#I might do more of these cause I love talking about Irish

[phantom-of-the-memes]

Irish language things

One of the many things I find interesting about Irish is that we have no word for yes or no. There are a few languages like this in which you echo back the question as a response.

So in English if you are asking “Did you buy ___?”.

You could reply with “I did buy ___”, but that’s quite formal and nobody would really say that. So you can simply reply with “yes/ no”.

But in Irish if you ask the same thing “Ar cheannaigh tú ___?”.

You can only reply with “Cheannaigh mé/ Níor cheannaigh mé ___”. Meaning I did buy/ I didn’t buy ___.

Young Irish speakers try to get away with using “Tá” or “Sea” as a universal yes and “Níl” as a universal no. But this is incorrect and drives older Irish speakers/ teachers mad. So don’t use them in your orals!

Most people do shorten things by just saying “Cheannaigh/ Níor cheannaigh” and not echoing back the whole sentence of what you did/ didn’t buy.

But yeah it’s just another one of those interesting linguistic things that can’t be fully translated to English. And it actually causes problem for people in school learning Irish because we try to translate what we’re thinking in English onto the paper.

Gotta love the English colonialism still affecting us to this day!

#I might do more of these cause I love talking about Irish #ireland #irish #gaeilge #linguistics #language #languageblr #languages #langblr

[midnight-in-town]

Let's talk about the "Fenian brotherhood" theory !! :D

Firstly, in case you don't know about it, please go read the theory that our!Ciel's birth name might be Fenian/Fionn/Finnian by @azuresins. It is incredibly relevant to what I'm about to explain next !

TBH, I don't really care about discovering our!Ciel's birth name. However, I truly enjoy this theory and I think it makes a lot of sense, because I absolutely agree with the idea of Vincent supporting (secretly or not) Irish independence, turning him into a political enemy of Queen Victoria...

...which could be very much why he ended up dead.

This theory comes from a private convo with my friend, @dorkshadows and I'll sum up their thoughts (and some of mine) below the cut !

First of all, while we think Claudia, Vincent's predecessor, may have been a personal enemy of Victoria because of whatever happened when Albert died in 1861, Vincent strikes us more as a political enemy precisely because of Brown's comment in ch108.

After all, if our!Ciel, who just managed to thwart their plans of getting the sulin gas, is "more like his father everyday", then it makes sense that Vincent "got in the way" of some of Victoria & JB's war/political plans too. >_>

Now, about the Fenian Cycle book: it was an important symbol for Irish independence and the Fenian Brotherhood that started in the 19th century before it got dissolved in 1880. To quote Wikipedia:

"The Fenian Brotherhood traced their origins back to 1790s, in the rebellion, seeking an end to British rule in Ireland initially for self-government and then the establishment of an Irish Republic. The rebellion was suppressed, but the principles of the United Irishmen were to have a powerful influence on the course of Irish history."

But how would Vincent even get involved with it and why?

In the theory that OC's name is Fenian/Finnian, @azuresins mentioned that maybe it's all related to Cedric K. Ros having Celtic origins. Since we do have one sketch by Yana of one twin bringing the Fenian Cycle book to the Undertaker (the most likely candidate for Cedric K. Ros)...

...it might indeed be a partial answer.

There is another possibility though, entirely thought by @dorkshadows, which is that Rachel (and Ann) might have been of Irish origins too.

After all, a common stereotype for Irish people in many stories is red hair and it's hard to forget that it was a very distinctive characteristic of Ann, Rachel's sister !

In fact, one of their first interactions is Vincent telling Ann to be proud of that hair, which we were told she inherited from her dad, the twins' maternal grandfather.

So Vincent might have not just been talking about Ann's hair color in that scene, but more specifically about her taking more pride in her Irish origins. Obviously though, Dalles/Durless aren't very Irish names, but it is possible that their original family name got anglicized into a more traditionally English name.

In any case, Vincent met Rachel and Ann after already knowing their father :

So it's possible that Vincent was, as the Watchdog, investigating Lord Durless as a nobleman with Irish lineage and possible ally of the Fenian Brotherhood. After all, to quote this article, "the Fenians in England and the British Empire were a major threat to political stability". Then Vincent met and fell in love with Rachel, thus deciding to support the Brotherhood instead.

I'd add that Vincent supporting such a cause simply makes sense, considering that the Phantomhive family, too, might have been burdened by the Watchdog's duty generations ago, because of their "different" lineage (full theory here). On top of that, if you add the possibility that Cedric/UT also was of Celtic origins (many decades or centuries ago) and that Vincent knew Claudia's death was Victoria's fault, it only makes sense that he'd eventually politically antagonize the Queen (both for his parents' sake and for Rachel's).

@dorkshadows also pointed out that, to this day, we don't know if the twins' maternal grandfather is alive or dead in canon : he was important enough to be mentioned in Red's flashback but has been missing from the narrative ever since. Timeline-wise, he could be dead, especially since we never saw him in the Blue Memory arc (our!Ciel's flasback), but we never know with Yana (look at Claudia being hinted in panels ever since the circus arc and probably being incredibly relevant), so it's worth keeping in mind.

Then, moving on to ch132 we know that, when the twins were born, Rachel is the one who named them.

Coincidentally (read: it's probably not a coincidence xD), ch132 had the cover with Vincent reading the Fenian Cycle book to the twins and it's also the chapter in which Vicar Rathbone casually says that one twin/both twins (it's deliberately ambiguous in Japanese) have a name that is "rare for England" :

Many fans, myself included, thought that "Ciel" was the name being discussed there, but maybe they were actually talking about our!Ciel's celtic birth name ! To quote @azuresins, in that case that'd basically mean that, in that scene above, "Vincent said to an ENGLISH PRIEST [...] that people of Celtic origin deserved freedom, and to be treated better and that it probably was soon to come".

No wonder that Vicar Rathbone would immediately change the topic lmao ! xD

Vicar Rathbone be like

It is also very meaningful that Rachel decided to give the "Fionn/Fenian/Finnian" name to our!Ciel ("the spare"), as if to emphasize that he was free to make his own path in life, as the second son, unburdened by earldom. Choosing such a meaningful name might even be a parallel to Vincent's own situation with Frances as his spare, since both also have names with a meaning relating to victory and freedom.

Another important detail, as @azuresins already explained here, is that Fenian Cycle is also a tale of revenge and that our!Ciel parallels Fionn big deal, making it all even more relevant. And maybe Yana left other hints in her artworks too...

Finally, historically the Fenian Brotherhood officially got dissolved around 1880 (the twins were 5 years old), but it's always possible that, in Kuroverse, Vincent managed to make it thrive secretly as the Watchdog. The Fenian Brotherhood caused several incidents, including after 1880 (they assassinated a British Chief Secretary in 1882), so it wouldn't be impossible that the Queen eventually found out that Vincent didn't properly take care of them, because he was supporting them.

And when she found out? Well, she branded Vincent a political enemy and we know the rest (the household was massacred in 1885 and the killer most likely received help from real!Ciel, more details in the real!Ciel mastermind theory hehe).

The idea that Vincent ultimately became a political enemy of Victoria because he fell in love with Rachel makes their death...

...even more emotional to me, since Rachel probably died trying to protect Vincent. T_T

TL;DR that's the Fenian Brotherhood theory: because they supported an Irish rebellious group that wanted freedom, Vincent & Rachel were branded political enemies of Victoria and she & JB plotted their deaths, which led in happenstance to the RCMT.

(friendly reminder that the twins are 7, when Vincent asked Dee to look after them should he die)

I hope it was clear ! Thanks for reading. :))

#kuroshitsuji #vincent phantomhive #ciel phantomhive #rachel phantomhive #angelina durless #madam red #cedric k. ros #finnian #kuro132 #fenian brotherhood theory #ciel's real name #kuroshitsuji theory #dorkshadows #my analysis #blue memory arc

[sxoirserxnan]

If you are one of those people who dont enjoy Halloween or you think it's too early to start talking about it, might be time to step away. No you can block me from all your contacts for next three months, because fall and Halloween is Irish time. I mean we did invent Halloween no one can take that away from us. But I am not here to brag about that simple fact, I am here to make your Halloween dreams come true. Cause nobody else loves to spin scary tales or sit by a fire or visit a farm shop more than myself this time of year. I may be currently buying corn stalks and pumpkins just so people can see from outside my house how part American I am and more importantly how into this season I am. What about you? Do you get all in for Halloween or do you get all ten levels excited for another?

@cityofdreamsstarters

#cityofdreamsstarter

[denimbex1986]

'Last month, the BBC offered an apology of sorts after a red-carpet reporter at the Baftas asked Andrew Scott, star of the film All of Us Strangers, about fellow Irish actor Barry Keoghan’s appendage. This had been the subject of conversation thanks to Keoghan’s naked dancing in the film, Saltburn, in which Keoghan’s floppy bishop steals the final scene. To settle this nagging concern the BBC turned to a gay man. ‘There was a lot of talk about prosthetics. How well do you know him?’ the reporter asked an annoyed Scott who shook his head and walked away.

Had a female actress been asked to authenticate another woman’s breasts, the scandal that would have ensued goes without mentioning, but the BBC dusted it off. ‘Our question to Andrew Scott was meant to be a light-hearted reflection of the discussion around the scene and was not intended to cause offence,’ the organisation said.

The gynarchy has made clear that objectifying men is perfectly fine and, after all, what’s a little light-hearted homophobia when gay movies are having a renaissance? All of Us Strangers – nominated for six Baftas but ultimately snubbed, and Saltburn, nominated for five – joined a handful of other gay titles that studios have banked on attracting an audience beyond the 4 per cent of the population who might traditionally see those films.

Where the box office didn’t pay off, critical acclaim largely has. 2020’s Supernova, staring Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci as a 60-something gay couple, and last year’s drama Passages directed by Ira Sachs, have also inched into a market where such movies typically didn’t belong.

‘Why are gay movies always so sad,’ people used to ask in the 1990s. Thirty years later, nothing has changed. Gay flicks tend to have three themes – loneliness, death, and villainy – and this recent batch of movies is no exception. The miniseries Feud: Capote vs. The Swans, released last month and based on writer Truman Capote’s final years, nicely encompasses all three.

‘New film All of us Strangers centers on gay loneliness and trauma,’ a headline on NBC News read, as though that’s anything new. And while I don’t know what ‘trauma’ is, I do know that gay people have always fixated on it and, increasingly, so does everyone else. Gay films haven’t changed, but the audience has. Women are lonelier, more promiscuous, and more atomised than ever and now they’ve discovered a whole sub-genre of cinema speaking to that and aiming to nurture those anxieties. Just a hunch, but the ladies sobbing along at home to Supernova are probably childless and spend many hours a week on Zoom calls.

When a gay film meanders too deeply into gay insider baseball, like Billy Eichner’s 2022 romantic comedy Bros, it bombs. The most resonate gay movie of all time might continue to be 1970’s The Boys in the Band, but the 2020 remake flopped, probably because it’s a story devoid of hope and beauty, only messiness and casual destruction –something gay men understand but remains far too raw and excruciating for women to enjoy.

Then there’s the other side of it – the neutered gay fan fiction written by and for women, like Amazon Prime’s horrendously stupid 2023 film Red, White & Royal Blue, which offers women magical gay pets to carry around in their dreams. When I asked the feminist writer Louise Perry about these films, she said:

"These are usually gay relationships represented in a uniquely feminine way: intensely emotional, no casual sex, very unlike gay porn for men.

I suspect that young women find these gay fantasies attractive because they’re scared of the asymmetries inherent to straight relationships, in which women are always the more physically vulnerable party. So, they invent fictional gay men and give them a style of sexuality more typical of women.

She continued: ‘Will & Grace was obviously created for women because the gay male characters are weirdly asexual,’ reiterating something gay men have speculated for some time, noting that the bitchy and boozy, heterosexual Karen Walker was the only character they gravitated toward.

That’s not to say women can’t write great gay stories. Brokeback Mountain, the most critically acclaimed gay movie of all time, was based on a short story by Annie Proulx, who revealed in a 2009 interview her frustration with fan letters wishing the story had ended on a positive note. Those ‘idiots’ who want a happy ending, she said, overwhelmingly tended to be men.'

#Andrew Scott #BAFTAs #All of Us Strangers #Saltburn #Will & Grace #Brokeback Mountain #Annie Proulx #Karen Walker #Red White & Royal Blue #Supernova #Passages #Feud: Capote Vs The Swans #Bros #The Boys in The Band

[suitsusboth]

I'm rereading the original Lovelights, loving every minute of it!

Do you think you would be able to write a one-shot about The Game!? I would love to know how that went down, especially since it was Anthony's first time back in who knows how long, and Kate's first time playing it. Has she practiced her skating enough to be Aubrey ready? Do they end up on the same team? Or are they on opposite teams and dominate? How do you see it going down? ♥️

I think the first year Kate witnesses the game, Daphne's surprise announcement very much overshadows everything. The family is shocked. Even more so when, somewhere in-between being asked a hundred questions a minute, Daphne lets it be known the father will not be involved. Anthony doesn't say much after that. Daphne thinks he's deeply disappointed in her, and to herself decides she doesn't need his approval. It's her life. It's her baby.

(Spoiler alert, he isn't disappointed. He's worried about his sister. She might not have said it, but someone has hurt her. Daphne believes in romance and true love. He knows, whoever this guy is, has let her down. And this baby.)

But it does cause a bit of a rift for a while (until Anthony uses his words.)

But, let's have a peek at that first year, hm?

The next morning, bright and early new years day, Kate and Anthony are drinking coffee in bed, with Eggnog laying at their feet. Anthony's phone buzzes.

"Who is it?" Kate asks, taking another sip. Anthony's frowning at his phone.

"Colin. They're all heading to the game."

Silence spread between them. They hadn't talked about it yet. Daphne. It had been a shock, Kate knew that. And as expected, when surprised, Anthony got quiet. He needed to process. This is also new— them. She wasn't completely sure what she should be doing, especially when it came to his family. They had left not long after midnight and Daphne's announcement. When they got back they had gone to bed soon after.

"Do you want to talk about it?" she eventually asks. It seems like a good place to start. It at least let him decide.

He shrugs. "What's there to talk about?"

Kate purses her lips, but refrains from saying anything. Anthony's phone buzzes again, and he sighs.

"We don't have to go," she tells him softly, resting her chin on his shoulder. He's quiet for a moment until he lets out a small smile, and plants a kiss on her forehead.

He shakes his head, and looks at her with a brightness in his eyes again. "No. Let's go."

And they're glad they go. Anthony digs out his old high school hockey jersey for Kate to wear (she's thrilled even though no one will see it under her coat

And they're glad they go. Anthony digs out his old high school hockey jersey for Kate to wear (she's thrilled even though no one will see it under her coat— furthermore, she takes it back to Manhattan and becomes one of her favourite things to wear around her apartment. Anthony likes it too. Particularly when she doesn't wear pants with it.) Everyone is there except Eloise and Daphne. Eloise, fighting a hangover. Daphne, did not want to come. No further explanation was given by Mrs. Bridgerton and no one pressed. Colin, Gregory, Hyacinth and Anthony were playing. Benedict was also fighting a hangover, but he was doing so in sunglasses in a camper chair, sipping an Irish coffee did not join in.

The Game took place on a frozen pond a few miles from town. A lot of people showed up, mostly to spectate though. It seemed only the real talented skaters, who could take a hit, played. There was the blue team, which Bridgertons were on, and the blue team. There was also, seemingly from what Kate overheard, a lot of betting on the side from the townsfolk (Mrs. Agatha seemingly being the ringleader and/or bookie of this event— who in turn gave Kate a wink when she saw her arrive, fingers intertwined with Anthony's.)

Anthony had not been exaggerating when it came to the chaos and brutality of The Game. It was basically a WWE match on ice. Henry tried to referee, but no one seemed to listen. The puck couldn't be seen half the time. But Hyacinth did manage to take out at least three men in their mid to late forties.

It was a mad, and fun, and Kate doesn't think she's laughed that much, ever.

Years later, when Kate was better at ice skating and the Bridgerton family had grown exponentially, they started their own version of The Game on New Years Day on the Farm. They had a rink after all. Some years they were rivals (Kate having the most number of wins, mostly because she 'played dirty'). Some years they were on the same team (Undefeated, suck it Hastings). Most years ended in bruises and big smiles. Only once or twice in tears (usually one of the kids). But they did it every year, and every year they were grateful to have this big, mad, wonderful family and the farm.

#lovelights au #asks #:)))))))))) #one day i will write daph and simons story #and one day i'll continue kate and anthony's in this universe #but they just have a happy little family on the farm :)

[sweet-villain]

Redeemable~ Part 2 of Birthday Disaster

Part 1

Words : 6k

@babyloutattoo89 @palomam18 @becca-alexa @sadbitchfangirl @irish-newzealand-idian-dutch @djkeruigbbygirl @haileighboi @bookshelf-dust @moonchildquinn @strangerfreak

Eddie slouched in his seat while he stared at you from across the room, pouting in his seat when you won’t even look at him or speak to him anymore. He didn’t mean to forget your birthday. He had it all planned out and he got so busy that he couldn’t help but fall asleep. That was his excuse and now you were mad at him. He was going to tell you how he felt about you too and now he had no chance in that either. He felt hopeless and he missed you so much. 

“ What’s got into you, Munson?” One of his classmates nudged him. He threw them a glare telling them he didn’t want to talk to them and instead his eyes laded on you once again. You are taking down notes for next week’s quiz feeling a pair of eyes on the side of your head. You knew he was watching and waited for you to look at him.

But he hurt you, and you didn’t feel like he deserved it. 

The bell rang and Eddie got to his feet, moving around the desk to get to your desk and stopping right in front of you to block your path from exiting the classroom. 

You saw his Reeboks in front of you and sighed to yourself thinking he was doing good by blocking your path. Your eyes rose to meet his brown doe eyes that were pleading for some sort of interaction or reaction from you. 

“ Can we talk?” He asked, his voice sounds so broken and so lonely. You didn’t answer him as you moved your desk away and going the other way to get to the door. You can hear him following you as he tried to pick up the pace you were going.

“ What do I have to do to get you to talk to me?” He asked, but you ignored him making your way to your next class. He sighed, stomping his foot feeling his heart sink to his stomach wanting nothing more but get his best friend back, get the girl that make him feel like he could do anything. 

“ Still nothing” he heard the sound of Dustin’s voice who looked at him sympathetically. Eddie shook his head with his eyes glossing over. This hurts him a lot, the way you were ignoring him. He couldn’t do anything to fix this. 

“ I feel so stupid. She won’t talk to me, not even a look. She did look at me but it was like she was trying to rip my heart piece by piece and I don’t know” he says. 

“ She’s really hurt you forgot her birthday after telling her you planned it all out. She was waiting and waiting only to find out there was nothing waiting for her. She thinks she’s a joke too you” 

“ But she’s not, I love her” Eddie says close to tears. 

“ Do you want me to talk to her?” Dustin asks. “ She adores me, I might loosen it for you to have her talk to you.”

Eddie’s eyes light up at Dustin’s words.

“ You would do that for me?” Eddie asks. 

“ I would, I will and you just watch me” Dustin puffed out his chest with his hands on his hips. Eddie rolls his eyes hearing the bell, but he didn’t really care that he was going to be late but chuckled watching as Dustin raced off towards class yelling, “ shit.” 

You were getting your books from your locker when Dustin appeared all of sudden, scaring you causing you to jump a little. Your eyes were wide as saucers seeing him standing there with a huge smile on his face.

“ You scared me, geez Dustin” you had your hand on your heart. 

“ I’m sorry, but I had to do it. The look on your face” he chuckled. 

“ Was there something you needed?” You closed your locker after getting your books. “ I need to get to class.” 

“ Uh, I was wondering when are you planning to talk to Eddie?” Your face dropped hearing his name. You shrugged in response, sighing to yourself that Eddie had sent Dustin to talk to you and have him figure it out. 

“ I appreciate that you want to fix this, I do but this isn’t yours to fix. It’s his” Dustin nodded his head. 

“ I know but he’s desperate to talk to you and fix this” 

“ I know he is but he hasn’t done anything that would make me want to talk to him” Dustin eyebrows scrunched up together. 

“ What do you want him to do to fix it all? Throw you a birthday party?” You shook your head.

“ No, I’m not much of a party person. He’s a big boy and can think for himself. I’m sure in that head of his, he can think of things”

Dustin sighed. 

“ I need to get to class, see you later” he waved watching you walk by as he snapped his fingers thinking you were going to tell him and he’d report back to Eddie on how to fix it and all would be good as new.

Eddie wanted to scream into a pillow, scream into the world, into his locker, in his van and at someone at the way you were just ignoring him and after Dustin reported back to him that he failed, he was frustrated. Sitting at lunch with his arms across his chest and a sour look on his face, he was angrily staring at the side of your head while you were reading a book and munching on some grapes. 

“ Stop staring at her” Gareth says, poking Eddie in the shoulder. Eddie didn’t even turn to glare over at Gareth. He huffed, uncrossed his arms and crossed them again. 

“ He screwed big time if Y/N won’t even glance at him and let alone speak to him” Jeff says.

“ Thank you for stating the obvious” Eddie spoke out as his hands landed on the table scaring the Hellfire table. “ If you excuse me gentleman I will be elsewhere looking how to solve my problem since none of you can’t help me” he gets out of his seat and grabs his lunch box heading towards the doors of cafeteria and to his own surprise he’s heading to the library. 

He’s that desperate for your attention that he’s thinking that the library will have an answer to his problem. 

“ Eddie Munson in the library?” The librarian lowered her glasses to look at Eddie who shrugged looking around and not sure where he was planning to go and what book he needs to be looking for. 

“ What are you looking for?” She asks. “ Maybe I would be able to help you” 

Eddie walks up to her, placing his hand on top folding them as he licks his dry lips trying to figure out what he wanted to say or ask. 

“ I’m looking for a book on how to win a girl back” he says like that’s the best he could come up with. The librarian raises her eyebrow in question on what this is really about but Eddie doesn’t say anything else. 

“ My, I didn’t really think you’d be the one coming here to solve girl problems” 

“ Will you be helping me or not?” He asked, already annoyed by being here. It’s not somewhere where he belongs. 

“ What did you do? If you don’t mind me asking” Eddie hangs his head, refusing to tell the librarian on what he did in case she might laugh at him and send him off. His lips are in a thin line as he shakes his head.

“ Will you help me or not?” He asked, again. The librarian hums and points him in the direction where he turns to look and then looks at her in disbelief. She was going to show him what he needed to look for, then how was Eddie suppose to find what he needed? 

“ Unbelievable” he mumbles to himself walking to the section it was pointed out to him. He was meant with rows of books that small titles and big titles. He wasn’t too sure which book he needed. He stood there scratching his head in question when his hand reached out to grab some random book with a big title that seemed appealing to him. 

“ Okay” he nodded to himself. “ I got this” he says walking back to the librarian. She stops typing on the computer to pay attention to Eddie who slides the book to her to check out. She reads the title and looks up at him with an eyebrow raised. 

“ I thought it looked interesting” she sighed and began to check him out telling him to return the book otherwise he will need to pay for it. His hand comes up to take it and mumbling some words to her that she throws him a look of disapproval. 

“ Boys” she mumbles to herself going back to what she was doing before. 

You were invited for movie night over at Steve’s with everyone else, but you weren’t sure in going because Eddie was going to be there and you know how that might go. Therefore, you told Steve that you were coming down with something or think you might be coming down with something and decided to stay home. Of course Steve thought that was lie to get yourself out of movie night that Eddie is here for already, looking through Steve’s films. 

“ So what happened to trying to get Y/N to talk to you and all?” Steve asked waiting for everyone else to show up. Eddie sighs to himself and shrugs. 

“ That’s not entirely an answer you know?” Eddie grunted and said something underneath his breath that Steve didn’t even hear. 

“ What were you even doing that you forgot her birthday?” 

“ Sleeping” Eddie answered. 

“ You don’t sleep well or something?” Eddie rose his head to meet Steve’s gaze. “ I was going through a lot that weekend, with so many things to do that I forgot what day it was and before I knew it I was sleeping on the table.” 

“ Sleeping isn’t really a good excuse to miss her birthday, I thought you were into her, Munson”

The color on Eddie’s face drains as his cheeks flush red. 

“ How did you know that?” Steve chuckled. 

“ It’s obvious between the two of you that you like each other” 

“ She likes me?” Steve nods. 

“ And you screwed it up” Eddie groans laying down on the ground with his hands covering his face. “ What am I suppose to do, Harrington?” 

“ Find a way for you to forgive her” 

Eddie rose up to sit and glare at Steve. 

“ You don’t think I have tried that?” Steve shrugged. 

“ I’ve sent Henderson to ask too and she sent him back” Eddie sighed. 

“ Is there something she really wanted but couldn’t afford it?” He asked. 

Eddie hummed to himself as he thought about it and then it hit him. His eyes grew wide as he scrambled to his feet.

“ You’re a genius, Harrington. I could kiss you right now” Eddie says. 

Steve’s face turned into a grimace as he put his hands up. 

“Don’t come near me, Munson” Eddie laughed, and then he stopped laughing because the one thing you wanted but you couldn’t get was a car. Eddie used to always give you rides to school and now you took your bike to school. 

“ She wanted a car..” Eddie says, wincing because he doesn’t really have the money for the car to buy right now. “ What If I gave her yours instead?” Eddie suggests, humoring Steve who family laughs and then stops. 

“ No, my BMW isn’t for sale or for anyone” he says. 

“ You’re no fun, Harrington” Eddie tapped his chin. 

“ Maybe I could give her Wayne’s station wagon” Steve snickers in response. 

“ How’s Wayne going to get to work then?” 

Eddie frowns, “ well I am not giving her m van, that’s for sure.” 

“ You’ll have to get her a different car then” 

“ They are expensive” Eddie sighs running a hand down his face. 

“ I’m never going to get her to forgive me” 

“ You’ll find a way, Munson. I can feel it” Edie sent him a look. 

“ Thank you so much for the support, Harrington. Makes me feels so great” Eddie says. 

There was a knock on the door startling Steve for a moment. 

“ There is everyone one else” he says clasping his hands together as he makes his way to the door. Eddie sits back on the couch, slouching as he wines on when will you talk to him again. Max walks in the room and rolls her eyes at the sight. 

“ Oh brother, this again” she says. 

“ You look like a sack of potatoes” Dustin say walking into the room and sitting down besides Eddie. 

“ Leave him alone, he’s upset. Let him be upset” Nancy says. 

Eddie falls back onto the couch onto Dustin’s lap. 

“ Um…” Dustin mumbles and pats Eddie on the head, not knowing what to do. 

“ Is this normal?” He mouths to Steve who shrugs. Eddie was in the slumps dearly missing you and looked over to the empty spot on the couch that you were suppose to be here but you hadn’t showed up. 

“ Where is Y/N?” Robin question noticed your empty spot. Her eyebrows knitted in confusion. “ She’s usually here before us” she looks over to Steve for answers but he shrugged having no idea where you might be. You had called Steve that you weren’t going to make it movie night. 

“ She must not be feeling her best” Steve says. Dustin nudged Eddie by the elbow. 

“ Maybe move night will cheer you” 

Eddie wasn’t too sure move night would cheer him up since he’s been thinking about you and how in the world was he going to get your friendship back. A hand on his knee brought his attention out of his thought as he looked over to Nancy. 

“ It’s going to be okay” she tried to reassure him with a pat on his knee. 

“ Thanks, Wheeler” she nodded placing bowl of snacks on the table settling down on the other part of the couch. 

Eddie laid in his room thinking what could he possibly do that got your attention, usually his dramatics would get your attention but lately there wasn’t even a look. The other day, Jason pushed him against the locker passing him, and you stood a few feet away not even glance but you heard it. 

You heard Eddie’s wince, closing your eyes wanting to slap Jason across his face. But you held back thinking that this is what Eddie wanted. A reaction out of you to get yo to talk to him. He didn’t deserve it. 

What Eddie didn’t know was that you were the one to steal Jason’s clothes from the boy’s locker room and chased had to walk around in the clothes that was in the lost and found for the rest of the day. That would teach Jason. It made Eddie snicker and Jason for a moment thought that he was the one to do when he spotted you smirking at him.

He couldn’t do anything to you, he was fuming for the rest of the day.

Eddie’s eyes roam over to sweetheart by the mirror hanging there and an idea came to his mind. It wasn’t the idea he wanted to go with, even thought Sweetheart meant a lot to him. He was doing it for you. He stood up from his bed and changed his shirt, and made his way over to Sweetheart. 

“ You’re so pretty” he says to her as he gets her off and holds her in his arms. His eyes gloss over, and he takes a deep breath running his fingers over the strings. She was the next beautiful thing he has ever seen, next to you. 

“ I am going to miss you a whole lot” a tear runs down his chest as he holds her tight to his chest. The sniffling got the attention of Wayne who stood outside Eddie’s door, knocking.

“ Is everything okay, son?” Wayne asked. 

Eddie wiped his tears away not wanting Wayne to see that he was crying. 

“ Yes” Eddie answered him. Wayne didn’t seem convinced letting Eddie know he was coming in and opened the door finding Eddie standing in the middle of his room holding Sweetheart for his dear life while tears run down his cheeks.

“ What’s the matter, boy? Did you break your guitar?” He asked. Eddie shook his head.

“ I am going to sell my guitar that Y/N will talk to me again. I was going to get use the money to get her the ring she saw in the jewelry store. It was her favorite color too. She told me she couldn’t afford it and I wanted to get her it, but I couldn’t…” 

Wayne sighed, looking disapprovingly at Eddie. 

“ That guitar means the world to you, boy” 

Eddie nods, “ Not more than she does.” 

“ You love her” Eddie nods, with a small shrug. 

“ I just miss her so much. I need her to come back into my life”

Wayne made his way over to Eddie and brought him into his arms. Eddie still was clutching sweetheart in his hands as he let his tears run, soaking Wayne’s shirt. Wayne needed to do something. He never saw Eddie crying this much, not since he was a little boy when he was younger. 

Eddie pulled away from Wayne. 

“ I’m going to go do this now, or I might not do this at all” he says. Eddie’s eyes were puffy red as he turned around to grab his car keys on top of the dresser and grab his wallet. He looked at Wayne.

“ Have a good day at work” 

When Eddie left and Wayne heard the car drive off, that’s when he walked over to the phone. He dialed the number of your house not really knowing if you were home or not but he had to try. The phone rang and rang and then Wayne heard the sound of your voice. 

“ It’s not a good time right now, Eddie” you answered. 

“ It’s not, Eddie” Wayne says. You were surprised that Wayne had given you a call. It wasn’t like him to call you like this. 

“ What’s wrong Wayne? Is Eddie okay?” 

Wayne sighed. 

“ You really are stubborn girl I tell you, that boy messed up one time and you don’t even have the time to sit down and talk to him like a normal person. That boy has been hurting and hurting and he’s been crying. He’s been trying and now you’ve done it.” 

“ What do you mean?” 

“ He went to town to sell that guitar of his that he loves so much to get you that damn ring you always wanted” 

You gasped. 

“ Wayne, tell me it’s not true. He wouldn’t do that” you shook your head in disbelief. 

“ He did, he held that guitar in his arms saying goodbye to him before leaving the house. That boy’s been in love with you since the day he met you.” 

“ He loves me-e?” You questioned, your eyes wide as saucers.

“ Now I suggest you hang up the phone and drive to stop him or you are never coming over here if I see your face” 

“ Wayne it’s not that easy” 

“ You’re still talking to me?” 

“ Wayne I-“ 

He cuts you off, “ I said what I said, go catch him and tell him how you feel. I can’t stand the two of you looking at each other like your waiting for the fireworks to go off.” 

You were about to start when Wayne hung up the phone instead. 

“ That’s rude, he didn’t say bye to me” 

You put the phone down back where it should be and grabbed your shoes heading to the door with your keys in your hands. 

“ Oh Eddie” you mumbled sliding into your car. 

Meanwhile, Eddie put his guitar on the counter letting the guy take a look at it, is in awe of hoe pretty he is as his hands run over the strings. It was hurting Eddie just seeing his guitar on the counter and someone else’s hand on Sweetheart. 

“ How much you want?” The store owner asked. Eddie looked at his name tag seeing the name “ Robert” on it with big letters. 

“ Well, Robert is it?” Eddie glanced down at Sweetheart and back up at him telling him how much he needed remembering the close amount of the ring you wanted that he was sure was still in the store across the street. 

He took Sweetheart off the counter and laced her carefully on the stand, not to break her and Eddie’s heart pulled heart strings wanting to get her back and tell the owner he was joking. But he took a deep through his nose telling himself he was doing this to get you back. 

Robert handed over the money to Eddie.

“ Pleasure doing business with you” Robert says as he walks over to the other customer on the other side. Eddie takes another look at Sweetheart trying to hold back tears seeing that she wasn’t his anymore.

“ Take good care of her” he says to Robert who happens to look at him once more seeing he was still standing there. Robert nods as he turns back to the customer. It took a whole lot of Eddie to walk out that door without Sweetheart in his hands and it took him a lot to walk across the street, looking into the glass seeing there on the stand was the ring. 

The very ring you hoped one day to have. 

Eddie didn’t expect to see you when he walked out of the shop and in his hand was a dark green box from the store holding the ring he purchased. It was a gift for you. Your breath hitched seeing he didn’t have Sweetheart on him.

“ What did you do, Eddie?” You asked with worry in your eyes. 

“ So, now your talking to me?” He asked pocketing the ring in his jacket. 

“ What did you buy?” You motioned to his jacket. You saw the ring box in his hand. 

“ I bought something” Eddie shrugged making his way over to the van but you stopped in his tracks. 

“ How did you afford it?” 

His face dropped as his eyes looked across the street at the shop and that gave him away as you turn to look at the shop. There you knew that he really did what Wayne told you. 

“ You didn’t” He shrugged like he had no idea what you were talking about. 

“ Eddie” you stepped towards him and pulling him into your arms. “ Why would you do such a thing? Sweetheart means the world to you” He nods but pulls away from you to look you in the eye.

“ She does, but you mean more” your heart raced at his words and eyes growing wide. 

“ No, no. We have to get her back” you grabbed onto his wrist to lead him across the street where he pulled his wrist back from your grasp. “ Eddie, come on” 

He shook his head, “ I don’t need it. All I want is you. I want you back in my life” he says. 

“ You have me. Eddie I-“ he knitted his eyebrows together and raised his hand to move a piece of your hair away from your face. “ You what?” He asked urging you to go on. 

“ I…” He nods telling you he’s listening and leans closer that his breath fans over your face. 

“ Eddie..I..” He tilts his head to the side and his lips look inviting as if they were urging you to kiss him. You can’t get the words out on what you want to tell him. 

“ Fuck it” you grabbed onto the his jacket causing Eddie to look down and then look back at you, his eyes growing wide when your lips land on his. His mind is screaming at him that finally that it’s happening and he need to kiss you back. His eyes close as his hands drop to your hips bringing you closer to his body. He feels like he’s on cloud nine as he kisses you with passion. 

You slowly pull away with your lips inches away from his. 

“ I love you too” Eddie says to you, he knew now what you wanted to tell him. A smile appears on your face and his eyes grow wide and he steps back fishing in his pocket for the box. His hand out holds a box to your letting you take it in your grasp.

“ What is it? You didn’t have to get me anything” 

“ Open it” he says. He is biting the inside of his cheeks as his nerves take over. His heart is racing when he watches you open the box. The little gasp you make when you notice what it is. 

“ I can’t take this” you close the box and pushing it towards Eddie’s hand but he steps back that you don’t get a chance to. 

“ I got it for you, sweetheart. It’s all yours” 

“ Eddie, I can’t. This is too much” He shakes his head.

“ Take it,  this is my way of apologizing for missing your birthday.” 

“ A love confession would of been just fine you know” a giggle escapes from you and he rolls his eyes. 

“ Put it on” 

“ Do you wanna do the honors?” You asked him. His mouth a jars as he nods in happiness taking the box and getting the ring out to slip on your finger. When he does, it looks perfect on you. 

“ It’s perfect”

“ Just like you, my perfect girl” he says bringing your hand up to his lips and kissing on top of it. 

“ Your girl, huh?” He nods, his cheeks are blushing as he looks away. 

“ If you want to be. I mean you don’t have to if you don’t want to-“ you stop his rant with a kiss on his lips which he happily returns. 

You pull away looking at your boyfriend who’s more than happy to make you happy even though he sold his guitar, which meant so much to him. You swore to get it back. It couldn’t someone else’s or hold on display at the store. Sweetheart belonged to Eddie Munson and you were going to make sure it was returned to him. 

“ What are you getting for Eddie’s birthday?” Dustin asked you walking into the school with you by your side. Eddie had a customer early in the morning therefore he met him in the woods while you went ahead with Dustin. 

“ That’s a secret” you say, holding your book bag by the strap as Dustin walked you to your locker. “ Oh come on, I won’t tell.” 

“ I am not telling you squat, Henderson” he sighed, but pouted in case you were going to give into him. Gareth and Jeff made their way over to you.

“ Good morning” Gareth beamed while Jeff yawned, still feeling tired. 

“ What are you talking about?” Jeff asked, leaning against the locker next to yours. 

“ I was asking Y/N what she’s getting for Eddie’s birthday but she’s not telling me anything” 

“ I have already tried that, and she won’t say a word” Gareth says. “ It must be really special whatever she’s getting for him” 

 “ It’s very special and might make him cry” 

“ What are you ladies talking about?” Eddie appeared out of no where and wrapping his arms around you. 

“ Nothing” Dustin and Gareth said it together, making it look suspicious. Eddie’s eye grew in slits looking from one to the other to see who would squeal first. 

“ Alright, who did what?” Eddie asked. “ Talk” 

“ I have to get to class!” Dustin shouted. “ I have to talk to Principal Higgins!” Gareth shouted. 

“ I have to go find Mike!” Jeff shouted as they all ran off. Eddie turns his head to look at you while you put your hands up and turning back to your locker to get your book. 

“ Now m’lady, you wouldn’t happen to know what they were talking about?” 

“ Not a clue, I need to go find Robin now” you quickly shut your locker, giving a quick kiss to your boyfriend and run off before Eddie could ask you more questions. You really didn’t want to be the one to squeal about Eddie’s birthday. One of the guys could. 

“ Are you getting me something special? It’s a new car, isn’t it?” Eddie asked at lunch while he was guessing what you were getting him. “ You don’t like the van very much” He sighed. 

“ No, Eddie. It’s not a new car” 

“ Is it a new shirt?” You shook your head.

“ Is it a cup?” You shook your head, “ you already have a full wall of those.” 

“ I mean, one more couldn’t hurt” 

“ Just trust me, Eds. You’ll love what I will get you” You already bought Sweetheart back and hid it behind your clothes at the back of your closet. It took you months after you got together with Eddie to get it back. Robert, the owner wasn’t to fond you had barely the money needed to buy it from him that’s when you used the card that you knew Hopper. Robert didn’t want to have any trouble so he offered a much lower price for it. 

“ Is it a new notebook?” He kept trying to guess but was coming up with nothing. 

“ You’ll have to wait and see” he threw his arms across his chest as he pouted wanting to know what you got him for his birthday. He was impatient and excited at the same time. 

“ Here Mr. Pouty, eat” you offered him the other half of your sandwich which he happily took and munched on. Eddie was more than happy with having you as his, even if you didn’t get him anything. He wasn’t too fond on your spending money on him. He wanted to spoil you.

But he deserved to be spoiled as well. 

When his birthday had came, Eddie hasn’t seen you all morning. He was grumpy about it until later that night when he arrived home after Hellfire club and everything was pitch black for some reason. He wasn’t in a good mood thinking you had forgotten his birthday and giving him a taste of his own medicine when he forgot your birthday. 

But when he walked into the trailer, the lights turned on and he saw his friend, Wayne and you yelling “ Happy Birthday” to him. He had his on his heart feeling it race. He looked around the room seeing everyone there and then he spotted you, his favorite person smiling at him and making your way to him. 

“ Happy Birthday, Eds” you threw your arms around him, kissing his cheeks. His eyes glossed over never in his life he had so many people care about him this much to throw a birthday party. 

“ Happy Birthday, boy” Wayne walked over, hugging Eddie to his side. “ It was all this once’s idea” he pointed towards you. Eddie’s tears roll down his cheeks from happiness and you thought you did something wrong.

“ What’s wrong? You don’t like the surprise?” 

“ I do, sweetheart. No one has done something like this for me, ever.” 

“ No?” You looked up at Wayne. 

“ It was always just the two of us” Wayne says. “ Couldn’t afford much” 

“ Oh Eddie” you brushed away his tears and placed your forehead against yours. 

“ Happy Birthday to my favorite. This is just the beginning of many more surprises” Eddie could’t stop crying on how happy he was. He deserved this and he loved that you were the one who planned this. 

“ Munson, get over here!” Steve called out to him. “ Stop making out with your girlfriend too” he added.

“ I’m coming, Harrington. Hold onto your hair spray” 

Throughout the party, Eddie and you kept glancing at each other waiting for the moment to be alone. Eddie got so many gifts that he didn’t know where he was going to put everything. He got cake made by Robin and Vicky which was really good to his surprise, he kept looking around the trailer at the decorations seeing how his home looked different. 

“ Hey there, stranger” you caught him staring at the decorations in the hallway, standing alone. He turned at the sound of your voice. 

“ Hi there pretty” 

“ Are you enjoying your birthday?”

“Yes, thank you for doing this” he says cupping your face with both his hands. “ You didn’t have to do this, you know? I would of loved just spending it with you.” 

“ I wanted to do this, you deserved to know how much loved you are” 

“ I love you, sweetheart” his thumb ran over your cheeks. He was so happy.

“ I love you too, Eds but I have a present for you” His eyes widen when he hears you tell him this.

“ This party isn’t my present?”

You shook your head leading him into his bedroom.

“ Um, sweetheart as much as I like this, everyone is still out there” he points to the door. 

“ Not that kind of present, Munson” you rolled your eyes and turn him around that he could face the mirror and where his Sweetheart used to hang. Eddie’s eyes ran over his room. He was confused on what he had to see until he spotted it. In the same spot that Sweetheart used to hang, there she was back at her place.

Eddie’s most drops open as he stared at her. It couldn’t be, could it?

His hand shook as he made his way over to her, and reached out to run his fingers over the strings. It was. She was here.

“ How did you?” The only words left Eddie’s mouth as he took her off her place to admire her in his hands. You walked over to him, leaning your head on his shoulder once you stood on your tippy toes to look over his shoulder.

“ It’s really her” you nod. Eddie turns his gaze to look down at you in shock that you did this for him. 

“ Why?” He asked. You were confused on why he would ask such a question when you leaned back down on your feet to turn to walk away thinking he didn’t like what you had done. You thought you had upset him and when Eddie saw that you were walking out the door, back to the party. He hurried to catch up with you, putting sweetheart on his bed for now. 

“ Baby” he grabbed onto your arm and pulling you back to turn you to face him. 

“ Where are you going?” He asked. “ Back to the party, you don’t seem too happy”

Eddie shook his head, “ Baby I am more than happy. But why did you get her back?” 

“ Because she means a lot to you, and I know how heart broken you are over losing her. I couldn’t let you lose something like Sweetheart, something so pretty and something important to you. I can’t.” 

“ I told you that I didn’t need her” 

“ You do because she makes you happy”

“ You make me happy, sweetheart” he takes a hold of your hand in his and brings it up to his lips, kissing them. 

“ Sweetheart or not, there is only one you. I prefer you over the guitar any day” 

“ Would you just say thank you and kiss me? Is that too much to ask, Munson? I mean you talk a whole lost but I’m standing here and waiting for you to plant one on me.” 

He chuckles and pulls you closer to him where his hands lace with yours. 

“ You’re so pretty, you’re all mine and I can’t believe such an angel had stepped into my life. You make so happy, sweetheart..” 

“ Again, Eddie. Stop talking and get to smooching because time is ticking” 

“ Why are you worried about time?”

“ I’m not” 

“ We have all the time in the world” with those words, Eddie pulls you close and kisses you.

#Eddie Munson #imagine Eddie Munson #Eddie Munson x reader #Eddie Munson x you #Eddie Munson x y/n #Stranger Things x reader #jewls writes

[hannahshattuck]

CelticStar Vinyards

Pairing: Bucky Barnes/Stever Rogers

Rating: Gen

Art by: BritBrit99

Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Vineyard Owners, Friends to Lovers, Pining, There's Only One Bed, Past Bucky Barnes/Sam Wilson

Summary: "CelticStar, a combination of Steve’s Irish heritage and Bucky’s love for astronomy, was started by the two men after they graduated college. Steve with a Bachelors in Science in Viticulture and Bucky with a Bachelor in Business Administration, so Steve took care of the winemaking side while Bucky took care of the business and marketing side. Two halves coming together perfectly."

Or,

Vineyard owners Steve and Bucky, pining, love confessions, and oh! There's only one bed.

Written for @buckybarnesevents ShrinkyClinks Double Bang 2023

“Steve!” Bucky yelled from the back of the car where he was loading their suitcases. “Let’s go or we’re gonna be late.”

“I’m coming! I’m coming!” Steve yelled as he ran out the front door, pulling it shut behind him and making sure it was locked. “I couldn’t find the business cards.”

“You packed them in the bag you’re taking for the expo.” Bucky slammed the trunk shut.

Steve slapped his forehead. “Oh that’s right. Where would I be without you?” Steve punched Bucky’s arm all bro like and went to the passenger side.

Bucky stood there watching the shorter man climb into the car. The feelings he’s had for his best friend since they started their vineyard together were stronger than ever. CelticStar, a combination of Steve’s Irish heritage and Bucky’s love for astronomy, was started by the two men after they graduated college. Steve with a Bachelors in Science in Viticulture and Bucky with a Bachelor in Business Administration, so Steve took care of the winemaking side while Bucky took care of the business and marketing side. Two halves coming together perfectly.

“Okay. So according to Google Maps it should take about eight hours to get to Sacramento.” Steve said as Bucky climbed in the driver’s seat. “Are you ready to spend eight hours in the car with me?” Steve teased.

No. “Absolutely, Punk.”

“Jerk.”

_________________

Steve fell asleep two hours into the car ride, leaving Bucky along with his thoughts. Thoughts that started going through what he needed to do for the expo and ended up about his feelings for his best friend. When they first met in elementary school, Bucky was the new kid at school and kept to himself but Steve, however, didn’t like that and dragged young Bucky into a game of knights saving the princess. Bucky didn’t understand why this blond skinny kid wanted to be friends with the weird new kid but their friendship flowed easily throughout the elementary years.

Middle school came and with that both boys learned new things about themselves. Steve got more health issues than he did in elementary school and Bucky realized he didn’t like girls like his male peers did. After talking with his parents, Bucky knew he was gay. He first thought he could be bisexual but dating girls didn’t appeal to him. When Bucky told Steve, the blond said okay and that was that. Steve would tease Bucky by pointing out guys he thought might be Bucky’s type which caused his best friend to blush and playfully shove him.

In high school, Bucky had his first relationship. Sam was the best first boyfriend Bucky could ever have. He didn’t push Bucky to do anything he didn’t want to do and was respectful of Bucky’s boundaries. Unfortunately, the two drifted and realized they were better as friends than dating. They’re still friends, along with Sam’s wife, Natasha, and they’ll help Steve and Bucky around the vineyard when they come to visit.

It wasn’t until college when Bucky realized he had feelings for his best friend. Steve went away for school and Bucky stayed local. With Steve being gone, Bucky felt like a piece of him left. It took a drunken night with Sam and Nat for Bucky to admit a part of him did leave, the part connected to Steve. Since then, Bucky’s kept his feelings for Steve to himself for two reasons. First, he’s not sure if Steve likes guys and second he doesn’t want to risk their friendship. 

A snort brought Bucky’s attention to his passenger. The blond angel in the passenger seat of his car. The one who blesses Bucky’s dreams. Maybe after this weekend, after this expo, Bucky will tell Steve how he feels. But for right now Bucky will just turn the radio on at a quiet volume and continue on the road to the expo.

_________________

“Hi, Welcome to the Hilton. How can I help you?” The front desk receptionist greeted Bucky as he walked up. Steve stayed in the car while Bucky got checked in so they could just take their bags straight to their room.

“Hi, check in for Barnes.” 

The receptionist typed Bucky’s information into the computer and found his reservation. “How many key cards would you like, sir?”

“Two, please.”

They handed Bucky the envelope that held the two key cards along with the wifi password. Bucky was given more information about the complimentary breakfast and other amenities. Bucky thanked them and turned to leave the lobby and head back to the car where Steve still was. 

Bucky approached from the passenger side and before he got to the car, he noticed Steve was on the phone with someone. The smile on Steve’s face, and the way Bucky could tell he was laughing, pulled at his heart. Bucky’s not sure how much longer he could keep his feelings to himself. He just might risk their friendship and tell Steve how he feels.

Bucky walked up to the passenger side and tapped on the window. Steve jumped and was ready to fight whoever was there. Once he realized it was Bucky he calmed down and visibly relaxed. Bucky smiled sheepishly as he opened the door for the blond.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.” Bucky blushed as Steve crossed his arms over his chest with a playful glare at the taller man.

“My heart is already fragile!”

“I know! I’m sorry!”

Steve giggled as he punched Bucky’s shoulder. Just like he did before they left their shared house. “I’m just messin’ with ya, Buck. I know you didn’t mean it. So,” Steve walked to the trunk while Bucky went to the driver’s side and turned the car off and popped the trunk. “Did you get us checked in?”

Bucky nodded as he came to the back. “Yep, room 1718. First floor.”

“Sweet,” Steve grinned as he pulled his suitcase out of the trunk. “I can’t wait for this weekend.”

Bucky swallowed around the lump that formed in his throat, “Y-yeah. Me too.”

_________________

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Bucky groaned as they walked into their room and saw there was only one bed. It looked like a king size bed but he’s not an expert in bed sizes. “I swear I requested two beds when I made the reservation.” Bucky set his bags down and turned to walk out the room to the front desk. 

“Bucky,” Steve said calmly, grabbing Bucky’s forearm to stop him from leaving. The shorter man looked up at the taller man through his eyelashes. “It’s alright. I’m not that big so I don’t take up much space. And if needed, I can curl up in the chair that’s by the window.”

“You are not sleeping in a chair. Especially with your back.” Bucky looked at Steve. Steve had a defiance in his eyes that challenged Bucky to try and argue with him. Bucky sighed and turned to face Steve, “Only if you’re sure.”

Steve smiled, “I am. Now let’s get settled and get something to eat. I’m starving.” Steve playfully whined as he hung off Bucky’s arm. Bucky smiled at him and shook his head at Steve’s antics.

_________________

It’s the last night of the wine expo weekend and both men are ready to go home. They’ve made some great connections with some great businesses and hope to work with them in the future. They were also able to have people sample their most popular wine, Sauvignon Blanc, which a few smaller wine and spirits stores wanted to sell. 

Now, Bucky’s laying on his back staring at the ceiling, trying not to wrap himself around the skinny man next to him. Having Steve sleeping next to Bucky has been torture. The last three nights Bucky’s slept but it hasn't been a deep sleep since he’s fighting himself about telling Steve. Bucky sighed quietly and turned his head to look at his bedmate. No better time than the present, Bucky thought.

“Steve?” Bucky whispered.

“Hmm?”

“Um…” Bucky fidgeted with the blanket. “I…uh…I have something to tell you.”

Steve turned to lay on his other side, facing Bucky, “What’s up?”

Bucky looked up at the ceiling and took a deep breath. He could do this. This is Steve. His best friend. “Um…”

Steve laid a hand on Bucky’s shoulder. “Hey, breathe. Whatever it is, I promise it won’t affect our friendship.

Bucky grimaced. “That’s the thing. It might.”

Steve sat up and turned on the lamp. “Okay. What’s going on Buck?”

Bucky sat up and moved so he was sitting against the headboard. “Okay. You know how I told you I’m gay right?” Steve nodded. “Well, uh, there’s someone I like.”

Steve smiled. “Ooo! Is he cute?”

Bucky smiled with a blush on his cheeks. “Yeah, he is. And, um, he’s…the guy I like…is…”

“Who, Bucky?”

Bucky looked Steve in his eyes and kept his gaze while he said, “You. I like you, Steve.”

Steve stared at Bucky with wide eyes, “Oh.”

Silence fell over both men. Bucky knew he should have waited until they were home because in the morning they’ll have to spend eight hours in the car back home. Bucky started to get out of bed before Steve stopped him.

“Bucky,”

“It’s okay, Steve. I understand. I’ll, um,”

“Bucky, sit down.”

Bucky didn’t realize he stood up. He sat on the edge of the bed with his back facing his friend. He fidgeted with his fingers as he waited for Steve to reject him.

“Bucky, I’m processing because I didn’t think this day would happen.” Bucky looked over his shoulder and Steve who had moved closer to him. “I mean, I’ve liked you since you came out to me.”

“Why didn’t you say anything? And I didn’t know you liked guys.”

Steve smiled sheepishly, “I was actually going to tell you the same day you came out to me.”

“Is that what you wanted to tell me when you said you had something to say?”

“Yeah.”

Bucky laughed as he turned his whole body to face Steve. “Well, aren’t we just a couple of silly ducks.”

“Silly ducks?”

“I don’t know, okay?”

Steve chuckled before he leaned closer. The air between both men was charged. Bucky flitted his eyes down to Steve’s lips. Steve cupped Bucky’s cheek and rubbed his thumb against Bucky’s cheekbone. Both men leaned in until their lips connected. Bucky grabbed Steve by his waist and pulled him closer. Steve wrapped his arms around the other man’s neck as his tongue ran across Bucky’s bottom lip. Bucky granted him access and pulled Steve closer. When the need for air became too much they pulled back and rested their foreheads against each other. Both men giggled and Bucky kissed Steve one more time.

“Does this mean I can cuddle you now?” Bucky asked with a twinkle in his eyes.

“God I hope so. Do you know how hard it’s been to keep myself from jumping you?”

Bucky laughed as he and Steve got settled back in bed now cuddled in each other’s arms. They pulled the blanket over themselves and breathed in the scent of each other. Out of all the scenarios Bucky had gone through in his head when he thought about telling Steve, this one was not once considered. He thought Steve would hate him but this moment, with Steve in his arms, was a better outcome than he would ever consider. Bucky closed his eyes and knew tonight would be the best sleep since they’ve arrived at the expo. Until Steve broke the silence with him asking,

“What if we made a banana flavored wine?”

#shrinkyclinksdoublebang2023 #hannahshattuck writings #bucky barnes #steve rogers #stevebucky #stucky #steve rogers x bucky barnes #shrinkyclinks

[renee-writer]

The Irish Lass and the Scottish Lad Chapter 43

AO3

“Did I cause them?” He hovers over her, trying to help but unsure how to.

 

“Yes, nine months ago. Labor could be started by sex. It might have been or it just might be time for Judah or Hannah to arrive.”

 

She is still calm. Placing a robe on, she begins to walk around the house. He follows closely.

 

“Should we call the hospital?”

 

She breaths through the contraction and then takes his hand. “No, call my mum.  Before, take a breath. All is fine.”

 

He does, taking a shuddering one and then ringing his mother -in-law.

 

“Claire is in labor. Ah, one minute, Claire, how far apart are they?”

 

“Your job is to time them, my love.”

 

“Crips, I haven’t been timing them. Okay. We will see you soon.” He rings off, “I’m sorry , I…”

 

“It is alright. Early yet. This is natural. Beautiful. We are about to have our child.”

 

He feels his heart leap. “Right! This is wonderful.”

 

“Go get some clothes on. I don’t think mum means to see that much of you.” He pulled his underwear back on but nothing else.

 

With a flush he goes and gets dressed.

 

“More comfortable naked?” Julia asks. She arrived fifteen minutes and two contractions after Jamie called her.

 

“Well labor started after…”

 

“Oh, a most excellent way to begin.”

 

“She has had two contractions since I called. Seven minutes apart, lasting forty seconds.” He wants to make up for his earlier failing.

 

“Brilliant. You are well on your way towards fatherhood.”

 

They walk her through the house. He times them. They get increasingly close together and stronger.

 

“Ohhhh,” She moans, holding tight to her husband. Her hand is up over his shoulder as she rest her back against him, “Ahhhhh!”  Julia watches. She hasn’t checked her and won’t, unless she feels pressure. The plan is to be at the birth center by then.

 

The couple sway together. She is mighty impressed by both. Her daughter is riding each contraction out. Jamie is attentive and strong, being just who she needs him to be.

 

“Ah fuk!” She thrashes. Her white grip is on the bedframe. Jamie is forbidden to touch her or talk. They need to go after this contraction, “Oh bloody hell, need to push!”

 

Julia is an excellent midwife. The last pain was four minutes after the last. This shouldn’t be the case.

 

“Claire, I need to examine you?”

 

She kneels down. A professional, she doesn’t panic at what she sees.

 

“Jamie, run out to my car. My medical bag is in the back seat. Get it and hurry back.” Very pale, he does, “Claire, the baby is coming. We have no time to get anywhere.”

 

“You can do it.” She says.

 

She can but… “Don’t push. Jamie isn’t …”

 

He runs back in.  “The babe… it is…”

 

“Almost here.” She gets out what she will need, “Push when you need to.”

 

“Arrrrrrehhhhh!” She bears down hard.  Her midwife, eases the head out. A quick sweep of the mouth and one more push and she holds her grandson in her arms.

 

“Mum?”

 

“Julia, is he…”

 

“You have a find son.”

 

Claire weeps as she holds him. She lays on her bed, cleaned up, a pad between her legs. Judah Henry Brian lays wide eyed in her arms. Jamie lays beside them. He can’t keep his eyes off them. His wife and child. Julia sits in the rocking chair, charting the unexpected delivery of her grandson.

#my writing #outlander fanfic #the irish lass and the scottish lad #chapter 43 #jamie and claire #cannon divergence #outlander fandom #modern au

[lordcastaway]

Hi, just wanted to say that I love your work, and your style, it's so distinct!

Quick question, could you elaborate on the relationship between Castlereagh and Wellington (relating to your last piece)? I know that they knew each other, but don't really know more than that. Were they close?

(And do you have anything I could read up about them?)

Thanks for your artwork again, it's really beautiful

Hey hi hello! First of all thank you, I'm glad you like it, it really means a lot! Did not expect to see smth like that on tumblr, esp about my history art! So thank you once again🤲♥️

Okkkkk, talking about Castlereagh and Wellington, I will try to give you a summary. They were colleagues and friends, though not as close as some people make them out to be. Their relationship was a very successful (defeating that Napoleon guy and all that) work partnership, "a marriage of minds", as one historian put it. They first met in Ireland as young MPs in the Irish House of Commons but there is no evidence that they were more than simple acquaintances at that stage, at least to my knowledge. Castlereagh basically had Wellington's back throughout the war and preferred him to any other possible commander-in-chief (cue Sir John Moore's appalled face). In the end, Castlereagh's gamble worked out, and, by coincidence, Waterloo was won on his birthday. After the war, once again thanks to Castlereagh, Wellington began a political career, and they served in the same Cabinet until Castlereagh's death. With Castlereagh's decline and death comes the tragic highlight of their private relationship. Basically Wellington saw that Castlereagh was unwell (he even later said he knew it was not the first time Castlereagh had such an "episode") and proposed to stay with him instead of going abroad. Castlereagh refused cause, well... he was not really in his "think straight, listen to logic" era, yet that is a whole other story. So Wellington left without an objection, though he knew his friend was not "in his right mind". He wrote to some people, including Castlereagh's doctor about it, warning them about his condition, but what happened, well, still happened. Wellington later tried to deal with the whole "does castlereagh is gay" thing, swiftly started a close friendship with Castlereagh's girl best friend, Harriet Arbuthnot, promising her to replace him, and reminisced about his death a whole lot later in life. Hope this helps!

As for books, for starter you can pick any biography of either of them to get a general idea of the relationship. Elizabeth Longford has a pretty allegorical summary of the whole friendship and similarities, as well as differences in their characters in her "Wellington, pillar of state" if you are into all the metaphorical "he was like ice, but he was like iron" kinda stuff. If you are into letters and/or diaries and/or reminiscences then Harriet Arbuthnot's diary, Mme de Lieven's letters to Prince Mmeternich, Stanhope's Notes of Conversations with the Duke of Wellington (and everything else of the "I have talked to Wellington, here are the receipts" genre) might interest you. The excerpt I used for my drawing is from Lady Granville's letters and she does not elaborate, so oh well, I guess we'll never know what happened there.

This whole thing turned out rather long, lol, but I hope I could help.

#lord castlereagh #duke of wellington #i got an ask wowwww

[burtonsdoodles]

MORE RANDOM NEWSIES NOTES… PART THREE

Having sat in Brooklyn, I now 100% understand what they mean when they say seize the day really takes it out of them - you can see the sweat dripping, hear the huffs of breath and there were genuine tears falling on a number of faces as they tried to hold it together for the picture… though granted those tears could have been more to do with it being the final OGs performance… 🤷‍♀️ but no matter the reason, it was incredible and I have a whole new appreciation for it now… phenomenal!

Speaking of seize the day - I am obsessed with the changes - the sound of the sirens coming in as things heat up - adding the roll call (did anyone who was at the last OG show catch the names Jordan and Zach used - I didn’t and I’m just curious.) Though my absolute favourite section is when things slow down and turn into a bit of an Irish jig (no clue if that’s actually an accurate way of describing it but that’s what I’m going with). I love it so much - it gets me every time! Whoever’s decision it was to do that deserves ALL the gold stars!!!

Now we need to talk about Josh Barnett as Race because… PERFECTION!! While I love bens race and livesies in general is incredible - it’s the thing which started it all… but I have really gotten to love the original film and the grit it has - something that wasn't transferred into the Broadway show - but this uk production really feels as inspired by it as it is its Broadway predecessor… but once again I digress, Josh’s race feels like he could have been plucked from the streets of 92sies - he has that same grit and wit of max casellas race who commands his own respect amongst the streets separate from Jack… I think I’ve said this in another post but it’s cool so I’m saying it again, one of my favourite changes is that Jack isn’t the one who starts the show - race is - he’s the one who kicks everything off and calls all the other newsies to order, the action doesn’t start without his say so — and I love that!

Now to the thing I noticed on my last visit which was really interesting — when it comes to the day of the strike and davey and Jack are trying to make out that everything is fine even though barely anyone has shown up and race and finch are questioning everything and then they bring up spot conlon and daveys like “well if you see spot conlon then they’re with us”… race looked like he was about to absolutely thump davey for that - “why you litt—! ⬇️

Scratch that - Saw it again last night and race full on went for him - “why you son of a b—!” - only being stopped by Jack - race was fuming, as the scene went on and the others are talking, race is at the gate with davey and got right up in his face to say something to him - I didn’t actually catch what it was - but it was along the lines of “don’t ever speak to me like that again”… it might not have been that but whatever it was it was intense and I am now obsessed with this moment and absolutely love seeing an angrier/offended side to race

OH MY GOD I now fully understand why people rave about finch so much - he is a fascinating character to watch! Apparently Woodside is a prime finch spotting location… he actually did the bit albert usually does which is holding crutchie whilst Jack has the crutch… but he did not look happy to be doing it - the face he had as he held onto crutchies hand and Jack messed with the delanceys was the picture of - I don’t want to be a part of this! I don’t want to be a part of this! I don’t want to be a part of this! Jack stop causing trouble! As Jack was being chased finch literally called out to him - “you’re an idiot!” And from that point on finch was all I was watching throughout the rest of the show… (I might go into this more in another post)

Also I am now enamoured by the bond between finch and Mike, they had a load of little moments together and they were really cute… the main one that’s stuck with me is when Jacobi hands out the cups of water, Mike and finch are sharing a table, Mike gets the water but then shares it with finch, and there was a moment when finch really tentatively put his hand on mikes arm/shoulder when they’re talking about potentially being on the front page… it was just such a soft moment unlike most of the other who would do the same things but with much more gusto and enthusiastic weight… I just found it really sweet… mikes another one I’ve never really paid much attention to so have never really had any reference as to his character personality - but I see now that he’s one of the more guarded ones, wary of causing too much of a stir, keeps to the back but always listening… he actually goes really well with jittery mr. finch

Jack and Katherine kiss and all the newsies catch on… splasher: it’s about time

The delanceys give Jack a beating back stage before pushing him towards the paper press

Still more to come…

PART ONE | PART TWO

#newsies uk #my random thoughts #Newsies #newsies spoilers #finch cortez #racetrack higgins #mike newsies #newsies cast #newsies fandom #text post #long post #damon gould #mark samaras #josh barnett

[randomland650]

Mercs relationship with Airman

Scout

At first, Scout would think that Airman is a bit of an idiot. Mostly due to the fact that she likes to crash her plane into things just for the hell of it. Scout would say that she's crazy, half-witted, and suicidal because of her tendency to crash her plane into places. But he finds Airman a mother figure, due to the fact she acts like his mother but also make some dad jokes which annoys Scout.

Soldier

Soldier is trying to be somewhat of an older brother figure towards Airman however due to his childish behaviour and nature. Airman is annoyed by him as he acts like an overgrown child but she also can’t help but like his positive attitude. Soldier friendship with Airman is almost like with Demoman, cause he thinks Ireland and Scotland is the same country. So I guess they just kinda have a platonic sibling relationship where they don’t always agree on things but she appreciates the support he gives her and she supports him despite him being a complete dumbass.

Pyro

Pyro and Airman might get along well, due to Airman's daredevil nature. Since Pyro has an affinity for other mercs who enjoy putting their lives on the line to take on opponents, so they would likely respect Airman for her courageous personality and determination. She would probably find Pyro's childlike, playful attitude a little amusing, even if he is a tad bit creepy..

Demoman

He’ll be surprised that someone who is Irish and almost the same accent as him so they both love a blast, she’s probably the only crazy person that he can respect, because if you are like him, he would love to do crazy stuff with you, they probably wouldn’t talk much, they even go drink together and end up drunk as hell, but he admires her courage, and ability to do the right thing in the end.

Engineer

Engineer feels like he should just give up on fixing Airman’s helicopter, but doesn’t have it in him to do so. He’s very annoyed with Airman cause her damaging her flying vehicles and her corny jokes. He’s got a big soft spot for her, and it is really cute. When she isn’t crashing her helicopter he takes her to have some tea, and listens to her rambling. All that aside, he doesn’t really know what to do about her constant, insane crashes.

Heavy

Heavy and Airman would have been friends. Even though sometimes she can be a little annoying or insane for a grown woman, Heavy still has a soft spot for Airman. They have bonded over the time they have worked together, and Heavy sees Airman as a little sister. Although Heavy has never been rude or aggressive to Airman, he does speak his mind to her.

Medic

As teammates, Medic will be pretty excited to work with the Airman as he sees potential in Airman and her recklessness. But they both are good friends, they would have conversations about their families and their old jobs they got fired from. Medic wants to help Airman, but also satisfy his experimental needs so he experiments on her and the others.

Sniper

At first Airman and Sniper were suspicious of each other. One being half-witted, adrenaline junkie and the other being a reserved man who was afraid of getting close to people. But after a while they learned to appreciate each other's work, as working together was a lot more effective than working separately. So to say, they eventually became close friends.

Spy

Spy would always feel nervous whenever Airman was in the field with him. Although they were on the same team, he was always worried that Airman would crash her helicopter into him. Despite their trust issues, Spy always admired Airman's courage and loyalty to the team, along with her charm and friendliness. They could be seen together as friends, or just two mercenaries working the same side.

#team fortress 2 #tf2 #oc #tf2 oc #tf2 airman #tf2 demoman #tf2 heavy #tf2 engineer #tf2 medic #tf2 pyro #tf2 spy #tf2 scout #tf2 soldier #tf2 sniper

[of-twilight-and-moonshadow]

Luck in Love - Finn Balor x Reader

So I’ve had this done for a while, but I haven’t gotten a chance to post it until now. Hope you guys enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it. 

I tried writing the accent the best I could, hopefully it doesnt come across as cringe 

y/n/n = your nick name

y/e/c = your eye color

PROMPT: Do you REALIZE how long it takes to do all this on you?!

“Ferg!” I let out a giggle, trying to sound exasperated at the same time,“ Come on now– stand still, for real!”

“Sorry Lass,” the Irish wrestler apologized with a smirk, trying to stand as still as he could for me. He was scheduled to go on in roughly an hour, but I still had to finish painting his back– and had yet to begin his front paint. I put off doing the front for as long as I could each time the infamous Finn Balor and his Demon Persona needed their color painted on.

I had been a fan of Finn Balor since his Japan days, and now? It was 2017. Roughly twelve years, give or take, that I had been a fan. It wasn’t a problem though– I loved having the opportunity to work with him.

The problem, however, was the more time I was around him– the more I fell in love with him. He was funny, sweet, undeniably charming– and don’t even get me started on that accent– or his eyes–

“Eart’ ta y/n/n~” Fergal sang teasingly, snapping me out of my train of thought.

“Hmm?”

“Everythin’ okay Lass? You got real qu'et back t'ere.”

“Oh,” I blushed, glad he was facing away from me,“ Yeah- everything’s fine. Just focusing. Do you REALIZE how long it takes to do all this paint on you every time the Demon feels the need to show up?” I tried teasing him.

“My apologies fer your inconv'enence,” Fergal chuckled, his back rippling slightly causing me to freeze my hand.

“For the love– stand still, man!” I laughed, causing him to laugh back.

“Sorry!” I gave a few seconds for both of us to compose ourselves, before continuing. Before I knew it though, his back was finished, and I had to face the music.

Face him.

Again.

“Alright, time to turn around,” I swallowed the lump in my throat, doing what I could to avoid his eyes.

Those beautiful blue eyes that I get lost in every time we talk.

“Hey kids. Might want to speed it up some. Balor’s scheduled out in about thirty minutes,” Hunter told us, as he passed by on the way to the Guerrila.

“Thirty–?! But it– I had–” I stared wide eyed after Hunter, before shaking my head. Somewhere, in all my musings– I had lost at least twenty other minutes.

“Damn Irish wrestlers and their damn attractiveness.”

“If it’s too much lass, I can ‘ave one of the o'her makeup artists paint me,” Fergal said.

“What?” I asked him, furrowing my brow in confusion.

“Don’ want you damming me each time we meet.”

My skin paled and my e/c eyes widened.

I didn’t.

I merely though’t that. Didn’t I?

Fergal must have noticed my panic, as he gently took one of my hands in his,“ It’s alri'ht y/n. I’d be lyin’ if I said I didn’t see the sparks between us.”

“Fergal– I’m sorry. I just–” my anxiety began flaring, as I retracted my hand and set down the body paint on the table near us. Empty hands rose up and ran though my hair as I tried to control my breathing.

“Y/N,” Fergal whispered, slowly reaching out towards me once more,“ Look at me lass.”

I took a deep breath, before slowly looking up into his eyes.

Those beautiful blue eyes.

“T'ere she is,” Fergal smiled, causing me to shyly smile back,“ I get if you don’ want a relationship, but we can’t deny teh attrac'on between us. I feel it each week. I’m sure you do, too, lass. If ya will give me teh chance though, I’d like to at leas’ take ya out to dinner som'time.”

“Twenty minutes for Balor!” A stage hand called, causing me to jump and look at Fergal’s still unpainted front half.

“T'ink on it lass– until then, let’s get t'is done, yeah?”

“Yeah– I really don’t want to get in trouble,” I chuckled nervously, picking the paint back up and quickly got back to work. I could feel his eyes on me, but to his credit Fergal stayed completely still. Luckily, I was finishing up his face, around his mouth, nose and eyes as the stagehand called for five minutes.

“It’s a bit rushed but–”

“It’s perfect lass. Always is.”

Ducking my head, I tried to hide my blush– but I knew he saw it plain as day.

“I’ll see ya after my match?”

“I’ve gotta head out soon…” I frowned, but as he walked towards guerilla, I quickly threw in,“ But I’ll see you for dinner! Text me!”

He smiled at me, walking backwards slowly,“ T'at I will lass. T'at I will.”

#wwe #world wrestling entertainment #finn balor #finn x reader #imagine #fanfiction #reader insert #fluff

[heroes-of-lemuria]

hey i’m from the “they made stallion quartermane real” post and i saw u know a lot about horses

would you be willing to share more horse facts? 👀

Oh geez, thank you haha! Admittedly, I wouldn’t say I know much about horses, I just love to google animal facts, always try and find real animals to directly base anthro characters on (so I do a lot of that for wizard guys, picking specific species / breeds ), and remember a bit from the ag classes I took in high school. Horse people feel free to correct me but take what I’m saying here with a grain of salt. I’m trying to back up everything I’m saying with some cursory google searches but I am far from a horse expert 😭

Because Stallion was brought up I guess I can talk about anything I mildly know / hc regarding him? For example I went with the Irish Cob for my personal hc for him (these guys have 1000 names. You might have heard them called the Galineers Cob, the tinker horse, or about 5 other names all of which have slurs for Romani peoples in them l, but seem to be what they’re most commonly known as. I tend to go for Irish cob)

They’re a draft breed from the Great Britain and Ireland, and while wizzy doesn’t always fully 1:1 where their anthros are from, it’s a bonus for me. (Soley off of physical descriptions, he could be a Suffolk punch as well … hmm)

I say he’s based on a draft breed, which you can tell from the leg feathering he has, which from my understanding whole all horses have some, the really prominent leg feathers are a trait characteristic of draft breeds. (Also I just personally really prefer draft breeds myself, I like how big and heavyset they are.) From what I can gather, this is because the gene that causes them to grow so prominently is tied to bone density, and draft horses bred for strength to pull plows and carriages have much thicker bones than lighter horse breeds that have been bred more for speed.

Irish Cobs are characteristically hairier than other breeds, which is why they’re known to grow those mustaches. (Googles telling me it’s mainly because of how hairy they are, but they also might help add added sensation to their lips to help them browse for food) The mustache and beard really made me go yeah that’s the stupid horse for me, plus they come in the coloration with blonde-whitish manes and tails and a reddish body color, called flaxen chestnut from what I can find (though maybe its closer to some golden palominos? I don’t know)

Nothing else particular interesting is coming to mind unfortunately. Stallions weird boots he wears kind of resemble certain types of boots made for actual horses? I’m finding conflicting reports on what these are used for. Some places saying tendon support, others saying there’s nothing to support that, and they’re used to correct gait abnormalities. Either way. Stallion do you have bad ankles. It’s ok you can tell me.

(Also stallion has a boot tread texture on the bottom of his hooves, but I think this is stupid so I ignore it. Especially because the snow shoes we see in madness mountain have horse shoes attached to them, what’s the truth kingsisle?!? But I think it’s a funny detail to point out anyway.)

I googled fun horse facts to try to find anything else I could offer, and one of these fact Infographics said “baby horses drink milk” which is hysterical to me to point out as a fact.

#giant shirt that says ask me about my unnecessary species headcanons #I guess #hi I don’t think this is anything what you asked for but! it’s what I can offer you #I fear I might have come off as more horse knowledgeable than I am. I just like googling shit about animals all the time #asks #daseiins

[boxingcleverrr]

So Kate and her (righteous, correct) annoyance at puritanical people unable to engage with Poor Things normally reminded me today of one of my faaaavorite Christian Romance Novels (tm) from back in the day. And I realized it's a perfect example of "why you sometimes NEED sex scenes, no hyperbole or moralizing required."

Jeanette Oke is a famous Christian author, I'm sure plenty of people have heard of the Love Comes Softly series, or When Calls The Heart series, cause they've both been made into tv shows - terrible ones, with terrible production values, lol.

If that's all you know her by, you might be surprised to learn that the source material doesn't suck! She tells a very good story, builds all kinds of relationships well, and definitely does way more historical research than the producers of any films/shows based on her work. They're very PG to PG13 as far as violence goes, no smut obv, usually with a religious message buried or shoehorned in there.

It's kinda like how Louis L'amour is an objectively solid writer of westerns, while adaptations are usually middling, cause his fanbase tends to be within uh, certain other (white) demographics who wish to push certain other (white) agendas via their traditional-looking settings.

But I digress.

Basically the writing = good and engaging. She coulda just been a wildly successful historical fiction writer, but yanno, gotta get something Jesus-y into EVERY tome.

Which brings us to my favorite, A Bride For Donegan.

This was a mail order bride story set in the 1880s I believe, based on the very real practice of skeezy agencies realizing they could make big money off frontiersmen looking for wives, via poor UK & European women and girls looking to escape poverty and blights. It follows one girl from Ireland stuck in a terrible home situation in England, who LEAPS at the chance to gtfo.

And the dynamic set up is very good, and a heart-wrenching portrait of her trauma! She'd endured sexist and racist abuse from her English stepmother, who drilled into her that no man would ever want her plain, overly-chatty, Irish self for a wife (gee I wonder why this appealed to 13 year old annoying, undiagnosed me). Donegan is a quiet, successful young rancher who has less character development, of course, he's just So Nice, Kinda Funny, and Tall. But the book does make it clear that he was looking for a friend first and foremost, to share this life he made with, and to draw him out of his shell.

So, quiet guy orders a wife, gets girl whose been told no man wants a chatty partner, much silent hilarity and misunderstanding ensues. These characters go on through a very good slow burn to break down that wall, they're cute and funny together, eventually have like, 5 kids? And of course in the last chapter Jesus gets found, yaaaaay (why is The Lord ALWAYS getting lost, does he not have maps). I always skipped the last chapter.

But even as a 13 year old virgin who was mostly still Jesus-pilled, I remember getting to points early on in the novel and being like, "wait. They've had sex?!"

There's ONE scene in the second act, where they're still barely talking to each other yet, when he worries that she might get pregnant while they're still relative strangers.

That's IT.

So this establishes that, in the say, 3-4 months they're first married, they're having sex like good married people should, but barely talking.

And though I had no experience at that point whatsoever, I just squinted at the page all, "So...what IS that sex life like? I am engaged in this slow burn that's happening, and yet I have no idea what's going through either of your heads when you KISS, let alone be more intimate. Are either of you worrying about how much the other person is engaged? Consenting?! This is the late 19th century, how much sex-ed do either of you have? Do you get any inkling of each others' softer sides when you undress before bed? Hell, do you snuggle in your sleep and wake up just...not addressing it?!"

Their bedroom is, otherwise, just a place we know all those kids get made, eventually, somehow.

Am I to infer that this guy, with a wry sense of humor to his internal monologue, is cool with this situation of just...begetting with a girl who I guess I should also infer is just lying back and thinking of Ireland?!

The story ends with them both delighted by each other, she chatty, he listening, riding horses and enthusiastically having babies. So obviously consent was there. But it was just so glaring and educational to me, what was missing, and that it was a huge, important aspect of their interaction and growth.

Not all stories are about or need sex, obviously. But any time I see people saying they're NEVER needed, like. Even as a good little church girl, I knew important lessons about how people in love interacted within intimacy were being left out of what I was consuming, and it was leaving a big gap in my understanding of how love and intimacy could look, good bad or somewhere unfinished in-between.

And no, as far as I know there's no fanfiction of this anywhere, haha of course there isn't (though I have years later found this LOTR fic about Eomer/Lothiriel that scratched that itch very well).

Humans have sex. Not all humans, but most, that's just a fact. Every part of messy human interaction has a place in storytelling, and when it doesn't, uh, well. A lot of people I know personally grew up assuming those blanks in their knowledge would just magically be filled in by....someone. Someday.

It didn't go great for a lot of them.

#blathering #Stop Emulating Puritans 2024 #Love Comes Softly was genuinely good #The When Calls books however were her most rife with white saviorism sooooo of course they got adapted

[greenwayinc]

HEADCANONS, PART TWO:

🇮🇪

(God help me when I have to write part 3...)

No worries about misgendering this guy... because they don't know. They would've forgotten it long ago anyways at this point, so they just don't give a crap what gender they are.

Their name is Kelsey Windsor. It used to be Dermot Windsor but they had it legally changed.

As a human, they're a very pale-skinned person of average height(5' 9"), with curly, blondish-red hair(yes it's a weird colour, but they manage to pull off the look). And they're absolutely saturated with freckles. Everywhere you look, it's just freckles, freckles and more freckles.

Usually wears Aran knit sweaters, jeans, bomber jackets and flannel shirts. They're still living in the early to mid-2000s fashion-wise.

This motherf***er is BUILT. Seriously, they might be neutral but God almighty are they stacked. They'll be up for anything, from US-led invasions to UN peacekeeping missions. For any large military operations they usually serve with America or UK, but they're always happy to just do peacekeeping work. More about this later.

Tiny scars are dotted across their neck and shoulder. Those are the remnants of a shrapnel bomb that exploded behind them during one of his many tours in the Troubles. There's more scars from where they've been grazed by bullets, beaten by batons and worse. They wear them like bravery medals though- each scar is a sign of their continuous luck.

Speaking of luck, they HATE it if you say "luck of the Irish" in a positive light. He is extremely self-conscious of the term's origins.

Much of their history has been them trying to rebel against England, and latterly, UK. As a result their relations could be described from a historical context as "strained"(top 10 greatest understatements in history coming up). However, since the 1960s, they've gotten along with each other and have left their previous animosity behind them... for now. Brexit has not gone over well with Ireland, it must be said(!).

The Famine screwed up their body greatly- mainly, they can't eat specific foods because of the irreversible damage to their digestive system caused by hunger. Mainly, they have to stay away from most fast food and fizzy drinks(although they've never liked the former much).

But, thanks be to the Lord, alcohol is on the safe list. They've said many a time that they wouldn't know what to do were it not for Guinness. As is to be expected, they drink like there's no tomorrow. One time they got so drunk that a SWAT team had to be called to contain them. But usually it ends up in him passing out in the street or having a one night stand with some other country.

They like to travel. A lot. And I mean A LOT.

Absolutely has PTSD from the amount of wars they've been in, plus the abuse from England, etc.

Tea addict. UK's influence definitely rubbed off on them in this aspect.

Jewellery. Oh my lord the jewellery. This fucker absolutely LOVES jewellery and anything gold or silver. They have ear piercings, they've got gold necklaces, silver rings, etc. Bling is this person's passion.

Also a good singer. Has recorded a few albums, which have found rather unlikely success internationally. As a result of this they work with South Korea and Japan on music projects a lot.

The music fame has also landed them roles in a good few movies.

Was a Formula One driver for a few years during the late 1970s and early 1980s, and again in the 1990s. Surprisingly good at it, too.

Has multiple Irish wolfhounds.

If you confuse them with Ivory Coast, Italy or Mexico... well God help ya.

(related to a previous statement) They've been in the wars. Surprisingly often, as it turns out, because they were in both world wars, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Falklands, Vietnam- name a war in the past 100 years and they've probably been fighting in it at some stage.

They and Northern Ireland are estranged. They don't talk to each other WHATSOEVER.

Generally regarded as the "partier" of the EU, and has gained notoriety within the organisation for their drunken exploits.

Good friends with America, Canada, Chile, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Finland and Sweden. And all the ex-commie Central European countries.

Knows English, Irish, Polish, Lithuanian, Romanian, Czech, Finnish and Latvian. Currently learning Spanish so they can stop embarrassing themselves while on holiday in the Canary Islands.

In a relationship with Finland’s twin sister(will explain later). They met at a party in Helsinki back in the 1970s and have been together since.

Always has the best Halloween parties. Yes, it sounds childish, but they've been hosting those parties since the beginning of time. And everyone attends for the party, the dressing up... and the copious amounts of alcohol consumed at these events.

#countryhumans #countryhumans headcanons #countryhumans ireland #headcanons #my ramblings

[zablife]

Request! Jack falls for a Shelby OC whose a widow with a mix raced boy/girl and reckons with his racism against non-white people ❤️

Hi lovely anon, tysm for the ask! I decided to head canon this as the idea came to me. It's a bit different bc it's not a Shelby OC, but I hope you'll still like it. I did not specify race so readers could more easily picture themselves. I hope you enjoy!

Jack in an Interracial Relationship (Warnings: language, racism, racial slur)

*Jack meets y/n one evening walking home. It’s late and very dark when he hears a scuffle, then the sound of a woman’s scream coming from an alley. He rounds the corner to help, but finds you standing over a man holding a gun to him. Jack is impressed you’re capable of defending yourself. 

*He asks what a woman of [reader’s background] is doing in his section of town and you scoff that you can go anywhere you please. Sensing he might have offended you, he says he didn’t mean it that way. He meant you're a beautiful woman alone at a time when only dangerous men and ladies of the night prowl.

*He tries to start again, asking if you're alright, checking you for injury and wondering aloud who would hurt such an angel.

*You slowly opened up to him. He was trying to be kind and you welcomed the sound of a friendly voice after everything you’d been through. Your husband had died a year ago and you’d had to work hard to make a life for yourself and your daughter. 

*Tonight you'd defended yourself from an attack walking home from work.

*Jack saw you home safely and asked you on a date. Although you were hesitant, you finally gave in to his persistent requests and obvious charm.

*Things took off from there. You enjoyed nights out at jazz clubs, dancing and drinking, but also time together with your daughter taking her to the park feeding the ducks. Jack was patient and gentle with her which melted your heart.

*Things weren't always rosy, however, people could be cruel toward you. You learned this the hard way one evening when you exited a club and some drunk men shouted that you belonged with your own kind. Jack had chased them down the street, beating them to a pulp until you begged him to stop.

*As an interracial couple, you weren’t sure if there was a future for you with Jack. You began to wonder if he were only drawn to the exotic, the forbidden.

*He could have accused you of the same thing and he did one night during an argument about him seeing you out with another Irish mobster. Jack had been wild with jealousy. 

*That’s when you had come clean that man was your brother-in-law, Larry Sullivan. Jack was shocked, but the news calmed him somewhat, knowing it wasn’t romantic in nature.

*Having a good business relationship with the Sullivan family, Jack approached the man to confirm it for himself. Larry admitted that his brother had been married to you before his death, but the family had shunned his brother after he married you. 

*When Jack asked why Larry had been talking to you, Larry said it was to pay you off to stay away forever. The family didn’t want anything to do with your “half breed” child, as Larry put it.

*Jack had heard people use that phrase for as long as he could remember and he'd never given it much thought. Now it made his blood boil. He threw Larry against the wall and shoved a gun under his chin. “You ever call her child that again and I’ll kill ya. She doesn’t need your fucking money cause I’m takin’ care of her from now on,” Jack warned him. He punched the man hard across the mouth and Larry fell to the floor bleeding profusely. “Consider our business together over,” Jack said as he left.

*Jack would chose to protect you and your child any day over the scumbag who lay on the ground behind him. Although he already knew you were tough enough to handle yourself. He loved your strength, he only wished you hadn’t had to come by it in such a brutal and unforgiving way. 

#ask box #Jack Nelson headcanons