#which i very much suspect will not make the rest of the world adore you the way you want them to)

[hacash]

not to mention even though usamerican leftists don't currently have the political power to instate a leftist president, there is only one of the two options that will make it more likely that you can have the political power to instate a leftist president in the future (even though I can understand the frustration that that future is more distant than anyone would like), and that option is harris. as opposed to the white supremacist, whose every other interview soundbite indicates his ultimate dream is to ensure you don't have the power to instate any president in the future, let alone a leftist one.

due to systemic oppression, usamerican leftists don't currently have the political power to instate a leftist president. we do, however, have enough power to make one of two candidates lose the election. we could use this power to make the white supremacist lose to the black woman, or we could use it to make the black woman lose to the white supremacist. the obvious choice for leftists would be to prioritize making the white supremacist lose, but tumblr users have devised a loop hole, where they agitate primarily for making the black woman lose, but omit the detail about who she would be losing to. this makes their stance more palatable to people who correctly believe that having a white supremacist president would be the worst possible outcome.

[celestie0]

gojo satoru x reader | college au [18+]

kickoff ch.1 gojo satoru sent you a message

ᰔ pairing. college au - soccer player! gojo x film major! reader

ᰔ summary. gojo satoru is the most popular guy on your college campus. he's tall, funny, hot, not to mention he's the most talented soccer forward the school has seen in years. but he's also a frat dude, which puts him in a world very different from your own, as he spends most of his nights partying & drinking while you spend most of yours working on your annoying film major assignments. but when he reaches out to you for a favor, you realize that helping him out might have something in it for you too.

ᰔ warnings/tags. 18+, fem reader, fluff, angst, smut, college au, fraternities, sororities, partying, drinking/alcohol, mentions of weed, romance, jealousy, pining, slow burn, opposites to lovers, friends to lovers, she falls first he falls harder, gojo being an idiot

ᰔ chapter. 1/x (probably 12)

ᰔ words. 1.3k (short one to start off, but the rest are longer)

a/n. welcome to this pilot chapter! this was originally going to be a one-shot but i got way too carried away and ended up planning out a whole series. i hope you enjoy!

nav. masterlist

☾·̩͙꙳ moodboard no.1

♬.*ﾟplaylist

|| 2:13AM Gojo Satoru has requested to follow you

You blink the sleepiness in your eyes away as the harsh light of your phone hits your face. Somewhere in the middle of the crazy dream you were having, you heard your phone incessantly pinging and eventually woke you up to make you realize you forgot to turn the ringer off before going to sleep. Among all the spam email, iCloud storage warnings, and news headliners, there was one notification in particular that had you wondering if you were still dreaming.

“Ugh…y/n, please, turn your phone off,” you heard your roommate Mina mumble in the twin sized bed at the other end of the room as she shuffled her pillow above her head so that it covered both of her ears. You glance out the window of your shared apartment, peering at the pale moonlight, before your tired and heavy eyes travel back to your phone and press on the Instagram notification.

Suspecting this was maybe some prank account, you clicked on the small icon in your inbox that took you to a profile page. Gojo Satoru, Senior at University of Tokyo, Business Major, D1 Soccer #10, SAE. 12k followers, 172 following, 38 posts. 

Still thinking you’re dreaming, you accept the follow request and watch as the number on his following increases by one, now 173. Your thumb swipes up on your phone as you take in the square images of his profile. Pictures of him and his friends recreating memes…food that he’s eaten recently…frequent vacation posts in exotic countries…and a whole lot of what seemed to be professionally taken soccer photos of him striking goals and hitting balls with his head in mid air. You have put a lot of effort into your own Instagram photos (despite your modest 464 followers), mostly posting compilation slideshows of your favorite film photos that you’ve taken recently, yet somehow his feed looks much more inviting than yours.

You turn onto your side and continue to look through his photos. 624 comments, 373 comments, 958 comments. Many were from his friends trying to embarrass him, and many others were from girls that probably wanted him to notice them. You noticed he only really replied to comments from his friends. 

You knew who he was, of course. Gojo Satoru was one of the most, if not the most, popular guys on your college campus. When you got to college, you thought the whole “social hierarchy” thing would be over but it still seemed like there were certain groups of people that almost everyone knew about, "elite" individuals who other students could only dream of associating with. At UTokyo, the fraternities and sororities practically owned the place so of course Gojo was well-known since he was a member of the school’s most iconic frat, SAE. Not to mention, the school adored its soccer team–undefeated since 2012–and Gojo Satoru was the most talented center forward the division has seen in years. 

But as for why he requested to follow you, a film major that doesn’t play any sports and isn’t even in a sorority, well you’re just not sure. 

It’s then when you get yet another notification. 

“Oh my god, y/n, turn it off!” Mina mumbles into her mattress. You click the side button to turn off the ringer. 

|| 2:24AM Gojo Satoru sent you a message 

Your heart starts to beat a bit faster as you quickly slide to your DMs page. You notice three unread conversations from a few of your friends, probably from when they decided to send you their entire explore page, and then you see a little (1) next to your message requests box. When you open it, you see his icon in your inbox. It’s a simple picture of him in his soccer jersey, his smile wide as one of his team members who was mostly cropped out of the photo seemed to be putting him in a headlock. You see the first few words of the message.

|| 2:24AM Gojo Satoru: Hey, sorry if this is weir…

You’re about to click on it when you stop yourself. It was really late at night and you didn’t know if you wanted to entertain a conversation with this man you knew literally nothing about (at least on a personal level) and weren’t even sure why he was messaging you in the first place. Plus, he would see that you’ve read it and so you would feel anxious to respond. But there was no way to see his full message unless you opened it. Even though you considered this to be weirdly intimate since it was a message sent at two in the morning, you figured that was probably normal for the likes of people like Gojo Satoru, who probably were out drinking and partying until five in the morning every night, regardless of any 8AM lectures or not. 

But unfortunately, curiosity always kills the cat (that’s the expression, right?) and so you click on his message. 

|| 2:24AM Gojo Satoru: Hey, sorry if this is weird…I don’t think we’ve ever met before, but my buddy’s really into your roommate, and he’s tried to invite her out to our frat’s house parties but he’s had no luck. Think you could convince her to come this weekend? You’re welcome to come too, of course

You blink in surprise before rolling your eyes, not entirely sure why you were expecting any different. Maybe Mina wasn’t budging on his friend’s advances because she wants to be asked out on an actual date, and not to some house party. But you figured frat guys wouldn’t really understand that. Besides, how did he know that you were her roommate? You’re just about to type a response when you see three little dots in the left side corner, indicating he was typing, and you hold your breath.

|| 2:27AM Gojo Satoru: Here are the details

And then he sends you a post from what looks like his fraternity’s Instagram page. There’s an address, a time, the name of the DJ and girls get in free bolded at the top. You realize you’ve never even been invited to a fraternity’s house party until this very moment. 

You briefly consider not responding to him and just setting your phone back down on your nightstand, rolling over, and falling asleep. But you find your fingers moving on their own to type.

|| 2:31AM You: you’re messaging me to help your friend get with my roommate?

There’s an uncomfortable two minutes where there’s no response from him and for some reason your anxiety is through the roof. You remember the countless times you’ve heard people describe Gojo Satoru in passing: there’s just something about him that demands your attention. 

His notification pops up at the top of the Instagram app when you were scrolling through reels to distract yourself and you accidentally clicked on it too fast. 

|| 2:33AM Gojo Satoru: Uh, yeah? 

You sigh as you ponder the proposition. You don’t even know for sure why Mina wasn’t really responding to his friend’s advances, maybe the guy was a creep or just not her type. And even if she was somewhat interested in him, she’s already refused to go to any of their frat’s house parties, so how would you be able to persuade her? 

You finally convince yourself you’ve had enough of Gojo’s messages for the night and you’ll choose whether or not you want to revisit the topic again in the morning, until another message flashes across your screen.

|| 2:38AM Gojo Satoru: What can I do to get you to convince her to come this weekend?

You bite down on your lip at his question, and an idea flashes through your mind.

|| 2:40AM You: i’ll find a way to convince her. my terms and conditions will come later

He responds in a second.

|| 2:40AM Gojo Satoru: Deal 

a/n. dude literally slid into your DMs lol. thank you for reading! i also post this story over on AO3, if you're more into that format, but i just wanted to start posting over here on tumblr too. hope to see you in the next one!

➸ take me to chapter two!

[kazumist]

POCKET LOVE .ᐟ

✩ — in which for the first time, narumi gen hides what game he's playing from you. (based on an actual game called pocket love)

✩ — includes: narumi gen x gn!reader. fluff. no cws. wc: 559. this was longer than i expected tbh,,, but yeah. definitely another character study piece for gen so my early apologies if he seems ooc but i do think this is very likely of him. reblogs and feedback are very much appreciated !!

no one in the whole defense force could’ve suspected that the narumi gen, captain of the first division, would also have his moments.

“watcha playin’ there?”

you walked up behind him as gen focused on his phone while sitting on the couch, clearly immersed in whatever game he had open this time. it’s not really a rare sight to see him like this, because if ever he’s not playing on his console, he’ll be playing on his phone and vice versa. 

he jumps out of surprise at your sudden question, immediately moving his phone away from your view. you looked at him in confusion and easily got one conclusion: he’s hiding something from you. “gen, you didn’t answer my question. i was just asking what you were playing,” you said with a pout as you lean closer to him to see the phone.

gen moves it farther from your line of vision, trying to come up with an excuse. “you don’t need to know! it’s nothing,” he says, which makes you even more confused. your boyfriend always told you what game he’s playing whenever you asked—even going so far as to explain the said game to you in spite of you not really understanding it so easily at first.

"oh, really?” you made the terrible error of leaning in even more, which caused you to fall onto the couch and onto gen. nevertheless, this offered you a great opportunity to grab his phone.

well, you had to wrestle your boyfriend for it first.

“just let me have a peek!” 

“i said it’s nothing!”

you both fought like two kids over a phone but you eventually won (despite the grave struggle you had to go through to achieve victory). “eh? what’s this?” you asked him. gen sat away from you, as if he were embarrassed. you observed the screen of his phone, trying to figure out what type of game he’s playing. it was certainly different from what gen usually plays, which included boss levels and all sorts of monsters.

yet this one... it had a little room on it? some furniture here and there too. and as you looked more closely, you noticed there were two little people in it, you guessed they were living in this space. but what piqued your curiosity even more was the way they looked.

“oh my god.”

gen could already feel the question coming. and he feels sick to his stomach because of this whole ordeal.

“gen, is this... me? and is the other person you?”

you turned your head to look at him, only to be greeted with gen looking away. he had his arm rested upon the arm rest of the couch, palm covering the lower half of his face. he sheepishly nods in response. “aww, gen! you’re so cute!” you moved closer to him, pinching his cheek. he yelps at the sudden gesture, telling you to stop it or else he’d give it back tenfold (but his red tinted ears say otherwise).

the game on his phone continues to run as the two people (you and gen—and gen did his very best to match both of your appearances) have their own little world. it was really adorable; you technically have a little home in his phone.

who knew that the captain of the first division could actually be a softie?

[helluvapoison]

how would the overlords propose?

Say Yes

how the overlords would propose

ʕ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʕ•̫͡•ʔ•̫͡•ʔ

˚✧₊⁎ Carmilla Carmine ⁎⁺˳✧༚

Romance isn’t an afterthought to her, as hard as that is to believe. Carmilla is a very passionate woman… it just comes after logic. Whether you knew it or not, you’ve been put to the test much earlier on. (How you treat her daughters and how they like you is the most important part, if you didn’t pass you wouldn’t have made it this far)

By now she knows you’re worthy and she’ll bring you into her world permanently. Carmilla plans something intimate. She surprises you in her office for a candlelit dinner, courtesy of her private chef! She is a businesswoman first so she gets straight to the point and asks for your hand, literally, slipping the band into your finger.

“Marry me,” Carmilla says, uncharacteristically soft, “With you at my side, I will be complete.”

˚✧₊⁎ Zestial ⁎⁺˳✧༚

Telling himself there’s no rush, that he could wait a thousand more lifetimes to make you completely his, doesn’t cure the urgency to do it anyways. He’s seen any ounce of goodness down here nabbed before anyone else can take it for themselves. Zestial never claimed to be unselfish, only patient. He tests the question to himself first very early on. Then he phrases it differently to you or refers to himself as your husband to others. You mistake it for a slip up and smile anyways. A delightful sign in his eyes.

Zestial is pleased that you don’t suspect it. How could you when he’s merely being his usual, charming self? He takes you strolling down the same path you took when he first began courting you. Ever the gentleman, he pauses before the bridge over the river of magma and actually kneels.

“Would thou spend the rest of this infernal afterlife beside thyself? Say yes and I swear never to stray and never to allow harm to befall thee. Thou shall only know happiness from this moment on.”

˚✧₊⁎ Alastor ⁎⁺˳✧༚

Love at first sight doesn’t exist so do not twist his words when he says he knew you belonged to him the moment you met. Feelings were bothersome and you flooded his entire being with them with a simple gaze. Lingering between the emotions was always pain, which he was familiar with. Unfortunately for him, the cure for his ailment was always you. Marriage was not in the cards for either of you. Alastor thought he had no intention of going through such hassle until he couldn’t stop staring at the vacant spot on your ring finger. Bothersome.

Truly you had no idea what he was plotting. It wasn’t uncommon for him to bring you to his radio tower, going over notes with him or just quietly hanging about while he worked. He told you there would be a guest on his next show and he wanted to rehearse the questions. Simple enough. Before you even read the last one Alastor stopped you with a finger to the lips,

“Pardon my dear, you’ve been a wonderful co host— utterly indispensable these past few years— but that’s my line!” There’s a flicker of hesitation before his smile takes a slightly gentler form, a side of Alastor only you’re privy to, “Will you marry me?”

˚✧₊⁎ Rosie ⁎⁺˳✧༚

Since she was married a few times already, you thought Rosie would be over the whole thing by now. Well you couldn’t be more wrong if you tried! She adores weddings, from organizing them to being in them; the whole shabang is right up her alley! There was a reason her ex husbands didn’t work out but you don’t have to worry about the whys and whatnots. You’re oh so very special to Rosie, she couldn’t bear the thought of losing you!

The fact you think marriage is off the table has her giddy. She loves having the element of surprise! Cannibal’s left and right are in on the plot, making sure you’re exactly where you need to be all day long until you reach the town square at sunset. Crimson rose petals lead you to the gazebo where candles are lit all around your Radiant Rosie. She smiles so fondly at you it makes your knees weak as you climb the steps to reach her. She poured her love into two pages, prepared to make it her best speech ever but the second you were in front of her everything went out the window!

“Oh! I can’t wait another minute! Marry me, won’t you?”

~

╰(*´︶`*)╯♡ the vees might get their own part cause, i feel, they’re particular about marriage

[sparkrls]

simple questions

MASTERLIST

Summary: in which Harry is eager to makes his girl happy and she just wants answers to simple questions

Author’s Note: a blurb i wrote based on these Harry pics because I am NOT over it

Word Count: 2.6k words

•••

Her boyfriend was an idiot. That’s what Y/N resolved as she watched him stumble over his words as he was asked a simple question of, “Who’s the girl you’re with?”. It wasn’t even anyone important asking, just a fan who’d noticed Harry and felt brave enough to ask for a photo, albeit with hands that shook as she passed over her phone.

It had started as Y/N’s idea. She knew she was entirely at fault for Harry’s nerves, but it wasn’t even completely her idea. She had just asked him, “Have you ever had a public outing with a partner?”

It was an innocent question, asked due to pure curiosity, not with any ulterior motive as Harry suspected. He had given her a look, trying to get a read on her intent behind those words. He tended to do that a lot. Doubt people’s words, like they had some double meaning, and they were trying to trick him into making a fool of himself. She had a tough time getting him to trust her enough as to not doubt her as much, but the trust issues slipped through every once in a while.

Harry then stumbled over his words, the way a newborn doe might trip and fall as it clambered onto its frail legs. Simple questions were never his forte. He could answer you deep, philosophical questions and ponder them in his mind without hesitation, but it was the simple questions that tripped him up. A whole conundrum, if you asked Y/N.

Eventually, Harry admitted, “No.”

She’d stared at him with a deadpan expression, because it had taken an extraordinary amount of ‘um’s and ‘uh’, along with some weird humming sounds to get a one-word answer from him.

So she followed up with, “Don’t you wanna?”

“Do you want me to do it with you?”

“Well, no, I was just asking because-“

“I’ll do it with you,” Harry rushed to say.

Sometimes he tended to rush himself into doing favors for people he didn’t really want to do. A tendency lots of overly kind people had. And he’d always have this particular warm, soft tone when he did. And she loved that little tone that indicated he was feeling kind. But lots of times he regretted agreeing to those things and would stumble home to her apartment, grumbling and griping about whatever stupidity he’d been forced to do. So it grew into a strange mixture of adoration and disdain for that tone. Because she never liked to see her boy tired to the bone because he was too polite to back away from a promise. (Although she did love running her fingers through his soft hair until he fell asleep with his head on her lap)

This time, however, Harry wasn’t using that warm tone. It was a much different one, a bit of a higher pitch, and with a much sweeter undertone. It was a tone he used when he was trying to win the favor of his girlfriend.

She chuckled, “Baby, I didn’t ask you to-“

Harry had one arm rested on her waist and the other underneath the pillow she rested her head on. “But I wanna,” He said with a small pout, an almost whiny quality to his words. His cherry lips looked so kissable when they stuck out that way. “Wanna show the world you’re mine.” He leaned up until his nose was nuzzling her neck, and his lips brushed against her collarbone. “Mine and only mine.”

His lips clamped down on her skin, sucking at it for a moment before allowing his teeth to nibble lightly. Sharp stings followed wherever his teeth sunk in so deliciously, sending sparks throughout her whole body.

Y/N had learned early on that Harry had a very possessive side to him. He’d spent years feeling that everything he was belonged to the public, including all the dirty details of his personal life and his friends and partners. And now he had regained that privacy (he’d had to pry it by force from the unfailing grip of the media), he wanted to claim everything as his own.

It was why Harry was so fiercely protective of his friends and loyal to a fault. He felt the incessant urge to always stick by their side. He finally knew what it was like to have something belong to him, and it was his greatest fear to lose it.

After a lot of therapy, communication and compromise, Harry had not only found a healthy balance for himself but for his relationship with Y/N as well. A certain possessiveness that she wouldn’t deny him because she could never refuse anything he asked, and it was just part of who he was. But a harsh line as to not become controlling or overprotective as Harry had threatened to do in previous relationships.

The habits snuck into their daily lives, as Harry had a tendency to leave marks where everyone could see them. Therefore, the hickeys on the neck which Y/N always had to cover with concealer because she despised turtlenecks with a passion.

“Love, I’m not doubting your choice,” she began to speak, interrupted by Harry leaving open-mouthed kisses from her jugular up to the base of her jaw. And it was getting hard to think straight when his lips were on her and his tongue was tracing delightful patterns.

Y/N cleared her throat trying to focus. “However, I don’t want this to be an impulse decision. Think it through.”

Harry separated his lips from her skin long enough to murmur, “I’m sure. I wanted to make it public to everyone soon anyways, might as well go out together.” As he spoke, his warm breath grazed against her sensitive skin, causing goosebumps.

“Go out where?”

“The Man U match, obviously.”

And that was why Y/N spent the next week fussing over her choice of hairstyle, whether to leave her natural waves or straighten it or straighten it and then create strategically messy waves. And then freaking out on the phone to her best friend about whether her outfit was a good choice or not. Because of course, she had to look stylish for her first public appearance with Harry- those photos would be circulating the internet until the day she died- but she also had to dress for the unforgiving winter and plan for rain. Even if she was going to be in the VIP suite with Harry, the entrance and exit could possibly have rain, and she couldn’t always count on an umbrella. She’d learned that the five times she’d gotten stuck in the rain while waiting at a too-full bus stop in peak traffic in London.

The point was, Y/N didn’t want to let down Harry nor the fans by wearing the wrong hairstyle, clothes or makeup. Resulting in overthinking every tiny detail down to the jewelry.

The morning of, it was Harry who soothed her nerves saying, “Love, if you don’t want to do it we don’t have to. It was always a choice.”

“I want to, but it’s just…” She looked up at him with a shaky breath. “It’s scary.”

“We can wait,” Harry replied, placing her face in his hands, his thumb caressing her cheek. “We’ll stay home and watch the game on the telly, we’ll wear our sweats and I’ll order in some food from that Thai place you’ve been wanting to try.”

Taking a good look at Harry from top to bottom, from those dress pants that clung to his thighs in the most delightful manner, and the button-up that tragically hid his well-sculpted biceps to the sweater vest he’d bought the first time they’d gone shopping together. He looked so soft and warm, yet so confident and sure of himself. Like a scale that had finally found balance.

Harry had an energy that screamed youthful, but he’d recently settled into the warm feeling of peace that came not with age, but the realization that chaos wasn’t necessary to be happy. He wasn’t afraid of his career always being on the chopping block, or the precarious opinions of outsiders. He had found himself, and with it, found an inner peace he’d never had before.

And it showed. From the way he dressed, to the courage of him showing up to their hotel room with the surprise of a shaved head one day, to the way he carried himself so firmly. He was centered. He was calm. And he was happy.

This was the first time everyone else would get to see Harry after the latest stage of his self-discovery. And Y/N wouldn’t be the one to hold him back. “No, I want to go,” she said firmly. “But I want you to pick my outfit.”

To no one’s surprise, Harry picked an outfit that was primarily made up of clothing from his own closet, completely shoving aside the outfit she had previously picked out for herself because, “Babe, I have better taste than you.”

Y/N didn’t have bad taste, but when it came to fashion, she laid her trust in Harry… most of the time.

The only thing he kept were the jeans she’d picked out, a new pair she’d gotten recently which flattered her figure. They were high waisted and cropped at the ankle, the color a grayish tone of the classic denim. Most importantly, they highlighted her ass. The one thing that no matter how insecure she was, she always loved. And Harry did as well, if the way he swatted her ass playfully a couple of times a day was any indication.

He paired it with a long-sleeve white top that clung to her skin, a green sweater on top that was slightly baggy on her figure as it was one of his and one a black coat that would keep her warm. Harry was careful to make sure all the layers would keep her warm even in the winter air, as he knew she tolerated much less cold than he did.

“Cute,” Harry said with a dimpled smile when she finished putting on the outfit and gave him a twirl to showcase it. “You’re really pretty, darling.” He hooked his fingers through her belt loops and yanked her forward until she almost toppled into his chest as he sat on the edge of his bed. He gave her a soft smile, the kind he gave her right before a heartfelt message- “And ten times prettier because I chose the outfit.”

Y/N swatted his arm playfully at his joke, and he simply laughed, the corners of his eyes crinkling up. “It’s a basic outfit.”

“Aw, don’t be mean because the outfit I picked out is better than the one you did.”

“You’re such a bully.”

Harry grinned at her. “Is that so?”

She nodded in mock earnestness. “Yeah. I hate you.”

“No, you don’t,” Harry replied simply.

“No, I don’t.”

With a couple of more kisses which included wiping the lipstick from Harry’s lips, the couple got into the car and held hands as the engine started and drove them to the stadium.

“So, we’re cheering for Man U, right?”

Harry sighed heavily. “Love, do you even know me?”

“Okay, okay, I get it,” She said with a chuckle, raising her hands defensively. “Man U for football and Green Bay Packers for the other football.” She gave him an apologetic look. “Sorry baby, but I know nothing about football.”

“I’m going to be explaining all the rules, aren’t I?”

Y/N’s silence was enough of a response.

But then it was time for the most dreaded moment of the day, when they entered the stadium hand-in-hand, walking past press and media and paparazzi.

Harry laced his fingers between hers and gave her a small squeeze before opening the car door and stepping out. He was quick, making her almost jog to catch up with his long strides. He’d warned her he would move hastily as to avoid lingering around the cameras longer than necessary.

There was one quick snap and a small flash and then-

They were inside the stadium and no press could chase them in any longer.

“Wait, that was it?” Y/N asked, glancing at the door they’d just walked through as their pace slowed down.

Harry glanced at her quizzically. “Did you expect more?”

“Well, you always describe it all huge and dramatic, flashing lights and a billion cameras and a huge crowd of screaming lunatics-“

“Football matches are different,” Harry said, chuckling as he interrupted her rant.

“I got worried over that?” Y/N signaled over her shoulder, her jaw dropping. “Seriously?!”

Harry laughed. “What do you expect me to say? You’re an overthinking maniac?”

She huffed, “This is your fault.”

Harry kissed her when her lips pouted. “Love you, darling.”

“Love you too,” She grumbled as they made their way to the VIP suite.

And that’s the full story of how they’d ended up at the Man U match- which they won, thank god, because Harry would’ve teased her relentlessly for being bad luck- and with a fan asking for a photo and asking who Y/N was.

“Um, well- she- we met- me and her-“ Harry couldn’t seem to form a train of thought, so she rolled her eyes and took control of the situation.

Holding out a hand for the fan to shake, Y/N said her name and said, “I’m Harry’s girlfriend. Nice to meet you, babe.”

The fan’s jaw dropped. It was a bit hilarious, but out of sheer politeness, Y/N held back her laughter. “You are definitely hot enough. Cool. Bye.” Turning on her heel, the fan walked away.

Harry seemed in shock as Y/N laughed, turning to him, completely bewildered. “You hear that? I’m ‘hot enough’!”

Without a care in the world of the dozen of cameras probably pointed at them, Harry grasped her face in his hands and gave her a deep, loving kiss.

Y/N scanned his face, a giddy smile on her own, “What was that for?”

“For being my girlfriend,” Harry replied before pulling her back in for another kiss. So maybe she’d allow her boyfriend a celebratory kiss or two or maybe five before they had the decency to move out of sight of the cameras. And just maybe, it wasn’t their last football match together.

Two years later, Y/N and Harry would return to the very same stadium for yet another Man U match, a bit older, a lot more mature and their love stronger after growing roots for so long. The tree flourishing with branches extending to the deeper reaches of her heart, she had never felt so fulfilled. Like the world was so much lighter and easier to endure even with the extra weight of a diamond ring on her finger, and a white gold band identical to the one on Harry’s hand.

“Who’s the girl you’re with?” The fan asked, a 15-year-old girl with her hair dyed blue and a Love On Tour shirt on, her curious eyes scanning Y/N, a flicker of familiarity in them.

Harry smiled, looking his wife up and down, admiring the outfit he’d carefully chosen for her earlier that day. He inhaled deeply, and for once, he didn’t trip over his words as he replied firmly, “This is Y/N. I’m her husband.”

[im-totally-not-an-alien-2]

Halloween prompts year 2 day 23

Au where Danny hides his powers and eldrich nature from his husband Tim and Tim hides his vigilante career from Danny.

Both are very successful and neither suspects a thing. Tim had originally planned to admit to being a hero at some point but they were always either interrupted or it just wasn't the right time and then Danny had mentioned a few times during thier engagement and marriage that he couldn't handle being with a superhero or vigilante and that it was a deal breaker. Unfortunately Tim was already deeply in love and couldn't bare to break up with him so now he lives in fear of Danny finding out and blackmailed the rest of the family into never letting it slip.

Danny is in a similar situation, ever since the portal incident people were afraid of his other half and no matter how hard he tried they always ended up hating him. He loved Tim and couldn't bare the thought of his husband having that same look of terror. Of hate. So he hid. Its all he could do. Back when he and his friends went on that road trip and gained the power of the reality gauntlet he had tried to undo his undeath entirely only to find out Danny had glitches spacetime enough that even if he undid it (which the gauntlet was incapable of doing) he would eventually wind up with the portal opening up on top of him at another date. Call it fate or destiny or whatever you like. He was stuck like this.

So he did the next best thing. He erased any proof he had ever existed. Even from the minds of his own friends. He then skipped town-or in this case universes- and used the gauntlets power to carve out a false identity in this new world full of heroes and hope

Luckly there was no one who could rat him out...until some blond guy in a trenchcoat started following him around the grocery store and talking to him. At first Danny was a little confused and annoyed but when he asked what the blond guy wanted he asked, "I wanna know what you are." And Danny went pale.

Constantine then proceeded to blackmail Danny into helping him with a case or else he would expose his dirty little secret to Tim.

Danny made the a deal, ensuring that it would only be this one time. He told Tim that he was being blackmailed but insinuated that it was something petty between him and some of the other high society house spouses. The kind of drama that Tim always made extra sure to steer clear of. He swore to Tim he was this close to spiking Bethanys muffins with a laxative in retaliation for something and Tim gave helper suggestions for how to do it without being caught while they got ready for the day.

Ever since Alfred passed away it was up to Danny and a few other people to keep the Waynes from falling apart. Honestly, no one realized how much that man did until he wasn't around anymore.

To be fair he pretty much spoiled Tim by picking up after him to the point the man can't function after a few days. If Danny ever had to leave Tim alone for prolonged periods of time he would return to a giant mess and something burning in the kitchen.

Danny would clean, Tim would spew a fountains worth of apologizes, he would forgive Tim (as if he was ever mad in the first place. This just reaffirmed that Tim needed him to protect and care for him, making his core vibrate in happiness) then they would...reacquaint themselves. He nearly shifted forms the first few times this happened. That would be one heck of a way for Tim to find out about his ghost half.

Danny smiled, thinking about those memories. He truly adored Tim and couldn't imagine a life without him. He would just have to make sure this trench coated guy never came anywhere near his precious husband.

John would really like to know what this entity was and what it wanted with the Wayne brat. It couldn't really be in love with the kid, could it? He had personally seen these relationships work out before but there many more he had seen that hadn't. He didn't want to take that risk, so he needed to get close enough to evaluate the situation himelf.

[mtchee]

"Ahh, the art of mixology... and tea! Hehe~" "Are you familiar with ay mixes? Any preferences? We can do.."

M O N D S T A D T

"...Blueberry & mint!" - Albedo Kreideprinz

Inconspicuous Observations - GN You thought your little crush on Albedo was a secret only you would know. However, you suspect that might not be the case when the very subject of your affections seems to know more than he lets on...

"...Cranberry, apple, & chili!" - Diluc Ragnivir

Disdain, or Desire? - GN Interpreting the Wine Master's unblinking stares and impassive features as a form of distain, you're in for a pleasurable surprise after the meddling of a few friends.

"...Rose water & plum!" - Lisa Minci

Lovely Morning - GN Waking up slow on a late morning, an onslaught of teasing and sweet nothings are murmured by your mischevious lover, coaxing you to stay a little longer~

L I Y U E

"...Persimmon, jasmine, & mint!" - Zhongli

Bubble Along the Surface - GN A minor god awakened years after the Archon War, and with your brother, Osial, pinned to the depths below, you've made your own way in the world. its only now you have the chance to finally step foot in Liyue, meeting a tall and handsome man who eventually comes to be your beloved--but not without a few misunderstandings. My Chosen Beloved - GN When you hear that you're cursed by something unknown, your fears are only confirmed when you're given to your Archon as a sacrifice to save your village. Except, since arriving at his hidden chambers, you've seen neither hide nor hair of him. Only his pet dragon, Morax, lazes about in the mountainscape to accompany you. Welp, new best friend! Even if it is a sassy lizard. What... What do you mean, he is the sassy lizard...

"...Mint, lime, & lychee!" - Xiao

Quiet to a Fault - GN After rookie adventurer [name] no longer has the traveller and Paimon around to serve as a buffer between the awkwardness of them and Xiao, your presumptions about the adepti's opinion surrounding you are proven to be not at all what you had thought--but very much more pleasurable.

I N A Z U M A

menu coming soon~

S U M E R U

menu coming soon~

F O N T A I N

menu coming soon~

N A T L A N

menu coming soon~

S C H N E Z N A Y A

menu coming soon~

Seasonal Specials! - A Series of Drabbles/Imagines/Oneshots

S A G A U S T O R I E S

An Honour to be Had - GN Eventually, after accustomising to your odd new life as Teyvat's Beloved (a title which you felt you very strongly did not need nor deserve), someway, somehow, the topic of your love life comes up. Of course, ensues much embarassment on your end, and much excitement from everyone else on the other.

An Honour to be in a Harem!? - GN 18+ [MDNI] afab! ver. | amab! ver. The concept of all these gorgeous people bowing before you is hard to grasp, but it's even worse to think that they'd actually offer themselves to you as a love interest. Unfortunately (or fortunately, actually) they seem quite boggled at your output. Ah! It all makes sense now! Their dearly Beloved is the shy type! Worry not, your Grace! Your dearest acolytes are more than happy to bask in any sort of attention you decide to share! Rest assured, they'll take care of all your needs~ An Honour to be Desired - GN 18+ [MDNI] afab! ver. | amab! ver. A continuation of the events in which your beloved acolytes worship and adore you, just as you've fantasised.

[angelfleurry]

Hello!

I really liked your Shuichi/Ishimaru “discovering they had feelings” request, and I was wondering if may request one faith Mukuro Ikusaba (assuming you write for her, I didn’t see her in the blacklist but idk)

Mukuro Ikusaba Realising She Has Feelings!!:

Thank you so much for requesting, Anon!! I’m not the best at writing for Mukuro, so I hope I did okay! But I'm glad you asked for her, I enjoyed writing what I did, and I hope you like what I've come up with!

Sorry about the lack of info on the blacklist, by time this request has been uploaded I have edited it slightly! I wrote it late last night so I didn’t completely clarify! Have a wonderful day <3

~

♡ Is very good at hiding her realisation.

♡ Continues to act the same around you; a cold indifference that you never quite know how to interpret.

♡ On the inside, though, she is A MESS.

♡ Definitely protective of you, but from a subtle angle.

♡ What I mean by that is that she observes you from afar, never quite close enough for you to notice, but close enough that she can see all that’s occurring. (In an appropriate fashion, of course.)

♡ She definitely feels somewhat invasive when she does this, but she doesn’t know what to do with herself when it comes to you!

♡ Frequently checks your socials.

♡ Seeing you makes her feel rather safe and warm, even if barely any words are shared, and while she’s very unsure as to why specifically YOU make her feel so warm; she’s not complaining.

♡ Mukuro was rather fond of you to begin with, which did surprise her. She doesn’t really engage much with people, so when she realised how relieved she felt when she saw you, she knew something was up.

♡ Is unsure of whether or not she should talk about her feelings.

♡ She lets them settle, but it’s such a frustrating experience for her.

♡ Ends up being in her head quite a bit, constantly zoning out and mishearing conversations.

♡ Wants to spend more time with you; in fact, she CRAVES it, but she’s too nervous to even bring it up.

♡ Loves your company regardless though. Whether it be a text message or even catching a glimpse of you in the world, just a moment of you makes her feel so alive.

♡ It also makes her face go insanely red, and it definitely makes her legs buckle.

♡ She forgets to breathe when she sees you and, if Junko happens to be present, then she absolutely will be made fun of for it.

♡ Gradually, I imagine Mukuro would start to get softer with you; breaking that coldness she has. She’s not going to be bubbly, no, but she will give you a small smile and start engaging with you a lot more. In a quiet way though.

♡ What I mean by “quiet” is that in social situations she will gravitate towards you, sticking by you, while still maintaining that reserved mystery about her. She’ll express genuine curiosity about your life, or week, just general checking-in’s. She shows 100% attention when you talk, listening to every word you say.

♡ Even when you initiate conversation, she will be there for all of it. She genuinely adores you.

♡ Gets all bashful when you ask about her!

♡ Even so, despite her newfound affection towards you, it is still not wildly obvious she feels for you. To a majority of people, it just appears that she gets along best with you, that you’re the person aside from Junko that she doesn’t mind talking to. Nothing more, nothing less. They don’t suspect a thing.

♡ But we know it’s so much more.

♡ Thinks of you before she goes to sleep at night, hoping you’re resting well.

♡ When doing military practices and such, if Mukuro just so happens to do an excellent job (which, she’s the Ultimate Soldier, of course she does a good job), she imagines how amazing it would be if you were there to see her thrive. She imagines you cheering her on, and it makes her so very motivated! She WANTS to continue excelling at what she does, she wants to keep being present, she wants to exist for you!

♡ Realises how good she would be at protecting you, which makes her feel so proud.

♡ Then she gets all flustered at the way she’s thinking, somewhat embarrassed of herself, probably cringing.

♡ But not cringing at you, just at how soft she’s getting towards you!

♡ She loves you so very much, but she’s so uncertain of what to do!

♡ She intends to keep it to herself, but eventually she realises she’s going to have to talk to you about it!

♡ It makes her want to bash her head into a wall, but also makes her feel new wholesome branches of emotions she didn’t quite know existed.

♡ Somebody help her lungs please, she can’t keep forgetting to breathe!

[mihai-florescu]

Taking this as opportunity to ask what in the world mhyk is about all I know is there is a guy and he is ourple and you like him please enlighten me (when you have the energy to) so I will in the future know what you are talking about in more comprehensive ways

Yayayay ok so mahoyaku is actually an isekai game where mc, named akira (you can choose whether you want them to be a guy or a girl), gets summoned as a sage to another world. The sage is in charge of and helps 20 wizards tasked to protect the world by fighting the moon, which attacks every year. The world is made up of 5 countries, each with distinct characteristics, and the wizards hailing from those countries resemble their country personality wise. The recent moon attack is worse than usual, killing half of the prior wizards, injuring the rest and setting the world out of order (which the chosen wizards then travel to help fix and build positive reputations in the people's eyes).

Mahoyaku to me so far is an amalgamation of fairytales and stories, which you can tell from the characters' names themselves in the first place. Further smarter posts and analysis will come after i read every main story and anniversary story, for now i just have certain feelings and impressions... Murr definitely knew more about the nature of their world im so sure of it. And i suspect the moon is very much sentient... but thats just a theory. A game theory.

Anyway. Murr! I think you'd adore him too... he got his soul shattered by the moon^_^ he's also in love with the moon, the one that attacks the world every year. He is, was, is a genius, always seeking fascinating things. A lot of various plot points and events go back to his meddling, i think you'd like him in the same way you like eichi for his indispensable role to the story's existence. At least that's part of why i like him. The other part is that he's an annoying kitty cat. Annoying to others, not to me. He could never be annoying to me...

Let's seee i think you'd find murr and shylock's relationship just as fascinating as i do. The love & hate, the power dynamics, shylock's devotion to building murr back up to his former self by piecing together his soul again, complete with reraising him back into a person, his own desires and ways becoming part of this new murr... nature vs nurture babyy. At once missing the old murr, loathing him, wanting him back, living with the new one who professes his love for shylock when asked, "what i hate the most about him is that he knows i love him"... it's a lot and i think you'd have a field day with these 2:)

As for other characters... i think you'd like revgumi too. Faust, figaro, lennox. I do suspect you'd like figaro the most... maybe. Im a faust girlie, but this won't mean anything to you. The tldr of the revolution is that faust and alec were childhood friends, believed in wizards and humans working together, and fought to establish the central country. Figaro became faust's magic mentor, and lennox became faust's personal attendant in that period. But alec starts doubting wizards eventually, and sentences his old friend to be burned at the stake. Faust never believed he'd go through with it so he didnt try to escape, not even when lennox wanted to help him... and all of this is kept hidden from the history books... figaro, who had envisioned a bright future with faust as his apprentice leaves seeing that faust will always choose alec first even when alec is literally killing him, faust disappears, becoming a hermit curseworker, and lennox seeks to find faust again for centuries, eventually becoming a sheppard in the south. His magical item is still that key to faust's prison cell... and through fate they all meet again as sage's wizards. Well, lennox and faust actually had quite a peaceful life in the south for a while before they get summoned, it makes me think of how bittersweet it mustve been at first that both people who wouldve liked for faust to be there with them were reunited, without faust...

Okayy i think i yapped enough. Im having a lot of fun exploring this world and its characters, there are plenty of interesting locations and npcs to make it rich and vibrant. Id say overall if there was one thing that stands out to me in all these stories is that love and grief are 2 sides of the same coin. And something something the fear of being loved, the uncertainty and mortifying ordeal of baring your soul and tying yourself to another, in this world where you're immortal and have seen countless people come and go. Here, a wizard's promise is a very big commitment, failing to fulfill it leads to losing one's magic. There's such a scenario waiting to happen to mithra, who promised tiletta to protect her kids, all while the youngest is fated to kill every southern wizard, which would include his brother. It's a losing game for mithra whether the prophecy comes true or he is killed before... Fate is also quite a big theme. I hope i managed to make you curious but also explain enough :)

[atopearth]

Norn9: Last Era Part 2 - Heishi Otomaru Route

It's sweet to see Nanami so genuinely smile while playing cards with Heishi and Itsuki, it's mainly because of how cheerful Heishi is and I always think his influence is good for her. I still feel sorry for them that they usually have to play all night because Heishi refuses to stop playing until he wins though lmao. Akito is right though, "trusting" someone when you don't know them isn't real trust because what you trust isn't the person themselves but instead you are trusting something akin to your own beliefs or intuition. You trust that all people are good, you don't want to suspect people, you trust in your belief that others wouldn't betray the people around them, the basis remains in yourself rather than on the person themselves. But I acknowledge why Heishi needs to do so, because if he distrusts people, it will affect the people around him, so rather than saying he doesn't want to distrust people, it's more like he feels like he can't distrust people. It feels so terrible to know that Heishi was disowned by his parents because he probably couldn't "hide" his emotions and his parents couldn't take it anymore, which is very saddening... The CG of Nanami smiling so happily was so cute, I loved it. HAHAHHA it's been a while since I played Norn9 so I don't remember everything but lmaooo at the hiyoko with a ghost cloth on top of it to scare Akito🤣🤣

It's sweet that Itsuki and Heishi have the same dream of hoping to have a family because they both lost theirs in different ways. I can understand Heishi's feelings of accepting that everyone gets betrayed and hated at some point, since you hope by accepting it earlier, it would hurt less. I think after reading this from Heishi's perspective, I have a bit of a better impression of Heishi's route. I remember not liking how they ran away and stuff but I think them running away is kinda cute in the sense that from the beginning, his grandpa and brother most likely wanted Heishi to run away from having to follow the World and instead be free, but Heishi chose to stay on the Norn to find some sort of purpose whilst being with others. Now that he's found someone he prioritises more than anything else and wants to spend the rest of his life with her, he has no need of staying on the Norn since he was never particularly attached to it, and he can finally live the life he wants, where he is free. I still dislike how he treats Itsuki for making him think about how to realistically escape though, Heishi is still childish after all. Senri cheering Heishi up and giving him advice is so surprising but cute. I liked how he told Heishi to focus and think about Nanami's feelings because that's what's most important.

Awww starting off Concerto with Heishi and Nanami riding a bike running away from people is so cute, I love the CG. Omgg the heroines' portraits have their eyes and mouths move now, how cool! Lmaoo at how Heishi's performance earned him good fortune with them ending up with a sack of rice for free, right when they were saying they needed to save money too🤣 It's crazy that the people who wanted the Reset to happen actually want to kill Heishi and Nanami for running away and making it impossible but I guess it's understandable because they probably need to kill them considering they still have their powers. I love how happy and positive Heishi can be in any situation though, it always feels like an adventure with him. I really love how Heishi always expresses how much he loves and appreciates Nanami, it's so sweet. It's so adorable how Nanami misses out on sleep because she loves watching Heishi's sleeping face hahaha. They are both so cute.

It was so nice to hear Heishi talk more about his grandpa and Seiji. It was hilarious to know that not only is Seiji good at the flute but also good enough in fights to take out a group of bandits and even have them want to recruit him🤣 I feel like I can see why Heishi is the way he is hahaha! Buying dried sardines for a gift is pretty cute, and yes I agree with Heishi that if I was a bandit, I would definitely kidnap Nanami! Anyway, what I loved was how excited Heishi was to see his troupe when he recognised them with his powers, he must have missed them very much. Nanami was so anxious about getting Heishi's grandfather's approval, but really, her being herself and being determined to protect him and allow him to express his emotions without feeling like he has to force himself to hide them is what his grandfather wants the most for Heishi. It was so sweet when he told Nanami he wasn't going to die before seeing her and Heishi's children haha, 100% approval there. I mean, I really enjoyed Sunburst but why didn't they have a CG of the photo that was taken of Heishi and Nanami that won the one million yen for them to fix the bridge for everyone to cross?! I really wanted to see them smiling happily under the stars. I mean the CGs are great but I wanted to see it~

I expected the person who pays for Heishi's photos to be from the island but I'm not sure who Yahiro is? Is he actually someone who supports espers living their own lives and doesn't care about the Reset? It's so like Heishi to stay in a town that's gloomy because he wants to do his best to lift their spirits back up. Dudeee, Seiji is hot! I have to agree with Seiji though, if I was a villager, I definitely wouldn't be interested in listening to music when I'm thinking about how we might survive the next day after burning all those plants but I do admit that at times of hardship, sometimes music does help people so I can't fault Heishi for wanting to still try. It's difficult when you understand both sides. The villagers are obviously not in the mood for music, but Heishi thinks that the only thing he can provide is his music and wants to do his best to convey his feelings to them even if hurts him in the process with their rejection. I'm so happy that Nanami is ready to support him no matter what. I love how she told him that she'll always be supporting him from behind so he just needs to keep looking ahead, because it's true, they're perfect for each other in that way with Heishi charging ahead leading them and Nanami supporting him on the side to help him pave the way. I love how even though he got hurt, she didn't tell him to leave and instead told him that if he wants to leave, she'll go with him, but if he doesn't, she'll be there to support him.

I like how even the villagers are just exasperated with Heishi, especially when he just randomly proposed to Nanami and said they should hold their wedding at the church they're fixing lol! I mean, I thought Seiji was Yahiro and that he was the one giving Heishi and Nanami money for their photos but I thought nah since how could he come here from the island so fast, but I guess not! Maybe the island is closer than expected haha. I'm glad to see that Yahiro didn't need to give up his persona and feelings as Seiji because you could tell how much he cherished it. I wonder if the dead esper Motohisa refers to as important was from back in the day or something and that was what caused him to make some sort of mistake that people on the island view him negatively for? Anyway, seeing the villagers work hard and fix the church together was nice, also great to see the background with the church actually change, that was a nice touch. Even though churches don't symbolise much to me anymore, I really liked how Nanami and Heishi could understand in their own way that even if it didn't necessarily have anything to do with religion, it was an important place because it was able to bring solace and hope to the people who visited. I liked ending where Yahiro was able to see their wedding photo, very cute.

Overall, I did Heishi first because I wasn't the biggest fan of his route in the first game but I honestly really enjoyed his route here! I love watching Heishi live life to the fullest so seeing him help one person after another and them in turn giving him something in return was just so sweet and funny. But what I loved the most was getting to see Heishi reunite with his grandpa and Seiji. I love how we got to see how special they were to each other respectively and that even if apart, you could tell how much they cherished each other. It was sad to see Heishi dejected when they first visited that town but I loved how no one could escape what a ball of happiness this guy is, everyone ends up warming up to him and smiling and really just appreciating life for what it is. I guess that's what I enjoy about this story - you can really see how much Heishi appreciates his life and all the people he's met and how genuinely he loves and cares for every single person regardless of how well he knows them. He cherishes each person he has met and sincerely wishes the best for everyone, it's so sweet and I loved how this route showcased all his good points and how much Nanami has grown as well. I loved how she could so honestly voice her love and enduring support for Heishi and to stand beside him. It was really heartwarming to watch over how far they've come in believing in themselves and each other. I wish we got to see them have a kid to show grandpa though haha!

[got-into-worm-by-mistake]

Arc 10, Reflections

Eh.

Arc 10 is sorta... there?

Like, it's got some highlights and it serves some useful purposes, but I'll admit it's not really standout. Too much of it is consumed by the fight, and I admit it was hard to actually enjoy the fight because I kept reading it looking for the why of it. The 'why' are they doing this fight thing.

What were they after, etc - didn't get really revealed until after, and so that kind of detracted from reading the fight itself.

Interludes 10 and 10.5 were the highlight, getting to see the inside of Alec's twisted but also relatable mind, the gut-wrenching horror but also the 'it's funny as fuck' elements of what happens with Sophia under Regent's grip -

Getting the reveal that Dragon is an AI is quite cool, as well as another look at Armsy and Dragon's almost adorable interactions. A key step on the road to Amy's final dissolution, even if we don't know it yet as a proverbial blind reader.

I hear a lot that people drop worm 'around Leviathan' and I would imagine Arc 10 here is the tail end of that 'around Leviathan' dropping.

Dropping in Arc 6 - Taylor is solidified as a villain

Dropping in arc 7 - nothing about Arc 7 stands out as a specific reason to drop

Dropping in arc 8 - End of Taylor's even slightest prospects to be a hero, the way Leviathan is a huge sea-change from the street-level stuff that might have kept people in at first

Dropping in arc 9 - the city's borderline post-apocalyptic nature is gonna fuck with a lot of people

Dropping in arc 10 - the sudden reveal that an effective 'end of the world' scenario is coming which... (Honestly, explain to me how Dinah's percentages power lets her get all that? I'm confused. Someone really needs to detail how that all works. Does Dinah get an Interlude?)

Like, Arc 10 is where the biggest element of the story is introduced, and yet, it's gonna be a huge change and a long payoff. I can see a lot of people who may have been on the fence the last few arcs going 'okay, fuck this shit I'm out'

(can someone explain to me why it's now impossible to find a gif that actually has the words you type into gifsearch? It used to actually be possible to find the actual gif, because yes, it exists I've fucking seen it. God I hate tumblr so much sometimes)

I have to think most people who made it past Arc 10 would make it deep into the s9 arc, probably at the hopes of getting out the other end to a better ending but of course NOPE (which is probably when another migration of 'fuck this shit I'm out' hits for reader s), but maybe a bit during the darkest parts in like, 14 and 15. Who knows. There's no good way to track it.

Anyway, so... Arc 10 is... it's solid. It's as good as the rest of Worm, but it doesn't stand out.

For a lot of people, the whole S9 arc from 11-15 is supposed to be very very good. I'm certainly gonna be turning it over in my head a lot as I read it, but I suspect I'm not going to enjoy it, per se.

It'll be good in the sense of well written, if only in certain senses, but I am almost certain to get very tired of Jack Slash very quickly. By all evidence he's exactly the sort of character I get exasperated and annoyed with at rapid speeds, and under normal circumstances, he'd make reading through the whole arc very hard, I imagine.

I also intend to check the earliest possible versions on the wayback machine of certain ah... high intensity chapters, as it were, because I genuinely don't trust Wildbow to have made some.... tweaks, since he started Ward. Which is probably paranoid and stupid of me, but... :shrug:

[booksandwords]

All Systems Red by Martha Wells

Series: The Murderbot Diaries, #1 Read time: 1 Day Rating: 5/5

The quote: Granted, I liked the imaginary people on the entertainment feed way more than I liked real ones, but you can’t have one without the other. — Murderbot

Oh Murderbot... you are definitely something and I feel for you. This book feels like it can be used as a metaphor for LGBTQ identities. There are some aspects of the story that feel very aroace. Murderbot doesn't talk about their feelings but you can see the coding coming through. They are part human, and part bot but it's not a simple 50/50 split, one of their very bot traits is their lack of sexual organs. "I don’t have any gender or sex-related parts (if a construct has those you’re a sexbot in a brothel, not a murderbot) so maybe that’s why I find sex scenes boring. Though I think that even if I did have sex-related parts I would find them boring." (Murderbot). I honestly think quite a lot of people with LGBTQ identities may relate to this on some level. Oh and bonus point they are also coded autistic and in a semi-flirtatious, semi-argumentative relationship with an asshole AI called ART.

All Systems Red is wonderful and I can see where its popularity comes from and it is deserving of the praise it has received. It may be a short work but it is brilliantly written. Readable and engaging with a variety of enjoyable characters and a promise of great lore. The self-contained story and the way in which it is framed are so very well done. Murderbot themselves makes you care and is well developed they grow over time even if it is a novella. The ending becomes that growth honours it. I really do adore the framing of All Systems Red, and I would suspect The Murderbot Diaries more widely. The whole book is a message to a single character, in this case, Dr Mensah, I'm guessing the character may change from book to book as Murderbot moves through the universe.

This is a book with some fantastic quotes in it. I want to share them. All quotes are by Murderbot. • With my cracked governor there was nothing to stop me, but not letting anybody, especially the people who held my contract, know that I was a free agent was kind of important. Like, not having my organic components destroyed and the rest of me cut up for parts important. — The tracked chip is how Murderbot is how they are sentient. I like this total sense of self and the way Wells jas phrased it. I can hear it. • The sense of urgency just wasn’t there. Also, you may have noticed, I don’t care. — Even when Murderbot does care they are a pessimist. Honestly, it is kinda me. Sorta. The lack of urgency is in Murderbot wanting to do their job. • Yes, talk to Murderbot about its feelings. The idea was so painful I dropped to 97 percent efficiency. — Love the computer terminology used throughout this, you are never given the option or opportunity to forget that Murderbot is a bot. Even with their name there are things like how they track time and their hobbies that are so tech. • This is why I didn’t want to come. I’ve got four perfectly good humans here and I didn’t want them to get killed by whatever took out DeltFall. It’s not like I cared about them personally, but it would look bad on my record, and my record was already pretty terrible. — For a character that doesn't care about people, who is largely apathetic at times, it is interesting to watch the changes to Murderbot as time goes on as the develop some kind of bond with their humans. • And in their corner all they had was Murderbot, who just wanted everyone to shut up and leave it alone so it could watch the entertainment feed all day. — Tell me this isn't totally accurate at times? • I hate having emotions about reality; I’d much rather have them about Sanctuary Moon. — Now this is a mood. Sanctuary Moon is Murderbot's favourite TV show/ net drama. And oh I emotions about tv are so much easier to deal with.

I appreciate the world that Martha Wells has started building here. The follow-up answers a question posed in this piece. It allows for more exploration of the world Wells has created for Muderbot, now that the basic premise and introductions have been established.

Also total respect to @alex-van-gore​ for their fantastic art of Murderbot. The tag is well work checking out.

[tangleweave]

@brooklynislandgirl (continued from xx)

On a quick head toss from Phil, Fitz shuffles out of the observation room as quickly as his feet will carry him, wishing no more to be in Beth's range of awareness than he would wish to be within the sphere of influence of any of her kin. He's never been privy to all the things she can do, most certainly not her shapechanging capability, and Phil has no intention of speaking about her talents to anyone who needs not know. Beth can do things that most people can't… and her medical and diagnostic skills are world-class.

He knows to whom she would offer much of the credit. Perhaps, in some other world, it would have been her mentor receiving an offer to come work for SHIELD… but he has his own responsibilities to tend to. And a cursory analysis would demonstrate beyond a shadow of any reasonable doubt that Beth has long sought a way to make a difference without making too much noise. The expression on her face had made it clear SHIELD would never have been at the top of any list of choices for career path… but she'd been put in the unique position of having been approached nonetheless.

Phil knows she suspects it is her supernatural abilities, more than her trained talents, which he'd intended to employ from the outset. He's never told her that he'd not known of them until the de facto job interview, partly because there's no advantage to admitting a gap in SHIELD's knowledge and partly because he doubts she would believe him even if he did. Perhaps it's worth talking to her about anyway…

But not now.

He repositions himself, standing at rest while Beth takes up the tablet on her side of the glass and graces the alien warrior with an exhausted greeting Phil would have otherwise thought she'd reserve for him and the team. It doesn't pain him to make the observation that it's no secret where she would rather be now, but it's a moment of surprise, followed by a momentary sense of… emptiness. He can't quite put his finger on it, but in a few hours, when he retires to his office and pours a shot of bourbon following an unusually hectic day, he'll have a spark of realization what it was that pressed its thumb on the scale on the breath of Beth's whisper.

The team is the family he chose. And the adoration she now reserves for Beta Ray Bill says that she's chosen him for her own.

The Korbinite's rumbling baritone buzzes the tablet in Beth's hands as his voice issues from it, the unique timbre of All-Speech burrowing past her auditory processing difficulties to find a nest seemingly directly in the center of her heart. And she isn't the only one privy to the sound or the effect it has. Encountering Asgardians had been one matter -- they've been here, they're versed in Earth linguistics, their skills and technologies are often indistinguishable from magic so it's reasonable to assume they have some sort of advanced translation matrix in play -- but to hear what seems perfect (if a little old-fashioned) English coming from that face is something quite different to Phil.

"I am likewise very pleased and relieved to see you. Your absence from these halls is keenly felt by both myself and Skutt. I tread the decks with caution, as though in fear of finding you suddenly underfoot." A moment's hesitation. "I am well, or so I think. When Agent Brand explained your decontamination protocols, I instructed Skutt to engage similar protocols here so there would be no fear of mingling with your people… or of your safe return, should you ever wish to visit."

And then, a tilt of the head… apparently a universal gesture of confusion. "Defensive measures? No, there has been neither threat nor mention of such deployment. The agents with whom I have spoken have not indicated distrust… they have seemed to accept that we are allies in the defense of your world."

Bill leans forward now, shifting closer to the screen. "Beth. You said 'yet'. Do you have reason to believe we would be threatened?" His head tilts forward, the top of his muzzle occupying fully the lower half of the tablet. "Is there danger impending? Are you under threat?"

[harmonicsys]

Low Power Condition

A Witch finds her magic failing and must turn to her dolls for an answer. CW: mild threats, D/s themes, dissocation/plurality

"Do you know why I've gathered you all here today?" the Witch began, a menacing look in her face. She looked her cadre of dolls up and down. "Something is wrong, and I suspect one of you is doing it."

The Witch continued, "For three weeks now, my power keeps fizzling out. Runes rendered ineffective, spells unable to be completed, rituals ending in emptiness."

The dolls glanced at each other anxiously. Not one seemed to want to respond.

"Well? Don't make me punish all of you for the failings of one!" bellowed the Witch.

One doll had a tear in its eye and started speaking, "Miss… This one doesn't mean to, …" before trailing off.

"You! Stay right where you are; the rest of you can leave," replied the Witch.

One by one the dolls filed out, until one lone doll remained, trembling slightly, eyes downturned, breathing shallow.

The Witch looked sternly at the remaining doll and said, more softly, "You need to tell me what's going on. Right now."

"This one isn't sure… there's this cloudiness, a sense of commotion in its mind, and…" the doll mumbled.

"Bare yourself to me," came the command.

The doll moved to start removing its adorable outfit---

"No. Not that." The Witch clarified, "You know what I mean. Your mind isn't bared to me, and I don't think it's been for some time."

She stepped towards the doll and gently laid her hand on its hand. "Relax," said the Witch, "and let me see your truth."

The doll started to relax… The Witch's mouth gaped open in amazement.

"You did not disclose this to me, when you agreed to disclose everything and be known fully by me, in order to become one of my dolls."

"This one is sorry, there was some magic at play. This one couldn't seem to speak about it."

The Witch looked slightly puzzled, her brow furrowed. "I've never myself encountered this with a doll before, but I've heard of it. You have another self, and the other self… has magic."

"This one was vaguely aware of that situation, but couldn't seem to disclose it before." The doll began crying hard, managing to say in between gasps, "This one is so sorry, please do not punish it, there was magic, and, and---"

"Silence! Be Still, little one," came the stern voice. "There is a way out of this mess yet. But I need to speak to the one with magic."

The doll blinked its eyes several times, then stood up very straight. "What do you want?" came a strange voice.

The Witch, "Who are you, and why are you in my doll?"

The voice replied, "I am Agatha, the Witch of the Nine Runes. And you must be Mira, the other Witch." Agatha continued, "I was summoned into this doll many years ago, when it was still only a doll on the outside, before you transformed its outsides. It cried out with all its being for a Witch and had found none to answer its call, until it pulled me back to the living world."

Mira's eyes grew wide and she replied, slightly shaken, "This would explain a lot. This doll has always given a bit of trouble. But my magic only started to fizzle out recently, which I don't understand."

Agatha spoke, "When you transformed this doll's body, I went dormant." She continued, her strange voice still emanating from the doll's mouth, "But I had too much power in my old life to stay dormant forever in the mind of this doll. Once I'd found the world of the living again, I couldn't so easily leave a second time."

Mira frowned. "Well, Agatha, I am friendly with other Witches and welcome you into my home, but I cannot work with the power drain caused by your return, which evidently caused the doll to have to hide its mind from me. I depend on my dolls' honesty for some of my power."

Agatha thought for a minute and offered, "Here's what I propose. You can set this doll free. Or, you can have this doll, and I will work with you on spellwork when our interests align, but I need my foothold in this world and my own doll for my own power."

Mira responded, "I make a promise to all my dolls that I will never abandon them, only setting them free if they desire it. So I will have to discuss it with this doll."

The doll blinked a few times, and a look of apprehension returned to its face. "Miss? What happened?"

"I know now about Agatha. Tell me, little one, why did you come to me, then?"

The doll looked around then spoke in a pleading voice, "Serving Agatha was so very hard, trying to share a body, and this one was so frustrated, hoping a Witch with her own body would help things."

Mira nodded. "I see. It was wrong to withhold that, but I won't punish you for it now. But I do need to know if you want to continue to serve me."

The doll seemed relieved. "This one would very much like to continue to, Miss!"

Mira looked it in the eyes. "Okay." She paused before speaking again, "Well, this arrangement could work, but we're going to need two things. First, a willingness from you to share your body with Agatha as needed. Second, Agatha has requested her own doll, for her own magic."

The doll looked a bit overwhelmed. "This one is willing to work with Agatha on sharing, as long as it can continue to serve you. But it cannot help with Miss Agatha's need for her own doll."

Mira called out, "Dolls! I want all of you back here."

The dolls quickly returned to the room.

"I have been afforded the opportunity to do ritual work that requires two Witches. But the second Witch is a spirit-form which resides in the head of this doll here," spoke Mira, gesturing to the doll in question.

She continued, "The second Witch needs her own doll."

An older doll, the oldest one in Mira's service, stepped forward. "Miss, this one would like more information about this arrangement."

Mira said, "It is the best way out of a quandary, but whichever doll volunteers --- if any --- will be under Agatha's service, not mine."

The older doll spoke, solemnly, "This one has been in your service for a long time and understands magic well. It had sensed Agatha's presence within these walls. It would like to do one final act of service to Miss by volunteering, so Miss may do rituals with a second Witch."

Mira took the older doll's hand. "If this is your choice, then I thank you for this final act of service. And I will give you over to serve Agatha, after I say goodbye to you properly."

The older doll nodded and looked longingly at Mira.

Mira lovingly ran her hands through the older doll's hair, slowly, gently and kissed it on the forehead. "For a few moments, be Still, one last time, for me."

And it was.

[panopticon-entertainment]

The Mile Man

Mile ∞ tells the story of an old woman, Eve, who cares for the freeway exit/entrance at the end of the world. From her daily routine to a gift from a god, Eve tells of the pieces of ∞ that led her to greatest accomplishment. The story is told in four parts: “The End of the World is a Freeway Exit.”, “The Last Rest Stop on Earth.”, “The Mile Man.”, and “I Am.”

Listen on Youtube & Spotify - https://youtu.be/2URUd8PeAjw?si=t6zP5z9BdChTIJ2y

___________________

“I have adored the Mile Man. He, though not my employer, was my supervisor. My delicacy. I asked him if I may grow the garden; he brought me seed and tools. When I paved the way for his Caravan, he always smiled to me.

Many years ago, in my garden, I installed a microphone. I often speak with the fleeing Travelers and loitering Jumpers, but my memory has slowed and dulled with the wrinkling of my skin—I needed aid to remember. I added transcribing to my nightly routine. It was not very long after the garden’s installation.

The Mile Man had the hardest job; he did so well. He transported so many who kicked and screamed against the beauty of the infinite exit. I hope he knows he was appreciated.

A couple years ago, I planted cameras in my garden too. I added watching to my Saturday routine. I have been much happier avoiding the city. Instead, I look at the pictures on my wall.

The Mile Man worked this interstate forever. He always knew what the Beyond had in store. I wondered, worried, which journey down I-∞ would be his last. I watched the horizon anxious for his Caravan. He always came back. I never suspected his last trip would be a return visit.

∞ learned that the Mile Man had not been emptying certain seats on his Caravan. The Mile Man had been amassing followers: worshippers. Travelers who had a love for the End, or an unsatisfied finale, or a seed of evil. 

Why did he not ask me?

Everything changed—my love, my devotion, the structure of the End of the World—when ∞ came in Heavenly Father’s Chariot.

The garden needed tending: I tended it. I did not always catch the Caravan on the horizon, and the Mile Man, and his empty vehicle, waited on the bridge I build.

The road was laid half; the Mile Man pulled in. I felt jealous; someone sat in his passenger seat.  I only noticed the death of the engine as the Chariot halted itself behind the Caravan on. My gawking alerted the Mile Man.

I could not help but stare for ∞ is breathtaking. ∞ is the most gorgeous creation of the Beyond. I could not have known the word beautiful before I met ∞. I felt I needed to bow so where I stood, I did. Her eyes are large; her iris and pupil are one: solid blue. Her sleek black hair is pulled tight to her scalp by a cloud. Studded infinity signs pierce her ears and along her lacrimal are tattoos of the same sign. Her lips plump and painted, or maybe naturally, blue. Her eyelids and cheeks sparkled; radiated.  Her shirt: a heart shape of sparkly blue that revealed her ribs and back. Perfectly shaped; perfectly muscular. Perfect. Impossible to describe. Her wrists adorned with bracelets. The back of her hoop skirt made of clouds. The front was only the wooden cage revealing her shirt a leotard. Blue ballet slipper laced to her knee. Her visible thighs tattooed. A snake curled around one; the Mile ∞ sign on the other. I think I ramble, but I want to record all of her. There are not enough words to describe her in a moment of emotion. To see her smile… oh my…

The Mile Man exited his vehicle with a cordial bow, an arm across his torso. He, a man who I admired, was nothing compared to her. He approached her as an equal. Her arms were crossed.

“Good day, ∞. Do the roses bloom today?”

“Oh, my most loyal, must you make me cross this bridge?” 

“You yourself made Forever temporary. Neither expected eternity for me to be on I-∞.”

∞ slid open the Caravan door. Inside sat three creatures more color than person.

“This is not progression. They are revolting.”

“Do not be so harsh; they were once your children.”

“I did not give you your gift to be used for Tragedy.”   

The Mile Man grabbed her hands and forced her to face him up and close, ““Listen! You cannot expect me to walk among gods and not fester with ambition!”

He pushed her feet a few steps and her against the Caravan’s walls. I wanted to see what they could do to each other. I ached to see how her perfect physicality and his gorgeous hands could work against each other what pent up passions they held. I ache to know how prior touches had been received.

“What gods do you walk among? Surely, not me.”

“I know that we are more.”

 “Patience would give you more. Forever progressed.”

“Forever is a babysitter.”

∞ pushed him away. “and you will be Nothing! Return down the beyond.”

“You shan’t make me,” The Mile Man returned to the van. He removed a trinket; he commanded his worshippers, “They are barely corporeal, and, soon, I will fall the same. Goodbye, ∞.”

“Enjoy what you have theifed from me.”

“Oh, I will, my Heavenly Mother.”

“I do hate when you call me so. We are equals. We always had been.”

“And now?”

“Now it is not so.”

“So, you are everything, and I am Nothing?”

He kissed her. She cut her hand.

“From now on, that is all you will ever be,” She smeared her blood across his face.

On foot, Nothing and his Worshippers walked into the world.

I wonder what is to come.

As ∞ watched his departure stolid and cross, I looked to my garden. I had considered it beautiful, but even the most beautiful rose could not come close to her.

I picked the most appealing fruit I could find, a pear, and as she felt her loss, I proffered it to her.

I gave her my condolences and offered her respite.

She must have been very overcome by the Mile Man’s departure for her offered smile was small. 

She said, “Thank you, gentle caretaker. I regret what you just witnessed.”

The kindest creature ate of my fruit. I stared after her chariot with the core in my palm. The seeds of it I planted.

So fair a creature aware of me! So perfect a person smiled at me. I barely folded the road before my time to leave. I hope the pear tree takes. An eternity of her gratitude in my garden!

I have combed the footage, slowed it, sped it, cherished it. I cannot unsee her. I have missed the passing Mimes tonight.

What if ∞ chose me?”

[padfootdaredmetoo]

Hello! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE your recent Peaky Blinders fic where Tommy and Lizzie adopt a teenager. You have such an amazing talent for capturing these characters!! If you are taking requests (if not, just ignore this), I would love to read more fics with this character! You are AMAZING, and thank you for sharing your talent with us!!! :)

Dear Anon,

This is a bit ridiculous but I kinda love the drama. Hope it makes you laugh. The next chapter will be a dinner party with Alfie and have some more Tommy & Lizzie healing because I can't help it. Thank you for writing in with kind words! I'm so happy you enjoy my work and I hope you enjoy this story too!

Warnings: Suspected pregnancy, periods, high emotions - Peaky Blinders does contain themes not suitable for folks under 18. Please protect yourself and be cautious of the content you consume.

Tommy had grounded you for the rest of the week-long vacation, which was a blessing in more ways than one. Events were pilled up this weekend and you were happier than ever to have a reason to stay in. 

Did it have something to do with Noah sneaking in most nights to sit with you and talk? Perhaps. Did your stomach burn with guilt every time he left as your parents came home screaming? Most certainly. 

No matter how much you adored Noah, you knew there was a thick divide being placed between you and your parents. A choice was resting on your shoulders and it was more pain than you could sort out on your own. 

You sat there commiserating at the table buttering a piece of toast as Lizzie entered the room. She sat in the chair across from you and lit a cigarette. In all the time you’d been here you’d never seen her look so miserable. Like her mind was a haunted house, playing cruel jokes on her while the oblivious world passed her by. She was fighting something, and the pain radiated into your bones much like the October winds. 

She and Tommy had been fighting on and off all weekend since the incident at the fair. Noah had offered countless ways to fix it, but somehow you knew that none of them would scratch the surface. You didn't really understand what had made him so angry at you or Lizzie. 

Your stomach dropped at the thought of him being unable to forgive you. Suddenly you needed to be back in the safety of your room immediately. 

“I’m going back to bed.” You said weakly. You scurried out of the room before she could respond. You got under the covers of your bed and rolled on your side wishing the anxiety would wash off. Intrusive thoughts of the harsh reality you would face outside the comfort of the life Tommy had given you started to eat away at your mind. How would you make it out there on your own? 

You spent most of the morning like this, eventually, you had to move to the bathroom floor as you  lost the contents of the small breakfast you’d consumed. 

Why this was all hitting you like a train became evident around 10:30. You got your period and decided that’s where the overwhelming feelings were coming from. 

The issues were very real though. You got yourself cleaned up and changed into your PJs, you doubted your presence would be missed. You lit the fireplace in your bedroom and climbed under the heavy quilts. Rest seemed to be the only rational thing to do. 

_______________________________

“Why did you say it then? You always do this! You're going to drag us all right back down to Watery Lane. Is that what you want Thomas?” 

“It’s not like I have a fucking choice in the matter, eh?! You think I want this for our family?!” 

“You -” 

There was a knock at the door and they both straightened up assuming it was you. Esme poked her head in the door of the kitchen taking in the scene. Broken plate on the floor, Lizzie’s makeup a mess, and Thomas looked like he’d just come back from another war. 

“Sorry to interrupt. Just came by to check on her” 

“She’s upstairs -” Tommy started before Lizzie cut him off. 

“Can you bring her something to eat, she must be starving by now.” Whatever they were working through Esme hoped that it would end soon, this was the worst she’d ever seen Lizzie. 

“Poor Lamb. Must be heartache. Couldn't manage breakfast that past few mornings I was by-” Esme froze on the spot realizing that this was probably not the best time or place to play connect the dots. 

Sick in the morning, not eating, flushed face, puffy. Fuck. 

She grabbed some sandwiches and a plate before hurrying into the hallway. She called Polly over before going into your room. 

She took in the warm temperature and saw you curled in on your side. 

“I brought you a sandwich.” 

“Thank you.” You said quietly, with no trace of your usual sunny nature. 

“Now enough of this storm cloud. Tell your Aunty what's wrong.” She sat on the floor near your head and kicked off her boots to warm her feet. 

“Will you and John adopt me if I agree to babysit?” 

“Don’t think they’d let you go, but I’d do just about anything for a built-in babysitter.” She joked before realizing you were serious. “Love, why on earth would I need to adopt you.” 

“They keep fighting and I know it's all my fault - I don’t know what to do about everything - I-” 

Esme looked at you as you burst into tears, her worst fears seeming more likely. 

“Hey it won’t be so bad once the shock wears off, I’m sure he’d marry you. I had my first babe when I was only a few years older than you, it’s not so scary?” 

“Woah - no” You shook your head frantically. “That involves - and I haven't - just no to all of it.” 

“Oh.” Well, what could have her bent out of shape? Esme thought as she ran her hand through her hair. 

“I’m losing both of them - It’s my fault what happened at the fair. He’s so angry with me. But I don't even know what I did wrong. Lizzie looks - God - It’s all my fault.” 

“No, love. It’s not like that at all.” She started to explain the recent business troubles when Tommy opened the door looking whiter than a sheet. 

________________________________________________

He was so tired of arguing. The more she got worked up the more he realized he could never make her happy. Old rivals showing up was hardly a part of his plan. She looked so worn out, all by his doing of course. 

Then there’s Noah sneaking in every night they're gone. 

All of it was too much, and yet he was very aware that there was something else Lizzie wasn't telling him. 

Another knock on the door caused them to sober up. 

“Is she alright?!” Polly said taking in the state of the two of them, looking worse for wear. Panic welled up inside her at the state you must be in.  

“What do you mean?” Lizzie asked. 

“Esme called saying she might be with child- where is she?! Polly stated urgently wanted to get to you immediately. 

He felt his blood pressure drop, and his limbs went cold despite moving faster than ever to find you. He heard Lizzie burst into tears and Polly shouting, neither of them came even close to priority. 

Opening your bedroom door you were balled up on your side and Esme was comforting you. 

“Out.” He said as calmly as possible. “Now.” Thankfully Esme didn’t argue, stepping past him out into the hallway. He shut the door and pushed down every bit of anger inside him.

“Dad, please! Don’t throw me out I’m sorry for what happened at the fair. I - I’m sorry.” You were crying too hard to speak as his arms came around you tightly. He didn't know what to do, he was overcome with the emotion that he’d failed as a parent as you looked terrified of him. 

After a few moments, you calmed down enough to speak. 

“You and Mum are always fighting now. I know it's because of me. Esme said she’ll take me if it's too upsetting for you.” 

“You’ve never upset me.” He said absently, trying to understand everything. 

“Well, then just tell me what I’ve done wrong so I can fucking fix it.” You snapped angrily. He was tempted to put you in your place, but then he watched your face twist into regret. 

“Sorry I’m on my period” you let out a frustrated sigh. “the two of you don't make any sense to me. I just need to know why your mad so I can fix it.” you started to cry again and he started laughing. 

“You think this is funny?!” You growled, but the relief he felt from your words was untouchable. 

“Sorry, love.” But he kept laughing again, pulling you close. He made the careful decision to shield you from his side of the situation. “Business is bad right now. Like how it used to be, Your mother’s mad, my hands are tied.” He sighed, relaxing in the warm space. “Her and I have our own problems to revisit right now.”

“So none of this has to do with me.” 

“No. However, if I catch that boy climbing in through that window again I’ll kill him.” He felt the fear run through your body, and he remembered how scared he’d made you. “If Noah wants to come over he can use the front door.” 

“Really!?” 

“To stay in the living room, or the sitting room, or the kitchen.” 

“What about the library?” 

“Only if I’m there.” He said sternly thinking of all the dark corners. 

“Can Alfie come?” You pushed. 

“No.” He said with more emotion than he intended. 

“Please, just for dinner?” 

“Fine. One dinner. Once things get sorted out yeah?”

“Can I help? I could try and -”’ 

“No. I need you to just stay a kid as long as possible, alright?” He looked at you for a long moment before you understood what he was saying. 

“That won’t be difficult.” You nodded. He prayed that you were right. 

“Now your mother’s probably needing a hug right about now.” He gave you one last squeeze and then you grabbed your house coat before following him downstairs. 

Lizzie was an absolute mess. Esme took Polly out of the study and you sat next to her giving her a hug. She held onto you tighter than ever.

“Hey, dad said he’ll figure everything out.” You comforted. “I’m sure Alfie and Noah would help too.” 

“He really loves you, ya know?” She sobered up a bit and you decided that must be the problem. “All I ever hear about is “Be more like your mother.” Never Grace, or Polly. Always you. I thought you were both mad about the fair, I didn't realize so much other stuff was going on.” 

“I’m pregnant.” She said in a hazy tone. 

“Whoah.” you were at a loss of words. Your initial reaction was to cry in joy before you realized this was the final layer of fog clouding the arguments between her and Tommy. She wasn't worried about business, or Noah, she was worried about what happened to Ruby. 

“Yeah.” She said solemnly. “I don't know if I -” 

“You can. Don’t even think for a second you can’t. I’ll be here to help, we all will be. It won’t be like last time.” She gave you a nod. “You should tell dad.” 

She nodded at you again. You kissed her cheek before getting up and leaving the room. You ran to the kitchen and pulled him into the hallway. 

“She’s pregnant. She is scared about business because she wants to know if things will be stable. She’s afraid of what happened last time.” You explained to him. “She’s also a mess of chemicals and hormones so just, she’s a bit, ya know.”  

He just stood there looking at you. “Just go easy on her, act surprised, don't tell her I told you.” 

“She said all that?” 

“Well no, but I can tell.” 

He let out a long sigh. “Go sit with Polly.” 

_______________________________________________

This time he didn’t wait for her to speak, he just sat close to her grabbing her hand.

“I’m pregnant.” She whispered. “Not her.” 

“I thought I was going to die.” he said honestly, enjoying the way her mouth turned up. “The whole time she thought I was angry about Noah. When Polly said that she was pregnant I swear my whole life flashed before me.” 

“Is that so? And what about now.” 

“Well, I’ll sort this thing out with the Italians over the next couple of weeks. Nothing will change around here, business is still 100% clean. Just have to clean up this mess before it festers. But I know she’ll be all over you to help. Might take her away from all that time spent pining. All in all, I just want you to know that I’m happy. Everything else will fall into place. No need to worry about anything, I’ll handle it.” He said quickly. 

“She tell you to say all that in the hallway?” His first instinct was to be defensive but the flicker of amusement in her eyes was enough for him to swallow his pride.

“It’s true so does it matter?” He said hoping she knew deep down that he would always look after her. 

“No. S’long as it’s true.” She kissed him and he felt more at peace than he had in weeks. Leaning into her embrace he forced himself to settle down. “I’m scared Thomas.” The look on her face broke him. 

“I’ll always keep you safe. I fucked up in the past. Please trust that I’ll do right by you this time.” 

She responded by kissing him again, this time it was even harder to push her off. 

“Got people in the other room, love.” He said holding her tightly. “We should go make sure she’s alright. Been through a lot today.” He ran his hand over her stomach. 

“All of us have been through a lot today.” She agreed. He was amazed at how she seemed to carry all that stress and still look so beautiful. 

They entered the kitchen and relaxed. Hearing you laugh made his heart swell, and Lizzie was finally engaging with the world again. His girls were happy, so he could be happy. 

The phone rang interrupting one of her stories and he groaned as she flew out of the kitchen to grab it. 

“That bloody boy.” He scolded as everyone laughed. 

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Coming up next: Alfie might need to help with the Italians, and Tommy did agree to a dinner party that may be even more drama-filled than this. 

This might be the most dramatic thing I’ve written, felt a bit more like a bad sitcom, but hopefully, it makes you laugh!