#we're bringing this one back BABEY!!!

[otdiaftg]

The King's Men - Chapter Sixteen (18)

Day: Friday, April 12th / 13th* Time: 9:55 PM EST

Jeremy takes the loss well in his post-game interview and expresses no regrets for how things had turned out. He sidesteps every opportunity to call the Ravens out on their ugly playing style but perks up when attention is drawn to how close they'd been to a win. "We almost had it, right?" Jeremy says. "I don't think anyone was expecting us to get that close. It feels really different out there without Kevin and Jean on the line." "Worst time of year for someone to be injured," the reporter agrees. Tetsuji had announced earlier in the week that Jean was off the court with a bad sprain. "Rumor has it Jean won't make it back in time for finals." "Yeah, I spoke to Jean earlier this week. He's definitely done for the year, but he'll be back in the fall. He just won't be back in black." Jeremy flashes his toothy grin and doesn't wait to be asked to explain. "Yesterday he faxed us over the last of the paperwork we needed to make this thing official, so I'm allowed to tell you: he's transferring to USC for his senior year." "Let me make sure I heard you correctly," the reporter says. "Jean Moreau is leaving Edgar Allan for USC?" "We ordered his gear this morning," Jeremy says. "We'll have to get him some sun this summer, though! He's a little pale to pull off red and gold right now." He laughs like this news isn't going to cause an uproar with Edgar Allan's rabid fans. "Unfortunately his number was taken already, but Jean said we can reassign him to whatever's open. I'll let him tell you what his new one is going to be." "Can you tell us why he's transferring?" "I can't get into all the details because it's not my place to tell his personal business, but I can say we're excited to have him. I think we have a lot to learn from each other. Next year is going to be amazing. I think you're going to see a lot of changes across the board. We've all got to take another look at what we bring to the court."

Art used with permission by llstarcasterll. Thank you @llstarcasterll!

*Due to the Leap Year, I have opted to highlight the day rather than the date to keep the events in occurrence to the 2007 year. I will continue to mark both days accordingly.

[secret-smut-sideblog]

Distances Melded (Part 5)

18+ implied drug use (Tav smoking the slutweed babey), edging, restraint, merciless teasing, oral (m!), p-in-v, sub/dom if you squint, tenderness

Astarion X F! Plus Sized Tav

listening to: Dinner & Diatribes - Hozier, We're In Love - boygenius

-

He was discovering more and more surprises about his lover.

One late night, after a particularly dreary and painfully boring quest Halsin made a rather interesting offer.

"It'll help us.. relax. Feel more in tune with the world, you know."

"Relaxing herbs..." Shadowheart said, her tone dubious.

"Drugs, yes." Lae'zel said flatly.

"Thank you, Lae'zel."

"Well, I'm going to bed."

"No one asked, Gale."

Halsin began packing his pipe, unbothered. "Well I'll be partaking, if any of you feel like joining in dont be afraid to-"

"I'll have some, sure."

Everyone looked at Tav with shock.

"What? I'm not allowed to unwind?" She raised her eyebrows playfully, sending a wink to Astarion.

"Our fearless leader? Imbibing in substances?Well, well, well..." She wiggled her eyebrows at him with a wide smile. Gods he adored her.

Within an hour those who had stayed were all laying around the fire like house cats. Seems they weren't so resistant after all, Astarion thought, unimpressed.

He found Tav particularly.. distracting. The herbs had made her languid and sensual. Stretching her lower back, arms out in front of her. That delectable line of her hip creasing, the roundness of her ass on full display. She leaned back and flopped over into his lap.

The others were too busy with their own experience to notice her but it almost made him blush.

She stared up at him, a relaxed smile splitting her face. "Hey there, lovely." Reaching up to play with the ties of his tunic.

"And how are you feeling?" He said, smirking. His hand unconsciously trailing through her hair.

She pushed into his hand. A small moan leaving her at his touch.

"Good, really good." She purred, pulling his hand to her mouth, nipping at it a bit. Giving him a mischievous smile. Gods she would be the death of him.

She threw her hands above her head and stretched again, arching her back deliciously over him. Letting out a little relaxed whine.

"Darling, you seem rather tired." He coaxed, mouth dry. "Would you like to retire to my quarters? You can use my tent for the night."

"Oh can I?" She said eyes sliding over to him, arms still above her head, bringing her legs up into a cheeky curl. Teasing him. "That's awfully nice of you." Her eyes lidding, a cat with a saucer of milk.

He had never seen her so haughty and it was making him crazy. "You little viper," He said so low that only she could hear. She bit her lip at him, smiling.

He stood up, quicker than he meant to, taking her hand and leading her away. She practically skipped behind him, giggling. "Uh-oh.. I'm in trouble~" She sing-songed.

He only made it as far as a distant tree until he was pushing her against the bark. She moaned into his mouth.

Looping both of her legs around his thighs she pulled, forcing him off balance to press his hips into her.

"Oh you've got tricks, do you?" He said low into her ear, heard her giggle and took the chance to nip at his lobe. He groaned, Gods how did she know his weaknesses already.

She took his chin in her hand, immobilizing him as her mouth was still trained on his ear. Pushed her hand up his shirt, brushing her fingers over his nipples. He whined, trying not to grind into her. Fuck.

She pulled back, a wicked smile on her lips. Her eyes lidded and knowing only made him feel hazier.

She moved her thumb to his lips, still holding his chin in the same hand. Slowly drug it back and forth across his bottom lip, asking for entrance. He opened his mouth and she slid it in, dragging it hard along his fang. Drawing blood.

He moaned, tongue working. Already lapping up the rivulets that poured out. Her heady taste overwhelming.

She cocked her head to the side, a satisfied smile on her flushed face. "So hungry," She breathed.

Her thumb still in his mouth she snaked her hand down his front, her hand palming him over his clothes.

His eyes hitched back in his head, could already feel himself straining hard. The realization that they were still out in the open only making it worse.

Her mouth found his neck, nipping and licking. Her hand moving so slowly, sliding up and down his length over his leathers, applying pressure.

Strong legs still hooked around his he had nowhere to go, he was at her mercy. The realization making him shiver, bracing his forearms next to her head against the tree.

Blind with lust he began grinding into her hand. She pulled away in response and he resisted whining. Her fingers slipping teasingly along the inside lining of his leathers, the backs caressing the sensitive skin there.

He didnt know how much more of her heavenly torture he could take.

She pulled her thumb out of his mouth with a wet pop, hand resting on his clavicle. Still teasing the sensitive skin of his pelvis. Fingers oh so gently wrapping around his throat.

"Astarion," She said, as if in thought. "I've realized that I've been the only one to have gotten off between us."

"Have you now?" He tried for suave but he couldn't hide the pant in his voice.

That cat smile. "Would you want me to rectify that, my perfect Star?" She said low in his ear. He felt her hand loosen, her legs released him slightly. An offer to stop.

He was on fire, pushing her hands above her head, holding them there in one hand. She smiled and squirmed beneath him cheekily.

"Not here," He breathed, hot with need.

In one motion he leaned down and caught her waist on his shoulder, flipping her onto his back. Her wrists still trapped in his hand. She squealed in delight as he braced her waist with the other.

He walked as fast as his long legs would take them, pushing open the entrance to his tent.

"In such a rush, are we?" She admonished, hot into his ear. The herbs were making her so much more vocal and it was making him wild.

"My sweet, you're playing with fire," He warned, she shook her ass in response. Incorrigible.

He threw her down on the cushions on his bedroll, pulling his tunic off. Her hand drifted under her own, pulling it up just high enough that he could see the underside of her breasts. Her other hand slipping into her leggings, the outline of her fingers working.

"Tell me what you want." She whispered.

He crawled down to her, kissing on the exposed skin of her stomach. He never got used to her considering of him, what he desired. Through the thick haze of his lust he felt his heart flutter.

"I.. need to be inside you, sweet girl." He murmured into her skin, surprising himself. Gaining in his sureness, "I've waited for you. For this."

He saw her eyes soften, pulling his face up to hers. "If it becomes too much I want us to stop, okay? You'll tell me?" She whispered to him.

He nodded, kissing her deeply. She sighed into the kiss, leg hooking around him. Pulling him up to her. His hand slid over her mound, thumb making lazy circles. Her breath hitched and she reached for the ties in his leathers, her need rising again.

She held onto them as if to untie, then pushed his hips causing him to fall back, knees bent. Right into her trap. He gasped and his breath hitched into a groan as her hand quickly slid inside his trousers. Mouth meeting his stomach, licking hungry strokes up the lines of his hips. He shivered and threw his head back, already feeling the wetness of precum in his small clothes.

He was not going to last long at this rate.

His hands made quick work of the ties and he was blissfully free. She smiled at the length of him, finger trailing up the vein he already knew was throbbing.

With no warning she took him entirely into her mouth, tongue working. He gasped and braced himself against her shoulder, gripping hard. One hand behind him, barely holding him up.

She was making lewd sounds, groaning and slurping. He thought he was going to go mad.

Oh Gods he was already close. She pulled back as if sensing this and shimmied down her leggings. He pulled them the rest of the way off with more force than he intended. "What a gentleman," She purred.

The words made his head spin. He pulled her onto his lap, sitting in a kneeling position. She looped her arms around his shoulders and kissed him deeply, sliding her core back and forth against him. He gripped her thighs and helped her onto him, letting her weight down slowly. She hissed out a moan into his ear as he filled her. Her body adjusting to him. He groaned, his eyes rolling slightly at the molten pressure around him.

They stayed still for a moment, their joined breathing. Then she planted her feet.

Slowly she rose and fell, rolling her hips.

He looped an arm around her back, pulling her closer. Nuzzling his mouth into the crook of her neck, silencing himself there. Her smell intoxicating.

She leaned her head back as she rode him, all slick inside her. She felt like velvet, like heaven, his eyelids fluttering as she picked up speed.

Tight breaths left his lips as his undoing approached, eyes screwing shut in concentration. She smiled diabolically, grinding down harder. Suddenly grabbed a fistful of his hair, pulling his head back taut. Her voice low in his ear as he gasped raggedly.

"I want you to come. Now."

Blinding white light behind his eyes. Gripping onto her back he strangled out a cry, her hips still rising and falling into him. Shaking and whimpering, his face crumpled in near painful ecstasy.

She held her wrist to his mouth and eyes wide, he sank into her. The blood bringing him to new heights. Uncontrolled he bucked his hips, her wrist flesh muffling the high moan that left him. Mercifully her hips started to slow, the overstimulation making his eyes water.

She smiled fondly at him, straddling him. Still buried inside her as he drank. The spreading warmth of her blood mixed with his comedown, a delicious exhaustion overtaking him.

He fell back, hand holding her wrist to his mouth. She came down with him, laying on her side. Her free hand drawing designs on his stomach as he licked at the wound. "How do you feel?" She whispered.

He looked over at her, eyes wide. "I cant even begin to describe it." He panted. "You've killed me, blessed me. Thank you, thank you." He turned and buried his face into her neck, holding her tightly. His body still trembling.

She smiled, wrapping herself around him. Planting kisses all down the side of his neck.

Laying in the gentle haze of morning, Astarion looked over his lover.

Adored how she slept, all limbs and abandon. Flat on her back, still bare to him she breathed low and steady. He had been melded into her blissfully but had pulled back. Taking an indulgent moment to fully take her in, the wild beauty of her.

The hooked curve of her nose, the elegant slant to her eyes, the height of her cheekbones. The waves and waves of her ebony hair. So thick, she always complained, pulling it away from her overheated neck. Lips dark and flushed, the way they would purse when she was trying to hold back a smile.

She was of the heavens, of the sweet dark.

In the growing light his eyes drank her, words failing him. Knew no words would be enough. Scooped her up into his lap and held her as close as he could.

~

Part 6

[sweet-beezus]

@khoc-week

Man, the final day already...

It's been so fun to poke around all those OCs, always a pleasure to experience and makes me excited for next year!!

I've been busy, so I may go back in to reread all the posts and appreciate them in full, but just know I absolutely adore everyone's OCs and thank y'all for being unashamed to post and talk about them!!! ♥ ♥

Genuinely, it's so enriching for me-

Without further ado, the final prompt!

Day 7 - Future

Considering that Myst gets trapped in the Realm of Darkness with Lugh before Aqua's sacrifice (I say as if I'm not the only one aware of this information, but the time frame is vague so far so who even knows when it happens-), you'd probably imagine that her future would end up lonely, especially if she and Lugh got separated for... mysterious reasons. ([cough cough] another old man bites the dust, my condolences to old men enjoyers.)

However, she finds herself running into Aqua at some point and the two traverse the realm together until they reach that fated shoreline, waiting for someone to come get them.

The both of them do end up caving in to their individual darknesses, Myst having to face a sort of guilt for losing Lugh (situation pending, I'm leaning towards her striking him down herself in a fit of darkness induced hallucinating) and it corrupts her in a way that will definitely haunt her forever.

Oh, yeah babey we're making the decade in the dark truly mean something this round-

This makes them a girlboss anti duo of some sort at the end of it all, and this is where their story merges into the wider span of my extended sorta canon-compliant timeline! (which I still have yet to actually write, it just exists in my mind forever now-)

However, if we're talking the actual future beyond that, I anticipate she takes some time to heal and eventually finds an apprentice of her own!

I feel like she would take a page out of Lugh's book with her teaching style, but would make it fun and engaging yet respectful to the places she would travel to.

That aside, she'd probably hang around the Land of Departure from time to time and travel for more out of the box lessons, but most of it would be there to at least bring some use back to the place. She never had a more permanent training ground, so this is the closest she's got, even if it carries memories that haunt everybody.

She'd be a very interesting mentor, especially since a decade in the dark makes it so you miss a lot in terms of what's hip and what's old fashioned, but even with the healing time it's not quite clear whether or not she'll actually go anywhere to find out. That's what the new young people she'll meet are good for!

She'll be like a grandmother in a 30-something's body, more or less. Just depends on how she'll go about it and if she'll understand, it's all about breaking down those trauma walls.

I feel like she'd get a kick out of being the fun aunt to all these weird kids she gets to meet, maybe to a degree where it annoys Aqua juuust a lil bit.

Anyway, that concludes this year's KHOC Week!!! It's been a blast to participate again and I can't wait to hang out again next year!!

She deserves a bit of whimsy in her life-

Speaking of Aqua, I anticipate them getting happily married, and once they're mentally well enough for that, or temporarily retire, perhaps starting a family!

Even more whimsy!!! Which will benefit them in the long run most certainly!

[applesaucesims]

My Top 23 Screenshots from 2023

(actually 24 because I already removed so many and could not bring myself to remove another)

I was tagged by @sasaofastora and boy was it hard to choose! But I eventually narrowed it down to 23.

Didn't include every month in the list because some months just had too many good pics. This whole thing has also made me realise that 2023 was truly the year of Emma and Niall, love that for them. Another thing I realised is that I guess it's either wide angle or detail shots for me that I love the most.

I'm also tagging @simadelics @stargazingsims @blueshistorysims @satureja13 @swiftviolets - if you've already been tagged, it be what it be.

February

Might have peaked with this one idk. (x)

These two are from the same post and idk why but I'm just obsessed with them. (x)

March

"Idiots in love who are too shy to admit it to each other" trope my beloved. (x)

April

Two pics from the same post because I just put extra effort into flashbacks and flashforwards for unknown reasons. (x)

May

"Badly timed first kiss" trope my beloved. And I just love the little details of Emma's hand pushing Niall away. (x)

June

I lowkey love this wip preview more than the actual cc post. Sometimes I look back at it like "wtf how did I slay this hard??" (x)

Hand details my beloved. (x)

They are just so babey what can I say. (x)

July

July had the 1930s beach babes series, so there's a lot of edits I'm proud of. But I think this one is my favourite, and in general Judy slayed these the most imo. (x)

August

It's giving Van Gogh, it's giving aesthetic, it's giving masterpiece tbh. (x)

This is when I tested the new zeussims collection and it's another pic I just like staring at. I've first made my disney princess sims a long time ago, and I update them at least once a year, so seeing them all together (plus Barbie) just makes me very happy. (x)

September

I can't tell you why I love this shot so much, I just do. (x)

October

You know what? Actually, this is where I peaked. (x)

Height differences my beloved. (x)

You thought we're done with October? It was only the event of the century! I have decided that evening rooftop weddings are my favourite now. (x)

November

Look, idk why I love that shot at the door either. I guess those pants just look great on Niall, sue me. (x)

It's just the vibes of this post in general. Very aesthetic. (x)

December

I'm really happy with the nursery in general, but the pic with Emma in it is my fave. (x)

There's more pictures coming this month that I really love, but I don't wanna give spoilers, so they will be under the cut for now. Will change that once they've been posted.

Context-free pics from upcoming posts that go from "I don't need context to understand" to "what am I even looking at":

[girlfriendsofthegalaxy]

tuesday again 10/3/2023

september was not kind but we're back with a real making section babEY and lengthy all other sections

listening

SHIFTED by Jolynn J Chin, a progressive jazz (?) piano piece that changes time signatures on every bar. i am led to understand this is a massive technical achievement but more importantly to me it sounds cool as hell. this is a little funny bc pianist friends occasionally complain that the technically challenging pieces that are fun to play aren't that fun to actually listen to. spotify

the artist uploaded an explainer video that went well over my head but i have no music theory background. i know that not every video with a lady patiently talking through a problem on a whiteboard is going to be a physics video but spiritually this is a physics video to me

how'd i find this: spotify discover weekly

-

reading

lee winter's The Fixer. perfectly fine technical quality of writing but absolutely bizarre plot. there will be spoilers for this book bc i cannot talk about this book without them.

A naive activist is hired by a corporate villain but doesn’t realize it. Cue one awkward farce, a twisty puzzle, and the slowest of slow burns in this opposites-attract, ice queen romance. Nine years ago, aloof, icy Michelle Hastings chose career over love. She’s now living with that choice as she rules a secret corporation catering to the rich and powerful. Enter Eden Lawless. The guileless activist finds it a bit weird being employed by a mystery organization to bring down a corrupt mayor. But, hey, she’s up for a challenge. Much harder is getting her beautiful new boss out of her head. The pull between them is electric.

this was not the fanfic level of mean woman i prefer. this woman is a bit of a tsundere boss with some past regrets. like yeah her Company does awful shit but she herself is a very restrained sort of James Bond villain level of icy polite.

unfortunately the actual plot itself is so fucking bizarre.

one of my two concerns: the author is not Jewish but has written Michelle as such, and employed sensitivity readers. i do not know that it is in the very best of taste to have a Jewish woman as the head of a shadowy, textually evil, para-governmental organization pulling strings behind the scenes for the rich and powerful.

the other thing that really threw me is that the series of events we are concerned with, a mayoral election in small-town uhhhh maryland??? i have returned the book and cannot fact check-- seems to be a very thinly veiled rehashing of the 2016 presidential primaries. but as a mayoral campaign.

there is an obnoxious redheaded used car salesman who is running for national publicity for his used car business and writes nasty jingles about his main opponent, a very unpleasant woman who nevertheless gets things done but WAS a slumlord and DID ruin our activist Eden's life. everyone in the county is in her pocket. things are running quietly and well in town, and her platform is solar. the solar farms would take up literally all the actual farmland in the country and (spoiler) she is defeated bc the townspeople think this would be an eyesore and not actually bring that many jobs to the town. again, i stress this is a small town mayoral campaign. they are a college town but it is an EXTREMELY small lib arts college. she has the correct idea about renewables but downfall is that she personally is reprehensible and is going about renewables WRONG!!!

our main character Eden sinks this renewable energy plan bc, again, in college, legally-not-Hillary-Clinton got her dad fired from the local hospital and ran them out of town bc of Eden's protests against her slumlord activities.

then there is the objectively best candidate, a retired pediatrician in the very early stages of dementia who is sort of a puppet candidate for his wife, the actual political mind who hired the evil CEO Michelle's company through a shell company in order to sink her husband's opponent. VERY weird setup.

this was indirectly recced by a big name romance writer who would would not appreciate being tagged lol. i will not be reading the second half of this duology. too much stuff that made me go WHUH???

-

watching

The Big O is a 1999 and then 2003 detective noir mecha anime. i have never wondered what batman: the animated series would look like if it went in a different retrofuturist direction and put bruce wayne in mecha, but now i have that answer.

this show looks good as fuckin hell. there are SO many dutch angles and dials and gadgets and switches. there's a cut in the first episode that doesn't translate well to screenshots, to the interior of a luxury apartment building and the water in the pool is sloshing around as mechs fight outside.

ive only seen the first three episodes but im having a marvelous fucking time. very importantly for me, there is a robot who is a child but notorious womanizer Bruce Wayne Roger Smith isn't fuckin weird about it.

how i found it: this post reblogged by @ouroborosenso ! the line "You're a louse, Roger Smith." got one short sharp bark of laughter out of me, and a bone dry sense of humor is an excellent selling point. it's available on the internet archive (dubbed but no subtitles)

-

playing

im having a grand old time with g/enshin's new area. my shit did kind of get rocked with the revelation that the prisoners-- okay let's back up. the player character gets sent to prison on false charges so they can investigate something for the chief justice. backing up farther, the watery land of Fontaine runs on magic energy produced during its court trials. this incentivizes them to make the court trials full-on fucking dramatic productions with very little care for like. victims. once convicted (fontaine feels like it has a near 100% conviction rate, very much like japan) prisoners go to an underwater prison that is a more steampunk version of bioshock. these prisoners make the automated clockwork humanoid police force, as well as the automated clockwork police dogs. there is a panopticon.

the economy in the prison (cannot believe this game that wants me to spend money on anime waifus so i can watch their skirts billow teasingly in the wind while i fight big monsters also wants me to think about prison economies) anyway the economy in the prison is scrip-based. you get one free meal a day but everything else runs on scrip. apparently many people choose to stay in prison after their terms are up bc they have achieved some sort of power and stability there. says a lot about the surface world, don't it? wish we SAW literally any of that in the surface world!

i guess being very overt about drawing from a fifteen year old game is like. kosher? so many other games have drawn from bioshock, but genshin draws so heavily and frequently from Breath of the Wild that it was a little jarring to go from the last area with the cute little korok seed knockoffs and a lot of thinking about academic misconduct to somewhere with a flavor of politics i think a lot more about. as you travel throughout the land of genshin impact, you are quite involved in big diplomatic incidents and overthrowing various baddies, installing the correct people, things of this nature. i think this new land of Fontaine is the most overtly political in that literally all of your time here is spent thinking about exactly how this country's administration operates. it's not a real "hey look we've recreated the Torture Nexus" situation yet but i am curious about what sort of themes the next expansion will be chewing on. im also not quite done with the second of two giant quests that take place in the prison so stay tuned.

bonkers fucking game. wish it wasn't gambling based and didn't have to adhere so closely to chinese restrictions. wish literally ANY outlet was regularly covering this insane lore hiding under the gacha and grind systems

-

making

the goddamn couch covers are finally done. they are 9x12 and 12x16 100% cotton drop cloths from Chicago Art Supply, and im quite happy with their quality (evenness of weave, normal selvededge, normal seams). i used rit all purpose dye in fuchsia (hot bucket method with colorstay, more on that later) and the itajime triangle method of shibori dyeing. this involved folding the fabric accordion-wise, folding it like a flag, then sandwiching it between two triangles of wood or plastic with many many many rubber bands or twine.

it was a right fucking bitch to prewash, dry, and fold these fuckers. mack was deeply unhelpful. if i need to wash them in future i will be visiting a laundromat.

i could not procure enough dye locally for the recommended 1 packet per 1 lb of dry fabric (4 and 8 pounds respectively) so i did a .75 strength dye bath, since i wasn’t trying to dye the entire thing perfectly and evenly. i think you could probably do a half or quarter strength with more time and be fine. the photo on the left is the smaller dropcloth after a half hour in the bucket (unfolded in the washer to reduce. well to just reduce many problems) , and i did not like that high of a contrast bc i did want some color on all the fabric. so i unfolded and dunked the whole thing back in for literally thirty seconds and it promptly sucked up the rest of the available dye molecules, making it lower contrast than i wanted. so it goes.

i didn’t like how even and neat the triangle motif was on this go round (when deciding on colors and patterns for this project i was thinking about coral and pink cow print but did not want a literal pink cow print couch), so for the next one i did a much worse job folding and was way more aggressive with the rubber bands. i also folded it in half lengthwise to make the accordion folds easier for myself, something i did not do for the smaller one.

and here she is through my balcony screen door after an hour in the dye bucket and a wash with half the recommended amount of fixative to get it to bleed a Little for better coverage of the fabric but keep it lower contrast. i am not completely thrilled with how this came out bc i feel it reads a little sorority girl tshirt. im not sure if making the motif/triangles smaller would have helped any, and even though i was not folding it in half every time you can only fold something so many times before it becomes extremely cumbersome.

couch before the cushion, the cover loosely on the couch. i am going to safety pin and tuck the shit out of this but do not currently have the bandwidth to actually sew it. we’ll see how this goes! kind of a pain in the ass and physically taxing but not a lot of actual hands on time, and now the dyeing bug is out of my system.

preview of next project: i am going to repaint this somewhat shabby globe bar with northern hemisphere constellations :)

[crvwly]

my good omens fics from silliest to most serious

let's be real, that's the only ranking system that matters

Fell's Flavourtown Festivities Rating: Mature Words: 5,526

Aziraphale looks at Crowley fondly as he continues. "Next, we have a Michelin-starred restaurateur, host of Hell's Kitchen and Kitchen Nightmares, and my personal friend, Chef Anthony Crowley!" human au: aziraphale is guy fieri and crowley is gordon ramsay. yes you read that right. no i will not explain myself

get up high Rating: Mature Words: 10,880 CW: cannabis smoking

Crowley snorts, flicking his joint, and Aziraphale’s eyes follow the ashes nervously, like he’s worried they’ll catch on something and ignite. “Can’t do it downtown,” Crowley says, shrugging. “Plus, I get a great view out here. Even if I get up high in London, it’s too bright to see the stars.” human au: neurodivergent stoner crowley, babey! meet-cute and fluff

Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours) Rating: Mature Words: 4,702 CW: male-presenting pregnancy, labour / childbirth

post not-pocalypse ineffable parents fic: TLC's "I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant" starring Aziraphale Fell and The Corporation That Didn't Get The Memo About Bodily Functions After The Not-Pocalypse i cannot remember what possessed me to write this. but i stand by it.

please bring it back home to me Rating: Mature Words: 13,462 CW: minor mentions of potentially memory-altering human illnesses (including mental illness and degenerative memory disorders) TW: content may be triggering for readers who experience derealization, depersonalization, and/or dissociation

It’s like the missing furniture. There’s a space in Crowley’s life where someone should be, but it’s empty. Maybe, wherever they went, they took Crowley with them. Maybe they left this empty, ravaged shell behind. post S2 fix-it, angst with a happy ending

these, our bodies, possessed by light Rating: Mature Words: 49,787 Chapters: 7/? CW: a ton of emotional angst, it's a tragic crowley backstory! TW: Archive warning applies - graphic depictions of violence

When observed with the naked eye, Alpha Centauri appears to be a single star — the third brightest light in the Earth’s sky, beaming like a lighthouse beacon behind a fog of nebulas. In actuality, Alpha Centauri is a binary system. Its two stars share an orbit so tight that they shine together as one. six thousand year slow burn in progress, currently on hiatus

because we're carrying the fire Rating: Explicit Words: 75,411 Chapters: 7+ CW: recurring themes of religious and family trauma, horror themes including demons and demonic possession, references to extreme violence, paranormal activity, alcohol and smoking, grief and death, mentions of child abuse/CSA, and sex & masturbation TW: Archive warning applies - graphic depictions of violence, body horror, mild gore, psychological/paranormal horror

When a mysterious book of dark nature comes into the care of Doctor Aziraphale Z. Fell, PhD in parapsychology and conservator of occult artefacts, his quiet and content life quickly begins to fly off the rails. When his attempts to identify the unknown language and obscure sigil inside the book on his own fail, he reaches out for help from one Anthony J. Crowley, self-anointed demon expert and host of the Hell’s Digest podcast, at the behest of his caring and extremely nosy students. Together, they work to uncover the book’s secrets; can they do it in time to save Aziraphale from the supernatural forces lying within? wip human horror au, read the tags thoroughly but expect a happy ending after all the tortures!

[after-nine-at-the-oasis]

I watched the The Rookie Season 6 premiere!!

I started it last night and finished it this morning and just OAUGH it was so good :D

I expected them to not figure it out for a while but I low-key love the way they did it. Because it shows that they (the characters) aren't dumb and gives some action but still keeps a huge mystery to it. Theory wise, I keep thinking of the Dream (nightmare) Team (Elijah and Oscar) but it's been like a half season so I don't think it's time to bring them back yet. Idk tho, we'll see what happens!

Also Lucy is going through it xD like genuinely she is and :(( but everyone (even Wesley xD) knowing about the clown thing was just HILARIOUS lol

Also after Tim said "maybe she just had a fight with her girlfriend" I was like "oh cool we're casually using a gay example- he's talking about him" soo as I said at the time, diversity win! The random person you're projecting your problems onto is a lesbian through you <3.

Anyway xD lowkey, I get both their sides, but I'm lowkey on Tim's lol. I do get being stressed out and just wanting support though, totally, I just think Lucy's going to realize she needs to talk it out with him

Also I'm glad for their development! I'm also kind of glad Tim's not the "instigator" (there's not really one but yk) of the fight since he's been the "mean one" a lot lol. Anyway I hope my babeys work it out (soon - I figure they will eventually) :((

Also this makes it seem like I love chenford and barely about wopez and I do love them but HUGAOAPGHY BABEYS I GOT THEM BACK <3333

Not much but I did :'D

Talking about wopez by the way lol

Also HALLELUJAH AARON SURVIVED!! HE'S OKAY :'DDD!! P H E W :'D 🥳🥳🥳🎉🎊😌🥰.

Thank goodness lol

Also :(( that he wants to help catch the guys that almost killed him but can't - probably for the best though :/. Just don't let it get pent up in any way xd. Also please don't date your therapist or have any kinda funky relationship with her lol.

Also aaahhhhHHH Bailey and Nolan (John just wasn't right) are getting married :D. I'm glad everything ended up working out (for now lol, that promo is scaring me xD I figure it'll be fine but just once I want an uninterrupted wedding, in anything, but especially The Rookie lol) <333. They're adorable 🥰. Also am I crazy or was that Mr. Kevin Kozner as the neighbor guy? At first I thought it was then wasn't then wasn't sure so I figure not but I don't know xD

Also poor Harper :(( I know she'll get through it but it just sucks. And it sucks that she can't talk to James about it (like not legally but emotionally lol), though I do like that they have differing opinions on stuff. It's nice to have couples that don't have all the same views, you know?

Anyway!! I didn't mention them but Celina and Gray are slaying as always <3. And for Celina (and everyone)'s sake I hope we catch this guys soon (but not too soon ;) - I love me some drama)

Also reminder that I love Wesley with my whole soul, thank you <3.

So excited for this season!! Especially the 100th episode, it's so great that they get one :D. I think both of those are gonna be really good and I'm just so looking forward to it :D!! This was an amazing episode, lots of good stuff all around, and I'm so excited for the next one :D. The promo looks wild (also AAAHHHHHH THE WEDDING!!! :DD) but so good and I'm looking forward to it :D 🥰.

This is gonna be a great season :))!!

See y'all later!! ❤️🥰

[prettyflyshyguy]

Alright Season 3 lets give it up for season 3 everyone.

Cannot believe this show left me on "How do you know what you brought back it 100% pure Sam?" and I just said to myself

GODDAMN

and then just didn't watch S3E1 for three days

Anyway. Liveblogging spn while I work tonight. We're bringing back the old days where I did this with x files if any of you remember that LMAO

Kicking things off with a bang (and me trying to not post too many rambles about a stupid tv show, so I'm conglomerating my thoughts into big posts instead)

we have S3E1 - The Magnificent Seven

Love this show's deep appreciation for full black contact lenses MWAH

cheffs kiss

Sorry I know I should be focusing on the evil demon smoke going to infect whatever city this is but like. Do you guys actually genuinely have flags out the front of your houses like this for real

Like really. Do your houses really have flags like that.

OH YEAH BABEY SEASON 3 GOT AN INTRO STING GRAPHICAL UPDATE!!!!!!!!!! NICE

He is SO concerned

No one is giving me practical effects like this show is and I'm living for this

I WISH there was more of a scene in australia cause god I'd work as a prop maker for a living if it was a viable career to do more horror aligned stuff here.

They've spiced up the camera work this season and it is FUN!!!!

These two are great I hope they're gonna be regular supporting characters PLEASE

Highly entertaining seeing Dean's superpower of "Flirt with woman successfully" actually used as a utility (bonus points because it's making him uncomfortable)

RARE HAT-LESS BOBBY SPOTTED

Oh.

Absolutely visceral death, but a real damn shame because these two were cool :(

This show has no right just putting jokes like this right after a scene like THAT.

These dickheads are far too fun to be a one off PLEASE

Australian chanting

FOIGHT FOIGHT FOIGHT FOIGHT FOIGHT!!!!!!!!

Alright that was a fun way to start a season. Nice recap. I get it. It'dved been a while since it last aired. I like shitty pissed off Sam a LOT.

Are you tired of being nice Sam? Don't you just want to go apeshit?

Round 2 Electric Boogaloo with S3E2 - The Kids are Alright

Starting strong once again with a callback to Victorian worksafe ads!!

(Victorians know.)

Love that Sam inherited NONE of the lying genes in the family

I'm sorry you cant make the comment "as many as I can squeeze out" (EUPHAMISM) and then immediately smack me in the face with a fucking GUMBY REFERENCE?????!!!!!!!!!

Fuck off I hate this show. Fuck you dean you stupid piece of shit

A FUCKING

GUMBY REFERENCE (how many of you know what that is LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOO)

Look I get it, I do, but c'mon he looks so fucking awkward getting cake while these two women are talking about the explicit details of his prior intimate experience with Lisa from 8 years ago

Like what the fuck did they DO to illicit a reaction as intense as these two women are giving

No I will not suspend my disbelief for the running gag No I'm not taking this too literally NO i don't have a problem with interpreting jokes

The closeup of Dean's face as his brain was doing the dialup tone killed me, then immediately PANIC but don't drop the cake (SAME)

Anyway. Lisa I love you. You're amazing. Please be done justice by this show. Please.

Need you all to know I go through hell (HAR HAR) to watch this show

And I thought my conversations in cafes sounded unhinged to bystanders (LITERALLY had some old dude tell me and a friend we were weirdos as we minded our own business drawing horror art in a cafe hgakjrhgkagh)

HATE that my brain just went "NOT THE SARAN WRAP SKIN" (we don't call it that. Next I'll start pronouncing things more wrong than I already do)

Not the white DS Lite!!!!!!!!

Remember this kid you bullied in highschool? This is them now

Oh this show doesn't pull punches and it has some NICE shots

Anyway bye Lisa I love you I hope you come back soon :(

the running gag of bizarre interior décor hotel room never ceases to entertain me, I'm like a small child

Anyway

ran out of room for more images on this post so. Who knows maybe I'll fuck off or I'll do a part 2 tonight we'll see

[starry-bi-sky]

they SO dance together. it's so sweet and sooo romantic. They're both just up in the clouds, lost in each other's eyes. They would be up there for hours if they lose track of time. Danny figures out how to make a speaker or his phone capable of withstanding the high altitude. they are in love your honor <3

AND yesss I agree Danny would sing that to Damian. Caleb Hyles is a good choice! I usually hc his voice sounding kinda like Hozier (w/o the Irish accent), a nice baritone range. He's very Dinner & Diatribes/Too Sweet/Nina Cried Power/Blood Upon The Snow-coded.

Danny tried so hard to keep Damian's illness a secret. Which, honestly probably wasn't the smartest idea, but he was fourteen and dealing with his own very-fresh trauma, uncontrollable powers, and injuries. So, can't really hold it against him. Fortune (if you could call it that) was on his side in that he got to skip school for the days Damian was ill.

Dames is sooo smol as Wisp. liddol babey man. He doesn't actually help in ghost fights, even at six years old. Danny absolutely forbids it, and there's very little Dames can do about it on account of his age and Time Out Time. Danny's Grabby Scarves have come WELL in handy before. He comes with him on patrols but like, if they come across any actual hostile ghosts, Wisp is instructed to hide or stay out of range of the fight.

Also since he's also a halfa, he's also a potential target for Skulker. Keyword: potential. The first time Skulker decides to go after the teenier ghost-child is also his last. Danny flew into a blind rage and completely tore his mech-suit apart into unsalvageable hunks, and then threatened to swallow Skulker whole if he ever went after Wisp again. Ghost cannibalism? its more likely than you think. It's an effective deterrent.

It's very quickly apparent to... all of the ghosts, tbh, that you don't touch the Wisp. Will'o is off limits. (Which i forgot to mention is an adorable name for Dames. Instead of green eyes, Damian's ghost eyes are will-o-wisp blue, and he can create little wisps.) Danny calls him a little firefly.

AND. I'm so here for parental Danny. I'm hella weak to that. And this reminds me of smth i thought about bringing up yesterday but forgot/thought about making its own post for my own clone^2. If Dames here is 2 when Danny is 14, then Dames could totally go to a childcare center during the day. The Fenton parents have work and the kids have school, and Damian is far too young to be on his own. So: daycare it is!

This is for me to say: Danny, as the one who actually found/acquired Damian (if we're going by clone^2 canon and saying he fell through a natural portal) makes it his responsibility to make sure Damian gets to the daycare center safely. Jazz has a car so she drives them both to the center, but Danny is the one who actually walks Damian inside, checks him into his room, and does goodbyes.

(Which he's not legally allowed to do -- legal guardians are supposed to do pick up and drop off, and siblings are meant to be over 18 and have permission for it -- but when the center director brings this up, Danny raises his eyebrow and bluntly goes: "You want my parents in here? Everyday?" and that was the end of that conversation. Danny was made the special exception so long as he like, didn't mention it to the authorities.)

Danny? Also? Best cook in the house. Hands down. Because a clone of Bruce being a fantastic cook is incredibly funny to me. Half the shit in the fridge is inedible so Danny's figured out how to either make it edible and how to use the edible stuff to his best advantage. He also found an old fridge in the garage, fixed it up, and jerry-rigged a quick disguise over it so that their parents don't start storing ectoplasm in that one too. So most of their leftovers/fridge food is in the garage fridge instead.

But back to the daycare stuff -- Danny pulls no punches when making sure Dames is getting quality childcare. Dames is enrolled in the same center that Danny and Jazz went to as kids, and Danny suffered from relentless bullying that the staff turned a blind eye to due to his connection with his parents, and he'll be damned if he lets Dames suffer the same fate. Especially since Damian is such a headstrong kid even at 2-3. They made sure he knew enough English before sending him to daycare (since he only knew Arabic at this point), but he still struggles speaking it.

Which is all to say, the first time Danny hears about Damian getting a hard time at daycare and the teacher doing nothing to correct it, he marches straight down to the director's office to complain. He also bluntly states that he'll be checking in with Damian consistently after pickup and checking his stuff -- as per center rules, his things (like his water bottle and backpack) are labelled, and Danny went the extra mile and put his name on his jacket and boots and hats, -- if anything is missing, broken, or damaged, he will be documenting it, and he wants all copies of any incident reports.

The center director says that since Danny isn't the legal guardian, they can't do that, but he pulls the parent card and for a second time, that is the end of that. Danny is pulling no punches. Damian is already having a hard enough time transitioning into his new environment, Danny fucking refuses to let him struggle any more than he already has.

you gotta tell me some of the wisp antics you have in mind. Oh lord, if Danny struggled to control his powers when he first got them, imagine what it'd be like with a two year old with powers too. So many close calls. Canon Danny was initially pr in denial about his powers up until Lunch Lady, but here I imagine he buckles down on it very quickly when he realizes that Damian has a similar powerset to him, and so long as they have these powers, they need to get control of them.

Which results in Damian and Danny developing these little "training" sessions after school which is literally just Danny trying to figure out his powers, and then translating that into a way for Damian to understand and follow along.

There are SO many learning curves, and Damian is two. Twos have like, a three minute attention span. Danny has to develop a way to keep Dames' attention on him long enough for him to learn how to do it. It's a goddamn miracle that Dames didn't reveal his powers at daycare before he understood the concept of "secret keeping" and control. A miracle.

Wisp being such an angry kitten is everything to me <33. He has little fangies and little pointed ears like Phantom, and I haven't thought too much on his ghost form but I picture him (at least at the start, it could change over time) in this little thobe with perhaps intricate, swirly-misty designs up the sides (as a callback to the will o' wisp idea). And like Danny's, his hair is all floaty like he's underwater, with the ends of his curls all wispy. He's a lil will o' wisp :]

unlike his template, who keeps his hair mostly styled up or back, Dames with messy, unkempt curls that look like they're in a good need of a trim. That kinda falls in his face and curls around his ears, but he likes it long that way because it reminds him of Danny. Any suggestion of a hair cut incites an ugly response and a very emphatic "No". He's got these little freckles that are hard to see that he'll eventually grow out of, and he speaks a lot more casually than his template.

He's known he was a clone since the moment he was able to comprehend what a "clone" was. Danny told him, because he doesn't want to do the same thing his parents did and keep something like that from Damian for so long. He also knows that Danny is technically his dad by virtue of their templates being father-and-son.

Which, that was a bit harder to explain, but they got there!

AND I am loving Wisp meeting Robin. I'm picturing it as Batman-Robin duo meeting Phantom-Wisp duo, and Robin is like, ehhh, about 13-ish. Wisp is 7-ish? Regardless, Robin is standing tall and proud beside Batman while Wisp is standing somewhat behind Phantom.

He's not exactly shy, but he's uncertain? He's got his hand curled around Phantom's pantleg, his eyes narrowed in wary uncertainty, before he finally says, somewhat put upon: "I thought you'd be taller." directly at Robin.

The air goes completely still, and then Phantom snorts abruptly, and brings a fist up to his mouth to try and stifle the sound. His shoulders shake with concealed snickering as he rests one hand down onto Wisp's shoulder and affectionately hisses out: "Dames, my boy, you can't say that."

There's laughter through the comms, and Robin looks suitably offended. Batman has this ghost of a smirk on his face. Oh how the tables turn.

Over 900 prompt

Okay I love the Danny is a clone of Batman aus but I've never seen this done.

Danny and Kon dating and Then Danny learning his parents cloned Batman thinking he is a ghost only to find out he isn't and kept Danny as their kid.

Just think of the hilarious reactions

Caue this immediately popped into my head.

Kon: *muffled screaming into Tim's couch*

Tim: ....you good?

Kon: danny is the clone of Batman

Tim: ...

Kon: I'm the clone of Superman

Tim:...

Kon: AND WE ARE DATING!

[silent-sentinels]

Plural Asking 100 Questions: Part 7!

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

61. When did you first discover your System? we're still pretty new to this! we celebrated our 3 month syscovery anniversary just last week! :D (we gotta celebrate the little things, gang, it gives us something to look forward to hkjhg :])

62. How many Members did you know about during your Syscovery? maybe about 19 out of the current 25, more or less? we know jaded and mom came later, at least, and it took us a little to consider core as an actual member. fun fact, Distance was actually part of the original line-up, then (fittingly ->) convinced us Distance didn't exist and removed herself from the fucking list hkjgh like!! i know that's your job but STOP PRETENDING YOU DON'T EXIST HKGJH

63. Was accepting your Plurality a challenge for you? LMAO BUDDY IT STILL IS!! i don't want to jinx it, but i think Harlowe might be coming around? though she definitely still uh. causes the occasional turmoil, she hasn't been as adamant these days. then again, she usually only brings it up in the mornings, and our sleep schedule got re-fucked up so we're usually not awake around that time hkjhg ough we'll see. in the meantime, we've mostly come around to it?

64. How did you learn about Plurality? we've had several system friends before, so we learned a lot of terminology and acceptance from them!! though we think a lot of them were anti-endo so... wishing them well, nevertheless?? hkjhg but we first learned about plurality in 2016 maybe?

65. Where there any signs of your Plurality, if you look back at your past? we've always preferred using we and we tend to think in dialogue! we liked giving ourselves different names and chatting like we do in bullet points (when we were young, we made like, several sonas who all talked to each other to work through our problems hkjhg and then we watched sander s!des and made personal ones for that too. goddamn we sure were comfortable with breaking ourselves into different facets hkjh) also lmao look at this shit:

^ what the fuck bro hkjhg NO SERIOUSLY WHAT THE FUCK BRO HKJHG??? my god we can't even comment on this, like hjkghgk

66. Do you think your Syscovery changed a lot in your life? outwardly, no, since we're still singlet-sona-ing it up in almost all other aspects of our life. but inwardly, its changed a lot about how we think. we chatter a lot more than we used to hkjgh it gets really loud in here. ([personally, it means i need to be stricter on the secrets we keep.] - 🌫️)

67. If you're out to others as plural, have they ever told you later on that they already thought about it before you realized? we're not out to many people as plural, and we have no idea if they thought we were plural before :P

68. What was the biggest struggle during your Syscovery? lmao HEAVY denial, from MANY of us, not even just harlowe. maestro has this whole lack of control thing ("i actually always think like this. all of these thoughts are mine and i'm in perfect control of all of them, so we can't be plural") that still isn't fully resolved. someone thought it felt too much like fiction? like roleplaying with ourselves, controlling characters.

oh lmao we're looking back at our doc we made when we were questioning and it is just a lot of floundering hkjhg we were just. so very unsure of ourselves for a while. but! we got through it! still getting through it hkjghg

69. Was there any big event that led to your Syscovery? lmao 69 nice, anyway, two big ones: 1) we read A Cracked Foundation by UnstableAnatomy which completely changed our brain chemistry lmao. like. kim in denial that he has skills. this will surely say nothing about us hkjgh it kinda set the foundation (heh) before: 2) we tried to make personal disco skills. and by trying to figure out "different parts of my personality to make into skills" we accidentally identified ourselves and gave ourselves names and solidified our presence. whoops, plural time babey!

70. What is something you want questioning plurals to know? WE LOVE YOU AND YOU ARE SO COOL AND EVERYONE'S EXPERIENCES ARE DIFFERENT!! just because you don't fit into the descriptions that everyone says about plurality doesn't mean you're not plural! we're a blurry monoconscious median system with no specific host and a very hazy headspace and we all like talking together because we're hard to separate distinctly! AND WE'RE STILL PLURAL!! a lot of our experiences are rarer in the community, and going into this we thought we weren't valid! BUT WE ARE!! AND SO ARE YOU, no matter how different your experiences may be from the norm, because everyone has their own unique situations!! please take your time figuring it out, you've got time! YOU ARE COOL, YOU ARE LOVED, IF YOU FEEL LIKE PLURALITY FITS YOU, THEN GO FOR IT!!!

[sillyabtmusic]

okayyy post concert ramblings 👍

note i have memory issues and am already struggling to recall half the concert so i'm sure more stuff happened but!!

to start off the venue lied and said the event would be seated when it wasn't and i was so upset about that i forgot i was gonna try and look at them during the hi-touch (i have to put conscious effort in to look at people's faces) and so i stared at their hands as i walked by and then realized i had NO clue who i high-fived so that sucked a lil but not their fault. venues fault.

but! i knew louis was at the beginning, hwon was at the end, and jahan was third from first, and when i high-fived hwon he went "cute!" so that was a thing that happened!

we managed to get a folding chair for me to sit in and i ended up getting to sit in the back of vvip (i wasn't vvip) which was neat! but the silly thing is is that the vvip people were by the stage obvs and the back of vvip was empty. i sat in the corner back and around me was just tech stuff so me and my mother were the ONLY people in that area. this is important later

show starts yay big cheer big cheer!! this is where my memory gets really scattered so we're doing bullet point format in no particular order

their live vocals were SO good. i was just a tad worried because i've seen recordings from previous concerts & performances where they were okay! but just okay but genuinely they're so. so good soooooo good i think they've gotten a lot better

pointing out ivans vocals specifically because goddddd. i actually think a lot of the high notes in songs are a little too high for his range and i don't like that he's pushed that way because his comfortable range is so good but he did the high notes lower than the og song and they sounded SO good and wow. they were still high but they fit his voice a lot better. methinks

mujin kept looking in our direction. like i know people say this kinda often but remember earlier how i said me & my mom were the Only people where we were due to the seating situation. i would look at him and he'd literally be staring directly at us and it was 🧍 i actually got nervous i'll be real with you ALSKDFJALFA. i actually thought maybe i was making it up but when i went to talk about my mom to it she was like no i saw that too he was definitely looking and i was like oh okay. cool.

uhmmm i'm already out of words but their live performance is really good it's so good the energy was amazing

snapshots :D i did jahan first cuz i had premium for him and i meant to say just like. one sentence. but i got nervous and i was honestly half-dissociated because i was in a lot of pain so all i could say was "thank you" but i do remember he has a very comforting presence 👍 after i walked away from the snapshot i went to sit on the floor off to the side and back a bit (pain reasons) and started rocking (autism reasons) and i was just kind of looking around for a moment and i ended up making eye contact with jahan which half of me didn't really like because well. not great at the eye contact thing. but the other half got happy silly because he just smiled over at me but i panicked and tried to smile back before quickly looking away. yay!

then was hwon! and he also has a very comfortable presence! and he held his hands up to everyone after snapshots and i meant to just high five him but i was on autopilot and half-present so i just clasped his hands and i felt so guilty about it but then he called me cute (again) and said other things i don't remember but he was really nice and had a nice smile :•]

overall the concert itself was very fun!! bad parts was 1. the venue lying about seating so i didn't bring mobility aids under the assumption i could sit without having to fight for seating 2. waiting in the heat for. 5 hours. but none of that is on the group thats venue babey!!

[classic-blue]

"they might as well be talking to each other through the looking glass"

OPPPPPP this is such a poetic take.

THIS SCENE IS SO LAYERED LET ME ADD SOME MORE LAYERS TO IT

Season 1 backtracking: The boys' ending in Season 1 (notably that scene at the waterworks) is so fun, because instead of reacting with equal horror at what each has done (Jayce accidentally killing a Zaunite kid and Viktor's experiments leading to the death of Sky), they come together with such strong empathy for each other, and reach back for one another, searching for the dynamic that they once had. By LoL lore, Viktor and Jayce have to end up on opposite sides of the conflict, but crucially, it doesn't happen at the end of S1. It would have been so easy to set up a fresh thread for S2 by driving them apart there, but instead the creators chose the hard route and brought Viktor and Jayce back together by the end of S1, because it's truer to their characters and sweeter to their story. Then, they present their conjoined plan for Zaunite independence together to the council. Viktor speaks openly to the council in that scene, bringing them into equality (to make the fact that Viktor is sitting in that scene less a part of the power dynamic and more because his health).

Which means that they have to separate in S2. And it needs to hurt. When I first saw this scene, I'll be honest, Viktor felt very out of character; he's not his usual acerbic self. I'm starting to understand it a bit more (babey is traumatized, he needs a moment with his blankey), but Viktor's S2 transformations are very intriguing to me.

Viktor Reacts Subtly to Jayce's Betrayal (which makes it hard to see)

Recently people have been talking about Jayce's hands in the Council Room before the (Mel)Jayvik fight scene in S2, and that's got me caught on Viktor's hand in the clip you've included here. As he caresses Sky's books, it's right atop Jayce's plans for the weapons he built for the strike team- the exact thing that Viktor so strongly opposed. Knowing how quickly Jayce built the Mercury Hammer, he can figure they've already been built and are likely in use.

Secondly, Viktor is alive. He says himself, "I was supposed to die." When Viktor makes Jayce promise to destroy the Hexcore, Viktor has come to terms with his now inevitable death. He feared the power the Hexcore held over him, and what his pursuit to cheat death was turning him into (simultaneously becoming both Rio and Singed in their own ways). And now, Jayce has denied him that, without his permission, directly breaking the promise he made (which is why Jayce so strongly clings to the promise he makes Mage Viktor later).

But Viktor, true to form, doesn't yell, doesn't lash out, unlike Jayce, who yells not at Viktor but at the situation in general at the end of the scene. He states his emotions as fact- "I must leave you now"; "Our paths diverged long ago" -instead of phrasing them as the way he feels: "I feel betrayed"; "We're no longer in alignment, so I feel that I can't trust you." Moreover, I think that Viktor is suddenly much more concerned about the impacts of his actions (post-Sky), and worries that Jayce, building Hextech weaponry again, won't respect those concerns. Viktor's a very subtle person, and his reaction here to Jayce only shows us the result of the cogs spinning in his head, not the thoughts themselves. [Additionally, if you subscribe to the 'Viktor is controlled by the Hexcore in S2' theory, that can also explain his change in personality, but I also like to sink my teeth into his character.]

Jayce is desperate for comfort- and validation (but he doesn't get it from Viktor)

I've been loving watching people discuss anxiety-ridden Jayce. Poor boy is looking for comfort and security everywhere in S1, which leads to many of his tender moments with Mel (head on her lap!), and several of his mistakes. Most of all, Jayce wants the validation that he's making the right choice- something he and Viktor usually bounce back and forth in their work, especially in S1. Jayce and Viktor's biggest mistakes come when they're separated, something they both say at the waterworks in S1 and which Jayce repeats in this clip, "My place was always here in the lab, with you." (There's also a great vid on YT about men in Arcane seeking validation, would recommend- Jayce is a poster boy for it).

Jayce is especially sensitive to his own mistakes, which he expresses in this clip as Viktor goes to leave- everything is weighing on him, but he feels he can't make the right choice, and he's freaking out. He's begging Viktor for a return to their old normal, where he felt secure and comfortable. Jayce, physical as he is, doesn't beg for physical comfort from Viktor, but situational comfort- that it will always be just them in the lab, reinventing the future.

Here, Jayce is fessing up to his mistakes, and saying that he wants to make amends with Viktor's help. This is the exact same point he made when they spoke at the waterworks at the end of S1.

And you know that he walks away from this conversation telling himself that if he had just done better, been kinder, been right, that Viktor would have stayed- he blames himself.

[And honestly, I think this validation-seeking is something Jayce both overcomes and doesn't in the AU Pit. He stops seeking validation from anyone (re: his breakup with Mel), but now only gets it from hope/faith in his promise to Mage Viktor, so his codependency kinda got worse.]

Viktor's side eye- Same conversation, different stakes (catch it about 10 seconds in from the clip here)

I think Viktor can tell that Jayce is repeating their conversation from the waterworks. There's one major difference now- Jayce has broken 2 great promises to Viktor in short succession: hextech weaponry and the Hexcore.

And this time, Viktor bears the scars, both physically, and emotionally. I think what's running through his head is, "If Jayce is willing to break such important promises to me, I can't trust him." When Jayce puts an arm around him and invites them to work together again, Viktor shoots Jayce this resigned, distrustful look, because he's already made his decision.

As he says, "It was affection that held us together," - not morals, not ambition, and no longer their Hextech dream- Viktor feels that Jayce has left that behind.

So Viktor leaves him behind too.

AND THIS MAKES THEIR NEXT CONVERSATION SO MUCH MORE JUICY

BECAUSE VIKTOR GETS OVER IT. Under the Hexgate, as Viktor (via Salo) and Jayce speak after Jayce's pit-funtimes, Viktor is so excited to see him (as he is literally every other time in S2 after this clip; he's almost twirling his hair and popping his foot each time Jayce shows up, even as the Machine Herald), and to share the things he's learned with Jayce. As he says, "My mind was clouded by emotion," but he's still well familiar with all of Jayce's best traits, which are still there despite his mistakes. He felt betrayed, but he got over it, because now HE wants to return to their old dynamic- Viktor is now the one back at the waterworks.

AND JAYCE IS NO LONGER STANDING THERE (metaphorically). THESE IDIOTS KEEP DRIVE-BY OUT-IDIOTING EACH OTHER.

(re: the comic someone here made of Viktor screeching 'you SIGNED the divorce papers???')

Listen I know there have been approximately a billion posts about the Divorce but I had to add to the noise.

This conversation really is such a succinct breakup with so much to it. Jayce finally has his moment to say something to Viktor after not knowing if he may ever get the chance at all, only for it all to come out scrambled. I just know he was punching the air at 3am redoing this conversation over and over.

Meanwhile Viktor was acclimating to the sheer body horror of being alive after dying, his own form nearly completely unknown to him, with this "recursive charge" thrumming in his skull that drives him to the most destitute part of the city.

Jayce (ready to beg like his life depends on it): I have royally fucked up and I will be seeking atonement forever for it, please please please love me, don't leave, guilt guilt guilt I'll die from guilt and failure right here on the floor

And my favorite part: 👹 where are you going 👹

I have been obsessed with the delivery of this line because it is exactly the phrase and tone used towards someone you are painfully intimate with and experiencing a rupture (aka divorcing). The panic of 'I cannot let you leave' with 'I'll die' and 'you're not allowed' while also so emotional that all that comes out is a sad anger. Like I can't even capture it. It's about the ownership or entitlement. It's not just "why are you exiting this conversation, that's rude and this is important" but something darker and more pathetic. I DON'T KNOW I JUST RECOGNIZE IT and wanted to ramble about it. Perhaps oddly, it is actually this line (juxtaposed with "it was affection", I'm suffering so much) that locked in them as already being intimately involved for me, beyond friends or lab mates.

These two are just on two entirely different planes of existence in this scene and it's so LAYERED AND UUHHGGFJH this show is going to drive me into my own recursive whateverthefuck.

Jayce is flooding with too much everything, love, fear, desperation, anger, hope, dread, etc, and looking for someone to hold it with him. And Viktor is a husk. And yet, they miss each other, not balancing one another, because they might as well be talking to each other through the looking glass. IT'S JUUUUST AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH lmao

[futuredilfharrington]

Girl-Dad! Steve Harrington Part 2

YOU GUYS :') If you don't follow me and didn't see my other post I want to thank everyone who interacted with part one of this!!! Special shoutout to those of you who reblogged, you have my heart <3. The previous part of this literally got more than double the notes of any other post I've ever made in LESS than one day!

IDK how many parts this will have, I'm just going where the wind takes me lol.

Part One

~As soon as you're recovered from giving birth (both mentally and physically) you get pregnant again... We're talking Irish twins babey.

~Steve is so excited and you always hear him on the baby monitor and from the other room talking to Rose about her new sibling

~He'll be doing tummy-time with her and just babble on and on about you and how she's going to be a big sister soon

~This time around Steve has "no preference," although from the way he's not buying many new things you can kind of tell he's hoping to use all of Rose's hand-me-downs for the next baby

"Pink could be both genders, y/n" "I know, Stevie, it's just a little suspicious, don't you think?"

~You don't do a gender reveal this time around. It's your second baby and it feels weird to force everyone into doing the whole nine yards less than a year after the last time.

~Instead you and Steve go to the bakery in downtown Hawkins and give them the sealed envelope the doctor wrote the gender in and ask if they'll bake a reveal cake just for the two (three if you count Rose, but she's not quite eating cake yet)

~A few days later the three of you eat dinner, Rose happily babbling away, and bring out the little white cake for dessert

~Steve slides his chair over to your side of the table and you hold the knife together as you cut out a little slice of the pink sponge.

~Immediately Steve whoops and grabs Rose from her spot kissing her forehead and telling her she's going to have a baby sister before turning to you and pressing a kiss onto the top of your head

~If Steve's "Man Friends" weren't grumbling to him before, they sure are now.

~Some of his relatives will call to congratulate you after sending out your pregnancy announcement and when you pass the phone over to Steve and leave while they finish talking he always comes to find you and Rose with a sour look on his face that only softens when he has you both in his arms

~One night when you're laying in bed he finally tells you that they keep telling him his "swimmers" must not be very strong, that he needs to have a boy to carry on the Harrington name, that he's going to be in hot water being outnumbered by all the estrogen in the house

~The second one is the thing that bothers him the most...

"Maybe I don't want to carry on the Harrington name... I'm fine if our branch ends with me"

~You kiss him and tell him that the only people who have any say over how your family runs are you and him and you fall asleep tangled together

~This time around Steve refuses to leave you alone anywhere NEAR your due date.

~You wake up one morning to gentle contractions and don't tell him so he doesn't sweep you to the hospital hours too early only to get sent back home.

~(You do call Dustin, your driver now since Robin moved Chicago, and let him know to be on deck)

~Steve is eying you suspiciously all day, it's Sunday, cleaning day, and what better way to distract yourself than making sure the house will be clean when you bring the new baby home.

~When you keep excusing yourself every so often to have a contraction in the other room Steve finally figures it out and sounds the alarm

~Dustin drives Will, El, and Joyce to your house to watch after Rose, and Max and Lucas are set to relieve them from babysitting duty depending on how long you're gone

~Steve is beside himself with Dustin driving. He insists that you make a mad dash to the hospital but you tell Dustin that he can take his time and that the baby isn't coming out anytime soon.

"Shithead, she needs to get to the hospital NOW!"

"Given that y/n is the one actively giving birth right now, I think I'm going to listen to her and not you, Steve"

~This baby does NOT want to come out.

~It's a rough labour, you spend most of the time either breaking Steve's hand or cursing him, vowing that you'll never let him touch you again

"I hope you're happy with two, Harrington. You'll be lucky if I even let you in the same room as me again"

"I won't even look at you, baby, I swear"

~There's lots of shouting from you, and even more apologies from Steve

"You can do it y/n. You're so strong and beautifu-"

"Really, Steve? I'm really beautiful right now? Fuck off!"

"You've given me two daughters, you're a wonderful wife and moth-"

"Not now, Steven"

"Sorry, baby"

~ At the end of it all, you and Steve get to welcome your youngest into the world: Victoria Alice Harrington

Bonus content:

~You and Steve are sitting on your hospital bed together watching as Torie grabs at his fingers in her sleep...

"Doesn't this just make you want another one?"

"Get out of my bed right now, Harrington"

[hearts-hunger]

no strings attached — part three

Read on AO3 | Masterlist | Series Playlist ♫

⮡ part one | part two

Series Summary: The destination wedding of a high school friend brings you and Jake together for the first time since graduation. Can you make it though a long weekend without killing each other, or worse, falling head over heels in love?

Chapter Summary: You and Jake are careless with each other, but isn't that what you've always been best at?

Pairings: Jake Kiszka x Reader [+ Sam x Danny, Josh x OC] | Genre: enemies to lovers, angst, fluff, mutual pining | Word Count: 4.7k | Chapter Warnings: drinking

A/N: I know it's been a while but we're back, babey!! I'm excited to see what you guys think of this chapter with all its little twists and turns. I hope you like it! ♡

The sun was starting to sink behind the mountains when you made it back to your cabin, and you stood on the porch, huddled in Jake’s jacket, unable to open the door. You heard him inside — it sounded like he was pacing. Your hand flinched at the doorknob, and you tried to gather the courage to turn it.

Finally, after what seemed like both an eternity and only a split second, you sucked in a deep breath and opened the door.

He stopped pacing when you came in, and your eyes met. He was half-dressed, tucking a soft, barely-buttoned pink shirt into snug black pants. Your heart was in your throat as you looked at him — he could hardly have looked more handsome, or more displeased to see you.

“I’ll be out of your way in a minute,” he said, his voice flat. He finished tucking in his shirt and skirted around you to get to his bag, and you quickly stepped out of his way.

You checked the time; you’d need to hurry if you were going to get to the bachelorette party on time. You and Jake did an awkward dance around each other as you got ready, and he was gone before you’d even put on your dress.

You breathed a sigh of relief when the door closed behind him, but the shakiness in your hands didn’t go away when you were alone. You kept replaying the argument, feeling worse and worse every time your words echoed in your head. He was right — you did have feelings for him, and you’d always been scared of them. You’d let your fear ruin whatever there was between you, again. Worse than that, though, was the way you'd hurt him, and the guilt of it wouldn't let you be.

You tried to push it aside as you got ready; even though you didn’t much feel like socializing, you figured you should at least make an appearance at the party. When you were ready, you looked in the mirror to take stock of yourself. The dress you’d brought was one you’d never worn before, an olive green cocktail dress with long, puffed sleeves and luna moths embroidered on the skirt. Your sheer thigh-highs wouldn’t provide much warmth, but the bachelor and bachelorette parties were both going to be in the main cabin, and you’d be plenty warm inside with all those people.

Thankfully the path to the main cabin was cleared of snow, and you hurried inside into the crush of party guests, following the directions to the right side of the building where all the ladies had gathered for the bachelorette party. Music was blaring, drinks flowing freely, a variety of sparkly phallic decorations on every available surface. It wasn’t exactly your taste, but it wasn’t your party, and you found a spot by the bar and ordered a margarita.

“There’s sparrow, right there.”

You looked over at the door and saw Josh giving you a wave, and you returned it. He gave his girlfriend a parting kiss and gently pushed her towards you before he left to join the bachelor party, and she looked relieved to see you as she made her way through the room.

“I’m really glad you’re here, sparrow,” she said over the music. “I don’t know what I’d do if I was here alone.”

You smiled. “Yeah, me either. Though we could technically go over to the guys’ party if we wanted to.”

She took a sip of her drink and gestured to the Same Penis Forever banner on the wall. 

“And miss all this?” she said. “I don’t think so.”

You laughed. “It’s... interesting, isn’t it?”

She gave a wry smile. “Not my cup of tea. Besides, I think Josh would have a heart attack if I had an underwear collection box at my bachelorette party.”

You almost choked on your drink. “A what?”

She grinned and nodded to the box on the far end of the bar, emblazoned with the words “drop your panties” in bright pink letters. Your eyes widened at the various unmentionables overflowing out of it.

“We’re supposed to take off our underwear?” you asked, aghast.

She laughed. “No, I don’t think so. I think it’s a game where everybody brings a pair, and we try to guess who brought what. It said something about it on their wedding website.”

“I guess I didn’t read the fine print,” you said. You finished your drink and asked for another one. “But no raunchy games at your bachelorette party, huh?”

She shook her head. “It’s not really my style, and it’s not Josh’s either.” She glanced towards the door, where the hallway stretched to the guys’ side of the party. 

“He’s too much of a teddy bear for all that,” she said fondly. You looked over too, catching a glimpse of Josh and the boys at the bar, deep in conversation. Jake downed a shot of tequila and chased it with a lime wedge, and you took a long sip of your own drink.

“And as lovely as this place is, we’ll probably do something smaller for our wedding,” she said, pulling your attention away from Jake.

“You’re already planning it?” you asked.

She blushed, and it was very endearing. “Well, I’m already planning it. Daydreaming about it, really.” Her smile was sweet and wistful. “It probably won’t be for a little while, because neither of us wants to plan a wedding while things with the band are picking up — we both decided it would be better to wait until he’s not stretched so thin with recording and touring.”

That made sense to you. You glanced down at her left hand, looking for a ring you might have missed; she noticed and smiled. 

“We’re not officially engaged yet,” she said. “I mean, he’s asked me a million times to marry him, and I’ve said yes every time, but it’s tricky to put it out in the open like that.”

“Do you have trouble with fans?” you asked.

She shrugged. “It depends. Most of the ones I’ve met and seen on social media are really sweet. But there’s always one or two who are...”

“Less than sweet,” you guessed. You couldn’t imagine the pressure of being in the spotlight like that, of having your relationship subject to such intense scrutiny. 

She nodded. “We learned our lesson the hard way with that one,” she added ruefully, getting another drink. “That whole business with Jake’s ex...”

She trailed off, looking a little embarrassed that she’d mentioned it.

“That must have been awful,” you said, feeling a pang of sympathy for Jake that brought up your own guilt again.

She shook her head. “It was awful,” she said. “It broke my heart to see Jake treated like that. Not just by her, which was bad enough, but by so-called fans, too.”

You shifted uncomfortably in your seat, knowing she’d be just as angry with you — and rightfully so — if she knew how you’d spoken to Jake earlier.

She took a deep breath. “But enough with the heavy,” she said, giving you a cheerful smile. “The boys are probably well on their way to getting drunk, and I say we join them.”

The bartender brought over two shots of tequila at her direction, and you both salted up the side of your hand and had a lime wedge ready.

“Cheers, sparrow,” she said, clinking her glass against yours.

You downed the shot and slammed the glass on the bar, quickly sticking the lime in your mouth. She grinned and flashed the lime peel, and you both collapsed in giggles.

“I’ve missed you, sparrow,” she said, putting her hand over yours. “I’m glad you’re here.”

You felt a tug of guilt and panic. If Jake told her what had happened between you, you didn’t know if she’d ever speak to you again.

You managed a smile. “Me too.”

Both of you stayed at the bar and talked as well as you could over the sound of the music, opting out of the games in favor of getting absolutely plastered. 

“Does everybody call you baby?” you asked her, leaning on her arm. “Or only Josh?”

She smiled. “Just Joshy.” She tapped your nose. “But you can too, if you want.”

You felt a brief, entertaining flutter at her touch. Though you felt you’d unfortunately never be over Jake as long as you lived, you liked girls too, and she’d always been cute.

“Maybe we should see what Joshy has to say about that before you go giving me privileges,” you teased.

She giggled. “Hey, that’s a good idea. Let’s go see what the guys are up to.”

You hesitated. “Oh, I dunno. Aren’t we supposed to stay on this side, with the girls?”

“Everybody’s too drunk to care,” she said, which was probably true. She tugged at your arm. “Come on, sparrow. Let’s find you a guy to make out with.”

You blushed at the thought, but you fleetingly wondered if it might help take your mind off Jake. You let her take you over to the bachelor party side, and as she’d said, nobody seemed to mind. 

“Baby!” Josh said happily, pulling her close and giving her a deep, messy kiss. You felt a pang of jealousy, and it didn’t ease when you saw Sam and Danny wrapped up in each other’s arms. Giving them space, you backed up against the bar, bumping shoulders with someone.

“Oh, sorry — ”

You looked over as you gave your apology, and blushed vividly when you met Jake’s eyes.

You tried to step back, but you wobbled in your high heels. He caught you on instinct, pulling you flush against him.

“Easy, sparrow,” he said, his voice low. You shivered at his touch.

“Sorry,” you said again, pulling back. He made sure you were steady before letting you go.

“‘S alright,” he said. “You drunk?”

You weren’t sure why the question irritated you.

“Maybe,” you said, though it was painfully obvious. “Aren’t you?”

He shrugged. “Not as much as I want to be.”

“Me either,” you said. You’d have to drink yourself into a stupor to be this close to him and not feel the sickening mix of guilt and desire that flooded you now.

He waved the bartender over.

“What are you drinking?” Jake asked you.

“Tequila.”

He turned to the bartender. “A margarita for the lady, and a tequila soda for me. Please.”

When your drinks were brought over, you downed yours quickly.

“Trying to set a record, sparrow?” Jake asked.

You scowled. “How about you worry about you, and I’ll worry about me?”

He raised a brow. “Oh, so you do believe in people minding their own business?” He took a long drink. “I never could have guessed.”

The guilt you'd managed to push down flared back to life. “I’m not drunk enough for this.”

He watched as you finished off your drink. “Getting there.”

You faced him straight on and looked up at him, flush with indignation. “What’s your problem?”

“No problem, sparrow. Just making an observation.”

“You were always good at that, weren’t you?” you shot back. “Making observations about me and not doing a damn thing about it.” Like the blatant, unavoidable observation he must have made years ago that you were in love with him, like the observation he must have made now that you wanted him more than you’d wanted anything in your life.

His eyes darkened, and he closed the distance between you.

“What would you like me to do about it, sparrow? Maybe I should kiss you like you kissed me, show everybody what they missed.”

You flushed. “I don’t want you to,” you lied.

“That so?” he asked. “Well, I have some advice for you, sparrow. Don’t mouth off to me again unless you want me to find a way to shut you up.”

You didn’t know who moved first, and you couldn’t find it in you to care as he kissed you like he’d never get enough of you. You also couldn’t find it in you to care how you whimpered under him, nor how it made him pull you closer.

“Jesus,” he gasped, letting you come up for air. He wiped the back of his mouth with his hand, his pupils blown with desire. “You’re something, aren’t you, sparrow?”

“Something good or something bad?” you asked, pressing close. 

He pulled away, and the rejection stung.

“I haven’t decided.” He finished his drink and set the glass on the bar. “See you around, sparrow.”

“You’re leaving?” you asked, and you hated the desperation in your voice.

“You’ve made it pretty clear that you don’t want me on top of you,” he said. “Or don’t you remember?”

You shored up your hurt, defensive. “Yes, I remember.”

He grabbed his suit jacket from the barstool he’d left it on. You watched as he left, and you turned back to the bar when he closed the door behind him.

“Another, please,” you said, sliding your empty glass towards the bartender.

You felt a hand on your arm. 

“Sparrow.”

You turned to see both Sam and Danny watching you with concern and surprise. You shrugged Danny’s hand off.

“What?” you asked.

He pulled back from you. “No offense, but... what the hell was that? With you and Jake?”

You took your drink from the bartender. “Nothing.”

“That wasn’t nothing,” Sam said. “You just kissed the daylights out of each other. I thought you couldn’t stand him.”

“I can’t,” you said, giving them a rueful smile. “But he can’t stand me either, apparently, so I guess we’re even.”

You made to leave, but Danny gently stopped you and pried your drink from your hand.

“I’m not trying to make you mad,” he said when you opened your mouth to protest. “But I think maybe you ought to take it easy for the rest of the night.”

“I’m fine,” you said, but you let him set your drink back on the bar. He was right; your head was swimming, and you didn’t need any more to drink.

He took your hand. “Let me walk you back to your cabin, sparrow.”

You nodded, not up for arguing. Jake’s kiss had taken it out of you, and you were thankful for the way Danny let you lean on him.

“Be right back, love,” he said to Sam. He led you outside, and scooped you up into his arms when a few steps showed how unsteady you were in your heels.

“Oh, hello,” you said, putting your arms around his neck in surprise even though you knew he wouldn’t drop you.

He smiled. “Hi, sparrow. You had a lot to drink, huh?”

You sighed as you leaned your head against his shoulder. “Sure.” You tapped his chest. “You’re pretty strong, Danny.”

“I do my best.”

You hid your face against his neck when you started to feel dizzy. “This is pretty stupid, right?”

“What do you mean?”

“Bet you didn’t plan on carrying your old pal from high school through the snow this weekend.”

He chuckled. “Not the first time I’ve carried a girl home, believe it or not.”

He set you down when you’d reached the porch of your cabin, and he kept a chaste hand on you until you were upright.

“You have your key?” he asked.

You fished around in your little bag until you found it. “Yep.”

You opened the door, and Danny came inside for a minute.

“Gonna be ok?” he asked.

You nodded. “Yes. Thank you for carrying me back.”

He smiled. “My pleasure, sparrow. Text me if you need anything, ok?”

You gave him a hug, and he didn’t hesitate to return it.

“Try and get some sleep,” he said when you let him go.

You gave him a mock salute. “Yes sir.”

When he left, you sat down on the edge of the bed and tried to wait out the dizziness you felt. You hadn’t been this drunk in a long time, and you couldn’t say you disliked the feeling; you were giggly and warm, unburdened by any of the negative emotions you’d been wrestling with all day.

You touched a hand to your lips, still feeling Jake’s warmth. You couldn’t help the giggle that bubbled out of you, forgetting all about the way you’d argued before and after your kiss.

You didn’t know where Jake had gone, and you foolishly wished he was with you. You laid back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling; you were way too wired to sleep, despite your promise to Danny that you’d try. 

“Hey,” you said to no one, sitting up as you suddenly remembered the hot springs you hadn’t had a chance to see yet. A dip in the warm water sounded wonderful to you just then, and it didn’t take much for you to convince yourself to leave your cabin. You didn’t have the presence of mind to change out of your party outfit, and you were vaguely surprised you didn’t break your ankle trekking over to the bathhouse.

It looked abandoned; no light came through the huge, foggy windows of the otherwise barn-like structure. You slipped inside and were enveloped in the steam that rose from the surface of the hot spring. A raised stone pit at the corner of the pool held a cheery little fire that reflected on the water, providing the only light.

“Of course you’d show up here.”

You jumped at his voice. “Jake?”

He stepped closer to the fire, and its flickering light cast shadows on his face. He was shirtless, and his hair was already damp and curly from the steam.

“I didn’t know you were here,” you said.

He hummed. “Who’s on top of who, now?”

“I can leave,” you offered.

He shook his head. “Do what you want, sparrow.”

What you wanted to do was to kiss him again, but you didn’t say that. He unfastened his belt and started to pull down his jeans, and you blushed deeply as you averted your gaze.

“Jake,” you said, almost scolding.

“Don’t tell me you’ve never seen a naked guy before.”

Your face burned hotter, and you gave a slightly hysterical laugh. “You’re naked?”

“Well, I’m not swimming in my clothes, if that’s what you’re asking.”

You hid behind your hands as you heard him get into the water, and you didn’t dare look for fear of seeing something you weren’t sure you’d be able to look away from. What was he doing, stripping down right in front of you?

“Open your eyes, little sparrow.”

You slowly pulled your hands from your face, letting out a breath when you saw he was covered by the water. Or, half of him was — the firelight was warm on his skin, catching the silver pendant necklace that rested on his chest.

“Scandalized?” he asked.

You gave him a lazy grin. 

“You’d like that, wouldn't you?” you asked. You shook your head. “I should probably go.”

You weren’t sure you could have handled this sober, but you certainly couldn’t handle it drunk. Not without doing something stupid.

“Well, you came all this way,” he said. “You might as well stay a while.”

“Oh, I see,” you said, stepping closer to the pool against your better judgment. “So you decided I’m something good after all?”

He came closer, venturing into the shallower water, and you tried to keep your eyes on his.

“Not just yet, sparrow,” he said. “Though I don’t think you’re decided on me, either.”

You hummed.

“You don’t have to stay if you’re uncomfortable,” he said after a moment.

You bit the inside of your cheek. You should go. But whatever part of you that might have been wise enough to make you leave didn’t seem to have much sway at the moment.

“These shoes are the only things making me uncomfortable,” you said, trying for a bit of levity. You attempted to lift a foot to take them off, but you quickly decided against that when you could barely stay upright on both feet.

He rolled his eyes. “Come here,” he said, beckoning you over as he came up to the edge of the pool. You did as he said, and he unfastened your high heels for you and eased them off with surprising gentleness.

“You women and your high heels,” he said. He looked up at you. “Sit.”

You shook your head. “I’ll get my stockings all wet,” you said, though that was hardly the most pressing reason. You didn’t know what you’d do with him so close, close enough to kiss.

He shrugged. “Suit yourself.” He skimmed his hands over the water. “It’s nice and warm, though. You’ve got to be cold in that dress.”

“You don’t like it?” you asked, lowering yourself to sit on the edge despite yourself, sitting with your legs to the side under you.

“I didn’t say that.” He tugged gently on the hem, his fingers running over one of the luna moths. Your breath caught in your chest, and you couldn’t think of a single intelligent thing to say.

“Let me take them off,” he said, running his knuckles over your stockings. 

You shivered at his touch, and he gave you a ghost of a smile.

“Cold?” he asked.

“No.” It wasn’t the cold making you tremble like that, and he knew it.

He eased your dress up the littlest bit, and his gaze was steady on your face.

“Tell me to stop, sparrow,” he said. It wasn’t a challenge; you knew he’d stop the moment you told him to, and he was giving you the chance before he went any further.

With shaking hands, you pulled your dress up over your knees. He hooked his fingers behind your knee and drew your leg out from under your dress, supporting your ankle with one hand as he swept his free hand up to your thigh.

“Fancy,” he said, thumbing over the lace at the top of your thigh-highs. You felt heat race through your body.

“Do you like them too?” you asked. Your voice was nervous, and the desire in his eyes was softened by his smile.

“Yes, sparrow,” he said gently. “I like them too.”

He pulled the flimsy stocking down in a fluid movement, and you thrilled at the feel of his fingers on your skin.

“I like them better when they’re off, though,” he said, giving your thigh a feather-light kiss.

You sucked in a breath. “Jake.”

He eased that foot into the water and went for the other one, repeating his movements as he took your other stocking off; your skin sparked at his touch, his fingers trailing down your leg with tenderness and intention. He discarded your stockings onto the pile of his clothes, and no sooner had he returned to you than you spread your knees to let him stand between them.

“You’re naked,” you said.

He smirked. “We’ve been over this, sparrow.” He ran his hands over your thighs, pushing your dress up further. “Does it bother you?”

“No,” you said, breathless. “But you can’t stand me. Why did you want me to stay?”

“I don’t know,” he said. “Are you going to let me kiss you, or do we have to go to therapy first?”

You quickly shook your head. “I want you to kiss me, Jake.”

He gave a pleased hum. “That’s better.”

He pressed his mouth to yours, and then it was only skin and heat and hunger between you. He raised his hand from the water and grazed a few fingers over your jaw, rivulets of warm water running down your throat. With the barest touch, he pulled you down to him; you went willingly, opening your mouth against his.

You let your hands wander over him, wanting to be as close to him as you could; you gave a choked groan when he kissed a love mark under your jaw.

“Jakey,” you sighed.

You felt his smile. 

“Jakey, huh?” He trailed kisses down your neck. “You’re so cute, sparrow.”

You flushed with pleasure, and you ducked your head to get him to kiss your lips again. He obliged you, opening his mouth to kiss you deeply, sighing when your fingers traced over his jaw. 

What was it that possessed you every time you were near him? This was all it had ever been between you — and probably all it ever would be, if this weekend was any indication. Maybe this was all it was meant to be. Maybe you would only ever have Jake like this, greedy for your kisses, pliant under your hands, your passion fueled by irritation and tension and frustration. Maybe you weren’t supposed to have anything more.

The thought could have driven you crazy. It could have made you sob until you couldn’t breathe. But you were drunk, and he was hungry for you, and you convinced yourself that it was enough.

You tangled your fingers in his hair.

“I want you,” you said, your voice tight. “Please, Jakey.”

He lifted his head from where he’d been kissing just above your sweetheart neckline.

“What?” he asked.

“I want you,” you repeated. One night would be enough. It had to be.

His expression faltered, and if you hadn’t known better, you could have sworn he looked guilty.

“Sparrow, that’s not — ” He shook his head. “We can’t. Not like this.”

“Why not?”

He sighed. “It’s... hard to explain.”

You touched his face. “You want me too, Jake, I know you do. We don’t have to overthink it.”

His expression was colored with regret and sadness. You felt something shift between you as you looked at him, some understanding, some gentleness that hadn’t been there before.

He put his hand over yours. “No, sweetheart.”

You felt an embarrassed blush creep into your cheeks, and almost wished he hadn’t been so sweet in his rejection. He let his hand fall when you pulled away, and he gave you space as you got to your feet.

“I’m sorry,” he said.

You bit the inside of your cheek. “No, I’m sorry.” You were a little lightheaded as you stood, still drunk, and you closed your eyes and steadied yourself against the raised edge of the fire pit.

“Hold on,” he said, and you heard him get out of the water. He toweled off and got dressed quickly, and he was by your side shortly after.

“Come here, trouble,” he said, his voice soft and affectionate. He knelt and helped you put your shoes back on, and you suddenly realized how tired you were.

“My stockings?” you mumbled.

He patted his jacket pocket. “Right here. Let’s get you to bed, okay?”

You nodded and let him lead you back to your cabin, wrapping your arm around his and leaning close. 

“Sorry I can’t carry you,” he said. “Between the snow and all the shit I had to drink, I’m pretty sure we’d both end up in the hospital if I tried.”

You laughed, and he chuckled as he pressed a kiss to your hair.

“I’m sorry about tonight,” he said sincerely. “I shouldn’t be so careless with you, sparrow. It’s not fair to you.”

You sighed. You knew what he meant. 

“We’re careless with each other, I think,” you said.

“One of our many talents.”

You gave a rueful smile. “That’s one way of putting it.”

When you got back to your cabin, Jake made sure you were taken care of first. He unclasped your necklace and unzipped your dress, and he got some medicine from his bag as you got into your pajamas.

“Drink up,” he said, giving you the medicine and a full glass of water. “Or you’re gonna have a hell of a headache tomorrow.”

You gave a soft groan. “I’ll probably have one either way. But the wedding’s not until late tomorrow, right?”

“Right,” he agreed. He took the empty glass from you and steered you towards the bed. “Plenty of time to sleep it off.”

You snuggled under the blankets, already feeling the pull of sleep. “You’re coming to bed soon?”

“In just a minute,” he assured you. He smiled as you tried to keep your eyes open. “You can fall asleep, sparrow. I won’t be offended.”

“I need to tell you something before I fall asleep,” you said.

He crossed to your side of the bed and hunkered down so you were face to face.

“What do you need to tell me?” he asked softly.

You could barely keep your eyes open, but it was important that you say what you needed to.

“I’m sorry for what I said earlier,” you said. “About your ex. It was an awful thing to say. I know I hurt you, and I’d give anything to take it back.”

He brushed your hair back from your face. “I know, sparrow. I forgive you.” He kissed your nose, and you closed your eyes. “You can go to sleep now, sweetheart. I’ll come to bed soon.”

You gave a sleepy sigh. “Love you, Jakey.”

His thumb brushed gently over your cheek. “I love you too, sparrow.”

Read part four!

[beananacake]

Snapshot (Richard Madden x Reader)

Of Family and Puns

(One shot)

Summary: Your story time Twitter thread of how your grandparents thought you were dating Richard Madden becomes viral and you get the chance to meet the man himself.

One shot Summary: You bring Richard to meet your grandparents and he learns where you get your bad puns.

Word Count: 2.5k words

Warnings: Bad puns are back babey! (that's basically it)

A/N: This surprise one-shot is my gift to you guys on my birthday! I would've celebrated by going out to watch Eternals but with circumstances, I'm going to be a bit late in knowing about the movie (which sucks bc I've been waiting for it for years) But anyway, enjoy this bit of lighthearted fluff before the storm that is the final chapter, Part 5. I love you guys! ASK BOX IS ALWAYS OPEN! Reviews, comments, suggestions, requests (and reblogs) are happily welcomed and accepted! Not beta'd, we own our mistakes like real ppl. Enjoy One shot 1!

Disclaimer: We're all only having fun here, right guys? I have no idea if Bodyguard is indeed having a potential second season. That being said, all information posted herein is not intended to be taken seriously. Take it with a grain of salt, if you please.

Bonus Content 1 | Bonus Content 2 | Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | One shot 1 | Part 5 | One Shot 2 | Headcanon 1 | One Shot 3 | Headcanon 2

“Y/N!”

Snow crunched under your booted feet as you ran up to your grandparents and gave them a tight hug. You had missed them, having not been able to book last year’s holidays off from the laboratory and thus not being able to come, but had promised to be back for the next holidays with more presents and a lot more stories. They only wanted two things from you anyway; your presence and the chance to meet the man in the photos you had been sending them. And they were getting both presents this holiday because you were able to bring your boyfriend with you.

Richard was able to book off two weeks of the holidays so he could finally meet your grandparents. It was endearing how he was much more nervous in meeting your grandparents than he was when he met your parents. He took the time to pick out the best gift he could give them even if you had insisted he didn’t have to. He was persistent about it and you relented, telling him he could just give them robes and they would be thankful for it. You didn’t realize your boyfriend would go overboard with it and he bought the softest, warmest, coziest robes you’ve ever touched.

“Y/N! You’ve grown!” Gramps said as he set you down. He was a spry man of seventy, not looking a bit like his age because of all the wood chopping and exercise he had been doing since moving into this quaint elderly village.

“Gramps, you say the same thing every year,” you said and dropped a kiss on his cheek. You kissed your Gran too, smiling at her. “Gran, I can see Gramps’ treating you well,” you teased.

“Oh, stop teasing, Y/N,” your grandmother said good-naturedly before giving you another tight squeeze. She always smelt of peppermint, much more during the holidays because of her love of adding it to her hot drinks.

“Who’s the fella? Where do you think he parked his U-boat?” Your gramps asked as you pulled away.

“Gramps!” You let out, surprised. “Oh, my god! Please be on your best behavior!”

Your grandmother tittered. “Is that your boyfriend? Oh, he’s so handsome!”

Gramps harrumphed, looking at Richard with a set look in his eyes. “It’s not that cold here in Vermont.”

You looked over to your boyfriend, finding him handsome in his white turtleneck, navy slacks and his brown Chelsea boots. He had on a wool coat to stave off the wintry chill of the state. You turned back to your grandfather and gave him a wry look.

“Gramps, we live in Los Angeles. It’s definitely colder here in Vermont.” You pulled back from your grandparents and looked at them sternly. “If you love me, please behave. He’s nervous to meet you.”

Gramps only nodded, still looking at your boyfriend. You smiled gently at them before going back to Richard.

“Ready?” You asked as you intertwined your fingers with his.

He huffed. “Yes.” He nodded. “Ready.”

You kissed his cheek. “Stop acting like you’re going to be slaughtered, love. These are my grandparents.”

“All the more reason for me to be anxious,” he said as he squeezed your hand. “But let’s get on with it. I don’t want them getting the wrong impression of me.”

You smiled. “Okay, Prince Charming. Let’s go.”

Richard’s hands were cold in yours and you knew it wasn’t because of the weather. You had told him before how much your grandparents’ admiration and love meant to you and it somehow bled onto him that he wanted to get their seal of approval in dating you. If it meant him being nit-picked for everything he did, he would gladly take it as long as in the end, they approved him for you. That was how much he loved you.

You smiled at your grandparents as you stopped before them, only now realizing that you were nervous as well. This was Richard, the love of your life, meeting the other loves of your life. You hoped to all that was holy that they got along.

“Gramps, Gran, this is my boyfriend, Richard,” you said with a smile. “Love, my grandparents.”

Your grandmother wasted no time in hugging him, engulfing his tall frame in as much as she could in her small one. “You are as handsome as the photos Y/N had been sending us!”

Richard chuckled graciously, returning your grandmother’s hug. “Thank you, Mrs. L/N.”

“Oh, please,” your gran admonished as she pulled away. “It’s gran to you now as well.” She patted his cheek and smiled softly.

“Gramps? Got anything to say to Richard?” you asked carefully. He had been watching your boyfriend as if gauging him and sizing him up—or down.

Richard took his spot beside you, holding your hand in his and squeezing it. His nerves were contagious.

“Let’s come inside,” was all he said.

When he and gran had gone in ahead of you, you blew out a sigh and turned to Richard. He was looking at you, a bit apprehensive.

“I don’t think your grandfather likes me.”

You squeezed his hand and reached up to dust the smattering of snow from his hair.

“He is my father’s father,” you teased and in a surprising turn of events, he missed the joke in your voice.

He regarded you with a comically stricken look on his face and as much as you wanted to laugh, your heart clenched at the sight of it. He was nervous and you were being unsupportive. Bad Y/N. Bad girlfriend.

“Oh, love. I’m sorry. I was joking.” You went up to your toes and hugged him. “He’s way better than my father, Richard. Really. He’s just playing with you.”

You felt him bury his face on your neck, hugging you close to him. “I just want them to like me for you.”

Oh. Well, you weren’t expecting him to admit that. You only had a hunch as to why he was nervous but you did not think you would end up right.

“And they like you. I know my grandparents, love. Gramps is just trying to lighten the mood.” You pulled away but kept your hands on his arms. “Did you know what he asked me when you went down from the car? He asked me where you parked the U-boat.”

And with that, he chuckled. You loved the sound of his laugh and how his face scrunched when he did so.

“You do know you chose this jumper for me, love.” He took your hand in his and followed you towards the house.

“I know and I feel bad. We should have settled for the navy one since that was also a good look on you.”

You entered your grandparents’ charming old house and smiled at the rush of warm air that met you. There was fire burning in the fireplace directly at the opposite side of the door and the TV mounted on the wall was blaring on a weather forecast. The piano sat on the other end of the living room, your latest photo with Richard at the forefront of the frames that were on top of it. Your sister was helping your grandmother in the kitchen on the left side of the house and your parents were probably somewhere upstairs, changing into something more comfortable other than their thick outer garments and heavy boots. You removed your coat and bonnet, placing it on one of the hooks by the door and removed your boots, opting for one of the house moccasins. You got your boyfriend a pair and helped him out of his coat.

“Y/N, I’m sure your boyfriend can do that himself,” said gramps as he came down the stairs.

“I’m sure you can do it yourself too but you let gran help you,” you countered sweetly.

One point for you, no points for gramps.

You heard your grandmother chuckle from the kitchen and she gave you a little wink. You went over to them, watching from the counter as Y/S/N helped out in preparing the potatoes.

“Your boyfriend can cook?” gramps asked you as he entered the kitchen. He dropped a kiss to your gran’s cheek.

“Yep,” you said, popping the P. “We just had pasta the other day, made pesto sauce from scratch.”

Richard stood behind you and wrapped his arms around your waist. He kissed the back of your head. You rubbed at his arm and smiled at them.

“Gramps, can you please check if the water’s boiling?” Your sister asked as she prepared more of the vegetables.

Gramps walked over to the pot of boiling water and made a sign of the cross over it. “R.I.P. boiling water. You will be mist.”

Richard snorted from the back of your head and you held in your laugh. Your Gran only shook her head, definitely used to your Gramps’ corny jokes by now. Gramps, however, turned to the both of you with a raised eyebrow.

“Did you say something?” He specifically asked your boyfriend.

“No, sir.” Richard replied sincerely.

“I heard you say something.”

“I didn’t say anything, sir.”

“You didn’t like the joke?” He took the vegetables from your sister and dumped them in the pot.

“Never said I didn’t, sir.”

You squeezed Richard’s bicep. He kissed the back of your head in return.

“You’re an actor, aren’t you? Anything we’ve ever seen before? Braveheart, maybe?” Gramps looked at the both of you.

“He would have been about seven or eight when they filmed Braveheart, Gramps,” you drawled with a roll of your eyes. “He’s in Bodyguard.”

“The Whitney Houston movie?”

“Not The Bodyguard, Gramps,” your sister piped in from beside him. “Just Bodyguard. It’s on Netflix. I told gran all about it.”

“Oh, yes.” Your Gran looked at all of you with a smile. “He was very good. Are they making a second season?”

“I’m legally not allowed to say things about any of my shows,” Richard said. “But all I can say is I’m flying to and from London with talks for a potential second season, Gran.”

Your grandmother clapped her hands in delight. “Oh, good! Your Gramps won’t admit it but he loves the show. We tried guessing who it was and we still didn’t get it! Good show!”

You patted at your boyfriend’s arm and smiled. “Anything you want to add, Gramps?” You were enjoying baiting your grandfather.

Two points for you. Zero for gramps. This was fun.

“Nothing, nothing.” Your Gramps said. He neared you and he looked a bit distracted. “Although, I did call the tinnitus hotline once…”

You frowned and turned serious. They were getting old and you had been monitoring them from afar. Based from the laboratory results they’ve been sending you, they looked fine and at the pink of health. There shouldn’t have been any reason to call the tinnitus hotline.

“Yes…?” You looked at him worriedly.

“It just kept ringing.”

The snort that came out of Richard (again) was involuntary and it was only then that you realized your Gramps was joking. Gran laughed and clapped, as did your sister.

“Oh, that’s a good one, honey,” Gran said as she wiped a tear from her eye.

“Way to go, Gramps!” Y/S/N exclaimed with a laugh.

You only huffed. “That wasn’t funny, Gramps. I got worried for you for a sec.”

He patted your cheek affectionately. “Loosen up, kid. Even your boyfriend knows how to have fun.”

You pouted. “I know how to have fun,” you said, childish.

“Y/N, I can tell when a person is lying just by looking at them.” He told you in a grave voice. “I can also tell when a person is standing up.”

Your whole body shook and it wasn’t because you were laughing but because Richard was. He leaned his head on your shoulder and laughed, never minding the fact that he was nervous just a few minutes back.

“Gramps!” You stomped your foot. You didn’t enjoy being the butt of the joke. Usually with you two, Y/S/N was your unwilling victim. Oh, how the tables have turned.

“You must be part-Hawaiian. Do you know why? Because you got a quiet Hawaiian laugh. Aloha.”

Your boyfriend clutched you again, laughing harder. “A low—A low—A low ha—” He wheezed out the last syllable as he chortled.

Y/N: Two. Gramps: Two thousand. You’re on the losing end, loser.

You crossed your arms. Your boyfriend was clutching on you for his dear life, laughing like he inhaled a ton of laughing gas while you were unamused. You wanted to be in on the fun, not be the fun.

“C’mon, love. That was a funny joke,” Richard said once he recovered. He placed a kiss on your clothed shoulder and looked at your Gramps. “It was a good joke, sir.”

Gramps waved a hand away. “Call me Gramps. You’ve earned it.”

Christmas eve dinner went by without any problem. You have all told stories about the past year, you more so since you had one of the biggest changes in almost everything in your life, and everyone listened intently to you. Your grandparents were verbal about them being proud of you that you almost wept. You loved them so much and hearing their validation was like a balm to your soul. You also told them the truth about how you and Richard came to be together, starting from your accidentally sending them an edited photo of you and him, instead of the one with Jason.

“That Jason fella won’t survive in this family,” Gramps had said. “Richard would. He survived my puns.”

“Only because Y/N told me a pun on our first date, Gramps,” your boyfriend had replied as he refilled the potatoes on your plate.

You then ended up telling them that you had finally moved in with Richard. You remembered hearing them tell people that moving in with other people, especially when unmarried, is taboo but it didn’t seem like it mattered to them. They want you to be finally be happy, you thought to yourself.

The night wore on with more stories and bad puns. You finally had an input (What do you call a boomerang that doesn’t come back? A stick.) and you were pretty sure you were still the butt of the joke because no one laughed even if it was absolutely funny. They laughed at your boyfriend’s bad one (How can you tell a male ant from a female ant? If it sinks, it’s a girl ant. If it floats, it’s buoyant.) like it was the funniest thing in the world. Although you had to admit to yourself, it was a pretty good joke.

But it was what your grandfather had told Richard that made your Christmas. As everyone was readying for bed, you saw them talk in the hallway and listened to their quiet voices. You didn’t catch everything they said but you remembered the only that mattered the most.

Gramps had shaken Richard’s hand before pulling him into a hug, telling him in the most tender of voices you’ve ever heard him speak.

“Welcome to the family, kid.”

[after-nine-at-the-oasis]

Hey guys! Time for HSMTMTS Appreciation Week Day Three: Favorite Quote/Scene/Original Song/Performance! I honestly don't think I would be able to pick for both of those, but I'll at least talk about one of my favorite quotes (if I try to talk about anything else this will most definitely be late, because it's midnight in 8 minutes, so we'll see - or maybe I'll make another post sometime lol. Coming back here with an edit from later in the post: yeah it's past midnight lol. Ignore that - I'm sure for other people it won't be xD).

And that quote is: "And now we're all here, maybe for the last time together. For some of us this has become. . ." "Family."

LISTEN OKAY!!!

XD Yeah, maybe a stereotypical quote, but it's always the first one I think of when I think of HSMTMTS quotes. It's just so relatable to almost any theatre kid, and I totally feel it. Especially given that this is in 1x06. At the end of the year before last, my amazing theatre teacher left. And last year, our musical was cancelled, shortly before we lost one of our members. I know that fear. During my rewatch, it hit me how much I did, when EJ said "I'm sorry no one will get to see you play Gabriella" (something like that). And that specifically relates to ANOTHER experience lol. My first real musical was High School Musical. I was cast as Sharpay, and I was so excited. COVID killed it, and after months of waiting and trying, we performed it on Zoom.

So I just feel this scene so much. They all have no clue what's going to happen, they're angry, they're upset, they don't want to lose this. And they're just barely starting to come together as a cast. But they know. They know that they're family. And it's right after this quote that they decide to do something about it.

And it brings me back to how much I love the Wildcats (guess I'm going to talk about that every post this week lol). They truly are a family, and seeing it from in Season 1 is just so special. And even though they keep going from here, and keep growing, this quote is the moment we know. The moment THEY know. That they're a family, and they're not going to give up on each other. Despite how different they all are, and despite their different opinions and emotions in that moment or all the time, they're not going to leave or give up. And I just love that, so, so much :').

I don't know if I managed to find all the words I wanted to there, but yeah lol :'). Now, since it's past midnight anyway, I will actually talk about the other options for today a bit lol.

Again, I could never truly pick a favorite of any of these lol, these are just examples of some of my favorites.

Favorite Performance: Stick to the Status Quo. Is this because of Seb? Maybe, who knows. But seriously xD, it's so good. The dancing, to AAHHH GINA'S BACK!!! AND SHE'S AMAZING!! To SEB MATTHEW-SMITH SLAYING THE HOUSE DOWN!!! It's just so good xD. And it's at the point during the show where they're all still having a good time, not switching roles and losing their minds yet lol. The amount of times me and my sister would be watching YouTube and see if in the search history and just. Look at each other. And immediately watch it again xD. It's just so epic.

And, this could be a point for or against it, it does make me feel some feelings (besides love for my babeys). Related to previously discussed crazy theatre happenings lol. It's kind of a bittersweet thing for me, just feeling a tiny bit off "I never got that". But it's worth it lol.

Favorite Scene: Honestly I genuinely don't know what to put for this lol. I want to put SOMETHING specific, even though this is probably harder to pick anything close to a favorite than any other category, but still lol. Okay, I thought of one lol. Yes, it includes a seblos moment, but shush, I can do what I want lol. Anyway! Carlos welcoming Ashlyn to the queer community :'). That entire scene lol, with EJ coming up after that and supporting Carlos, and then SEB!!! MY SEBLOS REUNION!! AND A KISS!!!! It's just such a good scene, I love it so much :'D. Like, seeing Carlos welcome Ashlyn and give her the pin :') - especially considering it like 100% definitely for sure confirmed it <33. And then seeing a bit of Carlos's insecurities, but EJ reminds us of that Wildcat love in saying that he doesn't have to do anything he doesn't want to do :'). And then Seb, showing up and being the cutest ever, and Ashlyn looking so happy that he's there, and Carlos seeing him, and just aAH!! I love them all so much <33 😭❤️❤️❤️🥰. I love all of those mini-scenes in one scene so much :') :'DD.

Favorite Original Song: Oh my gosh, I love them all xd. Okay, here are a few of my favorites (but it's a lot of them lol): In a Heartbeat, Born to Be Brave, Second Chance, and You Ain't Seen Nothin'. But honestly those are just some of the ones that get stuck in my head a lot or I listen to a lot lol.

In a Heartbeat: the perfect Seblos song. Also Ricky just. Being there. Always makes me die xDD. But seriously, it's SO CUTE, and it's a BOP (and Frankie's voice is amazing)! But seriously it's perfect for Seblos, like I said, and it's just so sweet :'). I have literal records (like in documents where I talk about it lol) of me freaking out over In a Heartbeat lol. It's perfect <33. Also, don't even talk to me about the homecoming suits sequence ❤️❤️.

Born to Be Brave: The icon of the series. I mean, clearly, since (SPOILERS) the last episode is named after it. Honestly if there's not a reprise of it I may riot /hj. But seriously, it's such a cute and empowering moment between Nini and Kourt, and of COURSE it's also empowering on Carlos's side :'D. And as someone who loves just dancing crazy however I want with my friends at dances? Yeah :'). Love <33. Anyway, it represents such big moments in multiple character arcs, and I just love it so much :')). Plus, again, it's a BOP!! And the ACOUSTIC VERSION!!! Don't even get the started on that :D.

Second Chance: THIS SONGGG!!! It makes me feel so many feelings 😭😭❤️. It's such a great summary of all four of their character arcs, and the VISUALS!!! They just kill me so much. Everyone back in their episode one outfits 😭😭💔❤️. And it back to the core four, especially knowing Nini's pretty much done :'(( ❤️. Honestly, I really want a song similar to Second Chance for everyone at the end of Season 4. I know we probably won't get it, but just- flashbacks to everyone's first outfits (honestly I'd take/love flashbacks in general 👀 but the point here is like Second Chance lol), everyone getting a part. And oh my gosh, if they all had individual lines? Like the little phrases the core four have in Second Chance? I don't know how that would even work (four overlapping in Second Chance works but everyone would be a LOT lol o.o xd), but it would be so cool. Anyway, Second Chance makes me so sad and nostalgic but it is SO GOOD!! It hurts but it hits xD. I just love it so much <33.

You Ain't Seen Nothin': This one, like I just said, just hits xDD. It's a BOP!!! And the video call format of it is really cool :D. But honestly, everyone gets their own part (as I saw pointed out in the comment section of it once lol, it fits everyone's voices, like Belle), and it's so upbeat and GOOD and just AGH!! I love it so much. It also accidentally makes me feel a bit of Feels™ (we're not worrying about that phrasing right now), because happy/"yeah let's make them most of this"/"we do amazing things and we will do amazing things" songs do that to me sometimes lol, but still. It gets stuck in my head SO MUCH!! Like the other songs I feel like are more appreciated/iconic than this one, but it just STUCK to me. I don't know why, but I don't care xDD. I love it <33. Also, it brings together everyone from the episode really well, just like the calls did throughout, but with music :D. And again, it's just so uplifting :). And also again, I love it <3 ❤️🥰🥰.

Also, special shout-out to the beginning of Here I Come for getting STUCK in my brain!! It's just. OUAGH!! Not that I don't love the entire song, but there's something about that beginning 👀. And also, again, the Wildcats loving each other gives me feelings xdd <33.

Anyway!! So those are some of my favorites of all those lol. This got pretty long, but I should expect that by now lol. I do hope y'all enjoyed seeing me freak out over a bunch of HSMTMTS scenes (and such) for 10 paragraphs though lol :). It's pretty much how I roll xD.

But yeah! I am so excited for Season 4 :DD. Just two days, people!!!