#when one of the bugs.. disappears... the next one to show up just. inherits the unused name lmao

[brazen-art]

Gang's on the move

(a pipe burst in the hoard storage room)

[mosylufanfic]

The Game’s Afoot

Merry Christmas, @halflingmerry! I was your Secret Santa! You asked for a modern James Bond/Lara Croft AU, and I hope this delivers.

The Game's Afoot  

Report: Target arrived in town. She has been supplying herself for an excursion, indicating a local temple she wishes to investigate. The consensus is that she's just another bored, rich tourist who will probably die in the jungle.

Reply: Proceed as you see fit.

**

Jyn hired a guide in Merida. Tenoch spoke very little English, but Jyn's map and pesos communicated for her very well. He gave her a skeptical look when he saw the destination, but she added more pesos to the pile and he shrugged. 

They made good time the first day. She checked her GPS after they made camp for the night and did some calculations. If they kept this up, they were about two days out from the temple, which was what she'd planned for.

The satellite signal on her phone was a little shaky this far into the jungle but she could still get a video feed of her foster brother, Bodhi. "Oh good," he said when he saw her face. "You haven't been eaten by a jaguar."

"The night is young," she said. 

"You've got a good guide?"

She glanced at Tenoch, squatted down over the fire, stirring something in a little tin pot. "Seems to be. We're not doing a lot of talking. You know how crap my Spanish is."

Bodhi started to say something, then paused and changed it to, "As long as he stops you getting crushed to death by a - " He looked off into the distance. "Wait, what's that snake? The one that wraps around your throat and squeezes you to death?"

She rolled her eyes. "There are no boa constrictors in the Yucatan. I'm more concerned about falling down a cenote."

"What're those then?"

"Bloody great sinkhole with a lot of water in the bottom. If the fall doesn't kill you, the drowning will."

"Are you sure you're going to make it to that temple alive?"

"Probably not," she said cheerfully. "You'll inherit my millions."

"I'll be very sad about that," he promised solemnly. "I promise to wipe my eyes with thousand-pound notes at your memorial service."

"I only get a memorial service? Wanker."

"Yes, because your body is somewhere in the jungle, swollen to twice its size after being bitten by some hideously poisonous bug."

"Venomous," she corrected. "Poisonous is when you eat it." She thought. "Or touch it."

"Right," he said. "I stand corrected. I'm glad you called, anyway, and not just because it's proof of life. Saw Gerrera's been in touch."

She let out a heartfelt groan. "Come on, Bodes, none of that business stuff. It's so deadly dull."

Bodhi, who'd been neck and neck with her all throughout their MBA program, looked taken aback. She cut her eyes to his left, where his tall, dour new assistant was sorting out the day's mail.

He adjusted and sniffed, "Well, sor-ry, but it's your money, and you should know what's going on with it."

"No," she retorted, studying her nails, "your job is to know what's going on with it, Mister CEO. I'm the owner. I just have to sign the checks."

"And go gadding about the world."

"That too."

"As long as you're back for the founder's ball."

She sobered. "In twenty years, have I ever missed my mother's birthday?"

"No," he said, voice equally gentle. "Not even once."

They chatted a little more, Bodhi sharing some misadventure his youngest sister had got into over the weekend and Jyn telling him about her flight from London to Merida.

Just as Bodhi was asking her about her preparations for the excursion, his new assistant hove into view like an iceberg looming over the Titanic. "Mr. Rook," he said. "You have a meeting with the VP of finance in exactly seven and one-half minutes."

"Thank you, Kay," Bodhi said, giving Jyn a look through the video feed.

"I would end your call with Ms. Erso as soon as possible."

"Thank you, Kay," Bodhi said again. "Do you have the reports we'll be going over?"

"They are on your tablet."

"I'd like paper copies, please."

Somehow managing to impart that Bodhi was the most ridiculous and unreasonable boss in the world without changing his expression, Kay stalked away.

Jyn snickered. "Go on to your important and scintillating meeting," she said. "Me, I'm going to shovel down some rations and sleep like a log."

"Pace too rough for you?" he teased.

She flipped him off. "Jet lag, if you must know." She rolled her shoulders. "Love to your mum and the girls."

"Stay safe," Bodhi said, and signed off.

She shut her satphone down and leaned against a tree, thinking hard.

Bodhi's old assistant, Tivik, had left suddenly for a new job, and Kay had turned up as if by magic. They were neither of them stupid, and they knew Kyber Limited had its fair share of business rivals. Corporate espionage was to be expected. But she'd always felt it best to keep your enemies where you could see them.

Her satphone slipped from her hand and she made a grab for it.

There was a high-pitched whistle and a reverberating thud. 

Jyn's head jerked up. Her guide was a dark shape looming over her, both hands gripping a machete handle. The machete itself was stuck fast in the tree that she'd been standing under.

If she hadn't ducked her head to grab for the satphone, the blade would have gone through her neck.

Her heart hammered in her chest as she stared up into his shadowed face. Only a faint glint showed her where his eyes were. She had a knife in her boot and the machete was stuck fast. Could she reach her weapon before he could retrieve his?

A thump and a rustle by her feet caught her attention.

Half a snake flopped over the ground, still writhing, the mouth gaping open and fangs glittering evilly in the dusk. Instinctively, she kicked it hard with the steel toe of her boot, and the body soared into the campfire.

Tenoch watched it disappear into the flames with sizzling, popping noises, and then said, "Una vibora."

Viper.

She swallowed hard. "Si. Yo se." She nodded stiffly. "Gracias."

"De nada."

He wrenched his machete from the tree trunk, and the other half of the snake crashed to the ground. Put together with the front half, Jyn guessed it had been two feet long at least, and she swallowed bile.

Seemingly unaffected, he used the bloody machete to flick the second half of the snake into the darkness. "La comida está lista," he said, jerking his head toward the fire and the little tin pot he'd been stirring.

Thank god he'd covered it.

She followed him back to the campfire with shaky legs, cursing at herself. She'd been so deep in thought she hadn't stayed aware of her surroundings.

She of all people should know that the jungle would kill you to death given half a chance. It was what had happened to her mother. 

She and Bodhi might joke about it, but Lyra Erso had gone into this jungle and hadn't come out. Jyn was well aware she might not find a trace of her mother at the temple that had been her last, failed expedition, but she'd been planning this trip for years, and she wasn't about to let a snake or a bug or a jaguar or a cenote or even a taciturn guide stop her.

**

They agreed that he would take the first watch, and Tenoch settled himself cross-legged, with his back to the fire to preserve his night vision. From the corner of his eye, he could see Jyn Erso crawling into the tent.

He listened to the rustling and shuffling sounds of her getting ready for bed. The zip of the sleeping bag, the further shuffling of her getting comfortable and settled. He waited half an hour more, eyes tracking the jungle for animal or human intruders, ears cocked to the noises from the tent, patient as the grave. 

Then he rose soundlessly and made his way to the tent. He eased the zipper open silently, eyes and ears both attuned to the slow-breathing form in the sleeping bag. 

She lay curled on her side, one hand knotted up under her cheek like a child. The traces of light from the campfire behind him outlined her face. The line of her chin remained stubborn even in sleep, and her chapped Cupids-bow lips were ever-so-slightly parted . . . 

He shook himself. He was here to do a job, not moon over a pampered English heiress.

Although for a pampered English heiress, she'd done very well on the trail today.

Her pack was settled at her feet, right at the opening of the tent. He closed his hand around any buckles and metal pieces that would jingle and lifted it out of its place, letting the tent flap fall closed behind him.

He checked the outside pockets first. First aid kit, extra foldable canteen, iodine tablets, sunblock, insect repellent . . . All manner of small necessary items, but no top-of-the-line satphone.

He moved to the central compartments, pulling each item out and mentally noting the way it had been packed so he could replace it exactly the same way. Rice, dried meat, beans, carefully and thoroughly wrapped in plastic. Extra clothing. Soap, again wrapped in plastic. Rain gear. Toiletries, in more plastic.

No satphone.

His own, with its mirroring app pulled up and ready to do its job, waited in its pocket against his thigh.

She'd kept hers on her all day, gripped in her hand or locked into its case on her belt. He'd attempted to mirror it this morning as they set out, jostling up next to her on the trail, but the security on it was rather better than most. He needed more than mere proximity; he had to get his hands on it, possibly unlock it, in order for his own to do its job. 

Did she keep it on her body even as she slept? When did she charge it? The things sucked down power like a drunk swallowing rum.

Their trip would take at least a week more - two to the temple, one or two to explore, and three more back to Merida. He would surely have a chance to hack into it. 

But the longer he took, the more information his superiors could miss. 

Frowning to himself, he re-packed everything scrupulously back in its place and fastened it tightly closed. He lifted it off the ground and turned to go put it back in the tent -

And found the supposedly fast-asleep woman standing behind him, her heavy walking stick ready to swing at his head. In a deadly pleasant voice, she asked in perfect Spanish, "Find anything interesting?"

He went still, staring up at her, calculating which of several stories he could use.

“Don’t waste either of our time playing innocent,” she said. She switched to English. “And don’t pretend you don’t understand me, either. I know you were listening in on my call."

Some of the possible stories were discarded.

“Do you blame me?” he said. He layered his English with extra helpings of his accent. “I could sell this pack and all its contents for many pesos.”

“And what would you have done with me?” she asked silkily.

“You have experience, hiking the jungle. You might have made it back.” He shrugged, as if to say it was in the hands of a higher power. “Then again, you might not.”

She gave a little huff of amusement. “I might buy that if you hadn’t had a brilliant opportunity to let me die of snakebite earlier this evening.”

He wanted to scowl. He did not. 

"You're not just some con man out to make quick money. Not the way you ignored all my easily pocketed supplies and tools. You were looking for my satphone. You've been pointedly ignoring it all day, after you tried to mirror it this morning."

He felt the scowl almost emerge, in his forehead and the corners of his mouth, and purposely blanked his face. He was usually much better than this at controlling his expression. 

Her mouth quirked up smugly. "Who do you work for? Alderaan Corp? Mos Eisley and Company?" She narrowed her eyes at him. "Not the Hutt brothers?"    

Calculations churned. 

It was a common misconception that spies always lied. Sometimes, if it would get them what they wanted, they told the truth.

He let the pack fall and rose to his feet, not missing the way she resettled her grip and her stance in response. "Interpol,” he said. 

"Interpol," she said with deep and withering skepticism.

He shrugged. Believe it or don't, the shrug said.

She eyed him. "And what does Interpol want with Kyber Limited?"

"Perhaps Interpol wants you."

She snorted. "It comes to the same thing."

Damn. He should have known better than to believe her loudly proclaimed disinterest in business. Not after she'd done an MBA at Cambridge. But the woman flitted around the world while Rook stayed in London at the Kyber Limited offices.

He tested her out. ""What do you know about Imperial Industries?"

She shrugged. “Weapons manufacturers. We don’t have much to do with them.”

“An energy company could have a lot to do with a weapons manufacturer.”

“Yes, well, the company my mother started doesn’t.”

“And your father works for Imperial.”

She snorted. “This is about Galen Erso? You’re barking up the wrong tree, Interpol. I haven't spoken to him since he left for California, the day after my mother's funeral."

"That's a very long time to ignore your only child."

"I didn't say he hadn't tried. I haven't responded. Kyber Limited does very well without Galen Erso." She frowned at him. "What's he done?"

"Interpol has reason to believe Imperial Industries is building a device that contravenes international standards."

"Those naughty boys," she said.

"And by international standards, I mean the Geneva Convention."

"A super-weapon, " she said. "How delightful. I'm sure we'll all sleep cozy in our beds, knowing the Americans have that."

"It may not be the Americans. Not if they're not the highest bidder."

A moment. Then - "Ah." Her thumb rubbed over a knot in the wood, the only betrayal of restlessness. "And my father's building that, is he?"

"His research has applications."

"Well, as I said, Interpol - "

"Andor," he said.

"What?"

"My name is Cassian Andor."

She could run his name and get proof that he was who he said he was, and he had no doubt she would at the first opportunity.

"Cassian," she said, and his eyes narrowed. "As I said, I'm not in touch with my father, and I don't intend to change that." She narrowed her eyes back at him. "I think if I did, he might get suspicious."

Cassian thought otherwise, but he kept it to himself. 

"So," she finished. "You can traipse off back to your superiors if you like. Let them know I'm a dead end."

"You hired me to guide you to the temple," he said. "I prefer to finish a job I've started."

"Do you even know the way?"

"I grew up in Merida," he said. 

"Merida's the state capitol. Lots of people grew up there. That's not an answer."

"I know the way," he said. "And I have my own reasons for wanting to check it out."

"Do you now? Because as far as I know, my father's never been here."

"No," Cassian said. "But his boss has."

"His boss," Jyn echoed.

"Orson Krennic," Cassian said. "In fact, he went at the same time as your mother's last expedition."

Her face went to stone. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying nothing," he said. "I'd merely like to do some checking of my own at that location. See what there is to see."

Her thumb rubbed over the knot on her walking stick again.

Cassian tested the waters. "Or we could go back to Merida. You could hire some other guide."

"No," she said, and cleared her throat. "No," she said. "We're already a third of the way there and I don't feel like wasting the trip. As you say, we've both got reasons to go."

"True enough," he said. "And perhaps we could help each other."

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves, Interpol." She scooped up her pack. "Just you keep your mitts off my satphone, and I'll do the same for you."

**

Once back in her tent, Jyn slid her satphone from her pocket and texted Bodhi. You were right, he's Interpol. Counter-terrorism. Apparently, Imperial is being very bad indeed. What’s Kay after?

Bodhi texted back right away. Either his meeting was done or it was a crashing bore. So far he’s been digging through most of R&D. Nice to know he’s not going to sell the false leads I’ve provided. Have you got your fellow hooked?

Oh, yes. He even brought up Krennic himself. Now let's see where our two fish lead us.

**

Back by the fire, Cassian sent a text of his own. I dangled Orson Krennic in front of her and whetted  her appetite. Continue to monitor her communications with Rook. If her father reaches out again, she'll tell him. Galen Erso is the weak spot, and his daughter is our way in.

FINIS

[mkstrigidae]

This might be a lot since there’s so many characters in APWH, but could you share something secret about each character that no one else knows or maybe just a fun fact?

I am so sorry I’m answering this so late- I try not to be a human disaster, but inevitably end up being one most days.

Oooooooh this one is very interesting- they might not all be secrets, because for some characters, that would be giving away major plot points, but fun facts I can do! Let’s see what I’ve got (below the cut):

Robb: Has definitely licked a bone on a dare before, is actually a decent artist (much like Sansa) and does a fair amount of sketching in the field, and has an engagement ring for Tal in his work locker that no one knows about yet :) Inherited Catelyn’s ability for leadership, and is really good at dealing with Logistics, management, and the bureaucracy involved in his job. Hangs out with the experimental archeology students a lot (he’s like the accidental older brother for half the department) and would definitely wear handmade linen armor from someone’s project and let an undergrad shoot arrows at him to test it. (For those of you unaware, linen armor is next to impossible to cut without an extremely specific and sharp type of electric saw). Is good friends with Sarella, who’s going through grad school in Oldtown as well. Has been reluctantly dragged into the feud between the archaeology/anthropology and paleontology departments.

Aegon: is a fairly talented piano player, has always liked to cook, but got really good at it when he was dating an adjunct professor in grad school (none of his family knows about the relationship, but Theon does). Has been taking night classes recently to try and learn the Old Tongue bc he and Lyanna are particularly close. Dates casually, and volunteers at a community center for at-risk kids in Kings Landing on weekends. Is the only Targ sibling emotionally aware enough to spend time with Viserys, and is his grandmother Rhaella’s favorite.  

Rhae: Actually really likes listening to heavy metal, especially when she’s working, and is really into the Westerosi equivalent of late night comedy. Will get really invested in hobbies for like, a few months and then move on to something completely different. Is her grandfather Aerys’ favorite, and has him wrapped around her finger. Makes a game of antagonizing Viserys at Targ family functions, and has been inseparable from Margaery since they met in college. Thought her cousin Obara was the coolest person in the world when she was a kid. Most likely of all the characters to do a triathlon without breaking a nail.

Bran: Might be one sociology class away from identifying as an anarchist. Kind of wants to be a professor and will probably write novels someday. Is really into flea markets and will go antiquing with Ned and Elia and sometimes Cat. Loves kayaking and decorates his wheelchair elaborately for holidays. He’s won several costume contests at school for it. Very snarky. If Sansa had been raised by the starks, they would have had a standing Saturday lunch date to snark and gossip about the rest of the fam.

Jon: wanted to be a forest ranger for the longest time and then a writer, but felt like he had to choose a more reputable career, and is kind of jealous that Robb decided to say ‘fuck it’ and become an archaeologist. Really wants to travel, although he picked law after His Valyrian is passable (the targ sibs spoke it anytime they were with Rhaegar and fam), but he speaks Rhoynish fluently and is close to his cousins on the Martell side of the family. Really likes hiking and will often go with Cat, who is also fairly outdoorsy. Likes epic high fantasy novels and would really love LOTR.

Mya: is weirdly into dream interpretation, is bisexual, and has fallen into one of the canals in Braavos before on a school field trip. She was born in the Vale, and her mom moved to Braavos when she was five. Would definitely eat a bug on a dare. More tomboy than anything, but really enjoys getting dressed up and being feminine. Likes painting her nails fun colors. Who gives a shit about gender expectations? Not Mya.

Sansa: the first person she kisses in APWH isn’t going to be Jon…;) If she’d been raised by the Starks, she might have gone to school for journalism or become a novelist. Hates math, but is a passable accountant because of what Baelish taught her to help him with the books for his restaurants. Doesn’t like to ever wear her hair down, and has a collection of decorative bobby pins for updos that she’s acquired from flea markets in Braavos. Really loves to swim. Pushed the boy who knocked Mya into the canal in after her, but none of the teachers believe him when he accuses her, because it’s sweet, kind, well-behaved Sansa.

Robin: Secretly likes to listen to musicals and is a fairly good singer. In a group chat with Doree and Loree who are drastically improving his social skills and the three of them are parent-trap level plotting. Really dislikes doctors and hospitals. Used to ask Sansa to draw birds for him a lot when he was younger and still has most of them.

Rickon: is actually better with computers and smarter than anyone realizes, because he’s such a jock on the surface. Very used to going with the flow and adapting to change. His favorite classes are chemistry and bio, but he doesn’t really like writing. Is really popular and well-liked among his classmates, but can have a temper when he thinks an injustice is occurring. Is generally just good with animals.

Catelyn: Grew up going hunting with her uncle and always had a stronger stomach for it than Lysa and Edmure did. Is half-estranged from her father because of a disagreement they had regarding Catelyn’s inability to move on after the kidnapping, and a tense relationship with her brother after he married Roslyn Frey (The Freys were vocal supporters of Roose Bolton’s politics and had a hand in publicizing the rumors about the Starks being responsible for Sansa’s disappearance- Walder Frey owns several prominent southern newspapers), but they’re working on mending fences. Takes fairly long walks outside regularly, and would be a bruce springsteen fan. The most intimidating of the entire family.

Arya: Went through a true crime phase. Really enjoys learning languages, her favorite classes this past semester were her Ancient Ghiscari course and her global politics seminar, because they got to debate current issues every week. Like Sansa, she really likes people-watching. Will probably end up at the Olympics for fencing at some point, but was also a sprinter in high school on the track team.

Ned: Probably dropped acid at least once in college. Really enjoys skiing. Learned how to play the guitar as a part of his midlife crisis. Met Cat after she went on two dates with his brother Brandon and they decided they were better as friends. Brandon brought her to a party, and Ned ended up giving her a ride home after his brother found another girl to chat up. They quickly found out that they had a lot in common, and she got along famously with his mother, who Ned was extremely close to. Has a serious sweet tooth

Elia: Likes to paint, but doesn’t think she’s very good at it. Grew up speaking Rhoynish with her family, and taught it to the kids. Has forgotten more about art than most people will ever know, and is extremely efficient when set loose in a flea market. Really likes theater and ballet, and took ballet classes through college.

Lyanna: is working on a book about money in Westerosi politics that’s tied into her current investigation of the Boltons, but only Elia knows about it. Grew up far north, and her first language was the Old tongue rather than Andali, but didn’t want her kids picking it up, because the accent is stigmatized. Keeps notes for her articles in the Old Tongue to keep her nosy kids from reading them.

Theon: Is doing a psychiatry residency in King’s Landing currently. Does a fair amount of biking, and 100% does a polar bear swim in the ocean every winter (Aegon always shows up to cheer him on and they go out for drinks afterwards- his girlfriend, Jeyne, thinks this is insane). Refuses to eat blue foods and was actually a decent French horn player in high school.

Thank you- this was a fun one!! :)

[ffangirlingsince2001]

End of the Tunnel: V

George Weasley x Reader

Description: It’s almost been a year since Freed Weasley was lost to the Battle of Hogwarts, and for George Weasley it might as well be an eternity. He is lost in the dark, no color to be found. Until suddenly there might be a light at the end of the tunnel.

Warnings: (future as well as present) suicidal thoughts, smut, angst, fluff, depression,  attempted SUICIDE, self harm, torture, mentions of torture

Masterlist

***

Hannah had never been so nervous. She was wringing her hands, wearing a whole in their kitchen floor as she waited for George to be ready. She smoothed her dress for the thousandth time and glanced at her reflection in the microwave. Nothing was out of place, except for her, she was going to be ridiculously out of place.

“Ready to go?” he asked coming out of the bathroom. Hannah whirled around, terror written across every inch of her face. “Are you alright,” he all but laughed, rushing to her side.

“No,” she gasped, “They’re going to hate me.”

“No one is going to hate you, in fact my dad might want to adopt you the moment you meet,” he laughed but she wasn’t convinced. “Hannah, I’m telling you, it’ll be fine. You’ve been wizards before.”

“Not your family.”

“You know Ron and Hermione; they’ll both be there.” That settled her nerves a bit, but she was still shaking from head to toe. He rubbed her shoulder before kissing her forehead. “Shall we go?”

“Fine, but if they hate me you must promise you won’t abandon me.”

“They’re not going to hate you, and I most certainly am not going to abandon you.” She sighed and he took her hand. “You look lovely by the way, I love this dress,” he said twirling her around a bit to calm her nerves, admiring the red skirt of the dress that flowed away from her waist.

“Thank you,” she laughed when he caught her in his arms.

“Ready?” She nodded and with a quick wink he apparated the pair to just outside the Burrow.

Her eyes were wide with delight at the sight, and all the little creatures running around the garden.

“It’s magnificent! Even if they hate me I might have to sneak back,” she gasped and he rolled his eyes.

“They’re not going to hate you,” he reminded her once more, but she wasn’t having it. She simply shooed him away and took another deep breath.

“Lead the way,” she finally managed to say, and he did so, hand on the small of her back.  He pushed open the door and chaos ensued. Twelve people were darting around the kitchen, two of them no more than tiny children held in the arms of their keepers. When the door closed another wave of anxiety washed over her. Twelve very capable wizards were dancing around this kitchen and she was nothing but an insignificant spot in their room.

“Hannah,” Hermione called over the masses, rushing towards her. The moment she was in Hermione’s hands, George disappeared into the kitchen. “I didn’t know you were coming to dinner, I would have insisted we apparate together.”

“I’m just glad you’re here,” Hannah said breathlessly, looking around at the small room. “It’s a bit much.”

“Oh yes. It’s a large crowd for your first day. Almost everyone decided to show up. Only Fleur’s missing I think. I wasn’t even aware George was coming today, it’s been ages since we’ve seen him around here.”

“Oh.”

“Shall I show you around?” Hannah almost dropped with relief.

“Yes, please, before we have to sit down,” she managed to stutter, and Hermione offered her a soft smile before drawing her into the crowd.

“Charlie, this is Hannah,” Hermione began before assuring her that Charlie was certainly the most relaxed of the bunch.

“Nice t’ meet yah.”

“You too, Charlie.”

“How’d they manage to get yah in here on this fine Sunday morning?”

“She’s George’s.”

“Really? And how’d yah meet?”

“My bar actually.”

“Not school?”

“Unless he was secretly attending muggle school, I don’t think so,” she laughed, trying to slip the fact into the conversation as naturally as she could.  She just wanted to see how he would react.

“I wouldn’t put it past him,” he laughed and Hannah breathed a sigh of relief as Hermione dragged her away, towards another corner where Ginny and Harry were laughing between themselves.

“And this Harry and Ginny, they’re deeply in love,” Hermione informed her just out of earshot.

“Hermione,” Harry greeted before flanking at the girl standing at her side, “And you must be Hannah. Ron and Hermione mentioned you last week at lunch. How are you and George doing?”

“Uh, uh, we’re good. I didn’t know anyone knew,” Hannah managed to say.

“Oh, you know Ronald, he can’t keep anything to himself,” Ginny laughed, “Honestly, I’m glad George found someone, he just seemed so sad.”

“Well, I don’t fix that,” Hannah whispered, glancing at George was having a solemn conversation with another one of his brothers.

“Yes, you do,” Ginny said, “He wouldn’t even think about coming on Sunday’s before you, the last time was… a nightmare.”

“Oh, what happened?” Hannah asked but the group grew quiet.

“Just know Sunday dinner didn’t happen the next week. It was-.”

“Supper time,” the woman at the center of it all announced and Hannah darted towards George as quickly as she could, not wanting to get sat by some stranger who was going to question her about every little thing. She grabbed his hand through the crowd, and he pulled her to his side, wrapping an arm around her waist.

“How goes it?” he whispered, and she shrugged.

“They haven’t thrown me out yet.”

“And they won’t.” Hannah rolled her eyes before sitting beside him, sliding her chair as close to George’s as she could.

“Relax, it’s just family dinner.”

“What happened at the last one you went to?” she asked softly and he tensed.

“Let’s not talk about it,” he replied gruffly and she nodded, setting a small reminder for herself to bug him later. Eventually the group settled around the table, not quite silent but certainly more contained than before. It was a large table, the largest one she had ever sat at and they all looked so warm, at least to one another. He took her hand beneath the table and she leaned in. It was that moment that his mother took notice of the uncommon couple.

“George,” she gasped staring with wide eyes at the pair, “Who is this?”

“I’d like you to meet Hannah.” All eyes turned to her and she wished the chair would swallow her up. She offered a small wave.

“Oh, I didn’t know you were seeing anyone? Were you in the same year at school?” she asked and like an angel sent from above, Charlie interrupted her.

“Mum, interrogate them later, I’m starving,” he said and if she hadn’t been dating George she would have kissed him, right there. Their mum narrowed her eyes but returned her eyes to the food. Simultaneously, the two looked at Charlie and offered him grateful smiles.

The food was delicious. She had never eaten anything so wonderful, except of course her own mother’s. It was cooked with love and tenderness and she could feel it in every bite.

“So, Hannah, how is business?” Hermione, who had thankfully sat on the other side of her, asked.

“Awesome actually, the wizarding side of business has definitely increased since the war and George putting up the flyer really help.”

“That’s amazing.”

“Yes, it is. You should come by sometime, and Ron, of course.”

“Where do you work?” his mum asked from across the table.

“I own a bar, along the edge of London.”

“Oh? And how old are you?”

“Mum!” George snapped but Hannah ran her hand along his thigh.

“Nineteen, twenty in June, Mrs. Weasley.”

“Molly, and that seems a but young to own a bar.”

“It was inherited. Tragically, during your war.”

“Our war?”

“I guess it can be mine too, seeing as we were all affected by it, even us muggles,” she said, choking softly on the word. The table seemed to grow quieter, almost deathly silent at the proclamation.

“I didn’t know you were a muggle.”

“Since birth.”

“Well, Dad, make sure you talk this one,” Bill called to his father and Arthur glanced up from his meal, a quizzical look on his face.

“Huh?” The table burst into laughter and Hannah eased into relaxation.

The rest of the evening had all gone by in a blur. Hannah had met the whole family, a couple times over, and promised Arthur she would answer everyone of his questions. Molly had interrogated them, just as promised. She was forced to answer everything from her favorite subject in school, to her favorite color, to the size of her own family. At the end of the day it hadn’t been nearly as awful as she had predicted.

But now it was George’s turn to be nervous.

“I’m a wizard, Hannah, Merlin’s beard they’re going to be shocked.”

“Weren’t you just telling me last week that there wasn’t anything to worry about?” she laughed, their arms linked together as they walked down the street. “They’ve met wizards before.”

“But you’ve never dated one before,” he yelled before turning to her quickly, “Right?”

“No, I’ve never dated one before you, but I do have other friends, speaking of we’ve been invited to lunch on Wednesday with a wizard friend of mine and his girlfriend.”

“Yes, yes, that’s fine, it’s today that I’m worried about.” Hannah rolled her eyes.

“If anything you can take comfort in the fact that my dad can’t curse you if he doesn’t like you. Anyhow, it’s my brother you need to impress.”

“Not helpful,” he said through clenched teeth and she laughed again, coming to a stop in front of a rather large house. “And of course, you’re rich.”

“What?”

“You’re rich, didn’t think to mention that before we got here?”

“I was testing you, to see if you’re a gold digger,” she joked and he elbowed her.

“Not funny, what fork am I supposed to use?”

“The one by the plate…” He groaned but she took his hands in hers, staring up at him with understanding eyes. “George, look at me, you’re going to be fine. I love you, and therefore, they’ll love you.” With that she knocked on the door, sending him a comforting smile.

The door swung open and a blonde woman beamed at them.

“Hannah’s here,” she called, pulling the girl into her arms.

“Caroline!” Hannah greeted, returning the hug full heartedly.

“And who is this?” she asked, eyes running over George with a smirk.

“George, meet Caroline, my baby sister.”

“Baby, please, a year does not constitute baby. Please, come in.” The couple stepped through the threshold and George couldn’t help but stare at the large paintings and enormous chandeliers. Another couple came out of the dining room and George’s stomach churned once again. They were dressed very nicely, and suddenly his nicest pair of slacks didn’t feel nice at all.

“Hannah,” the woman gasped, pulling her daughter into her arms before turning to George and offering him the same warm welcome. He was surprised to be completely honest, but he awkwardly returned it before shaking her father’s hand.

“Where’s Henry?” Hannah asked peering around.

“He’ll be in a bit later. Now George, I hope you don’t mind but we’ve forgone the dining room for the patio, if that’s alright with you?”

“Oh of course, Mrs. Gladdis.”

“Do hear that, Mrs. Gladdis, call me Diana, and this my husband, Peter.”

“It’s nice to meet you both,” he managed as Diana dragged both him and Hannah through another grand hall and into the backyard. Fairy lights were hung on every banister and burgers were grilling in the corner. It smelled divine, but he was mostly glad that he was outside.

He answered question after question, mostly from Caroline and Mrs. Gladdis, while he endured an interested stare from her father. It was going smoothly, or as smooth as meeting the parents could, until the front door slammed shut again.

“Honey, I’m home,” came a call from the kitchen and suddenly Hannah was gone, running towards the voice. George almost stood to follow but Caroline held him to his chair.

“Henry,” she cried, not even stopping when she rammed her shoulder into a pillar.

“I wouldn’t risk it, she’s his absolute pet and I wouldn’t get in the way of their reunion,” she said with an eye roll. “I mean, impressing my dad is nothing compared to Henry.”

“Oh, why’s that?” he asked nervously.

“Well, let’s just say dad never beat up on her boyfriends that didn’t pass.” George swallowed, and then again when they walked in together. Henry had taken after her father. While George was a bit taller, he certainly wasn’t as broad.

“Henry, you must meet George,” she gushed, dragging him towards the table. George stood, shaking his hand as he went. His grip was tight but friendly, it seemed he would not meet the same fate as the boys Caroline had mentioned quite yet.

“Pleasure, to meet you Henry.”

“The pleasure’s all mine, Hannah’s told me a lot about you.”

“Hopefully good things,” he chuckled nervously and Henry gave him smirk that spoke in volumes, they would talk later, when he could be properly threatened. Hannah watched the exchange, eyes wide before she leapt from Henry’s side to George’s. Henry seemed a bit surprised, but his smile was suddenly softer.

“Of course. Now, mum, shall we eat?”

Dinner proceeded without many incidents. Henry only caught their hands clasped beneath the table, and after a swift kick from Hannah, he left the matter alone. It was the moments after dinner and the friendly laughter, when the women went inside to clean up that George set up his guard.

“She’s absolutely smitten with you,” her father said and George nodded.

“And I with her.”

“That’s good, that’s good,” he said before following his wife into the kitchen. Now, it was just him and Henry.

“She is smitten. And you make her happy.”

“I hope so, she makes me happy.”

“I just hope it stays that way.”

“Me too.”

“Yes, for both of your sake, I hope it does. I love Hannah, and I would do anything to keep her safe. And the fact you’re a wizard means nothing to me.” George nearly choked.

“You know?”

“Of course, I told you she told me about you. We all know, it’s just not that big of a concern. My only concern is her happiness, and as I said before, for now, that’s you.” George swallowed nervously, prepared to kiss Hannah right there when she came back onto the patio and sat close to him, smiling warmly.

The rest of the night went of without a hitch and it wasn’t until later that night, as they were climbing into bed that George’s mind finally relaxed enough to remember their supposed double date later that week.

“Hey Hannah?”

“Hmm?”

“Who’s that wizard friend of yours, I might know him.”

“You did go to school together; he was a couple years younger though I think. Draco Malfoy.”

“Oh,” he said before closing his eyes, pulling him close. It was only a few seconds later that the name registered and he shot up, startling Hannah in the process. “What!”

[ninjakitty15]

Hair Today, Gone Tonight (Loki Oneshot)

It was not uncommon for Loki to take his time in his bathroom preparing himself for the day, he was a prince of Asgard after all and had to keep up appearance in every aspect. It was also not uncommon for him to stare long and hard at himself in the mirror to make sure every detail was perfect about himself, especially when he was always beside his perfect older brother the crown prince who could do nor look no wrong and constantly demanded all eyes to be on him. It was then slightly more uncommon for Loki to linger at his reflection as only once in a grand while would he actually find an imperfection or flaw that needed his utmost attention and time to fix or magic away. So in theory it was normal for Loki to take an awfully long time glaring at his reflection once more before he greeted the rest of the royal court of Asgard. Today was however an exception to all these things as it was a very rare occurrence for him to be cursing the Norns and growling in frustration during his daily preparations. The reason for this of course was because what was staring back at him in the mirror between his keen nose and his snarling, thin upper lip wasn’t just an imperfection but an impossibility. 

Loki had come to accept early on in his long life that he would never sport such an eyesore of a facial feature as was seen mocking his otherwise perfect appearance. It wasn’t even a dashing looking mark like Fandral had, that suave blond bastard. He had long since come to take pride in his smooth, hairless appearance though as Volstagg and Thor were proof that with great hair comes great irresponsibility. Whenever there was a great feast within the palace walls, and there was always a feast for some reason or another, between the two of those bilgesnipes there would be a massacre that started at the dining table and end on their face. And Frigga wondered why Loki wasn’t gorging himself during the feasts like everyone else was. It wasn’t that hard to figure out when you’re stuck sitting between the beast with two beards, you either grow a stronger stomach or lose your appetite quite quick.

It also wasn’t hard to figure out that because it was impossible for Loki to grow face fuzz that not only was the one he had now not natural, but it wasn’t his doing at all and thus someone had to answer for that crime. No amount of scrubbing, potions, illusions, shapeshifting, or even old fashioned makeup could get rid of it either which further irked him but also narrowed down his list of suspects to one person. just the one, that had both access to his personal chambers within the palace walls but more importantly was foolish enough to prank the trickster god while he was taking a much needed nap after sparring against his brute of an older brother. Just one royal resident in fact besides Loki himself had inherited Frigga’s gift for magic as was clearly the source of this monstrosity of a moustache as if the mere sight of it didn’t irritate him enough. That fool was toast.

Loki threw open his bedchamber doors with vengeance in his eyes, already knowing his prey wouldn’t be too far, wanting to see his reaction to what transpired before running off. Right on cue as the door banged open, Loki could hear not too distant wicked giggling and the quickened pace of hasty foosteps fleeing from him. The telltale signs of a brat about to be caught that was too troublesome and young to master a decent gambling face, especially when they’re enjoying their troublemaking entirely too much. Loki easily started gaining on the little gremlin before their rounded a corner and disappeared into the nearest room with a squeal of, “save meeee!” Loki wasted no time blasting open the doors the brat was hiding behind with a wave of his hand which was still glowing green with his own magic to see Thor standing between him and his prey unsurprisingly, arms crossed and attempting to look imposing to someone that grew up with his own shenanigans. 

“Step aside, brother, I have a pesky little bug to squash,” growled Loki, his gaze fixed on the twerp hiding behind Thor.

“I know you don’t mean my son but as I don’t see any other living thing here besides us, I think you must be mistaken on there being anything here to squish,” Thor challenged back.

Loki rolled his eyes at Thor’s attempt at diplomacy. “The only mistake here besides your attempt to stop me is your son’s current choice in free time activities and that is why I’m here to see that he fixes it before I fix him.”

“What are you prattling on about?” demanded Thor defensively.

Loki had also long since mastered the art of deception and redirecting people’s attention from an issue thanks entirely to his brother’s baffoonery as younger adults so he had been keeping his face turned away from his brother’s gaze to keep an eye on his prey. Till now when he actually met Thor’s eyes whose widened in surprise and mirth.

“Can’t you just wash that off?” Thor suggested, trying hard to suppress his laughter.

“That’s brilliant, Thor, I wish I thought of that first! Oh what a great help you are!” snapped Loki before he snapped his glowing fingers and a green ring appeared around Thor before the elder brother fell through the floor, leaving his son, Loki’s nephew wide open.

The little brat had the audacity to stand his ground as his father had taught him after fleeing initially and put up his fists in a fighting stance, even less imposing looking than his father was being less than half Thor’s size and not remotely as strong either.

“Who will save you now, I wonder?” growled Loki as he advanced on the cornered kid, a million different versions of vengeance dancing through his mind.

“You wouldn’t hurt your own nephew, would you?” the child had the balls to ask innocently.

“You are aware of our family’s long history of deception and betrayals, aren’t you?” Loki asked incredulously. “Why would I be exempt from that rule after you just followed that trait yourself, enchanting this disgusting feature on me? Get it off and I might consider a more merciful fate for you than what I’m currently planning.”

“And what are you planning?”

“Try my patience stalling the inevitable and you may have your answer soon enough. Off. Now.” To emphasize Loki’s point, he summoned a dagger in one hand while his other still glowed with magic.

The child reluctantly magically erased the enchanted ink scribbled on Loki’s face before a dagger was hurled at his head as Thor returned to the scene through the window behind him. The child however vanished as an illusion projection, the dagger at the same time disappearing as well as Loki clearly wasn’t actually going to stab him with it, it took years for Thor to get used Loki’s points, his child had a ways to go. Despite both child and weapon not being present in the room, Thor still had a sense to confront Loki after being literally dropped by him earlier. Loki however had other thoughts and a vast majority of them were still vengeance before dishonor, he too disappeared from the room before Thor could have a few choice words with him. 

Thor’s son was very much like his dad in that he thought he had become pretty clever and believed he knew Loki fairly well. Well enough to trick the trickster at least. He also knew that anything and everything within Loki’s room was something secretive, powerful, and valuable and he wanted in on that. So that’s where he was, trying to sense with his quickly growing magical abilities where Loki kept those special artifacts. Finally, he managed to find something tugging on his magic from under Loki’s massive kingsized bed and eagerly scrambled under it in hopes of some kind of cool treasure to show off to his peers later. His hands brushed against a small wooden chest that seemed to be locked but he easily magicked the lock to open for him. He could barely contain his excitement as he grasped the lid of the chest with both hands eagerly and the faintest of green glows came from the box before he popped it open. He barely had time to scream as a large green snake sprang from the chest and wrapped itself around his hands and arms, effectively restraining him while its head was stationed next to his and poised to bite his neck, baring its fangs as if to strike. As he writhed and struggled against the snake’s hold, his ankles were suddenly seized by an icy cold grip and he was yanked out from under the bed and lifted upside down to face a lean, gold and green adorned abdomen.

“You think you were the first to try this tactic on me? Where do you think you got that idea from?” 

The snake still wrapped around the brat seemed to laugh at his captive while the owner of the snake let go of his ankle, keeping the kid afloat before he was turned right side up to face the bemused god of mischief he was caught by properly.

“Perhaps you should ask your father what actually happened anytime he tried his little attempts at tricking a master trickster, his mistakes could be your lessons.”

“Or my triumphs,” snarked the kid back.

“And how is that working in your favor thus far?” Loki asked him slyly. “Your father has had centuries to try that on me, how old are you again?” He let the kid go and the snake melted into a large toy snake the kid was quick to escape from. “If I see you in my room without my permission, if you ruin a nap for me again, you’ll find your worst fear under your bed.”

“I don’t fear anything.” The kid held onto the toy snake, hoping to at least impress his peers with its realistic though rubber look.

“Your father said the same thing when I gave him that warning and he didn’t stop checking under his bed till he he had women in it.” Loki snapped his fingers and the kid was sent out of his room and back to his father for good this time.

Loki stalked back to his bathroom once more and looked at himself in the mirror just to be sure it was gone for good before sticking out a forked tongue at his reflection and smirking. He wondered if fears were a hereditary thing as that would make this whole “uncle” thing that much easier though he always liked a challenge in the end and his nephew having magic did have its merits. Let the prank wars begin...

[bewitching-elizabeth-olsen]

Press: A Thorough Breakdown of All the Marvel Easter Eggs on WandaVision

POPSUGAR: WandaVision has finally arrived, and it’s chock-full of hidden goodies for Marvel fans to devour! While the series is built upon a mystery that we’ll be spending a reported nine episodes trying to figure out, the smallest details in each episode provide clues on where the show is heading. From supermarket banners to foreboding commercials, viewers have an abundance of references and callbacks to classic comic lore and pivotal MCU moments. Are they setting the stage for a big reveal at the end, or are they just fun details included for fans to enjoy? While we try to figure it all out, scroll through to see what we’ve gathered! And check back every week for an episode-by-episode breakdown as WandaVision progresses.

WandaVision Episode 7 Easter Eggs

The episode opens the morning after Wanda has expanded the border of the Hex, finding the Avenger hiding from the world under her comforter. The comforter in question has a hexagon pattern, which is both a nod to the overall theme of the show as well as a metaphor for how Wanda is literally hiding away under a hex.

Billy and Tommy run into the room to reveal that their video game console has been messing up. Everything in the house is glitching, trying to transform back to earlier versions of themselves.

Billy also tells his mother that his head hurts and things are “noisy.” Since the twin inherited his mother’s ability to read minds, it seems he’s able to hear the thoughts of everyone in the bubble (and near it on the outside, since he was able to hear his father when he was dying). It’s a sign that Billy’s powers are growing, which means we could see the little boy reach his Wiccan potential before the end of the season.

Wanda wanders into the kitchen as the news drones on in the background. The news station is called W.N.D.A. or Wanda. The newscaster makes pointed comments, noting that there’s “not a thing weighing heavily on your conscience,” and that they “hope your little ghosts arrived home safe last night. It’s always such a treat to see those creepy kiddos out and about once a year.” The comments refer to Wanda’s building guilt at her actions in the previous episode and the rare appearance of children during the Halloween episode.

As Wanda makes her breakfast of “Sugar Snaps,” a nod to the big Snap of the universe, her milk carton reverts from its modern design to the old school glass bottle and back. The carton has a missing person’s ad on the back with a picture of a little boy on the back. This could be a reference to the oft-mentioned absence of children of Westview, and what could have happened to them.

Wanda and the twins “break the fourth wall” frequently to talk to the camera in the same vein as Modern Family.

This week’s theme song sounds similar to The Office’s, which also usings talking head segments like Modern Family. The opening credits are similar to the show Happy Endings and allude to the show’s focus on Wanda, even attributing the creation of WandaVision to her with the title image. Vision is notably completely absent from the opening credits, but there’s a clue that someone else is watching in a message that reads, “I know what u are doing Wanda.”

Agnes stops by to take the boys off of Wanda’s hands, which the exhausted mother is exceedingly grateful for. The twins are visibly uncomfortable with the idea, with Tommy asking Wanda if they have to and Billy telling his mother that someone has to stay to take care of her. It seems like they can sense that something is off with their “kindly” neighbor.

Wanda sends them off with Agnes, but once they’re gone, her magic goes incredibly haywire. All the furniture begins glitching again, with the stork from the painting in episode three making a reappearance. “I don’t understand what’s happening,” Wanda laments during a talking head segment. “Why it’s all falling apart and why I can’t fix it.” The off-screen interviewer responds, “Do you think maybe it’s what you deserve?” which visibly unnerves Wanda, who notes that they aren’t supposed to speak. It’s another sign that Wanda does not have as much control as she’s been led to believe.

Cue the sixth commercial, and it’s even more pointed than any of the others have been. It’s an ad for the antidepressant Nexus, for “when the world doesn’t revolve around you. Or does it?” The drug allows people to anchor themselves to the reality of their choice with side effects that include “feeling your feelings, confronting your truth, seizing your destiny, and possibly more depression.” Whew, the pointed commentary is even making me sweat. Nexus is a nod to two things: Wanda’s crippling inability to deal with the trauma she’s been through and her depression that’s pushed her into the creation of Westview, and two Marvel comics concepts. The first is the Nexus of All Realities is a kind of gateway point between dimensions from which all universes in the multiverse can be accessed. (Remember, Wanda’s next reported appearance is in Multiverse of Madness.) The second concept is the existence of Nexus beings, people who have powers that can alter reality, probability, and the Universal Time Stream. Guess which two Westview residents are considered Nexus beings? That’s right, Wanda and Vision! The commercial can either be just a cheeky nod to the couple’s seemingly infinite power or an allusion to the bigger picture that WandaVision is leading to.

While Darcy and Vision are attempting to make their way to the house, the doctor gives the synthezoid a brief rundown of his origin story, explaining how he died twice in an attempt to save the world. Vision points out that it seems like someone is trying to keep him from getting home, which spurs him to fly off, leaving Darcy behind in the blocked truck.

Billy and Tommy are watching Yo Gabba Gabba in Agnes’s lowkey creepy home. (It tickles me that Yo Gabba Gabba is more canon in the MCU than the X-Men or Fantastic Four right now.) While Billy pets Agnes’s bunny Señor Scratchy, he notes that he likes being around the older woman because he’s unable to hear any of her thoughts. “You’re quiet inside,” he says, an allusion to the idea that Agnes can hide her thoughts from him because she has magic.

Back outside the Hex, after the super-rover isn’t able to penetrate the field, Monica decides to run through it again. As she struggles through the barrier and we watch her, a montage of dialogue from Captain Marvel plays. The voices of Maria, Nick Fury, and Carol play over Monica getting through, and as Captain Marvel says “when they were handing out little kids, your mom got the toughest one,” Monica she pushes through to the other side. She lands in the stereotypical three-point-stance of all Marvel heroes, and her eyes glow, showing that she can see energy. We just witnessed the rise of Photon, folks! (Or Spectrum or Pulsar.)

Monica confronts Wanda in her home, and as their fight spills onto the lawn, the residents of Westview watch from their own homes. The delivery man is wearing a “Presto Delivery” uniform, a reference to the magic words said by magicians before they pull a magic trick.

In the first blatant show of Agnes’s ulterior motives, the older woman stops the fight when she realizes Monica is getting through to Wanda and pulls the young mother into her home. But when Wanda gets there, she notices the green bug and rabbit in the living room and the lack of her sons’ presence. When she asks Agnes where the boys are, she’s told to head to the basement, where the big showdown occurs. The scene hints at the eventual disappearance of Billy and Tommy.

Wanda notices a book on an altar, which could be the Darkhold, also known as The Book of Sins, The Shiatra Book Of The Damned. Originally a collection of papers known as the Chthon Scrolls, the book contains all the spells and ideas of the evil Elder God known as Chthon. The book is a conduit for Chthon’s power and can open a doorway from Earth to Chthon’s dimension. If that book is in Agnes’s basement, it stands to logic that she may be working with the evil god. The Darkhold emits an orange glow, which is a distinctly different color than the purple of Agatha’s magic.

Speaking of magic, Agnes finally reveals herself as the witch we’ve known her to be. Although the show tells us that “it’s been Agatha all along,” it still doesn’t ring completely true. There’s definitely more at work than just Agatha’s magic.

In the mid-credits sequence, Monica is caught snooping in Agnes’s backyard by Pietro. Her eyes seem to glow purple, the same color that signals Agatha’s magic. Does this mean she’s now under the witch’s spell?

  WandaVision Episode 6 Easter Eggs

The opening credits for episode six seem to be a tribute to Malcolm in the Middle, which ran for seven seasons between 2000 and 2006.

The entire Wanda and Vision family wear their comic book character costumes for Halloween.

There’s another reference to Thanos’s snap as Director Tyler Hayward talks about dealing with the repercussions of all the people “who left.”

The terrifying Yo-Magic commercial seems to foreshadow Vision’s future. Even though Wanda was seemingly able to bring Vision back to life, it looks like he won’t stay alive for long as it’s implied that he can’t exist outside of the Hex later in the episode.

Blink and you’ll miss the fun Disney movie Easter egg on Westview’s movie theater. The sign outside the theater shows a double feature of The Incredibles and The Parent Trap. Connecting right to Wanda’s family, The Incredibles is about a family of superheroes, while The Parent Trap is about a pair of long-lost twins reuniting.

Wanda’s changing accent has been brought up countless times by fans, and in episode six, Pietro makes a slight reference to it when Wanda asks, “What happened to your accent?” to which he quips, “What happened to yours?”

There is another reference that Agnes is actually Agatha Harkness as she is spotted wearing a witch costume on Halloween.

It appears that Vision has no memories pre-Westview, as a conscious Agnes tells him he’s one of the Avengers, and he has no clue what she’s talking about.

The episode further hints at Monica’s powers as Darcy confirms that the Hex rewrote her cells on a molecular level.

A few interactions between Pietro and Wanda have fans wondering if he might actually be Mephisto in disguise. Not only is he fully aware about Wanda creating Westview, but he makes several references to the devil and hell throughout the episode.

  WandaVision Episode 5 Easter Eggs

Wanda and Vision’s brand new house, suitable for a family of four, is reminiscent of homes in ’80s sitcoms such as Full House and Growing Pains.

When Agnes comes in to offer her babysitting help, she refers to herself as “Auntie Agnes,” which is eerily close to her comic counterpart’s nickname, Auntie Agatha.

An uncomfortable break in conversation leads Agnes to ask Wanda if she wants her to “take it from the top.” Though Wanda appears confused for a moment, she readily smoothes the conversation and carries on. Vision is visibly perturbed, though Wanda attempts to redirect his attention. It seems like the facade is fading all around.

To the surprise of their parents, Tommy and Billy age up five years while the two argue over Agnes’s break in character.

This episode’s opening sequence shows Wanda and Vision growing up, which we know didn’t happen in real life for the synthezoid. The theme song sounds very similar to those from Family Ties and Growing Pains, and consists of lyrics noting that “we’re just making it up as we go along.” Sounds pretty close to how things are going with Wanda and Vision!

When Wanda’s scans come back, they’re inconclusive and show up blank. Considering Monica gains her powers due to bombardment by extradimensional energies in the comics, it’s entirely possible that the blast from Wanda back in episode three, coupled with passing through the forcefield around Westview twice, have given her those abilities. We could be seeing the rise of Photon!

While Jimmy Woo is explaining Wanda’s backstory to the agents of S.W.O.R.D., Director Hayward asks if she’s ever used a “funny nickname” like the other Avengers. She hasn’t, in fact, she’s never been referred to as Scarlet Witch in the MCU ever. Since her powers are different from her comic book counterpart, there’s never been a reason for anyone to call her a witch.

That never-before-seen post credits scene from Infinity War has officially made its debut. Director Hayward reveals footage of Wanda entering S.W.O.R.D. headquarters to steal Vision’s disassembled body. The video harks back to a moment in the comics where Vision was kidnapped and taken apart — but still very much alive. Much like that Vision, the one in Westview has his memory wiped and doesn’t remember anything before he woke up in his new world. So, the question is whether Vision is actually alive or not. Wanda’s hallucination from episode four might suggest he’s a walking corpse, but there’s more to the story.

Jimmy mentions that Wanda’s stealing of Vision’s body violates the Sokovia Accords, which haven’t been mentioned since Captain America: Civil War. Unfunnily enough, the Accords were a direct response to the mission gone wrong in Lagos where Wanda lost control of her powers and caused the death of many civilians.

Darcy mentions that Vision is playing “Father Knows Best in Surburbia,” referencing the ’50s sitcom.

Tommy and Billy find a dog that, with the help of Auntie Agnes, they name Sparky. The Vision family has a dog with that exact name in the King and Walta comics, but he’s green. Sadly, he meets a similar fate as his live-action counterpart.

Wanda blatantly uses her powers in front of Agnes, who has seemingly handled the magic around her with ease. It’s almost as if she’s used to magic.

Darcy calls the Westview anomaly the “hex” because of its hexagonal shape. Although the magic has been taken out of the phrase, Wanda’s powers are known as hexes in the comics.

Jimmy, Monica, and Darcy try to understand how Wanda can revive Vision and control the Hex, which takes much more power than she’s ever displayed before. Monica notes that Wanda has always been powerful, being the only Avenger who was close to taking down Thanos singlehandedly, which Jimmy interjects to note that Captain Marvel could as well. Both are empowered by Infinity Stones, with Carol’s Kree biology giving her a power boost.

When Jimmy brings up Captain Marvel, Monica is visibly uncomfortable and changes the subject back to Wanda. What happened there?

Vision’s office mates learn about the sweet glory that is dial-up internet! But when he and Norm open their first bit of electronic mail, it’s a transmission picked up from S.W.O.R.D. talking about the Maximoff anomaly.

Vision breaks through Norm’s conditioning, revealing that he’s under the control of a woman (alluding to it being Wanda). He directly references his family, a conversation that Jimmy mentioned in his notes in the last episode.

The twins have aged themselves up to 10 by this point and are seemingly completely aware that Wanda has control over certain aspects of life, like time. They point out that it was Saturday when they woke up, but Wanda says it’s now Monday. She apparently changed the day to send Vision to work. Is their awareness because they also have magic or because she doesn’t control them?

Monica sends an ’80s drone into Westview after working out that Wanda’s Hex is rewriting reality to suit each era occurring in the bubble, and the drone would need no era-appropriate change. Though she attempts to speak with Wanda through the drone, Director Hayward commands agents to fire a missile at Wanda instead — directly ignoring that Monica said she doesn’t see Wanda as a danger. The action results in Wanda leaving the Hex and confronting the S.W.O.R.D. agents outside. She’s wearing the suit we last saw her wearing in Infinity War and Endgame and has her accent back, although it’s much thicker than it’s been since Ultron.

Episode five’s commercial is more pointed than any of them have been. Lagos brand paper towels directly reference the city in which Wanda accidentally killed several people in Civil War by blowing up a building. Thus, the Sokovia Accords were born.

While Wanda and the twins are searching for a missing Sparky — with no one calling out the fact that Wanda disappeared for some time — the mailman tells the boys that their mom “won’t let him get far.” It seems almost like a dig at how no one can leave Westview, like the doctor mentioned during episode three.

When Agnes reveals that Sparky died after eating too many azalea bush leaves, the boys ask their mother to reverse his death. Agnes seems particularly surprised by the idea of Wanda having that ability despite having seen other displays of her power and watching the twins age up rapidly twice. Wanda tells the twins that they can’t reverse death as there are still rules to things, which almost seems hypocritical considering her circumstances. Is she trying to say that she hasn’t revived Vision? Or is she simply trying to keep her boys from expecting too much from her?

Later that night, Vision reveals that he unearthed Norm’s repressed memories and demands to know what’s going on. He tells Wanda that she can’t control him, which she cooly responds asking him, “Can’t I?” Although the credits start rolling, their argument continues as Vision unleashes his frustration with not knowing his past and his confusion over their circumstances. Wanda tells him that she doesn’t control everything, saying, “I don’t even know how all of this started.” Vision believes it began subconsciously, but chastises Wanda for letting it get that far. Wanda reiterates that she isn’t controlling everything, which gives weight to the theory that there’s someone else behind the scenes. But who could it be if Wanda isn’t the “she” that Norm was referring to?

Mid-argument, the Vision family doorbell rings, which Wanda states she didn’t do. I’m inclined to believe her because when she opens the door, she is genuinely shocked speechless. At the door is her “brother” Pietro, now sporting the face of Evan Peters. Darcy asks the question we were all thinking as the episode closes, “She recast Pietro!?”

  WandaVision Episode 4 Easter Eggs

This episode opens with the heartbreaking reveal that Monica Rambeau was one of the people lost to the Snapture from Infinity War. She returns from Endgame’s Reverse-Snap in a hospital where she had been awaiting news after her mother Maria’s surgery.

As Monica is waking up, we hear familiar voices echoing in her head. It’s Captain Marvel calling her by her childhood nickname, Lieutenant Trouble.

As Monica weaves through the chaos of people reappearing in the hospital post-Reverse-Snap, she finally locates someone who recognizes her. Although Maria survived the surgery five years ago, she died from cancer three years ago in real time, having not been blipped with her daughter.

We finally have some information on S.W.O.R.D.! The acronym stands for Sentient Weapon Observation Response Division, rather than the meaning in Marvel comics, which is Sentient World. It sounds a little more ominous, right?

Maria’s badass legacy continues well past her friendship with Captain Marvel; according to S.WO.R.D.’s acting director, Tyler Hayward, Maria helped build the agency during its inception. She was the acting director until her death.

Tim gives Monica a mission to help out the FBI in the town of WestView, NJ, where something super freaky is going on with a missing person’s case. This confirms that WestView is, indeed, a very real place.

Welcome back, Jimmy Woo! Monica’s FBI contact is none other than Scott Lang’s parole officer and semifriend, Agent Jimmy Woo.

Jimmy reveals that a person in witness protection has somehow dropped off the map in a town that no longer seems to exist where no one recalls anyone who lived there. In an attempt to figure out what’s going on, Monica sends in a S.W.O.R.D. drone that vanishes inside the forcefield. It’s revealed to have transformed into the retro-style helicopter that Wanda picks up in episode two! We can only assume that since it’s an item from the outside world, it gained color when it entered Wanda’s reality to show that it doesn’t belong.

Darcy Lewis is back! Now a doctor in astrophysics, Darcy is called to help figure out what’s gone wrong with WestView. She’s the one who figured out a signal for the broadcast and is the owner of the hand we saw watching Wanda and Vision in episode one.

The mysterious beekeeper from episode two is revealed to be S.W.O.R.D.’s Agent Franklin, who journeyed through Westview’s sewers to investigate. His hazmat suit became a beekeeper’s uniform, and the cable around his waist becomes a jump rope as he travels through the tunnels.

Darcy explains that the sitcom that’s become Wanda and Vision’s life is literally being broadcast through the signals that S.W.O.R.D.’s viewing, with an audience and everything. There’s no explanation for how this is happening, but Darcy and company watched those first three episodes just like we did, credits and all.

Darcy also points out that Vision is supposed to be dead-dead, which leaves his presence in WestView still unexplained.

While Darcy and Jimmy can identity a majority of the neighbors we’ve met in WestView to their real-life counterparts, Dottie and Agnes are the only ones who are missing real information.

It’s revealed that Agent Woo was the voice behind the radio disruption, just as we suspected! But while we can see Wanda and Dottie’s reaction to the call, Darcy’s broadcast didn’t show the same thing. She explains that someone is “censoring” the visuals they’re receiving, which means someone knows they’re watching.

Back in the sitcom WestView, we see that Monica’s slip-up resulted in Wanda blasting her through the house and the energy field. It’s the first time we physically see Wanda using her powers again, so she still has them. But the lapse in her facade has consequences — when Vision returns from his talk with Agnes and Herb outside, Wanda hallucinates him as she last saw him in Infinity War, a corpse with his head crushed in.

It’s important to note that Vision seems to become more aware of the strangeness of their world with each episode. It makes sense because no matter how human he may seem, he’s still a synthezoid who has always been able to see beyond the superficial. It harks back to his “birth” in Age of Ultron. He’s omnipotent and always learning.

When Monica lands back in the real world, all she says is, “It’s all Wanda.” That seemingly serves as an answer to what’s going on in WestView, but it’s not a whole answer. Wanda seems just as confused and unaware as everyone else, but she is willing to stay in her “perfect” world. The question is, who put Wanda in the position to have her perfect world?

  WandaVision Episode 3 Easter Eggs

Much like the comics, Wanda magically becomes pregnant! But this time around, things are progressing much more quickly, and her doctor isn’t Dr. Strange.

The first of the episode’s weird glitches happens with Wanda and Vision’s neighbor Herb, who is attempting to saw through the brick fence separating the two houses instead of trimming his hedges. When Vision points out that his aim has gone a bit askew, Herb’s detached reaction is a bit creepy. He thanks Vision but keeps sawing through the wall! And unlike the previous weird behavior, there’s nothing that triggers the moment, especially not from Vision or Wanda.

Wanda and Vision contemplate what to name their baby boy, with Vision suggesting Billy and Wanda throwing out Tommy. (The argument becomes moot when they have twins!) These are the names of the pair’s sons in the comic, who later become members of the Young Avengers. In the show, Wanda chooses her name because it’s “all-American,” which is also a fair indicator of why her perfect reality is framed around sitcoms. Vision cites William Shakespeare as his inspiration and uses a quote from As You Like It that seems pretty on the nose. “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players” seems like a pointed reference to the fact that WandaVision is, in fact, all a show.

Wanda decorates the nursery using Simser brand paint, which is most likely a nod to Jeremy Simser, a storyboard artist for Marvel Studios and WandaVision.

The second glitch appears when Wanda says the residents of WestView always seem “on the verge of discovering our secret.” Vision has a moment of sobering clarity where he notes that something is wrong in WestView, citing the incidents with Mr. and Mrs. Hart and their neighbor Herb. A second after his says this, reality glitches and the scene starts over with Vision seemingly worry-free. The last time this happened with the beekeeper, it was clear Wanda was the culprit in turning back time, but in this case, she doesn’t seem to do anything to force the change. This suggests someone else is pulling the strings.

Wanda mentions that their child could be human or “synthezoid,” a term that originates in the comics. Although fans like to joke that Vision is an android, he’s technically a synthetic human. He’s not made of metal or machinery — in the comics, his body is composed of the bioengineering tech of Dr. Helen Cho, while in the MCU, he’s made of organic tissue mixed with vibranium and “powered” by the Mind Stone.

Vision jokes that Billy will be just like his mom, which is funny because, in the comics, Billy has magical abilities similar to Wanda’s powers. Tommy ends up having superspeed abilities like his uncle, Pietro.

It’s time for the third commercial! Much like the previous episode’s watch promotion, this break references Hydra — though a tad more directly. It’s all about Hydra Soak, and the message is decidedly more pointed than we’ve had before. “Escape to a world all your own, where your problems float away,” the announcer says. “When you want to get away, but you don’t want to go anywhere: Hydra Soak.” Marvel: Agents of Shield fans will recall that Hydra Soak HAS been mentioned on the show. During the series’s Framework arc, Phil Coulson claims that Hydra is brainwashing people using soap, so he makes his own. Is the commercial another sign that Hydra is behind the mystery of WestView? Is it a warning that no one in the town will be able to get away? And what’s that about finding the goddess within?

The actors in this ad are the same ones as the previous ones, Victoria Blade and Ithamar Enriquez. Their recurring presence might mean they have some significance in Wanda’s life. Maybe they’re her parents?

In what feels like an ominous follow-up to the Hydra Soak commercial, the doctor reveals that he and his wife won’t be taking their trip away after all. “Small towns, you know, so hard to escape,” he mutters, pointedly. I think we’re starting to get the hint, folks! Wanda mentions she is a twin and that her brother was named Pietro. It’s been a hot minute since anyone has talked about MCU’s Quicksilver — he made his debut back in Age of Ultron, the same film in which he was shot and killed.

When Geraldine lets it slip that she knows about Pietro’s death at the hands of Ultron, Wanda interrogates her and discovers her necklace bears a familiar symbol — it’s that damn S.W.O.R.D. logo, and Wanda is apparently not a fan.

In another sign that something is UP, Agnes and Herb seem to warn Vision about Geraldine. They note that she’s “brand new” to town with no family and start to say that “she came here because we’re all —” before they’re cut off. It’s worth noting that the two figures that may be MCU versions of formidable Marvel characters are the ones who seem to understand that strange things are going on in WestView. If Agnes and Herb are the MCU’s Agatha Harkness and High Evolutionary, they would definitely be the ones in the know. But why would they try to warn Vision about Geraldine if WestView is a trap?

Agnes is wearing her infamous brooch as a necklace that could be referencing an MCU supervillain mentioned before. The necklace has three figures close together, with the center figure holding what looks like a giant scythe. Is it another clue that the Grim Reaper is on his way?

Wanda literally throws Geraldine out of town — though she tells Vision that she had to run home — and Geraldine passes through what seems like a magical forcefield. While fans have been assuming WestView is a fake town, this shows us that physically, it’s a very real place. But it’s currently bubbled off with a barrier that Wanda can apparently allow people in and out of. And the song that plays as Geraldine finds herself outside the barrier? “Daydream Believer” by The Monkees. It seems pretty appropriate for a situation that feels like a surreal dream.

When Geraldine lands on the outskirts of real WestView, she’s instantly swarmed by cars and agents all bearing the S.W.O.R.D. logo. Since we know Teyonah Parris is playing the adult Monica Rambeau, it’s safe to assume Geraldine was an alias she used to go undercover in WestView. Combined with the mystery agent watching the show within the show from episode one, we can conclude that Wanda and Vision are being closely observed by S.W.O.R.D. for some reason. But they clearly aren’t the ones in control, since Monica is so easily forced out. What will they do next?

While the opening credits of this episode are a reference to The Brady Bunch, it’s the end credits that give us another clue about the big bad coming our way. Just like the previous episodes, Wanda and Vision are framed in a hexagon as the end credits roll. The symbol is so important because it’s the preferred shape of the creators at Advanced Idea Mechanics, or AIM, who are last seen in Iron Man 3. Remember the beekeeper suits that resemble AIM agents’ clothing? It seems like the evil organization might be making a comeback.

  WandaVision Episode 2 Easter Eggs

The opening credits for this episode aren’t just an adorable homage to Bewitched but a whole bevy of Marvel Easter eggs! The illustration of the moon happens to be surrounded by six stars, and we can’t help but be reminded of the Infinity Gauntlet.

When Vision phases through the floor, there’s a dark shape that looks exactly like the helmet worn by Marvel supervillain Grim Reaper hidden in the space. In the comics, he’s the brother of Wonder Man, whose brainwaves were used in Vision’s creation.

When Wanda goes to the supermarket in the opening, three references hang above the aisle! Bova Milk refers to Bova, the humanoid cow who raised Wanda and Pietro on Mount Wundagore. Auntie A’s kitty litter is a witchy reference to Auntie Agatha or Agatha Harkness, whom we’ve discussed before, and her cat-like familiar named Ebony. And Wonder Mints is most definitely a cheeky reference to Wonder Man, aka Simon Williams, the superhero who Vision’s brainwaves are based on in the comics!

When animated Wanda and Vision settle on their couch, the small figure on their side table is a statue of the Whizzer. Featured in 1982’s Vision and the Scarlet Witch, the Whizzer thought he was Wanda’s father but later discovers he was wrong. Whizzer and his wife were offered the chance to adopt Wanda and Pietro when they were kids on the mythical Mount Wundagore, but they declined.

When Wanda hears a crash outside the house, she heads out to the front, where she finds a colorful toy helicopter in an otherwise black-and-white world. Not only does the red-and-yellow helicopter have the number 57 stamped on it, but it also bears the S.W.O.R.D symbol! The number is likely in reference to Vision’s first appearance in Avengers #57, while the symbol hints to the presence of S.W.O.R.D outside Wanda’s perfect world.

The creepy, cult-like refrain spoken by the fundraiser organizers of it all being “for the children” seems to be a reference to Wanda’s involvement in the comic event The Children’s Crusade. The story follows her son, Billy, who’s trying to gain control over his reality-warping abilities by looking for a missing Wanda.

Well, here’s another blast from the angsty past! The Strücker timepiece is a very obvious callback to Hydra and Baron von Strücker. The watch bears the unmistakable octopus skull symbol of Hydra, and Strücker is the Hydra leader who recruited Pietro and Wanda for the experimentation that gave them powers. He was later killed by Ultron in his prison cell. Does anyone else hear that ticking noise? Remember good ol’ Herb? In the comics, a character named Herbert is also the High Evolutionary who runs Mount Wundagore, the very same safe haven where Bova delivered the Maximoff twins. Time will tell if the super-scientist is the same character, but it can’t be a coincidence.

Wanda and Vision’s magic show has two gems that we’ve noticed! First thing, the literal Mind Stone happens to be the design on the doors of the Cabinet of Mystery that plays a huge part in their act. Second, Wanda and Vision use the names Illusion and Glamour for their actor, which are also the names of the magicians that Vision goes to see in an issue of The Vision and the Scarlet Witch.

Though we all enjoy a good jam, The Beach Boys’ “Help Me, Rhonda” gets interrupted by someone asking, “Who’s doing this to you, Wanda?” And doesn’t that voice sound an awful lot like Randall Park’s Jimmy Woo?

While it may seem weird that Wanda shows her pregnancy in an instant, it’s in line with what goes on in the comics. Wanda uses magic to help her have children, which checks out since her husband is a synthezoid.

Oooh, that mysterious beekeeper! Not only does their presence lead to the reveal that Wanda has some control over the reality they’re in, but it also sets off some alarm bells. Even though the beekeeper’s suit bears the S.W.O.R.D logo on the back, the costume is reminiscent of the yellow costumes worn by A.I.M., a military science organization founded by Baron von Strücker. Could this be a sign that Wanda is being watched by more than one organization? And is this a hint that Hydra is back!? (Obviously, it is.)

  WandaVision Episode 1 Easter Eggs

When Wanda accidentally smashes a plate into Vision’s head, he jokes about his wife and her “flying saucers,” and she comments back about his “indestructible head.” Considering that Vision died after having the Mind Stone ripped from his head, it’s a dark joke to kick off the series.

Vision’s work tie has a visual reference to his comic-book alter ego! In Tom King and Gabriel Hernandez Walta’s Vision, whenever the character dresses as a human, he wears a tie clip that emulates the diamond pattern on his chest.

Vision’s boss, Mr. Hart, is likely named after comic creator Steve Englehart, who created 1985’s The Vision and the Scarlet Witch with Richard Howell, a miniseries that heavily influenced WandaVision. It’s been heavily implied that Kathryn Hahn’s Agnes is the MCU’s Agatha Harkness, a witch who helped train Wanda’s magic back in the ’70s and ’80s.

When Wanda magically saves dinner, the bottle of wine she pours from is Maison du Mépris, which translates to house of contempt or scorn. As fans have pointed out since the trailer drop, this seems like a reference to the House of M comics storyline in which Wanda bends reality into a new world ruled by her family.

The Stark commercial break refers to two things: Avengers icon Tony Stark and his part in Wanda’s dark past. As Wanda and her twin brother, Pietro, explain in Avengers: Age of Ultron, their parents were killed by an explosive Stark Industries device, leaving the twins trapped under rubble. The Maximoffs were trapped by a Stark Industries shell for two days, expecting it to detonate before they get rescued. Even though Wanda eventually fights beside Tony in the future, there’s still some trauma from that experience and her brother’s death. If it weren’t for the Starks, Wanda could have been a completely different person.

The episode closes with a mysterious observer watching the “show” and taking notes on a pad with the logo of S.W.O.R.D. on the cover. For those who don’t know, S.W.O.R.D stands for Sentient World Observation and Response Department and is a subdivision of S.H.I.E.L.D. It’s a counterterrorism and intelligence agency that deals with extraterrestrial threats to world security. Expect to see them around more.

  Press: A Thorough Breakdown of All the Marvel Easter Eggs on WandaVision was originally published on Elizabeth Olsen Source • Your source for everything Elizabeth Olsen

[gxngsoflondon]

As The World Caves In - Part 1/?(Sean Wallace x Reader)

A/N: Hi guys! This first chapter is mainly background information, so bear with me (its not the most action packed chapter but it is 100% necessary).This is going to be a pretty long series so lemme know if you want to be added to a tag list xxxx

Materlist!

Part 1: Bang Bang! (My Baby Shot Me Down)

Nothing good ever becomes of the girl unfortunate enough to fall in love with a Wallace.

There is blood, thick pools of the stuff, not all of it yours.

There is too much blood.

You are running out of time.

This is how you’re going to die, you are sure of it now. But before you do, they are going to take him away from you.They are going to pull everything worth living for out of your sorry little world.

Sean.

You will not let them take Sean from you. You will make sure that he’s safe.

You hear them coming now.

This is it.

/// 16 Years Before \\\

A giggle fills the garden.

It’s more of a squeal in all honesty, carefree and silly and full of joy. Children’s laughter. The innocence of a little girl’s giggle is out of place here.

Innocence is out of place here.

“Ha! Sean! You’re out!” you call “I got you fair and square.”

Three fathers and three mothers sit on black woven garden furniture. Wallace, Dumali, Anderson, London crime royalty. There is no business to attend to today so they are also laughing, glasses of champagne in hand as they watch their children play on wooden stick horses in the April sunshine.

“Nuh uh Y/N! You didn’t shout BANG”

“Yes I did!”

“I didn’t hear you”

“Me neither”

“I did! I did! You’re all dead!’

“You absolutely did not”

You are tall for your age. A pretty white dress, white tights, pristine white shoes, but your pigtails are falling out, the dainty white ribbons becoming a tangled mess and you run to keep up with the boys.

Billy. Skinny, ears and elbows jutting out, a mop of curly brown hair.

Alex. Taller, dimpled cheeks and nervous eyes, deep chocolate skin.

Sean. Grinning, exploding with freckles, blonde eyelashes so long they tangled themselves.

“Watch, like this Y/N,” Sean says patiently, turning his fingers into a gun “BANG! BANG!”

Billy and Alex theatrically hit the ground, taking great pleasure in twitching and convulsing as they pretend to die.

You gallop towards them just as Alex starts to sit up.

“BANG!” you yell and he falls down again. Sean is smirking at you as you both trot together, linking arms as you parade around victorious. You stand on your tiptoes and you kiss his cheek, sparking fits of laughter from Alex and vomiting sounds from Billy.

“She’s precious that one,” Marian coos, she is watching you as you  march the length of the garden clutching her own son. She adores you, loves you almost as much as her own.

Your mother laughs.

“She’s not all sweetness and sugar, i’d check you’ve got all of your jewlery when we leave she’s going through a ‘borrowing without permission’ phase,”

Finn guffaws

“Still a damnsight sweeter than my boys”

“You might be stuck with her, she came up to me the other day asking ‘When I marry Sean will I get to stay at Aunty Marians all the time?’”

Marian grins again.

“I guess Alex is out of luck then,” chuckles Mrs Dumani. She is sat cross legged on the grass with the girls. Jacquline and Shannon are oil painting canvases, something not even the promise of sweets would bribe you into doing.

Trust me, your mother had already tried.

She wished you’d stay away from the boys, even further away from the family business.

Gangs are no place for little girls.

“My daddy’s going to show us a real gun!” Alex says as you watch all three fathers approach you, “Now that Billy’s seven, we’re all old enough,”

“But- I’m still five?”

“Yes but Y/N you're a girl,” says Billy pointedly, grimacing with the word as if it tastes foul.

You scowl at your brother Tom, a teenager now, as he picks you up and carts you back to your mother.

You love Tommy more than anybody in the world, so you only kick him twice.

”Why can’t I stay with the boys! None of this is fair!” you announce, your arms are crossed, lip pouting in defiance.

Your mother isn’t phased, she’s been practicing this conversation. The Wallace and Dumani mothers are smiling encourangling at her, they have been here before themselves.

They will raise smart daughters, undeniably good and honest and strong.

Their husbands will raise smart businessmen, undeniably rich, undeniably powerful.

“Look at you darling, you are my treasure. I love you very much,” Your mother is stroking your hair and when you try to pull away, she cups her hand to your cheek. ‘And you know why we stay away from Daddy’s business, don’t you”

“I know but-’

“That’s right, to keep you safe and sound dear,”

This isn’t the first time you’ve shown interest in the family business. That’s what is worrying Mrs Anderson and what is making her face settle into an unsupressable frown.

“But-”

It is Marian Wallace that speaks next.

“Try and listen to your mother Y/N”

She is looking at you with a firm, no bullshit stare. You know this is an order.

‘It's not fair! They get to-”

“Y/N, it’s a scary world out there. There is no place for you in that horriblness do you understand?” a more mellow Mrs Dumani says.

Yet, you don’t understand, how could you? Your mother had done everything in her power to shelter you from the violence attached to your surname.

Only Tom would be expected to contiue the family business.

“But I’m not scared of anything!”

Guillabe, naive, innocent, ditsy. How do you explain to a 5 year old that they inherited a world of death, drugs and crime?

Your brother has an idea. “Man eating spiders, cannibal clowns” He is sneaking up behind you and whispering in your ear

“Thugs, criminals, beasts, Please, they’ll eat you up, alive!”

Your skin takes on a crawling quality, even though you know it’s only Tommy, you are starting to panic.

“No!”

“Yes!”

“But-”

“Also, snakes and large bugs, men with pointy teeth, slimy monsters that creep under your bed at night and swallow you whole”

Any joking quality is removed from Tom's voice. He is doing everything he can to scare you.

It is working. You are only a small child

Guilt flashes on his face when your bottom lip quivers slightly.

“Tommy that’s enough, you’re upsetting her.” Marian again.

You are running straight to your mother, her arms opening to wrap you in a tight embrace.

“You’ll be safe as long as you stay with Mummy okay?”

You agree and she is still cradling you when Finn, Ed and your father return. They had left the boys inside.

“You haven’t been crying have ya?” Finn says. He bends down to ruffle your hair and you shake your head violently.

“Look I know you might want to be like the boys. Personally, I wouldn’t bother, cabbage heads the lot of them. But if you ever see one of these-”

He reaches into his pocket.

And then Finn Wallace gives a five year old girl a gun.

“-I want you to run in the opposite direction, do ya hear me?”

Your mother’s eyes are wide with shock, Marian’s mouth open ready to lecture her husband. But he takes the gun back from you before you can wrap your fingers around it.

“I want you to make me and Uncle Finn a promise Y/N. You wouldn’t lie to us would you? You won’t ever go near one of these will you? It’s very important”

It was your father this time.

“Of course not Daddy,”

“Good, now why don’t you play with Jackie and Shannon?”

“Actually,” your mother says, almost eager to leave now ”I think our drivers here”

You rush through your goodbyes and are herded into the back of the black vehicle. Your daddy sits in the front with the driver, you sit in the middle in the back. You aren’t quite sure why, but you feel the urge to give Tommy a big hug. You do.

As you pull out of the Wallace estate, you see the boys pressed up against a large bay window. Alex is grinning at you, Billy pulling a hideous face and sticking his tongue out. It’s only Sean that is actually waving at you, and you are waving back.

“Why can’t we all live together in one big house Mummy?” you ask.

Your father chuckles.

“Come now Y/N, we’ll be back again tomorrow. Just like always.”

You are smiling as the boys in the window disappear from view, knowing you’ll be back playing with them in the morning. Just like always.

But this is the last time you will see the Wallaces, for a very very long time.

(Part 2!!!)

[bush-viper-cutie]

The Pond

Pairing: young!severus & fem!reader

Word Count: 1,223

Rating: E for Everyone

Plot:  Lonely and disliked Prince Severus Snape befriends a village girl in the forest just outside his castle’s woods.

Warnings: None

A/N: For Snape Appreciation Month, prompt 11: Snape is an actual prince. @snapeloveposts​  (Part 1??? I kinda wanna make a flash forward one shot of this :o maybe)

Posted: 6/24/20

Masterlist

~~~ * ~~~ * ~~~ * ~~~ * ~~~

Prince Severus normally spent most of his days in the woods outside the kingdom walls, walking through the forest looking for mushrooms, leaves, or the elusive biheaded orange rock slug. Everyday, while his brothers received lessons in dueling or ruling, he was sent out by his tutor to find his own ingredients for the potion of the day.

He wasn’t upset that his older siblings got most of the attention, not truly. He understood his oldest brother was heir to the throne, and that his next three brothers would inherit lands for them each to rule. His youngest older brother, born just one year before him, was the most liked in the village and was the most interested in politics and so his path was clear as well: a royal advisor to the soon-to-be King.

He, however, was the youngest brother, of age fourteen, and not at all liked by the village. They found him secretive because he didn’t like attending balls or festivals. They preferred the looks of his brothers, taking after his father, except they all had his mother’s nose whereas he looked like his mother except he had his father’s nose.

The contrast between them was so great he spent most of his life hiding away, hating the comments he would occasionally hear, “The runt of the litter.” He hated that word, “runt”, like a failed attempt at a sophisticated and attractive Prince. A failed attempt at someone useful to the Kingdom.

He sat down on a log and rested his elbows on his knees. His tutor expected him back in an hour with all the necessary ingredients to start on a new potion, but he could barely walk a few feet without forgetting his purpose and thinking about the outdoor ball he was supposed to attend at nightfall.

Normally the King and Queen excused him from events, seeing as he wasn’t much missed ever, but this time they were adamant about his attendance. The towns people were starting to spread rumors about him, and that apparently wouldn’t do for King Tobias or Queen Eileen.

The night will go terribly.

. . .

The castle gardens had been transformed and people from all over the kingdom were in attendance, walking through the rose bushes, smelling the tulips, and dancing in the center as the band played summertime songs that made even the blue birds sing along.

His brothers were out talking to a group of noblemen from an allied kingdom while he sat by his mother’s side next to her throne. He took out his potions book and reread the ingredients and their description from that day’s lesson.

The ball went on as expected, and the village people seemed satisfied at his attendance, only giving him the occasional sneer or squinty-eyed look. Nosy bastards. As the sun set it was getting harder to read, even with all the dancing flame balls above their heads.

He headed behind the gardener’s shed and sat on a stump, looking up at the top of the trees, wondering what it was like to always be the last to feel the sun’s warmth as it dipped beneath the earth. If trees could talk back, he’d lose his voice talking to them… or perhaps his voice would disappear from underuse, knowing he would rather listen to their ancient stories. He never had anything worth saying anyways.

There was a rustling in the bushed up ahead and a cute girl with shoulder length brown hair came out, covered in pine needles and leaves, carrying two stones. He quickly stood and winced in regret, seeing how terribly scary it must be to have a shadowy stranger jump out from seemingly nowhere.

She recovered from her jump and bowed, realizing who stood before her, “Prince Severus! I’m so sorry… I-I was just exploring…”

Severus nodded. He didn’t know what to say to her. He barely spoke to his own family, let alone strangers, and even less rarely pretty girls with plum color lips and cheeks as pink as rose petals. He stammered trying to say a mixture of ‘Hello’ and ‘It’s alright’, saying something along the lines of “Hitso,” and trailing off.

She laughed, “You have a beautiful pond back there.”

He nodded, remembering the one; the fish in it glowed like soft stars. “Did you leave because it got dark?”

“Yes. The fish seemed to put their lights out and I thought it would be best to leave just before I couldn’t see my way back…” She looked down at her hands and held out the two rocks, “These were on the pond’s edge and… I wanted to take a memento.”

Severus noticed their green and blue shades, “Their great… Did… Did you know the pond glows again after the sun has set?”

She smiled, “Does it really?”

“Yes. I can show you… The toads glow like suns on the rocks and logs, trying to attract the mosquitos.”

She set the rocks down on the stump and slid her arm around his, “Lead the way, then.”

Severus lead her deep into the forest, wand held out for light as the woods turned dark. Once it was pitch black her fingers pressed into his arm, but he was careful with every step he took and called out roots before they even became visible.

He took her to the spot. His favorite spot. The smooth stone by the pond’s edge that rested between two cherry blossom trees. In all of the woods no one could encounter any tree that didn’t have thick brown trunks and dark green leaves, except for these two trees. He often thought of the trees as guardians of the pond, but they were only reachable by one path.

She gasped when she saw them, their petals illuminated on the water’s surface by the distant glow of croaking toads. The moon reflected bright white and the petals danced all around it, swirling with the ripples.

Before finding the pond, Severus always felt the forest was silent and eerie, but any time spent by the pond would teach anyone different. The rustles and broken twig sounds could never maintain their creepiness after witnessing all types of creatures venture out to the pond to play and tussle with their friends and family.

They sat on the rock and remained quiet, watching how the toads stuck their tongues out to catch the unsuspecting bugs and critters that dared to invade their space. He kept looking over at her and drummed on his knees.

His mouth opened and released his thoughts unfiltered, “Would you like to be friends?”

She smiled for a second, but it vanished as the fire behind her eyes died out, “I’m just a village girl… You can’t be seen with me. It’s not proper.”

Severus looked down at his fingers, “Well, I’m hardly seen at all.”

“Then let’s meet here again, every night,” her smile was as bright as her eyes again.

“I’ll make a trail for you, from the village’s forest entrance to here. I’ll make it safe for you to follow at night,” Severus’ excitement got the better of him and his voice was the loudest it’s been in months.

“In that case, I’d love to be friends with you,” she held out her hand like they were sealing a deal.

He shook it gladly.

~~~ * ~~~ * ~~~ * ~~~ * ~~~

[holylulusworld]

More than my daddy’s boss

Summary: Two years later you are still with Dean only for your father to ruin your life.

Pairing: AU Dean x Reader, Benny Lafitte, unnamed father

Warnings: angst, age gap (Dean is around 38; Reader 25), smut, unprotected sex, dirty talk, shower sex, secrets, ‘the family business’, violence, blood, language, protective/possessive Dean, comforting, fluff

Sequel to: My daddy’s boss

“Baby, you take me so well, every fucking time.” Pressed against the cool tile wall, your legs around Dean’s waist you hold tight onto his shoulder as he merciless plunges into you.

Dean was on a business trip for over a week and now he wants to catch up with the time he lost to have his way with you. Cries along with chants of your lover’s name leave your lips as you rest your head against the tile wall, just watching Dean working his cock into you.

“Such a sight, Y/N. Impaled on my cock, nipples stiff and your eyes only fixated on me, Sweetheart. Shit, you are the best fuck I ever had.” Cursing Dean slides harder into you, pressing another high out of your sore pussy.

“Dean…oh…god!” Nails biting into Dean’s shoulders you come crying out his name till your voice is hoarse.

“That’s it, Baby, …fuck…I’m gonna fill you up.” Trembling you feel Dean coat your walls, not caring about the dirty noises he makes.

Panting he nips at your neck, still holding your body in a tight grip. You are his and he wants you to feel it in your bones. For over two years he makes sure no other man comes close to you, not even your father.

Last month he had to send Benny to your father’s house as he didn’t stop calling your old phone. The phone Dean let disappear to make sure you only have contact with people he approved. Dean calls it love and protection – Sam calls it control and possessiveness.

“Missed you D’. How was your business trip?” While Dean is busy marking your neck with another hickey you slide your fingers through his damp hair.

“Boring without you. I wish you could’ve come with me. Why didn’t your boss give you a week off?” Dean mutters against your skin.

Hating the fact, you refused to give up your job. Still working for as Dean calls him ‘Magnum’ you earn enough money to be independent and that’s important to you.

“I love my job, D’, you know that. Mr. Masters tried anything to give me a week off, but my colleague got sick and I had to help him out. Next time I’ll get a few days off, Baby.” Smirking Dean presses his forehead to yours, groaning dirty words against your lips.

“Love it when you call me Baby, Y/N. Why don’t you quit your job and work for me?” Tracing your nipple with his thumb Dean causes a gasp to leave your lips and his smirk gets wider.

“Dean, I love you and what we have but I need more. I want to be independent and make my own money. I don’t want anyone to believe I got the job as I’m banging my hot boss.” Chuckling Dean nips at your lips, growling when you fist his hair harshly.

“I’m a hot boss, Sweetheart? Why not working for me then? Could show you my ass and all every day and bend you over my desk to make you scream during lunch break.” Dean won’t give up till you quit your job, so he keeps on bugging you.

“No, Winchester…” Narrowing your eyes you huff as Dean pulls out of you, pouting. “Won’t work, Dean. I’m always with you. Day and night, okay. I barely have any friends left, don’t have contact with my father. Let me have my job, Baby.”

“I’ll make you a better offer…” Dean states before he walks out of the shower, leaving you stunned behind.

Lately, you have the feeling your boyfriend gets possessive about you. Every time a man tries to get closer to you Dean or Benny are there to scare him off. Even Sam mentioned Dean is like an Alpha, trying to mark his territory.

Taking a deep breath, you walk out of the bathroom, to move your hands over Dean’s back, kissing his shoulder softly.

“D’, I’m all yours. Just let me have one thing you can’t control. I’ve got the feeling I’m losing control over my life every day more since we are a thing. I love you but sometimes you suffocate me.”

“I love you, Y/N. That’s not suffocating. It’s called caring about my girlfriend.” Dean is pissed and you can feel the tension in his body.

“Sorry, Baby. I didn’t mean to be rude. It’s just…” Sighing you cup Dean’s cheek to press a soft kiss to his lips. “Let me do my job. Masters is no threat for you, D’. He’s gay…”

Two weeks later you can’t believe you lost your job. All these years you thought Mr. Masters appreciates your work but instead of promoting you a new colleague got the position you wanted for so long.

In the end, Mr. Masters told you he’s not satisfied with your work any longer and suggested to ‘let you go’. While you carry your box toward Dean’s house you sniffle lightly. You put so much effort into your job for nothing.

The door opens before you can get your keys out. “Baby, already home?” Dean cocks a brow, taking the box out of your hands, glancing at the inherits. “Something wrong?”

Sobbing you hold out your arms and Dean drops the box to hold you in his arms. “He…” Choking on your words you cry into Dean’s chest and he has no clue what possibly could be wrong.

“Just tell me, Baby Girl.”

“My boss gave the promotion he promised me someone working for him for two months. Masters said that he’s no longer satisfied with my work and fired me. I’ve got no clue what I did wrong, Dean.” Sniffling you let Dean gently rub your back.

He’s clenching his jaw to the point of pain. Dean took a step back, wanted you to keep your job only for your boss to fire you. “I’ll rip him a new one. Son of a bitch!”

“No. He’s not worth it. I thought my boss is satisfied with my work, Dean. I gave my all and now…”

“Shhh…you will take a few days to calm and look for a new job. You can still work for me, but I know you don’t want to. I’ll help you if you want me to. Just stop crying, I can’t see tears leaving your beautiful eyes, Baby Girl.”

Picking you up Dean carries you toward your shared bedroom to let you cry into your favorite pillow. “I’ll be right back, okay. I’ll cancel a meeting and we can talk about your asshole of a boss.”

Walking out of the bedroom Dean dials Benny’s number, silently cursing. “Benny, my girl got fired. Find out who’s behind this. Till last week her boss was almost swooning about Y/N and now he fires my girl? I’ll break his face…”

“What do you mean with her father told you my girl is working as an escort? What the actual fuck! Son of a bitch!” Throwing papers in your former boss’s face Dean glares at the way smaller man.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t let someone with a low moral work for me, Mr. Winchester. I have a reputation to lose. She can’t work for me and make money with…” Clearing his throat Mr. Masters points at his cock.

“Did you just assume my girl sucks other guys cocks for money, you worthless prude? My girl is an angel! She only was with two guys in her whole life. Only as she has a worthless piece of shit as a father doesn’t mean she’s a whore! You will pay her for the rest of the year and apologize to me right now!”

Benny stands behind Mr. Masters's chair, squeezing the trembling man’s shoulders hard. “Mr. Winchester gave you an order. Follow it.” Benny rumbles squeezing your former boss’s shoulder harder and the man gasps.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Winchester. Sir.”

Dean silently nods before he leaves the room to let Benny finish his job.

Outside Dean checks his messages while Benny does his job, making sure Mr. Masters knows from now on no one messes with Dean Winchesters girl.

“Dean…” Sniffling you rush into your boyfriend’s arms as you hold a bunch of pictures in your hands. With trembling fingers, you show him the pictures, or rather an advertisement for an escort service using your picture.

“What the…?” Cursing Dean rips the pictures into pieces. “Everything is going to be alright, Baby Girl. Your boss fired you as your fine daddy showed him these advertisements. I’m going to visit your daddy and make sure he knows his place.”

Tears roll down your cheeks while you crumble another picture. “How can he do this to me, Dean? I lost my job and none of my friends calls me back. They all believe this is true…”

Cupping your cheek Dean wipes your tears away with his thumb. “No one hurts my girl. I’m going to make sure everyone knows you are innocent, okay. How about you take a warm bath and I call a friend to help me.”

“Do you believe this…” Sniffling you point at the pictures and Dean gasp, bringing you into his arms.

“I’m not a nice guy sometimes too, but I do love you, Sweetheart. I told you about the trick and all. I would never believe this shit, okay. You’re only my dirty girl.” Nodding you let Dean wipe more tears away.

“You’re a good man. An ass for tricking my dad back then, but you didn’t force me to have hot sex with you, D’. My dad did this on purpose to hurt me. You were just a horny old man.” Giggling you watch Dean’s eyes darken before his lips are on yours, devouring your mouth.

“I’m not old! But you’re right, I was horny and after your cute ass. Now, bath, bed and relax. I’ve got this, Sweetheart.”

“Who are you really, Winchester? This is not business as usual.” Your father pants as Benny hits his face again, causing his lip to split.

“Smart, Mr. Y/L/N.” Smirking Dean scapes a chair over the floor in the cold room Benny brought your father to.

Sitting on the chair Dean gets his gun out, resting the hand holding it onto his thigh. “I’m not just a businessman. Did you ever hear about Purgatory?”

Gasping your father starts shaking. “This can’t be, this organization got destroyed years ago. None of the mob survived according to the news.” Eyes darting between Benny’s fists covered in your father’s blood and Dean’s gun your father starts panting.

“Do you always believe what the guys on TV tell you?” Pinching your father's cheek with his fingers Benny smirks. “Only our enemies got killed, people not following orders or too dumb to keep their mouths shut.”

“You see, Y/N is my girl, the woman I love and she just lost the job she loved because of you. Her friends don’t call her back and she’s crying for over a week and I can tell…” Now Dean gets up to aim his gun to your father's forehead, smirking as he pees his pants. “I hate seeing my girl cry for sure.”

“I didn’t…my wife…she…”

“You..what…” Mocking your father Dean taps the barrel of his gun to his forehead. “Speak in a normal sentences, asshole. You tried to hurt my girl!”

“I wanted to blackmail you, make some money. I thought…I would never…I’m sorry…” Sniffling your father looks up at Dean, begging him silently to not use his gun.

Dean smirks, unlocking his gun before he pulls the trigger. A scream escapes your father's lips as he realizes the bullet never hit him.

“Dude! What’s that smell…” Benny waves his hand in front of his nose, scrunching it up in disgust.

“I think our friend just shit his pants.” Dean chuckles, securing his gun.

“Mr. Winchester…please…” Fisting your father's hair Dean gets a knife out to carve an ___ (the first letter of your name) into his cheek. Blood is running down your father's face, and he shakes in fear.

“This is your last warning. Y/N is my girl, my family. You say her name ever again…you die. Every day you look into the mirror this…” Tapping your fathers’ cheek with the knife Dean’s features darken. “…will remind you that Y/N is the only reason I let you live. One word to anyone about what happened tonight, and you wish I ended you right now.”

“Shall I dump him in front of his house, Chief?”

“No.” Tossing twenty bucks at your father Dean turns around. “He can call a cab. We won’t ruin our car for this stinking, worthless piece of shit. Let’s go. My girl needs me, Benny.”

Before following his boss Benny cuts the ropes holding your father open, leaning close to his ear.

“I suggest you forget what happened here and never tell anyone. Y/N is a nice girl and I don’t want her to go to your funeral right now. Boss showed mercy tonight. Normally you would be dead by now. Be grateful…”

“How do you feel, Baby Girl?” Walking into the bedroom, warm tea in his hands Dean watches your face with concern. You must’ve cried even more as your eyes are puffy and red. “Don’t worry about your job. Just work for me, Y/N. You can work with Sam if you think that’s better.”

“I can’t…” Sniffling you twist the blanket in your hand, trying to hide what scares you to hell and back.

“Baby, come on. Sammy won’t bite you. Promised. Only I’m allowed to bite your cute ass.” Placing the tea onto the nightstand at your side of the bed Dean cups your cheeks to kiss your tears away. “What’s wrong?”

“I…I…” Choking on your words you show Dean the positive pregnancy test in your hand. “It was an accident, I swear. I don’t know how this could happen…” Crying even harder you gasp as Dean moves his arms around you, shushing you genty.

“Baby, I’m happy. I always wanted to become a daddy. Now I’m going to have a baby with the woman I love. Now stop crying. I want to call Sammy and tell him the good news.”

“You’re happy?”

“Damn right, Sweetheart.” Chuckling Dean pecks your lips. “Can we name the baby Impala when it’s a boy?” He asks cocking a brow and you take your pillow and hit his head hard.

“I’m not going to call my son Impala, Winchester…”

“That’s not over…” Pointing at your belly Dean smirks. “Gonna call him Impala…”

“No way…” Giggling you let Dean nuzzle his nose into your neck. “Love you, Baby Girl.”

“Love you too, D’.”

“You and me. Together we will rule this godforsaken town.” Dean whispers in your ear and you’ve got no clue what he means but you nod, simply enjoying his strong arms wrapped around you.

SPN Forever Tags

@donnaintx, @screechingartisancashbailiff, @fallen-wolf22, @sister-winchesters99, @mogaruke, @the-is13, @helloitsmeamie203, @strayrosesbloom, @thewinchesterco, @hobby27, @kittycatlover18, @gh0stgurl, @marvelfansworld , @sandlee44, @hawaiianohana31, @unlikelysamwinchesteronahunt, @katpatrova17, @notyourtypicalrose , @heyitscam99, @flamencodiva, @echoesofpassion, @cocklesbelli, @voltage-my2dlove, @fandom-princess-forevermore @thenamelesschibi, @lauravic, @fandomsrourlives, @wittysunflower, @drakelover78, @lemondropirwin, @lonewolf471, @wronglanemendes, @spnhollis, @void-imaginations, @jay-and-dean, @shatteredabby, @juniorhuntersam, @helpmeluci, @neii3n, @goodgodimaweirdperson, @alltimesamantha, @chonisberonica, @supernaturalonice @stuckys-whore, @shadowkat-83, @officialmarvelwhore, @wecantgiggleitsafandom, @meganywinchester, @shikshinkwon, @miraclesoflove, @yolobloggers, @lu-sullivan, @maniacproffesor, @hollymac79, @straycuties9, @kayla-2000, @ilovefanfic86, @gracefultrenchcoat494, @babygirls-fav, @sadn0va, @spnwoman,  @amiquette, @linki-locks11, @geekofmanyforms, @eggingamazinglove, @jessica-marsh09, @spnficgirl, @shut-themoonscone, @thequeenreaders, @countrygal17a, @kteelou, @soryuwifeyxx, @kricketc28, @heartislubbingdubbing, @atomicfandombomb, @defenderrosetyler , @shortwinchester, @maybesomedaygayyyy, @tmiships4life, @deanmonandnegansbitch, @exo-nova, @the-chocolate-moose, @jamesmoriarty-biotches, @laxe-from-outer-space, @sabascio, @that-place-called-middle-earth, @the-broken-angel-13, @bunnybaby89, @pandabiiissh, @maddiedott, @differentstudentrunaway-e70bf763, @certaindeanwinchesterforcastiel

Dean/Jensen Forever Tags     

@spnfamily-j2, @supernatural-bellawinchester, @butifulsoul125, @lyinginthegingerlocks, @deans-baby-momma, @spn-dean-and-sam-winchester, @20gayneen, @janicho88, @thefaithfulwriter, @dreaminemz, @negans-lucille-tblr, @akshi8278, @hhiggs, @midnightsilver16830, @mrspeacem1nusone, @ria132love, @caligraphee, @the-witch-in-silence, @multisuperfandom, @deansgirl-1968, @justanotherwinchester, @jadesupernatural, @squirrelnotsam, @gaveherhearttotheliontattoo, @roonyxx, @jason-todd-squad​, @thevelvetseries, @spnsuper17, @adoptdontshoppets, @woodworthti666​, @frederikkeborup, @psychicforest, @luciathewinchestergirl,  @michellemxndes​

[ronninoir]

Can I Steal You for a Second? CH15

Summary: Adrien is forced to participate in a new dating show, but becomes more excited when Ladybug says she’ll participate as her civilian self.

AKA: AU where Adrien doesn’t know Marinette, the superheroes are 22 and Gabriel is mean and ruthless but not Hawkmoth.

Read on AO3

Start from the beginning Chp 1 on AO3

Chapter 15

Marinette didn’t surface until well into the afternoon. Between the akuma, the taxing cocktail party and the various amounts of alcohol she had consumed, Marinette was exhausted. She was roused by a gentle knock on her door as Hanna and Juliette slipped in.

“Morning, Marinette!” Hanna said in her chirpy voice. They had brought Marinette some sandwiches, chips, and water and Hanna placed the plate on the bed, before sitting on the edge.

“Well, it’s actually afternoon,” Juliette said with a small laugh, placing the glass of water she was holding on the side table. Marinette sat up and stretched, feeling the ache from the akuma attack in her muscles.

“Well I had a long day yesterday, between the cocktail party and the akuma. So I think I deserve extra sleep,” Marinette said as she reached for a sandwich.

“That was so scary what happened last night. We’re just so glad that you’re okay!” Hanna gushed and Juliette nodded in agreement.

“Yeah the whole house is buzzing about how you got attacked. It’s almost like they forgot about all of the drama that Lila caused last night and are just worried about your well-being.” Juliette said as she took a chip off of the plate.

Marinette playfully swatted Juliette’s hand away with a giggle. “That’s actually not the first time I’ve been targeted by an akuma. I’m kind of used to it now.” Both girls gaped at Marinette and she gave a small laugh before taking a bite of the sandwich.

“What happened? How many have come after you? Have you ever gotten hurt? What’s it like to be chased by some super villain? Will you tell us about them?” Both girls began asking questions all at once. Marinette swallowed and couldn’t help but smile. Living in Paris, it’s easy to forget that not everyone has seen an akuma attack take place. Something that is just a part of Marinette’s life is something exciting and interesting to these two who are from other parts of France.

Marinette, slightly excited to tell these stories for the first time, broke into a grin. “Do you want to hear the one about the akuma that was in love with me or the time that I angered the ice cream man? Or how about the time my Nona got akumatized and tried to turn me into coal?”

Juliette and Hanna looked at each other with awed faces. They turned back to face Marinette and Hanna responded, “All of it!” All three girls broke into giggles and Marinette spent the rest of the afternoon retelling stories of all of the crazy akumas she’d seen, and even some cool fights with Ladybug and Chat Noir that she had “seen.” The girls laughed and ate and Marinette was suddenly struck with how much she honestly loved having these two girls as friends.

By the time it had started to get dark out, the girls had moved into the kitchen for dinner. Almost every girl except for Lila came up and made sure that Marinette was okay after the akuma attack yesterday. She reassured everyone that she was fine, and as 8 o’clock ticked closer, excused herself to her room to sketch.

“Why don’t you stay down here and tell everyone about those other times akumas have come after you? I’m sure the other girls will love the stories!” Hanna asked as Marinette began walking up the stairs.

“Reliving all of those stories with you today made me come up with some different ideas for sketches. If I don’t write them down now, I’ll forget! But I promise I’ll tell everyone whatever story you want me to another day!” Hanna nodded and Marinette dashed up to her room, without anyone following.

She had snagged a couple of cookies for Tikki from the cabinet and placed them on the bedside table for when they came back from patrol. Marinette locked the door, unlatched the balcony door, and quickly transformed, disappearing into the night.

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

As Ladybug swung closer to their meeting spot, she noticed a familiar set of ears sitting on the edge of the building, waiting for her. Once she had landed, she moved closer and sat down next to Chat.

“Sorry, I’m late, I had a hard time sneaking away from the girls tonight.” Ladybug said cheerfully as she sat.

Chat nodded and smiled, “I wasn’t worried.”

“How was your day?”

“It was long. I had to endure a lecture from Father, a lecture from Mini-Natalie, and a lecture from Plagg all about different topics. But your presence and beautiful smile makes it all better.”

Ladybug blushed a little at the compliment, “Woah, what did you do that needed to be lectured on?”

“Mini-Natalie lectured me about how I need to stay in sight the next time an akuma attacks nearby so they can make sure I’m safe. Which of course is illogical since I have to escape to fight the akuma, but they don’t know that. Father lectured me on keeping a girl that he wanted to be gone and not making a big deal about her so-called behavior in front of the other girls.” Ladybug’s heart tightened, knowing that she was the reason he had gotten a lecture from his father. “And lastly, Plagg was upset about the way that I’m dealing with the girls who leave. He thinks that the akuma could have been avoided if I had handled it differently.” Chat let out a sigh, and Ladybug reached out and took his hand, intertwining their fingers together.

“Was the girl Marinette?” Ladybug asked. Chat nodded and she sighed. “I’m sorry your Father didn’t like your choice. For what it’s worth, I’m glad you kept Marinette around.”

Chat gave a small smile and squeezed her hand. “I am too. I knew he would be upset by my decision, but I also knew that I wanted her to stay. It was the one lecture I deserved, but I don’t regret my decision.” A small smile graced Ladybug’s lips. She was worried that Adrien would be upset with her because of the lecture, but the knowledge that he didn’t regret keeping her in the house lifted a weight of worry off of her shoulders that she didn’t realize was there.

“Anyway, we do need to come up with a game plan to make sure another girl isn’t akumatized again because she got sent home.” Ladybug said, giving Chat’s hand a squeeze. “Especially as the numbers get smaller and the girls begin to take the cuts personally.”

“I’m open to suggestions.” Chat said, trying to sound upbeat but failing.

Ladybug pondered for a second and was slightly distracted by Chat rubbing different shapes into the back of her hand with his thumb. “If only there was a way that you could talk with each of them after you cut them, to make them understand why it happened and that there’s no hard feelings between you.” Ladybug thought aloud.

Chat sat up a little straighter, “That’s actually a good idea. I could walk out each girl as they leave so there’s that extra time for us to chat and I can make them understand my thought process.” He started to perk up, sounding more relaxed than before. “Thanks, Bug, you’re a genius.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek, which caused both of them to blush slightly.

“That’s why they gave me the important miraculous.” She said, elbowing him with a sly grin.

Chat looked stricken and placed a hand over his heart, “Meowch, you’ve wounded me, milady.”

She laughed and stood up, offering a hand to Chat so he could stand as well. “Come on, we have a city to patrol.”

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

The next morning Marinette woke up, excitement and nervousness pulsing through her. Another Monday meant another week, which meant another date card, and Marinette was anxiously hoping that she would get the one on one this week. She quickly got ready, put on a presentable outfit, and rushed downstairs to the kitchen.

Alice, who was making omelets for everyone, called to Marinette as she ran into the room, “What do you want in yours Marinette?”

Marinette smiled as she sat on a stool at the bar in between Lucie and Marie. “Give me whatever as long as there are no mushrooms!”

“Wow picky, picky,” Alice teased as she turned back towards the stove. Alice was an expert cook and even was in line to inherit a huge restaurant chain from her parents. Much like Marinette, she grew up running around a kitchen and was put to work very quickly after she could walk. The main difference between the two is that Alice’s parents were loaded and frequently bought other restaurants out. When Alice got old enough, not only would she be a wonderful cook, but she would also be a multi-millionaire. Marinette had a feeling Alice was on Gabriel’s Top 10 list. Marinette dreaded the day that Alice got cut and all of the wonderful food would be taken away.

An omelet was very quickly placed in front of Marinette and she began eating. All of the girls were chatting about who would be on the group date tonight and what they were going to wear and everything in between. Marinette was struck by how calm and friendly everyone was being to each other. It felt like a completely different house compared to a couple of weeks ago, where the tension was thick. It seemed that all of the girls liked each other a lot more as their numbers dwindled.

Soon, they were all being ushered away to the main living room to await a date card. Marinette caught sight of Hanna and Juliette and gently pushed her way towards them. Once everyone was settled, a producer stepped into the room and addressed the girls. “Okay, we’re going to have Lila read the date card for today.”

Marinette stifled an eye-roll as Lila smiled. Once there was a knock on the door, she sauntered to it to grab the date card. She came back, and announced, “I got the date card ladies!” with cheery excitement that made Marinette gag.

She cracked the seal and went to read what it said, but didn’t speak. She looked at the nearest producer and asked, “Why is there only one name on here?” The other girls began nervously chatting and Hanna leaned to whisper to Marinette and Juliette, “What do you think is going on?”

Marinette had time to whisper, “Maybe he’s doing the one-on-one first?” before Victoria stepped forward and the group went silent.

“Ladies, I know this is a little different, but because there are so few of you left, and Adrien wants to truly begin narrowing down his prospects, there will be two one-on-ones and one group date from now on. The first one-on-one will be announced tonight, the group date tomorrow, and then Thursday will announce the last one-on-one. Lila, please reread the date card as you were before.”

Lila cleared her throat and gave everyone a smile that Marinette didn’t believe was real. She reopened up the date card and read, “Alice.” All of the girls started “ooooh”-ing and Alice beamed from where she sat. “I can b-air-ly wait to see you,” Lila finished reading and then placed the card on the coffee table. She then stalked out, quickly followed by her current posse of Camille, Marie, and Lily. Marinette congratulated Alice on her date card and then followed Hanna, Juliette, and Lucie to another living area.

“What should we do today?” Juliette asked as she sat down on a chair.

“I’m so bored of doing absolutely nothing almost every day. It makes me even hate sweet Alice for getting to leave tomorrow.” Lucie said with a sigh.

“I know what you mean! It’s like we do the same thing over and over again. No wonder all the drama ensues when Adrien is around, we are so in need of face-to-face time with someone who doesn’t live in this house or operate a camera.” Marinette added, sitting cross-legged on a rug in the middle of the room, facing the other girls. This was the only living room with a TV, but it only had a DVD player so the girls could watch various movies from the vast collection.

“What if we built a fort?” Hanna asked casually.

Marinette and Lucie both sat up straighter and turned towards Hanna. “That’s brilliant! We can make popcorn and pick out a movie and invite all of the girls to join us!” Lucie said, practically bouncing in her chair.

“Forts are more of an evening activity,” Juliette pointed out. How about we have a pool party instead? Show off those fancy Gabriel swimsuits we all got in our gift baskets the first day.”

All of the girls were on their feet now and they were buzzing with excitement. “We can play volleyball and races, and we can have a diving contest, and we can eat lunch outside once we all get hungry.” Hanna squealed.

“And once we all get tired, we can come back in and make a fort in this living room!” Marinette added. The girls nodded in agreement, and without talking about it, rushed for the stairs to tell everyone of the exciting day that they had planned.

Within 30 minutes, all of the girls were at the poolside except for Alice and Constance, who were planning out Alice’s outfits for her date tomorrow, but promised they’d join once they were done. Even Lila was there, tanning and enjoying the sunshine. She was ignoring Marinette, which was fine by her, and it helped that none of the other girls noticed.

They didn’t actually leave the mansion, but it felt like they had, with a change of scenery and outfits. The girls were all laughing and smiling and chatting. Marinette, Juliette and Hanna were the first in the water, solely because Lucie and Gabrielle pushed them in. By the time lunch came, all of the girls were wet but happy.

They stayed outside until the sun began setting, reluctantly making their way inside to rinse off and change. Some of the girls completely redid their make-up, but Marinette’s main focus was to put on her fluffiest pajamas.

“You seem like you’re having so much fun today!” Tikki chirped as she flitted around Marinette, who was pulling a brush through her hair.

“Today has been one of the best days in the mansion.” Marinette responded, almost dreamily. “The only thing that could make it better would be if Alya was here to enjoy it all with me.”

“At least you have friends who are there for you like Alya is here.”

“Seriously though, Tikki. If I didn’t have Hanna and Juliette, I would be lost and upset. I probably would have cried more in the shower than I have.”

“You’ve been crying in the shower?!” Tikki asked, alarmed, flying up to look at Marinette at eye level.

“Well, that’s the only place to cry, unless you want to be filmed. Sometimes you just need to cry. I cried after the akuma and the rose ceremony on Saturday, just because it was so much all at one time. I promise you, Tik, if I’m truly upset, I’ll tell you.”

Tikki softened a little at that. “Good. You know I care about you no matter what.”

“I know, Tikki,” Marinette said softly, grabbing her kwami and pulling her in for a hug.

A loud banging came on Marinette’s door and Tikki squealed and flitted away.

It was Juliette. “Marinette! We are building this fort with or without you. I repeat we are building the fort with or without you!”

“Coming!” Marinette called as she rushed to finish changing. “Come one Tikki! You can hide in my pocket and I’ll sneak you cookies throughout the movie!”

Tikki gave an excited squeal and zoomed into Marinette’s pocket. “What are we waiting for! Let’s go!”

Marinette laughed and skipped down the stairs to join the fun.

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

The next morning all of the girls were chatting excitedly while eating the croissants that Marinette had prepared the night before. They had stayed up late chatting and watching Disney movies and just having a great time. Marinette was dragging this morning, but she was awake enough to bake the croissants and know that another date card was being read this morning.

Once they were gathered in the “Date Card Room,” the girls wished Alice a good time as she left for her one-on-one and were asked some questions about the date card today.

“I’m getting restless. I would love more than anything for some alone time with Adrien that lasts more than 5 minutes.” Marinette nodded and sighed with Juliette as Sasha continued. “I hope my name isn’t on that date card, that would make my day.”

Hanna went and answered the knock on the door, reappearing with the card, and for once, all of the girls held their breath, hoping that their name wasn’t on the paper.

Hanna cracked open the paper and began reading off the names. With each name, a girl sighed and pretended to be happy, while the rest grew more tense. “Camille... Zoe... Lucie... Lila... Kagami... Hanna,” She gave a little half curtsy when she said her own name before continuing. “Sasha... Constance... Marie... Gabrielle... Lily,” Marinette quickly scanned the room and realized that only she and Juliette were left.

They grabbed each other’s hands as Hanna read off the last name, “Marinette.”

Lila looked ready to kill, but the rest were showing happy faces. Marinette hugged Juliette who was shaking she was so excited.

“Let’s get our act together,” Hanna read from the card, before placing it on the table. She quickly came and joined Marinette as Juliette had been snagged for an interview about her one-on-one.

“Looks like we’re going on a date tomorrow,” Hanna said with a smile.

 “Looks like we are,” Marinette responded, giving her a hug.

 “Where do you think we’re going?”

 “As long as it’s out of this mansion, we’ll be okay,” Marinette winked and Hanna laughed right as Juliette ran up to them.

 “Come on! We have to figure out what you two are going to wear tomorrow!” Juliette pulled the two laughing girls up the stairs and they disappeared into a mess of clothes.

~

~

~

Not a lot of action in this chapter, but it sets up the next chapter really well (and the next one should be SUPER long to make up for it!) We getting into the meat of the story and we are almost half way done! 

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[itsanerdlife]

It’s Complicated 10/25

Pairing: Clint Barton x Fisk Niece!Reader

A/N: Reader is Wilson Fisk’s Niece. I’m tired of the same old villains so keep your eyes peeled for who just might be the one lurking in the dark.

Warning: This is very match and lighter fluid type of burn. Feels of abandonment. Talks of Psychopaths. Overprotective male. Lies. Secrets. Language. Kidnapping. Violence. I think that’s about it.

Sometimes in life there are just certain people worth breaking the rules for. No matter the hell that may rain down. Is it possible to fall in love with someone in just a matter of one conversation? To be utterly and completely obsessed with someone in a matter of weeks? But what if they aren’t who you think they are? What if one day the person you love, they just disappear? Learning to live again is a bitch. Specially just when you think you’re doing fine, he shows up on your doorstep. Wanting to explain his secrets. But now you’ve got your own secrets but do you really ever just get over that type of love? Can you really just move on and pretend it never happened? Even when you’re carrying around proof inside you?

Tag List Is Open

Sam jogs into the office, looking around. A woman with long blonde hair looks up.

“Can I help you?” She asks.

“I’m looking for Y/N. It’s personal.” He nods.

“I’m sorry, she’s off today.” She explains.

“Damn.” Sam curses, before he runs back out of the office. He’s pulling his phone out as he runs down the stairs. “Tony, I need Y/N L/N’s address. Now.” He pants, pushing out the door. Running down the path, for his car. 

He slides to a stop, struggling to stay up right at her apartment door. He knocks, waiting. Silence. He knocks harder this time. Moments pass. Silences.

“Y/N?” He calls. Silence.

“Y/N? It’s Sam Wilson. I need you to open the door.” He tries. Nothing. He pushes away from the door.

“Son of a bitch.” He mutters, heading down the stairs again. 

---------- 

“What seems to be wrong?” The doctor smiles.

“I think I picked up a bug. I’m in the very beginning of a research study, bouncing between the school and the Institute. I just I’ve been run down and light headed.” You explain.

“Sound like a possible bug. Lots of places to pick up a germ.” He nods. “We’ll run some tests and get you situated.” He smiles.

“Thank you.” You smile.

Blood test, mouth swabs, and peeing in a cup later you sat next to MJ dead tired. You check your phone for the hundredth time since you got to the clinic.

“Waiting to hear from Clint?” She wonders.

“He left last night, and I haven’t heard from him since.” You admit in a small voice.

“He’s probably busy with work.” She tries to assure you.

“Yeah, of course.” You nod. But the lead ball in your stomach wouldn’t let up. Something bad was happening, coming or already here. You could feel it.

Twenty minutes later, the nurse and a new doctor step into the room. You and MJ exchange a look, both sitting up suddenly.

“Y/N, I’m Dr. Jordan Alexander.” She shakes your hand.

“This is my friend MJ.” You nod looking over at her.

“I just came in to speak to you about your test results.” She nods, taking the file from the nurse.

“Is something wrong?” You swallow.

“Your blood test as well as the stick test came back positive.” She nods looking up from the file. You and MJ are staring at her. “You’re about six weeks pregnant.” She explains. You laugh, loudly, awkwardly, and for too long.

“That’s not possible. I’m on birth control.” You explain.

“It’s says in your chart you have a mild script for Provigil.” She notes.

“I got a weird case of insomnia in college. From pulling to many all nighters. It’s been regulating my sleeping habits.” You nod.

“How often do you take it?” She asks.

“Just on nights I don’t wind down.” You shrug.

“Provigil has been proven to interfere with birth control.” She explains. “In some cases canceling it out completely.” She nods.

“So you’re saying,” you swallow, your mouth no longer working.

“Her sleep medication, canceled out her birth control?” MJ stares at the doctor.

“I am.” She nods. “I thought it would be easier coming from well a woman.” She explains.

“Well fuck.” You slump back into the chair.

“If you’d like we can talk options. Or if you want, you can come back and talk to me. I would gladly see you again.” She nods.

“Can I just, do you have a card or something?” You swallow.

“I do. I’ll attach it with your discharge papers.” She smiles softly at you.

“I just, I need to sleep on it.” You nod, running a hand through your hair.

“That’s okay. Just call me, when you want to talk.” She smiles, standing up. Her and the nurse leave the room together.

“I have to talk to Clint.” You mutter. Standing up, you sway slightly on your feet, before you steady.

“I’ll drive you, and take a cab back to my car.” MJ nods, standing with you. 

------ 

You walk slowly up the stairs of the apartment complex. Staring at the confirmation letter from the clinic as you make your way upstairs slowly. As you reach the landing, you notice Clint’s apartment door is open. You hurry over, stepping inside. The people inside are cleaning it up, trash bags by the door, you look around confused.

“Can I ask what you’re doing?” You stop the woman sweeping.

“We were hired to clean the apartment.” She explains.

“The man that lives here?” You stare at her.

“He came and left with his things.” She glances around. “In a hurry. He was only here five minutes.” She nods.

“Did he say anything?” You stare at her.

“No.” She shakes her head.

“He just left?” You swallow.

“Yes.” She nods.

“Oh god.” You start to panic. Your hands on your stomach as it rolls. “Oh god.” You whisper, pressure building in your chest.

“Miss?” She looks nervous.

“Oh god.” You whisper over and over.

“He left a few things. Should I give them to you?” She asks. Looking at the small box sitting on the table.

“What?” You stare at her trying to catch your breathe.

“Just a few articles of clothing. Two books and his phone.” She picks up the box, walking it over to you.

“Thanks.” You whisper.

Tears welling up in your eyes. You hold the box gingerly, shuffling out of the apartment, heading for your own at a slow pace. He left his phone, you had no way of contacting him. No way of telling him you were pregnant, telling him about his baby.  You stumble into your own apartment, looking around. 

Everything seemed off, nothing seemed right now that he was gone. You set the box down on the counter, opening it up. Inside is a black hoodie, there are two purple arrows on the front of it. You pull it on, before you shuffle towards your bedroom, you just wanted to sleep this bad dream away. 

Two Days Later 

The knock on the door, makes you jump up. Desperation for it to be Clint. When you rip the door open, you’re instantly crushed. It’s not Clint, but someone in a suit.

“Miss. L/N?” He asks.

“Yes.” You nod.

“Your uncle sent me.” He pulls out a thick white envelope from the inside pocket of his jacket.

“For what?” You stare at him.

“Mr. Fisk is in prison, Ma’am. He’s left you several things, inheritance for you.” Your brow pulls down confused.

“Why the hell would he leave me anything?” You shake your head.

“You are his niece. He wanted to make sure you’re taken care of.” He nods.

“How does he know?” You wonder, softly.

“Ma’am?” He blinks at you.

“That I’m pregnant.” You sigh. “He’s not supposed to be looking into my insurance.” You point out.

“Ma’am, he didn’t, that wasn’t something we knew.” The guy babbles.

“Congratulations, Miss. We didn’t know you were seeing anyone.” He nods.

“I’m not, anymore.” You mutter.

“If you need anything, anything at all. My card is inside the envelope. Call. Night or day.” He nods, handing the envelope over to you.

“Right.” You nod. 

You roll your eyes, shoving the door closed. You toss the envelope on the end table and shuffle back to the place on your couch where you’d started out. Wrapping yourself tightly in the flannel you’d found on the chair in your room, it belonged to Clint. Sort of like you did, but not anymore.

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

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[five-wow]

i finally watched 10.10! here are some thoughts. you might maybe not want to read this if you really enjoyed adam’s plot in the episode, because i, uh, have some reservations.

i started laughing during the “previously on” flashbacks when adam told tamiko that she could get free of her yakuza ties because “look at me. i did.” are you sure, adam? are you sure you’re sure? because every single subplot you’ve ever had over your nine or so years on this show seems to contradict that, fjdkfd.

oof, poor adam has to fight his attackers utterly butt-naked, which is not the way you’d want to start your day. also, i mean, they have tamiko. double bad.

fdjkfd adam wakes up to tamiko’s dad’s men cleaning up the signs of struggle in the apartment and the dad standing over him, and adam’s been covered up with a sheet (very thoughtful mob men!) but that’s, uh, a very awkward position to be in with your girlfriend’s dad.

“we’ll leave five-0 out of it.” no adam, bad. bad idea. [sprays him with water bottle]

tani being the voice of reason in the face of junior and lou wanting to keep a tiny pink kid’s bike that samantha will have zero use for anymore is a thing of beauty, even if i do understand junior’s position.

fjdkfdjkf lou: “that’s right. [the victims are] all male, all in their early forties.” steve: “ooy. prime of their lives.” quinn, quietly but not so quietly steve won’t hear her: “guys in their forties love saying that.” haaa, i love her. so far, this is a GOOD episode for the women, omg.

steve talking about his health and getting older, even if it’s just that he’s a little down about it because his doctor says he can’t eat steak anymore (the horror!!!), is kind of very wonderful to see on screen, gosh. that’s the kind of content i want.

adam: “i came down with a bug or something.” yes, the bug is in his brain and it’s called i-have-a-stupid-need-to-tackle-my-problems-on-my-own. many people in five-0 are familiar with it, so you might want to ask their help, adam.

so. so here’s the thing: i never really liked adam for kono, and then i warmed up to them as a couple, and shortly after that they got divorced. i never really liked adam on the team, and then i started warming up to him as a member of it because he was being a genuinely good guy, making friends with a homeless man etcetera (and his last big yakuza plot was finally wrapped up), and now he’s going rogue and assaulting an informant and acting behind the team’s back, and he’s probably about to do worse things and get deep into yakuza business again, idk, and honestly, i just. i just don’t really care. i started to like him when he was kind and now he’s suddenly Bad Adam out of nowhere again (i mean, it’s because his girlfriend was kidnapped and that makes some sense, but we don’t really know her and i have zero investment in her or their relationship and she’s more of a prop than a person and it’s all just kind of whiplash-y and i wish i cared but i’m afraid i just don’t. they keep flipflopping between making adam a really sweet good guy and a violent, bad one and i wish they’d just choose, or at least make the seesawing more understandable and interesting. his motives and the stakes are too undefined to me, i guess. it doesn’t carry any weight.

quinn obnoxiously and loudly eating a malasada in front of steve while refusing to share for steve’s supposed health is wonderful though!!! i mean, steve almost gets into a car crash while trying to snatch a malasada, which shows slightly skewed priorities, but at least the desire for a donut is something i can relate to. that’s a good plot. (i kid, but not entirely.)

aha! duke finds out about adam’s activities for the day.

the adam plot is coming to a head and they have tamiko back but her dad’s been shot, and i know i just said i don’t really care and i still don’t for the most part, but my god, tamiko, that poor woman? she’s been kidnapped and drugged while naked and then there were people shooting over her head and just when she thought it was over, her father is dying, and doing a lot of violence to a woman is not the same as building a character or plot that makes me feel something (do! not! confuse those two!), but it does still make me feel something.

h50 is generally a fairly black and white show (the bad guys are bad and the good guys are good, and people who are in prison deserve to be there and worse), far more so than in any way fits into my own moral view of the world, so i really like seeing this plot in which a guy gets to be freed from incarceration by our main cast because it turns out he didn’t commit any crimes! it’s a nice turn around from viewing all prisoners as irredeemable bad guys - here’s a man who claims he’s innocent and actually is innocent. (even though his story also makes my heart hurt because he’s already been in there TEN YEARS and jfc, he’s going to need more therapy than tamiko.)

we get lou on the phone with samantha and it’s really cute! and then he also talks to tani and junior about how will’s gone now too, and it’s good to at least know that (i mean, we could guess, but we’d never gotten any kind of confirmation before), but it also puts into stark contrast that we still don’t actually know for sure where grace is this year, fjdkfd. we can infer that she went to college, but like. mention it. (hashtag don’t let grace be the next female character that disappears on this show, please.)

dsfjdkfjdkfjdfjdk right SO. adam has realized that the guy who now inherits tamiko’s dead dad’s power probably plotted to murder tamiko’s dad, and then the guy is like “let’s finish our business” and essentially, it boils down to adam having kidnapped and tortured a guy for information and now that man is about to get killed while adam’s there and very definitely guilty of a number of things and i’m screaming because this gives me extreme déjà vu feelings to the time adam killed two guys in the woods and that time he tortured another guy, i think? both also after he’d finally gotten onto the right path, and then he ended up in prison. i guess they want adam off the show again, so they had to make him do ~bad things~ that were definitely totally absolutely against his will for [cue dramatic music and wind machine] The Woman He Loves! [dramatic zoom on Adam’s face or something, idek, eagle cries in the distance]

now adam is being threatened by New Baddest Guy and i am genuinely confused, because i think we’re supposed to feel sorry for him when the guy says adam’s career with five-0 will be over? but i kind of, um. kind of think that might maybe be a good idea? not even just because he did bad things, but also like, adam keeps getting drawn into this yakuza shit and he just really, really needs to move states and start a new life from scratch that doesn’t involve law enforcement but accounting or painting or modelling or what have you, because this is like an addiction that keeps pulling at him and it’s good for no one, least of all him.

dude gets shot (the one adam abducted and hand delivered), adam looks shocked. WHAT DID YOU EXPECT, ADAM.

and then steve calls adam and asks him to come to hq and we get a little scene showing us that duke brought steve all the evidence against adam, and the episode ends. oh boy.

so i liked some things about this episode! all of tani and quinn’s lines, lou talking about how he feels about his kids moving out, tani and junior’s interactions, steve’s health being a topic that gets brought up even if it’s jokingly, the general substance of the case steve and quinn solved. i feel like i’m being very negative about the adam plot and if you’re someone who does like it, obviously that’s cool, and i’m happy for you! i’m glad you can enjoy that. i just. personally, i’m so tired. this makes very little sense to me in ways that aren’t “i don’t understand this” but rather “this doesn’t logically work for me” (and i’m also simply not very interested in it, i’ll admit) and if this is a thing leading up to adam leaving, then if this is the version of adam we’re going to get for the forseeable future, i honestly wouldn’t mind. i liked good, kind, found-a-good-place-in-life adam! but oh dear lord, i’m tired of watching him slide back into yakuza drama over and over and over again because the writers don’t seem to want to think of a different storyline for him that might not involve... whatever this is. (also, tamiko absolutely failed the sexy lamp test in this episode (as in, she could have been replaced by a sexy lamp and the plot would have been the exact same) and it makes me sad.)

[r3b3lgrrrrrrrl]

A LunaTic and her Gunn (Part 65)

"Beers, Cheers & Unexpected Tears"

@creatureofthen1ght-v3

@lovemythsworld

@crystalbaby12

The After Party is raging. The music is loud as shots are flowing. Everyone is laughing and congratulating each other.

Luna and Ashley are changing to join them when Luna notices a singular text amongst dozens. It's from an unknown number.

"Seen U 2nite little one 😛"

"This motherfucker and his burner phones." She thinks, deciding not to delete it this time in case Colson asks. She blocks the new number again and pockets her phone. Luna has a boyfriend to enjoy.

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

As soon as he sees her, Colson pulls Luna close. "I'm so fucking proud of you, Kitten. The way you and Ash changed it up was beautiful." He places his hands on the back of her head and back. Kissing her deeply. Any thoughts of Tommy disappearing.

"Thanks for including Case. She had a ball." He tells her, while still holding her.

Luna looks around to spot the little girl, goofing off with Benny and Slim. She smiles as she looks back up at him. "Of course! It wouldn't have been the same without her. Did you see what she drew?" She asks him.

"Yeah, I told you she was hella smart." He answers proudly.

"She must get it from Em." Luna teases him.

"Shut up." He laughs, kissing her again.

"Remind me to grab it before we leave, please. I wanna frame it for her."

"She's so fucking amazing." Colson thinks holding onto her as she rests in his arms.

They're interrupted by Rook. "This is for you." He tells Luna handing her a shot.

Laughing, she easily swallows it whole.

"Where's mine?" Colson complains.

"Bring your asses on then, bitches." Rook jokes.

Luna kisses Colson once more before they follow behind Rook. Luna's grandmother grabs her hand, pulling her back as Colson proceeds on.

"Oh, Luna, you and Ashley were WONDERFUL!! I love how you stripped it down. I feel like it made your message clearer to some who may not have gotten it originally." Patti praises her.

"Thanks Mom-Mom. I didn't think of it that way." She admits before asking her if she'd like another drink.

"I would!!" Joni interrupts them, laughing as she shakes her empty glass. She grabs Luna for a tight hug, making sharp pain shoot through Luna's already pounding shoulder. Pulling back from her, Joni says "You did so great, Luna Bug! I'm so proud of you." before squeezing her tight again.

Luna grins at the old nickname, hugging Joni back and thanking her. Taking the woman's glass, she says "I'll grab you a refill. 7&7?" She asks, to Joni's nod. She already knew. "Mom-Mom?" She asks before heading to the bar.

"I'm okay for the moment, Loons. Thank you though." Pattie says  before Luna makes her way off.

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

Before hitting the bar, Luna stops into the bathroom. Working quickly she crushes up a few percs to bang them. Her shoulder is killing her and she knows between the happiness and hugs, it's only gonna get worse.

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

"SHOTS!!!!!" Pete hollers, gathering everyone around, as Luna slips back in. "To a great show, great performance and most of all GREAT family!!!!

"CHEERS!!" They all shout as the raise their glasses. Slamming them in celebration.

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

Everyone is having a good time, mixing with each other. Music and laughter floating through the room. Pete is busting it up with Kate, Colson and Rook. Benny, Baze and Slim are getting more drinks, mixing with the cast and crew. Dom and Ashley talk to Patti and Joni.

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

"You girls were extraordinary!!" Patti raves at Ashley, after hugging her and Dom warmly. She had met Dom during Christmas, Ashley bringing him to Christmas Eve dinner.

"Thank you so much, Mom-Mom. You know your opinion means the world to me." Ashley beams. She has a great relationship with Luna's grandmother.

They continue talking about upcoming Nightmare performances, life and the album Ashley's working on. Patti watching adoringly as Dom gushes over his girlfriend. Delighted her girls have finally found men who seem to be deserving of them.

Luna drops off Joni's drink without interrupting the conversation. Looking around the same room, she finds Casie sitting and talking with Ashleigh. "Hey Dilla!!" She calls to her with a smile.

Casie looks up, grinning at Luna. She walks over to them and squats down as the little girl jumps into her arms full force. Both Ashleigh and Luna laugh.

"Yup. Percocets." Luna thinks, still feeling a slight throb. Yet, it's much better then it was.

"That was so much fun!" Casie exclaims. Kissing Luna on the cheek and squeezing her tight.

"I'm glad you enjoyed yourself, Dilla!!" Luna beams at her, giving her another hug. "Do you have your picture? I wanna save it for you."

"Really!! THANK YOU!!" Casie dives into her again. "I'm gonna go get it!!" The little girl shouts over her shoulder as she runs off.

Colson is watching Luna and Casie. Feeling buzzed, plus overly happy and grateful for his girls, he prepares himself. "Here goes..." He thinks walking over to Pattie.

Luna is still sitting with Ashleigh. "You guys were great!!! It was really cool for you to involve Casie." She says as she smiles at Luna.

"Thanks." Luna smiles back. "I thought it was important, since she was in the video and everything, you know?"

Ashleigh nods. She likes Luna, always has. As she watches her with Colson and Casie, getting to know her better, she likes her even more.

"I'm just glad Emma thought it was just as cool..." Luna continues.

"You guys get along well, don't you?" Ashleigh asks her.

"Oh yeah, Em's fantas...." She's interrupted by a jumping Casie.

"Here it is!!!" She proudly displays her art to Luna and Ashleigh.

Luna takes it from her, saying "I'm gonna put it in my dressing room to keep it safe." as she stands up.

"Okay!!" Casie says, trusting Luna completely. "C'mon Ash!!! I wanna show you something cool!" She tells her, pulling her out of her seat.

"Byeeee..." Both women grin at each other.

As Luna heads to her dressing room, Colson walks over to Pattie and Joni. Ashley and Dom are now over with Pete and Kate. Approaching them, Colson has butterflies in his stomach.

"Fuck.... Fuck.... Fuck.... Get it together Kells." He tries to calm himself down. He's been thinking about this for the last few days. Not knowing when he'll see Pattie again, he tells himself to "Shoot your shot."

"Hello ladies." Colson greets Patti and Joni with his boyish grin.

"How are you, Dear?" Patti asks him with a hug. He hugs Joni also as they praise the performance.

Colson blushes while thanking them but stating humbly that it was all Luna and Ashley.

This makes Patti smile. She likes Colson. Respecting him as a man, parent and an artist. Appreciating how he cares and interacts with her granddaughter and absolutely adoring Casie.

"Do mind if I speak with you for a moment, Patti?" He asks her. There's a slight tremble to his voice.

Taking her cue, Joni heads off to mingle with the other young boys.

"Is everything ok, Colson?" The older woman asks him delicately.

Cheeks flushed, he looks away as he begins to rub his hand on the back of his head. "Yes ma'am." He answers, looking back at her.

"Spit it out, Honey." Patti encourages him.

"Oh fuck. Oh fuck. Oh fuck." His mind races.

Looking around, he asks if she'd like to sit. She tells him No. That what she would like is for him to talk to her. Patti listens and watches him intensely as he begins to speak.

Her directness reminds him of Luna. "The apple doesn't fall far from that tree." The thought slipping into his mind.

"I uh, I.." Colson stutters. Closing his eyes, he musters up the same courage he found the night he met Luna.

"I love your granddaughter, Patti. I love everything about her. Her strongwill, her kindness, how she loves Casie and Casie loves her. The two of them mean everything in the world to me." He's rambling. "I know it's been a short time and you may think I'm crazy but I don't know what I would do without her. She makes me a better man and even though she doesn't need it, I have this insane urge to protect her." He sighs, looking down at the ground then back up at Patti. "I know it's Luna's choice and being who she is, I don't even know if she'll say yes or when I'll ask but...." He trails off as he inhales deeply. "I'd like to marry her one day and it's important to me how you feel about it."

Colson is nervously waiting for Patti's response. A soft smile spreads over her face. In the seven years Luna had dated and lived with Justin, he had never approached Patti in this capacity.

"When's her birthday?" She asks him. Deciding to have a bit of fun with first.

"July 16,1992." He answers without hesitating.

"What's her biggest fear?" The first was clearly too easy.

"Fame and deep sea diving." Colson states, postive of his answer. This impresses her grandmother.

"Luna's middle name?" Patti knows she hates it and tells very few.

Colson grins, feeling confident. "Adelaide."

Patti decides to dig deeper. "If she asked, would you sign a pre-nup?" Thinking of Luna's inheritance and the rights to both her and Robert's catalogs.

"No doubt." He nods his head, the thought never popping into his mind.

Patti has one last question. "What if she doesn't want to have kids? Would you be okay with that?" This one is very important.

Colson's eyes soften. "Then that's okay. We've talked about her not knowing if she wants to or not. I want you to know, I don't love your granddaughter for what she can or can't give me. I love her for who she is. All parts of her. The independence, the stubborness, the unpredictableness. All of it. Besides, we have Casie." He shrugs lightly.

Patti takes his hand and squeezes it. "She's lucky to have found you. You'll make a great partner. Whether she let's you marry her or not." She tells him kindly.

It takes a minute for it to register with Colson. Once it does, he asks Patti excitedly "Does this means what I think it means!??" Blue eyes bright.

Patti nods as Colson lifts her up for a tight hug. She's laughing when he puts her down.

"Thank you! Thank you!" He says taking both her hands before hugging her again and kissing her cheek. Promising her she has nothing to worry about. That he'll never waver from Luna's side. Married or not.

"Go get her, Kiddo." She tells him with a wink. He kisses her cheek again before asking if she needs anything.

"Go have fun." She tells him with a pleased smile. He thanks her again sincerely before going to check on. Casie.

"What was that?" Joni asks moseying over to her bestfriend.

"He just asked for my granddaughter's hand in marriage." Patti tells her with a pleased look with a mix of amusement.

"I guess chivalry isn't dead." Joni muses, spipping her cocktail, watching the next generation with hope.

Coming back from her dressing room, Luna heads over to Pete, Kate, Ashley and Dom. She doesn't see Colson walking over to them. Casie is now with her grandmother and Joni. Ashleigh is talking with Kenan as The Boys still mixing with the cast and crew.

"Yo! Tonight was epic!" Pete says. Raising his glass, he toasts "To the baddest bitches I know, changing the world one song at a time!" The five of them laugh through their "CHEERS!!"

"I'm always fucking missing out on drinks tonight!" Colson complains with a laugh as he slides his arm around Luna's waist.

"Poor Bunny." Luna leans up, barely reaching his cheek to kiss it. He gives her a boost by the ass. She then turns and grabs him a fresh Rolling Rock off the bar.

"A1, Day 1!" He laughs again while bending down to kiss her.

"So how long have you guys been together?" Kate asks Luna.

"Almost 10yrs in their minds!" Pete teases them to Luna's smirking, rolled eyes and everyone else's laughter.

"No, for real, a little over a month?" Colson answers, looking at Luna to double check.

She shrugs, "Yeah, about a that." She agrees, touching the padlock around her neck.

"Wow, you guys are really in sync with each other." Kate admires.

Luna and Colson exchange that One Look before a quick kiss. "I'm gonna check on Case, come on Pete." He coaxes his friend. Dom had already wondered off towards The Boys.

Ashley, Kate and Luna continue to talk. The bestfriends asking how Kate and Pete met. It wa by random, at a coffee shop in MidTown. Kate asks about Yellowhammer.com and their activism in AL. The girls explaining their work with the ACLU and Planned Parenthood. Kate's quit impressed. She loves how outspoken, motivated and fearless they are as young women. They continue to laugh as they get to know each other better. Ashley deciding she likes Kate. Luna already coming to the same conclusion. Kate's smart and funny. She's also really sweet and mature. Not some little kid who's going to play with their friend's heart.

"Oh, Petey!!!" It's so good to see you, Lovey!!" Patti hugs Pete as he squeezes her back tight.

"Glad you could make it, Pat!" He says with a huge smile as he leans to greet and kiss Joni too.

"How's your mother?" Pat asks him. He responds with a 'GREAT' before Pat tells him to have her call so they can have lunch soon.  Complaining how she feels like it's been ages since she's seen her friend. He agrees happily.

"Tell me about this lovely woman you have with you..." Patti changes the subject

Colson laughs as Pete turns as red as a tomato. He's saved by Casie.

"Dad can I stay the night with Ms. Patti and Ms. Joni? We're gonna have a sleep over...." She asks excitedly, looking up at the nodding women beaming down at her.

"Uh... Let's ask Luna." He tells her before calling out "BROOKLYYYN!!" into the crowded room.

His voice makes Luna smile as she turns to find him. He's with Pete, Casie, Joni and her Mom-Mom. Him and Pete are waving her and Kate over.

"Looks like girlfriend duties call!" Ashley laughs. She goes to find Dom as the other women walk over to where they're being summoned.

"Hello, how are you this evening?" Patti asks of Kate with an inviting. Before she can answer, Casie interrupts them.

"Can I spend the night, Looney!? Can I spend the night???" She's jumping up and down.

"Where at, Dilla?" She looks at Colson confused.

"Ms. Patti's. We're gonna have a slumber party with Ms. Joni!!" She explains as she's about to burst.

Colson shrugs and Patti nods when Luna looks at them. "You don't have any clothes...."

"Clothes, smlothes." Her grandmother tells her. "She can sleep in one of my old band Ts. You guys come by tomorrow with fresh clothes and we'll all go out to brunch before you leave again." Patti has it all planned out.

Luna laughs in agreeance, knowing her Mom-Mom had an ulterior motive.

"It's settled then. Why don't you collect your things and say your goodbyes while I talk to Petey." The old woman tells the little girl.

"Petey?" Casie smirks with a laugh. Skipping away she sings

🎶Petey, Petey such a little sweetie🎶

The adults laugh as Luna and Colson follow behind her. Pete going on to finish introducing Kate to Patti and Joni.

"It's an honor." Kate states in awe of the musical legends.

"Ooohhh... I like her." Joni says as they all laugh.

They enjoy polite conversation, Joni recognizing Kate from Pearl Harbor, asking what it was like to work with a young Ben Affleck. Kate laughs sliding her hand into Pete's, saying that they're good friends

Meeting up with Benny, Rook, Ashley, Dom, Slim, Ashleigh and Baze across the room, Casie tells them about her epic night plans as she kisses and hugs them all goodbye. Benny offering to walk Casie, Patti and Joni out to Luna's gratitude.

Heading back to her grandmother, Luna introduces Patti to Benny. "He's gonna walk you guys out. And I don't wanna hear it, Mom-Mom. It's late and you'll have Case with you." Knowing her grandmother's protests of independence.

Listening to her granddaughter, Patti thanks Benny for being a gentleman. Luna kisses and hugs her grandmother and aunt as Colson squeezes Casie goodbye.

They switch off. Colson hugging Patti while whispering 'Thank You' in the old rebel's ear before taking Joni's hand, thanking her for coming and kissing her lightly on the cheek. The two women are smitten by the charismatic young man.

Luna squeezes Casie, telling her to have fun and that she loves her. The little girl grins, saying she will and that she loves Luna too as she squeezes her tight again.

Standing up, Casie turns to Benny, imitating her father "WE OUT!!" she shouts. Erupting the adults into laughter again.

Luna grabs her grandmother's hand, telling her she loves her and to call if she has a problem. Patti squeezes her hand back, reassuring the young woman that they'll be fine. Admiring this new look on Luna.

As they leave, Colson leads Luna over to everyone else by the small of her back. "WE READY TO FUCKING PARTY!!! He shouts as the room erupts.

More drinks are ordered, music bumps and the laughter is contagious. Congratulations still making their rounds.

"Yo! You guys were fire!!" Slim compliments Ashley and Luna.

"Yeah, the way you guys stripped that shit down and then had us come in hard was fucking GENIUS!!" Baze agrees.

Luna and Ashley look at each other beaming.

"We couldn't done any of it without you guys. Seriously, all off you. From playing on it to producing it. This OUR baby, so THANK YOU GUYS!!" Luna lifts her glass. "To family!"

"TO FAMILY!!" They all cheers.

"I have to say, great song, phenomenal performance from you all, BUT, Case stole the show." Ashleigh laughs.

"That girl is smart as a whip!" Benny agrees. "You got your hands full Kells!" He laughs.

"FACTS!!" Rook chimes in, nudging Luna. "You ready for a crazy pre-teen because she's coming our way soon."

Colson overhears them. "That motherfucker better not scare her away." Thinking how he jumped the Patti hurdle, he doesn't need an imaginary one blocking his way to Luna.

"Enh, she's a great kid." Looking at their group, she laughs, "There's not much here for her to rebel against." Rook laughs with her as Luna shrugs and continues "Plus, both Colson and I were bad ass kids. Whatever she may slide passed Emma, she's deff not getting through the two of us."

She looks over and winks at Colson who's staring at her.

"FUCK I LOVE HER." Is all he can think.

Dancing, laughing and drinking, the night carries on. Shots be downed together all over the room.

"To the two chicks I know with balls bigger than most dudes. NOT MINE THO!!" A drunken Slim laughs loudly, cheersing The Girls. Slamming another round with Luna, Ashley and Benny.

Glancing over her shoulder, Luna sees devious Colson and Pete standing in the doorway.

She walks up to them. Before she can all what they're up to, they attack her. Trapping her tiny body between they're two tall, lanky ones.

Rocking her back and forth between the two of them, they sing laughing.

🎶We got a drunken Moon Pie🎶

🎶Not gonna let her get by🎶

Drunk and shocked. With her body bouncing off of them, Luna's bursts into fits of laughter as she begs them to stop.

🎶Even when she asks why🎶

🎶Cuz she's our drunken Moon Pie🎶

They keep shaking her till their song is over. Dizzy from her weird ride, Luna clings to Colson to catch find her balance.

"You guys are fucking maniacs." She laughs, resting her face on Colson's chest. "How long you been planning that?" She asks sarcastically.

"Five WHOLE minutes." Pete tells her, scrunching his face up. "Be careful, or we'll do it again." He warns playfully, sticking his tongue out.

"Is this what I have to live with now?" Luna drops her arms from around Colson. Looking between the two of them with a miffed look on her face.

"Yup." Colson and Pete say in unison, grinning at each other.

🎶We gotta...🎶 They go to start again before she springs out of their grasps.

"Fuck you guys." She laughs, trotting away.

Pete goes to find Kate as Colson chases after Luna, scooping her up from behind. She squeals as he kisses all over the back of her neck. Both are drunk.

"Ready to go?" He asks her. It's close to 3A.

"Yeah, I gotta grab my stuff first." She agrees.

Colson rallies up the bunch while Luna runs to her dressing room. Everyone's going back to the brownstone. Including Dom & Ashley and Pete & Kate. Benny offers to take Luna's bag and Casie's poster. She thanks him with a peck on the cheek.

"WE OUT!" Colson shouts as Luna runs up and jumps onto his back. Even caught off gaurd, he catches her easily.

"HIGH HO SILVER AND AWAY!!" Luna shouts from on top of him.

"You're so fucking weird!!" He laughs as their rowdy group makes their way through the empty building.

"YOOOOOOU LOVE IT!!!" She continues to drunkenly yell. Making him laugh harder.

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

Back at the brownstone, they find Cards Against Humanity. Rook puts on  music. Ashley clears off the kitchen table for Colson, Pete and Slim to start rolling joints. Luna grabs everyone beers while Ashleigh and Kate find snacks. Baze helps Dom set up the game. And Benny's searching for food on his phone. The Stay Fresh is delivering to everyone's drunken, hungry roars. They order a shit ton of wings, mozzarella sticks, cheese fries and more beer.

It doesn't take long for the food to arrive. Munching and drinking, the group passes around joints while they play the game. All of them are drunk and can hardly contain themselves.

Rook laughing hard enough, he falls out of his chair onto the floor. Luna almost losing a mozzarella stick out of her mouth from laughing at him. Colson snorting as he laughs loudly at them both. Everyone else laughing at one of the three of them.

They're so fucked up and distracted, they don't even finish the game. Hanging out, they one by two disappear. Leaving Benny asleep at the kitchen table.

Luna feels bad but Colson reassures her that he's immovable. To leave him be.

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

Making out on the bed, Colson pulls away from Luna. His drunk eyes stare into hers with fear. He sometimes becomes emotionally vulnerable when he gets really wasted.

"Do you feel alright?" Luna asks, hoping to catch a smile from him. She does but it's tiny and weak as he rolls into his back. "Talk to me Colson." She shifts on her side, stroking his hair.

Staring at the ceiling, he let's out a sigh before telling her "I can't shake this Tommy thing."

"Oooohh Boy." Luna thinks. She's drunk and tired. The sun is coming up and all she really wants to do is fuck and sleep.

"What can't you shake?" She lays her head on his chest, facing him.

"Why you would cheat with him and not me." He tells her quietly.

Luna closes her eyes, trying to keep her patience with him. Sitting up, she climbs on top of him. Placing herself on his groin.

"Because when we seen each other, I was very much in love with Justin. We were still new, intimate, engaged in each..." She looks away, closing her eyes for a moment.

Head swimming from all the shots. Luna's never made it a habit of explaining herself. Drunk or not, she will for Colson though.

"His addiction sent us through spurts where he would shut me out. All of us, only hanging with people he knew wouldn't bitch about him getting high.  There were months where we shared the same bed but weren't speaking about anything relevant, let alone fucking. I hooked up with Tommy during one of those cycles. I had felt like Justin had been cheating on me for years. I was pissed and felt rejected. Tommy was an escape that paid attention to me." One solid tear slides down her cheek. He wipes it away as she continues to look at Colson.

"Fuck, that sounds so pathetic." She thinks, disappointed in herself.

"Why didn't you leave him?" He asks her the same question from last night.

Luna sighs. This one is hard. "Because whether I liked his actions or not, at one point he was my bestfriend. I think I loved him so much that I clung to the idea that maybe we could get that back." She looks away, multiple tears dropping now. "Plus, I didn't know if he could survive without me. And that wasn't worth the risk." She wipes her own tears now as she shrugs. Lightly saying, "Didn't matter though, you know. I finally snapped and he killed himself the next day while I was out." She closes her eyes to keep the tears in.

He pulls her down onto his strong chest. Stroking her hair as she silently cries into. "You know it's not your fault." Colson tries to console her.

She sniffles a "Yeah...."

"Sure it's not.... That's why his entire written last words were dedicated to telling me to fuck off.... " She thinks sadly, feeling her soul hurt. Luna will always love the brilliant man she fell in love with. Not the shell Justin had become in the end. Although Luna misses him, she misses the life he should've had more. Even if he wasn't supposed to spend it with her.

**********************************************

Colson's heart rips apart for her. "She's too fucking loyal for her own good..... He didn't fuckinug deserve her..... At all.... Fuck.... And to let her find him... That's some asshole shit." Colson thinks as he holds her tight, vowing to himself to never hurt her.

Their conversation was heavy. Neither wanting to talk anymore, nor needing to. Their bodies telling each other everything they need to know as Luna lays on Colson's chest and he strokes her hair until both their worried minds finally shut off.

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

To be continued...

[littleindigochildx]

I think daddy is sick ♡ [drabble]

“Daddy?”

The seven year old said as she stood next to David’s bed shaking him to wake him up. It was almost one in the afternoon. He never slept this long, especially when he had the kids for the weekend, but they had been awake for hours and he had yet to grace them with his presence. “Daddy, why are you still sleepin’?” Savvy asked while checking to make sure he still had a pulse..Something she learned from her mother.

His room reeked of vomit and alcohol. There was a half-empty bottle on his nightstand from the solo party he had after Timmy and Savvy went to bed. Things had been this way for a while. “Are you sick?” The seven year old questioned. David groaned in return and rolled over. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to spend time with his children, he was just too hungover to get out of bed. His head was pounding...A sensation that was only magnified by Savanna’s not-so-quiet-tone. “I’m fine, Savvy…” He mumbled, but it was clear to her that he wasn’t. “Go find your brother and play.” He instructed, but Timmy was already busy with a video game. She was hungry and it was past lunch time. “We want lunch, daddy…” The little girl said softly. Her request was met with silence. She couldn’t tell if David had fallen back to sleep or if he was just ignoring her, but she took his lack of a response as a sign that she and her brother were on their own for lunch, just as they had been on their own for breakfast.

“Timmy...I think daddy is sick.” The little brunette furrowed her brow as she took a seat beside her brother. “He won’t get out’a bed even though it’s lunch time.” A pout was ever present on her face when she stayed with their father...Not because she didn’t want to be there, (which she didn’t) but because it was no longer fun for them to spend time with David. “I wish mommy was here…” Savvy admitted out loud. Victoria always knew what to do. She always knew just how to make them feel better when they were sick so Savanna thought she could make David better too. “Do ya think we need’a get him to a doctor?” The little girl asked. Timmy paused his game to look at his sister. “Dad is a doctor.” He reminded her. In his eight year old mind he thought that meant David was incapable of getting sick, especially since Timmy couldn’t remember a time when he had actually seen his father sick. “I know, but…” Savvy sighed. “I think he has a really bad tummy ache. He got sick in his bed like that time I had a tummy bug.” Timothy seemed more interested in his game than the conversation. He loved his dad, but this version of David was already getting old.

“What does mommy do for us when we are sick?” Savanna asked. Timmy looked up at her again. “She always makes soup...and tea…” He saved his game since it was clear to him that his sister wasn't going to leave until they talked this out. Savvy had his attention now and if David was sick, he needed them to take care of him. “She also gives us that special juice and some medicine.” He added. Savanna was already on her way to the kitchen to see what they had in terms of food she and Timmy could prepare unsupervised. “Mommy said we’re not’a ‘loud ta use the stove...Cause we could get burned. Think cereal will make daddy feel better? He can have some’a my Lucky Charms.” Savanna suggested with a shrug. “Cereal has too much sugar. It’ll make his stomach feel worse.” Timmy replied. “We can make him toast. I know how ta use the toaster...Mom didn’t say we couldn’t use that.” He reached for the bread and took the butter out of the refrigerator. “Timmy. I wanna help.” The seven year old insisted. “You can get dad some juice. Just try not to spill.” Savvy nodded. She was pretty good about not spilling as long as the container wasn’t too full. “What’a ‘bout medicine?” Neither one of them knew the first thing about medication. They knew where David kept his, but they also knew they weren’t allowed to touch it. “I don’t think he needs that.” Timmy finally said. “Some toast and juice should be good.”

Once the toast (that Timmy burned slightly) was ready, they carried it to David’s bedroom to give it to him. “Daddy…” Savanna whispered. “We brought stuff for your tummy.” She placed the glass she was carrying on his night stand. “Mommy gives us this when we are sick.” Savanna explained. David groaned something inaudible and Timmy put the plate with toast beside the juice. “It's not workin'..." Savvy frowned before she was struck with an idea of her own. "Stay here...I got one more idea.” Savanna told her brother.

She disappeared out of the room to head for her own. There was one thing (besides Victoria) that always made her feel better when she was sick or when she was scared. Teddy. She grabbed him off her bed and took him with her back to David’s room. Carefully, she climbed up beside him and placed a loving hand on his cheek. “I bringed this for you. Teddy always makes me feel better cause he smells like mommy’s perfume and he is the best at cuddlin’.” She tucked the well loved stuffed animal into David's arms and she kissed his head. “I hope he makes you feel better too, daddy.”

Timmy had already gone back down to his game, but Savanna stayed with her father. She even fell asleep for a little while but stirred when David began to show signs of life again. He even took a bite of the toast Timmy made for him. It was soggy from the butter, and ice cold, but he was appreciative.

“Daddy, are you feeling better?” She asked through a yawn. David nodded. He looked like Hell and desperately needed a shower, but at least he was awake and upright. “Thank you for taking such good care of me, princess.” He kissed her head. “Daddy is gonna take a shower and then you, your brother, and I are gonna get something to eat before I take your back to your mom.” David ruffled his daughter’s hair and gave her a reassuring smile. He still felt like death warmed over him, but he knew he had to get out of bed. He had to step up and be the father his children deserved before he lost them to DC entirely. “Go on. You two pick a place to eat and I’ll be out in a couple minutes.” He leaned in and kissed the top of Savanna’s messy hair one more time.

David winced as he got out of bed. Hopefully the extra strength Tylenol he had would get rid of his headache. He wasted enough of his children’s day by staying in bed. He wanted to make it up to them by treating them to dinner...Anywhere they wanted to go.

----------

It took David close to an hour to shower and make himself look presentable. He was still visibly hungover, but he was feeling a little better. When he emerged from the bedroom Timmy and Savanna were coloring quietly together. He watched them for a minute...They were still so young and innocent, but somehow they seemed to be more grown up than he was. These quiet moments together were fleeting and now he understood why Victoria wanted to quit her job as a nurse and focus her time on them. She was an incredible mom raising incredible kids who would change the world someday.

“Daddy, are you better now?” Savanna asked when she noticed him standing there. She lifted her completed masterpiece for him to see. “I drew us.” She beamed proudly. “You, me, and Timmy. We are swimmin’ at the beach by grandma and grandpa Thorne’s house….Just like we used ta do. You’re teachin’ us how ta surf.” Savanna explained. David took the pictures to get a better look. His youngest was very talented. Her art was better than most adults. She definitely inherited her gift from Victoria, as she did most things. Aside from her blue eyes, David wasn’t sure what qualities of his she actually had. “This picture is beautiful, princess. I’ll hang it on the fridge so everyone can see it.” David told her. “You two get your shoes on if you want to go eat.”

Timmy couldn’t hop up fast enough. David wasn’t sure if it was because Timmy was excited to spend time with him or if he was that excited to eat, but it made him chuckle softly. “We wanna go to Dave & Busters, dad. We wanna play games!” The eight year old said enthusiastically. There was a D&B the next town over. David had taken the kids there a couple of times before. Each time they left with their arms full of toys and his wallet a couple hundred dollars lighter. “I just need’a grab somethin’ real quick.” Savanna said once her shoes were on. There hadn’t been a need for weekend bags since David moved into a house closer to Limbo. He had clothes, shoes, etc for them, but there were still items Savvy brought with her whenever she stayed. She couldn’t go anywhere without Teddy or the butterfly blanket she and Victoria made last fall. She quickly stuffed the items in her empty book bag and headed back down to the living room. “Now we can go.” She grinned. David took the bag from her to put in the car and he locked the door behind them as they exited the house.

“Daddy…” A voice piped up from the back seat. “You must be feelin’ much much better. This is the most we seed ya all weekend.” Savanna smiled, but her words broke David’s heart. His kids wanted to spend time with him. He was beginning to realize how selfish he was being by spending their weekends together in bed with a hangover instead of making new memories. “You know what Savanna?” David made eye contact with her through the rear view mirror. “Daddy isn’t completely better, but I promise…” He looked back to her for a second, then to Timmy, They were both watching him with big doe eyes and hanging onto every word he said. “No more staying in bed all day. When you two come to my house, we’re going to have nothing but fun. Scouts honor.” He promised them both.

Fulfilling his promise would take more than just crossing his heart. David knew that. He needed help...He couldn’t get well on his own.

----------

8:00PM

Dinner had run a lot later than anticipated. The kids were supposed to be back at Victoria’s no later than 6, but they were having so much fun and David was trying to make up for lost time with them. He cleared it with Victoria before extending their curfew and by the time he showed up at her house both kids were fast asleep in the back seat of his car. He considered waking them, but decided it would be better if he carried them in. There were some things he needed to talk to Victoria about anyway and they needed their rest.

“We’re in the driveway. I’m gonna need a hand.” David sent in a text to Vic before he shut the engine off and climbed out of the driver’s seat. He figured he’d take Timmy, since he was the heavier of the two, and he would come back to help Victoria with Savanna if the little girl’s dead weight was too much for the brunette to handle on her own. “Sorry we’re late...I just wanted to make tonight a special night for them…” There was more he wasn’t saying, that much was obvious, but he felt it was best to wait until after the children were tucked in to explain himself.

David carried Timothy to his room as carefully and as quietly as he could. The boy’s shoes and glasses were removed once he was placed in his bed. “Goodnight, sport.” David whispered as he kissed Timmy’s head and turned off the light. Victoria was tucking Savanna in, but David made sure he kissed her goodnight as well. He wouldn’t be seeing them for a while...Not until he got the help he desperately needed.

----------

“I wanted to talk to you before I go…” David turned on the porch with his hands in his pockets. He hadn’t been able to make eye contact with Vic until now. The wounds were still too fresh and (despite everything) he still had feelings for her. “I’m going to need you to keep Timmy and Savvy for my next couple of weekends with them.” He could tell she was confused by the way she furrowed her brow. “I need help, Vic...I want to be a better father for them, but I can’t do that without help.” It wasn’t easy for David, aka Mr. Perfect, to admit that he had faults. Especially to Victoria. “I’ve been looking at a couple of 12 step programs...In patient…” He was sweating, but he wasn’t sure if it was from nerves or alcohol withdrawal. “...They deserve a better dad. I can't be that person for them if I keep going down the path I'm on.” David wasn’t sure what else to say. He certainly wasn’t looking for any sympathy, he just wanted Vic to know that his kids meant more to him than anything else in the world. Even more than his reputation and the love he had for his job. “I need to do this for them.” He fumbled with his car keys. “Please tell them that I love them and that I’ll see them as soon as I can.”

David turned to head down the stairs and back towards his car, stopping half-way to speak again. “Our kids are pretty perfect, Vic.... I know I have you to thank for that.” He forced a smile and got in his truck without another word. He had a rehabilitation facility he needed to check into if he planned on fulfilling his promise to his children. Waiting wasn't an option. He had to go tonight.

[bahrrss-blog]

DIGITAL PROTOTYPING  Malmö University -2019

DE/RE CONSTRUCT  - 1st of April

De/construct. Promoting our insight into the ongoing course, this task wants us to investigate and "deconstruct" an actual GUI, recognising configuration examples of the interface. Deconstruct phase is followed by reconstruction.

Beginning with the procedure of deconstruction, I started from researching the applications on my phone, seeking around to check whether there are applications with specific capacities that are confounding, hard to enrol naturally, or just inadequately planned. That being stated, telephone applications these days have experienced a lot of cycles and update that most apps are about flawless usefulness astute other than the occasional bugs. I unquestionably experienced serious difficulties finding an application that I had serious issues with. So I decided to avoid confusion this time and go for just any app, giving myself a hard task. That I chose to look at as a challenge rather than an unsolvable problem.

I settled with the application of Instagram. Instagram is a popular application. It is structured is founded on picture sharing. What makes this application emerge is the exceedingly adaptable showcase. You can change the look of your pictures and videos, comment, explore, share, and chat, privately and publicly. In a case of private chate, this feature, probably due to a secondary role for Instagram is very locate.

The fundamental issue I'm having as I utilise this application is that as the primary GUI is made for single communication/share and not to interact.

STUDYING THE STRUCTURE OF INSTAGRAM

I generally end up experiencing considerable difficulties finding and getting to the page where you can see private messages. The application makes it easy to glance through the communities and explore but could be troublesome when you might want to rapidly access chats your friends sent you. 

As an extrovert and someone who likes to communicate, this seems overly complicated for times when talking to people anywhere in the world is free of charge. I attempt to deconstruct in detail Instagram and understand why they have placed direct messages in a place where is hard to find.

These are some of the Instagrams GUI. Here you can five different pages and choose between 5 different functionalities of Instagram. Each display has its purpose. To navigate, to explore, to follow, to add new media, and your own profile.

The main issue with the page I have is, the messaging part. Insofar it is available only on the main page. So not even on your profile, nor any other page of the applications. And, to make even stuff more dislikable for me, there is no even messaging part when the application is accessed from the browser, computer or phone.

The app makes it easy to navigate through all features, such as, follow, like, add a new photo, the main page, or your own profile. However, once you find yourself in any place except on the main page, you can’t see messages being delivered. And, this, in my opinion, can be troublesome, due to a pure fact that messaging is a huge part of social networking.

It is that much complicated that Instagram even made official guidelines on their ‘’how to’’ page. You can see their guidelines on the picture under.

REI found messaging one of, if not the main reason why I use social networks, especially Instagram, it is convenient, retro, and modern way of exploring and sharing, so obstacles like one presented above, strike accords, and that's why I am talking about it. Especially as a Student living abroad, and having friends and families all over the world. I would benefit from facilitated messaging options. I will deconstruct Instagram into details furthermore down in this post. So, stay here around and keep reading.

BREAKING IT DOWN

As you can see on the image, in the right upper corner messages are placed, and on the exact opposite side, down left corner is the home page. (the little house looking alike icon)

Furthermore, I will talk about the Instagram story, in the media presented below, you can notice circles and some of them has a red outline, and some not. The red outline is to show that there is a new story published to buy the user. Once you watched the story (the circle becomes grey and moves away from the top of your notifications)The way to watch someone's story is to just simply press (and hold to pause) on the top of the story. Stories usually can’t be longer than a few seconds, and a maximum number of stories is 100 per day. Each story disappears after 24 hours, with the possibility of being stored on the profile afterwards. It will be available (hidden on the profile, meaning only visible to the owner of that profile for next 12 months, and then it is lost forever)

You can see the stories from the main page, or you can access them also when visiting the page of the person or desired agency.  Also, if you desire to share it outside of Instagram you choose from pressing and choosing the option for three dots in the right corner of the media.

In order to not be too subjective, I have asked some of my colleagues to look into this and give me their honest opinions. I also asked some of my friends who are not familiar with the school project, thinking this way I could avoid bias.

Below is a deconstruction of Instagram with annotations of patterns and functions.

RE/CONSTRUCT

If you look closely to provided re-constructed xd prototype. The icon for messages is located in the bottom grid. Inheritably the bottom grid is fixed on the GUI. Hence, to access the messages will be easy and quick. As explained in deconstruct part, the messages/share feature was placed in multiplied places. Giving the cluttered look and giving a feeling of confusion to users. This design patterns can be blamed on Instagram policies to keep their platform explorative and not based it on messaging. It can be argued that Facebook came to a similar problematics, which Facebook solved by creating separate app only for messaging, But this caused the decrease of usage of the main Facebook overall. However my improved design look is minimal, it would not cause major division between messaging and sharing content on Instagram. On the contrary, it would facilitate the usage of both features.

User testing

In user testing, the general feedback I got is can be summed in three words. ´´Oh, THANK GOD´´ what users meant to say was: someone else is also feeling the same way, Some of the users mentioned that they use Instagram as calling app, video calling app. Instagram has incorporated video and voice calling together with iOS and Android, so when someone is calling on Instagram, feels like you are getting regular phone calls. Furthermore, accessing to the deaths of this calls is a bit harder. Because of the issue mentioned previously. Thus having messaging (which is call and video call) feature display on the main GUI of Instagram on the bottom fixed grid, seemed as change worth changing.

Analysis

When starting this project, I wanted to focus only on a rather overall redesign than touching only some visual design patterns. Like messaging feature. However, the visual design does have a big impact on user experience. For the above solutions, I wanted to show how small changes can make a big impact.

The patterns, as far for the control that Instagram induces, is hard to notice. Mainly because announcements are very well integrated, it is hard to distinguish them from real person posts. It is, however, a typical iOS application pattern. It is very well adjusted with adds.

Instagram has an integrated variety of shapes in its design. Rounded, and squared icons.

The font used on Instagram is: Roboto is used along with Freight on Android. The Instagram website uses Proxima Nova for all text with Neue Helvetica and iOS Freight Sans.

On Instagram, when uploading a photo the design pattern of carousels can be noticed. You can scroll between pictures to select as many as it is allowed to upload.

This is the noticeable design patterns, I was also when user testing attempting to found more of them, but I couldn’t notice. I would need to do an in-depth analysis to find more, or maybe with any new updates of design, the new pattern will appear. Sometimes also, when we are to dwell into deconstructing.

BEYOND THE NORM - 15th of April

Questions: 

What is the speculative approach? What is the critical design? How to relate this to interaction design? Should we, as designers, ignore issues of the world? Should we, as citizens, be satisfied with the world we have?

How can a designer play a role in engaging with the world most critical issues?

Check out the video called Technological Dreams Series No. 1, Robots Dunne & Raby, 2007. It talks about interactive experiences. This video has no voice-over, explaining but clearly explain the power roles that we have over the objects. 

https://vimeo.com/2611597

Critical design is rather about asking a question than finding solutions or looking for the problems.

Answers:

Rather than finding a solution to current life problems, Critical design offers a step into the future and gives us feedback about where should we go further. Critical design tests wander and explore with ideas in a rather than unconventional way. Their exploration can be understood as something between reality and impossible. There is an attempt of drawing distinction between affirmative design (design that reinforces the status quo) and Critical Design - design that rejects how things are now as being the only possibility, it provides a critique of the prevailing situation through designs that embody alternative social, cultural and technical, or economic value (Dunne and Raby 2001)

Manifesto of the Critical Design: Design as a medium, asks, questions, social fiction, parallel worlds, functional fictions etc.

Is it even needed? Do we need art in design? Positive critique is that is pushing boundaries that might result in positive changes. Negative critique is that this type of design is just trying to make some noize and that we don’t really don’t need this design.

What to be thoughtful about is that critical design creates a space for critique.

Thoughtful design is taking into perspective, projecting scenarios and establishing the use of emerging things. Discursive design is distinguishing design field, commercial, experimental, and discursive design. What is essential in design fiction is that the object fits into its surroundings.

Relation of these designs to #IXD 

Prototypes are tenuous, material and experienceable. Prototyping is aligned in order for situations to be understood. 

Issues with Critical Design, it is very hard to know you are on the right path. We don’t know if we are doing a good or bad job. 

In a short conclusion: Critical Desing is here to provoke, to question, to change values, to challenge the status quo, do it with great care if you adopt the techniques of critical design.

Adobe XD tutorials

Learning XD in detail has its advantages. Basic functions sometimes are not enough, it is quite a time saving when you know where something is located. Most of the things we learned in the first Adobe tutorial, I have already been familiar with, but haven’t really used them so much. For example, doing animation with xd was valuable insights. We were wireframing the news app. We created load screens, and the screens were supposed to give feedback. And the feedback was load time. I find this very funny, in times when 5G networks are to be implemented.

We created only a few screens and made the animations. But, it is interesting how this animation would look like for enormous news apps, that contain thousands of information and it is updated literally every minute. I guess this information tells how important this trick was when designing an app.

If you look closely you can see that the small dots under the titles are not all the same for each screen. This, when using the app would give the impression of time passing.

Furthermore, learning about wireframing tools, was also valuable. The thing is not only learning is enough, but this skill also has to be practised and put to use. We used already made screens, in my opinion, it is a bit limiting the creativity of the designer, but on the other hand, the time-saving aspect has to be taken into consideration. It would take much longer to make these screens from scratch. Hereunder you can see some screen I made during the XD workshop.

ANALYTICS EXERCISE  -23d April 2019

After an in-depth exploration of Google merchandise store, there are few design suggestions that I could recommend for googles improvement in sales. Right under you can see chars that are visualising backing up my argumentations.

If we look closely to these numbers under. There is an enormous differentiation between mobile users and desktop users. It is certain there today in mobile purchases are common and becoming the main way of using the internet, also purchases.

This makes sense in many ways because mobile phones are always in our pockets, and we reach for mobile more often then we do with our laptops.  So, I am raising the question about this issue, since Google merchandise store, has more visits from their desktop site.

Overall desktop visits are around 51 000 visits, where on phone it is only around 16000 visits.

This data, made me go and look at the mobile site of the store, and here I have found several design changes that can be applied. This, in my opinion, would give the store market standard, and boost mobile visits. Let take a look at the mobile site (check the media under). There we can see a variety of information hidden, behind the same icon. There are cluttered and not even necessary because all of the information this icon contain can be placed within one icon, or simply displayed on its own. The number of items purchased can be placed on the basked. And the icon next to towards left can be eliminated, or unified with the same icon under.

In conclusion, the site is clean from announcements, which gives it a peaceful place to do your shopping. Adding these small changes would make a site mobile friendly and it would boost visits and purchases made through the phone.

Digital Prototyping -  How do speculative approaches reveal qualities of digital prototyping practice, and what are these important qualities?

To begin with, I can mention that speculative design process requires definitely more than one iteration. In my opinion, there is a need for researching the topic of choice from different angels. To understand the complexity of the design opportunity. It is practically a necessity to deconstruct the science behind the design opportunity.

In this course, the topic was drowned from the perspective of the UN sustainable goals. The pros of having to work with information like this is that is a very well researched topic. Easily accessible information online, multiple sources. All of this facilitates the process of speculation.

On the other hand, I will argue that this limits the creative process. Which many would agree, is necessary for any good speculative design process.

However, since this was the first project of speculative design, having predefined filed of work, can be taken as beneficial, then disadvantageous

Furthermore, if we would attempt to answer the following question: How speculative design is relevant to prototyping experiences in general? We can argue that relevance depends on the design aim. In this project, there was a necessity to use previously acquired prototyping skills, but the context was directed towards, information, visualising or grabbing attention overall. To achieve this our prototyping practice needed the help us come up with this design. I would argue that it help to understand speculation in design, but not to the point where the speculation was entirely clear.

For instance, the design process that my group was undertaking in this course, was clearly divided into two major ideas. Where the first idea, was a bad attempt to speculate, and a rather good attempt to solve the problems. Prototyping wasn't contributing much. On the contrary, on the second interaction, when the ideas were considered quite speculative, prototyping, especially using digital tools (such as xd) made the project harder. This is due to the fact that the initial ideas needed to be transferred to visual aspects. Thus, everything seems as constrained. With each small design implementation, the idea of speculation seemed losing its value.

Conclusively, it is worth considering, in future speculative design practices. that the prototyping practices can be arguably big constraint to the speculative design process.

To relate just argued pros and cons of the mentioned topic to the question of this essay (How do speculative approaches reveal qualities of digital prototyping practice, and what are these important qualities?) I can say the digital prototyping has visual aspects as support. Meaning, the tools digital prototyping uses are dependent by the large scale on the visual aspect. Whether we use video or just images. Having said this, and taking into consideration the complexity of the speculative design. Digital prototyping can serve to clarify this complex nature of this form of design.

To wrap up this thought, I can say, the visual aspect is (if well made) self-explanatory, and overall easy to understand (compared to other expensive mediums) therefore, this characteristic of digital prototyping can serve as an advantage when used in speculative design.

However, there are other qualities of digital prototyping that speculative design can reveal. For instance, these qualities can be reviled depending on which angle we are observing digital prototyping. If we looked at it from the perspective of humans needs, then we have to understand that people seek influence over their environments, and digital technology has traditionally extended possibilities to extend knowledge and control (Gaver & Martin, 2000).

There are examples where just simple machine intelligence was used to arranged and to shape birds' behaviour, by approximating a target tune for birds singing. This allowed could allow the different birds to be trained to take different harmonic roles in an overall composition. Hence, digital prototyping can give a man much more than even imaginable at first glance. We can argue that digital prototyping practice could allow people to extend control to the very wildlife and navigate the future of   (wilderness and of nature) simply uncontrollable. Another example can be given from this course speculative design project. The project Swipe Dream, developed with my classmates, held in itself speculative understanding of the UN sustainable goal number 17. Partnership for goals. Swipe dream places serious manners such as development and many flows from developed to developing world, by using modern dating environment such as tinder. There is no-the less controversy in this project. But, it proves the point that speculative design allows (with use of digital prototyping) us to see important questions in another light, thus illuminating problematics, that otherwise would pass unnoticed.

Furthermore, when the design is used to ends that are provocative,  we are bridging and constructing things. We are also telling stories through objects, which become effectively conversation pieces in  a  very  real  and  persuasive  sense.  Through the projection of design scenarios, design fictions, and narratives of use, the designer as storyteller shifts focuses beyond efficient use, to embrace uncertainty, interpretation and meaning (Malpass, 2016).

It can be argued that speculative design holds immense importance for society. It pushes the boundaries from what we know already. It teaches us new perspectives on the stuff that are already around us. It gives purpose to things that presumably are useless. I connect us with objects around us and allows us to create better futures. Speculatively, digital prototyping shines the most in my opinion when using storytelling through film and images. And when mediums for expression is mixed. Her plays important roles in the ambiguity,

Furthermore, when prototyping in relation to the digital world, if we position design as an effective medium with the intent to construct public and engage user audiences by questioning conditions in everyday life. We need a powerful perspective for the user to understand our points. We need to achieve this critical perspective of the user or observer.Here is when digital prototyping can show it’s powered. If done correctly and with huge dedication, we as a designer can affect the direction where our society is going.

Design can push furthermore from orthodox way of thinking. If we manage to encourage the user to interpret the object, we put the user in a role that opens up for exploration, reflection and engagement. And, is it even necessary to explain how important is for every individual to fully engage in explorations of their own lives.

Conclusively, we can argue that there are multiple design approaches when it comes to speculative design. Firstly the combinations of disciplines. Design can be related to art, architecture or even philosophy. But, due to a necessity for clarity and simplicity, to my knowledge, we can narrow down speculative approaches in at least three different ones. The first sees designers reflecting on and critically questioning design practice. In this course, it was a digital prototyping design practice. Also, the second approach is based on re-thinking the design discipline. For example, rethinking if the digital prototyping is the best approach to explain certain problematics, or would is politics the best place to express concern about climate change, and so on.  When we are talking about politics, to my knowledge and from what literature supporting this paper is indicating, one of the approaches of speculative design could actually be related to the overall importance of this speculation and design for society. Nonetheless, it is important to see the speculative design more as a discursive practice, based on critical thinking and dialogue, which questions the practice of design than to try to select and eliminate this practice in any other way (Malpass, 2016).

On the other hand, digital prototyping practice in too many ways can be a limitation in the ability to explore possible futures. We are all explorer, and the medium we use matters.  Different strategic approaches are both desirable and necessary to achieve the best results possible in the process of exploration.

Digital prototyping is a way of thinking and expressing. It is certainly no so different from physical prototyping. But none the less, the experience digital prototyping can create, might interfere with how we think of our future and how we as mankind will continue to go about our lives. Yes, I argue of the benefits of digital prototyping, but however good and beneficial this prototyping is, it will never bring better results than feedbacks that real users give us.

In conclusion, it can be stated that digital prototyping together with the speculative design is of big importance, it gives us a modern perspective of ourselves and of the context we found ourselves in.

Literature

Gaver, B., & Martin, H. (2000). Alternatives. Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - CHI ’00. https://doi.org/10.1145/332040.332433

Malpass, M. (2016). Critical Design Practice: Theoretical Perspectives and Methods of Engagement. The Design Journal. https://doi.org/10.1080/14606925.2016.1161943

[justanoutlawfic]

Resurrected: Part 2

AnnyR said: Is there gonna be a second part to this story? I would love to see the kids reactions. :)

@queen-of-the-merry-men​ said:  Um... there’s a follow up to this right? PLEASE TELL ME THERE’S A FOLLOW UP

So...here it is.

Also on AO3

Regina didn’t sleep that night after she left the home she once shared with her husband and children. The truth was, she had barely gotten any sleep over the past 3 years. How could she knowing what she had done to her family? Wondering if she’d ever be able to return to them, if she’d ever get to see how they were doing. She had a P.I on them, who would deliver pictures, but those were all from a glance. She didn’t get to hear their voices or get filled on their days from their perspectives.

 As she settled into her room at Granny’s, she pulled out the most recent pictures that Sidney had sent her. They had all gotten so big. Henry was 11 now, in junior high. She could still remember when he was a baby, with that sweet smell coming from his head. Roland was 8 and played soccer. He had once been the toddler that stumbled when he took his first steps.

 And Margot. Sweet Margot. All of the kids had inherited her dark hair, but she had gotten Robin’s eyes. She teased him that one day they’d turn hazel like Henry’s or brown like Roland’s. Yet, it seemed that they had stayed the same. She had his nose too and his chin.

 Unlike her boys, she knew very little about her daughter. At least she had raised them for 5 to 8 years respectively. Margot had only been 10 months old when she had to go away. Just a tiny baby that was babbling, clearly trying to make out words. She had to leave before she could say “Mama” and she always wondered how sweet that name would sound coming from her little girl’s mouth.

 She knew deep down that Robin owed her nothing. She had disappeared and while her reasons were good, she had missed 3 years of their children’s lives, of his life. She was lucky that he hadn’t moved on int that time, so they still had a chance. It was so far off, but she prayed it could happen. Still, he could very easily have told her to get lost and never speak to him again.

 Instead, he had asked her to meet him for coffee the next day, once he dropped the kids off at school. She knew she had to be careful about hiding her identity. The last thing she wanted was for them to see her or for someone else to and let it slip.

 Reaching for her suitcase, she pulled out the disguise that had served her well for the past 3 years. Zelena had never been the wiser, completely convinced that she was dead. She had no reason to leave Storybrooke, systematically killing off men was all she needed. Taking out the wig, Regina began to brush it, hoping for the day that she could finally take the mask off.

 Robin entered the diner the following morning, exhausted. He hadn’t been able to sleep a wink. A part of him had wanted Regina to sit down with him and talk about where she had gone, how they would move forward but he knew that they risked one of the kids waking up. Luckily for him, he had been able to force a smile and fake his way through breakfast with them before shuttling Henry off to the library to study and the younger kids to Mary Margaret Nolan’s for a playdate with her children.

 He had received a text from an unknown number, that he later realized was Regina’s. She explained that she wouldn’t be looking how she did the night before, that she had to keep up the façade in order to make sure that no one knew that she was back before the kids did. Robin felt that was a bit extreme at first, but looking around the diner and seeing all the familiar faces…she had a point. Storybrooke was a small town with well meaning but very nosy people. A great place for raising kids…not the best place to keep a secret.

 Robin scanned the booths and located a woman that he would recognize almost anywhere. Her disguise was good, definitely no Hannah Montana job. Her wig was realistic, straight auburn locks that cut closely to her chin. She was wearing thick coke bottle glasses and a black tank top that showed off a tattoo he wasn’t sure was real or fake.

 Making his way over, he slid into the booth.  He could see through her glasses that she was also wearing colored contacts, changing her eyes from brown to green. “So…what’s your alias?”

“Roni, Roni Ramirez.”

He flinched, not used to Mills not being part of the equation. When they got married, they had both changed their last names to Locksley-Mills, their kids had it too. “You look…different.”

“I look weird, you can say it.”

“You risked driving around town last night without it?”

“Everyone was in bed, nothing goes on after 9 in this town.”

A small smile tugged on Robin’s lips, that much was the truth. “Where have you…”

 He trailed off when Ruby Lucas approached the table, filling their coffee cups. He gave Robin a strange glance, but then grinned. She had been bugging him for over a year to move on and start dating. He could tell she assumed this was a date. She took their orders before slipping back towards the kitchen.

 “Where have you been?” Robin asked, his voice lowering

Regina dropped the milk into her coffee, swirling it around a bit. “I was sent to Seattle, Washington.”

“You’ve been that far away this whole time?”

“I had to make sure that there was no chance she’d run into me. This disguise is good, but…”

“Not entirely fool proof.”

Regina sighed, running her fingers through her wig. “I got a job at a bar, kept to myself. I barely spent any money, I know you had to take care of the kids on your own there for a bit…”

“I don’t want your money Re…Roni.”

“What do you want?”

 He was silent for a few moments, not sure of what that was. In the back of his mind, he wanted to take his wife into his arms and never let her go. To resume their lives as if nothing happened.

 Robin couldn’t do that, though. He had spent the last 3 years thinking that she was dead. He had to console his children, console himself. He was still adjusting to the fact that all of it was real, that the woman sitting before him was the one he had fell in love with. Not only that, but she had betrayed him.

 “I don’t know how to explain this to the kids,” he mused. “I mean, Margot is still so little, she’ll probably move on pretty quickly. Roland and Henry, though…”

“I want to go off their lead. It’s going to kill me if I see them and they want nothing to do with me, but I’ll understand. Same with you.”

“I need time, Regina. I know you want to work on our marriage and I do still love you, but 24 hours ago…things were different. I was a widower, a single father. We had fallen into a routine. I was planning to take the kids to the cabin. Now…you’re alive and you’re telling me you faked your death to protect you, protect us. It’s all just too much. I need to focus on them, before I can think about our future.”

Regina nodded. “I get it, I do.”

“I think I’m going to tell Henry tonight and then Roland. I still don’t know how to best handle this with Margot, maybe I’ll talk to Archie.”

“Just let me know.”

Robin picked up his son that afternoon, driving him to the beach. It had always been his spot with Regina when he was younger. She’d take Henry for long walks in his stroller and take about a million pictures of him. There was a playground area that Henry used to pretend to be his castle, where he and Regina would bring wooden swords and “duel”.  They even fed seagulls a time or two, though 5-year-old Henry had been deathly afraid of them.

 After Regina “died”, the beach had been a place of solace for Henry. He had run off from the funeral and Robin knew he would find him there. Ever since, it was where he brought Henry when he was particularly missing Regina or just having a bad day.

 He didn’t want to ruin the memories Henry had with his mother, but he hoped that bringing him to the beach would help a little bit. At first, neither of them said anything. They walked through the sand, kicking it a bit as they went. Henry fished through his bag and found some snacks to toss in the seagulls’ direction. Pretty soon, they had reached the playground and sat in it. No one was around, it was a fall afternoon, not many that brave to go to the beach.

 “What’s going on?” Henry asked, his legs swinging. “I’m usually the one that asks to come here.”

“I needed to talk to you about something, kiddo, and figured it’d be best if we did it in one of your safe places.”

“What do we need to talk about?”

 Robin let out a deep breath, rubbing the back of his neck. He looked into Henry’s eyes and wanted to wrap him in his arms already. He tried to act so grownup at times, but really he was still just a kid, a little boy. How was he supposed to do this? Regina had offered to come, but he knew that would only make matters more confusing.

 “Henry…your mother’s alive.”

Henry tilted his head. “That’s not funny.”

“Because it’s not a joke. She…she had to fake her death, to protect us. I didn’t know about any of this until last night.”

“How do you know it’s really her? She could have a twin or it could be a prank…”

“Henry…it’s her.”

 A silence fell over the two of them, Robin clearly didn’t have to say anything else. The only sounds that could be heard were the waves crashing against the shore and the seagulls screeching every so often. Henry gripped his jacket closer to himself and Robin moved closer, to offer some warmth.

 “Why would she do this?” He whispered.

“Do you remember Mr. Gold? He used to be a judge, a friend of your mother’s.” Henry nodded, Mr. Gold had came by their house often with his wife. “Well, when his son died, your mother really wanted to help make sure the person who killed him was put away. However, she wasn’t and she didn’t like that your mom kept poking around. She wanted to hurt her, so your mom had to leave so it didn’t happen.”

“So, she left…so we wouldn’t really have to experience her dying.”

Robin flinched. “Yes.”

“Where is she now?”

“She’s staying at Granny’s. She’s back for good, now that the murderer is locked away and can’t hurt, can’t hurt us anymore.”

 Henry nodded and swallowed, staring out at the waves. Robin wished he could read his mind, ask him what he was thinking. He found himself paralyzed, not wanting to push him one way or the other. He had a right to want to see her, he also had a right to be angry.

 “She’s not going to leave again?” Henry asked.

Robin shook his head. “No, son.”

“And she really only left to protect us?”

“Yes.”

“Is she going to move back in with us?”

“Not right now.”

“But…you’re married. You said you loved mom, you never wanted to lose her.”

“That’s true, but a lot has changed, Henry. She may have left for good reasons, but I’ve spent the last 3 years thinking she was dead. It’s not easy to just jump back into our marriage and pretend like nothing ever happened.”

“You could do it if you tried,” Henry mumbled.

“Hey,” Robin tilted his chin up. “I am trying. I am willing to hear your mom out and work things out with her. Right now, my main priority is helping you kids adjust. Right now you may be okay with it and that’s great. Anger might come later and that’s okay, too. Your mother and I are worrying about you kids first, the way it should be.”

 Henry was silent once more, but only ever so briefly this time.

 “Can I see her?”

“You want to?”

Henry nodded. “I have to make sure this is real.”

 Robin texted Regina to prepare her before heading over to the inn. He knocked on the door and when it opened, Regina was out of her disguise again. She looked down at her son and tears sprung to her eyes. Henry starred up at her, his lip quivering.

 “Henry,” she whispered.

“Mom.”

 His voice broke and he threw his arms around her. Regina hugged him tighter, kissing the top of his head and inhaling it as she did.

 “I’ve missed you so much,” he choked out, as the tears fell down his face.

“I’ve missed you more, my sweet prince,” she said, softly. “More than you’ll ever know.”