#when he got to amy´s room I did not expect that he proposed to her

[caracolcondiarrea]

I love how Sheldon is canonically a SpongeBob fan.

[kamilah-the-bloodqueen]

Wedding Fic (2/3)

Notes: So it’s been a HOT MINUTE since I wrote and posted a Kamilah fic, but I promised this 3 part fic and I keep my promises. Anyways I have LOTS and LOTS of Kamilah x MC fic ideas and will be trying to write whilst completing my college courses, but please be patient as my classes have high precedent over tumblr for obvious reasons. I hope you enjoy this fic, I felt it was a bit rushed but I’ve never been married so I’m not doing this from experience. If the Arabic is incorrect please correct me, I tried to use a reliable translator. I don’t typically do perma-tags but if you are still interested in Kamilah x MC fics and would like to be tagged please let me know somehow and I will try my best to remember.  

Pairing: Kamilah x MC (Amy)

Warnings: None that I’m aware of

Word Count 2400 (Yes I got lazy I’m sorry I was tired)

Amy rolled over, the soft glow of moonlight seeping through the curtains as she felt a pair of soft lips on her neck. She mumbled softly, letting her eyes flutter closed again as Kamilah wrapped her arms tightly around her waist.

“Good morning Kamilah…” Amy rolled over while Kamilah slowly opened her eyes with a faint smile on her face. 

“Morning.” Kamilah groaned as they both stumbled out of bed, both of their legs weak and their bodies marked with bites and bruises. Amy stumbled over an empty wine bottle, falling into Kamilah before they erupted in laughter. 

“It’s not even our honeymoon yet…” Amy and Kamilah both smirked, their faces flushing red as Kamilah walked to the restroom. 

“Oh I’m well aware...if you thought last night was memorable...you still have no idea...little firefly…” Kamilah smirked before closing the door and leaving Amy to get dressed. Amy walked into their closet, selecting a red silk blouse, black skinny jeans and black high heels and emerging a few moments later. 

“So...this is goodbye for a while isn’t it…?” Amy pouted her bottom lip, it had been 2 weeks since Kamilah had proposed and today was the day. 

“Just for a few hours...but trust me, I would follow you around all day given the chance.” Kamilah cupped Amy’s face, placing a soft kiss on her cheek before gazing into her eyes. “I love you, so much…”

“I love you too Kamilah, I’ll see you later.” Amy kissed Kamilah once more before exiting the penthouse to rendezvous with Lily.

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

“Amy! Amy! Amyyyyyyy!!!!” Lily beamed with energy as Amy entered the lodge, close to the garden that would become their wedding scene in only a matter of hours. Lily wrapped Amy in a tight hug before Serafine gently tapped her shoulder. 

“Ma Cherie! You look as beautiful as ever!” Serafine’s infectious smile filled the room with some kind of energy, they exchanged kisses on the cheek as Lily led them to the bedroom of the lodge. Amy’s eye caught her wedding dress, a simple but elegant design, a deep red dress with gold and black embroidery of her name and Kamilah’s. Amy gently skimmed her hands along the fabric of the dress, before turning and catching the sight of Jax’s sword, resting on a plaque with his name engraved into it. 

“Wish you were here Jax...but I can feel your presence…” Amy gently placed her hand on the handle of the sword, closing her eyes as her mind slowly fluttered away in the same manner of the fragments. 

Amy opened her eyes, she was standing in the Shadow Den, but the shadow den that existed before Gaius returned, before Rheya or any true destruction had been brought. A smile reached her face as she felt a presence behind her, she quickly turned with a scowl before spotting a familiar face. 

“Hey there Stranger.” Jax stood in her memories, but Amy never recalled this memory. Amy felt tears in her eyes, her heart pounding in her chest.

“Oh Jax...you’ve...missed so much...I...I’m getting married…” Amy choked, Jax’s figure rushing to catch her.

“I know, I’ve been watching...I’m proud of you. I’m proud of all of you.” Amy met his eyes, his smile just as charismatic as when he was alive. 

“You need to go, you have a big day ahead of you. I’m glad I got to see you today Amy. I miss all of you.” Jax helped Amy to her feet before turning to walk away. Amy smiled, letting her mind drift back to the lodge.

Amy opened her eyes, a tear falling as Lily frowned. 

“You saw him, didn’t you Amy?” Lily and Serafine looked at each other solemnly, Amy taking a minute before smiling.

“Yeah...he’s there...he...he’s proud of us.” Amy pulled away, looking at Lily with wet but happy eyes. Serafine placed a gentle hand on Amy’s shoulder, slowly nodding at Lily as Amy’s phone buzzed. 

“It’s Adrian.” Amy nodded at Lily and Serafine who quietly exited the room, leaving Amy to speak with Adrian.

“Amy, how are you feeling? Today’s the big day…” Adrian’s soothing voice rang out of the phone, Amy glanced over at Jax’s sword, a small smile plastered on her face. 

“I’m...excited...I...saw Jax Adrian. He’s there..I can feel his presence.” Adrian let out a long sigh, before chuckling softly. 

“I’m sure wherever he is, he’ll be watching you today. Amy, I’m very proud of you, you’ve come so far...I can’t wait to see you tonight…” Adrian laughs softly over the phone, lowering his voice to a mere whisper, “Kamilah is quite anxious...it’s almost concerning...I’m sure you’ll leave her speechless...see you later. Be safe Amy.”

“See you later Adrian, thank you.” Amy hung up the phone as Serafine and Lily re-entered the room, Serafine changed into a dress in the same shade of pink that her usual outfit resembled, Lily dressed in a deep and rich purple dress that accentuated her hair and features. “Well you two look stunning.” Amy smiled at them, both of them rolling their eyes softly, Serafine nodded her head towards Amy’s wedding dress, a signal it was time to get ready. 

“I can’t believe this is happening! I mean I can but I can’t!” Lily exclaimed as Amy slowly peeled her clothes away and slipped into the dress, Serafine’s golden laugh ringing as Lily rambled. 

“Darling you look stunning…” Serafine stood and assisted Amy in zipping up her dress, taking an egyptian necklace and placing it over Amy’s head and securing it on the back of her neck. “Kamilah will be speechless.” 

“Kamilah is going to lose her mind when she sees you-” Lily squealed as Serafine’s phone buzzed. 

“Looks like it’s just about time to head out...are you ready Amy?” Serafine held her hand out as Amy graciously took it, drawing a deep breath before taking her hand and leaving the lodge, heading for the nocturnal garden a few minutes away.

------------------------------------ Meanwhile -------------------------------------------------

Kamilah furiously paced back and forth in the luxurious lodge room, her breaths were a range of shallow pants and long sighs. Kamilah was dressed in a purple suit, different from her usual maroon one - this one specifically made for her wedding. Adrian stood in the corner of the room with his arms crossed, an amused look on his face.

“Relax will you? Everything is going to be fine Kamilah.” He chuckled, walking over to her and placing his hands on her shoulders. “I have never seen you like this in the long time I’ve known you.” 

“I just...god I can’t believe it Adrian. I have been many things in my lifetime, I thought that marriage was a dream that died with my humanity...never did I ever expect to meet someone like Amy. Should I read my vows over once more, maybe as a precaution?” Kamilah sighed, rubbing her temples as Adrian shook his head.

“Kamilah you’ve read them to me so many times I could read them to Amy at this point, you need to take a deep breath. Relax.” Adrian shuffled towards the liquor cabinet, pouring two glasses of bourbon, handing a glass to Kamilah. “Now hopefully this doesn’t intoxicate you so much that you forget your words.” 

Kamilah rolled her eyes, graciously taking the glass and downing it in one swift motion. 

“Much better. I think I’m ready Adrian. I’ve done many things in my lifetime, 2163 years does wonders to a woman, but I have never been so sure of anything in my life.” Kamilah let out a long breath, Adrian walking to her side and turned to face her.

“Kamilah Sayeed, it’s time for you to go get married.” He smiled, nodding to the door as they both walked towards the car. 

---------------------- Nocturnal Garden ----------------------------

Kamilah stepped out of the car, Adrian on her heels as they walked into the nocturnal garden. Kamilah turned her head, basking in the beauty of the location- the night phlox, night-blooming jasmine, hanging trumpets, and nicotiana all in full bloom, illuminated by the full moon.  A few close family members of Amy sat in the Garden, admiring its beauty, Amy,s mother and father having a conversation under a large pink tree. Kamilah drew a deep breath, letting the cool breeze blow through her hair. Adrian walked ahead towards the actual setup, carefully decorated in a red and purple theme. Kamilah followed after a moment, examining the tables and checking on the cake. Kamilah smiled, recalling the memory of her and Amy taste-testing the flavors - more specifically Amy dotting her nose with frosting and giving her sweet sugary kisses between samples.

“Let me guess, you went with Bourbon chocolate?” Adrian playfully nudged Kamilah, who simply rolled her eyes at his accuracy. 

“Of course, although since I selected the liquor I let Amy choose this one. It’s not my fault she’s a woman of great taste.” Kamilah smirked, her heart speeding up at the mere thought of Amy. Kamilah sighed, glancing at her watch, the seconds hand slowly moving around as midnight neared. 

“In only a few minutes you’ll be married...we should get moving Kamilah. Everything looks good to go.” Adrian met her eyes, placing a firm hand on her shoulder. “I couldn’t be more proud of my sister.”

“Adrian...this never would have happened without you...thank you.” Kamilah smiled at him, both of their eyes glistening with tears as they walked towards the central set-up. Kamilah adjusted her suit, her head perking up at the distant sound of tires, followed by hushed voices that grew nearer and nearer. 

“Shhh Lily…” Serafine’s hushed voice rang out from behind the bushes, Lily and Serafine slowly appearing and taking seats by the site. Kamilah gave them a grateful smile, her head turning as Amy emerged, her red dress shimmering in the moonlight - taking all of the wind out of Kamilah’s lungs. Kamilah spotted Jax’s sword on Amy’s back, her eyes welling with tears as she felt a warm presence nearby, the wind nearly whispering to her as she mumbled. 

“Thank you Jax…” Adrian smiled, feeling his presence as he watched Amy slowly make her way up to Kamilah, who greeted her by taking her hands. 

“You look stunning…” Kamilah whispered quietly as Adrian stepped behind them, his hands folded together. 

“We’re gathered here today to unite two souls in a boundless union, a promise of love even after death. The conjoining of two vampires who seek to live eternity together. Amy?” Adrian smiles at her, Amy fiddles with Kamilah’s hands before speaking softly but loud enough for everyone to hear.

“Kamilah Sayeed, when we first met, I never would have imagined I’d be standing here in front of you like this. I remember how you slowly warmed up to me, how you slowly let me see the parts of you that you hid from the rest of the world. When I’m with you, I don’t just fall more in love with you, I fall in love with the person you make me want to be, with the person I am when I’m with you. أُحبكِ يا كميلة”

Amy’s eyes met Kamilah’s as she let a tear fall down her cheek, Kamilah lifting a hand to wipe it away as the guests watched in awe. Amy catches sight of her parents who smile and nod, Adrian clearing his throat and gesturing to Kamilah. 

“Kamilah?” 

“Amy, when I met you I thought of you as nothing more than a mere mortal, another assistant Adrian would soon discard. I’ve come to find that you are much more than that, you’re a chaotic force of energy that has surprised me every day. I thought I’d never love again, but you’ve proven me wrong. I love you, for everything you do and everything you are - you make me into my best self. There’s not an ocean I wouldn’t cross for you, no height I wouldn’t climb to or a depth I wouldn’t jump to for you. You’re the most amazing woman I’ve ever met in my entire lifetime, there’s nobody else I’d want standing in front of me. I love you Amy.” Kamilah gently squeezed Amy’s hands, rubbing her thumb over Amy’s as Adrian nods.

“Amy, do you take Kamilah Sayeed as your wife? Not just in this lifetime but for any lifetime after?  To love her unconditionally? In good times and bad, in chaos and peace, in the present and far future?”

“I do.”

“Kamilah Sayeed, do you take Amy as your wife? Not just in this lifetime but for any lifetime after?  To love her unconditionally? In good times and bad, in chaos and peace, in the present and far future?”

“I do. I absolutely do.” 

“Then...I pronounce you wife and wife, bound in blood for eternity, eternally promised to love and be loved by one another. Kamilah, she’s all yours.” Adrian nods as Kamilah sweeps Amy into a passionate but restrained kiss, Lily bouncing up and down as Serafine and the remaining guests clap and wipe their tears. Amy gently tangled her hands in Kamilah’s hair, making a soft squeaking noise as Kamilah dipped her down, holding her close and steady as she peppered her with more kisses. Amy felt the whole world melt away, the clapping of the guests fading into the distance as she focused on Kamilah, all her senses overwhelmed by Kamilah’s lips, her touch, her scent, her. She smiled against Kamilah, disregarding the time that passed. Kamilah finally let her go, pulling her back to stand with a smirk on her face as they turned to their guests, smiles on their faces. By that time Adrian had left the stand and joined the rest of the guests, mingling and socializing before Kamilah called their attention. 

“Please, this is a celebration, enjoy yourselves tonight!” Kamilah exclaimed, immediately turning to face Amy before leaning in close and letting her lips graze her earlobe. 

“And I’ll be enjoying you later...when we go home…Mrs.Sayeed” A playful and teasing look dancing in her eyes as Amy chuckled softly, cupping her face with both of her hands. Amy smiled and leaned forward, giving Kamilah a long and soft kiss before grabbing her hand as they walked to their guests, planning to revel in their newfound happiness for the night. 

[oboevallis]

Are you gonna do another part of the Christmas storie?

a christmas to remember pt 4

so sorry for such the long wait!!!! i kind of did a uncharacteristic christmas for the shepherds since i didn’t know how to write a fancy styled one so these are some of the traditions my family and i do, sorry if this is bad

“Didn’t expect you’d still be up.” Carolyn said walking into the kitchen.

“Sorry, I was just getting some water.” Link said holding up the glass.

“No need to apologize, please sit.” Carolyn gestured to the kitchens table, and sat down. “How’s your trip so far?”

“Really good, thanks for having me.”

“Of course. Your my favorite of all of Amelia’s previous suitors.”

“Oh, thanks.” Link was taken aback by this.

“I’ve never seen Amelia this way over someone. My daughter loves very deeply and that can leave her vulnerable. Thank you for loving her, she may not be the easiest but she’s deeply kind.”

“If I’m being honest, I’ve never felt this way about someone before. It baffles me how much I love her.”

“I don’t mean to be blunt, but are you planning on proposing?”

“Actually I have, I’ve been carrying around a ring since Scouts been born. I just can’t figure out the right time, and what she’d want.”

“I think I have an idea if your interested.” The older woman smirked.

_______________________________________

“Merry Christmas Eve.” Amelia whispered to her son as she picked him up from his crib.

“I thought you’d still be asleep.” Link said as he walked into the room.

“I could say the same for you, why are you up so early?” Amelia asked skeptically, for her boyfriend to only shrug.

“Just felt like it.”

“Your nervous aren’t you? I mean this is gonna be a lot of people.”

“I can handle a crowd no need to worry about me.” Link smiled while he took his son into his arms. A knock on the door causing the two to turn around.

“Hey, i just wanted to meet my newest nephew.” Lizzie cooed peaking her head through the door.

“Oh yeah, come on.” The youngest shepherd gestured for her sister to come further into the room.

“May I?” Lizzie asked gesturing towards the baby, link happily passed her the baby. “Oh my goodness you are so adorable. Ugh I miss when my babies were this little. You guys made a cute one.”

“Are you guys the first ones here?” Amelia asked.

“Yeah, I like to get to things earlier than Kate and Nancy. Give myself more points with mom.” Lizzie chuckled.

“If I’m gonna be honest, with Derek out of the picture, I think I’m the favorite.” Amelia chuckled.

“Oh shut up, your terrible.” Lizzie laughed along with her sister.

“Nancy’s my favorite today, if I’m going to be honest.” Carolyn joked as she stood in the door way. “Link, can I have a hand?”

“Yes ma’am.” The man said as he made his way to the door.

“What did I say about you calling me ma’am.” The sisters could hear him apologize in the distance.

“Oh my god he’s hot.” Lizzie whispered when it was just the two of them in the room. “Kate and Nancy both said he was but like wow.”

“Right?” Amelia chuckled as she took her baby back from her sister.

________________________________________

“Aunt Amy your up next!” A voice yelled from down in the basement.

“I’ll be right there!” Amelia yelled in response.

“Oh can I take him?” Nancy asked gesturing towards the baby.

“Sure.” Amelia agreed passing her baby over to his aunt. Then made her way down to the basement, where most of her nieces and nephews resided.

“You ready Aunt Amy? Whens the last time you played ping pong?” Jake, Nancy’s oldest asked.

“Don’t worry about it. We both know I’ll inevitably beat you.” Amelia smirked picking up the paddle on the table. She picked up the ball in the table and served. The two went back and forth until she missed the ball.

“I guess you still don’t got it.” Jake tauntingly said.

“Oh shut up I still have it. Just serve.” Amelia tossed the ball back to her nephew.

“Aunt Amy just admit you lost.” Her niece sighed from the couch, after the game had gone on for an extra ten minutes than it should have.

“I want a rematch later.” Amelia sighed throwing the paddle back down on the table.

“You know those aren’t the rules.” One of her nephews reminded as he crossed off her name and advanced Jake into the next bracket.

“You all suck.” Amelia sighed as she made her way back up the stairs.

“See your still a sore loser.” One of her nieces laughed.

“In taking my baby back.” Amelia told Nancy as she took her son back.

“You lost?” Nancy chuckled at her sister.

“Maybe.” The younger woman sighed as she sunk onto the couch with her baby on her chest. “Where’s Link?”

“Oh I’m not sure, I haven’t seen him since.”

“You guys probably scared him off.”

“I’m sure you did that all on your own.” Kathleen said walking into the living room passing a glass of wine to Nancy.

“I’m honestly surprised he stayed with you after the stunt you pulled.” Nancy added.

“Ha ha.” Amelia sarcastically laughed.

“Well he knocked her up,he didn’t have much of a choice.” Kathleen whispered to Nancy but loud enough for her other sister to hear.

“Oh like you and Steven didn’t get married when you did just so mom didn’t know you were knocked up before marriage.” Amelia directed towards Kathleen.

“We were already planning to get married, I just happened to get pregnant when I did.” Kathleen defended.

“Ah, we’re already throwing passive aggressive comments to one another.” Lizzie said as she walked into the living room where all of her sisters were.

“There are my girls.” Carolyn smiled as she walked through the front door seeing her daughters in the living room. She made her way into the living room and sat herself down next to her youngest. “I’m glad we’re all together. It’s been way too long.”

“Well not all of us.” Nancy sighed running her finger along the rim of her glass.

“At least I have all my girls.” Carolyn corrected with a sad smile, she desperately missed her late husband and son. “How’s the ping pong tournament going?”

“Lizzie and I have already been eliminated.” Amelia said leaning her head against her mother’s shoulder.

“Nothing out of the usual.” Carolyn remarked.

“Hey, I remember being really good at ping pong.” Amelia defended.

“It’s probably just been a while since you’ve played sweetheart.” The girls mother comforted.

“Derek used to play ping pong all the time to improve his surgical dexterity.” Kathleen reminisced, she distinctly remembered when they were kids and they would spend hours in the basement playing together.

“Especially after the plane crash to rehabilitate his hand.” Lizzie added, she knew first hand how much he played after the nerve transplantation. The five ladies sat in silence thinking about Derek. A set of screams coming from the basement jarring them out of their thoughts. “Sounds like my kids.”

“It’s always your kids.” Kathleen sniggered, as she sipped her wine.

“Well at least my kids love me.” Lizzie added as she exited the room to check on the ruckus happening downstairs.

“I miss when my kids were this little.” Nancy said rubbing her hand across the baby’s back as he laid on Amelia’s chest.

“I don’t want him to grow up.” Amelia agreed looking at her sons eyes that were slowly closing with exhaustion.

“Poor baby’s still got jet lag.” Nancy chuckled at the sleepy baby.

“When we get back home the daycare workers are gonna hate us for how messed up his sleep schedule has gotten.”

“He’s so cute I can’t imagine them being mad for that long. May I?” Nancy extended out her arms to take the baby.

“Yeah, sure.” Amelia passed the sleepy baby to her sister, allowing her to stand up. “I’m going to go find Link.”

“I’m sure he’s busy why don’t you just relax.” Carolyn patted down the seat that her daughter just vacated. Amelia looked at her mother skeptically but obliged.

________________________________________

“Pizzas here!” Steven, Kathleen’s husband, announced as he came down the basement stairs where everyone was debating on the Christmas movie they would watch. For how fancy all of her sisters were, it always surprised Amelia how on Christmas everyone just let themselves be.

“I don’t know why we debate this every year, we just end up watching ‘miracle on 34th street’ since it’s grandma’s favorite.” One of Lizzies older girls pointed out.

“Actually it’s one of my least favorite holiday movies.” Carolyn chuckled as she looked at her daughters and smiled. “It was your grandfather’s favorite, that’s why your mothers are so insistent on it.”

“There wasn’t ever a Christmas, daddy didn’t make us all watch it.” Kathleen added as she pulled the movie up onto the screen. Twenty minutes into the movie everyone was eating, when Link finally came into the basement.

“Where have you been?” Amelia whispered as Link sat down beside her, eating the pizza crust left on her plate.

“Around.” Link whispered back, reaching out for their son who was on his mother’s chest and allowed his girlfriend to lean into him. After the movie was over they brought their son upstairs to let him sleep in his crib.

“He’s so beautiful.” Amelia cooed as she carefully put the baby in his crib, she then turned around and wrapped her arms around her boyfriend. “Where were you all day?”

“Get some snow clothes on.” Link smirked walking out of the room. Leaving behind a confused Amelia.

“Link it’s almost midnight.” Amelia whispered as she put her boots on trying not to wake anyone up since the majority of the kids fell asleep during the movie.

“And?”

“Where are we going?” Amelia asked as her boyfriend closed the door behind her. Link responded by taking her hand and leading the way, after about ten minutes she recognized where she was. “How do you know about this?”

“Don’t worry about it.” Link smiled as the two walked into the woods. They got to two trees where an old hammock was, and where Link hung up Christmas lights around the trees.

“How’d you know about this place?” Amelia asked astonished, on the verge of tears.

“Your mom told me that you and Derek would come out here and talk, she said it was the one place you guys could feel your Dad after he died.” Link solemnly smiled taking her hand and leading her to the hammock.

“How is it I have the best boyfriend?” Amelia asked after a couple of minutes of silence as the pair laid in together.

“About that... I’ve been thinking maybe it’s not working out.”

“What?” Amelia shot up to look at her boyfriend. “Your really breaking up with me on Christmas?!”

“What? God no, of course not!” Link dug around in his pockets desperately searching by for something. “Damn it, where is it?”

“Where’s what?” The ortho surgeon then sighed in relief and passed the small box to his girlfriend. “Link-“

“Amelia Frances Shepherd, you’ve shown me nothing but love and you’ve given me the best kid ever. Before I was content with my life but you’ve shown me this life I’d never would have imagined for myself and I love it so deeply and I owe that to you. So what the hell, why don’t we get married.” Link smiled looking into his girlfriends eyes. “If you want to of course.”

“Of course I want to.” Amelia wrapped him in a hug, and l let him put the ring on her.

“It was my grandmothers ring. When my parents came to visit after Scout was born my dad gave it to me. I’ve been carrying it around ever since and I just didn’t know when to propose and then your mom suggested this, I hope it’s okay.” Link rambled.

“It’s more than okay, it’s absolutely perfect. Thank you for the best Christmas gift.”

“Merry Christmas Amelia.”

[lyrazehedgieboiii]

Wedding Disaster!

Another crappy story I made long ago. Original is on Wattpad under Lyra_ze_hedgie. Both part 1 and part 2 is on this.

 ALSO HAPPY BIRTHDAY SONIC!!!!!!!!!!!!

Amy= 19 years old

Sonic= 21 years old

Lyra 18 1/2 years old

Blaze= 19 years old

Cream= 18 years old

Rouge= 19 years old

Maria= 19 years old

Silver= 21 years old

Knuckles= 21 1/2 years old

Shadow= 22 years old

Tails= 20 years old

It was 7 in the morning, and the Sonic Team girls were wide awake. As you can see in your brain, the girls are at Amy's house, sneaking through the door. They were about to wake up Amy and get her ready.

Cream, Amy's self proclaimed little sister, did the honors of waking the sleeping beauty. "Amy, wake up! You got to get ready for the happiest day of your life!" Cream squealed with excitement.

"I'm gonna give birth..?" Amy said dozily. She was 1/2 asleep, if you were wondering. Rouge and Maria were holding their chests from trying not to snort and laugh.

"Out of the way everyone! This is sure to wake Rosy Posy up!" Lyra yelled as she carried a 3 gallon full bucket into Amy's bedroom. She sprinkled a few drops onto Amelia's face. She still isn't up. She spills a little on to her face. Amy got up immediately.

"I'm up, let's get ready! Lyra water the plants with that, and make me look like a goddess, girls!" Lyra opened Amy's window and dumped the water close enough to the plants. The girls all dragged Amy to Rouge's mansion because her wedding dress was there. They had her take a shower, and while Amy was doing that, the girls took all the make-up out.

"This is going to be amazing! Sonic and Amy getting married! Amy will be my sister-in-law! Girls, she has to look perfect!" Lyra said. Lyra is Sonic's little sister.

"Amy, are you done yet?" Maria asked from outside the bathroom door.

"Yes!" A muffled voice answered from the other side of the door.

The girls all shoved Amy into a chair in front of Lyra's vanity table, and began to look at Amy and thought of what to do.

"Oh shoot! I forgot the curling iron! My 20 others are broken." Rouge realized.

"It's alright, Rouge. Besides, I have fire powers, so watch what I can do. Oh wait, first dry Amy's hair." Cream quickly did that with the blow dryer. Blaze wrapped sections of Amy's quills around her finger and warmed it up. She let go, and made luscious curls. "There, perfect. Amy, you look like an angel."

"She'll look more like an angel once she wears her wedding dress!" Lyra said, while bringing in the wedding dress. (It was a long white gown with red petals all over the bottom hem and along the chest.           

"Oh Lyra, it's beautiful." Amy said with tears in her eyes.

"Don't cry, Amy, or else you'll ruin your makeup!" Cream yelled.

"Okay, okay!"

Amy put on her dress, and it fit perfectly on her. It made her look like a princess. While admiring her wedding dress, Rouge and Lyra put some eyeliner and some blush on.

"Perfect! Now let's go, or we'll be 5 minutes late to being early." Lyra said.

"You sound like Spongebob, Hun." Rouge stated.

"Point is, we should be out now!" Blaze said, in an impatient tone. "I want to see some SonAmy smooching!" Amy blushed in embarrassment.

"Amelia! Now I can't tell if you're blushing, or if that's your blush making you look pink on the muzzle!" Cream said. Everyone laughed.

As the girls went out, something totally unexpected happened...

Hey, it's chapter 2. (Cream's POV)

Oh no. Eggbots. They're going to ruin Amy's wedding day, and her dress! Everyone immediately gets into battle stance, and takes out their weapons, or show their powers. Me? I stayed in front of Amy to guard her. Lyra, who's still learning to use her scythe, has formed a somewhat big shield around Amy and the girls. I was scared, was Amy going to be kidnapped by Eggman? That bastard! He's in his 70's or something, and he's still trying to kill Sonic! Then, Lyra moved a little, she could only protect me and Amy. The girls started to fight the crab-bots, and bee bots, whatever they're called. I heard some short battle cries. "Cream! Run Amy over to the limo!!!" Maria yells.

"Okay!" I take the hem at the back of Amy's dress, and raise it up, so it doesn't get dirty. I didn't really care about my dress getting messed up, it's Amy's that mattered. We suddenly see all the girls get thrown back. Oh, no... Amy hates when any of her friends get attacked, so in a snap, her piko-piko hammer comes out of nowhere, and Amy makes pissed off look at the robots. I don't want to interfere, but this is her wedding, I don't want her beautiful image get ruined! "Amy! Don't! You'll ruin your dress!" I shouted, but she ignored me. 

Oh no. 

It's the hammer of doom! Amy's hammer evolved and she was swearing like there was no tomorrow. Hey, I'd be doing the same thing if it were my wedding. Amy suddenly smashed all the bots, and strutted her way to the limo, all the girls watching her with shocked faces. She didn't even ruin anything! We all ran to the car, me going first. Not to brag, but I'm the maid of honor!!! Everyone expected Rouge, but I was chosen. I'm the most like her sister! Suddenly, Maria kicked the driver out of his seat.

"We are supposed to be at the altar by now!" Maria stepped on the peddle, not caring whether she got a ticket or not. Within minutes we were here. Lyra checked to see if everyone was there, and they were. First the ring bearer, and flower girl, which were Sonia's kids, Cecilia and Carlos. Then came in Amy, arm in arm with Shadow, since Amy had no father figure in her life. Behind her was the maid of honor. Which happens to be me. Then, came in Rouge, Sonia, Blaze, and Maria. Lyra was going to be the person that recited the vow things. On the side were Sonic's groomsmen, Shadow, Silver, Knuckles, and Manic. The best man was my boyfriend, Tails. We lined up beside Amy, and watched everything.

"How come the girls look like they were ambushed?" Tails asked.

"Amy looks like an angel."

"And in a few minutes she'll be my sister in law!"

"Dearly beloved. We are gathered here today on this momentous occasion, to witness the joining together of Sonic Ogilvie Maurice the Hedgehog, and Amelia Lynn Merica Rosette. Now, before we begin, is there anyone who rejects this proposal?" We looked around. "Thank Chaos, no one. Sonic, do you take Amelia to be your wife, through life and sickness, and til death do you part?" Lyra looked at Sonic, who was smiling, a few tears falling down his face.

"I do." Sonic responded. Amy was crying heavily, and so was I, it was beautiful!

"And Amy, do you take Sonic to be your lawfully wedded husband, to protect you, to love you, through life and sickness, and til death do you part?" Lyra looked in Amy's direction.

"I do."

"A good marriage is created. The little things in your life will become the big things. You will never be too old to hold hands, never be too old to say good night or for a gentle kiss.

A good marriage is remembering to say "I love you" on a regular basis. It is never going to sleep angry. It is standing together, on each other’s strength and support.

It is having the capacity to forgive and forget. It is providing an atmosphere in which each of you can grow.

It is finding room for the fruits of the spirit; which are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.

It is not only marrying the right partner, it is being the right partner.

You will have this kind of marriage if you continue to Chaos as the source of your romance, love, and affection. Now, say your vows." Sonic started first.

"Ames," everyone 'aww's when he said 'Ames.' "When I first saved you from Metal Sonic, I was surprised to see someone as brave and courageous as you. You were as cute as a button, but fierce with that hammer, and I wouldn't marry anyone else. You are the only thing that keeps me happy. You were the only person I noticed, the only person who could turn me on. You were different from those other fan-girls. You were always by my side, even if I lost a battle, you still loved me, even if I was a werehog!" He chuckled. "And since I met you, every time you talked to me, my heart beat in my chest, and only you made me feel like that. I love you Ames." Amy was crying heavily. She sobbed, and gave him a quick hug, before beginning. (Lmao so uncharacteristic)

"Sonikku, before we met, I had a thing for tarot cards, it would say we will meet, it would say you are my perfect soulmate. I believed all of that, in fact, it's one of the things that got us together. And when I got kidnapped by Metal Sonic unexpectedly, you saved me. You were exactly everything I imagined. You were brave, courageous, loyal, smart, strong, loving, and experienced, if you know what I mean." Insert a dirty smirk and wink amen. "You're also very confident, and knew when pride got in your way. I wanted to always be beside you, to love you, to make you happy, to stay with you for all eternity. And now you made my dreams come true. And you have my near all to yourself, until our futures children are born. I love Sonikku."

"With the power bestowed upon Chaos, I pronounce you Husband and Wife. You may kiss the bride." Lyra said. Sonic picked Amy up and spun her around before kissing her gently. She kissed him back, hands never leaving each other.

"Hey, Sonic?"

"Yeah?"

"I caught you."

AND THEY LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER. DE END.

[cinnamonrollorder]

It Spreads

(This is the 1st prompt that the lovely @annikatti proposed to have done!)

The second everyone got on Angel Island, Sonic started running. Save a brief greeting to Knuckles, of course. He could practically feel the virus trying to latch itself on his mind, ripping away every little bit of himself. He was tired of running, but things like that wouldn’t let him rest.

So he kept running.

He kept running for a good 30 minutes, maybe an hour. Sonic wasn’t sure. All he knew was that he was tired, and the virus receeded back under his skin. It was gone for now. He slowed to a stop and took a deep breath.

He’d been running around the perimeter of the island, knowing everyone else was in the middle. He didn’t want to run into anyone. While he would be fine, they certainly wouldn’t. Force was damage enough; Sonic didn’t even want to think about the virus.

When had he last touched someone? Oh, right, Tangle. It had felt so good, then, yet so sad. He wanted to help people, but he was just a liability. A guilty, faulty liability. He didn’t stop Eggman. He didn’t stop Metal. He didn’t stop anything, and now he was just a walking time bomb that could turn other people into theoretical time bombs.

He’d avoided it for so long. He almost messed up a few times at first, but he didn’t. He hadn’t gotten anyone hurt. Sonic’s breathing quickened. He’d done something right, hadn’t he? Amy, Espio, Emerl, Cream, Whisper, Rouge, Silver, Tails… they were all OK for now. Not to mention the handful of civilians they still had. They were still OK. Sonic hadn’t touched them.

He was in the carrier and the room was too crowded. Too crowded, too crowded. Sonic, move, move you’re gonna HIT someone and they’ll all hate you-

Nope. No. Not thinking about it. Sonic didn’t realize how lightheaded he was. Was he breathing? Did he want to start again? Not really. He could stay there for a little, and everyone would be fine. They didn’t need him. They didn’t-

Sonic staggered and pitched forward onto the grass.

----

Tails was worried.

There were many things for Tails to worry about. The apocalypse, no cure for the apocalypse, losing his friends to the apocalypse, and almost losing his brother to the apocalypse. Turns out, the end of the world is quite worrying. He was trying, though. He was helping Amy whenever he could. He’d sent her to bed at least three times the past two days, just trying to let her get some peace for once. He had to fly the carrier here because she fell asleep doing it. It was worrying.

What was more worrying was that Sonic was nowhere to be seen. He knew the blue hero ran off about an hour ago, for good reason. Everyone was on edge with Sonic being that close. He had been clean when he got in, save for a patch or two. It just… got worse. And he couldn’t run off like normal. Everyone was tired and wanted to rest, so Sonic didn’t even try to run in place. He sat down, curled up as tight as he could, and waited. Tails watched him.

The virus seemed to start in multiple spots. The right side of Sonic’s head, his left hand, and his mouth. It even creeped into Sonic’s mouth, grossly enough. Or, it seemed to. Sonic only opened his mouth a few times. He wasn’t asleep, that was for sure, but he wasn’t moving. To Tails, that was a level of disturbing only rivalled by the virus. Sonic shouldn’t be still. That wasn’t his thing, and it never should be. Sonic was always moving, always smiling. To see him so cold and unmoving felt… wrong.

Yet Tails said nothing, and neither did Sonic. He left him to go check on Amy and when he saw him again, he…

Tails ran out of the pilot’s area and towards Sonic. “Hey, Sonic, we’ve-“ he never finished that thought, because the first thing he saw was one red eye. It seemed to stare into him, as if Tails didn’t exist, but something else. Then he saw the pale, metallic blue sheen. He was too late, he was too late, too late too late-

Wasn’t prepared for that level of infection. He didn’t want to be able to imagine what Sonic the Zombot looked like. Didn’t want to know just how wrong it would feel to look Sonic in the eyes, and know that part of Sonic didn’t recognize him right then. But it was OK, Sonic left and started running.

He just hadn’t come back yet.

Tails told Espio, the closest nearby, he was going to look for Sonic. He wanted someone to know where he was. He wasn’t sure why, but it made him feel safer. Sonic didn’t have to be feared, though. They were safe. This was a safe place.

He decided to look in the most barren places he could. Knowing Sonic, he’d pick the spot with the least amount of danger from himself. And so he searched. For… about 30 minutes. As luck would have it, or, perhaps more aptly, as luck would unfortunately have it, he found Sonic.

Sonic limp and lifeless on the ground, with a pale blue metallic coat.

Tails ran for him, yelling his name. He wasn’t moving, so he wasn’t turned yet. There was still a chance.

But Sonic didn’t respond.

Tails got close enough to realize that Sonic wasn’t just lying down; he was unconscious. Flying around the hedgehog slowly and carefully revealed a few things to Tails.

Sonic had bigger bags than Mary Poppin’s under his eyes, his position was unnatural, like he’d fallen, and he was far, far too skinny to be healthy. Come to think of it, Tails hadn’t seen Sonic sleep or eat in days. They had food, of course, but whenever it was handed out, Sonic was nowhere to be seen. Tails realized that even if Sonic had eaten, it wouldn’t have mattered. Sonic was running too much, and there was no way they could afford to have kept up with the amount of calories Sonic was burning through.

No wonder he fainted. The problem was the virus, now. It was almost to the point it was earlier. Sonic’s face was clean, so was a bit of his upper arm. It was spreading, though, slowly but surely. He had to wake Sonic up.

“Sonic, you have to get up,” normal voice, no response. “Please,” a little bit louder. “Sonic, get up!” He shouted this time, panicked. Nothing. No response. He didn’t have time to find something to poke Sonic with. A tree branch would only get infected. Tails stared at the uninfected parts of Sonic. It was just the face. Tails moved as quick as he could and smacked his brother. He pulled back as if Sonic was on fire. Hit him hard and hit him fast.

Sonic’s eyes snapped open and he sat up with a yelp. “What the- Tails?” concerned green eyes met scared blue, and Tails didn’t have anything to say, suddenly.

He was just very aware of the coldness of his finger. Both pairs of eyes slowly drifted down to that shaking hand, to that shaking finger. The shiny pale yellow-orange slowly spreading down it to the rest of his body.

“Tails? Buddy?” And Sonic was up, hands hovering close, wanting to comfort but afraid of causing more damage. “I-I’m so sorry, Tails, I…” it hurt to hear the emotion in that voice. Tails knew Sonic was trying to be strong, trying to be there for him.

Sonic could survive being infected.

Tails could not.

But yet, he just found himself smiling. “I knew the risks. They need you, Sonic. As long as you’re there, it’ll end up alright. I let you leave once, Sonic, I’m not doing it again,” he said.

“You didn’t leave me, I failed you then, Tails, and I can’t-“

“It’s not a matter of can and can not. You have to. They need some hope.” Tails stepped forward and hugged his brother. Sonic stood there, unresponsive, until he returned the hug suddenly. “Now I have to get out of here.”

“Tails, maybe we can-“

“We can’t cage me. I can’t fight this.” Tails moved past Sonic, ignoring the heartbreak and tears on the hedgehog’s face, and moved towards the ledge. Everything that could fly could still fly as a zombot. He’d be OK. He hoped.

“I’m sorry.” It was so quiet, so broken. Tails looked back at his brother. Half of his own body was gone to the virus. He tried to smile, but it was only a faint smirk.

“S’ not your fault, Sonic. Just save us like always, alright?”

And he stepped off.

----

Everyone was worried when they heard the scream.

It wasn’t even really a scream, it was more of a wail. If it had been anywhere else but Angel Island, they would’ve expected it. But this was the one safe place they had left.

No one had heard that sound before, it was foreign and unfamiliar. It was filled with pain and anguish and anger that was all mixed together.

It was 10 minutes till they found the source.

Or, more precisely, the source found them. Sonic appeared, somehow appearing more beaten-down than anyone there. He was sparsely patched with the virus, but what truly alarmed everyone was the tears pouring down the hero’s face. The heavy sobs that wracked his body.

Espio, the only one who had the information required to figure it out, paled.

“He’s gone.” It was all Sonic said. “He’s gone.”

[latin-dr-robotnik]

SonAmy 2020 Valentine’s Day special

By this point of the year, Sonic usually prepares himself for a barrage of flirty comments, love-related gifts... and also for Amy’s love comments. Even if he ends up feeling quite nervous and unconfortable around the pink hedgehog’s advances during what she calls “dates”, Sonic has come to expect these types of actions from Amy, and in the end, he quite likes them. 

“There’s something rather special about [Amy’s] actions, I think they are... cute? No, no, that wasn’t the word I was looking... are you going to leave this part out of the interview, right? ...right?” Sonic once stated during an interview with a Sonic news site.

This year though there were no major plans for a Valentine’s Day date. Sonic, feeling quite confused and concerned, took this lack of planning as an alarming sign of Amy maybe giving up on years of fruitless dates, and so in the afternoon of Valentine’s Day, he built up enough courage to show at her apartment on Station Square carrying a rose, some cookies Tails made on his behalf, and a copy of one of his favorite movies, because he didn’t actually know what to bring to watch.

“Okay...” Sonic thought to himself, as he nervously reached for Amy’s doorbell. “Here goes nothing.”

As he waited for Amy to respond, he took notice of some loud muffled sound coming from one of the apartments. 

“Is that what I think it is?” Sonic put a hand to his left ear, trying to listen closely to that bumping sound.

“Sonic? Is that you?” Amy was calling from the intercom, with an agitated tone. “I’m opening the door, come over, quickly!”

Her voice was almost drown out by the loud music in the background, but Sonic catched everything she said. “What’s gotten into her?” He let out a small sigh as he opened the door, but he won’t admit that part of him felt quite aliviated when she responded with that much enthusiasm.

As Sonic reached Amy’s apartment and opened the door, the music became clearer and clearer. Soon he found himself in Amy’s living room, staring at her dancing with the biggest of smiles and holding a square box of candy like a microphone.

When she noticed him, she quickly reached for his hand. “Hey! You brought something?” She grabbed Sonic’s stuff as he got more and more intimidated by her extreme happiness. “Just leave them on the couch, quickly! Come here, let’s sing!”

Sonic opened his eyes in shock. “S-sing? H-hey you know I-I’m not good at t-that! No way!”

Amy shook her head from side to side, “No excuses! C’mon! Another road that we must traveeeel~”

Sonic groaned. 

“Amyyyy...” 

He was standing rather stiff in the middle of the living room, trying to avoid eye contact with her as she kept her happy dancing routine.

“I know you loooveee this soooong~” She teased, and gave him the empty box she was using. “Here, c’mon the chorus is about to staaaart!”

“...okay.”

“I knew you couldn’t stand still forever! Okay! ‘Cause now I know THAT I NEED YOU EVERY DAYYYY!”

As her singing got louder -but still very clear and lovely- Sonic finally gave up to her wishes, started moving a little bit more to the beat, and provided backing vocals during the chorus of the song...

“You are the one that makes me feel so hiiiiiiiiigh (Just like the diamonds in the sky!)

I never want to hear you say goodbyyyyeeee (Cause you’re my diamond in the sky!)”

As they kept singing, Sonic quickly lost track of himself, not realizing that he was holding her hands and spining and jumping around together...

“C’mon, once again!” Amy exclaimed, filled with joy.

“You are the one that makes me feel so hiiiiiigh (Just like the diamonds in the sky!) I never want to hear you say goodbyyyyeee (Cause you’re my diamond in the skyyyyyy!)”

“Ohh... wooow... I’m feeling quite...” After that bit of singing, Sonic started to snap back into reality. “Ah! What was I doing!” He dropped Amy’s hands and fell on the couch.

Amy kept singing, now in front of him, holding the empty box once again and with a hand on her waist.

“Where do all the rainbows go?” She was getting closer to him, Sonic just watched, still agitated.

“To somewhere, I don’t know” She moved her hand from the waist to point at a random site.

“Wherever it is...” She winked at him, “I want to go ...with you.”

Sonic didn’t realize he was blushing, as he kept staring at her eyes.

“Where...” He hesitated for a moment, but Amy quickly lowered the volume to hear what he had to say. “Where did you learn to sing that well?”

Amy blushed as well with such a strong compliment coming from none other than Sonic the fricking Hedgehog.

“You... you didn’t know?” At first she sounded cute, but she wasn’t able to hold her laughing for too long. “Ohhh, Sonic! We’ve known each other for sooo much and you never knew about my singing?”

Sonic felt offended. “Well.” He crossed his arms, looking away as he kept blushing, “One time I give you a compliment and you’re making fun of me!”

"Haha! I’m not making fun of you, silly!” Amy smiled, as he found his position to be quite cute. “I’m just saying you have to spend more time knowing me!” 

She grew even more confident with every second. “Besides, I noticed the way you looked at me while we were singing, that’s the look of someone who enjoyed himself a loooot~”

Sonic was the literal opposite of Amy, with his ego hurt, and growing more insecure each moment as he started to curl on the couch. “I-I just got c-carried away, o-okay!?” Then he whispered to himself. “I felt different, I-I felt so warm and fuzzy inside”

Amy put her hands to her chest, giving him a tender look. “Hey, it’s alright. There’s nothing wrong about the way you acted, don’t worry. We were having some unique fun, am I right?”

Sonic slowly nodded, as he started to open himself up a little more.

“C’mon.” Amy lend her right hand towards him. “The chorus is about to start again, are you ready for round two? Don’t leave me hangiiiiing~”

Sonic looked at her hand, then smiled at her. “I won’t.”

[[[BONUS]]]

[Seeing how I got carried by the previous scene, I decided I want to elaborate a little more]

“Ooof! Man that was quite the show!” Sonic exclaimed, rather exhausted. “But look at the time! It’s getting dark already and the only thing we did is dancing!”

“So? What’s the problem with that?” Amy asked, as she was walking towards the music player.

“Well... I thought you wanted me to pick you up, maybe have some tea and then you would propose one of your weird dates and I would say ‘no way!’ and you would get your hammer out so we go out but the date gets interrupted by Eggman doing his...” Sonic interrupted himself as he noticed what Amy was doing. “Hey, hey, hey! Are you going to do what I think you’re going to do?”

Amy gave him the smug look. “Are you going to stop me from doing it~?”

Sonic pointed his finger at her in a flash. “AMY ROSE, I SWEAR IF YOU PUT ONE MORE SONIC R SONG...”

“Yeah?”

“...I won’t sing with you anymore.”

“Is that so? Let’s see if you can stand still for the next four minutes” And she started playing another Sonic R song.

“Oh no, not that one!” Sonic exclaimed as he instantly recognized the song. His feet also couldn’t resist to move with the beat.

“Heh, I know it’s your favorite~”

“It seems like it’s yours as well... agh, stupid feet! Stop moving!”

“Resistance is futile, Soooniiiic~”

For the next half minute or so Sonic tried to resist, but soon enough he gave up, sprung up from the couch, and picked another candy box from a nearby table, this one still full.

By this point, Amy was already singing and looking at him at every step of the way.

“When the time has come

I don't want you to run

You know that you're the only oneeeeee”

Sonic joined just in time for the chorus, but this time he sung alongside her, probably even louder as both stared at each other, smiling.

“All I need is you! 

For always and forever!

All you need is meee! 

Remember when I say...

All we need is love! 

For us to be together!”

Suddenly, he got very close to her, almost touching foreheads.

“’Cause you’re my number oneeeeeeee!”

Then, Sonic backed out a bit, feeling he might have gotten a little too close to confort.

“Oh, wow, I’m sorry” He was blushing again, looking down and to the side. “Y-you know it’s my favorite and I’ve been enjoying this time but I-I think it’s finally t-time for m-me to g-go...”

Amy interrupted him, before he could move away further, she held his arm with one hand and pulled his chin towards her with the other.

“Just shut up and kiss me now.”

[iredreamer]

I know you’ve posted before how Anne & Mariana spent Christmas together in 1834 and that Mariana tempted Anne unsuccessfully, but have you read Moving Between Worlds? Because the author (excerpting diaries) states plainly that kissing/ grubbling did occur during Anne’s visit (12/24/1834 diary entry: “gratify her passion by one parting grubble”). I take you to be the master at all things real life Anne Lister and Ann Walker so I wanted to get your input. THANK YOU for all your posts, seriously!!

hey :) thank you so much for your message! Yes I’ve read Moving Between Worlds, and I’ve also checked Anne’s diary (from the 22nd of December – when she arrives at Lawton – to the 26th – when she goes back to Shibden) to understand better what happened.

I transcribed AL’s coded parts where she talks about what happened with Mariana during those days. At the end you’ll find what I personally think of this whole thing.

EDIT: I updated the post with parts – coded and not – that even tho are not directly about what happened between them, still help understand the context and what went on during those days. I think that the context and the conversations Mariana & Anne had during this time are quite important to understand why some things happened. The only things I left out in my transcriptions are stuff like “I went from there to there, we visited this lady etc.”, things that are quite mundane.

December 22, 1834 (Monday) > (…) at Lawton at 9 – i.e. 8 ¾ by their clocks – Shewn into M-’s [Mariana] room. And she soon came nervous sobbing, but she got over it pretty soon and well – Had a couple of nice little mutton chops, and then coffee – Mr. L- [Charles Lawton] just came in for a minute or 2 but finding we were still going to have coffee said he had had tea, went back to the dining room and we saw him no more – M- [Mariana] and I sat talking till 11.35 by Halifax – She gave me the history of Martha Booth – not good – her head full of novels that she had read before coming to M- [Mariana] – and her principles spoilt by the bad examples of 2 succession cooks – had been deceitful – was too much set up – Mrs. Duff to give me Martha’s character – M- [Mariana] not to tell me anything – I said if Martha left here, I should have nothing more to say to her – M- [Mariana] then gave me the history of Miss Crewe (…) I never felt less in love’s danger. I thought M- [Mariana] prosy but this was better than the way she talked in at first, despairing & as if the sooner she died the better – she would not listen to my proofs that she herself had had things between us all her own way, however I would not give up the point tho’ I pressed it gently – I was very affectionate, spoke kindly of Mr. Crowe & said I would do anything in the world I could for her but there was no love in my manner or thoughts – I merely thought I was glad this was at an end & that I was as I was – Talked of the Norcliffes & Mrs. Milne’s sarcastic manner which seems to have shewn itself to M- [Mariana] at Scarbro – M- [Mariana] said she always appeared to know all about me whether she did know anything or not – She had talked at Leamington of her great anxiety to see Lady Vere as the most particular friend of her, M- [Mariana] most particular friend! I have guessed right, M- [Mariana] does not want to love the eclat of my friendship (…) M- came upstairs with me to my room & staid ten minutes – a little nervous again & hung on me & went off, talks of giddiness in her head & not living long but I said I should do her good, in fact as I shrewdly hinted I shall not be the death of her. Thank God I am as I am. I thought very little of M- as I came along & never felt more calm – Very fine day – till one tonight wrote all but the five first lines of the day – till 1 ½ wrote 2 pp. to A- [Ann Walker] to go tomorrow – account of my journey – good account of things. [SH:7/ML/E/17/0127]

December 23, 1834 (Tuesday) > (Go by the Lawton clocks) breakfast at 10.20 – then sat talking till 12 – from 12 to 2 walked (about 2 miles) to see a poor man (James Shaw) confined to his bed these 30 weeks for having fallen into a hot salt pan – Luncheon with Mr. L- [Charles Lawton] in his room (I not eating) then sat talking in M-‘s [Mariana] sitting room – Out at 4, for 40 minutes (…) then sat talking in my dressing room till 5.40 – dressed – dinner at 6.10 – coffee – tea… came upstairs at 10 ½ and M- [Mariana] sat with me ½ hour – sealed and gave her my letter written last night to A- [Ann Walker], Shibden, to be put into the post before 9 a.m. tomorrow – annoyed this morning to find I was too late for today’s post – the letters must be there at 9, and the mail goes at 10 – Told M- [Mariana] she had never come to me to see if I was up this morning, she said she would but thought I should not like it – I was rather attendrie this morning, particularly after our walk – She told Mr. Crewe had been with her at Scarbro, glad I had not heard of it in York & that she herself was first to tell me of it – He had said he hoped to her happy with the friend she liked best staying with her at Warmingham, meaning to have me with them – I asked if she did not think this speech plain enough – she said it had not struck her much but at last owned it was pretty plain tho she still says she never was in love with him & wonders if she ever shall be – I calmly said “Oh, yes all that would come” – she told me Mr. C- [Crewe] was very calm on that subject – in telling her a story of a chère amie [dear friend] of Brooke? Grevilles said but he & his friend could very well do without those domestic comforts – she still persists that all her love is for me – I led the conversation to A- [Ann Walker], said I really liked [her], was more than comfortable & that whatever might be said money had nothing to do with it – M- [Mariana] asked if it was true that she had three thousand a year – I said no, but our fortunes would be about equal & that we should have five thousands a year – said I had thought of her the first thing after M-’s [Mariana] break off – I was thankful things were as they were for I was determined to have one & certainly could not have done better – Charlotte said A- [Ann Walker] was not ladylike & she & Mrs. Milne thought she [Mariana] should not be flattered if she saw her successor, but that I could not do without money – M- [Mariana] took all well – said she thought I had done right & perhaps she herself was the cause of it, they wondered – Mr. C- [Crewe] does not like Mrs. Milne – she behaved sarcastically & he expected better things after all the trouble he had taken about Hamlyn – He wished M- [Mariana] to get her uncle & Lou to go to Geneva next summer. M- [Mariana] to join them & then he & his two boys would join them all at Geneva & make a tour for with her uncle there could be nothing wrong. I made no remark. But this explained the passage she read from Lou’s letter that came today, that with a little persuasion she thought her uncle might be got to go to Geneva tho she had preferred Scotland on account of not leaving her mother so far –  This proves M- [Mariana] had thought of the plan & seriously too – perhaps she wished to sound me, what will the world say? She protests she feels towards only as a brother – well nous verrons [we’ll see] – I told her that but for him I might have acted differently – said I read her last letter to A- [Ann Walker] but she did not understand it – I had told all that was necessary but not quite all, that is not of our connection – nor did any know of this or ever would – This seemed to satisfy her – Said I was not quite satisfied with her brother’s conduct about Clifton to his mother in paying with so much difficulty, nor with his management of his wife & that he had latterly left A- [Ann Walker] ten days unvisited by him – but this not to be named any more than the brandy & water drunk by Miss. Bagshaw at Mrs. Bewleys – M- [Mariana] has seemed low today at intervals – it seems she does not now like Mrs. Wilbraham who has interfered with the friendly society etc. Mr. C- [Crewe] says how worldly they all are & he cannot endure them – somehow I do not like him – M- [Mariana] says Mr. C- [Crewe] was never conscious of his feelings towards till L-’s [Charles Lawton?] conduct to him at Mr. Woodsin – 1831 – I cannot quite understand M- [Mariana] – she shews me she is still in love with me – I might have her as heretofore without much difficulty. She says she is glad to see me but talks of the difference there is when my interest is hung on another peg – I asked tonight if I was not as much attached & as affectionate as she wished me to be – she made no answer – I pressed her to say yes & she merely replied “yes, you are very affectionate” – she has kissed me as warmly as she dared venture & given me licence enough if I chose to take it, but in answer “do you love me” my “yes indeed I do” bespoke nothing beyond friendship. The fact is I am really indifferent to her – but she would lead me astray if she could – She will send a present to A- sorry I had proposed it as it was her own intention – L- [Charles Lawton?] & I very good friends but no more – very fine frosty day – no use to look at my thermometer – my dressing room having a good fire in it – wrote all the above of today from 11 ½ to 12 ½ tonight. [SH:7/ML/E/17/0128]

December 24, 1834 (Wednesday) > Fine soft morning – jumped up at 8 ½ on M-‘s [Mariana] coming to call me; and we sat talking in my dressing room ¾ hour (…) M- [Mariana] and I then sat talking in her sitting room till 1 – Luncheon with C- [Charles Lawton]. Letter 3 pp. and 1st page crossed (nice, kind, chit-chat letter) from A- [Ann Walker] her aunt all kindness, but nothing transpired about the contents of her sister’s letter – my aunt not so well as when I left her – if worse would write by the next post – if no letter here, wishes me to call (en passant) at the post office at Manchester – M- [Mariana] and I came and sat talking in my dressing room till 2 – she asked to look at the handwriting and I read her the letter, she looking over me, she said it was a nice simple minded letter – she was better satisfied to have seen it – M- [Mariana] and I went out at 2 to see poor old Molly Owen at the Lodge… and then walked about home till 4 ¾ – Much talk about Mr. Crewe to whom for short I gave the name of short – spoke of Micklestone (pronounced Muckstone) & her living there & our all meeting – she said we should be an odd quartette but seemed in tolerable spirits saying she should now try to turn her thoughts that way – glad to have seen me, for till she saw me, could scarce believe things really as they are – she wondered if she could ever love him, perhaps it would come but thought she should feel as if she was breaking the seventh commandment – very well satisfied with A- [Ann Walker] – should like her all the daytime, could not bear her at night, could not bear to see her go off to bed with me – I kindly parried all this – she said if she had not seen me now perhaps we might have not met again – owned it was much better to have met – I told her & explained quietly that it was all her own doing, that no human influence could have done it but her own – spoke highly of A-’s [Ann Walker] high principle & honorable feeling & that even in any case if it cost me life itself I would not willingly give her up easiness she trusted me & she was right if I could do so much in this case what could I not have done in another, but she, M- [Mariana], had never understood me – I was never half as bad as she thought me – Home at4 ¾ and sat talking inmy dressing room till 5 ½ (…) Told M- [Mariana] servants would always be left in the house at Shibden – if ever she wanted a place to go to, the house would always be at her service – but said gently I would rather she was there alone supposing I was absent – she said she should take Louisa or Ann [Mariana’s sisters] – said I had never liked her family and was sorry for it, but somehow I never could get over my feeling of dislike – I certainly owed them nothing & she said she certainly owed them nothing – dressed – dinner at 6.20 (…) on our leaving the dining room M- [Mariana] and I soon came to my dressing room – She being so low she could not stand it – drank cold water sobbed & was almost in hysterics. Then asked if I loved her “yes” said I “you know I do” we then kissed – our lips seeming glewed together & somehow tongues meeting. She sobbed & said “it is hard, very hard, to be a friend for one who has been a wife” – I was attendrie – we both cried our eyes nearly when we were obliged to go down to tea after nine. She came for a few minutes on going but was quite upset I had to go for Watson to call Eugenie & saw M- [Mariana] almost undressed – I just kiss the back of her neck & came away for she seemed worse seeing me again. It occurs to me that I inadvertently kissed her rather too warmly just after dinner. Was it this that upset her for the night? it is very sad – I am very sorry but my own indifference makes me safer that she thinks. I advised her this morning not to meet Mr. C- [Crewe] at Geneva better go with A- [Ann Walker] & me than anyone I had thought of taking Mr. Brown for A-’s drawing if so M- [Mariana] might return with him, but what I could do very uncertain. [SH:7/ML/E/17/0128 & SH:7/ML/E/17/0129]

December 25, 1834 (Thursday) > M- [Mariana] came a little before eight & staid till nine in bed with me – rather in the pathetics – she cannot get over her love for me – but I behaved with perfect propriety. She said “well” if anything happened to A- [Ann Walker] & Mr. C- [Crewe] would I take her back again – I made no answer till she said “would I not” when I replied “I would not shut the door against you” on which she thanked me & said I was very good. (…) Letter from A- [Ann Walker] (Shibden) my aunt better – 3 pp. widely written – nice letter – properly affectionate – wants me back again – (…) M- [Mariana] said nothing & L- [Charles Lawton] said he [Crewe?] was a scoundrel, of which nobody apparently took any notice – M- [Mariana] mentioned it when we came up to bed, seemed low & nervous, I tried to cheer her – advised her going to London to her uncle & Louisa for a week to see little M- till she told me the history at length of L- [Charles Lawton] & Eliza Lawton – then told her not to be away – said I saw her mind wavered about leaving L- [Charles Lawton] but that she must not do it unless he compelled her for refusing to have the girl to live with them or unless something between him & the girl came out – she had taxed with it, with what the girl said & he declared it was a lie – the girl did not like to be alone with him – he out his tongue unto her moth [mouth?]  which, said M- [Mariana], is you know, the last thing, but one to which I agreed – we talked of how the girl’s mind might be debauched till M- began kissing me & we got on to such tongueing warm work that she got excited. I kept my hands over her clothes & my arms decently round her till the right wandered to queer outside till she took up her petticoats & put it to her & I gave her a thorough grubbling – I think she will have her cousin for it – I certainly felt oddish but no wish to be near to her myself, tho she said in the midst “can you not come near to me for a minute or two” I made no reply but went on never opening my eyes. She asked if I loved her, I merely said “yes”. When I did look at her it was in silence neither as if ashamed nor as if attendri nor caring much. I was grave & silent. She said she was better & hoped I should have a good night. What is the meaning of all this? Can this be the conduct of a pure minded virtuous woman! I despise it – she had tried all ways to upset me – I have done what I have done, but she shall never gain more nor ever I hope a repetition ever of this. I could have done without it but somehow I thought gratify her passion by one parting grubble. It ought not to have been but I will try to turn it to some good account by telling her I shall shew her letters & by keeping out of her way – my respect is gone. – She read me Mr. C-’s [Crewe] last letter long & written at different times according to her request nothing absolutely improper might be read aloud but the understanding between them is evident – How will it end? He is a gambler – I told her today I did not think that right & I was sorry for it – She send’s A- [Ann Walker] little pocket book yet she will try to lead me astray from her! But she shall do no worse & I hope & trust the scene of tonight cannot recur. Is this the chaste & quiet M- [Mariana]? I will keep out to her way & Mr. C–’s [Crewe] too as well as I can. [SH:7/ML/E/17/0129 & SH:7/ML/E/17/0130]

December 26, 1834 (Friday) > Had slept in my clothes – M- [Mariana] came before eight & leaned or lay on the bed till I got up – I don’t think she found out that I was not undress, my night chemise hid all that she seemed in good spirits – said she had had a very good night & hoped I had had one too. I said not much on this part of the subject – she saw that I did not think of last night’s business quite as she did I said let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall – she seemed rejoiced at the sort of victory she thought she had gained & argued against my fancying there was any wrong in it – said it had done her good & she was now much happier – begged me not to abuse her in my heart. I said as little as possible not troubling myself to knock down her arguments but saying the only thing I had thought of as a consolation was the telling her I should show all my letters to A- [Ann Walker]. She made no objections, in fact she could not well make any, she was satisfied to have found as she thought that all her influence over me was not gone – she little dreampt the real state of the case, she had fallen in my opinion she had been too much in the style of Mrs. Milne & I mean to be as little in her way as possible in time to come. She said she still could believe herself belonging to anyone but me – the night before last she had left me in an agony quite wet thro & ill – last night she was calmer & could have done without it if I had not been different. I said nothing against all this but let it pass – she said I do not know what it is was to be obliged to restraint where formerly she had only to ask & have, I merely said I saw how she was on Wednesday night & was on my guard – last night I was off my guard & etc. etc. (…) Went down to breakfast at 11 – Mr. L- [Charles Lawton] had waited to wish me good bye – never so attentive before… off from Lawton at 11.50 (…) and at Shibden at 10.55 – all gone to bed but Cordingley and John expecting me, had come down – A- [Ann Walker] jumped up – and came to me in her dressing gown and cloak, delighted to see me back again – had given up in despair – had tea – the first thing we did was to laugh aloud at her droll figure and the bustle I had made – explained, sat talking – Told her I myself was astonished how little I had thought of M- [Mariana] either going or returning. Very glad to be back again. Mentioned how I had offered her the use of Shibden in the event of L-’s [Charles Lawton] death etc. etc. –   [SH:7/ML/E/17/0130 & SH:7/ML/E/17/0131]

Anne Lister goes back to Shibden the 26th. She’s happy to be back and tells AW that she “was astonished how little I had thought of M- either going or returning. Very glad to be back again.” and then she and AW have sex: “One very good kiss after getting into bed & not long after this another not quite so good but very fair.” (December 27, 1834 – Saturday)

So, to wrap this up… Mariana tries to have sex with AL everyday while they’re together, and AL tries her best to stay away (and I mean, they do what they do but they don’t have sex?? at least for Anne’s way of thinking). Anne writes how indifferent she is to it all and that basically she doesn’t even know why she gave in to Mariana’s attentions (and she doesn’t really seem into it anyway). What I think is this: I see it as a moment of weakness, their relationship is so complex and their dynamic is just so established that I think it was easy for Anne Lister to fall in the old ways with Mariana just because it was what she was used to. Doesn’t seem to me that AL was very happy with what happened, with Mariana’s behaviour or her own behaviour. I’m also very curious about why, in everything I’ve read by any historian, everyone says that AL stayed faithful to Ann Walker, clearly no one considered this thing with Mariana an important fact…

The situation between them was quite complex. There are a lot of grey areas, there is a lot of history between them, and as always Mariana has a strong hold on Anne. We’re talking about real people here, with complex feelings, with contradictory feelings. It is very hard to say one thing or the other about this matter, there is so much complexity in their relationship, in what happens and in what Anne feels that I think that reducing everything to “she was faithful” or “she wasn’t faithful” is not the right way to deconstruct/understand the whole thing.

[inkribbon796]

The Heart and Soul of Egoton Ch 2

Summary: Looking for clues, the heroes hold a meeting to trade information and meet a couple friendly faces they haven’t met in a while.

A/N: Continuation of chapter 1.

Chapter 2: Meeting in the Middle

Previous

Inside the meeting room everyone was talking, Virgil felt a little nervous. Dr. Iplier helped Virgil get a chair at the edge of the table. Silver and Jackie had been friendly to him but they tended to get more than a bit loud and Virgil was glad he wasn’t seated between even people he knew. Even if Patton was trying to save a seat for him.

Silver walked out to take a call before coming back in. “Okay, so Amy isn’t coming in, she wants to take care of something in town, but told me to take notes for her.”

“That’s fair,” Jack shrugged. “She sure she doesn’t need help.”

“I offered, she said she had enough hands on deck,” Silver reported.

“Well at least we’re all not here letting Egoton tear itself apart,” Abe yelled, he was at a large cork board putting stuff up all over it with Bing and Joan. There were pictures and papers all over the cork board, dozens of colored string connecting them.

“We picked a slow day for a reason,” Silver reminded. “Wil’s out of town and Nate seems to have taken his doppelganger with him. This is the best chance we’ve got to do this.”

“Doesn’t mean I like it,” Abe responded. “I should be out there chasing Warfstache, hell only knows what he’s up to.”

“Fookin’ married folk and killin’ people,” Chase answered. “Exactly the same thin’ he’s always doin’.”

Abe motioned with his hands to Chase and gave Mark one of his wide-eyed expectant stares.

“We’ll make it short and you can start chasing him,” Mark promised.

“I better get out of here ASAP,” Abe decided.

“Hey, wise guy,” Marvin walked in with Robbie who immediately hobbled over excitedly to Henrik who, much like a mother hen, frantically checked to see if he was still all in one piece. The German doctor glared at Marvin when he saw that his ear was in danger of falling off. “We all got shit ta do.”

“Vhat did you do to him?” Henrik barked.

“Calm yer shit, mom,” Marvin rolled his eyes, even if no one could really see it through the mask, it could almost be heard in his voice. “He came to me like that, don’t know what he was up to.”

“I help Marv,” Robbie smiled.

Marvin glared at the zombie, sighing, “When ye say it like that, it’s like I’m the bad guy.”

Henrik was still glaring at him.

“I didn’t do anythin’ to him,” Marv defended, taking a seat that let him put the table in-between the magician and the two doctors. “I wouldn’t.”

“I do good?” Robbie asked as Henrik directed him to sit next to him.

“Ja, ja,” Henrik sighed and started stitching his ear back on. “Sit still vill you?”

“I tried,” Marvin told Henrik. Then he leaned back in his chair to look up and down the table. Even standing up a bit to get another good luck at everyone at the table.

The magician’s eyes couldn’t be seen that well, but Virgil knew a hostile stance when he saw one.

“What’s up Marv?” Chase asked, he and J.J were directly across the table from him. J.J’s pocket watch in his hand, as if braced for something to happen.

“S’nothin’,” Marvin decided, sitting back down, watching J.J intently. “Prolly just my imagination.”

J.J was still turning the pocket watch around. Marvin did pass him a message under the table that read, “Do that again, and I’ll eat all your cheetos, you arse”.

J.J snickered to himself in amusement, pocketing the note so even Chase didn’t have the opportunity to read.”

“What?” Chase asked.

“Nothing,” J.J sighed. “Marvin is funny.”

After about fifteen minutes, Logan came in looking like he’d been running at a full sprint and was frantically trying not to show it. The Host followed at a much slower pace.

“The Host said we would be on time,” the Host smiled.

“Inexcusable,” Logan straightened his tie and glasses. “We are late. I am not a tardy person.”

Marvin leaned back in his chair, Virgil noticed that he looked like he wanted to say something but kept quiet.

“If it eases Logic’s conscious, he can blame the Host, he was distracted and did not keep travel time in mind,” the Host talked as he  walked over to the end of the table where King was. Taking his usual seat directly across from Dr. Iplier. He was muttering narrations as he went. Most of his comments were listing off people who were muttering under their breath or looking at him and Logan.

“Lo, it wasn’t that long, we haven’t even started yet,” Patton tried to calm Logan.

“One minute is tardy, the Host and I are inexcusably late,” Logan corrected. “This meeting should have begun without us.”

“Too bad,” Marvin finally spoke up, his tone firm and a bit hostile.

  Logan gave him a questioning and confused look as he went to sit in-between Host and King.

“Alright, so we’re all here?” Abe finally said. “Good, sooner we get all this done, the better. First order of business is this eyesore.”

The detective stomped over to point at Bing’s picture on the wall. He was close to the center of the mess on the cork board. It looked like a theater head shot. “This little asshole is part of the League, and Dark is covering for him to keep him from being identified.”

“How sure are we that he’s the Dorm 5 Killer?” Jack asked. “Cause the sooner we put that bastard away the better.”

“If it’s not him, it’s Dark and Wilford combined and the D5’s M.O is nowhere close to theirs. They’d just announce themselves and be done with it and we’d know.”

“What do we need to actually put this guy behind bars? Cause the last time we tried to take someone in on what we thought was enough evidence, they got to walk.” Ethan reminded, picking at his lip. “I don’t want that again.”

“As gruesome as it sounds?” Mark intervened. “A body? A murder weapon? We need something other than they just ran away. A case can be made for two of the guys, but we’ve got four people who are just gone that their families and their friends swear up and down that they would never run away. Something happened to them, they have too much to run away from.”

“What exactly do we know about this guy?” Bob asked. “I leave for a couple months and suddenly we’ve got a serial killer on our hands?”

“As far as the news an’ public know he’s been operatin’ fer about five months,” Jackie answered. “But he’s probably been at this fer longer. We don’t know how long.”

“Five bucks said he’s been preying on the homeless and transient people in the city,” King agreed. “Not even I know how many people come and go unnoticed in the city. And I’ve only been at my job for two years. Anyone could be killing or taking advantage of them and people would never know.”

“Ugh, that’s depressin’,” Jack took a steadying breath. All the heroes looking varying mixes of guilty and uncomfortable.

“Is there anyone who would have tabs on this trimmer guy Trimmer?” Wade asked.

“Warfstache,” Abe proposed. “He’s under the same media umbrella as Wil, but he probably wouldn’t be able to tell us anything before stabbing us. Plus, if he is his kid and under Dark’s protection, the last thing we want to do is alert Dark that we’re tailing the kid.”

“That’s still wild,” Ethan rubbed at his face. “I can’t see him with a kid.”

“Damn right,” Abe agreed. “Look, I’ve been chasing Wil’s ass since I joined the force, an’ let me tell you, the man’s not the fatherly type. It amazes me that this kid even survived to adulthood.”

“Probably no credit to that maniac,” Wade scoffed.

King actively bit his tongue and glared at his hands.

“Dark is most likely the reason he’s alive,” Dr. Iplier spoke up. “He’s anal-retentive enough to step on Wilford’s toes if he does something he doesn’t like.”

“Wouldn’t surprise me if this kid isn’t the end of it, Wil’s got other kids and for some reason Dark cares about this one,” Abe leaned over the table. “Probably has some superpower and the others just don’t.”

“They might not know, or something could have happened to them,” Roman answered.

“Could be,” Joan agreed. “Not much we can do about the kid until we can get a hold of him to answer him? Have we been able to get a hold of him?”

“Every time we’ve tried he’s either been on set or absolutely nowhere, cause we can’t find him,” Marvin groaned. “His aura dead ends mid-room. Prolly Dark portin’ him out.”

“Ye know,” Chase began. “We might be able ta get a backdoor if we can catch Wilford with Damien. Still need to find a way to check in on that one. If he’s not drumin’ ta Dark’s beat, we can at least have that off the table.”

“How are we going to prove that?” Mark shouted.

“I could do it,” Ethan offered. “If I’ve got time to brace even Dark can’t see me. So there’s no reason why Wilford should spot me.”

“You sure that’s a good idea?” King asked.

“The Host agrees with King,” Host interjected. “What Crank suggests can only lead to a violent confrontation.”

“Come on, it’s Damien, what have I got to be afraid of?” Ethan scoffed.

“Here, we can come up with some kind of a shield he can break out if he’s caught by one of them,” Marvin spoke up. “I want some loose ends tied off.”

The Host’s mouth became a thin line, his bandages starting to dark with blood. “That . . . might just be enough.”

“Okay, so I’ve got Damien, what are we going to do about Ed?” Ethan asked. “Cause I’m not comfortable with the fact that I used to live by a child trafficking ring. Like, at all.”

“Run us through exactly what Ed said,” Mark looked at Patton.

“To wash the site, and some of his guys didn’t like that,” Patton answered. “Ed ordered them to do it because Dark wanted it taken care of, even if it was an L.O site. Whatever that is.”

“Okay,” Mark seemed to thinking through something in his head. “Was there any clue about what that meant?”

Patton shook his head.

“Mean love?” Robbie inquired, looking at Bing.

“If it does, I’ll eat my entire microprocessor, dude,” Bing answered.

“Hey, hot shot,” Joan looked over at King, their head tilting. “Do you remember anything in the books you used to manage about a L.O?”

“Unless it’s a name, no?” The animal magnet answered. “Cause those are the types of books I worked. I did inventory and reports on people, but I only know them by their initials, not by their faces or actual names. Dark never worked like that. At best, he used code names and hell I never learned what some of those meant, I just had to track what resources they had.”

“How many do you remember?” Ethan drumming his fingers once or twice.

“Probably about five names, but it sounds like you’re looking for an it, not a who.” King looked at the board full of papers and strings. “Maybe it’s a designation. You guys said That Ed was there, maybe it just part of his absolutely awful trafficking ring and less to do with Dark.”

“Then why would Dark order the site destroyed if it was disturbed,” Bob asked. “Dark doesn’t do anything unless it benefits him. I know, I used to get into fights with him and Warfstache. Wil and Anti are impulsive, Dark isn’t.”

“Perhaps there’s some book that could be traced back to him in the building or in an underground basement,” Logan suggested. “If Ed’s network could be traced back to specific areas Dark owns it gives us and the police grounds to have the place searched.”

“As if we don’t already,” Roman refuted. “He launders money and moves illegal firearms through the city and to the rest of the country. What difference does child trafficking make in the face of all the people he’s killed and the children he’s left orphaned. Dark and his cronies are enough of scumbags?”

“Well there must be some reason,” Logan looked back at Roman, the creative Side’s eyes scrutinizing him. “Dark is a creature of habit, he is observed doing and being at places on a daily basis. There must be some greater reason. The influencing needs must be either: emotional, physical, or monetary. We know he is an enemy of the public, so he must have ordered the site’s termination for some reason.”

“Dark’s only known emotions are rage and spite,” Mark scoffed.

“There must be some reason,” Logan seemed to get frustrated with something. “There has to be.”

Then Logan seemed to think on it, “Why would Dark take in a child and cultivate that child to adulthood? Perhaps we are asking the wrong question.”

“Well, I’ve got a crackpot theory that might mean nothing, but I’ll shoot,” Iplier answered. “I’ve been talking with the Detective and he might be doing it to have more control over Wilford and the town.”

“Vhy?” Henrik looked at his colleague. “Doesn’t he have zat zrough nepotism already.”

“If the paper trail’s wrong, nothing changes,” Iplier sighed. “If it’s right, Dark could sweep up even more of Egoton, so long as Trimmer is Wil’s kid, and Wil is a Barnum.”

“Fuck!” Mark swore, cradling his head in his hands. “No! Tell me you’re joking me.”

Iplier looked at Abe. Ethan, Bob, and Wade seemed equally distressed.

“Okay, is this an Egoton thing because that name’s not ringing any bells,” Patton smiled.

“Alright, long story,” Mark warned. “There’s three big rich families that all kinda disappeared about the same time. Barnum, Doomstrum, and Iplier.”

“Iplier?” Logan looked over at Dr. Iplier.

The American doctor shrugged dismissively, “My dad married in. Iplier might as well be a dead name.”

“So, the Doomstrums, the ones who owned the lake, were practicing some really shady stuff,” Mark relayed. “They might have even been the ones to bring Dark to Egoton in the first place. But they took all their wealth, and all the Barnum’s wealth and kinda time capsuled it with blood magic. Don’t know why, maybe because they knew Dark was on his way? But if a Barnum could access it, that combined wealth is a ridiculous amount of money, enough to buy up whatever parts of the city Dark doesn’t already have, and probably parts of the rest of all the other sectors with little resistance.”

Jack paled at that, “I can already think of three gangs who would jump ship at that.”

King looked over at Host, whispering, “Did you know about this?”

“The Author did not,” Host answered. “The Host does.”

“Why the wait?” Logan leaped out of his chair, as if he couldn’t stand being contained by it anymore. “If his aim is more accrued wealth, why not have Warfstache access it decades ago?”

“Don’t know,” Iplier asked. “We just found this out. Maybe the person who unlocks it has to be a Doomstrum too, maybe that’s why Dark kept this kid and not any other and Dark bought the mom off?”

Suddenly, Patton had an idea. He could almost audibly hear the light bulb going off in his head. “It’s Celine.”

Everyone snapped to look at him.

“What?” Jack asked.

“Think about it,” Patton began to ramble. “If Celine’s the mom that explains why she was here a couple months ago instead of when her kid was plastered all over the news. How Damien could be involved without Dark having to pay him off. He’s not being bribed, he’s probably being threatened. Because if, like the Doc said and he needs a Doomstrum too, then he needs the mom close enough to give him the kiddo in the first place, but easy to push out of the way.”

“That’s a lot of ifs,” Mark reminded.

“Celine is working with Dark, I don’t know how to prove it but she is,” Patton began to spiral. “Call it intuition or gut, but I can feel it.”

“Okay, well, feelings aren’t going to arrest someone who is, by all accounts, not in town anymore,” Mark said.

“I could find out,” Logan blurted out.

The room went quiet.

“How?” Marvin hyper focused on the logical Side.

“I’m probably the only one who could figure out,” Logan began to ramble under his breath, as if he didn’t hear the magician. “My position would certainly help me look, even if it is 

A risky venture.”

“Hey, genius, what’s that supposed ta mean?” Marvin demanded.

J.J set his pocket watch on the table, loudly knocking to get everyone attention. Then he started signing where everyone could see. “We need to end the meeting. I don’t want to have this meeting a third time.”

“Third time?” Joan repeated in confusion and concern.

“Come on,” Marvin argued. “Ye can’t be serious.”

J.J stood up and signed something at Logan, Chase needing to translate it when it was clear Logan couldn’t understand it. “Return to work. Be careful.”

Logan stopped his rambling, and signed one of the few things he actually knew in sign language. “Thank you.”

Then he seemed to collect himself, speaking, “Your right, I’m probably just tired.”

Finally Logan left, Patton racing after him. “Lo, wait up.”

Roman stood up, “We have anything else to talk about?”

“We’re probably good enough,” Mark looked over at Abe and scanned the rest of the room. “Inheritance scheme or not, we need to get back to work.”

“Yeah, that bubblegum maniac won’t catch himself,” Abe agreed. “We can leave this up for everyone else.

Slowly the room began to pack up except for the cork board. The tension in the room between Marvin and the Host almost palpable.

[everlarkficexchange]

Springtime Edition 2019.

These are the prompts we’ve received so far.

Crossed out prompts have already been selected and are being turned into fics!

I’d like to thank everyone who’s taken the time to come up with an idea and send it our way. Your prompts are the heart of the Exchange. Without them our lovely authors wouldn’t get to write all those beautiful fics. So, please, keep them coming!

You haven’t sent anything yet? Don’t worry, there’s still time. We’ll be receiving prompts until March 3.  Don’t be afraid to inspire us!

Prompts:

Prompt 1: Peeta calls Animal Control Officer Katniss for help with something in his attic. [submitted by @567inpanem​​]

Prompt 2: Struggling artist Peeta is a licensed cosmetologist attracted to gorgeous girl Katniss posting a makeup artist job he assumes is for stage actors but turns out is for her family's funeral home. [submitted by @567inpanem​]

Prompt 3: When students are forced to squeeze together and share seats because of water damage in classroom, Peeta and Katniss spend hours pressed against each other, like in cave, whispering, sharing... [submitted by @567inpanem​]

Prompt 4: I loved this from papofglencoe‘s Bros Before Ho!Ho!Hos! and wondered if it could be everlarked so Katniss has an epiphany like Finnick did when he released himself from past hurt and opened his heart to Annie: “People died every day, whether or not you let them go.” [submitted by @567inpanem​] Bros Before Ho!Ho!Hos! by @papofglencoe​ is HERE

Prompt 5: In the Seam, you can’t do what you want. You just do what you can to survive. When Mrs Everdeen, who never wanted children as long as there were Games, gave birth at home to identical twins, she did what she could: kept one of the girls hidden at all times. And, she taught them to keep the secret when they took turns leaving the house for school or hunting or the reaping. Genre? Drama, romance, comedy, tragedy? [submitted by @567inpanem​]

Prompt 6: Cupids are the guardian angels of the heart. Cupid Katniss is sent to answer Peeta’s prayers that he finds a girl before his mother picks one for him. If she fails one more time, she’ll lose her bow privileges forever. Peeta notices every girl. But as Cupid Katniss spends time with him becoming his friend and confidant, she starts feeling jealous of these unworthy girls. Time is running out. [submitted by @567inpanem​]

Prompt 7: Peeta opens his bakery back up after the war. There are, as expected, lots of female customers who would like to get a little to close to Peeta for Katniss's comfort. Sensing her jealousy, Peeta sets out to prove she has nothing to worry about (can be rated M, if you please!). [submitted by @albinokittens300]

Prompt 8: I have an Everlark music prompt, use the song Animals by Maroon 5. Rated E/smut is a must 😏😉 [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 9: Fic based on Tim McGraw’s “Angry All the Time.” Not necessarily Everlark, but could be. [submitted by @butrfac14] 

Prompt 10: Based on "You Belong With Me" by Taylor Swift music video: Katniss is Lucas Till's character, she has a relationship with Gale, but she doesn't really like being with him. Peeta is pining for her, like Taylor Swift's character, observing them and think he and K belong together. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 11: Based on Aladdin [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 12: canon compliant, except Gale isn't pining for Katniss and actually try to support her after the Games, helps her with Peeta and become friends with Peeta. He makes fun of her with Peeta and Prim and all three of them kind of find a peaceful refugee in this awful world where they can act like the teenagers they are. I would love to see how this would affect the war and the quarter quell too. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 13: Peeta is rescued with Katniss, so they're sleeping together even in the hospital (after in Katniss' family bunker too, like her dream in the movie), P helps K find her place as the Mockingjay, they are late at night talking about how they don't trust those 13 people, they visit D12 together, Katniss sing to him, Peeta is working in the kitchens, Katniss sometimes have crisis of anxiety bc she can't believe her family, Peeta, the Hawthornes are there with her... they're together through it all. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 14: High school AU based on High School Musical films. Katniss is finally singing after her dad died, Peeta is in love with her the moment they sing together in the New Year. K goes to his school and they've these cute moments like each others photo in theirs lockers and rooms at home, they sing together in drama's club plays, Katniss is at Peeta's games, he's touching her every second, especially when they sing (watch HSM2's everyday), his father and brothers laugh at him blushing when she calls... [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 15: You wanna marry me?” Everlark arrangement marriage AU based on true story. Madge’s essay submission wins contest on importance of family. Prize: be reunited with family from home, on stage! She invites best friend Katniss to be there for the big big big event. Madge’s cousin Peeta packed for short visit, but once there finds that his manipulative mother set him up with a job and orders him to marry before he gets deported home for overstaying. Poor Katniss has no family, no other friends... [submitted by @567inpanem]

Prompt 16: The baker hires Katniss to make his deliveries as she walks her trade route. She gets eye opening glimpses of town life and especially of the Mellark family relationships as her job responsibilities grow and she spends more time in the bakery. [submitted by @567inpanem​]

Prompt 17: "We’re always making stupid bets like ‘bet you can’t drink this whole bottle of BBQ sauce’ but then you did and now you’re sick and I feel really bad here let me look after you" prompt? Pretty please? With extra Everlark fluff on top? :) [submitted by Anonymous via @katnissdoesnotfollowback]

Prompt 18: we’ve never met but our showers are on opposite sides of the same apartment wall so sometimes we’re showering at the same time and we sing duets AU? [submitted by Anonymous via @katnissdoesnotfollowback]

Prompt 19: I wish you would write a fic where… katniss and peeta are rivals chefs dating in secret [Submitted by Anonymous via @katnissdoesnotfollowback]

Prompt 20: Gale returns and he and Katniss patch things up. Peeta seems to feel he's lost her to Gale even after they healed together. Katniss won't stands for this, and explains that no matter what, they would have happened anyways. "I'd chose you; in a hundred lifetimes, in a a hundred worlds, in any version of reality. I'd find you and chose you." [submitted by @albinokittens300]

Prompt 21: Prompt! One of them struggles to tell the other that they can read minds. [submitted by @sandyeyes]

Prompt 22: Student/Professor. Katniss is stressing out about an assignment and decides to go and talk to Professor Mellark about it, as he’s always been understanding and patient in class. However things turn awkward when Katniss stumbles upon him in his office after hours watching porn on his laptop. Is it deliberate, maybe he needed to relieve some stress or did his brother/friend send him a link to something that he shouldn’t have opened?? It’s up to you writer :) [submitted by @peetaspikelets]

Prompt 23: I would love to read an In-Panem AU fic/this would have happened anyway story where we see the beginnings of an Everlark relationship and how it slowly turns into puppy love [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 24: Canon Divergence. Through the years Katniss can't stop paying attention to Peeta and she's actually aware of it. When they settle as victors in district 12 or when the time for the victory tour comes (whichever you prefer) she can't keep herself away from him and the line between friendship and something more becomes blurry until it disappears. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 25: I have a song prompt based on Maroon 5's Maps. It fits Everlark so much. Peeta was there for Katniss in her dark times while she almost gave up on him when he was at his worst down on his knees. But eventually he followed the map that led to her and they got back together. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 26: An everlark fic based on the start of Brooklyn 99 where Jake and Amy were 'rivals' and had a bet going on who will get more arrests. Peeta's end of the deal will be getting Katniss on a date while Katniss' prize would be getting to use his car just like the tv show. You can add twists to make it more everlark if you like. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 27: Gale plans on proposing to Katniss and asks for Peeta's help since he's her best friend and he helps Gale plan everything. What Gale doesn't know is that Peeta is in love with Katniss. How everlark gets together is up to you. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 28: Everlark fic based off of 13 going on 30. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 29: Katniss and Peeta are heartbreakers who are afraid of commitment. When they meet they get a bet going with their friends on who will fall in love first. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 30: One night stand everlark and an awkward morning after. [submitted by @sunflowerslyf]

Prompt 31: everlark on the brink of a divorce, but then they remember all of the things they've gone through, the sacrifices they made for each other, that they can't live without the other and end up not getting the divorce. [submitted by @sunflowerslyf]

Prompt 32: katniss and peeta are best friends who have a biological child together (how they ended up having a kid is up to you and how they'll get together is up to you) [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 33: "Where's my engagement ring?" [submitted by @sunflowerslyf]

Prompt 34: Peeta offers to teach Katniss how to bake thinking it'll be a great laugh, but? She's actually kind of amazing at it? [submitted by @ally147writes]

Prompt 35: Katniss and Peeta teaching each other a skill. [submitted by @themiffywrites]

Prompt 36: A fic where katniss and Peeta are on a day cruise that ends up in a storm. Katniss and Peeta end up on a small island by themselves - basically a Blue Lagoon kind of story. [submitted by @spoonlicker817]

Prompt 37: Pre-med student Katniss, who hopes to be a radiologist because then she wouldn’t have to actually speak with patients, cleverly registers for what looks like an anatomy course but fulfills the dreaded fine arts requirement for her biology major. She expects to sketch articulated skeletons in various poses, maybe draw muscle groups and systems. Nope. News flash: it’s daily nudes. Peeta is teacher or model or student? perhaps as an amputee? [submitted by @567inpanem]

Prompt 38: A modern AU Everlark dealing with mental illness. Angst, laughs, anything possible. 😁 I'm leaving it open but it's something I'd appreciate seeing. [submitted by @aihodineverlark]

Prompt 39: Pick some memorable fanfics. Write about Peeta so confused, pops in and out of different realities from those fanfics, living lives not his own, yet Katniss is always there or was before he popped into that plane of existence. He wants to “go home” but what is that anymore? Will he ever settle into a life? Will anyone believe him? Is he crazy? Cursed? Dreaming? [submitted by @567inpanem]

Prompt 40: Everlark in the Court of Thorns and Roses universe - maybe Katniss/Feyre, Gale/Tamlin and Peeta/Rhys, preferably with everlark smut! [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 41: Everlark based off the Hallmark Christmas Movies Meme: I still going to watch them and act surpsied when she falls in love with the small town baker who only wears sweaters instead of falling for the big city CEO? Yes! Does not need to be Christmas time, but definately end game Everlark! [submitted by @historywriter2007]

Prompt 42: Everlark based off the Coke and Delta Airlines marketing fail of passing out napkins with "Because you're on a plane with interesting people and hey … you never know" featured on one side. The backside featured a spot for one to write a name and phone number. [submitted by @historywriter2007]

Prompt 43: Prompt: I would love anything the "there's only one bed" trope.[submitted by @booksandchocolatesmears]

Prompt 44: Their love was forbidden in more ways than the obvious one (older!Peeta). Their love conquers all even with revelations that destroys other person relationships. AU. Toast babies for extra cookies. [submitted by @animekpopxx]

Prompt 45: They fell in love young, they married young. People kept telling them that it’s not gonna last. Well they are proving them wrong. [submitted by @animekpopxx​]

Prompt 46: Peeta, the Greek god Apollo, hears the most beautiful voice at his temple so he comes down to earth to find this beautiful maiden. Follows how this god falls in love with a mortal and withstand the trials the other gods put them through. [submitted by @animekpopxx​]

Prompt 47: Modern. Peeta is back home on his time off from the Air Force or army. He meets the newest employee in the bakery, a younger Katniss, who’s working hard to help her family while still going to school. They fall for each other and they didn’t even know when it happened. [submitted by @animekpopxx​]

Prompt 48: Their people had a period of peace that stared to crumpled when bad choices and bad people started to destroy that. With a war in the horizon, there is only one choose to keep the peace. The chief’s daughter needs to marry the crown prince. Werewolf!Peeta Humans and wolves. [submitted by @animekpopxx​]

Prompt 49: He has spent centuries coming at night and sleeping with as many humans as possible, many dying from childbirth with no child to bear, or because his lust overpowered them. He needs to find a women that can live through his lust and birth an healthy offspring and after centuries, he thinks he found the one, the sixteen year old Katniss Everdeen. Dark incubus!peeta Angst Old times. [submitted by @animekpopxx​]

Prompt 50: In an ancient time, grief-strickened 17-yr-old Katniss (fatherless, emotionally abandoned by her mother, just lost beloved sister) walls off her heart, curses the gods for taking Prim, and is severely punished with immortality = unending days of mourning and emptiness in which life has no meaning, until she meets Peeta and learns it’s not years but love that makes a good life. In loving him the curse breaks, she is mortal again, and together they live a HEA. [submitted by @567inpanem]

Prompt 51: Fantasy: “Buttercup” (ironically named “Freedom Cat” by Capital scientist who created him) is an intelligent mutt designed to infiltrate rebel groups and sabotage uprisings, but after being healed by Prim and seeing the impact of Mr. E’s death, he turns on the Capital. “This whole operation was your idea.” [submitted by @567inpanem]

Prompt 52: Everlark Game of Thrones AU! @albinokittens300

Prompt 53: Everlark have been friends for a long time. Then this exchange happens. Person A: Why Do I even like your dumb ass? Person B: Huh? Person A: *panics* I SAID YOU HAVE A NICE ASS. [submitted by @iliveilaughiloveiread]

Prompt 54: Katniss, for some reason, using a car's window as a mirror not knowing there was someone inside the car because of the window being so heavily tinted. Until Peeta, the owner of the car, rolls down the window. [submitted by @sunflowerslyf]

Prompt 55: everlark fic based on 'the proposal'. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 56: Katniss is damaged beyond repair when Peeta comes back highjacked so she impulsively goes farther with gale in 2 (becasue we all know he wouldn’t have stopped and didn’t do so bc of any altruistic impetuses) Then, of course, Peeta gets better and regret and bad choices lead to angst. Madge is alive and in D13 too. Thank you for continuing this! [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 57: prompt "hey, you're that asshole that closed the elevator when i yelled at you to hold it!" [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 58: Katniss trying to hate Peeta because she thinks he's the absolute worst but he did something really nice for her little sister and it doesn't hurt that he's also really hot [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 59: "The 'caution floor is wet' sign was there, so it's not my fault you can't read." [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 60: Katniss and Peeta are both in a very crowded train when suddenly Katniss falls onto Peeta's lap and they don't know each other but Katniss finds Peeta really attractive. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 61: everlark prompt "You're the asshole who's been using my wifi!" [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 62: Everlark getting matched in an online chat roulette. [submitted by @sunflowerslyf]

Prompt 63: Katniss walking out of the dressing room wearing only a bikini to ask her friend if it suits her but it isn't her friend standing on the other side of the door but Peeta (who she doesn't know yet). [submitted by @sunflowerslyf]

Prompt 64: Katniss and Peeta both have high positions in one company (they're the boss) they despise each other but every employee in the office are secretly pining for them and do everything to get them together. [submitted by @sunflowerslyf]

Prompt 65: Dialogue prompt “You did all of this for me?” [submitted by anonymous via @katnissdoesnotfollowback]

Prompt 66: Dialogue prompt ”I could, uh…I could give you a massage.” [submitted by @katnissdoesnotfollowback]

Prompt 67: How about everlark recalling their "reunion" in 13? I imagined it to be intense considering how Katniss was expecting kisses and whatnot and what happened instead was totally heartbreaking [submitted by anonymous via @katnissdoesnotfollowback]

Prompt 68: Katniss had to have her gallbladder removed and her husband Peeta is there to take care of her. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 69: Peeta finds out that Haymitch fathered a child when he was being tortured. He isn’t sure if it’s real or imagined. He asks Haymitch ..... [submitted by @ealaatnara​]

Prompt 70: No one Katniss knew got reaped, and after the 75th the games stopped, hunting became easier, she’s looking forward to graduation, and she feels a growing attraction to boy with bread but she’s clueless as to what to do after 1 1/2 decades of acting role of son her father never had and man of the house. She approaches problem like stalking game: observe. She learns a lot but realizes she needs help from only one person: popular merchant and Peeta expert Delly who’s thrilled to help in manhunt <3 [submitted by @567inpanem​]

Prompt 71: Dialogue prompt: "Hey! You're the one who knocked me over!" [submitted by @creamytinydays​]

Prompt 72: A Legally Blonde crossover, with Peeta inspired by Elle Woods and Katniss as Emmett. [submitted by @creamytinydays​]

Prompt 73: Katniss marries Gale before he’s sent to fight WWII. Gale sends home his buddy Peeta to break the news to his wife and family that he’s fallen in love with someone else in Europe and is staying there after the war... Peeta is under the impression Katniss is a cold woman that only married his friend out of obligation but finds out the other side of the story soon enough. [submitted by @alliswell21]

Prompt 74: In Panem AU (no reapings): Katniss miscalculated how soon a snow storm was supposed to hit D12, and gets stuck in town while trading with the merchants. Peeta comes out in the snow to get her to come into the the bakery... she thinks he’s either crazy, up to something or simply dumb... whatever happens next is up to you! [submitted by @alliswell21]

Prompt 75: after work playing games like truth or dare, spin the bottle, etc. that for some reason brings everlark together. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 76: historical au where katniss and peeta are bethrothed since birth and peeta's mom is actually nice. they grow up to be best friends neither of them knowing about the bethrothal until something breaks their friendship and they become enemies. when they finally turn the right age, they find out about the bethrothal and are forced to marry and consummate their marriage even if they despise each other. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 77: super drunk katniss and peeta who are exes wake up together hungover, naked, and... married. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 78: forced to share a bed and building a pillow barrier but still waking up tangled together. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 79: Bounty hunter Katniss thought she was prepared for anything. Then she goes after Mellark, wanted dead or alive. (innocent? alibi? excuse? or fall in love and nothing else matters? or is she getting played by him? what’s real? does it matter if she needs the money?) [submitted by @567inpanem]

Prompt 80: Really can’t keep hands off each other: Students of massage therapy Peeta and Katniss are partnered up in intensive 16-wk course for hands-on experience. (Final project? Homework? Or is final exam show us what you learned? Or does Peeta have a girlfriend? Think Katniss has a boyfriend?) [submitted by @567inpanem]

Prompt 81: Dr. Abernathy convinces Katniss to work with new VA hospital patient Peeta who is there for treatment of? But of the two, is she the damaged one that needs help with what’s crippling her? [submitted by @567inpanem]

Prompt 82: Young Prince Peeta gets the attention he craves and the revenge on his mother he desires by fucking all her friends’ and acquaintances’ daughters then dumping them quietly or publicly but always chipping away at her manufactured reputation as the perfect powerful Queen. Then he meets Katniss who is pure in every way. What will he do? [submitted by @567inpanem]

Prompt 83: A witch is more powerful and safe when they join a coven, in danger without one. But there’s a saying that’s been passed down through generations that’s everyone thinks is just a myth; A witch finds their true powers when they find their true love in their coven. [submitted by @animekpopxx]

Prompt 84: Katniss tells Prim bedtime stories about a clever, brave duckling’s many adventures. With her good friends cat and goat. Who love baked goods. Maybe Peeta finds out. [submitted by @567inpanem]

Prompt 85: Katniss makes unsettling discovery that everyone in her close and extended group of friends has dated at least once and sometimes even each other. Except for her. The “late bloomer” teasing (b/c she’s never even been kissed) stings. Older boy Gale crosses paths with group, finds he shares common interests with Katniss, they get together to hunt, leads to him casually inviting her out for a real dinner date. Not feeling desire but pressure to “get it over with,” she accepts. Peeta has regrets. [submitted by @567inpanem]

Prompt 86: Everlark meet on Survivor. Maybe they are contestants? Maybe one works the cameras and keeps following the other around? One is the host and the other a contestant? They compete against and hate each other? Maybe they form an alliance, but end up thinking the other backstabs them? who knows. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 87: Katniss and Gale are about to get married and while Katniss isn't entirely sure if she really wants to marry Gale, she does nothing to stop the preparations. While Peeta, realizing he can't just let Katniss go, does everything to stop the wedding and tell Katniss his feelings for her. Peeta thought he's a hopeless case the day before the wedding until... (it's up to you how it will end, but hopefully it's hea) [submitted by anonymous] 

Prompt 88: Historical Katniss and Peeta hate each other. They attend a masquerade ball and for some reason end up kissing each other. Sparks fly everywhere. Katniss tries to find the man behind the mask but Peeta knows it was Katniss though he doesnt say anything. They end up bethrothed even if they 'despise' each other. How they fall in love is up to u and how katniss figured out it was peeta is up to u [submitted by anonymous] 

Prompt 89: Canon divergence. Katniss and Peeta talk when they return to District 12 after the first games and grow closer.... [submitted by @thestuckinbed]

Prompt 90: Peeta seizes the moment his mother is gone to dash out and quickly give the burnt bread to Katniss in person. Does this more personal interaction change anything? [submitted by @wingletblackbird]

Prompt 91: I have a personal headcanon that Peeta was involved in drama, and participated in school plays. Unsurprisingly, he is an excellent actor, often receiving lead roles. This can make two prompts. Canon-compliant: Katniss goes to see Peeta perform. AU: Katniss can’t help but get herself involved behind the scenes, and things spiral. (Perhaps Peeta also helps paint props, and sees Katniss working there? It’s up to you!) [submitted by @wingletblackbird]

Prompt 92: Modern AU: Katniss is present when her father dies a traumatic death. She doesn’t just stop singing. She stops speaking completely. Desperate to help her daughter heal/express herself, Mrs. Everdeen enrols her in art therapy where she meets Peeta Mellark. [submitted by @wingletblackbird]

Prompt 93: Strangers or not. Katniss and/or Peeta hired as trade show model (for ?) to draw traffic to booth. Does the one who hired the other get crazy jealous over all the ogling by strangers? Or perhaps a competition between them to attract more people ends in melee when they go way way way beyond what is appropriate? [submitted by @567inpanem]

Prompt 94: Smut. Hot, sweaty, passionate, loving, smut. Everlark has to be married and it can only be the 2 of them. No three-somes or switching partners. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 95: Modern a/u: Katniss and Peeta are personal assistants to overzealous bosses Effie and Haymitch. They try to coerce their bosses together in order to get some relief themselves. Meanwhile they start to fall in love as their plan backfires. [submitted by @ra3lynn3]

Prompt 96: Based on "Crazy Rich Asians". I would love to see all the amazing fluff crazines that was that movie everlarked. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 97: Katniss and Peeta’s new PE teacher sets up competition to motivate class, but things quickly get out of hand when students begin placing all kinds of bets on outcomes of events. Winning is all that matters. Lines are crossed. Mind games played. Risks taken. People hurt. Supporters engage in dirty tricks and pressure favorites to win at any cost. [submitted by @567inpanem]

Prompt 98: Cannon compliant except Petra isn’t hijacked. What their reunion should have been. [submitted by @spoonlicker817]

Prompt 99: Peeta banks sperm (maybe before chemo; maybe eldest bro infertile, asks Peeta & Rye to donate samples to be mixed so no one can say who bio father is, but never go through with procedure). Katniss needs $, becomes surrogate BUT impregnated with Peeta’s sample by mistake! Client backs out, facility shut down, Katniss broke, Peeta wants baby. Age Gap? [submitted by @567inpanem]

Prompt 100: Mistaken Identity. (Maybe Peeta or Katniss makes gesture to express feelings for other who doesn’t realize it was him/her, receiver then goes on to accept date from wrong 3rd party. [submitted by @567inpanem​]

Prompt 101: You're my best friend's relative, (maybe Finnick is Katniss's cousin?? Maybe Annie/Madge/Johanna is Peeta's relative??) And I've convinced myself you're off limits and not interested anyway. But now we're in very close quarters (group trip to the cabin? Vacation? Roommates for the summer? Snowed in?) and I'm having a hard time denying the chemistry between us. Every. Single. Time. I try to bring it up or kiss you we get interrupted. [submitted by @7-ah]

Prompt 102: There's only ONE bed! [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 103: An AU where Katniss's father is a victor. [submitted by @wingletblackbird]

Prompt 104: Peeta is on the short side, hasn’t joined the wrestling team yet, is known to be artistic, in other words “soft,” and is all around going through an awkward period of puberty. While he is well-liked within his own circle, Peeta is in no way a part of the “in-crowd.” Katniss is infuriated when she discovers a gang of boys bullying him and steps up to his defense. [submitted by @wingletblackbird​]

Prompt 105: Katniss was naked when Peeta first saw her. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 106: When Katniss and Peeta talk it out after the first Games, they get close and spend their nights together. Mrs. Everdeen, is not the happiest about this and she much face the fact that as far as her daughters are concerned, she abandoned them when their father died. And she can't blame them. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 107: Peeta leaves notes, sketches, drawings, paintings, (maybe even parts of his allowance if it’s a bad winter?) etc. in Katniss’ locker. It’s the only way, given their circumstances in twelve, both social and familial, that he can realistically show her affection, even if she doesn’t know who it’s from. At least she’ll know, she’s admired/not alone. Katniss initially is resentful of the gesture, but over time grows fond of her secret admirer, and looks forward to her next gift. What happens next? [submitted by @wingletblackbird]

Prompt 108: Katniss, or at least Peeta, isn't reaped AU: Peeta decides to become involved with the rebels in 12. He realises the victors are the best chance at unifying the districts, and finding Capitol sympathizers, since they all go to the Capitol once a year, then return home. Suspecting he isn't the only person to have thought of this, he approaches Haymitch who brings him into the fold. Peeta uses his talents as an artist, (graffiti?), and orator to inspire rebellion. [submitted by @wingletblackbird]

Prompt 109: Rated E Everlark story where Virgin!Peeta affectionately describes Virgin!Katniss's uhh... Woman hood between her legs as a beautiful flower. Everlark has to be end game. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 110: A time travel AU: Katniss from Mockingjay, (any part of the book, it's up to you), winds up back the day before her sister's first reaping. What does she do now that she knows what's coming? Now that she knows how Peeta feels about her, and she knows how desperately she needs him, and what they could share? What on earth could she, or should she, even do/change? And what is she should lose it all again? [submitted by @wingletblackbird]

Prompt 111: Write me a good enemies to lovers, Hogwarts crossover, where Peeta is a Slytherin, Katniss a Gryffindor... extra points if Finnick is a Hufflepuff and somehow is best friends with both of them. [submitted by @alliswell21]

Prompt 112: I was hoping for one bed, but there are actually two, so now I have to find a way to naturally end up snuggling with you. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 113: Little mermaid prompt. Or something along those line where one of them is a mermaid and the other isn’t. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 114: Katniss is sick ( could be an injury, disease, or the common cold! Whatever you want) and Peeta freaks out over it and tries to take care of her. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 115: Peeta‘ s mother dies shortly after Peeta tosses bread to Katniss. 11 months after she dies, Peeta’s dad remarries the “plain” younger daughter of the Hardware store. No one ever expected her to marry, she’s quiet and “not very pretty” according to some merchant women. She is kind, caring and doesn’t care if your seam or merchant. She and Mr Mellark have a daughter together a year or so after the marriage. What will happen when this happens and what of Peeta and Katniss’ future? [submitted by @ealaatnara]

Prompt 116: Katniss and Peeta are recently married, and Katniss is teaching Peeta how to drive. Peeta has never learned how since he could always either walk to where he needed, or take the bus. Why go through the expense and hassle of driving school when you can be environmentally friendly, enjoy the scenery, relax and not have to worry about the wheel, and otherwise avoid uncomfortable things like road rage? Katniss has had enough of this nonsense. YOU NEED TO LEARN HOW TO DRIVE, PEETA! [submitted by @wingletblackbird]

Prompt 117: Fairy Tale AU: Katniss and Peeta as Beauty and the Beast. Katniss would go looking for her missing father, and absolutely trade places with him. The ominous rose is from Snow who rules the land, and whom Peeta has offended for some noble cause. Gale as Gaston, because he is a hot-headed hunter who would, of course, rush in to KILL THE BEAST! for Katniss. [submitted by @wingletblackbird]

Prompt 118: katniss and peeta seeing each other again years after the last time they saw each other which was their senior prom where they slept with each other. in high school were they best friends? maybe lab partners? or were they just drunk off their asses? [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 119: Everlark friends, one is a writer of romance or smut (novels, fanfiction, whatever) and uses the other as inspiration. What happens when they find out? [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 120: “Whatever happened to Pretty Baby contest winners Peeta and Katniss who did that commercial for baby food? She was the scowling ‘before’ and he was the adorable happy ‘after’ baby delicately eating a spoonful of orange? Then she rips the bowl away and makes a mess? Remember that? Whatever happened to them?” [submitted by @567inpanem​]

Prompt 121: Post mockingjay everlark based on this post and its hashtags. “oh this would absolutely be them every single morning lol trying to be productive and get things done and then this happens peeta trying to bake things/prep things for his day at the bakery or trying to make breakfast katniss trying to get ready to hunt/gather in the woods and then passing kisses and caresses turn into full blown makeouts only to have peeta cave and hoist katniss up into his arms which after a while 1 imagine would turn into habitual morning sex/makeout seshes lol like they'd be like okay we're not even going to try getting ready first we're going to focus on each other first before anything else at least for the first few years they live with each other lol rabbits ra b b i t s.” Also, it would be awesome if Katniss noticed how Peeta's body grows with time, like he is even more hot and this makes Katniss is even more horny. [submitted of anonymous]

Prompt 122: Hi would like to submit a prompt where a young Prim starts posting sticky notes on her bedroom door as a sort of wish list when things like her birthday or Christmas are coming up. The Everdeen’s think it’s incredibly endearing and all start doing it, eventually it sort of becomes a tradition. Later on when Katniss and Peeta are together they do it too and Peeta uses the sticky notes to propose and Katniss uses them to tell him she’s pregnant, etc for important and sweet moments in their life. [submitted by @persephoneprim]

Prompt 123: Everlark - Instant Family inspired where they end up deciding to foster a child but end up with three children. [submitted by @que-sera-sera88]

Prompt 124: Drunk Katniss can’t take her make up off so Peeta does it for her. Fluffy everlark! [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 125: Happy, fluffy Newlywed!Everlark, please? [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 126: Peeta doing a lap dance/stripping for Katniss. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 127: Everlark plays April Fools pranks on each other, but not just on the day, they do pranks throughout the week of April Fools up to the day and one them, I'd say Peeta, takes it too far and puts a fully naked picture of themselves on the front of the other's phone and when they discover the prank they're not the only one who sees it. [submitted by @amazinglovers747]

Prompt 128: Everlarked Superheroes (Bonus points if one is the hero, the other the villain!) <3 [submitted by @thelettersfromnoone​]

Prompt 129: Modern AU inspired in the song ghostin by Ariana Grande. [submitted by @lavender-evelopes]

Prompt 130: Katniss works as a park ranger. Peeta is a photographer/artist coming to said park to find inspiration. [submitted by @wingletblackbird​]

Prompt 131: I’d like to submit THIS as an Everlark prompt. [submitted by @amazinglovers747]

Prompt 132: Please tell me about the night before the 74th Games at the homes of the Mellarks, Everdeens and Hawthornes; and what it’s like the next night after the reaping with Peeta and Katniss gone; and how Rye bonds with Prim over the days following; and how they celebrate the win cautiously; and how they help Peeta and Katniss to heal and to bond and to love. Thank you 😊😘 [submitted by @567inpanem]

Prompt 133: Visual prompt [submitted by @amazinglovers747]

Prompt 134: Visual Prompt. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 135: Peeta has baby fever, Katniss on the other hand, not quite. [submitted by anonymous]

Feeling inspired?

Choose a prompt from the list and tell us about it. (Chosen prompts will be removed from the list so that there will only be one fic/artwork per prompt.)

Write a fic or create some artwork. Fics can be as short as 500 words or as long as you like. They can be one-shots, new chapters from your current WIPs, or out takes from any one of your fics. As long as your work covers the details provided in the prompt, you can create whatever moves you.

Submit your finished fic or artwork. We’ll be posting finished works from March 24 to April 7.

Got questions, comments or suggestions? Click here. We’d love to hear from you!

Don’t forget to follow @everlarkficexchange to stay on top of any and all updates!

[ff15trashgoldenslumbers]

Hello! I love your writing and I've gone through your masterlist like 5 times so I thought it was time for me to make a request. How would the chocobros react if they found out that their new s/o had a daughter (3 years old)? Like she got pregnant when she was around 17 and the father bailed so she had to raise it all on her own. And this would be the first time she dated someone since then. (sorry if my english sucks, it's my third language)

Hi! Thank you for stopping by and staying! Also never apologize for your English, it’s the only language I know and I still have no idea how to use it!Now about this prompt, I was very tempted to bypass it because I was super worried that I could not do it justice! But I really, really want to try my hand at it! Thank you for giving me the opportunity.

~~~~~~

You fidgeted as you moved around your apartment, pushing the candle back and forth on the counter wanting to make certain everything was perfect. You were already taking a chance by going out into the dating scene and to snag a nice guy after that last disaster in your teenage years.

You nearly jumped from your skin as you felt something touch your leg, you glanced down at your whole world. That adorable dress, and pigtails, those large eyes that looked so much like your own. Lucky she took after you, more than the other that wanted nothing to do with this perfection.

His lose really, Filia was perfect.

“Mommy, are you okay?”

You smiled, kneeling before your daughter, “Yep. Are you ready to meet, Mommy’s friend?”  You giggled as she nodded her head, watching that bow wobble around. Only to turn toward your door as you heard a knock. “Whelp it’s now or never.”

~~~~~

Noctis

When Noctis had been told that he was meeting family he had not expected to find a mini you to greet him at the door alongside you.

“Hi, Sweetie.” You smiled nervously, before pressing a kiss to his cheek.

“Hi,” Noctis muttered unable to tear his eyes away from the little one standing beside you holding tightly to your hand. “I didn’t know that you had a younger sister.”

You giggled nervously looking down at the little one beside you, “I don’t. Filia, this is Prince Noctis, Mommy’s friend.” You cooed to your daughter. “Noctis this is Filia, my daughter.”

“How do you do?” Filia called curtseying, before quickly dashing behind your legs. Little Filia was luckily in that phase where she was absolutely certain to believe she was a Princess.

You smiled nervously before turning to your boyfriend, “She’s a little nervous around new people.”

Noctis shook his head, as he knelt before the two of you, holding out a bundle of flowers, you knew they were supposed to be for you, but still, Noctis was making an effort.

The Prince smiled softly, “I’m sorry that I didn’t ask before coming over.”

The large eyes that matched your own glanced to you, “Good ahead, and what do you say?”

Filia reached out taking the flowers, before bowing again, “Thank you, Prince Noctis.”

Noctis smiled, “Please call me Noct.”

You giggled softly, only to gasp as you felt her tug at your dress, “What is it?” You inquired bending down so she could whisper in your ear.

“He’s got pretty eyes.” She stated, rather loudly.

Noctis tried to hide his chuckled, as you both stood, as you invited him in.

Seems you had nothing to worry about.

~~~~~

Prompto

You sat nervously next to your daughter on your loveseat, across from Prompto who had looked like he had swallowed a Cactuar whole. Ever since he had stepped through the door and saw Filia he seemed to have never gotten over the panic he put himself in.

“Prompto, I can…”

Prompto jumped as your voice came out, “Uh…I just…um.”

You watched as he fidgeted, your daughter staring at the strange man across from her. Reaching forward you grabbed the tablet from the table, handing it to Filia. “Here, Sweetie, Mommy and Prompto are going to go to the kitchen okay?”

“Okay, Mommy.”

You motioned toward Prompto to follow you, making certain that Filia was engrossed in her tablet before turning back to Prompto, “Listen, I know it strange, but please understand that…”

“No, no I just was surprised. It just really caught me off guard, you never mentioned her.” Prompto stated hurried before he seemed to have an idea. “I’ll be right back.”

Before you could say anything, he was already out the door. You could only stare in shock, it was too much to get your hopes up. Still, you straighten your spine and moved back into the living room, you and Filia had survived 3 years without anyone, and you knew that you could do it longer.

“What you watching?” You called, happy your voice didn’t break as you moved beside her on the couch.

“My Little Chocobo.” She smiled handing you the tablet, before crawling into your lap so you could watch together.

Imagination your surprise when halfway through the episode you heard another knock at your door. Setting Filia down you moved over to the door, only to open and see Prompto a panting mess holding a large gift bag.

“Sor..sorry it took so long. I wasn’t sure who she’d like more, so I got them all. If that’s okay?” He replied double over, panting horribly. “I felt so bad coming over with nothing for her.”

You were in such shock, that you stepped aside allowing the man into the house, before calling out to Filia, “Sweetie, Prompto has something for you.”

“I saw you liked My Little Chocobo.” He smiled kneeling before her, handing her the gift bag.

You watched as Filia took the bag, before pulling out a Chocobo, Tonberry, and Moogle plush from My Little Chocobo. Her eyes widen before she beamed to Prompto then to you.

“What do you say?”

“Thank you Pomto.”

You gasped as she butchered his name, only to have your boyfriend laugh, “You can call me Pom.”

“Thank you, Pom!” She giggled, cuddling her new plush toys.

“So can you tell me their names?” Prompto asked sitting down before her.

You couldn’t stop the huge smile on your face as your daughter begun to discuss her beloved show with your boyfriend.

~~~~~

Gladiolus

You knew you must have looked silly, but watching your boyfriend, or would it be best now to call him fiancee, was laying on the couch. One large hand holding a book, the other resting protectively on the back of your daughter, who was fast asleep on his chest.

You were immediately filled with so much dread when you started dating again, and then to have Gladiolus walk into your life. It was almost a shock to learn this all over again, for two years it was just you and Filia against the world. You were so worried that they would hate each other, and that you would have to wait until she was older to try this again.

Only to find those two were peas in a pod! That had taken to one another automatically. Whenever Gladiolus wasn’t around you were questioned when Gladiolus would come over. Or how Gladiolus would sometimes deflate when he noticed that Filia was at daycare.

You did know that one of the top reasons was when Gladiolus immediately realized that she like Sweet Peas, the scent and the flower when he took you both to the botanical gardens and begun to refer to her as such. The smile on her face was amazing the first time he nuzzled her and called her such.

You often recalled that evening when it had snowed so bad that you couldn’t get to Filia’s daycare to pick her up from your job. Calling Gladiolus in a panic, since he had become one of her emergency contacts, should you need to have him pick her up, or they couldn’t reach you.

Gladiolus had actually taken off work and brought her to his family house, which was closer and better suited for the weather, where you could get her. Only to find that the Amicitias had basically adopted her in the time she had been there, and when you both were finally able to get back to your apartment a few days later, you were told for weeks the amount of fun that was had, from all sides.

 All the time Clarus would ask about her or beam around the Citadel about how smart Filia was. Or Iris constantly having adorable plushies ready and waiting for their “Girls Nights” when Iris would babysit. You even had that cute picture of the three of you dressed as Moogles for the costume party.

She had become the Amicitia’s Sweet Pea, you had actually begun to slip up yourself and would often find yourself calling her Sweet Pea. People in the Citadel actually all thought that was her name, the first time you both picked up Gladiolus for dinner one evening.

Yet what made you even happier was that when Gladiolus had proposed to you, he had then got down on one knee and proposed to Filia as well knowing that you were both a package deal.

Only for the little one to look up to you with a bright smile, the to Gladiolus, “Mommy, we’re Ami-city-tia, just like Daddy!”

Filia had never called Gladiolus anything but Gladdy, and when you thought it was a slip of the tongue, you asked her to repeat herself. Only for her to point toward Gladiolus and loudly proclaim “Daddy” again and again. You never thought you’d see Gladiolus cry, but that day, he swept you up both up in a bear hug and pressed a kiss to both your cheeks.

It was made even better of how you broke the news to the rest of your new family. Having little Filia walk up to greet Clarus after a hard day of work, her little arms reaching for him, while Clarus had already knelt to greet her, with his same call of SweetPea. Only to be instead immediately be called “Granddad!” in return. It didn’t stop the elder Amicitia from his hug, if anything it intensified it, and he proudly paraded his Granddaughter around the Citadel, even rubbing it in the King’s face about how perfect his Grandaughter was.

Amicitia men are criers when they become emotional, and huggers. Auntie Iris made certain to warn you both of the upcoming wedding.

So now to watch your small world expand into more, it made you even more excited about the future you would have.

~~~~~

Ignis

You moved Ignis into the kitchen as he held the large bags of food for tonight’s dinner. Only to stop as he noticed the small one on the couch.

“I wasn’t aware you had a guest.” Ignis called.

“Actually, Ignis this is my daughter Filia.”

Ignis blinked before turning to you, then back to your daughter who was staring at the tall man. “Pardon me, your daughter?”

“Yes,” You stated rather uncertain, as you moved over to your daughter plucking her from the couch. Yet her eyes never strayed from Ignis, if anything she seemed to be on a gyroscope, her focus 100% on Ignis. “Filia it’s rude to stare, sweetheart.”

“Mommy, he looks nice.”

Ignis seemed to have found his voice, as he reached his hand out, “It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss. Filia.” He replied as she reached out taking his hand, only for Ignis to place a kiss on the back of knuckles.

“Mommy!” She gasped, turning toward you. “His voice is pretty.”

You flushed as Ignis chuckled, “Shall we get started on dinner, My Dear?”

It kind of confused Ignis at first to have an audience while cooking, yet lucky this audience didn’t seem too picky as others and was actually rather entertained to watch him cook. “Miss Filia, would you please hand me the orange?”

The young lady sitting on her high chair looked around before pointing toward the round fruit, “This?”

“Yes, you are a very smart young lady,” Ignis called, getting a pleasing giggle and smile from his audience who handed him the orange.

It wasn’t often now that you wouldn’t be surprised to find Ignis over your apartment on his days off, preparing dinner with Filia. He would help get her dress and had become rather well at getting her ready, despite the tantrums she could throw.

You even giggled, when out shopping one day, that she pointed at a can of Ebony, and when, “Mommy, Iggy is out!” Which was true, you had run out of Ebony at the house and wanted to pick up more.

“Mommy, you not doing it like Iggy,” Filia whined as you attempted to tye the large bow in her hair for today’s outing.

“Oh, and how does Ignis do it?”

“Perfectly.” She stated.

Ignis chuckled, stepping into the bathroom where the two of you were finishing up, “Thank you, Pug.” He called taking the bow from you, before tying it just right in her hair. “Is that better?”

“Indeed.” She smiled, reaching for Ignis to pick her up, Ignis really did extend her vocabulary you’d have to give him that.

You gave a playful pout, only for Ignis to kiss your temple, and escorting you both to the door. “Are we meeting the boys today?”

“Yes, they want to check out the lights in the zoo,” Ignis replied, helping you into your coat, followed by assist Filia. “We shouldn’t need her full winter gear, yet I’ll grab her mittens just in case. Shall we care to bring along a snack as well, Puggle?”

“Yes, please.”

You giggled, Ignis had stated that Filia was much easier to handle rather than some nameless Prince, yet he still loved her all the same.

“Iggy,” Filia called, holding out her hand, which Ignis took quickly, as you locked up. “Mommy.”

You took her free hand as you both moved towards the awaiting car.

[mermaidsirennikita]

February 2018 Book Roundup

I’d that this was a pretty diverse month for me in terms of reading.  Sure, there was plenty of my traditional fantasy in there, but I also went through a biography, some contemporary YA, a historical fiction novel about Eleanor Roosevelt, alt-history, and some very silly (but very enjoyable) contemporary romance.  My favorite book of the month was probably Purple Hearts, the conclusion of Michael Grant’s Front Lines trilogy--but I’d be lying if I said that one of those romance novels didn’t rival it.  Unfortunately, my least favorite book was that aforementioned Eleanor Roosevelt book.  But hey, I tried it.

Purple Hearts by Michael Grant.  4/5.  The final book in Grant’s Front Lines/Soldier Girls trilogy, Purple Hearts sees Silver Star recipients Rio, Rainy, and Frangie return to the European front in World War II.  Rio is battle-hardened and growing increasingly fearful--not of what she faces at war, but how she, a girl very good at soldiering, will adjust to life afterwards.  Rainy is undercover and subjected to horrors that have a deeply personal ring as she deals with the guilt of surviving, killing, and becoming even colder than she already was.  Frangie is struggling with her faith, saving many as a medic but losing more--in ways that she wouldn’t have imagined.  This series--a take on World War II with the premise that girls were allowed to enlist and be drafted in America--really was way better and far more realistic than it had a right to be.  There were clumsy moments, largely because Grant is (I assume) a guy trying to be as inclusive as possible.  But you know--even when certain scenes came off as a bit awkward, I appreciated the diversity.  And the fact is that you have different reasons to bond with each of our leads, and the people they care about.  I’ll always have a soft spot for Rio most of all, because she embodies that “naive innocent turned into a battle-hardened killer” character type I love so much.  But Frangie goes through so fucking much in this book (they all do, but Frangie seemed like such an optimist at first) and even Rainy, the heroine I had the most difficulty connecting with, finally opens up and becomes a fully-realized character.  “Purple Hearts” struck me as the most brutal book in the trilogy, and there are a lot of horrific scenes throughout.  But it was ultimately very satisfying, and a great end to the series.

Empress of the East by Leslie Peirce.  4/5.  Hurrem Sultan, also known as Roxelana, was the first woman in centuries to legally wed an Ottoman sultan, thus becoming an essential empress.  However, like any concubine, she began life as a slave before catching the eye of Suleyman the Magnificent and beginning one of history’s greatest love affairs--that would result in six children and a fundamental change in Ottoman politics.  Peirce has to make a lot of assumptions when writing this book--little is known about Hurrem, referred to by the name Roxelana in this biography.  But she sticks to accuracy whenever possible, and none of her assumptions are all that out there to me.  I’d call this more popular than academic history, but if you’re looking to get into the history of Hurrem and the Ottoman Empire, I think it’s a great start.

Shadowsong by S. Jae-Jones.  4/5.  Six months after leaving her husband, the Goblin King, behind in the Underground, Liesl is attempting to make something out of her life.  Yet her brother Josef, a gifted musician, hasn’t responded to any of her letters and she finds herself unable to compose.  After receiving a proposal from a mysterious benefactor, Liesl goes to further her career in Vienna, only to realize that the boundaries between our world and the Goblin King’s are deteriorating at an alarming rate, and something is seriously wrong with her brother.  Liesl must return to the Underground to figure out what’s going on--but can she do so without losing her sanity?  This book... is a lot.  It’s beautifully written, incredibly dark at points, and takes a pretty bold turn.  Liesl’s story in “Wintersong” was really of self-discovery and sexual awakening, whereas here the story revolves--fairy stuff aside--around her mental condition and her relationship with Josef.  Along with a bit of Goblin King backstory for good measure.  And for the most part, I’d say it’s successful.  Yes, there were points where I was like “honestly Liesl should probably do something rather than thinking about how bad shit is” but... “Wintersong” wasn’t a very plot-driven book either, so I can’t say that I felt that plot was meant to be a priority in the sequel.  It’s all sort of delightfully eerie and morally ambiguous, holdovers from “Wintersong”. But it was missing the Goblin King.  Again, I feel that this book was very ambitious and super interesting and enjoyable, but it was missing something that made me absolutely adore “Wintersong”.  And I’m not ashamed to admit that that something was the Goblin King and all the emo sex he had with Liesl.  There were definitely points where I almost felt like Jones was trying to push back against the fact that most of the praise surrounding “Wintersong” was around how hot her male “hero” (................ ish) was, but I’ve got to say that that story did seem a bit more effortless to read.  Basically, I wouldn’t change the plot of “Shadowsong”, I think it’s a really good book and followup, but I would add more Goblin King and I’m not ashamed to admit it.  Still, I really loved it and was overall satisfied with the book.

Immortal Reign by Morgan Rhodes.  4/5.  I’m not going to bother on a summary for this because it’s the conclusion to a 6 (?) book series that is all very convoluted.  Essentially, Immortal Reign takes all of the characters we’ve followed and concludes their stories in the expected ways, and while I wouldn’t say that the Falling Kingdoms series is good, exactly... it does what it came here to do.  It’s a very trope-y Game of Thrones for teens type thing with a feisty princess and a brooding dark prince at the center taking up the actual plot (which involves some elemental gods or whatever) with their arranged marriage angsty sexual tension shenanigans and honestly?  It’s fun.  All’s well that ends well.

Anatomy of a Scandal by Sarah Vaughan.  2/5.  Sophie, a cossetted politician’s wife, is shocked when her husband James revealed that he had an affair with a young employee.  James is charismatic and prominent, and though Sophie can believe that the affair happened, she doesn’t believe what comes next--the reveal that James allegedly raped the woman he was sleeping with.  Kate, an experienced lawyer, is ready to prosecute James, completely convinced of his guilt.  But which woman is right?  I honestly debated doing one or two stars here, and I think I went with two because I get what the author is going for.  But like... here’s the thing.  We know which woman is right.  We know from the start, especially after James’s perspective is introduced (side note: the way the POVs were handled seemed wonky).  I’m all about the issue of rape being handled in fiction, especially when we’re talking about charismatic politicians.  It’s very relevant.  But the thing is that there is room for doubt in some cases; a very, very small amount, sure.  However, there’s a reason why trials happen in rape cases.  (Unfortunately, those trials often don’t end as they should, but that’s another issue.)  There should have been doubt in a book that touted itself as a thriller, but all I got was preachiness and a “twist” that... did not... impress me.  Kate’s perspective was incredibly holier than thou--so even though I agreed with her beliefs, I felt like I was being *told* how to feel rather than convinced through the story or writing.  Like, obviously I should agree with everything Kate says.  Obviously.  Also, the writing just wasn’t great--slow and strange at times.  The descriptions of people were weird.  Like, way to take your novel about a feminist issue and describe the evil defense attorney in a way that is suggestive of her weight--she’s described as a “weighty” woman who “plumps” herself down.  Which... whatever.  Good idea, downright unintelligent and uninspired execution that probably would have been more interesting if we focused solely on Sophie’s point of view.

White Houses by Amy Bloom.  2/5.  Lorena Hickock tells the story of her decades-long love affair with first lady Eleanor Roosevelt.  Though American history has never been my jam, I was intrigued because the existence of Eleanor’s affair with “Hick” is debated to this day, despite a lot of evidence towards the fact that Eleanor was a) interested in women and b) in love with Hick, and vice versa.  And this should have been so interesting.  Not only is there the inherent interest factor of a first lady having an affair--and with another woman in the early twentieth century, at that--but Eleanor was a multi-dimensional, controversial woman married to a controversial man (who had plenty of affairs of his own).  But Amy Bloom’s writing style and characterization of Hick (who had a horrific childhood that was handled... I don’t know, rather coldly, by the writing style) just sucked the life out of everything.  I won’t say that there weren’t some pretty moments and I feel like the approach to depicting a long relationship was good, but this was too boring.

Let’s Talk About Love by Claire Kann.  3/5.  Alice has recently suffered yet another bad breakup--and the reason why her girlfriend dumped her is especially painful.  Biromantic and asexual, Alice struggles to communicate to her partners how she feels, and how her romantic attraction to them doesn’t mean that she experiences sexual attraction.  Right after proclaiming that she’s done with dating, Alice meets the handsome, kind Takumi, and is immediately head over heels.  But does she dare tell him about her feelings--and her sexuality?  This book was definitely hard for me to rate, because in all honesty...  I didn’t really like it.  I didn’t really hate it, either.  It was fine.  The representation is so important that I feel like I can’t not recommend it--Alice is black, biromantic, and asexual.  That’s huge.  I don’t know if the author is asexual or not--I know she’s black--so I can’t speak to how the book handles asexuality (another reason why I wasn’t sure how to rate it) but I did appreciate that race wasn’t ignored in the book.  The thing is that while Takumi was very cute, much of the book felt more like a Tumblr spiel than a story.  Alice has a right to have her feelings hurt by the fact that her girlfriend doesn’t want to be with her; but I also felt like the girlfriend was a bit demonized for wanting to feel sexually desired, and the fact is that... that’s okay.  Alice’s friends seem to say the right things a bit too often, especially considering how little the average person knows about asexuality.  Alice herself annoyed the shit out of me, for reasons that had nothing to do with her sexuality--she was just so fucking cutesy, and in all honesty I had a hard time believing that a girl her age thought the way she did.  It also felt as if that fed into the perception of ace people as these fairy-like unicorn types who love all things soft and cute, which...  I don’t know.  Maybe an ace person would read this and say otherwise.  I’m not ace, so I have no idea. Basically: good idea, not so sure about the execution, great rep.  Important, but perhaps a little too After School Special for me.

The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden.  3/5.  Following the events of The Bear and the Nightingale, Vasya is left with two choices: marry, or join a convent.  Spirited--and still being mentored on some level by the frost demon Morozko--Vasya is quickly gains the esteem of the Prince of Moscow after a battle with bandits.  But that leaves her disguising her gender, an d in more danger than ever before.  I remember liking The Bear and the Nightingale--but I’m not sure that it left a huge impression on me, because I felt like I was going into this book blind.  I remember the characters--it’s a big cast--but I wasn’t excited about anything but Vasya and Morozko.  I don’t know, it all came off as a bit slow to me.  Beautifully written and interesting, but slow.  I plan on giving it another shot at some point.

From Lukov with Love by Mariana Zapata.  4/5.  At twenty-six, Jasmine is past her prime as a figure skater, and her pairs partner’s abrupt departure has caused her to miss a season.  She should be thrilled to be asked to partner last-minute with Ivan Lukov, the current world champion--but Ivan is also her best friend’s older brother, and her arch nemesis since she was a teenager.  He’s arrogant and stuck-up; she’s got a chip on her shoulder.  It’s a romance novel.  We know what’s going to happen.  But this was one of the most fun love/hate romance novels I’ve read in a while.  Honestly, there’s nothing INCREDIBLY deep going on here--the stakes are relatively low, there aren’t any major obstacles or even a last minute shocking reveal~.  Ivan and Jasmine really just need to stop being assholes to each other and fucking skate.  Also, make out.  But it’s such a fun book.  Like, the writing is nothing spectacular--there’s some repetition and awkward descriptions--but the leads’ chemistry keeps it together and I pretty much wolfed the book down.

The Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana Zapata.  3/5.  For two years, Vanessa has been the long-suffering personal, assistant of football star Aiden Graves, who acts as if she doesn’t exist.  Fed up with being taken for granted, Vanessa quits--only to have Aiden show up on her doorstep, asking her to marry him.  A Canadian, Aiden is in danger of having his visa expire, and the easiest way for him to stay in the U.S.--the only way he’ll accept--is through marriage, and Vanessa is the best potential (fake) wife.  After Aiden promises to pay off her student loans and buy her a house, she agrees--but can she keep her real feelings at bay?  Another cheesy but charming romance from Zapata, but this one I found a good bit less compelling.  It was likable, sure, but I didn’t feel the chemistry between Aiden and Vanessa on the same level that I did Ivan and Jasmine’s in the above book.  For that matter, while Aiden wasn’t as nasty to Vanessa as Ivan was to Jasmine--well, Jasmine dished it as well as she took it.  Vanessa, on the other hand, was just a doormat as Aiden had her wash his sheets, cook for him, basically handle everything an adult should handle... while acting like she didn’t exist.  It certainly diminished Aiden’s appeal, though I didn’t hate him.  Again, it was fun, but not nearly as good as From Lukov with Love.

[aerosmiley219]

@jenjeahaly​ suggested I do Josh and CJ for the ship Meme thingy, too, so I did (I’ve got nothing else going on today so why the hell not?)

ULTIMATE SHIP MEME!

Send in two (or more) names and I’ll fill all this out about the ship!

General:

Rate the Ship -  Awful | Ew | No pics pls | I’m not comfortable | Alright | I like it! | Got Pics? | Let’s do it! | Why is this not getting more attention?! | The OTP to rule all other OTPs

How long will they last? – Forever.  They realize marriage isn’t easy but they work at it and realize that it’s worth it and they really do love each other

How quickly did/will they fall in love? –  I think they realized it after being playful and flirty for a  while.  Like “okay this could actually be a thing” and it works

How was their first kiss? – Kind of awkward but only for a minute (he starts it and she goes “uhh, wtf… OMG Yes!”)

Wedding:

Who proposed? – He did. And it was romantic and sweet and she felt like a princess

Who is the best man/men? – Sam (I know, I know. But their Bromance is too strong to deny), Toby (for CJ), and a cousin/nephew/one of CJ’s brothers?

Who is the bride’s maid(s)? – Hogan, Donna (not awkward at all- she’s with Lieutenant Commander Jack Reese and they’re madly in love), and Carol

Who did the most planning? – CJ

Who stressed the most? - Josh

How fancy was the ceremony? – Back of a pickup truck | 2 | 3 | 4 | Normal Church Wedding | 6 | 7 | 8 |  9 | Kate and William wish they were this big. *He insisted on it

Who was specifically not invited to the wedding? – Mandy and Amy

Sex:

Who is on top? – They switch.  It all depends on the time and place and mood, etc.  But I like CJ as being the one giving orders (if that’s what this meant?)

Who is the one to instigate things? – I want to say it’d be equal but I feel like Josh might have a higher libido?  But she never says no cuz it’s just *so* damn good.  So they’re a match set!

How healthy is their sex life? - Barely touch themselves let alone each other | 2 | 3 | 4 | Once a couple weeks, nothing overboard | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | They are humping each other on the couch right now *It’s extremely healthy (the last option doesn’t make it sound healthy. It makes them sound like nymphomaniacs and that’s not healthy.)

How kinky are they? - Straight missionary with the lights off | 2 | 3 | 4 | Might try some butt stuff and toys | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Don’t go into the sex dungeon without a horse’s head *And I’ve got fic to prove it!!! And that’s not to say they don’t enjoy vanilla sex, because they do!  But I’m in LOVE with the idea that CJ tops/Dommes him regularly (again, fic to prove it)

How long do they normally last? – It all depends.  They can do quickies or an hour making love.  

Do they make sure each person gets an equal amount of orgasms? – Of course.  But then again, sometimes they do for one another and don’t expect anything in return (*cough cough* healthy relationship).  Although I feel like Josh would be more giving, almost to a fault.  

How rough are they in bed? - Softer than a butterfly on the back of a bunny | 2 | 3 | 4 | The bed’s shaking and squeaking every time | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Their dirty talk is so vulgar it’d make Dwayne Johnson blush. Also, the wall’s so weak it could collapse the next time they do it. *All of the above.  It all depends. (Again, he submits to CJ.  Could be fun, right?)

How much cuddling/snuggling do they do? - No touching after sex | 2 | 3 | 4 | A little spooning at night, or on the couch, but not in public | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | They snuggle and kiss more often than a teen couple on their fifth date to a pillow factory. *Again, all of the above (not a cop-out, they’re versatile)

Children:

How many children will they have naturally? – 2 little girls that Josh fawns over

How many children will they adopt? – none. Even though CJ wanted to adopt a boy because she wanted Josh to be happy but Josh finally helped her understand that as long as his babies were happy and healthy that’s all that mattered

Who gets stuck with the most diapers? – Josh really works at it so I think it’s equal. (and “getting stuck”? nah.)

Who is the stricter parent? – CJ. They’ve got him wrapped around their little fingers and no matter how hard he tries, his heart melts when they smile at him.

Who stops the kid(s) from doing dangerous stunts after school? – CJ. Josh is still a big kid at heart

Who remembers to pack the lunch(es)? – Josh. He loves taking care of his girls

Who is the more loved parent? – NO. I hate this question!  They’re both LOVED.

Who is more likely to attend the PTA meetings? – Both of them.     Education is important

Who cried the most at graduation? – CJ.    

Who is more likely to bail the child(ren) out of trouble with the law? – Josh.  But I feel like they would both equally make sure the kid learned the lesson?

Cooking: 

Who does the most cooking? – CJ.  But Josh tries to help?

Who is the most picky in their food choice? – Josh.  Even though he’s well-traveled, like CJ is, he still “likes what he likes.”  But, he tries to be more open so the girls don’t have any bias.

Who does the grocery shopping? – I think they try to do it as a family activity.  But I see CJ doing that more often, tbh

How often do they bake desserts? – A few times a year.

Are they more of a meat lover or a salad eater? – I like to think they have a salad with every meal (and meat with every meal… so… equal?)

Who is more likely to surprise the other(s) with an anniversary dinner? – Josh. Gotta keep it romantical. Plus she’s usually cooking so he tries to make it extra special

Who is more likely to suggest going out? – Josh.  That way he     feels like he’s contributing! LOL!! Actually, I think it’s Josh because he just wants to relax with his wife and family

Who is more likely to burn the house down accidentally while cooking? – CJ. She’s no Martha Stewart but she tries!

Chores: 

Who cleans the room? – Well, Josh tries.  But CJ usually ends up     finishing where he leaves off? (Ugh, I sound gross but it’s not how I mean it)

Who is really against chores? – I feel like they’re equally into getting their girls to do chores

Who cleans up after the pets? – Josh.

Who is more likely to sweep everything under the rug? – Josh

Who stresses the most when guests are coming over? – CJ.

Who found a dollar between the couch cushions while cleaning? -  Josh. I feel like he’d be the lucky SOB who’d find a twenty and go “I earned this” (again, joking)

Misc:

Who takes the longer showers/baths? – Hmm.  I think I’m going to go with CJ.  But I think they both enjoy the solitude of either. (And shower sex is *always* a yes!)

Who takes the dog out for a walk? – They go as a family

How often do they decorate the room/house for the holidays? – They do it less and less as their girls age.  But they *always* decorate for     Christmas and Hanukah.

What are their goals for the relationship? – Fun. Openness.

Who is most likely to sleep till noon? – Josh. CJ gets domestic on weekends and he is finally able to just let down

Who plays the most pranks? – Josh. He’s playful and that’s one thing she REALLY loves about him

[staystrange]

happy halloveen | chapter 3: bonus

Jake and Amy’s individual POVs of the HalloVeen episode, but with way more backstory, plus a bonus chapter. I just wish the episode was longer than twenty minutes so the writers could have fit even more details into the episode!! But since they couldn’t, I wrote them myself : )

read on ao3 | ff.net | wattpad

Jake and Amy were the last to leave Shaw’s that night.

They didn’t even notice that everyone had left at first; they were too busy with each other, still absorbing the fact that they were actually engaged. Charles was treating everyone to drinks in celebration of their engagement, and normally Jake never passed up free drinks, but tonight was certainly not normal. He turned away from the bar after just two beers; he wanted to remember every single second of this, and there was no way he’d be able to if he didn’t stay sober. It was hard for Jake to care when Amy was replacing every drink he would have had with kisses and “I love you”s.

Amy. She’d barely left his side all night, leaning into Jake when he gently wrapped his arm around her shoulders. She too was insistent on remembering this night at Shaw’s, so the squad only got to see One-Drink Amy that night, much to Rosa’s disappointment. “Going out for drinks isn’t any fun if you guys don’t drink,” she mumbled, but even she couldn’t hide the grin threatening to emerge on her lips.

Everyone in the squad had snuck occasional (constant, in Charles’s case) glances at the newly-engaged couple throughout the night, but Jake and Amy only had eyes for each other.  For Jake, the way her eyes shone brighter than the stars (whether from the light in the bar or from the tears or both, Jake couldn’t tell), the way her hair was just slightly rumpled from when he ran his fingers through her hair, and the way her fingers were threaded through his own, the two stones on the ring glittering. For Amy, the way he couldn’t keep that one dopey expression of disbelief off of his face; the way he couldn’t stop saying, “oh my God, you’re my fiancée” over and over again; and the way he unconsciously rubbed circles into her back, tethering her back to reality when she got lost in daydreams about what their wedding would be like. Granted, she did already have a wedding binder prepared at home, but there was no shame in adding to it.

The night had been spent talking about their relationship, slow dancing together on the makeshift dance floor to super cheesy songs, and just enjoying the company of everyone around them. The Nine-Nine were Jake and Amy’s family, and they were so happy they were sharing this milestone in their lives with them.

Eventually, the night crept into morning, and the bar had to close. Jake and Amy were both genuinely surprised at how much time had passed without them noticing and at the fact that everyone had left without saying goodbye (“We did!” Charles protested later when Jake asked him about it. “You guys were just too focused on each other to hear us.” Rosa backed him up.) When the bartender that night apologetically told them that they had to leave, they both just smiled, grabbed their jackets, and walked out of the bar, hands swinging between them.

When they arrived home, Jake took off his jacket and watched as Amy carefully hung hers up in the small coat closet by the front door of the apartment. He wanted more than anything to just make out with her (and, most likely, more, at least if Amy wanted to), but more than that, he just wanted to talk to her with the covers pulled over them, their bodies radiating heat. Amy turned to him, smiling when she saw him just standing there, lost in thought, that dopey expression back on his face.

“What are you thinking about, babe?” Amy asked, smiling softly at Jake.

“Just how much I love you,” he replied. He hung up his jacket and took Amy’s hand. “Want to lie down for a while?”

Amy raised her eyebrows suggestively, but Jake shook his head, and Amy nodded. “Sure.”

Amy let him lead her to their bed, pulling the perfectly made covers back and gesturing to the spot where Amy slept every night. Jake climbed into the other side of the bed, and Amy gently lay her head down against his chest. Her right arm was hidden by the thick blankets, but she proudly displayed her left hand in between them, changing the angle of her hand so the light reflected pretty patterns from the ring onto the walls. “How long did you have this planned?” she said quietly.

“Well,” Jake began, “as I said earlier, I got the general idea on April 28. But I didn’t think of the actual proposal idea until I was in prison.” Amy audibly gasped, and Jake bit his lip in thought, the memories of his time in jail still fresh and vivid in his mind. “Planning the intricate details of it got me through each day I was locked in there.”

“Babe,” Amy said, reaching for his right hand with her left, the ring cold against his skin. “That’s all over now. What matters is that you’re safe and that we’re together and that we’re going to spend the rest of our lives together.” She couldn’t help but grin.

“Heck yeah we are!” Jake replied. “But yeah, I had a whole document filled with ideas before I left; I would have made an idea binder for you to keep afterward, but you would have discovered it and figured my plans out in about five seconds, so I hid it on my laptop instead. Not as fun, but definitely more practical. I can’t believe it took me until I was alone in prison to think of proposing on Halloween. I couldn’t believe I had actually managed to think of the perfect proposal idea. And the worst part was that I didn’t have any paper to write on. Do you know how difficult it is to plan something without paper to write on? It’s difficult, let me tell you.” His eyes softened. “But seriously, I just kept reminding myself that whether I stayed there for a month or fifteen years, you would still be here when I got back, and I would propose to you during the next Halloween Heist.”

“And you did.” Amy glanced down at the ring on her finger.

“Yeah.” Jake beamed. “I did.” He looked down at their intertwined fingers, rubbing his thumb gently over the soft skin of her hand.

“You know, I didn’t expect to ever get engaged,” Amy said suddenly, Jake looking up at her with crinkled skin between his furrowed eyebrows, “at least not to someone I actually loved.” She took a deep breath before continuing. “I always thought being truly happy about getting married was only for beautiful, perfect girls with perfect lives who found their fairytale happy ending while they were still really young.” She pulled her hand away from Jake’s for a moment to tuck her hair behind both of her ears, returning her hand to its place in his once she finished. “When I turned thirty, I thought that was it for me. Every relationship I’d ever had was so wrong, like, it looked good to everyone else, but to me, I felt like I was forcing myself to love every single one of those men. I would keep the relationship going with them until it felt like it was getting too serious, at which point I would come up with some dumb excuse to break up and plan it out so I didn’t upset the guy too much. Sometimes, they even broke up with me first. They told me I was too nerdy, too weird, too obsessed with Jeopardy! for her own good.” Her next breath was shaky, whether from sadness or happiness, she couldn’t tell. “When I started dating Teddy, I knew a few months in that I didn’t love him, but I figured he was my best option. I was all set to let him propose to me and call it quits, but then you swooped in and ruined everything.” She grinned, and so did Jake.

“Ruined everything, huh?”

“Mmhmm,” Amy replied. “But then I fell in love with you, and I finally understood what people meant when they talked about love. And then you proposed, and now I’m getting the happy ending I never even dreamed that I could have.” Jake kissed her temple gently, pulling her closer. “Sorry that I just brought all of that up and ruined our perfect night.”

“Who said anything about tonight be ruined? And who said ruining something was a bad thing?” Jake pointed out, and Amy laughed. “Thank you for sharing that with me.”

“Thank you for finally getting your act together and kissing me in the evidence room,” Amy replied.

“Thank you for putting up with my crazy.”

“Thank you for putting up with my crazy.”

“I love you, Amy.”

“Noice. Smort. I love you too, Jake.”

“Hey, I just realized,” Jake said suddenly. “We need to cross ‘get engaged’ off of the life plan.” He reached into the drawer in his bedside table, shuffling everything around a bit until he found a Sharpie. He carefully stood up on the bed, pulling Amy to her feet beside him. “Would you like to do the honors?”

“I would love to,” Amy replied. She took the Sharpie from Jake’s hand and filled in the box next to the words “get engaged”. A tear slipped down her cheek, and Jake immediately wiped it away.

Amy handed the Sharpie back to Jake, and they jumped off of the bed and onto the floor. “I think we should celebrate. Want a drink?” Amy asked.

“Ames, I thought we weren’t getting drunk tonight.”

“Who said anything about alcohol?” Amy replied, smirking. She ran into the kitchen and returned with an unopened bottle of orange soda and two cups.

Jake had never loved her more.

1. I don't remember what I originally had planned for this, but I'm definitely happy with how it came out. 2. I'm sorry that it's so short, but I hope that the fluffiness makes up for it : ) 3. This is the end of this little series, but I'm starting a "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" and "The Good Place" crossover fic that should have its first chapter up next week, and I have a heck of a lot more planned for after that. Seriously, you guys have no idea how long my list of ideas is.

Thank you guys so much for reading as always!! If you have a request for a fic or just want to say hi, send me an ask or a message : )

[usnewsaggregator-blog]

Claes Oldenburg Is (Still) Changing What Art Looks Like

New Post has been published on http://usnewsaggregator.com/claes-oldenburg-is-still-changing-what-art-looks-like/

Claes Oldenburg Is (Still) Changing What Art Looks Like

Yet when compared to the ice-cold irony of Warhol’s silkscreens or the colorful exuberance of paintings by James Rosenquist, Tom Wesselmann or Rosalyn Drexler, Oldenburg’s work, especially his enduring innovation — rendering sculpture literally soft, through re-creations of everyday things (ice cream cones, typewriters, toilets) that sag from the wall or bag on the floor — looked, and still look, like marvelous reprobates. In the Pop room of any museum gallery, they smirk and slouch and revel in playing at art, seeming to be both the comedians and the clinical depressives.

The latter half of his career, after he grew restless with the art world and moved into cartoonish public sculpture, collaborating with his second wife, the art historian Coosje van Bruggen (who died in 2009), has somewhat obscured his outré spirit — in part because many of the outdoor works, funny and toylike, have become so civically beloved. “Spoonbridge and Cherry,” a red cherry balanced on an enormous spoon, made in steel and aluminum and installed in 1988 in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, is among the most photographed artworks in America, the backdrop for untold thousands of silly selfies. Its fans would likely blanch to learn that among Oldenburg’s early public-art proposals was an idea even creepier than the hole: speakers that would have broadcast a piercing nightly scream through the streets of Manhattan at 2 a.m. As he wrote in one of the lesser-quoted passages from his most famous piece of writing, 1961’s half-satirical manifesto “I Am For …”: “I am for the art that comes up in fogs from sewer holes in winter. I am for the art that splits when you step on a frozen puddle. I am for the worm’s art inside the apple.”

Photo

Oldenburg working out in his studio. Behind him is the work “Big Tools (Screwdriver, Pliers, Hammer),” 1985. Credit Pieter Hugo

THESE WORDS in mind, you don’t fully expect what greets you when you walk into the studio and home Oldenburg has kept on the still-gritty far west side of SoHo since 1971, a five-story warehouse where naval propellers were once manufactured. Inside, it’s as immaculate and organized as a museum. Surfaces gleam and light falls beautifully on the maquettes for public sculpture that line the walls. Slim in khakis and tennis shoes, Oldenburg was sitting in one of the large office spaces with an assistant and wasn’t able to get up to greet me. A fall last year broke his hip, forcing him to get around with a cane or by propelling himself across the floors on rolling office chairs. His daughter, Maartje Oldenburg, who spent most of her childhood in this rambling building and is now an expert on his career, had arrived just as I did, and we convened at a big table her father had piled with boxes of files, like a lawyer preparing for a deposition.

“I guess I was always an archivist,” he said, smiling, surveying the spread, his glasses and ponderous forehead giving him an owllike bearing.

Continue reading the main story

Unlike some overexamined artists of his generation, Oldenburg enjoys interviews, and he had been through this routine dozens of times before. But today he seemed to be in the mood for some serious retrospection: The first drawings he pulled from a folder were ones he made in middle school and high school in Chicago, where his father, Gosta, a Swedish diplomat, had moved the family in 1936 from Oslo upon being posted to the United States as a consul.

His daughter looked over the profusion of drawings protected by plastic sleeves and said: “I always think I’ve seen everything that’s here. But I’ve never seen these before.”

Amy Adams Greats Cover

Growing up in wartime Chicago gave Oldenburg, a bookish child of Europe, a firm purchase on America’s brashness, inseparable from its boorishness and brutality. That sense informed the ragtag, anxious nature of his early pieces, work that seems to gain political relevance with each passing year. His childhood drawings — schematics of war planes, storyboard cartoons, caricatures of classmates — aren’t anything special. But they immediately reveal three things: He was a preternaturally talented draftsman from the start; he was always wickedly funny; and he has always had an engineer’s passion for the built world. It’s no accident that many of his best drawings over the years have taken the form of grandly elaborate blueprints and architectural renderings, making him a charter member of what I like to think of as the schematic school of late Modernism (other members would include Bruce Nauman, Lee Lozano and Chris Burden).

Art didn’t really grab Oldenburg until he was an adult. “The Art Institute of Chicago was a mystery to me back in those years,” he said. “Where I’d go was the Field Museum and look at things rather than looking at art. I think I’ve really always been more interested in things than in anything else.”

At Yale, which he entered in 1946, he was drawn to literature and studied with the formalist critic Cleanth Brooks, but he was an eccentric student at best. “I actually left once before I graduated,” he said. “One day, I just got on a train and came to New York and sat on a park bench in front of City Hall and read ‘Moby-Dick.’ ” His early 20s were spent in a peripatetic drift that was equally Kerouacian: cub reporter in Chicago, sent to find bodies floating in the river; ad agency stint drawing insects for an insecticide company; dishwasher in Oakland, where he traded drawings for rent. In San Francisco he met the poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti, and in Los Angeles he feared for his life. “I sat next to two guys at a diner who were plotting a murder, honest to God. L.A. was really a terrifying place for me that first time.”

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Oldenburg has lived on the far west side of SoHo since the early ’70s. Credit Pieter Hugo

But his wandering, he said, gave him the courage to try New York. He moved there in 1956, and it was as if the city had been waiting for him. The Abstract Expressionist revolution was running low on gas. The year before, Robert Rauschenberg had made “Bed,” one of his first so-called combines, a melding of painting and sculpture, by drawing and splashing paint on his pillow and his patchwork quilt and stretching them on a wooden frame. Not long before, Jasper Johns had begun his edge-to-edge American flags, rendering an icon not as an image in a painting but as an object in itself. Formal orthodoxies were being detonated in studios all over Manhattan, and Oldenburg could feel the tremors.

“I felt like the Ab Ex painters weren’t saying very much, and I wanted work that would say something, be messy, be a little mysterious,” he said. “Nineteen fifty-nine was the turning point. I was painting these brushy paintings — figurative — and then, thankfully, it all just fell apart.”

Drawing on a longstanding interest in the primitivism of Jean Dubuffet and thinkers about ritual and symbolism like Sigmund Freud and his pupil Wilhelm Stekel, he began making raw pieces that seemed to come straight from the id. They included the first iterations of Ray Gun, a mutable symbol for himself roughly in the shape of a toy laser pistol, a form that continues to fascinate him to this day. (On a visit to the studio’s second floor, he came across a piece of cardboard with three ray-gun shapes on it that appeared to be old raisin cookies nibbled into shape and then glued down. “Not sure what this was for,” he said, looking it over quizzically.) His other alter-ego, my favorite, is a geometrically minimalist mouse head that evokes Mickey and the reels of a film projector, as well as a kind of twilight-zone Modernist future. This symbol took its most improbable physical form in his “Mouse Museum.” An obsessive collection of small pieces and punning found objects (plastic bananas in conversation with dildos), the museum was born in his studio and eventually came to inhabit a snug, vitrine-filled, gallery-size structure shaped like the mouse head, designed by him and van Bruggen; the collection has been periodically exhibited, including a showing at Documenta 5 in Kassel, Germany, in 1972.

In the space of less than five years, in the short-lived but highly fertile gallery scene that sprung up in the East Village and at the legendary Green Gallery on 57th Street, he helped birth not only Pop Art but performance art as well, in maniacal productions with sculpture as props, staged with his first wife, Patty, now Patty Mucha, and compatriots who would later go on to fame as well, like Lucas Samaras and Carolee Schneemann. At one of these performances, “World’s Fair II” (1962), Oldenburg hung a soft sculpture depicting an upside-down New York City skyline from the ceiling in front of an audience in a rented storefront. Many performances consisted of the artist and Patty rolling around or dancing on a debris-covered floor. Writing at the time, the poet Frank O’Hara observed that Oldenburg “actually does what is most often claimed wrongly in catalog blurbs: transform his materials into something magical and strange.”

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AS HE APPROACHES his ninth decade, Oldenburg has slowed his once-furious pace of productivity, but he is still at work on public projects and large-scale sculpture. He’s finishing a private commission in California called “Dropped Bouquet,” a colorful maquette of which sits in his studio, and he’ll have a show of new works at Pace Gallery this month in N.Y.C. His energy — some of which goes into a stationary bike he is using to strengthen his legs — remains remarkable. Nearing the end of the third hour of our interview, he kept trying and failing to bring it to a close, spotting other things to talk about, ferrying me up and down in the building’s creaky old freight elevator, big enough to fit a small car.

“I like living in the studio,” he said. “You have the ability to see everything. And you can always change things any way you want them.”

Unlike some other old masters of the New York downtown scene (Jasper Johns, who now lives in Connecticut; Rauschenberg, who died in 2008 and spent much of the later part of his life in Florida) Oldenburg has remained resolutely in the city that nourished his work, with only a couple of periods away in Los Angeles and France, where he and van Bruggen bought and renovated a chateau.

“I don’t get out as much anymore, but I feel like the city is here when I want it,” he said. His daughter, who remembers the scavenged toys she and her brother were allowed to choose from the heaping garbage barrels her father amassed for his work, told me, “It’s always kind of a mystery to me how things still work their way in here. He’s very good at keeping things that he wants to use for later.”

As if to prove her point, he took us to see some small assemblage works he has been tinkering with, simple but unruly arrangements of inconsequential junk on small metal shelves. One in progress consisted of not much more than a cardboard figure of a pinup girl, a brown foam Berenstain Bears novelty headband, some paint-dipped stirrers and a piece of red rope. It looked unaccountably like a deconstructed view of Cezanne’s bathers.

“I put things here and I look at them for a long time and if they don’t belong, well, they’ll get up and walk.” He stared intently at a small plastic toy ladybug, perched tentatively on the edge of the conglomeration. “I told her to get lost,” he said, “but she’s still here.” Hopefully, he added, “Maybe she’ll stay.”

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