#wanted opposites: henry mills | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

obiternihili · 2 years ago

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Geschichte

Capitalism happened, immediately tulip mania

The rest of Europe went "that's a lot of money, but we gotta regulate that disaster before we all starve"

Some people just don't like being told what to do, others don't like being micromanaged, these form early liberals.

Adam Smith wrote his thing and identified economic rent as the worst thing ever that drives inequity and poverty through all time. He mainly identifies that rent in taxation.

In the US in the same year, decades of little things, like ordering us to stop killing native americans we could use in the wars against France, and including parliament undercutting grey and black market trade, inspired the overwhelmingly liberal bourgeois grey market trade holders, and the southerners afraid the crown would liberate their slaves, to rebel.

In general we see coalitions of people who want fewer regulations and lower taxes against the people who want tighter controls and generally wanted absolute monarchies.

The french sat the monarchists to the right and the liberals to the left.

Other people follow suit and start identifying forms of economic rent besides just taxation. Karl Marx working off of Ricardo's work identifies it in the pay of upper management. Henry George in the US identifies a form in inherited land. Etc.

Rent extraction caused the Irish Famine.

Liberals tended to support abolitionism.

By the early twentieth century the overton window shifted so that everyone was a liberal, really, but some were conservative and some were more radical. US sees the rise of progressivism overwhelmingly on the more liberal ends, creating a new Liberal/Conservative subfactions in the North/South parties. We also see the rise of goldbuggery and a ton of economic hooplah in the states.

JS Mill and the like working from Smith kinda came to the conclusion that we need welfare in general if we want a fair society. He even called that "socialism" in a different world than Karl Marx lived. So early redistributionist policies got associated with liberalism as a position and the whigs as a party.

UK had an initially whiggish (liberal, slightly progressive) Victoria famously at odds with Disraeli, the father of British conservatism. Albert successfully gets her to back out of politics on fear of the public coming for their heads, while Disraeli shines as her majesty's loyal opposition.

Marx happened on a different current from JS Mill and his socialism coming from a history involving the french revolution and shit. It's an extremely specific and loaded term meant to differentiate itself from mere redistributionism, which is the sense JS Mill used for his socialism and one of the senses in common parlance.

But Marxist socialism placed itself on the other side from liberalism, as an explicit vision of the future. In Marx's view Feudalism gave way to mercantilism gave way to liberal capitalism will give way to socialism which will eventually capitulate if we choose to take charge of our own history into an end of history, communism.

Come the red scares and people on both sides do these shell games equating redistribution and welfare with marxian socialism. That's part of how it ends up in the name of the nazi party, they promised to redistribute wealth to the german middle class by killing jews, poors, minorities, communists, and others.

The Roosevelts were both on the progressive, "liberal" ends of their parties despite being in separate parties.

The civil rights act kind of accidentally happens when relatively progressive LBJ is president and Nixon uses his southern strategy to realign the conservatives with the republicans and the liberals with the democrats.

The goldnuts from earlier come into history as the libertarian movement who identify themselves as classical liberals on even more badly misunderstood out of date economics than Marxists. This movement spreads abroad usually calling itself something like The Liberals because they're strawmen of Adam Smith and see themselves as the original and only real liberals.

The British never stopped championing themselves as proponents of liberalism and democracy as they justify colonialism to themselves.

Then the 70s oil shit happened and the Keynesian consensus broke. Milton Friedman and the US's Chicago school lead the next, extremely conservative, anti government and anti tax consensus (which breaks in the 90s) that's close to "classical liberalism" and Reagan doesn't mind standing next to Thatcher as she contrasts liberal democracy against communism or whatever.

A bunch of disaffected USSR defectors also put together an ideology that basically was marxism only replace marx and everything internationalist with extreme american jingoism and replaced the economics with basically the new economic consensus, the stuff HW called voodoo economics. That was neoconservatism.

Without the America Jingoism the economic program alone was neoliberalism, and was the policy of people like thatcher but also new labour and the democrats despite their social progressivism.

So depending on which thread of history you're on, liberal means

- moderate/generic capitalist (historically, but also in contexts like post Soviet countries before they started identifying progressives and socialists with the term as if they're Americans; the sense Lenin and such used in their writings when advocating purges or shit. note also that most democrats are capitalists)

- laissez faire capitalist, especially anti-communist (especially in the neoliberal sense)

- human rights advocate (historically more accurate, now most accurate when people use it to mean progressives or socialists)

and everyone shell games around which definition they're using to make it make sense to them. Because no one really wants to be against human rights and people have differing views on capitalism.

everyone’s too liberal with the word ‘liberal’

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coalitiongirl · 3 years ago

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Fic Recs (under 300 edition)

So I wanted to get back to reading Swan Queen fic regularly, and I asked people to rec longfic that they'd read (not written) and loved that had fewer than 300 kudos! I haven’t read most of these, but I’ve collected them here so y’all can go through the list and discover some new fics with me! Please try to kudos and review every fic that you read! It means the world to the writers and will keep em writing, and then we all win. 😁

Atonement by SgtMac (M): With Regina's magical heart failing thanks to years of previous evil, Emma and Regina and Henry (and Granny!) set out to save her life by traveling to the Enchanted Forest and requesting help from ancient magical beings known as the Guardians. Given a mission as simple as it is impossible - to achieve atonement by creating peace - the ladies find themselves joining a rebellion and fighting for the very soul of the Enchanted Forest all while trying to help Regina to understand that the self-loathing and guilt which have driven most of her actions don't have to doom her chance for a new beginning or even, a chance to live and love again. A S4(ish) SQ love story set against the turmoil of war and the chaotic savagery of the old world.

Blood and Sand by cheshire6845 (E): A/U The Savior is a slave forced into the role of fighting as a gladiator for the House of Hearts. The odds are against her survival as she will have to win in the arena, navigate Cora's schemes, outlast a general's vengeance, and not be killed out of spite by the current House of Hearts Champion - Regina the Undefeated. This story follows the major plot points of Starz Spartacus with some twists along the way.

But what if there was no time by KizuRai (M): When she wakes up, it's dark. She can't move, she can't see, she can't feel and she can't hear. Where am I? She feels a forceful oppression, pressing her down, draining her of her energy and she's powerless to stop it. How did I get here? The question of here is relative, she's not even sure where here is. What happened? There must be some reason for being stuck here but her memory is fuzzy, like all her thoughts are being sifted through a filter. Who am I? She's not sure if she actually exists or she suddenly became sentient in the darkness.She hears a voice reverberating in the distance, it's distorted and quiet but she hears it all the same. It breaks the monotony of the silence. Someone's coming for her, they will get her out. She's just not sure she wants them to as the price might be too great.

Finding Home by evl_rgl (T): “I wanted to remember you so badly that I pulled back your cursed town just so that the memories would make sense. I needed you so badly that even when I had no memory of you, I still tried to find you.” Regina gave Emma and Henry memories of a happy life together before they fled Pan’s curse, leaving them with no memories of their lives in Storybrooke. However, when the memory spell shows signs of failing, threatening to rip apart the minds of both Emma and Henry, Regina makes a drastic choice to go back and fix it, understanding that it will mean living alone in a world where her son doesn’t know her. Was the spell really faulty, though? (swanqueen)

Five Flames by MariaComet (U): In the past, Emma Nolan disconnected from her peers in high school, preferring to keep to herself. In her sophomore year of high school, she decided to try and join the boy’s wrestling team because she was bored. She didn’t expect herself to become the champion of the most bullied kid in school or the secret best friend of the school queen. She also didn’t expect to join a club that would change her life. In the present, Emma is trying to cope with a humiliating loss in her martial arts career. She claims to be “training” but is stuck in limbo between wanting to retire and try again. She is isolated from her former best friend, Regina Mills, a local celebrity chef and the rest of her old friends. When one of them calls her with an idea to honor their deceased teacher, she is confronted with unresolved feelings and questions about how powerful love truly is.

A Glamour of Truth by PrincessCharming (T): After 2x10, Regina uses magic to show Emma the obvious truth. A tentative trust forms between them amid hilarious bickering. With Emma's help, Regina struggles to regain a place in her son's life... until Cora arrives, wanting her daughter back. Pieces of Regina's past emerge showing that the board was set long before the game started. The final battle begins soon.

His Dark Materials 'verse by MoonlitMidnight (M): A modern Alternate Universe in which Dæmons (the external physical manifestation of a person's 'inner self' that takes the form of an animal) are present. In which Emma and Regina have led slightly different lives and they make slightly different choices.

How Many Miles to Avalon? (WIP) by RavenOutlander (E): Regina would do anything to save Emma from the darkness and bring her back home safe and sound. Even put up with the two idiots, Captain Guyliner and a bunch of dwarves she decidedly wanted to drop off at the nearest exit. But in their search for Emma, they find that she might not need that much saving after all. Caught up in a search for the infamous Philosopher Stone, an all out war between DunBroch and Camelot, and ghosts from the past to haunt her every waking moment, Regina finds herself scrambling to keep her and her family's happy endings from falling apart.

The Hyperion by FrankenSpine (M): After wishing upon what she believes is a shooting star, Emma Swan finds herself aboard the Hyperion, the royal starship of an alien Queen from a faraway galaxy. She quickly learns of the tensions between the Queen's people and her own, but the Queen takes an interest in her and agrees to take her away from Earth forever. Adventure awaits. *(Loosely based on Guardians of the Galaxy with just a hint of Farscape)*

If Wishes Came True (It Would've Been You) by Angeii_K (M): After Regina films a guest appearance on her friend Neal’s popular show, he invites her to spend the weekend with him and his girlfriend. What she never expected was to actually like the woman. Sparks fly between the two, which results in them questioning everything and making choices they will later regret. 4 years later, they meet again in the most unexpected of ways. Now co-stars on the same show, they are forced to work through the emotions from their last encounter. What will happen next? Only time will tell.

The King Doesn’t Have To Know (WIP) by highheelsandchocolate (M): The White Knight had never seen anyone like her before: the Queen was nothing short of mesmerizing. Her possessive yet neglectful husband, however, was another thing entirely.

The Lich by Dangereaux (M): Gay disaster Emma, exasperated Regina, and a monster. A Halloween special.

Maybe if We Close Our Eyes we Can Reach the Stars by wellthizizdeprezzing (T): Emma is a lonely astronaut. Regina is an adventuring alien. Their paths cross leading them onto a journey of new discovery. Between galaxies and many miles of cold black space, despite not speaking the same language, they manage to fall for each other. An out of this world love story.

A prisoner long forgotten by sugarsweet_19 (M): ‘I wish I had a child as white as snow, as red as blood and as black as the wood of the window-frame. Soon after she had a little girl, who was as white as snow, with lips as red as blood and with her hair as black as the ebony of the window-frame. She was therefore called Snow-white.” This is how our story starts but how will it end?The evil queen as been locked up in a tower and forgotten that is until princess Emma looks for a place to hid from her parents after they tell her she has to marry Neal the son of the dark one.

Revenge of the Three Little Pigs by mskyo (M): Regina and Emma find themselves alone and looking for the rest of their party. The Evil Queen must face the consequences of her past actions. Will Emma come to her aid, or understand that justice must be served... *Some chapters have fairly graphic sex, and violence*

Things I Almost Remember by cheshire6845 (T): A/U Despite an oncoming war between the Dark and the Light, Emma and Regina are best friends growing up in the Enchanted Forest. When war does come, they find themselves on opposite sides. Regina will have to defy her mother to save Emma. Will Emma be able to save Regina when Cora curses her daughter to live in the Land without Magic?

What We Make (WIP) by DiazTuna (M): “My mother.” He says calmly. He’d known all along, she’s aware. But he’d known that today would be the day that would get this going. She wants to ask what it was like, to have woken up this morning, laced up his boots and walked into hell just knowing. “It’s programmed the cyborg to kill her. Before I have a chance to be born.” -In which the leader of the future sends his best soldier back to the past to save his mother from a killer cyborg. Terminator AU.

The Wrong Way by pcworth (M): Takes place right after Zelena steals Regina's heart. Zelena offers Regina a chance to go back in time with her and change both of their lives for the better. But what will be the price of that decision. Slow-burn to SwanQueen

zombie trash by 13pens (T): Zelena could have her brain and eat it, too. Fic operates on three premises 1. this takes place in any universe where zelena is a reformed asshole 2. zombies are a thing and exist iZombie style 3. i have NO chill

#swan queen #fic rec #ouat

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jessmalia · 3 years ago

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heartless | 04. how to restore hope

pairing: henry mills x oc a/n: this one’s short but necessary. hope you enjoy and please reblog and tell me what you thought! warnings: not edited. wordcount: 812

<<prev || masterlist || next>>

Max knocked on Henry’s bedroom window. The sound alerted the boy to her presence, and he rushed to open it.

“Hi there, Juliet.” Max smirked.

“What are you doing here?” asked Henry.

“Well,” Max swung her legs over the windowsill, and stepped into Henry’s room, “I wasn’t sure your mom would let me in if I took the front door, and I wanted to see you.”

Henry nodded, but said nothing more. He just sat back down on his bed, looking like his favorite comic series had been discontinued or something.

Max forced a grin, sitting down next to him and shaking his shoulder. “Come on, kiddo, what’s up? You’ve been down these past two weeks, and I don’t even think I’ve heard you mention Operation Cobra at all.”

Henry didn’t look cheered up in the slightest. In fact, he looked worse. “I think we should stop Cobra stuff for a while,” he said slowly. “You don’t play with the curse. Look what happened to Graham.”

Max’s face fell, and she reached out to take Henry’s hand, stroking her thumb across his palm. “You think your mom killed Graham?” she asked carefully.

Henry nodded, tears forming in the corners of his eyes. “She killed him because he was good. I get it now, good loses. Good always loses. Because good has to play fair. Evil doesn’t. She’s evil…”

Max didn’t know what to say. She bit her lip and looked down at the ground. Henry — Henry, of all people, had lost hope. This had to be fixed.

–––

Max stepped into the Sheriff’s Station, immediately spotting Emma sitting behind her desk. She had some paperwork laid out in front of her, which she didn’t seem to be doing. Instead, tapping her pen against the desk, frowning, lost in thought.

Max cleared her throat. “Hello.”

Emma instantly ceased her tapping, meeting her eyes. “Hi, Max,” she said, straightening her posture. “What can I do for you?”

“It’s Henry,” she said, gaining the woman’s full attention. “He’s not taking Graham’s death so well.”

“Why not?” asked Emma, frowning.

Max let out a quiet sigh, “He thinks Regina did it,” she said, sitting down opposite Emma, “and now he’s going on about how good can’t win against evil because it has to play fair and that we shouldn’t do Operation Cobra anymore. He’s completely lost hope.”

Emma remained stoic, but she wasn’t hiding the emotions from her eyes as well as she thought. “Why are you telling me this?”

“Because you need to do something about it,” she said seriously. “I can’t restore his hope — but you can. Show him that good can win. Before it’s too late.”

Emma looked over Max. “Why does it have to be me? Why can’t you do it?”

She knew Emma wasn’t asking out of a want to skip out on responsibilities. No, she was curious. She wanted to figure Max out. And with Emma’s supposed superpower, she couldn’t lie to her.

“I’m not a hero,” she said simply.

–––

The bell echoed quietly around the diner as Max and Henry pushed the door open, stepping inside. Emma was sitting by the counter, nursing a drink, mourning her loss at the sheriff’s election.

“Hey guys,” she said, turning on her stool to face them.

“You stood up to Mr. Gold,” said Henry, smiling, and he sat down on the stool next to her. “That’s pretty amazing.” Max stood next to him.

“Well, he did something illegal.”

Henry shrugged. “That’s what heroes do. Expose stuff like that.” Then he leaned in and whispered, so that Ruby couldn't overhear, “I shouldn’t have given up on Operation Cobra.” Relief washed over Emma’s face, and she and Max exchanged matching proud smiles, and Max placed her hand on Henry’s arm, rubbing soothing circles up and down.

The bell jingled again, and Regina and Sydney stepped through the door. “I thought I might find you here,” she said. “With a drink… And my son.”

“You here to card me, Officer?” Emma asked Sydney.

He shook his head. “Well, not at all. In fact, I think I’ll join you.”

“Here? I don’t know, I think they’re setting up a back room for the victory party.”

“Well, you’ll have to tell me what that’s like.”

Emma’s eyes widened, and Regia brought out the Sheriff’s badge from her pocket.

“Congratulations… Sheriff Swan.” The words sounded like they physically hurt for her to get out, and she placed the badge on the counter.

Henry grinned even wider. “Wait… What?”

“It was a very close vote, but people really seemed to like the idea of a sheriff brave enough to stand up to Mr. Gold.”

“Are you joking?” asked Emma.

Sydney shook his head. “She doesn’t joke.”

“You didn’t pick a great friend in Mr. Gold, Ms. Swan, but he does make a superlative enemy.” Regina smiled. “Enjoy that.”

–––

A/n: These first couple of chapters mostly had Max react to existing plot stuff, but the upcoming ones are gonna put her front in centre!

heartless taglist: @jochase

#once upon a time #ouat #rewrite #fanfiction #once upon a time rewrite #ouat rewrite #once upon a time fanfiction #ouat fanfiction #henry mills #henry mills x oc #henry mills x reader #henry mills imagine #henry mills imagines #henry mills fluff #henry mills angst #jared gilmore

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wdwmarveldisney · 4 years ago

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okay i don’t know if you still write for ouat but i’d die for you to write a henry mills fanfic when he’s a teen and he’s in a relationship with a girl of the same age and her parents are villains(but dead now) so regina, emma and the rest of the gang don’t like her and they try to keep henry away from her but he gets upset at them or something because of it.

there are little to none henry mills fanfics out there and it makes me annoyed since i’ve recently refallen down a rabbit hole of wanting to read love stories about him

Don’t

Henry Mills x Fem!reader

Requested

Summary: Reader is the daughter of two recent villains but is nothing like them. When her and Henry start dating, the family don’t take it so well. They begin to try and separate you two out of the belief it was best for him. Having enough of it, Henry snaps at them.

Masterlist

A/N: I agree with there not being enough Henry fics. Also this isn’t set in a certain season. Mentions briefly death, kidnapping and verbal abuse but not in any detail.

(GIF isn’t mine)

Living in Storybrooke was dull when you weren't one of the heroes or villains and especially when your parents were villains leading to no one trusting you. Your parents had recently tried to kill a bunch of people for some ritual. To everyone else, they claimed it was for you but you knew better. They were greedy and self-centred and blinded by it. Everything they did was for personal gain including marrying each other and having you. As much as you didn't want to believe it, it was a story your mum had told you many a times. How they had to pass on their evil legacy to someone and that they had to have a little villain just like them. And so they raised you by neglecting you and verbally abusing you and making you feel like you weren't worth it.

But you didn't believe it. You couldn't. There was so many heroes in the world and you had the opportunity to help. Through tricking your parents into little unnoticeable things. So when they had started to execute their plan, you had headed straight over to the only person you deemed worthy of your trust for the time being. Henry agreed to not tell the heroes that you helped as long as you did. If something went wrong and you had done it purposely, he had swore that he was going to eat you out, no matter the amount of promises you made.

You gave him valuable information of the next person to be kidnapped and when and he relayed the information. And you were parents were caught. You weren't surprised when Henry told you they had chosen to drink an incurable poison to escape doing time for their crimes. It just further proved the theory that they didn't give a damn about you. Apparently they had asked for their maid on their deathbed instead of their daughter and you didn't plan on visiting them. You were free. No more pretending to be evil because no matter what they did, you had told yourself you'd be nothing like them. They were villains, all that was wrong in the world and all you wanted to be was a beacon of light.

After you not visiting your parents, Henry started asking questions. Questions you didn't want to answer. So he connected things and he had got the idea, confirmed by a small nod of your head. Henry understood you weren't your parents and that you wanted to be different so he stuck by you. His family started noticing and whenever passing them in the street, you'd get hesitant or suspicious looks but Henry assured you it was nothing. And then you started dating. Boy, that did not help matters at all.

It was good at first, amazing. You went on so many dates, spent so much time together and knew each other better than anybody could believe. But his family began worrying more, scared you were using him or corrupting him. You couldn't blame them. You're parents were villains and you had asked Henry if he was ok with keeping what your parents were like a secret because you hated the idea of it defining you. He had agreed saying that it was only fair since it was your life and you should be the one to decide who knows. So his family strongly disliked you and you hated it.

One thing you admired about Henry was his love for his family. They were everything to him and so they were important to you. Them hating you tore you apart because it upset Henry. You tried everything to try to prove yourself to them but the recent kidnappings and murders your parents did were fresh in their mind. You explained that to Henry, every time he began to apologise. They had reason and logic on their side and they had every right to dislike you.

Even with the dislike, they never really did anything to get in between you and Henry until recently. Every time there was a date, something magically happened that Henry couldn't get out of. Decorating rooms instead of the arcade dates, clearing out garages instead of the picnics, running the shop instead of lunches at Granny's, helping Hook with his boat instead of movie nights. You could see what they were doing and, though it hurt, you accepted their side of the story. Henry, however, hadn't noticed what they were doing. He had complained about not being able to spend enough time with you and you didn't want to be the one to tell him what was happening.

He had worked it out soon enough and had ranted about it in his cute little way you loved. The over exaggerated retellings, the massive hand gesture that had made him accidentally hit you at times, the cute little pout. After spending the time with you on your 'secret date', he seemed to have planned something. You were complaining about the old lady in the next room at the inn who couldn't seem to keep her nose out of your business when his eyes had lit up and his grip tightened ever so slightly on your hand. "You ok there?"

"Come on," Henry practically dragged out of the diner, giving just enough time to leave way too much money on the table. He had dragged you straight to the loft, where everyone was and pulled you over to the sofa. He began to put in a movie whilst you had an internal breakdown. You always did movie nights at your room to avoid his family and any possible outcomes it may have. The start to Peter Pan began to play and a smile made its way onto your face, your hand having to cover your lips when you remembered Hook was right behind you. Henry gave you a grin and a shrug before sitting next to you and pulling you into his side despite your attempts to avoid it.

It was silent apart from the TV and you could feel the eyes on the back of your head glaring at you. Taking a deep breath, you moved closer to Henry and grabbed his hand in order to play with his fingers, a habit you had began to do when stressed. His focus went from the movie to you as all your focus was on his fingers. He had this small grin on his face as he watched you interlaced your fingers with his and turn back to the movie. He soared a glance over his shoulder to see his family still watching with hesitant looks. He sighed, grabbing the remote and pausing the movie, standing up in the process. You had ended up almost laying on the sofa from his sudden disappearance and sighed when you saw the look on his face. He was going to have a go at them. You'd convinced him not to but he was going to anyway. You stood up too, in front of him, hands on his chest as you two made eye contact. "Don't,"

"I have to," his voice was strong but soft and you sighed, resting your forehead against his shoulder, praying to every god above this went well. "I know you guys have been trying to keep her away from me because of who her parents are but she's not like that. She's the complete opposite!" He looked to you for permission, understanding that it was probably best to tell them. You nodded, not facing the adults in order to ignore the reactions, "Her parents were horrible. They neglected her and verbally abused her and tried to force her to become this mirror image of them but she's good. She's the kindest, sweetest and cutest person I know. She's spent money she doesn't have on me because I've forgotten to eat or I can't pay for something. She drops everything if I need her and she listens to everything I say. I," he paused, sending you a quick smile, "We hate that you don't like her. She's been trying so hard to prove to you guys she's good and you're just ignoring it!"

"Kid-"

"No mum. You can't justify that. And I've wanted to talk to you about it for a while now but Y/N has constantly stood up for you and stopped me." You finally looked at the adults' expression, the shock and surprise and a hint of guilt possibly. You were never really good at reading expressions. "I love her," that got your attention. You quickly stepped in front of him, eyebrows raised and eyes wide. "Say what now?" He laughed, glancing down to where you had subconsciously grabbed his hand and began to play with his fingers. "I love you,"

"I love you too," his grin widen at your dopey smile and giddy expression. You lifted your hand and shoved his shoulder lightly making him laugh and reach to hold that hand as well. "We're sorry," With what was happening, the fact there were adults in the room had completely slipped from your mind. Facing them, you saw them glancing between you two and let a confused look take over your features. "Why?"

"We shouldn’t have done what we did. We should’ve given you a chance,” Snow was the one to speak but from their similar expressions, you guessed they all felt the same. Even with the apology you were confused. “But you had every right too. You were trying to protect Henry and I’m the daughter of two evil monsters. I don’t blame you,” they all smiled, Regina clapping her hands together before speaking, “Well, how about we watch the movie?” As the adults worked on popcorn and blankets and Hook not so secretly changing the movie, you and Henry sat on the sofa. He wrapped his arm around you, pulling you closer, the two of you smiling like maniacs. You had both wanted this since the beginning and now all you felt was relief and love.

You finally felt like you had a family.

#henry mills x reader #henry mills imagine #ouat #request #imagine

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ntshastark · 4 days ago

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BvS prequel comics

making an exception and liveblogging bc for some reason there's 10 of those?????????

Warner Bros. Pictures Presents Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

#1 - Batman

he looks so naked without his panties on top of the costume. in the films too, but it's a lot weirder when drawn

ok so, unlike the man of steel one, apparently the people who made the film had no real input in the prequel comics

hmm, i don't like what this implies.

you see, i'm actually one of the rare specimen that really likes batfleck. and i actually think it does make more sense, in this universe, for him to be more violent, and even murderous. and i'll probably talk more about this later, but one thing i'll say now is that the catalyst for his aggression to be the metropolis battle makes absolutely no sense

and the rest of the issue is just batman beating up everyone. ok, at least these are short, then

#2 - Lois Lane

really wish they'd let amy adams dye her hair for the role, having a lois that looks like lana is so fucking weird

just remembered how much i hate that we didn't get any actual superman daily life in the superman film. and then the next one already jumped to another super atypical situation, and all we got of regular superman was that weird montage that i'll complain more about when actually speaking bvs

why does this look like the actor who played pa kent

baby 🥺

i actually like how badass they made lois in the dceu, it's just too bad that's all there is to her personality. it's like the exact opposite of donnerverse lois (who's too much of a scaredy cat for me, which i know is a controversial take)

HELLO I FUCKING LOVE HER

MOTHEEEERRRRRRRR

oh this one was really good, having lois handle shit herself by being smart and a good fighter instead of relying on superman for everything is always 10/10

#3 - Senator Finch

(who??)

who tf is the blonde guy???? i don't remember a blonde kryptonian in mos????

(look! we used to have other words besides AI!)

#4 - Superman

that thing on his hips is so ugly, but i honestly think he looks less weird than batman without the trunks

not them drawing henry's receding hairline 😭

how often do trains even crash, i don't think i've ever actually heard of a train crash in modern day but they're all over superhero media

is the entire comic about how good clark is at applied physics

lol

it's the second comic in a row with people asking why he doesn't intervene in wars, and in the first one i was admittedly too busy thinking about That One Scene from injustice, but now i'm like. ah. they're not really wondering why someone with the power to stop wars wouldn't do it, are they. they're afraid he does.

#5 - Lex Luthor

kord industries mention!!!

the people yearn for Superman IV: The Quest For Peace

General Mills Presents Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

also no relation to the film writers/directors

star labs!

babyyy

(this whole issue so far seems really cute!)

is terraforming all the dceu aliens know to do

(and it doesn't even make sense. terra literally means earth. terraforming is specifically making a planet more like earth)

ok this is so cute, why couldn't the superman in the actual films be more like this

this one feels a lot less intended to be canon than the previous ones tbh

yeah, we're definitely not in the dceu anymore, toto

THIS COMIC IS SO CUTE I LOVE IT

lol another field trip comic

to wayne enterprises!!!!!

oh? did we know that?

so we're 2/2 so far for issues with field trips starring black kids from metropolis who want to be journalists

BRUCE IS HERE!!!!!!!!!! MY BEST FRIEND DCEU BRUCE WAYNE!!!!!!!!!!

oh damn superman is here too. i thought the point of the plots being so similar was that one was gonna focus on clark and the other on bruce, but guess not

was this public knowledge?? i don't think it was

i'm holding myself back from posting too many images (and even went back and deleted some that weren't super necessary) because of the stupid limit, but this comic is also very cute

oh come on

ok, wait. this batman has been active for like, 20 years at this point. and the majority of the gotham population doesn't even think he exists. just because he scramble phones near him?????

first of all, does no one have an analogical camera??? but even then, TWENTY YEARS!!!!! even if he'd manage to avoid being recorded that long, you'd think enough people would've seen him throwing motorcycles at cars by now that it'd be an openly accepted thing, at least in gotham

why are they talking as if he's new?????

so does he just appears on the window of every person who manages to snap a photo of him and compliments them until they decide to get rid of it??? this is so stupid

girl what

ok this comic made no sense whatsoever. also, i don't really remember the "batman is an urban legend" thing being canon in the dceu? but it's been ages since i watched anything, i'll get back to you on this after bvs

how did we go from "i don't even think batman is real" to "he has a huge fucking impossible-to-hide tank of a car that he drives around the city" in 7 pages

3 pages later, back to "no one is sure batman exists"

NOT THE BATDONATIONS LKSDFNJD

this is so stupid oh my god. it's so clear they wanted to parallel real-world batman v superman fan arguments but couldn't include wayne foundation charity in it in a way that made sense

NO ONE EVEN KNOWS WONDER WOMAN EXISTS AT THIS POINT IN THE DCEU

ok, that's it, i'm marking this as fully non-canon in my dc guide

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice - Upstairs/Downstairs

not gonna post an image bc i already only have two left, but it's the same creative team behind the original batch of comics, so it'll probably be as faithful as them

yup, military propaganda, we're back alright

really?

ok, not much to write home about. which is good, i've ran out of image space

DCEU Rewatch Rant Hour

With 100% DCU stuff (like Creature Commandos and Superman promo) finally coming out and my year-end work break starting, I realised this was the time to finally stop postponing watching the rest of the DCEU (especially since some of it is actually still canon and actively being referenced). And, since I'm already here, why not rewatch the whole thing!

This is actually not a liveblog, since I'm making my brother and my friend (user getawaykiss) watch the thing with me, but after each film I'm coming here to rant about how I feel about them now, in this day and age.

So, first offender:

Man of Steel (2013)

Except I lied! First I'm gonna talk about the Man of Steel Prequel comic! That's right, I'm including fucking extra material on this rewatch!!

so, the thing is on rco if you're interested in it, and it is pretty interesting! it stars kara!!!!! it was clearly written with the intention to be not only canon but relevant, which sounds crazy now but was pretty common back in the day. the mcu did it loads. it's actually not that different from what the dcu is trying to do with animations, if you think about it.

but considering kara is blonde in it it clearly didn't hold up.

anyway, there's a whole plot involving murder in the jungle and then something that's basically that one chris pratt/jlaw film but not treated as romantic. but what's relevant is that kara is a pilot leading a mission to terraform and colonise another planet, who ends up actually landing on earth for reasons. and her ship is, in fact, that one in the film that the military finds in the ice and then clark and lois get into (and then becomes the fortress of solitude??? i think???). anyway, kara survives the landing and goes out wandering the arctic, and that's the last we see of her. going by the film, this happened over 18000 years ago, though, so i guess there were no plans to have supergirl on the big screen then. but anyway, kara was actually super relevant for the mos plot! technically! oh and they also mention thanagar!!!! they call it "barbaric", but idk enough about the hawks to have an opinion on this.

so, did i like it? eh, it's ok. it's a bit rushed, but prequel comics usually are. i'm glad i've only read it now, because it makes it seem like kara is going to be relevant for the franchise and i'd be soo disappointed she wasn't. though i guess she ended up being even more relevant than they intended to while writing that, considering she at least shows up on-screen. but i'd like to pretend the comic is still canon and that blonde kara zor-el from thousands of years ago is just a distant relative, that maybe even inspired the name the later zor-el gave to his daughter.

the pilot-on-a-mission background is really interesting, though, i'd love to see it explored in an alternative universe. maybe they could do something similar in absolute? idk much about absolute krypton, but the darker tone fits, at least.

now for the actual film!

oh god it's so bad. i know this is exactly why they gave it to him but jesus fucking christ zack snyder SHOULD NOT be trust with a superman film. he did not want to be making a superman film, he wanted to be making fucking independence day or whatever. it has so many unnecessary stuff, like the action scene in krypton (it could've easily just been what jor-el shows clark in the ship later on, but then we wouldn't have the alien dragon and the magical engraved skull!!) and all the army stuff, oh my god, there was so much army stuff - and yet no army brat lois????? which is literally the only thing the army should have to do with superman???? and is so important to lois' personality???? must be why she doesn't have any.

though, to be fair, clark has even less. the flashbacks and the scenes with martha are doing so much heavy lifting, holy fuck, this man does not have a personality, we don't know fucking anything about him!!! half of the film is him wandering around and doing random things with random people, and the only one that actually gives him any depth is the truck thing - which ironically happens off-screen, and which was done SO much better in superman ii. like, i get the odd jobs montage was supposed to show how he can't help but help people, but there were so many ways you could've done this better. not to mention they then turn around and have him actually save people in the suit like fucking three times total???? he saves an army guy, and lois (maybe twice) and then the family zod was going to kill, and that was fucking IT!!!!!!! and he's so absurdly careless while battling zod, destroying buildings full of people like it's nothing instead of just taking the fight somewhere else (like he did in superman ii), and yet you still have zod going "oh if you care so much about these people-" like, i don't think he does, actually!!

in fact, throughout the entire film, everyone - even clark, when he's with lois at the cemetery - keeps telling us how bad the people of earth are, and how badly they're going to treat him if they know he exists, and maybe he should just let a bus full of kids drown and his own dad walk into a tornado, because people just fucking suck and can't be trusted! and then!! it never makes a point of disproving this!!!!! the closest thing there is, i guess, is the scenes with the daily planet staff helping each other scape the rubble, but that's just them taking care of their own. and it even makes a point to end with the army trying to track him, like akldslfn imagine making a fucking superman film where the underlining message is that humans are awful, i-

and the thing is, we are sometimes!! but not all the time!!! and superman should be about how there's times we aren't!!! how humans can be Good, Actually!!!!!!!! but no, the film decides to go out of its way to make superman's relationship with humans the worst possible! pa kent was a weirdo who wanted kids to drown, the general public first ever hears of superman when being collectively threatened by zod because of him (and this is something i ranted extensively about when i first watched mos back in 2015), even the excessive focus on the army (a bunch of original characters, mind you, not even relevant ones like general lane, because god forbid we actually develop superman's supporting cast) serves to constantly reminds us of the specific subsect of people who trust superman the least.

honestly, people made such a fuss over the absolute wrong things with this film. i don't care if he doesn't smile much, i'd be fine with a more serious superman if he at least had some personality and didn't make me wonder whether he actually enjoys the human race! i don't even care if he kills zod!! like, if you suspend your disbelief enough to ignore how that family could absolutely get out of the way on their own, that's one of the only good scenes for clark, character-wise! we see him care for humans, we see him care even for his enemy, we see him sacrifice his own innocence to save the innocent, we see his absolute despair at taking a life! it's good!!!! it's just a pity it comes right after he destroyed entire city blocks without a care in the world just to throw a few punches.

and the funny thing is, this film is pretty clearly a remake of superman i-ii, some scenes are even direct references. and it improves on in it in absolutely no way other than visually. and that's saying something, because as much as i love the original superman films there's so much in them that doesn't make a single bit of sense, but mos doesn't even far that much better (why the fuck did zod want lois on the ship???????????). this film is just. so empty. the characters have no actual substance, it's all made just to look cool!!1! (and nothing sums this up better than all the fucking christ imagery, but that's a whole other conversation)

also their clois has the least chemistry of all live-action, which is a crime in and of itself. didn't even have an identity porn era, probably because they thought the disguise was dumb. preposterous.

but it's not all bad! it has a bunch of cool/pretty scenes for giffing! henry looks so good with his lil curls! and, ok, if there's one genuine compliment i can make this film: i absolutely adore clark's relationship with his mom. both of them, actually, lara's brief appearance was great! but all of his scenes with martha are just amazing, the one where he beats the shit out of zod for threatening her is a personal favourite. it cannot be said they didn't give us momma's boy clark kent, at the very least.

#f: dc #g: dc live-action #u: dceu #s: bvs prequels #not giving them individual tags sorry #mari liveblogs

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swanqueensalad · 3 years ago

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Is your question thingy still on? if so, would you rate top10 episodes to watch if you want swanqueen :)

ahhh this is such a good question!! and my ask box is literally always open for anything, i love chatting with y'all <3

this is Not a comprehensive list, just ten great ones that come to mind (plus two bonus ones and a lot of rambling bc, as always, i got carried away).

i've tried to put them in chronological order for the show!

1. a land without magic (1x22)

don't get me wrong, there's a lot of incredible swan queen episodes in season one (the pilot, desperate souls, that still small voice) but the content in finale just does something to me man...

emma pinning regina against the wall, the intensity of the confrontation and regina admitting everything, the way they're instantly a TEAM despite all that fury and heartache because henry comes before anything else, the literal entire sequence paralleling charming fighting maleficent and saving snow to emma fighting maleficent and saving regina, i -

2. broken (2x01)

feel like this a bit of a rogue one since, again, s2 has lots of good stuff, but there's a LOT going on in the premiere! emma promising to protect regina for henry (which we know develops into this kind of sacred oath she fulfils at her own peril over and over throughout the years) and being so attentive to her, saving her from the mob, helping her to her feet, human-shielding her, and the look on regina's face when emma's touch restarts her magic and opens a portal to another realm - the literal requirements for 'true love'. so, so good.

3. the cricket game (2x10)

a classic. emma starting to not only see but fight for the woman regina really is. this strange developing trust and respect, the desire to not be enemies for a brief second before it goes wrong again.

4. and straight on til morning (2x22)

i will never be able to scream enough about the sq development in the s2 finale. regina being the most vulnerable and herself in front of emma, begging her to let her die as herself because she knows she's the only one who could understand and grant her that - and emma not letting her, emma jumping in and finding their shared magic together for the first time to save each other and everyone else. emma speechless, seeing everything regina feels for henry.

also "you might not be strong enough but maybe we are" is one of my favourite swan queen lines, because i think it just sums up the whole ship!

5. going home (3x11)

jumping to the 3A finale, what can i say? once again, as always when it comes to henry, they are a team above all else. the group hugs, henry calling them 'mom, mama', emma being a human shield again, regina whispering her name as she wakes up, ready to give emma everything she ever wanted for herself and their son.

the incredibly intimacy and intensity of their goodbye and all those things unsaid and unfinished between them. *chefs kiss*

6. breaking glass (4x05)

ok so despite the stupid frozen arc, season 4 is actually one of my favourites for swan queen content, bc you have emma promising to give regina a happy ending in the premiere and seeing that all the way through to sacrificing herself for her in the finale. and that's what dreams are made of.

i specifically mention breaking glass bc there's so much sq screen time. emma is gutted that regina thinks she'll never have her back, literally follows her around all episode trying to prove the opposite (in the same way hook follows her around lmao), elsa telling emma not to give up on her.

and there's that gorgeous scene where emma is so honest with her about the two of them having something special and unique and different from what they have with anyone else, and that hopeful 'it's a start' ... i ...

7. operation mongoose (4x22)

what would be a list of top tier swan queen episodes without the climax of all that 'fighting for her happiness' - the saviour sacrificing herself to the darkness to save regina. this was truly the peak of ouat i swear to go d

also lots of nice stuff in the alternate reality with emma, henry and regina!

(before i move on from season 4 i do have to mention bonus episode: lily - emma's super gay fucking backstory, regina telling her she needs her, the first (?) swan queen road trip!, regina talking emma down from shooting lily/beating up that dude because she believes so strongly in emma's goodness)

8. dreamcatcher (5x05)

i remember after this episode came out, there was a post circulating of a bunch of c$ fans saying they were literally worried sq was becoming canon/getting undeniable.

so yeah. everything in this episode is pure gold. the swan mills family dynamics, regina trusting emma with her most painful memory, emma crying over the dreamcatcher, and that deliciously tense argument on regina's porch that was so electric it made sq feel inevitable. ('don't miss swan me, we've been through too much' is another favourite line!)

9. only you (5x22)

swan queen road trip, them being married af the whole time plus regina once again being her most open and vulnerable with emma? what more do you need

10. wish you were here (6x10)

this is another episode i don't think i can ever scream about enough - there's just so much to unpack! firstly, emma becoming enfuriated and attacking the evil queen because she's upsetting regina. secondly, regina thoughtlessly wishing to be sent after emma to get her back. thirdly... emma swan waking herself up from a curse and remembering who she is, sparking her own magic back to life, because even in her most cursed unknowing state she had to save regina mills.

how do you ever get over that (also they're so soft together once emma's awake, i...)

honorable mentions go to

enter the dragon (4x15) - for regina's gay backstory with mal, emma being insanely protective of regina and literally following her around all night super unhappy about her being in danger ('if i see anything i don't like i will come in blazing' oof) all the while regina is doing it to protect emma in return, jesus christ -

birth (5x08) - purely for the scene at the well where regina begs emma to tell her why she's hanging on to the darkness (aka begging emma to admit she loves her, while emma is being super repressed but they both know that's what they're talking about)

i'll be your mirror (5x08) - for all that good married sq teamwork content in the mirrorworld, regina admitting she's scared to raise henry alone and emma promising to always be there and never let anything bad happen, and the softness and tenderness of them watching him dance with violet and realising they've done such a good job together... i'm so weak bruh

#sorry this took so long and it's so fucking rambly hahah #but we all know that's what happens when you get me talking about this #thanks for this ask btw my lovely!!!#this was a really fun one #so much good stuff i probably haven't even mentioned but this post was long enough as it is #swan queen #sq #swan queen top ten #ouat #regina mills #emma swan #swan mills family #henry swan mills

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theresnosafeharbor4myships · 4 years ago

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Ichabbie ways of saying ‘I love you’

“Our fates are intertwined now. Running away isn't going to change that.”

“I do take comfort knowing that this strange road we find ourselves on can only be traveled together.”

“So if she dies in the dream...” "She dies. Period." "I see." *Ichabod marches over and drinks a concoction. "Crane!" .... "What are you thinking?" "Well, i'm coming with you now, so no point in discussing it."

“Believe me when I say that you belong in Sleepy Hollow. In the here and now.”

“You are home, Crane.”

“I look forward to you expanding my horizons further.”

“You know how important Crane is.” “To you?” “Yeah, to me.”

“Through these centuries, against the impossibility that we would find each other, we did. And I am most grateful for it.”

“Perhaps it would be easier if you left.” “There's no way. Too many people I never got a chance to say goodbye to. You are not gonna be one of them.”

“You were right. There's always another way.”

“Next time listen to me, okay? I can't go through that again.”

“If it makes you feel any better, I feel pretty alone sometimes too.” “Perhaps this is the sacrifice that witnesses must carry. all we really get is one another.”

“Your company holds the greatest value to me.”

*lifts glass in a toast* “To family.” “To finding family.”

“If using this map meant betraying your trust, that's something I cannot do.” *burns the map “For the world. For our friendship. You and I will choose our own destiny. We have free will. I choose to forge my fate with you.”

“When I remembered you, I saw this world for what it truly is.”

“I swear to you, for as long as I can draw breath--” “Our work is not done. You will come back for me. That I know.” *precious Ichabbie hug “Remember our bond. I'll come back for you.”

“I just...I don't think I would've made it without you, Crane.” “Nor I you, Lieutenant.”

“I promise you: I will return for you!”

*precious Ichabbie hug “Crane! You're alive.” “We are survivors, you and I.”

“Maybe you don't come back.” “And leave you here? No. Lieutenant, I do not accept good-bye.” “...we're fighting a war, crane. Coming back for me is a risk I cannot let you take.” “The Bible foretells two witnesses. You and I must remain together if there is any hope of victory. The only risk, Lieutenant, is in leaving you behind.” “No matter what I say, you're coming back, aren't you?” “I made a promise.”

“Hold fast, Abigail Mills. I'm on my way.”

“You never did tell me the full extent of your ordeal in that place.” “Truth is, it got to me. Everywhere I went, I felt it slowly clawing at my mind, my soul. You know what the worst part was? Seeing you.” “Must be why you beheaded me.” “That demon version of you appeared just when that place was about to break me. I'd never been so happy to see anyone in my life.”

“That's what scares me. My faith in you is my greatest weakness.” “That's what they want you to believe.”

“The only ones we can count on now are each other.”

“What matters now more than ever is that you and I stay true. Trust is the only currency with any value. All other forms are too easily counterfeited.”

“...but hear me, Grace Abigail Mills: it is not our fate for one of us to bury the other. We shall be victorious or defeated together.”

“I will be with you at every moment.”

“Our duty must be to one another before anything or anyone.”

“Of course I'm coming with you!”

“Be careful.” “You too.”

“Thank you, Lieutenant. It is thru your eyes that I see myself most clearly.”

“I swear to you, his sacrifice will not be in vain.”

“No matter what obstacles we face, no matter how many disagreements we have, our bond cannot be broken.”

“Even in times of great peril, we could always rely on one another.”

“I'm glad I'm not in this alone.” “I echo that sentiment, Lieutenant.”

“We're partners. More than that, we're friends.”

“You knew I'd not survive without you.”

“No matter what the course of fate, and no matter how I get there, I look forward to experiencing your America. It will be a pleasure to make your acquaintance all over again, Miss Mills.”

“You know, Crane, you don't need some stone tablet to justify your place in the world. You belong here just as much as anyone else.”

“You were wrong when you said that Henry and Katrina's death meant that you were alone. You may not have family, but you are not alone.”

“Of course having you by my side is the greatest boon.”

“After you passed out, she showed up.” “Pandora? Did she harm you?”

“I'm most grateful, Lieutenant, that you and I have found one another once again.”

“We are a partnership of opposites, yet our affinity for one another bears the ripest of fruit.”

“You noted that I've been off my game of late. When I pledged my allegiance to this country in 1776, I had a very clear vision of what my future would hold. Nowhere in that vision did I imagine waking in the 21st century, and yet,,,more and more, I feel this desire to acculturate. But the idea of losing the archives, of losing my fight for citizenship for a country that I, in part, founded, the idea of losing you...to some wretched federal promotion to...I don't know, Dallas or Los Angeles or... Sometimes it seems as though the unbeatable enemy is the 21st century.” “Yeah, but the thing is, Crane, Joe, me, Jenny, we are the 21st century. And every day, we take you a step further in that direction. That is the unbeatable enemy beating itself. And we ain't goin' nowhere.”

“I'd like to think you and I have developed, over the years, Lieutenant.”

“With all respect to my fellow compatriot, Major Revere, your spirit and mine is made of far heartier stock. Hence our most impressive roster of victories. Tis because we care. Come what may.”

“You ready to fight some bad guys, Crane?” “Indeed.” “My man.”

“If the Lieutenant were here, she would say something tough yet encouraging. Of which I would wholeheartedly concur. She is very good at that.”

“This particular (monster) feeds off for desperation. The locator spell I cast must have brought it to the area. And it focused on me because of my... emotional state [from missing Abbie].”

“I have worked and fought alongside many people in my time. It was only recently that I truly understood what a partner is. What it means to have someone who makes you more than you are simply by being by your side. Truly your better half.”

“I will never cease my efforts to find the Lieutenant.”

“Our shared connection as witnesses means I am the Lieutenant's best chance.”

“Tis a relief to find you hale and hearty, Lieutenant. I knew you were alive.”

“Thank you, Crane, for never giving up on me.”

“I meant what I said before: you're always here. With me. Ever since we first met. There's no explaining it. Two people could not be any more different. But we work things out. Together.”

“Stay with me, Crane.”

“[He's] not alone. Not ever!”

“In the darkness. Lost. I heard your voice. I followed it.” “We made it.”

“You were my Wilson.”

“In all candor, Lieutenant, whilst you were away, I spent every waking hour endeavoring to bring you home. All other responsibilities fell by the wayside.”

“I'm trying really hard.” “And you will succeed. Just as you were by my side when I returned to Sleepy Hollow, so I shall be by yours.”

[Jenny to Crane] “You seem happier.” “Yes, I admit I do feel rather suffonsified. And your sister's mood appears to have taken a significant upturn of late.”

“I knew Crane was out there looking for me. I held on to that.”

“The supernatural has given you a lot of good too. It led you to Crane.”

“Lieutenant--” “Oh. Yes. I'm scared out of my mind of seeing that place again, and no, I'm not letting you go without me. Whatever you do, I do. That's the deal.” “Truth bomb if I ever heard one.”

“I prefer to focus on what we have, and I have a partner of the highest caliber.” “Better than Betsy Ross?” “Well, she was occasionally rather pushy. Prone to talking with a mouth full of food.” “George Washington?” “Well, now there was a great man. But a great man with legendary halitosis.” “I really beat those guys?” “Oh...handily.” “You...never waiver in your faith. In what we do. In me. And you know how rare that is, don’t you?” “When it concerns you and me, Lieutenant, there is no greater certainty.”

“I'm really going back there.” “Only this time you're not alone.”

#ichabbie #ichabbie moments #abbie x crane #abbie x ichabod #crane x abbie #ichabod x abbie #sleepy hollow #personal

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whatdoesshedotothem · 3 years ago

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Tuesday 30 January 1838

8 ¼

12 20

fair and F34° at 8 ¼ am and 42° at 9 ¼ am the sun peeping out – breakfast at 9 ¼ to 10 5 A- read aloud chapter 4. vol. 1 Lardners’ Russia – then had Thomas Pearson who came in after killing the pig – he would not have killed it a month or more – a pity to kill it now – it will weigh about 7st. – quite enough for us who have to eat it – sent for T.P. to ask him about the meeting on Thursday at Lightcliffe church to lay a church rate – P- will attend and take the yew trees wood tenants with him (Henry Barber and Nathan Sharp) – then asked P- about rubbing the back Lodge road – the Northowram stone the best – but could only come 4 times a day – from Womersleys’ could come 5 times – but should do as P- did for the road – should bring one load to the top of the hill (top of Whiskam road) 1st and then 5 loads more (taking up this 1st load equally distributed among the 5 loads so that 6 loads from the delf = 5 loads to the Lodge road and the breaking will be paid for at 8d. per load on 5 loads = ¾) – 1 horse load 2 1/2d. two horse load 3 ½d – P- agreed with me that 7 two horse loads per rood would be enough – try 6 loads per rood .:. George N-‘s cart brining loads or 1 rood a day = 10/.+ breaking at ¾ = 13/4 per rood – then cover over thinly with good engine-ashes – Do the footpath the same – then had Ward the blacksmith – asked if I had given leave to Crowther and another to kill rabbits – no! only to Amos Ambler and Robert Mann’s men – C- had done much damage in Yew trees wood – turned out rabbits there in spring to breed and then got them in winter – Ward to call on Saturday and I to give him authority to discharge Crowther and another from killing rabbits on my property – Ward will vote for a church rate – then at 12 with A- till and her luncheon, and went out at 1 10 – by the Lodge to Lower brea (met Mallinson junior and said he might get the floor-broads for Mitham house ready would look over and think about his estimate which he brought yesterday and let him know about it by and by) – saw George Robinson – he will attend the meeting at 10 am on Thursday and vote for a church rate – mentioned the young beech tree going into his field – if he thought it should be removed, I would try to buy it – then to Hardcastles’ – left a message for him to attend the meeting and vote for the church rate – then seeing Simeon Shaw cutting the hedge in the Hipperholme school field opposite spoke to him about the meeting – he had not heard of it – this staggered me – walked forwards to Lightcliffe church – called and inquired of the Sexton – no meeting – the2 notices pasted up on Sunday were for poor rate and assessed taxes – in returning saw George and the horses at the school door – went in – saw A- for 5 minutes – told her there was no meeting and she would call in returning, and tell G.R. this – I to call and tell Holt this of the Travellers Inn – did so – and left a message to this effect at Wards’ shop and at Hardcastles and told George R- seeing him at his mill – and left a message with Mrs. Pearson – then sometime at Listerwick pit – Robert Mann driving – 5 yards deep of water in the pit yesterday – had the gin horse yesterday 1st time since leaving off some weeks ago – and got the pit cleared so as to begin sinking again this morning – sometime there – then turned in at the great sycamore and went down to the meer – to see that John B- had shaken the snow off the evergreens – then sauntered about the rocks – to the Low fishpond – on the terraces – and then with George Thomas, to the hay barn to shew him the scale I wanted moving from about the old Ship in pit on to the road thro’ the wood – then about and came in at 5 ½ very wet of my feet so much walking thro’ the snow that has softened during the day – dressed – read the 1st 2 or 3 pages of Lardners’ Rome vol. 1 – then did up A-‘s bundle of blankets sheets shifts, etc to Mrs. Broadbent 19 Mosley Street Manchester carriage paid per Duke of Leeds coach at 8 am tomorrow

SH:7/ML/E/21/0035

this took till near 7 ½ at which hour dinner – tea in the dining room and I read aloud chapter 5 (very interesting) Lardners’ history of Russia vol. 1 (vol. 3 that is to be, not yet published) – then came into the north parlour about 9 – some time talking to A- about value of Cordingley’s farm (she is coming tomorrow) and about Mr. Holmes’s lease etc. then till 10 wrote all the above of today – then read the newspaper and came upstairs at 11 ½ at which hour F26° - fine day – thaugh during the day and no decided frost when I came in at 5 ½ pm but hard frost again tonight

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emospritelet · 4 years ago

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Heatstroke - chapter 14

[AO3] - 2,072 words

Lacey kept her eyes fixed on the sign outside Mr Gold’s shop as she walked rapidly towards it, clutching the cardboard tray containing the coffees and muffins in a death grip. She shoved open the door before she could think too hard about it, the bell above jangling, and stepped into the cool darkness of the shop.

Mr Gold was not there, and for a moment she stood, uncertain, bouncing on her toes a little. Then the familiar, rhythmic tap of his cane sounded, and the curtain that separated the back room from the shop was pushed aside.

“May I help - ah.”

Gold paused as he recognised her, sinking back on his heels a little with a wary look on his face.

“Hey,” said Lacey.

He folded his hands over the top of the cane handle, raising his chin a little.

“Miss French,” he said neutrally.

He was wearing a dark blue shirt beneath the suit jacket and waistcoat, the silk gleaming softly in the light from the lamps. The tie was a gunmetal colour, matching the silvery streaks in the silk handkerchief tucked into his pocket. His eyes flicked up and down her so quickly she hardly noticed, but he didn’t lose that wary expression.

Taking a deep breath, and telling herself to get on with it, Lacey marched up to the counter and set down the cardboard tray, taking out the cup with the black coffee and holding it up to him.

“Here,” she said. “Black, no sugar, right?”

Gold’s eyes narrowed.

“What?”

“That’s your order,” she said patiently. “Ruby told me.”

“So?”

“So, I bought you a coffee,” she said.

He gave her a very level look.

“Did you spit in it?”

“No.”

“Are you planning on throwing it over me?”

“What?” Lacey wrinkled her nose. “No! I - I just bought you a coffee, that’s all.”

“Oh,” said Gold, an air of puzzlement about him. “Why?”

Lacey hesitated.

“Because…” She trailed off lamely. “Uh - well, because I guess I owe you an apology.”

“Really?” Gold’s tone was very dry, and he shifted his feet a little, fingers opening and closing on the cane handle. “For which particular indignity?”

She sighed, letting one hip swing outward as she leaned on the counter. His eyes flicked up and down again.

“I’m sorry I called you a pervert, okay?” she said. “I know the underwear thing was Darcy’s fault.”

“Darcy?”

“My cat,” she explained, and his puzzled expression cleared.

“Ah,” he said. “Well, I did try to tell you that.”

“I know,” she said. “So I’m sorry, okay? And I’m sorry for throwing a drink over you.”

His mouth worked a little, and she could tell he was thinking of making a snide comment. At least he managed to keep silent, she supposed.

“So - that’s the reason for the coffee,” she added. “And a muffin. Coffee and walnut with chocolate chunks. Smells pretty good.”

“Alright,” he said cautiously.

She waited, and he raised an eyebrow.

“Was there something else?”

Lacey sighed.

“Okay, I’m sorry for flashing your son,” she muttered. “Really, really didn’t intend to do that.”

Gold’s mouth quirked at that, his eyes gleaming.

“Well,” he said. “You certainly made an impression.”

“God...” Lacey closed her eyes, letting her head roll back. “I just wanted us to be even, that’s all.”

“Is it necessary to be nude for that to happen?”

She opened her eyes, looking at him. He definitely looked amused, a tiny smile lifting the corners of his mouth.

“You got any better suggestions?” she asked, and he shrugged.

“Maybe I could accept your apology and the coffee,” he suggested. “And we can call it even.”

“Okay.”

There was silence. Gold raised his eyebrow again.

“You appear to be waiting for something,” he said, gesturing towards her, and Lacey huffed in annoyance.

“This is the part where you apologise,” she explained, and his brows drew down.

“For what?”

“For flashing me!” she snapped. “For opening my shipment of sex toys!”

“Both of these unfortunate occurrences were entirely accidental.”

“For - for being a snarky bastard when you brought over the box!” she went on, and Gold rolled his eyes.

“If you want me to apologise for my use of sarcasm we’ll be here all day.”

“You threw a drink over me!” she protested, and he sighed.

“I did,” he acknowledged. “And given that you have professed some sort of - regret - for your insults, I offer you an apology of equal worth and sincerity.”

Lacey opened her mouth, closed it again, and wondered if he was making fun of her. She decided that she didn’t have the energy to argue about it.

“Fine,” she said. “Enjoy your coffee. I had Ruby make it as bitter as your personality.”

She snatched up the paper bag of muffins and her own coffee and turned on her heel.

“Ah - Miss French?”

Lacey rolled her eyes, swivelling on her toes to face him. Gold flicked a finger at her.

“I believe one of those muffins was mine.”

“You’re not gonna tell me you’re sweet enough?” she asked dryly, and he chuckled.

“I think we both know that’s not true.”

“Hmm.” She put down her coffee on the counter and reached into the paper bag, bringing out a muffin and holding it up. “Here you go. Sweet, tempting, and delicious. Your polar opposite in every way.”

Gold grinned, the gold tooth on his lower jaw glinting, and she set the muffin on the counter between them. He glanced down, and she watched as the tip of his tongue moistened his lower lip. He wasn’t quite meeting her eyes, and for a moment she thought he looked unsure of himself.

“I’ll take these in the back room,” he said, and hesitated again. “Do you - want to sit down?”

Lacey eyed him for a moment. He was looking at her out of the corner of his eye, and she raised her chin, licking her lips just as he had done.

“Okay.”

He nodded, picking up the muffin.

“If you wouldn’t mind bringing the coffees,” he said, gesturing with the muffin. “Only one free hand, you see.”

He turned away, cane clicking on the floor, and Lacey set both coffees back in the cardboard tray, balancing her own muffin next to them and following him through to the back room. She glanced around, eyeing the shelves filled with stock, pawned items marked with labels, and what she presumed were antiques awaiting cleaning or repair. Gold put his muffin down on a workbench and gestured to a stool.

“Please,” he said. “Take a seat.”

Feeling awkward, Lacey sat down on the stool, setting the coffees on the bench next to her and offering him his. She pulled a chunk of muffin off, popping it into her mouth and watching Gold furtively as he lowered himself onto the stool opposite and rested his cane against the bench. He reached for the coffee, taking a sip, and Lacey realised she hadn’t been chewing the muffin at all. It sat in her mouth, a sweet ball of soft, coffee-scented cake, and she grabbed at her drink, chewing and swallowing before chasing it with a mouthful of coffee. The muffin was as good as it smelled, she decided, the chocolate chips rich and dark and an excellent accompaniment to the coffee.

“So,” said Gold. “Your cat’s name is Darcy.”

“Yeah,” said Lacey.

“As in Pride and Prejudice Darcy?”

“Well, he was a rescue,” she explained. “And when I went to the shelter, all the other kittens were playing and he was kind of standing at the side looking uncomfortable. He’s really great when you get to know him, though.”

“Oh, I know,” he said, setting down his coffee. “He’s been spending the evenings at my house. He likes chicken. And fish, when I have it.”

Lacey’s eyes widened.

“So it’s you that’s been feeding him!” she exclaimed. “He turns his nose up at the cat food I put out for him because he’s eating gourmet crap at your house?”

“I only gave him a few scraps.” Gold looked amused. “I can stop, if you like.”

Lacey huffed.

“He really stays with you?” she asked.

“Stretches himself out on the lounge floor and watches me read,” he said. “It’s actually nice to have a little company.”

“Huh,” she said. “Yeah, I hear you.”

There was silence. She sipped at her coffee, setting down the cup and taking another piece of muffin.

“What made you move to Storybrooke?” he asked, and she licked crumbs from her fingers.

“I needed a total change,” she said. “New York was great - expensive, but great - but it was kind of weighing me down. I grew up in a small town something like this. Maybe I was trying to get back to - I don’t know, a simpler life, maybe?”

“I suppose I can understand that.” He took another drink of coffee. “If it’s a quiet life you’re after, you could do a lot worse.”

He took a bite of muffin, making a noise of appreciation, and Lacey put her head to the side.

“What about you?” she asked. “I mean, with that accent, you definitely weren’t born here.”

“No, I grew up in Glasgow.”

“How d’you end up in Maine?”

Gold gave a somewhat secretive smile.

“Long story.”

“I’d like to hear it.”

He shrugged a little.

“Maybe some other time.”

Lacey realised she wasn’t going to get anything more out of him on that front. She took another drink.

“So,” she said. “Ruby says you have a grandson.”

“Yes, Henry.” His eyes softened a little. “He reminds me of Neal at his age. Bright, curious about everything. He’s a good boy.”

There was more silence, and she tried to think of something to say. Gold spared her the trouble, sucking crumbs from his fingers before glancing at her.

“I read your article with Miss West,” he said.

“Oh yeah?” She perked up a little. “What did you think?”

Gold pulled a face.

“It was more interesting in what it didn’t say,” he remarked, and Lacey deflated a little.

“Yeah, well…” she muttered. “Sidney doesn’t want a lawsuit, I guess. I had to trim out all the juicy stuff I couldn’t prove.”

“Hmm.” He looked amused at that. “Have you noticed that she’s not on good terms with the Mayor?”

“Yeah, what’s up with that?” asked Lacey. “From the look on her face, she seems to really hate Regina, but I haven’t heard that they had a fight about anything.”

“I very much doubt Mayor Mills is aware of her - animosity,” he said. “You might want to look into her distant past.”

Lacey was intrigued.

“What’ll I find?”

Gold grinned, reaching for his muffin again.

“If I told you that,” he said. “It would take all the fun out of it, wouldn’t it?”

He tore off a piece of muffin, popping it into his mouth, and Lacey took a deep breath.

“Can I interview you?” she asked, in a rush, and his eyes widened.

“What?”

“For the paper,” she explained. “Sidney bet me I couldn’t get you to agree to an interview, so since we’re now best buddies, I thought I’d ask.”

Gold looked amused.

“It’ll take a lot more than a coffee and muffin to get on my good side, Miss French.”

“Oh yeah?” said Lacey. “What more do you want?”

His smile grew.

“I don’t know just yet.”

He took a drink of coffee, and she ate the last piece of her muffin.

“So, is that a no?”

Gold popped the last of his own muffin into his mouth, dusting crumbs from his hands and sitting back.

“For now,” he said. “Ours is a new and fragile peace, after all.”

“Very poetic.”

“I have my moments.”

“Yeah, well, I’m not planning on throwing any more drinks on you,” she said. “Promise not to flash me again and I’m sure we’ll get along fine.”

“Extend me the same courtesy and we’re agreed.”

He was grinning, and she got the feeling he enjoyed being challenged.

“Fine,” she said loftily, and raised her cup. “Here’s to never seeing each other naked.”

Gold looked as though he was trying very hard not to laugh, but picked up his own cup.

“To propriety.”

They touched the cups together, and Lacey met his eyes, breath catching at the amused glint in them. Good job at not getting the hots for the guy, Lacey. Excellent work.

#fic: heatstroke #golden lace #golden lace fic #rumbelle fic #rumbelle #my fic

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knitting-gay-nerd · 3 years ago

Text

I Will Stand in the Dark for You

Turn Week 2021 | Day 2: Favorite Historical Event/Location

The Mutiny of the Pennsylvania Line, starting at about midnight January 1, 1781, Jockey Hollow

The following is a dramatization from the perspective of Temperance Wick, who, according to New Jersey legend, ran into some rebelling Continental soldiers just after midnight during the Mutiny of the Pennsylvania Line, tricked them so that they couldn’t take her horse, and hid him in a bedroom in her house. It is of course not historically accurate, for several reasons that include the presence of my original character Henrietta Wick, the mention of a nonexistent Dr. Kemble, and the fact that Tempe’s midnight ride likely never happened.

This is directly related to my fanfiction, All Done Up in Blue & Gold, although you do not need to have read it to understand this, and it contains the mildest of spoilers, as this will be from Henrietta’s point of view in the story itself.

This is over 3,000 words. Enjoy!

Mother’s labored breathing unnerved me. It was clearly audible even from the doorway, where I stood. Whatever this fever was, it had taken a toll on her. We had gone for the doctor, our brother-in-law William Leddel, when she first fell ill, but he told us that she would eventually recover and simply to take care of her as we normally would. She had become bedridden only days after Father’s funeral.

Her condition was not improving, but remaining stagnant. Father was not yet dead two weeks, and it seemed Mother might follow him into the good Lord’s arms before long.

“Tempe.” Henri’s hand rested, palm up, on Mother’s forehead. She looked at me, concern clear on her face, her brow knit together and fear shining in her widened eyes. My stomach wrenched itself into a knot. “Get Dr. Kemble.”

I straightened bolt upright from my position leaning against the side jamb of the doorway. “What’s wrong?”

“She’s burning up, worse than before, and she seems delirious. Get him now. Hurry!”

“Shouldn’t I get William? He’s been looking after her, and he’s our brother in law—“

“Kemble’s closer. Go!”

“Should you be looking after her? The baby—“

“I’m fine, Tempe! Go! Do you want to lose Mother as well?”

“No, of course I don’t!” I snapped back at her, tears pricking at my eyes. I ran, pulling on my outer clothes as quickly as possible, then running along the path through the snow to the barn to saddle Colonel.

I clicked my tongue, leading him out of the stall. “Come on boy. Ready for a nighttime ride?”

He nickered at me, nuzzling my shoulder. “We’re all business tonight, Colonel. You’ll do me proud, I’m sure.”

I kept up a meaningless chatter as I tacked him up, from his bridle to finally tightening his girth. It was a distraction for me as much as for him. Then, I led him out of the barn to mount.

“Allons-y,” I whispered. I knew he couldn’t gallop all the way to the doctor’s house, and it was dangerous to gallop, especially because Colonel was cold and the ground was frozen. However, it was imperative to reach our destination with as much speed as possible, and the doctor would have a fresh horse ready to visit Mother. We proceeded at a walk, until he was warm enough to trot.

Only the Pennsylvania Line was camped on our land this winter, but their New Year’s Eve festivities were loud and raucous as I traveled through the woods. Thankfully, I was not set upon by any drunken soldiers, but I could hear their singing and see their fires from the road. It was late, almost midnight. Mother is dying, I thought. I urged the Colonel into a canter, pushing the limits of safety given the conditions.

A few moments later, I realized that a canter was too leisurely for the gravity of the situation. Mother was dying. If ever there was a time to throw caution to the wind that streaked past me as I rode, it was now. Fuck caution, I thought. Mother would hate that that word even came to my mind. She would call it “unladylike”. Henri and I both had disappointed her in that regard. It can go to hell and reside with Lucifer himself.

I kicked Colonel’s sides, forcing him into a gallop.

The wind whistled in my ears, only the beating of my heart louder than it. My eyes watered from the cold rush of air. Colonel slowed to a canter as we reached town, only a few men in varying degrees of drunkenness milling on the streets.

“Whoa,” I called as we reached the doctor’s house. I swung down from the saddle, tying Colonel to a post. I scratched under his mane, whispering, “You did so good, boy. Thank you.”

I rapped on the door. No one answered. I knocked louder, then yelled, “I need help! Please!”

“Hold your horses, young lassie, I’m coming!” A female voice called out. After a moment and a bit of fiddling with the latch, the doctor’s maid opened the door. “What do you need, Miss?”

“My mother is severely ill. We’re afraid she might be on death’s threshold. Where’s Dr. Kemble?”

“Oh, Miss, he came home not an hour ago, drunk out of his wits. He’s not in any shape to come, and I doubt he’d be of any help.”

I sighed. “Alright. I’ll go the other way and get Dr. Leddel, then.”

“Before you go, what’s wrong with her? I might be able to offer some advice.”

“She’s in a right fever, burning to the touch and seeing things that aren’t there.”

“If you’ve any dogwood or tulip poplar bark, make a tea and get her to drink it, if you can. It will bring her fever down some. She might have to sweat it out.”

“Thank you.”

“Your mother is in my prayers.”

“Keep my sister in them as well. She’s with child, and we’re the only ones left to take care of Mother.”

“I will. God be with you!”

“Thank you.”

I mounted Colonel and urged him into a trot. He was tired, but we still had a distance to travel to reach the house Phebe and Dr. Leddel lived in. It was in the opposite direction of Morristown, on the way to Mendham. Dr. Leddel was my brother-in-law, but Mendham was farther than the doctor’s house in Morristown.

With any hope, however, we would get back home in time and the remedies Kemble’s maid had given me would be unnecessary.

We proceeded through the woods at a trot. An uneasiness came over me as I approached the point where I could hear the soldiers when I was going in the opposite direction. It was much quieter than it had been then, although not enough time had passed for their celebration to die down so completely. Just then, a shot rang out, with shouting following it. Colonel shied. He wasn’t used to gunshots, as he had never been trained to ignore such sounds. Once he recovered, I urged him on into a canter, a bleak attempt to escape whatever was happening in the camp.

I relaxed once I could no longer hear the commotion. We slowed to a trot. Despite my relative calm, Colonel remained alert, his ears pricked in the direction of the woods to our left. Rustling came from that direction, but I ignored it, assuming it was an animal. Even a few minutes later, Colonel was nervous, strange behavior because he was usually a sure horse in the woods.

Colonel’s ears swiveled, facing behind me.

“You! Stop!”

“We’re taking your horse.”

I urged Colonel on faster.

A man called out, “Continental Army. We’re commandeering your horse.”

I stopped. The man who spoke last came up to Colonel’s head and took hold of his bridle. “Get down.”

“What is the meaning of this, gentlemen?”

The brown eyes of the man who held my horse’s bridle met mine, and I was shocked by how young he looked. He was at least five years younger than me, to be certain. His dirty blond hair was in a rough queue, with strands falling out near his face. His face was thin, and he looked hungry. Yet, he had somewhat of a commanding air about him, and the two men who followed him to my side seemed subservient to him. “We’re marching on Congress to get the money we’re owed. Our bounty’s up, and we’re done. We’re barely fed and never paid for three years now.”

“Then you’re not Continental Army and cannot commandeer my horse.”

“That was only to get you to stop. Now, dismount, and we’ll be taking him. Don’t forget, we have muskets.”

“You don’t want Colonel. He’s just been at a hard gallop over to Dr. Kemble’s house. He’s too tired to make it far enough to be worth your while.”

“You think you can trick us with that? He looks fresh to me!” One of the other men said.

“Shut it, Kip, this lady probably knows more about horses than you. Please dismount, ma’am.”

“Alright, sir. Would you please help me down?”

He smiled at me. “Of course.” As he moved his hand from Colonel’s bridle, I felt a pang of regret for what he’d gone through. He was just a boy, and, if he’d been in the army for three years, he had spent most of his teenage years starving in winter camps, fighting in battles, and marching along the road. No one deserves that life, especially not someone so young. What I did not regret, however, was what I was about to do.

I turned Colonel’s head towards home and kicked his sides. Shouting erupted behind me, but we were already at a run, and far ahead of where they could catch up to us on foot.

We kept up the gallop until we reached the house. They wanted Colonel, they wanted to take him and march with him to Congress to demand their pay. No. Colonel was mine, and if they wanted him, they’d have to go through me. I couldn’t get William now, but we had to have some dogwood or tulip poplar bark that could be brewed into a tea. Now, how to hide Colonel…

They recognized me, they must have. I didn’t tell them who I was, but they would follow me home and put two and two together quickly enough. Where could I hide a horse that they wouldn’t find him? The barn would be the natural place to look; I couldn’t put him there. Not only would he be found right away outside, he would have no protection from the weather, should it start to storm. He needed somewhere with a roof, at least, preferably walls…

That’s it. The house.

I led him inside, where his shoes clopped against the wood floor. Henri ran from Mother’s bedroom.

“Temperance Wick! What is that horse doing inside? And where is Dr. Kemble?”

“Dr. Kemble is drunk in his bed at home, and Colonel is inside because the soldiers are rebelling and tried to take him. I can’t very well hide a horse in a barn where they will look first!”

“You will be the death of me! What shall we do about Mother now? We can’t ride out to Phebe’s with the soldiers in mutiny!”

“Dr. Kemble’s maid told me to brew her tea with dogwood or tulip poplar bark. She said it should help with the fever.”

“Of course! That’s what Mother used to do for us. There should be some in the cellar. Daisy!”

Daisy hurried from the kitchen. “Yes, Miss—why is Colonel inside?”

“The soldiers are mutinying, and it’s the only way to keep him from being commandeered,” I answered.

“Yes. Boil some water. We need to make dogwood tea for Mother. It should help her fever. Prepare more wet cloths as well. Tempe, find the dogwood bark in the cellar.”

“What about the soldiers?”

“I’ll take care of them. While Daisy brews the tea, you can keep watch. I’ll load a shotgun and stand guard at the door. Daisy, you can take care of Mother?”

“Yes, Miss.”

“Good. Get the field hands first. They can use the other shotguns and stand guard at the north and south. Tempe and I will stay inside and watch from the house. Go.”

Daisy went off to find the few male servants we kept around during the winter to haul wood and perform miscellaneous outdoor tasks. “Tempe, after you get the bark, you can use Father’s pistol. I’ll get it and the shot.”

“All right.” Colonel snorted. “What should we do about him?”

“I don’t know; you’re the one who brought him inside! Find a place for him. You’re right, we can’t keep him in any of the outbuildings, that’s where they’ll look first. I’ll get the bark while you hide him, then I’ll get the shot. Father’s pistol is in his study; get it after you hide Colonel.”

I nodded, and Henri went into the cellar. I took Colonel’s reins and led him through the house, thinking of a good place to put him. Eventually, I led him into a bedroom, pulled the feather mattress off the bed frame, and led him onto it to soften the sounds of his hooves.

“Alright, boy. Stay here.” He nuzzled me and nickered. I scratched underneath his mane. “And try to stay quiet.”

I left him in there, closing the door behind me. This was a most strange night, even among years of strange days and nights. I entered Father’s study, a room that hadn’t changed much since his death.

The books he and Henrietta loved so much sat on the shelves, exactly where they had been before. I too had read some of them, but their reverence far surpassed mine. Though there were not many in retrospect, they were plenty to entertain and teach us.

I walked to the desk, where his pistol lay. I was much faster at loading and a much better shot with the pistol than the shotgun, so it was better for me to wield it and for Henri to have control of the shotgun. I picked it up and returned to the parlor, where Henrietta was commanding our defense, a veritable general, though one pregnant and clad in skirts and petticoats.

At this point, Isaac and Jeremiah, the two men we had sent Daisy for, had been brought to Henri. Daisy herself was presumably brewing the tea for Mother, after which she would tend to her. Henri was giving the men instructions.

“Jeremiah, you go to the north, and Isaac, you go to the south. The men could be here any minute. Do not confront them, but if they attack you, do not hesitate. If one of you hears a gunshot, run to help the other. Tempe, there are three men, correct?”

“Yes.”

“So you’ll likely be slightly outnumbered, but we trust you. Go, and may God be with you.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Thank you. Good, you’ve got the pistol. Go by the window and watch, and keep a keen ear. It’s dark outside, so we’ll likely hear them before seeing them is feasible.”

“God willing, they won’t come, or if they do, they won’t see Isaac or Jeremiah.”

“They threatened you, a lady, so we can’t expect that they’ll leave them alone.”

“I’ll be ready.”

“That’s all we can be.” She nodded at me, and I left for the back of the house. She took her stance, her shotgun pointed at the door. I stood by a window, my pistol cocked, trying to breathe as quietly as possible and listening intently.

I stood there for what felt like hours. It was surely only a few minutes, but they dragged on as I listened and waited. The candles lighting the hallway flickered as the silence continued.

Henri broke the silence, saying in a low voice that carried through the mostly silent house, “I hear them.”

“Aye,” I responded.

A moment later, their voices were audible on my side of the house.

“Where could she have gone with that horse?”

“Why do we need it? Can’t we just march with everyone else?”

“Shut your gobs, we’ll check the barn and outbuildings and get going. Whoever’s in the house, it’s not worth messing with them, they’re probably armed.”

I waited a moment, then peered out the window, cupping my hands around my face so I could see. The mutineers were walking through the snow towards the barn.

“Henri. Henri, come here.”

“No, we need to maintain our positions.”

“Fine, they’re going to check the barn and other buildings, then leave. I think we’re safe. They said it’s too dangerous to try the house.”

“Alright. We’ll stay here until they’re surely gone.”

Silence fell again. I tried to keep my focus on the task at hand: defending my home from traitors, but my thoughts wandered. I thought about how these men were driven to this point by neglect and hunger. I thought about how my mother was on her deathbed as I stood by the window with my late father’s pistol. I thought about how my sister, pregnant with my brother-in-law’s child, was left responsible for taking care of my ill mother and defending our home, as I, feeling as helpless as I did as a child, tried not to get in her way. I thought about how Father was gone. I thought about how broken I felt inside, and wondered if Henri felt the same. I thought about how and why the thought of being left alone scared me, even though I didn’t want to fall in love or marry anyone. I thought about how desperately I longed to be happy with someone, though not in love with them. I thought about how I didn’t want to be in love, and didn’t know if I could. I thought about how I was expected to marry, expected to have children, expected to be happy with only that. I thought about how little I wanted, and how much I wanted at the same time. I thought about how much I could have, and how little I could have. I thought about how broken and divided I was, and how broken and divided the world was.

“They’re gone.”

I relaxed, not even realizing how tensely I had been holding my breath until I released it. I unloaded the pistol and placed it on a table, next to Henri’s shotgun, and together we hastened to Mother’s bedroom. Daisy stood from the chair beside the bed as we entered.

“She drank the tea, and her skin is cooler to the touch. I’ve been applying cool compresses to her forehead as well. She’s sleeping now.”

Henri placed her hand on Mother’s forehead. “You’re right, of course. Thank you, Daisy. You can tell Isaac and Jeremiah they can come back inside now.”

Daisy curtsied slightly, then hurried off.

I staggered to the chair and collapsed into it. I closed my eyes.

“Tempe, are you alright?”

“Tired.”

“You should go to bed.”

“You’ve been taking care of her all day. You should sleep first.” I opened my eyes, and hers, wide, blue, and sincere met mine.

“Mother’s better. We don’t need to stay up with her anymore.”

Suddenly, tears welled in my eyes, and I started sobbing. “Thank God. Thank God!”

She came around the bed, wrapping me in her embrace. “All is well. All is well. Come, let’s get you to bed.”

Still crying, I muttered, “Thank God we're safe. Thank God Mother is improving. Thank God, thank God, thank God.”

As we walked, she asked me, seemingly as an afterthought, “What did you do with Colonel?”

“He’s in the bedroom James used to have.”

“He’ll be safe there, so we shall leave him until morning. It’s been a long night, for him and us.”

Henri led me to our room, where she helped me undress and get into bed.

As she tucked the covers around me, I whispered to her, “You’ll be a great mother.”

The last thing I saw before I fell asleep was her smiling, and the last thing I felt was her kiss on my forehead. The last thing I heard was her telling me, “Goodnight,” then sighing. A wave of love, for her, for Mother, for Father, for everyone I had ever loved, washed over me, and I fell asleep, surrounded and covered by a feeling of safety and love.

#turn week 2021 #turn: washington’s spies #turn washington’s spies #turn amc #temperance wick #henrietta wick #all done up in blue & gold #my writing #writing from Tempe’s POV was fun #this is specifically what I was thinking about when I said that every character I write from the perspective of turns out queer #(I declare Tempe aromantic allosexual and I will fight you if you say different because this is MY STORY and I can do what I want.)#oh and the title 'I will stand in the dark for you' is from the song Sonya alone from Natasha Pierre and the great comet of 1812

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swanqueeneverafter · 4 years ago

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Before All Hell Breaks Loose.

The Underworld. (Surrounded by the Sea of Lost Souls, two men sit at a table opposite each other playing a game.) Hades: (Moving his piece across the board:) "And I believe that's checkmate." Facilier: (Slamming his fist on the table:) "Damn! Let's play again." Hades: (Chuckles:) "When will you learn, Facilier. You can't defeat me." Facilier: "I will find a way, believe me." Hades: "You forget who you're talking to. I know all your tricks. Why I bet I can predict what your next move will be before you've even thought of it." Facilier: "I would not be so sure, Lord Hades." Hades: "Oh have it your way. (Waves his hand and resets the board:) Just remember, Facilier, you cannot cheat death." Facilier: “I’ll bear that in mind.” Evil Queen: (Striding towards them:) “As will I.” (Rising quickly from his high-backed chair, Hades turns to face the Evil Queen as she leads a legion of former Dark Ones into his chamber.) Hades: "Well well, if it isn't the Evil Queen. At last we meet." Evil Queen: "Clearly my reputation proceeds me." Hades: "Oh you have no idea. (Looking beyond her:) And I see you've not come alone. Nimue. Zoso. Dark Ones all. It's my honour to welcome you all to my kingdom." Evil Queen: "And you are?" Hades: (Smiles:) "I am Hades, Lord of the Underworld." Evil Queen: "Charmed." Facilier: (Clears his throat:) "Lord Hades. What about our game?" Hades: "Come now, Facilier, where are your manners? Can't you see I’ve suddenly become quite busy. Besides, you've had enough humiliation for one evening. Leave us. (Facilier stands, picks up his hat from the table and exits the chamber, making sure to steer clear of the Dark Ones:) Now, where were we? Ah yes. Seeing as there are so many of you, perhaps it would be best if I saw you all in small groups. Would you care to take a seat, Your Majesty?"

Storybrooke. Granny's Diner. (While Regina talks with Henry and Violet, Emma sits alone at a booth when Zelena approaches.) Emma: (With Zelena glaring at her:) "Do we have a problem?" Zelena: (Scoffs:) "Don't you have something to say to me?" Emma: (Looks down:) "Zelena if there was anyway I could undo what I did then-" Zelena: "Oh save it, Emma. All I want from you is an apology." Emma: (Nods:) "I-I'm sorry, Zelena, I truly am." Zelena: "Thank you." Emma: "If there's ever anything I can do to-" Zelena: "Actually, there is something." (Overhearing the conversation, the Charmings move closer towards them.) Emma: (Stiffly:) "All right." Zelena: (Spares the Charmings a smile then returns her attention to Emma:) "I'm going to find my daughter and bring her home with me. All I need you to do is keep Regina off my back." Emma: "What do you mean?" Zelena: (Rolls her eyes:) "Regina and Robin made me promise that I would only be able to see my baby girl when either of them were present. I want you to convince them that's no longer necessary." Mary Margaret: "Zelena, this isn't the way to build trust. What if-" Emma: (Cutting in:) "I'll do it." Zelena: (Smiles:) "That's all I needed to hear." (With that, Zelena waves her hand and disappears in a cloud of green smoke.) David: "Emma, are you sure that's the right thing to do?" Emma: "I'll handle it." Regina: (Walking over:) "Handle what?" Emma: (Smiles:) "Nothing that can't wait." Regina: (Returning the smile:) "Good. (Taking Emma's hands in her own:) Time to go home." Emma: (Glancing over at their son:) "What about Henry?" Regina: "He's going to stay and talk with Violet for awhile." Emma: "And you're okay with that?" Regina: "I think it's fair they say their goodbyes before they're both grounded." Emma: "Regina-" Regina: "Shh. That's a conversation for another time. For now, I'm taking you home." (Emma sees the earnest look on Regina's face and nods before they're both enveloped in their own cloud of smoke.)

Mills House. (Reappearing outside on the door step, Regina leans in and gives Emma a soft, chaste kiss before turning and unlocking the front door. Allowing herself to be led inside, Emma's momentary confusion at arriving outside the Mayor’s mansion is replaced with understanding as they make their way silently up the long winding staircase. With each step, Emma feels herself being welcomed back home. Her suspicions are confirmed when upon reaching the bedroom door, Regina places another chaste kiss upon her lips. Moving over to the bed, Regina motions for Emma to take a seat. Slowly, Regina kneels and carefully removes each of Emma's boots, placing them neatly at the foot of the bed. When Emma reaches for her, Regina kisses her once more before heading swiftly towards the bathroom. Laying back on the bed, Emma listens as the sound of running water is heard. Before too long, Regina reappears in the doorway and beckons Emma over with a wave of her hand. With the gentlest of touches and the utmost care, Regina proceeds to remove the rest of Emma's clothing before helping her into the bath. Lowering herself into the water, Emma gives Regina a questioning look but Regina merely rolls up her sleeves, kneels beside the tub and begins to wash Emma's hair. Not knowing what else to do, Emma closes her eyes and surrenders to the sensation of being truly cared for and loved, unconditionally. All too soon, the bath is over and Emma finds herself being reverently toweled dry by Regina who still has yet to speak since they entered the Mayor’s mansion. Returning to the bedroom, Emma perches herself on the bed and watches while Regina removes her own clothing. Then, reclined on the bed together, they share soft, delicate kisses before Regina begins to move slowly down Emma's body. Feeling utterly loved and relaxed, Emma absentmindedly asks a question that has clearly been on her mind for awhile.) Emma: "Were you smart in school?" Regina: (Lifts her head from Emma's chest:) "What?" Emma: "Did you even have school in the Enchanted Forest?" Regina: (Confused by this line of questioning:) "I... had a tutor growing up. My father would often sit in during my lessons and watch quietly in the corner." Emma: "Yeah?" Regina: (Nods:) "I remember whenever I would glance back at him he would always give me the most brilliant smile." (Regina shifts her weight to lean on her elbow beside Emma.) Emma: (Smiling:) "What was your best subject?" Regina: "I was good at everything." Emma: (Laughs:) "Of course you were." Regina: "I do remember doing very well at spelling and seeing my father cry tears of joy whenever I managed to spell a difficult word." Emma: "That's nice. I wish I could've met him. What was he like?" Regina: "My father? (Emma nods:) He was the sweetest man I ever met. He was probably too sweet. Humble. Loving. He grew up a prince and so we had land and position, but... he was soft. Just too sensitive and he couldn't really handle my mother." (Regina rolls onto her back and stares at the ceiling.) Emma: "And your mom?" Regina: (Smiles:) "Mother was very beautiful. Very motivated and ambitious, often to the detriment of those around her. She was very smart. But cold." Emma: "I didn't get to spend much time with Cora and none of it was what I'd call pleasant. But I could tell she loved you very much, in her own way." Regina: (Nods:) "She did. There are times when I miss them both so much. When I was little and couldn't sleep, I'd always ask my father if I could sleep with him and he never refused." Emma: "I know you haven't been sleeping. (When Regina looks at her:) Henry told me he caught you in the kitchen more than once cooking long past midnight." Regina: (Shakes her head:) "I couldn't sleep. Not when you were out there alone, because of me." Emma: "Regina, I chose to save you and I would do it again, without hesitation." Regina: "I know you would, but that doesn't make it any easier. When the Darkness took you away... it was just like losing my father all over again." Emma: "Hey, you and I just destroyed the Darkness together. You will never lose me, because I'm not going anywhere, you got that?" Regina: (Smiles:) "Loud and clear." Emma: "Good. Now I think we both could use some sleep." Regina: "Mm. Agreed." Emma: (Snuggles in close and kisses her deeply:) "I love you, Regina." Regina: "I love you, Emma." (While Emma settles down beside her, placing a protective hand across her chest, Regina stares at the ceiling for a few moments more lost in thought, before closing her eyes and finally falling asleep.) The Underworld. Hades' Chamber. (Hades and the Evil Queen are seated, discussing how she came to be in his domain.) Evil Queen: "So, with the help of Snow White of all people, Regina injected herself with this serum she purchased from the Dragon and our souls split right down the middle." Hades: "How awful. And she claims to be the hero?" Evil Queen: (Scoffs:) "Let her. If Regina thinks she's seen the last of me, she has another thing coming." Hades: (Smiles:) "Well, that all really depends on what you have to offer me, my dear. I don't just send people back to the land of the living on a whim. After all, what's a God without followers, hm?" Evil Queen: "Believe me, Hades, I am not worth the trouble I would cause if you decided to keep me down here. I neither worship or follow. I lead." Hades: "Yes, I'm a big fan of your work. We're really quite similar when you think about it. You cast a curse to force people to your will, and I am cursed to rule a kingdom whose inhabitants have no choice but to obey me." Evil Queen: "Ah, but every person I cursed still had free will." Hades: "As do the members of my flock. They can choose to fall in line or spend eternity as part of the River of Lost Souls." Evil Queen: (Glancing at the river flowing beside them:) "You drive a hard bargain." Hades: "Coming from the final Dark One, I'll take that as a compliment. Now, enough stalling, what is it you wish to offer me?" Evil Queen: "A gift." (The Queen stands, conjuring Excalibur into her outstretched hands and offering it to Hades. Rising to his feet, Hades takes a cautious step towards the blade.) Hades: "You realise of course that I am already a God. Powerful enough to control anyone within my kingdom with a mere snap of my fingers." Evil Queen: "Maybe so, but if there's one thing I've learned from dealing with men like you... it's that you can never have enough power." Hades: "You would give up the Darkness in exchange for me returning you to life?" Evil Queen: "Oh please, cut the crap. You and I both know I'm not dead. If I were I wouldn’t have been able to conjure Excalibur just now." Hades: "You've known this whole time?" Evil Queen: "I had my suspicions, which you just confirmed. For some reason I am still breathing yet still tethered here by this. (Raises Excalibur once more:) Use your powers to free me and the Darkness is yours.” (Opening his hands to lay palms up, Hades allows the Queen to place Excalibur upon them.) Hades: "You know I could just kill you and have both?" Evil Queen: (Conjures a fireball in her hand:) "You're welcome to try." Hades: (Smiles:) "Perhaps you'll allow me some time to consider your offer?" Evil Queen: "Fine. (Extinguishes the fireball:) Just don't take too long." (With that, the Queen turns and exits Hades' chamber. When she passes along the darkened corridor, Facilier steps out from the shadows, having heard every word.)

Mills House. The Next Morning. (Emma lays on the bed watching Regina get ready for work.) Emma: "I'm not saying I do a full day, just go in for the morning see what's up then bail after lunch." Regina: "No, you’re not going into work today. David's got it covered and you need your rest." Emma: "So do you." Regina: "Actually I've not felt this good in a long, long time. Truly, I feel as though a weight has been lifted." Emma: "Mm. Well I still don't see why you have to go in." Regina: "Because I'm the Mayor and I have to smooth the way for your return. The Dark Swan did a number on a lot of people." Emma: (Waves this off:) "They'll get over it. You cursed them for 30 years and yet you're still Mayor. What the hell am I supposed to do here all day alone?" Regina: "Relax? Catch up on some sleep? (Emma screws up her face:) Some housework?" Emma: (Feigns a yawn:) "Now that you mention it, I am feeling kinda tired." Regina: (Beams:) "Uh huh. (Leans down and kisses her:) I'll be home before you know it." Underworld. Hades' Chamber. (The Lord of the Underworld is now speaking with the first Dark One, Nimue.) Nimue: "You can't seriously be considering the Evil Queen's offer." Hades: "Oh, and why not?" Nimue: "Legend has it that no one has ever escaped Lord Hades' kingdom. You rule with an iron fist. Allowing the Evil Queen to return to the land of the living untethered from the Darkness would set a very dangerous precedent." Hades: "True. But on the other hand it would give me full control of the Darkness, not to mention control of every single Dark One in history." Nimue: "The Darkness does you no good here. Why not use Excalibur to kill the Queen, become the Dark One and return us all to the land of the living?" Hades: "You mean trade one prison for another? Believe it or not, Nimue, becoming the Dark One would be a step down for me. Besides, the Darkness no longer belongs in that world. Regina and her Saviour banished it down here forever along with all of you." Nimue: "Then why untether the Evil Queen at all if there is no hope of harnessing the power of the Darkness?" Hades: "Because the living do not belong in my kingdom. No matter how formidable I may be, I still have limited power over those who live and breathe." Nimue: (Moving closer to him:) "And you believe you wield power over me?" Hades: "Don't test me, Nimue. I'm a reasonable guy but this unrelenting heat can make me absolutely crazy. (Suddenly, blue flames erupt out of the top of Hades' head:) Now I suggest you and your dream team of Dark Ones leave me in peace before I do something you really won't approve of." Abandoned Amusement Park. (Emma opens her eyes and finds herself sitting in her bug, not knowing where she is.) Neal: (Sits up in the back of the bug:) “Hey, Emma.” Emma: (Gasps:) “Neal?” Neal: “Yeah.” Emma: “It's really great to see you. Where are we? Am I dreaming?” Neal: “No. If this were a dream, there'd be, like, talking doughnuts or something weird like that. (Gets out of the car, before getting back into the passenger seat:) Think of this as a long-distance call from an old friend.”

Emma: “It's really you.” Neal: “How's Henry?” Emma: “Great. He... misses his dad. He's growing up.” Neal: “I bet.” Emma: “Where are we? I was asleep at home.” Neal: “You mean the Mayor’s Mansion?” Emma: (Smiles:) “It’s home.” Neal: (Nods:) “I’m glad you found your happiness. That's kind of why I'm here. It’s not over, Emma. The forces you sought to destroy are still out there.” Emma: “You mean the Darkness?” Neal: “And others.” Emma: “Others? What do you mean?” Neal: “I’m not really supposed to say. I’m breaking all kinds of rules just by being here, but trust me on this. Don’t let your guard down just yet.” Emma: “Where are you, Neal? The Underworld?” Neal: (Shakes his head:) “The Underworld's for people with unfinished business, and that isn't me. That's why I'm not there.” Emma: “Then where...” Neal: “Someplace. Someplace where I'm happy. I only came here because I care about you, Emma. Do whatever you can to prepare yourself and the people you care about before it's too late.” Emma: “All right, enough with being cryptic. What is it, what’s coming?” Neal: (Breathes sharply:) “I love you, Emma. I always have, and I always will.” (Kisses her forehead, before getting out of the car and walking away.) Emma: “Neal?” (When Emma reaches for the car door she awakens from her dream.) Mills House. Living Room. (Emma is laying on the couch when she jolts herself awake. She stares up at the ceiling and after a few moments, sits up, looking confused, before standing.) Mr. & Mrs. Gold’s House. (Mr. Gold finishes getting dressed, while Belle is still asleep in bed. His phone goes off and it's a text from Emma which reads, "Meet me at your shop, now.") Mr. Gold’s Shop. (Emma waits at the counter in Gold's shop, when the door opens and Mr. Gold enters, closing the door behind him.) Mr. Gold: “Now, you see. This isn't the library or Granny's or some bus station, Miss Swan. This is my shop. (He walks towards her and stands behind the counter:) Unless the sign says "open"... you're not invited.” Emma: “I just had a vision.” Mr. Gold: (Non-plussed:) “Really.” Emma: “From Neal. He warned me that things weren’t over and that I should prepare myself and the people I love for what’s to come.” Mr. Gold: “And what is coming?” Emma: “He wouldn’t say.” Mr. Gold: (Nods:) “Of course not.”

Emma: “You don’t believe me?” Mr. Gold: “Oh I believe you, Miss Swan. Back when I was in my coma, Bae and I had a great many conversations just like yours.” Emma: “You saw him too?” Mr. Gold: “Indeed. It was because of those conversations that I was reminded of the promise I made to Bae after he died. He told me that my family was in trouble and that when the time came, I should do whatever it took to save them.” Emma: “That’s why you were ready to sacrifice yourself in New York?” Mr. Gold: “Yes. I was prepared to do the right thing when Belle arrived to save me once again. I cannot reward my wife’s faith in me by endangering her. So if what Baelfire says is true then I must do right by Belle and take her as far from here as possible.” Emma: “You’re leaving?” Mr. Gold: “Belle has always wanted to travel. The world beyond the town line can be a scary place, but I’d rather take my chances out there than stay here and face what’s yet to come.” (Mr. Gold walks back around the counter, heading for the door when Emma grabs his arm.) Emma: “Gold. You know the Darkness better than anyone, do you really think it can come back?” Mr. Gold: (Sighs:) “All I know, Miss Swan, is Merlin believed that killing the vessel that contained Darkness would destroy it. If that is proved false and the Darkness is about to return... then no one is safe.” The Underworld. (Agitated by her earlier meeting with Hades, Nimue leads the rest of the former Dark Ones along a darkened corridor when they come upon Dr. Facilier, who blocks their path.) Facilier: "A tip of the hat from Dr. Facilier. (Nimue says nothing, merely inclining her head to stare curiously at the man:) Friends, I know I'm a stranger to you all, but it seems to me that we share a common agenda. To see the Darkness return to the land of the living and continue its glorious reign over those lesser mortals. Therefore I propose an alliance. (Facilier produces a talisman from his pocket and holds it out for all to see:) I need your generous assistance in making this stone powerful enough to return me to the land of the living. (Nimue and the others glare at him:) Hahaha, I hear you. Now, what's in it for you? Well... As soon as I dispose of the traitorous Evil Queen, then I'm gonna run this town they call Storybrooke. I'll have the entire populace in the palm of my hand. And you'll have all the wayward souls your dark little hearts desire. (Smiles, noticing that this has piqued the Dark Ones collective interest:) You all love that, don't you? So, we got ourselves a deal? (Several of the hooded figures step forward and allow their souls to be drawn inside the talisman, causing it to glow brightly for a long moment before returning to its inky blackness:) Hahaha! Now we're cooking!”

Storybrooke. Blanchard Apartment. (Regina, Henry, The Charmings and Robin Hood are gathered to hear what Emma has to say.) Mary Margaret: "It's coming back?" Emma: "Maybe." David: "Well it either is or it isn't." Emma: "Neal didn't specify what was coming, only that it was bad." Regina: "Which could mean absolutely anything." Robin Hood: "If it's the Darkness or not, there's only so much preparation that can be made for an unknown enemy." Henry: (To Regina:) "Mom, think. Are there any other people from your past who may want revenge?" Regina: "Not that I can think of, no." David: "To be fair, there must be hundreds to choose from." Emma: (Chiding:) "Dad." David: (Holds up his hands:) "I'm just saying." Mary Margaret: "Regardless of who or what it is, we have to let the town know what's going on." Regina: "And what do you suggest, that I post a notice on the bulletin board? 'Dear people of Storybrooke, while Emma Swan is no longer a threat, please standby for something worse. Details to follow'?" Robin Hood: "Well I for one am not ready to face Zelena again to tell her the bad news. I barely dodged the last fireball she hurled at me." Regina: "Speaking of which, did you really agree to support Zelena?" Emma: (Hesitates:) "Let's stay focused on the problem at hand, all right?" (The room fills with voices while everyone talks over each other, trying to decide what threat could possibly be headed their way next.) The Underworld. (Hades is pacing back and forth considering his options.) Hades: "Seemingly since the beginning of time, I have been cursed to rule over this kingdom. I have played host to the greatest heroes and villains mankind has ever known. For centuries I was given the task of deciding who would go on to spend eternity in the Elysian Fields or remain to suffer forever in Tartarus. And were my efforts recognised in any way? Of course not. (Stops pacing and heads towards the figure trapped in the pillory to whom he's been speaking:) A man can only take so much before he is pushed too far. (Leans down to be eye level with the man:) And so that is why I've redirected my efforts into making sure each and every soul that enters my kingdom suffers just as greatly as I have."

Pan: "You're doing an excellent job, Lord Hades." Hades: (Tilts his head and smiles:) "Thank you. (Stands and resumes his pacing:) However, with the arrival of the Darkness into my domain, it does present me with quite the opportunity. You see, I grow weary of torturing those who are already dead. Like any respectable deity, I long to expand my flock. For far too long I have been shackled by my curse, allowed only too briefly to enter my brother's kingdom and feel fresh air upon my face. To listen to the birdsong and to be in the presence of my heart's truest desire. (Pan raises his head at this, intrigued:) Using the Darkness I shall bring my kingdom to the land of the living, forging a bridge between both realms." Pan: "What then, Lord Hades?" Hades: (Laughs:) "What then? Oh, my dear Peter. Then the real fun begins." Elsewhere In The Underworld. (The Evil Queen is making her way back to Hades' chamber when she rounds a corner to find Facilier waiting for her.) Evil Queen: (Scoffs:) "And who are you supposed to be?" Facilier: "I don’t believe we’ve been properly introduced, I am-" Evil Queen: "You were the one eavesdropping outside Hades' chamber. My, your lord won't appreciate that." Facilier: "There's a great deal that Hades and I do not agree on, but we both have an eye for talent." Evil Queen: (Laughs:) "Really. Is that what you are, a talent scout?" Facilier: "In a manner of speaking. Back when I was alive, I was quite the practitioner of dark magic myself. But I was nothing compared to Rumplestiltskin's greatest student." Evil Queen: (Eyes him suspiciously:) "You want something. What is it?" Facilier: "To learn from the best of course. Seeing you walk through those doors in all your magnificence, I could hardly believe my eyes. I never thought I would have the opportunity of meeting someone who's very name strikes fear into the hearts of many through countless realms." Evil Queen: (Rolls her eyes:) "Flattery aside, I'm not the teaching kind." (The Queen continues on her way.) Facilier: (Calling after her:) "And I'm not the kind of man who misses an opportunity." Evil Queen: (Stops walking, allowing Facilier to catch up to her:) "If I were to teach you, what would I-" Facilier: "Get out of it? (Smiles:) Besides an eager student, you would have an ally. Something the Evil Queen is in short supply of these days. (Producing the talisman from his pocket and holding it out:) Here, take this. Carry it with you and I shall be by your side. If you ever tire of me then simply throw it into a body of water and I shall return here to the Underworld." Evil Queen: (Considers:) "Hm. It has been a while since I had my own personal lap dog." Facilier: (Smiling as the Queen takes the talisman:) "Just call me your Shadow Man." Storybrooke. Mills House. (Emma reclines on the bed staring at the ceiling. Her mind racing with possibilities as to what the threat that's coming to Storybrooke could be. Despite this, Emma soon finds her eyelids becoming heavier before they close and she drifts off to sleep.)

Downstairs. (Meanwhile in the living room, Regina is staring into the fireplace when Henry calls out to her.) Henry: “Mom? Why are you sitting down here by yourself?” Regina: (Sighs:) “I’m just... thinking.” Henry: (Sitting beside her:) “About...? (Regina gives him a look:) Mom you know whatever the threat is that we can defeat it, right?” Regina: “What makes you so sure?” Henry: “Because we always have. And because what I choose to believe in is faith... hope that no matter what challenges lie ahead, we will meet them head on, together.” Regina: “You sound so much like your Grandmother.” Henry: “Cora said that?” Regina: “Ha. Ha.” Henry: “Listen, I know right now your feeling like there’s just one thing after another and there’s never a moment’s peace. But what we have here, the three of us, and our family... that’s the stuff that is always worth the struggle.” Regina: (Smiles, tears in her eyes:) “You’re definitely spending too much time with your Grandparents. How did you get to be so smart, huh?” Henry: (Shrugs:) “I figure someone’s gotta be around here.” Regina: “Hey! (Ruffles his hair and pulls him in close for a hug:) I love you so much, Henry.” Henry: “I love you too, Mom. You know we’re gonna be ready for whatever comes our way, right?” Regina: (Nods, her head against his shoulder:) “I hope so.” Storybrooke. Main Street. Night. (The clinking of blades. Emma appears to be battling against an unknown, cloaked assailant. As the fighting intensifies, the visions become shorter and shorter before, suddenly, Emma awakens.) Mayor’s Mansion. Morning. (Breathing heavily, Emma looks wide eyed down at her hand which is now shaking. She turns when the bedroom door opens to see a concerned looking Regina enter the room.) Emma: “It’s nothing, I’m fine.” Regina: “Well, you may be fine, but our town isn’t. Look.” (Regina goes to the window and opens the curtains. Glancing out the window, Emma sees that the sky is now tinged red.) Emma: “What is that?” Regina: “I don’t know, but I have a feeling it isn’t good.”

The End.

#sq #swanqueen #swan queen

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