#yes the horrid tom is that one who else would it be

[mysticficti0n]

hey doll can you do fem!reader dating Tom and she's a model and she gets asked to do a lingerie shoot and she's questioning to do it or not and Tom convinces her with little flirty comments and then on the day he comes to pick her up and she's still posing in this black lacy stuff on a bed and he's watching until she notices and he asks if they can take the pieces home????

love you 🤭

girl yes yes yes

∞༺♥༻✧✧༺♥༻∞　　∞༺♥༻✧✧༺♥༻∞　

rip it off

warnings- flirty, angst??, model!gf+TomK

words- 744

"okay thank you- bye" I cut the call and looked to see Tom giving me a questionable look "I've been asked to do a 'fall lingerie' shoot next Wednesday, but I don't know" yes I model but usually fully clothed, I'm not very confident about every inch of my body and Tom knew that "what if I just look like a idiot?"

"babe you wont look like an idiot, I've seen you In lingerie thousands of times and every time It happens oddly enough it ends up with you in my bed and that on the floor" he smiled moving from his place on the sofa to be closer to me "plus Y/n you are sexy as fuck, men are lucky to even look at you and I'm the luckiest because I get to come home to you and do this" he pressed his lips to mine and I couldn't back away from a kiss from Tom, who could?

"what If my dad see's it? god that also means my horrid step-mom too!" I cringed at the thought of those two seeing me nearly naked, dad hadn't been a large part of my life until I started gather fame at 16 for acting in adverts, then dating Tom in one of the most famous bands in Germany and now a world-known model

"so what of they see it? he has a gorgeous daughter who has a successful career unlike him who owned a car company that went bump and his wife looks like Jabba the hut so you have nothing to worry about" I laughed pressing a kiss to his cheek "I'm not wrong- but anyways I think you should do it babe I mean you're the fucking most beautiful girl I've ever seen and I know everyone else would agree"

"fine I'll do it, and thank you you're such a sweetheart when you want to be" I drew circled on his palm seeing him let a small laugh out

"yeah wait till I come see you on Wednesday"

∞༺♥༻✧✧༺♥༻∞　　∞༺♥༻✧✧༺♥༻∞

"thats it Y/n push that hip out hun" I was stood in a make-shift door frame with bright white lights making my skin glow while wrapped in a night black lacy piece "okay I think we need you on that bed, and how good can you arch?" I felt a blush come to my face as we walked to the bed

"pretty well..." I climbed onto the plush fabric and watched as they fixed the camera onto me "where do you want me to look? camera or just off it?" I asked Jenna who stood smiling at me

"erm look to the camera and then we can try other stuff but doll you look stunning right now- so ready?" I nodded sliding down the bed and pushing my ass up as much as I could and stared into the lens, the camera clicked a few times and people switched lighting and my make-up until I herd a familiar wolf whistle fill the room, I looked over to where Jenna and the editor were sat and saw in the shadow behind them was Tom sucking his lip, I blew him a kiss and carried on with my shoot, I found myself pushing my positions more as his eyes laid upon me

"okay can we get one of you in the shower? but change into that baby pink set first and Pablo will come lighten your make up because we want cutie in the shower vibe okay?" Salma rubbed my shoulder letting me off set to change, I walked to Tom who sat playing his lip pricing, I purposefully swayed my hips a little more and let a salutary smile come on my face

"afternoon" I hummed feeling his hands immediately go around my waist "you okay?" he stood towering over me pressing a kiss to my forehead

"I'm amazing" his eyes drew narrower, he lowered his head so his mouth was next to my ear "need some help getting this off my love?" his tone sent shivers down my body and all I could do was nod, his hand slipped down to the globe of my ass giving it a quick squeeze before looking to Jenna who had a smirk along her lips "can we take these home?" Tom asked referring to the lingerie "and maybe some spares in case" I hit my boyfriends shoulder as a red shade covered my face

"damn Y/n didn't see you as a girl to have her clothes ripped off" she giggled winking at me

"right well I'll go change" I quickly walked to the backroom and I herd heavy steps follow behind me

"don't fuck for too long!" Jenna called as Tom shut the door after him

[oriley42]

BUCKLE IN, LOML, THIS IS GONNA BE A LONG ONE.

hi !! i'm bea, aka meekspeeks on AO3, and i have only recently managed to properly sink my teeth into House MD, being exam free and all. and, akin to any other Normal, Sane person, i immedietly went onto ao3 to cure my bone rattling depression by immersing myself in fics. any kind, people, any kind. and then i found yours.

and my GOD.

you, my dear, dear, sweet friend, are the best writer . ever, dare i say? i have downloaded your books onto my phone for easy reading when i'm... actually, when i'm doing anything. just woke up? ah, yes, the sound of birdsong and an oriley42 fic to sweeten the summer morning. about to go to bed? well, why not get comfy with an oriley42 classic. i highlight them. i seriously, seriously consider getting them tattooed to the inside of my eyelids. all of them. i am not kidding.

in fact, if i was a tech savvy bastard, which i am not (sometimes i Glance, i Peek, i even bloody Breathe in the direction of my ipad, and it restarts. same goes for my phone. and my computer), i would have made an entire new collection on my ao3 account, simply yet perfectly dubbed "oriley42: The Saga", and thus announced to the entirety of the internet my undying love for you, of which there is A LOT. you are amazing and sometimes i wonder if you're even real and not some kind of... demigod?

(i love your fics so much that i get a little e-mail every single time you upload. that's my level of devotion.)

i have never ever laughed harder at anything than i do your fics. when i add said fics to my hilson collection, i make sure that i have a section devoted to a portion of the bits i've highlighted that made me Lose My Shit. i love randomly quoting phrases to my baffled, non-house-loving friends, and even they giggle. you are a riot, my good lord, and i owe you my life.

i'm a true oriley42 expert, i've read them all. no one knows oriley42 like i know oriley42, apart from you, oriley42.

it's a fun name to type. oriley42.

anyway! this is long. my sincerest apologies. but, coming from a frazzled kid who's just finished her a levels, you kept me going through all the horrid, hasty revision that i had to conjure up out of Thin Fucking Air, by making me laugh when no one else could. thank you so much, and i look forward to any other fics that are Brewing in that Lovely Head Of Yours !!!

have a great... day, week, month, year, life !! i love you !!! <3

my buddy, my pal, my dear new bff, thank you so very much! it means the world to hear this, and I'm so deeply touched that my stories could be companion to you, especially as you fight your way through what sounds like a very difficult bit of schooling (wishing you all the success there btw!!)

to give someone Real Feelings, and most of all a Real Laugh, is my greatest aim in sharing my writing--thank you for making me feel like the frankly terrifying vulnerability of posting these stories up where any old Tom, Dickhead, or Harasser can make jackass comments is worth it, because of the chance that my words will cross paths with a kind reader like you <3

your own writing voice just here in this ask is charming and clever, and makes me once again grateful for the incredible talent and kindness the internet allows us all to connect to and enjoy (cheesy, I know, but I really do get teary thinking of all the wonderful people who draw and write and comment and reblog and contribute to these magnificently silly fictional worlds we weave together!)

I hereby grant you a Master's Degree in ORiley42 studies from the University of Internet Friends--much like my own advanced degree, it will not get you a job anywhere, but hey, it's about the joy of learning ;)

Thank you for stopping by, I hope to see you on the digital streets of House MD fan-land again!

xoxo

PS - I have soooo many hilson WIPs brewing, too many to keep straight, but I'm hoping to pick one, focus, and get it posted in the next week or two...stay tuned! 💖

[ev-rebound]

The Mystery from Beyond the stars Chapter 3

Tom and Maddie were waiting for them at the door when they arrived, neither looked angry just wondering where the heck they went without saying a word. "Just exploring!" Sonic said with a grin, Knuckles ans Tails quickly nodded in agreement. That checked out, ever since Sonic got a pair of brothers who could keep up with them they were constantly going out on runs. But they always made it back before sunset. "Alright well come inside its Pizza night!" Tom announced as he and Maddie head inside. The boys follow with Sonic wondering if Blast would like Pizza. -

The next the trio made their way out to the cave when Tails had a question. "Hey Knuckles how did you know Blast was a black arm?" "I recgonized the horrid langauge, I never learned it but I had heard countless times before on my travels"

"Wow so you've fought them off?" "Yes, but sadly many planets have been ravaged by them. Such as the home planet of the Toleaz but I hear there were survivors" Sonic frowned it was times like this he wondered what would have happened if Longclaw lived and he didn't have to leave. He could have been a hero to many planets using his speed to stop anyone or anything that tried to harm others. But then again who would have stopped Eggman?

With that the trio continued, Tails had spent the time before bed checking the camera and looking over the fur he got from Blast. He was a Black arm alright but his DNA showed signs of genetic enhancment alongside DNA of something else which appeared to be the source of his powers. Tails checked the camera once more Blast was stil asleep in the cave, or at least remained curled up in the beanbag with his eyes shut. "Blasssssssst!" Sonic called as he jumped down into the cave holding a slice of pizza in a tubberware box followed by Knuckles then Tails.

The alien lifted his head and his tail wagged at the sight of Sonic and Tails. When he looked over at Knuckles he let out a soft whimper, his ears lowered, and kept his distance.

Knuckles crossed his arms and looked away which made Blast relax enough to go over to Sonic and sniff the plastic container in his hands. Tails held up the translator who grinned as he opened the box, "Got some good for ya buddy! This is pizza I think you'll like it" He set the box down and Blast eagerly tore into it, once more the boys got a look at his fangs which allowed him to eat it in a coupe of bites. Sonic's quills bristled a little at the sight as he remebered how Blast snapped at his hand, he was sure if he wanted to he could have torn it clean off.

Once he was done Blast looked up at Sonic with smile, "Thanks!" came his reply through the translator. After that Tails pulled out some childrens books Tom and Maddie had alongside flashcards. "So Blast! If you're going to stay here you should learn how to talk like the natives" He explained through the translator. Blast tilted his head, once more looking like a large cat, then nodded. With that the pair got to work meanwhile Knuckles watched like a hawk, Sonic smirked and walked over to him. "C'mon Knuckles Blast is harmless! Look at him, he's not gonna do anything" "So you say but he is a Black Arm and you should never lower your guard or turn your back on one." Sonic sighed, sure Knuckles had a point, but Blast seemed like a kid was it so hard to just trust he was one? - By the end of the day Blast understood most basic words, greetings such as "Hello" and "Goodbye" and even learned the trios names. "What is my name?" Tails asked pointing at himself. "Tails!" Blast said his voice much more clear now, it was shockingly soft for a Black arm of all things. "And him?" Tails pointed at Sonic. "Sonic!" "And..." Tails pointed at Knuckles. Blast looked at him nervously then said in a small voice, "Knuckles" "Hm", was the only reply from the warrior, if he felt proud that Blast was learning or guily about scaring him it did not show.

"Well I think our new friend needs a reward!", Sonic strutted over with his arms full of snacks he had ran off to get sometime during Blast's english lesson.

Blast sniffed the air as Sonic opend the bag all the snacks were in, Doritos, Oreos, Cheetos, Gummy candies, and all other types of things. Tails frowned, "Sonic! We can't just be feeding him junk food! He needs better stuff" "Hey its just a treat, I can always bring him some fruit later" As they argued over how to feed Blast the alien had walked over to the end of the cave and was peering up at the entrance hole. He stared up at it with wide eyes, it was clear what he wanted. "Outside...?" Blast's voice pulled them out of the argument and the boys agreed some outdoor time, besides the Cave, would do him good. With that they all climbed back out and Blast followed floating up. He stared up at the sky with wide eyes, "Beautiful" Then to their surprise he flopped down into the grass and began to roll around a strange purring sound came out of him making him seem even more cat like. Eventually Blast got back up and looked at the other three like a puppy with his tail wagging, "Now what?" Sonic got into a running postion and as did the other two, "Try to keep up!" With that they took off Blast floated into the air then with a sound like a small explosion boosted after them. He kept up perfectly flying alongside Tails as they showed him all the non populated areas of Green Hills. Eventually they came to a stop up high on a mountain as the sun began to set and Blast watched it with child like wonder. "Sun..?" He said looking at Tails "Yeah! Well that's a sunset but yeah its the sun, good job.." Blast smiled and continued to watch. The boys watched with him, forgetting all about their curfew. But hey if it meant Blast didn't end up like the other Black arms then it was worth it. First/Next/Prev

(Fun fact! The Toleaz that Knuckles mentioned here are actually a group of aliens I made up that a pair of Sonic ocs I have belong to. Sadly the whole Black arm ravaging their planet thing is true to the lore for them...but there are plenty still alive out in space)

[punk-tugger]

She really loved it.

The look on the tribes face as she tore them apart, truly using her claws as she never had before. It was the beginning of the end for her.

Trying to speak to her was like talking to an old Sphinx; each sentence laced in riddles and she spoke as if constantly battered by an old wind, out of breath and eerie.

From time to time the kittens would wander into her designated area in the junkyard. A run down even more desolate area than the rest, it looked more like a fight pit than a home, covered in claw marks and blood from previous hunts she had done. Some collars from her owners shredded to pieces and scattered around the area. As the kittens would begin to lurk closer to her she would hiss and snarl and scare them away; a few would pause and stare sadly at her, with their ears drooped down, body low and tail curled into their body. Usually she would just continue, moving closer and closer until they ran away.

This time was different.

She noticed the matching red hue to the young queens fur, aura and attitude radiating that of a confident Tom she loved; she knew her.

She paused, claws still extended and fangs barred. She paced in front of the young queen, mulling over who she could be.

A distant memory, a kittens cry’s, a beautiful toms praises, she paused and stared at her again. The fog she’s been put through from that horrid Tom rattling her mind.

Out of the corner of her eye she saw the queen move closer and open her mouth, immediately she tensed and spoke before she could.

“Who are you?”

The young queen lowered her head, a small paw reaching up to her eye to wipe away….something.

“I am yours, my name is Electra.”

It felt like the wind was knocked out of her, her vision swirled as she was reminded of every time she had heard that name.

A dinner surrounded by family, a Tom bigger than all the others sitting in the very middle, gray and weathered but boisterous and full of smiles, surrounded by kittens of all different colors and sizes. Two little queens were play fighting at his paws; she knew now one to be Electra, but there was also another smaller white, orange, and black queen. The patriarch watched the two play together, his eyes creasing at the edges as his smile grew watching Electra pin the small white one to the ground. A booming laugh echoed through the yard as she jumped up, victorious, “Fantastic my girl! I’m sure you will join the ranks amongst our protectors one day, Electra.” She grinned and a bit of her tongue fell past her fangs, “Thank you, Papa Deut!” off to the side an extravagant Tom and a beautiful older red queen stared at her with proud smiles, standing close to each other and both wondering how they got so incredibly lucky to have each other and her.

With that the memory changed;

Rain pouring down, toms and queens frantically running around the junkyard and the few seasoned protectors surveying the outskirts and looking for any sign of the missing kitten. “Electra! Electra!” An older red queen was near inconsolable, the extravagant Tom from earlier was holding her in place, forcing her against him to calm her. His usual large mane was drooping with the rain, an even more visual representation of what was happening. The older queen sobbed against his fur, wailing for her missing daughter.

They searched and searched for her, every single jellicle searching from the oldest Gus to even baby Victoria; the jellicles are not the jellicles without her.

The protectors began to crowd around and peer into the distance, seeing something that they couldn’t quite believe. A large brown and white Tom carrying a small quivering kitten in his mouth by the scruff of her neck. The protectors were wary; if he wanted to, this Tom would easily be a fight for the jellicles to remember.

The unfamiliar tom paused about 15 feet from the protectors and gently placed Electra onto the ground. “I believe you have lost something” a thick accent unheard of by the protectors flowed from the strong toms mouth, “be sure to keep a better eye on young ones; you don’t know what kind of riff raff is about” he said with a slight chuckle, and with that, he walked away from the kitten and the junkyard.

The protectors were momentarily stunned. Should they be worried? Should they tighten up patrols? However he didn’t do anything, he had no threats and even returned a lost kitten unharmed. The Tom that had been consoling the older red queen had made his way up to the other protectors and joined his rightful place among them when he had seen them begin to crowd. Once he peered into the distance and saw what was left and the tom walking away he immediately sprinted towards the small kitten snatching her by the scruff of her neck and returned her to the junkyard.

The older red queen had retreated to her oven, not bearing to know what had happened in case it was something awful. The Tom walked through the torn beaded curtain, clearing his throat and gently placing a shivering Electra against the older red queen. As soon as she was placed against her and they each felt the others presence the older queen looked at the source of the warmth and let out a relieved sob as she curled around Electra, her daughter. The flashy tom breathed for the first time that night. As long as his queens were safe that is all that mattered.

She gasped and panted as the memories twisted and contorted within her mind, she knew them all. The fog was finally starting to lift.

“I am….”

Electras head perked up, her eyes looking into the older queens, and finished for her “My mother; Bombalurina”

[justthehiddleswrites]

Eat Your Words | Tom Hiddleston x Loki x Female Reader

A/N:  It is Tom’s birthday!  My third one here celebrating.  And boy did I bring the filth.  Please read the warnings. And huge shoutout to @frostbitten-written​ for giving me the plot idea!  You are a smut sister of the first order!!

Pairing: Tom Hiddleston x Loki x Reader

Summary:  You mercilessly tease your husband about how amazing Loki is and how good he would be in bed.  You never realized that could be a reality.

Warnings: SMUT, sexual acts include: vaginal sex, anal sex, masturbation, anal fingering, double penetration (mouth and vagina, vagina and ass), oral sex (m receiving), a bit of voyeurism, a small bit of m/m kissing, cursing, aftercare, vaginal fingering

Taglists are open! Let me know if you wanted to be added to my tag list!!  Thank you for reading!

-

Tom knew about your not-so-secret obsession. You were a horrid liar and more so talking in your sleep.

“What are you reading, darling?” Tom tried peeking over your shoulder, but you slam the laptop shut.

“How about mind your business, Hiddleston?” You scrunched your nose at him.

“So more Loki porn.” he smirked as he walked past.

“The word is smut. And no.” You stared him down and he stared right back at you, leaning over the arm of the sofa. He raised an eyebrow. You squirmed in place. “It was fan art.”

“Cock or no cock?”

You grew hot. “Cock.” you threw a pillow. “Happy?”

Tom caught the pillow in the air and placed it back on the couch.

“No. How many times do I have to tell you to not throw the pillows?” His face broke out into a wide grin before plopping on the couch. “What is your fascination with Loki, darling? You realize I play Loki?” He clutched his chest. “If I wasn’t so self-assured, I might become jealous.”

You set your laptop down and sat up, rubbing his thigh. “Darling, I’m sorry…” Tom turned and smiled at you. “… but there is no way you can compare to Loki.” You burst into giggles and took off running, Tom fast behind you. He crouched down at the entrance to where the stairs are. The only thing between you and freedom was your husband.

“Take it back.” he growled.

“No. You are impressive, Tom. But Loki has the cock of a god.”

“One of these days you are going to have to eat your words.” Tom’s face broke out into a grin.

“Make me, Hiddleston.” you grinned back, bouncing back and forth.

He stood up, smile gone. “You don’t really want that, darling. Don’t tempt me.”

“Oh, what, you have Loki staying in the spare bedroom?” you mocked. “Get real, honey. Loki is a fiction and you are the man who plays him. You are my husband and I love you, but no one could fuck me like a god.”

Tom sighed. “I warned you, darling. If I catch you this time, I will show no mercy.” He chuckled. “And neither will he.” he muttered under his breath.

You barreled towards him before attempting to duck under his arm as you shoved all your body weight against him. Tom rolled his eyes and easily lifted you onto his shoulder.

“Put me down, Tom!” You pounded your fists against his back.

He carried you up the stairs and into the guest bedroom, dropping you onto the bed and walking towards a chair in the corner.

“Why am I here, Tom?” you glanced around.

Tom gestured to the other side of the room. “Ask your boyfriend.” he smirked.

You spun around to see a flash of light dissipate in the air. To find Loki standing there. In full armor.

“Now Thomas,” his voice deep and resonant. “We haven’t officially discussed my title.” he smirked as he strolled to where you are sitting.

Loki hooked a finger under your chin and took you in.

“What do you think?” Tom asked from the corner. He shifted in his seat. “She’s feisty.”

“Excuse you?” you snapped back. “I don’t know what you think you are playing at Hiddleston, but…” You stood, wagging your finger at him. Loki snatched your wrist, pulling you back against him.

“You married well, Thomas.” Loki hummed. Tom smiled from his chair. Loki cupped your cheek. “Very well.”

As he pressed you against his torso, you noticed Loki’s erection hard against you. You opened your mouth to protest, but he cut you off… again.

“Tell me, pet.” His fingers ran down from your temple to your chin. “Is this how you imagined it?”

Your brow furrowed. “Imagine what?” You pushed away from him, only to slam back against Tom. “I don’t know what kind of joke this is…”

“Enough!” Loki yelled and turned away. “I know all about what you say about me, dove.” He settled into the chair once occupied. “How you read stories about my prowess in bed.” He took off his boots and wrist guard. “Drooled over art of my cock.” With a flick of the wrist, he removed his tunic and armor, leaving himself in just his trousers. He leaned forward licking his lips. “Dreamed of me fucking you.”

You gasped and glared at Tom. “YOU TOLD HIM!?”

“Not that he needed to.” Loki shifted in his seat and lowered his trousers just enough to pop his cock free. “Any hacker could find your browser history. And reading stories about being fucked by me and your darling Thomas…” Loki clicked his tongue as he stroked his shaft. “… naughty.”

Tom reached over and cupped your face. “Is this the fantasy, darling? Me AND him?” He leaned down to whisper in your ear. “Just say the word.”

You stared up at him and then your eyes trailed down to find Tom sporting a raging hard on. You shifted your weight and peeked around Tom to spy Loki still stroking himself. He gave you a wink.

“I don’t have all day.” Loki called out.

You had to admit the thought of the whole scenario was too erotic for words. Your mouth was suddenly dry, all the moisture in your body, pooled elsewhere.

“Yes.” you nodded.

Tom smiled and leaned in to kiss you, slipping your straps down off your shoulders. You reached out and cupped his cock through his jeans. A flash of light covered you and Tom, causing your clothes to disappear.

“Much better.” Loki growled from his seat, now naked as well. He motioned the two of you towards the bed. “Go on. Entertain me. Show me how well you fuck your wife.” His lips curled into a devious grin.

Tom eased you onto the bed and crawled on top of you. He could sense your nerves. “Just think of it like when we met on set. And my modesty sock fell off?”

You chuckled and nodded. Tom nipped at the spot behind your ear and you let loose a soft gasp. His hands traveled down to squeeze your breast, teasing your nipple into a hard pebble.

Loki grunted through his teeth.

“Darling…” Tom moaned, twisted so you were on top. His fingers find your folds wet. “Wet already?”

“Of course she is.” Loki commented, he stood and walked towards the bed. He ran his hand down your back and cupped your ass before slipping down, plunging a long finger inside of you.

He hummed. “Thomas, if you don’t move things along, I may just take her myself and make you watch.”

“Why don’t you both take me right now?” you purred, placing kisses along Tom’s neck and chest while Loki curled his finger inside of you and Tom lazily played with your clit.

“What a splendid idea, pet.” Loki commented. “The best idea I’ve heard so far.” He grabbed you by the waist and hauled you up, placing you on the bed on all fours.

Tom shifted around to be behind you, smoothing his hands over your ass. He bent over to whisper in your ear.

“Remember darling, how you commented about the cock of a god?”

You noticed Loki kneeling in front of her. His cock dripped pre cum from the tip. He was big, even bigger than Tom.

“Fuck me….” you hissed. Tom pushed into you with a snap.

“As you wish, darling. But now it is also time to eat your words.”

Your jaw dropped open to snap back at Tom, when Loki pushes his cock into his mouth.

You groaned against his cock, gagging slightly as he pushed most of his impressive length down her throat.

Loki groaned. “Thomas, she is exquisite. Why have you been hiding her away?”

Tom gripped your hips and snapped against you. “The same reason I hide everything away from you. I don’t want to share.”

You moaned as they thrusted into you in conjunction. Loki was more forceful than Tom. You hollowed your cheeks to suck off Loki.

“You’ve never had a problem sharing before.” Loki growled and pulled Thomas towards him, leaning over you by the scruff of his neck.

Loki’s lips pressed against Tom’s and he moaned. Loki pulled Tom’s head forward and slipped his tongue into Tom’s mouth. Tom groaned as he did the same.

You overheard the lips smacking and the mental image tipped you over the edge and you screamed around Loki’s cock and clenched hard around Tom, shuddering.

Loki pulled away and chuckled. He lifted your face to stare at him. “Did you cum little pet at the sounds of me making out with our dear Thomas?” Loki averted his eyes to stare at Thomas, who had pulled out of you, blushing. “What a naughty girl.” He shifted to lie back on the pillows. “My turn, Thomas.”

Thomas grunted. “She’s not prepared for me yet.”

Loki narrowed his eyes at him. “Whose problem is that?” Loki spread his legs wide. “Come here, pet, and ride me.”

You crawled over to Loki and straddled his hips. You grabbed his cock and lowered yourself onto him.

“Oh god…” you moaned as you settled against his thighs.

“Yes I am.” He gripped your hips and rocked you back and forth.

Tom stared at Loki. “Can you at least hand me that bottle?” He gestured at the bottle of lube on one pillow.

Your eyes widened. “You’re not going to…”

Loki magicked the bottle into Thomas’s hand. He squirted some on his fingers.

“You’ve been training, haven’t you? Wearing the plug I got you?” Tom’s hand slid between your cheeks, massaged your tight entrance, pressed you against Loki’s chest. “Or is that something else you have been lying to me about?” He slowly sunk his well lubed finger into your ass.

“FUCK…” you hissed. Tom stilled as did Loki to allow you to adjust.

After a few moments, Loki gave you ass a soft smack. “Pet…”

You rocked up and down on him as Tom slowly plunged his finger in and out of you. Soon he added a second one and you cursed again as he scissored them inside of you, opening you up.

“If you would train properly, this would be easier.”

Loki cupped your face. “And next time it will be me.” He kissed your lips. “Although I must say, fucking your cunt is a treat. So wet and tight.” He growled.

Tom pulled out his fingers and squirted out some more lube and ran his hand along his shaft.

“Loki…” Tom gave the god a knowing glance.

“Right…” He pulled you tight against him and kissed you with a passion. His fingers found your clit and stroked it.

Tom eased into you, he panted when he was fully seated against your ass. You were so incredibly tight around him.

“My god… darling… why have we… Loki….” Tom threw his head back when he gently thrusted into you.

Loki released your lips softly, a small trail of saliva connecting your two lips. Your eyes locked for a moment and you saw it, those same kind eyes. Loki smiled which turned to a smirk and soon he was full on grinning.

He bucked his hips and gasped. “You clenched even tighter around me.” He leaned down to purr in your ear. “Let’s see how you milk my cock as you come undone.”

The two of them alternated thrusting into you. Soon you were reduced to a whimpering moaning mess. The only words you knew were “yes” and “don’t stop.” Soon your orgasm washed over you, stronger than ever before.

“FUCK!” you screamed in a now hoarse voice. You spasmed and clenched around both of them before your vision went white.

“Ah… AH!” Loki moaned as he thrusted twice before spilling inside of you. Tom soon followed with a deep grunt, filling your other hole.

You fell against Loki’s chest, sweaty and spent. Loki smoothed down your hair. “You were exquisite, pet.”

Tom crawled beside the two of you, rubbing your back. “You did so well, darling.” He leaned down to kiss your cheek and lips and then pecked Loki’s lips.

“Hmm…” you hummed, still coming down for your high. “Thank you.”

Loki pushed the two of you up and leaned you into Tom’s arms. “Why don’t the two of you get cleaned up and meet me downstairs?” He licked his lips, taking in your form. “We have much to discuss.”

[troublehotel-sys]

Wait, what did Matt Hargreaves do? /genq

sorry I’m kind of dumb :p also u don’t need to answer this if you are uncomfortable!

TW: fake claiming, ableism, pro-shippers, pedos, TBATF, Nazis, sexual assault (s/a), discourse, death.

Also I would like to mention anon, I realize this sound a bit annoyed/angry, but none of it's against you! I'm very glad you're trying to learn about what's going on and what's wrong instead of ignoring it, I'm just annoyed at the dumb stuff the entire EW crew has been up to.

I am so sorry for being the one to tell you but uh. There's actually quite a bit

Fake claimed DID/OSDD systems in the fandom (image below). He also said kins were stupid and that "you aren't the character" about kins (fun fact if you're new here, I'm an introject of his character and we're a diagnosed/medically recognized DID system, so that's just a huge punch in the gut huh)

Speaks over Edd's family about how Edd's legacy should be/what Edd would have wanted

Made fun of any fanart of changing the characters from the show (especially skin color)

The ableist joke in Beaster Bunny, if you watched that (the one where Tom looks at a bunch of clearly grossly drawn disabled kids and says they're "very.... (pause) special kids.."), as well as the pedophile joke. He's said both that 1. he wrote the entirety of Beaster Bunny and 2. that someone else wrote the pedo joke, but either way he let that shit slide. He looked at that and said "yes, let's advertise this as a more kid-friendly show, and let's also include a joke about pedophilia!"

Defends multiple pedophiles (Patryk Dudulewicz is a pro-shipper and actively reposted a shitload of porn of "technically she's 1000 years old, she just LOOKS like a child!" characters, Christopher Bingham has s/a allegations he refuses to address)

Defends the TBATF team (if you don't know why they're also pretty horrid people, you can look it up for more info- basically they made Red Leader a Nazi and try to make him sympathetic and cool, they completely butchered everything likeable about the characters (most notably Edd, who they've made into a completely unlikeable selfish douchebag), they sexualize every single woman in the comic, been very racist to Romani and Native American people, made jokes about male s/a, and there's a lot of shitty things the creators have done outside of the comic too.)

Actively replaced Tom's alcoholism with food in Beyond and the comics. It's pretty common knowledge that Tomska has had horrible issues with his body image and how he perceives himself, and that's just so fucked up to make his body (even if it is the character, it's BASED on Tomska) a joke.

Said that NONE of Legacy was canon. Trying to completely erase all of Tomska's work on the series, and shitting on Tomska's work and saying nothing he did mattered on the show (even when he left the show specifically due to the stress he was under working extremely hard to please the fandom and keep his friends legacy intact). Even if you don't like Legacy, you have to admit that's just a shitbag thing to say to someone who actively tried to help keep Edd's memory alive.

Tonetags: Not mad (at anon, or at the reader, but I am pretty upset about Matt Hargreaves), serious, pretty disappointed in Matt Hargreaves

[ob-kirkseyeliner-1]

Thoughts as I rewatch Threshold for the Holiday

-Probably funniest start in all of Trek when B’Eleanna goes “You’re Dead” to Tom just sitting there on the floor. Not even looking particularly crashed or anything 

-Not sure how i feel about B’Eleanna having to go fetch Biscuits while Neelix wants to learn about the Warp 10 stuff. At least she gives the order to let Neelix learn, so it starts a weird short pattern in this episode of weird sexist things getting slightly redeemed (if that) to seem less bad

-Harry’s calling Warp 10 transwarp but that was mentioned in Star Trek 3. Did Scotty make Warp 10 impossible when he screwed with the Excelsior so the Enterprise could escape? More likely that Excelsior engineers failed but it’s funnier to blame Scotty

-TOM PARIS PAJAMAS YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

“This is MY Flight” reminding me of “YOUR new Empire?!” 

“Tom Paris is gonna do something important when he grows up” [Cuz his dads an admiral] this is legit compelling. “This is the first time I’ve felt I HAD a life to risk” also really good making me sympathize for him. 

-Chakotay seems weirdly solemn/bittersweet when Tom comes back. Headcanoning it’s cuz Warp 10 means he and Maquis are arrested

-Love that sigh Janeway gives after “WAKE UP LIEUTENANT” oh her children

”Well, I’m glad you had a good time” Another funny line from the Doctor, clever since he can’t go anywhere at this time. 

-So cute/found family that Tom came back because Voy was looking for him

-ALSO WAIT HE SAW EARTH WHILE HE WAS IN WARP 10. WHAT DID HE SEE. WHAT UPDATES COULD HE GIVE THE CREW. THIS COULD EASILY BE ITS OWN TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE HOLY SHIT

“Before I hand him back to the realm of ordinary humans” Why’d they make the Doctor so funny in this episode specifically I’m not complaining but lol

“It could change the very nature of our existence” Ngl kinda wish the episode had focused on that more but in a not lizard way

“He’s allergic to water” If this is supposed to be step 1 of the evolution then maybe I’m a water purist but how the fuck does that benefit? I guess not needing sustenance in Space but then the lizards go to a planet so what the fuck

“Torres doesn’t cry” Thomas Eugene Paris how would you know that. Headcanon is he and Harry cried all the time while working on the Warp 10 and B’Eleanna didn’t shed a tear 

“I don’t trust people who don’t cry” Legit interesting mental health thing for Trek imo 

“My father, he’d say crying is a sign of weakness. I never believed that.” I like what the writers were going for here but I kinda don’t like that idea in utopian Earth but I’m just gonna go with interpretation of this one specific guy believing crying weak and honestly it’s not like anything else in the episode says the no emotion patriarchy is still active 

“What I remember most about being a kid was the time I’d spend in my room crying. It was a nice room though” Fitting in TOS maybe but oh god whyyyyyy noooooo I get his father’s an asshole but I don’t want that for Tom

“I’ll note [where/when you lost your virginity] in your medical file” and “PEPPERONI. GOD I COULD GO FOR A PEPPERONI PIZZA WITH KTARIAN OLIVES RIGHT NOW I’M STAARRVING” come right after Paris’ spiel about being depressed AF as a child 

-His (temporary) dying wish is that his dad knows he finally did something great

-I know Jonas’ scene is supposed to be a continuity thing with the rest of the season (which yes plz for Voyager imo) but it would be interesting if the Kazon attacked Voyager for Warp 10. Probably be stupid but oh well

-Coulda been funny to mention some sort of random alien that would find Paris attractive in one of his transitional lizard states

“Part of you will be glad to see me gone. I’m the Maquis traitor who sits on the bridge and insults your uniform, remember?” Holy shit is that how Tom sees himself 

-This line starts out with horrid energy with “You’re jealous I broke the barrier” then ends worryingly for a different reason with “You’re hoping I’ll die!”

“You seem so small/insignificant” followed right up by him taking out his tongue. This episode really just switches moods on a dime

“I am more. I’m everything!” for an objectively good episode they ought to have gone about this angle. Also “the past and present are in the future & the future is in the past” is peak ‘I wanna sound smart by reversing’

-Love how unrecognizable lizard tom looks as theyre about to do the procedure thing

“I look forward to reading it” legit love Tuvok being funny here 

“It’s not other’s opinions of myself I should be worried about It’s mine” Kinda like that line I guess

-Actually disgusting how the episode was written with Lizard Tom kidnapping Janeway and off-screen probably raping her to have the babies and then when Kate Mulgrew complained the change is “Maybe the female initiated it” like that’s supposed to make it better?! Frankly implying it’s the woman’s fault and also suggesting it’s okay that Tom was raped instead of her?! What the fuck all around they just shouldn’t have written it that way 

Despite some problematic stuff and interesting concepts I wish were in a better episode, Happy Threshold Day, everybody. What a hilarious classic. And surprisingly fascinating insight into Tom Paris as a character 

[ninacarstairss]

Alastair and Thomas sat on the opposite familiar sofa to the one Thomas's parents, Sophie and Gideon Lightwood, did.

His mother smiled pleasantly at Alastair. "Mr. Carstairs, lovely to see you."

Alastair nodded stiffly at her. It wasn't out of indifference but out of nervousness. "Mr. and Mrs. Lightwood."

"It's always a pleasure to invite the younglings to a cup of tea," Gideon said and fixed his gaze on Thomas and Alastair. He chuckled. "It's not as common, though, to get invited by them. Who could imagine they still remember us old pals."

Sophie laughed with him, and Thomas allowed himself to smirk at his father. It was starting well. "As if you wouldn't make us feed on bread and water if we didn't have manners toward the elderly."

"Elders, eh?"

They battered like this for some time. Alastair slowly put himself in the conversation as well, and Thomas felt him relax slightly next to him. It's a good sign.

After half an hour of chit-chat and scones (much to his father's dismay) Thomas cleared his throat. "In fact, Mama, Papa, I called you for a reason."

"There's always a reason," Gideon murmured with a fond roll of his eyes. Alastair trained again, even more than before. He seemed like he wanted to say something but didn't.

"Yes?" Sophie asked, and put her restored cup of tea on the table.

"I didn't invite Alastair for no reason. The thing is," he lingered there a moment to catch Alastair's eyes, and something almost made him stop by the look on his face. Worry, almost shame. Was he afraid Thomas wouldn't say it?

"I like Alastair." He didn't see why to keep it in. "In a way that is more than friends, you see."

A long moment ensued. None of the young wanted to break it, almost afraid of the result.

"Damn it!" Gideon called out, startling them all. "I owe Will 10 Stirling."

"What?" Thomas stuttered and moved his big hand in front of him like it wasn't real.

"We bet when you would announce your intentions with Alastair here," he smiled in encouragement at the brown boy. In return, Alastair looked like a deer caught in an automobile's lights.

"You did what?" Thoams demanded, horrified.

"We are glad to accept you to our family, young Alastair," Sophie said gently, ignoring her son's indignant huff. Alastair turned his face away from then."I hope you would take good care of our Tom."

"Mama," Thomas objected, blushing. He looked at him as he returned to look at them and panicked. Alastair's eyes shined, and not of happiness.

"I cannot," Alastair stood up and took a bit of distance. "I cannot stand in front of you and act as if I deserve your kindness. I do not. I should- I shouldn't be here."

"Don't leave." Thomas hurried to say. He couldn't do it, now, without explaining a tad bit.

Alastair held his face regal and flat. The only sign of his inner storm was the fact a tear started to roll down his cheek. Another soon followed. "Mr. Lightwood, I cannot be here and face you and act as if I didn't wrong you, as if I didn't say an unbearable thing. Rumors. Words about you and your son. I- What I said brought you great pain and tears. Your son told me. How can I face you and accept your kindness?"

"Alastair-" Thomas rose to his feet as well.

"Don't you see? I don't deserve to be with your son, Mr. Lightwood. Someone as good as him shouldn't be with someone as - as stained as I."

Alastair didn't look at any of them. "I must go now." His voice was thick and somewhat small. "I cannot see a way you don't hate me, or at least want to hate me as Thomas did. I will go. My accomplishments for the tea."

He started toward the door, but he wasn't the only one. "Gideon flew as fast as the wind and seized onto Alastair's forearm. Alastair gave him a shocked look.

"When I was young, I had done horrid things. Things I'm not proud of. Things I wish I could take back. But I can't." Gideon leveled Alastair with a gentle gaze. "What I could do is change. To move past my mistakes and try and make better decisions, be a better man. I was not much younger than you when I learned the wrong of my ways. I changed. I see you did too."

"Do not let the past define the future, Alastair Carstairs." Sophie intervened "Those - rumors, you say. They hurt us. We cannot pretend they didn't. But the person you were there when you spread them, is not the one I see in front of me now. Your heart is kind, Dear. Allow it to receive kindness as well."

Alastair was shaking, and drops of tears stained his cheeks. "I-"

"Does he make you happy?" Asked Sophie. It was directed at Thomas.

Not a bit of hesitation. "Very."

"And you?" Sophie turned to Alastair. "Does my son makes you happy?"

"More than everything else."

Thomas didn't care his parents were there. He enveloped Alastair in a firm hug, leading them to the sofa again. He backed away just slightly, to plant a kiss on his cheek.

"And it wasn't only you, right?"

"It was still wrong."

"It was," agreed Gideon. "But you weren't the only one who was unkind. We handled more serious things than a child trying to emulate adults."

"We will not prevent our son's happiness because of the past. We want to see what the future behold."

A faint thank you left Alastair's lips. The grip Thomas held on Alastair tightened.

"Thank you," Thomas said as well. He shared a glance with Alastair. His eyes were red but still beautiful and enchanting. And love blossomed inside them.

"Nothing to be thankful for. We just choose love, is all."

Anoni I’m slightly sobbing right now. This fic is amazing.

That’s exactly how I want this conversation to go, exactly how I imagined it all along. First of all gideon betting on this with will cracked me up and it’s definitely something they would do 😂 after the scene with the mortal sword in coi I’m fairly sure they constantly bet over stuff just for fun (and gideon apparently loses all the time lol)

And alastair feeling unworthy of their kindness and love is definitely what I imagine whenever I think of this scenario. Alastair always feels he is to be blamed for eternity but if someone can understand that feeling is exactly gideon. I can’t wait for alastair to have someone like him in his life, gideon would love him just as much as his friends did when he was trying to be a better man.

Thank you for sharing this fic nonnie, I really loved it so much and I’m starved for this kind of content 🥺

[soupfiction]

The Discovery of the Chamber of Secrets

A/N: I wrote this for my creative writing class and figured I’d post it here!

Synopsis: After the discovery of his lineage, Tom Riddle searches for the entrance of the infamous Chamber of Secrets.

Word Count: 2.8K

Tom Riddle’s POV

Horace Slughorn was everything I disliked about a person. Incompetent, overly cheerful, and above all, hopelessly vain.

He was an aged man with more strands of greying hair than ounces of wit, and yet he seemed completely oblivious to how faux his personality came off as—especially right now.

A dark brown suit covered his out of shape body, the seams of it stretched thin to compensate a large stomach that pressed up against the dark, wooden table next to me. His scraggly eyebrows were raised until his eyelids sat unnaturally high over his bloodshot, darting eyes. ”Merlin, Tom!” He praised, wrinkled hand slapping my shoulder. “Good job!”

I feigned a smile, resisting the urge to move out from under his overly warm palm. “All thanks to your teaching, of course, Professor,” I reply. It was a false statement, as most were in response to such a man. The task of producing a top-grade anti-paralysis potion was as simple as sleeping. I did not require watered down teaching to make one.

He, as always, remained unaware to the sarcasm that underlined each word, announcing, “Ten points to Slytherin!” With slow movements, he removed his hand from off of my uniform and grabbed the silver cauldron, raising it up and turning around to face the rest of the class. “This is quite the example of an anti-paralysis potion! Excellent work, truly. Gather around, yes, come and see how precise the amber color is to my own!”

Both Slytherins and Gryffindors dragged their feet closer and closer until they all grouped together, peaking over each other’s heads to see the swirling contents inside the cauldron. I raised from my own seat, coming to tower next to Slughorn. My classmates faces ranged from confusion to amazement; from envy to awe. I suppressed a chuckle that rose from my chest, instead letting it show in the form of a tight-lipped smirk.

Of course, I was the only one to successfully produce the potion. It was no surprise when they all mimicked the Potions professor in incompetence.

After a few excruciating minutes of Slughorn mewling over the complexity of what I would refer to as a simple concoction, the class was set free.

A flew of red, black and green rushed out the heavy door, but I lingered behind. I grabbed hold of my wand, twirling it around a couple of times before approaching Slughorn, who was still marveling periodically between my own potion and his.

“Professor,” I say, watching him jump slightly. He hadn’t known I was even here, the fool. “I have a question for you.”

“Of course, Tom! What can I do for you?” From behind his desk, straightens his spine as much as he can, but he has gained a hunch over the years of teaching.

I lean against the potions cabinet that sets just to the left of the front of his desk, pocketing my wand in the sleeve of my robes. “I’ve heard a rumor. Just talk, of course, but I’ve came to seek your knowledge on something.” I pause momentarily, searching his face for any hints that might point to his knowing of what I was going to ask. “Have you heard of The Chamber of Secrets?”

His confident façade crumbles. Nervousness seeps through the cracks, and I keep my face straight despite this clear confirmation of my suspicions. Of all the professors, he was the most likely to succumb to questioning, especially from a student he so dearly approved of. But he was also annoyingly close to Dumbledore.

Anything Dumbledore knew about me…he was likely to tell Slughorn, which meant the old oaf could know of my lineage, and of my ties to the supposed chamber that Salazar Slytherin had built. If he was aware, he might try to hold back valuable information—stuff that I couldn’t locate in any book in the Hogwarts library. I had to hear it from him, or else I might be rid of this horrid school before I actually find it.

Just as I thought, Slughorn fumbled, blubbering out, “My, Tom! That’s such an old rumor. I can’t possibly—give you anything you surely don’t already know!” A poor excuse. He would never willingly stop talking unless he truly had something to hide.

“I know it’s a silly thought,” I press, “something of that…power could never be hidden from such talented professors as yourselves.” I let him simmer in the compliment for a moment before continuing. “Yet, I cannot help worrying for those who think it is real. They could get hurt searching after a rumor, and I want to do my best to educate them so that they won’t find harm.”

Truthfully, any talk of the Chamber was nonexistent, to my dismay. Even the students, as insatiably curious as they are, steered clear of the idea. To most, Salazar’s ideas of blood purity was a taboo—something to be avoided even at the cost of filth entering the school. It seemed even the head of the house of Slytherin was indoctrinated with these pathetic views.

“Who could possibly be interested in such a thing?” Slughorn nervously laughs, busying himself by organizing the already put together papers on his desk.

I cross my arms over my chest and sigh out, “I don’t want to put suspicion on anyone, Professor, but I heard Rubeus Hagrid was asking around about the Chamber. I just want to ensure I’m educated so that I can properly deal with the situation. Us students should help each other, especially when one of us threatens the ideals of this school.”

My words seem to be working as he stops his frantic hand movements and stands up as tall as he can. Dismay is evident on his features. “I will have to report this, you know. We can’t have a student speaking of such—things.” Eyes the color of gooseberry meet my own. I can see the broken veins in his worn eyes from here. “But, if you really wish to help, I suppose I could tell you all that I know.”

“Thank you, Professor,” I reply, letting false concern intertwine with my speech.

He gives a small smile. “Promise me that if this continues, you will tell me about it, won’t you, Tom?”

I nod. “Of course.”

Slughorn goes on to explain a basic history of Salazar Slytherin’s whereabouts and actions. It was stuff I already knew, but I listen intently, dissecting each sentence for a clue as to where the entrance could be located. I’ve already deducted that it wasn’t in the Slytherin common room as I’ve combed over every inch of it by now.

I’m beginning to think he knows less than I originally thought when he says, “—disapproval of their previous agreement. Nevertheless, it is said that he built something below the dungeons, where we are, to ensure that, one day, his ideas would be…both shared and continued.”

I can’t help but to stop him, asking, “Right below here? Surely we would know if that were to be true.”

He lets out a boisterous laugh, nodding. “That’s true. Yet even our dear Dumbledore used to suspect it as true. He was worried during construction that something might be revealed! To think, after all these years, the head professor still hasn’t discovered all there is to Hogwarts.”

That’s it! I feel the corners of my lips twitching upwards, and I force them down.

The old fool seems to realize his mistake immediately. “Of course, that was quickly disproven!” He squawks.

It’s obvious he knows something about me. The hurried pace of his words and fidgeting tells me as much, but he’s either too stupid or too uninformed to realize that he shouldn’t have told me any of this. There’s a reason it was kept out any wizarding book accessible to the students. Too bad for Dumbledore that one of his own is too useless to keep such information to themself.

I hold a pale hand up. His eyes are drawn to the movement, and he immediately stops his nervous twitching. “It’s okay,” I lament. “I’m sorry to have brought this up…forgive me. I understand it’s all hearsay, I just do not want anyone hurt over it.”

He needs to think that I believe this is all false. If he doesn’t, I fear he might ramble about our little conversation to Dumbledore. Even if he doesn’t know everything about me, he clearly knows enough to get on edge at the mere topic. I don’t need the headmaster trailing me when I’m so close to fixing this schools problem.

“It’s quite alright, Tom!” He waves five chubby fingers around in the air as if dismissing any worry. “As you said, it’s all rumors! I’m glad to have such a brilliant student as yourself on the case. In any scenario, though, I must still notify Dumbledore of these things…I trust that any curious student would listen to him!”

I nearly scoff. If anyone was as brilliant as the old man thinks then they’d ignore Dumbledore, just as I have. He was no more a wizard than Slughorn was. Still, I nod in what he thinks is agreement.

That seems to squash any reminisce of worry. Just as usual, he beams with crooked teeth at the mere sight of my approval. Pitiful.

Before he can go on, I push off from the potions cabinet and announce, “I regret to inform you, but I must be on my way now. An astronomy parchment has been calling my name for quite some time.” There was no work I could not get done in whatever allotted time was allowed, but Slughorn was not aware of that. Besides, I had to get a head start before he decides to waddle his way up to the headmaster.

After he squalls out his goodbyes, stretching out the conversation as much as he can, I take my leave, rounding past the door with a flutter of my robes behind me.

I have done ample amount of research on the history of this Merlin forsaken school to know exactly what has been done in the past years—which was not much. A couple of repairs due to idiotic accidents by lesser students, mostly, but one thing that sticks out is the construction of the girl’s bathroom a few years back.

It’s the one located directly above the great hall, and one of the less used ones. It is prominent in my mind because, as far as I know, there was no need for the repairs done. Nothing was listed out as to why exactly they’d need to work on it, plus, the other restrooms seem to need more attention than one that was and is barely ever used.

So, that’s where I head. My walk is quicker than usual but contained. Every passing moment is another chance for Slughorn to tell Dumbledore everything, however I have to act as if everything is normal. I can’t raise suspicion now.

In a couple excruciating minutes, I arrive at a halt in front of the wooden door of the restroom. A group of Hufflepuffs passed me by a little bit ago, but now no one is in sight. I can only hope that no girl lingers in the bathroom as I glance around before quickly entering the room.

The bright rays of the sun beam in through the quarter round windows. Wooden stalls line both of the walls, all of the swinging doors wide open. To the far side of the area are the sinks. Polished ivory and stone glow in the light like a beacon. I find myself gravitating towards them, wholly skipping past the other half of the bathroom.

I run my hand over the grey stone, then over the white of the ivory. It’s as if magic is radiating off of it. My fingers are buzzing with it as they slide over to a particular tap on one of the sinks. It’s as the others are at first glance, but as I lean over to inspect it I notice an engraving on it.

A snake.

I brush my fingertips over it once, twice, then grin. Slughorn has no idea what he’s done. Now I can do exactly what Salazar Slytherin has intended.

My mouth opens as if on command. “Open,” I say. They are not words, instead a hiss of parseltongue.

If there were any doubt of my lineage, they instantly fall away as something shifts from inside the sink. Rock rumbles against rock, sliding and moving until the sink disappears, leaving a dark opening in its wake.

A descending tunnel of stone winds down into the darkness. I do not think twice before stepping into it. A loud click follows me into the pathway, the light from the bathroom cut off by the tunnel closing. The air is stale and thick to breathe in. My polished shoes step down slowly, pebbles sliding underneath and trickling down the pathway ahead of me.

It is not long before everything opens up into a cave. Stalagmites connect from the floor to the ceiling like teeth of a mouth. A particularly large one hangs down beside me as I walk to a large circular door that is centered on a rock wall in front of me.

It is as wide as it is tall. Although I am nearly six feet, it towers over me with ease. Engraved on it is seven snakes; each of them are combined on the left, only to disconnect into separate snakes that each turn a different direction. I marvel at it for only a moment, aware of the dwindling time frame that hangs above my head.

Soon, Slughorn would tell Dumbledore and surely he would seek me out. I could not be here when he searches.

Familiarity tugs at me like before, and I hiss, “Open up.”. Immediately, another stone snake begins to slither around the edges, the other stone reptiles receding as it passes. Soon, the door clicks and begins to open outward. I take a step back, watching as the thick rock reveals another smaller tunnel dipped in a dim, green light. This time, though, I am able to see past it.

A pathway of stone stretches out before me. Gigantic statues of snakes with open mouths and glaring fangs line the pathway on each side, each as menacing as the next. The taps of my shoes on the rock are the only noise as I continue on, staring ahead at something I have only dreamed of seeing.

Chiseled onto the far wall is the face of Salazar Slytherin. It is impressively detailed; lines mark just below a bald head showing his age and tendrils of a beard climb on the wall below and on either side of him. Stone lips are closed below a mustache, until they aren’t.

They open with a great rumbling. It shakes the floor below me as they widen, revealing a dark hole. From inside a loud hiss could be heard. It echoed around the chamber as goosebumps rose up on my skin.

I knew what it had to be. It was no surprised one lurked in Salazar’s hall, as the Basilisk had been notoriously bred by dark wizards. However, no reading could prepare for the absolute size of the beast as it slithered out into the feeble light.

It was ginormous and easily dwarfed the size of the snake statues. Dark green scales flashed in the light as it approached, sending out shimmering rays into the air. Large, yellow eyes stared ahead, and I knew enough not to look back. I set my eyes on its body, instead.

Only meters away, it raised up. Its underbelly was a slightly lighter shade of green with the same glistening scales. Something from within seemed to be awoken in its presence. My hands raised upwards, palms facing the great snake.

“You’re mine,” I state, voice confident but breathless. I knew the creature would not harm me. It was Salazar Slytherins, that I was confident of, and I was his descendant. It would be as loyal to me as it was to him.

And together we would show this school the true power of magic. One that was not tainted with the blood of muggles.

[minedcrafts]

a part 2

also on ao3

---

“Fuck you. No literally fuck you, dude. I’m fucking done,” Quackity spat out. “Go find yourself a new vice president.”

Schlatt just rolled his eyes in response. “Yeah yeah just get off my fucking property already. We all know you’re too much of a pussy to even attack me,” he snarked.

Quackity was just so, so, so done with Schlatt’s shit. He didn’t fucking care anymore. Seething inside, he silently grabbed his bow and aimed it at Schlatt, who had already turned back to continue tearing down the white house.

The arrow whizzed through the air, missing Schlatt’s head by only a few centimeters. It collided with the stone wall behind him and clattered to the ground. Schlatt wordlessly shifted to face Quackity, a sinister look in his eyes.

His snarl morphed into a wide grin as he barked out a laugh. “So! Flatty Patty’s finally taking some fucking action! Heh, too bad it won’t do you any good now, though.”

Schlatt stomped towards Quackity menacingly, each step echoing off the partially destroyed walls. The former vice president took a step back in response but held his ground, grabbing another arrow.

Branding an axe from his inventory, the look in Schlatt’s eyes became more crazed. “Y’know, I was gonna just let you leave to, I dunno, fuck off into the woods or something,” he sneered. “But now, I want you gone FOR GOOD!”

Quackity fired his second arrow, but Schlatt struck it midair, breaking it in two. Before Quackity could react Schlatt lunged at him with a swing of his axe. A horrid, searing pain suddenly appeared in Quackity’s chest, causing him to let out a ringing scream.

Quackity fell to the ground harshly, the wind getting knocked out of him. He clutched his chest with one arm and looked up at Schlatt in horror. The president put a hand to his face and threw back his head in bone-chilling laughter. With a crooked smile, he raised his axe.

“Bye-bye, Quackity!”

Out of nowhere, an arrow lodged itself into Schlatt’s shoulder. He hissed in pain, grabbing the wound with his free hand. Quackity looked in the direction of where the arrow came from just in time to see that an ender pearl was rapidly approaching them.

With a familiar vwoop sound and a flash of light, none other than Tommy appeared. He barreled into Schlatt with his shield, sending the president tumbling down the hill. Quackity stared at the rebel in utter shock. “Tommy!?” he breathed.

Tommy whipped around to face Quackity. “Big Q!” he shouted as he took off sprinting towards him. As soon as he was close, Tommy outstretched a hand. “Big Q we gotta get out of here!” he yelled in a panicked voice.

In hindsight, Quackity was about to make a pretty big decision. But in the moment, there was really only one option. He took Tommy’s hand and was subsequently pulled to his feet. Keeping hold of Quackity’s hand, Tommy hurriedly threw another ender pearl over the hill behind the white house, and a few seconds later they were both teleported into the woods.

They both breathed heavily, still bewildered from what just happened. Now out of imminent danger, the pain from Quackity’s wound finally caught up to him. He groaned, clutching his chest even harder as he felt his knees start to go weak. In response, Tommy quickly draped one of Quackity’s arms over his shoulders, letting the other lean on him for support.

“C’mon Big Q, we got to get you somewhere safe,” Tommy stated.

They walked wordlessly for a minute, Quackity attempting to suppress the small grunts he let out with every step. Eventually, though, he found he had to break the silence. “...Why are you even helping me? Aren’t we enemies?”

Tommy snorted as he looked over at Quackity. “Really, Big Q?  Schlatt just tried to murder you - are you really still on his side now?”

With that question, the reality of his situation finally clicked fully in his head. “Heh, I guess not,” Quackity muttered. He glanced ahead of them, then back to Tommy. “Where are you taking me anyway?”

Tommy grew quiet, seemingly mulling something over. After a few moments, he nodded to himself, and with a serious look in his eyes he replied, “To Pogtopia.”

---

Through a hidden door and down a spiral staircase, Quackity entered Pogtopia for the first time. Beams, bridges, and lanterns decorated the ravine, giving the place an industrial feel. A few rooms were mined out of the stone walls. It wasn’t exactly what Quackity expected their base to be, and yet it seemed like a fitting home for a (literally) underground group of rebels.

No one else was in the center of the ravine at the moment, so Tommy called out, “Niki! I need some help here!”

Niki exited from one of the various rooms a few seconds later. “What is Tom-” she started, but then cut herself off with a loud gasp. “Oh my goodness!” she exclaimed, immediately sprinting towards the stairs.

She soon climbed up and reached the two boys. “What happened?” she asked, worry seeping into her voice.

“We’ll explain soon, just help me get him down first,” Tommy replied. Niki quietly nodded. She took Quackity’s other arm, and the two of them slowly helped him down the stairs.

Once on solid ground, Niki let go of Quackity and went ahead into the room she came out of earlier. Tommy and Quackity soon followed suit. The room seemed fairly new; on the right was an empty bed and on the left was… Tubbo. He was all bandaged up and sleeping soundly in another bed. A different kind of pain panged in Quackity’s chest, but he was also relieved that Tubbo was alright.

Carefully, Tommy helped Quackity onto the free bed. Niki soon came back over, bandages in hand. Tommy stepped back and propped himself up against the wall to let Niki start tending to Quackity. Gently, she removed his now-bloody shirt, then started wrapping the bandages around his chest.

Quackity had mostly been looking down at the ground since he entered Pogtopia, but he now decided to tilt his head up to look Niki in the eyes. In response, she gave him a small but warm smile. “The wound isn’t too deep, you’re gonna be fine,” she said softly.

Quackity was dumbfounded. Just the other day, she had been glaring daggers at him and Schlatt as she wailed and screamed over Tubbo’s supposed death. And yet here she was, smiling at him while she bandaged him up. Did she just pity him? Or did she sense his discomfort on that stage and the anger that still loomed around him from his fight with Schlatt?

His thoughts, however, were cut short when a voice from the entrance of the room yelled, “Wh- Quackity!?”

The three of them all turned to face the owner of the voice. Wilbur stood in the doorway, confusion spread across his face. “Why is he here?” he demanded.

Tommy pushed himself off the wall and quickly took a few steps forward. “Wilbur let me explain, he-”

“Tommy,” Wilbur interrupted, “Tommy I know that he brought Tubbo back to you, but that doesn’t mean that you can let him into our base! What if- he could’ve just done that to trick you into trusting him!”

“Wilbur, please calm down,” Niki said hurriedly.

“No,” he replied sternly, “He’s literally the vice president, we can’t let him be here!”

Tommy took a few more steps forward, balling his fists. “Yeah, and Schlatt literally just tried to murder him! There’s no way we're throwing him out now!”

A heavy silence fell over the room. Niki put a hand over her mouth and Wilbur stared at Quackity with wide eyes, perhaps only now registering the fresh bandages on his chest.

Wilbur let out a long sigh, running a hand through his hair, then looked back up at Tommy. “Explain everything that happened, in detail,” he ordered.

Tommy nodded and explained what he saw as quickly as he could. Quackity listened in silence, occasionally nodding to confirm what Tommy was saying. Once he was done, Tommy looked directly at Wilbur. “Do you understand why I brought him here now?”

“...I do,” Wilbur sighed, “But it still wasn’t the best idea to bring him here. Just because he’s not with Schlatt anymore doesn’t mean that he’ll be on our side now.”

Tommy turned back to face Quackity. “Well, we should probably get that info from the big man himself.”

All eyes were on him now. Quackity took a moment to collect his thoughts, then responded, “Schlatt is a dick. I made that deal with him ‘cause I thought he would be a better president, but boy was I wrong,” he chuckled darkly. “He constantly undermined me and never listened to a fucking word I said. He’s gone completely power crazy! I… I wanna overthrow him. I wanna overthrow Schlatt and take power back.”

A big grin formed on Tommy’s face. Conversely, Wilbur walked up to Quackity with a complex mix of emotions on his face. “So, you want to join us?” he questioned.

“...Yes. I’ll join Pogtopia,” Quackity declared.

Despite just gaining an ally, the expression on Wilbur’s face did not change. “Very well,” he muttered, then walked back to the entrance of the room. He mumbled something else under his breath, then disappeared from sight.

Well, that was certainly odd. Quackity glanced at Tommy and Niki, who both looked worried. “Er…,” Tommy hesitated, “Don’t mind him. He… hasn’t exactly been in the best state of mind since we got exiled. If he does anything weird, just stick with me, okay?”

Quackity nodded quietly. “Anyway!” Tommy said, bouncing back from the tense atmosphere, “Welcome to the gang Big Q! If you’re feeling up to it tomorrow, I’ll show you around the place.”

“Tomorrow may still be a bit too soon,” Niki interjected worriedly.

“Well then I’ll give you the tour in two days!” Tommy affirmed.

Niki sighed, but Quackity couldn’t help but chuckle at Tommy’s enthusiasm. There was a heaviness that hung over the ravine, but compared to Manburg, he could tell that the people here actually had the drive to do something. It gave him a sense of hope that things may actually get better. Maybe, just maybe.

He looked at Tommy with a grin on his face. “I’ll look forward to it.”

---

Tubbo, who had woken up when Wilbur started yelling, smiled to himself. Maybe Quackity isn’t all that bad, he thought as he drifted back to sleep.

Techno, who had heard the yelling from his farm, decided that he didn’t have time to get involved in any character arcs right now and simply continued to tend to his beloved potatoes.

[thebonerpit]

tip of your tongue [fic]

tip of your tongue

Rom Howney, 2213 words, [E], read on Ao3 here

Tom has a terrible gag reflex and Robert just wants to help, aka, 2020: the year that inspires us to make mouth swabs sexy. (Cannot believe an Instagram video of Tom gagging on a swab would help get over my writer’s block...)

“Happy to see you’re being safe, even if that looks very uncomfortable. Awful gag reflex, by the way. Miss ya underoos.”

Most of the time, Tom assumes Robert never even sees his Instagram posts. He figures he’s too busy with other way more important movie star type things, or hanging out with his family, or doing literally anything other than browsing Instagram for hours like Tom does when he’s bored. But of course he happens to catch the one where he gags about two seconds after having that evil fucking swab shoved down his throat. It’s embarrassing, to say the least. He can practically see Robert’s smirk as he reads the DM.

Tom feels his cheeks colour slightly. Emboldened by the two beers he has just downed, he quickly types out a response and hits “send” before he can change his mind.

“It was horrid, but worth it. And yeah, haven’t had much chance to practice. xoxo.”

He throws his phone down on the couch so hard it bounces off and hits the floor.

“Fuck,” he hisses, grabbing for it and sinking back into the cushions in relief when the screen doesn’t show any visible cracks. Then he stares at it for a good ten minutes, totally NOT waiting for a response from Robert. Not at all. But when one doesn’t come he groans and buries his face in one of the big, soft pillows beside him.

“I’m such a fucking idiot,” he says into the fabric. “I wonder how long it would take to suffocate myself like this.”

“Are you saying something?! Why d’you sound like you’ve got your head in a jar?” Harry yells across the house. Tom groans again but launches himself off the couch and in the direction of Harry’s voice, leaving his phone on the coffee table, hoping for a distraction.

Ten o’clock that evening there’s a notification blinking at him. Tom nearly drops the phone again in his haste to check it.

“Didn’t think so, a good boy like you. Take it from someone who knows… practice does make perfect. I hear bananas work well. You have those in England, don’t you?”

Tom makes a painful, strangled noise that has Harry running to see if he’s broken something.

For some reason, they keep texting. It moves from Instagram DMs to actual text messages and Tom thinks that’s meaningful in some way… maybe… or not. Sometimes they’re flirty, sometimes they’re completely benign. Tom’s working on Uncharted and it keeps him too busy to dwell on it most of the time, until there’s a break in shooting for a week and he’s responding to Robert’s texts WAY too eagerly and he’d be mortified for himself if Robert wasn’t responding just as fast.

One night, after a few beers (again, god, he really needs to stop drinking) he sends a video. Because he has been practicing, actually. Not with bananas but with his toothbrush every morning, so that’s what he uses. He smiles at the camera and then opens wide and slides the handle into his mouth, taking care to concentrate on his breathing. His tongue pokes out underneath it and if he curls it slightly around the handle it was only to hold it steady, of course. The brush goes in a respectable distance until he feels his throat spasm and he gags slightly as he pulls it back out. His eyes water but he smiles again and does a completely dorky thumbs up before cutting the video off.

He cracks open another beer to wait with but the response comes almost immediately.

“Jesus, you’re pretty. Working hard, I see? Very good, I’m so proud.”

Tom blushes at the praise and squirms happily, kicking his feet a little. He’s alone in his hotel room, who fucking cares, Robert makes him giddy and he’ll kick his feet if he wants to.

“Aww you really think I’m pretty? I am working hard. Can even do it with the banana.”

“Show me.”

Fuck. FUCK. Tom hasn’t even attempted the banana yet but he didn’t expected Robert to respond… like that. He hops off the bed, grabs it from the bowl in the kitchenette, and immediately sticks it in his mouth.

“Peel it first, you absolute fucking moron,” he says with a grimace, and takes another swig of beer to wash away the taste of banana peel. He only has one banana, though, so if he’s gonna do this he has to film it right away or else it might start falling to bits after, er, repeated use. So he sets up his phone at an attractive angle and hits record.

He smiles again, less cheesy this time and what he hopes is more seductive, before turning slightly to the side and opening his mouth. The sweetness is almost overwhelming on its own, never mind how much thicker the banana is than a toothbrush, but he takes it slowly and slips it over his tongue. He has to close his lips around it, there isn’t really any other way, so he takes the opportunity to glance at the camera when he does, eyes lidded and slightly hazy from the alcohol. He stops about halfway down and makes a pathetic little sad noise because he knows he’s almost at his limit but fuck he wants to impress Robert so badly… so against his better judgement, he keeps going. Tom pulls out every trick in the book: breathing through his nose, squeezing his thumb in his fist, pressing up with his tongue. He makes it further than he did with the toothbrush before he chokes and slides the saliva-slick banana back out of his mouth with a wet gasp. There is a silvery thread of spit connecting his bottom lip to the end of the banana, and he stares directly in the camera as he licks it away.

This time there are actual tears in his eyes, and one slides down his cheek as he leans in to rasp out, “Did I do a good job?”

When the FaceTime notification pops up he nearly falls off the edge of the bed. There is absolutely no time to make himself look presentable or cool in any way, so he sets up the phone on the nightstand and answers with a tear-streaked face and a little bit of banana in the corner of his mouth.

Tom assumes Robert is in L.A. but it’s dark in whatever room he’s calling from, his face lit up by the soft glow of a desk lamp. A small thrill shoots up Tom’s spine at how blown his pupils are.

“What are you trying to do to me, hm?” he says, his voice quiet and half-wrecked.

“I’m just doing what you told me to… sir…”

Robert growls – actually GROWLS – and Tom feels it in every nerve of his body.

“Is that so?”

“Mmhmm. Practicing.”

Tom’s always been terrible at dirty talk, and he doesn’t think he’s ever had phone sex before, but he is an actor, so he lets himself slip into the role of someone who knows what the fuck they’re doing. It’s a lot easier with a scene partner like Robert.

“Practicing… yeah, I’ll bet. Practicing for something even bigger?”

“I… I don’t know. Am I?”

Did he really just ask Robert Downey Jr. how big his dick is?

Robert smirks and bites at his plush lower lip.

“Show me your hands,” he says.

Tom furrows his brow, confused, but raises his hands up anyway.

“Perfect. Lovely, long fingers. Put them in your mouth.”

It’s an order, and an order given so confidently and almost carelessly, like he knows Tom is going to obey. It’s devastatingly attractive.

“H-how many?”

“Start with two. As deep as you can.”

He does it. He tastes faintly of banana but it’s quickly washed away down his throat as he gags on his own fingers.

“Easy, sweet thing, no rush. Work them in nice and slow, close your lips around- yes, perfect, just like that…”

Tom’s eyelids flutter closed and he just lets Robert’s words wash over him as he slides his fingers over his tongue, deeper and deeper into his throat. His teeth knock against his knuckles and he moans when he realizes they’re in as far as they can go.

“Perfect,” Robert says. “Now suck.”

A whine escapes around his fingers, unbidden, and Robert answers with a low groan. Tom hollows his cheeks and does exactly what Robert tells him. He slides his fingers back out a bit only to suck them back in, almost petting his own tongue. He tries to go a bit faster, almost fucking his own face, but the repeated motion makes him gag again and he wrenches his hand away, coughing and sputtering and wiping spit off his chin.

“S-sorry,” he gasps, more tears spilling over his cheeks.

“Oh, no, you’re doing so good, baby,” Robert reassures, “so fucking good.”

He sounds breathless, and Tom wipes at his eyes so he can see him better. Robert shifts in his chair and Tom can see his arm moving under the desk and oh holy fuck he’s jerking off, he’s jerking off right now on the phone and Tom is about to DIE.

“Lemme see,” he blurts out, his eyes desperately focused on Robert’s arm.

Robert pauses and raises an eyebrow.

“Ask nicely.”

“Please! Shit, please, please lemme see.”

“Are you sure?” His voice is more serious this time. He knows that this is a line that is about to be crossed. It’s almost sweet, in a way, that he’s concerned about getting Tom’s consent and all, but really Tom was already winding up to fucking pole vault across that line so he just nods furiously and shoves his fingers back in his mouth to whine around them again.

Robert exhales through his nose and pushes his chair back from the desk. His fly is open but his trousers and underwear are still mostly pulled up so all Tom can see is his cock. And fuck, it’s a gorgeous cock. Thick and dark in his hand, wet at the head where he’s been leaking during their little conversation, one prominent vein that is just begging to be traced with his tongue.

“There,” Robert practically coos, “is that better, sweet thing? Can you imagine this in your mouth instead of those pretty little fingers?”

“Mmhmm,” Tom answers around the digits in his mouth. God, he can practically taste it. He’s rock hard in his jeans and part of him wants to touch himself too but Robert didn’t say he could, so he settles for rubbing against the mattress as he sucks on his fingers. There’s more saliva in his mouth and it’s starting to make everything sound incredibly wet and filthy, slurping and popping and squelching, but Robert seems to love it.

“I bet you’d look so damn good on your knees in front of me… those big eyes… fuck.”

Tom shifts around on the bed so he’s facing the camera, so he can look directly into the lens. Robert’s eyes flash when he realizes what he’s doing.

“God, you’re such a good boy, aren’t you? So obedient. So eager to please.”

He nods and continues to suck on his fingers, adding in a third to stretch his lips even wider.

“You’re gonna make me come, baby,” Robert mutters. His hand is flying over his cock but his eyes are laser-focused on Tom’s mouth. “Gonna make me shoot all over that pretty face.”

Tom is fairly certain he’s never been this turned on in his entire life. He lets his fingers slip out of his mouth.

“Please, I want it,” he gasps, and opens his mouth wide, tongue out like he’s waiting to taste everything Robert is willing to give him. He looks up at him through the lens, fluttering his eyelashes and petting his tongue with his slick fingers, and Robert comes with a harsh shout. Robert comes because of him. It makes him tremble and rut against the bed and within a few seconds he’s making a mess of his own boxers like he’s a teenager again.

There’s an echo of harsh breathing for a few moments as they both ride out the aftershocks, and then Tom hears shuffling from Robert’s end. He looks back up to see him tucked under the desk again which makes him pout. He misses that dick already.

“It’s gonna be a while before we see each other again,” Robert says. He’s trying to look casual, but Tom can tell when he’s acting. God knows he’s seen it enough. “We should stop texting. You’ll forget about this by then, and I won’t feel like as much of a creep. Hopefully.”

“Or…” Tom starts.

“Or?”

“Or, we keep texting, and I keep practicing, and when I see you I won’t have forgotten ANY of this and I’ll be able to suck your brains out through your gorgeous dick.”

Robert’s eyes widen, and then he throws his head back with a ridiculous sounding guffaw of a laugh. Tom laughs too and blows a kiss to the camera when Robert’s face is back in frame. He shakes his head but mimes catching it and pressing it to his lips.

“I could be ok with that.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

[elysiashelby]

In Another World - T. Shelby Imagine Ch. 5

Paring: (Eventual) Thomas Shelby x Aliena Welsh (OC)

Fandom: Peaky Blinders

Word Count: 5, 835

WARNINGS: Cursing

Summary: Aliena Welsh has been living in the universe of the show Peaky Blinders for a year, and the time has come for the show to start. But how will this affect her and Thomas’ relationship?

MASTERLIST  CHAPTER 4  CHAPTER 5.2

A/N: So, there was supposed to be chapters before this one, but because I have such a hard time writing Aliena’s character into the show, I decided that those extra chapter will come after I finish S1! The first line break will indicate spoilers for those chapters, so skip to the second one, if you want to avoid reading what’s gonna happen.  

“Tommy! Tommy!” A man yelled from outside.

I was jolted from me sleep, and me body sprang forward. I wasn’t the only one who had this reaction. Tommy ‘n I both sprang up. We looked at each for a second before he leaned over me body and looked out the window. 

Tommy let out a little sigh of relief. “It’s just Curly.” He yanked the blankets off of himself. 

Meanwhile, I was busy rubbing the sleep out of me eyes. “Why would he be here at night? Did you get a new horse, Tom?”

He was busy getting his work pants on. “No. It should be about a delivery that was supposed to come in.”

Me ears perked up. “A delivery?” I leaned closer to him, practically leaning over his shoulder.

Tommy was putting on his shoes. “Yeah. I made a deal with a guy in London. Wanted motorcycles.” 

I widened me eyes in shock. 

‘The show is beginning…’

Just as Tommy was rising to his feet, I grabbed his arm. 

His eyebrows furrowed then his hand stroked me face. “What’s wrong?” He asked.

I kept looking side to side. I was trying to come up with a proper excuse. I was brought out of me trance when Tommy placed down his other hand on me face and tugged me to look at him. 

“Oi, Ali! What’s wrong?”

I huffed, closing me eyes shut before opening them. “Guns.” I said with a shrug. “Guns not motorcycles.” 

Tommy blinked his eyes a bunch of times before he shook his head with a dismissive scoff. “No, Aliena, it’s a shipment of motorcycles. Go back to sleep. I’ll be back.” 

I rolled me eyes, shoving off his lingering hand on me face. I hummed. “Yeah, you’ll see. If you wanna talk ‘bout it when you come back, just wake me up. I don’t mind.” I turned 'round and laid back down.

“Right...” The bed springs sang as he stood up. I heard the door close rather than saw it. It took some time, but I went back to sleep. 

“Aliena, wake up! Wake up, right now!” Tommy yelled as he shook me. He held me up by me arms.

Me eyes were squinted as I was trying to find the strength to open them. “Wha?”

“How did you-? No…” He muttered something before he began to speak again, “What’s a TV show? Explain to me how you knew about the guns.” 

I chuckled with a smile on me face. I couldn’t help it. “Can you think about letting me go first? You’re soaking wet, by the way.” He let me go but the crazed look on his face never went away.

“Explain.”

I nodded. I started to climb out of the bed. “A TV show is like a series of movie pictures.” I stood on me feet, reached up, and carefully took off his cap. Tommy was just staring down at me.

“Except they’re shorter and meant to tell the same story in this case, at least.” I slipped off his drenched coat, never looking away from his gaze.

“A TV show has episodes and sometimes if it’s successful, or they were highly popular- they would have a season. A season or sometimes called a series, they both mean a collection of episodes.” I turned around and went to hang his coat on a chair.

“So, you’re telling me that me and my family had something like that. In what, your world?” He scoffed to himself. A hand raised to his mouth, going over his bottom lip. 

I turned back to him. I knew I had a grave look on me face. I tried to look stern as I replied. “Yes.” 

He shook his head while pursing his lips. “No.” He muttered.

I sighed, looking down at me hands while trying to pick out the non-existent dirt from under them. “Try not to think of it like that.” I rushed to him and cradled his face in me hands. “Think of me as Gypsy kin like you said. I can see into the future, that’s all. I have dreams. I hear spirits.” 

Tommy chucked humorlessly and looked up while his tongue poked out to quickly lick his bottom lip. He tsked as he brought his head back down while nodding. “Right.”

“I don’t know what else to say.” I laughed nervously while looking away. I never took me hands from his face. 

Tommy sniffed before saying. “We keep this between us. You can’t tell anyone else. They’ll lose their minds, or think you’ve lost yours. I have questions. Can you answer them?”

I, finally, put me arms down. I shrugged. “Don’t know. It would depend. But you can give it a shot.”

Tommy sat down, so I scurried to do the same. 

“The guns that just came. Would I be-! No. … Is it safe to keep them?” He asked.

I furrowed me eyebrows as I scoffed. “Tommy, it’s common sense that it’s not safe to keep ‘em.”

He sighed. “Not like that. Would it be a stepping stone to the family business?”

I thought about it. “Yes.” I jumped as I had a thought. “I got it. I’m not giving you any details, so form your questions into ones that can be answered by ‘yes’ or ‘no’.”

Tommy leaned forward, spread out his knees a bit, then rested his elbows on his knees while his hands held up his head. 

There was silence for a while. I managed to keep sane as I fiddled with me hands. Tried cracking them all.

Tommy cleared his throat. “Very soon, I’m going to take a horse down to Garrison courts. There’s a rumor that a Chinese girl there is a witch. I’m gonna pay her to do the powder trick. Does it pay off?”

I whispered. “Yes.” 

Without any warning, he stood up and walked to the door. Before he left, he said. “Go on back to sleep.” He closed the door behind him.

I was staring at the door long after he was gone. The room was oddly colder than before. I ran out of Tommy’s room and went into me own. I didn’t go back to sleep. I just drew until it was time for me to go to work.

It’s been a year since I magically appeared in the universe of Peaky Blinders. It’s been a wild ride. Me birthday here was celebrated with the Shelby’s and me girlfriends. Polly got me paints and pencils for me drawings. Ada’s present had to be given to me at night since it was lingerie. She said it was because I would have a fella of me own anytime now.

‘Yeah, right!’

Arthur was so sweet and bought me canvases. Only to find out it was because John had bought me paints, who was beaten to the punch by Polly. They told me after that they planned on giving me two pound each if I didn’t like the present. 

I had to get me present from Tommy the day after me birthday. He walked with me a little ways out of Small Heath, where there was a lone tree in a field. I could see it now. I remember clasping me hands over me mouth. Me tears wasting no time to flow down me face. I ran to it and started tracing the lettering engraved into headstone that was there under it. 

I talked about it in passing. I never expected for him to get it done for me. I told him that I wanted a headstone for me ma’. I would never see her again, so I wanted somewhere where I could grieve me loss. He gave me that. I sobbed into his arms so much that day.

It sucked going over to the Ritz after that. I was supposed to still be having fun which I was, but me eyes stung. Angelica gifted me expensive dresses she thought I would like, and I did. Christiana gave me hair accessories which I appreciated. Cassie gave me a pearl necklace. I cried again. It was me da’s birthstone. It was like I got them back for a day. 

Despite me joy for having a place for me ma’ and carrying a piece of me da’ around, I think it made me depression worse. After all, me ma’s birthday was in February. The guns were found a week before me ma’s birthday. 

On that day, I had Freddie drive me to Blackpool beach. I had me a good ‘ol breakdown at there, then I went back home. I didn’t explain it to Freddie, but I think he understood. He must have known that I was grieving.

I locked meself in me room and got bladdered. I stole a bottle of whiskey and almost drank it all. I should have known that Tommy would catch me. He decided to babysit me, and made sure I scarfed down some bread and drank water before I went to sleep. I made him talk to me, though. I made him talk to me ‘til I fell asleep.

Work was hell the next day. I wasn’t hungover, but I had a good headache. Had a cob on the whole day, but I had to keep a lid on it. It’s hard dealing with people who control your salary the whole day ‘cause if ya piss them off— they can easily dock your pay. 

Mrs. Davies down at the bakery and Mrs. Aitken down at the flower shop loved pinching me cheeks. It was nice at first, but then they started fucking doing it harder and harder every time I came in.

Anyway, the first season starts today since Tommy told me in the morning that he’s taking Monaghan Boy down to Garrison courts. 

‘Let me tell you, I am not happy that I’m gonna have to deal with Grace fucking Burgess. I do not want to see Thomas Shelby fall in love! In front of me face! It’s torture! As if I’m not already depressed. I have enough baggage all on me own, sir!’

I stopped sweeping the floor and pinched the bridge of me nose. This is how fucking gutted I am! I exhaled slowly before I decided to stop worrying ‘bout the inevitable and focus on me work. 

“Finn?” That was Tommy.

Me mind instantly connected the dots and I ran to the parlor. I got there just in time as he picked up Finn’s discarded ciggie. 

“Finn Shelby, what in the ‘ell are you doing smoking? Stop smirking, Tom. Arthur wants you.” I took the ciggie out of hand and pushed him aside. 

“Sorry, bud. You’re on your own.” Tommy lightly brushed the back of his cap on Finn’s face as he left. 

Finn looked up at me. I shook me head. I crouched down to meet his gaze. 

“What have I told you abar these horrid things? Huh, Finn! Just ‘cause your brothers smoke doesn’t mean you hafta.” I stubbed out the ciggie and left it in the dish. 

“But it’s no fun being the only one who doesn’t do it. They don’t have anyone yelling at them.” He said with a pout.

I huffed, feeling annoyed. “That’s not true. I nag Tommy all the time.” I crossed me arms.

“Liar! I’ve never seen it!” 

“Yeah ‘cause then he wouldn’t be able to face ya, so I have to scold him in secret. So, don’t tell ‘em I told you about it.” I ran me hand over his hair, smoothing it out. “I catch you with one of these again ‘n I’ll smack you upside the head. I promise.” 

“No, you won’t.” 

“I bloody will!” 

Suddenly, there was a shout that caught our attention and I flew to me feet. 

“I'm calling a family council tonight at 8:00. I want all of us there. You hear me? There's trouble coming.” Arthur yelled as Tommy stormed off. 

Arthur and I made eye contact ‘n we just nodded at each other. I walked around the table and shut the door to the betting shop. I dusted off me hands then turned me attention back to Finn. 

“Go on then, la. It’s your free day.” I walked back into the living room where I had to finish sweeping. 

Finn followed after me. He sat in one of the two chairs. 

“Aliena,” He said. “when I grow older, you’ll be my wife, right?”

I froze at the question, or was it a statement? I giggled. 

‘Does little Finn have a crush on me?’

I stopped laughing and asked. “What are you on abar, Finn?”

“I don’t know. I figured that when I grow up, you’ll marry me.”

I began to giggle again. “Finn Shelby, you won’t even propose to me. Just expect it of me, eh? Well, I’ll make you a deal. If I’m still single by the time I’m 30, I’ll marry you.”

Finn jumped off the chair and rushed over to me. I had to crouch again to meet his eyes.

“You promised, Ali! You can’t take it back!” His smile was so big and adorable. It made me heart melt. 

‘I can’t believe that me first love confession is from a 10 almost 11 year old. Just me luck!’

“Now you take me promises seriously, huh? Yes, I promise. Now, run along. I still need to work out some errands, and I can’t have you bugging me.” I shoved him toward the door, and I didn’t pay attention to where he ran off to. 

True to me word, I got done with the sweeping then went on to finish me errands. Mrs. Davies’ pinch was slightly less harder than Mrs. Aitken’s today, and thank the Lord for it! 

‘I swear one of these days these ladies are gonna leave me with bruises!’

I had to run to the house ‘cause Mrs. Davies was chatting me up for so long. When I got there, Polly and John were walking in at the same time. They noticed me. 

“Aliena, how come you aren’t in the house already?” Polly asked me. 

I had to run a few more steps before I was caught up with them. “Mrs. Davies was chatting me up again. Wouldn’t let me leave ‘til I finally made up an excuse.” I was clutching me side since it had cramped up a little. 

‘I’m getting better at running. Which is good since I’m, well, maybe used to be an asthmatic. I don’t even need glasses to see far away anymore!’

“Well, shit. Looks like when the meetings over, we’ll have to fucking hussle to make dinner.” 

John opened the door for us and we walked in first. We walked into the betting room where Finn was standing by the door of. 

Polly and I walked on ahead. 

John said to Finn, “Sorry, little man. Maybe when you’re older.”

Arthur clapped his hands before shouting. “You’re all late. Why the-!”

“Yeah and we’re here now. Let’s get on with it.” Polly interrupted while taking off her coat and taking a seat. 

John took a seat and I leaned on a beam next to him. Me eyes naturally drifted over to Tommy’s direction. He had a ciggie burning. 

‘I swear this man! Well, baby steps.’

I’m fucking tellin’ a blag to meself, but at least I got him off the opium. He’s not drinking or smoking any less, though. 

‘I’ll give him one year. On December 3rd when the season is over, I’ll get to him. By all that’s holy, I’ll be bugging him abar his smoking!’

I think he felt me glare ‘cause he looked straight at me. I knew I was caught, but I wasn’t flustered. I glared at the ciggie by his side then back up at him. 

The little fucker just smirked and raised it to his lips. 

I rolled me eyes and looked to Arthur who was about to start the meeting. 

“Right! I've called this family meeting because I've got some very important news. Scudboat and Lovelock got back from Belfast last night. They were buying a stallion to cover their mares. They were in a pub on the Shankhill Road yesterday, and in that pub there was a copper. Handing out these.” Arthur said as he passed one to Ada then the rest of the pile to Lovelock.

Ada passed it onto John who read it aloud. “If you're over five feet and can fight, come to Birmingham." John passed it to Polly.

“They're recruiting Protestant Irishmen to come over here as Specials.” Arthur told us.

“To do what?” Ada asked.

“To clean up the city, Ada.” Tommy answered. “He's a Chief Inspector. The last four years, he's been clearing the IRA out of Belfast.”

I bit me lip as I knew that the tension in ‘ere would start to rise.

Arthur asked, quite agitated- might I add. “How do you know so bloody much?”

“'Cause I asked the coppers on our payroll.”

“And why didn't you tell me?”

“I'm telling you.”

Arthur took a swing out of his flask. I’m not equipped to handle stressful environments within friendly prescenes. So, I was making dumb faces in the corner. Like meme worthy faces. I literally did a tight lipped smile, that “white people” meme smile. I sported that smile with me eyebrows raised while widening me eyes, and looking away to the corner where no one stood.

“So, why are they sending him to Birmingham?” Polly asked with a magnifying glass in her hand.

“Well, there's been all these bloody strikes at the BSA. And the Austin works, lately. Now the papers are talking about sedition. And revolution. I reckon it's communists he's after.” Tommy said. 

But I noticed that when he said the comment about the communists, it got a reaction out of Ada.

“So this copper's gonna leave us alone, right?” 

“There are Irishmen in Green Lanes who left Belfast to get away from him. They say Catholic men who crossed him used to disappear in the night.”

“Yeah, but we ain't IRA.” John said. The attention turning on him. “We bloody fought for the King. Anyway, we're Peaky Blinders. We're not scared of coppers.”

“He’s right.” Arthur said.

Then, John delivered that famous line. “If they come for us, we'll cut them a smile each.” 

Let me just say, I had to hide me smirk. It was crazy how I felt pride when he said that.

“So, Arthur. Is that it?” Thomas asked. He looked unimpressed. 

“What do you think, Aunt Pol?” Arthur completely dismissed Tommy. 

Polly looked over at Thomas. I knew she knew that Tommy was up to something. I just hoped she never suspected I knew anything abar it too.

“This family does everything open. You've nothing more to say to this meeting, Thomas?”

“No. Nothing that's women's business.”

“This whole bloody enterprise was women's business while you boys were away at war. What's changed?”

“We came back.” 

Polly said or did anything after that. I was expecting a judgemental hum, at least! 

“Right! This concludes the family meeting!” Arthur announced. 

Polly stood straight up, her chair scraping the wood floor. “Come on, Aliena. We need to hurry up with dinner.” 

I followed her into the kitchen.

After dinner, I noticed that Polly had pulled Tommy aside as I was taking everyone’s dirty dishes to be washed. Not a minute later, Tommy came up to me.

He cleared his throat, his hand reaching for a ciggie. 

“Reach for it now and I may just throw this cuppa water at you.” I said with a teasing smile.

“Don’t know why. You know I’ll smoke it the minute I’ll leave your sight.” 

I blew raspberries at him.

“Well, Polly asked me to join her in church. So, it’s best if you sleep in your room tonight. I’ll probably be working ‘til late morning anyway. Okay?” He was looking at me with such expecting eyes. I noticed that he always wanted a definitive answer from me, hardly ever accepting me nods. 

“Yeah. Got it.”

“Good.” The second our conversation was over, he reached for a ciggie again. I paid it no mind this time and focused on getting the dishes done. 

The next morning, I got up abar an hour earlier. I was almost tempted to go back to sleep, but instead I crawled out of bed and took out the suitcase that hid under me bed. I unlocked the one that had an assortment of items, and took out me locked diary. 

I still don’t know why I was given a suitcase full of miscellaneous item, but I knew they would come in handy someday.

When I first came here and I couldn’t sleep, I took the liberty of writing out what I could remember from each episode. I knew it would benefit me!

I wrote, ‘After Thomas and Polly talk, the scene shifts to Grace coming into town. She gets the job. Then, Arthur gets captured by Campbell and gets roughed up badly. Tommy goes to the Garrison where he meets Grace. He comes back to the house and-’

Simultaneously, I shut me eyes and shut the book. I heaved a big sigh. 

‘Tommy will meet Grace today. “Are you a whore?” The gobshite! He’ll probably start distancing himself from me.’

I sighed again. When I gathered me pride, I got up and decided to have an early start on the day. I won’t allow Thomas Shelby to write me off from his life like that. 

‘I don’t care if the little fucker sees me like a little sister. I’d still be special to him and that’s all that counts. He stands between me and the whorehouse, in me opinion.’  

I did me hair in a bun, as always, but I choose a maroon button-up shirt and a green midi length skirt. Look, the skirt came to about the middle of me legs, alright? Then, I made breakfast. Polly wasn’t up yet which was absolutely weird for me! I didn’t know if she was out doing something, or something.

When I was done eating, I got me coat ‘n headed out the door. Men greeted me and moved out of me way like always. When I got to John’s door, I was troubled. The kids weren’t used to seeing me this early neither was John. I didn’t want to exactly intrude, but I also wanted to get some stuff out of the way, so I could see the scene where Arthur comes home after he gets beat up. 

So with that in mind, I unlocked the door to John’s flat. I immediately started cooking breakfast. When seven rolled ‘round, footsteps came pattering down. A head peaked from ‘round the corner and it was Katie.

“Ailena?” She asked. “Why are you here so early?” 

I smiled at her. “I just missed youse. That’s all.”

She scoffed with a smile. “It’s only been a day.” She took a seat.

I got up from the chair I was sitting on ‘n poured her some juice. “A day can feel like an eternity.” 

We had some time to talk before John came down. He was definitely surprised, but happily took the breakfast I made him and left to the shop. Once he left, I went to get the other kids up. I had them all dressed and “in school” by 9 am.  

They moaned and groaned abar having to be taught by me, but they would learn it’s for their own benefit in the future. By the way, the only one who was civil was Katie and John Jr.. But that was because I just read ‘em books— so he had nothing to fuss abar. When it hit 10:30, I said me goodbyes and told them to stay safe. 

I rushed back home where I found Finn smoking. I kept me promise and smacked him upside the head. Told ‘em it was time for school ‘n he ran off to get his stuff. He was getting better. Already getting closer to reading in his grade level. 

See ever since I took up the job to be their teacher, I’ve gone to sleep later. It was around 3 in the morning when I was by meself and 12 when Tommy decided he needed sleep. Any other time I would have to hassle him to sleep. His sleep schedule was a mess, but no matter what- he always got up at 5:30 or 6. 5:30 is with sleep while the latter is without.

When I was by meself, I would stay up making the lessons. 

It would be critical thinking problems that you’d get back in the 2000s. Stuff that I was asked. For math, it ranged from each kid. Katie was on percentages and long division, Ilsa and Finn were on multiplication and division and the adding and subtracting of long numbers, while Robbie was barely learning how to add and subtract. John Jr. was learning how to count to 100. 

It was almost 12 when Arthur pounded at the front door. I had abandoned Finn and ran to tell Tommy, who was in his office in the shop. 

I opened the door without knocking which caused him to look up at me. 

“It’s Arthur.” I said, almost breathless. 

His eyes widened and he instantly got up and rushed past me. I followed after him. We both went to the parlor where Polly was looking after him, working on wrapping up his hand. Tommy took one look at his face then ran out. 

‘Grace.’ I thought. 

“Ali, heat up a kettle of water, will you?” Ada told me.

I nodded. I went into the kitchen, filled the kettle with water, and heated it up. 

“Here ya go, Ada.” I said once it was done.

She took it and set it aside while I walked over to John who was leaning on the doorway. I took on the left since he was on the right. 

“John, wipe the blood out of his eye.”

“Since when did you give orders?”

“I'm a trained nurse.”

John and I both had these smirks on our faces while Arthur scoffed.

“Don't make me laugh.” Arthur said. “It hurts me face.”

“I bloody am.”

“You went to one first aid class in the church hall and got thrown out for giggling.” John said.

“Not before I learned how to stop somebody from choking.”

“I'm not bloody choking, am I?” Arthur said.

“You will be when I wrap this cloth ‘round your neck.” Ada said while pouring the water into a pan. The door opened and in walked Tommy with a bottle of rum.

I couldn’t stop the chuckle that came from me throat. John and I looked at each other, still having similar smiles.

“Let me see him.” He walked ‘round to Arthur with a ciggie hanging from his lips. He inspected his face before giving ‘em the bottle of alcohol. “All right, have this.”

Arthur took one swing before putting it back down with a groan. Tommy wrang the cloth of its excess water. “Give me that.” He said, pouring some of the bottle into the cloth before pressing it against Arthur’s face.

He inhaled sharply in pain. 

“You’re all right.” Tommy said, trying to soothe him. Both of his hands cradling his brother’s face.

But Arthur clasped his hand around one of Tommy’s arms. “He said Mr Churchill sent him to Birmingham. National interest, he said. Something about a robbery.”

Tommy backed away from him. Almost visibly upset, if you knew how to read him. I didn’t miss the pointed stare Polly gave ‘em either. 

“He said he wants us to help him.”

John interrupted. “We don’t help coppers.”

“He knew all about our war records. He said we're patriots. Like him.” 

I scoffed to meself since I knew the truth. ‘Fucking bastard! Didn’t even fight in the war.’

“Wants us to be his eyes and ears. I said-!” Then, he groaned in pain. Polly sh-ing him up as she bandaged his hands. “I said we'd have a family meeting, take a vote.”

Tommy said nothing. Just kept staring off. Now that the show was starting, it was so much easier to read him. It was obvious to me that he was rattled, but I’m sure to the rest of the family it looked like he couldn’t have been bothered.

“Well, why not? Hmm? We've no truck with Fenians or communists.” 

Tommy kept his mouth shut again. He was looking over at Polly and then at me. He exhaled audibly before Arthur started up again.

“What's wrong with you? What the fuck is wrong with him lately?” He turned to Polly.

She said. “If I knew, I'd buy the cure from Compton's chemists. Ali, come help me clean his face up.”

I stood straight. Tommy and I shared a glance before I looked away and took the cloth that had been discarded onto the table into me hands. I barely touched his face with it and he fuckin’ hissed.

It was the dead of night. I was busy correcting past homework that I had given to the kids. I was on Finn’s math when I heard Tommy’s door open and then close.  If I remember correctly, he was supposed to use his pipe to go to sleep tonight. 

That worry alone motivated me enough to finish up Finn’s paper faster. 

‘The bastard is stubborn. No, all men of this age doesn’t like asking for help. Especially the help of a woman.’

I exhaled with puffed cheeks as I marked Finn’s last problem. I hurried out of me chair and to Tommy’s room. Me robe whipped around me. When I opened the door, he had a fire lit and was rolling out his pipe. 

He looked at me. No emotion shown. I was mad. I was-!

‘I didn’t think as I marched up to him. I didn’t slap him, but I slammed me hand down on the light he had lit.’ 

No, that was just an intrusive thought. I really wanted to do it, though.

I walked up the light and blew it out. “You’re not doing this. You have me.”

“I did this because I don’t want you.” Despite saying that, he rerolled up his pipe and set it down on the nightstand.

“I outta break that thing, you know. Just chuck it into the fire downstairs.”

He whipped his head up at me and he glared. 

It made me shiver and not in a good way. Reflexively, I glared back. “Don’t try intimidating me, Thomas. Not tonight. You want to sleep. Let’s do it my way as agreed. Because you have fallen asleep my way and you were the one who set up-!”

“Yeah! Okay, I got it.” Very childishly, he laid down with his arms crossed above his eyes. 

I sighed. ‘I should probably ask him about the shovels. If he still hears them with me.’ 

So, I did. 

“Tommy, do you still hear the shovels? Even when I’m here… with you?” 

He stiffened. Then, he dropped his arms. He looked up at the ceiling with his jaw clenched. He tsked, closing his eyes. “No. I don’t hear them.” 

“Do you still dream abar them?” Me throat burned as did me face. 

“Yes. But not as often anymore.” His tone was so sad.  

“Then, why were you-?”

“Because. I shouldn’t be relying on you, a girl who’s not my family, to get me sleep at night. One day we’ll have to go our separate ways. It’s only right that you find yourself a good man and you can’t sleep with me then, now, can you?” He looked at me. The look on his face was sharp. 

‘It’s like he’s breaking up with me.’ I laughed at the thought.

“You don’t have to worry abar that. I’m not gonna find meself a good man anytime soon.”

“You don’t-!”

“I do! So, let it go and let me help you. You’re a good man, Tom. I don’t want to see you suffer. Especially when all you want is to do is get a good night’s rest.” I stopped fiddling with me hands and dropped them to me sides. 

‘He wouldn’t know that there was a warning lying ‘round me words. That he was gonna be suffering more. Soon, he’d have to orchestrate Danny’s fake death. Then, everything else.’

“Fine.” He said. 

I took off me robe, climbed over him, and laid beside him. I bit me lip before deciding to speak. “Lay lower than me. Don’t question it, just do it.” 

He sighed and did as I said. I scooted meself up then closer to ‘em. “Lift your head.” He did it and I extended me arm under his neck. “Face me.” He did it. His head near me chest. With me free hand, I brought it up to his face and began to stroke his cheek and run me fingers through his hair. 

I whispered things to him like, “You’re safe now,” “You’re home,” “Nothing’s gonna hurt you,” and “It’s okay to fall asleep.” 

And he fell asleep. He fell asleep fast. I, on the other hand, didn’t. I was too hyper aware of his body being so close to mine. This was the first time I’ve ever held a person of the opposite sex. It surprised me that this even worked! 

But, like I said, I didn’t fall asleep fast like he did and sometime during the night, his breathing quickened and his hold on me tightened, by a lot. I figured he was ‘aving the dream abar the tunnels, so I started soothing him again. It took ‘em awhile, but he calmed back down. I couldn’t bloody go to sleep after that, so it took me abar another 30 minutes before I fell asleep.

The next day was calm, nothing noteworthy happened. At night, Tommy told me that I was to head to bed. I asked him why ‘n he said that he was heading to Charlie’s yard. I twitched at the name. I always did when he said that name. After all, it’s me birth name.

The day after that in the midmorning, he ran to me ‘n asked me if his plan to fake Danny’s death would work. I told ‘em yes.

I saw when he came back, visibly disturbed, his head hanging low. I wanted to comfort him but Arthur got to him first. I remembered me place then. I couldn’t comprehend the plot that much. I watched as they had their dispute. I jumped when Tommy closed the book shut and then walked off. 

He grabbed me arm before he left ‘n told me I was sleeping by meself t’night too. I nodded and then he left the shop. 

That night I watched as the snow fell. Me heart felt as if someone was squeezing it through me chest.

Guess me wish wouldn’t come true, afterall.

TAG LIST: @amirahiddleston​ @nemesis729​

[sixties-doctor-who-stan]

Tomb of the Cybermen is Trash

So a story I’m NOT a fan of is Tomb of the Cybermen. Like… why is this considered at all good? I know it’s reputation isn’t as high as it was before it was actually found, but it’s still considered pretty good.

Like, I get it. It’s Troughton’s first surviving story, and I even made my partner watch it on the basis of ‘it’s a surviving Troughton story!’ which I did NOT do for Talons of Weng Chiang* since Tom Baker has plenty of surviving stories (all of them).

*Which I will not be writing a blog about, because that would mean I would have to watch it again.

Before I trash this story though, here’s the good parts:

The first scene is a nice quick introduction to the show, a good thing to do after five years since many of the children watching by that point would have likely been too young in 1963. Plus Jamie and Victoria’s faces when the Doctor tells them how old he is are really funny.

The Doctor and Jamie have some really funny moments! The three that stood out the most were the hand holding part, the ‘complete metal breakdown’ part and the ‘remind me to give you lessons in tying knots’ those were very funny

Honestly, this episode has one of my favourite scenes from Doctor Who ever. (Which was literally added last minute because the episode was under running, which says it all really). The lovely conversation between the Doctor and Victoria where he talks about his family. It’s so sweet and lovely and hey! It’s on YouTube! So you can just watch that and nothing else from the episode!

The bad parts:

The limited sets feel really obvious in this story. They go to and from the same three sets throughout the entire story! It gets very repetitive very fast

Hopper is really annoying, and not just his terrible accent but his rather brazen misogyny towards Victoria. Not very endearing, and he’s a good guy!

So the Cybermen emerge from their tombs, cool! Then… they go back into their tombs to ‘recharge’. There sure is a lot of padding for a four parter isn’t there?

Also, the Doctor is literally responsible for almost all the deaths in this story. The only reason that the tomb is opened and subsequently the power is restored is because of the Doctor. Klieg wouldn’t have worked it out on his own! And the Doctor knew that Klieg was up to no good! He could have just waited for them all to leave and then opened up the tomb. This would be an interesting point to consider, but it’s never dwelled up at all!

The Cybermen are pretty dull here, but they’re pretty dull in all of the stories they’re in (except for the Tenth Planet) so whatever.

Now for the ugly (i.e. the racism):

The ‘bad people’ are the two vaguely not white and clearly foreign characters and the mostly mute big black man. Ugh…

So Klieg is a brilliant logician but not as good as the Doctor! (A common thing in Doctor Who, but seems more iffy when you consider the other racism in the story). And he’s the one who is most convinced that he can ally with the Cybermen, getting people killed. Oh that bad foreigner!

Not sure why, but Kaftan came across as rather creepy/sinister. Particularly towards the pretty young white girl Victoria. She does drug Victoria at one point!

The person who played Klieg was Cyprian and seemed to have had quite dark skin but I think Kaftan was in brownface, since other photos of the actress who played her show that her skin was lighter. So… yay.

(Unfortunately, this is very common in 1960s Doctor Who)

Last, but definitely not least. Toberman.

I suppose I should give the story the teensiest bit of credit that he’s played by a black actor, and not someone in blackface?

Except no, that’s the literal bare minimum and he is written as every lazy, racist stereotype there is.

He’s very big and strong, and Troughton plays on that physicality intentionally

The Doctor plays on his pride to get him to open the doors (which, the reason he can open them is he does one at a time which doesn’t occur to the Doctor or Jamie!)

(Both Toberman and Klieg are very easily manipulated by the Doctor, moreso than the others)

‘Oh but the reason he’s mostly mute is because he was originally deaf’, that just makes him a racist and ableist character!

The Doctor has to verbally tell the black man about his humanity

He is cyber converted, so great. The black man is literally dehumanised, I sure hope this never happens again(!)

He is completely loyal and deferential to his non-black mistress, which… yeah…

He dies saving everyone else, in a pretty horrid way. He’s electrocuted!

When he dies, everyone is pretty indifferent about it.

No, this sort of stuff was not ‘acceptable for the time’. Racism has and will never be acceptable. End of.

So yeah, basically these are my issues with the worst Troughton story (yes, I dislike it far more than the Krotons or the Dominators).

[justthehiddleswrites]

Forever Hold Your Peace | Tom Hiddleston x Cumberbatch!Reader  | Chapter 3 | The Bachelor Party

Pairing: Tom Hiddleston x Cumberbatch!Reader

Summary:  Tom Hiddleston dated Benedict's little sister (reader) back at Cambridge, after a bad breakup Tom and Benedict are now friends. The reader is now engaged to an American who Benedict does not trust. Ben turns to his good friend Tom to help break up the wedding and win back the girl he never truly got over.

This Chapter:  Tom keeps running into you as wedding preparations kick into high gear. An incident at the bachelor party resolves Tom to join Benedict of this plan of wedding ruin.

Warnings: Fluff, angst, slapping, cursing.

-

The wedding preparations moved fast over the next two weeks. You had time no to stay mad at Ben. You needed the help.

“Why isn’t what’s his face here to pick out a cake?” Ben grumbled as he took a bite of white cake.

“He needed to take care of some things at work, but he is meeting me at the florist at 3 to pick out the flowers.”

“How convenient.”

“I thought you would be nice.” you snapped as crumbs fell from your mouth.

“This is me being nice. Pardon me for thinking the groom should take part in the details of his own wedding.” Ben rolled his eyes.

You pushed away from the table. “This visa thing has stressed him out. And I would expect my family to be supportive!” You stormed off to get some fresh air. As you pushed the door open, you ran into the gentleman entering the shop.

“So sorry.” you muttered.

“My apologies.”

“Tom?” you asked as you spied familiar blue eyes staring at you.

“It’s nice to see you. You look fantastic.“ He pulled you into a hug. You held him just a second too long.

“You too. Why are you… My brother called you, didn’t he?”

Tom laughed. “He asked me to meet him here to go out for a drink. But it looks like I am a bit early.”

“Nonsense. We were wrapping up.” You fidgeted with your hair, flustered.

You opened the door and the two of you stepped back in. Ben’s face lit up when he noticed Tom walking with you. Now there was a brother-in-law he could live with.

Tom hugged Benedict. “Dirty pool at giving me the wrong time, mate.” Tom whispered.

Ben smiled wide. “Just reminding her of the options.”

“I’m not an option.“ Tom turned to you. “Where is your fiancé? I was hoping to meet him before the bachelor party this weekend.”

You swallowed. “You’re going to that?!”

“At your brother’s request. Now where is the man who swept the most beautiful girl I ever dated off her feet?” Tom winked at Ben. You didn’t notice because you were too busy hiding your embarrassment.

“He had work stuff. Something to do with his visa.” You made excuses. “He’s stressed what with the wedding and all.”

Tom gave a soft smile and kissed your temple. “Of course. I can only imagine. Well, let me take your brother off your hands and let you get back to planning the big day.” Tom saw the worry on your face. “I would suggest a simple vanilla cake, if it were me.”

You nodded and gave both of them quick hugs, but your eyes filled with sadness as they left you alone in the bakery.

Once Tom and Ben walked out of sight, Tom punched Benedict hard in the shoulder. “Next time give me a little warning.”

“And where would be the fun in that?” Ben laughed. “It is so rare I catch you off guard. And if it must come at my sister’s expense…”

Tom scowled. “Speaking of your sister, where is the infamous Billy Bob?”

Ben groaned. “Working, but I have my suspicions he is othwersie occupied.”

Tom furrowed his brow. “Why?”

“He is never around. All the big events of this wedding he has missed. No one works that much. Not even you.”

Tom frowned. “Have you talked to her about it?”

“She doesn’t take me seriously. I’m just the annoying big brother. Now if you…” Ben looked at Tom with hopeful eyes.

“Oh no,” Tom backed away as they reached the pub. “Absolutely not. I will not ruin your sister’s wedding based on your paranoid suspicions.”

“I thought we were friends.”

“We are but I am not willing to die for that friendship. And your sister would kill me.”

“Coward.” They sat down in a booth.

“To want to continue living. Yes I am a coward.”

Tom’s look said to drop the subject, which Benedict obliged and they enjoyed the rest of the meal. They parted making plans to meet for the dreaded bachelor party that weekend.

“Please don’t leave alone during this horrid affair.” Ben pleaded.

“I promise I would come didn’t I?

“True but…”

“Then I will come.” Tom assured him. “And I will get to meet the infamous Billy Bob.”

“Indeed. And you will then understand why this wedding must never happen.” Tom raised an eyebrow and Ben held his hands up. “Apologies.”

“Goodbye Benedict. Good luck on your hairbrained scheme. Try not to make your sister cry.”

“That’s your job, Tom.”

Tom laughed it off as they parted, but Ben’s words stung his heart. He hoped to never make you cry ever again.

-

You answered the door of your brother’s home to find Tom standing in jeans and t-shirt. His blond hair tousled in curls.

“We have to stop meeting like this.” He winked at you.

You bit your lip. “We do. Although…” you glanced over your shoulder. “… I suspect my brother may have something to do with that.”

Tom laughed. “I suspect you’re right.” He shuffled his feet out of nerves. “Listen… I know it’s been years but I’m sorry.”

Your shoulders slumped. “It’s fine. I’m over it.” You stepped outside to leave. Tom grabbed your hand.

“No, it’s not fine. I behaved like a right bastard and no one deserves to be treated less than.”

Tears pricked at your eyes. “Thank you, Tom.”

“And look at you now, successful and getting married in two days to the man of your dreams! I wish I could be there to see it.”

You nodded as his words hit your heart. Was William the man of your dreams or just the man you said yes to? You pushed the troubling thought aside.

“I’m sure Ben will share pictures.” You wanted to get out of there. Away from Tom’s charm. You stepped down the stairs.

Tom gave a killer smile to hide his heartache. “I won’t keep you any longer. You must have lots to do.”

You nodded. “It was good to see you, Tom.” You lied.

“You too.” He kissed your cheek. “Good luck tomorrow.”

You hustled away before you cried in front of him. Ben came to the door just as you disappeared from view.

“Still hitting it off with the ladies, I see.” Benedict teased.

“Weren’t you the one who forbade me to date a member of your family?” He raised an eyebrow as they got into the car.

“A position I am reconsidering. Thank you for accompanying me to this thing.”

“Why did you invite me, anyway?”

“You mean I can’t enjoy the company of one of my best friends for an evening?”

“No.”

“You’re right. I need a second opinion on William. And a second pair of eyes—”

“— to spy—”

“—to observe.” Benedict shot daggers at Tom.

“Another word for spying.”

“Are you going to help?”

“I intend on enjoying myself tonight.”

“Then we agree.”

“Not at all.”

This continued until they pulled up to the club. It was the sort of place Tom and Benedict would never frequent of their own accord. Too trendy, too loud, too bright.

It’s the “classic bachelor party” William explained to Benedict who later relayed that to Tom.

“In other words, too much booze and too much boobs.” Tom commented.

“It’s that rather crass. On second thought, that’s probably what he thought.” Benedict quipped. They grabbed drinks at the bar. “Oh shit, here he comes.”

Benedict hooked his chin towards a sweaty and smiling man.

“Holy fuck! It’s Loki!” William screamed over the loud club music.

Tom nearly spit out his drink. He hated him already. “In the flesh.” he choked out as William took his hand into his meaty paw and shook it hard, squeezing.

William punched Ben in the shoulder. “Bro, you never told me you knew Loki!”

Tom giggled behind William’s back at Ben’s discomfort. “You never asked.” Ben scoffed.

William spun to speak to Tom and Benedict pulled faces behind, mouthing “wanker” at Tom.

“Dude, do you know Arnold Schwarzenegger? He is my favorite.”

Benedict rolled his eyes.

“I’m afraid not, William.” Tom gave a tight smile. “But Ben you were at that BAFTA event last week…”

That was all it took to send William talking a mile a minute. Tom smiled at Benedict as he walked away to leave Benedict to fend for himself for a bit.

“Serves him right.” Tom muttered to himself as he went off to find a dark corner.

Ben didn’t resurface until 30 minutes later.

“You’ll pay for that.” Benedict cursed as he sidled up Tom at the bar.

“Fair is fair.” Tom smiled. “How is Billy Bob?”

“On his third cocktail and even more insufferable than usual with his mates by his side.” Benedict’s voice dripped with disdain.

“Shame. Here’s to getting out of here unaccosted.” Tom raised his glass.

A heavy hand hit Benedict’s shoulder.

“Onto our second stop for the night.”

Tom and Benedict furrowed their brows.

“I beg your pardon?” Benedict questioned.

“This was just the appetizer, bro. Onto the entrée. Zander will give you the address.” He walked away but not before shooting his fingers at the two men.

A tall thin man with slicked down black hair, who was Zander, gave them the address to a private residence. Benedict called the car.

“Do you have any idea where we are going?” Tom asked.

“I wasn’t consulted on the party plans. It’s probably a stripper popping out of a cake, judging by this crowd.”

Tom buried his head in his hand. “God, I hope not.”

The private residence was the rental for the groomsman. Everyone else headed to the parlor while Tom and Benedict wandered to the kitchen to see if there was anything edible in this house. They found only beer in the fridge.

“William! We are going to grab some food and be right back.” Tom yelled.

“Whatever, dude.” William yelled, his voice coming from the crowd of his friends.

Curious, they took a step into the parlor. The men hooted and hollered as rock music played from an unseen sound system.

“I’m afraid you were right.” Tom pointed towards the center of the room. All he saw was a buxom woman wearing little more than a thong and pasties.

Both of them moved out of the room after getting an eyeful of flesh. They sighed as they stepped out into the cool London air.

“That was awkward.” Tom commented.

The two laughed at the absurdity of their situation as they walked towards the nearest store.

-

They returned thirty minutes later to a very different scene. The rock music still blasted throughout the house. However, most of the guys were passed out on the furniture or playing video games.

“Where’s William?” Benedict asked a guy name Ashton.

The blond guy just shrugged his shoulders.

“What do you think?” Tom questioned. “Do you want to take the food home?”

“Sounds like a plan.”

Tom handed the bags to Benedict. “I am going to the loo first.” He turned to Ashton. “Where’s the bathroom?”

“Upstairs, second door on the left.”

“Thanks.”

Tom shuffled off.

“I mean right!” Ashton yelled after Tom.

Tom headed upstairs and opened the second door on the left, which led to a bedroom. A bedroom occupied by the stripper and one gentleman from the party, in a state of undress.

“Terribly sorry to interrupt,” Tom apologized. “I was looking for the restroom?”

“Second door on the right, dude.” a familiar voice answered.

“William?” Tom squinted at the man whose neck was being sucked on by a nearly naked woman.

“Loki?”

Tom’s vision flashed white as his hand balled into a fist and it connected with William’s face.

“The name’s Thomas, Billy Bob.” Tom shook his hand out as William laid sprawled unconscious on the bed. He pointed at the stripper.

“He said he was one of the groomsman!” she screamed.

“Your name?”

“Diamond.”

“Diamond.” Tom resisted the urge to roll his eyes. “Party’s over. Get dressed and get out.”

She nodded, too scared to ask questions.

Tom stomped down the stairs and found Ben leaning against a wall.

“I’m in.” Tom grabbed his arm. “I’ll explain in the car. Just tell me when this wedding is.”

Benedict couldn’t help but smile.

[angsty-violet]

Date Night

Written for the Secret Santa Star Trek exchange @startreksecretsanta for the lovely @doodlingleluke. I hope you like it. If you have an AO3 account I can also gift it to you there, even if you aren’t a writer.

This is the archiveofourown link because it is quite long. Under the cut is the story if you want to read it here.

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

B’Elanna worried over the table and frowned as she once again adjusted the tablecloth. She just could seem to get it quite right, and it was driving her crazy. Finally, she gave a huff and gave up. It could just stay crooked for all she cared. It didn’t matter anyway. It wasn’t like Seven was really going to notice.

Although B’Elanna wanted it to be perfect, she knew logically that Seven wasn’t going to notice much of anything. She had little idea of how human social interactions were supposed to commence and, therefore, didn’t make a big deal when they didn’t go to plan.

Which was actually quite relieving for B’Elanna. She had never done well with the cutesy couple-y things that seemed required of human women. Nor had she managed the throwing objects that Klingon women did. She fell somewhere in the middle, most of the time. For most things, that was perfectly fine. However, for courting? It was nearly a disaster.

That was until she had begun to date Seven. Seven was intensely easy to please as she saw value in functionality over all else. Similar to a Vulcan, a gift that would help in her work never failed to hit the mark. B’Elanna often found she was happy with just an upgrade on a tool or placing her on a shift that played to her strengths.

Which made her nervousness over this date completely ridiculous. Neither of them conformed to human social standards. Even if they did, Seven didn’t know enough to know the way dates were supposed to play out anyway. Yet, B’Elanna found herself worrying over insignificant details like the tablecloth and whether or not the food would be to Seven’s liking.

B’Elanna took a deep breath and reminded herself of what Tom had told her about a successful date. As long as both parties had a good time and were willing to do it again, it was a success. The food, the lighting, the location, or any other detail could be absolutely horrid. As long as they had a good enough time to try it again.

B’Elanna placed the last of the replicated food on the table with the items she had Neelix make for her. That was everything that needed to be done, and she still had 10 minutes to spare. Seven would likely be perfectly on time. She was for everything else, and B’Elanna didn’t see why this would be any different.

Unfortunately, this allowed her plenty of time to pace nervously and try to keep from biting her nails. It was a nasty habit she had picked up during her time in the Maquis. She often bit them when she wasn’t doing something with her hands.

After several minutes of desperate pacing and endlessly changing the music, her door chimed, and she called for Seven to come in.

Immediately B’Elanna’s breath was taken away. Seven had allowed her golden blonde hair to tumble around her shoulders and had changed into a more decorative outfit than her standard jumpsuit. She was holding a bottle of wine in her hands, and this allowed B’Elanna to recover from her stupor and make conversation.

“Ah, I see you brought wine.”

“Yes, apparently, it is considered normal for the person attending the dinner to bring along something to contribute. Neelix suggested a bottle of wine would make a good addition to your meal.”

“I’m sure it will go wonderfully. I can open it while you have a seat. Dinner’s ready, so we can dive in whenever you are ready.”

Seven nodded unsurely and sat at the table. She watched as B’Elanna opened the bottle of wine and poured them each a glass. As soon as the wine was poured, likely with nothing better to do, Seven took a sip. She hummed in satisfaction at the taste and set it back down. For a few moments, there was only awkward silence. Finally, Seven gave up trying to pretend like she knew what she was doing.

“I don’t really know what we are supposed to be doing. From my reading, we are supposed to engage in discourse that allows us to learn more about each other. However, I already know a great deal about you, and you know pretty much everything about me. I don’t know what else there is to talk about beyond those.”

“Well, I think it’s partially about spending quality time together. Sure, we know a lot about each other, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have things to talk about. It’s a little odd, but we could talk about work. We could talk about your progress in the programs you and the doctor are running. There is plenty to talk about. You just need to pick a topic you would like to discuss with me. Or alternatively, allow me to pick a topic I would like to discuss with you.”

Seven looked as though she wished she could be taking notes, and B’Elanna hid a smile. She was so sweet, and she tried so hard. B’Elanna sometimes wished that she was more sentimental. If she was, she might’ve been able to say that Seven couldn’t do anything wrong during date night to drive her away. Especially not something as minor as talking about the wrong thing.

“Alright, then, I would like to discuss this nice tasting meal you prepared for me. It is enjoyable to eat. Did you make it yourself, or did you replicate it?”

“Part of it was replicated, the meat specifically. However, the vegetables are real, and I helped Neelix prepare them for tonight. They came out quite nice with me monitoring what they were putting in them.”

“Yes, they came out quite well. I imagine that many of his dishes could stand for someone to be watching what he was putting in them. Often they are so disgusting that they hardly aren’t even edible. The fact that he gets away with it is astonishing.”

“Yeah, well, he actually is good for morale. He cheers people up. More than that, we don’t have anyone else who wants to be the cook. Even if they did want to, it’s unlikely that we could spare the capacity.”

Seven looked up from her food, intrigued. She had been dying to ask this question for weeks now. “Why are you running on a skeleton crew? I looked in the database, it says that you should have at least 4 times the crew that you have on board. It seems bizarre that they would put such a small crew on such an important ship.”

“That’s sort of a long story. You see, we originally started as two separate crews. There was the Maquis and then the Voyager. However, the Voyager technically wasn’t supposed to be out of dry dock yet. It was finished and still being staffed. However, it was the only ship available to being sent out after the rebel Maquis crew. So, they sent them out with the bare minimum needed to run the ship. They believed that they would only be out there a few weeks. However, then the caretaker pulled the Maquis and the Voyager into the Delta quadrant, and we’ve been here ever since.”

Seven sipped lightly at her wine and processed what she had been just told. “So, you are telling me that this isn’t just a crew made up of individuals? But that it is also made up of two separate crews who were essentially enemies? How is it that you were able to reach an accord?”

Seven was leaning over the table in avid interest. Despite her misgivings about this so-called ‘date,’ it was turning out to be fascinating. She was learning so much and strengthening her romantic relationship at the same time. It seemed to be very efficient, and that pleased her a very great deal.

“See, Seven, that’s the mystery of humans. We were all trapped out here, and we knew that we had to work together if we wanted to get back. It was necessary for our survival. We all took our individual skills and pooled them. Then we made a plan for getting back to the Alpha Quadrant. It doesn’t always happen like this. Sometimes our issues are too much to resolve. When it matters, we can come together to do what we have to.”

“Even though I am now human or working on it. Human behavior absolutely fascinates me. Humans can overcome impossible odds. To achieve things that seem absolutely impossible.”

“Yes, I suppose we do. Well, are you finished?”

Seven glanced down and saw that she had almost finished every single bite and felt that she was pleasantly full. She nodded and handed the plate to B’Elanna to place back in the replicator.

“What are we supposed to do now? We have discussed and eaten. What other date activities would you like to engage in?”

B’Elanna tilted her head and then smiled. “I have a wonderful idea. You’ve been working on dancing, haven’t you?”

Seven nodded slowly. “The Doctor has been instructing me.”

“Well, how about we have a dance together. You can lead because you’re taller.”

“I don’t know if my skill is up to what you have in mind.” Suddenly Seven felt intensely flustered. The thought of being pressed tightly up against B’Elanna almost seemed like too much to bear. B’Elanna seemed to almost read her thoughts and smiled.

“That’s alright. Whatever you are capable of is going to be wonderful. Computer, play Waltz Composition Torres-14. May I have this dance?”

“Seven locked eyes with her and allowed herself to be pulled to her feet. She sighed as B’Elanna guided a single hand to her lower back and clasped the other. B’Elanna slowly pressed her entire body up against Seven’s, and Seven began to feel a bit short of breath.

“So, I step back, and you step forward. Then we step to the side. Then I go forward, and you go back and then to the side again. That way, no ground is lost, and no ground is gained. Around in circles forever and ever.”

B’Elanna guided her through the steps several times. Making sure that Seven was well versed in each one. Then they tried it a few times with the music.

B’Elanna couldn’t help the small smile that broke across her face. Seven was so focused that her brow was furrowed, her eyes fastened on the ground. B’Elanna took her hand out of Seven’s and used it to smooth a hand over her cheek. She pressed it gently to her face. Seven looked into her eyes and blushed deeply.

“You’re lovely.”

B’Elanna’s words only made the blush worse. Seven looked away shyly. B’Elanna smiled and continued to guide her through the steps. For several minutes they practiced slowly to the music before B’Elanna decided that she had enough practice.

“Alright. Let’s do this for real. Computer, restart audio.”

The music restarted, and B’Elanna allowed Seven to lead. Seven continued to focus on her steps, but after a few minutes, she had the hang of it. She quit looking at her feet and started looking at B’Elanna. Again, her breath caught. Seven was absolutely blown away by the sight that her girlfriend made. She couldn’t believe that B’Elanna was with her.

“This was a good idea. I’ve decided I like having dates with you.”

“Oh, with me? Does that mean you wouldn’t like dates with other people?” B’Elanna teased gently.

“I’ve not dated anyone else. However, I believe that the experience is enjoyable because it is you. I don’t think I would like it with anyone else. I would see it as a waste of time that could be done doing something else.”

“So, what’s different with us?” B’Elanna’s voice was unsure. She didn’t know if she was going to like the answer that Seven had to say.

“We are different because it does have value. You and I are working to strengthen our relationship. We aren’t just trying to pass the time with idle chatter or social interaction. We do this so that we might have future success in our romantic endeavors. That to me, means that they have great value. I wish to make it so that our relationships will be successful.”

B’Elanna smiled at her and reached her arms around her neck. She kissed her firmly on the lips and Seven hesitated but then pressed forward. For a few minutes, they stood there kissing, before B’Elanna pulled back.

“We need to stop or otherwise I am going to jump all over you.”

“I agree. I don’t believe that I am ready for that level of intimacy yet. However, I also don’t want this date to end. I have had such a good time with you. Is there anything else that we can embark on and spend a few more minutes together?”

B’Elanna thought for a moment. She also didn’t want the night to end. None of their dates had been nearly this good and she wanted to make sure it lasted. She wanted it to be a standout memory. However, the mess hall was loud and not suitable for dates. The holodecks were likely booked completely up.

“What about the hydroponics lab? On Earth a visit to a garden or a museum is a classic date night activity. We likely can’t get into the holodeck right now, but I imagine that right now the hydroponics lab is empty. We could go look at the flowers and talk about their cultivation.”

Seven tilted her head and contemplated it. Then she nodded in agreement. Truthfully, she had no great wish to visit the hydroponics lab. However, the thought of the long walk to, the visit itself and the long walk back adding more time was very satisfying. She didn’t care what they were doing, as long as B’Elanna as doing it with her.

B’Elanna took Seven’s hand and led her out of her quarters. She made sure to grip it firmly, although she wasn’t certain that Seven would understand. Many of the things humans did for affection seemed to baffle her. She didn’t understand hugs. Although she had picked up the purpose of kissing quite quickly. Apparently the more sensual or sexual an action was, the easier it was for her to understand.

It was the things that you did to express your feelings that she didn’t quite understand. Although, who could blame her. Humans were intensely complicated and Seven had spent most of her life.

B’Elanna was right. Seven didn’t understand what the purpose of holding hands was. However, she was willing to go along with it. If it was part of the courting rituals that she had missed or even just a quirk, Seven didn’t mind indulging her. Although Seven was finding that having a point of consistent contact was lovely.

Seven reached for another topic to speak about and couldn’t find much. Thankfully B’Elanna was much more experienced in the art of social conversation.

“So, you’ve been studying Vulcan poetry with Tuvok. How is that going? Are you enjoying the lessons or finding it intellectually stimulating?”

Seven sighed as she was able to carry on a conversation about something she understood. “Yes, I am enjoying his teaching. Tuvok’s take on Vulcan poetry has a number of classical elements but he has a perspective I believe is partially from being around humans so often. He has such interesting viewpoint on some of their beliefs and some of the issues talked about in Vulcan poetry.”

“I’m glad to hear that. It’s very human to have hobbies and interests. It’s part of what makes you unique as a person. Although you won’t find many aficionados of Vulcan poetry outside of the Vulcans themselves.”

“Yes, we spoke about that. He mentioned that he believed that it would be sensible for more Star Fleet Captains to pursue it as a study. He seems to believe that because most of the Captains are human, that they would benefit from studying something very alien. He thinks it would help with their skills as diplomats if they had to try and understand a very different medium from a very different culture.”

B’Elanna thought about some of the botched First Contacts that Voyager had and found that she agreed with Tuvok. Humans, on the whole, were very human centric and tended to think in primarily human terms. Although that was fine, for most of Star Fleet, Captains were held to a higher standard. Many of them likely would do well undertaking a study of Vulcan poetry. Between having to deal with the boredom that came with it and the obscure references they didn’t understand, it would be good training.

“It would make sense that he’d have ideas for how Captains could improve themselves. He was an instructor at the academy for many years. Although he struggled when he was instructing the Maquis crewmembers, he eventually figured it out.”

“I didn’t realize that he was an instructor. Are all Vulcans as good at teaching?”

B’Elanna thought back to her Astrophysics professor and snorted in derision. “Not a chance. In fact, I’d say that on the whole, they are horrible teachers. They have little to no concept about what other people are thinking or feeling. They also have no consideration for the fact that you have other things in your life beyond whatever they are teaching you.”

“Aren’t there human teachers like that as well?”

B’Elanna stepped into the hydroponics lab and considered it. She shrugged lightly not being able to disagree. “Yeah, but you’re more likely to have someone who at the very least admits you might have other classes. Most Vulcans are awful to take classes and studies from. You’re just lucky that you got someone who is so logical that he has to consider the other parts of your life. Otherwise, he might be insufferable. Here, these are the new flowers that are supposed to increase oxygen output from here.”

Seven inspected them and nodded. She didn’t know why she was doing either, but it seemed the way to go. More than that everyone in her life had been encouraging her to rely more on her instincts than anything else.

They lingered there looking at the plants for a few minutes but there wasn’t much to do there. Before Seven had a chance to say anything B’Elanna was taking her hand and leading her out of the hydroponics lab. Seven struggled for a way to say what she was feeling but came up short. B’Elanna seemed to be reading her mind though.

“I know that you want this date to go on and on forever. I want that too. I want to make this night last as long as possible. Yeah, either of us might get killed tomorrow while on duty. However, most likely we won’t, then we will have another date. That one might not be as good but it will be another chance to spend time with each other. Then we’ll have another, and another. Before you know it, we’ll have gone on dozens of dates. Some of them will have been good, some will have sucked. But each of them will have been with each other. I think I can say goodbye to you tonight, if that means I get more chances in the future.”

Seven gazed at her and sighed lightly. For a moment B’Elanna was surprised. It was such a human gesture. She could see that Seven didn’t want to part company and it gave her great strength of will. If she died tomorrow, B’Elanna would be able to die happy. She would be satisfied knowing that even if they hadn’t made it that far into their relationship, Seven was dedicated and wanted to be with her.

“I find myself upset at the thought of us not having any future dates for any reason. However, especially if that reason is your death. However, I can concede that eventually this date must end. Even if we were to spend the entire night together, eventually we would have to return to our duties and real life. I can concede the same thing as you, though. Your willingness to do this again gives me the discipline I need to tell you goodnight.”

B’Elanna smiled gently at her and continued to lead her back to her quarters. “How about this, a single drink, one more dance and then we’ll say goodnight?”

Seven gave her the barest hint of a smile in return and nodded in agreement. B’Elanna led her back into her quarters and to the table. She poured out two glasses of wine, the last of the wine in fact, and handed one to Seven. Seven took it and sipped lightly while sitting back down at the table. She took the chance to commit every part of B’Elanna’s face to memory. She wanted to remember this moment for the rest of her life.

They sipped lightly in silence, just enjoying each other’s company. There weren’t any words that needed spoken. They had already said everything that needed to be said and they would be able to part company with their relationship stronger than before.

After both of them finished their wine, with neither lingering, B’Elanna offered her hand to Seven. Seven took it and allowed B’Elanna to draw her to her feet. B’Elanna smiled gently at her.

“Just one more dance. Then we’ll have to wait until tomorrow to see each other again. The day might go slowly, but we can take comfort int the fact that it will happen. Now, dance with me. “Computer, restart earlier audio.”

B’Elanna once again guided her through the steps of the waltz. They waltzed together in silence enjoying their company and the time that they had together. B’Elanna laid her head on Seven’s shoulder and drew here even closer. For a time, they were a single entity split into two parts. Their hearts beat in sync, their breaths were breathed in at the exact same time and their movements were smooth and graceful.

Seven allowed the sheer contentment to fall over her. Oftentimes she had heard others speak about what it was like to be in love. The way that they felt when they were in their lovers presence. The sheer joy that it was to spend company with someone they loved, the way their hearts felt like they were full to bursting and the feeling that they could spend literal hours together and it would never be too much. She had always believed that it was sentimental, overexaggerated tripe.

Now, she knew that that wasn’t true. She could spend and eternity in B’Elanna’s arms and never tire. She could waltz with her until they both perished and it would ultimately satisfy her. She had never known a feeling this deep.

In B’Elanna’s head there were similar thoughts. About all of her failed relationships. Everything that she had lost and gained over the years. How she had never believed that she would ever find someone that could love the Klingon and Human parts of her. Yet, here that someone was. Waltzing with her and not wanting to say goodnight. It was all that she had ever wanted.

For a time, they would waltz. Eventually the audio would end and they would split. After that they would say their goodnights, Seven would return to her alcove and they would spend the time away from each other. They would spend most of the next day thinking about the other. With the exception of those times where their work would temporarily draw their attention away from their thoughts. Then they would do their best to find any excuse to go and see each other.

However, that wasn’t what was happening right then. For these few moments they were with each other and there was no one else in the world. They had no concerns beyond this dance and beyond the other. They would remain locked in that waltz until the real world called for them. After it did call for them, they would part company reluctantly. However, they would always be thinking about the other.

[wolfpawn]

I Hate You, I Love You, Chapter 161

Chapter Summary - Tom is irked to see Danielle did not tell him about her physio and then she dreams something horrid.

Previous Chapter

Rating - Mature (some chapters contain smut)

Triggers - references to Tom Hiddleston’s work with the #MeToo Movement. That chapter will be tagged accordingly.

authors Note - I have been working on this for the last 3 years, it is currently 180+ chapters long.  This will be updated daily, so long as I can get time to do so, obviously.

Copyright for the photo is the owners, not mine. All image rights belong to their owners

tags: @sweetkingdomstarlight-blog @jessibelle-nerdy-mum @nonsensicalobsessions @damalseer @hiddlesbitch1 @winterisakiller @fairlightswiftly @salempoe @wolfsmom1 @black-ninja-blade

Tom pursed his lips and looked at Danielle as she went across the bedroom towards the bathroom, walking stiffly as she did. In the warm weather, Danielle was not able to hide her kinesiology tape for too long and the tape on her left shoulder was quickly joined by more on her right knee after placing on the podium in a Sprint triathlon race, telling him that she had in fact been to a physiotherapist, more than once. He had been annoyed by her not telling him, but it was made very clear that she had not told him because she did not want him to fret, which, irony of ironies, he did all the more because she had not told him. To Tom's dismay, that did not cause her to cease or even calm her training, instead she just focused on cycling to allow her shoulder settle some bit and to relieve her leg of her weight, but she continued to train, with almost greater intensity. She also seemed to spend an hour a day stretching and using an assortment of different objects that seemed more akin to torture implements than physio instruments, hissing and groaning as she worked out the tension in her muscles. Looking at the date on his phone, Tom yearned for early September, knowing that the sooner she achieved this goal, the sooner this madness would end and she would cease this insane training.

When she came back into the room, there was almost a guilty look in her face as she sat onto the bed and then slid in between the sheets again and tried to get comfortable. She knew to move around too much would only bring focus to her injuries more and that Tom was less than pleased with regards her current physical status, so she remained still, even with a throbbing knee, to not cause an issue.

Tom, however, could hear the pain in her breathing and turned slightly before gently urging her to him. “If you're hurting, you need to pull back.”

“I can't.”

“One good reason?”

“I was late beginning my training, I would actually be more at risk of injury if I fell off pace and then tried to push myself more at a later date.”

“Training already injured is only going to intensify the injury. What was it you said to me before, all pain, no brain?”

Danielle sighed. “I'm getting older. My body never niggled like this before after races and in training.”

“You never pushed it like this before, but yes, I too found that after thirty, my body was less likely to spring back from a training session.” He pulled her in against him. “I know I come across as slightly nagging, but I don't want you overdoing it and I loathe seeing you hurt yourself.”

“I know.” Danielle leant in against him, inhaling his scent. “I'm sorry for stressing you, I am a terribly selfish person recently. There's two of us in this and here I am, doing this when it impacts you too.”

“It's only a few more weeks, really. We can do it. A month is not a long time.” Tom consolidated.

Danielle considered his words for a moment, realising that time was closing on the date of her act of lunacy. She also thought if the last time she and Tom had been intimate. It had been weeks and not once did he bother her about it. He respected that the training was exhausting her, as was her paperwork for her job, not to mention her feelings regarding parenthood were intensifying even more of late. She also knew that he had to have been feeling slightly neglected. For all of his comments on his body's slower recovery, she knew that more than once, Tom was very much willing and able to exert himself with her twice in a short timeframe and felt sexual urges on a regular basis and with her not keen to have sex, he was left with just dealing with himself.

With that in mind, she looked at him again, focusing on his face, which was slightly hidden by his longer beard. Realising she was looking at him, Tom looked at her curiously. Even though it did her shoulder little favour, she shirked up slightly and placed her lips against his.

At first, Tom relished the sensation, but a moment after, he leant back, shaking his head slightly. “Your shoulder.”

Danielle could not argue it. She wanted to but it was not assisting her back to health. Groaning, she leant her head to his chest. “I feel like I should pull out of the race.” Tom stared at her startled, a moment before she stated she would not lessen her training, now she was speaking of pulling out. “I am being stupid with this.”

“No, this is a goal of yours, it has been for longer than I know you. You're a month out. Just relax your training and you will have a shoulder after it.”

“It's not my shoulder I'm worried about.”

Tom frowned before looking at her to see her looking at him worriedly. “Elle, I asked you to marry me in the middle of this madness. It was not a momentary lapse of sanity that caused me to do so, I planned it for some time. I was and am still fully aware of the situation at present and I respect that this and everything associated with it were merely temporary and we will soon be planning our wedding instead but this is one month more. One month. It's completely doable and please don't think for one moment that I am going to run off because of this.”

“It's weird to think we are going to be planning a wedding,” she confessed. “I still can't wrap my head around it fully. It negates your statement with regards a lack of sanity anyway.”

Tom chuckled. “No, insanity would have been letting you slip through my fingers. Not seizing my chance to make you my wife.” He paused for a moment before taking a deep breath. “Even saying that, that you will be my wife.” It was clear how happy the thought made him, causing Danielle to beam back.

“By this time next year.” Tom's eyes widened. “If you want, if course, no need to….”

“You'd want it that soon?” There was no denying the hope in his voice.

“Well, it's been over a month since you asked and we agreed a year so, yes. I thought it a good time frame.”

“In a year, we...Jesus.” he chuckled again and pulled her against him even more, kissing her head. “I love you. We better get up though.”

“Walk the boys?”

“They prefer it in this weather, don't they?”

Danielle nodded and sighed before pulling herself up with her better arm before sitting on the bed.

“If you're too sore…”

“No, I'm best off exercising it gently.” She stretched, hissing as her shoulder burned from the stretch.

Tom looking at her awkwardly, wanting to say something but wondering if he should, he chose to say nothing when he looked at her face to see her angry with herself. “We better go, in case that yapping rat is there again. I swear, it only acts like that because that horrid woman allows it to and knows that were Mac to get at it…”

“If Mac wished to, he could chomp it in two, but yes, you know that is why it is like that, and part of me thinks she wants him to do it. She knows who you are, I think she wants publicity,” There was more than a hint of dislike in Danielle’s tone for the woman that seemed almost wanting her pet to be injured by not having any form of manners placed on it. They said little else as they readied to get the dogs exercised before the temperatures went into the twenties again, something that was a rare occurrence in Britain and of late, seemed the norm, which most Britons, and indeed Irish people and animals were not able for, Danielle, Tom and the dogs included.

*

Tom could help but chuckle.

Danielle woke and was in the most horrendous of moods, sulking and growling to herself. At first, he was worried if something was wrong, but then he realised nothing was. Then he fretted that she was annoyed at him as she was giving him slight angry glances but when he asked was there issue with him, she scoffed and revealed it was an issue with herself. It took a little prying as she seemed slightly embarrassed by it but in the end, she revealed what it was. She had dreamt the night before that Tom had cheated on her, something Tom was immediately shocked to hear but even she dismissed it, not believing him one to do such a thing, the only issue was, the imagery of him doing such caused her to get upset, her stomach clenching at the idea of such everytime she thought of it or even looked at him, causing her current behaviour. Tom reassured her that there was no likelihood of that happening anytime in the foreseeable future or indeed at all, so to cease her fretting and that were he to take leave of his senses and think a mad thought that perhaps there was a possibility of another to entice him elsewhere, he would never be so cruel as to do such a backhanded thing to her. Danielle acknowledged such, she did not even consider it a possibility when she thought about it on her waking but that only caused her anger to irk her more. She did not want to be annoyed over non-issues yet she was being. Even after a run and a swim, she was still bothered but it actually caused her to scoff and laugh at herself, which was leading to Tom’s amusement as a result also.

“It’s not funny,” She growled.

“You’re laughing.”

“I am scoffing at my stupid brain.”

“And I am laughing at the preposterousness of it.”

She did not retort.

That night in bed, he noticed Danielle was all but holding onto him for her life. “I would never do that to you,” he assured.

“I know.”

“Then what has you like this?”

“Because even the thought of it breaks my heart.” She looked at him pleadingly. “Please Tom, if you’re not happy, I’d rather know.”

Tom inhaled deeply and recalled when he was on the Infinity War tour, how part of him felt that, even though he had the engagement ring readied to ask her when the time was right, he felt that asking her was to ask her to be okay with him being in close contact with women, many of whom would be incredibly beautiful and he would, on occasion, be in scenes where he, they or indeed both of them would be in some state of undress or all out naked and be in positions that many would argue to be intimate which he wondered would she be okay with that all the time. As time would go on, she would have to deal with scenes where the man she married had to kiss other women and touch them and though there would no true intimacy, he knew it was a lot to ask of her. He had discussed it with Ben and a few of other actors and gotten the same answer, it caused strain, even in the happiest relationships and with her dream the night before, he wondered what effect such things had on her in general. He could not fathom being in the situation of the partner forced to endure that. He knew that with his co-stars, there was little or nothing of an attraction to any of them. It was a scene, nothing more. The High Rise sex scenes with Sienna and Kate, he saw them in the same manner as he saw the fight for paint scene but if it had been Danielle who had been the actress doing such things with other men, he couldn’t stomach that Irish vet and the manner he all but stated he had expected Danielle to favour him. The idea slipped into his mind of Danielle and...John, he could not recall the man’s name for a moment, or indeed her with any other man gave him a feeling in his gut like he had been electrocuted and punched by Mike Tyson in this prime in the gut simultaneously. At that moment, her behaviour that day made a lot more sense. He pulled her in closer to him, fully aware that her left shoulder was still recovering, thankfully, the tape had been removed for the most part, but it was still slightly tender, so he ensured not to hurt her.

“Tom?”

“Hmm?”

“You’re tense.”

“I put myself in your shoes.”

“In what manner?”

“I imagined how it would feel if you…” He could not even finish the sentence.

Danielle moved around gingerly until she had her sore shoulder comfortable and curled herself into her favourite spot, her head on his shoulder/chest and her hand on his side, his immediately joining it, intertwining their fingers. “I would never do that to you, I couldn’t.”

Tom gave a small smile. “I am enough work.”

“Oh Jesus, two fella’s, I couldn’t have the energy if I was the Duracell bunny. One’s enough.” She jested back, causing Tom to chuckle and kiss her.