#what an amazing story I love him unreservedly

[art-for-a-reason]

If this guy doesn't do stand-up already, he needs to start

[velvetvexations]

Blue Conrad is Not a Good Man

I thought I'd post the first ever story I wrote for what would eventually become my setting. This was originally a backstory piece for a character I was playing in a Trophy Dark game GM'd by the amazing and lovely tricksterkisses. It's no longer what I'd consider "canon" and I've retired from submitting it, but it still has some importance to me.

This is a historical horror piece. Reference is made to slavery and Native American genocide, but are not the focus. CW for gore, ableism, suicide, and implied sexual assault.

You are no doubt aware, dearest readers, of the assertion that Blue Conrad is not a good man. Even in the United States of America, the land I don’t think it controversial to say is the most favored by our divine Father, contrarians and iconoclasts bandy about whispers undermining the hope, unity, and strength that Conrad, the most spectacular of frontier heroes, inspires in all of us. However, knowing the high regards with which our readership adores him, we may shock you by unreservedly agreeing with that statement, for Blue Conrad is not a good man. He is the very definition of a great man! Anything less is a slander that must be stamped out, and for that purpose we have put together a short overview of a life larger than legend.

Of course, Blue Conrad shares this present century with several men of great renown, whom we all owe so much. James Bowie, Davy Crockett, Kit Carson – and yet they all pale in comparison to the truth of Blue Conrad’s life. We believe that by the end of this tale, you will understand why we rate Conrad above them all.

We will start by saying it is naught but fanciful imagination that began the rumor Conrad was hatched from a rattlesnake egg boiled in wolf’s blood. Alistair “Blue” Conrad was actually born in a small cabin in Arkansas six miles from the nearest town. His father, John Conrad, was a veteran of the US Army while his mother, Anwen Reese, was a Welsh immigrant. Shortly after Alistair’s birth, he was blessed with a sister whom they called Blodwen, and in the short time they had together they were a happy family.

Though his father had survived more close shaves with the reaper’s scythe than can be counted, the man tragically caught his death one winter when his family needed him the most. This led to Alistair, at fourteen summers, being sent off quite a ways to work as a hired hand on the estate of Ezekiel Scabbard, cousin to the local preacher. Scabbard was an unruly, ugly old cuss who had no patience for a child shipped to him by a relative he forgot existed, but workers were in short supply and with Conrad’s family days of travel away, the miser saw a situation he would be able to exploit. In this way Conrad would support his mother and sister, though he would never see them again after waving goodbye.

The farm work was hard, and Scabbard cruel, but young Alistair persevered as his he imagined his father did in battle. Shortly after his arrival, Scabbard fired the rancher to which Alistair was apprenticed, placing all the responsibilities upon the young boy. Though technically he was no pitiful slave like those who toiled in Scabbard’s fields, Conrad personally received none of his pay. It would be three years until Conrad discovered his family had perished the winter after his arrival to the ranch. Scabbard seemed to have forgotten the matter entirely. Indeed, it has been attested by a credible witness that at one point before his villainy was revealed to Conrad, Scabbard had been asked by the sweat-soaked, sun-baked youth about his family, and Scabbard seemed to truly not remember any such arrangement ever existed.

After the truth came out, one would expect Conrad to have burnt the place down, striking down those who stood in his way until at last he arrived at the heart of the mansion to put a bullet straight through the head of the ghastly old devil, if you’ll forgive my expression. But he did not. Conrad simply took the man’s finest horse and vanished into the night. Scabbard was outraged, of course, but with the hostilities between the North and South on the verge of spilling over, he had bigger things to worry about up until his shockingly brutal death in a slave rebellion.

Some say the horse’s name was Starchaser, Lightning Legs, or if the teller is particularly ostentatious, Swift King. Actually, Conrad himself cannot remember, for rather than the lifelong companion depicted in the dime novels, he had it sold under the table to a business rival of Scabbard’s almost immediately upon arriving in the next town over. As soon as the sale was complete, he took the next train as far away as possible and has never endeared himself to any beast enough to give it a name in the years since.

Taking up any odd job he could, Conrad continued to grow big and strong, and in his free time honed his instincts to become a hunter-trapper hat would have made the great Artemis swoon. His reputation would stay contained to those he worked alongside and the wives he was occasionally accused of having seduced if not for the night four men cornered him in a back alley.

With the war hot and burning, men who did not join either cause were seen as cowards, despite the need for work for which women could not substitute. Conrad, somewhat absurdly, seemed to have had no interest in the killing of men! The young ladies of in the town of Jewel, where Conrad worked as a logger for a time, couldn’t help but find this powerful young man, with such a sweet and sensitive soul, to be a welcome reprieve from the boorish drunks. Conrad had even less interest in romance than he did war, but the longing he left in every girl’s eyes was enough to rile the town into a frenzy.

That frenzy would come to a thrilling climax when four other loggers cornered him at the end of one work day as they all made their way back to the beds with itchy blankets and stiff pillows. One carried a gun, two others an ax, and the last a hammer that could crack a man’s skull open like a chocolate treat filled with cherry syrup. The men were furious with Conrad, who outshone them in every way one could imagine, taking his solitary and quiet nature as further insult.

Were he literate, he might have been a writer of great novels, or been a journalist to rival Mark Twain, but the specific nature of Conrad’s talents kept him a big fish in a small pond. Now the little fish were growing restless. The tellers of tales do not include that the men were had each drained quite a large amount of liquor, but this omission we will not blame the gossips for, as we have a monopoly on access to the only first-hand accounts other than Conrad himself.

You’re no doubt well-aware of what happened. Most tellings are more or less accurate. He tried to ignore them. He was shoved backwards. They charged. He cleared leather faster than a hummingbird could flap it’s wings. What mattered was the change it stirred in him, subtle but important. Conrad had not been shy to violence before, but it was only then that he understood it for all that it was and wasn’t. Before, he would occasionally brawl as young men often do, but no more. Drunken fools or not, they had almost killed him. From now on, when violence came to Alistair Conrad, it ended as soon as it had begun.

After that, Conrad put on the blue uniform and guarded gold shipments heading east to support the Union’s war effort. It was here that he was to gain his next brush with fame. On one cold night as they lay at camp, one of the other two men escorting the cart was shot clean through the head, spraying a splatter of brain and bone onto the freezing grass. Conrad was quickest to react, diving behind cover with his gun. The other remaining guard, Marion Lord, was right behind him, but a musket ball smashed into Lord’s kneecap and sent him face first into the ground just short of the cover Conrad had taken.

“I will never forget the sight,” Lord would write after the war, his injury having made him pathetically useless to do anything other than reminisce for profit, “of Alistair popping out from behind that rock with his rifle and firing shots one after another. From my position I could see him reloading, and the speed with which he did so took my breath away. Yet, watching him move so quickly, I knew it must be impossible for him to be hitting anything, and even had he all the time in the world, we were surrounded by darkness blacker than could be believed. It was hypnotizing to watch and briefly took my mind from the pain in my knee, but I stayed mired in fear until he stopped, calmly stepped out from behind the boulder, and after making sure no one had survived his one-man counter-battery, began to treat my wounds without worry of enemy fire.”

Conrad killed no less than nine men that day. What amazing acts of carnage he could have performed had the war lasted longer we can only imagine, for alas, it was over all too soon. Having nowhere to return to, Conrad soon took an assignment to Fort Poe in Christland, California where he was, to his immense confusion, considered a war hero by all he met. As you are reading this humble publication, we’re sure the first ‘Poe’ to come to your mind is the author of delightful tales that one can’t help but be tingled with joy by. In fact, the fort was named for Edgar Allen’s grandfather, a quartermaster who was of great value during the Revolutionary War. What an astounding coincidence! There could not have been a greater foreshadowing of fate.

This would lead to Alistair’s more well-known moniker, as Fort Poe sat next to Lake Pantheon, which is known far and wide as the California Cerulean for it’s famous blue hue. Although Conrad never sough to capitalize on his deeds, his fame spread quickly when a gift from the wealthy Lord family arrived with a letter to the local newspaper. The letter declared that Alistair Conrad had been Marion’s ‘angel in blue’, and that when he heard of his friend’s latest posting he made up his mind to include with five-hundred dollars a revolver whose steel had been created and beautifully blued by the famous Von Herder, a blind German rightly considered one of the greatest gunsmith to have lived thanks to the thousands of dead men to his credit. All at once the name “Blue” came as though it sprung up from the ground, and his fame was sealed.

Although he ever really wanted was to continue breathing another day, gossip and commercial fiction has worked hard to convince the world he was an adventurer who sought out women to seduce and buried treasure to give to the needy. Alistair Conrad was but a man of flesh and bone, but Blue Conrad was one of blood and thunder. Children everywhere read chronicles of his life unaware his name was the only non-fictional element, with the exception of some that state 'Blue' as the one given at birth. Boys wanted to be just like him. Girls, meanwhile, promised themselves they’d never settle for a man lesser than the one described in those cheap and occasionally borderline pornographic booklets.

One fact that has never before been recorded in print is that Blue Conrad was married, for a short while, to a young Native woman who had taken the Christian name Sarah. She’d lived nearby, and after Blue left the army, he moved her to the nearby settlement that sat next to the lake and they were married. We have not, unfortunately, been able to interview her ourselves, as she was put beyond our reach long ago when she died in a raid by Natives that took with it the lives of both Fort Poe and the neighboring settlement in their entirety.

Only Conrad was spared that faithful day, for he had been out hunting. When he discovered what had happen, he went positively mad with sorrow, guilt, and most of all, a burning anger. I can only lament the misfortune that none of this publication’s handsomely talented artists were there to capture the scene in all it’s details. Conrad surely knew he hadn’t the slightest hope of finding his wife alive the second he saw the bodies left to rot in the street, but it was only upon finding Sarah’s still corpse that his mind truly snapped in two. With but the pull of a switch, Blue Conrad transformed into an inhuman machine of a man, for what shreds of his heart had survived the long years since his father’s death had been skewered by the same arrow that caught his wife.

When he arrived at a nearby logging camp, they considered retribution to be common sense, the kind of rage they all had for the senseless slaying of their kin, but they could not know the depths of fury that whirled in Blue Conrad like a twister of hellfire. Despite their miming of indignation, they treated the violence they visited on a quite helpless and completely unrelated tribe to be little more than a fun diversion, an afternoon spent gladly balancing the scales of life and death as Manifest Destiny commanded.

It was not so for Blue Conrad, who always killed dispassionately in the past simply to end a threat. From a distance that would have seemed as true as ever, for he crossed the bloodied ground like a man built from clockwork. To look him in the eyes, however, would reveal to you the tempest in his soul that drove him to perform such obscenely gorgeous violence. It didn’t matter that they were not the Natives the revenge had been intended for. Blue himself suspected something was amiss with the identification of their targets, but he let the suspicion die under the weight of his wrath.

That tempest did not leave him for quite some time, the sun rising and setting on a man who felt half-alive, doing the bare minimum to continue his heart’s beating. No words were spared for anyone, especially not those who came seeking a frontier celebrity. The most that could be gotten out of the great Blue Conrad was a stare that never failed to communicate the sincere warning that he would blow their brains into a puddle of pink soup if they didn’t leave him be.

That changed at last when a man by the name of Marcus Pike came to the house Conrad built next to Lake Pantheon, where he spent his years as the only living human for miles. The man was begging for help. Pike’s bride had been taken by outlaws on the day of their wedding, and the ransom was ruinous. He knew that only Blue Conrad could save her.

Indeed, it seemed so much like the plot of one of those grotesque little novels that it feels strange to call it the truth, and yet it really happened, and the situation had a quite curious effect on Conrad. Color came rushing back to his face as he heard Pike’s story. The tempest was gone, or at least finally beginning to die. Now there was once again a twinkle in his eye that had vanished the day he lost his wife. Conrad always despised the fame that hounded him, the lies, the romantic words written by men who had never seen a man die.

Now it gave him purpose.

The journey was effortless, for he knew the area well enough to have a good idea of where a gang of outlaws would wish to hide, and the details given by Pike narrowed it down to a gulch only a day’s ride away. With genuine interest, he pressed the groom to tell him of his bride, and the man joked that if Conrad wanted her for himself, it would not be difficult for such a hero to steal his love away from him.

“I swear, I wouldn’t!” Conrad laughed. “But we might die, and I’d like to know what I was dying for. Now that ain’t so much to ask, is it?”

“No, I suppose not!” Marcus Pike laughed in turn, and he told Conrad of her golden hair, her pale skin, her bright blue eyes. So much of her was unlike Sarah, and yet the love between her and her husband-to-be was so familiar that it brought tears to his eyes. You may not believe it, but it’s true. Blue Conrad was crying. Not weeping like a woman or wailing like an infant, but at last he could feel his spirit returning to a fraction of warmth he believed forever lost to him.

The next morning, Conrad and Pike made their move. There was only five outlaws. One was killed as he slept on sentry duty, two more were struck down in the gunfight that followed, and with the odds evened out and hearing it who it was they exchanged bullets with, the last two put down their guns and consented to being tied with rope. It was a trivial exercise.

Despite the quick and thorough victory, however, spoils were not as they had hoped. Inside one of the tents, they found the man’s wife, cold and dead, chained by the ankles. Her clothes were torn to shreds, she was covered in bruises, and a knife was buried in her chest

The next thing Conrad knew, Marcus Pike was pulling him from the badly beaten outlaws, still tied up and unable to resist the savage assault he had been delivering to the now almost unrecognizable men.

“Look man, my God! She plunged the knife into her own heart!” Pike shouted. “She killed herself! The faithless whore ended her own life, in shame for her sins with these criminals! Were we married she would have ruined my name!”

There was a sickening crack then. A few, actually, as Pike’s jaw had come unhinged, and teeth could be seen streaking through the air trailing a cloud of blood and saliva. Those two remaining outlaws had given up for fear of Blue Conrad. Neither could help but think they had not known what true fear was, let alone true fear of Blue Conrad, until they watched the dashing hero put his fist nearly clean through his friend’s face and with the new target of his fury laid out on his back delivered blows that could be compared to an elephant’s stomping foot.

Soon Pike’s eyes were pounded to uselessness, and the pain was too overwhelming to think coherently, but the very air he breathed was thick with hatred that spoke to him of his immanent and very painful demise. He could do nothing as he was bound the same as the criminals, and all three could only watch in horror as Conrad went to acquire firewood.

Oh, readers, how I wish I could have seen it. Just as Conrad drew his matches, the sky filled with dark clouds thick with rain. It was as if He Who Cast Our Father Out were pleading for Conrad to reconsider and show mercy, but Conrad simply waited out that grotesque bastard they call 'God' and sat staring at them until the rain had cleared, the men falling into deeper panic as his gaze bored into them.

After the deed was done, Conrad bade his horse to run in any direction it wished, and it did, into oblivion for all he cared. We do not know where he will end up in the short term, but we can only hope, friends, fellows, and Lords of Hell, that the pain and misery follows. As for where he will end up at the end of it all? Well, I would suggest you begin sharpening your knives now. We have quite the feast to look forward to, far exceeding the pitiful spirits he’s fed to us with every blackguard who died at his hand.

In conclusion, if you do not think Blue Conrad is a great man, rich with sin to wet our beaks, simply think back to all that I’ve written here, and the growling of your stomach will surely change your mind.

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

Blue Conrad was heavily based on the real life Kit Carson, who really did lead the massacre of a tribe unrelated to the crime that instigated it. On another occasion, he set out to rescue a woman, only to find her captors had already killed her, and that she carried with her a dime novel of his fictionalized adventures when she died.

[nightghoul381]

This a fan translation so it is definitely not 100% accurate. I do not own anything related to Ikemen Villains. Support Cybird by buying their amazing stories!

Warnings: A bit steamy, so MDNI | 1 Minor William Route spoiler

Detective: “Pardon me. Are you Earl William Rex?”

William: “Yes, that’s right. That’s kind of you, Walter Reed… was it?”

Reed: “You know my name? Well, let’s just say I’m extremely flattered.”

Mr. Reed was staring at William with sharp eyes.

It’s quite rude, but I’m surprised that I don’t feel bad because of my open attitude.

Reed: “By the way, Earl, you were accused of murder before, weren’t you?”

(…!)

Reed: “I’ve finally found a so-called ‘person of interest.’”

William: “Has there ever been such a rumor?”

Reed: “At that time, I had heard rumors that you had the power to manipulate people.”

Reed: “Manipulating innocent prisoners to walk through London in the early morning… huh?”

A look that didn’t even try to hide his suspicion was cast on Will.

Will tilted his head gracefully without showing any signs of agitation.

William: “It’s a detective’s job to uncover the truth, right?”

Reed: “Ahaha! No doubt.”

Reed: “I’m sorry. It’s just that in my profession, I inevitably observe things with suspicion at first.”

Mr. Reed’s skeptical look suddenly softened and he smiled openly.

(Somehow, you’re someone I can’t hate.)

William: “I don’t mind. Accurate information is something that can only be obtained without hesitation.”

William: “However, I am here today on holiday. I’m afraid I had nothing to do with the sensational incident.”

He gently hugs me on the shoulders and I decided to offer Will a helping hand.

Kate: “We only just boarded… so we didn’t have time to kill anyone on board.”

When I answered with a smile, Mr. Reed lifted one of his strong-willed eyebrows.

Reed: “Hmm? Even though someone is dead, you’re calm. You’re a strong young lady, aren’t you?”

Kate: “…!”

(Oops… I wonder if that was too unusual of a reaction.)

Maybe it’s because I’ve been carrying out life-threatening missions next to Will,

My reaction seems to be different from that of the average Londoners.

William: “…fufufu.”

Seeing through my troubled heart, Will smiled next to me happily.

(What, this is no laughing matter…!)

William: “Isn’t it cute? My partner loves the thrill.”

Reed: “I’d say it’s inappropriate, but I understand it. A life without thrills is boring.”

Reed: “That’s why I… I want to find out if your rumors are true.”

Mr. Reed’s eyes were once again unreservedly focused on Will.

Reed: “If it’s true, it’s possible to manipulate people into committing murders before boarding.”

William: “I see. That’s interesting reasoning, Detective.”

William: “To say ‘murder,’ did the body found look like it had been murdered?”

Reed: “Ah, I just barely saw him earlier, but there is no doubt it was a murder.”

(This person seriously suspects Will as the murderer…?)

(I don’t think I’ll ever be framed as a murderer…)

(But we don’t want him sniffing out your abilities or the Crown.)

(…I should try not to get involved with this person as much as possible.

Reed: “May I join you?”

William: “Don’t you need to follow the incident?”

Reed: “You’re my number one suspect, for the time being.”

Mr. Reed pointed his index finger at Will.

William: “Haha. That’s harsh.”

Kate: “If so, we will clear our names.”

I cut between the index finger and Will.

Reed: “Oh?”

Kate: “…But we’ll do it separately.”

William: “…!”

Reed: “Wha… Oh, hey!”

I took Will’s hand and ran into the crowd.

Like a dance, we slip through the crowds.

I let out a deep breath as I ran into a deserted hallway.

Kate: “…You’ve attracted the attention of someone rather nasty, Will.”

William: “Well, I suppose it’s not unreasonable to be suspicious. The smell of blood is familiar.”

William: “He’s a detective with a good nose.”

Will smiles happily despite being accused of murder.

(… You’re just that kind of person, aren’t you, Will?)

I couldn’t help but laugh at his overly tolerant and relaxed attitude.

William: “Even so…”

His palm cups my cheek and the distance between us closes.

William: “I told you to concentrate on being pampered… but my robin is still the same.”

Kate: “…Yeah.”

His lips overlapped mine softly.

A faint sound of waves breaking against the ship is mingled with the sweet sound of the wet kisses.

The kisses are indulgent, yet chastising, and as I let myself get lost in them…

Reed’s voice: “Damn it… I thought they were headed this way.”

(…! The detective from earlier?)

Suddenly a voice calls out, and my shoulders tremble

Kate: “Nn…!”

(Will, Mr. Reed is right there…)

I appealed to Will with my gaze but he wouldn’t stop kissing me.

William: “…”

(Will…)

Kate: “…hmm, ngh… ah…”

Rather, the tip of his tongue that had pried open my lips begins to tease my tongue in a debaucherous manner, causing my sweet voice to spill out.”

(No, no… not in this…situation.)

The kisses felt so good it was almost sinful, my resistance began slipping.

The footsteps receded, and the silence returned, leaving only the roar of the sea.

Kate: “…Hah…”

William: “Fufu… Looks like he’s gone.”

Kate: “What if he… What would you do if somebody saw us?”

William: “Just show it off.”

My flushed cheeks became even hotter as he shrugged his shoulders unapologetically.

As if to make me aware of it, his fingertip gently caressed my cheek.

William: “You could be seen in this situation…”

William: “…that’s why you have such a pleased look.”

Kate: “…Spiteful.”

William: “Yes, thank you.”

(I could never fight Will.)

Even my guilty pleasure is seen through, because he loves me like this.

William: “I told you to focus on being pampered, didn’t I?”

William: “On this ship—anything you desire, don’t hold back.”

Will’s temptation is like sweet, sweet poison.

The sound of the ocean’s roar is so different from what I’m used to.

I feel more daring because of that, and it makes my heart flutter a bit.”

William: “…But I don’t like the idea of being hounded by a detective the whole time.”

Will looked away as if he was thinking for a moment, and a bright smile appeared on his face.

William: “Let’s clear the suspicion of murder first.”

When Will said to the crew “I want to check the corpse and its belongings.”,

 Maybe because of his status as Earl, or because he is on good terms with the ship’s owner,

Or maybe it was just his charisma, but the sailors let us through right away.

(It’s all very common belongings… huh?)

(Is this a…necklace? That’s unusual for a man…)

The top of the pendant was engraved with a name and some text.

(Rita Thompson – “Dedication”?)

William: “Thompson? …Ah, I see.”

After examining the body, William came back and looked over my shoulder at my hands.

William: “That man was stabbed once in the front and then stabbed multiple times in the back.”

Kate: “…So, someone had a grudge against him?”

William: “Now I know the real culprit.”

Kate: “Eh? Already?”

William: “Now all we have to do is… observe what they are doing.”

Kate: “They… you mean the culprit.. is more than one person?”

William: “It’s—”

Kate: “Wait! I also want to try to solve it…”

(A man killed by a grudge had a necklace engraved with a woman’s name…)

(The necklace was a gift from a woman…? Were the two lovers?)

(Then, the one who resented the murdered man was… someone else who had feelings for the woman?)

(The people themselves are… a woman and her ‘someone’…)

William: “…fufu.”

Kate: “…Why are you laughing?”

William: “No reason, you’re just so cute when you’re thinking so hard.”

With a soft sound, he kissed me gently on the cheek.

Kate: “Will… when you’re next to me, I can’t get my thoughts together…”

William: “That’s troublesome.”

Another kiss, this time on my temple.

(Really…)

Will smiles happily, seeing me unable to resist.

(It’s really not fair…)

When I glared at him, his eyes narrowed more and more lovingly.

It was making me want more kisses rather than to keep guessing.

William: “… Come to think of it, I haven’t played the piano yet.”

Kate: “Huh…? Ah…”

--Flashback—

Kate: “…I want you to play a song. I hope it’ll make whoever put the piano here feel great.”

William: “Haha, the hurdles are high.”

William: “…But if it’s a request from my lover, of course, I’ll gladly play.”

--End Flashback—

Kate: “You remembered?”

William: “Of course, how could I forget the request of my beloved lover?”

William: “Shall I answer your request while clearing the murder charge?”

Part 1 | Part 2 | Premium End | Epilogue

[cooliogirl101]

you know, i can’t believe it took me reading reina giving jiraiya a talk to make me realize WOW i would totally be scared of her if i ever met her in real life. it’s like, how to explain, it’s like someone spending their whole life in black mud and expecting everything else in life to be the same and learning make yourself at home, seeing others sink in and out, and making peace with it all only for this girl to come storming in like a burning star, telling you that life is better than this. it’s not even the fact that she’s bright, although that’s part of it, it’s the fact that she’s so gentle about it. she firmly sits you down and tells you what’s up and then expects you to meet her expectations because what else can you do? do you know the poem about cowards would manage to get hurt by cotton, by happiness? she’s cotton. she’s not perfect but she’s painfully earnest about living the best she can and that’s.. kind of terrifying, kind of amazing.

Jiraiya is man enough to admit that his 4-foot-tall, blind-as-a-bat-without-her-glasses student kind of scares the shit out of him, for the following reasons:

1. She is far, far too easy to talk to. Jiraiya’s lost count of the number of times he’s ended up spilling his life’s story to her only to look back on the conversation later and go “wait, maybe I shouldn’t have said that.”

As shinobi, they’re taught that vulnerability kills and yet she makes vulnerability feel safe.

2. The thought of disappointing her makes him feel sick. Because the thing is, she’s so gentle and patient and understanding, and she already asks for so little while giving so much of her in return, that you’d be the worst kind of scum if you let her down.

3. She’s perceptive and gentle. Which might be a worse combination than perceptive and cruel, because at least they’re taught to handle cruelty, to expect it. But kindness? He has no defenses for kindness.

She’ll look at you, strip down all your defenses and excuses until you’re left excruciatingly exposed with nothing left but uncomfortable truths, and she’ll hold your hand through it all and promise she won’t leave.

4. She will make you love her. Which isn’t even her intention, really, just a consequence of the fact that she’ll take you in, all your flaws and imperfections, all the things you hate about yourself and all the things other people have told you you should change, and she’ll love you for it, intensely, unreservedly, and unconditionally until you have no choice but to love her back.

5. If you meet her, your life won’t ever go back to the way it was before her again.

[mercurygray]

For Thirsty Thursday's blended drinks category - can I go on an archive dive and request Margaret Frances and Dick Winters(/Band of Brothers more generally)?

"She'd be lucky to get you, you know."

Dick set to cleaning his rifle with even more of a will, his face burning a little as he realized his stares at the group of women distributing food had been noticed. How long had his hands been idle? How many people had noticed, apart from the one making the comment? (But then, everyone else was busy, and Margaret Frances was born observant.)

"Miss Warren can do better than me," he managed, meeting her eye for only a moment as she sat down next to him on the log.

Margaret scoffed, eyeing the women working with Lady Washington, Kitty Green and Lucy Knox and Joan Warren. "What better looks like I'd like to know, Major."

Dick continued with his cleaning until he realized she was really sitting there waiting for his answer, and sighed. "Her - her father is a delegate to the Congress, her uncle advises Washington. She comes from a fine family with a house in New York and I'm a...a farmer from Pennsylvania."

"A farmer who's at present in charge of one the best preserved militia companies in the whole army. The General's made a note of your unit's good morale."

"And when this is over I'll go back to being a farmer." She is used to books and letters and fine lace for her gowns, and someone to make over her dresses, and I can get for her none of those things.

"It's a very respectable occupation," the washerwoman countered. "And there's no doubt in my mind you'll still very much be Major Winters twenty years hence. Your men love you."

He ducked his head. "You flatter me."

"It's to be commended, I think - that a man can be of both peace and war. Why, our men in Congress all have other occupations - and some of them are farmers too. Isn't that what we're fighting for? The rights of man to determine his own destiny, instead of having someone else decide for him what he is and how he ought to be?"

He stared at her a moment, faintly amazed at her cheek. (But then, her father was a clerk and she'd grown up knowing law.) "Miss Frances, I think you are a romantic."

She pursed her lips, smiling faintly. "I hope I am more practical. But I think if two people like each other they ought to...try and make allowances." She let that sit a while. "General Washington married up, you know. Joan said he told her so himself so at dinner. It was Lady Washington who had the money and the land, and he didn't bring much more than himself."

"An odd story to share."

"They were discussing the matter of promotions and I believe your name was mentioned." There was a bit of mischief in her voice. "Now, I can't on earth think why it might be on her lips - or why the General would share that tidbit without some strategy of his own." His gaze met hers again, and he could see now she was smiling, unreservedly. "You might do her the courtesy of at least letting her air her own opinions on the subject, Major, before you go making up her mind for her. Else you're no better than Parliament with their taxes."

He studied her for a moment, feeling caught out, and finally allowed himself a smile. "The man who loves you doesn't deserve you, Margaret Frances."

"Nor do I him - but that's love, isn't it?"

[impalementation]

what played differently positively and negatively on your buffy rewatch?

putting under a cut because this got long! disclaimer: this is all just my personal opinions and reactions, nothing objective or definitive. also when i talk about how i reacted “as a teenager” i mean from ages 13-16 rather than more mature teenage years. i did revisit the show briefly around 18, but don’t remember what i thought. so i’m comparing how i watched it at ~15 to how i watched it at 27, basically.

negative:

- a lot of trouble connecting to the more high school elements of the show. i just grew out of caring about teenagers, unfortunately. so i got impatient with a lot of seasons one and three, and some parts of two. which was really a shame, since i used to pretty unreservedly adore those seasons.

- in that vein, a lot of trouble connecting to buffy/angel. partly because adult men are no longer as opaque to me as they are to buffy, and so although i respect what the writing was going for by objectifying angel, it was still frustrating to feel like i wasn’t given much to go on as far as understanding his character motivation or why he and buffy were drawn to each other. boreanaz’s acting also got in the way of my enjoyment, unfortunately. i have nothing against the pairing, as a pairing, and i like a lot of the writing around it, but it lost the ability to give me any of the feelings it gave me as a teenager. i was sad about this!

- having seen a lot more movies and tv shows by now, buffy’s often ungainly execution was difficult to ignore. there are a lot of jokes that just strike me as clunky and unfunny, pacing i thought was slow, character writing i thought was dumb, etc.

- all the parts that haven’t aged well from a political perspective (some of which people complained about at the time too, of course). the weird attention given to xander’s self-deprecating possessiveness, terrible jokes like the one about the first slayer’s hair in restless, baffling moments of sexism, an often facile approach to gender politics, etc.

positive:

- i wasn’t a dumb teenager, but i wasn’t sophisticated either. i didn’t have the analytical toolkit that i have now. so the biggest positive change was being hit over the head with the realization of how intricately and elegantly thematic the show could really be. the feeling of “oh shit, they were doing things.” when i got to the end of season six and saw buffy crawling out of that grave a second time i was just on the floor like “fuck you buffy the vampire slayer and the symbolism you rode in on.” overall i gained a lot of respect for it as tv with literary tendencies. as messy as the show could be, and as superficially “pop” as it was (as in, it wasn’t a prestige-y hbo show), it’s one of the few tv shows i’ve seen that is clearly and consistently “about” something, both from season to season and over the course of the whole show. one of the few good comparisons i have is the wire, which is consistently about institutional decay and how systems fail people, and then explores that idea from season to season by looking at different failing systems (crime, labor, reform, education, media, etc). similarly, buffy is (among other things) about the trials of growing up, and growing into a person that has agency and ownership of themselves. and each season explores that subject in new ways by putting buffy into new situations that challenge her to be mature in a way she hasn’t been before. the wire achieves literary coherence in a much more controlled, focused, and overall skillful way. but people know that the wire is Serious Art. buffy fascinates me in that it has similar aspirations while also being goofy, stupid, messy, unabashed genre entertainment. unabashed television, at that.

- in general, i also felt like i had a deeper understanding of a lot of the storylines. i’d always liked seasons six and seven, even when i felt like i wasn’t “supposed” to (and hey that was another nice thing about watching it as an adult. i no longer had a need to care about whether i was supposed to like something or not, because i felt confident in my own ability to assess that.), but i didn’t quite get them on that emotional level. this time though, i felt like i completely understood the experience that the writers were trying to convey. buffy’s struggle with mortality in season five, depression in season six, and isolation in season seven, all hit me unbelievably hard. even the college experience stuff in season four had new, added layers.

- in a weirdly equivalent-but-also-opposite situation to buffy/angel, my life experience colored how i received the whole buffy/spike storyline. on the one hand, i was newly able to properly appreciate that their season six story was a story about a toxic and self-destructive relationship. as a teenager i found it hot and engaging, but also sort of baffling; i couldn’t tell what the writers were going for. because i was so used to a sex = romance paradigm in tv, instead of the sex-as-character-writing that you see in more sophisticated media. similarly, i was finally able to understand the more disturbing sides of spike’s character, instead of just finding him funny and entertaining. yet instead of that understanding making the dynamic, or spike as a character, less interesting to me, it actually finally gave me an emotional “in” with it. it made things compellingly complicated instead of just confusing. i couldn’t be moved by it before, because i didn’t understand the emotional conflicts at play. whereas watching it with life experience that echoed it, a lot of it felt like being suckerpunched, in a good way.

- for whatever reason, i also found myself really enjoying the willow/tara dynamic. i was pretty dismissive of it as a teenager. i thought tara was dull, and resented the feeling from friends that i was supposed to like it just because it was gay. but i found them (and tara) very sweet this time around, in a pleasantly subtle way, and with more understanding of my own queerness, i appreciated things like how implicit their courtship in season four had to be, or their easy domesticity. and it meant that when their relationship fell apart in season six it genuinely made me sad instead of just “well alright.” and i really like it when stories affect me, whether or not the way it’s affecting me is a happy emotion.

- my love for buffy as a character like...quintupled. i’d always loved her but, as i’ve said, my enjoyment of the show was on the superficial side. i think i used to basically take her at face value, and accept everything she goes through as “well, that’s just what happens to protagonists of tv shows.” also, since i’d never related to the sorts of coming of age narratives typical of high school shows (popularity! boyfriends! virginity! cheerleaders! prom!), and i hadn’t experienced any of the things the show explores past season three, it was difficult to feel like buffy as a character was speaking to my own struggles in growing up. but now that i wasn’t expecting to relate to her, it was easier to see her face everything and go “man, you brave, amazing girl.” i felt like i could finally really appreciate her as a character, which made all the times that i did end up relating to her feel richer too.

- all the parts that have aged well. there have been great female protagonists since buffy (and great female protagonists before her), but few great female heroes. and buffy is kind of incredible for being both. i’ve said this before, but one of the great things about her as a character is that on the one hand, she’s able to participate in a hero narrative that is normally only the province of male characters, and be a source of admiration or inspiration that isn’t about gender. but on the other hand, she’s also allowed to be human...sometimes to people’s dismay, especially in the later seasons. and that duality, particularly in a female character, is deeply, deeply rare. buffy summers is just an utterly remarkable character, and consuming more media only made that more obvious to me. aside from buffy, i think many of the show’s more experimental choices have aged quite well, whether the format breaking episodes in season four, or the postmodernism of season six, or buffy’s mourning and depression in seasons five and six. i also really appreciated the show’s themes around forgiveness, atonement, responsibility, and agency, and found myself wishing that more contemporary things had them.

[atopearth]

Shall we Date? Wizardess Heart Part 35 - Florin Arden Route

Ooh Florin seems happy and cute, like a smart guy version of the heroine lol🤣 Light seems like the awkward nice guy type haha. Aww I love how the Nidhogg is like their play buddy now lmao, a cute troublemaker haha. Awww the newborn white dragon is so cuteee! Ooh okay, I like these new guys, especially Albert! He seems to research and take care of rare species and he teases Klaus too😆😆 Light and Florin are White Dragon Knights which seems pretty cool~ it's also interesting to think of Zurvan (Florin's "dragon") as a sort of man-made dragon where it was through experiments and mixing of different species that they were able to "create" it. Shu the baby dragon is the cutest though😆 Anyway, it's kinda mean of the heroine to assume that she can't leave Shu to people like Florin and them because they don't treat dragons well, like all you know is that they fight with them but that doesn't mean they don't treat them well! Like yeah I know they need something to stop her from just handing Shu over, but I think I would feel pretty insulted if someone assumed that about me, especially since Florin and Light seem like people who would care for their partners well.

Honestly though, the heroine really thinks Shu is just a normal "pet" lmao, she wanted to bring it into class with her, thinks that she can take care of it etc, it's crazy lol. Is she going to have a reality check when Shu grows bigger and actually starts being able to breathe fire etc? Anyway, I find it so adorable how Shu really likes Zeus and the other way around too, they're so cute lol. Florin is investigating a phenomenon where humans are turning into magical beasts?! That sounds pretty bizarre and bad... Anyway, it's fascinating to see that Light and Florin fight in a way that disregards defence or basically their lives, and they're pretty nonchalant about the whole thing too. I'm glad the heroine and Florin are both properly talking about their perspectives - hers with wanting Shu to be free, and Florin telling her about giving Shu the "perfect" environment for dragons but hidden to the world. Honestly, I find it weird that it took until he met the heroine to really start thinking about why he does these missions and the impact of it etc since I feel like it's rather hard to believe considering all the people he knows and has encountered over the years, like how could you not think about it AT ALL? Not doing anything about it I can understand because this is your mission or whatever but not thinking about it? That's a different story and pretty unbelievable. Like, I'm sure there are sheltered people like that, but Florin and Light aren't exactly sheltered, they go out for missions all the time, I find it hard to believe they never encountered anything all these years to make them think about their mission in any other way. Anyway, awww I love the idea of introducing Shu to all the familiars/pets, it was pretty hilarious when Florin unreservedly just kissed Caesar so he could see his "cute" form loll. Rembrandt willingly turning into Strange Taffy to play with them was so cute, and I love how Taffy was acting like Shu's big brother lmao.

Florin being disastrous with cooking and cleaning to such a level is scary lol. Anyway, it's kinda awkward to "play" as Florin for a bit as he and Light discuss his feelings for the heroine and how they can't be together blah blah, since I feel like this is a cheap way for them to show the readers that yes, he feels the same way but he can't do that yet because reasons lol. I personally prefer just following the heroine's perspective so that I can assess from that perspective whether the LI is as interesting and lovable from her view lol. Anyway, I still thought it was really sweet when Florin confessed to her, mainly because it was nice of him to tell her that he's never considered death to be something to be sad about or to be scared of until he realised how scary it would be for him to lose her. I think that's a big breakthrough for him so that was nice haha. And whoa, the heroine kissed him?! When was she so bold lmao. Well, I'm not surprised that Light was the one who kidnapped the heroine, since it was surprising for him to have failed in guarding her, and he's never agreed with Florin about her so yeah~ I think it's interesting to say that it's true love when you understand and try your best to stop the person you love from going down the wrong path, like I don't disagree I guess, but at the same time it kinda implies that it's not true love if you don't stop them. Like I understand, and I think that if you love someone you definitely would want to stop them from doing something they'll regret, but there's a limit to everyone's abilities, and just because you feel that way towards someone doesn't mean they feel the same towards you, so sometimes even if you want to stop them to save them, you aren't able to because they either don't feel like they want to be saved or they're too hurt. But I guess when it comes to stories, it's true love if you are able to save them huh? But I just think it's saddening to disregard the people who continue to stay by their side supporting them no matter what, or supporting them but still trying to convince them to choose a different path.

Honestly, I've always liked the heroine's ability to understand and talk to animals, so it's really cool to see it utilised here with the humans turned magical beasts. Needless to say, it was understandably heartbreaking and difficult for the heroine to have to listen to the "monster" ask her to kill him because he can't take this anymore and can't really control himself or know what he's become. I do like and think it was needed for Florin to get hurt because of the heroine for her to solidify her conviction towards destroying these magical beasts to protect the people important to her even if they didn't mean to kill people. I think it was also nice for someone like Florin to understand "love" to a deeper level where it could make him reflexively sacrifice his life for another person because he can't bear to lose her. Considering how easily him and Light accepted death, it was nice to see that change. Anyway, I know it's supposed to be a happy ending but seriously, I can't imagine it really being possible to mutually agree that having Shu the Dragon be watched over in the academy be a good idea lol. Is the academy that big that it can house a dragon? What about the parents thoughts on this? Also, considering they know practically nothing about his species, shouldn't they at least have some sort of knowledgeable animal carer for it? And can the academy even be considered neutral when it seems so influenced by the Ministry? Not to mention the heroine isn't living in the academy forever? Anyway, I know, no one cares so I shouldn't bother caring either, but I just find it rather silly how easily things were resolved with Light threatening the White Dragon Knights and Albert + Florin doing some stuff with the Ministry people lol.

Anyway, Florin proposing to the heroine was really random, like do you have to get married so fast?! Well, I'm amazed they allowed Shu to stay with the heroine considering how rare he is, and he's not even doing anything important here lol, otherwise I guess it's cool that she gets to be a magical creature doctor and it's in her hometown too. The CG of her and Florin though omg!! Her hairstyle changed, what a miracle!! Ooh they're running a retirement home for dragons, that's pretty cool. Anyway, Albert visiting was nice because I like him lol. Still don't know why they love to end their happy endings with something ominous happening in the next route or something, like can't they keep it in the route it's going to be in without ruining another character's happy ending??? Sigh.

Overall, I liked Florin much more than I thought I would. Honestly thought he would be bland and I guess in a sense he kinda is, considering how he didn't really think for himself until he met the heroine, but I found that quite nice. I think going through the missions that they did together really helped them build a sense of trust and bond with each other that I liked because it showed their attitude towards work and life, and I think I liked how honest they were with their different opinions and then later working together to find a resolution for themselves and their dragons. A lot of it went really smoothly and it's a bit happy-go-lucky but I liked that they both got to find a job they enjoyed and they matched well together, and I honestly really liked how the heroine finally utilised her ability to talk to animals properly in the story for once (or since a long time ago haha). I just really feel like their personalities shined nicely together, and Light ruining that in the end was mean lmao.

[jovialyouthmusic]

Uneasy Lies the Head

A Royal Romance AU fanfic

Queen Charlotte of Cordonia springs a surprise on her prospective consort, Drake Walker

Word Count 4123

A/N A triple does of fluff - some angst, no smut. My tag list for this series is a mess, so I have tagged anyone who reblogged or commented on the last few chapters.

12 To Have and to Hold

Bastien’s face was grim. He walked out to the royal jet alone. There was no sign of Bianca, so he was to return to Cordonia without her. He hated to admit defeat, but he couldn’t force Drake’s mother to go back to the country she had fled after her husband had died doing his duty. He stood at the top of the stairs and turned to take one last look toward the tiny departure shed of the private airfield – and squinted. A car drove full pelt along the road that led to the hangar, leaving a trail of dust. It barrelled straight up to the perimeter guard post and screeched to a halt. He leaned inside the aircraft and shouted to the pilot.

‘Hold on a bit longer, I think we may have an extra passenger’

------

Drake pulled the grooming brush across Sultan’s flanks, flexing his trunk to ease off the stiffness he still felt from his ordeal with Anton’s men. His ribs were healing slowly and although he couldn’t go riding just yet, he could pay attention to his mount and assure the creature that it wouldn’t be long before he’d be able to take him out to ride. He’d gotten up late that morning and as sometimes happened, Charlotte was nowhere to be seen. She was probably in her office dealing with official business, and he would catch up with her at lunchtime.

He brooded over his recent meeting with Bertrand Beaumont. He had been devastated to discover the reason for Savannah’s absence from court, and had apologised unreservedly to Drake. The two of them had met a few times and were making some sort of relationship from what Drake could tell, but it was early days. They were at least speaking to each other, and it seemed that dating might be on the horizon, although he couldn’t picture the dour Duke of Ramsford doing something as ‘ordinary’ as dating.

He was aware of a figure approaching, and looked up curiously, having a strange feeling that it wasn’t Charlotte or one of the grooms. Bastien was due back from some task that he hadn’t been party too, but it wasn’t him that approached.

‘Brad!’ he called out in surprise ‘What the hell are you doing here? I thought you were seeing to things in Rutland’ The Englishman walked up and took Drake’s hand firmly, shaking it firmly and slapping his shoulder.

‘Good to see you, my friend. I’m here for your wedding’ Brad said, and Drake grinned

‘Of course you are, but that’s not for a couple of weeks yet’ Brad tapped the side of his nose

‘Now that’s where you’re wrong. Come back to the Palace with me, you have to get ready for your bride’ Drake’s jaw dropped open in amazement. ‘Come on, Livvy’s here too and I don’t want to keep her waiting – or Charlotte’

------

Hana adjusted the diamond tiara on Charlotte’s head as she stood in front of the full length mirror. She ran her hands over the delicate white lace, white shoes peeping out from under the hem.

‘Hana, it’s beautiful’ breathed Charlotte ‘I can’t thank you enough’

‘It’s my pleasure’ the petite woman smiled ‘You have a big name designer for your big wedding, but you have me for your private ceremony’ Charlotte nodded

‘Drake should be finding out about it right about now’ Charlotte said ‘I hope he has a ring ready’ Hana patted her shoulder

‘Don’t worry, Max and I have something special planned for if he’s unprepared’ she said. Charlotte picked up the little velvet box on the dressing table. Hana had heard the story, but it played in Charlotte’s mind again. It had happened a year before the social season that had just passed.

‘Well Charlotte, the social season approaches, and you’re almost old enough to marry’ Constantine said as they sat eating breakfast together. Regina was away visiting a relative, so they had some time together, father and daughter, which was rare. ‘You’ve grown into a lovely young woman, and your mother would be so proud of you’ Charlotte dropped her head. Thinking about her mother made her feel sad, and it was rare that the King mentioned her.

‘I don’t feel ready, Father’ she protested

‘Perhaps, but you should treat this season as a dress rehearsal’ he insisted ‘Then you will be more prepared to choose a husband to rule with you when the time comes’ He got up and went across to his desk, taking a little key from his pocket and unlocking a drawer. He kept his back to her, so that she didn’t see what it was that he took out. When he turned back to her his hand was hidden behind him. He came back to the breakfast table looking out over the lawns toward the maze her mother had planned and sat facing her. She delicately wiped her mouth with the crisp white napkin and placed her hands in her lap, waiting for him to speak. He looked down at the floor for a moment before he raised his head to look into her eyes.

‘The time has come’ he said, bringing his hand out from his back, holding a padded envelope ‘To give you this’ He held it out, and she took it gingerly. She let out a little gasp as she recognised her mother’s handwriting.

‘A monarch’s job is not easy’ explained Constantine ‘and there are people who plot against us. Although your mother died suddenly, she made plans for if she were not here when you grew old enough to marry, and left instructions along with a letter.’ He smiled, a hint of pain in his eyes ‘I have done my best, but you have lacked the love of your own mother. Be assured that she did not want to leave you to grow up without her, and I would rather it had been me who had…’ he coughed but Charlotte knew it was to cover the sadness in his voice. ‘Take this, and read it privately’ His manservant, Godfrey, entered at that moment.

‘Your Majesty – I’m sorry to interrupt, but the trade delegation from Monaco…’ The King waved his hand.

‘Very well, I’m on my way.’ He stood and looked down at his daughter ‘She loved you so much my dear. Please, remember her with fondness, as I do’ and he was gone. Charlotte sat and looked at the envelope for a moment, tears pricking her eyes. She got up and went to the door, where Bastien stood guard.

‘I’m going out to the maze, Mr Lykel’ she said ‘Will you see that nobody follows me in, please?’ The guard smiled and nodded.

‘Of course, your grace’ He answered. Clutching the envelope, she made her way along the corridor toward the door that led outside, the older man following her. She could feel a little box inside, and curiosity burned. She wanted to be quite alone, where she could think of her mother, though she had precious few memories. She used to go there with a handkerchief that still smelled of her perfume, and that was still in a box hidden away in her bedroom which she had not opened for a couple of years now.

Lost in thought, she didn’t see Drake start across the lawn toward her – and she didn’t see Bastien make a gesture and shake his head. She didn’t see Drake’s head drop, or notice him turn back and sit under a tree.

A few minutes later she reached the centre of the maze as Bastien waited at the only entrance. She sat on the swing that hung from the oak tree and carefully prised open the flap of the envelope. She paused before she reached in and found a letter, a single sheet of paper folded over. Reverently she held it and gently opened it out flat. Tears sprung to her eyes to see her mother’s writing, and she paused for a moment for them to clear before she read, hearing her mother’s words in her head.

 My Darling Charlotte, my sweet daughter

If you are reading this, the world has plotted against us and I am not with you to see you grow. Be certain that I wanted more than anything in the world to see you live up to your potential and be the young woman you need to be to lead our country. I know you carry a heavy burden, and you will need someone beside you to help you govern wisely.

The role of a monarch is not easy, and I can only hope that the man you choose will love you, and that you will love him too. I have left something for you in the box which should accompany this letter. Do with it as you will – whether you wear it to remember me, or give it to the one you love. I am sure you will not give it lightly.

If it is possible to watch over you, I will watch over you. Who knows what happens when we leave this world. If all was perfect we would be together – but if you read this, we have lost our luck. Remember me, remember that I love you above everything else, and make me proud, my sweet girl.

With all my love and affection

Your loving mother xx

 It was a while before Charlotte could pull herself together enough to retrieve the little box from the envelope, catching a whiff of her mother’s perfume from it. She sat for a while looking at it, but at last she steeled herself and gently levered it open. It was a ring box, and there was a scrap of paper in the lid. A thick gold band nestled in the velvet slit but Charlotte carefully prised the piece of paper from its place. She unfolded the delicate scrap, to see a set of letters and numbers which did not take long to work out. They were the initials of her parents and the date of their marriage.

Silent sobs shook her as she bowed her head over the tiny box.

 When she left the maze, she was barely aware of the guard waiting for her, and didn’t see Drake watching either. She went straight to her bedroom and secreted the letter and the box into her secret hiding place with the handkerchief and the bottle of perfume that still held just a drop of precious liquid. Then she drew herself up straight and went out to the stables to seek out Drake and go for a ride.

Now, on the morning of the wedding she had prepared as a surprise for Drake – the small private affair at which his mother would attend after a separation of years – she reverently took out the box and took the last precious drop of perfume onto her wrist and put the ring box and her mother’s carefully folded handkerchief into a little pouch that hung at her waist. This way, she  would be with her as she pledged herself to the man she loved.

‘I’m ready’ she said to Hana ‘Let’s go’

------

Drake stood in his office and fiddled with his tie nervously while Brad brushed down his jacket.

‘Why today?’ he asked petulantly ‘I haven’t even written my vows. Charlie didn’t even hint at it’

‘This isn’t the big state wedding’ Brad replied ‘It’s just your closest friends here to see you and Charlotte have your own private ceremony. You don’t have to have vows at all if you don’t want to.’

‘But – it’s Charlie’ Drake said nervously ‘I want to do things properly. I’m sure she’ll have a whole thing written up and memorised’

‘You know her best’ replied Brad ‘But she knows you wanted something low key. I’m sure she’ll have thought of everything you’d want’

‘Bas was going to give her away – is he even back yet?’ he asked

‘Don’t worry Drake, it’s all taken care of’ Brad assured him ‘Just relax and I’ll take you there’

‘That’s another thing – where are we going? Is it the Ballroom? I bet it’s the ballroom. Who’s officiating?’ Brad chuckled

‘You’ll find out soon enough. Now, I have to blindfold you, so stand still’ Drake did his best not to fidget as Brad took a scarf and tied it around his eyes. ‘Now, are you sure you can’t see?’ He asked after fiddling around for a while.

‘I can’t see a damn thing’ Drake grumbled ‘I wish Charlotte had warned me about all this’

‘Come on, you’re marrying the girl of your dreams, you lucky devil’ Brad nudged him ‘Now come on, we have to be there first so she can follow’ Brad took his arm and lead him out into the corridor.

Drake’s mind whirled as he walked unsteadily despite Brad’s support. It was unlike Charlotte to spring such a surprise on him, and he wondered what had spurred her on. She had given no clue the day before. Of course he was delighted that they would finally formally be joining their lives, though they had pledged themselves a long time ago and had every intention of growing old together whatever life brought them. He just wondered exactly what she had planned now that he wasn’t able to travel to Texas to include his mother in the ceremony.

Brad paused to open a door and he was aware that they stepped outside into the fresh air. He allowed himself a smile as they descended stone steps to the gravel path of what must be the formal lawn that he was almost certain led to the maze. That maze meant so much to the two of them. Her mother had planted it, and they had played there over the years as it grew. They had raced to the centre when they could barely see over the tops of the growing hedges, making for the great oak tree that had stood there for decades. He himself often went there alone over the years when life seemed unfair or he felt unhappy.  He smiled as he sensed the green walls about him and started the twists and turns that would take them to the centre.

‘You can take the blindfold off now Brad’ he said ‘I know we’re in the maze, and I know it like the back of my hand. It wouldn’t do to get lost’

‘Nope, the blindfold stays on. The way is marked, we won’t lose our way’ Brad told him. Drake sighed and they continued on, and he trailed his free hand over the sides, the familiar touch of the foliage grounding him and reminding him of the times he had navigated it in the dark to meet Charlotte in private, to kiss and slake their needs.  After more twists and turns he had the sense of space opening out at last around them, and he heard soft chuckles of amusement and odd sniffles as he and Brad came to a stop. He put his hand up to his face, but Brad stopped him.

‘Just wait a moment’ He rang the bell that hung there ‘Now Charlotte knows to come’ he said ‘But first…’ There was a murmur of voices and he heard soft steps on the grass as someone moved to stand in front of him – he could feel their presence close to him. Brad took his hand away from his arm and coughed politely. Drake reached up and took the blindfold off.

‘Mom?’ he croaked as he dropped the cloth to the ground ‘How..’ His words were muffled as Bianca threw her arms around him and held him as if she’d never let go.

‘Drake – oh my boy, my son. I love you so much’ she sobbed, her voice muffled against his jacket ‘I’m sorry – I’m so, so sorry. And happy – so happy’ Incredulously he put his arms around her, looking at the others standing watching – Savannah with tears in her eyes, flanked by Bertrand and Maxwell. Hana, also teary eyed – Olivia, a soft smirk on her face. Brad standing close, smiling. He felt almost numb, not sure what emotions stirred inside him, almost overwhelmed.

‘Mom? How did you get here?’ he asked incredulously as she let him go and held him at arm’s length, looking him up and down.

‘You’ve grown – oh Drake, I don’t have any right to be here’ she choked ‘But Charlotte sent Bastien to get me – and here I am. Please forgive me, son – my brave, strong boy’

‘I – oh god, you’re really here’ He pulled her to him again, and they clung to each other, tears flowing and laughter bubbling up all at the same time. Charlotte appeared behind them, holding on to Bastien’s arm, radiant in a simple long white lacy dress and a sparkling tiara holding a wisp of net about her dark hair. She held a bouquet of yellow and white roses and baby’s breath and smiled and dabbed at her eyes, watching the touching reunion. Savannah stepped forward and the little family, long separated, hugged and cried and laughed as the others looked on.

At last he let go of the two women and took a step toward Charlotte. He stepped away from his old family and forward to his future – the love of his life, the woman he would worship and cherish and support for the rest of his days. The woman he had known as a girl, as a young woman, as his lover; as a playmate, as a Princess, now as a Queen and shortly as his wife at last. He took her hands in his and raised them to his lips to kiss.

‘Charlotte – my love – my life’ he murmured. Hana sobbed and buried her face in her handkerchief and Olivia rolled her eyes but he saw they were moist. Charlotte smiled back

‘Let go Drake, we need to get married, my love’ she said softly. He nodded and looked around at their friends. Brad moved to stand at the base of the oak tree and the others made a line facing him.

‘You, Brad?’ Drake gasped ‘You’re officiating?’ The Englishman nodded modestly

‘Well, have I ever told you the story…’ he began, and Drake groaned and dropped his head

‘I might have known. Brad, your skills are endless. I look forward to hearing the tale later.’ Maxwell stood at his shoulder and he turned to him in alarm ‘You’re my best man? I’m grateful you didn’t throw a par…’ he stopped ‘You’re throwing me a bachelor party for the big one, aren’t you?’ He slapped his hand over his face, trying not to imagine what bizarre event Maxwell Beaumont, of the infamous Beaumont Bash, would dream up for him. The young man grinned sheepishly

‘Don’t worry Walker, I have him in hand’ intoned Bastien, still standing with Charlotte. He turned to the guard,  his mentor and father figure, taking his hand in both of his and squeezing.

‘Bas – you brought Mom back. How can I ever thank you?’ Bastien bowed his head

‘On her Majesty’s instructions and all part of the job, Walker’ he said gravely ‘But it was my pleasure’ Behind him, Brad coughed again.

‘We should get on with the ceremony, if everyone’s ready’ he said, and Drake stepped forward, Maxwell beside him.

‘Wait! He said ‘I don’t have a ring’ Bianca stepped forward and put her hand on his arm.

‘Son’ she said, and, trembling, raised her hand. He gasped as he saw that she wore two gold bands on her finger, and twisted at the one that seemed to hang loose. He reached out to stop her, but she shook her head firmly as she pulled it free

‘It’s the one your father wore’ she said, her voice shaking. ‘I’m sure he’d want you to have it – and he would be overjoyed to see who your bride is.’ She pressed the ring into his hand as he stared at her, dumbfounded. Charlotte came close, and placed her arm on Bianca’s shoulder. Behind her, Bastien blew his nose discretely and blinked rapidly.

‘Thankyou so much, Mrs Walker. I’d be honoured to wear your husband’s ring’ Bianca nodded wordlessly and Drake took it, tears in his eyes. He didn’t see Maxwell tuck a small box into his jacket pocket, smiling faintly.

‘For Dad’ Drake said quietly, and turned back to face Brad. Bianca went back to stand with Savannah, who had tears streaming freely over her cheeks. Bertrand patted her shoulder gingerly and handed her a crisp white cotton handkerchief. Bastien took Charlotte the last few steps to Drake and took her hand from the crook of his elbow to place it on Drake’s. He nodded and gave Drake a small smile, then moved back away from them, taking the stance that made him fade, chameleon-like, into the background. Drake and Charlotte gazed at each other, and Drake swallowed hard to keep check of his emotions. Charlotte’s eyes shone and a soft smile played on her lips. She squeezed his arm as she held it, helping to ground him.

‘Friends, we are here today for two very special people’ Brad began ‘Two people who so plainly belong together, who have known each other since they were children, and who, they tell me, intend to stay together for as long as they are on this earth. I’m not going to make a long speech, but let me say how delighted and honoured I am to be allowed to join them together in marriage.’ He turned to Drake

‘Drake Walker - before I pronounce you man and wife, is there anything you wish to say to your beloved?’ Drake swallowed, his hand on hers, and turned to look deep into her eyes. The others looked on, breathless as he cleared his throat and started to speak.

‘Charlotte, I loved you from the moment I understood what it was to love someone, and I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you, in whatever way I could. You will always be my sweet princess, the Queen of my heart, and I’m privileged to have your love and affection. Not many see the real you – the sweet, sensitive, caring girl that I fell in love with. We’ve had a long difficult path to get where we are today, but I wouldn’t change a single thing, because all those things brought us together. I want to be there when you need me, to love and support you, whatever life brings our way. Without you I’m lost. You complete me – you’re my anchor, my hope, my everything. I’m honoured that you love me back and I’ll do everything in my power to return that love, for as long as I walk this earth.’ Charlotte’s eyes still shone, but she blinked away a tear as she grasped his hands tightly.

‘Charlotte, do you have any words for Drake?’ Brad asked. She never broke eye contact from Drake for a second as she spoke clearly.

‘Drake Walker, for a long time I didn’t recognise my feelings for you, and when I began to realise, I denied them. I told myself I regretted the times I overlooked you, but I believe that it only made our love stronger. Knowing what it was like to live in ignorance without you by my side only makes me appreciate you more. My love for you grows stronger every day, and I can’t imagine a life without you. You’re brave and loyal and strong and with you beside me I’m a stronger woman – I’m the Queen I need to be with your devotion and support. I love you, Drake Walker, and I look forward to a long future together.’

‘With the giving of vows and the exchange of rings, I pronounce you, Drake Walker, and you, Charlotte Valois-Rys, man and wife under the common laws of this country’. Brad said. Drake took his father’s ring and kissed it before slipping it onto Charlotte’s finger, hands trembling. She reached into the pouch at her waist to produce a thick gold band.

‘My mother left it to me, and told me to give it to the one I love’ she whispered as she slipped the ring onto his finger. It fitted snugly, and he stared at it for a  while before he looked up at Charlotte again. The whole world seemed to wait with bated breath before he closed the distance between them. Their lips met for the first time as man and wife, and he felt as if his heart would burst with happiness. Through a fog he heard the small group of friends cheering and laughing, shouting their congratulations. He knew he was the luckiest man on Earth, and he would remember the day for the rest of his life.

[tilltheendwilliwrite]

Review

I received this review for Blessings of Magic: The Norns Goddess Series on AO3 and just had to share. It's from MyOxIsBroken and was left on chapter 17 of Of Blood and Roses, and is so nice, encompassing all the things I really tried to achieve with the story.

I binged read Balance on the Head of a Pin and am now reading this one, but I had to stop to tell you that you write the most sensual, beautiful love scenes between Lauren and Loki! You somehow manage to bring so much variety to their interactions while keeping things passionate and erotic and lovely.

And the relationship you've built between them reads as so true as well. I could totally see Loki falling deeply for a woman who accepted him completely, who didn't excuse his past choices but who also sought to understand them and the motives behind them, and who forgave him for them while choosing to unreservedly love him. And with the way that he wooed Lauren, it's no surprise that she would fall hard, too.

The Astvinur concept is fantastic, and I love the idea that it would bring balance to a dark god/goddess to find and complete a bond with their Astvinur.

I'm also enjoying how you've brought more life to characters like Sif and the Warriors Three, who we didn't get much of in the movies. I like Hogun's quiet amusement and his early acceptance of Loki, Volstagg's commitment to his family, and Fandral showing that he's not just a shallow flirt.

I'm liking how Sif has come clean with Thor but is holding him to a higher standard than he has previously chosen, and I love how she and Loki have formed a friendship.

Man, I would really like to see Loki find acceptance with others like he has in this story. I thought it sucked hard that he didn't find redemption for most in the films. Very few knew of his heroism when they offed him in IW, and I still think it was not a death that was worthy of the character or the actor. But that's neither here nor there when it comes to your story, which is now my headcanon for him.

It fills my heart with joy to know what I’ve envisioned is really there in the work. Thank you to everyone who reads, reviews, and loves on the story. 

You’re all amazing!

T~

[letstalkaboutsebbaby]

Changing Habits - Chapter 3

When she gets a big role with an action franchise, Camille has to make some improvements and training with coach Lance might be exactly the changing she needs.

Pairing: Lance Tucker x Camille Thompson

Author: Deb @letstalkaboutsebbaby / @letswriteaboutsebbaby

Rating: nc17

Author’s Note: I would change the movie plot if I have to as a way to make it fit my story.

Camille got to the gym on time on her first day of training, but she felt like her body wasn’t there. Unless you count her hungry eyes - she couldn’t stop staring at Lance’s body every time he wasn’t looking. Man, the guy has a perfect body! The closeness when he’s showing her a particular move didn’t help - specially after she learns that he smells amazing too. She was feeling like a teenager, blushing and crushing over an older man even though Lance showed no encouragement, keeping all their interactions very professional and serious.

“Ok, 10 more” the coach says after a hard series of crunches that left Camille breathless.

“I can’t. I swear, I’ve done much more than I thought I would be able to already!” she whines, eyes closed in frustration.

Lance sits in front of her and holds her legs down, staring at her red face “Darling, look at me” she’s not sure how she’ll be able to look at him when he’s touching her legs, big strong hands on her knees while she’s hot and messy. Can she live in this dream? Of course some actions and reasoning would be different on her dream but this is a good start. 

“Camille?!” a voice that don’t belong to this dream calls her, making her open her eyes and stand - with Lance’s help.

“Mother. Hi. We’re done. Right coach?” she gives him a nervous smile and a hug.

“Yes, we’re done for today” Lance replies, a bit annoyed, looking after the young woman while she jigs towards her mother “Go get your things, you have an interview in a few” states Louise.

“Yes, I’ll be right back”. The poised woman waits until her daughter is out of sight to turn her attention to Lance.

 “So...Mr. Tucker. I know you’re a big name in the gymnastics, but she is a Hollywood star. For me, you’re only a handsome man with a bad reputation. There’s a “you” in every corner.

“I’m a gold winner” an ironic smile reaches his face.

“Then you’re the most successful handsome man with a bad reputation on this corner. Not enough for my girl. Watch your steps, coach.”

After a shower and a quick makeup on her apartment, Camille and her mother Louise went to the interview - her mother talking about her schedule for the next days and Camille paying no attention. All she could think about was her sexy coach.

“Are you listening to me?”

“No, mother, sorry. I don’t need to know all this. You’ll text me anyway!” she complains.

“You know, it would be nice if you get more involved in the daily decisions, Camille” 

“Yeah, I think so too, but that’s not what happens, right? I just say what I think is the best choice so you can make a speech about how wrong I am. Why bother? It’s so easier this way...I know you’ll make the right decisions and that you want the best for me. Let me focus on the acting and we’ll be peachy”. The actress loves her mother and appreciates the way she takes care of everything so she can do her job with no worries, but can’t a girl have some time to think about a hot guy?

The day went by between interviews and a fitting session and soon she found herself in the dinner her mother was throwing for her and to her surprise - and clearly her mother’s too, when Edward and Alice got there, Lance Tucker was with them. For her, that was a nice surprise, she had thought about inviting him but didn’t gather enough courage to do it when they were training. Louise, on the other hand, saw it as a defiance act.

“Mr. Tucker, how nice of you to join us”

“I hope you don’t mind, Alice insisted”

“Of course not” the actress’ mother says contemplating Alice with a fake smile.

“Coach! I’m glad you’re here, come, let me introduce you to everyone” Camille says as she grabs his hand and walks with him to the group of family and friends.

It took Louise the whole dinner - and a lot of talk between Camille and Lance - to finally have enough and say something. “Mr. Tucker” she starts, even though he told her countless times to call him Lance “how are things going for you back in Ohio?”

“Everything’s alright, ma’am. Any specific matter you’re asking about?”

“Of course not, Lance, I’m sorry, she’s being intrusive”

Scott, her brother, interrupts the tension and starts some light topic that makes Camille feel very grateful for his presence. She has no idea why her mother is acting like this and decides she has to apologize to Lance later. The moment comes when she sees him going to the bathroom and waits outside till he leaves.

“Hey..I..can we talk for a moment?” she whispers, 

“Sure. Lead the way” he answer as he walks behind her till they’re in the balcony.

“I’m sorry for my mother...I swear she’s a good person, I don’t know what’s up with her today”

“Well, I know”

“You do?”

“Yes” the coach gets closer till Camille is leaning into the balcony rail “She’s afraid I might seduce you” he says on her ear.

Red as a tomato, Camille looks at Lance shocked. “Why? Why...why would she think that?”

“Darling. We’re not kids. You know why. You’re a gorgeous woman, I’m a handsome man, we’ll be working together daily in an environment that lets us see each other’s body quite unreservedly...she’s just trying to look out for you, I don’t blame her. I have to say the idea of enraging her appeals to me, though, cause I don’t sympathize with  the the way she talks to me”

“I’m so sorry, I don’t know what to say”

Seeing she’s truly embarrassed by her mother’s behaviour, Lance reassures her, placing a hand in her arm “You don’t have to say anything, it’s not your fault. I appreciate the apologies nevertheless. See you tomorrow morning?”

“Yes, coach”

He kisses her cheek and leaves, leaving a dumbstruck Camille behind.

[yogananda-srf]

ANANDA MATAji Mahasamadhi - February 5

ANANDA MATAji's FORM CHANGES INTO DIVINE LIGHT

Brother Anandamoy: (excerpts) Ananda Mata was among the select devotees whom Paramahansaji personally trained to help build the foundation for his worldwide mission and to carry out the blueprint that he set for its future unfoldment. .... she wholly dedicated herself to the love and service of God by absorbing and living Paramahansaji’s teachings and unreservedly serving his sacred cause. ...

I remember one time I was walking with Master from the elevator in the basement out to his car. Ananda Ma was waiting for him; she was usually the one who drove him. As we were walking, Master held my arm, and he stood still and said: “Always remember: Faye and Virginia [Daya Mata and Ananda Mata] have always been living the life with a hundred percent devotion, a hundred percent obedience, a hundred percent loyalty. I want you to follow them.” And as he said that, he squeezed my arm to really impress on me what he was saying. ...

I thought: “Master is an avatar, an incarnation of God; and these words, as simple as they are, are the ultimate praise for a disciple. There is no praise higher than what Master said.” ....

“The most incredibly beautiful divine being…”

Another little story about Ananda Ma: … Once as I was carrying those buckets through the hallway…I set them down for a few moments to rest my hands. Just at that time the phone rang nearby, and Ananda Ma came out of her office to answer it.

Now, I am not a person who is inclined to visions or phenomenal experiences. I have never been interested in that kind of thing. But as I saw Ananda Ma taking the telephone, to my utter amazement I saw light all around her—a whole sphere of light. It became brighter and brighter, and I thought: “What is going on?” And then I saw Ananda Ma’s form change. She became the most incredibly beautiful divine being. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. And this was not just a flash; it lasted several minutes. Then gradually the light faded and that divine being once again became Ananda Mata, and she hung up the phone and went back into the office.

Years afterwards, I read a book of legends about Lord Krishna which said that when God incarnates on earth as an avatar, there are always some divine beings who volunteer to come with that incarnation. And it is said that great rishis and sages of the past incarnated to be Krishna’s companions… And I am sure that several of Master’s great disciples like Daya Mata, Ananda Mata and others came, not because they had to work out their own karma, but to serve God during the divine incarnation of our Master.

[kevonmak]

4 Phases of Sales- Pitch and Persuade

Once you have formally performed an introduction and you've examined the prospecting interests of your client. It is now time for you to pitch and persuade. In this phase, you will be compelling a sales pitch that will convince your client to accept whatever you're selling him/her. There are many strategies I would advise one to utilize at this stage. These strategies come directly from the art of persuasion. The art of persuasion is storytelling in a way to convince someone to do something that you desire. You want to persuade in a subtle and discrete manner. When compelling your sales pitch try to employ these techniques that I will mention below.

1)Reason Why

The First technique is providing a “Reason why” When you make a statement. This is because the number one leading question after any pitch would be why. Whether it is “why doing this benefit me?” “Why would I purchase this versus that?” These are the questions where the crucial points of objection arise. So if you as a salesperson can provide a why answer following any statements it allows you to experience a sense of leverage in the pitching process.

2)Social Proofing

Social Proofing is when a seller uses outside validation to gain validity when providing a sales pitch. This can be achieved by seeking out someone who is closest to the sales pitch and that will offer you the desired response. Such as a Co-worker or even a client's partner or anyone else that they are with. This is ordinarily achieved by providing a question which is leading to the answer that you may expect to receive. Such as “wouldn't this look great?” “How much do you love this?” Etc. In a study performed by psychologist Elizabeth Loftus, it was found that depending on how a question was phrased and what words were used outcomes varied. Proactive verbs gained a grander chance to garner a response that is in the favor of the examiner. This is why I would unreservedly recommend salespeople focus on the wording when using these types of questions to garner the results they are looking for.

3)Scarcity

In the art of persuasion supply and demand is a beneficial tactic to resort to on a prospective buyer. It is a tactic used to initiate a decision as a do-or-die. Since the product will most likely no longer be available after today. An example is “Sorry Ma'am unfortunately this is the last item in stock which means after today, it will no longer be available for purchase.”

4)Unify

Unify is when you unite the buyer with a niche group of people like them. In human nature, it is our fundamental desire to be associated with like-minded people. This is why people take pride in Teams, religious groups, and even family. Due to it being a group of people with one traditional bond that unites them together. In sales, you would like associating your prospective buyer with a niche group that they may like to join. Primarily done with high-end stores where their target audience is wealthy individuals. Or sports stores with professional sports teams. An Example would be “Oh You're interested in this maple leaf jersey, well all the die-hard maple leaf fans have been purchasing them ever since I've received them.”

5)Reason Why

Repetition is an amazing marketing technique, That is used to subtly drill a point into someones head

A direct statement

An Example

A story

“2 is greater than 1, i have two apples and you have one which means i have more apples then you, I remember when i was being taught maths by my teacher and she would always say two is greater than 1”

6) Dream Selling

The final, and most important approach that will help during any time of a prospective sales pitch. Is dream Selling, this is when a salesperson uses the potential anticipated outcome to their benefit. By painting a picture for the client of how their life will change if they comply with making the purchase. Letting the client know how much better their life will be after making the purchase is what I enjoy using as my final method in the pitch and persuade phase. As it tends to drill home the idea of how much the client needs whatever I'm selling.

[bulkyphrase]

Multiverse of Madness disorganized thoughts

Overall: A pretty good Marvel movie! Fun and gross and a little scary in the way I want from a Sam Raimi movie and a Marvel movie. Continues to humble Stephen Strange in exactly the ways I want him humbled, and introduced a new character I love unreservedly. Wong (my beloved) present and respected.

I really liked Strange’s arc in this movie. He wants to do the right thing but he lets his arrogant surgeon thing get in the way. The fact that the movie’s climax involves him stepqping back and letting America Chavez come into her power and take care of Wanda? Love it. Contrast with Tony Stark who is also an arrogant white man, but never really learns from his mistakes.

Wong. I am one of nature’s sensible side characters it is so important to me that that Wong be the sorcerer supreme. Yes, please give this important job to someone who will (be charming and) take it seriously and not be distracted by movie plots. Even knowing he would live I almost screamed when he fell off that cliff.

I hate Mr. Fantastic because his powers are so disturbing to look at, and I loved that he died in the most body horror way possible. I cringed and cheered at that scene in equal parts.

I loved seeing Maria and Peggy, and I both loved and hated that they died. No real point here except that it was emotionally effective to introduce them and then brutally take them away.

I wasn’t sure that Marvel would require people to subscribe to Disney+ and watch the shows to understand the movies, but yeah. I would not want to go into this movie without seeing WandaVision and What If?

Music battle my beloved.

I hope America finds her moms. I hope she’s in every MCU project from this day forward.

Wanda. Is she dead? I didn’t hate her storyline if she is. TFATWS also had an arc (John Walker) where a morally decent but not amazing person was given too much power and went nuts, and I think that’s what happened to Wanda? Like, she’s not inherently a monster, but she’s so strong that no one could remain uncorrupted by that amount of power. “Very human character destroys self because they are given too much power” works very well for me as an arc, basically.

I wonder what other Wanda’s story was? Are those Vision’s kids? Did d she have powers before our Wanda took her over? What happened with Ultron in that world? What happened to Pietro?

All I’m saying is that if only humans of almost superhuman goodness should be trusted with superhuman power, Sam Wilson and Steve Rogers are the guys I would trust with that power.

The Illuminati. I know that’s a comics things that I know very little about. But I’m tempted to see them as people who made moral choices that they shouldn’t have made. Peggy went along with the “Stephen Strange euthanasia” plan the same way our Peggy went along with the “recruit Arnim Zola” plan - maybe it seemed like the only thing that could be done at the time, but it was not the right choice.

Fundamentally I am ok with movies that show the morally “hard” choice being the wrong choice. There are morally difficult situations in the real world, but blockbuster popcorn films should probably always prop up the conventionally moral choice.

[quiddity-jones]

Issue 42 Replies!

simbollocks replied to your photoset “Codex Files, Issue #42, part 2 I guess Adam couldn’t resist being a...”

That is some very beautiful music. I'd never heard it before. I love stuff like that though

I like a lot of ambient stuff as well and this track just seemed to ‘fit’ the scene very well. It’s off Honey’s playlist, to be honest. She’s got a lot of trance/dance new ageish stuff; but like most of it is very positive messages for her. There’s only a few negative tracks that crept in after the attack.

simbollocks replied to your photoset “Codex Files, Issue #42, part 1 I’ve added the TW to this because it...”

Well, done. It's nice to see her taking control of her own demons now. Can't be easy to do in the wake of something like what she endured! Proves her strength of character

Everybody underestimates Honey’s strength. Honey is actually a very strong person. She has the strength to endure and the strength to love unreservedly. She’s actually also very patient. Because she’s quiet or seems a bit of a bimbo on the surface, a lot of people overlook her.

eslanes replied to your photoset “Codex Files, Issue #42, part 2 I guess Adam couldn’t resist being a...”

Seriously though, this is a great scene!

Thanks! I struggled to try to balance it between needing to show Honey overcoming her fear, Adam displaying sensitivity and how much he cherishes her and, well, still trying to keep it all pretty sexy and arousing.

I don’t actually just throw sex scenes in for the sake of it; I...I wanted to show how Honey’s recovering from her attack. And yes, some of this side of the story does come from personal experience on my part.

eslanes replied to your photoset “Codex Files, Issue #42, part 2 I guess Adam couldn’t resist being a...”

*fans self*

simbollocks replied to your photo “Codex Files, Issue #42 Cover ♫♪♥♪♫ Find the rest of the story here ◄...”

That pose looks amazing!

Thanks! if I can get my act together, I should have it out between Xmas and New Year! I plan on releasing the 5 couple poses I did (which includes the cover.) I might add the unconscious carry one from the first chapter as well. I’ve been meaning to put a few poses out for a long time now.

paper-lioness replied to your photo “Issue 42 Outtake Here’s a front look at Adam carrying Honey. I think...”

so precious

Yes. This is one of those situations that I totally had not planned; but it’s been amazing. Adam and Honey were only supposed to hook up the first chapter; I wanted emotional investment in Honey before I sicced the serial killer on her. Adam was angry at the time because he felt he could have prevented the attack if only he’d been a bit more on the ball; or taken Jack a bit more seriously. It uncapped his protective side.

Honey’s so sweet and vulnerable that he’s just...He honestly can’t help himself at this stage.

He’s got enough wisdom to treat her tenderly without smothering her at this stage and because he felt responsible for not stopping the attack before she was harmed, he’s felt dedicated to her recovery. 

Now he’s in over his head and he bizarrely doesn’t mind a goddamn bit at this stage.

Annnnnd....Chapter 3 is going to focus on Adam. So I’m setting the stage up for that as well right now.

mrsracooney replied to your photoset “Codex Files, Issue #42, part 1 I’ve added the TW to this because it...”

Team #healingforhoney now!

Oddly, Honey is healing very well. The emotional scars are taking longer than the physical ones did; but this scene was designed to address some of her recovery.

maladi777 replied to your photoset “Codex Files, Issue #42, part 1 I’ve added the TW to this because it...”

@eslanes​ Cold shower? I'm going to soak in a bath full of ice cubes now.

Oh dear. You might melt during part 2 then.

eslanes replied to your photoset “Codex Files, Issue #42, part 1 I’ve added the TW to this because it...”

Well now I need a cold shower

Well, that’s ONE part of what I was going for in this scene accomplished then!

dresdendarlin replied to your photo “WARNING: The next few comics will be containing nudity, coarse...”

Oh Honey... what have you gotten yourself into now.

Something good for once.

eslanes replied to your photo “Codex Files, Issue #42 Cover ♫♪♥♪♫ Find the rest of the story here ◄...”

❤️

eslanes replied to your photo “WARNING: The next few comics will be containing nudity, coarse...”

Bahahaha I can't wait

Perv! 

paper-lioness replied to your photo “WARNING: The next few comics will be containing nudity, coarse...”

Oh my stars and garters.

***

Okay, all joking aside. I had somebody come into my DMs and comment they were very happy that Adam took care with Honey in that scene. I was at pains to have Adam act in a ‘Yes means Yes’ manner with Honey, because he cares. I wanted to show it could be done and still be sexy.

I also want to say that Honey ended up trusting him more -- because he kept checking that she was still okay with everything happening at every stage of intercourse with her.

He meant it at the start where if she’d freaked out or started crying or just said no at any stage...he’d stop. Adam has never had an unwilling partner in his bed. He’s never needed to assert his power or dominance in that fashion for all that he is a very forceful personality.

Knowing that helped Honey trust him more. She trusts ADAM now. That’s a step in her healing. It’s a big and important one.

That’s why I did the whole scene to be honest. ;)

[cicadagarage2]

<h1 style="clear:both" id="content-section-0">Al Capone (1959) - Imdb for Beginners</h1>

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While there, Al Capone's dementia and syphilis were handled with the help of his spouse Mae Capone, his doctor Kenneth Phillips, and his staff. Prior to living at the Palm Ave estate after his release from jail, Al Capone had easily been there throughout the St. Valentine's Day Massacre in Chicago, which he is thought to have actually bought.

Al Capone Movie Starring Tom Hardy ...

The swimming pool was constructed to beat the size of the then-largest pool in the location at the Biltmore Hotel. One of Al Capone's most significant rivals in Chicago was Irish gangster George "Bugs" Moran. His gang had attempted to assassinate Capone on September 20, 1926 while Capone was having lunch at the Hawthorne Hotel in Chicago.

Roughly two-and-a-half years later on Valentine's Day 1929, men camouflaged as authorities officers robbed a garage where Moran ran his bootlegging empire from. They lined up 7 of Moran's males versus a wall and opened fire, killing all of the males (one was still alive when the actual police got here but declined to talk before taking his last breath) (al capone godfather movie).

Valentine's Day Massacre. Moran pointed the finger at Capone, who was easily in Florida at his 93 Palm Ave estate at the time. by his grandniece, Deirdre Marie Capone, narrates his life, consisting of major events that have actually been related to his name, including The St. Valentine's Day Massacre. A Capone truth inspect exposes that the name "Scarface" originates from 3 scars Al Capone had as the outcome of an altercation in 1917.

Everything about Al Capone: 9 Actors Who Played The Original Scarface - Den ...

A gangster called Frank Galluccio showed up at the bar one night with his sibling. Capone began to hit on Galluccio's sis and Galluccio stepped in and asked Capone to say sorry. A run-in occurred and Galluccio pulled a knife out of his pocket and struck Capone in the face three times.

It is based upon his label which comes from his full name, Alphonse Gabriel Capone. No. As depicted in the Tom Hardy motion picture, he never ever openly gone back to Chicago following his 1939 release from jail. He was no longer mentally capable of running a criminal empire. al capone movie sean connery. As illustrated by Tom Hardy's character in the movie, Capone lived in privacy on his Palm Island estate with his partner Mae Capone and instant household.

Capone on Screen - Andrew Ward - Medium

Photo: Library of CongressIn his prime time, Capone was as soon as called "Public Opponent No. al capone movie online. 1." However, after he was examined by his doctor Dr. Kenneth Phillips and a Baltimore psychiatrist in 1946, they both concluded that he had the mental capability of a 12-year-old kid. Al Capone's dementia from neurosyphilis had damaged his brain and basically de-aged him in regards to his psychological ability.

His condition started to improve however he contracted bronchopneumonia and went into heart attack on January 22. He passed away in bed three days in the future January 25, 1947 when his heart stopped working as a result of apoplexy. It was a week after his 48th birthday. Al Capone's death certificate is displayed below.

The Basic Principles Of Capone True Story I Real Life Story Behind Tom Hardy's Al ...

In his last two years, Capone was provided shots of penicillin but they did bit great as his condition was so innovative. The male who once ruled over a criminal empire that spanned North America now had, in Bair's words, "a brain so riddled by syphilis that he had the mindset of somewhere between 7 and 12 years".

He was having convulsions and was sedated with big doses of Demerol, codeine and morphine. Amid reports of his deteriorating health, a ghoulish death watch commenced on the street outside the mansion, which was filled with paper press reporters, cops, FBI agents and curious onlookers. Capone passed away in his bed on 25 January 1947, aged 48.

The household refused a request by Dr Kenneth Phillips to hold an autopsy on Capone's brain. He was finally laid to rest near Chicago with a gravestone that read My Jesus Mercy. Did he leave $10 million in cash concealed in underground vaults and secret containers? Deirdre Capone thought that her great uncle had actually stashed away a secret treasure.

Capone's devoted partner, a female who knew every dreadful thing he had actually done and loved him unreservedly, did not appear to understand about a missing fortune - al capone godfather movie. She ran out of cash, and was required to sell the Miami estate in 1952 and move into a smaller sized house. Mae died in a Florida assisted living home in April 1986, aged 89, but not before she burned Capone's letters and her own diaries.

Unknown Facts About Netflix Film Is Grotesque, Inglorious Look At Capone's Last Year ...

Do we require another film about Al Capone? Libby Wadman has this week's Friday Film Review. And she saysactually, No. If you are searching for something new on the streaming services, Amazon Prime has "Capone", the new film from writer/director Josh Trank, known for his deal with "The Great Four" and "Chronicle". al capone movie quotes.

The movie opens with a description that after eight years of jail time for tax evasion, Capone was given an early release because of his declining health from syphilis. The film gets at the sprawling Capone estate on Palm Island, Florida, with the family evacuating important possessions for sale, as they lack cash.

Crew To Take Down Al Capone ...

While this is a hopeful hint that a search for Capone's fortune may take place, that thread generally sizzles. Instead, the movie focuses on syphilitic hallucinations of previous occasions, which link with the present truth. There was a great deal of hope and anticipation on this critic's part for this movie, as Tom Hardy, who is cast as Capone, constantly delivers an engaging portrayal and this title character has actually amazed numerous since his mobster days, which is evidenced by the variety of films he has influenced.

al capone movie amazon ="p__15">Co-star Linda Cardellini, as his other half Mae, for the short time she is on screen, also does a reasonable task. Writer/director Trank had actually stated that after "The Fantastic Four", he desired to do something completely initial and "Capone" is the result - al capone full movie online. His idea of taking a look at Capone's last days, while an intriguing angle, in Trank's hands stopped working epically.

Top Guidelines Of Capone Movie Review & Film Summary (2020) - Roger Ebert

Watched THE UNTOUCHABLES: a movie that ...

Even even worse, there is nothing appealing in his story, which is why stars who usually turn in solid efficiencies didn't. They simply had absolutely nothing to work with. Capone obviously had extremely loyal individuals with him throughout the end, however watching this film one can just scratch their head and wonder why? There are no occasions, no chemistry, absolutely nothing to discuss why they remained with him.

The story is seen from numerous points of view, not just Capone's, so the audience is frequently left wondering what is real and what is Capone's vision. "Capone" was in fact due to be released in theaters, but it was chosen to launch it on Amazon Prime. That move may have spared the filmmaker some of the humiliation he may have otherwise suffered.

My recommendations, if you are looking for home entertainment and just have enjoying "Capone" or watching paint dry as your choices, enjoy the paint! This is Libby Wadman with the Friday Film Evaluation, advising you that film is always fun and remarkable (al capone movie quotes).

Alfonse Capone (Tom Hardy) was once the scourge of the FBI and law enforcement throughout the country. He was Public Enemy Number One, the king of Chicago's underground, the scourge of FBI representative Elliot Ness, who lived high on the hog and killed individuals with a gold plated Tommy Gunn.

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Written on Your Heart - Chapter 7

When you’ve hit rock bottom, the only way to go is up.  Rose begins that climb.

Warnings for hospital scenes, IVs, etc.

Fic masterlist

Tagging @doctorroseprompts and @timepetalsprompts as it’s a soulmate AU.

Now being beta’d by the wonderful @starry-nightflyer!  Thanks!

Rose woke slowly, feeling like she was rising through a fog.  Her first thought was that her head was pounding.  Her second thought was “James!”  Gasping his name, she tried to sit up before pain exploded in her temple and she was forced to sit back and take deep breaths.  After a few moments, she dared to reopen her eyes, before carefully leaning over to the table at her bedside, scrambling for a pen.  She only realized she had an IV when it tugged painfully.

“Whoa, whoa, what are you doing?”  An unknown, male voice asked in alarm.

“Need pen.”  She grunted, trying to stretch to reach.

The boy plucked it from the table top, but didn’t hand it over.  “Why, need to write the next great Oliver Twist?”  He asked in amusement, twirling the pen.

“No, I-” She looked at him for the first time and froze, eyes widening.

He was gorgeous.

Chocolate eyes, dark brown hair she instantly wanted to run her fingers through, a kind, cheeky smile.

He looked older, too, like he was in his late teens.  That snapped Rose back to why she wanted the pen in the first place.

“Not that it’s any of your business, but that’s how I communicate with my soulmate.  I need to talk to him.”  She informed him as seriously and maturely as she could.

The strange boy considered her words for a moment before handing her the pen.

“Fine, if that’s what you want.  But considering the IV in your wrist, don’t you think it might be easier to just talk to him?”  He leaned back in his seat, stretching out his impossibly long legs with a slight, though not unkind, smirk on his face.

“And how do you propose I do that?”  Rose snapped, pen poised above her arm, wondering where to start.  She was sure she’d written to him the previous night, but she couldn’t remember what she’d said and someone had washed her arm off.

“With your mouth?  Like we are now?”  He suggested cheekily.  Rose rolled her eyes, a witty retort on the tip of her tongue, when what he was saying sunk in.

“James?”  She whispered, stunned.

“Hello, love.”  Eyes sparkling, he grinned back at her.

They spent the next several minutes just goofily staring at each other, each drinking the other in.  Though James had spent most of the night watching her sleep, he was amazed at how different she looked awake.  He still couldn’t believe they were sitting together in the same room.  Even though he knew they would have to talk about what led her to drink at the party, for now he just wanted to look at her.

Just as Rose had decided to actually ask him a few questions, the curtain secluding her bed moved aside and her mother appeared, followed by another woman.

“Mum!”  She cried, feeling embarrassing tears well up.

“Good, you’re awake.  Not that himself let anyone know.”  Jackie shot the older teen a look.

“Uh…”  James ran his fingers through his hair sheepishly.  The other woman laughed.

“Oh, come now Jackie.  You can’t blame them for wanting a few minutes to themselves.  If she had needed anything, he would have moved mountains to get it for her.”

“Aunt Sarah!”  James complained, and Rose realized who the other woman was.

Rose tried to push herself up, but the movement pulled at her IV and she sat back, grimacing in pain.

“Here.”  James was instantly at her side, helping her raise the bed and sit up, before fluffing her pillows.  Instead of going back to the chair he’d been in, he perched himself on the side of the bed, within reach.

She stared at him, awed to think that after eighteen months he was so close, but he must have misunderstood because he flushed and moved away, muttering apologies.  She quickly reached out, touching his arm for the first time.

“No!”  She was momentarily distracted by the sparks that made her whole arm tingle where they touched.  “Please don’t leave me.”  She whispered, and he bit his lip in indecision before saying, “All right.  Budge up.”

It took some maneuvering, but eventually they were seated side by side on the bed, with James carefully on the other side from her IV.  Rose nestled closer, feeling safer than she could ever remember, and he only hesitated a moment before carefully wrapping his arm around her shoulders.

“So, Rose, how are you feeling?”  Sarah Jane asked kindly.

“Um…”  In all the excitement of meeting James, her pain was the last thing on her mind, but as she concentrated the ache in her arm and the pain in her head came rushing back full force.

It must have shown on her face, as both women clucked sympathetically and James’ arm around her tightened.

Jackie nodded slowly before saying, “All right, we’ll get you some pain meds soon sweetheart, but first we need to know – what happened?”

At her question, memories began to come back about the awful two weeks previous, and Rose stiffened.

Before she could come up with a satisfactory way to delay answering, James stepped in.

“Uh, Jackie – I mean Mrs. Tyler – can Rose and I have a few minutes?  I think we need to talk before she starts explaining.”

It wasn’t quite the reprieve she was hoping for, but given that he was here and she could look him in the eye for likely the only time before she turned eighteen, she decided to seize the opportunity.

Once they were alone, however, her courage fled and she was unable to meet his eyes, watching her own hand pick at a loose thread on the blanket instead.

Eventually, unable to take the silence any longer, she looked up to find him watching her, waiting patiently.

“Hi.”

“Hi.”  She giggled a little at the exchange, amused that after a year and a half of daily communication, they were actually meeting in person.

“How about we start over, yeah?”  He suddenly suggested, sticking his hand out.  “I’m James.”

“Rose.”  She said pseudo-seriously, giving him a firm handshake.

“Nice to meet you, Rose.”

There stared at each other stupidly again, grinning like fools until James’ smile fell and he glanced away, before looking back at her.

“So, Rose,” he began hesitantly, trying to start off on the right foot.  “Can I tell you a story?”

Her nose crinkled adorably, but she nodded, curious.

“So, I first contacted my soulmate a year and a half ago.  We got on like a house on fire, no problems at all.  Then out of the blue, two weeks ago, she goes to her first dance.  She’s nervous, and not having a good time.  I encourage her to have fun, and enjoy those experiences as they only come around so often.  Everything’s fine.  Starting the next day, she completely ices me out, until she tells me she wants to take a break from each other.  Now, I have absolutely no idea how being supportive of my soulmate caused me to lose her – do you have any ideas?”

She flushed, and instinctively pulled her knees up, trying to hide behind them.

He gave her a few moments to respond, but when she didn’t say anything, he sighed.  “Rose, love, please tell me what I did wrong, because I haven’t got a clue.  I can’t lose you.”  He confessed, reaching out to touch her but pulling back at the last second, leaving his hand on the bed six inches from her foot.

“James…”  She whispered.

“Rose, please.”  He pleaded softly.

“I – I don’t - ”  She sniffled, before deciding to go for broke.  “I’m thirteen.”

“I know.” The upward pitch his voice took on made it sound like a question, prompting her to keep speaking. She sighed heavily.

“You’re seventeen.”

“Yep.”

She shot him a look.  “This is hard enough, do you mind?”

“Sorry.”  He mimed zipping his lips closed and throwing away the key.  Any other day that would have made her laugh, but not now.

“Look, I live on an estate.  I’m not an idiot, I know about the ‘birds and the bees’, and how it is for older teenagers, especially blokes.  I guess I just thought-” She bit her tongue, trying to keep from crying.  “I realize now it probably so naïve to think-” She sniffled, not sure she could get the words out without tears.

James raised his hand, like he was a student in class.

“Yes?”

“Rose, I’ve been waiting my whole life for you.”  He told her seriously, frowning when she snorted.

“I have.  And I’m not particularly – I’ve never been girl crazy, so to speak, even less so after I found you.  I believe in soulmates, in all the wonder and joy, and this past year and half has proven me right in spades.  There are no girls.  I’ve never kissed a girl, romantically I mean, and I don’t plan to start until your eighteenth birthday.  I am yours, Rose, absolutely, unashamedly, unreservedly.  And it kills me to think that you doubt that.”

“But you said-” Rose argued, and he cut her off.

“I said that you need to live your life for you, however you see fit.  I said you don’t owe me anything just because we’re soulmated.  How and with whom you choose to spend your time is up to you.  If you want to date some idiot, that’s your right.  I believe we belong to each other, but that doesn’t mean that you’re my property.  I choose you, Rose.  I choose to wait, to have all of those ‘firsts’ with you.  But if you don’t choose me, or you don’t choose me right now, then that’s fine.  That’s your call.”  He told her firmly.

She stared at him.  “Do you honestly believe that?”

He nodded firmly.

“I thought…”  She trailed off, now feeling even more embarrassed after his passionate speech.

“You thought I was a typical estate bloke, who only cared about himself and doing what he wanted.”

“Yeah.”  She admitted softly, staring down at her knee.

He was quiet for a good minute.

“I can’t deny that doesn’t hurt, a bit.  I’d like to think you know me better, but the truth is if you’ve never seen that, it’s hard to believe.  My parents, they were the perfect couple, completely devoted to each other.  For me, that kind of adoration is as instinctual as breathing.”

“I want that.”  She whispered.

He didn’t say anything, and eventually she looked up to see him watching her.

When their gazes met, he smiled, though she noticed it started with his eyes before moving to his mouth.

“Oh, love.  You’ve already got it.”