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metalnecklace · 8 months

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Please Let Me

Pairing: Joel Miller x Reader (plus size)

Words: 3225

Warnings: Slight age gap (reader is in her late thirties/early forties, Joel is his age just after the show), Mentions of period, Mentions of blood (from period and from violence), Canon Typical Violence, Panic Attacks, Hurt/Comfort, Mentions of Ellie.

Notes: This is a second part to Be Good to Me, but can be read as a stand alone. There is just a few small mentions that allude to the first part. This mostly comes from me wanting to take care of Joel because he needs a hug at the very least.

Summary: Joel knows how to take care of people, but it’s time someone takes care of him.

Masterlist Part 1

Joel and I had been getting used to our new routine. Instead of him coming over a few times a month when my period hit, he was coming over all the time. Better yet, I was even going over to his place just as much. Ellie enjoyed having another woman around, and Joel just enjoyed being around me.

It was all going well. We worked together, and he comforted me when I needed it. The only issue was I never felt like I was doing enough in terms of comforting him.

Until we had no other choice.

A group of infected had been traveling through one of our patrol paths, which Joel had immediately volunteered to help clear out. What he didn’t expect was for me to do the same.

He had begged Maria to keep me home and send someone else, but I had been stubborn. After having to stay home from the last few patrols due to period pains, I still felt that need to make up for what I felt I lacked. Joel had insisted that I stay behind, that there was nothing to prove. I didn’t care.

Maria knew I was capable, and didn’t feel the need to find anybody else. So we were sent on our way.

The trail had been relatively quiet for the most part, until we reached the area we had been warned about. We could hear the infected making their way through the woods and had one job: clear them out.

Our guns were loud, but we were able to take down about four of them before they turned to attack. There were at least four more, which was more than we had already anticipated, until another pack came from behind us.

If we had known how many there actually were Maria would’ve sent more people with us. But we did our best.

Joel’s eyes glazed over in a way I hadn’t seen before as he was quick to aim his shotgun, fire, reload, repeat. He was methodical, mesmerizing, almost distracting.

I was right there next to him, taking out one infected after another. Never missing a shot. We finally cleared them after only a few close calls. Joel had walked toward the bodies to be sure there weren’t any still moving when I felt something grab my shoulder.

“Joel!” I screamed out, second nature, as if my body knew what I needed before I did.

His eyes raised to mine, searching for a sign that I was okay for a split second before he aimed his gun over my shoulder. A shot rang out through the air, and a thump sounded on the ground behind my feet.

My blood had gone to ice from the surprise and panic that had flooded my nervous system, but I was luckily unharmed.

Joel still raced to me and held my face in his trembling hands.

“Are you okay?” He was frantic, his eyes flickering to every point on my face. “Are you bit?”

I raised my hands to hold onto his forearms, steadying my breathing again. “I’m fine, Joel, I’m not bit. I’m okay, I promise.”

His eyes slid closed, and he placed his forehead to mine. Our breathing synced as we rested in that spot for a moment.

“It’s okay, Joel,” I whispered into the space between us as he still cradled my face. “We’re okay.”

“I know,” he breathed into our limited space. “I know, I know, I just…”

He trailed off, breathed in deep, and stepped away.

“Let’s get back, okay? I think we’re done here.” His words were calculated, his eyes distant and looking anywhere but at me.

“Okay,” I murmured.

I rode in front while he made sure to keep watch the entire way back. It was absolutely silent, reminding me of before. Before Joel took care of me, before I let him in, before we found a safe haven in each other. Sadness welled within my chest, but I knew it had to wait until we could get to the comfort of our private closed doors. Whether it was mine or his.

Maria was waiting for us at the barn with Tommy, both looking concerned. The two of us must’ve been a sight, considering the blood that was matted into my hair and back of my jacket, and Joel looked like the stone cold statue he used to when he first returned to Jackson. He still had that look around certain people, but not around me.

“Joel?” Tommy asked, going to the older man and taking the reins of his horse.

“They’re taken care of, we’re okay,” Joel responded. He then clapped a hand onto Tommy’s shoulder.

“We’re okay,” he repeated, as if he needed to convince himself more than his brother.

He then turned and walked out of the barn before anybody else could question him further. Maria looked to me for more of an explanation.

“Uh, we’re okay,” I said, wanting to slap myself for the parroted response. “We are. I think he’s just a bit shaken up. I’ll take care of him.”

Tommy and Maria exchanged a glance, but I didn’t linger, needing to find Joel. I walked out of the barn and looked around for where I might find him, but he was gone. I sighed, ready to walk home and hope to find him waiting for me, when I heard something.

It sounded like a gasp, a sharp intake of air from something just around the side of the barn that faced the woods. I rushed over and turned the corner to find Joel bracing himself against the wooden wall with one hand, the other gripping his chest like he needed to reach in and squeeze his heart.

“Joel?” I called softly to him, stepping toward him with caution. I hadn’t seen him in that state before and wasn’t sure he wanted me to, considering he was hidden from everyone else. But he clearly needed help.

He lifted his head and looked to me, making me pause in my tracks. His eyes were glassy, tears already having tracked down his tanned cheeks, and his lip trembled around his labored breathing.

“Oh, Joel.” I went to him, placing my hand over the one laid on his chest, and slipped my other one around his neck.

My fingers slipped into his unruly locks and I pulled him into me. Suddenly his arms wrapped around me and pulled us together even tighter. With his head buried in my neck he fell apart, piece by piece.

“I’m so sorry,” he gasped out, muffled by my jacket and hair. “I’m so so sorry, I panicked. I wasn’t quick enough, you could’ve been bit, I don’t know what I would’ve done.”

I let him ramble through his grief as I held his head and trembling body to me. We stood there interlocked until his breathing finally evened out.

“Do you need me to get Tommy?” I asked, unsure if he really wanted me to be the one to pick up his pieces. Even though I wanted to, and I would if he asked me.

He pulled away, shaking his head. “No, don’t get Tommy. I don’t need to worry him. I just need to get home.”

I nodded, caressing his cheek with the hand that had been in his hair. “Let’s go home.”

We walked together with an arm around each of us. Some of the townsfolk watched us as if still shocked to see evidence of Joel Miller’s softer, caring side. As if he hadn’t been showing it long enough. I felt both a pride that I got to see that side of him, and a sadness that others didn’t. I wished everybody could see him for the man that he was.

The man that fought, knuckles bloody, for the ones he loved. The man that fell apart when alone, scared to lose the ones he loved. The man that was both sunshine forever warming my soul, and the moonlight I needed to light the darkness.

He was everything.

We came upon my house first, and when I looked to Joel he nodded in approval. Since we had begun our relationship we kept clothes at each other's places. I knew we would eventually move into one, but it hadn’t been long enough for that. We still liked our space, even though most nights one of us would show up at the other's door, unable to sleep without the peace we brought each other.

One night we had met each other halfway, laughing in the dark street until we decided which house would suffice for the night.

Him choosing mine was probably also because he didn’t want to worry Ellie. He trusted her enough to take care of herself for the night, and she knew where he was whenever he didn’t go home. She was like him when it came to caring for their loved ones, and we both knew her heart would be in the right place but Joel needed more peace in that moment than what she usually brought. No offense to her, of course. She always knew how to cheer me up.

I had a feeling that bad jokes and puns weren’t going to be much help, if the way he was still trembling was anything to go by.

We shuffled into the house and kicked our boots off. I hung up my jacket on the coat rack and helped Joel out of his. His eyes still looked distant, but the colour had started to return to his cheeks. I was grateful to have him standing in my home, grateful we were physically okay.

“Why don’t you grab a shower, I’ll get some food going.” I turned to go to the kitchen but his hand gripped my arm.

“Please,” he whispered.

I looked at him, taking in a man whose strength inspired me to get through any day, still seeing that strength show through his fear and grief. I recognized how hard it was for him to ask for help and show me his feelings the way he was, and I appreciated him even more than I thought possible.

Together we walked toward the bathroom. The water came on and started to heat up while we got ready to get in. He let me strip him bare, the act caring and a show of love, before I followed suit.

We had enough hot water to wash the grime and blood that covered us, and he allowed me to do so with his eyes shut tight, breathing starting to regulate through his pouted lips. My fingers burrowed into his hair, scrubbing away the sweat and grit that held onto his locks so tightly. I wondered briefly as he let out soft sighs and moans at the attention if he ever allowed himself to bask in such simple pleasures such as massaging his scalp. Or if instead he just rushed through the process, trying to be as clean as possible without the joys that could be brought from such an action of self care.

My hands slid to his shoulders and chest, but his hands came up to stop me.

“You don’t have to,” he muttered, his eyes opened but lowered. “I can take it from here.”

I shook my head, the droplets of water tapping me on the shoulders. “Please let me.”

He dropped his hands back to his sides and closed his eyes once more. I slid my palms up his chest and over his shoulders, then down his arms. My fingers squeezed lightly as I wrapped them around his biceps, then his forearms. I lifted each hand and scrubbed soap all over, massaging his palms and wrists. After a while I felt his gaze on me, and looked to see him watching my actions. It was like he was transfixed, couldn’t look away as I did my best to help him clean up.

My hands made their way to his ribs and stomach, and I instructed him to turn around so I could wash his back. The knots that were burrowed under his skin were like challenges that I tried my best to undo without pushing too hard. Joel felt like glass under my hands, even though the scars that littered his body proved he wasn’t. But I didn’t want him to shatter anymore.

When I reached lower to his hips I felt his hands place themselves over mine.

“I can take care of the rest,” he mumbled over the water. “You should probably get some of this water before it’s done.”

I kissed his shoulder and hummed in agreement, grateful that he gave me space under the warm spray. Blood swirled at our feet, but it didn’t belong to either of us. Joel had helped me shower a few times when I was bleeding profusely, and it never bothered him. When the blood washed out of my hair I felt him tense up before looking away.

It felt good to finally be clean, even though the hot water ran out right before I washed all the soap off my body. We both got dressed into sweatpants and t-shirts, and made our way into the kitchen. I knew he didn’t want to leave the house, so I searched the cupboards for any snacks I had laying around.

“I think I might just go to bed,” Joel said from behind me. I turned to see him knuckling at one of his eyes with a fist, his hair a mess and clothes slightly rumpled, and my heart squeezed in my chest at the sight.

“You’re not hungry?” I asked.

He shook his head. “You eat, though. I just need some rest, is all.”

I smiled meekly at him. “Okay, hun. You go lay down, I’ll be there in a few.”

He turned and walked away without another word. I quickly shoved one of the homemade granola bars I had made the day before into my mouth and grabbed a couple others to stash upstairs. Joel said he wasn’t hungry, but I knew he would wake up starving in the middle of the night. I also poured a glass of water, chugging it down and filling it back up to bring to him.

The lights were off in our bedroom, but once my eyes adjusted to the darkness I could make out his form on the bed. He always laid on the side closest to the door, making sure he was a barricade between me and whatever horrors he dreamt would break in through the night. However, he was starting to get used to the comforts that Jackson brought, along with the safety, and allowed himself to relax enough to turn his back on his lookout so he could cuddle with me and finally rest.

I placed his water and potential snack on the bedside table and decided to take matters into my own hands. He startled a bit when I pushed against his shoulder, and he turned to face me.

I lifted my chin to gesture that he should move to the other side of the bed.

“What?” He asked, puzzled by my request.

“Move over, baby,” I whispered in the dark, as if we needed to keep quiet. “Please.”

Joel still seemed confused but he did as I requested. Before he could turn around to face me I slid into the bed behind him and proceeded to tuck one of my arms to my chest while the other slid around his ribs to his middle. He sighed when I pressed myself up against him, plastering my body to his back until I couldn’t go any closer.

“What’re you doin’?” His voice rumbled through his back and I found myself nuzzling my face into his neck. The smell of warmth and faint leather keeping me grounded to the earth.

“Taking care of you.”

He sighed again, his ribs expanding under my arm. “Why?”

I smiled against the soft t-shirt he wore, his shoulder a hard muscle underneath.

“Someone has to.”

His laugh was quiet, but it was like music to my ears as his shoulders shook slightly.

We laid like that for a moment, letting our bodies relax further into each other. Eventually he reached his hand down to my thigh and pulled my leg up over his hip so I was fully wrapped around him. When I was settled he took my hand that had found itself splayed against his chest and brought it to his lips. He smudged kisses across my knuckles and then laced his fingers with mine back against his chest.

“Thank you,” he said, his voice low and gravelly. “I just… I was so scared, sweetheart.”

I felt his ribs stutter around a breath. My heart ached for him but I knew I had to let him work through what he was feeling.

“I can’t stop thinking about what would’ve happened if I was slower, because I wasn’t fast enough as it is.” He choked out a sob, squeezing my hand. I squeezed back once and placed another kiss on his shoulder. “What if I can’t protect you anymore? I couldn’t live with myself if-“

Another sob broke through him, cutting off the rest of his sentence.

I held him as his body trembled.

“I can’t lose anybody else.”

My heart shattered hearing him say that. I sniffled, not realizing I had started to cry with him.

“I know, Joel,” I whimpered. “But you didn’t lose me. I’m right here. I’m okay. We’re okay.”

“But what about next time?”

“There’s no telling what next time will bring. All we can do is be here, right now. Okay?” I kissed his shoulder again, then leaned forward to kiss his neck. “So be here, with me. Please.”

He nodded slightly. “Okay, darlin’.”

“Get some rest, okay?” I whispered, my eyelids sliding shut from the heavy day.

The silence blanketed around us, while we held each other. His breaths soon became steadier, deeper, lulling me into a deep sleep. I woke up with a start because of Joel rolling me onto my other side.

“Joel? Wha-“ I was flustered and groggy. “What’re you doing?”

“Getting comfortable,” he grunted, finally rolling me over and tucking my body against his. It was his front pressed up against my back, with one of his arms under my head and the other locked around my middle.

“But I’m taking care of you,” I whined even though I closed my eyes again, settling into him.

“I know, darlin’, and you did such a good job.” He kissed my neck, making me squirm against him. “But now I need to hold you, okay? I just need to feel you.”

I hummed, pulling his arm up between my breasts so I could hold onto him. “Okay, Joel. I’m here.”

He chuckled, the puff of air tickling my neck.

I felt sleep pulling me under, further and further until I was balanced between feeling the weight of Joel’s arm holding me down and the drop off into dreamland. Though there wasn’t a single dream that was better than the reality of waking up next to that man. Finally, when I was too far gone to be fully aware of my surroundings I heard Joel speak. Just once before he, too, followed me into sleep.

“I love you.”

———

Taglist: @sullyosully @ashleymsnodgrass

#joel miller #joel miller fanfiction #joel miller fic #joel miller x reader #joel the last of us #joel miller the last of us #joel miller x plus size reader

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iat410gamedev · 1 year

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Week 08

For week 8, I will be going over what I have worked on so far to prepare for alpha code. This week I have mainly worked on adding a new flying type enemy to add an additional obstruction for the player. The new enemy will be added to the poison jungle that has been corrupted by the human population. Thus the corrupted crow will mainly attack the guardian using projectiles. Its movement should include flying side by side, pausing, and attacking with projectiles.

For this enemy, this is my first time ever learning how to create pixel animation using the tool FireAlpacha. With it came with a lot of struggles, it took me about an entire 7 hours of workload in order to complete the idle animation, flying animation, attacking animation, and death animation. Things I had trouble with is sorting the colours and shadows of its wing span, and thinking how the enemy's body will move upon its death. Due to my inexperience in animation, the crow's body might change slightly in size upon its death. For now, this animation should serve its purpose, should any new animation refinement needs to be done will probably be tackled in the near future.

Next I as assigned on fixing the background, splitting the background from 1 layer into three layers. It took some time as well, however our current placeholder background has garnered a lot of positive feedback. Therefore, the need of the current designed background done by myself is highly likely to be scrapped. The background was originally split to create a parallax background. Finally I needed to design our potential new enemies for the next area. For this I have added one tree monster for the first area the corrupted forest, a mechanical bear with robotic arms for the next area the overgrown city, as well as a fire drone for the burned forest map. On the side note I have also done user testing. For my particular case, I was able to take my time out for interviewing a hardcore player. Chris, plays video games after work on the daily bases. He plays almost any type of mmorpg, and action rpg games. Most notable is a game called Dungeon Fighter online, a game similar to ours that focuses on killing enemies on a 2D platform. He provided a very detailed list of things he enjoyed and things he didn't enjoy, as well as going through the game finding the bugs within our game. It was clear the game was not enjoyable to him as there were lots of polishing that needed to be done, with collider issues and inconsistent damage pattern. Most notably he expected the jumping wall mechanic to be upwards and not side to side with an automatic press. Due to this I might purchase a game called megaman x4 and demonstrate it to my teammates to see how other professional game developers setup the wall jumping mechanic.

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track-staryaz · 2 years

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#legends only

#camp cretaceous #camp cretaceous spoilers #jwcc spoilers #ben pincus #THANK YOU BEN FOR THE CONTINUOUS INTERRUPTIONS OF THEM #might make a compilation post of him doing that but I don’t remember when he does it and I don’t think I have it in me to watch the scenes-#- to find out when he does #HAD TO SPLIT THE GIF DUE TO SIZING ISSUES #ACK #my posts

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sageworld · 2 years

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Splash, R. Cameron

warnings; smut, oral (f receiving), male masturbation, plus size reader, mentions of bullying, body image issues, rafe being a keeper, drying each other off

lower case intended

rafe hasn’t always been the nicest to you but he wasn’t the worst either. he tolerated you especially as his sisters friend. you were a kook, sarah as well but the two of you chose to hang around pogues. he tolerated you until the day he saw you in one of sarah’s un used bikinis. you were chubbier than her but you being so short made it fit with ease.

he was feeling particularly 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘀 that day & offered for sarah & yourself to swim with him along with his friends. his friends & he had said some pretty nasty things to you in the past but nothing you couldn’t forgive. it still made you afraid, having to go out there in a bikini that was meant for sarah. you stared in the mirror, it complimented you nicely. the soft pink against your skin, you breast pushed together nicely due to the padding in the top, your stomach appearing flatter due to your belly piercing, you freshly waxed skin.

“you look so hot.” you turn as sarah’s voice rings. “have you seen yourself, you’re the hottest.” you compliment back. “ugh if we were lesbians i’d totally fuck you.” she tugs your belly ring softly. “i’d let you, now let’s go swim.”

the two of you make your ways downstairs & into the back yard where you find rafe & his friends wrestling in the water. within a split second you feel eyes on you. the pair belonging to rafe. the boys stop wrestling & invite the two of you in, a few other pairs of eyes settle in on you.

the pool goes on without much occurring, other than the boys being the nicest to you they’ve ever been. sarah & topper were the first to get out, wanting to go lay in her bed. slowly the other left until it was just you & rafe.

“mm, you okay? your lips are turning purple.” rafe’s voice was teasing & pitiful. “i think i just need to go inside.” you respond as your teeth clammer, the hot sun has set and was replaced with the moon and it’s cool breeze. “let’s go then.” he smiles. you get out first, giving rafe who was right behind you the perfect view of your ass as you walked up the steps to get out.

before you could walk inside rafe stops you, “we have to dry off. rose gets pissed when we go inside with even a drop of water on us.” he offers you a towel. as you take it you can’t help but stare at his strong arms & chiseled stomach. you look up from your daze and notice the slightest smirk on his face.

“can you get my back?” rafe asks after a few moments of drying. “i-uh sure.” you agree and he hands you his towel, making you drop your own. you begin to more massage his muscles rather than dry them but never mind that. “fuck.” you hear him whimper out. “want me to get yours?” he turns to face you, making your actions stop. “sure.” you hand him his towel back and turn around. quickly you feel his hands running up and down your ass through the towel. “damn, this bathing suit just holds so much water. i think it’d be best if you just got out of it.” he throws the towel over his shoulder and you turn back to face him. “okay.” you say barley above a whisper. “yeah?” “yeah.”

he gets down on his knees, sliding the towel off his shoulder and onto the concrete. he grabes onto both ends of your bikini bottoms before slowly pulling it down. you watch as he keeps full eye contact with your exposed heat as he continues to pull them down. he helps you step out of them before licking his pointed and middle finger, bringing them up to your pussy. “you’re so perfect.” he whispers as he circles your clit, “so, so perfect baby.” “you can taste me, sweet boy.” you smile down at him & softly cradle his head forward. “okay.” his tone still a whisper as you bring him closer.

you moan out loud the second his mouth is on you. “oh fuck baby.” you throw your head back and push his deeper into you. “just like that.” you smile out and begin to ride his face. he places both his hands on your ass, shoving you forward as well. you’d never been so happy to be around rafe fucking cameron.

you pull your top down enough to take your nipples out & begin pinching them. rafe began to reposition himself, his nose now rubbing your clit and tongue fucking into your whole. when you hear and feel him mumble “i love you.” into your pussy is when you begin squirting all over his mouth and chest. he quickly kisses up your pussy, thigh, stomach, tits, neck & finally your lips. “go lay down in my room, i’ll clean up out here, yeah?” he pulls away from the kiss. “be there soon?” “i promise baby.” he watches as you pull you bottoms back up. “ you are so damn sexy.” he reaches around to slap your ass. “mm thank you baby.” you kiss his lips. it’s clear the two of you are drunk on one another.

while you stumble your way to his room rafe has no real plans of cleaning up. once he’s sure your in his room due to his light going on & him being able to see through his window he goes inside. he scurries into sarah bathroom.

he looks through the hamper, he was sure you had changed in here earlier. laying on top was the shorts you were wearing when you got here, your panties clinging onto them. they were white with not a stain or hair damaging them. they were so clean. rafe holds them up to his nose, inhaling the scent he had tasted on long ago. he can’t help but reach into his shorts & play with himself for a moment, hoping for some comfort. when he’s decided he’s had enough, he heads back to his room, your panties balled up in his hand. he has to be sneaky about this.

when he opens the door he finds you, in one of his shirts, on your knees sitting on the bed. your on your phone facing the other way. you must’ve found his charger he thought. he quickly throws the panties behind his laundry basket before jumping onto the bed with you.

you turn and stand over him on you knees, him laying on his back. “i’m so fucking tired.” he smiles. “but im so fucking horny.” you joke making him chuckle. “you could always ride it, babe.”

“don’t have to tell me twice.”

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wardenparker · 2 years

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Once Upon a Time... part 8

Zach Wellison x plus size f!Reader Co-written with @absurdthirst

Zach’s life gets turned upside down when his visit to the local library sends him all the way back to Camelot - and he meets another time traveler who has made the kingdom their home.

Rating: Explicit. There is no turning back from the smut now that we have found it. Word Count: 13.1k Warnings: *This is a Zach fic so there WILL be discussion of homelessness.* Nobody is circumcised in Camelot so it’s a thing, discussion of various birth control methods, mentions of infidelity (taking a mistress), body image issues, insecurities, oral sex (female receiving), unprotected sex, vaginal sex, sex with an audience, cockwarming Summary: It’s time for a medieval wedding!!! Notes: It’s here! It’s time! It’s a glorious wedding day for all!

Part 1 ~ Part 2 ~ Part 3 ~ Part 4 ~ Part 5 ~ Part 6 ~ Part 7

You hold tight to Zach's hand as the crowd sweeps you along - down from the church on the peak of the cliff overlooking the ocean and down toward the castle with all the momentum of children who have been promised their favourite candy. A near herd of people had turned out to see you married, stuffing the little church on the cliff to the gills with children running around outside picking flower petals to toss in the air when you and Zach emerged again after the service. The self-important old priest had droned on and on, but you swear you barely heard him over the riotous beating of your own heart. Married. You're married now. To the best man you've ever known in your life. And the day isn't even half over yet.

True to his word, Gareth had been Zach’s best man. Stood beside him as Arthur escorted you towards him. Zach could tell there was a moment that the king feared that his nephew would jump forward and claim you as his own bride from the way that his brow furrowed and his shoulders tensed, but it was Zach who was unable to wait until you had fully met him on the step, coming forward and reaching for you.

Now, Gareth, Gawain, Tristan and Galahad all surround the couple while Lancelot and Percival flank the king and queen as they make their way back to the Great Hall were a feast Zach helped provide is being laid out. The roasted boar being the very one that Zach had brought down during the hunt and impressing all that had participated due to it large size.

The Great Hall has been strewn with so many flowers and garlands of Ivy that it looks like Guinevere ordered the forest be brought inside the castle. Candles stand by everywhere, ready to be lit when the sun starts to fall, and it is very clear that this party is meant to go on until the last person drops. There is a table along the wall strewn with chests, boxes, packages, and items of all kinds, and a beautiful, seemingly brand-new sword sits in front of the seats of honour at the head table. You squeeze Zach’s have a little tighter, smiling so hard it feels like your face might split. “I love you,” you murmur to him, taking in everything around you with a happy sigh.

The cheer and applause are thunderous in the hall, filled with nearly everyone from the castle and Zach smiles when he sees Ava standing by, it had been his request that the hardworking girl not have to serve and instead be a guest at the feast. "Before the casks of wine are opened and the celebration begins." Zach turns, hand firmly wrapped around yours, to where Arthur has commanded attention of the room. "There is one matter that needs to be dispatched." Arthur smirks and sends Zach a come hither motion. "Sir Zachariah, stand before me."

Exchanging matching looks of confusion, you let his hand go so he can stand in front of Arthur in the center of the hall. Guinevere appears at your other side, your similar statures making it easy for me her to wrap her arm around your shoulders and squeeze tight the way you now know she does when she is most excited about something.

"Camelot is a land that has endured much." Arthur announces over the crowd. "Now, however, we have a sense of peace that is kept only by the valiant men that serve as knights for Camelot."

It hits you like a ton of bricks - twisting in your stomach and lighting you up with sheer excitement when you watch Lancelot position himself behind the king’s right shoulder with Excalibur in his hands. “The knights of Camelot have come from many homes.” Arthur goes on, speaking to the assembled crowd though his eyes are trained squarely on Zach. “Whether humble or grand. Peasant or high born. The knights of Camelot are connected by honour, virtue, and courage. Three things that today’s groom has exhibited in spades.” The king extends his hand motioning to the young man before him. “Kneel, Sir Zachariah if you would join them.”

He nearly falls down to his knee, stumbling forward while he is humbled and overwhelmed when he realizes what is happening. Arthur is knighting him. Him, a stranger to his land and yet— he is taking Excalibur in his hands from Lancelot. The flash of a little boy's dreams flooding his mind. Zach's head tips forward as he presents his neck to the king. A show of fealty that has him blinking back tears of the multitude of emotions that are swimming in his veins. Wishing that he could look over and see your face, knowing that in this moment you are proud of him.

The entire hall falls silent, and for a split second you're sure everyone can hear how hard your proud heart is beating as your husband kneels in front of King Arthur to be knighted. "A vow to Camelot is one of loyalty." With Excalibur in his hands, Arthur looks every inch the medieval king of legend that he will comes to be known as. "Loyalty to the kingdom and its sovereign lord, renouncing all others before and to come. It is one of bravery: to accept adventure as an inevitable path and never shy from a dangerous path out of fear. To protect those who have no way to protect themselves, providing safe quarter for the weak and defense for the helpless. The knights of Camelot uphold truth and righteousness, never wavering in the face of an adversary. They are charitable and compassionate. They are the example of goodness for those around them." Unsheathing the great longsword, Arthur lays the tip of the blade to the younger man's right shoulder. "Do you swear to uphold these principles, putting the welfare of others before yourself as you pledge your sword to Camelot?"

The moment isn't lost on him, this oath being so different from the one that he had sworn to the United States and yet it was just as profound. Arthur had spoken the words that he had felt when he was raising his right hand years ago. "My sword and my honor are committed to Camelot." He tells Arthur, his voice steady much to his surprise.

"Then rise, Sir Zachariah." Excaliber's tip moves from his right shoulder to his left, crowning him as it goes. "Knight of the Round Table. And take Camelot with you wherever you go."

Lancelot steps forward to take Excaliber from the king and replace it with another sword. It's surreal and magical in itself. This moment. No matter what the future holds, Zach will never roll his shoulders in shame because one of the most famous kings and knights to have ever lived believes that he is worth to sit at the Round Table as an equal. "Yes, my king."

The sword that has been placed in his hands is what Arthur offers to his newly christened knight when he stands, and the expression of paternal pride is unmistakable. "Consider it a wedding present," he insists quietly, pressing the sword and sheath into Zachariah's hands. "And go rejoin your bride. I see proud tears in her eyes that deserve to be admired."

"Thank you." He murmurs softly, turning to the clapping of the hall, everyone celebrating but he only has eyes for you in this moment. He won't even been able to put into words what he is feeling until late that night with you, alone in your bed.

Your arms ring tight around him, pulling him into a tight hug in front of the roaring, applauding crowd shouting "HUZZAH!" all around you. "Congratulations, love." Simple words, whispered in his ear before you kiss him, and you grin again when you pull back. "Just a little bit different than oo-rah, isn't it?"

"Jesus Christ." He lunges forward and buries his face in your neck, needing a moment to compose himself and he is most at home in you. You are his safe harbor, amazing how that has happened so fast, but it's there and he sighs against your skin while he pulls back and gives you a watery smile. "You have your white knight as a husband."

“I already did,” you promise him, holding on to him like a lifeline. “But now it’s official.”

“Come.” Guinevere’s hand returns to your shoulder momentarily, bringing you back to the moment as she gestures for you to take your place at the banquet table. “You shall have the places of honour for your own feast, and let it be our privilege to sit beside you.”

Zach holds his sword in his left hand and guides you towards the table with his other. The feast is spectacular, covering nearly every inch of the large table, the boar that Zach had hunted is too big, hanging from a spit in front of it, on display for everyone to see what the groom had provided. "Is this better than any wedding we could have planned, or what?" He murmurs as you sit down.

“Who else in history has ever been knighted to the round table at their own wedding?” You beam at him as he puts his sword down. The congratulatory shouts from the crowd have morphed into an insistent cry for a kiss, and you couldn’t be happier to do just that.

He hums, quirking a brow in agreement and he tugs you closer at the urging of the crowd. "The kingdom demands a kiss, milady." He teases against your lips, reaching out and cupping your cheek. "We have no choice but to give the people what they want." He nudges his nose against yours. "I love you."

“I love you, too.” If you ever stop smiling, it will be far too soon. It is impossible to stop, even into the kiss - and you end up having to break away to laugh anyway when Zach’s fellow nights go wild at the act. Even Gareth is having a good time, and raises a glass toward the two of you when you look out over the room.

Zach picks up his wine goblet and lifts it up. "To my bride! The fairest in the kingdom save our queen!"

Guinevere raises her glass on your other side, smiling over at the two of you. “I think we can all agree that a joyful bride’s beauty outshines all others.”

“Only because of your Majesty’s kindness. Without which none of this would be possible.” It’s completely true and you’re not afraid to say it. This entire day is owed to her, and that is something you will never forget.

Smiling, Zach takes a sip of his wine. "This is your day, Dandelion, my love." He murmurs and leans over to kiss you again. "Our day."

“Ours. From now on, everything is shared.” For better or worse and for richer or poorer may not have been part of your wedding vows, but the philosophy of partnership and support is already a bedrock of your relationship and you wouldn’t have it any other way. “Now,” You grin as he fills the trencher between you. “Gossip says there was quite a chase to catch that boar and Lancelot almost got bitten?”

Zach laughs and nods, making many turn their heads to see what the amusement was. Everyone could tell that the two of you were completely enchanted with one another and Guinevere smiles into her own cup. "He was treed by it." Zach tells you. "Took three bolts to take that beast down." He shakes his head, still chuckling.

“And here I was worried that you wouldn’t have fun yesterday.” He had had an entire day of male bonding that was about as close to a medieval bachelor party as you could reckon, even going to a tavern in the village with the Pendragon boys so that you hadn’t seen him until this morning. It made you desperately wish for a cell phone so you could have said good night.

“It was interesting.” Zach muses, looking out over the hall. “I am extremely grateful for the time even if they could have warned me it was an initiation. No wonder they kept shoving drinks in my hand.”

“It wouldn’t have been any fun if they had warned you.” The idea of all of his fellow knights knowing what would happen today and wanting to surprise him warms your heart in an entirely different way and you take a sip of your wine. “My day was spent at the bathhouse getting pampered, which is about the most quintessential bachelorette party thing I can think of.” Guinevere had gathered the ladies of the court that she is closest to and you are fondest of, and the six of you had spent all day bathing and gossiping - a time that had revealed Merlin’s wife to have a hilariously dirty sense of humour and the legendary Isolde to be not-so-innocent at all.

"I did miss you last night." He admits easily. "Gawain and Tristain snore." He huffs and rolls his eyes good naturedly. "Although it was better than when Galahad started serenading one of the serving girls." He had a hard time calling them wenches, even if everyone else did, that modern mindset still too fresh.

“So I shouldn’t add Sweet Sir Galahad to my set?” You joke, even though you love the Joan Baez classic.

"He sounds like a dying chicken." He tells you with a grin.

“Charming.” Sending his grin right back at him, you shake your head a little. “You can’t claim to be the worst singer in the kingdom, then.” Not that he ever was, but he never takes compliments well - just like you.

******

Wine flows and he has to admit that this medieval feast might be the most delicious thing that he's ever eaten in his entire life. The boar is roasted perfectly and there are so many types of pies and pastries, jellies and puddings that there is no way he can try it all. "Oh god." He sits back after you offer him another morsel. "I don't know if I will be able to move." He groans appreciatively.

“Don’t let anyone hear you say that.” You laugh, cuddled comfortably into his side as you sit at the long banquet table. The music has begun and the party seems to be just getting started. “They’ll make you start dancing just to wake you up from the food coma.”

"While I want nothing more than to dance with my wife, " he grins happily at being able to say that. "I need a minute or twenty." His hand is on your thigh, stroking it over the find material of your dress. You are stunning and he cannot believe that this was made by the queen and the royal seamstress. His matching surcoat something that is almost too fine to wear. "I feel like I've seen this in a movie once." He teases quietly.

“You recognize it?” It shouldn’t surprise you, since you’re both movie buffs, but it still makes your smile spread wider. “It was my dream wedding dress when I was little. And since I was already getting my dream man, I figured why not.” You shrug like it doesn’t matter, despite your cheeks burning with that joyful happiness that never seems to end. “But Drew Barrymore never had a gown with embroidery done by hand by the queen.” Picking up his hand, you press a kiss to the back of it, grateful you don’t need to worry about smudging makeup or anything nearly as fussy.

"Very true." Zach threads his fingers through yours and looks at the still heavily burdened table. "We will have to have Aisling make us a tray for late night snacking." He tells you with a grin. "We have a long night ahead of us."

“Oh, are you suddenly thinking you’ll have energy again?” You throw him and wink, knowing that wedding night sex was never in danger of being taken off the schedule. “Because I bet anything your brothers in arms are going to be the ones outside our door making sure you do a good job.”

The cocky smirk on his face is well deserved, in his opinion. After all, he's pretty sure that he's memorized all the spots that make. you go wild. "Damn straight I'm going to have the energy." He promises you. "Have to make sure I can please my bride."

“I genuinely doubt there will be any problems with that.” Considering all he has to do is touch you to make you wet, the only thing that gives you pause is the fact that you’ll have an audience of sorts. But if anyone has the ability to make you forget everything else in the world, it’s Zach.

"Never know." He teases, leaning in and kissing your neck. He grins against your skin for a split second before he nips at it playfully.

“Why?” You hum, feeling your breath catch at the sensation of teeth toying with skin. He knows you shiver every time and isn’t being shy about exploiting that. “You shy about having an audience?”

He huffs, letting his tongue glide against your pulse. "I would fuck you right now, right here in front of everyone and not give a damn who watched." He boasts. "But I like having you to myself."

You barely manage to stifle the whimper bubbling behind your lips, and you pinch Zach’s thigh under the table in warning. “If you make me moan while I’m sitting next to the queen, so help me god.” You mumble, half wishing you could just disappear right now and let him do whatever he wants with you. But then - this is your wedding reception, and you wouldn’t miss it for the world.

He snickers and shoots you a wicked grin. "You'll do what?" He asks in challenge, lifting a brow at you. "You'll cum? Beg me to fuck you?" He keeps his voice low so no one else hears but his fingers slide along your own thigh. "Please do."

The absolute pout you send him is unmistakable as you try not to squirm in your seat while you whisper: “I will melt into the floor with embarrassment.” If he wants you to beg, you’ll gladly do that when there isn’t royalty sitting six inches away.

His chuckle is low, and he can see you shiver at the sound. "Maybe we clear the table and I'll have my second meal." He loves the way that you are squirming and yet you look so eager for just that.

“Zach!” You hiss under your breath, playfully swatting at his thigh before you give it a tight squeeze because honestly you would love that if you had any kind of exhibitionist tendencies. “You’re going to kill me, baby.”

"Death by orgasm." He teases, deciding that he is going to leave you alone for at least another few minutes. He doesn't want you to have a moment of being upset today. "What a way to go."

“We have two weeks of peace to try for it.” You waggle your eyebrows at him, feeling that perfect way your stomach flips when he laughs and his one deep dimple is on display.

The music strikes up and the queen turns towards you. "My dear, are you ready?" She asks you quietly as Arthur stands and makes his way around her to hold out his hand to you.

"Lady Wellison, dance with me." He isn't exactly asking, but this is already prearranged and he feels his chest puff out, proud that this celebration is going so well. "Before we eat too much, or I get too deep in my cup." He asks playfully with a wink, his spirits high.

It’s nothing fancy, just a basic waltz since that’s something that everyone at court seemed to grasp fairly easily and has enjoyed. You had taught the minstrels various songs over the last year that would work for this moment, but A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes was the one that sounded most beautiful in the other bard’s voice, and nothing quite said fairy tale to you like a Disney song in Camelot so you had agreed. The musicians strike up as the four of you take your places in the hall and you set your hand in the king’s as the bard begins to sing.

You are gorgeous, standing in the king's arms and dancing to the music. Zach looks down at the queen in his own arms, the pride on her face almost like she was the mother of the bride and his own emotions make him hum. "You have my gratitude, your highness." He murmurs. "This is incredible."

“It is a token of our gratitude.” Guinevere smiles softly, humming along with the song for a moment. It is one of her favourites of yours. “Your Dandelion has brought nothing but joy to our lives, and you have proven yourself a worthy member of our court. We are grateful for you both.”

“We are honored to be a part of your court.” Zach tells her honestly. “The Knights of the Round Table are known in America and highly respected. To become one is a dream come true.”

“I understand that you more than earned it with your prowess yesterday.” The gossip fluctuated about what had actually happened, but from what Arthur had told her, the young Knight’s persistence and fearlessness had simply proven to him that the decision was the correct one.

He flushes slightly, preening under the praise of the queen. It reminds him of when his mother would make him feel like he was really Superman when he was a child. “It was good to be able to contribute to the feast.”

“The first of many things you will provide for your bride.” She beams at him, so very proud and so very connected without ever being able to truly put her finger on how. Perhaps it is as simple as the fact that he resembles Arthur when the king was very young, and it makes it easier to imagine the newly christened knight as her own son, but she will likely never know.

The music is wonderful as he guides the queen around the floor, but soon the song is done and Arthur bows to you before he quickly exchanges places with Zach so you are in his arms.

“I hope you don’t mind…” you murmur, stepping in close to him as the minstrels begin a beautifully slow rendition of Can’t Help Falling in Love with You. “After last week I sort of felt like it was…our song.” It feels silly to say out loud, but a song about two people who fall head over heels in love with each other in no time at all is the two of you to a tee.

He couldn’t help his smile beam if he tried. “It’s perfect.” He promises, tugging you into his arms more securely. “It is our song. 100%.”

“It’s the only thing about our wedding we could ever tell anyone,” you joke quietly, letting him twirl you gently through the song.

“We can always say that our wedding was magical, and the stuff of childhood dreams.” He winks at you, absorbing the way that your eyes shine happily. “I had the most beautiful woman in the world marry me.”

“My husband is my literal knight in shining armor.” Leaning into him a little closer, you can feel how hard his heart is beating in his chest and you press a kiss to his shoulder where your head lies. “I’m the luckiest girl in the whole world.”

“I wasn’t expecting that at all.” He murmurs quietly, still feeling overwhelmed by the faith Arthur put in him.

“I was hoping.” It’s true, and you don’t mind admitting it at all. “If we stay here, it means we’ll always have family and friends and a home at court. If we get back, it means every time you look at a book of English history, you know your name belongs right alongside the legends.”

"We will know Arthur actually existed." Zach chuckles, imagining the annoyance of the scholars if the two of you ever tried to correct them on things they got wrong. "Hell, we would be able to show them exactly where the castle is. They've been searching in the wrong part of Wales."

“I still want to know how you know so much about Welsh geography.” He hadn’t offered much of an explanation on your last walk besides recognizing the ancient church where your wedding was just held, telling you he’d visited the area with his parents on vacation once when he was a teen. It was exactly the kind of quirky insight into his past and his family that you love hearing. “Americans vacationing in the UK usually just go to London or Stratford-upon-Avon.”

He continues to lead you around the stone floor, listening to the music. "Apparently we're Welsh?" Zach offers you with a grin. "My father loved ancestry and history. We couldn't trace our family tree back too far, but he wanted to visit when he was a boy, so he made sure he took his wife and son."

“I would say you’re extremely invested in Welsh history now.” You can perfectly imagine a younger version of your husband putting the same full dedication into learning sights and family history that you’ve seen him put into everything else. “Maybe Wellison is an evolution of Welsh-son over a few hundred years? That would be neat.”

"That would be interesting." That had been a theory his dad hadn't considered. The music ends and Zach pulls you close and takes your mouth with his in another kiss that has the hall cheering for the two of you.

It opens up the feast to become a full-fledged party, and the music picks up into something wholly more medieval for many more people to dance together at once. It doesn’t surprise you in the least when the knights are the first ones out into the makeshift dance floor, and a gaggle of unmarried ladies immediately appear to join them.

Zach leads you back to the table. "You can dance if you want to, but I want to sit down for a moment." He complains slightly. "Don't want to get sick at my own wedding feast."

“Don’t let your boys hear you say that, or you’ll never get me back,” you tease, tossing him a wink because it’s ludicrous to think you would ever leave his side for long.

"Oh yeah?" He chuckles because he knows you are joking, but he pats the sword that is sitting next to his seat when the two of you sit back down. "They shouldn't have given me this yet then."

“Planning in fighting for my honor?” Oh, that thought should not be so sexy…

"If I have to." He gives you his most charming smile, leaning against the armrest of his chair. "Would you like that milady?"

With your lip firmly between your teeth, you clear your throat gently so your voice stays low. “Is it incredibly caveman of me to say yes?” You’ve never denied the fact that you want to jump Zach as soon as he gets out of the sparring ring, and most of the time he’s glad to let you, as long as it includes a soak in the hot spring.

Winking at you, he gives a low, slightly dark chuckle. "Not at all, baby." He promises. "I could see you liking that. Although, I think that in your fantasizes, all of us are fighting in just our breeches."

“My fantasies are fully focused on you,” you promise him, but you can’t deny that he has you pretty well pegged. “Everybody else can be fully clothed. It’s sexier if you kick their asses all on your own.”

He snorts and shakes his head. "Baby, I'm a full supporter of look but don't touch." He tells you with a grin. "You want to watch a sexy movie and then jump me because the actor was hot and you need to recreate that scene, be my guest."

“Ditto.” It doesn’t take much at all to lean in to kiss him, and you love how close he is, especially today. “I also fully support pointing out hot girls in public. I might think they’re hot, too, you never know.”

He lifts a brow, remembering your comment about visiting the brothels and grins. "Yeah? So I can fantasize about that huh?" He teases.

“I might be persuaded to make it a very special birthday present.” It wouldn’t be the first time you had shared a partner, although you had never been fully committed to any of them before.

He bites his lip and gives you an apologetic look. "I – uh," he reaches for your hand. "Would you mind if we didn't?" He asks softly, realizing you might not like that now that you are married to him. Although your marriage in Camelot wasn't exactly binding in LA. "I like the idea of it, but I think I just want you to myself." He tells you quietly. "I'm greedy like that."

“Oh thank God.” You didn’t even realize you were holding your breath until you let it out, leaning into his side in relief. “If that was something you wanted, that would be a conversation to have. But…I think the fantasy might be more enjoyable than the reality.”

His own sigh of relief is quiet, but he knows you don't miss it. "Good." He hums, kissing your head. "I like the idea of sharing, but at the same time..." He wraps his arm around you. "I know I would get jealous and I don't want that."

“I’m all yours.” And that is a promise you know you will have no problem keeping. Whether you’re here, in LA, back east, or anywhere else. “I don’t ever want you to doubt that.”

"I believe that." He leans in and nudges his nose against yours. "I just want to make sure that I'm not keeping you from things you need."

“I only need you.” Curling into his side, it’s amazing all over again how he is the one thing in your life that you are completely sure of. The whole world could throw into chaos around you and as long as he is with you, everything will be okay.

"Well, considering if we get back to LA, you are the only thing I've got, that's a good thing." He chuckles ruefully before he picks up your hand. "Seriously, baby, I will make sure you have - we have - the life we deserve."

“If we ever get back…” You shrug, eyes focused on your fingers laced through his. “Baby, you’re all I have, too. I don’t have any siblings, my parents are gone, and I haven’t spoken to either of my godparents in years.” Your roommates in LA were just that - roommates. And you had never really had any friends outside work. Any college friends that didn’t severely judge you for your mistake had fallen off the map a while ago when they all got married and started having kids. “It’s just you and me no matter what happens.”

“Okay so our next song is I Got You Babe, right?” He teases, wanting to lighten the mood, but still he squeezes your hand and kisses it softly.

“It seems like it should be.” You huff slightly, but nothing in the world could stop you from smiling today.

"Yes it should." Zach leans in to kiss your neck but there is loud clapping that interrupts him and he pulls away to find Arthur grinning at the two of you. "Now!" Arthur speaks out as soon as the music stops. "There is the matter of the bedding ceremony!"

The shear embarrassment of having it announced has you wishing you could melt into the floor, but the queen is already making her way toward you with Lancelot’s wife Elaine in tow. Isolde and Percival’s sister Helizabel are mere feet away on the other side of you and all you can do is lean over to kiss Zach quickly before they descend on you to sweep you away. “See you in a bit,” you murmur quietly. There is the usual loud stamping of feet in the stone floor and rowdy applause, and Helizabel wraps both arms around you tightly. “Come, my dear.” She grins and throws Zach a wink. “The night is young, and you have much to enjoy.”

Gareth, Lancelot and the other knights are just as raucous as the celebrators as the scoop Zach up, making him yell out as they literally carry him of the call, calling for someone to bring one last mug of ale for all of them while they go.

Arthur disappears after them muttering something about getting “His own damn ale in his own damn castle.” But the four ladies you spent all day yesterday with are already sweeping you out the back stairs of the Great Hall to take a little short cut and beat the boys to your new home above Zach’s workshop. Aisling looks positively sour to be serving you one more night, but Guinevere and Elaine will have absolutely none of it - sending her ahead to stoke the fire so she won’t ruin the mood of the evening. You have a sneaking suspicion she’ll be knocked down to menial tasks now that the queen is more aware of the way she has been acting over the last year, but it is what it is.

The apartment above the workshop had been cleaned out. Zach, Gawain and surprisingly, Gareth had all gotten in there to air out the place - unused since the older carpenter’s passing. He had even told Ava to bring him cleaning supplies but had then sent the helpful girl back to the castle to help you and the queen however she could. He had wanted to make sure it was perfect for you.

“Now, my dear.” The amusement on Elaine’s face cannot be overstated, and she wraps her arm through yours on your way down the stairs. “Are you sure you don’t have any questions about what is going to happen tonight?” Helizabel, Isolde, and Guinevere snicker wildly while you at least have the decency to look a bit sheepish - yesterday had been full of much too raunchy topics of conversation for any of you to claim ignorance. “I believe I am prepared,” you tell Lancelot’s wife, with amused sarcasm dripping through your voice.

“I can imagine with a man as pleasing to the eyes as Sir Zachariah, you would be prepared.” Isolde teases. “He looks as if he is well capable of swinging his sword.”

“So to speak.” You smirk at the younger woman, married to her own knight just weeks before you had arrived in Camelot last year. “Though I am sure Sir Tristan is a more than worthy tree to climb.”

“I climb him as oft as possible.” She tells you with a smirk of her own. “As will you. I imagine you shall be expecting before winter. Especially if you keep going to the hot springs.”

“I’m sure I have no idea what you’re talking about.” The air of innocence is completely put on, and all of you laugh as you go. No one knows about the very quiet visit you made to Merlin’s apothecary to inquire about any ways to remain child free for at least the first year of your marriage (or at least that’s how you phrased it to him). What you were given was a pouch of herbs to steep a pinch of in water every day, and words to repeat when you drank the herbal tea concoction. A spell is what you were given, and you’re still not sure how you feel about it.

“His eyes follow you.” Helizabel insists. “Like you are his prey and he is a starving predator.” The other women giggle.

“I am not sure how starving he is.” Elaine raises an eyebrow at you and grins like the others. “Though Lancelot says he did not indulge last night.”

Zach had told you that the men would most likely end up with women around them but he wasn’t going to touch any of them. They had, but Zach had resisted, telling them it was an American custom to only sleep with their wife.

“It isn’t his disposition.” Or, if it had been when he was younger, it definitely isn’t anymore. The Zach you just married wouldn’t judge the others for their fun, but his fun is at home in your bed. “And I am most glad of it.”

"Most peculiar." Guinevere and the others are used to their husbands being free to indulge as long as they did their duty by their wives and were not publicly flaunting their dalliances. Guinevere's one rule that no servant that worked in the castle was to be used. They could go to the taverns if they needed to seek something other than their wife's bed. "However, I must confess it makes me admire your knight even more."

"And he is most worthy of admiration, your Majesty." The door that leads directly into the living space of your new home is open while the workshop remains locked, and you know that it is because Aisling is upstairs stoking the fire and laying a tray of food and drink for later in the night. It's been days since you've been here, having last seen it about halfway through the cleaning process when Gawain and Tristan had been appalled that you would even try to help with the heavy lifting. The apartment is spotless now: the large main room with its hearth burning brightly and comfortable chairs around a sturdy table giving way to a writing desk on the other end of the room, across from which stands the doorway to the bedroom. The chest that once stood in your chamber in the castle sits beside the writing desk with your instruments tucked safely inside, and the knowledge that your dresses are now safely stored in the same armoire as Zach's tunics has a beautiful kind of aura about it.

The bed is big. Beautifully carved from the former resident and Zach had made sure that it was taken out and aired before stuffed with more feathers. It was comfortable and he had made sure that clean linens were put on the bed and the warm furs had been spread over it.

"Beautiful." Guinevere nods approvingly at the way the room is set before dismissing Aisling, telling her to report to the kitchen in the morning for new work.

"Four ladies are more than sufficient to undress you," Isolde teases lightly, although her acute lack of height would make her much more helpful in helping with your slippers than your veil.

The women are gentle as they undress you and Guinevere is giddy when she reaches for the new chemise that had been specifically sewn for tonight. "I am still amazed at how lovely this turned out." She tells you breathlessly. You had recommended a few changes to the design to make it more appealing and she had to admit that it was positively striking. "He would have to be dead not to react to you in this."

"I hope you will not mind if I have one made like it?" Helizabel runs her fingers over the fabric of the short sleeves that you had suggested, and you shake your head. "Of course not." You eye her with a grin and decide to tease. "Perhaps you will one day tell us who you intend to wear it for?"

"Perhaps." She giggles and Guinevere clicks her tongue playfully. "Now, we much get you in bed, because I know your groom is anxious to come join you."

You resist the obvious pun about cum since the slang term doesn't even exist yet, instead surveying the room with a bitten back grin as Elaine and Helizabel light extra candles, and the queen and Isolde pull back the blankets and furs to let you settle on the plush mattress. It really is a ceremony, the way the ladies have everything laid out before they carefully lay the blankets and furs back around you, and if you actually were a virgin you'd be terrified with anticipation by now.

"Relax and your knight will be in here soon." As soon as the ladies step back, there is the sound of boots on the stairs announce the arrival of the knights and your groom.

Long minutes pass where you can hear indistinct shouts and cajoling from the workshop where Zach's brothers-in-arms have congregated, and you swear you're just about to get out of bed to find out what's taking him so long when you hear the scraping of the door on its hinges out in the main room. There's absolutely no reason to be nervous - it's not like you haven't had sex with Zach dozens of times at this point - yet here you are, sitting up in the furs on your bed shivering like a schoolgirl. Everything in your bedchamber is just so. The other ladies have seen to that. Right down to the goblets of wine the queen is currently pouring out to leave on your bedside table.

******

"Come on man, your bride is waiting." Gawain ribs him, grinning with a slightly tipsy manner. "You better be up for the task. We have a reputation to uphold."

"You have Bedivere's record to break." Percival leans against the nearest post with yet one more drink in hand. "His bride was with child within a week, according to the midwife."

Zach shakes his head. "I wish to have time with my wife before she is with child." He tells the men, ignoring their groans. He can't tell them that he can't have a child in this timeline because he's not supposed to be here.

"Let him enjoy it." Arthur insists, laughing at the grumbles of dissent from his knights. "The pleasures of the marriage bed lessen over time. Do not wish them diminished for our brother so quickly."

He ignores the teasing and they strip him down, making comments like all men do about each other's manhoods. Although the fact that Zachariah Wellison was cut had given them all pause for a moment, Lancelot looking a little green around the gills and Arthur asking if he had some kind of accident when he was a child. He had explained it was normal in America and they had just shaken their heads and cupped their own cocks through their breeches.

"That is usual?" Gawain is still moaning in dismay when Lancelot claps his American brother on the shoulder and urges him toward the stairs.

"Tarry no longer," he warns with a sly grin. "Lest you discover your bride has grown impatient and begun to celebrate without you."

"She wouldn't dare." Now that he is married to you, he can make a bit more public comments. "She enjoys my tongue too much."

The other men nearly combust with cheers and that raucous applause they are so well known for - loud and boisterous despite there only being a half dozen of them present. "Go." Lancelot shoves him forward again, laughing all the while. "But know we will not leave until we are satisfied you have risen to your task."

The door is thrown open by Gawain and Zach is practically shoved into the room, bare as the day that he was born only to be confronted with the sight of the queen and three other ladies. Swearing that he is about to combust in his tracks as the other men are in the doorway, snickering as Helizabel's eyes widen as she takes in the sight of his stirring cock. Zach swallows. "Ladies." He nods and gives them a rueful grin as he slowly covers himself with his hand.

"Everyone out!" Guinevere averts her eyes, ushering the other ladies through the door as quickly as she can to avoid being caught blushing. That would be a very unladylike position for the queen to find herself in, although she now completely understands why you flustered and demurred when Isolde had asked pointed questions about your groom's endowment yesterday. It would be even more impressive if part of it were not missing.

The door sweeps closed behind the queen. "Well, that was fun." He tells you with a nervous chuckle. His hand drops from his cock since they are gone, and he knows that there are ten people crowded around the door right now. "I can say I survived a bedding ceremony."

"And exactly who would you tell that to, baby?" With no one else in the room, you don't hesitate for a second before climbing out of bed again and going to wrap your arms around him. Still though, your nose has wrinkled in amusement as you smirk up at him. "I think Heli might have some serious fantasies staring you tonight, now that she's had a good look."

He rolls his eyes at you. "I felt like one of them was going to poke it." He mutters, grinning when you snort, and he presses his lips to yours. "Fuck baby," His hands slide along your back and he feels the silky material. "This is very sexy." He tells you, pulling back so he can see the entire thing, cock twitching and thickening even more at the sight of you in this nightgown.

"Guinevere missed her calling as a fashion designer." You take a step back, letting him look at the entire piece before he strips you down. "It's very different from the wedding night lingerie I would have picked out in LA, but honestly? I think I like this better."

"I love it." He groans, reaching out and cupping your tits, massaging them in his hands over the fabric. "But it's going to look even better on the floor."

"Off." The soft little moan on your lips completely belies how needy you feel. Two days of not being able to touch him has been torture. "Take it off and take me to bed, love."

"Oh, I can do that." Zach bunches up the material in his fists and starts sliding it up your body. "I love you and I'm about to show you." He promises, groaning when he lifts it up over your head and tosses it aside so he can see your nude body. "I told you I would get on my knees for you, milady." He grins, sliding down to his knees on the wooden floor and pressing his face against your belly, his hot breath on your cunt.

"I was expecting that to be hyperbole," you admit, reaching out to steady yourself with one hand on the bedpost to your side. The second his mouth is on you it will be a miracle if you can keep your balance on your own. "But fuck...you know you can have me however you want me."

He smirks up at you and bites the soft pooch above your pussy. Not enough to hurt you, but just to have you gasp out. "Consider this my proposal since I didn't get down on my knee at first." His hand pulls a thigh up and props it up on his shoulder and wastes no time lunging forward and sliding his tongue through your folds.

"Sort of hard to do when I was - fuck - straddling you in the hot spring." There's no point in stifling any sounds of pleasure for tonight, knowing that the group of your friends and temporary captors are down in his workshop listening in. "Oh my god." Every gorgeous thing Zach's tongue is capable of feels so different while you're standing up and even though there's no logic behind it, it is absolutely amazing.

His neck stretches up, desperate to pierce his tongue deep into your slick skin and taste you. His hands hold your hips steady, fingers spreading wide so he can squeeze your ass. Writing on your clit with his tongue. Spelling his name in his own personal brand on your sex.

The fingers of your free hand thread through his shaggy curls, loving that he didn’t cut them for today but left you plenty to hold on to while his tongue flicks across your swollen clit with the devastating accuracy of a sharpshooter. There’s nothing you can do but try to stay upright while your body quivers with need, grateful to have him home and between your legs again while your pussy slicks his chin without effort.

He’s not quiet, loving the fact that he doesn’t have to hide his pleasure at your taste and response to him. Groaning and grunting into your pussy, while his cock throbs between his legs as he kneels in front of you. He digs his fingers into your ass and tilts your hips up even more when he seals his lips over your clit and starts to suck.

The one foot you have planted on the floor curls, toes digging into the wooden planks as pleasure shakes through you for the first time tonight. Zach has learned your body quickly and oh so well, wrecking you with something as small as the angle his lips wrap around your clit and the bite of his fingernails into your skin. He moans when you gasp out his name loudly. Not pulling away, just like the first time he had gotten between your legs. Instead of decreasing the pressure, he doubles down, trying to suck your soul out through your clit and hopes that you see stars.

Your fingers tug at his scalp, nails practically scraping it as you scrabble for purchase when he pushes you through one orgasm and right to the edge of the next - still not stopping until the air is knocked out of you by a second flood of cum accompanied by that gasping cry of his name. “Fuck baby…” If you could do anything more than pant for air and soothe your fingers along his scalp, you would. “So good to me. You’re so fucking good to me. Love you so much.”

This is where he loves to see you. So incoherent you don't think about what you say, you don't care about how you look. Your hips roll forward shamelessly as you ride his tongue, milking every bit of the breathtaking pleasure he wants to give you. His goddess with your head thrown back and another loud cry being tossed into the air.

Zach on his knees is a beautiful sight, as you regain enough awareness to really take it in, but the place you want him right now is just so close. Carefully dropping your leg from his shoulder, you drop to your knees beside him on the floor to drag greedy kisses out of him. Wrapping your hand around his throbbing cock, you practically moan along with him to feel how hard he is as you pump his length a few times. “I went to Merlin yesterday,” you tell him quietly. This is one thing you don’t want overheard.

"Fuck." He knows he probably grabs your shoulders too hard, but your words combined with your hand wrapped so perfectly around his cock has him already about to spill into your hand. "Yeah?" His stomach clenches as he forces himself to calm down and open his lust blown eyes to find your amused orbs on his. "You— I can?" He manages, throbbing harshly and a spurt of pre-cum beads up on the tip again at the idea of filling you up, staying buried inside you while he cums.

“If you’re willing to trust an herbal tea and a magic spell, so am I.” You know Zach is the one with the most concerns, but you also know that he has been dying for this. It’s written right there in his eyes. “What do you say, handsome? You wanna cum inside me from now on?”

"Shit." He knocks your hand away from his cock and lurches up to his feet. "Get on the fucking bed." He orders you harshly. "I need to be inside you."

The way you giggle is absolutely filthy, and you tug him with you until you’re both falling down on the mattress together in a tangle of limbs and endless kisses.

"I. Love. You." He murmurs frantically between kisses, all while getting in position between your thighs and starting to rock his cock against you, sliding the length through your wet folds. "So. Much. Baby. Only. You." He groans when he feels himself get close but then his eagerness makes his cock push down instead of inside you. He's frantic to be inside you but the exquisite torture of having to aim for you is just going to make that moment even sweeter.

“I love you.” It can’t be said enough or too much, drowning in kisses and letting a strangled moan of protest be heard when he gets too eager and slips through your folds again rather than pushing inside you like you want. Need. Your hand comes between you again, stroking his hip to encourage him to hold steady before you line up the dripping head of his cock at your entrance.

He whines, needy and impatient when you put him at the soft, giving depression that is the entrance to that wonderful little hole. Where he seems to just fit inside like you were made for him. "My wife." He murmurs, pressing his lips against yours while he shows extreme restraint in the slow forward pitch of his hips.

“My h-husband.” The word stutters in your throat, overwhelmed by how right it feels to say and how perfect he feels as he bottoms out inside you. It’s like the best dream you’ve ever had, but no dream has ever been this good.

"Fuck, I love you saying that already." He huffs, head pressed against your shoulder as he tries to not just cum right then and there with how tight you are gripping him. He knows it's probably in his head, but just the knowledge that he can stay inside you has him feeling like you are even tighter than before.

“No names anymore,” you joke softly, winding your legs around his waist to keep him close. “Just husband and wife.”

He groans, like the sound of that. At least for now. Calling you his wife might wear off in twenty or twenty-five years. “God baby.” He pulls back a few inches only to plunge back into the silken walls of your body, unable to be out of you for too long. “Gonna fill you up.” He moans out.

"Do it." Your teeth nip at his neck, that tingling and curling in all your muscles telling you exactly how close you are to falling off the cliff of pleasure right along with him. "Want you to, baby, please."

"Not before – you cum." He hisses between his teeth, pushing deep inside you of you with a rough thrust and angling his hips so that the fine hairs on his body grinds against your clit.

"So - fuck, oh god - close already." Whimpering and begging is about all you're capable of right now, writhing beneath him while white sparks of pleasure start to burst behind your eyes. "Take me with you."

If he can be proud of one thing in his life, above all else, it’s the ability to make you cum. He moans out your name and reaches between you with his weight braced on his other arm to rub circles on your clit. It's stunning - the way he has every inch of you memorized already and has no trouble finding the exact rhythm with his fingers that will pull you over the edge of orgasm so easily that it seems effortless.

He knows, knows everyone outside your rooms can hear you when you start to wail his name. There's no denying it. Not when you are gasping it out so loudly and so beautifully. "That's it, baby."

It never seems to end, rolling through you in waves as Zach’s hips stutter and lose their tempo. “Come on, baby,” you croon, moaning again when his hips slam into you. “Cum inside your wife.”

Your words push him over the edge. Giving another half dozen sloppy thrusts before he is thrusting as deep as he can, ass muscles bunched under your fingertips while he growls out his pleasure loud enough to bounce around the room.

You knew it would feel different: the intimacy of it is nothing else, but actually feeling him paint your walls with his cum might be the single sexiest thing you’ve ever felt in your life. “Oh my god…” It feels a little silly, sure, but the endorphins and adrenaline have you giggle softly in his arms as you kiss along his shoulders, neck, and jaw to find his lips again. “That was…fuck, I love you so much.”

Speechless for a moment, all he can do is kiss you, his softening cock still throbbing inside you. He puffs against your lips for another moment before he giggles himself. "Love— love you too." He sighs happily and lowers his body onto yours, careful to keep his weight completely off of you, but happy to just stay right there.

“I’ve…never done that before.” You hadn’t told him beforehand, not wanting to make him self-conscious about how excited he was to be able to stay connected to you. Fuck - you’d never even had sex with a man without a condom before Camelot. Making the conscious decision to ignore the cheering coming from his workshop, you nudge his nose with yours. “I really liked it, though.”

"Can I be honest?" He asks softly, giving you a sheepish grin. "I've never done that before either. Always used a - you know, before you." All of his other girlfriends were a strict-wrap it up policy. Never wanted to trust them for birth control or having to have his bore punched.

“We’re just full of firsts today.” It’s incredibly comforting to know you’re on more of an even playing field, and you snuggle against him. “Including inviting people to listen.”

He snorts, listening to the back slapping going on as the men and women file out of his workshop. "At least they can say the marriage is well consummated." He teases, leaning in and kissing you softly. "As soon as I'm sure they are gone, I'm barring the door."

“I’m surprised they’re leaving,” you admit. “I thought we were going to have to kick them out.”

He gives you another grin. "They are probably off to whisk their own ladies away for a wedding quickie."

“They shouldn’t be quick if they know what’s good for them.” Lord knows you and Zach aren’t leaving this bed except to stoke the fire and eat for at least a few days. “Isolde wants baby number two badly.”

"Tristan would be proud." He nudges his nose against yours and hums. "I told them we weren't planning on a baby right away." He confesses softly. "They will probably think I'm spilling outside of you, but I just didn't want— I didn't want questions if you don't come up pregnant."

“Yesterday Elaine told me I should get pregnant as soon as humanly possible so you don’t take a mistress.” You huff a little at the extremely outdated logic - except in the year 498 it’s actually fairly standard advice. “Apparently you’re much too handsome for your own good.” You grin at him. “But I knew that already.”

He huffs himself, rolling his eyes. “I know, Arthur pulled me aside and told me he knows that I will take a mistress, but to steer clear of the servants at the castle so there are no disturbances in daily life. Something about how the mistress might think herself above the wife.”

“The way everyone talks about it, you’d think every man in Camelot had a mistress, but I know for a fact that that isn’t true.” It doesn’t matter, though. Not for the two of you. Especially not in your bed, in your apartment - your own little home together. You sigh dramatically, giggling and wrinkling your nose at him. “I guess you’re just going to have to be the weird guy who’s totally faithful to his wife.”

Zach kisses your lips. “I have no issue with that.” He promises you, deciding that he does need to roll off of you now. “If anyone asks, you are woman enough to keep me satisfied. Which is true.” He pulls out of you gently, groaning before he cups your cheek. “I promise I did not cheat last night.”

“I didn’t either.” Not that you hadn’t been afforded the opportunity. Helizabel had offered to treat you to a trip to the brothel as a little wedding present from one bisexual woman to another, but you had declined easily. “I trust you, love. If I thought you were the kind of man to cheat, I would not have married you today.”

"I know." He holds his arm out so you can curl against his chest, something that he absolutely loves. "I just wanted you to know that even if we are in 5th century Wales, I'm keeping my modern outlook on fidelity."

“And I thoroughly appreciate that.” You snuggle into his warm skin immediately, loving the way that every inch of him always seems perfectly suited to having you fit against him.

Zach snorts and kisses the top of your head. “You are a modern woman baby.” He tells you. “You deserve respect and I’d prefer not to go into the history books as being on the receiving end of the Lorena Bobbitt special. Even if I do think he deserved it.”

“To be honest, I’m pretty old fashioned.” Inhaling deeply, the smells of woodsmoke and heather from your crown mixes with the smell of sex in the room perfectly, making you sigh happily. “I’d be happy staying here, but I know that’s not what you want.”

"I can't explain it." Zach murmurs. "I should be ecstatic to be here." He strokes your back and looks up at the wooden rafters and the thick thatch of the roof. It amazed him how they had made roofs of straw that were waterproof. "But I feel like we have a future in modern times. Even if I didn't believe it before I got here, something is telling me that we need to go back."

You tip your head back, looking up at him with soft eyes and that little smile that always seems to be on your lips when he’s around. “Can I propose a compromise?” It’s something you’ve been thinking about, and it seems so much more important now that Zach has been knighted and Guinevere has showed you so much favour.

"Baby you can always propose a compromise." He promises.

“I was thinking maybe we could just stay a few more months.” It’s been in your head, and you can’t shake it now - that feeling is wanting to enjoy every moment with him that you can. “Just for the summer. We can make a plan for how to handle things when we get back, and we get a beautiful, extended honeymoon.” With Zach’s complete confidence that Merlin’s real magic will have a way to make happen, you consider a matter of when, not if. But it doesn’t hurt to have a plan. “The worst thing that happens is we live our lives in Camelot. And baby, that’s not bad at all.”

Zach hums, thinking about it and he has to admit that he enjoys the idea of it. "We do need to roam more of the wild Welsh countryside." He concedes. "And my training is about to include horseback riding and jousting."

“Please don’t make me go back until after you’ve done an actual joust?” You beg, giving him the best pleading eyes you’re physically capable of. “That’s going to be the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen in my life.”

"A Knight's Tale was one of your favorite movies, wasn't it?" He teases you playfully, grinning and hugging you tight.

“Yes it is.” You nod emphatically against his chest. “And I still say Heath Ledger has nothing on Zach Wellison.”

Zach snorts and shakes his head. "I think you are a little blinded by love." He tells you with a wink.

“Or have my eyes been fully opened?” You wink right back, giggling at the playfulness of it.

"Was your wedding day everything that you dreamed it would be when you were a little girl?" He asks softly, reaching over and caressing your cheek.

“It was better.” Though you will always wish your parents could have been there to share such a special moment with you, you have had twenty years of practice in reminding yourself that they’re with you every moment that you think of them - so to you, they were right there the whole time. “The idea of wedding cake made of lasagna and dancing to N*SYNC with Prince William was fun at the time, but today was definitely better.”

He chuckles and gives you a pleased look. "That's good to know." He tells you and gives a small groan. "I'll go bar the door downstairs; I know you have to pee." He nods over to the corner where a screen is set up. "I made you a wedding gift."

Curiosity gets you out of bed more than anything else, and Zach slips out of the room to set the beam across your door. Behind the privacy screen - an improvement over most chamber pot use to begin with - is an actual chair with the chamber pot set into it. "You made me a toilet!" You call back at him, laughing at the pure simplicity and comfort of it.

He chuckles as he comes back into your rooms and walks over to the fireplace so he can stoke the fire. "I know it's not the most romantic but I figured you might like a creature comfort of modern times."

“Taking care of me is the most romantic thing possible.” You tell him when you come out from behind the divider. “And now my wedding gift feels much less weird.”

He tilts his head at you curiously after adding another log. It still got fucking cold at night and he wasn't freezing his ass off while he's naked on his honeymoon. He had made sure they had stacked plenty of wood downstairs, so he doesn't even have to get dressed to bring up more. "You didn't have to do anything for me."

“You didn’t have to do anything for me, either.” You go out into the other room, quickly reappearing with a nearly tied cloth bundle in your arms. “I’m no good with my own two hands, but I guess we both had creature comforts in mind when it came to gifts.”

He takes the package and keeps your hand, lifting it to his lips. "Did you like your ring?" He asks softly, wanting to make sure that he had done well.

“Baby, it’s gorgeous. I love it.” The stunning gold band is carved with flowers and an intricate knot pattern around three small garnets on the outside, with the words Forever my love engraved on the inside of the band. “That must have been one hell of a crib you traded for it.”

"It was." His chest puffs out and he smirks at you. "I wish I could take a picture of it. It is beautiful."

“I’ll have to pay a visit to the metal smith’s wife so I can take a look.” Nudging the bundle into his arms, you lean over and kiss him softly. “Open up, baby.”

He smiles at you, honestly never expecting anything but he is curious. Opening the twine, he unfolds the cloth so he can see what's inside. "Baby...." He huffs, looking up at you. "Are these—"

“Medieval boxers?” You shrug a little, feeling extremely silly about the whole thing. “You said you hate going commando in leather pants, so I figured…why not?”

"I love them." He assures you with a grin, holding up the garment. "Do you want me to model them for you?" He asks playfully, holding them in front of his groin and wiggling his hips.

“I want you fully naked for at least another twenty-four hours.” You tell him honestly. “But after that I’ll be very excited to see you in your linen booty shorts.”

He snickers and nods, having no objections to your clothing ban. “Done. And then, when we do get dressed, I want to go back to the hot springs with you again.”

“Maybe we can head out there on horseback once you’re feeling okay with your riding lessons.” Climbing back under the blankets, you pull them to the side to invite him back in beside you.

“We can do that.” He smirks and doesn’t waste any time climbing back in the bed beside you. “So we learn how to ride and I learn how to joust, you learn all the ways of the 5th century and we see how well Merlin’s birth control works.”

“We have to hope it works pretty damn well.” Like a magnet, you tuck back into his side immediately. “Or else we’re going to end up accidentally adding another human to the timeline.”

Humming, he wraps his arm around you. “I am not even worrying about it right now.” He slides his hand down and squeezing your ass. “What I want right now if to watch my wife ride me.”

“Hmmm.” Pretending to think about it very hard, you end up giggling at the sweet, borderline pleading look on his face. “I can make that happen,” you promise, kissing along his chest.

It’s a testament to how comfortable you have gotten with him that you are even considering this. He feels like you would have balked if it were anyone else, but he has never been shy about telling you how much he loves your body. “Fuck yes. I’m definitely playing with your tits while you ride me like I’m your mount.” He teases, waggling his brows at you.

“Oh yeah?” His excitement is enough to relax you a little, and you end up sighing against him while you let your hands explore the planes of his body that you now know so well. “Does that turn you on? My tits bouncing in your face?”

“Fuck yes.” He groans and smirks at you, “Before we leave this bed, I will get you to sit that pretty pussy on my face too.”

“You’ll suffocate.” And you’re not about to give him up so quickly.

“Pfft.” He huffs and you and shakes his head. “Well, first of all, through God, all things are possible, so jot that down. Second, no I won’t. I can pick you up.”

“I’ll think about it…is that okay?” It’s not something that you foresee being comfortable with anytime too soon, but if it’s something he wants then you’re willing to try it. You’re just not ready yet.

“Okay.” The last thing he wants to do is upset you on your wedding night, so he decides to table it for now. He makes a mental note to start picking you up as often as possible, just to prove a point.

“I promise I’ll get there.” It won’t be the first time you’ve put a body image issue aside for the lover and it won’t be the last. The only difference is that, from now on, Zach is the only person any of this applies to.

“I want you to want it, baby.” He promises. “Until then, I’ll just dream of burying my face in your pussy while you suck my cock.” He leans in and kisses you. “No doing it just for me.”

You groan, squirming against him in anticipation. “You know that letting me suck your cock opens the door to pretty much everything.”

There is an evil grin on his face and he slaps your ass lightly. “Why do you think I mentioned it?” He chuckles at your pout and leans up to kiss you again “I love you, baby.”

“I love you, too.” Letting yourself sink against him is like floating on a cloud, even as you force yourself to remember that Zach is much stronger than you and having you straddle his lap will not hurt him in any way, shape, or form.

He can sense your hesitation. There is a part of him that wants to push you, force you out of your comfort zone, but right now, he just wants you to feel loved and adored. Instead of waiting for you to make up your mind, he rolls you over onto your side and pulls your leg back over his hip. His chest presses against your back and he cock slips between your thighs to slide along your folds.

“I’ll get there.” You hate how small your voice is, and how ridiculous it makes you feel, but the fact that Zach isn’t going to push you makes all the difference in the world.

“Don’t you worry about it baby.” His lips find your neck, kissing along your skin while he slides his arm under you to cup your tit in one hand while the other holds himself while he teases your pussy with his cock. “No judgement in our bed. No feeling bad. Nothing but love and lust.” He promises.

“I’ll get there.” You repeat it again like a mantra, turning your head back to push the worries away with a kiss. It’s just more evidence of how right Zach is for you, you think as your hips start to move in time with his, that he seems to have such infinite patience for your insecurities.

Humming against your lips, he pushes deeper inside you and groans when you clench down around him like a vice. “Love you.”

“Love. You.” Punctuated with kisses and a deep moan as every inch of him fills you to bursting, the rest of the world blissfully slips from your mind once more. “Fuck, baby… I’ll never get over how good you feel…”

“Yeah?” He scraps his teeth over your shoulder. “Only because of how well you take me.” The hand on your hip slides down, fingers deftly finding your clit and starting to rub in time with his thrusts.

“Like you were - oh fuck - made for me.” The extra stimulation has you whimpering, back arching to press your tits tighter into his hand and your hand reaches back to grab a handful of his ass in nonverbal encouragement.

“Was baby.” He huffs out, keeping that delicious pace up, loving the feeling of your walls scrubbing against his cock and squeezing it tight every time he thrusts deep. “Just for you.”

“Fuck, I love you.” No words will ever get close to describing how good he feels moving inside you, or how he sweeps away all the bullshit negativity just by kissing you. Love is the word that encompasses all of that - and maybe that’s why you’ve never loved anyone besides him.

"I love you baby, love you so much." He is starting to ramble, the rough thrusts of his hips starting to build up and his fingers are trying to keep up, to push you over the edge first. Needing you to feel pleasure first.

His devastating accuracy has you shaking in his arms, every stroke of his cock dragging increasingly incoherent sounds out of you. Your whole body seems to clamp down on his in every way, fingers digging into his skin, teeth nipping at his lip, velvet walls gripping his length right inside you while you drench him in another flood of cum when you cry out his name into the night.

His eyes close and he groans out you name like a prayer in church. He is prayer, to the altar that is your body. It's where he wants to worship every single day. "My heart." He pants, your orgasm bringing him over the edge right behind you. "It's yours."

Happy tears aren’t something you’re well-acquainted well. They haven’t been a part of your life and they’re not a part of how you express yourself. But the few tears escaping the corners of your eyes now are so full of love that when you twist in his arms to kiss him as he paints your womb with another burst of hot seed, the dampness finds his cheeks, as well.

"Don't cry, sweetheart." Zach tastes your tears in the kiss and his hand slides up to cup your cheek, brushing his thumb over the wetness. "Never want to see you cry." He murmurs and moves his mouth so he can kiss your eyelids.

“Happy tears.” You practically choke on the words since they’re so foreign. “Didn’t know that was possible…”

Zach hums, relieved that you are not upset, but he doesn't stop leaving tender kisses on your face. Wherever he can reach. "My love, my beautiful wife." He murmurs softly, "I am so happy I could cry too." He confesses. "I never thought I would have this - be worthy of this."

As much as you love feeling him inside you, it’s more important in this moment to be able to hold him in your arms, and you shift just enough to pout a little as his softening length slips out of you before turning around fully to wrap your arm around his body. “I don’t think either of us thought this could happen, love.” You tell him softly, in between gentle kisses dusted across his face. “But you never stopped being worthy of love.”

"Just like you have always been worthy of love, baby." He turns it on you and sighs when his own arms slot around your back and he gives you a starry-eyed look.

“Let me love you,” you insist, poking his side playfully. “You deserve every second of it.”

He squirms away from your ticklish poke and pouts at you. "I will let you love me for as long as you want." He promises.

“So forever, then.” There is not a single doubt in your mind that what you feel for him could ever fade or change.

"Forever." He agrees easily, giving you a genuine smile. He loves the idea of forever with you.

______

Master Tags: @pixiedurango @chattychell @winter-fox-queen @lady-himbo @artsymaddie @princess76179 @paintballkid711 @missminkylove @pedrosbrat @ew-erin @sarahjkl82-blog @sharkbait77 @justanotherblonde23 @lv7867 @recklesswit @mylittlesenaar @f0rever15elf @gallowsjoker @steeevienicks

Once…: @raisonppascxl @skvatnavle @luminescentlily @lowlights @allthe-ships @ikinmahlen @girlwholoveswords

My Masterlist!

#Pedro Pascal #Pedro Pascal character fanfiction #Pedro Pascal fanfic #Zach Wellison #Zach Wellison x reader #Zach Wellison x you #Zach Wellison x female reader #plus size reader #Camelot #time travel au #Brothers and Sisters #celebration fic #idiots in love

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slashingdisneypasta · 4 years

Text

Slashers + Jennifer Check x Reader || Oneshot

Title: Peeping Toms and Bets

Notes:

This is a remake and revamp of an old Oneshot request I did in my old blog. I hope you like this!

Jed is changed to Bubba, because in this shot the character does act most like Bubba then Thomas or Jedidiah ^^

The 2 would you rather’s were found online.

Plot: Jennifer has invited you over for a sleepover and you ask her a very interesting question. Oh and the boys are all listening together in and betting on your response to the question.

Warnings: Suggestive or course language.

Chucky, walks down the hall, headed for the kitchen while he knows the succubus and her friend are hidden away in the living room, feels a harrowing sense of disgust at what he sees. Well, the disgust being only on a strictly face value basis. Mostly he’s interested to hear the excuses his fellow Slashers have for their camping outside the closed living room door while two teenage girls have a sleepover inside. The first one to notice his presence, when he stops is Bubba who was taking a break from straining his ears to listen to whatever’s happening inside and look down the hall. Where he spots the bright hair and plastic features of child terror. He gasps, quickly and quietly, and alerts the others by tapping spatially on Michael and Stu.

They all turn to see Chucky, and Michael’s shoulders drop heavily in exasperation. Can’t he be left in peace? Why’d all these people have to join him? Stu gasps along with Bubba, before dissolving into a slightly guilty turned down grin, on one side, looking to the floor. Freddy has the good humour to look guilty, too. But isn’t really.

“… what the hell are you two doing??!” Chucky finally manages to spit out, past his pure amusement of the, concerning and slightly horrifying, scene. He raises an eyebrow and feels a tad out of place but stands his ground, when Stu and Bubba ‘Shh’ him, violently. Spit breaking from their mouths, he’s sure.

Freddy nearly panics entirely and immediately smacks Stu’s hand away from his face, looking between those two idiots and the door. “Shut up! Both of you, you were louder than him!” While he goes off on the two, Michael just sighs and opts to look back through the crack in the door that he was peaking though. “And you! Shut it! They might hear you, and then we will all be in trouble.”

“’All’??” Chucky exclaims furiously, eyes wide and wholly incredulous. “I’m not playing peaking Tom on teenage girls as an old man- “

Freddy’s voice is barely a whisper, in fact it’s much more like TV static then a human voice, due to his burnt vocal cords. “Don’t get your panties in a twist, they’re dressed. This is not a porn video. To my knowledge girls don’t, in fact, get undressed to sleepover with each other.” Stu mumbles a quiet ‘Yeah, unfortunately’ and pouts, as a couple of them share a moment of silence for the tragic misconception. Including Chucky and even Bubba. Michael rolls his eyes, still stretching his neck to look through the crack, back against the wall. “Haven’t caught a glimpse. We’re just listening.”

“And you don’t think they’d mind?” Recovered, Chucky smirks smugly, words dripping with sarcasm. Almost evilly, as if he’s 2 seconds from blowing their cover and telling Jennifer-or, worse. Jason, - what they’re up to.

Bubba looks nervous, at that, touching the tips of his meaty pointer fingers together and looking ashamedly thoughtful. But then Michael makes an audible ‘Pfft’ sound from under his mask like he really couldn’t care less if they minded, causing their plastic acquaintance to raise his eyebrows in surprise, he relaxes. If Michael doesn’t care, maybe he shouldn’t either. Michael is cool.

What would Jason say, though? Just as Bubba’s thoughts on that are immediately shut off, when the TV inside the living room turns off and silences engulfs the area. Then the girls inside start talking, which understandably makes every boy or man on the other side of the wall turn on their listening ears to level 99 and lean towards the sound.

Chucky makes a split-second decision and joins them on the floor. To tell the truth, he doesn’t give a flying fuck whether the girls mind, either. But he had to pick on these assholes, so if Stu doesn’t stop snickering at him, he’s going to cut out the teenager’s tongue, wrap it up and use it as a stress ball. Stu seems to get the message when Chucky connects gazes with him, slowly touches his own tongue, and then mimes violently tearing it out.

After the obligatory 3 movies (One romance, one horror which was a tough decision due to your friends living arrangements of course, and one comedy), you and Jennifer stop to recoup and recharge, and start talking. You’re wrapped in blankets and your favourite pyjama’s, and she’s dipping into her coloured popcorn. The only sugar, to your knowledge, that this girl intakes. Its no wonder she’s so gorgeous. She decides on a diet and exercise regimen and sticks to it. Truly amazing. You? Well… you prefer your snacks to a model perfect body.

Surrounding the two of you are many, many pillows and blankets. Some you’ve come to realise were stolen from some of her roommate’s rooms, due to their particular smell and some concerning stains. Also, the one that evidently belongs to Michael has a violent looking hole in it and has stuffing poking out.

Another is a full size Hatsune Miku body pillow, and you don’t dare to ask whos’ room she snatched that one from. Although, you have your suspects. Confirmation, though, is an entirely different experience. And one that you would rather not have.

As you start talking, you dig into your own chosen caffeine for the night. You’re playing would you rather, of course.

Because its fun, to give your friend two horrible or disgusting options and make them choose one.

“Would you rather have uncontrollable gas at work for the rest of your life or for every first date you have for the rest of your life?”

“Work!” Jennifer decides, immediately, apparently horrified by the other prospect. “If I was an uncontrollable fart machine for all of my first dates, I would starve! Who cares if my stuffy boss smells eggs for the rest of his miserable life.”

She sure has some… strong feelings, about her non-existent future boss. You snigger, sipping your drink through a chewed straw. “Okay, okay…”

“Would you rather have an animal best friend, any animal, meaning if it were a bear or a horse you could ride them around, or be married to someone who is peak attractive for you.”

That stumps you, and for a moment you just sit there with your mouth open, thinking furiously. Jennifer grins wide. “A wonderful pet buddy or best sex??” And at that, she starts to laugh a bit, patting your knee. You’re lost! “Impossible!”

“I know what I’d pick-“

“Yeah I know what you would pick. Evil one.”

She laughs some more.

Evilly.

After a couple of minutes of that, her teasing you and you thinking, you finally decide. Although, you only say it very, very quietly and into a pillow, so no higher power hears and grants it.

After that, you feel the need to be evil as well and think for a few moments deeply about wat to ask her… then come up with something perfect. You smirk at her over your pillow and sit it back down on your lap, still holding it. “If the world was ending, and it was up to you to save it, and you did want to save it, and you had to sleep with someone to do that… who would it be?” She immediately opens her mouth to say a name, but you quickly, mischievously hold up your hand halt her, and add the evilness. “Thing is!! It has to be one of the Slasher boys that you live with. Patrick and Carrie don’t count.”

Like you did before, she stops. Slowly closes her mouth, and looks off into the distance. Stuck. “Uh, so… one of… Bubba, Chucky, Freddy, Jason, Billy, Stu, or Michael?”

Oh, damn. You think, realising you forgot to cast out Billy and Stu. Well, that was a bust attempt at causing her strife-

“That’s impossible! What the fuck??”

Oh, okay. That’s kind of sad for Billy and Stu… But, uh, good for you!

The creepy group outside the door, which has grown a few more hands and legs belonging to Billy and Jason. The former only being there as he was trying to stop them from being weird but had given up and got tired, so he sat down. Now he was, apparently, apart of this. Somehow.

Billy is here because his DVD player got jammed.

After hearing Y/N’s question, multiple reactions come from these Slashers.

1. Chucky and Freddy are very creepy and partake in some wolfish grinning that frightens Bubba and puts off Jason.

2. Stu goes very, very red, and grins a little goofy. He shut down the moment the question was issued, so he didn’t hear the incriminatingly insulting thing that Jennifer hinted about him.

3. Bubba also goes bright red, and covers his face.

4. And Billy pauses momentarily, having caught the ego crushing material, then takes a deep breath and sits up straighter. “Oof, so, lets lay some bets?”

Billy holds up 10 fingers, sitting cross legged the furthest away from the door or wall, in general. “For Jen saying Michael.” The said shape of Haddonfield turns gruffly to the Ghostface original, who shrugs and grins his knowing grin. “I could explain it to you, but then you would think I checked you out.”

“Oh no, but in reality, you just watch his movie once a month- once a week in 91.” Stu narrowly escapes Billy’s wrath, ducking out of the way and practically into Bubba’s lap when his friends reaches for his hair. Michael just deeply sighs, along with Jason and continues to watch.

“Moving on from that borderline embarrassing bit of information that I’m sure we’re all going to ridicule you for later, I have a bet too. Since you think she’ll pick Michael, I’ll put 50 on myself.”

“30 on Billy. Despite, his gayness.” Freddy adds, preoccupied listening into the living room, but never too preoccupied to tease.

“I’m not gay!”

“Its okay, Billy, its 2020. You can be open with us.”

“Fuck you man, you suck, you’re going down on the favourite Slasher list.”

Freddy just giggles at that, turning his full concentration back on Jennifer.

Jason sighs deeply, his shoulders literally raising and falling in an obvious effort to make it noticeable. It is noticeable, its just that no one cares that he disapproves. He sighs again, this time quieter to himself, in hopelessness. He refuses to gamble on this.

Stu holds up a hand full of fingers and a thumb, five. “On Y/N picking Jason.” Michael nods to that, agreeing and holding up both his hands, 4 times. He’s got 40 on Y/N picking Jason. Jason himself looks specifically at his fellow voiceless murderer Michael, in horror. He thought better, of him. Michael only shrugs in response, like ‘You shouldn’t have though so highly of me. That was stupid.’. besides, its October, he’s naturally bound to take more risks. Plus, he’s had an odd inkling, that Y/N’s liked Jason for a while. She comes over a lot for Jennifer, but sometimes she hangs with Jason instead.

Chucky smirks at the interaction. “As I’m obligated to always contradict everyone else, I’m going to bet fifty-five, on her picking Freddy.”

“Oh. Hell no.” Billy butts in, unhappy with these high ass numbers. “I’ve been flirting with Y/N for weeks. It’ll pay off, she’ll pick me.”

Bubba doesn’t bet. He remembers how Drayton and Chop Top get when they used to bet on horses, and it wasn’t pretty. He doesn’t want to be like that, no.

Jennifer’s still thinking a couple minutes later, and you’re starting to worry when she finally moves. And flops back on her mattress that she’d had Bubba carry down here for her, in the hopelessness of it all. You will be sleeping on the couch, but you’re on her mattress too right now for until you go to sleep. If you go to sleep. This particular question may take some time.

“Uhh… lets see… “You crawl up to her head and plonk down where you can see her face. She chews on the inside of her cheek, and then starts to think out loud for your benefit. “Billy’s our age, and so pretty,” You nod, understanding. He is very pretty. “But… “

“But?”

“Well, but… Michael is so big!” She throws her arms onto the mattress on either side of her body for emphasis, causing you to open your mouth and raise your eyebrows and the boldness, then laugh and nod at the same time. Yeah… yeah… that true too…

And a very interesting point… You think to yourself, dusting a gentle pink across your cheeks.

“Y/N, no. This is not a laughing matter!” She’s grinning, though.

You raise your hands, playing surrender. “No, no, of course not! I’ll stop!”

“You better.”

“Stop fucking around!” Freddy exclaims, not loud enough for either of the girls to hear of course. He grits his teeth. “I’m betting on the outcome of your decision, bitch! Shut up and say ‘Billy’!”

“So… “Chucky starts to rethink his decision to bet. “What happens if they don’t decide? Is the game off, or… ?”

Billy halts for a moment, then looks at Bubba for a second. “Oh, yeah Bubba? You think the money should go to the new TV fund?? Well, if you say so!”

Bubba immediately looks panicked and confused, a serious squawk escaping him aimed towards the others. He didn’t say that! He didn’t even think that! Honestly, he thinks it’s should go towards a chicken coup…

Jason quickly pats Bubba’s shoulder, still in a perpetual state of exasperation and tired, but still wanting to assure Bubba that, they know. Billy’s full of crap, we know you didn’t say that.

Finally, Jennifer decides and makes an ‘Ah!’ sound, moving her finger from her lips thoughtfully, to the air excitedly. She sits up and faces you.

Oh, this is very serious. It must be. It demands eye contact. “You’ve decided?

“Yes.” Her finger lowers to her shoulder height. “Okay so, I simply boiled it down to a science.”

“You did?” You ask, just humouring her.

“Yes. So,” She starts counting off Slashers from her list of possibilities with her fingers. “First of all, Freddy killed his wife. So, he’s out.” Well that makes sense. “And Billy tried to kill his girlfriend, so even though he’s sexy, he isn’t trustworthy either, so he’s gone too.” So far so good. “Jason’s rotting away, and ‘Au Decaying’ doesn’t really stimulate me to do anything apart from spray him with anti-bacterial and Hello kitty deodorant, despite his wonderful shoulders.” Oh, yes. Jason does have nice shoulders. “Then Bubba’s flesh mask is a complete turn off, Chucky’s a Good Guy, not a bad boy. And Stu’s a weirdo.”

You nod, a smile reaching your lips and the pure simplicity of her end decision, coming to the only conclusion. “So… Michael.”

“Yeah!”

“I don’t think he showers regularly.”

“Eh, neither do a lot of the boys I eat.”

Stu is gaping, very wide and very deeply. “A weirdo??” He looks in disbelief to his best friend and the victor. Michael nods, being hurtfully honest with the kid and Billy comforts him with a shoulder pat. He is also reeling. He hadn’t previously identified his Sydney fiasco as a warning for other girls… maybe he should have. This could be an issue.

“Yeah… man, you are a weirdo.”

“Thanks so much, buddy.”

“Yeah, you’re welcome.”

“Bad boy?” Chucky asks, pleasantly surprised. He turns to Bubba, who’s looking indignantly at the door because his fashion is ahead of their time! “Do I have bad boy energy?”

Freddy sulks. “Oh… I get it… “

Jason rolls his eyes at them all. They’re all ridiculous!

“What about you?” Jennifer asks, turning the tables on you.

“Me?” You squeak.

“Yeah, you.”

“Well… “You square your shoulders, ready in the face of a challenge. “Well, lemme see… Well, Jason is strong, and sweet- “

“Oh yes.” You wince, at Jennifer’s sudden cold tone, as she squinty glares at you. “I know you think Jason’s sweet. You’ve abandoned me multiple times, to ang with him the kitchen! Betrayal!”

“Aha… ah… well, moving on! Chucky’s got a very hot aura!” You quickly push on, afraid of your friend’s wrath about Jason. “A-and, um… He’s also very handsome as a human, so I guess it wouldn’t be bad if he were in that form… “ Jennifer breaks out into a grin, glad to have made you stutter a bit, and back to her good mood. You sigh, back muscles relaxing. Evil girl.

“Yes, and the rest…?” Oh, she still wants you to answer the question, okay.

“Well. Stu’s tall, and rich. Which, of course, isn’t a deal maker but it’s a good point to mention.” Jennifer nods solemnly at that. “Michael provides a very nice… well, err, he would make a nice nude model. And Freddy’s got a really attractive voice, which I don’t think he knows which is very good thing, don’t let him know. And, Bubba’s so sweet. And Billy… is Billy. I don’t know what to say, he’s been flirting with me for weeks now.”

Jennifer rolls her eyes. “Mood.”

“I��m… Billy.” Billy grins, feeling proud of his persona for a moment and puffing out his chest in pride. Chucky gazes at Jason, like ‘Yeah, I guess he is the whole package… ‘, and Jason himself scotches away from the ginger doll. “I knew she was picking it up! I learnt all I know from movi-“

“Me, you know all you know from me.” Freddy cuts through, deadpanned.

“Which explains why she wasn’t jumping for joy when she mentioned it.” Chucky yawns.

“Hey!!” Chucky gets a chuckle out of that reaction from the two.

“Who cares?! This girl is just after my money!!” Stu exclaims, looking hopeless. He chuckles, haughtily then and crosses his arms. “Well guess what? None of its mine! It belongs to my parents! So, ha!” Michael shakes his head and looks disappointedly at the teenager. That doesn’t help your case… It really does not…

“Well Charlie, maybe I don’t need to flirt. My voice does it for them,” A devious smirk slips across Freddy’s face and he evilly cackles after a moment. Jason looks severely exasperated at him, and Freddy just sticks out his tongue. “Jealous.”

Bubba is touched that they think he’s sweet. That’s nice.

___ NOW MAKE YOUR DECISION! ___

Billy Loomis:

“I’m gonna have to disagree with you, Jen.” You grin and can’t help it. Its sort of a nice thought, to have to fuck Billy. “Billy’s the only choice.”

She scoffs and throws some of her popcorn at you.

Billy stretches and yawns, like he’s so very exhausted of that thing called being fuckable, and turns to look weirdly smug at Michael. “That’s right, only competition. She chose me.”

“-Only competition!? Excuse you, former bud!” Stu smacks his friend, scowling.

“Well that is what you get for outing my obsession with the Halloween movies to Michael fucking Myers.”

“You bitter thing!”

Bubba Sawyer:

“Aww, Bubba.” You decide, finally truly thinking about the cinnamon roll. You smile. “It has to be Bubba. He’s the cutest, and the nicest one here.” Jennifer makes a ‘yuck’ face.

“The mask??”

“That can be removed.” You reply quickly.

Bubba blushes brightly in the dimness of the hallway, pulling away from the wall he was listening to, between Stu and Jason continues to look bashful and gooey at the floor for a little while, until Jason realises he’s going to have to guide him home to hid basement bedroom and looks deeply unamused about it. But, still kind of happy for his-pseudo brother.

“BUBBA?! Who bet on Bubba?!”

Chucky/Charles Lee Ray:

Lowly, with an embarrassed, dark blush on your face, you mutter. “Chucky… “ Jennifer looks two seconds from king shaming you, so you rush to add. “In human form!! Dear God.”

“Oh… “She doesn’t look convinced, making you roll your eyes. “Yeah, sure. You tell yourself that. You go be nasty on the couch.”

Chucky looks smugly at everyone, in turn, very, very happy with the outcome of that despite not winning the bet. “Yeah.” Freddy scowls at him.

“Don’t you look at me.”

“Yep, me.” Chucky ignores him. “Suck it.”

Freddy Krueger:

Realising who it would have to be, you widen your eyes and consider lying. But of course, decide to be honest. “Uh… well, um, Freddy… yup.”

She raises her eyebrows. “What if he goes batshit and tries to choke you to death?”

You laugh, at that. “Honestly, I do think choking would be a part of it, but in the case of danger I’ll just call you!” You grin cheerily at her. “Best friend!”

“Aye,”

“I don’t understand her.” Chucky feels the need to inform everyone. “But I just one the bet so good on her.”

“Four weeks, of my wonderful flirting, and I’m stabbed in the gut.” Billy groans, and throws is money on the floor. Shaking his head, he gets up and leaves, put out.

Stu sniggers, and gets up to follow him, turning back just to tell the others. “He’ll never recover.”

Freddy looks like he thinks he’s just won an Oscar. “I’d like to say a couple words!”

“Oh, christ.”

“I’d like to thank all my competitors for losing, and uh,” he finishes shining one of his knives on the edge of his jumper. “I promise to say hi to Y/N for you all later tonight when I visit her in her dreams.” Michael facepalms.

Jason Voorhees:

Finally, you decide and nod your head firmly. And exclaim, cheerily. “Jason! He’s perfect, I love, what a guy.”

When you look at Jennifer, immediately you let out a ‘YAH!’ scream and jump back, seeing her horrifying aura.

“I NEW THERE WAS SOMETHING GOING ON!”

“Stop itttttttttt!”

Stu facepalms. “Why did I only bet five???”

On the other hand, Michael smirks proudly under his mask, collecting his money. Yep, Jason. What a guy, indeed.

Everyone else, looks to the hockey mask wearing Slasher, who this whole time was against their listening and betting. How will he react?

He… has gone into silent shock. He may need some minutes alone. You… him?? You would pick him??? You… would pick him?? He raises his eyebrows under his mask like ‘Oh’. What is he supposed to do with this information?

“Yeah, I know hockey puck. This may be a shock for you, being ugly and all, but- Jason?”

Jason’s already up walking thoughtfully down the hall.

Michael Myers:

“Ahh, I have to agree with you. Totally Michael.”

“Told you!”

Michael but sits and experiences his punishment, which is many, many upset Slasher outcry’s.

“Both of them??!”

“Greedy bitch.”

“How??”

Michael sighs, and turns to an indifferent Jason for help. Jason looks at him and feels zero remorse for him, he brought this upon himself. He should not have been betting and spying.

Stu Macher:

“Well, these are all… interesting choices,” You start, cautious. “But, um… I think will go with Stu. Very cute, very funny. Very not connected to anything rotting, and... less stabby, then the others..”

“Well, that’s true. Probably a good choice.”

“Yeah,” You smile. “Okay, so, moving on. About that movie… “

Stu has this goofy ass, shocked, love struck look on his face that makes the rest of them a little nervous for about 2 seconds. Chucky takes the initiative pokes him. “Hey, Daffy Duck, what wrong with your fac- “

The 2 seconds ended, and so does Stu’s quiet, as he lunges up and grabs the doorknob, ready to throw it open and rush on in there and blow all their covers. Michael immediately shoots to action and grabs Stu’s leg to stop him, fighting not to let Stu shake him off. Everyone tries to vein to persuade him not to go, shut him up and clam him down, but their efforts are weak compared to the power of a horny teenager.

“Hey, hey!” Chucky exclaims, through everyone’s panicked whispered, grunts and frantic arm waiving, patting Michael on the shoulder. “… he’s gone.” With that out, Chucky shoots down the hallways as fast as his little legs can take him. Michael and Billy follow, because like hell they are going to get caught because Stu’s stupid, and Stu bursts into living room, revealing the other 3 still on the floor in the doorway… Freddy, incriminatingly on his knees just where the crack in the door would be, slowly, awkwardly waives and Jason bows his head in apology.

Bubba bolts.

#Slashers x Reader #Jennifer Check x Reader #Sleepover Oneshot #Slashers x Reader Oneshot #Stu Macher x Reader #Billy Loomis x Reader #Ghostface x Reader #Jason Voorhees x Reader #Chucky x Reader #Charles Lee Ray x Reader #Michael Myers x Reader #Freddy Krueger x Reader #Slashers

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bettas-and-other-oddities · 5 years

Text

Basic Betta Care Guide:

This will be a bare minimum care guide for betta care. As with most of everything on this blog, it is mostly going to be based on my experience of keeping bettas, stuff that I have researched, and full of sarcasm. Please, with any new pet, do research of your own to ensure that you know how to properly take care of your animal, or you may end up torturing or killing your animal.

TANK SIZE

There is a bit of debate on the betta community about the minimum tank size for a betta fish. In my eyes, a 5 gallon (~19L) for a permanent home. You can use a 2.5 for a small hospital tank, or for a temp tank if you suddenly came into ownership of a betta. If you choose a 2.5, please look into getting at least a 5 gallon (~19L) for your betta. Bettas love lots of space to swim and explore, as well as water quality is easier to maintain in a large tank. 5 gallons (~19L) are also the smallest tank that can safely maintain a stable tank cycle. Besides, the bigger the tank, the more you can decorate.

CYCLE YOUR TANK

The niteogen cycle is this big long process that is invisible to the eye. A short hand explanation is basically benificial bactera grows in your tank when you have an ammonia source, like fish waste, and it grows and grows until the bacteria is able to convert your ammonia and waste into other chemicals and such. I'm not so great at describing cycling, so here is a great link to look into!

Cycling your tank is a long and boring process, and it can happen anywhere between 2-8 weeks. Its long and boring, but putting a fish in an uncycled tank (also called fish in cycling) can be detrimental to your fish, as it usually results in stress, ammonia burns, and even death. Here is another link in case you are reading this after you added a fish to a new aquarium.

You can use bottled bacteria, like Seachem stability, API quick start, or Tetra safe start to help speed it up, but there are some discussions on whether or not they actually help. You can also ask a friend that has tanks if you can have some of their filter media to add into your filter. I don't recomend getting pet store filter media, as you could accidentally introduce sickness or parasites.

A FILTER AND HEATER ARE REQUIRED, NOT OPTIONAL

Most people assume that a betta can just live in a cute little bowl for its whole life. Which is so wrong. Your tank absolutely needs a filter and a heater. Filters help keep a stable nitrogen cycle and helps reduce maintenance. A heater is needed as bettas are tropical fish, coming from places like Malaysia and Thailand where temps are a nice warm 78-90°. With a heater in your tank, it should keep your betta tank at a toasty 78-80° F ( 25-27° C). A cold tank can lower your bettas immune system which leads to illness, as well as it slows their metabolism and activity levels. A good filter and heater is key to a happy bettas. Here is a diagram of what wattage heater is needed for your tank size!

TANK DECORATIONS

Getting a new tank can be exciting when it comes to picking out decorations! But take a minute to think about them before you go hog wild on them. Bettas have very beautiful, and very delicate fins. You have to find decorations that won't cut up your new betta buddy. Live plants are a great option. They are very soft, and even help with your water quality. Low tech plants don't require a ton of additional care, and can look amazing. Here is a link to a website that gives you info on some easy to care for aquarium plants!

If you don't want to try out live plants, silk plants are also a good option for bettas. They are very papery plants that are soft and safe for a bettas fins. I have silk plants in both of my bettas tanks. They are also easier to clean, with just some hot water and a clean, non soapy toothbrush.

If you want non-plant decorations, its really inportant to make sure there are no sharp edges. You can test this by taking a nylon stocking and dragging it across the decorations. If it catches, it might not be so safe for fragile fins.

Always check the inside of your hides. It can be super soft and smooth in the outside, but the inside can have the sharp edges of seals and other things. Make sure your betta cant get stuck in them, as well.

Bettas also like to have a very heavily planted tank. They are fearful in large open spaces. Here is a couple ideas of a good betta tank.

PICKING OUT YOUR BETTA

Picking out a new buddy can be the most exciting part of starting the hobby. Its really important to decide where you want to get your betta. If you decide to go online and order a betta, make sure there are good reviews on the breeder. If people say that their betta never arrived, died during shipping and had to pay for a dead betta, or there is just poor quality bettas, its best to look for a different breeder. A good breeder will have a variety of pictures of the betta, and will be able to answer your questions about the betta you're intersted in. They also will have some good reviews. You can always ask the betta community for recommendation for breeders. I don't have a lot of experience with getting bettas online, so I don't have a lot of info on them. ***

If you plan on getting your betta at a pet store or local fish store, there are still some things to look for. You want to make sure the betta is active, and alert. They should also have healthy fins for their tail type. Small tears are okay of you plan on keeping your water clean and healthy. I don't recommend beginners going out and "rescuing" a sick betta, as you won't have a lot of experience dealing with illnesses, and could potentially end up with a dead betta within days of purchasing the fish. If you are experienced and want to help a sick fish, go ahead and help it.

Its also a good idea to go to the store, look at the bettas, and go home and research the type of betta you liked the most. Some betta types have lots of health issues. Twin tails are more susceptible to swim bladder, dragon scales often go blind, and "rarer" breeds like black orchids and platinum can have health issues from breeding. Pet store bettas are also just in general less healthy than normal due to the disgusting amount of over breeding.

TANK MAINTENCE

Now that you have everything set up, you have your betta buddy, don't sit down and relax yet. There is still a lot of care maintaining your new tank. Usually you need to conduct 25-30% weekly water changes on your tank, and also make sure everything in your tank is healthy. Maintence can include water changes, cleaning the inside of the glass to clean off algae, trimming back plants when the get too long, and cleaning your gravel. A lot of new fish keepers just assume you can throw a fish in a tank and that's all there is too it. Unfortunately, that's not the case. A fish tank is maintence. If that's not for you, its best to stop reading and consider a pet rock or a fake houseplant. Not keeping up on your maintence can lead to a gross looking tank and sometimes death.

FEEDING AND FOOD

Its easy to feed a betta, but harder to find a food that's actually good for your betta. Sure, it can eat goldfish flakes, but its not good for it. Usually for food, I recommend frozen blood worms, daphnia worms, fluval bug bites, and omega one betta pellets. Its good to vary up your bettas diet.

The pet store may tell you that you only need to feed your betta once a week, but thats usually because bettas are in cups and they need to reduce waste, and the bettas don't need that many calories. Your betta at home is going to need more food. I feed my bettas almost every day, with fasting days throughout the week. Its important to know that a bettas stomach is only about the size of their eye, and over feeding is really easy. They only need 2-4 pellets of food per day. You can split that up into two feedings, or do it all at once. As much as your betta begs for food, don't over feed them. It can lead to health issues.

WHAT TO DO IF YOUR FISH GETS SICK

You can do everything right, and keep your water pristine, and still end up with some sort of sickness. And that's okay! Most illnesses are very treatable. The most common illnesses with bettas are swim bladder and fin rot. Swim bladder is usually caused by over feeding. Here is a link to a website that better explains it, and how to treat it!

The other most common one is fin rot. This usually happens due to a cut on the fins that gets infected. It can look like a black or red outline on the fins, and the fins look tattered and broken. Here is a picture of my late fish Tofu that had a bad case of fin rot.

Usually, warm clean water and taking out decorations that are sharp will help. If it doesn't, there are some awesome over the counter medications you can get to help it. Stay away from pimafix or melafix, as they are mostly tea tree oil and the oil will end up coating the bettas labyrinth organ and suffocate the betta.

If your betta doesn't look or act normal, consult a veterinarian or ask a local betta keeper/expert, and they can help you.

Here is a website that I like that helps with betta diseases.

SHOPPING LIST

Here is a quick shopping list of things you will need to set up a new tank!

Tank at least 5gallons (~19L)

Water conditioner (I recomend Seachem Prime)

Soft decorations/plants/gravel

Heater

Filter (depending on the filter I would get filter floss to house your bacteria)

(Optional) bottled bacteria

API master test kit to test your parameters

Water siphon/gravel vac (helps with water changes)

Betta food

Your new betta buddy (for after you've set up and cycled your tank)

I hope that this was helpful to people wanting to get into the hobby. Please feel free to reblog and add things as you see fit! I hope you guys enjoy!

***I usually get my fish from my local pet store. I don't quite know how the fish process is when ordering from an online breeder, I only know as much as comparing it to getting a dog from a breeder. Please feel free to reblog or messege me with a more accurate explanation/guide to betta breeders!

#betta advice #male betta #betta splendens #betta fish #bettablr #bettatank #aquablr #aquarium #aquariumblr #aquariums #betta help #fish tank #siamese fighting fish #fishblr #betta misconceptions #betta #betta care guide

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courteternal-rp · 4 years

Photo

→ general details

name ; draco forester

age ; appears 35 || actually 150

gender & sexuality ; cismale, heterosexual

race ; high fae

do they hold a position or title? ; Lord of the Night Court, the Defender of Velaris

loyalty ; the night court

face claim ; joel kinnaman

→ in depth

→ aesthetics

the solitude of the ocean, dissatisfaction in your life, the keen senses of a hunter, piercing eyes, moonlight peeking through the shadows, protecting their kin, not being much of a people person, weapons and armor resting against the bark of a tree while you swim, hands covered in stardust, values simplicity, cursing under your breath, soul binding bargains

→ headcanons

one. draco has made a point to return to the village he grew up every couple of months ( and if he is unable to, he sends someone he trusts in his stead ). he’ll spend about a week there - sleeping in his old room while he stays with his parents. he’ll help them out around the house, and ensure the village has remained safe in his absence before returning to his duties in Velaris or elsewhere within the Night Court. He’s made it quite well known that anyone from his old life is more then welcome to come directly to him with any issues.

two. draco has made several binding deals throughout his existence - each marked upon his body like a black inked tattoo. the first was to his younger sister - it spreads over his fingers and up his right forearm. the second was with his elder brother - it wraps around his bicep and up over his right shoulder. the two are clearly separated - to denote the slight difference in wording, and with whom the bargain was made, but there are tendrils that almost seem to move, making the deals appear to be intertwining. both have to do with the protection of their court.

three. regardless of where he is, draco almost always has two or three weapons strapped to him (though not always visible). it’s a habit he has yet to shake - but after spending nearly three quarters of a century seemingly powerless, he refuses to go anywhere unarmed. he’s incredibly meticulous about them too - unless there is any major defect, he maintains their care. each cleaning and sharpening are done by his own hand with a stone gifted to him by the man who raised him.

→ powers

Powers. Darkness. Winnowing. Misting (when overly emotional).

Explanation. Draco was raised among lesser fae, and for most of his youth believed himself to be powerless. It was the threat to his small village by a High Fae that caused him to explode in darkness - and that seemed to be enough to break the dam on his powers entirely.

In all likelihood, Draco would have been a threat to himself and others had he not accompanied the Former High Lord (his biological father) and learned control.

Draco has mostly reached his full potential when it comes to magical ability. Because he is the son of a High Lord, he had a bit more potential to grow when it came to his powers, but he trained quite extensively - first with his father, and then both of his siblings, meaning he’s just about reached his peak.

The man is quite skilled when it comes to the use of his abilities and obtained a large range (likely due to his relation to the former High Lord). While he can winnow several people and make a handful of jumps before it begins to take a toll, it isn’t a strong suit, nor is it something he utilizes outside of his siblings, the people who raised him, or the Night Courts inner circle.

His strong suits come with the manipulation of darkness that seems to bleed from the High Lord of Night’s bloodline, and within his ability to mist. Bending the darkness to his will, Draco has gained the ability to become the thing that goes bump in the night. Wielding the ability to remove sight from his opponent, he often utilizes it the way the Summer Court fae might water. Though not a physical presence, he’s learned to shape it into arrow heads or small birds that might attack from the heavens, a sword that never breaks, or a shield.

While capable of misting, it typically is a feat that takes a fair amount of concentration - considerably using his power source (depending on size and number of items/people he is misting). It proves far easier when there is strong emotion involved.

→ personality

positives. observant, protective, efficient, intelligent

negatives. troubled, cruel, fearless, stubborn

explanation. draco knew from a young age that he wasn’t truly related to his parents, but he likes to believe most of his personality comes from the people who raised him, and not the man who would later appear in his life when his abilities first manifested.

in his youth, he was raised by a pair of lesser fae. though he considered them strong in matters of the heart, neither held the capability of truly protecting themselves - leaving the role for him to easily slip into. it was a position that carried over to the rest of his village, and while several would offer open commentary, many only turned to him when it came to dire matters. draco is naturally quiet and observant - and only when he believes his opinion needs to be heard does he dare speak.

after being taken under the wing of his birth father and training his powers, his exterior hardened. it became evident there would be no familial love between the pair, so he turned himself into the perfect soldier and son - if only to make their time together lessen. he became a fearless warrior who didn’t recognize when to say no. it’s a face he continues to put on when it comes to his time in the Hewn City, the protection of Velaris and the Night Court’s people.

→ biography

As a monumental storm rocked the Night Court, a woman brought her babe into the world - alone and surrounded by nothing but thick woods. Cradled against his mother's breast, the child was wrapped in a cloak as dark as the night sky, and with tear stained eyes, the faceless woman left the crying babe on the steps of strangers. Tied about his wrist was a small piece of paper declaring his name as Draco.

Found hours later, he was brought into the home and cared for by a couple of lesser fae who had for years failed to conceive a child of their own. In their eyes, he was a blessing from the Gods - a gift which they refused to turn away. Raised as their own, Draco grew up content and asking for little. Assisting on their small farm and making daily trips into the village, he became ingrained into the life his parents had set up for him. But as he grew and the physical differences between he and his parents became all the more apparent, there was no denying that they held no blood relation.

Though he wouldn’t admit it, it was those differences that pushed him into action. While his parents and others within their village were content with allowing themselves to bow to those deemed better then them, Draco refused. On several occasions when High Fae passed through, he was laid out flat on his ass for defying them - the threat always looming that next time they might not be so forgiving - but his bravery earned him the reputation as the defender of their small village.

Every three weeks, the small village would host a market - each farmer and craftsmen gathering their items together in stalls to exchange in trade. Half way from the house, Draco had turned back to snag the coin purse they had forgotten, knowing full well they still owed several individuals from the previous event. Having sent both parents ahead, he arrived at the small marketplace to find several High Fae had arrived in his absence. Their leader was looming over his father - who was sporting a nasty bruise and split lip. Coins forgotten, Draco saw red.

It came unpredictably. A once seemingly ordinary man threatening to split the world in two with darkness. The ground shook as the sky bleed with the black of night ; there and gone in a flash. Many shielded their eyes from the sudden blinding sun, but it was the quiet whimpering that caused the bristling excitement to morph into silence. Having crossed the small village center, Draco Forester stood before a now cowering High Fae, darkness coiling around him like a second skin. Muttered words were exchanged before the High Fae and his entourage scurried away - whimpering apologies and swearing to never harm anyone beneath the High Lord’s families protection again.

Though Draco brushed aside the comment regarding his lineage, it seemed many in the village did not. Looks that had once held familiarity were now laced with praise or idolization. He was toward his breaking point and readying to confront his parents about his true parentage when the High Lord of Night appeared at their front door. With a strikingly similar resemblance to a man he’d never met, Draco had quietly stepped aside as his parents ushered their High Lord inside. Being dutiful hosts, the couple graciously doted on the man up until the moment he revealed why he was there. Amethyst eyes had turned on him and declared Draco a bastard - his bastard.

As it had weeks previously, darkness exploded into the world - snuffing out the fire lit in the hearth and causing a surprised shriek to emit from his mother. A rumbled laugh had filled the room and after a moment, the darkness subsided - though the rage that had bubbled beneath his skin was now apparent. Gritting his teeth, Draco had demanded the man leave - claiming no shared blood between them.

Despite the fact that the High Lord was visibly irritated at the demand to leave, he did just that - with the promise to return the following morning for an answer on whether or not he would willingly go with him. Disappearing in a twirl of darkness, Draco was left in silence with his parents, knowing full well he had no true say in the decision. The evening was spent arguing, but when the first light of dawn touched the village and the High Lord returned, Draco went with him willingly. Barely allowed the time to bid his parents goodbye, the world around him vanished into darkness and he was deposited into a new world.

Unknowing of how to connect to the man who had not known of his existence (nor did he seem to care about anything that might be personally troubling him), Draco fell to the conclusion that the sooner he learned to appease his so called father, the sooner he could get away from him. But despite his best efforts to ignore the mans toxic personality, the explosiveness that seemed to trigger the darkness pouring from his skin was undeniably a trait gained from his father. They were family - whether or not he liked it.

Spending the next several years training, Draco had not been capable of returning home until Vesper had his third and final child - this time a little girl. With the eyes of his biological father elsewhere, he slipped away in the dead of night to visit his parents. Though a short trip, it seemed to lift some of the weight from his shoulders, and the anger he’d once felt for them eased. Returning to the palace above the Hewn City with a clear head and lighter heart, Draco fell into the role of older brother.

Though not entirely aware of the arguments that transpired behind closed doors, he wasn’t ignorant. Spoken to in the early hours one morning, Draco swore to keep the location of his sister and her mother Ciel a secret when they fled to the mountains. While he would have liked to offer a consistent presence within his younger siblings life, his duties were quickly shifted elsewhere. Training’s once again began - though this time longer and more brutal (as if his father wished to truly punish someone for his lack of control in the situation).

There came a day when he bested his father in physical combat - and it was only the increased ability of a High Lord that seemed to force Draco to the ground, unable to get up once more. It was then he was officially called son ( not bastard ), and it was then he entered into his first binding bargain. Sworn to secrecy, he was introduced to Velaris.

Years later, when his biological father lay on his deathbed, he apologized for their years apart, and later for his inability to spend the time to grow close to his son. But the regret seemed to deepen as he declared Draco the official Defender of Velaris and asked that he continue his duties despite the fact that he might feel drawn to protect his siblings. History would repeat itself, he claimed, and war would eventually befall them once more.

Though each of the siblings parted to continue their duties in different sections of the Night Court, Draco made it a point to continue to check in with both of his siblings (partially in defiance to his fathers request and partially for his own sanity). It wasn’t until Hybern’s General appeared on the shores of Prythian and began attempting to romance the courts that he began to seriously think upon what his father had said upon his deathbed. Quick to caution his elder half brother against the woman ( and refusing anyone from Hybern knowledge nor entry into his city ), he made a point to be around when she visited (not wanting to draw a lick of attention to his absence and the hidden city).

When the Wall fell, Velaris was thrown into lockdown. Darkness had rippled across his skin and torn through the city. Those he’d taken in as friends were set loose to prowl the streets and protect the city at all costs. Even when it became evident that Hybern had retreated, it took him nearly a week to winnow to the side of his siblings. With his elder brothers powers bound and his Court undoubtedly vulnerable, Draco is out for blood and willing to do anything to ensure his family and Court are safe.

#amanda.#draco.#taken.#male.#taken male.#fae.#night.#joel kinnaman fc

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patriotsnet · 3 years

Text

Which Regions Tend To Favor The Republicans

New Post has been published on https://www.patriotsnet.com/which-regions-tend-to-favor-the-republicans/

Which Regions Tend To Favor The Republicans

With That Said It Is More Complex Than We Can Just Say

SHOCK POLL: 2 Out of 3 Southern Republicans Want to Secede from the US

With everything thus far said, we have only skimmed the surface.

The truth is, be we talking about the South or not, not every faction changes, and we have to account for more history than can fit in any essay. We have to account for;changing platforms, changing voter bases, congressional changes over decades, battles between factions within states and parties, the changing ideologies of factions and parties, technological changes of automation and modernization, business interested elites in both parties who tend to organize better and dominate, populists in both parties who cant always agree on divisive social issues, the general rift between key voter issues and social issues vs. economic issues, arguments over the size of state within parties, voter issues taking on new importances, single issue third parties, global politics, and so much else to fully tell this story.

This is to say, the;history of the major U.S. political parties if of course more complex than can just be said which is why we use terms like parties switched and party systems to preface this;long in depth essay.

Y Affiliation By Region

Party affiliation by region Switch to:Region by political party

% of adults who identify as

Democrat/lean Dem. Sample Size

Sample size = 6,516. Visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.

Northeast

Other Factors Of Note Regarding Switching Platforms Progressivism The Red Scare Immigration Religion And Civil Rights In 54

Other key factors involve;the Red Scare , the effect of immigration, unions, and the Catholic vote on the parties.

The Republican party changed after losing to Wilson and moved away from progressivism and toward classical liberal values under Harding, Coolidge, and Hoover. In this time they also became increasingly anti-Communist following WWI . While both parties were anti-Communist and pro-Capitalist, Wilsons brand of progressive southern bourbon liberalism and his New Freedom plan and then FDRs brand of progressive liberalism and his New Deal were opposed by Republicans like Hoover due to their;use of the state to ensure social justice. Then after WWII,;the Second Red Scare;reignited the conversation, further dividing factions and parties.

Another;important thing to note is;that the Democratic party has historically been pro-immigrant . Over time this;attracted new immigrant groups like Northern Catholics ;and earned;them the support of;Unions;. Big City Machines like Tammany Hall;also play a role in this aspect of the story as well. The immigrant vote is one of the key factors in changing the Democratic party over time in terms of progressivism, unions, religion, and geolocation , and it is well suited to be its own subject.

Despite these general;truisms, the parties themselves have typically been factionalized over;complex factors relating to;left-right ideology, single issues, and the general meaning of;liberty.

Recommended Reading: Donald Trump Calls Republicans Stupid

Despite The State Of Our Politics Hope For America Is Rising And So Is Youths Faith In Their Fellow Americans

In the fall of 2017, only 31% of young Americans said they were hopeful about the future of America; 67% were fearful. Nearly four years later, we find that 56% have hope. While the hopefulness of young whites has increased 11 points, from 35% to 46% — the changes in attitudes among young people of color are striking. Whereas only 18% of young Blacks had hope in 2017, today 72% are hopeful . In 2017, 29% of Hispanics called themselves hopeful, today that number is 69% .

By a margin of nearly three-to-one, we found that youth agreed with the sentiment, Americans with different political views from me still want whats best for the country — in total, 50% agreed, 18% disagreed, and 31% were recorded as neutral. In a hopeful sign, no significant difference was recorded between Democrats and Republicans .

Homosexuals Do Not Deserve Equal Rights

This comes from their religious beliefs, which form the basis for a lot of policy. Republicans believe that homosexuality is a choice and, as such, gay people should not be acknowledged in the same way as other groups. Therefore, according to a Republican, homosexuals should not be allowed to marry, nor should they be allowed to adopt children.

Also Check: Who Is Right Republicans Or Democrats

Progressive Era And The Great Depression

Because of the Republican Partys association with business interests, by the early 20th century it was increasingly seen as the party of the upper-class elite.

With the rise of the Progressive movement, which sought to improve life for working-class Americans and encourage Protestant values such as temperance , some Republicans championed progressive social, economic and labor reforms, including President Theodore Roosevelt, who split from the more conservative wing of the party after leaving office.

Republicans benefited from the prosperity of the 1920s, but after the stock market crash of 1929 ushered in the Great Depression, many Americans blamed them for the crisis and deplored their resistance to use direct government intervention to help people. This dissatisfaction allowed Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt to easily defeat the Republican incumbent, Herbert Hoover, in 1932.

Changes To Achieve Competitive Elections

Due to the perceived issues associated with gerrymandering and its effect on competitive elections and democratic accountability, numerous countries have enacted reforms making the practice either more difficult or less effective. Countries such as the U.K., Australia, Canada and most of those in Europe have transferred responsibility for defining constituency boundaries to neutral or cross-party bodies. In Spain, they are constitutionally fixed since 1978.

In the United States, however, such reforms are controversial and frequently meet particularly strong opposition from groups that benefit from gerrymandering. In a more neutral system, they might lose considerable influence.

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Some Possible New Congressional Districts For Montana And The Politics To Go With Them

HELENA Drawing two new, compact congressional districts for Montana in 2022 with equal populations is a piece of cake but, when their political leaning is a consideration, things get prickly.

Joe Lamson, one of two Democratic members of the five-member commission that will decide the boundary by November, says a goal should be to create one competitive district where a Democratic and Republican candidate each have a legitimate chance to win.

When we held public hearings, we heard loud and strong from Montanans that when it came to congressional districts, they would like one of those districts to be competitive, he told MTN News last week.

Yet Dan Stusek, one of two GOP members of the Districting and Apportionment Commission, says the politics of the districts should not be a priority.

That is not one of the commissions mandatory criteria, nor is it in our Montana constitution or state law, he said last week. The concept of `competitiveness inherently requires us to look at political data, which the public well knows is what people use to gerrymander districts.

The commission has two Republican members, two Democratic members and a non-partisan chair appointed by the Montana Supreme Court: Maylinn Smith, an attorney for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.

But its no secret what the general types of plans will be, and MTN News, using online tools, drew up several possibilities complete with a political analysis.

Pros And Cons Of Bernie Sanders

Florida RIPS CDC Over Covid Misinfo, DEMANDS Correction As Guidance Whiplash SINKS GOP Support

Even though Bernie Sanders is behind in the delegate count, the upcoming primaries have a higher delegates numbers and he believes the majority of them will favor him instead of Hillary Clinton. Bernie has received 6 representatives from the house for endorsements, while Clinton has 159 representatives, 40 senators and 13 governors for her endorsements. Clinton is way in the lead for endorsement so, I don ‘t think Sanders will have a chance to catch up. Dr. Cornel West, Ed Schultz and Neil Young are individuals who are contributing to his

Don’t Miss: How Many States Are Controlled By Republicans

Nearly A Third Of Young Americans Say That Politics Has Gotten In The Way Of A Friendship; Differences Of Opinion On Race

Thirty-one percent of young Americans, but 37% of young Biden voters and 32% of young Trump voters say that politics has gotten in the way of a friendship before. Gender is not a strong predictor of whether or not politics has invaded personal space, but race and ethnicity are. Young whites are more likely than young Blacks to say that politics has gotten in the way–and nearly half of white Biden voters say politics has negatively impacted a friendship; 30% of white Trump voters say the same.

When young Americans were asked whether a difference of opinion on several political issues might impact a friendship, 44% of all young Americans said that they could not be friends with someone who disagreed with them on race relations. Sixty percent of Biden voters agreed with this sentiment, as did a majority of women and Blacks . Americans between 18 and 24 were more likely than those slightly older to feel that race relations would cause a problem with friendships. Differences of opinion on whether or not to support Trump was an issue for slightly more than a third , followed by immigration , police reform , abortion , climate change , and guns .

Urban And Rural Republicans Have Somewhat Different Views On Trump

Asked to rate President Trump on a feeling thermometer ranging from 0 to 100, a majority of Americans give Trump a very cold or somewhat cool rating, while 10% rate him a neutral 50 on the 0-100 point thermometer. By contrast, 31% of Americans give him a very warm or somewhat warm rating.

Trumps ratings are particularly warm in rural areas, where four-in-ten rate him warmly. By contrast, 19% of people in urban areas give Trump a warm rating.

These differences by community type remain, even after controlling for party. Among Republicans, 56% of rural residents give Trump a very warm rating, compared with 48% of suburban and 46% of urban Republicans.

Within the Republican coalition, there are significant age gaps in views of Trump. In the suburbs, the share rating Trump very warmly is substantially higher among Republicans ages 50 and older than among Republicans younger than 50 .

This gap persists among rural Republicans, a group largely considered central to Trumps base. Younger rural Republicans are less likely than their older counterparts to rate Trump very warmly .

Among Democrats, community type differences are more modest: 84% of suburban Democrats give President Trump a very cold rating, compared with 78% of urban Democrats and 75% of rural Democrats. And across community types, age plays less of a role in Democrats views of Trump than among Republicans.

Urban Republicans are more evenly split on social issues than rural Republicans

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Summarizing The Party Systems As A Two

Current events and complexities aside, there has almost always been a two-party system in the United States. The mentality of each party can be expressed as northern;interests and southern interests, although I strongly prefer city interests and rural interests . Sometimes we see both;interests;in the same party, as;with Humphrey and LBJ, and sometimes it is less clear cut, but we can always spot it in any era.

Thus, we can use a simple two party answer as to which factions;held which interests over time, which I hope will be seen as helpful, and not divisive.;Remember the U.S. is a diverse Union;of 50 sovereign states and commonwealths where the need to get a majority divides us into red states and blue states as a matter of custom, not as enemies, but as a United Republic with a democratic spirit.

Northern City Interests: Federalists, Whigs, Third Party Republicans, Fourth Party Progressive era Republicans , Fifth Party Democrats , Modern Democrats.

Southern Rural Interests: Anti-Federalists, Democratic-Republicans, Third Party Democrats, Fourth Party Progressive Era Democrats , Fifth Party Republicans , Modern Republicans.

TIP: One way to;summarize all of this is by saying the changes happened under, or as a result of, key figures including Jefferson and Hamilton, Adams and Jackson, Lincoln, Grant, Cleveland, Bryan, the Roosevelts, Wilson, Hoover, LBJ, and Clinton. See a;comparison of the political ideology of each President from Washington to Obama.

Black Hispanic And Asian Voters Remain Overwhelmingly Democratic

There are sizable and long-standing racial and ethnic differences in partisan affiliation, and they have shifted only modestly in recent years.

White voters continue to be somewhat more likely to affiliate with or lean toward the Republican Party than the Democratic Party .

Since 2010, white voters have been more likely to align with the GOP than with the Democrats. However, the share of whites identifying as Democrats or leaning Democratic has edged upward . This growth is attributable to a slight increase in Democratic-leaning independents, rather than a rise in Democratic affiliation.

While black voters remain solidly Democratic, identification with the Democratic Party has declined modestly in recent years: About two-thirds of African Americans have identified as Democrats in the last several years, down slightly from the first half of Barack Obamas presidency, when about three-quarters affiliated with the Democratic Party.

There is a similar balance of partisanship among Asian American registered voters: 65% identify with the Democratic Party or lean Democratic, compared with 27% who identify as or lean Republican.

In 1998 , 53% of Asians identified with or leaned toward the Democratic Party and 33% identified with or leaned toward the Republican Party. .

A gender gap in partisan affiliation and leaning is seen across racial and ethnic groups.

Read Also: When Is The Last Time Republicans Controlled Congress

Understanding The Basics: How The Parties Changed General Us Party History And Why The Big Switch Isnt A Myth

Above we did an introduction, this next section takes a very general look at how the major parties changed and how factions changed parties.

To sum things up before we get started discussing specific switches, both major U.S. parties used to have notable;progressive socially liberal left-wing;and socially conservative right-wing;factions, and now they dont.

Originally, like today, one party was for big government and one party was for small government .

However, unlike today, party lines were originally drawn over;elitism and populism; and preferred;government type more than by the;left-right social;issues;that define the parties today, as the namesake of the parties themselves imply;.

In those days both parties had progressive and conservative wings, but the Southern Anti-Federalist, Democratic-Republican, and then Democratic Party was populist and favored small government, and the Northern Federalist, Whig, and then Republican Party was elite and favored bigger central government.

However,;from the lines drawn during the Civil War, to Bryan in the Gilded Age, to Teddy Roosevelt leaving the Republican Party to form the Progressive Party in 1912, to FDRs New Deal, to LBJs Civil Rights, to the Clinton and Bush era, the above;became less and less true.

Instead, today the parties are polarized;by left-right social issues, and;each party has a notable populist and elitist wing.

Changes In Party Polarization In Congress

Some changes in party polarization in Congress over the last several decades are the party division between Republicans and Democrats as having widened over the last several decades, leading to greater partisanship. What caused this change was increasing homogeneous districts and increasing alignment between ideology and partisanship among voters. I feel this can be good because the original congress was just one and if you did not agree with this opinion you could not do anything about it. Now at least you can fall under a category which is Republican or Democrat. In fact, I believe there should be more than just two parties because I know most people like some of the ideologies from Democrats but they also like

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States Of Change: How Demographic Change Is Transforming The Republican And Democratic Parties

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Demographics are not destiny, but steady and predictable changes to the electorate play an important role in defining the landscape of American politics. Most demographic groups have a political lean, so a group increasing or decreasing in size over time will tend to benefit one party or type of politics over another. The most well-known example is the growth of the nonwhite population in the United States, whichsince nonwhites tend to lean heavily Democraticis typically viewed as tilting the electoral terrain somewhat toward the Democrats over time as well as increasing the weight of nonwhite voters within the Democratic Party over time. But other changes are important, such as the decline of noncollege educated voters, particularly whites; the aging of the adult population; and the rise of new generations to replace older ones.

A Response To The Claim Welfare Is Equatable To Slavery

Life after Trump: whats the future of the Republican Party? | The Economist

In the 1850s, inequality in the Northern big government cities, northern immigration in the big cities , and African slavery in the small government south all existed side-by-side. and in ways, so it is today . Northern cities still favor bigger government, and they still have problems of racism and inequality, Rural South still favors small government . This does not make the North of today equatable to the slave economy of the South of yesterday however.

There is this idea that welfare is equatable to slavery in this respect, as in both cases a societal structure is providing basic essentials for a class of people . This argument, often presented in tandem with the claim the parties didnt switch/change is essentially a red herring that misses the nuances we describe on this page .

The southern conservatives who held slaves and fought for the Confederacy essentially switched out of the Democratic party starting in the 1960s, and even continuing to the modern day , in response to LBJs welfare programs . In other words, if the southern conservative had wanted to oppress a class of people with welfare, one would logically assume they wouldnt have switched out of the Democratic party over time in response to welfare programs.

Today it is a Southern Republican who flies to Confederate flag, today it is a Republican who champions small government in America. Yesterday, it was a Southern Democrat.

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