had gripped the room. He leaned in, his forehead resting against yours, breathing in the scent of your hair mixed with the earthy fragrance of the rain outside.

“Think we’ll have a wee soldier in the house?” he murmured, a playful glint in his eyes as he tried to ease the lingering solemnity.

You laughed, the sound bright and full, cutting through the heaviness. “Or maybe a girl, or both,” you teased, a glimmer of mischief lighting up your face.

“Aye, then I’ll have my own little battalion to protect,” he chuckled, the words carrying an unexpected tenderness, a depth that had once been reserved for battlefield promises.

In that moment, the Highland rain seemed to soften, a gentle hum that enveloped the two of you in the promise of something new. Soap pulled you into his embrace, the warmth of his love wrapping around you like a shield against any doubt. This was his new mission, his new battle—to love, to nurture, and to be the father and partner you both deserved.

As night settled over the Highlands and the stars blinked to life outside the window, Soap, a warrior carved from the harsh realities of battle, felt the full weight of this new dawn. It was an undertaking unlike any other, but he knew that he was prepared for it, ready to carve out a life filled with hope, laughter, and the endless possibilities you would face together. The journey ahead felt monumental, but with you by his side, Soap knew he was ready to leap into the unknown, armed with a love that outshone even the fiercest storm.

Here's the current post schedule with some upcoming stories to look forward to!

[cas-backwards-tie]

Golden

Johnny ‘Soap’ MacTavish x Reader

Summary: Johnny reminisces on his summer fling with you. Horizons broaden and world shaken, he comes to a realization.

Words: 600+

Warnings: None!

Mentions of: past one night stands, sexual intimacy,

A/N: I forgot about this for a sec, but @bumblebeesfromvenus reminded me, and I was bound to write this drabble. also, line divider credit to @enchanthings . I repeat- I repeat- I’m not really a Swiftie or anything BUT 🙈😳👀😭 I keep seeing this snippet of the song on my fyp on tiktok and I just can’t help but think about how:

Johnny is definitely no chump when it comes to lacking experience in the bedroom… yet when it comes to love? That’s another story altogether. Sure, he may not have been caught fraternizing, and he’d never put his career in jeopardy for anything long term. That’s why it’s so unexpected when you suddenly pop into his life after a much needed leave.

You’re a civilian, but much like him you too travel for work. Yet your vacations just so happened to line up with one another. While his might have been more of an obligated leave of absence for recovery, yours was to adventure and see the world.

That’s what brought you to his homeland of Scotland. Though more specifically, the Highlands. What’d started out as a coincidental bump into each other turned into playful flirting before he fully knew what he’d gotten himself roped into by offering to show you around all the more niche points of interest that might’ve not been in the airport’s pamphlets or kept off the popular blogs online.

After a series of ambitious expeditions; a haphazard picnic made up of the snacks you’d brought atop a hill after hiking all day, braving the chilly ocean at the Isle of Skye, a kayaking adventure gone wrong, and many more stories… it never left him. Even after months of traveling back and forth to see one another in different parts of the world, that trip… you… never left his mind.

Truth be told, it didn’t take him until now to realize what he felt, in fact, he’d swear part of him knew all along. And while, yes, it may have been the prodding and poking his teammates did that sparked the realization of what his feelings truly were, it didn’t take away from the fact that you’d changed his world.

John always thought that love would be simple. It was something that you’d know once you felt it, once you’d experienced it. Like a snap of fingers, that was love. Once you were in it, it was done, unchanging, a stagnant blissful feeling that’d never fade, and yet… that wasn’t true at all.

You’d shown him that.

Love was… the exact opposite. It wasn’t some sudden onset of passion, a fleeting whirlwind of fiery fervor that eventually fizzled out. Love is… ever changing.

It’s the mischievous little moments the two of you share together that leave you laughing like children when you decide to sneak into his childhood bedroom in the middle of the night, or the sparkle in your eye when you’ve accomplished something you’d only ever dreamed of.

The easiness and comfortability that’d lead him to falsely believe he’s known you his entire life, the way you’d slipped right into his grasp and he never wanted, even for a second, to let you go. Maybe it was the vulnerability that seemed so effortless between the both of you, one saying something that lead the other to let a personal fact or story slip past their lips, with no embarrassment or regret to follow.

Perhaps it’s the way you linger in his mind, images of your time spent together consuming him what feels like every waking moment. From the friendly interactions to the naughtier memories slipping toward the forefront of his mind as he reminisces on the way you’d stared at him, eyes full of adoration as he’d held you close, soft skin just beneath his fingertips as he inhaled the scent of your mixed sweat and the sweetly shampoo you use. He never wanted to lose the visceral remembrance of those intimate moments.

Yes, he knows now that he was so wrong to think that love was nothing more than simply black or white. Every single day he’d spent with you only proved that fact as he fell more and more in love, the emotions expanding and shifting, adapting with every breath of the wind. Oh, how wrong he was, he thinks back on it, smiling to himself like an idiot as the only thing he knows is that he needs to tell you how he feels. Solidify that fact and take a chance, make a move to tie you down… tie you to him. That is, if you’ll let him, or it’s not too late. He could care less if his brothers see him like this, it’d be worth it for you. It always will.

~~~~~~~~

forever taglist: @ohdamnadam , @jynzandtonic , @safarigirlsp , @moonlightsolo , @penelopepine

[bibbityboppitybillyharvgrove]

Light My Love -II - T.Nott

Series Summary - Follow Y/N as she navigated the wizarding world on her own, starting from her first year, all the way through to her seventh. As she falls in love and get her heart broken, how a certain friend is always there to mend her broken heart even though his is slowly getting broken in the process.

Chapter Summary - It's exam season before the Winter break and Y/N receives help from someone unexpected. Spending nearly every night awake studying for the exams, she is quite exhausted. Theo takes note of this and helps her out. After a long night of studying, the Slytherin boys see something rather interesting related to their dear friend Y/N.

Pairings - Theo Nott x Fem!Reader(eventual)

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED TO THE TAGLIST, LEAVE ME A COMMENT ON THIS POST!

Series Warnings - Blood purity, dark wizards, Reader is a descendant of Salazar Slytherin, pining, angst, reader will have some shitty boyfriends, Female Reader, use of Y/N

Chapter Warnings - Female Reader, use of Y/N, mentions of food and eating, poorly written angst, crying, rough parent-child relationship, profanity

Author's Note - Welcome to part 2 of this series! I will be creating a masterlist for this series after I post this so keep an eye out! I will link it when it's done!

Word Count - 1479

My full Masterlist

Series Masterlist

My requests are open!

Feedback is welcomed and encouraged!

Enjoy!

not my gif

not my gif

It had taken her a few days to go back to normal but with the help of Theo and Draco, she was fine. Her mother had a certain affect on her, she knew just how to hurt her daughter. Draco understood this, his father was the exact same way, Theo’s father the same as well. That was the way the Death Eaters worked, they were harsh on their families especially with having to lay low as the dark lord was gone.

Her grade in Quirrell’s class improved with the unexpected help of Hermione Granger. She was not only Y/N’s academic rival but also Theo’s. She was willing to help the Slytherin despite the friends of the girl. She was back to acing all of her classes, buying some limited edition books as a thank you to Hermione.

It was the end of November, the autumn air getting colder as snow started falling from the sky, coating the Scottish Highlands. Exams were quickly approaching, the stress of another thing placed atop her shoulders. She had just managed to get her grade up in her worst class but now she was pulling all-nighters in the library or the common room studying. 

Her friends had taken note of the change in her, how she was always tired and sluggish, she was constantly falling asleep in class and just overall dull. She had lost her sparkle and charisma due to the long nights of studying. All of her friends were worried but Theo had taken the cake, he was acting like her little servant. Anything she wanted, he went and got for her. Anytime she needed a break, he was there to entertain her. Anytime she needed help on an assignment, he was right there guiding her to the correct answer. 

She was grateful to have someone like Theodore Nott in her life. He may have been a loner, but he was always happy to be with her, to help her with whatever she needed.

The weeks of studying had flown by and exam week was finally here. Her first one was arguably the easiest, Potions. She was able to pass the exam no problem, getting the best grade in the class. Right after she did her potions exam she had to do her exam for History of Magic. She was a bit nervous for this one, getting a pep talk from Draco and Theo right before.

“You have the best grade in the class, you’re going to pass the exam with no issue! If anyone is going to fail it’s going to be Draco,” Theo assured her.

“Hey!” Draco protested, “I’m not going to fail! It’s probably going to be Weasley who fails, he always sleeps in class.”

“So do you!” Y/N pointed out with a giggle causing the two boys to share a victorious look. Theo ushered the three of them inside the classroom, taking their seats in the back. Once all of the exams were given out and the papers were flipped over, her confidence skyrocketed. She knew every single question and knew the answers like the back of her hand. Some of the questions even pertained to her extended family, like the Gaunt family. 

She was the first one to finish and turn in her exam. She waited outside the class as her friends were still inside taking the test. It wasn’t until the end of the hour that the two boys came out, relieved looks on their faces for finally finishing the exam. They made their way to dinner together, stress eating more sweets than actual food before making their way back to the common room. 

She took her usual place next to the large window outlooking the depths of the Black Lake, pulling out her study guides and flashcards for the next exams. Theo sat beside her as he always did, asking her the questions on her flashcards and waiting to hear her answers, which were usually all right. Midnight quickly approached, the two of them half asleep, Theo coaxing her into calling it a night.

“C’mon bellissima, it’s late, we should go to bed,” He yawned out, rubbing his eyes gently as he did so. 

“Five more minutes?” She begged him, a pout on her face. She looked at him with a sparkle in her eye and a hint of a smile covered by the pout.

“It’s already midnight, principessa. Let’s go to bed, we can wake up early and get back to it.”

“But Theo, I really need to pass these exams. Just five more minutes, please?” He couldn’t say no again, not with the look on her pretty face. He was slipping, letting out a groan as he finally gave in. 

“Fine, five more minutes. No more than that, got it?” She nodded, pressing a kiss to his cheek before they continued to study. His cheeks turned pink as he looked down at the next flashcard. “What is the incantation for the levitation spell?”

“Wingardium Leviosa! Easy!”

The rest of the Slytherin house was quiet, the only two awake were Y/N and Theo, sitting in front of the window as he asked her questions and she answered. Their study session lasted much longer than five minutes. The next thing they knew, their housemates were all waking up and filing into the common room. Theo looked at the time before letting out a gasp. 

“Oh Salazar! We’ve been awake for 24 hours! You said five more minutes!” Theo realised with a groan. He wasn’t mad at her in the slightest but she felt guilty.

“I’m so sorry Theo. I didn’t even realise the time until everyone started to wake. Go to your dorm to rest a bit before the day actually starts, please. I can finish up by myself,” She rambled guiltily.

“It’s okay, principessa. If I’m going to rest, you’re coming with me. You need rest too, you know?” Theo teased her, causing a smile to take over her face. He stood up, offering her his hand which she gladly took. Theo helped her up and led her to his room that he shared with Draco, Blaise, Enzo and Mattheo. The four boys still in the room and wide awake, sending teasing remarks to the pair. “Oh shove off, we just spent all night studying in the common room. We’re just going to rest here through breakfast,” Theo defended the two of them.

“Good, you both look like death incarnate. I’ve never seen dark circles that were nearly black,” Mattheo teased before heading out of the room. The three others bid the pair goodbye and the promise of getting them up after breakfast was over. 

Y/N and Theo climbed into his bed and fell asleep almost immediately. They slept all the way through breakfast and the first 2 hours of classes which thankfully were cancelled. Draco, Blaise and Enzo sticking true to their word of waking the pair up when it was time for the first class of the day. It was exam day for Charms and Defense Against the Dark Arts.

The two of them woke up with a start when they heard screaming, bumping their heads together and groaning in pain. The three boys laughed at the two as they rubbed the sleep out of their eyes. “That was hilarious! I wish we got a video of that!” Blaise laughed.

“Fuck off Zabini!” Y/N groaned, swinging her legs over the side of the bed before standing. “I swear you guys have better beds than the girls. My bed feels like a rock,” She yawned, stretching her arms over her head. Her shirt riding up revealed an interesting scar on her abdomen. It was almost identical to the scar on Harry Potter’s forehead, just slightly larger.

“Where’d you get the scar from?” Draco asked with curiosity.

“None of your business, Draco. I’m gonna go back to my dorm to get ready,” She snapped before rushing out of the room quickly.

“Am I the only one who saw it? It looked like Potter’s scar,” he mentioned to the three other boys.

“I saw it too, I wonder if she got it in a similar way. An unforgivable curse backfiring but leaving her with a scar? It’s possible, right?” Enzo theorised before shaking his head, “Nevermind, just let her come to us about it. It’s better that way than us trying to figure out where it came from.” With that, Enzo and Blaise left the room to make their way to Flitwick’s class. 

“You think her parents did that?” Theo asked, his voice deeper and laced with sadness just thinking about it.

“I mean probably. You know how her mum is, she’s a terrible woman and her father is a terrible man. I can only imagine what she goes through being stuck in that house day in and day out.”

Taglist:

@bigsimperika @melllinaa @chgrch @the-girl-who-simps-too-much

[astaldis]

Why is House of the Dragon allegedly so much better than The Witcher?

Just watched House of the Dragon S2 and I must say - I found it pretty boring in many parts?

Sorry, but the whole thing mostly and disappointingly feels like a very long and repetitive prologue to what might come in S3. And they do many things that are loudly criticised in The Witcher, some even a lot worse, but with HotD people seem to not mind? Honestly, this really puzzles me. Yes, the costumes and make-up might be better, but:

It's all over the place on the whole continent of Westeros and even outside of Westeros with people traveling from place to place in no time at all. OK, on dragon back, you can do that, but they also do it on foot and by boat. I remember some of the geography of the continent because I was very much into Game of Thrones some years back when it aired and also read all the Song of Ice and Fire books that were available (not the ones HotD is based on though), but the constant jumps from one place to the next are really confusing imo and you'd need to have a map by your side all the time to remember where is what. When the Witcher does that, it is criticised heavily.

Same with people, there are so many main and minor characters, some even with similar or the same names, how the fuck are you supposed to remember who's who and who is related to who and how, who belongs to which house, and who's allied to who and who's feuding who without looking it up again all the time somewhere on the internet? With all the incest and extramarital activities resulting in a host of illegitimate progeny, I found this extremely confusing, a lot more so than in The Witcher.

And does anybody have a shimmer of an idea of how much time has passed since the old king's death? Must be at least months but you hardly ever get any hints about it. And this poor girl, how long is she wandering around the desolate highlands alone trying to find the wild dragon? Must have been weeks judging by the other things that happened in the meantime ...

Maybe it's just me, but I did not find any of the characters really compelling. Not that they are not well acted, the acting is good enough, but emotionally they did not really leave any impression on me. Maybe the only character I find a bit interesting is Queen Helaena and this very young Lord Tully who shows unexpected spine and stands up to Daemon in front of the Riverlords. There are so many seemingly random new side characters popping up all over the place, too, miraculously gaining importance that one is supposed to keep track of, but also none of them that was in any way inspiring it me. And the poor cute Bracken knight only drew his sword and was already dead in the mud on a battlefield with hundreds of men hardly a second later ...

Rhaenyra suddenly and out of the blue kisses this lowborn woman (was her name even mentioned? I cannot for the life of me remember it). I don't have anything against women kissing, not at all, but why? There is no mention of anything going on between those two at all afterwards. Are they in a secret relationship now or not? I haven't read the book and don't know if it's in there, but how is that kiss, as it seems to have no relevance to the plot at all, not 'woke' catering to the LGBTQ community? But everything the Witcher does is?

Then there are the dragons you have to keep track of in addition to the many people and places. How many dragons are there? And who rides which one? And why the heck would a dragon in its right mind choose this dubious Ulf character who accidentally stumbles into its cave as a rider???

And the plot? Honestly, was there, beside the one fight between the three dragons, anything that was really exciting? I remember nothing, no battles, no good sword fights, nothing but TALK. At lest 90% of the plot is repetitive talking about politics and plotting and scheming. I have nothing against a nice political intrigue and of course that's what happens at courts and it can be interesting too. It was in Game of Thrones where you had really interesting characters, too. But here I found it mostly boring and uninspired. And The Witcher is criticised for having too much politics and too many side characters although it has a LOT less so than this season of HotD.

They also seem to have conveniently forgotten that in GoT they established that Targaryans would not burn from fire. In the books this happens only once because some kind of blood magic was performed, but in the show it happened several times, so it seemed to be the rule, not the exception. HotD thus kind of refutes their own made-up lore, which I found confusing and had to look it up online. (They could easily have made Aegon suffer from bad injuries due to the fall instead.)

The music was rather uninspiring, too, imo, except for the intro which is the well-known one taken from GoT and the music at the end of E8 which was partly based on the Rains of Castamere, otherwise there was not a single piece of the soundtack that would make me want to buy and listen to it. The Witcher has quite a few that I listen to again and again (including, of course, Jaskier's songs, but many more).

What I also like a lot better about The Witcher: It does not take itself that seriously and there is quite a bit of humour in it. In HofD S2, the imo funniest piece of dialogue was: "I want you to fuck my wives." - "How many wives do you have?" (that was between this pirate commander, don't remember his/her? name, and Lord Tyland, was that his name?) . And maybe the truest sentence in the show by this random braggart in the tavern who miraculously turns into a dragon rider Ulf: "A sense of humour would do you all good."

All in all, the only thing that I have found to be really good and outstanding about HotD S2 are the dragons. Without them, it would be less than mediocre. I don't think I would want to rewatch it and feel no desire to look up any of the characters and their relationships etc to find out more about them. I cannot say in how far it is or isn't faithful to the source material as I have not read the book(s?) HotD is based on, but even if it's more faithful to the source material, this has failed to make it a great watch like GoT (minus the ending, that was worse than the poorest fanfic could have thought it up). With the dragons it is alright to watch once, hoping for a more exciting S3, but there is absolutely no way it deserves higher critic/audience scores/ratings than The Witcher S3, the contrary.

Update: To clarify, I don't really mind many things that I mentioned about HotD, I can totally live with an unclear timeline and many characters, even if it's not easy to remember every name, relationship etc. If I really like a show or character, I simply look it up, no problem. But these are all things I have seen people criticise The Witcher for on social media, and then they say HotD is so much better. That's what really puzzles me. What I definitely liked about HotD is the diverse cast and that there are many female characters with a lot of screen time and importance. It's not a bad show, only I like The Witcher much better despite its flaws. This is not meant as an anti HotD post but a pro Witcher post.

[cerenemuxse]

Bold of you to assume I wouldn't do a monster engine and bold of you to assume that the first vic- engine wouldn't be Edward. /j

Inspired by the aus of @ohjeeztrains and @gummybuggy

Monster engines are so damn cool.

I mixed in a bunch of animals because I said, "Fuck it. Hybrids ftw." It's so random. I chose dogs, horses, and rhinos. Yes, rhinos. I was going to add horns and I just realized I forgot but you know what, I think its fine like this. I tried fitting on horns earlier but it failed. It looks really odd. The specific breeds I chose for Edward originate from Scotland, because of course I go that deep. 💀💀💀💀

So he's based on the Clydesdale horses, the Gordon Setter dogs, the common rhinos, and the bull horns were from the Highland bulls. Can't do anything without wanting to do research.

The "leaders" (leading wheels) are based on rhinos and the "drivers" (driving wheels) are a combination of horses back legs and the dog paws. I was originally going to make them just horse legs but I started thinking about Emily, who would have "trailers" (trailing wheels). I really want them to be able to kick back but I'm not sure about Emily. Maybe she could kick forward like kangaroos. 💀 Girl stands on her damn trailers and her drivers kick forward, because that's where the power really is. Or she can do both.

I really took in the fighting aspect of it, simply because I find it interesting and it might be something they do more often than their engine counterparts, considering they're (basically) animals. They are slightly easier to tick off. Edward has a pretty good tolerance compared to the others. Basically, start biting or swatting at him and he won't be mad initially. But the longer the biting and swatting goes, the more he gets mad. He'll attack suddenly with a minor warning, which is low growling.

The long tail of nothing but hair looks harmless but its actually used a lot in fighting, too. It's pretty damn heavy so with enough force, it enough to knock another engine over. The ones with the long tails will also cuddle with said tails during the cold seasons or allow the Tank Iron Horse (oh yeah, they're called Iron Horses because why not) to cuddle into them. So now that i mention the name, let me explain it. Iron Horses refers to steam engines only. There's two main types of them: Tank and Tender. Tank Iron Horses have much thinner tails and tend to be small. If they're a Tender-Tank Iron Horse, it's definitely longer but not as thick as the Tender Iron Horses' tails. There's two forms. Regular engine forms, which existed first, and the Iron Horse forms. The Iron Horse forms were extremely unexpected when steam engines began running on railways. It's weird how they work. They can eat many things. Every single one of them is chunky as hell because I said so. They have cat-like instincts and all sorts of different species mixed in, which makes them weirder. Edward will squawk like a seagull. I might actually give him feathers, which i was debating but completely forgot. 🤡 Arthur probably has some mouse aspects to him as his class was nicknamed "Mickey Mouse Tanks." Rebecca could get swirly tail because her class is nicknamed "Spam cans," referring the cans "SPAM" is sold in, which is made of pork. Those tiny details. And I told myself I wouldn't let myself get so invested.

For other engines, I haven't figured it out.

Oh, and the "man-bun" is just the funnel. It slops up like Spencer's funnel does but depending on the height of the funnels, the slope is different.I think that's it. This was all improvised because damn it, this wouldn't leave my thoughts.

Not important, but the "NWR" logo was taken from James' ref sheets because I did not feel like drawing it. The 2 wasn't. I may have reference Edward's old ref sheets but the font is different to the one I chose for the engines. I also erased those layers so I don't even have access to it. Speaking of said design, this is the final palette for Edward's 1992-1995 rebuild. I also got brass wrong. Its not the same as Edward's eye color. Its much more yellow and it looks green when next to green colors.

I want to talk more about it but it'll start diverging into other characters and this post is already getting long. I don't like making posts long. ;-;

[downtondays]

Teachers : a modern au

Synopsis : After a bitter divorce, John Bates, a retired firefighter, comes to Downton to become a librarian at his friend, Robert Crawley's school, Downton Abbey High School. This new chance in life is even greater when he meets English teacher, Anna Smith.

cw : mention of rape, abuse, miscarriage, heavy drinking

explicit consensual sex scene

⚠️ M rated for sex scenes

Characters

Characters pt.1

Characters pt.2

Characters pt.3

Chapters

Chapter 1 : A New Job

John arrives to Downton High School and meets his new colleagues, but an old face ressurfaces.

Chapter 2 : A Love for Books

John and Anna bond over their common love for books. John is worried about O'Brien potentially ruining his newly made friendships by telling his secrets.

Chapter 3 : Wife or Not Wife

Anna invites John over at her and Mary's flat, and some secrets about his past are revealed.

Chapter 4 : The Plan

Mary, Gwen and Thomas teams up to get Anna and John together, however, an unexpected labor brings them to the realization of their mutual feelings.

Chapter 5 : Trick or Treat ?

Frightened by her feelings, Anna avoids John, making him miserable. However, boosted by her best friends, Anna offers the sweetest treat to John on Halloween night.

Chapter 6 : Sweet First Date

Anna and John starts dating, attracting other's attention on them. O'Brien makes Anna insecure by telling her about John's tastes in women but John has planned a sweet date.

Chapter 7 : A (Banna) Christmas Carol

Anna wants to sleep with John but she still has traumas from her previous relationship. A meeting with John's mother and horrifying accident, makes her question her fears.

Chapter 8 : Thank God and You (M rated)

Matthew is healed and proposes to Mary, which prompts Anna to share her fears with John.

Chapter 9 : Terrific Fun (T Rated)

Matthew and Mary marries and Anna wonders where she'll live now.

Chapter 10 : Journey to the Highlands (M rated)

The school staff goes on a school trip to Scotland, where a big secret is revealed. Anna and John works on Anna's traumas.

Chapter 11 : Mama Bates Comes to Downton (M rated)

John's mother visits the couple on Anna's birthday and tries to teach her son a lesson about love.

Chapter 12 : This Is My Homeland (M rated)

Out of nowhere, Tom and Sybil announce a wedding in Ireland. During their time there, Anna meets John's cousins and old friends.

Chapter 13 : I love weddings (M rated)

Summer holidays are here, and John decides to teach Anna football. Elsie has some good news for Anna and Robert and Cora are celebrating their 25 years wedding anniversary.

Chapter 14 : Anamchara (M rated)

John wants to plan a memorable proposal for Anna but he gets sick, and Anna tends to him.

Chapter 15 : Vera

Vera comes to Downton which worries John and Anna.

Chapter 16 : Back to the Highlands (M rated)

Mary gives birth. John and Anna get married in the Highlands. Sybil gives birth.

Chapter 17 : Truly ? (M rated)

Anna has difficulties with getting pregnant.

[ravenya003]

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Teacher's Pet, S01E04

It’s our first Xander-centric episode and... it’s not great.

The episode starts off with what is clearly Xander’s daydream, evidenced by the fact that Buffy is suddenly helpless in the face of an aggressive vampire. Xander saves her and then leaps up on the stage to finish his guitar solo. I guess the nicest thing I can say is... it could have been worse?

Back in reality, the Scoobies are in biology class and Dr Gregory (who we glimpsed briefly in the previous episode) targets Buffy for an on-the-spot question about how ants communicate. Willow does her best to give her the answer from behind his back, but Buffy has a ditzy moment and says “B.O.” instead of “smell.” C’mon Buffy, that was an easy one!

The writers have an extremely limited window of opportunity to make us feel sad about Dr Gregory’s imminent death, and for my money, do a pretty good job when he approaches Buffy after class and gives her unexpected words of encouragement instead of the expected scolding. It culminates with him saying: “let’s make them eat that permanent record.” Aww.

So when he inevitably gets dragged off by a giant tentacle two seconds later, it’s a bummer.

The whole thing also sets up the moral of the episode: do your homework. This is quickly followed by its central theme: the sexual prowess of teenage boys (or rather, their anxiety over the lack of it). Xander is at the Bronze, trying and failing to look cool, and overhearing fellow student Blayne bragging about his conquests in such a way that makes it clear he’s never had any.

(Most of the season one episodes are heavy-handed metaphors for teenage dramas, but this one’s even heavier than usual).

Xander’s masculinity is in trouble, so he takes advantage of Buffy and Willow’s arrival to put his arms around them – Willow is all for this, but Buffy is distracted by the arrival of Angel.

And hey! This is the first time Xander and Willow see him! I’d forgotten all about this scene. There’s no interaction between them so far, but Xander definitely clocks him as a handsome threat, especially when he gives his jacket to Buffy on noticing that she’s cold.

Though that might just be a ploy to get her to notice the wound on his arm, and he warns her about a vampire she nicknames “Fork Guy.”

The following day, a new teacher arrives to take Dr Gregory’s place. As befits her attractiveness, she walks up in slow motion while sexy music plays, and both Xander and Blayne are rendered helpless.

This episode very much frames Blayne as a male Cordelia (jock instead of a cheerleader, but with the same undercutting, dismissive attitude toward the Scoobies) and specifically a foil to Xander as Cordelia is to Buffy. It’s a shame we don’t see him again after this, though I like to imagine he made it to Graduation Day and fought in the battle there.

Natalie French is played by the very beautiful Musetta Vander, and glancing over her IMDB she’s still working – though during the late nineties/early noughties she was in a lot of genre stuff: Xena Warrior Princess, Babylon 5, Highlander, Star Trek, Star Gate...

Her first lesson to the class is some straight-up exposition about how the praying mantis lays eggs (way to give your secret away!) though I find it interesting that she argues the insect (and by extension, her) is not evil – just acting according to nature’s design. As far as I recall, this particular Monster of the Week isn’t technically a demon... just a big bug.

In the cafeteria, the Scoobies are handed lunch trays by someone off-screen – I only mention this because... do you think this is the lunch-lady who goes nuts in “Earshot” and tries to poison everyone?

Cordelia marches into the kitchen to make a special dietary lunch for herself and opens the fridge to reveal Dr Gregory’s headless corpse. Charisma Carpenter does a good job with Cordelia’s hysteria in this moment, though I have to wonder why the She-Mantis kept Gregory’s body on-campus. It doesn’t fit the MO of her other three victims, who she lures to the privacy of her house. And wouldn't she want to lay her eggs in a safe place?

I suppose she simply doesn’t think anyone would believe a giant insect is on the loose and that she’s entirely above suspicion (which I suppose would also explain her casualness in giving the class a lecture on praying mantises).

Regrouping in the library, the Scoobies discuss the murder. Buffy has tears on her cheeks and Giles says that he liked Dr Gregory too. Aww. Also, it intrigues me that Giles probably does have to interact with the Sunnydale High facility on a regular basis – little chats in the staffroom and so on. That’s a glimpse of his life (and his relationships with other adults) that we never get to see.

Detective Buffy points out Gregory was wearing the same clothes – specifically his lab coat – from the last time she saw him, which suggests he was killed at school. Skipping ahead, she's also observant enough to notice that Miss French was carrying groceries when she sees her outside Weatherly Park, suggesting that she lives nearby.

The gang floats the possibility that this death has something to do with the enigmatic warning Angel delivered about “Fork Guy” the other night – are they connected? (They’re not, but I like it when characters are wrong about things in logical ways).

Giles has heard of a vampire such as the one Angel described, stating that he works for the Master and cut off his hand in penance for displeasing him. The gang are smart enough to realize that what happened to Gregory doesn’t really fit this MO... so could it be there are two monsters out there? (Yes).

Their only lead is that a drunk was killed the other night in Weatherly Park, so naturally Buffy goes to investigate despite Giles ordering her not to. Which is a little weird come to think of it. Isn’t it her job to investigate these types of things? But still very telling that she went of her own accord.

She bumps into a drunk who tells her to go home (it’s kind of unclear, but I think this is actually an undercover cop) who is swiftly followed by a pretty big vampire with a claw in place of a hand. Buffy tussles with him for a bit, only for him to scarper when – holy shit, the police arrive! This is one of... I dunno, four times the police force appear in the entire series?

It makes sense the writers chose to keep them on the periphery (I have an explanation for this, but it’ll keep) so it always comes as a shock whenever you see them actually doing their job.

The Claw makes a run for it with Buffy in pursuit, only for her to witness a strange scene: the vampire is spooked by a woman walking home with her groceries, and when she turns around – it’s Miss French.

Giles is cross that Buffy disobeyed him, then interested when she tells the story of a big scary vampire being driven off by the mere presence of a substitute biology teacher. I love that Giles immediately believes her story without question (Merlin still leaves its scars) and promises to research more.

We get something of a filler scene, in which Principal Flutie waylays Buffy on her way to class and forcibly escorts her to the crisis councillor’s office. Cordelia is already inside, getting her second scene of the episode in which she tries to argue that at least Dr Gregory’s death has been good for her diet. Buffy’s face is priceless:

Late to class, Buffy looks through the window in the door and sees Miss French perform a “full Exorcist twist” of her head in order to look behind her. Willow is computer hacking and informs them that Blayne has been missing since the previous night. Did his parents call the cops? Probably not, since parents – like the police – barely exist in this show.

We get a real clunker of a line in which Willow asks Buffy: “what are you going to do?” and she dramatically announces: “my homework.” Look, it’s early days. Moral anvils are going to be dropped.

Conveniently, Xander is not here to share in all this important research and moralizing about how homework helps you learn stuff, and accepts Miss French’s invitation to her house that night.

We get another kinda-filler scene in which Miss French prepares a sandwich full of bugs for herself, and it’s worth noting because it’s very cute the way the close-up on her hands demonstrates that the actress hated touching those bugs. She does it so quickly and yet so carefully, with as little physical contact as possible.

Buffy has done her homework and reached her conclusion: Miss French is a praying mantis. All the evidence puts to it – the headless corpse, the rotating head, the fear she instilled in the Claw... and of course, her fashion sense.

Her conclusion inspires Giles to make a call to a contact called Carlyle Ferris who specialized in fairy tales and bugs (before he went mad) while Buffy rushes to warn Xander.

It does not go well. Granted, her insistence that a woman he’s being somewhat chemically induced by is actually “a big old bug” isn’t the most convincing argument in the world, but it soon veers into Xander’s personal insecurity and jealousy when he brings up Angel. Dude. Come on.

I obviously don’t have a problem with characters having flaws (the showrunners of the live-action Avatar the Last Airbender have recently stated they’re toning down Sokka’s chauvinism, which is eye-rolling since one of the central tenants of that character is he grows OUT of it) but in this case it’s difficult to separate “accurate depiction of teenage boy” from “still not cool behaviour though” from “how cognizant is Joss Whedon to the fact that this level of entitlement IS bad behaviour?” from “he nearly gets eaten a few scenes later, so clearly we’re meant to be on Buffy’s side here.”

It's an entanglement of authorial intent and dated nineties concepts and Watsonian/Doylist interpretations of the material – so let’s just go with: Xander is wrong to let his insecurities about women guide his behaviour in this instance, and his arc will eventually culminate in a really lovely scene with Dawn in season seven in which he admits that being the one without superpowers is tough but he sticks around anyway because he loves his friends.

This scene is his first step on the way to that self-actualization.

Xander reaches Natalie French’s house, who opens the door in a suggestive dress and offers him a martini. It does not cross his mind that there’s anything wrong with this, though he starts to get a clue when he overhears Blayne yelling for help from the basement.

Giles is having a hilarious one-sided conversation with Carlyle Ferris on the phone, assuring him that he was right about everything “except for your mother coming back as a Pekinese.” It’s a tragedy that we never meet this character in-person.

In any case, Giles fills them in: that there is precedence to the existence of a giant She-Mantis, who he explicitly compares to creatures like the Greek sirens and the Celtic sea-maidens – I like it when the wider reaches of human mythologies are integrated into the world-building. (Also, maybe this was the show’s nod to the succubus, a creature mentioned in the pilot episode and then never actually seen in the show itself).

Buffy orders some recordings of bat sonar from the “video library” (that was a thing that existed in the nineties) and they all head for Natalie French’s house. Turns out that the inhabitant is a little old lady and retired teacher in her nineties whose identity the She-Mantis has stolen.

She’s a very funny character, who takes the opportunity to overshare details of her life with the three complete strangers on her doorstep – though I like the implication that some residents of Sunnydale manage to have a perfectly nice little life while living atop the Hellmouth. This Miss French has probably had a few brushes with the weird and supernatural during her time, but clearly made it to retirement age intact.

In another of this episode’s most grating scenes, Willow suggests they start knocking on doors, only for Buffy to insist that they don’t have time. But what they DO have time for is Buffy to leap into the sewers, find the Claw, and walk him like a dog around the neighbourhood until he reacts badly to one of the houses, thereby demonstrating that the She-Mantis is inside. Suuuure.

(I’m guessing that this early on, and after the vampire-free episode “Witch”, the writers’ room decided they just really needed to shoehorn a vampire into the mix somehow).

Xander wakes up in a cage in the She-Mantis’s cellar, only to find a panic-stricken Blayne jabbering about what the creature is about to do to them. It involves eggs, “throbbing,” rape and beheading.

However, in a classic Xander move, he’s managed to force out one of the bars in the cage and plays along with the She-Mantis beckoning to him... before whacking her with his makeshift weapon and making a run for it. He doesn’t get far, and the worst is about to happen when Buffy bursts through the window.

She starts with insect spray and then the recording of the bat sonar. In another clunker, she feels the need to spell it out: “Bat sonar makes your whole nervous system go to hell.” Yes, I’m sure that the She-Mantis writhing in pain is AWARE of this fact, Buffy.

The monster is finished off with a machete, and the boys are saved. In a nice moment, Blayne genuinely thanks Buffy for the save, and then disappears into the darkness of one-shot characters.

Motor-mouth Willow feels the need to point out that the She-Mantis only targeted virgins, and I get the feeling this isn’t an innocent slip of the tongue, but something that Willow wanted to make sure that Buffy knew. She can be a sly one, sometimes.

With Buffy’s machete, Xander takes out the rest of the Mantis eggs.

Much like Cordelia, Angel only gets two scenes this episode, but Buffy confirms the death of the Claw (she staked him with a picket fence) and gives a quiet “oh boy” as he walks away. Yeah, she’s in trouble.

The following day, we meet Dr Gregory’s less-inspiring replacement, but Buffy gets a nice little moment to honour the teacher who believed in her (and whose “do your homework” reminder saved the day) by gently putting his glasses back in his lab coat hanging in the cupboard.

We then pan down to a remaining clutch of eggs concealed at the back of the cupboard – one of which is already hatching. But don’t worry, we never see or hear about this ever again. For such a continuity-heavy show, it’s a bit weird.

This episode stands out because the monster is so different from practically every other villain in the show’s seven-year run. The She-Mantis has more in common with the more sci-fi tinged elements of the show (the internet demon, the resurrected Frankenstein-like jock, the fish boys, the various evil robots) than the old school vampires, demons, witches and werewolves, but it still feels more like something out of a cheesy black-and-white serial called “Attack of the Giant Insects” or something. Nothing like the She-Mantis ever comes up again – something that’s not demonic in nature, nor attracted to the magic of the Hellmouth, but just a creature acting according to its own nature.

It's not unwatchable, but it’s safe to say that this episode is the weakest of season one – and for that reason, not one that gets referenced very often (if at all) in future episodes.

Miscellaneous Observation:

The lore surrounding the She-Mantis suggests that Dr Gregory... was also a virgin? I mean, it’s not out of the question, especially if he was asexual or something. But there was an easy alternative to this odd implication, and that’s having the She-Mantis kill him in order to take his place as a substitute teacher (which she needed to get into closer proximity with the actual virgins).

That said, this would have denied Buffy some of the necessary clues she needed to identify Miss French for who she really was (namely, the lack of a head on Dr Gregory’s corpse).

So, did everyone learn that the moral of this story was to do your homework? It was pretty vague, I’m not sure they mentioned it enough times.

The episode does much better with the metaphor of predatory adults around minors, and the show was rather ahead of its time in demonstrating that a woman making sexual advances on teenage boys is just as dodgy as visa-versa.

Xander’s middle name is established as Lavelle, something that I’m pretty sure is never mentioned again.

Giles mentioned that the Claw cut off his own hand after displeasing the Master – I kind of want to know the story behind that. Of course, knowing the Master, it was probably something frivolous. He talked out of turn or something.

Giles calls what Buffy did at Weatherly Park “hunting” instead of “patrolling.” Heh. 

For a guy constantly worrying about his masculinity, Xander is man enough to tell Buffy to her face that she was right and he was wrong. Too many dudes don’t realize that this sort of thing is what REALLY makes you a man.

The writers clearly still haven’t figured out Angel’s deal, and so play it safe by having him appear, spout some cryptic warnings, and then disappear again. The chemistry between him and Buffy is stirring up though...

Best Line: Buffy: “She could be anywhere!” Miss French: “No dear, I’m right here.” I don’t know why it’s funny, but it is.

Best Subversion: Dr Gregory is nice and supportive, instead of a big meanie. Then he dies.

Minor Character I’d Most Like to See In-Person: Carlyle Ferris. He sounded hilarious!

Death Toll: Dr Gregory. The drunk at Weatherly Park. One off-screen individual that Blayne saw getting killed by the She-Mantis, so I won’t count it. The Claw. The She-Mantis.

Grand Total: Six civilians, seven villains.

[butternuggets-blog]

Oneshot Masterlist

~~ A Discovery of Witches ~~

Cowboy In Your Pocket VampBaldwin Montclair/HumanCowboyMartin AU

Did You Hear That? Scary/Gore - Entry for Adarafaelbarba’s Trick or Treat Bingo

Look, I’m Sad and Frustrated, I Need Some False Hope Right Now How Baldwin Montclair stopped WW3 from happening in the ADOW universe

Passing Ships Prompt Angst/Whump - New Baldwin/Martin, for Adarafaelbarba’s Birthday Bingo

Sermon In The Streets Alternatively, The Time Baldwin Got C**k-Blocked By Jesus

Museum Baldwin Montclair/Martin, for Adarafaelbarba’s September Writing Challenge Bingo

Monsters For Adarafaelbarba’s September Writing Challenge Bingo

Becca and Pip Sing at Baldwin

Baldwin Visits, Diana is Sick

Matthew and Baldwin Take Becca Hunting for the First Time

New Pets 1 2 WeaverBecca AU

Matthew, Marcus and Baldwin Play Paintball

Unflappable Baldwin through the seasons (of ADOW)

Becca and Baldwin Help Matthew Walk Again

Matthew Has A Nightmare Angst/Whump

Eva Breaks Up With Baldwin

Becca Plays Hairdresser on Baldwin

The Betting Pool

~~ Marvel ~~

Zemo Goes Dancing

The Rookie AU Playlist Venom/Eddie/Male OC; story has mentions of SUICIDE, ASSISTED SUICIDE, PARENTAL ABANDONMENT, PARENTAL ISSUES, MAJOR CHARACTER DEATH, DEPRESSION, IMPRISONMENT, MENTIONS OF PAST ABUSE/TRAUMA

Leaps of Faith Require Ice Cream Venom/Eddie/Male OC; The Rookie AU

Baldr Odinson AU (Unwritten)

~~ SAS Rogue Heroes ~~

Changing Faces 1 2 Adow/SAS

Paw Patrol Werewolf AU Gender Neutral Reader Insert

The End Is Where We Start From Major Character Death, Mention of Suicidal Thoughts, Angst with A Happy Ending

~~ Random Oneshots ~~

Dixie’s Revenge Spoilers for S2 ep 5 (Splitting The Party) of 1 for All

Persuasion, By Multiple Means Shadenite, DC Stargirl

Saucepans and Back Taxes Stargirl Fluff/Crack, Slight Angst , Shadenite

The Four Horsemen Open A Bar Highlander; Crack Treated Seriously

Other Oneshots

A Quiet Night In Slow Horses; River Cartwright/Spider Webb/Hobbs

~~ Spicy NSFW ~~

Valentine’s Day Prompt NSFW SMUT/P**N WITHOUT PLOT - Baldwin/Female Reader, for Adarafaelbarba’s Birthday Bingo

Apologies NSFW, Bucky Barnes/Male Reader

Second Chances NSFW, Smut/Angst, Porn With Minimal Plot, Baron Zemo/Male Reader

Unexpected NSFW P*rn Without Plot, Modern Witcher, Slash, Mpreg, Pregnancy Kink, Breeding Kink, Geraskifer, Magic Sex, Threesome (technically), Mild Gender Bending.

[jonmcbrine-author]

In addition to writing, I design the cover art, interior illustrations, character sketches, and promotional material. The majority of art I create is book related, and I’ve been developing merch based on my growing catalog, but often I will be struck with a concept that is too exciting for me to ignore. Soon, I will be debuting items that will be available in my merch store (details coming soon). While the online shop is being prepared for a proper launch, here is a look at mockups for an upcoming collection of apparel.

Combining my fandoms of Texas sports and the Highlander film and television franchise comes an unexpected, admittedly odd, and definitely unique set of T-shirts. Taking inspiration from the classic Queen song “Princes of the Universe,” these tops display a lyric from the Highlander theme song that showcase the immortal spirit of sports programs from the Lone Star State. From the pros to college, and across various types of athletic leagues, divisions, and conferences, these shirts will show off your love of the Game. Represent your Texas pride by letting everyone know there can be only one.

Merch link:

Background on Highlander lore

The Highlander films and television adaptation/continuations primarily feature immortals known as Connor and Duncan MacLeod, foundlings adopted into the same warrior Celtic clan from different eras across hundreds of years. The stories from the movies, shows, audio productions, novels, and comics, etc., are adventures that span centuries, and always have good fighting evil. The secret global community of Immortals have different interpretations of their mysterious origins, but they each possess an inherent will to survive. Adding to the intrigue is the Immortals’ natural way of sensing one another, often resulting in a duel in a secluded area. To achieve a rival’s essence and their varying elements of power, an Immortal must be beheaded. This brutal victory unleashes a phenomenon they refer to as the Quickening, where the fight’s winner absorbs the loser’s skills, strength, and sometimes even memories and characteristics. Since these violent showdowns require a fallen head to declare victory, many Immortals fight with a sword.

Combat must only involve two Immortals at a time, and holy ground such as churches and cathedrals are considered neutral areas where combat is forbidden. The consequences of fighting in or on blessed land is unclear, but even the most ruthless Immortals are known to honor the custom.

It is important for Immortals to understand their rules if they want any chance at staying alive. Duncan MacLeod (played by Adrian Paul) has had many teachers from around the world throughout the centuries, including his fellow clansman from a different era, Connor MacLeod (played by Christopher Lambert). The elder MacLeod shared a similar fate to his distant cousin Duncan: raised in the Scottish highlands among warring clans, and struck down in battle only to find himself resurrected. Connor only appears in the pilot episode of Highlander: The Series, but is occasionally mentioned during the show’s six seasons.

Throughout the films and television series, the average Immortal is an adult, physically at an age where they can properly defend themselves. It is possible for someone to suffer their “mortal wound” at a very young age or at an older point in what would be their “natural” life, but these preadolescent and/or elderly ones are not often seen—a grim reminder of what some Immortals will do in the pursuit to be the final One. Outliving and outlasting every other Immortal in existence is said to grant the lone survivor “The Prize”: the reward differs according to legends among their enigmatic race, but a prevailing theory is that the outcome results in the winner being bestowed with a normal mortal life. Since Immortals are unable to have children, The Prize is also prophesied to bequeath the final champion the ability to have a family.

Texas teams/programs included:

These designs are all inspired by the triumph over adversity as shown in the Highlander stories as well as the tremendous athletes across the state. The cities and organizations are listed below -

Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Stars

Dallas Mavericks

Texas Rangers

FC Dallas

Allen Americans

Arlington Renegades

SMU Mustangs of University Park

TCU Horned Frogs of Fort Worth

Texas A&M Aggies of College Station

UT Longhorns of Austin

Baylor Bears of Waco

MCC Highlanders of Waco

Texas Tech Red Raiders of Lubbock

San Antonio Spurs

Houston Rockets

Houston Astros

Houston Texans

Stay in the loop for more details by following Jonfiction Blog on Substack and be sure to check out jonmcbrine.com for more info about this and all my books.

Unsecret Identity: Eric Icarus - Book One is available now from the Amazon as a paperback and as an ebook.

https://a.co/2XAtxvH

New blog every Monday. Newsletter first Monday of each month.

[cathygeha]

REVIEW

The Lady Plays with Fire by Susanna Craig

Goode’s Guide to Misconduct #2

Words can be mightier than the sword ~ a playwright and a reviewer of plays using false names use words at first in anger then almost as foreplay as this historical romance sees an earl and a clergyman’s daughter fine their happily ever after.

What I liked: * Julia Addison: lady’s companion, reviewer for Mrs. Goode’s Magazine, dreamed of being on stage as a child, wrote a review that incensed Ransom Blackadder-playwright

* Graham McKay: Earl of Dunstan, aka Blackadder, used his writing skills to return his earldom to prosperity, witty, difficult backstory, intrigued by Julia

* Mrs. Mildred Hayes: Julia’s employer, bright and caring, enjoyed her part in the story

* The attraction between Julia and Graham and how their relationship came about

* The parallels between the play in the story and the lives of the main characters

* The plot, pacing, setting, and writing

* That there was no big “break-up” as many romances use

* The communication between Julia and Graham

* Julia’s brother – good older brother that cared for his sister – also that I could see him and Graham becoming like brothers in the future

* All of it really except…

What I didn’t like: * Who and what I was meant not to like

Did I enjoy this book? Yes

Would I read more in this series? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington-Zebra for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars

BLURB

In this Bridgerton era You’ve Got Mail, the clever, popular, and deliciously shocking ladies’ periodical Mrs. Goode’s Magazine for Misses only employs women who are equal to the challenge—and for one biting theatre critic, that challenge happens to include romance.  A fast-paced, innovative, sexy historical romance with a modern twist that readers of Sabrina Jeffries, Sarah MacLean, and Julia Quinn will adore. As the daughter of a clergyman, Julia Addison knows she’ll never be able to fulfill her lifelong dream of acting on the stage. But writing forthright reviews of the Season’s most popular plays for Mrs. Goode’s Magazine for Misses, popularly known as Goode’s Guide to Misconduct is surely the next best thing. Even better, she’s got a ticket to Ransom Blackadder’s latest irritating satire about English society. Best of all, she’s sharing a theater box with the gruff but handsome Lord Dunstane, which is enough to make Julia call for an encore . . .   Graham McKay, the Earl of Dunstane, rarely leaves his home in the Scottish Highlands. Why would he? Nothing about London has ever held his interest—until he meets Julia. But when Graham realizes she is the critic who panned his last play—and she discovers he is in fact the man behind Blackadder’s wicked pen—will it bring down the curtain on their romance—not to mention the magazine that published the humiliating review? Or can an unexpected collaboration set the stage for a scandalous love affair?

[freedformwriter]

The Clearances 2: Cruise Control

The brochure promised seals. Brochures always promise seals. Loch Linnhe Cruises also dangled red deer, eagles, and otters. Our skipper and guide, a suitably crusty local man of about sixty, is more interested in pointing out the invasive species. And over there – a dozen pairs of eyes swing to the right – is one of the hunting lodges they built to host their rich friends. We take in the sight on the north bank of the loch of an ever so picturesque little baronial castle masquerading as a country retreat. The Cameron of Lochiel erected this one after the wool market collapsed at the end of the 1800s. What could they do with their land if not rear sheep? our skipper asks, rhetorically. They’d already got rid of all the people. Then their sheep devoured the next generation of the great Caledonian forest. What was left on the bare mountainsides? (Again, don’t answer.) Ah, there were some great big stags and there were some grouse. Behold, the new business model: hunting holidays for wealthy people. And this, he tells us with refreshing candour, remains the mentality of these estates to this day. We’ve clearly moved on from the National Trust for Scotland’s version of the Highlands in which a tragic history provides the backdrop for careful public custodianship.

As you may have gleaned, the invasive species are ‘the lairds’ who wrested the land from the crofters three hundred years ago and who still refuse to let it go. These people, he avows, own fifty or sixty hectares of land that could support hundreds of local people. Local Scottish communities are fighting back, though. A new right to buy law gives the renters of those charming stone cottages on the laird’s land a chance to wrest back some of the Highlands back. Predictably, the new lairds cling to the old acreage. In fact, we’ve entered a second wave of the Clearances as landowners quickly dispense with their tenants so that they can continue employing just a dozen or so people to take care of their guests… doing whatever they do. (Here our skipper pauses as if trying to imagine the appalling excesses of a laird’s weekend house party. I expect it’s not that exciting and involves a lot of Waitrose cheese, but who knows?) We drift along the silent shoreline with its monoculture forest shrouded in mist and I try to imagine it pocketed with small, self-sustaining settlements, with modern cottages and new village greens and people … actually, I’m unclear what they would do: farming? have fishing rights? dam the rivers and sell power back to the grid? I’m not far wrong. One local community has built a hydroelectric power plant. Another crowd-funded a school. People are discovering that collective action works. The horse is bolted no mater how tightly the laird’s bolt their stables.

The other promise of the tour was a sunset. The Sunset Cruise. That’s not happening either. Aside from a brief bloom of sunshine creeping up the slope of Ben Nevis – only to die before reaching the summit – the weather is unrelenting. But the skipper’s next observation is a wholly unexpected bonus: well, folks, we’ve reached the part where you can come and steer the boat. Weirdly, no one else wants a go. I try to stretch my tiller time by asking every question I can about water. I mention visiting Neptune’s Staircase yesterday and how there was a big queue. That’s because there’s nobody to work the locks, apparently, just some volunteers cobbling it together as best they can. People want to move here and work the canals, but they can’t find a place to live. Airbnbs, of course. Guilty. We pass a wee little whitewash cottage on the south side. It’s an old black house, the original Highland dwelling. You can tell because it has rounded corners. Highland cattle really love the scratch their bums on corners; that would bring a black house down so people got rid of them. The corners, not the cattle. They needed the cattle in their half of the house so that their methane gasses would draw the fire smoke up into the heather thatch. Must have smelt horrible, but keeping warm and dry was the priority. A few families lived like this until the 1970s. It’s time to wrap up. No sunset folks, sorry. It was our choice, he reminds us, to come on holiday in the wettest part of the country. He lets me steer all the way to the dock. Screw seals, this is the cruise for me.

Later, when I look up the hated baronial building on google, I find Achdalieu Lodge has long since been turned over to Outward Bound, an organiser of youth outdoors trips. The current Lord Cameron of Lochiel is the new Under Secretary of State in the Scottish Office. His brief includes rolling out ‘Levelling Up’, a programme designed to ‘root out inequality’ in trial Scottish communities. He is also, we assume, a landlord.

[influencermagazineuk]

Lights, Camera, Action! Stunning Locations in the UK to Shoot Your Next Masterpiece

Looking to shoot a cool reel for your Instagram, a music video or even a film? The United Kingdom boasts a wealth of captivating landscapes and architecturally rich settings, making it a filmmaker's paradise. Whether you're crafting a heart-wrenching indie flick, a pulse-pounding music video, or a social media reel, the UK offers a diverse backdrop to bring your creative vision to life. For the history buff with a camera, Scotland's dramatic castles like Eilean Donan or Dunvegan provide a touch of medieval charm. Imagine epic battle scenes or brooding monologues set against the backdrop of these ancient fortresses, their windswept ramparts whispering tales of the past. London, a bustling metropolis, offers a different kind of grandeur. Iconic landmarks like Tower Bridge or Buckingham Palace can add a touch of quintessential British flair to your production. Explore the cobbled streets of Notting Hill for a quirky, bohemian vibe, or capture the fast-paced energy of Piccadilly Circus for a truly urban feel. The rolling hills and picturesque villages of the Cotswolds are perfect for a story that oozes quintessential English charm. Think thatched-roof cottages adorned with vibrant flowers, charming country pubs, and babbling brooks – a scene straight out of a Jane Austen novel. For a taste of the otherworldly, head north to the Scottish Highlands. The dramatic landscapes, with their rugged mountains, vast lochs (lakes), and sweeping valleys, are guaranteed to leave a lasting impression. Imagine a lone figure silhouetted against a fiery sunset over the Isle of Skye, or capture the mystical allure of the standing stones at Callanish. Wales, with its dramatic coastlines and moody mountains, offers a wild, untamed beauty. The dramatic cliffs of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park or the fairytale-like beauty of Snowdonia National Park are perfect backdrops for stories that evoke a sense of adventure and mystery. But the UK's beauty isn't limited to wide-open spaces. Abandoned industrial sites offer a unique, post-apocalyptic aesthetic. Picture a gritty music video set against the backdrop of a derelict steelworks, or a dystopian film shot in a forgotten warehouse.Don't forget the power of the unexpected. Keep your eyes peeled for hidden alleyways, quirky cafes, or colorful street art – sometimes the most captivating locations are the ones you stumble upon unexpectedly. So, grab your camera, unleash your creativity, and get ready to explore the UK's cinematic treasures. With its diverse landscapes, rich history, and vibrant culture, the UK is a filmmaker's playground waiting to be discovered. There are many films shot in the UK on the places we mentioned, and are a lot to explore! Films shot in the United Kingdom A - Aaja Mexico Challiye - Ahir Bhairav (film) - Angel Has Fallen - Animal (2023 Indian film) - Annapolis (2006 film) - Avatar (2009 film) B - Bad Apples (upcoming film) - Barun Rai and the House on the Cliff - The Beatles: Get Back - Beetlejuice Beetlejuice - Bhaijaan Elo Re - A Bit of Light - Born a King - Butterfly (unreleased film) C - Carla (film) - Carry on Jatta 3 - The Cave (2019 Thai film) - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (film) - City Under the Sea - Close (2019 film) D - Danielle Cable: Eyewitness - The Dark Knight - The Day of the Jackal (film) - Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father - Den of Thieves 2: Pantera - Dunkirk (2017 film) E - English (2013 film) - Entebbe (film) G - Gadgetman - Ganapath - The Giant Behemoth - Gladiator II - The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (film) H - The Haunting (1963 film) - Heart of Stone (2023 film) - Hedda (upcoming film) - Helen (2008 film) - Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard - Horrible Histories: The Movie – Rotten Romans - House of Salem I - Inception - Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade K - Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... - Kanchana 3 L - The Last Letter from Your Lover - Let Them All Talk (film) - Lloyd & Hill - London Bridge (film) - London, Paris, New York - Loving You (2003 film) M - Mission Raniganj O - One Day (2011 film) - One More Shot (2024 film) - One Shot (2021 film) P - The Parent Trap (1998 film) R - Raiders of the Lost Ark - Rebus (film) - Red, White & Royal Blue (film) - Rogue (2020 film) S - Sat Shri Akaal England - Saving Private Ryan - Statement of Youth - The Swimmers (2022 film) T - Tenet (film) - Tere Sang Yaara - That Is Mahalakshmi - Tropic of Ice U - Upgraded (film) W - The Wasp (2024 film) - What Became of Jack and Jill? - Wicked (2024 film) - Wicked Part Two Y - Yaariyan 2 Z - Zam Zam (film) Read the full article

[adallegra]

The unexpected Swedish in the Highlands had knocked her from her reverie, and it was almost automatic how easily it came back to her, together with an unbidden smile. It slips, however, at his introduction, and she furrows at the name. Åberg. It’s familiar. As she mulls over it, she regards the boy. 

Something about his earnest shyness signals to her that it’s alright, that he seems alright, but still, Allegra hesitates. 

Nonetheless, years of habit pushes her to at least be cordial. Tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear, she begins, “Åberg? I-“ She stops. It hits her. “Your mother doesn’t happen to work for the Ministry, does she?” She vaguely remembers her father mentioning a woman with the same name a few months ago. Impressive muggle knowledge, he had praised. She had convinced the Swiss muggle President to allow the British speed trial finals to run through one of the more populated muggle villages in the Alps. 

Allegra steps cautiously. “My fault as much as yours, Felix. I’m Allegra. It’s… a pleasure.” She purposefully holds back on her last name, at least for now. 

[While walking along the hallway, engrossed in a book, I failed to pay attention to my surroundings. I was about to turn the corner without a second thought when the impact happened.

The collision was sudden and unexpected, causing me to stumble and lose my balance. With a loud thud, I crashed onto the hard floor, my book slipping from my grasp and landing squarely on my face.]

Vad i helvete?!

Entirely lost in her own thoughts, Allegra does not even realise what happened until the foreign words hit her ears. Startled, she blinks at the Ravenclaw on the floor. She's not heard Swedish in over a year, not since she moved back to Britain. Reaching down to help the boy, she smiles for the first time in days. "Förlåt mig. Jag såg dig inte där."