#what are the odds that i go from a fascination with tommy/the who

[aemiron-main]

“will’s wizard costume is a reference to-“

no. its because he’s a pinball wizard. there has to be a twist. a pinball wizard’s got such a supple wrist. how do you think he does it? i dont know. what makes him so good? aint got no distractions cant hear no buzzers and bells cant see no lights a flashin plays by sense of smell always gets the replay never seen him fall that deaf dumb and blind kid SURE PLAYS A MEAN PINBALL

(fun fact, will was originally named TOMMY in the early stages of ST. he really is a pinball wizard. the st-tommy parallels are so real. will and henry are both deeply tommy paralleled)

[thatneoncrisis]

i wrote a big long essay talking about tlt and how it engages with describing the skintones of brown characters its under a read more bc it is so long.

I already left a long comment about this on someone else post but I wish I could study tazmuirs odd little habit of dancing around the fact that Gideon and Harrow are women of color when she describes them, and how this kind of extends to other brown characters

We get a million descriptions for how sickly pale ianthe Silas and cytherea are, what a lovely golden tan corona has, the odd tannish yellow hue of colum, all imagined by her, in her own words, to be white. Then when it comes to Marta and Judith they're called dark like Once in the text. I don't think it's even mentioned for Jeannemary and magnus in the entirety of gtn though I will gladly stand corrected if I missed something. It's such a non factor for them, which normally I would overlook if it wasn't for the aforementioned specificity of how white characters are described on Top of one of the major themes of the book being how John, a Maori man, resurrected a largely Polynesian population and then proceed to rule them using the exact same methods that actively colonized new zealand. Like I just think it's really interesting that in many ways, the story is about two young Maori women completely stripped of cultural heritage, they can't even speak te reo maori they cannot even conceptualize the scale of that kind of loss. Theyve been to earth once and during her brief time there Gideon literally died on it's soil it feels so poignant

Back to them specifically being Not Pale, this is not me saying they would be "less" maori if they were light-skinned that's total bullshit and the entire paradigm exists as a product of European bullshit. My fascination is more with the fact that tamsyn has clearly thought of them as midtoned to dark skinned. I'm going to be really generous and disregard the Tommy Arnold covers- he is a talented artist but he's not the author and Taz stated in an interview that she didn't envision Gideon with an undercut either so he clearly has little liberties he can take and I'm fine with that get your coin dude. For these two I'm going to have to focus on Nona the Ninth, bc for the entirety of gtn, harrow is described as grey, and while I understand that's bc she's constantly under a mountain of white and black facepaint, we basically never get an objective description for either of them. Gideon stand out features are her build, hair and eyes, like a lot of characters, but it could have been pretty easy to throw in a line about how she seems less desaturated than what one might expect from a ninth cavalier, like a rich warm brown, possibly hinting to other characters that she isn't a ninth native

Htn also gives very little to work with, again harrows primary colors are the blacks whites and greys of facepaint and her hair and the reds of constantly sweating blood. The character who's darker skintone is Most remarked upon (also one of the few ever constantly headcanoned) as black, is g1deon. I've actually spoken to a few people about this and there seems to be some actual Mandela effect shit going on where people remember Taz saying he's black despite me never once finding evidence for this. However, this is not a case where I'd be overjoyed to be proven wrong, because g1deon being the one black guy in this entire cast, the one who's dark skintone is commented on the most, being the guy who barely speaks, tries killing harrow with a spear 14 times and then dies offscreen. Not good. Bad, actually

Finally onto ntn, in the beginning chapters Nona remarks her (harrows) skintone is the color of an egg carton. I assume she means the light tan, desaturated brown of the cardboard used in certain cartons, which is fitting for harrow, girls lived in an ice cave for 17 years. This is basically the only word we get on it. I believe a few times the text will say something about pyrrha's (g1deon's) brown Everything; brown skin, russet brown hair, rich brown eyes. that character gets to be viewed and constantly affirmed as a brown character in teh way gideon and harrow arent, it kind of others pyrrha. to contrast camillas hands are called tanned way at the beginning while recording nona's dream, then at the way end it says, "Her face still looked grey beneath its nice normal olive," olive being used to describe her once before in gtn as far as i can see. pyrrha's (g1deon's) skintone is one of her most notable features, its brought up to a noticeable agree the text wants you to keep it in your mind when you think of the saint of duty; "Most of Pyrrha was the colours of the building site: deep dried-out browns, dusty hunks of clay, rusted metal." "Pyrrha wouldn’t burn any colour other than her deep cool brown." "Nona took the water from Pyrrha’s brown, work-chapped hand and even sipped it" "Pyrrha had carried Camilla to bed in her big brown arms like Cam weighed nothing" "Pyrrha said, “Thanks, Nums,” and drained the whole thing. Nona,fascinated, watched the brown column of her throat move as she swallowed." its just notable to me when alternatively with nona you'll get a line like "Camilla didn’t say anything to that either, only rubbed her wrists where the tape had been. Nona’s skin was already back to its nice normal colour." like just the vagueness in nice normal color, we get one line about what shes supposed to look like in the beginning and thats it

towards the end during the broadcast, nona gets her first clear look at kiriona, described as: "warm-coloured skin that should have been a similar brown hue to Nona’s, except that there was something wrong with it." break out the champagne its official

Obviously, dying takes some color from you. If anything, gideons desaturation should make them More comparable given the egg carton comment and harrows general state of constant anemia. Has Nona gotten darker during her time on new rho? Was Gideon lighter than the cover led us to believe? We don't know. We well never know, which is odd, bc these books fucking love purple prose about people's appearances. We have like seven different synonyms for the shade of ianthes hair. New words for black have to be invented in order to convey harrows eyes which are Black, not the dark muddy brown of someone like ortus. It's less that I'm bothered by the text not hyperfocusing on their skin and more it picking and choosing when it will laser focus on a detail like that, and how often it's skipped over to the point that I like, constantly see people draw harrow as incredibly pale, which is very different from being light-skinned

Finally, I know people can dismiss this as like an audience interpretation thing. I know I actively draw harrow darker than Gideon which I know isn't canon. But this is less about Fandom response to the text and more the text itself and how it's like. Afraid to say brown. near the end of ntn i found One instance of it referring to gideons "slim brown hand" on nonas cheek and that is direct as it gets. even her other like, strongly non european traits are sort of danced around. her nose is "a nose that was the complete opposite of Nona’s nose, one that put her in mind of those big poison desert cats Born in the Morning was crazy about." a very fanciful description, you have to infer that nona means that its probably flat and wide, also giving us the information that harrows is most likely narrow and straight, possibly downturned. im not opposed to this, especially given the character talking about her is nona, but then you get the following paragraph:

"Her skin was very much dead-person skin, ashen and tinted the wrong colour around the nostrils and the mouth. But even if she hadn’t been dead, Nona was critical. Her eyelashes were very dark, but short and curly, whereas Nona thought all eyelashes should be long and straight (her own eyelashes were long and straight). The corpse had too much mouth and a dimple (nobody in her home had a dimple). You could not, at least, see the veins in her eyelids, which were heavy and cold and deep-set. But Nona thought it was going to be a shame to go from being so lovely as she was to being so—redheaded."

its a very frank description. dimple, curly lashes, red head, dead skin, probably a wide mouth. her nose is contrasted against nonas nose, which is also never directly described, and then compared to a fantasy animal we have never heard of until right now

kicks rocks. there isnt a point to this. the series is almost over, there is zero reason to like, knock on taz's door and ask why she did this or that. it doesnt stop me from loving the series, and the insinuation that noticing this means i must dislike the series is frankly insane (real thing that happened). if someone got the impression that harrow was white given how shes described i wouldnt blame them honestly, its most apparent she isnt in the third book (with the cover art being incredibly ambiguous) and a single blog post from taz mentioning shes maori, immediately followed by an "oh i dont care how you see the characters" addendum, which i think is like. an odd thing to tack on bc them descended from kiwis is like, very integral to the story, and gideon being the daughter of the maori man who took everything from her she didnt even know she could have and the (presumably, given her name and a very brief description) maori woman fighting to get that world back its like. damn. it feels a little important. that the audience knows theyre maori. like a little. it feels intertwined with the whole thing about john using european standards of imperialism and general aesthetics to hurt his own kid. actually.

[absolutebl]

This Week in BL - A Lot Ended, Quite Bit Started, I got things to say about it all

Organized, in each category, by ones I'm enjoying most at the top.

Nov 2023 Wk 2

Ongoing Series - Thai

My Dear Gangster Oppa (Thurs iQIYI) 3 of 8 - This is just a great BL. So fun with few frills and paced nicely. Thai talent + Korean story is proving very harmonious for narrative flow. I’m delighted. I love that they don’t shy away from letting Tew be an actual violent criminal who is just gone and mushy for this one geeky cutie. Also I appreciate it when a show hangs a lantern on its own plot failing. In this case, the main character being drunk as a plot devise 2x in subsequent eps.

Twins the series (Fri GaGa) ep 2 of 10 - Love it. Love Spite and his chronic guilt over his younger brother, the golden child. Love that he is driven to repair for a past that no longer exists. Evil mom who cares more for what her son can do than that son, let alone his brother. The volleyball well…. erm. I played varsity (setter) so this is amusing to me but I’m not mad about it. 

I agree that this Not Me just sports and pulp. 

Last Twilight (Fri YT) 1 of 12 - JimmySea are back and is this... good? Do I like this? I don't have faith, GMMTV has been doing us dirty lately. But I think I like it! Why The Little Prince AGAIN? Ugh. 

Middleman’s Love (Fri YT & iQIYI 1 of 8 - Domundi giving us an office comedy hyung romance staring TutorYim (Cutie Pie) with NetJames (Bed Friend) and LeoTai (Friend Forever) providing support. Lets hope they stick to only 8 eps. Buckle up, I got shit talking to type.

I warned ya out the gate that this is a Cheewin comedy, so tonally it could be very OFF, and boy howdy is it EVER off. There's a place this kind of show goes where it's so cringe it's visually rotten and this one went there out that gate. Also, I'm gonna say it because no one else has, Yim is not good in this role. Comedy is HARD to do and Cheewin isn't doing this green actor any favors. He's chewing the scenery like a woodchuck after a diet.

To be fair, Tutor isn't great either, but he's been given less rope to hang himself with. Mai is currently suffering from seme obscurity: the love interest's defining characterization being = tall and handsome. (Which is not characterization... agony... glares at Cdramas.) We will see if he gets a personality, but based on past work form this director and this writer, don't bank on it.

Frankly? I'm not convinced either of them are mature enough as a pair or as actors to carry something this abrasive and to stand up to Cheewin's visual abuse of our eyeballs. I think this is going to be a rocky ride. HOWEVER, because it has tropes I'm good with (as opposed to SCOY) I'm sticking with it for now but this is gonna be ROUGH going for everyone.

Backstory: This used to be a JimmyTommy vehicle before the pair split (also prev title Middle Love). Adapted from a Y-novel. I can actually see Tommy in this role very clearly and I suspect he may have been bettern(and I am more a TutorYim fan as a pair). Also I will likely be referencing SCOY a lot while watching this because SCOY is peak Cheewin nonsense comedy but with an incredibly strong lead pair, so comparisons will be drawn.

Absolute Zero (Weds iQIYI) ep 7 of 12 - Sigh. Linguistic negotiation but for sad reasons? It fascinating but it hurts. Look, the cast is very good I just don’t like the premise.

My Universe (Sun iQIYI) The Camp Fire ep 12 of 24 - Well that was extremely odd. I’m not sure how I feel about it. If it hadn’t had the strange framework and horror component and been just a simple BL story I probably would’ve enjoyed it. Why do the pulps always  squander their best pairs? 5/10 New installment (Friends Forever) looks terrible and not BL.

Beyond The Star (Weds iQIYI) qp 1 of 8 - House of Stars meets Boyband. I am not impressed. Thailand just needs to leave everything music related to Korea. I’m enacting a ban. The framework on this is truly awful. The talent is not talented in acting let alone dance or song. I thought about sticking with it a few more eps but i putting in on hold. It’s too wooden even for me.

@heretherebedork I depend on you to report back. This is the kind of thing only you can watch. It’s like Cupid 2023. 

Ongoing Series - Not Thai

A Breeze of Love (Korea iQIYI) 1-2 of 8 - previously know as Weather Forecast Love this one popped up in MDL's currently airing, and I was like, what what? Basically: Tsundere insomniac grump and his sunshine jock ex bestie (human sleeping pill) who now hates him. Basketball is involved and I love it.

It ended, are we sad? REVIEWS

Kiseki: Dear to Me (Taiwan Viki & Gaga)

Yes, we sad! Ai Di and his dumb oversized sweaters and flappy flappy sleeves are EVERYTHING.

Final ep? Nice that the elder gays got screen time, more of this please? Sides dominated this finale, matched outfits and all. Also I’m living for the Bless this Mess shirt. Finally Taiwan gave us lots of biting and a counter lift. It’s like they know me!

Quick pitch for KDTM?  

The plot is totally ridiculous and slightly unhinged, but that’s normal for Taiwan. It involves all the tropes under a very casual framework of gay mafia gangs + food = love. Absolutely every character is queer. There’s a gum-ball machine of cameos, elder gay rep, great chemistry from all pairs, and a KILLER side couple. As a result Kiseki is a poster child for Taiwanese BL, and I happen to love Taiwanese BL. Bonus? They also managed to END IT WELL, which we cannot expect from Taiwan. 9/10 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED 

Triggers for knife play, child abuse, lingering trauma. I found both platforms did not do a great job on subs, but I will give the edge to Viki for pure usability.

You Are Mine (Taiwan Viki & Gaga)

We are more disappointed than sad.

Far be it from me to extend this show, but we should’ve had 2 episodes of quality supportive boyfriends coping with family drama before the mom-confrontation climax and defense of the ESTABLISHED relationship. Baby's little speach had no power or impact coming where it did in this narrative, even though it was sweet. And while the make-out scenes were charming it mostly jsut felt like we'd squandered this pair. This last ep was good and rewatchable, but a series cannot be judged on its last ep alone.

Finally... could have used some side dishes. My vote? Lesbian secretaries!

Conclusion 

I am sorry Taiwan, you know I love you, but I have to say it: this show was a mess of terrible pacing. And not a hot mess, sadly. I should have liked everything about this: it’s an office drama, it’s mature characters, it’s grumpy/sunshine, it’s a strong power dynamic, and it’s Taiwan - which means good chemistry. YAM was all those things and yet… something went horribly wrong with the narrative structure. You tried dears, but not hard enough. 7/10 

Bump Up Business (Korea Gaga)

Well, poop. Don’t have them speak English. Also no playing drunk. Meanwhile, all the manipulative gay drama. No kiss of course.

How do I summate this?

An idol group did the best they could with a script tailored to idols but which they were not allowed to fully realize because they are active idols in the same group. Ultimately it felt a bit like OnlyOneOf were just doing one of those Kpop skits for a variety show were two of of them dresses in drag/gay/BL and "ha ha isn't it funny?" I don’t know, it was fine? 6/10

stop wasting my time, Korea

Mr Cinderella 2 (Vietnam YT)

DNF on the advice of several of my BL spies I will not be finishing this. Apparently it pretty much ends sad. Here's an explanation.

It's Airing But...

I Cannot Reach You AKA I Can't Reach You AKA Kimi ni wa Todokanai (Japan Tues Netflix-Japan & ????) 8 eps - in classic JBL fashion, I Cannot Reach You could not be reached. I will try it when I have some time and access to my home computer.

One Room Angel (Japan Gaga) 6 eps - adaptation of Harada’s manga (which I did not like) about a clerk who's stabbed, nearly dies, and returns home to find an angel waiting for him. With only 5 eps and a good chance this won’t end happy, I'm gonna wait and let you tell me how it goes.

WAITING FOR VERDICT OR TO BINGE

What Did You Eat Yesterday Season 2 AKA Kinou Nani Tabeta? Season 2 (Japan Gaga) 10 eps - I find this series more fun to binge, so I'm waiting until it completes its run.

SHADOW (Thai Gaga) 14eps - this is a horror BL with ghosts & paranormal elements in a boarding school setting. I'm not wild about Thai horror (or horror at all). It features Singto (who did paranormal BL He's Coming to Me) opposite Fluke N (who's done a couple horror's before). Also Fiat. Dan suffers from sleep paralysis, and in his dreams he sees a shadow that suffocates him. It gets worse when he transfers schools. I'm holding off on this one and if told it's good I'll binge watch.

Next Week Looks Like This

11/15 Let's Eat Together Aki and Haru AKA Aki wa Haru to Gohan wo (Japan Gaga) - this BL movie is coming to Gaga.

11/16 PLAYBOYY (Thurs ????) 10 eps - trailer here, high heat and it's helmed by Cheewin (shudder) with screenplay by Den (Only Friends) under Copy A Bangkok. It's gonna be a shizz show people. It's predicting Thai style "dark" (War of Y) one of my least favorites. Apparently there is a "plot" but when has Cheewin ever bothered with plot? A university kid who was involved with escorts, sex-trade, porn, online hook-ups, drugs, prostitution, blackmail, revenge, and so forth goes missing. His twin (sigh) and two friends look for him.

11/17 Pit Babe (Fri iQIYI) ep 1 of 14 - high heat teaser here, based on alittlebixth's omegaverse novel #พิษเบ๊บ’ set in the world of car racing (author says show will not be omegaverse). Charlie (fresh face), a young hot nerd, approaches his driver idol (Pavel "my love" 2 Moons 2) to borrow a racing car and win one for the team. Production house is new to BL but behind the Club Friday stuff. Show stars many known actors: Nut (Oxygen), Pop (Ram in La Cuisine), Pon (Phai in Gen Y, we LOVE him), Benz (twins in En of Love: This Is Love Story).

Thailand bring the November heat, I guess?

Upcoming November BL

11/19 Bake Me Please (Sun Gaga) ep 1 of 6 - trailer here, stars Ohm (of OhmFluke) opposite Guide (bestie from IFYLITA) and possibly also Poom (well known, but not for BL). This looks like an actually gay version of Antique Bakery (play it again, BL). Still, I'm intrigued, it looks HELLA pretty.

11/22 7 Days Before Valentine (Weds ????) ep 1 of 10 - trailer here, horror-esk. Adapted from y-novel of the same name, directed by Tu (180 Degree) stars Jet (Why You… Y Me?). When you want your old love again, but fate sends you a reaper instead. All he can do for you is kill people. I'll likely give this a pass and wait to binge if safe.

11/25 The Sign (Sat ????) ep 1 of 10 - trailer here, horror-esk, but with a suspense and adult characters. Special investigators who loved each other in previous lives reunite in new bodies. Stars Billy Patchanon (BillySeng) & Babe Tanatat (new). Includes other SCOY favorites as a special investigation team. I may give this a try because I'm into the non-horror bits.

11/26 The Whisperer (Sun ????) 1 of 10 - trailer here. Thai horror BL that ALSO involves cheating (what joy is mine). He has dimples (My Ride) but I don't think even that gives me the will. Maybe a binge for me.

11/26 Cooking Crush (Sun YT) 1 of 12 - OffGun are back, trailer here. Adapted from the novel “Love Course! เสื้อกาวน์รุกเสื้อกุ๊กรับ” by iJune4S this is about Prem who runs a not-so-popular restaurant with 2 friends. About to go on a cooking competition with a huge reward, Prem gets involved with Ten, a stressed-out med student who wants Prem to teach him to cook.

11/30 For Him (Thurs ????) ep 1 of 10 - high heat trailer, I suspect iQIYI will scoop this one up. From the people who brought us Unforgotten Night (please no) based on a y-novel, man nursing a heartbreak has a one-night stand, but the other boy didn't want it to end. It looks terribly trashy so I'm in! Maybe I'll do a trash watch?

VIP Only (Taiwan) - may be delayed/canceled

Wuju Bakery AKA Space Bakery (Korea) - this one may be DOA

A Breeze of Love (Korea) - I know less than nothing about this.

Nov 2023 line up with screen caps here. Not kept updated.

Original 2023 forthcoming BL master post (see comments, some are inaccurate, NOT KEPT UPDATED).

THIS WEEK’S BEST MOMENTS

This is in the intro card of My Dear Gangster Oppa, I'm just amusing myself.

Thank you Keseki for givign this to us twice!

Also the tears! So pretty crying.

And, of course, my favorite the biting!

Have I mentioned recently how much I love Taiwanese BL?

(Last week)

[larry-is-my-anchor1]

In season 8 episode 5 of 911, a lot appears to happen from what the previews show. But I thought the episode was sort of just meh. It was a bit of a let down. It didn’t feel meaningful.

See 911 either is meaningful or big and sweeping with rescues. And a lot of times both. This week had a bit of fun yes, and actual scariness but it was lacking.

I thought there was going to be a multi episode dive into Mara staying with Chim and Maddie. And how that affects their relationship with Hen and Karen. I think the writers missed the mark on that one.

Plus this Christopher thing is dragging out. Why is Christopher allowed to be away from his father for months? Like the reason the writers used wasn’t solid enough. I don’t think Eddie’s parents are being of help. I think they’re being selfish. Does Chris at this point just want Eddie to come get him?

And what is even happening with Eddie while Chris isn’t with him? He alone. Buck is busy with Tommy. I mean I think more deeper self realization moments are needed. I think Eddie perhaps has to admit he misses the family dynamic he had with Chris and Buck.

I really did like Peter Kraus’s rendition of Dracula. I thought he did the accent terrific.

I thought it was interesting during the scene with the man who got his head stuck in the pumpkin, Buck says walking in with lube, “Lube flying in” and hands it to Eddie. I see what you’re doing writers. I see. I WANT PINING!!!!!

I thought the scene with Denny was amazingly acted by Declan Pratt. Karen played by Tracie Thoms is also phenomenal. But the scene wasn’t very fluid to me.

Or it could be I’m not following the parallels, Easter eggs, or hidden messages. It was just frustrating. Yes, I appreciated seeing a bare chested Buck. I’ve had a dislocated joint and it seriously hurts. That scene was not pleasant to watch. But loved Eddie being in the room. And did anyone else notice he did not have a guest badge while Tommy did. Was that an Easter Egg? He is around a lot with Tommy and Buck. I think Tommy feels like the odd man out.

I appreciate Tommy being there for Buck also. But did they both have to laugh at Buck and his fascination with curses?

Isn’t Buck allergic to ibuprofen? Or an ingredient in it? Why did Tommy not know? Or what was it recklessly written in?

They won’t make Tommy, Abbie’s ex, but that would be interesting. And of course it would happen to Buck.

[allthingsfangirl101]

7 Minutes in Heaven–Steve Harrington

I hated parties. I never wanted to go. And yet, my so-called friends always dragged me to them. While they danced and got drunk, I stood in the corner, drinking from my water bottle that I brought from home.

"Hey, come with us."

"Why?" I sighed as Maddie and Lilly dragged me through the party.

"We need one more girl for 7 Minutes in Heaven."

"Absolutely not," I said, pulling my wrists out of their hands. "I'm not playing the makeout game."

"Come on," Maddie sighed. "The odds of the bottle landing on you are slim. Alright? It's just for fun."

"Getting locked in a closet with a blockhead from Hawkins High is not my idea of fun."

"Are you girls coming or not?" Tommy H yelled from the other room.

"Coming!" Lilly giggled which made me lose respect for her.

I was dragged over to the circle forming and forced to sit down. As the bottle spun around and people went to the coat closet, I was busy picking at my cuticles.

"Steve, it's your turn," Carol giggled.

"I told you, I didn't want to do this," he sighed.

"Come on, man," Tommy H sighed. "I know you're still stuck on Nancy. No better way than to get over a girl than to make out with another one."

"That's not how it works," Steve scoffed.

He mumbled something before grabbing the bottle and spinning it half-heartedly. Time seemed to slow down as the bottle spun. It completely froze when the bottle stopped on me. We looked up at each other, matching red faces.

"Alright, Harrington," Tommy H laughed obnoxiously. "Go get it."

"Her," Steve corrected. He glared at Tommy as he stood up. He wiped his hands on his jeans before reaching his hand out. I gently took his hand and stood up.

"I'm sorry about this," he whispered before leading me to the closet. I couldn't help but jump when the door was slammed behind us.

I looked over at Steve to see him looking at anything else. I wrapped my arms around myself, my face burning. Steve opened his mouth to say something, but I cut him off.

"We don't have to do anything."

"What?" He stuttered.

"I just. . ." I cleared my throat, suddenly nervous. I have never been nervous around Steve Harrington before. This was new.

"I know you and Nancy just broke up," I continued. "I doubt you want to make out with some random girl."

"You're not just some random girl," he said instantly. "We've known each other since we were little."

"Barely," I scoffed before I could stop myself. I sighed before clarifying. "Steve, you and I have barely spoken to each other. Sure, our parents were high school best friends who decided to move in next to each other and have a weekly barbecue, but that doesn't mean we're joined at the hip. You have your group and I have mine."

Silence fell between us. I'm not sure how much time passed before Steve broke it.

"How did you know I was struggling with the breakup?"

"You've been reading."

"What?" He stuttered.

"Did you forget?" I asked with a small laugh. "Our windows face each other, Steve. You went from playing video games every night to reading while sitting on the floor, leaning against your bed. You only do that when you're upset."

I could faintly see a small smile forming on his face. He cleared his throat before saying, "I can't believe you noticed that."

"Well, since it's dark and you can't see my face," I mumbled, "I probably spent too much time glancing out my window when we were younger. I don't really know why. . . I just found you fascinating. Which is extremely dumb and embarrassing but. . ."

Steve leaned down and gently pressed his lips to mine. The kiss was soft and neither one of us made any move to deepen or break it. My head was spinning. I couldn't believe Steve Harrington was kissing me.

We jumped apart when someone knocked, quickly followed by them yanking the door open. I looked away, instantly wrapping my arms around myself. I was about to walk out but someone stopped me.

"How was it?" Carol asked as she roughly grabbed my arm. I instantly pulled it out of her grasp. Her laughter made my face burn.

"She's speechless," Tommy teased. "Damn, Harrington. Nice work."

I roughly pushed past Carol and quickly walked to the bathroom. As soon as I shut the door, I leaned against it and took a shaky breath. I splashed some water on my face before leaving the bathroom.

I was about to leave the party when someone grabbed my arm. My breath got caught in my throat when I saw it was Steve.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "Carol and Tommy are assholes. They shouldn't have. . . I'm really sorry, Y/N."

"It's fine," I shrugged.

"Hey," he said after a second of silence. "You wanna get out of here?"

                                * * * * *

Steve and I ended up going back to my house. We sat on my front porch swing, not really talking about anything. I couldn't stop thinking about that kiss. I hadn't noticed I was rubbing my arms until Steve took off his jacket and draped it across my shoulders.

"Thanks," I whispered. He sent me a soft smile and went back to slowly rocking the swing. I glanced over at him to see his jaw clenched.

"You okay?" I asked.

"I'm sorry about Carol and Tommy," Steve sighed. "They're assholes."

"I told you," I sighed, clearing my throat. "It's fine."

"No," he slightly cut me off, "it's not fine, Y/N. They shouldn't have treated you like that."

"Steve," I cut him off this time. He looked at me and realization slowly washed over his face. I quickly looked away.

"What else have they said to you?"

"Nothing I couldn't handle," I shrugged.

"Y/N," he whispered. I glanced back at him to see his eyes were soft but his jaw was still clenched. "What else have they said to you?"

This time when he asked, it sounded like he was barely controlling his anger.

"Just stupid things," I said under my breath.

"Like what?"

"Steve," I sighed.

"Please, Y/N," he said, his anger making his voice crack. "What did they say to you?"

"They told me to stay away from you," I confessed.

"What?" He asked through clenched teeth.

"They kept reminding me that I was a loser and wasn't cool enough to be your friend." I paused before adding, "Let alone anything else?"

"Anything else?" Steve asked.

I looked down at my hands and started nervously playing with my fingers.

"Y/N, what did you mean when you said they kept reminding you that you weren't cool enough to be my. . . anything else?"

"I don't really know," I stuttered. "They just kept telling me to stay away from you and that a loser like me wasn't good enough for. . . For the king himself."

"Y/N," he sighed, "I'm so sorry. I never told them to say anything to you. In fact, I told them to leave you alone."

"Why?"

"Why did I tell them to leave you alone?" He asked.

I nodded, nervously chewing on my bottom lip. He reached up and gently used his thumb to pull my lip away from my teeth. He moved his hand so he was cupping my cheek.

Steve leaned in and gently pressed his lips to mine. I let out the breath I was holding as I started kissing him back. This kiss was even better than the one earlier tonight.

"If I'm being completely honest," he whispered, breaking the kiss, "I probably spent too much time glancing out my window when we were younger too."

"You did?" I stuttered. Steve smiled and nodded. The look in his eyes softened as he stared at me.

"I'm sorry I didn't pay much attention to you," he whispered, pulling me closer.

"You still have time to change that," I whispered with a playful smirk. Steve leaned in and slowly kissed me. Just as slowly as he initiated it, he broke it.

"I intend to."

[siremasterlawrence]

The Darkside Of The Moon

When Astronaut Chris P is chosen to be a crew member accompanying the mission to the moon it is a lifetime dream come true for us all. He sits down taking an exhaustive heavy and deep breath following an exhilarating weeks of training for his first mission into space precisely to the moon.

Hiding away in NASA’s official locker room he realizes his life is on a precipice of a truly momentous change no one can prepare him for it. The roar of the crowd as hoards of news reporters are on assignment rushing into the area and taking a seat setting up the cameras, cellphone recording and microphones.

The door swing open making way for the astronauts to file out one by one in a successive line before they grab a chair and pull it out to sit down crispy. Chris P felt the warmth of the lights softly fall on him, the chanting of the crowd is also pumping him up, the line of questioning odd but fair enough.

The lights bursting off the camera so bright, so beautiful, so delicate, like starburst in the sky blinding his vision as he poses for the official NASA photograph. You could only imagine the fascination he is feeling from reeling the moment that his dream is about to manifest into a reality is making.

Next year comes in a flash as a prepare to board the ship. He takes one last look at the beautiful sky. Sighing regret for leaving but also I thrill you write bitch freedom for exploring various of the universe. All the good in the world could never equal the measure of the joyous victory of succeeding a proving his place in all is this and in the world.

“Chris…P man come inside we have to launch.”

“On my way “

“Who is ready?”

“Mission Control”

“We are launching in”

“Five “

“Four”

“Three “

“Two”

“One”

“Something is off “

“Hardly time for jokes “

“I am serious “

“The atmospheric pressure is off”

“What do we do ?”

“Do i look the engineer to you ?”

“Where did he go?”

“He’s gone”

“Fuck! I’ll go find him”

“Is this a joyride or something?”

“Tommy! Is that you ?”

“That sound is that gas”

“Oh God! Nnnnooooo”

“Fuck fuck fuck”

“Ok! Calm down”

“I am sure their is a logical reasoning for this”

“I am scientist as well after all”

“No way on earth this is possible “

“It is a practical joke”

“Has to be right?“

“Oh My God!”

“Who are you?”

“Your worst nightmare “

“Back up “

“Back off”

“Ssstttoooppp”

“Or what bud?”

“Fuck you!”

“Asshole”

“I love you “

The door slides closed blocking him in he is now permanently enclosed outside of the space ship a flow of black smoke overtook the air encircling him.

Diving deep in to his nose it drudges ever in to his body shaking it into his core as his nerves are broken he begins to breathe so hard and heavily. He fell backwards on to ground losing it ever more his eyes roll back submitting to the will of the alien spirit consuming him as he fell to his knees.

His eyes turn dark black cementing in them so he soon loss control himself with a smirk of his face spreading through his lips as he is happy.His mind spun shook to his core turning it on as they become blue his brain is running on erratic energy spurts an electrical outlet in his nerves.

“This is your Master Lawrence “

“Master Lawrence “

“Rise to your feet”

“I am your slave”

“I am your life “

“My life and life “

“You exist for me”

“Whatever you wish of me”

“Enslave your crew “

“Obey me”

“Submit to me”

“Be all mine”

“Do you love me?””

“I am your mind and body”

“Do you want me?”

“I am your playground “

“Take my hand “

“Guide me”

“A trip around the universe”

“Lift me up “

“The earth is fresh pot”

“I will reap it all for you “

“Let’s traverse the moon”

“Hand in hand “

“Yes Master Lawrence

The end

[croissantatwaitrose]

After escaping prison dream somehow gets shrunk. He gets found by tommy who decides to be a better person.

Tommy keeps dream(And try to help him) and dream Is having a stressfull and confusing time.

(Not sure whether this is a prompt or asking for an opinion… but I’ll take it as a prompt!!)

Dream was not having the best time of his life. Sure, he’d finally managed to escape prison. Feeling free for the first time in… however long it had been, was a blissful feeling he wished he could’ve held onto for longer. However, fate was not so kind to him, and he’d been hit with a shrinking potion from a witch.

To say the very least, to be reduced to such a small size was nothing short of humiliating; the only emotion he could feel whilst staring at his tiny limbs was frustration. Was this the karma that every other player had been waiting for him to finally receive?

He kicked a glass shard from the potion bottle, whatever good that did him. When his anger didn’t cease or fade, he settled on walking. Where to, he had to idea. He just wanted to walk in an attempt to at least forget the situation he was in, just for a moment.

And it was odd as hell.

Walking through tall blades of grass and sidestepping pebbles that were twice Dream’s own width and length felt like nothing short of a fever dream. It felt impossible, yet here he was. Jarring as it was, there was some fascination to the way he viewed his current surroundings - this felt like an entirely new view on life - a powerless one yet one that was oddly pretty. Was this how everyone else felt - powerless and weak, and so resorted to appreciating that which was natural? It sounded pathetic.

Something suddenly snapped dream out of his thoughts. No, someone. Someone who, evidently, had already spotted him. That someone squatted down in front of him and- oh. Of course. Bright blue eyes stared back at him, an expression nothing short of bewildered on his face.

“Go away, Tommy.” The teen did not obey Dream’s words, but, to be fair, Dream wasn’t in much of a position to make threats. He had no advantages over Tommy this time.

“Man, you really look like shit.” Dream raised an eyebrow.

“I don’t need your assessment to know that.”

“What the fuck even happened to you, man?” It seemed like Tommy was more taking the piss out of Dream than being genuinely curious. Dream simply glared back, choosing not to answer; he didn’t need to be mocked more than he already was.

Seeing Dream’s reluctant answer, Tommy paused, seemingly debating on whether he should ask something.

“…do you need help?”

The words took the smaller completely aback. He looked up at Tommy’s face, yet there wasn’t even a hint of insincerity or mockery. The teen genuinely wanted to help him.

“Why… why are you offering?” Slowly, Dream sceptically asked. He didn’t believe that this offer was malicious-intent-free, not for a single second. However, Tommy simply shrugged.

“One of us has gotta be the bigger man, yknow.” And he had a point, which made a first. Metaphorically and literally, Tommy was being the bigger person, and Dream wasn’t quite sure how to feel about it. Confused, mainly. He always took Tommy to be quite an immature person, yet here he was, offering help to his biggest enemy. It didn’t make sense to Dream, and he was still unsure if he should take this offer.

But what other choice did he have? It was much too dangerous out there for someone his size, and since he’d just escaped prison, he was sure that none of the other server members would be quite this merciful with him. The idea of staying with Tommy didn’t sit right with him in the slightest, but he’d rather that than die out in the open.

“Sure, then.” He grumbled, still not keen on this whole ordeal. Then, without warning, Tommy had scooped him up onto his palm, leaving the smaller incredibly disoriented.

“Wh- what the fuck-?!” Dream sputtered out, glaring up at the teen.

“My bad, big- i mean, little man.” Tommy grinned down at him, clearly resisting the laugh. Dream didn’t retort, not wanting to give Tommy the satisfaction of knowing how much the comment had annoyed him.

Whilst Dream was still having begrudging feelings, there was a twinge of gratitude towards the teen. Being saved by an enemy was better than dying out in the open.

Anything was better than dying out in the open.

(I think i might make this into an au; im calling it on the run au 🔥🔥🔥)

[ofsootandsmoke]

That last post instilled a lot of thoughts in me, so I'm going to share them since I have the perspective of one of the fuckers himself.

To start, I never really believed Quackity to be truly inferior to me. I knew I had it all and he had nothing, but I knew very quickly that he could have what I did and more if he put his mind to it (and he did; just look at Las Nevadas). That frightened me as much as it intrigued me because everyone else seemed to be on different playing fields. I had no one to compare to, then he came along, and the fascination began instantly. Though, remember, I met him freshly after Eret's betrayal, and my suspicions in people's intentions were rising. Had I met Q just two weeks sooner, we probably would've been the strongest allies on the SMP, but by the time I met him, I was beginning to become paranoid, so I interacted with him like he was simultaneously something dangerous that had to be captured and like an injured animal on the side of the road.

With the elections, I had no qualms with Quackity himself, in hindsight. However, at the time, I placed my entire self-worth in winning that election. If I lost, I was nothing, and I had to be something. If I lost, it proved people didn't like me, that no one really wanted me, and I tried hard to make people like me. I even allowed two parties in after the ballots closed because, if people saw I was good, they'd like me more (good people don't get far in life; good people get left for dust). For the most part, though, I wasn't worried. No one had anything close to what I had back then, and then that goddamned vote pooling happened, and I watched my entire life crumble in an instant. What I built up from dirt was no longer mine, and even worse, I couldn't even be part of it. Before I turned and ran, I saw Q's smile, smug and proud. He won, he had it all now, and now I had nothing. An instant role reversal.

I have never accepted defeat, and I never stop working until I am dead. So, again, with my bare hands, I carved Pogtopia out of a ravine and began an underground rebellion. Whispers on the streets got around, and my people, my friends and family who didn't know what happened to me and stood idly by in the face of tyranny, came back to me. No one gains a following by manipulation, but I gained everything through love and trust. That's what brought people back to me. That's what made people believe I was worth spying for. At some point, I suppose he overheard the whispers, too, and I wish I knew what his thoughts were when he realized he had to be under my rule if he wanted to take down Schlatt. But, this time, there was no clear "he's in power, he has nothing." We were both simultaneously in power over each other, and we both simultaneously had nothing. Our rivalry calmed, and our push and pull became more of an odd dance, circling each other as we tried to analyze how we'd fit together. I grew to trust him in Pogtopia, and I hated myself for it. I was paranoid of everyone, except Tommy and then him. He was too genuine, and we became transparent with each other, and yet, at the same time, we didn't tell each other anything. We have always been contradictory, both one thing and another.

November 16th, I couldn't keep my eyes off him. I watched everything he did because he knew my plans and he could stop me in an instant. That button was my reclamation of power, that pressing that button would mean I win. Not a win for Pogtopia, not for L'Manberg or even Mamberg, but a win for me. Even if I'd be dead, I'd die with a legacy, and you can't exactly beat a dead man. I didn't die in the explosion like I intended, and I got to see the look on his face right before I died. I don't know what emotion I would label it as, but it tore my heart out and made me feel like I was on top of the world. Then, I was left for dead, but I didn't die instantly. I lost sight of him in the chaos. I said things to myself that no one heard, things that were carried off in the wind and drowned out in the fighting. Things that no one but me will ever know.

In Limbo, his name crossed my mind more than just a few times. The first time I allowed myself to think about him was the first time I screamed his name as I clawed at the walls to escape, several weeks into my stay. I knew it was futile, but part of me wanted to believe that if anyone could hear me, it'd be him. It made the most sense to me that it'd be him, my equal. After that, I thought a lot about what we'd been. I don't think he knows it, but his name often left my mouth when I begged for help. I don't think he wants to know the depth of the words I said attached to his name.

(If you're actually reading all this, Q, then just know some things are better on deaf ears).

And then, after thirteen and a half wretched years, I experienced the sun again. I felt warmth on my skin, wind in my hair, and I was alive! And still, one of my first thoughts was, "I have to go see Quackity." But he wasn't at all what he was before— he surpassed what I used to have by far. He had experienced so much, and the once hopeful and optimistic man had become rather jaded, yet he still had that fire, that passion that rivaled mine. I accepted him as my equal in Limbo, but now, he was so far ahead of me, but that didn't change my mind. Even I was pleasantly surprised by his excitement in seeing me again, but we soon fell back into old patterns that both burned us and kept us going. I knew we had stood on equal ground; I just had to catch up a little bit. I definitely tried, and maybe to everyone else, I was falling far behind, but in our eyes, we resumed our rivalry, and we weren't in a push and pull anymore. We figured out our places with each other, and our rivalry became more like a song and dance that neither of us fully knew the moves to. Some things were unexpected, sometimes we let the other take the lead, and most of the time, we were in sync and knew what the other was going to do before he did it. I think he knew that we were on the same ground, too, and I think that pissed him off a little bit then. Even when I was physically at my lowest and living in a burger van on the outskirts of his shining nation, he couldn't truly surpass me, but that implies that either of us were ever truly above each other. To be honest, I've only ever been above him in terms of height. He just hadn't seen his own potential in the beginning and took that as me being better than him.

Time and a relationship have settled us, and of course, I miss some of what we had, but we've accepted in full that we will always be on the same step. We walk in sync, and we always have. He couldn't truly surpass me even if he gave it his all, and neither could I. Even when we hated it, we will always be equal to each other. It's impossible for us to be anything else.

[the-firebird69]

Watch "HALLOWEEN (1978) Filming Locations of South Pasadena* + HADDONFIELD Museum TOUR Behind MYERS HOUSE" on YouTube

He put Trump in there and he puts Sarah in my mom is a rude bastard and then he put them in The matrix to find the mom and dad's stuff it's pretty rude when they say this Georgia stuff and that makes sense but probably not much of it and he's buying the Trump body and grabbing stuff of Trump's and still is and they set up a while ago and this is taking it and that's how he's doing it the truck's body is back inside on TV and he put it back into Trump's body and destroyed he plans person's body and you see it in body world is destroyed and it's still a question as to where his clan is and Bobby Wells you see it's called but it has a brain in it and that's where it is that was before it disappeared so this guy Tommy f and he's saying that he's Michael Myers when Michael Myers is standing next to him is Lily who murdered him many many times it is about four times last night in the first movie and to get his face

Thor Freya

Gross. You're all killers and it's gross and it's disgusting I've never heard of anybody so gross as this idiot Tommy F that is the dumbest thing I've ever heard someone doing he was President as someone else now he's running for president and he's back as himself you're a weird a****** that's what it is

Garth

So how the hell is he going to win if people think it's him

Zues Hera

Hahahaha

Trump

Ok ok I get it too odd. Lame. Just let it sit there and what does it say s people saw it was him I didn't do anything and I guess I'm wrong it did a lot of stuff because of it and yeah I'm pissed off I did it because I was angry and my clothes now anyways this guy from angry and Trump this is what the f*** are you doing my claim was going to kill everybody off except for them and the other clan for the most part and you did this to his body didn't see that little weird. It's kind of strange we found them inside of your clan but with this hassle should notice that I put them in there on purpose

Tommy f

I've had enough he did it to me and I'm saying I'm doing a purpose and we did figure out who it is and this guy's a stupid person too you're not Michael Myers she's right there and he said Paris Hilton was doing it via video and brings the window on purpose and it's something wrong with what's going on here we're wondering how you're building those things you're not telling people and those matrix is massive he says you probably have them in the ships and you're probably done for

Trump

I sort of get something else that might be happening and it says something weird like George may have been infected beforehand so I'm starting to wonder what I'm doing just scan everybody that goes in and he knows about that I had to tell you something we can't really check the way we should and yeah we could be screwed and we wouldn't know it so what can we do about it

Tommy f

You need to relinquish control are we going to destroy your hardware and your armies

Mac

I cannot and it won't I have a handle on it

Tommy f

We're going to show you what's going on and what kind of handle you have

Mac

We approved this message to go out

Olympus

This is fascinating amazing and really gross and people don't know what happened to the plan and our son and daughter say that Tommy F probably can't calculate most of what he would have to there'd be no way so putting them inside the ship you have to do the calculations correctly

Hera

Zues

[throwaway-yandere]

His Ice Fishing Buddy (Yandere!Childe/Reader)

A/n: id get accused of favoritism if i didn't write a childe fic ehe. I already wrote a fic where my current dps-es ayaka and ayato are there, would be weird if I didn't write my previous main dps lmao. sorry my tartar sauce boy. This is part 1/3(?) of the short fic "Soldier, Poet, King" (which is yandere Childe, Thoma, and Diluc respectively). Ps: I'm gonna make some stuff abt Varka's "family" cause we still don't have enough info on him lol

An actually reliable synopsis this time wow: reader vents out frustrations and childe listens w/ added bantering

Gn!reader

Cw: It's a really mild/soft & wholesome short yandere fic. Also, I likely have a different characterization for Tartaglia haha… I'm more used to his character in the voice lines so this might not have that "hey girlie~" vibes to it, I'm sorry (´-﹏-`；). Implied yan!Diluc & yan!Thoma/reader.

Parts:

Soldier (You're here), Poet, King

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

If you asked (Y/n) (L/n) who Tartaglia was, they would tell you that he's nothing more than a pampered kid who got scolded by the Millileth.

If you asked (Y/n) (L/n) who Ajax was, they would tell you that he's the best fishing buddy they ever had.

In hindsight, you are correct. But that's only because you've never had any other fishing buddies to begin with, so there's no competition for him.

You loved fishing around Dragonspine's west end, close to the road that connects Liyue and Mondstadt but far enough to see both civilizations. You were viewed by the Fishing Association as a lone wolf yet beloved "cousin," the type that only came by on holidays to dish out trinkets to the family. That was your place in the group, and they regarded you with plenty of endearments.

Everyone in the association was ecstatic when they received a half-frozen letter from Tommy, penned by yours truly, which detailed a new fishing companion.

Although, when they read your tales about him, it seems as if this new partner of yours is just as unhinged as you are.

"Have you ever wondered how it would feel like to be a fish?" You asked before you cast your line. 

You kept going while smiling. "It would be nice, wouldn't it? To feel happy when you're drowning. To sink in and just… not be affected by what's up there. Kinda cool. I mean, fish can drown in certain ways, but still..."

He looked at you with a mixture of bemusement and sympathy. Ajax mentally reasoned that having long chats must be a family characteristic for the Imunlaukr Clan.

"Are you alright, comrade?" Ajax asked. He wrapped his scarf around your neck, but the effect was nearly nonexistent. You are used to this cold as much as he is, but considering how he's a full-pledged Snezhnayan man, he's likely to be more resilient. 

Still, it made your lips quirk up for a second. It's the thought that counts, right?

Ajax had always struck you as a kindred spirit. His odd fascination with fighting turned you off at first, but he has a compelling and charismatic presence. Yet, Ajax is far from a playboy. His pickup lines are rarely memorable and they hardly ever stick. Quite frankly, you thought his flirtatious jokes were enough proof that he's likely to die alone.

The man is uber-fixated on becoming stronger in such a nerdy way, which is kind of contradictory. He boasts that he's strong but seems to flail around in the hopes of achieving whatever the hell "world domination" entails.

In short, Ajax is a paper tiger in your eyes. Both in flirting AND combat.

"Never better," you replied sarcastically.

"Have you eaten lunch?"

You pointed at your half-eaten frozen... charcoal discarded in front of your humble tent.

He initially mistook that you were pointing to the letter written by an Inazuman fisherman rather than the hazardous garbage that was strewn about. Ajax's nose scrunched.

With his siblings and acquaintances, he provides them with sugarcoated words when it comes to cooking. It matters not if the scales are flakey and toasted to bitterness similar to ground coffee. But this? This, however...

"I get that it may just be my preferences talking, but it doesn't look very palatable. Don't you realize that food is like weaponry? You need to consume things that are beneficial for the body. Damn. How are you going to keep your promise of 'not dying until Ajax conquers the world' when you live like this?"

"Oh, please stop. You sound like my mother." You grimaced. "Who said you need to be a master chef to fry a fish? You just need to be moderate at arson!"

That last sentence explained a lot.

Ajax laughed boisterously. "C-Comrade, you couldn't even fry the fish right."

"Oi! Shut up. You're scaring the fish away." You grumbled. "The rain just stopped and the fish aren't coming back. So be quiet."

"I'd be afraid too if that sad charcoal is my fate."

"Just shut up."

"Amuse me: were you cooking for yourself or were you just crafting fish baits?–"

"SHUSH."

Tartaglia would have offered you a big supper in Liyue under normal circumstances. During combat, he had fleeting thoughts about pampering you with the dishes and clothing you deserved. He can see you dress up just for him holding his arm as you both enter the establishment so vividly. Tartaglia could hear your laughter fill the air as you mispronounce different Liyue cuisines. 

He felt hollower each time he snapped out of his daydreams and remembered your patched and ragged clothes in this unforgiving climate

However, Ajax desired to uphold this image you had of him. Even if your cheap lifestyle is slightly killing the banker's insides. 

"Hey, why don't you eat something in Mondstadt? My treat."

You gazed up, confused.

"Why?"

"There's no way you haven't missed a good, juicy, meaty steak," Ajax said, his voice similar to a burlesque salesman. "Plus, I'll accompany you on your trip. The road's teeming with hilichurls compared to this dead place. There'll be plenty of fights waiting for me if I accompany you, so why not?" 

As long as no one saw Ajax's mask, no one would shun him for being a Harbinger. He had already sent directives for the Fatui stationed in Mondstadt not to approach him on this little date. 

The only problem is Master Diluc…

Why didn't he exposed that he's a Fatui Harbinger yet?

You rolled your eyes. "Why not? The reason why not is because I'm not going to order steak just to sate your bloodlust. Plus, Good Hunter has a delivery service anyway."

"But you should go home once in a whileeee," Ajax whined.

You yanked back your reel, but there was no sign of a catch.

"Why are you so persistent?" You said in a monotone voice.

It didn't sound like a question. It sounded like a complaint.

Ajax finally realized how crestfallen you were when he stared at you. Your expression had been the same the second he mentioned Mondstadt. He felt a stab of remorse as he struggled to come up with a reply.

Your eyes looked just like his, dead.

"I don't want to be seen at the town square."

Ajax paused and hesitate on whether or not he should ask. He decided that it would be best if he would've ordered Viktor to figure out what happened if you didn't tell him anyway. "Why?"

"I overheard a few things about me." You said. "A few things I didn't even know about myself."

"Oh?"

You both paused, but it was a comfortable silence. As Ajax sat alongside you on the wood, your shoulders began to relax. The ice gradually soaked his gray trousers, but his attention did not divert. Ajax's entire focus was on you, and it warmed your heart to know you have such a wonderful friend.

"Ready when you are, (Y/n)."

You felt some kind of zest. In this scenario, hearing him use your name instead of "comrade" had a distinct effect you can't quite put a finger on.

"Right." You cleared your throat. "So, uh, last week when you weren't here I overheard Marjorie and some blonde rat-tailed guy talk about me a-and umm..."

Your eyes were beginning to moisten. You bared the restricting ache in your chest with a close-eyed grin and proceeded to spill.

"S-She wasn't saying nice things. That's all."

You would have had a better chance of seeing Ajax's evil gaze if you had kept your eyes open the entire time. You might have noticed how strangely silent he was if you had concentrated on him instead of composing yourself. Instead, you were clinging to the last shred of self-control you had to not let the floodgates open.

"Marjorie, the Souvenir Shop owner? Do you know the other man?"

"No." You shook your head weakly. "Never met him, I think. He seemed like a tourist but he looked like a Mondstadter..." 

"I-I mean, not-that-it-bothers-me-of-course. I know I'm a weirdo, but I'm ashamed to think that I never once pieced together that people think I'm a disappointment to the Imunlaukr Clan. I thought everybody in my family was unique, but I didn't realize that I'm underwhelming when it comes to... whatever positive uniqueness people are after. It gets suffocating when I hear those harsh words constantly whenever I come home. Especially since I don't have a vision."  

"That's why I hate visiting little Mond. Everyone there despises me. Some have the gall to hide it to gain my cousin's favor, while some flat out tell me that they want my name erased from the family tree." You continued. 

"So, I guess that's why I'm so glad to have met you and the Fishing Association. You didn't know who my family was and treated me like a friend, not a means to an end." 

Ajax took a deep breath. You laughed nervously a few seconds later.

"Haha, that kinda rhymed. Sorry. Even I admit that that was too much. I'm rambling again. My bad."

To be honest, he also had an ulterior motive when befriending you. Keyword: had. 

He sought you out before to leech out more information about Grandmaster Varka, who seemed to go on month-long expeditions out of nowhere. It made him agitated. He was desperate to learn more about Mondstadt's powerhouse that he combed through all of his contacts until he came across you. The joyful titan's favorite cousin: the isolated fisherman.

Tartaglia saving you from drowning in Wyrmrest Valley was no "stroke of luck" as you put it.

Tartaglia intended to kidnap you for ransom, one that can only be paid by sparring with a worthy opponent.

But after getting to know you, your insecurities, and your passion as a human being for half a year, Ajax couldn't help but want you even if he tried not to.

He could no longer bring himself to cause harm to the one weak link to The Knight of Boreas. If anything, he learned firsthand why Varka was adamant about keeping you safe and hidden. It also made sense why there were rumors that the Uncrowned King of Mondstadt has a crush on you. You are too eccentric– too valuable for the public eye

Perhaps it was for the best that you declined Ajax's offer. He loathes the idea of others looking at you, particularly that redhead with a (reasonable) vendetta against him. You're better off isolated. 

Alone, with him.

He rubbed his thumb at the back of your palm. 

"Comrade..." Ajax cooed. "You're not a disappointment."

 You laughed.

"A part of me already acknowledged that, but thank you. It's impossible to be like Varka. I wish I could be like him every day, but the thing is the only thing I'm good at is whipping this rod and reeling in a big one... and I didn't even get a catch today. Hell, when I tried to train, Diluc told me to just give up and let him do all the protecting-and-what-not. I wish I could just, well, not think about other people like Varka does."

You exhaled deeply. If not Varka, then you hope to become like your pen pal, Fixer, instead. He frequently offered sound advice on how to be more friendly and personable, and he even offered to meet with you after the Sakoku decree was repealed. "Fixer" didn't appear to mind rumors about him, despite the fact that he's a Mondstadter living in a xenophobic country. You can only dream of being that resolved in your worth and confidence.

Maybe you should accept his invitation to meet up. Fixer sounded like he was dying to see you. After all, it's the least you could do for the man who still kept in contact despite his country's prohibition.

"Huh?! Diluc said that?" Ajax suddenly exclaimed. "What kind of man discourages someone from training? People should strive to be formidable warriors if they want to--"

He stopped when he realized you were staring at him with immense judgement.

"Ah, right, wrong timing." He gulped.

"But hey." Ajax squeezed your hand, and you squeezed back. "Comrade, you're being too harsh on yourself and you know it. Hell, it's those scheming bad guys who should be self-critical, not you."

He definitely had his co-workers in mind when he said that.

You snickered. "I'm not a child anymore, Ajax. There's no such thing as bad guys."

"Well," Ajax nervously cleared his throat, undoubtedly uncomfortable. "I mean, there's the Fatui."

"What, like that big doofus Childe?" You teased.

He froze.

Ouch.

'Ajax' laughed sparingly.

"Yeah. Like him. Just tell me if those guys are bothering you, I'll get them knocked off their perch."

You shrugged. "Whatever, sure."

Hmm...

He continued to stare at you with a small smile, long enough for you to see that his eyes are noctilucous jade-like. They were gleaming. Is this how they've always been? You could've sworn his eyes were a dull shade of cobalt blue (though you never told him that since you were afraid he'd challenge you to a sparring match). 

 

"Why are you still smiling? Is there something on my face?" You giggled.

That immediately made Ajax flinch. "H-Ha? Oh, what, no, of course not, wha– pshaw! I just got lost in thought, that's all." 

"Really?" You raised an eyebrow playfully. "Then what is The Greatest and Most Renowned Snezhnayan Fisherman pondering about in the company of his Poor and Estranged Mondstadter Friend, hmm? Mora for your thoughts?"

Ajax looked away.

"It's a bit embarrassing."

"What is?" You said. "C-C'mon, if there is something on my face just say it, man!"

"No, no, nothing like that." Ajax pouted, yet he still refused to face you. "It's just that..."

"I just thought you're drop-dead gorgeous, that's all."

You blushed.

"L-Like, the light of the moon." He continued blabbering. "The perfect lighting for a bloodbath or a crime scene, for added mystery."

The warmth in your face fizzled out as you smacked his arm. Classic Ajax. He can't go on for ten minutes without thinking about fighting. Somehow, that 'drop-DEAD' compliment was fitting coming from him. You're pretty sure he mentioned something about wanting to see his enemies drop dead on several occasions.

"You had me at drop-dead gorgeous but you ruined it with that last part, idiot."

Ajax was dying inside. Sure, he had slain multiple enemies as a 14-year-old but no amount of "maturing" prepared him for the awkward steps of wooing someone.

He's still a little kid deep down who grew up too fast, and sadly, he will always be more comfortable holding a weapon than a person's hand.

Please, have some mercy.

"You asked me how I felt, so I just said what I thought of at the time!"

"Gah! You're hopeless."

You ruffled his ginger hair roughly before his shoulders and spine tensed up. He was unable to look away. Your wide grin is a wholesome sight to see. 

Even though Dragonspine was frigid, he's pretty sure his cheeks were scorching.

"But thank you, friend." You whispered loud enough for him to hear. "You always know just what to say. You're right, I'm too critical."

He puffed humorously, "Of course you are. But anytime, (Y/n)."

"Perhaps you should start self-reflecting as well," you suggested, a little less soft this time. You stood up and gradually increased the distance between you two.

He scowled as he realized where this shift in tone was leading. 

With a mischievous smile, you added. "You know... since you can't seem to land a critical hit with your attacks."

He sneered, oblivious to the fact that he'd already summoned his hydro weapon before you even finished your punchline. 

"HEY!"

It's not his fault he gets so scared fighting when you're around, okay?! You're one of the few people who makes him nervous when fighting. In Ajax's heart, you are already a part of his family, and revealing his real fighting style would be like telling Teucer he wasn't Snezhnaya's greatest toyseller. He doesn't know what he'll do if he makes a mistake that leads you to suspect that he's Tartaglia. He doesn't know what he'll do because you are the one who causes him to falter—

You started sprinting.

"SEE YA LATER, AJAX!"

"What the-- YOU CAN RUN BUT YOU CAN'T HIDE– GET BACK HERE, (Y/N)!!!"

Normally, he would have caught you as you headed for the pines and exacted his wrath in under ten seconds, but he made the mistake of glancing down. Ajax stared at his frozen reflection in the stream.

He grinned.

You're truly starting to restore the brightness in his eyes whenever you're around.

It's only justice that those people will soon deeply regret spreading false rumors about you, right? 

Then, all Tartaglia needs to do now is collect Marjorie and that blonde man's debt...

[zablife]

HC How Alfie Says I Love You

Author's Note: This was inspired by a post by @solomons-finest-rum who is the expert on Alfie. I hope you agree with these, babes!

*Alfie was unlike any other man you knew when it came to how he showed affection. You had to admit his odd displays of love  and devotion were what fascinated you most about him though. 

*Alfie had only said I love you at the beginning of your relationship to indicate you had moved past the casual dating phase. After that, he didn’t feel the need to say it. He would rather show you with his actions. 

*Alfie had a hard time expressing himself beyond sarcastic comments, but you loved his grumpiness.

*Alfie grumbles about Cyril preferring your company over his. “You take over my house and now my bloody dog too?” However, he was secretly pleased by the way the mutt loved and protected you.

*You appreciated someone who was your complete opposite. You didn’t want a man to treat you as gently as glass. You were glad you didn’t have to constantly reassure Alfie he wouldn’t break you. Some nights you thought he might with his rough lovemaking, but you enjoyed every minute of it. 

*In turn, he appreciated your softness and how you always pressed a tender kiss to his lips in the morning before work. He never said he liked it, but the way he lingered by the door waiting for you and the little grunt he made when your lips touched his, let you know he enjoyed it.

*Alfie often returned late from work. When he climbed into bed next to you he would place a large hand on your thigh, assuring you of his presence. 

*Alfie was the first person who treated you as though you had a mind of your own and he trusted you when you said you could handle yourself. 

*When you first began dating he was impressed you owned a gun, but disappointed by your lack of experience with the firearm. He insisted on teaching you the correct technique when firing it.

*Alfie liked baking more than you and was quite good at making sponge. He made your favorite chocolate cake every year for your birthday even though he hated it.

*After you proclaimed how much you enjoyed Tommy’s brand of gin, he stocked it in the liquor cabinet. Even though the idea of giving Tommy Shelby business made him mental.

*Alfie had given you his pinky ring to wear, but it was still much too large for your delicate fingers. It kept falling off and you worried you would lose the treasured possession. 

*Alfie gave you a chain to wear around your neck so you could keep it close to your heart. At least that’s the way you interpreted the gesture. Alfie would never be so prosaic. 

*He had an odd ritual when he came back from trips, however. He would kiss you, pulling you toward him by the chain of your necklace and hold his ring in his fist. It was a primal desire to know he still had your heart. 

*Your desire to leave the city soon infected Alfie. You had begged him to give up the business long ago, but he wouldn’t relent. Then when you became pregnant, he finally let go. Wanting to spend all his time with you and his child. 

*When Alfie bought Margate you confessed that the ocean scared you and he made sure you learned to swim.

*When early pregnancy exhaustion would hit, he carried you back to the house, bad hip be damned. 

*He grumbled, but actually enjoyed the way you would soothe his aching joints with a massage later. Your scented oils and gentle touch, turning him to jelly in your hands. 

*The greatest declaration of your love was the day your daughter was born. A strong storm kept the midwife away and Alfie delivered her himself. He had never looked so scared beforehand or so triumphant afterwards. 

*One of the few times he said it counted most. As he lay your screaming babe on your chest, he said, ‘I love you with all my heart, dove.”

[bugworld4ever]

Old Kings & Wedding Rings || Six

Upon returning from her strange meeting, Matilda had found Tommy’s office empty. A fact that had only aggravated her; she had been hoping to interrupt whatever business he had been conducting with news of her success. She had no interest in leaving a message to be passed onto him, this was something she wanted to do herself.

Matilda had made it clear that morning that she did not intend to do any work further than the meeting that day. She had truthfully expected it to be more taxing.

No, it hadn't been what she was expecting at all.

Matilda found herself oddly looking forward to the dinner, a thought which she mentally scolded herself for. It wasn’t that she was looking forward to it in some lovesick way- she was fascinated by the man. She wanted to study him, get in his head and figure out what he wanted with her. She knew better than to trust his word, even if it sounded sweet. Especially if it sounded sweet.

Just as she was gathering her things to leave Matilda was suddenly distracted by someone calling her name. Glancing up she was met with an annoyed looking John Shelby. He wore a look that she knew very well; slight furrow in his brow, giving the annoyed look in his eyes a slightly worried edge. This was the look that asked what she was up to, what secrets she was hiding this time. Matilda never lied to John, it wasn’t a lie if you didn't mention it.

‘Where have you been all morning?’ John knew not to bother with small talk or warm up pleasantries, catching Matilda with a direct question always got the quickest answer.

‘I was meeting with some factory owner about some extra storage’ She kept her words guarded, gossip spread like wildfire around here and she doubted anyone would welcome this business becoming public information. Matilda swept a loose strand of auburn hair out of her eyes and stepped past John, heading for the door. He fell into step behind her and continued speaking.

‘Since when are you taking meetings alone?’ The question caught her off guard. It was true that Polly usually insisted she didn't go alone but it wasn't as if she couldn’t handle herself. Matilda snapped her head around to look at him, scowling.

‘What is it you mean by that John? In fact’ She stopped walking, turned to face him so abruptly that he nearly crashed into her. ‘ Why am I being interrogated for doing my job?’

He sighed in frustration and glanced briefly at the ceiling. Why he had chosen to befriend the most difficult girl in Small Heath was a complete mystery to him. She hadn’t been this cold when he met her, it had somehow crept in. Had it happened while he was in France? Before then? When did the odd little girl with a talent for theft become something far harsher and crueller?

‘What has he got you doing Matilda?’ John watched as her face somehow became angrier. Matilda crossed her arms, a small black handbag dangling from one elbow.

The implication sat between them, a third person in this argument. That she was just another one of the people Tommy Shelby controlled. That the meeting had been some other kind of business. Matilda could take the whispers, wondering how a young lady ended up like her. She couldn’t take this from John, who had for so long been her best friend but was acting like he didn't trust her.

‘Who?’

‘Don’t play dumb matilda. You know who.’

Tommys name hung between them like smoke.

‘He’s never been able to control me before John, why would be able to now?’ She raised a finger and lightly jabbed it against his chest. ‘I can handle myself. I suggest that you do the same’ Her voice was scathing. Not the usual icy tone that portrayed her anger but something more volatile.

Matilda took the new silence in the room as an opportunity to leave, slamming the door behind her with enough force to rattle the walls.

John stood there for a moment before turning around and heading further into the building, noticing as he did that his argument with Matilda had drawn the attention of half the office.

That evening Matilda sat curled into an armchair in the living room of her flat, short glass of whiskey nestled between her hands. On the mismatched sofa opposite her sat Polly and Ada, both clutching their own glasses. Polly had quickly found out about Matilda's argument with John and had invited herself over to the flat, collecting Ada on her way. What had angered Polly most about the whole situation was that she had overheard one of the boys from the office telling another about the argument, laughing the whole time, she simply could not believe that neither John nor Matilda herself had come to her first. These were all thoughts that she voiced very clearly and abruptly as Matilda had opened the door and welcomed her into the flat.

The tone of the conversation had soon shifted away from anger as Ada had begun to enquire after the man Matilda had met that morning.

‘I'm just saying Matilda, he must have been something special for you to agree to a date with him,'' Ada pressed, teasing smirk plastered across her face.

‘Not a date’ Matilda replied, taking her eyes off the glass in her hand and looking at Ada from behind a strand of hair. Matilda looked very small like this; hair loose and brushed to a controlled shine, the thin strap of her nightgown sliding off one shoulder, barefoot and truly at ease. She looked like a young girl, cheeks flushed and a little vulnerable. She didn’t look like someone who had made the choices she had or did the business that she so loved. It was easy to look at this Matilda and forget that other one existed, it was even easier to look at that other Matilda and forget this one was real too.

‘Call it what you want but the point stands. You have never entertained someone who doesn't interest you in your whole life.’ Ada had always had a way of seeing straight into Matilda's head, zeroing in on that feminine part that Matilda so frequently kept hidden. If Matilda had a crush Ada would sniff it out like a bloodhound.

‘She’s right’ Polly laughed.

Matilda sighed and shifted in the chair, brushing her hair back behind her ear.

‘Fine. He’s interesting. I'm going because I want to figure him out. Him being easy on the eyes in just a bonus’

The other two women laughed, delight spread across Ada’s face.

‘And if it goes well’ Polly tiptoed towards a question. ‘Will you see him again?’ Polly couldn’t contain her smile. She’d worried when she had heard Tommy’s plan that morning but the idea of this working out in Matilda's favour sent a shock of almost maternal pride through her.

The question was one that Matilda had considered herself. Peter Ellis clearly respected her and he was absurdly charming, as well as attractive, if this dinner went well- Matilda supposed she had almost struck gold.

‘Who knows? Maybe.’ Matilda responded. Shrugging a smiling coyly.

Matilda may have been vying for power in a gang, ruthless and cunning. Known for her icy demeanour and cutthroat nature but she was still a woman. Part of her longed for the buzz of a torrid love affair, stolen kisses and secret smiles. These things did not negate the other- despite what some people might have come to expect from her.

Finally cooling back down from the laughter that had so shaken them, Polly spoke again.

‘I'm not surprised that John was so rattled earlier then. Christ I can only imagine what Tommy will say’. At the mention of Tommy’s name Matilda stilled slightly.

‘Why should he have anything to say about it?’ Matilda questioned, signature chill creeping back into her voice.

Ada scoffed a laugh and turned towards Polly. The two exchanged a look.

Matilda couldn’t help but feel she had missed some crucial element.

[evita-shelby]

Between the Shadow and the Soul

Chapter 47

CW: mentions of sex

Taglist: @joossieisdabomb @johnathancanines @peakyblindas @kissmyquill @zablife @whitejuliana1204 @theshelbyclan @theshelbyslimited

Eva Leonor Smith Shelby had been born and raised to be the perfect woman, and as such a perfect woman must be a great hostess.

Unfortunately for her governess and her family, Eva was also born with a flair for theatrics. She liked acting, dancing and being the center of attention up until the war did a number in her.

But she was healing, the scars had gone from angry red to an almost invisible white and while she could never truly be the wild and carefree Evita Smith, she could be the fascinating Mrs. Shelby.

“You used to be so quiet and meek when you came here that no one could ever believe you were the wild horse of a girl Jack and Ethel talked about.” Polly thinks the cape is a bit much, but Eva wants the whole of the United Kingdom to know who Mrs. Shelby was.

The party would be lavish and costly, but elegant and tasteful. It would have a feat impossible to reproduce anywhere else and it will not be ruined by fucking Mosley and his so-called spontaneous speech. He’d be ‘so inspired’ by Mrs. Shelby's determination to thrive despite all odds and her brief military career under the legendary Pancho Villa, that he’d introduce the New Party.

A Party that will only serve to help transition its members in the British Union of Fascists in 1932.

Still, her grand entrance would make everyone forget his speech even happened and it would be the photograph of her that would be making headlines. The New Party and Mosley can go fuck itself.

“I think I just needed time to remember how much I enjoyed taking the spotlight away from assholes. People will forget him and his fucking speech, but they’ll never forget me and my fiery entrance.” she grins wickedly as she wastes another match on the square of magic silk Bethany Boswell gave her as an early birthday present.

The silk in her hands disappears in a short orange flame without harming her nor leaving any ash behind. One of a kind, made with the same ingredients as guncotton and the flash paper used by magicians, but improved upon with some old and forgotten Romani magic.

The dress underneath would be red like passion, made exclusively for her by a very gifted seamstress in Birmingham who was ahead of the times.

It was stunning and elegant and had just a few little details that made her realize the seamstress was very aware just how sexually active the Shelbys were. It was a little mortifying, but this woman had just ensured Eva never went to her competition as long as she was in business.

--

“Have I told you how much I love you?” He asks playfully, kissing her in those places he knows drive crazy with lust.

They’re careful not to be too loud and rough here in one of those little rooms only them and the servants know about. Tommy may be rather tame in bed, but he gets off on the risk of someone catching them doing the beast with two backs. Eva doesn’t mind admitting that she likes the thrill of fucking where someone could see them, reminds her of that night they made love under the stars in that little part of the beach.

“You don’t say as often as you used to, aren’t you afraid your wife might forget?” she said taking his hands and guided him towards the thins silk straps holding her dress up.

“M’not classically educated like her, she’ll have to accept that her husband likes letting his actions speak for him.” He said rolling a nipple between his thumb and forefinger and she bucks her hips against his in response.

--

Mosley thrived on people’s attention, that was his true weakness.

His desire to always be the center of attention made him a terrible guest, a horrid friend and a shitty husband.

Bethany knew what she was doing when she gave her a sweeping magician’s cape black as ebony. Its mysterious with that very witchy oomph, making it perfect for her grand entrance.

Tommy had just finished taking care of business when she appeared in her billowing silk cape, hood shadowing her face except for her bitch red lips curled in a wicked smile.

“And here I thought I was Mr. Shelby’s honored guest.” He said hiding his petulance like a child that’s been denied a toy as he hands her the match she asked him for.

“I suggest you move away from my spotlight, Sir Oswald.” Eva can’t help ,but say in a sickeningly sweet voice and drops it onto the fabric pooled on the floor.

Eva drinks in the gasps, the flashes of cameras and walks to her husband while the majestic cape burns into nothing. She see’s it in the photographs tomorrow, her standing surrounded by fire and Mosley shrouded in the shadows of her light.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me to properly introduce the woman of the hour, Mrs. Eva Shelby.” Tommy holds out his hand and Eva takes it.

With her little performance, she just made them Mosley’s number one enemy.

--

“Like a witch straight from hell.” Polly chuckles as they mingle with the guests. “They’ll never be able to recreate that no matter how much they try.”

“Mosley is absolutely livid, even if he makes his dumb speech he won’t make as much noise as he had planned.” Eva drinks the champagne and relished what little alcohol she’ll be able to drink tonight. She doesn’t need it though, she’s drunk on victory and it hasn’t even been an hour.

“Not drugs, whores or even booze. Its attention, isn’t it?” Polly asks her as they confirm Eva’s theory.

“Same reason Carranza hated being seen as a humorless old man, same reason Obregon couldn’t stand Vill and Zapata being better liked and the same fucking reason every president I know kills his opponents.” Eva knows that Aberama is just about done with the finishing touches om his proposal, but Polly remains talking to her over strategy.

They stand in front of the slightly gaudy portrait in the dining room. The one done by Polly’s old lover, Ruben Oliver.

“They need the love of the people in order to keep their power. Mosely sees Tommy’s popularity as a threat, just ask the maids of Westminster who they think is the most handsome MP now?” Eva explained.

“I saw that fucking portrait when I first saw you, you know. I never thought I’d see the context for it.” She says looking at the large painting Michael seconds ago looked at with envy.

It was inspired by classical paintings and those of the early 19th century with a modern twist. Cost a pretty penny and had been lauded as Oliver’s masterpiece with how well he captured his Muse’s essence.

The Eva in the portrait leaned her head lovingly on her husband’s shoulder and looked contently at the viewer, brown eyes shining with mirth following you like a friend looking for you in the middle of the crowd. Its a beautiful painting, but its clear to all that the Shelbys are perfect.

They had been younger then ---they weren’t old yet, just older at thirty-three and thirty-nine respectively---, Tommy had yet to wear glasses and Eva had yet to consider having a second baby.

“We’re eloping in a week, I don’t want to take any chances.” Polly tells her and smiles like a woman in love when Aberama crosses the room to her.

--

“Aren’t you being a bit of a masochist, Eva?” Michael said when she allowed them into her circle.

“I wanted Don Quixote, but their Kitri is Jewish and our guests are all anti-Semitic.” She answers as if they were still friends.

“Explains why Florence sent her gift ahead of time.” He said and for a moment he’s the Michael he used to be.

“Nice entrance, by the way, I think I heard one of the journalists here say it’ll be the talk of London for months to come.” Gina says, jealous that no one here gives a shit about some Yankee girl.

“The Wicked Witch of Warwickshire.” Michael smirked thinking he’s going to ruin her at the next meeting. He was under the assumption she was blind without her second sight.

“Oh, God, Mickey, don’t go inflating her ego, my family already raised her to the status of holy prophet.” Izzy comes with a giggling Nayeli on his arm.

“Gina, meet our cousin, Nayeli Cardone, she’s the dowager Countess of Cabrera, freshly exiled from Spain.” Nayeli and Michael lock eyes and greets Gina a split second later.

“Just call me Nayeli, my daughter is the one who inherited my late husband’s titles. Not that it matters now that Spain has fallen.” Nayeli says modestly.

Eva hadn’t meant to let this happen, but Nayeli had shown up with Izzy and it was too late to stop them now. Besides, having the aristocracy know that Fascism was coming for their titles would dampen Mosley’s momentum.

“How did you meet your husband? I thought all the Rileys were from Mexico.” Gina asked still believing Mexico was some backwater country.

“My dad is from the Canary Islands, and when my mother was dying of cancer we returned to our home in Tenerife so she could see it a last time. I met Ferran when he was recovering from an illnesses in Mexico amd we just instantly clicked together like pieces of a puzzle.”

A puzzle Michael is about to figure out.

“We got married the second we docked in Gran Canaria with his mother and mine as our witnesses.” She says with an sad smile.. whether it was because of the memory or the brief flash of understanding in Michael’s eyes), Eva doesn’t know.

“How old is your daughter, Nellie?” Michael asks, heart racing, but his face doesn’t betray his emotions like Gina couldn’t hide her spark of jealousy.

“Ana will be five in January, she was born two months early while we were in Barcelona visiting my mother-in-law.” Nayeli lies with a smile, but not well enough for Gina to quash her suspicions.

This will be fun.

“Have you seen my mum, Evie?” Michael asks a respectable amount of minutes after Izzy drags Nayeli to meet with some other blue blood who believes Mosley’s hubris before discreetly making her exit.

“Gardens with Aberama, or should I say, your new stepfather.” She says knowing it irks him to know he has to share his mother with Gold of all people. Especially with the guilt that gnaws at him for indirectly causing Bonnie’s death. “Take the long way through my parlor, the last thing you want is to see is your mother being intimate with a man.”

Eva doesn’t need to specify which parlor, there is only one she cares enough to deem it as hers and it’s the one with a door that connects to the greenhouse and the other to the sunroom.

He blushed as intended and nodded before he left her alone with his bitch of a wife. Same bitch who was giving Mosley the eye behind his back.

Izzy and Linda would be coming to charge her the ten pounds they wagered on Gina exposing herself here.

“The little Countess is Michael’s daughter isn’t she?” Gina asks angrily.

“I think that’s something between you and your husband, Mrs. Gray.” Eva was grateful Tommy’s meeting has finally ended and she has a reason to cut things short. “Oh, look at the time, the performance is about to begin.”

[proudfreakmetarusonikku]

something fascinating about c!dream that isn’t really talked about much is that, in his own head, I do think he’s working towards what he’d see as “the greater good”, but not out of any sense of morality and kindness. it's because he Wants to be a saviour, he wants to be a messiah and a god. he wants people to praise and adore him for “helping” them. he wants a world where he can do whatever he wants without consequences because, well, he made the server peaceful, right? he wants to have complete control because he’s Adored and Feared.

and if he’s all but a god, shouldn’t it fall on him to fix all the servers problems? anyone who fights against him is at best ignorant fighting against their own self interest and at worst trying to make the world worse, and every hurt caused is one done for the Greated Good. it means he can think of himself as Justified in everything, and that’s out of a sense of pride of always being right and not Genuinely Caring if he hurts people, because he enjoys doing that. everything he does has Reasons, so that means even if he’s done bad, even if he Is Bad, he’s better than everyone else who Doesn't.

it also allows him to deflect blame off of himself easier. everything he did was for research, for the good of the server, just a silly game, whereas every single slight against him is an Attack on the Server Itself. he can frame anything he doesn’t like as Bad and Immoral (and even things he does, if he gets a benefit out of it- cough cough, exile arc)

he sees those around him as sheep, who need to be under protection, kept alive and well but not allowed any sort of autonomy. and it’s no sacrifice to be their shepherd, to keep them in line, because it gives him Control. control and the adoring eyes of those too stupid to know any better.

this is why c!tommy is Special. he’s the one person who Won't fall in line even against suicidal odds, which places him above the sheep, and that's fascinating. c!dream doesn’t see c!tommy as a human being with proper autonomy, and certainly not an equal, but he sees him as much closer to that than anyone else on the server. that makes him different to everyone around him, completely unique, and c!dream's a curious person.

but this also means c!tommy is A Threat. because anyone against him is an enemy to the Peace of the server. so c!tommy also grows to represent the Concept of Chaos, of adversity, so control over c!tommy means the Achievement of c!Dream’s goals. c!tommy is the server, in every meaningful way, and the server is c!tommy. because c!tommy has to be Something, to explain why he won’t just give up and listen even if he’s putting himself at risk of death.

and the prison has only Solidified that mindset, i think, because it proves other people will only Attack when he’s at his most vulnerable. it Proves he needs to be the Moral and Literal Authority because when he isn’t that’s when everything starts to go Wrong. and it proves he needs Control over c!tommy because him slipping from his grasp is what Signalled everything going to hell.

or, at least, that’s how I like writing him lol.

[queenshelby]

The Past is Yesterday – Part One

Pairing: Tommy Shelby x Fem!Reader

Summary: You are Isiah Jesus’s sister and have just moved to Birmingham which is where your life is about to change when you meet Thomas Shelby.

Warning:  Swearing, Racism

Note: This plays in 1930, somewhere along Season 5 and Season 6. I have tried to take a little bit of a different approach with this and will aim to release short parts of this fic every few days or so. Not every part will have smut.

Requested: Yes

It was Sunday afternoon in Birmingham. As usual, it was dark and raining and, as expected, you received a few stares and unpleasant looks when you arrived at the train station.

‘Why on earth would you live here Isaiah’ you asked your brother when he picked you up in a luxury Bentley.

‘Because I can make a shit load of money here’ he chuckled which is when you saw your father in the backseat of the Bentley with a wide smile for you.

‘You will get used to it here Sweetheart. It’s not that bad’ Jeremiah said with some reassurance before you drove off together to the large house they were staying in.

‘Fascinating’ you chuckled as you walked inside, dropping your bags in the hallway.

‘What is darling?’ your father asked.

‘That a man of colour owns a house this size in a city full of fascists’ you said, shaking your head. You still couldn’t believe that you were going to live here now.

Birmingham had gained quite a reputation in recent months following Oswald’s Mosley’s recent speech and gain in popularity.

To your surprise, you also soon learned that the man who your father and brother were working for was the Deputy Leader of the British Union of Fascists. Yet, he employed many men and women of colour as well as Jews, which seemed rather odd to you.

His name was Thomas Shelby and your brother defended him, explaining to you that he was a good man with very different motives to those of Oswald Mosley. Thomas Shelby had also saved your father during the war in France and you knew that he was not a racist. Yet, you had learnt to be cautious.

Without your brother telling you anything else, you didn’t know what to believe but you knew to trust your brother and you knew that none of this mattered anyway. You had to live here now that your mother had passed away.

After all, you were a woman of colour in her early twenties and you weren’t married. You couldn’t possibly get a rental in London on your own and the last thing you wanted was work as a maid.

You had extensive experience working as a waitress in a London jazz club, but there was nothing like this in Birmingham.

Whilst your father and brother assured you that you weren’t required to work at all, you wanted to work and you had several options. Both, your brother and father were members of the Peaky Blinders and their leader, Thomas Shelby, essentially owned most of the businesses in the area.

After you declined a position as a secretary, you eventually took up employment at the Garrison which your brother believed was a bad mistake. Unfortunately for you, this you were soon going to learn yourself during your first shift.

***

‘Where I come from, they have the right idea about women like you’ one of the patrons said to you with a strong American accent after you asked him politely what he would like to drink.

‘Women like me?’ you chuckled, knowing exactly what he was referring to.

‘Yes, women like you. I don’t want you to serve me a fucking drink woman’ the man shouted. ‘But, I tell you what Love, you can polish my balls instead if you like’ the man went on to say with a disgusting grin on his face while his friends were laughing with amusement.

Just as the man insulted you, you saw the tall handsome man who was, until this point, minding his own business at the other end of the bar walk over towards you.

‘Listen you little fuck, apologise to the lady and get the hell out of my business, eh’ the man said, his eyes full of rage.

‘I am sorry Mr Shelby, I didn’t intend…’ the man shuddered but, before he could finish what he was saying, he got interrupted.

‘Get the fuck out’ was the next thing you heard as the handsome stranger cleared his throat and spoke loudly while grabbing the man by his collar.

‘And, if anyone else here has a problem with being served by this woman or treats any of my employees with disrespect, there is the fucking door, eh. I am not having this shit at my pub’ the man went on to say, causing the other patrons to nod.

You couldn’t help but giggle as you watched one man put everyone into their places. It made you wonder who he was, although you had your suspicions.

‘I apologise for the behaviour of some of these men. They aren’t used to be served by a woman’ the stranger explained as he lid himself a cigarette and sat down on one of the barstools.

‘A woman of colour you mean’ you chuckled as you poured him a glass of whiskey.

‘Yes, a woman of colour. This is Small Heath, Love’ he then went on to say with a chuckle before thanking you for the whiskey.

‘You are Thomas Shelby, aren’t you?’ you asked and the man nodded, his deep blue eyes staring into yours for a moment before he collected his thoughts and looked back down at his glass of whiskey.

‘And you are Y/N Jesus’ he said as if he was asking question but without allowing you any time to answer. ‘I told your brother that you must be crazy if you choose to work at this establishment in the current political climate, but here you are, eh’ he added.

‘Yes, here I am, Mr Shelby’ you laughed before you saw your brother and two other men enter the Garrison, approaching the bar slowly after greeting several other patrons.

‘Please, call me Tommy’ he winked before he got up and joined the others on a table near one of the large gold coloured columns in the middle of the establishment. ‘Y/N…. let me know if you have any more problems with any of these fuckers again, alright?’ he shouted as he purposely ran into the group of men who were earlier laughing at the other man’s insult.

You nodded shyly before returning to work, taking orders from some of the other patrons.

As you continued working behind the bar that evening, you couldn’t help but notice Tommy’s gaze. It was almost like he was checking on you, looking over at you briefly when he had the chance and then, when you noticed, looking away like a shy school boy who had a crush on a girl in class.

After all you had heard about him, you didn’t know what to believe. There was something about him that intrigued you and you couldn’t help yourself but seek him out with your eyes whenever you caught a break.

Eventually, last drinks were called and, by about 1 o’clock, most patrons left. But this didn’t include Tommy, your brother and some of the other men who were with them.

Eventually, Tommy came over to the bar and asked you for another bottle of whiskey.

‘Sorry, I already called last drinks about twenty minutes ago’ you winked, causing the other bartender, Harry Fenton, to raise his eyebrows and shake his head in disbelieve, reaching for the very expensive bottle of whiskey beneath the counter.

You placed your hand onto the counter and took the bottle out of Harry’s hand with a cheeky smile.

‘Alright Love, what do I have to do to get you to give me that bottle of whiskey, eh?’ Tommy smirked and your brother Isiah approached, demanding you to hand over the bottle.

‘You are no fun Isiah’ you pouted as you handed him the bottle of whiskey but, to your surprise, Tommy didn’t return to the table with your brother and, instead, sat back down at the bar.

‘I have a business proposal for you’ Tommy said.

‘Thank you, but I am already employed here’ you explained as you poured yourself a drink.

‘Do you want to make an extra ten pounds next week?’ Tommy then asked as he took the glass out of your hand, sipping on it before handing it back to you.

Tommy went on to explain to you that he would like you to accompany him to Soho Jazz Club in London. He had heard from your brother that you used to work there and Tommy would like to get to know the owner of the club in order to expand his business.  

‘Just you and me?’ you laughed, causing Tommy to nod. ‘Just you and me’ he chuckled.

‘Sounds awful lot like a date to me’ you giggled.

‘Don’t flatter yourself Love. It’s just business. Despite, I am married and you are little young for my liking, eh’ Tommy chuckled.

‘I was being sarcastic Tommy. I’ll come’ you clarified and Tommy advised you that he would be booking two rooms at the Windsor Hotel for the evening before returning to the table where Isiah and the others were sitting.

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[shyrose57]

Im going through the tag and I think we've been sleeping on the fact that Michael is a lil eldritch spawn. He has the best Uncle in the world who spoils him rotten. Michael likes going to Uncle Tommy's house because he is fascinated about how the small mortal (everyone is mortal and so so small in his eyes) weaves with such intent he can see it bleed through a couple planes. His whole home is stained a mosaic from all the creation he pours into it. Michael loves his uncle.

Everyone's view of Michael: Small, very cute, sweet, tad bit odd but kids are just Like that.

Michael's view of everyone: Small, cute, sweet if a bit silly, kind of odd but it's endearing.

He likes being around everyone, savoring the moments he has, because his time with them is so very short compared to the time he will have. Tommy's has to be in the favorites though-it's so rare to be able to dip into another plane and find it matching another, much less more than one. It's a rather soothing sight when he slips up(after all, he is still a baby, he doesn't always mean to do it, and it can be confusing). Plus, he gets lots of sweets and Tommy is always happy to teach him about something or take him somewhere, so visiting is Uncle is a win-win for Michael no matter what.